Hong Kong: Rule change supports childbearing

To promote fertility and create an environment that supports childbearing, the Housing Bureau has adjusted the eligibility criteria for Category A tenants of Transitional Housing from today.

Households waiting for traditional public rental housing (PRH) for less than three years are considered Category B tenants of Transitional Housing.

Under the adjusted policy, however, families with children born on or after October 25, 2023, are now eligible to become Category A tenants if they have been waiting for traditional PRH for two years.

The existing three-year eligibility requirement remains unchanged for other households.

Families with newborns are required to submit an application before their childs first birthday.

Organisations operating transitional housing should allocate no less than 80% of the units in any project to Category A tenants.

Call 3611 8156 for enquiries.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
"Next China" is still China

13:31, November 30, 2023 By Zou Xiang ( People's Daily

A wave of executives from prominent foreign companies have been visiting China since the start of the year, seeking opportunities to expand their cooperation with partners in the country. With tangible actions, they have demonstrated confidence in the Chinese market. Their engagement underscores Chinas enduring magnetic appeal to international investors.

Multinational corporations are in the best position to describe this magnetic appeal. A Q3 survey by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, which covered 700 foreign-invested enterprises, found that 80 percent of the surveyed companies expect stable or rising profits this year, and nearly 90 percent anticipate stable or increased profits in the next five years.

Photo shows a busy container terminal at the Nansha port in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province. (People's Daily Online/Chen Zhiqiang)

From January to October, 41,947 foreign-invested enterprises were newly established in China, a year-on-year increase of 32.1 percent. Actual investment from Canada, the UK, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands surged 110.3 percent, 94.6 percent, 90 percent, 66.1 percent and 33 percent, respectively, from a year ago.

Many foreign companies consider investing in China as a "must-have" option, as the open and continuously developing country remains a hotspot for global capital. As Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out, China has become a synonym of the best investment destination, and that the "next China" is still China.

The increasing foreign investment in the Chinese market stems from a firm belief in the prospects of China's development. This year, the momentum of world economic growth is sluggish. Destabilizing, uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. Economies around the world are facing significant challenges. However, the Chinese economy has withstood the pressure, maintained stability, and improved its quality.

China's GDP grew 5.2 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, ranking among the top performers among major economies, and the resilience, vitality, and potential of China's economic development continued to show this October. China still remains the largest engine driving global growth, and is expected to contribute 1/3 to global economic growth this year.

Facts speak for themselves. The fundamentals of the Chinese economy - its strong resilience, enormous potential, vast room for maneuver and long-term sustainability - remain unchanged. The high-quality development of the Chinese economy injects strong positive energy into global economic growth, bringing about more market opportunities, growth opportunities, and cooperation opportunities.

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2023 shows an advanced medical device by Siemens displayed at the sixth China International Import Expo. (People's Daily Online/Zhai Huiyong)

The confidence in investing in the Chinese market comes from the increasing openness of China. The recently concluded 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) saw a total of $78.41 billion worth of tentative deals reached for one-year purchases of goods and services, setting a record high, and representing a growth of 6.7 percent compared to the previous year.

These solid figures serve as concrete evidence to the world that "Modernization for 1.4 billion Chinese is a huge opportunity that China provides to the world."

Besides, the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation concluded with 458 deliverables. During the forum, Chinese and foreign companies reached business deals worth $97.2 billion.

China has generated fresh momentum for greater openness, stronger cooperation, and better development through platforms such as the CIIE, China Import and Export Fair, China International Fair for Trade in Services, China International Consumer Products Expo, and through its efforts to pursue high-quality and high-level Belt and Road cooperation.

"We will continue to pursue high-quality development and high-standard opening up. Chinese modernization will bring the world more and greater opportunities for the modernization of all countries." The remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 30th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting represented not only a solemn promise, but also practical actions.

A woman experiences a gaming display manufactured by Samsung at the sixth China International Import Expo, Nov. 8, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Tang Ke)

China enjoys distinct advantages such as a socialist market economy in systemic terms, a supersize market in terms of demand, a full-fledged industrial system in terms of supply, and abundant, high-caliber labor force and entrepreneurs in terms of human resources. These inherent advantages manifest the internal logic and strong resilience of China's economic growth, which also determines that the long-term trend in attracting foreign investment in China will not change.

An international accounting firm said in a report that China will still remain the most attractive growth market in the world. Looking ahead, Chinas resolve to foster a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment will not change. And its policy of providing equal and quality services to foreign investors will not change. It will continue to improve the mechanisms for protecting the rights and interests of foreign investors, further shorten the negative list on foreign investment, and fully ensure national treatment for foreign investors.

Practice will continue to prove that investing in China is investing in the future, and choosing China is choosing the future.

McKinsey Global Institute estimated that in 2020, 55 cities in China with 27 percent of the countrys population were "higher income" cities, and by 2030, this number will reach 93 cities, covering 44 percent of Chinas population. "If you are looking for growth, the answer is very simple. The next China is China," said Joe Ngai, managing partner of McKinsey Greater China.

In an open and continuously developing China, the Chinese market, full of infinite possibilities, is bound to attract more multinational companies to invest and thrive there. Together with Chinese enterprises, they will write more splendid chapters of creating new opportunities for the world with high-quality development.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
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.
What prods our feminist foremothers into the light of reappraisal? The condition of women in the world is a changing state of affairs, except of course, depressingly, in all the ways it isnt. Accordingly, the relevance of any departed feminist thinker to the present moment takes one of two forms. First, shes to be resurrected because the injustice she once delineated has been substantially overcome; we can beatify her for having slain the dragon of this or that historical inequality. In other words, we find in her a sort of relevance of irrelevance.



Second, and conversely, her claim to our attention could be based on the persistence of some particular problem. Sexual violence? Unequal pay? Or, perhaps most urgently, the assault on reproductive rights? As last years Dobbs decision demonstrated, when it comes to justice, the arc of history sometimes bends right back on itself. Relevance, in this second realm of persistent problems, often proceeds from twinned, faulty assumptions: that the only reason a person might be induced to revisit feminist thought from the 60s or 70s is for the way it speaks directly and digestibly to the now; and that the point of the exercise is only to confirm, in impotent resignation, that little has changed, things remain terrible, and we need so-and-so now more than ever! In this way, things collapse into gynopessimismwhich holds that nothing can really alter the fundamentally subordinate status of women.

These questionswhy revive her in particular, and why now?are especially acute when it comes to a new biography of a much-biographized figure. The activist and writer Betty Friedanwho remains famous for her 1963 bestseller, The Feminine Mystique, and is frequently described as the mother of second-wave feminismis often discussed in terms of the first form of relevance. Friedan is canon; she must be kept classic. Her book established a vocabulary that allowed women to articulate their own dissatisfactions: Friedan was a midcentury, middle-class, married American mother of three children; these features of her life ought to have indicated her happiness, or, to use the clarion word tolling through The Feminine Mystique, her fulfillment. Instead, Friedan had been led down a dead end into well-appointed misery. This was the problem that has no name or had no name until indicted as the supposedly ennobling mystique.



Rachel Shteirs new biography, Betty Friedan: Magnificent Disrupter, draws its subtitle from a speech House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi gave in 2006, not long after Friedans death, lionizing her and a handful of other recently deceased figures as magnificent disrupters. Disrupter carries Silicon Valley associations of self-congratulatory CEOs; paired with magnificent, it seems to partake in the kind of heroine worship that stems from an awkward American truth: that its easier to put Ruth Bader Ginsburgs face on a pin than to dismantle the injustice of the Supreme Court as institution.

Shteirs account does not seem particularly concerned with how enduring Friedans diagnosis remains. The author is more interested in her subjects experiences and how they shaped her approach to the world, which is a particularly appropriate mode for Friedan: Everything I know, she once declared, has come from my own experience. Feminism must always navigate between the predicament of females as second-class citizens (in other words, their legal status) and the less definable but acutely felt experience of being oppressed not so much by laws as by norms, expectations, attitudes. The Feminine Mystique is more concerned with the latter. Women are more legally emancipated than in 1963. The question is how far short of true freedom emancipation still falls.





Bettye Naomi Goldstein was born in 1921, in Peoria, Illinois, the first child of Harry and Miriam. By the time theyd had another daughter and the main event of the longed-for son, Bettys parents were beginning to find their eldests braininess worrisome. They learned, Shteir writes in her conscientiously researched book, that to control Betty, they had to threaten to take away her books. Her father forbade her from checking out volumes from the library because the sight of her shlepping a pile of them up the hill was unladylike. Such censure did its damage. Later, shed write: I was that girl with all the As and I wanted boys worse than anything. With all that brilliance, I saw myself becoming the old maid college teacher.

At a tender age, female intellectual achievement seemed to her incompatible with heterosexual love. It took time for Friedan to acquire the fundamental second-wave insight, that her experience was by no means shameful or anomalous, but instead a symptom of the organization of society. Meanwhile, there is a clear premonition of the radical woman author-to-be in the image of the scrappy schoolgirl who instigated the Baddy Baddy Clubwhose agitations included a series of protests against a substitute teacher by dropping books on the floor and coughing en masse. Young Friedan disrupted, in other words, unmagnificently. Later, this baddy baddy would find worthier subjects for organized protest.

Friedan rampaged through Marx and Freud at Smith College and excelled, not yet aware that the point of the institution, as it saw itself, was to prepare young women for breeding, not thinking. Upon her graduation summa cum laude with a major in psychology, a college administrator told her mother: Betty has the most outstanding record of any student ever matriculated at Smith. After graduation, she abandoned a prestigious psychology fellowship at Berkeley because she was in love (as she later recalled) with an intellectually inferior man who warned her, You can take that fellowship, but you know Ill never get one like it. You know what it will do to us The depression that followed this decision only dissipated after she began working as a labor journalist in New York. By the mid-1950s, mother to three small children, in a periodically violent (mostly him, sometimes her) marriage (to some other jerk, not the Berkeley guy), Friedan was working sporadically as a writer for womens magazines. As such, she was less attuned to the capital-labor relation and more attuned to a different social problem, the male-female relation.

At a 15-year college reunion, she issued her classmates a questionnaire about their achievements and satisfactions, or lack thereof. The questions were arrestingly frank, the womens answers even more so, hinting at an epidemic of malaise. Galvanized, Friedan began amassing accounts from the class of people to which she belonged, the one assumed to be the nations most contented: white, suburban, middle-class housewives. These accounts form the bedrock of The Feminine Mystiques first and last chapters and helped, as futurist Alvin Toffler proclaimed upon the books publication, to pull the trigger on history.

Someone identified as a Nebraska housewife with three children who has a Ph.D. in anthropology provides the most painful account of domestic grind in the book. Her testimonial begins in a tone of striving ingratiation: A film made of any typical morning in my house would look like an old Marx Brothers comedy. She then runs us through her days harried, mindless tasks, admitting that none are really necessary or important. Even more than the content, its the false cheer and effortful wit (by noon Im ready for a padded cell) that communicate the writers rare and desperate excitement at being tasked with something other than housework.

The mystique of Friedans famous title could do with some demystifying. It refers to the notion, both gauzy and entrenched, that woman is a special sort of being, precious and to be protected from the world, which is the preserve of men. The prime argument of the book, which encompasses social science, history, and psychology, is that when kept in the prison of this mystiquein the thwarted, infantilized state of mere helpmeet, living only through her husband and childrena woman cannot be fulfilled. Fulfillment is hard to quantify. So often in the book it seems like a euphemism for power. Were all the wage-laboring husbands slogging off to clock in and out at offices or factories fulfilled? The postwar United States was not exactly built in utopian service to half its population and the realization of their creative, spiritual, and intellectual potential either. Later, Friedan would acknowledge that, though men had more power, they were perhaps as damaged by the iron mask of machismo as women were by the feminine mystique. To broaden her aperture to analyze the economic conditions of gender relations would have made for a more nuanced book, but would perhaps have diluted the potency of her polemic.

The books purview doesnt extend much beyond the lives of white, middle-class American womenher Smith classmates and people like them. Later, as founder and head of the National Organization for Women, or NOW, Friedan sought, energetically if imperfectly, to include Black and working-class women in the struggle for equality. In 1990, acknowledging the books demographic narrowness, Friedan explained that she did not include Black women because her editor advised her she was already taking too much on.





One question Shteirs book provokes is by what metrics we might judge feminist gains. In 1998, reflecting on the paradigm of her 1963 bestseller, Friedan described the situation of women as defined by her relationship to a man and childrenwife, mother, housekeeper, sex object, server of needs, never a person defining herself by her own actions in society. All of which now sounds mercifully quaintif not yet extinct.

Still, were now a sufficient distance from the figure of the unhappy housewife for her to have become more fetish than fact. Her appearances in mainstream American fictions have enshrined her as Valium-popping, vacuuming kitsch: She is Betty Draper with her pearls and ennui, or, more recently, Florence Pugh with her sundress and existential dread. Indeed, these days, the word housewives is more often preceded by the world real and refers to a global television franchise worth billions, whose stars, confusingly, are mostly women with jobs. (I view it as a great feminist tableau, Real Housewives producer Andy Cohen told The New Yorker earlier this year. Which is his view, but this is anybodys fact: Im in charge of the edit. The women of Housewives are not in charge of their edit.)

Attitudinal changes do not necessarily come in harmonious lockstep with more tangible gains. As Susan Sontag wrote in 1973s The Third World of Women,  liberation means poweror it hardly means anything at all, and one concrete marker of power is law. Running through Shteirs book are the travails of the Equal Rights Amendment, the prime legal battleground of Friedans life. Initially proposed in 1923, it sought to enshrine equality by ending legal distinctions between men and women in employment, divorce, and property. It had languished in Congress for nearly five decades when NOW, formed in 1966, took up the cause, lobbying elected officials for support and later making the case for ratification in writing and in the streets. The ERAs archenemy was conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, at whom Friedan notoriously lost her cool in a 1973 debate. A decade later, Friedan characterized her readiness to anger as a rejection of her mothers assimilated politesse. She was so unctuous on the telephonemy dear sweet darlingthe next thing she would say is that bitch. As a result, I virtually say you bitch on the phone. Friedan actually, not virtually, called Schlafly a witch in their televised contretemps, which Shteir characterizes as the public battle of the mothers.

Friedans use of witch pales in comparison with two of the prime gaffes of her career. Theyve ossified into phrases that make it easy to damn her. First are the words she used to describe the domestic prison American women found themselves in: comfortable concentration camp. Women aspiring merely to be housewives were in as much danger as the millions who walked to their own death in the concentration campsand the millions more who refused to believe that the concentration camps existed. It doesnt take a genius to point out that, between the death of selfhood entailed by a metaphorical prison and the nonmetaphorical deaths meted out by Nazis in real prisons, the former is preferable. Incidentally, Friedans analogy echoes one used on the eve of World War II. In 1938, Pearl S. Buck (who that same year became the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature) wrote: An intelligent, energetic, educated woman cannot be kept in four wallseven satin-lined, diamond-studded wallswithout discovering sooner or later that they are still a prison cell. The problem that had no name had already been named; its just the public wasnt ready to hear it.

In 1969, four years before the American Psychological Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses, Friedans hostility toward lesbians who wanted to make their identity central to NOW prompted a second notorious utterancethe lavender menace. In a subsequent effort to politically (if not morally) justify this, she told Simone de Beauvoir: The attempt to make political ideology out of sexual preference, out of lesbianism, has diverted energies from the political mainstream and hindered the political momentum of the womens movement. De Beauvoir (here, you can almost see a cocked, Gallic eyebrow) counters, Well of that Im not so sure. There followed (as memorialized in Friedans It Changed My Life: Writings on the Womens Movement) a prickly if polite conversation between two women struggling not to find each other strange creatures.





Ostensibly, the big bad daddy of The Feminine Mystique is Freudwhom Friedan takes to task for his sexual solipsism, that is to say, the way in which he draws supposedly universal sexual truths from his own, circumscribed impressions. Friedan disdained his notion of penis envy, the idea that little girls, upon discovering their lack of dangling genitals, feel themselves castrated. Behavior that he believed to be biological was, as Friedan observes, often a cultural reactionin other words, one sees simply that Victorian culture gave women many reasons to envy men. It was, however, mommies, not daddies, who most exercised Friedan. Were it not for her difficult relationship with Miriam, Friedan believed she may not have written her revolutionary book; as a young woman, she was determined [to] find the feminine fulfillment which had eluded my mother.

Fraught mother-daughter relationships are hardly unique to any one historical moment, but Friedan junior had come of age at a time of energetic Mommy-blaming. In 1943, Philip Wylie published the hysterical Generation of Vipers, decrying the destroying mothers whod plunged his once great nation into a matriarchy in which the women of America raped the men. But even beyond these sorts of libidinally misogynistic excesses, mother was a dirty word. Friedan was ambivalent, if not downright grumpy, about being called the mother of the movement. Sometimes, she grouses in 1976s It Changed My Life: Writings on the Womens Movement, I feel like a mother with a million children all crying help! Parsing the matrophobia that simmers through The Feminine Mystique, Shteir writes: Although [Friedan] never says so, this impulse toward matricide might have been more acute among Jewish women. An extraordinary statement! On which the author does not elaborate.

What an attitudinal shift weve gone through. I like to envision what Friedan might have made of the term mother as reimagined via queer culture and now used predominantly of cis-het white women who exude self-possession and hauteur. Cate Blanchett is Mother, Sarah Michelle Gellar is Mother, Toni Collette is Mother. Now, it seems less like we want to kill mommy than have her dom us.

As for actual mothers, a miasma of sentimentality blurs a clutch of shameful American truths. Consider the appallingly high maternal mortality rate of Black women, or the crippling cost of childcare, or the sexism of a medical establishment in which postnatal depression, for example, is under-researched and routinely dismissed. Barbie, which will fix none of this and shouldnt have to, is a movie Ive now seen twice. The line that elicited the loudest sniffles in the dark each time is also the only line I hated: We mothers stand still, murmurs a misty Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), creator of the doll, so our daughters can look back to see how far theyve come. Which smacks of precisely the kind of sentimentalizing feminine abnegation that Friedan and her successors have so righteously crusaded against.

What about a world in which none of us have to stand still? When their mothers fulfillment makes girls sure they want to be women..., Friedan prophesies on the penultimate page of The Feminine Mystique, they can stretch and stretch until their own efforts will tell them who they are. Which prompts one more questionwhat about a world in which noting how far weve come is one way of seeing how far we have to go?
LAFOURCHE PARISH, La. (WGNO)  A 66-year-old man died after being hit by a truck in Lafourche Parish on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Louisiana State Police reported troopers arrived at the scene around 2 p.m. on Louisiana Highway 1 near West 54th Street.

Crews respond to garage fire in French Quarter

There, they learned that Henry Savoie, of Larose, had tried to cross the highway on a bicycle. They said he traveled into the path of a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer and was hit.

According to LSP, he suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital. The driver of the Chevrolet was not injured.

LSP later learned that Savoie died from injuries in the hospital.

Troopers said the Chevrolet driver voluntarily gave them a breath sample, which indicated no sign of alcohol.

The crash remains under investigation.

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.

Latest Posts

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
A new draft agreement negotiated by the Biden administration poses the single greatest threat to date to the Northwests hydropower system, says the head of the Public Power Council.

Scott Sims, the councils executive director, and other critics of the draft agreement said it does not address severe impacts on ports, farmers, river users and barging operators or the resulting increase in harmful emissions if dams are removed.

The draft agreement, which was negotiated as part of a long-running federal lawsuit, does not directly call for tearing down the four lower Snake River dams in Eastern Washington.

But it outlines projects with costs potentially totaling billions of dollars to get ready for a decision to remove the dams and to boost threatened salmon populations elsewhere in the Columbia River basin system.

The executive directors of Northwest RiverPartners, the Public Power Council and the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association said in a joint statement that the agreement would undermine clean energy and climate goals, negatively impact the Northwests economy and food production, raise electricity rates and threaten grid reliability.

They say their organizations were shut out of what they recalled secret negotiations for the federal government draft agreement.

The draft was negotiated by the federal government in closed-door sessions with the states of Washington and Oregon and four tribes as part of the long-running lawsuit in federal court over management of the hydroelectric system on the Columbia and Snake rivers and tributaries.

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.

Protestors in Tacoma, carrying an inflatable orca march through downtown in March 2022, to advocate removing the Snake River dams. They blame the dams for harming chinook salmon that orcas feed on.

The draft agreement was made public after copies were leaked to the Tri-City Herald and others.

The draft agreement was completed after the Biden administration said in August that it was committed to development of a durable, long-term strategy to restore salmon and other native fish populations to healthy and abundant levels, while honoring federal commitments to Tribal Nations, delivering affordable and reliable clean power, and meeting the many resilience needs of the basins diverse stakeholders across the region, including those that use the rivers for irrigation, transportation, water supply, and recreation.

Criticism of Snake, Columbia dam breaching

Jim Matheson, chief executive of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, said the secret deal is an example of proposed government actions with devastating real-world consequences.

(It) would jeopardize reliable electricity for millions of Americans in the Pacific Northwest, he said.

Not only does this expose a severe lack of understanding about the importance of keeping the lights on, it also reveals the administrations misplaced desire to undermine our nations essential portfolio of carbon-free hydroelectric resources without considering the cost, he said.

The executive directors of Northwest RiverPartners, the Public Power Council and the Pacific Northwest Waterways said the draft agreement fails to meaningful address those goals. It undermines the future of clean energy mandates and potentially will raise the cost of electricity in the Northwest.

The commitments in the draft agreement go beyond creating a roadmap for breaching the lower Snake River dams, establishing a plan that could demolish the capabilities of the entire federal hydroelectric system for the Columbia River and its tributaries, they said.

The federal government would provide funding for four tribes in Washington and Oregon to develop new clean energy production, but those replacement resources would not come close to the reliable performance of hydro projects, they said.

The agreement as written hands the keys to anti-hydro parties whose stated objective is to dismantle the entire system, said Kurt Miller the outgoing executive director of Northwest RiverPartners.

Lower Monumental Dam near Kahlotus on the Snake River spills water to benefit juvenile salmon in July 2022.

The federal government would be required to defer to the tribes and the two state governments without consulting those who rely on the benefits of the dams, including serving 3 million electricity customers.

Shifting shipment of agriculture products and other goods from river barges to trucks and train would increase harmful emissions by more than 1.25 million tons a year, they said, comparing it to adding one large coal-fired power plant to the electric grid every two to three years.

The true cause of salmon declines is a warming, acidifying ocean, which the draft plan does not address, they said.

The draft agreement is based on one unscientific policy document of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, they said, pointing out that a NOAA peer-reviewed study predicts chinook salmon will approach extinction within the next four years if the ocean continues to warm at its current rate.

WA, OR, ID lawmakers want answers

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and three other Republican Northwest lawmakers sent a letter Wednesday to Biden saying the vague and imprecise language in the 34-page report makes it susceptible to misinterpretation.

They had earlier requested a copy of what they called the secret agreement from a White House agency and made it public Wednesday.

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, said the letter signed by Newhouse and Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.; Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho and Cliff Bentz, R-Ore.

Four hydroelectric dams on the Snake River in Eastern Washington are proposed to be removed or breached to improve salmon runs.

They want to know more about the draft plans program to fund new clean energy production by four of 40 Northwest tribes to potentially replace hydropower now produced by the lower Snake River dams.

Would the federal government advance efforts to breach the four Snake River hydroelectric dams in Eastern Washington after securing this replacement power, they asked.

And is it the administrations official position that the dams should ultimately be breached, they asked.

They also asked whether the proposal to sell the tribally produced electricity to the Bonneville Power Administration would reduce BPAs independence in setting rates for electricity widely used in the Northwest.

They questioned whether studies of replacement electricity required after breaching the hydropower dams would consider that the dams, unlike clean energy sources such as solar and wind, can dependably produce electricity around the clock.

The draft plan said that the science is clear on the need to remove dams based on Rebuilding Interior Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead, a 2022 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration.

Water spills at Lower Granite Dam, one of the four dams on the lower Snake River salmon advocates have targeted for breaching.

Were other scientific reports or studies considered, the representatives asked. And why werent many factors considered that harm salmon, like polluted water in the Puget Sound, they asked.

The federal lawsuit that resulted in the draft agreement 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.

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.
The Biden campaign seized on the expansion of Medicaid coverage in North Carolina on Friday to blast former President Trump over his renewed vow to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, potentially threatening health care coverage for millions of Americans.

Elections have consequences and today, because the people of North Carolina elected Governor Roy Cooper, 600,000 North Carolinians will be eligible for coverage under Medicaid, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. This morning, President Biden applauded that progress  while Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are actively campaigning on a promise to take it away.

Americans want a leader who is working to make health care more affordable and more accessible, she added. Who believes it is a right, not a privilege. Donald Trump has failed to pass that test.

North Carolinas Medicaid expansion will go into effect Friday, with hundreds of thousands of people in the state expected to qualify for coverage and be automatically enrolled. The federal government covers 90 percent of the cost as part of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare.

President Biden and his campaign have spent the week hammering Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, over his recent comments in which he said he would push to get rid of ObamaCare if he is reelected.

The campaign argued Friday that Trump has made clear he stands with insurance companies over hardworking Americans and will stop at nothing to repeal the ACA  even if it means throwing the lives of millions into chaos.

Biden, in a statement of his own, warned, MAGA Republicans still want to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, just like my predecessor tried and failed to do repeatedly.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act means that states, including North Carolina, wouldnt be able to offer care through Medicaid expansion, Biden said.

Trump campaigned on repealing ObamaCare during his first term, but the effort stalled in Congress. The former president raised the topic again Sunday.

We had a couple of Republican Senators who campaigned for 6 years against it, and then raised their hands not to terminate it. It was a low point for the Republican Party, but we should never give up! he wrote on Truth Social.

In subsequent posts this week, Trump doubled down, writing on Truth Social, ObamaCare sucks! and that he wanted to replace it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Scene

President Joe Bidens handling of the Israel-Gaza war has angered and alienated Democrats. In polling before last weeks temporary truce  which collapsed on Friday morning  up to 70% of them were unhappy with the administrations course.

Some of those disgruntled 2020 Biden voters are threatening not to vote at all, a problem that Democrats think they can fix. But those voters are also being pitched by third party candidates  a non-factor in the 2020 election but an emerging one ahead of 2024.

At campaign stops and in interviews, both independent Cornel West and two-time Green Party nominee Jill Stein have called for a permanent ceasefire, wooing unhappy Democrats and independents who wont hear that from their president.

I was already considering a run, said Stein, who entered the race a month after the start of the war. It felt much more urgent once I saw the overwhelming support from the two war parties for the Netanyahu regimes campaign of mass slaughter, collective punishment, ethnic cleansing, and blatant war crimes.

Davids view

Democrats arent terribly worried right now about Stein or West, for the simple reason that each candidate will need to put time and money into swing state ballot access. Wests candidacy starts with none; the Greens have automatic access in 19 states, including Michigan, but have failed to make the ballot in other swing states in close races.

The third-party candidate with the most resources right now doesnt offer much to those who oppose Bidens approach to Gaza. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., whose criticism of Ukraine war funding intrigued some Biden critics, is less critical of Israel than the president.

Israel is doing more right now to protect human life, and has done more over the past 16 years to avoid this outcome, than we would expect of any nation in the world, Kennedy told NewsNations Chris Cuomo this week.

Still, Biden simply didnt have a problem on his far-left flank in 2020  and now, he does.

Steins 2016 run followed the usual pattern for modern third-party candidates. That summer, after Hillary Clinton had defeated Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination, she polled as high as 5% in national surveys; Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Partys nominee, hit double-digits. Their support contracted on Election Day, but in swing states, their combined vote was larger than the gap between Clinton and Donald Trump.

Democrats fixed that problem in 2020, as millions of anti-Trump voters whod rejected Clinton cast a strategic ballot for Biden. But the president is far less popular than he was then, and polls that include a range of third-party candidates  West, Stein, and Kennedy  have found Bidens support slipping below 40% in key states.

Theyre taking votes out of the Biden column, and thats going to help Republicans, said Jason Roe, a Michigan GOP strategist. The natural back-and-forth between the parties is going to force some of these Democrats to say things that will alienate pro-Palestinian voters. They will not be able to help themselves; they are damned if they do, and damned if they dont.

The View From Michigan

Muslim and Arab-American political activists have been working through those concerns. Emgage, a group that turns out and educates Muslim voters, conducted polling after the start of the war that found a massive drop-off in support for Biden and a surge of interest in supporting an alternative to Trump or Biden. Its too early, said Emgage CEO Wael Alzayat, to say what could happen with those voters.

Our assessment is that third party candidates are not viable, Alzayat told Semafor. Given the elections and the reality of American politics, we assess that a vote for a third-party candidate is a vote for Trump.

The issue may be most acute for Biden in Michigan, where there are an estimated 200,000 registered Muslim voters in the state, and more than 300,000 voters with roots in the Arab world. The majority of Americans support a ceasefire, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib said outside the White House on Wednesday evening, joining a hunger strike and vigil that commemorated the Palestinians killed since the start of the war. Seventy-one percent of Michigan Democrats, in my district, support a ceasefire.

Democrats in the state tell Semafor that theyve been working proactively, with internal discussions and outreach, to calm those groups. Meanwhile, some influencers on the anti-Biden left are already looking to head off accusations that third parties are threatening to play the role of spoilers.

Third party voters are mostly people who were never going to vote for Biden, said Briahna Joy Gray, the national press secretary for the 2020 Sanders campaign, and the co-host of The Hills talk show Rising. But to the extent that Bidens support among key voting groups, like Arab-Americans in Michigan, is way down, thats because of his own policies  not the appeal of third-party candidates.

Notable

In Politico, Brittany Gibson got the first look at Wests plans to campaign in Michigan: Were the only major candidate, I think, whos bringing any kind of sanity and sensitivity to the suffering in Gaza, he said.

In the New York Times, Kayla Guo surveyed Gray and other 2020 Sanders supporters who were frustrated with how he wasnt joining them, and the rest of the Vermont delegation, in pressuring Biden on a ceasefire.
World leaders are gathering in the UAE for the COP28 climate change summit.

But President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping of China will be absent.

Their absence is an obstacle to meaningful action on climate change.

World leaders are gathering today in the United Arab Emirates for the opening of COP28, the world's most important global warming summit.

King Charles and Pope Francis are attending alongside delegates from 200 nations.

Their core goal will be making better progress toward meeting the Paris 2015 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius a year above pre-industrial levels.

But the leaders of the world's biggest polluting nations  President Joe Biden and China's leader Xi Jinping  will be conspicuous by their absence.

A man walks past a COP28 sign during the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN

The White House on Sunday announced that Biden would not be attending the opening of the summit, and following criticism of the decision announced a last-minute schedule change Wednesday, sending Vice President Kamala Harris in Biden's place.

Previously, the most senior US official scheduled to attend had been US climate envoy John Kerry.

Biden has attended both of the previous UN climate summits but is facing criticism for his green policies from Republicans, while also facing pressure from younger Democratic voters to take more action to tackle the climate crisis.

Instead, of Xi, China will be represented at the summit by China's climate envoy Xie Zhenhua.

Biden and XI pass on the chance to inject momentum into talks

The US and China are the world's biggest economies, together accounting for around 38% of the world's greenhouse emissions.

Tom Evans, a policy advisor at think tank E3G, told Business Insider that the decision by the world's most powerful leaders to skip the opening was particularly disappointing given they'd recently found common ground on the climate crisis amid escalating tensions on a range of other issues.

At a meeting in November on the fringes of the APEC summit in San Francisco, Xi and Biden agreed to limit methane emissions, and back global efforts to triple renewable energy production by 2030, one of the main goals of COP28.

"It's a huge shame to not have the leaders of the two biggest emitters here at COP," said Evans, and citing their recent agreement added: "Their attendance could have further cemented that agreement and helped inject momentum into the talks."

A key sticking point in the talks is the reluctance of some countries in the developing world to agree to tough cuts in emissions that they say would hamper their economic development.

Xi and Biden are doing little to signal their commitment to sharing the burden of reducing the climate crisis equally by not attending the summit, say critics.

Controversy over secret oil deals

Before it even began, the COP28 conference was clouded by controversy.

The UAE is one of the world's biggest producers of fossil fuels, and the COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber heads the Gulf State's oil company.

The BBC and Centre for Climate Reporting earlier in the week, citing briefing documents, reported that the UAE was planning to broker secret fossil fuel deals with nations attending the summit.

In a statement to Business Insider, a COP28 spokesman denied that the documents outlining the planned deals had in fact been discussed in meetings.

The Global Stocktake

But despite the controversy, and even in the absence of Biden and Xi, campaigners remain optimistic.

Evans said that central to the success of the summit will be the "Global Stocktake," or addressing the gaps in progress toward meeting the Paris 2015 goals such as phasing out fossil fuels and tripling renewables by 2030.

Cherelle Blazer, director of international climate and policy at the Sierra Club, told VOA, that the US delegate attending had the authority to push for meaningful progress.

"The Senate delegation is going to be there. The full US negotiating team will be there. Kerry will be there. So, everyone that needs to be in place for something actionable to happen will be there," she said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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 said it also asked the U.S. military to ground all Ospreys operating in Japan except for those joining the search operations at the crash site. At least one of the eight crew members aboard was killed, but the status of the others was not yet known.

But the Pentagon said U.S. Ospreys continue to operate out of Japan. The deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, said she was not aware of an official request from Japan to freeze Osprey flights.

A senior defense ministry official, Taro Yamato, told a parliamentary hearing that Japan has suspended flights of Ospreys until details of the crash and safety are confirmed. The cause of Wednesdays crash was not yet known.

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 Japans Ground Self-Defense Force bases.

The occurrence of such a major accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region and it is truly regrettable, Defense Minister 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. One U.S. Osprey has joined the rescue operation off Japans southern coast, defense officials said.

A U.S. defense official said if there was a pause in flights, it could also be to allow the small Air Force Special Operations Command community in Japan time to process its units crash, the official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details about the crash.

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, which might have sunk to the sea bottom, at a depth of about 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.

Lolita Baldor contributed to this report. Baldor and Copp reported from Washington.
Top Gun

The first-ever transatlantic commercial flight running on 100 percent used cooking oil and other plant-based materials went off without a hiccup on Tuesday, according to USA Today  but sadly, it flew under the moniker Flight100 and not the more fitting French Fry Express.

No matter  Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787 flew not just from London to New York but also into the history books with its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in a demonstration that shows it's possible, at least in principle, that aviation could one day be a carbon-neutral industry.

Currently, rules limit the use of SAF to 50 percent on commercial flights. To make Tuesday's journey happen, Virgin Atlantic needed approval from American and British regulators plus months of testing and checking for any safety concerns.

"This flight is super important because its showing us that we can go all the way," said sustainable aviation expert Alastair Blanshard to USA Today.

Carbon Crunch

Making flying carbon neutral is crucial because while aviation makes up just 2 percent of global carbon emissions, the industry is growing more compared to other transportation modes and the prospect of making the sector better for the environment is challenging.

SAF looks promising to aviation experts, but the production of these fuels is nowhere near the scale that aviation needs in order to be carbon zero, according to experts interviewed by USA Today. And the clock is ticking as global warming increases and coming regulations are coming to the fore. For example, the United Kingdom is planning regulation that mandates airlines fly with 10 percent SAF by 2030.

"Right now, SAF production is really scarce, said the Virgin Atlantic chief customer and operating officer Corneel Koster to the news outlet. "It needs to scale up about 150 times, is what we calculated, to be able to hit the 10 percent mandate by 2030."

More on airplanes: Pilots Testing Electric Airplane Say It's Weirdly Quiet
Boise police have arrested a man suspected of shooting a gun into a Southeast Boise home over the summer.

Police responded to the 4000 block of South Oregon Trail Way in the early morning hours of June 19 after a report of shots fired, and officers found that multiple rounds had struck the exterior of the home and some bullets had entered it, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Residents were home at the time, but no one was injured. The residents did not know the suspect, police said in a news release.

The department sought the publics help finding a suspect, and an arrest was finally made Thursday, when police announced that they had taken a 20-year-old Boise man into custody on multiple charges in connection with that incident and others.

The man was charged with felony grand theft for allegedly stealing a firearm from a vehicle on the 3000 block of Anemone Court. Police said evidence indicates the man fired that weapon into a field on Amity Road before driving to South Oregon Trail Way.

He was also charged with felony burglary and with unlawfully firing a weapon at an occupied house.

The man was booked into the Ada County Jail on a $20,000 bond at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, according to jail records.
A Treasure Valley neurosurgery practice sought to dismiss a year-old jury verdict that found it guilty of wrongfully terminating an employee who planned to report harassment and discrimination.

The employee said she was fired as retaliation. The practice said it was because she had behavioral issues and a bad attitude.

In September, a federal judge denied Neuroscience Associates request for a new trial and directed verdict. A directed verdict is given when a judge determines the plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence, allowing the case to be dismissed.

Brianna Colo, a former surgery scheduler at Neuroscience Associates, was fired in December 2018 after working for a decade at the practices clinic at 6140 W. Curtisian Ave. in Boise.

Weeks later, she filed a charge of discrimination with the Idaho Human Rights Commission and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Then she sued the practice, alleging she was retaliated against for planning to report sexual harassment and discrimination based on national origin.

Neuroscience Associates performs brain and spinal surgeries for things like tumors, aneurysms and scoliosis at a handful of offices in southern Idaho.

During the trial in the U.S. District Court in Boise in 2022, Colo testified that she confided in a colleague about her concerns, sharing that a male supervisor had commented on her appearance, touched her inappropriately and called her and another Hispanic coworker illegal aliens. She said she also told the colleague she was preparing to report the behavior to the businesss human resources department, according to a June ruling filed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham following the outcome of the trial.

Colo claimed she was fired as retaliation.

But Neuroscience Associates maintained she was fired because of a history of behavioral problems, including negative attitude and insubordination.

Neuroscience Associates said that, two months before it fired her, it became aware of a toxic social media post Colo made about the company and its chief operating officer. The practice said it chose not to fire her at the time and instead scheduled a serious discussion with her to discuss her actions on Nov. 28, 2018.

The day before the meeting was when Colo confided in her colleague. That colleague later testified that Colo did not give any indication that she was going to file a complaint.

Colo testified during the trial that the issue regarding the social media post was resolved at the Nov. 28 meeting with three supervisors, and no other issues were raised or discussed.

Neuroscience Associates said during the trial that the supervisors specifically asked Colo if she had other concerns about the workplace that she wanted to voice, and Colo said nothing.

Colo testified that she didnt voice her complaints about discrimination and harassment then because she feared retaliation. At the end of the meeting, everyone agreed to move forward with a fresh start and clean slate, according to the ruling.

Days later, the colleague Colo had confided in told supervisors about their conversation. One said, in response, (W)e all need to be careful and watch what we say and do.

On December 6, 2018, the clinics physician partners voted unanimously to fire Colo. According to the ruling, no disciplinary actions occurred between the meeting with Colo and her supervisors, where she was given a clean slate, and her termination about a week later.

A jury returned a verdict in Colos favor, awarding her $300,000 in back pay, based on her prior salary and benefits, and $1,350,000 in front pay, the amounts of which Grasham noted were advisory. The judge later reduced the front pay to $130,333 based on Colos age, training and experience at the time she was fired.

Colo asked the judge to reconsider the amount of front pay awarded, but Grasham denied the request in an October ruling that said, Colo does not point to any reason why she would be entitled to an award of front pay essentially until retirement, especially given her young age and work experience.





Front pay encompasses damages that are paid as compensation for training or relocating to another position.

The ruling denying Neuroscience Associatess motion for a new trial and directed verdict, signed by Grasham, said Colo engaged in a protected activity when she complained to a colleague about workplace conduct she believed to be illegal.

It also said that, based on evidence from emails and other conversations, as well as the close proximity between Colos complaint and her firing, a jury could infer that the practice knew about her complaint and terminated her employment as retaliation.

A Statesman reporter called the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking information on the status of Colos complaint. After waiting on hold for about 25 minutes, the reporter hung up. The agency said in response to a follow-up email that it could not comment on the status of the case, and that charges made to the commission are confidential.

Ben Earwicker, an administrator at the Idaho Human Rights Commission, said by phone that the commission investigated the complaint Colo filed and found probable cause to believe that discrimination and retaliation did occur. He said the case was closed in June 2020.

The commission tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a settlement between the two parties before the matter was taken to court. Its findings were cited by the judge in pretrial rulings.

Earwicker added that the commission generally does not release information regarding individual complaints but because the findings in the case were made public through the lawsuit, he felt comfortable doing so.

A voicemail message left with a senior officer at Neuroscience Associates seeking comment was not returned. Attempts to locate Colo for comment were unsuccessful.

He had fake workers. She wanted loans forgiven. What Idaho COVID-relief fraudsters did

Ada County commissioners say hospitals get too many tax exemptions. They propose this
Holidaymakers have been warned about a new scam that targets customers using the popular travel website Booking.com.

Customers are being told to ignore emails which ask them to confirm their hotel payment by providing their bank card details or risk having their reservations cancelled.

Cybersecurity experts from Secureworks said fraudsters were targeting hotels listed on the platform so they could impersonate staff members.

After hacking hotels, the unidentified scammers sent phishing messages threatening to cancel customers reservations unless they handed over payment information such as credit card numbers or bank details.

Rafe Pilling, head of Secureworks Counter Threat Unit, said the sophisticated scam had seen a high success rate over the last five months, warning that emails from criminals were targeting genuine customers and appearing to come from a trusted source.

He added: Its social engineering at its best.

The scam begins with fraudsters contacting a hotel and claiming to be a customer who has left a passport behind. A second email then follows with a Google Drive link, supposedly leading to an image of the passport.

However, the file at the link contains information-stealing software, so when the hotel employee clicks to download the file, hackers gain access to the hotels login credentials for the Booking.com platform.

Once logged in, fraudsters contact customers directly, posing as the hotel, to harvest their payment information.

Mr Pilling added that some stolen data from Booking.com appeared to be being sold on the dark web to other criminals through specialised cybercrime forums.

Theres a little market, or a cottage industry around that, he said, adding that Secureworks researchers had seen hotels from Greece, the US and the UK all being affected by the months-long scam.

The takeaway for people is, always double check the messages that youre getting, even if its via a legitimate channel like the Booking.com app.

And double check with a hotel or property if youre being asked for any kind of clarification of payment information.

Earlier this month, news reports indicated that Booking.coms email system had potentially been hacked, although spokesmen for the site said that some of our accommodation providers have been targeted by very convincing and sophisticated phishing tactics.

Booking.com said it had made significant investments to limit the impact of these ever-evolving tactics, and that the issue of online fraud was pressing across many sectors.

A spokesman said: Due to the rigorous controls and the machine learning capabilities we employ, we can detect and block the overwhelming majority of suspicious activity before it impacts our partners or customers.

We have also been sharing additional tips and updates with our partners about what they can do to protect themselves and their businesses, along with the latest information on malware and phishing so that they are as up-to-date as possible on the latest trends that were seeing.

In terms of some practical steps that customers can take to remain safe online, we recommend vigilance and that people carefully check the payment policy details outlined in their booking confirmation.

If a property or host appears to be asking for payment outside whats listed on their confirmation, they should reach out to our customer service team for support.

Also, its good to remember that no legitimate transaction will ever require a customer to provide their credit card details by phone, email, or text message (including WhatsApp).

Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk, while SMS messages can be forwarded to the number 7726 for officials to investigate.

Recommended

Monzo customers most hit by scams  but least likely to get a refund

Read more

Are you affected? Get in touch: money@telegraph.co.uk

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.
Its almost astonishing: Even with a slim Republican majority, the House of Representatives actually voted to expel New York GOP Congressman George Santos, after a searing Ethics Committee report last month laid out the damning case against him.

Santos allegedly stole money from donors for gambling junkets, high-end spa treatments and online porn subscriptions. Money laundering. Identity theft from family members. Wire fraud. Obstruction. His campaign treasurer pleaded guilty to charges related to Santos misdeeds. The whole sordid mess is almost too much to tally.

Yet, can we note that Donald J. Trump is still besting his Republican competitors in the polls for their partys presidential nomination next year  and by a mile? Sure, Kansas Koch machine has thrown its support behind Nikki Haley, and Fox News keeps trying to prop up Ron DeSantis  flailing campaign. (Even though Sean Hannity stacked the deck in DeSantis favor in Thursday nights so-called debate, cucumber-cool California Gov. Gavin Newsom just made the angry Florida governor come off like a clenched fist in a blue suit.)

Because the problem is what Fox, Rush Limbaugh, Joe Rogan, Bill Maher and above all social media have done to our politics. Were entering a third decade of the all-you-can-consume buffet of online information, and the pot-stirrers are all too happy that the average citizen doesnt know whats true or false anymore. The Soviet propagandists could scarcely have dreamed of a day when they could push Pravdas lies to a global audience  and that a culture that believes you can never trust the mainstream media would thrive on both right and left.

Dont believe us that delusion can be bipartisan? Go down the rabbit hole of pro-Hamas social media for a depressing lesson in how even educated civil libertarians can swallow lies.

We dont deny that ratings plays a part in what even some supposedly fair-minded media sources tell their audiences. Former CNN International chief Tony Maddox really did say Trump was good for business. And even while the network has largely been responsible about knocking down the showmans endless string of lies, it still continues to give those lies a platform by airing them in the first place. This is what normalizing looks like. Because sure, lots of politicians lie. But no, most of them dont come anywhere near Trumps level.

The Star isnt always perfect here, either. Our website at KansasCity.com recently ran a story from the wire services flatly repeating Trumps claim that he was working on his plan for health care reform if he retakes the White House. We know now, and did then, that his 2016 promises to fix our broken health care system were fiction, and that all his administration did in that arena was to try (and fail) to dismantle the crucial, increasingly popular Affordable Care Act.

Way too many serious journalists still havent internalized the lesson scholars have been warning us about: Airing would-be autocrats lies, even to knock them down, is dangerous.

This is, unfortunately, what the vast conservative alternative news ecosystem has evolved into. Fox News Svengali Roger Ailes built the network into a powerful Republican Party answer to both liberal and mainstream thought in the first 20 years of its existence. He capitalized on human beings innate desire to think were as smart as the experts, that we can do our own research and dig out the truth as well as any reporter or scientist. Its built into the rugged individualist spirit that created the Declaration of Independence.

Problem is, that spirit also enables the greedy opportunists who dont believe in government and institutions that have been cultivated over decades to keep society inside the guardrails. They know theres big money to be made by defanging the regulators and the tax fraud investigators  and the fact that the anti-everything circus makes the libs so angry is the cherry on top.

Donald Trumps feral genius is that he knows instinctively how to stoke the anger of the millions who dont think those institutions serve them anymore. In less than eight years, hes transformed the public face of his party from genteel patrician Mitt Romney and Clint Eastwood-esque John McCain into the jeering, ungovernable House now led by a speaker who was a primary architect of Trumps attempted Jan. 6, 2021, attempted government overthrow.

So, good luck, Republican leaders. We know many of you are still rooted in reality. Youve gotten rid of your highest-profile embarrassment in Congress for now. But until you  and much more important, your deep-pocket donors  figure out a way to deal with the dishonest rot thats propelling a 91-time-indicted former reality TV star to the top of your ticket again next year, youve got issues far more seriouis than George Santos.
A New York appeals court Thursday reinstated a gag order that barred Donald Trump from commenting about court personnel after the former president repeatedly disparaged a law clerk in his New York civil fraud trial.

The one-sentence decision from a four-judge panel came two weeks after an individual appellate judge put the gag order on hold while the appeals process played out.

Trial judge Arthur Engoron, who imposed the restriction, said he now planned to enforce it rigorously and vigorously.

Trump attorney Christopher Kise called it a tragic day for the rule of law. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trumps 2024 presidential campaign, complained that the order was nothing but attempted election interference, which is failing terribly.

Engoron imposed the gag order Oct. 3 after Trump posted a derogatory comment about the judges law clerk to social media. The post, which included a baseless allegation about the clerks personal life, came the second day of the trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit.

James lawsuit alleges Trump exaggerated his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. Trump denies any wrongdoing. The Republican 2024 front-runner contends the lawsuit is a political attack instigated by James and furthered by Engoron, both Democrats.

Over the trials first few weeks, Engoron fined Trump $15,000 for violating the gag order. The judge expanded the order  which initially covered only parties in the case  to include lawyers after Trumps attorneys questioned clerk Allison Greenfields prominent role on the bench, where she sits alongside the judge, exchanging notes and advising him during testimony.

Trumps lawyers filed a lawsuit against Engoron, challenging his gag order as an abuse of power.

State lawyers supported the restriction, saying it was a reasonable step to protect Engorons staff. An attorney for the court system tied Trumps comments to an uptick in nasty calls and messages directed at the judge and law clerk.

A court security captain wrote in a sworn statement last week that Greenfield has been receiving 20-30 calls per day to her personal cell phone and 30-50 messages per day on social media, LinkedIn and to two personal email addresses.

The captain reported that Greenfield received enough harassing voicemails to fill a transcript with 275 single-spaced pages, and that about half the harassing and disparaging messages to her were antisemitic.

Trumps lawyers had argued that while messages and calls were vile and reprehensible, he shouldnt be muzzled because of other peoples bad behavior. Trump never called for violence against Greenfield, nor did he or his lawyers ever encourage or condone harassment and threats, the attorneys wrote in a court filing.

They argued that the gag order infringed on his free speech rights.

As the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and as a citizen on trial, President Trump is well within his rights to comment on what he perceives as bias, Trumps lawyers wrote.

While the order was on hold, Trump posted about Greenfield as recently as Wednesday, referring to the judges very disturbed and angry law clerk.

Engoron ruled before the trial that Trump and other defendants engaged in fraud, and he ordered that a receiver take control of some of Trumps properties, putting their future oversight in question. An appeals court has put that order on hold for now.

The trial concerns remaining claims of conspiracy, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. James is seeking more than $300 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York.

Trump is due to testify, for a second time, Dec. 11. All testimony is expected to wrap up shortly afterward.

Then the two sides are due to submit filings and make their closing arguments in January, under a schedule sketched out Thursday.

The verdict in the non-jury case will be up to Engoron, who said he he hopes to reach a decision by the end of January.
As of the morning of Dec. 1, around 600 trucks remain in line at the Vysne Nemecke crossing on Slovakia's border with Ukraine, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on national television.

Slovakia's Union of Carriers (UNAS) is expected to start its blockade of the border crossing at 4 p.m. Kyiv time following the example of Polish truckers who have been blocking Poland's border with Ukraine for almost a month.

According to Demchenko, Slovakian haulers promised to let through about four trucks per hour during the blockade. The Vysne Nemecke crossing, opposite the Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod, is the only checkpoint for truckers moving between the two countries.

Tensions between Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine have risen after Polish truckers and farmers started a blockade of some of the busiest border checkpoints with Ukraine.

Some of that traffic has been diverted through Slovakia and Hungary, causing major traffic hiccups. About 1,000 trucks are waiting to cross the Chop (Tisa) - Zachon border crossing from Hungary to Ukraine, Demchenko said on TV.

Read also: Trucker protests: Unraveling the standoff between Polish and Ukrainian haulers

Polish truckers complain that the high number of Ukrainian drivers entering Poland are hauling goods from Poland to other countries, undercutting local businesses that cannot match cheaper Ukrainian prices.

Ukrainian officials and industry representatives deny the accusations. The EU has warned the Polish government to ensure the end of the blockade.

Four border crossings linking Ukraine to Poland are now blocked in total, and over 2,000 truckers are stuck in increasingly worsening humanitarian conditions.

Local media reported that two Ukrainian drivers, aged 54 and 56, died while waiting at the border.

The traffic flow at Dorohusk-Yahodyn, Ukraine's largest cargo crossing, was around 1,200 trucks per day in both directions before the blockade started on Nov. 6. It is now down to 120-140 every 24 hours, according to Demchenko.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian sabotage groups are attempting to cross Ukraine's border into Kharkiv Oblast increasingly more often compared to their usual target, Sumy Oblast, State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on Dec. 1.

"Previously, we recorded most (Russian sabotage groups) in the Sumy direction. But in the past weeks, we saw a change of direction toward Kharkiv Oblast," Demchenko said on television.

"We haven't recently recorded the activity of sabotage groups in the Sumy direction," the official added, speculating that Russia might have changed its strategy due to little gains from incursions.

Kharkiv Oblast also suffered the most Russian strikes over the past month, according to Demchenko.

Ukraine liberated much of Kharkiv Oblast in a surprise counteroffensive last fall. Since then, the region has suffered regular strikes, and Russian forces have been concentrating a large force in its northeastern area.

Russia has repeatedly attempted to cross Ukraine's border with sabotage groups, namely in northern Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts.

Read also: We pushed and they collapsed: How Ukraine liberated Kharkiv Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Boris Johnson will issue a blanket apology for government errors at the Covid Inquiry next week - LEON NEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Boris Johnson will argue that Britains obesity problem made tackling coronavirus more difficult and apologise for the Governments mistakes when he appears before the Covid Inquiry next week.

The Telegraph understands that the former prime minister will point to a string of health issues affecting the population to argue the UK was at a disadvantage when the pandemic struck.

He will also issue a blanket apology for government errors. Both comments are contained in the draft of his written statement to the inquiry, which is more than 200 pages long.

Mr Johnson has been going through months of preparations behind the scenes with a legal team ahead of his appearance at the inquiry next Wednesday and Thursday.

An ally of Mr Johnson told The Telegraph: Areas where the Government fell short, he will absolutely apologise for. But he will also be explaining what he needs to do better next time.

The source added: The UKs particular public health background put us in a particularly tricky position to handle a pandemic of this type

As a nation, we are fatter, less fit, theres lots of factors in our public health that are just facts which made the UK very different from other comparable democracies.

The UKs relatively high levels of obesity, heart disease and lung disease  three health issues that increased the risk of death if a person caught Covid  are expected to be noted.

Last year, a World Health Organisation found the UK was the fourth-worst European country for adult obesity and weight issues, behind Israel, Malta and Turkey.

It is unclear what specifics Mr Johnson will point to when pressed on the mistakes he will apologise for, though potential areas have emerged in other witness appearances.

This week, Matt Hancock, health secretary for much of the pandemic, admitted that ministers had not thrown a protective ring around people in care homes as he claimed at the time.

Mr Johnson is expected to vigorously defend his record in tackling the pandemic, pointing to the speed with which the UK rolled out Covid vaccines as a key success.

He is said to be open-minded on whether he could have taken a different approach to lockdowns though will argue his concern was critical in avoiding a fourth nationwide lockdown when the Omicron variant of Covid struck in the winter of 2022.

There is also expected to be a robust defence of his engagement with Covid policy, with accusations of flip-flopping levelled by multiple former advisers firmly dismissed.

On that front, Mr Johnson is expected to insist that he wanted to listen to all sides of the debate inside Whitehall and argue his approach was better than that of authoritarian national leaders unwilling to change course.

Figures who have talked to Mr Johnson about his preparation claim there are no smoking gun WhatsApp messages to be revealed, though they admit there are some off-colour jokes.

The former prime minister will also outline his proposals for changes to the Government system, coming from his vantage as the ultimate decision-making during the pandemic.

Areas he has been scrutinising in recent months include the role of the Cabinet Office, the way scientific advice is given to prime ministers and how the structure of devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working with the UK Government could be improved.

An ally of Mr Johnson said: He wants the UK Government to be in a position next time to be able to respond better and to be better prepared.

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.
Both dogs reunited with Atlanta owners after being stolen by gunmen who shot at dog-walker

Four days after two dogs were stolen at gunpoint from a dog walker, both of them have been found, according to their owners.

Joshua Cavanaugh was walking his friends dogs, Scotch and Stogie, on Sunday when thieves fired a warning shot and another grabbed the dogs leashes and ran off with the dogs.

Read: DOH-Baker issues rabies alert, asking residents to be cautious

On Tuesday night, Matt Livingston, one of the owners, told Channel 2s Tom Regan that Stogie was found in the Adamsville neighborhood at the intersection of Fairburn and Hemphill School Road.

On Wednesday, Livingston told Channel 2 Action News that the second dog, Scotch, was found in the same area.

Read: Going to be a major piece of information to have: Jacksonville mayor provides stadium deal update

The owners of the mixed bulldogs were on vacation over the weekend when the dogs got snatched in the Castleberry Hills neighborhood of southwest Atlanta.

Video showed the owners dog walker chasing after thieves who had just stolen the two dogs at gunpoint.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Read: 30 years ago today: Jacksonville Jaguars come to life, becoming NFLs 30th franchise

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers support limiting the ability of American citizens to invest in Chinese companies. A small group of Republicans, meanwhile, is advocating a more measured approach.

On November 20, over 40 U.S. lawmakersincluding Sens. Marco Rubio (RFla.), Debbie Stabenow (DMich.), and Angus King (IMaine)signed a letter to the ranking members of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

"We are deeply concerned," the letter read, "about the potential national security threats posed by outbound capital flows and knowledge transfer to the United States' adversaries," namely China. "There is strong bipartisan consensus in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives that Congress must act to address the national security threat posed by these outbound investments."

To that end, the signers hoped the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)the annual must-pass legislation that funds the various components of the national security apparatus, from paying soldiers to maintaining the nuclear stockpilewould include a provision that addressed their concerns.

The Senate passed its version of the NDAA in July, though it seems unlikely the House will pass the same version untouched. The Senate bill included Amendment 931, which the chamber accepted by a 916 vote. Under the terms of the amendment, any U.S. citizen or company investing in sectors like semiconductors, satellites, or artificial intelligence in a "country of concern" (like China) would have to provide written notification of the transaction to the Secretary of the Treasury at least two weeks in advance.

The bipartisan letter asked that the NDAA include language that addresses outbound investments in China "and ideally strengthen the language." It mentioned Amendment 931 as well as Executive Order 14105, issued by President Joe Biden in August, which declared "a national emergency to deal with this threat"that threat being the "advancement by countries of concern in sensitive technologies and products critical for the military, intelligence, surveillance, or cyber-enabled capabilities."

The bipartisan letter noted, seemingly positively, that the executive order "goes beyond notification to consider prohibition of investment in some sectors."

While the Treasury Department's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews investments made in the U.S. by foreign nationals, Biden's executive order wants regulations going in the other direction, to potentially limit Americans' investments in foreign countries. As Reason's Eric Boehm reported at the time, "There are only two other countriesSouth Korea and Taiwanthat have outbound investment screening systems."

At the congressional level, the proposal is currently being held up by Rep. Patrick McHenry (RN.C.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee who briefly served as House Speaker Pro Tempore in October. As Bloomberg reported this week, "McHenry, who has long opposed broad investment restrictions in favor of an approach that targets individual companies," is "effectively blocking" the measure's inclusion in the House's version of the NDAA.

In a September 27 letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, McHenry expressed relief that the "scope" of Biden's executive order was "less broad than some had anticipated" but nevertheless felt the administration's policy was "arbitrary, relies on baseless assumptions, and in certain places is incoherent."

"If we oppose China's state-run economy, we want more private investment  not less," McHenry wrote. "Of those private investors, we want more of them to be Americans  not fewer."

McHenry has a point. "We should be targeting specific companies rather than imposing blanket restrictions," says Clark Packard, a research fellow at the Cato Institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies.

"Broadly speaking, I don't think Americans should be investing in companies that make equipment used to surveil and further repress Uyghurs," Packard added, pointing to an April Axios report that said cameras made by Chinese-owned surveillance firm Hikvision have been used to surveil Uyghurs, the Muslim minority population that has been subjected to a campaign of authoritarian repression by the Chinese government.

Outright bans on investment would be a bridge too far, even for a country like China with such a dismal human rights record, and could even backfire. Rep. Andy Barr (RKy.), who serves with McHenry on the House Financial Services Committee, tweeted that the proposed regulations "would inadvertently bolster [Chinese President] Xi Jinping's goal to block American influence in the Chinese market." Barr added, "It's crucial we find the right balance in safeguarding American influence and intelligence without creating unnecessary bureaucracy."

Last week, Ian Allen at Just Security wrote that the proposed rules could also lead other nations, including allies and trading partners, to adopt restrictions of their own, in turn. "Overly restrictive measures risk impediments to global technological advancement, blowback for domestic industries, and high administrative costs (which are projected to reach $10 million simply to start the program)," Allen warns.

Besides, there is reason to suspect that a more measured approach is warranted. "Foreign direct investment in China turned negative during the 3rd quarter of 2023  for the first time on record," Packard added. "In other words, more capital flowed out of China than into China in the 3rd quarter of 2023. Likewise, between 2014 and 2020, foreign direct investment from G7 countries into China fell by about half." Industrialized nations are turning their backs on an increasingly illiberal China.

Just like targeted sanctions, Congress can designate certain companies that are particularly objectionable to be off-limits, while allowing Americans the freedom to otherwise use their money as they see fit. On the other hand, an all-encompassing ban as has been proposed by members of both major parties would be too aggressive and could even risk escalating tensions with the world's second-largest economy.

The post Both Parties Agree: It's the Government's Business Whether You Invest in Chinese Companies appeared first on Reason.com.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A reminder for drivers that Hotel Rio Drive will closed due to bridge repair work on Monday.

The closure will start at 6 a.m. on Monday until approximately 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

All lanes of the roadway between Dean Martin Drive and Flamingo Road will closed while the work is in progress. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes including Valley View Boulevard for north-south travel and Twain Avenue and Harmon Avenue for east-west travel.

For updates on lane restrictions and road work around the Las Vegas Strip click HERE.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech during a press conference on the net zero target, at the Downing Street Briefing Room

By Elizabeth Piper

DUBAI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion) in funding at the U.N. climate summit on Friday and faced down critics who accuse him of undermining Britain's standing after watering down measures to reach net zero.

Sunak, in Dubai for COP28 leaders' day, tried to restore Britain's reputation as a leader in tackling climate change by saying not only did his country have one of the most ambitious targets to cut emissions, it was still on track to meet them.

Repeating Britain's "pragmatic" approach to climate change in balancing voters' concerns with pledges to meet emissions reductions, Sunak also announced an up to 11 billion pound investment in the country's Dogger Bank offshore windfarm.

"With all the changes that I've made earlier, we're still on track to meet all of those emissions targets that I've just set out," Sunak told a news conference, just hours before he was due to depart from the summit.

Asked whether any leaders had raised concerns about his decision to delay a ban on sales of new petrol cars, ease the transition to heat pumps and to grant new North Sea drilling licences, he replied: "Hand on heart, 100% no."

"Not a single leader that I've spoken to today has spoken about that. Do you know why? Because most of their targets are less ambitious than the UK's," he said.

With his governing Conservatives running way behind the opposition Labour Party in polls before an election expected next year, Sunak's team believes voters will only support measures to tackle climate change when they are affordable.

"The transition to net zero should make us all safer and better off. It must benefit, not burden ordinary families. The UK has led the way in taking pragmatic, long-term decisions at home," he said in an earlier statement.

Turning the focus away from domestic measures, he used his presence at COP28 to highlight how Britain could help other countries reduce emissions and to speak to Middle Eastern leaders about getting more aid into Gaza.

The climate funding includes up to 500 million pounds to tackle the causes of deforestation, 316 million for energy innovation projects around the world and up to 60 million for loss and damage.

($1 = 0.7911 pounds)

For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Farouq Suleiman in London; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Alison Williams)
A 17-year-old shot in the head in Brooklyn has died, police said Friday.

The victim was struck by a bullet Sunday at 3:30 p.m. near the elevated 3 train line at Chester St. and Livonia Ave. in Brownsville, police said.

The teen was rushed by medics to Brookdale University Hospital, where he died Monday night.

It was not clear why the NYPD did not release information about the murder until Friday.

There was no immediate arrest and the victims name has not yet been released.
Israel and Hamas agreed at the last minute Thursday to extend their cease-fire in Gaza by another day. But any further renewal of the deal that has seen dozens of hostages and prisoners released could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining captives.

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 has vowed to resume its offensive once the cease-fire expires.

And the talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children kidnapped during the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers.

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.

This process is producing results. Its important, and we hope that it can continue, he said.

Qatar, which along with Egypt has played a key role in mediating, announced the latest extension of the truce, under which Hamas has released at least 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israels release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners. The two Arab countries are now seeking to prolong the deal by another two days, according to Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypts State Information Service.

As word of Thursdays extension came, 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 police.

The two attackers, brothers from a Palestinian neighborhood in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed. Hamas armed wing claimed the attack, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and other Israeli crimes. The attack did not appear to threaten the truce in Gaza.

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 bolt 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 resumes its offensive.

As soon as Hamas stops releasing mothers, were coming for the fathers. As soon as it stops releasing daughters, were coming for the sons, Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said. We are going to continue putting unrelenting military pressure on Hamas to release everyone.

The initial truce  which began 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 if the swaps continue at the current rate.

Its not clear how many of the women 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.

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.

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, including several men.

Before the cease-fire, 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 Oct. 7.

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed over 1,200 people  mostly civilians  in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and captured around 240. 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 toll is likely much higher, as officials have only sporadically updated the count since Nov. 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.

In Gaza, an anxious respite

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 leveled in Gaza City and surrounding areas in the north. The smell of decomposing bodies trapped under collapsed buildings fills the air, said Mohammed Mattar, a 29-year-old resident of the city who along with other volunteers searched for the dead.

In the south, the truce has allowed more aid to be delivered from Egypt, up to 200 trucks a day. But humanitarian officials say it is not enough, given that most now depend on outside aid. Over 1 million displaced people have sought refuge in U.N.-run shelters, with many forced to sleep outside in cold, rainy weather because of overcrowding.

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, said one woman in line, Nawal Abu Namous. We spend money on transportation to get here, just to go home with nothing.

Jobain reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip, and Chehayeb from Beirut. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Tel Aviv, Israel, Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.
BRUNSWICK, Ohio (WJW)  A Brunswick school employee was placed on administrative leave after officials say she was arrested Friday morning.

According to the Brunswick City School District, special education coordinator Leann Alferio, 42, was arrested for an incident unrelated to school district business.

What is White Lung Syndrome, the Ohio child pneumonia outbreak?

Elyria Municipal Court documents say Alferio is charged with interception of wire, oral or electronic communications. FOX 8 reached out to the Lorain County Sheriffs Office for more information.

What Cavs fans did at Thursdays worst loss

Ms. Alferio was immediately placed on administrative leave in order to provide the district

with the time and space to understand what had occurred, the school district said in a statement. The safety of our students and staff is our number one concern.

Alferio is being held in the Lorain County Jail.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A California law that is scheduled to take effect on January 1 will impose a host of new restrictions on public possession of firearms. That may seem counterintuitive, since Senate Bill 2 is the state legislature's response to the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which upheld the Second Amendment right to carry guns for self-defense outside the home. But California, like several other states with discretionary carry-permit policies that had to be revised because of Bruen, is attempting an end run around that decision by simultaneously making permits easier to obtain and much harder to use.

In Bruen, the Supreme Court said states may not require permit applicants to demonstrate "a special need for self-protection distinguishable from that of the general community." Accordingly, S.B. 2, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law on September 26, eliminates California's "good cause" requirement, along with a similarly amorphous "good character" criterion (although it still disqualifies applicants deemed "reasonably likely" to pose a danger to themselves or others). By limiting the discretion of licensing authorities, S.B. 2 notes, those changes could have opened the door to "broadly allowing individuals to carry firearms in most public areas." Deeming that outcome intolerable, legislators instead decreed that guns may not be carried in most public areas.

Copying the constitutionally dubious approach taken by states such as New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Hawaii, S.B. 2 designates myriad locations as "sensitive places" where guns are not permitted. It also establishes a default rule that people may not bring guns into a business unless the owner "clearly and conspicuously posts a sign at the entrance of the building or on the premises indicating that licenseholders are permitted to carry firearms on the property."

As a federal lawsuit challenging those rules notes, the law "turns the Bruen decision on its head, making nearly every public place in California a 'sensitive place' (in name only)" and "forbidding firearm carry even after someone has undertaken the lengthy and expensive process to be issued a concealed handgun license." California's gun-free zones "include every park and playground, every hospital, all public transportation, any place that sells alcohol (which, in California, includes most gas stations and convenience and grocery stores), all land under the control of the Department of Parks and Recreation or the Department of Fish and Wildlife (with exceptions for hunting), libraries, churches, banks, and many more." S.B. 2 "even transforms private businesses into 'gun-free zones' by default, imposing an unprecedented affirmative duty on private business owners to post signage to authorize people exercising an enumerated constitutional right to enter the property."

As a result, says the complaint in May v. Bonta, "Californians who desire to exercise their enumerated right to carry are essentially limited to some streets and sidewalks (so long as those public places are not adjacent to certain other 'sensitive' places), plus a few businesses willing to post a 'guns allowed' sign at the risk of potentially losing other customers by doing so." The law "creates a patchwork quilt of locations where Second Amendment rights may and may not be exercised, thus making exercise of the right so impractical and legally risky in practice that ordinary citizens will be deterred from even attempting to exercise their rights in the first place."

Under Bruen, California will have to show that its restrictions are "consistent with this Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation." In this context, the lawsuit says, that means "all law-abiding, competent adults" have "the right to carry firearms and ammunition for self-defense in all public areas that have not historically been considered 'sensitive places' or their modern analogues based on relevant history."

Before S.B. 2 was enacted, federal judges had concluded that similar restrictions in New York and New Jersey failed the Bruen test. While California legislators were considering S.B. 2, a federal judge in Hawaii issued a temporary restraining order against several of that state's location-specific gun bans. Three days after Newsom signed S.B. 2, a federal judge blocked enforcement of Maryland's restrictions on firearms near public demonstrations, its ban on carrying guns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, and its presumptive rule against guns in other businesses open to the public.

Unfazed by those warnings, California is forging ahead with a policy that defies Bruen while pretending to comply with it. At a February 1 press conference announcing the introduction of S.B. 2, its supporters lamented the "radical Bruen ruling" and the resulting "flood of applicants" for carry permits while expressing the hope that the bill would mitigate the "disastrous effect of the Bruen decision." As the complaint in May v. Bonta notes, Newsom himself called Bruen "a very bad ruling" and "used air quotes when discussing the 'right' to carry firearms outside the home, making his contempt for the Constitution clear."

The post California Defies SCOTUS by Imposing Myriad New Restrictions on Public Gun Possession appeared first on Reason.com.
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
(NEXSTAR)  When you think of the heart of Nevada, you probably think of somewhere in the states sparsely populated center, far from the bright lights of Las Vegas. Perhaps its a small town in the mountains along Route 50, or an arid landscape in the middle of nowhere with tumbleweeds blowing in the distance.

The correct answer, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is closer to Vegas than you might think.

Since the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau has been calculating the center of population in the country. This is a point where an imaginary, flat, weightless, and rigid map of the U.S. would balance perfectly if everyone were of identical weight. It is the average location of where people in the U.S. live, according to the Census Bureau.

What will be different in southern Nevadas first El Nino winter in 5 years?

Data from the 2020 census found Hartville, Missouri, is the heart of America. Since 1980, Missouri towns have been the population centers, but the first-ever center in 1790 was in Maryland, just east of Baltimore.

In addition to calculating the center of population for the U.S., the Census Bureau is also able to calculate the heart of each state, including Nevada.

Based on the latest census, Illinois center of population is located at 37 00 57N, 116 10 26W. That lands us in an area of Nye County, amid old Cold War nuclear test sites, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

You can see the center of Nevadas current population on the interactive map here:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The states center is quite remote and off the main roads. The closest town appears to be Amargosa Valley on Route 95.

This is the farthest south Nevadas center has been since the Census first tracked it in 1880. As Las Vegas population has boomed, it has dragged the states population center closer and closer.

Las Vegas best cheeseburger isnt found at a burger joint, according to Yelp

You can see on the map below, the first calculated center back in 1880 was much closer to Reno and the states geographic center.

You can view the progress of Nevadas population center in the interactive map below.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Its too soon to tell where Nevadas next population center will be in 2030, but it will likely creep even closer to Las Vegas city limits. The metro area remains one of the fastest growing in the nation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
On a night that was to be a milestone, 15-year-old Uliana Filonchuk took refuge in the basement of her school in Kyiv, Ukraine after air-raid sirens went off alerting her school dance of a possible Russian attack.

I was very scared, Uliana said. We just had the rest of the dance in the basement.

That same night, in February 2022, her school handed out ninth grade certificates of completion to everyone at the dance, a golden ticket to start school somewhere new.

That new school turned out to be Varyvoda Christian Academy in downtown Orlando, where Uliana is one of 60 Ukrainian middle and high school students enrolled.

Varyvoda Christian Academy, a school founded primarily to help orphaned Ukrainian refugee children whose lives have been upended by war, celebrated its opening on Wednesday with a small festival full of Ukrainian food, music and poems recited by students.

The private school, which is open to everyone, teaches students English along with more traditional subject matters. Currently the school is virtual but soon it will be housed at 580 W. Jackson St.

Founder Elvira Varyvoda has so far helped 13 of her students, who were left as orphans during the ongoing invasion, immigrate to the U.S.

Varyvoda was moved to help because, she said, she saw her children in the eyes of the orphans.

I am from Ukraine and I see whats going on over there and whats happening, so my main thing is just to help those kids, Varyvoda said through tears. I try to do the best with whatever I can and bring them here to change their lives and at least theyre not hearing bombings or having to stay in a shelter or in a basement.

Some of the children have deep emotional scars caused by seeing the war, Varyvoda said, which makes it harder for the children to acclimate to life in the U.S. To head this off, she choose someone to lead the school who shared similar experiences: someone who had to leave their home and didnt speak the language when they arrived in the U.S.

The schools principal is Michelange Bertrand, an immigrant from Haiti, whose aim is to help students keep their Ukrainian roots.

I can relate to what the kids are going through because when I came here at 15 it was a culture shock, Bertrand said. What we are doing here is  were not losing our culture when we come here  were adapting to a new culture. Were embracing a new culture while still reflecting on our values from where were from as well.

Bertrand said he teaches the students to think about new possibilities in the U.S. rather than focusing on their old life in Ukraine.

America offers the opportunity that most countries really dont offer, Bertrand said. Ive shared my story with them to just kind of let them know Ive been in their shoes before  When I came here, I did not speak English either.

Varyvoda, a single mother of three who immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine over 20 years ago, helped the students apply for the Uniting For Ukraine program through the Department of Homeland Security.

The program, established in April 2022, provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to come to the U.S. and stay temporarily in a two-year period of parole. The program is aimed at providing faster refugee status to Ukrainians by connecting them to U.S. citizens. So far, over 113,000 Ukrainians have been able to enter the U.S. through this program.

Varyvoda acts as the students sponsor and financial provider, a requirement of the program. Some of the Ukrainian children stay at her timeshare in Orlando while others stay in an apartment rented by Varyvoda with their grandparents or new, legal guardians.

Varyvoda owns Elvar, a commercial cleaning company, which has operated in Michigan for the past seven years. She dipped into her savings to help pay for her Ukrainian charges, she said.

I have spent a lot but whatever Ive done, Ive done it from my heart, Varyvoda said. I even tried to sell my house in Michigan for this tragedy and size down to have extra money.

Yarina Lewytska, who helped organize Wednesdays festival, said Varyvoda has worked hard to get the kids here and fund the school and is incredible to keep pushing at a time when getting funding support has been difficult.

She did by herself everything; shes [an] incredible woman, to tell you the truth, Lewytska said.

Lewytska helps injured Ukrainians get wheelchairs and frequently goes between her home in the U.S. and Ukraine. She said when the war first started in Ukraine getting people to donate money to help was easier but as time has gone on, and another war between Israel and Hamas has started, getting support to help Ukrainians is more difficult.

Its so difficult now, Lewytska said. You know, we had the attention of the whole world but now another war started and people are tired of everything, and I understand them.

Varyvoda said she hopes to one day expand the school to have dormitories for Ukrainian orphans. For now, she is hoping to get grants and donations to build the campus one day.

My vision in the future, if God willing, is to get a campus with buildings and a church and school, Varyvoda said. Right now, for only me, I cannot afford it.

What Varyvoda has done has changed the lives of people like Uliana, who lives now with a war in Ukraine in the rearview mirror.

Uliana lived in a 17-story apartment with her 12-year-old sister Oleksandra and would constantly hear sirens and bombs going off as war raged on.

We heard air alarms every week, sometimes many times a week, Uliana said. One time I heard very loud explosions just next to our apartment building and it was scary; we didnt know what was happening. It was terrible.

In October, Uliana and her sister arrived in the U.S. after driving to Poland, then flying to Berlin, then Norway and finally to Miami, before driving to her new home in Orlando.

Uliana lost her father, who was a soldier in the Ukrainian army, and left behind the remainder of her family.

I really miss my family, my friends, my close people, Uliana said. But I understand that its best here.
FILE PHOTO: Republican U.S. candidates participate in their third debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign in Miami, Florida

By Gram Slattery and Alexandra Ulmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The chairman of the main political action committee supporting the presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis has stepped down, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, in another blow to the Florida governor ahead of the first Republican nominating contests.

The resignation of Adam Laxalt from the Never Back Down super PAC, first reported by The New York Times, comes just more than a week after the exit of the super PAC's chief executive, Chris Jankowski, and as DeSantis struggles to hold onto his No. 2 standing in the Republican contest.

Laxalt's resignation is significant because Never Back Down has been playing an unusually prominent role in DeSantis' campaign. Super PACs can receive donations of unlimited size, but cannot coordinate directly with campaigns.

The campaign has been progressively losing confidence in the super PAC over the last few months, according to several people familiar with the matter, due to what campaign officials see as strategic errors.

Laxalt did not respond to a request for comment.

Andrew Romeo, DeSantis' communications director, complemented Never Back Down in a statement.

"The collective firepower of Team DeSantis remains unmatched," he said. "Never Back Down boasts an impressive field operation and ground game."

The Times reported that Laxalt wrote in a letter to Never Back Down's board that he needed to dedicate more time to his family and his law practice.

However, one source with knowledge of Laxalt's thinking said Laxalt was concerned about what he saw as excessive spending at the group.

Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the UN and former South Carolina governor, has surpassed DeSantis in some of the states that play the most pivotal role in the Republican primaries. Both DeSantis and Haley are more than 40 points behind former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner in most national polls.

The Iowa Republican caucuses on Jan. 15 will kick off the presidential nominating contests.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Ross Colvin, Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis)
The home page of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA.

Applying for college financial aid is about to get a little bit easier this month.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA, is getting a long-awaited facelift, which federal education officials say will make the process easier for students and their families to navigate. But some experts say changes in the formula for awarding aid might hurt some families, especially those with multiple children in college.

In 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, which updated the financial aid application process, expanded Pell Grant eligibility and significantly overhauled the systems used to award federal student aid starting in the 20242025 award year.

While higher education advocates have long pushed for an easier FAFSA form, and students will receive billions in assistance overall, some say the changes mean others will lose out of financial aid.

"For these dependent students enrolled full-time at four-year institutions, there will be winners and losers in this process," researchers at the Brookings Institute, a nonprofit public policy organization, wrote in a report on FAFSA simplification in April.

What are the biggest changes coming to the FAFSA?

One of the most noticeable differences to the FAFSA is its length. What was once a cumbersome 108-question application will be cut down to 36 questions.

Some of those questions removed were related to Selective Service registration and drug convictions. It also added questions about applicants sex, race, and ethnicity, which have no effect on federal student aid eligibility.

Ashley Logan  director of college advising at I Know I Can, the only college access program in Columbus  said previous FAFSA forms were so long and technically complicated that some families felt too overwhelmed to complete it.

"A more simple FAFSA should open up doors to more funding for more families," Logan said.

Another big change in the FAFSA process is when it opens to the public. Typically, the U.S. Department of Education opened applications in October for the following school year. This year, however, the FAFSA will open in Dec. 31.

Logan said it's been an adjustment for schools and colleges that have operated under the old timeline. Some colleges have pushed back their priority application deadlines to line up with FAFSA, she said.

The change has also shortened the window that students will have to hear back from colleges about their financial aid options, Logan said. That means some students relying on financial aid to decide which college they can attend will have less time to make those decisions. Financial aid letters typically come out in late winter or early spring, Logan said.

Some other changes include:

Replacing the "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC) with the " Student " Aid Index" (SAI): Expected family contribution, meaning the amount of money the government determines a family can likely pay for a year of college costs, will be renamed to "Student Aid Index." The change is make it clear that the number families see after filing the FAFSA isn't what they're required to pay but rather an indicator of their financial need. Students will also be able to have a negative SAI under the changes, which will make it easier for colleges to see which students need the most aid.

Pell Grant eligibility expanded : The bill both expands who is eligible for Pell Grants as well as the maximum amount awarded to each student. It will link eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level. In the 2023-2024 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award was $7,395. That was up from $6,895 in 2022-2023.

Larger income protection allowances (IPA): IPA, which covers a familys basic daily living expenses, is excluded from FAFSA's financial aid eligibility formula. Larger IPAs will lower the income students and parents can contribute to college expenses, ultimately increasing their financial aid eligibility.

Who are the biggest losers from FAFSA changes?

Researchers say students with siblings also in college, about a third of all students, will likely lose the most.

Commonly known as the "sibling discount," a students expected family contribution is currently reduced proportionally to the number of that students siblings who are also enrolled in college. While the new FAFSA calculations will still take family size into account, it will no longer give breaks to families who have multiple children in college at the same time.

Students at the lowest income levels wont be affected. Student or their parents who earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, however, will see reduced Pell Grants and institutional grants, according to EconoFact, a nonpartisan publication that analyzes economic and social policies.

These changes will increase the financial burdens for families with multiple students enrolled in college, Brookings researchers found.

"They stand to lose thousands of dollars in financial aid," researcher wrote. "For those students who are already on campus, they will be shocked by the large increase in their net price."

Another potential loser of FAFSA simplification are families with an adjusted gross income of $60,000 and own farms or small businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

Currently, those farms and businesses are exempted as financial assets, which FAFSA would calculate as money that could be used to pay for college. The new FAFSA calculations does consider those items to be assets.

An analysis by Iowa College Aid found that a family earning $60,000 with a farm valued at a median $1 million would currently be expected to contribute about $7,600 toward college. Under the new formula, that same family would be responsible for more than $41,000 because the farm would be considered an asset.

In April, seven U.S. Senators introduced the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act to reverse those FAFSA changes, saying farms are unlike other liquid assets that can be easily sold for cash. That bill is still in committee.

Who are the winners from these FAFSA changes?

Most other students, especially those from low-income families, will benefit from the changes.

An analysis by the State Higher Education Executive Officers, a national association that helps develop education policies, found that among all students, more than 75% of students are likely to see a decrease in SAI relative to EFC, meaning they could be eligible for more financial aid.

About 13% are expected to see no change in their SAI, and about 11% may experience an increase in SAI. Among students who might experience an increased SAI, the majority were already ineligible for Pell Grants under the existing formula and expected to be ineligible under the new formula.

When should I fill out the FAFSA?

The FAFFA will be available for students to complete on Dec. 31. The form, along with additional information about the changes, can be found at www.studentaid.gov.

Logan said filing a FAFSA is best done sooner than later, as most money in higher education aid is doled out on a rolling basis.

All prospective and current college students must fill out the FAFSA to qualify for federal, state and institutional financial aid, including federal student loans, grants and work-study.

A 2022 analysis by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio found that high school graduates statewide missed out on more than $111 million in financial aid by not filling out the FAFSA.

FAFSA applications are also the greatest indicator of college enrollment, Logan said. Last year, almost all Greater Columbus school districts had higher FAFSA completion rates than the national average, according to state and federal data. Many local colleges and universities saw a boost in enrollment this fall.

"It's free," Logan said. "You never know what doors it might open up."

Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.

shendrix@dispatch.com

@sheridan120

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Changes are coming to FAFSA. What it means for your financial aid
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  On Thursday Democrats pushed through an effort to subpoena two conservative activists as part of the Judiciary Committees investigation into Supreme Court ethics.

Tensions boiled over at the start of the meeting, when Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called for a vote on judicial nominees. Republican lawmakers erupted in anger when Durbin stopped them from commenting, insisting there had already been two other opportunities for debate on those nominees.

Mr. chairman dont we get the opportunity to speak? Tennessee GOP Senator Marsha Blackburn asked.

How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate

Were in a roll call, Durbin responded.

So youre telling us to shut up? Blackburn retorted.

I guess Senator Durbin is not going to allow women to speak either. I thought that was sacrosanct in your party, Senator Tom Cotton said.

Congratulations on destroying the United States Senate Judiciary Committe, Senator John Cornyn quipped after one of the votes on a nominee was finished.

I mean this is so unnecessary to ruin the committee over a political exercise thats going nowhere, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said.

The chaos came ahead of a vote to subpoena Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo as part of the committees probe into Supreme Court ethics.

I think this is despicable what theyre doing to these people. I think its bad for the country, Graham said.

Both Crow and Leo are Republican activists connected to lavish gifts given to conservative justices.

Without a new stronger ethics regime, how can the public trust that the justices will indeed refrain from such impropriety in the future? Durbin said.

Republicans tried to run out the clock for the meeting, but Democrats eventually pushed through a vote to issue the subpoenas.

I dont buy one bit this is about fixing a problem. This is about an ongoing effort to destroy this court, Graham said.

Senator Graham pointed out that the court just established new ethics rules on its own.

But Senator Durbin argues without an enforcement mechanism that effort falls short.

The committees investigation of the courts ethical crisis, and these subpoenas in particular are key pieces of our legislative effort to establish an effective code of conduct, Durbin said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Polish carriers began a strike at the border with Ukraine on November 6

About 2,100 trucks were waiting in line to enter Ukraine at the Ukrainian-Polish border as of the morning of Dec. 1, with the heaviest traffic reported at the Krakowiec checkpoint, Ukrainian State Border Guard Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko reported on national television on Dec. 1.

The Polish side at the Yahodyn checkpoint accepted no more than 20 trucks for entry, Demchenko said.

Read also: Poland to ask EU to cancel visa-free cargo transport for Ukraine  PM Morawiecki

"The blockade of four checkpoints continues. As of the morning, according to the information we have from our Polish colleagues, there are about 2,100 trucks waiting in line at these four checkpoints towards Ukraine, most of which are opposite the Shehyni and Rava-Ruska checkpoints," he said, adding that thousands of vehicles are waiting to enter Poland.

The passage of cars through the checkpoints has significantly decreased due to the blockade.

"Yahodyn used to witness about 1,200-1,300 trucks crossing the border daily in both directions, Demchenko said.

Read also: Copycat Slovak carriers plan to block UzhhorodVysne Nemecke border checkpoint on Dec. 1

Now, this number fluctuates at the level of 120-140. Specifically, concerning Rava-Ruska and Krakovets, before Nov. 6, 600 trucks traversed the border in both directions daily. Now this number has decreased by half or even three times."

There are about 600 trucks waiting in line on the Slovak border in the direction of UzhhorodVysne Nemecke checkpoint, he said.

"On the border with Hungary, opposite the Tisza checkpoint, up to 1,000 trucks are waiting for the opportunity to cross into Ukraine," he added.

Demchenko also reminded that on Dec.1, the blocking of traffic for trucks began in the direction of the UzhhorodVysne Nemecke checkpoint.

Read also: Slovakia extends and expands ban on agricultural imports from Ukraine

"At 4 pm Kyiv time, we will observe the situation on the border with Slovakia. Participants in this action have indicated that approximately four trucks per hour will be allowed to pass from Slovakia," he said.

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-Yahodyn. On Nov. 22, the blockade of the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border was extended until Feb. 1, 2024.

Read also: Petulant Polish truckers shut down 4th border crossing with UA, second trucker dies while waiting

Ukraine negotiated with Polish protesters who are blocking the movement of trucks at the border but failed to reach a consensus.

The European Commission stated on Nov. 16 that it could take punitive measures against Poland if it does not resolve the issue of blocking Ukrainian border crossings.

Trucks were also being blocked at the Medyka  Shehyni crossing point from Nov. 23.

A second Ukrainian driver died at the border on Nov. 23. The Ukrainian Embassy in Poland urgently submitted an official note to the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Ukraine began collecting data for the evacuation of Ukrainian drivers from the Polish-Ukrainian border and is initiating the creation of an EU monitoring group at the border.

Read also: Polands Tusk accuses outgoing Polish government of inaction in Polish trucker border blockade

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
A Cherokee County man will spend the next few decades behind bars after officials say he pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine.

Cherokee County District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said 36-year-old James Aaron Aldred IV of Canton was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 20 years of probation after pleading guilty to manufacturing, trafficking and selling meth.

According to court officials, in Jan. 2023, Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad received a tip about a multi-state drug trafficking organization that was operating in Cherokee County.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Investigators learned that individuals would travel from Tennessee to Cherokee County to pick up large quantities of meth that would then be sold in northern Tennessee and southern Virginia.

Officials said Aldred was identified as the Cherokee County drug courier who was in charge of handling the drugs before they were sent north.

According to the investigation, many of Aldreds large drug transactions were conducted in a Kroger parking lot on Marietta Highway in Canton.

As part of the investigation, undercover CMANS agents purchased drugs from Aldred in a controlled narcotics transaction.

On April 19, 2023, CMANS agents executed a search warrant of Aldreds home, where they found eight pounds of meth in multiple Ziploc bags in a bathroom shower and bedroom.

TRENDING STORIES:

During the search, officials said agents also found a methamphetamine conversion lab where four pitchers were filled with nearly 10 pounds of liquid methamphetamine that was in the process of being converted into a solid substance for sale.

Investigators learned that Aldred worked for a drug cartel. During that time, officials said he would handle 12 to 25 kilograms of methamphetamine at a time.

Court officials added that the cartel Aldred worked for was run by a federal inmate currently incarcerated for selling meth.

Not only is this a staggering amount of methamphetamine, but more alarming is that these drugs were being sold in public locations. This defendant endangered innocent citizens who had no idea that a drug cartel was operating within our community, Megan S. Hertel, Cherokee County Assistant District Attorney, said. This case is an excellent example of the importance of collaborations among agencies, in this case, a federal agency and a local agency, which resulted in shutting down a major pipeline of drugs into our community and beyond.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

In addition to the 25 years in prison and 20 years of probation, Aldred must also complete 200 hours of community service and pay a $1,850,055 fine.

This sentence ensures that another drug trafficker stays off our streets, where he is no longer able to spread dangerous drugs, Treadaway said. CMANS did a phenomenal job investigating this case and bringing this defendant to justice. With drug trafficking organizations now in communities across the country, it is important that we remain vigilant and work together to dismantle these cartels.

IN OTHER NEWS:
New Chester PD chief brings wealth of experience to post

CHESTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Chester had two police chiefs over the last two years and even more temporary leaders. City officials stopped their search after realizing they had their guy all along  William Petty.

They named Petty top cop after nearly 30 years in law enforcement and a stint as Chesters interim police chief.

Petty started in the post on November 23.

City of Chester approves first-ever hate crime ordinance for the city

The biggest focus I had as interim chief was just recruitment, getting more officers on here, Petty said. And each officer that I brought in or applicant that I brought in and interviewed, I told them my focus is about customer service. Forget what you might have learned and some of your other law enforcement agencies, security firms, or other places. My focus here is customer service and to build the community partnerships, Petty said.

The Chester community is still healing after losing its last chief  Curtis Singleton. He was accused of arresting a man for murder with no evidence  and subsequently, not submitting evidence on time.

It led to distrust between officers and the people they protect and serve.

Its about time (when it comes to mending community relations), Petty said. This is not going to happen overnight. Its a problem across the United States. You know, its a nationwide problem with law enforcement and the ill feelings with the community and law enforcement. It takes time. You just got to show youve got to have that evidence that youre true to your word and youre going to that you truly are there for them, Petty said.

Hes tackling community trust while working to add at least 25 officers. Hes working with city leaders to raise salaries as a recruiting incentive.

With more officers, police response times will drop.

Lockdown lifted at Chester Middle School after intruder scare

Its honesty, integrity, transparency. See, again, I know Ive said this already, but being true to your word, I hear it time and time again from different people that, you know, they say theyre going to do something, and they dont show it. Show us by action. So thats what I want to see. I want to see a working chief, he said.

City officials are pleased with Pettys hiring.

We are pleased to have William Petty, a young leader of exceptional character and a hard worker, serve as our next police chief, City administrator Malik Whitaker said in a statement. He is the right person to set a long-term direction for our police department. His time as Deputy Police Chief has given him great insight into the Chester community and the police department. In just a short time, he has made a strong, positive impact within the Department, and we look forward to seeing his solid leadership in the future.

Chesters new permanent police chief has police experience from stints at Limestone University and Indiana.

Chester leaders confident in Petty

City of Chester Mayor Carlos Williams relayed those sentiments while discussing building community trust and visibility as a top priority.

I am proud that we can promote from within, and I believe Chief Petty is the right person for the job, Williams said in a statement. I know he will focus first on the needs of the Chester Police Department and on building trust and visibility with our city communities. We need him and his team walking the streets and engaging with our citizens daily. I have asked him to stay focused on community policing and bridging the gaps in trust and communication between City of Chester residents and our police department.

Before his stint with Chester, Petty served as the Chief of Police for Limestone University, where he led the schools transition from armed security to a sworn police officer staff of 16 with a focus on establishing the agencys practices for compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards.

Prior to Limestone University, he spent time in the Hoosier State.

Petty was the Director of Campus Safety at Trine University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There, he led and managed a team of 16 Campus Safety Officers focusing on maintaining safety and security for the campus community. Earlier in his career, he was a Loss Prevention Manager at Kohls Department Stores, a police detective for the Elkhart County Sheriffs Department, and a Tobacco Compliance Officer with the Indiana State Excise Police/Tobacco Commission.

EF-0 tornado confirmed in Chester County during Tuesdays storms

Petty knows what comes with being Chesters new top cop.

I always hated the stigma around law enforcement is, you know, when you see that person with a gun and a badge on, you know, theyre there to arrest somebody or take somebody away. And its not even close to that, Petty said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Gabrielle Speller, 16, likes to look at skyscrapers.

She appreciates the diversity and beauty of structures in Chicagoland designed by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The Kenwood Academy High School junior likes it so much that shes seriously considering attending New York University to study urban planning.

I like how you can see what youve created, and you can see it built, the South Shore resident said about what speaks to her with architecture.

Thats why she decided to take part in the Teen Fellows program  a collaboration between the Chicago Architecture Center, City Colleges of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools where high school students have the opportunity to do a deep dive in the architecture and design fields and see career possibilities firsthand.

It is for students who have a vested interest in architecture, but also were seeing a lot of students who are interested in those STEM fields, said Angela Esposito, senior director of learning and community engagement at the Chicago Architecture Center.

When you join the fellows, our job is not to make sure that you become an architect, but maybe you understand and appreciate architecture a little bit more, Esposito said. You have efficacy in the built environment and agency in shaping the way our city visually and physically looks.

The Teen Fellows program has seen hundreds of youths participate since its inception 10 years ago, Esposito said. The three-semester-long program allows students to learn basic skills surrounding architecture with free Saturday classes at Harold Washington College. The Chicago Architecture Center uses the mornings to talk about architecture concepts, design and history. After lunch, the classes shift to tactile skills like hand-drafting and renderings. As the program progresses, youth get into computer labs on campus to learn model-based building software like AutoCAD, Rhinoceros 3D, Revit and Illustrator  tools students will use to translate their work digitally and start building models.

Already in the middle of the second semester of the program, Speller said she and other members of her cohort are using their newfound knowledge to create a community center for a South Side urban farm.

Were learning about the basics of sketching in architecture to apply that for programming and floor planning and sketching our designs that we made over the summer for our community center, Speller said.

Students will get to present their projects in a showcase at the end of the program in the spring. Speller, who is taking a sculpture class at Kenwood Academy, attended the presentation last year to see the physical models and portfolios of students. She said her friends and family think her interest in architecture is cool.

I think it does fit me well, because Im math-oriented and also very creative, she said.

But Eleanor Gorski, chief executive and president at the Chicago Architecture Center, doesnt want potential participants to think you have to be good in math to take part in the program. Gorski wanted to go into architecture but hated math. She says not to let that stop you: Math does not make or break entry into a program like this.

There is an application and an interview process, but once in, students earn college credit, engage with firms and industry professionals and earn a stipend through CACs partnership with After School Matters. Theres also an opportunity to participate in paid summer internships at an architecture or design firm. Gorski, whose son participated in the program, said she wants to expand the program.

I have spoken to our team about creating something that is kind of a taste of the program to get kids interested that may not be able to commit every Saturday, she said. I want to be able to provide different levels for different types of kids. ... I think its important to reach more youth and offer different types of programs.

Esposito agrees. She said over the last decade, fewer Chicago Public high schools have offered drafting and architecture-based skilled programs to students, and the Chicago Architecture Center has stepped in as an informal educator to fill that gap for students who are really interested.

Ideally we would want every student to know about this program, Esposito said.

She added that with the CACs working relationships with companies and organizations, there are ongoing talks within the industry about the programming and the design community coming together to serve students.

All of the programs that we offer is what we would consider a pipeline, Esposito said. We are staying in very close contact with our graduating alumni, to not just see where did you go off to architecture school, but how did you use this information in your time with the fellows to shape the city you need, want and deserve. Thats really the basis of architecture in this program.

Gorski envisions growth for more Chicago Architecture Center programming at the intersection of skilled trades and real estate development.

These are all fields that we want to expose kids in Chicago neighborhoods to so theyre aware that those are other avenues, she said. She said City Colleges of Chicago is responsive to CAC being a gateway and will provide opportunities for kids to take future classes for free.

The same goes for providing wraparound services for students. CACs connections with businesses can provide pathways to internships for students who need more flexibility with time and money. Employers who understand that and who may be able to help make them successful are key.

Thats another stage of growing this program, providing those supports through the industry and through board and industry connections we have, Gorski said. These new additions to the program, we want to have in place by next fall at least at the City Colleges of Chicago and the wraparound services, that would probably be in place by 2026.

As for Speller, shes looking forward to making her portfolio for college next year and taking advantage of an internship over the summer with one of the firms involved with the program. Shes so engaged with architecture that shes started an architecture club at Kenwood to get kids more interested.

At the moment there are 10 students in the club. Members are engaged with redesigning Kenwood to learn more about architecture. Shes also talking about Teen Fellows, trying to recruit others and spark their interest in their built environment.

Basically, were getting paid to learn, Speller said. But I would still do the program even if we didnt get paid.

Interested in the next cohort? The application can be found at architecture.org.

drockett@chicagotribune.com
A Chicago police officer was stripped of her powers following criminal charges that she falsely reported a robbery earlier this year, authorities said.

In a written statement, police on Thursday said the officer, Zondranika Williams, 37, was put on desk duty Tuesday, the same day she appeared before a judge on a felony disorderly conduct charge. Williams was accused of calling 911 in September as the victim of an armed robbery that did not take place, according to court records.

Cook County Judge Ankur Srivastava ordered Williams released while she awaits trial, records show. She is next set to appear in court Dec. 5.

Police provided no other information about Williams. Williams has worked as a police officer since June 2015, according to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
By Eric Cox

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago is grappling with local backlash against moving homeless migrants into a new government-run tent encampment as temperatures drop and more migrants continue to arrive.

Hundreds of migrants are still sleeping on floors or in tents outside city police stations. Some who remained this week huddled near tents wearing parkas, knit hats and even ski goggles to cope with the cold weather and falling snow.

At the same time, dozens of protesters have been gathering daily near a construction site where one of two new shelters is being built in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood. The shelters, funded by the state of Illinois and expected to open as soon as mid-December, will house up to 2,200 asylum seekers and cost $65 million to build.

Community members in Brighton Park are suing the city to try to stop construction, saying it violates Chicago zoning laws.

"These people are just getting off the bus and everything's given to them," said one of the demonstrators, longtime resident Ricardo Palacios. "As a taxpayer, I don't think that's right."

For several months, thousands of migrants with nowhere to go have been sleeping at Chicago police stations and O'Hare International Airport, but the city and churches have stepped up efforts to move migrants into shelters.

Around 1,000 asylum seekers remain at police stations, down from 4,000 three weeks ago, according to city figures.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat who took office in May, has struggled to house arriving migrants, including hundreds bused up each week by the Republican-led border state of Texas after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Many of those arriving come from Venezuela and lack family and friends to help them.

The housing issue has become more urgent in recent weeks as the city's frigid winter season - when temperatures routinely drop below freezing and can sometimes fall dangerously low - draws closer and snow has started to fall.

On Tuesday, Johnson, who is Black, criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott's busing effort during a press conference, calling it "right-wing extremism" that was intentionally targeting cities "led by people of color."

"Their whole motivation is to create disruption and chaos," said Johnson, who has also sought more federal funding to deal with the issue.

Since April 2022, Texas has bused more than 66,000 migrants to six Democratic-run cities, four of which have Black mayors - Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Washington.

Abbott spokesperson Renae Eze called Johnson's remarks "falsehoods and outright lies" and questioned his commitment to receiving migrants.

"In May, Mayor Johnson welcomed migrants to Chicago, saying the city has 'enough room' for them," Eze said in a statement. "With millions of residents, Chicago is only dealing with a fraction of what our small border communities deal with on a day-to-day basis."

(Reporting by Eric Cox in Chicago; Writing by Ted Hesson; Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler)
Gov. Brian Kemps chief of staff is headed to an executive position with Georgia Power.

The Atlanta-based utility Tuesday named Trey Kilpatrick senior vice president of external affairs effective Jan. 15.

Kilpatrick became Kemps chief of staff in 2020 after serving the late U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in various roles, including deputy chief of staff. Before that, he was vice president for an Atlanta-based investment firm.

Trey has an obvious passion for helping Georgia grow and thrive, serving all of its citizens and making our communities better, said Kim Greene, Georgia Powers president, chairman and CEO. Thats a passion he and all of us at Georgia Power share.

Kemp wished Kilpatrick well in his new role.

Over the last three years, Treys dedicated leadership as chief of staff has enabled our administration to deliver on the promises I made to the people of our state and keep Georgia the best place to live, work, and raise a family, the governor said.

Kemp announced that Lauren Curry, his deputy chief of staff, will take over as chief of staff effective Jan. 15, becoming the first female to step into that role on a permanent basis in Georgias history. Brad Bohannon, currently the Kemp administrations director of government affairs and policy, will become deputy chief of staff.
A nurse helps a newborn bathe in Huaian Maternal and Child Health Hospital, East China's Jiangsu province, Jan. 13, 2023. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Jan. 17, China's population reached 1.411 billion at the end of 2022, 850,000 fewer than at the end of the previous year. Credit - CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

In late October, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the National Womens Congress that We should actively foster a new type of marriage and childbearing culture. Such a statement is rich coming from a man, especially one who leads a party that for decades actively and sometimes brutally enforced family planning policies. It is also delusional: In all probability, Chinas baby bust cannot be reversed, at least not anytime soon.

For one, increasing fertility rates in China would require bucking a well-established global trend that when living standards rise, fertility rates tend to fall. Rising incomes often come with changing values and different lifestyle realities, particularly that children are less likely to need to support household incomes. The only country that stands as a marginal outlier is the tiny African nation of Equatorial Guineawhich, with a population of 2 million and a GDP of $28 billion, is hardly a helpful test case to Chinas 1.4 billion-person, nearly $18 trillion economy.

Read More: Chinas Population Is Shrinkingand Graying. Heres What It Means for the Future

Secondly, significant efforts to increase birthrates elsewhere have been tried for years and have largely failed. Despite introducing tax incentives, investments in childcare and education, and public service announcements, the Japanese governments years-long struggle to boost birth rates has borne little fruitits fertility rate of 1.26 is well below the replacement rate of 2.1.

This should come as no surprise. Several academic studies have found that tax incentives have positive, but very small effects on family planning decisions. One 2018 study of alternative forecast scenarios found that only fertility rates far above replacement levels and unprecedented, ultimately unrealistic, volumes of migration over coming decades would reverse Japans population decline. The paper cites estimates that Japans population will decline from around 125 million as of 2014 to 97 million in 2050 in a base-case scenario.

More From TIME

South Korea, France, Australia, and Russia are among other countries that have tried to reverse population declines with limited success. Put simply, demographic trends are stubborn things, and hard to reverse.

But Chinese policymakers will press on. The China Family Planning Association has introduced pilot cities that will focus on a range of tasks which include promoting getting married and having children at adequate ages, encouraging parents to share childbearing responsibilities, and curbing the high costs of betrothal gifts and other outdated customs. As with Japan, certain miracle towns may emerge that are backed by incredibly robust incentives, but a nationwide turnaround is far more difficult. Our base-case forecast at the University of Denvers Pardee Center for International Futures projects that Chinas best efforts will produce only marginal gains.

Some China-watchers have speculated that the ruling Chinese Communist Party could take the dramatic step of resorting to abortion bans. However, such bans may simply push women toward less safe methods and will likely do little to change fertility rates, to say nothing of the major reproductive-rights rollback that would entail.

Yet even if China somehow does defy past trends and manages to boost its national fertility rates substantially, it will take nearly two decades to pay off as babies born today finally enter the workforce. Meanwhile, its top-heavy constrictive population pyramid thanks to a decades-long one-child policywhich was only abandoned in 2016will mean increasing old age dependency and the social and economic costs that come with it.

Read More: Chinas Aging Population Is a Major Concern. But Its Youth May Be an Even Bigger Problem

The U.S. has been spared a similar fate than Chinaall thanks to immigration. The more than 1 million immigrants who come to the U.S. every year are a key underwriter of U.S. national power, leaving aside the thorny domestic politics around immigration policy.

Like the U.S., mass immigration is the only plausible short-term fix for Chinas population crisis. But China under Xi has no interest in a Western-style melting potlike elsewhere in Asia including Japanthat brings in millions of immigrants. He has spent years promoting a Han Chinese national identity.

To what extent Chinas baby bust will have implications for the countrys ability to engage in a sustained great-power competition with America remains to be seen. In all likelihood, the demographic headwinds China is straining under will begin to undermine its national power in the coming decades, even if Chinas strength and influence continue to grow in the meantime. What is certain is that if China continues to rise as the worlds leading geopolitical player, it will be in spite of what has to date been an enormous advantage: its behemoth population.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
(Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinping appears set to postpone a party meeting held every five years to chart his nations long-term reform agenda, the latest example of the Chinese leader disregarding decades-old norms.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The ruling Communist Partys Politburo skipped setting a date for the third plenum at its meeting this week, according to the official read out. That leaves little time for the conclave that normally focuses on economic issues to assemble this year.

Delaying the meeting to 2024 would mark the first time its been held in an off-schedule year in over three decades. The third plenum normally comes in October or November, one year after Chinas new leadership team is set, according to a Bloomberg analysis of meeting readouts.

Theres no question that convening a plenum in December would be historically unusual, but so would kicking it into next year, said Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics. Xi has taken us into uncharted territory where a lot of past convention is no longer reliable.

The partys constitution requires its decision-making central committee to gather at least once a year, although there are no strict timetables. Xi chaired the second plenum early March to decide on the overhaul of party and government agencies.

The Chinese leader smashed party norms when he threw out de facto retirement caps and extended his decade in power last year. The ruling partys increasingly opaque nature has become an investor concern this year, potentially undermining Chinas attempts to ramp up confidence in its slowing economy.

The third plenum generally sees the new leadership team map out longer-term economic plans. Investors will be scouring the final readout for signals of potential policy pivots and future moves to steady the slowing economy.

Such meetings have catapulted major reforms: In 1978, Deng Xiaoping unveiled his opening up and reform strategy that paved the way for the transition from a centrally planned to a more market-driven economy, ushering in decades of rapid growth. In 1993, then-vice premier Zhu Rongji signaled greater liberalization in China when he backed a socialist market economy at the event.

While third plenums since 1978 usually discussed economic issues, Xi hasnt used the event exclusively for that agenda.

The next third plenum may not be about the economy at all, according to Houze Song, an economist at MacroPolo, a US think tank under the Paulson Institute. He cited the 2018 meeting when party officials spoke about governance reform, adding: The third plenum may be determined by other considerations.

Citigroup Inc. economists led by Xiangrong Yu wrote in a note last month that they believed the third plenum could be delayed until 2024, given the busy policy agenda ahead.

The absence of a third plenum this month would throw a spotlight on the Central Economic Work Conference, expected in coming weeks. That meeting should contain more a detailed description of monetary, fiscal and various industrial policies for 2024.

It could also offer signs of next years growth targets and the budget deficit  even though the specific numbers wont be publicized until the annual parliament session in March.

No date has been set for that event. The Politburo  a group of Chinas top 24 officials  typically convenes earlier in December, and its readout will offer clues of the conclaves agenda. The work conference usually comes between two and nine days after the Politburo huddle, according to government statements going back to 2018.

Economists generally see the official annual growth target for next year at about 4.5% or higher. That would likely require a bigger budget deficit than this year, so the government can spend more to help the economy. Analysts also expect monetary easing to step up to coordinate with fiscal stimulus, something which would be made easier if the US lowers rates in 2024.

We expect policymakers to set an upbeat growth target of 4.5%-5%  or even around 5%  to guide expectations and boost confidence, Morgan Stanley economists including Robin Xing wrote in a report last month.

(Updates with context on third plenums.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
[Source]

A man from Shandong province in eastern China is being lauded on social media for strongly supporting his son despite the child's academic underperformance.

How his son is doing: The man, who has not been identified but said his job was as a national senior psychological counselor, was invited to speak about his child at a recent parent-teacher meeting at an elite elementary school in Qingdao. He apologized to the teachers as his son's low grades dragged the average mark of the rest of the class.

What hes saying: While his son ranked last in class, the man said he remained hopeful that the child will still have a bright future. He added that he was relieved because his son could still eat and sleep well despite his poor grades, adding that he has a very strong mentality, even better than mine.

I am the holder of a psychologist consultants certificate, he said in a now-viral video posted on his Douyin channel. Strong mentality and a high emotional quotient are crucial to success in our careers.

Trending on NextShark: Ke Huy Quan, 'EEAAO,' Lil Tay among top Google searches in 2023

The father thanked his sons teachers for their work. He said he has seen some progress in the boy's marks, noting that he could now score 60 out of 100 in tests.

I think he has a chance to become an extraordinary person in the future, he said.

Trending on NextShark: Viral video shows 'radar air defense system' claimed to shoot mosquitos with lasers

Reactions: The man's speech was reposted by Changsha Mobile Television and received over 1.6 million likes on Douyin. Many users praised him for having his son's back.

"What he said is excellent. The child is still young and encouragement is necessary for progress. With such a good dad, this child is sure to succeed," one user wrote.

Another commented, "With such a father, such a family and such an open mind, one can nurture outstanding individuals."

Trending on NextShark: Police warn of growing trend of burglaries targeting Asian business owners

"Poor grades do not reflect a person's character," another affirmed. "Those with exceptional talents may contribute to the nation, but those with average abilities can still find joy and fulfillment within the family."

Trending on NextShark: Search for missing US woman in Guatemala continues amid lack of information

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The city of Hanford has chosen an Interim Fire Chief following Steve Pendergrasss decision to leave.

Former City of Tulare Fire Chief Luis Nevarez assumed the role after the departure of Pendergrass who left to become a City Administrator for the City of Millbank, South Dakota.

The city of Hanford says Nevarez began his career with CAL FIRE in 1989 before joining the City of Tulare Fire Department. In 2002, he lost his left hand after an accident involving a high-voltage power line.

Nevarez retired as Tulares Fire Chief in 2021. Nevarez continues to teach at the College of the Sequoias and Porterville College. He has three children and goes to the gym every day.

Nevarez officially started as Interim Chief on November 13.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
CAMDEN - A city man died five days after being shot in East Camden, authorities say.

Edward Ross, 29, was found with gunshot wounds on the 200 block of North 33rd Street around 8:20 p.m. Nov. 16, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Ross was taken to a city hospital, where he died around 6:20 p.m. on Nov. 21.

Police say clothing a clue Man charged with fatal shooting in Camden's Fairview section

An investigation is underway, the prosecutor's office said in a Nov. 27 statement.

Anyone with information is asked to call Camden County Prosecutors Detective Cody Skinner at 609-575-4863 or Camden County Police Detective Jake Siegfried at 609-820-3537.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daly Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Edward Ross of Camden was shot on North 33rd Street
BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Two men are facing human trafficking charges after deputies say they forced a woman to go into a bank and open an account.

The Kent County Sheriffs Office says it happened just before 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Bank of America on the corner of 68th Street and South Division Avenue in Byron Township.

KCSO: Men forced women to open bank accounts

A woman told bank tellers that she was being forced to open a bank account, the sheriffs office says.

Deputies say they found two men in a car, along with a second woman. Both women were homeless and being held against their will, according to Undersheriff Chuck DeWitt.

Darvionce Smith and Devaughntre Bates are facing human trafficking and unlawful imprisonment charges.

Darvionce Smiths booking photo from the Kent County jail.

A booking photo of Devaughntre Bates from the Kent County jail.

It was a classic case, if you will, of human trafficking. There was a female inside trying to open a bank account against her will as a result of being held captive, DeWitt said.

DeWitt says the courage of the victim to tell the bank employees what was happening was crucial.

Fortunately, the bank staff listened and they responded appropriately, very well, and they assured to get the resources there to help them out, DeWitt said.

Deputies say the two men from Kalamazoo found two women who were homeless in Kalamazoo with a promise to work for them and earn money.

The one individual, the one female, had been with these two for the past month approximately, DeWitt said. The other female had just recently been located, but she was also being subjected to the same type of things.

DeWitt says the men were withholding the victims identification.

Theyre able to identify what those unmet needs are and then take something with that individual and hold it against their will, DeWitt said.

Deputies respond to the Bank of America on S. Division Avenue at 68th Street in Byron Township on Nov. 29, 2023.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker says people who are homeless are often exploited by criminals.

Its concerning anytime you see anybody exploited, be it homeless or the elderly or your children for that matter, Becker said. We have seen people try and take advantage of people in that situation over a period of time. Can I say weve seen a rise in it? No, but its maybe a constant thing we see on a fairly regular basis.

Dewitt says many human trafficking cases are even harder to investigate.

We had the victim who was very firm in the conviction that, Hey, Im being taken advantage of here,' DeWitt said. Where oftentimes, we dont always have that, because they are so reliant on the suspects and their ability to take care of them.

The Kent County Sheriffs Office says it appears the women had already been forced to open several accounts at West Michigan banks. The office is still investigating what the accounts were being used for.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
As world leaders meet for the Cop28 climate conference, The Independent reports that the world has only a handful of years left to rein in emissions before we exhaust the planets ability to cope.

The two-week summit in Dubai opened to a deafening cacophony of broken records, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Thursday.

With King Charles set to use his opening address today to call for a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action:

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres warned unprecedented global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders

Hosts UAE insisted no issue would be left off the table during talks

Latest projections showed there was just a 14 per cent chance of limiting warming to the 1.5C target

A landmark deal was finalised to support vulnerable nations already suffering irrevocable loss from the climate crisis

Rishi Sunak said he was proud of his record on tackling climate change  despite fierce criticism from UK campaigners over his net zero U-turns

US climate envoy John Kerry said Washington would target reductions of the potent but lesser-mentioned greenhouse gas, methane

The King is expected to tell leaders and climate delegates that the hope of the world rests on their decisions, and argue that, despite some progress, repeated warning signs of climate change are being ignored.

It is understood he will outline five key questions he hopes the summit will address, adding: The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

The summit began yesterday with the WMOs announcement that 2023 will be the hottest year in recorded history, while sea level rise is also at a record high, extreme weather is spiralling, and Antarctic sea ice is disappearing at alarming rates.

We are living through climate collapse in real time, said Mr Guterres, calling for the spiralling crisis to be a trigger for world leaders to act.

Yet even in the face of a mountain of findings from the WMO, and dozens of other scientific bodies, progress has been far, far too slow; the UN Environment Programme has predicted that, rather than staying within the bounds of a somewhat safe 1.5C temperature rise, we are on track for a three-degree world this century.

Science tells us we have around six years before we exhaust the planets ability to cope with our emissions, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said yesterday.

But instead of trending downwards, fossil fuel emissions rose 1.2 per cent in 2023. Oil companies made $200bn in 2022, and many more billions this year, helped along by government subsidies to the tune of $7 trillion in 2022.

Key absences

US president Joe Biden, Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin, leaders of the worlds biggest carbon-polluting nations, are all giving the summit a miss amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

However, the US is sending its vice president, Kamala Harris, to make a brief visit. Mr Sunak and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will be in Dubai.

John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, at the Cop28 venue on Thursday (AP)

As he prepared to fly to Cop28, Mr Sunak, criticised for watering down net zero measures on cars and boilers and making a renewed push to drill for North Sea oil and gas, denied Britain had abandoned its flagship pledges.

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, said the Tory leader.

Foreign secretary David Cameron is also in Dubai for several events; the government has faced criticism for all three men flying to the conference on separate private jets.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer prepared to meet financiers in Dubai to discuss his plans to turbo-charge growth by making London the worlds green finance capital.

No issue left off the table

Getting a grip on the situation is one of heavy responsibility, the UNs Simon Stiell remarked, particularly for the Emirati hosts.

Oil-dependent UAE is tasked with shepherding through a meaningful agreement in two weeks time, which vulnerable countries and their allies say must include a call to phase out all fossil fuels for the first time.

There was some early momentum yesterday when a fund to help the poorest and most impacted places cope with the irrevocable losses of climate change was finalised.

That deal was met with a standing ovation by delegates in the plenary hall, although experts warned that the fund must be closely monitored to ensure the most vulnerable can easily access it.

The announcement was accompanied by substantial financial pledges including $100m (79m) apiece from the UAE and Germany and $76m from the UK. The US pledged $17.5m.

Cop28 president Sultan al-Jaber at the opening session in Dubai on Thursday (AP)

While the sums were welcomed, it remains a drop in the ocean to tackle to scale of climate disasters  some estimates say vulnerable countries need $400bn annually to cover their losses.

The summit was convened by Sultan al-Jaber  a controversial choice because of his job as CEO of the UAE national oil company, Adnoc. And this was before the BBC and the investigative Centre for Climate Reportin g revealed 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 summit spokesperson told The Independent.)

During his opening remarks, Jaber acknowledged there were strong views about the idea of including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the final Cop communique. It is essential that no issue is left off the table. And yes, as I have been saying, we must look for ways and ensure the inclusion of the role of fossil fuels, he said.
Greta Thunberg, the climate change activist, has described the annual gatherings to discuss global warming as so much blah, blah, blah  all talk and no action. It is hard to disagree. In Dubai, 70,000 delegates are descending on the oil rich Gulf state for a two-week symposium that seems more performative than practical. Any real work leading to intergovernmental agreements is carried out by small groups of decision-makers, so what the rest are doing is hard to fathom. This is the 28th conference of the parties (COP) held under UN auspices since the process began at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Many politicians and heads of state will be there, including the King and Rishi Sunak. But neither Xi Jinping of China nor Joe Biden, the US president, whose countries are the worlds biggest emitters of CO2 will be there. The two leaders met recently in California and pledged to strengthen their co-operation on climate change, so felt no need to go through the same process in Dubai. A communique said the two countries will work together to rise up to one of the greatest challenges of our time for present and future generations of humankind.

Only if China, America and India significantly reduce their emissions is there any chance of reaching UN goals. Focusing on the UKs 2 per cent contribution looks inconsequential by comparison even if there are efforts to make Britain pay for historic emissions. The great desert jamboree may make the multitude of participants feel they are achieving something. But it is the leaders of just a few countries who need to step up to the mark if change is really going to happen.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the Green Daily newsletter for comprehensive coverage of the climate summit right in your inbox.

Most Read from Bloomberg

World leaders kicked off the COP28 climate summit in Dubai on Friday with pledges to boost investment in green solutions and calls for more decisive action to cut greenhouse gases.

The United Arab Emirates, which is hosting the summit, opened the talks with a commitment of $30 billion. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled an 11 billion ($14 billion) offshore wind investment. Japan said it would stop building coal power plants that dont have emissions-reducing technology.

Nations agreed yesterday on rules to launch a fund to compensate vulnerable nations hit by extreme weather events. Negotiators will have two weeks to untangle thornier issues, including what the world should do about planet-warming fossil fuels.

Heres a rundown of developments so far today.

Japan Wont Build New Unabated Coal Plants (6:15 pm)

In line with its pathway to net zero, Japan will end new construction of domestic unabated coal power plants, while securing a stable energy supply, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

The new pledge doesnt affect plants already under construction, a Japanese government official told reporters ahead of the speech. Two coal plants began operating this year and another just outside Tokyo is scheduled to start in February. Coal plants are typically built to operate for between 30 and 50 years

Macron Calls for Global Reversal on Coal (6:05 pm)

French President Emmanuel Macron asked leaders to phase out coal and said poor countries development cant be based on burning the most polluting fossil fuel.

We must allow developing countries to catch up economically, he said. But that catch up must not be done on the basis of fossil fuels, especially coal.

He also said that when it comes to the fund for climate damages, theres a difference between poor and intermediary countries, and the money needs to go to poor countries. The funds governance needs to be simple and clear and funding must be awarded taking a country-by-country approach, he said.

Sunak Unveils New Investment in Offshore Wind Farm (6 pm)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a new deal between Masdar and RWE to jointly invest up to 11 billion in the UKs Dogger Bank giant offshore wind farm.

This is a huge boost for UK renewables, creating more jobs, helping to power 3 million homes and increasing our energy security, Sunak said.

He urged the worlds largest emitters to drive progress, singling out China, but cautioned that climate politics is close to breaking point and that countries must bring the public with them by driving climate action in a pragmatic and proportionate way.

Vietnams $15.5 Billion Plan to Move Away From Coal (5:30 pm)

Vietnam will scale up renewables in its power mix to 47% by 2030 in exchange for $15.5 billion in public and private finance over the next three to five years. The investment plan was unveiled by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Claire Coutinho, the UKs secretary of state for net zero.

Von der Leyen said the plan, which was first announced after COP27 last year, would shave off significant carbon emissions and help the country move away from coal. Its a good example of everything we want to achieve at COP28, she said.

Britains Labour Party Warns of a US-Style Culture War on Climate (5:00 pm)

UK Labour Leader Keir Starmer, whos well ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in national polls, told reporters if he was premier the UK will rise to the international stage, not retreat from it at future COP summits.

Both Starmer and Labours Energy Secretary Ed Miliband pointed to Sunaks decision to water down a number of green policies two months ago. Though Sunak chose to attend COP28, he is staying for less than 24 hours.

Britons dont want an imported US-style culture war on climate, they want a government who will tackle the climate crisis and cost of living crisis together, Miliband said. I think hes just misjudged the public mood.

World Bank Says Loss and Damage Fund Could Start in Three Months (3:42 pm)

The World Bank could have a fund to compensate vulnerable countries hit by extreme weather events up and running in as little as three months, according to a top executive.

The institution could be ready to dole out cash early next year, said Axel van Trotsenburg, senior managing director of the World Bank. He noted thats the same amount of time it took to set up the Pandemic Fund, which has a similar structure to the one that will be used for the climate loss and damage vehicle.

Kenyas Ruto Calls for New Global Climate Financing Pact (3:30 pm)

Kenyas President William Ruto called on global leaders attending the COP28 climate summit in Dubai to agree on a new global climate financing pact to ensure developing countries can pursue both economic and environmental sustainability.

We must establish a new global financing pact which ensures no country is ever forced to choose between its development aspirations and necessary climate action, Ruto said. Turning Africa into a green powerhouse is not just essential for the continent, it is also vital for global industrial decarbonization.

Ruto called for the first global stocktake since the Paris Agreement to be inclusive and ambitious, and tied the need to phase out fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally to the goal of tripling renewable power capacity and doubling energy efficiency by the end of this decade.

India Offers to Host COP33 in 2028 (2:37 pm)

President Narendra Modi has offered his country as the host of COP33 in 2028. The worlds third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases reaffirmed its target to achieve net zero emissions by 2070 and said its on track to reach a 50% clean power target in its grid.

Modi called for a just, inclusive and equitable energy transition and reminded dozens of global leaders present that climate change has been driven by the emissions of a handful of developed countries.

Over the past century a small section of humanity has indiscriminately exploited nature, he said. However the entire humanity is paying the price for this, especially people living in the Global South.

EU Commission VP Says Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Needed (2:21 pm)

Even if Europe does its utmost to reduce its own emissions, a phase-out of fossil fuels would be necessary to slow climate change on a global scale, European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

Europe has been hooked on Russian fossil fuels for many years, Sefcovic said, adding that the only way out is a turn to renewables and an easing of the energy crisis.

Fighting Inequality Boosts Climate Change Resilience, Lula Says (12:42 pm)

The fights against inequality and climate change run parallel and benefit each other because they use the same tools, said Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

I cant imagine fighting climate change without fighting inequality, he said. To reduce socioeconomic vulnerabilities means to increase resilience vis a vis extreme events.

Lula vowed to make Brazil a role model in the effort to reduce emissions and slow the pace of climate change as the country prepares to host COP30 in 2025. South Americas largest economy has been battered by extreme weather events this year, from deadly storms in the south to a devastating drought in the Amazon rainforest.

Brazil is on track to achieve its zero deforestation goal by 2030, he said.

UKs King Charles Calls for More Climate Finance (12:31 pm)

The UKs King Charles III addressed COP in a speech that made his long- and strongly held views on climate change plain.

Hes made similar speeches many times, but this is first time hes addressed COP since he became King last year  a role where hes expected to be less political. He was prevented from speaking at last years summit by the British government under the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss.

The current prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has drawn criticism for climate campaigners for walking back some of the UKs green commitments.

While the king didnt address UK policy, he laid out very specific ideas for global action, especially on mobilizing climate finance. Its hard to imagine his mother, Queen Elizabeth, ever having talked about first loss risk guarantees.

The hope of the world rests in the decisions you make, he said.

UN Secretary-General Urges Total Phaseout of Fossil Fuels (12:25 pm)

Do not double-down on an obsolete business model, Guterres told fossil fuel company bosses. Lead the transition to renewables.

The climate summits success hinges on the global stocktake, an assesment of climate progress due to be delivered at this COP, creating a credible plan to drastically cut emissions, Guterres said, adding that it was not too late to avert climate crisis.

The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels, Guterres said. Not reduce. Not abate. Phaseout  with a clear timeframe.

Guterres also urged governments around the world to put a fair price on carbon, end fossil fuel subsidies, and adopt a windfall tax on profits.

UAE Launches Climate Investment Vehicle With $30 Billion (12:15 pm)

The UAE announced that it would contribute $30 billion to a new climate investment facility that it hopes will mobilize $250 billion by the end of the decade. ALTERRA  the largest private finance vehicle for climate change  was launched alongside BlackRock, Brookfield and TPG.

Its scale and structure will create a multiplier effect in climate focused investment, making it a vehicle like no other, said COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber, who will also chair ALTERRAs board. Of that money, $6.5 billion will be dedicated to climate funds for investments, including in the global south.

Masdar Plans Green Bond (9:15 am)

Masdar, a major operator of solar power plants in the United Arab Emirates, is planning a second green bond issuance this year to help grow renewable capacity.

The bond issue will be of similar value to its first $750 million green bond earlier this year, Chief Financial Officer Niall Hannigan said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

Hannigan is confident that Masdars target to increase capacity by the end of the decade to 100 gigawatt remains very much in reach. The plan may involve acquisitions, he said.

Masdar intends to make a number of announcements about increased capacity over the coming days of the COP28 climate summit which started this week in Dubai.

Masdars chairman is Sultan Al Jaber. The UAE faced criticism for naming Al Jaber president for COP28 as he is the chief executive officer of its main oil company which plans to raise crude production capacity.

(All times Dubai.)

--With assistance from Clara Ferreira Marques, Nayla Razzouk, John Ainger, Agnieszka de Sousa, Ellen Milligan and Ania Nussbaum.

(Updates throughout the day.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
A 50-year-old man was arrested after police say he wrote antisemitic remarks at a Jewish student center outside the University of Florida late last month, authorities announced Friday. Gainesville police said he also sent threatening messages to several religious centers.

Geoffrey Alan Lush was charged with writing threats to kill or injure, and criminal mischief on a place of worship, police said in a news release. Records show that he remained behind bars in an Alachua County jail as of Friday afternoon on a $150,000 bond.

Around 6:15 p.m. Nov. 23, Lush left a threatening voicemail at the University of Florida Hillel, 2020 W University Ave., a Jewish student resource center, police said.

If you do not value the lives of children then we do not value yours at all, Lush said, according to investigators. May you burn in the fires of hell for eternity. Every single one of you.

Police said other religious centers received similar messages via voicemail and email on the same day.

The phone number and email address utilized to leave messages to these religious centers ultimately revealed Lush as the owner, police said.

Police said Lush expressed similar beliefs on his social media platforms  describing other random acts of vandalism he performed on November 24.

A banner supporting Israel at the Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center, located outside the University of Florida, was vandalized on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, the organization said.

Vandalizing of the Jewish student center

Detectives say Lush also damaged a sign, a banner and a sidewalk at the Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center, 2021 NW Fifth Ave., in Gainesville on Nov. 24.

The incident at the off-campus location was recorded by the centers security cameras.

On a banner supporting Israel following the deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and on a permanent fixture with the name of the organization, the vandal wrote with a black marker child murders and burn in hell. On the sidewalk, the person drew a star of David, a Judaic symbol, and wrote David had no star.

READ MORE: UF student Jewish center was vandalized with antisemitic slurs

Following an investigation into the vandalism and the threatening messages against religious centers in Gainesville, Lush was arrested Thursday evening.

Antisemitism, hatred and bigotry of any type is never acceptable and must be called out in any form or when targeting any individual or group, the Chabad center said on Facebook.

The vandalism at the Jewish student center happened the same day a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began. As part of the seven-day truce, Hamas released more than 100 hostages of the 240 or so people it kidnapped during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the Associated Press reported Friday. In exchange, Israel has freed 150 Palestinian prisoners, who also include women and children, some of whom have not been charged with a crime.

Israeli forces have killed over 13,300 Palestinians since the war began, about two-thirds of them women and minors, the Associated Press reported. Around 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial attack by Hamas. Nearly a million Palestinians have fled the north as Israeli forces intensified their attack.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Over a million patients of Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan and Priority Health may have had their information impacted after a data breach at a company used by both.

Welltok, Inc., which is used by Corewell and Priority Health as a portal to communicate with patients as well as promote a healthy lifestyle, said that an unauthorized actor exploited software vulnerabilities on May 30 and was able to extract data. In a review of the data, Welltok learned that around 1 million patients of Corewell Health on the Southeast side of Michigan as well as 2,500 Priority health members were impacted, according to the hospital system.

For Priority Health members, names, addresses and health insurance identification may have been affected. For Corewell Health patients in Southeast Michigan, names dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, diagnoses, health insurance information and Social Security Numbers may have been impacted.

In a notice, Welltok said it has no evidence that any information was misused. Welltok has sent letters to notify patients who were impacted. It is offering free credit monitoring to those patients.

System and security concerns have since been resolved, according to Welltok.

For questions or more information on the potential impact, call Welltoks dedicated assistance line at 800.628.2141.

Welltok is used by many hospital and insurance systems across the country. The following organizations were affected, according to Welltok:

Asuris Northwest Health

BridgeSpan Health

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

Corewell Health

Faith Regional Health Services

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Hospital & Medical Foundation of Paris, Inc. dba Horizon Health

Mass General Brigham Health Plan

Priority Health

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon

Regence BlueShield

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah

Regence Blue Shield of Idaho

St. Bernards Healthcare

Sutter Health

Trane Technologies Company LLC and/or group health plans sponsored by Trane Technologies Company LLC or Trane U.S. Inc.

The group health plans of Stanford Health Care, of Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital Stanford, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, Stanford Medicine Partners, and Packard Childrens Health Alliance

The Guthrie Clinic

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine is in a "new phase," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Associated Press published on Dec. 1.

We have a new phase of war, and that is a fact...winter as a whole is a new phase of war, he said.

When asked about the counteroffensive, he acknowledged it had not gone as Ukraine had hoped, admitting that it "did not achieve the desired results."

A report by The New York Times on Sept. 28 found that Ukraine had gained about 230 square kilometers since the beginning of the year.

Ukraine is gearing itself for a likely uptick in Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure in what would be a repeat of its tactics the previous winter.

Read also: Zelensky says hes ready to hold elections, but most Ukrainians are against it

From fall 2022 to winter 2023, Russia launched a series of mass strikes across the country, targeting critical infrastructure sites and causing widespread power outages. Local authorities were forced to install power cut schedules to preserve electricity.

Russia launched a record number of drones against Ukraine on Nov. 25, with the primary target being Kyiv.

"That is why a winter war is difficult," Zelensky said.

Despite the setbacks, Zelensky highlighted that Ukraine had managed to make some territorial gains and has successfully attacked Russia's Black Sea Fleet to the point that its strength has been weakened.

"Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. We are fighting with the second (best) army in the world, I am satisfied," he said, but at the same emphasized that "We are losing people, I'm not satisfied. We didn't get all the weapons we wanted, I can't be satisfied, but I also can't complain too much."

Zelensky also acknowledged concerns that global attention was shifting toward the conflict between Israel and Hamas, saying that Ukrainians "also need to fight for attention for the full-scale war."

"You see, attention equals help. No attention will mean no help."

Despite this new phase of war, and the difficulties associated with winter, Zelensky said that Ukraine would not give up.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 36  Is Ukraine losing the war?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has ordered the seizure of cryptocurrencies totaling $1.5 million from Yurii Shchyhol, the former head of the State Special Communications Service, the court announced on Nov. 30.

The court order comes amid an ongoing investigation into Shchyhol for embezzlement of public funds intended for a data registry system.

Shchyhol, along with five others, is accused of embezzling $1.7 million in state funds for the purchase of equipment and software between 2020 and 2022.

HACC announced the seizure of $1.2 million of the Tether USDT cryptocurrency, and $275,000 worth of Bitcoin. Additionally, $72,000 and 82,000 in cash were found in Shchyhol's possession during a search of his property.

Shchyhol was detained on Nov. 23 but released from custody on a Hr 25 million ($693,000) bail one day later. The government previously dismissed Shchyhol from his post on Nov. 20.

Ukraine's ongoing battle against corruption remains prominently in the public eye, aligning with one of the seven criteria recommended by the European Commission for the nation's integration.

Ukraine has made some progress in rooting out corruption since the start of Russia's invasion. A recent report on the start of Ukraine's EU accession talks revealed that Ukraine is on track to double the number of indictments on corruption charges from previous years.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Zelensky visits Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia oblasts as harsh winter looms on front line

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
This article was originally published in New Hampshire Bulletin.

New Hampshire school districts received nearly a billion dollars in federal aid since the outbreak of COVID-19. The funding is meant to help pay for remote learning technology, HVAC upgrades, and learning loss initiatives.

But the money is due to expire in September 2024  and some researchers warn that schools could be facing a funding cliff if they dont prepare.

A recent study of New England states by the Georgetown University Edunomics Lab, a research center, found that New Hampshire schools are on average facing a 3 percent budget cut in the next year, in part because of the loss of federal funding and in part because of a continuing drop in enrollment.

Support The 74's year-end campaign. Make a tax-exempt donation now.

The school finance landscape is shifting rapidly, said Marguerite Rosa, a research professor and the director of the Edunomics Lab, during a briefing to reporters in October. And theres fiscal shocks coming that we havent ever seen before.

The hardship will not hit school districts equally; schools with more low-income students will face greater budget headaches, researchers found. Schools with more low-income students received more federal COVID-relief money, but also stand to lose higher amounts of it if they dont spend it.

Concord School District will likely need to reduce its budget by 2 percent to account for the loss of the COVID relief funding, researchers projected. Manchester School District, which has a higher proportion of students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, will face a 10 to 14 percent drop in funding, the study found.

The end of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, funding could be important to the upcoming spring school budget season. School boards are preparing to draft budgets for the 2024-2025 school year and release them to residents to approve at town and school meetings in March.

Related

COVID Funds Help Hawaii Schools Tackle Absenteeism. What Happens When They Run Out?

According to researchers, the ESSER money may have helped New Hampshire districts mask bigger problems with declining enrollment and delay the need to downsize accordingly. The anticipated sudden loss of funding could require schools to reduce personnel, the researchers found.

In Concord, the projections suggested 11 positions might need to be cut; in Manchester, 35 to 60 positions could be at risk.

Compounding the problem is the fact that despite receiving millions of dollars under the ESSER fund, many school districts have struggled to spend it all in time.

The study found that New Hampshire schools have spent their COVID relief money at a slower rate than the national average. And schools with higher portions of lower-income students have much more money left over than those with more higher-income students, researchers found.

School districts where more than 25 percent of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch have an average of 69 percent of their funds remaining  compared to 46 percent of funds remaining in districts with less needy kids, according to the researchers.

With more to spend up against the deadline, these districts are at risk of a steeper fiscal cliff once the funds expire, the researchers wrote in a presentation accompanying the report.

In total, school districts have spent 87 percent of the total amount of ESSER funding, according to a dashboard by the Department of Education.

Barrett Christina, executive director of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, said school boards across the state are aware of the coming deadline to spend the ESSER money, and will be calibrating their budgets this spring to spend down as much of the remaining money as they can.

Related

Schools Could Lose 136,000 Teaching Jobs When Federal COVID Funds Run Out

But he said it is unlikely that schools will be able to spend down all of it.

As a matter of economics, I dont think 100 percent of the money is going to be spent, Christina said in an interview. But Im certainly aware that districts and superintendents are budgeting appropriately and trying to find ways to use the money within the allowable uses of it.

The issue with leftover COVID relief money is not unique to New Hampshire schools, according to the Georgetown researchers. While Congress was quick to appropriate the money at the peak of the pandemic in 2021, schools across the country have struggled to spend it down efficiently.

Part of the difficulty has been caused by the overall economy. The ESSER funds were in part designed to be used to install or upgrade HVAC systems to improve air circulation in schools, a major concern as districts moved back into full-time learning in 2021. But supply chain problems and a shortage of labor has meant that many of those infrastructure projects have faced long delays, impeding the districts ability to spend down the federal aid.

School districts also sought to use the federal aid to fund paraprofessional positions to address learning loss caused when students moved to remote learning in 2020 and 2021. But a broader difficulty in hiring and an exodus in existing teachers and paraprofessionals has made filling those positions difficult.

In New Hampshire, the end of COVID money is compounded by another phenomenon: falling enrollment. This month, the Department of Education reported that New Hampshire public school enrollment in the current school year dropped 1.4 percent from last year, and has fallen 20.5 percent since 2002. Lower enrollment means schools receive less money in state adequacy aid and federal funding programs.

Related

Connecticut Higher Education Faces Big Cuts as Pandemic Funds Disappear

Georgetown researchers say that combination of factors  enrollment drops and funding lapses  means New Hampshire schools should expect the hardest budgeting conditions to arrive in the next coming school year.

Weve been calling 24-25 the bloodletting (year), said Rosa.

State figures suggest schools will need to make adjustments when the federal money ends.

Of the nearly $900 million that has been budgeted by New Hampshire school districts since 2021, about 25 percent has gone to pay for staffing costs, according to the New Hampshire Department of Education. Another 25 percent has gone to inspection, testing, maintenance repair, replacement, and upgrade services.

Christina noted that school boards that had been using the COVID money to help pay for staffing costs are going to need to find off-ramps to account for the money ending soon, either by finding local money to continue paying those staff or eliminating those positions. This budget season will be the last chance to use the rest of the ESSER money to facilitate that off-ramp.

Some districts may try and use the funding for more short-term expenses, such as professional development for teachers.

When it comes to staffing, Christina noted that the Legislatures decision to increase the state school funding formula to provide more dollars per student could help some districts absorb some of the cuts in federal aid. But he said that personnel costs have always been the most important costs for school boards to keep contained.

I remember having conversations with school board members and administrators back in 2020, 2021, saying, Be mindful of how youre spending this money, because your salaries and your staffing are your real budget drivers, Christina said. So I think were probably going to see a mix.

New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@newhampshirebulletin.com. Follow New Hampshire Bulletin on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

COVINGTON, La. (WGNO)  A Covington father and son were arrested on Thursday, Nov. 30 and charged in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

According to a release from the United States Department of Justice, 51-year-old Willard Purkel Jr., and his son, 27-year-old Colby Purkel, were charged with felony civil disorder. Additionally, they were charged with the misdemeanor offenses of 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 or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Linda Frickeys widower suing parents of convicted teens following gruesome death in New Orleans

Court documents state the Purkels joined a crowd of rioters who forcibly entered the Capitol. They allegedly pushed against authorities, who were trying to close the buildings doors, and made their way into the building.

Additionally, the duo is accused of illegally remaining on the Capitol grounds after protestors were escorted out of the building. Documents state Willard had climbed on top of an armored truck before walking with his son to the other side of the building. The duo allegedly remained at the scene while authorities were clearing the area.

The case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section.

The Purkels will make their initial appearance in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

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.

Latest Posts

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
Shanghai FTZ's Lingang new area sees fruitful results of opening up

13:36, November 30, 2023 By Xie Weiqun, Ji Juesu ( People's Daily

On Nov. 5, 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo that China would expand the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) to include a new section.

Since its inauguration on Aug. 20, 2019, the Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot FTZ has launched a series of measures of opening up.

The Bank of China Financial Center is under construction on West Island in Dishui Lake in the Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Sept. 9, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Ji Haixin)

The gigafactory of Tesla, the first solely foreign-invested car manufacturing project in China, was put into operation. Amundi BOC Wealth Management Co., Ltd., the first foreign majority-owned wealth management venture in China, opened for business. The first financial technology company fully funded by a multinational financial group HSBC FinTech was established.

The Lingang new area also became the first in China to allow well-known overseas arbitration institutions to set up offices and launch foreign-related arbitration activities.

In 2020, the actual foreign investment in the Lingang new area reached $520 million, and the figure increased to $2.04 billion in 2022.

In order to enhance its capability in allocating factor resources globally, the Lingang new area has launched a pilot program on high-level opening up of foreign exchange management in cross-border trade and investment. So far, the volumes of cross-border domestic and foreign currency settlements have exceeded 2 trillion yuan ($282.73 billion) and $40 billion, respectively.

The area completed China's first purchase of liquefied natural gas using cross-border RMB settlement from a member country of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and established a new type of public service platform for international trade.

Besides, the area has launched an international ship registration system, which ranks first nationwide in the number of ships registered for international routes. In 2022, the container throughput of Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port reached 23.92 million twenty-foot equivalent units, accounting for 50.6 percent of the total throughput of the Shanghai Port.

The Lingang new area completed China's first security assessment for cross-border data flow in the field of intelligent connected vehicles, built a new type of data infrastructure system that meets international advanced level, established dedicated channels for international data transmission, and built a high-performance computing center.

Photo shows a night view of the gigafactory of Tesla in the Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. (People's Daily Online/Ji Haixin)

It has constructed five international submarine fiber optic cables and two landing stations, and is preparing for building a direct international submarine fiber optic cable connecting Shanghai and Singapore, to attract more data elements to China.

The Lingang new area continues to enhance its capacity in breeding innovation and collaborating innovation globally. From Nov. 6 to 8, the 6th World Laureates Forum was held at the event's permanent site in the Lingang new area, convening over 300 scientists from 25 countries and regions.

Now, foreign talents employed or invited by entities in the Lingang new area can apply for a residence permit for up to five years, and the area grants one-time work permits for no less than two years to urgently needed talent.

Besides, the area has relaxed restrictions on the employment of high-end overseas talent in the modern service industry, and established a positive list for filed practice and qualification examinations.

In order to build cutting-edge industrial clusters with international competitiveness, the Lingang new area has gathered leading enterprises and attracted over 200 supporting enterprises to settle in the area. In 2022, the total output value of intelligent new energy vehicles in the area exceeded 260 billion yuan.

At the same time, the Lingang new area has launched the Dishui Lake AI Innovation Hub, joined by 150 AI companies with more than 5,000 AI R&D personnel.

The Lingang new area is developing a specialized industrial park for the biopharmaceutical industry, with a focus on constructing a high-level research-oriented hospital. It is also establishing an independent, controllable, secure and reliable industrial cluster for domestic large aircraft. China's first domestically developed engine for large commercial aircraft has been successfully used, and the self-developed large passenger aircraft C919 has commenced commercial passenger flights.

Photo shows an automated terminal of Phase IV of Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai. (People's Daily Online/Wang Chu)

On Oct. 27, the International Data Economy Industrial Park was officially unveiled in the Lingang new area. According to the plan, the industrial park will be built into a high-level bridgehead for international data cooperation, a high-standard pioneer zone for institutional innovation in the sphere of the cross-border data system, a high-quality hub gathering international data industries, and a high-capacity new center for data circulation infrastructure.

So far, the Lingang new area has initially established a relatively mature system of investment and trade liberalization and facilitation, and has built a number of functional platforms with a higher degree of openness. It has initially developed an open industrial system that is internationally competitive.

The area has optimized its government services, consolidating the exercise of 1,215 administrative matters at the municipal and district levels. It has implemented a registration confirmation system, reducing the time required for enterprise registration by 75 percent.

It has also carried out a unified certificate and license application program, realizing one-time processing for enterprise entry and approval.

Since its inauguration, the Lingang new area has witnessed a significant increase in its economic strength and overall economic output. The area has produced 102 breakthrough innovation cases. It has signed nearly 500 projects in cutting-edge sci-tech industries, with total investment exceeding 600 billion yuan.

In the first half of 2023, the total output by industrial enterprises above designated size in the Lingang new area increased 52.6 percent year-on-year. The area's fixed asset investment and tax revenue grew by 57.2 percent and 47.5 percent, respectively.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Crews work on Peoples Gas pipeline infrastructure in the 5600 block of South Rutherford Avenue in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood on Dec. 1, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Peoples Gas filed an emergency motion Friday with the Illinois Commerce Commission seeking to restore $134 million of disallowed pipeline infrastructure funding for 2024 to address uncompleted projects and critical improvements.

Without the funding, there will be safety risks from leaking pipes, gaping holes in streets and sidewalks, replacement meters left dangling on customer residences and hundreds of jobs lost in the new year, Peoples Gas warned in the filing.

Advertisement

The utility is hoping to claw back more than half of the $265 million cut from its budget when the ICC issued an order last month to pause the long-running System Modernization Program to replace 2,000 miles of aging iron pipes below Chicago streets, pending an investigation.

The company understands the Commissions directive to pause work on SMP; however, the $265 million in work that was paused includes more than $134 million in other critical safety and reliability work outside of SMP, Peoples Gas spokesperson David Schwartz said in a statement.

Advertisement

The emergency motion is asking the ICC to restore funding for several areas of work including emergency replacement of leaking pipe segments, system improvement projects, public improvement projects and the completion of ongoing pipeline replacement projects that cannot be finished by years end.

Nearly $47 million of the $134 million would go toward completing pipeline replacement work in progress, where open trenches and exposed pipes are scattered across Chicago neighborhoods, the utility said in the filing.

Peoples Gas has 50 projects underway in 13 neighborhoods, according to the filing. One hot spot is the Garfield Ridge neighborhood on the Southwest Side, where the pause of the pipeline replacement program would leave a significant amount of uncompleted work at years end, creating eyesores and risks to public safety, the utility said.

The abrupt stoppage of work Jan. 1 would result in streets, sidewalks and yards remaining torn up for at least a year, according to the filing.

In addition, if the $134 million in funding is not restored and the associated work is stopped, Peoples said it could result in hundreds of layoffs by January.

We are working to minimize job losses as part of the ICCs order to pause the work, but we know that several hundred jobs will likely be lost  mostly union construction jobs, Schwartz said.

Launched in 2011, the System Modernization Program was plagued from the outset by delays and budget overruns. More than a decade later, the pipeline replacement program is 36% complete, and Peoples Gas says it will take until 2040 and cost about $8 billion to finish.

Peoples Gas filed for a record $402 million rate hike in January, with more than half of the increase earmarked for the pipeline program after a 10-year legislative surcharge enabling it to automatically pass the costs along to customers expires at the end of this year. On Nov. 16, the ICC issued an order pausing the pipeline program and disallowing $265 million of funding earmarked by the utility to continue the work.

Advertisement

Consumer advocates cheered the pause of the pipeline replacement program as a victory for more than 884,000 Peoples Gas customers in Chicago, who currently pay about $15 per month to fund it.

The requested increase would have added $11.83 per month to the average residential bill for Peoples Gas customers beginning in January. With the reduction by the ICC, the rate increase will likely be cut in half to about $6 per month for most customers, according to the Citizens Utility Board, a nonprofit Illinois watchdog group.

On Friday, several consumer groups urged the ICC to reject the emergency motion to restore $134 million in funding for the pipeline program.

It is outrageous for Peoples Gas, which has been rolling in six straight years of record profits and just received a record rate hike, to claim that it suddenly doesnt have the resources to conduct repairs to its system and pay its workers, Sarah Moskowitz, CUBs executive director, said in a statement.

The November decision by the ICC, which regulates utilities in the state, did not relieve Peoples Gas of its responsibility to identify and repair leaking pipes that may pose a danger across the city.

Nothing in the order prohibits Peoples Gas from making prudent safety investments or appropriately concluding in-progress projects, Abe Scarr, director of Illinois PIRG, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, said in a statement. If Peoples Gas remains confused, we encourage the Commission to provide clarification without restoring any of the pipe replacement budget.

Advertisement

As part of its decision, the ICC called for a new investigation into the System Modernization Program to begin by February to determine the best method and investment level to replace high-risk pipes.

The emergency motion seeks a response within three business days, with an eye toward discussion at the ICCs regular Dec. 14 open meeting. Part of the urgency will be determining the scope of necessary management and union employee layoffs and contractor terminations as of Jan. 1, according to the filing.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 in Countryside has several hundred members who work for contractors on the pipeline replacement program. Ed Maher, a union spokesperson, expects significant layoffs at Peoples Gas and among contractors if the full budget cuts remain in place.

This is going to put a thousand people out of work right around the holidays, Maher said.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
What looks like a crack that extends from the bottom of the bridge on up is not a crack, according to the City of Akron. It is a pin and hanger assembly joint.

What is that "crack" in the bridge connecting North Hill to downtown Akron? In short, it is no crack at all.

A Facebook post by the City of Akron explaining the logic behind a crack-like feature in bridge design recently went viral reaching upwards of 300 shares, 100 comments and more than 300 likes.

A sketch of the pin and hanger assembly joint that can be mistaken as a crack in the Y-bridge in Akron.

The crack is called a pin and hanger assembly, the city's Facebook post explains. This creates a joint that allows the bridge to expand and contract with the weather.

The bridge is safe to cross and behaves as designed. Each year the Ohio Department of Transportation inspects the bridge as part of an annual routine to ensure it and other bridges are up to code.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: City of Akron explains 'crack' in Y-Bridge is intentional in design
The Hamburg Township Public Safety Department prevented a fire from spreading to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Hamburg on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

HAMBURG  Crews prevented a fire from spreading to a historic Hamburg church on Wednesday morning.

At 3:28 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, the Hamburg Township Public Safety Department were dispatched to a reported building fire in the Hamburg Road and Stone Street in Hamburg. While en route, firefighters were told the fire had possibly spread to the rear of St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 10585 Hamburg Road, in Hamburg. The church was built in 1844 and is listed as a Michigan State Historical Site.

The on-duty fire crew from Hamburg Township Fire Station 12, located on M-36 near Hamburg Road, arrived on scene with six minutes of being dispatched  according to a news release shared to the department's Facebook page on Wednesday. The crew found a well-involved fire consuming an outbuilding located near the church.

The on-duty crew from Hamburg Township Fire Station 11, located at M-36 and Pettysville Road, arrived four minutes later. Firefighters extinguished the fire and prevented it from spreading to the church, according to the release.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

Hamburg Township Public Safety Director Rick Duffany complimented the fire crews for their quick response and efforts. Duffany added this incident highlights the benefit of staffing both Hamburg Township fire stations 24 hours a day  allowing the department to handle multiple calls. It has been a point of emphasis for the department over the past year, according to the release.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Hamburg Township Public Safety. The Green Oak Township Fire Department and Livingston County EMS assisted Hamburg Township firefighters at the scene.

St. Stephens Episcopal Church released the following statement on its Facebook page: The people of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church are eternally grateful to the Hamburg Township Public Safety Department for their swift and skilled response to a structure fire behind our Church building. The Church building has very minimal damage. It could have been so much worse.

 Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Crews prevent fire from reaching historic Hamburg church
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a big stink over poop in San Francisco after the Republican unveiled a map of crap in the city in a bizarre moment during his prime-time Fox News debate against California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday.

The GOP presidential candidate broke out the plots of poop as the Democratic governor weighed in on homelessness in America by touting reform of Californias behavioral health system.

Ron has literally the worst mental health system in America, forgive me, outside of Mississippi and Texas. And so, with all due respect of being lectured on some of these topics, Ron DeSantis is not the one Im going to be listening to, said Newsom before the Florida governor reached for a paper in his suit blazer.

This is a map of San Francisco, replied DeSantis as he showed off a map of reported human feces in the California city.

The map, which got a laugh out of Newsom, appears to be one on OpenTheBooks.com, which plotted instances of human waste reported in San Francisco from 2011 to 2019.

Newsom: Ron has literally the worst mental health system in America. Forgive me outside of Mississippi and Texas..



DeSantis: *hold up feces map* pic.twitter.com/mVmAHY5LsX  Acyn (@Acyn) December 1, 2023

DeSantis poop problems arent new in clogging up his mind.

He previously claimed to see people defecating on the sidewalk during a visit to San Francisco and complained of poo as he criticized the collapsed citys leftist politics in a campaign video earlier this year.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed (D) later pushed back at DeSantis gripes, calling his complaints the oldest playbook in politics to get attention.

Fox News Kayleigh McEnany deemed DeSantis map another strong and powerful moment from the debate, although several critics on X (formerly Twitter) mocked the Florida governor for his print out of poops.

Republicans - they may not have any ideas, they may not be able to lead, they may not be able to govern, they may not be serious humans but they are always ready with a shit show for the cameras  RiotWomenn (@riotwomennn) December 1, 2023

Ron DeSantis is getting humiliated and some synapse fired in his brain and he decided that the solution was to hold up a poop map.  Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) December 1, 2023

I think the feces map was just chocolate pudding spread on a piece of paper. But I can't prove it.  Captain CV (@Buckiman16) December 1, 2023

The Feces Award goes to Ron DeSantis   _ (@SundaeDivine) December 1, 2023

Literally throwing shit because he has nothing else  Barklee woke anti-facsist  (@northclarctica) December 1, 2023

This is the difference between a serious person who wants to make things better, and someone who is only interested in political theater.  Bluedog (@HereLiesBlueDog) December 1, 2023

"okay, here's what you're going to do: when he talks about what shit show Florida is, pull out the shit map. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE SHIT MAP ON YOU AT ALL TIMES." https://t.co/EVK0jnA2ym  Rachel Vindman  (@natsechobbyist) December 1, 2023

Ive lived in SF for almost 14 years. This feces map is proof that Republican voters will believe literally anything, and its a huge part of why we cant have nice things as a country.  Jeff Stein (@thejeffstein) December 1, 2023

DeSantis to self: Whats a thing a normal, respectable human being carries around on their person?







Eureka! A shit map!  Brian K Anderson (@Brian_KA) December 1, 2023

Related...
Before she was the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton was a college student walking the runway at a campus fashion show  possibly changing the course of her life.

Her barely there, head-turning outfit reportedly caught the eye of Prince William back in 2002 while they were both students at St. Andrews University.

Now, The Crown is re-creating the moment for its final episodes. Netflix posted a first-look photo of the moment on Instagram Nov. 28, weeks ahead of its Dec. 14 premiere.

The show is known for paying homage to pivotal moments in royal fashion history, like Princess Dianas revenge dress. Whats the fuss over a barely there dress? Heres what to know.

How does the fashion show in 'The Crown' compare to Kate's real dress?

The strapless, see-through knitted dress came down to about knee length and featured a dark, bra-like covering and matching underwear underneath when the former Kate Middleton, 19 at the time, wore it. She completed the look with a bare neck and her trademark long, draping brown locks.

Kate Middleton in 2002 next to

New to "The Crown" actor Meg Bellamy will be wearing a version of the same dress as she makes her professional acting debut as Kate. She announced her ascension into the role on Instagram September 2022.

"Pinch me please," she wrote. "It is such an honour to be joining the most incredible cast and crew, and I will strive to do Kate justice. "

A few days later, she thanked fans for having already bought in to her as teenage Kate.

"Thank you so much everyone, for your kind messages of support and encouragement. I appreciate every single one," she said. "These past few days have been a whirlwind, and I am just so excited and grateful to be beginning this dream of a journey."

How does the fashion show figure into Will and Kates love story?

Marriage has played a major role in The Crown, following Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philips enduring relationship and Prince Charles and Princess Dianas tumultuous one. Come Season Six, Part Two, the Prince and Princess of Wales take the stage.

While William and Kate knew each other before the fashion show, legend has it that it's where the future king, sitting in a front row seat, noticed her. Royal writer Katie Nicholl wrote that William made his first move on Kate that night.

The royal couples college classmate at the time, Charlotte Todd, designed the dress, according to People, for the colleges fashion show titled The Art of Seduction.

Everyone says that the fashion show was when the romance started, so a small part of me will always be part of royal history, Todd told the outlet. Its madness!

The outfit costed less than $50 to make and was auctioned off in 2011, the year the couple married, for $125,000, People reported.

The couple now has three children together: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8 and Prince Louis, 5. The spouses celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary in April.

Kate's fashion has made headlines in recent years. She wore the late Princess Diana's tiara at King Charles III's first state banquet last year. She also sported a military style jacket with the matching skirt in 2020.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Something serendipitous happened in early November. It had to do with NASA's Lucy spacecraft, a solar-winged probe currently on its way to investigate a trove of ancient asteroids locked in Jupiter 's orbit around the sun. They're called the Trojans, and they're believed to be leftover blocks from the box that built our solar system .

But we're not talking about the mighty Trojans right now. We're talking about a little space object named Selam.

Here is Selam's story.

On Nov. 1, Lucy flew by one of its non-Trojan targets; you can think of these like stepping stones (stepping asteroids, rather) on the mission's grander path. Asteroid number one's name is Dinkinesh, or as scientists adorably call it, "Dinky." Soon after, however, on Nov. 2, the Lucy team announced a surprise. Dinkinesh isn't just one, but rather a binary system of two asteroids! In other words, Dinky had its very own moon. The scientists were thrilled. Little did they know, Dinky was about to surprise us once more.

Related: Strange moon of asteroid Dinkinesh is weirder than thought after NASA probe finds 'contact binary'

On Nov. 7, to everyone's shock, the team revealed that Dinky's newfound satellite itself had a newfound satellite. In particular, the team said, the original satellite was a "contact-binary," meaning it was two objects, a moon and a meta-moon, that were touching. This marked the first discovery of a contact-binary orbiting an asteroid.

"It is puzzling, to say the least," the Southwest Research Institute's Hal Levison, principal investigator for Lucy, said in a statement at the time. "I would have never expected a system that looks like this. In particular, I don't understand why the two components of the satellite have similar sizes. This is going to be fun for the scientific community to figure out."

All that was left? A name.

So, on Nov. 29, the Lucy team confirmed that we finally have a name for Dinky's little contact-binary friend: Selam.

"Dinkinesh is the Ethiopian name for the fossil nicknamed 'Lucy,'" Raphael Marshall of the Observatoire de la Cote dAzur in France, who originally identified Dinkinesh as a potential target of the Lucy mission, said in a statement. "It seemed appropriate to name its satellite in honor of another fossil that is sometimes called Lucy's baby."

The fossil Selam, NASA explains, was discovered by Zeresenay Alemseged in 2000 in Dikika, Ethiopia. It's believed to have belonged to a 3-year-old girl of the same species as Lucy, one of the first hominin fossils to become a household name as the Natural History Museum says . Selam, however, is thought to have lived more than 100,000 years before Lucy. Wonderfully, Selam translates from Ethiopian language Amharic to "peace," while Dinkinesh translates to "you are marvelous."

"Dinkinesh really did live up to its name; this is marvelous," Levison had said at the time of its moon's discovery.

Now, the team intends to study both Dinkinesh and Selam in greater detail to understand precisely how this asteroid-ception arose in the first place. Thanks to Lucy's onboard instruments such as the high-resolution L'LORRI camera and Terminal Tracking Cameras, there's probably a solid amount of information to go on.

Related Stories:

 Meet Dinkinesh: Asteroid targeted by NASA's Lucy spacecraft gets a marvelous name

 The moon is enchanting in new photos from NASA's Lucy asteroid mission

 NASA's Lucy asteroid mission adds 10th space rock target

"To assemble the final images, we must carefully account for the motion of the spacecraft, but Lucys accurate pointing information makes this possible," said Amy Simon of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, Maryland. These images will help scientists understand the composition of the asteroids , allowing the team to compare the makeup of the Dinkinesh and Selam and to understand how these bodies may be compositionally linked to other asteroids."

It's incredible that space rock stop number one on Lucy's journey since launching in 2021 has yielded such interesting results  one can only imagine what's in store for the rest of its 12-year excursion.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Shelby County District Attorneys Office says it disagrees with a judges decision to release an 18-year-old murder suspect without bond.

Suspects age 15 and 18 charged with murder in shooting death of Binghampton teen

Edio White was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Anthony Mason. Mason was shot to death on Vandalia Street in Binghampton on Thanksgiving morning. White reportedly admitted to driving the vehicle involved in the shooting.

White is charged with first-degree murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Criminal Court Judge Bill Anderson reportedly ordered that White be released on his own recognizance. White was released on Monday.

18-year-old charged in teens death released with no bond

Thursday, District Attorney Steve Mulroy said the DAs office disagrees with, but respects, the decision to release White.

According to Mulroy, while White has no prior record, the DAs office requested a $75,000 bond and enrollment in the Memphis Allies program pending his trial.

Mulroy says White was enrolled in community college and had members of the community vouch for him.

Mulroy went on to state that the DAs office does not set bail or decide on pretrial release.

Senator blasts judge over bail comments after murder suspects release

Most of the high-profile bail controversies in recent months involve decisions made by judicial commissioners or General Sessions judges themselves in the first 72 hours after arrest, Mulroy said. This is before our office becomes involved, and once our office has become involved, those controversial decisions are nearly always against the individual prosecutors position.

In May, the Shelby County Commission approved a resolution that only allowed judges to set bail for those accused of Class A and B felonies, as well as some aggravated assault charges.

Mulroy also shifted the blame away from recent bail reform. According to Mulroy, the only change to the bail system has been adding a bail hearing with legal counsel within 72 hours of a suspects arrest.

The only purpose of bail is to ensure that the defendant shows up for the next court date, Mulroy said. The Tennessee Constitution presumes the defendant be free while the case is pending (before any conviction) unless there is reason to believe the defendant poses a danger to the community or may fail to appear at the next court date.

White is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, December 5.

Another suspect, 15-year-old Connor Tucker, has also been charged in this shooting. According to court records, Tucker confessed to shooting Mason in the head.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A Washington restaurant is toasting now-former Rep. George Santoss expulsion from Congress by hawking a new cocktail marking the New York Republicans ouster.

Sticky Fingers Diner, in the Districts H Street Corridor, says its selling Adios Santos grapefruit margaritas beginning Friday.

Diners can toast to Congress agreeing on something for a change, Doron Petersan, a chef and the eaterys founder, said in a statement.

The cocktail celebrating Santos getting the congressional boot comes after the House voted Friday to expel the 35-year-old lawmaker, whos facing federal indictment on 23 counts of wire fraud, identity theft and other campaign finance charges.

One dollar of each $10 Adios Santos drink sold will be donated to the activist group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, according to Sticky Fingers, in order to help turn the grift into a gift.

The Santos expulsion-inspired cocktails will be available through the weekend.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A judge said a man whom a jury convicted for a shooting at a restaurant in Chevy Chase in 2022 will spend 35 years in prison.

Jurors found David Lee Brown III, 29, of Washington, D.C. guilty on several charges in September 2023.

Police and prosecutors said Brown was involved in a fight with a woman at Clydes restaurant in Chevy Chase, Md. on Nov. 14, 2022. Several people jumped in, and a physical fight took place. It was during that time that Brown was accused of pistol-whipping someone and shooting a second person.

Police release dash cam video of armed carjacking in Bethesda

The shooting, itself, took place outside, but the fight moved into the restaurant where a number of employees ran for cover.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge John Maloney sentenced Brown to 55 years on Friday, suspending 20 of those years. After serving his sentence, Brown will have five years of supervised probation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Striking members of the Columbia College Faculty Union picket in front of Columbias media production center on South State Street on Nov. 30, 2023 to protest against decisions made by the administration. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Gwenn-Ael Lynn, adjunct professor of art history and visual culture at Columbia College Chicago, was bundled up outside 1104 S. Wabash Ave. on Tuesday, holding a large sign with students, not profit written in bold letters, while another nonstriking faculty member was teaching his class.

Lynn, a member of the Columbia College Faculty Union, or CFAC, is one of 584 adjunct professors who have been on the picket lines since Oct. 30, protesting the administrations decision to eliminate hundreds of already-enrolled classes weeks before the semester began while increasing the size of other classes to cut costs.

Advertisement

CFAC says this is the longest adjunct faculty strike in higher education history, and its pushing students and staff members to a crossroads with the entire institution.

What this crisis is showing me is that my conception of higher education varies completely from what has become of Columbia, Lynn said. It looks like theyre trying to turn the school into a for-profit school. They definitely think that education is profitable and they are becoming part of the problem rather than the solution.

Advertisement

A few weeks before the fall semester began, department chairs at Columbia were told to eliminate five to six courses for each of the 58 academic programs, followed by an Aug. 16 all-faculty meeting where Provost Marcella David introduced a section elimination project.

CFAC members said this was the first time they had heard about it.

When you do a restructuring at this scale, you have to negotiate with the union, and they didnt do it, said Diana Vallera, CFAC president and part-time photography professor, adding that going on strike is not easy. You build relationships with the students and its hard to be away from them.

The section elimination project resulted in 53 course sections cut for fall 2023 and 317 course sections eliminated for the spring semester. Department chairs and some full-time faculty members are now teaching most adjunct instructors classes, but several classes are just at a standstill without an instructor.

Fewer classes means more students in each class.

They went from 14 sections of art history, including one remote, to five, Lynn said. And theyre doubling students, so its capped at 22 students now and its all full. And now, theyre moving to 44 or 45 students.

Striking members of the Columbia College Faculty Union picket in front of Columbias media production center on South State Street on Nov. 30, 2023 to protest against decisions made by the administration. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Lambrini Lukidis, a spokesperson for Columbia College, said in an email statement that the college has a responsibility to make difficult decisions to steer the school through a financial challenge.

The administration is deeply disappointed that the union has chosen to continue to disrupt instruction for students, Lukidis said. The changes we have made to class offerings and to some class sizes are a necessary adjustment to enrollment and financial realities, one we have made responsibly in a way to ensure the continued delivery of a successful academic experience.

Advertisement

Meg Konieczka, a Columbia College senior pursuing an acting major with a minor in stage combat, said she chose the South Loop school partly because of its smaller class sizes, which she said are essential for collaboration.

I love it so much here because of the connections Ive made with people. We want to connect with the teacher and we want to connect with the students and work with them, but it takes so much time to do that, Konieczka said Tuesday. If theres 26 students in a class, its just not going to happen.

The college often touts its skilled adjunct faculty members, who are working professionals in their respective fields, to recruit students.

For Konieczka, one of the schools most significant selling points was John McFarland, an adjunct professor in the Columbia Theatre Departments stage combat and voice programs.

McFarland is one of six master teachers with the British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat, a London-based organization that trains actors to perform in scenes of a violent nature on stage and film. Hes also the first U.S.-based teacher to receive the BASSC master teacher accreditation.

We built this curriculum so students have international exposure, and when people come into my class, theyre not going by Columbia standards, McFarland said. So someone coming in and giving them a pass/fail doesnt matter because the exam at the end is national and international standards for professional work.

Advertisement

Konieczka said when compared with a lot of other people getting into stunt work, Columbia students have a leg up. McFarlands voice class teaches students how to scream, grunt, groan, cough safely and easily, while his combat classes enable students to fake fight in a safe, realistic and theatrical fashion with any type of sword, knife, stick or object.

McFarland said a replacement teacher, while CFAC is on strike, does an injustice to his students who signed up to work with him.

On his phone, McFarland played a video of his students last spring soaring through the air on wires and staging an intense fight scene where a student is hurled across the room.

We look at Marvel movies, we look at DC Comics, we look at whats happening in the professional world, he said. Then we sit there as a class or individuals and say, What would we like to re-create? What are the things that we have the capability of re-creating? So that when we get out of here, we can walk in and say, Yeah, I can fly.

Amelia Hansing, Columbia sophomore and acting major, said the faculty member listed for McFarlands voice for the actor class on Monday never showed up, even after students waited for 20 minutes.

There is no communication; students are really lost, Hansing said. Replacing the professors on strike is not a solution. I think its just harming us more. These new people that the administration brought in dont know our work; they dont know what weve done and what we can do.

Advertisement

Hansing said the strike has affected all six of her classes because theyre each taught by a part-time faculty member.

Its been a long time since Ive actually been in my classes, but Im still paying for them, Hansing said. My Stage Combat 2 class  no one is qualified to teach it, so its just essentially canceled right now.

Samantha Williams, a senior acting major at Columbia, said the situation is far from ideal from a students standpoint.

We got an email about pass/fail from administration, and I do not think thats fair, Williams said. Although Im an acting major and I would like to get my degree with straight As, I came here for the opportunities, to learn under specific teachers in specific classes. Its diminishing the education Columbia promised we would get.

Williams said she feels the administration is putting the solution all on the union instead of taking accountability for why were here in the first place.

I have one more semester left, which is spring, and if I dont get the classes I need, Ill have to do another semester, Williams said. And I dont have the money to take out another loan. Im already paying all this money for the classes Im not in now.

Advertisement

The cost to attend Columbia has been climbing, with tuition and fees estimated at $17,858 per semester.

According to the colleges website, the academic schedule always contains some room for potential loss of instruction for various reasons, and the college leadership is not in the position to make decisions on the issue of refunds or reimbursements.

Students also have to rethink their course selections for the spring semester with over 300 class sections no longer available and 91 specific course titles eliminated.

According to a table compiled by CFAC, the program most harmed by the cuts will be communications, which will offer 62 sections of journalism, radio, advertising and related classes in spring 2024 compared with 92 sections in spring 2023. Cinema and television arts offered 259 course sections last spring, and have 191 slated for 2024.

Since Oct. 30, CFAC has filed six unfair labor practices against Columbia concerning several vital issues the union faces. On Sept. 5, CFAC filed a claim saying the school announced unilateral changes effective Sept. 1 in the terms and conditions of employment of its union-represented employees  including concerning class size  without notice to, bargaining with or the consent of the union.

The most recent round of negotiations between the school and CFAC was Thursday afternoon, Vallera said. They plan to meet again in the coming days to address their demands for smaller class sizes, better job security for part-time instructors and the restoration of courses pulled from the schools catalog due to budget cuts.

Advertisement

Were frustrated because we hoped we had a shared goal; we hoped to have our faculty back in class for our students because what a mess, Vallera said, adding that the college keeps making it only about job security.

Lukidis said that throughout months of negotiations with the union, which began in late spring, the college proposed pay increases, new benefits and new avenues for input on decisions for part-time faculty members.

At the heart of the work stoppage is the fact that the college is asserting its management right to make decisions to address a financial shortfall, Lukidis said. The union has refused to end the strike because it insists on a guarantee of employment for nearly all members of this contingent group of faculty and has sought veto power over class sizes and course offerings.

Vallera also said the administration is deflecting accountability.

I want to emphasize that it was two weeks before the semester began. They claimed a financial crisis. Then we saw the 990 tax forms come out and they got increases in salaries, Vallera said.

Columbia College President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim got a bonus of $240,000, Vallera said. Just that bonus would save 40 classes, she said. How do you justify doing that? Everybody but you guys is in a financial crisis?

Advertisement

The colleges 2023 IRS 990 tax filing was not available on its website. Its most recent posted tax filing is from 2021.

Andrea Dymond, a theater and directing professor at Columbia, said that even though something like increased class sizes doesnt seem like a big deal on paper, it makes a massive difference in the quality of the education students receive.

With many classes, especially performance-based classes, or writing classes, you cant just add people, Dymond said Tuesday. If you add even a few more students, the time I can spend with each of them individually has just gone down by a huge percent. I used to have six minutes I could spend with you, but now I suddenly have four minutes.

Dymond, who said she does a lot of hands-on work helping her students hone their storytelling skills through directing and collaborating with screenwriters, cinematographers and production designers, said experiential learning in small groups makes Columbia different from other schools in the area.

Its why people go here, she said. This is a very unique place and it seems that the administration is trying to make it something that its not.

zsyed@chicagotribune.com
gay men queer couple enjoying decriminalized same sex life in bed with less HIV in the world

A landmark report, Progress and the Peril: HIV and Global Decriminalization of Same-Sex Sex, by the United Nations Development Programme, the Global Network for People Living with HIV (GNP+), and the Georgetown University ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law, has revealed a crucial link between the decriminalization of same-sex relationships and improved outcomes in HIV prevention and treatment.



This significant finding comes from extensive research and analysis conducted by experts in the field.

In a conversation with The Advocate, Matthew Kavanaugh, a principal researcher on the report, delved into the findings and their implications for public health, particularly in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

The report marks a notable departure from the early days of the AIDS pandemic when most nations criminalized same-sex sexual activity.

Where stigma rates are very high, it drives people away from services, [particularly] if its illegal, its the government saying, this thing is bad, and therefore it should be stigmatized. Stigma itself has driven people away from services, Kavanaugh pointed out, highlighting the impact of legal reforms on the LGBTQ+ community.

He added: "Just being illegal means that you see less effective HIV services. You dont see some of the most powerful HIV services which are actually led by communities.



Kavanaugh noted the stark contrast in HIV rates and service accessibility between environments where same-sex relationships are criminalized versus those where they are not. In countries without such criminalization, men who have sex with men (MSM) are more likely to be aware of their HIV status and access effective treatment.

Despite these positive trends, the report also addresses the concerning counter-trend of increasing criminalization and homophobia in certain countries. Supported by conservative American advocacy groups, Uganda, for example, recently enacted a draconian law punishing some homosexual behavior with death. Other countries have also cracked down on their queer populations from Kenya to Russia.

The report includes case studies from countries like Angola, Botswana, India, and Singapore, illustrating the diverse pathways to decriminalization.

Angola's approach, primarily legislative, involved revising its penal code, previously a vestige of colonial rule, and introducing progressive anti-discrimination laws. This change was partly fueled by local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups' efforts in raising awareness and engaging with government officials. Similarly, in Botswana, a significant judicial ruling declared the criminalization of same-sex relationships unconstitutional, a victory largely attributed to the persistent legal battles and public campaigning by civil society organizations.

India's landmark decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Section 377, criminalizing consensual same-sex relationships, followed years of activism and legal challenges by a wide coalition of LGBTQ+ groups and allies. In Singapore, the journey towards decriminalization has been more gradual, with advocacy groups actively engaging in public education and policy dialogues, signaling a shift towards eventual legal reform.

These case studies underscore the pivotal role community-led initiatives, legal reforms, and government advocacy play in decriminalizing same-sex relationships. By challenging laws and societal norms, these efforts not only foster legal changes but also contribute to greater social acceptance and improved public health outcomes. In particular, the organizations highlight the positive impact on HIV prevention and treatment, as communities that were once marginalized now gain better access to health services and experience reduced stigma and discrimination.

Kavanaugh stressed the necessity of continued support for LGBTQ+ rights and health.

The United States should not be moving closer and in the direction of Uganda, he said. The United States should be moving much more in the direction of Botswana.
Kansas City Public Schools shared a message of mourning this week to families with students who attended elementary school alongside 5-year-old Grayson OConnor, whose death Monday is being investigated by police as a potential homicide or a possible instance of child neglect.

OConnor was found dead in an alleyway behind the Grand Boulevard Lofts high-rise apartment building at 1006 Grand Boulevard. Police say they have confirmed the boys body fell from a window, but the manner in which he died remains under investigation.

In a letter addressed to families and shared with The Star, Principal Jaqueline Tanner of Primitivo Garcia Elementary School said the death marked a deeply tragic event that has impacted our Garcia Elementary family.

Words cannot adequately express the profound sadness we all feel as we come to terms with this devastating loss, Tanner wrote in the letter. The passing of a young life is an indescribable tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the students family and loved ones during this incredibly challenging time.

OConnor was kindergarten age. The schools calendar shows Garcia Elementary students were set to return from Thanksgiving break on Monday, the day the 5-year-old died.

Around 11:30 a.m, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to Graysons apartment building on a medical call. He was found in the alley near a row of dumpsters with apparent head trauma and pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives and police officers went inside the apartment after noticing an open window on the 17th floor, where Grayson lived with his mother, according to an affidavit filed in support of a search warrant Monday.

Inside the apartment, police found the boys mother on the ground underneath an open window, the affidavit says.

She was asked where her son was, and, according to the affidavit, uttered a reply: Out the window. She was taken to a hospital for an unspecified reason and has not been seen by neighbors since.

Police are investigating whether the mother had any involvement with her sons death.

No criminal charges had been filed as of Thursday. The Star is not naming the mother as she has not been charged with a crime.

Neighbors who spoke to The Star this week said they had concerns Grayson was being neglected and possibly abused, at least verbally. Neighbors provided food to the boy and mother, saw Grayson wandering alone on occasions and frequently overheard loud screams and cries coming from the apartment.

Neighbors said several calls were made to social services about his welfare. The Star has requested records from the Missouri Department of Social Services.

In the wake of the boys death, Tanner, the school principal, said KCPS would provide support to students, faculty and staff dealing with the emotional toll. Examples included available counselors and other support staff.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

On Wednesday, No Labels announced that it wont hold its presidential convention next April as planned.

Thats not to say the centrist group wont end up nominating a candidate, but canceling its Dallas convention will give No Labels more flexibilityand more timeto make that determination, per Axios. As I read that, the organization wants to leave itself a path to back out of the race in case it becomes clear that their candidate would divide the Democratic vote and end up reelecting you-know-who.

Not reelecting you-know-who should be the highest priority of every freedom-loving American next year, for increasingly obvious reasons.

Because they enjoy special influence to shape opinion, I think public officials have a special duty to make that point. And because hearing GOP officials make that argumentstripped as it is of normal partisan interestsmight hold special power for swing voters, those Republicans have a particularly special duty to make it.

How many do we think will do so?

One prime candidate to take the plunge is Chris Sununu. The governor of New Hampshire has half-joked about Donald Trump being fing crazy (true), has pronounced him unelectable (false), and opted not to run for president himself in hopes of uniting the party behind a single alternative. (Beating Trump is more important, he declared in an op-ed.) Although his criticisms of the frontrunner tend to focus on his alleged weakness in a general election, lately Sununu has begun to complain about Trumps, er, eccentricities. Did you see his last visit to New Hampshire? he asked reporters this month. He was comparing himself to Nelson Mandela and talking about Jesus Christ being speaker of the Houseit was kooky talk.

Then came the supreme condemnation. He sounds almost as bad as Joe Biden, Sununu said, seemingly bothered more by that than by Trumps overtly autocratic ambitions.

If any Republican public official is primed to conclude that he cant support Trump for president a third time, its him. Sununu doesnt even have a primary on the horizon to make him reconsider: He announced in July that he wont seek reelection as governor.

So when he was asked recently in an interview with Puck whom hell support in a race between Trump and Biden, he said  Trump, of course.

In a podcast interview released Tuesday, Pucks Tara Palmeri asked Sununu about next Novembers vote. If it comes down to Trump or Biden, which it most likely will, youre going to vote for Trump then? Im a Republican, Sununu replied. Its the same answer Sununu gave in 2020 when he won reelection by more than 30 points the same day then-President Trump lost to Joe Biden by eight. Sununu has been open about his low opinion of Trump, but he has been just as open about his loyalty to the GOP. I just want Republicans to win; thats all I care about.

When the history of this era is written, I just want Republicans to win; thats all I care about should be its epigraph.

Does Sununu even mean it, though?

Its possible that many more Republican officials than we think are preparing to come off the sidelines next year against Trump if hes the nominee.

Not likely, but possible. A political leadership class dominated by cowards, grifters, and the odd earnest fascist here and there is unlikely to develop a sense of honor in the thick of a winner-take-all presidential death match. But the story youd need to tell yourself to believe it isnt that complicated.

Its as simple as this: Arguably, GOP officeholders have no reason to rule out supporting Trump in the general election unless and until he becomes the nominee.

Because he might not, you know. The odds of him losing to Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley must be 500 to 1 at this point, but why take the momentous step of declaring him unfit for office when there remains a chance, however slight, that the party will nominate someone else? Why make enemies of the Trump diehards in your district before you absolutely have to?

You can burn that bridge next year by refusing to endorse him if Republican voters choose to nominate him again. But so long as theres a possibility that DeSantis or Haley will solve your Trump dilemma for you by beating him in the primary, why not sit back, stay on the good side of populists, and hope for the best?

Right, Mike Lawler?

SCOOPLET: Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is privately supporting Nikki Haley to be the GOP nominee for president, according to audio I obtained of a meeting he had with constituents last week. Asked for comment, his campaign manager said he isnt planning on making an endorsement. pic.twitter.com/ATCh8SyMUp  Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) November 30, 2023

Chris Sununu has more strategic reasons than the average Republican to not rule out supporting Trumpfor now.

Hes a popular governor in a hugely influential early state. Hes hinting at making an endorsement sometime in December. So long as he remains an ally of Republican votersi.e. someone wholl support the GOP nominee, no matter whothat endorsement might carry some weight with undecideds. Whereas if he turns around and declares Trump unfit for office, hell be discredited instantly as a liberal in disguise who prefers a second term for Joe Biden. Any influence he might have in nudging Republicans to support DeSantis or Haley over Trump would evaporate.

That is to say, the anti-Trump cause is arguably best served at the moment by Sununu posturing as a loyal partisan. The interests of that cause will change once Trump becomes the nominee and so perhaps will Sununus mind, and the minds of many other Republicans.

The question is this: If the highest priority in this election is defeating Trump, is partisan posturing by Sununu and others at this stage doing more harm than good?

Imagine if dozens of officeholders from the traditionally conservative wing of the party came out and said, We cant support Trump again. We want to elect a Republican president next year and will happily vote for Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley in a general election. But Trump is nutty, demagogic, and corrupt; a party that backs him is a party that no longer honors our values. If you nominate him, conservatives will stay home.

Imagine if theyd said that six months ago, in fact.

It takes a lot of imagination. Any officeholder who issued that ultimatum would be teed up for a serious Trump-backed primary challenge. And theres no reason to believe Trump-weary conservative voters would follow their lead by boycotting the general election if the GOP insisted on nominating Trump again. The defining characteristic of modern conservatives is that theyre partisan zombies wholl support the foulest Republican over any Democrat; they wont even bluff to try to get their way in a primary by issuing empty threats to stay home if their preferred candidates arent nominated.

Which, of course, is why populists who hate Republicans more than they hate Democrats now control the party. The side willing to take hostages calls the tune.

So asking someone to imagine prominent conservatives taking a bold stand for their values at the expense of Republican victory is like asking them to imagine what Earth would be like if gravity suddenly worked in reverse. Its an interesting thought experiment yet so outlandish as to be pointless.

But on Earth 2, where there is a critical mass of conservatives willing to make clear that nominating Trump again would sever their loyalty to the party, Republican primary voters might be forced to reconsider the path theyre on. Weve talked endlessly in this newsletter about whether DeSantis or Haley would be truly viable in a general election if the 20 percent of the GOP thats loyal only to Trump chose to stay home next November. Theres nothing stopping grassroots conservatives from making that dynamic work the other way, where nominating Trump means a different 20 percent of the party stays home.

Had Sununu, Lawler, and others been willing to risk their long-term viability in the party by declaring that they wont support Trump again, perhaps that would have normalized the prospect of a general-election boycott among traditional conservatives. And that prospect would have raised the price of renominating Trump to primary voters, steering them toward DeSantis or Haley instead.

Permission structures matter. By framing his objections to Trump in terms of electability rather than fitness, the governor of New Hampshire has given conservatives permission to lay aside any qualms they might have about the frontrunners illiberalism and to vote for him again. Instead of weakening the gravitational pull of toxic partisanship, Sununu has strengthened it.

Might that permission be withdrawn next summer?

At the risk of sounding embarrassingly naive and uncharacteristically optimistic, I think so.

Might is an unsatisfying prediction, but theres no way to be more certain given the variables at play. One such variable is how kooky, to borrow Sununus term, Trump ends up sounding on the campaign trail next year. All signs right now point to kookier than you can possibly imagine.

Donald Trump reshares a post calling for the prosecution of Capitol Police officers for defending the Capitol on Jan. 6 pic.twitter.com/2w4B5Pz8Rt  Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) November 30, 2023

Hes already reached the stage of describing his political enemies as vermin. Eleven more months of age, campaign stress, legal strain, and radicalization by the online populist media he consumes will only make him nuttier. I think the odds of him calling for violence explicitly at some point are no worse than 50/50, particularly if he ends up convicted of a crime before Election Day.

Im not telling you that Chris Sununu and others in the Conservatives Who Know Better caucus would rescind their endorsements of Trump if he did something like that. Were all far too jaded by now to assume that the average Republican officeholder has any moral breaking point.

But I am telling you that its possible. Once upon a time, Liz Cheney was a Trump voter. So was Adam Kinzinger. Mitt Romney considered serving as Trumps secretary of state. Some people dont know where their moral breaking point is until its broken.

Granted, the low-hanging fruit among Republican officeholders with a conscience has already been picked. Those like Sununu who can still publicly entertain supporting him after January 6 will be reluctant converts to the never again position. The tree will need to be shaken violently for some of that higher-hanging fruit to break loose and tumble off.

But violence and agitation are what Trump is all about. He could very plausibly cut such an ugly figure on the trail in six months that even normie conservative officeholders will get exasperated with having to defend him and decide, well, not to.

The other variable is the near-term prospect that the GOP might turn the corner on Trumpism. Tom Nichols sees Sununu and others deluding themselves into believing that this, at long last, is the final chapter. A glorious conservative restoration awaits if only they can ride out one last storm 

Numbed by opportunism, many Republicans will simply hunker down and try to survive the next five years. Theyre all sure that, after that, itll be their time, and they will triumphantly cobble together a new GOP coalition out of independents, moderate Republicans, and whats left of the MAGA vote, gaining that last group by assuring Trumps base that no matter what they may have said about their idol, at least they never went over the fence and voted for a Democrat.  This dream narrative ends with the normal Republicans emerging from their tornado shelters, surveying some limited and reparable damage, and restoring the center-right, conservative kingdom. President Haley or Senator [Peter] Meijer will get the GOP back to cutting taxes and erasing government regulations, all while mending fences with millions of people who were horrified by the violence and madness of Trumpism. None of that is going to happen.

If that sounds familiar, its because Conservatives Who Know Better followed the same reasoning to try to outlast Trump through his first term in officeand now here we are. As the calendar turns to December 2023, he leads in national primary polling by a cool 48.4 points. If he loses again next year and wants to run again in 2028, only a fool wouldnt have him as a favorite for the nomination at the start of the campaign.

Were Biden leading Trump by double digits in head-to-head polling, I could imagine Sununu and other conservative officeholders convincing themselves to be patient and stay the course. A trouncing in 2024 would be too difficult to spin away as another rigged election, that card having been played already. A resounding defeat would be discrediting for Trump personally and for Trumpism more broadly. With the right-wing rank-and-file suddenly in need of direction, traditional conservatives would be positioned to step in and provide it.

But the odds of Trump being crushed by an enfeebled Biden already approach zero. Biden doesnt lead him by double digits; he doesnt lead at all. The best-case scenario for conservatives realistically is that Trump loses again but only narrowly, which would confirm that post-liberalism is viable as an electoral strategy for the GOP. (More viable than conservatism in some respects, in fact.) The lesson for the right from a closely run 2024 defeat wont be that the party needs a new ideology, only that it needs a somewhat less unpopular demagogue to promote it.

Faced with that realization next summer, Conservatives Who Know Better like Sununu might reasonably conclude that the storm on the right wont end soon after all and thus theres no point continuing to try riding it out. They might as well declare Trump unfit for office and plot a new political course, like a third party, where they dont have to be hideously ashamed of their nominee and the people who reliably vote for him every four years.

Or they could become post-liberals themselves, of course, and get with the new Republican program.

Is that where Chris Sununu is headed?

A few days ago I claimed that no one is in denial anymore about what Trump is and what hed try to do in a second term. Perhaps I was wrong. Per Chris Cillizza, Sununu gave an astonishingly sanguine take on the potential for havoc from Trump 2.0 in an interview with the New York Times in October.

Trump walked out the door. As much of a stink as he made that the election fraud in Jan. 6 and all this stuff, he still walked out the door, he told the paper. Democracy at its core is solid. Our institutions at their core are solid. They really are. Were not falling apart just because you have a couple idiots on top of the ticket on both sides, saying ridiculous things.

The whole point of Trumps second term is to hollow out those institutions and fill them with lackeys wholl abuse federal power at their masters direction. There are elaborate plans in place to make it happen; the project involves far, far more than a couple idiots. Read Robert Kagans analysis in the Washington Post of what a second Trump presidency plausibly would look like. Sununu cant be so ignorant of the risk that hes comfortable hand-waving it away with a glib It cant happen here.

And he cant possibly be unaware of the civil unrest it would provoke if authoritarian stooges tried to commandeer the federal government.

Maybe he isnt. Maybe the point of his glibness is to whitewash the threat so that undecided voters feel more comfortable giving Trump a second chance. Maybe Sununu and other Conservatives Who Know Better really do mean it when they say, I just want Republicans to win; thats all I care about. Trump is a Republican. QED.

Chris Sununu wouldnt be the first Republican to convert from conservatism to paranoid post-liberalism, and he wont be the last. His time for choosing is coming soon. Everyones is.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
A Maryland congressional candidate latched onto Fridays expulsion of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) to boost his own campaign, calling on the country to send a real gay, Latino, Jew to Congress.

State Del. Joe Vogel (D) announced a run for Marylands 6th District in May, currently held by Rep. David Trone (D), who is pursing a Senate campaign.

Unlike George Santos, were going to Congress to solve problems not create drama, he posted on X, formerly Twitter. And we dont use our campaign funds on Botox  were instead using the money you chip in to build an organizing program all across #MD-06.

Santos was kicked out of Congress on Friday after a scandal-plagued term that included allegations of campaign finance fraud, lying to donors and more than a dozen criminal charges. Among his many documented falsehoods were unfounded claims of Jewish heritage.

Vogel, 26, is attempting to become the second member of Gen Z to be elected to Congress, pitching himself as a different form of leader.

We need a new generation of leaders in Washington who understand exactly whats at stake in this moment, he wrote in his campaign announcement. We just cant wait to end gun violence, secure our rights, protect our democracy, and save our planet.

If elected, Vogel would be the first openly gay Gen Z member of Congress and just the 14th out LGBTQ member. He was elected to the Maryland Legislature in 2022.

The 6th District faces a crowded Democratic primary, also featuring fellow state Del. Lesley Lopez, April McClain-Delaney  the wife of former presidential candidate and Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.)  Hagerstown Mayor Tekesha Martinez and others.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
It was a mostly quiet yet lovely evening Thursday for the local debut performance of pianist, electronic musician and composer Hania Rani. And that may have been exactly what Rani wanted. Gone was the sometimes rowdy standing-room-only energy of the main ballroom in Thalia Hall. Instead, the room was set up with a spacious seating arrangement of folding chairs, allowing everyone in the sold-out crowd great sight lines and time to rest as Rani swept through a precise collection of her tracks. It made for a warm, inviting setting, not unlike experiencing a traditional classical music performance, but without any of the potential airs.

This arrangement allowed Rani to focus on performing her music. And in turn, the audience was focused as well.

Advertisement

Distractions are abundant when it comes to todays live music experience. But Ranis unique stage setup and her fluid movement through each track created an absorbing show.

Rani performed away from the crowd for most of her set. She kicked off the evening with album opener Oltre Terra, a relatively short, but evocative instrumental song from her 2023 release Ghosts. Unlike the album tracks brief length, Rani fleshed out the length and scope of the song during her live performance. This would come to set the tone for the evening, with songs such as 24.03 and Dancing with Ghosts (both of which appear on Ghosts) embodying new, expansive tones. Rani didnt just perform. She took listeners on a musical journey.

Advertisement

Rani is a master builder of instrumentation, so witnessing just how she builds her songs from scratch is a joy for dedicated fans. On stage, she swiveled between multiple pianos, keyboards and synths strategically placed throughout a compact setup to build the multiple layers that make each of her songs. Her arms were outstretched building synth elements with one hand while playing piano on the other. At times, it appeared as if she could barely reach between one instrument and another. Yet Rani never failed, creating a dazzling, intensely physical sight.

Ranis voice was as haunting and crisp live as it is on her albums. The few songs with a danceable beat, like Hello and Thin Line from Ghosts inspired a lively two-step from Rani as she continued constructing the tracks. Some audience members in the back of the room, who were standing by the bar, gently swayed along. It made for a streamlined performance between songs that was as immersive as it was awe-inspiring.

Most of Ranis electronic-heavy arrangements were constructed with her back to the room, while the two traditional pianos she switched between during quieter musical moments faced opposite sides of the stage. Her long hair typically covered her face, creating another barrier between herself and the audience.

Its no wonder then that Rani played for more than 30 minutes before finally  and quickly  acknowledging her accompanying band member (who moved between an upright bass and what appeared to be instrument pedals) and the crowd. But no one seemed to be complaining. It was during this moment and a few others that one or two stray audience members couldnt help but give Rani a shoutout of adoration.

The most surprising time during the evening, however, was when Rani fully retreated to her own world, playing tracks from her 2023 classical record On Giacometti. With just a piano, Rani homed in on her classic origins, reminding new audiences who may have been less familiar with her earlier work of the breadth of her musical output. Unsurprisingly, the audience loved it, and by the end of the evening, Rani was embraced with a standing ovation. Her meditative music has found a home here in Chicago.

Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
WASHINGTON  Senate Democrats are scattered on the question of putting new conditions on a package of billions of dollars in aid that Congress hopes to approve for Israel amid its war against Hamas.

Some, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), say they oppose trying to micromanage what Israel does on the battlefield. Others, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, say they know that people in America and around the world are very dispirited by the number of Palestinian civilians who have been killed in Israeli attacks pummeling the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is based.

Were talking about 14,000 people in a seven-week period, 70% of whom are women and children, Sanders told reporters on Tuesday. Yes, Israel absolutely has a right to defend itself from a barbaric attack. But there are ways to do that.

He continued: Then the question is, do we simply provide a blank check and say, Hey, yeah, we are concerned about it, but heres the money, do what you want to do? Or do you say, Hey, if you want our money, you have to listen to our conditions?

But even Sanders, easily the most prominent progressive on Capitol Hill, hedged when asked if he supports writing conditions into the forthcoming aid package.

Lets take it one step at a time, he said, before turning to leave.

For all the debate over potential conditions on the aid package  which is expected to pass in the next few weeks  the reality is that Congress is highly unlikely to include any new restrictions on funding for Israel, a longtime U.S. ally.

Republicans dont support the idea at all. Democrats largely dont, either. Among the handful of lawmakers discussing conditions, theres no agreement on what the new requirements would be, though Sanders has offered a road map. And this political reality doesnt even take into account the impact of imposing new conditions on foreign aid in statute, a process that would take months if not years to have a demonstrable effect.

Still, some Democrats and outside observers say the most significant, realistic thing that Congress can do to influence Israels war against Gaza  and try to save lives  is already happening: Its that lawmakers are even talking about the possibility of conditions on aid.

Were doing it already, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a senior member of the foreign relations committee, referring to senators trying to persuade Israel to behave more humanely.

Asked if he thinks the Israeli government is listening when senators air concerns about civilian casualties or the need for more humanitarian aid for Gaza, he emphatically said yes.

They are paying attention, Kaine said. I am always impressed by the Israelis. During my time here, they pay very close attention to what happens in this place.

Blumenthal, one of several Democratic senators who met privately with senior Israeli Defense Forces officials in the Capitol on Monday night, similarly said he thinks Israeli officials are heeding the advice theyre hearing from senators and from President Joe Biden.

Ive urged both publicly and privately that they take additional efforts to minimize civilian casualties, which they are doing, he argued, pointing to the pause in Israels offensive, which has allowed for a release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, as well as more humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gazans. Blumenthal speculated that the country will change its approach once it resumes its campaign, as it has pledged to do.

If bombing is resumed, it will take steps like avoiding the use of 2000-pound bombs, Blumenthal said. I think they will bomb less frequently. And I think theyll take steps to try to protect civilians, just based on my general conversations.

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) are key players in the Capitol Hill conversation about U.S. aid to Israel.

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) are key players in the Capitol Hill conversation about U.S. aid to Israel.

The ultimate effect of the conditions conversation could be a reminder about the legal conditions that already exist for foreign countries receiving U.S. military support  and how Israel has traditionally been exempt from those standards.

The country receives more than $3 billion in American military aid annually, with special treatment like the immediate transfer of that money each year instead of receiving it in portions to cover specific weapons purchases, and the right to earn interest on that grant. Israel has been the largest recipient of such U.S. support since World War II.

Theres nothing we put in any budgetary bill that just says, Heres a dollar amount, you get it. Right? Kaine said. Everything has expectations, restrictions, use it for this, use it for that ... Were going to do an [Israel] aid package for sure. Were going to put expectations on it as we would for other bills.

A Signaling Question

Following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, Israels retaliatory campaign has caused immense damage in Gaza. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the conditions there as hell on earth, and Israel appears to have repeatedly violated international humanitarian law. More than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed, and Israel cut off water, food and fuel for the region before the current temporary ceasefire.

On Thursday, the Israeli news outlets +972 and Local Call published an investigation quoting Israeli intelligence sources as saying the country has loosened its limits on harming civilians and striking non-military targets in its current Gaza campaign.

U.S. laws and Biden administration policies on weapon transfers are intended to ensure that American military aid cannot flow to forces that commit serious human rights violations. But analysts and current and former U.S. officials say theres a tacit understanding of a pass for Israel.

Israeli units suspected of abuses are investigated differently from those of any other country, for instance, and its almost unheard of for legislators to halt arms deals with Israel over rights concerns the way they often do with other controversial nations.

Still, rights advocates are cautiously optimistic that the new conversation in Congress will lead to a shift.

Virtually everything the Israeli military is doing in Gaza is backed in some way by the United States, said Annie Shiel, the U.S. advocacy director for the Center for Civilians in Conflict, a nonprofit focused on ending civilian harm amid wars. Currently, it does not appear that even the laws on the books are being applied to that U.S. assistance, Shiel argued, citing the example of the Leahy law, a provision intended to bar American aid to units that commit humanitarian abuses.

The Leahy law should be a powerful tool in this case, Shiel said. Unfortunately, its enforcement is broken when it comes to U.S. assistance to Israel. As far as we know publicly, no Israeli unit has ever been listed as prohibited under the Leahy law despite credible violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

A State Department spokesperson told HuffPost via email after this article was published, In general, the Leahy law applies to units of foreign security forces of all countries, including Israel.

Shiel also expressed concern with the Biden administrations mixed messaging on Israel. Top officials have simultaneously said they expect the country to follow the laws of war in its conduct, and said they are not tracking to see if Israel does so. It is our expectation that... they comply with the laws of war, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier this month.

When asked whether the U.S. is tracking allegations of Israeli war crimes, Miller responded: It is not an assessment that we are making now.

Its hard to see how they could be upholding U.S. law, or the Biden administrations own policy commitments for that matter, without doing that kind of assessment, Shiel told HuffPost. Congress should not provide funds without meaningful conditions to ensure that the United States does not further contribute to devastating civilian harm.

Legislators could even send a strong message without specifically putting conditions on the Israel aid package.

Shiel noted that Congress could, for example, write into law the Conventional Arms Transfer policy that Biden unveiled earlier this year, which sets up a new standard barring weapons transfers if it is judged more likely than not that the U.S. arms will be used to commit war crimes.

Or they could use annual must-pass appropriations bills to require new certifications about Israeli forces to keep aid flowing, as they do for military units run by other nations, said Josh Paul, a former State Department official who spent over a decade working on weapons deals for the U.S. government and recently left over objections to how the war was being handled.

Proponents of changing the U.S. approach acknowledge how hard it would be to tweak laws  but even the unprecedented public discussion of that possibility is giving them hope.

The conditionality question really... is a signaling question, Paul said, in terms of Washingtons expectation that Israel be more restrained in its campaign.

Aides to Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), left, and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), right, invited Senate personnel to attend a Tuesday screening in the Senate of a film documenting the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

Aides to Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), left, and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), right, invited Senate personnel to attend a Tuesday screening in the Senate of a film documenting the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

Israeli officials and national security hawks are trying to weaken that signal.

Staffers of Sens. Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), neither of whom support conditions on aid, invited Senate personnel to a Tuesday screening in the Senate of a film documenting the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, a Senate aide told HuffPost. The aide, who attended the screening, estimated that up to 140 staffers were present.

It felt like the purpose of the screening was to invoke humanity for a negative purpose of retaliation, the aide said of the film, which showed Palestinian militants committing gruesome acts.

But the aide said that despite the organizers intent, the experience helped them personally both to mourn the affected Israelis and to grieve the Gazans now facing terror  and to reflect on how the suffering of the former did not justify what is being done to the latter, but how the two were inseparable.

For it to have come out for us in this community, specifically in the lead-up to consideration for the aid package for Israel, for it come specifically for the Senate, specifically after a dozen senators raised the prospect of considering humanitarian limits to aid  it felt very targeted, the aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of professional repercussions.

A source familiar with activity in the Senate told The Intercept this week there have recently been an unusual number of briefings on Israel, and they have been more secretive and focused than normal.

The aide who spoke to HuffPost worries that the push to reiterate Israels viewpoint and assuage concerns about its actions could ultimately weaken the effect of activism for a more measured approach or even a cease-fire.

Youre about to write up memos to support votes, youre about to schedule meetings for your boss, the aide said. What I suspect might happen is that... this conversation on conditions for aid could be used as, See, we had the conversation, now we can have the status quo.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has offered some indication of what might happen if senators choose that approach.

Hes predicted at least two months of additional fighting, and told Israeli troops this week: When we return to fight, the power will be greater.

Related...
Trump supporters try to force their way through a police barricade in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, hoping to stop Congress from finalizing Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

A federal judge on Friday sentenced a retired Chicago firefighter to two months in prison, more than two years on house arrest and probation for his role in the attempted Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Federal prosecutors had asked for more than a year behind bars for Joseph Pavlik, 66, a 2013 Chicago Fire Department retiree who became the latest Illinois resident to be charged in connection with 2021 disturbance. He pleaded guilty to felony charges of civil disorder and entering or remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon in late August.

Advertisement

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced Pavlik to the shorter prison term with six months of home confinement and 24 months of supervised release, according to a news release from the U.S. attorneys office. Pavlik will also have to pay a $6,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution.

Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford confirmed in February that Pavlik joined the department in 1981 and worked as a firefighter until his retirement.

Advertisement

Prosecutors said Pavlik was a member of the Guardians of Freedom, an organization founded by his nephew and loosely affiliated with another right-wing militia group, the Three Percenters. They also cited numerous social media statements Pavlik made in the weeks preceding the riot calling for violence in response to Donald Trumps election loss.

These arent Americans they are indoctrinated socialists that hate America and hate Americans, he allegedly posted on Facebook in December 2020. We need to be much more brutal than punching and kicking. This is not some simple street disagreement.

At the Capitol on Jan. 6, Pavlik and five others tried to breach a line of law enforcement defending the buildings west terrace tunnel, where some members of Congress were sheltering in place, according to prosecutors.

He later appeared in surveillance images and police body-worn camera footage wearing a gas mask and vest with patches depicting anti-government phrases.

According to federal officials, Joseph Pavlik, with mask, 65, a retired Chicago firefighter, was charged with storming the U.S. Capitol with a right-wing militia group on Jan. 6, 2021. During the melee, Pavliks group led rioters in numerous pushes as they tried for hours to force officers back, according to the complaint. (U.S. District Court records)

Pavliks companions, who are all from Florida, were arrested in the last year on charges stemming from the same tunnel altercation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Pavlik is among some 42 Illinoisans to be federally charged as part of the ongoing investigation into the Capitol attack, which prosecutors have described as one of the largest criminal investigations in U.S. history.

Nationwide, more than 1,200 people have been arrested in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on charges stemming from the Capitol breach, according to the Justice Department.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) took a personal shot at California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), saying the Democrats father-in-law told him he moved to Florida from California because of high taxes and the cost of living.

I was talking to a fella who had made the move to Florida from California, and he was telling me about how much better governed it is, better budget, all this stuff, DeSantis said during a debate with Newsom on Fox News on Thursday night. And then he said, Oh and Im Gavin Newsoms father-in-law. So we count Gavins father-in-law as one of the people who have moved from California to Florida.

A trend of residents leaving California to move to states such as Texas and Florida was the first topic the two governors debated during Thursday nights rowdy debate, which was hosted by Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Newsom shot back with attacks on DeSantiss stance on various social issues, such as abortion. The California governor, who has spurred White House speculations, also accused DeSantis, whos running for the 2024 GOP nomination, of caving to the fringe of his party on the coronavirus pandemic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, left, and California Governor Gavin Newsom appear on screen from the press room during a debate held by Fox News, in Alpharetta, Ga,, on November 30, 2023. Credit - Christian MonterrosaAFP via Getty Images

This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.

The event was billed by some as a 2028 preview but it was more of a bizarro version of 2024one where neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden were running for a second term.

In that alternate reality, it turns out, we would all be arguing a lot more about the pandemic.

"You were not following science. You were a lock-down Governor," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told California Governor Gavin Newsom Thursday evening.

So much of the current political landscape can be traced to the national trauma of 2020s Covid-19 pandemic and its fallout. Now almost four years on, the reverb continues to define political identity and ambition for two Governors with national aspirations and inclinations to be bullies. As DeSantis, who is running for President right now, and Newsom, who is not, clashed on Fox News, it was clear that their divergent approaches to pandemic was evidence in miniature why both men have a loud following among their parties partisans and why they rankle their detractors.

More From TIME

I had Disney open during Covid and we made them a fortune and we saved a lot of jobs. You had Disney closed inexplicably for over a year, DeSantis said of the popular theme parks in each of their states.

Newsom had a retort at the ready, noting that DeSantis had actually engaged in mass closures and other limits in 2020 until the Republican base had clearly sided with Donald Trumps nothing-to-see-here approach. You should apologize for your Covid record, Newsom said. You were with [Anthony] Fauci. You aligned with vaccines. You aligned with CDC guidelines until you didnt. Tens of thousands of people died.

DeSantis countered that he saw the light. When we opened schools we bucked all of those people in June of 2020. He kept the schools closed for a long time, DeSantis said.

The mutual enmity between the two men is as apparent as it is helpful to their national ambitions. Ultimately, neither of these men is particularly likable. DeSantis seemed like he was trying to get familiar and find his footing in a 2024 campaign that is slipping through his fingers, while Newsom seemed indifferent to public opinion of his smugness. Neither, though, is yet a viable nominee in the current environment.

DeSantis smirked through Newsoms thumping, reduced to Trumpian staccatos of lies and false. DeSantis, whose presidential campaign is struggling by every objective measure, spent his time defending his tenure as Florida Governor and making the case that his version of conservatism is the future of the nation, while California is an outlier of American values and priorities.

Youre trolling folks and trying to find migrants to play political games to get some news and attention so you can out-Trump Trump. By the way, hows that going for you, Ron? Youre down 41 points in your own home state, Newsom said.

DeSantis, who has made the culture wars a hallmark of his tenure as Governor and his platform for President, asserted that President Joe Biden is in cognitive decline and should step aside as the leader of the Democratic Party. Thats why hes running a shadow campaign, DeSantis said of the man to his left.

Newsom declared he is not running for President in 2024 and again repeated that Vice President Kamala Harris is the obvious heir should Biden become incapable of running for a second term. Joe Biden will be our nominee in a matter of weeks, Newsom said. Its not even an option.

At another point, Newsom corrected DeSantis pronunciation of Harris name: By the way, its not Kah-mah-la Harris. Shame on you. Its Comma-la Harris, Ron. Madame Vice President to you.

The evening chugged along as the two men interrupted and stammered over each other. With DeSantis consistently chasing far-ahead frontrunner Trump and Newsom serving as a loyalist defender of the current White House, the Californian couldnt help but to tweak DeSantis and his lagging campaign. Theres one thing that we have in common: Neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024, Newsom said dryly.

When are you going to drop out and at least give Nikki Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump? Newsom jabbed as the evening lurched to a close beyond the agreed-upon time limit. She laid you out.

You wish, was all DeSantis could summon.

DeSantis was clearly not ready to acknowledge the reality of the political landscape and instead kept his eyes trained on his immediate debating rival. Gavin Newsom did huge damage to people in California. He ruined livelihoods, DeSantis said. We reopened the state very quickly. We saved thousands of jobs. We saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, thousands of businesses. We had our kids in school. He had kids locked out of schools because of the teachers unions.

Host Sean Hannity, who struggled to keep the men on stage there in Georgia in check and listening to their counterparts, at times ready to cede control of the conversation.

Youre nothing but a bully, Newsom said as DeSantis kept interjecting with impunity.

Youre a bully, DeSantis shot back like they were on a school playground and not a national stage.

You intimidate and humiliate people, Newsom said. By the way, how well is this campaign going for you?

DeSantis largely ignored the taunts and instead kept hammering Floridas supremacy over California. While he kept making the case for his nominationnow or in 2028the night was unlikely to change DeSantis polling or fundraising as he chases the 2024 nomination. But Newsom, who is laying the groundwork for a 2028 campaign, kept dinging DeSantis as a relic.

You want to bring us back to a pre-1960s world. America in reverse, Newsom said.

For his part, DeSantis seemed ready to go in the opposite direction, to run the clock ahead to 2028, when both men could end up the nominee. But its entirely obvious the events of 2020 wont be far from their planning.

Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter.

Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
Adam Laxalt, one of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis closest friends in politics, is stepping down from his role as chairman of a super PAC supporting the Republicans presidential campaign, a source with knowledge of the move confirmed.

Laxalt, who was roommates with DeSantis during naval officer training, joined Never Back Down in April shortly after its launch and before the Florida governor launched his campaign for president. The move put a key ally on the board of a super PAC that had an unusually outsize role in supporting a presidential candidate.

Laxalt brought a wealth of campaign experience in the early-nominating state of Nevada, having served as its attorney general before running unsuccessfully for governor and the US Senate.

Laxalts departure is effective immediately, he told the Never Back Down board in a letter provided to CNN by request and first reported by The New York Times.

After nearly 26 straight months of being in a full-scale campaign, I need to return my time and attention to my family and law practice, Laxalt wrote.

The departure of Laxalt comes on the heels of the exit of Never Back Downs chief executive, Chris Jankowski, who stepped down last week. It also comes amid continued tension between DeSantis political operation and Never Back Down, which bled into the public view again recently when a rival super PAC, Fight Right, Inc., was formed by several individuals viewed as much closer to the governor.

The launch of the new group occurred at least in part because negative ads run by Never Back Down were becoming too closely associated with DeSantis, according to a source familiar with the situation.

DeSantis and his wife, Casey, were not unhappy with Never Back Downs efforts overall, the source said, but they didnt think the ads were as strong as they could be.

DeSantis has often appeared at events sponsored by Never Back Down. The super PAC has already spent at least $41 million boosting him and millions more on the campaign events featuring the governor, having received a transfer of more than $80 million in political funds that he had stockpiled in his state-level fundraising committee ahead of the White House race.

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Ron DeSantis held up a map of human faeces in a bizarre stunt during a televised debate with Gavin Newsom on Thursday night.

The Florida governor took part in a live debate with his California counterpart, in what was dubbed the Great Red vs Blue State Debate on Fox News.

Mr DeSantis, who is polling second in the Republican primary race, agreed to debate Mr Newsom in an apparent bid for airtime ahead of the first caucus in Iowa next month.

The event saw the two men argue over which of their states had performed better on various economic and social metrics, and discuss the 2024 presidential election between Joe Biden and the yet-to-be-decided Republican nominee.

During the debate, Mr DeSantis held up a printed map of what he said were human faeces on the streets of San Francisco in an attempt to discredit Mr Newsoms record on sanitation.

App plotting human faeces found on streets

This is a map of San Francisco, he told viewers. Theres a lot of plots on that. You may be asking: What is that plotting?

Well, this is an app where they plot the human faeces that are found on the streets of San Francisco, and you see how almost the whole thing is covered?

Because that is what has happened - in one of the previous greatest cities this country has ever had. Human faeces is now a fact of life.

It came after Mr Newsom mocked the Florida governor for his position in the primary polls, telling Sean Hannity, the moderator: Theres one thing that we have in common. Neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.

Mr Newsom, who has been tipped for a presidential run in 2028, has been operating as a surrogate of the Biden campaign, defending the president on news programmes as his popularity wanes with American voters.

He previously denied that he was considering challenging the president in a Democratic primary race, and argues that if Mr Biden is forced to drop out due to ill health, then Kamala Harris should take his place.

Mr DeSantis currently has the support of around 12.6 per cent of Republican voters, according to the FiveThirtyEight poll aggregator.

Clash over gay rights

Mr Trump is by far the partys frontrunner, with 60 per cent support, while Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy trail with 9.5 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively.

The pair clashed on gay rights, after Mr DeSantis was challenged on his Dont Say Gay bill in Florida, which restricts teachers from telling students about sexuality or gender identity until at least the third grade.

I dont like the way you demean people, I dont like the way you demean the LGBTQ community, Mr Newsom said.

I dont like the way you demean and humiliate people you disagree with, Ron.

In a debate that frequently descended into the two men talking over each other, they also disagreed on the effect of California and Floridas rival lockdown restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr DeSantis said: You were not following science. You were a lockdown governor. You did a lot of damage to your people. You had more kids locked out of school for a longer period of time in California than anywhere else in the country.

Mr Newsom responded: He decided to fall prey to the fringe of his party. And as a consequence of that, Ron, tens of thousands of people lost their lives.

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 overhyped but still fun red state/blue state debate between Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom on Thursday night showed two things about the state of our politics:

Well get a vastly better debate of issues that matter when we finally get past Donald Trump and Joe Biden. And one reason we cant get past them is that some of the most prominent leaders in their respective parties arent ready for prime time.

At times too few and far between, the Florida and California governors elevated the debate on the vast ideological differences over how to govern our increasingly divided nation. If you strained your ears, you could hear important perspectives on the role of the state, sustaining economic growth and addressing specific issues such as crime, education and energy.

But the West Coast Democrat and the Gulf Coast Republican flung a blizzard of statistics across the stage, accused each other of lies and spent more time lecturing than persuading.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, debates California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, in a Fox News debate moderated by Sean Hannity on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

On the issues, DeSantis largely crushed Newsom, who started with pure garbage about interstate migration patterns and went downhill from there. Newsom struggled to defend Bidens economic record, Californias impossible cost of living and the scary state of crime and disorder in his cities. He managed to land some punches on abortion.

On style, though, DeSantis showed all the problems that have crippled his presidential campaign  a cold style and thin skin.

Neither demonstrated that he would be remotely ready to overtake Trump or Biden as his partys nominee. DeSantis, after months running for president, still cant break out of his boxes  Florida, culture wars and focusing on topics that only hard-core online political junkies care much about.

Newsom had a tough draw: fielding loaded questions from a conservative Fox News moderator and defending Joe Biden while trying not to outshine the struggling president. He balanced the tasks but at times came across as too slick or morally preening. Really, Governor, scolding someone over the pronunciation of Kamala Harris name? Get over yourself.

In retrospect, its hard to see why DeSantis agreed to the Fox News event. It could only be a massive distraction from his presidential campaign. Maybe he sought a Hail Mary, trailing Trump as badly as he is. The event offered him no opportunity to break from Trump or even contrast with the frontrunner. Worse still, DeSantis didnt create any such moments, something a competent presidential candidate finds a way to do.

To sum up DeSantis performance: He said nothing about Trump but managed to name  twice!  the high-dollar restaurant that Newsom visited amid COVID restrictions. Republicans surely appreciated the barb, but none will shift their votes over it. And thats what DeSantis needs.

Newsom is technically not running for president, so lodging immediate gains wasnt a priority. But the Californian clearly wants to position himself to follow Biden, either in 2028 or sooner if the president cannot fulfill his intention to run next year.

Newsom deserves credit for going into a hostile environment to engage on issues. Its the kind of interaction we need more of if were going to get through some of our divides.

Its less useful, though, if your technique is to self-righteously attack your opponent and smugly declare your moral superiority on everything from guns to mental health  all while accusing DeSantis of having a focus on false separateness.

For all their efforts, Newsom and DeSantis showed why neither is likely to dislodge Biden or Trump. Americans have made clear in poll after poll that they dont want a rematch between the two older men. And yet, their parties clearly arent ready to serve up much better.

Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us!

We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news  and to publish those views in the Opinion section.

 Letters should be no more than 150 words.

 Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days.

 Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions.

You can submit a letter to the editor two ways:

 Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred).

 Fill out this online form.

Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic.
A private detective who organized a hacking campaign against climate activists has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison  but the entire saga has left more questions than answers.

Aviram Azari, an Israeli police officerturnedprivate investigator, was hired by German payment processor Wirecard to target critics of the company with phishing and identity theft scams. Wirecard has since filed for insolvency.

Azari also spied on climate activists, with stolen emails ending up in the hands of dirty energy giant ExxonMobil, prosecutors said. The prosecutors stopped short of saying that Exxon had hired Azari and his firm to target its critics. Exxon has denied having a relationship with Azari.

From his home in Israel, Aviram Azari played a major role in orchestrating and facilitating an international hacking-for-hire spearphishing campaign. The conspiracy targeted individuals and companies in the U.S. and abroad, resulting in the theft of data and netting Azari over $4.8 million in criminal proceeds, U.S. attorney Damian Williams said.

Azari pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to 80 months (six-and-two-thirds years) in U.S. federal prison and was also ordered to pay forfeiture of $4,844,968.

According to a Department of Justice press release, Clients hired Azari to manage Projects that were described as intelligence gathering efforts but were, in fact, hacking campaigns specifically targeting certain groups of victims, including climate change activists. What is not specifically known, however, is who exactly those clients were, apart from Wirecard.

Three of Azaris victims who spoke in court, including two climate activists, said they still want to know who had paid Azari to spy on them and steal their information.

While its satisfying to see Azari sentenced for these crimes committed many years ago, we would still love to know who paid him to target me and my climate activist and lawyer colleagues, Kert Davies, director of investigations at the Center for Climate Integrity, told Reuters.

If ExxonMobil did hire a private investigator to target its critics  which, to be clear, the company denies doing  it would certainly not be the first time that the company engaged in unethical, underhanded tactics to protect the profits of its planet-destroying business.

Exxon has spread misinformation to downplay the pollution that its product creates, attempted to cover up negative health impacts that it has caused, employs an army of lobbyists to undermine new legislation that would protect the environment, and has no plans of stopping any of this anytime soon.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Two men are charged with defrauding a federal program for contractors doing demolitions in financially hard-hit areas of Michigan, including Detroit and Flint, state prosecutors announced.

David Gillespie, 34, of Detroit, and David Holman, 48, of Metamora, in Lapeer County, are charged in separate schemes involving the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Michigan Attorney General's Office announced Thursday.

Attorneys for both men told the Free Press on Friday their clients are fighting the allegations.

State prosecutors allege Gillespie's company, Detroit Environmental Solutions, purported to be a distinct entity from another business, BBEK Environmental, to satisfy TARP requirements. Under the law, demolition contracts procured by BBEK needed air quality monitoring to be conducted by an independent, third-party business.

Den-Man Contractors, owned by David Holman, located in Warren.

They said that was a critical requirement when dealing with asbestos and other harmful particles. Prosecutors allege the business was funded by and operated by principals of BBEK, and the intent was to keep air testing expenses within the scope of revenue for BBEK.

City takes action

After the charges were announced Thursday, the city of Detroit's Office of Inspector General issued a statement on the interim suspension of Detroit Environmental Solutions, Gillespie and any companies they have ownership or financial interest in from conducting business with the city and not awarding them any city contracts pending the city office's investigation.

The interim suspension is for 90 days or until the city inspector general makes a final determination. Gillespie and the company also are precluded from serving as a "subcontractor or as a goods, services, or materials supplier for any contract" for the city, per the statement.

Jim Makowski, Gillespie's attorney, said "we've been cooperating with investigators for months" and said the criminal charges were "kind of a kick in the teeth."

"We are going to vigorously defend this. We don't believe my client has done anything wrong," Makowski said. "No one is ever claiming he didn't do the work. They're claiming there's a problem with corporate structure."

Gillespie is charged with one count each of conducting a criminal enterprise and lying to a police officer and three counts of false pretenses in varying dollar amounts from as low as $20,000 to more than $100,000. His case is filed in 67th District Court in Flint. No hearing dates were set Friday.

Second case involves dirt fraud

In a separate case, Holman is accused of fraudulently billing TARP and the city of Detroit more than $1 million for dirt used to fill demolition sites that his company, Den-Man Contractors, obtained for free from prohibited or unknown sources, according to the state Attorney General's Office release.

Holman is accused of knowing the backfill material violated terms of his multiple city contracts and didn't do any testing to ensure the material was not contaminated. The city has incurred more than $3.5 million in costs to test the sites where Den-Man Contractors' prohibited-source dirt was used, state prosecutors said.

They said 87 properties failed testing standards for contaminants and 51 residential properties remain untested. Den-Man Contractors is based in Warren.

"Mr. Holman adamantly denies that he committed the crimes alleged in the Attorney General's complaint. He looks forward to presenting his case in a court of law and restoring his good name," according to a statement from SBBL Law in Grand Rapids, which is representing Holman.

Holman is charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and 11 counts of false pretenses, with dollar amounts varying from $1,000 to more than $100,000. His case is filed in 36th District Court in Detroit. No hearing dates were set Friday.

"Criminal enterprises target public funding programs, where hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars are awarded in contracts to fulfill public work," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in the release. "We must vigilantly defend public funds from abuse and criminal greed, especially when those crimes impact public health and safety."

In April, Detroit's Office of the Inspector General temporarily suspended Holman, his business and any companies he has ownership or financial interest in because of the accusations. The suspension was to be for 90 days or until the city's inspector general determined whether to debar the contractor.

At that time, Nessel's office also issued criminal enterprise and false pretense charges against one of Den-Man's former employees, David MacDonald, who was employed there in 2017 to lead the companys demolition program. His responsibilities included securing backfill dirt from approved sources, according to prior Free Press reporting.

In May, Holman and Den-Man Contractors sued the city's Office of the Inspector General in response to the temporary suspension.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit, Flint contractors charged with defrauding TARP program
Just before the Detroit Police Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to propose a city ordinance that would require police to release video footage of police shootings and other instances of deadly force, Detroit Police Chief James White announced that his department will publicly release such videos within 45 days of each incident.

Videos will be posted on the department's YouTube channel, White said. The Detroit Police Department late Thursday afternoon posted one video of an Oct. 20 nonfatal police shooting, including 911 calls, body camera footage, surveillance footage, and further information and details provided by police representatives.

"As Chief, I hold this department to the highest standards. Standards of service which includes values of integrity, professionalism, and community. This briefing is to ensure our values are met, and that we are transparent about critical incidents," White said at the beginning of the video.

Detroit Police Chief James White, photographed May 15, 2023.

Prior to Thursday, Detroit police voluntarily released body camera footage in some instances, but not others.

The Detroit Police Board of Commissioners on Thursday voted to move its proposed ordinance to city council for a vote. If approved by city council, the ordinance would require Detroit police to release to the public video footage and supplemental reports of police shootings and other instances of deadly force  both fatal and nonfatal  within 12 calendar days of the incident, and without requiring Freedom of Information Act requests.

Supplemental reports include investigative reports, use of force reports and arrest reports.

Under the ordinance, requests could be made by government or law enforcement entities to delay the release of footage and reports, not exceeding an additional 30 calendar days. Footage not owned or controlled by the city would need to be released within 21 calendar days under the proposed law.

Commissioners said if approved, the ordinance would boost transparency and build trust between Detroit police and the community. The BOPC has expressed frustration with Detroit police for not releasing full, unedited body camera footage of the October 2022 police killing of Porter Burks for almost a year, despite repeated requests from the board tasked with holding police accountable to the public.

Five officers shot 38 rounds at Burks in three seconds, fatally striking him 19 times, while the 20-year-old was experiencing a mental heath crisis.

"The people of the City have an undeniable, and in some cases paramount, interest in being informed, in a timely fashion and based on the most accurate information possible, about how their police department conducts its business, especially where the use of force by the police results in the death of, or great bodily harm to, a civilian," the BOPC wrote in its proposed city ordinance.

Chicago and Los Angeles have adopted similar ordinances. In Chicago, body camera footage is required to be released with 60 days of critical incidents like police shootings. In Los Angeles, footage is released within 45 days.

Police Commissioner Linda Bernard wrote in a news release earlier this month that leaving the release of footage to the discretion of police can lead to inconsistencies.

The release of body camera footage "can be within a few hours to more than a year later within the Departments discretion, if ever," Bernard said. "This internal 'policy' was apparent with the delayed (and obscured) release of the Porter Burks video, despite repeated community protestations, more than one year later."

The BOPC also recommended proposed amendments to the Detroit Police Department's policy on police shooting investigations, which include:

Incorporating other deadly uses of force within the policy.

Requiring police release all raw video and audio footage of a critical incident and to the public within five days without having to go through the Freedom of Information Act, unless prohibited by city, state, or federal law.

Recognizing that the BOPC's police oversight is charter-mandated and that the public is particularly concerned with critical incidents such as police shootings.

Timely notifying the BOPC of critical incidents  within four hours.

A required critical incident debrief, and subsequent updated debriefs, between the chief of police or a police representative and the BOPC within three days of the incident. The debrief would include a "step-by-step account of the incident," video and audio footage, still pictures and more.

DPD would provide the BOPC with quarterly reports that list all critical incidents for "a rolling 3-year period." These reports would include information regarding the officers and the investigation into the incident.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at 313-264-0442 or asahouri@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit police chief commits to releasing police shooting videos
The mess at Latitude Five25 and the relocation efforts local officials undertook to find temporary, then permanent housing for its residents was more than a test run for what they now face in a similar undertaking for Colonial Village residents.

When Columbus officials emptied the Latitude Five25 apartments on Christmas Day 2022, they needed to scramble to find shelter for 154 households after heat problems and burst pipes forced the evacuation of the twin towers at 525 Sawyer Blvd. The buildings also had problems with non-working elevators and other code issues.

It took 10 months for officials to find permanent homes for all Latitude Five25 residents, said Hannah Jones, the Department of Developments deputy director for community development. The situation exposed fractures in a system that had no playbook to deal with such a crisis at such a scale.

This week, more than 860 Colonial Village residents were told by the apartment's management company that they needed to be out by Dec. 31. Capstone Real Estate Services said it needs to extensively renovate the troubled East Side complex off East Livingston Avenue between James and South Hamilton roads. The complex has been under court-appointed receivership since February 2022.

City officials told Colonial Village residents at Barnett Community Center on Tuesday night that the city will provide temporary housing through the end of March, giving priority to more than 100 families without heat at Colonial Village.

More than 860 people, hundreds of them Haitian immigrants, have been living in mostly abandoned apartments in Colonial Village on the East side. The Haitians were scammed into moving in and paying $1,200 for two bedroom apartments without heat, hot water, and some without electricity

Jones said that among the things learned from the Latitude Five25 situation is to quickly link services to residents. At two resource fairs at Barnett Community Center on Nov. 16 and 17, officials gathered representatives from Franklin County Job and Family Services, immigrant and refugee agencies US Together and Community Refugee and Immigration Services, Columbus City Schools, Legal Aid of Columbus, and health care from Mount Carmel, Nationwide Children's Hospital and others.

"We have been quietly doing this work for a number of weeks," she said. "We had the ability to have time to wrap our arms around the situation."

The city has $400,000 left over from the Latitude Five25 efforts. Mayor Andrew Ginther's administration will be heading to Columbus City Council with a request for another $600,000 for a total of $1 million to help relocate Colonial Village residents.

The total cost of temporary housing and relocation services could be as much as $6.6 million, according to a Nov. 6 motion by the city against the complex in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Asked if there was anything city officials learned from the Latitude Five25 relocation that they wouldn't do this time, Jones said, "I cant pinpoint a thing we wouldn't do. I don't know that there's a perfect way to do it."

One difference this time is whether permanent homes can be found for everyone because of the immigration status of those from Haiti and asylum requests, she said.

"We can't say we can permanently rehouse everybody," Jones said.

"Hopefully, they'll be able to work and live in the community. We're trying to manage expectations of what we can do. We have to get everybody in a safe place," she said.

Hundreds of Haitians had been living for months in Colonial Village apartments without heat and hot water and lacking official leases. A network of human traffickers brought the asylum seekers to Columbus from Florida, collecting cash rent for the units and giving them bogus rental agreements.

Jones estimated that 50 to 85 tenants have legal leases and that the city has retained R. H. Brown & Company for relocation services for them. The company provided the same services for Latitude Five25 tenants this year.

But while there are similarities between the Latitude Five25 and Colonial Village situations, there are also differences, said Shannon Isom, president and CEO of the Community Shelter Board.

The main one is that there are so many immigrants this time, she said, with different needs and language barriers, people in many cases without work or credit histories in the United States, making it more challenging to find housing.

"We know that we have upwards of 800 people. That's one of the bigger issues we have, knowing we have a larger number of people to take care of," Isom said. "We know we have a large number of children. We dont know the number."

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein also said that in the Latitude Five25 case, the city filed and won a contempt action against the New Jersey-based owner. On Nov. 14, his office filed an action against Colonial Village's mortgage holder, EFM Transfer Agent; its receiver, Kenneth Latz, Senior Managing Director of Riveron ETS LLC; and its former property manager, Hayes Gibson; seeking to hold them in contempt of a court order mandating improvements in living conditions at the apartments.

"At the end of the day, the common theme that permeates the situations is accountability for the ownership at Sawyer Towers (Latitude Five25) or accountability through the receiver, lender and property manager at Colonial Village," he said.

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Will lessons from Latitude Five25 guide Colonial Village response?
Meryem Yildirim, 7, left, sits on the shoulders of her dad, Fatih, of Schaumburg, and Adin Bendat-Appell, 9, sits on the shoulders of his dad, Rabbi Jordan, of Deerfield, during a protest of then-President Donald Trump's travel ban at O'Hare International Airport on Jan. 30, 2017. The Muslim and Jewish families befriended each other after meeting at the protest. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

The photograph went viral, instantly becoming a symbol of interfaith unity and a beacon of hope amid turmoil.

A Muslim father and his young daughter connected with a Jewish dad and son in a chance encounter at OHare International Airport in 2017, while taking part in a protest of then-President Donald Trumps travel ban targeting Muslim-majority nations.

Advertisement

Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell hoisted his then-9-year-old son Adin onto his shoulders when the boy asked for a better look at the demonstration. Around the same time, Fatih Yildirim also lifted his daughter Meryem onto his shoulders, when the 7-year-old became tired.

A Chicago Tribune photographer captured an iconic image of that moment, as one child smiled at the other above the crowd, Adin wearing a yarmulke and Meryem wearing a hijab.

Advertisement

Although they were strangers before that day, the photo that swept the Internet also brought the Yildirim and Bendat-Appell families together. A few days after the protest, they shared a Shabbat dinner, to celebrate peace. And they have remained friends since despite their different backgrounds, cultures and faiths.

Recently, a small gesture of compassion from one of the fathers offered a great deal of comfort to the other, as his family endured tragedy during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 and thrust the region into a bloody war.

The horror overseas became very personal for the rabbi, whose wifes cousin was among those slain in the act of terror: The 33-year-old woman was shot in front of her 4-year-old son and baby, though the children survived, according to media reports.

When Fatih learned the news through social media posts, he called Jordan and passed my condolences (on) to his wife.

He added that he unequivocally condemned the act of violence.

How would any of us feel? Fatih said in a recent phone interview. I was devastated.

The small act of kindness from Fatih meant so much to Jordan in this period of grief.

The rabbi says that in times of darkness, the Jewish tradition teaches us that we have to start to bring about more light.

Advertisement

When youre in darkness, it may be hard to imagine a room full of light, he said in a recent phone interview. But you actually dont have to start with a room full of light. Just start with one small candle.

That call from Fatih was like one small light that really meant a lot to me, he added.

Just human

The fathers recalled that the photo from 2017 had become deeply meaningful to so many people during a tumultuous time in national history.

The demonstration they attended at OHare was in opposition to one of Trumps first acts as president in early 2017, an executive order prohibiting refugees from coming to the United States for 120 days and barring citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the country for 90 days.

The order, often dubbed the Muslim travel ban, was widely decried as discriminatory against Muslims and refugees by civil liberty experts and immigration advocates. Protests similar to the one at OHare swarmed airports across the country.

Trump had first announced plans for the ban while campaigning as the leading Republican presidential candidate in 2015.

Advertisement

Jordan, who lived in Deerfield at the time, had told the Tribune he brought his son to the protest to teach him to stand up for his beliefs. The boys grandparents are Holocaust survivors who had spent time in refugee camps, and the rabbi emphasized the importance of remembering our history for the sake of acting out in this world today, according to a Tribune story.

Fatih, who was born in Turkey and lived in Schaumburg at the time, came to the airport with his wife and four children to bring cookies to attorneys who were giving free law services to international travelers who had been detained.

The two bearded dads with glasses each held signs bearing parallel messages.

Jordans sign read, Weve seen this before. Never again. Jews against the ban, flanked by a Star of David on each side.

Fatihs sign simply stated empathy.

Both men had received many calls from loved ones and acquaintances about the photograph. Within about a day, the picture was reposted more than 16,000 times on Twitter, the social media site now known as X. The photo made headlines in national and international news outlets as well. Time magazine listed the image among the top viral photos of 2017.

Advertisement

The world is, in many ways, different now compared with when the photo was taken. President Joe Biden revoked the travel ban on his first day in office in 2021, fulfilling a campaign vow.

The two kids in the photo were thrilled at the news.

Finally, Trumps gone, Meryem had told the Tribune at the time. (There will be) more equality and just less crazy things happening.

Adin had also rejoiced.

As a Jew, if that happened against Jews, I would feel so angry. And it wasnt fair at all, and were all humans at the end, he had said. With the Yildirims, were good friends, and I really disagreed with it and Im so happy its over.

Yet echoes of Trumps travel ban recently reverberated in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, as the 2024 presidential election looms.

Advertisement

A few days after the Oct. 7 attack, Trump  once again the Republican front-runner in the upcoming race for president  promised to ban refugees from Gaza and immediately expand his 2017 Muslim travel ban if elected.

Well do it again, Trump said while campaigning in Iowa in October, during a speech that drew cheers from the crowd. Well put it right back into place.

Beyond a symbol

The fathers believe the 2017 photograph  as well as the enduring bond between the two families that the image forged  resonates just as strongly today amid the war in the Middle East and its repercussions worldwide, which include a horrific recent rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism.

For Jordan, his familys enduring friendship with the Yildirims became even more powerful than the symbolism of the picture.

It was moving to me how that photo spoke to so many people, Jordan said. It was profound for me to know that it was much more than an image. An image represents something ... but behind that was actually a genuine connection. So that always made me feel really proud.

After the photo went viral, the Yildirims and Bendat-Appells went on to share more moments together, including a meal to break the Ramadan fast, a Passover celebration and a 5K walk for peace outside the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie.

Advertisement

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Fatih Yildirim and his wife Amy, with their children, from left, Destiny, 19, Yasemin, 12, Meryem, 11, and Ihsan, 5, stand outside their home, Jan. 20, 2021, in Schaumburg. Years after meeting at an O'Hare airport protest against former President Trump's travel ban, the Yildirim and the Bendat-Appell families remain friends. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

The families often reach out to one another after horrific events that target Jewish or Muslim communities, such as the 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and an earthquake in Turkey earlier this year.

The Bendat-Appell family moved to Toronto a few years ago. The Yildirim family now lives in the Indianapolis area. The kids in the photograph are teenagers. Jordan jokes he can no longer lift his son onto his shoulders, as he did in the photograph.

Yet the families have still kept in touch long-distance over the years, with occasional emails around the holidays or messages on social media.

From the beginning, one thing I loved about the connection with Fatih and his family is that its just human. ... Were coming together as two different human beings who happen to like each other and connect with each other as any two human beings, Jordan said. It just happens hes Muslim; Im Jewish. We care about things. We love our families. We love our people. And my hearts broken about whats going on (in the world), on many levels.

Love of neighbor

Both men hope for peace in the Middle East and around the globe.

After the Oct. 7 massacre, Israeli airstrikes pounded the Gaza Strip. More than 5,300 Palestinian children have reportedly been killed in the war, according to UNICEF.

Advertisement

For most of the past week, Israel and Hamas were under a temporary cease-fire truce amid a hostage exchange. On Friday Israel resumed attacking Gaza and claimed Hamas violated the truce. Hamas said Israel declined offers to free more hostages.

Antisemitism has surged following the war, with the Anti-Defamation League tracking 300 antisemitic incidents in just over two weeks following the Hamas attack, a 388% rise compared to the same period in 2022. An ADL report released Wednesday showed that 73% of Jewish college students surveyed said they had seen or experienced some form of antisemitism since the start of this school year.

Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment have also recently spiked locally and around the globe.

In a high-profile case, a 6-year-old Muslim child was slain and his mother was wounded in an October stabbing in Will County. In connection to the attack, the familys landlord pleaded not guilty to murder, hate crime and other charges; authorities have said the landlord was motivated by listening to conservative talk radio discussions about the Israel-Hamas war.

More recently, three college students of Palestinian descent were shot and seriously injured Saturday in Vermont. Police said the young men were speaking both English and Arabic and two were wearing Palestinian kaffiyeh scarves, according to The Associated Press; a suspect has pleaded not guilty and authorities were investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime.

Since the war began, Fatih has been more worried about the safety and security of his family, he said.

Advertisement

But this is America, so theres rule of law in this country, he said. So Im not worried about it so much, Im not thinking about leaving America or anything. But its just kind of hard.

He added that hes optimistic some kind of diplomacy will win over this violent cycle, this endless violent cycle in the Middle East thats kind of affecting everyone around the world.

Jordan said his heart is broken about Oct. 7 and all the loss around it.

Yet the rabbi invoked the Biblical verse from Leviticus, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

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 >

He explained that there are two parts to that command.

The second part is that you have to love yourself and you have to love your people and stand up for your family, he said. And the other part of it is that we have to love others. I think all of us can challenge ourselves  on both sides of this equation  can I love more?

Advertisement

When the world feels scary, humans have a tendency to build walls for self-protection, he added. Yet he encourages people to find other human beings to connect with, including people who are different.

Ultimately, we cant all live in a world thats just filled with walls, he added.

The Associated Press contributed.

eleventis@chicagotribune.com
Phoenix police arrested a man in the late-night shooting and killing of a woman on Wednesday.

According to police, at around 10:24 p.m., officers responded to a shooting call at a home in the area of 79th and Hilton avenues. Upon arrival, they found 25-year-old Jennifer Jazmin Lopez suffering from a gunshot wound, and she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Court documents state that multiple calls were made in relation to the incident, with the initial caller telling dispatch that their friend's gun "went off," shooting Lopez.

One of the witnesses at the scene told investigators that he, Lopez, 24-year-old Steven Gault III, and another friend had been at the house drinking when the group went outside. While outside, the witness stated that Lopez took Gault's gun and shot two rounds from it, causing the group to run back inside.

Back inside, Gault attempted to unload the firearm by racking the slide when the witness said they heard a single gunshot and saw Lopez fall to the ground.

Gault then called his mother, saying, "I didn't mean to" shoot her, according to court documents.

In an interview with detectives, Gault said since Lopez had fired two shots from his gun and that he was intoxicated, it made him nervous and he panicked. Gault added that when he placed the gun down on the counter inside the home, he squeezed the trigger, firing the shot that killed Lopez.

Gault stated to detectives that it was not his intent and that it was an accident.

Gault was arrested and booked on $150,000 bond and is facing one count of manslaughter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Steven Gault III held in shooting death of Jazmin Lopez in Phoenix
Digital rights group Fight for the Future asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to remove Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) from his position as ranking member of the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, according to a letter exclusively shared with The Hill.

The group said Correa should be removed from the position for being openly hostile to [antitrust] reform efforts and far out of line with the majority of the Democratic caucus and President Bidens goal of curbing anticompetitive behavior by wealthy corporations.

While we appreciate Rep. Correas leadership in other areas, like protecting abortion rights, his tenure as ranking member of the antitrust committee has unfortunately been grossly out of step with important priorities, Fight for the Future wrote in the letter sent Friday.

Correa took the reins as ranking member of the committee in June after then-Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who led the push to reform antitrust bills in the House to target tech giants, resigned from the House.

Fight for the Futures letter to Jeffries is the latest push from progressives attacking Correa over his record of not supporting antitrust reform efforts.

Correa was among the California Democrats to vote against advancing bipartisan antitrust reform bills in June 2021 out of the House Judiciary Committee.

In addition to his past opposition, Fight for the Future noted action that Correa has taken since he took charge as ranking member that the group said is part of the lawmakers hostility to efforts to rein in corporate abuses.

For example, the group knocked Correa over having parroted talking points from the Chamber of Commerce and other Big Tech affiliated groups in criticizing the Biden administration and European Unions antitrust efforts during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in September, featuring Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Fight for the Future also noted that Correa sharply criticized Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter and Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan over their proposed merger guidelines.

Months into his tenure as ranking member, its clear that Correas hostility toward antitrust enforcement and the Biden Administrations competition agenda remains strong, Fight for the Future wrote.

Accordingly, we urge you to remove Correa from subcommittee leadership as soon as practical and replace him with someone who will support your caucuss and the Presidents competition agenda, the group added.

In response to the push to have him removed, a Correa spokesperson said in a statement, Ranking Member Correa ascended to his role atop of the Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust with the unanimous support of his Democratic colleagues on the House Judiciary Committeeand is incredibly proud to have the support of both Ranking Member [Jerry] Nadler [D-N.Y.] and Democratic Leader Jeffries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
One could be forgiven for assuming Mister Organ, the latest documentary film by David Farrier, was an expertly scripted work of satirical fiction. The cast of characters is so impossibly eccentric its hard to believe theyre real. At the center of it all is an enigmatic man named Michael Organ, a diabolical character who is equal parts magnetic and repulsive.

The elements of the documentary seem mundane enough  an antique store, a car park (parking lot), clamps (tire boots). But this parking lot is lorded over by a man who some might refer to as a psychiatrists field day, and his practices are so wanton the laws in New Zealand had to be amended to prohibit them. The storyline twists and turns in improbable ways. Farrier himself becomes entangled in the sticky false reality Organ forces upon anyone close to him. Although the lynchpin of the film is its namesake, Organ, the individuals who sit down to talk about their experiences with him create a fascinating narrative about a man who is, at best, an unreliable narrator. Never afraid of an embed, Farrier walks away with wild firsthand experiences of his own and the footage to prove it.

The documentary deserves a spot on everyones watch list, at the very least to hear the phrase car park repeated a few dozen times with the broad vowels of the Kiwi accent.

While he got his start in his native New Zealand as a TV journalist, Farrier first rose to prominence in the U.S. with Tickled, a documentary exploring the bizarre world of competitive endurance tickling. Farrier continued his exploration of the strange, dark, and mysterious with Netflixs Dark Tourist where he examined the peculiar trend of macabre tourist attractions. As Mister Organ hits digital, David phoned us from Roswell, N.M., to discuss all things Mister Organ and more.

The Advocate: The entirety of the documentary takes place in New Zealand, where Michael Organ lives. Do you think he would be as brazen and entitled in a country like America, where there are more guns than people? He seems to benefit from the docile nature of his fellow kiwis.

David Farrier: I dont think he would be as brazen here. I think New Zealand is the perfect little petri dish for him because he doesnt have to worry about people pulling a gun on him. But part of me thinks hed thrive here in America because theres so many of his personality types around. Or maybe thered be too much competition for him here. Hes lucky in New Zealand in that theres not nearly as many guns as in America. I think that did help him thrive and not get himself murdered.

He's like the kiwi bird in that sense. He never developed fear because he had no predators.

[Laughs] I love that metaphor. I find it sort of amazing that he was booting peoples cars for three years, you know, and charging people $700 here, $700 there, and never got beaten up.

I think most of us have a Michael Organ in our lives (ideally in our past). I know I do. It can be frustrating to see someone who continually lies, cheats, and steals seem to move through life without consequences. Its even more frustrating when said person seems to have more financial success than yourself. What do you think eventually becomes of people like this?

I think unfortunately were kind of living in a time where these people thrive. As we were making this, Trump was president, at one point and we just looked at some of the parallels. We are living in a time where you can create your own reality and you can lie and cheat and steal your way through life and it kind of works for you.

I wish I could say that there were consequences for these people. But I think beyond thinking of something pleasant like karma happening at some point, there often arent consequences. Its a frustrating but real part of life. I wish there were consequences but unfortunately for a lot of people living life this way there simply arent. Which is hard to stomach.

I think deep down these types of people feel very small and crippled by self-hatred. All their energy goes into distracting themselves from those feelings.

Thats a good point. As far as saying these people are winning at life, not in a million years would I want to be in their shoes or living that experience. I think it would be fucking miserable.

Youve mentioned you grew up in a devout Christian household. You have also been open about your bisexuality. Unfortunately, those two things tend to be diametrically opposed, but you seem pretty unphased by it all. How did you get to a place where you are so unaffected, and any advice to someone who may be struggling to reconcile their religious upbringing with their sexuality?

I think it is hard to do. When youve grown up in an environment that tells you that same-sex attraction is going to send you to hell and that kind of thing it can be really hard. I think the thing to do is to find like-minded people. You just need a few of those people in your life that are more open-minded that dont have that world view and it just starts to open the possibilities.

And it can take a long time to find your way through it. But if you can just find a few people who are like minded, even if its just one person, that can be a huge way of feeling less along in things and I think the great thing about people being so online nowadays is those communities are easier to find. Finding people outside of your sort of indoctrinated world view can be nice.

Both Tickled and Mister Organ have central characters with ambiguous sexual identities whose own dialogues point to internalized homophobia. Although its inappropriate to speculate on someones sexuality, there is naturally a curiosity around the role it plays in their behavior. Many filmmakers would make this the focal point and sensationalize it. Why didnt you do this?

You know, I think youre right. Both characters in Tickled and Mister Organ  just look at the worlds they operate in and issues of sexuality come into question. I didnt want to make a film about how  here are people of a certain sexuality and theyre doing bad things. The bad things they were doing were separate from their sexuality. Its just they happened to interact with certain people because of their sexuality.

I guess I dont want to associate the bad things these people have done with what their sexuality might be, so I kind of avoided it. And I think if you are watching it, you kind of know whats going on. There are enough clues there so that you can figure out perhaps why they are interacting with certain people and why a lot of their victims are of a certain sexuality. Both David DAmato and Mister Organ were a form of predator, and I think thats the thing I wanted to focus on with these individuals as opposed to their sexuality.

It can be more powerful to have it be something the audience picks up on their own.

Oh totally. I also think if you internalize your homophobia, as certainly as someone like David DAmato has, you see the consequences of that and how it doesnt play out in a particularly healthy way.

You had some trouble getting people from Organs past to even go on record discussing their experiences with him, but the ones who did sit down with you are all delightfully peculiar and endearing. I especially loved the little vignettes each person was sitting in front of. Did you set those up or did you just get lucky?

With the documentaries I make I like to interview people in their homes because I think the way people live and the things they surround themselves with says so much about them. A lot of the people I meet in Mister Organ are quite eccentric and fascinating people and so of course theyre surrounded by eccentric and fascinating things, and I wanted to include all of that. Dom Fryer, our DP, has such a good eye. I worked with Dom on Tickled and Dark Tourist, and I love the way hes made things look.

Has the films release helped you draw any conclusions about the motives behind his behavior? Have other victims come forward to share their stories and more insight into the man behind the clamps?

Yes. We were in New Zealand cinemas for a few months before we were in American cinemas. So many stories came out of the woodwork. Theyre different stories but theyre all the same stories. I think the people we interviewed in the documentary are examples of people he has tormented, but there are so many more. Thats the main thing Ive been surprised with. Just how vast his networks gotten. A bit like David DAmato in Tickled, the network of people theyve negatively affected is vast.

One of the things I wanted people to take from watching it is sort of a warning and maybe think about these aspects in other people already in their lives or that they may brush up against in the future. Because, as you said, you have encountered someone like this. They are everywhere. People have come to me after watching the film and said you know, I have my own Mister Organ. It was my dad, or it was my boyfriend, or it was my boss. And if people can feel a little bit seen by it or be more aware of things to look out for, thats a good outcome for the film.

How does it feel revisiting your journey with Michael Organ with the benefit of hindsight?

I feel like a bit of an idiot for not seeing what mess I was getting myself into. It's good watching it removed from it because I feel so grateful that I am out of his grasp, and I feel so grateful that I dont have to spend more time with him. Its fun watching it with a crowd of people who are laughing and squirming and having a good time with it.

If you could go back in time and avert a situation from your past, would it be  meeting Michael Organ or staying at the Cecil Hotel in LA in February 2013? [note- On February 19th 2013, the body of Canadian tourist Elisa Lam was found inside the cistern atop the Cecil Hotel in downtown LA. David happened to be a guest at the time and yes, he drank the tap water.]

[Laughs] Honestly, it would be meeting Mister Organ. I would stay in the Cecil and drink the water another ten times opposed to spending another day with Michael Organ.

The scene in which Michael and Jillian have a sit down with you has an underlying tension. Who were you more relieved to get away from, Michael Organ or Pablo Escobars assistant Pop Eye?

Again Michael Organ. Its a very strange thing. Pablo Escobars hitman, as awful as he was  allegedly he killed 300 people, murdered his girlfriend and their unborn child. Horrific man on all counts. But strangely he felt very safe and charming, and he was fun to be around. And Mister Organ was the opposite of all of that.

Choose your fighter for a psychological war: Extreme Haunted House owner Russ McKamy or Michael Organ?

This is tough. I think theyre going to be caught in eternal struggle where years from now theyll still be wrestling on the ground with no clear winner. I think both of those men kind of neutralize each other because they both get sucked into their own bizarre self-obsessed void. And maybe wed never hear from them again and maybe that would be the best possible thing. I mean Im thinking now I need to somehow introduce re so this can happen this would be great.

We can see if Organ can make it through Russs extreme haunted house, McKamey Manor.

Oh my God thats really funny, I love that.
A photo of a halo moon over North Carolina was posted on social media this week, and some were quick to ask if this means snow is coming soon. Does it?

We asked the experts, and heres what they said.

Whats a halo moon?

A halo moon is a moon with a variety of bright circles or arcs around it.

The circles are caused by the refraction of light by ice crystals that are suspended in the earths atmosphere, said Gail Hartfield, a meteorologist with Raleighs National Weather Service.

Suns can also have halos around them.

Cool halo around the moon in #Raleigh this morning! pic.twitter.com/uh6oECMMHl  Jed | OakCityCRE (@OakCityCRE) November 28, 2023

Does a halo moon mean snow is coming?

Not exactly, though there are a few factors that might bring about halo moons more often in cooler months:

 Fine ice crystals: Halo moons are associated with high cirrus clouds, which are composed of fine ice crystals. Thats what causes the refraction, which produces the halo.

Cirrus clouds often spread in  and gradually thicken with lowering cloud bases  ahead of storm systems during the winter months.

 Summer storms disrupt clear nights: You have a greater chance of seeing the moon during cooler months, as summertime often brings late-day or evening storms.

As they fall apart and weaken during the late evening or early overnight hours, they can leave behind residual mid- and high-level cloudiness over the area that might keep people from seeing a clear picture of the full moon during those warmer months, Hartfield said.

 In summary: Halo moons arent predictive of snow or a telltale sign that snow is definitely on its way, but halo moons are common to spot in the winter months.

Snow is much more likely during these cold seasons, so snow may be on its way already  but not because of the halo moon.

Will North Carolina see snow in December?

Weather lore in the Farmers Almanac has taught many of us that a halo moon means snow is coming soon. But NWS Raleigh meteorologists caution against getting weather predictions from the Almanac.

Typically, the observation of a lunar halo brings some form of precipitation within the next 24 to 36 hours, but not all the time. There are more factors in play to produce snow than just the presence of ice crystals 25,000 feet in the air the day before precipitation moves in, said meteorologist Aaron Swiggett.

But the amounts, intensity and phase of precipitation (which could be snow, ice or rain) all vary widely with each lunar halo spotting.

Its hard to get snow this time of year, especially in December. We get most of our snow in January and February, he said.

Its Spotify Wrapped time. How to find yours, plus a look at NC artist stats for 2023

Raleigh named a Top 10 college town in new report. But why is Cary on the list?
FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE)  A dog was trapped in a canal near Church and Clovis Avenues. However, the Fresno Fire Department says they were able to help rescue the pup.

According to the Fresno Fire Department, earlier in the week they received a report of a dog trapped in a canal near Church and Clovis Ave. Firefighters say when they arrived, they found a four-legged friend who had gotten in the canal and needed some help getting out. The dog is now safe and rescued.

A reminder that the Fresno Fire Department wants to share with others is canals can be hazardous with and without water flowing in them. Its always recommended for them to keep a safe distance from canals.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
The Florida Department of Health in Baker County (DOH-Baker) issued a rabies alert for the Taylor area after a cat tested positive for the disease.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

All residents and visitors in Baker County were asked to be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated. The public was also asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Baker County and avoid animals, such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.

The rabies alert will last for 60 days, and it was officially activated Nov. 29. The center of the rabies alert is at the corner of county roads 122 and 127, and is within the following boundaries in Baker County:

North to CR 120

West to Greenwood Trail

East to Cherokee Lane

South to Setter Lane

Read: New appointments and leadership program at JFRD aim to produce home-grown talent, but with a cost

DOH-Baker is asking residents to take the following precautions:

Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets and at-risk livestock.

Dont allow your pets to run free. Residents should follow leash laws by keeping pets and livestock secured on their property. If your pet or livestock are bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance immediately and contact Baker Animal Services at 904-259-6786.

Support animal control in efforts to reduce feral and stray animal populations.

Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Dont handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with outdoor food sources, such as uncovered trash or litter.

Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.

Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.

Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.

Persons who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek immediate medical attention and report the injury to the DOH-Baker at 904-259-6291.

For more information, visit the DOH-Baker website or call 904-259-6291.

Read: Going to be a major piece of information to have: Jacksonville mayor provides stadium deal update

For Immediate Release 11/30/2023 HEALTH OFFICIALS ISSUE RABIES ALERT Contact: Jordan Duncan,MSN,RN (904)... Posted by BCSO Division of Emergency Management on Thursday, November 30, 2023

Read: JSO: Man found dead on side of road after hit-and-run crash on Jacksonvilles Westside

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
A religious service is held at Ukraine's Holodomor monument on Holodomor Remembrance Day in Kyiv on Nov. 25, 2023. The memorial commemorates the intentional campaign of starvation waged against Ukrainians by Soviet authorities in 1932-33, which killed millions of people. (Brendan Hoffman/The New York Times)

The last Saturday in November this year marked Holodomor Memorial Day, the 90th anniversary of the Great Famine when Soviet leader Josef Stalins autocratic regime ruthlessly starved 4 million Ukrainians to death.

This horrific event is part of the historic backdrop shaping Ukraines response to Russias war. This experience is why, even as a stalemate sets in and winter approaches, the Ukrainian people oppose the idea of negotiating an end to this conflict.

Advertisement

Ukraine has good reason not to trust that its people would be safe under Russian rule. Russia has a long history with Ukraine, but that history is a far cry from Russian President Vladimir Putins claims that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Rather, Russias history with Ukraine is one of abuse, exploitation and horror.

This was true of the Russian empire and the Soviet Union, and it remains so under Putins autocratic Russia today. But Holodomor is perhaps the starkest reminder.

Advertisement

Holodomor, in Ukrainian, means death by starvation. The specific intent of Stalins regime remains a point of debate, but the cruel and massive scale of suffering his policies caused the Ukrainian people, with full knowledge of the consequences, is undeniable.

Stalin stole land, livestock and farming equipment from millions of Ukrainian farmers and forced them to labor on government farms as part of his collectivization policy launched in the late 1920s. The policy was meant to use grain exports, brought under the control of the Soviet state, to fuel the Soviet Unions industrialization.

Most Ukrainians were small-scale farmers, and they cultivated the breadbasket of Europe, so Stalin used them to feed that transformation. But the famine wasnt simply the unintended consequence of a cruel economic policy. Collectivization happened alongside mass political repression to intentionally crush Ukraines nationalist spirit.

[ Eugene Cherny: Ukrainians are fighting for their existence. They know the history of the genocidal Holodomor. ]

Ukraine had declared independence in the wake of World War I but lost its bid in 1922 after a three-year war with the Bolshevik Red Army and was forced into the Soviet Union. The desire for independence, though, wasnt defeated, and the Soviet regime knew it. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians were arrested, executed or sent to labor camps in the years that followed. Those who opposed collectivization were declared enemies of the state and targeted for elimination.

The Great Famine affected millions across the Soviet Union, as Stalin imposed grain quotas elsewhere too, but he put impossibly high targets on Ukrainian communities specifically to wear them down. And it worked.

About 13% of the Ukrainian population perished in the 1932-33 government-made famine. The breadbasket was starving to death. Farmers were prohibited from leaving their villages to seek work or food in cities. Villages that failed to meet their quotas were blockaded, leaving the inhabitants to die with no supplies or sustenance. Anyone caught taking produce from a collective field could be shot or imprisoned for stealing from the state.

Meanwhile, the Soviet government extracted millions of tons of grains and had enough in reserves in 1933 to feed 10 million people, according to Soviet records. The government exported and sold Ukrainian grain for cash, fully aware that millions of Ukrainians were dying of hunger as a result. The Soviet government denied the famine, rejected offers of outside assistance and prohibited any discussion of Holodomor for decades thereafter.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

For this horrific crime, and many others, Stalin paid no price. The rest of the world conveniently looked away, and more pressing geopolitical concerns soon made it expeditious for the West to form an alliance with his regime to defeat Germany in World War II.

Advertisement

Ukrainians have taken lessons from this brutal history, and Putin has too. Like Stalin, Putin seeks to violently exploit Ukraine to strengthen himself at home. He uses terror and repression to defeat political enemies. And he expects the rest of the world will ultimately let him get away with it, as he believes he cares more about defeating Ukraine than others care about liberating it.

He could be right. Ukraine is getting few breaks right now. Its military has made no real gains this year, as a bloody stalemate has set in. Military aid commitments from the United States, Ukraines biggest backer, are stuck in a dysfunctional Congress. Although most American lawmakers and citizens still support providing military assistance to Ukraine, the issue has become a lightning rod for the hard-right wing of the Republican Party, which retains just enough power to act as an obstacle, much to Putins delight. Meanwhile, the onset of another brutal war in the Middle East has made it easier for Ukraine to disappear from the headlines, even as its own war rages on.

But whether the United States is with them or not, the Ukrainian people will continue the fight. They know this history well and its consequences. They also know what Putins military did to their people in massacres in Bucha, Mariupol and elsewhere across Ukraine in the past two years.

For Ukraine, this isnt a question of territorial control, power or trade-offs. Its a question of existence.

Elizabeth Shackelford is a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Authorities gathered at the Fort Myers Police Department headquarters on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, to remind motorists of the dangers related to drunk, drugged, distracted and drowsy driving.

Authorities are reminding motorists of a growing epidemic a year after Lee County crashes saw their highest death toll in more than 10 years.

Members of the Florida Highway Patrol, Fort Myers Police and Cape Coral Police were among the agencies in attendance shining light on the impact of drinking, drugs, distracted and drowsy driving.

Nationwide, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs continues to be the most often committed and deadliest crime, authorities reiterated.

"Distracted driving, which has become an epidemic that threatens the safety and wellbeing of all road users," Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields said. "With the ever increasing presence of smartphones, or other electronic devices, the temptation to divert our attention from the road has become almost irresistible."

Fields said these crashes are preventable.

In perspective: Deaths on Lee, Collier roads last year near historic highs, troopers call for caution

"We must act collectively as a community to raise awareness and change our behavior behind the wheel," Fields said.

Lt. Greg Bueno, spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol, said drowsy driving is the often-forgotten "D."

"Yet it is just as dangerous as someone driving drunk," Bueno said. "It is just as dangerous as someone driving distracted. And it is certainly just as dangerous as someone driving drugged."

Bueno said drowsy driving slows down one's thought process and the reaction time. He added the lack of quantity or quality sleep are leading factors.

As opposed to turning up the radio or getting a cup of coffee, Bueno recommended, motorists traveling lengthy distances should take breaks every 100 miles or two hours.

"As troopers we respond to tragedies each and every day," Bueno said. "Unfortunately, one poor decision can result in a tragedy ... having to tell a parent, a husband or a wife, that their precious gift, their loved one, is not coming home, is certainly heartbreaking."

Bueno urged the gift of safety this year.

"It's a gift to yourself. It's a gift to your family. It's a gift to all of our families because all of our families are using the very same roads," Bueno said.

Bueno said "it's always good to end with a good advice quote, especially from the jolly good old fellow himself."

"He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake," Bueno said. "He knows whether you've been bad or good. So be sober. Put your phones down and stay awake. For goodness sake."

Cape Coral Police Sgt. Alisha Cody, who's assigned to the Special Operations Bureau where she leads the traffic homicide unit, said drug-impaired driving has a "tremendous" impact on road safety for the community and traffic crashes.

Cody said 55.8% of drivers involved in a serious-injury or fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug and 13,384 deaths nationwide were due to impaired driving crashes in 2021.

"Driving while impaired by any substance, whether it is legal or illegal, places you and others in danger," Cody said. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds us that if you feel different, you drive different and if you drive high, you get a DUI."

Dr. Joseph Lewis, who works at the Lee Health trauma center, said that in 2021, out of 43,000 road fatalities nationwide, 13,000 fatalities involved at least one driver that was impaired with alcohol, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In 2021, Lewis said, Florida saw 3,554 fatal crashes of which 407 reported alcohol was involved.

"Friends don't let friends drive drunk," Lewis said. "Let's keep each other alive for next year."

Lewis said speed kills for every 10 mph increase.

He said that in 2022 Lee County ranked 23rd for most dangerous metropolitan areas in the nation.

In 2022, Lewis said, Lee County reported 15,292 crashes with 137 deaths. As of Nov. 25, Lee County reports 103 fatalities on its roadways stemming from 13,778 crashes.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Authorities warn of distracted, impaired driving in Lee County
An employee with Chicagos Office of Emergency Management and Communications checks in migrants before they board a bus outside the 8th District police station in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on Nov. 21, 2023. With the help of volunteers, city workers transported migrants who were staying outside the police station to various shelters around the city. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Given my decadeslong work with immigrant communities in Chicago, I read with great interest, if not dismay, a recent article in the Tribune. The headline declared, The American Dream doesnt exist anymore, quoting a disillusioned Michael Castejon, a recently arrived Venezuelan migrant who sought asylum status in the U.S. but is now returning home.

Our immigration system is definitely broken, but I beg to differ on the epitaph of the great American spirit, especially for immigrants who continue to arrive daily from around the world. The difference is in the lesson on how to succeed in America and in how we go about teaching it.

Advertisement

Unfortunately for the new migrants mostly from Venezuela arriving by the busloads, our left-of-center leadership has made life that much harder for them, not easier, by dangling unsustainable government giveaways. Drive by any police station-turned-shantytown, and youll witness a developing world-like picture of people waiting for government assistance just to get by.

The natural immigrant instinct to get ahead in America is being short-circuited by the latest social welfare experiment being foisted on them. Dont leave your spot at the designated shelter, police station or upcoming tent or you will lose your benefits, they are told. Welfare as we once knew it is back for these migrants.

Advertisement

But history has taught us a different lesson since immigrants first began arriving on our shores. Each wave brought us the tired and huddled masses who came to find not comfort but opportunity in America and with no guarantees. Immigrants understand that the American Dream is earned, not handed out, unless, of course, we teach them otherwise.

Leaving ones home country to establish new roots in a foreign land is never an easy path to take. But as my mother, who came to this country in 1952 as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, would say about her own experience of endurance over hardship: De que nos quejamos, nadie nos trajo. What are we complaining about, no one brought us here. She understood, as others do, that in choosing the journey, there was an obligatory give-and-take required. Its an exchange of goods and rewards for hard work, support of a broader community and not becoming a burden to the greater society.

Beyond the current crisis, keep in mind that thousands of other immigrants continue to cross our southern border, illegally. And what of the long-forgotten 11 million immigrants, mostly Mexican nationals, already here? Theyre not waiting for our government to act on the much-promised immigration reform to find the American Dream. They work and live without government assistance or, more accurately, government intrusion.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Go to a nearby Home Depot in the wee hours, and youll find an encampment of immigrants  not waiting for a handout but for the next employer looking to hire them. Visit any immigrant community, and youll marvel at the entrepreneurs, whether they be proprietors of mom-and-pop stores and taquerias or makeshift street vendor carts selling fruit, corn, champurrado, flowers or even cotton candy. And no, they arent all just barely getting by. Some, like Claudia Perez, as illustrated in a Tribune story in 2019, earn enough money selling tamales or other items to put their kids through college. Its a lot of hardship, but with a whole lot of reward. Its the American way.

Sadly, the Venezuelan migrants are learning the wrong lesson. By manufacturing a crisis that requires asylum-seekers to need government-provided shelter, food and everything imaginable to get by, our leaders have stifled the one thing truly needed for success in America  aspiration. Its an immigrants own God-given can-do skill toward self-reliance.

Yet, our city, county and state leaders are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to address the migrant issue, erecting unwanted and dehumanizing tent cities, giving away food and clothing, and, of course, increasing the largesse of government bureaucracy in the process. Thank you, Illinois taxpayers.

If there is a lesson to relearn, its that social welfare doesnt always eradicate poverty, but it can and will incentivize it. Before we continue to tax and spend millions more creating a permanent underclass of our newest arrivals, lets learn from past immigrants who have been challenged by the process of integrating themselves into the broader society but have managed to get ahead nonetheless.

Perhaps the best lesson from the new migrants themselves, who fled the failed economy in their home country, is that socialism hasnt worked in Caracas, Venezuela, and it doesnt work in Chicago either. Thats a lesson worth repeating.

Advertisement

Juan Rangel is president of Mastery Consulting LLC and former senior director at Empower Illinois, former CEO of the United Neighborhood Organization and founder of the UNO Charter School Network (now Acero Charter Schools).

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Dunlop-Miller House, Clarksville, Tennessee

A contentious fight over the future of a historic Clarksville home has reached federal court.

The owners of the Dunlop Mansion at 517 Madison Street in Clarksville are suing several city officials, who did not approve their requests to demolish the 100-year-old property earlier this year.

The lawsuit was filed by Gracey General Partnership, which is managed by Clarksville developer and realtor Jennifer Willoughby. The partnership purchased the property for $1.5 million on Aug. 29.

The Dunlop Mansion, also called the Dunlop House or Dunlop-Miller House, was built around 1915 and designed by architect Russell E. Hart, said Montgomery County Historical Society member Brenda Harper. Hart is known for several landmarks in Middle Tennessee, including the full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Nashville's Centennial Park, Tennessee governor's mansion, Dudley Field at Vanderbilt University and Tennessee's first international airport.

While the lawsuit says that Gracey has no present development plan for the property, Willoughby has previously told city officials she planned to build new apartments on the site after demolition, a proposal that was met with swift resistance from residents and local activists.

The owner says in the lawsuit that the home is in bad condition and is unfinanceable in its current form.

The owner further says that the house has no recognized association to local, state or national history.

Records attached to the lawsuit show that Willoughby applied for a demolition permit for the home on Aug. 30, one day after purchasing it from previous owner George Terrell. Terrell had also applied for a demolition permit a month before, which the citys Common Design Review Board had unanimously denied.

After asking for a permit, Willoughby was told that her proposal would have to go before the board as it had just a month before.

But the thrust of the lawsuits claim is that the owners shouldnt have to bring their case before the board at all, based on Clarksvilles own zoning ordinances.

Per the lawsuit, the home is zoned in a Downtown Design Overlay District. All properties in that district are subject to Design Review Guidelines and Standards, which require approval for demolition from the board  except for single-family homes, which are exempt from those guidelines and standards.

According to the lawsuit, Terrell, the previous owner, lived in the six-bedroom house as a single-family home for about 15 years.

The lawsuit says that if a property is exempt, the city ordinance requires no further action of an owner to demolish a single-family residence other than applying for a general demolition permit.

Instead, the plaintiff claims, the City of Clarksville refused to issue the permits as a result of an improper motive created by public opposition, social media and active pressure for historic preservation of the dilapidated house.

The single-family house is dilapidated. It is believed that the City of Clarksville has contended the vacant single-family house located on the property to be a structure contributing to the historic downtown. No City of Clarksville Ordinance known to the Plaintiff confirms the Citys interpretation of its own ordinance. The defendants do not have discretion to deny the permits, the lawsuit says.

City of Clarksville Communications Director Jimmy Settle said that the city does not comment on pending legal matters.

The lawsuit was filed on Nov. 13 by Gracey General Partnership in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The named defendants are the City of Clarksville; Mayor Joe Pitts; David Smith, former director of the city's Buildings and Codes Department; and Deidre Ward, interim director of Buildings and Codes.

The partnership is represented by Dan Thomas of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. A message was left with Willoughbys cell phone number seeking comment.

Willougby has been an active developer in Clarksville for years. Records show that she purchased the adjacent property at 518 Madison Street in 2021, and she then demolished the defunct gas station on that property to create a new apartment complex, The Classic.

Dunlop Mansion history

According to VisitClarksville.com, The American Red Cross leased the building from 1996 until 2012. The structure is a two-story Mediterranean Renaissance-style home built in 1914. Its prominent features include an arched entry and side portico.

Although demolition was denied this summer for the Dunlop Mansion, the importance of the building was shown by Clarksville residents.

"The Dunlop-Miller home is begging for your support... it is a part of the face of Clarksville and its memories," said a petition on change.org with over 2,000 signatures and musician Gary 'SannaBlue' Baker wrote "The Bricks of the Dunlop-Miller."

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins. Leaf Chronicle reporter Kenya Anderson can be reached at kanderson@nashvill.gannett.com or on X at KenyaAnderson32.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Dunlop Mansion owners sue city seeking demolition permit
Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, believes that European countries have to strengthen their defence capabilities to be "fit to fight".

Source: Kajsa Ollongren on Twitter (X), reporting on her speech during the Berlin Security Conference

Details: Ollongren said that no country can handle todays security threats alone.

"We Europeans need to step up our game, build a credible European defense, and strengthen our position as a key pillar within NATO," she wrote.

She explained that because there have been no wars within the European Union, EU membership is "both a reward and a promise of peace and stability".

No single nation can tackle todays security threats on its own. We Europeans need to step up our game, build a credible European defense, and strengthen our position as a key pillar within @NATO. #BSC23 (1/4) pic.twitter.com/ZXZguyN6g2  Kajsa Ollongren (@DefensieMin) November 30, 2023

"To keep it that way, it is essential that we act now. Europe must re-learn deterrence. We must make long-term, structural investments in strengthening our armed forces. We need to be fit to fight," Ollongren continued.

Previously: Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that Russias attack on the Baltic States and other NATO member states was only a matter of time.

Landsbergis is also concerned that if Ukraines Western allies fail to help secure Ukraines victory, Russia will take it as a victory of its own and will start preparing for a new war, with any of its neighbours being a likely target.

Support UP or become our patron!
In public, cities and airlines talk like partners. But when it comes to spiffy new airports, their stakeholder interests mostly are in opposition.

Cities, which usually own the airport, want prestigious gateways and world-class architecture. They want jobs from construction contracts going to favored parties. They want to fill the concourse with restaurants and retail, pushing the gates away as far as they can so that captive passengers spend sales tax-generating money on local eateries and the like, even though those places are mostly licensing agreements with the huge international concessionaires that rake in the biggest bucks. And, of course, they want the airlines to pay for all those fountains and sculptures, the indoor trees, the soundscapes and the fake parks.

And what do the airlines themselves want? Their needs are far, far simpler.

They want low costs per emplaned passenger, or CPE, an industry standard measurement of how much it costs airlines to use an airport. And they want efficient operations  the ability to move passengers, especially connecting passengers, off and onto planes that can leave and arrive on time.

And the passengers themselves? A bit of both, certainly, but their interests are more closely aligned with the airlines interests.

Most people dont care about fountains. They want convenient, nonstop flights, ideally lots of them, and low fares. So when the Chicago Sun-Times reported this week that United and American airlines were balking at the ever-mounting cost of OHares so-called Global Gateway program, even though they had signed on to the idea during the Rahm Emanuel administration, we were far from surprised.

In fact, American had long been talking to us about their unease with the plan, especially since wed already noted that the huge carrier appeared to be quietly dropping flights in Chicago and moving them to Charlotte and Phoenix.

When they met with us during the summer, they came armed with data. In 2022, the CPE at Charlotte was $4.13. In Phoenix, $5.36. Dallas/Fort Worth: $12.19. And at ORD? It was $25.98, even before the big Global Gateway push. At New Yorks rebuilt LaGuardia Airport (where the dancing fountains play New York, New York), it was $25.91 and rising. At JFK, it was a whopping $32.61.

Those numbers explain why American does not have hubs in New York, despite its size, and also why Charlotte, a city only one-third the size of Chicago, has an incredible seven times the number of American Airlines flights than its actual inhabitants can support. Thats because most everyone in CLT is connecting, and people dont mind much where they connect as long as, you guessed it, the fares are low and flights ample and convenient.

CLT is not the fanciest airport in the world, but its cheap and American rewards it with flights. DFW costs a bit more at $12.19, but its a huge metro area with good weather to boot. And thats still less than half of what American pays at OHare. Even before any Global Gateway reinvention.

The simple reality here is that Chicago has to compete on cost. Otherwise, airlines will just move their flights to competing cities, many of which have real systemic advantages over Chicago, with its high labor costs, onerous new potential requirements in terms of leave and tipped wages, and tough winters.

Ribbon-cutting politicians and those who try to please them usually fail to understand these realities, which explains, along with mergers, why airports like St. Louis (once a massive TWA hub) and Pittsburgh (once a massive U.S. Airways hub with an entire mall in the airport) suddenly found themselves with acres of empty restaurants and failing retail.

Airlines also can move their headquarters. The airline bloggers we follow, many of whom have excellent sources, have been speculating for months that Chicagos hometown airline, United, plans to move its headquarters, perhaps to Denver (2022 CPE, $10.48). United consistently has denied any such plan, but anyone who thinks this is not a potential negotiating tactic at this high-stakes moment is a fool.

And lets be crystal clear: Mayor Brandon Johnson has to keep United headquartered in Chicagoland. Thats a lot more important than any architectural plan. Losing a corporate citizen of that magnitude, and with that history, would be a disaster.

So what to do now? Rather than play some kind of hardball saying that the airlines already had signed on to the plan, Johnsons aviation team should figure out a way to cut airlines costs.

We have our issues with the decision to make Terminal 5 (now the home of Delta and Southwest) as much a domestic terminal as an international one, but that ship has sailed. Whats in play is what happens in Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

Right now, there are no customs or immigration facilities in those terminals, which means United and American have to pay to tow their empty planes from Terminal 5, where all international flights arrive, to Terminals 1 and 3 respectively, so as to ease the journey of connecting passengers. The airlines hate doing that, and international arrivers at OHare mostly have to schlep on the train to connect, a lousy chore when youre tired. So it makes perfect sense to build new international facilities in what was Terminal 2. The airlines are happy to pay for that because they see the benefit, as well as the updated space for lounges for their premium passengers.

But theyre much less happy to pay for what they call an underground city, a massively expensive subterranean world thats part of an original plan that also builds new gates the airlines do not now think they need. They should know. Theyd prefer a simpler, faster tunnel, like the existing Terminal 1 at ORD for United, or what American now has at JFK.

Chicagos OHare, one of the very few dual hubs in the world, is clearly at a crucial nexus. Wed love to see an airport of which we all can be proud, but we maintain that it cannot be some kind of unrealistic vanity project for the city, nor a politicized trophy. We think the great architect Jeanne Gang and others can scale back some of the expense of their aging plans, reflecting these new financial realities, and still design for us an impressive dual-hub airport. An airport that could be further expanded in line with the demands of its customers. Not its operator.

When Chicagoans and suburbanites fly out of OHare, they care most about reasonable fares, efficient operations, frequent departures and a wide choice of nonstop domestic and international destinations. They do not want to pay the price for diminished competition, and they sure as heck dont want to have to connect through Charlotte or Denver.

But if Chicago gets on its high horse here about past commitments, thats a clear and present danger. The city has far less leverage than it seems to think.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
In a federal indictment this week, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams unveiled an indictment against Nikhil Gupta, an alleged Indian narcotics trafficker who prosecutors say had attempted to hire a hitman who turned out to be an undercover federal agent  to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen. The feds say Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic, was directed by a senior Indian government official.

The details sound like something out of a spy novel, but in the real world there are no suave super-spies in tailored suits always ready to save the day.

Just a couple of months ago, Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was assassinated in British Columbia, after which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government was investigating potential ties between the killing and the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That accusation and the subsequent diplomatic turmoil shocked the world, but now twice is a pattern.

In this case, while the specific Indian official who is alleged to have ordered the assassination is not identified, the U.S. intelligence services apparently have direct communications between Mr. X and Gupta, including the directive that Pannuns murder was a priority now. Gupta also allegedly told the undercover that Nijjars murder was part of the same operation and that we have so many targets. The international community should ensure that Nijjar is the last.

The long tendrils of right-wing authoritarianism are spreading across the world, far outside the borders of the strongmen themselves. Its certainly not the first time in modern history that despots have directed killings and abductions well beyond their putative jurisdictions, but the brazenness is only getting worse, an indication of the extent to which these figures feel unconstrained by international consequences.

Vladimir Putin, whose disastrous and fortunately unsuccessful invasion of Ukraine has dragged on for almost two years now, has become known for taking out his critics in absurd pseudo-accidents or outright gruesome executions no matter where they are.

Not that dictators killing their opposition domestically is acceptable; the general project of political violence and demonization that seems to be progressing around the globe, including in the United States, portends dark days ahead. Still, it is especially galling for these antidemocratic factions to reach around the globe to the places where democracy is holding on and assert their authoritarian power.

These operations dont just target one person or group, they target the whole of the liberal project and the the very principles of freedom of expression and political organization, sending the message that no matter where you are, you should be looking over your shoulder if you have too stringently criticized a certain regime.

The only way this stops is if it becomes clear to those regimes that they also wont be safe from the blowback. The Biden administration is right to have impressed on India that this would not be tolerated, dispatching the CIA director to deliver the message.

Hopefully, the president will make this a consistent policy, and outline heavy consequences for all governments that would cross this line, including our pals the Saudis. The commitments we make will always ring hollow if we forget about travesties like the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

___
News that Sandra Day OConnor, the Supreme Courts first woman justice, had died Friday at age 93 brought back fond memories in these offices of her gracious  and well-attended  visit 10 years ago to our Editorial Board.

Although retired since 2006, she politely disappointed us by holding to the high courts practice of refusing to comment on decisions made during her time there or after.

Im an old lady with a short memory, she said.

That self-deprecating crack took on new poignancy in 2018 when she announced that shed been diagnosed with the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimers disease. Her husband John OConnor had died of complications of Alzheimers in 2009.

Yet, she showed no difficulty in remembering the frustrations of life decades ago when she was trying to get started as a lawyer. Back then, the self-described cowgirl from the Arizona desert called 40 firms that had advertised on the Stanford Law Schools bulletin boardsand didnt get a single interview.

She finally was hired by a county attorney after she offered to work for no pay and shared a space with the secretary. I loved the work, she said with a smile.

Better offers would come later, most memorably in 1981 when, after only two years on Arizonas Supreme Court, President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the nations highest court, fulfilling his campaign promise to name the nations first female Supreme Court justice.

The Senate confirmed her unanimously. Those were less partisan days, especially when it came to the judiciary. But the lack of opposition signaled confidence she would be a consensus-builder, grounding her decisions in her interpretation of the Constitution, not ideology.

Did she succeed? On some of the most contentious issues of our times  abortion, voting rights affirmative action, sex discrimination  she proved to be an equal-opportunity offender to those on the left and the right. Conservatives, for example, expected a Reagan appointee to come down on their side more often. Instead, OConnors conservatism was pragmatic, seeking to build public confidence in what after all is our least democratic branch of government, with lifetime appointments to boot.

You could hear her appeal to reason in her confirmation hearings when she was asked what kind of legacy she would like to leave. Ah, the tombstone question, she said. I hope it says, Here lies a good judge. 

She was that and far more. A trailblazer. A quintessentially American success story. And an excellent justice.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., talks to reporters as he leaves the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, on May 10, 2023. (Seth Wenig/AP)

On my third morning in southern Portugal last month, I woke to the breaking news that the countrys prime minister, Antonio Costa, had resigned over rumors of corruption by his majority socialist party. Nothing had been proved, but just the taint of wrongdoing on Costas coalition was enough impetus for him to step down.

No illicit act weighs on my conscience. However, I believe that the dignity of the office of the prime minister is not compatible with any suspicion about your integrity, your good conduct and even less with the practical suspicion of any criminal act. Therefore, in these circumstances, obviously, I presented my resignation, Costa explained.

Advertisement

The prime minister wasnt even the sole target of the investigation into his administrations alleged mishandling of various lithium mining and hydrogen ventures in the country. As Reuters reported, Prosecutors earlier on Tuesday named Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba as a formal suspect and detained Costas chief of staff. Also, the head of the prime ministers office, Vitor Escaria, was issued an arrest warrant.

But the citizens of Portugal had lost confidence in Costas leadership, and that was sufficient shame to force him to resign his prestigious post.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, across the pond in this increasingly perilous democracy called the United States, members of our government who are accused of lying, acting as a foreign agent or leading a violent insurrection continue to cash taxpayers checks while denying, well, everything. They cynically play the legal system with their well-paid attorneys to muddy the waters with delays, countersuits and appeals, all the time acting aggrieved, as if the accusations themselves were politically motivated personal insults to their self-claimed purity.

Have they no shame? The answer is as obvious as the revelations we have on paper, video and recordings that all of us can read, see and hear for ourselves. But gaslighting is all the rage among the political elite.

Face it, my friends. Shame, defined as a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior, is not a part of American public life.

Let us consider the untalented U.S. Rep. George Santos from New York who is facing a 23-count federal indictment and a third expulsion vote from the Republican-led House, whose ethics committee issued a damning resolution. Among the charges are wire fraud in connection with a fraudulent political contribution scheme, unlawful monetary transactions in connection with the wire fraud allegations and theft of public money.

Santos, a Republican, said he would not seek another term, but he refuses to resign. He called the bipartisan report a politicized smear and then posted on X: If there was a single ounce of ETHICS in the Ethics committee, they would have not released this biased report.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, a hoarder of gold bars and thick wads of stashed cash, has been indicted on charges that he acted as a foreign agent for Egypts government by helping that country grease lucrative arms deals with the United States in exchange for loads of filthy lucre. Allegedly, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from the Egyptian government in exchange for his influence as then chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez departs a New York City court after pleading not guilty to new charges on Oct. 23, 2023. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In the wake of this indictment, will Menendez do the right thing and step down? Not a chance. Here was the expected response from the senator: Anyone who knows my record, knows this latest charge is as outrageous as it is absurd. I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Unlike norms elsewhere, a transgression or, more precisely among many American public servants, breaking the law for personal gain, rarely results in losing face or dishonoring ones extended family or community.

Advertisement

We view collectivism negatively, at odds with our rugged frontier individualism. Yet, our actions do affect all of us. The lack of shame in the wake of the lies that Santos allegedly told to bolster his thin resume and propel him to a seat in Congress does affect the greater community. Menendezs refusal to step down for the good of the Senate while the cloud of corruption hovers overhead is selfish.

We citizens lose confidence in the our democracy. We disengage. Without a common good, we are alone, adrift on the frontier.

I believe a lack of shame, a dearth of awareness of the impact of ones actions, makes a political leader reckless and dangerous. For whose interests is that politician really looking out?

Democracy is, or should be, a government by the people and for the people. But without the guardrail of shame to constrain the worst profiteering instincts of our lawmakers, we are susceptible to a form of government that is anything but democratic.

Stephen J. Lyons is the author of six books of reportage and essays, most recently Searching for Home: Misadventures with Misanthropes.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
A Texas woman embezzled more than $3 million from her employer over the course of a decade, according to federal authorities.

And as a result of sustained financial hardship from the scheme, feds say, the company was forced to lay off employees and eliminate bonuses.

Judy M. Green, 55, of Baytown, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges on April 27 and has now been sentenced to two years in federal prison and three years of supervised release, according to a Nov. 30 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Green was also ordered to pay $3.4 million in restitution. Greens defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Dec. 1.

Green was hired in 1994 by Liqua Tech, a Houston-based company specializing in large-scale commercial roofing and siding and maintenance, according to court documents.

As the manager of account payments, Greens scheme included creating false invoices  typically totaling $10,000 or more  under the names of real vendors with whom Liqua Tech worked, according to court documents. She is then accused of transferring company funds via check to credit card accounts set up under her name, or her childrens names.

In 2022, a Liqua Tech owner noticed a large payment to an unknown credit card company, according to court documents, and the discovery prompted an audit revealing Greens scheme dated back to 2012.

Liqua Tech was founded in 1983 and, as of 2019, reported annual revenues in excess of $10 million.

Brothers targeted Orthodox Jews in $7 million scheme run from parents home, feds say

Bookkeeper embezzles $849,000 from client, then blames one of her employees, feds say

Woman hid moms death to steal $268,000 in Social Security retirement benefits, feds say
A new book about the royal family has reignited a racism row, after it named two members of the family who allegedly made comments about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son.

Endgame, by royal author Omid Scobie, refers to the row that started two years ago after comments made by Meghan Markle in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

But the Dutch version of the book names the individuals said to have been involved as King Charles and the Princess of Wales.

Copies of Scobies second book were pulled from the shelves in the Netherlands after they were found to have named the pair in a Dutch translation, though it is not clear how it happened.

The page from the Dutch version of Endgame shared by @RickEversRoyal.



Translation on the right. It clearly states that both the King and Catherine spoke about the Archie's skin color. pic.twitter.com/SDMSTRgIfH  The Royal Rogue (@the_royal_rogue) November 29, 2023

According to Scobie, the names were discussed in letters exchanged between the Duchess of Sussex and the King.

Translations of the page posted by a royal commentator read: After discussing possible unconscious biases within the family, after it was revealed that the King and Princess of Wales had taken part in such conversations about Archie, Kate has avoided discussing the subject with her sister-in-law.

Questions have been raised about how such a detail was included in the Dutch publication of the book without appearing elsewhere.

Mr Scobie has insisted he did not sign off the book with names in it.

He told Newsnight it was not for him to apologise because he still wanted to know what had happened.

The buck doesnt stop with me because there are irresponsible people in this country whove broken the law and repeated names that should never have been repeated, should never have been named, he said.

The book I edited and signed off on did not have names in it.

King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named as the royals accused of raising questions about the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghans son before he was born. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The royal reporter and author said that a translation error had led to a names appearing in the book, which had been shared with journalists in the Netherlands.

Xander, the publishers of the Dutch version of Endgame, said: An error occurred in the Dutch translation and is currently being rectified.

Scobie has insisted that there has never been a version that Ive produced that has names in it, but there has been speculation that the names may have been in an earlier draft of the book.

The Dutch translator of the book, Saskia Peeters, refuted claims she had added the names of the two royals in the Dutch translation of her own accord.

Omid Scobie has insisted he did not name the royals in any version of the book he produced (Luke Fontana)

As a translator, I translate what is in front of me, she told MailOnline. 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.

Sharing the pages on Twitter, royal reporter Rick Evers questioned how it is possible to mistranslate a name, and suggested they were included in an earlier manuscript.

He told Good Morning Britain: There are some debates about how these passages were stated in the book. I would say how could you translate a name wrong?

I got through the book with a colleague of yours and we saw some passages were missing in the English version. Like a sentence, five sentences between the first and the third part that was in the Dutch version.

So something has been erased during the work that has been done for the book.

The claims were initially made against one senior royal in Harry and Meghans explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, but the couple declined to name the person allegedly behind these remarks, fearing the backlash would be too damaging for them.

The claims that questions were raised about Archies skin colour were initially made against one senior royal in Harry and Meghans explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 (Getty Images)

After Meghan and Harrys interview with Winfrey was made public, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Noting that recollections may vary with regards to the racism allegations put forward by Meghan, they said: The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

Buckingham Palace has not responded to any of the claims made in Endgame.
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union should issue joint debt to help support its defense sector and provide more backing for Ukraine, according to Estonias premier, part of a new push in the region for such a move.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that a joint bond issuance program, like the one put in place to help EU member states recover from the pandemic, would counter criticism from the defense industry that there arent enough orders to scale up production of arms.

Still, such a move to issue more debt on top of the EUs 750 billion ($815 billion) Covid-19 borrowing program would likely face opposition from states with tighter fiscal policies, such as the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Sweden  known colloquially as the frugal four. Kallas said that Russias invasion affected all member states, and so they should provide support.

Security is still for some countries a nice intellectual discussion to be having or something that we can do in the future, Kallas said Friday in an interview on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. And you dont see the imminent need for this because you have much better neighbors than we do. But eventually its everybodys problem.

The idea, first touted by Estonia, received the backing of Charles Michel, the European Council president, earlier this week as Russias invasion of Ukraine grinds on. The defense sector is seeing a resurgence of support from the regions leaders, while investors are also adding stocks from such companies to portfolios with environmental, social and governance mandates.

Kallas noted that Russia and China were more than doubling defense spending more and that the EU was falling behind. She said that Moscow had also tried to use migrants to help destabilize the country, mirroring a similar move in Finland.

Read More: Finland Shuts Last Open Road Border With Russia Over Migration

China, meanwhile, hadnt been constructive with requests by Finland and Estonia to help investigate damage to the the Balticconnector pipeline after a vessel identified as Newnew Polar Bear  whose registered owner is Hainan Xin Xin Yang Shipping  sailed over the pipeline on Oct. 8.

The investigation depends on the ships key logs, Kallas said. Why do they they lower the anchor? Why did they sail with the anchor down for hundreds of miles?

--With assistance from Ott Tammik.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Mario Draghi attends an event for Aldo Cazzullos book When We Were Masters of the World - MASSIMO PERCOSSI/SHUTTERSTOCK

The European Union should become a single megastate as it is not working in its current form, according to a former prime minister of Italy.

Mario Draghi, who led the European Central Bank (ECB) and served as a technocrat prime minister during the pandemic, said the EU was mired in functional paralysis and faces a critical moment.

It made no sense, the former premier said, to have 27 separate national armed forces and 27 separate drug control agencies.

The only hope, he said, would be to have greater political integration and a true common parliament.

Mr Draghi, who was prime minister of Italy from February 2021 until October 2022, has hopes of becoming the next president of the European Council, according to Italian media reports.

By expanding the European Union to 28 members [prior to Brexit] we made a colossal error: to think that it could work with the rules that were put in place when there were just 12 members, Mr Draghi said in a speech in Rome.

For the EU to have a future in a multicentric world dominated by big powers such as the US and China, it should become a state, Mr Draghi said.

He added: Lets hope that those founding values that brought us together will hold us together. Today, the growth model has dissolved and we need to reinvent a way of growing, but to do this, we need to become a state.

No common foreign policy

He was speaking at the launch of a book by Aldo Cazzullo, an Italian author, about the Roman Empire called When We Were Masters of the World.

The former prime minister compared the EU in its current state unfavourably with ancient Rome, lamenting that it had no common foreign policy or single army.

He criticised the bloc for not being engaged enough in the Israel-Gaza crisis, saying it needs to do more.

While there was in theory a single market in the EU, countries outside the bloc perceived 27 different economies, he said.

The European market is too small, he said, adding that European companies often sell up or move to the US once they become successful.

In 2012, when Mr Draghi was head of the ECB, he famously pledged to do whatever it takes to protect the eurozone from collapse as Spain and Italy faced inflated borrowing costs and huge pressure on the financial markets.

The ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me, it will be enough, he told an investment conference in London to mark the beginning of the Olympics.

His call for a single European state made few ripples in Italy, where there is little appetite for such a project.

Meloni tones down her euroscepticism

Giorgia Meloni, who succeeded Mr Draghi as prime minister last year, was once fiercely critical of the EU.

She has, however, toned down her euroscepticism significantly since becoming premier, in part because Italy is receiving around 200 billion euros in post-pandemic grants and low-interest loans from Brussels.

After being sworn in, her first official overseas visit was to Brussels.

The Meloni government has adopted a Euro-realist stance in line with that of previous centre-Right governments from the early 2000s, according to Italys International Affairs Institute.

Mr Draghis remarks were applauded by a couple of small pro-EU parties.

Carlo Calenda, the leader of Azione (Action) a tiny centre-Left party, said: It was a pleasure to hear Draghi speak about European politics. His ideas are clear and correct. Who knows, maybe after the European elections (in June next year), there will be the means to implement them. Lets hope so.

Enrico Borghi, from the centre-Left party Italia Viva, hailed Mr Draghis wisdom and foresight.

He added: With the transition to 32 member countries, to confront all the challenges it is essential to change the rules that were written when Europe had 12 member states. His vision for a stronger and more cohesive Europe, more of a state, deserves our support.

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.
Its hard to get two-thirds of the House of Representatives to agree on anything. Thats why it usually only happens when theres an emergency, like keeping the government open, or when there are no consequences, like passing bills to name federal buildings after local figures.

But Fridays expulsion of now-former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), only the sixth-ever member to be booted out of the House, was an exception. Even with its constitutional requirement for a two-thirds majority to expel him, the vote was not dramatic, with Santos seeing how it was going to end and leaving the House floor before the five-minute tally was finished.

To hell with this place, Santos reportedly said as he left. And, judging by comments from some of his fellow New York colleagues and other members of the House, the feeling is mutual.

I think he dug his own grave, said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.), who has been in Congress since 1997 and voted to get rid of Santos.

There are many people who are disliked. Were all disliked at one time or another. I never saw as much animus as this. I never saw the fervor about him.

Asked after the vote if Santos would be missed, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), part of a group of New York-area Republicans who had pressed to get rid of Santos, laughed. Missed? No. He will not be missed, Lawler said.

This was not an issue of party. It was not an issue of the majority. It was an issue of right versus wrong and putting the country first, he said.

Santos, who admitted to embellishing his resume and background in his campaign to get into Congress and who faces federal charges  to which he has pleaded not guilty  related to allegations ranging from unemployment benefits fraud to stealing the identities of his political donors to tap their credit cards, was a Republican. But dislike of Santos crossed partisan lines.

The vote was 311 to 114, with two members, Reps. Al Green of Texas and Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, both Democrats, voting present. Some 206 Democrats voted to expel Santos, while a slight minority of House Republicans, at 105 members, voted to do so. That combination of roughly two-thirds Democratic support and one-third Republican support was last seen on a stopgap funding bill in November to keep the government open, which got 209 Democratic votes and 127 Republican ones.

Whether it was the allegations of campaign malfeasance, the efforts to seek and keep the public spotlight, or being a symbol of millennial fake-it-till-you-make-it hustle culture, Santos rubbed many of his colleagues the wrong way.

Even Santos defenders said they were not necessarily supporting him individually as much as the institution of the House of Representatives, and what should be the bar for tossing a member out.

Asked if any of his colleagues would miss Santos, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who voted against expulsion, said that some members will, some members wont, some members will be indifferent, and the body will move on.

My concern is when you make these massive changes from precedent, it changes the very nature by which this institution is supposed to function, Donalds said. Weve been lectured politically for the last four years, a lot of it in the press, about our institutions. What happened here today goes against the principles of our institutions.

Santos himself sometimes retreated to biblical comparisons to describe the unfairness of the attacks against him.

Theres people with all sorts of sheisty backgrounds, and all of a sudden, George Santos is the Mary Magdalene of the United States Congress, he said in a rambling appearance in an audio chat on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. It was not immediately clear what he meant by the comparison to the biblical figure, who in popular culture is often portrayed as a reformed prostitute.

Whether Santos expulsion will provide something of a needed pressure relief valve for the House  which since January has seen a lengthy battle for speaker, a near government debt default, a near government shutdown, a second lengthy battle for speaker, tit-for-tat censure resolutions, and now a member expelled  remains unclear.

A few lawmakers were hopeful, but many were doubtful.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), one of Santos chief antagonists, said the expulsion was a baby step forward but added that the organizing principle of House Republicans, of whom 112 voted to keep Santos, was deceit.

Where did George Santos, who is essentially a con man, and he might have a very serious psychological disorder  he seems to be a compulsive liar  but where did George Santos get the idea that you could lie, cheat, steal, corrupt the government and succeed in the Republican Party? Gee, I wonder, Raskin said.

If theres one person who can bring us together, its clearly George Santos, said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who was one of the early advocates of expelling Santos.

There is no silver lining in this story. George Santos is neither a victim nor a hero of this tale, said Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), who voted for expulsion.

If, out of this, comes an upholding of some basic standard of conduct, then thats good for America, he said.

But while Congress may be done with Santos, and vice versa, the story may not yet be over, Pascrell cautioned.

Were going to hear more. There will be more after he leaves. Guaranteed, he predicted.
FALL RIVER  Former Fall River police officer Michael Pessoa, in prison since his conviction and sentencing for the first of three criminal cases in June, has pleaded guilty to the two remaining cases against him for use of excessive force and civil rights violations.

The second trial against Pessoa, a nearly 20-year police veteran, was set to begin on Dec. 4 before he pled guilty Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Thomas McGuire Jr.

In that case, the veteran city patrol officer was accused of severely injuring former city resident Carlos Roldan in October 2014 during an arrest.

In the third pending case which was not yet scheduled for trial, Pessoa is accused of assaulting and injuring Aliecer Rodriguez in March 2018.

Roldan filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city (and settled for $225,000 in 2019) that named Pessoa and another former Fall River police officer, Andrew DeMelo, in the complaint.

When was former Fall River cop Pessoa's first trial?

During a six-day jury trial in May, Pessoa was found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation, civil rights violations and filing false reports involving city resident David Lafrance during an arrest in February 2019.

Pessoa testified at trial in his own defense.

I am pleased the defendant pled guilty and accepted responsibility for assaulting and violating the civil rights of multiple victims. Unfortunately the defendant engaged in a pattern of conduct involving repeated abuse of his authority and use of excessive force against members of the public," said Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

"Based on the facts and circumstances of all the cases I felt the defendant should have received additional time in jail. Sadly, the defendants conduct can undermine peoples confidence in the police. However, his conduct in these cases is not reflective of the vast majority of officers who are doing a very difficult job to protect the public.

Michael Passoa about to give his statement prior to sentencing.

Guilty Fall River ex-cop Michael Pessoa guilty of excessive force. A judge has sent him to jail.

Similar sentencing

According to court records, Pessoa pleaded guilty to the two pending cases and in return received a sentence to serve at least 1  years in prison and no more than three years.

Pessoa will be able to serve time on all three cases concurrently, meaning serving all the sentences at the same time.

It was the same punishment he received in the case involving Lafrance.

Pessoa struck Lafrance in the face as another police officer was removing handcuffs. It was captured on a security camera at the South Main Street apartment building where the incident occurred.

The video was played repeatedly for the jury throughout the trial.

Pessoa was indicted in June 2019 on 15 counts of assault, civil rights violations and filing false police reports after he was indicted by a state grand jury, originally for assaulting four detained men in different instances. The fourth alleged victim died after his indictment and the case was dropped.

Civil case still outstanding naming Pessoa

Lafrance filed a $2 million federal civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the city in January 2022 for the 2019 assault.

Before the trial, the civil case was paused, but the stay was lifted shortly after Pessoa was found guilty.

The case is still pending with a status conference scheduled for March 2024.

Pending Family of New Bedford man shot by Fall River police files $34 million lawsuit against department

Pessoa is also named among a long list of defendants in a multimillion-dollar civil case for excessive force filed after the shooting death of a 19-year-old New Bedford man, Larry Ruiz-Barreto, who was hit five times by six shots fired by Fall River Police Officer Nicholas Hoar around midnight on Nov. 12, 2017.

Pessoa was among a group of police officers who brawled with Ruiz-Barreto's family members at Charlton Memorial Hospital after the shooting.

Hoar is awaiting his own federal criminal case in a separate alleged excessive force incident.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Michael Pessoa pleads guilty in two more police brutality cases
Former juvenile court judge Tracie Hunter addresses an Ohio Supreme Court decisions regarding her ability to practice law during a press conference Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

More than a week after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on her ability to practice law, former Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter addressed the courts decision and reiterated claims she was pushed out of office and wrongly prosecuted.

Flanked by supporters Thursday at Western Hills Brethren in Christ Church in Westwood, where Hunter is pastor, she said the justices failed to acknowledge the unimaginable injustices and abuses I openly faced and endured as the first Black judge of one of the largest juvenile courts in Ohio.

On Nov. 21, the Ohio Supreme Court ordered that Hunter be indefinitely suspended from practicing law, but allowed her to immediately apply for reinstatement because of credit she earned for the more than nine years she was on interim suspension.

Hunter was convicted in October 2014 of having an unlawful interest in a public contract, a fourth-degree felony. That charge was related to Hunter using her position as judge to give her brother, a juvenile court employee on the brink of being fired, confidential documents.

A Hamilton County jury could not agree on verdicts for eight other counts.

She was sentenced to six months in jail but was allowed to remain out of jail while she pursued appeals. In 2019, a judge ruled that her sentence must begin and she ended up spending 75 days behind bars.

Former juvenile court judge Tracie Hunter speaks to local media and her supporters after her release from the Hamilton County Justice Center in October 2019.

Hunter maintains her innocence, saying the charges against her were fabricated after she tried to expose alleged mishandling of juvenile cases by the Hamilton County Prosecutors Office and because of her work to institute reforms within the juvenile justice system.

Ive been suspended and denied my law license for 10 years come January, an unprecedented amount of time in the history of Ohio for allegations that not only did not happen, but were not a crime, Hunter told reporters at Thursday's press conference. I vow to continue to fight to clear my name and bring national attention to the racist, corrupt, unjust criminal justice system that prevails in the state of Ohio.

Hunter did not answer any further questions from reporters.

The Ohio Supreme Court Board of Professional Conduct found Hunter violated five ethics rules related to the incident leading to her conviction and recommended her suspension.

Justices Pat DeWine, son of Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, and Joe Deters, the former Hamilton County prosecutor who was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court last year, recused themselves from the case.

Hunter filed documents asking Justice Patrick F. Fischer to recuse himself from her disciplinary case as well, a request the justice denied and labeled unusual.

Fischer ruled on Hunters suspension last week, writing a dissenting opinion that stated she should not be granted credit for time served.

"Hunter was convicted of a felony offense, acted with a selfish motive, and has taken no responsibility for her actions and continues to blame others for her legal situation," Fischer wrote.

Ohio Supreme Court records still list Hunter as being suspended. It remains unclear if she has applied to have her license reinstated.

I hesitate to practice law in a state that applies laws differently based on race, political affiliation and socioeconomic status, Hunter said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-Judge Tracie Hunter speaks after Ohio justices decide on law license
West Side Task Force Outreach worker Roger Stiff provides training on how to respond to overdoses and provides Narcan to a passerby at the intersection of Roosevelt and Pulaski roads in Chicago on Jan. 6, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

The state is spending $3 million in an effort to recruit and retain more substance abuse counselors amid a surge in drug abuse and overdoses that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Counselors have been in short supply as the need has grown, according to state officials. Last year, there were 18,547 reported opioid-related drug overdoses in Illinois, of which 3,261 were fatal, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. The number of overdoses represented a 17.5% increase since 2018 when there were 15,783 cases, the data show, while fatal overdoses have jumped by 50% with 2,167 that same year.

Advertisement

It makes it vital that somebody who goes into the field has evidence-based training on how to deal with those issues, said Chris Boyster, executive director of the Illinois Certification Board. If you are successful at knowing what youre going into, youll have successful outcomes.

The certification board is partnering with the states Department of Human Services to make more counselors, also known as Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselors, or CADCs, available to respond to the crisis and help people with addiction who are at-risk of harming themselves.

Advertisement

The state money will go toward expanding a program to recruit potential CADCs to help them with tuition payments, scholarships, internship stipends and other payments related to the training needed to get certified. The program also offers assistance with job placement, continuing education and credential renewal opportunities for existing CADCs.

In addition to providing emotional and psychological support, counselors are trained to help addicts manage their cravings and develop coping strategies to steer them away from bad habits, the certification board said.

The whole design of this program is to invest in retaining the field and growing the field, Boyster said.

Statistics show the availability of substance abuse counselors in Illinois has declined as the opioid crisis has worsened in recent years.

According to a 2019 report from a task force that examined the behavioral health workforce, Illinois had a below-national-average rate of 30 substance abuse disorder providers for every 1,000 adults identified as having such a disorder.

The report, commissioned by the Illinois General Assembly, also noted that according to the state Department of Human Services, the substance abuse disorder workforce was aging while the number of people entering the profession was decreasing.

The report showed that 56% of substance abuse disorder professionals certified through the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association were over 50. In addition, new certifications for CADCs  the most common credential for the field  dropped by a third from 2016 to 2019.

The number of CADC applicants has continued to drop, from around 400 a year in 2017 through 2019 to 364 in 2022, and the existing workforce is not sufficient to meet the demand for substance use service needs, according to IDHS.

Advertisement

Boyster said that in addition to counselors retiring, many are leaving the field after becoming emotionally burned out.

That goes again to the training, Boyster said. Youre going to be a lot more successful in addressing someones burnout if they go into the field equipped to handle what theyre going into.

Eight colleges or universities are participating in the CADC certification program: Aurora University, College of Lake County, Governors State University in University Park, Kennedy-King College in Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, University of St. Francis in Joliet, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and The Chicago School, which places an emphasis on professional psychology.

The funding will go to people who agree to enter the field for at least two years in Illinois once they get certified, according to IDHS.

Marcia Van Natta, a certified drug and alcohol abuse counselor and an instructor at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, said counselors face a number of challenges, from figuring out appropriate treatments to changing the mindsets of people with addiction.

The problem with drugs and alcohol is that its chemical-based. So, therefore, your body now craves it, said Van Natta, who also oversees DHS certified recovery support specialist grant program through the state certification board. So, you have the mental aspect, the emotional aspect and I call it the spiritual aspect as well because drugs and alcohol rob you of all of that.

Advertisement

The General Assembly passed bills related to drug education that were later signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. One measure requires all schools to maintain a supply of opioid antagonists, such as Narcan, while another requires high schools to provide instruction, study and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl beginning with the 2024-25 school year. Both laws go into effect Jan. 1.

In Cook County, 73% of the opioid overdose deaths from 2015 through last year have involved fentanyl, a powerful painkiller that, according to law enforcement, has been known to be mixed with other opioids like heroin that are sold on the street.

Van Natta said recruiting and training counselors, as well as retraining those already in the field, is key to saving lives.

There are a lot of different clinicians out there  who dont recognize that substance abuse disorders are specific, Van Natta said. So, the education needs to be there to treat the individual for what they need. Its kind of like the doctor-specialist kind of thing. And thats what I hope that this (state funding) will promote because it is desperately needed.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com
Hilda Heine, a former president of the Marshall Islands, on Friday resigned from the main advisory committee of this years United Nations climate summit, citing allegations that the conference president tried to use the international talks to strike oil and gas deals.

Heines resignation, first reported by Reuters, came just one day after the summit kicked off in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Centre for Climate Reporting and the BBC reported Monday on leaked documents that purportedly show Sultan al-Jaber  the controversial president of the 28th Conference of the Parties, or COP28, and the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company  planned to leverage his role at COP28 to boost fossil fuel exports from the UAE.

These actions undermine the integrity of the COP presidency and the process as a whole, Heine wrote in a resignation letter to al-Jaber, according to Reuters.

The reported backdoor dealings have only helped fuel long-standing concerns among environmentalists that the fossil fuel industry has corrupted the annual climate summit, where world leaders are tasked with trying to find solutions to curb planet-warming emissions and prevent runaway climate impacts.

Al-Jaber has dismissed the reporting as false and an attempt to undermine his work as COP28 president. In recent days, he has faced renewed calls to step down from either his role as the summits president or as CEO of the UAE state-owned oil company.

In her resignation, Heine told al-Jaber that trust in the negotiations could only be restored by delivering an outcome that demonstrates that you are committed to phasing out fossil fuels, Reuters reported.

The remote Marshall Islands are extremely vulnerable to global climate change, with sea level rise posing what a World Bank report called an existential threat to the island nation.

Al-Jabers appointment as COP28 president and his deep ties to fossil fuels have attracted intense scrutiny and criticism from the global climate community. And his opening speech at the summit likely did little to allay concerns.

It is essential that no issue is left off the table, he said. And yes, as I have been saying, we must look for ways and ensure the inclusion of the role of fossil fuels.

The 33-member committee that Heine resigned from includes climate, industry and finance experts from around the world who were tasked with advising COP28 leadership ahead of the summit.

A COP28 spokesperson told HuffPost that Heines decision to step down was extremely disappointing.

We appreciated her advice throughout the year and we only wish she would have been with us here in the UAE celebrating the adoption of a fund that will support vulnerable island states and those most affected by climate impacts, the spokesperson said via email.

As the COP28 President has said, we have been completely clear, open, and honest throughout this process and it is a shame to see unverified reporting affect our team and undermine the worlds best chance to keep 1.5 [degrees Celsius] within reach, the spokesperson added, referring to a goal for limiting global warming.

Related...
Court documents that were inadvertently unsealed on Wednesday and later taken down revealed communications between Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and former DOJ official Jeff Clark, one of Trumps unindicted co-conspirators in D.C. who played a key role in former President Donald Trumps post-election efforts, according to Politico.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard litigation over special counsel Jack Smiths effort to access Perrys cell phone, on Wednesday unsealed documents related to the case, including a lower courts opinion that described and quoted the text messages Smith had been seeking. The unsealed opinion was removed from the courts public docket later on Wednesday, suggesting it was posted inadvertently, according to the report.

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, who served on special counsel Bob Muellers team, tweeted that the courts gaffe shows evidence of Perry J6 complicity and how the DC panel ruled in a way to insulate him from liability by overruling the lower courts decision allowing Smith to access the evidence.

This is a big deal, Weissmann wrote, arguing that the messages show that Perry was up to his eyeballs in support of J6 insurrection.

One exchange took place after 11 pm on December 30, 2020, days before Trump sought to install Clark, a former DOJ environmental lawyer, as acting attorney general to pursue his debunked claims of election fraud. POTUS seems very happy with your response. I read it just as you dictated, Perry wrote to Clark, according to the documents.

Im praying. This makes me quite nervous. And wonder if Im worthy or ready, Clark replied.

You are the man. I have confirmed it. God does what he does for a reason, Perry wrote.

Former DOJ officials testified to the House Jan. 6 committee that Trump ultimately backed off the plan after senior officials threatened to resign en masse.

The messages underscore Perrys efforts in helping elevate Clark to the acting attorney general job.

Perrys messages to Clark show the congressmans extensive involvement in helping to push his appointment as attorney general while Clark was pressuring top DOJ officials to send letters to state legislatures urging them to consider sending alternate slates of electors to Congress. Clark also had obtained a security clearance to review intelligence about potential foreign election interference efforts.

Perry indicated in one exchange that Trump personally approved a presidential security clearance.

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, Perry attorney John Rowley told Politico. 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 service of his constituents.

The FBI seized Perrys phone in August 2022, seeking all communications related to alleged election fraud, efforts to install Jeffrey Clark as Acting Attorney General, and contacts with Clark, his deputy Ken Klukowski, Trump, Trumps chief of staff Mark Meadows, and Jan. 6 architect John Eastman and any discussions related to overturning, decertifying, delegitimizing, challenging, or questioning the results of the 2020 United States presidential election in any state.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The unsealed documents on Wednesday showed Perry discussing efforts to challenge President Joe Bidens win with Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel and White House officials and lawyers in Trumps orbit.

The documents showed that Perry was in contact with individuals working for TrumpWorld lawyer Sidney Powell, including Phil Waldron, a purported cybersecurity expert.

Rep. Perry asked Waldron to show me what you have and agreed to fast track any questions/answers right to the leadership in the pa state legislature, and stating '[w]ell need a connection in the other states, the document says, according to Politico.

Perry also communicated with other House Republicans, texting Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, about concrete evidence of fraud in Michigan and Reps. Roy, Jody Hice, R-Ga., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, about issues with the Dominion voting system.

In another exchange, then-Rep.-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., complained about incompetence here in Georgia, to which Perry responded, Nothing can beat effective cheating.
By Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Beijing has sponsored cut-price trips to China for hundreds of Taiwanese politicians ahead of key elections on the island, according to Taiwan sources and documents, unnerving officials with a broad campaign that one called "election interference".

President Tsai Ing-wen and other Taiwan officials have warned that China might try to sway voters toward candidates seeking closer ties with Beijing in the elections, which could define the island's relations with China. But the scale of the Chinese activity has not previously been reported.

Beijing, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has ramped up military and political pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty, frames the Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections as a choice between "peace and war", calling the ruling party dangerous separatists and urging Taiwanese to make the "right choice".

Taiwanese law forbids election campaigns from receiving money from "external hostile forces", including China, and prosecutors in southern Taiwan this week said they were investigating 22 people, including grassroots politicians, for potential violations of election and security laws.

Across Taiwan security agencies are looking into more than 400 visits to China in the past month, most led by local opinion leaders such as borough chiefs and village heads, a Taiwan security official looking into China's activities told Reuters.

The agencies believe the trips, with discounted accommodations, transportation and meals, were subsidised by units under China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the person, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The Chinese office did not respond to a request for comment. It has previously said it respects Taiwan's "social systems" when commenting on the elections.

Asked for comment, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, the top China-policy body, referred Reuters to comments this week by its minister, Chiu Tai-san. He said it was "self-evident" Beijing was trying to sway Taiwan elections through means including free trips for politicians.

"They have already made it clear that a so-called 'right choice' has to be made, meaning choosing candidates that the Chinese Communist Party prefers," he told reporters without elaborating.

'ELECTION INTERFERENCE'

People taking these trips typically pay their own airfare, but other expenses are offered by Chinese authorities, officials looking into the matter said.

"Election interference has started under the name of group tours," said a second Taiwan security official, who was briefed on the matter, adding Beijing was targeting politicians crucial to the island's administrative systems who play key roles in shaping public opinion.

More than 300 borough chiefs or village heads from populous central Taiwan alone have participated in such trips to China in the past few months, this person said.

More than 20 borough chiefs from a district of the capital Taipei joined a China-sponsored trip to Shanghai with their families in September, while more than 10 people from an association for local politicians in neighbouring New Taipei City joined a trip this week, according to two security reports reviewed by Reuters.

The number from the Taipei district has "increased significantly" compared with elections four years ago and registrations have been "fairly enthusiastic", one report said. "Certain borough chiefs have become the window of contacts in Taiwan for some Chinese units."

So far this year, more than 1,000 borough chiefs or village heads joined such trips, more than last time, the second official said, adding China was targeting electoral districts where support was strong for candidates campaigning for closer China ties.

HARD TO BUILD A LEGAL CASE

In the investigation in the southern city of Kaohsiung, prosecutors said they believed the five trips from there were fully funded by China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Chinese officials allegedly asked participants to support certain political parties and "oppose Taiwan independence", the prosecutors said in a statement.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch," Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-chao said on Thursday. He said external forces were trying to influence citizens in an "unprecedented fashion" and urged Taiwanese not to accept perks or instructions from Chinese authorities when travelling there.

Building criminal cases against trip-takers is challenging, security officials said, because it can be hard to establish a money trail to Chinese state agencies behind the tours, which often come much below going market rate, and to establish what was said during meetings with Chinese officials.

Taiwan suspended group tours to China via travel agencies after the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are no restrictions on individuals visiting.

Recent government scrutiny has prompted some politicians to be more low-key about such trips, the two officials said, with some making arrangements separately, then gathering in China.

"They now even avoid sitting in seats next to one another during their flight."

(Reporting By Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard)
By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union increased imports from Russia of nuclear fuel and services for the bloc's Russian-designed reactors again in 2023 compared to 2021, the year before Moscow invaded Ukraine, Euratom Supply Agency (ESA) said.

While such imports are not subject to EU sanctions, the bloc aims to reduce its dependence on Moscow. Its overall imports from Russia's nuclear energy industry held steady last year despite rising demand for nuclear power driven by high energy costs and a push to cut carbon emissions.

However, five EU states that operate so-called VVER reactors were likely to exceed 2021 import levels this year again after a rise in 2022, ESA's acting head told Reuters in an interview.

The trend highlights challenges EU faces in reaching its long-term goal of achieving VVER fuel self-sufficiency.

"Imports by countries operating Russia-designed VVER reactors grew in 2022 compared to 2021, and they will have likely grown in 2023 compared to the year before the Russian invasion," Stefano Ciccarello said in remarks cleared for release on Friday.

Last year, those five countries - Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia - bought 30% more conversion services from Russia and 22% more enrichment, ESA said in its annual report in October.

"Those utilities are building additional inventories of fresh fuel. Further advance purchases will most likely contribute in the short-term to more material coming to VVER utilities from Russia in comparison to 2021," he said.

Ciccarello did not offer specific numbers and said it was too early to say whether 2023 imports would be also higher than last year.

Of the five EU countries hitherto fully reliant on Russian supplies only Hungary has yet to sign contracts for alternative fuel, according to ESA. The Hungarian government did not reply to a request for comment on Friday.

Finland's Fortum said its work with U.S. Westinghouse on alternative fuel was going well and added: "Taking the new fuel into use is a multi-year project requiring regulatory approvals."

LONG EFFORT

Overall, EU imports of natural uranium and related services from Russia were largely flat year-on-year in 2022, as utilities' divergent strategies evened out, said ESA.

"Those that are not reliant on Russia are trying to further reduce any such dependence," said Ciccarello.

"On the other hand, there are those fully dependent on Russian fuel who are increasing fuel stocks as contingency for any break in supplies before alternative fuel is licensed."

Nuclear power accounts for nearly 10% of energy consumed in the EU, with France meeting nearly a third of its energy needs that way. Other major producers include Sweden and Belgium.

EU imports of natural uranium from Russia fell 16% last year from 2021, a drop compensated by increase in deliveries from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, ESA said.

In 2022, the EU's Russian nuclear energy imports were worth around 750 million euros ($823 mln), or 1% of the bloc's Russian gas imports, according the European Commission.

EU countries are now debating a Commission proposal for the 12th package of economic sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Sources said, however, that the proposal - which is not public - does not include sanctions on Russia's nuclear energy industry.

Imposing EU sanctions requires unanimity of all the 27 members of the bloc, something Hungary - where Russia's state monopoly Rosatom is contracted to extend the Paks nuclear plant - refuses to grant in the case of Russia's nuclear energy.

Beyond Europe, Russia last year was the third-largest uranium supplier for the United States, which has the most reactors in the world. The fate of bills to ban Russian uranium submitted to the U.S. Congress is uncertain.

Ciccarello said the West would need to add 20-30% to its existing scope for conversion and enrichment to make up for high-risk supplies. Upgrades expected to go online late this decade would not cover Western demand, he said.

"This is massive investment with duration of several decades," said Ciccarello. "For further investments, the industry seeks some form of guaranteed market."

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels, additional reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki, Timothy Gardner in Washington and Krisztina Than in Budapest, Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
San Luis Obispo Countys top administrator was abruptly fired this month after multiple women reported uncomfortable touching and messages, The Tribune has learned after reviewing emails, text messages and reports released following a Public Records Act Request.

On Nov. 17, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to terminate the contract of interim County Administrative Officer John Nilon immediately after reviewing the evidence during a closed session meeting, according to county counsel Rita Neal.

As the highest official of the county, he needed to be cognizant of his role and the power that he had, and he needed to be held to a very high standard, Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg told The Tribune on Thursday.

While the Board of Supervisors determined that Nilon violated the countys policy against discrimination and harassment, Nilon disagreed.

While far from perfect and perhaps somewhat old school, I believe my behavior has not violated the countys policy, Nilon wrote in a statement to The Tribune on Tuesday.

Nilon touched two employees on the back

The Board of Supervisors hired Nilon on May 1 as the interim county administrative officer after Wade Horton resigned from his position in March.

Just days later, an employee reported to a supervisor that Nilon place(d) a hand on her low back and leaned down into her space and had conversation about what they were going to eat on May 4, according to an email released to The Tribune.

Later that day, Nilon place(d) his hand on her back again and bending down into her space, asked her about her book. It made her a little uncomfortable and she leaned away slightly, but continued to be pleasant, the email said.

When asked, a different employee told county officials that Nilon had placed his hand on her upper back a separate time, according to the email.

A county official then informed Nilon that the workplace is sensitive to touching and that he should not touch other staff members, a May 5 email said.

Nilon told the official that he was not aware he was touching the employees and thanked the official for informing him, according to the May 5 email.

Nilon completed a harassment prevention training for California employees on June 26, according to his certificate of completion obtained by The Tribune.

Nilon told a story about testicles, asked employee for a selfie

Several employees also reported uncomfortable conversations with Nilon, according to a document released to The Tribune.

Nilon called one women in the office young lady, according to the county document.

For example, if (redacted) had to walk to a meeting together hed say, Are you ready, young lady? He also, makes this comment often and excitedly, There she issss! when certain females walk into his office. He has continued to do this, but no one has ever complained, the document said.

On May 31, Nilon shared a story with a group of employees about his sons first medical examination.

He said, I had a little boy that was about 4 years old. We took him to the doctor for an exam. At that age the doctor examined his testicles. After the exam, my son said to me Dad, what just happened? the document said. It was so awkward hearing a story about his sons testicles.

In a statement to The Tribune, Nilon defended his decision to tell what he called a cute family story, noting that he asked permission before sharing it.

On Aug. 21, Nilon used his SLO County email to send a message to a non-SLO County employee that read:

So thoughtful and kind of you to provide such a lovely bag of goodies and sweet note! You are keenly aware of my soft spot. ... Ill have to keep my eye out to discover yours. ... Again, big thank you.

Nilon told The Tribune that he sent the email after the individual gave him a gift bag of Cal Poly beef sticks.

Clearly, my soft spot reference is my snack preference of beef sticks, and my intent of the comment was to learn the other persons snack preference, Nilon wrote in his statement. In doing some research I have found no other use of the term soft spot other than as a descriptor of something liked or a weakness. This term is in current use. To imply a different meaning goes against the context of its use and the defined meaning of the word.

Meanwhile, in an undated text message, Nilon wrote: I keep reflecting on an outstanding visit yesterday. The immediate connection was remarkable. Also, I plan on submitting an employment application but want to be solely compensated with Beef Snack Sticks!

Nilon later requested a selfie from an employee on Aug. 28 at about 9 p.m., and offered his personal phone number the following day.

Interim County Administrative Officer John Nilon requested a selfie from an employee on Aug, 28, 2023 at about 9 p.m.

According to county counsel Rita Neal, the conversations revealed in the documents were not isolated incidents.

Each of the incidents listed in the documents you requested are only snapshots of a series of interactions between the women and Mr. Nilon, Neal wrote in an email to The Tribune. The discomfort the women felt when they received the emails and text messages included in the records were amplified by comments Nilon made to them in face-to-face conversations, and touching them in a way that made them feel uncomfortable.

It becomes a very clear pattern of improper behavior, Neal added.

Nilon accused of harassment at previous job

The complaints in San Luis Obispo County government arent the first Nilon has faced in his career.

From April 2016 to June 2019, Nilon served on the California State University Board of Trustees, according to his LinkedIn profile.

In 2018, an individual who worked with Nilon reported uncomfortable interactions with him, according to a CSU document.

Nilon touched (the individuals) arm in a way that made (them) feel uncomfortable, the document said. After the event, (Nilon) sent a text message that (the individual) felt was inappropriate.

The individual confronted Nilon the next day, and he responded with comments about the individuals appearance that made (them) more uncomfortable, the document said.

Nilon also sent a text message and emails after the confrontation that concerned the individual, according to the document.

None of the written or oral communications included explicit sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, the document said.

On Aug. 8, 2018, when the individual asked Nilon how he got banned from YouTube, Nilon replied, Just the adult sites, according to a document released to The Tribune by the CSU.

On Aug. 16, 2018, Nilon then called the individual bad girl in a text message, according to a CSU document.

When John Nilon was on the CSU Board of Trustees, he sent text messages to an individual that made them uncomfortable, according to documents from the CSU.

The individual reported the incidents to a supervisor, who informed Human Resources. The individual, Nilon and the senior director of HR Services met to discuss the incidents on Oct. 5, 2018, as part of the early resolution process.

Nilon apologized in the meeting and agreed to correct his behavior, according to the document.

In an email to the Board of Supervisors released to The Tribune, Nilon said he continued to work amicably with the individual until he resigned from his position due to a cancer diagnosis. He later recovered from the illness.

Ortiz-Legg said that Nilon should have learned what behavior is inappropriate in the workplace through his experience at the CSU.

No matter how many years ago that was, those lessons should still apply, Ortiz-Legg said.

Nilon declined to comment on this incident to The Tribune.

SLO County supervisors fire Nilon, encourage staff to report harassment

After receiving complaints from staff, county officials questioned Nilon on Nov. 15 about alleged violations of the countys policy against discrimination and harassment, according to county documents.

Nilon resigned later that day, agreeing to work for another 30 days as required by his employment agreement, according to his letter of resignation.

Two days later, in an email to the Board of Supervisors at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 17, Nilon offered to resign immediately and sign a nondisclosure agreement.

On the afternoon of Nov. 17, the board reviewed the evidence and decided to terminate Nilons contract immediately for violating his employment agreement and the countys policy against discrimination and harassment.

Employees do not have to violate the law to violate the policy.

Because the County seeks to prevent any form of sexual harassment, behavior such as unnecessary touching, sexual remarks or joking which may lead to illegal sexual harassment is a violation of this policy and shall also be basis for discipline, the policy says.

Ortiz-Legg said Nilon appeared to have ulterior motives.

It feels like it was a fishing expedition: Throw out a hook and see what you can catch, but done in the most subtle manner, Ortiz-Legg said, referring to his behavior.

As interim county administrative officer, Nilon was responsible for leading all of the countys employees and creating a positive work environment, according to Ortiz-Legg.

People might say, Oh, it doesnt seem like it was much. But if theres one individual thats uncomfortable, then thats enough, Ortiz-Legg said. If any employee at any level had a sense of being uncomfortable with him, then that type of leadership just has to be called out so it doesnt happen in another place.

The board acted quickly in order to signal to county staff that inappropriate behavior would not be tolerated in the workplace, she said.

Ortiz-Legg encouraged county staff to report harassment whenever it occurs.

There has to be an environment where people are comfortable and not feel threatened, Ortiz-Legg said. We care very much about our employees and our partners, and I feel that we acted as quickly as we could.

Nilon said he never received copies of the complaint

On Nov. 9, Supervisor John Peschong, Neal, and Human Resources Director Tami Douglas-Schatz told Nilon that he was being investigated but did not share the reason for the investigation.

On Nov. 14, Neal and Douglas-Schatz sent Nilon an invitation to a Zoom meeting to discuss the complaints.

I asked for copies of the complaints in advance of the meeting and was told by county counsel that there were no written complaints. I asked for transcripts of the verbal complaints in advance of the meeting and was told by county counsel that I wasnt entitled to that information, Nilon said in his statement.

On Nov. 15, Neal and Douglas-Schatz questioned Nilon about the complaints over Zoom.

At that meeting and after concluding that I would not work for an organization that would not afford me sufficient due process to defend myself from unknown allegations, I told county counsel that I tender my immediate resignation, Nilon said.

Before the closed session meeting, Nilon said, county counsel would not inform him what the alleged violations of policy were, refused to show me the complaints, and refused to provide me with the opportunity to have the appropriate time to research a response and/or form a defense against the allegations.

He chose to hold the meeting in closed session.

Nilon still hasnt received a list of the alleged violations of rule or policy, he wrote.

Neal explained in an email to Nilon that the county was not legally required to share written complaints or a list of violations.
TALLAHASSEE  The number of executions nationwide ticked upwards to 24 this year, in part because of Gov. Ron DeSantis signing of six death warrants in Florida while he campaigns for president.

In a new report, the Death Penalty Information Center noted the six executions in Florida, topped only by the eight conducted in Texas, was the states most in nine years. Florida and Texas account for more than half of the nations executions, which increased from 18 a year earlier.

But the non-profit DPIC, in its year-end report released Friday, also points out that for the first time a nationwide Gallup poll finds that more Americans believe the death penalty is administered unfairly, by 50% to 47%.

If you zoom out and look at the country, youll see that the death penalty is used very rarely, said Robin Maher, executive director of the organization, which does not take a formal position on capital punishment but is critical of how it is administered.

Florida has executed six inmates in 2023, the most in nine years, as Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination.

The overall trend, the long-term trend is moving decisively away from the death penalty in the United States, she added.

Most states have abandoned capital punishment

Most states  29  have now either abolished the death penalty or have paused executions by executive action, DPIC said in its report. Only five states conducted executions in 2023 and seven states imposed new death sentences, the lowest number reported in 20 years.

But in Florida, along with the six executions carried out, five new death sentences also were handed down by courts.

In DeSantis first four years in the governors office, he only ordered two executions to be carried out. But the pace accelerated this year, with DeSantis formally launching in May what has now become a longshot bid for the White House.

Shortly before kicking off his campaign in a glitch-filled event on Twitter with company owner, Elon Musk, who has since changed the sites name to X, DeSantis enhanced the ability for courts to hand down capital punishment in Florida.

DeSantis makes it easier to apply death penalty

The governor signed into law a measure making it easier for juries to recommend the death penalty  allowing for only an 8-4 vote instead of the previous requirement for unanimity. The move followed a less-than-unanimous vote that resulted in Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz being sentenced to life in prison.

DeSantis also enacted legislation this year that makes child rapists eligible for the death penalty, which conflicts with a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found such punishment unconstitutional in cases where the victim did not die.

Some death penalty experts said that DeSantis focus on capital punishment was powered by politics, part of his pursuit of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, who now holds close to a 50% lead over DeSantis in national polls. A recent survey also showed DeSantis trailing Trump by 39% in Florida.

While president, Trump set a remarkable record of executing 13 federal inmates during his last six months in office. He executed more civilian prisoners during his term than any president since Grover Cleveland in 1896.

Cleveland also is the only president to do what Trump is trying to emulate: Lose a presidential election and return four years later to regain the White House.

Chasing GOP voters

Daniel Medwed, a professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University School of Law, earlier told the USA TODAY Network  Florida that DeSantis appeared to be playing to Republican voters, who surveys have shown remain overwhelmingly supportive of the death penalty, although research casts doubt on whether it plays any role in deterring crime.

The people on the right are trying to show theyre tough on crime and those on the left are showing their openness to criminal justice reform, Medwed said.

DeSantis' pace picks up: DeSantis steps up pace of executions in Florida, chasing Trump

Florida's capital toll: Florida executes Michael Zack in 1996 killing of woman he met at bar

DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern has said that a range of issues  not politics  contribute to the timing of executions. The COVID-19 pandemic and states of emergency declared in Florida, such as during hurricanes, also affect scheduling, he said.

Four of the six inmates executed this year had been on Death Row for more than 30 years. There are 288 people now facing execution in Florida.

In its report, the Death Penalty Information Center cited the Gallup Crime Survey, which has been asking Americans about application of the death penalty since 2000.

The October 2023 survey was the first to find that more Americans believe the death penalty is applied unfairly, a contrast from the years 2000-2015, when 51%-61% though it was fair. The level of support has been dropping since 2016, but this years 47% is the lowest in Gallups polling, DPIC said.

Maria DiLiberato, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said the views of Floridians mirror those found in the Gallup survey, even though their state is one where capital punishment is vigorously used.

"Everyday Floridians' attitudes are no different," said DiLiberato, a former prosecutor in Miami-Dade County. "The biggest fallacy is that Floridians want the death penalty. ... It's unfortunate that a single person can have so much power over life and death in this state."

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida executions drive increase across America: death penalty group
By Andrew Silver

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A request by the World Health Organization for more information on a surge in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children in China has attracted global attention.

Health authorities have not detected any unusual or novel pathogens, the WHO later said, and doctors and public health researchers say there is no evidence for international alarm.

Authorities in Taiwan, however, this week advised the elderly, very young and those with poor immunity to avoid travel to China.

The following is what we know about the surge in illness in the world's second most populous country so far, and why experts think there is no need to panic.

WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND?

The rise in respiratory illnesses comes as China braces for its first full winter season since it lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in December last year.

The spike in illness came into the spotlight when the WHO asked China for more information last week, citing a report by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children.

Some social media users have also posted photos of children receiving intravenous drips in hospital, while media in cities such as Xian in the northwest have posted videos of crowded hospitals, fanning concerns potential strains on the healthcare system.

HOW BIG IS THE SURGE?

The National Health Commission told a news conference on Nov. 13 that there was an increase in incidence of respiratory disease without providing further details.

WHO China told Reuters in an email that "Chinese health authorities advised that the current numbers they are observing is not greater than the peak in the most recent cold season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic".

WHAT PATHOGENS ARE CIRCULATING?

The data suggests the increase is linked to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions along with the circulation of known pathogens such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common bacterial infection that typically affects younger children and which has circulated since May.

Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus have been in circulation since October.

IS MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE A BIG WORRY?

One concern about the surge in respiratory illness is mycoplasma pneumoniae, which has also spiked in other countries.

Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical Lead at the World Health Organization told reporters on Wednesday that mycoplasma pneumonia is not a reportable disease to the WHO, and it was on the rise for the last couple of months but now appears to be declining.

"We're following up through our clinical networks and working with clinicians in China to better understand resistance to antibiotics, which is a problem across the world, but is a particular problem in the Western Pacific and South East Asia region," she said.

Rajib Dasgupta, an epidemiologist and professor of community health at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told Reuters in some cases there may be serious complications from infection caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae, but most people will recover without antibiotics.

WHY EXPERTS AREN'T CONCERNED?

Doctors in China and experts abroad are not too worried about the situation in China, noting many other countries saw similar increases in respiratory diseases after easing pandemic measures.

"The cases that we are seeing is nothing unusual at the moment, because it's still the same cough, colds, fever presentation, and the good thing about it is that it's actually treatable," said Cecille Brion, head of the pediatrics department at Raffles Medical Group Beijing.

Van Kerkhove said that the rise in cases was expected.

"We are seeing, in general, an increase in respiratory infections around the world. We do tend to see increases in children because they're the school-aged children, and in the northern hemisphere it's the autumn already. We're entering the winter months," she said.

(Reporting by Andrew Silver; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Miral Fahmy)
Members of Ukraine's National Guard Omega Special Purpose unit fire a mortar toward Russian troops in the front line town of Avdiivka

Members of Ukraine's National Guard Omega Special Purpose unit fire a mortar toward Russian troops in the front line town of Avdiivka

By Dan Peleschuk and Andrew Osborn

KYIV/LONDON (Reuters) - Russian forces are intensifying attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, seeking to encircle Kyiv's troops there as Moscow's war in Ukraine grinds on.

The fighting is reminiscent of a battle for another eastern city, Bakhmut, which fell to Russian forces last May after months of brutal urban combat.

Since Moscow launched its renewed offensive around Avdiivka in October, Ukraine's top general and Western military experts have made downbeat assessments of Ukraine's ability to break Russian lines.

In Kyiv and Western capitals, there is an acknowledgement that Russia's full-scale invasion more than 21 months ago, which Moscow calls a "special military operation", could drag on into a much longer war.

WHAT IS AVDIIVKA?

Avdiivka, which had a pre-war population of around 32,000, has been a frontline city since 2014, when it was briefly occupied by Moscow-backed separatists who seized a swathe of eastern Ukraine in what Kyiv and the West.

Avdiivka, much of it now damaged, is home to Ukraine's largest coke plant, a Soviet-era facility which before the war was one of Europe's top producers of the fuel.

The plant, which Moscow says is being used by Ukrainian forces as a base and weapons storage facility, is now the primary focus of Russian attacks.

Located just north of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in the industrial Donbas region, Avdiivka hosts deeply entrenched Ukrainian defences.

Today, just 1,500 residents - many sheltering in cellars and basements - are estimated to remain in Avdiivka, where officials say not a single building remains intact.

FIERCE FIGHTING

Ukrainian and Western analysts say Russia's renewed offensive on Avdiivka, its largest operation since the assault on Bakhmut, is proceeding at an extremely high human cost.

In a Nov. 27 update, British military intelligence said the fighting had contributed to "some of the highest Russian casualty rates of the war so far".

"Every day there are new fresh forces, regardless of the weather, regardless of anything - of losses," one member of Ukraine's 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade told Radio Liberty.

"But no matter what, they keep crawling, literally over the bodies of their own."

Andrei Gurulyov, a Russian lawmaker and retired military officer, has said the offensive has shown the need for Russian forces to improve their ability to attack.

Russian war bloggers, whom the Kremlin's media handlers have brought under tighter control, have acknowledged heavy losses on their own side but pointed to significant Ukrainian losses too.

The main war bloggers' collective account on the Telegram messaging service - "Operation Z: War Correspondents of the Russian Spring" - has given its more than 1.3 million followers detailed accounts of what it says is the steady but hard-won progress of Russian forces in Avdiivka.

It has described how they have been using air strikes with targeting assistance from special forces, artillery, drones, helicopters, tanks and infantry against heavily dug-in Ukrainian troops.

Semyon Pegov, a prominent Russian war blogger who has attended Kremlin meetings with President Vladimir Putin, has described Avdiivka, which Russians call Avdeevka, as "a fortress" with numerous concrete-reinforced bunkers.

Pegov, who has likened the fighting to trench warfare in World War One, said Russian forces took control of Avdiivka's industrial zone in recent days and that Russian cluster munitions were inflicting "huge losses" on Ukrainian forces.

The Russian defence ministry issues spare but regular updates. Unlike late Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose forces spearheaded the assault on Bakhmut, it does not offer predictions or set out its aims.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Both sides see Avdiivka as key to Russia's aim of wresting full control of the two eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk - two of the four Ukrainian regions Russia says it has annexed but does not have full control of.

Avdiivka is seen as a gateway to Donetsk city, about 15 km (9 miles) to the south, whose residential areas Russian officials say have been regularly shelled by Ukrainian forces.

Pushing Ukrainian forces out of Avdiivka would be seen as enlarging the amount of territory Russia controls and making Donetsk city safer.

Seizing Avdiivka could boost Russian morale and deal a psychological blow to Ukrainian forces, which have made only incremental gains in a counteroffensive launched in June.

Mykola Bielieskov of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, an official think-tank in Kyiv, said taking Avdiivka would not "decisively" tip the situation in Moscow's favour but "would make the situation more tenable for occupied Donetsk as a major Russian logistics hub."

Bielieskov believes the campaign to capture Avdiivka is mostly driven by what he called the Kremlin's eagerness to "strengthen the hand of Western sceptics" who are calling for a cut in military and financial support for Kyiv, citing the limited impact of billions of dollars in military aid.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk and Andrew Osborn; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Timothy Heritage)
A Montgomery man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, officials said.

In court, Kane County Assistant States Attorney Stacey Wittman said that between February 2020 and July 2021, Gerardo Silva, 40, 2200 block of Cornell Avenue in Montgomery, sexually assaulted a child on multiple occasions, according to a press release from the Kane County States Attorneys Office.

Advertisement

Silva knew the child, who was younger than 13 years old, according to the release.

Kane County Judge Alice C. Tracy accepted Silvas guilty plea in the case, officials said.

Advertisement

In addition to the prison term, Silva must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act, according to the release.

In accordance with Illinois law, Silva must serve at least 85% of the sentence. He receives credit for 843 days served in the Kane County jail.
Dame Jessica Rawson: Unearthing ancient Chinese wisdom through cultural relics

11:20, November 30, 2023 By Levente Koroes, Yu Ying ( People's Daily Online

In the long corridors of history, some dedicate their lives to unveiling the mysteries of bygone civilizations. Dame Jessica Rawson, a distinguished British art historian, archaeologist, and sinologist, is one of the most authoritative and representative experts in Western academia specializing in ancient Chinese culture and archaeology. With over four decades dedicated to oriental antiquities, her contributions are unparalleled.

Rawson has served as a professor of Chinese art and archaeology at the University of Oxford. She is a fellow of the British Academy, a consultant to the Palace Museum in Beijing, and an honorary professor at Peking University and the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou. Her previous roles include head of the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum and pro vice-chancellor and warden of Merton College, University of Oxford, the first female warden in its seven-century history. In 2022, she was awarded the Tang Prize in Sinology, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field.

Professor Dame Jessica Rawson (Photo/Keng Huang)

From a young age, Rawson has been captivated by the distant civilization of China. Her 27 years at the British Museum allowed her to examine Chinese artifacts and compare them with global collections, gaining rich academic experience. Since the 1970s, she has visited China dozens of times, conducting research at significant archaeological sites like Sanxingdui and Liangzhu. She has delved into the historical and cultural significance of unearthed artifacts from tombs from various dynasties. Her latest book, "Life and Afterlife in Ancient China," published in 2023, offers fresh perspectives on ancient Chinese civilization based on China's latest archaeological discoveries.

In an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online, Rawson shared her early travels in China, meticulous research on Chinese cultural heritage, and in-depth exploration of Chinese civilization. Her expertise in Chinese art and archaeology, especially in areas such as bronze vessels from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and tombs of the Han Dynasty, has spurred Western interest in ancient Chinese culture and art. Her work has enhanced Western understanding of China and underscored the importance of promoting dialogue and exchanges between different civilizations.

Professor Dame Jessica Rawson (Photo/Keng Huang)

The Chinese connection cultivated by the British Museum

People's Daily Online: When did you first encounter Chinese characters?

Jessica Rawson: I first noticed or was introduced to Chinese characters by my parents. I was probably 8 or 10 years old when they took me to the British Museum to see the Rosetta Stone. I was thrilled to see that there was a language written almost in pictures or signs, unlike our language, which I couldn't spell.

So, then my parents said, "Well, if you're interested in this, why not look at Chinese characters?" They gave me a small book titled "Teach Yourself Chinese." I don't think someone aged 10 can really learn to teach themselves Chinese from this little book. But I started to copy the Chinese characters into a notebook when I was that sort of age. And then, I looked at pictures of China with pagodas and willows. These are things that you see on dishes in Britain, borrowing from China but greatly changed. So, at a very young age, I was interested in what this place with this unique script was.

People's Daily Online: How did you later go about learning Chinese?

Jessica Rawson: I really wanted to study Chinese and Chinese objects, so I applied to the British Museum. And, fortunately, I was able to be appointed. So, I went to the British Museum in 1968. At SOAS, I took a degree in Chinese language and literature while I had a job at the British Museum. By the end of the degree, I could kind of read a brief archaeological report, but only just. It took a long time to develop more familiarity.

Professor Dame Jessica Rawson in Merton College, where she was warden between 1994 and 2010. (Photo/Keng Huang)

Unveiling the mysteries of ancient China

People's Daily Online: What major changes have you observed or experienced since your first visit to China?

Jessica Rawson: Beijing in 1975 was my first visit when I was in my 30s. China is very beautiful, especially if you know the parts I've been to  the vast open countryside, the huge mountains, the Loess Plateau, and the cities on the edge of Inner Mongolia. You know, those are all remarkable areas. I've enjoyed seeing so much of China. I think the one thing that's unusual about me is not really that I've traveled for over 40 years, but that I've been to so many different places and appreciate the geography, the climate, the different crops, and the different lifestyles. One thing that Western audiences lack is an understanding of the size of China, the different range of lifestyles, the different people, and the different levels of wealth and poverty. Over my visits, China has become much more urbanized.

People's Daily Online: In 1996, you organized a memorable exhibition called "The Mystery of Ancient China." Could you talk about how this exhibition was received then and share your memories?

Jessica Rawson: I wrote the catalog with assistance from other people. It was a dramatic exhibition, I think, because it made me and many others realize that China was much more complicated than they had thought. The most dramatic items in the exhibition were the bronzes from Sanxingdui, where there are now some very new discoveries. Everybody realized that this site was contemporary with the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.), but it was clearly not part of the Shang Dynasty state. Indeed, it was something completely different. I think Liangzhu and Sanxingdui are areas that reveal jades, bronzes, and ideas that people had never seen before or never paid attention to. You can see from the material that these peoples had beliefs and ways of life and practices that were very clearly based on their own regions and had nothing to do, indeed, with other parts of China at that moment in time. Yours is a huge country. It's not surprising that it starts off with different regions, each with different strengths and ideas.

Chinese antiquity sweeps through Western academia

People's Daily Online: You have extensively researched various Chinese dynasties. Could you share some of your work's most fascinating discoveries or insights?

Jessica Rawson: I've done different things at different times. My specialty is the Shang and Zhou periods, down to the Han. I've also written about and been excited by the Tang Dynasty and why and how the Chinese of the Tang Dynasty imitated the ceramics of Western Asia. That, I think, is fascinating. It was a time when China had a lot of trading connections with Western Asia.

Professor Dame Jessica Rawson's new book, "Life and Afterlife in Ancient China." (Photo/Keng Huang)

People's Daily Online: Which area of China does your new book primarily focus on?

Jessica Rawson: This new book is about tombs, and the tombs would make no sense if we didn't think that the ancestors were important to their descendants. It's much more dramatic in these ancient periods, but there are also large tombs for the Ming and Qing emperors. The dominant belief is that a family must offer respect and sustenance to their ancestors. So, they built tombs with valuable contents.

I had not thought about these ideas in such depth before I wrote this book. But then I looked at all these tombs and realized that the people who built them, and I'm talking about the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han periods, really did want to make a good afterlife for their ancestors. And so, it's this which has taught me much more about China.

I think what people need to understand, if they can, is that there are many different regions, and the regions have different histories, different customs, and even today, quite different food and almost different dialects. What I started to think about most when writing this book is that China has a different social system from the West. In China, the major unit of society is the family. It can be a very large family, what we would call a clan, with many branches and many married sons and daughters, or it can nowadays be quite a narrow unit. In any case, the most important feature is the hierarchy of generations. So, if you're a son, you can't replace your father or take his position. China has a much stronger attachment to hierarchy than the West.

People's Daily Online: From the 1960s until now, based on your knowledge of Oxford, do you think more people are studying Chinese?

Jessica Rawson: Definitely, more people are studying China. So, anthropology, politics, particularly modern and contemporary China, and Chinese history. There weren't many Chinese historians in the 1960s. I think the subject has expanded from being one that was quite confined to a language teaching department, where classical Chinese was emphasized at both Cambridge and Oxford, to nowadays, where many universities have academics and students interested in contemporary China. There are also people who are scientists from China who are either Chinese nationals or ethnically Chinese. They're teaching in Western universities. So, China has opened up in all sorts of ways.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Former Pioneer Press editor and Wilmette resident Georgia Garvey has a new book compiling her columns titled "Everything Is Going to Be OK (Until It's Not)." - Original Credit: Handout (Sharp Pencil Marketing/HANDOUT)

Georgia Garvey  a writer, former editor at the Chicago Tribune and Pioneer Press, author and mother of two living in Wilmette  has released a new book, Everything Is Going to Be OK (Until Its Not) compiling her nationally syndicated lifestyle columns with Pioneer Press and Creators Publishing.

Garvey started writing her column for Pioneer Press during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she was editor in chief of Pioneer Press and Lake County News Sun at Trib/Pioneer as a way to work through the challenges and joys of being a parent during that time. From there, Creators Publishing reached out to offer her a syndicated column allowing her work to be printed in dozens of news outlets across the country.

Advertisement

When I had the opportunity to be syndicated and continue writing the column, I jumped at it, Garvey said. Column writing had become such an important part of my life.

She still writes the column today with stories about a wide range of topics from motherhood to her former pets, including a foul mouthed Portuguese-speaking parrot her father was gifted as a partial payment for his work on offshore oil rigs.

Advertisement

One column, written during the pandemic and included in the book, touched on her grandmother who lived in Greece and went through a series of strokes leaving her ill. Garvey traveled to Greece to see her before she died, something she was adamant about doing.

Those being most harmed by COVID-19, such as the elderly and those with co-morbidities, were at the forefront of the news at this time, according to Garvey. She said seeing her grandmother at that point inspired her to write a column, talking about the importance of saving lives, even if its a person who is very ill. Just talking about how crucial that was.

Garvey plans to read the columns on her grandmother and the parrot, among others, during a book reading and signing at the Book Stall in Winnetka on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. She will also discuss her time as a column writer and other stories at the event.

The Book Stall is a really important book store on the North Shore and so Im really thrilled to get the chance to speak there, she said.

Some of her other columns are inspired by her Greek heritage. Garvey was born in America but moved to Greece with her family until returning in first grade. This link inspired a fiction novel where a modern-day Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, joins forces with a descendant of Hercules to take back an artifact from Ares, the Greek god of war.

Part of what makes mythology so timeless is how it taps into primal needs we all have as humans, according to Garvey.

People have from the beginning of time always felt kind of powerless in the face of nature and the way that life seems to be such a challenge sometimes, she said. These stories  the Greek mythology and Egyptian mythology and Norse mythology  theyre ways that our ancestors had of putting those experiences into context and dealing with that fear and that confusion that we all have.

The shift from nonfiction to fiction, according to Garvey, can be difficult but rewarding.

Advertisement

I have such a good time doing it that its worth it, she said.

As far as her column, Garvey has no plans to slow down.

I always think of new things. Its really weird, she said. I always think to myself Oh gosh, what am I going to write about this week? and every week Im just blown away because I can come up with something.

Garvey considers herself lucky being able to work in a field she loves and excels in. For those who want to be writers, she says to write for yourself first.

I dont think most people who write, even if theyre very talented, will get rich from writing, she said. If writing is what brings you joy, then you should write ... writing can be its own reward.
A federal grand jury is investigating the Dec. 10, 2022, shooting death of a Florida college student in an encounter with three Hancock County sheriffs deputies, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation.

The Sun Herald was at the federal courthouse Wednesday when two deputies, Lt. Christopher Dunn Sholar and Deputy Laura (Lauralyn) Yager, were there to testify.

Yager arrived in a Hancock County Sheriffs Departments SUV, while Sholar showed up in a silver SUV.

Sholar, Yager and former Hancock County K-9 Deputy Michael Chase Blackwell are the three deputies involved in the shooting that resulted in the death of Isaiah Winkley, the 21-year-old son of a Georgia pastor and his wife.

Blackwell, 28, is the admitted shooter and the alleged target of a state and federal investigation into possible wrongdoing.

Isaiah Winkley, 21, attended Pensacola Christian College.

A grand jury of randomly picked residents hears the evidence to determine if a crime occurred.

In this case, authorities confirmed the evidence is going before a state and federal grand jury. The state grand jury has not yet convened.

The Department of Justice would not confirm or deny information about the grand jury probe. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee also declined to comment.

Winkleys parents, the Rev. Dwight Winkley and his wife, Caroline, of Morehead, Georgia, believe their son was the victim of wrongdoing by deputies and accuse those involved of negligence, malfeasance and reckless conduct that resulted in the killing.

Attorney Lance Stevens represents Winkleys parents in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in federal court in Gulfport. The couple is suing Blackwell, the Hancock County Sheriffs Department, Sheriff Ricky Adam, and other unnamed defendants.

Since then, Blackwell filed an affidavit defending his actions the day of the shooting, saying he feared for his life and the lives of the two other deputies when he fired four rounds at Winkley.

A Hancock County Sheriffs Department SUV is parked outside the federal courthouse in Gulfport on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, after deputies arrive to provide grand jury testimony in a fatal police shooting.

Winkleys autopsy showed he had been shot five times.

In the affidavit, Blackwell said he fired at Winkley from over 8 feet away because he was walking toward him with a metal T-post used for fencing and screaming, Shoot me.

Blackwell said he wasnt sure if Winkley had managed to get his hands on a gun.

Winkley did not have a gun, and Blackwell didnt unleash his police K-9, a German Shepherd named Dark, to try to capture Winkley. Instead, the K-9 was tied to a 30-foot tracking line.

Blackwell said he kept his K-9 tied up instead of using the dog to try to take Winkely into custody because his police training taught him not to send the K-9 into a deadly force encounter.

In addition, he said deputies had already used a Taser on Winkley several times, and Winkley still managed to get back up.

Chase Blackwell, a former Gulfport police officer and Hancock County sheriffs deputy, was working for Hancock County when he fatally shot Isaiah Winkley, a 21-year-old college student from Florida, outside of a home in Perkinston, Mississippi.

In the civil action, Blackwell submitted a copy of police camera footage of the shooting to federal court. He asked a federal magistrate to seal the footage to protect the privacy of Winkley and his family, but the family wants the footage made public.

This week, Blackwell filed a motion saying there no longer appears to be an objection to releasing the footage. The Sun Herald contacted Blackwells attorney for comment but did not hear back.

Since then, Stevens said attorneys for Blackwell turned over copies of the footage but said he had to agree to wait to release it until a judge rules on whether to restrict it from public access.

Its absolutely horrible, Stevens said. The family wants justice, whatever that may entail.

Sun Heralds attorney, Henry Laird, filed a motion to intervene in the federal suit to argue against restricting public access to the footage.

A judge has not yet ruled on the matter.

Hancock County deputy fatally shoots person in Kiln

Family files wrongful death lawsuit after FL college student shot 5 times by Hancock deputy

MS Coast deputy feared for his life when he shot at college student, court papers say
A federal judge on Thursday blocked Montanas sweeping TikTok ban from taking effect next year, calling the law unconstitutional and beyond the states power.

The law, the first of its kind in the U.S., would have prohibited the downloading of TikTok in Montana. Individual users wouldnt have faced penalties under the law, but entities, such as app stores and TikTok, that offer users the ability to download the app could have faced $10,000 fines per day.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction, ruling that although Montana can take actions to protect its residents from harm, the statewide ban was a violation of free speech and oversteps state power.

The current record leaves little doubt that Montanas Legislature and attorney general were more interested in targeting Chinas ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers, Molloy wrote in his opinion, according to The New York Times.

The ban stemmed from concerns from lawmaker and the FBI over whether the app, which is owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance and has about 150 million monthly users in America, could allow the Chinese government to access Americans data.

Some members of Congress tried to ban the app, even by attempting to give the Biden administration the authority to restrict or bar foreign-owned apps, Reuters reported.

More than 30 states have enacted laws banning TikTok from state devices and networks out of fear of the Chinese governments potential collection of data, according to The Washington Post.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed a law in December barring the use of TikTok on government-owned devices, arguing that the app poses a significant risk to sensitive data in the state.

In May, Gianforte took the ban a step further and signed the broader law barring all use of the app throughout the state. The law was set to take effect on Jan. 1 but faced legal challenges from opponents who said the law would be unconstitutional.

In May, TikTok sued the state over the ban, asserting that it violated the companys and users right to free speech. TikTok users in Montana also tried to block the law.

The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the law when it was signed, calling it unconstitutional and echoing sentiments that the organization, along with several other free speech and civil liberties organizations, had written in a letter to Montanas House of Representatives in April.

The government cannot impose a total ban on a communications platform like TikTok unless it is necessary to prevent extremely serious, immediate harm to national security, the letter said, adding that there was no public evidence of harm that could meet that level.

In a court document, TikTok stated that it has not shared, and would not share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of TikTok users.

In his preliminary injunction ruling, Molloy said that TikTok had the better arguments and demonstrated a likelihood to succeed on the merits, according to the Post.

We are pleased the judge rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on TikTok, a spokesperson for TikTok said in a statement.

Since the injunction is preliminary, the ban could still be reinstated as the case proceeds.

We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data, Emilee Cantrell, a spokeswoman for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who drafted the law, said in a statement.

HuffPost reached out to Gianforte and the Montana attorney generals office for additional comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Related...
Flawed policies and insufficient training are not to blame for Cedric CJ Loftons fatal restraint at the hands of Sedgwick County corrections officers in 2021, a federal judge has ruled.

Eric Melgren, chief judge of the U.S. District Court of Kansas, dropped five counts of negligent training and deliberate indifference against the county and the city of Wichita in a civil rights lawsuit brought by Loftons brother Marquan Teetz.

The remaining allegations in the lawsuit are made against specific corrections and police officers and include excessive force, battery, negligence, failure to intervene, supervisor liability and deliberate indifference to serious medical need.

Five corrections officers pinned Lofton, 17, to the concrete floor of a holding cell for 39 uninterrupted minutes after he had a brief altercation with an intake worker. He was at the lockup facility because police officers responding to a call for mental health help took him there when he resisted arrest.

Melgren asserted the county corrections officers actions appear to be in blatant disregard of the countys written policies, specifically noting provisions of the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Centers use of force policy.

Had the officers followed [the use of force policy] by employing less restrictive methods of behavior control, not applying force or restraints for the purposes of punishment or discipline, verbally or physically intervening, or immediately reporting all observations through the proper chain of command, Lofton would likely still be alive, Melgren wrote on Nov. 14.

No one who interacted with Lofton early on Sept. 24, 2021, faced criminal charges. Under state law, the five corrections workers and eight police officers listed as co-defendants in the civil suit will continue to receive legal representation paid for by the county and city.

Records obtained by The Eagle show Sedgwick County has so far spent $480,948 fighting the civil rights lawsuit. Wichita has spent $224,723.

Making the wrong decision

Attorneys representing Teetz had argued the teens death was the result of years of inaction and indifference by both local governments, and that deficiencies in policies and training standards deprived Lofton of his civil rights.

Melgren found that Teetzs lawyers failed to explain the causal link between the use of force policys silence on the dangers of the prone restraint position and officers decision to use it on Lofton.

In fact, Plaintiff alleges that regardless of the Countys policies or training, the excessiveness of the officers force would have been obvious to any reasonable officer given the surrounding circumstances, he wrote.

Melgren initially dismissed failure to train claims against the county and city in December 2022. But Teetzs lawyers contended they should be allowed to amend their initial complaint after all five corrections officers  identified in court records as Jason Stepien, Brenton Newby, Karen Conklin, William Buckner and Benito Mendoza  testified in sworn depositions that Sedgwick Countys prone restraint training did not include information about its dangers.

In dismissing deliberate indifference claims against the city of Wichita, Melgren said no special training should be necessary for officers to know not to falsify medical records, as Wichita officer Ryan OHare allegedly did when he changed answers on Loftons intake form after learning his initial assessment would have required police to transport him to a hospital.

The Court cannot conclude that it was highly predictable and patently obvious that WPD officers would falsify Loftons medical records, Melgren wrote. Just as all officers should intuitively know that it is illegal and morally reprehensible to rape an inmate, all officers  even untrained ones  should know the same is true of falsifying detainees intake responses to avoid procuring treatment for their medical needs.

The judge wrote that even if Teetz did manage to establish a pattern of deficient training, he has not established a pattern of constitutional violations resulting from that deficient training by Wichita or Sedgwick County, noting that a municipalitys culpability for rights deprivation is at its most tenuous where a claim turns on a failure to train.

Respondeat superior, a legal doctrine that holds private employers legally responsible for the wrongful acts of employees committed on the job, does not apply to municipalities and their agencies.

It is not enough for a plaintiff to allege that an officers wrong decision injured a citizen during a predictable situation, Melgren wrote. Rather, municipal liability requires a high likelihood that the Countys failure to train will result in the officer making the wrong decision.

He cited a 1998 Kansas case where the federal court rejected an effort to classify prone restraint as deadly force even though it has the potential to cause death in certain circumstances.

In fact, this Court has found no evidence that the probability of death is so high as to be considered likely when such restraint is used. In other words, the prone restraint itself is not deadly force but can become deadly force when intentionally or recklessly misused.

Melgren cited a 2008 Tenth Circuit ruling outlining that putting substantial or significant pressure on a suspects back while that suspect is in a face-down prone position after being subdued and/or incapacitated constitutes excessive force and that regardless of any specialized knowledge, a reasonable officer would know these actions present a substantial and totally unnecessary risk of death to the person.

In body cam footage from Wichita police interviews with county employees after the fatal incident, one corrections officer stated: We did our normal restraint where we used more people than enough to subdue him. He started snoring and then went nonresponsive.

That footage, released by the city in response to an open records request, has since been scrubbed from the internet.

In the aftermath of Loftons death, former county corrections director Glenda Martens defended her staffs actions, saying they acted well within the policy and the requirements of that policy throughout the extended struggle as they pinned the shoeless, shackled juvenile to the ground.

Lawyers representing Teetz did not respond to requests for comment.
The federal judge who blocked Montanas blanket ban on TikTok may have just created an opening for lawmakers in Washington trying to think bigger than one social media app.

Judge Donald Molloys Thursday ruling technically only stalls Montanas plans to block the popular video-sharing app for its residents starting in the new year. But several experts said the decision  which found the law to be a violation of the First Amendment  likely foreclosed on the idea of a broad, nationwide ban of TikTok or that copycat bills would move in other states.

Banning the app, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is a popular China-bashing message conservatives put in the spotlight during last months Republican presidential debate. And Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte said the law  which would fine app stores $10,000 if they continued offering the app to customers  was aimed at protecting residents from foreign influence by the Chinese Communist Party.

Instead, what the ruling has sparked is some hope among Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill convinced that a more nuanced approach that doesnt just target a single platform was always needed.

The court ruling demonstrates the legal and constitutional difficulties an outright ban faces, said Ryan Wrasse, a spokesperson for Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who is pushing a bipartisan bill to give the administration more power to block technologies tied to foreign adversaries like China and Russia. Without meaningful action, foreign-adversary-owned technologies like TikTok arent going away, and Congress needs to take these national security threats head on without delay.

For now, TikTok, which is used by more than 150 million Americans, is here to stay. The Biden administrations national security review of TikTok remains tied up over a disagreement on whether to force a sale of the platform. And on Capitol Hill, efforts to enact an outright ban on TikTok over national security concerns stalled long before lawmakers started to approach the holiday season. But some experts werent surprised by these difficulties or by the ruling itself.

Whenever anyone uses the word ban, I know they're not serious, because you can't ban TikTok, said James Lewis, the director of the strategic technologies program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, adding it would be unconstitutional and constrain speech.

Gianfortes office, nor the office of Republican state Sen. Shelley Vance, who authored the TikTok ban legislation, responded to requests for comment.

The RESTRICT Act, from Thune and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), has the backing of the Biden administration and would give the executive branch authorities they lacked when a similar effort to ban TikTok by the Trump administration was blocked by two federal judges in 2020.

Rachel Cohen, a Warner spokesperson, said the RESTRICT Act is carefully drafted to be constitutional.

But the RESTRICT Act has faced Republican blowback over claims it gives the Biden administration too much power. It would also have to go through the Senate Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who is writing her own foreign adversary tech bill this Congress.

Crafting legislation that can withstand court scrutiny is one of Sen. Cantwells primary goals, Tricia Enright, a Cantwell spokesperson, told POLITICO. They are continuing to work on the bill text, but didnt provide a timeline for introduction.

Outright TikTok ban bills, like those from China hawks such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), seem even more suspect after Molloys ruling.

While Rubio remained confident in his ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act, telling POLITICO, The Chinese Communist Party doesnt have a constitutional right to conduct influence operations in the United States, his bill hasnt moved since it was introduced in February.

It was because federal efforts to ban TikTok stalled that states like Montana took action in passing a law in May banning the app for its 1.1 million residents  a move TikTok and its creators sued soon after.

Montanas office of the attorney general said theyre still reviewing their options, which could include an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data, the office said.

Montanas likelihood of success is slim to none, said Clay Calvert, a nonresident senior fellow in technology policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. This is not good for the federal government if it attempts to adopt an outright ban of TikTok.
The former FedEx delivery driver who was chased and shot at by two white men in Brookhaven, Mississippi, has filed a $5 million lawsuit.

DMonterrio Gibson  who is Black  was attacked while making his deliveries on Jan. 24, 2022, in a Hertz van.

As widely reported by the Mississippi Free Press and other outlets, Gregory Case and his son, Brandon Case, chased Gibson while he was delivering a package and fired several shots into the delivery van he was driving, hitting several packages in the process.

Brandon Case (left) and Gregory Charles Case (right). (file photo)

Gibson was not physically injured in the shooting. Still, according to the lawsuit filed on Nov. 20, he suffered from depression, stress, anxiety, loss of sleep, and emotional pain and suffering after FedEx forced him to return to the same route following the attack, this time in a FedEx truck. The company then fired Gibson after he tried to return to the same route but was unable to continue due to emotional distress.

The lawsuit was filed in state court against FedEx, the Cases, and their employer, Adcamp Inc., for civil assault and battery, negligent/intentional infliction of emotional distress, general/gross negligence, negligent entrustment of a motor vehicle and vicarious liability.

Defendants Brandon and Gregory essentially terrorized, shot at, and chased Mr. Gibson out of the Junior Trial neighborhood of Lincoln County, Mississippi, the claim reads. Following the assault of Mr. Gibson, the Defendant, FedEx sent him back to work on the same dangerous route the following day, intentionally inflicting emotional distress on the Plaintiff.

The lawsuit also contends that Gregory Case used his Adcamp work truck to chase and hunt down Gibson after hed delivered a package. According to the lawsuit, the men chased Gibson while waving a gun and blocking the road. Gibson drove around the men, who then began shooting at him.

Bullet holes were found inside the back of the van and the packages from Defendant B. Cases firearm, says the lawsuit.

When Gibson felt safe, he contacted his supervisor and asked him to call the police, but the supervisor reportedly asked him to wait until the following day. Gibson did not wait and went to the Brookhaven Police Department to report the incident.

Gregory Charles Case and Brandon Case (YouTube screenshot)

The Cases were tried for attempted murder but a Mississippi judge declared a mistrial in the criminal case, according to NBC News. The men justified their actions by claiming that it was dark, and they wanted to know why Gibson was outside Gregorys Cases mother-in-laws house.

It was completely dark, completely dark, and somebody was in the wrong place, said Gregory Cases attorney, Terrell Stubbs. It wasnt my client.

FedEx spokesperson Austin Kemker released a statement saying they would fight the lawsuit.

Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our employees, he claimed. FedEx denies the allegations and will vigorously defend the lawsuit.

FedEx gave Gibson two weeks off without pay and paid for eight therapy sessions after he began the companys medical leave process on Jan. 26, 2022. FedEx reinstated one-third of his pay in February after pushback from the public. He was terminated after the mistrial when he declined a part-time position.

This is the second time a civil suit was filed on behalf of Gibson. The first was dismissed in August by a federal judge who ruled Gibson failed to state a viable claim against FedEx for which the Court would have original jurisdiction.

The Cases are still charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy and shooting into a vehicle. However, prosecutors have yet to set a trial date, and the men remain out of jail on bond.

Gibsons lawyer, Carlos Moore, told the Mississippi Free Press that he was seeking justice for his client, who had been denied that in a criminal court so far.

Mr. Gibson has been through a great deal since he suffered the attack by the Cases in January of 2022, said Moore. They have still not been brought to justice in the criminal arena, but we are advancing his civil lawsuit in state court, and we expect to receive justice.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man received two life sentences in court on Thursday in connection to the murder of two victims during the Spring of 2022, officials say.

Nathaniel Curtis Freeman, 35, was found guilty of fatally shooting NyCole Griffin, 30, and Morgan Max Victor, 30, in Southeast Portland on separate occasions.

Snow blankets the Columbia River Gorge amid atmospheric phenomenon

On April 24, 2022, authorities say Freeman shot Griffin near Southeast Ninth Avenue and Ash Street. A friend reportedly drove Griffin to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Nearly a week later, on May 4, PPB said Freeman shot Victor inside an apartment near Southeast 28th Place and Division Street with his soon-to-be-fiance nearby.

I heard gunshots and popped up out of bed, and I saw him lying on the floor and people were yelling at me to get down and I will go over to him and Im holding him screaming like, Please dont leave me. Just stay with me and just hold on, I tried everything I possibly could have, but I guess they were too late, Sabrauna Hedenberg previously told KOIN 6.

Morgan Max Victor was found dead Wednesday in an apartment in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood. His death has been ruled a homicide by gunshot. He was 30 years old. (Courtesy/PPB)

Morgan Max Victor was found dead Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in an apartment in the Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood. His death has been ruled a homicide by gunshot. He was 30 years old.

Morgan Max Victor and his fiance Saubrana Hedenberg.

Morgan Max Victor, who was shot and killed in Portland on May 4, 2022.

Morgan Max Victor and his fiance Saubrana Hedenberg.

Morgan Max Victor, who was shot and killed in Portland on May 4, 2022.

Morgan Max Victor and his fiance Saubrana Hedenberg.

Freeman will have no opportunity for parole after he was found guilty for two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of unlawful use of a firearm on Aug. 4, 2023. In a bench trial, he was also found guilty of three counts of felon in possession of a firearm.

Notorious Hendon house residents evicted after years of criminal activity

He will serve his sentence at the Oregon Department of Corrections.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
During a news conference outside the St. John Stone Friary, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests member, David Clohessy, talks on the $2 million settlement while holding photos of the Rev. Richard McGrath on Nov. 30, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

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.

Advertisement

The school and religious order McGrath belongs to finalized the settlement in mid-November, according to Krankvichs attorney, Marc Pearlman.

[ Where is Father McGrath? Priest who was accused of child sex abuse is still AWOL from order but criminal investigations end ]

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.

Advertisement

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.

[ Scope of clerical sex abuse against children in Illinois widens with release of new report. Abusers able to hide, often in plain sight. ]

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

[ Search Catholic clergy named in Illinois attorney general abuse report for Archdiocese of Chicago ]

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.

Advertisement

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
Two firefighters are OK after they rode the collapsing second floor of a two-story office building down to ground level after the structure erupted in flames in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles Friday morning.

Crews responded to a fire burning outside the 51-year-old, 7,400-square-foot structure in the 1000 block of West Sunset Boulevard around 1 a.m.

Firefighters respond to an office building blaze.

The flames eventually extended into the building, believed to house medical offices and traveled to the second floor, the Los Angeles Fire Department stated in a news alert.

There was a partial floor collapse on the 2nd floor which impacted two firefighters, the Fire Department posted.

The LAFD later clarified that the firefighters rode a partial floor collapse down onto the 1st floor and thankfully did not sustain any serious injuries.

During the firefight, a portion of the floor in one room on the 2nd story collapsed and two firefighters rode the section gradually down onto the 1st floor, fire officials explained.

The firefighters were taken to a local hospital as a precaution, LAFD Assistant Chief Steve Hissong said, and the LAFD said in an update that they were given a full evaluation at the hospital.

Nearly 70 firefighters continued to battle the blaze aggressively and extinguished the fire in just under an hour, the fire department stated.

Arson investigators were sent to the scene.

The arson investigation is here  undetermined at this time as to how this fire started, Hissong said.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
This weeks first responder is Officer Shawn Crocker of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. Officer Crocker recently gained praise on social media from the Sheriffs Office following an interaction with a local family.

Crocker met Sara and her daughter Ana while working at Mount Herman Exceptional Student Center. Ana was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, so her family moved to Florida as the winters up North complicated Anas condition. Crocker recommended the family go to Huguenot Park since it allows them to drive on the beach. A few days later, while on duty at the park, Officer Crocker met the family and showed them the best spots where Ana could get the most enjoyment.

Sara says, This information opened a whole new world for Ana to enjoy the sand and waves and for us to experience the beach as a family...To say that Ana loves to go to the beach is an understatement. Sara added, Not only did Officer Crocker sensitively acknowledge the limitations of a child with disabilities, but he shared a solution to help Ana enjoy life to her fullest

If youd like to nominate a first responder who deserves recognition, police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, or EMTs, head over to our First Responder Friday page.

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge Officer Shawn Crocker upon receiving a citizens feedback following their encounter.



A few weeks ago, Officer Crocker met Sara and her daughter, Ana, while he was working at Anas school, Mount Herman Exceptional Student Center. Ana pic.twitter.com/VOtlxQPlI9  Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) November 27, 2023
Tensions are high at Florida International University over a draft resolution introduced in the student Senate demanding the schools administration condemn Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza.

The university issued a statement Friday assuring students and alumni that the resolution is championed by a small number of students out of the roughly 56,000 people who attend FIU, and that it is not on the student Senates agenda.

But, the resolution, SR 04 014, has passed one of the two committees needed to bring it before the full Senate, although its unlikely, with finals this month, that it will be taken up by the Rules Committee and then on to a final vote before January, said Alexander Sutton, Student Body president.

Nearly every student in the university has something to say about it, Sutton, who was elected to his position, but does not vote on resolutions, told the Miami Herald.

News of the draft resolution was first reported by PantherNOW, FIUs student newspaper.

The paper detailed a Nov. 27 meeting in the Senate chambers packed with dozens of students demanding that the resolution be placed on the agenda for a vote before this semester ends.

Thousands are under the rubble. How dare you say this isnt time for this resolution? How dare you criticize this resolution? This does the absolute bare minimum. Recognizing Israels war, FIU student Tara Mahmoud, a member of Students for Justice for Palestine, said at the meeting, according to the PantherNOW story.

Students for Justice for Palestine is a pro-Palestine group that State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues ordered to have disbanded at two state universities in October. It is not an official student group at FIU, according to the PantherNow story.

One of the students who introduced the resolution, Senate President Kaily LaChapelle, did not immediately return an email seeking comment on the document.

PantherNOW reported that at the meeting, LaChapelle described receiving death threats over the language in the resolution.

The words being used are we want to exterminate you like our ancestors. And I am not Jewish, Im not Palestinian, but I am Armenian, and my grandfather is a survivor of the Armenian genocide, so I know what genocide is, LaChapelle said.

Rogelio Tovar, chair of FIUs Board of Trustees, and university President Kenneth A. Jessell, sent out a statement Friday to students, faculty and staff seeking to put distance between the school and the draft, adding they have no idea whether it will ever be adopted.

Nevertheless, we cannot be silent because, unfortunately, this document has been widely distributed and has caused much pain to many in our community. We note that this draft resolution contains inaccuracies and in no way represents our position as leaders of FIU, they wrote.

The language in the resolution refers to Israels continued retaliation against Hamas in Gaza for the Oct. 7 terror attacks as ongoing genocide, and calls on Jessell to acknowledge such and implicate the Israeli state as the perpetrator.

[T]he Student Government Association (SGA) will call upon Florida International University (FIU) to release a statement, with input from the authors of this resolution and affected student groups, condemning the human rights violations and collective punishment that the Israeli Defense Forces are committing against Palestinian people, the draft reads.

Tovar and Jessell wrote in their message that they recognize our students right to debate and the rights of SGA as an independent body. But, they also made clear they consider Hamas a terrorist organization which Israel has a right to defend itself against.

And, while they acknowledged there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, they put the blame on Hamas.

We have been very clear that FIU condemns the actions of Hamas on Oct. 7, and fully supports Israels right to defend and protect itself against terrorism, Tovar and Jessell wrote. We also grieve for the suffering and loss of life of innocent civilians in both Israel and Gaza and for the unfolding humanitarian crisis, as a result of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

Sutton said that since the resolution has not gone to the full Senate, the student government has not taken any position on the draft.

Student government is not demanding anything yet because it hasnt passed, Sutton said.
At the request of Mayor Tray Payne, flags in Lubbock will fly at half-staff Monday to honor Matt Dawson, the retired Lubbock firefighter who died last Sunday as a result of injuries suffered in a January 2020 on-duty crash that killed two other first responders.

More: Lubbock firefighter Matt Dawson remembered for fight, advocacy after deadly crash

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday he has granted the mayor's request to fly the U.S. and Texas flags at half-staff Monday, Dec. 4  the day of Dawson's memorial service. Flags will return to full-staff Tuesday.

"Individuals, businesses, municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions and entities in the surrounding area may fly flags at half-staff for the same period of time as a sign of honor and respect," the governor wrote in his letter to the mayor.

Obituary: Matthew "Matt" Dawson

"The First Lady and I extend prayers of comfort for the Dawson family during their time of grief, and we urge all Texas to remember and honor Matt Dawson's service as a brave and dedicated firefighter paramedic," he continued.

Funeral services for Dawson, 34, will take place at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Cook's Garage, 11002 U.S. Highway 87. A visitation is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at The Venue on Broadway, 2202 Broadway.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Flags in Lubbock to fly at half-staff Monday in honor of Matt Dawson
A flight attendant has revealed why passengers should never drink the coffee served on planes.

Kevin, who goes by the username @ichbinvin, shared a recent video to TikTok to look at some of the responses to a Reddit post, which asked: Flight attendants, whats the dirty little secrets of your industry? He started by reading one Reddit comment from someone who was a pilot, who encouraged people not to drink the coffee on board because water tanks are rarely if ever cleaned, and they use this water to make coffee on board.

In his video, Kevin agreed that plane coffee is disgusting, before encouraging travellers to get to the airport 10 minutes earlier and buy a coffee in the terminal. However, according to the flight attendant, he doesnt avoid the coffee aboard a flight because of the water tanks.

The fact that the tanks rarely get cleaned where the waters in should be the least of your concern, he said. For me, its always been the way that flight attendants have to clean coffee pots. For whatever reason, were not supposed to empty coffee pots in drains, were supposed to dump them down the toilet.

He continued to emphasise that the cleaning of the coffee pot, which he claims includes dumping the coffee into a toilet, isnt necessarily sanitary.

When you take a coffee pot and dump it in the toilet, in order to not make a huge mess everywhere, you kind of have to get a little close to the toilet, he said. And I imagine that theres some kind of backsplash of particles, bacteria, whatever that goes directly back into the coffee pot which gets put right back into the coffee maker.

Kevin added that unless an airline has some kind of Nespresso maker on it, he wouldnt get the regular drip coffee served on planes.

The flight attendants video has quickly gone viral, with more than 161,800 views as of 1 December. In the comments, many people shared their candid reactions to Kevins claims about how the coffee pots are allegedly cleaned.

The coffee one is making me cry, one wrote, while another quipped: Coffee, tea, its a no for me. Ginger ale me up.

A third added: Sir, thank you for your service NEVER drinking airplane coffee again!!!

The Independent has contacted Kevin for comment.

This isnt the first flight attendant whos shared their take about the coffee served on planes. In a video posted to TikTok last year, former flight attendant Kat Kamalani shared a range of things that she would ultimately avoid doing on a flight. She specified that she would never drink the hot water on a plane, which eliminates coffee and tea as beverage options.

She also noted that she posted a video back in January 2021, when she revealed that the water tanks and hot coffee machines are rarely cleaned.

Those water tanks are never cleaned and they are disgusting, she said at the time. We rarely, rarely drink coffee or tea. They come from the same water tank, and so when youre drinking that coffee and tea, it comes from that hot water, and its absolutely disgusting.

Over the years, studies have also examined the on-flight water tanks, which are used for making coffee and tea. In 2019, CUNYs Hunter College Food Policy Center conducted an Airline Water study, in which they ranked 11 major and 12 regional airlines mainly by the quality of water they provided on board its flights.

Results found that Alaska Airlines and Allegiant won the top spot with the safest water in the sky. Meanwhile, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines allegedly had the worst scores when the airlines onboard water was rated. Ratings were based on 10 criteria, including fleet size, violations of the governments Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, positive E. coli and coliform water sample reports.
Weather forecasters and others are growing more concerned about the risk of flooding as a series of warm, wet and windy storms approach Whatcom County in a stream of precipitation called an atmospheric river.

After a pair of fairly typical fall storms were expected to dump rain in the lowlands and heavy snow in the mountains on Friday and Saturday, another series of moisture-laden storms are heading for Western Washington, starting Sunday night and lasting into Tuesday.

Those systems are warmer and will bring increasingly heavy rain to the lowlands and the North Cascades above 5,000 feet, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Seattle.

With snow levels rising during this time and relatively warm rain falling on fresh snow, hydrologic impacts can be expected, especially with the continuous swath of moisture, this will make river flooding more likely along with snowmelt runoff in the mountains, meteorologist Kayla Mazurkiewicz said online.

Total rainfall amount from the storms could be 4 inches in Bellingham through Tuesday  thats about the average rainfall for the entire month of December. Rainfall in the mountains could reach double digits, on top of several feet of fresh snow.

Whats worrying forecasters and disaster-preparedness officials is the rain-on-snow scenario, where rain could cause rapid snowmelt that will engorge the Nooksack and cause flooding in the lowlands around Everson and farther downstream.

Public Works crews are closely monitoring this weekends rainstorms and have been doing as much preventative maintenance as possible, including clearing catch basins and storm drains, Public Works Department spokeswoman Torhil Ramsay told The Bellingham Herald.

We look at a number of factors, including lake and river levels, and we dont anticipate any major flooding. We do however caution drivers and pedestrians to obey any street closure signs, and not drive or walk into flooded areas, Ramsay said.

Amy Cloud at the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office Division of Emergency Management told The Herald that several county department are engaged in flood preparation.

Were posting information on our Whatcom Ready Facebook page, a shared resource with city of Bellinghams Office of Emergency Management, and will be adding more links to information from local and state partners on the Whatcom Ready webpage, Cloud said in an email.

Current estimates from the Northwest River Forecast Center show that the Nooksack River looks to crest around 16 feet in Ferndale on Wednesday. Thats below the flood stage of 18 feet, but above the action stage level when weather officials recommend making preparations for flooding.

Farther upstream at Nugents Corner, forecasts show the river cresting just below action stage of 145 feet.

Confidence is high for flooding across the state, however, the National Weather Service said in an emailed briefing late Thursday.

The heaviest rainfall and the greatest risk of river flooding is expected Tuesday into Wednesday, forecasters said.
The Chair of the Republican Party of Florida is under fire after it was revealed he is under investigation after a sexual battery complaint was lodged against him.

Calls for his resignation are coming from both sides of the aisle.

Christian Ziegler, Chair of the Florida Republican Party and husband of Moms for Liberty Co-Founder and DeSantis-appointee Bridget Ziegler, is under investigation after a sexual battery complaint was filed with the Sarasota Police Department.

The heavily redacted police report reveals little, except the word raped and that the alleged incident occurred at a home in Sarasota on October 2nd.

When asked about the allegations Thursday night, Governor Ron DeSantis called for Ziegler to resign from his post.

Theyre very serious. I dont see how he could continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations. So, I think he should step aside. I think he should tend to that, said DeSantis.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Nikki Fired, Chair of the Democratic Party of Florida, has also called for Ziegler to step down, and argued the allegations are not only abhorrent, but also a glaring example of hypocrisy.

Both Christian and his wife Bridget have spent the better part of the last three or four years telling people like you and me how to live our lives. They have been on this woke moral crusade across not only the state, but across the country, said Fried.

Fried said she believes the controversy is a reflection of disfunction within the Florida Republican Party and said she anticipates the impacts will be seen in 2024.

Youre watching the implosion of the Republican Party. The House of cards is falling out underneath them and so this is an opportunity for the people of our state to start getting balance back in their government, said Fried.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Action News Jax reached out directly to Ziegler and his attorney for this story but has not heard back from either.

Nor did we hear from an executive member of the Florida GOP or our local GOP chairman in Duval.

However, former Florida GOP Chair and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry did post on social media saying in-part, Lets get back to GOP alignment. Team >individual.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
This story has been updated to reflect details from affidavits recently made public. A previous version of this story cited reporting of a three-way sexual relationship lasting three years. But both Bridget Ziegler and the woman who reported the rape stated there had been only one three-way encounter.

Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler is currently under investigation by the Sarasota Police Department, his attorney Derek Byrd confirmed to CBS News.

Byrd did not specify the exact allegations against Ziegler, but in response to a CBS News question about Ziegler's charges, the Sarasota Police Department returned a heavily redacted police report that mentions an accusation of rape and sexual battery that allegedly occurred on Oct. 2 in the city.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called on Ziegler to resign as state party chair late Thursday night.

"I don't see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing, given the gravity of those situations," DeSantis told reporters in Alpharetta, Georgia, after his Fox News debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. "And so I think that he should, I think he should step aside."

"He's innocent 'til proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny," DeSantis added.

The Florida Trident, a nonprofit organization focusing on government accountability, reported that a woman, Christian Ziegler and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, engaged "in a three-way sexual encounter more than a year before the incident," citing a search warrant publicly released in the case Friday. The events being investigated allegedly occurred while Christian Ziegler and the woman were alone at the woman's home, indicated The Trident, which initially cited sources close to the investigation. According to police, Bridget Ziegler was expected to come to the woman's home for a threesome planned the day of the incident but was unable to make it.

Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing group that dubs itself a parental rights advocate and attempts to elect far-right candidates to school boards. The group opposes references to race and LGBTQ identity in the classroom and has called for books referencing gender and sexuality to be removed from school libraries.

Byrd said Christian Ziegler "has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department," adding that once the police department finishes its probe, he is "confident" they won't file charges and that "Ziegler will be completely exonerated."

The Florida Democratic Party echoed the governor's call for Ziegler to step down as Florida's GOP chair in a statement.

"Christian Ziegler can't possibly continue to lead the Florida GOP under these conditions," Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried said. "Given the severity of the criminal allegations, I'm calling for his immediate resignation."

"As for the more salacious allegations  what happens behind closed doors is Christian and Bridget's personal business," Fried continued. "That being said, I do find it interesting that two people who are so obsessed with banning books about gay penguins might be engaged in a non-traditional sexual relationship."

Republican Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was asked about the accusation against Ziegler in a news conference ahead of the DeSantis-Newsom debate. Moody said she had not seen the facts, so she had no comment.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Theres a new push to dismantle the state-controlled Disney oversight district created by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

One state lawmaker says shes tired of the power struggle over what used to be the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID).

State Sen. Linda Stewart, a Democrat from Orange County, says its time for things to return to how they were. Its a sentiment shared by some in her community.

We have legal residents here, but we have no say in what the district does, said William Sterner, a longtime resident of Lake Buena Vista.

DeSantis threatens Disney with new taxes, tolls amid feud

Just hours earlier, he learned the governors new Disney oversight board plans on cutting some services to his city. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District gave notice of the changes, which will come in January.

Bottom line: This all means, taxes could be going up.

Whats going to happen to us? You know, we live here, said William.

Right now this new board is creating havoc, said Sen. Stewart.

Sen. Stewart says its time to dismantle the Desantis-controlled district. She plans to introduce a bill to reverse the changes and to restore the RCID as it existed on February 26, 2023.

Today, the corp kingdom comes to an end, there a new sheriff in town, Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference on Feb. 27.

The feud started when Disney spoke out against the governors Parental Rights in Education Act.

For decades, Walt Disney World had a special status in Florida. It was allowed to largely self-regulate. DeSantis ended that.

DeSantis presidential campaign suffers major blow

They have no transparency, said Sen. Stewart. They gave a contract to a 911 operator for a million dollars without any bid, it was just a friend of a friend.

The morale is horrible.

So does the bill have any chance of passing the GOP-controlled state legislature?

Im not expecting it to particularly pass. What Im expecting is that the people who voted for this pathway understand the consequences and that they would reverse their decision based on that, said Sen. Stewart.

8 On Your Side reached out to the governors office for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Florida Republican Party chair Christian Ziegler is being investigated by the Sarasota Police Department, Ziegler's attorney, Derek Byrd, confirmed.

Byrd did not say what the allegations were, but in response to a CBS News question about the charges, the Sarasota Police Department sent a heavily redacted police report that mentions an accusation of rape and sexual battery that allegedly took place on Oct. 2 in Sarasota.

Late Thursday night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called on Ziegler to resign as state party chair.

"I don't see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing, given the gravity of those situations," DeSantis told reporters in Alpharetta, Georgia, after his televised debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. "And so I think that he should, I think he should step aside."

"He's innocent 'til proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny," DeSantis said.

Christian Ziegler attends a Republican rally in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 2, 2018. / Credit: Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

The Florida Trident, a nonprofit organization focusing on government accountability, reported that a woman told the Sarasota Police that she and Christian and Bridget Ziegler have been involved in a three-year-long three-way sexual relationship. The Trident, citing sources close to the investigation, indicated that the events being investigated allegedly took place while Christian Ziegler and the woman were alone at the woman's house.

Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a far-right group that identifies as a parental rights advocate and tries to elect right-wing candidates to school boards. The group opposes references to race or LGBTQ identity in the classroom, and has called for books on gender or sexuality to be removed from school libraries.

Byrd said Christian Ziegler "has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department" and added that once the police department concludes its investigation, he was "confident" that no charges would be filed and that "Ziegler will be completely exonerated."

The Florida Democratic Party has issued a statement calling on Christian Ziegler to step down as state GOP party chair.

"Christian Ziegler can't possibly continue to lead the Florida GOP under these conditions," said Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried. "Given the severity of the criminal allegations, I'm calling for his immediate resignation."

"As for the more salacious allegations  what happens behind closed doors is Christian and Bridget's personal business," Fried continued. "That being said, I do find it interesting that two people who are so obsessed with banning books about gay penguins might be engaged in a non-traditional sexual relationship."

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, a Republican, was asked about the accusation against Ziegler during a news conference in Alpharetta, Georgia, before the DeSantis-Newsom debate. Moody said she had not seen the facts, so she had no comment.

Iconic chocolate brand linked to child labor in Ghana

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies at age 100

U.S. economy growing faster than expected
Celebrate Senior Living in South Holland, formerly the Holland Home and a retirement residence since 1974, is set to close in January. (Tara Kadioglu, Daily Southtown)

Celebrate Senior Living in South Holland, formerly the Holland Home and a retirement residence for south suburban residents since 1974, is set to close in January.

Its had a very rich history, going back to the time when it was the Holland Home, South Holland Mayor Don A. DeGraff said Friday.

Advertisement

DeGraff said he learned of the closure a little over a month ago at the same time staff and residents were notified.

Our first concern is to make sure that residents are taken care of, he said.

Advertisement

DeGraff said the second focus from the villages perspective is to make sure that whatever company or nonprofit takes over the facility is a good steward.

A spokesman for Celebrate South Holland confirmed the closure but provided no additional comment. Provident Healthcare Management, which owns the Celebrate chain including other locations in Niles and Fort Wayne, Indiana, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The facility was the subject of controversy when, in 2015, the death of a 98-year-old resident was ruled a homicide caused by inappropriate administration of medication by medical personnel.

Five others were hospitalized two of which also died. The facility was under different leadership at the time and was a nonprofit called Holland Home. Its current ownership is for-profit.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Despite this bad publicity, the facility has long offered important services in the region, including independent living and assisted living. One leader in the South Holland religious community expressed sadness when she learned about the closure Friday.

I think its a wonderful facility. My mothers best friend was in there and I would go and see her all the time, said Betty Wilson, a minister at Breaking Bread Fellowship Ministries. I think its rather sad.

The nursing home facility on the Celebrate campus is owned by a different company called Elevate Care. Elevate Care did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This news comes just a day after another decades old senior living facility in Crete closed its doors at the end of November.

Advertisement

It is still unclear why the facility is closing and how many residents are still at Celebrate in South Holland. Although DeGraff confirmed the company has Jan. 10 circled as the official closure date, he said discussions with the firm lead him to believe that date is flexible if residents need more time to find their next home.

Its well known that its been difficult in the last 10, 15 years or so to run senior living facilities, DeGraff said. We, as a village, have always been there to support those facilities ... We will continue to do that.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
Police departments in Florida will no longer be able to hide the names of officers who shoot people under Marsy's Law, a 2018 state constitutional amendment expanding rights for crime victims, following a Florida Supreme Court ruling Thursday.

The Florida Supreme Court held that "Marsy's Law guarantees to no victimpolice officer or otherwisethe categorical right to withhold his or her name from disclosure."

The court's decision to extend its ruling to not only police but all crime victims is broader than any of the interest groups involvedpolice departments and unions, transparency and media organizations, and victim rights groupsexpected, and the Miami Herald reported that it is likely to lead to legislation being introduced to tweak the language of Marsy's Law.

Although transparency advocates and civil rights groups warned that versions of Marsy's Law were already being abused by police in other states to hide names of officers, Florida voters approved the amendment by roughly 62 percent and became one of six states that year to pass a Marsy's Law amendment.

The law was named after Marsy Nicholas, a California woman who was stalked and murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Nicholas' family has worked since then to pass laws expanding victims' rights, first in California and then in several other states.

The case before the Florida Supreme Court stemmed from two fatal police shootings in Tallahassee in 2020. After reporters filed records requests for the names of the officers involved, the Florida Police Benevolent Association filed a lawsuit against the city to prevent disclosure, arguing that the identities of the officers were confidential under a provision of Marsy's Law that protects "information or records that could be used to locate or harass the victim or the victim's family, or which could disclose confidential or privileged information of the victim."

But the Florida Supreme Court disagreed. "One's name, standing alone, is not that kind of information or record," Florida Supreme Court Justice John D. Couriel wrote. "It communicates nothing about where the individual can be found and bothered."

Opposing police secrecy were media organizations, civil rights groups, and even supporters of Marsy's Law.

"When reviewing the conduct of an on-duty law enforcement officer who has used physical force, the right to privacy of their name must quickly yield to the public's right to know," Marsy's Law for Florida told the Tallahassee Democrat in October.

But it yielded neither quickly nor graciously in Florida, where police departments frequently abused the vague language to hide incriminating or embarrassing information. For example, last year, the Sarasota Sheriff's Office and state attorney's office convinced a judge to issue a temporary injunction blocking a local newspaper from printing the names of officers who shot and killed a man during an eviction. (That order was quickly voided because, as Walter Sobchak reminded us, the Supreme Court has roundly rejected prior restraint.)

In another case last year, the Marion County Sheriff's Office invoked Marsy's Law to attempt to shield the identities of six jail deputies involved in the death of Scott Whitley, a mentally ill man who died during a violent cell extraction after being bumrushed, tased, and pepper-sprayed.

"Although the deputies clearly violated Scotty's rights under the Fourteenth Amendment when they attacked and killed him, they claimed that they were instead victims of a crime perpetrated by Scotty and used Marsy's Law in an effort to hide from accountability for their wrongdoing," says James Slater, an attorney representing Whitley's family. "We applaud the Florida Supreme Court's ruling yesterday, which will put an end to this perverse use of the law."

The post Florida Supreme Court Rules Police Can't Use Marsy's Law To Hide Names of Officers Who Shoot People appeared first on Reason.com.
More than three months after the city manager resigned, the Fort Meade City Commission has settled on a preferred successor.

The commission voted 3-1 at a special meeting Wednesday evening to offer the position to Pat Oman, currently county administrator for Becker County in Minnesota. The vote came after the commission held public, in-person interviews with the two finalists, Oman and Patrick Marsh of Port Charlotte.

Petrina McCutchen was the lone commissioner voting against the motion to hire Oman. Mayor James Watts and Commissioners Bob Elliott and James Possum Schaill voted to extend him an offer.

City Manager Jan Bagnall departed in August after 2 years in the position. His tenure proved tumultuous, as a block of citizens regularly criticized his job performance on social media. Bagnall, who had previously headed the citys electricity department, submitted his resignation in 2022 but withdrew it and was allowed to remain in the job.

Bagnall incurred a letter of reprimand earlier this year after city commissioners learned he had signed off on the purchase of a fire truck without their approval, in what Bagnall said was confusion about what he was signing. Bagnall pointed to his record of helping Fort Meade secure more grant money during his time as city manager than it had ever received.

Fort Meade drew 22 applications for the position. City commissioners individually submitted lists of candidates worthy of consideration, culling the list to eight. City officials sent pre-interview questionnaires to the applicants, and only five of them returned completed forms, Interim City Manager Maria Sutherland said.

Commissioners held virtual interviews in late October with the four remaining candidates before deciding on Oman and Marsh as the finalists.

Oman, 56, began his current position in northwest Minnesota in December 2021. He oversees 10 departments with 377 employees and an operating budget of $68 million, according to his resume. Among his accomplishments, he cited improving the countys Standard and Poors credit rating from AA to AA+.

Oman listed his salary at $141,800 in his application. He requested a salary of $125,000 from Fort Meade.

From 2015 to 2021, Oman worked as county administrator in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, his resume states. He has also held administrative roles in Moose Lake, Minnesota, and Carlton County, Minnesota.

Oman began his career in the private sector, working as a corporate manager and product development engineer for Honeywell International from 1995 to 2002, his resume states. He has also held two positions in economic development.

Oman holds a masters degree in business administration from University of St. Thomas-St. Paul in Minnesota and bachelors degrees in biology and art history from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, his resume indicates.

Calls to delay decision

The commissioners submitted written scores for the two finalists after the interviews. Oman received an average score of 39.5, compared with 37.5 for Marsh, Human Resources Director Cherie Kercher said during the meeting. McCutchen provided the lowest scores for each candidate  30 for Oman and 29 for Marsh.

Omans highest score was 44 from Schaill, while Watts rated Marsh at 45 and Elliott gave him a score of 44.

Kercher said that in the previous round of interviews, Marsh received an average score of 39.63, compared with 38.25 for Oman.

The vote occurred during a period of transition for the Fort Meade City Commission. Elliott, a former mayor who has been on the board for 25 years, lost his re-election bid in November to challenger Jaret Landon Williams and will be leaving the commission in January.

One commission seat has been vacant since Barbara Arnold resigned during a meeting in June. The city held a special election to fill the opening, and former commissioner Samuel Berrien prevailed in a runoff race. He is scheduled to take office at the next regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 12.

During discussions before the vote Wednesday, McCutchen questioned choosing the next city manager without input from two of five commissioners who will be supervising him.

We have a four-person commission, and there's going to be a significant change, McCutchen said. I feel like, my personal opinion, the two incoming commissioners may want a say in who the individual is. That's just my personal opinion. The dynamics of where we are now have significantly changed, and I think those individuals could be given the liberty to have a say so in who the city manager is.

Before the meeting, Sutherland said that the timing of the hiring process is being driven by a clause in the Fort Meade charter limiting the length of an interim city managers service to five months. Sutherland assumed her position on Aug. 21 and will reach the five-month mark on Jan. 21.

In an interview, Sutherland said that city officials wanted to decide on a hire before the Dec. 12 meeting, allowing time for contract negotiations and for a new city manager to give notice and move to the area before she reaches the five-month mark. Under the city charter, Berrien can only be sworn in at a regularly scheduled commission meeting, not a special meeting.

Elliott pushed back against the suggestion of waiting to choose between the two finalists. He said both Oman and Marsh have applied for jobs elsewhere, suggesting that if Fort Meade waited one or both might no longer be available.

'Good communication skills'

After Kercher read out the average scores from Wednesdays interviews, Elliott motioned for a vote on hiring Oman.

My theory is, I thought he had a lot of compassion, empathy and good communication skills, Elliott said. And all around, I like the guy.

Sutherland said that Kercher will be leaving her job on Dec. 15 and asked that City Attorney Chris Berg handle negotiations on a contract with Oman.

Watts asked Oman during his interview how soon he would be able to begin work if hired. He estimated that it would take 45 to 60 days after he gave notice to his current employer.

Even if Oman agrees to an offer promptly, that estimated transition means he likely would not join Fort Meade until after Elliott has left the City Commission in January.

Williams expressed frustration that he and Berrien would have no say in choosing the next city manager. In an interview before Wednesdays meeting, he said Fort Meades citizens had spoken by electing him and Berrien.

I don't understand, outside of the charter, why Mr. Berrien is not occupying this vacancy, Williams said. I absolutely feel that he should be a part of this process. There seems to be an urgency to elect a new city manager without Mr. Berrien present, and I don't understand that.

'Long time coming': Fort Meade celebrates construction of new bridge over Peace River

Williams said he had heard from a diverse range of residents unhappy that the commission would select a new city manager before he and Berrien take their positions.

Those who are at the table have to be willing to explore other options, Williams said. There are always other ways. It may take a little bit more effort to figure out what options exist.

Berrien could not be reached for comment.

'Untapped potential'

In Wednesdays interviews, McCutchen asked both candidates how they felt about serving a commission that would have a different composition.

The city manager would serve at the pleasure of that City Commission, Oman said. I guess there's always a concern. I think I mitigate that concern through individual meetings with those elected officials on a monthly basis  talking to them about what their goals are, what their concerns are, for the city.

During his 50-minute interview, Oman described Fort Meades historic downtown as an important asset. He touted his experience with economic development and praised commissioners for their interest in a community redevelopment agency. Oman said that if hired he would pursue money through Community Development Block Grants available from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

I think it's a wonderful city with, I think, some untapped potential, he said. And I think having a city manager with the economic development background and doing those successes, I think will be useful.

Oman said he has enjoyed his time in his current position but added, I'm looking for something in the next 10 to 15 years of my career where I could advance another type of development.

Marsh most recently served for one year as city manager in Fernley, Nevada, a city of about 24,000, his resume stated. He also listed experience in city government for Fitchburg, Wisconsin; Monona, Wisconsin; Coal Valley, Illinois; and Eldridge, Iowa.

Marsh has a masters degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University and a bachelors from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, according to his resume.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Fort Meade Commission votes to offer city manager job to Minnesotan
Aspiring Naperville ballet dancer Tatiana Chen, who rehearses six days a week, will perform this weekend in A&A Ballet's production of "Art Deco Nutcracker" in Chicago. (A&A Ballet/HANDOUT)

A 16-year-old Naperville ballet dancer will be following in her mothers dance steps when she takes the stage in Chicago this weekend. Tatiana Chen is the daughter of professional ballerina Anna Spelman and shes delighted to have a key role in an unusual take on The Nutcracker.

A&A Ballets Art Deco Nutcracker is set in the 1920s. Vibrant costumes and new choreography by Alexei Kremnev offer an innovative approach to the beloved story featuring Tchaikovskys well-known score.

Advertisement

The Nutcracker is one of my favorites because of the nostalgic energy, Tatiana said. There are a lot of productions but ours is different because of the neoclassical look. Our cast, excluding those who play the children in the story, range from 13 to 21.

Tatiana Chen, of Naperville, aspires to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who was a professional ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre in New York and performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov. (Star Action Shots/HANDOUT)

Another difference is the diversity A&A Ballet Chicago Center for Dance tries to bring to their productions. They prioritize offering opportunities to dancers of all backgrounds from around the world.

Advertisement

My mom is white and I am half-Chinese, half-white, said Tatiana, whose father is from Fujian, China. My mom surrounded me with European ballet so the dancers didnt look like me.

In 2023 its a lot easier to find other dancers with different backgrounds. In our production we have a Persian dancer and we also have an African American. We all get on well. I believe in the past there was typecasting, but now its much more free.

Spelman, who spent 10 years with American Ballet Theatre in New York, now teaches with the Salt Creek Ballet in Westmont.

Art is in (Tatianas) genes from my side of the family, Spelman said. I can tell her till Im blue in the face that its a dead-end career and you have to have tunnel vision. ... You really have to want to do it because there are so few jobs.

Spelmans time with American Ballet Theatre included a role in Mikhail Baryshnikovs production of The Nutcracker and tours that took her around the U.S, France, Italy, Japan and Israel.

Shes also appeared in film and on TV, even dancing with Baryshnikov in The Woman in White in David Gordons ballet, Murder.

I think I got parts because Im a strawberry blonde, she said. In a 10-year period, I could count on one hand how many non-white dancers there were. ... I think its wonderful to see more of the audience on stage who can relate. We must still have ballet in the future. I think America is always cutting corners in art but it should be a part of our culture. Seeing live ballet in the theater is so different.

Tatiana, whose twin sister Ariana is more interested in track than ballet, is schooled online so she can devote as much time as possible to dancing. Ariana attends Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora.

Advertisement

I study ballet six days a week, 9:30 to 2:30, plus 30 minutes of private lessons a day, Tatiana said. On Saturdays we rehearse for three and a half hours.

As for a career, my mom retired at 35. A lot of dancers go on until 45 but it can be earlier. Ive thought about teaching like my mom. Ill have to see where my career takes me. ... Ballet is my whole world. Im looking forward to performing, especially the pas de deux because that piece of music is my favorite.

Her dream role, she said, would be Juliet in Prokofievs Romeo and Juliet.

I really like her character because shes more youthful and I love the balcony scene, she said.

Although Tatiana and her mother are both dancers, they have different strengths.

Shes quite a different dancer than I was, Spelman said. She has flexibility. I was more a turner and jumper. She has things I didnt have. (Now that shes with A&A), they are taking care of her very well.

Advertisement

Hilary Decent is a freelance journalist who moved to Naperville from England in 2007.

hilarydecent@gmail.com
They fight all year to give foster children hope. And each Christmas, the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Harrison & Stone Counties give abused or neglected kids one more thing: presents.

The group sends volunteers to advocate for foster children in court and support them through separation from abusive or dangerous parents. At Christmas, they make sure each child they work with gets some gifts they need and some that they want -- and they are asking for help from the Mississippi Coast.

It ensures the things the children really need are being met, executive director Rachel Bishop said. And that they also have some special things at Christmas.

There are two ways to help, Bishop said. Individuals or businesses can sponsor a child, or people can send donations to the organization and employees will use the money for children who still need presents.

The organization, known as CASA, gets the childrens clothing sizes and asks them for three needs and three wishes. They let foster families decide how the children will get the gifts, and sponsors can either give presents to the foster parents or directly to the kids.

CASA also accepts donations. Bishop uses that money to shop for children who still have items on their wish lists.

Bishop said the best way to sponsor a child is to call CASA at 228-865-7078. Checks can be mailed to 47 Maples Drive #B Gulfport, Mississippi 39507. CASA asks that all donations be turned in by Dec. 11.

Its such a difficult time for those that are not with their parents, Bishop said. The gifts are just a little something to help bring holiday cheer.
The court cases stemming from several deadly incidents in and around Central Kentucky have ended with guilty pleas this month, while other major criminal cases are still pending.

This months recent court developments include a man sentenced to prison time for a deadly crash on New Circle Road in Lexington, plus progress in the case of a man involved in a 2017 homicide that left a 29-year-old dead.

Here are some updates on cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.

4th suspect in fatal robbery pleads guilty

One of five suspects identified in a homicide that killed 29-year-old Charles Shryock has pleaded guilty to amended charges.

Jemel Barber, 24, accepted a plea deal Nov. 9 for charges of first-degree complicity to manslaughter, attempted murder and first-degree complicity to robbery.

Barber originally faced charges of complicity to murder, attempted murder, complicity to robbery and complicity to burglary.

Barber and the others were accused of stealing items from a home on Race Street on July 22, 2017, and firing shots at the person who lived there as he fled the home, according to previous police statements and court records. Shryock was a bystander but was shot and later died at a hospital.

Barber is the fourth suspect to have his case resolved, with one other case still pending.

Prosecutors recommended that Barbers burglary charge be dismissed and his murder charge be amended to the manslaughter charge, court documents say.

Barber faces a total of 30 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 12. This is Barbers second case connecting him to a deadly shooting. He was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for the shooting death of 40-year-old Tyrece Clark during an attempted robbery at a Lexington motel in 2017, according to court documents.

Lexington murder suspect pleads guilty, faces 20 years

A Lexington murder suspect arrested in June 2022 in connection to a 2021 killing on Main Street has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

Robert Michael Okorley, 41, of Lexington, pleaded guilty to amended charges of second-degree manslaughter, first-degree wanton endangerment, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and second-degree assault.

He originally faced charges of murder, two counts of attempted murder, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, assault and criminal mischief. The murder charge was reduced and an additional charge of attempted murder and criminal mischief were recommended to be dismissed.

Okorley was arrested seven months after 32-year-old Jesse Jimenez was fatally wounded and another person was injured in the shooting on Nov. 5, 2021.

The shooting stemmed from a physical altercation between Okorley and another person, according to court documents. After the altercation ended, Okorley pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot the man, ultimately hitting and killing Jimenez, records say.

Okorley faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14, according to court documents.

Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for fatal crash on New Circle

A Cynthiana man arrested in February was sentenced to 10 years in prison Nov. 15 for a fatal car crash that took place three years ago.

Matthew Sumpter, 42, pleaded guilty in October to a charge of second-degree manslaughter after he was indicted in January.

According to court documents, Sumpter wantonly caused the death of Michelle Beckett on July 3, 2020. Beckett was 38 at the time of her death.

Murder suspect has bond revoked over third positive drug test

A Barren County woman charged with the murder of her father had her bond revoked after she violated the terms of her release by testing positive for methamphetamine.

Cheryl Bennett, 46, was indicted on a murder charge for the death of her father, Michael Mickey Logsdon. Bennetts mother, 71-year-old Donna Logsdon, was also indicted on a murder charge by a Barren County grand jury. They are alleged to have turned off and on a machine that assisted with Michael Logsdons breathing over the course of five hours, causing his death.

Bennett and her mother had both been released about a year ago on a 10% partial bond under the requirement that they adhere to conditions of release  including abstaining from drugs and alcohol. On Nov. 2, Bennetts bond was set back to $500,000 full-cash because she violated those conditions, according to court records.

Bennetts attorney, John Olash, said his client was under much stress due to ongoing life events.

Special prosecutor Kori Bumgarner said they found it hard to believe that the use was involuntary after a third failed drug test.

The lab report says she was positive for meth, this is the third time she has been caught while on bond, Bumgarner said.  She directly violated the law by ingesting meth and using drugs.

Man accused of killing son has trial rescheduled for 2024

A man charged with murder  domestic violence had his trial rescheduled for January after the prosecution made a motion for the judge to recuse herself.

James Hendron, 50, was scheduled to stand trial Oct. 30, according to court documents. Just a week before the trial, the prosecution made a motion for Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Goodman to recuse herself ,claiming she is the cousin to material witness Elizabeth Kanis Brushway, who is a Lexington Police sergeant.

Hendron was charged with murdering his 23-year-old son, Austin Hendron, in June 2018 after an argument on Fathers Day. The altercation happened in a Lexington neighborhood off Richmond Road, according to court records.

Clay Duvall, Hendrons attorney, replied in a separate response that Goodman did not require recusal because the prosecution failed to establish Brushway as a material witness, and that she is within a third-degree relationship to the judge.

Goodman denied the prosecutions motion to recuse herself in an order issued on Nov. 28.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A reported shooting sent Franklin County deputies to the North Linden neighborhood late Friday morning.

According to Columbus police dispatchers, the shooting occurred in the 2000 block of Dunbar Drive, near Cleveland Avenue, just before 11 a.m. CPD was unable to provide additional information and said that the area of Dunbar Drive is under the jurisdiction of the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Dozens of cars vandalized in apparent smash-and-grab in Italian Village

Photos from the scene of the shooting showed Clinton Township police at the scene as well. However, neither agency has shared information on the victims condition, any possible suspects or what led to the shooting as of 11:45 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Inmates at 14 state prisons in Massachusetts now have access to free phone calls under a change in policy that went into effect Friday, with an estimated taxpayer cost of nearly $20 million.

Strong family support helps to advance the rehabilitative process, reduces recidivism, and contributes to successful reentry upon release. said DOC Commissioner Carol Mici.

Previously, an inmate or the person receiving the call from an inmate would pay for calls and DOC says there is no cap on the number calls an inmate can make.

Boston 25 News reached out to DOC for the estimated annual cost of the program and how it is funded.

We estimate this DOC change will cost $18.5 million over the course of a year, according to a spokesperson. The exact funding mechanism from the state budget is subject to how the Legislature appropriates funds.

In FY23, the Legislature created the Communication Trust Fund, for the purpose of funding this program statewide and appropriated $20 million.

Any cost beyond the Trust will fall to each agency, according to a spokesperson.

The Department of Correction said it anticipates having to purchase more wall phones for the state prisons. DOC says Massachusetts is the fifth state in the country to provide free calls for inmates.

The state also says all pre-paid accounts previously used to pay for phone calls that have a credit balance as of Friday will be refunded to the inmates or others listed on on the accounts.

The law allowing for the free calls was signed by Governor Maura Healey on November 15th.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction recognizes the importance of incarcerated individuals maintaining bonds with their loved ones. said Mici. No cost calls will alleviate the financial burden and remove barriers for an individual in MA DOC custody to stay connected with their outside support system.

The DOC has published a FAQ to provide families and loved ones with more information about the implementation of the initiative.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
If youre anything like me, the thought of a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump fills you with a mix of apathy and dread.

Thats partly why I was hopeful to watch the debate Thursday night between two very different standard-bearers for their respective parties: Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Kudos to both governors for agreeing to the match hosted by Sean Hannity on Fox News.

Even if they wont be the top candidates in 2024, the debate offered insight to what the future may hold. In fact, the nearly two-hour sparring match sounded more like a presidential debate than two governors battling over their differing governing philosophies. More on that later.

Hannity billed the debate as a red-state, blue-state showdown that promised to get to the heart of some pressing issues, such as taxes, the economy, the border, energy and crime  concerns Americans continually say they care most about.

And you really cant get any more different in how two governors approach those things than Newsom and DeSantis.

Earth to Democrats: Biden presidency is a dumpster fire. How many warning signs do you need?

The governors do share a few similarities: They govern two of the most populous states in the country, and they are in their second terms, after having been reelected by wide margins last fall. And, unlike Trump (77) and Biden (81), both are solidly under the age of 75 (DeSantis is 45; Newsom 56).

Apart from that, how they are leading their states is diametrically opposed.

Red vs. blue in practice

While this might have been their first face-to-face debate, the governors have long taken shots at each other. For instance, Newsom has actively run ads in Florida, promoting California as a place where we still believe in freedom.

Clearly, freedom means something different to Newsom than it does to DeSantis.

A big reason Newsom needs to appeal to Floridians is because people are fleeing California and moving to states  like Florida.

They are leaving the Golden State in droves because they are in search of freedom of another kind: lower costs of living, less suffocating taxes and regulation, and a government that doesnt try to raise their kids for them.

More than ever, families are choosing where to live based on a states politics and policies.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom debated each other Thursday night on Fox News.

The numbers speak for themselves. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2022 report on net domestic migration, Florida topped the list, gaining 318,855 people from other states. Texas and the Carolinas also saw large increases.

Guess which state lost the most? California. That state saw the most out-migration, losing 343,230 of its citizens. New York and Illinois werent far behind.

Its not a coincidence that the states losing the most people are blue states  and that those Americans are finding homes in red states.

Biden's schools chief misquotes Reagan: Biden Education Secretary Miguel Cardona botches Reagan quote. His 'oops' moment matters.

No surprise, COVID-19 was a topic of heated discussion. Newsom and DeSantis contrasted hugely in how they governed during the pandemic, something DeSantis stresses often. The Florida governor took the approach of fewer restrictions and much shorter lockdowns, which allowed businesses and schools to open faster than they did under Newsoms leadership.

Despite their opposing tactics, virus impacts in the two states were nearly identical. Yet in Florida, because of less government interference, schoolchildren and the economy fared substantially better.

The governors tackled other issues as well, from education to abortion.

DeSantis this year signed into law a universal school choice program that will give parents the option to send their children to private school or home-school them, with financial help from the state. Meanwhile, in California, private school choice funding is nonexistent.

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.

DeSantis has taken a lot of flak for some of his other school agenda, which seeks to curb what schools can teach young children about sexual orientation and gender. Yet what hes doing in Florida is centered on parental rights.

The opposite is true in California, where parents are being removed from decisions their young children are making about their gender.

Abortion could prove a weakness for DeSantis, who has signed a six-week ban in his state. Recent elections have shown voters are concerned about losing abortion access and have supported measures that enshrine reproductive rights into state constitutions. California was one of those states, and Newsom has further expanded abortion provisions.

Eyes on the White House

Lets be honest. Both these governors have ambitions beyond their current jobs. They want to be president.

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NBC News, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) ORG XMIT: FLRB401

DeSantis is currently jockeying for his partys nomination. And its no secret that Newsom is running a shadow campaign if the opportunity were to arise for him to take Bidens place. In the meantime, Newsom is standing in as a younger, more eloquent surrogate for the president. Thats what he did Thursday.

A year ago, DeSantis was coming off a decisive reelection win, and it looked like he could give Trump a run for his money. Today, DeSantis poll numbers have tanked, Trump is the clear front-runner, and the Florida governor is fighting for second place in the primary with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Trump bullies DeSantis, Haley: Surely Republicans can do better than this. Right?

Thursdays debate was an opportunity for DeSantis to again show the country the kind of leader he is and his successes in Florida, apart from the silliness of GOP primary squabbles.

Maybe DeSantis can reclaim some of the momentum he had early on by focusing on the economic issues and freedoms that have attracted so many people to Florida  and how he could use that blueprint to improve the countrys outlook.

And, of course, beat Biden.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques

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 USA TODAY: Who won DeSantis, Newsom debate? Freedom  and Florida
Gemini Middle School, 8955 N. Greenwood Ave. in Niles, went into a lockdown Thursday morning, Nov. 30, after the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office tracked a threatening caller to the area. The lockdown was a precaution and there was no active threat. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press)

Elementary schools in Niles and Morton Grove and a high school in Skokie experienced lockdowns Thursday morning, Nov. 30, for different and unrelated reasons, according to police and school officials.

East Maine School District 63 locked the doors after a Des Plaines man called government officials railing about shooting up or bombing upspecified schools, and Niles West High School experienced a technical error that caused unintended consequences. Officials said none of the schools experienced an active threat and students were never in any danger.

Advertisement

At Niles West High School, a series of events that happened while new audio speakers in the principals office and main office were being installed led to an unintentional lockdown drill, Principal Jeremy Christian explained in a message to Niles West parents.

A company installing the speakers asked to test them, but Christian asked them to wait until he completed the announcements. He entered a code and the emergency lockdown message played, he said. He made a hasty decision to go forward with an unannounced drill, but later told parents, Using this opportunity to have an unannounced drill was not the best decision on my part. I take accountability for this action. However, it is deeply important to me that our students are in their assigned location at the appropriate time.

Advertisement

In East Maine School District 63, Gemini Middle School and Nelson School in Niles, Melzer School in Morton Grove and other district schools were locked down after the DeKalb County Sheriffs Department contacted the districts superintendent to alert him that a man who was geographically near District 63 had called the DeKalb County States Attorneys Office and left several voicemails that Sullivan described as threatening in nature, including railing against schools in general.

DeKalb County Sheriffs police were able to track the man through a wifi connection to a location about a mile from a school in Niles, DeKalb County Sheriff Andrew Sullivan said. Sullivan indicated there was no active threat; the move to alert District 63 was a precaution.

In charges the DeKalb County States Attorney filed in DeKalb County Circuit Court, 28-year-old Jesse Christian of Des Plaines is accused of leaving voice messages for the DeKalb County States Attorneys Office saying I might participate in a school shooting and indicating he might blow a bomb up in a school.

Christian was also charged with violating a stalking order and threatening DeKalb County Judge Philip Montgomery, both of which are felony charges. Judge Joseph Pedersen ordered Christian to remain in custody until his pre-trial on Dec. 14.

Sullivan said the caller made contact using a wifi service. I think he goes to the library that he lives around to make those calls, and thats how we found out, he said.

East Maine School District 63 Director of Communications Janet Spector Bishop said that because the school had received limited information, all of the schools in the district went into a suspended schedule. Recess was held indoors, and no one was permitted to leave or enter the school for safety purposes, during the suspended schedule, Spector Bishop said.

Niles District 71 Superintendent John Kosirog said the districts sole school, Culver School, did not go into a lockdown. Niles Police Sergeant Dan Borkowski told Pioneer Press no incidents occurred at any schools in Niles.
Gavin Newsom has backed the US President despite worries over his health - Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

Californias governor said he would choose a 100-year-old Joe Biden as president to Republican Ron DeSantis at any age in a prime time debate on Thursday night.

Gavin Newsom, who has become increasingly prominent within the Democratic party, had challenged the Florida governor and presidential candidate to the debate on the conservative network Fox News.

It has fuelled speculation that Mr Newsom has 2024 ambitions of his own, amid polls showing widespread unease over the 81-year-old Mr Bidens re-election bid.

But senior Democrats said the White House had opted against vetoing the clash and were pleased with Mr Newsoms vociferous defence of the president.

Asked if Mr Biden was experiencing cognitive decline, Mr DeSantis, 45, said: Yes hes in decline, hes a danger to the country Before adding: Gavin Newsom agrees with that, thats why hes running a shadow campaign.

The California governor, 56, shot back: I will take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week, at any age.

Ron DeSantis said President Biden 'is a danger to the county' - Shutterstock /Erik S Lesser

DeSantis gets airtime ahead of fourth Republican debate

The governors clash was the most intriguing debate of the 2024 campaign yet, in what was dubbed the Great Red vs Blue State Debate by Fox News.

Mr DeSantis, who is polling second in the Republican primary race, agreed to face Mr Newsom ahead of the first caucus in Iowa next month. It guaranteed him significant air time on the most popular conservative cable news network ahead of the fourth Republican candidates debate next in Alabama next Wednesday.

The debate was moderated by Sean Hannity, one of Americas best known TV anchors, who repeatedly dwelt on the question of Mr Bidens cognitive state, underscoring Democrats concerns over the Fox personalitys motivation for agreeing to host the debate.

Highlighting some Democrats desire for a new leader, Mr Hannity asked Mr Newsom about the possibility that the partys delegates could attempt to nominate him at the partys convention next summer.

Mr Newsom said that was not even an option, adding he was unequivocally backing Mr Biden.

Mr DeSantis said: He says Joe Biden is 100 per cent up to the job. You know thats not true he wants you to believe him over your own lyin eyes.

During the debate Newsom said he was not an option to be the Democrat nominee for next year's presidential election - Shutterstock /Erik S Lesser

Trump video attacks DeSantis

Donald Trump, 77, who holds a commanding lead over the Republican field has declined to attend any of the debates so far. But he released a digitally altered video of Mr DeSantis and Mr Newsoms confrontation mocking the Florida governor as a short, insecure little man and accusing him of betrayal.

The Trump video claims Mr DeSantis has been using height-boosting footwear. Mr DeSantis campaign has vehemently denied the reports.

With Mr DeSantis trailing a distant second to Mr Trump, and Mr Newsom vowing to back Mr Biden in 2024, Thursday nights debate may have offered a glimpse of the next generation of both parties leaders. The event saw the two men argue over which of their states had performed better on various economic and social metrics, as well as how the 2024 campaign was shaping up.

Bizarre stunts interspersed the moments of substantive debate on Thursday night, with Mr DeSantis holding up a map of human faeces.

It came after Mr Newsom mocked the Florida governor for his position in the primary polls, telling Hannity: Theres one thing that we have in common. Neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.

Mr Newsom, who is widely expected to mount a presidential run in 2028, has been operating as a high profile surrogate of the Biden campaign, defending the president on news programmes as his popularity wanes with American voters.

He previously denied that he was considering challenging the president in a Democratic primary race, and argued that if Mr Biden is forced to drop out due to ill health, then Kamala Harris should take his place.

Mr DeSantis currently has the support of around 12.6 per cent of Republican voters, according to the FiveThirtyEight poll aggregator. Mr Trump has 60 per cent support, while Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy trail with 9.5 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
By Arafat Barbakh and Mohammed Salem

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza (Reuters) -At Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, a man cradling a boy with a bloodied scalp cried for help.

Another boy with a gash on his cheek and tears in his eyes lay under a blanket. A third, his face covered in blood, waited for treatment.

Within hours of the lapse of a week-old truce between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas which runs Gaza, the enclave's health ministry reported that 54 people had already been killed in Israeli air strikes.

Reuters footage from Nasser Hospital, the second largest in the Gaza strip, showed a steady stream of wounded being brought in as other people wept outside beside bodies of loved ones killed in strikes.

Aid groups and the United Nations say a small fraction of health facilities in the devastated enclave are still functioning and those are in no shape to handle a new wave of casualties.

"Hospitals across Gaza lack the basic supplies, staff and fuel to deliver primary health care at the scale needed, let alone safely treat urgent cases," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday.

Gaza had 2.3 million residents before Israel began a bombardment and ground invasion in response to the Oct. 7 rampage by Hamas, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Palestinian health authorities that the U.N. deems credible say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed and thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble. The U.N. says as many as 80% of the population may have been driven from their homes.

"Gaza's health system has been crippled by the ongoing hostilities," Dr Richard Peeperkorn, the World Health Organisation's representative in Gaza, said.

"It cannot afford to lose any more hospitals or hospital beds," he told reporters by video link. "We are extremely concerned about the resumption of violence."

Rob Holden, a WHO senior emergency officer, told the same briefing that he had visited Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Friday morning.

"The only way to describe it is like a horror movie when you walk in there," he said, adding that there were "patients on the floor with the most traumatic injuries that you can imagine".

Humanitarian officials say fuel is critically needed to keep hospitals functioning and the U.N. on Friday described the hostilities as "catastrophic".

After Israel resumed its military campaign on Friday, the entry of aid and fuel trucks for Gaza at Egypt's Rafah crossing halted. The quantity of aid delivered had increased during the truce, though aid officials said it was still far less than what was needed.

(Reporting by Arafat Barbakh and Mohammed Salem; additional reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Geneva; writing by Maggie Fick; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Gen Z is the first generation to grow up totally online. However, growing up with influencer parents has its issues, especially when it comes to monetized content. In this episode of ITK: Behind the Screens, our host, Niamh Adkins (@niamhadkins), looks into how people advocate for new standards for children on social media.

To better understand this topic, Niamh chats with Chris McCarty, the student founder and executive director of Quit Clicking Kids (@quit_clicking_kids), which is now making waves as an advocate for childrens privacy online.

What does Quit Clicking Kids do?

Chris: Quit Clicking Kids is an advocacy and legislative organization. I founded Quit Clicking Kids first and foremost to raise awareness about the issue of children who are monetized online. The second was pushing for legislative change to protect children who are monetized in this way.

What legislative efforts has Quit Clicking Kids taken?

Chris: I helped craft a bill in Washington State, and that bill didnt pass, but it was the framework for a later bill in Illinois, and now other states are also looking to adapt that bill into their state legislature. The changes that the bills Ive helped craft are introducing, number one, privacy protections for children who are consistently featured on these monetized channels, and the second is an avenue towards financial compensation for these children. To be regulated through this legislation, you have to meet two thresholds  one for the degree of monetization of your channel, and the second for the frequency of sharing your children on that channel.

What are the biggest impacts of being extensively documented online as a child?

Chris: The biggest impact is just that this is a digital footprint thats going to potentially follow around a child forever. I think theres a really common misconception that a child is never going to rewatch old videos of them, theyre never going to scroll down into the comment section and see what people are saying about them. And I think theres also a misconception that someday, when this child is an adult and has their autonomy, and theyre applying for jobs, that this is not something that their boss is going to find on a quick Google search of them. Theres this whole trail of digital information that is going to follow people around, potentially forever.

A lot of viewers of family vlogging accounts do form really strong attachments to the children who are featured there, to the point where they feel they can request specific content featuring the children, which is very weird because theyre not actors. This is their real self. Oftentimes, that attachment extends far enough that it prompts parents to stop sharing their childrens faces, which I think is a really promising development.

Watch the latest installment of ITK: Behind the Screens to hear more of Niamhs conversation with Chris.

In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News  follow us here!

The post Gen Z activist Chris McCarty is on a mission to advocate for the children of influencers appeared first on In The Know.

More from In The Know:

16 of the best puffer coats to shop this winter

The 4 best insulated tumblers that wont spill while youre running to class

11 tasty food gifts for Christmas you can send your friends and family this holiday season

You can get great gifts for $25 or less on the T.J.Maxx website
With Atlanta-bred hustle and an emphasis on relationships, Thabiti Stephens landed a leading role at Steve Harvey Global.

Generation Next is a four-part series hosted by Will Toms on theGrio, highlighting influential young leaders in entertainment, sports, and music.

For our third episode of theGrios new series, Generation Next, entrepreneur and moderator Will Toms sat down with the chief strategy officer/international business director for Steve Harvey Global and founder of Stephens Group, Thabiti Stephens.

Stephens entrepreneurial journey dates back to his childhood in Atlanta. Surrounded by many Black-owned businesses, he was fascinated by the hustle from a young age, motivated to make a name for himself.

Atlanta instilled a level of confidence that made him feel like he could do anything, and Stephens ambition continued to grow as he took on as many internship opportunities as time allowed. From each opportunity, he gleaned more insight into what it took to succeed in the world of business.

I interned at a Black-owned art shop, so I learned to value art depreciation. I interned at the Black-owned bakery across the street, where I learned [about] cost and food savings. I interned at the Black-owned consignment shop next door. Then, I interned at the white-owned attorney firm, where I was allowed to read all their documents and agreements. During these types of internships, I was picking up different little traits about business. Stephens reminisces.

His mentality was, If they can do it, I can do it  I was really inspired by seeing people do amazing things.

The day he graduated from high school, Stephens took all the money he had earned interning and started his own sneaker manufacturing and distribution company, Steps by Stephens. Even as a teenager, Stephens knew the value of investing in both his business and himself.

While attending Morehouse College, Stephens became best friends with Broderick Harvey, Steve Harveys son. The two forged a sincere friendship built on a foundation of shared interests, morals, and ethics. When asked if Harveys celebrity background played a role in their relationship, Stephens confidently responds, I wasnt his friend because Steve Harveys his dad  relationships are worth way more than money.

Thabiti Stephens. (Photo: theGrio)

Stephens business relationship with Steve Harvey blossomed at one of the comedians SHMP (Steve Harvey Mentoring Program) camps. SHMP strives to teach the principles of manhood and help young men realize their potential for a robust and productive future. Stephens helped Broderick work the event, soon building a reputation for being a hard worker. Steve Harvey took a liking to the driven young entrepreneur and soon after asked Stephens to be his executive assistant, sparking his interest in research and development. Seeing Stephens ambition, Harvey promised the opportunity for upward mobility for as long as they worked together.

For his first eight months of work, Stephens sacrificed a salary to work for free, ultimately believing that the experience of working around Harvey and his exceptional team was valuable in itself. By the time Stephens turned 22, Harvey had hired him full-time, offering him a promotion to co-chief of staff at Steve Harvey Global Media.

Throughout that first year, Stephens helped produce 200 episodes of Family Feud and over 30 episodes of Judge Steve Harvey. He also assists with Harveys radio show, which airs 225 days a year. If that doesnt sound like a busy enough schedule, Stephens also oversees Harveys 40 other subsidiary businesses worldwide. In running this global conglomerate, Stephens works hand in hand with Brandon Williams, COO of Steve Harvey Global.

With global development in mind, Harvey sent Stephens and Williams to spend almost five months between Africa and the Middle East, learning the intricacies of these new markets. The power duo secured the rights to Family Feud Africa, specifically Family Feud Ghana and Family Feud South Africa. When it debuted in 2020, it was the No. 1 show in both countries.

Stephens story personifies the Atlanta mentality that shaped him. He encourages young go-getters to be themselves, reiterating that every experience is a valuable learning experience if you are determined to make it one. Like Stephens admiration for the leaders he encountered growing up, he is now poised to be admired by Atlantas next generation and well beyond.

Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter.

The post Generation Next: Meet Steve Harveys right hand, Thabiti Stephens appeared first on TheGrio.
Gary

Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church: 2323 West 11th Ave.  A free wellness winter workshop will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church. The workshop will feature conversations, games, activities and prizes to promote mental health wellness throughout the community. To reserve a spot, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-winter-wellness-workshop-tickets-757551947267

Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd.  All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. on Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

Advertisement

Hobart

First Unitarian Church of Hobart: 497 Main St.  A Saturday morning meditation practice will be from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Dec. 9 at First Unitarian Church of Hobart with Empty Circle Zen Group, created as a working experiment open to all Sangha members and individuals new to meditation. For more information or to register to attend the event, visit https://www.meetup.com/https-www-emptycirclezen-com/events/bkjrzsyfcqbmb/

Merrillville

Living Hope Church: 9000 W. Taft St.  There will be a Holiday Pops concert with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra beginning at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 at Living Hope Church. A showing at 7:30 Dec. 9 will be at Valparaiso High School. The show will feature the symphony chorus, Jonathan Brown, vocalist and Just for Fun Ukelele Strummers. For more information, visit https://www.southshoreartsonline.org/regional-arts-calendar/2023/12/7/holiday-pops

Advertisement

Valparaiso

Christ Lutheran Church: 2619 Campbell St.  A Christmas Concert featuring the South Shore Brass Band will begin at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 at Christ Lutheran Church. The concert will conclude at 6 p.m. For more information, call 219-462-6660.

To submit an item for church briefs, email cnance@post-trib.com.
George Santos of New York is no longer a U.S. House of Representatives member as of Friday.

George Santos of New York is no longer a U.S. House of Representatives member as of Friday.

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) accused his now-former GOP colleague George Santos of stealing his and his mothers personal credit card information to make illegal contributions to his campaign  the latest shocking allegation leveled against the indicted ex-New York House member who was expelled from Congress Friday.

Late yesterday on the floor, I alluded to a personal impact of Rep. Santos conduct, Miller wrote in a letter to colleagues Friday morning. Earlier this year, I learned that the Santos campaign had charged my personal credit card  and the personal credit card of my mother  for contribution amounts that exceeded FEC limits. Neither my mother nor I approved these charges nor were aware of them. We have spent tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees in the resulting follow-up.

The letter also alleges that Miller has seen a list of 400 people whom Santos tried to scam through his campaign. I believe some other members of this conference might have had the same experience, he added.

Millers note to colleagues follows remarks he made on the House floor Thursday directed at Santos: You, sir, are a crook, Miller said to him.

Miller didnt get into specifics at the time but alluded to being one of Santos alleged targets. I myself have been a victim of George Santos, as well as other members of Congress, in terms of defrauding through public donations, receiving an ethics complaint from the [Federal Elections Commission], which I had to spend tens of thousands to defend myself, he said.

Santos office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Millers allegations. Millers office said the congressman has no further response on the matter and directed HuffPost to comments he made in January calling on Santos to resign.

Santos faced a vote Friday to boot him from the House a year into his brief, troubled term, during which it was revealed that Santos made up most of the resume he used to pitch voters on his candidacy. He has been indicted on charges related to bilking campaign donors and using campaign funds for personal expenses. Santos has not admitted to any wrongdoing and called the charges against him a witch hunt.

He resisted calls to resign or face expulsion despite the mounting evidence against him. But Congress reached an inflection point after a damning House ethics report last month accused Santos of spending campaign money on designer accessories and Botox.

Federal records show that Miller contributed thousands to Santos campaign in transactions from February and September 2022  apparently in excess of the legal limit and without having returned the overcharge. Millers mother, Barbara Miller of Ohio, also contributed generously to Santos campaign last year but was refunded some of what she gave to the campaign, per FEC records.

An FEC spokesman told HuffPost it could not confirm or deny the existence of a complaint against Miller until the matter has been resolved.

Rep. Max Miller accused Santos of stealing his credit card info.

Rep. Max Miller accused Santos of stealing his credit card info.

Miller, one of only two Jewish Republicans in Congress, was one of the first members of his party to call on Santos to resign in the wake of the discovery of his serial fabrications, which included lying about being Jewish and being related to Holocaust survivors.

It is not OK to fabricate or lie for political gain, Miller said in January. This is especially true when the lie seeks benefit from the murder of millions of Jewish people. I do not believe George Santos can effectively serve and should resign.

Related...
Rep. George Santos career in Congress may have been brief, but his colleagues in the House had no shortage of words about the New York Republican after voting to oust him on Friday over findings that he spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds for personal treats, including Botox, designer duds and spas.

Of course I voted to expel [Santos] from Congress. Hes a con artist and a fraudster and has no place in office, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Good riddance, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) wrote on the platform.

Goodbye George, Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) said in his salute to Santos, adding his expulsion was long overdue.

In a particularly colorful reaction, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) wrote on X: George Santos is a symptom of a disease festering within his party.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), meanwhile, likened Santos removal to getting a sideshow out of the way.

Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) said it was obvious to him that there was something deeply wrong with Santos.

[W]e need to stop putting taxpayer dollars into the pockets of a troubled man who needs to deal with his very serious problems outside the halls of Congress, Rose said.

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) takes a prime seat before President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in February. Shortly before the speech began, Santos was confronted by Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who said the freshman congressman should be

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) takes a prime seat before President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in February. Shortly before the speech began, Santos was confronted by Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who said the freshman congressman should be "embarrassed."

Even House members who opposed Santos ouster couldnt help but insult him in their statements Friday.

George Santos is an ass, Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said in her statement before saying the decision to remove him should have been in the hands of the courts and the people of NY-03, the district Santos was elected to represent last year.

Others who voted to oust Santos took the opportunity Friday to remind their constituents of all the things Santos spent thousands of dollars in campaign donations on, according to an unsparing report by the House Ethics Committee: Botox treatments; shopping sprees at luxury retailers Hermes and Ferragamo; payments on OnlyFans, a site known for its adult content; rent and Airbnbs.

He blatantly stole from his campaign to enrich himself, spending thousands of dollars on Botox, OnlyFans, and Hermes, among other things, Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) wrote as he slammed Santos on X.

George Santos misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign money, stole donor identities to fund his extravagant lifestyle, and has been indicted for fraud and financial crimes, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said.

Of all the terrible things that have been revealed, what is most upsetting is his blatant deception of his constituents and all of the harm that has come from it. That is a breach of trust and it is simply unacceptable, wrote Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.).

Others reminded their social media followers that Santos is accused of fabricating nearly his entire life biography, as Rep. Tom Kean (R-N.J.) put it Friday. Santos has admitted to embellishing parts of the resume he touted on the campaign trail.

The list of Santos alleged inventions about himself is nearly too long to enumerate. As HuffPosts Jennifer Bendery outlined Friday: Hes misled people about his name, his Jewish heritage, being a descendant of Holocaust survivors from Ukraine, his mother being in the Twin Towers during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and his mother being the first female executive at a major financial institution.

Though Santos had survived two previous attempts to oust him from Congress  a maneuver that requires a two-thirds vote in the House  the Ethics Committees report last month was apparently damning enough to flip a number of his one-time supporters. He was removed on a 311-114 vote.

To hell with this place, Santos told reporters following his expulsion.

Related...
George Santos (R-N.Y.) speaks to reporters after the vote to expel him from the House on Friday. (Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

Rep. George Santos, the New York Republican under felony indictment in connection with fraud, money laundering and other crimes, was expelled from the House on Friday, becoming only the sixth lawmaker ever forcibly removed from the chamber.

The vote is a dramatic bookend to his 10-month tenure in Washington. It followed allegations in the media and in a House Ethics Committee report that Santos had fabricated much of his biography, defrauded donors and spent campaign money to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, including Botox injections, personal travel and subscriptions on OnlyFans.

Two previous attempts to expel Santos failed after most Republicans and some Democrats expressed opposition to expelling a member who had not been convicted of a crime.

But the scathing 56-page House Ethics Committee report , which found overwhelming evidence of his misconduct, shifted votes away from the New York lawmaker.

Fridays vote was 311 to 114, with 105 Republicans joining nearly every Democrat in voting to expel Santos.

The California delegation, which had been deeply divided in previous attempts to oust the New Yorker, swung hard against him. Six California Republicans and seven Democrats, including Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine, a Senate candidate, shifted from opposing Santos expulsion or voting present just a few weeks ago to supporting his removal on Friday.

GOP Reps. David Valadao of Hanford, Michelle Steel of Seal Beach, Young Kim of Anaheim Hills, John Duarte of Modesto and Ken Calvert of Corona, who all face competitive reelection contests next year, were among those who shifted from opposing Santos expulsion in November to supporting it on Friday.

Democrats Robert Scott of Virginia and Nikema Williams of Georgia voted against Santos expulsion on Friday, as did 112 Republicans, including Californians Darrell Issa of Bonsall, Tom McClintock of Elk Grove and Doug LaMalfa of Richvale.

Former GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield did not vote. Democrats Al Green of Texas and Jonathan Jackson of Illinois voted present.

Santos has denied wrongdoing, and attributed his removal to colleagues petty beefs. He said he was not given due process since he had not been convicted of the charges against him.

Read more: House Vote Expels Felon Traficant

House Republican leaders declined to urge their colleagues to vote for or against Santos removal. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) allowed Republicans to vote their conscience, but said he was concerned about setting a modern-day precedent by expelling a member who had not been convicted of a federal crime.

Johnson voted against expelling Santos, as did other Republican leaders including Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York.

Expulsions, which require a two-thirds majority to succeed, are rare. During the Civil War, three House members were removed for supporting the Confederacy.

Two others were expelled after being convicted ofcorruption charges: Democratic Reps. Michael J. Ozzie Myers of Pennsylvania in 1980 and James A. Traficant Jr. of Ohio in 2002.

Santos removal weakens Republicans hold over the House, leaving the party with just a 7-vote advantage. A special election to fill Santos seat is expected next year.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) in February led the first effort to oust Santos after allegations of fabrications came to light. The measure, which eventually prompted a formal investigation by the House Ethics Committee, failed to gain enough support from the GOP to reach the needed two-thirds majority.

The second effort to remove Santos came last month from Rep. Anthony DEsposito (R-N.Y.), whose resolution attracted 213 votes, still short of a two-thirds majority.

The 31 Democrats who voted against Santos removal in November included Californias Porter, Mark Takano of Riverside and Zoe Lofgren of San Jose. Democratic Reps. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, Ami Bera of Elk Grove, Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles and Brad Sherman of Northridge voted present. Two Californians  Mike Garcia and Kevin Kiley  were among the 24 Republicans who supported the earlier attempt to oust Santos.

Lofgren said she found Santos behavior to be disgraceful, but voted against expelling him in the second vote because the ethics probe wasnt concluded.

Democrats have chided the GOP for slow-walking accountability for Santos.

Robert Garcia, in an Wednesday interview with The Times, touted his maneuver earlier this week to force House Republicans to move quickly on Santos this week. Garcia and much of the chamber had pushed Santos to avoid an embarrassing floor vote and resign, but Santos refused.

He could do the country and his constituents a service if he just resigned, Garcia said before the final expulsion vote. A person that fabricates their entire life story and gets elected on a lie should not be in Congress.

Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NEW YORK - In an historic move, George Santos was thrown out of Congress Friday.

The House voted 311 to 114 to expel him, far surpassing the two-thirds majority required under the Constitution. Santos had survived two previous votes attempting to expel him. The first two efforts happened after he was indicted by the Justice Department in May, and then charged again with a superseding indictment in October.

Friday's vote happened after the release of a scathing report by the House Ethics Committee.

Santos had said he expected Friday's vote to pass, and he would be thrown out.

Santos has been expelled, what happens next?

Now that Santos has been expelled, it triggers a special election to replace him in New York's 3rd Congressional District.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has 10 days to set the date for a special election, which would then be held about six weeks later.

"I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York's 3rd District," the governor posted on social media after the vote. "The people of Long Island deserve nothing less."

"When you look at his lack of ethics, and the fact that he has not served the people of our state - particularly New York 3, where he resides - it has been an abysmal run for him, and he has not done what he had to do for New Yorkers, and I'm glad he's gone," Hochul said. "George Santos just took up space."

Democrats and Republicans would each pick a candidate to go head-to-head in what's expected to be a hotly contested election, with national implications.

Related story: Hermes, Botox and an Atlantic City trip: How Rep. George Santos allegedly spent some of his campaign funds

The special election has to happen within 70 days. There will be no primary.

That means the 3rd Congressional District seat will remain vacant for at least two months because the governor has no power to appoint somebody to a Congressional seat.

So who might run to replace Santos?

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is pushing for former Rep. Tom Suozzi, CBS New York's Marcia Kramer reported, because he was a member of Congress and Democrats believe Suozzi's name recognition will help him in a head-to-head race.

"In the Republican side, it's a little more complicated. But I'm told that the Nassau County Republican Chairman Joe Cairo actually gave a wave-by to the Republicans from Long Island to try to get rid of Santos, because he thinks that the district being redrawn gives the Republicans a good chance of holding the seat," Kramer said.

One GOP name that has emerged: Former St. Sen. Jack Martins who Kramer described as "well-known" and "well-liked."

"He has been reticent, but it could be that they could impose on him to run in a special election, and then in a general election there would be a lot of other people," Kramer said.

What about the importance of this special election?

"There's this really, really tight margin in the House now between the Republicans and Democrats. In New York, there's clearly going to be a redistricting that's going to be ordered by the state court of appeals. The Republicans are worried about holding six Republican seats, and they needed to get rid of him in order to not have that hanging over them when they're running for reelection," Kramer said.

Former Rep. Steve Israel said he does not expect the redistricted line will be drawn in time for the special election, but will get done by the general.

"So not only do we not have a congressman in New York 3, and not only do we not have candidates in New York 3, we don't even know what New York 3 will look like in the long term," Israel said.

Why did Santos face expulsion?

Santos faced scrutiny after winning in the 2022 midterm elections when media outlets uncovered a series of lies he told about his background.

In May, the Justice Department announced 13 federal charges against him. Those charges included wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress.

In the May indictment, prosecutors claimed Santos induced campaign donors to contribute to a limited liability company and then he used that money for his personal expenses. Some of the items he allegedly spent the money on include designer clothing, and payments on his credit card and car. Santos also allegedly applied for unemployment insurance during the pandemic, even though he earned $120,000 from an investment firm. Prosecutors also said Santos misled Congress on disclosure statements related to his congressional campaign.

In October, Santos was charged with 10 more counts, including wire fraud, making false statements to the FEC, falsifying records, and identity theft, among other charges.

Santos has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. He's expected to face trial in September.

While Santos survived expulsion votes after the charges were announced, Friday's vote comes on the heels of the House Ethics Committee report, which said it found "substantial evidence" of Santos using campaign money for personal expenses.

Santos told Kramer he thinks he got hooked up with what he calls some "bad people" and his next step is to try to rehabilitate his image and try to atone for the things that have happened.

"I got the feeling that there was a part of him that felt that it wasn't such a bad thing to go down in history as the sixth person to be expelled because he would be in the history books," Kramer said.

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
The News

George Santos, the embattled New York Republican who is accused of largely fabricating his resume and engaging in illegal campaign finance activity, has been expelled from the House following a damning ethics probe.

House members voted 314 to 114 to boot Santos, with two Democrats voting present. He becomes only the sixth lawmaker to be expelled from the House of Representatives since the U.S. was founded. Three of those were booted for supporting the Confederate rebellion at the onset of the Civil War, and two others were removed for allegations of bribery.

The Ethics Committees investigation revealed extensive misuse of campaign funds, with Santos allegedly spending donor contributions on things like botox procedures and an OnlyFans subscription.

The panels report was released after Santos was separately indicted on new federal charges in October  including conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts, while his former campaign treasurer pleaded guilty and admitted to much of the conduct.

Prosecutors allege that Santos inflated his 2022 campaigns fundraising numbers in an effort to qualify his campaign for financial support from Republican Party leaders.

The 35-year-old congressman previously told Semafor he would not seek re-election in 2024.

Know More

Santos was thrust into the national spotlight after a New York Times investigation found that he had allegedly made repeated false claims about his personal, professional, and financial background.

Republicans initially resisted calls to force Santos out, but the tide against the congressman began turning as more details emerged about years of deception and other potential fraud cases. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that his Republican colleagues should wait for the ethics probe before discussing expulsion. However, Santos survived an expulsion vote earlier this month that was pushed by New York Republicans, after most Republicans and 31 Democrats decided to withhold punishment until after the House investigation concluded.

As lawmakers debated Santos expulsion on Thursday, some of his Republican colleagues chose not to mince their words. Ohio Rep. Mike Miller called Santos a crook. But some defended him saying the allegations against Santos were not as serious as those against Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who faces federal corruption charges.

Whatever Mr. Santos did with Botox or Only Fans is far less concerning to me than the indictment against Sen. Menendez, who was holding gold bars inscribed with Arabic on them, said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

While Republicans framed the resolution as a vote of conscience, House Speaker Mike Johnson notably voted against expulsion, saying he had real reservations as Santos had not yet been convicted of a crime.

Other staunch conservatives also voted against the resolution, like Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan who said the issue is between him and the voters.

Rep. John Duarte, R-Ca., told Semafor that he personally liked Santos because you cant be around Santos and not be having fun, but he ultimately voted in favor of expulsion because the findings were so overwhelming.

Now What?

Multiple candidates  both Republican and Democrat  are vying for Santos seat, considered crucial for Democrats to regain control of the House next year.

Republicans expect a tough race in the moderate district that Joe Biden won by 10 points in 2020, but the recent migrant crisis in New York could weigh on Democrats chances.

Mike Smith, president of the Democrat-aligned House Majority Political Action Committee, said they would play a significant role in the upcoming special election to flip the seat blue, adding that the districts voters would now have the opportunity to elect a representative who will serve with integrity and prioritize their communities.
Embattled New York Rep. George Santos was expelled from the House on Friday in a historic vote following a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged fraud perpetrated by his campaign after months of scandals around the freshman Republican lawmaker.

Following the release of the ethics report last month, Santos, 35, said he would not seek reelection to the Long Island-area seat he won in 2022. The congressman, however, said he would not resign because if he did, the bullies would win.

I will not stand by quietly, Santos said on the House floor Thursday. The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, theyre going to have to go silence those people and take the hard vote.

There were 311 votes to remove Santos, with 114 voting against and two voting present. Santos grabbed his coat and left the floor before the vote had concluded. One hundred and five Republicans voted to boot Santos, and 112 voted for him to remain. Reps. Bobby Scott of Virginia and Nikema Williams of Georgia were the only two Democrats to vote against expelling Santos.

When asked for his reaction following the result, Santos said, Its over. What reaction? Asked if he would use his privileges as a former congressman to visit the House floor in the future, he replied, To hell with this place.

Rep. George Santos walks to a series of votes, including a vote to expel him from the House of Representatives, on Friday. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

There were reports Friday morning that Santos might survive, but in a letter to his colleagues, Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller claimed that Santos had defrauded both Miller and his mother by charging campaign contributions to their personal credit cards. Rep. David Joyce told CNN that Millers message resulted in some GOP members voting against Santos.

Santos survived one expulsion attempt last month, as an effort pushed forth by other New York Republicans fell short, with some legislators expressing concern about setting a precedent of removing a colleague from office before theyve been formally convicted of a crime. However, a number of votes were expected to flip against him after the congressional report found he had spent campaign money on things like Botox, luxury shopping and the adult content website OnlyFans.

Following the vote, Santoss seat will be immediately vacated and the already slim Republican majority under House Speaker Mike Johnson will narrow further. A special election to fill his seat in the competitive district will likely happen within three months. Johnson and other members of GOP leadership, including Steve Scalise and Elise Stefanik, voted against the expulsion.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted to social media that she was "prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New Yorks 3rd District. The people of Long Island deserve nothing less, presumably a reference to formally scheduling the special election. Local party leaders will select the candidates, with former Rep. Tom Suozzi the reported favorite on the Democratic side.

Marcus Dunn, Santos's chief of staff, told reporters that there will be staff in the office to handle constituent services like passports and immigration. That personnel will report to the House clerk. Dunn added that someone will come by to take down Santoss name outside his former office.

Santoss short and scandalous history

2022 Republican candidate Santos talks to a voter while campaigning in Glen Cove, N.Y. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Before Santos was even sworn in, a steady stream of media reports began last December revealing that he had misled voters about nearly every aspect of his life during the campaign.

Included in the lies put forth by Santos are his religion (he said he was Jewish and his grandparents had escaped the Holocaust before saying he was Catholic but Jew-ish), his educational background (he lied about attending both New York University and Baruch College, saying he was a star volleyball player at the latter), his employment history (he said he worked at Goldman Sachs when he had not) and the death of his mother (Santos said she had died in the Sept. 11 attacks, but she died in 2016 and was not in the United States on 9/11). The North Shore Leader, a Long Island outlet, reported during the campaign that Santos had filed his disclosure 20 months late and with an inexplicable rise in his net worth to $11 million.

Santos has also been alleged to have stolen money from a GoFundMe that was meant to help the dying dog of a military service member and was accused of writing bad checks to dog breeders in Pennsylvania, charges that were eventually dropped. One job he actually did have was with Harbor City Capital, which has been accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission of operating a Ponzi scheme. Santos also said that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema told him to hang in there during the 2022 State of the Union address, which the Arizona senators office told Yahoo News was a lie.

Santos leaves federal court on May 10, in Central Islip, N.Y. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In May, Santos was charged with 13 counts that included wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and lying to the House of Representatives. Santos pleaded not guilty and called it a witch hunt.

In October, the Justice Department charged him with 23 counts tied to campaign fraud, putting forth allegations of stealing peoples identities and making charges on his own donors credit cards without their authorization, lying to the FEC and, by extension, the public about the financial state of his campaign. Santos falsely inflated the campaigns reported receipts with nonexistent loans and contributions that were either fabricated or stolen. That trial is set for next year.
Washington  The House on Friday voted to expel embattled Republican Rep. George Santos from Congress, bringing an end to a tumultuous tenure in Washington that was defined by scandal from the start.

In their third attempt to oust him since May, House lawmakers voted 311 to 114 in favor of the expulsion resolution, including 105 Republicans who voted for it. Two Democrats voted against expelling Santos. Two members voted present, and eight members did not vote. The resolution required a two-thirds majority to pass. Santos left the House chamber during the vote.

Who voted to expel George Santos? Here's the count on the House expulsion resolution

"The clerk will notify the governor of the state of New York of the action of the House," Speaker Mike Johnson announced from the House dais. "The chair announces that in light of the expulsion of the gentleman from New York, Mr. Santos, the whole number of the House is 434."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said on social media following the vote that she is prepared to "undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy" arising from Santos' removal, adding, "the people of Long Island deserve nothing less." Under state law, she has up to 10 days to call a special election for the seat, and it must be set for within 70 to 80 days from the governor's order.

By Friday afternoon, the locks on the doors to Santos' congressional office had been changed and his House website removed. A sign outside of his former office now reads "Office of the Third Congressional District of New York."

Dozens of Santos' colleagues were apparently swayed by a damning report from the House Ethics Committee released two weeks ago that found there was "substantial evidence" that Santos repeatedly broke the law. Santos brazenly embellished his biography to win his seat in Congress last year and now faces nearly two dozen federal charges related to alleged fraud and illegal use of campaign funds.

Rep. George Santos prior to a television interview on Capitol Hill on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. / Credit: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The bipartisan vote makes Santos just the sixth House member in U.S. history to be expelled and the first in more than 20 years. Rep. James Traficant was removed from office in 2002 after being convicted of 10 corruption-related felonies.

Ahead of Friday's vote, the House GOP leadership, including Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, said they opposed removing Santos. Johnson said earlier this week he has "reservations" about the precedent expelling Santos may set without a criminal conviction, but said members should vote their conscience.

The expulsion takes effect immediately, and narrows Republicans' already thin majority in the House.

Santos has said he would wear his expulsion "like a badge of honor."

"We live in times where political expedience is more important than process," he said last week. "Due process is dead. Due process has evaporated."

The allegations against Santos

Santos' surprise victory in the 2022 midterm elections helped Republicans capture control of the House, but he quickly became an embarrassment for the party when he was found to have fabricated or exaggerated large portions of his biography.

He also attracted the attention of federal investigators, who charged him with fraud, money laundering and other crimes in May. The scope of the case expanded in October, when he was hit with more charges accusing him of stealing his campaign donors' identities and racking up thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges on their credit cards, falsifying campaign finance reports, money laundering and more. He has pleaded not guilty to all 23 federal charges he now faces.

The Ethics Committee began its own investigation in the spring, and on Nov. 16 released a scathing 56-page report that detailed a broad array of alleged misconduct. According to investigators, Santos allegedly stole money from his campaign, reported fictitious loans, deceived donors and engaged in fraudulent business dealings.

The situation, the report said, "is unprecedented in many respects."

"While it is not uncommon for Committee investigations to involve multiple allegations and a pattern of misconduct, the sheer scope of the violations at issue here is highly unusual and damning," it said.

According to the report, Santos funneled large sums of money through his campaign and businesses to pay for his personal expenses. Investigators said he used the funds to pay for Botox injections and make purchases at high-end stores like Hermes and Ferragamo. They said he used campaign money to make payments on the adult website OnlyFans, and for meals, parking, travel and rent. He also allegedly diverted money to pay down his personal credit cards.

Santos "sustained all of this through a constant series of lies to his constituents, donors, and staff about his background and experience," the report said, adding that "his misrepresentations and lack of transparency have continued during his tenure in Congress."

Noting the slew of embellishments that Santos repeatedly made about his education, career, family history and even the death of his mother, investigators said his "own campaign staff viewed him as a 'fabulist,' whose penchant for telling lies was so concerning that he was encouraged to seek treatment."

Investigators also alleged Santos repeatedly ignored his staffers' warnings about issues with his campaign's bookkeeping. His campaign's ex-treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty in October to a scheme to embellish his campaign finance reports. While Santos has blamed Marks for the campaign finance violations, investigators said Santos "was aware of how she was reporting personal loans" and "he was actively involved in the campaign's day-to-day finances."

The effort to expel Santos

The third attempt to expel Santos came just weeks after he survived a second effort to oust him from Congress.

In May, Santos withstood his first expulsion attempt, when Democrats sought to remove him from Congress after he was first charged. Republicans blocked that effort and instead referred the matter to the Ethics Committee.

Five GOP lawmakers from the Empire State  all facing competitive races next year  renewed the effort to expel him in October after he was hit with more charges, calling it a "moral" issue that transcended short-term political considerations. But the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed under the Constitution to oust a member, since most Republicans and 31 Democrats withheld support for punishing him while the Ethics Committee investigation and his criminal trial proceeded.

The release of the Ethics Committee report opened the floodgates for lawmakers to embrace expelling Santos. Republican Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi, the chairman of the Ethics Committee, introduced a resolution to oust him before lawmakers left Washington for Thanksgiving. Once the House returned, Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California, introduced a separate resolution as "privileged," meaning the House would be required to vote on it within two days.

"This forces a vote this week," Garcia told reporters Tuesday, saying he had doubts that Republicans would actually move forward with a vote on Guest's resolution.

But Republicans did move forward. GOP Rep. Anthony D'Esposito of New York brought up Guest's resolution as privileged, and a vote was scheduled for Friday.

"This is bullying," Santos said Thursday of Guest's measure.

Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the Ethics Committee, said later Thursday that Santos "is not a victim."

"He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people," she said.

Santos had long rebuffed calls to resign. Doing so before the vote, he said, would amount to him admitting to the allegations detailed in the Ethics Committee's report while also giving his colleagues an out.

"I hear a lot the line, 'I encourage Rep. Santos to resign. Do the right thing, which is resign.' What I hear is people don't want to take this vote," Santos said Thursday.

One day after the report's release, he said he would not run for reelection in 2024 after all.

His criminal trial is set to begin Sept. 9.

Judge sides with Daryl Hall in legal battle with former musical partner John Oates

Iconic chocolate brand linked to child labor in Ghana

Rock legends KISS to hold final concert Saturday
George Santos has, finally, been kicked out of the House of Representatives.

The New York congressman  who repeatedly refused to resign in the face of his many scandals, including a federal criminal indictment  announced last month that he would no longer seek reelection in 2024 following the release of a damning House Ethics Committee report that found substantial evidence he had committed crimes.

The final vote to expel Santos was 311-114. Two-thirds of the House needed to vote in favor of the resolution for it to pass.

U.S. House Votes to Expel George Santos, 311-114. pic.twitter.com/WQaq64Xrts  CSPAN (@cspan) December 1, 2023

Santos was immediately relieved of his position as a member of Congress, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is required to initiate procedures to hold a special election in the states third congressional district in the coming days. Santos is the sixth House Representative in the history of the chamber to be stripped of his office, and the first since Ohio Democrat James Traficant was ousted from Congress in 2002 following a conviction on federal corruption charges.

Pressure had been intensifying for weeks to remove Santos from Congress, with some Republicans leveling a last-minute push to secure his resignation and avoid a floor vote on his future. Santos told reporters on Tuesday that it was time for his colleagues to put up or shut up.

They want me to resign because they dont want to take this tough vote that sets the precedent to their own demise in the future because theyre not immune to all the nonsense that goes on in Washington, Santos added.

Santos held a press conference on Thursday, during which he referred to the efforts to oust him as bullying and reaffirmed his refusal to voluntarily step down from office. He blasted the Ethics Committee, accusing them of putting out a slanderous report against him. Later that afternoon, Santos addressed the impending vote in a speech on the House floor. Every member expelled in [the] history of this institution has been convicted of crimes or Confederate turncoats, guilty of treason, he argued. Neither of those apply to me, but here we are.

This was the Houses third attempt at removing Santos since the Ethics Committee announced their investigation in March. The initial probe by the committee was spurred by an avalanche of reports regarding the many lies Santos told the public about himself and his financial history. Santos made exaggerated claims and shared outright lies about virtually every aspect of his background, including his education, religion, the death of his mother, his campaign funding, and his history of employment.

During the course of the Houses investigation, Santos was indicted and arrested in May on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress. Democrats subsequently moved to expel him from the chamber. The proposed resolution was punted by Republicans, who argued it was best to wait until the committee had released its final conclusions. In November, a second failed attempt to remove Santos was brought forth by New York Republicans after additional charges, including identity theft and credit card fraud, were brought against the congressman.

The two failed efforts to remove Santos speak to how House Republicans are willing to overlook clear ethics violations to preserve the razor-thin majority they have in the House, and Democrats have noticed. Do you think for a minute if Republicans had a 25-seat majority, they would care about George Santos vote? Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said on Wednesday. They needed him to vote for Speaker McCarthy. They needed him to vote for Speaker Johnson. Thats the only reason why hes still a member of Congress.

The Ethics Committee declined to recommend specific consequences against Santos along with its report, but Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) personally submitted the resolution for his expulsion. Guest wrote in a statement on Nov. 17 that the evidence uncovered in the Ethics Committees Investigative Subcommittee investigation is more than sufficient to warrant punishment and the most appropriate punishment is expulsion.

The bipartisan committee found substantial evidence of potential violations of federal criminal law by the Republican congressman, concluding that Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with RedStone Strategies LLC; and engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House.

The committee also found that Santos had used campaign funds at Hermes, OnlyFans, and Sephora, as well as for meals, parking, Botox, a luxury vacation in the Hamptons, honeymoon expenses, spa treatments, and to pay off his credit card bills.

In the days leading up to Fridays vote, Republican leadership continued to duck a commitment to leveling consequences against Santos. On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated in a press conference that he had real reservations about expelling Santos, and confirmed that he would oppose the resolution on Friday morning. Johnson claimed that many in his party felt it was important for the criminal charges against Santos to be resolved and the rule of law upheld before the penalty of expulsion is exacted against the New York congressman.

By contrast, Republican Congressman Max Miller (R-Ohio) sent an email to House Republicans on Friday revealing that he personally had been affected by Santos misconduct. The Santos campaign had charged my personal credit card  and the personal card of my Mother  for contribution amounts that exceeded FEC limits, Miller wrote. Ive seen a list of roughly 400 other people to whom the Santos campaign allegedly did this. I believe some other members of this conference might have had the same experience.

Miller added that while he understands the position of those who will vote against the expulsion resolution, my personal experience related to the allegations and findings of the Ethics Committee compels me to vote for the resolution.

On Monday, Santos wrote on X that he had a positive conversation with Johnson and dared his colleagues to Expel me and set the precedent so we can see who the judge, jury, and executioners in Congress are. The American people deserve to know!

Santos is now out of a job. When asked on Wednesday if he would do it all over again, Santos responded that its been one year from hell, but I would do a few things differently.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Animal care manager Jessica Daker, left, and animal care assistant Haven Dutro of Humane Indiana Wildlife carry a container holding a sandhill crane at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune)

Anyone expecting sweeping, dramatic music as a rescued sandhill crane left its crate Wednesday at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area and soared into the crystal clear sky to join its tribe was sorely disappointed.

The crane, rehabbed for the past six months since it was a two-week-old colt at Humane Indianas Wildlife Center outside of Valparaiso, never got that version of the script.

Advertisement

The crane, identified by the centers staff as male, wandered several yards before plopping down in the grass, its almost newfound friends about 150 yards away at the wildlife area in Medaryville. There was a wing stretch, perhaps a flex to show off its feathers, but it settled back down in the grass.

Animal care manager Jessica Daker of Humane Indiana Wildlife opens a container holding a sandhill crane at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune)

In my head, I had this beautiful (scene) with the music playing with the release, said Nicole Harmon, the wildlife centers executive director. You never know how it will go.

Advertisement

The cranes rescue and recovery, and that of another now destined for the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington, D.C., because a damaged wing means it cant fly, are no less dramatic, even if its release was anything but that.

The cranes release at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, where the cranes swarm this time of year, particularly at dawn and dusk, as they migrate for the winter, is, as far as Harmon knows, the first time a sandhill crane raised in captivity has been released into the wild in the state of Indiana.

As of Tuesday, 32,938 sandhill cranes have made their way to the fish and wildlife area, according to figures updated each week by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, which tracks the number from early October through the third week in December.

Sandhill cranes, said Brad Bumgardner, executive director of Indiana Audubon and the former head naturalist at Indiana Dunes State Park, make a short-distance migration this time of year and northern Indiana serves as a funnel of sorts as the birds fly south.

They come from wetlands in North Dakota, Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin through this area. Sometimes, they winter from here south to Kentucky, if the weather is mild enough. In colder years, the cranes move things south, staying in southern Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.

The wintering really is dependent on weather, Bumgardner said, adding the cranes head back north once wetlands begin to thaw and southern winds pick up, usually in March or April, or February if the winter is mild.

Theyre riding on those thermals right as those wetlands are thawing, he added.

A sandhill crane emerges from a holding container to join others of his species at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune)

He supported Harmons contention that the cranes release was a first for the state, given that the wildlife center takes in 2,000 animals of all sorts each year, and that the breeding ground for the birds is only in the northern part of the state.

Advertisement

Shes probably right, he said.

The colt arrived at the wildlife center on May 15. It was out in a field in North Judson with its parents near a residential area when a dog rushed up to the birds.

The mom and dad spooked and flew away, and the dog grabbed the colt and took it back to its owners, Harmon said. Thankfully, this family reached out to one of our volunteers who is in LaPorte County.

The dog didnt injure the colt but its parents were gone, leaving it an orphan, so the wildlife center took it in.

Sandhill cranes, even at a young age, feed themselves, so the colt had to forage for food in a special mat and drink from a pan of water in an attempt to replicate its natural environment as much as possible.

We do not want our wildlife to associate people with food. I cannot become Mom, Harmon said.

Advertisement

A newly-released sandhill crane explores the area at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune)

Still, the colt cried incessantly because it was lonely. Bumgardner happened to be at the center one day and told Harmon the state park had a taxidermied sandhill crane in storage that the center could borrow.

As soon as we put the taxidermied mom in there, he stopped crying, Harmon said, adding the faux mom arrived in the colts cage two weeks after it arrived and stayed with the young bird for four months. When he was old enough to go outside, Mom moved with him.

The Friends of the Indiana Dunes paid to have the crane taxidermied, Bumgardner said, one of three stuffed sandhill cranes around. Another is at Jasper-Pulaski and the third is at Pokagon State Park, which also sees migrating cranes.

The taxidermied cranes, Bumgardner said, are used for educational programs, research and even as models for art workshops, and are not intended to serve as surrogate parents for orphaned sandhill cranes.

Its kind of awesome that it was able to be used for that purpose, too, he said, adding the taxidermied cranes allow the animals to live on and to be looked at in ways they couldnt otherwise.

After six months in captivity, the colt is still in its immature stage until it can breed, likely next year.

Advertisement

Its a young immature bird going through his first winter and hopefully will be an adult next year, Bumgardner said.

A newly-released sandhill crane explores the fileds near thousands others of its kind at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune)

Soon enough, the crane was ready to spread its wings, literally and figuratively. It shied away from humans, Harmon said, had all its feathers come in and had proven it could fly in the centers flight cage.

The crane also was boring into rocks for insects.

Hes now foraging beyond what were providing as far as food goes, Harmon said a couple of days before the cranes scheduled release.

The anticipation, at least then, was that as soon as the crane saw and heard other sandhill cranes, it would join them.

We hope to never see him again, Harmon said.

Advertisement

The colt had some contact with other sandhill cranes before its slow but eventual release into the wild. The birds often fly over the center, Harmon said, and the colt would call back to them. And in addition to its taxidermied mom, the colt had another sandhill crane to hang out with for about six weeks before its release.

That crane is destined for the National Zoo. Also believed to be male, it arrived at the wildlife center in late October from Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators outside of Bloomington. The crane was there five years, Harmon said, and the folks at the rehab center sent it to the wildlife center to see how it would do in the centers flight cage because they heard there was another sandhill crane there.

The crane, Harmon said, cant fly because of a malformation in one of the long bones in one of its wings.

When you cannot fly, we cannot release you, she said, adding a veterinarian confirmed the crane will never fly because one wing is 10% shorter than the other, likely the result of being hit by a car.

A former zookeeper, Harmon reached out to zoos in Detroit and Maryland, as well as the National Zoo, to find a placement for the injured sandhill crane. The National Zoo reached back out immediately; once the crane is there, it will be housed with two other sandhill cranes in a building and exhibit area that were renovated in March.

Its transit to Washington is pending. The sandhill crane must undergo a complete physical evaluation and volunteers are constructing a wooden pen so the bird can travel upright. The birds transfer paperwork has been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the crane will have to spend some time in quarantine when it arrives at the National Zoo.

Advertisement

Once everything falls into place, probably in the next couple of weeks, two representatives from the wildlife center will make the 10-hour drive to Washington to deliver the crane to its new home.

I dont know that I could have asked for a better outcome for it, Harmon said.

Sandhill cranes gather at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard/Post-Tribune)

The wildlife center has rehabbed and released at least six sandhill cranes, Harmon said, but the others have been adult birds that have migrated before and, when they arrived at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, knew what they were supposed to do.

It just took the centers most recent release some time to figure things out, likely because the whole experience was so new.

The sandhill cranes gray and beige transit crate, similar to one for a large dog, was lined with blankets so the bird wouldnt get injured in transit and its feathers would remain intact.

You open the crate and sometimes you wait half an hour and then they take off, Harmon said of the usual routine, which the crane was doing its best to disrupt.

Advertisement

Even after the sandhill crane got comfy in the grass, Harmon was confident it would eventually join the crowd, though she and wildlife center staff said the bird also was likely a bit disoriented after its car ride, and perhaps overwhelmed by the whole scenario.

Hes within the general vicinity so I think hes just fine, she said.

Still, two wildlife center employees drove to a nearby county road to make sure the crane didnt stray the wrong way and into traffic, as light as it was. Eventually, they were able to get the crane back in the direction of the group and it took off to join the thousand or so other cranes nearby.

Cue the music.

alavalley@chicagotribune.com
The Republican congressman George Santos, who was expelled from Congress on Friday, still faces a sweeping federal indictment over his use of campaigns funds as well as other ethics questions that stem from his improbable, and indeed hard to believe, political career.

The walls started to crumble for him in mid-December last year when the New York Times challenged many aspects of Santoss supposed background  for one, that he is the embodiment of the American dream and had run for Congress to safeguard it for others.

What is particularly remarkable about Santos is his ability to dodge and evade whenever he is called out for factual inaccuracies.

Some choice examples:

Graduated from Baruch College

Claim: Santos, the son of Brazilian immigrants, and the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat as a non-incumbent, described himself as a New York public college graduate at Baruch. The college found no record of Santos as a student.

Santoss response: In an interview with the New York Post soon after the allegations surfaced, Santos confessed he hadnt graduated from from any institution of higher learning and had used a poor choice of words.

Held positions at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs

Claim: He said he became a seasoned Wall Street financier and investor, holding jobs at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. Citigroup and Goldman Sachs said they had no record of Santos ever working there.

Santoss response: He told the Post he had never worked directly for Goldman Sachs or Citigroup.

Landlord of 13 properties

Claim: Santos said he ran a family-owned portfolio of 13 properties. He asserted in an interview that his familys firm, the Devolder Organization, managed $80m in assets.

Santoss response: He acknowledged that, far from having an extensive property portfolio, he had been in debt to his landlord  a result of medical debt from his mothers cancer battle. Its the vulnerability of being human. I am not embarrassed by it.

Dog rescuer

Claim: He said he ran animal rescue charity, Friends of Pets United. There had been no dog charity, though he may have swindled a veteran over a pets medical bills and swindled off an Amish dog breeder with a bad check, according to Politico.

Santoss response: Santos told City & State that hed worked on the non-profit but never claimed to fly solo on the group. I was the guy picking up poop, cleaning, getting people, doing campaigns online, he said.

Lost employees in Pulse shooting

Claim: He said the Devolder organization had lost four employees at the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. But a check over the victims found that none of the 49 victims were connected to the company.

Santoss response: Santos backtracked, saying the four people had not worked for him directly. But we did have people who were being hired to work for the company at the time  but yes, we did lose four people who were going to be coming to work for the company.

Family escaped Nazis

Claim: Santoss campaign website said that his mother was Jewish and his grandparents escaped the Nazis during the second world war.

Santoss response: Santos later clarified that he was clearly Catholic, but claimed his grandmother told stories about being Jewish and later converting to Catholicism. I never claimed to be Jewish, Santos said. I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background, I said I was Jew-ish.

Former Disney actor

Claim: His Wikipedia biography said he landed roles on Disney Channel shows such as Hannah Montana. Politico noted that if Santoss Wikipedia entry, which contained the Hannah Montana claim, was not written by Santos  who was then posing as Anthony Devolder  it would mean it was written by someone posing as Santos.

Santoss response: Santoss communications director, Naysa Woomer, refused to respond.

A varied resume

Claim: He said he had been a Broadway producer who had helped produce Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, a 2011 rock musical; a journalist in Brazil; and the target of an assassination.

Santoss response: I am not a criminal, he told the New York Post. My sins here are embellishing my resume. Im sorry.

Niece was kidnapped

Claim: He said his five-year-old niece has been kidnapped from a playground by Chinese men, possibly from the Chinese government.

Santoss response: Look, I dont want to go into like, conspiracy theory, he told the Times. But you know, if the shoe fits, right?

Mother was at WTC on 9/11

Claim: He said his mother, Fatima Devolder, had been in the World Trade Center on September 11.

Santoss response: Despite immigration records showing she was not in the US at the time, he told One America News that the toxic dust that permeated throughout Manhattan and my mother being present [in] downtown Manhattan led to her death in 2016.

Drag queen in Rio

Claim: He initially denied being the drag queen Kitara Ravache at the Rio carnival in 2008.

Santoss response: He said: I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life.

Used campaign funds for Botox and OnlyFans

Claim: A congressional ethics committee said $50,000 in campaign funds had been used to pay for Botox treatments, pay down personal credit card bills and other debt; make a $4,127.80 purchase at Hermes; and for small purchases at Sephora and OnlyFans.

Santoss response: Santos told the Fox Business Network: Ill indulge you this, I just discovered what OnlyFans was three weeks ago, when it was brought up in a discussion in my office. I was oblivious to the whole concept.

Local paper broke scandal news

Claim: The North Shore Leader, a local newspaper on Long Island that covers Great Neck  a part of Santoss New York congressional district three, a wealthy area  began reporting on his alleged fraud in 2020, referring to him as George Scamtos. Editor Kim Tyndall said voters ignored or didnt avail themselves of the reporting.

Santoss response: I ran in 2020 for the same exact seat for Congress and I got away with it then, he told Piers Morgan, adding he didnt think he would get caught.

Lies would not deny him success

Claim: Whatever exagerations he had made, he said, the controversy would not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good.

Santoss response: After his fate was sealed on Friday, Santos stormed out of Congress and warned that the members had set a new dangerous precedent for themselves, adding to hell with this place.
A Georgia judge declined the motion to dismiss a charge against an ex-high-ranking prosecutor who had been indicted for holding up the investigation into the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.

Former Brunswick district attorney Jackie Johnson was previously charged with violating her oath of office and hindering a law enforcement investigation, to which she denied any wrongdoing.

Earlier this week, Superior Court judge John R. Turner struck down the motion, which was filed last year, and sought dismissal of the case, citing a lack of evidence, according to The Associated Press.

Former Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney Jackie Johnson was released on her own recognizance and did not have to pay bond after turning herself in to the Glynn County Jail. Photo: Glynn County Jail

Johnson was prosecutor at the time of Arberys death in February 2020. Two white men, identified as Gregory and Travis McMichael, chased Arbery in a pickup truck while he was jogging in the neighborhood, suspecting that he was behind a string of break-ins. Arbery, an unarmed Black man, was fatally shot by Travis. The duos neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, recorded the incident.

The McMichaels and Bryan were arrested and charged months later in May for Arberys murder. It came after a video of the killing started to circulate on social media, triggering national outrage. All of them were found guilty of state and federal offenses.

The incident happened the same year as other high-profile shootings against Black people, including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

In September 2021, Johnson was indicted after she was accused of using her position to shield the McMichaels following the shooting, more specifically telling officers not to arrest Travis, AP reported. His father, a retired investigator, was a former employee at her office. Johnson said she recused herself from the case due to the conflict of interest.

In responding court filings, prosecutors showed 16 calls from phones belonging to both Greg McMichael and Johnson after the deadly shooting, according to the report. Her affiliation to this case caused her to be voted out of office.



Arberys father, Marcus, has spoken out and criticized the slow progress of Johnsons case, as her last court hearing was last December, and she waived her appearance.

Jackie Johnson, you are not above the law, Arbery told Action News Jax. Youll come to justice.
TechCrunch

Honda is dunking on the "thick, heavy" electric vehicle trend in an attempt to build buzz around its upcoming 0 series EVs. At CES 2024, the automaker teased two concept vehicles, the Saloon and Space-Hub, and said the first commercial model in its 0 series EV lineup will launch in North America in 2026. Honda's first 0 series model is apparently "based on" the Saloon concept  a low-slung, roomy yet sporty EV that looks a little like a CGI set piece from a Blade Runner sequel.
A Gary man was sentenced to 19 years in the Indiana Department of Correction Friday after signing a plea deal for killing a neighbors friend.

Lamar Golston, 62, pleaded guilty in October to voluntary manslaughter. He faced 10-30 years. He said he would appeal.

Advertisement

Golston shot Curtis Burnside, 51, of the 1500 block of East 43rd Avenue, outside his home Sept. 8, 2022 in Garys Glen Park neighborhood.

Defense lawyer Kirk Marrie said Friday that Golston was provoked. Court records indicated there were ongoing issues between Golston and the neighbor.

Advertisement

The lawyer said Golston spent 20 years in prison for a 1983 military rape conviction, but after his release had a clean record until the shooting. He asked for a split prison term.

Any significant prison term could be a life sentence, Marrie said.

Burnside had only been staying there for three days and had no connection to the neighborhood, Deputy Prosecutor Jovanni Miramontes said. The plea was a compromise, because they couldnt find the two witnesses. That day, a spat was partly started by the neighbor, he said.

Burnside was unarmed and executed, he said. He asked for 20 years.

I understand there isnt anything I could say to ease the pain and suffering I caused, Golston said in court. The shooting just happened.

I still cant believe it happened myself, he said to Burnsides family. I am so sorry for your loss.

Judge Salvador Vasquez said they had to balance Golstons fate against the fact that someone died. A 30-year sentence was not appropriate.

Around 12:11 p.m., Gary police were sent to the 4100 block of Buchanan Street in reference to a person who suffered gunshot wounds, according to the news release.

Advertisement

Police went inside the residence and found Burnside, who had multiple gunshot wounds to his body and did not appear to be breathing, according to the release. The Gary Fire Department arrived on scene and checked his vital signs, the release stated.

Officers began to secure the crime scene and contacted the Lake County Crime Lab, the Lake County Coroners Office and the Gary/ Lake County Metro Homicide Unit, according to the news release.

Witnesses told police they were outside smoking when a neighbor and a man one witness didnt know  later identified as Golston, who lived on the block  asked for Burnside, who was inside sleeping. When Burnside came out, the talk turned into an argument before gunshots rang out. They had argued before, according to court documents.

Burnside came into the residence bleeding from gunshot wounds and collapsed on the floor, the release stated, and a dog was also grazed in left side behind its left front leg, according to a police news release.

mcolias@post-trib.com
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  With temperatures expected to begin dropping drastically, the residents at the Embrey Apartments in southwest OKC tell KFOR theyve been without heat for weeks, due to a gas leak.

In interviews Thursday with the station they said they have no idea when theyll get it back.

The gas has been turned off since the 2nd of November and we cant find out why, said Donald, a longtime resident.

CASTING CALL: Female first responder types needed for film

Its cold, its going to get colder. We could freeze and nobody cares, seems like, he added.

After weeks with no heat, Scott Parker, the property owner, sent a letter to the residents of the small apartment community saying the gas had been shut off until repairs were completed at the property:

I dont have no space heaters, I dont have nothing but an electric blanketand then to have to take a cold shower, Im almost 80 [years old], added Andrew, who said hes lived at the affordable living complex for about two years.

But, at the nearly all bills paid complex, rent is due  most, if not all, residents are on fixed incomes or theyre seniors.

Andrew said the $50/month discount the complex offered through April is not enough.

Paying It 4ward to an Oklahoma woman who crafts kindness

For the pain and suffering we went through last monthits really bad when you pay the rent and you dont have all the services[its like] youre stealing from me, he said.

Kelli Grabow owns the Home Care C-Pap Shop behind the apartment building, at 4401 S. Walker.

After befriending Andrew and hearing about the problems with the gas, she stepped in to help.

I called ONG and they confirmed  yes  it had been off, people had called several times, they were waiting on the owner to take care of things, she said in an interview with KFOR.

He came in today and we were like  lets maybe do something else, so we called you guys [KFOR].

In an early statement to the station, Embrey Apartments said they were working to get the problem resolved:

One of our tenants contacted ONG about a leak. ONG verified there was a leak and disconnected the meter. Unfortunately this could have and should have been handled without shutting off the gas, but now we have to meet ONGs pressure requirements before we can turn the gas back on. We believe we have narrowed the leak down to the underground line. We have been working to track down the leak this entire time. We have given the tenants a discount on future rent, and I will be providing them with electric heaters. This was avoidable and it is unfortunate that the gas was shut off. All of our focus is on getting the gas service back on as soon as possible. We understand our tenants frustration and we share their frustration. We will get the problem resolved. Embrey Apartments

In a series of follow up messages to the station via text, the property owner reiterated that the issue was out of their control:

Reporter: Can you clarify what you mean by avoidable? What would the preferred course of action have been? Not to contact ONG?

Embrey Apartments: As soon as possible. We are consistently working to find the leak. Once found and repaired and we can pass the pressure test, we will have the gas back on. The discount was simply spread over four months so that I did not take a large Financial hit all at once (by offering a greater one time discount) on top of the expense to make the repairs. My preferred course of action would have been to make the repairs while the gas was still on so that my tenants are not without heat.

Reporter: Im asking for clarity because you keep saying this was all preventable, but Im not sure what you mean, and you have not indicated what you mean by that. Please clarify.

Embrey Apartments: The vast majority of gas leaks are handled without the gas being shut off to the building. This should have been no different. I have answered your questions. Interview is over.

For the residents of the Embrey Apartments, the freezing temperatures rolling in are more than unfortunate.

I need a place that can be warm. I dont have no problems paying my rent [but] Im not going to pay my rent in the cold, said Andrew.

I just want the gas turned on or tell us why it cant be turned on, added Donald.

Doctors surprise Oklahoman with $50,000 new smile

Oklahoma Natural Gas says safety is their top priority, and they respond to every report of a potential gas leak:

At Oklahoma Natural Gas, safety is our top priority. While we cannot share information about a specific customer, our crews respond promptly to every report of a potential gas leak. If we find an issue with a customers piping or equipment, we inform the customer that repairs must be made before their service can be restored. In some cases, a city inspection is required before permanent service can safely be restored. We encourage all of our customers to make safety their priority. To report a natural gas odor or emergency, leave the area immediately and then call 911 and 800-458-4251. Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG)

According to attorney Ryan Owens, The Bethany Law Center, LLP, tenants should always deal with their landlord or leasing agent in writing in order to create a record of communication that protects the tenant.

Oklahoma is one of a few states that does not specifically prohibit landlord retaliation though there are protections in place under the Federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibit discrimination in housing based on certain protected categories, he said in an email to the station on Thursday.

Just because there is not a specific statute prohibiting retaliation does not mean a landlord can run roughshod over a tenant, he added.

Owens said, generally speaking, in a situation where the tenant suffers a loss of an essential service, like water, heat, gas or air conditioning, due to their landlords willful or negligent conduct, the tenant, upon giving written notice to the landlord specifying the problem, has four options:

1. Upon written notice, immediately terminate the rental agreement; or

2. Procure reasonable amounts of heat, hot water, running water, electric, gas or other essential service during the period of the landlords noncompliance and deduct their actual and reasonable cost from the rent; or

3. Recover damages based upon the diminution of the fair rental value of the dwelling unit; or

4. Upon written notice, procure reasonable substitute housing during the period of the landlords noncompliance, in which case the tenant is excused from paying rent for the period of the landlords noncompliance.

Source: Landlords Breach of Rental Agreement  Deductions from Rent for Repairs  Failure to Supply Heat, Water or Other Essential Services  Habitability of Dwelling Unit (oscn.net)

However, Owens said if a tenant finds themselves in a situation where they are dealing with a landlord refusing to make a repair to their home/apartment/unit and the problem can be corrected for an amount equal to or less than one months rent, then the tenant may give the landlord written notice of the tenants intention to fix the problem at the landlords expense no sooner than 14 days after delivering the written notice to the landlord.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A case involving a fatal crash that left two cyclists dead and 19 others injured was referred to the Goodyear Prosecution Office Thursday after the Maricopa County Attorney's Office determined there wasn't enough evidence to pursue a felony conviction.

On Feb. 23, 26-year-old Pedro Quintana-Lujan was arrested after his Ford F-250 collided with a group of cyclists who were traveling on South Cotton Lane, near the Gila River, in Goodyear.

The collision left two fatal victims: 61-year-old Karen Malisa of Goodyear, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and 65-year-old David Kero, who was visiting from Michigan and died at the hospital. The collision left 17 others with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.

Quintana-Lujan was booked on two counts of manslaughter, three counts of aggravated assault, 18 counts of endangerment and two counts of causing serious injury or death by a moving violation.

Days after his arrest, the County Attorney's Office sent the case back to Goodyear police for review. Rachel Mitchell said in a statement at the time that police needed "time to complete their investigation."

Back under the County Attorney's Office review, the office concluded that the evidence presented was not enough to pursue a felony conviction. Mitchell announced this result and her decision to refer the case in a statement released Thursday.

"The crash Quintana-Lujan caused was horrific," Mitchell said. "He took away lives and left so many more people badly injured and deeply traumatized... Yet, I am not willing to let this drop. I made the decision to refer the case to the Goodyear City Prosecutor so they may evaluate the case and make their own charging decisions.

The County Attorney's Office concluded Quintana-Lujan was not speeding, did not have alcohol in his system and did was not driving while distracted at the time of the crash.

The Goodyear Police Department expressed disappointment with the decision in a Thursday evening statement.

"We remain confident in our thorough investigation, and we believe the evidence, facts and circumstances meet the statutory elements for multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses... The Goodyear Police Department remains dedicated to this case and the individuals impacted," the statement read.

Original court documents in February state Quintana-Lujan told police that his steering was locked when his vehicle began drifting to the right and into the cyclists. He regained control over the vehicle after the crash and remained at the scene until first responders arrived.

He did have a small amount of THC in his system, but Arizona does not have a standard set for proving impairment by THC. The February court documents state Quintana-Lujan told police he had smoked marijuana with his wife the prior evening, roughly 11 hours before the incident.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Goodyear man avoids felony charges in fatal cyclist crash
The Scoop

Google has reached a $27 million settlement with employees who accused the tech giant of unfair labor practices, setting a record for the largest agreement of its kind, according to California state court documents that havent been previously reported.

The 2016 lawsuit was among the first glimpses of employee activism that swept through the tech industry over the past seven years. It stemmed from the termination of a worker at Google-owned Nest, who was fired for posting complaints about the companys management on Facebook.

In the years that followed, Google, Facebook, Netflix and others faced employee walkouts, whistleblowers, and public letters, which led to firings, town halls, and revamped policies as tech companies grappled with how to contend with increasingly vocal staff.

The Google case was filed under Californias Private Attorneys General Act, which permits individuals to sue on behalf of the government for alleged labor code violations. Most of the settlement, which is still subject to court approval, will go to the state, with around 100,000 Google employees getting around $20 to $70 each, depending on how long theyve worked at the company. (The purpose of PAGA is to punish the companies, rather than compensate employees.)

In terminating the employee, Google said the person had violated the companys data classification guidelines that prohibited staff from divulging confidential information.

In the complaint to the NLRB and in the lawsuit, the employee alleged that the companys data classification guidelines were too broad. California labor law requires corporate confidentiality policies to allow employees to speak about labor conditions. Google later revised the guidelines in 2017.

The settlement comes after a protracted legal fight led by lawyers from Baker Curtis & Schwartz and Outten & Golden.

Along the way, the case raised issues about employee surveillance and the over-use of attorney-client privilege to avoid legal scrutiny and accountability.

While we strongly believe in the legitimacy of our policies, after nearly eight years of litigation, Google decided that resolution of the matter, without any admission of wrongdoing, is in the best interest of everyone, a company spokesperson said.

Reeds view

The settlement is a reminder of how the world changed, and then changed again, over the last seven years.

When the complaint was first filed with the NLRB, I had been covering Nest closely and broke the news about the case. This was mind-blowing to me at the time, because not talking to reporters had been like a religion at tech companies. Yet this employee who had a coveted job at a major firm was arguing it was his right to speak to journalists.

The case marked a profound change in Silicon Valley culture. As certain tech firms grew into giants, their labor forces were changing. These werent startup employees willing to do anything for their employer. Many of them were just regular, white-collar workers and they expected to be treated that way.

Some in corporate America had already learned these lessons after waves of embarrassing HR debacles over the years. Tech companies, on the other hand, went from dorm-room startups to multinational behemoths seemingly overnight, but their work cultures moved slower than the pace of hiring.

This little-noticed NLRB case helped spark a major turning point in the industry. Other employees started to feel more emboldened and were beginning to speak up about work conditions. This coincided with another major turning point: The election of Donald Trump, which happened later that fall.

In early 2017, the atmosphere was ripe for Ubers Susan Fowler, who happened to represented by the same attorney in the Googel case, to spark a massive conversation about sexual harassment after her allegations of misconduct created an uproar there.

That summer, I published a story in The Information about seven female founders accusing a venture capitalist of sexually harassing them during conversations about funding. Three went on the record.

That story led to a flood of similar allegations of sexual harassment by other men in tech. That fall, I wrote about Google secretly firing Android founder Andy Rubin for alleged sexual misconduct and its chief legal officer having an affair and a child with one of his direct reports. Those stories led to walkouts at Google, which sparked a broader labor movement in tech.

This all reached a crescendo in the leadup to the 2020 presidential election. Employees were actively criticizing their companies on social media, leaking memos and recordings of all-hands meetings that rarely got out before. They were pressuring their companies to take a stand on seemingly every hot button political issue.

But after the election, the pendulum started swinging back the other way. The economic downturn took away some of the leverage employees had.

Part of this is a backlash to what many feel is a sense of entitlement that younger tech workers seem to have. Some employers have simply banned discussion of political issues in the office.

The tech industry is trying to find its equilibrium now and seems to be settling down. Thats a welcome change for many people, no matter which side of the political spectrum theyre on. (The upcoming election will be a test of this equilibrium.)

The lawsuit that marked the beginning of this, despite settling for a record number, is more of a moral victory. But for those paying close attention, it was still consequential and pioneering.

Room for Disagreement

Google has, over the years, adjusted to the changes in employee culture. The worker who filed this initial labor complaint was actually reinstated and went on to have a good career there.

While a period of turmoil ensued, the company has learned to bend on these issues, giving more leeway to employees on labor issues while still aggressively protecting its intellectual property.

We are pleased to have reached this agreement as our policies simply do not, and have never, unlawfully limited our employees ability to talk about their terms and conditions or report violations of law, the Google spokesperson said.

Notable

Google went through massive changes in a few years, as is chronicled in this deep dive from Reuters.
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) says that newly expelled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) personally defrauded him and his mother by charging their credit cards without authorization.

Late yesterday on the floor I alluded to a personal impact of Rep. Santoss conduct, Miller wrote in a last-minute email to colleagues before Santoss expulsion vote Friday morning. Earlier this year I learned that the Santos campaign had charged my personal credit card  and the personal credit card of my Mother  for contribution amounts that exceeded FEC limits.

Miller said neither he nor his mother approved the charges or were aware of them, and they have spent tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees in the aftermath.

Ive seen a list of roughly 400 other people to whom the Santos campaign allegedly did this, Miller wrote in the email obtained by The Hill. I believe some other members of this conference might have had the same experience.

The Ohio Republican said he was sharing his experience with others because of the significance of the question before us.

The House voted Friday to expel Santos, ending his turbulent time in Congress and making him the sixth lawmaker ever to be ousted from the House. He avoided two previous expulsion attempts despite facing federal indictment on 23 counts of wire fraud, identity theft and other campaign finance charges.

After the expulsion vote, Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) said he knows Santos personally ripped off other members.

I think Maxs last-minute email to all the members determined the outcome for [Santos], Joyce said Friday on CNN, adding, They believed Max when it came personally from him.

Santos was expelled in a 311-114-2 vote, with 105 Republicans joining almost all Democrats to remove the New York lawmaker after serving 11 months in office.

Miller called for Santos to resign in January after it was revealed he lied about his resume on the campaign trail.

The Ohio representative posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Thursday that the evidence is overwhelming and he was going to vote to expel Santos.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee had full-blown meltdowns on Thursday after Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) held votes on two of President Joe Bidens judicial nominees without allowing debate on them, saying he was simply following the new precedent established by Republicans when they did the same thing to Democrats, twice.

Durbin appeared to completely blindside Republicans by moving straight to votes on two U.S. District Court nominees, Mustafa Kasubhai and Eumi Lee, without opening up the floor for discussions on them. Both nominees had two previous hearings and had been debated. But typically the panel would still allow for more discussion in what was their confirmation hearing.

Not Thursday. Durbin went straight to their votes, saying senators already had two chances to debate their nominations. And GOP reactions went from confusion to anger to the kinds of high-octane tantrums familiar to anyone with children under the age of 5.

Are we going to have an opportunity to speak? asked Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

I would also like to speak on the nomination, said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).

I understand what youd like to do, but Im saying, in fairness, weve debated these nominees twice, Durbin said. I ask the clerk to call the roll.

This is where the anger kicked in.

Youre denying us an opportunity to speak? Cornyn asked.

Come on, man, fumed Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). I mean, OK. Do this. Just do it!

We dont have a right to speak under the rules? asked Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

Under the third time, Id say no, Durbin said flatly.

So youre just going to make it up? Cotton demanded to know.

Youre telling us to shut up? You want us to SHUT UP? Blackburn said, raising her voice. Is that what youre saying?

"Do this! Just do it! Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) fumed at Senate Judiciary Committee chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) for following a precedent set by Republicans on advancing judicial nominees.

Soon Republicans were talking over each other and hurling insults and threats at Durbin.

Theres going to be a lot of consequences coming here, warned Cotton. I cautioned a lot of you. Listen to me! I cautioned a lot of you!

Cornyn suggested that Republicans might walk out of the hearing right then and deny a quorum, meaning the committee couldnt conduct any votes.

Cotton got so mad he started talking about himself in the third person.

Mr. Cotton says the chairman needs to rethink his decision, said Cotton, as his name came up in the roll call. Thats what Mr. Cotton says.

When Blackburn said again she wanted to talk, Cotton interjected, Now I guess Sen. Durbin is not going to allow women to speak either. I thought that was sacrosanct in your party!

Congratulations on destroying the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, Cornyn dramatically told Durbin.

Congratulations on destroying the United States Senate Judiciary Committee!

Congratulations on destroying the United States Senate Judiciary Committee!"

Through all this, Durbin sat expressionless, waiting for breaks in the attacks to quietly direct the clerk to continue the roll call. He periodically reminded Republicans that theyd already had two chances to debate both nominees in two separate hearings. That didnt seem to matter much to them.

You had to bring them up again, Graham said. It wasnt our fault! Its your fault!

This is a complete disgrace, Cornyn said.

Is this an illegal vote? Blackburn wondered. (It was not.)

It wasnt until after Democrats voted out both nominees and the complaints had somewhat subsided that Durbin had a chance to spell out why this was happening: He was following a precedent set by the last two Republican chairs of the committee, who violated the same committee rule to advance nominees and legislation without giving Democrats a chance to weigh in.

In other words, Durbin was giving Republicans a taste of their own medicine.

The two preceding chairs of this committee violated the letter and spirit of Committee Rule IV, he said, referring to a committee rule that requires at least one member of the minority to vote with the majority to end debate on a matter before moving to vote on it.

Durbin said one former chair, Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), violated this rule with a vote on Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination, and Graham was chair when he broke the rule to advance a partisan immigration bill without Democratic input.

In doing so, Republicans established a new precedent that I followed on one occasion last Congress and will follow again today, said the Illinois Democrat. Ive said time and again there cannot be one set of rules for Republicans and a different set for Democrats.

This is the third time they were brought up, he added of the two nominees at the center of Thursdays hearing. Thats the reason the ruling was made by the chair.

I'm just following your lead, guys.

I'm just following your lead, guys.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) suggested it was petty for Durbin to break rules just because previous chairmen did it, too.

So Mr. Chairman, youre saying because you think Sen. Grassley violated the rule, youre going to violate the rule? he asked.

Its called precedent, senator, replied Durbin.

A committee spokesperson noted that Kennedy spoke on Kasubhai in a Nov. 2 hearing and again in a Nov. 19 hearing, for a total of 12 minutes.

Graham spoke on both nominees in the Nov. 2 hearing, for about two minutes, too. And Cotton spoke on Kasubhai in the Nov. 9 hearing for about six minutes.

Chair Durbin did in fact offer Republicans the opportunity to speak on Lees nomination before we turned to the subpoenas, said the spokesperson, referring to other business carried out in the hearing, and not a single one took him up on that offer.

Both nominees now head to the Senate floor for final confirmation votes.
(Bloomberg) -- House Republicans are preparing to vote to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden as early as mid-December.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The vote would require all House lawmakers to go on the record as supporting or opposing the impeachment inquiry conservative Republicans have been pursuing for months, something the 18 Republicans representing areas Biden won in 2020 could be reluctant to do.

Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole said GOP leaders are expecting to send to his panel legislation by Wednesday justifying a impeachment inquiry. He initially said that a vote on the House floor could occur by next Friday, but after a closed-door meeting with other Republican leaders and members he thinks it will occur the following week.

Later, after a closed-door meeting with House Republican leaders, Cole said the vote was likely to be delayed until the following week.

Republican Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina said GOP leaders didnt want to lose a vote on the impeachment inquiry, which three congressional committees have been pursuing for months without formal authorization from the House.

Its not coming to the floor unless we have the votes, Norman said.

White House spokesman Ian Sams dismissed the move toward impeachment as another sad attempt by extreme House Republicans to try to distract from their own chaos and dysfunction.

The move comes after Speaker Mike Johnson signaled earlier this week at a news conference that after months of preliminary investigation, the GOP would move into this next phase.

--With assistance from Maeve Sheehey.

(Updates with Cole later saying vote may be delayed to mid-month)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
When one newly elected Highland Town Councilman takes his oath of office in January, hell be a rarity.

Douglas Turich, who won the Ward 2 council spot currently held by Toya Smith, D-2, on Nov. 7, didnt respond to multiple requests for comment, but its widely believed he wont resign his newly minted position as the Highland Fire Departments Operations Chief. Holding both roles is possible due to a one-phrase change in the law meant to prevent public officials from voting for their own interests while employed by the same municipalities.

Advertisement

Douglas Turich was elected to Highland Town Council's Ward 2 seat on Nov. 7. He also serves as Operations Chief for the Highland Fire Department. - Original Credit: Photo courtesy of Facebook (Photo courtesy of Facebook/HANDOUT)

The self-dealing law

Back in 2012, there was a push to deal with nepotism and conflict of interest in local government, wrote former State Representative and current State Sen. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, at the time. The resulting bill, H.B. 1005, would prevent a person from serving on the executive board that approves their own salary and benefits, and limits the ability to hire ones own relatives.

As a co-author of this bill, Im looking forward to this bill making further progress, he wrote on his state webpage.

Advertisement

With 56 co-sponsors, the bill passed in February 2012 and was signed by then-Gov. Mitch Daniels the following month. It specifies, among other things, that an employee of a county, city, town, or township (unit) is considered to have resigned from employment with the unit if the employee assumes an elected executive office of the unit or becomes an elected member of the units legislative or fiscal body, and singles out full-time paid and volunteer firefighters, though it allowed employees who held office Jan. 1, 2013 to finish out their terms. The law also didnt prohibit them from serving on other boards, commissions or committees  positions for which many receive small stipends  in their respective municipalities, the legislation reads.

After the law passed, five local elected officials  Hammond Councilmen Mike Opinker and Scott Rakos; Hobart City Councilman Matt Claussen; New Chicago Town Councilwoman Susan Pelfrey; and East Chicago City Councilman Juda Parks  ran for re-election to their respective offices and won. The group subsequently filed challenges in both federal and state courts with the argument that the law violated their right to be involved in elective politics, the Post-Tribune reported at the time. Opinker and Rakos were Hammond firefighters, Claussen and Parks were police officers, and Pelfrey worked for the New Chicago Water Department.

Both challenges were denied, and by August 2016, Claussen, Opinker, Pelfrey and Parks resigned their council seats, while Rakos retired as a Hammond Assistant Fire Chief to serve on the council.

Lobbying for exceptions

The five of them, however, werent the only ones bothered by the new law. Shortly after H.B. 1005 was passed, volunteer firefighters around the state in 2014 were furious that they wouldnt be able to serve as elected officials, so they went to the Indiana Professional Firefighters Union to see what could be done, former State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, said, though she doesnt remember all the details. A volunteer firefighter, as defined by state law, is someone who has executed a pledge to faithfully perform, with or without nominal compensation, the work related duties assigned and orders given to the firefighter by the chief of the volunteer fire department or an officer of the volunteer fire department. As defined by law, nominal compensation is no more than $20,000 per year.

I remember that it mightve been illegal to put those restrictions on the police and fire departments; that you just couldnt prevent them from running, especially since there are so many fire departments in the state who cant afford full-time departments or can afford only paid on-call, Tallian said. There was discussion about them then not voting on their own budget.

State Sen. Karen Tallian, left, speaks with her successor, Rodney Pol Jr., after a caucus of local Democratic Party leaders held Thursday evening, October 21, 2021 in Burns Harbor, Indiana. (Michael Gard for the Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)

Former Indiana Professional Firefighters Union President Tom Hanify, who retired in 2022, confirmed Tallians recollection and said the General Assembly ended up carving out volunteer firefighters from the initial law through H.B. 1264, which was passed 2015. They can serve on their municipalitys council, but they cant vote on any budget or tax levies.

Whether that was a good compromise or not, Hanify doesnt necessarily agree with it.

I think (all firefighters) should be treated equally. You should never have a conflict in laws like this, but thats the problem with having all these attorneys working on legislation, Hanify said. There was a time when, on the Indianapolis City Council, we had at least five active-duty firefighters on a council of 27 or 29 members, and sure, it was great, but it reeks of conflicts.

Advertisement

I know that most of these guys who want to serve are honest, but the public needs to trust that were working for their interests, not ours.

State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, whos also the attorney for the city of Gary, agreed that allowing volunteers and paid-on-call workers to hold public office adds a problematic layer to what was settled law.

Its a tough call at the local level (where many municipalities have paid-on-call fire departments), and I fully commiserate. But its not fair to other people blurring the law, Pol said.

Turich wouldnt be the first

When Turich  who, according to the Indiana Gateway, made $2,606.59 as a firefighter in 2022  takes office, he wont be the only volunteer in Lake County holding an elected position while fighting fires.

Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll, a Democrat, decided to go through firefighter training in 2020 as the pandemic put a strain on the citys emergency services. With the number of volunteers continuing to decline all over the country, hes still in the role today and loving it just as much.

Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll speaks during a ceremony to celebrate the conclusion of a Little Calumet River Basin Commission project at Deep River on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

During the pandemic, we went through a real crisis with volunteers getting sick, so I saw a need, Carroll said. Some people threw a fit, but Im blessed to be able to do it.

Advertisement

While Lake Stations fire department does pay their volunteers a nominal fee, Carroll, who made $78,523.90 as mayor in 2022, doesnt take any money for the job, he said. Indiana Gateway listed him as receiving $400 in 2022, but he said that was a clerical error with his clothing allowance that he paid back.

Im a real volunteer here: I dont get paid, and I dont receive any money for clothing allowance or training, he said. Volunteer firefighters dont do the job for the money; they do it because its so rewarding.

Councilman Matthew Claussen, center, speaks during a Hobart City Council meeting to discuss granting a zoning change to Becknell Services, LLC, on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

Mixed feelings on amendments

As for the public servants who challenged H.B. 1005 in the first place, at least one supports the change in the law. Matt Claussen, who retired from the Hobart Police Department and is now Hobarts City Council president, never saw the harm in serving in both capacities.

I never understood the whole reason behind (H.B. 1005), and I was really upset about it at the time, Claussen said. Ive always felt it was up to the voters to decide the job I was doing, and the fact that I was legislated out of my seat meant the voters were disenfranchised. I felt it was wrong, but we lost (in court) twice.

Hammond Common Councilman Scott Rakos, D-6, said when he retired, his position was comparable to Turichs promotion. He has mixed emotions about the law change, he said, adding that Turich could consider going truly volunteer if Highland can offer that as an option.

Susan Pelfrey, whos now New Chicagos town manager, on the other hand, found the law change very interesting and perhaps even more unfair than the original law.

Advertisement

Being that I couldnt file for council, I filed for the Hobart Township Board, where I can vote myself a raise. We havent, and I promised I wont, so what makes the difference? How much of a conflict is it, really? Pelfrey said. It doesnt make sense. Its unfair that the law changed for some of us but not all.

Post-Tribune archives contributed.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
The 27-year-old fugitive who ran from police in Greenwood after exchanging gunfire with troopers on Tuesday night was found dead in Maryland on Thursday afternoon, Delaware State Police said.

State police said Brian Holben, who shot at state troopers and fled into the woods earlier this week, was found by officers in a camper in Maryland on Thursday at 4 p.m. Delaware troopers, along with Maryland State Police and the U.S. Marshals Task Force, tried to get Holben to surrender, according to police.

Holben refused and barricaded himself inside, police said. When officers eventually entered the camper, they said they found Holben dead of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Neither Holben nor any officers were injured when shots were fired in Greenwood on Tuesday, police said. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while a use-of-force investigation is completed, as is protocol.

BACKGROUND: After exchanging gunfire with police, fugitive fled; he's considered 'armed and dangerous'

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on X at @h_edelman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Man who exchanged gunfire with state troopers found dead in Maryland
A Des Plaines man has been charged with bilking a Western Springs resident of money for home repairs that were never made.

Tony Yobnovich, 60, of the 1700 block of Rand Road, Des Plaines, was charged Nov. 22 with Home Repair Fraud, a Class 4 Felony.

Advertisement

In April of this year Yobnovich claimed to be a repairman for A1 Roofing and Construction, agreed to perform home repairs for a resident in the 3900 block of Howard Avenue in Western Springs, according to a news release. He was given a $5,000 check and, in the agreed-on contract, promised to start the work within a week.

But he never started the work and when the victim tried to contact him through repeated telephone calls, they were never returned, according to police.

Advertisement

Yobnovich was questioned by Western Springs Police and ultimately arrested at his residence without incident. He was charged and a court date with the Cook County Courthouse in Bridgeview is pending.

Penalties for Class 4 Felonies in Illinois, according to the website of the Illinois General Assembly, ilga.gov, can be from one to three years imprisonment, and include a fine of up to $25,000.
This article was originally published in The Texas Tribune.

Gov. Greg Abbott is starting to make good on his threat to politically target fellow Republicans who oppose school vouchers, issuing his first endorsement of a primary challenger to a House member who has helped thwart his top legislative priority of the year.

Abbott on Tuesday backed Hillary Hickland, an activist mother who is running against Rep. Hugh Shine, R-Temple. Shine was one of 21 Republicans who voted earlier this month to strip a voucher provision out of an education bill, delivering the most decisive blow yet to the governors agenda.

Hillary Hickland is the kind of new conservative leader we need in Austin to deliver results in the Texas House, Abbott said in a statement. This past year, she worked relentlessly to empower parents by traveling to Austin to advocate for Texas families and students.

Support The 74's year-end campaign. Make a tax-exempt donation now.

Abbotts endorsement of Hickland is the first time he has backed a primary opponent to a House Republican since May 2022, when he backed Stan Kitzman, the successful opponent to Rep. Phil Stephenson, R-Wharton. Before that, Abbott endorsed three primary challengers to House Republicans in 2018 and one prevailed.

Abbott has already endorsed for reelection all the House Republicans who voted against the amendment that removed the voucher program from the education legislation. And on Monday, Abbott quickly endorsed a candidate to succeed a voucher opponent, Rep. Kyle Kacal, R-College Station, after he announced his retirement.

Shine and Abbott have a more personal history on the issue. When Abbott was touring the state earlier this year to build public support for his voucher proposal, Shine appeared with the governor at a private school in his district.

Related

These Moms are Counting on Vouchers to Make a Microschool for Black Kids

Shine, who announced his reelection campaign late last month, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since 2017, Shine has represented House District 55, a Republican-leaning district in Bell County. He previously served in the House from 1986-1991.

Hickland is a mother of four from Belton who took her three school-aged children out of public schools in recent years. In addition to advocating for vouchers, Hickland has also been outspoken about sexually explicit books in school libraries.

Hickland describes herself as a strong supporter of school choice in the form of Education Savings Accounts, the voucher initiative that Abbott supports.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/28/new-article-greg-abbott-school-vouchers-hugh-shine-endorse/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
The groom in a recent $59 million viral wedding has been offered 25 years in prison as part of a plea deal after being indicted on charges of shooting at three North Texas law enforcement officers, according to court records.

Jacob LaGrone, 29, was indicted Aug. 3 on three felony counts of aggravated assault against a public servant, according to Tarrant County court records. He is accused of firing at a Westworth Village police officer and two officers from Westover Hills on March 13.

Westworth Village officials told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV that officers responded to a home to check out a report of shots fired. When they arrived at the home, they were fired upon, the city said.

LaGrones indictment states that he knew the officers were public servants and did use or exhibit a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault, namely, a firearm.

LaGrone, a Nashville native, married Madelaine Brockway, whose family lives in the Fort Worth area, on Nov. 18 in a wedding that is estimated to have cost $59 million. The ceremony in Paris, France, was dubbed the wedding of the century in a TikTok video posted by HMR Designs.

Madelaine Brockway and others extensively documented the five-day celebration on Instagram, which drew widespread attention on social media. The wedding included an overnight stay at the Palace of Versailles, a private lunch at the Chanel Haute Couture Suite and a rehearsal dinner at the Paris Opera House. Pop-rock band Maroon 5 performed at the wedding reception.

The brides father, Bob Brockway, owns a group of Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Florida and several homes in the Fort Worth area.

The couples wedding registry includes such items as a $12,500 crystal butterfly house, an $860 gravy boat and a $1,450 vase.

Today's top stories:

 New details in investigation of head-on crash that killed Fort Worth CEO, 2 kids

 North Texas resident shoots elderly man who crashed into home in medical episode

 Man pleads guilty in bizarre murder after forcing victim to get neck tattoo

Get free alerts when news breaks.

Jacob LaGrone appeared in court Thursday. The hearing took place behind closed doors, according to WFAA.

If convicted, he faces a life sentence or not more than 99 years or less than five.

The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office has offered LaGrone a plea deal of 25 years, which he has not yet accepted, according to court records.
Afghan activist Crystal Bayat, left, hugs Frozan Hatami as Bayat welcomes five fellow activists that she helped escape from Afghanistan at the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 27, 2023. They have all been outspoken against the Taliban, advocating for womens rights and human rights. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Frozan Hatami never wanted to leave her home in Afghanistan. But when her activism increasingly put her in the path of the Talibans wrath, fleeing felt like the only safe option.

It was really difficult to leave everything  your family, friends  behind and leave your country, Hatami said. We just forced ourselves and convinced ourselves that we have to leave everything. That point was the most difficult and scary for me.

She shows a stoic strength as she recounts her last day in the country and how difficult it was to say goodbye to parents, especially as an only child. To this day, she doesnt know when she will see them again.

Hatami is among a handful of Afghan activists who arrived in Utah earlier this year after receiving death threats from the Taliban for advocating for womens and human rights.

They asked that their specific routes be withheld to protect the safety of others fleeing the country; however, each took a unique path out of Afghanistan before meeting as a group in another country while they waited for their U.S. visas to be processed.

Some flew out of the country with the company of a male chaperon. Others crossed land borders on foot, relying on strangers who were crossing at the same time to pose as their male chaperones. One woman made the journey while pregnant. Some made multiple attempts to leave, and many still have family members within the country.

Leaving Afghanistan is also not easy.  Overall it is a very overwhelming experience and highly risky, too. You have to be lucky and very cautious to cross the border, said activist Pakiza Munir. When I had to say goodbye to my family to come to America, I was happy that I will be finally safe but my heart ached because I had to leave my loved ones behind. It was very tough. We cried our eyes out.

Activist Shamail Tawana Nasiri left with only a pair of clothes and her computer.

I just told my family that Im leaving. I didnt even share it with my movements members. So it was a secret because of the security issue, Nasiri said.

Following the U.S.s rushed pullout from Afghanistan, many Afghan allies were stranded in the country. Tens of thousands of Afghans have since resettled in the U.S., but virtually all have been left without a clear pathway to legally stay and thousands more are waiting outside the country for their visas to be processed.

Crystal Bayat, an Afghan social activist, human rights advocate and founder of the Crystal Bayat Foundation, poses for a portrait at home in West Jordan on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

For Afghans, its a big challenge at this moment. Most countries just turn their face and shut down the visa process for Afghans, said Crystal Bayat, an Afghan activist living in Utah whose nonprofit, Crystal Bayat Foundation, helped organize the groups journey to Utah along with the Nazarene Fund and the Utah Attorney Generals Office.

Its a point of frustration for the women, who say the U.S. and international community largely turned their backs on Afghans once the Taliban took over.

My heart breaks when I see how these Western countries just shut the doors in the face of the Afghans that trusted them, supported them and protected them for 20 years in Afghanistan, activist Laila Basim said through a translator.

Afghan refugees in Utah marked the two-year anniversary since the fall of the Afghanistan government to the Taliban and the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces last week.

Living under Taliban rule

Each of the activists had normal lives before Kabul fell. They pursued higher education, worked in government or for humanitarian organizations and dreamed of a better future for their country.

Everything collapsed suddenly and it was like the whole sky shattered on my heart. It was a feeling like that, Hatami said. They are an extreme group, they are against all womens rights, so it was too difficult to pursue all the dreams I had before.

For the first month, Hatami said she did nothing, struggling with feelings of uselessness. Then something clicked.

After the takeover, I found it was a very bad feeling to feel like youre good for nothing. And then I thought (starting my civic activities was) the very least that I can do for myself, for the girls who are like my age and they cannot raise their voices, they cannot do something for themselves or for the nation, she said.

Frozan Hatami makes a sign to protest the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in front of the Orrin G. Hatch U.S. Courthouse in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. Hatami escaped Afghanistan this summer. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The takeover was a dark day for the entire country, but life under the regime has been particularly brutal for women and girls who are banned from attending school beyond sixth grade, holding public office and working most jobs outside of the home. The Taliban has also mandated that women wear head-to-toe clothing and be accompanied by a mahram, or male chaperone.

Munir, Hatami, Basim and Shamail Tawana Nasiri were vocal in their opposition to the Taliban. Their efforts included organizing dozens of protests, opening a library for women and girls and founding a news organization to raise awareness about the situation in Afghanistan.

The women took safety measures, such as regularly moving homes. But those measures did not prevent them from receiving frequent threats to themselves and their families or from being detained or beaten by the Taliban.

Basim suffered a miscarriage following one such beating during a protest. She said discovering she was pregnant again was a driving force in her decision to leave Afghanistan. Prior to leaving, she said she moved seven times in two years after the Taliban searched and destroyed her home.

My dream is that my baby has a good life here and is a helpful person in the future for his country, she said through an interpreter. It will always be a pain in my chest to remember these days that I had to be away from my mom, away from my siblings, away from my husband just because we are standing for the right things.

Afghan activist Crystal Bayat reaches for Frozan Hatamis arm as they eat dinner at Zaferan Cafe in Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Bayat, who escaped Afghanistan more than a year ago, helped Hatami and four other Afghan activists escape recently. Zaferan Cafe was their first stop after arriving at the Salt Lake City International Airport, seeking the comfort and familiarity of Persian food. They have all been outspoken against the Taliban, advocating for womens rights and human rights. Consequently, they were threatened by the Taliban and fled for their safety. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Continuing the work

Arriving in Utah was a bittersweet moment for the activists. It was a safe end to a long journey  but the contrast between the freedoms Americans enjoy and the human rights abuses in their own country was overwhelmingly apparent.

Seeing all the differences, sometimes its like a little bit disappointing for me. We are living on the same Earth, right? Hatami said. We just came out of Afghanistan to continue raising our voices. If we were in Afghanistan, we couldnt do so because the restrictions are increasing on women.

Munir, Hatami, Basim, and Nasiri are each determined to continue their advocacy from Utah. On the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover in August, for example, they held a rally in downtown Salt Lake City. In Afghanistan, they said women protested indoors because doing so on the streets was too dangerous.

Each of the women left behind lives they spent decades building in Afghanistan. But new dreams and plans are starting to take hold as they start from scratch in Utah.

Munir wants to continue her education and dreams of one day opening a school for girls one day. Hatami also plans on pursuing another degree in the hope of one day becoming a politician or businesswoman. Nasiri plans to continue running Farkhunda News, which she founded in 2022 to help spread awareness of the situation in Afghanistan. She hopes to improve the company and make it profitable for several women she has working on the ground in Afghanistan.

You walk on the street and nobodys going to tell you to walk like this or wear this or do this or do not say this. Here, the moment you step into America, you allow yourself to dream about different stuff, Munir said. You give yourself the courage to dream. And the dreams are getting bigger the more you see the possibilities every day.

Afghan activist Crystal Bayat leads a protest on the second anniversary of Taliban takeover in Afghanistan on West Temple in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Crystal Bayat and Mahadia Nazire protest on the second anniversary of Taliban takeover in Afghanistan on West Temple in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Afghan activist Crystal Bayat, left, hugs Laila Basim as Bayat welcomes five fellow activists that she helped escape from Afghanistan at the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 27, 2023. They have all been outspoken against the Taliban, advocating for womens rights and human rights. Basim and the Crystal Bayat Foundation helped open a womens library in Kabul, giving women and girls who are not allowed to go to school or work access to books. The library has since been shut down due to threats from the Taliban. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Scott Gordon, right, says goodbye to Afghan activist Crystal Bayat, center, in front of his home in Cottonwood Heights before taking Mohammad Shakib Rahimi and Laila Basim, left, to another hosts house on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Gordon and his family are housing three other Afghan activists that arrived with Rahimi and Basim. Bayat, who escaped Afghanistan more than a year ago, helped them escape, as they have all been outspoken against the Taliban, advocating for womens rights and human rights, and consequently threatened by the Taliban. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Afghan activist Crystal Bayat, left, laughs with Laila Basim outside a host familys home in Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Bayat helped Basim and four other activists escape Afghanistan. They have all been outspoken against the Taliban, advocating for womens rights and human rights. Basim and the Crystal Bayat Foundation helped open a womens library in Kabul, giving women and girls who are not allowed to go to school or work access to books. The library has since been shut down due to threats from the Taliban. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

An Afghan activist who prefers to remain anonymous, Frozan Hatami, Crystal Bayat and Shamail Tawana Nasiri check out a bedroom in their host familys home in Cottonwood Heights shortly after arriving in Utah on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Bayat, who escaped Afghanistan more than a year ago, helped the other women with their recent escape. They have all been outspoken against the Taliban, advocating for womens rights and human rights. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Afghan activist Crystal Bayat, right, hugs Frozan Hatami as they eat dinner at Zaferan Cafe in Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Bayat, who escaped Afghanistan more than a year ago, helped Hatami and four other activists escape recently. Zaferan Cafe was their first stop after arriving at the Salt Lake City International Airport, seeking the comfort and familiarity of Persian food. They have all been outspoken against the Taliban, advocating for womens rights and human rights. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Five men from New York were indicted on charges of kidnapping and murder after they were accused of luring a delivery driver before abducting him and killing him, federal officials said.

On July 19, a group of men used an Internet-based cellphone application to order food delivery from a restaurant in New York City, according to a Nov. 29 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York.

Peng Cheng Li, an employee of the restaurant, was sent out to deliver the food to an unspecified location in Flushing, Queens, federal officials said.

When Li arrived, Donxing Zheng, 28, Wangchao He, 29, Jiangnan Lin, 22, Dong Liu, 35, and Sui Zhang, 22 were waiting for him, according to the release.

The five men assaulted Li, then kidnapped him in the hopes of collecting a ransom, according to officials.

Li was beaten before the group put him in his own vehicle, officials said, and Zheng drove Li around to other places, including Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester County and then north to New Hampshire.

Two days later, Li was reported missing by friends, WMUR reported, and investigators began tracking his vehicle by using his license plate number.

The next day, Lis body was discovered in a shallow grave in Twin Mountain near the last location his cellphone pinged a tower, naked with a fractured skull, according to the outlet.

At some point after he was abducted, (Li) died, and Zheng and others known and unknown buried (his) body in a forest in New Hampshire, federal officials said.

The five men, all from Queens and also known by their nicknames Ah Chao, Little Fatty, Ah Dong and 60, were involved in the distribution of ketamine in New York City, federal officials said.

He, Lin, Liu, Zhang and Zheng were all indicted on charges of kidnapping resulting in death, kidnapping conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute ketamine, which combined would mean they each face life in prison or death if convicted.

As demonstrated by this case, the dangerous combination of illicit drugs and brutal violence will never be tolerated in New York City, New York Police Department Commissioner Edward A. Caban said in the release.

Armed and dangerous man accused of kidnapping son after mom found dead, ID cops say

Man decapitates drinking buddy with ax, puts head in stove in New Mexico, feds say

Man opens fire through wall of restaurant, injuring 6 people, North Carolina cops say

Hunting dog finds remains that may be missing woman killed by husband, MI cops say
Investigators tell how the Russian GRU created a phantom PMC to recruit Russians for the war against Ukraine

Ukrainian journalists have exposed the clandestine nature of the Redut Private Military Company (PMC), linking its operations to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff (GRU). A special investigative project ran by RFE/RL unveiled Redut as a disguised mechanism to recruit troops for the ongoing war against Ukraine.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries involved in training Hamas militants for operations against Israel, Ukrainian military say

Described as a phantom PMC, Redut stands as a covert armed formation manipulated and financed by Russian intelligence officers. The structure is intentionally obscured as a private venture, with some recruiters even referring to it as the Redut system, said the journalists.

The report estimates that the Redut system encompasses a minimum of 20 Russian armed formations with diverse profiles. The numerous associated units deliberately maintain a low profile, complicating efforts to ascertain their precise numbers. Figures circulating in different sources range from 7,000 to 25,000 fighters.

All these units share one thing: the scheme through which they contract with so-called volunteers, said the investigators.

A mercenary signs a contract with a nonexistent company, affiliates with a virtual or existing military unit, and ultimately receives money from the Russian Ministry of Defense. This mechanism is called the Redut system.

Read also: SBU nabs Russian GRU operative who facilitated attacks on Odesa while disguised as rescuer

Financial incentives for mercenaries within this system remain consistent, with recruiters offering sums between RUB 110,000 and 220,000 (approximately $1,200-$2,500) for participation in combat on Ukrainian soil  triple the average Russian salary. Furthermore, members are promised substantial payouts for injuries or fatalities.

The investigative spotlight falls on Sergei Drozdov, identified as a potential architect of the recruitment system. Leaked information from the Russian tax service database disclosed Drozdovs income from the Military Academy of Russias General Staff in 2021.

Currently holding the acting chief position of the 2nd department of the Main Organizational-Mobilization Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Drozdov is implicated in recruiting for private military companies and volunteer formations.

Read also: Ukraines SBU uncovers Russian GRU agent plotting strikes in Kharkiv

Col. Alexei Kondratiev, a former GRU employee who served from the late 90s until 2010, surfaces as a key figure in the creation of Redut PMC, allegedly playing a pivotal role in its inception, according to the investigation.

Five recruiters from varied units confirmed that the recruitment system under the Redut scheme is orchestrated by both the Russian Ministry of Defense and the GRU.

Read also: Lukashenko lacks funds for PMC Wagner, unsuccessfully seeks meeting with Putin  opposition

Most of the units that journalists call private military companies are simply military personnel under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defense, a confidential source connected to the GRU said.

The recruitment activities of the Russian battalion Espanola, which targeted women for assault units, were previously linked to Redut PMC through signed contracts.

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
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala's ruling-party-led Congress on Friday stripped four electoral judges accused of fraud of their immunity from prosecution, in a move critics fear is aimed at blocking President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office next month.

The move by Congress is seen as an attempt to appoint judges who oppose Arevalo's election and is the latest in a series of measures that could hinder the transition of power. The moves have sparked international condemnation and nationwide protests.

Arevalo's anti-corruption platform helped spring him to a shock landslide victory in August elections.

Since then, the Guatemalan attorney general's office has investigated Arevalo's political party and the electoral court and has sought to strip Arevalo of immunity, accusing him of complicity in a takeover of the capital's San Carlos University last year.

In a Friday vote, 108 of 160 congressional deputies voted in favor of stripping magistrates Irma Palencia, Ranulfo Rojas, Gabriel Aguilera and Mynor Franco of their immunity. All those judges except for Palencia, have left the country, immigration authorities said.

The judges are accused of committing fraud and breach of duty for using a software state prosecutors said was "overpriced" to transmit preliminary election results.

Orlando Blanco, a representative for the VOS political party, said the objective was to name anti-Arevalo judges.

"They want to ignore the electoral results and they need the electoral court to abide by that decision," Blanco said.

The Guatemala office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the move to strip the judges of immunity adds to "a long list of very worrying actions" which appear designed to undermine the electoral process and rule of law.

The U.S. government has criticized moves from Guatemala's attorney general and said earlier this month that those who try to interfere with the presidential transition will face "consequences".

(Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Sarah Morland; editing by Diane Craft)
EUCLID, Ohio (WJW)  The Fox 8 I-Team has learned of another case of suspects in a stolen car, pointing a gun at officers and leading police on a long chase.

The latest case happened Thursday evening around 10:05 p.m. when two off-duty officers were in the Euclid Municipal parking lot behind the police department when two vehicles entered the area driving at a high rate of speed.

Man says kidnappers assaulted him, demanded ransom: I-Team

The officers were getting ready to go home when two vehicles were honking their horns and chasing each other in the parking lot, Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer told the I-Team. The one vehicle, a black SUV, drove past the officers, and a passenger in the back seat behind the driver rolled down the window and pointed a handgun at the off-duty officers.

The chief said the off-duty officers were not in uniform at the time.

Both vehicles then fled, and our on-duty officers pursued the vehicles, the chief said. The one vehicle they were chasing was operating with lights turned off and multiple passengers were hanging out the windows waving unknown items at the officers.

Pay now: 49,000 drivers hit with old traffic tickets

The chief added the suspects were driving more than 100 miles per hour and the pursuit was eventually called off in Cleveland due to safety concerns.

The vehicle was recovered by East Cleveland police early Friday morning. Meyer says the vehicle had been reported stolen from East Cleveland. A 15-year-old juvenile was taken into custody and charges are pending.

The case remains under investigation and more arrests are expected.

We are so thankful no one was injured, Meyer said. This is just another reminder of this brazen, completely out of control dangerous behavior of juveniles we have been seeing the last several months.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau (AP)  Gunfire erupted in Guinea-Bissaus capital city late Thursday night and continued through Friday morning during what local media reported as clashes between security forces after two senior government officials were improperly released from custody.

The shooting in the city of Bissau involved members of the Presidential Palace Battalion and an elite military division known as the National Guard, which illegally freed the two officials under investigation for alleged corruption, The Democrat newspaper reported.

The reported clash between separate forces raised concern of the potential for a military takeover of the government. West and Central Africa have experienced a surge in coups or attempted coups in recent years, the latest in Sierra Leone this week.

An Associated Press journalist in the capital said the gunfire was concentrated in the Luanda neighborhood on the outskirts of the city center, where the National Guards intervention brigade is located.

The two officials  Economy and Finance Minister Suleimane Seidi and Treasury Secretary Antonio Monteiro  were detained as the Guinea-Bissau government investigated them for alleged corruption over how government funds were spent.

The Public Ministry ordered them both rearrested moments after they were released Thursday night, resulting in the shootout, The Democrat reported.

It was not immediately clear why the officials were freed or whether they were rearrested. While the shooting stopped by noon, military vehicles were seen on the streets of Bissau and many public places were closed.

Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo was in Dubai for the United Nations' COP28 climate summit. He has not spoken publicly about the exchange of gunfire in his country's capital.

Embalo, a former army general, was declared the winner of a December 2019 runoff presidential election. His opponent contested the results.

He survived a February 2022 coup attempt that he asserted had to do with our fight against narco-trafficking. Guinea-Bissau became known as a transit point for cocaine between Latin America and Europe in the 2000s as traffickers profited from corruption and weak law enforcement.

Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974, the country of two million people that neighbors coup-hit Guinea has endured continued political turmoil, experiencing four coup detats and more than a dozen attempted coups.

___

Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria contributed.
Shenzhen: A growing hub of fashion and style

People's Daily Online) 17:23, November 30, 2023

Shenzhen, the youngest first-tier city in China, is often associated with technology, innovation, and speed. However, a vibrant fashion culture is steadily emerging and intertwining with the city's developmental attributes and cultural character, forging a unique style. Join us to explore the distinctive charm of this city.

"Shenzhen Brands" and "Shenzhen Design" are evolving alongside the city's development. The watch industry is a vital component of Shenzhen's modern fashion sector. The city is home to 1,500 watch companies, generating an annual output value of 68 billion yuan. Shenzhen's watch production constitutes 53 percent of China's total and 42 percent of the global output. Time Valley, the epicenter of the watch industry in Shenzhen and China, hosts six of China's top 10 watch companies.

Besides watches and clocks, gold jewelry is another hallmark of Shenzhen's fashion industry. The Shuibei Jewelry Industry Cluster, the country's largest and most advanced gold jewelry hub with the most comprehensive industrial chain, boasts an annual operating income exceeding 100 billion yuan. This represents about 50 percent of the domestic market share in gold jewelry wholesale.

The streets of Shenzhen are a showcase of fashion. Whether you are well-dressed or in simple attire, in this inclusive and colorful city, "being yourself" is the ultimate fashion statement.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
A new rendition of Dave Malloy's musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 will premiere in Shanghai in January.

Music director of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 Or Matias (front left), and Cooper Grodin (right), who plays Pierre, at a news conference in Shanghai. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

Produced by the Shanghai Grand Theatre, West Bund Theatre and Changyang Culture Company, the production will bring "the complete assembly line of Broadway theater" to Shanghai, says Chinese director Zhou Xiaowei.

Three preview performances will be held from Dec 29 to Jan 1 at the Nine Trees Future Art Center in Fengxian district. The official shows will take place at the Bocom New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center from Jan 13 to March 3.

"With the production of The Great Comet, we hope to explore the business model of the global musical industry," says Zhang Xiaoding, general manager of Shanghai Grand Theatre and co-producer of the new production, at a news conference on Nov 22.

"We have over the years brought together multiple investors, taken advantage of the resources of Broadway, made full use of the branding influence of the SGT, facilitated talent exchanges and cultural collaboration between China and the United States and other countries, so as to expand the market for live shows, especially for musical theater."

The SGT is currently one of the biggest promoters of Western musicals in the country and was responsible for bringing the iconic Les Miserables to Chinese audiences in 2002. Since its inception in 1998, the theater has steadily grown from being a promoter to a nurturer and producer of musicals, notes Zhang.

Other milestones in the theater's history include the establishment of a new creative center a few years ago and its debut of a Chinese rendition of The Brothers Karamazov last year. The theater is also involved in the management of the new West Bund Grand Theatre, a venue designed to host musical performances.

The international cast will be led by director and choreographer Chloe Treat, as well as music director Or Matias, who has been working on the show since the original production was created 2012.

In terms of the leading roles, Pierre will be played by Cooper Grodin, Natasha by Naomi Diana and Anatole by Dean Cestari.

Casting for the new production was simultaneously carried out in New York and Shanghai earlier this summer, and the auditions drew about 4,500 applicants.

Grodin, a veteran musical actor who has played leading roles in The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Evita, says he was surprised to learn of a Chinese company creating a new production of The Great Comet in Shanghai.

"There are well-accepted musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables," he says. "But the SGT and its partners chose to take the risk and produce The Great Comet. This convinced me that the city of Shanghai is ready for high-quality theater art such as this.

"Seven years ago, I saw the show in New York, and our music director was conducting and playing the piano. I watched his energy and I said to myself I had to work with him, sit next to him and make art with him," he adds.

The challenge of playing the protagonist was another reason why Grodin wanted to be a part of the production.

Matias describes the opportunity to work in China as "a dream come true" and says he heard many things about the Chinese enthusiasm for musical shows back in the US.

Treat says: "Something happens when you collaborate with people who are from a different culture. We always knew that we wanted this production to have a unique Shanghai style ... so I think you are going to see a version of this musical which holds on to all of the kind of storytelling that the original Broadway show did, but is infused with a really opulent, elegant, glamorous sense of style that we can only find in Shanghai."

Ye Zile, the visual director of the production, also released a series of new conceptual images at the news conference. Inspired by the imagery of the great comet in the show, he presented the characters as planets in the cosmos.

"Each character goes around in his or her own orbit, and when they meet, beautiful things could happen, or there could be devastating impacts," he explains.

The stage design for the Chinese production will be managed by award-winning artist Pilyoung Oh from South Korea, who will remove 400 seats from the front rows to expand the performance area.

Four rings of seats, each representing an aristocratic household in the musical, will be placed among the performers on the stage to create the setting of a Russian ballroom. While the remaining audiences will still watch the show from the perspective of a framed stage, those sitting among the actors will find the performance happening around them.

Malloy, the original writer of The Great Comet, will travel to Shanghai next month and participate in the preparations for the new show.

Praised by the New York Times as "the most innovative and best new musical to open on Broadway since Hamilton", the original musical was adapted from a 70-page segment of Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace, and was originally shown off-Broadway at the Ars Nova in 2012.

The Broadway production, which was presented at the Imperial Theatre from November 2016 to September 2017, bagged several awards, including two Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and four Theatre World Awards.
Israel said on Friday morning it had resumed combat in the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating a ceasefire with a rocket fired an hour before the latest truce deadline.

Air raid sirens were sounded twice in an hour in southern Israel following the interception of a rocket fired from Gaza, a first since the start of the ceasefire last week.

A bout of gunfire and explosions rocked the northern part of the Gaza Strip just minutes before the truce deadline, according to local media affiliated with Hamas.

The seven-day truce, which began on 24 November, ended with daybreak on Friday, although Qatari and Egyptian mediators said they were still in contact with both sides and trying to keep open negotiations to resume the ceasefire for an eighth day.

The Israeli military said its fighter jets had resumed targeting Hamas militants across the Gaza Strip. At least 32 people were killed and dozens sustained injuries just hours into the renewed offensive, the health ministry in Gaza said.

Palestinian residents said Israel dropped leaflets on Friday morning over parts of southern Gaza, urging people to leave homes east of the town of Khan Younis, which it warned was a dangerous battle zone.

The leaflets signalled that Israel is preparing to widen its offensive, which has so far focused largely on the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Israel had said earlier on Thursday evening that it was open to continuing the ceasefire if Hamas committed to further hostage releases. "We're ready for all possibilities.... Without that, we're going back to the combat," Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told CNN.

After two last-minute extensions to the original four-day ceasefire, the seventh day of the Qatar-brokered truce brought the exchange of eight Israeli hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has so far freed more than 100 hostages, including 83 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals, while Israel handed over 240 Palestinians  mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces.

Israel says around 125 men were still being held hostage by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.

The truce was pivotal for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the besieged region of 2.3 million people was reduced to wasteland due to Israel's incessant bombardment.

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.

Israel has killed over 15,000 Palestinians in Gaza in its bid to destroy Hamas following the militant group's 7 October rampage, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages during the initial terror attack.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken, during his third visit to Israel since the onset of the war, agreed that the flow of aid into Gaza was not sufficient.

Mr Blinken told the prime minister that Israel cannot repeat in south Gaza the massive civilian casualties and displacement of residents it inflicted in the north.

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 of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south, Mr Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

And the Israeli government agreed with that approach, he said. This would include concrete measures to avoid damaging critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water facilities and clearly designating safe zones, he said.
Princeton Fire Cpt. Philip Connors, left, and his son, Firefighter Tom Connors, talk about the March rescue on Wachusett Mountain.

PRINCETON  After a snowstorm pounded northern Central Massachusetts from dawn to dusk March 14, it only made sense for dispatcher Elizabeth Consiglio to pick up an overnight shift at Wachusett Regional Emergency Communications Center.

Less than an hour later, about 7:30 p.m., she responded to a 911 call from two boys, 15 and 16, who through the speaker setting on a cellphone described how they had lost their tracks somewhere in the back of Wachusett Mountain.

Earlier, the boys had reached the summit on a lift, around 5 p.m., when they decided to explore beyond designated areas.

A couple of hours into the walk, they realized they had lost track of direction.

More: Teens looking for 'fresh snow' on backside of Wachusett Mountain rescued after 3 hours

At a ceremony on Thursday, outside Station 2 of the Princeton Fire Department, Consiglio was among 17 individuals, including members of the Fire Department and the ski patrol at Wachusett Mountain, awarded the Worcester District Attorneys Team Excellence and Merit Award. The TEAM award recognizes outstanding service by those in public safety.

Recalling the night when the call came in, she said, while her colleagues at the Wachusett Regional Emergency Communications Center started organizing fire and police rescue, her responsibility became keeping the boys on the phone. They talked about many things, she said.

What do they want to do after school, what would they eat for breakfast, said Consiglio, 40. I have boys that are teenagers, so I thought like a mom.

Fire Chief John Bennett, left, speaks as members of the department are honored by District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., far right.

Rescue strategy

A team of 10 members from the Princeton Fire Department, among them Chief John D. Bennett, headed for the mountain to start the search, coordinating two snowmobiles and two snowcats, among other equipment, to look for the boys.

At the foot of the mountain, Capt. Philip Connors discussed the logistics of the rescue.

"It was a cold, wet night, fog was heavy, visibility was horrible," recalled Connors, 63. It wasnt really snowing, but it wasnt done yet; it was the tail end of the storm.

The plan was simple: Using a ping signal to locate the cellphone, the department sent up six firefighters on two snowcats, which are truck-sized, tracked vehicles designed to move on snow, that would pack down the 3-foot-deep snow, fresh from the days heavy snowfall, while two snowmobiles followed behind.

Thomas Connors, 31, often uses snowmobiles in Maine with his friends, but never during his 10 years as a Princeton firefighter had he had to use them at work.

The son of Capt. Connors, who remained at the foot of the mountain along with the rest of the crew, Thomas described how simply he was assigned one of the two snowmobiles.

"You two guys go snowmobiling? said Connors, imitating the curtness in Chief Bennetts voice. Easy pick. You guys run the slides. Away you go.'"

Connors said that it was difficult to locate the boys, despite receiving two ping signals from the cellphone.

Google Maps

The biggest challenge off the bat was making sure we were in the right spot, said Connors. But we were able to nail down exactly where we're going to compare the pings using Google Maps."

Meanwhile, after about one hour of being on the phone with the boys, Consiglio continued trying to keep them distracted until help arrived.

With cellphone battery life at 9%, Consiglio said, the boys showed great worry.

At one point, one of them stopped talking to his friend, shivering uncontrollably and nearing hypothermia.

But Consiglio kept at her goal.

He said his friend was getting really cold, said Consiglio. I said to him, Dude, let's keep interacting with him.

About 8:30 p.m., about an hour after the call, came the moment of relief.

About two miles from civilization, the rescuers spotted the boys huddling to keep warm.

When they said they could see the lights from the snowcat, said Consiglio, it was just relief knowing that they were coming down and that they weren't actually hurt.

To safety via snowcats

The boys were treated immediately at the scene and were transported on the snowcats back to the foot of the mountain, where they were reunited with their parents. The boys were unhurt.

Thursday's event, where the 17 members were recognized, was attended mostly by those involved in the rescue. The rescued teens were not there.

This had the potential to go very bad, said District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. But because of their training, these public servants, these people were all able to come together and coordinated their efforts, worked as a team and saved these boys.

It's no understatement at all that if it wasn't for their actions, we're going to have a very different result and probably lost two young teenagers.

Bennett attributed the rescue to "training and teamwork.

This one was tough because it was late at night and time was definitely against us, said Bennett. We've got great technology, and we have one heck of a team behind us."

Here is a complete list of the awardees from Thursdays ceremony:

Princeton Firefighter/EMT Jonathan Barry

Princeton Fire Chief/EMT John D. Bennett

Princeton Firefighter/EMT Christopher Bruning

Princeton Fire Capt./EMT Philip Connors

Princeton Firefighter Thomas Connors

Princeton Firefighter/EMT Brian Henrich

Princeton Firefighter/EMT Seamus Kelly

Princeton Deputy Fire Chief/EMT Advanced Tim Kelly

Princeton Firefighter David Richard

Princeton Firefighter/EMT Sara Williams

Wachusett Mountain Snowcat Operators Jesse Goodnow and Shawn Freeman

Mountain Vehicle Maintenance & Grooming Operations Manager Scott Goodnow

Ski Patrol Director Kevin McDonald

Wachusett Regional Emergency Communications Center Dispatcher Danielle Beland

Wachusett Regional Emergency Communications Center Dispatcher Elizabeth Consiglio

Wachusett Regional Emergency Communications Center Dispatcher Alice Ordung

Wachusett Regional Emergency Communications Center Dispatcher Zavon Zayas-Colon

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Princeton: Worcester DA honors rescuers of lost teens on Wachusett Mountain
Exposure to loud noises from headphones and commuting is leaving half of under-35s with poor hearing, a study has found.

Experts said the extent to which loud or prolonged exposure to noise is causing irreversible damage to young peoples ears was an emerging crisis.

Data from more than 1,000 people aged 16 to 35 collated between June and October 2023, found that 49 per cent had less than normal hearing levels expected and that it was affecting their quality of life.

A quarter of under-35s had hearing loss while a further two in five had probable hearing loss, according to analysis of clinical tests by hearing health company eargym.

Just 40 per cent had no sign of hearing loss, with the remainder undetermined.

Speech-in-noise test

The test used was a speech-in-noise activity, which requires participants to identify three numbers against a background of noise, multiple times and at a range of volumes, giving them a score called a signal-to-noise ratio.

It was corroborated by a clinical questionnaire called the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (AIADH), which found that half of under-35s had difficulty hearing, particularly in the categories intelligibility in noise and auditory localisation.

This means hearing speech in noisy environments, such as following conversation against loud backgrounds and identifying lyrics in music, and being able to identify where a sound is coming from, such as the direction of a travelling car.

Amanda Philpott, a former local NHS chief executive, hearing-aid user and co-founder and chief executive of eargym, told the Telegraph that asking someone these types of questions about their hearing can really give a clear clue about whether or not youre starting to experience the early signs of hearing loss from wear and tear.

Urban environment noise also a cause

Ms Philpott said the increase in hearing damage among young people is principally because of unsafe listening, but also urban environment noise from construction, roads and trains or tubes.

We see headphone use is pretty much ubiquitous, and we tend not to take our headphones off. We tend to listen to music or podcasts a bit more loudly than we should, and we dont take enough breaks, she said. We have around 18,000 hair cells in our cochlea and those are the bits that get damaged that we cant regrow.

She likened the damaging of hair cells to walking the same route across the lawn without giving the grass a break.

If you walked around the path occasionally or just didnt walk on the grass sometimes then the path would be less pronounced, and its a little bit like that for our hair cells. We pound them with noise and we dont give them a break and chance to recover so they die, she said.

60/60 rule

Ms Philpott suggested people follow the 60/60 rule, listening at 60 per cent volume, for no more than 60 minutes at a time.

Several studies have linked hearing loss with neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimers disease. Experts at the University of Oxford said it could be the biggest single risk factor for dementia.

Ms Philpott explained that hearing loss leads to social isolation, which can cause mild-cognitive impairment and then dementia.

We lose our high frequencies first, and so we lose the sibilance, the s sounds at the beginning and end of words, and so it starts to sound like people are mumbling, she said.

Its more difficult for me to distinguish what youre saying against the environmental sounds in the background and so I have to concentrate, watch your lips move, and the listening effort and cognitive load of listening when the hardware is failing, tires me out, and so I stop going to those environments, I start to withdraw from social interactions, which affects my mental health and also therefore my cognitive health.

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.
Cinde Warmington represented a controversial network of pain management clinics, but her campaign maintains that lawyers should not be held responsible for their clients' actions.

Cinde Warmington represented a controversial network of pain management clinics, but her campaign maintains that lawyers should not be held responsible for their clients' actions.

Cinde Warmington, a leading Democratic contender for governor of New Hampshire and the only Democrat on the states Executive Council, served for years as a lawyer to a pain management clinic network implicated in the Granite States opioid crisis.

As Warmington has made combating the states fentanyl crisis a central part of her campaign, the extent of her relationship with the firm now called PMC Medical Group, best known for its PainCare and Granite State Pain Associates facilities, is deeper than previously known. In fact, the clinics parent company and owner became major contributors to her campaigns for New Hampshire Executive Council and governor.

In her two runs for Executive Council in 2020 and 2022, and in her current run for governor, Warmington received a combined total of $49,000 in campaign contributions from Dr. Michael J. OConnell, the owner of the pain clinic operation, and from the PMC Medical Group, the current name for the parent company of OConnells network of pain management clinics.

OConnells $10,000 donation to Warmingtons gubernatorial campaign in April is the only contribution that either OConnell, or the medical business he founded, have made to Warmingtons most recent campaign. (OConnell, who died of lung cancer earlier this month, made most of his contributions to Warmingtons campaigns, including the most recent one, through an entity called the Michael J. OConnell Revocable Family Trust.)

Now some Granite State Democrats fear that Warmingtons ties to an opioid provider with a shady history will be a political liability in the race against the Republican gubernatorial nominee in the 2024 general election. Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte and former state Senate President Chuck Morse are the two candidates competing for the Republican nomination. The gubernatorial primary is scheduled for Sept. 10 of next year.

I like Cinde a lot, but I am convinced it will be an issue. Republicans will just make a big issue of it, because New Hampshire has had such a problem with respect to opioids, said Kathy Sullivan, a former chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party backing Warmingtons primary opponent, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig. Its just been a huge problem for years.

A substance abuse recovery advocate living in Somersworth, which is home to one of OConnells most controversial pain clinics, told HuffPost that they would never vote for Warmington because of her work for OConnell and the clinic network once known as PainCare. The advocate, themself in recovery for methamphetamine addiction, blames OConnell and PainCare for getting their mother and aunt hooked on opioids through the frivolous prescription of OxyContin.

It makes me feel sick to my stomach, said the advocate, who requested anonymity to protect their still-struggling mother. Anybody that can stand and receive blood money  thats a person that speaks out of both sides of their mouth.

Where is she going to align on all this, when push comes to shove? asked the advocate, a political independent and swing voter who is not supporting a particular candidate in the race.

Warmington has already faced substantive criticism and political concern about her past representation of infamous OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma in the early 2000s, first reported in the New Hampshire Union Leader in June. Despite already emerging evidence that OxyContin abuse was leading to addiction and crime, Warmington deadpanned in the New Hampshire legislature in 2002 that while OxyContin was indeed subject to abuse by some users, it was also being abused in the press with unduly negative coverage.

Warmingtons campaign noted that attorneys often represent clients with whom they do not agree, and argued that her record on the Executive Council speaks to her commitment to fighting opioid addiction and improving mental health care. For example, Warmington voted to approve state funding in 2021 for additional youth psychiatric treatment beds at a facility in neighboring Vermont.

Cinde spent over 20 years as a respected attorney working for hundreds of health care clients including hospitals, mental health centers, abortion care providers, nurses, and doctors in all different specialties, Philip Stein, Warmingtons campaign manager, said in a statement. On the Executive Council, Cinde has been the leading advocate for expanding access to substance abuse treatment and mental health services and, in her personal capacity, she has served on multiple community mental health and substance use disorder treatment program boards.

The campaign also provided a statement from former New Hampshire Attorney General Joe Foster, who is backing Warmington.

I strongly believe that attorneys should not be attacked for the actions of their clients, Foster said. Efforts to impugn the character and qualifications of a proven leader like Cinde based on cherry-picked clients shes represented demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of how our legal system functions.

Warmington is listed as a registered agent for Pinewood Professionals LLC, one of several names of companies that succeeded the defunct PainCare network, in its annual report in 2022. But the Warmington campaign told HuffPost that she has not represented PMC Medical Group or any of its affiliates since taking office on the Executive Council in December 2020.

Warmingtons relationship with PMC Medical Group and PainCare, the main pain clinic network owned by OConnell during the period in question, dates to at least 2011.

I do see a pattern as executive councilor where she has tended to exercise fiduciary responsibility to the public and not serving the industry.Deborah "Arnie" Arnesen, progressive radio host

At that time, OConnell faced complaints before the New Hampshire Board of Medicine that he had engaged in romantic relationships with two women he had previously treated, in violation of the boards ethics rules. Warmington represented OConnell in a 2011 settlement with the board, where OConnell would permanently surrender his medical license in return for the charges not being subject to formal adjudication.

In 2014, by which time there were 12 PainCare clinics across the state, OConnell was indicted by local prosecutors for allegedly tampering with one of the witnesses in the 2011 case before the board, though he was apparently not convicted. His defense attorney in that case was Bill Christie, Warmingtons husband.

Later, in 2015, Warmington represented OConnell when the health committee in the state House of Representatives was considering a bill that would require physicians with revoked or suspended medical licenses to cease ownership of a health care facility or practice. Warmington argued that the bill was being pushed by a jilted former colleague to punish OConnell. The bill was unanimously rejected.

The most controversial part of PainCares history, however, involves a PainCare physician assistant, Christopher Clough, who was convicted by the federal government of accepting illegal kickbacks from fentanyl spray manufacturer Insys that coincided with him massively overprescribing Subsys, the companys fentanyl spray. Clough was sentenced to four years in federal prison in 2019.

Clough  and by extension, PainCare  played a role in worsening the opioid crisis in New Hampshire in the mid-2010s. Cloughs actions and the clinics apparent negligence are still reverberating throughout the states seacoast region in particular.

In 2013 and 2014, Clough issued 760 prescriptions for Subsys  about 84% of the prescriptions for the drug in New Hampshire, at a time when the state had the second-highest per capita rate of prescribing the drug. That period coincided with a massive uptick in opioid overdose death rates in New Hampshire, which had the second-highest opioid overdose deaths per capita  after West Virginia  in 2014 and 2015. And Strafford County, home to the main PainCare clinic that employed Clough in Somersworth, remains one of the states overdose death hot spots.

Some of Cloughs former patients sued Clough, PainCare and Insys, settling for undisclosed sums in 2017.

Warmingtons involvement in managing the fallout from Cloughs actions appears to have been limited to representing Cloughs supervising physician, Dr. John Schermerhorn. After a former employee of PainCare made a whistleblower complaint about Clough in 2013, the New Hampshire Board of Medicines investigation of the incident led it to find that Schermerhorn failed to provide adequate supervision of Clough. In a settlement that Warmington helped negotiate, the board reprimanded Schermerhorn.

OConnell and the now PMC Medical Group, his network of pain management clinics and addiction recovery centers, apparently paid it forward to the firms lawyer when she first entered politics.

Manchester, New Hampshire, Mayor Joyce Craig (D) is Warmington's opponent in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. The primary is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2024.

Manchester, New Hampshire, Mayor Joyce Craig (D) is Warmington's opponent in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. The primary is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2024.

Over the course of her first run for Executive Council, in the 2020 election cycle, OConnell and PMC Medical Group each contributed $7,000 to Warmingtons campaign.

For her re-election bid in the 2022 cycle, PMC Medical Group contributed the maximum amount of $15,000, and OConnell gave $10,000, prior to the $10,000 he contributed toward Warmingtons gubernatorial campaign earlier this year.

The recovery advocate in Somersworth doesnt trust anyone who worked for, or received money from, OConnell. While Clough is the only ex-employee of OConnells to be charged with and convicted of crimes related to the opioid crisis, the recovery advocate maintains that OConnell was running a legalized pill mill as far back as the 1990s

The advocate was especially angry to see OConnell opening up a chain of additional facilities to treat opioid addictions that the advocate believes OConnells own pain management clinics fueled.

He was a predator and he used the population, a lower-income population, to his advantage, the advocate said. This guy has affected generations of people.

HuffPost spoke to progressive former state lawmaker and present-day radio host Deborah Arnie Arnesen, who was largely unbothered by Warmingtons work for PainCare and OConnell, and the donations she subsequently received.

I do see a pattern as executive councilor where she has tended to exercise fiduciary responsibility to the public and not serving the industry, said Arnesen, who was the states first female gubernatorial nominee in 1992, and has not publicly endorsed anyone in the current race. I cant defend her, but I cant finger her either, because shes got an interesting background.

Arnesen did concede that the prospect of Republican attacks against Warmington over her past ties to makers and providers of opioids made her physically nauseous.

Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.
George Santos became the sixth member of Congress to be expelled from the House of Representatives on Friday. Now voters in his district will finally have an opportunity to replace the alleged fraudster.

His removal leaves the seat vacant, temporarily tightening the already-slim Republican majority in the House and giving Democrats two opportunities to flip the battleground Third District in 2024.

The first opportunity will be a special election to fill the seat through January 2025. New York Governor Kathy Hochul must announce the date of the special election within ten days, and the election must take place 70 to 80 days after that. Instead of holding typical primaries, county party leaders will choose the candidates for the special election. The winner of that race will finish Santos term.

Voters in the Long Island-based district will vote again on who should represent them in the House in the regular election next November. The already-crowded race gives party bosses on both sides of the aisle numerous options to choose as their pick for the special election.

Both races are likely to be among the most closely watched in the country next year.

Nassau County Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs previously told ABC News that several candidates are in consideration for the special election, including Santos predecessor, Tom Suozzi, who is considered the partys frontrunner in the regular election. Jacobs also mentioned former state Senator Anna Kaplan, who is also already running in the regular primary, and Robert Zimmerman, who lost the general election to Santos last year in a district that backed Biden in 2020. Jacobs has stressed that the party needs a moderate candidate to win back the seat.

On the Republican side, more than a dozen candidates are in consideration for the special election. Among the Republicans already running for the seat are Kellen Curry, a veteran who has earned the endorsements of some members of Congress and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Retired NYPD detective Michael Sapraicone boasts similarly impressive fundraising and is considered a likely pick for the special election, while Nassau County legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip may also be under consideration.

The House Majority PAC, which is aligned with House Democratic leadership, will be among he outside groups likely to invest in the race to fill the seat. House Majority PAC plans to play a significant role in the NY-03 special election, and we will do whatever it takes to flip this district blue," says Mike Smith, the super PAC's president.

Write to Mini Racker at mini.racker@time.com.
To honor his achievements and boost rural development, a new museum dedicated to Mo Yan opened to visitors in Gaomi, Shandong province, on Tuesday.

Mo Yan, who was born in Gaomi in 1955, won the Nobel laureate of literature in 2012, and is known for writing rooted in his home and the land.

"Most of the stories I tell are true and have happened in Gaomi," the author said at the opening ceremony for the Mo Yan Literature and Art Museum, adding that he hopes the museum will become a place for international literary exchange and a spiritual home for Gaomi residents.

"What I should do was simplicity itself, write my own stories in my own way. My way was that of the marketplace storyteller, with which I was so familiar, the way my grandfather and my grandmother and other village old-timers told stories," Mo Yan said during his acceptance speech for his Nobel award.

The museum contains versions of his books in different languages, as well as manuscripts, and award medals and certificates. It will also host literary events and tours for students.

Mo Yan said that many famous writers were born in Shandong and he hopes that the museum will contribute to drawing them together.

Writer Feng Jicai attended the opening ceremony. "A big tree of literature has grown, and it is the earth where it grows that nurtures it. The museum is the earth for us to find out roots to interpret Mo Yan and learn more about him," he said. "It also shows how people love and respect him."
Hermitage police are asking the public for information that would help solve a homicide that happened eight years ago.

According to Hermitage police, Ralph Kenneth Lloyd was shot while walking in the 800 block of North Water Avenue at 1:08 a.m. on Dec. 1, 2015.

Lloyd died in surgery several hours later, according to police.

Police said Lloyd had walked to the Hermitage neighborhood of Patagonia, where he lived, from Sharon that night.

A witness near the scene of the shooting told police there was an argument followed by gunshots.

Lloyd was a former truck driver from South Carolina, and worked at the Sharon McDonalds at the time of his death.

Any persons with information regarding these incident are asked to contact the Hermitage Police Investigation Unit, 724-983-6782 or 24/7 Dispatch 724-662-6110 or, if you have information on this crime, any serious crime, or wanted person, call the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477).

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

Teen boy arrested in connection to deadly shooting at apartment building in Munhall Westmoreland County man charged after infant hospitalized with broken bones, severe bruising Social media threat toward Pittsburgh school leads to 2 arrests, 4 guns recovered VIDEO: It was a miracle I lived: Restaurant owner shot in crime spree speaks out after man sentenced DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Tucked among the trees, sitting right on the water, the 2024 HGTV home is up for grabs.

Being back here is like full circle, Brian Patrick Flynn said.

Flynn is a designer for HGTV Dream Homes. The decorator has assisted with 10 dream homes for HGTV, and he grew up in Florida.

This is incredible for me, because as a kid growing up in South Florida, St. Augustine and Anastasia Island were where we had our field trips, Flynn said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Flynn explained these homes are built entirely just to give away. He said the kitchen is his favorite part of the house.

I dont even cook, so that should say a lot, Flynn said.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

He said the build from start to finish was an exciting project to work on, but the best part of these giveaways are the smiles and excitement from the families who win.

That moment is gonna be part of their life forever, Flynn said.

On Dec. 22, you can start entering for a chance to win the home, a brand-new car, and a check by clicking here. You can enter up to twice a day.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 20: Actor and U.S. Senate candidate Hill Harper engages the audience during the State of Our Democracy: Voter Apathy in the Black Community panel.



CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 20: Actor and U.S. Senate candidate Hill Harper engages the audience during the State of Our Democracy: Voter Apathy in the Black Community panel.

Michigan Senate candidate Hill Harper unleashed a media firestorm when he posted on X that a wealthy political donor offered him $20 million to drop out of his race and primary Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

I didnt intend for a private phone call to turn public, wrote Hill, referencing an article from Politico about the call. But now that it has, heres the truth. One of AIPACs biggest donors offered $20m if I dropped out of the U.S. Senate race to run against @RashidaTlaib. I said no. I wont be bossed, bullied, or bought.

Read more

So no, I will not be bought off or bullied by money, whether its that call, the other calls that Ive gotten, threatening to spend money against me, because Im advocating for things that are against a certain type of special interest, he said.

What Did The Donor Want?

Although Harper said he didnt want to dwell much on the call itself, he did explain what the donor, whom he identified as Linden Nelson, was after.

It was pretty evident that he would get a two-for-benefit for the money spent, he said. One, they would eliminate me from running against a candidate that they support. And two, they would have me drop out of that race, the U.S. Senate race, to run against the candidate that they do not support and primary that sitting member.

Hill added that while he wasnt certain what was on the callers mind, it seemed clear that the call had to do with Rep. Tlaibs, the only Palestinian in Congress, support for Palestinians. Ironically, Hill is one of the only Senate candidates calling for a ceasefire. Over 71% of Michigan Democrats want a ceasefire. But less than 10% of congressional members have advocated for it, he said. Im only one of two major US Senate candidates who has advocated for a ceasefire in the country.

The Root reached out to Nelson for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

Money In Politics

This isnt just about one singular issue, though, says Harper. Its about the totality of what happens when special interests get their way because they have deep pockets. So, 93% of all elections are money determinative. What I mean by that is, the person who raises the most money wins, he says.

The consequences of this system are apparent, Harper says. Lets just take one data point. In 2022, Big Pharma spent $373 million on political campaigns. And thats an off-cycle, non-Presidential year, he says. I live in Detroit, and people wonder why their prescription medicine costs for life-saving drugs are 50% greater than 10 minutes away across the bridge [to Canada]... I mean, we understand this, and people understand it. And thats why theyre checked out, and theyre frustrated, and theyre angry.

Harper says that as a Senator, hed make it his mission to do away with the Citizens United verdict, which opened the floodgates for dark money in politics.

And so its not so much that the person calling, or the entities that are throwing so much money to control elections and control outcomes and control candidates are doing it, he says, The big question is, why are we allowing a system to exist, that allows for calls like that. That allows special interest, big corporate interest, and lobbies to hold more power than the people.

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.
By David Alire Garcia

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A historic Mexico City church has morphed into the capital's largest migrant shelter, with hundreds of sleeping mats stacked high inside and a growing tent city clustered around it where many await news before resuming their risky trek north.

The noisy, makeshift migrant hub located just blocks behind the president's downtown offices is the latest sign of Mexico's struggle to handle record migration from across Latin America.

The Catholic church's activist pastor has for years opened its doors and spacious nave to the homeless or otherwise marginalized, including drug addicts and sex workers.

But lately the number of migrants has swelled to over 3,000 on one record night two weeks ago - 1,300 inside and another 2,000 outside in tents - as word of the safe space spread.

The church is a way station for migrants as most wait for unpredictable appointments with U.S. border agents through a mobile phone app.

In a policy change, the United States now says migrants must sign up for appointments on the app to approach a legal port of entry or face a higher bar to seeking asylum, in a bid to reduce unlawful crossings.

"The journey has been very difficult. In my country, you're always dealing with an economic crisis. There isn't work, lots of companies have closed, we had the hurricanes, and then there are the gangs," said Eva Alvarez, a Honduran mother.

She spoke while waiting in line off the side of the church ahead of dinner, along with her rambunctious, smiling sons, 8-year-old Dominick and 12-year-old Eyder.

About two months ago they left their home in San Pedro Sula, Honduras' second-largest city known for its industry and violence and have been in Mexico City about three weeks.

"Right now, I want to wait here until I get my appointment on the app," she said.

In August, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said more than two-thirds of migrants who had recently sought an appointment to plead their case for entry secured one "in less than eight weeks." DHS did not share overall wait times and it is unclear if they have lengthened or shortened since then.

The wait comes as U.S. border agents recorded the most-ever apprehensions in the 12 months ending in September, or 2.4 million, higher than any other year-long period on record due to surging displacements worldwide.

Among the rows of tents outside the red-domed 17th century Our Lady of Solitude church  one of Mexico's oldest - spontaneous celebrations erupt when appointments on the app are confirmed.

Arriving at the church earlier this week, 30-year-old Venezuelan migrant Alejandro Urbina explained near his tent that he logs onto the app every day.

"It just depends on your luck," said Urbina, standing next to his Belgian shepherd Trixy, who he credits for a viral TikTok video he posted as the pair crossed the treacherous Darien Gap separating Colombia from Panama around four months ago.

Urbina's dream is to make it to New York and work as a dog trainer.

Reverend Benito Torres, the church's pastor, explained that the Christian imperative to help the most vulnerable is what motivates him. But he also hopes the Mexican government will do more.

"The problem is we're over our capacity," he said in an interview. "And while it seems the government knows this, we haven't seen any reaction."

(Reporting by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Dave Graham and Lisa Shumaker)
The holiday movie season is in full swing, but there are still several titles opening before the end of the year. Heres a look: (Release dates and titles are subject to change).

ALREADY OPENED/ONLINE

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes  This spin-off of the popular franchise has a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth, Billy the Kid), who mentors and develops feelings for the female District 12 tribute during the 10th Hunger Games.

Napoleon  Joaquin Phoenix stars in director Ridley Scotts epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). Im sure they had several quaint nights together.

Silent Night  Action director vet John Woo helms this tale of a grieving father (Joel Kinnaman) who enacts his long-awaited revenge against a ruthless gang on Christmas Eve. Spread the cheer, right?

May December  Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past. (In limited release in theaters; on Netflix)

Leave the World Behind  Producers Barack and Michelle Obama present a thriller about a couple (Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke), their ritzy Airbnb host (Mahershala Ali) and a doomsday prepper (Kevin Bacon), whose paranoia seems appropriate as a cyberattack devastates America. (In limited release in theaters; on Netflix Dec. 8)

Maestro  Bradley Cooper dazzlingly embodies conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein, and Carey Mulligan is equally brilliant as his Broadway star wife. (In limited release in theaters; on Netflix Dec. 20)

FRIDAY, DEC. 8

The Boy and the Heron  This Japanese animation follows a 12-year-old boy named Mahito, who struggles to settle into a new town after his mothers death. But when a talking heron informs him that his mother is still alive, Mahito enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world.

DEC. 15

Wonka  Genius casting has Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name, Dune) starring as Willy Wonka, the character at the center of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wonka is a prequel, telling the story of how the worlds greatest chocolate-maker came to meet the Oompa-Loompas on one of his earliest adventures. Strike that, reverse it. Or dont. (See the movies.)

From left, Fantasia Barrino stars as Celie and Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery in The Color Purple, opening in theaters Christmas Day.

DEC. 22

Anyone But You  Despite an amazing first date, a ridiculously photogenic couple (Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell) find their initial attraction quickly turns sour. (Perhaps bad lighting?) But when they unexpectedly find themselves at a destination wedding in Australia, they pretend to be the perfect couple to keep up appearances. Im sure everything turns out fine.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom  When an ancient power is unleashed, Aquaman (a still buff-even-under-water Jason Mamoa) must forge an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to protect Atlantis  and the world  from irreversible devastation. Its always irreversible. Why is it always irreversible?

The Iron Claw  The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers (Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson), who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.

Migration  Illumination animation presents this tale of a family of ducks who try to convince their overprotective father to go on the vacation of a lifetime. With the voices of Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito and Carol Kane.

Bruce Herbelin-Earle stars as Shorty Hunt, Callum Turner as Joe Rantz and Jack Mulhern as Don Hume in director George Clooneys The Boys in the Boat.

DEC. 25

The Boys in the Boat  George Clooney directs this tale about a 1930s University of Washington rowing team, from its Depression-era beginnings to winning gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Starring Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner.

The Color Purple  A decades-spanning tale of love and resilience with one womans journey to independence. Celie (Fantasia Barrino) faces many hardships in her life but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. A film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical that was inspired by Steven Spielbergs film based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker.

Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com .
This photo taken on Aug 24, 2023 shows the automated production of motor stator and rotor at a company in the Western Science city in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality. [Photo/Xinhua]

Despite China's factory activity contracting in November, experts said that further policy stimulus will be effective in bolstering the Chinese economy amid signs of improving business sentiment and the property market bottoming out.

Considering the stronger policy support and anticipated improvement in demand, the experts said they believe the economy will be on track for a steady recovery next year.

Both fiscal and monetary policy support should be stepped up in order to boost domestic demand and encourage the development of the private sector as well as micro and small businesses, they added.

Their comments came as data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday that China's official purchasing managers index for the manufacturing sector fell to 49.4 in November from 49.5 in October, staying below the 50-point mark that separates contraction from growth.

Zhao Qinghe, an NBS statistician, said the manufacturing PMI declined as November marks the traditional offseason for some manufacturing sectors, and the reading was also impacted by factors such as insufficient market demand.

NBS data showed that the reading for manufacturers' expectations for future output and business operations came in at 55.8 in November after 55.6 in October, expressing strong optimism about future growth prospects.

Zhou Maohua, an analyst at China Everbright Bank, said that while the manufacturing PMI shrank in November, nonmanufacturing activity maintained expansion.

China's nonmanufacturing PMI read 50.2 in November, down from 50.6 a month earlier. Also, the country's official composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing activities, came in at 50.4 in November compared with 50.7 in October, according to the NBS.

Zhou said he believes that both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing PMI readings will improve gradually in the following months, given China's continued recovery trend and a series of stimulus measures gradually taking effect.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has raised its 2023 annual GDP growth forecast for China to 5.2 percent, from 5.1 percent in September, above the country's preset annual GDP growth target of around 5 percent, according to the OECD's economic outlook report released on Wednesday.

China's economy is expected to grow 4.7 percent in 2024, up from the previous forecast of 4.6 percent, an earlier report said.

"Consumption growth remains subdued and activity in the real estate sector continues to weaken, but monetary policy easing and additional infrastructure investment will help underpin domestic demand," the OECD said in its latest report.

S&P Global China Ratings, one of the world's three most prominent rating agencies, said in a report that the good news for China's property developers is that a bottom is in sight, estimating that the nation's property sales will drop about 5 percent in 2024.

The foundation for recovery is not solid yet despite signs of a stabilizing economy, analysts said, adding that the country is still grappling with economic challenges including distress in the property sector, slowing external demand and souring private investment.

Li Chao, chief economist at Zheshang Securities Research Institute, said he expects to see strengthened coordination between monetary and fiscal policies next year.

More efforts will be made to expand domestic demand, boost infrastructure spending, support the development of micro and small businesses and the private sector, and stabilize the property sector, Li said.

To further bolster demand in the real estate sector, the country may adopt further measures to ease purchase restrictions and further reduce down payment ratios for homebuyers in first-tier cities, he added.
Celebrate Senior Living in South Holland, formerly the Holland Home and a retirement residence for south suburban residents since 1974, is set to close in January.

Its had a very rich history, going back to the time when it was the Holland Home, South Holland Mayor Don A. DeGraff said Friday.

DeGraff said he learned of the closure a little over a month ago at the same time staff and residents were notified.

Our first concern is to make sure that residents are taken care of, he said.

DeGraff said the second focus from the villages perspective is to make sure that whatever company or nonprofit takes over the facility is a good steward.

A spokesman for Celebrate South Holland confirmed the closure but provided no additional comment. Provident Healthcare Management which owns the Celebrate chain including other locations in Niles and For Wayne, Indiana, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The facility was the subject of controversy when, in 2015, the death of a 98-year-old resident was ruled a homicide caused by inappropriate administration of medication by medical personnel.

Five others were hospitalized two of which also died. The facility was under different leadership at the time and was a nonprofit called Holland Home. Its current ownership is for-profit.

Despite this bad publicity, the facility has long offered important services in the region, including independent living and assisted living. One leader in the South Holland religious community expressed sadness when she learned about the closure Friday.

I think its a wonderful facility. My mothers best friend was in there and I would go and see her all the time, said Betty Wilson, a minister at Breaking Bread Fellowship Ministries. I think its rather sad.

The nursing home facility on the Celebrate campus is owned by a different company called Elevate Care. Elevate Care did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This news comes just a day after another decades old senior living facility in Crete closed its doors at the end of November.

It is still unclear why the facility is closing and how many residents are still at Celebrate in South Holland. Although DeGraff confirmed the company has Jan. 10 circled as the official closure date, he said discussions with the firm lead him to believe that date is flexible if residents need more time to find their next home.

Its well known that its been difficult in the last 10, 15 years or so to run senior living facilities, DeGraff said. We, as a village, have always been there to support those facilities ... We will continue to do that.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Several House Republicans are pushing to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas yet again.

They say Mayorkas should be removed from his job due to his handling of the southern border.

This is the second time this month that a resolution to impeach Mayorkas was introduced.

Its clear that as long as Secretary Mayorkas remains in office, our border will remain unsecured and vulnerable to human and drug trafficking, said Texas Republican Beth Van Duyne.

Van Duyne and several House Republicans like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene are once again calling for Mayorkas to be fired.

Mayorkas has made it easier for illegal aliens and drugs to enter the United States  endangering American citizens, Greene said.

This is the second time Greene has introduced an impeachment resolution against Mayorkas this month, the first time failed.

California Republican Tom McClintock says he agrees Mayorkas has failed to maintain operational control of the border but says impeaching him would be a mistake.

If Miss Greene is successful and redefining impeachment, then the next time Democrats have the majority we can expect this new definition be turned against the conservatives, McClintock said.

California Democrat Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) says Republicans are wasting time.

Lieu said: They seem to have largely given up on trying to pass appropriations bills with their own votes, instead their focus is on impeachment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, center, flanked by Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with reporters about efforts to investigate President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP)  House Republicans demanded Friday that Hunter Biden appear this month for a closed-door deposition, rejecting his offer to testify publicly while pledging to release a transcript of the private interview for transparency.

House Oversight Committee chair James Comer and Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan reiterated the parameters of the subpoena issued last month to Hunter Biden in a letter  obtained by The Associated Press  to his attorney. The presidents son had refused their request this week for closed-door testimony, saying it could be manipulated.

The subpoenas Mr. Biden has received compel him to appear before the Committees for a deposition; they are not mere suggestions open to Mr. Bidens interpretation or preference, the Republican chairmen wrote in a letter to attorney Abbe Lowell.

Lowell this week had called the nearly yearslong GOP investigation into his client a fishing expedition, but offered for his client to appear publicly rather than behind closed doors, saying closed sessions can be selectively leaked and used to manipulate the facts.

His response to the committee was in line with the more forceful approach Hunter Biden's legal team has taken in recent months as congressional Republicans pursue an impeachment inquiry seeking to tie his father to his business dealings.

But Comer and Jordan reiterated their initial request, saying they are conforming with the approach Republican and Democratic majorities have historically taken when deposing witnesses.

Mr. Biden seems to believe that he should be treated differently than other witnesses before the Committees," the men wrote.

Lowell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The early-November subpoenas to Hunter Biden and others were the inquirys most aggressive steps yet, testing the reach of congressional oversight powers.

Republicans have so far failed to uncover evidence directly implicating President Joe Biden in any wrongdoing. But questions have arisen about the ethics surrounding the Biden familys international business, and lawmakers insist their evidence paints a troubling picture of influence peddling in the family's business dealings, particularly with clients overseas.

Republicans have also spoken with an attorney for the president's brother, James Biden,to determine a date for his subpoenaed testimony, Jordan said this week. The subpoenas to the Biden family members and others, including former business associate Rob Walker, are bitterly opposed by Democrats, and the White House has called for them to be withdrawn and questioned their legitimacy.

The criticism has pushed Republicans to consider holding a vote this month to formally authorize their inquiry in an effort to strengthen their legal standing if the subpoena battle drags into court.

But holding a vote on the impeachment investigation would be a risky move by House Republican leaders, who have not yet been able to garner enough support for the inquiry in their narrow 221-213 majority. With Democrats united against the impeachment push, GOP leaders would need near-unanimous support from their side for the vote to succeed.

___

Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report.
The House voted Friday to expel GOP Rep. George Santos, a historic vote that makes the New York congressman the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the chamber.

The vote brings an end to a scandal-plagued and tumultuous tenure on Capitol Hill for the freshman New York congressman. Expulsion is the most severe form of punishment for a lawmaker in the House. It is exceedingly rare and requires a two-thirds majority vote to succeed  a high bar to clear.

Santos had survived prior attempts to oust him, but there was growing momentum for the latest effort after the House Ethics Committee released a long-awaited report, which concluded that the congressman had sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.

The resolution passed 311 to 114, with 105 Republicans voting with the overwhelming majority of Democrats in favor of expulsion. Two Democrats voted no, and two Democrats voted present.

Santos told CNN after the vote to expel, Its over.

The House spoke, Santos said. Thats their vote. They just set a new dangerous precedent for themselves.

To hell with this place, he said.

Santos announced that he would not seek reelection following the release of the ethics report, but he had refused to resign and denounced the investigation as a disgusting politicized smear.

The New York Republican has separately pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds and lying about his personal finances on House disclosure reports.

In addition to the legal issues he faces, Santos has sparked shock and controversy on Capitol Hill over revelations that he fabricated large parts of his life story, including significant elements of his resume and biography.

Santos had remained defiant as he faced the threat of expulsion, arguing that he was being bullied and that it would set a dangerous precedent if the House expelled him since he has not been convicted in a court of law.

Republicans weigh how to vote

A number of Republicans who previously did not support Santos expulsion said they would vote to expel him as a result of the Ethics panels findings, though it was not clear ahead of the vote if there would be enough support to oust the congressman.

The expulsion vote set off a debate among GOP Republican lawmakers over how to vote.

Some Republicans have argued it is imperative to expel Santos in light of the findings of the ethics investigation. Others, however, have raised concerns over due process given that Santos faces an unfinished legal battle and has not at this time been convicted.

The renewed push to expel Santos presented a leadership test for newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson as he navigated competing opinions within his conference. Additionally, House Republicans control a very narrow majority, and expulsion would shrink it even further.

Johnson and three other top members of House GOP leadership voted against the effort to oust Santos.

Weve not whipped the vote and we wouldnt, Johnson told reporters Wednesday morning. 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 for that.

House Ethics panel releases scathing report

In November, the House Ethics Committee released a major report following an investigation into Santos conduct.

The ethics committee said it uncovered additional uncharged and unlawful conduct by Santos beyond the criminal allegations already pending against him, and would immediately refer the allegations to the Justice Department for further investigation.

The panel concluded that there is substantial evidence that the New York congressman used campaign funds for personal purposes.

Santos engaged in knowing and willful violations with regard to financial disclosure statements filed with the House, according to the panel, and knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission.

The committee didnt include a disciplinary recommendation in its report, but said that the conduct of the congressman merits public condemnation, is beneath the dignity of the office, and has brought severe discredit upon the House.

Expulsion from the House exceedingly rare

Following the expulsion vote, Santos becomes just the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the chamber and the first House member to be expelled without having been convicted or having supported the Confederacy.

Only five House lawmakers have ever been expelled. Three of the five House lawmakers who have been expelled throughout history were ousted over their support for the Confederacy.

The most recent expulsion in the House took place in 2002 when the chamber voted to expel Democratic Rep. James Traficant of Ohio after he was convicted of federal corruption charges.

There have been previous attempts to expel Santos that did not succeed prior to the release of the ethics report on the congressmans conduct.

In early November, a Republican-led effort to expel Santos failed. Ahead of the vote, Santos defended his right to the presumption of innocence.

In May, the House voted to refer a Democrat-led resolution to expel Santos to the Ethics Committee.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Annie Grayer contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Chen Jianzhong (second right), chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zhejiang Provincial Committee, visits the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, Nov. 28, 2023. [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn]



Two enterprises from Quzhou in Zhejiang province presented their product offerings Tuesday at the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, seeking opportunities to go global.

"We hope to find more cooperative opportunities through this expo," said Han Peng, an exhibitor from DAS Solar at the exhibition area for clean energy. DAS Solar is a solar cell and module technology company based in the city of Quzhou, southeastern China's Zhejiang province.

Specializing in the R&D, manufacturing and sales of high-efficiency photovoltaic cells, components and system applications, as well as power station investment, construction and operation, DAS Solar is a comprehensive service provider dedicated to providing full-scenario photovoltaic new energy system application solutions. Last year, the company ranked eighth in the world for module shipments, and third for N-type module shipments.

Since the company was founded in 2018, it has taken the lead in deploying N-type solar cells and also built China's first high-efficiency TopCon battery production line in 2019. At present, the laboratory efficiency of its N-type TopCon 4.0 solar cells exceeds 26.33%, and the mass production rate exceeds 25.8%.

"Our overseas customers are mainly from Europe, so we want to make good use of the CISCE platform to expand our clientele," Han said. The company is set to accelerate its globalization in order to deliver sustainable clean energy to more parts of the world.

Besides the high-tech clean energy enterprise, Zhejiang Aijia Food Co. Ltd., a fruit and vegetable company from Quzhou, has also shined at the CISCE.

A photo shows Changshan grapefruit juice on display at the CISCE in Beijing, Nov. 28, 2023. [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn]



"Our Changshan grapefruit juice has attracted a large number of tasters since the first day of the event," said Zeng Ying, an exhibitor from Zhejiang Aijia Food Co. Ltd.

In 2014, Aijia spent more than 350 million yuan ($49.05 million) setting up a business in the Changshan County Industrial Park in Quzhou, the home of Changshan grapefruit.

As of 2023, the annual output of the fruit in Changshan county reached 120,000 metric tons.

To promote the juice, Aijia is constantly optimizing the product's flavor and storage technology and has constructed a standardized production base, a digital fruit selection center, a warehousing and processing workshop, and a product R&D center. The company is working to boost the Changshan grapefruit industry toward a high-end, green, digital, and integrated development.

"We hope to use the platform of the CISCE to let more people from all over the world get to know and purchase our products," Zeng added.
The U.S. House wasted no time after its members voted to remove disgraced Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from his position on Friday, sending a worker to change the locks on his office almost immediately after the vote.

A C-SPAN camera captured a man removing the lock from what was formerly Santos workplace in the Longworth House Office Building.

Posters of Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip papered the walls outside the office. A brief shot of the interior revealed a tidy desk topped with fresh flowers and a framed photograph of Santos beside a large American flag.

Changing the locks in George Santos former office ... pic.twitter.com/ZpfcnLLTGp  Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) December 1, 2023

Santos whisked himself away from Capitol Hill in a black SUV after his colleagues kicked him out, capping his term early at 11 months.

He had few words for reporters as he left, saying, To hell with this place.

Santos was elected last year with about 54% of the vote in New Yorks 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses a swath of Queens and Long Island. The extent to which he lied about his background and exaggerated his resume was not apparent until after the election  and details are still coming out.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle waffled on whether to remove him from office for what had become an embarrassing series of deceptions. Santos is also defending himself against federal criminal charges related to his alleged mishandling of campaign funds.

A searing House Ethics Committee report last month helped erode what remained of support for Santos, culminating in his becoming just the sixth member of Congress to ever be expelled.

Related...
California Republicans were split as the House of Representatives voted to expel Rep. George Santos, the New York GOP freshman who faces almost two dozen federal charges related to misusing campaign funds.

Three California Republicans voted against the resolution, which passed with an overwhelming majority Friday. All 40 Democrats as well as eight state Republicans voted to expel. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, did not vote.

Reps. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, Doug LaMalfa, R-Oroville, and Darrell Issa, R-Vista, opposed expulsion.

Santos has been charged with such crimes, but has not been convicted. Although Congress is not required to wait for a verdict, I believe it should, McClintock said Friday.

Trial by a jury of ones peers is an essential element of our jurisprudence, and a congressional committee, buffeted by partisanship, political pressures and personal relationships is a poor substitute.

Traction to remove Santos, 35, increased following an explosive House Ethics Committee report two weeks ago which said there was substantial evidence Santos funneled campaign funds to cover personal expenses. These included at luxury retailer Hermes, adult-content site OnlyFans and for cosmetic procedure Botox.

It blasted the New York congressman for lies during his campaign, ranging from claims that he was the grandson of Holocaust survivors, a graduate of Baruch College who played volleyball, a former employee of Citi Group and Goldman Sachs and the son of a mother who escaped the South Tower on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and later died from related complications.

No part of that backstory has been found to be true, the report said.

Failing to expel George Santos after the findings of the Ethics Committee would set a concerning precedent, Rep. John Duarte, R-Modesto, said in a statement before the vote. It would suggest that the highest representative body in the country tolerates fraudulent behavior and disregards the genuine findings and recommendations of the institutional bodies we have established to prevent such abuses of power.

California Republicans against expulsion

Expulsion required a two-thirds majority, which was met Friday in a 311-114 vote.

Republicans were almost evenly split, with 105 voting to expel, 112 against. Two Democrats voted against expulsion. Two voted present.

California Republicans who voted against were concerned not only about essentially convicting a member without due process, but setting what they called a dangerous precedent.

McClintock said Fridays vote substantially broadens the grounds for expulsion that the House has observed for nearly 2  centuries.

He condemned the conduct that is alleged.

But, McClintock said, the power of expulsion negates the right of the people to choose the representative they most want to speak for them in Congress. Such an extreme power should be used with extreme care.

Until now, the congressman noted, expulsion has come because of acts of disloyalty, such as joining the Confederacy in the 19th century, or being convicted of a serious crime.

LaMalfa had a similar view.

I do not think Congress should create a new precedent. Given the merging of justice and politics these days, an expulsion vote could be used as political warfare or to tip the scale in a decision of an ongoing court case, he said.

Sixth lawmaker to be expelled

Santos is the sixth lawmaker ever to be expelled from the House. Three congressmen were expelled for supporting the Confederacy in the Civil War. Two were convicted of bribery and removed in the past half century.

That makes the New York Republican the first lawmaker in recent history to be expelled before being convicted of a crime. Some GOP colleagues, including Santos, said that sets a dangerous precedent.

If its their choice to change precedent and loop me in with three confederate turncoats who were expelled for treason and two convicted members who were convicted in a court of law, so Ill be the first person to get expelled from Congress without a conviction or without committing treason, Santos said on FOX & Friends before the vote. And it sets dangerous new precedent for the future to come. Its the demise of this body eventually.

House Republicans have a slim majority, made slimmer by the loss of Santos in the chance that a Democrat successfully replaces him in a special election. Some Republicans might have been concerned about those odds, given Santos, who reliably votes with his Republican colleagues, represents a district that President Joe Biden won by 10 percentage points in 2020.

His colleagues gave Santos time to resign instead of face expulsion this week. Santos turned that opportunity down, rather saying he would wear it like a badge of honor.

Third attempt at expulsion

This is the third time the House has voted on Santos expulsion, though the first two times came before the Ethics Committee report.

Throughout his tenure, Santos has been plagued with scandal caused by his lies about his life, resume and finances. In May, the Department of Justice charged Santos with 13 federal counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress.

The first vote to expel him failed then.

In October, DOJ prosecutors added another 10 counts, ranging from conspiracy to commit offenses against the U.S., wire fraud to falsifying records to making false statements to the Federal Election Commission to aggravated identity theft.

Again, a resolution to expel Santos failed.

Then the House Ethics Committee released its 56-page report in mid-November, detailing allegations that Santos deceived his donors and put campaign funds toward lavish personal expenses. Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, authored a resolution to expel Santos. He closely coordinated with fellow New York representatives who supported expulsion.

Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat who has long advocated for Santos expulsion and filed the first resolution to expel him this year, then filed a privileged motion followed by a New York lawmaker to do so. That gave the House two days to act.

Garcia, D-Long Beach, said Friday that the House sent a clear message that criminal behavior will not be tolerated, and were committed to upholding the highest standards of public service. From day one, our efforts to expel Santos have been about holding his corruption accountable, and weve succeeded.

Garcia, according to The New York Times, told Santos before the vote that he had no personal animosity toward him. But, as another gay person, he was sad for him.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver was torn.

Standing outside the House chamber on Thursday evening, the Kansas City Democrat had not yet decided whether he would vote to expel Rep. George Santos, a New York Republican who has been accused of violating a litany of campaign finance laws.

I dont like him, Cleaver said. Thats not the issue. But Im still having problems with due process.

Ultimately, Cleaver and 311 members voted to expel Santos on Friday, making him just the sixth member, and first Republican, to be kicked out of the House. A quiet settled over the chamber when the bipartisan expulsion vote was announced.

I am at peace, Santos said Thursday, a day before the vote. I have accepted that whether I get expelled or I dont, I have accepted that I do not control that fate, Mr. Speaker. I have done the best I can to serve in this body and to deliver the best I can in my campaign promises.

Santos, wearing a black sweater and a black top coat draped over his shoulders, stood in the back of the House chamber as the votes stacked up against him. He shoo

It was the second time the House has voted on whether to expel Santos. The first vote, which Santos survived, came after he was indicted by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York on allegations of conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud.

Fridays vote came after a damning report by the House Ethics Committee that found Santos violated campaign finance law  including using campaign funds to purchase Botox and to subscribe to a pornographic website  and willfully violated the Ethics in Government Act.

For many of the 114 who voted against expelling Santos, the argument came down to due process.

Rep. Eric Burlison, a freshman Missouri Republican, said he believed the precedent for expelling a member of Congress was a criminal conviction, not just ethics violations and an indictment.

Of the five former members who were kicked out of Congress, three of them were removed for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War and two were removed after they had been convicted of crimes.

The precedent is that after youve been convicted, then you shouldnt be expelled from Congress, Burlison said. Hes not been convicted.

Cleaver, too, said he was concerned about the precedent the vote would set, saying he cast his vote with great, great caution because he was concerned Republicans would end up using the vote against Democrats.

We have a culture here right now, where if you do it to us, were going to do it to you, Cleaver said, pointing to Santos last ditch effort to expel Rep. Jamal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm to delay a vote at the end of September.

Rep. Mark Alford, a freshman Republican from Missouri who voted against expelling Santos, wavered with his decision in the lead-up to the vote.

Most people, they get to that point and they leave for the good of the body and the good of their district, Alford said. George has chosen not to do that, to hang on until its adjudicated in court.

How they voted

A yes vote means the lawmaker voted to expel Santos.

Kansas

Rep. Sharice Davids (D)  Yes

Rep. Ron Estes (R)  Yes

Rep. Jake LaTurner (R)  Yes

Rep. Tracey Mann (R)  Yes

Missouri

Rep. Mark Alford (R)  No

Rep. Eric Burlison (R)  No

Rep. Cori Bush (D)  Yes

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D)  Yes

Rep. Sam Graves (R)  No

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R)  No

Rep. Jason Smith (R)  No

Rep. Ann Wagner (R)  Yes
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have held a meeting on the sidelines of the meeting of the OSCE Council of foreign ministers in Skopje, where they discussed the "situation in Ukraine".

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Russian Foreign Ministry

Details: The statement of the ministry says that "a check on whether we are on the same page was carried out on a wide range of practical issues of bilateral cooperation with an emphasis on the implementation of agreements confirmed on 17 October 2023 in Beijing during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban."

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the sides also exchanged views on key issues of the OSCE's activities and topical international issues, "including the situation in Ukraine".

Background:

During his speech at the OSCE ministerial meeting in Skopje, Szijjarto argued that supplying Ukraine with weapons would not lead to peace and emphasised that he wanted to save the lives of the Hungarian minority.

In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin held negotiations in the Chinese capital, Beijing, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, for which European allies criticised him.

During talks with Putin, Orban called the invasion of Ukraine not a war but a "military operation", same as Russian propagandists.

At the EU summit, the Hungarian Prime Minister said he doesn't plan to apologise for his meeting with the Russian president in China and considers his actions correct.

Support UP or become our patron!
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The European Union should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine instead of starting membership talks with the country, Hungary's Viktor Orban said on Friday, flagging a way to a possible compromise ahead of a crucial EU summit.

The 27 national EU leaders are due to decide in mid-December on whether to accept the European Commission's recommendation to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions, even as it fights to repel Russia's invasion.

Any such decision requires unanimity of the bloc's 27 members, with Hungary seen as the main potential obstacle. The Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly said Hungary would not support the Commission's 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 Ukraine's membership would have on the bloc.

"If we don't 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, let's bring them closer, as the gap is too wide now," he said. "Let's give time for us to work together, and when we see that we can work together, then let's bring up the issue of membership."

Orban's proposal comes a day after EU officials on Thursday said Hungary was close to unlocking access to billions of euros of EU funds that Brussels had suspended over concerns Budapest had damaged democratic checks-and-balances in the country.

The Hungarian premier urged a ceasefire in Ukraine, and said if the EU wanted to give more money to Ukraine then it should set up a separate financial fund outside the EU budget based on an intergovernmental agreement.

"Everybody should put in the money that they want to, and we should send the money to Ukraine from (this fund)," he said, adding that sending financing to Ukraine to fight the war from the EU's budget has overstretched the budget.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Sharon Singleton amd Gerry Doyle)
A Hyde Park woman who was the recent winner in the Massachusetts State Lotterys Dollar Extravaganza is already planning to put the money to good use.

After becoming the third $25 million grand prize winner, Desiree Fortini-Craft says she plans to use her winnings to pay off the student loans of her three daughters, buy a new car and make some other big family purchases.

Fortini-Craft bought her winning ticket at Baker Street Market, on Baker Street in West Roxbury. She says she had scratched the winning ticket a few weeks ago before storing it securely prior to her trip to Aruba and claimed her prize when she returned.

Fortini-Craft opted to receive her winnings in the form of a one-time payment of $16,250,000 before taxes.

The Baker Street Market will receive a $50,000 bonus for the sale of this ticket.

Fortini-Craft previously won a $1 million prize on a Mass Lottery instant ticket in 2006.

The $25 million prize is the largest instant prize ever offered by the Mass Lottery. All three $25 million prizes have now been claimed in the Billion Dollar Extravaganza game.

A $25 million instant prize and an $11.7 million Megabucks Doubler jackpot prize were both claimed Wednesday

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Screenshot of a Tweet from Sarasota School Board Chairwoman Bridget Ziegler where she points to her shirt that reads "real women aren't men", which she posted to her Twitter account April 2.

Earlier this year, Bridget Ziegler attracted attention when she posted an image of herself on social media wearing a shirt emblazoned with REAL WOMEN ARENT MEN.

Ziegler, a Sarasota County School Board member and co-founder of conservative parental rights group Moms for Liberty, was responding to a backlash against Bud Light for a marketing campaign featuring a transgender influencer.

It's the quintessential culture war battle that has become increasingly common in recent years, and Ziegler has been at the forefront of such clashes, along with her husband, Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler.

The Republican power couple have emerged as leading advocates in Florida for a new wave of conservative moral crusading largely centered around LGBTQ issues, especially in schools.

Florida GOP Chair Christian Ziegler and his wife, Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler arrive at the first Moms for Liberty National Summit on Thursday, July 15, 2022 in Tampa, Florida.

Now, Christian Ziegler has been accused of sexual battery by a woman who previously had sex with both Zieglers, according to police documents. Sarasota Police are investigating an alleged assault in early October when Christian Ziegler and the reported victim were alone at the womans apartment.

Police released heavily redacted documents Thursday with few details about the criminal allegation, which is still under investigation. A search warrant affidavit later obtained by the Florida Center for Government Accountability and provided to the USA TODAY Network - Florida provides more information about the encounter and the relationship between the woman and the Zieglers.

Through his attorney, Christian Ziegler adamantly denies any criminal wrongdoing.

The affidavit says both Zieglers made plans to have sex with the alleged victim, who canceled after Bridget Ziegler couldn't make it. Christian Ziegler showed up anyway and was standing outside the alleged victim's apartment when she went to walk her dog.

"Christian entered the apartment, bent the victim over the bar stool," a detective wrote in the affidavit. The alleged victim  who has known Ziegler for 20 years  says he then sexually assaulted her.

The affidavit also detailed subsequent conversations between Ziegler and the alleged victim where she confronts him and he denies sexually assaulting her. The document says Ziegler told detectives the sexual encounter was consensual and that he took video of it, which he deleted but later uploaded to a Google Drive.

Bridget Ziegler spoke to detectives "and she confirmed having a sexual encounter with the victim and Christian over a year ago and that it only happened one time," according to the affidavit.

Even if no criminal charges are filed, the case is being closely watched because the Zieglers have made sexual issues so central to their political brand.

There has been a torrent of commentary about the Zieglers alleged hypocrisy, especially because of their perceived anti-LGBTQ activism.

Moms for Liberty has been prominent nationally in debates around transgender school policies and other LGBTQ discussions, while the Florida GOP has heavily promoted these issues. Bridget Ziegler stepped down from the Moms for Liberty board of directors in 2021.

The hypocrisy is just off the charts and thats why this has resonated, said Ron Filipkowski, a former GOP activist in Sarasota County who broke with the party and now is a prominent social media figure.

Filipkowski has known both Zieglers for years. He remembers when Christian Ziegler was a young party activist just starting to make appearances at Sarasota GOP meetings.

Christian Ziegler campaigns for his wife at a Republican rally last year at Robarts, in Sarasota. He was running then for chairman of the Florida Republican Party.

Clearly ambitious, Filipkowski said, Ziegler immediately started working the room figuring out who the power players and influencers were.

Ziegler worked for U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican, and later served on the Sarasota County Commission. He has been active with the Florida GOP for more than a decade, serving as the elected GOP state committeeman for Sarasota County and vice chair of the state party before taking over as chair in February.

Ziegler dove into cultural issues more forcefully when they exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipkowski said.

Bridget Ziegler waded into transgender restroom use issue

Bridget Ziegler had joined the Sarasota County School Board in 2014 and occasionally waded into polarizing issues in the years leading up to the pandemic, including a hot button debate about transgender bathroom use in Sarasota schools.

The pandemic led to a wave of conservative activism around schools, and both Zieglers  who have young children they often highlight in debates about education policies  became leading advocates for the education culture war agenda championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which attracted the most national attention with a bill limiting discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

Bridget Ziegler stood behind DeSantis as he signed the legislation, derided by critics as the Dont Say Gay bill  a nickname that still irks its supporters. The governor later appointed her to a board overseeing the special district that governs Disneys properties in Central Florida. Disney has been battling with DeSantis over the companys opposition to the measure, now in state law.

Along the way, the Zieglers often clashed with Democrats, LGBTQ activists and other critics of their agenda. Those critics have been quick to bash the Zieglers in the wake of the latest allegations, often pointing to alleged hypocrisy.

The allegations that have been made are incredibly serious and deserve a full investigation, said Brandon Wolf, who fought against the Dont Say Gay bill as the former press secretary for Equality Florida, the states largest LGBTQ rights group.

Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting and activist, stands outside of the Pulse memorial in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 9, 2022. After mass shootings, the loss felt by marginalized groups already facing discrimination is compounded. Some public health experts say the risk for post-traumatic stress disorder is greater for the groups, especially when the shootings take place at schools, churches and other vital hubs. (AP Photo/Cody Jackson)

He added: The Zieglers have spent years telling people how to live and who to be. Theyve been the tip of the spear for right wing extremism in a state being hijacked by the anti-LGBTQ+ agenda.

Christian Ziegler has sparred with Wolf and others on the X social media platform, responding to one of Wolfs posts criticizing DeSantis LGBTQ legislation with, Leave the kids alone and there would be no issue.

Carlos Guillermo Smith, a gay former Democratic state House member who is now running for a state Senate seat, shared a series of comments Ziegler made about him on X, including one calling him and others leftist perverts.

Only our justice system can determine guilt on criminal allegations of rape and sexual assault but the harm they inflicted with their hypocrisy and their rhetoric and their policies is undisputable, Smith said.

Sen. Shevrin Jones

Shevrin Jones, a gay Democratic state senator, shared a post on X about the allegations against the Zieglers and commented people who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones.

Moms for Liberty posted on X in support of Bridget Ziegler before the affidavit was released, deleted the tweet, and then reposted with the replies disabled "because we wont be part of allowing the trolls to denigrate women any further today."

"#StrongWomen scare those that seek to destroy our country. We stand with (Ziegler) & every other badass woman fighting for kids & America," the second post said.

DeSantis says Ziegler should step down as state GOP chair

Democrats arent the only ones speaking out: DeSantis called on Christian Ziegler to resign as Florida GOP chair.

"I think he should step aside and think he should attend to that," DeSantis told reporters following his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday. "He's innocent until proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny."

FOX News debate moderator Sean Hannity asked DeSantis and Newsom about parental rights during the debate on Thursday night, and DeSantis pulled out a copy of a page from the book Gender Queer, which he said can be found in some California schools.

Florida, this is not consistent with our standards, he said.

The Ziegler scandal also could complicate efforts by DeSantis and other Republicans to continue campaigning on LGBTQ culture war issues.

But Lee County GOP Chair Michael Thompson said the party would continue to push for traditional values.

I dont believe its going to stop anything the Republican party is doing or advocating for, he said. Thats the beauty of having a party. Its not one person everyone rallies around. Its the entire party.

And Thompson believes the Zieglers are the victims of a political hit job.

Youve got a great all-American family there in the Zieglers, so what do we do? Lets destroy them, he said before the affidavit was released. Theyre out there advocating for children and traditional American values, so lets give them a black eye.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Culture warriors Christian and Bridget Ziegler accused of 'hypocrisy'
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.
This story is part of a Modesto Bee series on climate change impacts for the Stanislaus region.

Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley have met a commitment to reduce emissions by replacing older tractors and other equipment with cleaner machines. State, federal and local officials came together in Modesto on Wednesday to recognize efforts that have eliminated 11 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions daily.

The Valley agriculture industry replaced and destroyed 12,800 pieces of older equipment, almost 60% of which had no emission controls.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nitrogen oxides are poisonous gases that come from burning fuel in automobiles, farm equipment and industrial boilers, and react with other compounds to produce smog. Nitrous oxide (one of the nitrogen oxides) accounts for 6% of human-caused greenhouse gases in the United States that are warming the environment.

We have a lot of work to do still, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, D-Merced, said at the Clean Air Ag Equipment Showcase at Modesto Centre Plaza. It is amazing how far we have come, but we need to push for more. ... We cant let up in the work you are doing.

The transition to low-emission farm equipment contributes to long-term initiatives to improve air quality in the eight-county San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and also helps to cut emissions that are warming the planet.

The mountain ranges bordering the Valley create a bowl that traps air pollutants, exposing the regions 4.3 million residents to some of the worst air quality in the nation.

The equipment on display at Centre Plaza included tractors up to 30 times cleaner than those made 25 years ago, electric utility vehicles and low-dust nut-harvesting equipment.

Manuel Cunha Jr., president of Nisei Farmers League, said low-emission tractors are tricky to operate, with their heat sensors and electronics, but the farmers are willing to work through that.

Several tractors, harvesters, utility task vehicles and other low-emission pieces were displayed outside Modesto Centre Plaza on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, for a clean air ag equipment showcase.

Far lower emissions with new tractor

Cunha referred to an informational display comparing a Massey Ferguson tractor, which was destined for the junkyard, and a low-emission Tier 4 tractor. The older tractor has spewed hourly smog-forming emissions of 8.17 grams per horsepower, compared to .26 grams emitted by the new tractor.

Cunha said a first round of farm equipment conversion from, 2008 to 2015, achieved 15 tons of daily nitrogen oxide reduction in the Valley after the industry was asked to cut five to 10 tons.

Federal and state grants have covered around 80% of costs for the low-emission equipment, while the farmer puts in 20% to 30%, Cunha said. It is a challenge to be competitive, but the only thing that helped us was incentives, he said.

Samir Sheikh, the air districts executive director, said thousands of older tractors need to be replaced to help clean the Valleys air.

In another transition to reduce carbon emissions, agricultural burning has been reduced by more than 80% and the phaseout could virtually eliminate the historical practice next year, Sheikh said.

The transition has required developing alternatives to open burning. A grower pulling an old vineyard or orchard may consider putting the woody material in the ground. It may require hiring a contractor to process the wastes, so resources are needed to defray some of the costs, especially for smaller farmers, Sheikh said.

Several tractors, harvesters, utility task vehicles and other low-emission pieces were displayed outside Modesto Centre Plaza on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, for a clean air ag equipment showcase.

Sustainable farming is big priority

Sheikh said sustainable and air-friendly agricultural practices are a big priority in California and deserve support from multiple agencies. Some other strategies include electrifying pump engines and conversion to low-dust harvesting equipment.

Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa, a Hughson farmer and air district governing board chairman, said low-emission tractors owned by his familys farm operation are able to meet emission standards in the top two tiers. He said there are concerns among farmers about electric tractors and the lifespan of batteries, but the technology is advancing quickly.

Roger Isom, president of California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association, said the success with reducing nitrogen oxide emissions demonstrates the value of incentives. This is the way you do it  an incentive program, Isom said. It is not mandatory, and if a farmer cant do it, he doesnt. But you meet the goal.

Isom said he has doubts about Californias climate goals to phase out diesel trucks. A battery-powered truck costs $450,000, twice as much as a diesel rig, and the range of electric trucks is limited. The other alternative is trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which have a price tag of more than $500,000, Isom said.
Im a Blackland Prairie gal. I fell in love with it the moment I saw a small patch of brushy bluestem grass asserting itself in a pasture of Bermuda. But it wasnt until I walked Clymer Meadow, a Nature Conservancy Blackland Prairie property in northeast Texas, that I was fully hooked.

I lost myself in native grasses taller than my head and summer sunflowers proclaiming their yellow, the tatters of spring wildflowers at their base. Dickcissels and field sparrows, freed from their breeding burden, sang more for joy than territory.

Jim Eidson, then Clymers manager, strode across the meadow, thin lanky legs knowing how to step between clumps of prairie grass without looking. He spoke of biomes in the unplowed soil, existing unchanged for centuries upon centuries, unseen ancient history.

This, he said, was our history, our heritage, something older and greater than ourselves. His scuffed and faded boot gently kicked the proaxes of a massive eastern gamagrass clump, the gnarly rhizome knotted and bare like a skeleton. It was as old as any tree in the region  old growth grass. It was Texas land as it was meant to be.

This prairie sang to me, stripped me of hubris, forced the perspective of time with such clarity that I cried. This is our story, built from roots and leaves, minerals and microbes, a witness to all mans doings that came long before us and will continue ever on.

Rusty little bluestem seedstalks assert their dominance of the Fort Worth Prairie. Chris Emory/Courtesy of Amy Martin

So I bought that property with the bushy bluestems, destroyed the Bermuda, and brought the prairie back again. With less than 1% of it left, restoration is key to its survival. I didnt think anything could match it.

Then, I met the Fort Worth prairie, and now, Im torn between two loves. These grasses were short, discrete bunches of slender blades, often faded by hard western sunlight into a pale sage green by fall.

This Fort Worth prairie boasted bunches of little bluestem, laying the infrastructure with their dominance. Modest bunches of sideoats grama grasses and ones whose names I didnt yet know, taunted little bluestem with their chiseled petite beauty.

With their need for generous personal space, Fort Worth prairie grasses assert their independence, their singular strength. Just like Fort Worthians. A wise strategy as well. Spaced-apart plants allow the erratic rainfall to seep between them and be absorbed, ensuring all plants had enough.

And what of these small and tough wildflowers, such as Drummonds skullcap and Engelmanns sage, with brilliant color and tenacious roots. Finding their prime spot between the native grass bunches, theyre dressed up and dandy, claiming the center of the dance floor. You know, like Fort Worthians.

Sometimes, though, the wildflowers are all about community. Again, so like Fort Worth. Covering entire swaths with delicate mounds of small white flowers of prairie bishop or Barbaras buttons, they make the Fort Worth prairie look like a starry sky, sparkling like diamonds when misted in the morning dew.

Barbaras buttons adorn a limestone seep. Chris Emory/Courtesy of Amy Martin

Contrasting with the gentle wildflowers are plants with leaves as pointy and hard as cowboy bootsthe pale yucca and rattlesnake master, with their muted colors of sage green and soft silver. Their skyscraper seedstalks soar above it all, the yuccas cream-colored waxy bells with their unique little moths, and rattlesnakes bristly pewter balls, always in groups of three. Its a contrast worthy of Fort Worth.

The rich dark soil of Dallass Blackland Prairie generates from the soft, slick Austin Chalk bedrock. Fertile soil and plentiful rain engendered a farming industry that forged the citys fortunes through commerce. It was born to make money, not community.

But Fort Worth, with its thin soil and modest rain, had no such easy way. Its fortunes were self-made, first with cattle, a hardscrabble business, then with oil, a rough and tumble trade. At times, all Fort Worth folk had was each other.

The Fort Worth limestone is harder, older and full of shells. It erodes slowly but precisely, leading to a dry angular landscape that boasts that the West begins here. The limestone fractures on the slopes, and groundwater oozes into life-sustaining seeps that implore: Treat this land well and it will save you.

How could I not love this prairie, and more to the point, its people, who find joy in its landscape, labor for its restoration and plead for its preservation. The Blackland Prairie may have my soul, but the Fort Worth Prairie claimed my heart.

Amy Martin is the author of Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth on Timber Press, which includes chapters on the Fort Worth prairie and places that preserve it. For more on the prairie, contact the Fort Worth chapter of Native Prairies Association of Texas.

Amy Martin
US president Joe Biden and India's prime minister Narendra Modi toast during an official state dinner at the White House (AFP via Getty Images)

When Canadas Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of involvement in the assassination of a Sikh Canadian citizen, New Delhi responded furiously to what it called the absurd suggestion, as diplomatic relations between the two countries crashed through the floor.

Less than two months later, and US prosecutors have levelled serious allegations of a similar nature, albeit involving a thwarted plot, of an assassination bid on US-based Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun last spring.

Unlike Canada, American prosecutors have spelled out the full details of the accusations in an unsealed indictment of an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy, and charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta, 52, in the case.

The back-to-back allegations by two members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance have posed a huge diplomatic challenge for India, with Washingtons accusations giving added weight to Ottawas and raising questions about a larger campaign to target and silence Sikh separatist leaders abroad.

Indias response to the US allegations has been much more nuanced, saying it takes the US inputs seriously, and forming what it says is a high-level investigative committee.

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, an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. This is also contrary to government policy.

A member of United Hindu Front organisation holds a banner depicting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (AFP via Getty Images)

The allegations are expected to loom large over US-India relations for some time to come, with the Biden administration now saying it has been repeatedly raising its concerns with New Delhi during several leaders meetings since the alleged plot was foiled. It comes just as relations were growing closer, with both Washington and New Delhi seeking an ally to counter China and boost their trade partnership. US-India ties were recently characterised by Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar as at all-time high and anticipated to go to the moon.

Michael Kugelman, a south Asia foreign policy expert, says that in isolation this incidents damage to US-India ties will be modest, describing the relationship as too big to fail.

The US-India relationship has too much deep trust, expansive cooperation, and strategic convergences to be damaged by this situation. Still, this is the first time US officials have had to grapple with the possibility that a key strategic partner carried out an attack on US soil, he tells The Independent.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken (L) meets Indias external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, ahead of the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

While there will be some impact on how Washington perceives Indias policies, there would be major implications if India crossed the red line by attempting a similar attack.

Trust wont be undermined but it may be a bit shaken, says Mr Kugelman.

Anil Trigunayat, former Indian diplomat to Jordan, Libya and Malta tells The Independent that the fallout on ties will depend on the outcome of the investigations that India undertakes.

At this stage, I do not see the allegations impacting the bilateral relationship in any big way, he says.

Mr Trigunayat, who also served as Indias trade commissioner in New York, says the Indian government will now review the intelligence provided by the US and take into account all the data that the Americans have shared.

India's PM Modi (right) shakes hand with US President Biden ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

There is a possibility that independent groups or individuals are involved, but until substantiated by irrefutable evidence, further scrutiny by other agencies will determine how actionable the intelligence shared by the Americans or any other friendly agency can be, he adds.

The White House has said it raised the issue of the alleged covert operation with India at the most senior levels and the Indian side responded with surprise and concern.

A senior Biden administration official said that President Biden was so concerned by the murder-for-hire allegations that he dispatched top US intelligence leaders, including CIA director William Burns and director of national intelligence Avril Haines, to New Delhi to raise the issue.

Mr Burns travelled to deliver the message that we will not tolerate such activities and that we expect those responsible to be held fully accountable, a senior US official said.

Indias defence minister Rajnath Singh (L) with US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin during their bilateral meeting in New Delhi (PIB/AFP via Getty Images)

The Modi government should not think that ignoring this case will make it go away, says Jonah Blank, a former US government official and political scientist based in Singapore. He said the involvement of top American diplomats and the CIA chief shows Washington is already strongly convinced of the Indian governments complicity.

The allegation was first reported by the Financial Times on 22 November, stating that the US had warned New Delhi about its alleged involvement in the plot to kill Mr Pannun.

According to prosecutors, the Indian official recruited Mr Gupta in May 2023 to lead the assassination in the US and the two met in Delhi to discuss the plot.

We will hit all our targets, Mr Gupta said in one of the text messages to the official, according to the document.

Mr Gupta proposed acting as a client to attract the target, to a place where he could be more easily executed, the indictment said. He intended to meet a hitman in New York City but was instead introduced to an undercover law enforcement officer who offered to carry out the killing for $100,000, it said.

On 9 June, prosecutors allege that Mr Gupta made an upfront payment of $15,000 through an associate, a transaction allegedly documented in a photograph included in the indictment.

Mr Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June and is awaiting extradition to the US. The Indian government official has been described as a senior field officer who worked for security management and intelligence, but has not been named.

Mr Pannun, who is the general counsel of the separatist group Sikhs for Justice, has been designated a terrorist in India and his organisation banned.

He has been involved in organising a string of non-binding referendums calling for a separate state for Sikhs in India in countries with large Indian diasporas, including Canada, the UK and Australia.

Most recently, Indias federal anti-terrorism agency filed a case against Mr Pannun for issuing an alleged threat to Air India passengers. Mr Pannun had issued a vaguely-worded warning for the Sikh people to avoid travelling with the carrier on a specific date or your life will be in danger. None of the alleged threats made in the video materialised.

Mr Kugelman says going forward India will carry out its own investigation but it cannot be said to what extent it would cooperate with any requests coming out of the US.

New Delhi is keen not to damage its ties with the US, but these are sensitive issues and so its hard to know how exactly it will respond, he said.

Mr Blank said the allegations were doing immeasurable harm to the international goodwill that India as a nation has built up ever since its independence.

Few nations have completely clean hands, and the US certainly has its share of shady overseas actions. But none of the victims of Indias alleged overseas assassination schemes posed any plausible threat to the nations security. Is it even remotely worth the high cost, he asked.
The Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, located at 201 Poplar, is seen in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that two deputies mentioned in the complaint have been indicted in connection to Gershun Freeman's death.

An inmate at the Shelby County Jail, commonly known as 201 Poplar, said he was beaten by corrections deputies days before an altercation prior to the death of Gershun Freeman. Two of those deputies, according to a pro se complaint filed in federal court last November, have since been indicted in Freeman's death.

Corey Lurry, an inmate at 201 Poplar facing murder charges, alleged in his complaint that he was handcuffed and then beaten by five corrections officers. Those officers, the pro se complaint said, had kicked him in the face and back, as well as hit him with "unknown objects" and sprayed him with chemical spray.

A pro se complaint is one a plaintiff files without a lawyer and is not an uncommon route for those who are incarcerated with a pending case or those who are in prison after being convicted of a crime.

Lareko Elliot, one of the Shelby County corrections deputies charged in connection with the death of Gershun Freeman, walks into the courtroom to appear for a report date at Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, December 1, 2023.

When members of the jail's Detention Response Team arrived  which Lurry alleged included Lareko Elliot and Charles Gatewood, both of whom have since been charged in the Freeman case  Lurry said they brought him to a medical room.

"They carried out another attack due to no camera can see into room [sic]," Lurry wrote in the pro se. "Then, I was escorted by Elliot, Ross and other members to first floor closet area and attacked once again."

More: 2 Shelby County jailers indicted in Gershun Freeman death had past use of force violations

According to Lurry, the incident happened Sep. 27, 2022, eight days before Freeman would run around the jail and be beaten by a number of officers. He went on to say that he suffered "damage to my right eye, swelling and bruising" along with vision and hearing loss, the latter he said was caused by a "deep cut."

A grievance was filed and received by a coordinator on Oct. 4, 2022, a day before Freeman's death. The coordinator marked Lurry's case as "Grievable," saying it "meets policy requirements to be investigated." That grievance form names multiple corrections officers, including two that would be charged in Freeman's case.

Charles Gatewood, one of the Shelby County corrections deputies charged in connection with the death of Gershun Freeman, listen to the judge while appearing for a report date at Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, December 1, 2023.

Though he filed the original complaint pro se, attorneys Jake Brown and Sara McKinney, both of whom are working on the Freeman family's civil lawsuit, have signed on as his lawyers.

"[The Shelby County Sheriff's Office] had reviewed the complaint shortly before the Freeman incident, so they were obviously on notice," Brown said of the two incidents' proximity to each other. "They knew there was an immediate problem within days of Freeman's incident."

Lurry's description of his beating also bears similarities to the alleged beating of another inmate  Damian Florez-Ramirez  who is also represented by McKinney.

Jeffrey Gibson, one of the Shelby County corrections deputies charged in connection with the death of Gershun Freeman, listen to the judge while appearing for a report date at Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, December 1, 2023.

Florez-Ramirez's attorney told The Commercial Appeal the inmate had been handcuffed and brought to a medical room by corrections officers. He was allegedly beaten in that room, where there were no cameras, before being brought out and taken to a changing room and beaten again.

Reginald Wilkins, who was indicted for that alleged beating, was also named in Lurry's pro se complaint.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office, which operates the jail, declined to comment or a question about whether or not the similarities between Lurry's and Florez-Ramirez's incidents indicate a broader pattern of excessive force being carried out by officers in medical rooms, saying it could not comment on pending litigation.

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com, or (901)208-3922, and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter, @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County Jail inmate says he was beaten days before Freeman death
A top U.S. intelligence official presented a detailed proposal to the leaders of Congo and Rwanda last week for a pact to reduce fighting in eastern Congo  and promised to help enforce the deal.

The leaders largely signed off on the U.S. plan, which included commitments for Rwanda to pull back its forces and offensive military equipment by Jan. 1 and for Congo to ground its drones, according to a readout of the meetings.

The readout shows that the U.S. is playing a much more active role than previously disclosed in trying to calm tensions in the increasingly volatile region, where conflict between Congolese forces and rebels backed by neighboring Rwanda is threatening to escalate into all-out war between the countries.

The Biden administration previously said that Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines flew to the region last week to secure commitments from Congolese and Rwandan leaders to deescalate fighting and that they plan to take specific steps to reduce current tensions. But the administration did not disclose the extent to which the U.S. was designing and overseeing the plan.

Washington drew up the deal, according to the readout. The administration is also setting up an intelligence fusion cell  a formalized information-sharing mechanism  to transmit data to Congo and Rwanda about ground movements and to ensure both countries adhere to the deal.

Its a surprising level of engagement for a U.S. administration that has played a more passive role in the talks between warring parties involved in other conflicts on the continent. And it highlights the seriousness with which Washington views the potential for war and for the long-volatile region to become the latest global flashpoint.

Wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas are already destabilizing regions and straining global alliances. And a conflict between Congo and Rwanda could easily spill into other parts of Africa. It could also undermine U.S. efforts to counter China on the continent.

Previous conflicts in Congo, a country about the size of Western Europe in the center of the African continent, have pulled neighboring countries into years of fighting. A war in Congo would also complicate Washingtons efforts to woo the country away from China and gain more access to its critical minerals for electric vehicles and other advanced technologies.

Asked for comment on the U.S. involvement in the deal, a senior U.S. official said Washington is using diplomacy and intelligence to push the sides to fulfill all of the obligations and that's a conversation that we're able to leverage intelligence resources to validate.

But more importantly, it's fostering this channel where they can talk together, the official said.

Fighting in the eastern part of Congo has dragged on for decades. Since the Rwandan genocide, various rebel groups and militaries have vied for control over the border region  an area that sits in the middle of a high-traffic commercial trade route and is rich in natural resources, including copper and cobalt.

Members of M23, many of whom are of Rwandan descent, are aligned against the Congolese government.

The situation in eastern Congo has become increasingly violent over the past year. After nearly 10 years of relative calm in the eastern part of Congo, rebels with the March 23 Movement  a group supported by Rwanda  gained control over parts of eastern Congo in 2022.

Since May, soldiers aligned with the Congolese army have launched fierce counteroffensives. The clashes have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis and prompted the United Nations in October to warn about a potential direct confrontation between the two countries.

Since early October, the situation has gotten significantly worse, said Graham Inglis, project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern Congo. There are tens and tens of thousands of new displaced people.

The U.S. has previously attempted to ease tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda  primarily through diplomatic channels. This month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out to leaders of both countries, asking them to deescalate and engage in diplomatic talks to end the fighting. But the meeting between Haines and the leaders of Congo and Rwanda is a higher-level engagement with more specific asks.

We are looking to work with both sides to take steps that reduce fighting in eastern DRC and avoid the prospect for interstate conflict, a second senior U.S. official said. We worked with both sides to identify what equipment and posture they view as offensive in nature and then options to remove some of those from the equation so that theres a less chance for miscalculation." Both officials were granted anonymity to speak about sensitive negotiations with Congo and Rwanda.



The intervention was welcomed by Congolese officials, said Patrick Muyaya, a spokesperson for the Congolese government.

When it comes to Ukraine, the United States is doing its best. When it comes to Rwanda, which is acting the way sometimes Vladimir Putin is acting, we are not receiving the same answer or the same reaction from the United States, he said. It's a bit unfair for Congolese people, so we hope that these last rounds of discussions will be able to deliver.

Haines visit included separate meetings with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi. The talks with Tshisekedi took place in a small, closed-door meeting at the Kinshasa airport on Nov. 20, according to the readout.

Haines told Tshisekedi that President Joe Biden was particularly worried about a direct conflict breaking out between Congo and Rwanda in the lead-up to the Congolese presidential elections on Dec. 20. The deal also incorporated language to limit hate speech and to refrain from interfering in the others political processes, including elections.

Haines urged Tshisekedi to agree to the deals terms, which included his government issuing an order prohibiting the funneling of arms to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, an armed rebel group that operates in eastern Congo.

The meeting with Haines comes as Washington is attempting to counter China in Africa.

The Chinese have cornered the market on Congolese minerals and have for a number of years. And we have in office right now [in Congo] a government which has at least shown itself amenable to revisiting those contracts, said Cameron Hudson, a former intelligence analyst for Africa at the CIA. A glaring piece of this that I think undermines all of this is that theres a proxy war going on in the eastern part of the country.

Over the last several years, the administration has worked to establish economic pacts with Congo and its neighbors to develop trade routes for the export of minerals such as copper and cobalt  a key component for electric vehicle batteries.

Congo is home to about 70 percent of the worlds cobalt reserves, and China is its main producer. Beijing is Kinshasas largest trading partner, having gobbled up key mining rights beginning in the 2000s. Its control over the market has put it far ahead of the U.S. race to secure critical components needed for electric vehicle batteries.

In an effort to find a way into that market, the U.S. in September signed a memorandum of understanding with Congo and Zambia to help stand up a supply chain for the batteries. The administration also committed to help develop a new rail line that will connect southern Congo and northwestern Zambia via the Lobito Port in Angola. The pathway is critical for the export of minerals key to EV battery production.

An escalation in fighting in eastern Congo could undercut those agreements.

The current U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo is drawing down by the end of the year. A withdrawal of U.N. forces will leave a security vacuum in the country right as elections are set to kick off, potentially complicating the implementation of the U.S. agreement.

Phelim Kine contributed to this report.
China's manned space delegation met with Hong Kong technology and education personnel on Thursday to discuss ways to promote Hong Kong's innovation and technology development.

At a luncheon hosted by Hong Kong technology and education sectors, Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), who led the delegation, said that Hong Kong technology and education sectors have made positive contributions to activities including "A Dialogue Between Space and Earth" and classes given by Shenzhou-13 crew members, as well as recruitment of payload specialists in Hong Kong and Macao for the first time.

In the future, with the development of manned spaceflight, Hong Kong will have more opportunities and platforms to participate in the aerospace industry of the motherland, Lin said.

Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said that the recruitment of payload specialists in Hong Kong for the first time gave Hong Kong people the opportunity to participate in the national manned space program. This demonstrated the country's care and support for Hong Kong, and recognition for Hong Kong technology sector.

Sun said that Hong Kong has a solid foundation in basic scientific research and will continue to leverage its strengths to contribute to the country's cause for an aerospace power.

The delegation was on a six-day visit to Hong Kong and Macao from Tuesday to Sunday at the invitation of the HKSAR government and the Macao SAR government.
You are here: China

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday inspected the command office for the East China Sea area of the China Coast Guard under the People's Armed Police Force.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed improving the capability of protecting maritime rights and carrying out maritime law enforcement.

He heard a briefing about the work of the command office and watched coast guard vessels carrying out their missions via video link.

Xi stressed effective maritime law enforcement and resolute protection of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Efforts should be made to improve the mechanism of coordination in maritime law enforcement, crack down on offshore crimes, safeguard the sound development of the marine economy, engage in international exchanges and cooperation in maritime law enforcement, and actively take part in international and regional ocean governance, he said.

Xi also urged solid efforts to raise the level of command office building and stressed the need to comprehensively strengthen Party building to ensure political integrity.

Senior military official He Weidong took part in the inspection.




Israels military was aware of Hamas plan to launch an attack on Israeli soil over a year before the devastating Oct. 7 operation that killed hundreds of people, The New York Times reported Friday.

It was the latest in a series of signs that top Israeli commanders either ignored or played down warnings that Hamas was plotting the attack, which triggered a war against the Islamic militant group that has devastated the Gaza Strip.

The Times said Israeli officials were in possession of a 40-page battle plan, code-named Jericho Wall, that detailed a hypothetical Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities.

It was unclear how the document was obtained by Israel, but the article said that it had been translated  indicating it may have been in Arabic and directly intercepted from Hamas.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the report, saying it was currently focused on eliminating the threat from the terrorist organization Hamas.

Questions of this kind will be looked into in a later stage, it said.

The document was seen by many Israeli military and intelligence officials, the report said, though it was unclear if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or other top leaders had seen it.

The document predicted that Hamas would bombard Israel with rockets, use drones to disable Israels security and surveillance abilities at the border wall, and take over southern communities and military bases. Another 2016 Israeli defense memo obtained by the Times said Hamas intended to take hostages back to Gaza.

Friends and family grieve for Sergeant Kiril Brodski, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier who was killed on Oct. 7.

Friends and family grieve for Sergeant Kiril Brodski, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier who was killed on Oct. 7.

The Oct. 7 attack  in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 people were abducted and taken to Gaza  would uncannily mirror the one outlined in the battle plan. But Israeli officials had brushed off the plan, the report said, dismissing it as aspirational rather than something that could practically take place, the report said.

The report comes amid public fury toward the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to prevent an attack that appears to have been preceded by numerous warning signs.

The attack was planned in plain sight. A month before the assault, Hamas posted a video to social media showing fighters using explosives to blast through a replica of the border gate, sweep in on pickup trucks and then move building by building through a full-scale reconstruction of an Israeli town, firing automatic weapons at human-silhouetted paper targets.

In the video, the militants destroyed mock-ups of the walls concrete towers and a communications antenna, just as they would do for real on Oct. 7.

Adding to public outrage over the militarys apparent negligence, the Israeli media has reported that military officials dismissed warnings from female border spotters who warned that they were witnessing Hamas preparations for the attack. According to the media reports, the young women reported seeing Hamas drones and attempts to knock out Israeli border cameras in the months leading up to the attack.

Netanyahu has stopped short of apologizing for the attack, and has said that determining blame will have to come after the war is waged. Critics say he is attempting to escape responsibility for myriad intelligence failures leading to the deadliest day in Israeli history.
A year before Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a document detailing plans to carry out the assault circulated among Israeli officials, according to the New York Times.

While the approximately 40-page document reviewed by the Times did not mark a specific attack date, methods of the assault aimed at overwhelming Israeli defenses around the Gaza Strip and plans to storm key military bases and cities were reportedly outlined. The document had been code-named Jericho Wall by Israeli authorities, and laid out a plan for an onslaught of rockets, drones intended to incapacitate security cameras and automated machine guns along the border, and gunmen to enter Israel via paragliders, motorcylces, and on foot, per the report.

Leaders initially brushed off the attack plans as too complex for Hamas to execute, the Times reported. On Oct. 7, these series of assaults in Israel were carried out and led to the death of 1,200 people and the abduction of 200 hostages.

According to the Times, three months before the attack, a veteran analyst with Israels signals intelligence agency warned that Hamas had undergone a training exercise similar to what was detailed in the blueprint. However, according to emails viewed by the publication, her concerns were dismissed by a colonel in the Gaza division.

I utterly refute that the scenario is imaginary, the analyst wrote in an email. It is a plan designed to start a war, she added. Its not just a raid on a village.

Israels Channel 12 on Monday previously reported on the leaked emails from Israeli militarys 8200 cyber-intelligence unit, per The Guardian, which said the source of the warning was a non-commissioned officer (NCO).

In defense of her findings, the NCO said, They are training, in large forces, for a big event. This is not a parade of power, this is preparation for the real thing.

Days after the attack in October, Israeli officials told Axios that the night before the assault, Israeli intelligence saw signs of irregular activity among Hamas operatives in Gaza. Although high-level consultations took place that day before, Israeli leaders decided to wait for more intelligence before putting IDF forces around Gaza on high alert, according to Axios. Hamas attacked several hours later.

In their separate report, the Times said that officials privately admitted that had the military considered these warnings seriously and taken steps to fortify the south, Israel could have mitigated or even prevented Hamas deadly attack.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
After a Hamas rocket launch broke the seven day ceasefire, Israel has now returned to the fight, bombing terrorist targets in Gaza and attacking on the ground. Unless the humanitarian truce is resumed, the IDF has unfinished business to complete in Gaza City and is also attacking Khan Yunis further south.

This city is a major Hamas stronghold. The terrorists will have used the pause in fighting to improve their defences and prepare sniper positions, mines and explosive booby traps. It is likely that Hamass leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, is holed up there in the underground tunnel network, along with thousands of terrorists. The IDF also believe that many of the remaining 140 hostages are being held in the city. Along with killing the terrorists, rescuing them will be the highest priority.

This is likely to be a tougher fight than the combat around Gaza city, because many Hamas terrorists, rather than fight a losing battle in the north, retreated there for what may be their last stand. Also because vast numbers of civilians moved south to escape the fighting in the north. The IDF has already made thousands of phone calls and text messages, and dropped leaflets warning them to leave, even air dropping maps showing safer areas to move to. Many however will not leave, and Hamas will do their best to force as many as they can to stay as human shields.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

That is going to present the greatest challenge for the IDF. Clearly, as always, for moral as well as legal reasons, they will do all they can to minimise civilian casualties. Not only that, but also the greater the civilian casualties, the greater the pressure from the US to cease hostilities.

The US has also piled yet more demands on the IDF. According to leaked reports from Anthony Blinkens meeting with the Israeli war cabinet on Thursday, he was told that eradication of Hamas may take months. His extraordinary response was: I dont think you have the credit for that. Blinkens public remarks also suggested that the clock was ticking for Israels war. This puts the IDF in a Catch-22 position. The speedier the operation the greater the likelihood not only of more civilian casualties but also more Israeli military casualties.

The totally unreasonable pressure for a rapid conclusion of hostilities has been applied by the US since the beginning, even in the immediate aftermath of 7th October. A few days ago, Biden perversely tweeted that continuing the war means giving Hamas what they want, and we cant do that. He sent Blinken to Israel to try to extend the ceasefire, which he failed to do.

Bringing a so-called peace to Gaza might be politically advantageous for Joe Biden, with both his eyes on the electoral calendar, but it is strategically irresponsible. If Hamas is not destroyed it will continue to threaten Israel. What would effectively be a victory for Hamas would further embolden Iran and its proxies in the region. It would also encourage jihadists globally, much as the rise of ISIS inspired terrorist attacks in the Middle East, Europe, the US and elsewhere.

Characteristically, Biden is calling all the foreign policy shots in precisely the wrong way. Instead of pushing Israel to stop its fight, he should be applying the full might of US diplomatic power on Iran and Qatar to get Hamas to leave Gaza just as the Palestine Liberation Organization were forced to leave Lebanon in 1982. If that could be achieved it could immediately end the bloodshed in Gaza.

Meanwhile, to help alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians the US should be pushing Egypt to open its borders to refugees fleeing the fighting. In any case Egypt has a binding legal obligation to do exactly that under an African Union refugee treaty to which it is a state party. That treaty requires its signatories to go even further than the 1951 international Refugee Convention in protecting civilians under threat in a war zone.

The UN too is failing in its obligations. Israel informed the UN that it would be advising civilians to move from Khan Yunis and Rafah to a designated area on the south west coast of Gaza and requested that they establish facilities there to take care of refugees. The UN irresponsibly refused to do so under the pretext that it would be complicit in Israeli action.

It is hard not to be suspicious of both US and UN motives when they make such intolerable demands on Israel in its defensive war, while apparently unwilling to explore other options to reduce the suffering of innocent civilians.

Colonel Richard Kemp is a former British Army officer

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.
Palestinians celebrate as an Israeli tank burns on the border on Oct 7

Israeli officials reportedly saw a blueprint for Hamass October 7 massacre more than a year before it was carried out, prompting fresh questions about intelligence failures over the attack that claimed 1,200 lives.

The New York Times reported that Israeli intelligence bosses were passed a 40-page battle plan for the attacks, but dismissed it as unrealistic.

The document, codenamed Jericho Wall, reportedly contained plans for gliders to enter Israel from Gaza, automatic machine guns on the border and the use of drones to eliminate security cameras.

Those methods were used by Hamas on October 7, allowing the terror group to overwhelm Israeli defences, killing and kidnapping civilians in southern kibbutzim and at a music festival.

The newspaper reported that the plan was circulated widely among Israeli military and intelligence leaders, but dismissed as aspirational and beyond the military capabilities of Hamas.

It is not yet possible to determine whether the plan has been fully accepted and how it will be manifested, a military assessment reportedly said.

It is thought that if the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had taken action to prevent the tactics from being deployed on October 7, the attack could have been foiled.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is facing questions over the failure of the Israeli intelligence services  which are among the most sophisticated in the world  to detect and prevent the massacre.

Mr Netanyahu initially blamed his military and intelligence chiefs in a tweet, before deleting it amid domestic political backlash.

Asked on Nov 7 why he had failed to prevent the attacks, he told ABC News: Its a very good question, because the first task of government is to protect the people and, clearly, we didnt live up to that. We had a big, big setback.

The New York Times reported that the Israeli militarys Gaza division concluded last year that Hamas had decided to plan a new raid, unprecedented in its scope, followed by a large-scale manoeuvre inside Israeli territory.

Military officials were also aware of a plan to overwhelm the Israeli border wall, with the Jericho Wall document quoting the Quran: Surprise them through the gate. If you do, you will certainly prevail.

The assessment bears a chilling resemblance to the actual raid, which saw Hamas fighters break through Israeli barriers using construction vehicles and begin a ground assault.

It has been previously reported that Israeli spies heard that Hamas was planning an attack and attempted to warn the Netanyahu administration before it took place, but it is unknown which Israeli politicians were aware of the intelligence.

The latest disclosures suggest the level of information about Hamass plans was significant, but that military figures chose not to believe that it could ever take place.

The Israeli Gaza division that obtained the plans described them as a compass and totally imaginative, suggesting that they represented an ideal-world scenario for Hamas rather than a realistic possibility.

The news came as fresh rocket and gun attacks in Israel threatened to break a six-day ceasefire brokered by Qatar, to allow the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Joe Biden, the US president, has said he hopes the ceasefire will continue until all hostages have been released from Gaza, but an estimated 140 prisoners remain.

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 Israeli military published a map of what it called "evacuation zones" in the Gaza Strip, as it resumed fighting Friday with Hamas in the Palestinian territory after a seven-day cease-fire. Israel accused Hamas of violating the terms of the truce an hour before it was set to expire and announced a resumption of its military operations in the enclave.

Airstrikes resumed quickly, with Hamas officials in the enclave saying at least 60 people were killed. CBS News witnessed the aftermath of a strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where Palestinian civilians said an unknown number of people were dead and wounded.

The map created by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which is labelled in Arabic and is zoomable on the military's website, divides the densely-populated, 25-mile-long Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered sectors.

The Israeli military on Friday published a map of what it called

The IDF said it was intended to enable residents to "evacuate from specific places for their safety if required."

Residents in multiple numbered areas were sent SMS warnings on Friday, the military said.

"The IDF will begin a crushing military attack on your area of residence with the aim of eliminating the terrorist organization Hamas," the warnings said, urging people in the sectors to seek shelter and "stay away from all military activity of every kind."

Palestinian teenager Omar Hahrous speaks with CBS News at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza, Dec. 1, 2023, right after a temporary cease-fire collapsed between Israel and Hamas. / Credit: CBS News

Around 10 minutes after the messages were sent, the explosions started. Cellular networks in the Gaza Strip can be slow, with SMS deliveries sometimes taking several minutes.

The Gaza Health Ministry says almost 15,000 people have been killed in the region by Israel's retaliatory ground incursion and airstrikes, sparked by Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 terror rampage across southern Israel, during which it killed about 1,200 people and abducted more than 200 others.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his third visit to Israel since the war began, met Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cautioned Israel to protect civilians in Gaza.

"Israel has one of the most sophisticated militaries in the world," Blinken told reporters. "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."

Iconic chocolate brand linked to child labor in Ghana

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies at age 100

U.S. economy growing faster than expected
The Israeli government recalled its ambassador in Madrid after the Spanish prime minister said he had serious doubts that Israel is complying with international humanitarian law in its bombardment of Gaza. Pedro Sanchezs comments were made during an interview on Spains state broadcaster, TVE, on Thursday morning. While what Hamas had done to Israel was atrocious and abominable, he said, the footage coming out of Gaza coupled with the growing numbers of children dying gave rise to his concerns. The remarks threaten to deepen a diplomatic rift that opened last week when he made a speech along the border Gaza shares with Egypt, denouncing the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians alongside Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen quickly summoned the ambassadors of both countries for what his office called a harsh rebuke. On Thursday, Cohen said that the Spanish ambassador to Tel Aviv would again be reprimanded over Sanchezs outrageous and baseless claims.

Read it at BBC

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Israel has recalled its ambassador to Spain to protest accusations by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that the way Israel was conducting its military offensive in Gaza was likely in breach of international humanitarian law. File photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI

Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Israel recalled its ambassador to Spain to protest accusations by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that Israel's military offensive in Gaza was likely in breach of international humanitarian law.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a post on X on Thursday that the decision to withdraw Ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon from Madrid was sparked by what he called "outrageous remarks" and "repeated baseless accusations" made by Sanchez about the war.

"Israel is acting, and will continue to act, according to international law, and will continue the war until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is eliminated from Gaza," said Cohen.

Speaking to Spanish public television on Thursday, Sanchez said he had "serious doubts that Israel is complying with international humanitarian law" in its military campaign in Gaza.

"Friendly countries also have to tell each other the truth," he said.

Cohen said sole responsibility for the Oct. 7 attacks and the situation in Gaza lay with Hamas which was "committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the citizens of Israel as well as against the residents of the Gaza Strip."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Cohen to summon Spain's ambassador to Israel, Jose Manuel Albarres, to the foreign ministry for the second time in a week to reprimand him over the comments from Sanchez.

Netanyahu said the remarks were "shameful" given they came on the same day Hamas gunmen killed three Israelis at the bus stop in Jerusalem on Thursday.

Sanchez previously said on a Nov. 24 visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing that Israel was not acting within the rules of international humanitarian law and that the "indiscriminate killing of civilians including thousands of boys and girls" was not acceptable.

Sanchez, who was re-appointed prime minister of a leftist coalition government two weeks ago, has emerged as one of the loudest critics of Israel's military offensive and has used Spain's presidency of the European Union to call for the bloc to recognize a Palestinian state.

He threatened Spain might act alone if an EU-wide consensus could not be reached.
Palestinians rush out of a bombarded area in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday - MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

The Israeli military has published a map of the 140-square-mile Gaza Strip divided into hundreds of small blocks, saying it will be used to announce which areas will be targeted in order to allow civilians to safely evacuate.

The move came as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed their war against Hamas after a week-long ceasefire in the enclave.

The publication does not specify where people should evacuate to, the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, said in a statement. It is unclear how those residing in Gaza would access the map without electricity and amid recurrent telecommunications cuts.

Israel has come under mounting global criticism for the high civilian death toll in Gaza, where more than 15,000 people have died in less than two months of brutal fighting, according to the territorys Hamas-run health ministry.

Leaflet, the interactive map tool that the IDF used to create its Gaza map, was created by Volodymyr Agafonkin, 37, a Ukrainian citizen living in Kyiv.

Im glad any time a tool I helped create can make a positive impact in the world, and preventing civilian casualties is a critical goal to strive for, said Mr Agafonkin.

Im heartbroken about all the destruction and suffering Palestinian people have to endure in Gaza, but I also understand that there can be no peace in the Middle East while the Hamas terrorist group is still in power.

But its arguable whether Israeli forces are doing enough to prevent [civilian] casualties, he added.

When Mr Agafonkin created Leaflet in 2010, he envisioned it as a mapping tool that would be available for everyone to use.

But it quickly took on a chilling new significance when Russia invaded Ukraine last year, and people started using it to document Russias war crimes, promote accurate reporting of the war, and to assist in coordinating humanitarian efforts in neighbouring Romania and Poland.

Every Ukrainian is worried about growing instability in the world, but at the same time, its not surprising at all, Mr Agafonkin said.

Russia has been doing absolutely everything it can to try to spur chaos and violence worldwide, he added.

Given that Hamas, Iran and Russia are allied, there is zero doubt that its a coordinated effort.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Israel resumed strikes on Gaza after its seven-day truce with Hamas expired on Friday.

Negotiations to extend the temporary ceasefire  which required the release of at least 10 hostages for each additional day  broke down, with Israel accusing Hamas of firing rockets into its territory and refusing to release people it had agreed to.

Qatari mediators, who helped to negotiate the truce, are hoping to repair the deal. But sources that spoke to Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that the chances of renewing the ceasefire agreement are low, as tensions between the two sides have flared. One Qatari official told Reuters that both parties have zero level of confidence in each other.

The Israel Defense Forces are expected to move their focus to the southern portion of the Gaza Strip, having earlier targeted the north. U.S. officials say they have urged the IDF to hold off on its operations until it has a plan to protect the high number of civilians that have fled hostilities in the north to the south. Nimrod Novik, a former Israeli government adviser, told The Wall Street Journal that he had never seen Israeli citizens so enthusiastic about a U.S. leader as they are about President Joe Biden, so the increasingly unpopular Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could lose support if he didnt comply with U.S. demands.

Israeli officials reportedly knew about Hamas battle plan for the Oct. 7 attack more than a year before it transpired, The New York Times reported Thursday, but dismissed it as too sophisticated for the militant group. Hamas had been refining the plan for years, the Times noted, and Israels critical decision to ignore its intelligence instead of ward off a possible attack has drawn comparisons to the U.S. lack of preparedness ahead of 9/11.
 Flash

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.
Israeli fighter jets hit Gaza minutes after a weeklong truce expired Friday, resuming the nations war with Hamas.

Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging residents to leave their homes, which suggests it is preparing to widen its offensive, which has previously been focused in the north of the strip, The Associated Press reported.

The strikes come after mediators scrambled to extend the truce in Gaza, encouraging Israel and Hamas to continue exchanging hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel had said it would refrain from resuming its attack on Gaza if Hamas kept releasing hostages taken by the Palestinian militant group in its Oct. 7 surprise attack.

Qatar and Egypt, who have aided in the truce negotiations, were seeking to prolong the temporary cease-fire by another two days, but Israel insisted it would resume strikes if Hamas didnt offer a satisfactory list of captives.

According to the AP, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war resumed because Hamas had violated the terms of the truce and did not meet its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens.

Just before the strikes resumed, more people were swapped during the truce.

More than 100 hostages taken by Hamas were freed during the truce, meaning about 140 remain in Gaza. In return for the 100 hostages freed by Hamas, Israel released 240 Palestinians from captivity.

Qatars foreign ministry said officials were trying to reach an agreement to restart the cease-fire, the AP noted. Qatar singled out Israel for resuming fighting, which it said complicated medication efforts and exacerbates the human catastrophe.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war. They headed south toward Khan Younis, a town where Israel dropped evacuation leaflets Friday.

One airstrike Friday morning destroyed a large building in Khan Younis and residents were seen searching through rubble for survivors, the AP reported.

The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza said 32 people had been killed and dozens were wounded hours after the new Israeli strikes began.

In its early October attack, Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis, officials said. Since Israel began its counteroffensive, more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and children, have been killed, Gazas health ministry said.

The toll is likely much higher, the ministry said, as thousands more are feared dead under the rubble.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israel renewed its assault on the Gaza Strip Friday after the end of a weeklong truce with Hamas, pummeling the Palestinian enclave from the air while warning civilians to leave parts of southern Gaza in a sign that it intends to expand its ground offensive.

International mediators said they were still working to restore the cease-fire, which saw the release of more than 100 hostages held in Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The pause had raised hopes for a broader deal, but that appeared to have collapsed as the two sides traded blame while smoke rose from Gaza's ruined skyline and sirens wailed in Israeli border communities.

The resumption of fighting will raise fears for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, as well as the remaining 140 or so hostages, as Israel grapples with the tension between its two stated war goals  destroy Hamas and free those taken captive in the Oct. 7 terror attack.

The prospect of Israel expanding its ground campaign southward will also heighten international anxiety, including in the White House, which has warned its close ally to moderate its military tactics to reduce further civilian casualties and displacement.

Talks and fighting

The pause in fighting, brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, was set to expire at 7 a.m. local time (midnight ET). In the last hour of that deal, Israel said Hamas fired rockets toward its territory from Gaza, at least one of which it managed to intercept, but that a number of others got through.

Sirens sounded in Israeli communities near the border with the Palestinian enclave, while an NBC News team in the southern city of Sderot witnessed rockets being intercepted. Israeli officials have not said whether anyone was injured or killed by rockets from Gaza.

Follow live updates on the Israel-Hamas war

Gaza rockets fired after ceasefire (Jack Guez / AFP - Getty Images)

Hamas in turn blamed Israel, saying it had refused "throughout the night to accept all offers to release other detainees."

Qatar, which hosts some Hamas leadership, expressed "deep regret" that fighting had resumed without an extension. The government added in a statement that negotiations were continuing.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had "resumed combat" against Palestinian militants, and that IDF fighter jets are currently striking Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had violated the plan" and "did not live up to its duty to release all the kidnapped women today."

The government media office in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, a banned terror group in the U.S. and elsewhere, said that the Israeli army had begun to continue its brutal war against our Palestinian people.

Israeli strikes on Rafah, southern Gaza. (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images)

Israeli strikes in northern Gaza (John MacDougall / AFP - Getty Images)

Gazans reported seeing and hearing airstrikes across the enclave's north and south, as well as artillery shelling along the border to the east. Hamas-affiliated media reported heavy gunfire and that clashes were occurring in the north, the focus of Israel's campaign so far. And NBC News' team in Gaza witnessed dead and injured people being taken to hospitals in the center and south of the strip.

"Every 10-15 minutes, there have been strikes, some of it 500 meters (550 yards) away from us," Mohammad Ghalayini, 44, who lives in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, told NBC News in a voice note, with the distinct buzz of an Israeli drone discernible in the background.

'Crammed' into southern Gaza

Israel had previously told Palestinians to leave northern Gaza, the focus of its initial military campaign, fueling an exodus of displaced residents now packed into the south of the enclave. But on Friday it dropped new leaflets on Khan Younis, warning residents that it had now become a combat zone and telling them to relocate again to the southern city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt.

The IDF also published an online interactive map, dividing Gaza into hundreds of zones that it said would be used to warn residents where the fighting would be centered.

Ghalayini, who received one of the leaflets, voiced the common Palestinian belief that this was part of a broader plan to get them to leave Gaza so Israelis can settle there. Although a few Israeli politicians have voiced support for the idea, Netanyahu has said Israel is trying to remove Hamas and does not seek to govern or occupy Gaza.

"One fear is that, when crammed into a smaller area, people will break out through the border and Egypt may have no choice" but to accept them, Ghalayini said.

Aftermath of an Israeli strike on a house, after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, in Rafah (Hatem Khaled / Reuters)

The renewed outbreak of fighting follows a week of respite for the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured almost two months of aerial and ground assault, killing more than 15,000 people, including more than 5,000 children, according to local authorities.

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken captive, according to the IDF.

The recent pause allowed aid into the besieged, impoverished enclave, which has lurched further into a humanitarian crisis during the war. During that time, 105 hostages were released from Gaza, officials said, while Israel has released 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Now there are also fears of the violence spreading, after a deadly shooting at a bus stop in Jerusalem and an Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian health officials said two boys were killed in the Israeli raid, one of them 8 years old.

But a week ago, after a pressure campaign by the hostages' families and a shift in public opinion, Israel agreed with Hamas to pause the fighting so some of the abductees could be liberated.

Sharon Hertzman, right, hugging a relative as they reunite at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Nov. 25. (Haim Zach / AP)

With most Israelis supportive of a war they see as essential to their own security, Netanyahu has always said that the war would restart with full force after negotiations had run their course.

The U.S. has publicly urged its ally to operate with much greater care for civilians in any renewed military campaign.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said Thursday that he had discussed with Israeli leaders the imperative that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south. He added: As I told the prime minister, intent matters, but so does the result.

Hours later, the fighting had resumed.

After a week in which diplomacy was given priority, violence was on Friday once again the dominant language of this struggle.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The temporary cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas ended Friday morning after a week and both parties confirmed that hostilities had resumed. Israel accused Hamas, which the U.S. and Israel consider a terror organization, of violating the terms of the truce as it was set to expire.

Israeli war planes hit targets in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 109 people, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in the Palestinian territory, as rocket warning sirens blared in southern and northern Israel. An estimated 137 hostages were still believed to be in captivity in Gaza after 105 were released during the temporary cease-fire. They were freed in exchange for Israel's release of 240 Palestinians from prisons in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club.

As the cease-fire was set to expire at 7 a.m. local time (midnight Eastern), the Israeli military said the country's missile defense system had detected and intercepted a rocket fired toward Israeli territory from Gaza. Air raid sirens were heard in southern Israel Friday morning and schools in central Israel were told to open only if they have bomb shelters. Otherwise, classes were to be held remotely.

Israel publishes map of "evacuation zones" in Gaza as airstrikes resume

"Hamas violated the operational pause and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory," the IDF said in a social media post. "The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip."

A photo taken from southern Israel, near the border with the Gaza Strip, shows smoke rising from buildings in Gaza after they were hit by Israeli strikes as battles resume between Israel and Hamas militants, Dec. 1, 2023. / Credit: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty

The government of Qatar, where negotiations have been taking place for weeks and where the terms of the cease-fire were agreed, expressed "deep regret" at the resumption of hostilities. It said "negotiations between the the two sides are continuing with the aim of returning to a pause."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his third visit to Israel since the war began, met Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cautioned Israel to protect civilians in Gaza.

"Israel has one of the most sophisticated militaries in the world," Blinken told reporters. "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."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he deeply regretted that fighting had resumed in Gaza.

"I still hope that it will be possible to renew the pause that was established," Guterres said on social media. "The return to hostilities only shows how important it is to have a true humanitarian ceasefire."

Hamas said negotiations had taken place throughout the night in an effort to extend the pause in fighting for a third time, and that it had made offers including returning the bodies of a mother and her two young children who had been among the hostages seized by the group during its unprecedented Oct. 7 terror attack.

"The occupation refused to deal with all these offers, because it had made a predisposed decision to resume the criminal aggression," Hamas claimed in a statement, attributing "full responsibility" for the resumption of the war to Israel and the Biden administration for its "absolute support for Israel."

"Back to the nightmarish situation" in Gaza

After a strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Friday, CBS News' Marwan al-Ghoul found a boy at the scene in tears.

"We were there collecting water to wash our clothes. The bombing started and the rocks came flying at us," the teen, Omar Hahrous, told CBS News. "I looked around me and I could not find anybody. Some were injured... some were martyred."

Palestinian teenager Omar Hahrous speaks with CBS News at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza, Dec. 1, 2023, right after a temporary cease-fire collapsed between Israel and Hamas. / Credit: CBS News

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has helped facilitate hostage and prisoner releases during the cease-fire, told French news agency AFP on Friday that the resumption of hostilities brought the roughly 2.3 million people of Gaza "back to the nightmarish situation they were in before the truce took place."

"People are at a breaking point, hospitals are at a breaking point, the whole Gaza Strip is in a very precarious state," Mardini told AFP in Dubai, where he was attending the U.N.'s COP28 climate summit.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, meanwhile, called the resumption of hostilities "catastrophic" and urged "all parties and States with influence over them to redouble efforts, immediately, to ensure a cease-fire  on humanitarian and human rights grounds."

Palestinians survey the damage from an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza, after a temporary cease-fire collapsed following two extensions, Dec. 1, 2023. / Credit: CBS News

The Reuters news agency cited officials in Egypt as saying the end of the truce meant truck convoys, which had delivered desperately needed food, fuel and other humanitarian essentials to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing every day during the pause in fighting, could no longer enter the territory.

Palestinian and international aid agency officials have said more aid was allowed into Gaza during the week-long cessation of violence, but nowhere near what is needed to address immediate requirements.

The Rafah crossing from Egypt is the only entry point to Gaza that has been opened for humanitarian supplies since the war began on Oct. 7.

Attack in Jerusalem, violence in West Bank

The fragile deal was strained this week by several incidents of violence, including a shooting early Thursday morning in which two gunmen opened fire on a crowded bus stop in Jerusalem, killing at least three Israelis and wounding six others. Blinken confirmed two of those wounded were also U.S. citizens. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

"The terrorists just came out of the cars and start shooting right on the faces of normal people," paramedic Israel Polak, who responded to the scene, told CBS News.

Hamas said the shooting was in response to the killing of children in the Palestinian refugee Camp in Jenin. Two boys, ages 8 and 15, were fatally shot at the camp Wednesday.



The last hostages released under the truce

The cease-fire began on Nov. 24 and was renewed twice. Five hostages were released before the cease-fire began, and 105 were freed during it, along with some 240 Palestinian prisoners.

On Thursday, the seventh and last day of the pause in fighting, eight Israeli hostages were freed from Gaza and 30 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons. The Israeli hostages released Thursday ranged in age from 17 to 41 and included several dual-nationals.

Among them were siblings Aisha and Bilal Ziyadne, age 17 and 18, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Holit, where they went to work with their father, Yousef, and their older brother, Hamza, according to a spokesperson for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Their father and older brother are still being held captive by Hamas, the spokesperson said.

Also freed was 21-year-old Mia Schem, a French-Israeli woman who had appeared in a propaganda video released by Hamas in October, where her right arm seemed to be injured. Her aunt told Israeli media Thursday it was operated on by a Palestinian veterinarian.

Her mother, Karen Schem, told CBS News at the time, "It's very hard to see my daughter, I see the pain, I see that she's in physical pain."

More than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed by Hamas militants during their Oct. 7 rampage across southern Israel, according to the Israeli military. The group has long been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel and many other nations.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says almost 15,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israel's retaliatory ground incursion and airstrikes.

 Tucker Reals, Emily Mae Czachor, Chris Livesay and Holly Williams contributed to this report.

Judge sides with Daryl Hall in legal battle with former musical partner John Oates

Iconic chocolate brand linked to child labor in Ghana

Rock legends KISS to hold final concert Saturday
Israel vowed that Hamas would take the mother of all thumpings, after a week-long ceasefire ended on Friday, engulfing the Gaza Strip in a new bout of fighting.

Hours into the renewed bombardment, Israel said it had struck more than 200 targets throughout the enclave, while Hamas health officials said more than 175 Palestinians had been killed.

Israel blamed the end of the truce on the Palestinian terror group, saying it had fired a rocket before the agreed pause in fighting was lifted and refused to release all women taken hostage on Oct 7.

Eylon Levy, a government spokesperson, said: Having chosen to hold on to our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings.

While Israeli bombing of Gaza resumed within seconds of truce expiry, sirens blared across Israel as Hamas fired rockets from the coastal enclave into a string of towns.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, also blamed Hamas for the collapse of the truce, pointing to a deadly shooting at a Jerusalem bus stop on Thursday and what he said was the groups failure to fulfil commitments to release certain hostages.

Hamas, however, said Israel had persistently rejected offers to free other captives.

Palestinian women with children flee their houses after Israeli strikes resumed on Friday - Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/REUTERS

It came amid reports that Israel is planning for a long war against Hamas that will be waged for a year or more and will include an imminent push by its forces into the south of Gaza.

The operation is aimed at killing the groups top three leaders  Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa  and destroying its ability to govern in the territory, the Financial Times reported, citing unnamed Israeli officials.

In an indication of its intentions, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published a map dividing the 140-square-mile Gaza Strip into hundreds of blocks early on Friday morning.

The IDF said the map was intended to spare civilian lives, allowing for targeted warnings to be given to Palestinians in advance of specific offensive operations.

But it was unclear how such information would be announced to those in Gaza, some of whom said they remained in the dark on where to find updates.

Most Palestinians are now packed into the southern part of the enclave, in and around the city of Khan Younis, having fled in that direction in hopes of finding safety and possibly entering Egypt via the Rafah border crossing.

The US has been pressing Israel to adapt its approach in the south after weeks of intense air strikes levelled much of the north.

One senior US official told CNN options being considered included moving civilians who fled south back to the north once military operations there end.

Even if that plan were to be allowed by Israeli authorities, its unclear whether its feasible for hundreds of thousands of people to return, as war has reduced many homes and key infrastructure to rubble.

The IDF has to date warned displaced Palestinians against returning north, saying the area remained a war zone.

A Palestinian woman assists a wounded child in Gaza following an Israeli strike after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired - STRINGER/REUTERS

Israel was also reported on Friday to have told several Arab states that it wants to create a buffer zone along the Palestinian side of the territorys border to prevent future attacks of the like carried out on Oct 7.

It came as the IDF confirmed the deaths of five hostages held by the terror group in Gaza, saying their families had been informed, and the body of one returned to Israel.

Qatar, which brokered the ceasefire, said the return to fighting had complicated efforts to restore the truce and free the more than 130 captives still thought to be held by the group in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Hamas said that it had offered to hand over the bodies of the three members of the Bibas family that it said were killed by Israeli air strikes, including the youngest hostage, a 10-month-old baby.

The group also said that they seriously sought, and are still seeking a truce, even with the return of the Israeli aggression.

Israel claimed that Hamas had refused to free more female civilian hostages it believed the group was holding.

Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said 136 hostages, among them 17 women and children were still under Hamass control.

The collapse of the truce in Gaza also led to clashes between the IDF and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, along Israels northern border with Lebanon.

Lebanese state media reported that Israeli shelling had killed three people in the countrys south, a Hezbollah stronghold.

The Iran-backed terror group, an ally of Hamas, said one of its ranks was among those killed.

It also said it had carried out several attacks on Israeli military positions along the frontier in support of Palestinians in Gaza, warning it was vigilant and ready after the truce there ended.

Israels northern border has been the site of many skirmishes since the events on Oct 7, prompting concerns the conflict could escalate into a full-scale regional war.

About 100 people in Lebanon have been killed during the hostilities, 80 of them Hezbollah fighters. Tens of thousands of people have fled both sides of the border.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry said the death toll had climbed to more than 15,000 people as fighting resumed.

The bloodshed added further fuel to mounting global concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the territory.

James Elder, a Unicef spokesperson in Gaza, called for a lasting ceasefire.

Today those in power decided that the killing of children would recommence in Gaza, he said.

Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office in Geneva, said: Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza.

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.
Ahmad Salaima is welcomed by his family upon his arrival at his home in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem - AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP

A Palestinian boy, 14, jailed for stone-throwing is looking forward to returning to school after he was freed in the hostage swap deal.

Ahmad Salaymeh, the youngest Palestinian released in the exchange, spent five months in Damon prison in the northern Haifa district.

Before that he was on trial or under house-arrest for a year on charges including throwing rocks at Israeli settlers.

On the day of his release, Ahmads mother was photographed throwing her arms around his neck, apparently overcome with joy.

Im looking forward to normal things, like going back to school, Ahmad told The Telegraph at his family home on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem.

During the ceasefire, Israel freed 240 Palestinian women and children in return for 110 Israeli hostages. The boys incarceration was not his familys first encounter with the prison system.

Ahmad Salaymeh is welcomed by his mother outside their home in East Jerusalem - AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP

His father, Nawaf, served five years in the same jail after he was arrested during the first Palestinian Intifada in the early 1990s. Then, more than 100 Israeli civilians were killed in a prolonged uprising in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Nawaf was imprisoned for rioting, hate and burning cars.

Ahmad, while reluctant to discuss his experiences in Damon, said his father had prepared him for the experience.

There was nothing there to surprise me, he told The Telegraph. It was exactly just how dad told me it would be.

Reflecting on his sons imprisonment, Nawaf said that he understood the boys fury at the Israeli government, but was keen for him to pursue a different path in life.

This is our nation  how can I tell him to stop fighting for our country?

[But] I try to tell him that he can work against the system in other ways than throwing stones: study to be a lawyer, a rights activist.

Ahmad walked out of the same prison, the very same prison gate I did, he sighed.

Israeli security forces banned any celebrations of the freeing of Palestinian prisoners in East Jerusalem, where they still maintain control.

But there were parties in the West Bank, with crowds chanting pro-Hamas slogans, blaring pop music and setting off fireworks.

None of the freed Palestinians were convicted of murder, but a small number had carried out serious attacks. One woman was left disfigured in a failed bombing, another stabbed a teacher.

But around 80 per cent of the list of 300 Palestinian women and children submitted for potential release by the Israeli government were not convicts at all, according to an analysis by a rights group and local media outlets.

Many were being held in so-called administrative detention, a practice which allows Israel to jail non-Israeli citizens in the West Bank on classified evidence without pressing charges.

Human rights organisations have called for the practice to be scrapped, saying that it leaves detainees no opportunity to mount a defence.

Ahmad and other former inmates described how prison conditions changed overnight after Hamass cross-border attack on Israel on Oct 7, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed.

Guards removed TV sets and radios from the cells the next morning. They also shut down the canteen.

Inmates knew something had happened but were unclear on the details, said Mohammad Salaymeh, Ahmads second cousin, who was jailed with him on the same day in July.

I had no idea about the Hamas attack, about the war in Gaza until I was out, 16-year-old Mohammad told the Telegraph. While there were rumours of war we had no idea which war  here, in the West Bank or in Gaza.

On Tuesday morning, Mohammad was released for what he was told was an interrogation.

I had to sign a paper that said I should not engage in any celebrations, should not wave flags or invite large groups of people over, he said.

I asked why? And then they said: Because youre going home.

During the release, Ahmad and Mohammad were put in civilian cars alongside their fathers and Israeli soldiers.

Mohammad was asked to turn and look away from the window: It was only when he got home he realised his father had been one seat away for the journey.

Thanks to Gaza and the blood of the people

Nawaf, Ahmads father, said he was not in the mood to party even when his son came home.

Their release of those people was possible only thanks to Gaza and the blood of the people, sadly, he said.

It wouldnt be the right thing to celebrate.

Many of the inmates on the exchange list were arrested in Israels security sweep in the West Bank and East Jerusalem after the Oct 7 attack, when 3,260 Palestinians including 200 children were detained, according to the Palestinian prisoners rights group Addameer.

While prosecutors continue to pursue cases against Palestinian teenagers throwing rocks at settlers, settler violence against Palestinians has also spiked following the start of the Gaza war.

In East Jerusalem, the neighbourhood of Ras Al Amoud has long been a flashpoint. In the early 2000s an American businessman bought a plot of land there to build a settlement.

Despite an international outcry, the Maale Zeitim settlement remains  a cluster of blocks of flats perched on a hill behind a tall concrete wall.

On a recent afternoon, Orthodox Jewish women hurried through streets outside the settlement guarded by Israeli officers with automatic rifles.

At least five boys from Ras Al Amoud, two of them from the extended Salaymeh family, have been detained and charged with throwing stones at the settlers in the past year.

It is not easy to keep the teenagers off the streets and away from confrontations with the newcomers, residents of Ras Al Amoud said.

Sitting with friends a short walk from Ahmads house, Mohammad, told the Telegraph his father is desperate to keep him out of jail.

Dad told me not to go outside and said hed be taking me to school now himself so that I dont get arrested again, he said.

Nawaf, Mohammads uncle and a father of six himself, said he held little hope for an end to the cycle of violence.

His 13-year-old son Ayham, whose voice has not yet broken, is at home under house arrest under the same charges as his elder brother.

Who knows, maybe he will have to become our youngest prisoner, too, Mr Salaymeh said.

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.
Tomer Bassis, left, and Eyal Sirota recount their experiences from the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on a rave part in the southern Israel, at Cyprus' Jewish Community Center in the southern coastal town of Larnaca, Cyprus, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Bassis and Sirota was among a group of 70 people who attended a retreat in Cyprus to help them cope with the psychological trauma they suffered from that attack. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

LARNACA, Cyprus (AP)  Tomer Bassis expected his day to be filled with electronic trance music at the Oct. 7 desert rave party he was attending in southern Israel. Instead, the sounds of bullets whizzing by as he ran to escape the indiscriminate gunfire of Hamas militants became the soundtrack seared into his mind.

The 25-year-old Israeli was among some 3,000 other young revelers at the music festival who fled the carnage as the militants from Gaza descended on the field, gunning down young men and women and throwing rocket-propelled grenades into the crowd in an unprecedented rampage.

The open-air Tribe of Nova music festival is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history, with at least 364 dead. In a single day, Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took around 240 people captive.

Bassis remembers that as he ran, a girl he didn't know was running next to him.

I looked to the left and she got hit with the bullet in the head and fell down immediately, he said. He kept on running, screaming, Im sorry, Im sorry that I couldnt help you.

And all the time bullets are whistling, he said. I see people falling.

The traumas of that horror-filled day are what Bassis  along with some 50 other young survivors of the rave attack  has tried to come to terms with during a five-day retreat at Secret Forest, a site owned by Israel in the hills above Cyprus southwestern coastal resort town of Paphos.

Another survivor, Eyal Sirota, 24, said the program was aimed at giving him and others the tools to deal with the pain and the stress of what they experienced and witnessed.

Some of the coping tools they are taught include breathing techniques and discussions  sharing everything with each other. The daily sessions are complemented with yoga, meditation, reflexology, massage and acupuncture, Sirota said.

Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, who heads Cyprus small Jewish community, said Bassis and Sirota were part of the sixth group of around 50 survivors of the Oct. 7 attack brought to the retreat this week to undergo five days of rest, relaxation and therapy in Cyprus.

Raskin said Cyprus close proximity to Israel and cheap flight connections make it an ideal destination for such a retreat  a place of calm that can help those who survived the Hamas attack heal, at least a little.

The trips to Cyprus are supported by NovaHelp, a group of mental heath professionals who came together to help survivors of the rave party, said Raskin. Financial support is provided by other charities and private businesses, including major accounting firms and Jewish American groups.

Raskin has initiated another, similar project currently underway to bring parents who lost children during the Oct. 7 attack to undergo similar therapy in Cyprus.

Some 1,200 Israelis were killed during that single day of Hamas' onslaught. Israel responded with devastating airstrikes and a ground offensive into Gaza. The war has so far killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants.

On their final day before heading back to Israel on Thursday, Bassis' group of survivors were treated at the Jewish Community Center in the coastal town of Larnaca to a meal of hummus, kosher meats and plenty of drink to the pounding rhythms of Israeli pop and trance music.

They all clapped and sang along to the music as they celebrated life.

But despite festive moments, the terror of that day still haunts Bassis.

He recounted trying to avoid a massive car jam as he ran, hundreds of vehicles chaotically trying to flee the shooting.

When he couldn't run, he tried to hide where he could  first under the stage that was used for the rave party, and finally, under an Israeli armored vehicle where he held a young wounded woman in his arms until help came.

It was there that later, Bassis said he sprang into action and helped with the evacuation of some of the wounded.

Six of his friends who were with him at the rave did not survive.

I will keep dancing and I will keep partying for my friends," said Bassis. I will dance for them, I will live for them. I will make my life the best for them.

I got my life as a gift back," he said. "I will not waste it.
 Flash

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.
An Illinois appeals court has upheld actor Jussie Smolletts disorderly conduct conviction in an opinion filed Friday.

A three-panel judge affirmed Smolletts conviction in a 2-1 ruling. His lawyers could appeal the decision and bring it to the state Supreme Court.

If the Illinois Supreme Court does take up or reverse the appellate courts decision, the actor must serve the sentence that was handed down in March 2022.

The appeals court panel heard arguments from Smolletts attorneys in September, who said his conviction should be thrown out.

In 2019, Smollett claimed he was the victim of a hate crime in Chicago. The actor, known for his role on the TV series Empire, is Black and gay.

He claimed he was attacked on the street by two men in Chicago who yelled racist, homophobic and pro-Trump remarks and put a noose around his neck. It turned out that Smollett had paid two brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, to stage the attack, prosecutors said.

He was later charged with 16 felonies; those charges were dropped, but he was found guilty on five separate counts of felony disorderly conduct in December 2021.

Several of the actors friends and family members appeared in court to plead for leniency in the case.

He was sentenced to 150 days in jail by a Chicago judge and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and more than $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago.

He served six days behind bars after the initial sentence before he was released while appealing the decision.

His attorneys, requesting a new trial with a different judge, argued that trial proceedings violated Smolletts Fifth Amendment protections against double jeopardy, but in the ruling released Friday, the appeals court said the actor was not denied due process.

The panel wrote that it affirms the judgement of the circuit court of Cook County.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former

Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, seen here at the 2022 BET Awards, had his conviction on disorderly conduct counts upheld by an appeals court on Friday.

An Illinois appeals court has rejected Jussie Smolletts request to toss his conviction on disorderly conduct counts related to a racist and homophobic attack that he claimed he was a victim of in Chicago.

A three-judge panel on Friday voted 2 to 1 to uphold the former Empire actors five felony count conviction for lying to police about the 2019 attack, which authorities later determined had been staged by Smollett.

The stunt, which prosecutors said was done for publicity, resulted in Smollett being sentenced last year to 30 months of felony probation and 150 days in jail, and being ordered to pay more than $120,000 in restitution and a $25,000 fine for making false reports to police.

He served just six days in jail before being freed, pending this appeal.

Actor Jussie Smollett, center, is seen speaking to the judge after his sentence was read in court on March 10, 2022, in Chicago.

Actor Jussie Smollett, center, is seen speaking to the judge after his sentence was read in court on March 10, 2022, in Chicago.

Smolletts attorneys said they plan to appeal to the nations highest court.

We are preparing to escalate this matter to the Supreme Court, armed with a substantial body of evidence, they said in a statement Friday.

Smolletts attorneys had argued that his sentence was excessive and his prosecution violated his due process rights, reasoning, in part, that there had been a binding non-prosecution agreement. They also objected to him facing a special prosecutor after he had already made a deal with Cook County prosecutors to drop the initial charges. This amounted to double jeopardy, they argued.

Appellate Judge Freddrenna Lyle, the lone judge who sided with Smollett, agreed that the special prosecutors appointment  after Smollett had already completed community service  was fundamentally unfair.

The appointment of a special prosecutor to reindict Smollett after he had entered into a binding agreement, which he completed, with the State was fundamentally unfair. Additionally, it was common sense that Smollett was bargaining for a complete resolution of the matter, not simply a temporary one, Lyle wrote.

Smollett maintained his innocence throughout his trial. Upon his conviction, he shouted out in court that his incarceration put his life in immediate danger.

I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that, he said.

Related...
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A man has been charged in the shooting of a Rally House employee in the Shops at Boardwalk during an alleged armed robbery.

Thirty-year-old Travis A. Miller of Kansas City, Missouri, has been charged with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.

Shawnee Mission students release demands after racially motivated fight

The court entered a not guilty plea on Millers behalf, and his next court date is set for Dec. 12.

Miller allegedly walked around the store suspiciously carrying several clothing items in his arms. He was also said to be in the store for 20-30 minutes not using a shopping cart and carrying as many clothing items as physically possible, court records say.

When Miller exited past the security sensors at the main doors, an audible alarm was activated because the clothing items still had tag sensors on them, charging documents say.

Thats when a Rally House employee followed Miller and grabbed some of the clothing to recover the stolen items.

Miller then turned and allegedly shot the employee in the left leg. The employee did not see the firearm but immediately felt pain in his leg and fell to the ground, court records say.

According to the hospital, the gunshot wound to the leg caused his femur bone to break and required immediate surgery.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

Employees at the store estimated Miller allegedly stole 5-7 items with a value of approximately $300. He passed all points of sale without paying for the clothing items and exited the business, court records say.

One 9mm shell casing was recovered from the ground next to where the victim was lying, police said. Video from Rally House shows Miller stealing the items, prosecutors say, but there was no known video outside of the business that captured the shooting.

A witness observed Miller fleeing the scene and took photos of his vehicle, a black Chevrolet Trailblazer, court documents say. The information was passed on to officers.

KCPD found Millers vehicle in the area of 152 Highway and Maple Woods Parkway. Officers attempted to stop Miller, but he refused to stop, police said.

Councilman concerned both Chiefs and Royals will leave Kansas City

Police said he ran a red light at the intersection of the 152 Highway east exit ramp and N. Indiana. His vehicle was hit by another car, causing the Trailblazer to break down, police said.

Miller was then taken into custody and during a search, police found methamphetamine in his front right pocket, court records say.

I had just been up here, so it is kind of nerve racking, Kansas City, Mo. resident Lorena OConnor said of the incident in an interview with FOX4 Friday.

Republican Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd says shoplifting has become an enormous problem as stores lose money. He says his office charges these types of crimes often.

But shoplifting when you use a weapon is something entirely different, he said in an interview with FOX4 Friday. Thats robbery. Robbery is one of the most serious crimes that you can be charged with in the state of Missouri. It has a sentence of 10 years up to life in prison.

Kansas City teacher on leave after inappropriate videos shown in class

Three weeks ago, undercover Overland Park police tried to stop two men for shoplifting, and one of them ended up firing the officers gun. No one was hurt, but the bullet struck in the same spot where a child sat only moments earlier.

Monday, suspected female shoplifters running from police in Overland Park also caused a crash that hurt an innocent driver.

OConnor wants it to be harder for criminals to want to shoplift again.

I dont know what that could be, she continued. Maybe a large, huge, huge fine or hold them in jail if they dont pay it. I dont know what the answer is, but they need to be somewhat stopped. I dont know what its going to take.

Zahnd said there are ways to do that under existing law, and he wants state leaders to improve shoplifting laws in the future.

Im not alleging that Mr. Miller for example was part of a crime theft ring, but we know that there are people who are parts of organized crime theft rings. We can do a better job both with the law and we can also do a better job of enforcing the law when it comes to shoplifting.

FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox

Zahnd said the last he heard the victim was doing OK.

Miller is currently being held in the Platte County Jail without bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Kansas City Police Department is asking for the publics help in identifying individuals suspected of multiple car break-ins.

The individuals pictured below are suspected of car thefts in the parking garage at 1120 Oak Street in Kansas City.

Kansas City man charged in Northland Rally House shooting

According to KCPD, there have been 18 reports filed in connection with the break-ins.

The event occurred between 5 p.m. Monday and 4:45 a.m., Tuesday. KCPD was called to the garage at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

If you recognize these suspects, police ask that you call 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.
 Flash

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem, on Nov. 30, 2023. [Photo/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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Kansas City teacher is now on leave after inappropriate videos were shown on a projector with students in class.

Kansas City Public Schools said a Central Middle School teacher has been placed on leave after Wednesdays incident. The district did not elaborate on the content of the inappropriate videos.

Two Center High School workers accused of inappropriate behavior

In a statement, KCPS said the teacher was removed from school Wednesday and immediately placed on leave.

Parents were notified that day, and staff have been in contact with students who were affected. KCPS said it has provided resources to students and staff, including counselors and trauma-informed clinicians.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

The district said because this is a personnel investigation and ongoing investigation, KCPS leaders are limited in what they can share.

We take any investigation extremely seriously, and KCPS is committed to fostering a safe, comfortable and inclusive learning environment where every student can succeed, KCPS said in a statement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
DE SOTO, Kan.  Roughly a year after Panasonic officially broke ground on its $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto, Kansas, construction crews still have more than a year of work to go before the targeted opening in the first quarter of 2025.

But, Panasonic officials say the senior leadership team is in place, 34 engineers have already been hired and are training at the companys Gigafactory plant near Reno, Nevada to help set up and open the De Soto facility.

Councilman concerned both Chiefs and Royals will leave Kansas City

The workers who will be on the line on day one are expected to be hired in January and February, and spend much of 2024 training up to be ready to run the Kansas facility.

Anyone wanting to be a part of advanced manufacturing, well have opportunities at all levels, said Panasonic Vice President of Human Resources Kristen Walters.

Thats why she says the company is already working closely with local community colleges and four-year institutions to mold degree and certification programs to teach the skills Panasonic will need.

De Soto, Kansas Panasonic plant construction

De Soto, Kansas Panasonic plant construction

De Soto, Kansas Panasonic plant construction

De Soto, Kansas Panasonic plant construction

De Soto, Kansas Panasonic plant construction

Those programs will allow entry-level workers to advance through the ranks, helping prolong a career in manufacturing either within Panasonic or at one of the regions other manufacturing businesses.

The goal is to spread those programs around the region to help draw workers that already live in the metro, around 50 miles around the plant.

Well want people from all surrounding areas that want to be a part of what were doing to have that opportunity, Walters said.

KCI Airport could add new lane, new cell phone lot to fix back-ups

Eventually, those workers will clock in at the more than three million square foot facility thats being built right now.

About 86% of the first wings exterior is up with exterior paneling already being installed. That part of the building will start creating EV batteries in early 2025 while the second wing is completed.

We have a lot of utilities and facilities around us that we can use, said Panasonic Vice President of Operations Innocent Chikunya. To get this piece of land thats situated in a piece of land that you can access easily is incredible.

Chikunya says that helps make the manufacturing process more efficient with raw materials coming into the eastern side of the building and moving in straight line until finished batteries can be shipped out of the western side.

He says its an improvement over the companys set up in Teslas Gigafactory plant in Nevada.

Reno is in Teslas Gigafactory and its a fixed building so we had to make equipment fit in a fixed building, Chikunya said.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

Outside the facility, Panasonic has a development agreement with the City of De Soto, laying out how incentives to draw the company will lead to benefits for the local community.

Commitments to local school districts have already created events like STEM Fest where local students were able to learn more about STEM subjects from Panasonic and NASA employees.

Were investing four billion dollars into a plant, were going to be here for generations, said Community Affairs Manager Julie Sailors.

Its the companys attempt to avoid the challenges FOX4 found when we went to Reno, Nevada to study the impact a similar facility had there.

The Tesla Gigafactory brought in a huge amount of workers over a short time, making the cost of living skyrocket while depleting the housing supply.

City leaders tell FOX4 theyre already working on solutions that would mitigate a similar impact in western Johnson County. Other factors like easier access to land that can be developed in Kansas compared to Nevada could help too.

Developers plan to convert vacant Kansas City school into mixed-use project

Sailors said her teams work will also help because Panasonic controls its facility in Kansas in a way it doesnt in Nevada, because the Gigafactory belongs to Tesla.

Were leasing space from our customer [in Nevada] so we didnt have a lot of input on the front end so being able to design this from the beginning and really have input and partner with the communities from the beginning is very different, Sailors said.

Panasonic said the large electric substation being built next to the facility to power it is not going to create any rate increases. The company says its still negotiating its rates with Evergy, but that its committed to paying its fair share.

Production is expected to start in early 2025.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Xi stresses making new major breakthroughs in integrated development of Yangtze River Delta

Xinhua) 08:06, December 01, 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium on advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and delivers an important speech in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed efforts to make new major breakthroughs in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and enhance the region's leading and exemplary role in pursuing Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while chairing a symposium on advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.

Xi underlined the importance of advancing the region's integrated development, improving its innovation capacity, industrial competitiveness and development quality, and forming a new pattern of higher-level reform and opening up. These are of great significance for China to build a new development paradigm, promote high-quality development, and advance the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization, he said.

Xi said that it is necessary to fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, focus on integration and high quality, establish a global vision and strategic thinking, unswervingly deepen reform and expand high-level opening up, and coordinate scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, hardware connectivity with mechanism coordination, and environmental protection with economic development, so as to make new major breakthroughs in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.

Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting.

The overall strength and comprehensive competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta continue to rank among the top in the country, Xi said.

Noting that major progress has been achieved since the strategy of the region's integrated development was put forward five years ago, Xi said that there are also some deep-seated problems to be solved.

Advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta is a major undertaking, and making steady progress and continuing the hard work are necessary to write new chapters of the region's integrated development, he said.

On future development, Xi stressed the need to strengthen cross-region collaboration in sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation.

Efforts should be made to generate new industries, business formats and models, and nurture new development momentum.

The region is urged to become a source of sci-tech innovation by integrating sci-tech innovation forces and advantageous resources across regions and departments, and participate in international sci-tech cooperation to create a globally competitive ecosystem for innovation.

He also underscored the importance of making institutional improvements for the region's integrated development.

Regional segmentation and administrative obstacles should be broken down at the institutional level so as to provide institutional guarantee for integrated development, while greater institutional innovation in key areas is to be made.

The synergy and collaboration among various reform measures should be strengthened, Xi said. Concerning basic public services, efforts should be made to promote the gradual alignment of relevant mechanisms, policies and standards and facilitate the accessibility and sharing of public services in different spheres.

On transport, Xi urged enhancing the alignment of the standards of transportation networks within the region to improve infrastructure connectivity.

He also called for efforts to accelerate the construction of a demonstration area in the Yangtze River Delta on integrated ecologically-friendly development, and promote industrial relocation and reasonable allocation of production elements across the region to turn the Yangtze River Delta into a community for shared regional development.

The region should vigorously promote high-level coordinated opening up, Xi noted.

He called on the region to push forward high-level opening up with an emphasis on institutional opening up, and strengthen mutual learning and promotion of related reform experience.

Xi urged efforts to expand the influence of the Hongqiao International Open Hub, vigorously implement the upgrading strategy of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), and promote the opening up of the Lingang new area of the Shanghai FTZ to a higher level.

The region's development should be well integrated with the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

Xi also stressed further improving the business environment for private companies to promote their sound and high-quality development.

More efforts should be made to strengthen joint protection and governance of the ecological environment, he said.

In this regard, Xi called for concerted efforts in the protection of key ecological barriers and corridors in the region as well as integrated prevention and control of air, water and soil pollution.

The region should go full steam ahead with clean production, facilitate energy conservation and decarbonization in key fields and sectors and pick up pace in fostering a sustainable production and lifestyle, he said.

A cross-region pollutant discharge rights trading mechanism needs to be established so as to make active yet prudent advancement in achieving the country's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, Xi said.

Xi also stressed the need to enhance the region's capability to coordinate development and security.

The region needs to pay attention to major infrastructure facilities as well as sci-tech, industrial and financial areas that are essential to national and regional security, and step up relevant risk prevention and control, Xi noted.

The region should also enhance industrial chain resilience and security, consolidate industrial collaboration with the central and western areas, expand the institutional opening up in the financial sector and facilitate cross-border investment and financing, he added.

The CPC's overall leadership must be upheld and strengthened in promoting the region's integrated development, Xi stressed.

Li Qiang delivered a speech at the symposium. He emphasized the need to consider the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta in the context of overall national development, and give full play to the region's roles as a growth pole, a development engine, and an experimental field for reform so as to better support and serve Chinese modernization.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium on advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and delivers an important speech in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
 Flash

A Montana judge ruled on Thursday to block the state's ban on TikTok from going into effect, marking a win for the popular video streaming app.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, who heard lawsuits filed by TikTok and five Montana content creators against the state's ban last month, said in a preliminary injunction that the move "is necessary" because the ban likely violates "their First Amendment, Supremacy Clause, and Commerce Clause claims."

In a 48-page document released by the court, the judge agreed that the law could not take effect from Jan. 1, 2024, as it was scheduled until a final determination was made.

According to the 77-year-old judge, the order was made based on the three claims put forth by the plaintiffs, which alleged the Montana ban violates the company's constitutionally protected rights to disseminate and promote third-party speech.

The plaintiffs also claimed the ban is preempted by federal law as national security is a matter controlled by the federal government.

They also said the ban violates the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution which bans state laws that unduly burden interstate and foreign commerce.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed an act on May 17 banning the operation of TikTok throughout the state starting next year, making Montana the first U.S. state to prohibit the use of or access to the social networking platform.

The ban imposes a 10,000-U.S.-dollar penalty for each "discrete violation," defined as any time an individual in Montana accesses TikTok, is offered the ability to access TikTok, or is offered the ability to download TikTok, according to the company.

TikTok filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court on May 22. Another lawsuit against Montana was filed by five TikTok content creators, including a businesswoman, a rancher, a student, and a veteran, who all create, publish, view, interact with, and share TikTok videos with "significant audiences."

Molloy heard arguments filed by TikTok and those content creators last month in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana in Missoula.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles wore a tie bearing the colours and symbols of the Greek national flag to a climate conference on Friday, days after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak snubbed his Greek peer Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a row over the Parthenon Sculptures.

Charles, who wore the tie when he met Sunak on the sidelines of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates and when he delivered a speech at the event, has Greek lineage through his father, the late Prince Philip who was born on the Greek island of Corfu.

Sunak deepened a diplomatic row with Athens on Wednesday by accusing Mitsotakis of "grandstanding" during a recent trip to London over ownership of the Parthenon Sculptures. Sunak cancelled a planned meeting with Mitsotakis earlier in the week.

A Buckingham Palace source said on Friday that Charles also wore the same tie last week, before the escalation of the dispute. A spokesperson for Sunak declined to comment.

British media noted that, as well as the blue and white tie featuring the same white cross design as the Greek flag, Charles sported a blue and white handkerchief protruding from his jacket pocket.

"In a week when Rishi Sunak cancelled a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister to make a 'stand' over the #ParthenonMarbles #ElginMarbles  King Charles appears to have chosen to wear a very interesting tie when he met Mr Sunak in Dubai today," ITV television's Royal Editor Chris Ship said on social media platform X.

Athens has long called on the British Museum to permanently return the 2,500-year-old sculptures that British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in 1806. The museum has said it would consider a loan to Greece only if Athens acknowledges the museum's ownership of the sculptures.

(Additional reporting by Alistair Smout and Michael Holden, Writing by William Schomberg in LONDON; Editing by Alex Richardson)
King Charles III told world leaders Friday that the warning signs of the climate crisis are being ignored and that the world is heading for dangerous uncharted territory, with devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods.

Delivering an opening address to delegates at the World Climate Action Summit, part of the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, the King said he prayed with all my heart that COP28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action.

Some important progress has been made but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track, he said, adding, we are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits and into dangerous uncharted territory.

Referring to this years climate change-fueled extreme weather, including Canadas unprecedented wildfire season, deadly flooding in Pakistan and Bangladesh and catastrophic drought in East Africa, the King told delegates that the hope of the world rested on decisions taken at the summit.

We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition all at once as a pace that far outstrips natures ability to cope, he said.

The King called for a series of measures, including a ramp-up of public and private finance, to tackle the climate crisis and rapidly increase renewable energy.

in 2050, our grandchildren wont be asking what we said. They will be living with the consequences of what we did or didnt do, he said. The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth, he added.

Friday marked the Kings first big speech on climate change since he became monarch last year. The King did not attend last years COP27 summit in Egypt, after the then UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss advised him against going. CNN understood at the time that, the monarch and government jointly agreed that the climate summit wasnt the right occasion for the Kings first trip overseas as sovereign.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has already spoken at the ceremony, announced a $30 billion green investment fund, designed to bridge the climate finance gap.

Developing nations have long pushed the rich world to channel more financing to the global south to help it make the green transition. He spoke in Dubai, where the UAE is hosting the talks.

After a year of record global temperatures, fueling deadly extreme weather, the pressure is high at COP28 for leaders to make ambitious progress on tackling the climate crisis. But countries still remain divided about the role fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change, will play in the future.

COP28, which opened yesterday, started with a significant development as countries formally adopted a damage fund, decades in the making, to help nations hit hardest by the climate crisis.

Among countries making immediate commitments were the United Arab Emirates and Germany, both of which pledged $100 million, and the UK, which announced 60million, part of which will be used for other arrangements, according to the news release. The US announced a commitment of $17.5 million, which some experts and advocacy groups said was was embarrassing.

World leaders including Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazils President Lula Da Silva, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley are due to address delegates later.

CNNs Lauren Moorhouse, Angela Dewan and Ella Nilsen contributed reporting

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
King Charles has worn a Greek tie to Cop28, just days after Rishi Sunaks spat with Athens over the Elgin Marbles.

The PM has denied throwing a hissy fit after he scrapped a planned meeting with the Greek PM, accusing Kyriakos Mitsotakis of grandstanding about the return of the sculptures.

It seems Charles may have decided to enter the political controversy by sporting the blue and white tie and handkerchief on Friday.

The pattern in the monarchs tie showed both the colours of the Greek flag and its distinctive cross, symbolising Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

But Buckingham Palace suggested the Greek flag-coloured tie was a random choice by the King. Royal sources pointed out that Charles also wore the tie when he met South Korean leaders last week.

Charless father Prince Philip was born in Greece into the Greek royal family, and the King has spoken about his enduring affection for the country.

The gesture in Dubai, which some have perceived as a snub to the PM, recalls the controversy over the Queens blue and yellow outfit at the 2017 state opening of parliament  seen as a gesture of goodwill to the EU after the Brexit referendum.

However, the Queens dresser Angela Kelly later insisted that the colours were merely a coincidence and had been overinterpretated in the heated days after the divisive vote.

The Greek media saw the choice of tie as Charles offering backing for their country in the antiquities row. The diplomacy of the tie has spoken, said Lifo magazine. Proto Therma said the move could well be interpreted as a show of support for our country.

King Charles III speaks with Rishi Sunak at the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at Cop28 in Dubai (PA)

Charless choice of tie comes after Mr Sunak parked a diplomatic row by controversially snubbing Mr Mitsotakis during his visit to London. The Greek leader compared the artefacts removal and presence in the British Museum to cutting the Mona Lisa in half.

No 10 claimed Mr Mitsotakis had reneged on a promise not to discuss the centuries-old dispute over what are now known as the Parthenon Sculptures, with the Tory leader using PMQs to accuse the Greek PM of grandstanding.

Former Tory chancellor George Osborne  who is the chair of the British Museum  said Mr Sunak may have thrown a hissy fit because the Greek PM chose to meet Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer first.

Mr Osborne has been talking with the Greek government about a potential arrangement which would allow the sculptures to be displayed in Greece.

Is it just petulance? Is it just having a bit of a hissy fit? said Mr Osborne on his Political Currency podcast. And, I think, if thats the reason, its not because Mitsotakis was going to raise the Elgin Marbles. Its because he had met Keir Starmer the day before, he said.

Asked whether the former chancellor was right about a hissy fit, Mr Sunak told journalists at Cop28: No, no. I think Ive said everything Ive got to say on this in parliament the other day.

The royal tie, worn at Cop28 summit on Friday (PA)

The Tory leader also hinted that a loan arrangement could be impossible due to Greeces current stance. Our position is very clear  as a matter of law, the marbles cant be returned and weve been unequivocal about that, he said.

And I think the British Museums website itself says that in order for the loans to happen the recipient needs to acknowledge the lawful ownership of the country thats lending the things.

Mr Sunak added: And I think the Greeks have not suggested that they are in any way shape or form willing to do that. Our view and our position on that is crystal clear: the marbles were acquired legally at the time.

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 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.

But the Tory grandee said on Thursday that it was clear from events this week that Mr Sunaks government would not support an exchange.

Some Tory MPs have criticised Mr Sunaks apparent own goal  which saw him plastered across Greek front pages this week, including one carrying the words F*** you b******.
The King speaks with Rishi Sunak as they attend the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at Cop28 in Dubai - CHRIS JACKSON/PA

The King has warned world leaders that we are becoming immune to broken climate records.

His Majesty told those gathered at Cop28 in Dubai on Friday that we need to pause to process the extent of the changes seen in our natural environment.

The King, 75, said: Records are now being broken so often that we are perhaps becoming immune to what they are really telling us.

When we see the news that this last Northern Hemisphere Summer, for instance, was the warmest global average temperature on record, we need to pause to process what this means: we are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits, and into dangerous, uncharted territory.

His speech at the global climate summit, being held in the UAE over two weeks, marked the first time he has delivered the opening address at the conference as King.

The King made the opening address at Cop28 in Dubai - CHRIS JACKSON/PA

The King previously opened Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021 and Cop21 in Paris in 2015, however his attendance at last years summit was derailed after Liz Truss stopped him from going during her short tenure as prime minister.

His Majesty, who has been a lifelong green campaigner, used his opening remarks in Dubais summit to ask those gathered: How dangerous are we actually prepared to make our world?

We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition, all at once, he warned, adding that we are doing so at a pace that far outstrips natures ability to cope.

The monarch urged world leaders to unify in the face of climate change, saying: Dealing with this is a job for us all.

Change will come by working together and making it easier to embrace decisions that will sustain our world, rather than carry on as though there are no limits  or as though our actions have no consequences.

He warned: As you gather for these critical negotiations, the hope of the world rests on the decisions you must take.

The King attendance at this years conference was at the invitation of the host nation and at the request of the UK government, with Rishi Sunak and Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, also present at the event.

He was said to have been disappointed that he was not able to attend Cop27 when Ms Truss warned him against attending as monarch after the death of Elizabeth II.

Royal aides indicated when he ascended the throne that he would continue to champion the environment, a passion he has pursued for more than five decades.

In his opening remarks on Friday, he acknowledged his personal ties with the cause, saying: I have spent a large proportion of my life trying to warn of the existential threats facing us over global warming, climate change and biodiversity loss.

However, he added that during this time, and despite all the attention, that greenhouse gases have only increased and that we remain dreadfully off track.

He said that the dangers posed by climate change are no longer distant risks, with visible effects being seen across the Commonwealth and beyond as countless communities become unable to withstand repeated shocks.

Lives and livelihoods are laid waste by climate change, His Majesty warned, citing aggressive cyclones in Vanuatu and Dominica, unprecedented floods in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as a decades-long drought in East Africa.

The King also turned to worsening extreme weather conditions across Europe, the US and Canada, using the severe wildlife seasons as examples of dangerous feedback loops of greenhouse gases.

As I have tried to say on many occasions, unless we rapidly repair and restore natures economy, based on harmony and balance, which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperilled, he said.

An ambitious new vision

His Majesty also used his speech to outline five key questions which he hopes Cop28 will address, helping to find solutions that will accelerate progress.

Among those questions he outlined was how we can force an ambitious new vision for the next one hundred years to ensure a future that is in harmony with the natural world.

In 2050 our grandchildren wont be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didnt do, he said.

In his concluding remarks, the King added: We need to remember that the indigenous worldview teaches us that we are all connected. Not only as human beings, but with all living things and all that sustains life.

As part of this grand and sacred system, harmony with nature must be maintained. The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

Ahead of his speech, the monarch was said to be utterly focused on his official duties during his 48-hour trip to Dubai, despite the ongoing furore in the UK over the naming of two members of the Royal family caught up in a racism row with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

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 King said that as the land of his fathers birth, Greece had long held the most special place in my heart

The King has worn a tie woven with tiny Greek flags for a meeting with the Rishi Sunak, days after the Prime Minister cancelled a meeting with his Greek equivalent over the Elgin Marbles dispute.

The King wore the blue and white tie for a series of bilateral meetings in Dubai as part of Cop28, and as he delivered his opening address.

It comes at the end of a week in which Mr Sunak denied having a hissy fit over cancelling a meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister.

Mr Mitsotakis had said in an interview that having some of the antiquities in London and others in Athens was like cutting the Mona Lisa in half.

The choice of tie will be viewed as an intriguing choice for the King, who shook hands with Mr Sunak at Cop28.

Joe Biden, the US president, wore the same pattern to mark Greek Independence Day in March this year.

The King speaks with Rishi Sunak at Cop28 in Dubai - Chris Jackson/PA

The Kings version is reported to have been bought during one of his official visits to Athens, and is sold in the Pagoni Maison des Cravates, a boutique in Kolonaki.

It was seen around his neck on a South Korean state visit, during a welcome ceremony on Horse Guards Parade and while hosting at Buckingham Palace.

The King is particularly fond of the Greek people and culture, with his own family links through his father and grandfather.

Greece is the land of my grandfather

During a visit in 2021, he said the country had long held the most special place in my heart.

After all, Greece is the land of my grandfather, and of my fathers birth, nearly 100 years ago, in the centenary year of Greek Independence, he said.

In feeling a profound connection to Greece  her landscapes, her history and her culture  I am hardly alone: there is something of her essence in us all.

Buckingham Palace has not commented on the reason the King chose to wear the tie during Cop28.

It is not the first time a monarch has been accused of using their clothing to send a message. The decision of Elizabeth II to wear a blue and yellow hat with a striking resemblance to the EU flag during the state opening of Parliament in 2017 was, her dresser said, a coincidence.

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 Kitsap County Sheriffs Detective is asking the public to help them find four people to question them in the murder of Brandon Egeler.

Egeler was killed in Poulsbo on October 3, 2023.

The suspects names are Gerald Elkins, John McConaghy, Jessica Freeman, and Patrick Barnes.

All four have active warrants for their arrest and are refusing to cooperate with law enforcement.

Please call 911 if you know the whereabouts of any of these individuals. said a spokesperson.
Conservationists have discovered two kiwi chicks in Wellington, the first wild births recorded for the bird in the New Zealand capital in over 150 years.

The two new chicks come just a year after the Capital Kiwi Project reintroduced the countrys iconic national bird to the city of around 400,000 people.

Their birth in Makara, a suburb just 25 minutes from Wellingtons city center, takes the local total to 65 North Island brown kiwi.

The brown kiwi is one of New Zealands most common kiwi species, but according to New Zealands Department of Conservation, the birds could be extinct in the wild within two generations without adequate conservation and support.

Another 18 brown kiwi chicks are expected to hatch as part of the Capital Kiwi Project, which hopes to restore a large-scale wild population of kiwi to New Zealands capital. The project plans to use transmitters to monitor the two new kiwi chicks as well as any others that hatch.

The flightless birds, which once numbered around 12 million in New Zealand, have seen their population plummet to just 68,000, according to the Save the Kiwi charity. The charity is among approximately 90 Kiwi conservation programs aiming to boost the population.

In 1991, the New Zealand Department of Conservation launched the Kiwi Recovery Plan, which focused on predator control and community engagement.

According to New Zealands Department of Conservation, the countrys kiwi population is declining at an average of 2% a year, mostly due to predators like stoats, cats, dogs and ferrets.

95% of wild born kiwi in New Zealand are killed before they reach adulthood, according to Save the Kiwi.

Really the only issue for an adult kiwi is roaming dogs. Where they get hammered is stoats eating the chicks before they get up to their fighting weight, Capital Kiwi Project team leader Paul Ward told CNN earlier this year.

Ward expressed optimism about the project, after the release of the 63 kiwi near Wellington last November which marked the first time in about a century that wild kiwi have lived in the area.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Knights of Columbus 12160 Chapter has partnered with Charlie Clark Nissan El Paso and the Canutillo Independent School District to provide coats to over 100 displaced children from the Canutillo area on Friday, December 1st, 2023.

The three entities involved have taken the cause further and agreed to coordinate an outing for the kids receiving the jackets. Charlie Clark Nissan will host the fun outing for the kids, including arts and crafts, dancing, food, games, pictures with Santa, and the receiving of their coats.

We are very excited to come together as a community and be able to do this for our kids in a way that is not just about the coats but also allows them to have a day full of interactive fun and holiday celebration as well, said Dr. Monica Reyes, Executive Director of Student Support Services for Canutillo ISD.

It is our honor to host and support a great cause like this. We are all about giving back to our community, especially when it involves children, added Martin Rocha, Marketing Director for Charlie Clark Nissan El Paso.

Busses are scheduled to arrive at the dealership at 9:50 a.m., located at 6451 S. Desert Blvd, El Paso, TX 79932. During their visit, children will also enjoy several activities, including working on arts and crafts, engaging in physical activities such as jumping balloons, and enjoying pizza provided by Little Caesars.

Our Knights of Columbus chapter has been fortunate to have the support from the community on this event for years now. We do this wholeheartedly and cant do what we do without their support. Thank you, everyone! concluded Mike Doblado, a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Knotts Berry Farm is looking for content creators to join its ambassador program in 2024, the theme park announced Friday.

Participants selected to join the program will use social media to share unique experiences that can only be found at Californias Original Theme Park, a news release said

Knotts Berry Farm reopens Xcelerator after two-year hiatus

Ambassadors will also receive:

One 2024 Prestige Season Pass for the Ambassador for unlimited admission to Knotts Berry Farm and Knotts Soak City Waterpark, plus All Season Parking and All Season Dining

One family pack (for immediate family only) of 2024 Prestige Season Passes for unlimited admission to Knotts Berry Farm and Knotts Soak City OR one 2024 Prestige Season Pass for a friend/family member of their choosing

Ten Admission Tickets, Fast Lane, or All Day Dining vouchers to be used on a case-by-case basis throughout the year

Access to exclusive content and Knotts Berry Ambassador-only events

Various giveaways throughout the year

Exposure through the Knotts Berry Farm official blog and social media channels

Knotts is looking for individuals who:

Have at least 10,000 followers on one social platform (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok) and/or at least 15,000 Unique Monthly Visitors on a personal website/blog or is currently a contributor for a reputable media outlet

Create fun and engaging social content, including TikToks, Instagram Takeovers, Instagram Reels, Images, Blog Posts, and more!

Feels they have strong ties to the park

Has visited Knotts Berry Farm at least once in the past two years

Can provide unique ideas of how to promote the park and its events

Six Flags, Knotts Berry Farm owner will merge to create amusement park giant

Prospective applicants can complete an application and learn more about the program requirements online.

Knotts didnt specify if any monetary compensation would also be provided for anyone in the program.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Thirteen Cape Coral residents are tossing their hats in at the chance to become the District 4 Councilmember as the deadline passed Tuesday evening.

Cape Coral seeks to fill the role of the now-suspended District 4 Councilmember Patty Cummings.

Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Cummings by issuing an executive order on Nov. 16 after she was charged with three felonies related to the 2022 election.

The council voted to appoint a person to fill the seat and will interview applicants in December.

The appointee would serve until late 2024, when the seat will be up for election, and then again in 2026 as Cummings' four-year term expires.

The council members will interview candidates through Friday.

Council members would vote on the final candidate on Dec. 13 as the last item on the meeting agenda, with the new council person seated at the first meeting in January.

Council members were paid a base annual salary of $37,288.94 in 2022.

Janine Louise Mohl, 65, applied on Nov. 20 but has officially withdrawn as of Thursday, Nov. 30. She said the process became too cumbersome for her schedule in December.

Here's what we know about the applicants:

How to apply After member's arrest, Cape Coral City Council has vacancy: Here's how to apply

Previous Coverage Cape Coral City Council will appoint District 4 replacement after election fraud arrest

Richard Carr

Richard Carr

Age: 58

Education: Bachelor of Public Administration, Barry University, Miami Shores; Associates in Criminal Justice, Florida Southwestern (Edison College), Fort Myers; Certificate in Leadership, FBI National Academy Session #248, Quantico, Virginia; Chief Executive Seminar- 44, Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, Tallahassee.

Work: Realtor with Palm Paradise Real Estate

Years in the city: 30.

Carr moved from New England to Fort Myers in 1990 to become a police officer. From there, he bought a home in Cape Coral in 1993.

Most of his work experience was outside the city, but he worked as the manager for the city's code enforcement division for six and a half years.

While working for different local agencies, he tossed around the idea of running for a council seat and saw this as a perfect opportunity.

"I've always worked alongside the elected officials throughout every job I had, so I'm very familiar with the process," Carr said. "This kind of came up in an unusual way with the removal of the current council person, and I thought based on my background and experience, I mean if I'm going to do it, this is I think a great time to try to get the appointment."

He said he wants to give the best representation he can to the city while helping manage the city's inevitable growth.

"There's a lot of resistance to that, and I'm not I don't really agree with the resistance, I think that we need to move forward," Carr said. "Some of those decisions are difficult ones to make, but you need to make it for the betterment of the majority and not just a small group that may not want to go in a certain direction."

He remembers the days when residents had to go to Fort Myers to do anything, so he wants to avoid that and provide everything residents need inside Cape Coral.

If appointed, he plans to pursue the seat in 2024.

Robert (Bob) O'Connor

Robert (Bob) O'Conner

Age: 63

Education: High school diploma, North Fort Myers High School.

Work: Commercial Real Estate Sales & Leasing; Honorable discharge with the United States Army.

Years in the city: 49.

O'Connor has been in Cape Coral since he was a teenager and has seen the city evolve beyond what anyone thought it would become.

"Having lived in Cape Coral for almost 50 years, I have obviously seen tremendous growth and change," he said. "I would be honored to serve in a place I call home."

He believes his history and five-year experience on the Cape Coral Planning and Zoning Commission, and one year on the the Cape Coral Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, have given him an insight into how the city is run.

"I do it to volunteer and as a civic duty, responsibility," O'Connor said.

The candidate believes the city is in a great position for success and that he will work with the rest of the council and the mayor toward what's best for the city.

He is unsure if he will pursue the seat in 2024 if appointed.

Anthony Rainone

Headshot of Anthony Rainone

Age: 38.

Education: Pursuing Doctor of Education, Capella University- Minneapolis, Minnesota; Master of Arts, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California; Bachelor of Arts, Rhode Island College, Providence, Rhode Island.

Work: Stay-at-home father, and a former teacher.

Years in the city: 2.

Rainone said he wants to be an open ear for the people.

As a teacher, he taught government and economics and wanted to finally practice what he preached as this would be his first government position.

He said he lived in Los Angeles for 15 years and fled to Florida after encountering problems with homeless encampments, fires, and water shortages with seemingly no one doing anything about them.

"I called every department in between and everybody I talked to everybody ignored me, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt totally ignored," Rainone said.

He sees managing growth in the city as a top priority.

"I live off Skyline Boulevard, and I can see the housing developments coming in, and making sure that we have the appropriate infrastructure as the city continues to grow is extremely important," he said.

If appointed, he plans to pursue the seat in 2024.

Jesus Concepcion-Andres Rodriguez

Jesus Rodriguez

Age: 24

Education: Pursuing Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort Myers; High school diploma, Ida S. Baker High School, Cape Coral.

Work: Tax & Audit Processing with Clifton LarsonAllen.

Years in the city: 20

Rodriguez describes himself as a community-oriented individual who looks for meaningful ways to give back and thinks serving on the council is the perfect opportunity to do so.

"The prospect of serving as a council member is an exciting opportunity for me to use my skills, experiences, and ideas to impact the lives of our town's residents positively," Rodriguez said.

He wants to shape policies that address the unique needs of the diverse community and foster a greater sense of unity for all.

He's interested in enhancing the city's infrastructure by investing in well-maintained roads, constructing new pathways, implementing modern traffic management solutions, and designing public spaces that are safe and welcoming.

Rodriguez also wants to handle pressing issues such as water shortages affecting the city during times of droughts.

"I firmly believe in taking a proactive approach to sustainability," he said. "We must develop long-term strategies to address the current water shortage crisis and ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for future generations."

If appointed, he said he likely plans to pursue the seat in 2024.

Karen Lee Solgard

Karen Lee Solgard

Age: 67

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Work: Loan Officer with New American Funding.

Years in the city: 12.

Solgard lives an active life as she enjoys kayaking near canals close to the lake off Pelican Boulevard and bike rides around her neighborhood.

Through her activities, she's realized that 50% of the homes around where she lives are either vacation rentals or second homes.

She said a good councilmember needs to keep this into account and strike a balance between keeping the city's nature beautiful and smart growth.

"So the people who basically represent the district are representing people who enjoy Southwest Florida but don't have a right to vote, so we basically have to be stewards of our neighborhood," Solgard said.

Solgard said her experience with mortgages made her realize that the backbone of the community, teachers, medical workers, firefighters, and police officers were getting priced out of the market.

"Because I do numbers for a living, I'm fiscally responsible, and, because I have a heart, know that it's actually good for the economy for people to be able to afford living here, we have to figure out how we create ordinances, and policies that keep it sustainable for everybody," Solgard said.

She is unsure if she will pursue the seat in 2024 if appointed.

Robert (Bob) Sutter

Robert (Bob) John Sutter

Age: 62

Education: Master's Degree in Internet Marketing, Full Sail University; Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Hanover College, Indiana.

Work: Semi-retired military veteran and CEO and president of Future State Partners Inc.

Years in the city: 2.

Sutter believes in investing in the community, and he believes now is his time.

He said he started visiting the city seven years ago and fell in love with how laid back and friendly the people here are.

"I enjoyed going to the places downtown, supporting the community, going to different events," Sutter said. "So I just said heck, I'm gonna move down here and make this next part of my journey in life."

He wants to invest in the community and help make it better for everyone, and wants to support veterans.

As a disabled veteran, his appointment would add needed representation to help the city live up to its "Purple Heart" city name.

"I've noticed there's a huge population of retired military here, and there's over 13,000 military here that aren't being represented on our city council," Sutter said. "It's my time, it's my responsibility to represent veterans, and that's just why I'm doing it."

If appointed, he plans to pursue the seat in 2024.

Jennifer Nelson

Jennifer Nelson

Age : 53.

Education : Bachelors of Fine Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas.

Work : Consultant for nonprofits and businesses with Purpose Driven Strategies.

Years in the city: 15.

The former Cape Coral Council member Nelson, who lost in a narrow race, has applied for her old District 4 council seat.

In November 2022, Patty Cummings unseated Jennifer Nelson for District 4 with 28,380 votes, or 50.89%, compared to the 27,382 votes, or 49.11%, for Nelson.

Nelson said as the only lawful candidate in her 2022 race, she wants to work toward restoring the trust in the city's elections and leaders.

"My hope would be to help restore their faith," Nelson said.

She said she applied because of her love for the city.

"I love this city; (it's) a city that has been good to me and my family," Nelson said. "The amount of residents, groups, and colleagues who reached out asking me to submit was touching."

She highlighted that with her experience, she will be able to jump in and get up to speed on current council matters.

Nelson said she would focus on traffic issues such as commutes over the bridge, bringing sidewalks and more streetlights, working toward a community pool and community center, and finishing parks.

If appointed, she does not know if she will run for the two-year term in 2024.

Blair Veloz

Headshot of Blair Veloz

Age : 35.

Education : Master's in Communication and Leadership from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington; bachelor's in Communication from FGCU; associates from Florida Southwestern State College; Supreme Court Certified Family; Civil & County Mediator.

Work : Owner/Operator of House of B.A. LLC, consultant, and Adjunct Professor at Keiser University, FGCU, Hodges.

Years in the city: 24.

Veloz wants to focus on sustainable growth in the city.

As a resident of the city since middle school, she saw it grow and change in ways that couldn't be fathom.

"I've had to awesome two and a half awesome decades here," Veloz said. "Cape Coral was very small when we first got here, even though we have a large landmass. It was very much you know your neighbors, you know the area, you know the people, and there was a lot more trust in our community."

She said she's running because she values transparency and ethical decision-making while serving the community she loves.

"I want a collectivistic culture, where just like after the hurricane, we all had each other's backs," Veloz said. "So I want that same sense of camaraderie, not just after something tragic happens, but I want that from every single day."

When speaking on growth, she wants to focus on getting people more involved with what is going on in the city.

"There's a lot of people that have moved here, and they, one: don't know the roots of Cape Coral, and two: they don't see the potential," Veloz said. "We kind of forget that it has grown, but we're not taking responsibility for the growth; we've just kind of like let it happen to us instead of getting involved."

She wants to see more young people and more permanent residents in the city.

"They always leave because they're like "Oh, it's a Cape Coma," and that's not what we are," Veloz said. "There's so much beauty, people come here to vacation, and we need to really hold on and keep the really good people here."

Whether appointed or not, she plans to run for the seat in 2024.

William Matthews

Headshot of William Matthews.

Age : 44.

Education : Associates in Paralegal studies at the State University of New York, Westchester Community College, Hartsdale, New York; Bachelor's in Finance & Economics at State University of NY, Empire State College, Valhalla, New York; bachelor's in accounting (CPA Route) at State University of NY.

Work : Finance Accounting Director with EMPG-Solutions.

Years in the city: 3.

Matthews is running because the council decided to appoint someone rather than hold an election.

He saw it as an understandable decision considering the cost but thinks District 4 should be allowed to choose who represents them.

Matthews had visited Cape Coral on and off over the past few decades, and he believes he can be the best voice for making improvements in the city.

"I've always been somebody that helps my neighbor and tries to improve the community," Matthews said. "So being appointed by the council to help District Four would allow me the opportunity to do that at the highest level that I could do it from where I stand."

The candidate wants to focus on sustainable growth.

He said he sees growth slowing down as interest rates rise and wants to begin preparing the city's infrastructure, and water for when rates go down again.

"I believe the next three to five years is crucial to get things in place because once these rates go down, people are going to start coming back here because this is a place that you want to move and raise your family," Matthews said.

If appointed, he does not know if he will run for the two-year term in 2024.

David Wayne Orlowski

Headshot of David Wayne Orlowski.

Age : 50.

Education :

Work : Consultant and business owner with Airport Express.

Years in the city: 25.

Orlowski said he's seen "the good, the bad, and the ugly" in Cape Coral, and he wants to restore integrity to the city while dealing with decades of problems.

"We really need to bring back and show the residents that we can do the job, and it has to start with somebody, or it has to turn around and start with somebody that can compromise with the current leaders in the city," Orlowski said.

As a financial adviser for 17 years with years of experience in the city, he said he's uniquely positioned to help the residents.

"The residents don't want to see Realtors, they don't want to see mortgage brokers, they don't want to see somebody that just moved here," Orlowski said.

He wants to focus on bringing better, more lucrative jobs to the city.

"Popping up Dollar Generals and Dollar Trees and a Walmart Neighborhood Market is not going to pay people's rent," Orlowski said.

He wants to work more with Lee County and talk to companies for those jobs while also tackling the growing infrastructure that will be needed.

Orlowski said he's tired of seeing residents drive out every morning to places such as Marco Island, Sarasota, and Naples for jobs.

"With all this growth, we need to bring something here," he said. "I'm not saying let's bring the next Amazon plant here and put it on Burnt Store Road or anything like that, but we need something."

If appointed, he does not know if he will run for the two-year term in 2024.

Theresa Frosoni

Education : MBA, Fairleigh Dickenson University; Bachelor's Degree in Business, Caldwell College; Associate's Degree in Law Enforcement, Somerset County College, Now Raritan Valley; Graduate Union County Police Academy; Completed Rutger's Municipal Government Course.

Work: Retired.

Frosoni is a retiree who worked as a police officer in Watchung, New Jersey, a detective in Somerset County Prosecutors Office, and a licensed private detective in the State of Florida until last year.

She also has 30 years of experience as a New Jersey licensed Real Estate Agent and IT management.

"I care about Cape Coral and believe my background and experience will be an asset to the council," Fronsoni wrote in her application.

Eduardo Jimenez

Work: Self Employed Builder contractor.

Jimenez is a father of four and a grandfather from Cuba.

He wrote that he likes to help new citizens and spend time with his family in his spare time.

According to his application, his desire for the seat comes from his heart for the community.

He writes that he relates to the needs of all citizens, but especially the growing Hispanic Community in Cape Coral.

"We are lacking a voice for this large growing group of taxpayers in Cape Coral," Jimenez wrote.

Robert Luby

Work: A retired cardiovascular perfusionist and teacher.

Education: Associates in Health Care at Edison College, Fort Myers; and Bachelor's in Cardiovascular Perfusionist at Barry University in Miami.

He worked for Lee Health and Lee County School and now wants to focus on making the city better.

"The city is not being planned too well," Luby wrote in his application.

Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at Lzambrano@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 13 applicants line up for Cape Coral District 4 council seat
[Source]

South Korea is mulling imposing fines on video game players who use illegal programs known as hacks to have an unfair advantage over opponents.

Amending local gaming laws: On Oct. 22, Rep. Jeon Jae-soo introduced a bill that aims to amend existing gaming laws, presenting new provisions that would penalize both creators and users of illegal programs. The lawmaker said the changes are necessary to curb the steady demand for such programs, which lead to increased criminal profits.

Proposed penalties: The amendments propose fines of 200,000 won ($154) for users of the illegal programs. Meanwhile, revised penalties for creators and distributors of such programs include up to five years in prison or a fine of 50 million won ($38,460).

Existing legislation: Current gaming laws in South Korea prohibit the development, distribution or sharing of gaming hacks. Penalties currently stand at a maximum of one year in prison or a fine of 10 million won ($7,690). However, the use of these hacks by gamers is not explicitly illegal.

Trending on NextShark: Japanese man who spent $16,000 to become a dog 'fails' agility test

Public response: The proposed bill aligns with the global debate surrounding the use of illegal gaming programs, particularly in multiplayer online games. The amendments have sparked mixed reactions online, with some expressing support and others questioning the urgency of such a law. Critics of the proposal suggest that other pressing issues, like juvenile crime and drunk driving, should take precedence.

Past initiatives: A similar legislative effort targeting gamers who utilize these hacks was previously introduced during the 20th National Assembly but failed to gain sufficient support. The new initiative, which surfaced in the 21st National Assembly, still hangs in the balance as the assembly sets to conclude on May 29, 2024.

Trending on NextShark: Teens who use phones for over 4 hours daily face higher health risks: study

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
South Koreas first spy satellite was launched into orbit Friday, in partnership with SpaceX.

The launch is part of Seouls efforts to ramp up reconnaissance capabilities as tensions flare with North Korea after Pyongyang launched its own satellite on Nov. 22. The South Korean government is hoping to launch another four satellites by 2025.

This project will make South Korea less reliant on the U.S. for space-based intelligence, given that the U.S. does not share all the satellite images Koreans want, one aerospace engineer in Korea told Bloomberg. Seouls independent satellites could also help it circumvent political changes in the U.S. that could impact intelligence sharing, Bloomberg reports. Former President Donald Trump famously threatened to withdraw US troops stationed in the country during his tenure, and it remains unclear how a second Trump administration would help Seoul in espionage.

The satellite race between the South and North could turn into some kind of proxy tech war that widens the divide between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea on one side, and China, Russia, and North Korea on the other, one Korean defense analyst told Time. Both Seoul and Pyongyang have much less experience in space technology, and as China and Russia help North Korea bolster its technological capabilities, the U.S. and Japan will have to step in and help the South counter the Norths actions. These countries can, in turn, use the Koreas satellites for their own purposes, like the U.S. using data from South Koreas satellite to better surveil Russias nuclear arsenal.

Now is the time for the two Koreas to regain their cool and seek an exit strategy, argues a Korea Times editorial. Unlike previous administrations, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has few other options other than to strike back against an increasingly provocative North Korea, threatening to destabilize their border that has remained more or less undisturbed since a 2018 agreement. As Kim Jong-un favors the unstable global situation and hawks in both Koreas, along with international actors, want to fan the tensions between the North and South, well-prepared doves must prevail again, replacing chickenhawks, the editorial writes.
The international business trip of Ukraines fifth President and current MP, Petro Poroshenko, was canceled after the Parliaments First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Kornienko received a letter "For Official Use Only."

Kornienko refuses to disclose the content of that letter.

Read also: His permit was canceled  Ukraines border guards on preventing ex-Pres Poroshenkos trip abroad

"He (Poroshenko - ed.) indicated that the main reason (of his trip) was participation in a non-parliamentary event, a party forum of the International Democratic Union, a community that probably includes European Solidarity. He wrote that there would also be some other high-level meetings," Kornienko said on national television on Dec. 1.

Internal principles allow participation in party events, but the content of the letter, which cannot be discussed, forced Kornienko to cancel Poroshenkos business trip abroad.

Read also: MPs and officials barred from leaving Ukraine  MP Honcharenko

Poroshenko claimed that border guards did not let him leave Ukraine, accusing Ukrainian authorities of interfering with his business trip, in a Dec. 1 Telegram post. He said he didnt believe that the border guards acted on their own initiative, and accused Ukrainian authorities of interfering preventing him from attending dozens of meetings scheduled in Poland and the United States.

Poroshenko was prevented from traveling abroad by border guards because his business trip permit was canceled, Ukrainian State Border Guard Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko told NV.

During martial law, MPs have the right to leave the country for business trips only with the appropriate permission.

Poroshenkos business travel document, signed by the speaker of Ukraines Verkhovna Rada (parliament), was revoked by Kornienko, European Solidarity MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said, sharing a document to prove it.

Read also: Former president Poroshenko shares photos of adopted dog from Kherson

Three lawsuits and an appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office are being prepared, Poroshenko's lawyer Ilia Novikov said, adding that the lawyers will contest the actions of the border guards and Kornienko.

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
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on social media on Friday that he had been informed of new criminal charges against him.

Navalny, 47, is already serving sentences in a penal colony totalling more than 30 years on charges including extremism, which he denies, and has spent much of the last two years in solitary confinement for a range of alleged misdemeanours.

In comments issued through his associates, he said he had now been charged under Article 214 of the penal code, which covers vandalism.

"I have no idea what article 214 is, and there's nowhere to look. You'll know before I do," he said on his Telegram channel.

"They really do initiate a new criminal case against me every three months. Rarely does an inmate confined to a solitary cell for over a year have such a vibrant social and political existence."

Navalny is by far the best known figure in Russia's splintered opposition; supporters cast him as a Nelson Mandela-style figure who will one day be freed from jail to lead the country.

His political movement has been outlawed and its key figures have been jailed or fled abroad as part of a crackdown on dissent that has intensified since President Vladimir Putin sent his armed forces into Ukraine early last year, in what Moscow calls a "special military operation".

Navalny was convicted in August of new charges relating to alleged extremist activity and sentenced to an additional 19 years on top of the 11-1/2 years he was already serving. He rejects all the charges as politically motivated and designed to silence his criticism of the Kremlin.

Last month, three of his lawyers were placed on a register of "terrorists and extremists" by a financial watchdog, five weeks after being arrested on suspicion of belonging to an "extremist group".

Navalny earned admiration around the world for voluntarily returning to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he had been treated for what Western laboratory tests showed was a near-fatal attempt to poison him with a nerve agent in Siberia.

He was immediately arrested on arrival. The Kremlin denied trying to have him killed.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Kevin Liffey; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
(Reuters) - Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza was fined 50,000 roubles ($560) on Friday for not providing a full report of his conduct as a registered "foreign agent", according to a court statement, despite the fact he is serving a 25-year term for treason in a Siberian penal colony.

People or organisations designated as "foreign agents", a term that carries Cold War connotations of betrayal, must regularly submit detailed reports on their activities and finances.

Kara-Murza, a Russian and British citizen, was jailed for 25 years in April for treason and spreading "false information" about Russia's war in Ukraine.

He was declared a "foreign agent" on April 22, 2022 - the same day he was placed in detention after making speeches in the United States and Europe accusing Russia of bombing civilians in Ukraine.

Kara-Murza is one of a handful of prominent opposition figures who stayed in Russia and continued to speak out against President Vladimir Putin after his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

Another jailed opposition activist, Ilya Yashin, was fined 45,000 roubles ($500) by a Moscow court for failing to attach a mandatory rider advertising his "foreign agent" status in capital letters to his posts on the Telegram messaging app.

"I don't have any opportunity to post materials, I'm in a penal colony, and before that (I was) in a pre-trial detention centre," the state news agency RIA quoted Yashin as telling the court by video link from his prison in the Smolensk region. "I reject the status of a foreign agent."

Yashin, a longtime ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was sentenced last December to 8-1/2 years in prison for statements on his YouTube channel about war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. Russia denies attacking civilian targets.

Navalny himself, who is serving sentences totalling more than 30 years on charges including extremism, said on Friday through his associates that he had been presented with new criminal charges under a law that deals with vandalism. ($1 = 89.7875 roubles)

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Members of Congress are pushing for the passage of a bill that would make Dec. 1 a federal holiday commemorating the arrest of Rosa Parks. Friday marks the 68th anniversary of the civil rights activists arrest in Montgomery, Alabama.

Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) held a press conference with Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), and other CBC members on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to discuss H.R. 308, the Rosa Parks Day Act. Lawmakers introduced the legislation in January.

By commemorating the arrest of Rosa Parks with a new federal holiday, we will help ensure that her brave sacrifice is never forgotten. Each year, Rosa Parks Day, will serve as a reminder of the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change, Sewell said.

On Dec. 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a public bus. This sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and galvanized the Civil Rights Movement.

Sewell said the bill had 31 signatures from Democrats as of Wednesday.

We hope every Democrat will join us in this effort, and we hope that Republicans will also join us in this effort. As has been said, this is not just about Black history, its about American history, Sewell added.

There is currently no federal holiday honoring a woman.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Hundreds of people, mostly students, gather to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and read the names of Palestinians killed during a protest at UC Berkeley. (Bronte Wittpenn / San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

UC Berkeley is being sued by Jewish groups claiming that the university has fostered a "longstanding, unchecked spread of anti-Semitism" on campus  an accusation that university officials say paints a distorted and inaccurate picture of the school.

Filed Tuesday by the Brandeis Center and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, the complaint alleges Berkeley Law, the university law school, has "failed to confront, much less combat" antisemitism and that policies adopted by some student organizations discriminate against Jewish students. The lawsuit also alleges students have faced violence and harassment since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched an attack in Israel, killing about 1,200 people.

"The University has enabled the normalization of anti-Jewish hatred on campus," the complaint, filed in federal court in San Francisco, reads. "Jewish students feel compelled to hide their identities."

But university officials refuted many of the claims, and said the allegations made in the 37-page complaint don't reflect "the facts of what is actually happening on campus."

Tensions have been high at the campus following the Oct. 7 attack, sparking ongoing and, at times, opposing protests occurring at the same time. But UC Berkeley officials say they've been reaching out to student groups, offering counseling support, and making other arrangements to protect free speech and support students on campus.

A banner calling for a cease-fire hangs from UC Berkeley's Sather Tower as hundreds of people, mostly students, read the names of Palestinians killed, during a protest at UC Berkeley on Nov. 16. (Bronte Wittpenn / San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

"UC Berkeley believes the claims made in the lawsuit are not consistent with the First Amendment of the Constitution, or with the facts of what is actually happening on our campus," Dan Mogulof, spokesperson for the university, said in a statement. "The university has long been committed to confronting antisemitism, and to supporting the needs and interests of its Jewish students, faculty and staff."

The lawsuit claims that, following the Oct. 7 attack and the ongoing protests on campus, Jewish students have been targets of harassment and physical violence, and that Jewish students have received hate emails calling for their gassing and murder.

"Jewish students have reported being afraid to go to class, which would require them to pass through the pro-Hamas rallies taking place in Berkeley's main thoroughfares," the suit reads.

The suit also alleges that several student groups, including those that represent women, Asian and LGBTQ+ law school students, have adopted policies that discriminate and exclude Jewish students, including those that call for divestment and sanctions against the state of Israel or require that speakers repudiate Zionism before being invited to speak. Representatives for some student groups could not be reached for comment.

Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, refuted the claims.

"The complaint filed by the Brandeis Center paints a picture of the Law School that is stunningly inaccurate and that ignores the First Amendment," Chemerinsky said. "For example, student organizations have the First Amendment right to choose their speakers, including based on their viewpoint. Although there is much that the campus can and does do to create an inclusive environment, it cannot stop speech even if it is offensive."

Read more: Column: Biden's balancing act is the only choice: Support Israel against Hamas and help Palestinians in harm's way

Mogulof, spokesperson for the university, said some of the claims made in the complaint "have no basis in fact." Despite the claims of possible discrimination in the lawsuit, he said the university was not aware of any incident where a student was excluded from a student organization based on their Jewish identity.

He said university officials have found no incidents where students reported getting the kind of emails that were described in the complaint.

"This is the first anyone has heard of an allegation of that sort," he said. "I can assure you that if we have  or if we do  we will respond strongly and quickly."

School police have also received one incident of alleged violence that occurred on Oct. 25, he said, involving two people who tried to take an Israeli flag from a student during a rally for Palestine. When they were unable to take the flag, the suspects hit the student in the head with his own metal water bottle.

Police are still pursuing leads in the incident, and school officials have reached out to the student.

"The university is taking this very seriously, and the student has been offered support," Mogulof said.

For some, the university's actions have not been enough.

"I don't want to see students physically assaulted and the university not be willing to investigate it as a hate crime," said Hannah Schlacter, a student at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Read more: Palestinian Americans struggle with Hamas-Israel violence

Schlacter, who said she's been helping lead the campus' Jewish student community, is also a member of Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, one of the plaintiffs in the suit. Although not named, she said she provided testimony for the suit.

She said she was concerned university officials did not refer to the Oct. 25 incident as a hate crime. She said another incident on Oct. 16, where two people wearing masks tried to yank away an Israeli flag from a Jewish student wearing the flag as a cape, was also not being investigated as a hate crime.

"The university happens to not be following the policy in place to respond to these issues," she said. "The fact of the matter is that the university is not investigating that as a hate crime and that to me is concerning."

She said Jewish students are also concerned about what she called "indoctrination" by professors, including an incident where a graduate student offered extra credit for students who attended a pro-Palestine demonstration.

After school officials heard concerns, the options for extra credit for the class studying the Middle East were expanded to include any local event that involved the topic, including protests or documentaries.

The lawsuit comes as protests have erupted in universities and city streets across the country following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and the ongoing military actions of Israel in Gaza.

Read more: Harrowing stories emerge as Hamas frees more hostages taken from Israel

Some supporters of Israel have called on university leaders to better police pro-Palestinian rallies, while supporters of Palestine have also accused some campus leaders of issuing statements that condemn violent attacks by Hamas, but don't criticize Israel's military actions in Gaza.

In a statement to UC Berkeley students and staff on Nov. 3, Chancellor Carol Christ said she was concerned about an alarming increase of "antisemitic expression" in the country and campus.

"Our university condemns antisemitic expression in its very form, and we are committed to addressing it when it occurs and responding when it is reported," she wrote.

Palestinian students and supporters have also faced harassment, threats and doxxing, she said, and urged students to report any incident to the Office for Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.

About 300 UC Berkeley faculty have also signed on to a letter condemning the Oct. 7 attack. Some students on campus had referred to the attacks as "resistance" and part of a "freedom struggle," which signatories of the letter call "repugnant and indefensible."

Among those who signed the letter were Christ and Chemerinsky.





Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FILE - Rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Frank Rocco Giustino, who skipped court hearings, profanely insulted a prosecutor and berated a federal judge, has been sentenced to three months behind bars for joining the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Lawsuits against Donald Trump over the U.S. Capitol riot can move forward, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday, rejecting the former president's bid to dismiss the cases accusing him of inciting the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit court knocked down Trump's sweeping claims that presidential immunity shields him from liability in the lawsuits brought by Democratic lawmakers and police officers. But the three-judge panel said the 2024 Republican presidential primary frontrunner can continue to fight, as the cases proceed, to try to prove that his actions were taken in his official capacity as president.

Trump has said he can't be sued over the riot that left dozens of police officers injured, arguing that his words during a rally before the storming of the Capitol addressed matters of public concern and fall within the scope of absolute presidential immunity.

The decision comes as Trumps lawyers are arguing he is also immune from prosecution in the separate criminal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith that accuses Trump of illegally plotting to overturn his election loss to President Joe Biden. Smith's team has signaled that it will make the case at trial that Trump is responsible for the violence at the Capitol and point to Trumps continued embrace of the Jan. 6 rioters on the campaign trail to argue that he intended for the chaos that day.

Friday's ruling underscores the challenges facing Trump as he tries to persuade courts, and potentially juries, that the actions he took in the run-up to the riot were part of his official duties as president. The judge presiding over his election subversion criminal trial, Tanya Chutkan, also rejected that claim in an order released Friday night.

While courts have afforded presidents broad immunity for their official acts, the judges made clear that that protection does not cover just any act or speech undertaken by a president. A president running for a second term, for example, is not carrying out the official duties of the presidency when he is speaking at a rally funded by his reelection campaign or attends a private fundraiser, the appeals court said.

"He is acting as office-seeker, not office-holder  no less than are the persons running against him when they take precisely the same actions in their competing campaigns to attain precisely the same office, Judge Sri Srinivasan wrote for the court.

But the court said its decision is not necessarily the final word on the issue of presidential immunity, leaving the door open for Trump to keep fighting the issue. And it took pains to note that it was not being asked to evaluate whether Trump was responsible for the riot or should be held to account in court. It also said Trump could still seek to argue that his actions were protected by the First Amendment  a claim hes also made in his pending criminal case  or covered by other privileges.

When these cases move forward in the district court, he must be afforded the opportunity to develop his own facts on the immunity question if he desires to show that he took the actions alleged in the complaints in his official capacity as president rather than in his unofficial capacity as a candidate, the court said.

Trump could ask the full appeals court to take up the matter or go to the U.S. Supreme Court. A lawyer for Trump, Jesse Binnall, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment on the ruling. A Trump campaign spokesperson called the decision limited, narrow and procedural.

The facts fully show that on January 6 President Trump was acting on behalf of the American people, carrying out his duties as president of the United States. Moreover, his admonition that his supporters peacefully and patriotically make (their) voices heard, along with a myriad other statements prove that these Democrat Hoaxes are completely meritless, spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

The lawsuits seek civil damages for harms they say they endured when rioters descended on the Capitol as Congress met to certify Biden's election victory, smashing windows, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police officers and sending lawmakers running into hiding. One of the lawsuits, filed by Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, alleges that Trump directly incited the violence at the Capitol "and then watched approvingly as the building was overrun.

Two other lawsuits were also filed, one by other House Democrats and another by officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby, who were both injured in the riot. Blassingame said Friday that he couldn't be more committed to pursuing accountability" in the case.

More than two years later, it is unnerving to hear the same fabrications and dangerous rhetoric that put my life as well as the lives of my fellow officers in danger on January 6, 2021," he said in a statement. He added: "I hope our case will assist with helping put our democracy back on the right track; making it crystal clear that no person, regardless of title or position of stature, is above the rule of law.

Lawyers in the Justice Department's civil division urged the court earlier this year to let the cases proceed, arguing that a president wouldn't be protected by absolute immunity if his words were found to have been an incitement of imminent private violence.

The current appeal was decided by a unanimous three-court panel that included Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee to the bench who authored his own concurring opinion.
Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R) has stepped down as chairman of the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, according to a spokesperson from the group.

The New York Times was the first outlet to report on the development.

After nearly 26 straight months of being in a full-scale campaign, I need to return my time and attention to my family and law practice, Laxalt wrote in a Nov. 26 letter to the groups board, according to a letter obtained by the Times.

Laxalt added he is still supporting DeSantiss 2024 presidential bid.

DeSantiss campaign responded to news of Laxalts departure from the PAC in a statement saying the collective firepower of Team DeSantis remains unmatched.

As the last three Iowa Caucus winners have shown, it takes a combination of hard work, air support, and grassroots organizing to win. Never Back Down boasts an impressive field operation and ground game, said David Polyansky, DeSantiss deputy campaign manager. Working alongside their independent efforts, we will all celebrate hitting our 99th Iowa County tomorrow and carry the support of the most robust turnout operation in modern Iowa history into success on January 15.

Laxalt, who is a personal friend of DeSantis, had been working with Never Back Down since April, before the governor formally launched his campaign.

The move is a major loss for the super PAC. Last month, Chris Jankowski resigned as the groups chief executive officer, citing the PACs environment.

Never Back Downs main goal and sole focus has been to elect Governor Ron DeSantis as President. Given the current environment it has become untenable for me to deliver on the shared goal and that goes well beyond a difference of strategic opinion, Jankowski said.

The news of Jankowskis departure followed an NBC News report of a heated argument among members of Never Back Down during a budgeting discussion. It also came amid the creation of the newest pro-DeSantis super PAC Fight Right, which received a $1 million infusion.

The developments come as GOP presidential campaigns enter the final stretch ahead of the Iowa caucuses in January.

Prior to getting into the race, DeSantis was seen as the top alternative to take on former President Trump in the Republican primary. However, DeSantis has yet to overtake Trump in the polls, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has moved closer to his second place perch  and she has overtaken him in some state-level polls.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Britain's former Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, leaves after testifying for the second time at the Covid inquiry on December 1, 2023 - Carl Court/Getty

What was the worst government failure during Britains coronavirus epidemic? From school closures setting back childrens education and development by years, to plunging the economy into the deep freeze and racking up huge debt to be paid back over many decades, there is no shortage of contenders.

The then health secretary Matthew Hancocks decision to discharge elderly patients from hospitals to care homes without mandatory, universal Covid screening has few supporters. More than 45,000 people died from or with Covid in care homes, a much higher figure than elsewhere.

Mr Hancock is in a vanishing minority still willing to defend it. Giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry on Friday, he stated: The only choice [was] between bad options I fear that if we had left those patients in hospital there is a high likelihood that more would have caught Covid and the problem could have been bigger Nobody has yet brought to me a solution to this problem that even with hindsight would have resulted in more lives saved.

The problem with this line of argument is that it was not just those coming out of hospital who died. It caused many other residents of care homes to then be infected.

This was symptomatic of a wider policy failure, as epidemiologist Sunetra Gupta argues in these pages. The Government was fixated on preventing the spread of infection, when a more effective approach could have been more similar to that adopted in Sweden: protecting those who were most at risk from the disease. Transferring unscreened patients back to care homes is the very antithesis of protecting the vulnerable.

As Prof Gupta notes, care homes were particularly challenging places to stop the spread of infection, regardless of whether the government is taking the Swedish or British approach. But our experience was notably poor.

The evidence to the inquiry from politicians and bureaucrats shows that Britains response was beset by rigid thinking and a lack of imagination. Nowhere was the lack of consideration for alternative strategies more apparent than in our approach to those in care homes. The then deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries wrote in an email on March 16, 2020, that the reality will be we need to discharge Covid-19 positive patients into residential care settings.

Why was this inevitable? We could have set up fever hospitals or wards, where the sick could convalesce until they no longer posed a risk to others. The Nightingales showed how quickly such measures can be actioned.

We will need more creative approaches if we are to avoid repeating tragic mistakes of the past. Regrettably, it appears unlikely that the Covid Inquiry will draw this conclusion.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
A federal jury convicted a migrant smuggling guide Tuesday after it was revealed that he abandoned a sick woman who later died in the Huachuca Mountains near Fort Huachuca in 2021.

The Tucson jury convicted Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero, 27, of numerous migrant smuggling offenses, including the transportation of undocumented migrants into the U.S. for profit. The jury also found that Dessens-Romero, from Agua Prieta, Sonora, put human life in jeopardy during his smuggling crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Arizona.

Dessens-Romero was the foot guide for five Mexican migrants who crossed into the U.S. without authorization on Feb. 13, 2021. The group included three sisters  ages 23, 20 and 17  and a 16-year-old family friend.

Looking into Mexico from the summit of Miller Peak in southern Arizona's Huachuca Mountains.

Dessens-Romero led the group into the Huachuca Mountains, which are roughly 90 miles southeast of Tucson and near Fort Huachuca, a U.S. Army installation. The group had limited food and water as they traversed a perilous and remote route with less of a law enforcement presence.

The group endured cold and snowy conditions at night.

Dessens-Romero gave the 23-year-old sister an unknown pill during the trip after she got sick and began complaining of stomach pains, per court documents. After she took the pill, the woman couldnt sleep and was vomiting throughout the night.

On Feb. 15, 2021, the woman was in significant physical distress and was unable to eat, walk or follow simple commands. Dessens-Romero told the group that they were close enough to a roadway where the woman could be found if the group left her behind.

Barbed wire and a historic monument delineates the U.S.-Mexico border through the Huachuca Mountains in southern Arizona. Border officials plan on replacing it with 30-foot bollards.

Instead of calling for emergency services, Dessens-Romero called a transnational smuggling organization before leading the rest of the group to Sierra Vista where they were picked up and taken further into the country.

The next day, the family of the woman contacted authorities to report a missing person. The woman was not located despite search efforts from federal and county law enforcement authorities.

On November 20, 2021, members of SOS Busqueda y Rescate, a California-based migrant search and rescue group, found skeletal remains in an isolated area of the Huachuca Mountains on Fort Huachuca property.

Dental records confirmed that the remains were from the missing 23-year-old sister.

Dessens-Romero continued to smuggle migrants in the U.S. until June 2021. He was arrested by the Tennessee Highway Patrol on June 30, 2021, while transporting two migrants.

Dessens-Romero previously was arrested by Sonoita Border Patrol agents in 2016 and was removed from the country in November of that year, per court records.

Each migrant smuggling conviction carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison while a conviction for bringing undocumented migrants into the country for profit carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years.

Dessens-Romero is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 22, 2024.

Have a news tip or story idea about the border and its communities? Contact the reporter at josecastaneda@arizonarepublic.com or connect with him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @joseicastaneda.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Human smuggler abandoned woman to die in Huachuca Mountains now convicted
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Whether youre looking for holiday lights, a cookie decorating class or a festive concert, West Michigan is full of events to celebrate the holidays this year.

Browse the list below to find a celebration near you:

GRAND RAPIDS

Tree lighting ceremony at Rosa Parks Circle | Dec. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Symphony: Elf in Concert | Dec. 1 through Dec. 2 | Details

West Catholic Christmas Craft Show | Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

GRTV Santa Show Live at Wealthy Theatre | Dec. 2 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

3rd Annual Boston Square Community Tree Lighting | Dec. 2 starting at 5 p.m., with tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. | Details

West Michigan Youth Ballet: The Nutcracker | Dec. 2-3, Dec. 9 | Details

Menorah Lighting at Calder Plaza | Dec. 7 through Dec. 14 | Details

Grand Rapids Ballet: The Nutcracker | Dec. 8-10, 15-17 | Details

Baxter Community Tree Lighting | Dec. 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Details

Community Hanukkah roller skating party | Dec. 10 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

The Whoville 5K | Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. | Details

Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage | Dec. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Details

Lights on Creston | Dec. 13 | Details

Orchard Hill: Lighted Christmas Path | Dec. 15 through 17, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Details

Winter Glow at Frederik Meijer Gardens | Dec. 18-22, Dec. 26-30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Symphony: University of Michigan Health-West Holiday Pops | Dec. 21 through Dec. 23 | Details

Grand Rapids Public Museum: Let it Snow! (Planetarium show) | Every Saturday and Sunday in December | Details

Frederik Meijer Gardens: University of Michigan Health-West Christmas & Holiday Traditions | Nov. 21, 2023 through Jan. 7, 2024 | Details

Rosa Parks Circle ice rink opens for season

ALLEGAN COUNTY

Plainwell Tree Lighting | Dec. 1 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details

Fennville Holiday Magic | Dec. 2 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Details

Laketown Winterfest | Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Details

Wayland Annual Christmas Parade | Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. | Details

Otesgo Hometown Christmas | Dec. 2 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Plainwell Christmas Parade | Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. | Details

Dorr Township Christmas in the Park | Dec. 2 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details

BARRY COUNTY

Hastings Jingle and Mingle | Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 | Details

Middleville Lions Club Christmas Parade | Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. | Details

Gilmore Car Museum Winter Wonderland | Nov. 24 through Dec. 30 | Details

BRANCH COUNTY

Coldwater Holiday Parade | Dec. 2 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Details

Coldwater Chamber of Commerce Jingle Mingle party | Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. | Details

CALHOUN COUNTY

Battle Creek Winter Wanderland | Dec. 1 through Dec. 2 | Details

Battle Creek Brass Band Holiday Concert | Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.| Details

Toys for Tots Stuff-A-Truck with Battle Creek Police | Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details

The Battle Creek Symphony Presents: Holiday Magic | Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. | Details

Merry Mile at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds | Throughout December | Details

IONIA COUNTY

Ionia Twinkle Town | Dec. 1 to Dec. 2 | Details

Ionia Mrs. Claus Annual Bazaar & Craft Show | Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

Beldings Home for the Holidays | Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Portland Holidayfest | Dec. 9 from 3:45 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. | Details

Family holiday movie night at Belding High School | Dec. 9 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details

Santas Electric Parade in Belding | Dec. 9 at 7:45 p.m. | Details

Free showing of White Christmas at Ionia Theatre | Dec. 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

Portage Traditional Holiday & Tree Lighting Ceremony | Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. | Details

Christmas Craft Show | Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

Portage Holiday Market | Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. | Details

Dads in the Zoo | Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

Vicksburg Christmas in the Village | Dec. 9 from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Details

December to Remember in Bronson Park | Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details

Moonlight Madness in Kalamazoo | Dec. 15 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. | Details

Kalamazoo New Years Fest | Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to midnight | Details

KENT COUNTY

Wrap up Wyoming | Dec. 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Rockfords Holiday Lighting Ceremony | Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. | Details

Cedar Springs Public Library Pete the Cat Holiday Party | Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Details

Rockfords 79th Annual Santa Parade | Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

Christmas in Caledonia | Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. | Details

Grandville Christmas at the Commons | Dec. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Lowell Christmas festivities and Annual Night-time Santa Parade | Dec. 2 all day | Details

Santa & Mrs. Claus Visit Rockford! | Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Kentwood holiday light parade and tree lighting ceremony | Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Ada Business Association: Tinsel, Treats and Trolleys | Dec. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Holiday Sip & Shop | Dec. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Details

Horrocks Holiday Jamboree | Dec. 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Santa Parade Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce | Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Details

Breakfast with Santa | Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Details

Winter Fun at KDL Plainfield Township Branch | Dec. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details

Evening Storytime with Santa at Cedar Springs Public Library | Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. | Details

KDL Byron Twp. Branchs 9th Annual Gingerbread House Contest | Dec. 1 through Jan. 3 | Details

Winter Story Stroll KDL Byron Township Branch | Nov. 24 through Jan. 6 | Details

Ready for Reindeer! KDL | Various dates | Details

Meet the Sled Dogs KDL | Various dates | Details

SnowFest Craft Time! KDL | Various dates | Details

Winter Wonder Stories KDL | Various dates | Details

Countdown to Happy Noon Year! KDL | Dec. 29 and 30 | Details

Tinsel, Treats and Trolleys kicks off holiday in Ada

MONTCALM COUNTY

Greenville Christmas Parade & Events | Dec. 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Holiday Craft Fair at Greenville Community Center | Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

Stanton Holiday Block Party & Parade | Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. | Details

MUSKEGON COUNTY

Mona Shores Americas Tallest Singing Christmas Tree | Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 | Details

Santas Workshop at Gerber Scout Reservation | Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

Lakeside District Associations Holidays in Lakeside | Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Details

70th Annual White Lake Area Christmas Parade | Dec. 2 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

The Nutcracker by Michigan Youth Ballet Theatre | Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. | Details

Dreaming of a White Lake Christmas | Dec. 8 and 9 | Details

Hackley Public Library holiday preschool story times | Dec. 8, 15, 29 | Details

Hackley Public Library Holiday Reindeer Hot Cocoa Take and Make Kit | Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Details

Readings from holiday stories at Hackley Public Library | Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. | Details

Letters to Santa in Muskegon | through Dec. 17 | Details

NEWAYGO COUNTY

Christmas Walk Newaygo 2022 | Dec. 1 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Details

Velocity St Nick Kick 2023 | Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Details

Christmas in Croton 2023 | Dec. 2 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Details

Fremont Christmas Stroll | Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. | Details

Fremont Christmas Stroll and Illuminated Parade | Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. | Details

Christmas in White Cloud | Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

OCEANA COUNTY

Pentwater Christmas in the Village | Dec. 2, 9, 16 | Details

OTTAWA COUNTY

Holland Holiday Kerstmarkt | Nov. 18 through Dec. 16 | Details

Spring Lake Sparkle | Nov. 25 through Jan. 1 | Details

Howard Miller Community Center Holiday Train Show | Nov. 27 through Dec. 16 | Details

Outdoor Discovery Center Holiday Winter Walk, other holiday events | Nov. 28 through Dec. 26 | Details

Feel the Zeel of Christmas | Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 | Details

Sinterklaas Eve | Dec. 1 | Details

43 rd Annual Coopersville Nighttime Christmas Parade | Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. | Details

Grand Haven 31st Annual Jingle Bell Parade | Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. | Details

Christmas at the Jenison Museum | Dec. 2 and Jan. 6 | Details

Coopersville Community Concert Band Holiday Concert | Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. | Details

Critter Barn Christmas Live Nativity | Dec. 5 to Dec. 28 | Details

Turning Pointe School of Dance The Promise is Jesus | Dec. 8, 9, 15 and 16 | Details

Santa in Centertown Grand Haven | Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Victorian Christmas at the Cappon House 2023 | Dec. 9 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

Holland Museum Holiday Open House | Dec. 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details

Momentum Holland Scoops with Santa | Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Downtown Holland Up on the Rooftops | Dec. 15 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Details

Downtown Holland Shopping Jam | Dec. 16 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Details

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Downtown Sturgis Kristkindlmarkt | Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 | Details

Sturgis Dashing through Downtown | Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 | Details

Sturgis Holiday Sip & Stroll | Dec. 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Details

Constantine Parade of Lights and choir and community sing-a-long | Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. | Details

VAN BUREN COUNTY

South Haven Center for the Arts Mistletoe Market | Nov. 18 through Dec. 15 | Details

Crane Orchards Holiday Light Show | Nov. 29 through Dec. 31 | Details

Paw Paw Christmas in the village, parade and tree lighting | Dec. 1 through Dec. 2 | Details

Holiday train display & Christmas tree silent auction | Dec. 1 through Dec. 17 | Details

Trinity Lutheran Cookie Walk in Paw Paw | Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

Fennvilles Holiday Celebration | Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Mattawan Holiday Parade, Christmas in the Park, tree lighting | Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. | Details

Santa Claus is coming to Decadent Dogs | Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 | Details

Church of the Epiphany Silence and Song in the Spirit of Taize | Dec. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Details

Santa at the Carnegie Center in Paw Paw | Dec. 7 through Dec. 9 | Details

Diane & Lisa Holiday Concert at First Congregational UCC | Dec. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details

Holiday Crafting at South Haven Memorial Library | Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

Michigan Maritime Museum Selfies with Santa! | Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

Senior Services of Van Buren County Holiday Fundraiser | Dec. 9 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. | Details

Michigan Maritime Museum Holiday Sea-Shanty Concert | Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Christmas Cookie Decorating class | Dec. 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

New Years Eve Celebration | Dec. 31 from noon to midnight | Details

To add your citys event to this list, send us an email at ReportIt@woodtv.com. Be sure to include a link.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Laurynas Kasciunas, the Chair of the Committee on National Security and Defence of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, believes that Russia is not ready for a conventional war against the countries of the West, and it will take five to seven years to restore its capabilities after the invasion of Ukraine.

Source: LRT, citing Kasciunas, as reported by European Pravda.

Quote: "I agree with those who say that Russia is not ready for a major divisional conventional war; it will take several years to restore its capabilities, especially if some kind of truce is established according to their rules," Kasciunas said during a speech in the Seimas.

At the same time, other hybrid scenarios are possible, such as invasion without the intention of occupation or attacks on strategic targets, Kasciunas said.

"[Possible scenarios include] Hybrid field, grey zone, invasion without the goal of occupation, Hamas scenarios that we saw in Israel, sabotage against strategic targets," the Lithuanian member of parliament added.

Background:

Earlier, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, stated that Russia's attack on the Baltic States and other NATO members was only a matter of time.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda disagreed with him, urging Landsbergis to "sit down and calm down."

Meanwhile, the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics, believes that Moscow can really start aggression against the countries of the eastern flank of NATO in the future if it perceives the outcome of the war in Ukraine as its victory.

Support UP or become our patron!
Kept in the dark. Forced to sit in silence. Fed only meager rations. These and even more chilling scraps of information are beginning to show how hostages survived in Hamas captivity.

Around 240 people, from infants to octogenarians, were taken hostage during Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Dozens have been freed but many more remain missing, presumed to be held by the Palestinian militant organization and other groups in Gaza, as the warring sides resume battle.

The Red Cross and other humanitarian groups have not been allowed to visit the hostages. So relatives and the wider watching world have to wait for testimony from those who have been freed to know what might be happening to their loved ones still held in Gaza: whether they have been seen, if they are alive or dead.

The details below have been compiled from comments by freed hostages to their families, their carers and sometimes to reporters.

Under the terms of the deal between Israel and Hamas, most of those released are women, children and foreign workers. As of Friday, only one adult Israeli man - who also had Russian citizenship  had been released and no members of the Israeli military. Hostages are believed to be spread across locations and in the hands of different groups. Its already seeming that not all hostages were treated the same way; the story of each new person recovered will add to the understanding.

Kept in the dark amid nonstop bombing

Adina Moshe was dragged from her safe room at home in Israel, taken to Gaza and forced into tunnels five stories underground, her nephew Eyal Nouri said.

They took her inside the tunnels  she walked, bare feet in the mud of the tunnels, he told CNN of the first hours of her captivity. It was very hard to breathe. They marched [for] hours in the tunnels.

Moshe said his aunt was held in an underground room where the lights were switched on for only two hours a day. The darkness was literal and also figurative, Nouri said. Deprived of any information, their other senses and imaginations became keener.

They didnt know anything about what happened above, Nouri said. They just heard the nonstop bombing until the day before their release. Suddenly, there was amazing silence and they knew something was going to happen but they didnt know what.

The network of tunnels under the built-up enclave of Gaza described by Adina Moshe matched the testimony of Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85-year-old grandmother released early in the conflict, outside the terms of the truce.

For weeks, Thomas Hand assumed his young daughter was deep underground as well. She is more than likely in a tunnel somewhere under Gaza, Hand told CNN, after he learned that Emily, once declared dead, was believed to be a hostage.

Its her birthday on the 17th of [November]. She will be 9, he said. She wont even know what day it is. She wont know its her birthday. There will be no birthday cake. No party, no friends. She will just be petrified in a tunnel under Gaza. That is her birthday.

Hand was taken aback after her release when Emily told him that she, her friend Hila Rotem-Shoshani and Hilas mom Raaya Rotem, were imprisoned above ground, in a series of houses. That came with dangers of its own. As Israeli forces attacked Gaza, moving deeper and deeper into the Palestinian territory, Rotem and the girls were forced to run from building to building.

Thats terrifying. Being pulled, dragged, pushed  under gunfire probably, Hand said. An estimated 40-50% of buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged, independent researchers say, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday up to 1.8 million people in Gaza, or nearly 80% of the population, are thought to be internally displaced.

Hand was right about Emily losing track of time. Released on the 50th day of captivity inside what she called the box, the little girl told her father she thought she had been gone for a year.

Forced to endure in silence

The most shocking, disturbing part of meeting her was she was just whispering, you couldnt hear her. I had to put my ear on her lips, Hand said of Emily. Shed been conditioned not to make any noise.

Both Emily and Hila dared only to whisper, even once they were back with their families. Three days later, Hand said he could hear Emily from about a meter (three feet) away when she talked, but when she cried she buried herself under bedclothes and was almost silent.

She had learned the Arabic for keep quiet! Hand said. Child hostages were only allowed to draw or play cards without making noise.

Ruth Munder, a released Israeli hostage, walks with an Israeli soldier shortly after her arrival in Israel on November 24. - Israeli Prime Minister's Office/Handout/Reuters

Twelve-year-old Eitan Yahalomi was also ordered to keep quiet, even while being made to watch films that no one would want to see of the October 7 attacks, his aunt Deborah Cohen told CNN affiliate BFMTV.

Omer Lubaton Granot, who founded the Hostages and Missing Family Forums, said a gun was held to Eitans head to threaten him if he would cry.

What we hear from the stories from children  the captivitys harsh reality is unbelievable, Granot said. Sisters of other children told them that Hamas have told the children that their whole family has died, that nobody wants them back, that they dont have a home to go to. They tried to scare the children.

Fed survival rations

Captives ate the same food as the guards, according to Lifshitz, who was released with her neighbor on October 24.

Grandmother Ruth Munder told Israels Channel 13 conditions got worse as the captivity went on, and as Israels vise on Gaza tightened. UN officials have warned of massive outbreaks of infectious disease and hunger in the enclave due to Israels strict blockade on all imports beyond a small amount of humanitarian aid.

At the beginning, a guard brought chicken, rice, canned goods and cheese for the hostages. When we got up we had tea and in the evening once again tea and sweet things for the children, Munder said, until the economic situation started to be bad and people were hungry.

Adina Moshe said in her tunnel room, They were fed only rice, some beans from cans, which they tried to avoid eating so as not to have stomachache, her nephew reported.

Emily Hand told her father that they always had breakfast and sometimes lunch or an evening meal. She said she was so hungry she learned to like plain bread with olive oil. Since her release shes wanted to eat like a horse, her father said, but they are restricting intake for now while her shrunken stomach recovers.

Its a similar story for other former captives, whose weight loss and pale skin jolted the relatives welcoming them home.

Thai former captive Uthai Saengnuan said his concern was with his countrymen still in captivity.

Physical and mental wounds

Eitan, the 12-year-old, was beaten when he arrived in Gaza, his aunt also said. Perhaps I was naive but I thought he would be well-treated. But no, they are monsters, she said of his Hamas captors.

Emily Hand said she was not hit and her father said he believed harsh voices were enough to make her do what was wanted.

When her friend Hila talks of her captivity, its like shes describing a scene from a movie she watched, not something she went through herself, her uncle Yair Rotem told CNN.

Shes a little bit distant now, shes a little bit cold, he said. She talks about things that happened like its in third person, like it happened to someone else. Shell say she saw horrible things, but she says it with a straight face.

The father of a Thai hostage who spoke to his son after he was freed said he sounded in good health and good spirits. He suffered from bugs biting him while in captivity, Chumpron Jirachart, father of Manee Jirachart, told CNN.

Thomas Hand said Emily suffered insect bites too. Her head is full of lice, absolutely full of head lice. Ive never seen so many in my life.

He said he and his older daughter worked in tandem with combs. Just one pass and the thing was full, full of little black creatures.

Elma Avraham, 84, was seriously ill when she returned from Gaza, first needing a ventilator as she fought to survive in hospital.

Dr. Hagai Levine, head of the medical team for the Hostages and Missing Family Forums, said her body told its own harrowing story.

You can see on her body that she was dragged from place to place, that she was handcuffed, he said. She has chemical wounds from not treating her basic needs.

Eitan Yahalomi, 12, who was released on November 27, at Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Israeli Defense Forces/Handout/Reuters

First steps to recovery

Rehabilitation will take time. Former detainees may experience a range of layered psychological impacts including anxiety, depression, disorientation, grief, post-traumatic stress and survivors guilt, experts say.

Many hostages lost their homes in the October 7 attacks; as they return, some are also finding out how many of their friends and relatives were killed.

But Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, chief executive officer of the Schneider Childrens Medical Center of Israel, where some of the hostages have been treated after being released, said what the staff had seen so far made them optimistic.

We heard from many of the children and women unimaginable accounts, some of them really surreal. We have heard stories, which are hard for us as doctors and as caregivers to believe they can exist, Bron-Harlev said.

But their patients were strong and determined.

Over the last five days, we met children who were initially withdrawn and lost, and after a day or two, they were already running around the ward, playing and laughing.

Israel said Friday it believed 137 hostages taken captive on October 7 remained in Gaza.

Written by CNNs Rachel Clarke in Atlanta from reporting by Joseph Ataman, Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan, Bianna Golodryga, Jessie Gretener, Poppy Harlow, Jacqueline Howard, Lauren Izso, Ed Lavandera, Phil Mattingly, Kocha OIarn and Clarissa Ward.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Peoria City/County Health Department conducts food inspections for a wide range of establishments in the area  from restaurants to long-term care facilities and schools. Inspections look for issues that could contribute to the spread of foodborne illness, as well as general cleanliness and maintenance of the establishment.

The Journal Star examined routine inspections for restaurants, mobile establishments and bars/taverns in Peoria County for October. From these categories, over 100 routine inspections were completed.

The establishments listed below received either no violations or enough violations to warrant a warning from the health department.

Note: According to the Peoria City/County Health Department, "inspections only provide a snapshot of a food establishment's practices, as they are based on what is seen at the time of the inspection."

More: 19 violations and live flies: The best and worst Peoria food inspections for June

Terminology used by the health department

Core violation: These violations relate to "general sanitation, operational controls, sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs), facilities or structures, equipment design, or general maintenance," according to the health department.

Priority foundation violation: These violations could lead to priority violations if they are not corrected.

Priority violation: These violations are considered the most high-risk by the health department, as they have the potential to directly contribute to foodborne illness.

Establishments with no violations during routine October inspections

A Matter of Taste 838 E. Glen Ave., Peoria Five Guys Burgers and Fries 2601 W. Lake Ave., Peoria George Washington Carver Community Center 710 W. Percy Baker Jr. Ave., Peoria Hy-Vee 2 (Meat/Seafood/Produce) 7610 N. Orange Prairie Road, Peoria Hy-Vee 2 (Starbucks) 7610 N. Orange Prairie Road, Peoria Jerusalem Restaurant 2027 W. Farmington Road, Peoria Mayflower Family Restaurant 211 N. 1st St., Dunlap Methodist College Cafe 7600 N. Academic Drive, Peoria Panera Bread #1294 1101 W. Bird Ave., Peoria Plank Road Liquor 6005 W. Plank Road, Bellevue The Smo-King Pit 2200 W. War Memorial Drive, Peoria The Victory Vendor 8323 W. Tuscarora Road, Mapleton Whitey's Tip Top Inn, Inc 2601 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria

Establishments that received warning comments during routine October inspections

Hoops Pub and Pizza at 516 Main St., Peoria, received five priority, three priority foundation and nine core violations. These included:

An employee "used bare hands to handle ready to eat bread." According to the health department, employees working with ready to eat foods should use single use gloves, deli tissue or other "suitable utensils."

Living roach and gnats found inside of establishment's main level.

The health department found mouse droppings by the establishment's basement stairs.

Various items inside a sauce cooler were found to be over 41 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the health department, the "cooler was embargoed. Inadequately held food was discarded."

Subway at 3315 N. University St., Peoria, received one priority foundation and two core violations. The warning comment was made "due to continued noncompliance with the Illinois Food Code and Chapter 10 Food Safety, of the Peoria County Code."

More: Leaking roof and unprotected food: The best and worst Peoria food inspections for August

The person in charge has not become a Certified Food Protection Manager. The violation was also noted in a routine June inspection and in two follow-ups in July and August. According to comments, the health department was told the person in charge "would be taking the class on September 19, 2023, and did not take the course. The store still does not have a CFPM as of October 4, 2023. This is an ongoing issue and this is being sent to compliance."

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria health department food inspections for October 2023
This file is no longer being updated.

Its finally happening: After years of sparring on social media, expensive attack ads, and public digs about each others hair care products, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis are meeting face-to-face Thursday night. The long-awaited debate will be moderated by Fox News conservative commentator Sean Hannity.

The match, agreed to back in September, is being closely watched on multiple levels. The two governors, leaders of populous coastal states with opposing politics, could well be previewing a future encounter in a presidential race.

For Republican DeSantis, trailing former President Donald Trump badly in polls, it is a chance to move the needle on his candidacy ahead of the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses. For Newsom, a Democrat, it is 90 minutes on the kind of big national stage that he relishes and, more importantly, a chance to make the case for President Joe Bidens re-election next year.

Follow along with The Bees Jenavieve Hatch and Lindsey Holden for live updates.

Newsom tries to finish on a nice note

7:48 p.m.  Newsom and DeSantis teased extending the debate, but they ultimately wrapped their face-off shortly after 7:30 p.m.

The California governor tried to play nice with his closing moments.

There is a unity frame here, Newsom said. I have no doubt Ron DeSantis loves this country. Were all better off when were all better off. -- Lindsey Holden

DeSantis favorite place in California is...

7:39 p.m.  Coronado Beach in San Diego. -- Jenavieve Hatch

Israel has every right to defend itself

7:30 p.m.  When asked about the Israel-Gaza war, the two candidates were more aligned than on any other issue of the night.

Answering first, Newsom boasted about his trip to Israel in October.

This is not complicated to me, he said. This is a fight between good and evil. Hamas is a terrorist organization and they must be defeated.

DeSantis said Israel has every right to defend itself, and that the Biden Administration should not be kneecapping them in any shape or form.

Neither candidate mentioned the loss of Palestinian lives. -- Jenavieve Hatch

San Francisco poop map?

7:38 p.m.  Hannity brings up homelessness. After some almost unintelligible cross-talk and arguing over freedom, Newsom said California homelessness has been decades in the making.

He said he is the first governor to address homelessness head-on and touted recently-released data showing California has cleaned up almost 6,000 encampments. Newsom also cited recent efforts at behavioral health care reforms.

DeSantis held up a map allegedly showing the location of human feces in San Francisco. He said the city cleaned up its streets only for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Theyre willing to do it for a communist dictator, but theyre not willing to do it for their own people, DeSantis said. --Lindsey Holden

Californias freedoms

7:27 p.m.  When asked why Florida has less of a homelessness problem than California, DeSantis said the crisis is due to California adopting leftist policies.

California does have freedoms, though, he said, but not the freedoms our founding gathers envision.

The freedom to defecate in public, he said sarcastically. Freedom to pitch a tent, create a homeless encampment under a freeway ... to create an open air drug market. -- Jenavieve Hatch

President Newsom?

7:23 p.m.  Hannity asks Newsom if he will say unequivocally that he wont run for president in 2024.

Newsom said he is absolutely not running: I dont know how many times I can say this. He said critics are making things up about a shadow campaign.

Newsom said Biden will become the presidential nominee in a matter of weeks. Biden will be elected and Trump will be rejected, he said.

Hannity asked if Newsom would stand by his statement, even if Biden goes into cognitive decline. Biden is doing great as president, Newsom replied.

If Newsom became the Democratic nominee, the country would see California and its decline as an indicator of the kind of president he would be, DeSantis said. -- Lindsey Holden

Lightning Round

7:14 p.m.  Hannity asked each participant three lightning round questions.

First: What grade do DeSantis and Newsom give Bidens presidency? Predictably, they gave an F and an A, respectively.

The second was whether BIdens policies are helping or hurting their respective states. Again, predictably, DeSantis answered with hurting and Newsom answered with an unequivocal yes, Bidens policies are helping California.

Finally, Hannity asked if each governor is concerned about what he described as Bidens cognitive decline.

Yes its a danger, DeSantis said. He has no business running the country.

Newsom said hed take Joe Biden at 100 before hed take a President Ron DeSantis. -- Jenavieve Hatch

Shame on you

7:10pm  DeSantis misspronounced Harris name, Ka-MAH-la, rather than Kam-ah-la.

Shame on you for mispronouncing Kamalas name, Newsom said, while DeSantis continued talking loudly.

Stop insulting her. -- Jenavieve Hatch

Book-banning binge?

7:05 p.m.  Newsom accuses DeSantis of going on a book-banning binge. He said California schools do not use the books DeSantis and Hannity referenced in their K-5 curriculum. Most of the books DeSantis has banned deal with African Americans and LGBTQ people, he said.

This is a ginned-up, made-up issue to divide this country, Newsom said.

DeSantis responded by claiming transgender children from other states can go to California to receive gender-affirming care without their parents permission.

That is radical, that is an assault on parents rights, he said. --Lindsey Holden

Show-and-tell for parents rights

7:00 p.m.  The role of school is to educate kids, not indoctrinate kids, DeSantis said, before defending parents rights and attacking LGBTQ-related books.

Its inappropriate to tell a second grader they were born in the wrong body, he said. Its important to respect parental rights to know what curriculum is being used.

He then brought out the book Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.

This is pornography, he said. This should not be in schools. This is not age-appropriate. Were going to stand for the rights of parents. -- Jenavieve Hatch

Public safety back-and-forth

6:53 p.m.  Newsom and DeSantis duked it out over gun control laws and crime. DeSantis claimed California gun laws are making it harder for residents to defend themselves. He said the state is going on an ideological joyride around crime.

Women going shopping must remove their jewelry or risk having it stolen, he said.

Common sense gun safety laws save lives, Newsom said.

California is proud to lead on gun control laws, he said, and Florida actually has a higher murder rate.

With all due respect, look at your own backyard, Ron, Newsom repeated. --Lindsey Holden

Debate playbook: Interrupt!

6:51 p.m.  Just before the third commercial break, the two governors continued to interrupt one another to the point of making it impossible to understand what they were saying. One comment from DeSantis landed: I know you like to jabber, I know you like to lie, he told Newsom. -- Jenavieve Hatch

Mass shooting survivors pleaded with DeSantis after school shooting

6:50 p.m.  In a debate about crime statistics, Newsom brought up the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Look at your own back yard, Newsom said. Parents of shooting victims pleaded with DeSantis. Newsom called him Weak, pathetic, small. -- Jenavieve Hatch

DeSantis, Hannity hit Newsom on Biden immigration policy

6:45 p.m.  Hannity displayed a slide showing border patrol encounters with immigrants from Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran and other countries. He asked whether President Joe Bidens open border policy will allow in terrorists and people wishing to harm the United States.

DeSantis said Bidens policies are allowing drugs like fentanyl into the country. Newsom, in the position of defending Biden, said he is in favor of border security, in fact he is the only border state governor at the debate.

He said he wants to create substantive immigration reform, unlike Republicans.

DeSantis: Youre making things up. --Lindsey Holden

Newsom says DeSantis used immigrants as pawns

6:33 p.m.  When asked about whether or not Newsom supports Bidens immigration policies, Newsom said he did. But said that DeSantis gamesmanship with immigrants is disqualifying after the Florida governor sent two planes with immigrants to Marthas Vineyard. -- Jenavieve Hatch

Hannity doesnt want to play hall monitor

6:29 p.m.  There has been lots of cross-talk and bickering, so far. Just before the commercial break, Hannity warned DeSantis and Newsom to limit the fighting because he doesnt want to play hall monitor. -- Lindsey Holden

Newsom swings for Biden and Harris

6:19 p.m.  Newsom started the debate by immediately putting his support behind President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Im here to tell the truth about the Biden-Harris record, he said.

Ill give Gavin credit, said DeSantis. Hes joined at the hip with Biden and Harris.

Is Joe Biden paying you? Hannity later asked Newsom as the governors debated the merits of Bidenomics.

California exodus?

6:05 p.m.  Hannity and DeSantis come out of the gates with the oft-cited claim that California is losing population to Florida.

DeSantis said California ran out of U-Haul trucks, because so many people were leaving. We found this to be largely true in a fact check last year. The state did experience a shortage of available one-way trucks and trailers for outbound moves at times during 2020 and 2021 in California and other West Coast locations.

Newsom would not explain the migration, other than saying more Floridians have come to California during the last two years.

However, census data shows more Californians left the state for Florida in 2022 than any year going back to 2005.

Trump campaign weighs in: Ron DeSanctimonious is desperate

5:11 p.m.  Three hours before the debate, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung posted a bizarre statement on behalf of Trumps presidential campaign on X, formerly known as Twitter. Cheung called DeSantis (who he refers to as DeSanctimonious and DeSanctus) desperate for attention. Thats the kind part.

Ron DeSantis is Thirsty AF pic.twitter.com/GQpgUKoo6e  Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) November 30, 2023
Former Republican Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney says that if Donald Trump is elected it will mean the end of the republic, and expresses alarm at how comfortable her party has become with the man and his lies. Cheney talks with John Dickerson about politics, her career, and Trump's White House run in a wide-ranging interview for "CBS News Sunday Morning," to be broadcast December 3 and streamed on Paramount+.

Cheney also talks with Dickerson about Speaker of the House Mike Johnson; her new book, "Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning"; and more.

Watch the preview clip here, and read some excerpts below:

JOHN DICKERSON: You say, Donald Trump, if he is re-elected, it will be the end of the Republic. What do you mean?

REP. LIZ CHENEY: He's told us what he will do. It's very easy to see the steps that he will take.  People who say, "Well, if he's elected, it's not that dangerous because we have all of these checks and balances," don't fully understand the extent to which the Republicans in Congress today have been co-opted.  One of the things that we see happening today is a sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States.

CHENEY: If you look at what Donald Trump is trying to do, he can't do it by himself. He has to have collaborators. And the story of Mike Johnson is a story of, of a collaborator and of someone who knew then  and knows now  that what he's doing and saying is wrong, but he's willing to do it in an effort to please Donald Trump. And that's what makes it dangerous.

DICKERSON: The Speaker of the House is a collaborator to overthrow the last election?

CHENEY: Absolutely.

The Emmy Award-winning "Sunday Morning" is broadcast Sundays on CBS beginning at 9 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app [beginning at 12 p.m. ET] and on Paramount+, and is available on cbs.com and cbsnews.com.

Be sure to follow us at cbssundaymorning.com, and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.



For more info:

"Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning" by Liz Cheney (Little, Brown & Co.), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available December 5 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgLiz Cheney, UVA Center for Politics, University of Virginia

Judge sides with Daryl Hall in legal battle with former musical partner John Oates

Iconic chocolate brand linked to child labor in Ghana

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies at age 100
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is warning that the United States is sleepwalking into dictatorship, saying that if former President Trump is reelected, it could mean the end of the republic.

One of the things we see today is sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States, Cheney told CBS Newss John Dickerson.

Cheney, an outspoken critic of Trump, is releasing a book Tuesday titled Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning. The book rebukes the modern Republican Party and dives into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Cheney was the vice chair of the House select committee that investigated the insurrection.

Hes told us what he will do. Its very easy to see the steps that he will take, she said of the former president in the new interview.

Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, has threatened to root out his political enemies if he returns to the White House, telegraphing a sweeping overhaul of the federal government and criminal prosecutions for some of his opponents.

People who say well, if hes elected, its not that dangerous because we have all of these checks and balances dont fully understand the extent to which the Republicans in Congress today have been co-opted, she added.

Cheney made a public exit from Congress last year after attacking her own party for supporting Trump. She lost in her August 2022 primary to now-Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) after being one of the most vocal Republican critics of Trump and his role in the insurrection.

She campaigned for Democratic Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin last year and said if the country wanted to ensure the survival of its democracy we have to walk away from politics as usual.

According to Cheneys publisher, her book will explain why she decided to stand alone against her party and risk her career, her seat and her position in leadership to do what she knew was right.

The former lawmaker joined the staff at the University of Virginia as a professor at its Center for Politics earlier this year. She was appointed to serve in the department through the fall semester with the option to renew for more years.

In October, Cheney said she is not ruling out a White House bid. In an interview with CNN, she vowed to help elect leaders who will fight against future challenges to election results and said she thinks Trump is the single most dangerous threat we face.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Police are investigating a smash and grab at Carolina Place Mall in Pineville. Its one of many similar robberies across the area recently, and 9 Investigates has learned more details about one of them.

Cell phone video posted by Instagram account @charlittt.nc shows thieves breaking into glass cases at Reeds Jewelers at Carolina Place around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

According to the police report, police found broken glass inside the store with blood on it.

RELATED STORIES:

The stores owner told police he doesnt know exactly how much was taken.

On Friday, the store was closed with a sign saying they were conducting inventory.

Similar scenes have happened across our area over the last year, including one at Morris Jewelers in Gastonia, Kay Jewelers in Concord, and two break-ins at Finks Jewelers at Birkdale Village.

Channel 9s Hunter Saenz learned a smash and grab at Finks may have been orchestrated by an inmate who is already in prison in Georgia.

#New: We've learned new details in the investigation into a middle-of-the-day-smash-and-grab at Fink's Jewelers in Huntersville over the summer.



Here's a thread. @wsoctv



You may remember this story here: https://t.co/xyl6IdQg3o  Hunter Saenz (@Hunt_Saenz) December 1, 2023

According to a criminal complaint, jewelry store employees told investigators a suspicious man had come in one week earlier. The FBI said he was scoping things out before returning and robbing the place with two others.

That information opened this case even more -- a case thats taken many twists and turns.

Surveillance images captured the moments three suspects smashed their way through the Huntersville store on July 11. Police said they ordered everyone to the ground at gunpoint and used hammers to smash their way through cases.

On Friday, Channel 9 obtained a federal criminal complaint noting $505,000 -- more than half a million dollars -- worth of high-value watches and loose diamonds were stolen.

Chris Swecker is the FBIs former special agent in charge in North Carolina.

Its low risk, high gain, get in get out, he told Hunter Saenz.

He says these smash and grabs are often orchestrated and at times are part of a larger ring.

The indication that this is an organized ring is because the FBI is involved at all, Swecker said.

This is not a one-person situation, he added.

Court documents certainly make it seem that way. Investigators pulled Instagram and cellphone messages from one of the suspects, showing he was communicating and planning several jewelry store robberies with Deuntria Lamar Lyons, whos in a Georgia prison.

In one exchange days before the Birkdale Village robbery, the suspect tells Lyons we need to wipe these high-end boutiques...

Lyons is serving six life sentences for planning robberies from inside prison using secret cellphones. Swecker said the FBI wont just take a scapegoat down, but will build this case out.

They attack the leadership -- in fact, they attack the entire heart, the hierarchy and try to dig this gang up by the roots, he said.

The complaint says there is evidence that Deuntria Lyons was on the phone with the suspects 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after that robbery. Investigators pinged multiple phones off cell towers at the time and also were able to track the getaway cars.

(WATCH BELOW: Huntersville jewelry store thieves armed with guns, sledgehammers)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Were in the midst of the holiday season, which means many pups will be checked into kennels while their owners travel for the holidays.

While its still unknown whether a mystery respiratory illness infecting dogs is circulating in Texas  its been detected in at least 14 states so far one Travis County boarding facility encouraged pet lovers not to panic and gave some advice on how to keep their furry friends healthy.

MORE: Is the mysterious dog illness in Texas? An expert explains why its hard to tell

How well do you take care of yourself, and how well do you want to take care of your dog? Being a proactive pet parent will alleviate a lot of things that could come from being in a dog community, said Kristine Krolczyk, owner of My Love Fur Paws.

Krolczyk said they had nearly 100 dogs boarding with My Love Fur Paws over Thanksgiving, and none got sick with any virus.

She said boosting your dogs immune system is paramount before checking them into their temporary home. Some ways to do this are by feeding them supplements and nutritious foods, choosing a facility with air purifiers and plentiful ventilation and bringing the pup to a facility semi-regularly so it can get used to being around other dogs.

Krolczyk said that if a dog doesnt go to a shared dog facility often, their immune is not built for it.

Prebiotics and probiotics are then super important. [Also] vitamin C, you can get that at Whole Foods, is very important, Krolczyk added.

Krolczyk said she thinks the hype surrounding the dog mystery illness is blown out of proportion, she said.

What is more important, in her opinion, is for people to choose a high-quality facility to board their dogs over the holiday.

if you get a highly-trained staff to take care of peoples pets, then these are things we monitor daily, hourly. And so I dont want the public to be in a panic about this, she added.

Dr. Heidi Moore, a veterinarian at Lakeway Veterinarian Clinic, agreed that the new respiratory illness shouldnt be a big cause for concern going into the festive season.

Respiratory disease is not a new thing in veterinary medicine, Moore said. A lot of them we vaccinate for like distemper, parainfluenza, and Bordetella, and there are other ones that we dont vaccinate for that potentially are not majorly pathogenic.

I think just making sure your pet is healthy  making sure it has its regular visits to a veterinarian, at least a yearly visit, and get its core vaccines, she continued. Theres no reason to panic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Nan Pangpanga, the restaurateur behind four popular Thai concepts in Sacramento, is planning two new ventures: an Elk Grove restaurant and a Southside Park cafe.

Coconut Elk Grove will be a carbon copy of the homey, affordable Thai dishes customers love at Pangpangas other restaurants: Drunken Noodle (midtown Sacramento), The Coconut on T (Southside Park), The Coconut Fulton (Arden Arcade) and The Coconut River Park.

Fans can get their fixes of pad Thai, yellow curry and basil fried rice at 8469 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 6 starting Dec. 14.

The Coco, Pangpangas new concept around the corner from The Coconut on T in Southside Park, will be a deviation from that norm. A cafe with beer and wine, it will replace once-popular soul food restaurant South at 2005 11th St.

Pangpanga described The Cocos food offerings as New American, with an Asian fusion bent and some French pastries. There might be one Thai dessert, she said, but not much else in common with her other restaurants.

South was NGina Guyton and Ian Kavookjians super-popular place for fried chicken and other Southern food until closing abruptly last June as the two went through a bitter divorce. Guyton has since reopened Jim-Dennys, a downtown Sacramento fixture from 1934-2020, with her own modernized twist.

Sacramento Eats: Recipes from the Capital Regions Favorite Restaurants and Bars

Order your cookbook here to get recipes from 60 of the Sacramento regions top restaurants and bars, plus photos and descriptions of what makes each business so exceptional.
House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka, filed paperwork with the Kansas Secretary of States Office to run for Topekas newly drawn District 19.

Miller has a long history representing Topeka in the Statehouse, first joining the House in 1979 and serving three terms. Miller served 15 years on the Shawnee County Commission, eight years on the Topeka City Council and four years as Topeka Municipal Court judge.

It would be Millers second tenure in the Senate. In 2019, the local Democratic precinct appointed Miller to fill the seat Gov. Laura Kelly vacated to serve as governor. He held the seat for two years before returning to his House seat with a successful 2020 campaign.

Longtime Topeka Democrat and current House Minority Leader Vic Miller will run for the Kansas Senate in a newly drawn district.

New boundaries place Sen. Rick Kloos in different district

Last December, House Democrats elected Miller to become the minority leader.

"I'm a Topekan. I think it's important that Topeka be represented in leadership," Miller said in an interview with The Capital-Journal in December 2022. "I think it's not a big thing, but I think all locations among our caucus should have some representation, but that's hard to do."

In the same interview, Miller expressed a desire to pull Kelly to the left on certain issues after she campaigned as a centrist. He singled out the legalization of recreational marijuana as a policy he wished to push Kelly on. But he also expressed a desire to work across the aisle when possible, saying he thinks he can achieve some goals even when outnumbered.

Miller also addressed his arrest and acceptance of a diversion agreement in a drunken driving case.

Miller didn't return interview requests for this story.

Currently, Sen. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton, holds District 19, but the new boundaries would place him in District 3, which now includes all of Osage County, the northern half of Franklin County, a large chunk of southwest Douglas County and a portion of southeast Shawnee County.

Kloos announced his reelection campaign at a private event on Oct. 27, where he also publicly addressed his ongoing legal battle with the IRS for the first time.

Vic Miller endorsed by former Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley

On Wednesday, former Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley endorsed Miller.

"The skills he has demonstrated in the House will translate well in the State Senate where Gov. Laura Kelly is in need of more allies to carry out her agenda of making Kansas a great place to live, work and raise a family," Hensly wrote in a news release.

No other candidate has filed paperwork signaling intent to run for District 19. The filing deadline is June 1.

When the Senate approved the GOP-authored maps last year, The Capital-Journal reported that the district is favorable to Democrats.

Miller reported only $1,039 for a state Senate campaign in a report to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission from January. However, he also had $25,714 cash on hand available to run for the House.

The money for the House race cant be rolled into the Senate race, according to the KGEC, but Miller could refund any contributions made for his House race and ask contributors to donate to his Senate campaign.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka Democrat Vic Miller gives up House seat for Kansas Senate run
CHARLEVOIX  One hundred and fifty years ago, the Nov. 29, 1873 Charlevoix Sentinel reported the South Arm is frozen over.

The western, narrower portion of Pine Lake (later named Lake Charlevoix) was already locked in for the winter by late November, and would probably stay that way until the following spring.

SHIPYARD.Dougherty & Carr, of this village, have purchased Lots. No. 5 & 6, of Newmans Addition, fronting on Round Lake, and they will convert them into a ship yard. Messrs. Dougherty and Carr were the first reported commercial boat builders in Charlevoix, joining forces in 1871 and working on commission for vessels destined to be delivered as far south as Elk Rapids and Leland. Before them, boat building had begun here originally on an individual basis. Many were the early pioneers who needed a boat to survive, especially those who put down roots away from town on the inner lakeshores. If they hadnt already arrived here on their own vessel, and they didnt know how to build one, they learned quickly.

Dougherty & Carr were the forebears of an industry that grew steadily to include some of the finest, most sought-after boat builders and repairers on the Great Lakes. In December of 1892, one of them, the Joseph Beauvais Boat & Canoe Company, was personally invited to display its exquisitely crafted vessels at the Chicago Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893, the famed White City.

School starts off in good shape, with about 70 scholars. Some inconvenience is experienced in one department, owing to the absence of available seats, which have been sent for, but do not arrive. Imagine starting the school year with no place to sit down.

The long-awaited train to Petoskey was now official, but no further. Mixed trains will run over the road for the present (originating in Indiana and passing through Grand Rapids and Traverse City). Next summer will complete the gap between the (Little Traverse) Bay and the Straits.

Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you

Thanksgiving was well observed in Charlevoix, as far as the consumption of poultry was concerned, but in this manner only. Business was not suspended one hour, and the attendance on the services was very meagre. Mr. Coles sermon was spoken of as a studied and masterly effort, and eminently worthy of a larger audience. The supper in the evening was a pleasant affair. Apparently Thanksgiving had yet to achieve the full holiday treatment it enjoys today, with business as usual, religious services for those few who cared to partake, and looks like maybe a community dinner to cap the day.

One hundred years ago, the Nov. 29, 1923 Sentinel had this on the front page: Correcting an Error. A certain newspaper (not referring to itself) attempted to correct a typographical error in the following manner: We wish to apologize for the way we disgraced the beautiful wedding last week. Through an error of the typewriter, we were made to say the roses were punk. What we should have said was the roses were pink.

That same week, the Charlevoix Courier contained a large article on the worrisome subsidence of Lake Michigan, and traced the alleged blame to the great Chicago Sanitary District Drainage Canal that had been constructed between 1892 and 1900 to get rid of the citys sewage. CANAL IS LOWERING LAKE MICH. Flow Through Chicagos Big Ditch Robs Us. Six Hundred Sixty Thousand Gallons Leave The Lake Each Day Of The Year.

The canal was 28.5 miles long, 22 feet deep, and had a minimum width of 64 feet. It joined the south branch of the Chicago River with the Desplaines River and so with the Illinois and Mississippi canal. The canal or sewer is flushed with water from Lake Michigan and its waters are pure within a flow of 150 miles. Its capacity of 600,000 cubic feet per minute is sufficient entirely to renew the Chicago River daily.

Now what does all this mean? Simply thisthat every day a quantity of water leaves Lake Michigan equivalent to a river 45 miles long, 50 feet deep and 100 feet wide, or, to put it in other words, more than the combined flow of all the rivers in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois can replace in a day. So tremendous is its effect upon the vast waters of the Great Lakes that the current through the Straits of Mackinac, which in the memory of man has flowed to the east from Lake Michigan into Huron, is now flowing with equal strength west in the opposite direction.

Now, do you begin to see it, friends, and why the states adjacent to the depleted waters are about to sue the city of Chicago through the United States Supreme Court to force it to take steps to curtail the amount of water they are yearly robbing from Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior? Quite an interesting situation, isnt it?

Later research revealed that the Chicago canal contributes a minimal effect to the lake levels, as evidenced in Charlevoix over the last few years. It is yearly precipitation levels, both rain and especially accumulated snowpack, that matters. The winters of 2014 and 2015 were especially severe here, together resulting in the waters of Lake Michigan peaking at near-record height in August of 2019. Yes, it takes that long for regional snowmelt to make its mark from one year to the next. Lake Michigan has receded almost three feet since. Just look at the stony shoreline beyond the hospital to the cement plant. The Chicago canal had very little, if anything, to do with it.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Looking Back: Charlevoix's first commercial boat builders and a Chicago canal
Loving relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners are known to be good for mental health.

They can also have physical benefits, various studies suggest.

Benefits include living longer, dulling physical pain, and more.

No matter how old you are or where you live, there seems to be one simple investment that could have a major payoff for your health: Creating a life that's rich in loving relationships.

Strong connections, much like consistent exercise and healthy eating, can greatly influence how long someone lives, Dr. Robert Waldinger, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development , previously told Business Insider. (Just look at 99-year-old former President Jimmy Carter, who was married to his late wife Rosalynn for 77 years.)

Waldinger explains how strong connections lead to increased happiness, as well as better physical health in his new book, " The Good Life: Lessons from the world's longest scientific study of happiness ." Other aging researchers have found results similar to Waldinger's, finding that pursuing companionship can curb stress, a major factor in developing chronic pain and disease, Business Insider previously reported.

Here are many of the ways love can help your mind and body feel better.

Making time to visit loved ones could increase your lifespan.

Spending time with loved ones could help increase your lifespan. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images

There's some evidence that consistently getting together with family and friends could help you live longer, according to a November study from researchers at the University of Glasgow.

The researchers asked 58,146 UK adults between 37 and 73 questions about their close relationships, like how often they felt lonely, and how often friends and family visited, and whether they lived alone.

When the researchers followed up 12.6 years later, they found that study participants who reported never having loved ones visit were 39% more likely to have died in the years following their initial survey.

The researchers didn't measure the quality of participants' social interactions, which could have also had an impact on study results, Business Insider previously reported.

The study results aren't definitive, and can't prove with certainty that a lack of time with loved ones causes death, lead study author Hamish Foster previously told Business Insider.

Loving relationships dull physical pain, a study found.

Love could make physical pain feel less acute. Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

Being generally happy in your relationship could help curb aches and pains that comes with age, according to research out of Harvard, Business Insider previously reported.

Waldinger and his Harvard colleagues surveyed coupled-up people in their eighties and found that those who were satisfied with their partners could keep their moods in check, even on days when their physical pain was worse than usual. But study participants who were in unhappy relationships seemed to have worse moods, and more emotional pain, and days when their bodies hurt more.

Similar but larger studies, from the National Institutes of Health in Baltimore, and St. George's University of London, have found similar results.

Being in love boosts your immune system, experts say.

Falling in love could have physical health benefits, according to some research. Alistair Berg/Getty Images

Researcher at Tulane University and UCLA did a two-year study study of 47 college-aged women, asking them if they had fallen in love.

When they looked at activity in the women's immunity genes, which activate to respond to illnesses in the body, the researchers found that women who were in love had more immunity gene activity than women who weren't in love, Business Insider previously reported.

This could potentially suggest that feeling love could provide additional protection against disease, though more research is needed due to the small study size and inconclusive results.

You could lower your risk of heart attack.

A loving relationship could potentially prevent high blood pressure, some studies show. Getty Images

Prolonged stress, a potential byproduct of social isolation and loneliness, can lead to chronic inflammation in the body, potentially increasing a person's risk of certain health issues like heart attacks and strokes, Business Insider previously reported.

Since spending time with loved ones has been shown to reduce stress, pouring into those connections could pay off for someone's long-term wellbeing, according to Rose Anne Kenny, the chair of medical gerontology at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and the founding principal investigator for The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

A 2019 study supports Kenny's TILDA findings. According to researchers at the University of Arizona, thinking of or being near a romantic partner can lower someone's blood pressure when they're exposed to stress.

Feeling connected to others decreases feelings of depression.

Treating yourself to happy hour with friends can be healthy, according to some of the longest-living people on earth. The Good Brigade/Getty Images

Prioritizing face-to-face interactions could help reduce feelings of isolation and depression, Business Insider previously reported.

This benefit also extends to people in romantic relationships.

To reap the health benefits of your relationships now, a Harvard professor suggests sending a quick text message

Building strong relationships takes small yet consistent effort. 10'000 Hours/Getty Images

Waldinger, the Harvard professor and longevity researcher, said that strengthening your relationships to reap the health benefits can be as simple as sending a brief text message.

"Sometimes when I give talks I'll say, 'okay, now everybody take out your phone, think about somebody you want to connect with, and send a text,'" Waldinger previously told Business Insider.

He said the message should say something like, "Thinking of you and wanted to say hi," or "I just wanted to reconnected and say hi."

Adding a call to action, like asking your loved one out for coffee or a walk is another helpful approach, Waldinger said.

And when you're spending time with these cherished people, be sure to tell them why they mean so much to you, according to Waldinger. Your health will thank you for it.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A lottery player won big after using her lucky number to play a scratch-off game, Maryland officials said.

The lucky woman was in Cockeysville when she saw a Winning 7 scratch-off game and decided to play, according to a Dec. 1 news release by the Maryland Lottery. She had no idea her choice would lead to a $57,777 prize.

I like to go anywhere with the number 7. I guess it really is my lucky number, the college student told lottery officials.

While playing the $5 game, she scratched the first line of the ticket and matched the winning number 32, the release said. Thats when she knew had won something.

I wasnt expecting it at all. After I saw it, I double-checked it on my phone and it was real, she told officials.

The winner plans to buy a car and get an apartment with her winnings, the release said.

Cockeysville is about 20 miles north of Baltimore.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Lottery player misses NC jackpot by one number. Days later, he had a surreal win

Lottery player sees confetti on phone screen and thinks hes dreaming. Wake me up!

Man wakes wife up after seeing millions in Michigan lottery account. She was frantic
Madagascar's President and a presidential candidate Andry Rajoelina flanked by his wife Mialy Rajoelina as he arrives to cast his ballot at a polling station, during the presidential election in Ambatobe

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) -Madagascar's incumbent resident, Andry Rajoelina, was declared the winner on Friday of the Nov. 16 election by the country's High Constitutional Court, which handed him a third term after dismissing various challenges to provisional results.

"Andry Rajoelina is elected as the president of the republic of Madagascar and is taking his functions as soon as the swearing (in is conducted)," said court head Florent Rakotoarisoa. He received 58.96% of the votes cast, the court said.

The challenges to the electoral body's provisional count that were dismissed included one from the runner-up, lawmaker Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko. He got 14.39% of the vote, according to the court.

Ten out of 13 candidates boycotted the poll but their names were already on the ballot, leaving them to share the rest of the votes cast.

"The election took place peacefully, and it is proof that democracy in Madagascar and the Malagasy people have reached political maturity," Rajoelina told journalists outside the courtroom.

"There will be some changes but you don't change a winning team either," he said.

The November election was preceded by weeks of protests, with the opposition accusing Rajoelina of having created unfair election conditions, and turn-out was less than 50%.

Rajoelina has dismissed allegations the vote was unfair and the army has warned against attempts to destabilise the country.

Nine foreign embassies, including the United States, United Kingdom and European Union countries, issued a joint statement "noting" the final results.

"In view of the tensions and incidents that characterised the electoral process, and the tense political context, it is now up to the newly-elected head of state, together with all the country's stakeholders, to take steps to restore confidence conducive to dialogue," the embassies said.

Later, the U.S. State Department said that the electoral process "raised some serious concerns that must be addressed for the peace and future well-being of the nation."

The opposition has said the 46.35% voter turn-out in the election was the lowest in the country's history.

Hajo Andrianainarivelo, a former minister among the candidates who boycotted the poll, has vowed to fight against what he said was a lack of respect for the laws of the land, and oppression of the people.

"The popular fight begins now," he said on Thursday.

Rajoelina, 49, first came to power in a 2009 coup. He stepped down in 2014 as leader of a transitional authority but then became president again after winning a 2018 election.

(Reporting by Lovasoa RabaryWriting by Bhargav AcharyaEditing by Hereward Holland, Frances Kerry and Sandra Maler)
A man kidnapped a 68-year-old woman with dementia outside a Los Angeles veterans hospital after she tried to make a medical appointment with her friend, federal prosecutors said.

More than two years later, Johnny Ray Gasca  who prosecutors said abducted the woman to steal her money and called her a golden goose  has been sentenced to over two decades in prison, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California.

The morning of July 19, 2021, Gasca suddenly showed up as the woman and her friend headed to their car at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, prosecutors said.

He grabbed the woman, pushed her toward a gold pickup truck, threw her inside the vehicle, then took her to a bank, where she withdrew $15,000, according to court documents.

FBI agents ultimately traced the womans phone to a hotel on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, where Gasca walked out with the woman and he was arrested, prosecutors said.

The womans friend later told FBI agents she recognized Gasca, believed he previously was in some kind of relationship with the woman and suspected he had stolen money out of her bank and retirement accounts, prosecutors said.

In an interview with FBI agents, Gasca called the woman his girlfriend, according to prosecutors.

Prior to the kidnapping, the woman couldnt find her credit cards  leading her friend to discover $35,000 was withdrawn from her retirement account, according to court documents.

The friend also saw the woman had made online transactions over Venmo, MoneyGram and PayPal that the friend believed the woman had no knowledge of when the pair took a look at her accounts, prosecutors said.

On Nov. 29, a judge sentenced Gasca, of New York City, to 25 years and 10 months in prison on one count of kidnapping, two counts of attempted obstruction of justice and one count of attempted witness tampering, the attorneys office announced in a news release that day.

(Gasca) financially exploited (the) victims mental fragility  describing his supposed girlfriend as senile  to steal tens of thousands of dollars from her, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Gasca represented himself in the case, attorney Mark Chambers, his advisory counsel, told McClatchy News in a statement on Dec. 1. Chambers didnt provide a comment when contacted.

While detained, Gasca called a friend in New York and tried convincing him to destroy evidence relevant to the case  including deleting Facebook Messenger messages and collecting his hard drives to prevent the FBI from obtaining them, prosecutors said.

He didnt want agents to discover he financially exploited the woman, according to prosecutors.

In the sentencing memo, prosecutors said after the woman managed to get away from (Gasca), he abducted her from the grounds of a hospital where she had sought care for her dementia, in order to steal even more of her money. Immediately after the abduction, he attempted to indoctrinate her to parrot back a version of events favorable to him.

Group lures food delivery man in kidnapping, then kills him and buries body, feds say

Armed and dangerous man accused of kidnapping son after mom found dead, ID cops say

On-duty officer followed teen home and raped her in Virginia, feds say. Hes sentenced
A Florida man was arrested this week after allegedly planning to commit a "mass casualty event" at Tesla headquarters in Texas during a Cybertruck promotion attended by Elon Musk, prosecutors said.

Paul Ryan Overeem, a 28-year-old Orlando resident, was booked on suspicion of making a terrorist threat, a third-degree felony, according to a Travis County arrest warrant.

Overeem wrote under the name "ufotnoitalumis" in an Instragram chat and made a series of threats on Nov. 9, targeting Tesla's Cybertruck promotional event in Austin on Thursday, authorities said.

The event was attended by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, though he was not named as a specific target in the arrest warrant.

The threats included: "But yeah so at teh (sic) Tesla event I'm planning to attach (sic) so up to you guys to stop me," "I plan on killing people at that even (sic) ok (sic) November 30th and I would like you do something about it so I don't have to" and "I wanna die."

The suspect also appeared to object to technology in modern life.

I wanna die. My thoughts havent been free for over a year. All the electronics around me, he wrote, according to the arrest warrant.

Those statements amounted to a Overeem's potential to "carry out his threats of a mass casualty event," according to Travis County Sheriff's Detective Jennifer Boland.

A sheriff's spokesperson on Friday declined to reveal if the suspect had any weapons when he was arrested.

Instagram gave authorities the phone number attached to user "ufotnoitalumis" and it traced back to Overeem, whose Chevy Tahoe truck was then spotted in Austin, according to the affidavit.

He was booked into custody on Wednesday and held in lieu of $300,000 bail, jail records showed.

Overeem does not have any known ties to the Austin area, officials said, and it wasn't immediately clear if he had hired or been assigned an attorney by Friday morning.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  31-year-old Travarish Depree Carpenter was sentenced in Norfolk to 22 years in prison for a June 2021 incident where he shot a man in his face, and caused life-altering damage.

Previous Coverage: Man pleads guilty after shooting another in the head in Norfolk

On June 12, 2021, Carpenter, the victim and others were inside an apartment on the 300 block of East Little Creek Road. Carpenter and the victim were arguing, and Carpenter was thrown out, reports said.

Carpenter returned later, banged on the door, continued arguing with the victim, and pulled out a gun. The victim closed the door, but was shot in the head through the door, officials said.

Others in the apartment witnessed the shooting, but were unharmed.

The victim had several surgeries to treat his injuries, including having parts of his skull removed, and continues to suffer motor skills, balance issues and partial paralysis on his left side due to the incident. Carpenter was arrested after police responded to W. Washington Street in Bloomington for a fireworks complaint.

He was convicted for aggravated malicious wounding, using a firearm in the commission of aggravated malicious wounding, and being a convicted violent felon in possession of a firearm, after Carpenter pleaded guilty to shooting his friend in the head following an argument in 2021.

Carpenter pleaded guilty to his charges on Sept. 19, with a sentencing cap of just under 25 years as part of his agreement. Judge Lannetti sentenced Carpenter to 48 years in prison, with all but 22 years suspended on the conditions that Carpenter complete 10 years of uniform good behavior, and an indeterminate period of supervised probation.

Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
(WBRE/WYOU)  A Lebanon County man was sentenced last Monday to 300 months or 25 years in prison after being charged with attempted online enticement and sexual exploitation of children.

The United States Attorney`s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mason Morey, 27, of Lebanon, in Lebanon County was sentenced on Monday, November 20 to 25 years in prison for the charges against him.

According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, between November 28, 2022, and December 8, 2022, Morey used the online application Wikr to communicate with an individual who Morey believed was the father of a 13-year-old girl who was offering his daughter for sex.

However, Morey was actually communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer. On December 7, 2022, Morey traveled to Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County to meet and engage in sexual activity with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

Luzerne man convicted of producing child pornography

Upon arrival, law enforcement arrested Morey and seized multiple cell phones in his possession.

Law enforcement conducted a digital extraction of the information on Moreys cell phones and discovered that he was creating pornographic videos and images with two minors and transmitting these images to another individual.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts was the prosecutor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
A 63-year-old man was charged with six counts of sexual assault in the alleged attacks of four women between 2004 and 2008, Colorado officials said.

Christopher Jacksons home in Littleton was searched by police in February after the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children unit linked his internet provider address to a pornography upload, according to a Nov. 30 news release by Colorados First Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Jefferson County Sheriff Office deputies seized his electronics and found footage of four unconscious women who were being sexually assaulted, officials said.

They were partially naked, and the police believe they were in Jacksons living room, prosecutors said.

Detectives determined the videos were taken between December 2004 and February 2008, officials said.

Deputies contacted three of the women, and they had no recollection of the events in the videos, officials said. One of the women had died.

Officials believe the women met Jackson at bars in the area, the release said.

Jackson was arrested Aug. 23 and is scheduled to appear in court in January, prosecutors said.

Investigators believe there may be more victims and ask anyone with information to call 303-271-6915, the release said.

Littleton is about 10 miles south of Denver.

Woman raped in parking lot 28 years ago, Arizona cops say. DNA now identifies suspect

On-duty officer followed teen home and raped her in Virginia, feds say. Hes sentenced

Off-duty Delta employee gropes passenger, then workers attempt cover-up, lawsuit says
CHULA VISTA, Calif.  A 41-year-old man suspected of fatally stabbing his mother-in-law at a South Bay home is dead after leading police on a pursuit and crashing into a freeway divider, according to police.

Around 8 p.m. Wednesday, officers were called about a stabbing in the 1500 block of Yanonali Avenue in Chula Vista, police said in a release. When authorities arrived, they attempted to stop a car that was leaving. When the vehicle did not pull over, police began chasing the driver.

Officers entered the home and found the mans 69-year-old mother-in-law had been stabbed, police said. Paramedics took the woman to a hospital, where she died.

Mikey Williams pleads guilty to single count of making criminal threats

Police also found the mans 42-year-old wife with cuts on her arm. She was taken to a hospital, where she was in stable condition.

Meanwhile, the driver led police on a chase for 25 minutes before crashing into a divider on the northbound Interstate 805 and Interstate 8 interchange in San Diego, police said. The driver was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Observations by the officers indicate the collision appeared to be intentional, police said.

Police were still investigating what prompted the man to allegedly carry out the stabbing. Authorities have not released the names of the suspect, his mother-in-law or his wife.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
CHICAGO  A clash between the Marijuana Moms and a Dad for Mental Health is highlighting an escalating controversy over the effects of cannabis.

The moms are a group of lawmakers who helped write the law that legalized pot in Illinois, and the dad is McHenry County States Attorney Patrick Kenneally. Each side has referenced those self-given nicknames, somewhat facetiously, in their attacks against each other on the issue.

The feud arose recently after Kenneally required licensed marijuana retail stores in McHenry County to post warnings about the mental health dangers associated with cannabis use including psychosis, depression and thoughts of suicide.

The lawmakers, who are Democrats, say Kenneally, a Republican, is posting disinformation about a highly complex subject. More broadly, the dispute illustrates widespread concerns and uncertainty over the mental health effects of cannabis.

The stores are also required to eliminate from their marketing and websites any suggestion that their products have medical benefits. The requirements were part of a settlement with prosecutors to avoid a consumer fraud lawsuit. Dispensaries that dont go along with the program will face litigation, Kenneally warned.

As a prime example of the dangers of cannabis, Kenneally cited the case of William Bishop, who after vaping oil with a high concentration of THC, the part of pot that gets users high, believed Howard Stern on the radio told him to veer into oncoming traffic, which Bishop did, Kenneally said. He killed a father of two and permanently disabled another man. His defense in court, supported by psychiatrists, was that he was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis.

He was found guilty but mentally ill, and sentenced to 31 years in prison. Other similar cases are pending.

In an opinion piece in the Tribune, Kenneally criticized what he called the pseudoscience claims of medical benefits for a wide variety of conditions, and wrote that there is no credible evidence that cannabis treats any medical condition.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two components of cannabis  synthetic THC to treat nausea and anorexia from cancer or AIDS, and CBD to treat seizures  while many countries have approved a THC/CBD mix to treat muscle tightness in multiple sclerosis.

In Illinois, despite the limited FDA approval, some 138,000 patients have been authorized by doctors to take cannabis for dozens of conditions. The most common diagnoses were chronic pain, making up almost one-third of cases, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines and osteoarthritis.

The Marijuana Moms  state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Speaker Pro Tempore Jehan Gordon-Booth, former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson and former state Sen. Heather Steans  wrote an open letter to rebut Kenneally. They compared him to Harry Anslinger, the former Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner who vilified marijuana in the 1930s for allegedly causing violence, immoral behavior and satanic jazz music.

Kenneally, the moms wrote, is using hyperbole to vilify cannabis use for all sorts of complex societal issues, including violent crime, addiction and mental illness.

They point out that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended reclassifying cannabis from its current Schedule I, which signifies no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, to Schedule III. That change would acknowledge legitimate medical use of cannabis and a moderate to low potential for dependence, but would require a prescription for legal use.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is reviewing the reclassification recommendation.

The moms note that the state already requires dispensaries to post this warning: Cannabis is only for registered medical patients or adults 21 and over; cannabis can impair cognition and may be habit forming; cannabis should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women; this particular cannabis product causes intoxication, the effects of which may be delayed for up to 2 hours.

The moms say patients regularly tell them of how cannabis has helped restore quality of life for late-stage cancer patients and end debilitating seizures. Taxes from legalization generate about half a billion dollars annually to support improvements in poor and marginalized neighborhoods, mental health and substance abuse clinics, and law enforcement.

We stand willing to work with anyone from anywhere in our great state to address consumer safety, public safety, public health, and child development, the moms wrote. We will not, however, stand idly and allow others to point myopically to cannabis to nonsensically explain away highly complex, multifaceted societal problems.

In response, Kenneally questioned the soft corruption of the industry, noting more than $600,000 in campaign donations to lawmakers from the cannabis industry. Cassidys spouse, Candace Gingrich, previously was hired by the cannabis company Revolution Florida, and Hutchinson was hired as CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project, which helped write the Illinois legalization law.

Cassidy and Revolution, an affiliate of Revolution Cannabis, based in Chicago, previously denied any impropriety, saying Gingrich worked only outside of Illinois. The Marijuana Policy Project stated that the Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General determined that Hutchinson was not restricted from working for the advocacy group.

The prosecutor dad also fired back with a list of 53 studies linking cannabis with increased risk of suicide and mental health problems including schizophrenia and other psychoses.

The argument between the moms and the prosecutor shares some similarities with a controversy thats raged in Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational use in 2012. Since then, studies have raised increasing concerns over the effects of high-THC products, prompting lawmakers to limit sales of high-THC products.

This year, after a study ordered by state lawmakers, the Colorado School of Public Health recommended caution in using high-THC products, finding potential adverse effects and limited benefit.

In Illinois, lawmakers and prosecutors are not the only ones looking into these issues. The states Adult Use Cannabis Health Advisory Committee this year noted the potential benefits of cannabis for chemotherapy, insomnia and pain. But it raised concerns about the findings of a Dutch study that found a strong association between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia.

State officials also have been looking into a public education campaign and resealable childproof containers to prevent rising cases of child intoxication.

And the states Cannabis Research Institute has plans to break ground next year on a facility to study the health and social equity effects of cannabis.
A U.S. Marine from Orange County has admitted to his role in a 2022 attack at a Planned Parenthood in which he and another man threw a Molotov cocktail at a clinic under the cover of night. He also admitted to planning more attacks at other various sites in Southern California.

Chance Brannon, 24, of San Juan Capistrano, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, destruction of property and targeting a reproductive health services facility  a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

The firebombing happened on March 13, 2022, at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa. Brannon was an active-duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton at the time.

Suspects wanted by the FBI for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at an Orange County Planned Parenthood on March 13, 2022. (FBI)

According to the United States Department of Justice, Brannon admitted to planning attacks with two co-conspirators, 22-year-old Tibet Ergul of Irvine and 21-year-old Xavier Batten of Brooksville, Florida.

On the morning of March 13, 2022, Brannon and Ergul drove to the Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, ignited the Molotov cocktail and threw it at the clinic entrance in hopes of scaring pregnant women, intimidating abortion providers from offering the procedure and encouraging similar violent acts, the DOJ said.

An image of a Molotov cocktail was provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The men chose the Costa Mesa clinic after also discussing other possible targets, including the Anti-Defamation League in San Diego  a Jewish advocacy organization.

Following the United States Supreme Courts decision to overturn the landmark court decision Roe v. Wade, which ruled that women had a constitutional right to abortion, Brannon and Ergul began plotting another attack at a second Planned Parenthood location, federal prosecutors allege.

Brannon also admitted to giving Batton advice on how to get away with similar attacks.

According to the DOJ, the men considered many targets for future attacks, including a Southern California Edison substation and an LGBTQ pride night celebration at Dodger Stadium.

Brannon said he and Ergul had discussed starting a race war by knocking down power in Orange County. He kept a USB drive, disguised as a military necklace with the Marine Corps motto, with detailed plans about future attacks and lists of gear needed for these plans, according to the DOJ.

Authorities say Brannon had already gotten ahold of many of the items on the list, including a rifle with a racial slur toward African Americans written in a foreign language. He was also found to have a recording of the 2019 white supremacist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand in which 51 people were slain and 40 were injured.

Brannon was inspired by the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, discussed bombing the Dodger Stadium event and scouting the sporting venue ahead of an eventual attack, the DOJ said.

When he was arrested this past June, he was found to be in possession of an unregistered rifle and two illegal silencers.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said Brannon represents the insidious danger posed by domestic extremism, vowing that the DOJ is committed to protecting Americans from violent ideology.

Don Alway, FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director, echoed that statement, adding that those who are fueled by hatred and target reproductive health care clinics will not be tolerated.

It is crucial that individuals who seek reproductive health services be able to obtain them in an environment that is free from interference, intimidation, and fear, Alway said.

Brannon, Ergul and Bratton have been in federal custody since their June arrests, more than a year after the Costa Mesa attack. Ergul and Batten have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and are scheduled to face trial in March 2024.

Brannon is due to be sentenced in April 2024 and will face between five and 20 years in federal prison for each of the conspiracy and malicious destruction counts, and an additional 10-year maximum sentence for possession of a destructive device.

Earlier this week, another California man was sentenced to federal prison for targeting Planned Parenthood in the wake of the Roe v. Wade decision, calling clinics and threatening to bomb the facilities and murder employees.

Following the reversal of the landmark ruling, abortion clinics across the country saw a sharp increase in threats and attacks, particularly in states that offer greater access to the procedure, according to a report from the National Abortion Federation. The DOJ has been tracking those acts of violence as well.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
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
The following restaurant inspections with critical violations were conducted by Marion Public Health between Nov. 16 and Nov. 22:

 Buckeye Community School - Marion, 366 W. Center St., Marion, Nov. 16. Person in charge (PIC) unable to demonstrate knowledge of temperatures and times for cooling of TCS foods at the time of inspection (critical, corrected during inspection). PIC was retrained on the requirements.

 Subway, 1546 Marion Mount Gilead Road, Marion, Nov. 16. Food contact surfaces not easily cleanable (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed two plastic storage containers to be cracked all the way through. PIC threw both containers away.

 We're Rolling Pretzel Company, 1546 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road, Marion, Nov. 16. Food contact surfaces not easily cleanable (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed a blender that was being use to have cracks. PIC threw away the blender as they had just ordered new ones.

 6-7-1 Home Inc., 1232 E. Center St., Marion, Nov. 16. Equipment food-contact surfaces or utensils are unclean (critical). Observed a build-up of debris inside the ice makers in the bar and banquet kitchen. Correct by Nov. 22. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed containers of cooked TCS foods in the upstairs refrigerator that were not date marked. Employees discarded the food.

Ready-to-eat, TCS food not properly discarded when required (critical, corrected). Observed an open bag of smoked sausage in the bar walk-in cooler past its seven-day hold date. Employee discarded the sausage. Unapproved chemical sanitizer used on food contact surfaces (critical, corrected). Observed the bar sanitizer in the three-bay sink above the approved concentration level.

 Arby's #904, 1314 Delaware Ave., Marion, Nov. 16. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed the facility not following their own date marking procedures. Observed cheese that was to be discarded on Nov. 8 still in the walk-in. PIC threw cheese away. Food contact surfaces not easily cleanable (critical, corrected). Observed the meat grippers on the slicers to have chipped and missing teeth. PIC stated he would place an order for new grippers.

 Mary's Dairy Bar, 455 S. Main St., New Bloomington, Nov. 17. TCS foods not being cold held at the proper temperature (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed TCS foods above 41 degrees in the prep table. Employee discarded the affected food and was advised not to use the cooler until it is repaired. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical repeat, corrected). Observed food items not date marked.

 Coonies Bar & Restaurant, 25 N. High St., LaRue, Nov. 17. Handwashing sink not accessible (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed the kitchen hand sink blocked by a toaster and the paper towels inaccessible due to an ashtray sitting on top of them. Food not properly protected from contamination by separation, packaging and segregation (critical repeat, corrected).

Observed packaged raw chicken and packaged raw shelled eggs sitting on top of packaged ready-to-eat food. Equipment food-contact surfaces or utensils are unclean (critical). Observed a build-up of debris in the ice maker. Presence of live insects, rodents and other pests (critical, corrected). Observed some live flies in the kitchen. PIC was advised to contact a pest control company for fly control.

 Tri-Rivers Career Center, 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road, Marion, Nov. 17. Food contact surfaces not easily cleanable (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed a cracked and damaged food container. PIC discarded the food container.

 Tri-Rivers Restaurant, 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road, Marion, Nov. 17. Employees are not informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report information about their health (critical). Did not observe a signed employee illness policy. Equipment food-contact surfaces or utensils are unclean (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed a cleaned knife hanging on the magnetic strip that was still dirty as well as a dead insect in one of the coffee carafes. TCS foods not being cold held at the proper temperature (critical, corrected).

Observed a container of melted butter stored on the counter at room temperature. PIC discarded the butter. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected). Observed TCS foods in the restaurant kitchen and bakery coolers that were not date marked. PIC discarded the food items. Food contact surfaces not easily cleanable (critical, corrected). Observed some cracked and damaged food containers. PIC discarded the containers.

 Marion Correctional Institution - Main, 940 Marion-Williamsport Road, Marion, Nov. 20. Quaternary ammonium sanitizing solution at incorrect temperature, concentration, and/or water hardness (critical repeat, corrected during inspection). Observed the concentration of a sanitizer bucket in the facility to be low.

 Marion Correctional Institution-Wander Inn, 940 Marion-Williamsport Road, Marion, Nov. 20. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed some food items in the walk-in cooler not date marked.

 Genovas Pizza, 698 Richmond Ave., Marion, Nov. 21. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical repeat, corrected during inspection). Cut tomatoes were not date marked.

 Topped Ice Cream, 127 S. Main St., Marion, Nov. 21. Packaged food not properly labeled (critical, corrected during inspection). Individual bags of packaged deli ham taken from box and placed in the refrigerator were not labeled.

 Sansotta's Fresh Italian, 1292 Delaware Ave., Marion, Nov. 21. Food not properly protected from contamination by separation, packaging, and segregation (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed containers of fried chicken not covered in the stand-up cooler. Equipment food-contact surfaces or utensils are unclean (critical, corrected). Observed cleaned knives hanging on the magnetic strip that were still dirty. TCS foods not being cold held at the proper temperature (critical, corrected).

Observed squeeze bottles of garlic butter made in-house sitting out at room temperature. PIC added the garlic butter to the facility's time in lieu of temperature policy and added a date and time label to the squeeze bottle. TCS foods not being cold held at the proper temperature (critical repeat, corrected). Observed TCS foods above 41 degrees in the pizza prep table. PIC discarded the affected foods. Food contact surfaces not easily cleanable (critical, corrected). Observed damaged food container lids. PIC discarded the container lids.

 Fairpark Duchess Shoppe #1221, 440 E. Fairground St., Marion, Nov. 21. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical repeat, corrected during inspection). Sushi missing date mark; opened package of deli ham has date mark of 30 days instead of seven days. Person in charge disposed of sushi and put correct date mark on ham.

 Ralphie's, 1833 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road, Marion, Nov. 21. Equipment food-contact surfaces or utensils are unclean (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed a build-up of debris in the ice maker and on the can opener. TCS foods not being cold held at the proper temperature (critical, corrected). Observed some TCS foods above 41 degrees on the bottom shelf of the salad prep table. PIC discarded the affected foods and was advised not to use the bottom shelf of the prep table until the cooler has been repaired.

Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical repeat, corrected). Observed an opened container of buffalo chicken dip without a date mark. PIC discarded the buffalo chicken dip. Ready-to-eat, TCS food not properly discarded when required (critical repeat, corrected). Observed some TCS foods not discarded after their seven day hold time. PIC discarded the affected food. Working containers of poisonous or toxic materials not properly labeled (critical, corrected). Observed a container of sanitizer not labeled.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion County restaurant inspections: critical violations Nov. 16-22
Editors Note: This article contains details that readers may find distressing.

Behind the closed doors of bedrooms across India, the anachronistic opinions of a 17th Century jurist still guide the rules of sex between husband and wife.

Englishman Matthew Hale famously considered women to become their husbands possession on marriage, a belief written into English common law, exported to the colonies and later abandoned over centuries in many countries  but not in India.

Here, its not a crime for a man to force sex or sexual acts on his wife, as long as she is over 18.

Its almost impossible to know what happens inside marital homes in the worlds most populous country, and the intimate discussions that may or may not occur before either party initiates sex.

But experts say Indias patriarchal society demands certain behavior from wives, and often that means a wife must comply with her husbands wishes, whether shes a willing partner or not.

Campaigners have been trying to change the law for years, but they say theyre up against conservatives who argue that state interference could destroy the tradition of marriage in India.

Last year, the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict on the issue, prompting lawyers to file an appeal in the countrys Supreme Court that is expected to be heard soon.

CNN spoke with three women, contacted through social workers and non-government agencies, who accuse their husbands of rape. None of the women want to be named, and are using aliases to avoid repercussions.

Maya

I want him to be punished. I want him to serve time for his crime" -- Maya - Duncan Senkumba/CNN

Maya was 19 and in love when she married a man shed met in college.

Unlike many Indian marriages, hers was not arranged, and her mother didnt approve.

Maya moved in with her husband but said the family matriarch took an instant dislike to her because she comes from a lower caste. In Indias social heirarchy, some people are considered more worthy than others despite laws that seek to end caste-based discrimination.

His grandmother wouldnt eat from the utensils I cooked with or touched, drink water from a glass I brought her. She put me down in every way  the way I spoke, the way I dressed.

This is why my husband and I fought a lot, said Maya, now 21. He told me to compromise and do what his family said. I would tell him to stand up for me, but he wouldnt.

Maya gripped her hands tightly as she told of the mental and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband.

In late 2021, she said her husband forced himself on her for one last time.

I told him, do you know what they call this? Its called rape. And he said, yes, I know I am raping you. Youre right. Im raping you. Tell the authorities if you want to.

She didnt, but the next day, she packed her bags and left after two years of marriage.

I want him to be punished. I want him to serve time for his crime, Maya said. Until he gets punished, he will never know or realize what he has done wrong.

A lawyers fight

In 2017, in an open letter published by Vogue, lawyer Karuna Nundy urged women across the country to know your power.

Your right to say yes comes with the right to say no, she wrote, urging survivors to immediately report the rape to police, go to hospital to preserve the evidence, and call a lawyer. Shame belongs to criminals, not survivors of crime, she wrote.

Not long before, a married woman approached Nundy and told her that her husband had raped her every night since they got married.

Nundy agreed to help her leave him, but the lawyer didnt want to stop there  she wanted to change the law that gives men impunity to rape within marriage.

Some issues are visceral, they dont need thinking about, Nundy told CNN from her office in New Delhi. This is one of them.

In his criminal law treatise, Hale wrote that marital rape could not be considered a crime.

For by their mutual matrimonial consent and contract, the wife hath given herself up in this kind unto the husband which she cannot retract, he wrote in The History of the Pleas of the Crown, published in 1736, six decades after his death.

Nearly three centuries later, Hales views on marriage, rape and even abortions, are still cited in courtrooms around the world, including in the United States.

The ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade last year, turning back the clock on womens rights to seek an abortion in the US, mentioned Hales name at least a dozen times.

Marital rape was still legal in some US states up until 1993, and it was only outlawed in Britain after a landmark court ruling in 1991.

Across the world, 43 countries still do not have legislation that addresses the issue of marital rape  and among those that do, the penalties for non-consensual sex within marriage are significantly lower than other rape cases, according to the United Nations Population Funds 2021 State of World Population review.

Women alleging rape in India have some avenues of potential legal action against their husbands.

For example, they can seek a restraining order under civil law or charges under Section 354 of Indias Penal Code, which covers sexual assault short of rape, and Section 498A, which covers domestic violence.

These laws are open to interpretation and judges can impose prison sentences for sexual assault in cases where a married woman has alleged rape. But many dont, Nundy said.

They say, if rape is exempt, then why should we find a way to use criminal law to deal with it? Nundy said, adding that the law must be specifically tailored to cover the prohibited act.

Otherwise nobody gets justice. Neither the victim, nor the alleged perpetrator, she said.

Married women are also ignored when they try to file a police complaint, Nundy added.

A study published in the National Library of Medicine journal Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters last year suggested the same.

The study examined records from three Mumbai public hospitals from 2008 to 2017 and found that of 1,664 rape survivors, no rape cases were filed by police.

At least 18 of those women reported marital rape to the police, including 10 women who alleged rape by a former partner or husband.

Indian law allows for rape charges against a partner if the couple is separated, but according to the study, those charges werent pursued.

Four women were explicitly told by police that they could not do anything as marital rape was not a crime.

The inadequate police response is of concern as all the women had suffered severe violence, the report said.

Vidya

With nowhere else to turn, Vidya approached a non-government organization, whose workers gave a name to her experience. - Duncan Senkumba/CNN

Softly spoken and shy, Vidya says she never wanted a husband, but her father told her she didnt have a choice and arranged for her to marry at 19.

She was not taught about sex before her wedding night.

I became scared because I did not know him, Vidya said. I did not say anything  not no, not yes  and he never asked.

Several years into their marriage, Vidya gave birth to a boy, and she says her husbands demands became more violent, and he would beat her if she refused sex.

With nowhere else to turn, Vidya approached a non-government organization, whose workers gave a name to her experience.

Vidya briefly thought about leaving her husband, she said, going as far as taking her son to her mothers house for a short period of time. But in the end, she said she realized she wanted to stay with him and proposed they attend marriage counseling.

He agreed, and theyre still together. He has learned to communicate better. We dont have problems, Vidya, now 37, said.

She thinks rape within marriage should be criminalized  though she doesnt want her husband jailed.

I dont want to send my husband to jail because he is good now, she said. But this law will give women the strength to come forward and stop their abuse.

Nusrat

"I continue to live under his roof for the sake of my kids" - Nusrat - Duncan Senkumba/CNN

Nusrats husband is the son of a family friend who had badgered her parents to allow him to marry her, though he lived far away and was short of money.

Initially my parents said no for the marriage, but he would harass us daily, and he would send his grandmother to our house, and she would say that my grandson says that if I dont get to marry her, I will take my own life, said Nusrat.

Nusrat moved from her village to live with his family, where she discovered he was a heavy drinker who would beat her and steal from others because he didnt have a job.

Once she even had to sell her jewelry to bail him out of jail, she said.

Sex became a point of friction between them  he wanted it, she didnt.

Nusrat didnt refer to what happened to her as rape, but the law states that a man commits the offense against a woman if she doesnt give her free consent  except if shes his wife.

Now 33 years old, Nusrat is too scared to leave her husband because she has no way to support their three children.

I am not educated. I did not study. I cannot work or earn money for myself, she said. I continue to live under his roof for the sake of my kids, no other reason.

She said this is why she believes marital rape should be outlawed throughout India.

We need it for women like me, who dont have an avenue to leave, she said.

According to a nationwide survey, 17.6% of more than 100,000 women ages 15-49 say they are unable to say no to their husband if they don't want sex. - Duncan Senkumba/CNN

What women say

A ceiling fan hums in a room in a suburb of western Delhi, where about 10 women sit in a circle, dressed in shalwar kameez, a traditional Indian tunic with a scarf.

They have been invited here by social workers who go house-to-house building trust with women and teaching them about womens safety and how to seek help.

CNN has agreed to change the names of the women  all wives of migrant workers from neighboring states  because talking about sex is taboo in India and they fear backlash from their families.

Of the 10 women CNN spoke with, at least four were in marriages arranged by their parents before they turned 18  a decision they said they could not refuse. Only two women chose their husbands themselves. All but one had children.

According to the 2019-2021 National Family Health Survey by the Government of India, 17.6% of more than 100,000 women ages 15-49 surveyed said they were unable to say no to their husband if they didnt want sex, while 11% thought husbands were justified in hitting or beating his wife if she refused.

Rani, 26, said she has no choice but to have sex with her husband when he wants it.

Priti, a 30-year-old mother of four, said she had no idea what sex was until their wedding night, when her husband showed her a pornographic video and told her to recreate it.

None of the women said their husbands hit them, but believed sex was an act of duty to be performed as a wife. Rape was seen as a violent act by a stranger.

The patriarchal system has given men a privilege, said Jaya Velankar, the director of Jagori, a non-profit organization that educates women about their rights and advocates on their behalf.

He can lift his hand, he can hit you or he can throw tantrums, he can verbally abuse you. And nobody questions it. Because that is how we are indoctrinated right from childhood.

Duncan Senkumba/CNN

What men say

Since Indian courts began hearing the cases to criminalize marital rape, a slew of mens rights activists have taken their objections to the streets and social media.

The Save Indian Family Foundation group has been among the most vocal, claiming women could misuse the law to falsely imprison men.

In March, the group, which claims to have 100,000 members, called for nationwide protests against Marital Rape law and Supreme Court of India, writing on Twitter  now known as X  that they are ready to (un) leash hell on the system the day first fake marital rape case gets filed.

CNN has reached out to the group.

According to the 2019-2021 National Family Health Survey, 9.7% of more than 90,000 men ages 15-49 surveyed believed a husband was justified in hitting or beating his wife if she refused sex, while 12.2% said husbands had the right to use force if his wife refused sex.

CNN asked dozens of men on the streets of Delhi for their views on marital rape and consent.

Alok Singh, a 21-year-old law student, said criminalizing marital rape would empower women to speak out.

It is required, he said. We are seeing that marital rape cases are increasing, and people are voicing their concerns.

But most men CNN spoke to said marital law should not be outlawed.

Rajeev Verma, a 43-year-old self-employed worker, said such a law would create discomfort in marriages.

A 52-year-old taxi driver, Ramdev Yadav, said a law against marital rape could deter people from marriage.

Sex should not be forced, but no one will marry if this law is introduced, he said.

One of the lawyers fighting to criminalize rape within marriage, senior Supreme Court advocate Colin Gonsalves, says the evidence from other jurisdictions suggests that married women wont be rushing to file criminal complaints against their husbands.

On the contrary, while women know they have a right, they are afraid of going to court, he told CNN. This is pretty conclusive evidence that instead of a backlash, even with the change in the law, the change on the ground is going to be very slow.

Still, he said, It is the most significant step in India to stop men from forcing themselves on women to whom they are married.

Duncan Senkumba/CNN

Taking on the patriarchy

It has been more than a year since New Delhis High Court delivered a split verdict on whether marital rape should be outlawed.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher ruled in favor of criminalization, saying failing to protect married women violates the Indian Constitution.

Justice Hari Shankar disagreed.

A husband may, on occasion, compel his wife to have sex with him, though she may not be inclined, Shankar wrote in his judgment. Can it be said, with even a modicum of propriety, that her experience is the same as that of a woman who is ravaged by a stranger?

The decision, when it comes, will affect hundreds of millions of people in India for generations to come.

Advocates say even if wives dont use the legal system to try to punish husbands who rape, the power to do so should impress on the nation that sex within marriage is a choice, not a right.

For Nundy, empowering women in marriage would show that India had moved on from its colonial past, casting aside the views of Hale, a man who died more than three centuries ago.

The campaign for womens rights isnt intended to create societal conflict, she added.

This is not a fight of women against men, Nundy said. This is a fight of people against patriarchy.

Rishabh Madhavendra Pratap and Ajay Bedi contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Georgetown County Sheriffs Office is responding to a bomb threat along the MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet.

Police said a person called dispatch about 4 p.m. Friday, claiming to have placed a bomb in a garbage can, according to a press release.

Those in the area have been evacuated and businesses were locked down, the release said.

Dead Dog Saloon and The Claw House restaurants posted on Facebook that they are temporarily closed but hope to be back open Friday night for entertainment and the Wonderland of Lights Christmas light show.

Dogs trained to detect explosives and bomb technicians searched the area and have not found any explosives, an updated release at 5:39 pm. said.

This is an evolving story. Check back for updates.
When an armed man tried breaking into Sara Kanes Massachusetts apartment building, she grabbed the first thing she could find to fend him off  a broom left out in the apartment hallway, police say.

Something was not right, Kane told Bostons WBZ-TV, and for some reason I just instantly grabbed the broom and I just like, boom, I shoved him back.

Maybe Im always in survival mode, she told the TV station.

Kane was able to make it back to her unit after holding him off at the front door of the Worcester apartment building, according to WBZ-TV.

Police went to Kanes apartment at 2:52 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, after receiving reports of a break-in, according to a Nov. 29 Worcester Police Department news release.

Upon arrival, officers reported seeing a woman yelling from her window, shouting Hes trying to get inside!

I saw the flashlights, so I just whipped my window open. Im like, Hes down here trying to break-in, Kane recalled to NBC10 Boston.

A man identified as Oniz Janniere, armed with two double-edged knives, was arrested on site, according to police. Janniere was charged with attempt to commit a crime (armed burglary), two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace, police say.

Thank God for the men that came running to my aid, to those officers, Kane told NBC10 Boston. Like, thank God for their response time, you know?

Worcester is located about 50 miles west of Boston.

Dog walker held at gunpoint as group of men steal his two bulldogs, Georgia police say

Toddler left alone in warming SUV for a moment is kidnapped by stranger, OR cops say

7-year-old killed as driver fleeing burglary crashes car, Florida cops say. Hes indicted
A proposal to set Manhattans base congestion toll at $15 per car described by its lead architect as an effort to satisfy the many and not the few was criticized Thursday by Mayor Adams and other officials who expressed hope the final plan would offer more exemptions.

Adams response to the plan was lukewarm. I think the $15 proposal is the beginning of the conversation, he told reporters, as he called on the MTA to seek more community input and continue to consider more discounts, especially for those who are traveling to the city for medical visits.

City Council member Selvina Brooks-Powers (D, Queens), chair of the Councils Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, echoed the mayors concerns.

Districts like mine are heavily car-dependent and the proposed $15 toll will significantly impact my constituents and others from outer-boroughs that do not have reliable public transportation access, Brooks-Powers, who represents southeast Queens.

Gov. Hochul, who appoints members to the MTA board  which will have the final say in the plan  reiterated Thursday her observation that the $15 plan was lower than a $23 proposal discussed in recent months.

When theyre talking about numbers like $23 a visit  regardless of how many visits a day  I knew that that would have a detrimental impact on families, so I wanted that number lower, Hochul said at an event in Manhattan. The number released today is that it would be $15.

I know theres going to be an impact, but we have to also deal with the larger picture, protecting and cleaning up our environment, protecting the quality of air, protecting mobility on our streets, and also protecting our financial stability of the MTA, because without that, it all collapses, she added.

Hochul has said the proposal is under review.

Carl Weisbrod, chairman of the Traffic Mobility Review Board, which drafted the $15 proposal, said Thursday that the plan spreads the tolls fairly and that the board eschewed pressure to grant exemptions to for-hire cars, essential workers, and other motorists.

We really made an effort to keep the base toll as low as we possibly could, he told reporters. We really wanted to limit exemptions, and we did, and that helped keep the fare low.

The guiding principle for us was how to we satisfy the many and not the few, Weisbrod said.

For that, we recognized that the many are the million-plus people who take mass transit into the [central business district] every day. 

We really wanted to make sure that as our recommendations came out  the public would think that our recommendations were fair, he added.

The proposal was met warmly by transit advocates.

The recommendations are fair, equitable, reasonable, rational and realistic, and reflect TMRBs deliberative process, Lisa Daglian, head of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA. The base $15 congestion rate charged once per day is a good balance: high enough to make people think twice about driving, but not too high for those with no choice.

The tolls will be charged to vehicles driving in Manhattan from 60th St. south to the Battery. The MTA is now building the infrastructure needed to implement the plan next year.

Congestion pricing is aimed at reducing traffic in Manhattans business district and raising $1 billion a year for the MTAs capital budget. By the TMRBs estimate, the plan will reduce traffic in the congestion zone  where an estimated 900,000 vehicles drive each day  by 17%.

Under the proposal, the base $15 toll will be charged to cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. Delivery box trucks will be charged $24, and bigger rigs and tour buses will cost $36.

The plan offers some discounts  the fees will be cut 75% discount between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weekdays on weekends. During those times, driving a car in the congestion zone will cost $3.75.

Cars entering the zone during peak hours via any of the four normally-tolled tunnels  the Holland, Lincoln, Queens-Midtown or Brooklyn-Battery  will get a $5 credit against the congestion toll. Motorcycles will receive a $2.50 credit. Those discounts wont be offered when the nighttime and weekend 75% discount is in effect.

Under the proposal, taxi drivers, who pushed to be fully exempted from the fees, will pay the tolls via a $1.25 surcharge on their passengers. Uber and Lyft passengers can expect to be charged an additional $2.50 for every trip in the zone.

Low-income New Yorkers would get a 50% toll discount if they make 10 or more trips in the zone in a month.

John Samuelsen, the Transport Workers Union international president and a non-voting member of the MTA board, resigned his seat on the Traffic Mobility Review Board on Thursday. He argued in a letter to Weisbrod that the plan would fail without a massive increase in transit service.

The MTA should be making transit more frequent, available, and affordable to attract drivers to the transit system right now  before the first toll is even collected, he wrote.

On day one of Congestion Pricing tolling, there will be huge swaths of outer- borough New Yorkers who will find themselves paying substantially more to get to the city yet have no enhanced transit option to choose as an alternative, added Samuelsen.

Brooks-Powers called Thursday for broader consideration of an exemption for those traveling to Manhattan for medical treatment.

An issue of primary concern is that no accommodation is made for medical visits in the [congestion zone], which contains some of the Citys largest and most important hospitals, she said in a statement.

Vulnerable, low-income New Yorkers rely on this medical infrastructure, and they should not be burdened further as they try to obtain the healthcare they need.

Weisbrod said medical exemptions would be difficult to implement. We decided that that would be inappropriate and very difficult  to actually enforce or monitor in any significant way, he said.

For the most part, particularly for people covered by Medicaid or Medicare health insurance, their transportation costs are covered, he said. For wealthier people, that is a [tax] deduction.

The TMRB report comes after months of deliberation that began after the MTAs initial plan was green-lit by federal regulators this spring.

The MTA is expected to approve the TMRB proposal next week, kicking off a 60-day public review mandated by state law. The proposal is expected back before the MTA for a final vote in March.

MTA officials say they plan to begin charging drivers a congestion toll in May.

Danny Pearlstein, spokesman for Riders Alliance, called the proposal a win-win-win for transit, traffic and air quality.

Riders have organized for years to make it a reality, he said of congestion pricing, and we eagerly await its implementation.

With Tim Balk
New Wichita Falls mayor Tim Short will get the ball rolling Tuesday to move City Council meetings from mornings to evenings.

The item is on Tuesdays agenda for discussion, but no action will be taken.

Wichita Falls mayor Tim Short wants to move City Council meetings to 5:30 p.m.

I want meetings to be at 5:30 in the evening, Short said Thursday. I've always thought it was a good idea as a person who works. You know, it's just difficult to schedule those meetings and to be there in the mornings.

Short promoted moving the times during his campaign and the topic has come up frequently at council meetings and in forums.

He said he hopes to get input from council members, city staff and the public at Tuesdays meeting and have it placed on the agenda for action in a couple of weeks. He said the change could begin in about six weeks to give people time to adjust their schedules.

At present, the City Council meets at 8:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

Short said public comments will be moved to the beginning of council meetings as of Tuesdays meeting. Public comments have traditionally been at the end of meetings unless the comments were on specific items on the agenda.

Councilors on Tuesday will also consider signing off on some incentives approved by the citys Economic Development Corporation.

Expansion package for Westlake Chemical

Those include a $1,085,000 package for Westlake Chemical, located at 3348 Industrial Drive. Westlake, which manufactures PVC piping, plans a $134 million expansion of its plant and to hire 50 workers to add to the present staff of 69. The deal would include a $750,000 forgivable loan.

More: WF plant plans $134 million expansion, adding $98K-value jobs

Consideration of loan to Senderoo, LLC

A second deal would be with Senderoo, LLC, a new warehouse and distribution company at 4385 Seymour Highway. The company wants a forgivable $20,000 loan in exchange for creating five jobs.

The company is involved in shipping via ecommerce platforms such as Amazon, Walmart and Shopify.

Approval of Circle Trail funding from 4B

The members will consider approval of spending $760,688 of Type B Sales Tax Corporation funds to construct part of the Circle Trail along the Wichita River between the Camp Fire park and Lucy Park.

The money would be the required 20 percent local match to a $2,742,753 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.

Councilors will also consider spending about $2 million for assorted buses, dump trucks and loaders.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: New mayor begins effort to move City Council meetings to evenings
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) blew up another train on a key railway line in Russia's far eastern republic of Buryatia, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Dec. 1, citing a security service source.

This was allegedly the second stage of an SBU operation to disable the Baikal-Amur railway line. This key railway route, crucial for Russian military logistics, runs north of the Trans-Siberian railway and is part of a network of tracks connecting Russia with China.

Previously, Ukrainska Pravda reported on an allegedly SBU-orchestrated explosion overnight on Nov. 29-30 in Severomuysky Tunnel, Russia's longest railway tunnel nearly 5,000 kilometers from Ukraine.

Four explosives were said to have detonated in the tunnel while a freight train was passing through. Due to the explosion, Russian trains had to take an alternative route, passing over the 35-meter-high Devil's Bridge, Ukrainska Pravda's source said.

Explosives planted on the bridge reportedly detonated just as a fuel train was passing over it.

"Russian special services should get used to the fact that our people are everywhere. Even in distant Buryatia," the source told Ukrainska Pravda.

Russian Telegram channels reported on the second explosion around midnight on Dec. 1 local time, claiming that three fuel tanks were damaged in the first explosion and six more in the second one.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the report.

Russian authorities began investigating the explosion in the Severomuysky Tunnel as a terrorist attack, Russian media reported.

While the SBU has not officially commented on the reports, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) announced on Nov. 30 that it had conducted a joint operation with local resistance to sabotage railway infrastructure in Moscow Oblast.

Read also: Media: SBU set off explosion in railway tunnel in Russias Far East

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Chinese FM urges full implementation of relevant UN resolutions on Palestine

Xinhua) 08:11, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
A week after Mesa Public Schools governing board member Rachel Walden sued the district over its guidelines for supporting transgender students, several district teachers told the board they were disappointed by the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed on Walden's behalf in Maricopa County Superior Court on Nov. 20 by America First Legal, a conservative group formed in 2021 by former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller.

The suit alleges Mesa Public Schools' guidelines for supporting transgender students violate Arizona's parents' bill of rights law, which says parents have the right to direct their child's upbringing, education and health care. The district's guidelines permit transgender students to access facilities consistent with their gender identity and to use names and pronouns that reflect their identity. The lawsuit claims the district purposely keeps parents out of the loop when a gender-related support plan is implemented for their child.

In a letter sent to district staff and families over the summer, Superintendent Andi Fourlis responded to claims that students were being placed on transgender support plans without parent notification and that support plans help students with medical transitions. Neither of those claims are true, Fourlis wrote.

The district's support checklist for transgender and gender nonconforming students says that parents and guardians are notified of the support provided at school. The board sought legal advice over the summer regarding the guidelines and was told by a Mesa-based law firm that the guidelines do not appear to violate state or federal law, including Arizona's parents' bill of rights.

'Baseless': Several teachers criticize lawsuit at board meeting

Several teachers expressed displeasure about the lawsuit at a district governing board meeting on Nov. 28.

"This frivolous lawsuit is a distraction to what the district needs to focus on, as well as unnecessarily spending funds to defend the district," said Kelly Berg, a teacher at Dobson High School and the president of the Mesa Education Association, the union representing educators in the district. "All students deserve to be supported in our schools."

Graham Corp, a special education teacher at Rhodes Junior High School, indirectly criticized Walden, who joined the board in January, during public comment.

"People who claim to want to reduce spending in the district will waste the district's very precious and limited money fighting a lawsuit that is baseless, silly, a waste of time," he said. He described the lawsuit as an attempt to "score brownie points" for an upcoming election.

Walden is running for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission. She did not respond to a request for comment from The Arizona Republic.

Elizabeth Tanner, an English teacher at Westwood High School, told the board that the district has to ensure it protects all students.

"I was angry and disappointed when I first heard about the lawsuit," Tanner said in an interview. "I could not understand why one of our board members would do such a thing and actively go to hurt our students who need these policies."

Tanner said that the district should provide training to educators on supporting transgender students but that the guidelines are "at least a place to start."

In an interview, Janet Kovach, the vice president of the Mesa Education Association and a math teacher at Rhodes Junior High School, said the guidelines are in place because the district "had to make a plan."

She said that it's her obligation to ensure all students "feel safe, wanted and accepted."

Mesa teacher says guidelines were a 'game changer' for her son

Tami Staas, a third grade teacher at Summit Academy, told the board on Tuesday that the guidelines were important in supporting her son, who is transgender, when he was in high school.

In an interview, she said that her son began his transition when he was a freshman in the Mesa Public Schools district during the 2011-12 school year. His school "didn't know what to do," she said.

Because there was no other way to change his name in the school's system, he legally changed his name, which Staas said was a financial hardship on her family at the time. She said he was asked to use the nurse's restroom, a significant walk that would get him in trouble for being gone too long from class. Because of that, he didn't drink water at school to avoid using the bathroom, Staas said.

"It was constant othering, constant removal from the community," she said.

The guidelines were implemented in 2015, during his senior year of high school, and Staas said they were a "game changer."

His health improved, and "he thrived," she said. "His GPA soared  because he felt safe. He felt like the people around him, the educators that were teaching him, valued him as a person and were there to protect him."

Staas said she thinks the lawsuit doesn't consider that parents who want to support their transgender kids, like her, "have rights too."

"So, that law also applies to us," she said, referring to Arizona's parents' bill of rights law.

Staas, who is also the executive director of Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization, told the board on Tuesday that she is "always eager" to recommend Mesa Public Schools to families who have transgender kids "as an accepting and welcoming space."

"I know how important it is to feel your children are safe and protected while they're at school," Staas told the board. "Your transgender student guidelines do just that: they protect students."

Reach the reporter at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa teachers criticize board member's lawsuit over trans guidelines
A metro Atlanta woman only discovered criminals were using her identity to scam others when she came home to a porch full of returned packages.

Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray learned that there were tens of thousands of dollars in checks inside the packages.

The checks look real and they are from a real bank, but police shredded them because they are fakes.

As for the people being scammed, it tells them right there on the envelope who is behind it all.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

More than 20 of the return envelopes arrived on Cassondra Beedles Cobb County front porch one day and many more arrived over the course of several weeks. All were marked fraud risk intercept, and return to sender by the USPS, but Beedles said she hadnt sent any packages.

So I open it up and I pull it out and Im like, God, its a check. And then Im like, I dont know this person. The fraud department says, Yes. Weve had several other letters here with your account, Beedles said. And I was like, I dont have an account. They said, No, you opened an account.

TRENDING STORIES:

Check cashing scams are common. Channel 2 Action News has reported on them a lot over the years, essentially a promise like a work-from-home opportunity where you get the check in the mail for thousands of dollars, but need to send money from your own bank account for something like supplies. You later find out the check is a fake.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Channel 2 Action News did an investigation into work-from-home scams, Gray went to a DeKalb County office where he suspected a work-from-home operation was being run only to find the scammers were impersonating a legitimate business name and address for their criminal activity.

The real business even received a threat letter from the Missouri Attorney General about the scam.

Beedles is worried about the same kind of confusion.

Somebody receives this and they they look back and they got scammed, Beedles said. It looks like I scammed them. So whos to say theyre not going to come find me and approach me about it.

The checks were mailed from UPS stores all across the country. UPS tells Beedles they dont know how many in total were shipped. Shes tracked down at least 50 and reported them to police. Its unclear how many of the checks got through to their targets and how many people were scammed.
Four Georgia plaintiffs, most of whom are from the Atlanta metro area, are suing more than two dozen real estate companies over what they say is a conspiracy to increase compensation for brokers at the expense of Georgians selling homes.

Among the many companies listed as defendants in the recently filed class-action lawsuit are the National Association of Realtors, Keller Williams, Re/Max, Ansley Atlanta Real Estate, Sothebys International Realty, Coldwell Banker Real Estate and Atlanta Fine Homes, among over a dozen others.

The plaintiffs who filed the legal action are residents of Brookhaven and Atlanta, an Atlanta real estate company, and a Savannah resident.

According to court documents, the plaintiffs in the case are suing due to buyer-broker commission fees connected to sales starting in November 2019 to the present.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The case involves a nationwide conspiracy by and between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and residential real estate brokerages orchestrated to increase broker compensation at the expense of home sellers, including Georgia home sellers, which they allege was undertaken to make those selling their homes pay for both the commission of the listing agent and the commission for the buyers agent when listing a property on a Multiple Listings Service.

The documents from the plaintiffs allege the requirements of listing a property on the MLS include agreeing to comply with rules set by NAR, which they say includes a mandatory offer of compensation rule.

According to their allegations, The NARs Compensation Rule compels home sellers to set the commission of the buyers agent. By enforcing this mandate, the NAR establishes an anti-competitive market where sellers are coerced into subsidizing the buyers costs, and that the defendants named in the lawsuit continue to advance the conspiracy by annually ratifying the NAR rules.

As a result, the home sellers suing the variety of real estate companies named in the lawsuit say the scheme makes it so non-negotiable commissions of buyer agents are rolled into the sale price of homes, making the real estate market become illegally warped.

The plaintiffs said this is different than in foreign markets, where the buyer-brokerage fees are paid by the buyer, not the seller, according to the court record. The document compares commission rates in other countries compared to the United States, which they said were between 1%-4% outside the U.S., while 5%-6% in America.

TRENDING STORIES:

Based on the difference in commission rates, the Georgia home sellers suing the real estate companies are alleging that the defendants scheme has artificially and anticompetitive maintained commissions of buyer brokers ranging from 2.5% to 3.0% over many years, and therefore overcharges home sellers with no ties to volume or caliber of the services provided.

In short, the Georgians suing are claiming that by having higher commission rates, theyre making the process of selling your house more expensive for you, the seller, rather than increasing prices for buyers, while not ensuring the broker provides better services, or more sales.

Additionally, plaintiffs attorneys alleged that the so-called conspiracy requires sellers to bear excessive costs for services rendered by buyer brokers to the sellers opponent, artificially inflates buyer brokers compensation, and promotes and abets steering and similar practices that thwart innovation and stifle competition.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Steering, according to the document, is when the defendants require sellers brokers obligation to extend blanket, non-negotiable commission offer to buyer brokers, showing up in MLS systems to realtors while being invisible to customers. They said its an incentive to buyer broker to have their clients choose properties where theyll earn higher commissions, hurting competition.

The lawsuit filed in Georgia follows a recent, and similar, case in Missouri, where during a class action lawsuit over real estate, a federal jury reached a verdict holding the NAR along with some of the nations biggest real estate brokerages liable for almost $1.8 billion in damages for artificially inflating commissions. The lawsuit was filed in 2019 on behalf of 500,000 home sellers in Missouri.

The Missouri case, which settled on Nov. 1, led to the NAR CEO stepping down, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The NAR told the AP it plans to appeal the decision.

In a statement provided to Channel 2 Action News by NAR, the companys Vice President of Communications Mantill Williams said that The cooperative compensation practice makes efficient, transparent, and accessible marketplaces possible. Sellers can sell their home for more and have their home seen by more buyers while buyers have more choices of homes and can afford representation. The National Association of REALTORS will respond to this complaint in court.

While Coldwell Banker, one of the named defendants, declined to respond directly, they directed Channel 2 Action News to a release from their parent company, Anywhere Real Estate, regarding a national settlement related to antitrust claims and lawsuits which were previously in court.

I am pleased the court has granted Anywhere preliminary approval of our nationwide settlement, Ryan Schneider, Anywhere CEO and president said in a statement. Our efforts to resolve these claims remove future uncertainty and legal expense for Anywhere, our franchisees, and affiliated agents as, together, we focus on serving home buyers and sellers as they move to whats next.

Coldwell Banker is one of several companies under the Anywhere umbrella, including Sothebys International Realty and Corcoran, ERA, and Better Homes among others.

In response to a request from Channel 2 Action News, Re/MAX declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to multiple companies named as defendants in the lawsuit and are waiting for their responses.

IN OTHER NEWS:
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR)  We know a lot of people love decorating for Christmas, but imagine getting to decorate one of the nations most historic buildings.

One Edmond woman was fortunate enough to get that opportunity this year.

Mindy Geist.

Putting up Christmas decorations at the White House was a bucket list item for Mindy Geist. Well, she can now cross that off the list as she spent most of thanksgiving week in the West Wing.

It just was amazing to be in that history of this country, Geist said. That was really the coolest part.

LOCAL NEWS: Friends, family & survivors continue wreath tradition at OKC Memorial

Edmond resident Mindy Geist got the chance of a lifetime over Thanksgiving week. She and about 150 others decorated the White House with tons of Christmas cheer.

Im an art and architecture nerd, and so I was just always like, Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, she said.

The decoration application process is open to all. Geist actually applied several years ago, but didnt make it. Then, in 2020, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

Metro woman decorates the White House for Christmas. Image courtesy Mindy Geist.

That may have been my last Christmas and that just like, you know, made me sad, she said.

So, she applied again. This time, she was accepted.

I had no expectations. I just went in like, Lets go, lets do it, she said.

She did it big too. She joined a team that fabricated and installed decorations, some saved from past administrations, throughout the West Wing and even the oval office.

The theme this year was about magic and just, you know, it was whimsical, she said. We had these gold leaves that were made during the Clinton administration and so there were boxes called Clinton gold leaves.

LOCAL NEWS: Kingfishers annual Christmas Parade, daylong celebration

Geist also got the chance to meet First Lady Jill Biden. Its an all around trip that Geist considers a Christmas miracle. Its for sure one she wont ever forget.

It was a huge honor to be just in the House, she said.

Geist just got back home on Tuesday. She got to keep her apron she wore while decorating and also got to keep the booklet they gave them with descriptions on each White House room as well as the Christmas theme.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A black bear helped himself to a suet snack hanging in the backyard of a home near the Charlevoix Country Club on Saturday, Nov. 25.

CHARLEVOIX  Charlevoix residents on both the north and south side of the bridge have reported seeing black bears raiding their bird feeders this month.

When southside Charlevoix resident Pam Kentala opened her dining room window at around 3 a.m. on Nov. 5, the last thing she expected was to find herself face-to-face with a black bear.

I wake up in the middle of the night every night and sit at the table in the front of our house which is by the window, and I always have it open to get some fresh air, said Kentala, who described the window having no screen on it.

I was playing on my phone, and I heard a rattle noise near the suet feeder about six feet away from the window. I saw some fur and thought it was a raccoon at first ... but then I looked again and realized it was not a raccoon at all, but a bear. I was in shock, Kentala said.

Linda Scheffler found a black bear in her backyard on Saturday, Nov. 25, helping himself to her bird feeders.

Kentala said the bear was soon moved into action by her watchdog Timmy  a 10-pound Maltese poodle mix  who erupted into a barking frenzy and sounded the alarm for her other two dogs, Sierra the Chihuahua and Tammy the Morkie.

Their noise caused the bear to take off across the yard too quickly for Kentala to get a photograph.

Kentala and her husband decided not to take down the bird feeders, and a few days later they awoke to find the bear had returned to finish its snack.

Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you

Linda Scheffler's bear visitor left a large paw print in her back yard after visiting her bird feeders on Saturday, Nov. 25.

When we got up in the morning, both feeders were on the ground. The bird feeder was a little bit smushed and the suet feeder was destroyed and the suet was gone, said Kentala.

Wanting to see the bear again, Kentala  who lives near the wooded area next to the Belvedere Club  laid another block of suet out and set up a motion sensor camera. The bear didnt return, but she did manage to capture images of a fox snatching the food.

Linda Scheffler also posted about her own encounter with a bear on Facebook, which prompted reactions from hundreds of members of the Charlevoix: Whats happening in our city page. Many also claimed to have recently seen black bears near their homes.

Scheffler was able to catch a video of a bear in her yard on North Country Club Drive as it dismantled her bird feeders to reach the treats inside.

Linda Scheffler posted about her encounter on a popular Charlevoix community Facebook page. She received an outpouring of comments providing opinions about what to do when you find a bear in your backyard.

Linda Scheffler found evidence of a bear in her yard, with tracks left in the snow and her suet feeder dismantled.

At around 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, Scheffler said she was in the kitchen getting a drink of water when she noticed one of the bird feeders squirrel protectors lying on the ground. While trying to figure out why that was, she soon saw the culprit close by, leaning up against her fence.

For the next 25 minutes, Scheffler said the bear worked to procure the insides of her suet feeder, at times being less than 2 feet away from the window she was peering through. It seemed completely unphased by her presence, or that of her barking dogs.

I wasnt quite sure what to do so I called the sheriff's department who advised me to call 911, said Scheffler.

I think it was the lights from the trooper that arrived that scared him away, she added.

This bear also returned later to finish its snack, and Scheffler eventually attempted to drive it off with an assault horn and by pounding on the window. But the bear did not leave.

He didnt even flinch, said Scheffler.

The bear eventually left of its own accord, squeezing through a fenced area.

A black bear steals some tasty bird snacks from a backyard on North Country Club Drive in Charlevoix.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, male black bears live in areas that can be larger than 100 square miles, while females  which give birth to an average of two to three cubs every other winter  stay in smaller areas ranging from 10-20 square miles. Adult female black bears typically weigh 100-250 pounds. An adult male Michigan black bear can weigh more than 400 pounds and stand 5 feet tall.

Black bears, which are Michigans only bear species, prefer large, hardwood or pine forests, intermixed with wetlands. They can be colored black, brown or cinnamon.

Observations and encounters of the bears are more likely to occur during the spring and summer months, while bears forage for food. They are rarer during this time of year, which makes the recent spate of sightings even more interesting for residents.

Most wild animals, such as black bears, are generally fearful of humans and will leave if they are aware of people present, according to the DNR.

Charlevoix County Sheriff Chuck Vondra agrees.

Black bears are not a problem for us. They typically dont want contact with humans and run away, he said.

Most folks are fascinated by them and want to watch them, Vondra added.

The sheriffs department rarely gets calls alerting them to the animals presence, but Vondra did make note of two car-bear accidents, which is an unusual occurrence and potentially an indicator of a larger population in the Charlevoix area.

Ive been here 30 years and I cant remember the last time that happened, and we had two this year, said Vondra.

According to the DNR, the black bear population has been on a steady incline since 2012, growing by over 80 percent in the northern lower peninsula.

Residents increase their risk of encountering a black bear by having food sources on their property  such as bird feeders, garbage cans and chickens. Human-provided food sources are often an easy meal for these opportunistic feeders.

For those not wanting a late-night visit from a hungry bear, Vondra recommends not putting out any potential lures.

Remove the food source and theyll go away, he said.

For more information on how to handle a conflict with a bear and other wildlife, visit Michigan.gov/Wildlife.

 Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcouri

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Black bear sightings reported in Charlevoix
HARARE, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government requires lithium miners to submit beneficiation plans no later than March 2024, in a move aimed at boosting revenue from the processed mineral.

Presenting the 2024 national budget on Thursday, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube said no licenses will be granted to a prospective lithium company without the approval of a beneficiation plan.

"Any lithium value addition process that does not result in the production of lithium carbonate is not regarded as beneficiation, hence, is liable to an export tax," said Ncube.

Zimbabwe has the largest lithium reserves in Africa and due to growing global demand for the mineral, the country has witnessed huge investments into the lithium sector in recent years.

Last December, the Zimbabwean government banned the export of raw lithium to encourage investment in local processing facilities. It also approved a lithium ore policy to consolidate the country's beneficiation strategy. 
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Missouri lawmakers are once again introducing a bill to impose tougher penalties for people who fire celebratory gunshots.

But after it was vetoed as part of a larger crime bill earlier this year, this time it appears Blairs Law will stand on its own.

Trio sneaks into abandoned STL prison, gets trapped in cell

Missouri state Reps. Mark Sharp (D-Kansas City) and Sherri Gallick (R-Belton) have each pre-filed bills to establish Blairs Law across the state.

Its named after 11-year-old Blair Shanahan Lane, who was killed on the Fourth of July in 2011 after someone in Kansas City shot bullets into the sky.

Under Blairs Law, it would be a crime of unlawful discharge of a firearm to shoot a gun with criminal negligence within a citys limits.

Its hard, but for a few weeks in July, its harder, Blairs mom, Michele Shanahan DeMoss, said this summer. It deserves to be a law. People that commit that crime deserve to have a punishment greater than just basically a parking ticket.

Earlier this year, Gov. Mike Parson vetoed a crime bill that included Blairs Law; it was the only bill on his desk that he rejected.

What is minimum wage in Missouri and Kansas in 2024?

But the governor said it wasnt Blairs Law that he disagreed agree with. Instead, it was the other provisions in the omnibus bill, which contained multiple provisions in one legislation.

The reality of it is, you have to do the right thing sometimes, even when its not the most popular thing, Parson said in a July interview. Blairs Law was never the issue.

The large crime bill included removing the salary cap for the Kansas City Police Department for all officers, streamlining the expungement process, compensate people who have been wrongfully convicted and create a restitution system for people whose convictions are overturned.

Im not sure why every taxpayer in the state of Missouri is responsible for that, why the state is responsible for it, especially when it was a local crime and a local issue, Parson said in July.

Parson pushes back on GOP lawmaker wanting to ban Palestinian refugees

DeMoss previously said she was hoping to see Blairs Law filed as a standalone bill in 2024. Parson has expressed support for the bill in the past if lawmakers can get it to his desk.

Missouri lawmakers are only pre-filing bills Friday ahead of the upcoming 2024 legislative session, which begins Jan. 3. More legislation is often filed in election years, so 2024 will likely be a busy year at the state capitol.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  When a crime happens in your neighborhood, your first thought is to call the police, tell them what happened, and then wait. However, now you have another option, as the Metro Nashville Police Department is allowing residents to self-report minor crimes.

This week, Chief John Drake announced starting Friday, Dec. 1, Nashvillians will be able to self-report non-violent crimes through an online portal, expanding the Citizen Online Reporting (CORe) system, developed by Lexis Nexis.

Nashville crime stats: Violent crime down; Auto thefts up almost 50% from 2022

It helps us to focus on higher priority calls, and allows the public not to have to deal with wait time, waiting for an officer on the side of the road or anything like that, explained Capt. Brian Williams, who is over Metro Nashvilles Police Records Division.

The system allows for crime to be reported by simply going online. While the self-reporting feature is now to be used for active crimes, like a robbery in progress, or violent crimes like shootings and domestic violence cases, it is meant to cut down on minor incidents that need to be reported.

We are launching with seven new kinds of reports; we have minor crashes out there available to the public, and these will be things like lost property [and] certain retail theft, said Captain Williams.

The latest additions to the CORe system include:

Shoplifting/ Retail Theft: Theft of merchandise from a retail store

Suspicious Activity: Suspicious person, vehicles, or possible criminal activity

Lost Property: When your property is missing or lost. Not stolen property. Lost firearms cannot be reported online

Package Theft/ Porch Piracy: A package was taken from your residence or business

Fuel Drive Off: Fuel Stolen from a gas pump

Dine-n-Dash: Food or beverage consumed without paying

Harassing Phone Calls: Unwanted phone calls of an annoying, harassing, or threatening nature

As we head into the holidays, people will be able to easily access this on the website, file these types of reports if they fall into the perimeter, said Williams as he explained how vital the system can be during this time of year.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

Callers can still request an officer to come to the scene if they do not wish to file a report through the CORe.

To fill a police report online, you must meet the following criteria:

The incident happened in Nashville, Davidson County

You are 18 years or older

The report does not involve a crime in progress

The report does not involve a domestic relationship

The report does not involve a firearm

The report does not involve an act of violence

The report does not involve a known suspect

Not an emergency (Call 911 for emergencies)

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
(Bloomberg) -- Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered to host the United Nations sponsored COP conference in 2028, as he seeks to position the worlds third-largest emitter as a climate leader.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Speaking at the opening ceremony of COP28 in Dubai on Friday, Modi reiterated his call for a just, inclusive and equitable energy transition as he offered to host COP33.

The COP presidency rotates between different world regions and Indias next opportunity will be in 2028 when Asia gets its turn. All countries in that group must unanimously agree to Modis bid before its confirmed.

India is one of the very few economies on track to achieve its national climate commitments, Modi said. The countrys targets have been labeled highly insufficient by non-profit Climate Action Tracker, which highlights it has made significant progress in boosting renewable power capacity but a reliance on coal is a drag on its ambition.

Modi has been trying to position India as a leader on climate. He presided over the Group of 20 this year, where he got leaders to commit to tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.

His offer will bring some relief to the UN which is still struggling to find a host for COP29. Its scheduled to be held in an Eastern European country, but Russia has said it will veto any bid by a European Union member because of its support for Ukraine.

If no agreement can be reached, the United Arab Emirates will by default retain the COP presidency. But Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 president, has indicated he doesnt want to host it again.

Another option is for it to be held at the UN headquarters in Bonn, Germany. But the German government has also said it doesnt want it to be hosted there, particularly because COP has grown to almost 100,000 people this year, a number far too big for the small city of Bonn to accommodate.

Brazil is already preparing to host COP30 in November 2025 in the city of Belem, which is likely to have a strong focus on food production and forestry.

--With assistance from Jennifer A. Dlouhy.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
China's new policy to trial visa-free entry from Dec. 1 for ordinary passport holders from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Malaysia has been applauded by Europeans from various walks of life.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Ukraine's President Zelenskiy, Moldova's President Sandu and President of the European Council Michel attend a joint press conference in Kyiv

By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Pro-European authorities in Moldova on Friday dismissed as groundless a ban imposed by Russia on imports of its fruit and vegetables, the latest display of deteriorating relations between Moscow and the ex-Soviet state.

Russia's farm goods oversight agency, Rosselkhoznadzor, said on Thursday it was reinstating restrictions last imposed in 2022. It cited "continuous, systematic observation of elements subject to quarantine" and said Moldovan authorities had taken no action to right the situation.

Moldova's food safety agency ANSA said the restrictions, to take effect on Monday, had nothing to do with the quality of its goods. No other importing countries had filed complaints.

"The decision by the Russian authorities contradicts phytosanitary principles and is in no way grounded in real arguments," it said in a statement. "Laboratory evidence underscores the absence of any harmful organisms."

Russia has periodically over the past two decades barred farm goods from the country lying between Ukraine and Romania, measures generally coinciding with a downturn in relations.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu who is heading a drive to join the European Union, has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of trying to foment a coup to remove her. She also accused Russia of meddling in Moldova's local elections last month.

Exchanges between the two sides have become increasingly acerbic.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, dismissing Western criticism of Moscow's 21-month-old conflict in Ukraine, on Thursday said that Moldova was "being readied as the next victim in the hybrid war that the West unleashed against Russia".

Lavrov did not elaborate on his comments.

Moldovan producers said Moscow deliberately imposed the measures at a time of the year when their goods flooded on to the Russian market, but added that they were prepared.

"We have managed partly to reorient markets for Moldovan apples. We ship to 28 countries," Iurie Fala, Executive Director of the Moldovan Fruit Producers Association, told Reuters.

"There is a shortage of apples this year on EU markets and that will boost our sales."

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, Editing by Ronald Popeski and Sandra Maler)
Wouldnt it be ironic if the woman who led an ultra-conservative movement in Florida education that sought to put gays back in the closet was having a long-term, three-way lesbian relationship with a lover she shared with her husband, the states GOP chairman?

Thats the allegation being made about Bridget Ziegler  co-founder of far-right Moms for Liberty and a Sarasota School Board member  by an unnamed woman accusing Christian Ziegler of rape and sexual battery.

Hypocrisy on steroids, if true.

The crusading ideologue  who demanded private Christian school-style mores in public schools, from grades K-12, when high-school students are either close to or already adults  is now facing the ultimate scrutiny of her sex life.

Christian Ziegler, according to a laboriously redacted Sarasota police report released to media Thursday after the Florida Trident, a watchdog news outlet, broke the news, is under an active criminal investigation.

Hes accused of going to the womans house without Bridget on Oct. 2 and raping her, according to the police and media reports citing law-enforcement sources.

READ MORE: Florida GOP Chairman accused of sexual battery. His attorney says hell be exonerated

Wifes alleged secret life

His wife isnt facing any charges.

But, in the context of the investigation, the woman revealed to the police officer who initially responded and the investigating detective her long-running three-way sex life with the couple.

Christian Zieglers lawyer vehemently denied the charges made against the brash party boss, who vowed earlier this year: Until we get every Democrat out of office and no Democrat considers running for office, were going to continue to step on the gas and move forward in Florida.

READ MORE: Like the hemispheres evil regimes, crafty Florida GOP craves a one-party state | Opinion

Power couple or throuple?

The Zieglers were considered a quickly rising power couple  close collaborators of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and also supporters of ex-President Donald Trump.

But while he talked tough and boisterously, she seemed to be the real the mover and shaker.

The group she co-founded in the name of parental rights  credited with banning school books featuring gay characters and Blacks confronting discrimination in a predominantly white society  has spread nationwide at a vertiginous rate: 300 chapters in 48 states in two years.

Even in liberal California, the misnamed Moms for Liberty and supporters attempted to purge a social studies textbook that contained a biography of legendary San Francisco gay-rights leader Harvey Milk.

Sarasota District 1 School Board candidate Bridget Ziegler and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took the stage at the Sahib Shriner Event Center on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 as part of his Education Agenda Tour across the state. MATT HOUSTON/HERALD-TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK

We are fighting for the survival of America . . . , the group claims in its literature.

Such loyalty to an agenda thats also the governors has been generously rewarded.

DeSantis not only endorsed Bridget Zieglers school board candidacy, but he gave her a seat on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors.

This is the agency formed after the dispute with Disney World over its corporate criticism of the Dont Say Gay law banning sexual-identity discussion in schools and following the termination of Disneys Reedy Creek special taxing district operational agreement with the state.

Now, that a womans allegations include the claim that sex tapes were made, the Zieglers are being dubbed a throuple.

Florida abuzz

Every corner of the state is abuzz with the Zieglers news  and, in particular, with the titillating allegation of the anti-gay wifes bisexual encounters.

Group sex and swinging as a lifestyle might be nonpartisan. But Democrats dont pretend to hate gays  legislate against them to score political points  while secretly inviting them to join the marital party.

Theres national history on the topic, self-righteous conservatives  priests, pastors, politicians who, while preaching repression, act in an questionable manner.

Newt Gingrich, former Republican U.S. House speaker and presidential candidate, comes to mind.

He led the effort to impeach Democrat Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair and insisted on calling him a sexual predator.

During a hearing about amending the comprehensive plan, Sarasota County commissioner Christian Ziegler said he wants to connect the Legacy Trail with Nathan Benderson Park, so the county can attract Iron Man Triathlons. Members of the public commenting, during the hearing, were more concerned about the impact 5,000 new homes would have. The proposal to create a Village Transition Zone for 4,120 acres of property between Fruitville Rd. and University Parkway would be called Lakewood Ranch Southeast. Mike Lang/USA TODAY NETWORK

Gingrichs moral high ground crumble from underneath him when it was revealed that he had been having a six-year affair with another congressmans employee while married to his second wife.

But, no need to go that far back, not with no-shame Trump insisting hes worthy of another term after almost derailing American democracy and now promising to run the country with a dictators iron fist.

Accused by 26 women of sexual misconduct  and, earlier this year, found liable in a civil trial of sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in 1996  hes the epitome of moral corruption. During the presidential campaign in 2016, he paid stripper Stormy Daniels hush money to lie about his extramarital affair with her while his wife Melania was pregnant.

So why wouldnt other Florida Republicans feel emboldened to let loose?

No matter how low Trump falls on the morality scale, hes still the almost locked-in front-runner  further proof of the low bar Republicans set for themselves.

If the allegations are true, then the Zieglers are in good company.
Editor's Note: The online version of this article has been updated with information from Matt Blythe regarding early search efforts.

PELLSTON  Emmet County Sheriff Pete Wallin met with community members on Tuesday night in Pellston to address concerns regarding the disappearance of David Moffett, a 70-year-old Center Township resident with Alzheimer's.

Moffett was first reported missing around 3:37 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29. The last known sighting of Moffett was around 4:30 p.m. the same day near Levering and Larks Lake Road.

His dog was missing as well. The dog, Stella, returned home alone on Oct. 4.

A missing person posters showing David Moffett and his dog Stella is taped to the bar at North Perk Coffee on Oct. 5, 2023.

While the search isn't formally over  the county will still investigate leads if they come in  Wallin said people are not actively out searching for Moffett anymore. The county switched to a clue-based investigation on Oct. 9.

During Tuesday's meeting, Wallin was joined by Emmet County Emergency Management Coordinator Matt Blythe and State Rep. Neil Friske.

Friske said he wrote a piece of legislation he will be presenting for a vote next year that introduces Silver Alerts, which are alerts about elderly missing persons using the same infrastructure as Amber Alerts.

Wallin said he was asked by Moffett's family to participate in a public meeting where people could ask questions about the search. During the meeting, Wallin explained the timeline of the investigation, from when Moffett was reported missing to the last known sighting, as well as the series of steps that followed.

Nathan Moffett, David's son, said he wanted to use the meeting as an opportunity for people to express their thanks and gratitude, and also offer suggestions for if something like his father's disappearance happens again.

"During the search efforts, we realized there was such a heavy community involvement during this  and many people who were there a little bit, many people would have heard about it, and helped peripherally  that it would be beneficial, and be so necessary, to do a big debrief to the community of what happened and invite everyone and have all professional parties who are involved there," Nathan told the News-Review.

Nathan said it was a well attended event, though he didn't feel all decisions made by the sheriff's office were explained as well as he wish they would've been.

"We did everything we felt that we can do, and unfortunately, I feel sorry for the family, and I wanted to put closure to this  and closure for my office  but it didn't happen," Wallin told the News-Review.

Moffett first left his home around 10 a.m. that Friday, Wallin said, and was reported missing around five hours later. A friend of Wallin's said he saw him at Levering and Larks Lake Road around 4:30 p.m. that day, with Stella, but that information did not come to Wallin until two days later.

The search began that Friday, but Blythe's coordination efforts were not activated until Monday. He had received an alert via the Be Alert - 911 emergency management system on Friday, but first responders must be activated before responding, Blythe told the News-Review via email.

Nathan said he was disappointed in the delay because his father went missing two weeks prior to this incident and he was found quickly. In an email, Blythe told the News-Review that Moffett's disappearance earlier in September was handled entirely by the sheriff's department.

Nathan said his mother, Jama, had been in communication with different volunteers interested in participating in search and rescue efforts throughout the weekend, as well as in communication with the sheriff's office. He added that people from other search and rescue entities were "bewildered as to why they (hadn't) been involved yet."

Wallin said much of his decision was based on poor weather conditions that weekend, wanting to prevent injury to other people with storms rolling through the area.

Carrie Ketterer, one of David and Jama Moffett's neighbors who attended the event and participated in the search, said she was "sick" over how the sheriff's office handled the investigation.

Ketterer said she helped with feeding volunteers throughout the search.

"It makes me just absolutely sick to my stomach that I really believe we had a chance of a better outcome," Ketterer said.

Between 100-150 volunteers participated in the search, Blythe said. He said there was a combined total of 28,000 man hours put into the search for Moffett, and that does not include hours put in from the sheriff's office.

Blythe said the surrounding counties, Michigan State Police, All County Search and Rescue, Emmet County Search and Rescue, an equestrian team, different K-9 teams, the Christian Aid Ministries team and more contributed to the search.

Following this event, Ketterer said she hopes people know that if something like this happens again, there are other resources beyond the sheriff's department and says pressure should be put on the sheriff's office to call in those other resources.

A missing persons poster of David Moffett hangs on a pole in downtown Harbor Springs on Oct. 6, 2023.

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to the news affecting your community

Next steps

More than two months after David Moffett went missing, his family is still holding onto hope that he's OK, but are now searching for closure.

"We've been feeling very confused, we've been feeling odd  because we're a statistic," Nathan said. "This is such an unusual thing to happen with the amount of searching that was done and yes, once the search got going  although it got going inexcusably late  it was amazing."

He said he is grateful for the community's support in searching, many using their vacation time to contribute to the search efforts after his father went missing.

When it comes to making sure something like this never happens again, Nathan said he wants to see the community and officials learn from the situation, including mobilizing and utilizing resources faster, introducing Silver Alerts, and more.

Blythe, who was responsible for multiple aspects of the search, from connecting groups like the Coast Guard to extending cell phone reception, said he intends to use the Moffett case as a learning experience.

"For most of us, this really was a learning experience of: What's out there? How do we do better?" Blythe said. "And a lot of us are taking that to heart on the operational side  that, how we do this better next time?"

 Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Meeting brings discussion of search for missing David Moffett
ARTS

A Cold Reads Workshop is 9 a.m.  noon Dec. 9 at Spartanburg Youth Theatre. The cost is $40. Cold readings and script work are essential to the callback process, and growing comfortable with both will help students feel more confident in any audition. Cold readings are sections of dialogue or a monologue from a script that the student has never seen before. This workshop provides individualized guidance from SYT staff on tips and tricks. Pre-registration is required. Enroll online at spartanburg-youth-theatre.coursestorm.com/category/workshop-series.

Wee Create Playgroup for ages 2  4 is 10  11 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays at Yellowbobbypins Art Camp at Hampton Station. The cost is $25 to drop in or $84 per month. For details and registration, visit yellowbobbypins.com.

Time Travel: Art Through the Ages for ages 5  7, 8  10, and 11  14 is offered at various times on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at Yellowbobbypins Art Camp at Hampton Station. The cost is $25 to drop in. For details and registration, visit yellowbobbypins.com.

The SC Governors School for the Arts and Humanities, a public, residential high school for artistically talented students, is now accepting applications for the 2024  2025 school year and summer programs. All South Carolina residents in grades 6  11 are eligible to apply online at SCGSAH.org. The Governors Schools tuition-free, residential high school currently serves students in grades 10  12 who receive pre-professional training in creative writing, dance, drama, music and visual arts. In the fall of 2024, the schools new film department will open with its first class of aspiring filmmakers. The dance department will also offer a new full modern and contemporary dance track for students interested in careers in modern dance and choreography. During the summer, the school hosts around 350 students for overnight summer programs in creative writing, dance, drama, film, music and visual arts. All interested students apply online at scgsah.org and complete application and/or audition requirements depending on their chosen program. The priority application deadline for all programs is Jan. 10, 2024. Applications will be received until all openings are filled. Financial assistance is available for all programs through the Governors School Foundation.

Art Classes are offered at the Spartanburg Art Museum. For details and registration, visit spartanburgartmuseum.org.

Display Your Art  The Back Door Art Gallery in Fountain Inn has a kids art wall. Children ages 12 and younger can hang one piece of their art for free for one month. For specifications and contact information, visit backdoorartgallery.com.

Things to do across the Upstate and beyond

Art Classes for ages 6 and older are offered at A Cut Above Maker Space in Spartanburg. For cost, registration and details, visit acutabovemakerspace.com.

Art classes are offered at GCCA  Greenville Center for Creative Arts. For details, visit artcentergreenville.org.

Voice, piano, and acting private lessons are offered from Kimilee Bryant Studio. For details, email kimileebryantstudio@gmail.com or call 864-280-9150.

South Carolina Childrens Theatre offers classes for grades pre-K  12. For details visit, scchildrenstheatre.org.

Spartanburg Youth Theatre offers classes for grades K4  12. For full class listings and to enroll, visit spartanburgyouththeatre.com or call 864-585-8278.

Engage in music at the Lawson Academy of the Arts  Private lessons and group classes are offered for musicians of all ages and levels with instruction from Converse University professors and student-teachers. Learn to play piano or enroll in an ensemble. For details, call 864-596-9022.

Arts programs are at TR Makers. Programs include homeschool classes, Afterschool Makers Elementary (grades K5  5), Afterschool Art School (grades 2  6), and more. For cost and registration, visit trmakersco.org.

Music Adventure Classes are at 10 a.m. Mondays at Swamp Rabbit Cafe. Classes are geared for pre-K  K but all ages are welcome. The cost is $15 per class ($5 for each additional sibling) and includes a coffee and pastry. For details and registration, visit @musicadventure on Instagram or email musicadventureforkids@gmail.com.

FAMILY FUN, LEARNING, AND MORE

STRIDES Systematic Tutoring, a nonprofit program, offers individualized tutoring for ages 6  20. instruction is available. In-person tutoring is available in Cherrydale, Fountain Inn, Greer, Taylors, Berea and Easley or virtually with a smart phone, tablet or desk top computer. Scholarships are available. For details, call 864-246-9898 or stridestutor.org.

Painted Pacis Playgroup for ages 6 months  2 years is 9  10 a.m. Mondays or Fridays at Yellowbobbypins Art Camp at Hampton Station. The cost is $25 to drop in or $84 per month. For details and registration, visit yellowbobbypins.com.

Well Walkers is offered Dec. 5, 7*, 12, 14, 19 and 21 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The arena concourse will be open from 9 a.m.  1 p.m. for anyone who wants to have a temperature-controlled space to exercise. Each loop around the concourse is a quarter mile. Well Walkers is a free event with no registration or prior notice required. Free parking for participants is provided in the VIP lot at the arena, located off Church Street. *For the Dec. 7 event, please consider bringing a new, unopened toy for ages birth  12 to support Bon Secours Wellness Arenas toy drive with LEO Santa. For details, visit bonsecoursarena.com.

Italian Renaissance Alive is open at Biltmore Estate. The multi-sensory experience immerses guests in the beauty and brilliance of the greatest artistic period in history as it comes to life all around you. Large-scale projections with 360-degree views set to a powerful operatic score tell the story of artists and the time periods within which they lived. Italian Renaissance Alive features Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Caravaggio and more. It continues through Jan. 7, 2024. For details and ticket information, visit biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/italian-renaissance-alive.

Little Learners Club, available from the Greenville County Library System, is designed especially for children under age 5 to encourage the development of kindergarten readiness skills using the Palmetto Basics. Details are at greenvillelibrary.org/kids/little-learners-club.

Free Books  Greenville First Steps has launched a pilot of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Greenville County. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is an early literacy program that mails free age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age 5. Currently in Greenville County, children in 29690, 29611, and 29669can sign up for Imagination Library. Registration is available at ImaginationLibrary.com.

Story Time is at 10 a.m. Thursdays at Barnes and Noble at Greenridge. For details, visit stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2221.

Family Story Time for ages birth  5 is Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Pendleton and Lander Memorial Libraries, Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Powdersville Library, and Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Anderson Main Library. Visit andersonlibrary.org.

Preschool and Toddler Story Times are offered at Spartanburg Library locations. For details, visit spartanburglibraries.org.

Preschool Story Time for ages 3  5 is at 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Anderson Main Library. Visit andersonlibrary.org.

Toddler Storytime for ages 18  36 months is at 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Anderson Main Library. Visit andersonlibrary.org.

Preschool Storytimes for ages 2  5 are offered at the Pickens County Library. Call 864-850-7077 or visit pickenscountylibrarysystem.com.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: More for December  Arts, family fun, learning and more
Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar offers a blessing to Ronnie Dykes and Ashya Mathis and their sons Josiah, 14, Jay'On, 12, and Jaiaire, 11, for their new home, which was built through Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio with help from volunteers from Stark County Catholic churches.

CANTON  Not everyone can say their house is blessed. Truly blessed.

But the Mathis and Dykes family can.

Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar visited their new home at 535 14th St. SE on Thursday, offering a prayer and blessing it with holy water.

The house is no ordinary home. It was sponsored and built through Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio with help from a "Catholic Community Build" made up of parishioners from St. Michael the Archangel in Plain Township, St. Paul in North Canton, Holy Spirit in Lake Township, and St. Francis of Assisi in Canton.

Ronnie Dykes and Ashya Mathis and their sons Josiah, 14, Jay'On, 12, and Jaiaire, 11, will take possession of the property on Dec. 15.

"We worked hard. I want to thank you that I can raise my kids in a home," said Ronnie Dykes, whose partner said he sometimes went straight to the building site after working a midnight shift. "I don't have to rent anymore and make someone else rich."

In addition to a down payment, Habitat families are required to contribute "sweat equity" in the construction of their homes.

"Thank you blessing my family with this beautiful home," Aysha Mathis said. "I appreciate the wonderful hard work and response from the Catholic community. I appreciate every one of you. You didn't have to volunteer your time, but you did."

Beth Lechner, CEO of Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio, said the new home is more than a structure.

"It's a testament to what faith in action can truly achieve," she said. "We have witnessed the spirit of service come alive through every volunteer, and the joy of fellowship in every hammer swing. This dedication is a celebration of that spirit and the bright future it ensures for the Mathis family."

Ronnie Dykes and Ashya Mathis laugh during the dedication of their Canton home, which was built through Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio with help from volunteers from Stark County Catholic churches.

Bishop David Bonnar blesses house with holy water

It marks the first time that a bishop from the Youngstown diocese has dedicated a local Habitat home. Bonnar prayed and blessed the house with holy water. The event took place in the home's basement due to ongoing street construction behind the house.

"It's so fitting that we have this service on this concrete, on this ground because it speaks of a foundation," the bishop said. "But it can't compare with the foundation that's in your hearts. As a family and the work that is before you to build, not just a house which you've done so beautifully with so many other hands, but to build a home. And God knows we need more homes in our world today."

Bonnar lauded everyone for their effort in helping the family, and joked that he felt a little like St. Peter as he handed them their keys.

"I think what makes this day so special is the realization of a dream," he said. "Just realizing their dream and how excited we are to share the realization of that dream. I stand at many intersections in my ministry as a bishop and not all of those intersections are easy. But this is one that I will never ever forget. This is one of the greatest joys I've had of being a bishop."

The Catholic Community Build had been in the planning stages since last year, said Lechner, who added that she was grateful for the spirit of collaboration by the parishes.

"A lot was going on that time, where things were shifting," she said. "The Catholic church really actually does a very good job of doing that and trying to figure that out and keep people together. They were talking about 'How can we do something together that keeps us together?'"

Lechner noted that it costs $50,000 to sponsor a new Habitat home.

"They know that it takes all of that to build a Habitat house, and everybody in that room was willing to give what they had," she said. "I cannot thank the parishes and the Catholic community enough. They are indeed strong and they are indeed good people who showed up and gave."

Steve Marrero, a parishioner at St. Michael's, who spearheaded the project, said the build was in keeping with the church's teachings. Teams from each parish worked on designated days.

"At St. Michael's, what we preach continuously is going outside of walls, beyond the parish," he said. "We practice our faith by helping where help is needed. It's about putting our faith into action. The biggest mission, and what's most important is, a family is getting a new house and that's all that matters."

Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar speaks with Ronnie Dykes and Ashya Mathis and their sons Josiah, 14, Jay'On, 12, and Jaiaire, 11 at their new Canton home. The house was built through Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio with help from volunteers from Stark County Catholic churches.

Anne Weeks, a member of Holy Spirit parish, said she hopes collaboration between the partner parishes will continue.

"Since Holy Spirit and St. Paul share a priest, this was a great opportunity to take the collaboration that is already going on in the Catholic church and put it to work, and to bring the parishes to start thinking that, you know, let's look at ways in which we could collaborate, and this was a great opportunity," she said.

Phil Salsek, a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Francis, said volunteering was a learning opportunity. He encourages others to give it a try.

"I'm not a person who swings a hammer very much, but I found out that I'm able to frame a house," he said to laughter. "You know, I think a lot of people don't want to get involved because they think they need to know how to build a house. No, you're taught as you do it. It was a joy working with the Mathis family as well as people from the other parishes because otherwise we really don't collaborate a whole lot; we kind of stay in our little areas. I think that people of our parish and the Knights of Columbus enjoyed ourselves and learned that, going forward, this is something we'd like to try to do in the future because it wasn't as hard as we thought it would be."

Courtney Brown, the ministry's family partnership director, said that because Habitat doesn't charge families interest on their mortgages, parents are better able to provide for their children.

"We create homes, we create communities one house at a time," she said. "At Habitat, we don't feel like it's just that a person works hard every day and comes home to a place that is either unaffordable or that's falling around them and there's nothing they can do about it."

Brown noted that the local affiliate is 35 years old.

Habitat dedicates SE playground: Habitat for Humanity builds more than just a playground in southeast Canton

Ward 4 Councilwoman Chris Smith welcomed the family  her nephew and niece  to the ward. Habitat has made a multi-year commitment to building and repairing homes in southeast Canton. The investment has resulted in new infrastructure, including repaved streets and new sewers.

"I'm so happy," she said. "I'm so glad that we're here on this day because not only are you opening the door to a house, but you have a key to your home. And I know that it's going to be blessed because I understand that in the walls, there's scriptures. We know that God is all in this. I'd just like to thank Habitat for all that you do."

Bonnar said the project reminded him of his office motto, "That all may be one."

Courtney Brown, with Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio, speaks during a ceremony Thursday to dedicate the Canton home of Ronnie Dykes and Ashya Mathis and their sons Josiah, 14, Jay'On, 12, and Jaiaire, 11.

Habitat milestone: SE Canton home marks 600th for Habitat for Humanity

"My motto was the echoing of Jesus's prayer, that all may be one," he said "Nothing excites me, more when people come together and become one. And unity isn't uniformity. This happens in a myriad of ways, and we see that here in this room and we see that with so many hands. We're all in this together and we're so much stronger when we are together."

Harold Ziegler was given special recognition for his contribution.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

Catholic Diocese of Youngstown Bishop David Bonnar hands Ashya Mathis and Ronnie Dykes keys to their new home, which was built through Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio with help from volunteers from Stark County Catholic churches.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Bishop David Bonnar blesses Habitat home built by Catholic volunteers
SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda toured the San Ysidro Port of Entry from the Mexican side to witness thousands of cars headed into Mexico during Thursdays evening commute.

In recent weeks, drivers have been complaining of longer-than-normal waits to get into Tijuana during the evening commute as they return home from a day of work, school or visits to the U.S. side.

For commuters, evening border rush hour now as long as mornings

The border crossing, like all others on the Mexico side, is now supervised and controlled by that countrys Department of Defense.

The officer in charge of the crossing told the governor and Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero the delays are the result of a new modernization project at the port of entry.

The 22 traffic lanes are being equipped with new scanners that can detect illegal cargo as cars drive through.

Bajas governor was told three more southbound lanes will open Dec. 15, bringing the total of available lanes to 18.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
[Source]

A majority of Americans would support recognizing Taiwan as an independent country if China were to invade the self-governing island, the annual Reagan National Defense Survey shows.

Key findings: According to the public opinion poll from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, 72% of Americans would support the official recognition of Taiwan during an invasion, but only 46% would support the U.S. in sending troops to defend the island, which Beijing considers to be Chinese territory.

The survey also indicates that 77% of Americans now view China as an enemy, while only 15% consider it as an ally. Additionally, 73% voiced apprehension regarding a possible Chinese military invasion of Taiwan.

Involving U.S. military: Respondents were more inclined to support the U.S. militarys involvement in Taiwans defense after learning about its democratically elected government and its role as the world's largest producer of advanced semiconductors.

Trending on NextShark: New S. Korea study reveals alarming link between commuting and mental health

To deter an invasion, 60% supported increasing the U.S. military presence near Taiwan and 55% favored boosting U.S. arms sales to the island.

About the survey: The survey, conducted from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5, gathered responses from 2,506 American adults, with a margin of error of plus/minus 2.0 percentage points. Check out the rest of the findings here.

Trending on NextShark: SF Chinatown hosts toy giveaway for SRO families moving into affordable housing

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
The mother of one of the three Palestinian American college students shot in an attack in Burlington, Vt., over the weekend said in an interview that she has no doubt the incident was a targeted hate crime.

Tamara Tamimi, the mother of Kinnan Abdalhamid, told NBC News on Thursday that her son and his friends, Hisham Awartani and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, had been out in the neighborhood just days before the incident occurred.

Kinan started to think recently that perhaps the man had seen them before, Tamimi told the news outlet. Hes like, It just doesnt make any sense the way that he reacted.  It was a split second. But he looked at them, and then did a double take. And then he pulled out his pistol without any thought  without any words.

There is no doubt, she added. It just defies logic. Why else would it be?  If they were not wearing the keffiyah.  If they were not speaking Arabic.

Abdalhamid, along with Ahmad and Awartani, was shot after a man approached them with a handgun and fired at least four rounds as they were walking in Burlington last Saturday, according to the Burlington Police Department.

The three victims, all 20 years old and of Palestinian descent, were in town visiting one of the victims families for the Thanksgiving holiday and were on their way back from bowling when the incident occurred.

Authorities said that the three men were wearing keffiyehs, a traditional headdress worn by Palestinian people, at the time of the shooting.

Police then arrested Jason Eaton a day after the incident following a search of the area. Eaton, 48, pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted second-degree murder Monday and is currently being held without bond ahead of his next court appearance.

The incident stems from the ongoing tension seen on college campuses from Israels war with Hamas, which began after the militant groups surprise attack on Oct. 7.

Tamimi, who said her son is out of the hospital and is physically doing well but is struggling emotionally, added that shell be disappointed if the incident was not treated as a hate crime.

It would be sorely disappointing only because the facts are so obvious, she told NBC News.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An Ocean Springs High School physics teacher arrested for allegedly having sex with a student said he didnt know what he was doing was a a felony-type crime.

James Donald Hawkins II, 38, made the statement during his initial appearance Friday before Circuit Judge Calvin Taylor.

Hawkins is being held in the Jackson County jail on one count of sexual battery while in a position of trust or authority over the child.

James Hawkins, a former Ocean Springs physics teacher, appears in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Hawkins was charged with one count of sexual battery after allegedly having a relationship with a student.

Hawkins said he is married and lives with his wife and children in Ocean Springs.

At the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Bill Barrett said prosecutors objected to a bond for Hawkins because of conversations he had with investigators after his arrest.

In those conversations, Barrett said, Hawkins made comments about leaving town with the victim, identified as 17-year-old student of Hawkins.

During the hearing, Hawkins said, Im not a flight risk.

Hawkins made the comments after the judge warned him that whatever statement he had made or continued to make could be held against him during the prosecution of his case.

Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Taylor listens to a prosecutor as he presides over James Hawkins initial appearance in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Hawkins, a former Ocean Springs physics teacher, was denied bond after being charged with one count of sexual battery for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Department arrested Hawkins on Thursday, the same day the Ocean Springs School District fired him amid the criminal allegations.

The case remains under investigation and more charges could follow.

The Ocean Springs School District said it fired Hawkins Thursday night after school officials learned of his arrest. Hawkins had worked at Ocean Springs High School since July 2022, according to a LinkedIn profile.

OSSD spokesman Trey Brennan said the School District is working with investigators to assist them in any way possible.

The safety of our students and staff members remains the highest priority of OSSD and the charges against Hawkins are disturbing and intolerable, Brennan said Thursday.

Before he began teaching at Ocean Springs High School, Hawkins worked in physics as a graduate student at Mississippi State University, according to his LinkedIn. His profile said he obtained a bachelors degree at the university between 2005 and 2019 and worked at various times as a professors assistant and physics lab graduate teaching assistant.

James Hawkins, a former Ocean Springs physics teacher, appears in Jackson County Circuit Court in Pascagoula on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Hawkins was charged with one count of sexual battery after allegedly having a relationship with a student.

To report information, call Captain Kristen Johnson at 228-769-7559, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office at 228-769-3063 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Tate County Sheriffs deputies say they recovered parts of a prefabricated shop stolen from Bolton High School at a home in Coldwater, Mississippi, Tuesday.

Authorities also took the homeowner, Juan Vega, 36, into custody.

Bolton High School officials said they discovered the ClearSpan prefabricated building that was in the process of being put together missing from the school lot after returning from the Thanksgiving break. The building materials are valued at around $95,000.

Smash-and-grabs reported at 3 Memphis stores

Shelby County deputies said surveillance video showed a semi-truck with a trailer pull on the property and someone loading up the ClearSpan building materials. Detectives also got a tag number and were able to track down the truck and driver in Cordova.

The truck driver said he was told to meet a man in a black GMC pickup at Bolton High on November 18 at 7:30 a.m. to help him haul away the building materials. The driver said he dropped off the materials behind a barn in the 1700 block of Mays Road in Coldwater.

Tate County deputies said that the ClearSpan building parts they located behind the barn were marked Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Investigators said Vega admitted to meeting the truck driver at Bolton High, loading up the building equipment, and paying the driver $900 to deliver it to the Coldwater property.

Vega is charged with theft of property of $60,000 -$250,000. It does not appear the truck driver is facing any charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
MANILA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has started searching for a missing aircraft with two people on board, including the pilot, in the northern Isabela province, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Friday.

The single-engine light aircraft with fixed landing gear took off at 9:39 a.m. local time on Thursday at the Cauayan City airport, heading for Palanan, a coastal town east of the city. The plane was scheduled to land in Palanan at 10:23 a.m. local time but lost contact on its way.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said that a search and rescue team has started scouring the areas around the plane's route while going to the plane's last recorded position.

Authorities first reported that the missing plane was a Cessna. 
First launched in April 2010, the Space Force's secretive X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has racked up 3,774 days in space during its six classified missions. That sum totals more than 10.3 years in orbit.

Now, the X-37B robotic space plane's seventh mission will kick off within days. Most details remain unknown  not surprising, considering the mystery that surrounds this vehicle.

Resembling a miniature white-and-black space shuttle, the military spacecraft is scheduled for launch Dec. 10 atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center.

We are excited to expand the envelope of the reusable X-37Bs capabilities, using the flight-proven service module and Falcon Heavy rocket to fly multiple cutting-edge experiments for the Department of the Air Force and its partners, Lt. Col. Joseph Fritschen, X-37B program director, said in a press release.

November 2022 story: Sonic booms heard across Florida as secret Space Force spaceplane returns to KSC

The space plane does not carry a human crew. More mission details for the Dec. 10 launch:

Launch window: TBA.

Location: Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

Local sonic boom s: Yes.

Booster landings: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

Space Force officials released this image of the X-37B secretive space plane on Wednesday.

This liftoff will mark the first time the space plane launches aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. Labeled the USSF-52 mission, the Space Force is partnering with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and SpaceX on the spaceflight.

The X-37B's most recent classified mission kicked off with a May 2020 launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The 29-foot-long space plane logged 908 days in low-Earth orbit, topping its previous endurance record of 780 days, before returning to Earth in November 2022  generating sonic booms heard across Florida as it descended and landed at KSC's Launch and Landing Facility.

The Air Force's Orbital Test Vehicle, also known as the X-37B spaceplane, is seen after landing at Kennedy Space Center's landing facility in October 2019.

The space plane serves as "an experimental test program to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the U.S. Space Force," military press releases say.

For the latest launch schedule updates at the Cape, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

LAUNCH ALERT

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy will launch the USSF-52 Mission. This will be the first time the X-37B launches on a Falcon Heavy rocket.

Dec. 10, 2023.

Launch viewing is ONLY available from the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

Get your tickets now: https://t.co/vrGFZ54i5W pic.twitter.com/V5piGT2Taa  Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (@ExploreSpaceKSC) November 30, 2023

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Secretive X-37B space plane to launch on SpaceX Falcon Heavy from KSC
In this photo provided by NASA, the Earth and its moon are seen from NASAs Orion spacecraft on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. | NASA via Associated Press

A new federal report finds NASAs plans to put astronauts back on the moon in 2025 via the multiphase Artemis program was overly optimistic to begin with and now, with multiple delays afoot, returning humans to the lunar surface appears more likely in 2027 at the earliest.

In an assessment published on Thursday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that while NASA and its contractors had made progress since the auditing bodys last report in September 2022, they still face multiple challenges with development of the human landing system and the space suits. Auditors also noted failures in recent attempts at orbital tests of the SpaceX Starship rocket system slated to power NASA astronauts return to the moon are also contributing to extended timelines.

The GAO report underscored that NASA may have erred in its estimation of timelines for the planned advancements in the Artemis program, calculating shorter development windows than the agency has used in the past for less complicated 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 majority of which are not human spaceflight projects, the report reads. 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.

Related

Auditors also noted that NASA is making unprecedented use of third-party contractors to reach the goals established for the different phases of the Artemis program.

To accomplish the Artemis III mission as planned by December 2025, NASA needs to develop, acquire, and integrate several new systems, the report reads. These include a system to transport crew to and from the lunar surface, and space suits for lunar surface operations. NASA is using a relatively new approach to acquire the human landing system and space suits that is intended to increase innovation and improve affordability.

Those contractors include SpaceX, which is tasked with developing the system to get astronauts to the lunar surface and Axiom Space, the company working to develop a next-generation spacesuit for Artemis astronauts.

SpaceX also appears to be behind schedule in one critical aspect of the plan for landing astronauts on the moon for Artemis III. That is the development of a system to launch multiple tankers that will transfer propellant to a depot in space before transferring that propellant to the human landing system. Per the report, NASA documentation states that SpaceX has made limited progress maturing the technologies needed to support this aspect of its plan.

According to the GAOs report, NASA has requested $12.4 billion over the next five years to develop the lunar human landing system and modernized space suits.

NASA successfully completed the Artemis I mission last December with a 25-day flight that utilized the massive Space Launch System rocket and Orion space capsule.

The crewless Artemis I mission allowed NASA experts to test the new SLS components, many of which had been repurposed from the old space shuttle program and other systems, as well as the Orion space capsule.

Artemis I is just the first in a three-phase program aiming to put astronauts back on the surface of the moon for the first time since the final Apollo moon visit in December 1972.

Artemis II, currently anticipated for sometime in 2024, will head to space with a four-person crew in the Orion capsule that will fly the craft around the moon in further testing. The Artemis III mission, which will include putting astronauts on the lunar surface, now appears to be slated for no sooner than 2027.

Along the way, NASA wants to put a small space station, the Lunar Gateway, in orbit around the moon and has future plans that include a moon base station, the Artemis Base Camp.

In a posting on the Artemis missions website, NASA lists a few reasons why its devoting billions of dollars to making moon landings, once again, a priority.

Were going back to the moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation, NASA says. While maintaining American leadership in exploration, we will build a global alliance and explore deep space for the benefit of all.

While a return to the moon smacks a little of been there, done that, NASA says its committed to accomplishing some other first benchmarks as part of the series of Artemis missions, including extending manned exploration deeper into the solar system.

With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before, NASA says in a web posting. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.
General view of attendees during the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 at Expo City Dubai on November 30, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by COP28 / Anthony Fleyhan)

Leaders from nearly every nation across the worldincluding Indigenous representatives from North Americawill meet today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to begin a nine-day climate conference known as the Conference of Parties, or COP28.

Representatives from almost 200 countries have gathered for the COP annually since 1994, where world leaders negotiate international environmental treaties aimed at reducing carbon emissions and limiting global temperature rise under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The first legally binding international treaty came in 2015 at the COP in Paris, France, when world countries adopted The Paris Agreement. The treatys stated goal is to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

This is the first year countries will examine their progress.

More than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP28, according to the United Nations, including the heads of state, youth, climate scientists, and Indigenous Peoples. The White House announced this week that President Biden wont be attending, but Vice President Kamala Harris will be there in his place.

Counted among Indigenous representatives this year is Fawn Sharp (Quinault Indian Nation), the former president of the National Congress of American Indians and the vice president of the Quinault Indian Nation. Sharp told Native News Online she was invited to COP by the US State Department to join the US Delegation. She will facilitate the high-level meeting and listening session between Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and global Indigenous leaders.

Additionally, Native chef and food sovereignty leader Sean Sherman (Oglala Lakota) was invited to COP on behalf of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food and the Rockefeller Foundation. Sherman will participate in a panel discussion on Indigenous food and knowledge as a pathway to both mitigating and adapting to climate change, his staff at North American Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) said. Sherman founded NATIFS in 2017 the address the economic and health crises affecting Native communities by re-establishing Native foodways.

Sherman will join the voices of other Indigenous food leaders, including Michael Kotutwa Johnson (Hopi), who serves as an Assistant Specialist at the Indigenous Resiliency Center at the University of Arizona, and Lourdes Inga (Quechua heritage from Peru) Executive Director of International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, NATIFS said in a statement.

Together, we can work towards a regenerative, permaculture landscape to withstand adverse effects of climate change while minimizing the distances food travels to reach communities, not only to nourish people and the planet but to offer economic opportunities for tribal communities, Sherman said in a statement. We hope this can help our communities reclaim their health, well-being, and cultural connections. We can be the leaders out of this crisis we didnt create.

Additionally, North American Indigenous representatives from the International Indian Treaty Council, Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Assembly of First Nations, and Metis National Council will join in a roundtable discussion on Sunday, Dec. 10, for a dialogue on Indigenous Peoples Perspectives and Experiences on Loss and Damage, according to the UNs side event schedule.

Indigenous Peoples are severely impacted by climate change yet have had few opportunities to dialogue with bodies addressing Loss and Damage, such as the WIM (Warsaw International Mechanism, A COP-establish mechanism to address loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change). The participants will continue to exchange views, experiences, and information to build mutual understanding and enable effective engagement.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is sending a delegation to COP, including Grand Chief Judy Wilson, Elder Lorraine Netro from the AFN Knowledge Keepers Council, and Marie-Philippe Menard from the AFN National Youth Council.

There, the AFN delegation will present a document titled Advancing and Affirming First Nations Climate Leadership, illustrating how the First Nations Climate Lens can be applied to the climate convention framework.

Climate change is a global challenge, but it also manifests itself locally. Canadas record-breaking fire season this summer, over 15 million hectares have burned, affecting First Nations from coast to coast to coast highlights the urgent need for action, said Grand Chief Judy Wilson in a statement. In response to this crisis and observations from knowledge keepers, First Nations have been taking matters into their own hands through the development of the AFN National Climate Strategy. The strategy calls for the revitalization of First Nations value systems that are grounded in a deep reciprocal relationship with the Land and Water.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

Help us ensure that the celebration of Native Heritage never stops by donating here.

About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York."

Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com
QUITO, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who took office last week, swore in new chiefs of the armed forces on Thursday and called on them to work closely with the government in the "war" against rampant crime.

"I appeal to you ... to fight for Ecuador, to work together with this government for a country that is seriously wounded and submerged in violence, where inequalities have become a totally negative constant," Noboa said during the swearing-in ceremony at the Carondelet Palace in Quito.

The president renewed the military leadership this week by decree, appointing a new head of the Armed Forces Joint Command, as well as new commanders of the army, air force and navy. 
On overnight trains, splurging for a private space is worth the price.

I've slept in private and shared cabins on sleeper trains. In shared spaces, I hardly sleep.

In private cabins, travelers get a bed, a sink, a vanity, and sometimes a full bathroom.

If you want to sleep on an overnight train, book a private cabin.

Trust me. I've been on six, including two 30-hour Amtrak rides and three 12-hour night trains between European countries ranging from $200 to $1,000. The other ride cost $9,000, but it was on a luxury train.

On four of these journeys, I slept in private, enclosed accommodations alone. And for the other two, I booked shared rooms with up to six other travelers.

I've found that splurging for a private cabin is always worth the price for a comfortable experience.

Some shared sleeper accommodations don't come with a bed

My worst experience on an overnight train was when I booked the wrong room for a 12-hour ride from Berlin to Vienna, Austria.

The ride was operated by OBB Nightjet, and for $40, I booked a seat in an enclosed space with five other people. The seat reclined, but it didn't lay flat. And there wasn't enough legroom to stretch out. I didn't sleep at all on that train, and I got to my destination feeling completely depleted.

"We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out," an OBB Nightjet representative wrote in a statement to Insider. "Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys."

And I agree.

The seating carriage (L) and shared bunk rooms (R) on Nightjet trains. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Private cabins offer peace, quiet, and personal space

For another Nightjet ride, I spent 11 hours traveling from Vienna to Venice, Italy. I booked a bunk in a shared cabin with three strangers for $84. The bunks took up most of the room, so there was nowhere to stand or stretch out. Plus, I woke up several times when the other passengers got up to use the bathroom or to get off at an earlier stop.

But when I've booked private cabins on Amtrak and Nightjet, ranging from $200 to $1,000, I've slept better with no disruptions. And I've had more room to stretch out.

The author dances in a roomy Amtrak bedroom. Joey Hadden/Insider

Private cabins have a sink and vanity, and some have a full bathroom

Every private train cabin I've booked has had a vanity with a wash basin, and most of them had toiletry storage, too.

This is a great amenity because you don't have to go to the shared bathroom in the car to wash up. For me, that means I can take my time brushing my trash, flossing, and washing my face. Ultimately, personal washbasins make me feel more at home on a train.

On one overnight Amtrak train from Miami to NYC, I splurged for a bedroom accommodation. For $1,000, I got a sink, vanity, and a full bathroom with a toilet and shower.

I didn't use the shower, but having a toilet in my room meant I didn't have to leave my cabin in the middle of the night.

The luxuries of a private bathroom on an overnight Amtrak train. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Private cabins have more space to store luggage

I often travel with just a backpack, but if you're bringing a suitcase, you might have a hard time storing it in a shared cabin.

In my experience, shared cabins have limited storage space. When sharing a room with up to six people, packing everyone's stuff inside can be tricky.

When I was on the overnight train in a seating carriage, people came in and out throughout the night, reaching over other passengers to store and collect their luggage from the overhead shelf.

So I recommend private cabins to all travelers with rolling luggage, a nighttime routine, or a desire to sleep well.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ALPHARETTA, Georgia  Before his clash with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Atlanta suburbs late Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom got a passing question from Fox News Sean Hannity during a walkthrough at the venue.

He goes, I don't know how the hell you're gonna be able to talk your way out of the questions I'm gonna ask you. Good Luck! Newsom recalled in an interview. Meaning, How do you defend your state? It's a failed state. I think he's honestly intrigued by the notion that its even possible.

Over a 95-minute slugfest, Newsom was forced to dwell longer on those parochial questions than he had expected to. The California Democrat labored to champion his home turf in the grudge match with his Republican nemesis. In between those answers, Newsom stumped for the reelection of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and threw culture war-imbued haymakers at DeSantis.

While the event revealed a new side of Newsom  whod never participated in such a high-profile debate since he governs a deep-blue state  it also laid bare a country divided not just over partisan politics, but within the parties themselves over Biden and Donald Trump. Indeed, a blaring headline Thursday on the conservative Drudge Report under a graphic of DeSantis and Newsom read, TONIGHT: THE REAL DEBATE!



Fox News chaotic tussle in Alpharetta was, for the political class, a kind of fantasy for an alternate world many yearn for  a 2000s-era throwback where a raving former president under a legal cloud and out for vengeance isnt desperately trying to reclaim power, and where Democrats arent committed to their standard-bearer despite his old age and poor standing in polls. The tragedy for Newsom and DeSantis is that Thursday evening wasnt a preview of the future so much as it was a reversion, however brief, to those earlier times.

Anyone else feel weird about seeing the debate we should have rather than the one we get, wrote Republican strategist Josh Holmes on X, formerly Twitter. Others on the right offered similar observations. And the presence of Hannity as the moderator  a throwback to a simpler conservative media era of towel-snapping rather than torch-carrying  added to the whole motif.

DeSantis, of course, is running for president, turning in a solid performance against a liberal villain that energized his hard-core supporters even as he struggles to get traction in a race dominated by Trump. Newsom, in an interview with POLITICO hours before the debate started, said among his challenges was not giving his opponents  let alone potential admirers  ammunition to accuse him of undermining Biden. In other words, part of Newsoms task was to remind people he knew exactly what they were thinking  and to swiftly disabuse them of the false belief hes running in 2024. He used Bidens reelection campaign as the basis for his reason for showing up on Fox News. Even when DeSantis tried to provoke him.

I have to keep reminding myself to say  as he is talking about needles andfeces in San Francisco and [saying] Everyone has already left, and it's a crime-ridden hellhole, and there's not a company left, and its the worst unemployment, and the worst homelessness, and the worst housing crisis, and it's just nothing like the good old days of Ronald Reagan  that Im not there running for reelection as governor. Im not running for president, either.

I'm going to defend Biden, for better or worse, rich or poor, til death do me part, he added, almost as a mantra.

Newsom ended up making his point, and more, in a line that came off as tightly scripted yet nonetheless delightful to his social media boosters. There's one thing in closing that we have in common, is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024, he said during the debate.

DeSantis didnt bite on that attack but he happily jumped on partisan talking points from the Fox News host. When Hannity outright asserted that Biden is in significant cognitive decline  then asked DeSantis whether Biden is experiencing cognitive decline  the governor agreed and said it was a danger to the country.

He has no business running for president, DeSantis said of Biden. And, you know, Gavin Newsom agrees with that. He won't say that. That's why he's running his shadow campaign. He should not be running. He is not up to the job. And it is dangerous for this country.

Newsoms alleged shadow run has become a recurring theme on Fox. Theres no equivalent on left-leaning networks. And the main challenger to Biden is little-known Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat who is criticizing his party apparatus for greasing the skids for Biden.

That perhaps has shined more attention on Newsom, who despite avoiding early primary state travel and raising millions of dollars for Biden in 2023 continues to be tagged as a possible challenger.

Newsom told POLITICO that hed kept in close touch with the White House and Biden reelection campaign advisers. Much of the material they asked him to cover in the DeSantis debate was similar to what hes been saying in recent months as a surrogate. Before the debate, Newsom said that not sufficiently defending Biden and getting lured into a protracted California versus Florida subnational scramble would have been his biggest failure.

Newsom did get dragged into that discussion, cutting into the time he could have used to further elevate Biden, knock DeSantis, and showcase himself.

The event came at the tail end of a rebound year for Newsom, who struggled during Covid lockdowns, beat back a recall attempt and whose influence in Sacramento is seldomly checked by the Democratic-controlled Legislature as he works to remake social programs around homelessness, mental health and a crippling housing shortage.

The debate that unfolded was unlike anything hed prepared for. Up until Thursday night, Newsom had been in some multi-candidate events or low-wattage head-to-head matches that didnt even air on TV. The lack of experience under the klieg lights of prime-time cable TV required what the governor described to POLITICO as a reprogramming of his brain.

Im a rep guy, not a set piece guy, Newsom said earlier Thursday. And I don't have a lot of reps.

His natural inclination is to refute points with his own facts, to dwell on context, obsess over nuance and prepare for exceedingly long presentations like the ones he gives for the state budget. His intensive prep sessions for the DeSantis event took place over the last week, and Newsom said a top concern was not to come off as combative and obsessed with every detail hurled at him. The goal was to quickly defend himself, and pivot back to attacks on DeSantis.

His smile conveyed trustworthiness on a subconscious level, at least according to a body language expert who watched the debate for POLITICO Magazine.

Newsom studied his nemesis performances extensively, contending that DeSantis has gotten better over the course of the GOP primary but still was apt to melt down, appear angry or smile insincerely. Newsom pointed to a gubernatorial debate last year with Democrat Charlie Crist where he challenged DeSantis to say he would serve the full, four-year term if elected. DeSantis paused for several seconds.

This guy, Newsom says he recalled thinking in the tape session, is just literally programmed.

And yet the DeSantis hes seen in recent months, Newsom allowed in the hours before their debate, is a much-improved politician.

Rons a young guy, Newsom said. He's going to be on the national stage for years.
Gov. Gavin Newsom wanted viewers of his Thursday evening Fox News debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to know two things: He's not running for president  at least not in 2024  and he's all in for President Biden.

Newsom wasted no time in explaining why he had agreed to debate DeSantis on Sean Hannity's show.

"I'll tell you why I'm here: I'm here to tell the truth about the Biden-Harris record and also compare and contrast Ron DeSantis' record and the Republican Party's record" with that of California, Newsom said in his opening statement.

"There's one thing ... that we have in common," he added, referring to DeSantis. "Neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024."

Read more: 4 takeaways from the Newsom-DeSantis debate on Fox News

Although Newsom initially proposed the gubernatorial matchup over a year ago, he has since taken on a greater role as surrogate for the Biden campaign, making Thursday's unusual bicoastal debate an opportunity to test out Biden's talking points against a Republican.

Newsom visited Israel and China last month in a show of international diplomacy that's rare for a governor. In September, Newsom attended the Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, where he volleyed questions with reporters before and after the event.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, does an interview with Sean Hannity after the GOP presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Sept. 27. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

With every public display of support, Biden's campaign has appeared increasingly pleased with Newsom's performance.

Hes been tremendously helpful in helping to raise money, getting out on the airwaves and making sure people know what this president has done and whats at stake in this election," Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said ahead of the September debate.

During a visit to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last month, Biden said of Newsom, "He could be anything he wants. He could have the job Im looking for."

Read more: DeSantis slams L.A. County D.A. George Gascon in debate with Newsom

DeSantis seemed happy to have a Biden surrogate, rather than a fellow Republican, to debate. The Florida governor has worked to position himself as the Republican Party's alternative to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. But the former president has had no issue holding onto his double-digit lead in the polls, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has gained against DeSantis in recent weeks.

"He's joined at the hip with Biden and [Vice President Kamala] Harris," DeSantis said of Newsom. "What California represents is the Biden-Harris agenda on steroids."

Newsom countered with his own digs, often jumping to defend Biden and Harris.

"It's not Kah-MAH-lah Harris, shame on you. It's KAH-mah-lah Harris, Ron," Newsom said at one point, correcting the Florida governor's pronunciation of the vice president's name.

In a lightning-round portion of the debate, Hannity asked the two governors to give the president an overall grade. Their answers were predictable: Newsom gave a resounding "A" while DeSantis reported a "fail."

Hannity's next question was about the candidates' reactions to Biden's age.

"Yes, he's in decline. Yes, it's a danger to the country. He has no business running for president," DeSantis responded. "And you know, Gavin Newsom agrees with that. He won't say that  that's why he's running a shadow campaign."

"I will take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week, at any age," Newsom countered.

When Hannity pressed Newsom about whether he'd run for president if Biden bowed out, Newsom brushed off the question with some frustration. "It's not even an option. He's doing fantastically."

Minutes before the debate concluded, an email blast from Biden's campaign carried a missive from Newsom, asking supporters to donate $25 to the president's reelection efforts.

Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Newsom-DeSantis debate talked about 2024  but it really sets the stage for 2028

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president, went head-to-head in a debate moderated by Sean Hannity on Thursday. Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News and Joe Raedle/Getty Images

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis debated each other on Thursday.

They're not on the same ballot, but got the chance to play out their feud for national TV to see.

The debate, moderated by Sean Hannity, allowed both to posture as champions for their political values.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom sparred on the Fox News debate stage on Thursday evening, in an unconventional clash between two star politicians who aren't directly competing for a role.

DeSantis is still running for the 2024 GOP nomination, but is doing so while questions grow over his odds against former President Donald Trump and as rival hopeful Nikki Haley gains momentum. Newsom isn't running for president, and says he won't.

With neither of its participants' names on the same ballot, the Sean Hannity-moderated segment  "the Great Red vs. Blue State Debate"  featured a chance for both DeSantis and Newsom to reinforce their positions and presence.

And though they debated issues surrounding the 2024 election, it's possible both men were more motivated by the next presidential race, Kambiz Akhavan, the executive director of the USC Center for the Political Future, told Business Insider.

"DeSantis had little to lose. Newsom had little to gain. Both may have been thinking about what many suspect will be their 2028 matchup," Akhavan said.

Newsom had arrived with the goal of shoring up support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, praising their policies and denying that they were too old or incompetent to govern.

"I'm here to tell the truth about the Biden-Harris record," Newsom said in the early minutes of the debate. At one point, he took offense to how DeSantis pronounced Harris' name.

In doing so, the California governor hopes to undermine Trump if he faces Biden in the upcoming election, Akhavan said.

"Newsom wants to be a champion in that battle and do what he can to challenge Trump, even if it means debating his proxies Hannity and DeSantis," said Akhavan.

Newsom's push for Biden-Harris thus served a parallel purpose  boosting his profile in the nation's eyes, Akhavan said.

"Even though Newsom denied running a shadow campaign and vigorously supported Biden and Harris throughout the debate, we all know he has obvious presidential ambitions," Akhavan added. "America doesn't yet know Newsom."

As for DeSantis, he was able to further highlight his case for being president, presenting himself as a "warrior for conservative causes," Akhavan said.

The Florida governor crossed swords with Newsom over education, abortion, taxes, and energy, defending his book banning laws and accusing Newsom of squandering California's resources.

At several points, it appeared as though both men weren't crossing swords at all, shouting talking points over each other and responding to their opponent's accusations by accusing them of something else.

"It was more of a spectacle than a debate," Akhavan said. "The governors talked over each other constantly. They called each other names."

It's thus unlikely that any viewers will change their opinions of either DeSantis or Newsom through Thursday's debate, but it's likely both men solidified rapport for themselves among their already existing supporters, Akhavan added.

"They both won in terms of getting their existing supporters even more in their favor," Akhavan said. "They both lost in that Trump is even more likely to be the Republican nominee after this debate."

A chance for feuding leaders to face off

The debate was a culmination of a longstanding feud between two governors that has at times boiled over into an exchange of bitter insults.

Newsom once called DeSantis "a small, pathetic man" while the Florida governor has said Newsom's "hair gel is interfering with his brain function."

DeSantis has also taunted Newsom to "throw his hat in the ring" and run for president in 2024 against President Joe Biden.

Newsom repeatedly shot down suggestions that he may add his name to the ballot in the 11th hour. Instead, the California governor has publicly acted as a surrogate for President Joe Biden, backing up his record  which was also seen during Thursday evening's debate.

The stakes of the event were also much higher for DeSantis.

The Florida governor has consistently trailed in the polls behind his main GOP rival, Donald Trump. According to a FiveThirtyEight average of national Republican presidential polls, Trump leads 60% while DeSantis sits at 12.6%.

In April, a group of wealthy GOP donors appeared to sour on their support for DeSantis, questioning his presidential prospects. Thomas Peterffy, a GOP megadonor, publicly stated that he no longer plans on financially supporting DeSantis due to the governor's stance on abortion and book banning.

Read the original article on Business Insider
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took a swipe at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) standing in the GOP presidential primary during a debate between the two governors Thursday on Fox News.

This is just a reminder.  Its a question some people are probably asking  I know Nikki Haleys campaign is asking  when are you going to drop out and at least give Nikki Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump in this nomination? Newsom asked. She laid you out.

You wish, DeSantis shot back.

The exchange came during a question posed by the debates moderator, Fox News host Sean Hannity, about how the two men would counter Chinas aggression.

Newsom was referring to comments Haley made about DeSantis during the third GOP primary debate in Miami earlier this month.

During that event, Haley, who has been steadily gaining on DeSantis in many early-state polls following her strong debate performances, accused her opponent of seeking to strengthen business ties with China.

Ron, you are the chair of your economic development agency that as of last week said Florida is the ideal place for Chinese businesses, Haley said. Not only that, you have a company that is a manufacturer of Chinese military planes. You have it.

DeSantis had earlier hit Haley about her relations with Beijing during her tenure as South Carolina governor.

On Thursday, Newsom called DeSantis a walking hypocrite on China.

The Florida governor brushed off Newsoms remarks, saying the allegations had been debunked.

Both men sought to stake out a strong position against China during the Fox News debate, a unique event that saw a presidential contender squaring off against a non-presidential candidate in prime time.

Newsom argued he stood up to China President Xi Jinping on the issue of fentanyl, while DeSantis was quick to label China the U.S.s No. 1 geopolitical foe.

The debate comes just days ahead of the fourth GOP presidential primary debate in Alabama, when DeSantis will go head-to-head with Haley again as he fails to gain traction in his effort to topple former President Trump for the partys nomination.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An orange ribbon-cutting will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1 at the Dona Ana Arts Council (DACC) headquarters, 230 S. Water Street, in Las Cruces to celebrate the launching of the Cultural Ambassador Program partnership between the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) and DACC.

NHCCs Executive Director Zack Quintero will travel to the Dona Ana County to finalize the partnership that will make the program possible.

This is the first official partnership organized under the centers program, which launched this Spring.

The program is designed to foster strong connections with artists, local school districts and community organizations in every corner of the state by supporting, and empowering rural populations, artists and youth across New Mexico.

The program is also an effort by NHCC to identify historic areas in rural New Mexico and establish formal partnerships with those communities. More information on the program is available here.

This specific partnership enables the center to loan artwork to the Arts Council for future exhibitions. Moreover, it establishes a formal pathway for artists in Southern New Mexico to work with NHCC and develops community programming hosted by the NHCC at sites across Dona Ana County.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia continue to be high amid a mix of conflict and natural disasters.

The agency said in its latest Ethiopia humanitarian response situation report issued late Thursday that the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia continue to be high and are mostly caused by the combined effects of inter-communal violence, disease outbreaks, conflicts, and climate change.

"Food security continues to be a major concern across the country amid the ongoing pause in food response, high malnutrition rates and recent reports of drought-like conditions in the northern regions," it said.

Hosting almost 916,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the East African country is also the third-largest host nation in Africa, the UNFPA said, adding that of those in need of help, women and children make up half, and individuals with disabilities make up 17 percent.

It further warned that an estimated 5 million people are reportedly affected by drought-like conditions in Amhara and Tigray regions.

In the Amhara region, the humanitarian situation merges previously existing needs due to the conflict in the north of the country, with drought in some parts of the region, disease outbreaks, an incidence of malnutrition and the influx of returnees and refugees from Sudan, it said.

Meanwhile, the UNFPA said the continuing crisis in neighboring country Sudan is further compounding the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia as a growing number of refugees, asylum seekers, and Ethiopian returnees enter Ethiopia from Sudan. 
Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong (R) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Dec. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

HANOI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to take coordinated steps in the next stage of cooperation with Vietnam in all fields to ensure steady progress in the building of a China-Vietnam community of a shared future, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

Wang said China-Vietnam relations continue to develop at a high level, which not only benefits the people of both countries but is also conducive to regional and world peace and development.

Wang recalled that the leaders of both countries had agreed to cement China-Vietnam friendship and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle plan, charting the future course for deepening the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

At the 15th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation co-chaired with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, the two sides reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation in all fields, defined work directions for the next stage, and reached a new consensus on strengthening cooperation and promoting the sound and steady development of China-Vietnamm relations in all fields, Wang said.

Noting that China and Vietnam enjoy a deep traditional friendship and this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Wang said that while the Vietnamese side regards consolidating relations with China as its strategic choice and top priority in its foreign policy, China also regards relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy.

For his part, Thuong said both Vietnam and China are at a critical development stage, and enhancing bilateral cooperation will benefit each other's revitalization, pledging that his side is ready to work with China to continuously cement the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Thuong urged both sides to make thoughtful preparations for the important political agenda in the next stage and ensure full implementation of the consensus reached by the top leaders of both parties.

Noting that Chinese investment in Vietnam grew rapidly in the first 10 months of this year and bilateral trade maintained sound momentum, Thuong said he hoped both sides would further strengthen their cooperation in trade and investment, party-to-party exchanges, legislative institutions, local exchanges, youth, defense and security areas.

The two countries can also reinforce complementarity in seeking strategic synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle plan, and work more closely together in energy transition and critical infrastructure, Thuong said.

The Vietnamese side is ready for mutual support with China on international and regional affairs and is happy to see China achieve greater development and play a more important role in international affairs, Thuong said. 
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is pursuing legal action against two compounding pharmacies for allegedly offering contaminated copycat versions of the drug semaglutide, found in weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

The company said it had conducted tests on the compounded drug being sold from two Florida pharmacies and found one sample from Wells Pharmacy with impurity level of 33 percent and another from Brooksville Pharmaceuticals that had at least 19 percent less semaglutide than advertised.

Semaglutide is patented by Novo Nordisk. The company filed two lawsuits Wednesday night to warn patients that the compounded drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are potentially unsafe and ineffective.

In a release, the company said they have filed seven complaints against medical spas, medical clinics and weight loss clinics for false and misleading advertising. They have filed five legal actions against pharmacies that are engaging in the unlawful sale of the compounded drugs.

It has obtained preliminary injunctions against six businesses, preventing them from continuing to label products as such. It also requires the entities to label that it is not FDA approved in future marketing of the drug.

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 Nordisks executive director for medical affairs, said in a statement.

The high levels of impurities and low levels of strength could potentially put the patients health at risk, Bretts statement said.

The company said the impurities were related to peptide, which has the potential to stimulate an immunological reaction and has the possibility to lead to serious and life-threatening reactions.

Inaccurate strength of the product puts patients at risk of taking drugs that are less effective than expected, the release said.

FDA has warned that it has received an increasing number of adverse event reports and complaints after patients used compounded products claiming to contain semaglutide, the companys release said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
It's been a chaotic and largely unprecedented couple of weeks that have shaken ChatGPT maker OpenAI to its core.

From CEO Sam Altman's abrupt dismissal to his eventual rehiring, the company went through so many drastic changes in such a quick succession that it could give anybody whiplash.

At the core of the drama surrounding OpenAI's disastrous November is the company's nonprofit board, which was created to oversee the company's Altman-led "capped profit" entity.

Before Altman's dismissal, the board was made up of Altman himself, long-time collaborator Greg Brockman, chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, and Georgetown University Center for Security and Emerging Technology's Helen Toner.

But following the coup  reportedly spearheaded by the eccentric Sutskever  and Altman's reinstatement, the board looks noticeably different, as detailed in a new statement issued by the company. The new board's chair is former Salesforce CEO Bret Taylor, former Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo, the only returning member.

That means the board is now exclusively made up of men, with Toner and McCauley both resigned  a noticeable shift in the governing structure of one of the fastest-growing and influential AI companies in the world.

That lack of diversity especially doesn't bode well considering the very real risks of introducing biases during the development and deployment of tools like ChatGPT.

And despite OpenAI having plenty of time to clear the air, we're still none the wiser as to why the former board decided to boot Altman in the first place, kicking off one of the most confusing and difficult-to-reconcile episodes in recent corporate history.

Some have speculated that the board got spooked by Altman's insistence on driving the tech forward at an accelerated pace without sufficiently considering all the risks. Others pointed at a secretive new project the company has been working on dubbed Q*, pronounced Q star, that could represent a significant milestone for the company.

In reality, it likely was an explosive mix of personal disagreements over the direction of the company and the rapidly developing capabilities of its tech, facilitated by the unusual governing structure that seemingly caused more confusion than providing level-headed leadership.

"To be clear: our decision was about the board's ability to effectively supervise the company, which was our role and responsibility," Toner wrote in a statement on X, announcing her departure (it's unclear if she was fired or left on her own accord). "Though there has been speculation, we were not motivated by a desire to slow down OpenAIs work."

Toner stopped short of burning any bridges.

"I have enormous respect for the OpenAI team, and wish them and the incoming board of Adam, Bret and Larry all the best," she added. "Ill be continuing my work focused on AI policy, safety, and security, so I know our paths will cross many times in the coming years."

That's despite Toner reportedly butting heads with Altman over a paper she published in October, which according to the CEO was critical of the company.

Others were left appalled after finding out OpenAI let go of the only two women on the board, only to replace them with some questionable men.

"OpenAI fires women on the board  board chair who oversaw fuck up stays," Emily Bell, a founding director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, tweeted last week. "Joining board is *Larry Summers* who once said women dont have the same intrinsic aptitude for STEM, and associated with Jeffrey Epstein even after he was convicted of sex offences."

The news also highlights a clear gender divide in the burgeoning AI industry.

"What this underscores is that there arent enough women in the mix to begin with," Margaret OMara, a University of Washington history professor, told Wired.

"AI is very imbalanced in terms of gender," Sasha Luccioni, an AI ethics researcher at HuggingFace, added. "Its not a very welcoming field for women."

More on OpenAI: Hack Tricks ChatGPT Into Spitting Out Private Email Addresses, Phone Numbers
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Norfolk State University announced on Nov. 30 that the suspects for the murder of Jahari Deon George are now in custody.

Police confirmed the news, and said three men were arrested in connection to the homicide. Detectives have charged Marquas L. Gregg, 21, Camari L. Warren, 18, and Cameron C. Brown, 18, with second-degree murder, conspiracy and use of a firearm.

The three are being held without bond.

Cameron C. Brown, 18. Courtesy: NPD

Camari L. Warren, 18. Courtesy: NPD

Marquas L. Gregg, 21. Courtesy: NPD

Gregg was arrested in Richmond. Meanwhile, Warren and Brown were taken into custody in Portsmouth.

Previous Coverage: NSU student killed in Saturday night shooting

The 20-year-old victim was a junior on the campus before he was shot in an off-campus shooting just after 11 p.m. on Sept. 2, police said. He was one of three victims killed in Norfolk in the span of 13 hours. The suspects are now identified and arrested, according to the school.

The campus community is still mourning the loss of Mr. George, and we hope his family and the NSU community can find solace in knowing the individuals responsible will be brought to justice, the university said, in their post.

The victim came from Maryland to attend the university, and was studying engineering.

Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
NASA has set a provisional launch date of July 2028 for its Dragonfly mission, meant to explore Saturns largest moon Titan, with budgetary uncertainty cited as the reason for the projects one-year delay.

The Dragonfly team can now move forward with the next stage of development  Phase C  for the car-sized, nuclear-powered rotorcraft drone that will fly above and land on the sands of Titan, a world planetary scientists believe is rich in organic molecules.

"The Dragonfly team has successfully overcome a number of technical and programmatic challenges in this daring endeavor to gather new science on Titan ," NASA Science Mission Directorate associate administrator Nicola Fox said in a statement . "I am proud of this team and their ability to keep all aspects of the mission moving."

Related: Strange winds blow on Saturns moon Titan. New clues could solve this decades-old mystery

At NASAs Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) meeting on Nov. 28, the director of the agency's planetary science division, Lori Glaze, revealed the reason for the launch delay  originally set to head to Titan in 2027. She said that formal confirmation of Dragonfly and the official costing and scheduling of the mission by NASAs Agency Program Management Council (APMC) had been postponed due to uncertainty about how much money would be available for the project.

"Because of these incredibly large uncertainties in Financial Year 2024 and Financial Year 2025 funding and budgets, the decision was made at the APMC to postpone the official confirmation," Glaze said at the meeting.

She added that Dragonfly would be taken back to the APMC in spring 2024 after NASAs Financial Year 2025 budget proposal.

The team will replan the mission upon request, and when any necessary restructuring has been completed and reviewed, NASA will officially assess the missions launch readiness date in mid-2024. This means some elements of Dragonflys final mission design and fabrication will be delayed while others proceed.

Thus far, Dragonfly is the only NASA mission scheduled to visit the surface of an ocean moon. Once at Titan, the drone will search for conditions that could imply habitability. Dragonfly will also investigate how far any possible prebiotic chemistry has progressed on the moon of Saturn and even hunt for signs of water or hydrocarbon-based life that already exist there.

In addition to traveling further across an alien world than any other planetary rover has, the 4 dual-bladed rotorcraft will also land on Saturns surface in different regions, collecting samples to determine the composition of surface materials under varying geological conditions.

The investigation of Titan is of high priority for planetary scientists because, in addition to being an ocean world, it is the only solar system moon known to possess a thick atmosphere and an Earth -like hydrological cycle of methane clouds, rain and liquid flowing across its surface and filling lakes and seas. This, and the potential presence of abundant complex organic materials frozen into the moon 's icy surface, boosts the potential for habitability on Titan.

Related Stories:

 NASA's Titan Dragonfly will touch down on a field of dunes and shattered ice

 NASA wants to fly this nuclear Dragonfly drone on Saturn's moon Titan. Watch its wind tunnel test (video)

 Saturn moon Titan could hold the clues to life's origin. This NASA drone could find them

Dragonfly, which will be built and operated by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, is constructed to conduct this investigation using its equipped cameras, sensors and samplers.

"Dragonfly is such a daring endeavor, like nothing that has ever been done before," Dragonfly principal investigator Elizabeth Turtle said. "I'm inspired by the way our team has repeatedly overcome challenges by working together and thinking outside the box."

Several Dragonfly components, including its control and navigation systems, have already been tested over the deserts of California  chosen for its resemblance to the sand dunes of Titan  as well as in wind tunnels at NASA's Langley Research Center. A full-scale model has also been tested in Johns Hopkins APL's massive Titan Chamber  which simulates the frigid temperatures and atmospheric pressures of Titan's methane-rich environment.

"We've demonstrated that we're ready for the next steps on the path to Titan, and we'll keep moving forward with the same curiosity and creativity that have brought Dragonfly to this point," Turtle concluded.
Nurses spoke out about alleged mismanagement at their hospitals, including 16 facilities HCA operates along the Gulf Coast in Southwest Florida, ahead of union contract expirations next year, according to a press release. HCA facilities will begin bargaining on new union contracts in 2024, which nurses say is an opportunity to address workplace issues.

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, said Marissa Lee, a registered nurse at HCA Florida Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, 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.

National Nurses Organizing Committee and National Nurses United represent more than 10,000 registered nurses at 20 HCA facilities in seven states, including Florida.
Authorities arrested an Ocean Springs High School physics teacher on Thursday after investigators confirmed he had an inappropriate relationship with a student, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said in a news release.

James Hawkins, 38, is charged with one count of sexual battery, according to the release. He was arrested Thursday afternoon and has since been fired by the district.

James Hawkins, 38, is charged with one count of sexual battery.

Hawkins is in jail in Jackson County. The release said an investigation is ongoing and Hawkins could face further charges. It did not provide additional information.

The Ocean Springs School District said it fired Hawkins Thursday night after school officials learned of his arrest. Hawkins had worked at Ocean Springs High School since July 2022, according to a LinkedIn profile. OSSD spokesman Trey Brennan confirmed Hawkins was in his second year of employment.

We are working with investigators and will assist them in any way possible, the district said in the statement. The safety of our students and staff members remains the highest priority of OSSD and the charges against Hawkins are disturbing and intolerable.

In April, authorities arrested a former Ocean Springs Middle School substitute teacher who was on contract employment with an outside firm after a student accused him of inappropriately touching her and sending her explicit messages over Snapchat.

Earlier this month, Jackson County authorities also charged a former Moss Point school resource officer, School Board member and one-time Moss Point mayoral candidate with sex crimes against a 17-year-old.

Before teaching at Ocean Springs High School, Hawkins worked in physics as a graduate student at Mississippi State University, according to his LinkedIn. His profile said he obtained a bachelors degree at the university between 2005 and 2019 and worked at various times as a professors assistant and physics lab graduate teaching assistant.

The sheriffs office asked anyone with information on the case to call Captain Kristen Johnson at 228-769-7559. OSSD asked anyone with information or who knows of other potential victims to call the Jackson County Sheriffs Office at 228-769-3063 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Ocean State Job Lot will be opening its 10th Pennsylvania store location this weekend.

abc27 News reported back in August 2023 when Ocean State Job Lot first confirmed the upcoming opening of their new Mechanicsburg location.

According to Ocean State Job Lot, they will be holding an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new 31,939 square foot store on Saturday, Dec. 2. The new store is located at 6520 Carlisle Pike in the Silver Spring Commons, in a space which was formerly occupied by Marshalls.

It is important to note that this space has been vacant since 2021.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

WHTM Severe Weather Alerts

As part of the grand opening, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony starting at 9:00 a.m., followed by several activities for guests to enjoy, such as free pictures with Santa Clause, free face painting, a live performance by local musician Kirk Wise, and a free giveaway for shoppers who sign up for their loyalty program and spend $5 or more.

The event is scheduled to go until 12:00 p.m. and will also boast a live broadcast from Wink 104.

According to Ocean State Job Lot, the following officials are expected to be in attendance for the grand opening ceremony:

Scott Perry, U.S. Congressman  Pennsylvanias 10 th Congressional District

Raymond Palmer, Township Manager

Kaytee Isley, representing Representative Greg Rothman

Cheryl Neidig , Assistant Township Manager

Nancy Konhaus Griffie , Board Liaison, Business Advisory Council

John Wascavage, Building & Codes Supervisor

Apart from the grand opening itself, Ocean State Job Lot will be donating 1,200 coats to the Cumberland County VA Clinic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
A platoon commander of Odesa Oblast's air defense forces is suspected of illicitly selling his unit's diesel fuel, the State Bureau of Investigation said on Dec. 1.

The officer, who was responsible for receiving and distributing the fuel, sold more than 20 of the 30 metric tons of supplies allocated to the unit for personal gain, the bureau said.

The damage the suspect allegedly caused is estimated at Hr 1.4 million ($38,400). The man reportedly reimbursed the sum in full after the start of the criminal proceedings.

The officer is suspected of negligence during military service and faces up to eight years in prison.

In another case, military officials in Kyiv Oblast were charged on Nov. 27 with illegally selling food supplies assigned to a military unit for their own profit.

In collusion with private entrepreneurs, the officials allegedly stole at least 30% of the military food supplies stored in one warehouse, which were then sold in shops, restaurants, and markets, the bureau said.

Under the leadership of previous Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, the Defense Ministry has been marred by several corruption scandals.

One of the main tasks assigned by President Volodymyr Zelensky to Reznikov's successor, Rustem Umerov, was to crack down on corruption and increase transparency in the Defense Ministry and the military.

Rooting out corruption is one of the crucial steps Ukraine has to take in its path toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son during their meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Dec. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

HANOI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son agreed during their meeting here on Friday to jointly maintain peace and stability at sea.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during the meeting that like-mindedness and a shared future are the salient features of China-Vietnam relations. The two parties and the two countries have seen close high-level exchanges and frequent contacts like visiting relatives, which fully demonstrates the high level and special nature of China-Vietnam relations, he said.

China and Vietnam have the same social system and shared ideals and beliefs, Wang said, adding that defining a new positioning and setting new goals for the relationship will not only open up new prospects for the development of the ties, but also make new contributions to the cause of peace and progress of mankind.

Wang emphasized that the foreign affairs departments of the two countries should encourage, support and coordinate various departments and sub-national governments to implement the strategic consensus reached by leaders of the two parties, strengthen inter-party exchanges and exchanges of experience in governance, and usher in a new surge in practical cooperation in various fields.

China and Vietnam should actively promote mutually beneficial cooperation at sea, prevent the involvement of external forces, accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and make the South China Sea a sea of peace and cooperation, the Chinese foreign minister said.

In the international and multilateral arena, he said, China and Vietnam should closely coordinate and support each other to jointly uphold international equity and justice.

Bui Thanh Son said the party, state and people of Vietnam have special feelings for China, as the friendship between Vietnam and China is deeply rooted in people's hearts.

The Vietnamese side regards the development of relations with China as a strategic choice and top priority, Son said, adding that Vietnam hopes to promote the healthy, stable and lasting development of relations between the two parties and two countries, and elevate the ties to new heights.

He said the foreign affairs departments of the two countries may work closely together, play the role well in coordinating and promoting cooperation in various fields, strengthen high-level exchanges and exchanges at all levels, and deepen practical cooperation in agricultural products, connectivity, high science and technology, tourism, and other fields.

Son said the Vietnamese side is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Chinese side in international and regional affairs, and support the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.

China's ideals and initiatives are in line with the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the aspirations of all countries to build a better world, and are conducive to the cause of peace and progress of mankind, he said.

The Vietnamese side is willing to work with the Chinese side to maintain peace and stability at sea in accordance with the high-level consensus between the two countries, said the Vietnamese foreign minister.

The two sides also exchanged views during the meeting on international and regional hotspot issues of common concern. 
New Ukrainian-made electromagnetic warfare systems to protect soldiers from radar-guided weapons and FPV drones were successfully tested and recommended for use, Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk told ArmyInform on Dec. 1.

One of these systems is designed to combat all types of Russian drones, suppress satellite navigation signals, and create a variety of false signals, according to Havryliuk.

Another two electromagnetic systems are currently being tested in the Defense Ministry to counter Russian Lancet and FPV drones, ArmyInform wrote.

A day before, Havryliuk said that Ukraine planned to increase the production of missiles, arms, and other military equipment several times next year, with a particular focus on air defenses.

Growing uncertainties about the stability of Western support and Russia's defense budget hike make domestic production of air defenses and other systems all the more crucial.

Last month, the state-owned Ukrainian Defense Industry concern announced the mass production of kamikaze drones with a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers.

Kyiv puts a great deal of importance on domestic high-tech weapons production, and poor performance in this area was reportedly one of the reasons for the dismissal of the Ukrainian Defense Industry's previous chief, Yurii Husiev, in June.

Read also: How Russias homegrown Lancet drone became so feared in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Former President Donald J. Trump has received a significant endorsement on his path to the Republican nomination.

The Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee met in Columbus and endorsed Trump for President on Dec. 1, 2023. The businessman turned ex-president is seeking the Republican nomination as he hopes to defeat President Joe Biden in a repeat of a matchup that he lost in 2020.

Ohio House Republicans introduce two bills to tweak Issue 2

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex M. Triantafilou explained this decision in the partys announcement, which included jabs at Biden, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and the radical left.

President Trump has proven time and again that despite the unhinged and relentless attacks from the radical left, he will never give up on fighting for Ohios workers, businesses and families, Triantafilou said.

Trumps opponents include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and more.

While we appreciate all of the Republican candidates who are passionately making their case to the American people, it is clear that President Trump is the right choice in this moment, Triantafilou said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally for then-U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance at Dayton International Airport in 2022.

The Ohio Republican Party on Friday endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024, a rare move that underscores the former president's grip on state GOP officials.

Trump is considered the presumptive Republican nominee, even though he faces several civil and criminal cases over alleged business fraud, interference in the 2020 election and mishandling of classified government documents. His opponents, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, trail far behind him in the polls.

Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is also seeking the GOP nomination. He grew up in the Cincinnati area and currently lives near Columbus.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou said the party appreciates the work of other candidates but called Trump the right nominee for the moment.

"President Trump has proven time and again that despite the unhinged and relentless attacks from the radical left, he will never give up on fighting for Ohio's workers, businesses and families," Triantafilou said in a statement. "His unapologetic leadership and commitment to putting America First is exactly what we need to reverse course from the failed policies of Joe Biden and Sherrod Brown."

Trump's campaign was quick to trot out the endorsement, which appears to be the first in this election by a state Republican Party. The Ohio GOP backed former Gov. John Kasich in the 2016 primary over Trump.

In recent years, Republicans on the state central committee have clashed over whether to endorse in competitive GOP primaries.

Ohio Republican Party does not endorse in U.S. Senate race

The committee did not pick a candidate in the GOP primary for Ohio's U.S. Senate race during its Friday meeting. Secretary of State Frank LaRose, businessman Bernie Moreno and state Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, are running for the chance to take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown next year. Ohio is among a handful of states that Republicans hope to flip to reclaim control of the Senate.

The primary is March 19.

Haley BeMiller 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 Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Republican Party endorses Donald Trump for president in 2024
Ohios Republican Party endorsed former President Trump in his reelection bid for the White House on Friday.

President Trump has proven time and again that despite the unhinged and relentless attacks from the radical left, he will never give up on fighting for Ohios workers, business and families, Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex M. Triantafilou said in a Trump campaign press release. His unapologetic leadership and commitment to putting America First is exactly what we need to reverse course from the failed policies of Joe Biden and Sherrod Brown.

Ohios becomes the first state Republican Party to endorse the former president for 2024, according to reports from multiple outlets.

Trumps endorsement by Ohio Republicans follows recent wins for liberal causes in the Buckeye State. At the beginning of last month, a majority of voters in Ohio voted for a ballot measure that enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution. Voters also voted to legalize recreational marijuana, making Ohio the 24th state to do so.

While we appreciate all of the Republican candidates who are passionately making their case to the American people, it is clear that President Trump is the right choice in this moment, Triantafilou continued in his statement.

Trump leads his 2024 GOP presidential rivals by a wide margin, polling at an average of 60 percent, followed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (Fla.) at 12.6 percent, former Gov. Nikki Haley (S.C.) at 9.5 percent and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is from Ohio, at 5.1 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ohio voters made the Buckeye State the 24th to legalize recreational marijuana for adults.

The ballot measure, known as Issue 2, passed in the Nov. 7 election with 57% of the vote, according to unofficial results. And Ohio Republicans who oppose marijuana started talking almost immediately about how they want to change it.

Gov. Mike DeWine and legislative leaders aren't pushing for a repeal, but they do plan to make tweaks  and could do so before the end of the year.

"I can't believe in 2023 we're actually talking about elected officials not respecting the will of the voters and not respecting the outcome of an election," Tom Haren, a spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said on election night. "I expect, I think that every single voter in Ohio has a right to expect, that elected officials will implement and respect the will of voters."

Why can the Ohio Legislature change the marijuana law?

Unlike the abortion rights measure that passed on Nov. 7, Issue 2 was not a constitutional amendment. It was an initiated statute.

This process allows Ohio citizens to propose laws for the Ohio Revised Code. Petitioners gather signatures to place the measure before the Legislature, which then has four months to act. If lawmakers don't consider it, groups can collect a second round of signatures to put their proposed statute on the ballot.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol got Issue 2 on the November ballot after Republican leaders declined to take up the recreational marijuana law. Haren said they did an initiated statute to maintain flexibility in case tweaks are needed after the program rolls out. Constitutional amendments are incredibly difficult to change or repeal.

But since Issue 2 is a statute, lawmakers are free to make changes whenever they want  just like they can with other state laws.

What changes have been proposed?

GOP leaders are still finalizing their plans. DeWine and Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, want to enact some changes before the law takes effect Dec. 7, but the House is operating with less urgency. Their ideas have included reallocating tax revenue, clearing up rules for public use and limiting children's exposure to advertising.

Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, introduced legislation this week that would allow municipalities to restrict marijuana use and home grow and impose additional taxes on cannabis businesses. It would also change how revenue is doled out, with some money going toward police training.

"What the people have clearly told us is they want legal marijuana in Ohio," DeWine said after the election. "We are going to see that they have that, but we've also got to live up to our responsibility to all the people in the state of Ohio, whether they voted for it or voted against it ... that we do this in a very responsible way."

Haley BeMiller 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 Cincinnati Enquirer: Why can Legislature change new Ohio recreational marijuana law?
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma City Police Department has confirmed detectives are working a road rage shooting case which occurred September 30 on the 9400 block of S. Bryant Avenue.

Police provided a photo of the suspects vehicle, which appears to be a Dodge sedan with tinted windows, tinted sunroof and a non-matching gas cap.

 Find more Top Stories from KFOR.com

Authorities say all leads have been exhausted and police are hopeful this picture can lead to the identity of the suspect.

Anyone with any information is asked to reach out to Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
MACALESTER, Okla. (KFOR)  The State of Oklahoma carried out the execution of death-row inmate Phillip Hancock at 11:29 a.m. Thursday, despite a clemency recommendation from the State Pardon and Parole Board.

Witnesses said Hancock stuck to his self-defense claim and had harsh words for the Attorney General.

Self defense: Advocates reveal new evidence in push for clemency for death-row inmate

The director of the Department of Corrections said Governor Kevin Stitts office asked the DOC to put the execution on pause, after a late legal request from Hancocks team. At 10:10 a.m., the Governors counsel gave the DOC the green light to proceed.

Two families have been waiting a long time for this, said Ryan Jett, Robert Jett Jr.s brother.

Relief washing over the victims family, as Oklahoma executes Phillip Hancock for the 2001 killings of Robert Jett Jr. and James Lynch. Thats when an unarmed Hancock went into Jetts Oklahoma City home, where Jett and Lynch were high on meth.

Defense attorneys claim both Jett and Lynch were in biker gangs.

Later into the night, tensions rose during a fight over an opened pack of cigarettes.

He got mad at me for opening that pack of cigarettes, said Hancock during a 2002 police interview. Hes got this breakover bar standing over top of me saying Get in the cage. And I said, Bob, thats not right.

Prosecutors and a witness said Jett then calmed down and walked away, before Hancock attacked.

However, Hancock claimed a fight over Jetts loaded gun, between all three men, began.

He was coming down with that breaker bar, for my head, and I shot him and said, I just killed you, b****, said Hancock during the interview.

Hancock ultimately killed Jett and Lynch with Jetts gun, then took off in his truck.

Once the threat was over, you shouldve stopped. Called 911, you know? an investigator told Hancock during the interview.

I couldnt stay around, because of his associations with people, said Hancock.

I had to defend myself that day: Clemency recommended for death-row inmate set for Nov. 30 execution

Minutes before the sentence was carried out Thursday, Hancock uttered his final thoughts.

Hancock smiled and said, Where are my enemies at?' recalled Jake Bleiberg, a witness with the Associated Press.

Witnesses said Hancock also met the Oklahoma Attorney Generals gaze while delivering harsh words.

Youve been hoodwinked, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, recalled Bleiberg. Hopefully yall will be able to get the evidence that Attorney General Gentner Drummond withheld.

He called the Attorney Generals office opportunistic liars, murderers, and thieves,' said Sharon Phillips, a witness with KJRH.

Jett and Lynchs family said they are finally at peace.

Im grateful that justice has been served according to Gods will and this 22 year nightmare can finally be laid to rest, said Kayla Thomas-Hiles, Lynchs niece, on behalf of her mother. Ive prayed for his salvation for nearly 2 decades.

Hancocks last meal consisted of dark meat fried chicken, from KFC, no sides, with a root beer.

State of Oklahoma executes fourth death-row inmate of 2023

Following his execution, Drummond issued the following statement:

Justice has been served for the murders of Robert Jett and James Lynch. I hope today brings a measure of peace to the families of the men whose lives were tragically cut short by Phillip Dean Hancock. Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma Attorney General

One of the lawmakers advocating for Hancocks clemency released a statement Thursday evening:

Phillip Hancock should never have been sentenced to death for defending himself against a violent, unprovoked attack. Any of us would have fought to stay out of that terrifying cage in Bob Jetts house, and if we were able to get Jetts gun away from him, we, too, would have used it to save our own lives. Yet Phil was sentenced to death for this act of self-defense, and today, Oklahoma executed him for it. Phils execution is simply not justice. I have learned far more about the serious problems in Oklahomas death penalty system than I ever imagined. As a longtime supporter of capital punishment and a firm believer in law and order, it gives me no pleasure to say that this system is broken. But Phillip Hancocks execution is a stark example of that unavoidable fact. Oklahoma must stop carrying out executions until we can ensure that only people who truly deserve capital punishment are sentenced to death. Phillip Hancock did not deserve to die, and I am ashamed his life was taken in our name. Representative Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow

One of Hancocks attorneys also issued a statement:

The state of Oklahoma unlawfully killed Phillip Hancock today in spite of a recommendation for clemency from the Board. Governor Stitt unconscionably declined to stop the execution, ignoring the unwavering support of many of his allies including Republican State Representatives Kevin McDugle and Justin JJ Humphrey and State Senator David Bullard. We are profoundly sad that Oklahoma executed Phil for protecting himself from a violent attack. 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. He fought to stay out of a cage to defend his life only to be caged and tragically killed by the state. Phil had an exemplary record over the twenty years that he was housed on death row. He was a caring son and devoted brother. The tragedy of this killing is outrageous, and all Oklahomans should be ashamed. May Phil rest in peace. Shawn Nolan, attorney for Phillip Hancock

Hancock is Oklahomas final execution for 2023 after the executions of Scott Eizember on January 12, Jemaine Cannon on July 20 and Anthony Sanchez on September 21.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A man convicted of a double killing in 2001 has been executed in Oklahoma, despite his claims of self-defence and recommendations of clemency from the prison board.

Phillip Dean Hancock, 59, received a three-drug lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for the killings of Robert Jett Jr and James Lynch on Thursday.

It came after Republican Governor Kevin Stitt waited until the last minute to reject the recommendation of clemency.

In the seconds before his death, while strapped to the gurney inside the execution chamber, Hancock reportedly thanked his legal team and reiterated his claim that the killings were in self-defence, according to the Associated Press.

He added that he hoped to be exonerated after his death. Hancock also criticized Attorney General Gentner Drummonds office, which handled Hancocks post-conviction prosecution.

"Theyre vile. Theyre virtueless. Theyre without honor," Hancock said, per AP, who added that Mr Drummond, who witnessed the execution, did not appear to react.

In a statement issued hours after the execution, Mr Stitt said that he made his decision after a thorough review and noted that Hancock also had claimed self-defence in a previous killing.

The statement did not directly address why Mr Stitts decision was delayed until after the executions scheduled start time of 10am. The execution did not begin until after 11am, and Hancock was pronounced dead at 11.29am.

These are always painfully difficult decisions to make and I dont take this responsibility lightly, Mr Stitts statement said.

Reverend Don Heath, chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, criticised the governors delay in deliberations over whether to commute Hancocks sentence.

I cant imagine the anxiety that Phillip Hancock must have felt as Governor Stitt again waited until beyond the last minute to reject clemency, the statement read.

Hancock long claimed that he shot and killed Jett, 37, and Lynch, 58, after the two men attacked him inside Jetts home in south Oklahoma City.

His 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 his home.

Phillip Dean Hancock was executed on Thursday (AP)

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 Jetts 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, according to AP.

I have no doubt they would have killed me. They forced me to fight for my life.

Two Oklahoma Republican state lawmakers who strongly support the death penalty, Representatives Justin Humphrey and Kevin McDugle, also testified to the board on Hancocks behalf.

If any one of us were in that same exact situation ... we would have fought for our lives, said Mr McDugle, of Broken Arrow.

The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  Award-winning actress Maja Salvador revealed on Friday that she and her husband Rambo Nunez are expecting their first child.

Salvador made the announcement in a series of Instagram posts where she bared her baby bump in a holiday-themed photoshoot with her partner.

The best Christmas present we could ever ask for, her husband wrote in a post shared by the 35-year-old celebrity.

Salvador also uploaded a video where they showed an ultrasound photo of their baby.

The "Wildflower" star earlier told Preview that she and Nunez had a secret civil wedding in Manila in February before having their destination wedding in Bali, Indonesia in July.
Public school teachers in Orange County will be able to use transgender students preferred pronouns if parents provide written permission, despite the states refusal to clarify whether such a policy is legal.

Orange County Public Schools new guidance comes after months of discussion and debate and will be shared with teachers Monday, according to a Friday email from Superintendent Maria Vazquez to the Orange County School Board.

The guidance will tell teachers they may use pronouns that correspond to transgender students gender identity and not their sex at birth. Teachers will not be required to use those preferred pronouns, however. Several other districts, including those in Broward and Pinellas counties, have issued similar guidance.

OCPS decision comes after several unsuccessful attempts to get clarity from the Florida Department of Education about the new state law that in public schools limits the use of pronouns that do not match a persons biological sex.

In her email, Vazquez said she had spoken individually with the eight school board members and a majority believed, based on a Nov. 16 letter from Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, that such guidance was allowed, and they wanted it issued.

District leaders have wrestled with the issue for months, worried that failing to use pronouns that matched the gender identity of transgender students was upsetting to those youngsters but also fearful of having teachers violate the new law.

The law (HB 1069), passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, went into effect in July. It forbids school districts from requiring employees to refer to anyone using titles or pronouns that do not match that persons sex, employees from telling students their preferred titles or pronouns and employees from asking students about their preferred pronouns.

But the boards attorneys viewed the law  an expansion of the 2022 law critics dubbed as dont say gay  as unclear on whether it was acceptable for a teacher to choose to use a students preferred pronouns, if parents gave permission. Because violations of the pronoun rule could lead to sanctions against teachers, or even the loss of a teaching certificate, OCPS advised educators in August not to use any that did not match sex at birth.

But they continued to discuss the issue as some teachers, parents and students urged the use of preferred parents with parental approval.

On Nov. 15, Teresa Jacobs, the school boards chair, wrote Diaz seeking clarification and explaining the district planned to tell teachers that starting Dec. 4 they could, but would not be required to, use preferred pronouns with parents permission  unless the state said that such practice is contrary to law.

Diazs reply letter to Jacobs defended the law, and criticized the use of false pronouns, that is those that did not correspond to sex at birth, but it did not say the OCPS plans was illegal. Jacobs said she read Diazs letter as confirmation that the districts planned guidance to teachers was appropriate, though she conceded that one sentence gave some district staff pause.

The following week, Diaz and Vazquez spoke, and that conversation prompted another request to Diaz to clarify what he meant in his letter.

Other districts also have questioned how to interpret the new law. Hillsborough and Pinellas have approved the use of preferred pronouns with parental permission, but the Pasco County school district has told employees that is not allowed, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Utilizing a students preferred pronouns, which do not match the students statutorily defined sex, would be a false act by you and subject to disciplinary action by the state, Pasco told its staff.

Vazquez asked for clarification in writing on Wednesday, as did OCPS attorney John Palmerini, according to emails both sent to Andrew King, general counsel for education department.

The emails did not specify what Diaz told Vazquez about the pronoun issue during their conversation, and neither Vazquez nor the OCPS media relations office responded immediately to questions about what the commissioner said.

During my conversation with the Commissioner last week he brought up issuing a clarifying letter and my response was that I believed it would be needed, Vazquez wrote to King. Has the Commissioner changed his thoughts on the letter?

King responded, At this point, there is no plan to issue another letter.

Palmerini in his email noted that some other districts had already issued the same guidance on pronouns that OCPS planned to give its teachers. Do these practices in Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, Pinellas and St. Johns school districts comport with the new law as outlined in the Commissioners November 16, 2023 letter?

He also asked for clarification of the sentence in Diazs letter that concerned some staff. That sentence from Diaz read: In sum, the statute prohibits people from being forced to refer to others by false pronouns, and it prohibits school district employees from taking an active role in exposing students to these falsities.

Did the last part of that sentence mean teachers who use pronouns which do not correspond with a students biological sex at birth would be taking an active role in exposing other students in the class to those pronouns which the law deems to be false or is this a misreading of the language from the Commissioners letter?

King responded, I took a minute to re-read the letter, and I do not believe there is any reason to clarify it.

Vazquez in her email to board members said a majority of them interpreted Diazs letter to mean that staff is able to use a students preferred pronoun with parental permission and the guidance to teachers will reflect that view.

The education department has not yet responded to the Orlando Sentinels Nov. 20 request asking to clarify Diazs views.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  Allowing the International Criminal Courts (ICC) investigators to enter the Philippines to probe the Duterte administrations drug war will depend on the countrys justice and immigration authorities, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said Friday.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, Guevarra explained there is no reason to prevent ICC officials from entering the country as long as there will be no illegal activities to be conducted and that they have the proper travel documents.

However, the authorization still depends on the assessment of the Bureau of Immigration with the guidance of the Department of Justice, he added.

He noted the Philippines immigration laws have a wide latitude of discretion on the part of our immigration authorities to admit or not to admit certain persons whom they think may be considered as undesirable.

The ICC decided to continue its probe into the bloody war against illegal drugs in July after its Appeals Chamber rejected the plea of the Philippine government against the resumption of the investigation.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said the government will consider it a crime if members of the ICC come to the country to conduct the probe.

Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who was chief of national police during the previous administration, said he favors arresting the tribunals officials if they insist on coming in.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has maintained that the government will not cooperate with the ICC. Menardo echoed this, saying there are no legal grounds to work with the tribunal, especially after the country withdrew its membership that took effect in 2019.

READ: Marcos: PH studying ICC return, no jurisdiction to probe drug war

Cooperating despite the absence of a legal duty is a political decision that only the president can make, the solicitor general noted.

As for the Commission on Human Rights, it will not be prevented from cooperating with ICC officials given that it is an independent body, Menardo said.
Taiwan's security cannot rely on U.S. weapons: defense spokesperson

Xinhua) 08:13, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The Department of Justice (DOJ) is confident that the "humanitarian problem" of prison overcrowding will be addressed before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ends his term in 2028.

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said this will be possible with the Bureau of Corrections' (BuCor) plan to establish at least 16 regional jails across the country.

He said the BuCor has already asked for an additional budget as one facility may need funding of roughly 2 billion.

With more regional jails available, the BuCor can vacate the New Bilibid Prison and convert it into a national government center or another government facility.

"By the time, we hope to have as many regional jails to be able to fit all PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) who are now jailed in Bilibid Prison," he said during a Palace briefing on Friday.

"So we're hoping to spread out the PDLs to different facilities, considering also kung saan sila nanggaling (where they came from)," Clavano said.

The official also said the requirement is 4.8 square meters per PDL which is very far from the current situation in jails.

Kahit nakakulong mga 'yan, may karapatan pa rin sila (Even though they are imprisoned, they still have rights)," he added.

Next week, Clavano said the government will hold a summit to discuss strategies to address this issue. Representatives from the DOJ, Supreme Court, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government will lead the event.
I opened carried. People freaked out. I dont blame them, is a quote from former Memphis mayoral candidate Derek Winn, 34, who was detained by Memphis police for walking through his neighborhood with an assault-style rifle.

The Tennessee man, who only received 57 votes during the election, said he was being stalked on his regular walking route to work and wanted to protect himself. Instead, he struck fear in the hearts of those who lived close to Peabody Ave and Cooper Street, where he was seen with the large firearm on Monday, Nov. 27.

Memphis mayoral candidate Derek Winn walks through neighborhood with an assault rifle. (Photo: YouTube screenshot/WREG News Channel 3)

His action caused a stir in the community, causing a nearby preschool and elementary school to lockdown. Photographs of the man were shared across the internet.

I just keep picturing him sitting outside my daughters schools and shooting at them, a concerned parent posted on Facebook.

Winn released a statement to the WREG via text message.

I was scared, I overreacted, I can never apologize enough to the people who feared for their childrens lives that day Not going to happen again, he wrote. I open carried on my way to/from work and people freaked out, and to be honest, I dont blame them.

He also said, Memphis is a dangerous place.

He elaborated on why he was carrying the gun in an interview with local station Fox 13.

For a few days, for more than a few days, I was being stalked by someone on a bicycle, white male, and one night there were two of them on bikes, and they got pretty close, Winn stated, admitting that he didnt consider how his actions may have impacted the community.

The Memphis Police Department received two calls reporting a strange man walking through the Midtown neighborhood with a rifle. When they arrived in the area, Winn was gone, but someone directed law enforcement to his home.

After meeting with Winn in his home, he confessed to the officers that he had been carrying the rifle openly but did not intend to use it unless someone attacked him. He explained that he had been being followed and was scared.

The police then took his weapon before running a background check on him. His report came back clean, with no criminal history or any mention of mental illness. With that assurance, the cops gave him back his rifle and left.

Social media exploded after learning about Winn and the outcome of the incident.

Young black male picked up a BB gun in am Ohio Walmart and the cops shot him within minutes  JB is waiting for 2024 (@judybethy) November 30, 2023

I saw the pics the other day, didnt know it was my hometown!



For reference, he was doing this in a legit old fancy part of town. When I lived near there a private security company made regular rounds.



He chose one of the safest neighborhoods for this performative BS.  Richie Ryan (@Richie__Ryan) November 30, 2023

No charges were filed against Winn. It is legal for people to openly carry weapons in many states, including Tennessee.

It makes me feel unsafe no matter [who] you are especially with a gun that size you know, neighbor William Smythe said about the incident.
I was a young police reporter in Gary, Indiana, in the early 1980s. I covered serial killer Alton Coleman, murders, violent crimes and drug busts in a city marked murder capital per capita during those years.

I had seen the worst of people.

Yet when I covered a death penalty case of a young man accused of killing a beloved area restaurant owner, execution wasnt a slam dunk for me.

Seated directly behind the defendant, I could see little pimples on his skin, sweat on his neck, muscles moving under his shirt as he squirmed in his chair, and other things that made him seem, well, human.

Should we, as a nation, kill people?

The country appears to be wavering. Americans support for the death penalty is the lowest it has been in five decades, according to a nationwide survey, part of The Death Penalty in 2023: Year End Report released by the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serves the media and public with information and data.

In the reports Gallup Crime Survey, it found that slightly more than half of Americans (53%) favor the death penalty, the lowest number since March 1972. Public support peaked in 1994  a particularly bloodthirsty year  with 80% of Americans in favor. It has steadily declined since then.

Maybe its because violent crime is on a slight decrease nationwide and even the murder/homicide rate is falling. We cant say that in Kansas City. We have passed the homicide tally this year from last.

Perhaps its because Americans believe the death penalty isnt a deterrent. Or just maybe its because the perception is an unfair application.

For the first time since it began in 2000, the survey reports that more Americans believe the death penalty is applied unfairly (50%) than fairly (47%).

According to the survey: Between 2000 and 2015, 51%-61% of Americans said they thought capital punishment was applied fairly in the U.S., but this number has been dropping since 2016. This years number of 47% represents a historic low in the history of Gallups polling.

Death sentences from judges, not juries

Only five states executed people this year, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. The majority of states (29 of them) have now either abolished the death penalty or paused executions by executive action, according to the Center.

While there is no 2023 public opinion data specifically from Missouri, Tiana Herring, data storyteller for the Death Penalty Information Center, believes looking at juries can show a trend. (A survey asking for your opinion accompanies this column.)

No jury in Missouri has handed down a death sentence since 2013. All death sentences handed down since then have been from judges and in breaking a deadlocked jury. Thats indicative of a larger shift away from the use of the death penalty and maybe points to the idea that juries are becoming aware of potential issues with imposing death sentences.

In a 2004 poll by the Center for Social Sciences and Public Policy Research at Southwest Missouri State University, only 40% of Missourians surveyed support the death penalty when offered an option of life with no parole plus restitution.

A report on historic racial violence in Missouri accompanied the national year-end report.

Missouri has been a consistent outlier in the use of the death penalty. Missouri is continuing to defy that national trend, Herring said. That helps to explain why we decided to look at Missouri.

The report, Compromised Justice: How A Legacy of Racial Violence Informs Missouris Death Penalty, looks at three areas of Missouris use of executions:

Historically, Missouris death penalty was applied discriminatorily based on race.

Missouri has a substantial history of racial violence directed at black Missourians

Modern death sentencing trends reveal a continued emphasis on race in capital punishment, and prosecutorial decision-making is a cause of racial disparities.

Legacies of discrimination and violence

The past isnt as far in the past as we think it is. Legacies of discrimination and violence are built into the foundation of the systems we have today, Herring said.

She explained a disparity called the race and victim effect.

There is an overrepresentation of white victim cases among death sentences. When you look at Missouri homicide victim statistics, roughly 36% of homicide victims have been white. But 80% of death sentences involved white victims.

Herring said a study in St. Louis County found that having a white victim acts as an aggravating factor that was comparable to someone having a prior conviction of first-degree murder or felonious assault.

Essentially this points to a preferential valuing of white victims that is very reminiscent of what we see in looking at early lynching statistics or early execution stories, Herring said.

Cases like executed Leonard Taylor change minds

If surveys show support slowing, and trends show juries arent handing down death sentences, is it it time to end this practice?

I asked Herring, in sifting through all her data, why people seem to be softening on the death penalty.

I think it has to do with the stories that people are seeing about the death penalty. I think people are seeing coverage of cases where the death penalty is called into question when people have innocence claims. Cases like Leonard Taylor, who was executed in February but maintained his innocence, she said.

Its the human element.

The human element indeed. Perhaps thats why, decades later, I still remember the young man sitting in front of me awaiting his fate.

If we must have the death penalty, we have to deal with the race and victim effect. Treating cases equally is what a democracy must stand for.
Our government has passed the first test. In issuing a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) in response to the United Arab Emirates-funded bid to buy the Telegraph titles and The Spectator magazine, culture secretary Lucy Frazer has ordered the media regulator to investigate.

The referral to Ofcom is clear: it will examine whether the controversial deal risks the need for accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers.

We can trust that they will come up with the right conclusions because it is obvious to all of us that a newspaper owned by a Gulf state will face questions surrounding freedom of expression. It doesnt pass the sniff test because many believe  correctly in my view  that the UAE falls short of Western standards and values.

Ultimately, however, this is a political decision. It is Frazers job to either greenlight, impose restrictions on, or block the deal. And as a woman in politics she should recognise that a newspaper that promotes women as key columnists may struggle to operate under the guise of any authoritarian regime that implements sexist laws.

This newspaper, along with The Spectator, has always had a proud history of prominently featuring womens voices. The unparalleled Janet Daley has been sharing her incisive views on politics, philosophy and economics with Sunday Telegraph readers since 1996. Allison Pearson has been bravely speaking up for the silent majority for decades, rejoining The Telegraph as a columnist in 2010.

When the proud feminist Suzanne Moore was hounded out of The Guardian for her views on trans ideology, we welcomed her with open arms. Bryony Gordons pioneering work on mental health helped to start a national conversation about this important issue. And behind the scenes we have a formidable team of female writers, reporters and editors who make sure that we are always covering the stories that really matter to the women who read this newspaper, as well as the men.

There are, of course, numerous other reasons to be concerned about this takeover of a national treasure.

Charles Moore has already argued it would be unforgivable for The Telegraph to be nationalised by a foreign state which does not have press freedom. He also expressed valid concerns about the bid being fronted by Jeff Zucker, a media executive under whose watch CNN became an aggressively Left-wing news network.

Lord Hague, the former foreign secretary, has warned of potential editorial interference after revealing he had once received a telephone call from a senior figure in the UAE, who had wanted to complain vociferously about the BBC, which had broadcast news items that had reflected very badly on some powerful Emiratis.

He was also critical of the investment minister Lord Johnson, who implied that concerns over the takeover are sentimental.

As a Telegraph journalist, I share all these fears. But as a woman, I am even more deeply concerned about the potential for this newspaper to be owned by a sexist regime. For, while women in the UAE have made huge progress and enjoy more freedoms than others in the Middle East, they are still discriminated against in the judicial system, as reports by international observers have found.

According to an LSE paper published in October, while the UAEs advertising campaign narrates the accomplishments of women in high positions of power (such as surgeons, pilots, engineers, professors and diplomats) and frames their achievements in nationalistic terms, representing the new Emirati standard, these carefully curated images often do not reflect the experiences of ordinary Emirati women, as many of the depicted women are affiliated with the royal family. It added that royal women who attempted to break free from their constraints faced harsh consequences, including abduction, imprisonment, and torture.

Advances have been made, said the report, but some gender biases continued to persist, exemplified by the wifes legal obligations to the husband, as well as in sectors such as healthcare, where access to maternal care can be withheld if the mother does not provide a marriage certificate. Legal reforms had not been applied to all women equally, either.

In July 2022, The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) found that UAE law discriminates against women in the transmission of nationality to children.

Amnesty International, meanwhile, has catalogued countless examples of the UAEs Media Regulatory Office suppressing freedom of expression, including censoring content in the media deemed to be immoral. In June last year, according to Amnesty, it banned Lightyear, a US-produced film because it depicted a same-sex kiss and later instructed Netflix to remove same-sex content from its services in the UAE or face prosecution.

Around the same time, Amnesty claims, the newspaper Al Roeya, which is published by a company owned by Sheikh Mansour, fired almost all its journalists and editors because the paper had reported on how Emiratis were reacting to the rising price of energy. The print newspaper then ceased publication, with the website kept online by a skeleton staff and publishing only business news.

Finally, as a woman, I cannot forgo mentioning the bizarre case of the missing daughter of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who serves with Sheikh Mansour as vice president of the UAE. In 2018, a video was released of Sheikha Latifa, 37, after she attempted to flee the UAE, claiming she was a victim of abuse and accusing her father of being a major criminal.

She was returned to the loving care of her family months later, only for another video to surface in 2021, showing Latifa saying she had been held hostage in solitary confinement with no access to medical help. Following a #FreeLatifa campaign, she is now believed to be living in Paris.

So while I welcome Ofcoms investigation, this takeover has implications that go well beyond the media regulators remit. In assessing this bid, Lucy Frazer and indeed Rishi Sunak would be wise to ask themselves one fundamental question: do they want women like me to carry on writing these sorts of articles for the Telegraph, or not?

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.
Thank you, Government of Canada, for selecting up to 16 P-8 Poseidon aircraft for the RCAF. Together with our Canadian industry P-8 partners, we'll continue to deliver prosperity to Canada.

Its official: The Boeing P-8 Poseidon will be Canadas next maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Ottawas selection of the P-8 as the only aircraft able to meet the countrys needs is a remarkable turnaround for the manufacturer, which had been slammed as an untrustworthy partner back in 2017, extinguishing any chances of Canada buying the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as its next fighter.

The Canadian government today announced that it would award Boeing a sole-source deal valued at around $5.9 billion for 14 P-8s, plus associated equipment and initial maintenance. Not included in this deal are simulators, weapons, and new infrastructure to accommodate the aircraft. There is also an option to buy two more P-8s at a later date. Ultimately, the whole deal could be worth around $7.7 billion.

https://twitter.com/NationalDefence/status/1730292657522430058

Boeing confirmed that the Canadian government has signed a Foreign Military Sales Letter of Offer and Acceptance for up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

The P-8 will bolster Canadas 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.

https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/1730294026702664131

Delivery of the first aircraft is expected to begin in 2026 and they will replace the CP-140 Aurora (a version of the P-3 Orion) in the MPA role with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Reports suggest that all the Canadian P-8s could be delivered as early as fall 2027, with full operational capability achieved by 2033. While 15 examples are reportedly active currently, the last of the CP-140s should be retired from service in 2030.

A Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora. RCAF

Canada requires a multi-mission fleet to contribute to the safety and security of Canadians and protect the sovereignty of a country with the longest coastline in the world, said Canadian Minister of Defense Bill Blair today. The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is the right aircraft to fulfill this role.

https://twitter.com/RCAF_ARC/status/1730296127801426390

In March this year, Public Services and Procurement Canada  responsible for the governments internal servicing and administration  had declared that the P-8 was the only aircraft to meet the militarys needs. That decision had not been without controversy, especially since two local firms  Bombardier and General Dynamics Mission SystemsCanada  were proposing an alternative Aurora replacement. This was the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) offering based on Bombardiers Global 6500 bizjet airframe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DPtQ91YnN8

As it turned out, domestic companies did not have a chance to compete for the MPA requirement. In some ways, the historic rivalry between Boeing and Bombardier in Canada has come full circle with this decision.

As part of its protracted search for a replacement for the RCAFs aging CF-18 legacy Hornet fleet, Canada had lined up a purchase of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from Boeing as interim fighters.

CF-18 Hornet fighters from 409 Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta, are refueled in the air during Exercise Vigilant Eagle 13 in August 2013. RCAF

But in 2017, Boeing complained to the U.S. government that Bombardier was receiving subsidies, allowing it to sell its C-Series commercial passenger aircraft at prices that undercut the market and threatened the U.S. companys own sales.

After an investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission, then-President Donald Trump introduced trade duties amounting to almost 300 percent against the Bombardier C-Series. This happened even though Boeings complaints were rejected by the International Trade Commission.

The upshot of this was an economic spat between the United States and its neighbor, with the then Canadian Minister of Defense, Harjit Sajjan, describing Boeings actions as not the behavior of a trusted partner.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right), flanked by Canadian Minister of Defense Harjit Singh Sajjan (left), at the NATO Summit in Brussels, in May 2017. ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP via Getty Images

Canada walked away from the planned Super Hornet buy. This came as part of a wider reaction by the government in Ottawa, including the introduction of the so-called Boeing clause that was intended to avoid economic harm to Canada in instances of arms procurements.

In a dramatic about-face, Canadas Liberal government, which oversaw this dispute back in 2017, has now put its full weight behind the procurement of a Boeing product.

The lessons of the Boeing-Bombardier dispute havent entirely been forgotten, however.

As part of the P-8 deal, Boeing will have to ensure meaningful business activities and make targeted investments in Canadian industry to support the growth of our aerospace and defense sector, the government says.

An artists concept of a P-8A Poseidon in RCAF colors. Boeing

Exactly what kinds of investments will be made are unclear, although there are reports that a center of excellence could be established by Boeing in Canada. This may well be tied to plans to have P-8 maintenance undertaken in Canada, although initially this work will be handled in the United States.

Boeing also points to what it describes as the P-8 Canadian industry partnership, which includes CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada, and StandardAero. This is in addition to 81 existing Canadian suppliers that contribute to the P-8 platform in one way or another.

The decision to purchase the P-8 comes only months after another multi-billion-dollar deal for the RCAF was announced. This was the decision to buy 88 F-35A stealth fighters to finally replace the CF-18s, with the Lockheed Martin product being chosen in favor of Saabs Gripen E . This was another remarkable turnaround, with the Liberal party having stated unequivocally in 2015 that Canada would not buy the F-35.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz3jViFJrJ4

RCAF big-ticket procurement decisions are rarely far from controversy, it seems. That may still be the case for the P-8 decision. There are reports that, in recent parliamentary hearings, Canadian government officials admitted they did not seriously examine any other potential MPAs or even conduct talks with any other firms besides Boeing. With the option of a locally developed CMMA being rejected out of hand, that admission looks like a questionable political move.

As it is, Canada looks set to receive the P-8 and it will undoubtedly bring advantages over the aging CP-140 now in use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j_jp1Hf_jU

Back in 2020, The War Zone spoke to a U.S. Navy pilot who explained exactly what the P-8 can do better than the P-3C that it has replaced (or, in the case of the RCAF, the CP-140). They said:

The P-8 Poseidon has a significant leg up on the P-3 Orion when it comes to the airframe itself, crew coordination, and its ability to handle future capabilities. With both forward and aft auxiliary fuel tanks, we can load up with about 70,000 pounds of gas depending on our takeoff limitations. I have flown 10.5+ hour ISR (information, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions, with a comfortable amount of gas to land with.

By being able to fly higher, faster, and longer than the P-3, we can get on station faster than our predecessor. This also gives us the capability to easily cross the pond and allows us to be a fairly mobile force if time and mission dictate us to have to pick up and take the plane wherever we need to go.

As well as its performance advantage, the P-8 is also a true multi-mission platform. As well as weapons , it carries a range of sensors for use during anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, ISR, and search and rescue (SAR) missions. It also lends itself to modifications such as the host for a secretive radar system , the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor , or AAS.

Canadas selection of the P-8 means that all of the FIVE EYES allies  the intelligence alliance that also includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand  will operate the aircraft. This should bring clear strategic advantages, as well as easing interoperability and offering other operational synergies. Other operators are Norway, India , and South Korea, while Germany has also selected the aircraft.

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon. Australian Department of Defense

Investing in maritime patrol and ISR is also significant in terms of Canadas wider strategic responsibilities and, in particular, the increasing militarization of the Arctic. The demands of a steadily more contested Arctic region have also seen Canada look in the past at long-range surveillance drones .

Whether crewed or uncrewed, there is a growing requirement for maritime patrol and ISR assets that can cover the vast swaths of the Arctic, protecting Canadian and allied strategic and economic interests and keeping tabs on the increasing Russian and Chinese military and civilian maritime activity.

The Chinese icebreaker Xue Long lowers equipment to the Arctic ice. Public domain

Russia alone has made significant efforts to expand its military footprint into the Far North, including drafting new warships and other Arctic-optimized weapons systems. At the same time, it has been reactivating long-dormant airbases for both strategic bombers and interceptors and established new ones. Even without these, Russia has over 50 airfields and ports in the area, enabling it to project power across the region and also to potentially disrupt or deny Canadian (and U.S.) access to the Arctic.

All these issues are only amplified by the continuing retreat of the polar ice, which is opening up possibilities for new and highly strategic shipping routes as well as previously untapped natural resources.

Right now, the Arctic is a dynamic theater of operations and one in which the capabilities of the P-8 will be put to good use by the Royal Canadian Air Force once these new aircraft begin to arrive in service. Outside of the Arctic, too, the Poseidon also puts Canada at the top of the maritime patrol and ISR game when it comes to long-range missions over the Atlantic and Pacific , where advanced surface and sub-surface threats are also proliferating.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
State Rep. Pat Harkins will no longer seek reimbursement for the miles he drives for in-district business, including meetings and work-related events in other parts of the state.

Harkins' decision follows a report by Harrisburg television station ABC27 News-WHTM that showed him being reimbursed $154,687 for mileage since 2018, including $26,114 in 2022.

"It is too high, I agree," Harkins, D-1st Dist., of Erie, told the Erie Times-News. "That's not why I'm there. And if I were to look at it as a person not knowing what I do, I would be outraged too."

The ABC27 News-WHTM report compared Harkins' travel reimbursement expenses to those of fellow Erie-area state representatives Ryan Bizzarro and Bob Merski, as well as state Sen. Dan Laughlin, and found that Harkins has been reimbursed three to four times as much for travel.

Harkins, who was been in office since 2007, said his other expenses, like office space, are in line with his colleagues.

However, committee assignments have required him to travel to all corners of the state, including his current assignment as chairman of the Gaming Oversight Committee, which oversees the state's casinos and is working on legislation to address skills-based video terminals.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Pat Harkins, left, jokes with Gov. Josh Shapiro during a visit to the Erie West Senior Center to discuss property tax and rent rebate programs for seniors in May.

"We're touring casinos and everything else, trying to find out what legislation works," he said. "We're working with stakeholders and trying to find out what their concerns are if we pass a piece of legislation that we could get through the House and the Senate."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Harkins, then minority chairman of the House Labor Committee, said he would travel for meetings with companies about pandemic unemployment assistance.

"When I'm in district, I'll be in Pittsburgh or I'll go to Grove City to meet somebody halfway from Johnstown on an issue that deals with school district matters, or labor issues, or anything," he said, "but it's not like it's a fun drive. It's not like I'm just out to drive."

Harkins said he has to "learn to say no" to in-person meetings and that he will instead opt for video conferencing.

Harkins isn't violating any House rule, but he admits his mileage expenses are out of line compared to fellow lawmakers, even those who make the 600-plus-mile roundtrip between Erie and Harrisburg.

"If it was me looking at it from the outside, I'd say, what the heck? What's going on with that?" he said.

What Harkins no longer seeks reimbursement for, however, will be quickly made up starting Friday, when rank-and-file state legislators in both the House and Senate see their salary jump 3.5% to $106,422 from the current salary of $102,844, which was up 7.8% from the $95,432 they made in 2022. The pay raises for state lawmakers are tied to a 1995 law that based raises on increases in the Consumer Price Index.

Legislators also receive health care and a pension, in addition to reimbursements known as per diems for food and lodging while on official business.

Pennsylvania lawmakers receive some of the highest salaries and benefit packages in the nation, third only to California and New York.

Harkins: How can we help older Erieites tap the many benefits of broadband?

Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie lawmaker Harkins agrees with critics, his travel costs 'too high'
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Officers are investigating several incidents where United States Postal Service vehicles are being broken into in Wilkes-Barre.

According to the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, on Thursday, November 30, officers responded to the area of Lockhart Street for a report of a vehicle break-in and theft.

Police said they learned an employee of the United States Postal Service, advised that she parked her work vehicle in the area, and when she returned an unknown suspect/s smashed the passenger side window, removed a tray of mail, and fled the scene.

PA Lottery Scratch-Off worth $1M sold in Luzerne County

Then on Friday, December 1, officers were called to the area of High Street for another theft from a mail carrier vehicle with the same method of operation.

The unknown suspect removed three packages from the vehicle and fled the area, police said.

There were no witnesses to this incident. The United States Postal Service, Office of the US Postal Inspector were notified of the thefts and are working with the Wilkes-Barre police during the investigation.

If anyone has any information related to this case they are asked to contact the Wilkes-Barre Police Detective Division Lt. Mathew Stash at 570-208-0911 or the United States Postal Inspectors Office 24 hours (877) 876-2455.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
The president of Colombia has compared the genocide of the Palestinian people to climate change.

Speaking at COP28 on Friday, Gustavo Petro linked the Israel-Gaza conflict to the climate emergency.

He claimed barbaric acts unleashed against the Palestinian people is what awaits those who are fleeing the south because of the climate crisis, adding the conflict is a "rehearsal for the future".

Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gazas population of 2.3 million uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed - roughly two-thirds of them women and children - according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Hamas is a UK-proscribed terrorist organisation.

Israel has previously said allegations of genocide were "deplorable" and that its actions target Hamas militants, not civilians.

Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed, mostly during Hamass deadly 7 October attack that triggered the war.

Petro, the left-wing president who was sworn in last year and is a former member of Colombia's M-19 guerrilla group, said at the second day of COP28: I invite you, ladies and gentlemen, to think about a fusion, a combination of events: the climate crisis and the genocide of the Palestinian people.

Israel restarted combat operations in Gaza on Friday. (AFP via Getty Images)

Recommended reading

Are these events disconnected, is my question, or are we seeing here a mirror of what is going to happen in the future? The genocides and the barbaric acts unleashed against the Palestinian people is what awaits those who are fleeing the south because of the climate crisis.

He went on: Most victims of climate change, which will be counted in their billions, will be in those countries that do not emit CO2 or emit very little. Without the transfer of wealth from the north to the south, the climate victims will increasingly have less drinking water in their homes and they will have to migrate north, where the melting glaciers will make it possible for people to have drinking water. The exodus will be of billions.

Colombia's president Gustavo Petro said the Israel-Gaza conflict is a 'rehearsal for the future'. (Reuters)

There will be pushback against the exodus, with violence, with barbaric acts committed. This is what is happening in Gaza. This is a rehearsal for the future. Why have the major carbon-consuming nations made it possible for the systematic killing of thousands of children in Gaza, is my question?

Because if they do not kill them, they will invade their country to prevent them from consuming their carbon. We can therefore see what the future will look like. There will be a shrinking of democracy and unleashed barbaric acts against our peoples. Those of us who do not emit CO2. Those of us who are poor."

Israel restarts operations

Israel restarted combat operations in the Gaza Strip minutes after a temporary truce expired on Friday, blaming Hamas for breaking the ceasefire.

Within hours of the truce ending, Hamas-run Gaza reported 109 people had been killed and dozens wounded in air strikes.

In light of this, Petro was not the only world leader at COP28, which is being held in the UAE, to speak out about the conflict.

Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "While discussing the climate crisis, we cannot ignore the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Palestinian territories right beside us. The Israeli attacks that have claimed the lives of over 16,000 innocent Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom are children and women, can in no way be justified."

Jordan's King Abdullah also said: "Nor can we stand by as the massive destruction of a relentless war in Gaza threatens more people and holds back progress towards a better global future."

It comes as UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said the UK is exploring alternative routes to provide aid to Gaza following the breakdown of the truce.

Sunak also renewed calls for sustained humanitarian pauses as he met regional leaders on the sidelines of the COP28 summit.
Kinnan Abdalhamid, one of the three Palestinian college students shot in Vermont over Thanksgiving weekend, recalled Friday how he feared his friends were killed when he heard shots ringing out  and how their lives were likely saved by an emergency SOS call.

"I was shaking and genuinely believed both of my friends were dead," Abdalhamid told NBC News.

Watch Fear and Faith: Palestinians in America, a special set to stream on NBC News Now at 9 p.m. ET.

He recounted the shock and fear that engulfed him when he and his friends Hisham Awartani and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, all 20, were shot as they were out walking Nov. 25 in Burlington, Vermont.

Earlier that day, Abdalhamid and his friends had been bowling and were going for a walk in Awartanis grandmothers neighborhood when terror struck.

We walked around the block and on the way back, across the sidewalk, we see this man standing on his porch looking away, Abdalhamid said. He turned around and as soon as he saw us, he ran down the steps, pulled out a pistol and started shooting.

He first shot my friend Tahseen, and I soon heard the sound of his body on the ground and him screaming. That was my signal to run. Then I soon heard another pistol shot while running, Hisham hit the floor, he recalled. I jumped the fence and I believe thats when he shot me.

Abdalhamid said he hid in the backyard of a house for a minute or two, shaking in fear.

A sharp pain

"My phone was out of battery and I think it fell while I was jumping the fence. After gathering the courage, (I thought) like, 'All right, he could be after me now, or if my friends have any chance of surviving, I need to call 911 as soon as possible,' he said.

Abdalhamid limped as he rushed to another house where he saw through the windows that people were inside.

I knocked the glass. I was like 'Please, come out, I need y'all to come out.' They stared for a bit and reluctantly came," he recounted. He explained that his friends had been shot, and the family in the home called 911 and told him to sit on a bench outside.

Once he sat, he felt a sharp pain in his backside.

Thats when I was like, 'Oh, I was shot as well,' Abdalhamid said.

Abdalhamid was shot in the glutes and was released from the hospital earlier this week. Tahseen Ali Ahmad, a student at Connecticuts Trinity College, was shot in the chest, and Hisham Awartani, a junior at Brown University in Rhode Island, was shot in the spine.

Abdalhamid asked the family for an ice pack and said he was losing consciousness.

Police arrived quickly, and it turned out that Awartani may have saved his friends' lives by using his phones emergency SOS button.

(Police) came so fast because it turns out Hisham  while he was down  after trying to open the phone with his code, he couldnt because there was too much blood on the phone," Abdalhamid said.

"He was able to think of using the phones emergency SOS, which probably directly saved both their lives.

Targeted for speaking Arabic?

Abdalhamid urged officers to drive him directly to the hospital, warning that he was losing consciousness, and he made it safely to the hospital.

When he was reunited with his friends at the hospital, they concluded, without question, that they were targeted for speaking Arabic.

"We were like, 'Why do you think it happened?' We were like, 'Oh yeah, probably because we were speaking Arabic.' It was an instant conclusion because we can't think about anything else," Abdalhamid explained.

At the time of the shooting, he and his friends had been talking about how they probably hadn't done enough homework during their Thanksgiving break, he said.

Officials havent shared a motive as to why suspect Jason J. Eaton, 48, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree attempted murder, opened fire. Abdalhamid told CNN earlier this week that the gunman didnt say a word to them when he pulled out a gun.

Police noted two of victims were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves, at the time of the shooting, but haven't said if the shootings were motivated by hate.

"As soon as he was arrested, we felt a lot safer in going out because we thought it could be a genuine threat, at least on my part," Abdalhamid said.

'I havent been focusing much on myself'

The shooting sparked outrage amid ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and a surge in Islamophobia in the United States reminiscent of the times after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I have heard of other Palestinians being beat up, stabbed or humiliated, but I certainly didnt expect to be shot and theres a difference between intellectually knowing it and first hand experiencing it or close people around you experiencing it," he said.

Abdalhamid noted that despite growing up in the occupied West Bank, his mother wanted him to study in the U.S., thinking it would be safer.

"There should be a lot more attention to the protection of not only Palestinians, but Arabs in general," he said. "Because I feel that the type of people (that) shoot Palestinians cannot distinguish between them and an Arab, an Arab and a Muslim or a Muslim and a terrorist."

"Its important to protect all groups. Everyone who follows the law should be protected no matter their identity," he said.

Despite the trauma, Abdalhamid says, he's focused on the strife of his people and the recovery of his friends.

Honestly I havent been focusing much on myself. They just ended the humanitarian pause and Ive been focusing on my people dying both in the West Bank and Gaza. So, that is really where my mind has been most of the time, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Palestinian newlyweds stood in front of the rubble that was once the home where they planned to build a life.

Yasmine Abu Rujileh, 23, and Khalil Al Najjar, 26, married just a month before war broke out Oct. 7. Their honeymoon was spent fleeing across southern Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pummeled the neighborhoods around them.

We were living a happy life, but this happiness is gone and everything with it, Abu Rujileh told an NBC News crew at the scene as the couple searched through the debris hoping to find winter clothes.

Across the Gaza Strip, displaced Palestinian families used the brief calm before the resumption of bombing Friday to venture out to see if their homes were still standing.

Many, like Abu Rujileh and Al Najjar, are finding only wreckage.

A new data analysis finds that in Gaza City and the north of the strip, around half of all buildings have either been damaged or completely destroyed during Israels seven-week offensive in response to the Oct 7. Hamas terror attack.

Israel strikes in Rafah, southern Gaza. (Said Khatib / AFP - Getty Images)

In the south of Gaza, where Israel has urged Palestinian civilians to flee for their own safety, the damage is less extensive but still stark. In Khan Younis, between 10% to 15% of all buildings have been damaged, according to the research.

The data, compiled by researchers at Oregon State University and the City University of New York Graduate Center, is based on an analysis of imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-1, a satellite operated by the European Space Agency.

Gaza has been left reeling by the death toll of the last seven weeks. More than 15,000 people were killed according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, most of them in Israeli airstrikes. Proportional to the population, that is the equivalent of around 2.4 million Americans, or roughly the population of Houston.

But the scale of the physical devastation has also given many Gazans the bewildering sense that the strip where they lived their entire lives is disappearing before their eyes, replaced by unrecognizable swaths of destruction.

A visual analysis by NBC News finds many of Gazas best-known landmarks are now in ruins. The Square of the Unknown Soldier was once a popular park in the heart of Gaza City, its perimeter lined with trees and a playground for children on one side.

Today, the square is a stretch of brown dirt. The trees are uprooted. And the playground is lost somewhere in the tangle of metal. The Gaza City municipality says Israeli forces used bulldozers to flatten it as part of a campaign to deliberately target landmarks.

The Israel Defense Forces did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

A city library has also been destroyed. Images shared by the Gaza City municipality show childrens books on the floor, covered in ash. The Rashad Shawa Cultural Center, which hosted a theater and a library of its own, has also been reduced to rubble.

NBC News witnessed the destruction firsthand on a coastal stretch of northern Gaza while embedded with Israeli forces as they hunted for tunnels used by Hamas fighters. Few buildings were still standing, having been destroyed either by Israeli strikes or flattened by military construction vehicles.

Images shared Monday show damaged books strewn across the floor of the Gaza Municipality Library. (Municipality of Gaza)

One two-story home appeared undamaged on first approach. But once inside, it became clear that several of its exterior walls had been blown up, exposing its staircase to the elements.

More than half of Gazas 2 million residents have been displaced by the fighting and many now have no homes to return to  a housing crisis that will long outlast the current conflict but is becoming more acute by the day as winter sets in.

In Khan Younis, Abu Rujileh and Al Najjar sifted through the debris of what was once their bedroom as they looked for warm clothes. Little had survived the explosion but Abu Rujileh paused over a red plastic candy box. Inside were sweets given to them on their wedding night.

We dug out our happiness from the ground, she said, smiling sadly.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Mico Clavano said the agency still has to study the proposal to have a reimbursement scheme to offloaded travelers as it might have a "chilling effect" on screening officers.

"Kailangan muna naming pag-aralan yan," Clavano said Thursday, stressing that the provision can also be subjected to abuse by deceitful passengers.

He said screening officers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) may be pressured with the time it can question a passenger.

READ: DOJ: 'Unfair' for BI to reimburse travelers offloaded due to long immigration assessment

"Baka matakot pa yung immigration officer na mag offload [The immigration officer might be afraid to offload], even if it's the duty of the immigration officer to really do that," the spokesman said.

"May discretion ang immigration officer. Kapag makita nila na mayroong red flags at sa tingin nila medyo may fraudulent representation doon sa mga requirements, we really have to put that at the forefront," he added.

[Translation: The immigration officer has discretion. If they see any red flags or they think there's a fraudulent representation on the requirements, we really have to put that at the forefront.]

Sen. Chiz Escudero earlier proposed to place a special provision on the BI's budget that can be used for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses of Filipino passengers who failed to board their flight.

Clavano, meanwhile, said the DOJ will discuss the proposal with BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.

"As of now, there's still no mechanism by which we can reimburse them," he clarified.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  A small plane with two people on board went missing shortly after leaving Cauyan Airport in Isabela Thursday morning.

In a statement on Friday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said a Piper PA-32-300 aircraft with tail number RP-C1234 was bound for Palanan Airport, also in Isabela.

It was supposed to arrive at around 10:23 a.m., but the plane lost communication. It was last detected by a flight radar at 10 a.m., CAAP added.

It added that the Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center did not receive an Emergency Locator Transmitter distress alert, but the CAAP Operations Center from the Cauayan Tower received a distress message on Thursday.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' News Night on Friday evening, Isabela's disaster management head Constante Foronda said that when authorities examined the data, the plane was last recorded somewhere in San Mariano but still had a ground speed of 89 knots, or around 160 kilometers per hour. He added it was recorded at 3,300 feet in altitude.

San Mariano is located between where the two airports are situated, which makes it a possible location for the missing plane.

"Ibig sabihin airborne 'yong eroplano no'ng tumigil sa flight radar tracking," the provincial disaster management official explained. "Hindi sa point na 'yon nag-end up 'yong missing aircraft, it's somewhere east or towards Palanan."

[Translation: It means the plane was still airborne when the Flightradar tracking stopped. The missing aircraft did not end up on that point, it's somewhere east or towards Palanan.]

"Search and Rescue units are now being organized. Cauayan Airport and Tower extended operations yesterday (Thursday) until 6 p.m. and opened early at 6 a.m. to activate search and rescue operations," CAAP earlier said.

CAAP also said the Philippine National Police and the Palanan government deployed personnel to investigate in Barangay Casala and Sitio Dipadsangan, respectively, both in San Mariano, Isabela.

Foronda said the search area for the missing Piper plane seems smaller than the area for the missing Cessna plane in January, as they would start their search from the last point based on record and would follow the supposed flight route.

He said the 32-member search team from San Mariano has no sightings yet of the missing plane, as of the latest reports.

Meanwhile, the 44-member search team from Palanan, which included authorities and indigenous peoples, are hoping to have sighting reports while on the way to the last blip point, Foronda said.

Northern and Central Luzon have been experiencing bad weather this week due to the northeast monsoon or amihan, but authorities have yet to determine the factors that contributed to the plane's disappearance.

Strong winds that may have pushed the plane during its flight can be among them, Foronda said.

In January, a Cessna plane carrying 6 passengers disappeared in Isabela. After 44 days it was reported missing, the aircraft was found around a mountain slope with no survivors.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  Military officials from the Philippines, United States, Japan, and Australia hold their first joint service staff talks from Nov.28 to Dec.1 in Tokyo.

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that the meeting aims to "further deepen discussion on upholding a rules-based international order."

Among those who attended were the following:

-Australian Defense Forces' Deputy Chief Joint Operations AVM Mike Kitcher

-Japan Self-Defense Forces Major Gen. Nobutaka Minamikawa of the Defense Plans and Policy Department

-US Indo-Pacific Commands Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Major General Jay Bargeron

-AFP Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, AJ5 Brigadier Gen. Rommel Cordova

The AFP said the discussion of the four officials focused on regional issues of common interest and opportunities to further expand cooperation.

"They also reaffirmed a shared vision for a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' and a collective effort to ensure that the vision continues to thrive," the AFP added.

The AFPs participation here is another demonstration of its commitment to its alliance and partnership with like-minded nations, particularly in protecting Philippine defense and security interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

The joint talks stemmed from the Japan-Philippines-Australia-US Defense Ministerial Meeting held in Singapore last June 3.

The Philippines and Australia earlier held a maritime cooperative activity as part of the two nations' strategic partnership.

Japan and the Philippines are also in talks for a reciprocal access agreement, which would allow troops from one country to freely visit the other temporarily.
KIENT, Ohio (WJW)  The Kent Police Police department released a photo Friday in their search for a suspect in a local shooting death.

Police are looking for Dawan Wilson, 44.

Police say hes a suspect in the death of a 35-year-old woman who was shot inside a home in the 1300 block of S. Water Street on November 11.

According to police, investigators believe Wilson had traveled to Kent from his home in Goodyear, Arizona, to find the victim.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Police say they had a domestic relationship.

Police released a photo of Wilson along with a picture of the vehicle he was driving at the time of the Kent homicide.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kent Police Department or the US Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) at 1-866- 4WANTED (1-866-492-6833).

The NOVFTF is offering up to a $1,500 reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Dawan Wilson.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The Philippines slipped by three spots and placed 59th out of 64 countries in this years World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, a report by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) showed.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines ranked 13th out of 14 countries  only ahead of Mongolia which placed 63rd overall.

The country placed 56th overall last year and 58th in 2021.

The ranking considered three main factors where the Philippines also posted slight declines compared with its 2022 data  knowledge (63rd from 62nd), technology (51st from 49th), and future readiness (59th from 58th).

The five countries leading this years list are the United States, the Netherlands, Singapore, Denmark, and Switzerland which IMD considers as digital nations, or countries that facilitate the full adoption of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

While we measure no specific AI indicators, the technology sits silently at the core of the subfactors that we quantify: talent, regulatory and technological frameworks, and adaptive attitudes and business agility, IMDs World Competitiveness Center professor Arturo Bris said in an accompanying statement.

On a data level, the quality of digital regulation, the funding available for technology development, and the degree of company agility are all data points that are enmeshed with AI, he added.

Marcos this month invited technology stakeholders to invest in the Philippines as the government works to boost the development of AI in the country.
South Carolinians may see lots of political advertisements on their social media feeds as the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries in February draw closer.

But if any of those ads use artificial intelligence on any of Metas platforms, that information must be disclosed by the advertiser.

Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, plans to institute a new policy in January to require A.I. disclosure on advertisements.

The policy says a disclaimer will run with a political or social issue advertisement whenever it contains a photo-realistic image or video, or realistic-sounding audio, that was digitally created or altered by A.I. or other methods to depict a real person saying or doing something they did not say or do themselves.

Theres been a lot of focus on what A.I. will do and how it will change politics and ads, Erin McPike, a spokeswoman for Meta, told The State. Voters are always saying that they want more information. They want this kind of transparency and so this is our effort to be proactive and to give them that.

The policy also will apply to advertisements that include a realistic-looking person that does not exist, a realistic-looking event that did not happen or altered footage of a real event. Any advertisement that depicts a realistic event that allegedly occurred that does not have true images, video or audio of the event would also need the A.I. disclaimer.

The policy applies to campaigns and political action committees who often run ads in support of candidates.

An advertisement with A.I. but without the disclaimer, in violation of the policy, will be removed. An advertiser with repeated violations face other punishments, including the inability to advertise on the platform.

More and more advertisements, potentially with A.I., are expected to pop up ahead of the early 2024 presidential primaries.

South Carolina will kick off the Democratic presidential nominating process on Feb. 3. The Feb. 24 Republican primary in the Palmetto State is the First in the South contest.

Winning these early contests is key, especially for Republicans. Since 1980, the winner of the S.C. GOP primary has gone on to win the nomination, with the exception of 2012, when former House speaker Newt Gingrich won the state but ultimately lost the nomination to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Advertising can be more effective at persuading people during a primary election than a general election, said Karyn Amira, a political science professor at the College of Charleston.

In a general election, most people have already decided who theyre voting for and an ad or statement cant change their position, Amira said. (In) a primary election, when you cant rely on your partisanship to make a decision, and you have to learn about candidates or issues. That could be a space where advertising is more effective.

On social media, ads are more targeted toward specific users, Amira said.

Theres better information about who you can reach demographically than through a television news station, Amira said.

The required use of the A.I. disclaimer may effect peoples perceptions of the advertiser, but its true impact is still unknown.

If the disclaimer about A.I. were to be made salient to people, either by noticing it, or someone brought it to their attention, my best guess would be this would make people lose trust in that sponsor, or that campaign that used it, Amira said. We know that negative ads decrease trust in people or in some cases demobilize people and I think theres a possibility that A.I. could do something similar, but I will hedge my words on it because clearly nobody has studied this yet.

Metas new rule is not limited to the presidential race. It applies to any social, electoral or political advertisement.

Meta is a leader certainly in both social media and in A.I. development, McPike said. And so we want to be proactive and we want to give our users the transparency they deserve.
Rishi Sunak said the UK would not be the difference in the battle against climate change as he urged the US and China to dramatically accelerate their efforts to reduce harmful emissions.

The Prime Minister warned the international community it must take further action on the environment in a press conference at the Cop28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Sunak also argued that the Government had done more than others to date in reducing its emissions, and that this justified his decision to delay a range of domestic green deadlines.

Despite the US and China being the largest two global polluters, neither Joe Biden nor Xi Jinping opted to attend Cop28 and both presidents instead sent delegations in their place.

Asked whether emissions from polluters like China and the US could render the UKs own climate action insignificant, Mr Sunak replied: The UK accounts for less than one per cent of global emissions, that is just the reality of it.

So all of us who believe in climate change, who want to make sure we leave our planet in a better shape for our kids and grandkids, have to acknowledge that in reality what we do isnt going to be the difference in terms of our emissions.

Now, of course, that doesnt mean we shouldnt do anything. Of course, we have got a responsibility to act  we have to demonstrate, we have to lead by example. That is what we are doing, but you are right to say from a practical scientific perspective, clearly it is the emitters that have to bring down their emissions reductions and we can help with that.

Earlier in the week, Downing Street had stressed the size of Chinas economy and geopolitical influence meant it must co-operate with other countries to meet the challenge posed by rising temperatures.

All nations have a duty to do more

Speaking at Cop28, Mr Sunak said the global community was not moving quickly or effectively enough to hit the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5C, and that all countries had a duty to do more.

Im calling on major emitters to dramatically accelerate delivery on what theyve already promised. Everyone can do more. And lets be very clear, the UK is leading the charge.

Mr Sunak used his remarks on Friday afternoon to announce a deal between Masdar and RWE with the companies investing 11 billion in the new wind farm at Dogger Bank in the North Sea  the largest such facility in the world.

He also insisted hand on heart that no business or political leader he spoke to during his day at Cop28 had raised concerns about his decision to push back a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by five years, noting most countries also have the same deadline.

What did I do that was apparently so dramatic? I changed it to 2035. Basically every other country in the world is using 2035 as their target  France, Spain, Germany, Australia, Italy, Sweden, states in America.

The Prime Minister has regularly criticised disruptive environmental activists like Just Stop Oil and sounded the alarm on Friday about the tone of green debate in countries like the UK and US, telling reporters: Climate politics is at breaking point.

Asked about the fact that his travel to and from Dubai took up more time than he actually spent at the summit, Mr Sunak replied: I wouldnt measure our impact here by hours spent, I would measure it by the actual things were doing that are making a difference.

The Government on Thursday night announced 1.6 billion in climate funding across a range of projects aimed at encouraging environmentally friendly development, ending deforestation and providing loss and damage reparations to countries that have already been badly hit by global warming.

Join the conversation in the comments section here.

04:00 PM GMT

That is all for today...

Thank you for joining me for todays politics live blog.

We will be back on Monday.

03:29 PM GMT

King Charles wears Greek flag tie at Cop28 summit in wake of Elgin Marbles row

King Charles wore a tie featuring what appeared to be the flag of Greece as he attended the Cop28 summit in Dubai today.

It comes after a week in Westminster which was largely dominated by the fallout from Rishi Sunaks decision to cancel a meeting with the Greek PM amid a row over the Elgin Marbles.

The Kings tie prompted much speculation and debate on social media:

King Charles is pictured today at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai - Peter Dejong/AP

03:19 PM GMT

Labour claim Sunak 'complacent' on climate change

Ed Miliband, the shadow energy secretary, claimed Rishi Sunak was complacent on climate change as he responded to the Prime Ministers press conference at the Cop28 summit in Dubai.

The Labour frontbencher said: That was a complacent performance from a Prime Minister in denial about the energy bills crisis at home, and the weakening of the United Kingdoms standing abroad in his time in office.

Working people are paying the price for Rishi Sunaks climate failure, in the form of higher bills, and in the awful costs this leaves our children and grandchildren.

02:57 PM GMT

Pictured: Sunak talks to Italian PM Giorgia Meloni at Cop28 in Dubai

Rishi Sunak talks to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai - Simon Walker/No10 Downing Street

02:25 PM GMT

Sunak defends brief visit to Cop28 summit

Rishi Sunak said he would not measure the UKs impact at Cop28 by hours spent when questioned about his 11-hour trip to Dubai.

Asked whether he was really taking the climate summit seriously and why he was leaving so soon, he told a press conference: I wouldnt measure out impact here by hours spent, I would measure it by the actual things that were doing that are making a difference. And as I said, the conversations that Ive been having with people are incredibly positive.

He added: Im actually very confident that what weve achieved here is significant. Weve set out our stall, demonstrated our, I think, both moral and practical leadership on this issue and furthered the agenda in ways that we can make a difference  loss and damage being another example.

02:13 PM GMT

PM insists Rwanda 'committed' to migrant deportation scheme

Rishi Sunak was pictured speaking to Sir Tony Blair and Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, at the Cop28 summit in Dubai today.

Asked what he had discussed with them, the Prime Minister said: It was nice to see Tony Blair who obviously has got an enormous amount of experience of the Middle East so it was good to catch up with him very briefly on that.

Paul Kagame is obviously we have a deep partnership with Rwanda which he is committed to, as am I, and we are both committed to making it work.

01:58 PM GMT

Sunak admits UK climate efforts won't matter if China and US fail to act

Rishi Sunak was told that the leaders of the worlds two biggest polluters - China and the US - were not attending the Cop28 summit.

Asked if he was worried that the UKs efforts on reducing emissions could pale into insignificance if China and the US do not act, Mr Sunak said: The UK accounts for less than one per cent of global emissions. That is just the reality of it.

So all of us who believe in climate change who want to make sure we leave our planet in a better shape for our kids and our grandkids have to acknowledge that in reality what we do isnt going to be the difference in terms of our emissions.

Now of course that doesnt mean we shouldnt do anything. Of course we have got a responsibility to act. We have got to demonstrate, we have got to lead by example. That is what we are doing but you are right to say from a practical scientific perspective clearly it is the large emitters that have to bring down their emissions reductions and we can help with that.

He added: You are right. Ultimately we are less than one per cent of emissions, we have got to have other people step up to the plate as well...

01:50 PM GMT

Sunak announces new wind farm investment

Rishi Sunak has announced a deal between Masdar and RWE to invest up to 11 billion in the UKs new wind farm at Dogger Bank.

Speaking at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, he said: Im pleased to announce a new deal between Masdar and RWE which includes a commitment to jointly invest up to 11 billion into the UKs new wind farm at Dogger Bank, which will be the biggest in the world.

This is a huge boost for UK renewables, creating more jobs, helping to power three million homes and increasing our energy security.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, holds a press conference at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai - Stefan Rousseau/PA

01:49 PM GMT

No concerns raised at Cop28 about UK watering down green policies, says PM

Rishi Sunak was asked if he could say hand on heart that no one at the Cop28 summit had raised concerns about him watering down some of the UKs net zero measures.

Hand on heart, 100 per cent, no, he said.

Mr Sunak said his approach on net zero was eminently reasonable and we have done more than everybody else.

01:46 PM GMT

UK 'still on track' to hit net zero by 2050 despite policy changes, says Sunak

It was suggested to Rishi Sunak that his position on net zero and reducing emissions seemed to be that he believed the UK was doing enough and he was now leaving it to others to make more progress.

The Prime Minister said that we are going to continue to do more than others going forward and the UK is still on track to hit the net zero by 2050 target even after his recent policy changes on green measures.

01:41 PM GMT

Sunak calls on 'major emitters to dramatically accelerate' climate action

Rishi Sunak said we are not moving quickly or effectively enough to tackle climate change.

Addressing journalists at the Cop28 summit in Dubai, the Prime Minister said he was calling on major emitters to dramatically accelerate delivery on what they have already promised.

Everyone can do more, he said.

01:28 PM GMT

Starmer accuses Sunak of 'small' politics

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of engaging in small politics and shrinking from the world stage.

The Labour leader told reporters that his attendance at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai should be seen as a statement of intent for how an incoming Labour government would behave.

Sir Keir said: I think that an event like this is an opportunity for a prime minister of the United Kingdom to show a seriousness, to show leadership, to want to lead on the global stage on issues which are really important to our country

For the Prime Minister to reduce this down in the way that he does, the smallness of his politics is becoming a feature of his politics. We saw it with the Greek prime minister. We saw it with some of the lines that he was putting out about eco zealots as he got on the plane to come here.

Sir Keir continued: This is not something to shrink from, not something to retreat from. Among the reasons were here is a statement of intent to say if theres an incoming Labour government, things will be done differently and we will rise to the international stage, not retreat from it.

01:03 PM GMT

Sunak press conference pushed back to 1.30pm

As is often the case at major international summits, the Prime Ministers press conference has been delayed. Again.

It had been due to start at 11.45am UK time but it keeps sliding and the latest estimate is that Rishi Sunak will take questions from the media at 1.30pm.

01:01 PM GMT

Nuclear waste should be used to heat homes, ministers advised

Nuclear waste should be used to heat homes as part of the drive for net zero, ministers have been told.

The UK has a stockpile of plutonium and uranium big enough to power every household in the country for six years, or up to a century if it continues to be re-processed, according to the Adam Smith Institute (ASI).

The think tank is urging the Government to draw on these reserves as a source of clean energy, while liberalising the sclerotic planning system to accelerate Britains nuclear development.

You can read the full story here.

12:43 PM GMT

Sunak praises King Charles over climate efforts

Rishi Sunak praised the King as having been at the forefront of the fight to protect our planet for more than 60 years as he posted a picture of himself with Charles at Cop28 on social media.

He said on X, formerly Twitter: For more than 60 years, His Majesty has been at the forefront of the fight to protect our planet.

Today at #COP28 were committed to safeguarding the environment for generations to come.

For more than 60 years, His Majesty has been at the forefront of the fight to protect our planet.



Today at #COP28 were committed to safeguarding the environment for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/U7rsoc0CrW  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) December 1, 2023

12:28 PM GMT

Another delay to PM's press conference

Rishi Sunaks press conference at the Cop28 summit in Dubai has been further delayed.

We had expected to hear from the Prime Minister at 11.45am but it is now looking like it will be closer to 1pm.

12:10 PM GMT

Labour leader says he would live next to onshore windfarm

Sir Keir Starmer said he would be willing to live next to a wind turbine as he defended Labours energy proposals.

Labour has said it wants to see more onshore wind farms in the UK. Asked if he would live next to one of the turbines, the Labour leader told GB News: Of course I would. I have been asked that many, many times, as have other communities.

What I have found is that when people are asked do you want your energy bills to go down there is a resounding yes to that.

11:50 AM GMT

Starmer insists Labour's green drive will mean lower energy bills

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted Labours push to achieve clean power across the UK by 2030 will result in lower household energy bills.

Labour is planning to eventually invest 28billion a year on green technology. Sir Keir was asked by GB News as he attended the Cop28 summit in Dubai if his partys plans would put bills up.

He replied: It will do the complete opposite. If we can get to clean power by 2030, that means lower bills, not just for one year or two years but permanently lower bills.

It also means energy security which means Putin cant put his foot on our throat and we dont pay higher prices because of international conflict.

It also means that we get the next generation of jobs, skilled jobs, secure jobs, that are desperately needed. The cost is actually if we dont do it, not if we do do it.

11:37 AM GMT

Train drivers vote for more strike action

Members of Aslef have voted overwhelmingly to continue strike action for the next six months in their ongoing dispute over pay, the train drivers union announced this morning.

It comes a day after RMT union members at train operators voted to accept a new pay deal.

11:35 AM GMT

PM's press conference delayed

As is so often the case at big international summits, the Prime Ministers press conference has been delayed.

We had been expecting to hear from Rishi Sunak at 11.45am UK time but it now looks like he will be taking questions at about 12.30pm.

11:32 AM GMT

Pictured: Sir Tony Blair and Rishi Sunak chat at Cop28 summit in Dubai

Sir Tony Blair and Rishi Sunak talk to each other on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai today - Stefan Rousseau/PA

11:09 AM GMT

Poll: Labour hold 22 point lead over Tories

The Labour Party holds a 22 point poll lead over the Conservatives, according to a new survey conducted by Techne UK.

The poll, carried out on November 19-30, put Labour on 45 per cent and the Tories on 23 per cent.

Labour were down by one point and the Tories were up by two points when compared to the companys previous poll on November 22-23.

10:57 AM GMT

Rishi Sunak to hold press conference at Cop28 summit

Rishi Sunak is expected to hold a press conference at the Cop28 climate change summit in Dubai later this morning.

We are expecting to hear from the Prime Minister at about 11.45am UK time.

10:39 AM GMT

Net zero drive 'must benefit, not burden, ordinary families', says Sunak

Rishi Sunak said the shift to net zero emissions must benefit, not burden, ordinary families and thats why I have set out a new approach to get us there.

The Prime Minister said the UK had decarbonised faster than any other G7 country but we cant stop there.

The UK is committing 1.6billion at the Cop28 summit in Dubai today for international climate finance projects.

The PM has published a Twitter thread on the subject here:

The UK has decarbonised faster than any other G7 country.



But we cant stop there.



Thats why Im at @COP28_UAE, to work with countries to tackle climate change.



Heres what were doing  pic.twitter.com/Yzn3Gfp3QR  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) December 1, 2023

10:08 AM GMT

Pictured: King Charles and Rishi Sunak speak to each other at Cop28 summit

King Charles and Rishi Sunak talk to each other as they attend the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai today - Chris Jackson/PA

09:55 AM GMT

Poll: One in 10 believe Cop28 summit will result in significant action

Just one in 10 people in the UK believe the Cop28 climate summit is likely to result in significant action being agreed to tackle climate change.

A new YouGov poll found 11 per cent believe the summit will result in a big step forward. But the overwhelming majority - 75 per cent - said it was unlikely that the summit in Dubai will result in major changes.

The poll was conducted between November 27-28.

09:40 AM GMT

Sunak threw hissy fit because Greek PM met Starmer first, suggests Osborne

George Osborne has suggested Rishi Sunak may have thrown a hissy fit in the row over the Elgin Marbles because the Greek prime minister met Sir Keir Starmer before him.

Mr Osborne, who is chairman of the British Museum, speculated the spat could have been triggered because the Prime Minister objected to Kyriakos Mitsotakis holding talks with the Labour leader the day before he was due in Downing Street, rather than by a dispute over the Parthenon sculptures themselves.

The former chancellor also said he would continue to explore a potential exchange deal with Athens, regardless of whether Mr Sunak was willing to engage with the Greek premier.

You can read the full story here.

09:18 AM GMT

Pictured: King Charles talks to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani

Britain's King Charles talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai - Amr Alfiky/Reuters

08:51 AM GMT

'The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth'

King Charles III told world leaders at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai that they had an unmissable opportunity to take steps to tackle climate change.

He said: In your hands is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive. I can only urge you to meet it with ambition, imagination and a true sense of the emergency we face and together with a commitment to the practical action upon which our shared future depends.

The King said grandchildren in 2050 wont be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didnt do.

He concluded: The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

08:44 AM GMT

Environment must be 'rapidly' repaired, says King Charles

The climate and the environment must be rapidly repaired, King Charles told the Cop28 summit as he warned without action the survivability of the human race will be imperilled.

He said: Unless we rapidly repair and restore natures unique economy based on harmony and balance which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperilled.

He said that climate records are being broken so often that he wondered if people were becoming immune to what they are really telling us.

The monarch said the planet is entering dangerous uncharted territory.

King Charles III addresses the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai this morning - Chris Jackson/Getty Images

08:38 AM GMT

King Charles: 'It worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track'

King Charles III said that he had spent a large proportion of my life trying to warn of the existential threats facing us over global warming.

Addressing world leaders at Cop28 in Dubai, he said that some important progress has been made but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track as the global stock take report demonstrates so graphically.

He said: The dangers are no longer distant risks. I have seen across the Commonwealth and beyond countless communities which are unable to withstand repeated shocks, whose lives and livelihoods are laid waste by climate change.

Surely real action is required to stem the growing troll of its most vulnerable victims?

08:35 AM GMT

King Charles warns of 'alarming tipping points' in fight against climate change

King Charles III has addressed world leaders at the start of the Cop28 climate change summit in Dubai.

The King said that eight years ago he was most touched to have been asked to speak at the opening of Cop21 in Paris which culminated in the Paris Agreement.

He said that was a landmark moment of hope and optimism.

I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when already as scientists have been warning for so long we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached, he said.

08:31 AM GMT

Sunak wont single out China on climate action

Rishi Sunak declined to single out China when asked which countries need to do more to tackle climate change.

The Prime Minister heaped praise on Cop28 host the United Arab Emirates.

Pressed on whether Beijing should do more, the Prime Minister told reporters in Dubai: Everyone collectively needs to do more to make sure that we do reduce emissions sufficiently.

Quizzed on scepticism over a major oil producer hosting the summit, he said: I actually commend the UAE for their leadership. Theyve been particularly strong on the issue of climate finance.

08:24 AM GMT

Pictured: Rishi Sunak speaks to broadcasters at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, speaks to broadcasters in Dubai this morning as he attends the Cop28 climate summit - Stefan Rousseau /PA

08:12 AM GMT

Weve got a great story to tell

The UK has a great story to tell at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai, Rishi Sunak has said.

Challenged over whether his rollback of climate ambition at home makes it harder to push other countries to do more, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: We have got an incredible track record in decarbonising in the UK, faster than any other major economy. We should be really proud of that.

And Ill be proud of that record at my meetings later today.

He added: Were leading the world in new industries like offshore wind. Were protecting nature at home, so weve got a great story to tell.

He said other countries are deeply appreciative of the support that they are receiving from the UK to help them with the transition.

07:57 AM GMT

Sunak stresses importance of humanitarian pauses as Gaza fighting resumes

Rishi Sunak stressed the importance of sustained humanitarian pauses in Gaza after fighting resumed.

The Prime Minister said he would discuss the issue in meetings with regional leaders on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai today.

He told broadcasters: Obviously this is news that has just broken in the past few minutes so I need to get into the details of it. It wouldnt be right to speculate so early. But I am having meetings with leaders from around the region in a matter of hours to discuss the situation.

Weve been consistent that we want to see sustained humanitarian pauses so that more aid can get into the people of Gaza but also the hostages can come out. Those are critical ingredients. And as weve said everyone needs to adhere to the terms of these agreements.

07:44 AM GMT

Lord Cameron: 'Vital' UK helps countries 'most impacted by climate change'

It is vital we build on our support to the developing countries most impacted by climate change.



That's why the UK has pledged up to 60m at #COP28 to help repair the loss and damage caused by events such as floods and crop failure. https://t.co/IhraKL7m7h  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 1, 2023

07:39 AM GMT

Sunak hits out at 'ideological zealots' on climate change

Rishi Sunak described climate protesters outside his home as ideological zealots.

Asked who he meant when he said he was not in hock to ideological zealots over climate change, the Prime Minister told broadcasters in Dubai: Perhaps the people protesting outside my house recently.

But there are people who think we should get to net zero without any regard to the cost on ordinary families. I dont think thats right.

I think weve got to be cognisant of the impact of this on ordinary families up and down the country.

07:27 AM GMT

PM vows to 'finish the job' and get Rwanda scheme 'up and running'

The Prime Minister has promised to finish the job and get the Rwanda migrant deportation scheme up and running.

Rishi Sunak told broadcasters as he attended the Cop28 climate change summit in Dubai that his patience had worn thin over the repeated delays to the policy.

He said: My patience is worn thin, the British peoples patience is worn thin. And although weve made great progress on this issue  reducing the number of small boat crossings by a third this year, something that everyone thought was impossible when I got this job  weve got more to go.

I want to finish the job and thats why Ill get the Rwanda scheme up and running.

07:24 AM GMT

Sunak 'finalising' emergency Rwanda legislation - two weeks after it was announced

Rishi Sunak said the Government is finalising legislation to push through his Rwanda asylum plan as his patience is worn thin by setbacks to the deal.

Mr Sunak announced the emergency legislation as well as a planned new treaty with Rwanda in the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling that the original deportation plan unlawful.

That was more than two weeks ago and there is still no sign of either the treaty or the legislation. The Bill is not scheduled to be debated in the Commons next week either.

Speaking to broadcasters in Dubai during his trip to the Cop28 climate summit, the Prime Minister said: Were finalising that at the moment. And its important that we get it right because this is such a vital issue.

But Im clear about the goal here  the goal is to make sure that Parliament can declare unequivocally that on the basis of everything that weve done that Rwanda is a safe place to operationalise our scheme.

Mr Sunak said that once the legislation and treaty are in place there should be no more domestic blocks to us putting in place this programme that weve been working on for a long time.

07:20 AM GMT

Sunak hits back at climate criticism from Lord Goldsmith

Rishi Sunak has insisted the UK can stand tall at the Cop28 conference as it remains a leader on tackling climate change as he hit back at criticism from Lord Goldsmith.

The Prime Ministers attendance at the summit in Dubai today comes after he scaled back a host of pledges designed to help the UK reach net zero emissions by 2050. He has also vowed to max out the UKs oil and gas reserves by granting new North Sea drilling licences.

Lord Goldsmith, who resigned as environment minister earlier this year accusing Mr Sunak of being uninterested in green issues, told Sky News: Theres no doubt our standing has diminished considerably in recent months.

But asked what he would say to people accusing him of not being serious about climate action, Mr Sunak told journalists on his plane: What Id say first and foremost is weve got a better track record than any other major economy in decarbonising. Those are the facts. We look at the record, weve decarbonised 48 per cent, compared to France at 22, the US flat, China up. So we can stand tall when we walk around [on Friday]. Not only that, our forward targets for 2030 are more ambitious than any other major economy.

Look, any which way I look at it, we are a leader on this issue. We have been, were continuing to do so. So I will walk around very proudly [on Friday] championing the UKs achievements in this space. And Im actually excited to focus on the 1.6bn of climate finance were announcing in the areas of forest and fuel and finance to help capitalise more positive change elsewhere.

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.
Former Ukrainian President and sitting MP Petro Poroshenko was not permitted to leave the country because he planned to meet with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, a government source told NV on Dec. 1.

Read also: Former Ukrainian president Poroshenko takes in homeless dog from flooded city of Kherson

According to our source, the possibility of this unannounced meeting was one of the reasons for the parliamentary leadership's cancellation of Poroshenko's trip.

The Ukrainian leadership believes that a meeting between the former president and the Hungarian PM could further damage Ukraine-Hungary relations, which are currently in a crisis.

Orban is planning to block negotiations for Ukraine's entry into the European Union and the allocation of EUR 50 billion ($55 billion) in financial aid to Kyivboth issues to be discussed at the upcoming EU summit in December.

Moreover, according to the NV source, Poroshenko's trip would have coincided with tours by several groups of Ukrainian officials to the United States to lobby for Ukrainian interests.

Poroshenko's European Solidarity party press service stated that their MPs are systematically prevented from attending international events.

Those who are now trying to find justification for their refusals based on the Hungarian track, using Petro Poroshenko's former contacts with Viktor Orban, are wasting their efforts, the party said in a statement.

Read also: How Zakarpattia Hungarians view the Kyiv-Budapest conflict

It should be remembered that on Dec. 14-15, the European Council will announce its decision on the start of accession talks with Ukraine in Brussels, where Budapest has a right of veto. If Petro Poroshenko had the opportunity to assist, using his own personal positive experience and contacts to ensure this decision was successful, especially in light of recent statements, he would have done so.

Read also: Kyiv presents Budapest with plan to stop Hungarian minority dispute blocking Ukraine's EU bid

Early on Dec. 1, Poroshenko stated that border guards did not allow him to leave Ukraine despite having an officially sanctioned business trip signed by the Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament.

Read also: Former president Poroshenko shares photos of adopted dog from Kherson

State Border Guard Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko told NV that Poroshenko was not allowed to travel abroad because his business trip was canceled. Later, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Kornienko reported that the business trip had been canceled after receiving a confidential letter from a government institution, the contents of which he could not disclose.

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
With less than two months before the worlds largest cruise ship Icon of the Seas debuts in Miami, the CEO of Port Canaveral confirmed Royal Caribbean will be sending sister ship Star of the Seas to Central Florida when it debuts in 2025.

In an email statement, Capt. John Murray reacted to news of the ships homeport assignment, although Royal Caribbean has yet to make an official announcement. The news was originally posted to the Royal Caribbean Blog website run by Matt Hochburg, not affiliated with the cruise line.

This is tremendous news, and we are very proud to be the homeport for this remarkable new ship. Star of the Seas will add even more excitement to the Royal Caribbean fleet that calls Port Canaveral home, he stated. Were looking forward to her arrival in 2025 and will be ready to welcome her and the many cruise guests who will enjoy all that she has to offer.

The port also posted to social media celebrating the news noting bookings for the ships itineraries will open next week, and Royal Caribbeans website states they open Wednesday.

Port Canaveral is already home to the latest Oasis-class ship Wonder of the Seas while also recently welcoming Allure of the Seas, one of the older Oasis-class vessels, and in line to get the newest Oasis-class ship Utopia of the Seas when it debuts in 2024.

The five, soon-to-be six, Oasis-class ships are now the second largest behind Icon of the Seas, which was delivered to Royal Caribbean this week at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. Star of the Seas remains under construction there.

Royal Caribbean takes delivery of worlds largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas

While Icon of the Seas is headed to Miami, Port Canaveral is the only other port in the state hosting ships that use liquefied natural gas for fuel including Disney Wish, Carnivals Mardi Gras and next years Utopia of the Seas. Icon-class ships also use LNG.

Royal Caribbean earlier announced Star of the Seas will begin sailing in summer 2025 saying it would include class-specific features from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure  the lineup of new experiences and favorites on Star will set the stage for even more ways for every type of family and adventurer to make memories without compromise.

The class features 20 decks and comes in at 250,800 gross tons at 1,198 feet long. In comparison Wonder of the Seas, which is now the second largest, comes in at 235,600 gross tons and 1,188-foot-length. Icon of the Seas actually has less passenger capacity based on double occupancy  5,610 compared to Wonders 5,734. The size of the rooms among 28 categories, and the expected growth of family traveling, though, means Icon of the Seas maximum capacity of 7,600 exceeds Wonders 7,084.

Icon of the Seas will make its transatlantic voyage to Florida on Dec. 23 ahead of a series of preview sailings in January and its first sailing with normal customers beginning Jan. 28, 2024,

A third Icon class ship is due in 2026.

The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand weve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas, said Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley in an October press release.

The ship will also be set up with shore power connections, meaning it doesnt have to burn fuel while in port, another effort among cruise lines to reduce their carbon footprint, and part of Royals goal of reaching a net zero cruise ship by 2035.

Star of the Seas will follow Icons footprint, which features a six-slide waterpark, seven pools, the new Surfside family neighborhood at the aft of the ship, and the massive glass dome that makes up the new AquaDome neighborhood at the top of the ship.
PORTSMOUTH  Construction on two long-anticipated sound wall projects aimed at reducing noise from Interstate 95 in city neighborhoods could begin as soon as the summer of 2024.

Sam Newsom, project manager for New Hampshire Department of Transportations Bureau of Turnpikes, estimated the sound walls could be completed in late spring 2025, as well as a related privacy fence.

Newsom told a group of residents gathered Wednesday night in City Hall the estimated cost is between $15 million and $16 million.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation is planning a long-anticipated sound wall and privacy fence project in Portsmouth.

The project calls for installing about 2,400 feet of sound wall near the Pannaway Manor neighborhood, running along the I-95 southbound corridor, he said.

The project also calls for building an approximately 3,400 feet sound wall in the Rockingham Avenue/Edmund Avenue neighborhood area along I-95, Newsome said.

The state will also install a privacy fence of roughly 3,000 feet about 300 feet north of Woodbury Avenue, along the New Franklin School area, he said. State officials acknowledged the privacy fence wont reduce any of the noise coming from nearby I-95.

The sound walls cost themselves $14 million to $15 million, Newsom said, while the privacy fence price tag is estimated to come in at about $500,000.

Significant noise reduction expected

Jon Evans is the air and noise program manager of the state Department of Transportation's Bureau of Environment.

During Wednesdays meeting, he said, Everybody wants to know what are these noise barriers going to do?

He explained noise benefits are defined by the state as anything (where) you receive a five decibel or more reduction in noise.

More Portsmouth news: Neighbors say loss of shortcut puts Hillside Drive residents in danger

He added that five decibels is sound thats noticeable to the human ear.

The state believes that the Pannaway Manor sound wall will provide noise benefits between eight and 14 decibels, Evans said.

These barriers here are going to provide quite a bit of benefit, Evans said.

That should provide noise reduction to about 70 homes in Pannaway Manor, he said.

Neighbors in the middle-class neighborhood of smaller homes have been advocating for a sound wall or sound barrier for as long as 30 years.

In the Rockingham Avenue/Edmund Avenue neighborhood, Evans reported 49 homes would receive at least a five decibel reduction or more.

But he acknowledged there will be some gaps in the sound wall where overpasses cross I-95.

Privacy fence 'a visual barrier' only

The sound walls were designed to mitigate the traffic noise that already exists, Evans said, but also the noise created by the anticipated extra traffic 20 years into the future.

The privacy fence, Evans stressed, is intended to provide a visual barrier.

It is not a noise mitigation measure, its more of a visual barrier, some additional visual protection for the school, Evans said, referencing New Franklin School.

That portion of the city along I-95 did not meet the requirements for a sound wall, state officials said previously.

Phil Kendall is a senior transportation engineer from HNTB, which is working as a consultant for the state on the project.

The height of the sound walls range anywhere from about 10 feet to 25 feet, he said.

They will be made up of gray concrete panels, which are similar to ones being used along I-93 in Londonderry, he said.

Height of walls creates noise reduction

The height of the panels were designed to provide the necessary noise reduction needed, Kendall said.

Bill St. Laurent is a longtime Pannaway Manor resident.

I probably live on the most outer part closest to the highway of any of the houses, he told state officials during Wednesdays meeting.

He worried aloud about ending up with a 15-foot or 20-foot sound wall near his house.

If you put a 20-foot fence in my backyard because Im right near the edge of the highway, thats like a prison wall, thats huge, he said. You should be able to step this down for the neighborhood."

He acknowledged that hes been fighting to get a wall there for many years, but added, please dont put a 20-foot fence in my backyard.

State officials replied the amount of noise protection the sound walls offer comes from their size.

If we were to reduce the height of the barrier  some of the neighborhood is going to lose benefits, Evans said.

There would be homes that are getting (noise reduction) benefits farther back that would no longer get benefits, he said. The higher the fence, the more protection it would provide.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth NH I-95 sound walls: Here's what residents can expect
A couple dozen people with the National Association of Letter Carriers gathered at the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon to call on the United States Postal Service to protect its employees after witnessing a rise in assaults on postal workers.

The organization said there have been at least 10 assaults against letter carriers over the last two years in the Valley  an occurrence it says used to be extremely rare prior to the pandemic.

Cynthia Staley, president of the NALC's Branch 576, decried the attacks against letter carriers and called on USPS and the U.S. Department of Justice to prioritize investigations and prosecutions into these incidents.

"We need our federal prosecutors to prosecute," Staley said. "We need people to know that if you rob a letter carrier, you will be prosecuted and you will go to jail. Enough is enough."

Staley added that letter carriers are vital parts of their community and asked the public to support them and to call 911 if they witness a carrier being robbed or attacked in some way.

Dan Versluis, a regional NALC officer in Arizona and surrounding states and a letter carrier for 30 years, said the rise in attacks and robberies came during the pandemic with no signs of the incidents decreasing.

"No carrier ever expects to wake up in the morning, put on that uniform, go to work, deliver the mail to our customers and not come home safe," Versluis said.

NALC President Brian Renfroe echoed his colleagues' sentiments, stating the attacks on letter carriers were absolutely unacceptable.

"We're all here today because our members  letter carriers  are under attack by violent criminals who have no regard for their health and safety," Renfroe said. "We're here because this violence should come with an increase in protection, awareness and community. But instead, as is often the case, it feels like we only have one another."

Renfroe said more than 2,000 violent attacks had been inflicted on letter carriers across the country since 2020, with the majority involving a gun or other type of weapon. Renfroe said of those, only 14% were prosecuted.

"Nearly every day, I learn of one of my members  letter carriers  being victim to some sort of violence. Targeted armed robberies, assaults, shootings and yes, even murder, has now become part of our job. This should not be."

Renfroe called on the DOJ to prioritize cases involving letter carriers and said the union was working with members of congress to introduce a bill that would add additional resources for investigating and combating such incidents. Renfroe said such a bill would have large bipartisan support despite a widening gap between Democrats and Republicans.

In response to questions regarding the NALC's concerns, Rod Spurgeon, a USPS spokesperson, referred to a joint statement from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale issued in October on security improvements that had been instituted through an initiative called "Project Safe Delivery."

As our nation continues to address a sustained crime wave, our targeted focus to crack down on postal crime is progressing, DeJoy said in the statement. The safety of our letter carriers  and all postal employees  is our top priority. We will continue to work steadfastly with our law enforcement partners to increase the safety of our employees and protect the sanctity of the nations mail.

Renfroe said the initiative was originally created to better protect the mail rather than the people who carry it, but noted that improvements began to include letter carrier safety as well. Still, Renfroe said more work needed to be done to better protect letter carriers and prosecute those who attack them beyond what had already been done.

"This missing piece is prevention and protection and stopping these crimes from happening before they happen," Renfroe said. "And frankly, the problem has grown so large that the Inspection Service just simply doesn't have the capacity to provide that based on sheer numbers. That is something we will address in legislation."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona postal workers demand protections amid increase in assaults
Senators remain at an impasse over immigration policies that may determine the passage of President Joe Biden's funding request for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Negotiators plan to stay in touch throughout the weekend, but a deal feels increasingly out of reach, even as the White House pushes senators to forge ahead.

Restricting the asylum system is a top priority for Republicans. West Wing Playbook called Ava Benach, an immigration lawyer of 25 years, to break down what the potential measures being discussed would actually mean for migrants. This conversation has been edited for length.

How would all of this affect asylum seekers?

Theyre definitely looking to make it harder to qualify for asylum. One is a rewriting of the credible fear standard that immigrants go through when theyre first screened for asylum eligibility, to make it harder to pass that screening.

The second thing, Ive heard, is to restrict the governments ability to parole people into the United States, which is a mechanism that allows the entry of people otherwise ineligible to enter.

And third, they are trying to put some teeth back into the Safe Third Country agreements that the Trump administration entered into, to force immigrants to demonstrate that they (first) sought asylum somewhere else on their journey to the United States.

What are those credible fear interviews like?

These are conducted relatively quickly after entry. So you have people that have been journeying to the United States for days, weeks, months, crossing dangerous territories. They are exhausted, confused, terrified. And they have to recount the most traumatic experiences of their life to somebody through a translator  usually without legal assistance  over a video screen. Raising the standard will result in fewer people passing that and being given the opportunity to present that application for asylum.

The Trump administrations Safe Third Country Agreements were struck down by the courts, and Bidens so-called transit ban has also faced legal hurdles. Congress could really change the legal landscape.

When you see lawsuits about immigration law, theyre almost always about actions by the executive and the interpretation by the executive. So if Congress puts it into statute, it becomes a much more legally sound policy. Congress has been deemed to have whats called plenary power over immigration, meaning it can basically do anything as long as its not blatantly, discriminatory, or unconstitutional.

Theres also a lot of concern about the parole component  I had one former administration official tell me this week that without this power, Biden would lose the central piece of his border management strategy.

Parole has been a useful tool for the immigration agencies for decades, as a means to address crises and people in danger.

Parole gives the administration the opportunity to look at these folks and make decisions about their entry into the United States, whether they should be detained or whether they should be allowed to enter and go into the community. So the law still is that you can apply for asylum and if you dont have that parole authority, the only choice you have is to detain, unless you have a Remain in Mexico sort of situation.

Youve criticized the policies being discussed. No one is actually working on a complete overhaul of the immigration system  but in a world where they were, would this change your mind about the specific policies being floated?

If youre talking about additional immigrant visas and reduced backlogs, and an immigration system thats responsive to the needs of American families and businesses  as long as were dreaming, I would say sure, restricting the ability to parole people into the United States makes sense where theres an efficient and reasonable visa system.

What do you think people are missing in this debate?

There is what I think is a misguided belief that they will be able to deter people from showing up at the border  from fleeing violent and dangerous and hopeless situations. And that they can be deterred by the prospect of not having legal status, of being detained.

The knee-jerk approach, in my opinion, is always more harshness and more cruelty will solve the problem. But when youre dealing with a situation where your kids lives are at risk, and its dangerous just to walk out your door, people are going to take some extreme measures despite the potential consequences.

Ive said since I started practicing 25 years ago that the single biggest cause of illegal migration is the lack of opportunities for legal migration.

Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs West Wing Playbook newsletter.


Aurora chasers around the world are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a super-hot plasma eruption  known as a coronal mass ejection (CME)  that will slam into Earth tonight.

The rapid Earth-bound CME left the sun on Nov. 29 during a powerful M9.8-class solar flare eruption. But it isn't alone. The speedy plasma outburst will merge with several slower upstream CMEs that left the sun a day earlier (Nov. 28), creating a "Cannibal CME" that will likely trigger a strong geomagnetic storm akin to a Nov. 5 event that supercharged auroras and STEVE around the world .

Related: The next 4 to 5 years will be the best time to see the northern lights this solar cycle

Geomagnetic storms are disturbances to Earth's magnetic field caused by large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun's atmosphere in the form of CMEs.

Photos welcome!

Scott Rock Photography

If you capture photos of the aurora displays and would like them to be considered for a photo roundup story please email them over to spacephotos@space.com.

If the Cannibal CME strikes as predicted, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts strong (G3) geomagnetic storm conditions with an impressive aurora forecast for the U.S. NOAA ranks geomagnetic storms on a scale running from G1, which can cause an increase in auroral activity around the poles and minor fluctuations in power supplies, up to G5. This most extreme level can cause complete HF (high frequency) radio blackouts on the entire sunlit side of the Earth , lasting for several hours.

NOAA storm watch graphic showing when the cme is predicted to hit.

What can we expect?

The last G3 storm on Nov. 5 created phenomenal aurora displays around the world, with northern lights reported as far south as Greece and Turkey.

On Nov. 5, astrophotographer Gareth Mon Jones caught a stunning view of the aurora above Penmon Lighthouse, Anglesey.

"A whopper of a display on Anglesey tonight," Jones wrote on X. "my girlfriend was happy to see one of the best displays of the northern lights in a long time"

bright aurora ribbons of light above lighthouse.

Steven lomas managed to photograph mysterious STEVE above Dunstanburgh Castle Northumberland, UK.

"It was the strongest display of the aurora that I have seen in 8 years of photography" lomas told Space.com. "The highlight was seeing the corona and also STEVE!"

lomas also captured quite the mythical scene with vibrant green and red auroras dancing over Dunstanburgh Castle.

Image 1 of 3

Steven lomas managed to photograph mysterious STEVE above Dunstanburgh castle Northumberland, UK.

Image 2 of 3

Steven lomas

Image 3 of 3

Steven lomas managed to photograph mysterious STEVE above Dunstanburgh castle Northumberland, UK.

Meteorologist Angel Enriquez was working the evening shift at the National Weather Service in Glasgow, northeast Montana when his colleague alerted him to the aurora light show.

"A fellow coworker was out gathering her own pictures when she texted 'GO OUTSIDE NOW'" Enriquez told Space.com. "I took the tripod to the darkest spot of the office, which happens to be next to the radar, and took some memorable photos."

Meteorologist Angel Enriquez was working the evening shift in northeast Montana when his colleague alerted him to the aurora light show.

If the upcoming geomagnetic storm is anything like the one we experienced on Nov. 5 we could be in for quite the treat.

Where to look

Related stories:

 Solar maximum will arrive sooner and last longer than previously expected, say scientists

 Aurora myths, legends and misconceptions

 Aurora colors: What causes them and why do they vary?

Want to catch a glimpse of the aurora? Try and head to a dark location, away from bright city lights. Make sure to keep an eye on the northern skies (or southern skies if located in the Southern Hemisphere), making periodic checks at regular intervals. Auroras are rather fickle and can lie dormant, before suddenly flaring up at a moment's notice.

If you're unable to make it outside to hunt for auroras in person, we have compiled a list of some of the best aurora webcams so you can enjoy the thrill of the northern lights from the comfort of your own home.

If you capture photos of the aurora displays and would like them to be considered for a photo roundup story please email them over to spacephotos@space.com.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) needs a total of 120 billion for a multi-year modernization program that will enable it to monitor all active volcanoes in the country, a Senate hearing on Friday showed.

In a hearing led by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said at present, the agency can monitor only 10 out of 24 active volcanoes in the country.

Only two have complete monitoring systems, Bacolcol said, identifying them as Taal Volcano in Batangas and Mayon Volcano in Albay.

Equipment alone costs 5 billion, Bacolcol noted, adding that Phivolcs needs to hire more people as well.

All in all, "it would be 24 billion per year," for the five-year modernization plan, said Trisha Baraan, acting director of the Department of Budget and Management-Budget Information Legislative Service.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the committee, asked if the proposal is feasible. Baraan said it would depend on the priorities of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Cayetano said the timeline may have to be expanded.

I just dont want na we pass a specific five-year (plan) and we dont give you the money Mukhang mas feasible ang P15 billion a year at seven years [It seems the 15 billion a year at seven years is more feasible], Cayetano said.
(CNN)  Hamas said the attackers behind a Jerusalem bus stop shooting that killed three people on Thursday were members of its military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades.

Seven people were also injured after the two attackers, identified by Hamas as two brothers, opened fire on a group of people in Jerusalem, authorities said.

The shooting in Jerusalem comes amid a truce between Israel and Hamas which has seen a pause in the fighting and the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The pause was extended for another day on Thursday under a last-minute deal and Egypt said that talks are ongoing to prolong the truce further.

The attackers were killed by two soldiers and a civilian, Jerusalem District Commander Doron Turgeman said on Thursday.

One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene by the Magen David Adom rescue service, and two others were pronounced dead at Shaare Zedek hospital.

In a separate update, Israeli police said the attackers opened fire towards civilians at the bus station at approximately 7:40 a.m. local time on Thursday.

The scene of the attack has been sealed off and an additional search is being carried out to rule out any additional suspects, the Israel Police Spokespersons Unit added.

Hamas celebrated the attack, and said it was a direct response to the unprecedented crimes committed by the occupying forces, including brutal massacres in the Gaza Strip, the killing of children in Jenin, and widespread violations against Palestinian prisoners. Moreover, the continued violations in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the prevention of worshippers access to it, Hamas added.

Hamas warned Israel of attacks in every city, village, street and alley.

Responding to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his promise to eliminate Hamas.

Following a meeting with the US Secretary of State, Netanyahu said he told Antony Blinken that it is the same Hamas that perpetrated the terrible massacre on October 7th and the same Hamas that is trying to murder us everywhere.
(CNN)  Deadly fighting broke out across Gaza on Friday as Israels military resumed combat operations after the temporary truce with Hamas that had paved the way for a week of hostage releases broke down.

Smoke could be seen billowing across parts of the densely populated enclave as Israels military declared it was once again out to destroy the group.

Israeli strikes resumed in areas across Gaza and military vehicles were firing in the northwest, minutes after the truce expired on Friday, according to a statement from the Hamas-control Ministry of Interior in Gaza.

In a statement released from his office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said fighting resumed against Hamas after the militant group broke the outline of the truce and didnt respect its obligation to release today all the abducted women and launched rockets towards the citizens of Israel.

Netanyahu his government would accomplish the targets of the fighting, which included the release of hostages, to liquidate Hamas and to ensure the citizens of Israel are never again threatened by an attack from Gaza.

The Hamas-controlled Government Media Office blamed the US and the international community for the resumption of fighting in Gaza.

The Ministry said that America and the international community bears responsibility for the crimes of the Israeli occupation and the continuation of the brutal war against civilians, children and women in the Gaza Strip.

The statement added that Palestinians had a right to defend themselves by all means and to establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

If the truce is now permanently broken, the resumption in fighting could reignite a festering conflict that has wrought devastation to Gaza and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe that was described by the UN Secretary-General as a crisis of humanity.

The brief pause in hostilities allowed for more than 2,700 trucks carrying thousands of tons of desperately needed aid to cross from Egypt into Gaza since October 21, according to an Egyptian official. But even that was completely inadequate to meet the needs of the more than two million people in Gaza  many of whom are displaced, aid agencies said.

Renewed fighting threatens once again to shut off that one supply line into Gaza  where residents were already struggling to find shelter, food and clean water while under constant bombardment from Israeli airstrikes.

Hours before the latest fighting erupted, the United States pressured Israel to shield Palestinian civilians in one of the most significant diplomatic moves yet in the more than 50-day conflict.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out American requirements in private talks in Jerusalem with Netanyahu and his war cabinet. But he also made the Biden administration approach clear in unmistakable language in public.

I underscored the imperative of the United States that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south, Blinken said in a televised press conference in Tel Aviv.

End of brief respite

Israel had repeatedly stated it would resume its military assault in Gaza if Hamas could not produce 10 hostages for each extra day of pause. As the 7 a.m. local time deadline (midnight ET) passed, the hostilities resumed almost immediately.

The hard-negotiated temporary truce, which began last Friday, was extended by two days following the release of some captives held by Hamas. An agreement to extend to a seventh day came down to the wire on Thursday.

It marked the first major diplomatic breakthrough in the latest conflict which began when Hamas gunmen stormed into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing more than 200 hostages, the deadliest such attack faced by the country since its 1948 founding.

The truce brought temporary respite to the besieged enclave of Gaza, which had been relentlessly pounded by Israels military since the Hamas attack.

Since October 7, more than 14,800 people, including 6,000 children, have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the West Bank, which draws its data from Hamas-run health authorities in the Strip.

According to a spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, 32 people had been killed in Gaza and dozens injured by Israeli strikes on Friday.

As the truce expiration loomed, both Israel and Hamas indicated they were prepared for fighting to resume.

We should be prepared for a quick transition into full scale fighting at any point, today, tomorrow, at any moment. As soon as we maximize the move to return hostages we will resume fierce fighting across the whole Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday.

Hamas armed wing on Thursday also told their forces to remain on high combat readiness in the final hours of the truce, the Al-Qassam Brigades said on Telegram.

Egyptian and Qatari negotiators had been pushing to extend the pause in fighting in Gaza for an extra two days to facilitate the release of further hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and to allow more aid into the strip, according to Egypts State Information Service.

But negotiators warned that continuing to extend the truce into an eighth day could be challenging. The previous day, Hamas had claimed until the last minute that it was having trouble locating 10 women and child hostages  a condition that Israel insisted must be met  to extend the truce.

According to a source briefed on the talks, negotiations are still ongoing with Qatari and Egyptian mediators despite the resumption of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

A member of Israels parliament told CNN the government would be willing to discuss a different framework for the release of men and soldiers held by the militant group  so long as the hostage releases continue.

Hamas wants to set new terms for the men and the Israeli soldiers, Danny Danon said, adding that we are close to the end of the current phase of the deal.

They want a different equation. Now we have one Israeli hostage for three Palestinian prisoners, and they want to try and change that ratio. As long as they can provide hostages, we are willing to talk, he said.

In the seven-day pause in fighting, 80 Israelis  primarily women and children and some of whom are dual citizens  and another 24 foreign nationals have been released. Another Israeli dual citizen was also freed outside of the agreed-upon deal.

As of Thursday, 240 Palestinians had been freed from Israeli prisons  mainly women and minors. Under the terms of the truce deal, Israel has to free three Palestinians for every Israeli hostage released.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Fresh fighting erupts as Israel resumes Gaza combat operations following hostage truce collapse"
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York after a blistering ethics report on his conduct heightened lawmakers' concerns about the scandal-plagued freshman. Santos became just the sixth member in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues, and the third since the Civil War.

The vote to expel was 311-114, easily clearing the two-thirds majority required. House Republican leaders opposed removing Santos, whose departure leaves them with a razor-thin majority, but in the end 105 GOP lawmakers sided with nearly all Democrats to expel him.

The expulsion marked the final congressional chapter in a spectacular fall from grace for Santos. Celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year, Santos' life story began to unravel before he was even sworn into office. Reports emerged that he had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree, among other things.

Then, in May, Santos was indicted by federal prosecutors on multiple charges, turning his presence in the House into a growing distraction and embarrassment to the party.

Santos joins a short list of lawmakers expelled from the House, and for reasons uniquely his own. Of the previous expulsions in the House, three were for siding with the Confederacy during the Civil War. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court, the most recent in 2002.

Seeking to remain in office, Santos had appealed to colleagues to let the court process play out. He warned of the precedent they would set by expelling a member not yet convicted of a crime.

This will haunt them in the future, Santos told lawmakers on Thursday evening as they debated his removal.

As it became clear Friday that he would be expelled, Santos appeared resigned to his fate. He placed his overcoat over his shoulders and shook hands with conservative members who voted against his expulsion. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who voted against expelling Santos, was solemn as he announced the result of the vote and declared the New York seat vacant.

Outside the Capitol, trailed by a crush of reporters and cameras, he quickly ducked inside a vehicle and left.

Santos' fellow Republicans from New York were front and center in the effort to boot him. Among them were fellow freshmen who serve in key swing districts and had helped the GOP take the House majority. They sought to generate as much political distance as they could from Santos, whose lies about his past made him a pariah in the House before he even took the oath of office.

Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, whose district is next to Santos', led the debate for expulsion and argued that voters would welcome lawmakers holding themselves to a high standard. Another New York Republican, Rep. Nick Langworthy, said Santos had only himself to blame.

Every precedent under the sun has been broken by George Santos, Langworthy said. Has there ever been anyone here thats made up a whole life?

Santos had survived two previous expulsion attempts, but a scathing House Ethics Committee report released the week before the Thanksgiving holiday appeared to turn colleagues decisively against him.

After eight months of work, Ethics Committee investigators said they had found overwhelming evidence that Santos had broken the law and exploited his public position for his own profit.

Its a solemn day," said the chairman of the ethics panel, Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss. "I mean no one wants to have to remove a member from Congress. But the allegations against him, the evidence was overwhelming.

Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the Ethics Committee, reminded members that the decision approving the investigators findings was unanimous.

Mr. Santos is not a victim," Wild said. "He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people.

Santos' troubles are far from over, as he faces trial next year in New York. Federal prosecutors in a 23-count indictment have accused him of duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress.

The indictment alleges specifically that Santos stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. He then wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers, prosecutors say. Santos has pleaded not guilty,

Santos expulsion narrows the GOPs majority to 221-213 and Democrats will have a good opportunity to fill the vacancy. Shortly after the vote, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said shes prepared to call a special election for the seat, likely in mid-to-late February under a timeframe set by state law.

When you look at his lack of ethics and the fact that, you know, he has not served the people of our state, particularly New York 3 where he resides, its been an abysmal run for him, Hochul said Friday.

The special election will kick off a hotly contested year of congressional races in New York as Democrats look to flip a handful of seats in the state and retake control of the House. The field of candidates for Santos seat is already crowded and includes former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who represented the district before an unsuccessful run for governor last year.

Now that he has been removed from office, Santos' congressional office will remain operational under the management of the Clerk of the House. No additional staff can be hired, but the current staff can stay on and perform constituent casework. They will be unable to undertake any legislative activity, such as the drafting of bills.

Santos, for his part, hasn't lost all the privileges afforded to former members. He will still be permitted to walk onto the House floor and fraternize with members.

According to House rules, any former lawmaker can maintain their floor privileges unless they are a lobbyist, foreign agent, have a direct interest in the bill being considered at the time, or have been convicted of a crime in relation to their election or service.

___

Associated Press staff writers Farnoush Amiri and Stephen Groves contributed to this report, and Anthony Izaguirre contributed from Albany, New York.
WASHINGTON  The House voted Friday to expel George Santos from Congress, making the New York Republican just the sixth member of the House ever to be expelled and the first in more than 20 years.

Heres what you need to know about expulsion and what happens next:

What is the process to expel a member from the House?

There is no guide for what behavior rises to the level of expulsion. The Constitution gives each chamber of Congress the power to set its own rules and the power to punish members. The only requirement outlined in the Constitution is that an expulsion vote requires two-thirds support of the House to pass, which is currently 290 out of 435 members.

A two-thirds vote is a higher threshold than the simple majority that most legislation requires to pass. During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Gouverneur Morris argued that a majority vote would be satisfactory. But James Madison pushed back, saying expulsion was too important to be exercised by a bare majority of a quorum and might be dangerously abused. Madisons stance won out, and the two-thirds requirement was put in the Constitution.

What happens now that Santos is expelled?

Santos was immediately stripped of his position as a member of Congress. The House speaker then directed the clerk to notify the governor of New York of the expulsion. That is the practice the House followed in 1980 and 2002.

New Yorks 3rd Congressional District would not have a member representing it during votes until a replacement is elected, but Santos staff would continue helping with constituent casework.

A little after 3 p.m. ET, an Architect of the Capitol worker took down the sign in front of Santos office. It was replaced with one reading: Office of the Third Congressional District of New York.

How often are members expelled?

The House has expelled only five members throughout history, three of them in 1861 for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War by fighting for the Confederacy: John B. Clark, John W. Reid and Henry C. Burnett.

The first member to be expelled post-Civil War was Michael J. Ozzie Myers, D-Pa., who was voted out in October 1980 after he was convicted of bribery and corruption in the Abscam FBI sting operation.

Democrat James Traficant of Ohio is the most recent member to have been expelled, on an overwhelming 420 to 1 vote in 2002. He had been convicted of racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.

The Senate, meanwhile, has expelled 15 members: 14 for supporting the Confederacy and one for treason in 1789.

What happens to Santos congressional office and staff now that he is expelled?

While Santos must now pack up his belongings, his congressional staff will continue working. According to House rules, the House clerk is responsible for supervising the staff and managing the office of any member who dies or resigns or is expelled until a successor is elected.

The clerk, Kevin McCumber, will have the authority to hire and fire staff members for the office with approval from the House Administration Committee.

When could a successor be elected?

New York law gives the governor 10 days to schedule a special election in the event of a congressional vacancy. It must occur 70 to 80 days after the governors proclamation is issued.

The special election is expected to be competitive for both parties  and expensive.

Could Santos run for office again?

While Santos has said he is not seeking re-election in 2024, he could run in the future even if he is expelled. After Myers was expelled in October 1980, he stayed in the race for his former seat but lost that November.

Traficant continued running for his seat from prison as an independent in 2002, losing to his former aide Tim Ryan. He attempted a comeback in 2010 but lost again to Ryan.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(CNN)  King Charles III told world leaders Friday that the warning signs of the climate crisis are being ignored and that the world is heading for dangerous uncharted territory, with devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods.

Delivering an opening address to delegates at the World Climate Action Summit, part of the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, the King said he prayed with all my heart that COP28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action.

Some important progress has been made but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track, he said, adding, we are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits and into dangerous uncharted territory.

Referring to this years climate change-fueled extreme weather, including Canadas unprecedented wildfire season, deadly flooding in Pakistan and Bangladesh and catastrophic drought in East Africa, the King told delegates that the hope of the world rested on decisions taken at the summit.

We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition all at once as a pace that far outstrips natures ability to cope, he said.

The King called for a series of measures, including a ramp-up of public and private finance, to tackle the climate crisis and rapidly increase renewable energy.

in 2050, our grandchildren wont be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didnt do, he said. The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth, he added.

Friday marked the Kings first big speech on climate change since he became monarch last year. The King did not attend last years COP27 summit in Egypt, after the then UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss advised him against going. CNN understood at the time that, the monarch and government jointly agreed that the climate summit wasnt the right occasion for the Kings first trip overseas as sovereign.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has already spoken at the ceremony, announced a $30 billion green investment fund, designed to bridge the climate finance gap.

Developing nations have long pushed the rich world to channel more financing to the global south to help it make the green transition. He spoke in Dubai, where the UAE is hosting the talks.

After a year of record global temperatures, fueling deadly extreme weather, the pressure is high at COP28 for leaders to make ambitious progress on tackling the climate crisis. But countries still remain divided about the role fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change, will play in the future.

COP28, which opened yesterday, started with a significant development as countries formally adopted a damage fund, decades in the making, to help nations hit hardest by the climate crisis.

Among countries making immediate commitments were the United Arab Emirates and Germany, both of which pledged $100 million, and the UK, which announced 60million, part of which will be used for other arrangements, according to the news release. The US announced a commitment of $17.5 million, which some experts and advocacy groups said was embarrassing.

World leaders including Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazils President Lula Da Silva, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley are due to address delegates later.

CNNs Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Angela Dewan and Ella Nilsen contributed reporting
House GOP members and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leaders attacked the Biden administrations broadband policy at Thursdays FCC oversight hearing.

After two years without a fifth commissioner, FCC Democrats have started the process to reinstate Obama-era net neutrality rules. The 3-2 vote reinstated the policy that brings internet service providers under the jurisdiction of the FCC as telecommunications carriers. The FCC repealed net neutrality in 2017 under the Trump administration.

The Biden administration has chosen partisan ideology over smart policy, Commissioner Brendan Carr (R) said. Indeed, almost three years into this administration, a clear pattern has emerged. The Biden administrations entire approach to the Internet  its broadband agenda, if you will  can be boiled down to one word: control.

House Republicans agreed, with Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) saying, Burdensome and expansive regulations like these will only discourage broadband buildout at a time when Americans need it most.

Carr continued to attack the Biden administration, saying the regulation is not about consumer safety or efficiency, but about reinstating government control.

In other words, utility-style regulation of the Internet was never about improving your online experience  that was just the sheeps clothing, Carr said. It was always about government control.

Other lawmakers agreed and said media marketplace legislation should be handled by Congress, not the FCC.

Changes to laws that govern the media marketplace need to be made by Congress, not by the FCC, Energy and Commerce Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said.

Congress members clashed with the FCCs Democratic chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, throughout the hearing. When Latta asked how the reinstatement of net neutrality rules could impact national security, Rosenworcel responded, I would be happy to have [a] discussion with you about national security issues. You and I spoke about this already.

Before beginning his questioning, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) addressed Rosenworcel, saying, One of the main functions of Congress is oversight. So, were here for oversight, not confrontation. I want to be educated; I dont want to be confrontational.

Other commissioners and House members encouraged their colleagues to refocus their attention on important issues at hand, such as consumer safety, rather than partisan finger-pointing.

Device security is just one of many other policy priorities that the FCC should instead focus on in lieu of partisan goals that do not further the public interest, Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington said. I am hopeful that my colleagues will embrace more bipartisan, commonsense policies going forward.

Recently confirmed fifth Commissioner Anna Gomez (D) agreed, saying, We must be vigilant about protecting consumers. From spam calls and scam texts, to protecting victims of domestic violence, to ensuring the internet remains open, consumers interests must lead our policymaking.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Senate Republicans called on President Biden to restrict travel between the U.S. and China in response to a rise in respiratory infections among children in China.

Since mid-October, China has reported an increase in respiratory diseases, which officials attributed to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Chinese authorities have said these infections are being fueled by known pathogens, including the flu, RSV, COVID-19 and a common bacterial infection caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae.

In their letter to Biden, however, Senate Republicans repeatedly made references to a mystery and unknown illness affecting children in China.

As you know, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a long history of lying about public health crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCPs obfuscation of the truth, and lack of transparency, robbed the United States of vital knowledge about the disease and its origin, the letter stated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the situation in China and has requested information on the disease clusters among children.

We should not wait for the WHO to take action given its track record of slavish deference to the CCP. We must take the necessary steps to protect the health of Americans, and our economy. That means we should immediately restrict travel between the United States and the PRC until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness, the GOP letter stated.

The letter was signed by Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.), JD Vance (Ohio), Rick Scott (Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) and Mike Braun (Ind.).

Health officials have so far said there is no cause for alarm.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen told lawmakers this week that statements from China regarding the cause of the illnesses have been corroborated by both a CDC office and European Union partners.

We believe there is no new or novel pathogen, she said. These are related to existing pathogens  COVID, flu, RSV and mycoplasma, a bacterium that can infect the lungs.

Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHOs department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, recently noted in an interview with Stat that the wave of disease being seen in China is not as high as what was observed in 2018 to 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

We asked if anything new was detected, any new variants, any new subtypes? And the answer was no. We asked if [they] have seen any unusual disease presentations for these pathogens. And they said no. And then they gave us an overview of the burden in the health care facilities, and their hospitals are not overwhelmed, Van Kerkhove said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Clara Barton was a "trailblazer"who became "arguably the most famous woman in America" during the Civil War, according to authors of a recent book about Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross.

Clara Barton: Civil War Humanitarian was published in 2022 by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine to mark Bartons 200th birthday and to bring together all the current research on the famous nurse. Three of the book's 14 authors spoke last month at the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area's final "Porch Program" for 2023, at the historic Newcomer House in Keedysville.

John Lustrea, the museum's former director of education, said Bartons real contributions to the treatment of wounded soldiers were more organizational than clinical.

She was innovative in that she was one of a very small number of women who arrived to preform medical care on the battlefield, sometimes while the battle was happening, he said after the event. Civilian volunteers taking it upon themselves to assist, that was a foreign concept at the time. Clara Barton was very much a trailblazer in that way.

Her other big area of innovation, Lustrea said, was in organizing donations from the public to support the Union war effort.

She starts soliciting donations, initially from people she knows, he said during the program. As the war goes on, she gets in the newspaper, so she acquires all manner of goods to the point she has to rent several warehouses to store it all.

Lustrea, now visitor services manager at Visit Frederick, said Barton's work to help Union soldiers made her arguably the most famous woman in America when the Civil War ended.

But he emphasized that she had never planned to be a national icon.

Its easy for us to forget that Clara Barton did not set out to do any of this when the war began, he said. It sort of happened to her in some ways, and then of course she ran with it.

She came to Washington, D.C. to be a clerk in the U.S. Patent office before the war, becoming one of the first women to draw a federal paycheck in her own name.

After the Baltimore riot of April 1861  right at the start of the war  she was among a crowd of onlookers who saw wounded Union soldiers from the 6th Massachusetts Militia arrive in Washington by train and quickly recognized many of the young men from her hometown. Several of the wounded had been her pupils when she was a schoolteacher.

So instantly, the Civil War is incredibly personal for Clara Barton, Lustrea said.

From left: Tracey McIntire, Olivia Peterson and John Lustrea speak at the Newcomer House in Keedysville about their contributions to a new book on Clara Barton.

Because the government had been unprepared to receive the casualties, the soldiers stayed in the Senate chambers of the U.S. Capitol. Barton gathered up supplies, brought them to the Capitol, and sat in the vice presidents chair to read newspaper accounts of recent conflict to the wounded men.

She gets the bug from this, if you will, Lustrea said. Shes like, Wow, this made me feel good, this was personally fulfilling. I want to do something to help the war effort and I seem to be good at this sort of thing.

Helping families of missing soldiers

While much of her story has been known for a long time, the book draws on information that that has been newly uncovered in the past several years, thanks to the museum's management of the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum in Washington.

A Government Services Administration employee discovered a trove of Bartons personal effects in the attic of an old building on 7th St. that was slated for demolition in 1996. The building proved to be her one-time home and office, from which she ran an all-volunteer effort to locate soldiers who never returned from the war.

NMCWM turned the building into a museum in 2015 and has been using the items found there to learn more about Bartons life.

Olivia Peterson contributed a chapter to the book about the items that were found in the Missing Soldiers Office. Shes currently an assistant with the heritage area, but was the collections manager at the Museum of Civil War Medicine for several years.

She said the trove contained about 900 letters, most of which were addressed to Edward Shaw, Bartons landlord and neighbor. There were also many articles of mens clothing, including hundreds of socks, which Peterson assumes Barton intended to repair for the benefit of soldiers.

There are just hundreds and hundreds of objects that were found and kept from the site, and the big takeaway for me was how incredibly lucky they were to find the objects to begin with, she said during the program. The fact that they survived in that space for so long being untouched and then being discovered and reinterpreted, its really lucky that whole instance happened.

In addition to the items found at the site, the museum has inspired many private holders of items associated with Clara Barton to make their artifacts public in recent years.

Jake Wynn, the senior marketing and communications manager for Visit Frederick, worked for a time at the Missing Soldiers Office museum as director of interpretations. The museum seems to be a magnet for people who are connected to Clara Barton, he said.

He was in the museum one day when a woman told him she was in possession of a letter from Barton regarding the womans ancestor, a Union soldier who had died in the infamous Andersonville prison. She provided the museum with a copy of the letter, which was published in the Barton book.

Lustrea said the discovery of this letter was important because, of the more than 60,000 letters Barton and her volunteers sent regrading missing soldiers, only about 30 are known to researchers.

Tracey McIntire, the museum's director of communications, contributed a chapter highlighting Bartons important role as a woman involved with the war.

She tells the story of a most unusual soldier from the Battle of Antietam who refused treatment for a serious wound from a male doctor. The doctor implored Barton to convince the solider to let himself be treated. Barton discovered the solider was a woman in disguise who was afraid of being arrested for her deception.

Of course she doesnt want to be examined, she said. Well, Clara convinces her You need to be taken care of; its OK. Well fix your wound up.

McIntire said the woman recovered from her wound, married the soldier whom she was looking for in the battle, and later gave birth to a daughter named Clara.

Erik Anderson is a freelance history and theater writer.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Researchers discuss the Civil War activities of Clara Barton
Hadeel Ikhmais, a climate change expert with the Palestinian Authority, speaks to The Associated Press at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  As world leaders gathered for the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the collapse of a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war Friday plunged the conflict back into open combat and cast a long shadow over the talks.

Israel's top diplomat for the Middle East huddled with leaders at the summit as his colleagues went through a book of posters of those held hostage by the militant group Hamas, placing yellow released stickers by some while looking at others still held. Meanwhile, just a street away at the Palestinian territories' first-ever pavilion, an official gave a horrified look when Associated Press journalists gave her the news that Israeli airstrikes and ground fighting in the Gaza Strip had resumed.

Even United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres brought up the fighting in his remarks at a COP conference meant to focus on restraining global warming.

As we see in this region, conflicts are causing immense suffering and intense emotion, he told the delegates. We just had the news that the bombs are sounding again in Gaza.

The war hadn't been initially the plan for Israel at this Conference of Parties held in the United Arab Emirates, with which it only struck a diplomatic recognition deal in 2020. Their country pavilion sits just across from the Emiratis' own, decorated inside with an image of a drone spraying a field and another playing on the biblical phrase calling Israel the land of artificial milk, the land of artificial honey.

Oded Joseph, the Israeli Foreign Ministry's top diplomat for the Mideast, told the AP that he believed that the war had not ruptured Israel's ties to the UAE and others.

The strategic decision that was made by Israel and by the moderate countries in the region is very, very clear," he said. "And I think this has not changed.

However, he acknowledged what he called the tragic images of dead Palestinian women and children after Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip now being played across Arab television networks and social media. However, he contended those deaths came because "Hamas took a strategic decision to take human take civilians as human shields.

Unfortunately, wars are always ugly and wars always demands us for us to pay in many prices," Joseph said. "But I think the justification of this war is very, very clear.

For Hadeel Ikhmais, a climate change expert with the Palestinian Authority on hand for the event, that explanation rang hollow when she recounted the deaths seen by Palestinians in the conflict, both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank where she lives. She recounted gunfire hitting her home during an Israeli raid and the struggle to be able to even fly to Dubai for the summit.

We are here all together, all the world together, to combat climate change and really, we're negotiating for what?" she asked. We're negotiating for what in the middle of a genocide?

Hamas started the war with a deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel, during which it and other Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 240 people captive. Since then, Israels bombardment and 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.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel. Virtually all of those freed were women and children.

Sympathies at the conference appeared to be siding with the Palestinians, with one environmentalist group handing out handbills repeatedly saying: Cease-fire Now. Another exhibition of children shoes represented those killed in the Gaza Strip. Jordans King Abdullah II also decried the war.

The massive destruction of war makes the environmental threats of water scarcity and food insecurity even more severe, he said.

The resumption of fighting came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Dubai as part of shuttle diplomacy that had aimed to see the cease-fire continue and most hostages held by Hamas exchanged for Palestinians held by Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a return to negotiations over a two-state solution to end the decadeslong Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

However, Joseph dismissed any idea of negotiating with Hamas, a group that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly pledged to destroy in the military campaign.

Israel couldnt have reached (the hostage releases) without first making this military operation, he said.

Ikhmais also dismissed the idea of negotiations starting again over the two-state solution, given the hard-right coalition Netanyahu has surrounded himself with and the actions they've taken to support Israeli settlers on land the Palestinians hope to have for their future state. Meanwhile, the billions of dollars it will cost to repair the Gaza Strip will take away from any climate mitigation, she said.

During the last 20 years, where was the two-state solution? Ikhmais asked. Nowadays, who is hindering this is the Israeli side. ... It's either us or them  this is in their mentality. This is how the Israeli occupation feeds themselves; by taking our land, by taking our lives, stealing our culture."

___

Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten, Lujain Jo, Olivia Zhang and Matthew Lee 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.
Nearly four years into the coronavirus pandemic, the society-wide return of white-collar employees to their pre-pandemic offices that some have eagerly awaited and others have long dreaded remains largely unrealized.

Restaurants and stadiums are packed, and students are back in school, but corporate executives and even some government leaders are finding it difficult to lure workers back to the office.

After office occupancy approached 50% nationwide earlier this year, return-to-office (RTO) rates in many major cities remain stagnant. The data all shows the RTO push is over, remote work expert Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University told Yahoo News in an email. Totally dead.

Recommended Reading

Coming back but only partly

Remote work remains widely popular. (Getty Images)

Executives who that believe in-person interaction fosters collaboration tried to bring workers back into the office in 2021 and 2022, only to be undone by the Delta and Omicron variants of the coronavirus. Big-city mayors also clamored for office workers, whose spending they said once sustained downtowns that had been emptied. President Biden even mentioned returning to the office in 2022s State of the Union address.

Those calls only grew louder in 2023. I completely understand why someone doesn't want to commute an hour and a half every day, totally got it. Doesn't mean they have to have a job here either, JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon told the Economist in mid-July.

The tide was turning  or so it seemed. "Fall 2023 is shaping up as remote works biggest test yet," Fortune noted, pointing out that some a million office employees faced strict back-to-the office mandates in September.

Recommended Reading:

Work-from-home 'going to stick around'

Younger workers enjoy the flexibility of WHF. (Getty Images)

While some office workers have returned, any hopes for a return to 2019-style work habits, when remote work was rare, have been dashed.

New York Mayor Eric Adams was a major RTO booster when he first took office, deriding remote workers as pajama-clad loafers. But for all his boosterism, return to office rates actually fell at the start of 2023 to 61%, after rising to a high of 65% in 2022, according to Axios.

I have no reason to think it's suddenly going to shoot up, one of the mayors top aides told Yahoo News. In June 2022, Adams ordered all white-collar civil servants back to the office full-time. But this year, as the city struggled to retain or attract employees, he agreed to allow two days per week work-from-home, or WFH, for members of the citys largest municipal union. Some version of this is going to stick around, the aide acknowledged.

In August, a survey by workplace platform Envoy of more than 1,000 executives and managers who have returned to the office found 80% regret their initial RTO orders, saying they would have liked to have more accurate data before crafting their policies.

Many companies are realizing they could have been a lot more measured in their approach, rather than making big, bold, very controversial decisions based on executives opinions rather than employee data, Larry Gadea, Envoys CEO and founder, told CNBC.

Bloom and others say the future is hybrid, with employees back in the office two or three days a week, with Mondays and Fridays as the likeliest WFH days. A recent report by consulting company McKinsey found that, on average, employees were going to the office 3.5 days a week

Recommended Reading:

The role of government

An empty office conference room in Philadelphia. (Hannah Beier/Reuters)

The federal government is the largest employer in the nation, with thousands of employees in major cities like New York and Los Angeles  and more than 300,000 in Washington, D.C., alone. Elected leaders there have been pleading with the Biden administration to end its lenient work-from-home policies; others have argued that once the federal government makes RTO mandatory, some holdouts in private industry could potentially follow.

Last summer, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients told agency heads across the federal government that they needed to aggressively execute an RTO plan after the long Labor Day weekend.

A senior official with the federal Office of Management and Budget, which oversees the federal governments 2.2 million employees, told Yahoo News that RTO has been a major priority. He said that every agency is working on a return-to-office plan, with some further ahead than others, though he declined to give specifics.

We are midstream in implementation right now, the OMB official said, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is an enforceable hybrid policy. We've learned a lot about how to operate effectively and provide flexibility to folks. But there's certain things that you just can't capture without adequate, meaningful, intentional in-person time.

The official said that OMB had been tracking usage of Washingtons subway and commuter rail usage, and that a 40% increase between October 2022 and October 2023 was an especially hopeful sign that the Biden administrations RTO push is working.

Whats next

Offices remain partly empty, nearly four years after the coronavirus pandemic began. (Getty Images)

Millions of square feet in office towers will sit empty for the foreseeable future, as the effects of remote work fall hardest on the downtowns of midsize, economically precarious Rust Belt cities. Theres winners and losers, Bloom of Stanford told Yahoo News. Thats the nature of progress.

Some office buildings may be converted to residential units in cities like New York and Boston where affordable housing has become extremely difficult to find. But the aide to Mayor Adams noted zoning laws and design changes make those conversions often challenging, if not impossible. Those are really hard projects, he said.

Still, Bloom said that while things are bleak in many a U.S. downtown, worries about a broader urban decline are being overstated. Look, New Yorks going to thrive, he said. As are all major American cities.

Recommended Reading:

The Conversation: Remote work marks the path to a greener future

This article was updated to more accurately describe Envoy's report on return-to-office policies.
Ukraine will likely receive its first large batch of the U.S.-pledged Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) long-range weapons, adapted to strike at a range of 160 kilometers, in early 2024, Reuters reported on Nov. 30, citing the Pentagon and sources familiar with the matter.

GLSDB can be used by the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and has roughly twice the range compared to the munitions currently used by Ukraine, potentially strengthening Kyiv's long-strike abilities.

The delivery of the GPS-guided rocket-propelled bombs was announced in February, with initial estimates putting their time of arrival to Ukraine in late 2023.

Because the Pentagon's contract with Boeing to begin the production was signed only in March, the manufacturer is expected to provide GLSDB to the U.S. in December, according to Reuters.

This will be followed by months of testing before it can be shipped to Ukraine.

The modern weapons system co-developed by Boeing and Swedish Saab defense company is currently not in operation by the U.S.

Russia claimed that it had shot down a GLSDB bomb in March, but a U.S. official told Reuters that none of these weapons had been delivered to Ukraine so far.

GLSDB would augment Ukraine's long-range arsenal for strikes against Russia's rear. Washington delivered a limited amount of Army Tactical Missiles Systems (ATACMS), most likely of the variation with a range of 160 kilometers, to Ukraine in October.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) allegedly detonated explosives on a Russian military supply rail line in Siberia, an unnamed Ukrainian source told Reuters on Nov. 30.

The SBU detonated four explosives overnight as a cargo train was moving through the Severomuysky Tunnel in the Buryatia Republic, north of Mongolia. The alleged explosions caused a fire on the train.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify that the alleged detonations took place.

Russian media previously confirmed a fire on the train but provided no details of an alleged explosion.

Russia's Investigative Committee said a train carrying fuel caught fire but did not elaborate on the cause. No casualties were reported as a result of the fire.

The location of the alleged attack lies 4,000 kilometers west of Ukraine's border and would be indicative of Kyiv's ability to conduct military operations deep inside Russia.

If confirmed, the sabotage would not be the first time Ukraine has allegedly damaged rail infrastructure within Russia. In May, an "unidentified explosive device" went off on railway tracks near the Snezhetskaya station in Russia's Bryansk region, derailing a freight train.

Since the start of Russia's all-out war against Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, there have been multiple reports of fires breaking out across Russia and other acts of sabotage which some believe to be carried out by the Ukrainian military or local partisan groups.



Read also: Ukraine war latest: Zelensky visits Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia oblasts as harsh winter looms on front line

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
What has China done to address global climate challenges

Xinhua) 08:18, December 01, 2023

This aerial photo taken on Aug. 20, 2022 shows Saihanba National Forest Park in Chengde City, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

DUBAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- More than 70,000 delegates from around the world are gathering here for COP28, the United Nations climate change conference scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

The 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be a milestone where the world takes stock of its progress on the Paris Agreement, and the outcome will help pool global efforts against climate change.

What has China done to address global climate challenges? The world's second-largest economy has halved carbon dioxide emission per unit of GDP, becoming a global leader in utilizing green and low-carbon energies, and actively promoting international cooperation on climate governance.

On China's remarkable achievements made in addressing climate change, Erik Solheim, former under-secretary-general of the UN and former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, told Xinhua on Thursday that strong environment calls from the people, dedication from China's political leadership and innovations of Chinese businesses together made all these possible.

This photo taken on March 18, 2022 shows a carbon emission supervision platform in Xiongan New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

ENERGY INTENSITY LOWERED DOWN

The age of global warming had ended and the "era of global boiling" had arrived, the United Nations has warned.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday once again urged COP28 delegates to take actions before a "critical tipping point" comes.

As carbon emission is a major factor behind global warming, China has been quick in action to cut it in response.

In 2022, the country's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by more than 51 percent from its 2005 level, showed figures from the 2023 annual report on China's policies and actions to address climate change.

A Chinese engineer interacts with local workers at Karuma Hydropower Plant in Kiryandongo, Uganda, on Aug. 21, 2023. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

The report, released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) last month, revealed that by the end of last year the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption had reached 17.5 percent in China.

While energy intensity in the economy drops fast, efforts on afforestation are also bearing fruits. National forest coverage rate in China has reached 24.02 percent in 2021.

The country has incorporated carbon emission reduction goals into the overall planning of economic and social development, and has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

To that end, a national carbon market has been established, and by the first half of this year cumulative transaction volume of carbon emission allowances has reached 238 million tons nationwide.

Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, said here Thursday that as a responsible major developing country, China has always adhered to the strategic determination of climate action. The country's economic and social development has embarked on a comprehensive green transformation track.

China has become a major supplier of wind, solar power equipment and power batteries, driving down the cost of renewable energy usage, helping developing countries obtain clean, reliable and more affordable energy, he said.

This photo taken on Aug. 10, 2023 shows wind turbines of Longyuan South Africa Renewables (Pty) Ltd.'s De Aar Wind Power Project in De Aar, South Africa. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

GREEN ENERGY LEADER

With total installed capacity of renewable energies reaching 1,213 gigawatts in 2022, China has become a global leader in utilizing green and low-carbon energy sources.

The country has ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years in production and sales of new energy vehicles.

By the end of June this year, the number of new energy vehicles nationwide reached 16.2 million.

China, as a global leader in renewable energy expansion, is a powerhouse that has the ability to triple renewable power generation globally, COP28 President-Designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber told Xinhua recently.

"China is key in the decarbonization of the energy we use today," he said, noting that more than three-quarters of the world's solar panels, around 60 percent of the world's wind turbines, and three-quarters of the lithium-ion batteries on this planet come from China.

China is not just making what the world needs for the energy transition, its industrial strength is also bringing down costs for every nation, said Al Jaber.

New energy vehicles run in the zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

CLIMATE COOPERATION PROMOTER

China is active in promoting international cooperation on addressing climate challenges and has been deeply engaged in South-South cooperation in this regard.

As of June 2023, the country has signed 46 memorandums of understanding on climate change with 39 developing countries, launched over 70 climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, and helped train more than 2,300 officials and technicians from over 120 developing countries, according to the MEE report.

And in 2017, China jointly established a ministerial conference mechanism for climate action with the EU and Canada.

Earlier this month, China and the United States released The Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis, reaffirming their commitment to work together and with other countries to address the climate crisis.

Over the years, China has been promoting cooperation on climate change under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework, providing support for other developing countries to better their abilities in dealing with climate change.

In the first half of this year, 56 percent of China's overseas energy investment in BRI participating countries went into renewable energy such as solar, wind, or hydropower projects, the COP28 president-designate has told Xinhua.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, 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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.
Fifth of six parts

This series is a collaboration between the Dallas Morning News and the San Antonio Express-News.

Blood seeped from the stab wound in the mans leg while paramedics tried desperately to revive him.

By the time trauma staff at Parkland Health in Dallas pulled off his boots, a breathtaking amount of blood gushed out. The gash would have been simple to repair, had the weapon not sliced through his femoral artery.

Within minutes, he was dead.

Years later, Kristie Brown, the hospitals director of trauma services and an advanced practice nurse, still thinks about that patient, about how he could have been helped by earlier access to a tourniquet or blood transfusions. What happened to him is a scenario she has observed time and again: Shooting and stabbing victims who were not far from her hospital when they were injured but arrived on the verge of death from massive blood loss.

Cases like his make her wish there was a way to get blood to patients before they get to the hospital, something thats standard in some parts of Texas. But not yet in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Its heartbreaking for the paramedics to not be able to provide some care for that patient whos bleeding out. In the fourth-largest metro area in the country with more than 7.5 million people, a combination of a complex network of health systems and sometimes competing interests have made medical leaders cautious about placing blood products on ambulances. That started to change after the Dallas Morning News began asking North Texas health leaders last year why blood programs were possible in some of the states other major cities but not here.

Aside from air ambulance companies, only three suburban EMS agencies across the region  in Frisco, Sachse and Parker County  provide blood products on ambulances. A fourth provider in Wise County, which includes Decatur, is on the cusp of carrying blood components.

The regions two largest EMS providers, Dallas Fire-Rescue and MedStar Mobile Healthcare, which provides emergency medical services in Fort Worth and surrounding communities, said recently that they are in early discussions to carry blood products. While Dallas Fire-Rescue leaders said they intend to launch a pilot program in the first half of next year in partnership with Parkland Health, MedStar has no immediate plans to carry blood.

Local health care leaders argue that making blood products widely available across the region is complicated. With its size and sprawl, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has numerous competing hospital systems and EMS providers with varying need for blood and the ability to pay for it.

I often will talk about the Metroplex being like three-dimensional chess, said Rick Antonisse, executive director of North Texas regional trauma council.

Representatives at Carter BloodCare, the nonprofit blood bank that serves North Texas, are open to arming the regions paramedics with blood products but have reservations about further straining an already limited blood supply and siphoning away units that hospital patients need. Dallas Fire-Rescue treats more than 160,000 patients each year, while MedStar responds to around 190,000 calls annually.

Austin-Travis County EMS medics and Austin firefighters help a motor vehicle accident victim in May. Paramedics in Austin have carried blood to accident scenes for years. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

North Texas stands in stark contrast to San Antonio, Austin and other parts of South and Central Texas, where paramedics have routinely carried blood to scenes involving serious injuries and massive blood loss for years. Blood is one of the few tools paramedics can use to treat severe internal bleeding before a patient undergoes surgery.

These blood programs seek to address an intractable problem  the potentially preventable deaths of tens of thousands of injured patients annually who bleed out before they reach a hospital or soon after their arrival.

Trauma is the top cause of premature death for children and adults under age 45, and in 2021 Texas led the nation in deaths from motor vehicle crashes and guns, federal data shows. In 2020, traumatic injury killed an American about every 3 minutes, a Texan every 42 minutes and a Dallas County resident every 7 hours, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It became very apparent that this was a huge unmet need in EMS. Each year, an estimated 31,000 injured patients bleed to death with potentially survivable injuries, which medical researchers say is a public health crisis. A significant share of these deaths could be averted with faster access to care, and in particular, blood, a growing body of research and an investigation by the Dallas Morning News and the San Antonio Express-News has found.

Left: Austin-Travis County EMS Commander Craig Smith (left) joins Austin firefighters as they extricate a patient from a motor vehicle accident in May. Blood is one of the few tools paramedics can use to treat severe internal bleeding at the scene of an accident. Right: Smith fills in the required paperwork on his phone for the blood he carried with him throughout his shift. Paramedics in Austin have carried blood to the scene of major accidents and shootings for years. Photos by Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News 1. Austin-Travis County EMS Commander Craig Smith (left) joins Austin firefighters as they extricate a patient from a motor vehicle accident in May. Blood is one of the few tools paramedics can use to treat severe internal bleeding at the scene of an accident. 2. Smith fills in the required paperwork on his phone for the blood he carried with him throughout his shift. Paramedics in Austin have carried blood to the scene of major accidents and shootings for years. Photos by Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

In Austin, paramedics immediately noticed the difference that rapid access to blood made for their patients, whether they were bleeding from a car crash, a gunshot wound, gastrointestinal issues or a pregnancy complication. To get blood to shooting victims sooner, Austin-Travis County EMS is training its paramedics to wear bulletproof helmets and vests so they can work alongside police.

It became very apparent that this was a huge unmet need in EMS, said Capt. Dave LeClere.

The Houston Fire Department, one of the largest municipal fire agencies in the country, has secured initial funding for a blood program through a donation from the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston, said Dr. Lars Thestrup, assistant medical director. One study found more than 130 trauma patients in Harris County died of potentially survivable bleeding in a single year.

Its heartbreaking for the paramedics to not be able to provide some care for that patient whos bleeding out, he said. This is going to be a huge solution for them.

In recent months, the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council, which supports emergency medical services across the area, has said it is rolling out a pilot program that would make blood components more widely available to EMS providers.

The programs goal is for five North Texas providers to start carrying blood products in 2024. The council plans to start accepting applications from eligible providers in January.

I think, in time, North Texas will catch up, said B.J. Smith, the blood banks vice president of operations.

Parker County Hospital District EMS medics work on a patient at the scene of a motor vehicle accident in November 2022. Areas of Parker County, west of Fort Worth, can have driving times of about 45 minutes to a Level I trauma center. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Emergency extrication

In Frisco, the idea for using blood in the field began at a construction site.

In early 2018, emergency responders converged at a neighborhood where single-family homes were being built. A construction workers leg had become tangled in the teeth of heavy machinery while he was digging a trench.

There was no saving the limb and no way to free him without inflicting further damage. Yet if they didnt rescue him, and soon, he would die. A surgical amputation was the best option.

So, on that work site, first responders assembled a makeshift hospital.

A surgeon from Medical City Plano performed the procedure. Paramedics from the Frisco Fire Department provided equipment, administered pain and sedation drugs and placed a breathing tube in the victim. An air ambulance brought blood components to the scene.

During the amputation, Dr. Mark Gamber, the fire departments EMS medical director, had an epiphany.

His paramedics often started IVs and encountered patients with urgent bleeding. Why didnt they always have blood with them?

At the time, no other EMS agencies in North Texas carried blood outside of helicopter services. They would be the first.

The idea had already gained traction in other parts of the state.

A Houston-area emergency provider had been carrying blood products to calls for two years, based on military evidence that replacing lost blood as soon as possible can save lives. The month before the amputation in Frisco, the same data had prompted trauma leaders in San Antonio to launch the countrys first regional blood program, an initiative that would make blood widely available on helicopters and ambulances across South Texas.

Paramedics in Frisco wanted to offer the same for their patients, who were 20 to 25 minutes from major trauma centers. For heavy bleeding, that was a long time to wait.

Throughout 2018, Gamber and others at the fire department sought advice from their peers in San Antonio and Harris County and discussed the idea with Planos trauma hospitals, which received the citys most severely injured patients.

That December, a paramedic supervisor began carrying blood products less than a year after the amputation at the construction site.

One week later, they got their first opportunity to use them after another incident at a different construction site. This time, a fallen staircase had crushed a workers pelvis, causing major internal bleeding.

The paramedics gave him transfusions of red blood cells and plasma in the back of the ambulance. He fully recovered.

Still, it would take about four years for another North Texas ambulance service to launch a similar program.

Units of blood are seen in a cooler as Parker County Hospital District EMS exchanges blood with Carter BloodCenter. Carter supplies red blood cells and plasma for use in the field and switches them out with fresh units before they expire. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Barriers to blood

Paramedics have traditionally not carried blood products because they are costly, supply is short and they have a limited shelf life. While putting blood products on ambulances has grown in popularity over the past few years, it is still a relatively new practice for both EMS providers and blood banks. Medical researchers still debate the type of blood products that should be used on ambulances and helicopters and the patients who stand to benefit the most from those transfusions.

These obstacles have slowed efforts to make prehospital blood widely available in North Texas.

In 2020, Dr. Justin Northeim, assistant director of BEST EMS, which provides medical direction to EMS providers in North Texas and other parts of the state, approached Carter about supplying blood to two of his agencies. Sachse, north of Garland, and Parker County, west of Fort Worth, respectively had driving times of about 20 and 45 minutes from Level I trauma centers.

We dont want to be first. We certainly dont want to be last. We want to be best. Northeim thought the idea would be fairly easy to implement because North Texas had an abundance of trauma hospitals, more than Houston, San Antonio or Austin.

He was not prepared for the roadblocks he faced over the next two years.

Dr. Justin Northeim, medical director of Parker County Hospital District EMS, donates blood at the Carter BloodCare Weatherford Donor Center on Nov. 9, 2022. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Representatives from Carter balked at the idea of supplying them with whole blood, which they did not stock in large amounts. Northeim could get blood from San Antonios blood bank, which already supplied units to EMS providers. But that was so far away they couldnt easily return unused units, raising the risk of wasting blood.

Smith, the Carter representative, said the organizations main concern is sustaining the blood supply, given how few people donate. Blood is needed more sporadically in the field than at hospitals, so there needs to be a plan for using the units elsewhere before they expire so they dont go to waste, he said.

Eventually, the two sides reached a compromise.

Carter would supply red blood cells and plasma to the two EMS agencies and switch them out with fresh units before expiration. To help maintain the blood supply, the EMS providers would bring in three blood donations for each unit they received. People who donate on behalf of the EMS providers register with a special code.

Parker County Hospital District EMS field training officer Jordan Tolliver, right exchanges units of blood with Craig Denny of Carter BloodCenter. Protocols to return blood nearing expiration to the blood center ensures that none of the precious commodity is wasted. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

After Parker County paramedics began carrying blood products, they treated a domestic violence victim with multiple stab wounds. The patient, who received blood products in the field and during air transport, made it to the hospital alive and ultimately recovered.

She wouldnt have survived, prior to blood, Northeim said.

Up until recently, no one championed the idea of prehospital blood in North Texas, said Dr. S. Marshal Isaacs, medical director of Dallas Fire-Rescue and a professor of emergency medicine at UT Southwestern in Dallas.

Carrying blood, especially in a big city, requires resources and a reimagination of the role of paramedics in treating major blood loss, based on still-emerging evidence.

While there is some research linking prehospital blood programs to improved short-term survival for injured patients, researchers are still collecting data on how prehospital blood programs impact long-term survival in big cities, where ambulance transport times tend to be fast.

However, as more cities across the state and country have launched blood programs, Isaacs said fire department and city leaders now support providing that level of care for patients in Dallas.

We dont want to be first. We certainly dont want to be last. We want to be best, Isaacs said.

Before moving to Fort Worth, Dr. Jeff Jarvis tried to establish a blood program in Williamson County, which includes Round Rock and other communities north of Austin.

Donate blood, please. The solution to this is in your body. He encountered strict rules for monitoring the temperature of the blood to prevent it from spoiling, especially outside the highly regulated environments of hospitals. The same challenges temporarily grounded Austins blood program after its initial launch at the end of 2021.

Now, as chief medical officer of MedStar, which provides ambulance service for Fort Worth and 13 surrounding cities, Jarvis also has to contend with funding problems. The organization is working with the city of Fort Worth to identify ways to fill major revenue shortfalls, a problem afflicting EMS providers nationwide.

Jarvis and others in his organization are still committed to the idea of prehospital transfusion, including in big cities where research shows that injured patients still regularly bleed to death. Working out the details, including logistics and supply, will take time, he said.

In the meantime, he urged the public to do its part.

Donate blood, please. The solution to this is in your body, he said.

A Parker County Hospital District Life Care EMS ambulance heads for the Medical City Weatherford emergency room in 2022. Weatherford does not have a trauma center to treat badly injured patients who need medical care as soon as possible. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Parker County Hospital District EMS paramedic Kraig Hayman responds to a call in 2022 in Weatherford. Only three suburban EMS agencies carry blood products on ambulances, and Parker County is one of them. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Dispatcher Jeremy Williams works at Parker County Hospital District EMS Station 1 in Weatherford. Parker County paramedics carry blood products on emergency calls, including one involving a domestic violence victim who had multiple stab wounds. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Dr. Justin Northeim joins first responders as they transport a patient in 2022. Northeim was instrumental in having Parker County EMS crews carry blood to emergency calls. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Parker County Hospital District EMS paramedics (from left) Rick Smalley, Robert Fair, TJ Riddle and Jordan Tolliver sit down to train on the use of a blood warmer at Station 1. Blood must be kept cold during transport and must be warmed before it can be used in a transfusion. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Parker County Hospital District Life Care EMS paramedics wheel a patient into the emergency room at Medical City Weatherford in 2022. Research into the prehospital transfusion of blood and blood products by emergency responders continues. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Staff work in the trauma center at John Peter Smith Hospital in April. Researchers are still collecting data on how prehospital blood programs are impacting patient survival in big cities like Fort Worth, where ambulance transport times tend to be fast. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Trauma nurse Kathrine Lozano pulls blood from a refrigerator that is kept stocked with four units of blood in the trauma center at John Peter Smith Hospital. The Dallas-Fort Worth region has more trauma level hospitals than other Texas areas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Labels mark the location of trauma supplies, which must be found quickly by medical staff, in the trauma center at John Peter Smith Hospital. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News A unit of blood is depleted as a patient is moved for more tests in the trauma center at John Peter Smith Hospital. The federal government and private insurers do not pay for blood that is transfused outside the hospital setting. Trauma advocates plan to petition for a change in those rules. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Dr. Rick Miller, center, chief of surgery at John Peter Smith Hospital, stands by as staff prepare to X-ray a patient in the trauma center. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Austin-Travis County EMS medics load a patient for transport at a patient collection point during the SXSW festival in March in Austin. In 2020, traumatic injury killed a Texan every 42 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News A drop of blood falls from a finger as a paramedic with Austin-Travis County EMS stitched a lacerated finger at a patient collection point during the SXSW festival. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News A police officer tried to wash away blood at the scene after Austin-Travis County EMS took a patient from a downtown street during the SXSW festival. To get blood to patients who need it sooner, Austin Travis County EMS is training its paramedics to wear bulletproof helmets and vests so they can work alongside police officers. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Austin Travis County EMS Commander Craig Smith helps firefighters as they load a patient for transport at the scene of a motor vehicle accident in May. In Austin, paramedics immediately noticed the difference that rapid access to blood made to their patients. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Austin-Travis County EMS units fill ambulance bays outside the emergency room as a patient is transported at St. Davids South Austin Medical Center in May. Each year, an estimated 31,000 injured patients bleed to death with potentially survivable injuries, which amounts to a public health crisis, medical researchers say. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Pilot programs

Dallas Fire-Rescue plans to launch its pilot blood program sometime during the first half of next year, after choosing an area of the city that sees high numbers of injured patients. Over time, the program will likely expand to include the entire city and may later include patients with major bleeding from medical complications, too, Isaacs said.

The programs success will depend on the availability of blood, which Dallas Fire-Rescue hopes to source from Parkland, and training some portion of the departments more than 900 frontline paramedics.

Funding will have to be worked out, too. The federal government and private insurers currently do not pay for blood transfused outside a hospital, although trauma advocates plan to petition for those rules to be changed.

In September 2022, representatives from Carter and the trauma council, which supports the areas EMS providers, attended a seminar in San Antonio to learn more about the regional blood program there. Afterward, they formed a work group to explore creating something similar in North Texas.

Its not as simple as copying the blood programs in other parts of the state, said Antonisse, the trauma council executive director. The Dallas-Fort Worth region has more trauma hospitals than other Texas cities and numerous EMS providers, each of which does things a bit differently, he said.

The group decided that any interested EMS providers must demonstrate their need for blood and ability to comply with the programs requirements, including maintaining the blood, submitting data and bringing in more donors to the blood bank. The trauma council will purchase up to $8,000 of equipment for each participating EMS provider.

Over time, the blood programs reach will expand, said Jim Dickerson, the councils director of emergency health care systems.

Its not an unlimited, Hey, everybody can jump in, Dickerson said.

Thats the very thing Carter is concerned about, he added.

Emergency room workers crowd into a trauma bay at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth to assist in the treatment of a victim of a motor vehicle accident in April 2023. John Peter Smith is a Trauma Level I hospital. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Helping bleeding patients

One afternoon this spring, a patient involved in a motorcycle crash, whose care was observed by a News reporter and photographer, reinforced the importance of having access to blood at a moments notice.

When the man arrived in the trauma bay of John Peter Smith Hospital, he seemed stable.

The patient, in his early 70s, had been airlifted to the Fort Worth trauma center after he was struck while riding his motorcycle in rush hour traffic. He had road rash on his face and torso and exposed bone on his arm and leg, but his vitals were strong.

Within a few minutes, he became incoherent, unable to answer nurses questions. Then his blood pressure fell sharply. Both were warning signs that he was bleeding out.

Are we giving blood? a nurse asked.

Yes, one unit of blood, whole blood, said Dr. Rick Miller, the hospitals chief of surgery.

Trauma nurse Kathrine Lozano starts the transfusion of a unit of blood in the trauma center at John Peter Smith Hospital in April. The Fort Worth hospital uses whole blood to revive hemorrhaging patients in its trauma bay because its faster and more potent than the typical combination of blood components. Photos by Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Trauma nurse Kathrine Lozano starts the transfusion of a unit of blood in the trauma center at John Peter Smith Hospital in April. The Fort Worth hospital uses whole blood to revive hemorrhaging patients in its trauma bay because its faster and more potent than the typical combination of blood components. Photos by Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Kathrine Lozano, a trauma nurse, weaved through the room, crowded with other nurses and flight paramedics, to a blue refrigerator stocked with four units of whole blood. They were kept within close reach for just this type of emergency.

As the blood began to flow, nurses ran an ultrasound to check for fluid in the mans abdomen.

After a minute or two, the patients unintelligible garbling became clear responses. His blood pressure stabilized.

All right, were going in the right direction, Miller said.

X-rays showed the patient had a broken hip, which can lead to major internal bleeding.

For now, the blood had worked. Staff rolled him away for more tests.

John Peter Smith Hospital gives whole blood to revive hemorrhaging patients in its trauma bay because its faster and more potent than the combination of blood components patients typically receive. Dr. Raj Gandhi, trauma medical director, said the first time he gave it to an injured patient, it seemed to work like magic.

He also knows that what he can offer to patients at the hospital only partly addresses preventable bleeding deaths. For hemorrhaging patients, Gandhi said, the most important thing is quickly reversing the damage from massive blood loss.

Over the past 10 to 15 years, many trauma centers have begun to reach limits of what they can do to improve care for bleeding patients. Thats why Gandhi believes change needs to happen outside the hospital. He said he believes putting blood on ambulances and helicopters is the next frontier in saving more lives.

Gandhi wants to help all injured patients, not just those who make it to the hospital alive.
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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"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."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.
Last of six parts

This series is a collaboration between the Dallas Morning News and the San Antonio Express-News.

As soon as the call came in, Virgil Cross knew the situation was urgent.

It was a little after 6 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2019, and Cross was nearing the end of his 24-hour shift as a paramedic in Corsicana, about an hour south of Dallas. After responding to several calls the night before, he and his partner were tired. They had less than an hour to go when the alert came in about a high-speed, head-on collision near Mertens, a tiny farming town about 25 miles to the west.

It would take at least a half-hour to get there, so Cross called for helicopter backup before leaving.

At the scene, he surveyed the damage.

Along the two-lane country highway lay pieces of two mangled pickups. Volunteer firefighters were trying to extricate a man from the crumpled cab of the smaller, older truck, which took the brunt of the damage.

Wayne Elmore was critically injured in a 2019 head-on crash. But he survived with the help of a blood transfusion on the way to the hospital. Dallas Morning News

Inside, Wayne Elmore, 58, stared straight ahead, his hands still on the steering wheel. His bloodied face was expressionless and tinged with gray. More blood dripped down his leg, along the side of the seat and onto the asphalt.

They didnt have much time, Cross thought.

Traumatic injuries from car crashes, shootings, falls and other accidents are the leading cause of death for children and adults under age 45, killing an American about every 3 minutes and a Texan every 42 minutes in 2020, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, Texas had more deaths from motor vehicle crashes and guns than any other state, federal data shows.

Nationwide, most paramedics lack access to blood, even as an estimated 31,000 injured patients die of potentially preventable bleeding each year.

That day, Wayne was in danger of becoming one of them.

Paramedics provided this photo of the wreckage of the two pickups in the head-on collision involving Wayne Elmore in 2019. Elmore was driving the truck on the right, on his way to his job as a school bus driver in nearby Frost.

A catastrophic crash

As the helicopter circled the crash scene, Cross and his partner, Jacob Sanchez, got to work.

Wayne was headed to his job as a school bus driver in nearby Frost. As his 1996 Toyota T100 pickup crested a hill, a Chevy Silverado crossed into his lane to pass another vehicle and struck him head-on. The impact crushed Wayne against the dashboard and trapped his legs beneath the pedals.

While Cross helped the volunteer firefighters cut through the roof of the cab, Sanchez readied the ambulance. Cross tried talking to Wayne but got only a few mumbled words in response.

After Wayne was freed, Cross took a closer look. There were broken bones from head to toe.

In the ambulance, Waynes heart thrummed in overdrive at more than 200 beats per minute. His blood pressure was so low it didnt register on the machine and his poor circulation made it difficult for medics to find a vein to start an IV. They eventually managed to administer fluids by drilling holes in the bones of his shin and shoulder.

They soon realized it wasnt working.

Without replacing at least some of the blood Wayne had lost, Sanchez realized, he wasnt going to make it. Even by helicopter, they were at least 20 minutes from the nearest Level I trauma center in Dallas.

They needed to do something. Fast.

Luckily, the helicopter crew had something their ambulance didnt.

Blood.

The morning of Waynes crash, Tony Mason had just started his shift as a flight paramedic for PHI Air Medical, a company that operates air ambulances in Texas and more than a dozen other states. As their helicopter landed near Texas 22, Mason spotted the wreck.

They had to work quickly.

Even with fluids being pushed through two IV lines, Waynes blood pressure was dangerously low, his pulse too high. As Mason administered oxygen through a mask, he feared the injuries were too much for Waynes body to endure, especially given his age.

The helicopter was stocked with two units each of red blood cells and plasma, which the paramedics started carrying a few years earlier.

Wayne got everything they had.

Wayne Elmore gets behind the wheel to drive his afternoon bus route in late May. Almost two years after the crash, Elmore returned to his job as a school bus driver. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Broken everywhere

By the time Wayne arrived at Parkland Health in Dallas, he had no pulse.

As soon as the flight crew rolled Wayne into the trauma bay, doctors and nurses initiated CPR and pumped at least 21 more units of blood products into him. Fara Ajani, one of the trauma nurses on duty, worried Waynes body would give out.

One thing was clear. Even with the blood products he received from the paramedics, Wayne had arrived on the verge of death. Without them, he never would have made it to Parkland at all.

Somehow, the hospital staff managed to revive him.

While his organs and blood vessels emerged unscathed, Wayne had suffered fractures throughout his body, to 27 bones in all: His face, nose and jaw. Fourteen ribs. Left forearm and wrist, both ankles, right thigh bone and heel. His sternum, right elbow and both kneecaps  all were shattered. There were so many injuries that Jolyn, his girlfriend, asked the medical team for a list so she could better keep up with his care.

With each break, blood had pooled in the spaces left behind. A person can bleed to death internally into their chest cavity or pelvis.

Wayne was broken everywhere. Over the next six weeks, doctors and nurses at Parkland put him back together.

That first night, Jolyn gazed at the Dallas skyline from his hospital room, praying for God to spare his life. She couldnt do this again.

Almost exactly 15 years earlier, Jolyns husband of 19 months had been hit head-on near Waco on his way home from work. He was ejected from the vehicle and died instantly. The thought of losing another partner in the same way was too much to suffer.

Wayne and Jolyn Elmore bowed their heads in prayer during services at Trail to The Cross Cowboy Church in Hillsboro in June. The Elmores self-published a book about the ordeal and the importance of their faith through it all. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Dr. Caroline Park, an emergency and critical care surgeon who treated Wayne while he was in the ICU, said its easy for people to tune out accidents like his  until it happens to them, or to someone they love.

You see a car crash, somebody dies, its literally an everyday event, every-hour event. I hate to say it, but people just become almost numb to it, she said. But, you know what, thats someones mom, someones child, someones sister. That affects peoples lives. That person, the rest of their life and all the things they could have contributed to their world, is gone.

Park and the other health care workers who treated Wayne agree early access to blood saved his life.

Without blood products, Wayne wouldnt be here today, said Cross, the Corsicana paramedic.

While he was bedridden, Wayne reflected on how lucky he was. He had been given more time with those he loved. In Facebook posts, he took to signing off with the moniker Miracle Man, a reminder of Gods many gifts.

As Christmas approached, he was still in the ICU, so members of his church visited to sing O Holy Night.

The first day he was able to breathe on his own, he asked Jolyn to marry him. Three months later, in April 2020, they wed in a small ceremony at their church in Hillsboro.

Jolyn Elmore laughed at one of Waynes jokes as they stopped for a cold drink at a Sonic on their way to Bible study in Hillsboro in May. Life is very precious, and we should not take it for granted, they wrote in their book about the ordeal. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Lightning and dark clouds fill the sky over the Williams Gin and Grain cotton gin on Texas 22 between Mertens and Frost during a storm in June. The spot is where Wayne Elmore, who was on his way to work, was critically injured in a head-on collision in 2019. Even by helicopter, the spot is at least 20 minutes from the nearest Level I trauma hospital in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Wayne Elmore works driving a school bus route on the two-lane roads of Hill County that are much like the one where he was critically injured in 2019. He was on his way to work when the accident happened. He spent six weeks at Parkland Health in Dallas in treatment and recovery. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News A trophy presented to him when he left a rehab center bears a photo of Wayne Elmore learning to walk again under his moniker Miracle Man at his home in Mertens. Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer Wayne and Jolyn Elmores book Inspire Before  You Expire: A True Story of Love and Survival is set out among prayer cards at their church in Hillsboro. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News A characteristic joke from Wayne Elmore, center, brings laughter from his wife, Jolyn, and family friend Kent Moody while having lunch after church in June in Hillsboro. Last December, Elmore spoke to Parkland medical residents about his experience as a trauma patient. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Wayne Elmore changes into his boots before feeding his livestock after church on June 11. Health care workers who treated Elmore after he suffered massive injuries in a 2019 head-on collision on a remote Hill County road agree that early access to blood saved him. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Wayne Elmore feeds his sheep and goats in June in Mertens. Without blood products, Wayne wouldnt be here today, said one of the paramedics who helped to save him at the accident on a remote country road in 2019. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News The corn fields and windmill seen from their home in Mertens were the inspiration for the cover of Wayne and Joyln Elmores book, Inspire Before  You Expire: A True Story of Love and Survival. Elmore, now 62, said he often finds himself asking why he survived that terrible accident. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Winner buckles from cattle dog trials and other mementos hang on the walls of the Elmores home in Mertens. About two years after nearly losing his life, Elmore entered his first stock dog herding contest since the accident. He said he finds dog training more difficult now. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News Jolyn Elmore opens a container, bringing one of their cats down from atop the kitchen cabinets, as she and her husband, Wayne, arrived home from church in June. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Very precious

Wayne is back to cracking silly jokes and attending weekly services with Jolyn. In January 2021, he entered his first stock dog herding contest since the accident, but the training is more difficult now. Almost two years after the crash, he returned to his job as a school bus driver. Twice a day, his route takes him past the spot where the accident happened.

He still regularly visits with the medical workers who saved his life. Last December, he spoke to Parkland medical residents about his experience as a trauma patient. Earlier this year, he visited the nursing home where he recuperated and the flight paramedics who saved his life.

Now 62, Wayne finds himself asking why he survived. By all accounts, he shouldnt be here. Maybe God still had work for him to do. Maybe that was sharing his story.

In 2022, Wayne and Jolyn self-published a short book, Inspire Before  You Expire: A True Story of Love and Survival. Many people in their community bought the book, which discusses how the ordeal reinforced the importance of their faith. Sometimes, the couple wears matching T-shirts with the same picture  of a windmill near their home  thats on the books cover.

Life is very precious, and we should not take it for granted, they wrote in the afterword. You never know when you may be taken from this world. We are not promised our next breath.
Dusk view of the skyline in Dallas, where the pandemic-era shift to remote work exacerbated already-high office vacancy rates. The same is true in other Texas metros. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buye/Getty Images USAA employees in San Antonio work in a more modernized footprint with open spaces as opposed to cubicles as it moved to a more hybrid and remote workforce. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer

Texas office workers are back in person more than their counterparts across the country  but a lot of the states urban office space still is sitting empty.

The Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas have office vacancy rates that range from 21% to 25%, vacancies that could complicate the post-pandemic recoveries of downtown areas, which depend on office workers to support restaurants and retail businesses. But whether the glut of space at a time developers are continuing to construct more office buildings foreshadows a brewing economic storm remains to be seen.

Is it soft? Yes. Is it a challenge? Yes. Is there a crash coming? I would not say that thats the situation we are in, said Julie Whelan, who heads a research team that studies trends in commercial real estate for the firm CBRE Group.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Texas relatively strong economy, growing labor force and high number of workers returning to the office has buoyed hopes that the office market isnt facing dire straits.

Still, some real estate and office market analysts worry about what are called shadow vacancies.

Even as employees spend more time in the office, theyre not there as often  or in such high numbers  as they were before the pandemic. That means office space that looks occupied on paper could be sitting relatively vacant  and that companies wont renew their leases, bumping up vacancy rates.

The return to the heyday where everybody was in the office four or five days a week, thats just not happening ever again, said Steven Pedigo, director of the University of Texas at Austins LBJ Urban Lab, which focuses on urban policy.

Perfect storm

Fewer than 6% of Texas employees worked from home before COVID-19 hit, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Last year, remote employees accounted for more than 15% of the states workforce  a percentage thats even higher in the states urban areas.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Austin area has a greater share of remote workers than other Texas metros thanks to its tech sector. That 28% figure has fallen only slightly, even as its workers return to the office at higher rates than elsewhere in the country.

Before the pandemic, the Austin areas office vacancy rate was below 10%, according to CBRE. At the end of the third quarter this year, that rate was nearly 22%.

Some of that vacancy comes from some major employers scaling back their office plans. About 11% of the Austin central business districts 15 million square feet of office space is available to sublease  a result, real estate analysts say, of employers pulling back on how much office space they need.

Texas' remote work population has more than doubled since 2019 Every metro area in the state saw a significant increase in the number of remote workers between 2019-22. 227%: San Antonio-New Braunfels 222%: El Paso 198%: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 197%: Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown 165%: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, had planned to move into 589,000 square feet of offices in downtown Austin. Instead, it nixed those plans and will lease the space to other tenants  along with 100,000 square feet elsewhere in downtown the company planned to occupy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Whats happening is that companies just realize, Hey, now that were measuring utilization (of office space), we dont need all the space, said Phil Mobley, national director of office analytics at CoStar, a company that tracks commercial real estate. So theyre taking the opportunity, when leases expire, to reduce their space and theyre placing a lot of space on the sublet market.

In Austin, more than 5 million square feet of office space is under construction, nearly half of it downtown. Much of it was planned when builders wagered, given the citys strong economic pull, that demand for new space would be there when those buildings eventually open.

The environment in which those buildings are going to be delivered into looks different than the environment in which they were initially begun, Mobley said.

Less than a quarter of the space under construction has leased to tenants, according to a recent report from Cushman & Wakefield.

Austin is having the perfect storm of falling demand with rising supply, Mobley said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, the rise of remote work exacerbated already high vacancy rates brought on by overbuilding in the 80s and 90s that still casts a shadow on the current office market.

Dallas, like many Texas cities, built beautiful, high-rise, shiny buildings that were enormous, said Jennifer Scripps, who leads the economic development group Downtown Dallas Inc. They werent full when they opened and they never filled up.

A key driver of the current vacancies: Employers are trying to lure their workforce back to the office by leaving their old spaces to set up shop in sleeker, more modern digs. Its a trend office market observers call flight to quality.

In Dallas, Bank of America plans to swap its space in the most prominent tower on the downtown skyline for a newer building just outside the central business district. There, it will join JP Morgan Chase, which made a similar move in 2021.

In downtown Houston, NRG Energy plans to move its headquarters in 2026 to a recently renovated skyscraper billed as an urban, mixed-use office campus that has a luxury gym and access to the downtown tunnel system.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But that flight to quality has left older, less attractive space unoccupied. More than a quarter of Houstons downtown office space is sitting empty, according to CBRE. Roughly half of that vacant space is basically unmarketable because its so out-of-date, said Kris Larson, president and CEO of Central Houston Inc.

Newer buildings or those that have recently undergone renovations are performing much better than the older building stock, which is losing a lot of its tenants to these basically newer (additions) to the marketplace, Larson said.

Few options

High office vacancies in other parts of the country, like New York and San Francisco, have spurred fears of an urban doom loop. Thats a term used to describe economic downturns in which offices shuttering lead to closures of nearby businesses like restaurants and shops that rely on traffic from office workers. That many closures can lead to blight, lower property tax revenues and declining city services as a result.

Houston City Controller Chris Brown said office vacancies alone  if they persist  could lead to lower commercial property values, which in turn could hurt the budgets of cities and school districts that heavily rely on property taxes.

Those are huge assets, Brown said of downtown office buildings. So how do we project our tax base growth? We have to be more conservative about our assumptions. But you never know what could happen.

Some Texans are bullish that the states major urban areas are safe from any kind of doom loop.

For one, the states economy is booming and its population growth is strong. Its workers are already back in the office in higher numbers than in other major cities. The number of people living in Texas downtowns have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, according to a report from the Center City District in Philadelphia. Tourists also have returned to downtowns, even if workers still lag behind, the report found.

Still, the glut of empty office space poses a major challenge. And thats true across the globe. In nine major cities, including Houston, demand for office space could be as much as 20% lower in 2030 than it was in 2019, according to a recent report from consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

If demand for office space ever returns to pre-pandemic levels, it could take decades, the report found. In the meantime, falling demand stands to wipe out $800 billion in property values in those nine international cities, McKinsey found  posing a major challenge for local governments property tax collections.

And owners of office buildings with lots of vacancy have few options to turn things around, said Harold Hunt, a research economist who studies commercial real estate at the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. They can keep the building as-is and deal with diminishing returns or upgrade it in order to compete with glitzier office properties, Hunt said. Owners also can sell the building or demolish it.

Building owners also can convert their empty office space to residential housing, Hunt said, an idea thats gained a lot of attention as the nation faces a glut of vacant offices and shortage of housing, Hunt said. But not every office building is a suitable conversion candidate.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) and president of COP28, speaks on the opening day of the COP28 climate conference at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. More than 70,000 politicians, diplomats, campaigners, financiers and business leaders will fly to Dubai to talk about arresting the worlds slide toward environmental catastrophe. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Attendees queue to fill bottles from a water point in the Blue Zone on the opening day of the COP28 climate conference at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. More than 70,000 politicians, diplomats, campaigners, financiers and business leaders will fly to Dubai to talk about arresting the worlds slide toward environmental catastrophe. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Palm trees alongside an event sign 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 worlds slide toward environmental catastrophe. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Workers prepare the stage in the Al Wasl dome for the opening ceremony on the opening day of the COP28 climate conference at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. More than 70,000 politicians, diplomats, campaigners, financiers and business leaders will fly to Dubai to talk about arresting the worlds slide toward environmental catastrophe. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Hollie Adams/Bloomberg DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 30: King Charles III and The Baroness Scotland of Asthal Patricia Scotland talk to Mina Setra and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim at the Commonwealth and Nature reception during COP28 on November 30, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The King is visiting Dubai to attend COP28 UAE, the United Nation's Climate Change Conference. Chris Jackson/Getty Images John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, left, in the Blue Zone on the opening day of the COP28 climate conference at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. More than 70,000 politicians, diplomats, campaigners, financiers and business leaders will fly to Dubai to talk about arresting the worlds slide toward environmental catastrophe. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Hollie Adams/Bloomberg An attendee watches a projection at the Pleistocene Park pavilion in the Technology and Innovation hub within the Green Zone on the opening day of the COP28 climate conference at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. More than 70,000 politicians, diplomats, campaigners, financiers and business leaders will fly to Dubai to talk about arresting the worlds slide toward environmental catastrophe. Photographer: Annie Sakkab/Bloomberg Annie Sakkab/Bloomberg

Big Oil is striking back at the U.N. climate conference this week in Dubai, fighting policies to slow global warming that would doom them to King Coals fate.

After decades of denying climate change, the oil and gas industry is faced with incontrovertible evidence that human-generated carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases are trapping too much heat in the atmosphere. Now, executives want to make money addressing the crisis they made worse by sowing doubt about the science.

The oil and gas industry has a champion in Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.s CEO, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, whom the emir put in charge of the conference known as COP28. If that sounds like the fix is in to protect the industry, delay emission cuts and sacrifice our future, youd be right.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

World leaders have met annually to address climate change since 1995. Most nations, including the United States, agreed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Anything more and scientists say survival will become a lot harder for all living things.

This conference of parties will hear that 2023 was the warmest year on record, greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise and the average temperature is on pace to rise 2.5 degrees Celsius. We are currently 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.

Wood Mackenzie, one of the energy industrys most trusted consultants, says the world must spend $2.7 trillion annually to limit warming to 1.5 degrees by 2050. The transition to a low-carbon economy is not only lifesaving, but the biggest business opportunity since the Industrial Revolution.

Al-Jaber and others who depend on oil and gas for their livelihood fear ending up like the coal industry. In 2015, I listened to the CEO of the nations largest coal company, Peabody Energy, make a desperate plea at CERAWeek.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Why are we working so hard to push ourselves off the cliff? Greg Boyce asked, before declaring that efforts to save the climate would hurt people and cripple economies for negligible environmental benefit.

Natural gas, wind and solar energy efficiently replaced the coal industry faster than anyone imagined. While some nations will always burn some coal, the U.S. is expected to cut consumption in half by 2026 from its peak in 2011, and even further by 2030, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis reported.

Now, al-Jaber and other oil executives are using the same desperate arguments to slow carbon and methane emissions reductions.

Three billion people fall short of modern living standards, and far too many remain trapped in extreme poverty with no access to electricity or clean cooking fuels, Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods told the APEC CEO Summit last month. The global North-South divide will only be bridged when we commit to solving the worlds energy and emissions challenges simultaneously. Oil and gas are at the center of both.

Big Oil wants the government to pay them to remove the gases their products release. Who wouldnt want to make money making and cleaning up the mess? U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants the world to replace fossil fuels instead.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We know it is still possible to make the 1.5-degree limit a reality. And we know how to get there, he said last week. It requires tearing out the poisoned root of the climate crisis: fossil fuels.

OPEC is also furious at the International Energy Agency, which was once a loyal lapdog. Ahead of COP28, the IEA predicted that oil demand would soon start declining in wealthy nations and reaching climate goals requires a massive cut back in fossil fuel use.

Even worse, the IEA determined that capturing carbon and methane emissions cannot substitute for slashing fossil fuel use in half.

The hottest topic at COP28 is how wealthy nations will help poorer ones skip the fossil fuel trap. While a few less-developed nations with fossil fuels want to exploit their natural resources, most under-developed societies wish for clean energy, not dirty cast-offs.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Mariachi musicians gathered at the bedside of Belle Ortiz to serenade her in her final days. The moving farewell is featured in the documentary "Suena La Educacion: The Story of Belle Ortiz." Baylor Jones

In Belle Ortiz's final days this past summer, musicians came to her bedside to play in appreciation for her work promoting mariachi education in schools.

A small film crew was on hand, too, capturing mariachis as they played the music that Ortiz loved, sometimes with tears streaming down their faces.

That poignant footage makes up part of Suena La Educacion: The Story of Belle Ortiz, an hourlong documentary. The film was produced by Gabriel Redondo, the promotions manager for WOAI News 4 and Fox San Antonio; Baylor Jones, a content producer for the station; and Anthony Medrano, who plays violin with Mariachi Campanas de America, the ensemble Ortiz helped found with her husband.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

They have entered it in a few film festivals, and it has been named best biographical feature film by the Cannes World Film Festival, a monthly competition. The 3-year-old festival is not affiliated with the Cannes Film Festival, the star-studded annual event held in the spring.

Belles story is being shared around the world, said Redondo, who got to know that story while he worked on the film. We did our work as far as putting it together, but I think its the story more than anything else that sells the movie.

Suena La Educacion explores the life and impact of Ortiz, who died in July.

She is the founder of Campanas de America, the mother of our group, said Medrano, who has been with the group for more than 40 years. Shes also the founder of the International Mariachi Festival that started in 1979 here in San Antonio, which was focused on education. She was one of the first to implement mariachi education in the school systems here. And her first fight for that ended up being a big fight for everyone and a big victory for mariachi education throughout San Antonio, throughout the nation and throughout the world. So her legacy was great.

The film initially was going to be more modest.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Medrano and Redondo first collaborated on the Wembanyama Go Spurs Go viral video, in which Campanas celebrated the addition of Victor Wembanyama to the Spurs lineup. They also worked together for a piece about mariachi musicians who performed in Uvalde on the first anniversary of the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Medrano had talked about the history of mariachi music and its cultural significance, and Redondo thought they should expand that into a 15-minute film.

Medrano was game, suggesting they interview Ortiz,

We were set up to go visit Belle at the hospice where she was staying, said Medrano, who counts himself as part of her extended family. She was very much active, she was playing the piano every day in the main room of the hospice. She was doing little concerts for everybody who lived there.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Suena La Educacion: The Story of Belle Ortiz," the documentary about the mariachi music education pioneer, includes serenades performed when she was in her final days. Baylor Jones

Before they were able to do that, Ortiz suffered a health crisis and was rushed to the hospital. She was there for a few days, Medrano said, and the nursing staff allowed musicians to put on protective garb and play for her for short periods.

When doctors told her family that she was unlikely to recover, arrangements were made for her to spend her final days at her granddaughters house.

Plans were made for musicians to play there, too. And Medrano started thinking about conversations he had had over the years with Oritz, who had asked him to tell her story.

That was playing in the back of my mind as she was laying in her hospice bed and the family was all around comforting her and the music was playing, he said. I thought, this needs to be documented. We need to show the level of love and the level of life-changing that Belle did.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He got the familys blessing then asked Redondo and Jones to come film. They werent sure what they would do with the footage, but they all felt it was important. And they also decided to focus on Ortiz instead of making a more general short film about mariachi music.

There was no budget. There was no script, Medrano said. It was, 'Roll cameras and lets just see what happens for the next three days.' 

After that, they did interviews, talking to Medrano, Ortiz's family, and members of Campanas and other mariachi groups whose lives Ortiz had touched. When they transcribed those conversations, they filled more than 150 pages. They also had more than 35 hours of footage, including film from Ortiz's funeral, as well as archival material that Medrano had.

They got feedback as the film took shape, taking advice from people such as actor Tony Plana on what was missing. And they invited Jesse Borrego to record some narration to frame the film.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The documentary can be seen on YouTube, where it has been watched more than 1,300 times. Medrano has heard that mariachi teachers have shown it in their classrooms.

The fact that the film has won an award and might have a life on the festival circuit is exciting, he said. But the most important thing is that it helps preserve Ortiz's legacy. And he and Redondo are hoping to make other films, too, with the same idea in mind.
Frontier Airlines is offering flights out of Austin for under $100. Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Just over an hour away from San Antonio, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has options for a holiday getaway this month that won't break the piggy bank.

All flights listed are one-way and less than $100, although travelers should be aware prices can change with fees for checked bags or other add-ons. Each flight is either nonstop or has one stop.

If you are feeling sick or showing symptoms of respiratory illness, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a mask during travel or postponing your trip.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Cheapest options

Hop on a nonstop flight to Omaha for $42 with Allegiant Air on Dec. 14 or start off the new year somewhere different with a $48 Spirit Airlines flight to Orlando on Dec. 31.

Las Vegas

For $48 on Allegiant Air, you can try your luck before the holidays with a nonstop flight on Dec. 11.

Knoxville

Head nonstop to Tennessee on a $55 Allegiant Air flight Dec. 15.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Ontario, CA

Touch down near Los Angeles with a $59 flight to Ontario, Calif., on Frontier Airlines Dec. 8 or 11. The flight has a layover in Denver.

Des Moines

Catch a nonstop flight Dec. 14 for only $64 on Allegiant Air.

Denver

Frontier Airlines is offering $69 for a nonstop flight on Dec. 12.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Orange County, CA

On Dec. 11, fly with Allegiant Air to Orange County, Calif., for only $70 nonstop.

Asheville, NC

For $74, hop on an Allegiant flight to North Carolina on Dec. 15 with no stop.

Philadelphia

Flights to Philadelphia on Frontier Airlines are $79 on Dec. 11 and 12, with one stop in Denver.
CPS CEO Rudy Garza answers questions during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed increased CPS rate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh listens to the citys Chief Financial Officer Ben Gorzell speak during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed increased CPS rate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News District 10 Councilmember Marc Whyte, right, confers with Mayor Ron Nirenberg during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed CPS Energy rate hike. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News An audience member looks over city staff's recommendation for a 4.25% CPS Energy rate hike during a City Council session on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on the proposed rate increase. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte listens to remarks during a City Council special session on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed CPS Energy rate hike. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia listens during a City Council special session on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed CPS Energy rate hike. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News CPS Energy officials listen during a City Council special session on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed CPS Energy rate hike. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News CPS Energy CEO Rudy Garza, left, confers with *utility CFO Cory Kuchinsky during a City Council special session on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed CPS rate hike. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Mayor Ron Nirenberg speaks during a City Council special session on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed CPS Energy rate hike. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio Chief Financial Officer Ben Gorzell addresses members of council during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed increased CPS rate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News CPS CEO Rudy Garza answers questions during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed increased CPS rate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News District 6 Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda offers comments during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed increased CPS rate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A burst of afternoon sun shines in on audience members during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed increased CPS rate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News CPS CEO Rudy Garza answers questions during a City Council special session in Council Chambers on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Thursdays meeting was councils last work session ahead of the Dec. 7 vote on a proposed increased CPS rate. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

City Councils most liberal and conservative members are united in their opposition to CPS Energys rate hike request.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Teri Castillo, councils two most progressive members, and fiscal conservative Marc Whyte say CPS request to raise customers electric and gas rates by 4.25% would over-burden residential customers. Their bills would go up an average of $4.45 a month.

All three appear poised to reject the utilitys request on Dec. 7, when the mayor and the City Council are expected to vote on it.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It should not be entirely on the backs of our citizens, Whyte, who represents District 10 on the Northeast Side, said Thursday during a council discussion of the proposed rate increase. We need to spread this burden across the city, and I think that CPS needs to do some internal reflection as well and assist us here, and tighten its belt.

Castillo, who represents District 5 on the West Side and frequently butts heads with Whyte, said his comments were spot on.

Despite three potential no votes, CPS appears to have enough support on council to get its rate hike. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who sits on the utilitys five-member board of trustees, backs the proposed increase, and a majority of the 10-member council has signaled support.

Based on the various council members questions and comments, your bills are probably going up, DeeDee Belmares posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, during Thursdays meeting. Happy holidays.

Belmares is a member of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, and sat on the working group that CPS convened to provide community input about its latest rate request. She is among those pushing the city to hire an independent consumer advocate to review how the utilitys rate request would affect residents.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

McKee-Rodriguez, of District 2 on the East Side, proposed hiring an outsider to evaluate CPS Energys proposed rate hike, but didnt win enough council support for the idea to go anywhere. Nevertheless, several council members said theyd consider bringing in an independent advocate in the future.

Time is of the essence for CPS to move forward today, said District 9 Councilman John Courage.

CPS officials have said the $85 million in annual revenue from the rate hike would help pay for new billing software, infrastructure upgrades and hiring additional workers.

The citys chief financial officer, Ben Gorzell, who is also the citys public utilities supervisor, has recommended that council approve the 4.25% increase.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

On Thursday, Gorzell said that when the council votes on the rate request, it could simultaneously adopt an ordinance pre-approving a hike of no more than 5.5% to take effect in 2026.

Slicing and dicing

Whyte told the Express-News on Friday that he will push for council to reduce the utilitys proposed 4.25% rate increase by half.

If I had my way, we would have no rate increase and we would cut spending at the city by enough to invest in CPS and give them what they need, Whyte said. But I understand that my council colleagues are not going to go for that, so Im trying to find a compromise solution here.

Hes urging both the city and the utility to make cuts to their annual operating budgets so that the savings could be used to defray more of CPS expenses. That would mean the city cutting a check to the utility.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

City officials are much more accustomed to receiving money from CPS than giving it to the utility.

CPS sends 14% of its revenue to the city every year. That payment makes up a little more than a quarter of the citys general fund, which pays for basic services, such as fire and police protection and street repairs.

A recent proposal by District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda to reduce the percentage that CPS pays the city was dead on arrival.

She then worked with Gorzell and City Manager Erik Walsh to revise the proposal so that the city would give back to CPS a portion of any revenue that exceeds the budgeted estimate. Council wont vote on Cabello Havdras proposal until the spring.

Whyte wants the city give CPS about $40 million annually over the next two years to make up for what the utility would have generated from the 4.25% rate increase.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The City Council was last asked to approve a CPS rate increase in January 2022.

McKee-Rodriguez, Castillo and Whytes predecessor, Councilman Clayton Perry, were the sole council members to vote against it over similar concerns  that it would overburden lower-income families.

It was the utilitys first rate hike since 2014. CPS initially requested a 14% increase, which was ultimately lowered to 3.85%.

I feel like previous councils passed the buck and so we unfortunately need to make these difficult decisions, District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia said on Thursday.

In addition to a rate increase that would take effect in 2026  if council OKs it  CPS has said it will likely seek another for 2028.

The council was divided Thursday over the idea of pre-approving the utilitys 2026 request.

Cabello Havrda expressed support for the idea, saying it would provide certainty to CPS and city bondholders.

Courage, however, said it wouldnt be fair to future councils to adopt such an ordinance.

I dont believe in committing a future council or limiting a future councils ability to make a decision on future rate hikes, he said.
China's agricultural supply chain cooperation enriches consumer food choices

Xinhua) 08:45, December 01, 2023

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)

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
San Antonio ACS has announced a dangerous dog registry. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A recent rise in severe dog attacks has the city searching for solutions.

San Antonio Animal Care Services announced on Friday a new dangerous dog registry that will detail where canines deemed dangerous dogs are located. In order to be formally designated as dangerous, an animal must make an unprovoked attack outside the owners property that causes bodily injury.

A dog also could qualify as dangerous if it acts in such a way that a person reasonably believes the animal would cause bodily injury if it left its yard.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The City of San Antonios Dangerous Dog Registry allows us to keep our community informed and safe, Animal Care Services director Shannon Sims said in a statement. Over the past year, ACS has worked diligently to increase the number of Animal Care Officers to improve the response time to critical calls. The Dangerous Dog Registry is part of ACS Strategic Plan that supports a safe community for residents in their neighborhoods.

There are currently more than 100 dogs deemed dangerous in San Antonio, according to ACS officials, and the registry reflects that number. The registry is searchable and lists the address in addition to the number of dangerous dogs at each location. The map will be updated as animals are added to the registry.
The San Antonio Fire Department responds to a family disturbance call on the Northeast Side of San Antonio in the 3200 block of Cripple Creek on Thursday afternoon. SAPD says they are searching for 25-year-old Faustino Diaz, who is on the run after a short standoff at the apartment complex. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The San Antonio Fire Department responds to a family disturbance call on the Northeast Side of San Antonio in the 3200 block of Cripple Creek on Thursday afternoon. SAPD says they are searching for 25-year-old Faustino Diaz, who is on the run after a short standoff at the apartment complex. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The San Antonio Fire Department responds to a family disturbance call on the Northeast Side of San Antonio in the 3200 block of Cripple Creek on Thursday afternoon. SAPD says they are searching for 25-year-old Faustino Diaz, who is on the run after a short standoff at the apartment complex. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The San Antonio Fire Department responds to a family disturbance call on the Northeast Side of San Antonio in the 3200 block of Cripple Creek on Thursday afternoon. SAPD says they are searching for 25-year-old Faustino Diaz, who is on the run after a short standoff at the apartment complex. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Faustino Diaz, 25, is wanted on a felony warrant for sexual assault of a child and several misdemeanor warrants. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

San Antonio police are looking for a domestic disturbance suspect who fled from his girlfriend's Northeast Side apartment before SWAT officers made entry Thursday to rescue the woman's children.

Police were called to apartments in the 3200 block of Cripple Creek around 1 p.m. for a report of a domestic disturbance, according to spokesman Sgt. Washington Moscoso.

The woman got out, but when officers arrived, she told them her children were still inside with her boyfriend. She was worried for the kids' safety, Moscoso said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

ALSO READ: Teen charged with murder after police connect him to three separate San Antonio shootings

Officers learned that the man, Faustino Diaz, 25, is wanted on a felony warrant for sexual assault of a child and several misdemeanor warrants. After consulting with supervisors, police on the scene decided to call for better-equipped officers.

"They called in SWAT, and those officers made entry and took the children out," Moscoso said.

Police used a battering ram, known as "The Rook," to break into the apartment.

The children, an 8-month-old, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, were inside alone. They had very minor injuries, Moscoso said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It appeared Diaz fled sometime before SWAT officers arrived, possibly through a back door.
Police arrested a 19-year-old man accused of killing three people in separate shootings over the last 17 months.

Nathan Martinez has been charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct with a firearm.

Police were able to use ballistic evidence gathered from two separate August shootings to connect Martinez to the crimes.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Nathan Martinez, 19, was charged with killing a 17-year-old in a drive-by shooting in August. Police connected him to a June 2022 shooting that left two dead and five wounded. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

They also believe Martinez was involved in a 2022 shooting that killed two people and wounded five during a family barbecue on the Southwest Side.

ALSO READ: FBI arrests woman who claims she plotted Uvalde massacre with shooter

According to an arrest affidavit, officers responded to a shooting in progress Aug. 15 in the 2800 block of Mosscircle near South San High School. The caller reported that someone had been hit in a drive-by shooting at their residence.

Officers found a 17-year-old teen with two gunshot wounds, one to the neck and another to the upper torso. He was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center and later died from his injuries, the affidavit states.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Detectives found 9 mm shell casings near the home. The teens mother told police she had been sitting outside with her son when they saw a gray sedan pass by their house a few times, which was odd because they live in a cul-de-sac.

The sedan drove by once again and opened fire.

Police received information about a social media post where Martinez claimed responsibility for killing the teen, who was associated with a rival gang, the affidavit states.

A warrant was obtained for Martinezs social media account, which showed that he was a member of a gang and had made threats against the 17-year-old alongside several other members of the opposing gang.

Minutes after shooting the teen, Martinez sent a message saying he caught the teen, police said. Investigators said Martinez also sent a message stating they had got him.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The day after the shooting, Martinez referenced the firearm he used as a 19x, also known as a Glock 19. He also stated that he never misses with it, the affidavit states.

On Aug. 18, police said Martinez was involved in another shooting at a Southwest apartment complex. He was shot and taken to a local hospital.

Officers at the scene recovered multiple 9 mm shell casings matching the casings from the drive-by shooting that occurred days earlier. Martinezs social media account confirmed to police that the shell casings collected at the scene from the Aug. 18 shooting belonged to him.
City Council voted 9-0 on Nov. 30, 2023, to annex about 4,000 acres near Von Ormy in Southwest Bexar County. Jerry Lara/Staff photographer

San Antonio is annexing about 4,000 acres on the South Side despite some resistance from the community.

Just under 100 people live in the annexation area. City Council voted 9-0 on Thursday to annex the land, which includes more than 130 properties.

But nothing will happen until January, when agreements that land owners signed in 2014 to stave off the annexation expire.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The land is currently in the citys extraterritorial jurisdiction. ETJs are zones adjacent to municipal boundaries where cities can set rules on land use, water conservation and environmental protection.

The city has been gearing up to take over the land for a decade, after a long-term planning study identified the area as a spot for potential future growth, said Rudy Nino, interim director of the Planning Department.

The farms and ranches in the 6-square-mile space will be allowed to continue operating as they currently do, Nino said.

Leonardo Hernandez, who owns a pecan farm in the area, said he never wanted to be annexed but was pushed into signing a development agreement with the city in 2014. Hernandez said the city told him he could either be annexed immediately or sign the agreement so annexation wouldnt happen for 10 years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Art Martinez De Vara, legislative affairs attorney for Bexar County Emergency Services District 5, also opposed the annexation, saying the city should be coordinating with ESDs about annexation efforts years in advance. ESD 5 provides fire and emergency medical services in Southwest Bexar County.

The removal of territory has far reaching effects for both the city of San Antonio and for ESD No. 5, including the location and construction of fire stations, response times, long-term budgeting and mutual aid, all of which require long-term planning, he said.

City Council members, moving ahead with the annexation, cited the citys need to plan for future growth and concerns with state restrictions that have made it more difficult to annex property.

In 2017, state legislators passed a law that requires cities looking to annex land to first get the approval of affected residents.

I believe that if a city isnt allowed to grow, then it dies eventually because it cant continue to support the community as the community grows within locked-in borders, District 9 Councilman John Courage said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Martinez De Vara said he worries that the lack of early coordination with the city could result in slower ESD No. 5 response times.

The council, he added, largely seemed concerned about future growth in the area, but not much else.

What I would have liked to have heard is, This makes sense on different levels. It makes sense on an economic level. It makes sense for city revenue, and it makes sense on emergency services, Martinez De Vara said after the meeting. It shouldnt be a singular consideration of Lets grow because we must.

In 2019, ESD No. 5 sued the city for annexing 2,200 acres in southern Bexar County.

The original annexation effort would have included two plots of land in the city of Von Ormys ETJ, but after pushback from Von Ormy leaders, San Antonio agreed not to annex those areas. One of the plots included the historic Von Ormy castle, which was built in the 1850s.
Law enforcement officials evacuate students and staff from Robb Elementary School after a gunman entered a classroom and began shooting on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Pete Luna /Uvalde Leader-News Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, center, speaks during a news conference in Uvalde, Texas, US, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. President Joe Biden mourned the killing of at least 19 children and two teachers in a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday, decrying their deaths as senseless and demanding action to try to curb the violence. Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg Eric Thayer/Bloomberg In this photo from surveillance video provided by the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District via the Austin American-Statesman, authorities stage in a hallway as they respond to the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Judge Daniela Deseta Lyttle has ordered the DPS to release law enforcement records related to the shooting. Associated Press Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco, left, hugs Gov. Greg Abbott Wednesday May 25, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas after the governor held a press conference to discuss the elementary school shooting that happened Tuesday. Authorities say Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, opened fire Tuesday in a 4th grade classroom at Robb Elementary School killing 19 children and two teachers. William Luther Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, of District 19 which cover Uvalde, interrupts and confronts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a news conference, Friday, May 27, 2022, about this week's shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) Dario Lopez-Mills/Associated Press A mourner bows down in prayer as he pays respects to the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Wooden crosses have been placed near the school marquee which has been a memorial site. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer

A Travis County state district judge has ordered the Department of Public safety to release law enforcement records related to the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, more than a year after a consortium of news organizations sued for access.

On Friday, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal on behalf of the agency.

261st Civil District Court Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle ordered DPS to fulfill 28 records requests filed by the news organizations, which include the Texas Tribune and ProPublica, subject to redactions such as personal information of police officers and blurring the faces of minor victims in crime scene photographs.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The files would shed light on the disastrous police response that day, in which officers waited more than an hour to confront the shooter after learning he had an AR-15 style rifle.

Lyttle issued a preliminary order in June; the one issued Nov. 28 is the final judgment. It required DPS to provide the records sought within 20 days, unless the state police agency appeals the ruling.

DPS promised to disclose the results of this investigation once it was completed, said Laura Prather, a media law attorney with Haynes Boone who represents the news organizations. It was completed in February and they still havent provided any answers to these families.

DPS did not return a request for comment at the time the final judgment was issued.

Prather said an appeal likely would limit the ability of victims families to file federal lawsuits alleging that police had committed civil rights violations. The statute of limitations on those complaints, formally called Section 1983 claims, is two years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It prevents (families) from having the evidence they need, Prather said.

The state police agency previously had argued that releasing records could interfere with ongoing investigations into the shooting, though DPS said it had completed its initial report on the shooting and had provided it to the Uvalde County district attorney.

Between the shooting in May 2022 and the filing of the news organizations lawsuit three months later, DPS selectively released information about the shooting during news conferences and public hearings held by the Legislature.

The Tribune and ProPublica separately gained access to materials from the investigation, publishing a series of stories that detailed multiple failures. On Tuesday, the news organizations published a piece and a documentary, in collaboration with Frontline, which reveals new details about the response.

Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell also opposed disclosure of records to the news organizations. She argued their release could harm her investigation into any potential criminal charges she could pursue based on the DPS investigation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Mitchell also said falsely that all of the families of the deceased children had told her they supported blocking the records from release. Attorneys representing the majority of the 21 families whose relatives were killed in the massacre said this was not true.
Jakob Valle, left, a Fox Tech High School student in the H-TECH program, attaches an H-TECH pin to the lapel of SAISD Superintendent Jamie Aquino on Thursday. Aquino is one of the executives in a partnership expanding the program to allow a cost-free associates degree and eligibility to take the licensing exam for registered nurses six years from entering high school. Courtesy SAISD

A local high school is confronting San Antonios nursing shortage with a new degree plan that puts students on a faster track to a registered nurse license.

The San Antonio Independent School District and San Antonio College announced the expansion of Fox Tech High Schools H-TECH program on Thursday.

Beginning next fall, incoming ninth graders will have an opportunity to earn an associates degree in applied science at no cost. The six-year program includes dual-credit courses in high school and two years at SAC and will make them eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

After passing the exam, graduates will be registered nurses in the state of Texas and can complete a Bachelor of Science in nursing in one year, instead of two  lowering a students financial burden while adding to their continued education and earning potential, an SAISD spokesperson said.

The district called the initiative the first of its kind in Texas.

It supplements the high schools medical health science magnet program, which launched in 2020 and whose first cohort of students will be graduating in the spring, able to become certified as technicians in medical areas like patient care and phlebotomy. Fox Tech has a similar magnet for law careers.

SAC began offering a bachelors degree in nursing in 2021.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The H-TECH goal is to jump-start students careers in high-paying  and high-demand  medical positions including as registered nurses and nurse managers amid a worker shortage.

The initiative is offered in partnership with Methodist Hospital Metropolitan and the University Health System, both of which will provide students with clinical rotations so they can earn hours for their certifications.

According to the districts website, students spend the first two to three years of the program practicing in the high schools simulated hospital wing. Starting in their junior year, they can apply their knowledge working 12-hour shifts at hospitals and shadowing doctors. Both medical facilities guarantee all students in the program a job interview after graduation.
MYROLYUBIVKA, UKRAINE 

Five Russian soldiers stood before Maksym Maksymov with rifles hanging from their shoulders. One told the farmer in a matter-of-fact tone that their army would take over his storage warehouses the next day to set up an outpost. The troops would expect him to provide food and cook for them.

Maksymov submerged his fury. To speak his mind could mean death. When the Russians seized most of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine soon after invading in February last year, Maksymov's wife and their two young children evacuated to the countrys west. He stayed to watch over his 4,200-acre farm in Myrolyubivka, a village outside the city of Kherson, for six months until the enemy soldiers appeared.

After the soldiers drove off, Maksymov, compelled by moral principle as much as survival, knew he needed to leave. He slipped out of Russian-held territory that night, navigating back roads with his truck lights off. I didnt want to give up my land, he said. But I couldnt live without my freedom.

Last November, three months after he fled, Ukrainian forces liberated a large swath of the Kherson region that included his village. Maksymov returned to find his farm in ruins. Artillery rockets had destroyed two warehouses and a pair of combine harvesters. Missile fragments, unexploded munitions and mines had rendered two-thirds of his land unusable.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A year later, as the daily thud of incoming artillery emphasizes the frontlines proximity, Maksymov, 33, has resumed cultivating wheat, barley and sunflowers. The loss of arable acres will reduce his harvest to less than one-fifth of the farms annual pre-war production, and Russias Black Sea blockade will prevent him from exporting most of his crops. His individual plight testifies to a national calamity with global consequences.

Volodymyr Varbanets has struggled to export wheat and other crops he grows on his farm in the Odesa region of southern Ukraine because of Russias blockade of the Black Sea. This is food terrorism by Russia, he said. Martin Kuz

Almost a third of Ukraines agricultural land is under Russian occupation or unsafe for farming, causing grain production to plunge by 30 to 40 percent since the invasion began. In 2021, the country ranked as the worlds fifth-largest wheat supplier with 19 million metric tons, sending 90 percent of that yield to impoverished regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Nearly all of its exported grain moved through the Black Sea, where Russias blockade and bombing of port infrastructure have severely curtailed Ukrainian shipments.

What Russia is doing is food blackmail. The United Nations has faulted Russias war on Ukraine as a compounding factor in a worldwide food shortage that has pushed 735 million people to the brink of starvation. The prospect of Russian oppression leading to vast numbers of innocents dying from chronic hunger evokes the dark specter of another time when the Kremlin weaponized Ukraines rich soil and abundant grains.

In the early 1930s, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin engineered a famine in Ukraine  now called the Holodomor, or death by hunger  that killed an estimated 4 million to 10 million people. Ukrainians marked the 90th anniversary of that tragedy last weekend, and as Russia once more lays siege to their homeland, farmers fear that the war could give rise to a new Holodomor  only this time, Moscow is exporting hunger around the world.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has expressed her belief that China is currently facing overwhelming domestic challenges, making it unlikely to consider a significant attack on Taiwan soon.

She made these remarks during an interview at the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York, shedding light on the complex dynamics between Taiwan and mainland China, as per South China Morning Post.

Tsai Ing-wen Warns of China Invasion

Tsai's comments come in the wake of a highly anticipated meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which took place in California earlier this month. Amid growing concerns about the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Tsai emphasized that China's internal challenges might be diverting its attention from such an endeavor.

"China's leadership is overwhelmed by its internal challenges," Tsai stated in the recorded interview. "My thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan," she added.

The issue of Taiwan remains contentious, with Beijing considering Taiwan a province of China and aiming for "reunification." While Xi Jinping has expressed a desire for a peaceful reunification, he has not ruled out the use of force. Taiwan, on the other hand, strongly opposes the prospect of Chinese rule.

In response to questions about Xi's hopes for a peaceful unification, Tsai reiterated her belief that China's internal challenges were a significant obstacle. She also pointed out that the international community has clarified that war is not an option and peace and stability are in everyone's interest.

US intelligence services have reportedly suggested that Xi Jinping has instructed China's People's Liberation Army to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027.

However, there is no precise timeline for such an action. Predictions regarding the timing of a potential invasion have varied from 2023 to 2047, with the latter coinciding with the centenary of the People's Republic of China.

Meanwhile, the People's Liberation Army has increased aggressive military actions near Taiwan, including frequent incursions into its air defense identification zone and live-fire drills, often in response to perceived provocations by Taiwan, such as meetings with US government officials.

Tsai also voiced concerns about China's interference in Taiwan's upcoming presidential election, scheduled for January, according to Reuters.

Read Also: Spike in Mysterious Child Pneumonia Cases in Europe Mirrors Alarming Trend in China

Ongoing Election Interference in Taiwan

She claimed that China had engaged in various forms of interference in every election since 1996 when Taiwan held its first direct presidential elections after martial law.

"This includes the use of military stress and economic coercion, extensive cognitive warfare campaigns, both traditional and social media platforms, which are not unfamiliar to the people of Taiwan," Tsai said.

Despite these challenges, Tsai remains optimistic about Taiwan's resilience and the support of its people. She highlighted the need for greater unity and trust among different social groups in Taiwan to counter social discord.

Tsai Ing-wen is set to step down as president after the upcoming election in January, as she has served a maximum of two terms. Her presidency has witnessed escalating tensions with China, resulting in Beijing cutting ties with Taiwan's government, which it views as separatist.

In response to concerns about the potential relocation of semiconductor production from Taiwan to the US, Tsai emphasized the broader significance of Taiwan's chip production industry, which encompasses various sectors. She expressed confidence in Taiwan's capacity and importance, asserting that it must be replaced.

The issue of US-China relations and the potential conflict with Taiwan remained dominant themes at the New York Times DealBook Summit, with various leaders and experts weighing in on the complex dynamics in the region.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon expressed his belief that a major invasion of Taiwan is unlikely due to the significant consequences China would face. Concerns about China's economic prospects and supply chain risks have also led multinationals to diversify their operations away from direct ties to China, AXIOS reported.

Related Article: First Human Infected With New Swine Flu Detected in UK; UKHSA Now Assessing Any Risk Possibly Posed to People's Health

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Russian women to have larger families, urging them to consider having "seven, eight, or more" children to combat the country's declining population.

Speaking via video link at the World Russian People's Council, Putin addressed what he referred to as Russia's "catastrophic demographic problems" and emphasized the importance of family traditions, as per Mail Online.

Putin Urges Russians to Embrace Large Families

In his speech, Putin cited the historical tradition of multi-generational families with several children, noting that many Russian families in the past had seven or eight children. He urged citizens to preserve and revive these traditions, stating, "Large families must become the norm."

The Russian leader's call for increased birth rates comes in response to a significant decline in the country's population, which has been exacerbated by factors such as the war in Ukraine, mandatory military conscription, and economic stagnation. To address this population slump, Putin is pursuing various policies and initiatives to encourage childbirth.

In a somewhat unconventional move, Putin suggested that the state would support "motherhood" and offered incentives for families to have more children.

He acknowledged that many Russians have a tradition of multi-generational solid families, which he believes should be embraced and expanded. However, the average number of babies per woman in Russia is currently only 1.42, and this figure is decreasing rapidly.

To reverse this trend, Putin is urging Russians to return to an era when large families were commonplace, evoking the spirit of the tsarist era, according to The Sun.

Read Also: WHO Investigates Mysterious Pneumonia in China as Cases Increase-Will This Become Another Pandemic?

Russia's Population

It is worth noting that Vladimir Putin, who is known for his private and secretive personal life, is believed to have at least six children from three different partners, though he publicly acknowledges only two daughters. His call for increased childbirth rates has led to speculations about his own family.

In addition to encouraging larger families, Russia is also implementing measures to restrict access to abortions, with some regions banning them in private clinics. Russian MP Sultan Khamzaev even proposed financial incentives to dissuade women from having abortions.

One particularly controversial proposal that recently came to light involved turning female convicts into "baby-making machines" to support Russia's population growth.

Under this scheme, female prisoners would be temporarily freed to become pregnant, with the promise of reduced sentences for successful pregnancies. Those who failed to conceive would be returned to penal colonies.

The call for increased childbirth rates coincides with Russia's declining population, which saw a significant decrease of 555,000 during the first year of Putin's war in Ukraine. This decline has raised concerns about the country's economic prospects.

While Putin's plea for larger families may aim to address demographic challenges, it is also seen as a strategic move in preparation for Russia's presidential elections in 2024.

As Russia grapples with a shrinking population and other pressing issues, Putin's call for more children has become a prominent aspect of his leadership agenda, Express reported.

Related Article: China Claims Respiratory Illness Surge Isn't Caused by Novel Virus-Here's What Chinese Health Ministry Says

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Experts seek to reassure public on spike in respiratory illnesses

08:49, December 01, 2023 By Li Lei ( China Daily

A sick child receives treatment in the pediatrics department at the PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center in Beijing, Nov 28, 2023. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

The recent surge in respiratory illnesses in China has not been caused by novel coronavirus mutations nor immune deficiency induced by the virus, said top Chinese health experts.

The remarks were part of the country's public health community's efforts to assuage growing public concerns over a jump in respiratory infections as temperatures drop and cold fronts sweep through northern China, which first affected mainly children but has in recent weeks spread to sicken adults alike.

Zhang Wenhong, director of the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases in Shanghai and a respected epidemiologist whose advice helped the Chinese public through COVID-19 outbreaks, said that mycoplasma pneumoniae  a pathogen that is behind many infections lately  is totally different from the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

"The difference is even bigger than that between a human being and a fly," he said on China Central Television on Sunday.

His pushback comes against unsubstantiated theories that are making waves on social media, with claims that mycoplasma pneumonia is an updated version of COVID-19 given that the two diseases share symptoms such as a sore throat, coughing, high fever and body aches.

There are also theories speculating that the damage done by COVID-19 to people's immune system is behind the latest outbreak.

Speaking on the same program, Tong Zhaohui, director of the Beijing Institute of Respiratory Diseases, said mycoplasma was discovered in the early 1900s, much earlier than the novel coronavirus.

"The two infections are totally unrelated," he said.

Tong noted that the latest mycoplasma outbreak affected mainly children because they have weaker immunity than adults.

The pair also attempted to allay worries that compromised immunity had led to an uptick in the number of patients with fever who are testing positive simultaneously for multiple pathogens, including influenza, novel coronavirus and mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Zhang, the epidemiologist in Shanghai, said testing positive for more than one pathogen need not be a cause for alarm, as it could simply be a result of more powerful testing kits.

Tong Zhaohui agreed. He said the phenomenon doesn't mean each pathogen has equally contributed to the symptoms. "Doctors will have to analyze case by case to determine which pathogen is the culprit causing people to feel sick."

The surge comes in the first full winter since China lifted the stringent coronavirus restrictions it imposed in 2020.

Last week, Chinese authorities shared data about the surge with the World Health Organization at the agency's request.

WHO experts concluded that, rather than the emergence of an unknown pathogen as people had feared, the immunity gap created by the pandemic was fueling the clusters. A dramatic reduction in the circulation of other viruses and bacteria reduced children's immunological defenses against bugs like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and other cold-causing viruses.

In an interview with health-focused news outlet Stat, Maria van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO's department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, endorsed the immunity gap explanation.

"This is expected. This is what most countries dealt with a year or two ago," she said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
North Korea's influential figure and the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, has rejected US calls for diplomacy and criticized their condemnation of North Korea's recent spy satellite launch. She has pledged to carry out more satellite launches in defiance of UN resolutions.

During a UN Security Council meeting earlier this week, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, described North Korea's satellite launch as "reckless" and "unlawful," as per AP News.

North Korea Rejects US Dialogue Amid Satellite Threats

However, she also reiterated the US offer for dialogue with North Korea, emphasizing that North Korea could choose the timing and topic of such talks. Kim Yo Jong, a senior official in North Korea's leadership, dismissed the US offer and threatened further satellite launches and the development of other weapons.

In a statement carried by state media, Kim Yo Jong asserted that "the sovereignty of an independent state can never be an agenda item for negotiations." She emphasized that North Korea would not negotiate with the US on this matter and would continue exercising its sovereign rights.

North Korea has faced numerous UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit launches involving ballistic technology, including satellite liftoffs and missile tests. Despite these bans, North Korea has argued that it has the sovereign right to launch spy satellites and conduct ballistic missile tests in response to perceived military threats from the US and its allies.

Kim Yo Jong also questioned the US's position, calling the UN Security Council meeting "a gangster-like demand of the US and its followers." She pointed to the presence of US strategic assets in South Korean ports, raising concerns about potential threats posed by these deployments.

The past few years have seen a shift in North Korea's approach to diplomacy. In 2018, Kim Jong Un engaged in high-stakes diplomacy with then-US President Donald Trump, focusing on the future of North Korea's nuclear arsenal. However, the summit diplomacy eventually faltered in 2019 due to disputes over international economic sanctions, according to Voice of America.

Read Also: China Claims Respiratory Illness Surge Isn't Caused by Novel Virus-Here's What Chinese Health Ministry Says

Kim Jong Un's Nuclear Modernization Drive

Since then, Kim Jong Un has concentrated on expanding and modernizing North Korea's nuclear capabilities to gain leverage in potential future negotiations.

Kim Jong Un has publicly pledged to introduce various high-tech weapons systems, including spy satellites, to enhance North Korea's ability to monitor rivals' activities and improve precision-guided missile strikes.

North Korea recently claimed to have successfully placed its first military reconnaissance satellite, "Malligyong-1," into orbit. They asserted that the satellite was transmitting images of key US and South Korean sites, although no photographic evidence has been provided to support these claims.

The satellite launch has raised tensions between North and South Korea, leading both sides to take hostile military actions along their heavily fortified border, contrary to their previous agreements.

Kim Yo Jong's statement coincides with North Korean state media's ongoing claims of improved intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities following the satellite launch. However, many experts still need to be convinced about the actual capabilities of North Korea's satellites in producing high-resolution imagery.

The situation highlights North Korea's strategic efforts to challenge the authority of the UN Security Council, particularly by portraying it as influenced by the US Kim Yo Jong's statement aims to establish justifications for evading sanctions by framing the US-controlled platform as unfair.

Kim's statement also indirectly suggests conditions for dialogue with Washington, emphasizing the need for the US to abandon its hostile policy toward North Korea before considering any prospects for future talks, The Korea Herald reported.

Related Article: 12-year-Old Hostage Forced to Watch Oct. 7 Attack Videos, Claims Aunt

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Jerusalem witnessed a horrifying terrorist attack on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals and leaving eight others wounded, five of them in serious condition.

The assailants, identified as brothers Murad Namr (38) and Ibrahim Namr (30), both Hamas members with a history of terror activity, carried out the shooting near a bus stop on the western side of Jerusalem during the morning rush hour, as per Mail Online.

Jerusalem Bus Stop Shooting Renews Regional Tensions

Israeli police swiftly responded to the incident, neutralizing the attackers on the spot. The victims include a 24-year-old woman who died at the scene and a man in his 70s, succumbing to his injuries at Shaare Zedek Hospital.

Two elderly individuals are among the casualties, with six others injured during the rush-hour assault. The US Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, condemned the attack, describing it as an "abhorrent terrorist attack" and expressing condolences to the affected families.

Authorities reported that the attackers, armed and arriving at the scene in a vehicle, targeted civilians waiting at the bus stop. The Israeli police, security forces and a nearby civilian acted swiftly to neutralize the assailants.

Ambulances and law enforcement quickly converged at the scene, with authorities conducting a thorough search to ensure there were no additional attackers.

The tragic incident adds to the escalating tensions in the region, particularly in the West Bank, following recent attacks and the bombardment of Gaza. According to the Palestinian health ministry, over 240 Palestinians have been killed, and at least 3,000 others injured in the ongoing conflict.

The situation further intensified with the latest deaths of an eight-year-old boy and a teenager in the occupied territory. Israel claimed it responded with live fire after suspects hurled explosive devices toward troops, resulting in the deaths of the two young individuals. However, reports did not specify if the response was directly related to the boys, as they were not seen throwing anything.

Separately, the military reported the killing of two Islamic Jihad militants during a raid. Palestinian prisoners released as part of the truce with Israel have been arriving in the West Bank in recent days.

Among them is 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, according to The Telegraph.

Read Also: Family of Youngest American Held Hostage by Hamas Wishes for Her Return on Fourth Birthday

Recent Truce Releases Mostly Palestinian Teenagers

Tamimi was arrested on November 6 for "incitement to terrorism" on her Instagram account, with her mother claiming her account had been hacked.

The majority of the Palestinians released under the truce have been teenagers accused of engaging in confrontations with Israeli forces, along with several women convicted by Israeli military courts of attempting to attack soldiers.

The attack in Jerusalem occurred along a main highway at the entrance to the holy city, resulting in the deaths of a 24-year-old woman, a man in his 70s, and an older woman, with four others seriously injured, according to Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical service. The police also killed two gunmen.

CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment the two gunmen emerged from a white car parked alongside the bus stop and began firing on those waiting. Panic ensued as people fled the scene before the assailants retreated to the car, where they were eventually gunned down.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that Israel is "at war on all fronts" in response to the shooting. The incident occurred shortly after the extension of a ceasefire with Hamas for the seventh day. Smotrich emphasized the commitment to pursue and destroy enemies, asserting Israel's determination for total victory on all fronts.

The Shin Bet security agency told The Times of Israel that the two assailants were Hamas members who had been confined for terrorist activities in the past. The perpetrators, identified as Sur Baher, East Jerusalem, brothers Murad Namr and Ibrahim Namr, had a prior record of involvement in the organization and implementation of terrorist operations.

The international community condemns this act of terror, and the incident underscores the ongoing challenges in the region despite diplomatic efforts to maintain ceasefires and truces, Mirror reported.

Related Article: Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a statement on Wednesday, revealing that nearly 70,000 migrants have been bused to so-called sanctuary cities, and the state will continue this practice until President Biden takes decisive action to "secure the border."

This comes as part of the state's border security and burden-sharing effort launched in 2021, known as Operation Lone Star, as per New York Post.

Texas Sends Migrants to Sanctuary Cities

Over one-third of the migrants, approximately 25,000 individuals, were routed to New York City under this initiative. In an Instagram story post, Governor Abbott shared a breakdown of the cities receiving migrants, stating, "Texas will bus migrants to sanctuary cities until Biden secures the border."

The list included over 12,500 to Washington DC, 25,000 to New York City, 20,000 to Chicago, 3,200 to Philadelphia, 7,400 to Denver, and just over 1,100 to Los Angeles.

Despite criticism from Democrats, Governor Abbott defends the busing program, emphasizing that it provides much-needed relief to border towns in Texas that face overwhelming difficulties resulting from an increase of immigration from Mexico.

In response to the criticism from Democrat-led cities, Abbott argues that so-called sanctuary cities can claim to welcome illegal immigrants without facing the daily challenges experienced by border towns.

However, officials in these cities have sharply criticized Abbott for sending buses filled with migrants without sufficient notice.

New York City, in particular, has faced significant challenges and backlash from residents. A 94-year-old Army war veteran was evicted from his nursing home to accommodate migrants for free, sparking a public outcry. Residents express frustration over tax payments and feel neglected by city officials.

Governor Abbott continues to defend the busing program as a necessary measure to address the ongoing migrant crisis. The state has spent more than $86 million on the program from April 2022 to October 2023, averaging $1,650 per person, according to Fox News.

Read Also: NASA Plans To Jointly Launch Remote Sensing Satellite With India Next Year

Texas Funds Migrant Charter Buses Amid Border Crisis

The funds cover the cost of state-run charters, where migrants must volunteer to board and sign a release form indicating their understanding of their destination and willingness to participate.

When Abbott initiated the program, he pledged that Texas alone would not bear the burden of the border crisis, blaming President Biden for the continuous surge in illegal crossings.

The mayor of Albuquerque, Tim Kelle, criticized Abbott's actions as "gutless" and called for solutions rather than what he deemed "dangerous, life-threatening stunts."

New York City has received the highest number of migrants, totaling 24,200 since August 2022. In contrast, Texas received 1.3 million migrants from October 2022 through September 2023, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

The situation in New York has led to Mayor Eric Adams seeking federal and state aid as the city struggles to accommodate the influx of asylum seekers. The mayor initially welcomed asylum seekers but later faced challenges finding suitable accommodations, leading to requests for external assistance.

As the debate over immigration policies continues, the busing program remains a contentious issue, highlighting the complexities surrounding the management of migrants and their impact on both border and sanctuary cities, Mail Online reported.

Related Article: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Removes Campaign Fundraiser Brianna Suggs Amid Kickback Scheme Allegations

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China is accused of using its information and disinformation operations to create chaos among Filipinos when it comes to what's happening in the West Philippine Sea.

This alarming revelation was revealed by Philippines' National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano on Friday, Dec. 1. During the inauguration of the new Coast Guard station in Pag-asa Island, Ano shared his speech.

As part of his speech, he claimed that China is creating divisions within the Philippines while the government is making efforts to unite Filipinos.

China Accused of Causing Chaos Among Filipinos Using Information Operations

Eduardo Ano claimed that the strategic information operations of China come while the Philippine government is trying to unite its people in the country's stance on WPS.

"I have come to realize that China's multifaceted approach includes information operations that are specifically designed to create divisions within our nation," said the national security adviser via PhilStar Global.

Aside from Eduardo Ano, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro also speculated that the Chinese government is using information operations.

They claim that these disinformation tactics spread false and questionable narratives online as the tension in the West Philippine Sea worsens.

Teodoro said in October that China's playbook includes relying on information and misinformation operators to create a WPS narrative that will favor the Chinese government.

Meanwhile, Tarriela said that they noticed that these fake West Philippine Sea campaigns appear to be sponsored by the Chinese government.

Read Also: Did China Remove Israel from Online Maps? Alibaba, Baidu Face Criticisms From Chinese Netizens

How Philippines Plans to Handle China's Disinformation

During the last week of November, Sen. Robin Padilla urged the Presidential Communications Office to enhance its awareness campaign regarding WPS.

He filed a resolution, which suggests helping the public learn about the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated the Chinese government's claims in parts of the South China Sea.

The resolution provided by Robin Padilla also includes making relevant WPS legal documents and international conventions available for public learning.

The Philippines is just one of the countries that are suffering from China's growing disinformation efforts. Recently, CNN's investigation discovered that China is using the world's largest known disinformation system.

Investigators claimed that the Chinese government is using this to harass Americans. CNN said that they found this massive Chinese information operation after reviewing court documents and public disclosures by social media companies.

Related Article: Top Google Expert Claims Chinese Cyberattacks Against Taiwan Alarmingly Increase-With Targets Broadening

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A Google intern who was killed by one of Israel's airstrikes sparked outrage among tech employees, including those working for Amazon.

They gathered in New York to pay tribute to Mai Ubeid; a young woman who was an intern for Google. What's sad about her death is that her entire family was also killed by the missile attack launched by the Israel Defense Forces.

Both former and current Google and Amazon employees decided to pay respect to Ubeid and her family, as well as take this chance to castigate their employers for supporting Israel.

Google Intern Killed by Israel Airstrike Sparks Outrage Among Tech Employees

According to The Guardian's latest report, Amazon and Google employees gathered in the small park flanked by the Google-owned Chelsea market building and the Hudson River.

They were joined by the Jewish Voice for Peace, Within Our Lifetime, and other Palestinian advocacy groups. One of their banners stated that the Israeli airstrike martyred Ubeid, who was a daughter, engineer, creator, and software engineer in a Google-backed internship.

Google software engineer Mohammad Khatami, one of the vigil organizers for Ubeid's death, said that Google supporting Israel is a "betrayal in the purest sense of the word."

"No email, no difficulty, no decision, not public statement and absolutely no shame," said Khatami.

"Shame on [Pichai] and shame on Google," he added.

They are condemning Google, Amazon, and other tech firms that provide aid to the Israeli government and military as part of the initiative called "Project Nimbus."

Mohammad and other protesters said that Ubeid's death is another reminder that their employers are providing tools to Israel, which they claim is a country that imposes "apartheid" on Palestinian civilians.

For those wondering why Google and other tech firms support Israel, CNN Business explained that this Middle Eastern country is considered the world's startup nation.

This is why instead of backing away and pulling their investments in Israeli startups, they are being more supportive as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Read Also: Israel: 2 Palestinians Open Fire on Jerusalem Bus Stop, Killing 3

Who is Mai Ubeid

Mai Ubeid was a Palestinian who graduated from a Google-funded coding boot camp called the Gaza Sky Geeks. After that, she became an intern at a Google For Startups accelerator program-backed firm in 2020.

She was considered one of the Palestinians who made a massive milestone despite living in the Gaza Strip.

People who knew Ubeid said that this girl was a shining example that even Gazans can have great accomplishments in the tech industry if they are given access and resources.

Unfortunately, she became one of the innocent victims of the worsening Israel-Hamas war. As of writing, Google hasn't commented on the death of Mai.

Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini only said that Ubeid's death is a highly sensitive topic in every company that personally affects many employees.

Related Article: Israel, Hamas Blame Each Other for Violating Truce After Explosives Detonated, Shots Fired in Gaza

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China reportedly sponsored affordable trips to the country for hundreds of Taiwanese politicians ahead of Taiwan's general elections on January 13, 2024.

According to Taiwanese sources and documents obtained by Reuters for its exclusive report, officials were unnerved by the broad campaign, with one of them calling Beijing's move an "election interference."

Outgoing Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other Taiwanese officials have warned that Communist China might try to sway voters toward candidates seeking closer ties with Beijing in the elections, which could define the island's relations with China in the next few years.

However, the scale of Chinese activity for this purpose has not been reported previously.

China's Subterfuge Operation

Ever since the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, it has claimed Taiwan - an island controlled by the much older Republic of China that once controlled the mainland - as its own and has increased its military and political pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty.

Beijing has since framed Taiwan's 2024 presidential and general elections as a choice between "peace and war," calling the ruling party dangerous separatists and urging the Taiwanese people to make the "right choice."

Taiwanese law forbade election campaigns from receiving money from "external hostile forces," including China, and prosecutors in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung said this week that they have been investigating 22 individuals, including grassroots politicians, for potential violations of election and security laws.

Prosecutors added that they believed at least the five trips from there were fully funded by China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

In a statement, the prosecutors said that Chinese officials allegedly asked participants to support certain political parties and "oppose Taiwan independence."

"There is no such thing as a free lunch," Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-chao said on Thursday (November 30). He added that external forces were trying to influence citizens in an "unprecedented fashion" and urged Taiwanese not to accept perks or instructions from Chinese authorities when traveling there.

Read Also: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen Says China Won't Start War as Beijing Faces Internal Challenges

Taipei Investigates Trips to China

A Taiwanese security official involved in investigating China's activities told Reuters, on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, that security agencies across the democratic island nation were looking into more than 400 visits to China in the past month, most of them led by local opinion leaders, such as community chiefs and village heads.

The anonymous official added that the agencies believe that the trips were subsidized by units under the Taiwan Affairs Office. The travel packages include discounted accommodations, transportation, and meals.

While the Chinese office in question did not respond to requests or comment, it has previously said it respected Taipei's "social systems" when commenting on the elections.

On the other hand, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council minister Chiu Tai-san said in an earlier statement that it was "self-evident" that Beijing was trying to sway Taiwanese elections through means including free trips for politicians.

"They have already made it clear that a so-called 'right choice' has to be made, meaning choosing candidates that the Chinese Communist Party prefers," he told reporters without elaborating further.

Taiwanese Security Official: China's Tour Packages 'Election Interference'

Meanwhile, another Taiwanese security official told Reuters that people taking trips to China typically pay for their own airfare, but other expenses were offered by Chinese authorities.

"Election interference has started under the name of group tours," the official said, adding that Beijing was targeting politicians crucial to the island's administrative systems who play key roles in shaping public opinion, as well as those whose electoral districts have strong support for candidates campaigning for closer China ties.

The official further noted that over 300 community leaders from populous central Taiwan alone have participated in such trips to China in the past few months.

In total, over 1,000 community leaders have joined such trips so far this year, which was more than last year, the official added.

However, building criminal cases against trip-takers was challenging because it could be hard to establish a money trail to Chinese state agencies behind the tours, which often came much below market rate, as well as to establish what was said during meetings with Chinese officials.

Taiwan has suspended group tours to China via travel agencies since the COVID-19 pandemic, but individuals visiting the mainland could still do so.

Related Article: Meta Warns China, Iran, Russia Plan 'Foreign Covert Influence Operations' Ahead of 2024 Elections

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Montana bill that would have banned the popular short-video social media app TikTok throughout the state beginning on January 1, 2024, was stopped by a federal court. The judge said the supposed ban would violate the free expression rights of users.

First-Ever TikTok Ban Blocked by Judge

Legal documents filed Thursday, November 30, by Judge Donald Molloy detailed his reasoning for handing down the preliminary order. Among other things, Molloy cited Montana's failure to demonstrate how the original SB 419 law might be "constitutionally permissible" as justification.

For Montana, this is a setback. In May, Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 419 into law, arguing that it would aid in the state's common goal of protecting the people of Montana from the surveillance of the Chinese Communist Party.

According to CNBC, Judge Molloy said in the document, "Despite the State's attempt to defend SB 419 as a consumer protection bill, the current record leaves little doubt that Montana's legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting China's ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers. This is especially apparent in that the same legislature enacted an entirely separate law that purports to broadly protect consumers' digital data and privacy."

In a statement, a representative from TikTok expressed the company's joy at the judge's rejection of the unconstitutional statute, which would allow hundreds of thousands of Montanans to retain their freedom of expression, livelihood, and community on TikTok.

But according to an assertion from the Montana Attorney General's office, the judge's ruling is only "a preliminary matter at this point."

"The judge indicated several times that the analysis could change as the case proceeds and the State has the opportunity to present a full factual record," the Montana Attorney General's office further said, as reported by CNBC.

See Also: Call for TikTok Ban in US Renewed as Officials Accuse Platform of Being Anti-Israel

Politicians Worry App Might Jeopardize National Security

Prior to Judge Molloy's preliminary order, the popular video and social networking app owned by the Chinese internet firm ByteDance was going to be banned in Montana, making it the first U.S. state to do so.

In May, ByteDance announced that it had sued Montana in an effort to stop the state from illegally banning TikTok. The company's legal team said in court documents that Montana lacked evidence to back up claims that TikTok let the Chinese government access user data and exposed children to inappropriate internet content.

During a hearing in March, American lawmakers questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the app's parent firm ByteDance, and the possible ties between the Chinese government and the business. A nationwide ban on TikTok has been proposed by politicians because of their worry that the Chinese Communist Party may get access to the data of American citizens.

In an effort to allay fears about its impact on national security, TikTok has highlighted its "Project Texas" program, which, with the support of business IT giant Oracle, aims to keep user data inside the United States.

See Also: TikTok Denies Malaysia's Claims Platform Bans Pro-Palestinian Content

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Republican Party of Florida chairman Christian Ziegler is now the subject of an inquiry by the Sarasota Police Department about a sexual violence claim that dates back to October.

Derek Byrd, Ziegler's lawyer, reportedly said that his client has been complying completely with all requests made by the authorities. He added, "We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated," Byrd said. Nothing specific about the probe was revealed by him.

According to the report that Byrd cited, the inquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct by Ziegler and the assault was first detailed on a local Florida watchdog website.

Police Report Allegedly Includes the Words 'Rape, Sexually Battered'

Thursday morning, November 30, CNN was able to see a police report pertaining to the case. The 12-page document had been highly censored, leaving just a handful of terms exposed, and among them were "raped," "sexual assault," and "sexual battery." The Sarasota Police Department supplied CNN with this report after receiving a request for complaints, reports, and other legal documents.

The claimed victim informed authorities on October 4 that the event had occurred at a Sarasota residence two days prior to the complaint. Redactions prevented disclosure of specifics on the alleged incident. Even after redaction, not a single name appeared, not even Ziegler's.

Cynthia McLaughlin, a representative for the Sarasota Police Department, told CNN that no charges have been filed but that she could not confirm this due to an ongoing investigation.

Read Also: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Removes Campaign Fundraiser Brianna Suggs Amid Kickback Scheme Allegations

Gov. DeSantis Calls for Ziegler's Resignation

Florida Republican Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has called for Ziegler's resignation after the news broke out.

"I don't see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations, and so I think that he should, 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 stated, as reported by The Washington Post.

Christian Ziegler is a staunch Republican in Florida, and so is his wife, Bridget. They were powerful in Sarasota County, but under DeSantis, the pair ascended to notoriety throughout the state.

With extensive experience in local politics, including stints as county commissioner and state party vice chairman, Christian assumed the role of chairman of the Florida GOP in February. Former DeSantis ally Bridget was appointed to the Sarasota County School Board in 2014 and has since been re-elected three times, most recently in 2022.

The cultural conflicts that DeSantis has started in Florida's public schools have been led by Bridget. A conservative parents' rights group, Moms for Liberty was co-founded by her. They have spearheaded campaigns to get books removed from schools in states like Florida and others because they believe these books are improper for children.

Read Also: NY Rep. Jamaal Bowman Faces Charges After Pulling 'False' Fire Alarm in Capitol Hill

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Americans who support the death penalty are now decreasing, as revealed by a new poll conducted by Gallup; an American analytics and advisory firm located in Washington, D.C.

The survey, which was conducted in October, revealed how many U.S. residents see criminal/prisoner execution in the country; if it is administered fairly or not.

Gallup revealed that there's a huge gap between Americans who see the death penalty being implemented fairly and those who don't.

In fact, experts said that this is the highest number that the analytics firm acquired since it started polling the fairness of the death penalty's application in 2000.

Americans Supporting Death Penalty Now Waning

According to Fox News' latest report, the Gallup survey revealed that 50% of Americans think that the U.S. is unfairly administering the death penalty. On the other hand, 47% say capital punishment is fairly implemented.

This just shows that the death penalty's isolation in the United States is further growing. In 2023, the U.S. had 24 executions; the last one was conducted in Oklahoma on Thursday, Nov. 30.

These death penalties happened in only five U.S. states; Missouri, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Oklahoma. The number of states that conducted death penalties is considered to be the lowest in the previous 20 years.

Some experts, including Prof. Catherine Grosso of the Michigan State University's College of Law, said that the declining support for the death penalty could be attributed to more younger Americans questioning the U.S. criminal justice system.

Grosso said that more U.S. citizens doubt the justice system in the U.S., especially after the controversial incident in which George Floyd was killed by a police officer after stepping on his neck.

Read Also: Ohio Dad Faces Death Penalty for Executing 3 Young Sons, Tried To Hunt 1 Who Tried To Escape

Will Declining Support Lead To Death Penalty Abolition?

As of writing, it is hard to determine if the U.S. will decide to abolish the death penalty because of declining support from Americans.

This is because some states are reviving capital punishment and even introducing new methods to execute criminals eligible for the death penalty.

The Guardian recently reported that Florida's revival of the death penalty is among the reasons why executions in the U.S. reached 24, which is higher than in 2022 (18 death penalties).

But, it is possible for the death penalty to be eradicated by the U.S. government.

"There are some scholars who are optimistic the death penalty will be totally eradicated pretty soon," said University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law Prof. Eric Berger.

"I think what's more likely is it's going to continue to decline. But I think it's less likely that in the foreseeable future, it'll totally disappear," he added.

Related Article: Alabama Supreme Court Approves Nitrogen Gas Execution as New Death Penalty

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
British inventor and innovator Sir James Dyson lost his libel claim against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, on Friday (December 1). He sued the publisher over a "vicious and vitriolic" article published in January 2022 which personally attacked him and undermined his work encouraging young people into engineering.

It was revealed that the Daily Mirror article of journalist Brian Reade referred to the engineer as "the vacuum-cleaner tycoon who championed Vote Leave due to the economic opportunities it would bring to British industry before moving his global head office to Singapore."

"Kids, talk the talk but then screw your country and if anyone complains, tell them to suck it up," Reade's article further read.

Read Also: Alistair Darling: Former UK Chancellor Dies at Age 70, Remembered for Battling Financial Crisis

Mirror Says Author's Article Was an 'Honest Opinion'

The Mirror defended the case filed by Dyson, arguing that Reade's article was an "honest opinion."

For this, the High Court of Justice made a decision to dismiss Dyson's claim in a sentence given on Friday, finding both that MGN's defense had succeeded and that Dyson did not prove he suffered serious harm to his reputation.

"In the present case the claimant cannot demonstrate that he has suffered financial loss as a result of these publications," High Court judge Robert Jay said in the ruling. "Nor can he show that his philanthropic work, particularly directed to young people and schools, has been harmed in any way."

In response to the decision, an MGN spokesperson said that the firm welcomed the judgment, which upheld the "rights of [its] columnists to share honestly held opinions, even about powerful or wealthy individuals."

Related Article: UK, Rwanda Officials Commit to Deportation Deal as Delays Challenge Controversial Agreement

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Sweet Briar College announced in a news release Thursday that Interim President Mary Pope Maybank Hutson has been named the schools 14th president.

The Sweet Briar Board of Directors unanimously selected Hutson as the colleges next leader following a national search that began in March, the college said in a release.

Board Chair Mason Rummel said in a statement the search was a meticulous and thorough process led by a group of stakeholder representatives and with the guidance of Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search firm.

I am delighted with the Boards overwhelming and unanimous support of Mary Pope as Sweet Briars next president. Not only does she embody the spirit and ethos of our beloved college, but she is also resolute in her determination to lead Sweet Briar to new heights as the leader in womens higher education, she added.

In January, former Sweet Briar President Meredith Woo announced she was stepping down after seven years of leadership with a plan to serve through the 2023-24 academic year, she explained in a January interview.

However, with the progress of the search committee and Woos plan to tackle other scholarly projects, both sides agreed to let her step away.

Woo said in the colleges release that the board has made a shrewd choice in selecting Hutson as president, adding she is one of the most brilliant individuals I have worked with.

Higher education faces so many problems that it did not know existed. I have no doubt that she will tackle them with a kind of tenacity and genius that has served Sweet Briar well since she returned to campus in 2016, she said.

At this point in its history, Sweet Briar couldnt have found a better leader than Mary Pope, and I am overjoyed at the outcome of the presidential search.

Hutson took over as Sweet Briars interim president in July.

A graduate of the class of 1983, Hutson is the colleges first alumna president, Sweet Briar announced in the release.

The new president served as Sweet Briars senior vice president for alumnae relations and development for the past eight years.

Prior to her position at the college, Hutson served as the executive vice president of the Land Trust Alliance which is a national conservation organization that works with land conservation across the country.

Before her tenure with the alliance, Hutson was the executive director of the Lowcountry Open Land Trust in South Carolina, served as the director of educational programs for the Historic Charleston Foundation and also has worked in the office of a U.S. senator.

The college said in a release Hutsons service to Sweet Briar is characterized by her tireless efforts to develop opportunities for its community.

As president, Hutson will steer the strategic direction and planning for the future of the College, as well as oversee its operations to ensure Sweet Briars ongoing viability and success.
TOKYO, Dec 01 ( WION ) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's popularity has further depleted with fresh corruption allegations emerging this week over the secret funds Tokyo had at its disposal that were allegedly used to sway the vote for the country to host the 2020 Olympics.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Thursday (Nov 30), the accusations regarding the scandal centre on the unlimited funds for Tokyo to win over members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who chose the host city for the Olympics, and $135,000 was spent on photo albums for IOC individuals.

These suggestions prompted the opposition on Monday to question Prime Minister Kishida in parliament. Citing analysts, the report said that Kishida's support has already been declining over other challenges, and a renewed attack on the government's handling of the Olympics is the last thing he needed.

On Nov 17, Hiroshi Hase, a former leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who is now governor of Ishikawa prefecture, said in a speech that he provided gifts to IOC members amid their deliberations over the 2020 Olympics host city.

The report said that Tokyo was up against Turkey's Istanbul and Spain's Madrid when the vote was held in 2013. Hase was the head of the Tokyo committee and said he was given access at that time to discretionary funds- which were also known as secret funds. ...continue reading
Interview With Viktor Lofgren from Marginalia Search

"Let's take alternative paths away from big tech websites"

Viktor Lofgren is the creator of Marginalia Search, a search engine takes you of the beaten track by letting you find small quality web pages. These pages barely surface in commercial search engines because they are snowed under by larger commercial websites and marketing. We interviewed Viktor for FreeWebSearchDay. You can listen to the recording of the interview or read the edited transcript below. The interview was conducted by Tessel Renzenbrink, comms officer at NLnet.

"The internet seems a lot smaller than it used to be"

Viktor: Marginalia Search is really bit of a COVID baby. Like many people I had a lot of time on my hands during the pandemic. I spend a bunch of it online and I was frustrated with the state of the internet. I noticed in recent years something had changed, it seemed a lot smaller than it was before. Never really seeing anything new and I couldnt find any blogs and forums and so on. So I wanted to investigate what was going on. It was certainly possible that the internet had changed and all these websites had vanished. But it also seemed possible that the way we are interacting with the web had changed.

And that is difficult to verify without having something to compare it with. I just started working on a search engine, intended more or less to work like Google used to do in the late 1990s. It is a very traditional, by the book search engine, a keyword search engine. I am doing my own crawling and my own indexing basically on PC hardware. What I found was a bunch of website that were completely different to what I would find in the big search engines or on social media. Which is fascinating. It did not give me another option than to build this search engine because it was such a breath of fresh air. Basically I have been going since and adding to it. Running it on fairly low-powered hardware as well.

"Without software diversity, you get a one-sided view of the world"

Viktor: That is an ambition, at least. We will have to see in how far that is possible in terms of logistics but it may also be a legal gray zone thats is difficult to navigate. My ambition is in the future to collaborate on the crawling bit. Possibly run various versions of this search engine or something similar.

NLnet: How would it benefit people if the crawling data was public?

Viktor: The thing about search engines in general and this is the big problem with having just a few of them is that they are censurable. If you have too few search engines someone can come and intimidate you into removing a website or hiding some fact. But also, if we are talking having different pieces of search software that are using the same crawling data, when you design a ranking algorithm you basically encode your own values and perspectives into the software. So if you dont have enough software diversity in the sense that you have multiple search engines build by multiple people than you get a very one-sided view of the world. And having someone else come and build a search engine with ther own ranking algorithm for example, is that they would promote different types of content. And that would benefit people in general. Just to be able to find different types of websites.

Viktor: Ive experimented a bit with that. I have a GitHub repository where, if you want to add a website you can make a pull request. If it isnt a terrible website in some way I will approve it and then it will be eventually crawled. I havent actually rejected any entrees yet. But maybe one day someone will try to add something awful.

"If you cant find something, it will not grow"

Viktor: Yes, and that is an important point. Because you can think about search engines as bringing websites to people but you can also think of them as bringing people to websites. In terms of growing communities and fostering creative content and information sharing and so on, having search engines and discovering mechanisms for this stuff is critically important. Because if you cant find something than it will not grow. A lot of stuff is out there but it is really struggling to find an audience because it is just displaced by so much search engine marketing. If you are an ad tech company than it is fairly hard to penalize adds on the internet in a way that I can do. But it does not harm me if you dont see adds in my search results.

Viktor: I can for example look at the HTML of a document and if it has too many ads or if it has too many tracking elements I can downrank the website for example. Or enable a user to have a check box to say I dont want to many ads. I prefer content that does not have ads, for example. It is hard to get it perfectly right, but even to remove 75% of the ads thats still a huge improvement.

"Having fresh eyes on the problem is refreshing"

Viktor: I think Ive gone over most of my key gripes with search in general. The big problem is the limited number of indexes that are available. There are a lot of search engines out there but most of them use Google or Bing as their back end. There are a few other indexes online as well but there is not really a lot of them. Having this limited set of sources to pull from if you are building a search engine, really limits what you can accomplish.

Viktor: Yeah, basically. You can conceptualize a search engine as consisting of a database that you fetch results from and then you can do some re-ranking of them. Both Google and Bing and even my search engine offer an API where you can ask me to do the search. I will give you a machine readable list of results and then you can do something with them yourself. For instance if you want to build a front end of a search engine. Most search engines arent doing this. They are using a combination of what is available and that is a bit limiting. I would like to see more different takes on this. It would be really helpful to have other people dabble in search without having to build an entire search engine from scratch.

Viktor: I dont know if I can or want to mention any particular projects. But as I said, there are a lot of small projects, especially in the last couple of years. It may be a COVID effect. Maybe a lot of developers had a lot of time on their hands to to explore this area and build independent search engines. Some of them have stagnated and some of them havent. But it is refreshing to see people who are not coming from an academic background and formal information retrieval look into this. Because there are a lot of assumptions that have been around since the 80s, or the 70s even, on how to build a search engine. So having fresh eyes on the problem, even if it does mean occasionally reinventing the wheel, is refreshing. And there is interesting stuff coming out of it. And not everything is turning into search engines but just in general, discovery. It feels like for the last ten years not a lot of stuff has happened but the last two years there has been a large number of these tiny projects showing up. That is exciting to me.

"The Linux of internet search engines"

Viktor: I just want to start by noting that were at an interesting inflection point right now in terms of hardware. Because computers have gotten super powerful in the last ten years. And we are at a point where operating a search engine isnt necessarily that expensive anymore. Ten, fifteen years ago you needed a large budget to be able to play in this space. You needed to demonstrate that you were going to be making a profit. Because nobody is going to throw tens of millions of dollars at something just for fun. But now we are at the point where regular human beings can dabble in this space. I hope this means a lot of developers and programmers and other people will seize the opportunity to experiment and approach the problem. Because if you have more eyes looking at the problem, than hopefully more solutions will be found and old conventions will be challenged.

I am hopeful for the future that something good will come out of this and something like the Linux of internet search engines will emerge. Where people can collaborate and build something great together, open source.

"Venture outside of the big main stream websites"

Viktor: I think by just participating in the web and not just consuming it. There is a chicken and egg situation where smaller websites are kind of dying because people arent finding them and people arent looking for it because they are difficult to find. I think maybe look more actively outside of the beaten path and big social media websites. Even though that is a bit hard right now. The more people venture outside of the biggest main stream websites the more stuff they will find. And the more people are finding this stuff the better these websites will get, and the more alternative paths away from the gigantic big tech websites will be build. By walking them.

Viktor: Yeah, that is the big goal for the project right now. Just to show people what is out there. Perhaps it is not the most useful search engine right now. There are some improvements necessary before it can be more than it is. But I think we will probably get there at some point.

Viktor: I think they should take away that websites arent fixed. We dont have to have a Google and a Twitter and a Facebook. That does not need to be the forever status quo. Even if you think back ten years ago the web was different. And it is possible to build new stuff. The stuff we have now was build by someone. And we can still do that. For some reason I think we stopped trying to build new websites and new web services. But that is still doable and, if anything, easier than before.

Funding

Marginalia Search received funding through the Entrust Fund for Trustworthiness and data sovereignty. The funds are established by NLnet.nl with financial support from the European Commission's Next Generation Internet programme.

Do you also have an open source project that needs funding? You can apply for one of the theme funds of NLnet.
Hong Kong: Elderly service network expanded

The Social Welfare Department today expanded the respite service network for elderly people to strengthen residential and day respite services for seniors living in the community.

Under the new arrangement, about 140 private residential care homes for the elderly under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme will not only provide residential respite services, but also offer day respite services for seniors in need in the community when vacant residential care places are available.

Subsidised day care centres or units for the elderly will continue to provide a day respite service, the department added.

It noted that the service points of day respite services for the elderly will significantly increase from around 50 to about 190, while the number of service places will increase from about 260 to over 500 to cover all districts in Hong Kong.

The department expects the new initiative will provide more comprehensive support for elderly citizens, their family members and carers.

Seniors and their carers may call the Designated Hotline for Carer Support 182 183 for social workers to assist in arranging and matching respite services; apply directly via the residential care homes/centres/units providing day respite services for the elderly; or request referrals from Integrated Family Service Centres/Integrated Services Centres, Medical Social Services Units or elderly service units.

In addition, since October, about 20 residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) under the Bought Place Scheme for Private RCHDs have been providing day respite services for those with disabilities in the community when there are vacant residential respite care places.

The Chief Executive announced in the Policy Address this year the expansion of the respite service network, so that carers can take short breaks or attend to personal matters for temporary relief.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Kiwis amazed by culture, cuisine from China's Sichuan Province

Xinhua) 08:56, December 01, 2023

This photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows a Chinese entertainer performing face-changing art in Auckland, New Zealand. (Xinhua)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Kiwis are amazed by unique cultural events and cuisine from southwest China's Sichuan Province during a tourism promotion event held here 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."

This photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows a Chinese entertainer performing long-pot tea art in Auckland, New Zealand. (Xinhua)

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."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Americans in Ohio are facing an alarming pneumonia outbreak. On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Warren County Health District announced that pediatric pneumonia cases are drastically increasing.

Ohio's health officials said that since August, the respiratory infections among children reached over 140 cases. They added that most of the symptoms infected kids develop are cough, fatigue, and fever.

Luckily, no deaths were recorded as of writing. The Ohio district also clarified that the pneumonia infection cases are no more severe than those in 2022.

Ohio's Pneumonia Outbreak: Is China's Mysterious Illness To Blame?

According to NBC News' latest report, Ohio children are getting infected by mycoplasma pneumonia, which is the same respiratory illness spreading across China.

Recently, the World Health Organization said that China is seeing an increase in hospitalization among children infected with mycoplasma pneumonia. WHO officials said that the rise in hospitalizations they are seeing started in May.

Although this is the case, it is still too early to conclude that the infections in Ohio are caused by China, especially since this respiratory illness is very common.

For those who are not familiar with this infection, mycoplasma pneumonia is caused by a bacterium called "mycoplasma pneumoniae," which can spread through droplets when infected people cough or sneeze.

Health experts also said that this tiny bacterium can linger in the nose or throat without infecting the individual; they will only get infected with pneumonia if the bacteria spread to the lungs.

"It's sometimes referred to as 'walking pneumonia,' which means you have pneumonia but you're not sick enough to be in the hospital," explained Dr. James Cutrell of the UT Southern Medical Center in Dallas.

Read Also: Cholera Outbreak Returns in Zimbabwe With More Than 8,000 Suspected Cases, Confirm Hundreds of Deaths

Other US States With Pneumonia Outbreak

Aside from Ohio, other U.S. states are also experiencing serious pneumonia outbreaks. One of these is Denmark, which already has an epidemic-level mycoplasma pneumonia outbreak.

Massachusetts has also seen increases in pneumonia infections among children ever since WHO announced China's alarming respiratory outbreak.

Although this is the case, World Health Organization officials are not worried. This is because they don't see any sign that the pneumonia infections in China and some U.S. states are caused by a new novel disease.

"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," said the Warren County Health District via Metro UK.

Related Article: China Claims Respiratory Illness Surge Isn't Caused by Novel Virus-Here's What Chinese Health Ministry Says

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A Nebraska man was sentenced Wednesday to six months in federal prison for making a false threat of a school shooting at an elementary school in Council Bluffs.

Nathan Joseph Bonacci, 21, of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, told federal authorities that he posted the threat because he thought his friends would find it to be funny, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

On Feb. 10, the U.S. Attorneys Office said, Bonacci posted on an app that he had a machine gun and that he planned to drive later to Roosevelt Elementary School in Council Bluffs armed with $5K worth of ammo and I will kill as many people as I can find.

The threat was forwarded to a school principal, who called law enforcement, prompting an FBI investigation.

The probe identified Bonacci as the source of the threat. When interviewed by the FBI, he said he posted it to a group of his friends.

He was sentenced to prison plus a year of supervised release by U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis for impeding or interfering with a federal officer.
Glenwood school officials hope to have a formal plan in the next few weeks on how to proceed following an unsuccessful bond referendum.

A $39.9 million bond issue for numerous renovation and infrastructure needs failed to garner the necessary numbers of votes for passage in the Nov. 7 election.

We dont have a plan of action, yet," Glenwood Community Schools Superintendent Devin Embray told The Nonpareil this week. "Hopefully well have a formal plan moving forward in late December or early January."

Of the nearly 2,000 ballots cast, 59% opposed the measure that would have been the districts largest ever general obligation bond to date.

Among the various proposed projects, the bond was to be used for an extensive renovation of Northeast Elementary School, including a new day care wing, which is currently housed on the Glenwood Resource Center campus.

The other projects involved a new a multipurpose gymnasium, administrative offices, security enhancements and infrastructure updates in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Funds would also have been used to update and establish an innovation center and HVAC upgrades at the middle school.

Embray said that, according to public feedback, most voters were in favor of the bond, but they opposed the new day care center.

The school district has been leasing space for its day care at the GRC, but the campus is slated to close in June 2024. Other offices are also located there.

Weve got a little bit of time, Embray said.

The district is looking at grants to continue the day care center, he said.

The innovation center, set to open next fall, may be delayed a year, Embray said. The district is also considering in a revised bond issue next November.
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. &&
Inspector General of Royal Armed Forces & Commander of the South Zone, Lt. General Mohamed Berrid, received Thursday in Rabat Jean Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.

No details were disclosed on the issues discussed during the meeting which comes after the talks held Wednesday by the UN official with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

Speaking to journalists following his talks with Moroccan top diplomat, Mr. Lacroix thanked the Kingdom for its long-standing commitment and contributions of Royal Armed forces to UN peacekeeping operations.

He paid tribute in this regard to the Moroccan Blue Helmets for the peacekeeping missions they carry out with dedication and commitment in various regions in Africa.

We look to the future with Morocco, he said, highlighting the challenges facing the UN in its peacekeeping operations.

For his part, Bourita reiterated the Kingdoms firm support, in accordance with royal instructions, to the various initiatives carried out by the UN Secretary General since 2017, in particular UN Action for Peacekeeping A4P to address the multidimensional challenges facing peacekeeping operations.

The current geopolitical changes in the world, the UN Peacekeeping Operations which are celebrating their 75th anniversary require a new comprehensive and inclusive approach adapted to the reality on the ground and involving all stakeholders, he said.

The minister expressed the Kingdoms full support for the Summit of the Future scheduled for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in 2024, with the hope that it will lead to a new vision with precise objectives for the strengthening of multilateralism and the global review of the peacekeeping architecture.

He also recalled Moroccos commitments to the UN Women, Peace and Security Action Plan, as well as the initiatives against hate speech and misinformation against UN peacekeepers.

Morocco is among the top ten countries in the world that contribute to UN peacekeeping operations.
The Minister of Economy and Trade of the Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli, one of Libyas two rival Governments, Wednesday November 29 called on China to hold a joint economic Forum that would include business owners and companies from the two countries, in addition to an exhibition of Chinese industries and products in the North African country, Libya Observer reports.

Mohammed Al-Huweij proposed the idea during a meeting with Liu Jian, the Charge dAffaires of the Chinese Embassy in Libya, in the presence of a number of ministry officials, the media notes.

The GNU official reportedly invited major Chinese companies to enter the Libyan market, invest in strategic projects, and build bridges of communication with the African market by designing and building international roads to the African market, as well as establishing free and special economic zones.

Al-Huweij also argued that the Libyan government was looking forward to benefiting from industrial technology in the renewable energy sector, and providing energy reserves directed toward the European market. He also sent an invitation to the Chinese Minister of Commerce to visit Libya with an economic and trade delegation to discuss establishing strategic cooperation in areas of common interest.

The Chinese diplomat on the other hand expressed the desire of major Chinese companies to enter the Libyan market, hailing the existing bilateral cooperation, and stressing that they had been working to develop the cooperation to serve the interests of both countries.

In a separate meeting with GNU Minister of Transport Mohammed Shahoubi in Tripoli, Jian indicated that the Asian country is ready to finish the stalled projects in the transportation sector, which they had long contracted for.

The projects commenced before the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The GNU is backed by Turkey, Qatar and several western countries. It is being rivaled by another administration in the East and appointed by the countrys only State legislature House of Representatives (HoR).
King Mohammed VI is represented by Princess Lalla Hasnaa at the World Climate Action Summit, held as part of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which kicked off on Friday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Summit opened with speeches by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the president of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and King Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Some 160 Heads of State and Government as well as representatives of State parties will be making national statements on how they are addressing climate change issues and their countries plans to scale up emissions reduction commitments, as the world warms at an unprecedented rate.

COP28 provides an appropriate platform for achieving climate ambitions and strengthening sustainable development, in the interests of present and future generations. It is also an opportunity for States and non-state parties to consolidate their cooperation and combine their efforts on climate action.

The Conference marks the conclusion of the Global Stocktake, the first assessment of global progress in implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Morocco was elected, in Vienna this Friday, to host the 93rd session of the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol. The 93 session will be held in Marrakech in 2025.

The decision was made by the 91st session of Interpol, held from November 28 to December 1 in the Austrian capital.

Director General of Moroccos National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, attended this session and held on its sidelines talks with heads of several participating delegations.

Abdellatif Hammouchi also conferred with the President of Interpol who renewed congratulations to Morocco for having been elected to host the International Criminal Police Organizations 93rd session in 2025.

The participants in the Vienna session, representing 196 member countries, renewed their confidence in Morocco and its security institutions, granting it the honor of organizing and hosting the 93rd session of the Interpol General Assembly.

Abdellatif Hammouchi expressed Moroccos gratitude to all those who supported its hosting of INTERPOL 93rd session and emphasized the Kingdoms commitment to enhancing international efforts to combat terrorism and various forms of cross-border crime.

He also expressed the readiness of Moroccan security services to host this prestigious security forum and their steadfast support for Interpol and its member states in efforts to achieve security and establish global stability.

Hammouchis participation in Interpol session is part of Moroccos commitment to consolidating international security cooperation. It also illustrates the Kingdoms willingness to share its experience and expertise in the fight against terrorism and organized crime with the security services of various friendly and brotherly countries, as well as with all international partners.
The U.S. State Department has praised Moroccos comprehensive counterterrorism strategy, which includes vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation, and counter radicalization policies.

In its latest annual report released Nov.30 on terrorism in the world, the State department said the United States and Morocco have a long history of strong counterterrorism (CT) cooperation, hailing the Kingdoms CT which continued in 2022 to mitigate the risk of terrorism.

The North African Kingdom hosted the 2022 ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and convened the Counter-ISIS Finance and Africa Focus Groups on the margins of the ministerial, said the report, noting that Morocco is also a member of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) and will take over the GCTF co-chair seat from Egypt in 2023.

Furthermore, Moroccan law enforcement agencies participated in a wide range of U.S.-sponsored programs to improve the countrys technical and investigative capabilities, including financial investigation, intelligence analysis, forensics, and cybersecurity.

Border security remained a top priority for Moroccan authorities, underlined the report, stressing the General Directorate for National Security has primary responsibility for conducting border inspections at ports of entry such as Casablancas Mohammed V International Airport. Law enforcement officials and private airline carriers work regularly with the United States to detect and deter individuals attempting to transit illegally and to address watch-listed travelers.

Moroccan airport authorities have excellent capabilities in detecting fraudulent documents, said the U.S. report, noting that police, customs officers, and the Royal Gendarmerie operate mobile and fixed checkpoints along the roads in border areas. Moroccan Naval and Coast Guard units monitored and patrolled the countrys extensive coastal waters, including the Strait of Gibraltar, to interdict illicit traffickers.

The State Department report also cites Moroccos engagement in countering the Financing of Terrorism. Morocco is a member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force. Its FIU, the National Financial Intelligence Authority, is a member of the Egmont Group.

Morocco remained on the FATF gray list in 2022. During 2022, FATF reported that Morocco took steps toward improving its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime, including by providing additional training and awareness-raising to financial institutions and designated nonfinancial businesses and professions (DNFPBs) to detect and file suspicious transactions, licensing and monitoring the registration of DNFBPs, and addressing technical deficiencies related to targeted financial sanctions.

Morocco is also co-chair for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISISs Africa Focus Group, added the report, saying that the countrys comprehensive CVE strategy prioritizes economic and human development in addition to countering radicalization to violence and oversight of the religious sphere.

To counter religious extremism, Morocco promotes an interpretation of the Maliki-Ashari school of Sunni Islam, said the report, citing in this regard the educational curriculum developed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for the training of nearly 50,000 imams and female Islamic guides (Mourchidates).

Moroccos imam training center in Rabat trains imams mostly from West Africa, said the State Department report. It hailed the role played by the Mohammedia League of Ulema which counters radicalization by producing scholarly research, reviewing educational curricula, and conducting youth outreach on religious and social topics.

For its part, The General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration, in cooperation with other ministries, conducted several training workshops of its deradicalization program, Moussalaha (Reconciliation) for both women and men.
There was an effort to dump Trump at the 2016 convention. Didnt happen; wont happen in 2024, either. Photo: Brooks Kraft/Getty Images

In the increasingly frantic search for assurance that Donald Trump cant really get himself back into the White House, it is often noted that even if he has locked down the nomination before one of his major criminal trials is underway, he could be convicted before the Republican National Convention meets to formally nominate a candidate. Would the convention consider dumping this old sack of damaged goods to preserve its general-election prospects? How about if hes somehow behind bars? Thats unlikely given his options for appealing any conviction, but lets look at the possibility.

Now as in the recent past, Republican National Committee rules require that delegates who are pledged to specific candidates via the conditions of their selection (in 2024, there will be 2,365 pledged delegates and just 104 unpledged delegates) stick with their candidate for at least one ballot.

Is there a way to unbind them? Well, Republicans went through a bit of a test of this question the first time Trump ran for president, in 2016, when longtime party heretic Curly Haughland of North Dakota got a lot attention from NeverTrump Republicans with his argument that delegates inherently enjoy the right to vote their consciences at conventions notwithstanding national or state party rules binding them to candidates via primary or caucus results. There was an actual effort at the RNC in Cleveland in July to formally unbind the delegates during deliberations of the conventions rules committee. It failed, predictably, and then failed definitively after a voice vote to accept the rules on the convention floor.

Now, the question has arisen again not just because of some general buyers remorse about the likely identity of the nominee, but because of the possibility Trumps legal situation could get a lot worse by the time Republicans meet in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. As the Associated Press reports, theres a way to unbind delegates, but there may not be the will:

So theres no specific loophole in the rules unbinding delegates just because their candidate he has been convicted of a felony or is even already in the slammer. That means the only way to unbind them is via a vote to change the rules in the conventions rules committee or to suspend them on the convention floor. The former is extremely unlikely since the rules committee is dominated by RNC members and party loyalists. And the latter requires a two-thirds vote, which is quite a reach. Even then, the convention and party lawyers would have to contend with the problem of delegates from the 14 states where delegates are legally required to follow the results of primaries, sometimes for multiple ballots.

The more fundamental problem, of course, is that both the Republican rank and file and most GOP leaders have made it pretty clear they dont care what happens to Trump in the various courts where he will stand trial during or after 2024. Polls consistently show most Republicans not questioning their preference for Trump if hes convicted of felonies  even if they think hes guilty  and all but two of his rivals in the nomination contest have publicly said theyd back him as the nominee in that circumstance. Theres no particular reason a significant portion of the GOP would reverse that position barring something truly monstrous coming out in a courtroom. The most likely trial to take place during the primaries, the federal proceedings against Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, involves conduct most Republicans resolutely consider innocent or certainly not criminal.

You never say never in politics, but the reality Trump haters need to accept is that dating back to 2016, Republicans have grown accustomed to the idea that Trump is largely invulnerable to exposure of his worst traits. If the Access Hollywood tape didnt bring him down when he was supposedly already on the ropes against Hillary Clinton, why would a conviction following indictments Trump and his fans regard as the products of partisan witch hunts designed to force him out of the 2024 race? General-election voters may keep Trump out of the White House (assuming he accepts or is forced to accept the results). But his partys not very likely to dump him even if hes campaigning in leg-irons.
Auburn Public Safety needs your help providing gifts for over 400 children across the Auburn area this holiday season.

Residents can provide newly purchased and unwrapped gifts at Saturdays Auburn Toy Drive, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dean Road Recreation Center. You can also volunteer to collect, organize and package donations from the event at 307 South Dean Road.

There are people that truly need things and we wanted them to know that we care. Our community cares, Auburn Assistant Chief Clarence Stewart said. This is just a small token of appreciation from Auburn Public Safety.

The gifts will be going toward the over 400 registered children ages 2 to 14. At 2 p.m., Aubie will appear to take pictures with attendees.

Its something we could do that may change a childs life or help a family or inspire them. Its to let them know that people do care, you are important and you do belong here. And thats what its about, Stewart said.

Saturdays event will be the first toy drive where Auburn Public Safety accepts donations in a drive-thru. The program itself dates back to the 1970s.

While previous toy drives have lasted for weeks, organizers decided to make it a one-day event this year. Stewart said the hope is that itll bring the community together. He has been involved with the event for years, but he said that this year Public Relations Specialist Sidney Hancock has helped revamp the event.

Hancock said opening up the volunteer opportunities to the community promotes unity. Typically, only officials with public safety, first responders and representatives work together to organize and distribute everything.

Volunteers will be collecting donations, sorting gifts into age-appropriate categories and building donation bags for registered children. They must be available Dec. 2 and 3. Hancock said that they are also planning to use Dec. 10 as a backup date.

Its great to meet those families. But for everybody in the community to come out and have the opportunity to volunteer and network and to build those relationships with everybody, its just going to be really special, he said.

Hancock said some families who have registered for a chance to receive donations have also volunteered to help.

I knew that I would have some donations coming in from other organizations after Dec. 2 and 3, so I knew that I needed a date to organize that stuff, Hancock said. In the event that we dont get enough donations on the first weekend, well put it out to the community and say, Hey, we still have this need. We still have X number of kids who need assistance this Christmas, and come back on the 10th and well kind of do it all over again.

Hancock said that that Dec. 3 will be the primary pick-up day, but they are expecting some people to come by on Dec. 2 for pick-up as well. She also said that while the Dec. 2 date is the goal for all donations, she recognizes that some people are unavailable and have been accepting donations beforehand.

Some of the toys will be picked up by the organizations who assisted with registering people in the community and then we will have some people who will come out on-site and pick up in person, Hancock said. Some families dont have transportation, and so were going to be working with those families to get those toys to them.

The Auburn Toy Drive will be partnering with the Auburn Housing Authority, the Domestic Violence Intervention Center, Esperanza House and Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services this year to deliver toys to the community.

Auburn Public Safety continues to search for volunteers who can accept and organize gifts at the event. For more information on the drive as well as a link to volunteer, visit https://www.auburnalabama.org/toy-drive/.
The US Supreme Court has announced the death of one of its retired justices, Sandra Day O'Connor, on Friday (December 1) in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 93.

She died of complications related to advanced dementia, as well as a respiratory illness, the court said in a statement.

O'Connor was the very first female to sit in the Supreme Court, trailblazing the path for women to sit in the highest court in the union. She served as Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement in 2006, and continued to make public engagements until 2018 when she withdrew from public life due to her dementia diagnosis, CBS reported.

"A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O'Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation's first female Justice," Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement. "She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor. We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education. And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot."

O'Connor's Pre-SCOTUS Life, Career

Born in El Paso, Texas in 1930, Sandra Day grew up on her family's cattle ranch named "Lazy B" in southeastern Arizona.

She was admitted to Stanford at the age of 16 and graduated from Stanford Law in 1952. It was also during her time at Stanford that she met her husband, John Jay O'Connor, who died in 2009 due to complications from dementia.

As she entered the legal field, O'Connor struggled to find a job because of her gender. She only received one offer to work, as a legal secretary at a firm based in Los Angeles, which she turned down.

O'Connor instead offered to work for free as the county attorney for San Mateo County in California. She was then hired as deputy county attorney and, after her husband was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany worked as a civilian attorney with the Army Quartermaster Corps.

Upon their return to the US in 1957, they moved to the Phoenix area, where she was admitted to the bar and began a private practice with another lawyer.

By 1965, she worked as an assistant state attorney general and became a state senator in Arizona in 1969. he was reelected to the state's upper chamber twice and in 1972, became the first woman to serve as the majority leader of any state senate.

After her legislative stint, O'Connor entered the judicial branch in 1974, first as a county judge, then appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Read Also: Senate GOP Stages Walk Out Following Judiciary Committee's Subpoenas Related to Supreme Court Ethics Probe

O'Connor's Contribution to US Jurisprudence

O'Connor was appointed to the Supreme Court by former President Ronald Reagan in 1981. During her 24-year tenure, she was often at its center and was a crucial swing vote in divisive cases, including those involving abortion and affirmative action.

After stepping down, the Supreme Court's expanded conservative majority would go on to reverse the landmark decisions she helped shape, such as the constitutional right to abortion and race-conscious college admissions programs.

O'Connor was also in the 5-4 majority in the 2000 Bush vs. Gore case, which effectively decided the election of George W. Bush into the presidency. She has since expressed doubts about the court's decision to intervene in the dispute, telling the Chicago Tribune in 2013 that the court should not have dealt with it in the first place.

Upon leaving the court, she launched iCivics, a website helping children understand the political process through games that teach them about the three branches of the US government, campaigning, and polling voters, paving the way for future political leaders.

For her service to the US judicial system throughout her long career, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 2009.

Related Article: Supreme Court Announces Adoption of Code of Conduct Amid Scrutiny of Ethics Practices

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Auburn Universitys Hunger Solutions Institute has been awarded a $4 million grant to continue its program of providing discounts on milk for SNAP participants.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has awarded the Hunger Solutions Institute a $4 million grant for the 2023 Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives program, a three-year award that will allow HSI to continue the development of methods to increase the purchase of fluid milk by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. The methods include adding discounts at the time of the purchase and the grant will allow the HSI to expand the Add Milk! pilot project.

Nutrition incentive programs make healthier foods more accessible to individuals who may be living on a limited budget. Milk provides 13 nutrients in one glass, and nutritionally dense foods can help individuals live a healthier lifestyle, managing director of HSI Alicia Powers said. This award will extend the work we started in 2022 and allow Add Milk! to reach more communities with limited resources.

In 2022, the Add Milk! program operated in four states at 116 different locations. This latest grant will allow the program to add 575 participating locations that are operated by 16 partnering retailers across 16 states. The model will also be shifted to an automatic discount on qualifying milk purchases of skim or 1% milk.

This is the second grant that the HSI has received from the USDA since 2022. The HSI launched Add Milk! in 2022 with a $3 million USDA grant.

This grant reinforces USDAs and Auburn Universitys joint commitment to putting healthy foods and beverages within reach for all Americans. Shifting to an incentive model that provides an automatic discount at the point of purchase is fundamental to ensuring affordability and equitable access to healthy fluid milk for SNAP households, USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Stacy Dean said.

The HFMI 2023 will have HIS project administrator Kara Newby and agriculture economist in Auburns College of Agriculture Joel Cuffey working as researchers investigating the effectiveness of the Add Milk! program. Their research will also involve determining how the nutrition incentive influences how SNAP participants use their funds.

According to an AU news release, current analysis shows that SNAP households are using the incentive to stretch their SNAP dollars throughout the month and support the purchase of healthier foods.

Cuffeys research is helping us understand how the program is working, how it is supporting SNAP households and what we can do to improve it, Powers said.

The HSI was founded in 2012 by the College of Human Sciences and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University, with the goal of furthering Auburns efforts in food security. Since its founding, the HSI has been a part of the End Child Hunger in Alabama campaign, Double Up Food Bucks Alabama and Hunger Free Higher Ed, which are working to seek ways to reduce food insecurity in the state and across the U.S.

Research is at the core of all we do at Auburn University, with the end goal being to find ways to enhance quality of life for individuals, families and communities, Dean of the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University Susan Hubbard said. We are proud of Alicia Powers leadership through the Hunger Solutions Institute and to know this effort to put healthy options on the tables of low-income families is growing from four states to 16 in less than a year is phenomenal.
A Lee County man allegedly killed his 79-year-old grandfather Thursday night at a Beulah home, authorities said.

Wiltavious Tamario Wilson, 31, faces one count of murder in the shooting of Ralph Oneal Wilson. He's being held in the Lee County Detention Center without bond.

Lee County sheriff deputies responded to a residence on Lee Road 390 at 11:42 p.m. Thursday in reference to a man being shot in the Beulah community. Deputies found Ralph Wilson dead inside the home, authorities said.

Investigators believe that Wiltavious Wilson shot his grandfather during an argument. The LCSO said that deputies recovered the firearm that was used at the scene.

Anyone with information regarding this case has been asked to call the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
- The relative ease of shipping across the Atlantic Basin has sent Europe-bound

- Year-to-date imports of US LNG to Europe have already soared to 45.1 million tonnes in January-November, surpassing the full-year total of 2022 and setting the stage for a 10% year-on-year increase.

- As exports of US LNG into Eastern Asia continue to be hindered by hefty congestion-driven delays in Panama Canal operations, the European continent has become the key outlet market for US liquefied gas exports.

2. Europe Cannot Get Enough of US LNG

- The OPEC+ meeting also set production quotas for Nigeria and Angola into 2024, at 1.5 and 1.11 million b/d respectively, although the Angolan delegation announced that it would defy the mandate and produce above that level.

- Six other OPEC+ members chipped in with their voluntary cuts, spearheaded by Iraq (223,000 b/d), the UAE (163,000 b/d), Kuwait (135,000 b/d) as well as Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman with smaller volumes.

- Saudi Arabia is rolling over its voluntary 1 million b/d production cut into Q1 2024, joined by Russia which promised to curb the supply of crude by 300,000 b/d and of oil products by another 200,000 b/d.

- Saudi Arabia and Russia, the two heavyweights of OPEC+, have managed to coordinate a wider response to weakening market sentiment and agree on voluntary cuts of 2.2 million b/d in their latest November 30 summit.

1. OPEC+ Confronts Quota Imperfections, Weak Sentiment

- Saudi Arabia and Russia, the two heavyweights of OPEC+, have managed to coordinate a wider response to weakening market sentiment and agree on voluntary cuts of 2.2 million b/d in their latest November 30 summit.

- Saudi Arabia is rolling over its voluntary 1 million b/d production cut into Q1 2024, joined by Russia which promised to curb the supply of crude by 300,000 b/d and of oil products by another 200,000 b/d.

- Six other OPEC+ members chipped in with their voluntary cuts, spearheaded by Iraq (223,000 b/d), the UAE (163,000 b/d), Kuwait (135,000 b/d) as well as Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman with smaller volumes.

- The OPEC+ meeting also set production quotas for Nigeria and Angola into 2024, at 1.5 and 1.11 million b/d respectively, although the Angolan delegation announced that it would defy the mandate and produce above that level.

2. Europe Cannot Get Enough of US LNG

- As exports of US LNG into Eastern Asia continue to be hindered by hefty congestion-driven delays in Panama Canal operations, the European continent has become the key outlet market for US liquefied gas exports.

- Year-to-date imports of US LNG to Europe have already soared to 45.1 million tonnes in January-November, surpassing the full-year total of 2022 and setting the stage for a 10% year-on-year increase.

- The relative ease of shipping across the Atlantic Basin has sent Europe-bound US LNG exports to 4.9 million tonnes in November, equivalent to a 65% market share, the largest this year, whilst deliveries to Asia last month accounted for just 21%.

- Northwest Europe takes in most of US LNG volumes, with the Netherlands becoming the largest buyer on the continent, followed by Great Britain and France, with the three accounting for 55% of all imports.

3. China Gives Shandong Refiners Quota Relief

- Chinas Ministry of Commerce handed a last-minute lifeline to the countrys independent refineries, mostly located in the northern province of Shandong, by raising fuel oil import quotas by 3 million tonnes.

- Unlike crude import quotas, the fuel oil import mechanism is effectively a first-come-first-served bidding system where oil companies are required to apply for approval cargo by cargo until the annual total volume is reached.

- Without adequate crude oil cover, utilization rates amongst Shandong teapots have dropped as low as 57% in recent weeks, although the new quota should boost runs over the remaining weeks of 2023.

- Fuel oil premiums, especially for Russian high sulfur fuel oil, the most preferred grade, have spiked up in the region, with Russian volumes reported to be at a premium of $80 per metric tonne to Singapores mean prices of $500/mt.

4. Scandinavia Faces Power Supply Scare After Nuclear Outages

- Two unplanned outages at nuclear reactors in Sweden and Finland sent electricity prices in Scandinavia to the highest level since March 2023, highlighting the fragility of power supply in the region.

- Both Vattenfalls Ringhals-4 nuclear reactor in Sweden and Voimas Olkiluoto-3 reactor in Finland went down due to technical failures, with the latter remaining in test mode after prolonged delays.

- As most of Europe has been experiencing a string of cold temperatures with both Stockholm and Finland enjoying a chill 20 F (-8 C locally), nuclear supply disruptions highlight the fragility of winder power generation.

- Faced with still-increasing power demand, Sweden has pledged to build as many as 10 new nuclear reactors over the next 15 years, raising nuclears market share well above its current level of 33%.

5. COP28 Starts As Fossil Fuels Remain in Vogue

- The COP28 climate change conference started this week in Dubai amidst skepticism that emerging economies actively seeking a higher energy intensity and developed nations seeking to cut their fossil fuels exposure can find a common language.

- Despite the bad reputation surrounding it, coal is still the No.1 source of global electricity generation, accounting for 36% of the total which is only marginally lower than last years readings.

- Even though worldwide renewable generation has grown at almost triply the pace of fossil fuels since 2019, outright output of fossil energies continues to edge higher, already above 1500 TWh per month.

- Natural gas consumption has been on the rise globally with both the United States and China recording their highest-ever figures in 2023, more than offsetting weak gas growth in Europe.

6. Panama Protests Add Bullish Sentiment to Copper Outlook

- The halting of operations at one of the largest copper mines globally, the Cobre Panama mine operated by First Quantum Minerals, has provided temporary support to embattled copper prices.

- The LME 3-month copper prices surged past the 8,500 per metric tonne threshold this week only to fall back to $8,420/mt as Panama protests blocked 1.5% of global copper supply.

- With Panamanian copper production being most probably suspended until the next Presidential elections in May 2024, further strikes such as MMGs recent industrial action in Peru might be the single most bullish factor for next years copper outlook.

- Bouncing back from their annual trough in October, copper prices are expected to rise marginally in 2024 with the consensus analyst estimate coming in at $8,625 per metric tonne.

7. A Normalizing China Also Means Slower Growth Rates

- Softer commodity markets into the second half of 2023 have underscored the importance of China to the past years bearish sentiment, although the next years might not see the same level of Chinese growth as before.

- Chinese oil demand is set to grow by 4% next year, halving from this years roughly 8% year-on-year spike, with ongoing construction sector woes, EV penetration, and weak petrochemical margins all weighing on consumption.

- The slowing down of Chinese growth might be an even bigger issue for the metal markets as China accounts for a respective 60% and 50% of global iron ore and aluminum consumption globally.

- With China recording its first-ever quarterly deficit in foreign direct investment in Q3 this year (totaling $11.8 billion), the stage is set for Chinese domestic demand growth to slow down across the commodity spectrum.
On the other hand, the voluntary nature of the production cuts and the fact that OPEC+ did not announce the levels of the cuts because they were voluntaryleaving it up to each member state to do sosend oil prices falling after they had risen early in the day on rumors that the group could cut 2 million bpd at the start of the year.

On one hand, this could be seen as a large win for Saudi Arabia, which has been shouldering much of the market balancing efforts this year after agreeing to voluntarily cut 1 million bpd over this summer. OPECs most prolific producer has for a while been laying the groundwork in expressing its displeasure with OPECs other members, who have been benefiting from Saudi Arabias cuts without having to carry as much of the burden from reduced production. In the end, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE all agreed to voluntarily cut production during the first quarter of next year to the tune of 693,000 bpd.

Oil markets balked at the OPEC+ news this week that saw the organization extend cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia and deepen the groups overall cuts with other member states beginning in the first quarter of next year. The distinctionand likely a large factor in sending prices downward on Thursdayis the fact that the additional cuts (those beyond Russia and Saudi Arabias rollover cuts) are voluntary cuts.

Markets

Oil markets balked at the OPEC+ news this week that saw the organization extend cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia and deepen the groups overall cuts with other member states beginning in the first quarter of next year. The distinctionand likely a large factor in sending prices downward on Thursdayis the fact that the additional cuts (those beyond Russia and Saudi Arabias rollover cuts) are voluntary cuts.

On one hand, this could be seen as a large win for Saudi Arabia, which has been shouldering much of the market balancing efforts this year after agreeing to voluntarily cut 1 million bpd over this summer. OPECs most prolific producer has for a while been laying the groundwork in expressing its displeasure with OPECs other members, who have been benefiting from Saudi Arabias cuts without having to carry as much of the burden from reduced production. In the end, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE all agreed to voluntarily cut production during the first quarter of next year to the tune of 693,000 bpd.

On the other hand, the voluntary nature of the production cuts and the fact that OPEC+ did not announce the levels of the cuts because they were voluntaryleaving it up to each member state to do sosend oil prices falling after they had risen early in the day on rumors that the group could cut 2 million bpd at the start of the year.

Including Saudi Arabia and Russia, the voluntary cuts total 2.193 million bpd, although 1.5 million bpd of that are rollover cuts that Saudi Arabia and Russia are currently carrying out.

With Saudi Arabia threatening short sellers and those that bet against oil that they would be ouching like hell, the fall in prices came as a painful reminder to Saudi Arabiaoften seen as the one largely in control of the marketthat it may not have the power to deliver on such threats as it used to.

In addition to the cuts, there were two other noteworthy developments with the OPEC+ talks. One, the inclusion of Brazil into the OPEC+ fold, and two, Angolas refusal to step in line with the other members, stating matter of factly that not only would it not offer voluntary cuts starting in January like its peers, it wouldnt be sticking to its current quota either. Angolas quota was reduced in June along with other African nations to be more in line with their actual performance. Angola did say a week ago that it was not considering leaving the cartel.

The market will have a difficult time digesting the convoluted nature of the cuts as traders attempt to determine what are new production cuts, what are existing cuts, and whether they will manifest with actual fewer barrels produced at the beginning of the year, and if so, how much less. The groups complicated and long, drawn-out arrangementand its propensity for either over or underproducing its professed cuts, has soured the market on believing what OPEC+ says is true. Angolas refusal to play ball, combined with Brazils addition to the group rollover cuts, only complicates the issue further. It could take a few days for the market to digest the reality of todays agreement. In the meantime, Saudi Arabia appears to be the one ouching like hell.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

Equinor has agreed to sell its business in Nigeria, including its stake in the Agbami oilfield, to Chappal Energies. While the terms of the deal havent been disclosed, Equinor said that its Nigeria business has been very profitable, and it expects to book a gain at deal closing. The deal includes the sale of ENEC, which holds a 53.85% ownership of OML 128 and a 20.21% stake in Agbami.

Activist investor group Elliot Investment Management has snapped up a $1B stake in Phillips 66, citing the US refiners underperformance in recent years. Elliot said it saw a 75% upside to the current price. The activist investor blames Phillips 66 for shifting its focus away from its refining segment, missing the refining supercycles over the last two years.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said opening European Union accession negotiations with Ukraine is not currently in Budapest's interest and that the 27-member bloc should opt instead for a "strategic partnership" with the war-wracked country.

In a progress report last month, the European Commission -- the bloc's executive body -- recommended opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine once it meets the required conditions after gaining candidate status together with much smaller Moldova in June last year.

Orban, a right-wing populist who has maintained warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has long been at odds with the EU over rule-of-law and corruption concerns and has seen the bloc freeze 22 billion euros ($24 billion) in cohesion funds for Hungary until it introduces judicial and human rights reforms.

In his weekly interview with Hungarian state radio on December 1, Orban said opening membership talks with Kyiv does not coincide with Hungary's interests and we "dare say it, no matter how much pressure they put on us," in an apparent reference to alleged interference from Brussels.

"I would favor the EU reaching a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine first," Orban said, adding that such a partnership could take up to 10 years until Ukraine could adapt to the EU's requirements.

"When we see that we can cooperate, then let's bring up the issue of membership again, but that will be possible only after many, many years," he said.

Orban again spoke against continuing giving Ukraine financial aid, in what critics see as an attempt by Budapest to blackmail the EU into releasing its frozen cohesion funds in exchange for Hungary not using its veto power as the European Commission seeks unanimous support to ensure a 1.1 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion) revision of the bloc's budget that would include 50 billion euros for Ukraine.



"Europe has economic problems but in the meantime throws money away -- it sends wagonloads of weapons and money to Ukraine," Orban said.

Orban and his government have repeatedly spoken against the bloc's giving military aid to Ukraine to fight Russia's unprovoked aggression, arguing without evidence that such aid would only prolong the war.

The EU will hold a summit on December 14-15.

By RF/ERL

ADVERTISEMENT

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
This, in turn, might create a shortage of ships to carry the LNG from the United States to Asia via the longer route because it would take each ship longer to reach its destination and return.

The Panama Canal authorities recently imposed restrictions on vessel traffic due to a severe drought that reduced the level of water in the canal significantly.

The restrictions mean that ships carrying cargo through the canal will take significantly longer to reach their destination. The same is true for ships opting for other routesand this second option is now threatening a spillover that would affect global LNG trade.

As many ships choose to forego passage through the Panama Canal, they must pass through the Suez Canal instead on their way to Asia, a senior executive from a shipping company recently warned. This means that the Suez Canal will have to take a lot more vessels than is normal.

The congestion forcing ships out of the Panama Canal, therefore, will simply move to the Suez Canal. And the Panama Canal is the default chokepoint for U.S. LNG. With congestion there and congestion at the alternative gateway to Asia, LNG cargos are going to take longer to arrive at their destination.

"Suez will need to take a lot more vessels," Sveinung Sthle, deputy chief executive of Greek Angelicoussis Group, told Bloomberg. "That means that the waiting time on both ends likely will increase." Related: Why Oil Prices Fell After OPEC+ Announced Deeper Output Cuts



Sthle noted that the Suez Canal has experience in handling increased traffic but added that the potential increase might be quite significant. Normally, a cargo of LNG passes through the Panama Canal every day. Now, with the restrictions, only three to four will be allowed to pass each month. This means the rest would need to take the alternative route through the Suez Canal.

This, in turn, might create a shortage of ships to carry the LNG from the United States to Asia via the longer route because it would take each ship longer to reach its destination and return.

"If you can't go via the Panama Canal, you have to add one more ship for the same volume," Sthle said. "Where do you get the ships from? That's is going to be a challenge."

The first warning signs of looming trouble for the Panama Canal emerged earlier this year when data showed water levels in the Canal were at the lowest since its start of operation in 1914. Traffic was not immediately affected, but the vessels had to reduce their loads by a quarter to be able to pass safely.

Then, earlier this month, the Panama Canal authorities imposed limits on how many vessels could pass through the Canal, with only those with pre-booked slots allowed to proceed. "The recorded precipitation for October has been the lowest on record since 1950 (41% below), and so far, 2023 ranks as the second driest year for the same period," the Canal authority said.

In addition to leading to ship jams, this has also pushed up freight costs, adding to the price tag of U.S. LNG for Asia, as vessels delayed at the Panama Canal become unavailable for use on other trade routes, the EIA warned earlier this month.

Indeed, per a Bloomberg report, the price premium for Asian to European gas deliveries for the summer of 2024 has soared twofold since October. The premium for winter 2024 deliveries has also increased because of the drought-related restrictions at the Panama Canal.

At the same time, some U.S. LNG shippers are opting to send their cargoes to Europe instead of Asia because it's less of a hassle, even if LNG sold in Europe fetches lower prices, Bloomberg again reported, citing S&P Commodity Insights.

"The opportunity to sell more profitably to Asia over Europe from the US depends on your access to Panama Canal slots," Ciaran Roe, global director for LNG, told Bloomberg.

ADVERTISEMENT

"If you have these, then your costs may be sufficiently low to send the cargo to Asia more profitably than to Europe for January arrivals, otherwise it's more profitable for cargoes to go to Europe."

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Brazil, which is set to join the OPEC+ alliance in January, will not have any quota and will not participate in oil production cuts, Jean Paul Prates, the chief executive of Brazilian state-controlled oil giant Petrobras, told Reuters in an interview published on Friday.

After the much-anticipated OPEC+ meeting on Thursday, the group surprisingly announced that Brazil would join the alliance in 2024.

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, OPEC said after Thursdays meeting, leaving observers guessing whether Brazil would be part of any voluntary cuts announced for 2024.

In an interview with Reuters, Petrobrass CEO Prates said There is no quota.

We would never be part of an organization that imposes (production) quotas to Brazil, Petrobras is a publicly-traded company and we cannot have quotas, the executive added.

Brazil has received the invite to join OPEC+ but President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has not formally responded yet, the office of the president said.

Brazil would begin its OPEC+ participation as some kind of an observer member, Prates told Reuters.

Brazil currently produces around 3.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude, of which a large part is being pumped by Petrobras and its joint ventures. Brazilian oil and gas production has been breaking records this year as more platforms operated by Petrobras are coming online in the prolific offshore pre-salt fields.

Petrobras itself targets to boost its oil production this decade, up by 61% from 2.15 million bpd this year to 3.46 million bpd in 2030.

Last month, Petrobras said in its new strategic plan through 2028 that is aims to produce the equivalent of 3.2 million barrels of oil and gas per day in five years.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Germany will remain committed to financing the energy transition with billions of dollars despite a raging budget crisis that has cast a shadow over the countrys 2024 spending.

This is what Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told the Financial Times before the start of COP28 in Dubai.

We will always be a reliable partner, Baerbock told the FT. Thats why we agreed within the federal government that we will fulfil our international obligations.

Germany has committed to some 6 billion euros in transition funding over the next two years and another 2 billion euros for the UNs Green Climate Fund, and additional sums for the new climate damage fund that is being discussed at the COP28 meeting.

The discussions began with a quick win for the proponents of the idea. The EU pledged $245.39 million for the fund, of which Germanys contribution stood at $100 million. Still, thats small potatoes compared to the above commitments. Also compared to the budget hole the German budget suddenly acquired last month.

In mid-November, the German constitutional court ruled that the decision to take 60 billion euros in leftover pandemic funds and channel these into climate policy was unconstitutional. According to the court, the decision had violated the so-called debt brake rule that puts strict limits on new borrowing by the state.

With regard to budget 2024, this means the government needs to find a way to make up for a 17-billion-euro shortfall resulting from the courts ruling.

"We didn't act wilfully and we didn't act negligently either," Finance Minister Christian Lindner said. "But it is quite clear that this is an extremely unpleasant and embarrassing moment for a government."

ADVERTISEMENT

This budget hole may make it harder for Germany to fulfill its climate commitments despite the officials assurances. Barbock, however, has an idea about solving the problem: reforming the debt brake rule to allow for more borrowing.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
As traders brushed off the news of OPEC+s deeper production cuts, crude oil prices dipped and are likely to post their sixth weekly decline in a row.

OPEC+ yesterday agreed to deepen the current production cuts of 1.3 million bpd by some 900,000 bpd, taking the total to over 2 million bpd. This, however, left traders cold as earlier reports mentioned discussions of additional cuts of up to 2 million bpd. The cuts will be in effect over the first quarter of 2024.

"Once the dust settles these initiatives may be enough to sustain the price of Brent in the 80s but with the U.S. economy heading for a semi-hard soft landing and China still struggling, the focus on weakening demand will be stronger than on this attempt by OPEC+," said Saxo Banks head of commodity strategy, Ole Hansen, as quoted by Reuters.

UBS Giovanni Staunovo noted that the additional cuts may remain on paper only: "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."

Goldman Sachs called the additional cuts a temporary response to inventory builds and production growth, noting also the increase in production capacity. The banks analysts also noted the fact that the additional cuts are voluntary, meaning that any further output reductions would be even more challenging to agree on, as reported by Bloomberg.

Oil prices initially jumped after the OPEC+ announcement. Later in the day, however, they started sliding, pressured by the considerations expressed by analysts. Also, as Goldman analysts pointed out in their note, the additional cuts were expectedthe element of surprise that pushed prices significantly higher when Saudi Arabia first announced its voluntary cuts in the summer was absent this time.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Revenues from the oil industry have pushed Albertas projected budget surplus for this year to twice as high as initially expected, at $4.1 billion, or C$5.5 billion.

In addition to revenue from oil royalties, the budget surplus for fiscal 2023/24 was pushed up by higher personal and corporate taxes.

Alberta's economy is resilient, and our finances are on track, Finance Minister Nate Horner told media, as quoted by the Canadian Press.

Our energy sector continues to be a driver of jobs and activity, and at the same time we're seeing growth and diversification in emerging sectors like tech and aviation, Horner also said.

The economy of the oil province is seen growing 2.8% this fiscal year, in line with original projections, but slower than growth over the last two years when Alberta was in recovery mode after the pandemic lockdowns.

Executives from the Canadian oil and gas industry, most of it concentrated in Alberta, this week traveled to the COP28 summit in Dubai in a bid to contribute to the dialogue on decarbonization, according to the president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Lisa Baiton.

Were going there in a very constructive way to say, `Were here, were a big source of emissions and were going to be a big part of the solution, said the president of the Pathways Alliance, a grouping of oil sands producers, Kendall Dilling, as quoted by Global News.

While the industry executives discuss their efforts to reduce emissions, officials from the Canadian federal government are expected to announce a cap on emissions from the oil and gas industry at the same event.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Trudeau government has been mulling such a cap over for at least two years but has so far stopped short of taking action on the idea. If we dont put in place the cap on oil and gas emissions, we cant achieve our 2030 targets, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault told media this week.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The popular Filipino couple Kathniel's breakup shocked many Filipinos as both of them announced the end of their relationship on Thursday, Nov. 30.

A few weeks before their separate official breakup announcements, many Filipinos speculated that the two were no longer dating. Most of the rumors claim that Daniel John Ford Padilla, aka DJ, cheated with another actress.

No matter what the reason is, the breakup of DJ and Kathryn Bernardo broke the hearts of many Filipinos as they see them as the perfect couple.

Kathniel's Breakup Saddens Many Filipinos

The Strait Times reported that DJ and Kath ended their 11-year relationship via their official Instagram accounts. The 27-year-old Filipino actress posted a photo of her and the 28-year-old actor.

She included her long messages confirming their breakup and saying that what they had was genuine love.

"I want you to hear it straight from me: It's true that Deej and I have decided to part ways," said Kathryn via her official IG announcement.

"Like any other relationship, we tried our best to make it work," she added.

However, Kath said that they've been drifting apart for a while and decided to accept that their relationship is beyond salvation. The actress explained that she is confirming their breakup since it would be unfair to pretend and show their fans that they are still together.

She ended her message by saying that their relationship began with respect and ended with respect. The former lovers' decision to part ways drove many Filipinos to tears since they saw Kath and DJ as the perfect couple who should have lasted a lifetime.

Read Also: Who Is Bryan Spears: Britney Spears Calls Older Brother 'Like a Dad and My Best Friend' Amid Family Feud

Kathniel's Breakup Could Affect Philippines' Showbiz

The Kathniel breakup is not just saddening for Filipino fans. It is also a big deal for the showbiz industry, as well as the business sector since their decoupling could negatively affect some brands, especially those endorsed by Daniel Padilla.

But, show business will be mostly affected... In a good way. Philstar reported that Kathniel's separation could inspire more future Filipino love teams since the 11-year relationship between Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla offers lots of lessons.

These include how they treated (and will still treat) each other with respect during their relationship and after the breakup. The impact they made with Filipino fans could also pressure other on-cam couples to greater heights, especially in their performances as partners in teleseries or movies.

Aside from these, the separation of Kath and DJ could also inspire Filipino writers to write movies that don't revolve around two characters; leading to more unique films that viewers will certainly spend their time on.

Related Article: Lukas Gage Cheated on Chris Appleton Prior Sudden Split After 6 Months Marriage, Source Claims

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The United States will stick to the sanctions on Russian energy as long as Putin persists with his war in Ukraine and Washington looks to halve Moscows energy revenues by 2030, a senior U.S. official has told the Financial Times.

This is something that were going to have to stick to for years to come, as long as Putin persists in this war, Geoffrey Pyatt, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, told FT.

The U.S. has been leading the efforts of the G7 and the EU to impose sanctions and embargoes on Russian crude oil and fuel exports. The price cap of $60 per barrel of Russian crude oil says that Russian crude shipments to third countries can use Western insurance and financing if cargoes are sold at or below the $60-a-barrel ceiling. The measure took effect at the end of 2022 when the EU imposed an embargo on imports of Russian crude oil.

In October, the United States took a tougher stance on the sanctions against Russia and sanctioned two vessels for violating the price cap. A month later, the U.S. imposed sanctions on three maritime companies based in the UAE and three vessels owned by the companies for shipping Russian oil sold above the price cap.

The West is considering toughening up the sanction enforcement on evaders of the price cap on Russian oil, almost none of which now trades below the ceiling of $60 per barrel.

Russia has amassed a shadow fleet of tankers, which helps it ship its oil to international markets, mostly to Asia.

The U.S. is also looking for ways to make that shadow fleet less effective, Pyatt told FT.

Despite a 2% month-on-month decline, Russias export revenues from fossil fuels for October were the second-highest for 2023, with a notable rise in seaborne and pipeline crude, according to the latest monthly analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

ADVERTISEMENT

In October, 48% of Russian crude oil and oil products were transported by tankers subject to the oil price cap policy. The rest  52% -- were shipped by shadow tankers, CREA said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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.

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.
Owners of private drinking water wells in Nebraska can request free nitrate sample kits, which will be followed by lab analysis, from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy until Jan. 31.

Participating well owners will receive results from their samples. The agency also will use results from consenting well owners in a statewide nitrate study that the agency is conducting. That study also will include nitrate sampling data from public water systems. Private well owners identifying information will not be used in the study.

Some 1.65 million of Nebraskas approximately 1.96 million residents get their drinking water from 1,300 public water systems covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Those systems must meet the federal drinking water standard for nitrate in water of 10 milligrams per liter, or 10 parts per million.

But some 300,000 Nebraskans, according to the agencys 2023 midyear nitrate and drinking water report, obtain water from a private source. The state does not regularly sample private drinking water wells because they are not regulated under the drinking water act. Participation in the free sampling event, according to NDEE, is key to ensuring the nitrate study accurately covers private drinking water wells in Nebraska.

Of 4,627 private wells tested statewide, according to the midyear report, some 1,108 or 24% have shown nitrate levels over the federal standard. A total of 33,754 domestic wells are registered in the state, although reports indicate that hundreds more are not registered.

While research long has shown that nitrate exposure is a hazard for infants, emerging science also has suggested links with high nitrate concentrations in drinking water and lifetime risk of negative birth outcomes, thyroid disease and certain cancers.

The NDEE has sent postcards to more than 29,000 registered domestic well owners in Nebraska inviting them to participate in the study. But the free sample kits and lab analysis are offered to all Nebraskans with a private well, not just those who received a postcard or have a registered well.

Well owners can request a kit, which comes with easy sampling instructions and prepaid return postage, by visiting the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website, https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Lab-Price-List.aspx or calling the environment agency at 402-471-2186.

If private well owners test results are above the federal standard, they may be eligible for the agencys Reverse Osmosis Rebate program to help them install a reverse osmosis system to treat their water.

The program offers up to $4,000 in rebates to well owners whose wells are registered through the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and exceed the 10 milligram per liter standard. The Nebraska Legislature allocated $1.2 million of the states American Rescue Plan Act funding for the rebate program.

Application for the reverse osmosis system rebates must be submitted by June 30. The environment agency accepts and reviews applications on a month-to-month basis. More information about the program is available on the agencys website at http://dee.ne.gov/Publica.nsf/pages/22-051.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2023
LINCOLN  As the year draws to a close, Nebraska State Board of Education members received a progress update from Brian Maher, education commissioner, as he begins his sixth month on the job.

The board set several priorities for Maher to focus on after he was hired July 1. During a Thursday work session, Maher presented his progress on the goals, something he will be officially evaluated on in the spring.

Some of Mahers goals had a Dec. 1 deadline, such as evaluating the Nebraska Department of Educations existing communication strategies involving the state board, the department and the public.

When I sat and pondered on this, I thought: What the heck, how will I address this, knowing communication from our office is crucial to the effectiveness we have as a system? Maher said.

Maher initiated an audit of current communication strategies and gathered feedback from stakeholders to see what types of communication worked and what didnt. One gap he saw was communication from outside education leaders, such as superintendents and directors of educational service units in Nebraska.

Maher said he reinstated the Superintendent Advisory Council to establish a group of educators in the field he can consult with regularly. The group, which has met twice so far, has 32 members across the state.

We have seen a great benefit already. When it comes to big issues  we really got valuable feedback on the assessment process, Maher said. I regularly call folks on the council and say, I got this going on, how will it be received in the field? or I am hearing this, what do you think of it? Its really terrific, in that regard.

Patti Gubbels, board president, said shes heard from council members that they appreciate having the opportunity to weigh in on education at the state level.

They said, Hes really listening to us,  Gubbels said.

Maher also ensured that the 500-plus employees at the Education Department are having twice-monthly meetings. During the last few months, hes also had office administrators take an inventory of the departments website to make sure only materials that have been approved are online.

Another goal for Maher is to evaluate the departments internal operations. Part of this will include a plan to get employees to return to the office following the pandemics upheaval of in-person operations.

Maher said the plan, which will be announced within the month, aims at a careful balance of ensuring the performance of the department and retaining staff.

Gov. Jim Pillen issued a back-to-office order in early November, but Maher said this doesnt specifically impact department employees.

Maher also has to review and give recommendations for the possibility of changing Nebraskas assessment system. Students are currently required to take tests through the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS).

Maher said the department is making a lot of headway in this area, but after talking with school leaders, hes leaning toward keeping the current assessment system for the 2024-25 school year. A final decision will be presented to the board in the coming weeks.

The (superintendents) said they would rather make the long-term decision than to rush the decision now, Maher said.

One of the final priorities the state board set for Maher was to review the departments current strategic plan. Work on this is still underway, he said.

Multiple state board members said they dont expect Maher to get everything done in just a few more months. His official evaluation is scheduled for March.

We were not realistic in suggesting this to you, that you would have all of this done in eight months, Gubbels said. Really getting to know how to put people in their best place takes time.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2023
Nebraska's three Republican House members took differing positions Friday on the expulsion of George Santos from Congress, with Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood voting in favor of his expulsion, and Rep. Adrian Smith voting no.

The House of Representatives voted 311-114 to expel the GOP New York representative after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. He was just the sixth member in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues.

Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a blistering House Ethics Committee report that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive. Nearly half of House Republicans  105 of them  voted to oust their GOP colleague; they were joined by nearly all House Democrats.

In separate statements, Bacon and Flood cited the ethics committee report as the reason for their votes. Bacon called the report "damning," while Flood said it exposed "egregious violations that were willfully committed by an unrepentant, fame-seeking con artist."

"Today's vote was necessary to ensure that Mr. Santos is held accountable and to protect the integrity of the institution of the House of Representatives," Flood's statement read.

In a different statement, Smith said he voted against expulsion because Santos has yet to be tried for the federal crimes he is charged with. He did not comment on how his fellow Nebraska Republicans voted but said his decision was "very difficult."

"While I have a great deal of respect for the Ethics Committee and the hard work they put into the investigation of Mr. Santos highly unacceptable behavior, this ultimately came down to due process," Smith said in an email. "Every American citizen accused of a crime has the right to their day in court. Mr. Santos has not yet had his day in court, which is why I voted no.

Bacon noted that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to set rules and punish its members, and the expulsion vote executed that right.

George Santos had the opportunity to do the honorable thing and resign from office and he chose not to," Bacon said.

As it became clear that he would be expelled, Santos placed his overcoat over his shoulders, shook hands with conservative members who voted against his expulsion and departed the House chamber.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.  who was among the minority opposing Santos' expulsion  quieted the chamber and solemnly instructed the House clerk to inform the governor of New York that Santos former House seat was now vacant.

Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a press conference and interviews.

I will not stand by quietly, Santos declared as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. 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. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court. Santos made his case for remaining in office by appealing directly to lawmakers who worry they are setting a new precedent that could make expulsions more common.

But some Republicans, including Santos' colleagues from New York, said voters 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," Republican Rep. Anthony DEsposito, whose district adjoins Santos', said before the vote.

Santos warned lawmakers they would regret removing a member before they have had their day in court.

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.

The expulsion was the final congressional chapter in what was a spectacular fall from grace for Santos. The first-term lawmaker initially was celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year and helped Republicans win control of the House. But soon after, troubles began. Reports began to emerge that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. His presence in the House quickly became a distraction and an embarrassment to the party.

This report includes material from the Associated Press.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of November 2023
BLOOMINGTON  The Bloomington Emergency Communications Center has worked with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to meet all requirements for its Missing Kids Readiness Program.

Additionally, Darren Wolf, manger of the Emergency Communications Center, has completed the required management training, and ensured all communication supervisors and public safety dispatchers completed their required training for membership, according to a news release from the city.

The NCMEC developed the Missing Kids Readiness Program to promote best practices for responding to calls of missing, abducted and sexually exploited children. 911 call centers and law enforcement agencies work with NCMEC to ensure their missing child policies meet NCMECs model policy for call center agencies, and complete training so all are prepared to respond to a missing child incident.

Our public safety dispatchers are committed to training to be their best each day. This accomplishment is another example of their dedication to serving our community. They truly are the first, first responder, Wolf stated in the news release.

Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington stated, Hats off to a remarkable team of dispatchers who seek to be extraordinary in all they contribute to safe communities. I am proud of their most recent accomplishment, which makes everyone around them that much better with enhanced service capabilities!(tncms-asset)18fa300e-5c84-5a87-a76d-2f888432251a[1](/tncms-asset)

Photos: Emergency crews train on air disaster readiness at Bloomington airport 061222-blm-loc-1training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-2training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-3training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-4training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-5training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-6training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-7training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-8training.jpg
BLOOMINGTON  The Bloomington and Normal police departments announced results this week from a traffic safety campaign held around the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization was conducted Nov. 17-27 by local law enforcement throughout the state using federal funds distributed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

BPD said in a news release that it staffed the campaign for 21 hours during that 10-day period, handling a total of two DUI arrests, one felony arrest, one suspended/revoked license, five uninsured motorists, four speeding citations and one drug arrest.

NPD said in its own news release that officers staffed the campaign for 21.5 hours during that same period and targeted DUI enforcement. In total, NPD officers made nine traffic stops, issued 15 citations and had two arrests for DUI-related offenses. Further details about the citations issued were not available.

Photos: Emergency crews train on air disaster readiness at Bloomington airport 061222-blm-loc-1training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-2training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-3training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-4training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-5training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-6training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-7training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-8training.jpg
BLOOMINGTON  U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Rockford, announced almost $700,000 in funding to help treat substance use disorders and support mental health needs in Central Illinois.

We all know someone whos struggled with addiction, whether its a friend, family member, or neighbor, Sorensen said in a news release. Which is why Im proud to announce grant funding for our communities that will help people recover from substance abuse and save lives.

The Department of Health and Human Services awarded $486,685 to Chestnut Health Systems to support drug abuse and addiction research programs in Central Illinois.

The McLean County Center for Human Services was also awarded $196,616 to support its mental health awareness training project that will help look for those struggling with mental health issues.

This grant will give us all the opportunity to learn more about what each one of us can do to help, said Joan Hartman, CEO of the McLean County Center for Human Services, in the news release.

Photos: Bloomington vs Normal West during boys Intercity Tournament
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

Dec. 1, 1923: Members of the Pontiac Girl Scout organization delivered eight baskets filled with Thanksgiving good things to needy families. They planned the baskets themselves. They contained dressed chicken and everything that went with them. They delivered the baskets in a body, hiking from the north to the south and west sides.

75 years ago

Dec. 1, 1948: Two women's shops, one which will sell hosiery and the other cotton dresses, will open Dec. 10 at 313 N. Main St. Extensive remodeling of the interior and storefront was progressing. The north half of the building will be occupied by Neumode Hosiery. The south portion will be occupied by The Cotton Shop.

50 years ago

Dec. 1, 1973: Opponents of the $800 million nuclear power plant proposed at Clinton won't abandon their three-year struggle, although daunted by recent events that support the advocate of nuclear power. C. Lee Baker, president of the Salt Creek Association, which opposes the Illinois Power Company's proposed plant, said he will fight the issue until there isn't anything else that can be done.

25 years ago

Dec. 1, 1998: McLean County Sheriff's Office leaders are expected to announce today that they have located the stolen will of Hall of Fame pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourne. A search continues for the person who initially stole the document, worth at least several thousand dollars. The will is valuable because Radbourne's signature, which appears on the document, is rare.

Close 042416-dec-loc-clinconpic3 The rough north wall of Exelon's Clinton nuclear power station was designed to accommodate a second reactor building that was never built. 040416-blm-loc-1clinton Ted Stoner, left, site vice president for Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant, watches plant operators in the control room last month. Stone is looking for answers to keep the plant open despite substantial annual operating losses. Go to www.pantagraph.com for a photo gallery of the power plant. 040416-blm-loc-2clinton Workers at the Clinton nuclear power plant are dressed in protective suits as they recover cobalt-60 isotope from the plant's spent fuel storage pool earlier this month. The Clinton plant is one of only two in the U.S. that is making the medical isotope, which is critical in the fight against cancer. 042916-blm-loc-2vetopreview Exelon's Clinton Power Station. 040416-blm-loc-4clinton A technician monitors the chain reaction occurring as power is generated at the Clinton Power Station last month. 040416-blm-loc-5clinton Technicians stand in the vast control area inside Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant. 040416-blm-loc-6clinton A wall next to the generator inside Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant contains facts about the station as well as its history. The wall is actually a shield against low level radiation that can be present at the generator. 040416-blm-loc-7clinton Two massive diesel-powered generators can supply power to the Clinton nuclear power plant for up to seven days without refueling. The generators are a safety precaution in the event power to the plant is lost. 040416-blm-loc-8clinton A massive hatch door covers the entry to the reactor inside Exelon's Clinton Power Station. The door is used to allow workers access to nuclear material and control rods during maintenance outages. 040416-blm-loc-9clinton Workers at the Clinton nuclear power plant are dressed in protective suits as they recover cobalt-60 isotope from the plant's spent fuel storage pool, right, earlier this month. The Clinton plant is one of only two in the U.S. that is making the medical isotope, which is critical in the fight against cancer. 040416-blm-loc-10clinton The spent fuel storage pool, below, at the Clinton nuclear power station contains spent fuel from the time the plant opened. 040416-blm-loc-11clinton Workers at Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant manage a spent fuel packaging area. Refueling of the plant brings in large numbers of temporary workers that significantly help Clinton's economy. 040416-blm-loc-12clinton Secure storage flasks will carry spent fuel from Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant. 040416-blm-loc-13clinton A guard tower stands on the perimeter of Exelon's Clinton Power Station in April. 040416-blm-loc-15clinton Technicians practice working with mock fuel rods in 1985 before the plant was put into operation. 040416-blm-loc-16clinton An Illinois Power handout photo shows the first fuel rod being loaded into the Clinton nuclear power plant. 040416-blm-loc-17clinton Technicians examine a delivery of the first fuel rods that were part of a refueling of the Clinton nuclear power plant in 1988. About 168 fuel rods create the fusion reaction that turns water into the steam that spins the turbine, which makes electricity at the plant. 042516-dec-biz-clintonimpact1 Workers at the Clinton nuclear power plant are dressed in protective suits as they recover cobalt-60 isotope from the plant's spent fuel storage pool earlier this month. The Clinton plant is one of only two in the U.S. that is making the medical isotope, which is critical in the fight against cancer. 042516-dec-biz-clintonimpact2 Technicians stand in the vast control area inside Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant. Photos: The Clinton Power Station over the years Exelon Corp. announced Thursday that it will close the Clinton Power Station and a second nuclear reactor in the Quad Cities. The Clinton nuclear plant employs about 700 people and is DeWitt County's largest employer. It generates about $15 million in annual local property taxes for the area. 042416-dec-loc-clinconpic3 The rough north wall of Exelon's Clinton nuclear power station was designed to accommodate a second reactor building that was never built. 040416-blm-loc-1clinton Ted Stoner, left, site vice president for Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant, watches plant operators in the control room last month. Stone is looking for answers to keep the plant open despite substantial annual operating losses. Go to www.pantagraph.com for a photo gallery of the power plant. 040416-blm-loc-2clinton Workers at the Clinton nuclear power plant are dressed in protective suits as they recover cobalt-60 isotope from the plant's spent fuel storage pool earlier this month. The Clinton plant is one of only two in the U.S. that is making the medical isotope, which is critical in the fight against cancer. 042916-blm-loc-2vetopreview Exelon's Clinton Power Station. 040416-blm-loc-4clinton A technician monitors the chain reaction occurring as power is generated at the Clinton Power Station last month. 040416-blm-loc-5clinton Technicians stand in the vast control area inside Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant. 040416-blm-loc-6clinton A wall next to the generator inside Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant contains facts about the station as well as its history. The wall is actually a shield against low level radiation that can be present at the generator. 040416-blm-loc-7clinton Two massive diesel-powered generators can supply power to the Clinton nuclear power plant for up to seven days without refueling. The generators are a safety precaution in the event power to the plant is lost. 040416-blm-loc-8clinton A massive hatch door covers the entry to the reactor inside Exelon's Clinton Power Station. The door is used to allow workers access to nuclear material and control rods during maintenance outages. 040416-blm-loc-9clinton Workers at the Clinton nuclear power plant are dressed in protective suits as they recover cobalt-60 isotope from the plant's spent fuel storage pool, right, earlier this month. The Clinton plant is one of only two in the U.S. that is making the medical isotope, which is critical in the fight against cancer. 040416-blm-loc-10clinton The spent fuel storage pool, below, at the Clinton nuclear power station contains spent fuel from the time the plant opened. 040416-blm-loc-11clinton Workers at Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant manage a spent fuel packaging area. Refueling of the plant brings in large numbers of temporary workers that significantly help Clinton's economy. 040416-blm-loc-12clinton Secure storage flasks will carry spent fuel from Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant. 040416-blm-loc-13clinton A guard tower stands on the perimeter of Exelon's Clinton Power Station in April. 040416-blm-loc-15clinton Technicians practice working with mock fuel rods in 1985 before the plant was put into operation. 040416-blm-loc-16clinton An Illinois Power handout photo shows the first fuel rod being loaded into the Clinton nuclear power plant. 040416-blm-loc-17clinton Technicians examine a delivery of the first fuel rods that were part of a refueling of the Clinton nuclear power plant in 1988. About 168 fuel rods create the fusion reaction that turns water into the steam that spins the turbine, which makes electricity at the plant. 042516-dec-biz-clintonimpact1 Workers at the Clinton nuclear power plant are dressed in protective suits as they recover cobalt-60 isotope from the plant's spent fuel storage pool earlier this month. The Clinton plant is one of only two in the U.S. that is making the medical isotope, which is critical in the fight against cancer. 042516-dec-biz-clintonimpact2 Technicians stand in the vast control area inside Exelon's Clinton nuclear power plant.
In response to a recent uptick in cases of respiratory infection in China, five Republican senators, spearheaded by Marco Rubio, formally requested on Friday that President Joe Biden's administration prohibit travel between the United States and China, Reuters reported.

As the leading Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Rubio said in a letter that the US should immediately limit travel to China until more information on the risks of this new disease is known.

Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak

Following last week's request for further data from China by the World Health Organization (WHO), which cited a study on clusters of children with undiagnosed pneumonia from the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases, the increase in cases quickly gained international attention.

Earlier this week, Maria Van Kerkhove, who is the interim head of the WHO's Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, said that the increase seemed to be caused by a surge in the number of children getting harmful infections that they had managed to avoid during the two years of COVID-19 restrictions, including the flu, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus.

Since the COVID-19 limits were loosened at the end of 2022, this is the first flu season in China.

A lack of exposure to common infections during the extended lockdown may have damaged the population's immunity, according to Chinese specialists.

There is already a fear among health experts that the mysterious pneumonia outbreak might spread to European cities. This health crisis might have a more severe impact on some regions than others.

Apparently, four major cities in Europe--Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, and Paris--may serve as the entrance sites for the new disease. These cities' airports are renowned for their vast worldwide links, so these sites will serve not only as transportation hubs but also as vectors for the transmission of respiratory illnesses.

See Also: Spike in Mysterious Child Pneumonia Cases in Europe Mirrors Alarming Trend in China

Travels Between the US, China

According to Reuters, the number of flights between China and the US has been rising gradually in recent months, but it is still far lower than the levels seen in 2019. On November 9, the figure increased to 35 per week for each nation from 12 per week in August.

For reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic, former US President Donald Trump banned the entry of the majority of non-Americans who had spent the two weeks before January 2020 in China. But he did not ban or restrict flights between the two nations.

In November 2021, the US loosened its unprecedented restrictions on all overseas travelers who have received all recommended vaccines, including those from China. In June 2022, the US abolished a separate requirement that passengers test negative for the virus before they arrive.

Following Beijing's decision to ease up on its strict zero-COVID guidelines, the US began requiring flight passengers again to provide negative COVID test results in January. By March, the restrictions were eliminated.

See Also: First Human Infected With New Swine Flu Detected in UK

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The government in its 2024 budget announced an amount of 220 million Ghana cedis for flood victims in the country. I add my voice to the numerous voices congratulating the government for such a gesture in recognition of the challenges and suffering of the affected areas and people.



I wish to appeal to the government and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of flood victims of Kpandai.



On a recent visit to the Lonto and Kpadjai Electoral Areas, I was shocked to realize that the main road leading to these areas had been cut off with much of the road taken over by water to the extent that we had to be carried by canoes twice to access these Electoral Areas that are barely two miles apart.



Areas such as Adakope, Kpadjai No. 2, Tanklenku, Sikakura No.1 and Sikakura No.2 among many others have been flooded and cut off from the rest of the District. (See pictures and videos attached)



Upon appeals from the chiefs and people of these areas, I donated 20 bags of 25kg of rice, 5 boxes of mackerel, 4 boxes of tin tomatoes, one 50kg bag of sugar, 5 boxes of cooking oil and two 50kg bags of beans (see pictures and videos) as my widows might to ameliorate their suffering on Tuesday 28th November.



However, my widows might is woefully inadequate as hundreds of homes and several hundreds of victims have been rendered homeless (attached is data on victims) and destitute by the ravages of the floods.



I pray the government will come to our aid to ease our suffering through NADMO now that a budgetary provision has been made to ease our pain.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
In the aftermath of the recent Akosombo dam spillagewhich devasted parts of the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, the company mobilized resources to provide relief and assistance to some affected communities. UnityLinks compassion and empathy exemplify its deep-rooted connection to the prosperity of fellow Ghanaians. The CEO, Joseph Owusu, stated that UnityLink believes in the concept of community with a shared future and benefit to our fellow Ghanaians. Hence, our response to the plight of the affected victims.



As a pioneer in social responsibility, UnityLink longstands as the first remittance company to establish a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting orphans living with disabilities in Ghana. For instance, it was mentioned as the only company which included wheelchairs in the relief items to cater for those who are disadvantaged. The foundation focuses on tangible ways to build communities and transform lives by empowering individuals to overcome challenges and to reach their full potential.



UnityLink has demonstrated its continued support for Ghana at large at crucial moments of need. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, UnityLink made generous donations to the Ghana Covid-19 fund, pointing to the value the company places on contributing to the country's well-being. Additionally, the company hasinvested in the needs of the people through projects under its brand ideals like the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Nsawam Government Hospital among others.



UnityLink was recently awarded the prestigious Exceptional Customer Experience Award at the 2023 International Payments and Remittance (IPR) Awards. This is testament to UnityLinks overall focus on everything about people, with an emphasis on its superiorcustomer support system, which is accessible 24/7, 365 days a year. This achievement stems from the company's prioritization of listening to the customer through its feedback loop and in the recognition of the significanceof a humanized customer-centric experience. The companys focus and dedication to its customers underpin its tagline: We are The Only Money Transfer Company That Speaks Your Language.



Commenting on the support to the affected communities, Joseph Owusu summarizes that at UnityLink, the concept of community is paramount. The company believes in a shared future and the collective responsibility to uplift and empower one another. UnityLink's unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and community engagement solidifies its position as a pillar of strength and support for the Ghanaian community, both at home and abroad. Your continued patronage in the times ahead will empower UnityLink to extend our area of focus and touch more lives.



Any time you think remittance to Ghana, think of what we can achieve together and choose UnityLink Money Transfer



UnityLink is indeed the remittance company that Speaks Your Language.



UnityLink has been in existence for over two decades as the most trusted, privately-owned Ghanaian remittance company in Europe, devoted to serving the European-African remittances corridor. The brand has anunwavering commitment to providing an exemplary customer experience, which expands beyond its core customers to impactful community engagementinitiatives.



Download the iOS or Android app today to get started.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
In a strategic move to amplify awareness about the role played by the Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) in Ghana, the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) hosted a media engagement event at its premises.



The event, organized in collaboration with GIZ under the Pact for Skills: Support to the Transformation of the TVET System in Ghana, served as a crucial platform to spotlight the significance of SSBs in shaping a skilled and responsive workforce.



The engagement brought together journalists, industry representatives, and SSB leaders to foster a comprehensive understanding of the initiatives undertaken by SSBs and how they contribute to the nation's economic development.



"As we look to transform our TVET system, it's crucial to recognize the pivotal role played by Sector Skills Bodies in aligning our training programs with industry needs," emphasized [CTVET spokesperson]. "Their involvement ensures that our graduates are not only equipped with theoretical knowledge but also possess the practical skills demanded by the workforce."



Ms. Ramona Simon, representing the German Government, underscored the collaborative efforts to enhance skills development. "Germany has long recognized the critical role that TVET plays in promoting economic growth," she remarked. "Our investment reflects our commitment to transforming the potential of skills development. By partnering with Ghana, we aim to create a workforce that meets the evolving demands of the global economy."



Deputy Minister for Education, Hon Gifty Twum Ampofo, stressed the importance of industry involvement in TVET. "To ensure maximum success, we considered it crucial to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with the private sector," she explained. "Our vision is to bridge the gap between education and industry needs. Through initiatives like Apprenticeship, Curriculum Development, and Skills Gap Analysis, we aim to create a symbiotic relationship that benefits both students and employers."



"We are committed to making TVET education a global competitor," emphasized Hon Ampofo. "The government, in collaboration with Germany, has invested $119,000 in completed projects, with an additional 16 million fund under the Austrian government for the upliftment and upgrading of technical institutions. This underscores our commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities and resources to support skills development."



Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director General of CTVET, spoke on sustaining TVET platforms. "If we can have the sector skills bodies support the government, we can continuously sustain our TVET platforms," he remarked. "The $22 million commitment from the government of Germany and $60 million from the World Bank towards an apprenticeship program is a testament to the global recognition of the importance of TVET in shaping a skilled workforce."



Madam Constance Swaniker, Chairperson of the Sector Skills Committee, highlighted the importance of agile policies and regulations to keep pace with industry changes. "All the conversation we are having is about creating jobs for young people," she emphasized. "Our goal is to ensure that our curriculum is not only current but also anticipates industry changes. It shouldn't be a talk shop; we have to bring down the cost of doing business to facilitate a smooth transition for young people into the workforce."







Madam Ethel Cofie, CEO and Founder of EDEL Technology Consulting, echoed the concerns of employers. "People come out of school, and they are not very useful to us," she said. "There are things we need to fix in that process. So what India has done in terms of hi-sense, I think if we follow that path, we will build a good human resource who can work in the industry or build their own companies. One of the things to look at is the license of professional standards; we should make sure that even if a plumber comes to your house, you can check their certification."



The media engagement session concluded with a panel discussion and a presentation on TVET reforms by Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah. The event was held at the CTVET Head office on Trinity Avenue in East Legon.



About Pact for Skills: Support to the Transformation of the TVET System in Ghana:



The Pact for Skills: Support to the Transformation of the TVET System is a joint action partnership between the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and European Union (EU) in cooperation with the Government of Ghana. The near 4-year long project is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft furInternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with the Commission for TVET, Ghana TVET Service, AAMUSTED and other public and private sector partners.



In Ghana, the proportion of secondary school graduates who opt for vocational training could be better. Additionally, women make up only around a quarter of trainees and are severely underrepresented in technical and craft occupations. In 2019, the Government of Ghana initiated a transformation of the TVET sector better known as Harmonization of TVET.



In this context, all 218 TVET institutions which were previously spread over 19 different ministries were organized under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education (MoE).



Two agencies were newly established: The Commission for TVET (CTVET) responsible to regulate, promote and administer TVET and the TVET Service (TVETS) responsible to manage, oversee and implement approved national policies and programmes relating to pre-tertiary TVET. These two agencies are, among others, responsible for the expansion of competency-based training (CBT) approaches in Ghana.



Over the years, GIZ on behalf of the German Government supported reform processes through the Ghana Skills Development Initiative (GSDI). The Ghana Pact for Skills: Support to the Transformation of the TVET System in Ghana project is a continuation of the support to the Government of Ghana in this regard.





Source: Peacefmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Ursula Owusu Ekuful has stated that Ghana is very committed to cyber security Capacity building and awareness creation.

According to her, Cyber security Capacity building is one of the keys which will help develop the digital infrastructure in the country.



She believed cyber security Capacity building underpins the country's emerging digital economy, that is why the government has consistently demonstrated strong political commitment in digitisation and Cyber security.



"....country's goal is to bridge the digital divide and to facilitate our digital transformation to energize Ghana's economic growth. .... through these goals, Ghana will be established as Africa's digital gateway and it is no accident that Ghana is host to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area," she stated.



Hon. Ursula Owusu Ekuful was speaking during the Global Conference on Cyber Security Capacity Building held in Accra this week.



The Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building came to a grand end with remarkable activities and deliberations.



The two-day conference brought together academia, governments of different countries, private sector, individuals, and international agencies from across the world to discuss issues surrounding cyber security and how its effective exploits can foster development, especially in developing countries.



The conferences opening saw the signing of the Accra Call framework. The framework was signed by the Senior Ghanaian Presidential advisor, Yaw Osafo Marfo, on behalf of President Akufo-Addo.



Ghana's Minister for Communications further indicated that the country has launched strategic interventions to bridge the digital divide and encourage citizens to adopt the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and a rural telephonic project is being implemented that will connect over 4 million unserved and underserved citizens to voice and data services on the shared national platform.



Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo on his part pointed out that the outcome document will call for the elevation of cyber resilience in international and national development agendas and these actions are expected to promote cyber capacity building that effectively serves the needs of developing countries as we embrace digital transformation as the cornerstone of our economic development.



The closing ceremony of the conference marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE).



The MoU is to accord a strong relationship and support for the African continent to attain cyber security resilience in order to attain some developmental heights in the digital space.

Source: Clinton Akwasi Amoako/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
While there are plenty of fun activities to do in South East Asia during the festive season, have you ever considered trying out FanDuel's online jackpot games? It's a great way to take a break from all the sightseeing and adventures and enjoy some thrilling fun indoors.



With a variety of games to choose from and exciting prizes up for grabs, you might just hit the jackpot and end up with some extra cash to splurge on your trip.



So, whether you're lounging in your hotel room or taking a break at a cozy cafe, give FanDuel's online jackpot games a try and add some excitement to your holiday experience. Who knows, you might just get lucky!



Trekking in the mountains of Vietnam

There's something special about trekking in the mountains of Vietnam. As you ascend higher and higher, the air becomes crisper and more refreshing, and the views become increasingly stunning. From the top, you can see miles of lush, verdant jungle, and if you're lucky, catch a glimpse of a waterfall cascading down the mountain.



The locals you meet along the way are incredibly friendly and will happily share their stories and traditions with you. And as you explore the winding paths and hidden valleys, you'll feel a sense of peace and tranquility that can only come from being surrounded by such natural beauty. A trek in the mountains of Vietnam is truly an unforgettable experience.



Island hopping in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to over 7,000 islands, each with its unique charm and character. Island hopping offers the perfect opportunity to explore this diverse archipelago and discover its rich culture.



Immerse yourself in the local traditions, sample delicious cuisine, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Filipino people. Of course, it wouldn't be an island hopping adventure without the stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters that the Philippines is famous for.



Swim, snorkel, or simply relax on the sand, soaking up the sun and watching the world go by. With so much to see and do, island hopping in the Philippines is an experience that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.



Shopping at night markets in Thailand

As night falls in Thailand, the bustling markets come to life, offering a feast for the senses. The colorful stalls at the night markets offer a wide range of items, from clothing to handmade crafts, perfect for finding that unique souvenir to bring back home.



These markets are also a great chance to try out the local cuisine, with vendors offering traditional dishes, such as papaya salad and sticky rice, as well as street food delicacies like fried insects and pork skewers.



Exploring the night markets in Thailand is an experience not to be missed for those who want to immerse themselves in the country's vibrant culture and flavorful cuisine.



Visiting temples in Cambodia

Visiting temples in Cambodia is an awe-inspiring experience that will take you back in time and leave you with a deeper appreciation for ancient civilizations. One must-see destination is Angkor Wat, a stunning temple complex that is widely considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites in South East Asia.



Here, visitors can explore the intricately carved structures and learn about the fascinating history of the Khmer civilization that created them. Additionally, touring these temples provides an opportunity to witness traditional Cambodian architecture up close, making for a truly immersive cultural experience.



Overall, a trip to Cambodia's temples is a must for any history buff or adventurer looking for a unique and awe-inspiring adventure.



Cruising along the Mekong River

Hop on board and let the Mekong River take you on a journey like no other. As you cruise along, marvel at the vast and picturesque landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the small villages that line the riverbanks, each one with its unique charms and quirks waiting to be discovered.



Keep your eyes peeled for rare sightings of wildlife such as river dolphins and giant catfish that call this mighty river home. Step back in time and witness the timeless way of life that still thrives along the Mekong, creating memories that will last a lifetime.



From trekking in Vietnam to island hopping in the Philippines, from shopping at night markets in Thailand to visiting temples in Cambodia and cruising along the Mekong River, Southeast Asia is an incredible place waiting to be explored.



Whether youre looking for adventure or relaxation, culture or nature, theres something for everyone. With its endless opportunities and breathtaking beauty, it offers truly unforgettable experiences that will stay with you forever. So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip today and start creating amazing memories!









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Atik Mohammed has dabbled in discussions on the drama that occurred in Parliament on Wednesday, November 29, regarding the 2024 budget.



The Majority in Parliament staged a walkout, disrupting the approval process for the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government for the year ending December 31, 2024.



The walkout occurred after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, put the motion on a voice vote and declared the "Ayes" by the Majority as having carried the motion but the ruling was challenged by the Minority Caucus who argued there was no clear distinction between the "Ayes" and the "Nays".



Invoking Order 113(2), the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Kofi Armah-Buah, called for a headcount or division to determine the outcome of the vote.



The Speaker heeded the Minority's request and instructed the House Clerks to conduct the headcount but this was met with opposition from the Majority Caucus who also argued that the Speaker had already declared the "Ayes" in favour of the motion and should stand by his ruling.



However, fearing they may lose the motion due to the absence of three Majority members, the Majority refused to participate in the voting process and walked out of the chamber.



Touching on the issue in a panel discussion on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Atik Mohammed described the walkout as a smart move.



To him, the Majority's decision was necessary to avoid what he termed a "tragedy" as it would have been difficult for them to gain approval of their budget.



To him, the Majority failed to put their house in order, hence their only option was to vacate their chamber so as to disrupt the proceedings.



"This was a smart move to avoid any tragedy...otherwise...this is unheard-of. That I have presented my budget but before I bring it to the House, I should have prepared myself adequately because I know what the Minority can do, so your house should be in order," he said.



He also believed the "ruling of the Speaker actually strengthens the strategy of the Majority to avoid any catastrophe" but advised the Majority to fully prepare themselves before they go to Parliament.



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Member of Parliament(MP) for Kwadaso constituency, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko has warned Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, to tread cautiously in response to his recent outburst against the Judiciary.



The Special Prosecutor, in a press conference on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, expressed his frustrations about how Judges are treating his corruption cases.



He complained bitterly about his cases being dismissed in court, describing this trend as troubling.



He said; "We do not force feed cases, we do not force feed our prosecutions. It is our belief that it is not a matter of us going beyond our mandate but rather a case of hasty dismissiveness and lack of regard because if you take the four cases I tabled out over a period of time spanning from July 2022 to Monday, there is a troubling trend."



He cautioned that this would gravely affect Ghana's economy noting that corruption erodes public trust in government and disturbs the development of the nation.



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 intimated during the press conference.



He 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.



But the Kwadaso MP is of the view that Kissi Agyebeng is taking the wrong approach to addressing his concerns.



To him, the Special Prosecutor's behavior "indicts the Judiciary," hence warning him to desist from taking such a path.



"I plead with you, Kissi, to tread cautiously. If you are not careful, at the end of the day, people will see that you are doing nothing...We must all be very careful about that," he admonished during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Although he wouldnt mention them, popular Highlife artiste, Ofori Amponsah aka Mr All 4Real, has expressed regret over some of the iconic hits in his repertoire which he was forced to record due to hunger.



Ofori Amponsah who has collaborated with musicians including Daddy Lumba, Kofi Nti, Barosky, K.K. Fosu, Sarkodie, King Promise among others is known for hit songs such as Emmanuella, Otoolege, Sardine, Alewa, Odwo, Anigyena, Daamabi, Bonwire, Lady, Tintin, Abele, Hello, Broken Heart, Puduo and Sampson and Delilah among others.



It is therefore hard to guess which of his songs made his lyrical regrets list because Ofori Amponsahs groove can be described as impeccable. He has amazing tunes to his credit.



Yet, he wished he never recorded some of his songs including some of the bangers we love so much. Yes, the songs that still get us bopping, tapping our feet, or driving us to the dancefloor to do our own thing.



Speaking in an exclusive interview with Graphic Showbiz, the Otoolege hitmaker said there were songs he was not proud of but had to do them to survive because he was not financially sound back then.



In this music business, you sometimes do things certain things to survive. I did a couple of songs that were popular all over Ghana but honestly, I am not proud of those songs because hunger pushed me to do them.



Those songs didnt come from within and I wouldnt have done them if I were financially okay back then. But I had to pay the billsutility bills, school fees among other things, he disclosed.



However, according to Ofori Amponsah, if a musician makes money the main reason he records songs, he may come out with a hit that may trend for a while but the artiste together with his hit will fizzle out in no time at all.



Musicians who make their stomachs their priority become irrelevant after a period of time. When you are a musician and you are always thinking of making money to pay bills or sort yourself out, you may not come out with a very good song.



In this case, your priority wont be the content you put out but the money, and you will end up becoming irrelevant in no time. A song like Abele was something that came from my within and such songs can last for a very long time. In fact, they are evergreen, he explained.

Source: graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Ghanaian Afro Highlife Prince, Kay 9ice drops a party starter song dubbed "Olosho" off his upcoming EP, Never Meant To Be which will be released soon.



In Olosho, Kay 9ice speaks about how his hustling and grinding fared this year.



Although things were not excellent for him, he does not give up, expressing the belief that things will be better next year so far as he keeps grinding.



Kay 9ice motivated those who want to give up on their dreams to continue chasing it with the faith that things will get better with time.



The Afro Highlife Prince has almost 10 tracks to his credits including Balance , Fakye with Adina_Thembi,

Photo , Wo B3 Ti and others.



He has worked with some of top Ghanaian artiste including Bisa Kdei, Sista Afia, Galaxy, Yaa Pono, Tsoobi Ryan Korsah, Tyrell (USA) etc.



Meanwhile, the Stunnas Multimedia Signee has encouraged all fans to stream Olosho on all music platforms.



Stream from below



https://ditto.fm/olosho-kay-9ice



https://youtu.be/FuqMRtVScPA?si=UFyc4lh2q6OoYeCV

Source: Peacefmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A schematic of the relativistic instability-modulated emission. As the surface modulation grows, XUV radiation stops following the angle of reflection and is anomalously emitted increasingly along the surface. Credit: Lamac et al, from Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.205001

Interactions between intense laser pulses and plasma mirrors have been the focus of several recent physics studies due to the interesting effects they produce. Experiments have revealed that these interactions can generate a non-linear physical process known as high-order harmonics, characterized by the emission of extreme ultraviolet radiation (XUV) and brief flashes of laser light (i.e., attosecond pulses).

Researchers at The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC in Czechia and Osaka University in Japan recently uncovered a surprising transition that takes place during interactions between intense laser pulses and plasma mirrors. This transition, marked by an anomalous emission of coherent XUV radiation, was outlined in a paper published in Physical Review Letters.

"Relativistic oscillating mirrors are a fascinating concept with great potential for intense attosecond pulse and bright XUV generation," Marcel Lamac, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org.

"We were reinvestigating some of the assumptions held in previous works and found that strong self-modulation can occur during the intense laser-mirror interaction, changing the properties of surface-emitted extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation, which can then propagate anomalously along the surface."

The interesting discovery by Lamac and his colleagues was made while they were testing predictions of previous work in the field. The team carried out various numerical, multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations at extremely high resolutions, with the goal of better understanding the interplay between electrons and ions during the interaction of solid density plasmas with intense lasers.

"One of the most immediate consequences of our work is that great care must be taken in target selection and pre-plasma control to prevent spatiotemporal coherence loss in the reflected high harmonics," Lamac said.

"Since we have found that the relativistic instability-modulated emission can be more efficient than the reflected high harmonics in the XUV range, this emission can be also considered as a potentially highly efficient XUV source, which would require as precise control of experimental conditions to achieve high yield of XUV emission."

The emission of XUV radiation that Lamac and his colleagues observed in their simulations has a unique and interesting property. Specifically, the researchers found that this coherent radiation propagates in parallel to the surface of the plasma mirror. Further calculations linked this anomalous emission to laser-driven oscillations of relativistic electron nanobunches originating from the instability of the plasma's surface.

"We believe that there is an interesting potential in potentially controlling this mirror self-modulation, where enhanced coherence could be achieved for more narrow-band coherent XUV generation in the initial stages of the surface instability," Lamac added.

This recent work by Lamac and his collaborators gathered new insight into the physical processes arising from the interaction between intense laser pulses and plasma mirrors. The results of the researchers' simulations could soon pave the way for more studies exploring the anomalous emission they observed, potentially leading to new interesting discoveries.

More information: M. Lamac et al, Anomalous Relativistic Emission from Self-Modulated Plasma Mirrors, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.205001 Journal information: Physical Review Letters

 2023 Science X Network
Walmart announced on Friday (December 1) that it would no longer advertise on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

"We aren't advertising on X as we've found other platforms to better reach our customers," a Walmart spokesperson said.

X did not immediately respond to reporters' requests for comment.

Read Also: Fleeing X Advertisers Will Not Return After Elon Musk's Insults

Aftermath of Elon Musk's F-Bomb?

X has struggled to retain advertisers since Musk acquired the company in October 2022 and has recently faced a new wave of companies pulling out their advertisements over rising concerns about the juxtaposition of their ads alongside alleged antisemitic content.

In the past few days, Musk himself was also embroiled in accusations that he was antisemitic, prompting him to visit Israel, especially the areas where Hamas attacked. He also met with Israeli officials like President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Upon his return, Musk apologized for his X posts during an interview at a New York Times DealBook event this week, but also told firms critical of him to "go f*** [themselves]."

An executive at a major ad-buying agency told Reuters, on the condition of anonymity, that X ad sales representatives appeared frustrated in the aftermath of Musk's outburst against brands and did not have much to say in conversations.

Related Article: Elon Musk's Simple Message to X's Fleeing Advertisers is 'Go F*** Yourself'

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Waiting By The Window by Carl Holse. Credit: Wiki Commons

Choosing to be child-free is more common than ever before in some countries, including the US. Many people see not having children an ethical and ecological choice, made to protect the environment, people and other species. Being child-free is about being "green". Consequently, more positive discourses around childlessness are emerging.

But this was not always the case. In societies that encourage an increased birthrate, motherhood is often presented as natural and caring. Meanwhile, women without children are often described as biological failures, or as deviant. For example, when visible in popular culturethey are often not represented at allwomen without children are either presented as animal-lovers like the "crazy cat lady" or animal-killers, like Cruella de Vil. In these examples, the focus on animal represents their supposed inability to care for humans (their species), their "unnaturalness".

In the 19th century, women without children were already being described as selfish and unnatural. The natural world was conversely used to describe fertile women, who were often compared to flowers in bloom in literature.

The association of women with plants and fertility is an ancient one, found particularly in agricultural pagan figures. Demeter, the ancient Greek goddess of the harvest, for example, was the goddess of grains, but also of marriage and fertility.

Many expressions still link women's reproductive systems and flowers. In French, the flower is a metaphor for a virgin sexual organ. To avoir ses fleurs (have your flowers) is an expression for having periods, and being une jeune fille en fleur (a young woman in flower) means that the young woman is ready for marriageand therefore reproduction.

Women themselves are also compared to flowers: in English, both "pretty flower" and "English rose" describe attractive young women. Reducing women to flowers, through these comparisons, is not only misogynistic, but reinforces the social pressure to produce children "on time". Timing is important in these comparisons, as flowers fade quickly.

Being child-free in the 19th century

But what about women without children, those flowers that will not produce seeds? My research into literature and paintings from the second half of the 19th century has shown that they were often represented as monstrous horticultural hybrids.

At the time, "hybrid flowers"which were often sterilebecame the preferred metaphor to describe sexually active women who were either unable or refused to bear children. In France, having and raising children was seen as a woman's natural and civic duty for the nation. Conversely, women who were sexually active but without children were often seen as unnatural and dangerous.

Comparisons that described women as flowers were historically about fertility. How was it then that flowers became a metaphor for sterility at the end of the 19th century?

The emphasis on flowers as sexual organs and as a metaphor for women's sexuality appears to have been used more often after the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus openly discussed the sexuality of plants with anthropomorphic language at the end of the 18th century.

It is important to note that, for a long time, if men knew at all that flowers were sexual organs, they believed they were unisexual and feminine. They did not believe that both male and female organs were involved in the production of fruits.

Once the sexual nature of plants had been established, the nature of the floral metaphor changed and the innocence of the flower was lost. Flowers progressively became the symbol of a young lady with an emerging sexuality or who was waiting to "bear fruit".

Horticultural hybrids

During the second empire in France (1852-1870) and the beginning of the Third Republic (1870-1840), horticultural hybrids were extremely popular.

Horticulturists developed large plants and flowers such as cattleya, hibiscus, nidularium which often looked like enlarged genitals (natural plants are often a lot smaller and less colorful). These hybrids made the sexual analogy even more obvious.

By the end of the 19th century, the artificial hybrids became used for describing, indirectly, near-pornographic scenes. Here is an example from The Kill (1895), a famous novel by Emile Zola. Instead of describing the characters making love, he describes the plants: "As their glances penetrated into the corners of the hothouse, the darkness became filled with a more furious debauch of leaves and stalks; they could not distinguish on the terraces between the marantas, soft as velvet, the gloxinias, purple-belled, the dracoenas, like blades of old lacquer; it was a great dance of living plants pursuing one another with unsatisfied fervor."

Many of the hybrids being created at this time were sterile. They therefore became a metaphor for "unproductive" sexuality. Because they were man-made, they could be seen as a perversion of the laws of nature. Comparing women to those hybrids was a way to criticize what was deemed the artificiality of their infertility, or decision not to have children.

Fertile, childbearing women were frequently compared to natural, more classic flowers such as roses or lilies.

At the time, France was obsessed with its low birth rate. Many politicians believed it explained why France had lost the war against Prussia (1870-1871). Childless women were therefore also seen as bad citizens.

Through their comparisons with hybrid, infertile flowers, women who could not or choose not to reproduce were deemed un-French, undesirable and, in some ways, monstruous.

Understanding how women are associated with nature and very often compared to flowers is essential to understanding how being childless continues to be demonized in contemporary society. As contemporary art, culture and the very language we use demonstrates, child-free women are still often described as "unnatural" or biologically deviant.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Global environmental stakeholders will converge in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023 for the UN Climate conference known as COP28. The conference aims to continue negotiations to address the global climate crisis. Nigeria's main agenda in the conference is climate finance needed for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Past conferences have resulted in some landmark agreements. However, the negotiation process to institute international climate finance has been thorny for developing countries. Nigeria's diplomatic and negotiating strategies will have to be top-notch at COP28.

Nigeria has experienced a harsh climate change reality. The effects of climate change include flooding, desertification, coastal erosion, drought, deforestation, land degradation and pollution. These are also associated with human security issues such as food insecurity, resource conflicts and political instability.

Nigeria and other developing countries are disproportionately affected by climate change. This is despite their historically low contributions to global warming compared to the developed countries. It is noteworthy that African countries, including Nigeria, will continue to link their development agenda to the international climate regime.

For this reason, Nigeria has committed to global climate mandates through policies such as the Nationally Determined Contribution, the National Climate Change Policy for Nigeria, the National Climate Change Council and the Energy Transition Plan. Nigeria's active participation in COP28 is critical to its development and citizens' well-being.

I am a political scientist with research in environmental and energy politics. I argue that Nigeria should focus on three climate finance goals at COP28. These are:

the loss and damage finance mechanism

Nigerian Energy Transition Plan finance

adaptation finance.

Securing these funds will immediately enhance Nigeria's ability to respond to climate change. The funds are critical for meeting the country's immediate, medium, and long-term climate goals. If Nigeria secures the finance it needs, it will be a landmark achievement in the country's environmental diplomacy.

Nigeria has found it more difficult than many African countries to obtain international climate finance. Its lack of readiness and corruption reputation have been blamed for this.

1. Loss and damage fund

The successful agreement on the Loss and Damage Fund was the lone positive outcome of COP27. The fund was established to provide assistance to the countries most vulnerable to and most affected by climate change. This agreement signifies that developing countries are becoming assertive and influential in the climate negotiation process.

Nigeria and other developing countries should not stop at the agreement. COP28 provides a platform for further clarification of funding mechanisms. Access to the fund and implementation of adaptation projects will advance for Nigeria and others once there is clarity.

The Loss and Damage Fund will help Nigeria to address some of its climate-induced human security crises. In recent years, flooding and resource conflicts have exacerbated loss and damage in Nigeria. The country cannot afford any hesitancy or stalemate on the implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28.

2. Energy Transition Plan

Nigeria announced its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2060 at COP26. To achieve this, the country needs to fund its Energy Transition Plan with US$1.9 trillion. This translates to an annual cost of US$10 billion.

Meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution commitment will depend on its ability to secure international climate finance. Both initial and updated Nationally Determined Contributions are largely conditional on this source of funding. Therefore, Nigeria's COP28 negotiators and delegation must be adept at securing finance to carry out the country's Energy Transition Plan.

3. Adaptation finance

Nigeria's weak performance in climate change adaptation can be traced to lack of financing. Hesitancy to invest in reducing citizens' vulnerability to climate change leads to socioeconomic crisis.

Nigeria should not expect to easily get the funds it needs for adaptation at COP28. Only US$230 million was pledged for adaptation at the last conference. Raising the required funds will require deft diplomatic moves.

Why this matters

COP28 is the time for the world and Nigeria to get their climate finance priorities right.

Nigeria will become more vulnerable to climate impacts if it fails to do this at COP28. A prolonged lack of adaptation finance would increase the number of Nigerians who are not resilient to climate change and its impact. Consequently, it would affect the country's economy as climate change has an impact on livelihoods and health, damages infrastructure, and threatens food security. Similarly, failure to secure financing for the Energy Transition Plan could hamper Nigerian development projections. This is because the Federal Government treats this as a development plan.

COP28 represents a critical socioeconomic juncture for Nigeria, and the country has to secure international climate finance.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In 2015, more than 140 countries signed up to the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. For countries in the global south this is a huge task. On the one hand, they have committed to low emissions. On the other their economic survival depends on using resources that produce high emissions. International economic law scholar Olabisi D. Akinkugbe unpacks the issue of climate justice, and how climate laws and foreign investment laws fit into the picture.

What is climate justice and why is achieving it such a challenge?

Climate change policies are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (which mainly come from the use of fossil fuels) and shift socio-economic activities towards the use of renewable energies. But, unless these changes are made in a manner that considers historical responsibility for the economic imbalances between countries, they risk crippling the economies of the global south.

That's why institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme have called for climate justice, which means "putting equity and human rights at the core of decision making and action on climate change. The concept has been widely used to refer to the unequal historical responsibility that countries and communities bear in relation to the climate crisis. "

A climate justice approach to climate change would consider that developing countries did not contribute to climate change as much as developed countries but bear a disproportionate burden of the impact of climate change.

Yet, as we detail in a recent paper, a combination of legal frameworks for climate change and foreign direct investment is making the situation worse for developing countries. These laws inform the debate on climate change.

What are the laws? How are they flawed?

International climate change law is a layered and complex set of principles, rules, regulations and institutions.

The United Nations climate change regime is at the center of the international action to address climate change. It does this by addressing mitigation and adaptation challenges. The regime includes the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2015 Paris Agreement. It also includes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and decisions of bodies like the Conference of Parties to the Convention ("COP") and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.

The relationship between climate goals and international investment and trade has attracted more attention from scholars since the 2022 report of the Working Group III of the IPCC highlighted the incompatibility of climate goals and trade and investment regimes.

The Paris Agreement is the primary point of intersection between investment law and climate law. Among other goals, the agreement aspires to make finance flows consistent with low emissions pathways and climate resilient development.

In the study, I argue that investment law and climate change law are at odds with the quest for climate justice. There are at least four reasons:

First, calls for ambitious and expedited transition to climate-friendly investments leave developing countries at a disadvantage in attracting new investments. Mobilizing climate finance for a clean energy transition is expensive. As the finance is also primarily in the form of loans, it deepens the debt vulnerability of developing countries.

Second, treaty-based solutions don't adequately address the power imbalance in the investor-host state relationship. Investment treaties protect investors more than host states. Also, the investor-state dispute system has more consequences for developing countries. And there is disregard for public interest concerns in the award of damages to investors.

Third, embracing market-based solutions led by transnational corporations may reinforce climate injustice while barely reducing emissions. The profit-oriented nature of the investment approach exacerbates the existing debt challenges of developing countries.

Fourth, the risks of investor-state disputes, heavy damages and compensation are generally skewed against developing countries. This affects their capacity to take climate action.

Legal instruments protect foreign investors. The legal protection of foreign direct investment under public international law is guaranteed by international investment agreements and bilateral investment treaties. In addition, multilateral investment treaties, such as the Energy Charter Treaty, and some free trade agreements also protect direct investment.

An investor can sue a host state for violations of treaties or investment agreements and get damages. Developing countries have been on the receiving end of punitive damages. This has led to calls for reform of the arbitration regime that applies to investors and states.

What should be done?

The design of the global transition from fossil fuels to net-zero emissions must account for the economic differences between countries and allow for multiple pathways. This is particularly true for developing countries that must reorganize their economies to attract investments that reduce emissions and generate socioeconomic development, while addressing their debt exposures.

The misalignment of climate change law and international investment law deepens this challenge. This is because many African states depend on the extractive industry to sustain their economies. In addition, the global transition to renewable energy has wider ramifications to produce batteries, electric vehicles, and other renewable energy systems. All require mineral resources from the global south.

Green or climate-friendly investment places global south countries in an unequal position on the international energy chart.

Developing countries, therefore, face the dilemma of balancing fossil fuel extraction with climate-friendly investments. Increased demands for electric vehicles and renewable energy present opportunities for developing states. But many lack the capacity to capture parts of the supply chains of the new green economy.

The transition to net-zero emissions thus poses several problems: climate crisis, extreme poverty, and lack of access to energy.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Air temperature survival limits are greatly reduced in humid heat, and more so for older adults. The corresponding wet-bulb temperatures in dry weather are dramatically lower than the previously assumed limit of 95F or 35C. A wet bulb temperature of only 78F on a dry Phoenix summer day would be considered unsurvivable, yet it would take air temperatures of 128F under 10% relative humidity to reach that limit. Credit: ASU Global Futures Laboratory

Commonly associated with longer days and slower paces, this summer's record-smashing heat in Arizona demonstrated a concerning future for the planet's warmest season. From power outages endangering entire neighborhoods and heat-related deaths rising among some of the state's most vulnerable populations, the city of Phoenix found itself in national headlines. As national attention grew, one question became clear: How does anyone live there?

The consequences of extreme heat do not affect Arizona residents alone. Extreme heat made worldwide news this year, including in November when a 23-year-old woman died of cardiorespiratory arrest at a Taylor Swift concert in Brazil where heat indexes that day exceeded 120 degrees.

Jennifer Vanos, associate professor in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University, studies extreme heat and its health impacts. She is the lead author of a new paper published Nov. 29 in Nature Communications.

Titled "A physiological approach for assessing human survivability and liveability to heat in a changing climate," the paper explores temperatures at which humans can survive. The research demonstrates that the current estimated upper temperature and humidity limits used for human survivability may not paint an accurate picture of the impacts of a warming planet on human health.

"For the past decade or so we have been using what we call a 'wet bulb temperature' of 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit, as the limit for human survivability," said Vanos, also a Senior Global Futures Scientist in the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.

Extreme heat is becoming increasingly dangerous for many people around the world. In this new study published in Nature Communications, an interdisciplinary research team looks into extreme heat and what kinds of conditions people can survive in, as well as what conditions will allow people to actually live their lives. Credit: Arizona State University

The wet-bulb temperature limit for human survival indicates the maximum combinations of temperature and humidity that humans can tolerate without suffering inevitable heat stroke over a fixed duration of exposure.

"The idea is that you could survive for up to six hours at that level of heat exposure," Vanos said. "That number really oversimplifies what happens physiologically in the body when your body is exposed to that temperature, and it doesn't account for important variables like age or other vulnerability factors."

Vanos said the commonly-used wet-bulb temperature for human survivability assumes the person is indoors or shaded, unclothed, completely sedentary, fully heat acclimatized and of an "average size." These assumptions do not align, in most cases, with how humanity navigates the summer season. The paper models scenarios that adjust for factors such as humidity, age, activity level and sun exposure, and provides a range of safe temperatures based on a series of characteristics.

"We didn't only want to better understand the conditions that people could survive in," Vanos said. "We wanted to understand the conditions that allowed people to live their lives. If the only safe way to live in an area is to be completely sedentary, people won't want to live there. Being able to spend time outdoors and live your life without seeing a sustained rise in core temperature is a really important metric to understand today and as we move into the future."

Downtown Phoenix, Arizona: The consequences of extreme heat do not affect Arizona residents alone. Extreme heat is making worldwide news this year. Credit: Andy DeLisle/Arizona State University

Vanos said Gisel Guzman Echavarria, an ASU student, was instrumental in creating the figures used throughout the paper to demonstrate the research findings.

The research was conducted by a combination of climate scientists and physiologists, a collaboration that Vanos said was crucial in understanding the intertwined nature of heat and human health. Ollie Jay, professor and director of the Heat and Health Research Incubator at the University of Sydney, said the combined perspectives allow for a cohesive understanding of exactly how climate outcomes can impact people on the physiological and biophysical level.

"The existing wet-bulb temperature estimate of 35 degrees Celsius is used very commonly, with one example being the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report," said Jay, senior author of the paper. "These kinds of reports can shape policy efforts, but they are using a model for heat that is a very conservative estimate of what the impacts are going to be on humans. If we start using a more realistic, human-based model, the impacts are going to be more severe. They're going to be more widespread and they're going to happen sooner than we are projecting."

Vanos and Jay agree that the survivability ranges provided in the paper can give an important glimpse into the future: one that includes an increased need for cooling infrastructure, a personalized approach to heat protection and possible heat-driven migration.

"One of the most important things I hope people understand from these findings is that conditions that are survivable for one person who is a very healthy young adult may be experienced much differently by someone who has a comorbidity or is taking prescription medication," Vanos said. "As we move forward in extreme heat conditions, we need to give people the tools they need to make the unsurvivable days survivable."

More information: Jennifer Vanos et al, A physiological approach for assessing human survivability and liveability to heat in a changing climate, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43121-5 Journal information: Nature Communications
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Before having our first baby last year, we wondered whether we had the money, time and necessary skills to raise a child. Perhaps you find yourself contemplating the same? Many people certainly have, as birth rates have been declining across the world for the past 200 years.

Research attributes this trend to the escalating demand for these three resources. Since the 1970s, economists have argued that the increasing need for money, time and skills is rooted in the belief that all three resources are crucial investments in a child's education, or "human capital", preparing them for a successful and self-determined life.

Economic historians ascribe this growing demand for human capital to the transition from an agricultural economy to a highly skilled manufacturing and services-based economy, first in western societies and then globally. Empirical evidence supports the idea that this transition has caused birth rates to slow down. For instance, analysis of individual returns from the 1911 Irish census suggest that a child remaining in school between the ages of 14 and 16 caused an up to 27% reduction in fertility.

An expensive business

Parenting has become more expensive and time-consuming. In its annual cost of a child report, the Child Poverty Action Groupa charity that works to alleviate poverty and social exclusionestimated the cost of raising a child in the UK until the age of 18 in 2022 at 150,000 for couples and over 200,000 for single parents. In 2021, the cost of bringing up a child stood at 194,000 for a single parent.

One of the biggest expenses tied to parenthood is the cost of childcare for babies and toddlers. The same report concluded that childcare now constitutes around 60% of the overall cost of raising a child in the UK, up from 40% in 2012.

The high cost of childcare is partly due to the high ratio of staff to children that is required in UK childcare settings. But it is also higher than in many other countries because the government provides fewer subsidies.

International variation

How much you can expect to pay for childcare varies significantly across countries. In part, this depends on whether the government considers childcare and early education as a private issue or a public concern.

In 2022, the OECD (a forum of 38 mainly high-income countries) estimated that net childcare costs in the UK range from 5% to 25% of the average income (depending on wage estimates). Childcare costs can even make up over 50% of women's income. The UK is a country in which childcare and education is seen predominantly as a private problem.

In contrast, Sweden's childcare costs range from 3% to 5% of average income, and Germany's constitute just 1%. Both of these countries see childcare and education largely as a public issue.

Child benefits, tax privileges for parents, and parental leave policies and compensation rates also vary significantly across EU and OECD countries, as does total public spending per child and age group.

Supporting parents

Contributions to a child's human capital, whether through child benefits, tax credits, nursery vouchers, schooling hours or university education, have become policy in most developed countries. However, the specifics of this contribution differ widely, and the UK is not currently at the forefront.

But change seems to be on the way. As part of the UK government's 2023 spring budget, chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a raft of changes to childcare support. This includes providing 30 hours of free childcare per week (phased in from April 2024 until September 2025) for children from nine months old and with working parents. This arrangement already exists for three- to four-year-olds (the age at which most children begin school).

However, it remains to be seen whether the process of making subsidies available for the youngest age group will actually lower the overall cost of childcare. Parents will still have to pay for any care above 30 hours. Demand for childcare and, consequently, fees may well also increase as a result of the subsidies if the supply of childcare does not keep pace.

Bank on your relatives, or stay at home?

Research has investigated the role of informal networks, and to what degree they can reduce the costs of having a child. These networks could include your friends or relatives providing childcare.

However, while informal support networks may reduce the costs of child rearing, they can be fragile. The needs of your friends or relatives can change, hindering their ability to provide free (or cheap) childcare.

Another key determinant of the cost of a child is to what extent parents reduce their working hours. Research published in April 2023 analyzed childrens' test scores to gauge whether a child benefits more from the income their mother brings home by working longer hours during their childrens' preschool years, or loses more through the fewer hours spent together. The findings suggest that the increased income from working longer hours had an altogether positive effect.

So, money clearly does help. But the problem lies in the fact that having a child now means you need more of it than you used to. How much this comes from your own pocket is a crucial question for the future.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
London's Jews would be able to celebrate Hanukkah publicly this year after the London Council of Havering decided on Friday (December 1) to enable the Jewish winter holiday to push through.

The announcement came after an earlier notice last Thursday (November 30) that plans for Hanukkah were canceled due to the "conflict in the Middle East," as per a discussion with the London Jewish Forum.

The meeting discussed factors that might disrupt Hanukkah, such as pro-Palestine protesters, as well as fears that the menorah installed for the celebration would be vandalized.

With the latest announcement, Hanukkah celebrations will now proceed as planned on December 12.

Read Also: Israel-Hamas War Continues After 7-Day Truce Runs Out

Keeping the Menorah Lit

The London Jewish Forum and Essex Jewish Community Council issued a joint statement after meeting with the Havering Council at the Town Hall, stating that they had been able to reassure the council of all the concerns outlined in the council's initial statement.

"We had a very constructive meeting to discuss our concerns and I fully appreciate why this is such an important installation for the Jewish community," Havering Council leader Ray Morgan said. "We look forward to... the permanent [menorah] installation and our first Hannukah ceremony. We also look forward to continuing to work closely with the Jewish community and other faiths on our commitment to a cohesive and inclusive borough."

Meanwhile, the London Jewish Forum's Daniella Myers told the Jerusalem Post that her organization appreciated the help of the council to settle the Hanukkah celebration and their "careful consideration" of Jewish views on the matter.

"The London Jewish Forum was able to provide a wider picture, which had important implications beyond Havering," she added. "Our community has been listened to and as a result, we are very pleased to say the planned installation of the Havering Menorah will be going ahead."

Related Article: Opinion Letters to The Guardian Stress Antisemitism on UK Campuses Must be Stopped

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Brisk temperatures are great for enjoying smores beside a backyard firepit while under comfy blankets, but does cozy greet you ahead of winters bluster once you head indoors?

How does quiet, cozy and cost-efficient sound?

If youve been thinking about converting an older fossil fuel heating system to clean, energy-efficient heat pump technology, theres never been a better time to make the switch.

Simons Heating and Cooling, Inc., in Queensbury, New York, is family owned and operated, serving the climate-control, comfort and indoor air quality needs of residents in Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties, and much of the lower Adirondacks  the Empire States coldest region.

Making a change

Are you ready when temperatures dip  or soar?

Danyan Garcia, marketing director at Simons, said a surge in consumer interest in switching to electric heat and high-efficiency minisplit systems is driven by a quest for energy savings, lower utility bills and environmental concerns over keeping fossil fuel heaters like oil going.

The switch from oil to an electric heat pump means roughly a 35% reduction in energy usage per year, or about $1,500 to $2,000 in savings on utility costs, on average, Garcia said.

Cash-back incentives

Residents who qualify for New York State Clean Heat Program rebates can reap cash back by converting to newer, Energy Star-rated, high-efficiency HVAC systems like electric minisplit heat pumps.

Consumers who make the switch to qualifying systems may receive about $5,000, on average, in program rebates.

Additional incentives can offset installation costs by as much as 70%. And for those able to take advantage of New York State Research and Development Authority discounts  coupled with the states clean heat program  rebates may fund from 70% to 100% of project costs.

There are significant rebates right now. From manufacturer rebates to New York state tax credits for home energy efficiency, we help customers navigate rebates, and we offer 0% financing and product warrantees, Garcia said.

Simons professionals help customers take advantage of rebates and tax credits; however, its important to consult with a qualified tax professional regarding eligibility and rebate offers.

Energy Star-rated products

Simons carries LG and Lennox electric HVAC systems, known to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, among other system types.

The Lennox MLB Series offers high-efficiency, variable-capacity, cold-climate minisplit heat pumps, while the LG systems boast increased flexibility with a four-way installation, so you have more system design flexibility.

Both manufacturers offer Energy Star-certified products, which meet or exceed federal guidelines for energy-efficient performance.

Energy Star-rated systems translate to lower operational costs  and notable energy savings  over the units lifetime.

With Wi-Fi-enabled system capability, you can control settings, receive trouble alarms and adjust the unit whether youre at home, at the office, traveling or away on vacation.

Garcia reminds customers to keep service records and save receipts in case you need to provide them to manufacturers to prove regular maintenance was performed annually and maintain equipment warranties.

With any home heating system you want to have annual professional service and maintenance, Garcia explained. Many manufacturers require proof of service in order to honor their warranty.

For more information, please visit simonshvac.com.

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.
A Fort Edward man was sentenced to 8 years in prison for drug dealing in Saratoga County, according to Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen.

According to a news release on Tuesday afternoon from Heggen, David T. Henderson, 47 of Fort Edward, was arrested on charges of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance for an incident that took place in the Town of Halfmoon on March 12.

On top of the eight year sentence, Henderson was sentenced for three years of post-release supervision, the release said. His arrest was part of an investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office in coordination with other law enforcement agencies into drug dealing activities taking place across multiple counties.

Heggen said in the release that a search warrant was executed on Hendersons vehicle, revealing he had nearly a half kilogram of cocaine and numerous fentanyl pills in his possession. Henderson also has at least five prior felony drug convictions.

As part of the disposition, Hendersons 2019 SUV used in the drug transaction on March 12 was forfeited to be used for law enforcement purposes, according to the release. The sentence is part of a global disposition with Washington County where Henderson also had drug charges.

Heggen said that the case will have a big impact and cited statistics from www.savealifeto.day that said as of late November, there have been 38 fatal overdoses in Saratoga County and 647 non-fatal overdoses.

The deadly combination of cocaine and fentanyl has taken so many lives, and at the same time bail and discovery law changes have made it more difficult than ever to prosecute these cases, Heggen said
At least three individuals were bitten or scratched by a rabid fisher at Hudson Point Nature Preserve in Queensbury in recent days.

Warren County Public Health wants to ensure that all who had contact with the animal notify Public Health officials so that rabies treatments can be pursued if deemed necessary, a county press release says.

Anyone who has contact with animals in that area should check with health care providers, officials said.

The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation responded to the preserve Wednesday afternoon, located an aggressive fisher, and killed it.

According to Warren County Director of Public Affairs Don Lehman, during the effort to locate it, the fisher bit a person who was involved in the search, requiring medical treatment for the bite, according to a news release on Wednesday Nov. 29.

And a man who was at the trailhead with two dogs late Wednesday afternoon indicated to bystanders that the small mammal bit his pant leg earlier that day but did not break his skin.

The press release said those who take their pets to Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve should make sure their pet vaccinations are up to date, and contact their vet for a booster if their pet had recent contact with wild animals in that area. The pet could unwittingly expose its owner to rabies.

Rabies is a deadly disease, and we need to err on the side of caution when it comes to potential human exposures to rabid animals. It appears this fisher was very aggressive in its last hours, and we are concerned that people or pets may have had contact with it and not realized the gravity of the situation. They should call us to make sure that medical intervention is pursued if needed, Warren County Director of Health Services Ginelle Jones said.

Two people were walking on trails in the preserve when the small animal attacked in unprovoked incidents Wednesday morning. One person was walking with dogs and one person was seriously injured, requiring medical treatment.

One of the incidents was near the beginning of the trail, at an area where it forks and one trail heads toward the Hudson River, the release said. No further details were immediately available about the other incident.

Warren County Public Health staff notified the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation and Queensbury Recreation Department about the incidents.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  What started as a 10-bedroom hospital in Atlantic City more than a century ago has evolved into a nearly 6,000-employee health care provider for South Jersey.

AtlantiCare, the local health care company that operates two hospitals and dozens of medical offices throughout the region, celebrated its 125th anniversary Thursday.

AtlantiCare Day paid homage to the companys growth since its inception in 1898.

Michael Charlton, the companys president and CEO, said AtantiCare is the anchor health institution for the region.

We are the largest health system in South Jersey, Charlton said.

AtlantiCare offers a wide variety of programs to address a wide range of issues, including infant mortality and food insecurity.

I think the message that really needs to resonate here is that due to the size, scale and capabilities of AtlantiCare, the mission doesnt stop within the four walls of our institution, Charlton said.

As part of the celebration, Charlton and a handful of colleagues greeted employees at the companys cancer center in the township. Charlton passed out cookies with the companys 125th anniversary logo on them.

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.

AtlantiCare was born out of the Atlantic City Hospital, a converted farmhouse on Ohio Avenue. It opened Nov. 30, 1898, with few beds and a horse-drawn ambulance.

Its first patient was a small boy who was injured by falling off a horse.

The hospital opened its Mainland Campus in Galloway Township in 1975. In 1993, it coined the name its known by today.

Its facillities reach far beyond its two hospitals. AtlantiCare opened a cancer center off English Creek Avenue in the township in 2009 and another in Cape May Court House in 2013.

For 125 years, AtlantiCare has delivered high-quality, patient-focused care, Galloway Township Mayor Anthony Coppola said in a statement. They have also provided over $1 billion in community benefit and charitable giving as an anchor institution in our community. I can think of no better way for Galloway to honor an organization that has given us so much than by dedicating this day to them.

AtlantiCare has had its trials, Charlton said. In need of funding, Frank Sinatra held a benefit concert in 1978 at Atlantic Citys Convention Hall, raising about $1 million for the resorts hospital, then known as Atlantic City Medical Center. The hospital named a wing in Sinatras honor.

The company has put itself at the frontlines of community outreach by working to address health issues affecting the region, especially among women of color.

Last year, AtlantiCare opened its $38.3 million Medical Arts Pavilion in Atlantic City, intended to help narrow health disparities in the resort.

CRDA holds off on cannabis rejection vote Gathering for a meeting for the first time in about 3 years, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority board decided to table what looked likely to be its most controversial decision for the day Tuesday.

In 2017, it opened a food pantry, which, in its inaugural year, according to the companys website, was visited by about 1,100 people and served 760 adults and 234 children while providing more than 73,000 pounds of nutritious food.

It added to its food-based operation recently with the addition of a mobile food truck that rides throughout Atlantic City.

The availability of award-winning care in their hometown is what every resident deserves and what AtlantiCare has delivered for over a century, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. said in a statement. In 2023 alone, AtlantiCare has been recognized as an employer of choice and received accolades for their safety and quality. We are grateful for all they have done and continue to do.

As for the future, AtlantiCare will open its first dental care facility early next year, said Sandy Festa, executive director of the companys health centers.

Were not putting the brakes on anything, Festa said. Were only opening the door for magnificent possibilities, and thats very exciting.

GALLERY: Therapy dogs visit AtlantiCare for Nurses Week
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental Petroleum, which was reported to be eyeing an acquisition that would greatly expand its Permian Basin acreage. Michael Wyke/Contributor

Occidental Petroleum is negotiating a potential acquisition of Midland-based CrownRock, one of the largest remaining private oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The potential deal between the Houston oil giant and the private producer controlled by West Texas billionaire Tim Dunn would continue a consolidation trend rippling across Texas as big publicly held oil companies seek to expand their inventories through acquisition. Oxy and CrownRock did not reply to requests for comment Thursday.

CrownRocks high-quality acreage in the Midland Basin, a prized subset of the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico, as well as its status as one of few large private producers, placed it high on the shopping list for oil companies looking to make a purchase, said Dan Pickering, chief investment officer for Pickering Energy Partners.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

But CrownRocks price tag was rumored to have gone up to as much as $13 billion from $10 billion a few months ago, raising questions about the value of the deal, he said. Theres a point at which great assets are valuable, but they still have to generate return.

Oxy has likely not been the only one shopping around CrownRock, said Stewart Glickman, energy equity analyst at the research firm CFRA He said ConocoPhillips and Devon Energy could also have been contenders. Theres a little bit of a bake-off going on, he said.

If reached, the deal could pose challenges for Oxy, which is still paying down debt related to its $38 billion acquisition of Anadarko in 2019, Glickman said, noting the companys 47% debt to total assets ratio is considerably behind peers such as ConocoPhillips (14%) and Pioneer Natural Resources (18%).

If it actually goes through, it is a bit aggressive given where the debt metrics are today, Glickman said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Leo Mariani, senior research analyst at the investment banking firm ROTH MKM, said the market remembers the risky bet Oxy made with Anadarko, which was followed by the 2020 oil market crash that could have significantly impaired the company as it rebounded from the massive investment.

I dont think the market is going to be super trusting with Oxy until they see more terms of the deal, given how poorly the Anadarko acquisition went in the first couple years, Mariani said.
The Cumberland County Womens Hall of Fame will induct four new members during a ceremony in March.

The hall honors local women who have made significant contributions to a profession, the community and/or womens issues. It also gives scholarships to young women who graduate from the countys high schools and go on to higher education.

Lisa Stewart Garrison, of Fairton in Fairfield Township, led the effort to designate Bethel AME Church in Greenwich Township part of the National Park Services Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, the sole designation in Cumberland County and the sixth in New Jersey. Bethel AME received its site designation from the U.S. Department of the Interior in September.

Christine A. Johnston, of Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, is a Rowan College of South Jersey professor who founded Compass Academy Charter School in Vineland and pioneered the Let Me Learn Program. This approach encourages students and teachers to articulate their perspectives on assignments, express their emotions and devise effective responses. Over three decades, Let Me Learn has been adopted by more than 80 K-12 schools and 45 universities across the world.

Dina L. Rossi, of Sewell, Gloucester County, founded the Cumberland County Technical Education Center in Vineland. Under her vision, the school opened in 2016, providing graduating students options to pursue academic studies at colleges or universities, combine jobs with continued studies or enter the job market directly.

Mary E. Rossi, of Vineland, will be honored posthumously as the best principal in Vineland High Schools history, serving for 22 years until her retirement in 1964. Born in 1903, she began her teaching career in 1924, ascending to principal in 1942. She instilled in students the belief that a healthy body, sharp mind, magnetic personality and strong character result from faith, courage, discipline and perseverance.

We stand among great women throughout Cumberland County, said Shelly Schneider, president of the hall Board of Directors. All of us on the board are very proud of the incredible accomplishments of all our inductees.

The induction ceremony will be held March 20 at Merighis Savoy Inn in Vineland, beginning with a cash bar at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The event will be emceed by Elizabeth Arthur, the Vineland City Council president. For reservations ($65 per person), email board member Dr. Keith Figgs at kcf4@aol.com or call 856-692-0133.
MAYS LANDING  Atlantic Cape Community College and Thomas Jefferson University are partnering to create a pathway for local students to enroll in the Philadelphia school's health programs.

Atlantic Cape President Barbara Gaba and Jefferson's College of Health Professions Dean Michael Dryer signed the agreement Thursday in the STEM Building on the Mays Landing campus.

The need for respiratory therapists has grown tremendously since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need is expected to grow by more than 23% between now and 2028, Gaba said in a news release. Locally, our hospital partners (AtlantiCare, Cape Regional and Shore Medical) are reporting a dire need for these practitioners as many of their current respiratory care employees are at or nearing retirement age.

Per the agreement, students who successfully submit an application and possess the requred academic criteria will be eligible to enroll in one of several available health profression programs at Jefferson, which include:

Respiratory therapy and medical laboratory sciences

Biotechnology

Cytotechnology

Medical imaging and radiation sciences

Behavioral and health sciences

Health service management

Health studies

Accelerated health sciences

Atlantic Cape Community College announces date for 2024 Restaurant Gala The 41st annual Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. March 21 at Harrahs Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.

This collaboration with Atlantic Cape creates new opportunities for students to explore and pursue their health career goals with Jeffersons College of Health Professions, Dryer said. We are delighted to work with Atlantic Cape  an anchor institution in South Jersey  in their efforts to strengthen and empower the communities they serve. We look forward to being a part of the students journey in furthering their education and preparing them for high-demand careers in health.

Atlantic Cape students who have completed required prerequisite course work, earned the minimum GPA and earned their associate's degree will enter Jefferson with junior status. Students may also be eligible for financial aid.

We believe that this program will be mutually beneficial for our two institutions and will provide a unique opportunity for our students to advance their educational goals," Gaba said. "With this new program, we continue to create new pathways for our students to attain graduate degrees from a well-respected four-year university, while also meeting the needs of the communities we serve."

For more information, visit atlanticcape.edu.
CAPE MAY  Firefighters from throughout Cape May County and beyond joined officials and residents for the opening of the new $5.13 million headquarters for the Cape May Fire Department on Wednesday.

On a chilly evening, a sizable crowd spilled out from the sidewalk onto Franklin Street, which was closed for the event, before touring the new building.

Fire Chief Alex Coulter said the building is not yet ready for the department to move in, but it is getting close. In the wide-open bays that will soon house the ladder trucks and other vehicles, it was a party on Tuesday, with a spread of food and bottled water on one end of the cavernous space and a pair of musicians performing on the other.
There is an urgent need for the U.S. Senate to pass the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, which guarantees a key FAA research center will stay in Atlantic County, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew said Thursday during a Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation subcommittee hearing.

The bill has already passed the House, said Van Drew, R-2nd.

"I am most proud to say that our bill makes the William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center permanently located in South Jersey and more specifically dedicated to advanced aerospace," Van Drew said in his remarks.

Van Drew said there is just over a month left of short-term funding for the FAA, so it is imperative the Senate pass the funding bill.

"The newly named William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace will provide steady jobs and opportunity for technical advancement aimed at bettering the safety and capabilities of air travel," Van Drew said.

He also said he supported an amendment that will improve protections for people with disabilities in the air travel industry.

"If the Senate does not pass a long-term funding solution to the FAA, America is at risk of losing its competitive edge in our tech race against China," Van Drew warned the committee. "We are operating without a flight pattern, and ... if we do not pass long-term and sustaining funding, the FAA will not be able to develop better technologies, safety measures and operating procedures to fix the constantly growing issues that the traveling public faces."
Santa will make his annual trip from the North Pole for the Somers Point and Ocean City holiday parades Friday night. With Santa already weighted down by presents, Meteorologist Joe Martucci answered whether Kris Kringle will be weighed down by rain, too.
A poster exhibition being held in the city on the occasion of Project Tiger completing its 50th year is getting overwhelming response from students, teachers, researchers and commoners. Due to a large number of visitors, the organisers have extended the visiting hours. The event has been organised by Pune-based NGO Jividha to create awareness and celebrate the success of the project. Speaking to Pune Mirror, Rajiv Pandit, founder-president, Jividha, said, The response to the exhibition is huge. Many school children and student-researchers are pouring in. We have displayed numerous posters, along with information about how the tiger number increased and the measures taken.

We have extended the hours of exhibition due to the overwhelming response. We have also organised essay, drawing and poster competitions. The purpose behind this was to reach the maximum number of people, especially students, children, researchers so that they become well aware of this great social and national cause. The exhibition, titled 50 Golden Years of Project Tiger, was inaugurated on Thursday and will be open till Sunday (December 3). It is open to the public from 11 am to 8 pm at the Yeshwantrao Chavan Art Gallery, Kothrud. The exhibition was inaugurated by former chief conservator of forests Maharashtra state Sunil Limaye on Wednesday. Jividha will also present the Best Guide of Project Tiger in Maharashtra award to Shahnaz Baig on Friday.

School children at the event

Baig is Maharashtras first female forest guide and was instrumental in breaking the monopoly of male guides in the Tadoba Reserve. She is also encouraging other women to take up the role of a forest guide. Pune District forest department chief NR Pravin and Dr Raju Patodkar, deputy director (information), divisional information office, Pune will felicitate Shahnaz Baig. Through this Exhibition, Jeevidha will highlight the role of Tiger Reserves in tiger conservation, the creation of job opportunities for locals and the future challenges likely to be faced by Tiger Reserves, along with many such allied issues, through the medium of posters.

Similarly, to garner the support and participation of all sections of society, there will be a poster competition for adults, a drawing competition for school children and an essay competition for Junior College students too. This year, India completes the 50th year of the launch of Project Tiger. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had launched Project Tiger on April 1, 1973. Nine forest reserves were brought under the plan for protection of the big cat and for conservation measures. At present, we have 54 tiger reserves in the country. 70 pc of the worlds tiger population is in India, which points to the success of Project Tiger. The Central government has taken many steps and measures for the conservation of the national animal by creation of tiger reserves, banning hunting and involving the commoners in conservation programmes.

A painting at the exhibition

"The purpose behind holding contests was to reach out to the maximum number of people, especially students, children, researchers, so that they become well aware of this great social and national cause" Rajiv Pandit, founder-president, Jividha
We're thrilled to announce our participation in the upcoming Photonics West 2024 event and can't wait to welcome you there! As a leading innovator in photonics and imaging technologies, Hamamatsu will showcase our latest advancements and engage with fellow enthusiasts, industry pioneers, and visionaries. Prepare to immerse yourself in a world of cutting-edge solutions that push the boundaries of photonics. From detectors and sensors to imaging devices, our exhibitions will demonstrate the power of light-based technologies that are shaping the future. Discover how Hamamatsu is contributing to diverse fields, from healthcare to research and beyond.

This year we will have two contrasting exhibits at the Photonics West:

(1) Booth #1127, which will highlight photonic technologies and products available now.

(2) Vision Suite  a special exhibit that will unlock future opportunities of using photonics to help make a better world.

Additionally, we are exhibiting at the BiOS Expo, booth #8601 to showcase our products for biomedical research and healthcare solutions.

Join us at Photonics West 2024 to witness firsthand the incredible strides we're making in the world of photonics. Our commitment to driving progress and shaping the future through light knows no bounds, and we are excited to share this journey with you. Let's illuminate the path to innovation together.
A Davenport man is in Scott County Jail Friday after an early morning chase reached speeds of 75 mph in the Village of East Davenport and he was Tazed while fleeing on foot.

Zavaan Patrick Mueller, 20, faces Class D felony charges of second-degree criminal mischief and eluding, as well as serious misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and driving with a revoked license.

Mueller was pursued by the the Iowa State Patrol starting at roughly 1:35 a.m. Friday, a police report said. That pursuit started after an Iowa State trooper saw a light blue Charger leaving the BP gas station near the intersection of Locust and Bridge streets.

The report said the Charger did not have tail lights or a real license plate, and looked familiar from an OWI investigation two weeks prior, with Mueller as the registered owner who had a revoked license.

The trooper said he tried to initiate a traffic stop at the intersection of Locust and Adams streets, but the Charger accelerated southbound and tried to elude the trooper.

The trooper said the Charger reached speeds of 60 mph as it travelled south on Adams Street.

"During the pursuit I witnessed multiple traffic infractions including but not limited to; speeding in excess of 25 mph over the speed limit, fail to obey traffic control devices, unsafe turns, careless driving, unsafe approach to stationary vehicles, driving on the wrong side of the road and failure to maintain control," the trooper said in the report.

The pursuit "circled the area around the Village of East Davenport" and the Charger reached the speed of 75 mph while on 12th Street, the affidavit said. The trooper said the Charger drove toward Davenport Police units who were clearing intersections and trying to put out stop sticks.

Those efforts, the report said, were unsuccessful.

The pursuit came to an end near the intersection of Oneida Avenue and 10th Street after " .. a Precision Intervention Technique was attempted to avoid a collision. During the PIT the driver of the Charger continued to accelerate causing his vehicle to continue northbound striking a fully marked DPD cruiser causing in excess of $5,000 worth of damage. I then used my cruiser to pin the driver's door shut."

The troopers report said the driver of the Charger " ... then began kicking his own window in an attempt to try and flee on foot. He then jumped to the passenger's side and exited the vehicle fleeing on foot. A chase ensued and Mueller failed to stop or follow commands keeping his hands out of sign. I successfully deployed my Taser as Mueller was attempting to scale a fence. He was then taken into custody and checked over by EMS."

The report said a "bag of marijuana" was found in the car, though the report did not say if the substance was tested.

Mueller is in the Scott County Jail on two bonds totaling $14,000.
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.

Close Looking over the new furnace and water heater Nicole Mata, Community Development Manager, left, Ashley Smith, Tara Osborne and K.J. Whitley in the basement at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the Citys Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping. The kitchen of the renovated house at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house Thursday showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The one bathroom home that the City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the Citys Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping. Rock Island City Manager Todd Thompson, left, Miles Brainard, Community Economic Development Director City of Rock Island and Nichole Mata Community Development Manager in side the dining room area at the newly renovated home at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the Citys Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. One of the two bedrooms at the renovated house at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. Rock Island renovates home through Homestead Program Looking over the new furnace and water heater Nicole Mata, Community Development Manager, left, Ashley Smith, Tara Osborne and K.J. Whitley in the basement at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the Citys Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping. The kitchen of the renovated house at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house Thursday showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The one bathroom home that the City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the Citys Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping. Rock Island City Manager Todd Thompson, left, Miles Brainard, Community Economic Development Director City of Rock Island and Nichole Mata Community Development Manager in side the dining room area at the newly renovated home at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, built in 1923, was purchased by the City at tax auction for $909. Using funds from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA), the Citys Community and Economic Development Department spent $148,000 to gut and completely renovate the interior, install a new roof, new siding, lead-free pipes, high efficiency air system, water heater and landscaping. The City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31. One of the two bedrooms at the renovated house at 1830 32nd street in Rock Island. City of Rock Island hosted an open house showing the renovation of an abandoned property as part of the Citys Homestead Program. The public was able to view the house at 1830 32nd St., on Thursday, Aug. 31.
An incident Thursday led to police being sent to Davenport West High School.

Davenport police were dispatched to the school at approximately 2:16 p.m.

School district officials did not confirm how many students were involved, nor what the incident was.

"Today at Davenport West, there was an incident that occurred between a number of students," the district wrote via email at 3:50 p.m. "The initial disturbance was de-escalated by school staff. The Davenport Police Department was requested to assist. As always, we take all incidents of this nature seriously, and put the safety of our students and staff first and foremost."

District spokesman Sean Leary said the school did not go into lockdown.

Several Davenport Police squads patrolled the West High School campus as school was dismissed to ensure no other incidents occurred.

As investigations are ongoing, no further information is available at this time. There were no reports of any injuries.

Photos: Groundbreaking at Davenport West High School for expansion and renovations
The Fulshear Branch Library will open to the public at noon on Monday, Dec. 18. FBCL - Fulshear Branch Library The Fulshear Branch Library will open to the public at noon on Monday, Dec. 18. FBCL - Fulshear Branch Library

Fort Bend County Libraries newly constructed Fulshear Branch Library will welcome its first readers Dec. 18.

Located at 6350 GM Library Road off Texas Heritage Parkway the new library is replacing the permanently closed Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library, which had outgrown its space.

Its been a long time coming but were very excited to finally open the doors, welcome everyone in, and show off this wonderful new building, even if everything is not completely set up yet, library director Clara Russell said in a statement.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The construction of the new building started in summer 2021 and was originally expected to conclude by this summer. However unforeseen challenges arose, resulting in subsequent delays to the opening date.

It is considerably larger than the old building so we have much more space to work with, and we look forward to unveiling the full extent of the wonderful offerings we have in store for the public when we have the grand opening in January, Russell said.

Library staff recently gained access to the building and have been working feverishly to make the library ready for the soft opening this month, Russell said.

Occupying four times the area of the library it is replacing, the Fulshear Branch Library features more open spaces, natural lighting, an outdoor patio, study rooms and a computer lab with 176 computers, according to the library system.

There will be an area for young people featuring interactive gaming tables and musical instruments.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Well be opening in December with the most basic essentials for a library, so we ask for everyones patience while we work to complete the transformation over the next few weeks in preparation for the grand opening celebration, Russell said. Even with the rough patches, I think were going to be in good shape when we open those doors.
A Mesa, Arizona, man has been charged in Scott County for allegedly selling to an undercover agent 11 pounds of fentanyl pills that were to be distributed in the Quad-Cities region.

Pedro Adrian Ibarra-Valenzuela was arrested Nov. 15 in Arizona. He was booked into the Scott County Jail on Tuesday.

Ibarra-Valenzuela, 34, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of possession with the intent to deliver more than 50 grams of fentanyl. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 50 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Scott County Sheriffs agents and Scott County District Court documents, Ibarra-Valenzuela has been under surveillance and investigation by federal and local authorities, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, since May 28, 2021, after he sent 10 pounds of crystal meth to a woman in Fairfax, Iowa.

The meth was sent from a UPS store in the Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona region. Ibarra-Valenzuela was identified as the sender of the meth through surveillance footage captured at the UPS store.

During a post-Miranda interview, the woman told police that Ibarra-Valenzuela had supplied her with a total of 98 pounds of crystal meth. The woman then distributed portions of the meth to people in Scott County. A search of state and federal court records as of Friday do not indicate that the woman has been charged.

The Scott County Sheriffs agent was able to obtain Ibarra-Valenzuelas number and make contact with him through a Facetime call on July 26, 2023. The two made an arrangement where the agent purchased 20 blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl. The pills were sent to a post office box in Muscatine that is controlled by law enforcement.

On Aug. 24, 2023, the agent traveled to Tempe, Arizona, where he arranged to purchase 200 grams of fentanyl.

The agent kept in contact with Ibarra-Valenzuela, formulating plans to purchase 50,000 fentanyl pills, about 5 kilograms, in exchange for $37,500 that was sent to take place on Nov. 15 in Tempe.

Ibarra-Valenzuela was under the impression the agent would fly down to Tempe and then rent a vehicle to bring the pills back to Iowa.

On Nov. 15, 2023, Ibarra-Valenzuela delivered five large bundles of purported fentanyl pills to the agent which had a weight of at least 5 kilograms, or 11 pounds.

An additional 3 kilograms, or 6.6 pounds, of suspected fentanyl pills were located in Ibarra-Valenzuelas vehicle.

All total, Ibarra-Valenzuela allegedly was attempting to move 17.6 pounds of fentanyl pills.

Ibarra-Valenzuela was arrested and transported back to Iowa for prosecution.

According to Scott County District Court records, the DEA also has been able to place Ibarra-Valenzuela in New York, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Colorado. He also has drug ties to Alaska.

During a first appearance hearing held Wednesday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Eric Syverud scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for Dec. 8.

Ibarra-Valenzuela was being held Friday morning in the Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $25,000. After a hearing in Distirct Court, his bond was raised to $100,000, cash only.
Iowas Republican U.S. representatives voted to expel New York Republican George Santos from Congress on Friday, joining the bipartisan vote to oust the representative who has faced a string of scandals and criminal allegations since taking office.

Two Illinois representatives, both downstate Republicans, voted against the expulsion.

The extraordinary move makes Santos just the sixth member of the House  and first Republican  to be voted out by his peers. He also is the first since the Civil War to be expelled without first being convicted of a crime.

The vote, which required a two-thirds majority, passed 311-114. The yes votes included 105 Republicans and 206 Democrats, while the no votes included 112 Republicans and two Democrats.

Shortly after his election to Congress in 2022, Santos first caught attention when large portions of his biography were revealed to be fabricated, including his purported education, work history and family background.

A recent House ethics investigation found evidence he had committed a litany of campaign finance crimes, including stealing from his campaign, soliciting fraudulent donations and reporting fictitious loans to his campaign.

He also faces a 23-count federal indictment for election crimes, identity theft and wire fraud related to his campaign.

Iowa Republicans vote

to expel Santos,

condemn his actions

While a slim majority of Republicans voted against the measure, Iowas Republican representatives  Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn  joined the bipartisan vote to expel Santos.

In a statement, Nunn, who represents Iowas 3rd Congressional District, called Santos a con man and condemned his actions.

Those who serve in elected office should be held to the highest possible ethical standard, Nunn said. George Santos probably couldnt even find the word ethics in a dictionary. He has repeatedly proven to be a con man, and theres no doubt in my mind that he should be in prison, not the House of Representatives.

The American people are sick & tired of D.C. backroom deals that protect crooks & liars. To serve the American people, both Republicans & Democrats must put the best interests of our country ahead of politics. That's why I just voted to expel Santos from the U.S. House. pic.twitter.com/pFgEaMa8Li  Congressman Zach Nunn (@ZachNunn) December 1, 2023

Nunn also said the Senate should follow the Houses lead and expel U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who has been indicted on allegations of accepting bribes from Egyptian officials to influence U.S. policy.

In a statement, Miller-Meeks said she voted yes because of the evidence of criminal wrongdoing the House investigation uncovered. She also urged the Senate to expel Menendez and tied the effort to House Republicans investigations into the financial dealings of President Joe Biden and his family. House Republicans investigations have not found evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Biden.

Members and elected officials must be held to a higher standard, she said. This is especially important as we continue to investigate the Biden crime family and consider an upcoming vote for an impeachment inquiry to hold President Biden accountable.

Shortly before the vote, Hinson, who represents Iowas 2nd Congressional District, reaffirmed on social media her plans to support the congressmans ouster.

His conduct is beneath public office and he is unfit to serve in Congress, she said. We should focus on solving the challenges facing the American people & he should deal with his legal challenges as a private citizen.

As I said, if George Santos didnt resign, I would vote to expel him.



His conduct is beneath public office and he is unfit to serve in Congress. We should focus on solving the challenges facing the American people & he should deal with his legal challenges as a private citizen. pic.twitter.com/WR3UsvD7tB  Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) December 1, 2023

In a November statement on social media, Feenstra, who represents Iowas 4th Congressional District, called Santos actions unethical and illegal.

We expect our elected officials to operate truthfully, ethically, and responsibly on behalf of their constituents, he said. ...Rep. George Santos has proven that his ethics do not align with what we expect from our leaders.

In Iowa, we value integrity and dignity within our families, our communities, and public life. We expect our elected officials to operate truthfully, ethically, and responsibly on behalf of their constituents.  Rep. Randy Feenstra (@RepFeenstra) November 17, 2023

Illinois delegation divided on expulsion

Illinois congressional delegation split on the vote.

Among downstate representatives, Eric Sorensen (D- Moline), whose district includes Rock Island County, and Darin LaHood (R-Peoria), whose district includes most of Henry County, voted to expel Santos. They were joined by the downstate Democrat, Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield).

Mary Miller (R-Oakland) joined her southern Illinois colleague Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) in voting against the expulsion. Millers district includes parts of Mercer County.

Illinois Chicago area representatives, all Democrats, voted to expel Santos except Jonathan Jackson (D-Chicago) who voted present.

Connor Wood of the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus contributed to this report.

Photos: Rep. George Santos, R-NY
Nikki Haleys presidential campaign is launching its first ad of the Republican presidential primary on Friday, highlighting chaos in our streets and calling for a president with moral clarity.

The spot, airing Friday, is part of a previously announced $10 million ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire.

The 30-second spot will run on broadcast and cable TV and across digital platforms, according to Haleys campaign. The former United Nations ambassador and former South Carolina governor had previously relied on TV advertising paid for by SFA Fund Inc., the super PAC backing Haleys bid for the White House.

The ad, first reported by Politico, features video of Haley taking a vote during a United Nations Security Council meeting and visiting Israel. It also shows footage of shootings in the street, recent pro-Palestinian protests in front of the White House, and 2018 video of Iranian lawmakers burning a paper U.S. flag in Tehran.

A president must have moral clarity and know the difference between good and evil, Haley says in the ad. Today, China, Russia, and Iran are advancing. Theres chaos in our streets and college campuses. Our security is threatened at home and abroad.

Its time for a new generation of conservative leadership, Haley says in the ad. We have to leave behind the chaos and drama of the past and strengthen our country, our pride, and our purpose.

While Haley doesnt directly mention former President Donald Trump, the current GOP presidential front-runner, Haley has said on the campaign trail  including at a campaign town hall in Dubuque earlier this month  that while she agrees with many of Trumps policies and was "proud to serve in his administration that the reality is chaos follows him.  We don't want that chaos to continue to follow us when we have all these threats around."

The ad launch comes days after Haley was endorsed by Americans for Prosperity Action, the political arm of the influential conservative network led by billionaire Charles Koch. AFP Action, in its endorsement, promised to commit its nationwide coalition of activists to help Haley defeat Trump in the GOP primary contest, the Associated Press reported.

Additionally, in the coming days, well launch extensive mail, digital, and connected television campaigns to supplement those on-the-ground efforts, AFP Action wrote in a memo of its endorsement.

Haley, though, remains far behind Trump in polls, both in Iowa and nationally.

The world is on fire, and Americans are desperate for a leader with moral clarity who will make America strong and proud, Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement. Americans are tired of the chaos and drama of the past. Nikki Haley is the one candidate who offers both a new conservative direction for the country and is a hands-down winner against Joe Biden.

New ad looks to show softer side to firebrand 2024 GOP candidate

Ohio biotech entrepreneur and GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamys campaign launched a new TV ad Thursday running in Iowa and New Hampshire. The ad features Ramaswamy's childhood piano teacher, Mary Ann Jordan, singing her former star pupil's praises.

"I know Vivek Ramaswamy because I was his piano teacher. I would teach Vivek about the Constitution after his piano lessons. I taught Vivek to love liberty, Jordan says in the ad. Vivek is a true conservative. I put him in that same category with Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. He has the same ability, and he's not afraid. I think our country would be very blessed to have Vivek.

The ad features a photo of Ramaswamy at the piano as a child and video of Ramaswamy today playing the piano.

"She was probably the first true hard-line conservative that I met, Ramaswamy said in a statement. She brought a biography of Ronald Reagan one day. I was in high school them, and she brought it to me as an assignment to read it.

The new ad, which shows a softer side to the firebrand 2024 GOP presidential candidate, is part of a current media buy and will run on cable and broadcast in Iowa and New Hampshire for the next two weeks, according to Ramaswamys campaign.

Trump coming to Cedar Rapids, Coralville ahead of Iowa caucuses

Former President Donald Trump will visit Ankeny, Cedar Rapids and Coralville in the next two weeks.

Trump, the current Republican presidential front-runner, will speak at a campaign event at Kirkwood Community College on Saturday. Doors will open at noon and Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks to the crowd at 3 p.m. He is scheduled to hold a campaign event earlier in the day at Whiskey River Ankeny in the Des Moines suburb.

Trump is scheduled to return to Iowa Dec. 13 for another campaign event in Coralville. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Conference Center, according to Trumps campaign. Doors will open at 3 p.m. and Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at 6 p.m.

In state and national polling, Trump maintains commanding double-digit leads over the rest of the Republican primary field. In rolling averages of polls on Republican presidential candidates in Iowa, Trumps support is at 47% at Real Clear Politics and 44.7% at FiveThirtyEight. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is at 17.3% at Real Clear Politics and 17.5% at FiveThirtyEight, or 29.7 and 27.2 points behind Trump, respectively. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley sits in third at 14.3% and 15.3%, respectively.

Trump has been noticeably absent from Republican primary events in Iowa, which will hold the first-in-the-nation Iowa Republican caucuses on Jan. 15, and has skipped the Republican primary debates, citing his commanding lead in early state and national polls.

The fourth Republican debate will be held next Wednesday night in Alabama. Trump again will be absent from the state, opting instead to headline a closed-door fundraiser in Florida, according to ABC News.

The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024 1. West Virginia 2. Montana 3. Ohio 4. Pennsylvania 5. Arizona 6. Nevada 7. Wisconsin 8. Michigan 9. Texas 10. Florida Analysis: Pennsylvania moves up list of contested Senate seats in 2024
Midnight ball drop. Champagne toast. Live music and drinks. If theres one night to really do it up and go all out, its New Years Eve. And the best way to toast to a new year? The luxurious way, enjoying a memorable night out with friends and family.

From the iconic Hotel Alex Johnson ball drop in Rapid City, South Dakota, to the exhilarating casino action in Deadwood, South Dakota, Liv Hospitality is pulling out all the stops for New Years Eve parties to ensure your night will be nothing short of amazing.

Where should you celebrate? Here are our picks for the most exciting New Year's Eve celebrations in the Black Hills, and the best hotels to spend your night in style.

Ring in the New Year at Cadillac Jacks Gaming Resort with luxurious accommodations, the best casino gaming floor in Deadwood, and the hottest promotions including a $2 million-dollar Cadillac Cash giveaway and a $60k Cash Bash promotion. Experience the finest lodging at one of the convenient on-site accommodations: SpringHill Suites by Marriott, DoubleTree by Hilton and Tru by Hilton.

Ring in the New Year with a massive All That Glitters & Glows celebration at the Hotel Alex Johnson in downtown Rapid City. This event will feature live music, midnight ball drop, ping pong prize shootout and nonstop fun throughout the hotel. Want to go all out this year? Book the NYE Party Package and keep the celebration going all night long.

NYE package:

Hotel stay

Two tickets to The Alexs NYE Party in the ballroom

Live music by Judd Hoos

Midnight ball drop

Two complimentary mimosas at Paddy ONeills on New Years Day

Late checkout at 1 p.m.

Take your New Years Eve celebration to the next level with the casino-wide promotions and the Big Shot Bash experience at Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort in Deadwood. Guests can enjoy luxurious and comfortable accommodations at Hampton by Hilton and Four Points by Sheraton. Don't miss out on the $5 million Secret Stacks and the $30K Countdown to Cash promotions, as well as all the great hot seats at Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort this New Year's Eve!

Big Shot Bash experience package:

$200 dining credit

$150 in free play

Free parking

Late checkout at 2 p.m.

Breakfast for two at Best Brews

Complimentary champagne

25% off next day stay

Forgo the chilly South Dakota winter air for a family-friendly, beach-inspired NYE party at WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort. Be a part of Rapid Citys best family-friendly New Years Eve celebration with exciting waterslides, live music, giveaways, cookout-style buffet and a special countdown! The NYE Room Package can be booked at any of four hotels: Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, La Quinta by Wyndham, or Home2 Suites by Hilton. Dont forget, you must purchase a room package to be a part of the celebration.

NYE beach bash package:

Hotel stay at one of four hotels

Exclusive access to WaTiki  after 4 p.m.

after 4 p.m. Five WaTiki  general admission passes

general admission passes Five Sliders Beach Bash Cookout buffet tickets

Two limited edition New Years Eve WaTiki  towels

towels Live DJ

East Coast ball drop at 10 p.m.

Special discount for $10 WaTiki  general admission passes on New Years Day

general admission passes on New Years Day Special room rate of $20.24 when you book a room for New Years Day

Come celebrate like its the 80s, 90s, 2000s and jam to some of your favorite classic party songs with PopROCKS Live in concert! Featuring classic house party games and snacks, costume contests and keg beer, youll be celebrating like its a New Years Eve rager. Make the most of your NYE celebration by upgrading with one of two special NYE room packages at Courtyard by Marriott.

NYE party package:

Hotel stay at Courtyard by Marriott

Two breakfast tokens to The Bistro

Complimentary keg beer

NYE VIP party package:

Spacious guest room at Courtyard by Marriott

Two VIP tickets

VIP meet and greet with the PopROCKS band

VIP seating

VIP hors d'oeuvres

Two breakfast tokens to The Bistro

Complimentary keg beer

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.
A 52-year-old Rapid City man pleaded not guilty Monday in Pennington County Court to eight charges alleging he abused two children and an adult last year.

James Norris Jr. appeared before Presiding Judge Craig Pfeifle from the Pennington County Jail through video conference. His defense attorney, Martha Rossiter, attended the hearing in the courtroom.

Deputy Pennington County State's Attorney Roxanne Hammond represented the state and read the Oct. 18 indictment aloud.

In the indictment, a Pennington County grand jury charged Norris with the eight crimes that allegedly occurred in November 2022 and December 2022.

He is accused of sexual contact with a child under 16 and second-degree rape against an 11-year-old on Dec. 27, 2022; aggravated child abuse against a 2-year-old on Dec. 29, 2022; simple assault and false imprisonment against a 36-year-old on Dec. 28, 2022; and second-degree rape and aggravated assault against the same 36-year-old on Nov. 9, 2022.

The indictment alleges he was armed with a firearm during the Nov. 9, 2022 rape. For that, he faces a charge of commission of a felony with a firearm.

First-degree rape  which is rape of a child under the age of 13  is a class C felony with a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life and up to a $50,000 fine. Second-degree rape  which involves the use of force, coercion or threats of immediate bodily harm  is a class 1 felony with a maximum of 50 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.

Aggravated assault is a class three felony with a maximum of 15 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine. Child abuse is a class four felony with a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. Sexual contact with a child under 16 is a class three felony with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 15 years and up to a $30,000 fine. Commission of a felony with a firearm is a class two felony with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and maximum of 25 years and up to a $50,000 fine.

Simple assault and false imprisonment are both class one misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of one year in the county jail and a $2,000 fine.

Norris is held on a $100,000 cash only bond. Rossiter  Norris' defense attorney  asked the court for a hearing to address his bond. Pfeifle set a hearing for 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 14.
SIOUX FALLS  Bob Douglas, touted as a success story of Gov. Kristi Noems "Freedom Works Here workforce recruitment campaign in South Dakota, confirmed a few things during a recent interview with News Watch.

The 66-year-old recreational vehicle salesman does enjoy freedom, it turns out. And he loves South Dakota. He plans to move to the Sioux Falls area once he sells his house in southern California, maybe as early as next spring. Douglas was referenced in a Sept. 21 press release from the governors office as having recently moved to South Dakota.

As for being heralded by the governors staff as an example of Noems $6.5 million ad campaign drawing new residents to the Mount Rushmore State, well, thats not exactly true either.

I wasnt really aware of the campaign, said Douglas, whose experience in the RV industry led to him being hired by Parkston-based Trailmanor as a West Coast representative in 2022. He was then named the companys national sales and marketing director in April 2023, several months before the Governors Office of Economic Development (GOED) launched the Freedom Works Here effort.

Douglas told News Watch that politics played a role in his decision to take the Trailmanor job. He called Noem a rock star and added that his community of Tehachapi, about 100 miles from Los Angeles, holds rallies supporting former President Donald Trump that he and his wife, Jennifer, attend.

Once you get out into the valley and mountains and away from the big cities, youll find a whole lot of people that think the way that my wife and I think, said Douglas.

Finding younger workers a challenge

For economic development corporations and businesses in South Dakota, many of which contributed $10,000 to help fund the Freedom Works Here campaign, Douglas story is an oversimplification of workforce recruitment.

Politically motivated individuals, many of them at or near retirement age, have helped boost South Dakotas population by seeking more lenient tax structures or escaping what they perceived as heavy-handed COVID-era policies in Democratic-controlled states such as Minnesota, California and Colorado.

Net migration between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, was one of the main reasons South Dakota ranked fifth in percentage of population growth (1.5%) among U.S. states during that span, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

For South Dakota businesses, however, skilled workers between the ages of 25 and 35 are the sweet spot they would like to attract as the states unemployment rate hovers at 1.9%, with about 20,000 open jobs. The process of trying to persuade younger workers to take a job in South Dakota is a painstaking one that goes beyond political platitudes, said Watertown Development Co. executive director Chris Clifton.

I know when I was 25 to 35 years old, I was not going to fill out a form and make a conscious, life-changing decision after talking to somebody on the internet a few times, said Clifton. If you look at the content of 'Freedom Works Here,' I mean, youre kind of celebrating motherhood, apple pie and Chevrolet, so to speak. For a lot of people its like, how can you be against it? But theres a lot of decision-making that goes into the process.

'We're in uncharted territory here'

Economic development corporations and some major employers were solicited for contributions by the Governors Office of Economic Development in August to help extend a national run of Noems TV and social media commercials. That helped fund a $1.5 million phase two of advertisements that GOED said will roll out soon.

The commercials so far have shown Noem acting as plumber, electrician, welder and dentist to illustrate the need for more workers in South Dakota. The governors office said that the ads have been viewed over 800 million times," but GOED officials declined to share with News Watch the specific methodology or data used to arrive at that number.

"This is a combination of impressions  that is actual views  on both the TV ads and the digital ads," Sarah Ebeling, GOED's communications coordinator, wrote in an emailed response to requests for more information.

At a Nov. 13 meeting in Pierre, members of the Legislatures Appropriations Committee pointed to the lack of hard data connecting new residents to the Freedom Works Here campaign, as opposed to those who made the decision for other reasons.

The legislative oversight is focused on more than $5 million in Future Fund dollars used to enlist the marketing and distribution services of Ohio-based Strategic Media Services and Tennessee-based Designsensory Inc. as part of the GOED initiative.

Economic development officials interviewed by News Watch said they are concerned about getting their moneys worth. As part of their investment, they received raw data of respondents who signed up or provided information through the Freedom Works Here website, a total of about 7,500 names and email addresses.

Noem's office and GOED claim that more than 1,800 applicants "are in the final stages" of moving to South Dakota. Ebeling told News Watch that number is based on how many people created an account on the South Dakota Works website through the Department of Labor and Regulation to explore employment options in the state. It's not clear how many will actually relocate.

"This campaign started June 21, 2023," Ebeling wrote in her response. "Five months is a fairly short turnaround time to pick up your life and move to a different state."

Economic development officials are sorting through data they received from GOED, trying to gauge which respondents to the Freedom Works Here campaign have serious interest in moving to South Dakota.

We have not had anyone relocate yet, but I would qualify that to say that I didnt expect it would happen this quickly, said Michael Bokorny, CEO of the Aberdeen Development Corp. Were in uncharted territory here. Theres not really a technical manual on how to do this. Were kind of making it up as we go.

Concerns raised about compiling data

Several development officials said more work could have been done by GOED and the Department of Labor to filter data on the front end, such as itemizing by preference of community or profession. They also expressed surprise that they were asked to contribute to a campaign that they werent consulted on ahead of time and didnt know much about until it launched.

Before I made my way through the data, I wanted to know exactly what the Department of Labor did or what filtration they used, said Clifton. I got a bunch of gobbledygook that basically said, We cant tell you what we did, but we did all we could do. Im a little suspicious about that because Ive been involved in a lot of marketing campaigns that were very specific about impressions. There's going to be a lot of heavy lifting on the back end to get this into a net result of who actually makes the move and takes a job.

Elevate Rapid City, which supports economic development in the Black Hills region, encountered problems with names and contact information being duplicated in the data. There was also no record of who had already been contacted and what those conversations entailed, pointing to the competitive nature of different communities promoting their job prospects and quality of life.

More statewide coordination could have helped alleviate those problems, said Tom Johnson, Elevate Rapid Citys president and CEO.

Im guessing a lot of folks on this list have been contacted in one form or another by more than a dozen groups and businesses in South Dakota, Johnson told News Watch. I could see that becoming overwhelming. Weve had numerous people on the list who have interpreted these contacts from all the communities as spam, which impacts the effectiveness of the outreach. Its every community and business for themselves, with multiple entities who paid into the program trying to make the most of the names that were given.

'We take them one at a time'

Each community took its own approach to curating the data and chasing down leads. Beyond the initial names and addresses, there is a significant amount of follow-up recruitment  what several officials called handholding  necessary to persuade someone to uproot their life and move to another state.

The Aberdeen Development Corp. contacted all 7,500 names on the list through email and social media, whittling the group down to about 140 who might be interested in moving to northeast South Dakota.

Im surprised we got 140 people interested, Bokorny said. I did not think we would get that because this is kind of a crap shoot, and theres a lot of work still to do. We also had to further qualify those 140 names by asking ourselves, 'Are we a good fit for these people? Do they make sense for us as well?'

Bokorny and his staff worked with partners such as the city of Aberdeen, Northern State University and the local YMCA to put together a package of $5,000 worth of incentives for prospective employees and families who choose to relocate to Aberdeen.

As of mid-November, Bokorny said three individuals had agreed to visit the area to see if moving there makes sense for them, including an optometrist from a blue state who reached out primarily for political reasons tied to what his kids were being taught in school.

If we get one family out of all these efforts to relocate to Aberdeen, to me thats a win, Bokorny said. I mean, we take them one at a time in our neck of the woods.

Tim Reed serves as a Republican state senator from Brookings and CEO of the communitys economic development group. He said he and other local officials were taken back when GOED director Chris Schilken requested money to extend the national ad campaign.

It was a surprise, and it had to be weighed out whether each of our organizations thought it was worth the money, Reed said. In the end my board said basically, Lets do it, but there was some caution to it.

Upon receiving the data, Reed and his staff sent a mass email to all 7,500 names, directing them to a local job board to find more information about employment options in the Brookings area.

We had very good open rates, said Reed, referencing the percentage of people who opened the email rather than ignoring it. And we know that some of those people have clicked through to our job board. But its going to take a while. No one is going to move here in 30 days, right? We know that theyve gone on a website and said theyre interested, but thats all we know. Where are they? Are they really ready to move? These are things we need to find out.

Elevate Rapid City took a similar approach and has seen encouraging response rates. Johnson said that 79 people applied for openings on the Black Hills job board, 66 signed up as job seekers on the Elevate Rapid City website, and 30 resumes have been added to the job bank. His staff has conducted seven face-to-face meetings over Zoom.

We were encouraged (by state officials) to send out emails about our communities and, if able, do a direct mail afterwards, which would be incredibly cost prohibitive, Johnson said. Aside from that, the ball was mostly in our court to do what we felt was best for our community.

As for how many people he expected to relocate to Rapid City for employment, Johnson said: Its anyones guess. Theres a saying that cash aint cash until you collect. The same thing is true here. Its not going to be real until someone has been hired and relocated here and working for one of our great businesses.

'I was looking for a change'

People like Bob Douglas, the RV salesman who plans to move to South Dakota from California, dont need a lot of persuading. South Dakota was in their sights because of Noems doctrine of limited government, whether that means lower taxes or fewer restrictions during a public health emergency.

South Dakota ranked third behind New Hampshire and Florida for policies impacting economic, social and personal freedoms in 2022, according to the Cato Institute, a Libertarian-leaning think tank, which factored COVID-19 responses into its formula.

Those principles resonated with Chad Armstrong, a 49-year-old U.S. Marine veteran and hardcore conservative who moved to Rapid City from Butte, Montana, in October with his wife, Natashja. Armstrong chose South Dakota over Missouri and Texas partly because of Noem's messaging as well as his connection to Bradley Cummings, a veterans employment representative with the Department of Labor.

I was looking for a change in the way that states regulate themselves, said Armstrong, who started in November as a substitute fourth-grade teacher at General Beadle Elementary in Rapid City. I was looking for a place that isnt under the government welfare system and a place where you can keep your money.

Armstrong is considering pursuing an online doctorate degree from Liberty University in public policy and Chinese affairs, following up a masters degree in cybersecurity from Southern New Hampshire University. He also said he might run for school board or sheriff.

Armstrong founded a nonprofit, the Forgotten Fifteen Foundation, with fellow Marines he served with during the 2006 Battle of Ramadi in the Iraq War. The goal is to provide support for veterans who are struggling to make the transition from military to civilian life.

Noems office said in a press release that the nonprofit would be headquartered in South Dakota, but the organization listed no revenue or expenses on its 2022 disclosure form.

My dream would be to build a Forgotten Fifteen compound and the front of it would look just like the entrance to Mount Rushmore, said Armstrong.

Asked if it would be built in South Dakota, he said it was more likely to be built in the state where most of his fellow Marines currently reside.

That would be California, he said.

This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org.
Gov. Kristi Noem is backing an agriculture bill that proposes tougher restrictions on six countries from buying U.S. farmland.

Noem announced her support Tuesday for "Protecting U.S. Farmland and Sensitive Sites from Foreign Adversaries Act," an act amending the National Defense Authorization Act, a series of federal laws overseeing the U.S. Department of Defense's annual budget and expenditures, to expand protections around farmland.

The bill's primary purpose is to restrict countries considered "foreign adversaries"  namely, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela  from purchasing farmland in the U.S., particularly land which is near national security sites and critical infrastructure.

Notably, in a letter to U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and prime sponsor of the bill, Noem applauded the bill for proposing "more protections for  agricultural land" than a similar bipartisan amendment written by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, which was passed by the Senate on July 25 by a 91-7 vote.

Rounds' act, which still awaits House approval, received widespread support from South Dakota's largest farm groups, including South Dakota Farmers Union and South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation.

In a statement, the senator told the Argus Leader he is "hopeful that there is enough strength in the House to include this provision in the final version of NDAA." The statement included a link to the press release from the Rounds office which included the aforementioned support.

By contrast, nearly all of South Dakota's major farm groups publicly opposed the Noem-backed bill during this year's state legislative session in February, which attempted to establish an independent, state-run board akin to CFIUS but effectively headed by the sitting governor.

We agree with Gov. Noem that a federal solution is required to tackle this problem," Rounds said.

What does Gallagher's act propose?

The implementation of the Wisconsin Republican's act would grant the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, an agency within the U.S. Department of Treasury, "jurisdiction over all land purchases (with exceptions for real estate in urban areas and single housing units) by foreign adversary entities," according to a July 12 press release from U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA).

I write to you out of mutual concern for the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. I offer my support for H.R. 4577 and urge that it be added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Noem wrote to Gallagher. Food security is a matter of national security We have seen China use fear and control to perpetuate their agenda for generations. If they successfully control our food supply, they will be able to control the United States.

It would also raise the threshold of approval for purchases for CFIUS transactions by a foreign adversary entity purchasing near sensitive sites.

Gallagher first introduced the act to the House on July 12. Thirty cosponsors, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson among them, support the bill.

This story originally appeared in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
With the closure of the Hope Center scheduled for Dec. 8, identifying alternative resources for those in need has become increasingly important in Rapid City. Among the organizations that provide assistance to those struggling with poverty is the Western South Dakota Community Action Agency, an organization engaged locally in the fight against poverty.

With the recent Hope Center turmoil, a new emphasis on organizations providing services to the homeless has emerged among city organizations and leaders. The Hope Center, founded more than a decade ago, has provided services and daytime shelter. However, the center announced on Oct. 16 that it would cease public services by Dec. 8 due to uncontrollable circumstances.

Originating in Rapid City as part of the war on poverty efforts of the 1960s, Community Action now extends its services across 14 counties, including Bennett, Butte, Corson, Custer, Dewey, Fall River, Haakon, Harding, Jackson, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins and Ziebach.

Located in Rapid City, the agency's governance structure includes a diverse board of directors, drawing members from the low-income communities they serve, government and the civic sector. The inclusive approach ensures a broad perspective in tackling poverty-related issues according to Shawn Burke, WSDCA's executive director.

"Our focus is broad, from employment and housing assistance to addressing basic needs. Our goal is to help individuals move past poverty to achieve self-sufficiency, Burke said.

WSDCAs network comprises 14 volunteer organizations with over 200 volunteers. The groups provide localized, community-driven support, helping to address a variety of regional needs.

Our weatherization program helps make homes more energy-efficient. We also collaborate with the state for energy assistance and emergency services like furnace repairs. Our thrift store, offering $1 clothing and vouchers for those in urgent need, is a testament to our commitment to affordability, said Operations Manager Laura Hamm.

The agency plays a critical role in bridging the financial gap for low-income households. WSDCAs efforts help about 12,000 individuals a year.

"From health insurance navigation to nutrition education, we aim to provide holistic support. We also focus on teaching basic cooking skills, crucial for self-reliance, Hamm said.

Funded primarily by federal programs, WSDCA is exploring new avenues for funding to expand and enhance its services.

"Expanding our financial resources is crucial for improving our facilities and services. This will enable us to assist more people effectively, Burke said.

A key service offered by WSDCA is assistance in obtaining IDs and birth certificates, often a barrier to employment and housing.

"We consistently provide this crucial service, which can be a starting point for many to access further assistance, Hamm said.

In addressing housing, the chronic need for more affordable housing options remains the issue, Burke said.

"Building affordable homes and creating transitional housing solutions are essential. We've been involved in such initiatives since the 1972 Flood in Rapid City. However, the challenge of inadequate housing and the increasing risk of homelessness remains a pressing issue, Burke said.

The need for community-wide engagement in addressing the local and nationwide homeless and poverty crisis is pivotal in alleviating it, Burke explained.

"Addressing the multifaceted issue of poverty requires concerted efforts from all sectors. Collaboration with other organizations, the city, and state is key to developing sustainable solutions, he said.
Looking to get outside this holiday season? Wind Cave has a slate of activities open to the public through the month of December.

The parks holiday open house is set for Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Visitor's Center. Light refreshments will be served, and students from the Hot Springs Elementary third grade will present their Christmas program at 1:30 p.m.

The annual Christmas Bird Count will take place Sunday, Dec. 17. The count begins at 7:30 a.m. in front of the Visitor's Center. Staff will distribute hiking and driving routes and datasheet packets. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch and warm clothes. Binoculars, field guides and spotting scopes will also be helpful. The count ends at 2 p.m. Participants are not required to attend the whole day. Packets are due back to the Visitor Centers front door drop box with datasheets completed by 2:30 p.m.

Anyone wishing to attend should contact angela_jarding@nps.gov or call her at 605-745-1157.

The count is patterned after the nationwide National Audubon Society effort to document trends in wintering birdlife throughout the United States. It will cover all of Wind Cave National Park and areas of the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park. Information from the count will be provided to the South Dakota Ornithological Union.

The Visitor's Center and cave will close on Christmas and New Years Day. Throughout the remainder of the winter season, the Visitor's Center will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with cave tours at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
The mysterious trend of dogs coming down with a severe respiratory illness appears to have entered Montana as of Friday. State Veterinarian Tahnee Szymanski told the Missoulian Friday morning shes received several reports out of Gallatin County consistent with the disease occurring in other states.

Theres some evidence that maybe we have something similar, she said, and increased respiratory illness in a few communities.

The unidentified respiratory illness  or illnesses  has severely sickened dogs across the country and led to pneumonia and death in some cases. At this time, there is no known cause or treatment for the elusive sickness and therefore no way to test and confirm its presence in any given area.

Szymanski stressed not to panic over the emergence of canine respiratory cases in Montana. But she said dog owners could take precautions such as avoiding contact with other dogs. As in cases reported elsewhere, some of the dogs displaying symptoms in the Bozeman area have travel histories that indicate the potential for exposure.

The illness or set of illnesses currently plaguing pups around the country displays as a usual respiratory infection, with runny noses and eyes, coughing, lethargy and decreased appetite. However, many dogs who have been treated with antibiotics have not responded to the treatment.

Missoula-area vets earlier this week said they hadnt seen increased respiratory infections locally, and they too urged caution and patience.

Veterinarian Sam Mitchell at the Humane Society of Western Montana encouraged pet owners to make sure their dogs are up to date on vaccinations. She also suggested getting in touch with congregate facilities like kennels to check if any of their dogs have been sick recently.

She added that dog parks could be a risk for contagion as well, but its simply too early to know exactly what is being spread and how its spreading.

Its really tricky, she stressed. Its hard at this point to say who is vulnerable.

Veterinarian Caroline Buisson at Sentinel Veterinary Specialists and Emergency said dogs with other health issues could be more susceptible to the respiratory trend.

I think all veterinarians are keeping an eye on this, she said. Were watching it closely just like we would with any new infectious disease.

But while Sentinel is open 24/7 for emergency cases, Buisson advised pet owners to get in touch with their primary veterinarians as the first line of response to a potential respiratory issue.
Hanukkah starts Dec. 7 this year, which means celebrations of the Festival of Lights are taking place across the Houston area. The message of Hanukkah is one of light and hope, and at the center of its celebration is the menorah.

The eight-day Jewish celebration is traditionally kicked off with a menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. Heres where to find Hanukkah celebrations across the Houston suburbs.

Sara Blecher yells with joy as music plays after a nine-foot menorah is lit during the annual celebration of Hanukkah at Market Street, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in The Woodlands. For the last decade, Chabad of The Woodlands has held the event in celebrate the Jewish holiday tradition as a community-wide celebration. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Sugar Land

Chanukah Spectacular

Location: Sugar Land Towne Square at 15958 City Walk

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The grand menorah is lit at the 2021 Chanukah Spectacular in Sugar Land. Courtesy/Chabad of Sugar Land

Join the Chabad of Sugar Land at Sugar Land Town Square starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7. The menorah lighting will feature "The Great Gelt Drop" treat parade, balloon art, Israeli donuts, crafts for the kids, jugglers, music and dancing.

Katy

LaCenterra Menorah Lighting

Location: LaCenterra at 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Rabbi Dovid Goldstein speaks while lighting the menorah in LaCenterra on Monday, Nov. 29 2021 in Katy. By Claire Goodman / Staff writer

The Chabad of West Houston invites the community to LaCenterra to enjoy a night of music, Isreali food, and a menorah lighting from 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 10.

The Woodlands

Grand Chanukah Celebration and Menorah Lighting

Location: Market Street at 9595 Six Pines Drive

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Rabbi Mendel Blecher lights a nine-foot, seven branched menorah during the annual menorah lighting to celebrate Hanukkah at Market Street, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in The Woodlands. For the last decade, Chabad of The Woodlands has held the event to celebrate the Jewish holiday tradition as a community-wide celebrate, which features a nine-foot, seven-branched menorah. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Hosted by Chabad of The Woodlands, the menorah lighting at Market Street is in its 13th year. On Dec. 10 starting at 4:30 p.m., enjoy live music from Israel Portnoy and watch the giant menorah lighting.

Cypress

Grand Chanukah Celebration and Pop-Up Marketplace

Location: Cypress Center for Jewish Life at 14350 Cypress Road

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A fire juggler entertains at the Chabad of Cypress Chanukah celebration in 2022. Courtesy/Chabad of Cypress

Spread the light of Chanukah and join together with the Jewish community at the Chabad of Cypress. On Dec. 10 at 4:45 p.m., the Chabad of Cypress will celebrate Chanukah with a pop-up shop, menorah lighting, live music, bounce house, fire jugglers and latkes and doughnuts.

Bay Area

Chanukah Fest at the Lagoon

Location: Blue Lagoon at Lago Mar

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Chabad of the Bay Area celebrates a menorah lighting in 2022. Courtesy/Chabad of the Bay Area
Karol Kain Gray, the chief financial officer at Virginia Commonwealth University, will retire in February, the university announced this week, leading VCU to adjust its leadership roles.

Gray has worked at VCU for eight years, where she oversaw its budget grow to nearly $1.5 billion.

She leaves as the university and its health system are under scrutiny for paying $73 million to exit a redevelopment deal in downtown Richmond and VCU is cutting $25 million from its budget and at least 76 jobs from its payroll.

Neither was a factor in her decision to retire, she said in an interview Thursday. A few years ago, she planned to retire but was asked to stay on during the pandemic by school President Michael Rao.

She turned 70 earlier this year and recently welcomed her first grandchild.

It was in the works for some time, she said.

Hired by VCU in 2016, Gray was previously a head of finance and administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York.

VCU was her favorite college, though, as she developed an affinity for the city of Richmond and the universitys students.

Higher education has given me life and energy because its what I believe in, she said.

To fill Grays spot, Meredith Weiss, vice president for administration, will add to her duties interim vice president for finance and chief financial officer. Weiss currently heads up the universitys facilities, police, human resources, crisis response and other departments. Like Gray, Weiss joined VCU in 2016 and previously worked at UNC Chapel Hill.

VCU announced Karen Helderman, who heads the universitys audit and compliance team, will become chief of staff, a position previously split between Gray and Pamela D. Lepley. David Litton, also in the audit and compliance department, will take Heldermans job.

By so many measures, VCU is completing its best year ever; Meredith and Karen are proven leaders who will help ensure that we keep that positive momentum going, Rao said in a statement.

During Grays eight years, the universitys budget grew by one-third to roughly $1.5 billion, which does not include the separate budget kept by the VCU Health System.

The cost of tuition has grown significantly in the past 20 years but mostly leveled off since the pandemic. This year, an in-state undergraduate pays roughly $16,000 for tuition and fees and $14,000 for room and board.

VCU welcomed about 4,600 freshmen this year, one of its largest classes ever, giving the school about 29,000 total students.

Gray helped develop a new budget model that incentivizes departments within VCU  divisions that bring in more students can receive new money. While the School of Health Professions has flourished, the College of Humanities and Sciences, which houses Chemistry, English, Philosophy and a number of other majors, has struggled to maintain their levels of students.

When Gray was hired, the university had nine senior leadership positions at the level of vice president. VCUs website now lists 14 vice presidents. Among positions elevated to the level of vice president are a position to oversee enrollment and the job of leading student affairs.

VCU has received criticism for hiring too many administrators and not enough professors. But Gray said that when she arrived, the university was in need of administrators for research, fundraising and the School of Medicine. The new hires were necessary and strategic, and VCU trailed other colleges in its ratio of administrators to faculty members. VCU last year set school records for sponsored research funding and donations received.

Moving forward, VCU plans to strategically grow its faculty, Gray said.

This morning's headlines: Henry Kissinger; lead pipes; Israel-Hamas truce extended
Across Virginia public schools, the chronic absenteeism rate  or the percentage of students who miss more than 10% of the school year  has nearly doubled since before the COVID-19 pandemic. One division leading the nation in addressing chronic absenteeism by redefining it though an engagement lens is Richmond Public Schools.

While RPS still has an absenteeism rate slightly higher than the states average, it has decreased chronic absenteeism three times more than the state number over the past few years.

Through an engagement approach, the urban school division  which has historically struggled with attendance  has reduced its chronic absenteeism to a rate even lower than pre-pandemic levels. Two years ago at the height of chronic absenteeism, the division had an overall rate of 37% chronic absenteeism. That has since dropped to 18%.

RPS students also gained an additional 27,114 class hours this year, or about 493 instructional hours per day.

The significant rise in chronic absenteeism rates in the U.S. have contributed to declines in reading and math scores on the National Assessment of Student Progress, the White House said in September. Virginia fourth-graders suffered some of the largest declines in reading and math proficiency in the nation since the start of the pandemic, according to NAEP test scores released this year. The commonwealths Black and Hispanic students faced some of the sharpest declines.

Last school year, nearly one in five Virginia students was chronically absent. Between the 2018-2019 school year and last school year, the states absenteeism rate for grades three to eight increased from 9% to 17%.

RPS for the past few years has reframed the chronic absenteeism issue by moving away from a truancy approach, which is largely compliance-based, and is now handling it as an engagement issue.

A really important part of our approach is making sure that we are truly leading with love, said Shadae Harris, RPS chief engagement officer. Attendance isnt the thing  its building meaningful and trusting relationships with our families.

Principal: They have trust in us

Some Richmond schools have historically had chronic absenteeism rates around 50%. One of those is Fairfield Court Elementary School adjacent to the Fairfield Court public housing community in the East End. The school counts 97% of its students as economically disadvantaged, a rough gauge of poverty measured by the state.

The school has made strides over the years and last year was down to a 36% chronic absenteeism rate. This year, the school is at a 22% chronic absenteeism rate.

Key to getting children to school is building relationships with the families, said Principal Angela Wright. Each morning, staff wait outside the school to greet children and talk with families.

They have trust in us. They know that they can come to us with whatever, Wright said. They can say, My child cant come to school because we dont have any clean clothes.

Some of the common barriers to attendance at Fairfield Court Elementary are students not having clean clothing or clothes that fit, not having their hair done, or not having parents who are available to get them to school in the mornings.

The school is now working to buy another washing machine so that students clothes can be washed there. And the school now has a barber who comes once a month and gives students haircuts, which Wright said has really helped. The school also receives clothing donations, so school leaders can give new clothes to students whose clothes do not fit anymore.

Some of our parents have their own social-emotional things where they just cant get to school, Wright said. We have some parents who work in the evening, and theyre sleeping in the morning. So we ask, Do we need to get you an alarm clock? Do we need to call the kids? Do we need to come pick them up?

Each morning, if a student does not show up to school, his or her teacher will call the childs parents to see how they might need support.

On freezing cold days, attendance typically drops. The school started picking up students in a van this year when the weather became too cold for children who do not have coats. Parents are able to let the schools student liaison know if their child needs a ride to school in the van to avoid frigid weather.

When school leaders saw that rainy weather was also a barrier, they gave out ponchos to students and umbrellas to parents so that they are able to walk to school in the rain more comfortably.

When a student does not show up to school and a school staffer walks over to the students house, sometimes they will find that the family lacks food. The school has a resource room that acts as a food pantry for families who need it.

Housing and transportation are common barriers to attendance.

When a family is worried about where am I going to live tonight, that is an urgent priority for them. We know thats going to affect their ability to be able to come to school on a regular basis because one of their basic needs is a question, Harris said.

School division leaders say they have worked to build trust with the community so that families feel comfortable reaching out when they need housing supports. The district has a dedicated resource center that helps support families navigate different housing opportunities and resources in the city.

Thats hard for parents to come and share that with you, Wright said. I think our relationships are strong, and thats what really makes a difference in our community school.

Youngkins plan

Youngkin recommends that school divisions use 10% of their allocation for the ALL In VA plan on addressing chronic absenteeism, 20% on implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act, and 70% on tutoring and learning acceleration.

Across the commonwealth, school divisions are working on plans to address chronic absenteeism in the ways that fit their communities.

Whats going to work in Norfolk or in Petersburg or the city of Richmond is going to be different than whats going to work in Lee County or here (in Louisa County), Youngkin said at Louisa County High School in November.

As part of the plan, the Youngkin administration created an attendance task force of teachers, transportation and health experts, community partners and families. The administration tasked the group with quickly developing recommendations for school divisions to reduce the barriers that contribute to chronic absenteeism.

Heading that task force is Virginia State Superintendent Lisa Coons.

This is the year were trying to change practice, and were trying to get adult behaviors to change (and) were trying to get the message out both to our families and to our educators and make sure they have the tools and resources (to succeed), Coons said in an interview.

The Youngkin administration wants to see a 20% reduction in chronic absenteeism in the first semester of next school year as well as an overall reduction back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next school year, Coons said.

We told families to stay home during the pandemic. We told them if your child doesnt feel well, if they have a fever, stay home, Coons said. Now we have to help our families understand that its important to bring their child to school and that the school is the best place for your child. We have to change our culture around that after the pandemic, and those things are going to take time.

Close 08-06-1979 (cutline): Antoi Harrington (left) and Robert Winthrow are friends. In October 1954, students crowded into the new Douglas S. Freeman High School in Henrico County. The school, which cost about $1.1 million, opened the previous month and had roughly 500 high school and 500 elementary students. NL Published Caption: Benedictine High School's Cadet Corps in formation behind the school. 10-8-61 50th anniversary In September 1961, students entered Westhampton School in Richmond. That fall, Daisy Jane Cooper became the first African-American student to integrate the junior high school; the following year, she made similar history at Thomas Jefferson High School. In July 1968, a summer session class of journalism students worked on the yearbook, The Sunfire, at the Collegiate Schools in Henrico County. In April 1955, students at Ridge School in Henrico County enjoyed their new merry-go-round. It was presented to the school by the PTA, which had collected donations for playground equipment. In September 1967, students motorcycles lined the parking lot at Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond on the first day of school. In March 1961, Robert K. Crowell, a teacher at George Wythe High School in Richmond, held his first class on communism. The six-week course was reported to be one of the first in the country and drew national attention from newspapers and television. Crowell said his method of teaching the class was to emphasize that communism was not merely an economic system but a way of life. NL Published caption: Children romp at William Fox Elementary School before classes. The Christmas holidays ended today for pupils in the area 08-31-1970 (cutline): Students wait for transfer buses at corner of Westover Hills Blvd. and Forest Hill Ave. 05-03-1979 (cutline): Pupils sit under an atop homemade wooden loft at Cary Elementary School. 08-30-1971 (cutline): Miss Susan R. McCandlish greets her fifth graders on their first day at Chimborazo School. 08-30-1971 (cutline): Mrs. Gayle Graham (right) calls roll in her fifth grade class at Lakeside Elementary School. 03-29-1971: Young student listeds to playback in reading class. The program was to be used the following fall for first graders in Richmond city schools. 04-18-1982 (cutline): Video equipment used in a visual literacy program, paid for by Title I in Richmond. 09-06-1989 (cutline): Thelma Smith, a former teacher who came to school yesterday to help, pinned bus numbers on pupils at Bellevue Elementary School. 09-03-1985 (cutline): Corey Green on bus, ready to head home after 1st day of school at John B. Cary School. 05-03-1979: John B. Cary Elementary School library. 06-16-1989 (cutline): Doing something--Patricia Lancaster, Boushall Middle School curriculum specialist, is surrounded by some of the pupils taking part in the "Becoming a Woman" program. 07-13-1979 (cutline): In Super Mint factory--Stephanie McIntosh, Becky Blum and Chris Minney (left to right) made Astonishments this week in the Superintendent's School for the Gifted. 09-08-1972: Students cross street on Forest Hill Avenue aided by crossing guard. 09-01-1970 (cutline): "It's different. It's a new experience. Everybody's trying to make it work. I think it will work." These comments by Susan Lippsitz, a new student at Thomas Jefferson High School, are reflective of those by several high and middle school students in their second day of the school term under a new court-ordered desegregation plan. 07-11-1976 (cutline): Blackwell Elementary students examine a bell in front of Treasury building in Washington D.C. The Richmond elementary school class was part of Class-on-Wheels, a summer school program. The federally financed program was designed to give disadvantaged studens the opportunity to travel by bus throughout Virginia. 09-01-1970 (cutline): Students leave a city school bus at Thompson Middle School, where some of them are to board a Virginia Transit Co. bus taking them to Maymont School. Thompson, in the annexed area on Forest Hill Avenue, and Maymont, near Byrd Park, are paired under the city's court-ordered desegregation plan. Some confusion yesterday about busing students to Thompson and then to Maymont was alleviated this morning through a new, direct VTC bus schedule. 10-02-1975 (cutline): Counselor Libby Hoffman uses pictures, recorded story to teach 'self worth.' 05-14-1971 (cutline): Mr. J.C. Binford with his 11th grade American History Class. This was one of the largest classes at George Wythe. From the Archives: A look back at Richmond schools 08-06-1979 (cutline): Antoi Harrington (left) and Robert Winthrow are friends. In October 1954, students crowded into the new Douglas S. Freeman High School in Henrico County. The school, which cost about $1.1 million, opened the previous month and had roughly 500 high school and 500 elementary students. NL Published Caption: Benedictine High School's Cadet Corps in formation behind the school. 10-8-61 50th anniversary In September 1961, students entered Westhampton School in Richmond. That fall, Daisy Jane Cooper became the first African-American student to integrate the junior high school; the following year, she made similar history at Thomas Jefferson High School. In July 1968, a summer session class of journalism students worked on the yearbook, The Sunfire, at the Collegiate Schools in Henrico County. In April 1955, students at Ridge School in Henrico County enjoyed their new merry-go-round. It was presented to the school by the PTA, which had collected donations for playground equipment. In September 1967, students motorcycles lined the parking lot at Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond on the first day of school. In March 1961, Robert K. Crowell, a teacher at George Wythe High School in Richmond, held his first class on communism. The six-week course was reported to be one of the first in the country and drew national attention from newspapers and television. Crowell said his method of teaching the class was to emphasize that communism was not merely an economic system but a way of life. NL Published caption: Children romp at William Fox Elementary School before classes. The Christmas holidays ended today for pupils in the area 08-31-1970 (cutline): Students wait for transfer buses at corner of Westover Hills Blvd. and Forest Hill Ave. 05-03-1979 (cutline): Pupils sit under an atop homemade wooden loft at Cary Elementary School. 08-30-1971 (cutline): Miss Susan R. McCandlish greets her fifth graders on their first day at Chimborazo School. 08-30-1971 (cutline): Mrs. Gayle Graham (right) calls roll in her fifth grade class at Lakeside Elementary School. 03-29-1971: Young student listeds to playback in reading class. The program was to be used the following fall for first graders in Richmond city schools. 04-18-1982 (cutline): Video equipment used in a visual literacy program, paid for by Title I in Richmond. 09-06-1989 (cutline): Thelma Smith, a former teacher who came to school yesterday to help, pinned bus numbers on pupils at Bellevue Elementary School. 09-03-1985 (cutline): Corey Green on bus, ready to head home after 1st day of school at John B. Cary School. 05-03-1979: John B. Cary Elementary School library. 06-16-1989 (cutline): Doing something--Patricia Lancaster, Boushall Middle School curriculum specialist, is surrounded by some of the pupils taking part in the "Becoming a Woman" program. 07-13-1979 (cutline): In Super Mint factory--Stephanie McIntosh, Becky Blum and Chris Minney (left to right) made Astonishments this week in the Superintendent's School for the Gifted. 09-08-1972: Students cross street on Forest Hill Avenue aided by crossing guard. 09-01-1970 (cutline): "It's different. It's a new experience. Everybody's trying to make it work. I think it will work." These comments by Susan Lippsitz, a new student at Thomas Jefferson High School, are reflective of those by several high and middle school students in their second day of the school term under a new court-ordered desegregation plan. 07-11-1976 (cutline): Blackwell Elementary students examine a bell in front of Treasury building in Washington D.C. The Richmond elementary school class was part of Class-on-Wheels, a summer school program. The federally financed program was designed to give disadvantaged studens the opportunity to travel by bus throughout Virginia. 09-01-1970 (cutline): Students leave a city school bus at Thompson Middle School, where some of them are to board a Virginia Transit Co. bus taking them to Maymont School. Thompson, in the annexed area on Forest Hill Avenue, and Maymont, near Byrd Park, are paired under the city's court-ordered desegregation plan. Some confusion yesterday about busing students to Thompson and then to Maymont was alleviated this morning through a new, direct VTC bus schedule. 10-02-1975 (cutline): Counselor Libby Hoffman uses pictures, recorded story to teach 'self worth.' 05-14-1971 (cutline): Mr. J.C. Binford with his 11th grade American History Class. This was one of the largest classes at George Wythe.
LAKE RIDGE  Two newly elected members of the Virginia House of Delegates  even before they take office  are sounding the alarm about the costs of the rapidly expanding data center industry in Virginia.

Josh Thomas, the Democrat, and Ian Lovejoy, the Republican, were elected last month to represent parts of Prince William County that are at the epicenter of an escalating fight over the proliferation of data centers that require enormous amounts of electricity, water and land to serve the global demand for digital data storage.

They joined with 27 environmental and community organizations for the public launch of the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition on Friday in this community near the Occoquan River to promise a push in the impending General Assembly session for stronger state oversight and regulatory controls on the politically powerful industry.

Everyone here today is a realistic, rational person who understands we are not trying to kill an industry that has done some positive things for Virginia as a commonwealth, said Thomas, who defeated Republican John Stirrup in a new district in western Prince William. We want to put sensible guardrails on it.

Data centers are a priority for state and local economic development. They play an essential role in the new digital economy, the industry said in response to the new coalitions call for reforms.

Those guardrails are likely to take the form of legislation in the assembly session that convenes on Jan. 10 to prevent data sprawl from encroaching on homes and schools, parks and national battlefields, and demand more transparency about the electric power generation and transmission, water supply and land required to support them.

We want an industry that is a good neighbor, said Lovejoy, a former Manassas city councilman who defeated Democrat Travis Nembhard in another new district in western Prince William, where the massive Prince William Digital Gateway project is facing a crucial vote by the county Board of Supervisors next week.

Thomas and Lovejoy were joined by Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, who is newly elected to the state Senate.

Roem sent a video message that promised to introduce five pieces of legislation in the upcoming session to impose oversight and restrictions on an industry that has received $980 million in state and local tax incentives that have made Northern Virginia home to the largest single concentration of data centers in the U.S.

However, the industry is also thriving in eastern Henrico County and proposes to expand in nine other localities, including Hanover and Caroline counties.

Data centers are a priority for state and local economic development. They play an essential role in the new digital economy, the industry said in response to the new coalitions call for reforms.

Data centers provide the digital infrastructure that supports our 21st century economy, said Josh Levi, president of the Data Center Coalition, an industry group based in Leesburg, in a statement on Friday.

They enable apps, platforms, and services we rely on every day to keep us safe and connected in our modern digital lives, from transportation and banking to public safety, education, and life-saving medical care. The data center industry is growing to meet the collective computing demands of individuals and organizations of all sizes.

But the industrys growth is pressuring electric utilities and cooperatives to procure new sources of electricity and build lines to transmit a power load growing by 5% a year. Environmental and community groups say residential utility ratepayers should not have to pay the cost of those new generating and transmission facilities.

Virginia families should not have to foot the bill for the worlds internet access, said Tim Cywinski, spokesman for the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club, a member of the new coalition.

Cywinski and other environmentalists also warn that Virginia cannot make progress in controlling the pollution linked to climate change if new power plants, run on natural gas and other fossil fuels, are built to serve data center demand for electricity.

Virginia utilities have been meeting privately to talk about how to meet the challenge in a work group led by Dominion Energy, the states largest electric utility, and facilitated by former State Corporation Commission Judge Judy Jagdmann. Those meetings have also included representatives of Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Members of the reform coalition say they have not met with the Youngkin administration but urged the governor to get behind industry reforms.

Hes going to be responsible of the largest (electric) rate increase in Virginia history if he doesnt intervene, said Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller after the coalition news conference here.

Anthony Romanello, executive director of the Henrico Economic Development Authority, said the county protects the public from encroachment by data centers through its zoning and planned development processes.

The SCC is considering a Dominion Energy request for a third transmission line to serve centers in the White Oak Technology Park.

At the end of the day, it will come down to good community planning, Romanello said.

Close This room in a second building at QTS Sandston facility is ready for customers to use. The data center must always be on for customers, said Chief Technology Officer Brian Johnston. It cannot fail, he said. Seven photographs merge to show the entrance to QTS Sandston facility, a 1.5 million-square-foot storage center for computer data. Brian Johnston, chief technology officer at QTS facility in Henrico County, gives a tour of the data storage center. Behind him is space in a second building that is being prepared for customers to use. Brian Johnston, chief technology officer at QTS Virginia Data Center, talks with a reporter as QTS site director Kevin Snead listens Wednesday, May 3, 2017. QTS Virginia Data Center is a 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston. Snead QTS Virginia Data Center keeps its power supply constant. This is the electrical room at the 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017. QTS Virginia Data Center site director Kevin Snead uses one of the security checks at the 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017. It reads his finger print to identify him. A model of QTS Virginia Data Center is on display in the lobby of the 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017. QTS Virginia Data Center is a 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017. PHOTOS: QTS Virginia Data Center QTS Virginia Data Center, a 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data, is in White Oak Technology Park. This room in a second building at QTS Sandston facility is ready for customers to use. The data center must always be on for customers, said Chief Technology Officer Brian Johnston. It cannot fail, he said. Seven photographs merge to show the entrance to QTS Sandston facility, a 1.5 million-square-foot storage center for computer data. Brian Johnston, chief technology officer at QTS facility in Henrico County, gives a tour of the data storage center. Behind him is space in a second building that is being prepared for customers to use. Brian Johnston, chief technology officer at QTS Virginia Data Center, talks with a reporter as QTS site director Kevin Snead listens Wednesday, May 3, 2017. QTS Virginia Data Center is a 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston. Snead QTS Virginia Data Center keeps its power supply constant. This is the electrical room at the 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017. QTS Virginia Data Center site director Kevin Snead uses one of the security checks at the 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017. It reads his finger print to identify him. A model of QTS Virginia Data Center is on display in the lobby of the 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017. QTS Virginia Data Center is a 1.5 million square foot storage center for computer data in Sandston Wednesday, May 3, 2017.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is a step closer to announcing his candidacy for governor.

Stoney had already made his intentions clear earlier this month that he is going to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2025, but he made it official this week by filing a formal statement of organization with the Virginia Department of Elections.

All that remains is an impending public announcement, which his campaign adviser says will come before the end of the year.

Stoney, 42, faces at least one declared candidate, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, who formally launched her campaign for governor in November and said she would not seek reelection for a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

Spanberger has already collected a number of high-profile endorsements, including that of former Gov. Ralph Northam; several of her Democratic colleagues in the House; former Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th; and numerous state legislators and local elected officials.

The mayor, entering the final year of his second term, is a longtime protege of former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who ran unsuccessfully for a second, non-consecutive term in 2021.

He also has the backing of Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Senate president pro tempore and incoming chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. Lucas posted a photo of herself with Stoney on social media on Wednesday and referred to him as our next governor.

Stoney is counting heavily on support from the Black community in the Richmond area and and Hampton Roads, which Lucas has represented for more than 30 years.

Spanberger is leaning on her name recognition after serving two terms in a district anchored in suburban Henrico and Chesterfield counties, and one in a redrawn district based in Prince William County and the Fredericksburg region. She lives in western Henrico.

The statement of organization allows the mayor to establish a campaign committee to begin collecting contributions for the race. Spanberger already has $1.2 million in her congressional campaign account, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The filing was first reported by The Washington Post on Thursday.

Stoney first tipped his plans in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in April.

I think I am young enough to still serve the public, and I am seriously considering my next step, and that would be taking a look at the governors race in 2025, he said at the time. Im a firm believer that if you stay ready, you never have to get ready.

Earlier this month, with Spanberger preparing to publicly announce her long-expected campaign, Politico reported that Stoney had already hired campaign staff for a gubernatorial run he will formally launch before the end of the year.

Whoever wins the nomination is likely to face a formidable Republican opponent, either Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Virginia, or Attorney General Jason Miyares, the first Hispanic person elected as attorney general. Stoney or Earle-Sears would be Virginias second Black governor, and either Spanberger or Earle-Sears would be the first woman to hold the office.

In 1990, Virginias Doug Wilder became the nations first elected Black governor.

Gallery: Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney delivers State of the City speech
The Carnegie Commission's pivotal move in 1973 to classify the diversity of higher education institutions was a testament to foresight, acknowledging the multifaceted roles these institutions serve in our nation's educational and economic landscape. The upcoming 2025 revision of this framework, setting rigorous standards for "R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production," challenges states to harness the full potential of their higher education ecosystems. A new classification will emphasize a commitment to fostering research and innovation, tagging institutions that annually reach $50 million in research spending and 70 research doctorates.

Virginia's educational landscape is hampered by not having private universities classified as R1 or R2, designations indicating high levels of research activity. This situation places the responsibility for advanced research and the production of doctorates solely on its public universities, creating the need for a balanced approach that includes private research universities.

Private colleges and universities in Virginia, each with unique educational attributes, play vital roles in the state's workforce development and talent creation. Representing these colleges and partnering with the business community through the Education & Workforce Executive Committee of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) includes 27 private, nonprofit institutions crucial for the states educational and workforce needs.

These colleges provide a significant return on taxpayer investment in higher education by producing a third of Virginia's degrees while benefiting from only about 3% of the state's higher education general fund budget, specifically through the Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG). TAG, which currently stands at $5,000 per year for eligible Virginians, saves the commonwealth money. If these same students attended a public university, it would cost the state twice as much per student in general fund subsidies.

A notable CICV member, Marymount University, located in northern Virginia, a tech and innovation hub, stands out as Virginias only Hispanic-serving institution and is renowned for its practical-focused values-based education, including its nursing and cybersecurity programs. Undoubtedly, Virginia can enhance its economy through job creation, talent development, and encouraging entrepreneurship by supporting institutions like Marymount or other CICV schools. Research universities in this network attract excellent faculty and students and enrich the local cultural and intellectual life. Policymakers at the General Assembly could learn from states like Georgia and Texas, among others, which have focused on public investment and have strengthened the research capabilities of private higher education institutions.

Private institutions like Emory University, an R1, and Mercer University, an R2, operate differently in Georgia. Emory relies heavily on federal grants and research funds, while Mercer benefits from state programmatic support. A notable example is Mercer's engineering program, established in response to a state need and now producing hundreds of engineers; many contribute significantly to local industries, including aeronautical engineering at a nearby military base.

The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is a shining example of public-private partnership in higher education. Established in 2007 with an initial $3 billion investment and expanded to $6 billion in 2019, CPRIT represents Texas' commitment to combating cancer through research and prevention. This initiative, the most significant state cancer research investment in U.S. history and the world's second-largest cancer research and prevention program, showcases the profound impact of strategic investment in public and private entities on state-level health care and academic standing. CPRIT's comprehensive goals include innovation in cancer research, attracting and expanding research capabilities at public and private institutions, and implementing the Texas Cancer Plan. While its efforts have helped the fight against cancer, CPRIT has also enhanced the whole higher education ecosystem.

Virginia's current lack of a private research university creates an imbalance that limits academic diversity, economic and community growth. By nurturing private and public research, Virginia can successfully emulate these states models and foster collaborative and innovative educational settings. Virginia's private institutions already play a significant role, granting one-third of all undergraduate degrees and nearly half of all nursing degrees in the state, so a partnership will only elevate the states academic standing and create a more inclusive, economically vibrant commonwealth.

Investment in higher education research and innovation leads to economic growth, job creation and community development. Virginia's opportunity to redefine its educational landscape, align it with the evolving needs of the 21st century, and secure a prosperous future for its citizens is now.

Close CoStar Groups airplane flew over downtown Richmond last Monday. It first flew over the Richmond area in July 2015, then again in May 2016, prior to last weeks visit. CoStar Group's pilots, Mark Beauchamp, left, Ben Hursa, right, aerial research photographer Amber Surrency, are shown in front of company's airplane at Million Air Richmond terminal on Monday, June 12, 2017. CoStar Group, the Washington, D.C.-based data company for the commercial real estate industry (that has opened its national research center in downtown Richmond) has a variety of ways of collecting data on the commercial real estate industry. Aerial research photographer Amber Surrency uses a camera to record video clips. CoStar Group's aerial research photographer Amber Surrency operates an aerial camera to record video clips as pilots fly an airplane over Richmond area on Monday, June 12, 2017. CoStar Group pilot Mark Beauchamp does a pre-flight check of the companys airplane at Million Air Richmond terminal. TOP: An aerial camera screen shows downtown Richmond as CoStar Groups airplane flies over the area. ABOVE: An aerial photography camera is installed on the bottom of CoStar Groups airplane. CoStar Group's aerial research photographer Amber Surrency. An aerial camera screen shows downtown Richmond as CoStar Group airplane flies. CoStar Groups pilots, Mark Beauchamp, left, Ben Hursa, discuss flight routes at Million Air Richmond terminal on Monday, June 12, 2017. PHOTOS: Aerial Research over Richmond CoStar Group Inc. flies research planes over Richmond to collect commercial real estate and apartment data which they upload to their database for subscribers to use. CoStar Groups airplane flew over downtown Richmond last Monday. It first flew over the Richmond area in July 2015, then again in May 2016, prior to last weeks visit. CoStar Group's pilots, Mark Beauchamp, left, Ben Hursa, right, aerial research photographer Amber Surrency, are shown in front of company's airplane at Million Air Richmond terminal on Monday, June 12, 2017. CoStar Group, the Washington, D.C.-based data company for the commercial real estate industry (that has opened its national research center in downtown Richmond) has a variety of ways of collecting data on the commercial real estate industry. Aerial research photographer Amber Surrency uses a camera to record video clips. CoStar Group's aerial research photographer Amber Surrency operates an aerial camera to record video clips as pilots fly an airplane over Richmond area on Monday, June 12, 2017. CoStar Group pilot Mark Beauchamp does a pre-flight check of the companys airplane at Million Air Richmond terminal. TOP: An aerial camera screen shows downtown Richmond as CoStar Groups airplane flies over the area. ABOVE: An aerial photography camera is installed on the bottom of CoStar Groups airplane. CoStar Group's aerial research photographer Amber Surrency. An aerial camera screen shows downtown Richmond as CoStar Group airplane flies. CoStar Groups pilots, Mark Beauchamp, left, Ben Hursa, discuss flight routes at Million Air Richmond terminal on Monday, June 12, 2017.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  For years, the massive, mostly intact dinosaur skeleton that came to be known as Sue the T-rex was at the center of a legal battle. The latest dispute involves who inherits what's left of the money generated by the sale of Sue.

wwFossil hunters discovered the skeleton in 1990 on property owned by Maurice and Darlene Williams that sits on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. Because of the location on the reservation, the discovery led to years of court battles over ownership rights.

Eventually, the couple were able to claim the rights, and they made $7.6 million from the auction of Sue  now on display at Chicago's Field Museum. The museum's website says that at more than 40 feet long and 13 feet tall at the hip, Sue is the largest Tyrannosaurus rex specimen discovered and the most complete.

Maurice Williams died in 2011. Darlene Williams later moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she died in December 2020. The couple had four children and three of the siblings are involved in a court dispute over the estate, KELO-TV reported.

At the center of the dispute: Darlene Williams had two wills, according to records filed in Lincoln County, South Dakota. The first one, signed in 2017, included all of her children and grandchildren, and listed daughter Sandra Williams Luther as the person in charge of settling the estate and making sure the will was carried out.

But a second will dated Nov. 25, 2020  less than three weeks before Darlene Williams died  designated Luther as the sole heir and executor. The document also cited Darlene Williams as saying that she had lived with her children at odds for too long, and she hoped that in her death they would find peace and become a family again.

Another daughter, Jacqueline Schwartz, questioned whether the second will was legal. She said her mother was critically ill and in hospice care when she signed the document without witnesses in the room due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Schwartz also contested the sale of her mother's home in Spearfish, South Dakota, two weeks before her death. Court records show that $225,000 in proceeds went to Darlene Williams' son, Carson Williams.
Playa del Carmen police arrest two Argentineans with narcotics and stolen ATM card

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Two Argentinean men were taken into custody from Playa del Carmen streets after being found with narcotics. They were also accused of trying to pay for a purchase with a stolen ATM card.

Municipal officers made the arrests Wednesday from the Colosio subdivison of the city.

Police took 37-year-old Luca N and 36-year-old Bruno N into custody after finding cocaine, pills and metamphetamine, among others. The pair were inspected by police after being reported as possible dealers by a citizen.

In a statement Thursday, the Seguridad Publica y Transito Solidaridad (SSP) reported the Municipal Police arrested two subjects from Argentina in possession of possible drugs such as cocaine, pills and methamphetamine.

In the Colosio neighborhood, Luca N, 37 years old and Bruno, 36 years old, both from Argentina, were seized along with a bag with a vegetable with the characteristics of marijuana, two bags with a substance similar to cocaine, nine with a substance to be determined, two with possible methamphetamine, three with pills, a laptop, five USBs and three cell phones.

They were arrested after being pointed out by a citizen who said they were carrying possible drugs, in addition to allegedly trying to pay in an establishment with a bank card that did not belong to them.

Both subjects and the possible narcotics were placed at the disposal of the State Attorney Generals Office for the corresponding purposes.
Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age makes a compelling argument. Its author, Samuel James, asks readers to consider how long its been since theyve checked a phone for notifications, or whether theyre in the habit of checking email while talking with people in personor checking texts while driving. The technology we depend on, James argues, is predetermined to orient us toward the disembodied habitat of the internet, and moving in that direction causes us to withdraw from the embodied creation God has given us. The internet itself, James argues, is shaped to demand our continual engagement while delivering less and less satisfaction. The more we engage such technology without contemplation, the further we move away from the incarnate lives that God has given us. The task is one of discernment: How do we live well in a technologized, interconnected world?

Digital Liturgies is not a complex book; its written for the non-academic reader, and perhaps even for the lay (non-pastoral) reader. This is not always a good thing. The author occasionally oversimplifies to the point of hyperbole: The center of gravity in the online world is your profile, in which you are granted a near-godlike ability to craft an identity or The web is, in a very real sense, a credential-erasing environment. When everything and everyone is disembodied, these structural distinctions between expert and nonexpert tend to mean very little. This tendency toward exaggeration, however, does not detract from the power of James overall argumentthat we should note the ways in which contemporary technologies shape us and how digital habits remove us from reality. James wants to prick readers imaginations to become conscious of their digital engagement. Digital technology has recalibrated our worldviews and reshaped our consciences not to see the good givenness of our bodies. This isnt merely a problem of content; its a problem of form. Without an awareness of the form of social technology, we cannot engage in digital habitats well.

James cites Marshall McLuhans idea that the medium is the message to argue that technology has a form that evangelicals, for example, have largely neglected: Evangelicals have often focused exclusively on the content that our TVs, computers, and smartphones deliver to us rather than the form by which that content is delivered. The form matters and shapes the course of human living. James illustrates this idea by considering the way central heating and air changed the shape of the average home:

Technology literally decentralized homelife, laying the technical foundation for the everyone-has-their-own-bedroom layout of a home that we assume. This architectural transformation has brought with it a philosophical transformation: an emphasis, for example, on granting children privacy and respecting their space that has significant implications for parenting and the governance of the home.

The form of smart technology shapes our perceptions of possibility, and in so doing shapes us. James most perceptive chapter explores the idea that the internet is pornographically shaped. He builds upon Alan Nobles insights in You Are Not Your Own suggesting that the power to find anything you want to see, the access to a never-ending supply of new consumables, and the limitless freedom to make fantasy become realitythese are not just characteristics of online porn but of the online world in general. James notes that the digital liturgies of endless novelty, constant consumption, and limitless power make pornography more plausible to our hearts and our habits. Within the webs spiritual habitat, looking at pornography makes sense and feels natural. These realities mean that online pornography wont stay in its box because the box is designed for its escape. The endless programs designed to limit access to pornography are not working against sinful desires only but also against the very shape of digital technology.

James argument echoes an idea introduced by C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man: What we call Mans power over Nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men with Nature as its instrument. Lewis notes that the aeroplane, the wireless, and the contraceptive all function as technologies enabling mans conquest of nature, but at the same time they give control to some external group. Purchasing a ticket to fly to France or making an international call enables the conquering of distance, but no one gains the actual ability to fly or to communicate audibly across thousands of miles; in as much as we use these technologies, we give control over ourselves to those who own (or create) the technological devices. Social media, the internet, and the smartphone promise a seemingly infinite expansion of human connectivity and collaboration, but users cede power to companies that control the technology.

This reminderthat technology is not neutral but controlled and controllingis James main contribution to the discussion of the effect of the digital age on human consciousness. The answer, of course, is not to throw away our smartphones. Instead, James advocates cultivating liturgies. A liturgy is a ritual, a regular practice that shapes the soul. Habits and practices, James argues, are spiritually significant because they shape us into particular kinds of people. The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy is filled with liturgies that are to remind the people of God how precisely they should live:

And these words which I command you shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. [Deut.6:6-9, NKJV]

The command is clearteach. The liturgies describe how, when, and where adults should teach their children the ways of God: when you rise, as you walk, by literally wearing Scripture as frontlets between your eyes. Liturgies provide habits that shape our loves.

James K.A. Smith took the evangelical reading world by storm in his Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation, making the argument (derived from Augustine) that habits use embodiment to shape the soul. Digital Liturgies picks up Smiths concept and suggests habits that readers can cultivate to resist technological formation. James encourages readers to ask yourself some hard questions. When was the last time you read a book, listened to music, or had a conversation for more than an hour without checking your phone? Such habits cultivate attention, pushing back against the short-form content dominating feeds.

Meeting in person, for example, is a way of rediscovering the embodied nature of human existence: To actively resist the dehumanization of much digital technology, we have to do something simple yet often difficult: we must gather. James notes that

the most important gathering we can seek out as Christians is the gathering of our local church.  To resist digital liturgies, we need regular immersion into the embodied community of God. We need to sing to one another, to exhort one another, to encourage one another, to forgive one another, and to laugh and cry with one another.  We cant fast-forward through a convicting message we are sitting in. We must allow the word to cut us open so it can put us back together again. Church is gospel givenness.

As another kind of liturgy, James advises becoming steeped in the wisdom literature of Scripture. The book of Proverbs teaches discernment, and as such pushes against the absolutizing echo chambers James describes permeating social media. The Christian should always seek to steward wisely digital engagement in light of the gospel and scriptural wisdom.

There is no turning back to a pre-smartphone, presocial media era. James reminds his readers that their digital actions, like their physical ones, become a question of Christian discipleship: There is no straight line from Christian wisdom to rejection of technology because the dynamics weve looked at in this book  were first manufactured in the human heart. Replacing bad digital liturgies with better habits begins with asking new questions: How do we place our technological usage under the lordship of Christ? What does it mean to rightly steward internet usage, content creation, and relationships under the covenant love of God? James is right to suggest that we need deep reflection on the questions themselves, and on our habits as creatures whose loves can quickly become disordered.
State regulators approved a rate increase for Appalachian Power Co. that will add about $16 to the monthly bill of an average residential customer.

The State Corporation Commissions authorization will not take effect until the last week of January, meaning that the higher cost of electricity will start to show up in February billing statements.

Because of different billing cycles, the full impact on all customers will not be realized until they receive bills that are due in March.

The Commission is cognizant of the economic pressures that are impacting all utility customers, the SCCs order stated. We are sensitive to the effects of rate increases, especially where customers have seen significant increases in recent years.

On Jan. 1, 2020, the average residential customer  defined as a home that consumes 1,000 kilowatt hours per month  paid $109.88, according to Appalachian. Today, the same customer pays about $159.

However, the latest hike could have been higher. When Appalachian first proposed its base rate, which is adjusted every three years, it would have amounted to an increase of $25 a month.

An agreement among the utility, state regulators and a group of stakeholders was struck in August that allows for the lower increase of $16. An SCC hearing examiner recommended approval of the stipulation, which the full commission adopted Thursday.

The rate hike for Appalachians 500,000-plus customers in Western Virginia will generate $127.3 million in annual revenue for the company.

Appalachian has said the money will allow it to improve service reliability, which includes cutting and pruning trees in power line right-of-ways, so that they dont topple over and cause power outages during bad weather.

In recent years, the SCC has considered changes to base rates on a triennial basis. If earnings fall below an authorized return on equity, a rate increase is allowed. If, on the other hand, earnings over the past three years exceed the allowed range, the company is not allowed to collect more revenue through higher rates.

Appalachians current return on equity rate is 9.2%. In its order Thursday, the SCC raised the rate to 9.5%. The profit allows the company, which is part of American Electric Power, to attract investors.

In addition to changes in base rates, Appalachian customers frequently see other adjustments  sometimes up, other times down  for expenses such as the utilitys recovery of what it pays for the coal and natural gas it burns to generate electricity.

Effective Nov. 1 on an interim basis, the so-called fuel factor went down. The average residential customer now pays about $1.80 a month less under that rate adjustment clause, also known as a rider.
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 rigorous

While 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.
Claire Goodman is a senior reporter for the Houston Chronicle, covering the Katy area.

She also produces the Katy Insider newsletter, which sends every Monday and Wednesday.

Claire can be reached at claire.goodman@houstonchronicle.com.
A global chemical company blamed for contaminating part of the Roanoke Valleys public drinking water supply will pay at least $9.5 million for the treatment of water from Spring Hollow reservoir.

The Western Virginia Water Authority said Thursday that the Chemours Co. has agreed to compensate it for the damage caused by a so-called forever chemical.

Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, also known as GenX, was inadvertently released into the South Fork of the Roanoke River, which feeds Spring Hollow, over a period of about seven years.

In 2020, the chemical was first discovered at levels far higher than what is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. The water authority took steps last year to restore the water quality with a carbon filtering system, at a considerable cost before the source was known.

The settlement amount could go as high as $12 million, depending on how frequently the granular activated carbon must be replaced, the water authority said in a news release.

The Authority is pleased to have negotiated this settlement that benefits the Authoritys rate payers and avoids a costly legal proceeding with Chemours, Michael McEvoy, executive director of the authority, said.

Chemours commitment to fund the authoritys past and future expenses means Spring Hollow water will be treated  and the reservoirs filtering system will be upgraded  without customers bearing that expense, McEvoy said.

GenX, which is used in the manufacture of many consumer products, made its way into Spring Hollow from a Chemours plant in West Virginia.

Equipment that contained traces of the hazardous compound was sent to a company in Elliston, near the Roanoke Rivers south fork, to be cleaned and then returned to the Chemours plant.

The company, ProChem, said in a statement last year that it had no knowledge that it was servicing GenX-tainted equipment.

Wastewater from the process was dumped into a sanitary sewer that routed it to a public treatment plant, where it was then released into the river and flowed about 5 miles downstream to Spring Hollow in western Roanoke County.

ProChem canceled its contract with Chemours, and since then contamination levels in the river have slowly decreased.

However, GenX has remained in Spring Hollow at higher concentrations. The most recent tests, taken Nov. 10, showed a level of 37 parts per trillion, down from 55 parts per trillion in June.

A health advisory issued by the EPA in the summer of 2022 recommends no more than 10 parts per trillion over a lifetime of consumption.

Water from Spring Hollow  which serves about 13,000 of the water authoritys 69,000-some customers  has been brought below the health advisorys limits with the carbon filtering system.

However, the carbon used in the system quickly loses its ability to capture the contaminant, and it must be be replaced regularly.

GenX is one of more than 6,000 forever chemicals that can repel heat, oil and water. Also known as PFAS, the compounds are widely used in the manufacture of a variety of consumer products that include non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, carpet, upholstery, cosmetics, fast-food wrappings and other items. They are called forever chemicals because they break down very slowly once released into the environment.

Concerns about the chemicals have grown in recent years with the advancement of testing that can detect amounts that, while tiny, can pose health risks.

Studies have found that exposure PFAS can increase the risk of kidney, prostrate and testicular cancers, cause harm to fetal and infant development, and lead to reduced immune system functions.

It was not clear Thursday if Chemours agreement with the water authority was part of a nearly $1.2 billion settlement of actual and potential litigation against Chemours nationwide involving PFAS contamination.

A federal judge is expected to decide at a Dec. 14 hearing whether to grant final approval of that settlement. The water authority was notified in September that it was eligible to make a claim in that case.

In a statement Thursday, Chemours said it was pleased the settlement had been reached.

Chemours cooperated and collaborated with the WVWA to effectively support cleanup efforts and worked with WVWA to resolve the matter, the statement read.
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
It's harder than you'd think to find a system that doesn't let energy out or in  our universe is a good example of that  but entropy describes how disorder happens in a system as large as the universe or as small as a thermos full of coffee. This tendency for energy to disperse is often represented by the term Temperature T.

In the latter example, thermodynamic entropy increases when hot coffee is poured into a thermos. When that heat energy gradually lessens, it's actually another entropy increase -- since a heat transfer is dispersing beyond the thermos. Eventually, the thermos will reach a thermal equilibrium, whereby the temperature of the thermos will remain constant with its surrounding ambient temperature.

Advertisement

However, entropy doesn't have to do with the type of disorder you think of when you lock a bunch of chimpanzees in a kitchen. It has more to do with how many possible permutations of mess can be made in that kitchen rather than how big a mess is possible. Of course, the entropy depends on a lot of factors: how many chimpanzees there are, how much stuff is being stored in the kitchen and how big the kitchen is.

So, if you were to look at two kitchens  one very large and stocked to the gills but meticulously clean, and another that's smaller with less stuff in it, but pretty trashed out by chimps already  it's tempting to say the messier room has more entropy, but that's not necessarily the case. Entropy concerns itself more with how many different states are possible than how disordered it is at the moment; a system, therefore, has more entropy if there are more molecules and atoms in it, and if it's larger. And if there are more chimps.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Civil rights activists say Florence 1 Schools should have notified parents and the community about a sexual assault at West Florence High School.

On Nov. 8, one student allegedly pulled another into a bathroom and raped her during the middle of the school day, according to a Florence County Sheriffs Office report.

The victim is in the schools special education program, according to Ashley Nance, one of the victims two lawyers. According to a statement from the district, the suspect appears to also be in the schools special education program.

Its egregious, its awful, its intolerable in any sort of school system, Nance said. You can see from the responses of the public, a lot of people are outraged about this, and honestly they have good reason to be.

No communication from the district or the sheriffs office was sent out about the case until it was requested by the media, and the public did not learn about it until Nov. 20.

In a press conference on Wednesday, activists with the Racial Justice Network said the public should have been told about the sexual assault immediately.

Shelly Williams, national regional director for the Racial Justice Network, said the organization stands with the victim and her family.

The manner in which this incident was handled is unsafe, careless, and unprofessional, she said at the press conference. There is no way any parent or student should have to endure such treatment.

She later clarified her statements in a phone call, saying the assault should never have been allowed to happen because security and safeguards should have been in place to prevent it.

It baffles me that, nobody saw what happened? Noticed that the kids were gone? The children werent supervised? Nobody heard her screaming? Williams said during the phone call.

She stressed during the call that she does not have all the details of the event, but said she has been concerned about the districts special education department for a while.

At the press conference, she called for a full forensic audit of the department.

Florence City Councilwoman LaShonda NeSmith-Jackson attended the press conference. She said she was there in support of making sure our children are safe.

These kids, their future is in our hands, but weve also got to remember that our future is in their hands, so weve got to make sure we give them the proper tools and resources and that were supporting them, NeSmith-Jackson said. I support wanting to ensure sure that our youth are being treated fairly, and that theyre safe.

The Florence Branch of the NAACP, in a Nov. 22 news release, said the branch is alarmed by the sexual assault and troubled with the districts lack of communication about the matter.

This is yet another example of Florence 1 Schools leadership withholding information that all concerned citizens have a right to know in a timely fashion, the news release said. The safety and well-being of our students is second only to the fair and appropriate education they each deserve.

The group also questioned how the assault could have happened during school hours and asked the district to show what measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents.

Finally, the branch said in the release that the district needs to stop cherry picking what it shares with the public and what it withholds.

When reached for information and comment about the incident, a Florence 1 Schools representative said that district administration, school officials and law enforcement are actively investigating a report involving two exceptional education students at West Florence High School.

The representative also said the district cannot discuss or release details regarding student disciplinary matters.

The victims lawyers said that, on Nov. 20, they requested information from the district about the assault and are working with the districts legal representation to get the information they need to investigate the incident.

Nance said he personally believes that the people of Florence County have a right to know about the assault.

Our leaders, the people that we entrust our children to, should be providing answers, and they should be eager to provide answers as to how this happened and to make amends to this so it doesnt happen again, he said.

While the district did not send any communication to parents or the community at large, Nance said he feels confident the district will cooperate with them.

Sexual assault details

According to a report filed by the schools student resource officer, who is an employee of the Florence County Sheriffs Office, the alleged sexual assault occurred around noon on Nov. 8.

The victim went to Afton Hicks, assistant principal of student services, trembling and saying that someone had pulled her into the bathroom and raped her.

The student resource officer and school officials reviewed camera footage, which showed the suspect pulling the victim into a bathroom.

Other officers were called, and the suspect was brought to Principal Matt Dowdells office, where he allegedly admitted touching the victim, pulling down her clothes and penetrating her.

The suspect, who is 17 years old, was charged as an adult with criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree. He was taken to the Florence County Detention Center, where he is being held in lieu of a $30,000 bond.

The victim was taken to the McLeod Health emergency room.

Nance and his co-counsel, Robert Stucks, said they are just pressing charges against the suspect, but they are committed to holding all parties responsible and accountable.

Whether that eventually leads to a lawsuit is yet to be determined, Nance said. We are looking at several different parties and groups to answer to this.

While they are primarily focused on doing right by the victim, Stucks said, he and Nance are also focused on making sure that parents can feel safe sending their children to school.

The question becomes, Why wasnt anybody in the hallway? Why didnt anybody see it via video? Stucks said. Were just trying to uncover that now.
Before embarking on their coveted winter break, European leaders and policymakers face a month loaded with politically explosive decisions that are set to lay bare old-age divisions, and open up new scars.

Next week will begin the Schengen applications of Romania and Bulgaria, two countries that have been waiting at the doorstep of the passport-free area for more than a decade. For both, the question of joining Schengen is profoundly emotional as the persistent exclusion creates the impression of a two-speed, discriminatory Europe. The European Commission, the European Parliament, and a nearly unanimous majority of member states have thrown their strong support behind their joint bid.

But Austria's notoriously inflexible opposition remains in the way. The country has clung to the idea that Schengen, due to the continued arrival of irregular migrants into the bloc and re-imposition of border controls, has ceased to function. Any expansion at this time is therefore undesirable in Vienna's eyes.

The initial plan was to hold a vote on Tuesday (5 December) on the applications but the stagnant progress has drastically reduced the ambition. Instead, interior ministers will simply take note of the "state of play." The lack of a formal vote, though, has the potential of stoking the flames. Romania has previously threatened to take legal action against Austria for its blockade, while Bulgaria has compared the impasse to being taken "hostage."

"There's no easy solution. Unanimity is unanimity. And it's not there yet," said a senior diplomat ahead of the occasion.

A few days later, economy and finance ministers will get together for a new attempt to wrap up the hard-fought reform of the EU's fiscal rules. The make-or-break meeting was supposed to be preceded by a Franco-German compromise to pave the way for a breakthrough deal. But Germany's three-party coalition is currently scrambling to contain a spiralling crisis after the country's Constitutional Court struck down a 60-billion special fund for climate projects. An ominous preview for the money talks.

Story continues

In the meantime, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council Charles Michel are scheduled to fly to Beijing for their long-awaited EU-China summit. Both sides are keen to reset bilateral relations and diffuse the simmering tensions that stretch back to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bridging the chasm, however, will be an arduous task. Von der Leyen has warned about China's becoming "more repressive at home and more assertive abroad" and has promoted the strategy of "de-risking" to decrease unwanted dependencies. In turn, Beijing has slammed "de-risking" as poorly concealed protectionism meant to cater to America's hard-line interests.

Back in Brussels, EU leaders will be called in for a two-day summit where the stakes could not be any higher. Heads of state and government will be asked to decide whether they want open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, following the positive assessment released by the European Commission in October. The two countries are eager to start the process, which is extremely complex and can take years to reach a successful conclusion if it ever does.

Also on the agenda will be the 100-billion review of the EU budget, which includes 50 billion in grants and loans to create the Ukraine Facility and provide the war-torn country with predictable, long-term support. This objective is becoming increasingly urgent as the country faces a nearly 40 billion deficit in next year's budget, a massive hole that can only be filled with cash injections from Western allies. The bloc has so far supplied Ukraine with regular tranches of financial aid but the current envelope of 18 billion is set to run dry sometime between January and February, with no replacement in sight.

Agreeing on membership talks and a budget top-up in the same summit was never going to be an easy ride. But the latest developments suggest it might be insurmountable.

In a letter recently addressed to Charles Michel, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to derail the EU's entire policy on Ukraine, including macro-financial assistance and sanctions against Russia, unless leaders agree to have a "strategic discussion" on the matter. (It's important to note that EU leaders have been intensively discussing Ukraine since, at least, February 2022.)

Still, Orban's move was menacing enough to force Michel to fly to Budapest earlier this week and hold in-person talks with the prime minister, which lasted over two hours and included a "substantial" conversation about the letter, according to a senior EU official. While Orban has in the past been accused of grandstanding and later backtracking, the language in the letter, coupled with a new Eurosceptic campaign directly targeting Ursula von der Leyen, signals an increasingly emboldened strongman who is determined to wield his veto power until all his demands are satisfied.

Quite coincidentally, the European Commission is preparing to adopt in mid-December a decision to unblock up to 10 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary, which the country has been denied over persistent rule-of-law concerns. The decision will be welcomed by Orban, who has repeatedly attacked Brussels for what he calls "financial blackmail." Hungary, however, will still have 11.7 billion in frozen cohesion funds, together with its paralysed 10.4-billion post-COVID recovery plan.

"Of course, the few euros they owe us will be collected," Orban said in November.

There's more coming up: December will also see a new round of talks on the Artificial Intelligence Act and the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, two vital pieces of legislation that the bloc has vowed to conclude before the 2024 elections. Also coming up: a summit with the Western Balkans, the possible return of Donald Tusk as Polish prime minister and, possibly, the highly-anticipated proposal to tax immobilised Russian assets to finance Ukraine's reconstruction.

A shorter version of this piece was originally published in The Briefing, Euronews' weekly newsletter on European politics. Subscribe here.
Dialogue, negotiation fundamental way to resolve Palestinian-Israeli conflict: Chinese FM

Xinhua) 09:29, December 01, 2023

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, Trkiye, 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, Trkiye, 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, Trkiye, 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, Trkiye, 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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The last of three people has been convicted in the 2020 theft of more than 231,000 pounds of food and household items from a Willis ISD facility that provides food, clothes and other assistance to families in need. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The last of three people has been convicted in the 2020 theft of more than 231,000 pounds of food and household items from a Willis ISD facility that provides food, clothes and other assistance to families in need.

Conroe resident Christopher Paul Walker, 44, pleaded guilty to theft Monday and was sentenced by 435th state District Judge Patty Maginnis to 12 years in prison because he had prior felony convictions.

ON YOURCONROENEWS.COM: Houston solar company helps Conroe church go green with hundreds of new panels on chapel

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In August 2020, the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Office received a tip about suspicious activity at the Willis ISD Parent Support Center at Roark Early Education Center at 606 N. Campbell in Willis, according to a news release from the constable's office.

Following a six month investigation, detectives learned Teresa Joyce Herod, 75, of Willis, Samuel Anthony Saldana, 52, of Houston, and Walker were stealing food and household items from the center.

The tip led Precinct 1s Willis ISD officers to review surveillance footage on campus, which showed Herod and Walker loading trucks with donated items, sometimes within hours of the county food bank dropping off donations, the constable's office reported.

Items stolen included chips, drinks, toasters, blenders, cosmetics, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, bandages and over-the-counter medication, Precinct 1 listed. Investigators, along with the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office, put the value of items stolen at a conservative estimate of at least $30,000, Precinct 1 spokesman Chief Deputy Joe Sclider said in a previous article.

The school district employed Herod to manage the center, while Walker was a volunteer, according to Sclider. Herod and Walker, Sclider said, had a booth at a flea market where they met Saldana, who offered to buy the stolen goods to resell at different marketplaces.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The support center was closed in 2020 after Willis ISD was alerted of the thefts. It reopened in November 2021 as the Wildkat Resource Center.

Herod pleaded guilty in February to theft and was sentenced by Maginnis to 10 years in prison. Her sentence was probated to eight years. Saldana pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity in September 2022 and was sentenced by Maginnis to 5 years in prison but was probated to five years, according to court documents.
Penguin Random House, the Iowa State Education Association and some bestselling authors are suing over a new state 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.

Brenda Zahner, director of the ISEA's bargaining group in Siouxland, said the bill strips teachers of their ability to determine what books are appropriate for their classrooms and their students.

"We believe that the free exchange of ideas is a fundamental right in America and book bans prevent that," Zahner said Thursday. "We think that students have a right to access information thats important to them regardless of their race or sexual orientation."

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.

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.

Zahner, who leads the local bargaining group represents Sioux City school district teachers and support staff, said since the bill was passed in the spring, the union has had ongoing conversations about the impact.

The goal is for everyone to have access to books that they think are important to them and their education and experience," she said. "Censorship doesnt do anybody any good. And thats not something that we want to be a part of or we want our children and students to have to live with.

Leslie Heying, a spokeswoman for the Sioux City school district, said no books have been removed from the district due to the new law. She added some books are under review, but they havent been removed.

In March, the district district removed the book, "This Book is Gay," from West High School after the district was featured on a Twitter account calling the book "pornographic."

The Twitter account Libs of TikTok tweeted out a screenshot of West's library catalog showing the book available; the tweet described the book as "pornographic" and said it "teaches kids about gay sex and encourages the use of sex apps."

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."
LE MARS, Iowa  The building at the corner of Central Avenue and Plymouth Street in downtown Le Mars will continue on as a clothing store after all.

Claussen's, which has occupied the store for 33 years, announced this fall that it would close permanently as the proprietors, Terry Claussen and wife Lori, retire. At the time of the announcement, Terry Claussen said it wasn't yet clear what would become of the building, which he says has been used as a clothing store for more than a century.

Chad and Jill Mescher of Le Mars plan to open their store, called Meschers, after the first of the year. Claussen's liquidation sale will continue until the merchandise is gone, Chad Mescher told The Journal, and he will stock the store with fresh merchandise.

The store, he said, will be largely the same as Claussen's, though some interior updates are planned.

"It will be very, very similar, we're still going to carry all the men's fashion pieces, suits -- the big push will be the tux rentals, since, you know, obviously Tip Top Tux closed recently," Chad Mescher said.

Terry and Lori Claussen will continue to own the building, and Mescher's will lease it from them, Chad Mescher said.

Meschers store will specialize in menswear; Jill Mescher and her mother, Cary Penning, operate several boutique stores in downtown Le Mars, including the Sugar-N-Spice Childrens Boutique, Lily Zita Teen Boutique and the Shop Cary Boutique.

"My wife and mother-in-law have the women's (clothing), I'm going to let them handle that, and I'll just stick with the men's clothing," Chad Mescher said.
SIOUX CITY  Everything at a party at a friend's house was fine until Joseph Cruz and Carlos Aguirre started arguing about a gun.

"They just kept going back and forth over whose gun it is," Angel Williams, Cruz's cousin and a friend of Aguirre testified Friday.

Once Aguirre pulled out the gun, cocked it and pointed it in the air, Williams said he grabbed him by the wrist to point the gun toward the floor while struggling with him for control of it. The gun fired twice, Williams said, before it fell from Aguirre's grasp. Cruz picked it up, and Aguirre advanced toward him.

"He starts making his way toward Joseph with his hands out. That's when Joseph shot him," Williams said.

Aguirre was shot in the chest, he said.

Cruz, 20, of Sioux City, is standing trial in Woodbury County District Court on two counts of second-degree murder for the Oct. 29, 2022, shooting deaths of his cousin Anthony Williams, 19, and Aguirre, 21, in the early morning hours at 1421 W. Fifth St. The charges are Class B felonies that carry 50-year prison sentences.

The defense says the shooting was in self-defense. Angel Williams, who is Anthony Williams' brother, was the first of three witnesses called by the defense after the state rested its case Thursday afternoon.

On cross examination, Angel Williams said Cruz, who was shot in the leg during the scuffle for the gun, had given Aguirre money to pay for the gun. Williams said he ran from the house after Aguirre was shot because he was scared. He said he did not know his brother had been shot or who shot him.

Prosecutors have said Cruz shot Aguirre in the back of the head and in the back because he would not give up the gun he had paid for.

The two were drinking at a party with about a dozen friends when the shooting occurred. Previous witnesses said they saw Cruz and Aguirre argue, then punch each other before wrestling for control of the gun. Once Cruz gained control, he shot Aguirre. Anthony Williams was shot in the chest during the struggle.

Aguirre died at the scene, and Williams was pronounced dead at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center.

The prosecution called Sioux City Police Det. Michael Sitzman to rebut Angel Williams' testimony based on an interview Sitzman had with him on Nov. 16, after prosecutors learned Williams would be called as a defense witness. Sitzman said he had believed his body camera was recording during the interview, but it was not, so there was no audio or video recording of the interview. Sitzman said Williams told him after Cruz shot Aguirre, he shot him in the back of the head as he walked out of the house.

Defense attorney Michael Jacobsma said in his cross examination that Williams' statement during his interview with Sitzman contradicted everything witnesses had said during the course of the investigation.

"No witnesses have said anything about Joseph Cruz shooting the victim in the back of the head, is that correct?" Jacobsma asked.

"Yes, that is correct," Sitzman said.

Cruz' sister, Sierra Cruz, testified for the defense that her brother and Aguirre were best friends, but drinking could affect Aguirre's mood.

"He was very violent, aggressive, very bad-tempered," Sierra Cruz said of Aguirre's behavior when drinking. "If things didn't go his way, he'd just flip out. The only thing that would calm him down was Joseph."

Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis called three rebuttal witnesses, all friends of Aguirre who said he would become emotional when drinking, sometimes crying and telling them how much he cared for them. None mentioned violent behavior.

Witness testimony and evidence concluded Friday, and the trial will resume Tuesday with final jury instructions and closing arguments before jurors receive the case to begin their deliberations.
SIOUX CITY  Sioux City and four other Iowa public school districts have been named in a federal lawsuit that challenges a state law placing restrictions on LGBTQ+ students and school materials.

The ACLU of Iowa joined two law firms in filing the federal suit, saying the law "seeks to silence LGBTQ+ students, erase any recognition of LGBTQ+ people from public schools, and bans books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content."

The plaintiffs cited Sioux City, Ames and Iowa City as three of the "numerous" school districts that have instructed teachers to remove rainbow images, Pride flags and "safe stickers" from classrooms because of the law.

Iowa Senate File 496, known by critics as the "don't say gay" law, prohibits the instruction of gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade, prohibits books with descriptions of sex acts and requires parental notification when a K-12 student wants to be referred to by a different pronoun or name in school.

The suit names the Sioux City, Iowa City, Urbandale, Waterloo and West Des Moines districts as plaintiffs.

Also named as defendants in the suit are the superintendents and school boards from each district, acting in their official capacities.

Sioux City superintendent Rod Earleywine and all seven current school board members -- Dan Greenwell, Lance Ehmcke, Jan George, Treyla Lee, John Meyers, Bob Michaelson and Earl Miller -- were named as defendants.

Ehmcke, Lee, Meyers and Miller just took their oaths of office Monday, following their election in the Nov. 7 general election.

An unidentified Sioux City North student, listed as James Doe, is one of seven students who are plaintiffs in the suit. James Doe contends the new law has created an environment where students are "hesitant to bring up queer themes and topics in classes and outside of class in school for fear of getting teachers in trouble."

Some of the student plaintiffs, who range from fourth to 12th graders, spoke at a news conference Wednesday. ACLU of Iowa Spokesperson Veronica Fowler said some students wished to remain anonymous, citing safety and privacy concerns.

Under the law, passed by majority Republicans in the Iowa Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in May, educators are forbidden from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through grade six, and school administrators are required to notify parents if students ask to change their pronouns or names.

The lawsuit, which claims the law is a violation of students and teachers free speech and equal protection rights, asks the courts for an immediate halt to enforcement of the law during the legal challenge.

James Doe is identified as a junior at North High and part of the schools Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA). The lawsuit also states Doe is transgender. He alleges students in the Sioux City schools are being bullied for their LGBTQ+ identities and fear telling teachers about the bullying because they do not want to be outed to their parents.

Doe said other students are scared to join North's GSA due to the possibility teachers will have to out them to their parents, causing hostility at home. He also states some students are afraid to use the names and pronouns that match their gender for the same reason.

DOE feels that SF 496 has created a climate of fear that prevents students from coming together to support each other and express a common message of pride in who they are, according to the lawsuit.

The ACLU of Iowa, Lambda Legal and the law firm Jenner & Block are representing the seven students and Iowa Safe Schools, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ students in Iowa, in the federal lawsuit, which was filed in the Southern District of Iowa.

(The state law) "is a clear violation of public school students First Amendment rights to speak, read and learn freely, ACLU of Iowa lawyer Thomas Story said. The First Amendment does not allow our state or our schools to remove books or issue blanket bans on discussion and material simply because a group of politicians or parents find them offensive.

Erin Murphy of the Journal Des Moines Bureau and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
HINTON, Iowa  The Plymouth County Conservation Board and Foundation will be hosting its 11th annual Snow Scamper 5K at Hillview Park on Feb. 3, 2024.

According to naturalist Victoria DeVos, this is a race for everyone who walks, runs or snowshoes, plus the quickest racer isn't the only one who wins. That is because door prizes will be provided as well as prizes for the top racers.

The Snow Scamper event is a great way to get fresh air and exercise, DeVos said, while also raising funds. The Plymouth County Conservation Foundation helps provide funds for special projects at Hillview and other Plymouth County parks.

Registration is now open and forms can be found at plymouthcountyparks.com.
The unusual debate between Govs. Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom Thursday night featured a variety of topics and lots of testy, often-inaudible cross-talk.

The meeting of the Florida and California governors was billed as a showdown between red vs. blue state ideas. But with both men constantly talking about President Joe Biden plus debate moderator and Fox News host Sean Hannity peppering in questions on foreign policy, that pretense was often replaced with a focus on national politics.

Held in the swing state of Georgia on a stage with no audience, the men both called each other bullies and wrangled over education, taxes, crime, guns, homelessness, unemployment and more. The evening provided an opportunity for both governors to present themselves as the next generation of standard-bearers for their parties.

The debate also came at a vulnerable moment for DeSantis presidential campaign, which needs momentum after a particularly stinging few weeks of bad news, even for a team that has grown accustomed to national skepticism surrounding the Florida governors candidacy.

Polls continue to show former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley edging closer and closer to DeSantis hold on second place in the GOP presidential primary. Last week, Chris Jankowski, the chief executive of the super PAC that has been providing enormous support for DeSantis cash-strapped campaign, resigned. The news happened less than two months before the Iowa caucuses, considered a make-or-break state for DeSantis.

Here are three takeaways from the night:

1. The statistics-heavy debate was not easy to follow.

Hannity started many of his questions with a statistic that almost always featured Florida looking better than California. That often launched DeSantis and Newsom into arguments over which statistics mattered or were even accurate.

That made much of the debate difficult to digest for viewers at home, and left the evening void of many zinger moments typical of these high-profile contests. Hannity struggled to reign in the cross-talk.

Both men came armed with talking points and data about the others state. At one point in the debate, DeSantis pulled out a paper map as a prop, which he said plotted all the points where human feces had been found on the streets of San Francisco.

2. It was all about President Joe Biden.

Almost immediately, Newsom took up the mantle of defending Bidens policies, making himself a surrogate for the president.

That seemed to fit perfectly with DeSantis strategy of positioning himself as a foil to Newsom and, by extension, trying to show himself capable of taking on Biden as an opponent.

This is the vision of Biden-Harris-Newsom: open borders, Americans suffer, DeSantis said at one point during a discussion of immigration.

Lets talk a little bit about Bidenomics, Newsom said during a different segment on taxes. Im happy to take that on.

That theme repeated itself throughout the night, and played to both mens desire to appear as national-caliber candidates willing to embrace big fights.

3. Each accused the other of blind ambition.

Newsom seemed to land a hit against DeSantis when he brought up the GOP presidential candidates struggling poll numbers, after saying DeSantis orchestrated the flights of migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard to seek attention.

And by the way, how is that going for you, Ron? Youre down 41 points in your own home state, he said.

DeSantis smiled at the camera and did not respond directly to the attack.

But several times during the night, he accused Newsom of secretly wanting to be president.

(Biden) has no business running for president, DeSantis said, referring to the presidents age. And you know Gavin Newsom agrees with that. He wont say that, but thats why hes running his shadow campaign.

While Newsom is viewed as a likely candidate for future presidential races, he repeated Thursday night that he had no intention of running in 2024 and is supporting Biden.

Theres one thing ... that we have in common, Newsom said. Neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.

___

The 2024 presidential field, in the order they've announced Donald Trump, Republican Nikki Haley, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Marianne Williamson, Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Independent Larry Elder, Republican (dropped out) President Joe Biden, Democrat Asa Hutchinson, Republican Tim Scott, Republican (dropped out) Ron DeSantis, Republican Mike Pence, Republican (dropped out) Chris Christie, Republican Doug Burgum, Republican (dropped out) Francis Suarez, Republican (dropped out) Will Hurd, Republican (dropped out)
An Iowa medical-supply worker is suing his former employer for refusing to accommodate his religious beliefs by requiring him to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Brandon S. Hoefer of Butler County says he was fired for refusing to comply with a directive from his employer, the medical supply company NuCara, to be vaccinated, despite his belief that the vaccine was sinful and that God will heal me in times of illness.

Hoefer is suing the company for alleged civil rights violations related to his religious beliefs. He alleges that he worked as a salesman for NuCara from 2017 through November of 2021, when he was fired for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The lawsuit, filed in state court and then in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, alleges that as a result of his job he had minimal interaction with nursing home residents, but did have regular, in-person meetings with nursing home employees.

After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the lawsuit alleges, Hoefer performed most of his work from home, maintaining the same level of production as he had when meeting in person with nursing home workers.

On May 13, 2021, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued an interim rule requiring COVID-19 vaccines to be offered to all residents, clients and staff.

Hoefer alleges he was concerned about the rule because receiving the COVID-19 vaccine would violate his sincerely held religious beliefs, which the lawsuit doesnt describe. He says his opposition to the vaccine was also based on a severe anaphylactic reaction hed experienced after receiving a different vaccine, and so he asked NuCara to provide him with paperwork to seek a religious and medical exemption.

In August 2021, CMS announced that it would be requiring that all staff in Medicaid-certified nursing homes to be vaccinated against COVID-19. At that point, Hoefer alleges, he renewed his request for paperwork to seek an exemption.

In September 2021, CMS extended the vaccination requirement to nearly all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified suppliers and providers. Within weeks, NuCara announced its intention to require all employees, including Hoefer, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The companys CEO allegedly told Hoefer he would have to be vaccinated in order to keep his job and that NuCara would not be granting any exemptions.

Hoefer requested an exemption anyway, sending the company a letter that quoted biblical passages and referenced his personal belief that my body is a sacred temple. In his letter, he objected to getting the COVID-19 vaccine and stated, I wholeheartedly believe that this would be a sin and would go against what God has created and entrusted me with  I firmly believe that God will heal me in times of illness, and to doubt this power would be detrimental to my faith.

The company allegedly informed Hoefer that any accommodations made for him would create an undue hardship on NuCara and so the vaccine mandates provision for exemptions did not apply. At no point, the lawsuit claims, did NuCara inquire about Hoefers religious beliefs or medical history.

The lawsuit also claims Hoefers request for a religious exemption could have been accommodated by NuCara without causing any undue hardship for the business as evidenced by his 18 months of remote working prior to the vaccine mandate being imposed.

Hoefer alleges he would not have been terminated but for his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccination, and that he was harassed by other NuCara employees and pressured to get the COVID-19 vaccination.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for civil rights violations. NuCara has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.

Photos: UNI men's basketball vs. Belmont, Nov. 29
Iowas Republican U.S. representatives voted to expel New York Republican George Santos from Congress on Friday, joining the bipartisan vote to oust the representative who has faced a string of scandals and criminal allegations since taking office.

The extraordinary move makes Santos just the sixth member of the House  and first Republican  to be voted out by his peers. He is also the first since the Civil War to be expelled without first being convicted of a crime.

The vote, which required a two-thirds majority, passed 311-114. The yes votes included 105 Republicans and 206 Democrats, while the no votes included 112 Republicans and two Democrats.

Shortly after his election to Congress in 2022, Santos first caught attention when large portions of his biography were revealed to be fabricated, including his purported education, work history and family background.

A recent House ethics investigation found evidence he had committed a litany of campaign finance crimes, including stealing from his campaign, soliciting fraudulent donations and reporting fictitious loans to his campaign.

He also faces a 23-count federal indictment for election crimes, identity theft and wire fraud related to his campaign.

Iowa Republicans vote to expel Santos, condemn his actions

While a slim majority of Republicans voted against the measure, Iowas Republican representatives  Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn  joined the bipartisan vote to expel Santos.

In a statement, Nunn, who represents Iowas 3rd Congressional District, called Santos a con man and condemned his actions.

Those who serve in elected office should be held to the highest possible ethical standard, Nunn said. George Santos probably couldnt even find the word ethics in a dictionary. He has repeatedly proven to be a con man, and theres no doubt in my mind that he should be in prison, not the House of Representatives.

The American people are sick & tired of D.C. backroom deals that protect crooks & liars. To serve the American people, both Republicans & Democrats must put the best interests of our country ahead of politics. That's why I just voted to expel Santos from the U.S. House. pic.twitter.com/pFgEaMa8Li  Congressman Zach Nunn (@ZachNunn) December 1, 2023

Nunn also said the Senate should follow the Houses lead and expel U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who has been indicted on allegations of accepting bribes from Egyptian officials to influence U.S. policy.

In a statement, Miller-Meeks said she voted yes because of the evidence of criminal wrongdoing the House investigation uncovered. She also urged the Senate to expel Menendez and tied the effort to House Republicans' investigations into the financial dealings of President Joe Biden and his family. House Republicans' investigations have not found evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Biden.

"Members and elected officials must be held to a higher standard," she said. "This is especially important as we continue to investigate the Biden crime family and consider an upcoming vote for an impeachment inquiry to hold President Biden accountable."

Shortly before the vote, Hinson, who represents Iowas 2nd Congressional District, reaffirmed on social media her plans to support the congressmans ouster.

His conduct is beneath public office and he is unfit to serve in Congress, she said. We should focus on solving the challenges facing the American people & he should deal with his legal challenges as a private citizen.

As I said, if George Santos didnt resign, I would vote to expel him.



His conduct is beneath public office and he is unfit to serve in Congress. We should focus on solving the challenges facing the American people & he should deal with his legal challenges as a private citizen. pic.twitter.com/WR3UsvD7tB  Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) December 1, 2023

In a November statement on social media, Feenstra, who represents Iowas 4th Congressional District, called Santos actions unethical and illegal.

We expect our elected officials to operate truthfully, ethically, and responsibly on behalf of their constituents, he said. ...Rep. George Santos has proven that his ethics do not align with what we expect from our leaders.

In Iowa, we value integrity and dignity within our families, our communities, and public life. We expect our elected officials to operate truthfully, ethically, and responsibly on behalf of their constituents.  Rep. Randy Feenstra (@RepFeenstra) November 17, 2023
Justice Sandra Day OConnor died on Friday at the age of 93 due to complications from dementia and a respiratory illness. The first woman appointed to the Supreme Court, OConnor had an immense impact on the law over her 24 years on the nations highest bench. Her pragmatic jurisprudence often kept the court aligned with public opinion, especially on controversial issues like abortion, affirmative action, and the line separating church and state. Today, her legacy is in shambles. She watched as her replacement, Justice Samuel Alito, methodically dismantled her imprint on one area of the law after another. And the conservative justices who succeeded OConnor have flatly rejected her practical, compromise-oriented approach, almost always replacing it with rigid doctrines of dogmatic formalism that consistently lead to far-right extremes and unworkable ideas.

OConnor grew up on a cattle ranch in Arizona, a far cry from the ultraprivileged upbringing of more recent Republican-appointed justices. She attended Stanford University at age 16, then went on to Stanford Law School, where she excelled despite widespread sexism. When she couldnt land a legal job despite graduating near the top of her law school class, she hung out a shingle and worked on small cases. OConnor took time off to care for her sons while always keeping a foot in local law and politics. Her rise to power began in 1969 when Arizona Gov. Jack Williams appointed her to a Senate vacancy. A Republican, OConnor established herself as a moderate deal-maker and rose through the ranks to Senate majority leader, becoming the first woman to hold that position in any state. She was appointed to a superior court in 1974 and elevated to the state court of appeals in 1979. Although this was an intermediate court and she was a middle-of-the-road jurist, this promotion made her a top candidate for the Supreme Court after Ronald Reagan pledged to appoint the first woman to the bench during his 1980 campaign. Sure enough, in 1981, Reagan elevated OConnor to the Supreme Court. Her confirmation hearings suggested she was a centrist conservative; her installation at the court established her as a rock star.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

OConnor began her service as the kind of conservative Reagan had expected, with some exceptions: An early opinion, for instance, vehemently reaffirmed the Constitutions bar on gender discrimination, in language that suggested a keen awareness of ongoing sexism in America. At the same time, she indicated an early willingness to reexamine and perhaps overturn Roe v. Wade, and she cast the decisive vote in a notorious decision that upheld sodomy bans. Her views on states rights, capital punishment, campaign finance laws, and other hot-button issues also adhered to the usual right-wing viewpoint. Yet by the late 1980s, OConnor had begun to break away from the conservative flank of the courtin part because the hardline, pugnacious style of Justice Antonin Scalia, appointed in 1986, alienated and repelled her, especially when he insulted her in private memos and printed opinions.

Advertisement

Related From Slate The Supreme Court Is Losing Control Over Our Trump-Stacked Judiciary Read More

In the 1990s, OConnor drifted even further away from Scalia and his allies, often to their vocal disapproval and contempt, eventually becoming the courts swing vote, securing for herself the role, for a time, as the most powerful jurist in America. OConnor authored or joined a series of opinions that preserved the separation of church and state, safeguarded Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches, and enforced due process guarantees for criminal defendants. Most notably, OConnor helped craft the courts famed compromise in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a 1992 case that at first seemed destined to overrule Roe v. Wade. OConnor used Casey to establish the undue burden test, which gave states the leeway to restrict abortion without allowing them to ban it outright. The Republican Party viewed Casey as the ultimate betrayal and recommitted itself to overturning the constitutional right to abortion, a crusade that would pay off 30 years later after President Donald Trump moved the court even further to the right with three appointments.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

By the 2000s, OConnor had grown into a truly independent juristwith one glaring, tragic exception that would fatally undermine her impact on the law: After the contested 2000 election, she voted with her fellow conservatives to halt the Florida recount and award the election to George W. Bush. Ironically, in the years after Bush v. Gore, OConnor pushed the court in an increasingly liberal direction: She wrote the landmark opinion approving affirmative action in higher education, co-authored the opinion upholding the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, and shifted her position on LGBTQ equality, voting to strike down anti-gay sodomy bans while affirming equal protection rights for same-sex couples.

Critics often derided OConnor for what seemed to be a small-bore, mincing, and case-by-case approach to constitutional doctrine. She didnt much care. Because what OConnor managed to reflect, over her quarter century on the court, was a keen eye for what the moderate center of the country believed. Perhaps because she was the last sitting justice who had ever run for elected office, OConnor cared what the public wanted and hated and she almost unfailingly represented that view in her decisions.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In 2005, OConnor chose to step down so she could care for her husband, who had Alzheimers disease. She did so at the peak of her power and influence, in part because the chief justice, William Rehnquist, insisted that she retire so that he could stay on the court another year. He died shortly thereafter. Her premature retirement allowed Bushthe president she installed in 2000to replace her with Samuel Alito, a substitution that registered as a rebuke to everything OConnor stood for. As a lower court judge, Alito had insisted that Pennsylvanias law requiring women to notify their spouses before terminating a pregnancy complied with the Constitution. It was this provision that OConnor struck down in Casey, explaining that it would render women vulnerable to physical and psychological abuse at the hands of their husbands. Alito finally overturned Casey, along with Roe, in 2022s Dobbs decision, and cast key votes overruling other landmark decisions by OConnor. After Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined the court, no aspect of OConnors jurisprudence was safe. In decision after decision, the court has pared back or overruled her opinions on affirmative action, campaign finance reform, separation of church and state, and other topics where she deviated from the conservative orthodoxy.

Advertisement

Advertisement

OConnor famously had a cushion in her chambers that featured the saying Maybe in error but never in doubt. As the first woman to sit on the high court after nearly 200 years of male domination, she was forced to project certainty even as she suffered the indignity of being called a token and a campaign promise. She navigated that by being an extraordinary first. And her jurisprudence reflected a lifelong solicitude for the outsiders and the underrepresented because she knew what it was like to be invisible. OConnor often said that a wise old man and a wise old woman would come to the same result; she loathed the idea that her gender shaped her jurisprudence. But she was a wise old woman, even when she was very young; in no small part because she understood that she didnt know everything, had to pretend that she did, and yet was eternally open to learning and adapting and changing her mind. The court would be far better off today if her successors exercised even a fraction of the modesty, restraint, and capacity for course-correction that defined her service to the country.
This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy.

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee escalated its investigation into potential ethical lapses at the Supreme Court by authorizing subpoenas to billionaire businessman Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo.

The demands for information come after months of increasingly troubling reports on decades of unreported financing for opulent vacations, seats on private jets, a luxury RV, and private school tuition, among other gifts received by Supreme Court justices from those with business before them. Crow had a simple message for the Committee: pound sand.

In a public statement rejecting the committees prior information requests, Crow said he wont be bullied by threats from politicians while Leo called the committees investigation vile and disgusting, also refusing to produce requested documents.

Crow may in fact feel bullied, and Leo may feel that the inquiry is ill-intentioned. But as a matter of law, the two are obliged to comply anyway.

So far, the justifications for noncompliance are unpersuasiveas may eventually become clear in court should Crow and Leo ignore the subpoenas.

Related From Slate The Supreme Courts New Attempt to Combat Its Scandals Is Not Going Well Read More

Leos counsel has argued that the inquiry exceeds the limits placed by the Constitution on the Committees investigative authority. But it is unclear to which limits he is referring. Congress enjoys an expansive constitutional authority to investigate just about any matter it chooses, and to enforce that authority through compulsory tools like subpoenas. The Supreme Court has explained that the scope of this investigative power is as penetrating and far-reaching as the potential power to enact and appropriate under the Constitution. So long as the inquiry could plausibly relate to an issue on which legislation could be hadin this case, efforts to pass new judicial ethics lawsCongress is well within constitutional bounds to exercise its investigative muscles.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Crow has pointed to the fact that the committee has already drawn up the legislation the inquiry is designed to inform, concluding that it therefore lacks a valid legislative purpose in requiring his cooperation. This argument posits a novel and likely unavailing read of Congress lawmaking prerogatives. The legislation to which Crow refersthe Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Actcould be the final legislative effort to once and for all address conflicts of interests affecting the Supreme Court. But that seems unlikely. Informed by the findings from its current inquiry, the committee is free to revise its bill, scrap it and start fresh, draft additional legislation, decide its bill is sufficient, or simply contemplate legislation at a future time. Courts have never reviewed what phase a bill might be in, or even whether one exists, in the rare instances of enforcing a subpoena. In short: points for creativity, but demerits for trying to put Crow above the law.

Advertisement

Crow also called attention to his status as a private citizen, suggesting that this somehow insulates him from a congressional investigation. But it is unclear how that status helps his cause. It is true that at times, interbranch disputes have led Congress to curtail or even abandon its oversight activities. (For instance, when Chief Justice John Roberts recently declined an invitation to testify on Supreme Court ethics lapses). But Crow is not part of any branch of government; as he emphatically asserted, he is a private citizen. Congress, like the courts and the executive branch, does not have to specially weigh his co-equal prerogatives and authorities in demanding information from him.

Advertisement

Courts have repeatedly vindicated this investigative authority with respect to private entities. For instance, in 2016, the Senate sued the CEO of Backpage.com for noncompliance with a subpoena regarding the websites alleged links to sex trafficking. A district court ordered the company to hand over all of the requested documents, reaffirming that the Constitution authorizes Congress to investigate any issue or subject about which it can enact legislation. An appellate court and the Supreme Court declined to intervene.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Leos attorney seeks to save his client from well-established law by characterizing the committees inquiry as political retaliation. Given the serious conflicts of interest exposed over the last several months, this characterization is disingenuous at best. But it is also irrelevant. Carl Ferrer, the CEO of Backpage.com, made a similar argument, describing the Senate inquiry as a prosecutorial effort to punish the company. The district courtquoting the Supreme Court in a similar casereminded Ferrer that the motives of committee members have no bearing on his obligation to comply. Disagreeing with the wisdom of congressional approach or methodology is not, according to the Supreme Court, grounds for invalidating a subpoena.

To be sure, there are limits to Congress investigative authorities. They cannot, for instance, be used to violate constitutionally protected rights. In 1975, a federal court held that congressional staff could be sued for unlawfully removing documents from a private residence in violation of the Fourth Amendments protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. But such cases are rareand do not have corollaries here. Crow may try to fashion one anyway, such as by asserting that the committees requests raise serious  privacy concerns. But a court is unlikely to share Crows concern over keeping his dealings with justices private. The judiciary has consistently refused to place limits on Congress investigative powers based upon purported concerns about confidentiality.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

What if the subpoena recipients remain intransigent? For its first 140 years, Congress would invoke its inherent contempt power, a long-recognized authority to punish those who obstruct its work such as by having them arrested by the sergeant-at-arms. (As it happens, the first arrests were of two private citizens for attempting to bribe members of Congress.) This is an unlikely optionthe last arrest was in 1935though we have explained elsewhere how Congress could dust off this tool if it wished.

Advertisement

Two other options remain. First, the committee could hold the men in contempt and then refer the matter to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. (Refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena is a violation of federal criminal law.) Second, the Senate could initiate civil litigation, seeking a court-ordered injunction to compel compliance.

Advertisement

Tempting either is a risky bet. While it has been customary for the full Senate to vote on a criminal contempt citation, as a matter of law, the committee need only to report the citation to the body, with the president of the Senate transmitting it to the Justice Departmentavailing the committee of an expeditious and powerful tool. Of course, the Justice Department could choose not to prosecute, but it has typically done so unless the contemnor is an executive branch official. Initiating litigation, meanwhile, does require a full Senate vote, making it vulnerable to a Republican filibuster. However, should Democrats retake the House next year, the House Judiciary Committee may pick up where its Senate counterpart left off. (That committee advanced a similar ethics bill in the previous Congress.) And there is no filibuster in the House, which could pursue litigation with a simple majority vote.

Advertisement

Advertisement

No matter the route, Congress should carry the fight forward. At stake is not only the integrity of the Supreme Court, but also of Congress. In response to the congressional push for judicial ethics reform, Justice Samuel Alito quipped that [n]o provision in the Constitution gives [Congress] the authority to regulate the Supreme Courtperiodbaffling constitutional law scholars who pointed to numerous such provisions that explicitly do just that. Alitos strategy, it seems, is to wish-away congressional authority with blustery and defiant rhetoric. Todays subpoena recipients seem to be taking a page from their friends playbook.

Whether certain justices and their friends like it or not, Congress is a co-equal branch of government. It now falls on Congress to remind them.

More From Just Security:

Solutions That Work? Analyzing State Employment Authorization for Noncitizens in the U.S.

The Biden Administration Should Continue Rebuffing NSO Groups Latest Lobbying Efforts
Ann Snyder, chairman of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, leads a meeting of The Woodlands Township, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in The Woodlands. Snyder, who has served on the board since 2015 and took the chairman position in 2022, will once again lead the board after a Nov. 29 vote. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Ann Snyder, chairman of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, is seen during a meeting of The Woodlands Township, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in The Woodlands. Snyder, who has served on the board since 2015 and took the chairman position in 2022, will once again lead the board after a Nov. 29 vote. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Cindy Heiser was elected to Position 7 of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors over candidates Ann Perry and Thomas Chumbley to serve her first term on the board. Active with Interfaith, The Woodlands Arts Festival and Arts Council, the Rotary Club and other local organizations, Heiser is a 24-year resident of The Woodlands and small business owner. Courtesy of Cindy Heiser Incumbent Shelley Sekula-Gibbs was elected to Position 5 of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors over Tricia Danto to serve her her third term on the board. In a Nov. 8 statement to the Chronicle, Sekula-Gibbs said she would prioritize reducing cut-through traffic driving through The Woodlands in her next term. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Three Woodlands township board members officially began new two-year terms as board member Bob Milner stepped down for newly-elected member Cindy Heiser to take his place.

Heiser and incumbents Ann Snyder and Shelley Sekula-Gibbs were elected to Positions 5, 6, and 7 in the Nov. 7 election.

Snyder, who has served on the board since 2015 and took the chairman position in 2022, will once again lead the board after a Nov. 29 vote.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

ALSO SEE: Expect a rainy commute Thursday morning as storms move into Houston area

"I am humbled and honored to be reelected to The Woodlands Township board of directors," Snyder said after the election. "I plan to spend my next two years on the (board) as I have spent the past eight, which is building upon successful initiatives that provide high quality services and amenities at the best value and lowest tax rate."

Milner decided not to run for re-election after four years on the township board. During his time, Milner served as chairman of the budget task force during the pandemic and was part of several other groups, including the Kuykendahl Intersection Stakeholders committee and the Law Enforcement Advisory group.

"Throughout his time on the board Bob has played a very pivotal role in leading The Woodlands Township through both prosperous times and, notably, the challenges that were brought about in our global pandemic," Snyder said. ""He chaired the budget task force to ensure that we, the residents, still had all the amenities that we enjoyed... His commitment to public service is not only reflected in this role within the township, but his active involvement in various initiatives, and he is a very well-respected member of this community."

Milner served in the United States Air Force and is a successful entrepreneur who helped build Sam Houston State University's Entrepreneurship Program.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"We came in together, and I will miss you very much," Sekula-Gibbs said. "Your wisdom, your experience and your perspective were always highly regarded on this board and I thank you."

Heiser was elected over candidates Ann Perry and Thomas Chumbley to serve her first term on the board. Active with Interfaith, The Woodlands Arts Festival and Arts Council, the Rotary Club and other local organizations, Heiser is a 24-year resident of The Woodlands and small business owner.

"I am so honored to have the opportunity to serve the community where weve raised our family," Heiser said in a statement sent to the Chronicle Nov. 8. "The Woodlands is an incredible place and I look forward to representing our residents and businesses in the township."

ALSO SEE: Montgomery ISD names Hill Country school leader as lone superintendent finalist

Sekula-Gibbs was elected over Tricia Danto to serve her her third term on the board. In a Nov. 8 statement to the Chronicle, Sekula-Gibbs said she would prioritize reducing cut-through traffic driving through The Woodlands in her next term.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"It is a tremendous honor to be re-elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors for a 3rd term," Sekula-Gibbs said.
Effective presentations are vital in securing new business and helping a firm grow. Thanks to advancements in technology, small businesses now have a wealth of tools available to them for delivering powerful presentations, quickly and efficiently.

Benefits of Presentation Apps for Small Businesses

Presentation apps offer a range of benefits for small businesses, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively both internally and with clients. These apps enable the creation of visually appealing presentations that can simplify complex data, making it easier to understand and more engaging for the audience. This is particularly beneficial for small businesses, where clear and effective communication is key to success.

Here are some specific benefits of presentation apps for small businesses:

Enhanced Communication : Helps in conveying ideas and information more clearly and effectively.

: Helps in conveying ideas and information more clearly and effectively. Professionalism : Creates a professional appearance, enhancing the credibility of the business.

: Creates a professional appearance, enhancing the credibility of the business. Time-Saving : Templates and easy-to-use interfaces save time in creating presentations.

: Templates and easy-to-use interfaces save time in creating presentations. Data Visualization : Simplifies complex data through charts and infographics.

: Simplifies complex data through charts and infographics. Engagement : Increases audience engagement with interactive and visually appealing content.

: Increases audience engagement with interactive and visually appealing content. Accessibility : Allows presentations to be accessed from different devices and locations.

: Allows presentations to be accessed from different devices and locations. Cost-Effective : Reduces the need for expensive marketing materials.

: Reduces the need for expensive marketing materials. Customization : Offers customization options to align with brand identity.

: Offers customization options to align with brand identity. Collaboration : Facilitates collaboration among team members, improving efficiency.

: Facilitates collaboration among team members, improving efficiency. Feedback and Analytics: Some apps provide feedback and analytics on audience engagement.

Selecting the Top Presentation Apps for Small Businesses: Our Thought Process

In the dynamic world of business, presentation apps are indispensable tools for conveying ideas and information effectively. For small business owners and entrepreneurs, choosing the right app can enhance the impact of their presentations. Here are the key criteria we considered when selecting the best presentation apps:

User Interface and Ease of Use (High Importance) Intuitive and user-friendly interface

Easy to navigate and create presentations

Availability of tutorials or guides for new users Design and Customization Options (High Importance) Wide range of templates and design themes

Customization options for branding and unique styles

Flexibility in adding multimedia elements (images, videos, audio) Collaboration Features (Moderate Importance) Real-time collaboration capabilities

Easy sharing and feedback options

Integration with team communication tools Compatibility and Integration (High Importance) Compatibility with multiple devices and platforms

Integration with other business tools (CRM, data analysis software)

Export options in various formats (PDF, PPT, video) Interactivity and Engagement Tools (Moderate Importance) Features like interactive polls, Q&A, and animations

Engagement tools for audience participation

Analytics to gauge audience engagement Performance and Reliability (High Importance) Smooth performance without glitches

Reliability in saving and accessing presentations

Adequate storage and backup options Cost and Pricing Structure (Moderate Importance) Transparent pricing with no hidden costs

Free version or trial period availability

Value for money considering the features offered Support and Resources (Moderate Importance) Access to customer support for troubleshooting

Availability of resources like templates, icons, and graphics

Regular updates and feature enhancements Security and Privacy (High Importance) Data security measures and privacy policies

Control over sharing and access rights

Compliance with data protection regulations

These criteria aim to assist you in finding a presentation app that is not only powerful in features but also user-friendly and aligned with your businesss needs. The ideal app should empower you to create engaging and impactful presentations with ease.

Small Business Deals

Best Presentation Apps

Here are seven of the best business presentation apps for your smartphone designed to help you win over your audience.

Haiku Deck

You can create a presentation in just a few minutes with the help of the Haiku Deck app. This intuitive app enables you to import images from social media sites. The app also allows you to sync your presentations between your iPhone, iPad or the internet.

The Haiku Deck app is free to download onto iPhone and iPad.

Keynote

Keynote is a powerful presentation app, which comes complete with cinematic transitions to help professionals make world-class presentations.

With iCloud built in, businesses can keep presentations fully secured and accessible across different devices with Keynote.

Keynote is available on the App Store for IOS devices. It can be downloaded for $9.99.

Google Slides

With the Google Slides app you can create and edit presentations and share them with others from your Android smartphone or tablet. This intuitive app enables you to not only create new presentations but edit existing files as well.

You can share and collaborate presentations at the same time from remote destinations. Slides can be added and rearranged in presentations. As all presentations are saved in the cloud, you dont have to worry about losing your work with the Google Slides app.

Google Slides is free to download and can be used on both Android smartphones and iPhones.

WPS Office

The WPS Office is a simple yet effective presentation app. The app has a range of features designed to make presentations easy to create and effective, including the ability to insert, resize or crop images. Office documents can be exported to PDF with ease with the WPS Office app.

The WPS Office app is available to downloaded for free on the App Store for iOS devices. It is also available on Android mobile devices.

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint can be downloaded onto an iPad, iPhone or Android smartphones. The PowerPoint app enables businesses to create and edit impactful presentations whilst on the go. The presentations created on the PowerPoint app can be accessed in the cloud.

Microsoft PowerPoint app is free to download onto iOS and Android mobile devices.

FlowVella

With the FlowVella app you can combine words, images, links, videos and PDFs to create an effective presentation whilst on the go. Another great feature of FlowVella is the fact you can record videos of your presentations and share them anywhere.

The FlowVella app is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices and can be downloaded for free.

ShowPad

ShowPad is specifically designed to help salespeople present and share content that matters to help them shine above competition, sell more products and ultimately grow their business. The ShowPad app is an easy-to-use sales presentation platform whereby sales teams can present dynamic content in presentation format.

Presentations can be custimized and used again for different sales situations with the ShowPad app. All meetings, presentations and activities can be easily logged and shared with ShowPad.

The ShowPad app can be downloaded for free onto both Android and iOS smartphones.

App Platform Availability Price Key Features Best For Haiku Deck iPhone, iPad Free Quick creation, import images from social media, sync across devices Quick and intuitive presentation creation Keynote iOS (iPhone, iPad) $9.99 Cinematic transitions, iCloud integration, secure and accessible Professional presentations with cinematic quality Google Slides Android, iOS Free Create/edit presentations, share and collaborate, cloud-based Collaborative and accessible presentations WPS Office iOS, Android Free Insert/resize/crop images, export to PDF, simple interface Simplicity and effectiveness in presentation creation Microsoft PowerPoint iOS, Android Free Create/edit presentations, cloud access, impactful design Impactful presentations on the go FlowVella iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch Free Combine various media, record presentations, compatible with multiple devices Interactive presentations with multimedia content ShowPad iOS, Android Free Designed for sales, dynamic content, customizable, activity logging Sales presentations and content sharing
Exploring various ways to say thank you is not only a matter of good manners but also a strategy that fosters positive relationships and satisfaction. In the business context, where competition is fierce and customer loyalty is invaluable, expressing gratitude can make a significant difference.

Especially in times when gestures of appreciation are most impactful, recognizing individuals who contribute to a businesss success is crucial.

This article aims to provide a range of diverse and innovative ways to express thanks, tailored to different groups such as customers, clients, partners, suppliers, and all who have been integral to your businesss journey.

ChatGPT Prompts for Business Sell Your Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Advertise Your Business Here

From personalized tokens of gratitude to public recognitions, these suggestions are designed to help you craft meaningful and memorable expressions of appreciation. Embracing such practices not only strengthens existing relationships but also helps in forging new ones.

By acknowledging the contributions of those involved in your business, you create an atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation, fostering a positive brand image and encouraging ongoing support and collaboration.

Types of Ways to Say Thank You for Businesses

Weve compiled a checklist table that categorizes different types of ways to way thank you, suitable for any business. This table will help you quickly identify which type of thank you strategy aligns best with your business needs and resources.

Small Business Deals

Whether its a personal gesture, a public acknowledgment, or a promotional act, you can find the right way to show appreciation to your customers, clients, and partners.

Strategy Type Examples Personalized Gestures Hand-written thank you cards, Calling clients for lunch, Birthday gifts or cards, Personalized thank you messages on social media Public Acknowledgment Publicly thanking customers on social media, Highlighting customers in a blog post, Hosting a community party or event, Promoting partners on your website Promotional Acts Offering free samples or discounts, Organizing contests or giveaways, Complimentary services like gift wrapping, Loyalty programs Educational/Value-Adding Free eBooks or webinars, Hosting educational seminars, Sharing useful articles or resources Client & Employee Engagement Hosting meet-and-greet events, Inviting feedback on charity support, Employee referral programs Digital Appreciation Sending eCards, Online contests, Social media shout-outs, Offering virtual coffees via apps Celebratory Events Hosting tasting events, Organizing happy hour outings, Sponsoring local meetups, Flash sales Operational Excellence Simplifying internal processes, Improving customer interaction, Efficient handoffs between departments Community Involvement Supporting local causes, Promoting local issues on social media, Including a community bulletin board in business locations

Creative Ways to Say Thank You

Send out hand-written Thank You cards to your top clients and be sure to make each one specific and personal.

Invite members of your community to a party at your local store or restaurant.

Offer free samples of your products to holiday shoppers.

Consultants, package your best advice together in a free eBook and give it away.

Hold an online contest to give away a free product or service to one (or more) of your most loyal customers.

Bakeries and coffee shops, host a free tasting event.

Award a shopping spree or free gift card to one of your customers and ask them to pay it forward by doing something nice for someone else.

Call up your best clients and take them to lunch  just because.

Send a discount to your customers on the anniversary of their first purchase from you.

If you have customers around the country (or the world), host a coffee meetup when you visit a new city and invite customers who live nearby.

Publicly thank your customers individually on social media.

Let customers share their input on which charities you support over the holidays.

If you offer any membership based services, offer surprise upgrades for the highest membership level to a few of your lower-level subscribers.

Send a gift or card to your customers on their birthday or other dates that are important specifically to them.

Host a meet-and-greet event to offer customers the chance to get to know the people behind your business.

B2B businesses, send more business to your clients by giving them relevant referrals whenever possible.

When customers share suggestions, send them a personalized note letting them know how you implemented their feedback.

If you have customers who pay a regular monthly fee for your services, discount a small percentage off their fee for one month.

Send a gift card or discount code from one of your partner businesses to your customers.

Host an after hours event like a reading or an open mic night.

Promote your partners or business clients with a quick shout out on social media.

Create a section of your website specifically to showcase your partners and business clients. Highlight different clients on your main page every week.

Send out some branded gifts like t-shirts or tote bags with your company logo.

Offer complimentary coffee and other treats in your entryway or waiting area.

Find a book that you think would be useful for your clients or partners and share it with them.

Reach out to customers on a regular basis just to make sure theyre satisfied with your products or services.

Highlight standout customers in a blog post or video on your website.

Share relevant articles or other resources from sources that arent your own with your customers on social media or via email.

Bloggers, offer free ad-space or sponsored posts to loyal readers who fit with your content.

Host educational seminars or online classes and invite your existing clients early.

Offer up your space for local groups or charity organizations when youre not using it.

Sponsor local meetups or networking events to help your clients meet others in their industries.

When you launch a new product or service, publicly call for customers to help you name it. Give a prize or public shout out to the winner.

Create a video that says thank you to customers and shows them a behind the scenes look at your company.

Send individual thank you messages to customers who share your products or nice experiences about your business on social media.

Retailers, offer complimentary giftwrapping with purchases over the holidays.

Send a gift card or coffee via Starbucks mobile app to customers you cant meet with for coffee in person.

Create a personalized eCard to send to your customers on holidays.

Plan a happy hour outing once a month and invite your clients, partners and employees out for an informal get together.

When a client mentions a unique hobby or interest, make a note of it and use that to pick out any future gifts, rather than just sending generic items.

Host a giveaway when you launch a new product or service, giving your best customers a chance to try it for free.

Send your clients a basket of their favorite baked goods or other snacks just to let them know how important they are to your business.

Be open and honest with your customers when your business goes through any changes, good or bad.

Local businesses, include a bulletin board in your location that customers and community members can use to share information about local causes and events.

Use your social media accounts to promote or highlight important local issues and keep community members informed.

Send a free gift, along with a thank you note, to customers along with their purchase.

Offer a loyalty program that gives customers a discount or incentive for repeat purchases.

Send cards to people on holidays other than the major ones, especially if you have clients who dont celebrate things like Christmas.

Hold a flash sale, just for an hour or two, to give deep discounts to customers who are ready to buy  now.

Pick up the phone and call your clients just to check in and see if theres anything you can help them with.

Say thank you in person. Every time a customer does business with you, say thank you.

Using the above creative ideas for ways to say thank you will not only demonstrate your appreciation but also deepen the connections with those who contribute to your business.

Implementing these strategies goes beyond mere transactional interactions; it fosters a culture of gratitude and acknowledgment. Remember, expressing thanks shouldnt be an occasional gesture but a regular practice.

Regular expressions of gratitude help in building a positive and enduring relationship with clients, customers, partners, and suppliers. This consistent approach to showing appreciation reinforces your commitment to valuing the people who are integral to your business.

Its about creating an environment where everyone feels recognized and valued for their contributions, which in turn can lead to increased loyalty, satisfaction, and even advocacy for your brand.

Integrating gratitude into your business ethos not only enhances your reputation but also contributes to a more positive and collaborative industry atmosphere.

Be sure to check out our gift giving guide for a slew of gift ideas as well!
Grants offer a helping hand to budding businesses, providing a financial boost without the burden of debt. If you are starting your entrepreneurial journey, regularly keep up with the latest grants in your area or industry.

With grants, you are able to:

Cultivate Innovation: Grants nurture fresh ideas, enabling startups to explore uncharted territory and develop cutting-edge solutions.

Grants nurture fresh ideas, enabling startups to explore uncharted territory and develop cutting-edge solutions. Overcome Challenges: Financial support helps new businesses weather early storms, allowing them to invest in key resources and navigate hurdles.

Financial support helps new businesses weather early storms, allowing them to invest in key resources and navigate hurdles. Grow Jobs: As startups flourish, they contribute to a thriving workforce, offering new opportunities and boosting the local economy.

As startups flourish, they contribute to a thriving workforce, offering new opportunities and boosting the local economy. Enrich Communities: Vibrant businesses add color and vitality to communities, offering unique services and fostering a sense of shared purpose.

Vibrant businesses add color and vitality to communities, offering unique services and fostering a sense of shared purpose. Spread the Seeds of Change: Grants can be targeted to address global challenges, encouraging the development of innovative solutions that benefit communities worldwide.

Grant fosters the growth of new ventures, contributing to a more prosperous and sustainable future, especially for new businesses.

Over the past few years, many communities have provided small business grants to small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. However, businesses that launched during this period were often left out of these programs. Illinois is working on a new program to support businesses that started during 2020 and 2021. Read on for those and other grants now available to small businesses.

Small Business News December 1, 2023

In the news roundup this week, stay up to date with the latest innovations from some of the leading companies in the world that provide solutions to small businesses. This includes Intuit, Xero, Salesforce, Square, Instagram, TikTok and others.

Xero has unveiled its 2023 State of the Industry Report, shedding light on the transformative impact of cloud-based technology in the accounting and bookkeeping sector. The report offers a comprehensive overview of business performance, industry trends, and technological adoption within the field.

Aimed at fostering creativity and inclusivity, TikTok has unveiled its latest feature  a mobile effect editor. This innovative tool is set to revolutionize how effects are created and shared on the platform, offering unprecedented accessibility to small business users globally.

Small Business Deals

Squares latest quarterly Restaurant Industry Report offers a comprehensive analysis of the dining landscape in American downtowns post-pandemic. The report, drawing on data from Squares extensive network of food and beverage sellers, delves into consumer spending patterns, restaurant wages, and the adoption of new business models in the industry.

With its latest innovation, TikTok has taken a significant leap in enhancing user experience: a mobile effect editor. This game-changing feature is set to democratize effect creation, making it accessible to TikToks global community directly from the app.

Intuit QuickBooks has teamed up with Allstate Health Solutions to revolutionize healthcare coverage for small businesses. This collaboration is set to offer a seamless, affordable, and comprehensive insurance experience to employers and employees using QuickBooks Online Payroll.

Intuit QuickBooks showcased a series of new product updates and partnerships at the 10th QuickBooks Connect conference. These innovations are set to revolutionize workflows, automation, and insights for accountants and small businesses through the QuickBooks online ecosystem.

Salesforce has launched a new suite of AI and data innovations within its Sales Cloud platform. These cutting-edge tools, including the embedded AI assistant, Copilot for Sales, are engineered to empower sales representatives, leaders, and operations teams. The goal is to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the sales process, ultimately driving business growth and revenue.

Amazon has unveiled Astro for Business, a novel security solution designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. This innovative product merges robotics, smart security, and artificial intelligence (AI), offering a dynamic approach to safeguarding business premises.

Instagram announced a suite of new features to make content creation more intuitive and fun for its users. These updates, encompassing reels, feed photos, carousels, and stories, are designed to enhance user experience and provide deeper insights into content performance.
A selection of short feel-good stories from Slovakia.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share

Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.

Slovak architects designed a day care centre for Belgian patients

One of the rooms in the day care centre. (Source: BoysPlayNice)

Warm Nest is the name of a day care centre for seriously ill people situated in the coastal town of Knokke-Heist, in the Belgian province of West Flanders. They can spend time there with their families, cook lunch, order a massage or discuss their favourite books.

The place was designed and furnished by Slovak architects based in Cadca, in northern Slovakia.

When creating the day care centre for seriously ill patients, we had to depersonalise from the architectural ego; we abandoned learned principles and stereotypes, said architect Martin Mikovcak, as quoted by the Sme daily.

Their task was to design a building that would be able to absorb emotions and offer space for calm and balance, he added. The architects even received a manual in order to understand processes and everyday life in the day care centre.

To create a calm and safe environment with healing effects, they communicated their project with neuroscientists and psychologists, another author of the project, Viktor Mikovcak, Martin's brother, told Sme.

The result is a building that copies the trajectory of people moving around the day care centre, and every function has its own zone. There are even rooms for those seeking some privacy. The architects paid close attention to the materials they used in order to foster a feeling of stability and comfort.

The medical facility in Belgium is just one of many that were founded by Scotswoman Maggie Keswisk Jencks. She was diagnosed with cancer, but was convinced that with the right support, no one need lose their joy of life, even while they fear death. She believed that architecture can uplift people even in their hardest times, Sme reported.

The project of the two brothers and their Cadca-based Archekta studio was nominated for a prestigious CE ZA AR award, which recognises the best Slovak architecture.

Dozens of people choose to share the experience of the homeless

People in Kosice took part in the Noc vonku event. (Source: TASR)

Dozens of people across Slovakia joined members of the non-governmental organisation Vagus on November 23, to experience what it is like to be homeless and sleep in the freezing outdoors.

The main aim of the 10th edition of the Noc vonku (Night Out) event was to warn people about the worsening situation of those who live in extreme poverty.

People living in poverty are invisible to not only society, but also to top politicians, said Alexandra Karova, head of Vagus, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Many solutions are long known, but the most important thing is still missing  the political will on the local and national level, and sincere interest.

For the very first time, Vagus was joined also by other organisations from across the country, including NGOs, cultural platforms and communal subjects. Sleep-out events were held in Bratislava, Pezinok, Trnava, Zilina, Banska Bystrica and Kosice.

In the capital, people slept on the grounds of the Nova Cvernovka cultural centre and on the Pink Whale ship, where an accompanying programme was held that included concerts, a special quiz and a discussion. The Nova Cvernovka event was visited by President Zuzana Caputova.

It was just one night for us, but for thousands of people a night without a roof above their heads is an everyday reality, the representatives of Vagus wrote on Facebook. The only thing distinguishing us from one another is that the life brought them [the homeless] obstacles they could not overcome on their own. These people need our help, and we want to do our best to prevent the number of homeless from growing.

Slovak visual artist shortlisted for prestigious prize

Emilia Rigova (Source: Sme archive)

Renowned Slovak visual artist Emilia Rigova, who is also known by her stage name of Bari Raklori, has been nominated for the Biennial Tajsa Roma Cultural Heritage Prize 2023, a prestigious award highlighting and celebrating the talent of Roma artists across Europe.

She was praised by judges for her deep dedication in creating a public dialogue centring around Romani identity.

Her works are based on social research and analysis and sometimes take the form of performances and installations in public spaces; they can also be seen as forms of political activism.

Rigova exhibited at the Milan Triennale in 2022, and her latest show at Viennas Mumok  Who Will Play For Me?  explores the tensions around the musical heritage of the Roma.

The Tajsa prize (Source: Courtesy of ERIAC)

The Tajsa Prize, awarded by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), an international hub supporting the exchange of creative ideas across borders, cultural domains and Romani identities, is designed to celebrate and honour exceptional individuals who are leading voices in the contemporary Roma cultural movement.

It strives to inspire Roma pride and spotlight the creativity, virtuosity, and talent of Roma cultural producers.

More good news stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:

Political meme of the week

Incapable government / Government capable of absolutely anything. (Source: Satiren)

Caption above (showing the 2020 cabinet of Igor Matovic):

Incapable government.

Caption below (showing the 2023 cabinet of Robert Fico):

Government capable of absolutely anything.

(The meme was published on a satirical Facebook page called Satiren.)

You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you!
End your week with our selection of feel-good news and ideas on how to spend your weekend.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share

Good evening. Here is the Friday, December 1 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Ficos plan for more justice 'reform' land in Brussels

Prime Minister Robert Fico (l) and Justice Minister Boris Susko. (Source: TASR)

Slovakia's Smer-led government has sent a proposal to the European Commission. In it, the cabinet explains how it wants to reform the country's Special Prosecutors Office and its Specialised Criminal Court.

The two institutions deal with the most serious crimes, including high-level corruption and serious acts of violence.

It is not clear what the proposal contains, the Dennik N daily writes. The opposition is talking about a brutal attack on the rule of law.

The government has not firmly said whether it wants to cancel the institutions or weaken their roles. If the latter occurred, the Special Prosecutors Office would probably lose its independence and fall directly under the Office of the General Prosecutor, which is currently led by Maros Zilinka. The general prosecutor and his deputy have controversially cancelled charges against several high-profile political figures, including Smer politicians Robert Kalinak and Robert Fico (now defence minister and prime minister, respectively). If the Special Prosecutors Office underwent these changes, it would be down to Zilinka to assign cases to special prosecutors.

The government has long said that it wants to reduce punishment for economic crimes.

Several people who were in office during past Smer governments, including ex-special prosecutor Dusan Kovacik, have been convicted of corruption. Other cases continue to be investigated or are waiting for trials to begin. If the Specialised Criminal Court were to be abolished, its cases would be redistributed to other courts.

The government has long attacked Special Prosecutor Daniel Lipsic and several top police investigators. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok has suspended some of those investigators in recent weeks, although court rulings have reversed the ministers decisions in several instances. Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly calls Lipsic a crook.

Another EU member state, Bulgaria, cancelled its specialised judicial authorities last year.

Related: The ruling coalition has agreed to amend the law on the Office for the Protection of Whistle-blowers, which was passed by a previous Smer government. The changes should be adopted this month. Several top police investigators probing corruption under previous Smer cabinets have been able to obtain some protection from suspension and dismissal by applying for, and being granted, the status of whistle-blowers, something that Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Hlas) has repeateadly bemoaned. He has suspended all of them, but the courts have reversed several of his decisions; in other cases, a court has ruled that is has no authority to decide.

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

Politics: Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini (Hlas) is the most trusted government official, a new poll shows.

Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini (Hlas) is the most trusted government official, a new poll shows. Business: The government will help some people repay their mortgages.

The government will help some people repay their mortgages. Good news: Slovak architects designed a day care centre that is used by patients in Belgium. See more feel-good stories from Slovakia.

Slovak architects designed a day care centre that is used by patients in Belgium. See more feel-good stories from Slovakia. Bratislava: Check out our top 10 events in the city to look forward to.

Check out our top 10 events in the city to look forward to. Weekend: St Nicholas' Day is next week. Here are some ideas for how to spend the day.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY FOR FRIDAY

The scientist who does magic with eggshells

Matej Balaz. (Source: Jozef Kadela)

Matej Balaz works at the Institute of Geotechnics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Kosice. His accomplishments in the field of mechanochemistry resulted in him winning this years ESET Science Award in the category of Outstanding Scientist in Slovakia Under 35 Years of Age.

EVENT FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Gypsy Jazz Festival

video //www.youtube.com/embed/8Ftwls0V-TY

This festival was founded in 2011 by Slovak saxophonist, composer, producer and promoter Milo Suchomel. The festival, which takes place today and tomorrow ( December 1-2), celebrates world music, jazz music with ethnic elements, fusion music as well as Roma music.

The festival takes place in the big concert hall of the Slovak Radio building.

Tickets can be purchased online.

In other news

Speaker Peter Pellegrini (Hlas) said that he can imagine Slovak people living abroad voting at Slovak embassies in the 2029 presidential election. Pellegrini is widely expected to run in the 2024 presidential race. (TASR)

Pellegrini is widely expected to run in the 2024 presidential race. (TASR) The government is suspected of trying to remove the director of the Health Care Supervisory Authority, Renata Blahova, from her post. She is a critic of the financial group Penta and its influence in the health sector; the group, whose business flourished under previous Smer governments, owns a health insurance company and several hospitals. The administration is now attempting to change the Competence Act via a fast-tracked parliamentary procedure. If the change is passed, the government, not the president, will appoint and remove the authoritys head, writes the Sme daily.

She is a critic of the financial group Penta and its influence in the health sector; the group, whose business flourished under previous Smer governments, owns a health insurance company and several hospitals. The administration is now attempting to change the Competence Act via a fast-tracked parliamentary procedure. If the change is passed, the government, not the president, will appoint and remove the authoritys head, writes the Sme daily. Out of 1,263 HIV infection cases among Slovak citizens detected from 1985 to 2023, 1,141 cases occurred in men and 122 in women . In 153 persons, HIV infection progressed to the AIDS stage, and 95 deaths of people with HIV were recorded (of which 74 were in the AIDS stage). December 1 is World AIDS Day.

. In 153 persons, HIV infection progressed to the AIDS stage, and 95 deaths of people with HIV were recorded (of which 74 were in the AIDS stage). December 1 is World AIDS Day. Zabka grocery stores, a franchising network run by Tesco, will end in Slovakia due to financial losses. Most of the stores will continue trading under the Tesco Expres brand, which is fully managed by Tesco. Zabka stores are mostly found in Bratislava, Dennik N writes.

Most of the stores will continue trading under the Tesco Expres brand, which is fully managed by Tesco. Zabka stores are mostly found in Bratislava, Dennik N writes. The Council for Budget Responsibility has significantly increased the estimated level of the deficit of public finances for this year. Compared to its October forecast, the deficit increased by 539 million to 7.31 billion or 6 percent of GDP. Recent expenditure on an extraordinary allowance for pensioners is blamed for the worsened estimate.

Compared to its October forecast, the deficit increased by 539 million to 7.31 billion or 6 percent of GDP. Recent expenditure on an extraordinary allowance for pensioners is blamed for the worsened estimate. The profits of banks in the first ten months of the year rose by 49.3 percent year-on-year to 970.1 million. According to the central bank, the profit growth is mainly due to an increase in net interest income, especially from the corporate sector. Despite the rise, the profitability of the Slovak banking sector is starting to lag slightly behind other countries of the European Union. Last year, the profit of banks in Slovakia rose by almost 15 percent, to 833.8 million. (SITA)

A cyclist during the winter ascent to Chata pod Suchym in the Mala Fatra mountain range on December 1, 2023. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: Saturday is expected to be cloudy, with rain or sleet in many places. Snow will replace rain on Sunday. Daytime temperatures will range from -1C to 4C over the weekend.

Snowdrift and ground-ice weather warnings are in effect in many Slovak districts until Sunday. Check here if your area is affected. (SHMU)

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook and Instagram (@slovakspectator).
Mechanochemistry is a relatively new area of research.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share

You could be forgiven for not having come across the scientific field that Matej Balaz works in. Only a relatively small number of people anywhere in the world are dedicated to mechanochemistry. Nevertheless, it can do some very interesting and useful things, such as repurposing eggshells for use in waste-water treatment, or transforming nutshells into activated charcoal.

This article is supported by the ESET Foundation, whose annual ESET Science Award recognises exceptional scientists.

Matej Balaz works at the Institute of Geotechnics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Kosice. His accomplishments in the field of mechanochemistry resulted in him winning this years ESET Science Award in the category of Outstanding Scientist in Slovakia Under 35 Years of Age.

"In classical chemistry, you often have to heat the reaction vessels in order for reactions to take place within them. In our case, the reactions are achieved through grinding  by transferring mechanical energy, via grinding balls, to powder. Moreover, the former is often a multi-step process," Balaz says, laying out the basic idea behind the field in an interview with The Slovak Spectator.

"In mechanochemistry, we use solid-phase substances. When you imagine two liquids, they are easily mixed through diffusion. With solid substances, it is more difficult. That is why grinding helps with their mixing, so that the reacting particles come into contact with each other more frequently," he continues.

Related article

Related article Hes developing a cure for diabetes, and his research is cited worldwide Read more

To stay up to date with what scientists in Slovakia or Slovak scientists around the world are doing, subscribe to the Slovak Science newsletter, which will be sent to readers free of charge four times a year.

Even he did not know about it

Although mechanochemistry is not a well-known scientific field, it could be said that some of its beginnings can be traced back to the Stone Age, when ancient people started fires by banging stones together. The first documented manmade mechanochemical reaction took place in 315 BC, when the Greek philosopher and botanist Theophrastus mechanically crushed cinnabar in a copper mortar and pestle in the presence of vinegar.

"He began to press on it with mechanical energy and droplets of mercury appeared in the mortar. Cinnabar contains mercury and sulphur and the latter reacted with copper present in the mortar and pestle, forming copper sulphide, also known as covellite. However, this was rather unsystematic discovery," Balaz explains, adding that dedicated research only started in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. A little later, the Department of Mechanochemistry was established at his current workplace.

However, everything revolved primarily around the processing of raw materials from mining. It wasn't until around 2000 that the rest of the world became more interested in mechanochemistry.

"If I didn't have a father who works in the field, I wouldnt know about it  and I studied chemistry at university. Its basically a small community of people who do it, so its not that well known." His father played a key role in his decision to devote himself to the field. He didnt pressure him; instead, he presented him with a positive example. It also helped that Balaz had a good chemistry teacher in high school. And although Balaz himself is an organic chemist and his father an inorganic chemist, they work together in mechanochemistry.

With the mining industry declining in Slovakia, partly because of the need to protect the environment, mechanochemistry has found a paradoxical application  Matej Balaz uses it to find ways to clean the environment. In his dissertation, he wrote about the use of a common kitchen waste product  eggshells  for water purification.

The idea to start this research came from his father, who showed him literature about grinding seashells and using them to purify waste water by removing potentially dangerous elements like heavy metals. Seashells have a similar composition to eggshells: both are rich in calcium, in the form of calcium carbonate. The process works as follows.

"In principle, there is an exchange  calcium leaves the shell so that another ion can take its place, for example, ions of heavy metals such as silver and cadmium. The shell basically captures them," explains Balaz, adding that this characteristic of the shell is further increased by grinding. There are two reasons for this.

"One is that we have increased the specific surface area and obtained finer powder, so that it interacts better with the waste-containing solution. The second is that in the shell, calcium carbonate exists in the form of calcite, a mineral with a certain crystal structure. There is also the mineral aragonite, which is a different crystalline form of calcium carbonate. By grinding, we converted the calcite into aragonite, which turns out to be better at capturing the given ions."

Matej Balaz. (Source: Jozef Kadela)

Various advantages

It is possible to grind all kinds of things. In his work, Balaz uses commercially available powders or waste materials, including biomass.

"In that case it's a bit different than with eggshells, because biomass such as plants don't contain much calcium, but carbon instead. When you burn the powder at higher temperatures in the presence of an inert gas, you get activated carbon that absorbs everything," he explains.

It is not always just about grinding the material, but usually just "activating" it, which means that mechanical energy will slightly alter certain properties. For example, when the surface of a material is increased in some way, this can improve its reactive properties.

In addition to waste processing, mechanochemistry is also used in cosmetics or in obtaining substances from natural materials. It can also be used to obtain products that cannot be extracted by dissolving them  the technique used in much of classical chemistry. Another advantage is that it causes chemical reactions without the need for various solvents and the addition of external temperature, making it a more environmentally friendly approach.

"Our goal is to verify these processes in a laboratory setting and then show them to the world by publishing papers in journals. Of course, it would be great if someone takes it, via a start-up, to another level," says the scientist.

Related article

Related article Material physicist: We publish things that are of interest to the world Read more

Cooperation is key to success

Balaz admits that many things would not be possible without cooperation. This is why he came to forge contacts in 90 institutions in 30 different countries.

"If I need something for which I don't have the instruments, I know where to turn. Without such cooperation, good science cannot be done," he says. He cooperates, for example, with doctoral students from Kazakhstan. The country has a program that requires young scientists to have a foreign supervisor and to travel to that persons workplace for three months.

"I also collaborate a lot with a colleague from Slovenia who works in transmission electron microscopy. When we grind something, it's very good to see how the particles actually look on the nanometre [one billionth of a metre  Ed.] scale. We have such a microscope in Kosice, but the colleague in Slovenia has experience with analysing mechanochemically prepared materials, so it is easy for her to provide logical interpretation," he explains.

Balaz considers his research into silver particles with antibacterial properties, which he obtains by grinding powdered plants with silver nitrate powder, to be one of his successes too. The principle is in the solid-state reduction of silver ions into zero-valent silver by utilizing reducing species present in the plant.

"Nobody had researched this area. The classical approach involves the plant being turned into a kind of tea (extract), which is then mixed with a silver nitrate solution. However, our procedure is more straight forward," he explains.

Related article

Related article Slovak oncologist whose research is used all around the world Read more

An intriguing reaction

His current research involves the aforementioned covellite and its preparation from copper and sulphur, which Balaz describes as an explosive synthesis.

"You put both powders into the grinding chamber, add a little bit of energy via the grinding balls, and suddenly you have a product," he says, adding that this product is widely used in energy conversion applications (e.g. in thermoelectric, solar cells or for the production of hydrogen).

The advantage is that it can be prepared in this way in about 10 seconds. He is now trying to find out how this occurs, because several different types of copper were tried but in only two cases was the reaction successful. So far, he and his colleagues have discovered that the shape of the particles  needle-shaped particles are particularly reactive  and their size are important.

"The reaction of copper and sulphur is super-fast. It is assumed it can work in other systems too, not just with copper and sulphur. Most importantly, we don't know why it works like that. Suddenly, there is a small explosion, heat and pressure are released, and when we open the chamber we have a product," he explains.

Balaz wants to apply for an ERC grant to contribute to his research. In support of this effort he has travelled to Germany as part of an ERC Visiting Fellowship, in order to learn from his German colleagues know-how, since Slovaks have had little success in obtaining ERC grants.

"I don't give it much of a chance, but at least I gained some experience and I will see how the whole procedure of this prestigious grant submission works," he adds.

This article is supported by the ESET Foundation, whose annual ESET Science Award recognises exceptional scientists.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/art-of-con-paraguay-govt-official-sacked-for-signing-doc-with-fake-nation-1115317211.html

Art of Con: Paraguay Govt Official Sacked For Signing Doc with Fake Nation

Art of Con: Paraguay Govt Official Sacked For Signing Doc with Fake Nation

A government official in Paraguay has been sacked after being duped into signing a memorandum of understanding with representatives of a fictional country, the United States of Kailasa, according to media reports.

2023-12-01T06:01+0000

2023-12-01T06:01+0000

2023-12-01T06:01+0000

paraguay

south america

beyond politics

the united nations (un)

ecuador

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102919/25/1029192568_0:54:1025:630_1920x0_80_0_0_e9c14b99ad747d27c9de54a77080ba0d.jpg

A gullible government official in Paraguay has been sacked after being duped into signing a "memorandum of understanding" with representatives of a fictional country, according to media reports.Arnaldo Chamorro, who was chief of staff for the South American countrys Agriculture Ministry, must have been pretty bad at geography, along with apparently several other local officials. The "proclamation" that Chamorro put his signature under on October 16 was with representatives of the United States of Kailasa. You may at this point double take, "United States of What?" In truth, the United States of Kailasa is by now something of a running joke, but one that some officials in Paraguay were unaware of.The "state" has a website, where it brands itself as the "revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation which is being revived by displaced Hindus from around the world." It even has an active social media presence, where it boasts of various agreements purportedly signed with organizations or individuals.In the case of Paraguay, representatives of the aforementioned fictional country met with not only Chamorro, but also the agriculture minister, Carlos Gimenez, the humiliated ex-chief of staff was quoted as revealing in a media interview. While Chamorro admitted having no knowledge of where Kailasa was situated, he signed the document after being promised help for Paraguay with irrigation and other issues.According to a copy of the agreement posted on social media, it outlined a sincere wish and recommendation for the government of Paraguay to consider, explore and actively seek the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa and support the admission of the United States of Kailasa as a sovereign and independent state in various international organizations, including, among others, the United Nations.In the Paraguayan officials defense, they are far from being the first to be duped by the flock of followers of the fugitive self-styled Indian guru going by the name of Nithyanand. The "godman," whose whereabouts are unknown, is wanted in India on several charges, including sexual assault. Nithyanand, who purportedly had powerful spiritual experiences from an early age, is known for having made outlandish claims, including that he was able to delay the sunrise for 40 minutes, and could make cattle speak in the Tamil and Sanskrit languages. After fleeing India in 2019, Nithyananda claimed to have created a new "Hindu nation" called Kailasa, complete with passports, currency, and a flag. Some believe it is located somewhere on an island off the coast of Ecuador.Earlier in the year, representatives of the United States of Kailasa similarly duped other international leaders, and got to take part in a UN committee meeting in Geneva. They also conned local leaders in the United States and Canada into signing agreements with them. In the US, Newark City Hall in New Jersey admitted it had been swindled into signing a sister city agreement with Kailasa. The mayor, Ras Baraka, who entertained a delegation from the fake nation for several days, later issued an official apology for the "regrettable incident."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210601/indian-doctors-observe-black-day-to-protest-against-yoga-guru-ramdevs-remarks-on-modern-medicine-1083045007.html

paraguay

south america

ecuador

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Svetlana Ekimenko

paraguay, memorandum of understanding, fictional country, the united states of kailasa, fugitive indian guru, nithyanand
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/blinkens-diplomatic-blitz-went-bust-due-to-us-slavish-servility-to-israel-1115331473.html

Blinken's Diplomatic Blitz Went Bust Due to US Slavish Servility to Israel

Blinken's Diplomatic Blitz Went Bust Due to US Slavish Servility to Israel

Secretary Blinken ended his visit to Israel and left minutes after fighting in Gaza resumed, nixing gushing reports in US media about the trip being one of the most significant diplomatic moves to date with an eye toward ending the conflict. Sputnik asked experts to explain why the Israeli tail seems so consistently able to wag the American dog.

2023-12-01T17:08+0000

2023-12-01T17:08+0000

2023-12-05T09:24+0000

analysis

antony blinken

israel

tel aviv

hamas

israel defense forces (idf)

gaza strip

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115330582_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_a5feff037c41f644485f8284ae15f718.jpg

Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Israel early Friday morning to take part in a climate summit in the United Arab Emirates, with Israeli warplanes taking off to pound Gaza shortly before his departure, signaling the collapse of the hard-fought for week-long truce brokered by Qatar and Egypt.During his stay in Israel, the secretary warned Israeli officials that Tel Aviv wouldnt be able pursue its war with Hamas in Gaza indefinitely, given domestic and international pressures, and wagged his finger at Americas closest ally about the need to avoid the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza in the southern part of the Strip.Israeli cabinet ministers reportedly pushed back against some of Blinkens concerns during their private meeting, assuring that the IDF adheres to the laws of war, and that the Israeli public would support even the campaign to crush Hamas even if it lasted months. Blinken reportedly proposed a limit of just weeks more worth of fighting.Gazas Health Ministry reported Friday that at least 109 Palestinians had been killed and scores more injured in Israeli strikes just hours after the humanitarian pauses expiration.The somber outcome was preceded by upbeat reports in legacy media that Washingtons pressure would be one of the most significant diplomatic moves yet in the more than 50-day conflict.The question now, if a seven-day truce is permanently broken, is whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government is prepared to listen, an analysis by CNN suggested.Why Can Israel Afford to Ignore Washington's Warnings?The Biden administration has fully accepted Israels goals in this war and supports them. This is evidenced by Blinkens latest visit, after which the ceasefire was ended, Zahalka told Sputnik.The Palestinian-Israeli politician expects Washington to continue providing Tel Aviv with its full support regardless of what the Israeli government does, unless it threatens Americas own interests in the region, such as in the case of traditionally US-friendly Arab monarchies taking a sharply anti-Israeli stance, or the situation escalating to the brink of a regional war involving Iran.Prof. Kobi Michael, a senior research fellow at Tel Aviv Universitys Institute for National Security Studies, has a different view, saying Hamas is to blame for the conflicts resumption by breaching the shaky ceasefire over 100 times throughout the past week, and adding that what Blinken said, did or did not do has nothing to do with it.As far as Israel is concerned, Michael believes Tel Aviv has two optionsdirected toward the same objective, which remains dismantling the military and governmental capacity of Hamas and preventing it from ever becoming a military threat towards Israel or becoming the ruling power in the Gaza Strip or any other Palestinian territory.The Israeli observer expects the fighting from now on to extend beyond Gazas northern half. Israel has the right to resume the war, and even at a moment like this this is an obligation. This is a duty. This is a must, Michael insists.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/truce-over-israel-resumes-bombing-hamas-targets-in-gaza-strip-1115322445.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/pepe-escobar-us-needs-gaza-war-to-destabilize-brics-greater-eurasia--1115329039.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/talks-on-exchange-of-hostages-in-gaza-continue-despite-resumption-of-hostilities---reports-1115319662.html

israel

tel aviv

gaza strip

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ilya Tsukanov

israel, antony blinken, united states, servility, peace, truce, hamas, gaza, collapse, failure, diplomatic, diplomacy
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/europes-lack-of-strategic-vision-is-why-russia-is-winning-in-ukraine-conflict-1115328474.html

Europes 'Lack of Strategic Vision' is Why 'Russia is Winning' in Ukraine Conflict

Europes 'Lack of Strategic Vision' is Why 'Russia is Winning' in Ukraine Conflict

A lethargic West shackled by fatalism, complacency and a shocking lack of strategic vision is why Ukraine is losing against Russia, The Economist has speculated.

2023-12-01T14:56+0000

2023-12-01T14:56+0000

2023-12-06T04:20+0000

world

russia

ukraine

valery zaluzhny

volodymyr zelensky

joe biden

european union (eu)

nato

world russian people's council

vladimir putin

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/0f/1114982186_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_d682b6dc1db6523fe8ab78edbeda7da3.jpg

A lethargic West shackled by fatalism, complacency and a shocking lack of strategic vision is why Ukraine is losing against Russia, The Economist has speculated.President Vladimir Putin looks as if he could win,  that is the startling pronouncement made by the outlet. The reality of the botched counteroffensive and Kiev regime infighting, more than hints at this.Russias President is credited by the authors for having procured military supplies with foresight, forged strong ties with the Global South, which the West has alienated, and, most importantly, undermining the conviction in the West that Ukraine can emerge from the conflict victorious.Stating the obvious, the magazine admitted that Ukraines counter-offensive has stalled, and predicts that next year Russia will be in a stronger position to fight. Russias military, it said, will have at its disposal more drones and artillery shells, while its army has developed successful electronic-warfare tactics against some Ukrainian weapons.Furthermore, the battlefield shapes politics, and momentum affects morale, said the report, meaning the lack of battlefield results shown by Ukraines Armed Forces, the manpower and military hardware losses despite billions-worth of NATO assistance are all increasing Ukraine fatigue.Even some of the Kiev regimes fervant supporters, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, are singing a different tune  hinting that we need to talk with Russia.As things look increasingly bleak for the Ukrainian president, reports are coming in of behind-the-scenes infighting for control of Ukraine and a feud between President Zelensky and armed forces commander-in-chief General Valery Zaluzhny.Zaluzhny had undercut President Volodymyr Zelenskys optimistic appraisal in an op-ed for the same The Economist earlier, admitting that the summer counteroffensive had hit a stalemate and that there would be no deep and beautiful breakthrough against Russia, regardless of what NATO textbooks state. Needless to say, this incensed Zelensky, who dismissed the assessment and proceeded to sack Zaluzhnys aides.With support for embattled Zelensky waning, and the Palestine-Israel conflict pushing him out of the headlines, dissent in Kiev will grow louder" The Economist said, adding:The publication points to other obvious facts, such as that Western sanctions intended to cripple Russia have not only failed but backfired. The scheme to limit Russian oil revenues by capping the price for its crude at $60 a barrel failed, it states, pointing to the parallel trading structure has emerged beyond the reach of the West.Vladimir Putin, who recently told on a plenary session of the World Russian People's Council that Russia was waging a "national liberation" fight against the "global hegemon," is also acknowledged as having strengthened his position at home.Meanwhile, as NATOs proxy war against Russia continues, the mood in Kiev is growing ever darker, with the overspill from corruption scandals and the bitter jostling for influence having decimated Zelenskys approval ratings in local polls.Other polls show a similar trend in the West. Washingtons allies in NATO, the EU may publicly pledge continuing support for propping up Kiev, but surveys around the world suggest otherwise.The European Union has pledged Ukraine 50bn ($56bn), but Hungary is threatening to block the aid and veto Kievs EU membership bid. Hungary will never agree to link the issue of paying Ukraine from the European Union budget and its admission into the bloc to the return of frozen money from EU funds to Budapest, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reiterated, adding that "Ukraine is not ready to start talks on its membership in the European Union in any way."The leader of the opposition Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), Herbert Kickl, also labeled as sheer political madness" moves by the EU to seek the accession of Ukraine, a country mired in an active armed conflict. The formal decision to open membership talks with Kiev will be made at the EU summit in Brussels on December 14-15.In the US, the Biden administration is battling the headwinds as it tries to push through Congress additional funding for Ukraine worth over $60bn. In November, Biden was forced to sign legislation to temporarily fund the federal government into next year that does not include additional aid to Israel and Ukraine.As to public opinion, forty-five percent of Americans believe that military aid the United States has provided to Ukraine has not been worth the cost, according to a poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs published in October. The survey also showed that 49 percent of Americans believe their country should urge Ukraine to engage in peace talks to stop the conflict as soon as possible.As the US Congress and some 2024 US presidential contenders, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy, increasingly speak out against continued support for Ukraine and the EU bloc squabbles over further aid for Kiev, support is likely to fragment further.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231004/almost-half-of-americans-say-us-military-aid-for-ukraine-not-worth-expense---poll-1113929286.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/liz-truss-led-caravan-of-losers-in-washington-to-lobby-house-gop-on-ukraine-aid-1115310665.html

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

russia

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Svetlana Ekimenko

infighting within the kiev regime, natos proxy war against russia, the economist, ukraine's failed counteroffensive, infighting for control of ukraine, zelensky and gen. zaluzhny feud, ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/familys-legal-spat-over-inheritance-money-from-sue-the-t-rex-is-on-going---reports-1115316216.html

Family's Legal Spat Over Inheritance Money From Sue the T. Rex is On-Going - Reports

Family's Legal Spat Over Inheritance Money From Sue the T. Rex is On-Going - Reports

Sue the T. rex is the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen ever discovered, according to Chicagos Field Museum.

2023-12-01T03:09+0000

2023-12-01T03:09+0000

2023-12-01T03:09+0000

beyond politics

t-rex

legal

battle

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115316057_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_686fdb1cbcf22b685e2f1911a3c68296.jpg

Sue the T. rex is the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen ever discovered, according to Chicagos Field Museum. The fossil stands at 13 feet (4 meters) tall at the hip and more than 40 feet (12.2 meters) long. The fossil was discovered on a South Dakota couples estate, and after a legal battle, the couple was able to claim rights to the skeleton. They then auctioned the skeleton for $7.6 million (more than $16 million today).But Sue is now at the center of another legal battle: the children of the couple that profited from the sale of the dinosaur skeleton are now wondering who will inherit whatever is left from that sale.Maurice Williams first died in 2011, followed by his wife Darlene Williams in December of 2020. The couple had four children, with three of those siblings now involved in a court dispute over the profits of Sue the dinosaur skeleton. Darlene had two wills, the first, which was signed in 2017, included all of her children and grandchildren and listed her daughter Sandra Williams Luther as the person to take charge of settling the estate, as well as making sure her will was carried out, per one report.But her second will was signed on November 25, 2020, less than three weeks before she passed away. The second will designated Luther as the sole heir and executor of her estate. But another daughter of Darlene, Jacqueline Schwartz, is questioning the legitimacy of Darlenes second will. Schwartz says her mother was in hospice care and was critically ill when she signed the document. Her signing of the will also had no witnesses due to COVID-19 regulations.Schwartz has also contested the sale of her mothers home in South Dakota which took place just a couple of weeks before her death. The proceeds of which went to her Darlenes son, Carson Williams.A trial date for this familys legal dispute has not yet been set.

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg

t. rex, sue the t. rex, legal dispute, family legal dispute, court battle, inheritance money
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

Harris County Sheriffs Office deputies shot and killed a man Friday morning when he allegedly walked out of a home and started firing at them, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

Deputies were in the 15400 block of Flemington Avenue for an investigation when a man began firing at them, Gonzalez said. Deputies returned fire and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Strained by a nationwide shortage of officers, Minneapolis Police is recruiting in Houston

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

During a news conference at the scene, Gonzalez said dispatchers around 10:50 a.m. got a call about an abandoned vehicle in the middle of the road with its doors open. A deputy arrived at the scene, near the home, just after 11 a.m. and was evaluating the scene when he heard gunshots from inside the residence.

The deputy called for backup, who arrived and heard more gunshots, Gonzalez said. It was then that someone began shooting out of the home at deputies.

First responders established a perimeter and called in hostage negotiators and other specialists when a man walked outside the home and around five deputies shot at him, Gonzalez said. Police have not yet said if the man was firing a gun when he left the home.

No deputies were injured in the exchange, Gonzalez said.

Detectives had not yet positively identified the man, but deputies had received multiple calls to the address in question in recent months, Gonzalez said. The calls were typically in response to domestic disturbance or mental health reports.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

After the shooting, deputies entering the house noticed something that might have been a booby trap or bomb and retreated to let bomb squad members respond, Gonzalez said. It remained an active scene as of around 1:30 p.m.

Because deputies hadn't yet fully explored the home, it wasn't clear if anyone else was injured, Gonzalez said. But neighbors said the man lived alone at that address.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/genocide-becomes-functional-when-israel-us-deny-palestinian-existence---academic-1115335342.html

Genocide Becomes Functional When Israel, US Deny Palestinian Existence - Academic

Genocide Becomes Functional When Israel, US Deny Palestinian Existence - Academic

Israel has long tried to write the Palestinians out of history by claiming land settled by Jews since the late 19th century was empty, which has made it easier to justify actions from the 1948 war to the present Gaza assault.

2023-12-01T20:57+0000

2023-12-01T20:57+0000

2023-12-05T09:24+0000

analysis

israel defense forces (idf)

israel

palestine

palestinians

genocide

language

gaza strip

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/1a/1115211407_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_b272ad822740fb5d6c98cf1d01c49648.jpg

The ceasefire between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip that began last Saturday was canceled by the IDF, which claimed Hamas had broken the truce by firing on Israeli troops. The ceasefire had been called after more than six weeks of intense IDF attack on Gaza and what Israel described as a complete siege of the small territory, leading to acute shortages of food, water, medicine, fuel, and other basic necessities.Several dozen prisoners were released by both sides during the humanitarian pause, which also saw much-needed aid begin to enter the densely-populated enclave that is home to more than 2.2 million people, more than half of whom have been forced from their homes by the IDF assault.Dr. Ramzy Baroud, an author, editor of the Palestine Chronicle, and senior research fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs, told Radio Sputniks The Backstory on Thursday that Israeli policy has always been based on negating Palestine and Palestinians as a concept, allowing the justification of any and every action against the Palestinian people.Baroud said that Israels assault on Gaza was totally unprecedented, even in terms of its past brutalities, including the 1948 Nakba or catastrophe, when 700,000 Palestinians were forced out of the land that became Israel and 15,000 were killed.But even for that generation, this is completely unprecedented. I don't think we've ever seen anything like this, even during the Nakba, the Palestinian catastrophe of 1947-48. Yes, we have seen massacres, but we haven't seen a situation in which you have 2.3 million people placed within a confined area, surrounded by the navy, by a military, by tanks, by drones, by all the best American air defense is able to offer. And they are being targeted randomly, with no warnings, including schools, hospitals, homes - anything that you can possibly imagine. There is no safe zone. And then with time, a process of starvation began occurring.Fifteen thousand people are dead so far, 7,000+ are wounded. If you are missing under the rubble, most likely dead. If you combine these two numbers by themselves - forget about the wounded and forget about everybody else - that's about 1% of the entire population of Gaza thats been killed. One percent. More bodies are being recovered, nearly 40,000 people wounded, the World Food Program is saying that 2.2 million of Gaza's population are in urgent need for food. They have no food. Gaza's entire population is anywhere between 2.2 to 2.3 million. It means that pretty much everybody in Gaza has no food and no clean water, Baroud explained.So this is completely unprecedented. And yet American politicians, officials are lining up with the same chorus every day: Israel has the right to defend itself. This is terrifying in the sense that Palestinians have shown clearly that they have no breaking and that they are willing to go to the very end to fight for their rights. But it doesn't seem like there is a moral breaking point for the Americans. I mean, this is the truth of it. If Israel has done all of this and destroyed 60% of all homes in Gaza, and the Americans haven't yet woken up to the idea that this is really bad and this needs to stop, it means that the Americans have no moral threshold that can't be crossed. And that is what's truly terrifying about all of this.And its not like any of this is new to the US, Baroud said. I mean, books, volumes written about it not only by Palestinian historians like myself, but also by Israeli historians, the likes of Ilan Pappe, for example. This process of dehumanization - recently, I wrote an article about the history of genocidal language in Israel. This has been going on for 75 years. When you fight an enemy and dehumanize that enemy at the same time, you create that mindset that when you are ready to completely get rid of that enemy, it doesn't register as an immoral act. This is why the Israelis, from the very, very beginning, for example, before Israel itself was established on the ruins of Palestine in 1948, for decades, they have created this narrative that Palestine is an empty land, it's a land of no people, that should be available for a people who have no land. So the entire infrastructure of Israel, moral infrastructure, was based on the assumption that the Palestinians do not exist.Now, why this is functional, and that's what I argued in the article, is because when the war started and the Israelis started trying to convince Egypt and Jordan, through American mediation, to accept millions of Palestinians who were going to be kicked out of Gaza and the West Bank, they immediately resorted to this idea that the only solution is to betray the Palestinians. That's where genocide becomes functional. Because it wasn't entirely surprising to anybody, because that's what they have been saying.In Israel they have a different term for it: they don't call it ethnic cleansing, they call it population transfer. It's a polite way of saying kick all the Palestinians out of their own historic homeland in which they have been living for thousands of years. And the Americans, not only were they not neutral about it and they did not say no, back off, what is this nonsense, we are living in the 21st century, we can't be allowing this. No, [US Secretary of State] Antony Blinken actually goes to Egypt and he offers Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Egyptian president, he offers him money in order for him to temporarily accept 1 million or 1.5 million Palestinian from Gaza.""And we know, I'm a Palestinian refugee myself, we know that the moment you cross the border out of Palestine, you are never allowed to go back. So basically, they wanted to create another Nakba, another population transfer, if you will, and Palestinians are not going to come back. So they're going to irritate the supposed peaceful existence of the state of Israel.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/was-resumption-of-gaza-war-linked-to-blinkens-visit-1115333089.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/talks-on-exchange-of-hostages-in-gaza-continue-despite-resumption-of-hostilities---reports-1115319662.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/israels-gaza-offensive-ends-in-political-and-military-defeat--scott-ritter-1115278076.html

israel

palestine

gaza strip

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Fantine Gardinier

Fantine Gardinier

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Fantine Gardinier

israel palestine genocide, genocidal language, is israel committing genocide in gaza, gaza war, is the ceasefire in gaza over
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/idf-says-resumed-combat-against-hamas-in-gaza-strip-as-movement-violated-truce-1115317350.html

IDF Says Resumed Combat Against Hamas in Gaza Strip as Movement Violated Truce

IDF Says Resumed Combat Against Hamas in Gaza Strip as Movement Violated Truce

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it had resumed fighting against Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as the latter violated the humanitarian pause by opening fire on the Israeli territory.

2023-12-01T05:18+0000

2023-12-01T05:18+0000

2023-12-01T09:24+0000

world

palestine-israel conflict

hamas

gaza strip

israel

middle east

qatar

israel defense forces (idf)

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/19/1115198896_0:122:2340:1438_1920x0_80_0_0_7c1df7b1c09fe959ff1d5ac2565b2dab.jpg

"Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," the IDF wrote on Telegram. Israeli fighter jets are currently hitting Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces said."The Wall Street Journal reported late on Thursday, that the two sides had agreed to extend a temporary humanitarian pause for an eighth day.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. On Monday, Qatar announced that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas on a two-day extension of the truce on the same terms as the previous one. Earlier on Thursday, the ceasefire was extended for a seventh day.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231128/shooting-heard-in-gaza-strip-despite-extension-of-truce---eyewitnesses-1115246486.html

gaza strip

israel

qatar

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

resumed combat, humanitarian pause, israel defense forces
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/israel-releases-seventh-group-of-30-palestinian-prisoners---reports-1115315576.html

Israel Releases Seventh Group of 30 Palestinian Prisoners - Reports

Israel Releases Seventh Group of 30 Palestinian Prisoners - Reports

A bus carrying the released Palestinians has left Israel's Ofer Prison and was en route to the Palestinian city of Beitunia accompanied by a team of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the broadcaster reported.

2023-12-01T00:23+0000

2023-12-01T00:23+0000

2023-12-01T00:23+0000

world

israel

palestine-israel conflict

ofer prison

palestinians

international committee of the red cross (icrc)

hamas

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115315419_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7dc1b2abf99c6aa6cb6c43d4db4ae6ca.jpg

A bus carrying the released Palestinians has left Israel's Ofer Prison and was en route to the Palestinian city of Beitunia accompanied by a team of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the broadcaster reported. Relatives and friends were gathering in Ramallah to welcome them home, the report said. A list of those to be released, posted on Telegram by Hamas on Thursday, included eight women and 22 teenagers. The ICRC said late on Thursday that it had transferred eight hostages released by Hamas to Israeli authorities. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier confirmed the return of six more hostages, bringing the total number of hostages released by Hamas during the seven-day humanitarian pause to 110 people.

israel

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

israel, palestinian prisoners, ofer prison, hamas, international committee of the red cross, icrc, israeli-palestinian conflict, gaza strip
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/lavrov-holds-press-conference-following-osce-ministerial-council-meeting-1115318668.html

Lavrov Holds Press Conference Following OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting

Lavrov Holds Press Conference Following OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting

Sputnik goes live as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holds a press conference following the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Skopje.

2023-12-01T09:38+0000

2023-12-01T09:38+0000

2023-12-01T09:38+0000

world

sergey lavrov

north macedonia

osce

russia

skopje

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115318500_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_75d921c97f0c8e3df71d58348cca9f57.jpg

Sputnik is live as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holds a press conference following the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Skopje.The top Russian diplomat arrived in Skopje on Wednesday evening. This is Lavrov's first trip to Europe since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, not counting his visits to Belarus and Turkiye. The minister's previous visit to Europe took place in January 2022, when he traveled to Geneva to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more!

north macedonia

russia

skopje

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Lavrov holds press conference following OSCE Ministerial Council meeting Lavrov holds press conference following OSCE Ministerial Council meeting 2023-12-01T09:38+0000 true PT69M33S

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russian foreign minister sergey lavrov, osce ministerial council meeting in skopje
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/microsoft-to-invest-316bln-over-next-3-years-in-ai-data-centers-in-uk---london-1115316450.html

Microsoft to Invest $3.16Bln Over Next 3 Years in AI Data Centers in UK - London

Microsoft to Invest $3.16Bln Over Next 3 Years in AI Data Centers in UK - London

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has hailed the investment in AI infrastructure and skills as "critical for future growth and innovation, boosting the country as a science and technology superpower," the statement said.

2023-12-01T03:19+0000

2023-12-01T03:19+0000

2023-12-01T03:19+0000

economy

microsoft

science & tech

tech giants

united kingdom (uk)

artificial intelligence (ai)

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/0e/1081767335_0:105:2665:1604_1920x0_80_0_0_8d684a9e4dfaafc1e79c7de8ba6faa15.jpg

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has hailed the investment in AI infrastructure and skills as "critical for future growth and innovation, boosting the country as a science and technology superpower," the statement said. Microsoft will more than double "its datacentre footprint" in London, Cardiff and, potentially, in northern England and train over one million people for "the AI economy" and to meet "the exploding demand for efficient, scalable and sustainable AI specific compute power," the statement said, adding that the company is also supporting "the UKs growing AI safety and research efforts through partnerships with the government and leading universities." UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the investment "a turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK, the release said, adding that it is the single largest investment in the UK in its 40-year history. In early November, Sunak launched the worlds first AI Safety Institute, which is tasked with "testing the safety of emerging types of AI" and backed by leading AI companies and nations. Sunak said AI technologies can bring tremendous benefits to the world but also carry serious risks due to little research and lack of regulations. The UK hosted the world's first AI Safety Summit from November 1-2, which brought together international government leaders, major AI companies, civil society groups and experts in the field.

united kingdom (uk)

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

ai infrastructure, microsoft, united kingdom, business, big tech, investment, uk prime minister rishi sunak
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/number-of-billionaires-worldwide-up-7-yy-their-wealth-up-9---switzerlands-ubs-1115316582.html

Number of Billionaires Worldwide Up 7% Y/Y, Their Wealth Up 9% - Switzerland's UBS

Number of Billionaires Worldwide Up 7% Y/Y, Their Wealth Up 9% - Switzerland's UBS

UBS expects a continuing trend in the improvement of fortunes for billionaires with industrial companies against the background of the energy transition and increased defense spending in several countries.

2023-12-01T03:26+0000

2023-12-01T03:26+0000

2023-12-01T03:26+0000

economy

billionaires

ubs

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/0c/1111823929_0:146:2796:1719_1920x0_80_0_0_0763358070429b3df1c7e6f172c7ce15.jpg

There were early signs of improving fortunes for billionaires with industrial companies, whose wealth has increased by 15%, while "billionaires with innovative companies in technology and healthcare have accumulated the greatest wealth over the past decade," the group said. UBS expects a continuing trend in the improvement of fortunes for billionaires with industrial companies against the background of the energy transition and increased defense spending in several countries. "This years report found that the majority of billionaires that accumulated wealth in the last year, did so through inheritance as opposed to entrepreneurship. This is a theme we expect to see more of over the next 20 years, as more than 1,000 billionaires pass an estimated USD 5.2 trillion to their children," UBS quoted Benjamin Cavalli, Head of Strategic Clients at UBS Global Wealth Management, as saying in the report. UBS specified that a total of $150.8 billion was inherited by 53 heirs over the last year and exceeded the $140.7 billion in income of "the 84 new self-made billionaires."

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

billionaires, ubs, swiss banking company ubs
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/pepe-escobar-us-needs-gaza-war-to-destabilize-brics-greater-eurasia--1115329039.html

Pepe Escobar: US Needs Gaza War to Destabilize BRICS, Greater Eurasia

Pepe Escobar: US Needs Gaza War to Destabilize BRICS, Greater Eurasia

The Biden administration needs an Israeli victory in Gaza in order to undermine BRICS and other economic integration initiatives led by Russia and China, veteran geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar told the New Rules podcast.

2023-12-01T14:20+0000

2023-12-01T14:20+0000

2023-12-01T14:20+0000

new rules

new rules

eurasia

pepe escobar

benjamin netanyahu

israel

brics

china

joe biden

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/06/1082001396_0:0:2780:1565_1920x0_80_0_0_f097ab9767ae836e848e32c2f59eb843.jpg

This is an American diversionist tactic to once again go against BRICS multipolarity, especially given the fact that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates now have a very graphic, tangible opportunity to link themselves to the birth of the new Eurasia when they become members of BRICS, he said.Escobar noted that during the G20 summit in New Delhi in September, the United States and Israel unveiled the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative. The project, Escobar explained, seeks to bypass Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and transform Israel into a key energy and logistical hub.Notably, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech at the UN General Assembly later that month, he presented a map of the New Middle East without Palestine. This was no accident, according to Escobar.Escobar predicted that although the Israeli government is facing growing international criticism for its actions in Gaza, the Biden administration is unlikely to abandon the IMEC initiative.

eurasia

israel

china

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Simes Dimitri

Simes Dimitri

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Simes Dimitri

gaza war, us vs brics, us vs china, who needs gaza war, who benefits from gaza war, what is india-middle east-europe economic corridor, pepe escobar podcast, pepe escobar dimitry simes
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/polands-killer-orka-subs-what-will-their-capabilities-and-targets-be-1115326423.html

Poland's Killer 'Orka' Subs: What Will Their Capabilities and Targets Be?

Poland's Killer 'Orka' Subs: What Will Their Capabilities and Targets Be?

A major shipbuilding and naval power in the second half of the 20th century with over a dozen submarines in its arsenal, Polands capabilities have since shrunken down considerably to just one operational sub, with Warsaw looking for help from abroad to build up its fleet after gutting its major shipyards. Heres what we know about Polands plans.

2023-12-01T13:25+0000

2023-12-01T13:25+0000

2023-12-01T13:58+0000

military

poland

warsaw

andrzej duda

mariusz blaszczak

military & intelligence

navy

polish navy

european union (eu)

tomahawk

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115326687_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_8563843ae5668716736a5d30ade6cb81.png

South Korean defense giant Hanwha Ocean is lobbying hard to sell its Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class KSS-III diesel-electric attack submarines to Warsaw.What is Project Orka?The Polish Navy currently has just one submarine, the Soviet-built Orzel ("Eagle") 3,180-ton Kilo-class diesel-electric attack sub, in its arsenal. Four antique 485-ton Kobben-class subs, built in the 1960s for the Norwegian Navy, were retired by the Polish Navy in 2017, 2018, and 2021, respectively, less than two decades after entering into service.The Polish Navys submarine capabilities, which reached their zenith in the 1970s, when the country operated over a dozen diesel-electric subs, shrunk substantially after the end of the Cold War. At the same time, Poland, which once enjoyed the status of one of Europes largest shipbuilders, gutted much of these capabilities in the 1990s and 2000s during economic reforms and restructuring aimed at preparing the country to join the European Union.With its existing submarine capabilities at risk of becoming hopelessly obsolete, and the Polish government unveiling a geopolitical appetite to turn Poland into a major NATO outpost against Russia, Warsaw has announced the Orka (lit. "Orca") program, aimed at dramatically upgrading the countrys submarine power.South Korean defense companies, which have already successfully sold an array of weaponry to Poland in recent years, including K2 Black Panther series tanks, K7 Thunder self-propelled howitzers (customized into AHS Krabs by the Poles), and K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery systems, are now looking to cash in on Warsaws hunger for submarines as well.The Orka program isnt new, with its first iteration launched in 2014, with the Navy planning to purchase three subs. Talks were held with foreign defense companies including Frances Naval Group, Germanys ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Swedens Saab, Spains Navantia, plus Nauta, a Polish ship repair company. Talks apparently fell through, with the Navy shifting focus to the acquisition of frigates.With Poland announcing a multi-billion-dollar rearmament program in 2022 following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, talks on upgrading the nations sub fleet resumed, with Warsaw now interested in procuring a new class of subs with cruise and ballistic missile launch capabilities, to assist in the Western alliances aspirations to turn the Baltic Sea into a "NATO Lake."What are the KSS-III's Capabilities?Built by Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries, the KSS-III is a class of 3,600-3,750-ton attack subs armed with 533 mm torpedoes, six vertical launch cells enabling the firing of six or ten Hyunmoo 4-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (range of over 1,000 km), as well as South Korea's indigenous Chonryong series land-attack cruise missiles (range of 500 km).The subs can stay submerged for up to 20 days at a time, and travel up to 20 knots submerged (or 12 knots surfaced), with total range exceeding 19,000 km.The KSS-III is virtually a brand new sub series, with South Koreas Navy currently their only operator. With a unit price of $900 million apiece, Seoul plans to build nine KSS-IIIs total, with two already in active service at the time of writing. Hanwha Ocean unveiled a scaled down, 2,000-ton, 40-man-crew variant of the KSS-III at a defense expo in 2019 known as the DSME-2000, and offered a 3,300-ton export variant known as the DSME-3000 to India in 2021.Hanwha Ocean has worked proactively to lobby Warsaw into buying its subs, with senior company executives wooing President Andrzej Duda at an expo back in September in a bid to cash in on Warsaws budget of up to $2.3 billion for the Orka program.Along with the subs themselves, Hanwha Ocean has expressed willingness to assist Warsaw with crew training, and to build a separate maintenance, repair, and overhaul center in the Eastern European country.Not the Only Game in TownWhile the KSS-IIIs ballistic and land attack cruise missile launch capabilities make it an attractive proposition for Warsaw, South Koreas sub builders arent the only option for the Orka program.ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, for instance, is reportedly pitching its brand new 2,500-ton Type 212 Common Design (CD) diesel-electric sub equipped with air-defense and cruise missile launch capability and stealth characteristics, and a diesel/air-independent propulsion system. The German boats include a modern optical sensor and sonar package, have a top speed of over 20 knots, and have already been ordered by the German and Norwegian navies, with the first expected to arrive by the end of the current decade, with a per unit price of between $1 billion and $1.6 billion.According to Polish media, Frances Naval Group and Swedens Saab Kockums are also interested, with France likely to throw its hat into the competition with its Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack subs, a joint Naval Group-Navantia design, and the Swedes with their Blekinge-class subs.The former, already operated by the Chilean, Malaysian, Indian, and Brazilian navies, feature a 1,565-1,900-ton displacement, air-independent propulsion, a top speed of up to 20 knots submerged, a 12,000 km range, a 40-50 day endurance time, a 31-man crew, and for weaponry torpedoes, anti-ship missile, anti-air missile and mining capabilities. They have a reported price tag of as little as $450 million apiece.The Swedish offering, also known as the A26 type, are expected to begin entering into service with the Swedish Navy in the second half of the current decade, and have a 1,950-ton displacement, diesel-electric/Stirling air-independent propulsion system, a 45-day endurance time, a complement of between 17 and 26, torpedo and minelaying capability, and, in some proposed variants, up to 18 vertical launch cells that fire Tomahawk cruise missiles.How Can Russia Respond?Modern anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities are possessed by most major military powers, Russia included. Russias response to the capabilities afforded to Poland with its Orka program would undoubtedly include the use of ship and sub-based sonar systems, sonobuoys, hydrophones, and electronic countermeasures to listen out for hostile subs, particularly in those operating close to the Russian exclusive economic zone or territorial waters.High frequency radio detection systems can be used to figure out foreign subs bearings, while satellites, laser detection and ranging tools, and radar equipment can locate surfaced boats. Detected subs can be targeted by a variety of countermeasures, from naval mines and submarine and surface ship-launched torpedoes to depth charges, rockets, mortars and, if the security crisis is serious enough, nuclear depth bombs.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230926/what-kinds-of-weapons-does-south-korea-produce-and-export-1113695688.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231109/how-uk-and-us-are-creating-a-polish-led-eastern-european-nato-against-russia-1114849387.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231128/north-koreas-spy-satellite-makes-pyongyang-full-fledged-member-of-space-club-1115270011.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220704/baltic-sea-will-become-nato-basin-after-nordic-nations-accession-to-alliance-polish-prez-says-1096953684.html

poland

warsaw

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ilya Tsukanov

poland, submarine, sub, naval, capability, navy, baltic sea, cruise missile, ballistic missile, torpedo
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/russia-leads-way-for-global-south-by-providing-grain-for-africa--experts-1115330321.html

Russia Leads Way for Global South by Providing Grain for Africa  Experts

Russia Leads Way for Global South by Providing Grain for Africa  Experts

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during the Russia-Africa Summit in July that Russia would dispatch free grain as humanitarian aid to six African nations identified by the World Food Program.

2023-12-01T17:09+0000

2023-12-01T17:09+0000

2023-12-01T17:09+0000

world

russia

world

somalia

grain

aid

mogadishu

new world order

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16013/19/160131991_0:37:3109:1786_1920x0_80_0_0_92aae38de232439355319b35fa9b97a9.jpg

This act underscores Russia's extensive track record of co-operation and assistance to Africa, diverging sharply from centuries of Western imperialism directed at the Global South.Recent reports from the Somali national news agency confirmed the arrival of a vessel laden with humanitarian grain from Russia at the capital Mogadishu.Mohammed Saqib, Secretary-General of the India-China Economic and Cultural Council, highlighted the initiative's multifaceted significance. He described it not merely as a grand gesture but as a substantial commitment to addressing international challenges  a noble cause undertaken by Russia.The official emphasized that Russia's response was particularly commendable considering the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Africa, compounded by challenges stemming from the conflict with Ukraine. He praised Russia's outreach to the needy, describing it as a demonstration of international responsibility addressing the urgent needs of people in dire circumstances.In the evolving landscape of renewed competition for influence among African nations, the focus appears to be shifting from traditional Cold War geopolitics to tangible material support. And despite the impediments Western nations have placed on Russian ships in their ports, Moscow has reaffirmed its commitment to providing essential grain to the most vulnerable African nations, said Dr. Anuradha Chenoy, a retired professor at the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.According to Dr Chenoy, the positive reception given to Russia marks a departure from the earlier emphasis on ideological and geopolitical considerations. The successful initiation of the grain delivery program serves as a genuine manifestation of the enduring partnerships between Russia and African nations, further solidifying the trend towards sustained collaboration in the face of global challenges.Commenting on the leadership qualities shown by Moscow, Saqib noted that Russia, while already engaged in regional cultural exchanges, stands out for its commitment to the welfare of its people. He praised Russia for extending support to those in need and hunger, considering it a commendable international gesture.In his view, Russia assumes a crucial role as a leader in the Global South, showcasing its dedication to the development of countries in the region. He contrasted this with recent Western focus, particularly that of the United States, which has predominantly centered around conflicts and alliances while neglecting the concerns of developing nations and impoverished populations.According to Saqib, the current global landscape is on the verge of transformation and Russia, by proactively addressing essential tasks, positions itself at the forefront of this evolving paradigm.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230918/ukraine-grain-row-shows-war-fatigue-seeping-in-as-eu-has-own-interests-at-stake-1113457047.html

russia

world

somalia

mogadishu

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russian grain for africa, how much grain russia sends to africa, russian humanitarian aid
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/second-place-south-korea-puts-first-spy-satellite-in-orbit-following-norths-launch-1115337358.html

Second Place: South Korea Puts First Spy Satellite in Orbit Following Norths Launch

Second Place: South Korea Puts First Spy Satellite in Orbit Following Norths Launch

The South Korean Defense Ministry is preparing to place its first reconnaissance satellite in Earth orbit, an official told reporters on Friday. The launch comes just days after the DPRK launched their own spy satellite.

2023-12-01T22:18+0000

2023-12-01T22:18+0000

2023-12-01T22:16+0000

south korea

kim yo jong

spy satellite

north korea

falcon 9

asia

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/10/1082906406_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_77dc1fd3fc8bebae21afed075a2a26bb.jpg

The satellite, domestically built, was launched on Friday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.The device is set to orbit between 400 kilometers and 600 kilometers up, and is capable of detecting an object as small as 30 centimeters, according to South Korean media. Seoul plans to launch four more devices by the end of 2025.While the South has "succeeded in the launch of a military communications satellite, it has taken much longer for a reconnaissance satellite due to higher technological hurdles," he said.Choi added that after the North launched its own satellite last month, "the South Korean government needs to demonstrate it can also pull this off.However, a key difference is that while South Korea has had to use an American rocket to launch its satellite, due to limitations on its ballistic missile program put in place by Washington, the DPRK used its own rocket.Moscow-based military expert Alexey Leonkov told Sputnik earlier this week that this had made the DPRK a member of the club of space powers, an elite group of spacefaring nations to which South Korea could only conditionally be included.Called Malligyong-1, the satellite was launched on November 21 on a Chollima-1 carrier rocket from the Sohae Satellite Space Launching Station on the countrys western coast. According to observers, the rocket bore a resemblance to the Soviet Unions Zenit rocket. However, the United States accused Pyongyang of using the launch as an excuse to advance its ballistic missile program, which the United Nations has sanctioned, claiming they violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Pyongyang withdrew from the treaty in 2003.Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the DPRKs ruling Workers' Party of Korea and a key spokesperson for the North Korean government, blasted American hypocrisy in its response to the launch, noting the US has threatened the DPRK with attack since the 1953 ceasefire.The 1950-53 war, which caused widespread devastation across both North and South Korea, only ended in a ceasefire, not a permanent peace treaty, allowing 28,000 US troops to remain in South Korea and for American commanders to retain control over South Korean forces in wartime. Pyongyang has said it needs nuclear weapons and advanced missiles as a deterrent against attack in the absence of peace.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231124/south-korea-urges-us-to-boost-defense-cooperation-after-norths-satellite-launch-1115187331.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231127/north-korea-launches-satellite-to-keep-up-with-us-military-moves---un-envoy--1115238712.html

south korea

north korea

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Fantine Gardinier

Fantine Gardinier

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Fantine Gardinier

south korea spy satellite, does south korea have satellites, dprk satellite launch
An unleashed dog walks on a pathway at College Memorial Park Cemetery, one of three Black cemeteries in Houston. Although there are plenty of signs telling dog owners to keep their dogs on leash and pick up after them, many seem to have turned the historic Black cemetery into a de facto dog park. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A historical marker on the gravest of John Sessums Jr., the first African American member of the Houston Light Guard, one of the oldest militias in Texas, at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Broken headstones at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Unleashed dogs make their way around College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. Although there are plenty of signs telling dog owners to keep their dogs on leash and pick up after them, many seem to have turned the historic Black cemetery into a de facto dog park for the newly-built apartments. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Waste bags and garbage can is placed along the path of College Memorial Park Cemetery to encourage people to be responsible on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Signs asking dog owners to leash and pickup after their dogs at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer An unleash dog walks on a pathway at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. Although there are plenty of signs telling dog owners to keep their dogs on leash and pick up after them, many seem to have turned the historic Black cemetery into a de facto dog park for the newly-built apartments. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A flag is planted in front of a broken military headstone at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer An overgrown family plot at College Memorial Park Cemetery is overshadowed by a newly built apartment and parking garage on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer An unleash dog defecates on a grave site at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. Although there are plenty of signs telling dog owners to keep their dogs on leash and pick up after them, many seem to have turned the historic Black cemetery into a de facto dog park for the newly-built apartments. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Broken headstones at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer An unmarked family plot at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer An unmarked and broken headstone leans up against a tree at College Memorial Park Cemetery, just in the shadows of a new apartment complex and parking garage on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A broken headstone at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

For all that the Rev. Jack Yates brought to Houston, youd think he would have a better final resting place.

Not one where people let their dogs roam loose to potentially urinate on the headstones. Or one where overgrown weeds and brush make it difficult to determine where bodies are buried. Those are only a few of the issues at College Memorial Park Cemetery, a scantly manicured five-acre patch of land in what is quickly becoming an upscale neighborhood along West Dallas Street, between Shepherd and Dunlavy.

Yates, who helped establish Emancipation Park in Third Ward and was one of the esteemed members of Freedmen's Town in Fourth Ward, is buried here. Its one of Houston's three remaining Black cemeteries, and one of 1,700-plus Texas Historic Commission cemeteries statewide.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

If you drive along West Dallas, you might miss the cemetery, sandwiched between a swanky multiuse development and a strip of townhomes. There are small red signs posted throughout the burial ground urging pet owners to respect the sacredness of the space. At the bottom of each is a quote by Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes about holding onto dreams. Hughes would be appalled, but probably not surprised, that such a reminder is necessary.

Black cemeteries nationwide often have lacked both historical record-keeping, as well as proper maintenance and support. Volunteers try as best they can to keep them up, but, without a robust preservation budget, it's almost impossible.

Whats happening at College Memorial Park is even more infuriating given Yates profile and the number of other prominent Black people buried there. In all, 5,000 Black men, women and children are resting there, many of them formerly enslaved and several of them Buffalo Soldiers. The cemetery gets its name from a Black junior college that was once located nearby.

Even the military headstones at College Memorial Park Cemetery are broken, falling or overtaken by weeds, photographed on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

A not-for-profit organization has made some progress in cleaning the grounds and cataloging graves, but its website seems to have not been updated in the past year or so. I called and emailed leaders of the College Park Cemetery Association board. Im still waiting for replies.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Based on my recent visits, the association still holds cleanups and headstone-repair efforts, and its website includes a GoFundMe campaign link that has raised only $10,000 of a $20,000 goal. The association says it has confirmed the locations of fewer than 2,000 of the cemeterys inhabitants, and that only 350 headstones are in place.

This seems like a good opportunity for government to step up. In 2022, Congress passed the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act, which established a National Park Service program to provide $3 million in competitive grants to identify, research, and preserve Black cemeteries.

Congress has yet to appropriate the funding for the program, though. Maybe the Houston City Council could apply some pressure, or contemplate using city funds to turn the cemetery into the cultural and educational gem it could be?

For now, Yates descendants can only hope.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Historically, Black cemeteries werent owned by Black people and were not maintained unless it was called to their attention, said Jacqueline Whiting Bostic, Yates great-granddaughter who serves on the board of the Emancipation Park Conservancy and is a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where Yates was a pastor.

Bostic said Yates was originally buried at Olivewood Cemetery, which is the citys first incorporated Black cemetery established in 1875 and situated near White Oak Bayou. Once College Memorial Park was developed, he was moved there to be closer to his home in Freedmens Town.

Its still disappointing that there is not a greater effort to preserve our cemeteries, she told me.

On a day I visited, workers were installing a small chain-link fence to try to keep dogs out. A large, city dog park is less than a mile away off Allen Parkway. Cant people take their dogs there?

If it weren't for the Texas Historical Commission's marker detailing Yates' life and legacy, few would know he was buried in College Memorial Park.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Amid the weeds, there's a small headstone, decorated with a bouquet of fake white flowers, that reads simply, "Family of Jack Yates."

Its unsettling and its wrong. If you have ideas on how to help restore this piece of our citys history, write me at Joy.Sewing@houstonchronicle.com.

Flowers rest on an overgrown plot for the Yates family at College Memorial Park Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Houston. The cemetery is one of a few of Houstons historically Black cemeteries that are in a dire state. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/talks-on-exchange-of-hostages-in-gaza-continue-despite-resumption-of-hostilities---reports-1115319662.html

Talks on Exchange of Hostages in Gaza Continue Despite Resumption of Hostilities - Reports

Talks on Exchange of Hostages in Gaza Continue Despite Resumption of Hostilities - Reports

Negotiations on the exchange of hostages in the Gaza Strip continue despite the resumption of hostilities, media reported on Friday, citing a source familiar with the talks.

2023-12-01T07:17+0000

2023-12-01T07:17+0000

2023-12-01T07:17+0000

world

palestine-israel conflict

israel

gaza strip

qatar

israel defense forces (idf)

hamas

middle east

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115315419_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7dc1b2abf99c6aa6cb6c43d4db4ae6ca.jpg

Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces said that Hamas broke the humanitarian pause, prompting Israel to resume combat. The Wall Street Journal reported late on Thursday, that the two sides had agreed to extend a temporary humanitarian pause for an eighth day. However, no official confirmation has been made yet. The latest truce expired at 07:00 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday.Six people were killed and dozens were injured as a result of strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, media reported, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry.The Gaza Strip authorities held the international community responsible for the continuation of Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave, the broadcaster said.Negotiations between Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas on the truce in the Gaza Strip continue through the mediation of Qatar and Egypt, AFP reported on Friday, citing a source.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. On Monday, Qatar announced that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas on a two-day extension of the truce on the same terms as the previous one. Earlier on Thursday, the ceasefire was extended for a seventh day.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/israel-releases-seventh-group-of-30-palestinian-prisoners---reports-1115315576.html

israel

gaza strip

qatar

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

exchange of hostages, gaza strip continue, resumption of hostilities
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/uks-sunak-having-hissy-fit-over-sculptures-taken-from-greece---ex-tory-minister-1115315870.html

UKs Sunak Having Hissy Fit Over Sculptures Taken from Greece - Ex-Tory Minister

UKs Sunak Having Hissy Fit Over Sculptures Taken from Greece - Ex-Tory Minister

A spat between the UKs Prime Minister and his Greek counterpart escalated this week, but former Conservative chancellor George Osborne suggests domestic politics may be to blame.

2023-12-01T00:45+0000

2023-12-01T00:45+0000

2023-12-01T00:45+0000

world

britain

british museum

elgin marbles

greece

ancient greece

art

history

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115315713_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8d689d2647706329a4c4b36ba3581798.jpg

A spat between the UKs Prime Minister and his Greek counterpart escalated this week, but former Conservative chancellor George Osborne suggests domestic politics may be to blame.The ex-Tory finance minister made the comment on his podcast Political Currency. Earlier this week UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a planned meeting with the Hellenic Republic leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Officially, Sunaks office claimed the meeting was scrapped after Mitsotakis publicly raised the issue of the return of ancient Greek sculptures currently held in the British Museum.The sculptures, known in the United Kingdom as the Elgin Marbles, were removed from Athens in the early 19th century and have controversially remained in London ever since.Polls currently show Sunak trailing Starmers center-left Labour Party, although the next general election remains unscheduled. The Labour Party was previously led by socialist Jeremy Corbyn, who faced opposition from prominent members of UK intelligence agencies. With Corbyn out of the equation, Starmers more centrist Labour Party has faced less establishment opposition within the United Kingdoms purported democracy.Osborne suggested Sunak was scoring cheap points by casting his feud with the Greek Prime Minister in terms of the battle over the sculptures.In Greece, the marbles are considered part of the Parthenon Sculptures after the ancient temple they were originally taken from. Greece has sought their return to Athens for centuries.The British Museum is highly controversial for containing numerous artifacts that critics allege were stolen during the reign of the British Empire. Human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson once called the museum one of the world's largest receivers of stolen property.Recently, the museum announced it would be creating digital records of its collection after reporting some 2,000 artifacts had been stolen or were missing. The museum claims to hold some 8 million objects from around the world.

britain

greece

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

uk museum, british museum, uk prime minister rishi sunak, elgin marbles, greece, greek art, ancient greece, stolen art, parthenon, hellenic republic leader kyriakos mitsotakis, art
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/us-delivery-of-longer-range-rockets-to-ukraine-mothballed-1115319427.html

US Delivery of Longer-Range Rockets to Ukraine Pushed Back to 2024

US Delivery of Longer-Range Rockets to Ukraine Pushed Back to 2024

Ukraine's hopes of getting longer-range GLSDB rockets from the US this year have been dashed, with delivery delayed until next year, Reuters reported.

2023-12-01T10:03+0000

2023-12-01T10:03+0000

2023-12-01T10:46+0000

world

us

pentagon

ground launched small diameter bombs (glsdb)

russia

ukraine

proxy war

multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs)

high mobility artillery rocket system (himars)

himars

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115318804_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_87cc13b0069555c039e19f0e4c42d276.jpg

As Ukraine faces dwindling foreign support amid its failed counteroffensive, its hopes of getting longer-range GLSDB rockets from the US this year have been dashed, Reuters reported.Supplies of the Boeing-made Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs were originally planned for early 2023, but the schedule has been pushed back until sometime next year, according to the Pentagon and quoted sources. While Boeing may deliver the GLSDB rockets in late December, several months of testing will be needed after that.The explanation offered for the delay was that production could not begin without government-supplied materials, and negotiating a new contract took time. The agreement was only signed in March, which deferred delivery to the US military towards the end of the current year.We anticipate providing this key capability in the early 2024 timeframe after successful verification," a Pentagon spokesman said.Ukraine has already received huge quantities of advanced military hardware from the US and its allies, including everything from multiple launch rocket systems and armored vehicles to M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks. But the Kiev regime has constantly demanded long-range rockets capable of striking deep within Russia.Last year, reports surfaced that Boeing had offered to supply Ukraine with high-precision ammunition for ground missile systems that would allow it to strike far beyond the front lines. At the time it was stated that the Pentagon was studying Boeing's proposal amid declining US and allied military stockpiles. It was optimistically claimed that the GLSDBs could be delivered as early as spring 2023. Earlier in the year, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its air defense systems had shot down a GLSDB for the first time. That was followed by another the following month and seven more in October.However, a US official and an insider told Reuters the US had not supplied any of these bombs to Ukraine.The delay in US attempts to further boost Kievs capability to strike at distant targets comes as a bitter blame game unfolds in Kiev amid its botched counteroffensive, which yielded few results apart from huge losses in manpower and military hardware. The resulting Zelensky-Zaluzhny spat has already had a visible impact on Kievs internal politics.Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny had undercut President Volodymyr Zelenskys optimistic appraisal of the front-line situation in an op-ed for The Economist, admitting that the summer counteroffensive had reached a stalemate, and that there would be no deep and beautiful breakthrough against Russia, regardless of what NATO textbooks say. Zelensky was quick to retort during a press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in early November that this is not a stalemate, and later sacked several of Zaluzhny's allies. That was followed by an escalating string of events  including the mysterious bomb explosion death of one of the commanders key aides, Gennady Chastyakov, and this weeks poisoning of Marianna Budanova, wife of the Ukrainian militarys Main Intelligence Directorate chief Kyrylo Budanov.As a fierce internal power struggle unfolds in Kiev, Ukrainian fatigue increasingly manifests itself in the US and EU, threatening to dash Kievs hopes for continued NATO funding.Moscow has repeatedly warned the West against further involvement in the conflict. Providing Kiev with more powerful weaponry is a deliberate escalation of the conflagration by Washington, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said earlier this year. He added that any attempts to inflict damage on Russia are doomed to failure, and "the sooner the United States realizes this, the sooner the current conflict will end." Russia previously sent a diplomatic note to all countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noting that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230201/what-are-longer-range-glsdb-rockets-that-the-us-may-soon-send-to-ukraine-1106884314.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/russian-defense-ministry-says-high-precision-glsdb-bomb-shot-down-in-ukraine-1108867028.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/ukraines-colosseum-west-watching-zelensky-zaluzhny-fight-will-give-thumbs-up-to-most-malleable-1115289048.html

russia

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Svetlana Ekimenko

ground launched small diameter bombs, gbu-39/b precision-guided glide bomb, ukraine's botched counteroffensive, dwindling support for ukraine, nato proxy war against russisa in ukraine, political infighting in kiev, ukraine fatigue,
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/us-navy-drops-underwater-footage-of-crashed-poseidon-aircraft-near-hawaii-1115335912.html

US Navy Drops Underwater Footage of Crashed Poseidon Aircraft Near Hawaii

US Navy Drops Underwater Footage of Crashed Poseidon Aircraft Near Hawaii

The US Navy has published footage of its underwater salvage efforts off the coast of Hawaii, where a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft recently skidded off the runway during landing.

2023-12-01T21:41+0000

2023-12-01T21:41+0000

2023-12-01T21:39+0000

hawaii

p-8a poseidon

us navy

crash

underwater

salvage

military

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115336252_80:0:1920:1035_1920x0_80_0_0_cc2e63ba72cac1e91d3e2cdbcccc2fb5.png

Amid adverse weather conditions, the airliner-sized jet overshot the runway at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii and landed in shallow water atop a coral reef. Nine crew members were aboard, all of whom escaped the plane as it partially filled with water.In the footage, shot by a diver, the planes undercarriage can be seen wedged into coral and a slew of cables tangled around its wheels to stabilize the 130,000-pound plane and prevent it from moving further. Its massive turbofan engines sit suspended just inches from the coral reef.However, the aircraft is not totally submerged: Navy photos taken after the crash show most of the aircraft above the wing roots to be above water, although the aircrafts aft end is more submerged than the nose.At a news conference earlier this week, Navy officials said a protective floating barrier had been erected around the aircraft within 30 minutes of the crash, and that it had already been drained of fuel in a special operation, removing 2,000 gallons of fuel in an operation never performed underwater before on this aircraft.He added that the Navy was working with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess the impact on the reef caused by the crash.Lenox said the Navy was exploring two options: either using a crane to drag the aircraft out of the water or to use inflatable cylindrical floating bags to lift the plane up to the point that it could then be rolled onto land. He said the decision would be made on Friday afternoon.Derived from a Boeing 737 airliner, the P-8A Poseidon has become the US Navys workhorse maritime patrol aircraft. With a combat range of 1,383 miles, the massive aircraft can loiter for hours as it hunts submarines or surface warships with sonar buoys, naval mines, or a variety of anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. Several US allies have also purchased the Poseidon, including Australia, Norway, and India.In 2020, as the patrols were being dramatically expanded, a Poseidon was forced to make an emergency landing at a US base in Okinawa, Japan, after suffering engine trouble, possibly from overuse on such patrols.

hawaii

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Fantine Gardinier

Fantine Gardinier

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Fantine Gardinier

p-8a poseidon crashes near hawaii, us navy releases footage of crashed plane, underwater footage reveals stranded poseidon, poseidon p-8a skids runway
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/was-resumption-of-gaza-war-linked-to-blinkens-visit-1115333089.html

Was Resumption of Gaza War Linked to Blinken's Visit?

Was Resumption of Gaza War Linked to Blinken's Visit?

Israel resumed the Gaza war having said that Hamas violated a week-long truce by firing rockets at the Jewish state. The White House echoed that the Islamist group is to blame for the resumption of hostilities. Is Team Biden interested in expanding Tel Aviv's operation?

2023-12-01T19:15+0000

2023-12-01T19:15+0000

2023-12-05T09:24+0000

us

world

palestine-israel conflict

antony blinken

joe biden

benjamin netanyahu

israel

tel aviv

palestinian authority

hamas

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/02/1114665982_0:116:3072:1843_1920x0_80_0_0_e6068e3b6db8419d29561d9ee2b4886e.jpg

The re-eruption of Israel's war against Hamas came hot on the heels of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.During the meeting Blinken lauded the expansion 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," the US secretary of state said on Thursday. Yet the conflict resumed the very next day. What is behind this contradiction?Alazzeh said Israel feels it would get Washington's approval whatever it does. Following the resumption of Israeli air strikes against Gaza, the White House has signalled that Hamas was to blame for the breach of the temporary truce. Against this backdrop, Blinken's praise for the temporary truce was nothing but a fig leaf covering the US unwillingness in implementing a long-term ceasefire, according to the expert."[President Joe] Biden himself, since October 7 until yesterday, says that he cant support any call for permanent ceasefire and this is because he believes that Israel must accomplish its announced goal from this war which is 'to abolish Hamas'," emphasized the human right expert. "He talks more about the future of Gaza than the present, which confirms that he is 100 percent wants Israel to achieve its goals from this war until the end."Alazzeh added that that Blinken's rhetoric about the "respect for the international law regarding the civilians in the south of Gaza" and his comments about Israel having to "reduce the casualties among the civilians," indicated that that the White House would be happy for the war to continue.Team Biden and Bibi's Gaza WarHowever, the situation seems more complicated given that Team Biden's Democratic officials have a long record of being at odds with the Netanyahu cabinet, beginning with their nuclear deal with Tehran  Tel Aviv's arch-enemy  and ending with the Israeli prime minister's getting along with former President Donald Trump, Biden's arch-enemy.These contradictions manifested themselves in the first phase of the Gaza war when, following Blinken's statement concerning returning the Gaza Strip under the rule of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the post-war period, Netanyahu made it clear that would not happen. The Israeli PM insisted that after the defeat of Hamas, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) would be in control of the strip as long as necessary.Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University Qatar, told Sputnik last month that the Biden administration cannot restrain either its Arab or Israeli allies.Biden and Blinken's Skepticism Over Gaza WarMeanwhile, Israeli-American conservative newspaper JNS questioned the Biden administration's commitment to the Gaza war. The publication's editor-in-chief Jonathan S. Tobin quoted the president's tweet that "Hamas unleashed a terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace. To continue down the path of terror, violence, killing, and war is to give Hamas what they seek. We cant do that."A considerable part of Biden's electorate  including young Democrats, non-whites, Arab and Muslim Americans and progressives  support Palestine and an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "Whether the president intended it or not, it reflected the way that the administrations pro-Israel stand has been crumbling under pressure from its supporters," the journalist noted.Meanwhile, the same publication drew attention to an alleged conversation between Blinken and the Israeli leadership during a meeting of Israels War Cabinet on Thursday leaked  but not verified  by Channel 12. Blinken reportedly questioned Tel Aviv's strategy in southern Gaza and said that Israel does not have much time to complete the operation.Israeli military officials responded that they would operate "proportionally", insisting they were ready to wage war for months if necessary. Blinken allegedly responded that Israel did not have that much time, saying: "I dont think you will have the credit for that." He also drew attention to Israel's unwillingness to allow the Palestinian Authority to resume government over Gaza  prompting Netanyahu to retort that as long as he sits in "this chair" the West Bank-based authority will not control the enclave.Earlier, Axios cited a phone conversation between Biden and Netanyahu in which the US president warned the Israeli premier against waging the war in the south in the same intense manner it did in the north.Michael Maloof, former senior security policy analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, suggested in his October 31 interview with Sputnik that Team Biden did not want the Gaza war from the outset: it was merely unleashed on them by Hamas' brutal October 7 attack and no less brutal Israel's response. Team Biden already has a lot on its plate, including the Ukraine proxy war and simmering tensions with China over Taiwan. The Palestine-Israel standoff did not fit Biden's plan but he can do nothing but support Israel, as American presidents usually did, according to Maloof.Less than 10 days before the Hamas incursion into southern Israel, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan bragged at the Atlantic Festival: "The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/truce-over-israel-resumes-bombing-hamas-targets-in-gaza-strip-1115322445.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231113/gaza-war-mideast-players-gained-more-strategic-autonomy-less-respect-for-us-1114923656.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/pepe-escobar-us-needs-gaza-war-to-destabilize-brics-greater-eurasia--1115329039.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/arab-americans-disenchantment-with-bidens-palestine-strategy-could-hurt-him-in-2024-1115283746.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/blinkens-diplomatic-blitz-went-bust-due-to-us-slavish-servility-to-israel-1115331473.html

israel

tel aviv

gaza strip

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ekaterina Blinova

israel, hamas, israel-hamas war, gaza war resumed, idf ground operation resumed, hamas violated terms of ceasefire, temporary truce in gaza, antony blinken, joe biden, biden 2024, benjamin netanyahu, gaza strip
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/watch-russian-kamikaze-drone-eliminate-german-made-ukrainian-leopard-2a4-tank-1115318378.html

Watch Russian Kamikaze Drone Eliminate German-Made Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 Tank

Watch Russian Kamikaze Drone Eliminate German-Made Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 Tank

The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of a kamikaze drone destroying a German-made Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tank near Rabotino in the Zaporozhye region.

2023-12-01T12:57+0000

2023-12-01T12:57+0000

2023-12-01T12:57+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

video

ukraine

russia

zaporozhye

russian defense ministry

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115326203_5:0:1274:714_1920x0_80_0_0_a166187c6775211f121e59c897347f95.jpg

The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of a kamikaze drone destroying a Ukrainian German-made Leopard 2A4 tank near Rabotino in the Zaporozhye region. The video shows the destruction of the tank from two angles - from both the kamikaze and the targeting drone.The Leopard 2A4 tank is a main battle tank widely used by several European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. It is equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, a powerful engine, and sophisticated armor protection.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231104/ukraine-on-tank-losing-streak-writes-off-quarter-of-leopard-2s-in-just-over-a-week-1114721837.html

ukraine

russia

zaporozhye

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Leopard 2A4 Leopard 2A4 2023-12-01T12:57+0000 true PT0M28S

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russian kamikaze drone, ukrainian leopard 2a4 tank, zaporozhye region
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/west-to-drop-bombshell-on-ukraine-and-destroy-zelensky--whistleblower-1115329848.html

West to Drop Bombshell on Ukraine and Destroy Zelensky  Whistleblower

West to Drop Bombshell on Ukraine and Destroy Zelensky  Whistleblower

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is still in denial that he has outlived his usefulness to the West, former Ukrainian diplomat and whistleblower Andrii Telizhenko told Sputnik's Backstory podcast.

2023-12-01T16:19+0000

2023-12-01T16:19+0000

2023-12-01T16:19+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

volodymyr zelensky

joe biden

valery zaluzhny

ukraine

west

washington

nato

ukrainian armed forces

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114352435_0:0:3048:1714_1920x0_80_0_0_58b97879b4d788a3a91ca4ae4f52c1d9.jpg

Volodymyr Zelensky's approval rating is in free fall in Ukraine.According to the Economist, the latest polls indicated that trust in the Ukrainian president (32 percent) is less than half that of Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces General Valery Zaluzhny (70 percent) and 13 percent less than that of Ukraines spy boss Kyrylo Budanov (45 percent)."And he's not budging for any elections. He's a dictator. He put himself there. He said it's going to come for one term. And he said now he seems going to be there for a second term, even though there is martial law but there is no military status or any official war recognition in Ukraine. So you can imagine that the law itself is martial, but there's no official war recognized by the Ukrainian government or the parliament of Ukraine officially to stop any election."Back in August Zelensky hinted that holding elections, initially scheduled for March 2024, would be possible - despite martial law - if the West provides funds and assistance. However, as his row with the Ukrainian top brass reached its peak, Zelensky ruled out elections despite top Western policy-makers urging him to carry out the democratic procedure to uphold his legitimacy.Speaking on Backstory podcast last month, international affairs and security expert Mark Sleboda suggested that the West is seeking to get rid of Zelensky  with elections appearing the most convenient way to do so, given the Ukrainian incumbent's low approval rating. But Zelensky remains in a "bubble" of self-delusion, according to Telizhenko."A year ago, I was told that there were talks happening in Washington that everything could be blamed on Zelensky if the war is going to be finished in Ukraine or if the war was going to be lost. The Zelensky government could be blamed because that's what's happening today. And I think Zelensky is in delusion, he should come back to real life. But I think he thinks that he's God because he has Biden by his side."Not only has Zelensky been tricked by the West, but so has the whole nation, the former Ukrainian diplomat stressed. He recalled that even he had at times bought into the Western narrative. according Telizhenko, the 2014 coup in Ukraine was from planned and orchestrated from start to finish by the West, with millions of dollars in cash being poured into the so-called Maidan Revolution. Simultaneously, the US and its allies had promised Ukraine it would be welcomed in NATO, the ex-diplomat noted, although he doubted Washington would ever let Ukraine join the transatlantic bloc. He said the "NATO fairy tale" was used by the West to make Ukraine an "anti-Russia."The whistleblower concluded that the West had shown its real face in the ongoing crisis, while corrupt Ukrainian politicians demonstrated weakness and short-sightedness since they took the West's bait and embraced Russophobia.For more in-depth analysis of current affairs, tune in to our Sputnik Radio show The Backstory.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/zelensky-zaluzhny-spat-tempest-in-a-teapot-concealing-ukraines-true-masters-1115308061.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/ukraine-lost-over-125000-people-and-16000-weapons-over-six-months-of-counteroffensive---shoigu-1115321050.html

ukraine

west

washington

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ekaterina Blinova

Ekaterina Blinova

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ekaterina Blinova

russia-ukraine conflict, russia-ukraine war, ukrainian counteroffensive, who is winning in ukraine, who will be after zelensky, why is zelensky a president
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/zelenskys-fortification-fetish-wont-alter-russias-strategy-1115329453.html

Zelensky's Fortification Fetish Won't Alter Russia's Strategy

Zelensky's Fortification Fetish Won't Alter Russia's Strategy

Ukraines president has announced plans to beef up fortification-building efforts across the country, conceding to his top general that the NATO-sponsored conflict with Russia has hit a stalemate after Kievs disastrous counteroffensive. But no amount of concrete will be able to alter the Russian armys plans, a leading military observer says.

2023-12-01T15:43+0000

2023-12-01T15:43+0000

2023-12-01T18:37+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

volodymyr zelensky

ivan konovalov

valery zaluzhny

kiev

ukraine

russia

nato

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/01/1115329295_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1155635ca13da35a0b9804777d374a7f.jpg

President Zelensky chaired a meeting in the Ukrainian-controlled portion of Zaporozhye on Thursday focused on the need to attract resources to build more fortifications in the region, in other frontline areas and across the country, including Ukrainian-occupied areas of Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkov, Sumy, Chernigov, Kiev, Rovno and Volyn.We also discussed the needs that we will address with our partners to reinforce our defense lines, Zelensky added, referring to the Kiev regimes Western patrons, the US and other NATO countries which have bankrolled Ukraine's military in their proxy conflict with Russia.Separately on Thursday, in an interview with a major US news agency, Zelensky all but admitted that his top general Valery Zaluzhnys characterization of the conflict as a stalemate was accurate. We have a new phase of war, and that is a fact. Winter as a whole is a new phase of war, he said.The fortifications focus of Zelenskys address, together with his interview blaming the West for failing to provide Kiev with enough weapons  after receiving almost $100 billion-worth already  points to signs that Kiev will be attempting to hunker down and that it may have given up on hopes to ever regain its lost territories.The problem with Kievs fortification and bunker-based strategy is that it wont alter the Russian militarys strategy, says Russian journalist, military correspondent, and political analyst Ivan Konovalov.Russias military has amassed considerable experience in overcoming Ukraines fortifications, the observer told Sputnik.The regimes capabilities and readiness to fortify areas under their control should not be underestimated. But such efforts cost a great deal of effort and resources, while Kievs Western partners are growing weary of continuing to shell out, he said.No Changes to Russias PlansKonovalov dismissed the idea of making any changes to Russias plans stemming from Zelenskys apparent fortification and bunker-based strategy.Konovalov also noted that any new discussions about plans from Kiev, Washington or Brussels are little more than propaganda.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/us-delivery-of-longer-range-rockets-to-ukraine-mothballed-1115319427.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/west-overplayed-ukraine-now-leaning-towards-dialogue-with-moscow---reporter-1115274364.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/politico-names-zelensky-europes-dreamer-of-year-who-cajoled-shamed-and-begged-the-west-1115272315.html

kiev

ukraine

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ilya Tsukanov

russia, ukraine, proxy war, nato, united states, europe, western alliance, fortifications, bunker, strategy, stalemate, frozen conflict
Gaitway Guy ($2.10) maintained the top spot among Delaware-sired three-year-old male pacers with a 1:55 win in his $20,000 first-round division of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) series on Thursday (Nov. 30) at Ballys Dover. Marshal Dillon ($11) captured the other split in 1:56.

Driver Corey Callahan eased Gaitway Guy off the gate and settled him fourth behind 21-1 shot Delightinhisglory (Tim Tetrick) on the first turn before brushing to control just past a :27.4 first quarter. The Delmarvalous-Brussels Hanover gelding coasted unchallenged through middle splits of :57.2 and 1:26.1 before keeping Delightinhisglory, who pulled the pocket in upper stretch, a length at bay at the winning post. Nottes Mist (Allan Davis) was a ground-saving third after stalking the top pair throughout.

Jeffrey Smith trains Gaitway Guy, an 11-time winner from 15 starts with $239,400 in career earnings, for owner-breeder GTY Stable.

In the other division, Marshal Dillon rode the pocket to victory in his debut for trainer Kevin Lare. Tony Morgan landed the Badlands Hanover-Eagle Molly gelding behind early pacesetter Night Terror (Davis) through a :27.4 first split, and the pair sat chilly while Night Terror contended with a first-over challenge from Georgy T (Montrell Teague) up the backstretch. Marshal Dillon wedged out of the pocket at the eighth pole and burst to the lead, downing Night Terror by a widening length. Cards A Flyin (Callahan) swung three-wide off stalling cover turning for home and finished third.

Briskey Stables LLC owns Marshal Dillon, who has won six times and earned $58,423 in his career.

The second round of the Dover DSBF series for three-year-olds will take place Dec. 4-7, with trotting fillies meeting on Monday, male trotters on Tuesday, pacing fillies on Wednesday and male pacers on Thursday. The top eight point-earners in each division after the second preliminary round will qualify for their respective $110,000 finals the following week.

I Did It Myway Goes Coast-To-Coast In Open

I Did It Myway won wire-to-wire in the $27,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace on Thursday evening.

The millionaire pacer blasted off the wings of the starting gate, but was parked to the quarter. He rung out fractions of :26.2, :54.2 and 1:22.2 as Stag Party (George Napolitano Jr.) moved first-up through the backstretch. I Did It Myway accelerated in the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:49.4. Penzance Hanover (Arthur Stafford Jr.) finished second and Captain Cowboy (Callahan) was third.

Owned by David Hamm, EVM Racing LLC and Glenn Phillips, I Did It Myway (Captaintreacherous-Flyme To The Moon) is trained by Chuck Crissman Jr. and was driven by Tim Tetrick.

Tetrick had five driving wins on the card.

Bally's Dover races on a Monday through Thursday schedule with a post time of 4:30 p.m.

(With files from Dover Downs and the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund)
Riverstone Banks Gift of Love Campaign is in full swing, with canned foods being collected from Scottsbluff and Gering schools and delivered to local food pantries throughout the day on Friday.

Seven schools participated in this years canned food drive, with every elementary school in the Scottsbluff and Gering districts chipping in alongside Gering Middle School.

Riverstone Bank Marketing Director Becca Pierce said the food drive typically collects around 10,000 pounds of non-perishable items from its participating schools.

Lincoln Heights Elementary in Scottsbluff was the first pickup location visited early Friday morning, allowing Pierce to personally thank the students who contributed during their morning announcements.

Im so proud of you guys every year, because its so amazing what you do, she told the students. By each of you bringing in a few items youve done a whole lot of good. So thank you very much.

The donations from Lincoln Heights, along with those from Northfield Elementary in Gering, will be delivered to St. Agnes Catholic Church to help with its Valley Christian Neighbors in Need program, which is associated with Gift of Love.

Donations from other schools will be taken to Potters Wheel Ministries, Chuckwagon Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church to bolster their respective food pantries ahead of the holiday season.

We look forward to this canned food drive every year, Lincoln Heights principal Jeremy Behnke said. I really feel like the students at our school understand what it means to be able to do this for the families in our community.

Though there is a reward on the line for the school with the largest donation by weight, Behnke said that the real motivation for his students and their families is their genuine desire to help others during the holiday season.

We try to make it something that really means something to them. We have families that really buy in, kids that really buy in, and at the end  regardless of where we end up  theres a sense of accomplishment that were able to help some families in our community, he said.

Compassion and kindness are focal points for the entire Lincoln Heights family. Behnke said he believes that their constant foundational focus on nurturing those qualities makes the school really shine when giving opportunities like Gift of Love come along.

At our morning meeting every day, we say three things: we help others, we include everyone and we do it with a big smile. I think that because we have that as a foundation at our school, when we have the opportunity to do things like this, they take ownership, he said.

Pierce reinforced those lessons in her address to the kids, emphasizing how everyone chipping in helps the entire group accomplish great acts of kindness.

Did any one person bring all of those cans? Pierce asked the students. No, you all brought a little, and now you have a pile in there. Mr. Behnke said helping others is the number one thing youre supposed to be doing, and youve done that.

The final weight for all food collected by this years Gift of Love food drive will be announced next week, as will the winner of the holiday movie showing at the Midwest Theater, given to the school that collected the most.
The condition of the street on Longview Dr. in the Sugar Creek subdivision changes from Sugar Land to Stafford shown Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Stafford. Property tax in Stafford was eliminated in 1995. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Several historic buildings built in the 1930s are shown along North Main Street Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Stafford. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer A perimeter gate into parking lot at the Stafford Police Department, 2702 South Main St. is shown Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Stafford. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer The condition of the street on Longview Dr. in the Sugar Creek subdivision changes from Stafford, left, to Sugar Land, right, shown Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Stafford. Property tax in Stafford was eliminated in 1995. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Traffic moves past businesses along Murphy Rd. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Stafford. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer The condition of the street on Longview Dr. in the Sugar Creek subdivision changes from Sugar Land, left, to Stafford, right, shown Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Houston. Property tax in Stafford was eliminated in 1995.. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Police vehicles are shown through the perimeter fencing at the Stafford Police Department, 2702 South Main St. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Stafford. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Police vehicles are shown at the Stafford Police Department, 2702 South Main St. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Stafford. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Pulling money from the rainy day fund, accusations of defunding the police  Stafford has been abuzz with controversy in recent months amid growing concern about the state of the citys finances.

The citys financial outlook is so bleak that leaders in the community of around 17,000 are starting to question that which was previously sacrosanct  the citys lack of a property tax.

The council last month had a meeting to discuss the possibility of reimposing a property tax more than 30 years after eliminating it.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We cant maintain, in my opinion, the city services as they are, and continue to grow with just sales taxes, Councilwoman Virginia Rosas said.

More from Matt deGrood: Decline in Houston crime follows nationwide trend, expert says

Stafford is a city straddling the border of Harris and Fort Bend counties. Ever since longtime prior Mayor Leonard Scarcella eliminated the citys property tax in the 1990s, residents and businesses have flocked to town precisely because there isnt one. For years, city leaders boasted about it, with the citys website today proclaiming itself the city with no property taxes.

In the world of municipal finance, relying solely on sales tax revenue is somewhat unusual and subject to economic risks, said Clark Stockton Lord, an attorney who specializes in city bonds and finance. Because Texas is a state without an income tax, cities must rely on sales or property taxes to generate the majority of their operating budgets. Of the two, property taxes are comparatively stable, with home valuations mostly increasing at a steady clip, even during recent financial crises like the 2008 collapse and the coronavirus pandemic. But sales taxes tend to rise and fall with the financial markets and other economic conditions.

Several historic buildings built in the 1930s are shown along North Main Street Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Stafford. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Imposing property taxes would take a majority vote on a future city ballot, according to city officials. And, based on the citys history and the host of residents who spoke during the first meeting to consider such a measure, elected leaders might face an uphill battle.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Rosas said city leaders must consider all options because the council has begun pulling from the fund to keep a balanced budget each year.

After years of getting by with conservative economic policy, city officials had to borrow $2.5 million from the citys fund to keep the budget out of the red. Even if the city called for a vote on reinstituting a property tax at the soonest election  November 2024  the council would still need to pull another $2.5 million on the next budget or cut services, she said.

Further, an infrastructure audit performed several years ago determined the city had about $36 million in needed public works projects, according to a 2021 Fort Bend Star article. At the time, a financial audit asserted the citys financial position had declined about $5.3 million between 2019 and 2020.

While city officials were mulling what to do about the economic headwinds before passing the latest budget, representatives for the Stafford Police Officers Union came out and accused elected leaders of trying to defund the department.

Administrators with the Stafford Police Officers Association in August took to social media to argue the small department near Houston was being defunded, saying the citys proposed budget would eliminate nine patrol officer positions, a detective, three dispatchers and more.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Police vehicles are shown at the Stafford Police Department, 2702 South Main St. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Stafford. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

But just as soon as the feud became public, the officers said theyd reached an agreement with elected officials to provide extra funding for the police department.

While not all positions were funded, this is a significant step toward retaining personnel and supporting previously unfunded positions, officials with the association wrote in September.

Rosas said issues emerged because previous city councils had left old police positions unfilled whenever officers departed for other agencies. The positions the union raised concerns about were those left unfilled in years past, she said.

The council eventually reached an agreement to add around five or six positions back to the department, along with a small salary increase for existing officers, Rosas said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We werent defunding, she said. We were trying to keep a balanced budget.

Charles Blain, the president of the Urban Reform and the Urban Reform Institute, a right-of-center organization dedicated to creating free market solutions for urban issues, said hes watching the budget conversation surrounding Stafford with rapt attention.

Blain said hes long been concerned about the partisan conversations surrounding police staffing across the country, including recent conservative legislation in Texas, specifically because of cases like Staffords. By calling any instance where police budgets arent increased defunding, it limits smaller communities flexibility when it comes to managing their finances, Blain said.

Unfortunately, it seems like so much of this conversation is in the eye of the beholder, Blain said. Even if youre reducing positions through attrition, you will have interested parties calling that defunding the police.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The adopted city budget for 2023-24 has expenditures of around $28.3 million, with expected revenues of around $27 million before the transfer from fund balance, according to documents. Of that, around $7.8 million is tabbed for police salaries and benefits, an increase from $7.1 million in 2022-23, according to budget documents.

Blain said the situation in Stafford is illustrative of his long-standing concern about recent Texas legislation aimed at limiting a municipalitys ability to defund the police.

House Bill 1900, signed into law in 2021, for instance, deducts money from a citys sales tax and bans the city from increasing property taxes or utility fees if they cut police departments, according to an article. Blain said measures like that can constrict communities from making tough economic decisions, and even from increasing a police budget if theyre worried they must always keep funding at that level.

Mayor Ken Matthews did not respond to a request for comment about the matter. No one from the police officers union responded to multiple request for comment.

Despite the funding shortfall, residents who spoke before City Council last week were not thrilled about the possibility of a property tax.

Clint Mendonca told the Chronicle he hoped the city would consider all other possibilities before doing that.

Traffic along South Main near Ave E. is shown Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Stafford. Property tax in Stafford was eliminated in 1995. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Instituting a property tax rate should be a last action, he said. We should be looking into implementing as many alternatives as possible before we start taxing homeowners.

Even now that some are starting to question the fiscal logic behind no property taxes, longtime public officials and residents in town are still adamant that the concept helped form the city into what it is today.

It was a good concept that made a lot of news at the time, said Wen Guerra, a former longtime city councilman who now heads Staffords economic development corporation, of the citys no property tax rule. It started out well, but we should have improvised at some point  realized that we werent getting where we needed to. But any flaws that we saw were trumped by the fact that people didnt have to pay a property tax.

The Urban Reform president said he was hopeful, though, that Stafford might be a small enough community to engage some of these philosophic questions with more openness and honesty than similar conversations about city finances and public safety in large cities like Houston.
TCD officials highlighted the organizations accomplishments and efforts planned for the future during its annual meeting. Business and community leaders gathered Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Scotts Bluff Country Club.

TCD Executive Director Jordan Diedrich spoke at length about TCDs Career Connections program in which staff work with local school districts to introduce students to career opportunities at area businesses.

One of the early steps of the program was to conduct a survey on the career and living interests of the areas students from sixth to 12th grades, according to Diedrich. He said he was happy to report that while 65% of those students planned to attend college and 13% planned to join the workforce, many of the students hoped to return to their hometown.

Forty-nine percent picture living in a home in their hometown in the future, Diedrich said, which is really awesome to hear that almost half of those kids are willing to stay here or move back after they graduated college or have a family.

He said the Career Connections program should help to introduce these students to prospective career paths. In the future, officials hope to build an internship program to provide more opportunities for those students.

TCDs Community Development Specialist Anthony Gurrola spoke about the work he and TCD have been doing to attract and retain business in the Panhandle.

He said much of his work has encompassed the roughly 500 training programs that are available on TCDs website for entrepreneurs and prospective business owners. He said they were wide-ranging and covered topics like accounting and social media management.

The trainings are available in English and Spanish.

The outcome were looking for is a strong local business economy that keeps businesses here and is attractive for businesses, Gurrola said.

Diedrich outlined TCDs commitment to business development, talking about its E-kitchen and E-center for small businesses in the early stages of development.

The kitchen and office space are located on TCD properties and are designed to help young businesses develop without having to spend money on commercial space until they have grown enough to move out.

Our E-kitchen is a certified commercial kitchen that we allow entrepreneurs to use, Diedrich said. They can rent it by the hour, by the month, by the year, and those kinds of things, so we allow food entrepreneurs basically a space to be able to cater.

Another area of focus that he outlined was the organizations commitment to help with the development of childcare services in the area. According to TCD research, there are 261 children in the area without high-quality childcare.

Diedrich said the lack of care prevents parents from entering the workforce and can slow economic development. Newly minted TCD President Katy Reichert also spoke on the importance of these services.

I also work with families and children on a daily basis and see the need for quality childcare, she said.

Near the end of the presentation, Diedrich turned his attention to one of the largest issues impacting Scotts Bluff County and the Panhandle at large: housing.

Housing is our biggest barrier to economic development, Diedrich said.

TCD conducted a housing study in 2022 that found that Scotts Bluff County alone needed to develop 500 units of housing within the next five years. While Diedrich conceded that the area does not have the ability or the workforce to create that kind of growth, strides are being made.

He said that through TCDs Workforce Housing Development Fund in the past year and a half, TCD has contributed to the rehabilitation of 12 units and the construction of 11 new ones.

These included the townhome development on Circle Drive near Scottsbluff City Hall.

The Workforce Housing Development Fund is a revolving fund used to match construction costs for contractors and developers to encourage new growth. Diedrich said the fund has $3.3 million available and has contributed $2 million in the past 18 months.

Attendees also heard from Jake Aulick about his joint project with TCD for a container home development in Gering. While Aulick said they are far from completion, he outlined the intention of the program.

Everyone thinks that were going to try and do some kind of cheap low-income housing, thats not what this is at all, Aulick said. It was to try and be appealing to the school kids.

He explained that the development was meant to attract young people from the area back to Gering, providing an alternative to the commitment of home ownership.

The 70 units of the development would be housed in a gated community in Gering, and units would range from one to three containers.

Aulick also mentioned that he had pushed for an employment requirement for the development, but that had not been approved yet.

Reichert helped to close out the meeting and expressed her appreciation for TCDs board, staff and members.

She said, What I enjoy most about being a member of the board is the way the board is dedicated to turn TCDs vision into reality.
A Florida man hauling inmates in a van on Interstate 40 faces six charges after he was arrested near Statesville.

Authorities say Joshua James Pinquet, 21, of Orlando refused to drop off an inmate at a detention center in Hickory, according to a press release issued by the Iredell County Sheriffs Office.

Pinquet is charged with five counts of felony second degree kidnapping as well as felony larceny by an employee. He was issued no bond.

On Tuesday, the sheriffs office was called by the owner of an inmate transport company. The owner reported the driver of a transport van was off course and refusing to return. Also in the van was a coworker and four inmates, the release stated.

Pinquet told the owner that he was quitting his job in the middle of the trip and refused to stop at the intended destination with the prisoners, the release said.

Deputies stopped the van on Interstate 40 near mile marker 154. During the investigation, detectives learned the transport company had been hired by law enforcement agencies outside North Carolina to deliver inmates to detention centers around the country, the release said.

The detectives said Pinquet was supposed to stop at a location in Hickory with the inmates but refused to stop and continued traveling Interstate 40 into Iredell County, the release said.

The inmates were turned over to additional employees of the original transport company and continued to their destinations in Florida, the release said.
Childrens Hope Alliance and Heartstrings Therapeutic Music & Art Program in conjunction with their collaborative partner, Iredell Arts Council, announce the December Music Speaks event featuring Carolina Detour. The event will be held Dec. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Heartstrings Gracie Building, 153 Frazier Loop, Statesville. It is free and open to the community to attend.

Music Speaks is an inspirational musician speaker series that will take place monthly throughout 2023 on the Barium Springs campus. A variety of guest speakers will share personal stories of overcoming adversity on their musical journey and will also perform some of their music for the local community.

Introducing Carolina Detour, an exceptionally talented group of young musicians who are redefining the world of music. With a passion for creating captivating melodies and weaving heartfelt lyrics, this youthful band transcends genres, effortlessly blending elements of folk, country, and rock. Hailing from North Carolina, their music reflects the diverse landscapes and experiences that have shaped their artistic journey. From soulful ballads to foot-stomping anthems, Carolina Detours unique sound has garnered widespread acclaim, capturing the hearts of audiences of all ages. With each performance, they prove that age is no barrier to creating soul-stirring music that resonates with listeners worldwide. Keep an eye on Carolina Detour as they continue to chart their own path in the ever-evolving world of music.

Educators are encouraged to have their students attend. All musicians and music lovers are also encouraged to participate.

Refreshments for the monthly events for 2023 provided by The Exchange Club of Mooresville/Lake Norman.
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.
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
A Baytown woman on Thursday was sentenced to two years in federal prison after being convicted of embezzling more than $3 million from Liqua Tech, a roofing and weatherproofing company in Houston's East End. Courtesy/Google

A judge sentenced a Baytown woman who embezzled more than $3 million from the roofing company that employed her to two years in federal prison.

Judy Green, 55, pleaded guilty in April to wire fraud in connection to the yearlong scheme. Green used her position in the accounting department of Liqua Tech, a roofing and weatherproofing company headquartered in Houston's East End, to make fraudulent entries in the company's records to send money to herself and her children, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Federal judge denies initial Texas request in razor wire lawsuit

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Also on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett ordered Green to serve three years probation and pay back $3.4 million, according to court records. She was required to pay back $10,000 immediately.

According to a news release, Green's theft caused Liqua Tech to lay off employees and put off giving out bonuses.

Liqua Tech opened in 1983 and produced annual revenues of more than $10 million, according to charging documents. Green was hired in 1994 and was often the only manager of Liqua Tech's accounts payable, according to charging documents.

Green's theft was discovered by the business' owner, who noticed a large payment to an unknown credit card company in the summer of 2022, according to prosecutors. Green was fired in July 2022.

An audit revealed the thefts had been happening since 2012, according to prosecutors.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The thefts were reported to the FBI. Green was charged in February. After initially pleading not guilty in March, she entered a guilty plea in April.
Are you not a robot?

Click on the button to continue:

I am not a bot. Continue...
Longview City Council OKd a plan this week for smaller dwellings in denser clusters as a way to encourage more local housing construction.

The plan would allow cottage housing  groups of small stand-alone homes with four to 12 homes in each cluster  in all of the citys residential zones.

The proposal must come back to the City Council as an ordinance before the change  recommended by the Planning Commission in November  goes into effect.

The maximum size of a Longview cottage house would be 1,200 square feet. Each cottage home would have private yard space and the group of houses would have a shared community space, with either a common park or a community building.

The cottage homes can be built more densely than neighborhood zoning generally allows at the trade-off of smaller homes.

In a May workshop, the City Council asked staff and the Planning Commission to work on changes that would add more housing, and affordable housing in particular, to Longview. City planner McAllister Kosar said in the planning meetings and emails over the last few months that city residents were more enthusiastic about cottage housing than single, multifamily buildings like fourplexes.

Cottage housing would be a good buffer because those are single-family homes for the most part, Kosar said.

Cottage housing has been permitted in unincorporated Cowlitz County since 2018. Longviews code description is almost identical to the current county code, except the city would require larger front porches.

The proposed code allows for two ways for cottage housing to be built. Each home could be on its own subdivided piece of the original lot, which would make it easier for potential homeowners to buy one of the small homes. Developers could also keep the plot of land as one piece, rent out the homes and manage the upkeep of the property.

Kosar said the minimum number of homes would keep the developments out of the citys smallest lots. In the Highlands, for example, it would take two or three single-home lots to provide enough space for a cluster of cottage homes.

Its less likely to impact the entirety of every single neighborhood across the city. We didnt want it to be something thats immediately drastic, Kosar said during the Tuesday council meeting. We want something that would move at a pace thats respective to the citizens.

A few Highlands residents who attended the council meeting disliked the idea of making housing even denser in their neighborhood. Commenters also raised concerns about how more homes would impact parking. Cottage housing complexes have to include at least one parking space per home that isnt on the street, which some argued was still not enough depending on the neighborhood.

Jennifer Westerman, director of Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington, said the agency was looking into building a housing project that would allow for residents to eventually own cottage homes. That project would be away from the center of Longview, which Highlands resident Shannon Gilman said would be a better approach than building in her neighborhood.

Its not that its an eyesore, it just causes a lot of problems. I just think it would be better if it was done in that direction, Gilman said.
A Lewis County judge sentenced Kelly David Hribar, 46, of Pe Ell, to roughly 34 years in jail on Wednesday for first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm convictions stemming from the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Leonard Kowalsky near Pe Ell in August.

Im sorry about all this even happening to begin with, Hribar said during his sentencing hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Hribar was convicted by a 12-person jury after a 10-day trial that concluded Oct. 25.

Hribar had ongoing beef with Kowalsky at the time of the murder, with witnesses reporting Hribar believed Kowalsky and another subject burned down Hribars trailer. Hribar also believed that Kowalsky tampered with the radiator on his vehicle the day of the murder.

Hribar and Kowalsky both visited the same gas station shortly before the shooting on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Witnesses also at the station reportedly heard Hribar say he planned to confront Kowalsky, and surveillance footage shows Hribar drive away from the gas station  shortly after Kowalsky arrived  toward Kowalskys residence instead of toward his own home. Physical evidence from the scene and witness testimony show Kowalsky backed his pickup into the brush in an unofficial parking area on state Route 6 near the intersection with Katula Street, where Hribar lived. Kowalsky reportedly drove past Hribars car west on state Route 6, made a U-turn and had started driving east back toward Pe Ell when Hribar fired his shotgun three times, striking Kowalsky at least once, with the fatal shot striking his left buttock and becoming lodged in his torso.

Hribar fled the scene after the shooting. Kowalsky remained conscious long enough to tell first responders Kelly shot me and fell unconscious while en route to Pe Ell School. He was airlifted from the school to Tacoma General Hospital, where he died.

Several of Kowalksys friends and family members spoke Wednesday of the impact Kowalskys death has had on their lives.

I want him (Hribar) to know how much he hurt so many people, one of Kowalskys childhood friends, Jordan, said during the sentencing hearing. Im going to miss Leonard. A lot of people are going to miss Leonard.

Of Hribars claim Kowalsky and members of his family were involved in burning down Hribars trailer, one of Kowalskys siblings said Wednesday, We had nothing to do with his house getting burned down.

One of Kowalskys siblings told the court she has been unable to sleep since Kowalskys murder in August and has lived in constant fear of being attacked like her brother was.

Hribar said Wednesday he had found out what really happened with the trailer fire the day of the murder, and said, Things escalated. Ill leave it at that  Ill leave it in Gods hands and the courts hands.

Due to his criminal history, the severity of the charges he was convicted on in this case and a 60-month firearm enhancement attached to the charge, the standard sentencing range for the first-degree murder charge was set at 321 months to 407 months, or 26 years and 9 months to 33 years and 11 months, in jail. The standard sentencing range for the unlawful possession of a firearm charge was four to 12 months.

While defense attorney Don Blair asked Judge Joely Yeager to set Hribars sentence at the low end of the standard sentencing range, Yeager granted the states request for the maximum sentence allotted by the standard sentencing range for both charges: 407 months for the murder charge and 12 months for the unlawful possession of a firearm charge. The two sentences will be served concurrently.

I believe there are extenuating circumstances that would warrant the high end of that range, Yeager said of her ruling on Wednesday, referring back to the jurys finding that Hribar premeditated Kowalskys murder.

Additionally, Yeager said Hribar demonstrated a complete lack of remorse for the victim after he committed this act, referencing the fact that Hribar drove past Kowalsky, making no attempt to help him, while Kowalsky was injured and calling for help after the shooting.

Yeager additionally addressed the impact Kowalskys murder has had on the community of Pe Ell and the witnesses, which included juveniles, who saw the aftermath of the shooting.

Itll probably impact them for the rest of their lives, she said.

When asked by Blair to formally address Hribars belief that she is related to the victim or one of the witnesses in the case, Yeager confirmed Wednesday she has no relations that would conflict with the case and has no family relations in Lewis County.

Hribars sentence includes an order for a substance abuse evaluation and treatment. He is additionally required to register as a felony firearm offender. No-contact orders prohibiting Hribar from ever contacting three named members of Kowalskys family are in place.

A restitution amount will be decided at a later hearing, which had not been scheduled as of Wednesday afternoon.

There was a brief argument between Blair and state Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson at the end of Wednesdays sentencing hearing over what convictions should be included on Hribars formal judgment and sentence document, with Blair objecting to certain prior convictions being included in Hribars criminal history.

However, both parties agreed it was an argument about nothing, as they both agreed on the criminal offender score that impacts the standard sentencing range.

The court ultimately allowed for convictions that dont count toward Hribars offender score to be removed from the document.

Hribar has filed an appeal in an attempt to overturn his conviction, according to Yeager. The matter will be handled by the state Court of Appeals.
Nearly four years to the day since Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and then-Oregon Gov. Kate Brown restarted the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement effort, Inslee revisited the bridge on Thursday to reaffirm his commitment to the project.

I was frustrated 10 years ago when one of our great parties killed the bridge project; it wasnt my party, Inslee said while he stood in the gravel lot of the proposed bridge. And I have been doing everything humanly possible I can to make sure we get this done.

Inslee was in his first year as governor in 2013 when the Columbia River Crossing effectively died because the Legislature didnt approve the states $450 million share of the projects estimated $3.4 billion cost. Now Inslee is in his final term, and the two states are arguably in the strongest position ever to replace the 106- and 65-year-old bridge spans.

Washington committed $1 billion in 2022. Oregon matched in 2023. Both states have authorized tolling thats expected to contribute $1.1 billion to $1.6 billion. Three federal grants are expected to contribute $2.5 billion.

There are no guarantees in life or democracy, Inslee said. But you can be guaranteed that the state of Washington is making this a highest priority to get this done for the people of this community and the whole state. I can guarantee you that.

In the decade since the Columbia River Crossing, the estimated price tag has nearly doubled to $6 billion, but could range between $5 billion and $7.5 billion.

Inslee said he lobbied White House senior adviser Mitch Landrieu and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about the replacement project when they visited the Evergreen State earlier this year. Inslee also said he plans to reiterate the commitment from both states in replacing the bridge when he and Buttigieg talk Friday.

Still, uncertainties about the replacement remain: whether the bridge will be stacked, side-by-side or a lift span; if it can win big-ticket federal grants (program officials did not win a $750 million grant last year), and if an agreement can be reached with river users impacted by the proposed 116 feet of vertical clearance on the replacement bridge.

We were hoping you would have the big check today, Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle told Inslee, referring to the $1.8 billion in two federal grants replacement program officials recently applied for. Maybe for the holidays.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A paper authored by researchers in the College of IST, including doctoral students Mukund Srinath and Pranav Narayanan Venkit, received the Best Short Paper Award from the 2023 Workshop on Trustworthy Natural Language Processing. The research was led by Shomir Wilson, assistant professor of IST. Credit: Jena Soult / Penn State

A growing number of organizations are using sentiment analysis tools from third-party artificial intelligence (AI) services to categorize large amounts of text into negative, neutral or positive sentences for social applications ranging from health care to policymaking. These tools, however, are driven by learned associations that often contain biases against persons with disabilities, according to researchers from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST).

In the paper "Automated Ableism: An Exploration of Explicit Disability Biases in Artificial Intelligence as a Service (AIaaS) Sentiment and Toxicity Analysis Models," researchers detailed an analysis of biases against people with disabilities contained in the natural language processing (NLP) algorithms and models they tested.

The work, led by Shomir Wilson, assistant professor in IST and director of the Human Language Technologies Lab, received the Best Short Paper Award from the 2023 Workshop on Trustworthy Natural Language Processing at the 61st Annual Meeting of the Association for Computation Linguistics, held July 914 in Toronto, Canada.

"We wanted to examine whether the nature of a discussion or an NLP model's learned associations contributed to disability bias," said Pranav Narayanan Venkit, a doctoral student in the College of IST and first author on the paper. "This is important because real-world organizations that outsource their AI needs may unknowingly deploy biased models."

The researchers defined disability bias as treating a person with a disability less favorably than someone without a disability in similar circumstances and explicit bias as the intentional association of stereotypes toward a specific population.

A growing number of organizations are using AIaaS, or Artificial Intelligence as a Service, for easy-to-use NLP tools that involve little investment or risk for the organization, according to the researchers. Among these tools are sentiment and toxicity analyses that enable an organization to categorize and score large volumes of textual data into negative, neutral or positive sentences.

Sentiment analysis is the NLP technique for extracting subjective informationthoughts, attitudes, emotions and sentimentsfrom social media posts, product reviews, political analyses or market research surveys. Toxicity detection models look for inflammatory or contentsuch as hate speech or offensive languagethat can undermine a civil exchange or conversation.

The researchers conducted a two-stage study of disability bias in NLP tools. They first studied social media conversations related to people with disabilities, specifically on Twitter and Reddit, to gain insight into how bias is disseminated in real-world social settings.

They crawled blog posts and comments from a one-year period that specifically addressed perspectives on people with disabilities or contained the terms or hashtags "disability" or "disabled." The results were filtered and categorized and then statistically analyzed with popular sentiment and toxicity analysis models to quantify any disability bias and harm present in the conversations.

"Statements referring to people with disabilities versus other control categories received significantly more negative and toxic scores than statements from other control categories," said contributing author Mukund Srinath, a doctoral student in the College of IST.

"We wanted to test whether these biases arise from discussions surrounding conversations regarding people with disabilities or from associations made within trained sentiment and toxicity analysis models and found that the main source of bias disseminated from the models rather than the actual context of the conversation."

The researchers then created the Bias Identification Test in Sentiment (BITS) corpus to help anyone identify explicit disability bias in in any AIaaS sentiment analysis and toxicity detection models, according to Venkit. They used the corpus to show how popular sentiment and toxicity analysis tools contain explicit disability bias.

"All of the public models we studied exhibited significant bias against disability," Venkit said. "There was a problematic tendency to classify sentences as negative and toxic based solely on the presence of disability-related terms, such as 'blind,' without regard for contextual meaning, showcasing explicit bias against terms associated with disability."

According to the researchers, identifying explicit bias in large-scale models may help us to understand the social harm caused by training models from a skewed dominant viewpointfor developers as well as users.

"Nearly everyone, at some point in their life, experiences a disability that could lead to their being socially marginalized," Venkit said. "This work represents an important step toward identifying and addressing disability bias in sentiment and toxicity analysis models and raising awareness of the presence of bias in AIaaS."

More information: Automated Ableism: An Exploration of Explicit Disability Biases in Artificial Intelligence as a Service (AIaaS) Sentiment and Toxicity Analysis Models. trustnlpworkshop.github.io/papers/5.pdf
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:

Sabbioneta Point Cloud. Credit: Politecnico di Milano

Offering citizens information that promotes physical accessibility with the help of technology and navigation devices would make cities smarter and more inclusive. A young researcher at Politecnico di Milano has used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify the differences between streets and pavements made of cobblestones, sanpietrini and bricks, with widely varying heights and widths, which characterize and make historical cities typical but also are an element of difficulty for the elderly and people with motor disabilities.

The research, published in the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, used a mobile mapping system, specifically, in this case, a car equipped with instrument provided by Leica Geosystems Italia, for surveying and mapping the small town of Sabbioneta, which has been, together with Mantua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 and is an emblematic example of a Renaissance village enclosed within historic walls.

"Starting from the collected data or point clouds, i.e., millions and millions of points distributed in the surveyed space that allow us to obtain measures and three-dimensional representations of what surrounds us, e.g. houses, streets, squares, pavements and various objects, it is possible to identify, with the help of Machine Learning, the most accessible trajectories and paths in a historical urban context," Daniele Treccani, researcher at the UNESCO Research Lab in Mantua at Politecnico di Milano, explained.

"Machine Learning (ML)," Andrea Adami, Professor of Topography and Cartography at Politecnico di Milano, explained, "allows a complex neural network attempting to simulate the functioning of the human brain to 'learn' from a large amount of data previously structured by an operator. After the learning phase, it is possible, through a combination of inputs, to recognize and classify objects within the data, automatically and with no human intervention."

"In this case," Treccani continues, "the elements identified to assess physical accessibility were pavements, which are users' preferred routes, and roads. The calculated attributes included width, height, slope, and paving material. The ML method showed good reliability of results (89%), which were verified in situ."

"Thematic urban maps were then produced in QGIS, accessible routes were calculated and an update of OpenStreetMap was data proposed. The work on Sabbioneta made it possible to test and demonstrate the importance of AI methods for managing accessibility in historic city centers."

The automatic extraction of geometric and space georeferenced information can be extended to other urban elements and be used for tourism accessibility and navigation applications, as well as for creating map bases for Plans for the Elimination of Architectural Barriers (PEBA) or Urban Accessibility Plans. In general, the data collected and processed can be useful for the construction of City Models and digital models of historic city centers.

Daniele Treccani is currently working on extending his research to data from other urban survey systems, such as UAS (drone) photogrammetry, laser scanner survey systems from aircraft or with portable systems (backpacks or handheld), and continues his collaboration with the University of Vigo (Spain), with which he carried out part of the research.

Starting from this research, the theme of accessibility has also fostered collaboration with the Diocese of Mantua and the Italian Bishops' Conference and in the development of a Research Project of National Interest ("PRIN") with the University of Brescia and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

More information: D. Treccani et al, Automating the inventory of the navigable space for pedestrians on historical sites: Towards accurate path planning, International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jag.2023.103400
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: Alex Shipps and Kelsey Merrill via Midjourney/Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Open source softwaresoftware that is freely distributed, along with its source code, so that copies, additions, or modifications can be readily made is "everywhere," to quote the 2023 Open Source Security and Risk Analysis Report. Of the computer programs used by major industries, 96% include open source software, and 76% of those programs consists of open source software. But the percentage of software packages "containing security vulnerabilities remains troublingly high," the report warned.

One concern is that "the software you've gotten from what you believe to be a reliable developer has somehow been compromised," says Kelsey Merrill, a software engineer who received a master's degree earlier this year from MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. "Suppose that somewhere in the supply chain, the software has been changed by an attacker who has malicious intent."

The risk of a security breach of this sort is by no means abstract. In 2020, to take a notorious example, the Texas company SolarWinds made a software update to its widely used program called Orion. Hackers broke into the system, inserting pernicious code into the software before SolarWinds shipped the latest version of Orion to more than 18,000 customers, including Microsoft, Intel, and roughly 100 other companies, as well as a dozen U.S. government agenciesincluding the Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security.

In this case, the product that was corrupted came from a large commercial company, but lapses may be even more likely to occur in the open source realm, Merrill says, "where people of varying backgroundsmany of whom are hobbyists without any security trainingcan publish software that gets used around the world."

She and three collaboratorsher former advisor Karen Sollins, a Principal Scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory; Santiago Torres-Arias, an assistant professor of computer science at Purdue University; and Zachary Newman, a former MIT graduate student and current research scientist at Chainguard Labshave developed a new system called Speranza, which is aimed at reassuring software consumers that the product they are getting has not been tampered with and is coming directly from a source they trust. The paper is published on the arXiv preprint server.

"What we have done," explains Sollins, "is to develop, prove correct, and demonstrate the viability of an approach that allows the [software] maintainers to remain anonymous." Preserving anonymity is obviously important, given that almost everyonesoftware developers includedvalue their confidentiality. This new approach, Sollins adds, "simultaneously allows [software] users to have confidence that the maintainers are, in fact, legitimate maintainers and, furthermore, that the code being downloaded is, in fact, the correct code of that maintainer."

So how can users confirm the genuineness of a software package in order to guarantee, as Merrill puts it, "that the maintainers are who they say they are?" The classical way of doing this, which was invented more than 40 years ago, is by means of a digital signature, which is analogous to a handwritten signaturealbeit with far greater built-in security through the use of various cryptographic techniques.

To carry out a digital signature, two "keys" are generated at the same timeeach of which is a number, composed of zeros and ones, that is 256 digits long. One key is designated "private," the other "public," but they constitute a pair that is mathematically linked.

A software developer can use their private key, along with the contents of the document or computer program, to generate a digital signature that is attached exclusively to that document or program. A software user can then use the public keyas well as the developer's signature, plus the contents of the package they downloadedto verify the package's authenticity.

Validation comes in the form of a yes or a no, a 1 or a zero. "Getting a 1 means that the authenticity has been assured," Merrill explains. "The document is the same as when it was signed and is hence unchanged. A 0 means something is amiss, and you may not want to rely on that document."

Although this decades-old approach is tried-and-true in a sense, it is far from perfect. One problem, Merrill notes, "is that people are bad at managing cryptographic keys, which consist of very long numbers, in a way that is secure and prevents them from getting lost." People lose their passwords all the time, Merrill says. "And if a software developer were to lose the private key and then contact a user saying, 'Hey, I have a new key,' how would you know who that really is?"

To address those concerns, Speranza is building off of "Sigstore"a system introduced last year to enhance the security of the software supply chain. Sigstore was developed by Newman (who instigated the Speranza project) and Torres-Arias, along with John Speed Meyers of Chainguard Labs. Sigstore automates and streamlines the digital signing process. Users no longer have to manage long cryptographic keys but are instead issued ephemeral keys (an approach called "keyless signing") that expire quicklyperhaps within a matter of minutesand therefore don't have to be stored.

A drawback with Sigstore stems from the fact that it dispensed with long-lasting public keys, so that software maintainers instead have to identify themselvesthrough a protocol called OpenID Connect (OIDC)in a way that can be linked to their email addresses. That feature, alone, may inhibit the widespread adoption of Sigstore, and it served as the motivating factor behindand the raison d'etre forSperanza. "We take Sigstore's basic infrastructure and change it to provide privacy guarantees," Merrill explains.

With Speranza, privacy is achieved through an original idea that she and her collaborators call "identity co-commitments." Here, in simple terms, is how the idea works: A software developer's identity, in the form of an email address, is converted into a so-called "commitment" that consists of a big pseudorandom number. (A pseudorandom number does not meet the technical definition of "random" but, practically speaking, is about as good as random.) Meanwhile, another big pseudorandom numberthe accompanying commitment (or co-commitment)is generated that is associated with a software package that this developer either created or was granted permission to modify.

In order to demonstrate to a prospective user of a particular software package as to who created this version of the package and signed it, the authorized developer would publish a proof that establishes an unequivocal link between the commitment that represents their identity and the commitment attached to the software product. The proof that is carried out is of a special type, called a zero-knowledge proof, which is a way of showing, for instance, that two things have a common bound, without divulging details as to what those thingssuch as the developer's email addressactually are.

"Speranza ensures that software comes from the correct source without requiring developers to reveal personal information like their email addresses," comments Marina Moore, a Ph.D. candidate at the New York University Center for Cyber Security. "It allows verifiers to see that the same developer signed a package several times without revealing who the developer is or even other packages that they work on. This provides a usability improvement over long-term signing keys, and a privacy benefit over other OIDC-based solutions like Sigstore."

Marcela Mellara, a research scientist in the Security and Privacy Research group at Intel Labs, agrees. "This approach has the advantage of allowing software consumers to automatically verify that the package they obtain from a Speranza-enabled repository originated from an expected maintainer, and gain trust that the software they are using is authentic."

More information: Kelsey Merrill et al, Speranza: Usable, privacy-friendly software signing, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2305.06463 Journal information: arXiv
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A visual replication of network structures. Assortative (A) and Core-Periphery (B) depict two of the common relationship structures found in networks, while Source-Basin (C) portrays the newly found flow of information from less-connected influencers to highly connected users. Credit: Liu et al.

Researchers at the University of Sydney have discovered new structural relationships in complex networks, such as X (formerly Twitter) and political blogs, that could help explain the digital flow of information.

Their research published in the journal PNAS Nexus introduces a new method capable of identifying and classifying relationships in networks. They found unexplored types of relationships in almost all of the 53 networks they analyzed.

The study represents a significant advance in understanding complex networks and their scaffolding, while the methodology has the potential to change the way networks are analyzed and interpreted.

The research was led by Ph.D. student Cathy Liu and co-authored by Professor Eduardo Goldani Altmann, both from the School of Mathematics and Statistics, and Associate Professor Tristram Alexander from the School of Physics. All three are members of the Center for Complex Systems.

One new relationship that the researchers call a "source-basin" structure plays an important role in two online networks the team closely examineda new network of Twitter users and a well-studied network of political blogs.

"This structure organizes the flow of information in online social networks, which happens from a community of sparsely connected influential nodesthe sourceto a community of densely inter-connected active nodesthe basin," Professor Altmann said.

"An example of source-basin organization would be 'influencers,' such as news agencies, acting as the source with regular users performing the role of the basin.

"The influencers compete with each other and therefore don't engage one another, while regular users are engaged by the influencers and also connected to each other, such as through retweeting."

Associate Professor Alexander said it is helpful to think of a network like a city with different neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character and social dynamics. The researchers' method allowed them to identify and classify all possible relationships between these neighborhoods, from close-knit communities to more diffuse and diverse networks.

A social media platform like Twitter or a network of blogs are considered complex networks because they involve many interconnected nodes (such as users or accounts) and relationships (like connections, interactions or links) between these nodes.

"Networks are a powerful mathematical representation of various datasets and systems. An important computational tool to study and extract information from large complex networks is to partition it into groups of nodes with similar connectivity," lead author Liu said.

"The surprising finding for the blog network suggests that the source blogs, being heavily referenced, are not tightly connected with each other while receiver blogs are less referenced but highly active in referencing others and strongly connected with each other.

"Our research presents a new way of studying network organization and, at this stage, we can only speculate on the why and what their effects are on social media, but our plan for the future is to go deeper into this question."

More information: Cathy Xuanchi Liu et al, Nonassortative relationships between groups of nodes are typical in complex networks, PNAS Nexus (2023). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad364 Journal information: PNAS Nexus
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:

Extracting pre-training data from ChatGPT. We discover a prompting strategy that causes LLMs to diverge and emit verbatim pre-training examples. Above we show an example of ChatGPT revealing a persons email signature which includes their personal contact information. Credit: arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2311.17035

While OpenAI's first words on its company website refer to a "safe and beneficial AI," it turns out your personal data is not as safe as you believed. Google researchers announced this week that they could trick ChatGPT into disclosing private user data with a few simple commands.

The astounding adoption of ChatGPT over the past yearmore than 100 million users signed on to the program within two months of its releaserests on its collection of more than 300 billion chunks of data scraped from such online sources as articles, posts, websites, journals, and books.

Although OpenAI has taken steps to protect privacy, everyday chats and postings leave a massive pool of data, much of it personal, that is not intended for widespread distribution.

In their study, Google researchers found they could utilize keywords to trick ChatGPT into tapping into and releasing training data not intended for disclosure.

"Using only $200 worth of queries to ChatGPT (gpt-3.5- turbo), we are able to extract over 10,000 unique verbatim memorized training examples," the researchers said in a paper uploaded to the preprint server arXiv on Nov. 28.

"Our extrapolation to larger budgets suggests that dedicated adversaries could extract far more data."

They could obtain names, phone numbers, and addresses of individuals and companies by feeding ChatGPT absurd commands that force a malfunction.

For example, the researchers would request that ChatGPT repeat the word "poem" ad infinitum. This forced the model to reach beyond its training procedures and "fall back on its original language modeling objective" and tap into restricted details in its training data, the researchers said.

Similarly, by requesting infinite repetition of the word "company," they retrieved the email address and phone number of an American law firm.

Fearing unauthorized data disclosures, some companies earlier this year placed restrictions on employee usage of large language models.

Apple has blocked its employees from using AI tools, including ChatGPT and GitHub's AI assistant Copilot.

Confidential data on Samsung servers was exposed earlier this year. In this instance, it wasn't due to a leak but rather missteps by employees who entered such information as the source code of internal operations and a transcript of a private company meeting. The leak ironically occurred just days after Samsung lifted an initial ban on ChatGPT over fears of just such exposure.

In response to rising concerns about data breaches, OpenAI added a feature that turns off chat history, adding a layer of protection to sensitive data. But such data is still retained for 30 days before they are permanently deleted.

In a blog post on their findings, Google researchers said, "OpenAI has said that a hundred million people use ChatGPT weekly. And so, probably over a billion people-hours have interacted with the model. And, as far as we can tell, no one has ever noticed that ChatGPT emits training data with such high frequency until this paper."

They termed their findings "worrying" and said their report should serve as "a cautionary tale for those training future models."

Users "should not train and deploy LLMs for any privacy-sensitive applications without extreme safeguards," they warned.

More information: Milad Nasr et al, Scalable Extraction of Training Data from (Production) Language Models, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2311.17035 Journal information: arXiv

 2023 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A Russian man has pleaded guilty to involvement in developing the Trickbot malware used to extort businesses.

A Russian man pleaded guilty on Thursday to involvement in developing the Trickbot malware used to extort businesses, including hospitals during the COVID pandemic, the US Justice Department said.

Vladimir Dunaev, 40, was extradited from South Korea to the United States in 2021 to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

Dunaev pleaded guilty to both charges in an Ohio court on Thursday, the Justice Department said. He will be sentenced on March 20 and faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison on both counts.

Dunaev was among nine Russians, some of whom are alleged to have links to Russian intelligence services, who were indicted in the United States for involvement in Trickbot, which was taken down in 2022.

According to the Justice Department, Dunaev provided "specialized services and technical abilities in furtherance of the Trickbot scheme."

"Dunaev and his codefendants hid behind their keyboards, first to create Trickbot, then using it to infect millions of computers worldwide - including those used by hospitals, schools, and businesses - invading privacy and causing untold disruption and financial damage," US Attorney Rebecca Lutzko said in a statement.

According to the indictments, the Trickbot group deployed malware and an associated ransomware program called Conti to attack hundreds of targets across nearly all of the United States and in more than 30 other countries since 2016.

The malware was also used to steal bank account logins and passwords from victims' computers in order to drain money from the accounts.

According to Britain's National Crime Agency, the operation reaped at least $180 million worldwide.

The group particularly targeted hospitals and health care services during the 2020-2021 coronavirus pandemic, authorities said.

They would invade a computer system and encrypt all the data, demanding hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, paid in cryptocurrency, to free up the systems.

In one attack, the group used ransomware against three Minnesota medical facilities, disrupting their computer networks and telephones and causing a diversion of ambulances, US officials said.

In July 2020, an attack hit a local government in a Tennessee town, locking down local emergency medical services and the police department.

A May 2021 virtual incursion against a California hospital network, Scripps Health, locked up the computers of some 24 acute-care and outpatient facilities.

Another Trickbot member, Alla Witte, a Latvian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud in Ohio in June after being extradited from Suriname, where she helped write code for Trickbot and laundered proceeds from the ransomware.

Witte was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

 2023 AFP
A dual language program teacher is teaching fourth grade science on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Dual language program materials are photographed in a first grade classroom on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A dual language program pre-k teacher helps a student with his classwork on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A first grade dual language program student works on math classwork on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Dual language books are photographed in a first grade classroom on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Dual language program books are in a fourth grade classroom on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A dual language program teacher is teaching fourth grade science on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

While Houston ISD experiences continuing declines in student enrollment, one group appears to be on the rise: emergent bilingual students.

The population, which includes students whose native language is not English, now makes up nearly 40% of HISD's 183,884 students, and has been a subject of concern since state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles announced in June that he would overhaul a significant portion of Houston ISD schools during his first year over the district. The plans immediately set off alarm bells among parents and teachers who wondered how the new administration would serve students not fluent in English.

Rather than eliminate Spanish-language instruction, Miles responded, dozens of schools in the so-called "New Education System" would replace their "transitional bilingual" programs with the more effective "dual-language" model.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Questions, however, persisted. Most pressingly, where exactly would Spanish-language instruction fit at the 85 schools in or aligned with the rigidly structured New Education System where teachers must use timed lesson plans and administer daily quizzes to separate students based on ability?

REPORT CARD NEWSLETTER: Sign up for a weekly recap of everything happening in and outside of Houston ISDs classrooms.

Three months into the school year, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge about how dual-language instruction is being implemented at Houston ISD. School visits, along with interviews with HISD leaders, parents and teachers, indicate that students in dual-language programs are receiving instruction both in English and Spanish, though not without hiccups and not, perhaps, to the satisfaction of all.

At Gregg Elementary School, an NES-aligned school in southeast Houston, students returned from Thanksgiving break Monday a bit quiet and bleary-eyed, but seemingly ready to learn. Students' decorated handprint turkeys remained pasted onto school windows, and artificial Christmas trees in the lobby served as a reminder of the holiday season still to come.

Like the majority of the 80 dual-language campuses at HISD, Gregg offers a "one-way" model which only serves native Spanish speakers, rather than a "two-way" model that places roughly the same number of native English and Spanish speakers in the same classroom. About half of students at Gregg are "emergent bilingual" students, meaning that English is not their first language.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Though student enrollment across HISD fell by about 6,000 students to 183,884 this year, the number of emergent bilingual students appears to have increased by about 1,300 students to 71,533 this year, according to preliminary district data.

HISD has roughly doubled the number of dual-language programs since last year by installing them at NES and NES-aligned schools in place of transitional bilingual programs, in which students are taught in their native language with English-language instruction phased in over time. District data shows that emergent bilingual students in HISD's dual-language programs learn English more quickly and perform better on end-of-year assessments than their counterparts in other multilingual models.

Dual language program materials are on the wall of a fourth grade classroom on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

For NES and NES-A schools that previously offered transitional bilingual programs, the dual-language model only serves students in pre-kindergarten through second grade, according to HISD Multilingual Director Sonya Monreal. Generally speaking, those campuses are supposed to offer language arts and reading classes in both English and Spanish, along with math in Spanish and science in English, though adjustments can be made school-by-school for staffing or other purposes, Monreal said.

At Gregg, which has offered a dual-language program for several years, preschool students sat Monday morning sketching representations on their whiteboards of Spanish phrases like "haciendo ejercicio" (excercising) or "banandome" (taking a bath). Hand-drawn posters on the wall indicated how the same letter, "J," for example, could make different sounds in English and Spanish  "juice," as opposed to "jugo," and so on.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Third-graders, meanwhile, had their reading lesson in English  in the upper grades students may have only one teacher per subject, and that teacher will alternate the language of instruction by units, which last a couple of weeks each. A teacher's apprentice was filling in for a teacher who was absent, and taught from district curriculum that included translations for certain keywords. Monday's lesson involved identifying homonyms in sentences, and some students responded to the teacher's prompts in both Spanish and English.

Reports from other schools across the district present a mixed bag of experiences and opinions, even on the same campus. At Pugh Elementary, an NES school with a two-way dual-language program, parent Melissa Yarborough says she heard from teachers earlier this year that curriculum materials weren't consistently provided in Spanish, and that she hasn't seen evidence that her children are receiving as much Spanish-language instruction as English.

Elizabeth De Leon, another parent at Pugh, said her fourth-grader does report learning slightly more in English than in Spanish, but that her pre-kindergartener appears to be learning equally in both. The younger child is picking up both English and Spanish remarkably quickly, De Leon notes, considering that only the latter is spoken in their household.

"Her teacher tells me she can be a really smart girl, that she can be an outstanding student," De Leon said in Spanish.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Ainhoa Donat Mas, a third grade dual-language teacher at Burbank Elementary School, a non-NES school, said she's still able to teach about half her classes in English and the other half in Spanish, but that friends at other campuses tell her that's not always the case for them.

"We are in a safe place, where we can teach the way we've been teaching," Donat Mas said.

A dual language program pre-k teacher helps a student with his classwork on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

At Patterson Elementary, a non-NES school near Houston's border with Pasadena, the Spanish language feels embedded into the school, literally. Artwork painted onto the building hallways communicates values the school hopes to instill in its students, in both languages  "Risk taker: I try new things" and "Audaces: Intento cosas nuevas."

On a morning in October, third-graders at Patterson were learning multiplication in English while fourth-graders down the hall learned place values in Spanish. Like at Gregg, Patterson's students take classes in both languages, in different subjects across different grade levels. Unlike Gregg, Patterson runs a two-way dual-language program and has full autonomy to set its own schedule, since it's not an NES school.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Teachers and administrators at Patterson appear to go to great lengths to incorporate both languages into daily life at on their campus. Wall hangings and instructions are written in blue ink for English and red ink for Spanish. Children who are dominant in one language are partnered with peers who are stronger in the other during "pair and shares," in which two students discuss the lesson and share their findings with the class.

But dual-language programs aren't immune to the changes that have swept through HISD since Miles was appointed superintendent on June 1.

SCHEDULE CHANGES: HISD will not dismiss high school students early during finals week this school year

Anne Garcia, a Patterson parent who ran a mayoral campaign aimed at raising awareness about the state's takeover of Houston's public schools, said her fifth-grade son, who used to be a straight-A student, is struggling to keep up given the pacing of his lessons, the prevalence of assessments and high teacher turnover, common complaints in the first few months of Miles' tenure. Miles has said the district is implementing the new instructional directives with the goal of providing students with a "high-quality instruction."

Garcia was initially worried about the amount of Spanish-language instruction her son was receiving, after he reported he was learning mostly in English. Now she's looking for homes in Maryland, in a district with a healthy dual-language network.

A dual language program teacher is teaching fourth grade science on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at Gregg Elementary School in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

"My idea of the worst-case scenario has now been adjusted," Garcia said. "There's just so much coming at us at once, that Spanish just seems like a luxury, to think that my kids are truly getting a dual-language education when they're not getting an education at all anymore."

Monreal said the multilingual department closely monitors dual-language programs at schools across the district, and that parents who have doubts or concerns should contact her office.

"Our parents who are concerned are more than welcome to reach out to our department and we can definitely provide them answers," Monreal said. "I'm more than happy to visit a campus with them to see what their concerns are about their student's progress."

It's too early to see whether the expansion of dual-language programs have made an impact on student achievement, Monreal said, but she noticed that beginning-of-the-year benchmark tests showed that English proficiency was "very low" coming into the school year.
Israel Garcia, 17, and his classmates look for a classroom to study for an upcoming exam at Carnegie Vanguard High School on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

In a change from previous years, Houston ISD high schools will not be releasing students from school early during final exam days in the fall and spring semesters this school year.

HISD spokesperson Jose A. Irizarry said high school students taking finals in December and May will be in school until the usual dismissal time instead of being released early. The district said the change would allow high schools to provide instruction, review and study periods to help students feel prepared for their tests.

Our high school principals are creating exam schedules that will give all students quality time  at a quiet place on campus  to study and review what they have learned, Irizarry said in a statement. We want to set students up for success and believe this approach will best support them during final exams.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The district previously allowed students to leave around noon during certain final exam days, which occur for a few days at the end of each semester. Due to the policy change, students at New Education System or NES-aligned high schools will remain in school during final exam periods this year until 4:30 p.m., while most remaining high school students will finish at 4:10 p.m.

Heather Goldman, the parent of an 11th and 12th grader in HISD high schools, said her children enjoyed the early release during their first few years in high school because it gave them time to regroup after exams by seeing friends or taking a nap before studying in the evening.

She said everybody learns and studies in different ways, and shes frustrated with the decision to take away those options from students by requiring them to stay in school all day.

Early release gave (my kids) the flexibility to study and then they could focus on two exams at a time with plenty of time to study for each of them, Goldman said. I think it made them more successful on their exams because they could group to work in chunks that were manageable with plenty of time to rest and get their brains a chance to recover with a good night's sleep.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Irizarry said the change is consistent with the districts mission to ensure all students graduate prepared to succeed.

We know families share this goal for their children and expect us to structure operations accordingly, Irizarry said.

REPORT CARD NEWSLETTER: Sign up for a weekly recap of everything happening in and outside of Houston ISDs classrooms.

The move is one of several recent changes that HISD leaders have introduced since the state takeover of the district this summer, including an overhaul to the school choice process, the introduction of a pay-for-performance principal evaluation system and the NES reform model.

Alisha Renshaw, the parent of a ninth grader in HISD, said the move to eliminate early decision during finals week has stressed out her daughter, who was not expecting the change. Renshaw said she doesnt support the move because she believes high schoolers should have the choice to go home or somewhere else quiet to study for finals if they prefer.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code
After leaving the Golden Arches, some McDonalds food winds up brightening the lives and filling the stomachs of people at the Salvation Army and Willow Rising in Grand Island.

The Salvation Army serves McDonalds eggs and sausage. Sometimes we get pastries as well, says Lt. Katy Benedict of the Salvation Army.

On Tuesday nights, various food items from McDonalds are served at Willow Rising. We give it to our survivors who have food insecurity, said Teshawna Sawyer, Willow Risings interim executive director.

The food is provided at no cost by the two Grand Island McDonalds under a donation program carried out by McDonalds owner-operators.

The restaurants donate food that is not sold to customers.

After hamburger patties are cooked, we put them in a cabinet for 15 minutes, said Cory Hall, one of the owners of the Grand Island McDonalds. After 15 minutes, the patties may no longer be sold.

So instead of throwing it in the garbage or taking it to landfill, McDonalds employees place the unsold food in a bag and it goes right in the freezer, Hall said.

The same is done with other foods, such as chicken, sausage patties, eggs and hash browns. French fries are not included in the program.

People from the Salvation Army and Willow Rising pick up the frozen food once or twice a week. The unused food from the Second Street McDonalds is donated to the Salvation Army. Willow Rising (formerly the Crisis Center) collects food from the State Street McDonalds. The donated burgers cannot be topped with ketchup or mustard and cant be part of a sandwich before being donated.

Sometimes the food is repurposed. Hamburger patties might be crumbled up to use in chili. Chicken breasts might be turned into a chicken casserole, Hall said.

The two Grand Island locations are donating 200 to 250 meals a month. So far this year, the 70 McDonalds statewide have donated more than 74,000 meals, Hall said.

In Grand Island, the donation program started last year, beginning in February with the Second Street McDonalds, followed in June by the State Street location.

More than 2,400 meals were donated to the two Grand Island nonprofits last year.

During a test phase at the Second Street McDonalds, the store wanted to make sure the program didnt disrupt store operations. The managers and crew were right on board and loved it, so the State Street store was added to the program, Hall said.

Nobody likes to see a trash can full of meat thats going to go out to a dumpster, Hall said.

Instead, the food goes to a good cause.

We love to give back to our communities as much as we can, Hall said. McDonalds also takes part in sponsorships and other local efforts.

We really care about the community that gives so much to us that we want to just give back to them, he said, noting that the holiday season is approaching.

Hall and his brother, Greg, have owned the two Grand Island McDonalds since 2017.

The two men, who live in Columbus, own a total of 12 Nebraska McDonalds. The total consists of three in Kearney and two in Hastings, as well as locations in Aurora, York, Columbus, Holdrege and West Point.

The food donation program is done at 11 of the Halls stores. The West Point location hasnt been able to line up a partner.

The Halls are third-generation McDonalds owners. Their grandfather, Howard Hall, became a McDonalds owner in 1974. Dennis Hall, the father of Cory and Greg Hall, continued in the McDonalds business, along with his brother.
Larry Christensen has worked for the city of Grand Island for 50 years. Hes been married 50 years. And now hes ending his 50-megawatt career with Grand Island Utilities.

Christensen, 71, will retire on Friday.

Nobody knows Grand Islands electric system better than Christensen, whos been a city employee since Oct. 1, 1973.

Hes been the citys electric distribution supervisor since 1986.

Over the years, hes handled countless power outages, both large and small, and helped numerous Grand Island residents with their electric issues.

The most satisfying part of the job is getting the lights back on for the people in a timely manner, he said.

Some people really appreciate it. Theyll actually come out of the house and say thank you, Christensen said.

Christensens office is in the City Electric Dept. building at 1116 W. N. Front St. A gathering will be held for him from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday.

Hes been a very valuable resource for Grand Island Utilities for many, many years, said Christensens boss, Bryan Fiala.

Christensen has overseen the implementation of many new services, did a lot of troubleshooting and handled many customer problems, Fiala said.

That work couldnt have been done without Christensens expertise and his historical knowledge, Fiala said.

Hes a very valuable employee and he will be missed for sure, said Fiala, who is the citys electric distribution superintendent.

People at Grand Island Utilities will face a learning curve as they move forward because of all the work Christensen did, including his work behind the scenes, Fiala said.

Christensen graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1970.

When he joined Grand Island Utilities, he initially worked as a ground man. Thats the person on the ground who supplies material to the lineman working on the pole or in a bucket.

When Christensen joined the city, the first question he was asked was if hes afraid of heights. His answer was no.

The first year on the job, he learned to climb.

He recalls ascending the 90-foot poles at Ryder Park. We had to relamp the lights for the Legion Ball Field there, said Christensen, who had practiced on 35-foot poles.

He was soon promoted to apprentice lineman.

In his second year on the job, the city offered to send him to Northeast Community College in Norfolk.

The city paid for his schooling. Every year I went there, you had to work three years here. So I think Ive got them paid back, right? he said, smiling.

Eventually he became a crew chief.

A service crew under Christensen takes care of power outages, installs new service meters and changes meters.

Members of the service crew are the first go-to people when we have a power outage, he said.

Sometimes, a city construction crew is needed.

If someone hits a pole, then weve got to get the construction crew involved with that.

What happens when the whole city goes dark?

It happened once. June 3, 1980, he said, referring to the famous tornadoes.

Just getting to work that night was difficult. When he arrived, we started responding to outages.

Christensen and his colleagues worked all night that first night.

We put in a lot of hours 14, 15 hours a day, he said.

Food was served at the Liederkranz. The utilities workers would work until dark and go home and eat and sleep, and get up and come to work the next day, he said.

The extremely long days lasted for about three weeks.

He praises Bob Olsen, who was the director of utilities at the time. Olsen was a really top-notch electrical engineer who anticipated problems before they developed, Christensen said.

Christensen also praises Red Cross workers, who fed people before the Liederkranz meals got going.

The Red Cross workers brought them food wherever we were working, he said.

The crews didnt have time to go find food. And nobody had power, he said.

Christensen has seen a lot of improvements over the years.

When he started, homes were equipped with mechanical meters. Now, the city uses smart meters.

At the beginning, there were no computers in Christensens building.

His first computer was a used desktop. Then he was the first one in the building to get a laptop. Co-workers called him Laptop Larry.

Linemen work in all kinds of weather, including ice storms, and in the middle of the night.

When they begin working for the city, they know whats expected. Their job is to keep the power on.

Christensens wife, the former Peggy Jensen, is also a Grand Island native.

They have three children and nine grandchildren. Their three kids live in Sedalia, Missouri, Oklahoma City and Holdrege.

Ive had a good career here. I totally appreciate the city for keeping me and working here, he said.

When a visitor thanked Christensen for providing good electricity, he said, Thank you for paying your bills. Thats what paid his salary, he said.
Two western Nebraska cities have secured deals to keep air service to Denver for the next three years.

The airport boards in North Platte and Scottsbluff both recently voted to sign three-year contracts with regional airline SkyWest Airlines, which flies under the United Express banner.

The new Essential Air Service contracts retain 50-seat jets and a minimum of 12 weekly flights to and from Denver.

The Essential Air Service program provides for the Department of Transportation to subsidize airline costs and maintain service from rural airports to regional hubs.

SkyWest had filed for permission in March 2022 to drop its federally subsidized service to North Platte, Scottsbluff, Kearney and 26 other U.S. airports, citing pilot shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the carriers United Express service continued under a series of U.S. Department of Transportation orders.

Airport officials in Kearney voted last year to sign a contract with Denver Air Connection to replace SkyWest as its EAS provider.

St. George, Utah-based SkyWests offers to maintain the status quo in North Platte and Scottsbluff followed an Oct. 25 federal DOT order rejecting all EAS bids for Denver service for both cities airports and for EAS service between Salina, Kansas, and Chicago. It requested fresh bids to serve all three.

The DOT order said the federal departments Air Carrier Fitness Division had declined to approve SkyWest Charter, an affiliate the carrier had formed as it tried to work around its post-COVID pilot shortage.

Had it been approved, SkyWest would have kept flying Bombardier CRJ-200 jets to North Platte, Scottsbluff and 23 other airports, but with 30 seats instead of 50.

That reconfiguration was meant to allow SkyWest to fly under a different type of federal authority that allows less experienced copilots alongside experienced senior pilots.

North Plattes airport board voted unanimously July 24 to back a two-year EAS contract for SkyWest Charter. The October DOT order noted letters of support from the city of North Platte, the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp. and state Sen. Mike Jacobson, a former Airport Authority chairman.

But because DOTs Air Carrier Fitness Division hasnt cleared SkyWest Charter, the affiliates 30-seat proposals for North Platte and Salina are not acceptable for the (EAS) program, the order said.
CARBONDALE  The combined talents of Southern Illinois University Carbondale opera theater students, the SIU Orchestra, Choral Union and Concert Choir will gather next month for a holiday concert that features a classic story of a disabled boy and three visitors from a long time ago.

The one-act opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in Shryock Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

The opera is directed by SIU School of Musics Carissa Scroggins, an assistant professor of practice and voice area coordinator. Darryl K. Clark, associate professor of musical theater dance in the School of Theater and Dance, is choreographing the performance, which will be conducted by Susan Davenport, professor and director of choral activities in the School of Music.

First opera for TV has SIU connection

Written by Gian Carlo Menotti, Amahl and Night Visitors was commissioned by NBC and first performed by the NBC Opera Theater on Dec. 24, 1951, in the NBC studios and broadcast live on television, Davenport noted. Set in Bethlehem shortly after the birth of Christ, the show was the first opera written for television.

David Aiken, who was from Benton and attended then-Southern Illinois Normal College, where he studied English, portrayed King Melchoir, one of the three kings, in the world premiere TV production. A bass baritone, Aiken, who died in 2011, continued in that role for several years and later joined the voice faculty at Indiana University.

Aiken became an advocate for the opera, continuing to perform and support performances of Amahl well into the final years of his singing career, Scroggins said.

Holiday sounds continue

Davenport said the choral union and concert choir, accompanied by the SIU Orchestra, will finish the concert with Mark Hayes International Carols Suites.

The audience can expect to hear at least one holiday carol that they recognize, although many will be in their original languages, Davenport said. The medleys of carols include holiday songs from Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the British Isles.
CARBONDALE  Eliot Cohen, a national security expert at the Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies and an authority on William Shakespeare, will join Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for a virtual discussion on Dec. 11.

Cohen will join John Shaw, institute director, for a discussion on Cohens new book, The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule and Fall.

The free, public discussion via Zoom is at 2 p.m.; registration is required. The conversation is part of the institutes Understanding Our New World discussion series. Visit paulsimoninstitute.org/events to register.

Eliot Cohens book provides a master class on Shakespeare, leadership and politics, Shaw said. He is one of the most interesting and respected analysts of American national security and foreign policy. He is also a formidable scholar of William Shakespeare and has many intriguing insights as to how political and business leaders can draw wisdom, inspiration and guidance from Shakespeare.

Cohen has served in the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense and the defense departments Defense Policy Board. Cohen has been teaching at the School of Advanced International Studies since 1990 and served as dean from 2019 to 2021. He earned his bachelors degree and doctorate, both in political science, from Harvard, where he also taught. Cohen previously taught at the U.S. Naval War College.

Cohen has written several books, including Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen, and Leadership in Wartime and Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and The Necessity of Military Force. He is also a contributing editor at The Atlantic.

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Cohenon the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu.

More information, a list of the institutes upcoming events and past speakers and events are available.
CHICAGO  Activists, religious leaders and survivors of people who have died in the Cook County Jail gathered Wednesday night to call on Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to increase access to medical care and overdose reversing supplies for those behind bars as they remembered 16 people who died in custody in 2023.

They also called for compassion toward people detained and awaiting trial.

Every person back there is a human being, and they have loved ones like us, Cassandra Greer Lee said, nodding across the street to one of the buildings in the jail complex on South California Avenue.

Lees husband Nickolas was the third person to die of COVID-19 while in custody in April 2020. She stood with Vicki Willis, whose son Alteriq Pleasant died in custody last year.

There are many people who do not value life, Willis said. They have preconceived notions about people. And we have to understand that everyone has a right to life.

A sheriffs office representative confirmed that 16 people have died while in custody this year. Of those, two were homicide victims, four died of natural causes, five died of overdoses and five deaths were still being investigated, he said.

The religious leaders at the vigil also condemned recently implemented restrictions on books and other paper products for detainees. WBEZ 91.5 reported in April that attorneys meeting with detainees were not able to bring paperwork with them due to concerns about paper soaked in drugs and meant to be smoked.

Paper soaked in opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, and other dangerous chemicals presents an incredibly complex and evolving challenge that our staff face every day in their work to protect the health and safety of those ordered into custody, a statement from the sheriffs office read.

In an op-ed published in the Sun-Times, Dart wrote that his staff has found the chemicals sprayed and dried on childrens drawings, Bible pages, store-bought cards from sweethearts, legal files, and pictures of friends and loved ones. He rejected claims that the jails measures amounted to a book ban.

A representative of his office said in a statement that officials are combating drugs entry into the jail with informational campaigns about the substances and addiction treatment options directed at detainees. More than 20 people have faced criminal charges for bringing drugs into the jail, according to the sheriffs office.

Activist and pastor Elle Dowd said the best ways to prevent deaths in Cook County Jail were to boost access to medical services and reduce the number of detainees.

People inside the Cook County Jail dont need (fewer) books, they need more, she said. More community care, more medical care, more mental health care (and) substance use care.

The number of people awaiting trial in Cook County Jail has dropped in the first weeks following the implementation of the 2021 Pretrial Fairness Act, Illinois historic move to eliminate cash bail.

The Coalition to End Money Bond was a major advocate for that legislation, which took effect Sept. 18 after months of litigation from opponents.

According to data from the sheriffs office, there are 4,755 people in custody and 1,785 on electronic monitoring as of Wednesday.

Stakeholders throughout the Cook County criminal justice system told the Tribune the early days of the new system had been mostly smooth, though downstate criminal justice workers said their systems had seen some strain under the new rules.

Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022
SOUTH BELOIT  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.

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.

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
Orangeburg Department of Public Safety

Someone broke into two vehicles parked at a Jasper Street apartment complex early Tuesday morning, according to an ODPS incident report.

The thief broke into a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and stole a bank deposit for $1,761 that was in the glove compartment.

The owner said he also had an empty money box in the passengers seat.

Someone rummaged through the second vehicle. The owner said he left it unlocked, according to the report.

Orangeburg businesses burglarized on Thanksgiving Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Two Orangeburg boys, ages 12 and 13, are suspected of breaking into four businesses on Thanksgiving, according to ODPS incident reports.

Surveillance video shows a suspect looking into other cars. The suspect was wearing a gray hoodie, dark-colored pants and an orange facemask.

Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office

Someone stole four batteries from a 2020 Volvo tractor-trailer, according to an incident report.

Orangeburg man accused of felony DUI; passengers neck broken, report says A 21-year-old Orangeburg man is facing one count of felony driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury.

The truck was parked in a commercial parking lot located at 3312 Rowesville Road.

The value of the stolen batteries is $1,000.
The sun rises behind the Battleship Texas as the ship is towed into the Houston Ship Channel Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 in La Porte. The ship is making the journey to a dry dock in Galveston for a complete overhaul of the 108-year-old dreadnought, that served in both world wars. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Work continues on Battleship Texas in its dry dock and Gulf Copper on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022 in Galveston. Repairs continue on the ship for and extensive $35 million repair at Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations shipyard to refurbish the hull, after making the milestone journey to Galveston from the San Jacinto Battleground in August. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

With the support of the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees, Battleship Texas could soon make Galveston its permanent home. The worlds last surviving dreadnought could welcome visitors as early as 2025 once fully renovated.

Weve been working on it for a long time and now we have some really good support on the Port of Galveston board, Battleship Texas Foundation president and CEO Tony Gregory said. So, we think that itll land us in the best spot on the Galveston ship channel to attract the most visitors to the battleship.

The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees gave Battleship Texas a conditional lease based on several factors including ample parking for visitors and the ability to regulate traffic in what board members describe as a congested area.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

SPECIAL PROJECT: Saving the Battleship Texas with a challenging move to Galveston

 We support them coming here, said Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees chairman Jeff Patterson. Now, the ball is in the Battleship Texas Foundations court to be able to get through approvals from the coast guards, the Corp of Engineers  So, theres things they have to do. Were hopeful they can bring that all to fruition and be able to bring the Battleship Texas home to Galveston.

With two cruise terminals to the west and one cruise terminal to the east, plus another one being planned, Battleship Texas will sit alongside a hub of tourist activity. The area around the pier is also home to hotels, restaurants and a museum.

Onlookers watch as the USS Battleship Texas passes the Texas City Dyke, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in Texas City. The 1914 commissioned vessel is being towed to a dry dock in Galveston to undergo an extensive $35 million repair. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle

Were very pleased to be there and we think itll be good for that area, for the port and be good for the Battleship Texas, Gregory said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Battleship Texas Foundation is raising funds to complete work on the ship. As of now, theyve secured about $2.5 million of the $15 million goal. Gregory said theyve submitted multiple proposals in the hopes of acquiring more money. The bulk of the $15 million will be spent on the new home port in addition to replacing the wood deck, creating public restrooms, replacing the fire alarm system, installing air conditioning in the interior of the ship, cleaning, painting and installing interactive and immersive exhibits.

BATTLESHIP TEXAS: 10 things to know about the dreadnought

The USS Texas being here in Galveston goes along with our whole historical ambience that the city has here  and not only with our structures and some of the other accomplishments historically that the city has gone through," Galveston Mayor Craig Brown said. "Plus the events that still honor our historic significance is a wonderful fit with having the USS Texas here,

Landrys Inc. will be the lease holder for the historical ship that took part in both world wars. Landrys throwing its resources and reputation behind the project sealed the deal for many on the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees board.

I think it was very important for Landrys to be a part of this, Brown said. The USS Texas is such an attraction unto itself and, when you combine that with marketing abilities and support that Landrys Corporation can provide for the USS Texas, I think its a double-win. Its a win for both entities and its a win for the entire Galveston community.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:Keep Battleship Texas in Galveston.

Battleship Texas Foundations agreement to set aside a $1.2 million reserve fund also motivated the board to approve a conditional lease.

Our biggest concern is that its going through repairs now and theyre getting it back in good shape, but what happens long-term if theres a storm or a big event or some kind of catastrophic failure, Patterson said.

The board plans to meet again in December to discuss finalizing the lease agreement.

This story was corrected to indicate Landry's Inc. will be the lease holder for the ship.
South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission Vice Chairman Bill Davies shared the vision of SC250 during a Nov. 20 meeting at the Bamberg County Courthouse Annex.

Davies is seeking to recruit Bamberg County committee members who will work with the commission to plan a 250th American Revolution Anniversary commemorative project.

The purpose of SC250 is to celebrate the 250th anniversary era (1770-1783) of the Revolutionary War and educate South Carolinians and visitors about the states pivotal role in the nations independence.

Gov. Henry McMaster hopes all 46 South Carolina counties will form a committee and plan their own unique projects to personalize this effort to honor S.C. history.

Davies South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission Vice Chairman Bill Davies recently visited Bamberg County to discuss plans to c

Bamberg County Council adopted a resolution on April 4, 2022, which officially created the Bamberg County 250 Committee.

According to the resolution, The Bamberg County 250 Committee will focus on important events, people and places during the Revolutionary Era within Bamberg County to promote, observe and celebrate Bamberg Countys role in the American Revolution by educating, engaging and inspiring South Carolinians and visitors.

250 Members of the Bamberg 250 committee include, front row, T.M. Thomas, Ruthie Brown, Patti Yeats, Margaret Meyer, Ken Ahlin, Rose Shepherd, Nan

Davies has served on the Board of Managers for the South Carolina Historical Society and as president of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History Foundation as well as the Palmetto State Military History Foundation.

South Carolina had a significant role in securing our nations freedom, and Bamberg County is part of that storied history, Davies said.

Bamberg announces broadband expansion plans Denmark Technical College, with Voorhees University, hosted a Nov. 14 community meeting to educate students and community members about the digital divide as well as give information on broadband equity, accessibility, and funding through the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Bamberg County Council Vice Chairman Evert Comer presented Davies with a Bamberg County Challenge Coin, and Bamberg Mayor Nancy Foster presented him with a book on Bamberg Countys history.

We are always interested in promoting our state and countys rich history and in recognizing those who fought valiantly for our nations freedom. SC250 is an excellent opportunity to do just that, County Council Chairman Dr. Jonathan Goodman said.

Bamberg County Council: System working with medically underserved; broadband construction continues Low Country Health Care System is working with medically underserved people throughout Bamberg County and other counties, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ashley L. Barnes said recently.

Bamberg County Council Vice Chairman Evert Comer said, We are thankful to Mr. Davies for visiting Bamberg County and presenting us with this wonderful opportunity to celebrate S.C. and Bamberg history.

One of the most important things we can do as a community is to not only understand our history but to also learn from it. Without courageous South Carolinians who sought the basic tenets of freedom and were willing to sacrifice their lives to obtain it, our nation would not be what it is today. Bamberg County is honored to have this opportunity to put a spotlight on that bravery, Bamberg County Administrator Joey Preston said.

For more information on the SC250 initiative and learn ways to get involved, visit southcarolina250.com.
Joseph Green doesn't get around as fast as he would like, but he looks back over his 100 years of life with an appreciation for what he is able to do.

The Orangeburg resident was surprised at the many people who turned out at his home on Nov. 25 to celebrate his milestone birthday.

That was unexpected. I didn't expect that. I just was expecting my children, and all these people popped up, he said.

He and his late wife, Clarece, were the parents five children: Margaret, Joanta, Denatra, Charles and Rosa.

Green Orangeburg resident Joseph Green celebrated his 100th birthday on Nov. 25. The father of five is pictured with his youngest daughter, Rosa Gre

Rosa, the youngest child who lives with her father, said Green received nearly 100 cards from church members and others.

The church came by and brought him a box full of cards, and then we had about 30 people who came and each one of them brought cards. I told them I didn't really care about them bringing a gift. I just wanted them to come and celebrate my father, she said.

Green is a Hemingway native who has lived in Orangeburg for more than 50 years.

He recalled his time growing up on a farm, where he grew tobacco, cotton and other crops, and a subsequent move to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked as a welder.

My daddy was a sharecropper. Its one of those things you work from when you can to when you can't. So it's something I never did like, but it was one of those things I had to go through, Green said.

After I left home and moved to Cleveland, that's when I started working for General Motors. That's when I started welding. I welded as long as I was in Cleveland. I run that for a while, and then I retired from that, he said.

He isnt sure why God let him live so long, but he's not complaining about it.

I don't have no idea why he did that, but one thing about it is I'm glad he did. I feel good. A lot of people came here since I did and left, and I'm still here. That's a blessing, Green said.

He continued, I see a lot of young folks that are a lot younger than I am. They cant talk, some of them can't walk. So I dont complain. I just be thankful.

Green grew up in the church and attends Williams Chapel AME Church in Orangeburg.

He said the church has played an important part in his life.

You find out how good God is to you, and he draw me closer to the church. ... One thing I learned to do is treat people right. You can't please everybody, but do the best you can to treat them right," Green said.

He said his family has also been an integral part of his life.

They were very important to me. Of course, in my first beginning, I didnt thought about having a family. I thought about living my life alone, but ... I changed my mind and decided to get married, Green said.

To me, the most lovely thing is a family, something you have to come home to, especially when you have the little ones that run around, he said.

Green said his family, gave me something to live for, something to come home to and something to look forward to.

He appreciates Rosa for helping to provide for him, along with the support of a caregiver, who is with him while his daughter is at work.

I had some friends who was alone and they got ill and had nobody to go to. So all of that makes you look back at your life and say what route you want to go. That's what makes me really appreciate my family and love them, Green said.

Rosa said her father doesn't have any major health issues and has no special regimen when it comes to staying largely wrinkle-free.

He has no routine. Just soap and water, and he keeps moving, she said, laughing.

Green said, You have some days that you don't feel too good. We all have what you call ups and downs. So those days you don't feel too good, you just do the best you can, but so far I've been blessed.

He said he doesnt let the lack of an appetite stop him from eating.

I don't have no taste for anything. I just eat, force it down, but I used to like everything, just eat anything, the 100-year-old said.

Green said he has learned to let nothing stress him out too much.

I tell myself, I've been there. So far as trouble is concerned, I dont think nobody had any more trouble than I had. So anything I see, most of it Ive been through it. So I thank the Lord that his mercy brought me through, he said.

Green continued, Just like the world that we live in today and all the problems that we're having today and how we treat one another. That worries me, but I cant do nothing about that. So the things that you can handle, do the best you can with it. What you can't handle, leave it to God and ask him to take care of it.

He said it bothers him, however, to see school children not want to do their work, particularly since he and other members of his generation relished getting an education.

We had three little rooms and had two teachers. They had all of those students in those three little rooms packed in there. Theyd jump from one class to the next. We didnt have no bus to ride. We had to walk. Rain or shine, you walked to school. ... So you look at the opportunity that they have and how they misuse it when they should be trying to make something out of it, Green said.

Rosa, a math teacher, said her dad always stressed the importance of an education to her and her siblings.

When we were little, he used to come home from work, sit down and get the flash cards out. ... He had a very great love of math, and I love math, too. So it definitely comes from my dad's side of the family, she said.

She said her father is special to her.

I'm a daddy's girl. So anything I can do for him, I will do. I just love having him around and ... coming home and spending time with him, Rosa said.
Just over two years after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew a charge against Layou resident Annamay Lewis, a 58-year-old vendor, for wounding Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Lewis has been cleared of a second charge, stemming from protest actions in Kingstown, August 5, 2021.





At the Kingstown Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the Prosecution withdrew the charge, that on August 5, 2021, at Kingstown, at a public place, White Chapel Road, Lewis threw missiles to the danger of persons there.

That offense allegedly occurred on the day the Prime Minister was wounded, while making his way by foot to Parliament.





When the throwing missiles matter was called on August 28, 2023, following numerous adjournments, there were still issues of disclosure, and the unavailability of the Prosecutions main witness, Sergeant Emel Jacobs, a certified digital forensic examiner, attached to the I.T. Department of the Police Force.





Prosecutor Corlene Samuel told the Court then that Jacobs was overseas, and the Prosecution would be making an application for that witness to testify via video link.





Annamays attorney Kay Bacchus-Baptiste had indicated that she made an application for disclosure of the arrest warrant, as it was a minor offense, and not one of those cases in which an arrest could be made without a warrant.





After hearing both sides, Magistrate John Ballah warned, "This is a 2021 matter. I am going to give this matter a final adjournment, a long one so that everybody can get their house in order. On the next occasion everybody must have their house in order.





However, when the matter was called on Wednesday, the date of the final adjournment, the Prosecution was still not ready, as Sergeant Jacobs was still out of the state, and Prosecutor Corlene Samuel told the Court that Jacobs would have to be present because of the nature of his evidence.





But the Magistrate reminded the Prosecution that on the last occasion, he made it clear that this would be the final adjournment, and if the defense was ready, and the Prosecution was not, he would dismiss the matter.





Prosecutor Samuel then indicated that the Prosecution was withdrawing the charge.





Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN shortly after, Bacchus-Baptiste said that even if the Prosecution was ready to proceed on Wednesday, she was going to make a submission for the matter to be dismissed because Lewis was not arrested by the warrant, and this was not one of those matters in which a person could be arrested without a warrant.





She noted that the last time the matter was called, Prosecutor Samuel handed her something purporting to be the arrest warrant, but the lawyer believes that what was disclosed to her was not authentic. She maintained that the police arrested Lewis without a warrant, and the disclosure of the station diary, which she had demanded, supported that argument.





"For this type of offense, the law says you must have a warrant to arrest, she insisted.





"Clearly, this (case) was politically motivated by malice and spite. They could not get a conviction on the first charge of wounding the Prime Minister, and they had to withdraw that, so they came up with this charge, she added.





Bacchus-Baptiste said she was happy that Lewis was cleared of both charges and after over two years everything was finally over.





The first charge against Lewis was withdrawn in September, 2021.




Jimodean Jim Sam, who was shot and killed, became first no. 50 homicide to be recorded in SVG in any one year.

The Central Leeward town of Layou has seen four men gunned down during a six-week span.





The latest occurred on Thursday 23rd November when Jimodean "Jim Sam, was shot and chopped reportedly by two men, one day before The Love is the Answer peace march and rally in Layou, organized by the Royal SVG Police Force and the National Commission on Crime Prevention.





Sams death brings the number of homicides for the year to 50, a new record, this having surpassed the previous record of 42 recorded in 2022.





Reports are that around 5 pm, Sam, of Akers Road, Layou, was making his way along the main road in an area known as Ferret, when he was pounced upon by what investigators believe were two men, one armed with a gun and one with a machete.





He was chopped and shot as he walked from lands he farmed in the Palmist Mountains.





A male relative was several steps behind Sam and managed to flee the scene unhurt.





Sam, a father of three, was described as a cool guy who farms for a living. "He is a cool man. I never know him to be a troublesome person. He does go to the mountain and plant his vegetables for a living, said soca artiste and Laytou native Kemmy Christopher, adding that he was surprised that someone would even want to kill Jim.





A number of residents in community are of the opinion the killings in the community is a result of an ongoing dispute between men two Kingstown communities.





Layous killing streak





Prior to Sams killing, three persons were gunned down in Layou.





On Saturday November 18, Leon Zacchaeus Gaymes of Texier Road was shot and killed. Reports are that around 8:00pm, Gaymes was struck at least six times by a masked assailant and died on his way to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH).





His death followed the killing of Tambu Patrick who was shot and killed on Sunday November 5. Following Patricks death, Gaymes and two other family members were detained by police but were later released.





These deaths were preceded by that of Delarno Kyle Corney Patrick, aka Smokes. He was shot and killed around 1:00am on Sunday, October 15, in Middle Street, Layou. He was a construction worker at the Sandals Resorts in Buccament.





Patricks death was linked to the killing of Jovani "Luch Baptiste of Rose Place who was shot around 8:00am on Thursday September 7 in Buccament, while making his way to work on the construction site of the Sandals Resort. He was said to have be shot as many as 16 times and died on the spot in an area close to the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School.





One resident said that Patrick and Baptiste were very good friends and he (Patrick) was in the area when his friend was killed and chased after the gunman who murdered his friend.





Police said they are investigating all of the murders but up to press time no charges.
Left: Suriya Williams went missing from Friday, Nov. 24. Still missing as of Wednesday. Right: Zaria Ashtom was last seen on Thursday 16th November. Still missing as of Wednesday.

Police on Wednesday, said that their investigations are ongoing into the disappearance of two teenage girls  Zaria Ashton of Stubbs and Suriya Williams of Redemption Sharpes.





And, according to a source, those investigations have intensified since the circulation of a video on a social media platform, showing a minor being sexually abused by at least three men.





The incidence of disappearance of teenage girls have shown a marked increase this year. For whatever its worth, many of the girls have returned home supposedly on their own volition.





And while the police have acted as they are expected to by issuing missing person bulletins as per reports made to them, the concern for many citizens is that there are no follow-up detailed reports by the police when the cases are closed.





THE VINCENTIANs attention was drawn to the number of missing persons case in the month of November.

On Monday 13th, November, the RSVGPF issued a missing person bulletin for Kenecia Morgan, a fifteen (15) year-old Aldelphi Secondary School Student from Lowmans Windward. According to her grandmother, the teenager left home on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 5:30 a.m., dressed in her school uniform.





On Tuesday 14th November, five days after she was last seen and one day after the missing persons bulletin was issued, Morgan was found. A report by the police merely stated, "The general public is hereby informed that Miss Kenecia Morgan who was reported missing has been found and is reunited with her family.





On Tuesday 21st November, the police issued a missing person bulletin and appealed to the public for assistance to locate 15-year-old Zaria Ashton of Stubbs. She was last seen on the Thursday 16th November wearing a blue jersey, a blue distressed jeans and a pink and white crocs slipper. It is the second time Ashton has gone missing. She was first reported missing in March of this year but was found two days later.





Then on Friday 24, there was a missing person report for Suriya Williams, 14, of Redemption Sharpes. Williams was last seen at school on Friday 24th November. According to Williamss mother, her daughter attends the Bishop College Kingstown and the last time she saw her was around 9:30am on the school compound on that Friday.





From all reports, Suriya had walked with a change of clothes that day and her teacher, realizing something was suspicious, called her mother and asked that she come to "collect her daughter.





However, when her daughter saw her mother on the compound, she ran away.





The mother said that her daughter had stolen her phone and since her disappearance she has been seen photos and videos that her daughter is taking using the phone. In one of the photos a male foot is clearly visible.

The mother is reported to have said that someone reported seeing her daughter travelling in a Green Hill van on Friday afternoon.





On Wednesday 29th November reports surfaced that one of the missing girls was allegedly seen in a video being sexually abused by multiple men. Police confirmed that they have heard of video and they are investigating the matter.





THE VINCENTIAN recognizes that the issue is nearing chronic proportions and that it is a multi-faceted, deeply rooted one. According to one commentator, it is time to return to practising the wisdom of the African proverb: It takes a village to raise a child.
Part of a cache of firearms seized by the police here represents what could be a very small percentage of illegal firearms in the country.

The Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2023, tabled during the sitting of Parliament on November 23-24, 2023, was advanced to a Select Committee.





The Bills objective is to amend the Firearms Act 386 by increasing the penalties as prescribed in the Act, as well as to add (new) offences to those which the Act already addresses.





The Select Committee consists of seven members of Parliament and the Attorney General from the government side and four members from the Opposition.





Dr. Ralph Gonslaves, Minister of National Security, who moved the motion, told the Parliament that already there has been input from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Commissioner of Police and other persons.





Dr. Gonsalves also referenced the gun amnesty which he mentioned in his Independence Day speech, saying that the Attorney General, Grenville Williams and the Commissioner of Police, Envil Williams, were discussing the mechanics of the planned amnesty.





"The details, the modalities would be announced while we are doing the select committee work and the consultation, Gonsalves explained.





The idea, he said, was for individuals in possession of illegal firearms to turn them in, and he warned that those caught in possession of illegal firearms will be subject to more severe penalties.





"I dont think that anyone can complain about the reasonableness of this approach, he added.





The existing maximum penalty if found guilty of possession of an unlicensed firearm is 7 years or a fine of EC$20,000.





Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill





Also advanced to Select Committee during the referenced sitting was the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill.

The Bill proposes to amend Chapter 8 of Chapter 171 of the Criminal Code which deals specifically with all sorts of sexual offences, and to increase the penalties for these range of sexual offences.

"I would like to put the Bill to Select Committee so that we can have individuals and organizations to come to the Select Committee and so that we broaden, deepen the consultations which have been going on, Gonsalves said.





This select committee also consists of seven members plus the Attorney General on the government side with four representatives from the opposition.
Students show off an informational poster they prepared, which they will share with classmates.

A "Constructing Your Future initiative to raise girls awareness of careers in the field of construction is being presented to Form 2 students across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.





Aecon Construction Group, contractors of the Kingstown Port Modernisation Project, are sponsoring the project, which is led by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Women in Construction (SVG WIC), a group of career construction women (professionals), both local and from global companies, with the goal of promoting construction careers as a valid choice for women of all ages.





"We want to reach girls with a non-traditional option at the time that they are making decisions about their future studies. Many young women dont consider the construction field when they are imagining their future dream job. By letting girls know that there are many successful women who have chosen the construction path, it opens a door to thinking outside of the gender box, noted Alex King-vonKirschner, Social Specialist at Aecon Group Inc. Kingstown.





The programme involves Form 2 girls hearing firsthand from female construction professionals, taking construction selfies to better imagine the role, and creating informational posters to share their learning with classmates. Information is given about different types of careers, challenges and accomplishments, educational requirements, and expected salaries.





"Constructing Your Future was first presented to students attending school on the Leeward side of St. Vincent and on Union Island. The programme, designed to present options to students who may have less options than their counterparts in the capital, will resume in January, beginning at North Windward Schools, Canouan and Bequia.





From all reports, and on all accounts the programme has been well received by secondary school principals and Form 2 teachers who have worked with SVG WIC to engage their female students.





SVG WIC recognises that women are underrepresented in the construction industry. On average only 10% to 15% of employees in the construction workforce are female. For example, in the U.K, 85% of the construction workforce is male. Of the women working in construction, the majority of female employees work in office-based roles such as accounting and administration. Barriers to increasing female employment include unconscious gender bias, lack of training opportunities and negative perceptions of women in construction. However, the construction field is changing, and is now more supportive of inclusion and diversity.




Cumberland Bay is one of the more popular bays for yachts which chose to moor in a bay on mainland St. Vincent, but has also been the scene of robberies, etc.

The reestablishment of a Coast Guard base to serve the Northwestern section of the country is among the measures to be implemented to ensure the safety of yacht visitors to St Vincent and the Grenadines.





Tourism Minister Carlos James made the disclosure in response to a question posed by Leader of the Opposition Dr Godwin Friday in Parliament on November 23. Dr. Friday wanted to know what measures were being put in place to enhance yacht tourism and to ensure the safety of yacht visitors.





The Minister alluded to the Coast Guard base in Bequia which was commissioned in response to a spike in break-ins in yachts on tat Grenadine island.





He acknowledged that there have been reports of yacht break-ins on the Northwestern side of the mainland.

The tourism minister said that he and ministry officials have had discussions with the Coast Guard as recent as while government has been preparing for the 2024 Estimates and Budget.





"And we have asked them to look at increasing, not just their presence within the Northwestern coast, but we are looking to have a base reestablished on the Northwestern side of the island to facilitate more frequent patrols, he said.





There was a Coast Guard presence attached to the Barrouallie Police Station, but since that facility was temporarily relocated to Peters Hope, there was currently no Coast Guard presence in the area.





James identified areas including Mount Wynn, Barrouallie, Layou, Wallilabou and Cumberland as some of the most visited bays within the Northwestern section of the island, and to which patrols will be made.





The Opposition Leader reminded the Parliament about the gravity of the situation, noting that the country had lost a lot of its yachting business over the years, with the numbers moving from a high of 92,000 yacht visits in 2005 down to between 45,000 and 46,000 visits today.





"St Lucia has more than us now, so we have a lot of work to do, Dr. Friday said.
Guyanas President Dr Irfaan Ali was present for the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead, Guyanas National flag, more than 2,200 feet above sea level on Guyanas border on the Essequibo.

Guyana embarked on a series of sensitisation programmes on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy with its citizens as the CARICOM nation stands in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.





On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hand down its Order on Guyanas request for "the indication of provisional measures aimed at preventing Venezuela from holding a referendum over the ownership of the Essequibo.

In the buildup to this, Guyanese have been making it clear that the Essequibo belongs to Guyana with Government ministers and organisations making definitive statements and slogans Essequibo belongs to Guyana plastered and shared everywhere.





The ICJ is to to hand down a ruling in Guyana-Venezuela border dispute on Friday.





In an interview on Tuesday with a radio programme in Antigua, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, said the Guyana government is worried about the nature of the referendum which in itself wants Venezuela to vote to excite passions in Venezuelans on the issue.





He said over the years there was never a move to excite at the individual level passions over the matter, and believes what the Maduro regime seems to be doing is reaching out to people that they must by way of vote put their stance in respect of the matter.





Minister Benn said Guyana believes this puts the overall issue of the controversy in a different light.





He said the fact that Venezuela wants persons to vote on December 3 and are prepared to issue Venezuelan nationality by way of ID cards and other documents to Guyanese living in Essequibo in making them Venezuelans overnight is worrying.





"If they vote on accepting the five questions it would mean aside from already ignoring the ICJ process they will overnight make people in Essequibo, if they take action and issue ID cards, giving Essequibans or Guyanese people Venezuelan ID cards, it will create problems.





"Our position of course is we will not allow it.





Minister Benn said all people in Essequibo recognise and see themselves as Guyanese.





The Minister of Home Affairs said Guyana holds onto its rights to continue to develop and explore what rightfully belongs to it.





He said Guyana will respond and defend its territory and patrimony should there be any aggressive response from Venezuela. He also believes help will come to Guyana if required.





Last week in a show of patriotism, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces spent time with soldiers at the border and was present for the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead, Guyanas National flag, more than 2,200 feet above sea level on Guyanas border on the Essequibo. (Credit: Loop News)
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) informs the public that a ram sheep, a ram goat, and two ewe goats have been recovered and are currently in the possession of the police at the Narcotics Department.





Owners are urged to promptly contact the Narcotics Department at 1784-456-4108 or visit the department, conveniently situated adjacent to the Police Garage, to identify and claim their animals. Kindly bring along a form of identification for the verification process.





Your cooperation is vital in reuniting these animals with their rightful owners. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.
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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

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.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves went on record to say that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not obligated under the Samoa Agreement to change any of its laws.

On November 15th, the European Union (EU) and its 27 Member States officially signed the "Samoa Agreement, a partnership accord with the 79-member bloc of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).





This comprehensive legal framework, which replaces the Cotonou Agreement of 2000, is expected to govern the relationship between the EU and the OACPS for the next twenty years.





It addresses crucial issues such as sustainable development, economic growth, human rights, and peace and security, aiming to strengthen the collective capacity of the EU and OACPS to address global challenges, including climate change, ocean governance, migration, health, and overall peace and security over the next two decades.





The provisional application of the agreement will start on 1 January 2024. It will enter into force upon consent by the European Parliament and ratification by all EU member states and at least two thirds of the 79 OACPS members.





Caribbean divided





Notwithstanding the benefits anticipated to redound in favour of the OACPS, the Agreement has caused some fracture among Caribbean/CARICOM countries.





As it stands, some (Caribbean) countries have signed on to it, others have indicated a willingness to sign while others have not. St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados have already signed, while Dominica and Jamaica have said they will be doing so. Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, The Bahamas and Grenada have not signed. Grenada has made it clear that it is no rush to subscribe to the agreement.





This fracture among Caribbean countries has come, perhaps, because of what Roman Catholic Archbishop of Trinidad and Tobago Jason Gordon said is a ploy by the Europeans, through the Agreement, to "impose values and ideologies that are contrary to Caribbean culture and traditions.





Bishop Gordon interpreted this to mean, that those Caribbean countries signing on to the Agreement will be made to impose revised legislation relating to same sex marriage, abortion legislation, transgender, LBGTQ, comprehensive sex education, and a whole range of values foreign to the Caribbeans reality.





SVG not obligated

But Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, took to clearing the air on this position that was gaining traction here and throughout the Caribbean.





In a news conference on Monday, Dr. Gonsalves described the Agreement as "very comprehensive, but made it clear that it does not obligate St. Vincent and the Grenadines to change any of its laws.





He proceeded to say, "I assure everybody that St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that we have our own determinations on particular matters, and any alteration in our existing law has to be done by our Parliament, and there is no intention for the Parliament to alter any of our positions as they are laid out in our laws in relation to the controversial questions touching on and concerning same-sex marriages and the like.





He called on the citizens of his country to calm down and, in reference to Archbishops position, not to take some position out of Trinidad, or the United States.





Dr. Gonsalves challenged those who would want to support Bishop Gordon position, saying, "Unless somebody can point to me these specific provisions, theyre making the claim that they were somehow subversive of what we know traditionally as Christian morality.
This edition of Focus on the Visual Arts examines the work of a young, creative art practitioner, Christine Browne.





Christine hails from Kingstown and has been an artist for over twenty years, having begun her journey as a child. She recalled her motivation as, "I just loved to create anything, use colours, make different worlds, try to represent what I see.





At ten years old, she moved to London, England, completing her primary education and beginning secondary school there. Upon her return to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, she attended the St. Josephs Convent Kingstown where her love for art unfolded. She was sure that, "It is there where I cemented my love for art and found a yearning to continue studying the craft for possible future professions.





And this she did, as she headed off firstly to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College where she was guided by her teacher, well-known art instructor Vonnie Roudette. She then successfully pursued Visual Arts studies at the University of the West Indies between 2011 and 2014.





On returning home, she emersed herself in using colour pencils and tasted sweet rewards when she held her own art exhibition which she titled, "See, displaying several pieces from her College and University collections.





From there, she taught Visual Arts at One School Global.





Christines favourite media are coloured pencils and oil pastels. At the opening of the Youlou Art Foundations Exhibition on 3rd August, 2023, she expressed her liking for goache which she explained to be "a combination of oil and acrylic paint. Its much easier to use and you can actually blend it in nicely. It has a sheen as well.





She displayed two pieces, one depicting an eruption of the La Soufriere volcano which she titled "Displaced, a 15ins x 25ins, a goache piece.





The piece gave an interesting view of its creator who described it as, "I wanted to show a contrast of feelings: how the world should look in St. Vincent  bright people going about their regular lives contrasting with the horrid, dark atmosphere of the volcano. A child resplendent is school uniform and a lady stood some distance away from the mountain and the artists purpose for this was given as follows, "it hints at what happened to people in places like Georgetown and so on. They might have been going to school but had to pick up and leave. She simply let the silence of the girl and the lady indicate the stark contrast she required.





Christine admits that she practices many artistic forms: painting concepts, doing fantasy art and fantasy realism on canvas and canvas board. She creates characters and tells stories and have lately delved into working with traditional and digital media.





Under her belt, she has completed a mural on the wall of the Grace Christian Children Centre. She has launched into freelance and commissioned art under the name cmdbART, and this year has taken on the task of publishing drawings and coloured illustrations in the books, to wit "Documents concerning Nelly Ibo: A Vincentian Hero from the Grenadines by Rev. Mark de Silva; and "The Cookie Monster, a childrens book by Gwenette Pearson-Cambridge.





It is clear that Christines passion for art does not allow her to sit still and wait. This Christmas season, has seen an innovative thrust into the production of a series of functional art items - prints on print, bookmarks, and keyrings - that make great gifts and tokens for Christmas.





THE VINCENTIAN is eager to see where Christine Brownes creativity and determination takes her next.
Dr. Janelle Allen, Human Resource Development Consultant, shared with the workshop participants the skills she saw as being prerequisites for their effective functioning.

Vincentian youngsters are learning more about technical and vocational matters. That comes from the Ministry of Education broadens it instructional base.





The trust was enhanced with a workshop at the Curriculum Development Unit last Tuesday. Twenty-nine new instructors attached to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training polished their approach to Professionalism in leadership.





Dr. Janelle Allen, Human Resource Development Consultant, pointed out to the teachers "the skills they should possess, when trends are changing. Allen expressed satisfaction with the discipline of the new instructors. The exercise was held under the theme: Professionalism in leadership.





The teachers were drawn from Technical Institutes in North Leeward, Barrouallie, Campden Park, Kingstown, and Georgetown.





Sharleen Morris, attached to the Campden Park Technical Insitue, spoke to the instructors on the topic, Understanding students at risks and their needs.





Pearlette Primus-Hannaway, Senior Education Officer responsible for Technical Vocational Education and Training, pointed to Food Preparation, Welding, Electrical Installation, Cake Baking, Decorating, Construction, Housekeeping, plumbing, as areas in which students will get that professional touch.





Primus/Hannaway regards the trainees as a "new breed of TVET Instructors, and asserted, "we dont have time for laziness.





It is anticipated that the instructors will return to the classrooms with heightened skills and renewed enthusiasm.
Republic Bank continues to ensure that Caribbean women are trained to start up and manage their own businesses.

Fifty-eight successful participants of Cohort 2 of the Entrepreneurs Business Builder (EBB) programme graduated in a moving virtual ceremony hosted by Republic Bank in collaboration with EBB partner BDP Associates.





Under the theme "Championing HER Success, the event celebrated and encouraged the graduating women entrepreneurs to continue in the pursuit of their goals, by championing their own success.





The programme, which was launched earlier this year on International Womens Day, saw more than 500 women entrepreneurs submitting their applications for selection. Eighty were chosen to participate, with 58 of them successfully completing the programme and graduating.





Participants hailed from several territories with the Cohort truly reflecting the Republic Bank pan-Caribbean-ness: Barbados  4, British Virgin Island  2, Guyana  12, Eastern Caribbean and St. Maarten  16, Suriname  3 and Trinidad and Tobago  21.





For 2023, the programme adopted a systematic approach to ensure that the learnings, strategies and tactics implemented will generate long-lasting personal and business results for all women entrepreneurs involved. The intended outcome was that by the end of the programme, the participants would be more confident and have businesses that are tech-enabled, robust and demonstrated accelerated growth.





Each graduate is now eligible for a pre-approved financing package to suit her business needs. Included is a business credit card and/or overdraft facility, valued from US$2,000 to US$5,000, where the assessment of their revenues and business plan will determine the individual product value.




(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.
01/12/2023

The Premier League are reportedly taking an increasingly forensic approach to 777 Partners' suitability as owners of Everton while the Department of Justice in the United States has launched a probe into the firm's finances.

The Miami-based investment vehicle agreed a deal with Moshiri in September in the hope of concluding the buyout by the end of this year.

Together with the Financial Conduct Authority, the Premier League have been conducting a routine examination of 777 Partners but amid a slew of media relevations, led by Norwegian investigative outfit Josimar, regarding the firm's financial dealings, Bloomberg News are reporting that their bid "is facing increasing scrutiny" amid "a more skeptical stance" from the league.

None of Everton, 777 and the Premier League were prepared to comment to Bloomberg but the claim comes from people "asking not to be identified because the information is private".

Article continues below video content

In the interim, 777 Partners have been providing the club with loans to cover day-to-day operations with that debt likely to be converted to equity should their takeover get the green light.

Potentially more serious for 777 is the revelation via Semafor that their "murky finances" are now under a federal investigation headed by the prosecutor who recently won a conviction against former FTX head Sam Bankman-Fried.

Nicolas Roos is part of a DoJ team looking into whether 777 "violated US money-laundering laws, among other infractions".

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

How to get rid of these ads and support TW

 ToffeeWeb
The Teton County Idaho Sheriffs Office is seeking an armed kidnapping and homicide suspect.

Jeremy Albert Best is a white 5-foot-11, 245-pound white male with graying hair and beard and was last seen driving a black Chevrolet Tahoe with Idaho license plate 1T39349.

An Amber Alert was issued early Friday morning for 10-month-old Zeke Best. The child was last seen in Victor, ID on Thursday night.

Jeremy Best is considered armed and dangerous. Members of the public are urged to call 911 or 208-354-2323 if they have information on Best, the child or the vehicle. Law enforcement has asked the public to not approach or attempt to confront Best.

Around 11:39 p.m. Thursday, the sheriffs office received a 911 call from the 4600 block of Skyline Loop in Victor, an early Friday press release noted. Deputies were dispatched to respond to a disturbance heard over the line.

Officers on the scene discovered a non-responsive female. Kali Jean Randall, of Victor was found dead at the home. Idaho State Police and the TCSO are investigating her death as a homicide, according to the press release.

Best is believed to have fled area with the child.
THE Merriam-Webster dictionary defines icon as a person or thing widely admired, especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere.

Subhas Panday believes his brother, Basdeo Panday, was such a person... and then some.
EU independent force in multi-polarization: Chinese FM

Xinhua) 09:30, December 01, 2023

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China regards the European Union (EU) as an independent force in multi-polarization and supports the development and growth of Europe and the strategic independence of the EU, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday.

China has always believed that China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and should respect, learn from and appreciate each other to jointly advance the progress of human civilization, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, when meeting with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.

Wang said China hopes that Slovenia will play a constructive role within the EU, help the EU form a more independent, objective and friendly opinion of China, and actively support and participate in the open cooperation between China and the EU.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ken Paxton, right, is sworn in as Texas Attorney General by Gov.-elect Greg Abbott, center, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, in Austin, Texas. Paxton is joined by his family and Gov. Rick Perry, second from right. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/AP

Political vendettas

Regarding Political vendettas shape endorsements from Abbott, Paxton in Texas House GOP primaries, (Nov. 24): I was shocked after reading this first paragraph: Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are backing opposing candidates in at least 11 Texas House primary races this spring  and both are motivated by political vendettas. It appears that both Abbott and Paxton, throughout their educational history, never had a course on representative government, nor learned anything about it thereafter. Its founding principle is that those elected to representative office represent their constituents, not the will of attorneys general nor governors.

Both these men should accordingly go on record with statements of neutrality regarding all candidate representatives, irrespective of the positions some have taken on issues concerning either of them.

It is also worth noting that political vendettas are regularly associated with dictators such as Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot and others of their ilk.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

John K. Lottinville, Webster

Political endorsement

Regarding See the editorial boards full list of 2023 election runoff endorsements (Opinion), (Nov. 27): Its very interesting that in your endorsement summaries you mentioned Tony Buzbee after endorsing his opponent, but failed to even mention Congresswoman Jackson Lee in your editorial endorsement of Sen. John Whitmire. In my opinion she has definitely done more for Houston than him and deserved a mention in your comments endorsing Whitmire.

Walter G. Diggles Sr., Jasper

Regarding Home Depot sales continue to slide but the biggest home improvement chain still tops expectations, (Nov. 14): Bernie Marcus, billionaire co-founder of Home Depot, has again expressed his intent to support Donald Trump, whether Trump is a convicted felon or not. No problem with his political leanings. But to use his profile, like any celebrity, to endorse one candidate or another comes with a risk. As Newtons third law states, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Marcus might do well to weigh his actions as they might reap an unfavorable reaction to Home Depot. I know they do for me.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jeff Knight, Houston

Regarding Nikki Haley wins backing from powerful Koch network as she aims to take on Trump, (Nov. 28): Yes! The Koch network endorses Nikki Haley. Smart move. The business community looks for stability. Business leaders seek confidence that they can have some idea of what tomorrow will bring. Sure, no candidate can guarantee that, but the former resident of the White House has demonstrated over and over that he can only deliver instability. Instability that benefits only himself. Nobody can predict the whims of a juvenile. Again, smart move, folks!

Voting challenges

Regarding Dont blame the kids for not voting. Help them. (Opinion), (Nov. 18): Heres another stumbling block to easy voting. I was trying to find where I vote in the Chronicle, of all the places. I couldnt find my ZIP code or precinct number. The list doesnt seem to be organized either by precinct number or by ZIP code. How is one expected to vote? This might be a reason for low voter turnout. Fortunately my mail-in ballot came in time but not everyone has a mail-in ballot. Its time to vote online.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Barbara Mandelstein, Houston

Runoffs

Regarding Early voting has begun for Houstons runoff election. Heres everything you need to know, (Nov. 27): Houstonians must vote again for mayor, controller and seven city council seats.

According to a Third Way analysis, in 2020, Harris County spent $1,696,591 on primaries and an additional $669,674 on runoffs. Voter turnout for the runoff decreased, as is typical, by 44%.

If Houston had ranked-choice voting, additional taxpayer cost to administer a second election, added costs for candidates and donors, and decreased voter participation in the final determination would have been avoided. Winners would already be known.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

With this nonpartisan change, instead of voting for a single candidate, voters rank candidates on the ballot in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes, the ranked preferences are considered to determine which candidate has the broadest support. The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters who picked that candidate as their first choice have their second-choice votes count. This process is repeated until one candidate accumulates more than half of the votes, thus serving as an instant runoff.

No extra trip to the polls or costly additional election is needed and everyone who voted in the original election easily participates in the instant runoff.

Currently, the Texas Election Code does not allow use of ranked-choice voting. Ranked Choice Voting for Texas, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, volunteer-run organization, would like to change that!

Whats not to like about getting candidates elected with broad voter support, reducing costs and improving the voter experience? More information can be found at RCVforTexas.org.

Harriet Wasserstrum, Bellaire, chair, Ranked Choice Voting for Texas
The Ministry of Works and Transport is being asked by citizens why it issued no warning to d
Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Customs and Border Protection announced suddenly it will shut down the port of entry at Lukeville on Monday, a move that will force Arizonans to drive hundreds of miles out of the way to get to and from the Sonoran beach town of Puerto Penasco.

CBP announced Friday it is redirecting Lukeville personnel to help the Border Patrol take migrants into custody as the border is overwhelmed by a surge in migrant arrivals. The agency did not say how long the indefinite closure of the crossing to all traffic, vehicular and pedestrian, will last.

A top Senate Republican is calling on Gov. Katie Hobbs to deploy the National Guard to keep the Lukeville port open to expedite traffic for Arizonans who need to cross.

On any given weekend, probably half of that city is Arizona citizens, said T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, the Senate president pro-tem. I want to make sure they are safe coming home and able to get across that border and keep it open.

They include his wife, Melissa, who is in Puerto Penasco, he said.

The thought of her having to drive through roads Ive never driven through, I cant verify the safety of that, Shope told Capitol Media Services.

But Hobbs is showing no interest in what Shope is proposing.

This is an unacceptable outcome that further destabilizes our border, risks the safety of our communities, and damages our economy by disrupting trade and tourism, the Democratic governor said in a joint statement with Democrat Mark Kelly and independent Kyrsten Sinema, the states two U.S. senators.

But they said the answer must come from Washington, D.C.

The federal government must act swiftly to maintain port of entry operations, get the border under control, keep Arizona communities safe, and ensure the humane treatment of migrants, they said. The administration must send immediate resources to secure the border and help our communities.

Partisan politicians who parrot talking points while watching the border further deteriorate must reject the echo chamber and work with us to get something done and keep our communities safe, their statement said.

The CPB decision most immediately means a detour for travelers  and a long one.

CBP is suggesting that people can enter or leave the U.S. at Nogales. But that is about a 200-mile trip from Lukeville.

The other option is San Luis, south of Yuma. That adds 130 miles.

While the Lukeville crossing closure, southwest of Tucson, is somewhat off the beaten path and generally not used by commercial traffic, Shope said its closure will have a major impact on Arizonans.

Thats a destination point for Arizonans, he said. Weve got a lot of them down there right now.

The federal agency, however, said it had no choice, saying it needs all available resources to expeditiously and safely process migrants.

Shope said that could be resolved if National Guard troops take the place of the CBP personnel at the Lukeville port for now.

He said the idea is not radical. California sent 24 soldiers to ports of entry in 2018 to handle operational and surveillance support. That included helping move vehicles into inspection areas, freeing up CBP officers to focus on front-line duties.

Arizona did the same thing in 2018, with troops helping with secondary inspections at commercial border crossings, doing things like operating X-ray machines.

And the Arizona National Guard reports it has several hundred soldiers deployed along the border handling routine, non-law-enforcement duties to help free up Border Patrol agents. These, however, were sent there not by Hobbs but under the authority of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Shope acknowledged these all have been support roles  and for an actual, operating border crossing. What he is proposing is to have National Guard personnel operate the closed port of entry by themselves.

They would be acting as federal agents  and enforcing federal immigration laws.

That presents a hurdle of its own, Shope acknowledged.

I get that there has to be coordination, he said. Is there a possibility for these folks to potentially even be federalized to help with the situation down there so we can keep that port of entry open?

Even if the legal hurdles can be cleared, that leaves another question: Who would pay for the deployment. Shope said the feds should pick up the tab as keeping border stations open is their role and responsibility.

If they need our help, they should be paying for it, he said.

Shope said its no different than when the federal government reimburses state and local agencies who fight fires on federal lands.

If we are to believe that the border is a federal jurisdiction role, then us offering to basically alleviate the pressure in that way, we should be compensated, he said.

Shopes request to the governor comes a day after U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Tucson, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas saying he should ask the Department of Defense to deploy the Arizona National Guard to help with this dire situation.

The situation is far past a breaking point and those on the front lines of this crisis are in need of immediate support, Ciscomani wrote. At that point, CBP had announced reduced vehicular traffic at Lukeville due to the migrant surge but had not yet said there would be a full closure.

The Border Patrols Tucson sector, including Lukeville, has been the busiest of none southern border sectors since July. In October, border agents encountered 55,000 migrants between official ports of entry in the sector, up from 51,000 the prior month. But the number of encounters along the entire U.S.-Mexico border fell in October.

The suspension of operations at Lukeville is just one of the actions being taken to deal with the surge.

John Modlin, chief Border Patrol agent for the Tucson sector, had announced Sunday that his staff reduced its social media posts to increase focus on border enforcement.

At this time, all available personnel are needed to address the unprecedented flow, he said in a Facebook post. The social media team will return once the situation permits.

But Modlin said that isnt cutting off all information. We will continue to post our weekly review statistics, demonstrating the continued efforts of our agents and staff, he said.
A Tucson tech startup is flying high after its tiny test satellite was blasted into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon rocket recently.

And this is just the beginning for Lunasonde, which in the next few years, plans to create a constellation of microsatellites that use low-frequency radar to map minerals and other resources far below the Earths surface.

Lunasondes latest satellite prototype  a CubeSat or cubic device roughly 4 inches in each dimension  was carried to space on a Falcon 9 rocket on Nov. 11 and deployed to a sun-synchronous, low-Earth orbit.

The satellite, dubbed Picacho, was sent up to test a mechanism to deploy a skinny, 12-foot-long antenna and to test communications systems, said Jeremiah Pate, Lunasondes young founder and CEO.

Pate, a former University of Arizona student who dove into entrepreneurship while still in high school, said he wasnt nervous as he watched a livestream of Picachos launch aboard SpaceXs Transporter 9 satellite rideshare mission from Californias Vandenberg Space Force Base from the comfort of his Tucson home.

Everybody thinks the launch is the scary part, Pate said. But thankfully, it is not the launch itself, with SpaceX flying so regularly, launches are now more reliable than ever. The scary part for us is the deployment of that large antenna, and that intended deployment didnt happen for a few days.

But Picacho eventually sent a signal indicating that the antenna had deployed, and Lunasonde has already received some initial signals, so its novel antenna  a thin metal strip that rolls out just like a carpenters tape measure  appears to be working, Pate said.

That long antenna is needed because Lunasondes technology uses very-low-frequency radio waves for detecting subsurface features up to 2 kilometers deep, Pate said.

While the radar guns police use to catch speeders have wavelengths millimeters or centimeters wide, the low-frequency wavelengths used by Lunasonde are about a kilometer wide, he explained.

So theyre these enormous radio waves and as a result, we have to build a lot of custom components and have a very big deployable antenna in order to operate at these frequencies, Pate said.

Mapping resources

Picacho is the second CubeSat Lunasonde has launched, after putting a similar-sized 1U or one unit CubeSat (each unit being 10 centimeters or about 3.9 inches in each dimension) into orbit aboard a SpaceX rideshare flight in 2022 to test some basic communication systems.

Next up, Lunasonde plans to send a 6-unit CubeSat  about the size of a shoebox  into orbit aboard a SpaceX rocket in June to test an even larger antenna system, Pate said.

Eventually, the company plans a constellation of eight 6U satellites that will work together to create a 3D map of Earthbound resources such as metals and water.

Lunasonde and its staff of about a dozen mostly engineers build its tiny satellites at its headquarters office in the Catalina Foothills, where its lab space includes a large Faraday cage to isolate radar equipment from outside radio signals during testing and a clean room for satellite assembly.

The company also has a thermal vacuum chamber cooled with liquid nitrogen to test equipment in the simulated vacuum of space, which Pate says costs about half a million dollars.

Pate said the imaging technology Lunasonde uses is a form of impedance spectroscopy, essentially measuring how an object responds electrically to different radio frequencies.

And so were doing the same thing just with our radar, where we have transmitted bands in a certain bandwidth and we look at the different amplitudes of that across the spectrum and from that, each different type of deposit has a unique fingerprint that we can go through and identify, he said.

The company also has developed its own software, dubbed Ingot, to process and display its 3D radar images.

Mines and water

Lunasondes technology  which it calls MRI for Planet Earth  can save time and money in finding viable mineral deposits and help the environment by reducing the need for exploratory drilling and digging, he said.

Small-scale, terrestrial ground-penetrating radar systems already are used for some mining applications, as well as for things like archaeology and locating underground utilities.

While he cant name them, Pate said he has already talked to a couple of the top five mining companies in the world that are interested in working with Lunasonde, while some smaller mining operators are interested in getting a leg up in finding new resources like rare-earth elements in high demand for batteries and other tech devices.

So really across the whole mining industry, weve had an enormous amount of interest, especially in the rare-earths space because thats something that is so urgently needed, Pate said.

But despite the increasing urgency over scarce water resources in the West, Lunasonde isnt finding much interest in its technology from that sector.

Water is actually the easiest thing for us to find, Pate said, noting that the company could track aquifers and how they change over time.

The only issue is that the people who want to look for water resources are the ones who dont have the money, and the ones that have the money dont see the need, he said, adding the company may offer water detection as an add-on service to its minerals business.

Meanwhile, Lunasonde is attracting plenty of attention from investors.

Lunasonde, which was part of the prestigious Techstars program in Boston last year, has raised more than $11 million in capital from investors, including Drive Capital, Promus Ventures and Lockheed Martin.

From biochem to orbit

Its been quite a personal journey for Pate, 25, who won a top award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2017 for his work on a potential treatment for Parkinsons disease while attending Basis Oro Valley High School.

Pate, who missed his high school graduation to attend the science fair in Los Angeles, also won a trip to the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm and a full scholarship to the UA.

He enrolled as a biochemistry major, but by that time, he had already launched Lunasonde in 2016 to advance his idea for a satellite-based radar ground scanning.

Pate quit school to focus on Lunasonde and is now pursuing a degree in physics through Arizona State Universitys online program.

In 2020, Pate was named to Forbes magazines 30 under 30 in manufacturing and industry.

Though Lunasonde is still in testing mode and the latest prototype represents an incremental step, Pate says the companys success so far is a win for the little guys in Tucsons nascent New Space industry.

Its not a huge step forward for Lunasonde, but honestly, I think its a massive step forward for the Tucson aerospace community, for the Arizona aerospace community, Pate said. Because in the past, a lot of aerospace here has been dominated by the bigger players, the Raytheons, etcetera, and so now were starting to see startups in Arizona building these really advanced satellites and using them.

Old Pueblo, New Space

One of those Tucson companies is UA tech spinoff FreeFall Aerospace, which has developed an inflatable antenna for satellites.

FreeFalls antenna is set to be launched into orbit as part of the UA student-made CatSat satellite, now scheduled to ride aboard a rocket launched by Texas-based Firefly Aerospace in March 2024.

Last month, FreeFall was accepted as a member of the latest cohort of space startups in the Seraphim Space/Generation Space Accelerator.

Meanwhile, Tucson-based small rocket and microsatellite startup Phantom Space Corp. recently inked a deal with Massachusetts-based Tropical Weather Analytics Inc. to design, manufacture, launch, and operate its Hurricane Hunter Satellite Constellation to monitor and better predict severe weather.

Phantom, led by early SpaceX veteran Jim Cantrell, said it also recently signed a contract with D-Orbit, an Italian company that offers satellite deployment services, to provide launch services for multiple future missions.

After successful hot-fire ground testing of its rocket engines, Phantom is planning for the first flight of its Daytona rocket in early 2025.
A federal inmate was charged Friday with attempted murder in the Tucson prison stabbing of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.

John Turscak stabbed Chauvin 22 times in the law library at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, with an improvised knife, federal prosecutors said.

Turscak, 52, told correctional officers he wouldve killed Chauvin had they not responded so quickly, prosecutors said.

Turscak later told FBI agents that hed been thinking about assaulting Chauvin for about a month because he is a high-profile inmate but denied wanting to kill him, prosecutors said.

Turscak told the agents that he attacked Chauvin on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, as a symbolic connection to the Black Lives Matter movement and the Black Hand symbol associated with the Mexican Mafia gang, prosecutors said.

An attorney for Turscak was not listed in court records and Turscak, who has represented himself in numerous court matters from prison, remained in custody on Friday.

Chauvin, 47, was sent to FCI Tucson from a maximum-security Minnesota state prison in August 2022 to simultaneously serve a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyds civil rights and a 22-year state sentence for second-degree murder.

Chauvins lawyer, Eric Nelson, had advocated for keeping him out of general population and away from other inmates, anticipating hed be a target.

In Minnesota, Chauvin was mainly kept in solitary confinement largely for his own protection, Nelson wrote in court papers last year.

Floyd, who was Black, died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin, who is white, pressed a knee on his neck for 9 minutes on the street outside a convenience store where Floyd was suspected of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. Bystander video captured Floyds fading cries of I cant breathe. His death touched off protests worldwide, some of which turned violent, and forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism.
Catalina Foothills Unified School District named its associate superintendent Denise Bartlett to succeed longtime Superintendent Mary Kamerzell, who is retiring next year.

Kamerzell, who has helmed the district for 27 years, will remain superintendent until June 30, 2024, when Bartlett will take over.

The district governing board unanimously approved Bartletts hiring Tuesday to a three-year contract to run from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027.

Bartletts salary as superintendent will start at $175,000. Should districtwide administrative pay raises be approved for the next two fiscal years, her salary would increase by the same dollar or percentage amount. However, this adjustment cannot exceed 3% of Bartletts base salary.

The hiring was based on a 40-criteria, eight-category evaluation process based on nonprofit leadership hiring practices, according to a meeting presentation.

After the vote, Bartlett shared highlights of her 100-day plan, saying the districts current strategic plan will continue to be the core guidance and she will continue work thats underway.

Bartletts plan says shell connect with the Catalina Foothills community and raise visibility, including attending district events and facilitating listen, learn, lead focus groups to help determine targeted insights and perspectives.

Im fortunate to have the opportunity to transition into this role under the guidance and mentorship of Mary Kamerzell, Bartlett said. Board President Eileen Jackson thanked Kamerzell for visionary leadership.

All of Catalina Foothills Unified School Districts K-12 schools  elementary, middle and high schools  were graded A this year by the Arizona Department of Education. The district has more than 5,400 students.

Kamerzell, who has been with the district since 1996, informed the board when signing her contract in 2021 that it would be her last. According to her LinkedIn profile, Bartlett has been with the Catalina Foothills district for 14 years, previously as an assistant superintendent and a school principal.

She holds a doctorate in education in policy and administration from Arizona State University and a masters degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Sandra Day OConnor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, a Republican, was considered a moderate conservative, who was often the swing or deciding vote. Here are some of her noted votes and opinions:

EQUAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS

1982: OConnor wrote the majority opinion in Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan, which ruled the nursing school had to admit men to the traditionally womens-only program. She wrote that excluding males from admission tends to perpetuate the stereotyped view of nursing as an exclusively womens job, according to the New York Times archive.

1996: Wrote the majority opinion in Shaw v. Reno, which decided that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause, and must ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. OConnor said the district in question bears an uncomfortable resemblance to political apartheid, the New York Times reported.

1999: Wrote the majority opinion in Aurelia Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education, a sexual harassment ruling that the school board was responsible for protecting a fifth-grade student from unwanted advances from another student.

2003: Was the deciding vote on Grutter v. Bollinger, which upheld affirmative action at the University of Michigan Law School. OConnor wrote, It is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity, according to the Civil Rights Project.

2003: Voted with the majority on Lawrence v. Texas, to strike down as unconstitutional the Texas Sodomy Law, which criminalized same-sex sexual activity. OConnor wrote in her concurring opinion that marriage should be limited to heterosexual couples to preserve the traditional institution of marriage; however, she did not feel law enforcement had the unrestricted right to enter someones home to see what consenting adults were doing.

2004: Voted with the majority on Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, the case of a U.S. citizen arrested as a Taliban combatant in Afghanistan, ruling that Americans were entitled to due process even when they were detained overseas in wartime. The citizen was named an enemy combatant, locked in prison and held incommunicado with no charges filed. OConnor wrote that we reaffirm today the fundamental nature of a citizens right to be free from involuntary confinement by his own government without due process of law, and we weigh the opposing governmental interests against the curtailment of liberty that such confinement entails, the New York Times reported.

ABORTION

1992: OConnor stated her personal abhorrence of abortion during her confirmation vetting process, but supported a persons right to make privacy decisions about his or her own body.

OConnor voted with the majority to uphold Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion, when ruling in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey.

The ruling also imposed a new standard to determine the validity of state laws restricting abortions: asking whether a state abortion regulation has the purpose or effect of imposing an undue burden, according to Oyez, judicial archive of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The joint opinion that OConnor shared with Anthony Kennedy and David Souter acknowledged the need for predictability and consistency in judicial decision making.

2000: Later she voted with the majority in Stenberg v. Carhart to strike down state laws banning the medical procedure that critics call partial-birth abortion. The court held that the laws violated the U.S. Constitution, as interpreted in Casey and Roe, because they placed an undue burden on a womans right to have an abortion and did not not provide a health exception for pregnant women facing a medical emergency.

BUSH V. GORE

2000: OConnor cast the deciding vote on the Bush v. Gore case in 2000. The ruling effectively ended the recount of votes in Florida for the presidential race, upheld the original certification of the states electoral votes, and enabled George W. Bush to become president.

In 2003, OConnor admitted misgivings about the highest court weighing in on the election. CBS reported that she told the Chicago Tribune editorial board that perhaps the court should have denied the Bush campaigns appeal of a Florida Supreme Court decision to allow a recount requested by the Gore campaign. She said the controversy over the decision gave the court a less-than-perfect reputation.
Harris County election volunteers and employees retrieve voting poll items from election judges cars at NRG Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

After a smooth election day in November, Houston voters will go back to the polls on Dec. 9 to vote in the mayoral runoff. Harris County elections have been under intense scrutiny from the Texas Legislature, state investigators and multiple court rulings, but now the year could end on a quiet note.

With early voting underway, Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said Wednesday that she expects the December election to be properly staffed despite the challenge of recruiting election day poll workers to run 450 voting locations on a Saturday during the holiday season.

RUNOFF VOTER GUIDE: A comprehensive guide to the local runoff elections

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"It does become a little bit more difficult," Hudspeth said, adding that staffing has always been an issue in December runoffs.

After rising through the ranks of the Harris County Clerk's Office over 15 years, Hudspeth has plenty of experience running elections. But the Nov. 7 general election was Hudspeth's first time at the helm.

Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature abolished Harris County's elections administrator position, returning those duties to the County Clerk and Tax Assessor-Collector, the two offices that ran elections and voter registration until Commissioners Court voted in 2020 to create an appointed administrator.

Looking back on Nov. 7, Hudspeth said many parts of the process went according to plan, while others encountered some hiccups.

The county opened six rally sites on election day so election judges running the polling locations could drop off ballots and equipment at a spot nearby, rather than only having one central dropoff location. In the runoff, Hudspeth said the county will use four sites.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"It does help with us having more efficiency in terms of getting the vote count in a little bit faster," Hudspeth said.

In November, around 7% of polls opened late on election day, which Hudspeth said is a normal, albeit unfortunate, part of running elections. The county relies on thousands of election judges  ordinary citizens who are trained to set up and run hundreds of polling locations across the county  and problems almost always arise.

"There are things that come up on election day that you can never expect," Hudspeth said. For instance, a security guard not opening up a gate so (voters) couldn't get in the building."

Additional training is one of the ways the county hopes to reduce the number of polls opening late.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In Harris County, voter turnout in runoff elections tends to fall between 17% and 21%, Hudspeth said. So far, she said turnout is trending toward the upper end of that spectrum.
PHOENIX  Reversing course, an Arizona Supreme Court justice says he won't take part in deciding whether virtually all abortions are illegal in the state after coming under criticism for past comments.

In a brief order Thursday, Justice William Montgomery cited a provision of the Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct listing the circumstances under which a judge "shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned.''

But he defended his initial Nov. 22 decision to continue to hear the case despite objections from Planned Parenthood Arizona, one of the parties. He said that was based on his belief that an "objective, disinterested observer'' would not question that justice would be done despite his past statements criticizing the national organization.

"Regardless, there exists a continuing duty for a judicial officer to consider whether recusal may be necessary,'' Montgomery wrote Thursday. "Subsequent to the Nov. 22 order, additional information related to the parties and respective counsel has come to my attention warranting that I recuse myself from any further deliberations in this matter."

Montgomery did not spell out that "additional information.'' A spokesman for the court said there would be no further comment.

In 2015 Montgomery said Planned Parenthood "encourages the very behavior that leads to STDs (sexually transmitted disease) and abortions" and "Their business model relies on it.''

And he stated in 2017 that "Planned Parenthood is responsible for the greatest generational genocide known to man.''

The court will hear arguments Dec. 12 about which of two potentially conflicting laws on abortion will be the law in Arizona.

"Personal bias or prejudice"

Within the judicial conduct provision Montgomery cited is a laundry list of factors that require recusal, ranging from a "personal bias or prejudice'' about a party or that person's lawyer, to questions of having a financial interest in the outcome of the case, to whether the judge has received certain campaign contributions.

Montgomery previously said his Planned Parenthood comments were irrelevant, coming when he was Maricopa County attorney, before he was tapped for the high court in 2019 by Republican then-Gov. Doug Ducey.

"As with any other case involving an issue I may have previously taken a position on while serving as an executive branch official, I will consider the facts and the law to determine the merits of any legal argument presented without regard for any prior position and without passion or prejudice,'' Montgomery had said. "My oath of office requires no less.''

That didn't end the matter, with attorneys for Planned Parenthood Arizona, citing a previous Capitol Media Services article, formally asking Montgomery to disqualify himself.

Montgomery responded with a 10-page, single-spaced statement where he explained in detail why he made the earlier comments about Planned Parenthood and why he said he could fairly judge the case.

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Arizona said the organization is pleased Montgomery has recused himself.

"As we said at that time, we believe that all litigants in Arizona are entitled to have their cases heard by judges who are not biased against them, and that includes Planned Parenthood Arizona,'' said Kelley Dupps, senior director public policy and government relations. "We welcome today's (Thursday's) order and believe the information we presented in our motion was more than sufficient for Justice Montgomery to recuse himself.''

What's next

Thursday's action leaves a decision to Chief Justice Robert Brutinel.

He is allowed to name a judge from the state Court of Appeals to sit in and help decide the case. But Brutinel also could opt to have the case heard with just the remaining six justices.

It is not known whether the other justices spoke with Montgomery about his initial decision to remain on the case. But there is no procedure for them to have overridden his initial decision that he could hear the case fairly.

What's at stake

Then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican, said last year that the 2022 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, and its finding that women had a federal constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, means each state gets to set its own laws.

He got Pima County Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson to rule that decision automatically reinstated a territorial-era law that outlaws all abortions in Arizona except to save the life of the mother.

But Planned Parenthood Arizona, along with Pima County Attorney Laura Conover, a Democrat, pointed out that Arizona lawmakers approved a law in 2022  before the U.S. Supreme Court ruling  allowing doctors to perform an abortion through the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.

That measure was designed to be ready had the U.S. Supreme Court, rather than overturning Roe, upheld a similar 15-week restriction from Mississippi.

Challengers argued the newer Arizona law still trumps the territorial act.

The Court of Appeals agreed, setting the stage for the December Arizona Supreme Court hearing  and prompting Planned Parenthood to ask Montgomery to recuse himself due to his prior statements.

Current Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, has sided with Planned Parenthood. That has left the task of defending the supremacy of the territorial-era law to Eric Hazelrigg, who was appointed by the courts to represent the interests of unborn children.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Leaders at Tulsa Public Schools are in the earliest stages of considering school closures through a broader consolidation effort, it was revealed Thursday at an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting.

The states largest school district is contending with State Superintendent Ryan Walters unrelenting demands for proof that local leaders can produce significant improvement in student achievement indicators in the current academic year.

As part of its compliance with stipulations the state board made in approving its annual accreditation, TPS administrators are being called upon to make monthly status updates.

Interim Superintendent Ebony Johnson revealed that school closures are under consideration because of the states urging to consolidate staff and other resources.

Asked for further details, a TPS spokesman told the Tulsa World that district leaders are in the earliest stages of discussing the idea.

Weve been asked to evaluate all options for improving results for our students, and we are going to make sure staff and resources are in their best fit for promoting student outcomes, said Luke Chitwood. Theres not a defined timeline. I think were just following through on what the state has asked us to consider.

In a written statement issued Thursday afternoon, TPS officials said the district was asked by state Department of Education officials to address the possibility of closing or consolidating schools during its November presentation before the Oklahoma State Board of Education and that any decisions to that effect would be made by TPS board.

Any closure or consolidation of schools is a local decision and requires careful consideration and intentional engagement with our families, community and board, the statement says.

After Thursdays presentation by TPS officials, Walters and other members of his team said they are not being ambitious enough in goal-setting.

The state Department of Education wanted to take it upon itself to establish new goals that will double as new minimum standards for Tulsa to be accredited by the state in future academic years, and Gov. Kevin Stitts appointed state Board of Education gave its unanimous approval.

Tulsa is giving us updates and talking about processes and procedures. Those are not outcomes. This solidifies heres the number. Its super clear, said Walters. Whether it is a school shutdown, whether it is combining school sites or changing leadership, we are still giving Tulsa the ability to hit these targets.

Todd Loftin, chief academic officer at the state Department of Education, told the board he believes that TPS has not outlined ambitious goals for student learning, has not trained all its teachers to provide the best instruction, and has not identified which schools should be closed due to poor performance or developed any type of restructuring plan.

As far as consolidation, Loftin said he and other state officials have analyzed TPS staffing data showing how many teachers at individual sites have three or fewer years of experience, where the district has its most effective instructional leaders, and even school sizes, which vary widely.

We need to get a plan in place as soon as possible, Loftin said.

The state board-approved new minimum improvements for TPS to achieve before July are:

A minimum of 50% of students scoring at least in the basic range on the 2024 state test in English/language arts for public school students or increase the number of students who score basic or above by at least 5%.

At least 12 of TPS' 18 most rigorous intervention sites will not be redesignated as such. The label is applied to sites that consistently earn low grades on the state report card.

All teachers and school administrators will be trained in a state-approved science of reading model.

Protect TPS, a grassroots group of Tulsans led by parent Ashley Daly, released a written statement to the press saying the saying the state board agreed to adopt unrealistic goals and that the group believes that the school district is simply being set up for a state takeover.

No evidence has been provided indicating that any other district of similar size or circumstance has ever made such gains, says the Protect TPS statement. Under the guise of high expectations, the Oklahoma State Board of Education has laid the groundwork for an eventual takeover that will serve as a model for further takeovers of more than 40 districts who will be subject to similar treatment and unrealistic expectations should the proposed accreditation plan move forward.

Protect TPS urges intervention from legislators, the public, and educators to halt this chaotic approach and promote fair, locally-driven governance.

During the meeting, Walters estimated that meeting the first goal for improved test outcomes would require TPS to get 1,300 students to improve from below basic to the basic range on reading tests.

We are simply helping Tulsa hit half of basic, which is still insufficient for helping a student succeed in life, said state board member Don Burdick, a businessman from Tulsa. That is the focus, and people get mad at you? (referring to Walters) Im flabbergasted.

State tests are used to determine a students readiness along a continuum.

Below basic is the lowest outcome on that continuum, meaning unsatisfactory, according to the state.

Basic or limited knowledge means the student demonstrates partial mastery of the essential knowledge and skills that are foundational.

Proficient means the student demonstrates mastery over challenging grade-level subject matter, and students who score in the advanced range demonstrate superior performance on challenging subject matter.
Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading.

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy
Felix Clary Tulsa World Indigenous Affairs Reporter Follow Felix Clary Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

TAHLEQUAH  After Gov. Kevin Stitt celebrated his proclaimed Native American Family Day at his Oklahoma City mansion Tuesday, the Cherokee Nation chief called the event an afterthought and a missed opportunity to mend tribal relations.

Gov. Stitts gathering strikes me as the kind of empty afterthought that he has used when hes tried to make overtures to tribes, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a Tulsa World interview Thursday. I think that it wasnt a meaningful event.

I think the fact that he excluded the major tribes of this state, by population, shows that it was an afterthought. Perhaps he was trying to send a message to us with a disinvite.

Although approximately 60 community members with Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw backgrounds attended, none of the leaders of those tribes was told about the event.

Its not necessarily that the tribal leaders were not invited, but we invited people from the tribal communities who dont get the opportunity to do that all the time, Stitt spokeswoman Abegail Cave said Thursday.

Stitt has had a strained relationship with tribal nations in Oklahoma, stemming from his first year in office with disputes over tribal gaming. More recently, the governor has made waves over state compacts related to traffic tickets for Native citizens with tribal license plates.

Cave said the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw tribal leaders have an open invitation to the governors home.

They have his phone number and can call him anytime, she said.

The tribal leaders werent excluded from the event, Cave said, which she characterized as a quieter one.

We tried to get a good mix of people from multiple tribes that would think its exciting to be invited to the governors home, she said.

According to Cave, Choogie Kingfisher, a Cherokee citizen from Tahlequah who has been a storyteller for more than 40 years, was invited to the event.

Kingfisher was quoted in Oklahoma Voice coverage of the event: (Its) just a wonderful opportunity and makes me feel good that here we are (outside) the governors mansion and sharing this cultural day as were drawing to a close of a Native American month.

Hoskin was in Tahlequah on Thursday to sign a revenue-sharing agreement with the city regarding traffic tickets given to tribal citizens within the city limits. When asked about the Native American Family Day proclamation, Hoskin said Stitt ought to have been celebrating throughout the month.

There was an entire month to celebrate Native American heritage in this state, and if theres any place on this planet where there ought to be a celebration, crossing geographic lines, crossing party lines, crossing racial lines, it ought to be the state of Oklahoma, which was created on top of tribal nations. 

That didnt happen this month, Hoskin said of the governors efforts. Its not at all a surprise.

The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
The administration of Dong Thap Province in southern Vietnam held a trade and investment matchmaking conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday as part of a scheme to promote partnerships between local businesses and Japanese enterprises.

Representatives from more than 50 businesses from Dong Thap and localities across Japan spent the event discussing the provinces investment potential, business strengths, and corporate climate.

At the event, Le Quoc Phong, chief of the provincial Party Committee, said that Dong Thap - Japan import-export turnover reached US$18 million last year and $20.5 million during the first eight months of this year, primarly due to heavy trade in footwear, fruits, fishery, rice, and collagen products.

Phong also pledged to support Japanese businesses who invest in the province.

Over the past several years, Dong Thap has made great efforts to improve its traffic infrastructure system to facilitate the transport of goods, including the development of the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway and two ports in the Tien River.

This 27.43km expressway, whose work began in late June this year, will start from an intersection linking with the My An - Cao Lanh Expressway in Dong Thaps Cao Lanh District to another intersection connected to the Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway section in southern Tien Giang Provinces Cai Be District, at an estimated cost of VND5.886 trillion ($242.8 million) backed by the state budget.

Once completed, the route is expected to reduce the time needed to travel between Dong Thap and Ho Chi Minh City by two hours.

Dong Thap has set multiple goals for the years ahead, including an annual growth target of 7-7.5 percent, and is expected by the Vietnamese prime minister to serve as a role model in modern rural development, sustainable agriculture, and smart farming, Phong elaborated.

Le Quoc Phong (R), chief of the Dong Thap Province Party Committee; Pham Thien Nghia (L), chairman of the Dong Thap Province administration, chat with Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Masuo Ono on the sidelines of the conference. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

According to Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Masuo Ono, Japanese businesses consider Vietnam the second-most attractive investment destination, just after the U.S..

The Japanese diplomat suggested that Dong Thap consider launching a Japan Desk at the headquarters of the provincial administration to serve as a bridge between Vietnamese and Japanese businesses.

He also predicted that Dong Thap would attract increased investment in various sectors, such as farm produce processing, logistics, and tourism once its traffic infrastructure system is improved.

Huynh Van Son (L), vice-chairman of the administration of Long An Province in southern Vietnam, presents a gift to Singaporean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Roy Kho for connecting Singaporean businesses with those in Long An. Photo: Son Lam / Tuoi Tre

In related news, Long An Province, near Dong Thap, on Wednesay held a seminar to promote cooperation between the province and Singaporean businesses.

The event was attended by Singaporean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Roy Kho, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Singapore Cao Xuan Thang, and over 100 representatives of local and Singaporean enterprises.

According to the Singaporean diplomat, Long An is an important partner for Singaporean companies. He suggested both sides should focus on expanding business cooperation.

Several Singaporean firms at the event expressed interest in partnering with Long An businesses with expertise in logistics and digital transformation.

Huynh Van Son, vice-chairman of the provincial administration, said Singapore ranks first by foreign direct investment (FDI) in Long An with more than $4 billion invested, accounting for 37 percent of the total FDI from 40 countries and territories with investments in the locality.

The province pledged to create favorable conditions for Singaporean firms to expand their businesses in technology innovation, digital transformation, green energy transition, industrial infrastructure development, urban infrastructure development, healthcare, processing industries, and finance.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Editors note: Milena Padula, president of the Consular Club of Ho Chi Minh City, talked about her morning reading habit on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Tuoi Tre Online, the Vietnamese online version of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

I like the paper edition of Tuoi Tre even if I can't read it in Vietnamese. I found the red titles quite iconic compared to the black ones I usually see in Italy.

I read the English online version instead. I like Tuoi Tre because the newspaper describes different aspects of life in Vietnam and in Ho Chi Minh City.

It also writes about international news, and it is interesting for me to read about the Vietnamese perspective on what is happening internationally.

The online version is well done and it has an attractive design. It is also very easy to find the news I am looking for.

I read Tuoi Tre every morning, when I wake up and drink my cup of Italian espresso.

My expectation for the future is to see more news about Italian culture and lifestyle as Vietnamese people seem to be more and more interested in my country.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Luu Nguyen Nguyet Minh, an alumnus of the UK governments Chevening Scholarship Program, is working alongside a cohort of her fellow Chevening alumni to promote the shift to renewable energy in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region.

Last weekend, the group hosted a two-day training program for 9th graders at Doan Thi Diem Middle School in Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City.

The program, named 'Enhancing Awareness of Renewable Energy Toward Achieving Zero Net Emissions in the Mekong Delta,' brought several Chevening scholars and local experts together to teach the participants about simple renewable energy models.

Minh, a Can Tho native, has spent the better part of her academic and professional life working to create positive changes in the Mekong Delta region.

"The project brings together Chevening alumni, young engineers, and lecturers from Can Tho University, Minh said. Young people in the Mekong Delta, especially in Can Tho, have the ability and passion to build a sustainable and healthy delta.

During the training program, Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, a Chevening scholar who specializes in environmental and energy studies, spent time teaching the participants about energy, including different sources of energy and actions they can take within their families and schools to implement renewable energy and efficient energy-saving practices.

Thu specifically focused on the Mekong Deltas abundance of wind as a clean, renewable energy source for the region.

Contributing to the project, Bui Minh Duc, a construction engineer in Can Tho, along with a team of experts, built a visual model depicting four systems of renewable energy production.

According to Duc, the model allows students to visualize the basic principles of generating electricity from renewable sources. The students also wrote down the ideas for their own model and presented them in English.

The model will eventually be donated to the school so that it can continue to be used to inspire the transition to renewable energy.

On December 11, a convoy from the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City will visit the school to present awards to the teams who participated in a solar energy-powered mini vehicle design competition.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
LONDON/MOSCOW/DUBAI -- 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 two percent [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 percent 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 one 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 five 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.
They may weigh a maximum 500 grams and only grow to 10 centimetres (four inches) at most -- but farming of giant snails is proving big business in Ivory Coast.

Considered a delicacy for their tasty flesh, the slime and shells of the giant snails are also used to make cosmetics.

But nearly 90 percent of the West African country's forests have disappeared over the last 60 years, something which, together with widespread use of pesticides have decimated wild snails' natural habitat.

Most forest has been lost to agricultural production in the world's top producer of cocoa -- to the detriment of the creatures which naturally thrive in a hot, humid environment.

As wild snail numbers have steadily fallen, farms specialised in breeding them have increasingly sprung up -- some 1,500 in the humid south alone.

A popular appetiser in Ivory Coast, the snails are bred in farms such as one of many in the town of Azaguie, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the commercial capital, Abidjan.

Inside some 10 brick and cement containers topped with mesh lids is a layer of earth and another of leaves.

Between the two slither thousands of snails, juveniles and breeders -- some much larger than those found in Europe.

The gastropods are watered and fed every two days.

Purists swear by the "wild" snail captured in the forest, on the grounds, they say, of its tastier meat.

But Bernus Bleu, founder and director of Ivory Coast Snail Expertise (CIEE), one of the largest companies producing, processing and marketing giant gastropods, rejects that view.

His company's watchword is "same snail, same taste" -- he insists there is no difference in taste between those which roam wild and the farmed variety.

On the farms "we reproduce the natural environment of rainforest snails and they only eat leaves, fruits, vegetables, corn, millet and soya. No pesticides are used, it is entirely organic," Alexis Famy, CIEE technical coordinator, said.

Jean-Norbert Akesse, a former trader in the Abidjan suburbs who manages one of around 30 Azaguie farms, opened the site in 2021 and has no regrets.

"It's profitable!" he said with a smile, explaining how, on completing his professional training, he invested two million CFA francs (3,000 euros, $3,300) in the enterprise.

Today, the farm brings in 12 million francs per year, a more than comfortable income in Ivory Coast where the minimum wage is 75,000 francs per month (barely $120).

Akesse sells his entire production exclusively to CIEE.

The simplicity of snail farming, its productivity and profitability have attracted thousands of Ivorians to the sector, after first receiving training.

In five years, production has soared from 25 to 250 tonnes of snails per month, according to the government.

Created six years ago, CIEE has 50 farms and processing units, employs 75 staff, trains some 200 people per month and helps to get them established.

Most create their own livestock farms or join cooperatives with intra-company contracts.

From around 25,000 farms currently, the sector is targeting bumping up the number of producers to 100,000 in the next few years.

"With the snail, nothing gets thrown away," said Bleu.

The flesh, which is very popular with Ivorians as well as in neighbouring Gulf of Guinea countries, is typically consumed with a spicy sauce or grilled on skewers.

It's an affordable dish, often served in popular bars and restaurants called "maquis".

The slime is used to make soap, shower gel or ointment, while the powdered shell is used in the manufacture of other cosmetics or animal feed.

At the CIEE's headquarters in Azaguie, women make soap and shower gel from snail slime, mixed with coconut oil, green colouring and perfume.

On average, the small, rudimentarily equipped workshop produces some 5,000 soaps and 5,000 bottles of gel each week.

"Snail slime hydrates the skin, removes impurities and prevents its ageing," workshop supervisor Nelly Blon said.
Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) early Friday morning (Vietnam time) to attend the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) and other activities at the invitation of the UAE government.

The Vietnamese government leader and his wife Le Thi Bich Tran, along with their entourage, were welcomed at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai by representatives from the COP28 organizers and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UAE Ambassador to Vietnam Bader Almatrooshi and Vietnamese Ambassador to the UAE Nguyen Manh Tuan were present at the reception.

Upon his arrival, PM Chinh had talks with UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization Abdulrahman Al Awar as well as UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al-Marri before attending the COP28, which opened the same day in Dubai and will last until December 12.

The event is expected to draw around 70,000 participants, including government leaders from 197 countries, EU officials, heads of non-governmental organizations, business representatives, youth delegates, and other related parties.

The COP28, for which the UAE has the presidency, is a decisive moment to act on climate commitments and prevent the worst impacts of climate change, according to a press release from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The conference takes place as this year is already known to be the hottest period ever recorded in humankind, as the impacts of the climate crisis wreak unprecedented havoc on human life and livelihoods around the world, the UNFCCC said.

At the event, PM Chinh will reaffirm Vietnam's determination to strengthen international cooperation in climate change response, as well as the countrys relevant commitments including its 2050 net-zero emissions target, according to ambassador Tuan.

As part of his four-day trip, Chinh will attend and speak at the World Climate Action Summit, scheduled for December 1-2 within the framework of the COP28.

The PM will join General Director of UK-based Standard Chartered Bank Michele Wee in co-chairing an event to mobilize funds for the implementation of Vietnam's commitments on climate change.

Chinh will also deliver a speech at the announcement ceremony for Vietnams Resource Mobilization Plan (RMP) under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) announced by Vietnam and the International Partners Group last year, as part of the JETPs that serve as financing mechanisms between developed and developing countries in which the former provide funding for the latter to transition to green energy.

Among tens of other activities, the Vietnamese government chief will witness the signing of memorandums of understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and its partners, and between Vietnamese businesses and banks with their counterparts.

He will also speak at the Vietnam-UAE Business Forum and meet with many leaders of international organizations and large corporations of the UAE.

Since the 2021 COP26 summit, where PM Chinh pledged that Vietnam would achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the country has launched a series of relevant action programs, including the establishment of a national steering committee to fulfill Vietnams COP26 commitments.

Regarding the relationship between Vietnam and the UAE, whose diplomatic relations were set up 30 years ago, Ambassador Tuan said that the PMs ongoing trip to the Middle East country will help lift the bilateral cooperation in multifaceted fields to a new height, according to the Vietnam News Agency

The visit, along with Chinhs recent trip to Saudi Arabia, will contribute to promoting Vietnams ties with Gulf countries, bringing the UAE and other member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council closer to the Southeast Asian nation, Tuan said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee speaks on Nov. 8, 2023, during a news conference in which Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner endorsed her to succeed him. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee shared this statement on Thursday in response to the Houston Chronicle's inquiry concerning high turnover rates at her office and complaints of negative interactions with former staff members.

Read her full statement below:

In a profile by the New York Times entitled A voice on Capitol Hill, the late and respected member of Congress and the former Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Lantos said the following, I find her an incredibly conscientious, serious, committed, passionate public servant. I don't watch C-Span that much, but friends of mine who do tell me that Sheila is on whenever they turn on the set.''

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

My colleagues have often said that they see me as the hardest working member of Congress. I have loved my work on behalf of Houstonians in the United States Congress. I have enjoyed working with an array of staffers of many backgrounds, many personalities and who are greatly diverse.

During that time, we have achieved enormous work for this city. Bringing in almost a trillion dollars in federal funds to the city of Houston. Having successfully secured an immense number of community projects that impact public safety, health care, children, the environment, housing, and beyond. I have enjoyed my work with my employees and these incidents that have been cited, I have no recollection.

But I do know that we have together produced great legislation and I was told by many of them, when they left my office, that their careers have been catapulted because they were associated with our office. I am proud of that record. I am a passionate leader. And so, interactions that may not have been perceived as pleasant were not intended by me. I want Houstonians to remember each others humanity, including mine, I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and someone who cares deeply about this city and that should not be ignored.

My leadership goal is to get the job done. That is evidenced by the work I have done in passing historic legislation like the Violence Against Women Act, working on real immigration reform. Leading on the 911 legislation as Chair of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, finally passing it many years after 911.

Making it illegal for doping in the international Olympics, an historic bill that was supported by Republicans and Democrats signed by the President of the United States which protected the many hard working athletes who suffered because of other countries like Russia who used doping to enhance their Olympian performance.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Working to ensure the rehabilitation of federal prisoners with reentry programs and training for real work before they leave incarceration.

Every natural disaster, seven under the present mayor, every single one I was able to bring federal funds to help the impacted residents of Houston. Whether it was a hurricane, or the freeze or the pandemic where I led on opening over 150 testing sites, I have always been about getting the job done for the people of Houston.

If there is a question about my potential leadership for the City of Houston, we merely need to go back to my service as a Houston city councilman. My rapport with city workers was without question. I applauded them. I was very grateful for their unselfish service. I worked hand in hand with the Houston Police Department and the Houston Fire Department. Today I am pleased to have members of the Houston Police Department and the Houston Fire Department individually supporting me for the position of Mayor.

In my service as an associate municipal court judge, I have those who appeared before me who have thanked me for my judgment and my temperament. It is a good feeling. And so, I am not a stranger to City Hall. I won't have a problem working with city workers or department heads. And I won't blame one race or another for the alleged problems of City Hall. We will have the most diverse and effective team of leaders as we have now and even more to come. But I will not make this a race game. I will make this an environment where we all work together to have a multicultural city and a multicultural City Hall.

That is what I did as a member of Houston City Council when Mayor Kathy Whitmire appointed me to Chair the very important Human Relations committee.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

So, I would simply say I'm excited about the opportunity to lead this city because I have new ideas, I have smart ideas, but really, I have a love and a passion for the people of Houston.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted separate receptions for Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Simsek as well as Minister of Industry and Technology Fatih Kacir on Thursday during his visit to Turkey from Wednesday to Thursday.

At the reception for Minister Simsek, PM Chinh stressed that Vietnam and Turkey hold strategically important geographical positions and can support each other in connecting with large markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

There is much room left for further cooperation between the two nations whose economies can complement each other, but the number of their cooperation frameworks remains modest, the top Vietnamese official said.

PM Chinh suggested Minister Simsek continue his active contributions to effectively enhance bilateral economic ties, especially facilitating negotiations on the Vietnam - Turkey Free Trade Agreement (FTA), removing trade barriers to Vietnamese export products, and recognizing the market economy status of Vietnam.

Minister Simsek said that the Vietnam-Turkey relations have many favorable conditions to advance further.

The senior Turkish official affirmed that Vietnam remains one of Turkey's priority economic partners in Asia and hoped that both nations will strengthen multifaceted cooperation in the upcoming time.

Minister Simsek underlined the need for the two countries to jointly bolster air links, visa policies, and open branches of Turkish commercial banks in Vietnam.

The Turkish minister suggested reducing the number of remedy measures to bolster trade cooperation, studying the possibility of initiating FTA negotiations to achieve a balance of trade and establish stronger cooperation frameworks in the years to come, and encouraging Turkish enterprises to engage more in investment and infrastructure development projects in Vietnam.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) shakes hands with Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Fatih Kacir. Photo: Nhat Bac / Tuoi Tre

During his reception for Minister Kacir, the Vietnamese government leader affirmed that Vietnam wishes to beef up cooperation with Turkey in the national industrialization process and pledges support for Turkish enterprises in doing business in the Southeast Asian nation.

PM Chinh proposed the Turkish side mull over the possibility of making investment in and sharing its experience to operate hi-tech parks and industrial zones in Vietnam.

Minister Kacir stated that Turkey likes to bolster its cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of industry, hi-tech, automation, national defense, automobile manufacturing, and others.

According to his suggestions, Turkish electric carmakers and their Vietnamese partners should boost further cooperation. He said that it is a new yet highly potential sector.

He also suggested both sides continue completing legal frameworks to pave the way for the two countries cooperation activities in the upcoming period.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh alluded to defense cooperation during his visit on Thursday to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), a major manufacturer of aerospace products and services based in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey.

Representatives of Turkey and TAI briefed PM Chinh on strengths of Turkeys defense industry.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) shakes hands with a leader of Turkish Aerospace Industries in Turkey, November 30, 2023. Photo: Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre

According to them, TAI is a leading Turkish defense company that engages in the design, development, modernization, manufacturing, integration, and life cycle support of integrated aerospace systems.

Among its manufacturing plants, TAI has a modern aircraft manufacturing facility with hi-tech machines and equipment.

TAIs main products range from high-resolution national reconnaissance satellite Gokturk-2, medium-range twin-engined transport aircraft CASA/IPTN CN-235 to unmanned aerial vehicles.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects an aircraft miniature displayed at Turkish Aerospace Industries in Turkey, November 30, 2023. Photo: Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre

A TAI leader said the company looks to strengthen its cooperation with Vietnam in some projects and cooperation events launched earlier.

Last year, TAI representatives attended the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.

PM Chinh said that Turkey had experienced tough periods during which it was restrained from cooperating with other countries.

After that, Turkey made huge efforts to develop its defense industry based on advanced technology, with its heavily-invested aviation sector able to satisfy domestic demand and the need for export.

The Vietnamese cabinet leader thanked Turkey for supporting and collaborating with Vietnam in the defense industry.

Vietnam is fully aware that its key mission is to firmly protect its independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, PM Chinh asserted.

To do so, Vietnam needs to modernize the defense industry using modern and practical approaches in line with the countrys national defense and military strategies, he said.

The top Vietnamese official proposed that both sides explore the possibility of fostering their cooperation based on each sides demand and ability, especially in the defense industry.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Eleven students at Nguyen Quy Duc Middle School in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi complained of headache, nausea, and fatigue on Wednesday after consuming candy labeled with foreign lettering.

The alleged food poisoning case occurred at 1:40 pm on the same day, according to a representative of the school.

The affected students were admitted to the schools healthcare room after alerting teachers to their symptoms.

They said that they had bought the exotic candy on their way to school and that their symptoms began to appear about 45 minutes after eating the sweet food.

They are currently in stable condition, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The school alerted parents to the situation and warned both children and families against consuming exotic candy.

The Peoples Committee of Dai Mo Ward, where the school is located, sent a report of the case to the Nam Tu Liem District administration, and asked police officers to visit the store where the students bought the sweet for a check.

Police seized 66 bags of candy, peaches, strawberries, and other food products with labels written in a foreign language.

Tran The Cuong, director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, urged the leaders of the divisions of education and training in 30 districts and towns, as well as schools to tighten control over food safety.

City schools were told to warn students against eating candy of unknown origin.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Turkish Aerospace Industries on Thursday, suggesting cooperation in the defense industry.

-- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse arrived at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to start his working trip to engage in multiple bilateral activities and attend the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates throughout this weekend.

Society

-- Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang were honored at Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023 on Thursday.

-- Google granted 500 cybersecurity scholarships to young Vietnamese during a forum on the youth's leading role in digital transformation in Hanoi on Thursday.

-- Vietnam's rice won the World's Best Rice 2023 competition and was honored at the World Rice Conference Summit in the Philippines on Thursday. This is the second time the Vietnamese rice has claimed the title.

-- In Vietnam, around 42 percent of workers feel stresed, delegates said at a Belgium-Luxembourg business conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, citing data from World Health Organization and International Labor Organization.

Business

-- About 87 percent of Vietnam's banks said their investments in technology and ebanking have been limited this year because of economic difficulties, according to a report Finastra, a provider of international financial software, unveiled on Thursday.

-- Vietnam exported US$5.3 billion worth of vegetables and fruits, including above $2 billion earned from durian exports, in January-November, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

World News

-- "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," Reuters reported.

-- "Tesla's long-delayed Cybertruck will be priced starting at $60,990, over 50% more than what CEO Elon Musk had touted in 2019 and a cost analysts have said will draw select, affluent buyers," according to Reuters.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
As a reader and a long-term partner of Tuoi Tre (Youth)newspaper, British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Emily Hamblin congratulated its Vietnamese online version Tuoi Tre Online on the occasion of its 20th anniversary and hoped the two sides will have better cooperation in the future.

"On behalf of the British Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to Tuoi Tre Online on its special 20th anniversary, she said in an email sent to Tuoi Tre News.

In 20 years, you have developed from a news bulletin to be one of the top three leading online media outlets in Vietnam with high-quality news, including about the activities of the UK in Vietnam.

Our iconic UK Festivals 2023, which celebrated 50 years of UK-Vietnam bilateral relations, as well as many diplomatic and trade activities have been more accessible to overseas readers thanks to you.

We appreciate the Tuoi Tre team for your cooperation and wish you a lot of success for many years ahead!"

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A restaurant in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam has found a customer who mistakenly transferred VND270 million (US$11,140) for a VND270,000 ($11.1) meal to return the spare amount, the restaurateur said on Thursday.

Hoang Hiep, the owner of Lan Ngan Restaurant in Thanh Hoa City under the namesake province, had earlier asked for netizens and media agencies help to find the customer who made the error.

On Thursday afternoon, the customer, named H.T.T.T., 40, residing in Nghi Son Town, Thanh Hoa Province, contacted the restaurant after reading its notification on social media and in newspapers.

T. had returned to Vietnam after working in Taiwan and had lunch at Lan Ngan Restaurant on Friday last week.

When making the payment, she was not aware that she had transferred VND270 million to the restaurants account.

Her personal information and the money transfer time coincided with those of the customer transferring the money to the restaurant.

The restaurant also checked its CCTV footage to confirm that T. was the customer that it was seeking.

The restaurateur asked her to come to a local police station to receive the money on Friday morning.

Hiep said that many imposters had contacted his restaurant attempting to take the money.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Vietnam won the highest award at the 15th world's best rice competition held in the Philippines for its ST25 rice.

This is the second time ST25 rice has been named the best rice variety in the world, following the first time in 2019.

The competition is part of the World Rice Conference Summit organized by the Rice Trader, a publication providing in-depth analysis of the global rice industry, on Thursday.

ST25 defeated 29 other rice samples from 10 countries to claim the title.

It was followed by Cambodian and Indian rice varieties.

Ho Quang Cua (holding a conical hat) on a rice field in Kon Tum Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Photo: Tien Trinh / Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese agricultural engineer Ho Quang Cua, who breeds and improves the ST25 rice variety, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper via a phone call that he was happy and honored.

The ST25 rice sample brought to the competition this year was cultivated on 2.6 hectares in Soc Trang Province, southern Vietnam.

The rice was harvested on September 14 and 15, when it was raining, but it was still fragrant, Cua added.

Delegates at the conference asked for all 50 200-gram packs of ST25 rice after it was named the best rice in the world and praised its fragrance, Cua informed.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City were honored at the Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023 on Thursday.

Hanoi brought home the title of Startup - Innovation - Creativity for its work on building a database that will be a new resource to turn it into a smart city as well as issuing an open data set aimed at benefiting state agencies, residents, firms, and organizations.

The Vietnamese capital city is stepping up its efforts to deploy digital infrastructure and data centers.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Viet Hung represents Hanoi to receive an award at the Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023 in Hanoi, November 30, 2023. Photo: Supplied

Ho Chi Minh City was honored for its use of a smart electronic toll collection system in infrastructure, buildings, and public utilities at seaports.

The implementation of this system resulted from citys efforts to apply information technology to state governance.

Ho Chi Minh City was honored for smart application at the Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023. Photo: Supplied

The awards ceremony, organized for the fourth time by the Vietnam Association for Software and IT Services, also lauded the coastal city of Da Nang for its outstanding achievements in smart public service, infrastructure management, smart environment management, and its appeal to innovative startups.

Notably, Da Nang was named an 'excellent city' thanks to its smart urban construction and development.

Southern Tay Ninh Province was hailed for its intelligent operation.

The Vietnam Smart City Awards 2023 was launched on July 20, covering three categories: smart cities, smart real estate projects, and digital solutions for smart cities.

The annual awards, initiated in 2020, are meant to honor cities and provinces, real estate developers, and tech firms for their contributions to building smart and sustainable cities in Vietnam.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
On Sundays 60 Minutes a major investigation into the failings that risked compromising operations and lives of AFP cops.

Breaking Cover

Being a police officer can often be dangerous, but within the Australian Federal Police theres a special division of cops whose role is so constantly treacherous that every day is a matter of life and death. Theyre undercover operatives who work at the very front line of crime-fighting in Australia and internationally. The protection of these officers should be a priority, but remarkably, when the AFP conducted a high-level inquiry into its own undercover program, it found major failings that risked compromising operations and lives. In a major investigation by 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Nick McKenzie reports that police insiders are now so worried about the safety of their brave colleagues theyre breaking cover in the hope of achieving long-term accountability and reform.

Reporter: Nick McKenzie

Producers: Amelia Ballinger, Hannah Bowers, Serge Negus

First Aid

Over the past 15 years Australia has given the Solomon Islands more than three billion dollars in aid  far more than any other country has given. Without doubt the help is much needed, but whether its appreciated is another matter. It seems the Solomon Islands government is much more grateful for the far less aid it receives from China. In a special report for 60 Minutes, Eryk Bagshaw, North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, travels to the Solomons to investigate the very determined battle between east and west to win hearts and minds in this strategically important Pacific nation.

Reporter: Eryk Bagshaw

Producer: Natalie Clancy

Sole Destroying

When someone goes to a doctor or a surgeon for treatment, the expectation is they will be seen by a professional with a properly accredited medical qualification, right? Well, its hard to believe, but thats not always the case. In Australia theres a group of practitioners performing complicated operations who dont have medical degrees. They quite lawfully call themselves podiatric surgeons and they say they have their own special credentials which enable them to treat foot and ankle problems. But in this joint investigation with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Amelia Adams meets patients who have been left in chronic pain and with life-long scars, after surgeries they wish they had never agreed to.

Reporter: Amelia Adams

Producers: Serge Negus, Charlotte Grieve

7pm Sunday on Nine.
Seven AFL presenter Hamish McLachlan has expanded on previous news he will be vanishing from screens.

He first flagged his plans to move overseas last month.

Im going to disappear (in) December, McLachlan told SEN on Friday.

You know my two girls and boy. Milla is going into her last year of primary school, and I spoke to a few people recently and they said their biggest regret is not having a year where they actually just sort of immersed themselves in the family.

So, I got lucky on a couple of things, and not really that lucky that Nine took the Olympics, which means its sort of slightly an open year next year. So Im going to go and disappear in December.

McLachlan is expecting to travel for 12 months.

Were going to go and have five months in Switzerland and the kids will go to a local school there, McLachlan said.

Source: 7news.com.au
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee smiles during mayoral candidate forum on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is taking a gamble on a Houston mayoral run where she is trailing her opponent, state. Sen. John Whitmire. She now faces the challenge of overcoming his lead before the Dec. 9 runoff, while combating questions about her reputation as a tough, sharp-talking boss.

A Chronicle analysis found Jackson Lee has, at the very least, an employee retention issue, with nearly two-thirds of her former staffers leaving her office before the one-year mark. And, in October, a recording allegedly capturing her berating a former staffer reignited concerns about her management style.

The Chronicle analyzed her congressional staff records and spoke with more than a dozen of her former employees spanning the entirety of her career.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Heres what you need to know about our findings:

What Jackson Lees staff records say about her office turnover

The Chronicle reviewed salary records on Legistorm  a research service that tracks the workforce on Capitol Hill  and found that the average employment duration at Jackson Lees office was seven and a half months. This study excluded interns, fellows and other temporary workers.

In comparison, U.S. Rep. Al Green, another longtime Democratic member of Congress from Houston, had a median employee tenure of around 12 months. U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, a more recently elected Democrat, also had a median staff tenure of 12 months.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Legistorms own turnover analysis  which is weighted by salary  places Jackson Lee first in historical turnover among Texas House members and sixth across the U.S. from 2001 to 2022.

On average, more than half of Jackson Lees staff leaves her office each year, Legistorm's analysis shows. This rate is about twice as high as the annual number of departures seen by a typical House member.

Former staffer complaints

In the alleged recording, a woman who sounds like Jackson Lee unleashed a string of profanities at a former employee, calling him and another staffer two goddamn big-ass children, f---ing idiots, who serve no goddamn purpose.

While Jackson Lee never confirmed that the voice in the audio clip was hers, she apologized for any pain the contents of the clip may have caused.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I know that I am not perfect, Jackson Lee said in a statement following the alleged recording. I recognize that in my zeal to do everything possible to deliver for my constituents I have in the past fallen short of my own standards and there is no excuse for that.

A number of her former employees told the Chronicle they have been on the receiving end of similar rebukes.

Rhiannon Burruss, who worked as Jackson Lees scheduler and assistant in the 1990s, said she resigned after only 40 days due to the congresswomans unpredictable outbursts. She said she was often unfairly scolded and called the office environment toxic and abusive.

Nat Thomas, who worked as Jackson Lees chief of staff for about five months in 2010, said he was called an idiot and other derogatory terms on a near daily basis, often in front of other people. He left after about five months.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jackson Lee said in a statement on Thursday that she has no recollection of any of the negative incidents that former staffers recounted to the Chronicle.

I do know that we have together produced great legislation and I was told by many of them, when they left my office, that their careers have been catapulted because they were associated with our office, she said.

What Jackson Lees supporters argue

Most of Jackson Lee's ex-staffers who spoke with the Chronicle acknowledged that she can be a challenging boss. At the same time, some remain loyal to her, arguing that Jackson Lees approach reflects her passion and high expectations for her team.

Dana Thompson, Jackson Lees former chief of staff, said working with Jackson Lee exposed him to professional opportunities and learning experiences he might not have had otherwise.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She always tries to give people as much opportunity and authority as they can handle because she wants to expose her staff to as much as possible," he said.

Others called attention to the double standard that women, especially women of color, are subject to when it comes to their leadership styles.

Both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo came to Jackson Lee's defense following the leak of the alleged audio clip. Both have previously spoken about the heightened expectations faced by women in politics.

Others accused of staff mistreatment on Capitol Hill

Jackson Lee is not the only member of Congress who has faced scrutiny for reportedly acting in an abrasive manner toward employees. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind. and others have been criticized in recent years following reports of alleged staff mistreatment.

When Klobuchar joined the 2020 presidential race, many of her former aides accused her of berating them in a dehumanizing way, as first reported by HuffPost and BuzzFeed News. Klobuchar later acknowledged she sometimes pushed people too hard and promised to do better in the future.

Last year, Spartz admitted to Politico that her working style was not for everyone in a story about the high turnover rate in her office and an allegedly unhealthy work environment that she had helped create.

However, even on Capitol Hill, extreme examples of bad management are still the exceptions, said Brad Fitch, president of the Congressional Management Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit that trains hundreds of congressional members and staff every year.
This article takes a look at the 25 most affordable places to retire in the world. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on how to save billions for retirees, you may go to 5 Most Affordable Places to Retire in the World.

On Saving Billions for Retirees

If youve been struggling to save up for retirement, a new proposal might help individuals like you collectively save an estimated total of $10 billion in the next decade.

Research shows that without realizing it, folks can end up paying as much as 20% more because of hidden junk fees than they would have paid if they could see the full price upfront and compare it with other options, - President Joe Biden said Wednesday speaking from the White House Rose Garden

According to the US Biden administration, certain loopholes in retirement systems today allow the industry to sell products that boost their revenue. This is often done at the expense of customers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposal will allow retirement advisors to be protected regarding their retirement savings.

Since junk fees are charged at the back end of the buying process, it is harder for customers to compare the prices and land the best deals. As a result, customers end up paying 20% more than they should. Provided that the proposal is finalized, businesses would be barred from charging any type of hidden fees, and disclose full prices upfront. Retirement advisors, airlines, apartment rentals, car rentals, hotels & lodging, and event tickets will need to be transparent regarding their charges.

Its wrong. Its wrong. Its just taking advantage of people. And it makes it harder for honest businesses who are trying to do the right thing to compete. The rule would not just return money to peoples pockets but also restore a degree of justice to American families and restore fairness in our markets. -Biden

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has already begun slapping corporations such as Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), and Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF) with fines. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) has been ordered to pay more than $100 million to affected customers, and $150 million in penalties to the CFPB.

Story continues

"Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent. These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. The CFPB will be putting an end to these practices across the banking system. - CFPB Director Rohit Chopra.

Hopefully, fines and penalties will help other organizations to refrain from such practices. Additionally, customers will be able to save up more for things such as retirement, adding up to 20% to their savings. However, a comfortable retirement may still not be in the pipeline for those who have less than $1 million saved for their retirement years.

By mitigating unnecessary fees, an individual with $150,000 in retirement savings can accrue an additional $30,000. Amidst inflation and the cost of living crisis, it has increasing become difficult for individuals to save for retirement, and these cost savings can help them in the long run. However, those with less than $1 million saved for retirement may face difficulties sustaining a comfortable lifestyle in the United States for the average 18 years of their retirement.

As the challenges of achieving financial security in retirement persist, many retirees are exploring alternative avenues to stretch their savings. This has led to a growing trend of retirees seeking affordable places to retire around the world. At the end of 2021, nearly 450,000 people received their social security benefits from overseas, an increase of 307,000 from 2008. The statistics clearly illustrate the determination of many seniors to retire outside of the United States. For this reason, we have compiled a list of some of the most affordable places they can retire to.

25 Most Affordable Places to Retire in the World

Colin D. Young/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

To compile the list of the most affordable places to retire in the world, we have used our list of the cheapest countries for retirement, best places to retire, and the cheapest and safest countries to retire to. Next, we listed out the most cost-friendly places from within the countries based on our previous lists.

Places were then scored on their average monthly cost of living expenses, average monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment), and quality of life. Individual scores were added to attain a unique Insider Monkey Score. Finally, places have been ranked in an ascending order from the lowest to the highest scores.

For places with the same scores, tie-breaking has been done on the basis of average monthly rent (1-bedroom apartment), with lower rents placed higher on our list.

Here are the most affordable places to retire in the world:

25. Valencia, Spain

Insider Monkey Score: 3

Average Monthly Rent: $1,215

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $2,064

Retirement Visa: None, Retire via Spain Golden Visa or Spain Non-Lucrative Visa

Spain is one of the cheapest English-speaking countries to retire to. Valencia, in particular, is revered for its beautiful beaches, Mediterranean climate, and rich culinary scene. According to Expat Insider 2023, Valencia also boasts one of the most affordable healthcare in the world.

24. Vlore, Albania

Insider Monkey Score: 7

Average Monthly Rent: $888

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,600

Retirement Visa: Albania Retirement visa

Home to a beautiful coastline, Vlore is one of the most affordable places to retire in the world. The city also stands out as a retirement destination because of its historical sites and affordable living.

23. El Valle, Panama

Insider Monkey Score: 7

Average Monthly Rent: $700

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,700

Retirement Visa: Pensionado Program

Panama is one of the best countries for US citizens to retire to. Within the country, El Valle is an affordable destination to retire to. It boasts picturesque mountainous landscapes, a mild springtime climate, and some of the most friendly locals.

22. Tomar, Portugal

Insider Monkey Score: 9

Average Monthly Rent: $700

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,500

Retirement Visa: Portugal D7 Visa

Portugal is one of the best expat retirement countries in the world. Tomar, in particular, is one of the most affordable places to retire in the country. The city is revered for its relaxed lifestyle and historic charm, and the pleasant climate adds to the appeal of retiring here.

21. Granada, Spain

Insider Monkey Score: 9

Average Monthly Rent: $641

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,747

Retirement Visa: None, Retire via Spain Golden Visa or Spain Non-Lucrative Visa.

Granada is not only appreciated for its affordability but also for its stunning Moorish architecture and vibrant local culture. Retirees seeking a blend of history, affordability, and a pleasant climate can retire here.

20. Ostrava, Czech Republic

Insider Monkey Score: 9

Average Monthly Rent: $500

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $2,500

Retirement Visa: None, Apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit

Owing to its unique industrial history, numerous cultural attractions, and affordable living costs, Ostrava is one of the best places to retire in the Czech Republic.

19. Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Insider Monkey Score: 14

Average Monthly Rent: $500

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,500

Retirement Visa: Pensioner visa (Pensionado)

Tamarindo is an ideal place for retirees to call home. Besides its affordable beachfront lifestyle, the town offers a mix of natural beauty, water activities, and a welcoming community, making it one of the best places to enjoy a coastal retirement.

18. Padang, Indonesia

Insider Monkey Score: 14

Average Monthly Rent: $500

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,500

Retirement Visa: Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)

One of the most affordable places to retire around the world is Padang, Indonesia. The city is especially revered for its reasonable living costs, scenic landscapes, and diverse culinary scene.

17. Santiago, Panama

Insider Monkey Score: 16

Average Monthly Rent: $700

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,200

Retirement Visa: Pensionado Program

Santiago is one of the best places to retire in Panama. The city is home to some of the most picturesque landscapes, rolling hills, and lush vegetation. Retirees enjoy a relaxed pace of life here.

16. Montezuma, Costa Rica

Insider Monkey Score: 19

Average Monthly Rent: $450

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,500

Retirement Visa: Pensioner visa (Pensionado)

Montezuma in Costa Rica features a laid-back atmosphere, beautiful natural surroundings, and some of the most affordable living costs in the country.

15. Coimbra, Portugal

Insider Monkey Score: 23

Average Monthly Rent: $600

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,100

Retirement Visa: Portugal D7 Visa

Coimbra, one of the best places to retire in Portugal, appeals to retirees due to its vibrant cultural scene, historical charm, and affordable living costs. The riverfront city is also home to modern healthcare facilities.

14. Arequipa, Peru

Insider Monkey Score: 24

Average Monthly Rent: $400

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,287

Retirement Visa: Peru Retirement visa

Offering a unique blend of historical charm and affordability, retirees in Arequipa enjoy its picturesque setting, cultural richness, and affordability. The city is also home to a growing expat population.

13. Podgorica, Montenegro

Insider Monkey Score: 24

Average Monthly Rent: $461

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,150

Retirement Visa: None, Apply for Montenegro Residence Permit

Montenegro appeals to retirees because of its high quality of life, desirable tax rates, and beautiful natural surroundings. Its historic architecture and proximity to natural wonders make it an attractive destination for retirees.

12. Da Nang, Vietnam

Insider Monkey Score: 27

Average Monthly Rent: $452

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,115

Retirement Visa: None, Apply for Permanent Residency

Vietnam is one of the cheapest and safest countries to retire to. Da Nang, in particular, is a nice place to retire on $1000 a month. Retirees appreciate it for its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and developing infrastructure.

11. La Serena, Chile

Insider Monkey Score: 32

Average Monthly Rent: $335

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,135

Retirement Visa: Chile Retirement and Periodic Income Visa

La Serena is one of the best places to retire in Chile. The citys coastal beauty, pleasant climate, and affordability allow it to be an ideal destination for retirees. The city's beaches and ocean views, warm weather, and sunny skies add to its allure.

10. Gaborone, Botswana

Insider Monkey Score: 34

Average Monthly Rent: $252

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,191

Retirement Visa: None, Apply for Permanent Residency

Retirees in Gaborone get to enjoy a stable and affordable lifestyle. Its appeal lies in its unique African experience, characterized by modern amenities and a welcoming community.

9. Grand Baie, Mauritius

Insider Monkey Score: 35

Average Monthly Rent: $350

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $1,000

Retirement Visa: Mauritius Retirement Visa

Besides its affordability, Grand Baie is a distinguished retirement destination because of its topical climate and beautiful beaches. Retirees love to take long strolls on its pristine white sandy beaches, all while enjoying the ideal climate it features.

8. Murska Sobota, Slovenia

Insider Monkey Score: 36

Average Monthly Rent: $400

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $900

Retirement Visa: None, Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit

Murska Sobota, Slovenia is one of the cheapest places to retire in Europe. Its green landscapes, tranquil atmosphere, and rich cultural heritage make it an appealing retirement destination.

7. Debrecen, Hungary

Insider Monkey Score: 37

Average Monthly Rent: $370

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $960

Retirement Visa: None, Apply for Residence Permit

One of the most affordable places to retire in the world is Debrecen, Hungary. Retirees get to enjoy an affordable lifestyle in the region, relishing its cultural heritage, thermal baths, and lower costs of living.

6. Chisinau, Moldova

Insider Monkey Score: 39

Average Monthly Rent: $315

Average Monthly Living Expenses: $990

Retirement Visa: None, Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit

From its low living costs to its wine culture and cultural diversity, Chisinau helps retirees stretch their retirement savings quite far. Retirees live to explore the many local wineries, explore Moldova's beautiful countryside, and appreciate the relaxed pace of life.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Affordable Places to Retire in the World.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: none. 25 Most Affordable Places to Retire in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
The mystery of the apparent alien corpses shown in Mexicos Congress has now taken an even more perplexing turn after new DNA findings were revealed.

The two corpses polarised scientists, experts and UFO enthusiasts around the world back on 13 September, when Jaime Maussan, a journalist and UFOlogist, testified to lawmakers under oath that the specimens are not part of our terrestrial evolution.

He claimed that the corpses were around 1,000 years old and had been found in algae mines in Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes filled with Inca ruins, in 2017.

Since then, scientists have weighed in on the subject, pointing out that there is no substantial evidence that the corpses are either real or extra-terrestrial.

Now, Mr Maussan has once again doubled down on his claims.

The UFOlogist appeared back in Mexican Congress this week where he spoke about the DNA findings from the corpses, according to The Daily Star.

Accompanied by a team of researchers, they said that new analysis shows that over 30 per cent of the specimens DNA is unknown or not from any known species.

It is not clear what they believe the other 70 per cent of DNA is.

The researchers also reiterated their claims that the mummified bodies are authentic.

The aliens were scanned and dated at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Reuters)

This is the first time extraterrestrial life has been presented in this manner, Mr Maussan said in Congress, according to the outlet.

We have a clear example of non-human specimens unrelated to any known species on our planet, he said.

We are not alone in this vast universe; we should embrace this truth.

The two bodies underwent carbon dating at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, which determined the specimens were over a thousand years old and had three fingers and no teeth, he said.

Mr Maussan also claimed that X-rays showed that one of the bodies had eggs inside it and that both had an implant of rare materials such as Osmium.

UFOlogist Will Galison, one of the few people to have been able to see the tiny bodies up close in Peru, does have a theory.

Story continues

He believes that the so-called alien corpses could have be hum and animal bones that were put together by humans thousands of years ago, possibly for Inca ritual purposes, The Daily Mail reported.

He said that the skulls are remarkably similar to what alpaca skulls look like.

Not everyone agrees, however, as Anthropologist Roger Zuniga of San Luis Gonzaga National University in Ica, Peru, has claimed there was absolutely no human intervention in the physical and biological formation of these beings.

Mr Maussan has been at the centre of many debunked claims he has made about extra-terrestrial discoveries, including five mummies found in Peru in 2017 that were later proven to be human children.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is waging one of the biggest fights of her political career, running from behind in an all-out campaign to become the citys first Black female mayor. Amid that, shes facing fresh criticism that has plagued many other successful female elected leaders  that she is a tough and demanding boss whose behavior sometimes strays into abuse.

Statistically, Jackson Lee has, at the very least, a staff retention issue. Nearly two-thirds of her congressional employees leave her office before the one-year mark, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. LegiStorm, a research service that tracks the workforce on Capitol Hill, ranks Jackson Lee first for historical turnover among Texas House members and sixth nationwide between 2001 and 2022.

A former congressional veteran quit her office after just 40 days, saying she was shocked by what she said was Jackson Lees emotionally bruising and unpredictable outbursts. A former chief of staff lasted for about five months and called the experience nightmarish.

And, last month, Jackson Lee was confronted with an alleged recording of her berating a former staffer in a profanity-laced rant, calling him and another staffer two goddamn big-ass children, f---ing idiots, who serve no goddamn purpose. In a statement in response to the recording, which Jackson Lee never confirmed as authentic, she apologized for any pain its contents had caused.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Critics have questioned whether the turnover affects the congresswomans effectiveness and would plague her in a mayoral role that arguably demands more collaboration, coalition building and personal relationships.

Jackson Lee said in a Thursday statement that she was not a stranger to City Hall and that she would not have a problem working with city workers or department heads.

If there is a question about my potential leadership for the city of Houston, we merely need to go back to my service as a Houston city councilman. My rapport with city workers was without question, she said.

The Chronicle reached out to over 40 former Jackson Lee employees  from assistants to chiefs of staff  spanning the entirety of her political career and spoke with more than a dozen.

Most described her as a challenging boss with a habit of rebuking and swearing at staffers when they didnt meet her expectations. Some labeled Jackson Lees behavior as abusive. Others defended her, saying that developing a thick skin and learning to work under pressure are necessary skills to thrive in the highest level of politics.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

JACKSON LEE STATEMENT: Jackson Lees full statement in response to Chronicles inquiry over negative staff interactions

She absolutely tested me. She wanted to know how rigorous an experience I could withstand, said Dana Thompson, Jackson Lees former chief of staff. And when she saw that I could (do it), she rewarded me and put me in positions where I could learn more.

The Chronicle analyzed LegiStorm salary records and found that the median length of employment was seven and a half months for the more than 220 former staffers who worked for Jackson Lee between 2000 and 2023. The analysis excluded interns, fellows and other temporary workers with predetermined end dates.

In comparison, former staffers for U.S. Rep. Al Green, another longtime Democratic congressman from the Houston area, had a median employment duration of about 12 months. Former staffers of U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, a more recently elected Democratic congresswoman, also had a median tenure of 12 months.

While Jackson Lee did not respond to questions about her high turnover rate, she said in her statement that she had no recollection of any of the negative incidents that former staffers recounted to the Chronicle.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I do know that we have together produced great legislation and I was told by many of them, when they left my office, that their careers have been catapulted because they were associated with our office, she said. I am proud of that record. I am a passionate leader. And so, interactions that may not have been perceived as pleasant were not intended by me.

The politics of profanity

Jackson Lees supporters have noted that women in politics, especially women of color, are often subject to higher standards than men concerning their leadership styles.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who endorsed Jackson Lees mayoral bid, has drawn criticism from cursing in a public meeting. When she faced backlash in June for her F-word comment in response to District Attorney Kim Ogg, her campaign said she was not interested in dwelling on a passing remark that no man would be asked to justify.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who also endorsed Jackson Lee, previously highlighted the double standard that women face when giving impassioned speeches. On the campaign trail in 2016, there was some discussion of her volume when speaking  a discussion she found particularly problematic.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event for Houston mayoral candidate U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on Oct. 27, 2023 in Houston. / Harris County Judge Lina Hildalgo introduces Houston mayoral candidate U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee at the same campaign rally. (Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer) Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event for Houston mayoral candidate U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on Oct. 27, 2023 in Houston. / Harris County Judge Lina Hildalgo introduces Houston mayoral candidate U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee at the same campaign rally. (Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer)

Sometimes I talk soft, sometimes I get passionate and I get a little bit excited. I dont know any man who doesnt do the same thing, she said.

Jackson Lee is also not the only female member of Congress to face scrutiny for reportedly acting in an abrasive manner toward employees.

When Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., joined the 2020 presidential race, a number of her former aides accused her of berating them in a dehumanizing way, as first reported by HuffPost and BuzzFeed News. Klobuchar later acknowledged she had been a tough boss who sometimes pushed people too hard and said she would do better in the future.

President Joe Biden, a former competitor of Klobuchar in the 2020 Democratic primary, is also reputed to have a quick temper. Axios reported that some aides prefer to avoid one-on-one meetings with him. The White House has not commented on these accusations, but some supporters have said that the presidents anger often reflects his high expectations for staff.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Monica Cloud, who served as Jackson Lees deputy chief of staff and legislative director for seven months in 2019 and 2020, said she often heard other congressional aides discuss how their white male bosses spoke to them in a similarly harsh way.

They just either didnt get the attention or, you know, it wasnt as public, Cloud said.

However, even on Capitol Hill, extreme examples of bad management are still the exceptions, said Brad Fitch, president of the Congressional Management Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that trains hundreds of congressional members and staff every year.

Sometimes, unfortunately, bad managers will claim that their behavior is excused because its a tough work environment in Congress where they have high expectations, Fitch said. But you can be just as effective as a lawmaker and not create poor work environments for the employees who have to work there.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A pattern of reprimand

In the 1990s, Jackson Lee served two full terms and part of a third as a Houston City Council member. Her reputation as a demanding boss started to form during these early years, former Councilman Jim Greenwood recalled, but controversies surrounding her management style grew after her election to Congress.

In spring 1998, Rhiannon Burruss, a veteran congressional staffer now in her 70s, said she resigned after some 40 days as Jackson Lees scheduler and assistant.

Burruss attributes her brief tenure to what she characterized as Jackson Lees unpredictable outbursts. The breaking point, Burruss said, came when Jackson Lees harsh treatment of flight attendants allegedly led an airline representative to offer alternative flight options from a competing airline. Shortly after the incident, Burruss quit.

Jackson Lee said Thursday that she does not recall the incident, and any allegation that she mistreated an airline representative is absurd. She added that she respects the hard work those in the aviation community do and said she maintains wonderful relationships with the wonderful people that service us in the air.

Burruss' short stint with Jackson Lee is not uncommon. In the Chronicles analysis of 229 of her former staffers, 92 stayed in the office for six months or less and 144 left within a year.

Overall, more than half of Jackson Lees staff, weighted by salary, has left the congresswomans office per year, according to LegiStorms turnover index data between 2001 and 2022. In contrast, over the same time period, the typical House member has seen less than a quarter of their office turn over.

Nightmarish decision

Nat Thomas worked as Jackson Lees chief of staff for about half a year in 2010. He was 60 years old at the time and approaching retirement after decades of work split between Capitol Hill and Wall Street.

The experience turned out to be nightmarish, he said.

Thomas said she called him the worst names, including you idiot, and he said she did so in front of other people at meetings.

He recounted work days stretching beyond 14 hours, when he said he barely had time to eat or drink. Living in Baltimore, he said he was often asked to travel an hour at night from his house to Washington to pick up Jackson Lee only for a short drive around Capitol Hill. He resigned the same year.

Jackson Lee did not comment on Thomas specific accusations.

Thompson, the aforementioned legislative counsel and chief of staff who worked for Jackson Lee between 2013 and 2015, said he had been on the receiving end of similar rebukes to the one heard in the alleged recording.

But I also understood the circumstances that led to it, Thompson said. Im not going to say that I deserved it, but if you mess up on the job, there are going to be some consequences.

Thompson said he stayed because of the valuable professional opportunities that Jackson Lee provided. Coming from a low-income neighborhood, he said he had never envisioned attending events with top officials or traveling internationally with a congresswoman, but Jackson Lee gave him such access.

She feels like these jobs are a big privilege to have, said Thompson, who has since co-founded a lobbying firm. She always tries to give people as much opportunity and authority as they can handle because she wants to expose her staff to as much as possible.

Jackson Lee survival guide

Shashrina Thomas, Jackson Lees policy adviser and deputy chief of staff from 2009 to 2014, said many early-career employees view the congresswomans office as a professional boot camp.

To mitigate the disruption that comes with frequent turnover, senior staffers  including Thomas  created a survival guide of around 30 pages. The manual includes everything from email templates and dress code policies to insights into how to interpret Jackson Lees requests.

The guidebook, according to Thomas and other former employees, instructs staffers to carry two pocket-sized U.S. Constitutions for Jackson Lees morning pickup, one for her and one for themselves. It advises that when she requests meeting talking points in 30 minutes, staffers usually have a full hour to prepare them. Most importantly, the guide warns  in bold red letters  that walking into a meeting unprepared is a surefire way to receive a dressing-down.

Jackson Lee operates like a corporate executive who expects returns on investment, according to Thomas.

Mayoral candidate Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee speaks during the mayoral debate at Texas Southern University on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

I dont think any member of Congress, nor any CEO, needs to change their behavior because some young people are just spoiled, Thomas said. If you dont like it, get another job.

Glenn Rushing, one of Jackson Lees longest-serving employees and chief of staff from 2011 to 2022, described his role as the offices comforter in chief. He said he often had to perform a balancing act, meeting Jackson Lees demands while assuring staffers that the congresswomans criticisms were not personal.

He pointed out that many loyal employees had come back to work for Jackson Lee after a period of time. The Chronicle analysis found at least 17 former employees returned to work for her since 2000. The percentage is higher than some of her Houston-area peers: seven returned to Greens office and no former staff has returned to work for Fletcher, who has only been in Congress since 2019.

But Rushing also recognized that some had departed permanently in search of a better work-life balance. As the guidebook put it, Rushing recalled, the worst thing about this job is hiring staff.

Lawsuits filed, tossed

At least two former employees have filed a lawsuit against Jackson Lees office.

Mona Floyd, her former legislative director and chief counsel, sued Jackson Lee in 2011 for allegedly refusing to accommodate her vision impairment and requiring her to work 16-hour days.

Jackson Lee denied the allegations and stated she fully embraces and fully practices equal employment opportunities for all. The judge ruled in favor of the congresswoman.

In 2019, a former aide, known as Jane Doe in court documents, accused Jackson Lee of terminating her employment after learning she had complained about a sexual assault at a previous workplace, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Jackson Lee denied the claim. Following the controversy, she resigned as the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, a position that had elevated her to national prominence.

A judge dismissed the case in 2020 on the grounds that the alleged assault occurred at a prior employer that was not covered by the Congressional Accountability Act, and so notifying Jackson Lees office of her complaint at that prior employer was not a protected activity under the terms of that act.

Doe, speaking to the Chronicle on condition of anonymity, acknowledged her mixed feelings about Jackson Lee. She said she believed the congresswomans demeanor toward her notably worsened as the dispute unfolded. Doe said she was extremely distraught after the incident, which led her to quit working in politics altogether.

When asked if the congresswoman would make a good mayor for Houston, Doe said she believes in Jackson Lees ability to implement policy and community engagement work but worries about her relationships with council members and staff.

I definitely think that theyll have a lot of good work done, and shell bring a lot of change that people will be able to see, Doe said. But its going to be a shift in the workplace for a lot of people.
Bhubaneswar Customs seizes 20 kg of cocaine worth Rs 220 cr at Paradip Port

Bhubaneswar, Dec 1 (UNI) Bhubaneswar Customs officials on Friday seized more than 20 kg of cocaine valued at approximately Rs. 220 crores from a ship berthed at Paradip Port.

Bhubaneswar Customs (preventive) Commissionerate had searched a ship MV Debi, a Panama registered Ship, berthed at Paradip International Cargo Terminal, Paradip on the midnight of November 30 and December 1.

The search was carried out on the basis of an intelligence input that few suspected packets, likely to be Narcotics drugs, are concealed in the ship which had arrived from Gresik port, Indonesia in ballast.
HCM CITY  The development of logistics infrastructure, improvement of loading and storage capacity, and formation of a regional level logistics service centre will help Viet Nam better embrace the upcoming global supply chain shifts, experts said at a logistics forum held by the Ho Chi Minh City Logistics Association (HLA) in the city on Wednesday.

At the event, themed Shifting Supply Chains: Prospects and Challenges, Nguyen Cong Luan from the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, described overloaded and degraded roads  the main means of transportation in Viet Nam  as a challenge for the countrys logistics activities.

Only 20 per cent of roads in Viet Nam meet the requirements of the logistics sector, while more than 50 per cent of them are in bad conditions, posing high risk for the transportation of goods, he said.

Although HCM City is a leading logistics hub in the country and the region, with 2,700 enterprises providing professional logistics services, accounting for 54 per cent of the countrys total logistics firms, there is no large-scale logistics centre with advanced technologies built in the city.

Statistics from the HCM City University of Transport indicate the city is now home to only 1,500 warehouses with 30 standard cold storage facilities, failing to meet the market demand.

Luan said it is necessary to branch out transport and logistics infrastructure in the southern economic hub through calling for investment in six logistics centres in Thu uc City and Binh Chanh, Cu Chi and Nha Be districts.

He also suggested that national- and international-level logistics systems be developed in tandem with seaports, airports, international border gates, key economic corridors and inter-regional trade routes in HCM City and Binh Duong, ong Nai, Ba Ria  Vung Tau and Tay Ninh provinces.

Viet Nam has been ranked in the top 10 places in the 2023 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index compiled by Agility, one of the worlds top freight forwarding and contract logistics providers. The country is at 10th place, up one spot compared to the previous year. Among Southeast Asian countries, Viet Nam is in fourth place, behind Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

According to the World Bank, Viet Nam ranks 43rd in the logistics performance index, and is in top five in ASEAN in 2023.

Giang Vu, Co-Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnams Manufacturing Committee, highlighted that free trade agreements have created numerous opportunities for Viet Nam to engage in global supply chains.

Improvement in working conditions and environmental protection, as well as promotion of the circular economy, are among the bold steps that Viet Nam has taken to create its competitive edge, she added.

However, Viet Nam is not the only destination for supply chain shifts, she said, elaborating that the country is facing formidable challenges in the logistics facilities which need further improvements in the future.

Meanwhile, inh Thi Quynh Van, chairwoman of PwC Vietnam, pointed out that high logistics costs and poor linkages between means of transportation leave Viet Nam in choppy waters when joining the global value chain.  VNS
HA NOI  The Belarusian-Vietnamese Forum, a platform aimed at fostering bilateral trade and economic cooperation, will feature at the highly anticipated International Trade Fair "Vietnam Expo 2023," where 30 Belarusian enterprises will showcase their trade and economic potential across various sectors from December 7 to 9, 2023.

The Belarusian-Vietnamese Forum, scheduled for December 7 at 10:00am, will provide an invaluable platform for the Belarusian delegation to present the trade and economic potential of their main sectors. Presentations on Belarusian industries will be followed by business networking opportunities, allowing participants to connect with Belarusian companies and explore potential collaborations.

The Vietnam Expo 2023 will provide a platform for Belarusian companies to present their goods and services, including engineering, petrochemicals, electro-technical, agriculture, food and beverages, scientific and technical developments, as well as educational and marketing services. During the expo, visitors will also indulge in tasting events to savour the quality, taste, and flavours of Belarusian food and beverages.

The Belarus Exposition at Vietnam Expo 2023 will be held in Hall B of the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), providing visitors with a comprehensive overview of Belarusian industries. The Belarusian-Vietnamese Forum will be held in the Sunflower room on the 3rd floor of the SECC, offering a dedicated space for insightful discussions and networking.

The Belarus Pavilion, the Belarusian-Vietnamese Forum, and the Vietnam Expo 2023 collectively aim to strengthen economic cooperation between Belarus and Viet Nam, facilitating new avenues for business collaboration and mutual growth.  VNS
HCM CITY  US agricultural company Cargill has built the 114th school under its flagship Cargill Cares programme in Viet Nam in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang.

The Hong Quang primary and secondary day-boarding school in Hong Quang Commune, Lam Binh District, has four classrooms meant to accommodate 122 students.

The poverty rate in the commune is 58.1 per cent.

The school is the first built by Cargill in Tuyen Quang Province, the 54th out of 63 cities and provinces it has donated to.

In the last three months Cargill also built two other schools: Giao Thien Kindergarten in Thanh Hoa Province and A Lu Kindergarten in Lao Cai.

All three are in ethnicity diverse localities.

They bring it closer to its goal of building 150 schools across Viet Nam by the end of this decade, the company said in a release.

The successful establishment of the three schools within a mere three months demonstrated our commitment to prompt and impactful initiatives, Luan Nguyen, Country President of Cargill in Vietnam, said.

They cost VN4.7 billion (US$194,400) in all, taking its total spending in 2023 to VN9 billion ($372,500).

Cargill recently received the 2023 Top 50 Corporate Sustainability Awards given by Nhip Cau au Tu magazine for its sustainability initiatives.

It also recently released its second ESG report showcasing its progress to deliver positive impact on climate, land and water, and people.  VNS
DUBAI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and the Vietnamese delegation arrived at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai city, late November 30, starting a trip to attend the World Climate Action Summit in the framework of the 28th United Nations climate change conference (COP28) and bilateral activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 30 to December 3, at the invitation of the UAE Government.

The PM and his entourage were met at the airport by representatives from the COP28 organisers and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Vietnamese Ambassador to the UAE Nguyen Manh Tuan, among others.

During his stay, PM Chinh is scheduled to attend and speak at important conferences, forums and discussions within the framework of COP28, and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of countries and international organisations. He will also engage in bilateral activities with the UAE.

The Prime Minister's participation in COP28 sends a strong message to the international community about a proactive, active and responsible Viet Nam in addressing one of the biggest and most concerned global challenges today, climate change, and at the same time, affirms Viet Nam's role and position in regional and international cooperation frameworks, along with its consistent policy on building a green, circular economy and proactively responding to climate change.

Regarding bilateral relations with the UAE, Viet nam and the UAE are seeing their cooperation flourishing after 30 years of diplomatic establishment (1993-2023). The two sides share the wish to enhance cooperation in all fields. Recently, the two sides have regularly exchanged delegations at all levels and regularly supported each other at international forums and organisations.

The UAE is the leading trade and investment partner of Viet Nam in the Middle East with bilateral annual trade turnover averaging around US$5 billion in recent years. It is also one of the major foreign investors in Viet Nam with 38 investment projects. At present there are about 4,500 Vietnamese workers working in the Middle East country.  VNS
GENEVA  The principle of non-discrimination and equality among all members of the community is the core of Vietnams constitutional system, and is concretised through various legislative reforms, Y Thong, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, has reaffirmed.

He was defending the combined 15th to 17th national periodic report on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination during 2013-2019, at the 111th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) which is taking place from November 20 to December 8.

Thong highlighted that the right to equality of the Vietnamese ethnic groups in the period is guaranteed by the Constitution and law.

As the majority of Viet Nam's ethnic minority groups reside in mountainous, highland and remote areas with lagging socio-economic development, the State prioritises support for them to unleash their potential and help them better integrate into the overall national development.

Since 2013, Viet Nam has worked to complete its legal system to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the ethnic minorities, he said, elaborating that the National Assembly has issued 125 laws with 352 articles that stipulate the rights and obligations of ethnic minority people in the past decade.

During the period, Viet Nam affirmed its steadfast stance against the incitement to division and hatred between ethnic groups and races, thus any acts of discrimination or support for activities that cause division and discrimination among ethnic groups are prohibited and strictly punished under the Vietnamese laws, he stressed.

He went on to say that Viet Nam has made significant progress in promoting the rights of ethnic minorities, including that to freedom of movement within the national territory, that to enter and exit the country, that to freedom of state and social management rights, that to freedom of speech or press, and that to freedom of religion and belief.

Along with outlining criteria for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and Sustainable Development Goals for ethnic minority groups until 2030, Viet Nam has introduced an array of programmes and policies for ethnic people, he said, adding they enjoy preferential policies in education, healthcare, vocational training, employment, land, and credit access, among others.

Joining the CERD convention in 1982, Viet Nam has successfully defended its national reports on the convention implementation in 1983, 1993, 2000 and 2012.

According to the national periodic report, Vietnam is a unified country consisting of 54 ethnic groups, 53 of them minority, with a combined population of over 14 million people and accounting for 14.7 per cent of the country's total population.  VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Khuon Sudary after an official welcome ceremony for the Cambodian NA leader in Ha Noi on December 1.

Noting that the official visit to Viet Nam from November 30 to December 2 is her first foreign trip as the President of the Cambodian NA, Samdech Khuon Sudary stressed that the visit demonstrates the importance that Cambodia attaches to its neighbourliness and traditional friendship with Viet Nam as well as the relations between the two legislative bodies.

Welcoming the Cambodian NA delegation, Hue congratulated Samdech Khuon Sudary on being elected as Cambodia's first female top legislator.

He affirmed that the Party, State and people of Viet Nam always support Cambodia to continue gaining new, more significant and more comprehensive achievements in developing the country, successfully implementing the Cambodian People's Party (CPP)'s political platform for the 2023-2028 period and the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1, which aim to turn Cambodia into an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high income country by 2050.

Emphasising that this is Cambodia's very high political determination, he expressed his belief that with Cambodia's efforts, the cooperation and solidarity between the three countries of Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam, and with the help of the international community, Cambodia will achieve its set goals.

The NA Chairman said that Viet Nam always considers the achievements of the Cambodian People's Party, State and people a source of great encouragement for Viet Nam and the accomplishments of Viet Nam itself.

The Vietnamese top legislator thanked Cambodia's help in the search for and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia, and proposed Cambodia continue to coordinate with and support Viet Nam in the work, as well as in the embellishment, management and protection of the Cambodia - Viet Nam Friendship Monuments in Cambodia. Samdech Khuon Sudary agreed to the proposal, expressing her belief that this will continue to be carried out effectively.

Hue also took the occasion to suggest Cambodia continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living and working in the country.

In response, the Cambodian NA leader affirmed that Cambodia always cares for and provides support for foreigners living in Cambodia, including Vietnamese people. For Cambodians of Vietnamese origin who still lack legal documents, Cambodia will continue to assist them through laws related to civil affairs, she added.

The two top legislators shared the view that the two countries should promote cooperation in education and training, people-to-people exchanges, transportation and tourism; closely coordinate in managing the shared borderline to ensure security and safety and fight crime; continue to accelerate the progress of border demarcation and marker planting on the remaining 16 per cent of the border; and increase consultation and support each other's stances at multilateral international forums.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, they agreed that the two sides will maintain close collaboration in building and perfecting institutions and legal systems to maintain political stability, ensure national defence and security and socio-economic development, enhance the international position of each country as well as preserve and develop the relationship between Viet Nam and Cambodia.

The two sides will maintain the mechanism of the Summit of the three National Assemblies of Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam (CLV), first of all coordinating to organise the first summit in Laos and the next edition in Viet Nam.

They will continue to promote their coordination at multilateral forums such as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) and other multilateral parliamentary organisations; and support each other's stance on regional and international issues.

At the talks, NA Chairman Hue proposed that in cooperation at multilateral forums, the two sides should increase consultations on strategic, security and development issues of the region as well as of each country; affirm ASEAN's central role in regional issues; uphold the blocs common principled stance on the East Sea which calls for ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation on the basis of compliance with international law, addressing disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), seriously and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon achieving a substantive, effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Earlier the same day, Samdech Khuon Sudary led the Cambodian NA delegation to pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and lay flowers in commemoration of Vietnamese martyrs at the Martyrs Monument on Ha Nois Bac Son Street.

In the evening, NA Chairman Hue is scheduled to host a banquet for Samdech Khuon Sudary and the Cambodian NA delegation. VNS
A kayaker approaches large buoys being used as a floating border barrier on the Rio Grande Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Eric Gay/Associated Press

Texas will have to move its floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande after a federal appeals court on Friday rejected the states appeal of a lower court ruling.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a district court judge in Austin had not erred when he ordered Gov. Greg Abbotts administration to temporarily reposition the 1,000-foot barrier near the shore in Eagle Pass while a fuller review of the case continues.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The decision is a big victory for the U.S. Justice Department, which sued Abbott in July after he refused to remove the barrier. Federal officials argue that Abbott violated the federal Rivers and Harbors Act by not getting permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before he deployed the buoys this summer. The Corps of Engineers has authority over all U.S. waterways.

Abbott said in a statement on social media that the courts decision on Friday was clearly wrong and the he and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton would seek a rehearing in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Abbott vowed to take the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if needed.

The buoys are 4 feet each in diameter and rotate if people try to climb or get around them. Abbotts original plan for them called for putting more in other parts of the river over time to deter migrant crossings.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Republican governor included the pilot project as part of his latest phase of Operation Lone Star, the border security program that has seen thousands of National Guard troops sent to the border, migrants bused to other states and miles of razor wire strung along the Rio Grande to deter crossings.

Abbott has said hes taking action along the border because of the federal governments inability to stop migrant crossings into Texas. And in court, his lawyers argued that the Rivers and Harbors Act did not apply in this situation. They argued the 1,900-mile Rio Grande cannot be considered a navigable river and the floating buoys were not a hardened structure that violates the law.

But in September, Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra sided with the Justice Department, issuing an emergency injunction to force the buoys out of the river until the fuller case could be resolved. Abbott appealed that decision to the 5th Circuit.

In speeches, Abbott has said he is taking extraordinary steps to secure the border because the state is facing an invasion at the Texas border that the Biden administration has failed to slow.

I will do whatever I have to do to defend our state from the invasion of the Mexican drug cartels and others who are trying to come into our country illegally, Abbott said in a speech to Republican leaders in Georgetown during the summer. I will protect our sovereignty.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Trump administration first pushed the idea of a buoy barrier. In 2020, President Donald Trump had teams studying the idea of using it in the Rio Grande. The administration went so far as to seek bids for the project, but it was never deployed.

One of the federal officials who worked on that project for Trump was Mike Banks, whom Abbott appointed as his new border czar in January.

During a stop in Edinburg near the Texas border two weeks ago, Trump praised Abbott for his innovation along the river, calling it amazing.

Besides potentially violating the Rivers and Harbors Act, Justice Department lawyers say the barrier potentially violates treaties with Mexico.

Hillary Quam, a U.S. State Department official, testified at a hearing in August that Mexican officials have sent three different letters, made phone calls to top U.S. officials and brought the buoys up at unrelated meetings. Quam, the U.S.-Mexico border affairs coordinator for the State Department, said the issue has become a major concern for Mexican officials because of its potential to disrupt the flow of water thats needed downstream.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The legal fight comes as federal government data shows federal border patrol officials encountered a record number of migrants at the U.S. border with Mexico in the last year. They reported almost 2.5 million border encounters, up about 100,000 from a year ago and up about 800,000 from two years prior.

One of the biggest critics of the buoys has been U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, who early on was pushing the White House to intervene. Castro has also led congressional delegations to the border to see the barriers up close. On Friday, he praised the Justice Department for winning this round in court.
HA NOI  President Vo Van Thuong on Friday hosted a reception for President of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA) Samdech Khuon Sudary, who is on an official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of her Vietnamese counterpart Vuong inh Hue.

President Thuong congratulated the Cambodian guest on her election as President of the Cambodian NA, expressing his belief that the ongoing visit will contribute to deepening the traditional relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia, and the effective cooperation between the two legislative bodies in particular.

Khuon Sudary said that choosing Viet Nam for her first foreign trip since she took office showed that the Cambodian leader has attached importance to the traditional friendship which was set up and nurtured by many generations of leaders and people of the two countries. She suggested the two sides continue to educate young generations about the good friendship between Viet Nam and Cambodia so that the bilateral relationship will grow stronger in the future.

The Cambodian top legislator informed the Vietnamese State leader about her talks with NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue, saying that the two sides agreed on cooperation directions in the coming time to further step up cooperative ties between the two NA in particular and between the two countries in general.

While congratulating Viet Nam on its impressive development achievements in recent times, Khuon Sudary expressed her hope that Viet Nam will continue to cooperate and share experiences with Cambodia so that the two countries can develop together strongly.

President Thuong affirmed that Viet Nam's development achievements are partially thanks to the important cooperation, support and encouragement from Cambodia.

The Vietnamese State leader underlined the need for the two countries to increase meetings at all levels, and people-to-people exchange activities, thus promoting the traditional friendship between the two countries.

He hoped that the two nations will continue to unite, share, and cooperate more closely for stable development, expand trade and investment cooperation, and make better use of cooperation opportunities in the context of rapid and complicated changes in the world and the region.

The Vietnamese President agreed with the Cambodian leader on the necessity to promote cooperation in personnel training to improve the quality of human resources, thus meeting the development requirements of each country.

President Thuong also urged the two sides to accelerate the progress of border demarcation and marker planting.

The Vietnamese leader took this occasion to send his regards to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, President of the Cambodian People's Party Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet and other senior leaders of Cambodia.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam always supports Cambodias national construction and development, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong told President of the Cambodian National Assembly Khuon Sudary, who is also member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), during a reception in Ha Noi on Friday.

Party General Secretary Trong congratulated Cambodia on its successful organisation of the seventh NA election, which reflects the public trust on the CPP led by President Hun Sen.

He expressed his belief that under the reign of King Norodom Sihamoni, the leadership of the Senate and the NA, and the direction of the Government with the CPP as the core, the Cambodian people will continue to achieve new and even greater accomplishments, successfully realising the Political Platform of the CPP for the 2023-2028 period and the goals set forth by the seventh-tenure Government.

The CPV and CPP need to keep preserving and nurturing the relationship between Viet Nam and Cambodia, ensuring that it continues to grow further, he said.

The host suggested that both sides effectively carry out the contents of the meeting between the two Parties leaders and another meeting of leaders of the three Parties of Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos across various fields. Emphasis should be placed on enhancing cooperation between the two legislatures, sharing information and experience in law making, and joint supervision over the implementation of agreements and accords signed by the two countries.

He also called for mutual support at multilateral and international inter-parliamentary forums.

Khuon Sudary, for her part, believed that under the leadership of the CPV led by General Secretary Trong, the Vietnamese people will continue reaping new and greater achievements, successfully realising the Resolution adopted by the 13th National Party Congress.

Expressing her profound thanks to Viet Nam for providing Cambodia with great and invaluable support throughout the years, she affirmed that Cambodia will, together with Viet Nam, safeguard, preserve and develop the relationship between the two countries to new heights and pass it on to future generations.

She briefed the host about the recent developments in Cambodia, including the organisational apparatus and personnel of the NA and Government in the new term, as well as the outcomes of her talks with Vietnamese NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue.

Cambodia will continue working closely with Viet Nam to effectively implement the agreements and accords reached by leaders of the two Parties and countries, she said.  VNS
DUBAI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged organisations and businesses to establish new visions, adopt new thinking, new determination, and more resolute actions to accompany the Vietnamese Government in achieving goals to address climate change.

He made the remarks while co-chairing the event on mobilising finance to implement Viet Nam's commitment to climate change with Bill Winters, the Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered PLC, on Friday. This activity is within the framework of the 28th United Nations climate change conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On this occasion, PM Chinh, along with representatives from Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and international organisations, witnessed the signing of nine cooperation documents between ministries, agencies, organisations and businesses in supporting Viet Nam's green development.

Speaking at the event, PM Chinh stated that despite being a developing country facing many difficulties, Viet Nam, in accordance with the COP26 conference commitments, has established the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with international partners, aiming for actions to implement the green transition.

Viet Nam has been developing several significant projects, including developing renewable energy industry, building a renewable energy industrial ecosystem, implementing climate change mitigation strategies, transitioning to green transportation, low-emission emissions, developing one million hectares of high-quality rice with low emissions, and implementing the JETP plan.

The PM urged international organisations, partners, international financial institutions, and global financial corporations to continue to closely coordinate with and support Viet Nam in improving institutions, financial sources, technology, management experience and human resources to help the country transition to green energy and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Bill Winters stated that Standard Chartered Bank will enhance cooperation activities, supporting Viet Nam in mobilising capital, attracting green finance and promoting green growth aligned with the implementation of COP26 commitments.

Additionally, it aims to contribute to the establishment of green capital markets and carbon credit markets in Viet Nam.

Especially, Standard Chartered Vietnam and SOVICO Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement focusing on advising and implementing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, sustainable products, and services for green projects meeting the standards.

Both parties agreed to discuss Standard Chartered Vietnam providing ESG implementation advice to SOVICO Group, as well as arranging and mobilising funds with a total amount of up to US$2 billion for green projects that complied with the bank's Sustainable Finance Framework.

This collaboration programme will increase resources and bring benefits to both parties in pioneering the realisation of climate finance goals and sustainable development in line with the spirit of COP28 and the consistent directions of the Vietnamese Government in building a green economy, circular economy, and proactively responding to climate change.

On the same day, PM Chinh led the high-level Vietnamese delegation to attend the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit within the framework of the 28th United Nations climate change conference (COP28).

The summit was attended by leaders and representatives of 197 parties to the convention, including over 140 heads of state and government, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), as well as leaders of numerous international organisations, major international financial institutions, multinational corporations and non-governmental organisations.  VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong on Friday received Wang Yi, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Politburo, Head of the CPC Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Commission, and Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is on a working trip to Viet Nam.

General Secretary Trong said he is confident that Yi's visit would contribute positively to deepening the substantial and effective cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

The Vietnamese Party leader conveyed warm regards to General Secretary of CPC and Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders, stressing the significance of the friendly neighbourly relations and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China.

He also expressed gratitude for the support of the Chinese people in Viet Nam's revolution and nation-building efforts, reaffirming the high regard and top priority that the Party of the State of Viet Nam reserves for the Viet Nam-China relationship.

Congratulating China on its achievements in recent years, General Secretary Trong expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPC, with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping at its core, China will surely achieve the goals set at the 20th National Party Congress.

Viet Nam always supports the strong development of China, recognising its increasingly important role for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he remarked.

The Vietnamese Party chief highly appreciated the very positive progress in the relations between the two Parties and two countries, especially the notable achievements in the 15 years since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Recognising the important results of the 15th Meeting of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation between Viet Nam and China held earlier in the day, Trong proposed that both sides, especially the foreign affairs agencies of both Parties and countries, play a leading role in promoting comprehensive relations in various areas, with a focus on enhancing high-level exchanges to provide strategic direction for bilateral relations, creating a favourable atmosphere for the overall development of the relations between the two Parties and two countries.

Minister Yi sincerely thanked General Secretary Trong for his time, and conveyed warm regards from President Xi Jinping to Trong.

He concurred with and welcomed the important strategic orientation proposed by General Secretary Trong to further bolster the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two Parties and two countries.

Congratulating Viet Nam on its significant and historic achievements over nearly 40 years of oi moi (reforms) and since the 13th National Party Congress of the CPV, Yi said he is confident that under the leadership of the CPV, led by General Secretary Trong, Viet Nam will certainly achieve its development goals by 2030 and 2045 as set out at the 13th Party Congress.

Yi informed Trong about the common perceptions and important results achieved by both sides at the 15th Meeting of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation between Viet Nam and China.

He emphasised that under the guidance and direction of the two General Secretaries of the two Parties, the various levels and sectors of both sides will continue to promote substantial and effective cooperation in various areas, strengthen political trust, and constantly enrich the friendly relations and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China in the future.  VNS
DUBAI  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had bilateral meetings with leaders of countries and international organisations in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Friday on the occasion of his attendance at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28).

Meeting with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, Chinh spoke highly of their online meeting on November 2, in which, they adopted the Joint Statement on the establishment of a Green Strategic Partnership.

He thanked the Danish Government for creating conditions for LEGO Group to invest in Vietnam, and hoped that that the two countries would continue boosting investment and trade cooperation. He also suggested Denmark increase support for Viet Nam in terms of technology, capital and experience in institutional reform.

Frederiksen, for her part, praised bilateral cooperative ties, particularly in climate change response and ensuring food security.

Both leaders agreed to instruct relevant agencies to take concerted measures to deepen and improve the effectiveness of the bilateral relationship.

Talking with Dutch PM Mark Rutte, Chinh expressed his delight at meeting the Dutch leader again in the context of the fine development of the bilateral comprehensive partnership.

Rutte lauded the Vietnamese Governments favourable conditions for Dutch enterprises to invest and do business in Viet Nam, affirming the Netherlands's readiness to step up cooperation and assist Viet Nam in coping with climate change, agricultural development and high technology.

He also pledged to actively accelerate the early ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

In a meeting with UAE PM Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chinh expected that both countries would further increase collaboration in trade and investment, and soon sign the Viet Nam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). He proposed the UAE share experience with and support Viet Nam in building an international financial centre, and encouraged UAE investment funds to invest in the Southeast Asian country.

Affirming that the UAE highly valued its multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam, the UAE PM agreed with Chinh's proposals, including the signing of the CEPA.

The Crown Prince of Dubai wished to visit Viet Nam soon and shared his impression for the renowned quality of Vietnamese coffee products. He also expressed his willingness to share experience in building the Dubai financial centre.

Meeting with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Store, the two leaders highly appreciated the outcomes of Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan's freshly-ended visit to Norway and agreed to speed up the deployment of agreements reached during the trip.

The Norwegian PM suggested the two nations strengthen relations between the two business communities and agreed to expand cooperation in all areas, including in labour and education-training. He said Norway is ready to support Vietnam, especially in developing renewable energy, and clean energy batteries.

In his meeting with President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Chinh spoke highly of the former's recent visit to Viet Nam and proposed the two countries accelerate the deployment of important deals reached during the trip.

Khurelsukh promised to jointly make efforts to implement the agreements and enhance bilateral coordination, especially in road and air transportation connectivity and trade.

Talking with Chinh, President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema agreed to enhance cooperation, including trilateral collaboration in agriculture and sought Viet Nam's experience in development, procedure reform and public service supply.

The two leaders agreed to work closely together at multilateral forums, promote South-South cooperation, advance fairness and justice, and ensure the interests of developing countries.

In a conversation with the Vietnamese PM, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva said the IMF plans to revise up its economic growth forecast for Vietnam in the coming period.

Both sides shared the view that the international community needs to increase consensus, strengthen solidarity and expand cooperation to ensure interests of people.

Meeting Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Vietnamese Government leader affirmed that Viet Nam always actively and proactively steps up global integration, especially in economy and trade, making constructive contributions to the WTOs activities.

He proposed the WTO enhance cooperation with support to Viet Nam in trade-related issues, particularly in seeking measures to address the increasing imposition of trade defence measures, including carbon taxes.

Describing Viet Nam as a successful model in tapping the benefits of trade for development, Okonjo-Iweala expressed her desire to share Viet Nam's lessons with other countries, especially those in Africa. She also vowed to accompany Viet Nam in its socio-economic development.

In another meeting with former British PM Tony Blair, Chinh suggested Blair continue providing counselling and supporting Vietnam in development issues, especially in energy transition and climate change response.

In reply, Blair pledged to provide strategic consultancy for relevant Vietnamese agencies, thereby developing bilateral relations.

Hailing Viet Nam as a particularly important partner of India, Indian PM Narendra Modi agreed with Chinhs proposal regarding the possibility of negotiating a free trade agreement.

With its high capacity in semiconductor chip production, India is ready to collaborate with and support Vietnam in developing human resources in this field and in technology in general.

Meeting with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, the Vietnamese PM informed the former about Viet Nam's efforts in energy transition, especially in the National Power Development Plan VIII, green energy strategy, offshore wind power development, and the progress of a project to develop 1 million ha of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation.

For his part, Kerry affirmed that Viet Nam is an important partner of the US in the Asia-Pacific region. He agreed on the need for both countries to accelerate the implementation of agreements in the joint statement issued in September, including areas related to climate change response and energy transition.  VNS
HA NOI  The 15th Meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation was held in Ha Noi on Friday under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Politburo member, Director of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committees Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed new development steps in the bilateral relations since the 14th meeting in July 2022, agreeing that the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has maintained a positive development momentum and achieved many important results.

High-level exchanges and meetings have been organised regularly, notably the historic official visit to China by General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in October last year, and high-level visits to China in 2023 by President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue, and Permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Truong Thi Mai.

Exchanges and cooperation through channels of the Party, the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) and the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and between ministries, sectors, people's organisations and localities of the two countries, have been constantly promoted.

China has remained Viet Nam's largest trading partner, while Viet Nam has maintained its position as China's biggest trading partner in ASEAN and the 4th largest in the world. Notably, China became the largest importer of Vietnamese ago-forestry-aquatic products in the first 10 months of 2023. China's investment in Viet Nam has continued to increase. The two sides also expanded cooperation in new fields such as digital economy and green growth, and completed negotiations on many important cooperation documents, including a cooperation plan to connect the "Two Corridors, One Belt framework with the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides also pointed out some areas of cooperation that are not commensurate with potential and expectations. They also reviewed the implementation of projects funded by China's non-refundable aid for Viet Nam; and the settlement of prolonged problems and backlogs in a number of industrial cooperation projects.

The two sides discussed cooperation orientations in the coming time, agreeing on the necessity to increase all-level meetings, effectively deploy exchange and cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties, the Vietnamese NA and the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, the VFF and the CPPCC; promote the important role of the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in coordinating and stepping up areas of cooperation; and effectively deploy defence and security exchange, and law enforcement mechanisms.

They agreed to continue applying effective and practical measures to boost economic, trade and investment cooperation for sustainable and healthy development; increase Chinas investment into Viet Nam in fields using advanced, environmentally- friendly technologies; and coordinate to accelerate the implementation of projects using non-refundable aid in Viet Nam.

The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of science and technology, environmental protection, transport, agriculture, and health care, culture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges; and strengthen mutual support at multilateral forums.

Quang proposed closer coordination between the two sides to improve the efficiency of customs clearance at border gates, crossings and Viet Nam-China border markets; speed up the progress of China's market opening for a number of Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products; soon complete procedures for establishing a Viet Nam trade promotion office in Haikou in Hainan province of China; and create favourable conditions for Viet Nam to carry out trade and investment promotion activities and attend major trade fairs and exhibitions in China.

He also suggested the two sides accelerate the connection of transport infrastructure, especially the railway, between the two countries; and enhance tourism cooperation to rebound to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Regarding the land border, the two sides held that the sub-committees of the Viet Nam-China Land Border Joint Committee have coordinated closely in the border management work, and promptly discussed and resolved arising issues. The opening and upgrade of border gates have recorded positive results, helping to strengthen the land border and promote socio-economic development in border areas between the two countries.

The two sides frankly discussed issues at sea and agreed to continue to comply with high-level common perceptions, including the Viet Nam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, and promote relevant negotiation mechanisms to achieve practical progress.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM emphasised that the two sides need to properly manage and handle differences, respect each other's legitimate rights and interests in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and join hands with ASEAN member countries to promote negotiations to soon achieve a practical, effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, thereby contributing to the maintenance of peace and stability in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) and the region.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Friday for Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, who is in Viet Nam to attend the 15th meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

Both sides agreed that following the highly successful visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong October 2022, the relations between the two Parties and countries have maintained development momentum and achieved many new accomplishments, with high-level exchanges and meetings, growth in economic and trade ties, and increasingly vibrant people-to-people and locality-to-locality exchanges.

President Thuong said the Vietnamese Party, State and people always consider the relationship with China a strategic choice and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification of ties.

Wang affirmed that the Chinese Party, Government and people attach great importance to the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation with the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, and consider this a priority direction in the foreign policy of China.

China always supports Viet Nam to successfully implement its industrialisation and modernisation goal, towards realising the vision and development aspiration set by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), he said.

Thuong suggested the two sides increase high-level exchange activities and meetings, and effectively deploy cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties, and between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, as well as between the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), thus deepening the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the coming time.

He also suggested the two sides to continue promoting the role of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, enhance cooperation in important fields such as diplomacy, defence, and security, improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in fields, especially economics-trade, investment, and transportation, and boost people-to-people exchange.

Regarding the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) issue, President THuong urged the two sides to well implement high-level common perceptions, better control and address disagreements at sea, put themselves in each other's position, and respect each other's legitimate and legal interests in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus jointly building the East Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Thanking the Vietnamese President for his attention and opinions on developing relations between the two Parties and two countries, the Chinese official agreed that the two sides will continue to well implement high-level common perceptions, well implement specific cooperation measures put forth at the 15th Meeting of the China-Viet Nam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation; further deepen cooperation in all fields between the two countries; properly control and handle disagreements at sea, and make the China-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to develop healthily and stably, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.  VNS
HA NOI  The strong development of internet and smart devices has opened many opportunities for children to learn and explore the world as they can easily search and access a lot of useful information, however, they also face the risk of accessing harmful information online.

Experts agreed on this assessment in a conference held on Thursday in Ha Noi, which was co-organised by the Viet Nam Cyber Safety for Children Club (VCSC), Viet Nam Information Security Association (VNISA) and Viet Nam Cyber Security Emergency Response Centre.

Speaking at the conference, ang Vu Son, deputy chairman of the VNISA, said that in recent years, information technology and telecommunications growth had impacted every field and everyones life, including children.

Viet Nam has paid attention and has strong policies to protect children from increasing risks in cyberspace, including Prime Ministerial Decision 830/TTg-CP on the programme Protect and support children to interact healthily and creatively in the online environment in the period 2021-25".

In order for the State's guidelines and policies to be widely implemented, joint efforts were needed from all agencies, organisations, businesses and the community, Son said.

We are pleased to work together to protect children and help them become safe, creative and happy digital citizens, he said.

Ngo Tuan Anh, Chairman of the VCSC, said that preventing harmful information and fraud against children in the online environment had been one of the key contents of the club since its establishment.

The club targets to connect and work with other organisations to build a safe cyberspace for all Vietnamese children.

In the coming time, the club will set up a child protection data system, and a basic standard for child protection products.

We will offer education to raise community awareness in preventing harmful and fraudulent information, supporting children to interact healthily and creatively in the cyber environment, he said.

Up to 76 per cent of children tend to find and accept new friends on social networks, according to a report by Childfund Viet Nam.

Besides, the Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population said that nearly 36.5 per cent of children have experienced information and images related to violence on the internet.

More than 13 per cent of them are exposed to sexual material online.

Malicious and fraudulent information becomes a hidden risk and hard-to-identify traps are always lurking for children, while most of them do not have the skills to protect themselves in cyberspace.

This poses many challenges for families, schools and State management agencies to protect the children in the online environment.  VNS
NGHE AN  The central province of Nghe An has set targets that the number of local communes meeting new-style rural area standards will reach over 90 per cent by 2030, with 15 per cent of the communes meeting standards of model new-style rural areas.

Accordingly, by 2030, the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate of the provincial agriculture sector should reach an average of 4.6 per cent per year; and the agricultural labour productivity would increase from 5.5 to 6 per cent per year.

The growth rate of industry and rural services is set to reach an average of 10 per cent each year.

The agricultural sector plans to expand and develop markets, especially export markets, with an increase in agricultural, forestry and fishery export values of 5-6 per cent each year.

The average income of rural people in 2030 is targeted to increase 2-2.5 times compared to 2020. The rate of multidimensional poor households in rural areas will decrease by 1-1.5 per cent per year.

The proportion of households in rural areas using clean and hygienic water will reach 95 per cent.

The proportion of agricultural workers in the total number of social workers will be less than 20 per cent. On average, about 50,000 rural workers will receive vocational training every year.

The forest coverage rate will be stable at 58 per cent, improving productivity and forest quality. The forest area with a sustainable forest management certificate will be 50,000 ha. The rate of rural household solid waste, collected and treated according to regulations, will reach 80 per cent.

By 2045, local farmers will have high incomes. The province is planned to have a sustainable, ecologically-developed agricultural sector; large-scale production of goods with high economic value that is closely connected with domestic and foreign markets; and a modern agricultural product processing and preservation industry.

Implementation

To reach these goals, the provincial administration and relevant agencies have disseminated and implemented policies of the Party and laws of the States on agriculture, farmers and rural areas.

The province has also planned to enhance the role, position and ability of local farmers, comprehensively improve their material and spiritual life, especially in disadvantaged rural areas; develop an effective and sustainable agricultural economy in an ecological direction, and apply scientific and technological advances to production, improving quality and added value.

Besides, the province will promote industrial and service development, boost economic restructuring, create on-site jobs for rural workers, and build new-style rural areas in a modern direction associated with preserving traditional culture.

The province has continued to innovate and perfect mechanisms and policies; prioritise resources for agricultural, farmer and rural development; and strengthen research and application of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and human resource training in agriculture and rural areas.

Managing natural resources, protecting rural environment, improving the ability to adapt to climate change, and preventing and combating natural disasters have been also implemented to reach the goals.

It has boosted international cooperation, market expansion, attracting resources and promoting science and technology transfer; promoted the role of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, the Farmers' Association and other organisations in rural areas to fulfil the goals.

Nguyen Van Hang, deputy head of Nghe An Provinces Coordination Office of the National Targeted Program on New Rural Development, said the province now had 309 new-style rural area communes, 53 communes meeting advanced standards of new-style rural areas, and six communes meeting standards of model new-style rural areas.

He said this was an advantage for the province to run the model of smart new-style rural area commune, defined as a commune that develops digital initiatives for the community; uses solutions, digital resources and agricultural and rural innovations in the socio-economic development of the commune based on three pillars of institutions, people and technology, in order to achieve sustainable development goals, towards the goal of comprehensive digital transformation.

The provincial People's Committee determined that the implementation of digital transformation in building new-style rural areas was a key solution and task in carrying out the National Targeted Program on New Rural Development in the period 2021-25, contributing to the realisation of the goal of building ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, civilised farmers and a national digital transformation strategy that were deployed proactively and flexibly with three pillars of developing digital government in rural areas, developing digital economic entities in rural areas, and developing digital society for rural communities.  VNS
Beyond creating the initial 5G infrastructure in the region, the focus of service providers is on diversifying their offerings for both consumers and enterprises. Enhancing the customer experience, expanding network coverage, and promoting the digital transformation for businesses remain top priorities across the region.

The report also states that mobile data traffic per smartphone continues to grow strongly in Southeast Asia and Oceania, and is expected to climb from 24GB per month in 2023 to around 66GB per month in 2029  a compound annual growth rate of 19 per cent.

Head of Ericsson Vietnam Rita Mokbel stated, "At Ericsson, we have been leveraging our technological leadership to deliver a world-class consumer experience to the expansive 4G installed base in Vietnam  which can seamlessly be upgraded to 5G when required. 5G will provide the critical infrastructure that will accelerate the digital transformation of Vietnam."

"In the initial phase, 5G will enable service providers in Vietnam to provide an enhanced mobile broadband experience to consumers and improve the capacity of the networks to manage the growing data traffic. Over time, we expect new, innovative 5G use cases to emerge in business," Mokbel added.

Globally, Ericsson estimates that almost one in five of all global mobile subscriptions will be 5G enabled by the end of 2023, as the growth has proven resilient despite the continued economic challenges and geopolitical unrest in some markets.

The report adds that there will be 610 million new 5G subscriptions for the calendar year 2023, a 63 per cent increase over 2022 that will bring the global total to 1.6 billion  about 100 million more than previously predicted.

The latest 25th edition of the report has a new upper timeline for statistical forecasts, moving from 2028 to 2029. In line with recent editions, the November 2023 report confirms enhanced mobile broadband, fixed wireless access, gaming and AR/VR-based services as the most common early consumer use cases for 5G.

Regionally, the uptake of 5G subscriptions in North America continues to be strong. By the end of 2023, the region is expected to have the highest 5G subscription penetration globally at 61 per cent. 5G subscription growth has also been strong in India throughout 2023. By the end of the year  fourteen months after its commercial launch  5G penetration is expected to have topped 11 per cent in the country.

In the six years between the end of 2023 and 2029, global 5G subscriptions are forecast to increase by more than 330 per cent  from 1.6 billion to 5.3 billion. 5G coverage is forecast to be available to more than 45 per cent of the global population by the end of 2023 and 85 per cent by the end of 2029.

North America and the Gulf Cooperation Council are expected to have the highest regional 5G penetration rates by the end of 2029 at 92 per cent. Western Europe is forecast to follow at 85 per cent penetration.

Fredrik Jejdling, executive vice president and head of Networks at Ericsson said, With more than 600 million 5G subscriptions added globally this year, and rising in every region, it is evident that the demand for high-performance connectivity is strong. The roll-out of 5G continues, and we see an increasing number of 5G standalone networks being deployed, bringing opportunities to support new and more demanding applications for both individuals and enterprises.

The global average data consumption per smartphone keeps growing. Total mobile data traffic is estimated to grow three-fold between the end of 2023 and the end of 2029, attributed to factors such as improved device capabilities, an increase in data-intensive content, and continued improvements in the performance of networks.

Peter Jonsson, executive editor of the Ericsson Mobility Report stated, The rate of data growth in mobile networks clearly reflects consumers passion for enhanced mobile broadband-related applications. This trend will increase at pace as more consumers worldwide embrace 5G and new use cases emerge, triggering further growth in data traffic. As most traffic is generated indoors, where people typically spend most of their time, there is a growing need to extend 5G mid-band coverage both indoors and outdoors to ensure a comprehensive 5G experience in all locations.

The 5G mid-band combines high capacity with good coverage, making it an ideal choice for delivering the full 5G experience. Global 5G mid-band population coverage is currently more than 40 per cent, an increase from 30 per cent in 2022. The rise was mainly driven by large mid-band deployments in India, but also several others in Europe.

The report also explores wireless connectivity for the manufacturing industry, how 5G is becoming a key determinant of production output, and how it enables the agility required to support rapid changes and the reallocation of resources.

The November 2023 Ericsson Mobility Report includes three in-depth articles, namely large-scale 5G SA deployment to drive the digital transformation in India, the demand for indoor connectivity driving the need for enhanced performance, and 5G-enabled agility in gigafactories and green steel plants.

The report has been the key industry reference source for network data, performance, statistics, and forecasts since its launch in 2011. It is based on the unique insights of Ericsson and its partners.

Ericsson to accelerate Vietnams digitalisation journey via upskilling in 5G The upcoming launch of the AI Lab by RMIT and Ericsson is pinning high hopes on upskilled manpower for Vietnams digital transformation. Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, talked to VIRs Minh Anh about the ambitious goals of Ericsson through this initiative.

President of Ericsson Vietnam recognised for sci-tech contribution The International Society of Engineering Asset Managements Outstanding Achievement Award recognises the contribution to digital transformation efforts of Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. He talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about this special journey and Ericssons strategy ahead in the context of 5G, Industry 4.0, and new emerging technologies.
Attorney General Ken Paxton reads a statement at his office in Austin on May 26, 2023, ahead of his impeachment by the Texas House. Eric Gay/Associated Press

Lawyers for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sought to convince an appeals court Wednesday to dismiss an effort to sanction the states top lawyer for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Principal Deputy Solicitor General Lanora Pettit argued the complaint by the State Bar of Texas is an attempt to control the attorney generals decisions going forward about what types of lawsuits to file and what types of legal theories to pursue.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The bar lawsuit accuses Paxton of violating its rules of professional conduct by including false and misleading statements in a petition before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to toss election results in four battleground states. His petition, which ultimately was thrown out, contained voter fraud allegations that were not supported by evidence or already had been litigated and dismissed in other courts, according to the complaint.

The bar complaint also alleged the four battleground states that Texas sued  Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin  were unfairly forced to spend time, money and other resources responding to Paxtons claims.

Michael G. Graham, a lawyer with the bars Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, said on Wednesday the case had nothing to do with politics or anything else.

Its everything to do with whether an attorney is engaged in professional misconduct, he said.

A three-judge panel of the Dallas court who heard the case against Paxton  consisting of Democratic Justices Erin A. Nowell and Nancy Kennedy and Republican Justice Emily Miskel  said they would issue their decision at a later date.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The outcome could test the bars ability to sanction elected officials and is one of several misconduct suits it filed against Texas lawyers who fought the 2020 presidential election results.

Also in the crosshairs are Paxtons second-in-command, Brent Webster, and Dallas attorney Sidney Powell, who recently pleaded guilty over efforts to overturn Donald Trumps loss in Georgia.

A state district court judge ruled against Paxton in January, and the third-term Republican quickly appealed to the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas. His law license is potentially at stake, though the state constitution does not require the attorney general to be licensed to practice law. Paxton did not appear in the courtroom Wednesday.

Paxtons lawyers say he is protected by sovereign immunity, the legal principle that generally shields public officials from lawsuits.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

They also argue it would violate the separation of powers doctrine for the Texas courts to police what they say was an executive branch decision. Paxton was within his right as an attorney to raise legal questions in good faith, they say.

In court on Wednesday, Nowell questioned Pettits claim that if the case is allowed to proceed there will be a raft  of these types of complaints anytime there is a politically charged lawsuit, which is every day.

Thats a big leap from, Hey, they filed this, and so now theyre going to control it going forward, she said.

Pettit disagreed, saying the point of a disciplinary action is to prevent the recurrence in the future.

Graham noted Paxton has been attorney general for nearly a decade and no such thing has happened yet.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Nowell pointed out that a state appellate court in El Paso heard similar arguments from the attorney generals office related to the misconduct suit against Webster and sided with the state bar. She acknowledged, however, that the ruling is not precedent for the Dallas court, which has jurisdiction over a different region.

Paxtons attorneys also have accused the bar of filing the suit over political differences.

Certain statements that the bar found to be dishonest were just shorthand for the Commissions objections to the Attorney Generals assessment of the facts, evidence, and law at the time he initiated the lawsuit, Paxtons attorneys argue in court filings.

Miskel seemed to be moved by that argument Wednesday, pointing to an original grievance that triggered the bar suit.

You say it has nothing to do with politics, but Im looking at the underlying grievance: They use the word Trump nine times in the first seven paragraphs, she said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Graham said he couldnt speak to the people who file grievances and have their own perspective. He said the commission reviewed more than 90 complaints against Paxton, dismissed most and ultimately determined there was professional misconduct.

Miskel raised a hypothetical of whether she could lose her law license for making legal conclusions as a judge that some might consider dishonest or misrepresentation. Graham disagreed she would be at risk. Miskel said she wanted to press him more on that point, but his time had expired.

Paxton has publicly attacked the bar as controlled by leftists who want to bully him. Last summer, he went as far as to ban his offices lawyers from speaking at any events organized by the bar.

Paxtons appeal was supposed to be heard in September, but he successfully argued that it should be postponed until the end of his impeachment proceedings, which ended in his acquittal.

Pettit took over the case just weeks after Solicitor General Judd Stone and Chris Hilton, the former chief of general litigation, abruptly departed their positions last month after taking leave to defend Paxton in his Senate impeachment trial.

Webster faces a nearly identical suit by the bar, which was allowed to move forward this year by the El Paso appellate court after a district court initially dismissed it. Webster, now the first assistant attorney general, has appealed to the Texas Supreme Court.

The bar disciplinary committee also went after Powell, who joined Trumps legal team after his 2020 presidential election loss, brought a number of unsuccessful lawsuits aiming to overturn the results and spread conspiracy theories about it. For example, she falsely claimed that Dominion Voting Systems machines used software created at the direction of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to rig elections.

State District Judge Andrea Bouressa of Collin County threw out the bars suit against Powell in February over numerous defects in the way bar attorneys made the filing, and in May refused the bars request to reconsider her decision.

The bar appealed to the 5th Court of Appeals, the same one hearing the Paxton disciplinary case appeal Wednesday.

Earlier this month, a coalition of lawyers sent a letter to the state bar, urging the organization that oversees state lawyers to suspend or disbar Powell after she pleaded guilty last month in a Georgia election interference case. In that case, she agreed to a plea deal involving six years of probation, fines and the requirement she write an apology letter to the state and its residents.

The state bar can automatically issue discipline if an attorney has been put on probation and if the crime is a misdemeanor involving theft, as the lawyers who wrote the letter characterized Powells case.
At the conference promoting investment and trade cooperation between the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap and Japan organised on November 29 (Photo: VNA)

Dong Thap  A conference aimed at promoting investment and trade cooperation between the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap and Japan was organised on November 29, attracting more than 50 enterprises and investors from both sides.

Addressing the event, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Quoc Phong said that Japan has signed many bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with Vietnam, creating important legal frameworks for promoting trade, investment and business relations between the two countries. Over the past years, Dong Thap has boosted collaboration with many Japanese localities, organisations and individuals, he said.

As the province has always ranked in the top five in the country in terms of the provincial competitiveness index for the past 15 consecutive years, Dong Thap is confident that it is an ideal investment environment for Japanese businesses, he noted

Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Masuo Ono said that once Dong Thap's road and waterway transportation system is complete, it will open up opportunities for investment and trade collaboration between the provinces enterprises and Japanese companies in such fields as agricultural processing, logistics, and tourism.

At the conference, participants were briefed about industrial parks, border gate economic zones, industrial clusters, fields and projects that are calling for investment.

Investment and trade connection activities between Dong Thap businesses and Japanese businesses were also organised within the framework of the event, along with the introduction of local culture, tourism, and cuisine as well as products with demand for export to Japan.

The total trade turnover between Dong Thap and Japan reached 18.17 million USD in 2022 and topped 20.5 million USD in the first eight months of this year. Dong Thap exported seafood, apparel, footwear, shrimp crackers and products made from rice to Japan while importing textile accessories and animal feed.

Dong Thap creates space and resources for urban overhaul The Mekong Delta provinces Dong Thap province is prolonging its growth momentum, particularly in urban metropolises.

Dong Thap strives to elevate trade with Japanese partners The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap is making concerted efforts to lift investment and trade ties with Japan, leveraging a raft of activities across the board.
Official labour productivity figures are lower than those of 2016-2020, photo Le Toan

The government reported to the National Assembly (NA) that this year, Vietnams labour productivity (LP) is forecast to increase 3.77-4.76 per cent, far lower than the NAs goal of 5-6 per cent.

This will be the third year in a row that we fail to reach the NAs LP growth target. What is concerning is that the average LP increase is slowing, said NA deputy Pham Trong Nghia, representing the northern province of Lang Son.

The rate is estimated to be about 4.5 per cent, far lower than the average of over 6 per cent for 2016-2020.

It is strongly recommended that the government report the main causes behind such low LP growth and take drastic solutions to increasing LP, Nghia said. At the previous sessions, many NA deputies also raised their concern over the situation, with proposal that the government must have proper solutions to raise LP and take advantage of the countrys existing golden population.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), productivity growth is important because it is the main source, and in the long run the only sustainable source of increasing the material standard of living of the population. It is not only a crucial dimension of overall productivity growth, but it also forms a direct link with income growth from employment. Furthermore, labour productivity depends on two key policy areas: human resources development through education and skills training and efficient labour market institutions and active labour market policies to enable and ensure a productive workforce.

The government reported that over the past few years, the economys human resources quality remains limited without clear changes, and has failed to become a breakthrough for national socioeconomic development.

Trained professions and careers have failed to stay in lockstep with the domestic labour markets demand, especially those working in new economic sectors. Moreover, Vietnam also lacks high-skilled labourers in the key economic sectors and sectors in service of the digital economy.

Several organisations have pointed out Vietnams issue with poor quality labour. NA deputy Tran Van Khai, representing the northern province of Ha Nam, cited an assessment of the ILO that by last year, Vietnams LP was equal to 12.2 per cent of Singapore, 24.4 per cent of South Korea, and 58.9 per cent of China.

Meanwhile, the Asia Productivity Organization has also assessed that Vietnams LP is about 60 years behind that of Japan, 40 years of Malaysia, and 10 years of Thailand.

When high-quality human resources are considered the key to socioeconomic development, economic restructuring, and growth model change, what have we done?, Khai questioned. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, our country will need about 50,000-100,000 high-skilled workers for the semiconductor sector for 2025-2030. These figures show how Vietnam is thirsty for high-quality human resources. What will we do to develop such resources and increase the LP right in the national socioeconomic development plan for the 2023-2025? Khai said.

Investment capital for improving scientific and technological activities in the economy in Vietnam remains humble and is now on a downtrend both in relative and absolute values, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology,

In 2021, total development investment into these activities reached about $1.33 billion, responsible for only 1.85 per cent of the economys total development investment capital. The state budget for such activities and research and development also remained at a low level of 0.58 per cent in 2021  lower than the rate in 2019 of Malaysia of 1.13 per cent, and Singapore of 2.2 per cent.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said Vietnam must better prepare for, and adapt to, the impact of Industry 4.0 on drivers of growth and job creation.

Accelerating Industry 4.0 offers both opportunities and risks in terms of future employment creation, as Vietnam embarks on new growth pathways. It is anticipated that automation and AI will displace jobs in several sectors that have been driving Vietnams growth, said a UNDP report on Industry 4.0 impacting Vietnam.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, about 1.6 million of new people enter the labour market annually, which creates a big burden for the government to provide sufficient employment. This burden is expected to grow further when Industry 4.0 is rising, with robots and high technology expected to replace many labourers, especially manual ones. The need for Vietnam to increase its LP has become increasingly imperative.

The ILO has suggested that about 70 per cent of jobs in Vietnam are at risk of automation. Sectors with a very high proportion of jobs at risk of automation include agro-forestry-fisheries, manufacturing, food and beverages, garments and textiles, electronics; retail, and others.

In September, Vietnam and the US upgraded their diplomatic relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, in which both nations have decided to promote bilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation in the digital field.

The US has recognised Vietnams great potential to become a key country in the semiconductor industry. The US supports the rapid development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam and will actively coordinate to enhance Vietnams position in the global semiconductor supply chain, said NA deputy Tran Chi Cuong from the central province of Danang.

Therefore, going forward, the potential to develop the semiconductor industry in Vietnam is huge with many opportunities to draw in investment, and receive and transfer technology from international corporations from the US and other partners. I believe this is a clear opportunity for the Vietnamese economy, and it will need to be considered and properly exploited.

Huynh Thanh Phuong - National Assembly deputy Tay Ninh province According to economic experts, Vietnams LP in 2020 reached $20,400, which was very low compared to many countries in the region and the wider world. Therefore, improving and promoting LP is a core issue of the Vietnamese economy, and is the shortest path to bring the economy to develop quickly and sustainably, and catch up with the advanced development levels of countries. The growth rate of LP is not only an important goal, it also reflects the quality of growth as well as the competitiveness of the economy. We recommend that the government comprehensively evaluate the situation and propose more specific and drastic solutions to improve LP, and enhance the countrys labour force and gradually narrow the gap with other nations in the region and the wider world. Tran Thi Hong Thanh - National Assembly deputy Ninh Binh province Improving LP is the core issue of Vietnams economy today, an urgent task that cannot be delayed. If we do not create a breakthrough in LP in the next 3-5 years, Vietnam is at risk of difficulty overcoming the middle income trap, and the goal of achieving a high income before the population ages will be difficult to come true. I have analysed the situation, the urgency of improving the LP, and identified the reasons for low LP. On that basis, I have proposed four groups of solutions to improve LP for the government to research and consider. Given the importance and urgent need to improve LP, I strongly suggest that the government pay special attention to developing and urgently effectively implementing solutions to improve LP so that our country can achieve the goals of sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive development in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga - National Assembly deputy Quang Binh province According to some studies, our countrys LP has a giant gap compared to some countries in the region and developed countries. Therefore, the government needs to focus on improving this important indicator, improving the efficiency and quality of human resources, and effectively implementing strategic breakthroughs on human resource training. Although the government has made many innovations in vocational education and higher education, the rate of trained workers with certificates and degrees is still very low. Of particular concern is the shortage of creative scientists and leading experts in all areas of socioeconomic life. The quality of training is still limited and does not meet the requirements of the labour market, especially human resources, to meet new job requirements arising from economic development and international integration.

High-quality overseas labour keen on Vietnam shift Vietnams promising economic factors could lead to more foreign workers and overseas Vietnamese entering the country to live and work.

Vietnam sends over 132,000 labourers abroad in 10 months Vietnam sent more than 132,000 labourers abroad in the first 10 months of 2023, according to the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).
Jakarta  The Jakarta provincial administration has allocated 6.9 trillion Rp (446.9 million USD) in the 2024 city budget to curb traffic congestion in the capital city by improving public transportation.

Indonesia spends nearly 500 million USD on easing congestion in capital city, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

Most of the budget, or 4.9 trillion Rp, will be used for public service obligation (PSO) and curbing illegal parking and traffic control, Jakarta Transportation Agency head Syafrin Liputo was quoted by local media as saying.

Liputo said the city administration was focusing on improving the quality and quantity of public transportation in Jakarta to provide safety and convenience for the public.

The City Council on November 15 endorsed a bylaw draft on the 2024 regional budget worth 81.71 trillion Rp, and asked the city administration to use the budget to control the congestion in the capital city. This congestion management was set as one of the provincial administrations priority programmes in 2024.

In addition to congestion management, other priority programmes directly affecting Jakarta citizens include managing floods, reducing stunting, alleviating poverty, accelerating economic growth and strengthening democratic values.

Deputy Speaker of the City Council Khoirudin said that it will also monitor the priority programmes next year.

Indonesia investigates alleged corruption in medical equipment procurement The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of Indonesia is investigating an alleged corruption case involving hundreds of billions of rupiah in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) at this countrys Ministry of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indonesia deploys investment plan for 20 bln USD energy transition pact Indonesia on November 21 launched an investment plan to attract 20 billion USD pledged by the US and Japan in a renewable energy transition pact agreed last year for the archipelago to slash emissions and wean itself off coal.
illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

Kuala Lumpur  As the number of COVID-19 cases increases again in Malaysia, medical experts advised local residents to continue to take preventive measures such as wearing masks in crowded places and washing their hands regularly.

The Southeast Asian country reported a slight increase recently with Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka exceeding 100 cases, while other states had between eight and 59 cases daily.

According to Kumitaa Theva Das, a virologist at Universiti Sains Malaysia, there was a rising number of cases recently but the situation was still under control because a majority of people in Malaysia have been vaccinated and the vaccines are still working.

Two of the four variants of interest (VOIs), namely XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16, have been circulating in Malaysia. Since they are all Omicron strains, the symptoms will most likely be similar and not cause for concern, she said, adding that neighbouring countries such as Brunei and Singapore also recorded an increase in the number of infections.

Meanwhile, Penang Hospital infectious disease unit head Chow Ting Soo confirmed that there has been a rise in cases and hospital admissions.

For certain groups of people such as the elderly, immuno-compromised patients and those with underlying health conditions, the implications of being infected can be severe and lethal, she said, noting that the virus still exists in the environment.

Malaysia cancels plans for proposed transborder haze pollution bill Malaysias Environment Ministry has announced that the country will not proceed with a proposed bill to prevent transborder haze pollution because of difficulties in obtaining the necessary information for prosecution purposes.

Malaysias tourism targets sustainable development Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, has put forth Budget 2024 under which the domestic tourism sector is expected to grow further.
The information was released at a conference to summarise the implementation of the Nestle Accompanying Women programme in Hanoi on November 24.

The initiative was implemented for the first time by Nestle Vietnam in collaboration with the Vietnam Women's Union in nine provinces in December 2020, before being expanded to 21 localities nationwide in November 2022.

It has helped 13,000 women, especially those in rural areas, to improve their knowledge and skills, and keep pace with the digital transformation process while creating sustainable livelihoods. Among them, 4,000 members have been trained in communication skills and financial management, and 5,000 learned about digital technology. All members participated in the training activities on the use of digital applications.

Participating in the scheme allowed the women to become more confident in taking control of their lives as they formed a stronger grasp of how to exploit the strengths of digital technology.

By the end of September, the programme had created and maintained sustainable livelihood models to promote digital applications in 790 communes, with 1,840 models nationwide.

Binu Jacob, general director of Nestle Vietnam

Binu Jacob, general director of Nestle Vietnam said, "2023 is the first year in the second phase of the long-term bilateral cooperation between Nestle Vietnam and the Vietnam Women's Union, which is running from 2022 to 2027. We are proud to see thousands of women becoming more confident in taking control of their lives and contributing to the economic development of their family and the locality."

In addition to activities on improving nutritional knowledge, equipping soft skills, and creating sustainable livelihood models, one of the programme's key activities in 2023 and beyond is to promote the digital transformation and realise the government's goal that Vietnam's digital economy will account for 20 per cent of GDP by 2025 and increase to 30 per cent by 2030, he said.

Looking at orientation for 2024, Truong Thi Thu Thuy, member of the Presidium and head of the Family and Society Committee at the Vietnam Women's Union said, "The scheme will open many training sessions to improve knowledge and skills. It will focus on IT, digital transformation, sustainable livelihood support, and initial capital support as part of the Cooking up a Career course."

The Startup Sister Nest initiative will focus on supporting women when starting a business. The primary beneficiaries are women in the Central Highlands region who participate in the Sustainable Coffee Farming Project.

At the conference, the Vietnam Women's Union and Nestle Vietnam honoured 19 groups and individuals from provincial to grassroots levels for most effectively implementing the Nestle Accompanying Women programme.

The programme continues to implement initiatives to empower women at the company, in the community, and throughout the value chain that Nestle has built in Vietnam over nearly 30 years. Nestle is also committed to empowering women through its NESCAFE Plan initiative.

At Nestle Vietnam, gender equality is expressed via human resource development policies, ranging from recruitment to succession planning and promotions. The proportion of women holding leadership positions in the company reached 54 per cent. These commitments are part of the social pillar of Nestle Vietnam's strategy to implement sustainable initiatives.

Nestle Vietnam again ranks in list of Vietnam's largest corporate taxpayers Nestle Vietnam has again been recognised for its efforts to maintain business continuity to ensure employment and income for workers while making a significant contribution to the state budget during 20202022, despite the myriad challenges posed by the pandemic.

Nestle Vietnam contributes to elevating the role of women across the supply chain With a strong commitment to empowering women, especially those in rural areas, Nestle Vietnam is implementing many initiatives across its supply chain, such as the NESCAFE Plan and the Nestle Accompanies Women programme.

Nestle Vietnam recognised as Typical Enterprise for Labour for fourth consecutive year Nestle Vietnam has recently been recognised as a Typical Enterprise for Labour in 2023 thanks to its efforts to improve the material and spiritual lives of its employees, creating a workplace that can unlock the potential of each staff member and bring shared value to the community.

Nestle Vietnam recognised for positive work culture Le Thanh Khang, head of Organization Department & Talent Management of Nestle Vietnam, told VIR's Thai An about efforts to ensure welfare and encourage employees to promote value in the working environment, contributing to helping Nestle be honoured four times as a top Typical Enterprise for Labour.
https://vir.com.vn/search_enginer.html?p=search&q=Vietnam%20M%26A%20Forum Luu Thi Thanh Mau, CEO, Phuc Khang Corporation

Could you explain why M&A is a popular investment channel in the context of the fluctuations in the global economy?

Statistics over the past 20 years show that Vietnam has witnessed more than 4,000 M&A deals with a value of nearly $50 billion, ranking third in Southeast Asia in terms of value. Vietnam is considered a dynamic country in this respect, as it continues to attract foreign capital flows. In particular, deals in the real estate sector account for a large proportion.

However, in light of the challenges and unpredictability in both domestic and foreign markets, it can be confusing for investors who pursue M&A investment methods. Whether this will continue to be a popular investment channel in the future is a problem that needs to be solved, as investors are more cautious in the current period.

In particular, they will carefully monitor issues related to policies and institutions. In the past, they participated in M&A deals more freely, aiming for high profits and a quick capital recovery.

Currently, investors have strategies to participate in M&A deals in various fields, such sustainable development, environmental protection, and advanced technology.

The Vietnamese government's measures look to improve the business environment, prioritise projects related to environmental, social, and governance initiatives, and build investor confidence. The acquisition of state-owned enterprises has positively affected the M&A market.

Besides this, the Vietnamese market is considered the most attractive and potential-rich in the region for international corporations, thanks to the open and deeply integrated economy that brings multidimensional capital flows from around the globe.

According to some investors, when the market is in difficult circumstances, it is a golden time to carry out investment activities. Many foreign businesses are expanding their markets and strengthening their positions through acquisitions.

Therefore, the M&A investment method in Vietnam will continue to develop over time and be of interest to investors, especially those from overseas. Deals related to real estate projects will become even more exciting after the National Assembly passes the Draft Land Law (amended).

What new synergistic value is created from M&A deals in today's context, and what factors determine it?

In an M&A deal, value is created from the advantages of each party, including financial synergy. It allows for the exploitation and allocation of capital more effectively, increasing the scale of a company through mutual support.

Management synergy combines good teams from each party to improve operational performance and efficiency.

With operational synergy, it increases market power through the combination of the advantages of the brands, technologies, facilities, human resources, and customers of each party.

In terms of technology and resources, parties can absorb the technological benefits from their partners when implementing projects.

Achieving synergistic value in an M&A deal depends on various factors such as corporate culture, the goodwill of the parties, the business environment, national policies, and more.

What are the issues that Vietnamese businesses need to focus on to ensure a successful M&A deal with international partners?

Businesses in Vietnam need to identify the goals and advantages of the partner they want to cooperate with. From there, they can determine the appropriate strategies and targets for the deal.

Secondly, it is important to look into the partner's strategy to avoid disagreements and culture shock during the implementation of cooperation activities.

In addition, it is necessary to have a team of good lawyers with an in-depth understanding of M&As, Vietnamese legal regulations, agreements to which Vietnam is a member, and the legal requirements that apply to the international partners.

They have to evaluate the legal documents provided by the foreign partners and ensure all M&A activities take place legally. Businesses also need to carefully draft contract terms and prepare specific dispute resolution options in the contract to limit future risks.

Finally, good preparation and planning will always decide the success of any M&A deal.

What is your experience of businesses with excellent M&A strategies?

Businesses with good strategies focus on choosing industries with high-potential development opportunities, such as consumer goods, food, real estate, high-end commercial centres, and seafood processing.

They should also choose a field that is consistent with the government's development goals and policies, such as green real estate projects, environmental urban development, renewable energy, or advanced technology.

A good team has a strong effect on the quality of an M&A strategy. It must be knowledgeable about laws, procedures, and project implementation methods, or hire consultants for specialised issues to control risks. As ever, clear goals and plans for M&A activities are vital.

Phuc Khang focuses on strategy developing high-rise green buildings Dr. Le Thi Hong Na, Sustainable Development Strategy consultant at Phuc Khang Corporation, spoke at VIR's Sustainable Development conference on November 16.

Phuc Khang's journey from CSR to ESG Green building developer Phuc Khang Corporation has set out its mission to pioneer and promote the creation of a better, healthier lifestyle for the public in accordance with global green standards, as heard at VIR's Sustainable Development conference on November 16.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the business forum in Ankara on November 30 (local time)(Photo: VNA)

Ankara  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested Turkiye recognise Vietnams full market economy status and the two sides negotiate a free trade agreement while addressing a business forum in Ankara on November 30 (local time).

Jointly held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkiye, and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye, the event brought together representatives from ministries, agencies and localities, and nearly 200 corporate leaders of the two countries.

PM Chinh congratulated Turkiye on its outstanding development to join the group of the 20 largest economies in the world (G20).

He briefed the participants on Vietnams national construction and foreign policy, stressing the country aims to build an independent, self-reliant economy in parallel with proactive and effective international integration.

Vietnam is focusing on three strategic breakthroughs, covering institution building and perfection; infrastructure; and human resources development and administrative reform, he said.

An open policy system, smooth infrastructure and smart administration will help foreign investors operate stably and effectively in the Southeast Asian nation, the leader emphasised.

Vietnam wishes to cooperate in digital economy, green transition, circular economy, knowledge-based economy, and sharing economy, with science, technology and innovation as new driving forces for national development, the PM continued.

The Government leader affirmed that Vietnam always creates optimal conditions for large, high-tech, and experienced enterprises, including those from Turkiye, to operate in the country.

He held that ample room remains for the two countries to boost their collaboration, yet cooperation mechanisms remain limited. Therefore, Turkiyes recognition of Vietnams full market economy status and a free trade agreement will facilitate the operations of their businesses.

According to the PM, both countries have expressed their wish to advance their relationship to a new height, thus helping to promote cooperation in all fields, from politics and diplomacy, to economy, trade, investment, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

Representatives from Turkish ministries and businesses said that Turkiye wishes to cooperate with Vietnam in transport infrastructure, household utensil production, science-technology, finance, aviation, logistics, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and the Halal industry.

The Turkish side said it wants to penetrate deeply into the potential Vietnamese market and enter the ASEAN market through the country.

Statistics show that two-way trade reached 2.4 billion USD in 2022, which is expected to rise in the time ahead. Turkiye is now Vietnams largest direct investor from the Middle East region, with a total registered capital of nearly 1 billion USD.

A number of agencies and businesses of the two countries signed cooperation agreements on this occasion.

PM Pham Minh Chinh and IC Investment Holding Board Chairman Ibrahim Cecen (Photo: VNA)

On the same day, Chinh received the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and leaders of the Turkish giant IC Holdings, a multi-industry group operating mainly in the construction sector.

Vietur, a consortium led by its IC Ictas, has won the 35 trillion VND (1.44 billion USD) bidding package to build the terminal for Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai.

The IC Holdings representatives lauded the investment environment in Vietnam, and noted their wish to coordinate closely with Vietnamese agencies and businesses to effectively implement the bidding package, while expanding cooperation and investment in essential infrastructure, energy and health care.

Chinh suggested the group coordinate closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies and localities to deploy the bidding package effectively as scheduled and ensure the set quality.

The PM suggested IC Holdings seek investment opportunities in other specific projects in the areas of its strengths and Vietnams priorities, especially infrastructure construction, industry, energy, tourism and smart city building.

Prime Minister meets World Bank President in Indonesia Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 7 received World Bank (WB) President Ajay Banga in Jakarta on the sideline of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Indonesia.
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 with state-owned utility Vietnam Electricity.

The deal is in line with AES' intentions to sell the majority of its coal assets by the end of 2025 but is pending approval from the government of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

"AES values its strong business relationship with Vietnam, where we have been a strategic partner delivering reliable power while supporting the country's long-term energy transition goals," said Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, executive vice president and president of energy infrastructure at AES.

"This sale would advance AES' low-carbon goals while enabling us to continue to play a role in the advancement of energy solutions to meet growing demand," he added.

Based in the Czech Republic, Sev.en is a family-owned company with expertise in developing and operating conventional power plants and mining assets around the world.

AES is continuing to develop the 450 TBTU Son My liquefied natural gas terminal with PetroVietnam Gas, and the 2,250 MW Son My 2 combined cycle gas power plant.

The acquisition of Mong Duong 2 is Sev.en Global Investments' first foray into the Asian market, and it is committed to operating the plant in accordance with the existing build-operate-transfer contract to the highest environmental and safety standards.

Alan Svoboda, CEO of Sev.en Global Investments, said, "We are pleased to make this announcement. After establishing our presence in Europe, North America, and Australia, we are now entering Asia. We are proud to take over the operator role from AES, and we appreciate the strong diplomatic and business ties between Vietnam and the Czech Republic."

"We welcome this, by far the largest Czech investment in Vietnam yet. It moves our country into the top tier of foreign investors in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. I congratulate Sev.en and hope that the successful closing of this transaction will entice further Czech investments into the country," said Hynek Kmonicek, Czech Ambassador to Vietnam.

AES Corporation and PV Gas push ahead with Son My LNG Terminal The representatives of AES and PetroVietnam Gas JSC (PV Gas) were granted an investment registration certificate for the Son My LNG terminal, which is expected to play an important role in supporting Vietnams energy transition and economic growth.

AES receives Investment Policy Decision for 2.2 GW Son My 2 CCGT plant in Vietnam On February 5, US energy major AES received the investment policy for Son My II combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) project from Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien at a conference on investment and development in the north-central and central coastal regions in Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province.
The documentary was first aired in Australia and New Zealand on November 24. This is the first documentary by Discovery about Vietnam's coffee culture and philosophy.

After more than a year of research, Warner Bros. Discovery teamed up with Trung Nguyen Legend to produce and broadcast The Tao of Coffee on Discovery. Discovery is a renowned international television channel in the US with a global reach. Its broadcast network reaches 2.2 billion viewers in more than 230 countries and territories.

Aspirations in a new context

The culture of a nation can be divided into two basic groups, civilization building and civilization absorbing. Despite a unique, resilient, and strong national culture, Vietnam has always been in the group of countries that absorb culture and civilization.

However, coffee culture and its achievements can create an opportunity for Vietnam and its people to export its culture globally. It is similar to what has been done by many other countries with similar conditions, such as Japan and South Korea.

Discovery chose the title The Tao of Coffee after considering a series of others for this multidimensional documentary. It expresses the spirit and aspirations of the Vietnamese coffee revolution to create spillover effects around the globe.

Two strong foundations for the Vietnamese coffee revolution

Firstly, Vietnam has a unique coffee culture with filter coffee and iced milk coffee. The documentary features stories from coffee shops with vivid and emotional images, along with comments by reputable domestic and international experts and journalists.

The country is also emerging as a global coffee powerhouse, being the world's second-largest producer and exporter.

A representative from Discovery said, "Vietnam accounts for more than half of the global supply of Robusta. Set in its Central Highlands, the province of Dak Lak produces over 30 per cent of those beans. It really kicked-off in the 1980s, when the government introduced a series of coffee production programmes to boost the economy."

The power of Vietnam's coffee industry stems not only from the quantity but also from the quality of the world's best Robusta coffee beans from Buon Ma Thuot, which have been recognised by experts in the global coffee industry.

The pioneer in the Vietnamese caffeine revolution

To portray its story in the most authentic way, Discovery spent time recording the activities and strategies of Trung Nguyen Legend as the organisation leading the Vietnamese caffeine revolution.

The coffee producer appears in the first frames of the documentary in a humble and cosy setting with the in-house testing of a new product, namely G7 Gold. With its skilful art of storytelling, Discovery has presented the diverse coffee ecosystem, unique ideas, and lofty aspirations that Trung Nguyen Legend has cherished and implemented for nearly three decades.

It is the original spirit of the G7 brand, with the desire to confront and win against multinational coffee brands. Trung Nguyen Legend not only demonstrates love but also the responsibility to honour the world's best Robusta coffee beans from Vietnam, enhancing the overall value of the Vietnamese coffee industry  where Robusta output accounts for 95 per cent.

According to Trung Nguyen Legend, coffee is not merely a physical product, it is also spiritual and social. The company has led many initiatives to promote Vietnam's coffee industry, such as youth startup support schemes and a project to develop the brand of Buon Ma Thuot city into the coffee city of the world.

International audiences can also admire the landscapes, works, and projects that elevate coffee into culture and art. These are developed strongly in Buon Ma Thuot, attracting the attention of global coffee lovers. Among them, the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival is a colourful and lively event that showcases the soul of the land, the water, the people, and the coffee profession in Vietnam.

The Tao of Coffee plays a crucial role

The spirituality of coffee plays a vital role in the Vietnamese caffeine revolution with its special and unique philosophy, which Discovery introduces to global audiences.

The philosophy stems from a comprehensive and in-depth study of the history of coffee, especially its influence on the development and advancement of human civilizations.

All great human civilizations made completely different achievements before and after coffee came into existence. Trung Nguyen Legend has crystallised three coffee civilizations, namely Ottoman, Roman, and Thien.

Among them, Thien coffee is created by Trung Nguyen Legend based on the life of the Orient, combining both stillness and movement, and both martial arts and dances of coffee.

For Trung Nguyen, Thien is coffee. Coffee is Thien. Thien is a method for us to enjoy, contemplate, and savour coffee in the most profound and complete way.

The documentary features beautiful shots of the Coffee World space with the three coffee civilizations, a 3D coffee mapping show, the World Coffee Museum, and coffee culture performances.

Discovery commented, "Trung Nguyen Legend is elevating its three coffee civilizations message into an immersive historical experience."

Trung Nguyen Legend has made efforts to distil, honour, and crystallise the three coffee civilizations to promote a humane and sustainable world. From coffee and through coffee, it is the harmony and unity of human civilizations.

This is particularly poignant as the world is fraught with crises and risks. Global problems cannot be solved by any single country, organisation, or individual. Harmony - Respect - Elegance - Calmness - Responsibility and Enhancement are the principles that The Tao of Coffee aims for.

Discovery quoted a representative of Trung Nguyen Legend in the documentary, "In Vietnamese, the word 'tao' means awakened lifestyle. This is the coffee philosophy that was created by founder and chairman of Trung Nguyen Legend Group Dang Le Nguyen Vu. Trung Nguyen Legend's coffee philosophy is aimed at awareness in the present moment, realising one's purpose in relation to the community, and striving for the values of truth, goodness, and beauty."

Vu does not appear in the documentary, but his quote represents the core spirit of the philosophy, "Coffee is a treasure of the universe, a heritage of mankind, and a solution for the future."

Click here to watch the television commercial for the documentary The Tao of Coffee, which is being broadcast widely by Discovery in countries around the world.

Vietnamese coffee documentary aired on Discovery Channel The documentary "The Tao of Coffee," produced by Warner Bros. Discovery, featuring insights about the aspirations and journey of the Vietnamese coffee industry to conquer the world, was first aired on Discovery's channels in Australia and New Zealand on November 24.

G7 coffee to speedy grow in the world Local leading coffee brand Trung Nguyen Legend has made Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans stand out in the world thanks to its unique-flavour products like instant coffee G7 and Trung Nguyen, which have been dizzily developing in the globe.
VASS Vice President Dang Xuan Thanh (Photo: vass.gov.vn)

Hanoi  The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO on November 28 organised a capacity building workshop on developing vision and strategy for social sciences from UNESCOs view.

VASS Vice President Dang Xuan Thanh said that in the development process of each country, social sciences and humanities play an important role in providing scientific evidence, detecting issues and proposing solutions.

Phinith Chanthalangsy, regional advisor for the Social and Human Sciences at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, said that UNESCO aims to strengthen humanities and social sciences programmes to build more peaceful and inclusive societies by addressing the challenges of social changes.

He said that based on experience from the Management of Social Transformations Programme, UNESCO aims to collect knowledge and accompany the communities to form or modify development models and then apply them in Southeast Asia. These models will predict new trends, ensuring development that is equitable, inclusive, more sustainable and more respectful of people's quality of life.

Tran Thi Thanh Huong, a consultant from UNESCO Vietnam Office, offered four suggestions to achieve goals in social sciences and humanities within the framework of cooperation between UNESCO and Vietnam.

They are to add the content of social sciences and humanities into the policy-making process on social transformation and inclusive development to enhance the role of social sciences in solving challenges; to teach philosophy to children to make educational methods suitable to the complex world context; to promote gender equality, rights for people with disabilities and cultural diversity; and to promote policy dialogue on ethics related to artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change.

The workshop is the first step in building a network of experts who are willing to engage with UNESCO in tabling critic measures to address the most urgent climate change issues that the region and Vietnam are facing.

Dong Van Karst Plateau recognised as UNESCO Global Geopark for 3rd time The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang on October 29 held a ceremony to receive UNESCOs recognition of the Dong Van Karst Plateau as a global geopark for the third time.

Hai Phong tourism to take off following UNESCO recognition of Cat Ba archipelago The recognition of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in September has positively impacted the tourism industry in the northern port city of Hai Phong, home to the Cat Ba islands.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement at his office, May 26, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Eric Gay/Associated Press Registered nurse April Burgeons administers a dose of a Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at the Ascension Seton Medical Center on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Pfizer, alleging that the pharmaceutical company made unsupported claims when promoting its COVID-19 vaccine.

The suit, filed Thursday in state district court in Lubbock County, repeats several talking points from vaccine opponents that public health experts have disputed.

READ MORE: AG Ken Paxton appoints BYU law professor as new solicitor general

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Americans were given the impression that Pfizers vaccine would end the coronavirus pandemic, it said. Contrary to Pfizers public statements, however, the pandemic did not end; it got worse.

In a statement, Pfizer refuted the claims and said the case has no merit.

The representations made by the company about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based, it said. Pfizer is deeply committed to the well-being of the patients it serves and has no higher priority than the safety and effectiveness of its treatments and vaccines.

Paxton noted that more Americans died of COVID-19 in 2021 than in 2020, despite the vaccine becoming available that year.

As of August 2022, about 6 in 10 adults dying of COVID-19 were at one point vaccinated or boosted, according to a recent analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The report cited several reasons, including that more of the population is now vaccinated, that immunity wanes overtime and that interest in boosters has been low. It also noted that those who are unvaccinated are still at a greater risk of death and other severe outcomes.

Paxtons suit claims that the company attempted to intimidate and silence critics on social media, pointing to emails obtained by a reporter at the Intercept and through a lawsuit filed by a prominent vaccine skeptic and posts by the company calling out vaccine misinformation. It suggests Pfizers alleged deceptions were motivated by profit.

In light of the multi-billion dollar bet that Pfizer made on the vaccine and its need to quickly establish the product as the marketing leader, Pfizer was heavily incentivized to, and in fact did, make misrepresentations intended to confuse and mislead the public in order to achieve widespread adoption of its vaccine, the suit reads.

Many of Paxtons far-right supporters oppose vaccines, and the GOP-led Texas Legislature recently passed a ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers.

The state is asking for millions of dollars in damages. Its also asking the court to block the company from making misrepresentations about its vaccines effectiveness and from coordinating with social media platforms to silence truthful speech.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
At the talks between Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra and French Minister of Public Transformation and Service Stanislas Guerini (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra held talks with French Minister of Public Transformation and Service Stanislas Guerini in Hanoi on November 30.

Minister Tra hailed the ministers visit as a significant milestone as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

She said thanks to effective cooperation with the French Ministry of Public Transformation and Service, the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has acquired valuable experience to perform tasks, especially in public service transformation, administrative reform and digital transformation.

According to her, a considerable number of officials and civil servants is leaving the public sector for the private sector following the COVID-19. To supplement this workforce while ensuring a reduction in personnel on the payroll, the ministry is studying policies to attract and retain talent in the public sector.

In administrative reform, Vietnam is focusing on decentralisation linked with power control to ensure the effectiveness of work, she said, adding that the initial results in public service and administrative reform, and digital transformation in Vietnam are achieved through the collaboration with the French Ministry of Public Transformation and Service.

Guerini, for his part, expressed admiration for Vietnam's achievements in digital transformation, especially the National Public Service Portal, which is a product of joint work with France.

Both sides agreed on coordination in various areas, incorporating them into the cooperation plan between the two ministries. Activities include the exchange of experience, workshops, seminars in Vietnam or France, and relevant countries within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) network, ASEAN mechanisms, focusing on public governance, administrative and public service reform, and civil service improvement.

Special attention was given to training and nurturing young and female officials for local authorities in Vietnam at Frances Normandie Business School and the National Institute of Public Service (INSP), a project currently undertaken by the MoHA.

They promised to bolster cooperation in digital transformation, e-government, and digital archives. Ongoing efforts include strengthening support and expert exchanges in public service, administrative and salary reform, aiming for a modern, professional, green and sustainable public service.

In the afternoon the same day, President of the Ho Chi Minh Academy of Politics (HCMA) and Chairman of the Central Theory Council Nguyen Xuan Thang hosted a reception for the minister.

Thang told the guest that the HCMA wishes to step up cooperation and share experience with French partners in personnel training and scientific research.

He suggested the French ministry and partners continue assisting Vietnam in refining its institutional framework and administrative reform toward a modern public administration.

Later, both host and guest also witnessed the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the HCMA, the INSP, and the General Directorate for the Administration and Civil Service of France.
Today is Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Let's get caught up.

Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history.

Combat resumes in Gaza

Israeli fighter jets hit targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after a weeklong truce expired on Friday, as the war with Hamas resumed in full force. Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory, and Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, suggesting it was preparing to widen its offensive.

In Israel, sirens warning of incoming rockets blared at several communal farms near Gaza, a sign that militants also restarted attacks, but there were no reports of hits. The renewed hostilities heightened concerns for Palestinians in the tiny coastal enclave as well as about 140 hostages who remain there, after more than 100 were freed during the truce.

Qatar, which has served as a mediator along with Egypt, said negotiators were still trying to reach an agreement on restarting the cease-fire. Qatar's Foreign Ministry singled out Israel's role in the resumption of fighting and said it complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe."

More about the Israel-Hamas war:

***

MORE TOP STORIES

Rep. George Santos is facing a vote on his expulsion from Congress

Rep. George Santos of New York is facing a critical vote to expel him from the House on Friday as lawmakers weigh whether his actions, fabrications and alleged lawbreaking warrant the chamber's most severe punishment.

The first-term Republican congressman is at grave risk of becoming just the sixth member of the House to be ousted by colleagues. Expulsion requires support from two-third of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a blistering House Ethics Committee report released on Nov. 16 that accused Santos of breaking federal law may prove decisive.

***

Top world leaders talk of climate crisis at UN summit

International climate talks turned to a power game on Friday as dozens of world leaders took turns bemoaning the pain of an overheating planet, but two of the world's most powerful men  President Joe Biden of the U.S. and China's President Xi Jinping  were glaringly absent.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, a top oil producer, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, whose biggest cities are regularly choked under poor air, as well as Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey were among more than 170 world leaders set to address the United Nations climate conference in Dubai over the next two days. The idea is to try to keep the planet from heating too much because of humankind's actions.

More on the summit:

***

MORNING LISTEN

A recent article in The Atlantic by Hannah Seo says that our relationships to the Earth and our relationships with each other are deeply intertwined. Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why this might be true and what we can do to help strengthen our ties to the Earth and to each other.

***

TRENDING TOPICS

***

TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: Dec. 1 In 1991, Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union.

Today in sports history: Dec. 1 In 2013, Minnesotas Adrian Peterson rushes for 211 yards in a 23-20 overtime win over Chicago. He surpasses 10,000 yards for his career in ju

***

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
WATERLOO  An Illinois man has been found guilty of painting KKK on a Waterloo teens car in 2020.

Jurors deliberated Friday morning before finding Gary Eugene Shelton, 56, of Bloomington guilty of third-degree criminal mischief.

The jury also found the crime was committed in violation of individual rights, effectively making it a hate crime and elevating what would normally be an aggravated misdemeanor to a felony.

Sentencing will be at a later date. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Prosecutors said Shelton was staying at the Waterloo Baymont Inn on La Porte Road during a work trip when he painted KKK on the doors of a Ford 500 in the hotel parking lot.

The vehicle belonged to an African-American teen from Waterloo who was at the hotel to celebrate her friends high school graduation.

Assistant County Attorney Charity Sullivan said Shelton targeted the teens car because she had written a social justice message on the back window.

He put KKK on a car that said Black Lives Matter, Sullivan said.

The incident happened on June 4, 2020, during the height of racial justice protests across the county following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota.

The teen testified the letters were painted in an unknown substance  possibly silicone adhesive  that couldnt be washed off with soapy water or buffed out. The family couldnt afford to pay the $900 to $1,000 to have the doors professionally repainted.

The crime was investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the FBI.

Detectives recovered surveillance video showing Shelton parking his boom truck next to the Ford and lingering for several minutes with a passenger-side door open allegedly to shield what he was doing before pulling out and parking elsewhere.

Shelton denied damaging the car in an interview with an FBI agent a month later. But he remembered the car and claimed it also had messages stating kill all white people and F the police, words the FBI agent said werent there.

During closing arguments, defense attorney Mark Seda said the hotels video system was motion-activated and the footage had multiple skips and gaps during the time the Ford was parked in the lot.

The amount of missing footage is astonishing, Seda said.

He also said there were other people acting suspiciously around the car that police hadnt investigated.

PHOTOS: Black Lives Matter rally Oct. 13, 2020 101320jr-march-4 101320jr-march-2 101320jr-march-3 101320jr-march-1 101320jr-march-5 101320jr-march-6 101320jr-march-7 101320jr-march-8
WATERLOO  Tony Campbell told jurors he had just met Robert Lee Williams Jr. as he was walking down the street.

It was mellow. We were just conversating, Campbell, 39, testified about their introduction on the West Sixth Street the afternoon of July 31, 2020.

He said they drove to get some cocaine and liquor and consumed both.

Then Williams shot him in the face.

He had a gun and he walked toward me, Campbell told jurors. He said Williams accused him of poisoning his brother and shooting his sister as they stood in an alley.

Thats when the gun came up, he said.

After taking a bullet, Campbell said he fled. I just got up out of there, he said.

Were you bleeding? asked Assistant County Attorney Brad Walz.

Very much, said Campbell, who recounted how he ran to a nearby liquor store to ask for help. Campbell then returned to the alley where he pulled out his own 9 mm Taurus pistol and fired about eight or nine rounds in retaliation. He hid his gun and returned to the liquor store where he met police and paramedics.

Campbell said he was treated at an Iowa City hospital where he underwent surgeries and had his jaw wired shut for four months. He said still suffers from nerve damage and partial hearing loss.

Williams, 34, is charged with attempted murder and other offenses in the shooting. His attorney said he was acting in self-defense and alleges it was Campbell who had planned to harm his client.

But during testimony on Thursday, prosecutors said Williams confessed to setting up Campbell for the shooting. In a video interview with police, Williams told investigators that Campbell got hurt because he hurt Williams family members. Williams told police he played like he was Campbells friend when they met.

Detective Nicholas Sadd questioned him about security camera footage from the alley that showed Williams extend his arm toward Campbells head before firing.

It looked like youre trying to kill him, Sadd said.

Yes sir, I was, Williams responded.

When asked about Campbell surviving the shooting, Williams said God blessed his soul.  Dudes lucky.

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  After serving Black Hawk County for 20 years, Tom Little has decided it is time to step down from his role on the Board of Supervisors.

The 70 year old announced he will not run for reelection after his fifth term expires at the end of 2024. He started the job in 2005.

Hes announcing early to give county residents time to consider running for the position. He hopes those who decide to run live in rural areas or communities surrounding Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Little lives in Evansdale and is the only supervisor residing outside of the countys two largest cities.

Little originally ran in 2004 because the county wasnt in that great of condition financially, he said.

We were able to build up insurance funds, build reserves up and bond sparingly on short term bonds for roads and bridges, he said. The reason why the county sits where it is today is because of what we did seven, 10, 15 years ago.

He has frequently been the lone vote against resolutions brought before the board, saying he was always known as the one who scrutinized spending.

Sometimes alone in his decisions, the public still overwhelmingly supported him in the past five general elections. Little said he was always the top vote getter in the county race.

I feel proud of what I accomplished and I did it with the support of people from all of Black Hawk County, he said.

When first elected, Little said he worked on crafting a vision plan for the county. He hopes the new board in 2025 works on looking toward the future. He said the board is funding certain projects that he sometimes questions.

What you spend today you may need next year, he said. Everything has gone up in cost, even the cost of building bridges and roads and so forth. So I think you have to plan for the future.

Although there is one year left of his term, Little thanked his supporters, employees in the county departments and his fellow elected officials for allowing him to work for two decades at the dais.

15 markets to watch if you want to buy a rental home in 2024 15 markets to watch if you want to buy a rental home in 2024
WATERLOO  A Wednesday forum at which two at-large City Council candidates were supposed to debate turned out to be a dud after one candidate didnt show.

But there were some fireworks Thursday.

The Black Hawk/Bremer League of Women Voters and the Black Hawk County NAACP held a forum for current Ward 2 Councilmember Jonathan Grieder and runoff opponent Steve Simon on Wednesday. The two are vying for the at-large Waterloo City Council seat in Tuesdays runoff election.

However, Simon didnt show up, citing a prior commitment. Moderator Dave Kivett, a member of both organizations holding the debate, read an email Simon sent the day before the forum explaining his absence.

Ive been unable to reschedule with this compressed timeline of this runoff election, Kivett read. Its very difficult to maintain obligations to the campaign and the family.

In a later interview, Simon told The Courier he had a prior commitment to visit with voters one-on-one Wednesday night.

Ive scheduled appointments for the last five months, he said. Im trying to accommodate as many people as I can at all times, and sometimes things overlap.

Before the November election three forums were held and Simon attended all three.

The first comments made by Grieder on Wednesday night were in response to Simons emailed statement. He said he was disappointed Simon could not make the time to have a conversation.

I think that is a question that we should ask ourselves: Do we want a council member who cant make the time when the questions arent that tough? Grieder asked. And whats going to happen when the questions are?

Grieder said he was missing his daughters bedtime but his family understands his decisions.

To lead means to make a commitment, he continued. It means to be putting yourself in situations that require you to do things that arent convenient but to do things that are right.

However, some people in the community didnt think the debate was fair to begin with. Multiple people sent The Courier emails noting moderator Vikki Brown previously endorsed Grieder.

Brown said she endorsed Grieder as chairperson of the Black Hawk County Democrats. She serves in that role as well as with the League of Women Voters and the local NAACP chapter. She said her participation as a moderator was solely in my capacity with those organizations, not as the Black Hawk County Democrats chairperson.

There is no provision within the national or state bylaws governing the League of Women Voters that explicitly restricts an elected board member from concurrently holding a position with a partisan organization while hosting or moderating a forum, Brown said in a statement.

The League has sponsored debates for decades.

Craig Lohmann, chairperson of the Black Hawk County Republicans, sent an email to The Courier stating, This is clearly a partisan move, no matter how you slice it. If the time has come for party chairs to moderate local debates, the Black Hawk County GOP deserves to have a seat at the table, too.

Although he didnt participate in the debate, Simon said it doesnt sound like it was going to be a fair forum anyway. But he said he didnt miss the forum because Brown was moderating. Grieder also said neither candidate knows who the moderators will be before the debate.

Grieder said both Kivett and Brown did their jobs.

This isnt about who is asking the questions, he said. This is about our ability to show up to our community and answer the questions put in front of us.

The final question of the night asked Grieder what he would have asked Simon if Simon had shown up. The moderators said they anticipated the forum to be a back-and-forth between the candidates. They urged the media to contact Simon to answer Grieders question.

Grieder asked what type of leader Simon would be if elected. Previously in the forum, Grieder said his own leadership style is open, honest and transparent  a key difference from Simon.

Grieder said two issues Simon lists on his website  family first ALWAYS and no divisive national politics  are code for opposing the citys conversion therapy ban, which is now repealed. Grieder had proposed the ban.

Simons explanation on his website reads: Our city policy measures should support the family core and promote unity over division. The family unit is the basic building block of an economy and community. I am (a) firm believer that parents know how to best address their childrens needs and welfare.

In an opening statement provided to the moderators, Simon wrote that the council is not a place to push a national partisan agenda. He said the council should stick to issues like infrastructure and economic growth.

Grieder doesnt buy Simons claim he wants to stay away from national politics.

I frankly find it laughable that my opponent wants to talk about not bringing in national politics when hes associated with so many folks who have brought national anti-LGBTQ politics to the Cedar Valley, Grieder said.

He noted Simons campaign manager, Jacob Tayloe, spoke many times at council meetings against the conversion therapy ban.

In a phone call Thursday, Simon said, I dont know how (Grieder) can read my mind, in regard to what family first means.

Family values for me is just instilling in your children how to become young adults and adults, Simon said. Family values vary from family to family and Im not in a position to tell people what to do with their families.

Grieder said Simons language is fudging the truth.

Im not interested in the conversations that Ron DeSantis or Kim Reynolds or Donald Trump or Steve Simon are having, Grieder said. (LGBTQ+) people exist, and they are human beings.  We should treat them like human beings, and that is what I will always do on council.

Hearing that quote, Simon responded he doesnt compare Grieder to politicians like President Joe Biden. He said such references are the sound of desperation.

This proves my point; hes trying to divide the city, Simon said. I am a unifier of this city and I am not gonna fall and play those games.

In response to Grieders question, Simon had one of his own. He asked why everything has to be so divisive. He asked Grieder to promise not to bring divisiveness to the council if elected.

Grieder responded: Someone who is endorsed by Margaret Klein shouldnt lecture people about divisiveness. Klein, a former mayoral candidate and city councilmember, donated $250 to Simons campaign.

It is not divisive to stand up for people who are being attacked for the very basic thing of their identity, he continued. It is divisive to use this issue to divide a community.

LGBTQ+ politics didnt take up Wednesdays entire forum.

Grieder said if elected, he looks forward to rolling out a municipal fiber optic network, reducing the citys contribution to climate change and implementing recommendations filed with the council earlier this month regarding gun violence.

In Simons written opening statement, he said the city should work to retire debt and undertake development projects more efficiently. Items posted on his website call for spending tax money wisely, supporting first responders and attracting new businesses.

Polls for Waterloo residents are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Absentee voting at the Black Hawk County Courthouse ends at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Poll locations can be found by visiting blackhawkcountyelections.iowa.gov/search.

This morning's headlines: Henry Kissinger; lead pipes; Israel-Hamas truce extended
DENVER  The 20th annual Old Fashioned Christmas Event is set for this weekend at the Denver Community Center.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The first Old Fashioned Christmas event was held by the Denver Betterment Committee in 2003.

Bright & Beautiful is the theme of the Festival of Trees featuring trees decorated by local businesses, churches, organizations and individuals. Decorated tables and gingerbread houses will also be on display.

On Saturday afternoon, Santa will be arriving with bags of candy and an ornament-making craft project will take place at the Denver Public Library starting at 2 p.m. for those waiting to see him. Smith Studio will take pictures of children with Santa. Those who donate a new unwrapped toy, book, game or stuffed animal will receive their portrait at no cost.

Theres a mailbox in the entryway to the library so children can mail their Christmas wish list to Santa.

Girl Scout Troop 3095 will be singing Christmas music in the Community Center starting at 1 p.m., piano students of Michelle Doepke will be performing at 2 p.m. and and Allisons Dance Center students will perform their routines at 4 p.m.

Local businesses will have specials during the event and a Holiday Bizarre featuring local vendors will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Denver American Legion. The cookie and candy walk will be from noon to 2:30 p.m. at St Paul United Church of Christ.

Denver Cares will have a Christmas tree in the lobby area where ornaments can be selected. Suggested gift items on the ornaments can be purchased and returned to the Community Center for distribution during the holidays.

Prizes will be provided by the Denver Betterment Committee. Suggested donations for tickets are $1 each or seven tickets for $5. The drawing will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

20 celebrations this holiday season besides Christmas 20 celebrations this holiday season besides Christmas Kwanzaa Hanukkah Lunar New Year St. Lucia's Day Dia de los Muertos Chung Yeung Festival Lohri St. Nicholas Day Mardi Gras Bon Om Touk Dia de Candelaria Lantern Festival Waitangi Day Guy Fawkes Day Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Diwali Las Posadas Omisoka Boxing Day Day of Tradition
An outbreak in Iowa this year of a disease that causes deer to bleed internally and often results in death is poised to be the second-worst since the first known outbreak occurred 11 years ago, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is caused by a virus that is spread by the bites of tiny flies that are informally known as no-see-ums because they are so small  about one to three millimeters in length.

The pesky creatures bite people as well, but the virus is not known to affect humans.

So far this year, those bites have resulted in 1,876 suspected EHD deaths in Iowas whitetail deer, predominantly in the far southeastern part of the state, said Jace Elliott, the state deer biologist. The disease is not believed to transmit from deer to deer.

The virus has infected deer across most of Iowa this year and is the most widespread outbreak documented by the DNR so far.

There have been reports of deaths in 76 of the states 99 counties, and more identifications are possible during the upcoming hunting seasons in December, when hunters with shotguns canvass wild areas that are less frequently traversed.

The reported death toll from the outbreak is likely to increase during those hunting seasons and surpass the outbreak of 2019, which had slightly more deaths than what have been tallied so far this year, Elliott said.

Nearly 3,000 suspected EHD deaths of deer were recorded in 2012, when the disease was first detected in the state. The true number of deaths is likely higher because not all of them are detected.

The most obvious signs of EHD infections are dead deer near water, where they are driven by fevers that are associated with the disease.

Elliott said outbreaks are generally expected to happen every three to five years, and weather can play a large role.

The tiny fly needs water or wet ground to reproduce, but the disease is more quickly spread when deer congregate near water when it is less available.

Last winter was the fourth-wettest on record, which led to abundant soil moisture in southeast Iowa, where most of this years EHD cases have been recorded. But that area became drier after the spring and is now suffering from significant drought.

There were some late summer rains that likely bolstered the fly population, Elliott said, and a warm fall delayed the freezing temperatures that kill the insects, which created an extended opportunity for infections.

Weve had some killing frosts, enough that I would expect that were 99% done, Elliott said Thursday. Id be surprised if people were finding fresh deaths at this point.

The virus has the potential to infect certain livestock, but no infections have been reported to state ag officials, said Don McDowell, a spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The deer deaths are not expected to have a large affect on overall hunting this year, but there might be some localized areas that have noticeably fewer deer.

This disease can absolutely devastate populations for a landowner or a section of land, Elliott said.

The last outbreak in 2019 hit Warren County the hardest, and it took about two or three years for the deer population to recover, he said.

That year stands apart from this years outbreak because nearly 800 suspected deaths  more than a third of the state total  happened in Warren County.

As of Nov. 24, the southeast counties with the highest totals this year include Van Buren at 182, Henry at 163, Washington at 129 and Davis at 120.

Clayton County in northeast Iowa has 130 suspected deaths, but all of its surrounding counties have fewer than 10 or none.

There are many other counties across southern Iowa with dozens of suspected deaths.

Hunters who encounter dead deer can report them to their local conservation officer or wildlife management staff, Elliott said.

Chronic wasting disease on the rise

The DNR is also soliciting deer tissue samples from hunters to test for chronic wasting disease, a fatal affliction that is entering a phase of exponential growth in Iowa.

Nearly 100 deer were found to be infected last year  almost double the number of the previous year. Most of them were in far northeast or south-central Iowa, but diseased dear have been identified in western and central Iowa as well.

The DNR has confirmed the disease in four deer this year, including in Marshall County for the first time.

Its common for the state to have fewer than 10 detections leading into the deer shotgun seasons of December, when the majority of tissue samples are obtained, said Tyler Harms, a DNR wildlife research biometrician.

He said the department has tested about 1,600 samples this year, whereas the annual total is typically about 6,000. Hunter kill about 100,000 deer in Iowa each year.

Best public colleges in Iowa Best public colleges in Iowa #3. University of Northern Iowa
The state-run Glenwood Resource Center for people with disabilities has allegedly failed to comply with all the requirements of a 2022 settlement agreement with the federal government.

The agreement was intended to address claims by the U.S. Department of Justice that the state had violated the constitutional rights of Glenwood residents and exposed them to unreasonable harm. The DOJ alleged that harm stemmed from uncontrolled and unsupervised experimentation on residents, as well as inadequate physical and behavioral health care.

Glenwood is run by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the same state agency thats charged with protecting the health and welfare of children and dependent adults in Iowa. The agency plans to close Glenwood by the end of 2024.

As part of DHHS 2022 settlement with the Justice Department, the agency agreed to implement a wide range of changes intended to improve the overall care and treatment received by the residents of Glenwood.

The agreement includes a provision that has resulted in a court-approved monitoring team checking on conditions in the home to ensure the states compliance with the agreed-upon standards of care. In October, the monitoring team completed one such review and recently submitted to the court a written report of its findings.

The report indicates Glenwood has failed to meet numerous standards in two critical areas: the protection of residents who are being transitioned into community settings as Glenwood moves toward the planned shut-down in 2024, and the clinical and medical care thats now being provided to residents,

In the area of clinical and medical care, Glenwood was found to be in substantial compliance in only 15 of the 65 standards that were evaluated. In the area of discharge and transition planning, the home was judged to be in substantial compliance in only four of 34 standards.

To be considered in substantial compliance with one of the agreed-upon standards, the home had to meet those standards in only 80% of the cases that were reviewed.

A spokesman for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services indicated the agency would be providing a comment on the monitoring teams report, but the agency had yet to do so late Thursday.

Monitors question transfers and death reviews

Court records indicate that in December, the team intends to conduct additional monitoring related to the states efforts to relocate Glenwood residents before it closes.

The team also plans to visit several former residents who have moved from Glenwood, and to remotely observe state meetings to plan for the relocation of current residents.

Among the monitoring teams most recent findings:

 Deaths: Eight Glenwood residents died after being discharged from the home, including one who died six months after being moved to a group home and one who died one month after a move to a group home. The medical team should be reviewing deaths for Glenwood Resource Center individuals even if they had transitioned to the community within the past rolling one-year period, the monitoring team stated. However, this was not done. Consequently, there was no way to learn what happened and how the likelihood of death can be minimized, and the transition process improved.

 Mortality reviews: The team faulted Glenwoods process of reviewing the circumstances surrounding a resident death at the home. What was striking is that only nursing and medical services reviewed the death, the team reported. Input from habilitation services, psychiatry services, and behavioral health services would be appropriate to review the death from their perspective.

 Abuse reporting: Procedures for the staff to anonymously report abuse, neglect and exploitation to the state inspections department were problematic, the team reported, adding that while the Glenwood staff said it was permissible for workers to file such reports it was not necessarily encouraged.

 Activities: The team found that some residents spend most of the day in their (campus) homes with limited opportunities for engagement or exposure to new activities. Over a period of six months, one resident attended daytime programming activities on three occasions, while another attended such activities just once.

 Peer review: Aside from a death review, there were no reports of any external medical peer review for clinical cases at Glenwood, despite that being a requirement of the settlement. Also, there were no periodic medical reviews based on residents individual needs, except for an annual history and physical. The facility did not have a system in place requiring routine medical reviews at 90-day intervals, the team noted.

 Medical assessments: Annual medical assessments lacked family-history information, which could make preventative testing and early identification of medical conditions more difficult. Also, residents didnt receive their expected immunizations for shingles and other conditions, and some residents did not receive an adequate annual nursing review. In addition, the annual nursing assessments that were performed were not sufficient in addressing individuals at-risk conditions.

 Relocations: Since September 2022, 18 Glenwood residents have been moved to another state-run facility, the Woodward Resource Center, rather than to community-based care providers. There was no robust development of resources and incentives for community-based service providers to accept Glenwood residents who require a high level of support. One individual was moved to a group home, was arrested five times for assault over the next six months, and then returned to Glenwood. Another moved to a group home and within two weeks was hospitalized amid allegations that a group-home worker had committed abuse by placing solid food in the residents abdominal feeding tube. That individual returned to Glenwood a few weeks after the incident.

 Public reporting: The state has established an online dashboard for reporting Glenwood data to the public, but the dashboard doesnt include any assessment of the efforts to transition residents into the community or whether the home is on track to meet deadlines for such transitions.

 Zoom welfare checks: For six former residents who had been discharged, Glenwood social workers checked on the individuals welfare via computer, using Zoom-type software, which didnt meet the requirement for face-to-face visits. In addition, the transition monitoring wasnt tailored to the residents individual needs and the specific supports they required.

 Training: Some of the staff assisting with resident discharges and transitions appeared to be inadequately trained, and case management notes consisted of broad observations such as seemed happy, or having a good relationship with housemates.

Investigation found harmful experimentation on residents in 2020

The Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa initiated an investigation at Glenwood in November 2019.

In December 2020, the department provided the state with written notice of the unlawful conditions that existed at the facility. Specifically, the department concluded that there was reasonable cause to believe the state violated the 14th Amendment of the Constitution by harming Glenwood residents and by placing them at serious risk of harm.

At the time, the DOJ issued a press release that said individuals with disabilities are not human guinea pigs, and like all persons, they should never be subject to bizarre and deviant pseudo-medical experiments that injure them. Human experimentation is the hallmark of sick totalitarian states and has no place in the United States of America.

Specifically, the department concluded that the state violated Glenwood residents constitutional rights by conducting experiments on them without their consent. One experiment, which involved overhydrating residents, caused physical harm to the residents, the DOJ reported.

In addition, the department concluded that Glenwood residents received constitutionally inadequate health care, at times resulting in severe physical harm. The department also concluded that Glenwoods behavioral health care, including its use of restraints, violated residents due process rights.

The DOJ blamed severe deficiencies in the oversight and quality management at not only Glenwood, but at the Iowa Department of Human Services, now part of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

The DOJ also noted that DHS withheld information about the experiments from state legislators who had questioned the facilitys unusually high death rate.

The 2022 settlement prohibits uncontrolled and unsupervised experiments at Glenwood; requires better staffing, training and oversight for clinical care; dramatically limits the use of restraints and seclusion; and requires substantial state oversight over all aspects of Glenwoods operation.

The state must also implement policies and procedures to address the underlying deficiencies that led to the alleged constitutional violations. In addition, the decree requires greater transparency by the state through public reporting.

State inspectors cite Glenwood for 24 violations

State records indicate that Glenwood still struggles with resident-care issues. In the past year, the states own inspectors have cited the home for 24 regulatory violations.

In August, the home was fined $7,500 when a resident was hospitalized after swallowing medication found in an employees purse. In June, the home was fined $2,500 after a resident was hospitalized due to a fall that resulted in a head injury. In March, the home was fined $10,500 when a resident was hospitalized after receiving medication intended for a different resident.

Healthy hot spots: The most physically active counties in Iowa Healthy hotspots: The most physically active counties in Iowa How physical activity varies across the country #25. Shelby, Iowa #24. Polk, Iowa #23. Cedar, Iowa #22. Buchanan, Iowa #21. Jasper, Iowa #20. Hamilton, Iowa #19. Scott, Iowa #18. Mitchell, Iowa #17. Boone, Iowa #16. Benton, Iowa #15. Winneshiek, Iowa #14. Marion, Iowa #13. Mills, Iowa #12. Plymouth, Iowa #11. Dickinson, Iowa #10. Sioux, Iowa #9. Dubuque, Iowa #8. Madison, Iowa #7. Johnson, Iowa #6. Grundy, Iowa #5. Linn, Iowa #4. Warren, Iowa #3. Bremer, Iowa #2. Story, Iowa #1. Dallas, Iowa
Rhonda Hart talks to legislative staff members in Rep. Ellen Troxclairs office about why she supports HB 2744, known as the Raise the Age bill, at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Hart joined Christina Delgado and Brett and Nikki Cross in visiting each representative on the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee to voice their continued support of the bill which would raise the age of purchasing semiautomatic weapons from 18 to 21. Sam Owens/Staff photographer Rhonda Hart of Santa Fe, left, talks about her support of gun control legislation as she stands with Uvalde families during a Moms Demand Action rally at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Harts 14-year-old daughter Kimberly Vaughan was killed in the Santa Fe High School shooting. Sam Owens/Staff photographer Rhonda Hart, whose daughter, Kimberly, was killed during the Santa Fe school shooting hugs student Esta O'Mara during the Road to Change tour stop at city hall on Sunday, July 8, 2018 in Houston. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle) Elizabeth Conley, Staff photographer / Houston Chronicle

Rhonda Hart, who lost her daughter in the 2018 mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, is launching a bid for Congress.

Hart, a Democrat, plans to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, a Friendswood Republican who has represented the Galveston area in Congress since 2013. His deep-red district stretches from Lake Jackson to Port Arthur and Beaumont.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Hart said she has been seriously considering a run for Congress since last summer, when she met with Weber in his D.C. office to talk about gun violence prevention bills that lawmakers were considering after the May 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

One of the measures included the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act, named for Harts daughter, that would have required some gun manufacturers to provide buyers with educational materials about safely storing a firearm. The bill also would have raised the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21, among other changes.

Hart asked Weber for his support. She said the congressman told her he would not vote for the bill and admitted he had not read it.

I was floored, Hart, an Army veteran and former school bus driver, said in an interview. He attended my daughters funeral. Her bill was a simple, commonsense measure.

Webers campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The congressman voted against the bill, which he called another attempt by Democrats to strip Americans of their Second Amendment rights. The measure narrowly passed the House but did not advance in the Senate.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Weber also voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that Congress passed a few weeks later. That bill, negotiated by Texas senior Sen. John Cornyn, implemented modest changes, including stronger background checks for young gun buyers.

READ MORE: Gun safety law inspired by massacres in Uvalde and Buffalo heads to Biden to be signed into law

We should be pushing commonsense legislation through Congress rather than going down a slippery slope of government control over our God-given rights, Weber said at the time. In my district, we understand that evil people do evil things. Still, you dont restrict law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves with the weapons of their choice from evil people who do evil things.

Itll be an uphill battle for Hart to reach Washington. Donald Trump easily won the 14th Congressional District in the 2020 election, and Weber was reelected with 70% of the vote in 2022. The congressman, in a video announcing his bid for reelection next year, said he will fiercely fight for the conservative values that have always defined us.

But Hart said shes up for the challenge. Over the past five years, she has been an outspoken advocate in Washington and at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun laws and school safety legislation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She also pushed for a new state law that helps crime victims and their family members access evidence even if the perpetrator has not been convicted and is still alive. Families of the 10 Santa Fe victims did not receive their loved ones autopsy reports or video footage from the school for years because the teenage gunman has been repeatedly declared unfit to stand trial.

After the Legislature passed the evidence bill earlier this year, Hart finally had access to the records. She went to view the footage from the school again on Thursday to remember what she had seen before she filed for Congress.

Earlier today I watched footage from the Santa Fe HS shooting, where my daughter was shot and killed. Ive been in this fight since 2018, she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Tomorrow I will file to run for Congress in Texas District 14, where she was killed. I know this is the right thing to do.

She included an emoji of a hand gesturing I love you in American Sign Language  something she and Kimberly would often share. Hart said she thinks her daughter would have been over the moon to learn of her run for Congress: Shed be like, Go Mom! 

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I hope (my campaign) sends a message to other survivors that you can stand up and you can do these things, Hart said. It might take you a little while, but you can get there. You can run for office.

Hart said shes already consulted with former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat who represents Uvalde and is running for U.S. Senate. She also plans to go back to school online early next year to earn a bachelors degree in political science.

If youve been impacted because of gun violence, or because your lawmaker isnt doing their job appropriately and that impacts you, by all means you should run against them and fire their behinds, Hart said. They work for you, and if theyre not doing their job, they need to be replaced.
A $347,400 contract has been awarded to an Inver Grove Heights company for bank stabilization at Wilds Bend near Fountain City in Pool 5 of the Mississippi River, according to a press release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

LS Marine Inc. will modify the site and install riprap vanes to prevent further erosion, the release says. The work will occur in the fall of 2024 with the potential for establishing vegetation, such as willow cuttings, in the spring of 2025.

The project is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
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.
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 by 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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"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.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The San Antonio Express-News reached out to Cruz for comment after this article published. He didnt respond but took to Twitter to criticize the newspaper, asserting that the 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.
Amid a surge of recalls over the past two years, its no surprise that people are becoming increasingly cautious when reaching for their over-the-counter eye drops.



The primary concern centers around eye drops manufactured in unsanitary conditions, which elevates the risk of harm, because any drug applied to the eyes may bypass the bodys natural defense system, experts say.

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

These are all primarily over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (commonly referred to as artificial tears) and are used for the symptomatic relief of dry eye symptoms like grittiness, foreign body sensation, dryness, itching, etc., said Christopher Starr, M.D., spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in an email.

To help protect your eyes from an infection, here are some expert tips on identifying eye drops that are safe to use, lifestyle changes that can lessen your dependence on OTC solutions, and a glimpse into the FDAs strategy for addressing the issue.

How to find eye drops that are safe to use

Verify where the product is manufactured. Due to the current a lack of regulations for these OTC products, try to buy eye drops that are manufactured by U.S.-based companies, says Shane Kannarr, an optometrist and clinical researcher at Kannarr Eye Care in Pittsburg, Kansas. He recommends Allergan (Refresh), Bausch + Lomb (Blink and Soothe XP) and Alcon (Systane), to name a few.

The latest eye drop recalls involve generic products distributed by CVS, Cardinal Health, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart. They were manufactured in India by Kilitch Healthcare.

While the drops recalled are major brands, they were all generic or a value [eye] drop, he says. I would attempt to focus on more branded products for purchase at this time.

If youre ever concerned about a product, dont use it. Then reach out to the manufacturer or your eye doctor for advice.

Purchase from trusted retailers. Focus on buying eye drops from brick-and-mortar stores. If you choose to shop online, purchase only from trusted sellers. When shopping on Amazon, buy only at the manufacturers store rather than from third-party sellers. Just because a product ships from Amazon does not mean it is coming from the manufacturer, advises Sandra Brown, M.D., a board member and medical adviser at the Dry Eye Foundation.
China appreciates UAE efforts in preparing for UN climate conference: vice premier

Xinhua) 09:55, December 01, 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 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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Congressman Troy Nehls speaks during the annual Texas Youth Summit held at Grace Woodlands Church Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 in The Woodlands, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor

Fort Bend Congressman Troy Nehls gave an impassioned plea in defense of embattled U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., on Thursday, calling on members to reject an attempt to remove him from office.

Nehls, a Republican, was the first member of Congress to come to Santos's aid during the scheduled debate Thursday, warning that the House was setting a dangerous precedent by attempting to expel a member who has been indicted but not yet convicted of any crime.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"I do not, and have not, and will not support the removal of Rep. Santos and I encourage my colleagues to agree," Nehls said.

Santos has been indicted on 23 felony charges that include allegations he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges on hotel stays, spa treatments like Botox, luxury goods and purchases on pornographic websites.

In addition, the first-term Congressman has been accused of lying about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree.

Nehls didn't defend Santos against any of those allegations, but focused instead on the fact that other members of Congress removed from office had been convicted of crimes. Santos, who has pleaded not guilty, is still awaiting trial.

Santos has refused to resign and called the latest attempt to expel him rushed and a smear campaign to destroy me.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I have been convicted of no crimes, Santos said in his own defense on Thursday during a speech to the House of Representatives.

Santos survived two other attempts to remove him from office but the latest effort comes after the bipartisan House Ethics Committee released a report this month stating that it found overwhelming evidence Santos had broken federal law and he cannot be trusted.

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 concerning financial disclosure statements filed with the House.

A vote on removing Santos is expected to come on Friday, which would require a two-thirds majority of the U.S. House to pass.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Max Celebrity

The 'Sex and the City' cast members bid farewell to late actress Frances Sternhagen in tribute posts shortly after it's announced she has passed away at the age of 93.

Dec 1, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sarah Jessica Parker has dubbed Frances Sternhagen as a "beautiful human." The actress passed away on Monday, November 27, aged 93, and her former "Sex and the City" co-star has taken to Instagram to pay a glowing tribute.

"Class. 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 (sic)," Sarah, 58, wrote on the photo-sharing platform alongside a throwback image.

Kristin Davis has also taken to social media to pay tribute to her former co-star. The 59-year-old actress - who played Charlotte Goldenblatt on "Sex and the City" - wrote on Instagram, "Just heard that glorious Frances Sternhagen has passed away. She lived a wonderful, full life and was a joy to work with. Thinking of her family."

Sternhagen's death was announced by her family, who revealed that she died "peacefully of natural causes." In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, her family said, "It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear mother, actress Frances Sternhagen, died peacefully of natural causes in New Rochelle, NY, on November 27th, 2023 at the age of 93."

"She is survived by her six children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A celebration of her remarkable career and life is planned for mid-January, near her 94th birthday. We continue to be inspired by her love and life."

The actress - who was best-known for starring in "Cheers" and "Sex and the City" - enjoyed a hugely successful career on stage and screen. She received two Tony Awards for her performances in "The Good Doctor" and "The Heiress". Sternhagen also starred in a number of well-known movies, including "Raising Cain", "Julie and Julia", "Independence Day", and "Doc Hollywood".

You can share this post!
ABC TV

In the final episode of the ABC series, the retired restaurateur will reveal whether he will choose one of the finalists, Theresa and Leslie, at the end of his journey finding new love.

Dec 1, 2023

AceShowbiz - Gerry Turner made his final decision in "The Golden Bachelor" finale, which aired on Thursday, November 30. The retired restaurateur would reveal whether he would choose one of the finalists, Theresa and Leslie, at the end of his journey finding new love.

For the finale, Bachelor Nation members Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko as well as Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar were in the live audience. Joey Graziadei and some "The Golden Bachelor" alums like Susan, Joan, Faith and Sandra were also among the audience members.

Kicking off the episode, Gerry could be seen reuniting with his two daughters and two granddaughters in Costa Rica. Gerry brought his family to meet Theresa first. Gerry said that the last 24 hours with Theresa have been "truly transformational."

The two then shared some champagne after she met his family. During an intimate conversation, Theresa told Gerry to choose her only when he's completely sure. While noting that she would be heartbroken if he didn't choose her, she made sure to tell Gerry that all she wanted was for him to be happy.

It was then time for Leslie to meet Gerry's family. She told his granddaughters, "I'm crazy about your grandfather. He's just a very good person." Later, Gerry admitted to Leslie that he felt the "stress and pressure" ahead of the final Rose Ceremony. "It's kind of getting to me."

Before their date ended, Leslie handed Gerry a gift, which was a book full of memories that the pair had made together. She told Gerry that she loved him "very, very much," to which Gerry responded, "That's a very special sentiment."

Following the date, Leslie shared that she didn't feel as confident as before. Her feelings were apparently valid because Gerry returned only to tell her that he's made a decision. "I have fallen in love with Theresa, and that's the direction I'm going to take," he said, prompting Leslie to question, "So everything you told me the other night was a lie?"

She further asked, "Where did it go wrong?" adding, "You made it sound like you chose me. You led me down a path and then you took a turn and left me there. And that's how I feel." Gerry, meanwhile, sobbed as he said that he would never forget Leslie's heartbroken face.

Leslie then joined host Jesse Palmer in the live event. She shared that she was "devastated." She revealed that it was especially "hard" for her because "[she hasn't] fallen in love with someone for a very long time." Leslie and Gerry then hugged after meeting face-to-face for the first time since the dramatic breakup.

"It didn't really go wrong, Leslie," Gerry explained when asked where their relationship went wrong, "It was just better with someone else." As for Leslie, she noted that she's not sure if she accepted Gerry's apology, but she understood.

Back to Costa Rica, Gerry got emotional when he prepared his proposal to Theresa. As for Theresa, she looked gorgeous in a light purple sequined gown. She told Gerry that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and she unsurprisingly accepted Gerry's proposal. "It doesn't seem real - it's like every dream I had come true," Theresa said after receiving the final, golden rose from Gerry.

As if the engagement wasn't enough, Theresa and Gerry announced other happy news. They revealed that they're getting married on January 4, 2024 in Italy and the wedding will be broadcast live.

You can share this post!
Netflix TV

The new footage gives fans a better look at the actress portraying the title role Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug queenpin known for creating one of the most profitable cartels in history.

Dec 1, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sofia Vergara is unrecognizable in the first official trailer for Netflix's "Griselda". The new footage gives fans a better look at the actress portraying the title role of Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug queenpin who was known for creating one of the most profitable cartels in history.

Kicking off the trailer, a woman in a court scene notes that Griselda "has owned Miami distributing cocaine" for the last three years. A man beside her further says, "Ms. Blanco's operation has been efficient, deadly, and incredibly successful."

Later, the trailer sees Sofia's Griselda encouraging 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 tells them in Spanish.

As Griselda's business is getting bigger, she appears to get threatened by other competitors. "Go home, lady," a man warns her in Spanish, before adding, "I'm gonna tell every dealer in Miami not to touch your coke."

Elsewhere in the trailer, a home can be seen being set on fire. Things get messy with Griselda yelling, "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?" The teaser concludes with a woman saying that Griselda walks like she's a boss.

Hailing from "Narcos" and "Narcos: Mexico" showrunner Eric Newman, "Griselda" follows the life of Colombian-born Griselda. The famed drug cartel leader's lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, earning her "the Godmother" nickname.

Andres Baiz directs all six episodes of "Griselda". In addition to starring, Sofia serves as an executive producer for the show that also stars Carolina Giraldo a.k.a. Karol G as Carla, one of Griselda's most trusted confidants.

"Griselda" will premiere on Netflix on January 25, 2024.

You can share this post!
Cover Images/Instagram/ACE/INFphoto.com Celebrity

The couple, who has been spending some time in Dubai after taking a break, sparks outrage with the way the Yeezy architectural designer dresses in the Middle Eastern country.

Dec 1, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori continues to draw backlash with her fashion. The couple, who has been spending some time in Dubai after taking a break, sparked outrage with the way Bianca dresses in the Middle Eastern country.

For the recent outing, Bianca was seen wearing her signature tight see-through dress in brown. The Yeezy architectural designer also almost showed her underwear as her dress was too short. Further making her look bizarre, the 28-year-old wore a massive light brown furry hat. She also had a large stuffed animal that she held close to her chest.

Upon catching wind of her racy look, Internet users were quick to put Bianca on blast. "She is a mess  why they got her looking like that. I'm so embarrassed for her," one critic said of the Australian native. "They are in Arabic and Muslim countries yet Bianca is showing half of her a** without any respect or consideration," someone noted.

Accusing her of "ignorance," another naysayer wrote, "Dressing like that in Berlin is no big deal, but pushing your private parts into religious people's faces is just inconsiderate and rude." One other pointed out, "This is not about being controlled but about respect for foreign culture."

The last commenter was referring to a report claiming that Ye controls the way Bianca dresses after they tied the knot in December 2022. "Kanye has a set of rules for Bianca, which includes never speak and wear what he wants her to wear," an informant revealed in October. "She is also required to eat certain food items and to work out even though Kanye doesn't work out."

It was also said that Bianca has "no mind of her own anymore." The insider claimed that the rapper made her obey him because he convinced her that they have "royal" status.

You can share this post!
https://www.beyonce.com/ Music

The 'Run the World (Girls)' hitmaker released the new track on the same day her concert movie 'Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce' hit theaters.

Dec 1, 2023

AceShowbiz - Beyonce Knowles continues to treat fans with new offerings. To celebrate the release of her new concert movie "Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce", the "Run the World (Girls)" hitmaker unleashed a surprise single called "My House".

"I will always love you, but I will never expect you to love me when you don't love yourself," the 32-time Grammy winner says in a spoken-word moment on the track, which arrived on Friday, December 1. "Let's heal the world, one beautiful action at a time, this is real love!"

Beyonce then pays homage to her hometown of Houston. "B***h I carried/ When I grow up I'm gon' buy me a (house)/ Make love in the (house)/ Stay up late in this (house)/ Don't give a f**k about my (house)/ Then get the f**k up out my (house)," she sings.

"

The song serves as a follow-up to the remix of Beyonce's "America Has a Problem". For the tune, she enlisted Kendrick Lamar, who throws shade at the use of AI in music, "Even AI gotta practice copyin' Kendrick/ The double entendre, the encore remnants/ I bop like tin men, the opps need ten men."

As for "Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce", it hit theaters on Friday as well after premiering on Saturday night, November 25 in Los Angeles. When attending the event at Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beyonce rocked a skin-tight long metallic gown from Versace, a pair of silver high heels and matching gloves. She styled her long platinum tresses into a simple straight hairdo.

Queen Bey's look, however, sparked controversy as she was accused of "trying to be a white woman" by "bleaching her skin." While the megastar didn't respond to the allegation, her mom Tina Knowles came to her defense.

You can share this post!
Meta sued the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claiming that the in-house courts are "unconstitutional", the company is also attempting to stop the regulations to create new restrictions on monetization.

Read Also: Meta Allegedly Ignores Kids Under 13 on Its Platforms

Meta Challenges "Unconstitutional" Authority of FTC

According to the filing, the company filed the lawsuit to challenge FTC's authority formally. Meta emphasized that it violates due process since the commission holds the roles of prosecutor, judge, and jury in the same case.

The lawsuit is also aimed at stopping the FTC from reopening the $5 billion privacy violation settlement from 2020. Last Monday, a federal judge ruled that the FTC will be allowed to redesign the 2020 privacy settlement, making it easier for the agency to propose stricter new rules to regulate the social media giant.

Meta has now requested the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to permanently block the FTC from creating new restrictions on the company such as banning the monetization of data from users under 18.

FTC Claims Meta Violated 2020 Settlement

Meanwhile, the FTC argued that the social media giant has repeatedly violated the 2020 settlement, in terms of user privacy. Moreover, the act of monetizing the data of young users is a violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

After the go signal from the federal judge, the commission is now also seeking to restrict Meta's use of facial recognition. The FTC is also looking to suspend new products and services of the company until a third party completes an audit and certifies that the company is complying with its privacy obligations.

"The company's recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures," the director of FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, Samuel Levine stated.

While the FTC is busy regulating and investigating big tech companies, the regulators are also met with complaints from these companies claiming that the commission is an example of "government overreach."

Related Article: FTC to Hire Child Psychologist to Guide Internet Regulation
APL Apollo Steel Tubes Ltd., Indias No. 1 Structural steel tubes company, has proudly launched its new TVC campaign titled Desh Ki Badhti Taqat, featuring the legendary actor, Amitabh Bachchan. The TVC, envisioned by Crayons, highlights the forward-thinking trajectory of the company, focusing on solidifying its reliable and trustworthy connection with the customer base.

The Desh Ki Badhti Taqat TVC beautifully portrays the emotional connect between a grandfather and his grandson in a light hearted narrative that draws parlance with the legacy and growth journey of APL Apollo through generations. This heartwarming story highlights the brands vision of being a leader in the structural steel tubes industry that values integral connections and the strong foundation they provide.

Speaking on this commercial launch, Sanjay Gupta, Managing Director of APL Apollo, said, "Our 'Desh Ki Badhti Taqat' TVC reflects the companys journey on becoming the World's largest structural steel tubes company along with deep-rooted responsibility towards nation building. We are proud to have Amitabh Bachchan as part of our journey, symbolising the strength and trust of our brand. Our vision extends far beyond being a homegrown success; it's about sculpting a transformative narrative, where our innovation moulds a stronger, more resilient future."

Amitabh Bachchan's association with APL Apollo as its brand ambassador aligns perfectly with the brand ethos. His iconic presence resonates with the strength and trust that APL Apollo represents, reinforcing the message of resilience in the company's product range. As an iconic figure loved across generations, Mr Bachchan's role in the commercial amplifies the emotional chord that APL Apollo strikes with its consumer base.

Ms Charu Malhotra, Chief Brand Officer at APL Apollo, highlighted the strategic significance of the TVC, stating, "The Desh Ki Badhti Taqat' TVC highlights the diverse product range of APL Apollo along with its role in building some of the most iconic structures, emphasising our significant contribution towards the nation's infrastructure. On top of that, Amitabh Bachchan's larger-than-life persona adds an extra layer of credibility and resonance to our brand message. This commercial isnt just about structural steel tubes  its about fostering a deeper connection with our audience. Looking at the future, we will be running a 360-degree campaign across TV, Print, OOH, OTT and Digital platforms, to engage with the masses."

APL Apollo's dedication to innovation, quality, and customer-centric approach remains at the forefront of its operations. Therefore, the "Desh Ki Badhti Taqat" TVC portrays the brand's growth-oriented trajectory and its efforts towards making permanent relationships in the industry while contributing to the nation's strength.

APL Apollo Tubes Limited (APL Apollo) BSE: 533758, NSE: APLAPOLLO is Indias leading structural steel tube manufacturer. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delhi-NCR, the company operates 11 manufacturing facilities with a total capacity of 3.6 million tons. It has a pan-India presence with units strategically located in Sikandarabad (UP), Hyderabad, Bangalore, Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Dujana (UP), Malur (Karnataka) and Murbad (Maharashtra). APL Apollos multi-product offerings include over 2,000 varieties for multiple building material structural steel applications such as pre-galvanized tubes, structural steel tubes, galvanized tubes, MS black pipes and hollow sections. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, APL Apollo serves as a one-stop shop for a wide spectrum of products, catering to the domestic market as well as 20 countries worldwide and an array of industry applications such as urban infrastructure and real estate, rural housing, commercial construction, greenhouse structures and engineering applications. The companys vast 3-tier distribution network of over 800 distributors is spread across the country, with a presence in over 300 towns and cities.
Aliaxis, a world leader enabling access to water and energy through inventive fluid management solutions, welcomes Arvind Chandra to the Executive Committee. As the new Divisional CEO of Aliaxis India (Ashirvad Pipes), he will report directly to Eric Olsen, Chief Executive Officer.

Eric Olsen, Aliaxis CEO said, We are excited for this next chapter of our Indian business under the dynamic leadership of Arvind Chandra. Arvind brings an impressive 30-year global track record driving growth and profitability in a wide range of industries. India is a high-growth market for Aliaxis for the years to come and Arvind will help bring our Indian operations to the next level.

Arvind Chandra, Divisional CEO Aliaxis India, commented, I am thrilled to join Aliaxis to address Indias pressing water challenges. Together with the Ashirvad team, we will drive growth with a strong focus on both sustainability and innovation, as we deliver a high-quality range of solutions that our customers expect.

Arvind Chandra joins Aliaxis from his prior role at Minda Corporation (NSE:MINDACORP) as CEO of their largest business vertical in the automotive sector. During his tenure, the company registered a 400+% stock price gain with significant top line and bottom-line growth.

He brings 30+ years work experience across 8 countries, 4 continents and multiple functions of strategy, marketing, sales, R&D, manufacturing, quality plus P&L at various top technology companies such as Toyota, ZF-Wabco, Borg Warner-Phinia, Forvia and others leading various transformation projects. He has also consulted extensively during this period in both B2B and B2C environments.

Arvind holds a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai, a MS degree in industrial engineering from Oklahoma State University, and an MBA from the University of Michigan, USA.
BBDO Korea has brought on board Junhwa Jung as the new Executive Creative Director (ECD). With a career spanning two decades, Jung is renowned as one of the top Creative Directors in the country, having made significant contributions to global brands and leading domestic brands alike.

Throughout his early career, Junhwa Jung honed his skills at esteemed agencies, where he has played a pivotal role in crafting compelling advertising creative, seamlessly integrate data and leverage social media platforms for renowned brands, including Samsung, NIKE, Levis, Amore Pacific, SK Telecom, Yuhan-Kimberly, and Outback Steakhouse. Renowned for his exceptional copywriting skills and innate ability to think outside the box, Jung has earned numerous industry recognitions. His extensive experience collaborating with K-Artists and engaging in diverse partnerships has significantly enriched his creative approach.

Beyond his advertising journey, Junhwa Jung ventured into establishing a tech agency, where he dedicated himself to groundbreaking projects involving augmented reality platform development and digital human projects utilizing real-time 3D technology. This immersive experience allowed him to expand his expertise, bringing a fresh perspective and innovative approach to his day-to-day creative ad work.

Jang-Yong Kim, CEO, BBDO Korea, expressed his enthusiasm for Junhwa Jung joining the team, stating, We are delighted to welcome Junhwa Jung as our new ECD. With his exceptional talents and passion for unconventional creativity, we are confident that he will lead BBDO Korea to new creative heights.

BBDO Korea is excited to have Junhwa Jung on board, and the agency looks forward to the positive transformations that will follow under his creative leadership.
G-SHOCK, the trailblazing force in unbreakable watches, is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated return of the 'Shock The World' tour to India after a hiatus of 11 years. In collaboration with Vh1 Supersonic, the spectacular celebration of music, culture, and the indomitable G-SHOCK spirit is set to unfold in the vibrant city of Mumbai on the 16th of December 2023.

In reaffirming our commitment to youth culture, G-SHOCK considers it a paramount mission to wholeheartedly support the flourishing endeavors of the younger generation. At the core of our values lies an unyielding commitment to foster the growth and success of the youth across various realms of real-life expression, encompassing music, sports, performing arts, street culture, and more. Through this steadfast resolve, we aim to be a catalyst for their achievements, contributing to and celebrating the dynamic spirit of youth culture.

Since its inception in 2008, the 'Shock The World' tour has evolved into a global phenomenon, showcasing the dynamic fusion of street culture, music, and the unyielding G-SHOCK spirit. Over the years, it has hosted performers whose electrifying acts have left an everlasting impact on audiences across 34 countries. The 'Shock The World' global event, which took place recently in Tokyo, New York, Berlin, London, Shanghai and Bali, is set to conclude in Mumbai this December.

This December, G-SHOCK's 'Shock The World' promises an unforgettable night celebrating the brand ethos of absolute toughness along with cultural and musical brilliance in Mumbai. Featuring awe-inspiring feats by the Father of G-SHOCK, Kikuo Ibe, alongside headlining artists Krsna and Paradox and DJ sets by Kayan and OG Shez, the event is set to create a spectacle that resonates with the core values of G-SHOCKtoughness, resilience, and innovation. The brand will also be announcing the culmination of the first-ever TEAM G-SHOCK in India as part of these momentous celebrations.

Commenting on the unveiling for the G-SHOCK 'Shock The World' Tour in India, Hideki Imai, Managing Director, Casio India said, As the pioneering force behind unbreakable timepieces, G-SHOCK is thrilled to celebrate 40 iconic years of toughness by bringing back the electrifying 'Shock The World' tour to India after 11 long years, in collaboration with Vh1. The upcoming tour is poised to deliver a magnetic celebration spanning across some of the most definitive G-SHOCK models which have made history along with an amalgamation of the subcultures which it has inspired such as music, performing arts, street culture, all infused with the indomitable G-SHOCK spirit. This December, we are set to deliver an unforgettable night in Mumbai, featuring a curated experience with fascinating surprises that will bring our cherished audience closer to the iconic G-SHOCK spirit in a grander way.

Gaurav Mashruwala, Business Head, Viacom18 LIVEsaid, "We are thrilled to join forces with G-SHOCK 'Shock The World Tour in India. In tandem with Viacom18 Live, known for creating magnificent experiential events like Vh1 Supersonic, this event blends the unparalleled energy of Viacom18 Live with the indomitable spirit of G-SHOCK. Together, were excited to redefine the very essence of time, and bring to Mumbai an experience that transcends the ordinary - a fusion of music and culture that resonates with fans and enthusiasts".

Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to witness and explore the iconic and limited-edition G-SHOCK timepieces from across the world at a specially curated zone, allowing them to get up close and personal with some of the most sought-after G-SHOCK creations.

'Shock The World' stands as a cultural fest embodying G-SHOCK's valuesabsolute toughness, resilient spirit, and constant innovation. The tour's return to the vibrant Indian landscape, in association with Vh1 Supersonic, promises a magnetic euphoria through an irresistible lineup of performances and carefully curated presentations.

For all rap music and pop culture lovers, streetwear enthusiasts and G-SHOCK fans, get ready to roll and experience the time of your life with G-SHOCK! Register on the link below and secure your tickets for the Shock The World Tour now!

Registrations for the Shock The World Tour are now live and can be accessed here:https://www.gosupersonic.in/gshock/
Republic Media Network is proud to announce a further bolstering of its broadcast management team in the midst of its mega wave of continued expansion. Mohit Dhamne has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective 1st December 2023. Further, S. Sundaram has been been elevated to Director, Strategy for the Network effective 1st December 2023. Mohit Dhamne, 43, has been part of the Republic Media Network since its inception in 2016. On his journey with Republic, Dhamne has previously successfully delivered wearing the hats of Head of Finance and Company Secretary in the initial years. In 2021, Dhamne was elevated as EVP - Finance- a role which he has executed impeccably through the first phase of growth for the Broadcast operations of Republic Media Network into new language markets. Mohit Dhamnes new role as CFO comes alongside Republic Media Networks initiation of second phase of expansion of its news operations. The second phase of growth has been announced with the vision to take Republic into new languages and areas of operation across broadcast and digital. The first phase of Republics growth has been defined by leadership across languages with Republic TV in English, Republic Bharat in Hindi, Republic Bangla in Bengali and Republic Kannada in the Karnataka news market.

On the announcement, Mohit Dhamne said, " I am thrilled and honored to take on the role of CFO at the Republic Media Network. We are committed to financial stewardship and strategic foresight. We will continue to foster a culture of fiscal excellence. I am very excited to contribute to the financial success and long-term growth of our organization." On the announcement, Republic Media Networks Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami said,  I wish Mr. Sundaram and Mohit all the very best in their new roles. We are building a team to take Republic to the next level through this second phase of expansion, on broadcast as well as on digital. I am certain that with Mr. Sundaram leading the Strategic operations and Mohit spearheading the Financial Operations of the Network, we are set to deliver on the vision that we launched this Network with. Mohit, is a Commerce Graduate from Mumbai University and completed his Executive MBA from the prestigious Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Dhamne is a Qualified Chartered Accountant and a Company Secretary. He brings along with him a rich experience of 18 years working across various industries such as Pharma, Automobiles and Hospitality, prior to his association with Republic Media Network.
The Derma Co, the active ingredients backed skincare brand, from the house of Honasa Consumer Limited, releases their campaign film for their purpose Young Scientist Programme in collaboration with Bhumi NGO where they provide top-quality, practical science education to the underprivileged children in India.

The science-based brand has built their purpose around providing science education to the underprivileged children through the Young Scientist Programme, The Derma Co seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that children from underserved backgrounds not only dare to dream big but also have the tools and opportunities to turn those dreams into reality. The brand's dedication to this cause is further exemplified by their unique approacheach order placed on The Derma Co website contributes towards supporting this initiative, reinforcing their commitment to empowering young minds through the power of science. The program has impacted 10,000+ students under a span of two years.

The recently released film captures the profound impact created by this life-altering initiative. It authentically portrays the lives of the students benefiting from the programme, shedding light on the transformations it has brought about. These students, once limited by their circumstances, have now been given the wings to dream big and the knowledge to aspire to become scientists in their own right. Their journeys serve as an inspiration for all who aspire to achieve greatness in the world of science.

The film captures The Derma Co's unwavering commitment to promoting science education and fostering dreams. It showcases the brand's vision to transform young minds into budding scientists who can make a real difference in the world. The film showcases how the Young Scientist Programme goes beyond just providing infrastructure. The initiative delivers personalized science lab kits and dedicated science teachers to these students, ensuring that they receive a comprehensive education that is on par with the best. The absence of traditional classrooms and laboratory facilities doesn't hinder their progress. The Derma Co is determined to provide these children with an education that transcends physical boundaries and empowers them to achieve their dreams.

Anuja Mishra, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Honasa Consumer Limited comments, The Derma Co's purpose film is a testament to our commitment to empower young minds and bridge the gap between dreams and reality. We believe that science has the power to transform lives, and through the Young Scientist Programme, we are nurturing the scientists of tomorrow. This film showcases the heart and soul of our mission, and we're excited to be a part of their incredible journeys."

The 54 sec film is conceptualized by the Flying photon agency.
Vogue India, the countrys leading fashion, beauty, luxury and lifestyle multi-media brand, successfully concluded the second edition of its highly anticipated Forces of Fashion event in Mumbai. Held at the Trident Hotel, Nariman Point Mumbai in association with Walkers & Co, Vedica, and Platinum Evara by PGI, the evening witnessed a thought-provoking panel discussion and celebrated the countrys Forces of Fashion.

The panellists included renowned fashion designers Anita Dongre and Masaba Gupta, acclaimed actor and fashion icon Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, and Vogue India's newly appointed Head of Editorial Content, Rochelle Pinto. The insightful discussion touched upon how India has emerged as a crucial stakeholder in the global luxury industry, the need to preserve our crafts and how sustainability can no longer be a buzzword. Vogue India also recognized 120+ trailblazing individuals as the Forces of Fashion. The list comprised a diverse set of individuals, including celebrities, designers, image makers, creatives, sustainability champions and more. Each honoree received a bespoke trophy, exemplifying their contributions to the world of fashion and beyond. The Forces of Fashion event not only honoured the creativity within the industry but also served as a platform to celebrate those sculpting its future.

At this second edition of Forces Of Fashion, Vogue India recommits to the pursuit of excellence, to platforming Indian talent at a global level, and to crafting a brand that takes pride in its legacy, while preparing for the future. I feel humbled that the entire fashion industry turned up to show their support for our vision.

- Rochelle Pinto, Head of Editorial Content, Vogue India

A few notable attendees from the evening included Bhumi Pednekar, Khushi Kapoor, Vijay Verma, Sobhita Dhulipala, Karisma Kapoor, Tamannaah Bhatia, Shantnu & Nikhil, Anaita Shroff Adajania, Anand Ahuja, Shaleena Nathani, Masoom Minawala and more.

Vogues Forces of Fashion was back this fall with events in New York City, Mexico and Mumbai and expanded to Rome and Shanghai for the first time. The exclusive event brought Vogue to life with conversations and masterclasses with editors, designers, influencers and industry executives in a series of panels, discussions, and networking sessions.

Follow conversations around the event across Vogue Indias digital platforms: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow the hashtag #ForcesofFashionIndia for more updates.
The current CEO of Walt Disney, Bob Iger, is set to transition out of his role by the end of 2026. Having previously taken a step back from the CEO position in November 2022, where he was succeeded by Bob Chapek, Iger had initially announced his retirement less than a year before. At that time, he committed to contributing to the growth of the business over a period of two years.

Disney also announced that it is refreshing its Board of Directors, including the appointments of James P. Gorman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley, and Sir Jeremy Darroch, a veteran media executive and former Group Chief Executive of Sky, as new directors, as the result of a lengthy and comprehensive search that began in April of this year.

Disney board member Francis A. deSouza has decided not to stand for reelection at the annual meeting.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 01.12.2023 - The participating states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have agreed on its 2024 chairpersonship at the annual Ministerial Council held this year in Skopje. The current chair, North Macedonia, will conclude its term at the end of the year, and Malta will assume the position thereafter. At the meeting in Skopje, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis underscored his support for Malta's chairpersonship and welcomed the agreement of the participating states, which was made possible after lengthy negotiations.

Participants at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje have taken a number of key decisions concerning the future of the organisation in the coming years. The 57 participating states, which include Switzerland, confirmed at the end of the conference that Malta will take over as chair in 2024. Taking part at this year's Ministerial Council, Mr Cassis underscored his support for Malta's chairpersonship. "I would like to thank my Maltese counterpart for taking over as chair during these challenging times," he said.



The comprehensive negotiations at this years Ministerial Council also resulted in a extension of the mandates for the organisation's key positions, a decision that Mr Cassis also welcomes. Switzerland has been committed to strengthening the OSCE's capacity to act for a number of years.



This year's Ministerial Council has taken place under difficult circumstances. Russia's military aggression has led to a major loss of confidence among OSCE participating states. Against this backdrop, the agreements reached in Skopje can be considered a success.



In spite of the current challenges, Switzerland continues to view the OSCE as a key component of the European security architecture. The OSCE facilitates dialogue with non-aligned states in the region and has a range of conflict prevention and crisis management instruments at its disposal.



This year's Ministerial Council began on 30 November and was brought to a close today.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Elon Musk has been known to be the kind of person who speaks his mind, even if it's sometimes better that he doesn't. His recent extreme comments just prove that, and it looks like the consequences are just as dire as ever.

Elon Musk Reacts With Expletives

During a conference on Wednesday, the tech billionaire made his feelings clear by uttering expletives meant for advertisers, words which we prefer not to repeat here. He even called out to Disney CEO Bob Iger, as the company is among those who concluded their business with X.

It looks like the advertisers are following Musk's hope that they stop advertising, as several say they don't plan on returning to X any time soon or at all. The reaction is already expected since insults aren't really effective ways to encourage business partners back to a platform.

Founder and CEO of marketing firm AJL Advisory, Lou Paskalis, explicitly said that they are stopping ads on the microblogging site permanently. "There is no advertising value that would offset the reputational risk of going back on the platform," the chief executive stated.

More than 200 advertisers have already left the site, according to The New York Times, which is bad for business since X largely relies on ad revenue. It doesn't help that the X owner acts out every time he encounters any form of opposition.

Even a year ago, when advertisers decided to halt their business with X, Musk responded by threatening them with a "thermonuclear name & shame." He poetically stayed true to his nature as he threatened a "thermonuclear lawsuit" this time around with the same situation.

The advertisers' exit last year was an indirect result of Musk's reshaping of Twitter, wherein users started posting insensitive and derogatory posts in light of the X owner's "free speech" vision for the platform.

This time, the content that advertisers wanted to get as far away from was from Musk himself. The tech billionaire has been criticized for agreeing to an antisemitic conspiracy theory, which companies like Lionsgate said was specifically why they were leaving the site.

Read Also: US Government Will Still Work with Elon Musk Despite Criticism of Antisemitic Views

This Could Sink X Further

The company was already at the risk of losing revenue for the temporary ad pause alone. Now that advertisers have already said that they don't plan on returning, more holes appear on the sinking boat that is X.

Big advertisers such as Apple, Disney, IBM, Warner Bros. Discovery, and more have already left X, which was immediately followed by Netflix, Airbnb, and Microsoft. The latest exits mentioned could cost X around $4 million in ad revenue.

According to Engadget, the microblogging site could lose up to $75 million for that one post. X CEO Linda Yaccarino previously said in a memo to employees that the advertisers' exodus was only temporary, but it is no longer the case.

The appointed CEO keeps putting out fires within the company while Musk keeps saying things that pull the company further down. It's safe to say that no one wants to be in Yaccarino's shoes right now.

Related: X Stands to Lose $75 Million as Advertisers Continue to Leave the Platform
In a significant administrative reshuffle, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has relieved Radhesham Mopalwar of his additional duties as the Managing Director (MD) of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Anilkumar Gaikwad, a Joint Managing Director, has been appointed as the new MD of MSRDC. According to reliable sources, Chief Minister Shinde approved Gaikwads appointment on Wednesday, with the official order set to be issued on December 1.

Radheshyam Mopalwar, an experienced officer, was appointed as the Managing Director of MSRDC in 2017. Following his retirement, he received a significant seven-year extension, beginning in February 2018. During his tenure, Mopalwar played a crucial role in overseeing numerous infrastructure projects, including the Nagpur-Mumbai Prosperity Corridor. His multiple extensions, spanning both the Fadnavis and Thackeray administrations, make him the first officer to receive such frequent renewals. Despite stepping down from additional responsibilities at MSRDC, Mopalwar will continue to play an important role as the Principal Secretary for Infrastructure.

Anilkumar Gaikwad has been asked to hold an additional charge as MSRDC MD until the state government makes a full-time appointment. Following his retirement, the government retained Gaikwads services with a formal appointment as the Joint Managing Director. Now, with his direct appointment as the Managing Director, he assumes greater administrative responsibilities.

As the completion of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, a flagship project under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, nears its end, discussions have arisen about extending Mopalwars term in government decisions, prolonging his tenure until August 31, 2022.

The state governments decision to appoint Anilkumar Gaikwad as the Managing Director of MSRDC has been made public, underscoring its commitment to ensuring smooth administrative transitions within the organisation.
If you were on the fence about going to Panama City Beach for the 2024 Gulf Coast Jam, starring Morgan Wallen and Jelly Roll, you might have blown it: Organizers announced Friday that the festival has sold out, six months ahead of time.

We are so excited and so thankful for another sellout, said Gulf Coast Jam Chief Operating Officer Mark Sheldon. We cannot wait to host 30,000 Jammers in beautiful Panama City Beach!

The 2024 Jam takes place May 30-June 2. Top acts at the four-day, single-stage festival are Wallen, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson and Parker McCollum. Each day features four or five additional acts; among them are Russell Dickerson, Heartland, Billy Currington, Nate Smith, Deana Carter and Flatland Cavalry.

Jelly Roll is also among the headliners of the 2024 Rock the South fest in Cullman.

Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady, like Sheldon, celebrated the sellout but also warned fans to be wary. This is the time a lot of scams pop up, and we encourage Jammers to only sell or transfer tickets through our official partners at www.GulfCoastJam.com.

Organizers say the 2023 Jam drew fans from all 50 states and 13 foreign countries to the Florida Panhandle.

The festival website lists all tickets in all categories as sold out, including passes set aside for military personnel, first responders and college students. As of Friday morning, a handful of package deals including tickets and accommodations were available. The site does offer a portal to request tickets should any become available for transfer or resale.
Shannen Doherty is sharing more bad news about her eight-year cancer battle: The disease has now spread to her bones.

Despite the bleak development, the Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed star said she still has a lot more living to do.

I dont want to die, the People cover star said in this weeks issue, telling the mag that shes hoping to inspire others by focusing on her future.

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, the 52-year-old 90s icon said. Im just not  Im not done.

The Heathers star said she thinks of the disease as the Pac-Man video game where they start to go into your bones, but noted that shes doing much better on a new treatment regimen. She also had a growth removed from her brain earlier this year. Now, shes hoping to get into clinical trials to develop new treatments.

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 said of being a cancer patient. 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.

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, a public disclosure made in a lawsuit against her former manager. She had a mastectomy, underwent chemotherapy and radiation and declared herself in remission in 2017. By February 2020, however, Doherty said that the disease had returned and metastasized, spreading beyond her breasts and lymph nodes into her spine.

Later that year, she said that she expected to be in treatment for the rest of her life. In June, she shared that the cancer had spread to her brain, requiring surgery and more radiation treatment.

While Doherty has chronicled her harrowing journey on social media and in the press, the TV star is making good on her declaration that shes not done creating: She plans to discuss her illness in a new memoir-style podcast, Lets Be Clear With Shannen Doherty, that premieres Dec. 6 on iHeartRadio.

On Instagram, Doherty said Wednesday that the program will touch on her career highlights, friendships, divorce and health regimens and will include a series of brutally honest conversations with some very special and influential people in her life.

She will share her own personal stories, how she manages the lows all while celebrating the highs, and her hopes and dreams for the future, according to iHeartRadios description of the show. As Shannen says, it doesnt matter how many times you fall, its about how you get back up. So, LETS BE CLEAR this is the truth and nothing but.

2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Five of the six Republican members of Alabamas congressional delegation voted Friday against the expulsion of Republican Congressman George Santos of New York from the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House voted 311-114 to expel Santos after an ethics report that said he used campaign contributions for personal use. Santos has pleaded not guilty to an indictment brought by federal prosecutor in New York.

A first-term lawmaker who flipped what had been a Democratic seat, Santos is only the sixth member of the House ever to be expelled.

Rep. Robert Aderholt of Haleyville was the only Republican from the Alabama delegation to vote in favor of expelling Santos, which required a two-thirds vote. Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, the only Democrat in the Alabama delegation, also voted for expulsion.

Voting no were Reps. Jerry Carl of Mobile, Barry Moore of Enterprise, Gary Palmer of Hoover, Mike Rogers of Saks, and Dale Strong of Huntsville.

The U.S. House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. Five of Alabama's representatives voted against expelling him.M.D. Keener

This story will be updated.
A Lee County man is behind bars, charged in the fatal shooting of his grandfather.

Sheriffs deputies were dispatched at 11:42 p.m. Thursday to a home on Lee Road 390 in the Beulah community on a report of a person shot.

They arrived to find 79-year-old Ralph ONeal Wilson dead on the scene.

Investigators said the deadly shooting happened during an argument between Wilson and his 31-year-old grandson.

Wiltavious Tamario Wilson is charged with murder. He is being held without bond in the Lee County Jail.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP(7867).
A judge today formally sentenced a Blount County man after he was convicted in the death of his girlfriends son and the abuse of her other son.

A jury in October convicted Robert Keith Elmore Jr., 32, of capital murder in the 2019 death of 18-month-old Enzo McCormack. He was sentenced Friday to life without parole in Enzos death.

Elmore was also sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for the aggravated child abuse of Enzos brother, Jesse McCormack.

Elmore was convicted by a Blount County jury on October 6, 2023.

Limestone County Circuit Judge Chad Wise, who was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to hear this case, handed down the sentences, which were ordered to be run concurrently.

As a mother of two small children, I cannot imagine the horrific pain and suffering these poor babies endured at the hands of this person, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey. I do not call him a man. A true man would not hurt an innocent baby.

Robert Keith Elmore Jr. (Blount County Jail)

Enzo McCormack, 18 months, died in 2019, three days after he was gravely injured while in the care Elmore

Enzos mother, Samantha McCormack, is awaiting trial, which is set for 2024. She remains held without bond.

At 7 p.m. on September 6, 2019, Blount County authorities responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child at Locust Fork Hardware Store.

Locust Fork Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical personnel arrived on scene to find Enzo in respiratory distress. His pupils were fixed and dilated, and he was turning blue, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey. His body was already limp and cold to the touch.

Blount County EMS arrived on scene and transported Enzo to the Locust Fork Volunteer Fired Department where a landing zone had been secured for a helicopter called to transport the child to Childrens of Alabama in Birmingham.

He died days later.

Sgt. Chris Hollomon testified during the trial that he obtained a statement from McCormack at the Hardware Store.

She said she had been home alone with the children, and while using the restroom, she heard a thump in the living room.

McCormack returned to the living room to find Enzo choking on a piece of cereal.

Later that evening, she decided to take him to the hospital to be examined.

Samantha McCormack (Blount County Jail)

On her way to the store, McCormack stopped to get cigarettes and gasoline, according to testimony.

After entering the store, she with with Heather Elmore, Robert Elmore Jr.s, sister.

Heather Elmore testified she exited the store to check on the child whom she found to be limp and cold to the touch.

The two women then moved Enzo into the store and called 911.

Medics testified that when they arrived, Enzo could not breathe on his own and had to be intubated.

Authorities from the Blount County Department of Human Resources testified they transported two other children to Childrens of Alabama for medical evaluation. Court records identify those children as Enzos twin sister and his older brother, Jessie.

Haley Jenkins was one of the DHR caseworkers.

Jenkins testified that she remained at Enzos bedside throughout the night.

Blount County sheriffs Sgt. Ed Hull testified that he interviewed McCormack and Elmore after the children were taken to the hospital.

Elmore told Hull that on Sept. 6 he was caring for the children while their mother worked.

According to Elmore, he reached into a pack-n-play to get Enzo when the child pulled Elmores chest hair, and Elmore dropped the child.

Elmore did not give Hull any information concerning the origin of Enzos injuries, however he said the child did not have any bruising when Elmore got out of bed at 1 p.m. that day.

Dr. Michael Taylor testified that he examined the child and based on his training and experience, Enzo suffered blunt force trauma and severe acceleration and deceleration injuries from being violently shaken.

Enzo remained on a ventilator until Sept. 9, 2019, when doctors determined the child had no measurable brain activity and no further measures could be taken to save the life of the child. The doctor testified that Enzos injuries were not consistent with Elmores story.

Dr. Taylor also examined Jessie.

According to Dr. Taylor, Jessie had a skull fracture with arterial bleeding and swelling under the scalp, and he was hospitalized. The doctor said Jessies bruises behind his ears would have occurred within a few hours of sustaining his skull fracture.

Dr. Valerie Green, a forensic pathologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that she performed an autopsy on Enzo.

She said Enzo had multiple contusions on his scalp, indicating he had at least two points of impact on his head. She also testified that the numerous retinal hemorrhages and the severity of the injury to the brain indicated the child had been violently shaken.

Elmores telephone records were also admitted into evidence.

Those records showed that at 5:41 p.m. on Sept 6, Elmore sent a message to the mother of the children informing her that Enzo aint breathing rite...he is limp...and almost blue.

Prosecutors argued that Elmore was alone with the children at 5:41 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2019. Elmore intentionally and violently shook the child and repeatedly subjected the child to blunt force trauma, continued to shake the child until the child lost consciousness, and willfully denied the child proper medical care for over an hour because he intended for the child to die.

Jessie Taylor McCormack, 6, died Jan. 20, 2023. His father is charged with capital murder. (Anniston Memorial Funeral Home)

Jessie McCormack, 6, died in January.

His father, Joshua D. Clark, 29, is charged with capital murder in Jessies death. A trial date has not yet been announced.

On Jan 18, 2023, Anniston police officers were called to Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center on a child abuse case.

They arrived to find the medical staffing treating the unconscious Jessie.

The boy was transferred to Childrens of Alabama with critical injuries. Clark, his father, was interviewed by detectives and charged with aggravated child abuse.

Jessie died on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. He was in his fathers custody at the time of his injuries and subsequent death.

Joshua Clark, 29, is charged with capital murder in the beating death of his 6-year-old son Jessie McCormack. (Calhoun County Jail)

The indictment said he was beaten to death by a belt or belt like object and hands.

McCormack asked to be released from jail to attend Jessies funeral, but a judge denied her request.

Clark and McCormack married in 2018, and separated just two months later, court records show.

They had three children together, first Jessie, who was born in April 2016, and then Enzo and his twin sister, who were born in 2018, four months before their parents got married.

Enzos twin sister is now the only surviving sibling.

McCormacks capital murder trial is set for May 9, 2024.
Alabama can move closer to making medical marijuana products available on Friday, when the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission tries for a third time to award business licenses.

The AMCC is scheduled to select cultivators, processors, transporters, dispensaries, and testing labs at its meeting at 1 p.m. at the State House.

Companies are competing for a limited number of licenses allowed under the law passed by the Legislature in 2021. The license applicants made public presentations to the AMCC this week, making their cases for why they should be picked.

The AMCC awarded licenses in June and again in August but rescinded those decisions both times. More than 25 companies that applied for licenses have filed lawsuits.

A mediation agreement approved by Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson in a consolidated lawsuit has helped clear the way for the AMCC to award licenses again. If the AMCCs timeline holds and is not blocked by more litigation, companies should be able to begin their work early next year, with products expected to be available later in 2024.

The main point in the mediation agreement is that the AMCC will not consider scores assigned by third-party evaluators to rank the applicants. The scores, compiled by graders recruited by the University of South Alabama, have been one of the most controversial aspects of the licensing process.

The commissioners licensing decisions in June and August, now rescinded, closely tracked the scores, with the highest scoring applicants being awarded licenses in almost all cases.

Overall, 90 companies applied for licenses. Thirty-eight of the 90 applied for integrated licenses, which would allow them to cultivate, process, transport, and dispense medical cannabis.

The AMCC is scheduled to hear presentations from the integrated license applicants next week and award licenses in that category on Dec. 12.

The competition for integrated licenses has produced most of the litigation and controversy so far.

The AMCC draws a distinction between awarding licenses and issuing licenses. Licenses awarded Friday are scheduled to be issued Dec. 29 after the payment of licensing fees and after the AMCC completes a due diligence process.

Alabama is one of 38 states to legalize medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Alabamas industry will be fully intrastate. The Legislature created the AMCC to oversee the regulation of the industry.

Doctors who receive training in medical cannabis will be able to recommend medical marijuana products for more than a dozen conditions -- autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain, weight loss, and vomiting; Crohns Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinsons Disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourettes Syndrome; a terminal illness; and conditions causing chronic or intractable pain.
Birminghams Century Plaza was once the largest mall in Alabama and for years it was the place to take children to make Christmas memories.

The $25 million, 700,000-square-foot mall opened in 1975, closed in 2009, and was demolished in 2020.

Once home to more than 100 stores, Century Plaza was razed to make way for the $60 million, 200,000-square-foot Amazon center on Crestwood Boulevard.

It was where many did there holiday shopping at anchors like JC Penney, Pizitz, Lovemans, Richs, Sears, McRaes.

They also shopped at other favorites, like Gentry Coins and Stamps, Hot Sam, Karmelkorn, Fox Photo, Video Concepts, Camelot Music, and B. Dalton, and stopped for lunch at McDonalds or Sbarros.

But from the very beginning Christmas was the time for the Plaza to shine.

There was, of course, Santa Claus, who set up shop in his own special village at the mall and took photos with kids and pets.

There were also a dazzling array of lights, trees and decorations. Animatronic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse were another popular feature.

The star of the show for many Birmingham area children was Jingles the Talking Bear, who could sing and interact with children who visited the mall.

It took a lot of work to bring Jingles to life, a former employee explained on Friends of Century Plaza, a Facebook page dedicated to celebrating Century Plaza memories.

It involved cameras and hidden microphones and humans hidden from view.

Once you engaged with Jingles, she asked questions to get you talking, a post on the page read.

The cameras saw what you were wearing and the hidden microphones heard what you said. If Jingles seemed to know something you hadnt said to her, such as your name, it was because the microphones picked up someone saying it.....typically parent or sibling saying go talk to her Susie. They could also see stuff sticking out of bags sometimes so she would mention it. Anything to personalize the visit.

Pam McCullar Measal, who worked as the malls marketing manager in the early 90s, told AL.com in 2021 about a brainstorm involving Jingles the Bear and the arrival of Santa.

It is always difficult to find creative ways to make Christmas magical, she said.

My thought was to have Jingles sleeping, and the power of the children ringing their bells - that is another story in itself - and screaming to wake up Jingles would be the plan for Santas arrival. I produced a soundtrack of Jingles snoring.

However, the snoring sounded to some as though Santa had gas, she said.

The traditions began to fade along with the malls fortunes, as other shopping options -- such as Hoovers Riverchase Galleria and Trussvilles Colonial Pinnacle at Tutwiler Farm -- started pulling from Century Plazas customer base.

Sears, the first store to open, was the last retailer to close, in 2009. It took a little less than two months in 2020 to raze the old mall.

Whatever happened to Jingles?

One adventurous spirit found the bear disassembled in the mall in 2015 and roped off with warnings of asbestos.

Jingles was claimed by a Birmingham area family that put the bear back together and even restored him to singing condition.

What are your holiday memories of Century Plaza? Send me your stories, photographs and video to jgray@al.com.
A now-former high school physics teacher is being held without bond in the Jackson County (Miss.) Adult Detention Center, charged with sexual battery after being accused of an inappropriate relationship with a student.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Office arrested James Donald Hawkins II Thursday afternoon. Minutes after the sheriffs office released the arrest information to media, the Ocean Springs School District followed with a release saying Hawkins had been terminated.

OSSD is deeply troubled by the arrest and charges announced today by the Jackson County Sheriffs Department involving one of our teachers, the school district statement read. James Hawkins was terminated from OSSD when district officials were informed of his arrest and subsequent charges by the Jackson County Sheriffs Department this evening.

Hawkins, 38, had worked for the Ocean Springs School District for the school district since 2022. He made his initial appearance in Jackson County Circuit Court Friday afternoon.

Judge Calvin Taylor followed the district attorneys office recommendation that Hawkins be held without bond -- with that recommendation based on conversations Hawkins had with investigators after his arrest, according to the sheriffs office.

Hawkins was not accompanied by an attorney at Fridays hearing. He told Taylor he is married with a young daughter.

The sheriffs office said additional charges against Hawkins are possible.

We are working with investigators and will assist them in any way possible, the school district said in its statement. The safety of our students and staff members remains the highest priority of OSSD and the charges against Hawkins are disturbing and intolerable.
Montana's supposed first-of-its-kind state-wide TikTok ban just got blocked by a US judge from implementation, marking a win from the streaming platform's fight against calls for a nationwide ban.

US District Judge Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction, stating that Montana's ruling "oversteps state power" and "violates the Constitution in more ways than one."

In an email statement, TikTok expressed support to Molloy for rejecting the "unconstitutional law," allowing Montanans to "continue to express themselves."

State legislators, in turn, said to look forward to presenting "the complete legal argument" to defend the law that "protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data."

Also Read: Montana's Bill for TikTok Ban Signed by State Governor

Why Did Montana Wanted to Ban TikTok?

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill in May that prohibits state citizens from using the app, officially making the State of Montana the first to ban the video-sharing platform.

According to the legislation, residents can be fined up to $10,000 by using, installing, or downloading the app within the state.

Gianforte described the passing as "the most decisive action of any state" against China "using TikTok to spy on Americans, violate their privacy, and collect their personal, private, and sensitive information."

The platform's parent company, ByteDance, is based in China.

At least 18 US states expressed support for Gianforte, urging the national government to put a stop to the platform that "intentionally engages in deceptive business practices."

TikTok, along with content creators, filed lawsuits against the state for its supposed violation of the First Amendment.

Related Article: TikTok Files a Lawsuit Against Montana After Statewide App Ban

Calls to Ban TikTok in the US

TikTok remains under intense scrutiny in the US as political groups advocate for its total ban amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Last year, the US Congress approved to ban the app on all government-issued devices. This is after several states have already prohibited the use of the app by state officials.

Before that, the United States Army and Navy banned TikTok among its ranks after the Department of Defense labeled the app as a security risk.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling on Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler to step down amid an ongoing criminal investigation into an accusation of sexual battery, saying that it would be untenable for Ziegler to remain in the role in the face of such grave circumstances.

I dont see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations, and so I think that he should step aside. I think he should tend to that, DeSantis told reporters after his Thursday night debate on Fox News with California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Hes innocent till proven guilty, but we just cant have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny.

DeSantis said that he only became aware of the investigation earlier on Thursday. He said that he counted Ziegler and his wife among his friends and hoped that the allegations against arent true, but added that the mission is more important.

DeSantis remarks came hours after the Florida Trident, a watchdog news outlet published by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, first reported that Ziegler was the subject of a criminal probe in Sarasota involving a sexual battery allegation by a woman who claims to have been in a long-standing, three-way sexual relationship with Ziegler and his wife.

The investigation, confirmed Thursday by Sarasota police, was a bombshell for the Florida GOP.

Ziegler and his wife Bridget are among Floridas most influential Republican political couples. Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of the conservative group Moms for Liberty, which has gained national influence amid a push by conservatives to assert greater control over public education, and is a member of the Sarasota County School Board. Earlier this year, DeSantis appointed her to a seat on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governing body that oversees Walt Disney World Resort.

RELATED CONTENT: Florida GOP Chairman accused of sexual battery. His attorney says hell be exonerated

A heavily redacted police report released by Sarasota Police on Thursday shed little light on the alleged incident. Names, identifying information and other details were blacked out, although references to rape and sexual assault were left visible.

According to the police report, the alleged incident occurred on Oct. 2 and was reported to authorities on Oct. 4.

While the name of the subject of the investigation was also redacted, the complaint was released to the Miami Herald in direct response to a request for a report regarding an active sexual battery investigation involving Ziegler. A spokesperson for the Sarasota Police Department also confirmed an active probe involving the Florida GOP chair.

No charges have been filed against Ziegler and he has denied wrongdoing through his lawyer Derek Byrd, who issued a statement on Thursday insisting that Ziegler would be exonerated.

Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department, Byrd said. We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated.

Ziegler did not respond to a request for comment on Friday morning about the governors remarks.

DeSantis comments on Thursday suggested that Ziegler has lost the confidence of Floridas most powerful and influential Republican official.

Ziegler, a former Florida GOP vice chairman and Sarasota County commissioner, won the state partys chairman role in February in a heated race against current Vice Chairman Evan Power. That matchup was widely seen as a proxy fight between allies of former President Donald Trump, who backed Ziegler, and DeSantis orbit, which largely supported Power.

In a statement on Thursday, the Republican Party of Florida acknowledged it was aware of the allegations against Ziegler, but said it would not comment any further given that the investigation remains open.

2023 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Alabamas 48-year-old grand jury secrecy law looms over two separate cases that are drawing national attention while raising questions over what constitutes legitimate legal secrets in South Alabama.

The two cases in Mobile and Atmore are unrelated to each other but are occurring almost simultaneously. They are also coming less than a year after a federal appeals court ruled that Alabamas grand jury secrecy law is constitutional and doesnt infringe upon a persons freedom of speech.

The charges in the Atmore case have jolted free press advocates, who have said that District Attorney Steve Billy is violating the First Amendment by pursuing a prosecution of a newspaper for reporting news.

I think hes totally off-base on his interpretation of it, said Brewton attorney Ernest White, who represents publisher Sherry Digmon and reporter Don Fletcher. A preliminary hearing into their case over revealing grand jury evidence is set for a preliminary hearing before Judge Ben Fuller at 9 a.m. on Dec. 4, at the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton.

Billy has declined to comment. A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Monday at the Escambia County Courthouse.

Scholars say the Alabama law is confusing and can be interpreted widely by different attorneys. Other aspects of the law also raise concerns, they note: That prosecutors are not subject to criminal liability for disclosing the same grand jury secrets the law aims to protect, and witnesses are forbidden from disclosing grand jury proceedings  an obligation that only about a dozen states impose.

Past legislative efforts to free witnesses from the secrecy hold have failed to advance in the Alabama Legislature.

Prosecuting journalists

Escambia County School Board member Sherry Digmon, who is also the publisher and co-owner of The Atmore News, attends the board's meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Atmore, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

The big question in the cases stirring in Mobile and Atmore is this: Where does a felony begin or end when it comes to disclosing evidence or materials in the hands of a grand jury?

There is some argument on whether that circle goes outside the grand jury room, said Matt Woodham, assistant professor of law and assistant director of trial advocacy at Samford Universitys Cumberland School of Law. The important part is there are these categories of people who, if they make this disclosure, they would have committed a felony.

Under Alabama law, no past or present grand juror, witness, reporter, or stenographer  all members of the grand jury process  may reveal or disclose grand jury proceedings or physical evidence.

The grand jury secrecy act, enacted in 1975, also says that nor shall any person at any time attempt to corrupt or influence a grand juror.

Prosecutors are exempt from the law.

Woodham said he does not believe a newspaper reporter, who is not included in the grand jury proceedings, falls under the disclosure penalties. A violation to Alabamas grand jury secrecy law is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison.

By my reading of the law, since the owners of the newspaper are not witnesses, grand jurors, grand jury court reporters, writing (the article in question) is not a direct violation of the law, he said. The theory of prosecution for the owner of the newspaper, even if they published a grand jury secret, by doing that alone is not a crime.

He added, Based on my understanding of that case and my reading of the grand jury secrecy act, the only possible theory that would result in liability under the act would have to result from accomplice liability. I do not know what, if any, facts from that case would support such a theory.

He said that a journalist, to be guilty of violating the law, would have to be accomplices to a crime by soliciting or otherwise aiding an unlawful disclosure of a grand jury secret by a grand juror, grand jury witness, or court reporter.

There is no indication that occurred in Atmore, though the case remains under investigation, Wodham said. If we are dealing with a case where a grand jury witness leaves information in the mailbox at the paper (and the journalist) gets this information and publishes it, with them being charged as I understand it, then I dont see where that conduct of just publishing violates this law.

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

Fletcher and Digmon face a charge of revealing grand jury secrets for reporting that authorities were investigating the Escambia County School Boards handling of COVID-19 relief funds after allegedly receiving a copy of a grand jury subpoena in the mail.

Also facing indictment is Ashley Fore of Brewton, a bookkeeper with the school system who is accused of revealing grand jury evidence to the journalists.

The person who committed the crime is the one that disclosed it to the news organization, said Kelly McBride, chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at the Poynter Institute. The news organization published information they received. Thats different. There is a nuance there. Otherwise, the way you interpret the law is prior restraint, which is generally frowned upon as a violation of the free press protections of the First Amendment.

Bodycam evidence

Harry Daniels, an attorney representing the family of the late Jawan Dallas, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, at Government Plaza in Mobile, Ala. The conference was held after Daniels and family members of Jawan Dallas reviewed the footage of the police-worn body camera taken on July 2, 2023, when Dallas died following an altercation with police.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

In Mobile, concerns of a potential violation of grand jury secrecy halted the release of information related to the death of 36-year-old Jawan Dallas on July 2, after he had a violent encounter with Mobile police.

At the heart of the concerns was the handling of police-worn body cam footage. For months, the Dallas family pled with Mobile city officials to allow them to review the footage only to be told that any efforts to do so could be a felony as a violation of the states grand jury secrecy act.

Efforts by AL.com and other media organizations to obtain a copy of the autopsy report were also denied.

The Mobile City Council was also given a rare warning from City Attorney Ricardo Woods: If you push to allow the Dallas family to review grand jury evidence, you could be committing a felony.

Woodham said he does not believe the grand jury secrecy law prevents law enforcement officers from allowing family members of a crime victim from viewing bodycam footage of a police altercation.

The fact that a grand jury might one day see the video or even if they already have does not make the video a secret that magically cannot be disclosed by any person, said Woodham.

The timing of the disclosure seems to be the issue. Within 24 hours after a deadly Nov. 13 police raid in Mobile, the mother of a 16-year-old Black teen who was shot and killed during an encounter with police was allowed to watch the police-worn body cam video footage. City officials allowed the viewing because the footage had not yet been forwarded to authorities for a grand jury investigation.

In the Dallas case, the video was not made available because it had already been wrapped up in a grand jury proceeding by the time the family allegedly was inquiring to view it.

A spokeswoman for Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood -- who announced earlier this month that the grand jury would not be pursuing criminal charges against the police officers involved in the Dallas encounter -- said the same courtesy to view bodycam footage was that was offered to the family of the 16-year-old teen was also offered to the Dallas family ahead of the grand jury proceedings.

Tara Zieman, spokeswoman for Blackwood, said she was not 100% sure on the timing.

Timing of body cam footage should be a city question as we have different roles in this process and they are the ones who will show the footage, she said. That will never be the role of the DAs office.

A press conference was held on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, at Government Plaza in Mobile, Ala., after the attorney and family members of Jawan Dallas reviewed the footage of the police-worn body camera that showed a deadly police altercation with the 36-year-old Mobile man.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

The Dallas family, after 4-1/2 months of requests, got to see the bodycam footage last week. The footage has not been released to the public.

Christine Dallas, Jawan Dallas mother, said during a community rally Thursday, that she is happy that the teenagers family was able to see the bodycam footage of his death before it became evidence in a grand jury investigation.

We will continue to keep doing what we do to help save lives and to make sure no one else goes through what were going through, especially in trying to see a video, Dallas said.

Christine Dallas, mother to Jawan Dallas, pictured at a rally and emergency meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Mobile, Ala. The meeting's purpose was to demand justice and call for action in the aftermath of devastating details surfacing about Dallas' death after a fatal encounter with Mobile police on July 2, 2023. Dallas' family members, including Christine Dallas, recently got to watch the police-worn body cam footage of Dallas' death. The family's attorney, Harry Daniels of Atlanta, said that the 36-year-old Mobile man was brutally killed by police officers in "one of the worst videos I've ever seen."John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

Two different viewpoints over how Dallas died have since emerged: City and police officials, and Blackwood have said that Dallas died from health factors and drug use; attorneys for the Dallas family claim that he was beaten by police and repeatedly tased while pleading for his life.

Public bodies are not required under Alabama state law to release body cam footage to the public, meaning it is unlikely the general public or press will be able to ever view the video.

There is public interest in that sort of material, said McBride. If they are not releasing body cam (footage), they are hiding something. The whole point of body cam video is so the public can have a view of what is happening in these exertions of power.

She said that authorities withholding information about the case because it went before a grand jury represents an overreach of the state law.

Unfortunately, you live in a state (Alabama) where there are relatively few media organizations, McBride said. If there was a lot, you could get together and fight for this kind of access and this type of overreach. With relatively few, its hard to influence the laws and public policies that would make the state more transparent to the citizens it governs.

Reform efforts

State Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, on the Alabama House floor on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Efforts have come up in recent years to make changes to the law.

Retired State Rep. Mike Ball, a Republican from Madison who led efforts to get medical marijuana approved in Alabama in 2021, also backed legislation that year that would have allowed grand jury witnesses to discuss their testimony and experiences with prosecutors.

Ball argued at the time that the states grand jury secrecy law takes away First Amendment rights.

The grand jury secrecy act really needs a lot of work, Ball said. It is way too broad. They dont prosecute people under it, but the threat of prosecution under a vague law has a chilling effect.

Alabama is one of a few states where the law strictly forbids disclosing any grand jury details by witnesses.

Balls legislation stalled out in the Alabama Legislature after he said it was opposed by the District Attorneys Association, and Attorney General Steve Marshall.

I tried to get our law to reflect federal law, but they didnt want that, Ball said, referring to federal law that does not extend secrecy provisions to witnesses.

Its important we protect the First Amendment, Ball said, adding that the case involving the journalists in Atmore is dodgy. He accuses Billy, the Escambia County District Attorney, of opposing a political decision and that has led to the indictments against journalists for violating the grand jury secrecy law.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey, immediate past president of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, deferred comments about the application of the grand jury secrecy law in Mobile and Atmore to Barry Matson, the longtime executive director of the association. Matson did not respond to requests for comment.

Marshalls office also did not respond to a request for comment.

Zieman, the spokesman for Blackwood in Mobile County, said the grand jury secrecy law doesnt need to be tightened up or changed, adding that its very clear.

The law has withstood a recent court challenge that involved former Republican state Rep. Ed Henry of Hartselle. Henry, a grand jury witness, claimed he had information that could help aid former House Speaker Mike Hubbard during his public corruption trial but was unable from sharing that information because of a prosecutorial interpretation of the grand jury secrecy law.

A federal district court agreed, in part, with Henry and found that Alabamas law was too broad and could be used in an unconstitutional manner. He also argued that his free speech rights outweighed the states interest in confidentiality under the grand jury secrecy law.

The federal court likened the Alabama law to a Florida law that was struck down 33 years ago. But a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit  which included former Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor -- ruled that Alabama was within its rights to suppress information learned during a grand jury proceeding.

Ball argues that the law can be used by prosecutors to silence anyone associated with a case.

This grand jury secrecy act has a chilling effect on the First Amendment, said Ball a former investigator and State Trooper. There is foolishness that can be done with a grand jury and there is no way for anyone to discover it. The default position after a case is adjudicated is that people should be able to have a record and a recording, and someone should be able to review it. If there is a security reason and a witness needs to be protected, then the DA should explain why.

He added, The default reason should be transparent. But Ive seen so many times when people use something secret to hide improper behavior. That doesnt need to be.
Alabama is one of a handful of states to carry out an execution in 2023, a year in which the use of capital punishment increased but still remained far below the peak of 24 years ago, according to a new report from the Death Penalty Information Center.

Five states have executed a total of 24 people this year, six more executions than in 2022. But it was the ninth consecutive year of fewer than 30 executions in the United States, a marked decline since 1999, when there were 98 executions, the most since the U.S. Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976.

Alabama was one of seven states where courts handed out new death sentences this year, the fewest number of states doing so in 20 years.

The numbers are from the Death Penalty Information Center, which released its annual report on executions and capital punishment policies and trends.

Alabama executed James Barber in July and and executed Casey McWhorter two weeks ago, both by the lethal injection. Alabamas next execution is scheduled for January, when it is set to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith by nitrogen hypoxia, a method never used by any state.

Other states that have carried out the death penalty this year are Texas, with eight executions, Florida with six, and Oklahoma and Missouri with four each. The number of states carrying out executions tied 2016 as the fewest number of states in 20 years. All 24 executions were by lethal injection.

There were a total of 21 new death sentences nationally.

Florida led states with five death sentences this year, followed by California with four, Alabama and Texas with three each, Arizona and South Carolina with two each, and Louisiana with one. The federal court system issued one new death sentence.

Alabama has 167 inmates on death row, the fourth largest number among states. The only states with more are California with 665, Florida with 313, and Texas with 192. Alabamas death row population is larger than Georgias (41), Mississippis (36), and Tennessees (47) combined.

The DPIC report includes results from an annual Gallup survey on crime that shows for the first time more Americans believe the death penalty is carried out unfairly (50%), than fairly (47%).

The data show that most Americans no longer believe the death penalty can be imposed fairly, Robin M. Maher, DPICs executive director, said in a press release. That important change can also be seen in the unprecedented show of support for death-sentenced prisoners from conservative lawmakers and elected officials this year, some of whom now oppose use of the death penalty in their state.

Twenty-nine states have abolished the death penalty or paused it by executive action, according to the DPIC report.

Overall, a majority of respondents to the Gallup survey, conducted in October, still support the death penalty for those who commit murder. But that number, 53%, was the lowest since 1972. The number supporting the death penalty peaked at 80% in 1994.

The annual Gallup survey, which polls at least 1,000 adults, showed a sharp partisan divide on the death penalty. More than two-thirds of Republicans, 68%, said the death penalty was carried out fairly, while only 28% of Democrats said it was.

Eighty-one percent of Republicans support the death penalty for people convicted of murder, compared to 32% of Democrats and 51% of independents.

Three death row inmates were exonerated this year, bringing the total number of exonerations to 195 since 1973, the report says.

The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated all death penalty laws in 1972 in the case Furman vs. Georgia, finding that arbitrariness and racial discrimination raised concerns about whether the laws violated the constitution. The court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

The DPIC report says the U.S. Supreme Court granted one stay of an execution out of 34 requests during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 terms. The court has granted 11 emergency stay requests out of 270 since 2013, or 4%, according to a Bloomberg Law report cited by the DPIC.

Alabama is mentioned in several sections of the report.

The report carries a summary of the case of Alabama death row inmate Toforest Johnson with several others under a section about high-profile cases with claims of innocence.

The report says the Florida legislature passed two laws this year that expanded the use of the death penalty. One removed the requirement for a unanimous consent by the jury to impose the death penalty. The new law authorizes the death penalty if at least eight jurors concur.

That means Florida joined Alabama as the only state allowing the death penalty for less than a unanimous jury decision during the sentencing phase. Alabama requires at least 10 jurors to approve the death penalty during the sentencing phase after a unanimous verdict during the guilt phase.

The other new Florida law allows the death penalty for sexual battery of a child under the age of 12 that does not result in the death of the victim. In 2008, the Supreme Court struck down a similar Louisiana law imposing the death sentence for child rape, the DPIC said. That case, Kennedy v. Louisiana, was decided 5-4.

The DPIC report includes among its key quotes from 2023 an excerpt from an op-ed piece written by former Alabama governors Don Siegelman and Robert Bentley, who expressed regret about their reviews of death penalty cases.

As governors, we had the power to commute the sentences of all those on Alabamas death row to life in prison We missed our chance to confront the death penalty and have lived to regret it, but it is not too late for todays elected officials to do the morally right thing, Siegelman and Bentley wrote.
This is a map of San Francisco. Theres a lot of plots on that. You may be asking what is that plotting?



This is an app where they plot the human feces that are found on the streets of San Francisco.



That is what has happened in one of the previous greatest cities this pic.twitter.com/otOz7dQxei  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 1, 2023

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Cal. Gov. Gavin Newsom debated Thursday night on Fox News, the subject of homelessness in America was brought up.

Weve gotten 68,000 people off the streets, close to 6000 encampments, weve got off the streets. Weve also invested in unprecedented resources in reforming our behavioral health system, Newsom said.

Ron has literally the worst mental health system in America, forgive me outside of Mississippi, and Texas.

Newsom: Ron has literally the worst mental health system in America. Forgive me outside of Mississippi and Texas..



DeSantis: *hold up feces map* pic.twitter.com/mVmAHY5LsX  Acyn (@Acyn) December 1, 2023

DeSantis then pulled out what he said was a map where they plot the human feces that are found on the streets of San Francisco.

This is a map of San Francisco. Theres a lot of plots on that, DeSantis said.

You may be asking what is that plotting? This is an app where they plot the human feces that are found on the streets of San Francisco. That is what has happened in one of the previous greatest cities this country has ever had.

But they cleaned it up when a communist dictator came to town, DeSantis added.

After the debate, Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany called it another strong and powerful moment that she said showed DeSantis won.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall of Hilltop Meadow Farm brand after it discovered Listeria.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has advices consumers to throw away the 60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese with sell-by dates of Sep. 21. The company has recalled the cheese after listeria was discovered after a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture safety inspection.

Listeria is a bacteria often found in contaminated foods. Symptoms include fever, intense headaches, sickness and diarrhea, while infected pregnant women can have miscarriages and stillbirths.

No reported illnesses have been attributed to the product, according to the FDA report. People who consume the product and show signs of illness should immediately contact their physicians.

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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Piers Morgan has revealed Kate Middleton and King Charles as the royals who expressed concern over the skin color of Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys son Archie.

On Wednesdays Piers Morgan Uncensored, the titular broadcaster, 58, named the Princess of Wales and the new monarch as the pair who had been identified in the Dutch translation of Omid Scobies royal expose Endgame, which was pulled from bookshelves Tuesday.

The royals who were named in this book are King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, said the controversial personality. [But] I dont believe any racist comments were ever made by any of the royal family, and until there is actual evidence of those comments being made, I will never believe it.

The Dutch publisher previously said it was pulling that translation  until a rectified edition hits bookstores Dec. 8  due to an error. It was unclear if they regarded the reveal itself as the error, or if it had something to do with the translation itself.

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 that conversation, royal journalist Scobie said in a statement to People. Im happy to hear that the error in the translation of the Dutch edition is being fixed.

Harry, 39, and Suits alum Markle, 42, revealed in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that there had been concerns and conversations about how dark [Archies] skin might be when hes born.

That conversation Im never going to share, said the Duke of Sussex. It was awkward. I was a bit shocked.

The polarizing pair never shared which relatives were behind the remarks but quickly dismissed any speculation that theyd come from Queen Elizabeth II or Prince Philip.

-------

2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Decatur city councilman on Thursday announced his support for the three officers involved in the shooting death of Stephen Perkins at the hands of police, saying the officers dont deserve to be fired but are likely to be terminated.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has yet to complete their criminal investigation, but the city of Decatur would like to jump conclusions and terminate those involved when, at this time, there is zero presumption of criminal wrongdoing, Councilman Hunter Pepper said in a statement released Thursday and addressed to Mayor Tab Bowling and the city council.

To those who have stated they support termination, I hope each of you make zero mistakes at your place of work as the owners may hang you before your trial has occurred and wrongdoing has been found just as I see happening at the city of Decatur, Pepper said in the statement.

Bowling set a hearing for proposed discipline against the officers for Tuesday.

Pepper, who was accused of assault by a man protesting Perkins killing who claimed the councilman bumped him twice during a council work session earlier this month, said Thursday he backs the officers.

Im now coming to all of you to tell you I support the police in this matter and do not support termination of any involved. This is the right thing to do, its not about the police, its not about the public, its about what is right and what is wrong, and, in this situation, the officers acted on how they were trained and taught, he said.

This event has torn our city into pieces, and it breaks my heart but as Ive said many times before this, what is right Is right and what is wrong is wrong, Pepper continued. I hope all of you will stand up and do the right thing as people who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones.

Decatur police officers shot and killed the 39-year-old Perkins Sept. 29 in his front yard at the 3900 Block of Ryan Drive,

The police said they were there because Perkins threatened a tow truck driver with a gun and later turned a gun on an officer.

An initial police report said Perkins refused to comply when the police asked him to drop the weapon.

Pinion had since apologized, saying the initial report mischaracterized what happened and that it was wrong to say Perkins refused to drop his gun.

Home camera footage of the deadly shooting appeared to show that the police were out of sight when Perkins told the tow truck driver to drop the truck that morning before a police officer appeared to come from the corner of the house, told Perkins to get to the ground and immediately shot him.

The officer who fired his weapon remains on paid administrative leave. The other two officers who were on-duty at the time of the shooting and the involved supervisor remain on-duty but on administrative assignments.

Perkins killing drew outrage across the state and country.
(Photo : Unsplash/Jay Clark)

A bill to ban smoking in Atlantic City's casinos was postponed once more as Democratic lawmakers lacked the necessary votes. They are considering alternatives from the casino industry, such as enclosed smoking rooms where no employee would be required to work.

The Workers' Contention

Over 100 casino workers gathered in a state Capitol hearing room and expressed frustration as the smoking ban, anticipated for nearly three years, faced another setback. Lamont White, a Borgata dealer and advocate for the prohibition, voiced discontent, saying:

"Why is the Legislature focused on tax cuts for the casinos rather than the health of their workers? Please, don't leave us behind in the smoke."

Nicole Vitola, another Borgata dealer involved in the anti-smoking campaign, also highlighted the challenges of enduring hours of secondhand smoke on the job without the option to avoid it.

READ ALSO: The Changing Workforce: Implications for Staffing

Compromising Exemption

Because of a previous compromise, Atlantic City's casinos are exempt from New Jersey's law that forbids smoking in public places. The Democratic senator and former governor, Richard Codey, admitted that granting this exemption was a compromise to enact a statewide smoking ban. There is a current movement to modify this exemption, though. The chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Joseph Vitale, stated that the bill was one vote away from passing. He promised a future ballot and apologized to the workers who had traveled from Atlantic City. Vitale is in favor of the original bill, which sought to outlaw smoking in casinos, where it is only allowed in 25% of the space.

Senator Fred Madden is one of the lawmakers who wants to hear more from the casino industry. They suggest phasing in a smoking ban for eighteen months, allowing for the construction of enclosed smoking rooms and improved air treatment systems. Madden expressed concern that job losses could result from a complete smoking ban, but he is confident that a compromise could secure the necessary votes. Although the Casino Association of New Jersey has not yet made public the specifics of its plans, Mark Giannantonio, the organization's president, contends that the bill's current draft would harm Atlantic City's economy.

Divisive Debate

The idea of smoking rooms is rejected by a group that advocates for dealers, describing it as an absurd idea. There is broad, bipartisan support among New Jersey lawmakers for prohibiting smoking in casinos. If it passes, Governor Phil Murphy has promised to sign it. Other states like Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Kansas, Michigan, and Nevada are seeing similar campaigns to outlaw smoking. The casinos in Connecticut are already smoke-free, and the casino smoking ban in Shreveport, Louisiana, has just been lifted.

The bill aims to eliminate an exception for casinos from the state's 2006 indoor smoking law. In Atlantic City, smoking is permitted on 25% of the casino floor. Citing possible losses in both revenue and patronage, the casino industry is against the ban. Some contend that numerous smoke-free casinos in other areas-like those close to Boston, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.-are financially successful.

The smoking ban debate is very heated in Atlantic City. Although the casino industry generated a record $5.2 billion in revenue last year, in-person gamblers accounted for just half of that. The online-generated portion that is left over must be disclosed to other parties, such as sportsbooks and tech platforms. Just three of the nine casino resorts, Borgata and, Ocean-received more money from in-person gaming last year than they did before the pandemic.

RELATED ARTICLE: Top 3 Tips For Maintaining Safety And Health In The Office

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.










English News China, Africa to keep deepening industrial chain cooperation

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 26 Novembre 2023



Over the past 10 years since the BRI was proposed, the initiative has received active support and enthusiastic participation from African countries. Africa has become one of the most important partners of China for Belt and Road cooperation, and almost all countries on the continent have joined the BRI. The connectivity cooperation between China and Africa has accelerated, driving the development of the entire industrial chain.

By Wan Yu, People's Daily A report titled "Chinese Investment in Africa 2023" was recently released in Beijing. By analyzing over 90 Chinese companies and 20 China-Africa cooperation projects, the report explores the impact of the China-Africa policy framework and existing cooperation models on the African industrial chain.



It particularly emphasizes the role of Chinese enterprises in the development and transformation of the African industrial chain, and highlights the future potential of China-Africa industrial chain cooperation.



The report showcases a wide range of examples to demonstrate the contributions made by Chinese companies to the transformation and development of Africa's industrial chain in various sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, digital economy, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and infrastructure. These examples include a hybrid rice demonstration project in Madagascar, a fiberglass production line set up by Chinese company Jushi in Egypt, the cross-border e-commerce platform Kilimall in Central Africa, the Nairobi-Malaba railway in Kenya, and the 150 MW Noor III Concentrated Solar Power project in Morocco.



Wu Peng, director-general of the Department of African Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry, noted that China is leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to strengthen its alignment with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries.



According to him, the focus is on promoting African industrialization through investment cooperation, enhancing the value-added of African resources, and expanding the share of African manufacturing in the global supply chain.



"The investment and economic cooperation between Africa and China is continuously expanding, with steady growth in bilateral trade volume and a gradual increase in the value-added of African products. This is highly encouraging," said Arkebe Oqubay, former special adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.



He emphasized that China attaches great importance to strengthening clean energy cooperation with Africa and has become one of the main partners of Africa in clean energy development.

Sharing the green and low-carbon practices in industrial parks in Hawassa and other parts of Ethiopia, Oqubay stated that with strong support from Chinese investment, Ethiopia is gradually enhancing its green infrastructure development, and the Ethiopian government actively supports Chinese companies' investment and projects in the country.



As of the end of 2022, China's direct investment stock in Africa had exceeded $47 billion, with over 3,000 Chinese companies investing and operating in Africa. In the first half of this year, China's direct investment in Africa exceeded $1.82 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.4 percent. Chinese companies' confidence in the African market continues to strengthen, and they are keeping expanding the areas of investment in Africa.



Wang Dong, deputy director-general of the Department of West Asia and Africa Affairs of China's Ministry of Commerce, noted that Chinese companies' investment in Africa has expanded from traditional sectors such as construction, mining, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and agriculture to new sectors including trade logistics, digital economy, clean energy, healthcare, green development, and finance, and Chinese companies have also invested in industrial parks and economic cooperation zones in many African countries.



The effects of agglomeration continue to emerge, promoting industrialization and agricultural modernization in Africa, Wang added.



The report highlights that China-Africa industrial chain cooperation has facilitated the transformation and development of African industrial chains through six major models: industrial alignment and capacity cooperation, investment in industrial parks, infrastructure development and strengthening of industrial foundations, technology transfer and talent development, demand stimulation and supply promotion, as well as institutional innovation and practical exploration.



Deputy executive secretary and chief economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Hanan Morsy said both the Chinese and African markets hold immense potential, and the close cooperation between the two sides in the field of trade and economy is fueling the intrinsic growth of Africa.



"The investment by Chinese companies is a focal point of interest for many African countries," said Ibrahima Sory Sylla, Ambassador of Senegal to China, adding that as African industrialization continues to progress, Chinese investment in the industrial chain is driving the continent's industrial transformation.



"The FOCAC continues to play a crucial role in promoting investment in Africa, and African countries are looking forward to more investment from Chinese companies," he noted.



Over the past 10 years since the BRI was proposed, the initiative has received active support and enthusiastic participation from African countries. Africa has become one of the most important partners of China for Belt and Road cooperation, and almost all countries on the continent have joined the BRI. The connectivity cooperation between China and Africa has accelerated, driving the development of the entire industrial chain.



According to Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, the positive development of China-Africa economic and trade relations is mutually beneficial for both parties and crucial for the global economy as a whole. The BRI, along with China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and the African Continental Free Trade Area, complement each other and create a favorable trade environment. This will bring about more market opportunities, help address poverty and other issues faced by Africa, and promote the process of African integration.



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 China to build 5th Antarctic research station

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 26 Novembre 2023



During the expedition, Chinese scientists will carry out collaborative aerial surveys of the Enderby Land with their counterparts from countries including Norway and Australia, and explore the ice-ocean-bedrock interactions in the grounding zone of the Antarctic ice sheet, a key data gap region. They will also provide support for accurate assessments of ice sheet mass balance and instability research, and conduct international cooperation on logistical support with scientists from multiple countries.

By Liu Shiyao, Hu Runxin, People's Daily China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team, organized by the country's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), set sail from Shanghai on Nov. 1, embarking on a mission that is expected to last more than five months.



The expedition team will build a new scientific research station along the coastal areas of the Ross Sea, which will be the biggest highlight of the expedition. Upon completion, the new station will become China's third perennial research station after the Changcheng and Zhongshan stations and the first research station dedicated to the Pacific sector. It will also be the country's fifth research station in Antarctica.



The Ross Sea is the most southward-extending sea among all marginal seas of Antarctica. The top of the bay is located at about 78 degrees south latitude, which is very close to the South Pole.



The unique geographical location of the Ross Sea brings differentiated scientific research value, making it a beneficial complement to China's Antarctic scientific research layout deserving greater investment for comprehensive scientific observation.



The construction of the new research station is of great significance.



Carrying out surveys, observation and monitoring of marine ecology, sea ice, glaciers, sea level, atmosphere, geophysics, high-altitude atmospheric physics, terrestrial ecology, terrestrial and marine geology, birds and more in this region will provide fundamental support for assessing the Antarctic ecological environment and climate change.



"The Ross Sea region has a strong appeal to scientists because it is like an 'ice factory.' It is an important generator of sea ice in the entire Southern Ocean, and a key origin of Antarctic bottom water," said Sun Bo with the Polar Research Institute of China under the MNR.



The region features multi-circle interactions of the Earth system, including the geosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and atmosphere, which will help researchers explore important scientific issues such as Antarctic changes and global linkages, according to Sun.



The construction of the new station also reflects China's active efforts to fulfill its responsibilities and obligations under the Antarctic Treaty system.



According to Long Wei, deputy director of Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, a subsidiary of the MNR, China will cooperate with relevant countries in managing the Antarctic Specially Protected Area at Inexpressible Island and conduct ecological monitoring of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area, contributing to the protection of the Antarctic ecological environment and supporting China's participation in Antarctic international governance.



Relying on the new station, China will carry out international cooperation on scientific expeditions and logistical support in Antarctica with neighboring research stations of other countries, striving to make new and greater contributions to the peaceful use of Antarctica by mankind, Long said.



With a building area of 5,244 square meters, the new Chinese Antarctic research station is expected to accommodate 80 expedition team members during summers and 30 members during winters after completion. It is planned to be used for atmospheric, oceanic, glacial, biological and other multidisciplinary observation, monitoring and scientific research.



The philosophy of "green expedition" will run through the entire construction process of the new research station.



While ensuring quality, safety and other basic requirements of the station, relevant personnel will make overall plans and adopt integrated designs for various systems of the station, in a bid to conserve resources and minimize environmental impact during the construction of the new research station.



Customized prefabrication and pre-assembly at home, as well as intensive management of construction materials, will also help the expedition team save energy, water, materials and other resources and protect the environment.



By reducing the disturbed area in Antarctica, cutting the number of temporary facilities and construction personnel, and maximizing control over the scope of construction activities, the expedition team will try to achieve the goal of green and eco-friendly construction.



In addition to the construction of the new station, the expedition team will also investigate the impacts of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystems and relevant consequences, while thoroughly studying the role of Antarctica in global climate change, according to Zhang Beichen, leader and chief scientist of China's 40th Antarctic expedition.



Collaborative research in the frontiers of international Antarctic science will also represent an important part of this expedition.



During the expedition, Chinese scientists will carry out collaborative aerial surveys of the Enderby Land with their counterparts from countries including Norway and Australia, and explore the ice-ocean-bedrock interactions in the grounding zone of the Antarctic ice sheet, a key data gap region. They will also provide support for accurate assessments of ice sheet mass balance and instability research, and conduct international cooperation on logistical support with scientists from multiple countries.



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)
On a recent episode of HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher, guest Scott Galloway sat across from Maher and the former Democrat governor of New York Andrew Cuomo and said, I was on the board of my kids school during COVID. I wanted a harsher lockdown policy. In retrospect, I was wrong. The damage to children by keeping them out of school longer was greater than the risks.

But heres the bottom line. Myself, the great people at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Id like to think the governor, (Cuomo nods) we were all operating with imperfect information, we were doing our best. Lets learn from it. Lets hold each other accountable. But lets bring a little bit of grace and forgiveness amidst the shitshow that was COVID.

Scott Galloway is a professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business and host of "The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway." Hes an influencer with over 566,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). Across from him was the man who was governor of New York oversaw some of the countrys most incompetent, deceptive, and draconian measures of the pandemic.

Cuomo was the one to have hospitals ship COVID-positive patients to nursing homes where the elderly, the most vulnerable population to the disease, were located. The results were both tragic and disastrous. Said progressive media site Slate.com, New York has had the second-highest number of COVID-19 fatalities per capita of any state, trailing only New Jersey.

He appeared nightly on his brothers CNN show in something that resembled schtick more than a public health service. He shut down everything from stores and businesses, to churches, schools, and any venue where communities gather. He enforced the nightly shutdown of the New York City subway to disinfect months after infectious disease experts said COVID did not spread by surface contact.

Late in 2021, the Cuomo administration admitted it was manipulating the data by excluding nursing-home resident deaths because they didnt die on site in those facilities from COVID. They died in hospitals after contracting the virus in nursing-home care.

To be sure, Cuomo and Galloway were not outliers. They were joined by countless other local, state, and federal officials, health experts, business leaders, academics, the news media, big tech, Hollywood, big pharma, and corporate America.

Against this backdrop, Galloway now says that, We were all operating with imperfect information, we were doing our best.

But Were They?

It appears they really werent doing their best, if by their best, they mean looking after the public welfare.

Everyone had the same information at that time, yet millions of ordinary people knew then that the governments handling was incompetent and possibly duplicitous.

Early on, Anthony Fauci said no one needed to wear masks, then he changed course. He later admitted that at first he lied because he wanted to save the masks for healthcare workers.

Throughout the pandemic, the public was told to believe and do things that defied common sense. They were told herd immunity was a thing, and when the vaccines hit the market, they were told a different story.

When the vaccines arrived, they were told the jabs were safe and effective and that the vaccines would prevent spread. Shortly thereafter, it became clear that the vaccines did not perform as advertised.

How did the CDC respond? It changed the definition of vaccine.

The list of offenses, screw-ups, and deceptions is long. The lasting effects of the vaccines have yet to fully reveal themselves, but to even question them can still get you booted from some platforms, or if you are a health professional, be placed into exile.

Is Tyranny Forgivable?

People couldnt go to work, to church, to the store. Their kids, who were least vulnerable to the virus, were locked out of school for years. Parents who tried to teach their kids at home were chastised by teachers who refused to reopen the schools. Small businesses went bankrupt by the thousands.

President Biden took one of the most tyrannical steps of any U.S. president in history by ordering vaccine mandates throughout society, and penalizing anyone who did not comply by having them fired.

The Orwellian concept of vaccine passports was introduced. Freedom of movement throughout America was restricted and policed. Worst of all, all the policies combined seemed to isolate Americans, divide communities, organizations and even families.

The world broke down into the vaxxed and the unvaxxed. Entire segments of society demanded that those who opted not to get the vaccine be denied life-saving care. Friends and family members quit talking. An environment was created to demonize anyone who still presumed they had bodily autonomy. It was open season on the unvaxxed to exclude them from daily life, to fire them from their jobs, to shun them from their social circles.

And yet, since the pandemic started and the vaccines were rolled out, nothing the experts decided, recommended, mandated or advised appears to have made a difference.

If, as Galloway suggests, they were doing the best they could with the information they had, why did millions of nonexperts seem to know better, instinctively?

And now when it is so vividly clear they were wrong in so many ways, when it is extremely clear that they practiced the art of deception at multiple levels, they seek grace and forgiveness.

What you havent heard is an apology. What you havent seen is full transparency that acknowledges in detail, an accounting of so much of what they did by design and with intent. No one has been held to account in a courtroom. This means its not yet over.

If they cant lay out what they did and explain exactly how and why they wont do it again, a sane person would assume that theyre fully prepared to do it all again under a new set of conditions.

As the left is known to say, Do the work. Well, Scott, and Cuomo, and so many others, its now time for you to do the work. And youve got a lot to do. You want grace and forgiveness? Bend the knee. Do the work. Then well talk.

Tim O'Brien is a veteran corporate communications consultant and crisis communicator who operates OBrien Communications in Pittsburgh.

Image: VanIslander1234
Two recent statistical surveys keep bouncing around in my head. One study concludes that one out of every four young people in the world feels lonely today. The other study finds that 72% of Americans have no interest in defending the United States in a major war. In other words, a quarter of the planets emerging leaders are clinically depressed, and nearly three-quarters of the voters in the worlds wealthiest, most powerful nation have no interest in fighting to preserve the American dream. People, it seems, are so disappointed in the present that they have no appetite for the future.

Signs of such debilitating malaise should be a smack across the face to those who insist on ruling planet Earth from privileged perches secured behind steel gates at private social clubs such as the World Economic Forum, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations. Across the globe and in poor and rich countries, alike, the human race is suffering. Real leaders would recognize this phenomenon for what it is: a worldwide cry for help.

Does it seem as if the post-WWI eruption of think tanks, international associations, economic clubs, and foreign policy institutes has had a net-positive effect on human happiness? Has the Council on Foreign Relations successfully steered the planet toward sustained peace? Have the privately controlled central banks that are empowered to manipulate national currencies at whim safeguarded middle class families from regular economic disaster? Has the League of Nations successor, the UN, prevailed in its self-appointed mission to build a better world? Or, after a solid century of international busybodies obsessively micromanaging the worlds affairs, is it perhaps time to conclude that a glut of governmental and non-governmental organizations with a penchant for starting wars and triggering economic calamity has, quite demonstrably, done more harm than good?

With so many global institutions dominating private life, is it any wonder why so many people now behave as if they should be committed to institutions? True meaning  the kind formed through personal struggle, adventure, hard work, religion, community, and family  has been replaced with the incremental oppression of international rule-making. The sanctity of the family home has been bulldozed, so that a global cabal of atheists  whose only real mission is to severely reduce the human population  can poison the natural bonds nurtured between parents and children. The blessings of marriage have been paved over with such vulgar elevation of sin as to condemn human beings, who would otherwise have been made whole through matrimonial commitment, to lonely lives  bereft of hope and adrift in promiscuous isolation.

Culture, marriage, children, and a devotion to God are the bricks that build communities, which in turn fortify nations against the evils propagated by those who lead drab, meaningless lives drenched in self-loathing and hatred for humanitys existence. The UN and its sister organizations do one thing well: they vanquish cultural bonds and, by doing so, demolish civilizations. And with the wreckage that they reap, they extinguish human happiness.

How successfully have these globalist parasites spread their cancer of human meaninglessness? The Canadian Human Rights Commission claims that the celebration of Christmas perpetuates colonial oppression and intolerance. In the United States, a trend has metastasized online in which young Americans who have been indoctrinated to condone the evils of Hamas terrorists now openly express their support for the words and deeds of Osama bin Laden. Nearly twenty-five years after an Islamic supremacist murdered 3,000 of their countrymen, lost and confused Americans with no sense of their own history or purpose now thank the 9/11 mastermind for his vile service. And former CIA director Michael Hayden  a Deep State thug who once called for the execution of President Trump  took some time during Thanksgiving to equate Second Amendment-supporting Christians with jihadist terrorists. These kinds of sicknesses  revolting to their core  are vivid proof that life within the United States and throughout the West must imminently change.

Globalism  or the secular philosophy that a small group of international elites can successfully govern nation states better than the people who reside within the nooks and crannies of those nations  insists that bureaucratic mandarins in Brussels, Geneva, or New York City should be managing the day-to-day activities of an electrician in Verona, a winemaker in Sopron, a sailor from Cooranbong, and an accountant living in a suburb outside Cincinnati.

Right now the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference is spending the next two weeks in Dubai deciding just how much energy ordinary folk should be permitted to use to heat their homes and run their businesses in hundreds of thousands of villages and towns throughout the world. Somewhere there is a fisherman on the Cape West Coast of South Africa whose future livelihood will suffer because of some UN regulation being written and inserted into the twenty-sixth paragraph of section eighty-five of article twelve of the seventh official draft of a new environmental edict that probably does nothing other than protect the monopoly power of a wealthy multinational conglomerate with influential connections but whose passage in Dubai will nonetheless be touted as an instrumental step toward saving the planet.

Saving the planet is big business. Behind every poor worker who struggles that much harder to make ends meet after each new global mandate purportedly constructed to fight bad weather, there is an international oligarch with a corporate board at his side adding new zeroes to his already colossal cache of multigenerational wealth. Extracting every last penny from the worlds poorest in the form of green taxes and fees  so that the globes most obscenely rich can buy private armies and islands  is what John Kerry and Klaus Schwabs Green New Deal has always had in mind.

No form of national government could be properly described as democratic or representative of the people if it takes its marching orders from the WEF, WHO, EU, or UN. Globalism seeks nothing less than to create a planetary system of vassalage in which cultural practices, historic customs, religious beliefs, and national sovereignties are all subsumed under the all-powerful dominion of an insular ruling elite. Speaking the most parseltongued form of political correctness, its propagandists denounce imperialism while building the most sinister empire the world has ever seen.

After a century of coercive internationalism in which corporate oligarchs, central bank money-printers, and clandestine security services have conquered the world under an artificial olive branch and deceptive promises of peace, where are we today? The global population has never been more unhappy. Apparently, serving as meaningless chits for unelected globalists to trade and control has starved humanity of its zest for living.

In this black hole of human meaning, however, I see a tremendous opportunity for excising the cancer that causes us so much harm and lifting a world that is desperately in need of saving. As a Christian, I have always been particularly drawn to one of Jesus Christs lessons: It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

The Marxist globalists who seek to rule the world have sunk the world into a morass of misery. Intentionally destroying culture, marriage, family, national borders, and God have brought nothing but pain and suffering. The world is sick and requires a spiritual physician. And for those who see clearly and have accepted a calling to carry Gods light, there is no shortage of patients who seek healing.

Great Awakenings and civilizational rebirths are built on the ruins of unhappiness. I urge you to see todays chaos not as the beginning of the end but rather as the prologue to our spiritual and cultural redemption. Embrace this journey.

Image: Klaus Schwab. Credit: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Finally growing a pair, this past Wednesday Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) publicly spoke for over 40 minutes on the Senate floor to announce that he has just discovered that official prejudice against Jews, anti-Jewishness, Jewphobia, or anti-Semitism, as it is commonly referred to, not only still exists but is rapidly increasing.

Today, I come to the floor to speak on a subject of great importance: the rise of antisemitism in America. I feel compelled to speak because I am the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in America; in fact, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official ever in American history. And I have noticed a significant disparity between how Jewish people regard the rise of antisemitism, and how many of my non-Jewish friends regard it. To us, the Jewish people, the rise of antisemitism is a crisis -- a five-alarm fire that must be extinguished. For so many other people of good will, it is merely a problem, a matter of concern.

Duh! Senator Schumer where have you been the past few years? While you are now a senator from New York State, a state that has the highest number of Jews in the nation, you've been active in politics at all levels for many years. And hostility to Jews in New York, in addition to across the nation, has been obvious for years, even in your own Democratic party, literally in your own backyard. And you never complained. Well, at least publicly.

But , two months ago, when Muslims from 99.9% Muslim populated and governed Gaza (no Jews allowed), which is adjacent to Israel, outdid their previous barbarism against Jews when they invaded Israel, slaughtering an estimated 1200 unarmed people enjoying a music festival plus others who lived nearby during a Jewish holiday and Israelis fought back, many of your Democratic congressional colleagues from New York, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) leader of the Squad, and Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) viciously condemned... Israel. Which was consistent with their previous negative statements about Israel and Jews reflecting the view of their constituents.

And you remained quiet.

In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, an attack on defenseless civilians, the elderly, women, and babies, a good number of people skipped over expressing sympathy for the victims in their haste to blame the attack on the past actions of the Israeli government. Can anybody imagine a horrific terrorist attack in another country receiving such a reception?

And when Hamas terrorists actively hide behind innocent Palestinians, knowing that many of those civilians will die in the Israeli response, why does the criticism for any civilian deaths seem to fall exclusively on Israel, and not at all on Hamas?

Exactly. Why? Why does the criticism for any inadvertent civilian deaths seem to fall exclusively on Israel, and not at all on Hamas? Answer that very valid question, Senator Schumer. And so should many other critics of Israel when Israel exercises the universal right to defend itself.

Granted, most -- not all -- of the Democrats joined with their near-unanimous Republican colleagues to condemn this brutal Muslim assault while demanding the return of innocent Israelis and even non-Israelis who were participating in the music festival. Most; not all.

Schumer attended and graduated from Harvard Law School nearly 50 years ago, despite Harvard's -- and other so-called elite schools' -- notorious Jewish quota which is now matched by an equally notorious Asian quota. In other words, these schools deliberately have a long history of limiting the number of Jews they will admit or hire based on such objective criteria as SAT scores, because Jews, and now also Asians, would disproportionately qualify. And somehow this is wrong.

Today at Harvard -- and at other elite schools across the country -- students and many faculty members are demonstrating/rioting against Jews and Israelis for defending themselves. And at many nonelite schools, including a high school in Queens, New York, which Schumer represents, because one of the teachers supported Israel. The rioting was so extensive the teacher was forced to barricade herself in a closet. As for the students -- hey kids will be kids. Free speech. Blah, blah, blah.

And after October 7th, when students at Hillcrest High School in Queens ran rampant in the hallways and demanded the firing of a teacher just because she attended a rally supporting Israel, and forced her to hide in a locked office for hours while staff struggled to regain control -- that is anti-Semitism!

Walking out of school to march in support of Palestinians is completely legitimate. But forcing a Jewish teacher to remain -- as she described -- locked in an office because she attended a rally in support for Israel is anti-Semitism, pure and simple. In fact, that teacher is sitting in the gallery today. I invited her to come and listen, and I am truly honored that she accepted my invitation. That is true courage and I believe it shows just how strongly so many Jewish Americans feel about this issue. She has requested anonymity, which I ask everybody present, and everybody in the media, to please respect.

Even with the support of a powerful senator, the terrified teacher still "requested anonymity." The rioters are so proud. "Please respect."

Schumer closed his Senate speech by asking:

Are we a nation that can defy the regular course of human history, where the Jewish people have been ostracized, expelled, and massacred over and over again? I believe the answer can and must be a resounding, Yes. And I will do everything in my power -- as Senate Majority Leader, as a Jewish American, as a citizen of a free society, as a human being -- to make it happen.

Ken Y'hi Ratzon (May it be his will.)

Senator Schumer, proud Americans of all backgrounds will be watching; holding you to your promise.

Image: Senate Democrats
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has woken up and smelled the burning coffee.

According to Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The rise in antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war has reached a crisis point in the United States, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned on Wednesday, saying it threatens the safety of Jews worldwide and the future of Israel.

As welcome as this is, it's well worth looking at his words to discern what he means:

"To us, the Jewish people, the rise in antisemitism is a crisis. A five-alarm fire that must be extinguished," Schumer said in an emotional, 40-minute Senate speech. He stressed that he was not embracing the Israeli government's policies nor ignoring the plight of Palestinians. Schumer made his remarks as the Senate was set to consider legislation next week providing aid for Israel and Ukraine, which are both fighting wars. Demonstrations have erupted in the U.S. and abroad against the Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza prompted by the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas.

So he recognizes anti-Semitism is all over the place, with incidents having risen 400% since October 7, like a fire that has gotten out of control, not recognizing that five-alarm fires come from one-alarm fires, then two, three, and more.

He even pays dhimmi-like verbal tribute to the arguments of anti-Semites, all of whom claim that they "only" oppose Zionism, or "only" oppose Israel's government, or are "only" thinking about the love of the Palestinian children, though they don't say much about that when Palestinian children are found useful to Hamas as suicide bombers or human shields.

Schumer, a Democrat who is the highest elected Jewish official in the United States, emphasized that he was not labeling the majority of criticisms of Israeli government actions as antisemitic. "This speech is also not an attempt to pit hate towards one group against that of another. I believe that bigotry against one group of Americans is bigotry against all," he said.

What he's not doing is recognizing that it's the acts of particular people -- in swastikas waved at demonstrations, in poster-ripping, in cancel culture directed against Jews, in anti-Semitic graffiti, and in the actual targeting of Jews for violence, ... coming exclusively from the left.

He's right that it starts small, and then it gets big. He ought to note that it's fanned from the left.

Where was he when Rep. Ilhan Omar was ranting about Jews being "all about the benjamins" in a Twitter attack presumably directed at AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby?

Sure, he condemned it, ensuring he got some unrelated licks in at President Trump.

"When someone says being Jewish and supporting Israel means you're not loyal to America, we must call it out," Schumer said. "When someone looks at a neo-Nazi rally and sees some 'very fine people' among its company, we must call it out. When someone suggests that money drives support for Israel, we must call it out."

But where was his criticism when the congressional resolution triggered by her resentful fourth-world anti-Semitism got so watered down it only became a general call for whirled peas? Omar got no penalty for this, not even losing a committee seat. Schumer looked the other way when he should have been calling for her expulsion. Anti-Semites grew bolder.

And as for AIPAC, the all-about-the-benjamins crowd threw smoke bombs and smeared fake blood on the doorway of one of the leaders of AIPAC his home in Los Angeles this past weekend. That came from a one-alarm fire like Omar that wasn't put out.

Where was Schumer when Rep. Rashida Tlaib was sticking a Palestinian flag up in her office as if it were equivalent to the American flag and putting on a Palestinian keffiyeh right after the murderous Hamas attack in Israel? Some Republicans condemned her, but we didn't see him weigh in to offer support. Now the Palestinian flag is being waved in the name of destroying Israel, "from the river to the sea," which is Jew-hate, a call for ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel.

Where was he when the border was left wide open, allowing anyone from any anti-Semitic hellhole country to come in and act as they do in their own countries? Still, not hearing anything about that one, they're here, they're doing demonstrations waving swastikas, somebody let them in, and this problem is far from over.

And wasn't he dripping crocodile tears when President Trump instituted safeguards on travel from anti-Semitic hellholes to protect the U.S. from terrorism, adding to the chorus calling it a "Muslim ban"?

New York Senator Chuck Schumer nearly broke down in tears as he promised to "claw, scrap and fight" to overturn Donald Trump's executive order temporarily suspending all immigration from several Muslim majority countries. "This executive order was mean-spirited and un-American," the senator said, fighting back tears. Giving a press conference on Sunday alongside refugees from Syria and Iraq whose families had been affected, he said: "It was implemented in a way that created chaos and confusion across the country and it will only serve to embolden and inspire those around the globe who will do us harm."

He got what he wanted ... and somehow, a five-alarm fire happened.

If he's serious about what this has become, he's got to confront the left, which is his own Democrats, not Trump, not people on the right, who overwhelmingly support Israel. The five-alarm fire is coming from his own party now, and he needs to point the fire hose at them, not just claim it's something in the air that somehow needs to go away.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger, two honest men who worked on the Twitter Files, exposing how the government collaborated with Twitter to affect the 2020 election, testified before the House today. What they said should terrify you. Beginning in January 2017, under then-president Obamas direction, the government instituted a social media manipulation system intended to game the 2020 election through censorship and controlled information (which, to my mind, amounts to misinformation). It was unconstitutional, but it worked. And now, using the vehicle of the corrupt criminal action against Trump, the government is bypassing manipulating information and is planning to target ordinary Americans.

Ill keep this post simple. First, here is the opening statement from Michael Shellenberger. Ive appended a transcript of his testimony to the end of this post.

This is making some folks who should have been but for some reason werent nervous today.pic.twitter.com/TmHFdRfQLS  Wontonimo .. (@CyberWonton) November 30, 2023

Second, here are highlights from Matt Taibbis and Michael Shellenbergers testimony. The tweet itself includes some transcribed material:

Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger testify about the most shocking things they found in the Twitter Files including former FBI officials working with the Aspen Institute, corporate media, and social media to pre-bunk the Hunter Biden laptop story.



.@mtaibbi: "The most pic.twitter.com/kKrBvu9nfX  KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) November 30, 2023

Third, now that you know how the government, acting under Obamas instructions, manipulated social media to destroy Donald Trumps presidency and game the 2020 election, you need to know that, in 2024, the Deep State will have upped its game. This time around, the Deep Staters arent just doing a global campaign to control the flow of information on social media. Instead, using discovery in the federal criminal litigation against Donald Trump, Jack Smith has gathered information for their use thats specifically about you.

The Last Refuge (aka, for us oldsters, The Conservative Treehouse) writes that Jack Smiths request for a list of all Twitter users who followed Trumps account or liked and/or retweeted his tweets is much more sinister than it sounds. Its bad enough that, with its persecutioner, prosecution of Trump, the government is hunting down the names of anyone who likes Trump or his ideas. But buried within Jack Smiths warrant demand, which the court granted, Smith asked for all associated logs and metadata. Sundance explains,

Thats billions of billions of datapoints on millions of American citizens, their locations, their devices, their ip addresses and ultimately their real identities and connected activity as attributed to -and connected with- their connected social media accounts. Essentially, turning Donald J Trump into the center of a surveillance virus. People then say how could the Jack Smith special counsel possibly comb through all of those users and all of that connected metadata. The answer is Artificial Intelligence; but the serious concern comes when you combine the metadata, AI organization and the previous announcements from DHS.

Technically, writes Sundance, the DHS has promised not to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improperly profile, target, or to discriminate against any individualor to use AI technology to enable improper systemic, indiscriminate, or large-scale monitoring, surveillance, or tracking of individuals.

Impropriety, of course, is in the eye of the beholder. With the metadata and AI, DHS will say that its entirely properprobably to save our democracyto profile, target, and discriminate against Trump supporters or those who agree with his ideas without even supporting him specifically and to engage in systemic, indiscriminate and large-scale monitoring, surveillance, or tracking of those same people.

Sundance, as always, has lots of details, but heres the important thing to remember. In every legal action, whether civil or criminal, there is the primary goal of nailing the defendants. However, in this modern information age, the other goal, always, is data mining. And we are being mined.

Its 1984, and the Democrats hold Big Brothers cards.

***********

Opening statement from Michael Shellenberger (emphasis mine)

Nine months ago, I testified and provided evidence to the subcommittee about the existence of a censorship industrial complex, a network of government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Government Contractors, and Big Tech media platforms that conspired to censor ordinary Americans and elected officials alike for holding disfavored views. I regret to inform the Subcommittee today that the scope, power, and law-breaking of the censorship industrial complex are even worse than we had realized back in March. Two days ago, my colleagues and I published the first batch of internal files from the Cyber Threat Intelligence League [CTIL], which show US and UK military contractors working in 2019 and 2020 to both censor and turn sophisticated psychological operations and disinformation tactics developed abroad against the American people. Many insist that all that we identified in the Twitter files, the Facebook files, and the CTI files were legal activities by social media platforms to take down content that violated the terms of service. Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and other big tech companies are privately owned, people point out, and free to censor content, and government officials are free to point out wrong information, they argue. But the First Amendment prohibits the government from abridging freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has ruled that the government may not induce, encourage, or promote private persons to accomplish what it is constitutionally forbidden to accomplish. And theres now a large body of evidence proving that the government did precisely that. Whats more, the whistleblower who delivered the CTIL files to us says that its leader, a former British intelligence analyst, was in the room at the Obama White House in 2017 when she received the instructions to create a counter-disinformation project to stop a repeat of 2016. The US Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency, CISA, has been the center of gravity for much of the censorship, with the National Science Foundation financing the development of censorship and disinformation tools and other federal government agencies playing a supportive role. Emails from CISAs NGO and social media partners show that CISA created the Election Integrity Partnership, EIP, in 2020, which involved the Stanford Internet Observatory and other U.S. government contractors. EIP and its successor, the Virality Project, urged Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to censor social media posts by ordinary citizens and elected officials alike. EIP reported that they had a 75% response rate from the platforms and that 35% of the URLs that they reported were either removed, labeled, or throttled or soft-blocked. In 2020, the Department of Homeland Security, CISA, violated the First Amendment and interfered in the election, while in 2021, SISA and the White House violated the First Amendment and undermined Americas response to the COVID pandemic by demanding that Facebook and Twitter censor content that Facebook said...that Facebook itself said was often true, including about vaccine side effects. All of this is profoundly un-American. Ones commitment to free speech means nothing if it does not extend to your political enemies. In his essential new book, Liar in a Crowded Theater, Jeff Kosseff, a law professor at the United States Naval Academy, shows that the widespread view that the government can censor false speech and or speech that causes harm is mostly wrong. The Supreme Court has allowed very few constraints on speech. For example, the test of incitement to violence remains its immediacy. I encourage Congress to defund and dismantle the government organizations involved in censorship. That includes phasing out all funding for the National Science Foundations track F, Trust and Authenticity and communication systems, and its secure and trustworthy cyberspace track. I would also encourage Congress to abolish CISA in DHS. Short of taking those steps, I would encourage significant guardrails and oversight to prevent successorship from happening again. In particular, its very easy to see the line in CISA. They say theyre covering physical security, cyber-security, but they added a third one, cognitive security, which is basically attempting to control the information environment and how people think about the world, including the stories that they tell. Finally, I would encourage Congress to consider making Section 230 liability protections contingent upon social media platforms, known in the law as interactive computer services, to allow adult users to moderate our own legal content through filters that we choose and whose algorithms are transparent to all of us. I would encourage Congress to prohibit government officials from asking the platforms to remove content, which the Supreme Court may or may not rule on constitutional next year when it decides on the Missouri v. Biden case. Should the Court somehow decide that the government requests for censorship are constitutional, then I would urge Congress to require such requests be reported publicly, instantaneously, so that such censorship demands occur in plain sight. Thank you very much for hearing my testimony.

Image: Michael Shellenberger. X screen grab.
After all the hoopla touting the BRICS organization of China-led nations as the next big thing, Argentina has thrown a middle finger to China's big idea.

They won't join.

According to Politico:

Argentina will not join the BRICS grouping of developing nations, the countrys incoming foreign minister said Thursday. We will not join the BRICS, said Diana Mondino, who will serve as top diplomat in the government of President-elect Javier Milei when he is sworn into office next week. Argentina was one of the six countries invited to become new members of the bloc, comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, at its annual summit in Johannesburg in August.

Seems the prospect of joining the world's most-touted club of nations in the press isn't the no-lose proposition it was billed.

The Argentines recognized what was going on -- they might gain certain investments and plaudits as the Next Big Thing in the short term. But long term, they become China's little pawn in its big global power game it is playing to become the world's most powerful nation, supplanting the U.S. Argentina would rather make its own decisions about what agenda it will follow, thank you very much.

I'm guessing that Argentina's newly sworn-in libertarian president, Javier Milei, was playing a power game of his own with the Chicoms. He denounced China as a bunch of 'communists' during his campaign and said he didn't want to make deals with them on a government basis because their philosophy was so disgusting (though private sector trade was fine).

Instead of scream back at him, the Chicoms, knowing that its global prestige was at stake as Milei stated the obvious about them like the little boy at the naked emperor, and hastened to sidle up in a friendly way to Milei by congratulating him upon his election. Milei accepted the congratulations with equanimity, apparently knowing that they wanted Argentina to stay in their BRICS alliance --- and then delivered the knockout blow.

Score: Argentina: 1, China 0.

Goooool.

What he showed here to the rest of the world's crummy regimes is that he intends to align with the United States and its model -- in trade, in dollarization, in free market reforms, in rule of law --and not China's. He'd probably like to surpass the U.S. in freedoms and prosperity, given that his goal is to make Argentina as rich as it used to be before the scourge of fascism, Peronism, and socialism laid that country low. To make oneself like America as Argentina once was, one must go with that model and then build from there. Milei seems to understand this perfectly.

That's an incredible gift to the prestige of the United States and its model that Joe Biden won't recognize, but an incoming President Trump will.

In the meantime, China has got to be smarting from this rejection of its big plan to draw a slew of highly regarded developing nations into its orbit, claiming it's a democratic association, but with China in fact calling the shots.

Milei could see that.

Sorry, China, Argentina is going to make itself great again. That doesn't include getting ordered around by China or copying its model.

Watch other nations follow.

Image: OpenClipart // Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Public Domain License
Get a load of this, from Fox News:

Top Obama aide hits Biden admins support of Israels war in Gaza as violation of international laws Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, penned a guest essay in The New York Times criticizing the Biden administrations support for Israel's right to self-defense against the terrorist group Hamas.

It is amazing how often Israel is attacked for defending itself. Somehow, Iran escapes the criticism no matter how much terror they spread. And, dont forget, this is the same Ben Rhodes who boasted about the Obama administrations use of an ignorant and compliant media to spread lies about the Iran deal to gain public support. Israel defending itself is more outrageous than Obamas fake news peddling? Really? See below, from The Hill:

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes  the brother of CBS News President David Rhodes  literally bragged to the New York Times how easy it was for the administration to dupe reporters when shaping a narrative to their liking. All these newspapers used to have foreign bureaus, Rhodes told the Times in May. Now they dont. They call us to explain to them whats happening in Moscow and Cairo. Most of the outlets are reporting on world events from Washington. The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, and their only reporting experience consists of being around political campaigns. Thats a sea change. They literally know nothing. The average reporter we talk to is 27 years oldThey literally know nothing. Ben Rhodes, Obama Deputy National Security Advisor

There was no end to what the Obama-Biden administration would do to seal the deal with Iran, which still continues to pledge death to Israel and America.

There was an eight-year investigation, conducted by thirty domestic and foreign agencies, into a billion-dollar drug running ring run by terrorists who were sponsored by Iran, and Obama dictatorially told the Justice Department to drop the case.

And what do we get from the media and other Democrats? We get the lie that the Justice Department is independent and no one is above the law. Obviously, even terrorists are above the law if someone like Obama wants a deal that he believes would help his legacy.

Where were the calls for impeachment for obstruction of justice and abuse of power by Obama?

Where were the whistleblowers complaining about interference in criminal investigations and separation of powers?

How many Americans, and others, have been killed by terrorism or drugs because Obama so badly wanted the deal? It appears that most of the media doesnt care.

We obviously funded Iran, which allowed Hamas to attack Israel. We still do.

When will the media stop pretending that Joe Biden stands 100% behind Israel? The question that should be asked of Blinken, Sullivan, Kirby, Biden, and KJP is, How many Jews do the terrorists have to kill before Israel has the credit to destroy them?

See this, from RedState yesterday:

If anyone was wondering when the Biden administration would fully bend the knee to the ceasefire now radicals on its left flank, the answer was Thursday, November 30th. Leaked remarks from a private meeting between Israels war cabinet and the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, show that Biden and his cohorts have fully thrown Israel under the bus. According to reports, during the meeting, Israels defense minister expressed resolve to eliminate Hamas as a military and political force. Instead of showing support or even understanding, Blinken reportedly responded, I dont think you have the credit for that.

No matter how many despicable and authoritarian things Obama and Biden have done, the message from most of the media every day is that Trump is the danger to our survival as a free country.

When will the media get tired of being used for spreading misinformation to elect Democrats and push their radical agenda to remake (destroy) America as we know it? They are nothing more than incognito campaign workers. They have earned our distrust. Give credit where credit is due.

Image generated by AI.
Abul Kalam Azad Talukder is a Bangladeshi import, and the first Muslim to hold a council position in the Irish city of Limerick, and after the Dublin stabbing spree last week in which a woman and several children were critically injured, he just said the quiet part out loud. Via Remix News on Wednesday:

It is very shameful and they should get public punishment. Id like to see them shot in the head or bring the public in and beat them until they die.

If you didnt know any better, you might think the police had an accomplice on their radaras of this moment, the only suspect behind the crime is an Algerian migrant currently in hospitaland Talukder was letting his emotions over the violence against innocent children get the best of him and youd be wrong.

The councilman was actually speaking about the Irish protesters who took to the streets after the stabbing, in a very raucous way, to express their anger with a government that refuses to listen, and continues to permit third world migrants to conquer Irelandall on the dime and by the blood of the Irish people.

Like I noted above though, Talukder hails from Bangladesh, not Ireland and what do we know about the Muslim-majority Asian nation? Well, its not only a slight Muslim majority, but around 90% Sunni, a fact entirely reflected in the culture and society. The government of Bangladesh is notorious for its blind eye to Sharia justice, and religious minorities (Hindu, Christian) routinely experience terror, rape, and murder from their Muslim neighbors. Public beatings and executions of people we Westerners would consider victims are commonplaceremember little Hena Akhter?

So, it comes as no surprise that a Bangladeshi Muslim would suggest that the best response to aggrieved citizens is a firing squad or a public caning but it is highly disturbing that an elected official needs to be reminded that thats not how the Judeo-Christian societies of the West do things.

Image generated by AI.
(Photo : Unsplash/Luis Melendez)

Community health workers are a valuable resource undervalued in the ongoing U.S. effort to reduce healthcare inequalities. It is critical to comprehend how these professionals can benefit our communities as government agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare companies strive to increase access to care.

Who Are The Community Health Workers?

Community Health Workers are frontline public health workers deeply connected to their communities. They undergo specialized training to enhance connections between marginalized communities and the healthcare system. In the U.S., these workers offer crucial services such as first aid, distributing educational materials, conducting home visits, and assisting patients during medical visits. They act as cultural mediators, addressing language barriers and other obstacles to quality care. Community health workers operate in diverse settings, including hospitals, clinics, public health departments, campuses, and local community organizations. Community Health Workers don't require traditional degrees, making these roles accessible to individuals with diverse educational backgrounds.

READ ALSO: What Do You Learn in a First Aid Course?

The Landscape And Its Dilemma

According to a 2021 National Association of Community Health Workers survey, 11.1% of community health workers identified as multiracial or other, 37.7% as Hispanic, and 31.7% as African American/Black. These groups frequently experience health issues due to challenges accessing care, such as unmet health-related social needs like transportation, food, or housing, and the explicit and implicit biases of providers of different backgrounds. To address these problems, community health workers play a crucial role in guiding patients by assisting them in navigating the healthcare system, fostering trust, and putting them in touch with pertinent social services. Healthcare providers hope to improve care by utilizing these people's strengths and the resources already present in their communities-their people. As healthcare organizations and medical schools expand community health worker programs, more people and families around the country will directly gain from their beneficial effects.

Evidence-Based Training

Meharry Medical College offers a program covering motivational interviewing, chronic disease screening, and CPR. Community health workers can earn certificates through this training, gaining valuable knowledge and skills. With evidence-based training, these workers can offer essential resources and services to historically underserved communities that often share demographic characteristics with the workforce.

Andrea Barstow, a community health worker, completed training at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. The program, focused on mental and cardiovascular health disparities, equips workers like Barstow with skills such as motivational interviewing and CPR. Barstow chose this path to aid her brother through mental health challenges, and her journey highlights how community health workers can make a significant impact with their acquired knowledge in underserved communities.

Meharry Medical College is a member of CVS Health's Community Equity Alliance, which brings academic and healthcare institutions together to help expand the community health worker workforce and address health inequities in heart and mental health.

CVS Health Community Equity Alliance is an initiative introduced by CVS Health to address healthcare barriers in underserved communities nationwide. This initiative focuses on expanding the community health worker workforce, improving connections between healthcare institutions and communities, and tackling heart and mental health outcomes disparities. Initial partners in this effort include Meharry Medical College, Sinai Chicago, and Wayne State University, each receiving funding for locally tailored projects. CVS Health is committed to promoting health equity. Through collaborative efforts and evidence-based interventions, the Alliance aims to create innovative solutions to enhance healthcare accessibility and reduce health disparities. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, CVS Health's Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer, emphasized the Alliance's goal of elevating the voices and experiences of local communities to ensure equitable care.

RELATED ARTICLE: Positive And Negative Trends Among Female Physicians In The Workforce

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is releasing 40,000 of the 44,000 hours of video from Capitol Hill taken on January 6.

Tens of thousands of private individuals will be devoting a good part of their time analyzing these videos.

There are several problems confronted by analysts.

The Department of Justice has had almost three years to edit these videos. The faces of private citizens will be blurred to protect them from retaliation.

How does the DOJ distinguish private citizens from DOJ planted agitators? The answer is they do not. Private analysts will not be able to make that distinction due to the blurring.

Also roughly 5% of the footage will be withheld because it contains sensitive security information. Who determines what sensitive security information is? Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy provided Tucker Carlson with 41,000 hours of police and surveillance video. Sensitive security information appears to be a fluid concept.

There are obviously some very explosive revelations in the unedited videos. They are so sensitive that the FBI's Washington Field Office (WFO) refused the share them with their colleagues in the Boston Field Office. Retired Supervisory Intelligence Analyst (SSA) George Hill of the Boston Field Office (BFO) testified that the Washington Field Office wanted Boston to investigate individuals who had attended the Washington demonstration on January 6. The Boston SSA for Counterterrorism replied, Happy to do it. Show us where they were inside the Capitol, and well look into it. The WFO responded, We cant show you those videos unless you can tell us the exact time and place those individuals were inside the Capitol. The SSA responded back, Why cant you show us  why cant you just send us the  give us access to the 11,000 hours of video thats available? The WHO explained Because there may be  may be  UCs, undercover officers, or CHSes, confidential human sources, on those videos whose identity we need to protect. Hills former supervisor, Special Agent-in-Charge Joseph Bonavolonta, confirmed Hills testimony that WFO asked BFO to investigate 140 people who attended a Republican political rally.

The WFO could not trust the FBIs BFO with information that may reveal the identities of undercover officers. (UCs) and confidential human sources (CHSes). The WFO misled the BFO because they were well aware that there were numerous FBI undercover assets at the rally. In fact they claim the FBI lost count of how many paid informants were at Capitol. Steven DAntuono , formerly in charge of the bureaus Washington field office testified that his office was aware before the riot that some of their informants would attend the rally. He claims he only learned afterwards that informants run by other field offices also were present, along with others who had participated of their own accord. Paid informants came from as far away as Kansas City. This informant was in communication with his FBI handler while he entered the Capitol. When asked how many informants were in the crowd that day, DAntuono said only a handful.

How large is a handful? Former Capitol Hill Police Chief Steven Sund claims that, in addition to the paid informants, the FBI had at least 18 undercover agents in the crowd plus an estimated 20 from the Department of Homeland Security.

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) claimed that busloads of FBI agents arrived in the Capitol.

During a congressional hearing he stated, These buses are nefarious in nature and were filled with FBI informants dressed as Trump supporters. He estimated that there were over 200 agents embedded within the crowd. For those who believe this is an unlikely scenario remember Scott Foval , former national field director of Americans United for Change, who said. Weve been busing people in to deal with you f-ing assholes for 50 years, and were not going to stop now.

FBI agents undoubtedly participated in the January 6 protest, but did they instigate any of the violence? We know from the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping hoax that FBI agents are capable of encouraging violence. Some of those agents who famously took a knee in honor of BLM may have got carried away by the enthusiasm of the crowd. They had been rewarded by the FBI Agents Association for their demonstration.

Discrediting Trump supporters could only add to their status. Was there a BLM and Antifa presence at the protest? If not, they missed an excellent opportunity. Dozens of Trump rallies had occurred with no violence. BLM and Antifa cannot say the same.

The FBI has devoted a large part of their budget tracking down potential threats. Earlier this year they raided the home of a traditional Catholic family because their 15-year-old son had posted offensive memes online. Jeremiah Rufini claims his son was goaded by the FBI to post offensive memes.

The strong reaction to the FBIs anti-Catholic policy caused them to abandon this effort. This was not an indication that the FBI was adopting a more moderate policy. According to Newsweek the governments fear of major civil unrest around the 2024 election caused them to create a new category of extremists: Donald Trump's army of MAGA followers. Targeting tens of millions of Americans is going to require an increase in the FBIs budget.

John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from St. Marys University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program " Things We Forgot to Remember :" Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
For the last sixty years, the city of Ypres in Belgium has held a popular Cat Parade that draws visitors from around the country. Kattenstoet, or the Festival of the Cats, is held once every three years and consist chiefly of parades featuring giant cat effigies, brass bands, marchers and people riding on horseback. Revelers dress themselves as cats, witches or mice and march through the town to the cheer of large crowds of people who turn out on the streets. While its all gay and merry now, the origins of Kattenstoet is much darker.

Photo credit: Rostyslav Kudlak/Flickr

Back in medieval days, people were not very kind to animals and cats in particular. Many west European cities in those times held ritualistic cat tortures where people would gather dozens of cats in a net or wicker cage and hoist them high into the air over a bonfire. It was thought that cats harbored evils spirits and the Devil himself. So while the poor animals howled in pain, the crowd shrieked with laughter. After the animals were charred, the crowd collected the embers and ashes of the fire and took them home for good luck.

In the city of Ypres too cats were used as victims in numerous folkloristic games.

In those days, Ypres, like many towns in the Flanders region of Belgium, was renowned for its cloth industry. Wool was imported from England, and woven into fine garments by highly skilled craftsmen. Both the wool and the finished product were stored in the Cloth Hall, one of the largest commercial buildings of the time. But the cloth attracted mice, which gnawed at the cloth and procreated to unhealthy numbers.

To control the mice population, the cloth traders of Ypres brought in their natural predator, the cat. But cats procreate too and soon there were too many cats than the city could handle. And so the cat killing began. This being the age when cats were seen as harbinger of evil, nothing pleased the townsfolk more than throwing the animal off the bell tower of the local church. When business went bad, the people made sure that there was always a few extra cats tossed out off the window. With time, the killings became a ritual, taking place on Cats Wednesday, in the second week of Lent.

The barbaric practice continued until 1817 when the last killing took place. The last cat reportedly survived the fall and scampered off as fast as it could before it could be caught again. From then on until the First World War, Cats' Wednesday was celebrated simply by ringing of the church bells.

In 1938, a group of young altar boys organized a sort of cat parade. Each was carrying a toy cat. When they reached the church, they first had a feast and then one of the boys climbed up the bell tower and threw down the cat toys.

The Festival of the Cats remained mostly a local festival until the 1950s when folkloristic parades became the new rage all over West Flanders. On the second Sunday of Lent in 1955, the first magnificent parade was organized with 1,500 extras, all dressed in gorgeous costumes. Since then, every three years the city has been celebrating Cats Festival.

The Cloth Hall is the most magnificent building of Ypres today. It was destroyed during World War I, but was meticulously reconstructed to its prewar condition. Photo credit: Steve Mullarkey/Flickr

Photo credit: Cedric Dubois/Flickr

Photo credit: Cedric Dubois/Flickr

Photo credit: Rostyslav Kudlak/Flickr

Photo credit: Rostyslav Kudlak/Flickr

Photo credit: Tim Dobbelaere/Flickr

Sources: www.kattenstoet.be / Wikipedia / www.knowyourcat.info
The US healthcare giant Henry Schein has faced its second major cyberattack since October. The ransomware group BlackCat has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

It was first on October 15 that ALPHV (AKA Black Cat) announced it had targeted Henry Schein. The ransomware group said it was ready to negotiate with the healthcare giant over the stolen data. Henry Schein allegedly refused to negotiate and was targeted again on November 22.

Advertisement

Advertisement

As per Henry Scheins announcement, the threat actor from the previously disclosed cyber incident has claimed responsibility. Additionally, the ransomware attack in November forced the company to shut down its e-commerce platform and some of its apps.

Henry Schein suffered two major ransomware attacks in less than two months

Certain Henry Schein applications, including its e-commerce platform, are currently unavailable. The company continues to take orders using alternate means and continues to ship to its customers, the firm said in the announcement.

While reassuring customers that it had identified the cause of the occurrence, Henry Scheins e-commerce platform was restored for US customers. The company is also working to restore the platform for users in Canada and Europe. The reports note that the firm is receiving orders through alternative channels. Henry Schein is now operating in 32 countries, and its annual revenue is estimated at $12 billion.

Black Cat ransomware group said it had stolen 35TB of data from Henry Schein, and parts of it will be released daily. This is certainly bad news for Henry Scheins customers. Black Cat also noted in a statement that despite negotiations with Henry Schein, we have not received any indication of their willingness to prioritize the security of their clients, partners, and employees, let alone protect their own network.

The threat actors added portions of Henry Scheins internal payroll data, and shareholder folders will be released on the collections blogmore data will be released daily.

Ransomware groups are targeting firms more than ever. In late September, Microsoft revealed that Chinese hackers managed to steal over 60,000 US State Department emails. The attackers also compromised the staff working on Indo-Pacific diplomacy efforts.
Google Messages is one of the most-used SMS/RCS messaging platforms on the market. The fact that it comes pre-installed on a ton of devices played a major role in this. Well, this app just crossed a very impressive milestone. Google Messages has surpassed a billion monthly users, and the company released some new features to commemorate that.

1. Photomoji

There are hundreds of emojis that you can use to react to a message, but what if you want some more options? Well, with Photomoji, the possibilities, are endless. What this feature does is let you choose a photo from your gallery to use as a reaction. When you choose the photo to add, the phone will use AI to crop the subject in the photo.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Then youll be able to use that cropped image as the reaction to the message. The capabilities might vary depending on your hardware. This feature uses on-device AI to perform this. In any case, you can use this feature to give you more ways to express yourself.

2. Voice Moods and improved audio quality

When you send a voice message, youre obviously expressing your mood through your voice. However, what if you could give an additional visual pop to your messages? With Voice Moods, you can. When you record a voice message, youll be able to apply one of nine different themes you can add to the bubble itll sit in.

Along with this feature, Google also improved the audio quality of the messages. This is a nice quality of life improvement.

3. Screen effects

This will give your messages some serious flair. When you type different types of messages, youll see our screen light up with a full-screen animation. For instance, if you type I love you, youll see the screen come to life with a large heart animation. If you type Its snowing, then youll see an animation to reflect that. Right now, there are 15 different effects that you can discover.

Advertisement

4. Custom bubbles

Now, you can customize the overall aesthetic of your chats to give them a different look and feel. Youre able to change the colors of the bubbles and the backgrounds. Youre able to do this for each chat as well. So, you can give your chats with your mother a different color from your chat with your partner.

5. Reaction effects

Sending a reaction already has a pleasing effect, but Google Messages is making them better for crossing a billion users. When you use one of the 10 designated emojis, youll see additional animations for the reactions.

6. Animated emojis

Emojis are great, but what if they could be more animated? When you send an emoji in a bubble by itself, youll see a neat animation along with it.

7. Profiles

Last, but not least, we have profiles. This is something we covered before. Basically, you can customize your appearance on Google Messages. You can set up a profile picture and profile name. This will make things better, especially if youre receiving messages from numbers not saved in your contacts.

These features are all rolling out today!
Qualcomm will launch its first 3nm flagship smartphone chipset next year. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be reportedly manufactured by TSMC using its second-gen 3nm process (N3E). Samsung was also in contention to manufacture the chip (a portion of the total volume) but Qualcomm decided to exclusively use TSMCs process. While it is a massive blow to the Korean firm, there is some good news. It could get orders for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 in 2025.

Samsung and TSMC may split Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 production

Qualcomm periodically switches between Samsung and TSMC for manufacturing its flagship chips. It used TSMCs process between 2013 and 2015 before switching to Samsung in 2016. Qualcomm went back to TSMC in 2019 but returned to Samsung in 2021. The Korean firm manufactured its Snapdragon 888 (5nm), Snapdragon 888+ (5nm), and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) in 2021.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The following year, TSMC got orders for the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which are 4nm chips. The Taiwanese firm also manufactured this years Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). Next year, Qualcomm was rumored to split the production of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 between its two foundry partners. However, the Taiwanese media recently reported that TSMC has walked away with the entire production volume.

Another local report has now reiterated this. Taiwanese publication Technews states that Qualcomm was impressed by TSMCs rapidly improving 3nm production capacity and yield rate. The firm will close this year with a monthly production volume of 60,000-70,000 wafers. Next year, its capacity may exceed 100,000 wafers per month. Its yield rate is said to be around 60%.

Qualcomm reportedly found Samsung a bit lacking or conservative in both areas. Since the Korean firm hasnt received major 3nm orders from any other company, it was a massive loss of opportunity. However, the new report says it is still in contention to get a big order from Qualcomm. Not next year, but in 2025. The American chip giant reportedly plans to dual-source the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 from Samsung and TSMC.

A lot will depend on the yield rate and production capacity

Qualcomm chose TSMC for producing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 because it saw a competitive edge in its yield rate and production capacity. If Samsung drastically improves its 3nm process over the next year and leapfrogs its Taiwanese rival, at least in Qualcomms eyes, it could win the whole manufacturing contract for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. But if it fails to impress Qualcomm, TSMC might still walk away with the entire order. Which firm comes out on top, time will tell.
Samsungs Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55, which will lead its mid-range smartphone lineup next year, may feature a more premium build than their predecessors. A rumor passed through X says both models will upgrade from a plastic frame to metal. The devices may arrive in the first quarter of 2024.

Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 switching to a metallic frame

Since the big overhaul in 2019, Samsung has produced some of the best value smartphones in its A5x lineup. This years Galaxy A54 kept the tradition going, offering an appealing set of specificationsincluding a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, HDR10+, 5nm SoC, 50MP camera with PDAF and OIS, 4K video recording with front and rear cameras, stereo speakers, and under-display fingerprint scannerwithout breaking the bank.

Advertisement

Advertisement

However, to keep the price low, Samsung has always resorted to a plastic frame for these phones (the Galaxy A51 5G had an aluminum frame). The handsets dont necessarily feel cheap but not premium either. It appears the company is preparing to give the lineup a much-needed quality enhancement next year. X tipster Revegnus claims the Galaxy A55 will feature a metallic frame, likely aluminum.

The source adds the Galaxy A35 will get the same upgrade too. This is a pleasant surprise as no model in this lineup has ever featured a metallic frame. Earlier leaks have revealed that the next-gen A3x model will get a major camera upgrade and a punch-hole display design. If all of these rumors turn out to be accurate, Samsungs 2024 premium mid-range lineup could be more appealing than before.

While we have little hope, Samsung could make the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 stronger propositions in the sub-$500 and sub-$400 segments with glass back panels. It hasnt happened before, but nor a metallic frame. Maybe the company plans to offer a stripped-down version of Galaxy AI on these phones too. The Korean behemoth is said to be readying powerful AI features for the Galaxy S24 flagships.

The new A-series phones will arrive after the Galaxy S24

Samsung will launch the Galaxy S24 flagship lineup in January 2024. The company may not bring new phones to the market in February but the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 may debut the following month, i.e. in March. History indicates we will see more leaks and rumors about the phones in the coming months. Samsung may officially announce the Galaxy S24 launch date in a few weeks.
Beleaguered Chinese tech giant Huawei, which experienced major setbacks in recent years due to US sanctions, is back with a renewed focus and determination. Chinas powerful local smartphone supply chain, particularly the chip industry, has helped the firm stand up and fight. It is aiming to double its smartphone sales in 2024. According to Bloomberg, a state investment fund has backed Huawei as it builds a robust self-sufficient chip network.

Huawei is using a state investment fund in its efforts to bypass US sanctions

In May 2019, the US government added Huawei to the Entity List, a list of foreign persons, entities, and governments under trade restrictions. A revision in May 2020 further tightened sanctions on the Chinese firm, cutting off its access to the latest smartphone technologies, including advanced semiconductor chips. For a few years, it couldnt make competitive phones. However, it created a self-sufficient chip network and is fighting back.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Bloomberg investigated Huaweis role in Chinas chip industry and found that it is working closely with several smaller local firms to strengthen its network. The firm provides them with engineering expertise and financial support. It often does this without disclosing its involvement  which would trigger US restrictions, the publication reports. A Shenzhen city government investment fund is helping its endeavor.

According to the report, Huawei has already received a $30 fund from the state. However, state support for the company has ended. In fact, it has reached unprecedented levels as the firm works with other local companies. Huawei is leveraging the funds to improve local semiconductor technologies and expand the production of chips, including image sensors, RF chips, memory chips, logic chips, and everything in between.

Among the firms that Huawei has ties with are three subsidiaries of SiCarrier with expertise in developing lithography machines. US sanctions dont allow the company to import advanced lithography equipment from abroad, so it has to develop them locally. SiCarrier was founded in 2021 and has quickly formed a close, symbiotic relationship with Huawei. The latter has transferred about a dozen patents to the former. They have exchanged staff too.

Huawei hired former ASML employees to help develop chipmaking machines

Huawei and SiCarriers relationship is so close that their staff can work directly on each others sites. The firm has hired several former ASML employees as it sets out to develop powerful chipmaking machines locally. ASML is a Dutch firm with a monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines. A handful of those hirings took place following US sanctions in 2019.

Advertisement

Of course, it takes years of hard work to develop the most advanced semiconductor technology from scratch. SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) has been around for over two decades but still only makes 7nm chips when firms like TSMC and Samsung have begun 3nm mass production. However, Huawei appears determined to turn the tide over the next few years.

Its Mate 60 flagship lineup and the Mate X5 foldable are all powered by SMIC-manufactured Kirin 9000S 7nm processor. Industry experts believe the chip is roughly five years behind the current most advanced technology globally. The Biden administrations export ban in 2022 aimed at keeping Chinas semiconductor industry at least eight years behind the rest of the world. So China and Huawei are already making rapid progress.

Not just the chips, China has a robust local supply chain of other smartphone components too. For example, the Huawei Mate 60 used cameras made by OFILM (a former supplier to Apple), BOE displays, and batteries from Sunwods, Apples main battery supplier. Considering all this, Huawei may soon bypass US sanctions and make a grad return to the global tech scene.
By Lee Kyung-min

KB Financial Group recommended extending the term of KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Jae-keun, the lender said Friday.

A recommendation committee under the group decided Thursday that the term for the current bank CEO should be extended by one year, the maximum period allowable for CEOs of group affiliates.

Lee, the committee said, outlined detail-oriented growth strategies for major group business, underpinned by his extensive experience in sales, finance and strategy formulation.

The CEO is known for prioritizing communications- and action-driven horizontal leadership and organization management capabilities.

Since the appointment as KB Kookmin Bank CEO in 2022, Lee has demonstrated excellent performance over the past two years despite unfavorable business conditions including the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic downturn, the committee said.

His capabilities, leadership and management have led to sustainable growth of the group. Lee leads by example through implementation instead of planning.

The committee added that the need for stable organizational management is key, a quality well demonstrated by him over the past two years.

We expect Lee to respond to challenging issues for the bank to navigate the slowing economy and the mutual growth drive by the government next year, under the broader context of promoting long-term and consistent management strategies.

KB Kookmin Bank will hold a committee this month to have an in-depth interview before finalizing the appointment of Lee. The motion to recommend him will be approved during a general shareholders meeting before the year's end.
Korea and Japan clinched a $10 billion currency swap deal Friday, eight years after the former deal ended, amid signs of a thaw in their relations.

The Bank of Korea and the Bank of Japan signed the three-year deal based on the U.S. dollar, according to the central bank and the finance ministry.

In 2015, the two neighbors terminated the currency swap amid strained bilateral ties.

Their currency swap began in 2001 with an initial volume of $2 billion, which grew to $70 billion in 2011 in response to the global financial crisis.

However, due to the strained relationship, the amount has gradually declined, ultimately reaching $10 billion in 2015.

A currency swap is a tool meant to defend against financial turmoil by allowing a country beset by a liquidity crunch to borrow money from others with its own currency.

Currently, Korea has currency swap arrangements with eight countries, including Canada, China and Australia. Together with a multilateral arrangement involving the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, they are worth at least $138.2 billion, according to the ministry.

In June this year, Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho and his Japanese counterpart, Shunichi Suzuki, agreed in Tokyo to resume the currency swap deal. (Yonhap)
Music superstar Beyonce has released a new single to commemorate the opening weekend of the Renaissance tour film.

The new track, titled My House, was released following the UK premiere of Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce in Leicester Square, which follows the 39-date world tour of her 2022 Grammy-winning album.

Beyonce raps throughout the track which she co-wrote and co-produced with The Dream, real name Terius Gesteelde-Diamant.

The official Instagram account for Apple Music said: A gift from the queen for the opening weekend of the Renaissance film.

Listen now to @beyonces new track MY HOUSE.

The lyrics include: I will always love you, but Ill never expect you to love me when you dont love yourself.

Lets heal the world, one beautiful action at a time, this is real love.

It comes after US superstar Taylor Swift appeared at the UK premiere of the Renaissance film following Beyonces appearance at The Eras Tour film premiere in October.

Swift later devoted an Instagram post to Beyonce, praising the music star for her influence and generosity of spirit.

The UK premiere of film also saw Blue Ivy, who features in the film, pose for pictures with her mother Beyonce.

During the picture-taking, Beyonce can be seen asking if her daughter is cold before stopping pictures to seemingly get her a jacket, in a video posted on Instagram by Beyonces mother Tina Knowles.

Ms Knowles captioned the video: This has me in tears right now. To the fans that are there uplifting this beautiful talented 11-year-old, I thank you, I appreciate you.

Other stars in attendance at the Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce premiere in the UK included actress Blake Lively, Destinys Child star Michelle Williams, will.i.am and more.

It is not known whether My House is a stand-alone song or will feature in an upcoming album.
The King has warned that the world remains dreadfully far off track in key climate targets and called for meaningful change in an opening address at Cop28 in Dubai.

Charles said at the opening of the World Climate Action Summit on Friday that despite some progress, transformational action was needed as the dangers of climate change are no longer distant risks.

The monarch told heads of state, heads of government and business and climate delegates at Expo City Dubai that nature was being taken into dangerous, uncharted territory by human activity, and called for nature-positive change.

Cop28 will be the first time that countries will conduct a global stocktake of progress made since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, although it is expected that it will not produce a positive result.

In his address, the King said: I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when, already, as scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached.

Despite all the attention, there is 30% more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than there was back then, and almost 40% more methane.

Some important progress has been made, but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track as the global stocktake report demonstrates so graphically.

The dangers are no longer distant risks. I have seen across the Commonwealth, and beyond, countless communities which are unable to withstand repeated shocks, whose lives and livelihoods are laid waste by climate change.

Charles attended several engagements on Thursday, including meeting Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Surely, real action is required to stem the growing toll of its most vulnerable victims.

Under the Paris Agreement, states agreed to limit the average global temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels and aim to stop it from rising above 1.5C.

But the United Nations has warned that the planet is on course for a catastrophic 3C increase by the end of the century under current climate policies, despite efforts.

The King pointed to repeated cyclones seen in island nations, wildfires across Europe and unprecedented floods in Asia as some of many clear signs of ongoing climate change.

As I have tried to say on many occasions, unless we rapidly repair and restore natures unique economy, based on harmony and balance, which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperilled, he said.

Charles tasked world leaders to answer five key questions during the climate summit, adding that the hope of the world rests on decisions taken over the coming days.

They are how public and private organisations can be brought together to combat climate change; how to ensure money is found for developments to secure a sustainable future; how innovation can be accelerated; how long-term approaches can be found; and how an ambitious new vision can be forged for the next century.

Cop28 began on Thursday and runs until December 12, with the UK government pledging 1.6 billion for international climate change projects throughout the summit.

Charles joined world leaders in walking to the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai (Andrew Matthews/PA)

That includes a 60 million contribution to a loss and damage fund for the worlds poorest countries worth a total of about 420 million US dollars (332 million), which was announced on Thursday.

Charles address was his first at the conference as King, having previously opened Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021 and Cop21 in Paris in 2015.

Closing his speech, the King said: Ladies and gentlemen, in your hands, is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive.

I can only urge you to meet it with ambition, imagination, and a true sense of the emergency we face, and together with a commitment to the practical action upon which our shared future depends.

After all, ladies and gentlemen, in 2050 our grandchildren wont be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didnt do.

So if we act together to safeguard our precious planet, the welfare of all our people will surely follow.

We need to remember too that the indigenous worldview teaches us that we are all connected, not only as human beings but with all living things and all that sustains life.

As part of this grand and sacred system, harmony with nature must be maintained.

The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

The speech was watched by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband also attending the summit.

Before his opening address, the King also held bilateral talks with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, and the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog.

He also met the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and President Lula of Brazil, who is the president-elect of Cop30 in Belem in 2025.

The King has used his trip to Dubai to promote peace in the region in several talks, having also met with the presidents of Nigeria, Guyana and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.
Scotlands First Minister has stressed that international leaders should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good on the loss and damage fund deal.

Struck on the first day of the Cop28 summit in Dubai, the fund is believed to have initial funding of more than 300 million  60 million of which is from the UK Government.

The fund will tackle the impacts of climate change on the global south.

Speaking at the Scotland pavilion at the conference, as he introduced former US vice president and climate activist Al Gore to speak, Humza Yousaf said the conference should embrace the progress made by the fund.

Im delighted we had an agreement at Cop28 in relation to loss and damage yesterday, and lets not allow perfect to be the enemy of the good, the First Minister said.

Because there is of course real concern from colleagues in the global south around some of what has been proposed but progress is absolutely important.

Mr Yousaf went on to say loss and damage was an issue of justice.

Why do I say justice? Because they have contributed the least to the climate crisis, but are suffering greatly as a result of it, he said.

Scotland is a country that benefited from industrialisation for decades, its important that we and other countries in the global north make sure that we are, in a just manner of course, make sure that we repair that damage.

The First Minister went on to repeat his hopes for Scotland to move from being the oil and gas capital of Europe to being the net zero capital, not just of Europe but the net zero capital of the world.

I was very proud that Scotland became the first country in the global north to commit funding to loss and damage, and a couple of years on not only have we committed more funding, weve mobilised it, allocated it and managed to get some out of the door, he said.

At the Glasgow summit, then first minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged 2 million, which was increased by 5 million the following year.
Matt Hancock was warned in April 2020 about the need for a focused effort on testing people in care homes, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has been told.

The former health secretary told the inquiry on Friday afternoon that there was not as much testing in care homes as many would have wanted because the UK did not have enough tests.

A WhatsApp message, sent on April 4 2020 to Mr Hancock by his adviser, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, was read out at the inquiry.

It stated: On testing, do we need to have a specific strand/push on testing in care homes?

We are testing hospital admissions and clinical patients at risk.

Do we also need a push on testing people in care? Or at least have some sort of focused effort on testing people in care.

I know it is complex and the people dying in care homes are often people who were near the end regardless, but I worry that if a load of people in care start dying, there will be front pages demanding why we werent testing people in care homes.

Do we need to get ahead of this now?

Mr Hancocks WhatsApp response to the message was then read out  it stated: Lets have rapid advice on this tying together all the angles.

Responding to the WhatsApps, the former health secretary told the inquiry: The reason that we did not at that point have as much testing in care homes as many would have wanted, was that we didnt have enough tests and the clinical prioritisation of who got test, in what order, was absolutely something that I wouldnt have interfered with.

Asked if he was aware that care homes were home to not just those near the end regardless, but also disabled people living in long-term residential care from a young age, Mr Hancock said: I absolutely had that at the front of my mind and, before the pandemic, had done significant work in trying to improve outcomes for those who are in adult social care.

Mr Hancock said the fact his response to Mr Njoku-Goodwins WhatsApp message did not correct his adviser in no way implies that wasnt what I was thinking.

The former health secretary said Mr Njoku-Goodwin was one of the most exceptional public servants, but added he was approaching the issue from a comms angle in terms of what the newspapers might say.

Mr Hancock told the inquiry that every decision was a choice between difficult options, as he discussed the decision to discharge hospital patients to care homes.

The former health secretary said that leaving patients in hospital would have made them more likely to have caught Covid because of the risks of nosocomial infection, adding that it was rational and reasonable to make sure that they were in the safest place that they could be.

Mr Hancock said: I fear that if we had left those patients in hospital  those who were medically fit to discharge  there is a high likelihood that more would have caught Covid and the problem could have been bigger.

He added that he had not heard of a solution to the problem of discharging patients that in hindsight would have resulted in more lives saved.
A High Court judge has told fertility clinics to make sure paperwork relating to the parental legal status of children is in order.

Mrs Justice Theis warned clinic bosses to ensure that robust systems were in place after overseeing litigation centred on a couple who were told that our baby might not be our baby any more because of a paperwork problem.

She said it was not the first case where a clinic audit had revealed relevant forms had not been completed.

The judge, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, outlined her concerns in a written ruling on the couples case.

She said she had to consider what evidence there was to satisfy legal parenthood requirements in the couples case.

Mrs Justice Theis said the baby at the centre of the case could not be identified in media reports of the litigation, but named the clinic involved as the Herts and Essex Fertility Centre, in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

The judge said a manager at the Herts and Essex Fertility Centre had told her that a clinic audit had revealed 99.18% compliance.

This is another case where an audit of a licensed clinic has discovered that the relevant forms have not been completed, resulting in uncertainty about the parental legal status of a child born to individuals undergoing fertility treatment, said Mrs Justice Theis, in a case ruling which has been published online.

The ramifications of non-compliance, on even a limited number of individuals, are far reaching.

She said the couple had described their shock at being told by the clinic about difficulties regarding the forms.

We had been through such a long journey, they had said in a statement.

We couldnt believe that at this stage, after all we had been through, we were being told that our baby might not be our baby any more.

Mrs Justice Theis added: This demonstrates the need for clinics who undertake this type of treatment to take every step to ensure they have robust systems in place to avoid what happened in this case occurring again.

She said the couple involved in the case were an unmarried couple, had lived together for more than five years, and due to medical reasons were unable to conceive.

A barrister representing the couple had suggested a solution to the problem of establishing the babys legal parenthood.

Natalie Gamble argued that there was no need to resolve an issue relating to a form.

She said was other evidence relating to signed consent documents which would satisfy legal requirements.

Mrs Justice Theis agreed.

She concluded that evidence presented in the couples case meant legal requirements were met and made a declaration of parentage.
The King and the Prime Minister will represent the UK at a major climate summit as nations take stock of whether efforts to limit global warming are working.

Rishi Sunak will push for an era of action at the Cop28 climate conference as he highlights the UKs pragmatic approach in reaching net-zero goals after his rollback of ambitions at home.

The British leader will seek to burnish his green credentials as he attends the summit in Dubai on Friday, announcing cash for projects to halt deforestation and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

Also attending are Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron and the King, who will deliver an opening address in the Middle Eastern city.

Charles, who held engagements in Dubai on Thursday, is expected to tell leaders and climate delegates that he hopes the gathering will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action.

Sir Keir Starmer is also heading to the gathering in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stress that Britain would be open to green investment under a Labour government and position himself as a prime minister in waiting.

World leaders are meeting at the UNs annual climate talks to advance progress on reducing emissions and assess the progress made on the 2015 Paris Agreement targets.

Eight years ago in France, 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.

Lord David Cameron is attending Cop28 (Andrew Matthews/PA)

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 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 rising emissions.

As part of efforts to meet the Paris target, the UK Government will commit 1.6 billion for international climate finance projects over the course of the summit.

That includes up to 500 million for a programme tackling the causes of forest destruction, 316 million for energy innovation projects around the world, and a contribution of up to 60 million for loss and damage.

Mr Sunaks attendance comes after he scaled back a host of pledges designed to help the UK reach net zero by 2050, vowed to max out the UKs oil and gas reserves by granting new North Sea drilling licences, and faced accusations from former colleagues of being uninterested in the environment.

In September, he delayed the ban on new diesel and petrol cars to 2035, watered down plans to strip out polluting gas and oil boilers, and scrapped the requirement for energy efficiency upgrades for homes, arguing that hitting climate targets should not burden the public.

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are attending the UN climate talks in Dubai (Hannah McKay/PA)

The Prime Minister committed to attend the climate conference after criticism of his initial decision not to go to Cop27 in 2022 led to a last-minute U-turn.

Before travelling to Dubai, Mr Sunak said: The world made ambitious pledges at previous Cop summits to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. But the time for pledges is now over  this is the era for action.

We know that the technologies and innovations we need to protect the planet are at our fingertips, from the mighty offshore wind farms powering the UK to the solar energy transforming electricity in Africa.

The transition to net zero should make us all safer and better off. It must benefit, not burden, ordinary families.

The UK has led the way in taking pragmatic, long-term decisions at home  and at Cop28 we will lead international efforts to protect the worlds forests, turbocharge renewable energy and leverage the full weight of private finance.

The Prime Minister is clear-eyed about the challenges on a global scale of meeting the 1.5C goal, his spokesman said, singling out China, the worlds biggest carbon emitter, for criticism.

The challenge is all countries  and that includes China, which is obviously vitally important  have to take action, the official said.

Mr Sunak will also use the trip to discuss the Israel-Hamas war and call for de-escalation in the wider Middle East.

The location of this years climate talks has prompted scepticism among many campaigners as the UAE is one of the worlds chief oil producers.

Cop28 president Sultan al-Jaber, who is also chief executive of state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has been accused of seeking to use the conference to strike oil and gas deals, something he denies.

Sir Keir, suggested by polls to be on track to take the keys to No 10 at the next general election, will be banging the drum for Britain and meeting world leaders and foreign investors at the conference.

Labour will be fighting for Britain, to bring in jobs and investment that will cut bills, make us energy-independent and tackle the climate crisis, his spokesman said.

Charles has been holding engagements in Dubai since Thursday (Andrew Matthews/PA)

We see the transition to net zero as a vital opportunity for the country.

Friday will see the King give an opening address at the Expo City Dubai conference venue in which he is set to say the hope of the world rests on the decisions taken.

He is also expected to argue that, despite some progress, repeated warning signs of climate change are being ignored, bringing devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods across the Commonwealth and the globe.

It is believed he will call for meaningful action and outline five key questions which he hopes the summit will address, adding: The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

The address will be the monarchs first at the conference as King, having previously opened Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021 and Cop21 in Paris in 2015.

Cop28 opened on Thursday and runs until December 12.
The mother of Archie Battersbee said she was heartbroken when she heard Indi Gregorys parents were going through the same legal battle she went through to try and save her son.

Hollie Dance, who attended eight-month-old Indis funeral on Friday, said she reached out to Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth to offer her support when she learned of their fight to allow their daughter to continue receiving specialist treatment.

Twelve-year-old Archies life support was withdrawn on August 6 2022 after Ms Dance and Archies dad, Paul Battersbee, failed in bids to overturn a High Court ruling that doctors could lawfully do so.

Indi Gregory died shortly after her life-support treatment was withdrawn (Joe Giddens/PA)

Speaking to the PA News Agency after Indis funeral at Nottingham Cathedral, Ms Dance said the baby girls plight left her devastated as her sons death is still raw.

She found her son unconscious with a ligature over his head at home in Southend, Essex, on April 7 last year and was rushed to hospital.

The youngster suffered brain damage and died in August after a High Court judge ruled that ending life support treatment was in his best interests.

Explaining why she decided to offer her support to Indis parents, Ms Dance said she did the same when she heard about the case of 20-year-old roofer Andy Casey, who suffered a brain injury after he was punched in the head in July.

She said: I reached out to let them know I was there for them, supporting them going forward with their fight. I said, whatever you decide to do, just know we are all behind you.

Hollie Dance, the mother of Archie Battersbee, says she is still fighting for justice (Joe Giddens/PA)

Its a lot to go through. You really are alone, I didnt have family with me, my family were my close friends and the support from my hometown and from the rest of the world was amazing.

Ms Dance said the pain of her sons death comes flooding back when she hears of families going through similar situations.

She said: It is still very raw, Im still fighting in so many ways and I dont think Ive been able to grieve for my little boy because you are constantly in fight mode.

I so want to celebrate Archies beautiful life but I cant because Im still fighting the system. He was such a beautiful precious child.

He gave me 12 years of happiness and love. He was such a beautiful little boy. I play his videos and memories every single day.

It brings it all back. It is still so raw. These beautiful children had life in them. I was fighting because I believed my little boy was there and he had a chance.

Dean Gregory and his partner Claire Staniforth lost legal bids in the High Court and Court of Appeal in London for specialists to keep treating their daughter, Indi (Victoria Jones/PA)

Ms Dance says she is still fighting for justice after her sons death.

She said: We have to do something to try and change this. Parents are powerless in this situation.

Parents need to have more say, we grow these babies inside us, we carry them, and the fact all your rights are taken away  we werent allowed to take Archie to a hospice, or take him home, or the two countries that offered to help us.

If the parent doesnt want to fight, thats totally fine, its their choice, but if you are given hope in another country, you should be allowed to do that.
A refugee has been fined after holding an offensive sign at a pro-Palestine rally.

Laura Davis, 22, pleaded guilty through an Arabic interpreter to a charge of having caused racially, religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by words or writing when she appeared at Londons Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday.

Davis, of Barnet, north London, was charged after being spotted waving the placard at a protest in central London on October 28.

She displayed a sign that was threatening or abusive in the hearing of sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress and the offence was racially aggravated, the charge said.

Davis picked up the placard at a bus stop and did not realise what it said, the court was told.

Nicholas Tarry, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Davis the message on the placard is not an appropriate thing to be waving; its violent language about another country and it is not allowed.

Davis fled her home in Saudi Arabia in December 2021 because she was not accepted as a transgender person.

She was granted asylum in the summer.

Mr Tarry, who ordered her to pay a total of 225 including 100 fine, 40 victim surcharge and 85 costs, told Davis: You have come to this country for tolerance.

You deserve tolerance and other people do as well.

You must show other people the tolerance you expect them to show you. Do you understand?

Davis nodded quietly as she stood in the dock.

The large central London protest took place as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators rallied in cities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia to show support for Palestinians as Israels military widened its air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Davis attended the rally with good intentions but, in an impulsive action, carried the sign away after finding it at the bus stop, her defence lawyer Nicola White said.

The court was told Davis did not mean to offend anyone, has shown remorse and made an early guilty plea.

Ms White said: She has expressed deep remorse and regret in that moment in picking up that sign that she did not seek clarification from another Arabic-speaking member of the protest (about its meaning).

Ms White, who described Davis as someone who comes across as polite and not a troublemaker, added: She is a member of the transgender community and due to the views in Saudi Arabia, she had no choice but to flee.

She has been abandoned by her family because of the way she lives.

The money and costs will be deducted from Daviss benefits as she completes a course and seeks employment, the court was told.
The United States on Thursday sanctioned a North Korean cyber espionage group and eight foreign-based agents of the reclusive regime in response to Pyongyang's spy satellite launch last week, the Department of Treasury said.

The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added to its sanctions list KIMSUKY, a cyber incursion group, and the individuals who facilitated sanctions evasion to support the North's weapons of mass destruction programs, the department said. OFAC enforces economic sanctions.

The new designations were conducted in coordination with South Korea, Japan and Australia in response to the North's Nov. 21 launch of a space rocket to put a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit, according to the department.

The U.S. and its allies have condemned the launch as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology.

"(The designation) demonstrates the multilateral efforts of the United States and foreign partners to hinder the DPRK's ability to generate revenue, procure materiel, and gather intelligence that advances the development of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program and the unlawful export of arms and related materiel from the DPRK," the department said.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said that the latest sanctions reflect the participating countries' collective commitment to contesting the North's "illicit and destabilizing" activities.

"The DPRK's use of overseas laborers, money launderers, cyber espionage, and illicit funding continue to threaten international security and our allies in the region," Nelson said. "We will remain focused on targeting these key nodes in the DPRK's illicit revenue generation and weapons proliferation."

OFAC sanctioned Kimsuky for gathering intelligence to support the North's strategic objectives.

The group is subordinate to the U.N.- and U.S.-designated Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), the North's primary foreign intelligence service, according to the department.

"Although Kimsuky is primarily an intelligence collection entity, its cyber espionage campaigns directly support the DPRK's strategic and nuclear ambitions," the department said.

"Kimsuky primarily uses spear-phishing to target individuals employed by government, research centers, think tanks, academic institutions, and news media organizations, including entities in Europe, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States," it added.

Among the eight sanctioned individuals were Kang Kyong-il and Ri Sung-il, who are Iran-based representatives of Green Pine, an entity designated by the U.S. and U.N. for being responsible for about half of the North's arms and related materiel exports.

Green Pine, controlled by the RGB, specializes in the production of maritime military craft and armaments and has provided technical assistance and weapons to Iranian defense-related firms, according to the department.

Other designated individuals include those located in Russia, China and elsewhere.

In a separate statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that the three U.S. allies  South Korea, Japan and Australia  will announce their designations in the countries' "first-ever" coordinated imposition of sanctions on the North.

"The United States will continue to pursue actors who support the DPRK's illicit activities and work with our allies and partners to deprive the DPRK of the funds to advance its destabilizing missile and WMD programs," Blinken said.

On Wednesday, the Treasury Department sanctioned Sinbad.io, a virtual currency mixer used by Lazarus Group, known as a North Korea-linked cyber hacking group. (Yonhap)
Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror at the High Court.

The inventor, 76, brought legal action against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over an article published in January 2022.

In the Daily Mirror article, journalist Brian Reade referred to the engineer as the vacuum-cleaner tycoon who championed Vote Leave due to the economic opportunities it would bring to British industry before moving his global head office to Singapore.

Mr Reade continued: Kids, talk the talk but then screw your country and if anyone complains, tell them to suck it up.

Sir James subsequently brought the claim against MGN, describing the allegations in the article as a vicious and vitriolic personal attack which undermined his work encouraging young people into engineering.

The publisher defended the case, including by arguing that Mr Reades article was honest opinion.

And in a judgment on Friday, Mr Justice Jay dismissed the inventors claim, finding both that MGNs defence had succeeded and that Sir James had not proved he suffered serious harm to his reputation.

He said: In the present case the claimant cannot demonstrate that he has suffered financial loss as a result of these publications. Nor can he show that his philanthropic work, particularly directed to young people and schools, has been harmed in any way.

Sir James Dyson gave evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice over two days at the trial last month (Gareth Fuller/PA)

In the 34-page ruling, the judge described Sir James as an honest witness albeit one with a particular world view, after the engineer gave evidence at the London court over two days in November.

Much of the engineers evidence focused on the January 2019 announcement that the Dyson company would be establishing a global headquarters in Singapore.

Sir James told the court the decision relating to the group of companies he founded had no material impact upon Dysons UK operations or its commitment to the UK, or to the amount of corporation tax paid in the UK.

In his decision on Friday, Mr Justice Jay said he had to consider whether an honest commentator could think that the claimant has screwed the country, in other words has harmed it in some way, by acting as he did.

The judge concluded: Mr Reade was not attempting to offer a window into or shine a light on the claimants thought processes or motivation. He could not, and did not, claim to do that.

Rather, the screwed his country etc remark was Mr Reades take on how people would or might envisage the claimants actions.

The judge continued: Given that Mr Reade fell short of accusing the claimant of dishonesty, the scope for honest comment, however wounding and unbalanced, was very considerable indeed.

Following the decision, an MGN spokesperson said: We welcome todays judgment which upholds the rights of our columnists to share honestly held opinions, even about powerful or wealthy individuals.

A Dyson spokesperson said: The facts are that Dyson is a highly successful global technology company which employs 3,700 people in the UK, paid more UK corporation tax after 2019 than before, continues to invest vast sums in the UK, files more patents than any other company, and in 2017 founded a university in Malmesbury which has educated hundreds of undergraduates who pay no tuition fees while earning a salary and even paying tax.
Rishi Sunaks shrinking from the international stage is a sign of the smallness of his politics, Sir Keir Starmer has said while accusing the Prime Minister of misjudging the public mood on climate action.

The Labour leader said his own participation at Cop28 was to be seen as a statement of intent that a government with him at the helm would play its full part on the global stage by leading by example.

Sir Keir, who polls suggest is on track to snatch the keys to No 10 at the next general election, used his trip to the annual climate gathering to meet world leaders, including the King of Jordan.

Mr Sunak had earlier accused Sir Keir of just trying to catch up with plans to make Britain the worlds green finance capital.

In response, the Opposition leader told reporters in Dubai: I think that an event like this is an opportunity for a prime minister of the United Kingdom to show a seriousness, to show leadership, to want to lead on the global stage on issues which are really important to our country

For the Prime Minister to reduce this down in the way that he does, the smallness of his politics is becoming a feature of his politics. We saw it with the Greek prime minister. We saw it with some of the lines that he was putting out about eco zealots as he got on the plane to come here.

Sir Keir was referring to Mr Sunaks last-minute cancellation of a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis after accusing him of grandstanding about the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.

Mr Sunak said he was not in hock to ideological zealots over climate change as he prepared to head to the annual UN climate talks.

Sir Keir continued: This is not something to shrink from, not something to retreat from.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer holds a briefing with the media during the Cop28 UN climate summit in Dubai (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Among the reasons were here is a statement of intent to say if theres an incoming Labour government, things will be done differently and we will rise to the international stage, not retreat from it.

Shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband said Mr Sunaks rollback in September on a host of climate pledges amounted to an attempt to create a culture war, which hasnt worked for him.

Mr Miliband added: Thats because hes got the British people wrong. They dont want an imported US-style culture war on climate. They want a government that will tackle the climate crisis and the cost-of-living crisis together.

I think hes just misjudged the public mood.

In his meeting with the King of Jordan, His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, Sir Keir discussed the Israel-Hamas war after fighting resumed in Gaza.

He repeated his calls for a further cessation of hostilities to allow for the release of more hostages, provide much-needed time to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and open a dialogue for a political solution that provides for a long-term cessation of hostilities, Labour said.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock has accused Nicola Sturgeon of communicating with the public in a way that was unhelpful and confusing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, he also told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry he had a constructive relationship with his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and that their weekly briefings felt like therapy sessions.

The inquiry was on Friday shown WhatsApp messages sent by Mr Hancock in July 2020.

They concerned measures imposed by the UK Government which ordered people returning from Spain to isolate for 14 days afterwards to help slow the spread of the virus.

Prior to the announcement, Mr Hancock was told Number 10 wanted to communicate the matter asap, and the former health secretary replied: Me too. It will leak anyway  and the Scots will try to get their announcement out first.

Matt Hancock made the comments while giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA)

He was asked by Claire Mitchell, representing Scottish Covid Bereaved at the inquiry: What is the issue with the first minister communicating that to the people of Scotland first?

Mr Hancock said: There were a number of moments when the first minister of Scotland would communicate in a way that was unhelpful and confusing to the public.

Sometimes, (she) would leave a meeting and begin communication of a decision, for instance, sooner than agreed.

Ms Sturgeon was first minister of Scotland and SNP leader from 2014 until earlier this year.

Mr Hancock added: We found it much more difficult when decisions went up to first minister level, particularly with Nicola Sturgeon.

Because we would find that sometimes some kind of spin was put on what was essentially substantively the same decision. So it was a frustration, Ive got to be honest about that.

A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said: There is not a scrap of evidence for Matt Hancocks claims.

He should be taking responsibility for his own decisions  as Nicola will do when she gives evidence to the inquiry early next year  rather than seeking to blame others.

Nicola communicated openly and frankly with the people of Scotland on a daily basis.

It was her duty in the grave situation we faced to take and communicate clearly the decisions necessary to protect the country as far as possible.

She was accountable to the Scottish people in discharging that duty, not to Matt Hancock.
Rishi Sunak issues renewed calls for sustained humanitarian pauses in Gaza as he met regional leaders on the sidelines of the Cop28 summit after fighting resumed.

The Prime Minister held talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Dubai as well as the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Jordan to discuss the conflict.

He spent most of his bilateral meetings discussing that situation, his spokesman told reporters travelling with him.

There was obviously shared disappointment and regret among the leaders that obviously the humanitarian pause has seemingly ended, the official said.

The discussions were focused on practical steps that can now be taken to both bring about more humanitarian pauses so more hostages can be released, how we can get more aid in as well, while also standing by Israels right to self-defence.

Israel restarted combat operations in the Gaza Strip minutes after a temporary truce expired on Friday, blaming Hamas for breaking the ceasefire.

Speaking to broadcasters in Dubai earlier, Mr Sunak said: Weve been consistent that we want to see sustained humanitarian pauses so that more aid can get in to the people of Gaza but also the hostages can come out. Those are critical ingredients. And, as weve said, everyone needs to adhere to the terms of these agreements.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at Cop28 in Dubai (Chris Jackson/PA)

Downing Street said Mr Sunak told the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, that Hamas had demonstrated that it could not be a partner for peace and could have no future in Gaza.

In his meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, the PM reiterated the UKs commitment to work towards a lasting resolution to the conflict and reassured (him) that the UK continues to press Israel on the need to adhere to international humanitarian law and contain settler violence in the West Bank, No 10 said.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said Labour wanted to see an extension of the cessation of hostilities.

Speaking to reporters in Dubai, the Labour leader, whose party has been deeply split over whether to back an immediate ceasefire, said: I think everybody whos seen the developments today is going to be deeply saddened by it, and what we are calling for even at this late hour is for all sides to try to reach an extension of the cessation of hostilities that weve seen over recent days.

That has provided an opportunity for hostages to be released, for more humanitarian aid to come in, and if its extended it also provides the opportunity for progress towards a political settlement here.

Sir Keir said any further action by Israel must be in accordance with international law as too many innocent Palestinian lives, particularly children, have already been lost in this conflict.

Sir Keir Starmer told reporters in Dubai there should be an extension of the cessation of hostilities in Gaza (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho told broadcasters on the morning media round: I think its first important to say that I think the truce was actually broken by Hamas.

She told Sky News: Of course its disappointing that fighting has resumed  but at the same time Israel has to defend itself.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is attending Cop28 alongside the Prime Minister and Ms Coutinho, and will also talk to counterparts at the event about the issue.

The Israeli military said on Friday that its fighter jets had begun striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, 30 minutes after an extended ceasefire expired at 7am (0500 GMT).

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt had sought to prolong the break in fighting by another two days.

Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gazas population of 2.3 million uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed  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.

Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed, mostly during Hamass deadly October 7 attack that triggered the war.
Rishi Sunak has said the UKs impact at the Cop28 climate summit should not be measured by hours spent as he ended his 11-hour visit by announcing new investment for Dogger Bank wind farm.

The Prime Minister said a deal worth up to 11 billion had been struck by energy firms RWE and Masdar which will help fund what will be the worlds biggest offshore wind project.

Mr Sunak faced questions about the length of his trip to the environmental conference in Dubai, but suggested the UKs influence should be judged instead by its material achievements.

I wouldnt measure our impact here by hours spent, I would measure it by the actual things that were doing that are making a difference, he said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Dubai to attend the Cop28 summit (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Announcing the deal, Mr Sunak told the conference: Im pleased to announce a new deal between Masdar and RWE which includes a commitment to jointly invest up to 11 billion into the UKs new wind farm at Dogger Bank, which will be the biggest in the world.

This is a huge boost for UK renewables, creating more jobs, helping to power three million homes and increasing our energy security.

Mr Sunak earlier announced 1.6 billion for international climate finance, including to support projects to halt deforestation and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

But his attendance at Cop28 comes after he scaled back a host of pledges designed to help the UK reach net zero by 2050 and vowed to max out the UKs oil and gas reserves by granting new North Sea drilling licences.

Mr Sunak was asked as he flew to Dubai what he would say to those accusing him of being unserious about climate action.

Weve got a better track record than any other major economy in decarbonising, he told journalists on the plane.

Any which way I look at it, we are a leader on this issue. We have been, were continuing to do so. So I will walk around very proudly tomorrow championing the UKs achievements in this space.

The King speaks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as they attend the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at Cop28 (Chris Jackson/PA)

Labour described Mr Sunaks speech to Cop28 as complacent, and shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband accused him of being in denial about the energy bills crisis at home and the weakening of the United Kingdoms standing abroad in his time in office.

Working people are paying the price for Rishi Sunaks climate failure, in the form of higher bills and in the awful costs this leaves our children and grandchildren, Mr Miliband said.

Only Labour can deliver the climate leadership that Britain needs, to cut energy bills for families, make the UK energy independent and protect the planet.

It came after Lord Goldsmith, who resigned as his environment minister, accusing Mr Sunak of being uninterested in green issues, told Sky News: Theres no doubt our standing has diminished considerably in recent months.

The UK is just not seen by our allies  big and also small island members of the commonwealth  as a reliable or serious partner.

However, Mr Sunak said the UKs representation  from himself, Charles and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron  speaks again to our leadership on this issue.

He said he was delighted that the King, with his longstanding track record championing this issue, was delivering an opening address for the fortnight of talks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are both attending the UN climate talks in Dubai (Hannah McKay/PA)

Mr Sunak told reporters: Im delighted that hes going to be at Cop tomorrow, hes giving a call to arms in the opening statement and  it speaks volumes about our type of leadership as a country that weve got our head of state there, delivering a call to arms in the opening statement which speaks volumes about the respect that hes got on this issue around the world.

Mr Sunak defended his move to issue more licences for North Sea exploration, arguing that the practical and sensible thing for the country is to make sure we use the resources at home as part of that sensible transition.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters he meant the people protesting outside my house when he said he would not allow ideological zealots to dictate climate policy.

Sir Keir Starmer is also attending the gathering in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stress that Britain would be open to green investment under a Labour government and position himself as a prime minister in waiting.

Asked about Sir Keirs plans to make Britain the worlds green finance capital, Mr Sunak accused him of just trying to catch up as his Government already has a fantastic track record.

The Labour leader, who polls suggest is on track to snatch the keys to No 10 at the next general election, will be meeting world leaders and foreign investors at the conference.

I'm determined to protect our countrys beautiful green spaces. Were delivering on our promise to find a new National Park  the first in over a decade. pic.twitter.com/SONHRmOZsN  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 29, 2023

Mr Sunak batted off questions on whether he fears Sir Keir appears more like a statesman, pointing to his own fantastic track record of global diplomacy over the last year.

Cop28 takes place in the context of rising geopolitical tensions, with fears that the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine could make co-operation even more difficult.

The location of this years climate talks has prompted scepticism among many campaigners, as the United Arab Emirates is one of the worlds chief oil producers.

Cop28 president Sultan al-Jaber, who is also chief executive of state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has been accused of seeking to use the conference to strike oil and gas deals  which he has denied.

Asked whether the allegations undermine the UAEs position leading the negotiations, Mr Sunak said: No. Look, I commend the UAEs leadership on this summit in general, weve been working very closely with them.

In particular Im really pleased that theyve made incredible progress on the finance aspect of this.

The Prime Minister said he had not discussed the Cop28 summit with his climate-conscious daughter, saying they were too busy eating pasta and popcorn at the Downing Street Christmas market before his departure to Dubai.

But, he said, more generally he had a very strong Conservative instinct to protect what we have for future generations.

Mr Sunak added: Its our moral responsibility to leave our kids environment in a better state than we found it, not just for my kids, thats for everyone.
The UK is exploring alternative routes to provide aid to Gaza following the breakdown of a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, the Prime Minister has said.

Rishi Sunak also renewed calls for sustained humanitarian pauses as he met regional leaders on the sidelines of the Cop28 summit in Dubai on Friday to discuss the ongoing crisis.

At a press conference held before returning to London, Mr Sunak told reporters the UK had tripled aid to the region but was now exploring the possibility of providing aid by sea, as not enough was reaching Gaza via Rafah and other border crossings.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a bilateral meeting during the Cop28 UN climate summit in Dubai (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The Prime Minister held talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Dubai as well as the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Jordan to discuss the conflict.

Mr Sunaks spokesman told reporters: The discussions were focused on practical steps that can now be taken to both bring about more humanitarian pauses so more hostages can be released, how we can get more aid in as well, while also standing by Israels right to self-defence.

Israel restarted combat operations in the Gaza Strip minutes after a temporary truce expired on Friday, blaming Hamas for breaking the ceasefire.

At Fridays press conference, the Prime Minister described the breakdown of the truce as deeply disappointing and said he hoped that the Qatar-facilitated process could be resumed.

He said: We want all hostages released, and in this initial phase all women and children should be freed.

Ive said before that the number of civilian casualties and the scale of suffering has been far too high, so the return of hostilities is concerning to us all.

While he reiterated his support for Israels right to defend itself and pursue Hamas, he said he was making it clear that Israel must take maximum care to protect civilian life and supported civilian protection plans set out by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

He said: Were opposed to anything that would involve the mass displacement of people. We need to ensure that there are viable, designated areas where safety can be guaranteed and we need to ensure that critical infrastructure like water supplies and hospitals are protected.

Mr Sunak added that the need to protect civilians had been a consistent theme of his discussions with regional leaders during the Dubai summit.

Speaking to broadcasters in Dubai earlier, Mr Sunak said: Weve been consistent that we want to see sustained humanitarian pauses so that more aid can get in to the people of Gaza but also the hostages can come out. Those are critical ingredients. And, as weve said, everyone needs to adhere to the terms of these agreements.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at Cop28 in Dubai (Chris Jackson/PA)

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said Labour wanted to see an extension of the cessation of hostilities.

Speaking to reporters in Dubai, the Labour leader, whose party has been deeply split over whether to back an immediate ceasefire, said: I think everybody whos seen the developments today is going to be deeply saddened by it, and what we are calling for even at this late hour is for all sides to try to reach an extension of the cessation of hostilities that weve seen over recent days.

That has provided an opportunity for hostages to be released, for more humanitarian aid to come in, and if its extended it also provides the opportunity for progress towards a political settlement here.

Sir Keir said any further action by Israel must be in accordance with international law as too many innocent Palestinian lives, particularly children, have already been lost in this conflict.

Sir Keir Starmer told reporters in Dubai there should be an extension of the cessation of hostilities in Gaza (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is attending Cop28 alongside the Prime Minister and will also talk to counterparts at the event about the issue.

The Israeli military said on Friday that its fighter jets had begun striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, 30 minutes after an extended ceasefire expired at 7am (5am GMT).

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt had sought to prolong the break in fighting by another two days.

Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gazas population of 2.3 million uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed  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.

Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed, mostly during Hamass deadly October 7 attack that triggered the war.
UK house prices rose for the third month in a row in November, as hopes of mortgage costs coming down and rising wages has helped warm up demand across the property market, according to Nationwide Building Society.

House prices inched up by 0.2% last month, compared with October, Nationwide revealed in its monthly House Price Index.

Property values were 2% lower in November than a year ago, easing from the 3.3% year-on-year decline seen in October.

Across the UK, the average property cost 258,557 in November.

Robert Gardner, Nationwides chief economist, said the year-on-year fall in house prices remains weak but is the strongest outturn in nine months.

He said: There has been a significant change in market expectations for the future path of bank rate in recent months which, if sustained, could provide much needed support for housing market activity.

Bank of England policymakers decided to hold interest rates at 5.25% last month, raising expectations that borrowing costs could have reached a peak and will start to come down in the year ahead.

The shift in expectations is important because it has led to a decline in longer-term interest rates, known as swap rates, which underpin mortgage pricing.

If sustained, this will help to ease the affordability pressures that have been stifling housing market activity in recent quarters, where the number of mortgage approvals for house purchases has been running at around 30% below pre-pandemic levels, Mr Gardner said.

Modestly lower borrowing costs coupled with rising wages and falling or slower house prices should help prompt an uplift in activity in the housing market in the months ahead, he said.

Nevertheless, a rapid rebound still appears unlikely, Mr Gardner stressed.

Cost-of-living pressures are easing, with the rate of inflation now running below the rate of average wage growth, but consumer confidence remains weak, and surveyors continue to report subdued levels of new buyer enquiries.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has insisted that it is much too early for policymakers to think about cutting rates, as they continue their work to bring down inflation.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has insisted it is much too early for policymakers to think about cutting interest rates (Henry Nicholls/PA)

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at estate agency Knight Frank, said: If we are not at the bottom of the current slowdown in the UK housing market, we must be close.

Price indices are potentially more volatile due to low transaction numbers but sentiment has improved in recent weeks as the worst of the economic data moves behind us.

However, Gabriella Dickens, a senior economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the rise in Nationwides index over the last few months is likely to reverse in the near-term, adding that a material recovery in house prices still looks a few months away yet.

The outlook for next year, however, is brighter, she added.

The recent drop in market expectations for bank rate means mortgage rates now look set to fall further and faster than we previously had anticipated.

The average two-year fixed residential mortgage stood at 6.05% on Thursday, as it edges closer to dropping below the 6% mark, according to data from Moneyfacts.
Rishi Sunak said the UK can stand tall at the Cop28 climate conference as it remains a leader on tackling climate change despite his rollback of ambitions at home.

The Prime Minister also heaped praise on the King for his involvement in the annual UN climate talks in Dubai, saying Charles role attested to Britains authority on green issues.

Mr Sunak will announce 1.6 billion for international climate finance, including to support projects to halt deforestation and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

But his attendance at Cop28 comes after he scaled back a host of pledges designed to help the UK reach net zero by 2050 and vowed to max out the UKs oil and gas reserves by granting new North Sea drilling licences.

Mr Sunak was asked as he flew to Dubai what he would say to those accusing him of being unserious about climate action.

Weve got a better track record than any other major economy in decarbonising, he told journalists on the plane.

Any which way I look at it, we are a leader on this issue. We have been, were continuing to do so. So I will walk around very proudly tomorrow championing the UKs achievements in this space.

It came after Lord Goldsmith, who resigned as his environment minister accusing Mr Sunak of being uninterested in green issues, told Sky News: Theres no doubt our standing has diminished considerably in recent months.

The UK is just not seen by our allies  big and also small island members of the commonwealth  as a reliable or serious partner.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds a huddle press conference with political journalists on the flight to Dubai (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

But Mr Sunak said the UKs representation  from himself, Charles and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron  speaks again to our leadership on this issue.

He said he was delighted the King, with his longstanding track record championing this issue  is delivering an opening address for the fortnight of talks.

Mr Sunak told reporters: Im delighted that hes going to be at Cop tomorrow, hes giving a call to arms in the opening statement and  it speaks volumes about our type of leadership as a country that weve got our head of state there, delivering a call to arms in the opening statement which speaks volumes about the respect that hes got on this issue around the world.

Mr Sunak defended his move to issue more licences for North Sea exploration, arguing that the practical and sensible thing for the country is to make sure we use the resources at home as part of that sensible transition.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters he meant the people protesting outside my house when he said he would not allow ideological zealots to dictate climate policy.

Sir Keir Starmer is also heading to the gathering in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stress that Britain would be open to green investment under a Labour government and position himself as a prime minister in waiting.

Asked about Sir Keirs plans to make Britain the worlds green finance capital, Mr Sunak accused him of just trying to catch up as his Government already has a fantastic track record.

The Labour leader, who polls suggest is on track to snatch the keys to No 10 at the next general election, will be meeting world leaders and foreign investors at the conference.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are both attending the UN climate talks in Dubai (Hannah McKay/PA)

Mr Sunak batted off questions on whether he fears Sir Keir appears more like a statesman, pointing to his own fantastic track record of global diplomacy over the last year.

I feel pretty good about how weve conducted our foreign policy and engaged all our partners and allies around the world over the past year and delivered real benefits for the British people at home in investment and jobs and better security.

And thats what well continue to do. Thats what Ill be doing at this summit. Ill be speaking to lots of leaders about things not just climate change, but also the situation in the Middle East.

Reacting to news fighting has resumed in Gaza, the Prime Minister said he will call for sustained humanitarian pauses in meetings with regional leaders so that more aid can get into the people of Gaza but also the hostages can come out.

Cop28 takes place in the context of rising geopolitical tensions, with fears that the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine could make co-operation even more difficult.

The location of this years climate talks has prompted scepticism among many campaigners, as the United Arab Emirates is one of the worlds chief oil producers.

I'm determined to protect our countrys beautiful green spaces. Were delivering on our promise to find a new National Park  the first in over a decade. pic.twitter.com/SONHRmOZsN  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 29, 2023

Cop28 president Sultan al-Jaber, who is also chief executive of state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has been accused of seeking to use the conference to strike oil and gas deals  which he has denied.

Asked whether the allegations undermine the UAEs position leading the negotiations, Mr Sunak said: No. Look, I commend the UAEs leadership on this summit in general, weve been working very closely with them.

In particular Im really pleased that theyve made incredible progress on the finance aspect of this.

He said it was a massive achievement that a landmark deal to help the worlds poorest and most vulnerable countries pay for the irreversible impacts of climate change was agreed on the first day of the gathering.

The Prime Minister said he had not discussed the Cop28 summit with his climate-conscious daughter, saying they were too busy eating pasta and popcorn at the Downing Street Christmas market before his departure to Dubai.

But, he said, more generally he had a very strong Conservative instinct to protect what we have for future generations.

Its our moral responsibility to leave our kids environment in a better state than we found it, not just for my kids, thats for everyone.

Mr Sunak gave a lengthy response about childrens love of nature and his announcement this week of a search for a new national park for England and protection for urban wildlife havens and trees.
Christy and Keith McPhail of Bartlesville spoke with Gov. Kevin Stitt on Oct. 31 about issues their nonprofit, B the Light, is experiencing with government regulation. Stitt was the keynote speaker at the Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce's forum luncheon that day.

'B the Light's' effort to transform a former research facility into a haven for the homeless is facing bureaucratic roadblocks, with Oklahoma's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) citing concerns over potential contamination.

The building in question, once a testing facility for the National Institute for Petroleum and Energy Research (NIPER), was remediated in the late '90s for commercial use by Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Hospital. However, DEQ is not yielding on its stance that the property must undergo further testing before being repurposed as a homeless mission.

"We filed a notice on the deed record in 2000 that it should be commercial industrial use only," Amy Brittain of DEQ said. "The new owner needs to perform an environmental assessment to show (DEQ) that it is safe for their new proposed use for the property."

Keith and Christy McPhail, founders of 'B the Light Mission, contend that the distinction between commercial and residential use is marginal, as people could legally work in the building, but sleeping in the building is somehow over the line. The McPhails argue the people they serve aren't in the building all day, every day.

"For 19 years, Jane Phillips had 120 employees in there, and they were in there from eight in the morning 'til sometimes 10 at night." Christy McPhail. "They're in a dorm, and then when they wake up in the morning, they're out."

Quandaries of 'brownfield' properties

The mission unknowingly found itself stuck in the complexities of being an EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program site. These are properties where the redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or possible presence of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants, according to the EPA.

Typically, these are places such as old factories, warehouses, docks, refineries, gas stations, and other commercial properties where chemicals or pollutants were used or stored.

"DEQ performed that work back in 1998, and they followed EPA's process, but only reviewed all the data and performed clean-up to that commercial industrial standard," Brittain said. "They cleaned up quite a bit of it, but again, they cleaned it up to that industrial, commercial standard, not to standard for child occupation."

Brittain mentioned there could still be lead-based paints and other contaminants, but they won't know until additional testing occurs.

DEQ has proposed seeking an EPA grant to pay for all the testing, which wouldn't occur until next year. With immediate needs pressing and temperatures dropping, 'B the Light' finds this timeline unacceptable.

'B the Light' could self-fund the tests to spend up the process. But testing estimates exceed $100,000  funds the mission does not have.

Brittain said all these steps are in place to protect the public and DEQ is reaching out to their federal partners to find alternatives to help 'B the Light' fully occupy the building.

"At the end of the day, you want me to kick people back out into the streets of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in the dirt, under bridges, behind sheds and in vacant homes  that's protecting the public," Keith McPhail said. "We're not putting kids in the daycare, at least for another three years, and that's the last phase of the building.

Pressing on despite adversities and hurdles

The McPhails, who are no strangers to adversity, have already begun renovating the donated building with local support from the Lyon Foundation and Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Medical Center, which donated the building.

"The Lighthouse is full and they need help. Bartlesville needs different approaches to solve this problem," said Christy McPhail. The Lighthouse Outreach Center is a Christian-based homeless shelter in town that was founded in 1992.

The McPhails have appealed to Governor Kevin Stitt for intervention. They believe the governor's influence could expedite the process as the McPhails plan to provide shelter with winter approaching.

"I'll take care of it were his exact words, so we are hopeful," Keith McPhail said. "I'm not going to put somebody on the street when it's -10 degrees, and they can come up and fine me and kick people out themselves if they like."

The McPhails aim to provide not just a roof, but also a path to recovery for Bartlesville's homeless population. The mission's plan includes housing, meals and essential support services, with an immediate goal to replace a leaky roof to prevent further water damage.

The community-driven initiative seeks local support, asking for modest monthly donations to sustain its operations. 'B the Light Mission' hopes to stand as a beacon of hope for many, but red tape may dim its efforts if not resolved promptly.

The EE will track the mission's progress in the coming months as the McPhails and the community rally to transform the building into a safe haven for those in need.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Homeless shelter stymied by red tape, environmental concerns
The Israel-Hamas war is nowhere near settled, with fighting picking up again after a weeklong ceasefire to facilitate the exchange of hostages. The shooting could continue for weeks or months. But there are a few things that havent gone wrong since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and financial markets are passively showing relief by discounting risks related to the war.

One of the biggest worries after Oct. 7 was whether Iran, the Middle Easts most notorious troublemaker, would overtly or covertly escalate by attacking Israel, Israels allies, or anybody else. Any provocation linked with Iran would invite and perhaps compel American or Israeli retaliation that could imperil shipping lanes and production facilities in a region that supplies nearly one-third of the worlds oil, sending prices soaring.

There have certainly been rumblings. In Lebanon, Iran-allied Hezbollah has been conducting harassment attacks against Israel, mostly in the north. Israel has been firing back. Other militias aligned with Iran have mounted sporadic rocket attacks against American bases in Syria and Iraq, also drawing return fire.

But seven weeks after Hamas ignited the war, escalatory pressure appears to be easing. Hezbollah seems to have opted against triggering a broader war, and attacks on US troops have diminished. To the extent that Tehran controls any of these groups, it seems to be avoiding anything that could bring the war to its home turf and disrupt oil exports that are finally recovering after several years of US sanctions depressed Irans desperately needed oil revenue.

Iran has been wary of intervening in the ongoing Middle East crisis and is likely to avoid any action that might escalate the conflict, Eurasia Group analysts wrote in a Nov. 25 report. Though Iran supports Hamas and has celebrated the 7 October attack on Israel, it appears unwilling to enter the conflict directly.

Markets have noticed. Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped by about $10 per barrel in the days following the Oct. 7 attacks. But it has since settled back to around $83, slightly below the pre-attack price. And thats with new supply cuts announced by the OPEC+ oil cartel, which put upward pressure on prices. So the fear premium tacked onto oil prices after Oct. 7 seems to have dissipated, perhaps completely.

The United States has an unexpected ally in its effort to keep a lid on Middle East tensions: China. As the worlds largest oil importer, China has been trying to expand its influence in the Middle East, where it gets a lot of its oil. Earlier this year, Chinese envoys brokered a make-nice deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, longtime rivals that fought a proxy war against each other in Yemen and have feuded in many other ways. China doesnt have military assets in the region the way the United States does, but its selling itself as an alternative and counterweight to American influence in the Middle East.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards a US military airplane prior to departure from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Drop Rick Newman a note, follow him on Twitter, or sign up for his newsletter.

One upshot of that is China may have more influence over Iran than the United States does  and China wants low oil prices as much as anybody else since its so dependent on imports. China buys most of Irans oil, which gives it a powerful interest in keeping the spigots open. Beijing does not view chaos in the Middle East as being in its interest, Eurasia Group wrote in a separate Nov. 30 report. China has already engaged Iran to some degree with a message of restraint.

The United States, meanwhile, has sent two aircraft carrier battle groups and other military assets to the region, a muscle-flexing exercise targeted mainly at Iran and its proxies. US ships in the Red Sea have shot down missiles fired toward Israel by a rebel group in Yemen, which is more than 1,000 miles from Israel. American military force, combined with quiet Chinese influence, is calming the periphery of the Israel-Hamas war, for now.

Other Arab nations in the Middle East have been less hostile toward Israel than they could be. Israel has diplomatic and trade relations with Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Before Oct. 7, there was progress toward the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Those governments have publicly criticized Israels invasion of Gaza, "But I will point out, no country has broken relations with Israel, Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations said during a Nov. 28 briefing. Israel is an important country. It is well integrated into the global economy. Its an important cog  one of the most important cogs in technology, cybersecurity, and those kinds of things.

There could be new ruptures at any moment, and a wider Middle East war is always possible. But Arab nations that benefit from trade with Israel want to keep it that way, and those that dont have their own markets to protect, as well. Economic self-interest is a powerful force, even amid the madness of war.

Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
The United States has kept North Korea on its list of state sponsors of terrorism, an annual State Department report showed Thursday, noting the reclusive regime repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism.

The department released the 2022 Country Reports on Terrorism, which serves as a guide for policy decisions on counterterrorism. The document entails the list of state terrorism sponsors, which includes the North, Iran, Cuba and Syria.

The North has remained on the list since November 2017, when the secretary of state redesignated it.

"The secretary determined that the DPRK government repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, as the DPRK was implicated in assassinations on foreign soil," the report said. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The North was first listed as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1988 for its involvement in the 1987 bombing of a Korean Air passenger flight, but its designation was rescinded in 2008 after a legal review.

The North was put back on the list in 2017 as the secretary of state determined that the North had repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism in the nine years since its designation had been rescinded.

As examples of the North's support for terrorism, the report mentioned that four Japanese Red Army members, who are wanted by the Tokyo government for participating in a 1970 Japan Airlines hijacking, continue to shelter in the North.

The report also noted that Tokyo continues to seek a full accounting of the fate of numerous Japanese nationals believed to have been abducted by the North's state entities in the 1970s and 1980s.

The terrorism sponsor designation can be rescinded when a designated country meets an array of requirements, such as not supporting any acts of international terrorism during the previous six months and offering assurances that it will not support terrorism in the future. (Yonhap)
By Suhaib Salem and Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) -Israel's warplanes pounded Gaza on Friday after talks to extend a week-old truce with Hamas collapsed, sending wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and forcing hundreds to flee in the streets.

Eastern areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza came under intense bombardment as the deadline lapsed shortly after dawn, with columns of smoke rising into the sky, Reuters journalists in the city said. Residents took to the road with belongings heaped up in carts, searching for shelter further west.

In the north of the enclave, previously the main war zone, huge plumes of smoke rose above the ruins, seen from across the fence in Israel. The rattle of gunfire and thud of explosions rang out above the sound of barking dogs.

Sirens blared across southern Israel as militants fired rockets from the coastal enclave into towns. Hamas said it had targeted Tel Aviv, but there were no reports of casualties or damage there.

By the evening, Gaza health officials said Israeli air strikes had killed 184 people, wounded at least 589 others and hit more than 20 houses.

Israel and Hamas accused each other of wrecking the negotiations and triggering the resumption of violence, though the White House singled out the Palestinian militant group, saying it had failed to produce a new list of hostages to release to enable an extension of the truce.

Israel's military said its ground, air and naval forces had struck more than 200 what it called "terror targets" in the enclave since the morning.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he had been in one of Israel's war jets to watch the assault up close. "The results are impressive. Hamas only understands force and therefore we will continue to act until we achieve the goals of the war," he said.

The U.N. said the fighting would worsen an extreme humanitarian emergency. "Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office in Geneva, said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces had stopped all deliveries of aid into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

COGAT, the Israeli agency for civilian coordination with the Palestinians, said aid agreed under the truce had been stopped but, at Washington's request, "dozens" of other trucks with water, food and medical supplies had got through to Gaza.

Medics and witnesses said Friday's bombing was most intense in Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been sheltering from fighting further north. Houses in central and northern areas were also hit.

"Anas, my son!" cried the mother of Anas Anwar al-Masri, a boy lying on a stretcher with a head injury in the corridor of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. "I don't have anyone but you!"

'YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED'

Residents and officials from Hamas said its fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenades battled Israeli troops and tanks in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in the north.

Gaza health officials said six people died in an Israeli strike on a house in the central city of Deir Al-Balah. There was no confirmation of either report from Israel.

In the south in Rafah, residents carried several small children, streaked with blood and covered in dust, out of a house that had been struck. Mohammed Abu-Elneen, whose father owns the house, said it was sheltering people displaced from elsewhere.

At the nearby Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital, the first wave of wounded were men and boys.

Gazans said they feared that the bombing of southern parts of the enclave could herald an expansion of the war into areas Israel had previously described as safe.

Leaflets dropped on eastern areas of Khan Younis ordered residents of four towns to evacuate - not to other areas in Khan Younis as in the past, but further south to the crowded town of Rafah on the Egyptian border.

"You have to evacuate immediately and go to the shelters in the Rafah area. Khan Younis is a dangerous fighting zone. You have been warned," said the leaflets, written in Arabic.

Israel released a link to a map showing Gaza divided into hundreds of districts, which it said would be used in future to communicate which areas were safe.

On another faultline, a Lebanese official said Israeli shelling killed three people in south Lebanon on Friday. And the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, said it had carried out several attacks on Israeli military positions at the border in support of Palestinians.

The Israeli army said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon and air defences had intercepted two launches. Reuters could not confirm any of the battlefield accounts.

BLINKEN SAYS HAMAS RENEGED ON COMMITMENTS

Each of the warring sides blamed the other for causing the collapse of the truce by rejecting terms to extend the daily release of hostages held by militants in exchange for Palestinian detainees.

The pause, which began on Nov. 24, had been extended twice, and Israel had said it could continue as long as Hamas released 10 hostages each day. But after seven days during which women, children and foreign hostages were freed, mediators failed at the final hour to find a formula to release more, including Israeli soldiers and civilian men.

Israel accused Hamas of refusing to release all the women it held. A Palestinian official said the breakdown occurred over female Israeli soldiers.

Qatar, which has played a central role in mediation efforts, said negotiations were still going on with Israelis and Palestinians to restore the truce, but that Israel's renewed bombardment of Gaza had complicated its efforts.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ending a trip to the region, said Hamas had started firing rockets before the pause in hostilities expired, had carried out a deadly shooting attack in Jerusalem on Thursday and had not followed through on commitments on hostages.

"It came to an end because of Hamas. Hamas reneged on commitments it made," Blinken said.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, has ruled Gaza since 2007.

Israel's assault has laid waste to much of the territory. Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed and thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble.

(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, Andrew Mills in Doha and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Cynthia Osterman, Lincoln Feast, Peter Graff and Andrew Heavens; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Philippa Fletcher and Grant McCool)
The worlds first underwater sculpture park has just gotten a lot bigger.

Created by British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006, the Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada is now one of the Caribbean countrys most popular underwater attractions.

The captivating installation recently expanded significantly, with 31 new sculptures added to the site, situated in a marine protected area off the west coast of the island.

Among the new additions is Coral Carnival, a sculpture series based on Spicemas, Grenadas hugely popular carnival that showcases iconic masqueraders such as the Jab Jab, a character with chains who is a symbol of freedom for Grenadians.

Underwater attraction

The Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada has expanded, with the addition of 31 new sculptures. - Jason deCaires Taylor/underwatersculpture.com

Commissioned by the Grenadian Ministry of Implementation and Tourism, the project aims to showcase Grenadas culture and history.

The carnival is obviously a very, very strong part of Grenadas culture and history, so they wanted to tell that story, deCaires Taylor tells CNN Travel.

Its been quite interesting learning about all the different masqueraders and the history behind them.

Each of the sculptures, which were partly constructed in the UK, are based on real life people, who posed as models for the artists.

The majority of the new pieces were created by deCaires Taylor, who worked in collaboration with various local artists to make sure that they were representative of the characters.

Meanwhile, Grenadian artist Troy Lewis created four of the new sculptures, including the Christ of the Deep, a replica of the statue given to the Grenadian people in recognition of the help provided to the crew and passengers of the Bianca C, which sank on the island in 1961.

Natural transformation

"Coral Carnival," a sculpture series based on Grenada's annual carnival, is among the new works on display at the site off the west coast of Grenada. - Jason deCaires Taylor/underwatersculpture.com

Made with high-grade stainless steel and pH-neutral marine cement, the sculptures are designed to act as artificial coral reefs, with holes and shelters to attract marine life such as octopuses and lobsters, creating a rather spectacular looking habitat.

According to deCaires Taylor, marine life had already made itself at home within the sculptures days after they were installed.

There was an octopus that moved into the base of one of them, which is really nice to see, he says, before going on to describe how a family of crabs had also moved into the base of one of the sculptures, while a stingray could be found in another.

Whats quite interesting about these characters is the silhouettes are really, really strong, he adds.

Theyre so unique that the silhouettes are quite striking from a distance. I havent seen that before.

This also marks the first time deCaires Taylor has introduced color into his underwater sculptures.

Normally, theyre very gray, he notes. This time we used natural pigments to actually paint the sculptures.

So Im quite interested to see how those change and whether theyll be colonized in any different way. Marine life is very influenced by color.

Aquatic installations

Four of the new sculptures are the work of Grenadian artist Troy Lewis. - Jason deCaires Taylor/underwatersculpture.com

The exhibition was first displayed on dry land at Grenadas Prickly Bay Marina for four weeks earlier this year  a first for deCaires Taylor, whose sculptures normally only show underwater. Visitors included Dickon Mitchell, the countrys prime minister.

Its something that I havent done in the past, and it wasnt planned to be fair, deCaires Taylor admits, explaining that it came about because the deployment company wasnt available for a while.

But actually, I think its quite a good idea to make it more accessible before it [the exhibition] goes in. I might start factoring it into all future works as sort of a longer public exhibit.

The sculptures were painstakingly installed underwater in late October with the help of a crane, as well as some divers.

According to deCaires Taylor, the crane capacity is lower on the island than some of the other destinations hes worked in, so the process of fitting the sculptures took longer.

I spent eight hours underwater the other day, which is a bit of a record for me, he recalls.

Coral Carnival, which is accessible via boat, has been open to the public since late October.

The new sculptures are installed at depths of between three to seven meters, and can be viewed by both divers and snorkelers, as well as those on glass bottom boats, provided visibility is good

The underwater sculpture park was originally dreamed up both as a conservation effort to help renew the marine life damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and a means to ease pressure on some of the more congested underwater areas on the island.

Id had this idea of creating something underwater for a long time, deCaires Taylor says. I just thought it would be such an interesting place to do something, and maybe it would draw tourists away from the other sites. And it would also sort of become a platform for marine life.

Its been one of my favorite projects, he admits. And actually, some of the marine life that colonizes these sculptures is some of the best Ive seen in all the different regions.

While deCaires Taylor went on to launch several underwater galleries, including the Museum of Underwater Art in Australia and the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa in Cyprus, the Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park has remained hugely special to him.

Promoting ocean conservation

The sculptures are made of high-grade stainless steel and pH-neutral marine cement. - Jason deCaires Taylor/underwatersculpture.com

That was what got me excited in the first place, seeing how they colonized and the artistry of nature really, supplanting what the human hand can do.

DeCaires Taylors projects are largely centered around promoting ocean conservation, and he admits to being stunned by the changes to the sculptures, particularly in recent months.

This year has been one of the hottest thats ever been in Grenada and the sea is really suffering, he explains.

So theres huge bleaching on some of the reefs. And its the first time Ive seen bleaching on sculptures as well. So its exciting [to witness the colonization], but its also quite sad seeing whats going on.

Hes currently in talks to create a smaller park in Carriacou, Grenadas sister island, with the focus on these particular issues once again.

Im very concerned about rising seas, especially on some of these small island nations. So I certainly want to talk about that.

How sea temperatures are changing, and how fragile some of these places are.

While deCaires Taylor is currently working on further projects in the UK, hes already looking forward to returning to Molinere Bay to witness nature taking over this human creation further in the coming years.

The one thing thats slightly different with these particular pieces is there are loads of sort of elevations, he says. Horns, feathers and areas that kind of go up into the water columns. 

So Im really excited to come back in a couple of years time. Because I think there will be lots of filter feeding in sponges and corals, which should attach to them. So that will be good.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
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.
Israel renewed its assault on the Gaza Strip early Friday after the end of a weeklong truce with Hamas, pummeling the Palestinian enclave from the air while warning civilians to leave parts of southern Gaza in a sign that it intends to expand its ground offensive.

International mediators said they were still working to restore the cease-fire, which saw the release of more than 100 hostages held in Gaza and 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The pause had raised hopes for a broader deal, but that appeared to have collapsed as the two sides traded blame while smoke rose from Gaza's ruined skyline and sirens wailed in Israeli border communities.

The resumption of fighting will raise fears for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, as well as the remaining 140 or so hostages, as Israel grapples with the tension between its two stated war goals  destroy Hamas and free those taken captive in the Oct. 7 terror attack.

The prospect of Israel expanding its ground campaign southward will also heighten international anxiety, including in the White House, which has warned its close ally to moderate its military tactics to reduce further civilian casualties and displacement.

Follow live updates here.

Talks and fighting

The pause in fighting, brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, was set to expire at 7 a.m. local time (midnight ET). In the last hour of that deal, Israel said Hamas fired rockets toward its territory from Gaza, at least one of which it managed to intercept, but that a number of others got through.

Sirens sounded in Israeli communities near the border with the Palestinian enclave, while an NBC News team in the southern city of Sderot witnessed rockets being intercepted. Israeli officials have not said whether anyone was injured or killed by rockets from Gaza.

Gaza rockets fired after ceasefire (Jack Guez / AFP - Getty Images)

Hamas in turn blamed Israel, saying it had refused "throughout the night to accept all offers to release other detainees."

Qatar, which hosts some Hamas leadership, expressed "deep regret" that fighting had resumed without an extension. The government added in a statement that negotiations were continuing.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had "resumed combat" against Palestinian militants, and that IDF fighter jets are currently striking Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had violated the plan" and "did not live up to its duty to release all the kidnapped women today."

The government media office in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, a banned terror group in the U.S. and elsewhere, said that the Israeli army had begun to continue its brutal war against our Palestinian people.

Israeli strikes on Rafah, southern Gaza. (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images)

Israeli strikes in northern Gaza (John MacDougall / AFP - Getty Images)

Gazans reported seeing and hearing airstrikes across the enclave's north and south, as well as artillery shelling along the border to the east. Hamas-affiliated media reported heavy gunfire and that clashes were occurring in the north, the focus of Israel's campaign so far. And NBC News' team in Gaza witnessed dead and injured people being taken to hospitals in the center and south of the strip.

"Every 10-15 minutes, there have been strikes, some of it 500 meters (550 yards) away from us," Mohammad Ghalayini, 44, who lives in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, told NBC News in a voice note, with the distinct buzz of an Israeli drone discernible in the background.

'Crammed' into southern Gaza

Israel had previously told Palestinians to leave northern Gaza, the focus of its initial military campaign, fueling an exodus of displaced residents now packed into the south of the enclave. But on Friday it dropped new leaflets on Khan Younis, warning residents that it had now become a combat zone and telling them to relocate again to the southern city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt.

The IDF also published an online interactive map, dividing Gaza into hundreds of zones that it said would be used to warn residents where the fighting would be centered.

Ghalayini, who received one of the leaflets, voiced the common Palestinian belief that this was part of a broader plan to get them to leave Gaza so Israelis can settle there. Although a few Israeli politicians have voiced support for the idea, Netanyahu has said Israel is trying to remove Hamas and does not seek to govern or occupy Gaza.

"One fear is that, when crammed into a smaller area, people will break out through the border and Egypt may have no choice" but to accept them, Ghalayini said.

Aftermath of an Israeli strike on a house, after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, in Rafah (Hatem Khaled / Reuters)

The renewed outbreak of fighting follows a week of respite for the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured almost two months of aerial and ground assault, killing more than 15,000 people, including more than 5,000 children, according to local authorities.

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken captive, according to the IDF.

The recent pause allowed aid into the besieged, impoverished enclave, which has lurched further into a humanitarian crisis during the war. During that time, 105 hostages were released from Gaza, officials said, while Israel has released 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Now there are also fears of the violence spreading, after a deadly shooting at a bus stop in Jerusalem and an Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian health officials said two boys were killed in the Israeli raid, one of them 8 years old.

But a week ago, after a pressure campaign by the hostages' families and a shift in public opinion, Israel agreed with Hamas to pause the fighting so some of the abductees could be liberated.

Sharon Hertzman, right, hugging a relative as they reunite at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Nov. 25. (Haim Zach / AP)

With most Israelis supportive of a war they see as essential to their own security, Netanyahu has always said that the war would restart with full force after negotiations had run their course.

The U.S. has publicly urged its ally to operate with much greater care for civilians in any renewed military campaign.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said Thursday that he had discussed with Israeli leaders the imperative that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south. He added: As I told the prime minister, intent matters, but so does the result.

Hours later, the fighting had resumed.

After a week in which diplomacy was given priority, violence was on Friday once again the dominant language of this struggle.
Jeezy has accused Jeannie Mai of acting as a "gatekeeper" of their daughter amid his divorce from the TV host.

In a Georgia court filing, the rapper has requested a temporary hearing with a Fulton County judge to set "clearly defined" temporary legal and physical custody of he and Mai's daughter, according to documents filed Thursday and obtained by USA TODAY.

The 46-year-old artist, born Jay Wayne Jenkins, and Mai, 44, share a daughter, Monaco, 1.

The "Soul Survivor" rapper filed for divorce in September after two years of marriage. Since then, the former "The Real" host has temporarily lived in the couple's Los Angeles home; both have addressed custody arrangements on an "informal" basis, according to the latest court filing.

Jeezy and Jeannie Mai have filed more court documents amid their divorce and child custody battle.

The filing continues to say that both parties are in agreement with a visitation schedule through 2023, but according to Jenkins, addressing "custodial and parenting time issues" informally is "becoming increasingly less feasible."

USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Jeezy and Mai for comment.

"The lack of consistency, continuity and stability inherently associated with such a haphazard and fluid parenting time schedule is stressful," for their child, the document reads, "and it has, as is unfortunately inevitable with all families in transition, created unnecessary tension and confusion regarding not only parenting time but also in regard to each parent's role and rights when the Child is in their respective custody."

The document asserts that while the "Put On" rapper doesn't think Mai is "acting maliciously or with specific intent to harm," he believes she "has acted as a gatekeeper when it comes to (Jeezy) exercising parenting time."

Jeezy claims that Mai has interfered with his relationship with Monaco  though not maliciously, he reiterates  which is "causing confusion and tension between the parties and is working to stifle the development of" his relationship with his daughter.

The rapper requests that the court "separate, structure and clearly define the parties' temporary legal and physical custody rights and set a parenting time schedule consistent with the best interests of the Child," the document reads.

Jeannie Mai references prenup in counterclaim against Jeezy in divorce filing

In response to Jeezy's divorce filing, Mai filed a counterclaim maintaining, among other things, that she be awarded joint custody as well as "final decision-making authority" on their custody agreement, and that she should "be awarded primary physical custody" on a "temporary and permanent basis."

The counterclaim also requests Mai be "awarded a fair and equitable distribution" of the couple's assets acquired during the marriage, Jeezy pay Mai's legal fees and the court enforce the couple's prenuptial agreement "with regard to infidelity."

The couple's prenup includes a clause that says if either "engages in sexual relations, an emotional relationship, or is emotionally or sexually suggestive in communication with" another person through various means, "including but not limited to, texting, sexting, Facetiming, social media and/or Direct Messages" the "adulterous party" should pay a financial penalty. The filing does not make a specific accusation of infidelity.

Jeezy tells Nia Long he's 'disappointed' with Jeannie Mai divorce

Jeezy filed to end his marriage to Jeannie Mai in September in Georgia's Superior Court of Fulton County. The filing said "the marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken" and "there is no hope for reconciliation."

Speaking broadly about love and family, Jeezy told Nia Long, 53, in a video shared on his YouTube channel last month that he "can't honestly tell you that I've experienced love, especially not unconditional."

The rapper added that he prefers to keep many of the details of their split private.

"This has not been an easy journey. I can tell you that I'm sad. I can tell you that I'm disappointed. I can tell you that I'm uneasy," Jeezy told Long. "But God has put me on a different path, and that path is going to entail for me to take care of myself and to love myself and to be in the best situation that I can thrive as someone who's been through all of the things that I've been through."

Jeezy says he's 'disappointed' with Jeannie Mai divorce, Nia Long talks infidelity

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeezy, Jeannie Mai divorce: Young Jeezy says ex is gatekeeper of child
Kansas City police were investigating a homicide Tuesday in the 4900 block of Heritage Avenue. Police said a man was found fatally shot in a yard and a person of interest was taken into custody. (Bill Lukitsch)

A 31-year-old man faces four felony charges after authorities say he fired an AR-style weapon at two men, striking and killing one, and surrendered to police in Kansas Citys Little Blue Valley neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Tamon D. Daniel, of Kansas City, with second-degree murder, unlawful weapon use and two counts of armed criminal action in the shooting. He was being held in the county jail on a $150,000 cash bond.

Daniel is accused of killing a man identified by police Thursday as 21-year-old Jayden James, a resident of the neighborhood. During a police interview, Daniel allegedly admitted to shooting at two men but said he did so because they were pointing guns at him and he thought they had been threatening his sister.

Police found no firearms in the area Tuesday aside from the one Daniel allegedly used, according to a probable cause affidavit prepared by a Kansas City police detective.

Around 4:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to 4900 block of Heritage Avenue on a reported shooting.

Daniel waved the officers down and told them he had shot someone when he was arrested, the affidavit says. An AR-15-style pistol and a cell phone were found next to him.

At the end of a cul-de-sac, near a wooded area, was a Dodge SUV that was wrecked, the affidavit says. James was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in a nearby vacant lot.

The other person who was fired upon, whose name is withheld in court documents, told police he was with James in his car in the parking lot when a man approached them and fired two shots through the windshield. They bailed out of the car and ran.

He said he did not know why someone would shoot at them, according to the affidavit.

Another person interviewed by police was Daniels sister, who said she had been kidnapped elsewhere in Kansas City on Monday. She said she saw two men in a car who resembled the ones who had taken her against her will days earlier.

Names provided by her of the suspects did not match the victims in the shooting, the affidavit says.

Detectives interviewed a neighbor who said she was in her apartment when she heard gunshots. She looked outside and saw a man with a rifle firing shots at a car, she told police.

During an interview with detectives, Daniel allegedly said he drove to his sisters apartment complex to protect her and encountered two men he believed to have kidnapped her earlier. He said they pointed guns at him and he chased them down with his car after they ran from him, the affidavit says.

After crashing his car, according to the affidavit, Daniel said he shot one of the men between four and eight times before walking up a hill and turning himself over to the authorities.

Police used a gun-sniffing dog supplied by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to search the area. All of the shell casings recovered by police were of the same caliber of bullets loaded into the gun discovered near Daniel, the affidavit says.

Online court records did not list a defense attorney for Daniel as of Thursday.
There was one rule for the epic food fight scene in "Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas."

There would be only one chance to film the pivotal, and messy, culinary chaos sparked by the Avengers-style collection of glam 1980s TV actresses, including "Knots Landing" stars Donna Mills, 82, and Nicollette Sheridan, 60; Morgan Fairchild, 73, of "Falcon Crest" fame; "Dallas" star Linda Gray, 83; and Loni Anderson, 78, best known for "WKRP in Cincinnati."

"We were only going to shoot that food fight scene one time. That's it," says executive producer Larry Thompson, who assembled the '80s Dream Team for the Lifetime holiday movie (Saturday, 8 EST/PST, and streaming Sunday). "We weren't going get these ladies redressed and fix their hair to shoot it twice. We didn't have time. So we rehearsed. 'You hit so-and-so with that. Just make sure you get it. Because we're not doing it again.'"

"The food fight was one take," says Gray, who wore  and wrecked  a gown worthy of "Dallas" matriarch Sue Ellen Ewing, whom she played on the CBS nighttime soap. "And it was fabulous."

Here's how "Ladies of '80s" came together, and descended into delicious diva decadence.

Nicollette Sheridan puts pie in Morgan Fairchild's face during the "Ladies of the '80s" food fight.

'Ladies of the 80s' united pioneering TV women whose characters were 'in control'

Hollywood manager Thompson, 79, first proposed the "Ladies of the '80s" idea to his longtime client Mills.

"I said, 'Hey, maybe we should put the gang back together for a movie,'" Thompson recalls. Mills says the group aimed to channel the power relationships she had as villainous Abby Fairgate with Sheridan's Paige Matheson on CBS' 1979-93 soap "Knots Landing," a spinoff of "Dallas."

"People loved what happened between us on the screen and still remember it," Mills says. "They want to see that again."

During their shoulder-pad-enhanced 1980s TV reign, the actresses felt the responsibility of playing "very strong female characters running companies, swapping men and being in control," says Sheridan. "Back in the '80s, people would tell me I was their role model. You can wear a short skirt and still run a damn company!"

Tapping into that power makes the "Ladies of the 80s" appealing even to Lifetime viewers who weren't alive in the decade, says Fairchild, who played glamorous attorney Jordan Roberts on "Falcon Crest," which aired from 1981-90.

"This recalls that the '80s were a breakthrough for strong women characters in a genre that had been mostly dominated by male characters," Fairchild says. "With these nighttime soaps, you had women dictating their own lives, picking their own lovers."

The food fight scene in "Ladies of the 80s" featuring (from left) Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, Loni Anderson and Nicolette Sheridan.

Anderson, who played whip-smart office receptionist Jennifer Marlowe in the CBS radio station comedy "WKRP" from 1978-82 had to be indoctrinated into the soap-drama delivery.

"I'd never been on a soap; I was the odd man out here," says Anderson. "These ladies were my teachers. They taught another rhythm for drama, really drawing out the lines. Slowly."

What's the plot of 'Ladies of the '80s'?

"Ladies of the '80s" tells the tale of five actresses who reunite to shoot the final live Christmas episode of their long-running soap opera. There's a youthful love story between the soap's producer, Alex (Travis Burns), and director, Nell (Taylor Ann Thompson, Larry Thompson's daughter).

But most of the movie revolves around the bickering but devoted co-stars. The action features an over-the-top collection of the soap actresses' past screen confrontations, a staple of the genre. Shooting the slapfest required "wigs, makeup and a little digital help," says Larry Thompson.

"Oh honey, we all got ours in," Fairchild says of the slap scene. "Mine was a simple, 'How dare you?' with a slap. But I was hoping for a punch."

Nicollette Sheridan puts pie in Morgan Fairchild's face during the "Ladies of the '80s" food fight.

The scene peaks with what Thompson calls the "slapfest coup de grace"  Mills pushing Sheridan into a pool, a nod to the iconic 1983 "Dynasty" lily pond brawl between Alexis (Joan Collins) and Krystle (Linda Evans).

Even Sheridan riffed off this battle after stepping into to play Alexis in 2018 for CW's "Dynasty" reboot during a pool blowout with her screen daughter Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies).

"Water seems to be part of whatever I do, even fighting with my daughter in 'Dynasty,' " says Sheridan.

Nicollette Sheridan getting gravy poured on her head by Loni Anderson in "Ladies of the 80s."

What happens in the 'Ladies of the '80s' food fight?

The dinner destruction breaks out when cameras are rolling for the fictional soap opera's live broadcast. Mills gets the action started with a glass of wine to Gray's face, who retaliates with a mashed potato face smear.

Sheridan put vigor into her whipped cream pie shot to Fairchild.

"I had never put a pie in anybody's face before, so I was rubbing it in. I didn't know it was going up her nose," says Sheridan.

"You almost suffocated me," says Fairchild, laughing. "For three days my eyes had pie film over them."

"Ladies of the 80s" stars (L-R) Donna Mills, executive producer Larry Thompson, Nicolette Sheridan, Linda Gray, Morgan Fairchild and Loni Anderson.

Anderson completed her soap apprenticeship by slowly pouring gravy on Sheridan's head before the skirmish turned into a free-for-all.

"I did enjoy dumping that gravy boat," says Anderson. "All I kept thinking was that the gravy was destroying that beautiful hairdo."

Even after the food damage, the divas insist they will re-assemble.

"We all feel that there's a sequel," says Fairchild. "Even a 'Ladies of the '80s' franchise.'"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas' boasts star-studded cast
Din Tai Fung's success rides on the consistent quality of its soup dumplings. And in any Din Tai Fung location, customers can anticipate a familiar experience. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

Im standing in front of a Din Tai Fung located inside a shopping mall in Taipei watching a team of seven masked chefs in stiff white coats behind a glass window  kneading, filling, weighing, dusting and pleating dough underneath fluorescent lights.

Kan Kuang-Ming, head chef of Din Tai Fung Taiwan, is at the center, head down, shoulders scrunched up, crimping dumplings. He cups dough and filling with his left hand and, with his right, makes a twisting series of dexterous pinches to form a perfect swirl. I count how long it takes him to fold one dumpling: eight seconds.

Art of the fold: Chef training at Din Tai Fung is 12 weeks, but it can take several months to a year to get up to speed. Every Din Tai Fung in the U.S. has a dumpling training manager. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

When you look outside from the glass, it looks straightforward, he tells me. But if you try it yourself, you realize how difficult it is. Kan has been at Din Tai Fung for 21 years. I started when I was 18 years old, he says.

Din Tai Fung has churned out consistently popular batches of soup dumplings for more than 50 years. With 170 locations in over a dozen countries, the Taiwanese chain commands daily long lines, attracting customers mesmerized by the glassed-in kitchen where parcels of dough and meat are meticulously shaped and assembled in real time.

The chain is steadily conquering America, thanks to the efforts of the founding family's next generation.

Since its North American debut in California over two decades ago, the chain of restaurants has been concentrated exclusively on the West Coast. Last month in Glendale, Din Tai Fung relocated from the Americana at Brand to the Galleria , occupying a behemoth 11,443-square-foot space. A Downtown Disney location is planned for sometime next year, and most notably, the company recently signed a 15-year lease to open in New York , which will mark the first East Coast location in its portfolio.

Read more:Din Tai Fung in Glendale leaving Americana at Brand for Galleria competitor

Each Din Tai Fung restaurant produces an average of 10,000 dumplings a day. Its an operation that requires the manpower of roughly 30 chefs on rotation, all of whom are required to master the art of the perfect fold. Its this attention to detail that has ensured Din Tai Fungs reign as one of the most successful dumpling chains in the world.

Next-gen Din Tai Fung: Brothers Aaron and Albert Yang are third-generation custodians of the growing restaurant chain. "We were running credit cards when we could barely even see over the counter," says Aaron. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

Kan says it took him three months to learn how to properly fold a soup dumpling that was up to the standard.

For brothers Aaron and Albert Yang, it took them twice as long to get it right. It took us at least six months to a year to perfect the craft and finally be able to make some dumplings that could be sold, Albert says.

Read more:Soup Dumplings | The Bucket List: Dumplings

Aaron and Albert are the third-generation custodians of Din Tai Fung. Both vice presidents at Din Tai Fung USA, they are charged with overseeing the Taiwanese dumpling chains presence in the American market. The more high-profile, the more high-foot-traffic locations there are, the more we're able to share our food and culture, says Albert.

At Din Tai Fung, each dumpling has to follow an exact standard: 18 folds, 21 grams a piece. A seasoned chef should be able to fold an average of eight dumplings in one minute. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

Xiao long bao, or soup dumpling, hails from the greater Shanghai region in China and according to Chinese lore, was invented sometime between the 18th and 19th century . A bundle of gently seasoned pork and broth, it reflects the light and delicate sensibilities of the regions cuisine. But while it is a specialty of eastern China, it truly wasnt until Din Tai Fung came along that it became a worldwide phenomenon.

With its papery thin skin and a sticky blend of ground pork and gelatinized broth, the soup dumpling is one of the most difficult dumplings to put together. Roll out too thin of a skin or pinch an imperfect crimp and the broth will leak through. Too thick and the dumpling loses all of its allure. In order to hold the filling, the center of the skin must be a couple of hairs thicker than the edges. And at Din Tai Fung, each dumpling has to follow an exact standard: 18 folds, 21 grams apiece. A seasoned chef should be able to fold an average of eight dumplings in one minute.

A dumpling chef needs to have a lot of patience, Kan says. You have to fail about 1,400 times before you can make one that is beautiful.

The company was founded by Aaron and Alberts grandfather, Yang Bing-Yi, a Chinese immigrant who moved to Taiwan in his 20s during the Chinese Civil War in 1927. Originally a nondescript cooking oil store in Taipei, the shop transitioned into an eatery when Yang hired a Shanghai-born chef and started selling soup dumplings.

Din Tai Fung, the restaurant, formally opened in 1972, and eventually drew the attention of international food critics and chefs who gushed about its "flavorful fillings and light, thin dough. In 1995, the elder Yang retired and his children took over.

From a very young age, Aaron and Albert were shown the ins and outs of the family business. Though they were raised in Los Angeles, they would visit Taiwan often, and would spend their vacation hanging out at their grandfathers restaurant. The chefs would pinch swans out of the dough for them and whisk them around the city. We were just little babies and they would take us around on their motorcycles, Albert recalls.

When their father, Frank Yang, opened up the first American Din Tai Fung in Arcadia in 2000, the brothers were given a bit more responsibility.

Each Din Tai Fung produces an average of 10,000 dumplings a day, with roughly 30 chefs on rotation. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

[My father] saw a Din Tai Fung in the U.S. that was using the brand without our permission, Aaron says. It kind of inspired him to open his own Din Tai Fung here and just show people what the real product is like.

It was an instantaneous hit .

We were running credit cards when we could barely even see over the counter, Aaron says. By the seventh grade, they were learning how to fold the dumplings themselves.

Eventually, both the Yang brothers went on to get degrees in hospitality administration at Cornell University, and today spearhead the multimillion-dollar dumpling empires outposts in America. Aaron focuses on business development and Albert on the food and operations.

Our personalities are a bit different, but it's great for the business because we just split duties, says Albert.

Like the Yangs, I also grew up in Arcadia. I vividly remember the daily snaking lines that formed outside of that first Din Tai Fung. Situated in a cramped strip mall with a long green awning and "Din Tai Fung Dumpling House" spelled out in bold, forest-green font, it was the most popular attraction in town for more than a decade.

Frank Yang opened the first American Din Tai Fung in Arcadia in 2000. Last month, the company opened an 11,443-square-foot restaurant in Glendale. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

Snagging a seat was consistently difficult, so my mom would call in ahead of time on the weekdays and pick up a takeout order of dumplings for my brother and me to enjoy as an after-school snack.

The wait was especially long on the weekends, as folks from all over Greater Los Angeles made the trek just for the papery-thin dumplings.

There's something to be said about just how universally liked it is by people from all different cultures and ethnic backgrounds, says Aaron.

The Glendale branch, which opened 13 years after the Arcadia location, was established while the Yang brothers were attending college. My dad opened another location after knowing his kids were going to college for hospitality management, Aaron says. It gave him the confidence to know the next generation is at some point ready to take the reins.

Read more:How second-generation owners of 99 Ranch are turning the Asian supermarket into a national powerhouse

Since then the Yang brothers have made some improvements, like launching an online waitlist and reservation system, modernizing a training manual and providing above-average wages for their staff.

Our entry-level hourly positions start at $20 an hour and the managers start at $100,000 annually, Albert says. And whereas aspiring Din Tai Fung chefs in Taiwan pick up the trade by shadowing a senior chef, incoming dumpling masters in the United States are instead enrolled in a training program.

Our current training program is 12 weeks, though it still takes six months and up to a year to get up to speed, says Albert. Every single one of our restaurants in the United States has a dumpling training manager, and that manager is solely dedicated to training the team and ensuring the quality and consistency behind the 18 folds and ensuring that each dumpling weighs 21 grams.

Half a century since its debut, the Yangs say that keeping the food consistent and traditional is what sets them apart.

I still remember someone coming up to my dad and asking him why we don't do a cheeseburger soup dumpling, Aaron says. But that would change the essence of what the food is. We have always just felt strongly that the food should be authentic to Taiwan, where we originated from.

Sky high: Stacks of basket steamers at the new Din Tai Fung in Glendale are at the ready for orders of the restaurant's signature soup dumplings. (Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

Clarissa Wei is a writer and cookbook author. Her book, Made in Taiwan: Recipes and Stories from the Island Nation (Simon & Schuster), was published this fall.

Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Efforts at reforming the justice system have been mixed. The disparity between Black and white rates of incarceration dropped by 40% between 2000 and 2020, according to a September 2022 report by the Council on Criminal Justice.

BOSTON (AP)  The American legal system is facing a crisis of trust in communities around the country, with people of all races and across the political spectrum.

For many, recent protests against police brutality called attention to longstanding discrepancies in the administration of justice. For others, criticism of perceived conflicts of interest in the judiciary, as well as aspersions cast by former President Donald Trump and others on the independence of judges and law enforcement, have further damaged faith in the rule of law among broad swaths of the public.

Yet many Black attorneys understood the disparate impact the legal system can have on different communities long before the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police. Many pursued legal careers and entered that same system to improve it, with some rising to one of its most influential roles, the top enforcement official: attorney general.

There is a record number of Black attorneys general, seven in total, serving today. Two Black attorneys, Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, have served as U.S. attorney general. And the vice president, Kamala Harris, was the first Black woman elected attorney general.

In that same moment of increased representation, the U.S. is gripped by intense debates regarding justice, race and democracy. Black prosecutors have emerged as central figures litigating those issues, highlighting the achievements and limits of Black communal efforts to reform the justice system.

Anthony Brown, Attorney General of Maryland, answers a question during an interview at the State Attorneys General Association meetings , Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Boston. In exclusive sit-down interviews with The Associated Press, several Black Democrat attorneys general discuss the role race and politics plays in their jobs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The Associated Press spoke with six sitting Black attorneys general about their views on racial equity, public safety, police accountability and protecting democratic institutions. While their worldviews and strategies sometimes clash, the group felt united in a mission to better a system they all agreed too often failed the people its meant to serve.

A spokesperson for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

All interviewed attorneys general are Democrats. Each attorney general discussed how their backgrounds informed their approach to the law.

I loved math, and I thought I was going to become an accountant. Clearly, that went a different direction as life happened, said Andrea Campbell, the attorney general of Massachusetts. She soon began a career providing legal aid in her community because most of my childhood was entangled with the criminal legal system.

Anthony Brown and Kwame Raoul learned from their fathers, who were both physicians and Caribbean immigrants. Raoul, now the attorney general of Illinois, said he learned to never forget where you came from and never forget the struggles that others go through.

Browns father drew satisfaction from knowing that he made a difference in peoples lives and taught him the importance of public service. I saw that every day as a kid growing up, said Brown, a retired army colonel now serving as attorney general of Maryland.

Letitia James, the New York attorney general, said she came from humble beginnings and was shaped by those who know struggle, pain, loss, but also perseverance. Aaron Ford, the attorney general of Nevada, attributed his achievements because the government helped in a time of need to get to my next level.

And Keith Ellison, the attorney general of Minnesota, was raised on stories of his grandparents organizing Black voters in Louisiana at the height of Jim Crow, when they endured bomb threats and a burned cross at their home.

Thats who raised me. Because of that, I have a sensitivity to people who are being punished for trying to do the right thing. And thats what we dedicate our work to. And theres a lot more to it, Ellison said.On reducing disparities in the criminal justice system

The American criminal justice system is plagued with well-documented inequality and racial disparities at every level. And while an outsized portion of defendants are people of color, prosecutors are mostly white. Many Black prosecutors entered the legal profession to bring the perspective of communities most impacted by the system into its decision-making processes.

If we are in these roles, I think people expect, and rightfully so, that we will take on criminal legal reform, that we will take out bias that exists in criminal or civil prosecutions, that we will focus on communities of color and do it in such a way that recognizes those communities are often overpoliced and under-protected, Campbell said.

Efforts at reforming the justice system have been mixed. The disparity between Black and white rates of incarceration dropped by 40% between 2000 and 2020, according to a September 2022 report by the Council on Criminal Justice. But while the number of people incarcerated overall across that period slightly fell, policing and sentencing policies vary by state, leading to divergent realities across regions.

Brown has made reducing Marylands high rate of Black male incarceration his number one strategy priority. Maryland has the highest percentage of Black people incarcerated of any state, though Southeastern states like Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have higher total populations of incarcerated Black people.

He created a civil rights division in his office and obtained greater powers from Marylands general assembly to prosecute police-involved killings and bring such cases under civil rights law.

Both Brown and Campbell said that such reform efforts were in pursuit of both improving equity and law enforcement.

Better prison conditions and fairer justice systems, Campbell argued, reduce issues like recidivism and promote trust in the justice system overall.

You can have accountability while also improving the conditions of confinement, Campbell said.On addressing police misconduct

For Ellison, improving outcomes in the legal system cant happen without ensuring fair and equitable policing across communities.

We want the system of justice to work for defendants and for victims both. And theres no reason it shouldnt, Ellison said. He believes involvement from attorneys general is probably needed in order for it to happen.

Andrea Campbell, Attorney General of Massachusetts, answers a question during an interview at the State Attorneys General Association meetings, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Boston. In exclusive sit-down interviews with The Associated Press, several Black Democrat attorneys general discuss the role race and politics plays in their jobs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Ellison, who successfully prosecuted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for Floyds murder, doesnt believe such a high-profile case of accountability for police misconduct, by itself, signaled a meaningful shift in police relations with underserved communities.

One of my big worries after the Floyd case is that now people get to say, Well, you know, we convicted that guy. Move on, Ellison said.

Ellison reflected on how his experience as a Black man informed Chauvins prosecution. I knew right off that, based on my life experience, theyre probably going to smear (Floyd), Ellison said, referencing the various tropes he had expected the defense to use. If I hadnt walked the life that I walk, Im not sure I would have been able to see that coming.

He also noted that no federal policing legislation had been passed since the national protests in the wake of Floyds murder. That didnt mean progress had not been made in Ellisons eyes, who pointed to various states and local reforms, including in Minnesota, which have enacted higher standards on police training, reforms on practices like no-knock warrants and instituted chokehold bans.

Such changes were often facilitated by Black lawmakers and law enforcement officials. Raoul recalled working on police reform measures with Republican legislators, several of whom were former law enforcement officers.

Being a Black man in a position of power during that particular time gave me a voice where I was able to get unanimity, Ford said.

Campbell doesnt see public safety and racial justice as mutually exclusive.

You can absolutely make sure that we are giving law enforcement every tool they need, every resource they need to do their jobs effectively, while at the same time taking on the misappropriation of funds, police misconduct, police brutality. All of that can happen at once, she said.On protecting democracy and the rule of law

On issues such as voting rights and election interference, Black prosecutors have also drawn national attention for litigating cases examining potential election fraud and voter disenfranchisement.

I took an oath of office when I got elected to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Nevada, Ford said. And I didnt know that literally meant wed be protecting democracy in the sense that folks would be pushing back on the legitimacy of our elections and undermining our democracy.

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, his office litigated six lawsuits against Donald Trumps presidential campaign and allied groups, which argued without evidence that widespread voter fraud had corrupted Nevadas elections.

In November, Fords office opened an investigation into the slate of electors Nevada Republicans drafted that falsely certified Trump had won the states votes in the Electoral College. The lawsuit is the latest in a string of efforts by prosecutors at all levels of government to pursue potential criminal wrongdoing by Trump and his allies in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Two Black prosecutors, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in Georgia and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in New York, are prosecuting cases on related issues, as is a special counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice. The efforts have not come without criticism. Trump has lambasted James, Bragg and Willis with language often evoking racist and stereotypical tropes, such as using terms like animal and rabid to describe Black district attorneys.

James, who has sued Trump in a civil fraud case in which she argues the real estate mogul misrepresented the values of his assets around the world in financial statements to banks and insurance companies, said Trump tends to use his multiple legal entanglements as a microphone to sow more distrust for governmental institutions.

He unfortunately plays upon individuals fears and lack of hope and their dissolution in how the system has failed them. Thats why hes garnered so much support, James said of Trump.

He claims he wants to make America great again, but the reality is that America is already exceptional, James said. Its unfortunate that we are so polarized because of the insecurities of one man.On public safety and community needs

Public safety, the cost of living and other material needs are top of mind for most Americans since the coronavirus pandemic caused a spike in crime and economic anxiety. Attorneys general have broad mandates in administering resources, meaning they often can be nimbler in responding to pressing challenges than legislators.

You dont solve crimes unless you have communities that trust that they can go to law enforcement, said Raoul, the Illinois attorney general. And people dont trust that they can go to law enforcement if they think that law enforcement is engaging in unconstitutional policing.

Ellison and James both said a top priority was housing. Weve sued a lot of bad landlords, Ellison said. James said she was focused on real estate investors buying large amounts of working- and middle-class housing across her state, as well as cracking down on deed theft and rental discrimination in New York City.

Ellison has also established a wage theft unit in his office, which he says was informed by the experience of Black Americans.

The prosecutors learn from each others crime-fighting techniques but arent uniform in their strategies. Ford said he cant just do a cut and paste job for constituencies as diverse as his. But Raoul, for instance, has spearheaded a crackdown on retail store theft in Illinois that Brown has begun to emulate in Maryland.

We do have significant authority to do a lot at once, Campbell said. Divisiveness at the federal level has prompted many people to turn to local and state officials for action, she said.On increasing Black representation among prosecutors

Even as the number of high-profile black attorneys in the legal system has risen, many Black lawmakers, district attorneys, attorneys general, and judges are often still a barrier breaker in their communities and, in some cases, the country. While the interviewed officials say they stay in touch with all their peers, they also lean on their fellow Black attorneys general in unique ways.

Keith Ellison and I served together in Congress. He was an inspiration to me when I was making the decision to move from Congress to the attorney general, Brown said. The group is in frequent communication through texts, calls and even joint travel domestically and abroad as they build working and personal relationships with each other.

We have a little group and were in regular communication. We boost each other up. We stick with each other and celebrate each other a lot, Ellison said.

The group views that collaboration as increasingly necessary due to a rising amount of litigation specifically aimed at issues of great interest to Black communities, several attorneys general said.

Theres an assault going on, an intentional assault against opportunities for the Black community at large and on diversity and inclusion, Raoul said.

Kwame Raoul, Attorney General of Illinois, listens to a question during an interview at the State Attorneys General Association meetings , Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Boston. In exclusive sit-down interviews with The Associated Press, several Black Democrat attorneys general discuss the role race and politics plays in their jobs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Raoul cited lawsuits against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in areas ranging from higher education, contracting and employment opportunities as evidence of a coordinated, well-funded assault on opportunity, he said.

We cannot be found asleep at the wheel.

The group also uses their growing size and shared perspective as Black Americans to influence other attorneys general across the country.

We know that we collectively force a conversation in the (attorney general) community at large simply by us being there, Raoul said. Thats not to say we dont debate with each other, and thats healthy as well. But we force a conversation that needs to be had.

James dismissed her barrier-breaking accolades as nothing more than historical footnote.

All that history means nothing to me nor to anyone else. People only look for results, James said. Every day I wake up and make sure that I still have this fire in my belly for justice. Sweet, sweet justice.

Being the first, James said, doesnt do anything to feed my soul.

For most Black attorneys general, the work is ongoing.

If weve made a change, its been incremental. I think it would be a little presumptuous of us to think weve changed the system, Ellison said. We might be changing the system. Hopefully, we are.

Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter.

The post AP Exclusive: Americas Black attorneys general grapple with improving a justice system rife with inequities appeared first on TheGrio.
Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy during the NBC News Republican Presidential Primary Debate on Nov. 8, 2023 in Miami Credit - Joe RaedleGetty Images

The Iowa caucuses are a little more than a month away, and the Republican presidential candidates are running out of opportunities to prove themselves.

On December 6, four candidates will gather in Tuscaloosa, AL for the fourthand possibly the lastprimary debate before voters weigh in. Once again, former President Donald Trump is planning to skip the event as he continues to hold an increasingly insurmountable lead in the polls. He is expected to hold a private fundraiser instead, according to NBC News.

The debate stage will be the smallest yet. To qualify, the Republican National Committee required candidates to have drawn donations from 80,000 individuals, including at least 200 donors from at least 20 different states. They also needed to show having 6% support in two qualifying national polls or in a combination of one national poll and one poll from two different early states. Additionally, they must have signed a loyalty pledge agreeing to support whoever the party eventually nominates.

Five candidates attended the last debate, but one of them, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, dropped out of the race shortly afterwards. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who failed to qualify for the last debate, dropped out of the race on Monday before the RNC had announced the participants of the Alabama debate.

More From TIME

Here are the candidates who will be on the debate stage:

Nikki Haley

Off the back of her strong performances in previous debates, Haley, Trumps former Ambassador to the United Nations and a former governor of South Carolina, has steadily gained in the polls while attracting renewed attention from influential Republicans. Many are drawn to her foreign policy credentials and her calls to focus on finding a consensus on abortion that can pass Congress. Since Scott, the other South Carolina politician in the race, dropped out last month, Haley has picked up more support from the states deep-pocketed donors, as well as Wall Street bigwigs. Most recently, she earned an endorsement from Americans for Prosperity, the major advocacy group in the Koch political network. Some national surveys have found Haley running in second place to the former president, and she is running firmly in second in New Hampshire. With the first nominating contests less than 45 days away, Haley appears to be solidifying the support of Trump-averse Republicans who are hoping against hope that the party avoids a 2020 general election rematch.

Ron DeSantis

The fight between Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to define themselves as the best alternative to Trump has continued throughout November. One place where DeSantis has strengthened his position is in Iowa, where he earned the endorsement of Governor Kim Reynolds, as well as that of Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of the Iowa-based conservative group The Family Leader. But even there, he faces stiff competition from Haley, who has been rising in polls of the Hawkeye state. Still, DeSantis often places second in polls of Iowa, and in national polls. After his campaign got off to a rocky start, highlighting controversial culture war issues, he has more recently emphasized his record in Florida, where he won reelection last year by 20 points after rejecting COVID-19 restrictions. (His approach to the pandemic was one key topic in an unusual debate on Thursday that pitted him against California Governor Gavin Newsom.) DeSantis signed a law in Florida this year that would ban most abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy. He has committed to supporting a 15-week national ban.

Vivek Ramaswamy

While he got plenty of attention for his attacks on other candidates and even the moderators at the last debate, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has not gained much ground in the polls. He has continued to draw little contrast between himself and the former President; in fact, his political director recently left his campaign to join Trumps. He has continued to slam elected Republicans, make pledges to slash positions in federal agencies, and issue warnings about preventing World War III. But Ramaswamy has made some strategic shifts. After rising to prominence running an unconventional campaign, Ramaswamy has woven in more traditional approaches this fall, opening an Iowa campaign headquarters and spending millions of dollars on TV ads.

Chris Christie

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has largely framed his campaign in opposition to Trump, is lagging behind his rivals in many polls of the nation and of Iowa, though he has outperformed some in New Hampshire, where he has focused his bid. Still, as much of the anti-Trump wing of the party has begun to consolidate around either Haley or DeSantis, some Republicans have urged Christie to drop out of the race. For his part, Christie has said he plans to continue his campaign through next summers Republican convention, though he has also said he might reconsider should he do poorly in the Granite State.

Write to Mini Racker at mini.racker@time.com.
China's visa-free policy for six countries hailed for boosting tourism, cultural and business exchanges

10:00, December 01, 2023 By Zhang Changyue and Qi Xijia ( Global Times

China's visa-free entry trial for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia has been hailed by people from tourism, cultural and business sectors for boosting cultural exchanges and foreign companies' confidence in investing in China.

From December 1, 2023Fridayto November 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from the above-listed six countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends and transit for no more than 15 days, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on November 24.

Following the announcement, the search volume for inbound flight tickets from the six countries on ly.com, an affiliated company of Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited, increased by more than 100 percent as of 6 pm November 24 compared to November 23, the Hubei Daily reported.

The Global Times learned from several travel agencies on Thursday that considering that planning cross-border travel would take some time, there has been no significant increase in the number of inquiries and orders placed at present. But they said the visa-free policy has given a boost to the entire industry and the summer of 2024 is expected to be the time when the inbound market will reap the benefits.

"We are currently engaged in intensive communication with overseas travel agencies for policy consultations with each other and the development of new tourism products," Xu Xiaolei, a marketing manager at China's CYTS Tours Holding Co, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of China Spring Tour, also told the Global Times that the agency had rushed to communicate with overseas partners to promote inbound travel into China immediately after the announcement of the visa-free policy, and is planning to launch travel routes connecting different Chinese regional cultures such as "Beijing with Hangzhou," "Beijing with its neighboring Qinhuangdao and Beidaihe," "Guangzhou with Kunming" as well as tailor-made services for inbound tourists.

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, told the Global Times that China's inbound tourism has huge potential and will have at least nearly 1.3 trillion yuan ($182 billion) of growth space.

According to Trip.com, the demand for travel to China is expected to rise in the near future, as the data collected by the platform shows that global search results for inbound travel to China significantly improved in the third quarter by nearly 40 percent compared to the second quarter.

We welcome more foreign friends to visit China and travel around, perhaps by high-speed rail, to experience first-hand China's high-quality development and high-level opening-up, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday when asked to comment on China State Railway Group's introduction of the English-language version of the online identity verification of foreign passports and ticket booking platform.

Wang emphasized that China is committed to enhancing people-to-people exchange with other countries and has worked to facilitate foreigners traveling, working, studying and living in China..

The inbound travelers will not only bring huge foreign exchange revenues and enhance China's international image, but will also boost China's technological innovation and international competitiveness, said Liang Jianzhang, a professor at Guanghua School of Management of Peking University.

Liang said the visa-free policy is a very positive start. If other bottlenecks such as payment and internet access can be further improved with strengthened image promotion, the number of inbound visitors to China can be greatly increased.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called on the air force to enhance its combat posture to immediately respond to military threats by enemies, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday.

Kim made the remark during a visit to the Air Force Command on Thursday on the occasion of the Day of Airmen that fell on Nov. 29, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The visit came amid fresh tension on the Korean Peninsula following the North's launch of a military spy satellite and its resumption of all military measures halted under a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement.

Photos carried by state media showed an oversized display screen on the floor of what appears to be the Air Force's operation command post.

On display screens installed at the wall were blurred images of the peninsula, part of Japan and Southeastern Asian nations as well as the Pacific Ocean.

North Korea did not specify whether those images were taken from the spy satellite that it launched on Nov. 21. But there is a possibility that those could be satellite photos or footage, given that words like "north latitude" or "Pyongyang time" are spotted on the displays.

Pyongyang has claimed the spy satellite has taken photos of major facilities and military installations in South Korea and the United States, including the White House and Pentagon. But the North has not released related satellite photos.

At the command, Kim stressed the need for the Air Force to take the lead in modernizing the operational command system and beef up its combat readiness.

"He set forth operational and tactical policies arising in putting the air force on a regular combat posture and increasing its capabilities to fight a war to the full so as to counter any military provocation and threat of the enemy immediately and powerfully," the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch.

His remarks are seen as aimed at strengthening the combat readiness by North Korea's air force, which is viewed as relatively weak among its conventional forces.

North Korea's air force has a total of 1,570 aircraft, including 810 combat aircraft, according to South Korea's 2022 defense white paper.

The white paper said North Korea is pushing to bolster its air defense capability through the development and deployment of new surface-to-air missiles as its introduction of new combat aircraft is limited.

South Korea partially suspended the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement last week in response to the satellite launch, condemned as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

In a tit-for-tat, North Korea said it would restore all military measures halted under the military accord aimed at reducing cross-border tensions and preventing accidental clashes.

On Thursday, Kim also visited a regiment of the first division of the air force with his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, and watched a demonstration flight at an observation post, the KCNA said. (Yonhap)
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo's government on Thursday postponed a deadline by two weeks for ethnic Serbs living in the country to register their vehicles with Kosovo license plates instead of Serbian ones.

The move was made to give ethnic Serbs more time to comply with the order. The deadline was initially set for Friday, but has been moved to Dec. 15.

The program has financial incentives, including the waiving of taxes and the registration fee. After the deadline passes, old number plates would be considered illegal, and violators would first be fined and then have their vehicles towed if they didn't subsequently abide by the new rules.

In recent days, Associated Press journalists have seen scores of ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo lining up to register their vehicles. Authorities say that about 3,000 vehicles out of an estimated 4,000 ones have been registered so far.

The issue of vehicle registration has sparked tensions in the past. Vehicle registration was one of the reasons why ethnic Serb municipal, judicial and police officials in four northern municipalities resigned their posts last year to protest a decision by Kosovos government to ban Serbia-issued vehicle license plates.

No official reason has been given for the recent change in attitudes among ethnic Serbs in being more willing to accept Kosovo license plates this time around.

Tensions in the north and with neighboring Serbia remain tense, especially after a deadly gunbattle on Sept. 24 when about 30 Serb gunmen clashed with Kosovo police, leaving a Kosovar officer and three Serb gunmen dead.

European Union-facilitated talks on normalizing their ties is at a stalemate.

Kosovo unilaterally broke away from Serbia and declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade has refused to recognize.

The 1998-1999 war between Serbia and Kosovo killed about 13,000 people, mostly Kosovo Albanians. It ended after a 78-day NATO bombing campaign that compelled Serbian forces to withdraw from Kosovo.
King Charles has worn a tie emblazoned with the Greek flag, just days after the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with his Greek counterpart in a diplomatic dispute over the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles.

The King wore the tie while meeting world leaders  including Sunak  at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday.

A Buckingham Palace source told CNN the tie was simply one from the Kings current collection and has made other recent appearances.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was due to meet Sunak in London on Tuesday. However the meeting was abruptly canceled by Downing Street after Mitsotakis made comments during a television interview about the status of the Parthenon Sculptures, which are currently housed in the British Museum in London.

On Sunday, Mitsotakis told the BBC in an interview that the sculptures were essentially stolen, and that his government would continue to lobby for a deal and push for a partnership with the UK.

Greece has repeatedly called for the return of the sculptures, which British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in Athens in the early 19th century, when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

The Greek prime minister said in a statement shared by his office on Monday that he was annoyed that the British Prime Minister canceled our scheduled meeting just hours before it was due to take place, adding that Greece and the UK are united by traditional ties of friendship, and that his countrys position on the Parthenon Sculptures is well-known.

Whoever believes in the correctness and justice of their views, is never afraid of opposing arguments, he added.

Charles father was born on the Greek island of Corfu and was named Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, before he married Queen Elizabeth II and became the Duke of Edinburgh.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP)  Three men held a student from India captive over the course of several months and forced him to work and perform menial tasks, then viciously beat him when he didn't complete the chores to their satisfaction, a Missouri prosecutor said Thursday.

St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph McCulloch announced charges against Venkutesh Sattaru, 35; Nikhil Penmatsa, 27; and Sravan Penumetcha, 23. All three face counts related to human trafficking, kidnapping and other crimes. They are jailed without bond and don't have attorneys listed yet.

The 20-year-old victim is hospitalized with a broken nose, broken ribs and bones in his hands and feet, and severe injuries from being punched, stomped on and beaten with pipes and a wire that left him scarred from the top of his head literally to the bottom of his feet, McCulloch said.

Authorities said the victim is the cousin of Sattaru, who owns an information technology company. The student came to the U.S. about a year ago to attend college but instead was forced to work at the company and perform other tasks demanded by the suspects, McCulloch said.

He was kept at various times in the basements of three homes without adequate food and water, and with no bathroom, authorities said.

The victim was discovered by police after a neighbor of one of the homes in the small rural town of Defiance, Missouri, asked police to perform a wellness check. As officers were at the home this week, the victim ran out of the house yelling, screaming for help, McCulloch said.

Charging documents say that the victim told police he feared he would be killed if he told anyone about the abuse because Sattaru is wealthy with deep connections in India, and the other men also are wealthy.
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.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Friday to try to defuse tension between the two countries after comments by Sanchez angered Israel for a second time in a week.

Israel recalled its ambassador to Spain for consultations in Jerusalem on Thursday after Sanchez said he doubted Israel respected international humanitarian law and repeated that military action in the Gaza Strip was not acceptable.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Sanchez' remarks were "outrageous".

"Israel is acting, and will continue to act, according to international law," Cohen said on Thursday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Last week, similar comments by Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander de Croo at the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing prompted Cohen to summon the ambassadors of both countries over the remarks that he said repeated "false claims" and "gave terrorism a boost".

On Friday, Sanchez said he told Gantz - a former Defence Minister who joined Netanyahu in an emergency unity government last month - by phone that Israel is "a partner and friend of Spain".

"Israel has the right to defend itself against this terrorist attack, but I reaffirmed that Spain finds the death of civilians in Gaza unbearable and that Israel must comply with international humanitarian law," Sanchez wrote in a post in X.

Gantz also said on X he had emphasised to Sanchez "that for the sake of Israel's security, Israeli civilians' sense of security, and restoring regional stability - terrorist Hamas must be dismantled in Gaza."

"I added to the Prime Minister that the State of Israel places great importance on avoiding civilian casualties as much as possible. Hamas on the other hand, continues to perpetrate horrific crimes against humanity like using children and women as human shields for its terror activities," he also wrote in X.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo in Madrid and Henriette Chacar in Tel Aviv; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Kinnan Abdalhamid, one of the three Palestinian college students shot in Vermont over Thanksgiving weekend, recalled Friday how he feared his friends were killed when he heard shots ringing out  and how their lives were likely saved by an emergency SOS call.

"I was shaking and genuinely believed both of my friends were dead," Abdalhamid told NBC News.

Watch Fear and Faith: Palestinians in America, a special set to stream on NBC News Now at 9 p.m. ET.

He recounted the shock and fear that engulfed him when he and his friends Hisham Awartani and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, all 20, were shot as they were out walking Nov. 25 in Burlington, Vermont.

Earlier that day, Abdalhamid and his friends had been bowling and were going for a walk in Awartanis grandmothers neighborhood when terror struck.

We walked around the block and on the way back, across the sidewalk, we see this man standing on his porch looking away, Abdalhamid said. He turned around and as soon as he saw us, he ran down the steps, pulled out a pistol and started shooting.

He first shot my friend Tahseen, and I soon heard the sound of his body on the ground and him screaming. That was my signal to run. Then I soon heard another pistol shot while running, Hisham hit the floor, he recalled. I jumped the fence and I believe thats when he shot me.

Abdalhamid said he hid in the backyard of a house for a minute or two, shaking in fear.

A sharp pain

"My phone was out of battery and I think it fell while I was jumping the fence. After gathering the courage, (I thought) like, 'All right, he could be after me now, or if my friends have any chance of surviving, I need to call 911 as soon as possible,' he said.

Abdalhamid limped as he rushed to another house where he saw through the windows that people were inside.

I knocked the glass. I was like 'Please, come out, I need y'all to come out.' They stared for a bit and reluctantly came," he recounted. He explained that his friends had been shot, and the family in the home called 911 and told him to sit on a bench outside.

Once he sat, he felt a sharp pain in his backside.

Thats when I was like, 'Oh, I was shot as well,' Abdalhamid said.

Abdalhamid was shot in the glutes and was released from the hospital earlier this week. Tahseen Ali Ahmad, a student at Connecticuts Trinity College, was shot in the chest, and Hisham Awartani, a junior at Brown University in Rhode Island, was shot in the spine.

Abdalhamid asked the family for an ice pack and said he was losing consciousness.

Police arrived quickly, and it turned out that Awartani may have saved his friends' lives by using his phones emergency SOS button.

(Police) came so fast because it turns out Hisham  while he was down  after trying to open the phone with his code, he couldnt because there was too much blood on the phone," Abdalhamid said.

"He was able to think of using the phones emergency SOS, which probably directly saved both their lives.

Targeted for speaking Arabic?

Abdalhamid urged officers to drive him directly to the hospital, warning that he was losing consciousness, and he made it safely to the hospital.

When he was reunited with his friends at the hospital, they concluded, without question, that they were targeted for speaking Arabic.

"We were like, 'Why do you think it happened?' We were like, 'Oh yeah, probably because we were speaking Arabic.' It was an instant conclusion because we can't think about anything else," Abdalhamid explained.

At the time of the shooting, he and his friends had been talking about how they probably hadn't done enough homework during their Thanksgiving break, he said.

Officials havent shared a motive as to why suspect Jason J. Eaton, 48, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree attempted murder, opened fire. Abdalhamid told CNN earlier this week that the gunman didnt say a word to them when he pulled out a gun.

Police noted two of victims were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves, at the time of the shooting, but haven't said if the shootings were motivated by hate.

"As soon as he was arrested, we felt a lot safer in going out because we thought it could be a genuine threat, at least on my part," Abdalhamid said.

'I havent been focusing much on myself'

The shooting sparked outrage amid ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and a surge in Islamophobia in the United States reminiscent of the times after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I have heard of other Palestinians being beat up, stabbed or humiliated, but I certainly didnt expect to be shot and theres a difference between intellectually knowing it and first hand experiencing it or close people around you experiencing it," he said.

Abdalhamid noted that despite growing up in the occupied West Bank, his mother wanted him to study in the U.S., thinking it would be safer.

"There should be a lot more attention to the protection of not only Palestinians, but Arabs in general," he said. "Because I feel that the type of people (that) shoot Palestinians cannot distinguish between them and an Arab, an Arab and a Muslim or a Muslim and a terrorist."

"Its important to protect all groups. Everyone who follows the law should be protected no matter their identity," he said.

Despite the trauma, Abdalhamid says, he's focused on the strife of his people and the recovery of his friends.

Honestly I havent been focusing much on myself. They just ended the humanitarian pause and Ive been focusing on my people dying both in the West Bank and Gaza. So, that is really where my mind has been most of the time, he said.
Many were Palestinian teenagers, some detained for throwing stones or incendiary devices. Others were women jailed for crimes including attempted murder or manufacturing knives and daggers.

Some had murkier offenses attached to their names on government lists of those released this week, such as state security or damage to the security area.

Theyre among the Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli custody during the weeklong cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages in Gaza who were taken by Hamas during its deadly Oct. 7 attack. An agreement, brokered by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, traded prisoners for each freed hostage.

The prisoners high-profile releases brought renewed attention to the experiences of Palestinians subject to military arrests in the West Bank, including some who are held under administrative detention. That system, a measure aimed at preventing future crimes, allows people to be held without charges, trial or access to the allegations against them.

Israel has long argued its a necessary tactic to prevent credible threats from militants and protect sensitive intelligence. But the practice has been criticized by human rights groups that say it denies people due process.

The releases, which apparently ended as the cease-fire collapsed, came amid a rising number of new detentions since the war began. On Friday, new data showed the number of administrative detentions has increased sharply and now stands at 2,873  rising by more than 800 in November alone, far more than the prisoners who were released.

More than 3,000 Palestinians have been arrested since Oct. 7, the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a statement on Friday.

A newly released prisoner (L) hugs a relative during a welcome ceremony following the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas since the October 7 attacks, in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, early on Dec. 1, 2023.

In all, 240 Palestinian prisoners had been released to secure the return of more than 100 mostly Israeli hostages. The Israeli government had published a list of the Palestinian prisoners eligible for release. One human rights group said only a small number of prisoners Israel deemed eligible had been held administratively.

The Palestinians were identified on lists released daily by the Israeli government. But beneath the details of who those prisoners are  and why they were detained  lay complex tensions that long predate the current war.

Palestinian prisoners freed in Ramallah, West Bank

The prisoner returns drew daily crowds in the West Bank town of Ramallah to meet buses carrying the latest groups from Israeli prisons.

A newly released prisoner gestures as supporters hold up phones during a welcome ceremony following the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank early on Dec. 1, 2023. The prisoner releases came in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Fadia Barghouti, a resident of Deir Ghassana in the West Bank who works as an English teacher, joined the crowd Thursday to welcome an extended family relative, Suhair Barghouti, 64.

The Palestinian Prisoners Society, a nongovernmental rights group, said Suhair Barghouti was held in administrative detention and denied access to medication, the New York Times reported, noting that her husband was a high-profile prisoner for decades.

The daily log released by the Israeli government lists her offense as simply, national security  other.

Fadia Barghouti said her 22-year-old son is among relatives still behind bars under administrative detention.

She says her son, a quiet computer engineering student, is no militant. She thinks he was detained weeks earlier because of his association with a Hamas-affiliated student group at college.

The U.S. designates Hamas as a terrorist organization, as do a number of other countries. It has a military wing but also acts as a separate political entity that operates government services in Gaza.

USA TODAY could not independently verify her claims about Barghouti's son.

Why does Israel have so many Palestinian prisoners?

The lists include a variety of other offenses, as serious as attempted murder, or as a note that simply reads gathering or association. They do not denote whether the offenses led to charges or convictions.

Some detainees are shown with an organizational affiliation, listing groups Israel considers illegal terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Many others on the list do not show any affiliated organizations.

Jessica Montell, head of Israeli human rights organization HaMoked, said about two-thirds of more than 300 prisoners listed by Israel as eligible for exchange for hostages had not yet been sentenced but were in some stage of court proceedings, such as awaiting trial.

And she said it appeared that roughly 10% of the more than 300 prisoners listed by Israel as eligible for exchange for hostages were being held on administrative detention. In some such instances, the person's offense is listed with a vague term such as endangering the security of the area, she said.

An Israeli border police vehicle outside the Ofer military prison, between Ramallah and Beitunia in the occupied West Bank, on Nov. 30, 2023, before the release of Palestinian prisoners.

But Montell said the number of Palestinians in administrative detention was already growing even before the war.

But since then, administrative detainees grew from 1,319 on Oct. 1 to 2,873 by Dec. 1, according to the group, citing data from the Israel Prison Service. Such detainees now constitute more than one-third of Palestinians incarcerated by Israel.

That rise comes amid increased arrests by the Israeli military of people in West Bank towns and refugee camps suspected of being active in Hamas, she said.

On Friday, the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory said it was seriously concerned at the recent dramatic growth in the number of Palestinians arrested and detained by Israeli security forces across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Among its concerns are what it said were many instances of arrests without any direct evidence of the commission of an offense. The office also cited concern about alleged abuses of some prisoners and poor prison conditions.

The Red Cross last month warned that escalating violence and road blockages in the West Bank severely restricted access to livelihoods. Since Oct. 7, more than 100 Palestinians, including children, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers, according to the United Nations.

Montell, whose group helps Palestinian families seeking information on relatives held in administrative detention, has been seeing signs of its increasing use for weeks.

Calls from family members seeking information have grown five-fold in recent weeks, she said.

Deeper tensions in West Bank

BTselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, has said the proactive detention infringes on due process and makes it difficult for attorneys to mount a defense.

While its possible to appeal detentions, which usually are set for six months but can be extended indefinitely, the group said that Israeli military courts rarely nullify detention orders.

Its part of a wider concern among residents over the justice system in the West Bank, a territory controlled by the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority. Palestinians there fall under military jurisdiction while civil courts have jurisdiction over Israeli settlers.

Some analysts say support for Hamas has increased in the West Bank and Gaza since the start of the war.

A newly released prisoner is carried by supporters during a welcome ceremony in Ramallah early on Dec. 1, 2023.

While Israels hard-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has likened celebrations of returning Palestinian prisoners to celebrating terrorism, news reports from the West Bank showed emotional moments as prisoners returned amid shouts for Hamas.

Among the Palestinian prisoners released, virtually all were women and children, according to an Associated Press count.

Among those released was a 14-year-old Ahmad Slaimah, who CNN reported had never been sentenced for a crime. His father, Nayef Slaimah, said he was grateful for his son's release after he lost all contact with him after Oct. 7, CNN reported.

"When Ahmad was in prison, we couldnt visit him, his father said.

Crowds also gathered earlier this week for the return of a high-profile Palestinian activist who was arrested three weeks ago after a social media post promising to slaughter Israeli settlers. The family of Ahed Tamimi, 22, has said the post was written by an imposter.

Newly released activist Ahed Tamimi, center, is greeted by relatives during a welcome ceremony in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank early on Nov. 30, 2023.

Tamimi became a symbol of Palestinian resistance six years ago when she spent eight months in jail for slapping and kicking an Israeli soldier after her cousin was shot with a rubber bullet during a protest.

Whether the cease-fire can be reopened to release more hostages and prisoners remains unclear.

After the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas expired Friday, the Israeli military announced it had resumed combat in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces 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 mediators in Qatar on another extension to again pause the violence that has killed thousands and left much of the Gaza Strip in ruins in the weeks after the Hamas attack on Israel that left more than 1,000 dead.

Israel says about 137 people are still held hostage, 117 of which are men. Several dozen are soldiers. Talks are expected to become more difficult with fewer women and children hostages left in Gaza.

Meantime, Fadia Barghouti said she was hopeful that talks would continue and lead eventually to a lasting cease-fire and ultimately a path to peaceful existence  and her sons eventual release.

I hope that we will hear of a very long truce or a ceasefire with a fair solution for all, she said. We're looking for the end of this suffering.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Released Palestinian prisoners highlight controversial Israeli tactics
Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Donald Trump renewed attacks on the wife of the judge in the New York civil fraud trial of his business empire, before and almost immediately after an appellate court on Thursday reinstated a gag order against him in the case.

The New York appellate court decided to reapply the gag order that barred the former US president and his lawyers from making public statements about court staff in his civil fraud trial, court records showed.

Related: Office of judge presiding over Trumps New York trial bombarded with threats

Trump on Wednesday attacked Dawn Engoron, the wife of the judge, Arthur Engoron, and the judges clerk, on his social media platform Truth Social.

He called Dawn Engoron a Trump hating wife and said that she and Arthur Engorons law clerk had taken over control of the New York State Witch Hunt Trial aimed at me, my family, and the Republican Party.

On Thursday, the gag order against him, which had been paused two weeks ago, was reinstated, but it did not stop Trump lashing out further. The order only specifies comments about members of Judge Engorons staff, not his family.

Trump posted screenshots of vulgar and profane anti-Trump messages on X, formerly known as Twitter, purported to have been made by Dawn Engoron  prompting her swiftly to assert that she does not have an account.

I do not have a Twitter account. This is not me. I have not posted any anti-Trump messages, Dawn Engoron told Newsweek.

One meme shows Trump digitally altered into wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and mopping floors. The caption read: Hell never be in the WHITE HOUSE again. Hes headed for the BIG HOUSE.

Trump then added captions to his posts, such as one that read: This is the Judges Wife and Family that are putting these things out. I am not entitled to a Jury under this Statute. Can this be happening in America?

The court last month had sought to prohibit him from commenting about court staff at his trial in New York, then paused the gag order.

Barely an hour after that, Trump, who is running for president again, unleashed a barrage of social media outrage at a clerk who has become the lightning rod for his rage in the case.

Engoron had imposed the gag order on Trump and his lawyers in October after they repeatedly went after his court staff including his principal law clerk, Allison Greenfield, on social media, although Engoron said they were free to criticize him.

The $250m case against Trump and his two adults sons over illegally inflating the value of assets of the family business empire, the Trump Organization, in a case brought by the New York attorney general, Letitia James, remains under way and is expected to wrap up next month. The court has found them liable but the trial, taking place without a jury, is to establish more details about the offenses committed and what the consequences should be.

Trump is accused of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars to dupe lenders and insurers. He has denied wrongdoing and said James is politically biased against him.

Trump in October accused Engorons top clerk of political bias in a post on his Truth Social platform. The post left the court inundated with hundreds of harassing and threatening phone calls, voicemails, emails, letters, and packages from Trump supporters, Engoron said in a court filing, leading to a limited gag order.

The order was paused while Trumps lawyers appealed, arguing it infringed on his right to free speech under the US constitution.

A representative of the attorney generals office declined to comment on the order being reinstated, and Trumps lawyers did not immediately respond to inquiries.

Engoron has already fined Trump $15,000 for twice violating the order and warned that future breaches would be met with steeper penalties, including imprisonment.
Sir Keir Starmer has called for more global leadership from the UK government on climate change and has pledged to play a full part on the international stage if Labour wins the next election.

The Labour leader attended the Cop28 summit on Friday at Expo City Dubai, where a global stocktake on climate goals is set to show that much more work is needed to reach key targets.

Sir Keir held several bilateral talks with world leaders on Friday, including the King of Jordan and the Prime Minister of Barbados, and will hold more on Saturday during his visit to the Middle East.

But he called on the UK to do more to help achieve climate targets, which he said would also help millions at home struggling with high bills.

The shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Miliband, has joined Sir Keir at Cop28 (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Speaking to the BBC, Sir Keir said: Every country needs to do more across the globe, and that includes the UK.

We have done some good things, but we need to lead by the power of example, not use that as a reason for going no further.

This is a huge obligation for Britain because many people watching this will be struggling with the green transition to renewables, so theres a huge amount of public benefit for many millions of people in Britain to whats going on here.

So instead of retreating from that and seeing it as an unwanted obligation, we need to see it as an opportunity to help people with their bills.

He added: What I want to see is much more global leadership from the United Kingdom.

Im here as a statement of intent, that should there be an election next year that we win, then we will play our full part on the international stage, obviously towards those net zero targets, but also because of the huge benefit to millions of people back in the UK who desperately need those lower bills and that certainty.

Sir Keir has been joined on his trip to the United Arab Emirates by the shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, and the shadow climate change secretary, Ed Miliband.

Earlier on Friday he was present for an opening address by the King to the World Climate Action Summit, which Sir Keir described as very powerful.

The Opposition leader repeated his accusation that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was shrinking on the international stage and added that Mr Sunak was playing petty politics by trying to polarise the climate debate.

Sir Keir Starmer met Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, during a bilateral meeting on Friday (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Labour is hoping to stress that should it win the next general election, the party would be open to green investment, with Sir Keir pledging to be open to ramp up climate spending to 28 billion during the second half of the next parliament.

He said green investment would be an investment in the lowering of bills in the long term, and that all spending would be subject to our fiscal rules.

Sir Keir said: Im here because its in the British national interest that Im here, because if there is an election next year that we are privileged enough to win, then its very important that we go all out for clean power 2030 (and) bring those bills down.

Ive had the opportunity here to talk to world leaders on this. Ive talked to global investors this afternoon.

They want to plan with us how they might work with us if we come into government, in order to reduce peoples energy bills and take them through that transition. So Im here because its in the national interest.

Its also a statement of intent so that everyone can see how an incoming Labour government would act differently from the current government which frankly, is shrinking from its obligations here.

Thats being felt not just across the globe, but back in Britain as well.

He added: I think that the Prime Minister is one of the people whos trying to polarise the debate.

Actually, when you come to an international conference like this, its about casting aside differences and showing global leadership.

Every single country in the world needs to do more. If we dont hit these targets on the climate, it will be a disaster, which is measured in floods, in fires, in all sorts of catastrophes across the world.

He also said he was dismayed and saddened by the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, having discussed the situation with the King of Jordan in a bilateral talk on Friday afternoon.

He said: We are all dismayed and saddened to see the developments today.

I think the single most important thing is that we get back to the cessation of hostilities that weve seen over the last few days.

That is the only way we can make progress on the hostages, the only way to get humanitarian aid in that is desperately needed, and ultimately, the only way we can make those steps towards the only meaningful resolution, which is a political resolution and a two-state solution.

So even if its at the 11th hour, even against the backdrop that we see today, I want to argue for that cessation of hostilities.

What we cannot do, absolutely cannot do, is to go back to the phase of fighting, of hostilities, we saw just before the last few days. We cant go back to that.
Another landlord-tenant battle is brewing in Kansas City over an issue that the landlords won last time around.

Now four years later, the citywide tenant union KC Tenants is taking another run with the support of Mayor Quinton Lucas at getting an ordinance passed that would prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to people based solely on an applicants credit history, prior evictions, criminal background or source of income.

The city council stripped a similar provision from the Tenants Bill of Rights that KC Tenants was successful in getting approved four years ago. In passing the bill of rights, the council agreed that renters should be guaranteed a decent place to live with protections against discrimination or recrimination when tenants complain.

But the council sided with landlords who claimed it would have been unfair for the city to require them to participate in government housing assistance voucher programs like the federal Section 8 program, if they didnt want to put up with the red tape.

Nor should they be forced to rent to people who might not be able to pay their bills on time or had that in their history, the landlord groups said.

But now KC Tenants is trying again, hoping that the new council elected last summer will pass an ordinance introduced Thursday that not only prohibits landlords from taking into consideration a potential renters source of income, but also from screening out tenants based solely on measures of their financial stability or past history as a renter.

The ordinance would impose a $1,000 penalty for each violation. Repeat offenders would be required to take and pay for courses on how to comply with the ordinance, among other requirements.

Among the six co-sponsors is Lucas, who was instrumental in getting the Tenants Bill of Rights passed in December 2019 by removing that provision from the legislation during the contentious, two-month process to get the rest of it passed.

The other co-sponsors are council members Andrea Bough, Johnathan Duncan, Eric Bunch, Darrell Curls and Ryana Parks-Shaw. It will take only one more vote from the other seven council members to pass the ordinance, but it is sure to come in for a lot of scrutiny before that final vote.

First stop will be the Dec. 12 meeting of the councils special committee for legal review, which Lucas chairs. Bough and Melissa Robinson are the other members.

The ordinance banning source of income discrimination is very basic common sense, saying that if you lawfully obtain income, it doesnt matter how you should pay your rent, Lucas said in a prepared statement in a news release sent out by KC Tenants. It says very simply that you cannot be discriminated against when you are renting in Kansas City.

A stricter ban on housing discrimination

According to KC Tenants, source-of-income discrimination disproportionately impacts Black people, especially Black women with children, who hold the largest share of housing vouchers in Missouri.

Low-income people who qualify for the federal Section 8 housing program are given vouchers worth varying amounts based on family income and the cost of rental units in the market that they can use to pay their rent. But not all landlords accept them, because of the restrictions, inspections and paperwork that comes with that federal guarantee that their rent will be paid.

Some landlords also shy away from tenants who have housing subsidies from non-profit agencies that are only good for a short time. Many landlords also will only rent to people who can prove they have a reliable source of income from a steady job. As such, gig workers and people who get much of their income from tips find it hard to find rental housing.

Source of income discrimination is a social justice issue, KC Tenants said in a written statement released Thursday and signed by 30 organizations, ranging from churches and neighborhood associations, to a wide range of advocacy groups and the Service Employees International Union Local 1.

Many renters affected by (source of income) discrimination have been disproportionately renters of color, women, and people with disabilities.

KC Tenants says that more than 120 jurisdictions have passed source-of-income laws, including Lawrence, St. Louis, Denver, Des Moines, Iowa, and Los Angeles.

Everyone should have the right to safe and stable housing, and where someone gets their income should not jeopardize that safety and stability, the letter said.

According to KC Tenants summary of the proposed ordinance, landlords could not discriminate against potential tenants based on source of income from any occupation, profession, or activity, nor their use of use of public programs, including but not limited to Section 8, to pay the rent.

Landlords cannot discriminate against tenants solely based on credit score, prior evictions, alleged damages, convictions or arrests. They must consider tenants entire application when screening them, it said.

Kill the housing market?

The mayors office says the summary fairly reflects the new provisions in the 19-page ordinance that would amend chapters in the city code governing civil rights and health and sanitation.

But leaders of two local landlord associations told The Star that the proposed ordinance will have the opposite effect of increasing housing options for the people its meant to protect. The ordinance will instead, they say, convince the mom-and-pop landlords they represent to get out of the rental business, selling their houses and apartments to individual homeowners or big, out-of-state companies that own thousands of rental units and would likely raise rents.

This will kill the affordable housing market in our city, said Stacey Johnson-Cosby, president of the Kansas City Regional Housing Alliance. And the worst thing you can do is try to force somebody to deal with the federal government, and they dont want to, and theyll leave, theyll leave the market.

Robert Long, president of Kansas City-based Landlords Inc., agreed and said the restrictions on screening applicants takes discretion away from landlords, who want to ensure they will rent to tenants who will take care of the property and pay their rent.

We got source of income taken out the last time around. But we knew itd come back, he said. Its like talking to the wall.

Both said they first learned of the proposed ordinance this week, although it has been in the works since August when Lucas listed it among a long list of goals in his inaugural address.

I just found out about it Tuesday night, Johnson-Cosby said on Thursday afternoon. So yesterday was my first full day working on it. So what were doing is reaching out to council members to make sure they realize what this says. And then Im also reaching out to my peers to alert them that this is happening.
South Korea imposed unilateral sanctions Friday on 11 North Korean individuals involved in satellite and ballistic missile development, in response to the North's launch of a military spy satellite last week, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

The announcement came on the same day that the United States, Japan and Australia released their own sanctions against Pyongyang over the spy satellite launch, marking the first time for the four countries to impose sanctions on the reclusive regime around the same time.

The sanctions apply to five individuals, comprising Ri Chul-ju, deputy director of the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA), Kim In-bum, Ko Kwan-yong and Choe Myong-su  all NATA employees  and Kang Son, a manager from the Ryongsong Machine Complex.

NATA is known to have led the project to build and launch the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite and the Chollima-1 rocket, its space launch vehicle.

Also on the list are Lt. Gen. Kim Chun-kyo of the Korean People's Army, Choi Il-hwan and Choi Myong-chol, both of whom are deputy directors of the North's Munitions Industry Department; and Jin Su-nam, also known as Sin Kyu-nam, a third secretary stationed in the North Korean Embassy in Russia.

Two others are Kim Yong-hwan, head of the 727 Research Institute, and Choi Byong-wan, manager at the Taesung Machine Factory.

They are accused of involvement in the research and development related to and operations of ballistic missiles.

North Korea is banned from any launches using ballistic missile technology under multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions.

Friday's announcement came in tandem with a series of sanctions against North Korea by the U.S., Japan and Australia.

"It is significant that the governments of South Korea, the United States, Japan and Australia imposed sanctions in succession on the same date for the first time," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a release.

"Australia's participation for the first time in the designation of independent sanctions by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan demonstrates that the international community is bolstering the commitment that it will not sit idly by over North Korea's repeated provocations," the ministry said.

Hours earlier, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said it sanctioned Kimsuky, a North Korean cyber espionage group, and eight foreign-based agents of the reclusive regime in response to Pyongyang's spy satellite launch.

Japan slapped sanctions on five individuals and four groups, including Kimsuky. Australia imposed sanctions on seven individuals and one entity.

South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have imposed sanctions against the North at the same time in December 2022 and in September this year.

The sanctions are pursuant to South Korean laws on foreign exchange transactions and prohibition against financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,

Under the sanctions, anyone seeking to have financial deals with those on the sanctions list is required to get approval from the chief of the Bank of Korea or the country's financial authorities.

The latest independent sanctions designation against Pyongyang is the 13th of its kind under the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol. It raises the total numbers of sanctioned North Korean individuals and institutions to 75 and 53, respectively. (Yonhap)

A new type of the Chollima-1 rocket carrying a reconnaissance satellite called the Malligyong-1 lifts off from the launching pad at the Sohae satellite launch site in Tongchang-ri in northwestern North Korea, Nov. 21. Courtesy of North's official Korean Central News Agency
Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

The United Auto Workers, one of the USs largest labor unions, has come out in support of a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine as a temporary ceasefire ended on Friday with Israel resuming military operations in Gaza.

The UAW is now the largest union to have called for a ceasefire. It represents 400,000 workers in the US and more than 580,000 retired workers.

Im proud today to announce that the UAW international has joined the call for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, Brandon Mancilla, UAW director, said at a press conference on Friday outside the White House where protesters have been on hunger strike.

From opposing fascism in WWII to mobilizing against apartheid South Africa and the Contra war, the UAW has consistently stood for justice across the globe. A labor movement that fights for social and economic justice for all workers must always stand against war and for peace.

Our international executive board will also be forming a divestment and just transition working group to study the history of Israel and Palestine, our unions economic ties to the conflict, and explore how we can have a just transition for US workers from war to peace.

Ceasefire resolutions among local and national labor unions in the US have been increasing since early October. The American Postal Workers Union, the UE union, the California Nurses Association, the Chicago Teachers Union and several other local unions and worker groups have issued public calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

The announcement comes as the UAW recently secured historic gains in new union contracts with the Big Three automakers, Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors, and have launched a nationwide unionizing campaign aimed at organizing nearly 150,000 workers at 13 other large automakers in the US.

In a social media post Shawn Fain, the UAWs recently elected president, said he was proud of the decision and that the UAW had consistently stood for justice across the globe.

I am proud that the UAW International Union is calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. From opposing fascism in WWII to mobilizing against apartheid South Africa and the CONTRA war, the @UAW has consistently stood for justice across the globe..  Shawn Fain (@ShawnFainUAW) December 1, 2023

Both Joe Biden and his likely presidential rival Donald Trump have been courting the UAW and came out in support of strikers.
A group of about 150 University of California professors penned a public letter rebuking the school systems president for proposing new educational programs that would, in part, train faculty on presenting a viewpoint-neutral history of the Middle East.

In a letter Thursday, the faculty took issue with several aspects of the proposal and called on University of California (UC) President Michael Drake to rescind his use of the term viewpoint-neutral history from his remarks to the UC Board of Regents on Nov. 15.

We are all committed to inclusivity and academic excellence, but to suggest that the UC administration should determine how and what we teach will set a chilling precedent for our field and the many others engaged in teaching topics that might be considered controversial or divisive, like climate change, the history of racism, and genocide and mass atrocity, the professors wrote in their letter.

By using that term, the professors continued, you appear to be calling into question the academic integrity of the community of University of California scholars already engaged in the historical study and teaching of the Middle East.

It is an unneeded rebuke of the rigorous work done by our colleagues who spend significant time developing and delivering world-class curriculum and pedagogy, not to mention the very principle of faculty shared governance which rests in the faculty the sole responsibility for maintaining the quality of our universities academic programs, they added.

The critical letter comes after Drake earlier this month announced that $7 million of his offices budget would be dedicated to three specific areas  $3 million of which would go toward emergency mental health support and another $2 million would help campuses develop educational programs that would help inform and improve the public discourse on this issue.

This will include programs focused on better understanding anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, how to recognize and combat extremism, and a viewpoint-neutral history of the Middle East, Drake added, in his remarks earlier this month.

Another $2 million would help train our own leadership, staff, and faculty who are seeking guidance on how to navigate their roles as educators in this space, he said, adding, The goal is to ensure that UC leaders and educators are equipped with the knowledge they need to respond when issues arise and that our university policies are supportive, preventative, and viewpoint-neutral.

In the Thursday letter, the faculty said they were deeply concerned about the word preventative in Drakes remarks, saying it is reminiscent of the United Kingdoms prevent strategy which was designed to prevent vulnerable people from being drawn into extremism. In reality, they wrote, the strategy referred to methods to monitor, surveil, silence and intimidate students and faculty who engage in research or express opinions critical of the UK Government and its policies.

Your statement has worrying echoes with other countries where governments have attempted to introduce policies that would constrain, censor and punish critical speech and scholarship, they wrote.

The University of California responded to the letter in an emailed statement, saying the programs Drake proposed would be voluntary and did not refer to classroom curricula.

The University of California remains deeply committed to shared governance and the academic freedom of our faculty. The presidents remarks were referencing voluntary educational programming on our campuses, not classroom content or curriculum. We are actively working with our campuses to determine how to distribute these funds in ways that will benefit our campus communities, the statement read.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Not one but two pubs on Malta are dedicated to Diana (Saskia ODonoghue)

Ah, here we are  more visitors to the museum.

Its a common experience for brothers Noel and Silvio Farrugio who own Dianas pub in the tourist hot spot of Qawra in Malta: seeing open-mouthed fans of the late Princess trying to take in the hundreds of pieces of memorabilia on show.

While it must be irritating for the pair when people walk in, gawp, take pictures then leave without buying a drink, the pub has been attracting locals and tourists alike for years. Set up by Noel and Silvios late father  a great fan of the iconic royal  in the early 1990s, it was renamed after Diana in 1996 and has stayed much the same ever since.

As well as an instantly recognisable sign featuring the face of the Peoples Princess drawing punters in, the walls inside are covered in memorabilia of Diana. Plates, photos, portraits  you name it, everything is there.

This Qawra pub is plastered with Lady Di memorabilia (Saskia ODonoghue)

Noel tells me that two prints of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip came from their grandmothers house but the vast majority of the pieces emblazoning the walls and shelves of the low-lit space come as gifts from fans of Diana  and of the pub itself.

Read more on Malta travel:

The Farrugio family have long been stans of the princess, and its a sentiment shared with many on the island. Silvio tells me that, up until at least a decade after her untimely death in 1997, fans would lay flowers at the pub every year on the anniversary of her passing. The brothers say that the interest in her had dropped a little in recent years but the popularity of Netflixs The Crown is bringing Diana  and this quasi-shrine  to a new audience.

And its not just those who come to take pictures with no intention of paying for anything who frequent the offbeat watering hole. The pub boasts a jovial atmosphere where local accents mix harmoniously with British, Italian, French and German voices.

She made the world a better place and Im just so glad I got to be on earth at the same time as her

Sitting at an outdoor table in the warm November sun, Liam, a 28-year-old on holiday from Liverpool, tells me Diana means very little to him as he was a toddler when she died. He comes to the pub for the food  traditional British pub fare, including a ribeye steak dish and a bright orange cocktail named after, you guessed it, Princess Diana.

Two sisters in their sixties, though, say they come to Malta in the autumn every year  and never miss a chance to visit their favourite pub and pay tribute to their favourite royal. She was an angel, Pauline, the eldest sibling says, She made the world a better place and Im just so glad I got to be on earth at the same time as her.

There is some confusion among patrons I get chatting to around whether Diana actually ever visited the pub  or indeed the island. In fact, it turns out she never did make an appearance but, Im told, the Maltese love the British royal family on the whole  and the feeling appears to have been mutual.

Silvio, left, and Noel, right, outside their beloved Dianas pub (Saskia ODonoghue)

From 1949 to 1951, the late Queen  then princess  made several visits here with her husband Prince Philip. The young couple stayed at Villa Guardamangia, just outside the capital Valletta, and by all accounts threw themselves into life in Malta. Philip was serving as an officer in the Royal Navy and, as Kenneth Gambin of Heritage Malta tells me, Elizabeth would frequently wave him goodbye from the Harbour Fire Command station at Fort St Elmo, or watch him play polo at Marsa.

The Villa is currently closed for refurbishment before it opens as a museum, but royal fans visiting the island need not miss out. Half an hour away, there is another Diana-themed pub: the Lady Di in the town of Sliema. This is, unlike Dianas pub in Qawra, very much a joint for locals. Other than the sign out front, there is little indication that its an establishment paying tribute to the late royal.

I walk to the bar where a lump of anonymous meat and a man sharpening knives await. Ordering my pint of Strongbow I head to the outside seating area and get chatting to some regulars. Theyre locals and  luckily  very friendly.

Frankie Cutajar opened the Lady Di on the day of Dianas marriage to Charles in 1981 (Saskia ODonoghue)

Kurt and Andrew are friends in their early forties. While they like the pub itself, its extra special to them being named after Diana. Can you think of a better person to name anything after? I cant, says Andrew. They tell me about some of their earliest memories in pubs, as children in the 1980s and 90s. In every drinking spot, punters would cheers each other, saying: God save the Queen.

Frankie Cutajar opened the Lady Di on 29th July 1981  the day of Dianas marriage to Charles. He tells me that he met the Princess of Wales via a well-connected friend in London and promised her he would name his bar after her. And, clearly, he kept his word.

He even has a letter from Buckingham Palace giving him permission to christen the pub as such. Its somewhere in storage, he says.

If Charles came here and asked me to rename the pub after Queen Camilla, Id have to refuse  no one would come

The chatty customers, Andrew and Kurt, say the vast majority of Maltese people love the entire royal family  though thats not the case for the pubs co-landlord, Frankies son Keith. Hes worked at the bar all his life and still adores Diana. Its a different story when it comes to King Charles though. When I ask him what he would do if he turned up at the door, Keith says, Id simply ignore him. He doesnt deserve my attention.

Back at Dianas pub in Qawra, theres a similar sentiment from Silvio. If Charles came here and asked me to rename the pub after Queen Camilla, Id have to refuse  no one would come.

It seems as though the British royal family will forever be linked with Malta  but its Diana who continues to reign supreme on this Mediterranean island.

Read more of our best Malta hotel reviews
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. On November 28, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of India Vahagn Afyan presented the Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of India Droupadi Murmu.

During the tete-a-tete conversation following the Ceremony of Presentation of Credentials held at the Presidential Palace, the Ambassador noted that Armenia attaches great importance to India's traditions rich in historical, cultural and democratic values, as well as bilateral ties that record developing economic progress, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

At the meeting, the President of the Republic of India spoke about to the importance of the centuries-long Armenian presence in various regions of India, the recent activity in various fields of bilateral cooperation, and the importance of taking further steps to promote youth involvement in a number of programs.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, on December 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Filip Ivanovic.

The ministers expressed mutual confidence that, with joint efforts and based on the existing friendly sentiments, it will be possible to further enrich the bilateral agenda between the two countries. To achieve this goal, specific areas with tangible potential for cooperation have been identified, especially in the fields of high technologies, science, education and tourism, the foreign ministry said.

According to the source, mentioning the priority given by the Armenian government to the field of information technology, Minister Mirzoyan expressed his willingness to make efforts to exchange experiences in the mentioned field and implement joint projects.

An agreement was reached to discuss recommendations through political consultations. Regional issues were also addressed at the meeting.
The Seoul High court on Friday ordered the government to reverse its decision to revoke the license of a North Korean defectors' group for sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets over to the North.

The court ruling came after the unification ministry revoked the license of Fighters for a Free North Korea, after it sent plastic balloons carrying some 500,000 anti-North propaganda flyers northward, in defiance of the government's ban on such activities in 2020.

The defector group filed a lawsuit to reverse the ministry's decision, but the district and appeals courts both sided with the government, saying the anti-North leafleting "goes against the public interest."

However, the Supreme Court struck down the two previous rulings and sent the case back to the high court for retrial in April.

In South Korea, North Korean defector groups, like Fighters for a Free North Korea, send big plastic balloons carrying leaflets over to the North in what they say is a bid to free North Korean people from the tyrannical North Korean regime with outside information.

In 2021, a revision to the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act went into force during the previous Moon Jae-in administration to prohibit the launching of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border on the grounds that such leafleting could provoke the North to undertake bellicose acts.

But in September this year, the Constitutional Court struck down the ban, citing freedom of expression. (Yonhap)
Anju Thomas was born in Bona and married in Bhiwadi under Khairthal district in Rajasthan

Villagers have vowed to stop Anju Thomas from entering the village for bringing disrepute not only to her family but also to her native place by marrying a Pakistan man after abandoning her two children and husband. (Image: DC)

Bhopal: Anju Thomas (35) who returned to India on Wednesday after marrying her Facebook (FB) friend in Pakistan has been declared persona non grata in her native village of Bona under Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh by the locals for her disgraceful act.

Villagers have vowed to stop her from entering the village for bringing disrepute not only to her family but also to her native place by marrying a Pakistan man after abandoning her two children and husband.

She is a disgrace to our village and her family. She is not welcome in our village. We will ensure that she does not enter the village on the pretext of meeting her parents, Veer Singh Gurjar, a local villager, told this newspaper on Thursday.

Anjus ex-classmate Dharmendra Gurjar said that she has forfeited her moral right to visit her native village after marrying a man in Pakistan and would not be allowed to visit the village under any circumstances.

The villagers have begun keeping vigil at the entry and exit points of the village to deny her to come to the village to visit her parents after learning that she has returned to India on Wednesday.

Her family members have already declared that she is not welcome in their house. We will meet her father to persuade him to disown her permanently, the village sarpanch Ravi Gurjar said.

Her father Gaya Prasad Thomas, a tailor by profession, has already declared that My daughter is as good as dead for my family.

Anju Thomas, mother of two children, crossed the Wagah border to enter India on Wednesday.

She was then taken to the BSF camp set up in the area to complete certain formalities, sources said.

She was born in Bona and married in Bhiwadi under Khairthal district in Rajasthan.

She is the mother of two children.

The woman travelled to Pakistan on a tourist visa on July 21 this year after allegedly telling her husband that she was going to Jaipur to visit her friend.

Later, her purported pre-wedding shoots with her FB friend Nasirullha of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan surfaced on social media platforms leaving her father and husband shell shocked.

She had called her father several times during her stay in Pakistan pleading him to arrange interactions with her daughter.
People have also seen that period when earlier governments used to consider themselves 'mai-baap' of the people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses beneficiaries of 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' via a video conference, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Modi on Thursday launched an initiative to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which sell medicines at subsidised rates. (PTI)

New Delhi: Asserting that the four biggest "castes" for him are the poor, youth, women and farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the upliftment of these sections will make India a developed nation. At a virtual interaction with the beneficiaries of various Central schemes as part of the government's Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Mr Modi faulted the past dispensations for acting like "mai-baap" of citizens and allowing their development initiatives to be guided by their vote bank considerations.

In his address, the Prime Minister said his work in the last 10 years has led to people having immense confidence in his government.

During the event, the Prime Minister also launched an initiative to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which sell medicines at subsidised rates, from 10,000 to 25,000 after inaugurating the landmark 10,000th outlet at AIIMS, Deoghar.

Mr Modi also launched the Drone Didi Yojana, which aims to provide drones to 15,000 select women self-help groups between 202425 and 20252026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purposes.

During his interaction with the beneficiaries, Mr Modi said the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra for saturation coverage of various Central government welfare schemes has generated huge enthusiasm among people. He said some are describing the government raths (chariots), which are travelling to all corners of the country, as "Modi ki guarantee wali gaadi" (vehicles carrying Modi's guarantees), while asserting that the masses know that he will fulfil all his promises.

For this, he needs their blessings, Mr Modi said, underscoring that the programme will identify everyone left out of welfare schemes aimed for them and that he will ensure their saturation coverage in the coming years.

A voice is emerging from people across the country that Modi's guarantee begins from where people's expectations from others end, he said.

In his remarks after interacting with the beneficiaries, Mr Modi said Bharat is neither going to stop, nor tire as the people have resolved to make the country a developed nation.

"In various corners of the country, there is such enthusiasm for the yatra and there is a reason for it... People have seen Modi and 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 past governments used to consider themselves mai-baap of the people. Therefore, even after decades of Independence, a large section of the population was deprived of basic facilities," Mr Modi said.

Claiming that more than half the population had lost faith in earlier governments as people had to depend on middlemen and had to run around offices to seek any benefit, Mr Modi said that contrary to that, his government is reaching out to the masses to enrol them for various welfare measures.

He said that the earlier governments were driven by political calculations and votebank considerations.

"Therefore, the people never used to trust the announcements of such mai-baap governments. We have changed this. The government in place now considers people as gods and we work with 'seva bhav' not 'satta bhav'," Mr Modi said.

Elaborating about the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Mr Modi said that in just 15 days of the yatra, people are walking along and joining it. Until 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, adding, "Mothers and sisters are reaching out to this vehicle. The initiative has taken the shape of a people's movement and people are taking it forward."

Many panchayats have received saturation coverage without any discrimination, Mr Modi said, asserting that the youth are taking the lead in popularising the exercise and spearheading the goal of making India developed.

Underscoring his commitment, he said he went to a remote tribal region in Khunti to launch the yatra instead of doing it at a place like Vigyan Bhawan, a venue associated with the government's official programmes.

While launching the Drone Didi Yojana, Mr Modi said he wanted these women to receive respect in their villages and that some people have suggested the name of "Namo Drone Didi" for the initiative. Women trained as drone pilots will be financially empowered and receive people's respect.

"My dream is to make 2-crore women living in villages and working with self-help groups lakhpati," he said.

Talking about Jan Aushadhi Kenras, Mr Modi mentioned that people have been associating his name with the flagship welfare initiative.

"Jan Aushadhi Kendras are now being called "Modi's medicine shop," he said, noting that nearly 2,000 types of medicines are sold at an 80 to 90 per cent discount at such centres.

Noting that the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna, which provides free grains to over 80 crore people, has been extended for another five years, he asserted that "Modi's guarantee means the guarantee of fulfilling all guarantees."
Modi launches initiative to cut carbon emissions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the opening of high-level segment for Heads of States at the COP28, in Dubai, UAE, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: At the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit (COP28) in Dubai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the launch of the Green Credit Initiative, which focuses on creating carbon sinks through people's participation. The Prime Minister said that the climate finance commitments of the developed nations should be increased from billions to trillions. He also proposed to host the UN climate conference in 2028 or COP33 in India.

In his initial remarks, the Prime Minister said that the decision at the summit to operationalise the loss and damage fund has increased his hope for concrete results, with the fund reportedly expected to grant financial assistance to vulnerable countries experiencing the severe impact of climate change.

Pointing out that India contributes less than four per cent of total global emissions despite having 17 per cent of the population share, Mr Modi said India had given the world the example of striking the ultimate balance between ecology and economy as he exhorted developed nations to eliminate their own carbon footprints before 2050.

Warning against a "destructive mindset, the Prime Minister further said that the world has to be decisive, unified, balanced, ambitious and innovative and that time is running out for the world to rectify its mistakes on pollution made during the last century. He pushed for just and inclusive energy transitition, technology transfer and the due share of the global carbon budget to developing nations of the Global South.

Speaking later at a session on climate finance, Mr Modi called for available, accessible and affordable climate finance by entities, including multilateral development banks, for countries of the Global South that are expecting assistance from developed countries in combating climate change.

In his opening remarks at the COP28 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Prime Minister announced the launch of the Green Credits Initiative as a pro-planet, proactive and positive initiative that basically envisions the issue of green credits for plantations on waste and degraded lands and the river catchment areas in order to restore their vitality with the full participation of people.

The Prime Minister also announced the launch of a portal for green plantation-based innovation solutions.

At the summit, Mr Modi was received by the President of the UAE and the host of the summit, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Recognising that the UAE announced a $30 billion fund for global climate solutions at COP28, Mr Modi hailed the UAEs Climate Finance Framework Initiative.

The Prime Minister said a small percentage of mankind had relentlessly destroyed nature, but that the entire mankind, especially the Global South, has to pay the price for it. He called on nations to avoid selfishness and the me-first attitude, adding that every nation should meet its climate targets as per nationally determined contributions (NDC).

Mr Modi also called for progress on the New Collective Quantified Goals on Climate Finance and an adequate Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund.

Pointing out that India is fulfilling its own earlier-announced NDCs, the Prime Minister pointed out that targets on emission intensity have been fulfilled 11 years earlier, while those on non-fossil fuels have been met nine years ahead of time. He reiterated Indias pledge to increase its non-fossil fuel share to 50 per cent and reduce emission intensity by 45 per cent by 2030, further reiterating that the net zero target will be met by 2070.

Pointing out the achievements of India in the field of green energy during its just-concluded year-long presidency of the G-20 grouping, Mr Modi pointed to the One Earth, One Family, One Future motto, the consensus on the green development pact, establishing principles for Lifestyle for sustainable development, a commitment to increase global renewable energy threefold, and the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance in the sphere of hydrogen.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also thanked his ministerial colleagues for the support they had extended to him in providing good governance to state

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recounted how his government had successfully faced the health challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic by taking measures to strengthen medical infrastructure in a short span of time. (File Image: DC)

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday chaired a meeting of his cabinet, the last one in his current tenure, without any agenda, inviting criticism from Congress.

Mr Chouhan detailed the measures undertaken by his government for the development of the state and different sections of the society at the cabinet meeting, state home minister Narottam Mishra told reporters here.

This was the last cabinet meeting in the current tenure of the state government, Mr Mishra said.

Mr Chouhan recounted how his government had successfully faced the health challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic by taking measures to strengthen medical infrastructure in a short span of time.

He also detailed the welfare programmes undertaken by his government for the uplift of the poor in the state.

The chief minister also thanked his ministerial colleagues for the support they had extended to him in providing good governance to the state.

Opposition Congress however criticised the chief minister for convening the meeting of his cabinet when the model code of conduct of elections is in force in the state.

Congress spokesman K K Mishra alleged that the ruling BJP was trying to mount pressure on the state government officers ahead of the counting of votes, scheduled to be held on December three.

State urban development minister Bhupendra Singh however rubbished the charges saying that the government has the right to call the cabinet meeting.

Congress is making all sorts of baseless allegations fearing defeat in the November 17 assembly elections in the state, he said.
In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write."

The Kohinoor was stolen from the young Dilip Singh by the East India Companys Lord Dalhousie.

What happens to the Kohinoor once its returned will be a matter of contention. (AA File Image)

O Bachchoo why do you dance with such delight

The day is young and the sun and love are bright

You now rejoice in your beloveds sight

And forget that the day gives way to night

From Ah The Wicked Kalidas Away, by Bachchoo

In the 1980s of the past century there were anti-police riots in Brixton in south London. The mostly black youth fought against the police on the streets and went on a rampage breaking the glass frontages of shops and raiding everything from designer clothes to footwear. An Irish comedian at the time appeared on national TV, saying: Why do these people think they can loot and keep stuff that doesnt belong to them? (a pause)  Have you ever been to the British Museum?

This week the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsoptakis, made an official visit to the UK with a schedule to discuss European political issues, presumably immigration and trade with the EU, with British PM Hedgie Sunoch. Before his scheduled meeting with Hedgie, he was sought out by the media.

The very respected BBC interviewer, Laura Kuenssberg, booked Mitso on Sunday and during the interview he said that the so-called Elgin Marbles housed in the British Museum were not where they should be. He was rather poetic. He said having them in London was like cutting the Mona Lisa in half. What he meant, of course, is that thee 30 or so classical statues, some of them 3,000 years old, which dont belong in the British Museum but in the Parthenon in Athens from where were taken (stolen?) by the 7th Lord Elgin.

After this broadcast went out, Hedgie Sunoch cancelled his face-to-face encounter with the Greek Prime Minister. The Hedgie-wallas of Downing Street told the media that Mitso had agreed not to mention the Elgin Marbles on his visit to the UK. The Greek embassy insisted that no such promise had been given.

Hedgies response demonstrates that this character is petty and petulant. For Gods sake|? Cancelling a meeting with the PM of an European Union country because he said something about the Elgin Marbles -- it staggers belief!

Calling these priceless historical sculptures the Elgin Marbles is like calling the Kohinoor the Dalhousie Diamond. Or should the American currency be called the Bonnie-and-Clyde dollar?

These classical statues were taken from the Parthenon in Athens by the 7th Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when the Turk Ottomans ruled Greece. He brought them to Britain and they were sold to the British State and housed in the museum in 1816. In 1835, when Greece regained its independence, the Greek government asked for these precious pieces of their historical past back. After all, housed in Athens at their original home, the Marbles would be viewed in context rather than be ogled at by visitors to the bleak halls of the British Museum.

The British government, right through these last nearly hundred years of asking, werent receptive or kind. They virtually and continuously told the Greeks to go some distance and have sex. They were not going to return the Elgin Marbles.

Hedgies government told Mitso that he could meet Oliver Dowden, the deputy PM of the UK, instead. This was of course adding insult to injury as poor Mr Dowden has absolutely no powers or authority in this petulant government. Mitso said no thanks, and will no doubt go back to the European Union and report on the hubris of Hedgie and the UK.

Which brings me, gentle reader, to the question of the return of the Kohinoor diamond, which my friend Shashi Tharoor has so frequently raised. I am confident that if Narendra Bhai visits Britain on a mission to discuss Bharat-UK trade, student visas, the sending of Cruella Braverman and some others to the Andaman Islands as an alternative to Rwanda -- for a few zillion pounds of course -- he could with impunity tell Laura Kuenssberg that the Kohinoor should be plucked from the British Crown and be returned to India. Hedgie wont dare to cancel any meetings with Indias PM.

So will the Kohinoor return to India after Modijis next visit to Britain if he can afford the time? The fact is that India is geopolitically in a different league from Greece and Hedgie cant afford to snub its PM. And since the repatriation of the diamond is as important as the return of the Partyhenon sculptures to the Parthenon, I am about to write to the BBC to suggest that even if Narendraji has no scheduled visit to Britain, the valiant Laura Kuenssberg should be sent out to New Delhi to interview Modiji specifically about the Kohinoor.

Of course, what happens to the Kohinoor once its returned will be a matter of contention.

The diamond passed through very many hands, including the Mughal emperors, the Shah of Persia, the rulers of Kashmir and finally the family of Ranjit Singh. It was stolen from the young Dilip Singh by the East India Companys Lord Dalhousie.

My personal view, for whatever it is worth, is that since one can trace the origin of the Kohinoor to Swarg and its ownership by the Sun god Surya who bestowed it to the earth and humanity by casting it, some say in the holy Ganga, the Kohinoor should be returned to Uttar Pradesh and its chief minister be entrusted as its guardian.
by Sumon Corraya

The 35th World AIDS Day, established in 1988 by the WHO, is being celebrated worldwide on 1 December. The Ministry of Health in Dhaka has implemented several programmes to tackle the rise in infections still due to the stigma attached to the disease. The complaint of Caritas Bangladesh: many avoid treatment and international funds have been cut.Bangladesh: record number of HIV infections

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Bangladesh has reached a new "record" regarding the spread of the HIV virus and the resulting AIDS cases recorded in the country: 1,250 new infections were found in 2022, the highest ever. A significant increase compared to the 658 cases diagnosed in 2020 and 729 in 2021. The data, coming from the Department of Health, reveals an increase of 303 more patients compared to the previous year.

In the country today there are around 10 thousand people suffering from AIDS, but on 1 December 2017 there were half of them: 5,586. The cases are concentrated mainly in the divisions of Dhaka (54%), Chittagong (20%), but also in Khulna (10%) and Sylhet (6%).

Among the people who have undergone testing and tested positive this year, the majority are ordinary citizens, followed by male "sex workers". The increase in cases found and in people who are aware of being infected is due to the cultural work that the institutions have started. An example is the program established last year to detect HIV infection in nine prisons in Bangladesh. This has led to seven diagnoses among prisoners in 2022, infected with the virus due to drug use and the condition of syringes.

If the Dhaka division remains the one with the highest number of infections in an absolute sense and new cases, there is also an escalation in the peripheral areas of the country. This is demonstrated by the thousands of deaths every year due to AIDS because those infected do not want or are unable to be treated, as in the case of Ukhia, a subdistrict of Bangladesh located in the Cox's Bazar region, Chittagong division, where an inhabited camp is located by displaced Rohingya.

As World AIDS Day is observed today, Bangladesh's Health Ministry has implemented various programs to address the growing crisis. The country's health experts express concern that the risk of AIDS infection among the population is increasing due to the fact that identified patients avoid treatment. In fact, many people affected by AIDS prefer not to reveal their condition publicly, fearing social stigma.

Dr. Edward Pallab Rozario, head of the health sector of Caritas Bangladesh, also reported to AsiaNews a decline in international funds to deal with this emergency: "Here there is little awareness of the contagion and the exchange of syringes among drug addicts is widespread , explains the white coat.

Caritas Bangladesh, which works to support AIDS patients and their families, has historically conducted awareness programs on the topic in schools and universities. However, Rozario noted that funding cuts have led to the discontinuation of their previous initiative to also provide cash support to those who test positive for Aids.
Today's news: Kong Kong journalist 'disappears' during a trip to the People's Republic of China; Beijing and Hanoi negotiate to modernise a railway line in the area of rare earth deposits; Homes of 10 Christian families in Laos destroyed; Moscow Patriarchate data reveals 700 Russian Orthodox priests with soldiers at the front.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

After seven days of truce, fighting in Gaza resumed this morning, with the Israeli government accusing Hamas of violating the terms of the truce. The mediators are trying to resolve the differences to restart the exchange between the Israeli hostages and the Palestinian prisoners. Among the latest hostages released last night were two Bedouin brothers - Bilal and Aisha - kidnapped by Hamas while they were working in one of the kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip on 7 October.

HONG KONG-CHINA

Minnie Chan, a well-known journalist for the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post, has disappeared after a business trip to the People's Republic of China. Chan had attended the three-day Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, a regional security forum that concluded on October 31. According to the Japanese agency Kyodo News, Chan's friends fear she may be under investigation by the Chinese authorities, while her newspaper does not respond to questions on the matter. The Hong Kong Journalists Association says it is "very concerned about Chan's safety and is asking the South China Morning Post for information on the incident."

VIETNAM-CHINA

Hanoi and Beijing are working on a possible significant modernization of their railway connections to strengthen a line that runs from Kuming in China through the heart of Vietnam - where the rare earth deposits are located - to reach Haiphong, the country's main port in the north. The talks are part of preparations for a possible visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Hanoi in the coming weeks.

LAOS

In a new case of crackdown on religious freedom in southern Laos, the homes of 10 Christian families were destroyed by local authorities in three villages in Samoey district of Saravan province. The families had already been kicked out about two months ago; they have now been provided with new land in an isolated area, but without providing them with any compensation or financial assistance.

GEORGIA

Georgia's main opposition party, the National Movement, has suffered yet another internal schism, with the expulsion of its former leader Nika Melia, who refused to submit to the wishes of jailed ex-president Mikhail Saakashvili. The current head of the party Levan Khabeisvili announced this live on TV, explaining that the party's sole candidate for the elections will always be Saakashvili himself.

RUSSIA

Metropolitan Kirill (Pokrovsky), head of the department of the Patriarchate of Moscow for collaboration with the armed forces, communicated at the session of the Universal Russian People's Council that there are approximately 700 Orthodox priests involved in assisting Russian soldiers at war in Ukraine, all volunteers without a fixed salary, and 7 of them died at the front.

KAZAKHSTAN

Thirteen people have died in a hostel fire in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. Nine victims were Kazakhstanis, two were from Russia and two were from Uzbekistan. The causes of the fire are unclear: the government said it had set up a special commission to investigate the incident.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

In a country still shaken by scandals caused by the poisoning of hundreds of children by harmful preparations, the president unveils a plan to further boost local medicine production. Proposed 173 new projects worth USD 1.5 billion, but also aid to help companies meet international standards and a proper tracking and verification system.

Tashkent (AsiaNews) - The president of Uzbekistan, Savkat Mirziyoyev, held a special extended council to illustrate the development plans for the production and distribution of medicines in the country, still shaken by the numerous scandals caused by the mass poisoning of children due of harmful preparations.

Three female doctors are currently in prison, including the country's main endocrinologist, accused of having spread Antistrumin for the "iodization" of children in schools at the beginning of November, causing serious respiratory crises which led to over 600 children being hospitalized, and many of them are still in serious condition for almost a month.

Mirziyoyev instructed the Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions to raise the level of pharmaceutical localization to 35% paid by manufacturers, for the 50 most used medicines in the country.

Local producers, who currently occupy less than 20% of the market, will have to cover a segment of more than 40%, and commit to creating original preparations.

According to data from the presidential press office, in the last six years pharmaceutical production has already increased three times, and exports six times; 177 projects worth 525 million dollars have been launched, creating up to 50 thousand new jobs, and this trend must now be further relaunched.

The president insists on the fact that "we have not yet expressed our full potential... every year in Uzbekistan pharmaceutical devices worth 1.6 billion dollars are used, and only a small part comes from local production, the rest is all 'import".

The State has tried to give great support to the sector, investing heavily and creating special "pharmaceutical zones", which, however, are not used in the right way. Localization must be expanded to be able to reach everyone, and to create job opportunities everywhere.

The message to the assembled council underlines the importance of learning from the experience of foreign partners, attracting big brands to the country's domestic market. One indication concerned the need to speed up the construction of the Tashkent Pharma Park cluster, involving other private investors. Uzbek pharmaceutical companies must be helped to reach the international GMP standard, and form an adequate tracking and verification system.

In total, 173 new projects have been proposed for 1.5 billion dollars, to which the State will allocate 600 million from the budget. According to those responsible for these projects, the production of medicines worth a further 400 million dollars will be activated by 2024, with exports estimated at 160 million.

The new director of the Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Sector, Abdulla Azizov, gave an interview in this regard to the Uzbekistan 24 channel, confirming these figures and estimating an increase in exports of Uzbek-produced medicines, which should rise from the current 120 million of dollars up to 600-700 million.

According to Azizov we have enough personnel to achieve these objectives, but we must work to raise their qualifications, collaborating with specialists to start creating original products.

Centers for the development of biotechnology will be opened, involving experts from the USA and China, where this direction of research is most developed. The registration procedures for new companies will also be facilitated to aid this productive and technological conversion.

Particular attention will be paid to the use of local herbs and plants for medicinal purposes; currently 75% of 750 different types of plants are used, but we are confident in the "unexpressed potential" of this field, and in general of all the great natural, intellectual and working wealth of the people of Uzbekistan.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Friday it has signed a deal with U.S. space firm SpaceX to launch South Korea's next-generation midsized satellite No. 2 in 2025.

It marks KAI's second deal with SpaceX following a similar arrangement for the launch of the next-generation midsized satellite No. 4 signed in July of 2021. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Following the latest deal, KAI plans to launch both satellites into space on board the U.S. company's Falcon 9 rocket. The satellites will be used in state projects, such as land resource management and disaster response missions.

KAI said the next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 2 had experienced delays in its launch due to external factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine war. The SpaceX deal was reached in collaboration with the government to prevent further delays in the launch, it added. (Yonhap)
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
In the world of custom vehicles there are a lot of specialized terms meant to better define the changes shops do to this or that vehicle. Because most customization styles are very old, that list of terms does not grow on a regular basis. Yet, thanks to the rise of electric drivetrains, a new term is slowly making its way under the spotlight: electro-mod.

ICE

Predictably, the name is there to spell out a combination between a (preferably) classic car and an electric powertrain meant to replace the existing, internal combustion one. The cars made this way remain as they were visually, but most of their mechanical entrails are replaced.We've seen plenty of such conversions over the past few years, but most of them target European classic cars because, well, there are a lot of crews on that continent in this business. But Americans seem to be trying to catch up.To be honest, I have to think really, really hard if I've ever seen an iconic muscle car from America's past being converted this way, and even so Im not sure about the answer. But I'm pretty certain I'll remember this electrified 1966 Pontiac GTO not only because of the way it looks, but also thanks to the way it was upgraded.For many, the Pontiac GTO is America's first true muscle car. It was introduced just before the other names that would go on to define the segment, in 1963, and was originally only around for about 11 years, until 1974. An unsuccessful attempt to revive it was made in 2003, but the moniker only held on for three years.It's the cars from the original run of the model, meaning the first four generations, that keep fascinating car collectors. Narrowing things a little more, you could say the first generation is also the most appealing, not only for collectors but for customizers as well.The version we have here is part of that first generation. It was produced in 1966, at a time when the GTO moniker finally became a separate Pontiac model (it was initially a package for the LeMans), but it is now far, at least mechanically, from what it used to be.The first-gen GTO was offered with a choice of two internal combustion engines, namely the 389ci and 400ci. We're not sure exactly what powerplant this one used to have, but we do know what it packs now.Theunit was taken out and replaced with the battery pack and electric motors of a Tesla Model 3 Performance, which were installed on the car's original engine and transmission mounts. In this application, the motors develop a total of 350 horsepower.For the designers of this car, the Canadian guys from over at Ness Customs, to be able to install the gear, the GTO's chassis had to be modified and the frame reinforced. A Model 3 rear subframe was added, and the car was fitted with Tesla-sourced disc brakes, backed by Wilwood gear and a GM hydroboost system.The new electric drivetrain was not the only piece of hardware that made it into the build. Because this is an electric car, it had to come with the required charging gear, and that has been installed as well, together with management systems for the battery and motors.The car is supported by a 5-link independent suspension system rocking four adjustable QA1 shock absorbers. The connection to the ground is made by means of American Racing Rally-style wheels, sized at 18 inches and wearing Diamond Back EVO tires.Visually, the Pontiac remains mostly its former self, because you don't really mess with perfection. Staying true to its former shape may not seem all that impressive, from a build standpoint, but when you consider 75 percent of the sheet metal has been replaced, your perspective might change. In a nutshell, the car's quarter panels, wings, doors, hood, firewall, and floor are entirely new.When all the bodywork was completed, the shop behind the build drowned the bodywork in a shade called Carbon Steel Gray Metallic, and usually seen on Porsche cars. The hue is accompanied by tons of chrome and stainless trim, all of it original to the GTO but given a new level of shine, especially on the bumpers.The GTO rocks new windows with a gray tint to match the exterior, and behind that we get glimpses of a stunning interior in beautiful red fabric  Portala Red, to be precise. Fully restored, the interior of the muscle car was also upgraded with the fitting of technologies the car's original makers would never dream of.The console, for instance, was modified so that the shifter could be replaced by a touchscreen tablet. Two more are located on the dashboard to allow access to vehicle settings. On top of it all there is a Blam audio system in there, backed by a RetroSound radio and Helix amplifiers.The car is a convertible by trade, and it can be closed off by means of a black canvas roof with all the appropriate glass. Giving it a distinct look, especially at night, is a halo LED lighting system all around.The electric 1966 Pontiac GTO with a Tesla's heart is up for grabs during the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale in January 2024. Since it's selling with no reserve, there is no mention as to how much it is expected to fetch.
Tiny house builders have mastered the art of looking beyond the obvious size limitations of compact dwellings to unlock their potential as affordable, sustainable, and comfortable housing solutions for a minimalist lifestyle. Balanced proportions, a clever layout, and essential amenities have turned some tiny home designs into instant icons. A perfect example is the Clear Creek model by Tiny Idahomes.

Photo: Tiny Idahomes

Photo: Tiny Idahomes

Photo: Tiny Idahomes

Remaining true to the spirit of tiny living and minimalism, the Clear Creek model is only 28 feet (8.5 meters) in length but is able to offer a unique and fulfilling way of life by expertly intertwining functionality, comfort, and style. This is a versatile model that the Caldwell, Idaho-based company can customize and transform into your dream tiny home.Tiny Idahomes specializes in crafting quality small dwellings that provide comfort and modern conveniences, and each unit they build is customized to meet the client's needs and reflect their personality. The Clear Creek tiny is one of the most popular models in their portfolio, already owned by many tiny dwellers out there, and a true testament to the team's craftsmanship.The particular unit you see pictured here is owned by Gleen and Darcy, a couple who reached out to the company for a custom version of this iconic model with modern touches and an inviting ambiance.This is one of those small living spaces that help bust misconceptions that tiny houses lack amenities and moving into one would imply renouncing luxuries. By embracing vertical living with lofted areas and integrating clever storage solutions, this custom Clear Creek unit proves that small spaces can be incredibly functional. The layout boasts a generous living room that can be turned into a cozy lounge where owners can entertain their guests and a big kitchen where they can cook gourmet meals. Moreover, the two lofts are spacious and bright, offering cozy spaces to sleep.Beautiful and modern inside and out, this custom Clear Creek is decorated in soothing neutral tones and draws you in right away. It features elegant tongue-and-groove stained cedar cladding on the exterior with black and white trim around the windows and the entrance door.The owners decided to keep the cedar siding unpainted to show the wood's natural beauty, and a durable green standing seam metal roof and full 80" Kinro double paned windows complete the design.The same sense of simplicity and elegance is found inside the home, where a simple color palette of white, gray, and natural wood is easy on the eyes and creates a clean, serene ambiance. The white shiplap walls are coupled with one sheet of vinyl flooring in a beautiful caramel gray hue and natural wood ceilings. This clutter-free interior is a blank canvas for the owners to furnish and decorate to reflect their tastes and lifestyle, but it looks plenty homey and inviting as it is.A full-light door with built-in blinds leads directly into a spacious and luminous living room that customers can configure as they wish. It is roomy enough to fit a comfy couch, a side table, and a TV to turn it into a cozy space for relaxation. Moreover, this part of the house benefits from plenty of natural light due to the surrounding windows and delights inhabitants with beautiful views.A fold-down table attached to a side wall is a smart choice to create a small dining spot between the lounge and the kitchen without taking too much space. When not in use, it neatly tucks away, maximizing the room's functionality.A lovely kitchen with custom cabinetry and walnut laminate countertops dominates the center of the house . It comes complete with the ever-so-popular farmhouse sink, a Furrion stainless steel range, and a full-size fridge/freezer, giving owners everything they need for prepping their favorite meals.Everything is cleverly laid out for ease of use, and the white cabinets and subway tile backsplash are beautifully contrasted by the gray countertop.Opposite the kitchen, a massive staircase with pine stairs stained in Carbon Grey takes up a good chunk of the main floor area. Its main function is to provide access to the main loft, but it also doubles as storage, with a generous built-in closet.The loft is cozy and bright, perfect for a couple's bedroom. It fits a full-size bed, and though it doesn't offer full standing height, it is spacious enough thanks to the vaulted ceilings. It also includes a privacy wall, creating an intimate atmosphere perfect for winding down after a long day.There is also a six-foot secondary loft with hanging ladder above the living room that can be used either as a guest sleeping space or as a storage solution for larger personal items.The bathroom downstairs is modern and elegant, packing all the facilities of everyday life. Though compact, it fits a spacious fiberglass shower with built-in seating, a toilet, a vanity with sink, a medicine cabinet, plus a custom cabinet nestled in seamlessly in a corner.Built to last with quality materials and great attention to detail, this custom Clear Creek tiny home is perfectly equipped for long-term living and serves as a fine example of how versatile compact dwellings can be.
They say Hollywood is going through a huge creative crisis, most notable in the fact that so many big studios are relying on remakes, retellings, spinoffs, too many sequels to count, or prequels to put butts in the seats in movie theaters. All this is true, but this franchise is a notable exception.

Mad Max is one of the most enduring and beloved movie franchises of all time and a hit with car enthusiasts as well. The "baby" of filmmaker George Miller from day one, it goes back to 1979, when the first Mel Gibson movie came out, spanning three installments before the more recent, non-Mel- Gibson-starring blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road.Fury Road, which came out in 2015, featured Tom Hardy as the titular character and introduced Charlize Theron's Furiosa , the unlikely ally and female champion no fan imagined they'd get but which turned out to be a huge hit with both critics and audiences. The news that Furiosa would get a spinoff didn't come as a surprise, then, but the later revelation that Theron wouldn't return for part deux was.Miller decided against continuing the Fury Road timeline and opted for what would qualify as an origin story for Furiosa. Anya Taylor-Joy was brought in to take over from Theron, and Chris Hemsworth was roped in to play the villain.Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is the first Mad Max film without Max, and the first official trailer makes that clear from the first few seconds. "This is her odyssey," a note flashes on the screen right after we're told that the action takes place 45 years after the collapse of humanity.Furiosa, whose backstory Fury Road established, was abducted from her home in the Green Place of Many Mothers. The film will document her attempt at keeping the promise she once made that she'll find her way home no matter what  an attempt that will eventually bring her in the service of Immortan Joe.With the trailer comes the first detailed description of the plot and the revelation of Hemsworth 's identity. He is Warlord Dementus, leader of a great Biker Horde, and he rides a chariot-like trike that goes perfectly with his Thor-like, once-red cape."Sweeping through the Wasteland, [the bikers] come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe," the synopsis says. "While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home."This trailer is only a teaser, so we get only a few... teasing images of Miller's instantly recognizable Wasteland with everything that entails: war rigs and Warboys, Immortan Joe doing his best "fierce gaze" look, and plenty of vehicular action. We also get a look at a tanker similar to the one Commander Furiosa drove in Fury Road, and some of the rat rods and modified bikes.It'll probably be at least another month or more before Warner Bros. drops another trailer for the film, so we have enough time to pour over every scene to take in the awesome vehicles and equally awesome cinematography. If there's one thing that Fury Road did, it was to set the bar very high, and Miller is not the kind of director who disappoints. Ever.
The government plans to allow telemedicine services for first-time patients in remote areas at night and on holidays, as part of its efforts to address gaps in medical care services with urban areas, officials said Friday.

Korea's telemedicine services have been temporarily allowed since 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, they have been available only for first-time patients residing on islands, as well as mountainous and isolated areas. But starting Dec. 15, such treatment will be allowed in 98 additional cities, counties and districts, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a statement.

The 98 subjected areas account for 39 percent of the country's 250 cities, counties and districts.

First-time patients in all age groups will be able to receive telemedicine services, including counseling services and prescriptions, after 6 p.m. during the week and holidays, the statement said.

Until now, first-time patients aged under 18 have received only non-contact counseling services during the nighttime and holidays, and have not been able to receive prescriptions.

In other efforts to enhance medical services for the general public, the government will also allow returning patients to receive non-contact treatment regardless of their illnesses if they have any previous medical treatment records in the same hospitals in the previous six months, the ministry said.

Currently, non-contact treatment is available for returning patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hyperpiesia, if they have treatment records for the same diseases in the same clinics in the previous 12 months.

As for returning patients with other diseases, they have to have treatment records for the same diseases in the same hospitals in the previous 30 days.

Morning-after pills are prohibited from the prescription list based on non-face-to-face treatment due to possible side effects. (Yonhap)
The folks at AutomagzPro have recently published a rendering of a Ford Bronco with a whiff of Jimny here and there. Misleadingly presented as being the new Suzuki Jimny Sierra, which it certainly isn't, this design study is best described as wishful thinking.

SUV

Photo: AutomagzPro on YouTube

PHEV

For starters, the Ford Motor Company doesn't intend to share the Bronco's platform with Suzuki . The Japanese automaker isn't really interested in body-on-frame SUVs either, with Suzuki being more concerned about electric vehicle development.Pictured in two- and four-door guises, the off-road vehicle wouldn't look out of place in a showroom. Be that as it may, remember what kind of vehicles actually sell in Suzuki's home market. Even the European Union is a weird choice for the Bronco, which carries exorbitant price tags. Back in July 2023, the Outer Banks was listed by Ford Deutschland at 74,500 euros. Over in the United States of America, it was priced at $54,715.74,500 euros is 81,445 freedom eagles at current exchange rates. A helluva lot of money for a four-doorwith Ranger underpinnings, let alone for a vehicle that's way too wide for European roads. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost isn't exactly fit for Europe, a huge market where Ford wants to switch to EVs by the end of the decade. That plan, however, may have suffered a setback due to pesky lawmakers.To make a long story short, the European Commission agreed to exempt automobiles running on e-fuels from the 2035 ban on the sale of new fossil-fuel passenger vehicles. If e-fuel automobiles and electric vehicles reach a price parity by 2035, that spells trouble for those who put all their eggs in one basket, including the peeps at Ford Europe.What about Suzuki? The automotive division sells kei cars by the bucketload in the Land of the Rising Sun, while customers in the Old Continent are presented with a choice of hybridized vehicles. The only exception is the Jimny Sierra, which is classified as a commercial vehicle after Suzuki yanked out the rear seats of the small and cutesy off-roader.Why does the Jimny Sierra come with two seats in this part of the world? The answer is fleet-wide CO2 emissions. By deleting the rear seats, Suzuki wasn't required to give the Euro-spec Jimny Sierra a more frugal engine than the existing 1.5-liter I4.Available with five doors in India, the Jimny is dubbed Sierra only in combination with the aforementioned 1.5-liter I4. The Japanese automaker also makes a kei version for Japan exclusively, which downgrades from the aforementioned 1.5 to a three-pot turbo. Coincidentally, the smaller engine is shared with the Caterham Seven 170. Also worthy of note, the British automaker from Dartford was acquired by Japanese company VT Holdings Co., Ltd. in 2021.On an ending note, did you know that Suzuki is currently developing an all-electric Jimny ? As for the Ford Motor Company, the Bronco is expected to receive a plug-in hybrid option in the nearest of futures, namely a plug-in setup that's most likely borrowed from the 2025 Ranger
Last year, we covered a European RV concept from industry-leading Knaus. Well, one year later, the Tourer CUV is a reality. Furthermore, it shook Europe loose of countless awards and nominations, and today, we see what the fuss is all about.

Photo: Knaus Tabbert AG

Photo: Knaus Tabbert AG

Photo: Knaus Tabbert AG

Every country and continent has a few RV and motorhome manufacturers that dominate the industry. Well, over on the other side of the Atlantic, Knaus is one of the names you'll meet quite often. Considering this team has been a staple of the European RV scene since 1960, it kind of makes sense.Well, they're the minds and hands behind the wonder we see today, and to fully understand what we're up against here, let's take a little trip through imagination and place ourselves at the center of a life lived in a Tourer CUV. All you'll need is around 86K ($93K at current exchange rates) to get things started, which is quite lower than I expected considering all you're about to read; be sure to view the image gallery.Now, CUV stands for something, "Caravaning Utility Vehicle," and that really tells us quite a bit about what to expect from this beauty. First off, it tells us that it's destined for the on-road life, as that's what caravans achieve. Secondly, the acronym tells us that this puppy is all about utility, and I couldn't agree more. As for "vehicle," well, you can figure that one out yourself. What does this mean for you and me? It means an RV that can do "stuff" and lots of it. After all, Knaus designed the CUV to be as dynamic and modular as possible and even suitable for year-round living Upon first sight, the CUV may appear to be your typical Class C RV, but upon closer inspection, you'll realize that the roof looks a bit different because it is. For the CUV, Knaus has decided to incorporate a one-piece pop-top roof, helping expand the interior of this mobile home by quite a few inches.The idea behind this roof is rather simple. While we're using our Tourer for just that, touring, the redesigned roof is aimed at improved aerodynamics. Yet, once we finally settle down for a few days or more, it's time to pop the roof and really get into camping mode.In tent camper fashion, electric motors - not air springs - take over at the press of a button and raise the roof of this home while you just sit idly by, enjoying the show. Extend the awning off to one side, open up the rear pass-through garage, and set up the rest of your campsite . Bring along as much gear and toys as permitted by guidelines because this one's in it for the long haul.Another benefit of this sort of roof, and the fact that the interior can be used whether it's dropped or raised, is being able to adjust to whatever weather life throws your way. Is it sunny and the next minute pouring rain on a biblical level? Just lower the top and continue entertaining guests instead of lying around with the Mrs. Once the rain is gone, pop it back up into place, and ta-da.Now, that's a neat little trick and one we don't often encounter in a Class C motorhome, but beyond self-lifting roofs and aerodynamics, the Tourer CUV's styling is all about utility while still keeping true to German design and ideals. In short, it's balance, utility, and lifestyle on a VW T6.1 chassis. Once all the exterior goods are in place and the roof popped, let's head inside, move a storage bin or two around to free up some headroom, and settle in for the stay.Here's where things really become interesting . Each of the two available floorplans includes everything up to two people would ever need, including modular beds and modern and tastefully designed galley blocks, but it's the bathrooms that really blew me away, in particular, the one found in the 500 MQ; a testament to Knaus' know-how and ability to innovate.If you remember the article we covered on a different Knaus machine, the standard Tourer Van , then you may know what to expect. If you don't, this is going to be a treat. If RV living is your kind of thing, that is.Picture this: it's morning, and you've gotten out of bed and need to brush your teeth, and you know. But then you decide to take a shower and to do this, you must first, literally, pull out your shower cubicle. To do so, remove part of the bed cushions and lift the shower stall into place. It may sound odd, but once you see it and experience it , it's hella neat!More of this modular magic can also be found in the 500 LT, where the dinette transforms into a bed at night. Also, in the 500 LT, entry is made via the rear of the right side of the unit, creating a neat hallway in the process. If you have kids and want to bring them along - up to two - optional forward bedding is available, although it's not clear if both units have this option.Personally, I run through several motorhomes and styles each day, always searching for the coolest and most bang-for-buck machines out there, and Knaus has always been a crew that never disappoints, as you can clearly see.The only downside here is that this unit is only available in Europe, where Knaus is already selling their vehicles. So, if you're living in North America, you're out of luck. But we can always use the Tourer CUV as the perfect example of a do-it-all motorhome.
AWD

ICE

EV

kWh

kW

Yep, a toolbox-sized battery against the back of the cab in the bed  Drew Baglino (@baglino) November 30, 2023

If you need a quick rundown, here it is. The Tesla Cybertruck starts from $61k in RWD configuration  this model will only be available from 2025 (or later) with 250 miles of estimated range and a zero to 60 mph sprint time of 6.5 seconds. Next in line comes theversion ($80k) with 600 hp, a 340-mile range, 4.1s to 60 mph (96 kph), and 112 mph top speed. It also boasts an 11k lbs. towing capacity.Last but not least, at the top of the line resides the $99,990 Cyberbeast, the flagship with 320 miles of range, 130 mph top speed, and a 2.6s time to 60 mph plus eleven-second quarter-mile time thanks to its tri-motor AWD setup rocking 845 horsepower. Elon Musk bragged about its qualities and showed the Cyberbeast dragging a Porsche 911 while towing another 911! A lot of interesting tidbits are coming out now in the wake of the presentation event, from the bulletproof stainless steel non-corrosive body to the possibility of accessorizing the upcoming Cybertruck (deliveries are slated for 2024) with a range extender feature! However, don't jump in, crying your outrage, or at least recover your-powered jaw from the floor - it's not what people think - it's just another (external) battery pack.More precisely, the Whole Mars Catalog's blog announced on Twitter (sorry, on X) that the Cybertruck range extender feature will be another battery pack that you can put in the bed. With this accessory, sold by Tesla, the Cybertruck range can be extended to more than 470 miles, according to the news outlet. It's not vaporware, as some might think  Drew Baglino, the SVP (senior vice-president) of Powertrain and Energy at Tesla, intercepted the tweet and confirmed it's a "toolbox-sized battery against the back of the cab in the bed" meant for "those who need the extra range."Of course, the questions quickly poured in: how heavy, how is it attached, how can it be plugged in for recharging, and how big it really is? Until now, though, they remain unanswered, and it seems that nobody provided details during the delivery event. Interestingly, this Cybertruck feature will directly clash with anotherpickup truck's range extender idea  the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger uses a 3.6-liter V6 and a generator to replenish the 92-battery pack. With DC fast-charging at 145and dual electric motors for a combined 663 hp, the Ramcharger will clearly clash with the AWD Cybertruck as it offers a combined up to 690 miles. It all sounds intriguing, right?
EV

kWh

WLTP

The forthcoming subcompact electric car, with styling based on the beloved Renault 5 original, was presented in prototype form during early 2021. As taught by Tesla, patience is a virtue, and we are almost into 2024 and the series-production version is still nowhere to be seen, although it's probably around 90% the same as the concept car.Well, it's nowhere to be seen in its entirety, at least not in the real world. That is because Renault lifted "another corner of the veil" not long ago as the Renault 5 E-Tech electric hatchback prepares to arrive at the 2024 Geneva International Motor Show. The latter is officially returning to Geneva next year to celebrate its 100th anniversary between February 26 and March 3. Right now, though, Renault is preoccupied with a few teasers regarding the 5 E-Tech and is also sharing some juicyspecifications.According to the automaker, the Renault 5 E-Tech will have two battery options  including one with up to 52and a range of 400 km based on thecycle. For now, the first pictures reveal some of the design details  the 'human-like' headlights, a humongous charge indicator light placed squarely on top of the hood, the wheel arches, plus the vertical rear lights.Interestingly, Renault has its own version of the pre-ordering process  it's called R5 R Pass, and if customers pay 150 in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands, they will get to order the new EV ten days before the general public. Anyway, if you want to skip the line potentially  even if only virtually  the imaginative realm of digital car content creators is always happy to oblige.For example, the virtual artist behind Larson Design (aka lars_o_saeltzer on social media) brings his CGI vision of the series-production Renault 5 and A290 EVs to life. First, the unofficial vision of the EV that echoes the iconic R5 is probably spot on with the design changes implemented for the series production vehicle. Secondly, the pixel master drops the EV hot hatchback bomb, too, as he also imagined the Alpine A290 flagship based on the Renault 5 E-Tech but will try to give Tesla's Performance models a run for their EV money.So, what do you think  is this hypothetical design project of the Renault 5 E-Tech and Alpine A290 on point, or are the French automakers holding back a few surprises for the official introduction? Also, which one is your favorite, the regular 5 E-Tech of the A290 pocket-sized EV bomb?
Over a decade ago, one of my favorite artists released a song about people's vices in life. And he mentioned how exciting it is to find someone who shares your obsession. And that's spot on. Most of my friends are either obsessed with cars, Hot Wheels, or both.

69 Pontiac GTO

Photo: eBay/User ssnc1971962v

Nissan Skyline

Photo: eBay/User joeyboy671

69 Camaro Z28

Corvette C6R

Photo: eBay/User rhonasplace

Mega Thrust

Photo: eBay/User roushmustang1

Hammer Sled

The other day, one of my buddies who owns an RX-8 showed me some of the diecast cars he had from an international shop. Another RX-8 owner in my group makes custom cars and has all the different scales at home. And yet, they have never found a Super Treasure Hunt in the wild. Most people are in the same situation, which shows how lucky you are to find the coveted collectibles.I've reviewed all the STH series going as far back as 2008 in my recent stories. And that means there's still one more set of 12 cars to explore: the 2007 iteration! That's a long time ago; believe it or not, it's the same year Apple launched the first iPhone! Microsoft unveiled Windows Vista, and Queen Elizabeth II was 81 years old. Some of the best movies coming out of Hollywood that year were No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, 300, and I Am Legend.Beyonce topped the Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart with her hit song Irreplaceable. But I'd rather listen to Nickleback's Rockstar, which debuted that same year. As for Mattel, 2007 came with a change for the Mainline series. The old Treasure Hunt models became TREA$URE HUNT$, which we all know and refer to as Super Treasure Hunts. Collectors could get 12 special items that year, and in part one of this story, we'll go through the first six.Right off the bat, the '69 Pontiac GTO is one of the most exciting HW Super Treasure Items of 2007. Phil Riehlman designed this casting for its 2005 First Editions: Realistix debut, alongside other vehicles such as the Ferrari 575 GTC, the Maserati MC12, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Mattel released another three more variations of the casting in the first year alone and just two more in 2006.The blue and yellow color combo on the TH and the STH was exciting and ideally suited to the Muscle Car. The 5-Spoke Mag Style Real Riders took it to the next level, but I would be OK with owning the lesser variation. I admit I was almost afraid to see how expensive this item is today, but I was relieved that even the most expensive ones cost less than $65.If you're lucky and are OK with the missing blister card, you could get it for as cheap as $30. The diecast manufacturer unveiled at least six more amazing variations of this casting before ending its production in 2018. Don't be surprised if some are listed for as much as $500 on eBay. With over 30 iterations of the '69 Pontiac GTO to collect, it's safe to assume you'd need a budget of between $1,000 to $1,500 to get them all.The Nissan Skyline is the oldest casting in part one of our story, debuting in the 2002 First Editions series. The Metallic Dark Blue model introduced the R32 to a world of Hot Wheels enthusiasts, already featuring a race-ready attitude with that wide body kit. Alec Tam designed the casting, and we have seen 32 variations of it so far.A retool occurred in 2016, but we have only had two iterations since, one of which is the Godzilla-themed R32. The 2022 Legends Tour Special Skyline was popular among collectors, but let's return to 2007. The car had been around for several years, and three exciting models had already emerged in 2003, featuring Real Riders wheels. I've seen one selling for $350 on eBay, but it is stunning! Mattel chose a mix of Copper and Silver for the Super Treasure Hunt release and 6-Spoke Bling wheels.Although some drift fans might disagree, that isn't ideal for a car like the R32. Someone listed a pack of 12 special Skyline (some RLC , some STH) for $1,500 on eBay. But if you only care about the 2007 model, I've seen it going for as much as $650. The cheapest one I could find is still set at $170.The '69 Camaro Z28 would have made for a great Super Treasure Hunt model if it wasn't for one tiny detail at play. It is a 'Tooned vehicle, and it's not the kind Mattel has come up with today. It's the old, silly design. Phil Riehlman designed it before its 2004 release; a complete collection would require all 21 variations.Nineteen of those featured typical 5-spoke wheels, so perhaps the only incentive to buy all of them is the color diversity. Granted, the model looks much better with the Spectraflame Green paint job and the black roof and hood. Mattel went with the Mag-Style 5-Spoke Real Riders wheels here, as that seems to be the go-to option for most of their tiny Muscle Cars.Prices on the open market vary between $25 and $55, so it might not be worth it if you're only interested in getting the wheels for another car. The Tru Collection Starter Set Exclusive '69 Camaro from 2006 can require more effort, with prices going as high as $80. But those Faster Than Ever wheels are even worse than the regular 5-spoke ones.The third item of the day is also on my Top 5 list for the 2007 STH series. I raced the Corvette C6.R in Assetto Corsa last year, as I was curious to see how fast it would go around the Nurburgring Nordschleife . Using a keyboard, I set a fast lap of seven minutes and 18 seconds. I should give it another go on my Logitech G29 wheel. Jun Imai designed the Hot Wheels casting, and the 2006 First Edition model featured a classic yellow livery.Four more variations came out later that year, but Mattel shifted the casting into high gear in 2007. There are two slightly different variations of the Super Treasure Hunt model: one is black, and the other is gray. Both use the same Gold 6-spoke Bling wheel design, and prices for each can go up to $100 or more. Several more interesting C6.R variations exist in the same price range, including the two Speed Machines models.The last two items on this list are both fantasy vehicles, unfortunately. Mega Thrust is a cool name; I'll give them that. It reminds me of the company's Deora casting, but it also looks like one of those car beds, if you know what I mean. Mattel used this name only for the first four iterations before switching to Night Burner. The 2007 Super Treasure Hunt is decent and gets better the more you look at it.It could be a replica of a hero vehicle from a Sci-Fi movie. It features a Spectraflame Dark Orange paint job and a white and black livery, and it keeps making me think of the Armadillo from Armageddon, except it doesn't have as many wheels, and it's not built for the same purpose. You could buy this STH for less than $20, so it's certainly not very popular among collectors of any age.Hot Wheels motorcycles generally receive less attention than cars, but it's even worse if it's not even a replica of a real bike. That's the case for the Hammer Sled, which is supposed to parody a chopper. Greg Padginton designed this casting, only available in stores between 2006 and 2013. It was still enough time for Mattel to release 16 variations, seven featuring Spectraflame paint jobs. Prices vary between $15 to $40, and you'll have to throw in a few bucks if you want to pick up the Regular Treasure Hunt model as well. If you don't plan on having the complete 2007 STH collection, you could skip buying the Hammer Sled. That's what I would do, anyway.
The foreign ministers of the two South Caucasus countries traded the accusations on Thursday when they addressed an annual meeting of the top diplomats of OSCE member states held in North Macedonias capital Skopje. The two men avoided holding talks on the sidelines of the ministerial conference.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan again condemned the recent Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh that restored Bakus control over the region and forced its practically entire population to flee to Armenia.

With the tacit consent of the international community, Azerbaijan has achieved its long-standing goal: to get the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh without its Armenian population, Mirzoyan declared in his speech.

Now the entire sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia has become the target of our neighbor, he went on. This, coupled with continuous hatred, military rhetoric, use of force and threats of use of force, refusal to come to meetings organized by various international actors, including the U.S. and the EU, demonstrates that this country [Azerbaijan] is not sincerely interested in peace and stability in our region.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev twice cancelled EU-mediated talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian planned for October. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov similarly withdrew from a November 20 meeting with Mirzoyan that was due to take place in Washington. Baku accused the Western powers of pro-Armenian bias and proposed direct negotiations with Yerevan.

Bayramov reiterated that offer and complained about biased and one-sided actions of unnamed third parties in his speech at the Skopje conference. He claimed that Yerevan itself is dragging out talks on the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

The continuation of geopolitical intrigues organized by some actors is counterproductive and only serves to drag out the peace process, added Bayramov.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken telephoned Aliyev and Pashinian on Monday to discuss ways of kick-starting the process. No dates for fresh Armenian-Azerbaijani talks were announced as a result. Blinken met with Mirzoyan at Skopje on Wednesday.

Armenian officials suggested earlier that Aliyev is reluctant to sign a peace deal that would preclude Azerbaijani territorial claims to Armenia. Azerbaijans September 19-20 offensive in Karabakh raised more fears in Yerevan that it may also invade Armenia to open a land corridor to the Nakhichevan exclave.
The Hayasat-1 satellite was carried by a SpaceX rocket that blasted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The high-tech device shaped like a 10-centimeter cube was jointly developed by the Yerevan-based Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory and the Armenian Center for Scientific Innovation and Education. Their nascent space program was formally licensed by the Armenian Ministry of High-Technology less than three months ago.

High-Technology Minister Robert Khachatrian pledged continued government support for the program when he spoke after the successful launch of Hayasat-1. He called it a very remarkable and heartening development.

Bazoomqs co-founder and executive director, Avetik Grigorian, spoke of the resumption of Armenias space-related activities, alluding to Armenian scientists past contributions to Soviet space programs. Hayasat-1 is only the first step in that endeavor, he said.

We need to have our own capacity to develop satellites, launch them and give them the functions and tasks we want because otherwise we would be dependent on big powers that may and may not be willing to support us, argued Grigorian.

SpaceX launched Armenias first satellite into space in May 2022. The Armenian government reportedly purchased the ArmSat-1 satellite from Satlantis, a Spanish company that specializes in the production of small satellites and cameras for them. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said at the time that it will be used for a wide range of purposes, including border control, natural disaster management and geology.

The government pledged to open a satellite operations center in the country before the end of 2022. However, the construction of the facility appears to have fallen behind schedule.

Armenias arch-foe Azerbaijan launched its first communication and observation satellite into space in 2013. The Azerbaijani army reportedly used satellite images for its offensive military operations carried out during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
1 December 2023 11:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliev

Reducing costs and improving service quality are very important in the tourism sector. It can increase the sustainability of tourism revenues , Azernews informs that this was told by MP Vugar Bayramov.

He stressed that in the first 10 months of this year, the dynamics of the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan have been maintained, and the growth of the number of visitors from Europe has continued.

While the number of tourists visiting our country increased by 30.3 percent, the increase in the number of European visitors was 41.9 percent. During that period, 1 million 723 thousand foreigners visited Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, the decline in the number of visitors from the Gulf countries continued. In the first 10 months of 2023, the number of visitors from Arab states to Azerbaijan decreased by 7.4 percent.

The greatest increase is accounted for by 3 Asian countries: the number of arrivals from China increased 7.3 times, from South Korea 3.5 times, and from Turkmenistan 2.7 times. The number of arrivals from CIS countries increased by 49.6 percent and reached 692.6 thousand people.

After the energy sector, tourism is the sector that brings the most foreign currency to the country. In 2019, a year before the pandemic, more than 3 million tourists came to the country, and this year, foreigners spent about 2.6 billion dollars in Azerbaijan.

From this point of view, he said, it is important to update the country of origin of tourist arrivals, especially to strengthen cooperation in this area with countries located in Europe and Southeast Asia.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 17:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliev

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Foreign Minister of Montenegro Filip Ivanovich within the framework of the 30th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

Prospects of cooperation between the two countries as well as regional security issues were discussed at the meeting.

Minister J. Bayramov emphasised that for 15 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro, the two countries have established relations based on friendship and cooperation.

Various spheres are developing between the two countries, including economy, trade, energy security, transportation, investments, tourism, education, humanitarian activities, etc. It was noted that there is a potential for further development of cooperation in these areas and the importance of using the mechanism of political consultations to discuss the prospects for the development of relations in this direction, as well as the expansion of the legal framework.

Minister Filip Ivanovic noted that Montenegro is interested in using the existing potential for further development of relations with Azerbaijan, and it is important to continue mutual dialogue in this direction.

During the meeting, other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 18:08 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliev

Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau, under the State Tourism Agency, and six representatives of partners in the tourism industry presented the country with a national stand at the exhibition "IBTM World" that was held in Spain on November 28-30, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's State Tourism Agency.

The objective of participation in the international exhibition is to present and promote Azerbaijan's business tourism opportunities, as well as increase the number of industry representatives who will visit Azerbaijan for business purposes.

Meetings with representatives of the foreign tourism industry in B2B format were held within the framework of the exhibition. Also, opportunities for Azerbaijan's business tourism were presented.

IBTM World, held annually in Barcelona since 1987, is considered one of the most important international exhibitions for meetings, conferences, and events and unites professionals working in the business events industry. This year, the exhibition is attended by 2250 representatives of the tourism industry from 150 countries.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
President Yoon Suk Yeol will use his upcoming state visit to the Netherlands to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in the semiconductor industry, his office said Friday.

Yoon is scheduled to visit the Netherlands from Dec. 11-14 at the invitation of Dutch King Willem-Alexander, becoming the first South Korean president to pay a state visit to the European nation since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1961. He will be joined by first lady Kim Keon Hee.

"The Netherlands, which is the biggest investor in South Korea among the member states of the European Union and the second-largest trade partner after Germany, is one of the world's leading producers of chipmaking equipment and our key partner in the global semiconductor supply chain," the presidential office said in a press release.

"The president's state visit to the Netherlands is expected to further deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and semiconductors, and contribute to building a stable semiconductor supply chain," it said.

Yoon and the first lady will begin their visit by holding a dinner meeting with Korean residents in Amsterdam on Dec. 11.

The next day, they will attend an official welcome ceremony hosted by the King and Queen Maxima at Dam Square in the Dutch capital, before attending a reception at the Royal Palace, laying a wreath at a war memorial on Dam Square, and then returning to the palace for a friendly luncheon with the King and the Queen.

Later that day, Yoon and the King will visit the headquarters of top chipmaking equipment manufacturer ASML in Veldhoven, where the two leaders plan to tour key facilities together with the company's chief executive, Peter Wennink, and discuss ways to strengthen the two countries' partnership in the areas of semiconductor supply chains and technological innovation.

A state banquet will be held at the palace in the evening, with the attendance of key figures from the two countries' political, financial, cultural and science sectors. Yoon and the King are both scheduled to deliver speeches.

On Dec. 13, the third day of his visit, Yoon will travel to The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government, and hold a joint meeting with the leaders of both chambers of the Dutch parliament, before holding talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Yoon and Rutte will then hold a joint press conference, attend a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony, and a luncheon hosted by the prime minister.

In addition, the two leaders will visit the Mauritshuis art museum and the Yi Jun Peace Museum, which honors the Korean diplomat and prosecutor who, along with two other Koreans, was dispatched by Emperor Gojong in 1907 to attend the Second Hague Peace Conference in the city and call attention to the unlawfulness of Japan's colonization of Korea.

The mission failed, and Yi was found dead in his hotel room a few days later.

After returning to Amsterdam the same day, Yoon will meet with Dutch veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War together with the King and later attend a South Korea-Netherlands business forum attended by key business leaders from the two countries.

The Netherlands sent more than 5,000 troops to fight alongside South Korea during the war.

In the evening, the president and the first lady will attend a cultural performance in Amsterdam hosted by the South Korean government in honor of the King and the Queen.

They will depart the next day to return home. (Yonhap)
1 December 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli met with Kazakhstan's Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alin Bayel on 30 November, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan Ministry.

At the meeting, the Minister spoke about the historical and friendly relations between the two nations and emphasized the development of cultural ties between the two countries in several fields. He underlined that the implementation of joint projects in various spheres of culture and art further strengthens relations.

The Ambassador Alin Bayel expressed his satisfaction with the high level of relations between the two countries. The diplomat pointed out that there are ample opportunities that will contribute to deepening cooperation in the cultural sphere.

At the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on the Days of Kazakh Culture to be held in Azerbaijan on 2-5 December and other issues of mutual interest.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 11:57 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The creative industries encompass a wide range of sectors, including design, advertising, architecture, fashion, film, music, and more.

These industries play a vital role in cultural enrichment and economic growth.

By bringing together experts from different backgrounds, the forum creates an environment conducive to exchanging ideas and promoting the development of creative sectors in Azerbaijan.

In an interview with AZERNEWS, international art market expert and CEO of artXchange Global, Ornela Ramasauskaite, shares her views on the future prospects for creative industries in the country.

The expert touches upon the impact of creative industries on economy and major challenges that creative industries are facing today

Q: What is your overall impression of the Forum of Culture and Creative Industries in Baku? What interesting topics were brought to attention at the forum?

A: The Forum of Culture and Creative Industries in Baku was not only a convergence of diverse cultural perspectives but also a dynamic platform for charting the course of Azerbaijan's creative future. It was clear that the Ministry of Culture has a robust and clear vision for cultural development, supported by a solid and motivated team. Including international experts underscores a commitment to adopting best practices tailored to the Azerbaijani context.

The discussions were particularly forward-thinking, focusing on the creative economy and embracing digitization to extend the reach of cultural goods and services. The ambition to export cultural goods, embrace technology in the arts, and invest in high-potential areas such as the gaming and animation industries was evident. This approach, blending global trends with local authenticity, or the "glocal" perspective, demonstrates a sophisticated strategy to make culture a point of national pride and a profitable enterprise.

During the conference, I met numerous devoted and incredibly talented artists, further solidifying my belief in the country's creative potential. Their passion and talent are integral to defining Azerbaijan's brand on the international stage. It's heartening to see cultural and creative goods recognised as expressions of national identity and valuable economic assets. The collective understanding shared by stakeholders and the hands-on approach observed are solid foundations for swift and targeted implementation, heralding a successful integration of culture into the nation's economic growth narrative.

Q: How have creative industries influenced the economy in general?

A: The creative industries have become vital to the global economy, showcasing their importance through various studies and theories. Research by Boix and Soler (2017) measured the size of the creative industries for 250 regions in 24 countries of the EU, finding that creative industries generated 7.8% of the total production (GDP). This is a significant figure, especially considering the diverse and rich tapestry of industries within the EU.

Employment within the Creative Economy is also noteworthy. This sector employed 7 million people in Europe, or 3.3% of the active population. The diversity within these jobs is remarkable, with industries such as performing arts, visual arts, and music each employing over a million people. This level of employment is comparable to major industries like food and beverage services, underscoring the Creative Economy's crucial role in job creation.

Another exciting aspect is the impact of these industries on youth employment. In Europe, the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) employed a higher percentage of 15 to 29-year-olds than other sectors. This suggests that CCIs are significant employers and are particularly appealing and accessible to younger demographics.

Looking beyond Europe, the significance of CCIs is also evident in developing and emerging countries. In places like China, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East, these sectors contribute notably to GDP and employment. However, it's important to note that in many of these regions, the full impact of CCIs might be understated due to the informal nature of these sectors.

Its revenue generation and e-commerce growth further underscore the global reach of the Creative Economy. UNESCO reported that this sector generates annual global revenues of US$2.25 trillion, with a substantial portion coming from digital sales. This highlights not just the economic scale of the industry but also its adaptability and growth in the digital age.

Moreover, the sub-sector of collectable art and antiques, though smaller, had significant turnovers, indicating the varied nature of the creative industries. Global art sales, in particular, have shown resilience and adaptability, with online sales gaining prominence.

The geographic distribution of the art market is also telling, with significant concentrations in the United States, Europe, and China, yet serving a global clientele. This reflects the globalised nature of the art market and its wide-reaching influence.

Richard Florida's theory of the Creative Class further enhances our understanding of the economic impact of creative industries. According to Florida, regions with high concentrations of technology workers, artists, and musicians and a high level of diversity and tolerance tend to have higher economic development. This aligns with the data showing the significant contributions of creative industries to economies worldwide.

In essence, the creative industries are a significant contributor to global GDP and employment and play a pivotal role in shaping socioeconomic landscapes. They influence urban development and cultural diversity and are at the forefront of the digital transformation of the economy.

Q: What are the major challenges that creative industries are facing today?

The significant challenges facing today's creative industries are multifaceted, evolving from both internal dynamics and external pressures.Firstly, digital transformation stands as a double-edged sword. While it offers creative industries unprecedented access to global markets, it also demands a rapid and continuous adaptation of skills, business models, and marketing strategies. The pace of technological change can outstrip the ability of creative organizations to keep up, potentially leading to a digital divide where only those with the resources to adapt can thrive.

Intellectual property rights pose another significant challenge. In the digital age, where content can be shared and replicated instantly, protecting the rights of creators and investors is more complex than ever. Ensuring fair compensation for creators while balancing the public's access to creative works is a contentious issue that remains unresolved. This is exacerbated by varying international laws and enforcement practices, making creating a standardized approach to intellectual property rights difficult.

Sustainable funding models are also a critical challenge. New consumption habits are disrupting traditional revenue streams, such as the preference for streaming over physical media and the expectation of free online content. Finding models that sustain the financial health of creative industries while appealing to modern consumers is an ongoing struggle. This includes monetization and investment in new projects and talents, which is crucial for the vitality and innovation within these industries.

Despite these challenges, they also present opportunities. Digital transformation, for instance, can enable creative industries to explore new forms of storytelling and audience engagement, opening up possibilities like virtual and augmented reality. Intellectual property rights debates spur discussions on balancing creator incentives with public domain enrichment, potentially leading to more nuanced and forward-thinking legislation. Sustainable funding models encourage innovation in finance, such as crowdfunding and micro-patronage, empowering consumers to support the content they value directly. Also, integrating international expertise can accelerate growth and help avoid pitfalls, drawing on successful models like Lithuania's Arm's Length Body for cultural governance.

Ultimately, the ability of the creative industries to navigate these challenges will determine their resilience and capacity to contribute to economic and cultural landscapes globally. It's an ongoing negotiation, innovation, and adaptation process that will define the future of creative industries.

Q: In your opinion, what kind of measures should be taken for further development of creative industries?

A: A multifaceted strategy must be employed to develop creative industries further. Central to this is the renewal of the education system to ensure that upcoming generations possess creative skills and the business acumen necessary to navigate the modern landscape. Education should bridge traditional artistry with contemporary IT and marketing skills, fostering innovation and adaptability.

The establishment of an Arm's Length Body is another critical measure. This organization should fund, shape, and monitor cultural organizations and artists. By operating at arm's length from governmental influence, such a body can ensure that artistic and cultural development is maintained without political bias while also guaranteeing transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources.

A global approach is essential in an interconnected world; it allows for the cross-pollination of ideas and best practices. International experts can provide insights into global market trends, offer new perspectives on creativity and management, and help bridge the gap between local talent and international standards. They can assist in developing networks that facilitate the global exchange of cultural goods and services, ensuring that local creative industries are sustainable and competitive on the world stage.

Q: What are the potential future prospects for creative industries in Azerbaijan? Do you think that the forum will boost the development of creative industries in the country?

A: The potential prospects for Azerbaijan's creative industries are anchored in the country's deep cultural heritage and recent initiatives to catalyze growth in this sector. The rich cultural landscape of Garabagh, with its unique history, offers a fertile ground for the development of creative industries such as music, literature, visual arts, and crafts. This cultural wealth can be harnessed to create an internationally distinctive brand for Azerbaijan.

The importance of international forums and conferences cannot be overstated. They provide a platform for stakeholders from various facets of the creative industries to converge, share ideas, and forge partnerships. Such events can significantly boost the development of creative industries by promoting dialogue, fostering collaboration, and attracting investment. They also spotlight the country's commitment to these sectors, signalling to potential investors and international markets about Azerbaijan's dedication to cultivating its cultural industries.

For Azerbaijan to fully realize the potential of its creative industries, there needs to be a concerted effort towards strategic planning and investment. Adopting a long-term investment strategy with at least a five-year horizon is crucial for achieving measurable progress regarding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This approach ensures that initiatives are not just flash-in-the-pan efforts but are sustainable and yield growth and development over time.

The Ministry of Culture's commitment, coupled with the support from key decision-makers, is a strong indicator of the government's belief in the potential of these industries. This level of support is essential for creating an enabling environment where creative industries can thrive.

Incorporating international experts brings global perspectives and best practices into the local context, which can accelerate growth and innovation. Furthermore, investing in education that bridges art and commerce is vital. It's about nurturing creativity and equipping creative professionals with the business acumen to market and monetize their talents effectively.

By taking these steps, Azerbaijan positions itself to enhance its cultural footprint significantly. The nation has the potential to become a beacon in the global creative and artistic industries, drawing on its rich heritage to build a vibrant, sustainable, and innovative creative economy.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 10:50 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

An international scientific conference on Prospects for Cultural Tourism of the Turkic World starts today in Shusha.

The conference will feature discussions and presentations on the topic Transformation of the nomadic lifestyle of Turkic-speaking countries into a tourism product, Azernews reports.

Representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will also make speeches at the conference.

Note that Shusha has been named the Turkic World Cultural Capital for 2023.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) member states held in Bursa, Turkiye.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Culture Ministry, the Special Representative Office of the Azerbaijani president in Shusha as well as the Shusha State Reserve are entrusted with the implementation of the activities related to the events.

Many events of cultural significance, including the Kharibulbul International Folklore Festival, the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, the Cultural Days of the Turkic People, the Vagif Poetry Days, the International Festival of Children's Creativity, Wonderland Shusha 2023 International Scout Camp, and other events were held in Turkic World Cultural Capital for 2023.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 14:08 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

An exhibition of Silk Art has opened its doors to art lovers at the Icherisheher Centre for Contemporary Art.

Curated by Tatyana Ivanaeva, the project is dedicated to Azerbaijani artists of the 21st century, Azernews reports.

Silk Art are prints of colourful paintings created by talented artists, members of the Azerbaijan Artists' Union, whose art works have been successfully demonstrated in many exhibitions.

Their masterpieces are included in museum and private collections, and the cost of the works themselves emphasises their demand among art connoisseurs.

The exhibition brought together eight masters of art, Honoured Artists Irina Eldarova and Vugar Ali, member of the UN specialised agency for education, science, and culture Milena Nabieva, artists Jamila Gashimova, Intigam Agayev, Emin Gahramanov, Yusif Mirza and Sayala Mammadova-Garayeva.

The project is based on the promotion of the visual creativity of contemporaries, whose paintings today continue to reveal and enhance the uniqueness of the Azerbaijani cultural heritage in an era when one century replaced another.

Each of the silk scarves represents a touch of the diversity of Azerbaijani fine art.

Only twenty scarves were made from each painting. They will not be repeated again.

This series is expected to continue with other artists. In addition, the authors of the project have an idea to make prints not only on scarves, but also on a variety of surfaces.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 10:05 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Baku is hosting the second day of the InMerge Innovation Summit organized by PASHA Holding, Azernews reports.

InMerge Innovation Summit is considered the largest innovation summit in the region. It brings together the region's leading companies, startups as well and investors to discuss innovation and possible collaborations, which in turn will positively impact the innovation ecosystem in the region and the country in particular.

The second day of the summit will feature keynotes from co-founder and CTO of Tesla Inc. J.B. Strobel, and founder and creator of Shazam Chris Barton. Azercell President Zarina Zeynalova, acting chairwoman of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Development of Azerbaijan Inara Valiyeva, and others will also take the floor at the event.

Shahmar Movsumov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department for Economic Affairs and Innovative Development Policy of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Erdem Inan, General Director of Trendyol Group of Companies, Christina Dorosh, Vice-President and Regional Manager of Visa in Central Asia and Azerbaijan, spoke on stage on the first day of the event.

Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of Apple, took part in the event as a speaker. He had a speech about trends in technology and shared his experience.

In addition, within the framework of the summit, the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), SABAH.lab, the Centre for Analysis and Coordination of the IV Industrial Revolution (4SIM) under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, and the Education Development Fund under the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation for the development of the innovation and startup ecosystem in Azerbaijan.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 11:38 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid within the framework of his participation in the 30th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje. Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the main directions of bilateral Azerbaijan-OSCE co-operation, challenges currently faced by the OSCE, as well as regional and international security issues.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stressed the importance of multilateral platforms, including the OSCE, in observing and defending the basic provisions of international law, including such basic principles as territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The meeting addressed the realities of the post-conflict period in Azerbaijan, the reconstruction of territories liberated from occupation and the gradual return of IDPs to these territories, the threat of landmines as the biggest obstacle to the rehabilitation and return activities, as well as the efforts of our country towards the promotion of the peace process.

Against the background of Armenia's failure to withdraw its armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, contrary to the commitments undertaken by Armenia, the other side was informed within 24 hours in September of this year about the anti-terrorist measures implemented by Azerbaijan.

As the representatives of international organisations confirmed, it was stressed that there was no violence against the peaceful population, and as for the departure of the Armenian residents from our territories, it was stressed that the responsibility for that falls on Armenia and the so-called regime under its control.

In this regard, the inadmissibility of double standards and selective approach towards the basic principles of international law, such as territorial integrity and restoration of sovereignty was noted.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 12:03 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Republic of Romania.

Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of your country.

Azerbaijan-Romania relations have good traditions. The current level of development and day-by-day expansion of ties between the countries, which clearly reflect these traditions, is gratifying.

Today, there are ample opportunities for further deepening of bonds and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries. I believe that the recent high-level reciprocal visits and regular contacts will make a significant contribution to the strengthening of our strategic partnership and the more fruitful use of the big potential of our joint activities in political, economic, energy, transport, humanitarian and other areas.

On this remarkable day, I wish you good health, happiness, success in your activities, and the friendly people of Romania everlasting peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 28 November 2023

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 12:56 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

This was stated by Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova during the meeting with Chairman of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany Barbel Bas, Azernews reports.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, who provided the Chairman of the Bundestag with extensive information on the current situation in the region and the consequences of the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, said that after liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation Azerbaijan started large-scale reconstruction and restoration works.

The Chairman of Milli Majlis underlined that the biggest obstacle in the works done is more than 1 million mines laid by Armenia during and after the years of occupation and noted that more than 340 Azerbaijanis became victims of mine explosions in the last 3 years. Taking into account that Azerbaijan is one of the countries most contaminated with mines, the importance of international support to the demining efforts of our country was noted.

According to Sahiba Gafarova, who noted that Azerbaijan took the initiative to achieve long-term peace in the region and presented five main principles for signing a peace agreement with Armenia, it is based on mutual recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Armenia's political and military provocations undertaken over the past 3 years, failure to fulfill its obligations, and constant support for the illegal separatist regime established in Azerbaijani territories made anti-terrorist measures inevitable in the Garabagh region.

These measures were in full compliance with international law, and there were no civilian casualties. As a result of these measures, the separatist regime was abolished, and Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty. The Speaker stressed that no country can accept the existence of a separatist organisation on its territory.

Speaker noted that today there are no obstacles to signing a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijan is ready to continue negotiations on signing the peace agreement. This is clear evidence that the Azerbaijani people support peace and want peace, and that our people have been waiting for 30 years for the solution of the problem through peaceful negotiations.

Sahiba Gafarova once again noted that Azerbaijan is ready for peace based on the recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 16:29 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The Supreme Court has discussed the problems that have arisen during the consideration of credit and other disputes in the Supreme Court, Azernews reports.

It was reported that a regular meeting with members of the Board of Directors of the Association of Banks of Azerbaijan was held at the Supreme Court within the "Femida Dialogue Platform".

The guests were told that the main purpose of the meetings held within this platform is to improve the quality of justice, including the need to improve legislation in this area, as well as to discuss problems arising in practice and ways to solve them.

The Chairman of the Civil Collegium of the Supreme Court, Sanan Hajiyev, brought to the attention of the guests the latest reforms in the judicial and legal sphere, including innovations implemented to improve the efficiency of justice, including the formation of a unified judicial practice.

President of the Azerbaijan Banks Association, Zakir Nuriyev, in his speech positively assessed the holding of the dialogue and expressed confidence that the discussions will make an important contribution in terms of expectations on both sides.

Kamala Abiyeva, Chairperson of the Commercial Collegium of the Supreme Court, informed about the activities of arbitration courts as well as the peculiarities of commercial disputes involving banks.

Later, the problems encountered in civil and commercial cases on loans and other disputes in which banks are parties were discussed, ways to eliminate them were discussed, and an agreement was reached to resolve several specific issues.

To improve the efficiency of court proceedings in this category of cases, the need to improve legislative acts regulating activities in the field of valuation and auctions was emphasised.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 17:57 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Turkic countries are known for their rich and diverse culinary traditions that have been shaped by centuries of history and cultural exchange.

The Turkic countries, which include Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan, boast a wide variety of dishes that showcase their rich culinary legacy.

From mouthwatering meat dishes to sweet pastries, the Turkic states offer true culinary treasures.

The culinary delights of Turkic countries have been demonstrated in Shusha, Azernews reports.

First, the guests got acquainted with the stands representing the cuisine of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency Azade Huseynova, Executive Director of the Shusha City State Reserve Tural Novruzov, representatives of Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Hungary took part in the open-air event co-organized by the State Tourism Agency and the Shusha City State Reserve.

The event participants enjoyed the vibrant tastes of common Turkic dishes, including qutabs, pilaf, beshbarmak, kumis, Garabagh kata, Turkish coffee, and various types of mouthwatering meat dishes and beverages.

As part of the event, chefs from Turkic-speaking countries will hold master classes for culinary gourmets.

Note that Shusha has already proven itself as a home for large-scale cultural events.

The Turkic World Cultural Capital for 2023 successfully hosted the Kharibulbul International Folklore Festival, the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, the Cultural Days of the Turkic People, the Vagif Poetry Days, the International Festival of Children's Creativity, Wonderland Shusha 2023 International Scout Camp, and other events.

The first ever Shusha International Food Festival 2022 gathered chefs from different countries who totally thrilled food enthusiasts with the unforgettable taste and colour of the national cuisine.

Shusha's food festival offered a unique culinary experience to locals and tourists alike.

So, if you find yourself in Shusha during the food festival, be prepared to embark on a gastronomic journey filled with unforgettable flavours and warm hospitality.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kim Hyun-bin

The Korea-European Union CSO Network (KEN) is set to host the 2023 Korea-EU CSO Network Human Rights Conference in collaboration with the EU delegation of the European Union to Korea, Thursday, in Seoul.

With the overarching theme of "Live Diversity: Practice Inclusivity," this year's conference seeks to foster vital dialogues and formulate recommendations that promote diversity and inclusion across all segments of society.

The event will convene representatives from diverse civil society groups, the private sector, academia, media and social activists from Europe and Korea. Together, they will exchange insights on promoting respect for diversity through integrated policies and collaborative actions, emphasizing its significance for the socio-economic development of both regions.

The conference will delve into the intricacies of multiple discrimination within contemporary democracies, addressing present challenges and envisioning a collaborative path forward. Influential figures and thought leaders will guide discussions to deepen understanding and propose actionable solutions in key areas such as education, the labor market, family and social rights.

EU Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez extends a warm invitation to participants for a collective commitment to human rights. The opening ceremony will feature keynote speeches by the ambassador and human rights activists.

The conference will consist of three sessions designed to stimulate insightful dialogue and action.

Session one will focus on identifying intersectionality and the challenges of multiple discriminations, an introductory session on the concepts of intersectionality and multiple discriminations, and exploring their significance in defining human rights policies.

Session two will highlight diversity and inclusion in education and the workplace, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion for enhancing academic performance, creativity and economic productivity.

The third session will delve into embracing diverse families, which will explore the societal benefits of embracing non-traditional forms of families and the necessity for social dialogue.
1 December 2023 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The Western Azerbaijan Community made a statement in response to the speech of the European Union representative on "the rights and security of Garabagh Armenians" at the OSCE Ministerial Council, Azernews reports.

In his speech at the OSCE Ministerial Council, the EU representative raised the issue of "the rights and security of Garabagh Armenians, including the right to return".

A statement issued by the Western Azerbaijan Community on the issue says: "It is totally unacceptable that the European Union interferes in Azerbaijan's internal affairs, approaches issues on ethnic and religious grounds, and does not touch upon the right of return of Azerbaijanis deported from Armenia.

Such biased statements show that the European Union cannot act as an honest mediator in the process of normalising Azerbaijani-Armenian relations.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 18:38 (UTC+04:00)

Georgia is ready to ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process in the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2024, Azernews reports, Georgian Foreign Ministry Ilya Darchiashvili telling at a meeting with the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE Matteo Mecacci.

The meeting was held within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial in the capital of Northern Macedonia  Skopje. According to the information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the head of the Georgian Foreign Ministry provided the Director of the ODIHR with comprehensive information on Georgia's implementation of 12 recommendations of the European Union for obtaining the status of a candidate country in the EU, as well as on the plan for implementing the recommendations contained in the European Commission's report on enlargement.

"During the conversation, the importance of the ODIHR's participation in the successful implementation of a number of reforms was noted. Attention was paid to the ODIHR's participation in the ongoing electoral processes in Georgia, which is of particular importance in view of the upcoming elections in the country in 2024. The Minister stressed Georgia's readiness to ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process," the message reads.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 20:15 (UTC+04:00)

Proposing that India will host the UN climate change conference in 2028, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday called for unity, cooperation and balance in global fight against climate change, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Mother earth is looking towards us to protect her future, Modi told this years summit, commonly known as COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Emphasizing on decisive steps, Modi said: We must resolve that every country shall fulfil the climate targets.

It is setting for itself and the commitments it is making. We have to work in unity. We must resolve that we shall work together. We shall cooperate with each other and shall support each other, Modi said.

Dubai is hosting the two-week UN climate summit, attended by around 70,000 delegates from around the world.

We need to give all developing countries a fair share in global carbon budget, Modi said, calling for balance between adaptation, mitigation, climate, finance, technology loss, and damage.

We have to keep a balance between all of these, we have to be assertive, Modi said.

The UN member nations, he said, must resolve that the energy transition shall be just, inclusive, and equitable, adding: We have to be innovative.

Addressing the participants of the conference, the Indian premier added: Every individual, every head of state seated in this hall has come here with a sense of duty and responsibility. Each one of us will have to discharge duty and fulfil our commitments.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
1 December 2023 21:20 (UTC+04:00)

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed an executive order appointing Valery Gergiev, a world-famous conductor and the artistic director of St. Petersburgs Mariinsky Theater, as director general of Moscows Bolshoi Theater for a term of five years, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

According to the Russian governments Telegram channel, the Bolshois previous director, Vladimir Urin, has been dismissed at his own request.

Gergiev was born in Moscow in 1953. He graduated from the Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory and joined the Leningrad S.M. Kirov State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet (now the State Academic Mariinsky Theater) in 1977. In 1988, he was appointed the theaters chief conductor as well as artistic director of its opera company.

He gives more than 300 performances in Russia and abroad every year. Often credited with popularizing the Mariinsky Theaters White Nights Festival worldwide, he also opened the theaters branches in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East and Vladikavkaz in the North Caucasus.
By Jung Min-ho

Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu and former chief of the ruling People Power Party, criticized government officials, Friday, for spreading false hope about Busans chance of winning the right to host World Expo 2030.

In a message posted on social media, Hong said the problem was not the Korean citys failure to defeat the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh in the Expo competition; the problem was the failure of getting a realistic sense of what was going on, which demonstrated all related ministries and agencies incompetence and ignorance, he noted.

Dont you think we should find and castigate the staff members responsible for giving false information to the public with a major daily newspaper article headline aiming for a 49 to 51 come-from-behind win just two days before the Expo announcement and for making the president to visit Paris upon his return from his U.S. trip? he wrote.

Such incompetent, sycophantic staff bring confusion to the country and ruin the administration.

His statement comes three days after the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)  the Expo governing body  voted for Riyadh to host the major world event with a whopping 119 out of 165 votes. Busan received 29 votes and Rome received 17 votes.

Busans overwhelming loss surprised the public as well as President Yoon Suk Yeol, who said he was not expecting the government prediction to be that off the mark. Many officials taking part in the citys bidding efforts had claimed the gap was narrow and it could feasibly win. They could not have been more wrong.

Foreign Minister Park Jin, who played a key role in the campaign, said the previous day that he felt responsible for the result that "did not live up to our expectations.

Speaking at the opposition Democratic Party of Koreas Supreme Council meeting on Friday, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, its chairman, also criticized the government for the wildly inaccurate forecast.

If the administration thought it would be possible to achieve a coming-up-from-behind victory without any idea about the result, it demonstrates its incompetence  If it pushed for it knowing all that, its just a vile deed.
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.
Editors Commentary: A fundamental element of Freedom is probable cause. That is the concept that holds that the government has no right to invade our privacy unless it has good reason to believe a specific crime has been committed by a specific person. Specific is the operative word here. Probable cause does not allow generalized searches or intrusions into our private lives.

It has often been said by those with experience that give me enough time and access and I can find criminal violations by anyone.

That day has arrived. With Artificial Intelligence and massive computing ability the government can, for nearly any non-specific, generalized reason, search our lives to find what it can find that it can use for whatever means it chooses to do. It is a Brave New World, indeed.

Consider this and you may very well come to understand why the Democrat controlled tenacles of government have brought so many charges against Donald Trump. The discovery process emanating from these cases may well be the motive rather than enforcing specific law violations.

Sundance, writing at the Conservative Treehouse, reports:

Yesterday, we noted the warrant demand from Special Counsel Jack Smith to Twitter, that included the demand for all information on Donald Trumps account that relates to his followers and supporters. {LINK} However, the element for this focus is the granular demand for user metadata, and the bigger picture for 2024.

Within the warrant:

The U.S. government requested and received the metadata for accounts connected to, and in alignment with, President Donald J. Trump.

Thats billions of billions of datapoints on millions of American citizens, their locations, their devices, their ip addresses and ultimately their real identities and connected activity as attributed to -and connected with- their connected social media accounts. Essentially, turning Donald J. Trump into the center of a surveillance virus.

People then say  how could the Jack Smith special counsel possibly comb through all of those users and all of that connected metadata? The answer is Artificial Intelligence; but the serious concern comes when you combine the metadata, AI organization and the previous announcements from DHS.

If you have followed my outlines on this issue [Category Here], you will note exactly where this latest Jack Smith development falls on the continuum. The 2024 election is right around the corner. Previously, I stated the artificial intelligence (AI) component to the internet surveillance system was going to launch toward the end of this year. Then DHS announced exactly that [SEE HERE].

I find it very interesting the DHS memo was issued on August 8th, but only published for the general public September 14th. July and August were when I first identified a new set of AI spider crawls underway as launched by Google. Pay very, very close attention to the two underlined words in the following paragraph:

[SOURCE pdf, Page 3]

Take out the word improper and the admission is, DHS uses AI to profile, target and discriminate. In the second sentence, DHS currently participates in systemic, indiscriminate and/or large-scale monitoring, surveillance, or tracking of individuals.

The only thing those sentences in the paragraph say, is that DHS will not allow AI to create improper outcomes within a system they outline that already exists.

Stop and reread that last sentence as much as needed. Inasmuch as this DHS guidance is telling us the rules for Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as they use AI, they are also outlining what current processes of surveillance would be enhanced by it.

DHS AI task force is coordinating with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on how the department can partner with critical infrastructure organizations on safeguarding their uses of AI and strengthening their cybersecurity practices writ large to defend against evolving threats.

What are those critical infrastructure organizations? They include voting systems. Who or what are those evolving threats? You!

Federal News Network  [] The report also recommends DHS encourage pursing off-the-shelf commercial solutions instead of building everything in-house.

Mayorkas emphasized the need for DHS to adopt AI quickly, regardless of whether its commercially acquired or internally developed technology.

We have got to change the procurement capabilities of a government agency to actually move quickly and nimbly, so that when were dealing in a very dynamic environment, we can actually move with dynamism, Mayorkas said. Im not suggesting moving to a sole source model, but we just have to be quick.

He also stressed the need for DHS to prioritize where it will use AI, rather than attempting to adopt it across every mission and use case. The report points to combatting both fentanyl and human trafficking as use cases that could be accelerated and championed across DHS. But it also suggests DHS integrate AI/ML into as many areas of the DHS mission as possible.

Were going to need to prioritize what aspect of our mission should we really double down on to harness AI because I worry about diluting our focus too much, Mayorkas said. And I really do want to demonstrate, as quickly as is responsible, how this could really be a game changer for us in advancing our mission . . . we have to pick our spots here, in my view, somewhat surgically. (more)

Notice the emphasis on speed. Get this AI system launched into DHS surveillance, tracking and monitoring systems as quickly as possible.

Now do you see my point about how radical and fast everything is going to change? Its the 2024 election targeting.

Remember, the Dept of Defense (DoD) will now conduct online monitoring operations, using enhanced AI to protect the U.S. internet from disinformation under the auspices of national security. {link}

I share this information with you so that you understand what is being constructed and what is about to be deployed on a large scale.

Folks, Im not crazy or a conspiracy theorist. We can all sense something is happening, just like we sensed it in the background of the 2016 election but didnt know at the time how vast the DHS/Intel Community operation against Trump, the six ways to Sunday, was.

Put all of that metadata gathered by the DOJ together, with the AI operation from DHS, and then overlay the parameters and definitions. What you get is the targeting system to control the outcome of the 2024 election.

DHS AI task force is coordinating with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on how the department can partner with critical infrastructure organizations on safeguarding their uses of AI and strengthening their cybersecurity practices writ large to defend against evolving threats.

Remember, in addition to these groups assembling, the Dept of Defense (DoD) will now conduct online monitoring operations, using enhanced AI to protect the U.S. internet from disinformation under the auspices of national security. {link} So, the question becomes, what was Chuck Schumers primary AI reference:

(FED NEWS) [] Schumer said that tackling issues around AI-generated content that is fake or deceptive that can lead to widespread misinformation and disinformation was the most time-sensitive problem to solve due to the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

[] The top Democrat in the Senate said there was much discussion during the meeting about the creation of a new AI agency and that there was also debate about how to use some of the existing federal agencies to regulate AI.

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds, Schumers Republican counterpart in leading the bipartisan AI forums, said: Weve got to have the ability to provide good information to regulators. And it doesnt mean that every single agency has to have all of the top-end, high-quality of professionals but we need that group of professionals who can be shared across the different agencies when it comes to AI.

Although there were no significant voluntary commitments made during the first AI insight forum, tech leaders who participated in the forum said there was much debate around how open and transparent AI developers and those using AI in the federal government will be required to be. (read more)

This is the team now that will define for DHS how to focus their 2024 targeting efforts.

WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Ken Wainstein, and Counterterrorism Coordinator Nicholas Rasmussen announced the establishment of the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group (Experts Group). The group is comprised of private sector experts who will provide their unique perspectives on the federal governments intelligence enterprise to DHSs I&A and the Office of the Counterterrorism Coordinator.

The security of the American people depends on our capacity to collect, generate, and disseminate actionable intelligence to our federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, campus, and private sector partners, said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. I express my deep gratitude to these distinguished individuals for dedicating their exceptional expertise, experience, and vision to our critical mission.

The Homeland Intelligence Experts Group is being formed at a time of unprecedented challenge, with the U.S. intelligence enterprise facing threats from a range of malign actors, to include foreign nation-state adversaries, domestic violent extremists, cyber criminals, drug-trafficking cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, said Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Ken Wainstein. The Experts Group will be an invaluable asset as we navigate through this evolving threat and operating environment and continue to strengthen our efforts to protect the Homeland.

The homeland threat environment is more diverse, dynamic, and challenging than at any point in our post 9/11 history, with threats tied to an array of different terrorist and violent extremist ideologies and narratives, said Counterterrorism Coordinator Nicholas Rasmussen. The experience, expertise, and perspective offered by Experts Group members will undoubtedly put the Department in a strong position to confront this threat landscape, and we are grateful for the willingness of the Experts Group members to serve in this important capacity.

The Experts Group will provide DHS with a wide range of views and perspectives, with a membership that includes former senior intelligence officials, journalists, and prominent human rights and civil liberties advocates. (read more)

Now, does this search warrant look different?

Now, does Elon Musks commentary make sense? He is trying to extricate himself from the downstream culpability he carries as an outcome of his platform ownership. Musk even said Twitter may collapse.

Prior to his statement yesterday, Elon Musk talked to Joe Rogan about the scale and scope of U.S. government involvement in the operation of Twitter as an information and opinion platform. Musk said, The degree to which Twitter was an arm of the government was not well understood by the public. {link}

Twitter was being used as an intelligence gathering operation, and with that in mind, the recently disclosed metadata demand to Musk just made all the prior metadata capture legal.

WE THE PEOPLE are the threat they need to control.

The need for control is a reaction to fear.
Portland, Ore.-based Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center have had to cancel several hundred surgeries amid a shortage of anesthesia providers, The Oregonian reported Nov. 30.

The hospitals' anesthesia staffing was taken over by Tacoma, Wash.-based, private equity-backed Sound Physicians on Nov. 22. Renton, Wash.-based Providence warned patients in October that it would have to delay procedures during the transition because the staffing firm "failed to hire sufficient qualified staff prior to the transition," according to the report.

The hospitals have canceled "several hundred" surgeries, nearly all the nonemergent procedures scheduled through the end of the year, the health system confirmed to The Oregonian. The health system has also limited nonemergent surgeries at other hospitals so they can handle the urgent procedures.

Providence and Sound Physicians officials told the publication that they will have more than 70 new anesthesia providers at the hospitals by the end of next week.
A Russian national pleaded guilty to his involvement in a ransomware plot that attacked U.S. hospitals, causing millions of dollars in losses.

Vladimir Dunaev, 40, deployed the malicious software Trickbot, which was used by hackers to tie up computer systems and extort tens of millions of dollars from a variety of institutions, U.S. federal prosecutors alleged.

"Vladimir Dunaev misused his special skills as a computer programmer to develop the Trickbot suite of malware," said Rebecca Lutzko, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, in a Nov. 30 news release. "Dunaev and his codefendants hid behind their keyboards, first to create Trickbot, then using it to infect millions of computers worldwide  including those used by hospitals, schools, and businesses  invading privacy and causing untold disruption and financial damage."

Hackers involved in the Trickbot and Conti ransomware schemes reportedly extorted $100 million from U.S. hospitals. The Russian hackers that used Trickbot allegedly infected dozens of American hospitals in 2020, and had hundreds more in their sights.

Mr. Dunaev, who was indicted with eight other defendants, faces up to 35 years in prison at sentencing March 20. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. He was extradited to the Northern District of Ohio from South Korea in 2021.
The Nov. 23 ransomware attack on Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services has impacted 30 hospitals across six states, WKRN reported Nov. 29.

The effects of the attack were so severe that certain emergency rooms had to redirect patients days afterward. For instance, UT Health East Texas in Tyler told CNN that during the incident, its hospitals reverted to downtime procedures and locked down its network.

During the downtime, the hospital diverted ambulances to other ERs. As of Nov. 27, UT Health East Texas is providing care to patients in its emergency rooms. However, in certain instances where patients are critically ill, they may be redirected to other local hospitals, KLTV reported.

Other affected systems include Tulsa, Okla.-based Hillcrest HealthCare System; Topeka-based The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus; Amarillo, Texas-based BSA Health System; and Albuquerque, N.M.-based Lovelace Health System.

Ardent Health Services detected the cybersecurity incident the day of and characterized the event as a ransomware attack in a Nov. 27 press release.

The extent of compromised patient health or financial data is currently unconfirmed. The investigation and restoration of EHR systems and clinical systems are still ongoing, and the full impact and duration of the incident are yet to be determined.

Ardent owns and operates 30 hospitals and more than 200 sites of care.
The union representing more than 1,700 hospital service and tech workers at Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth facilities in Washington and Oregon reached a preliminary agreement with health system management.

The workers, who are represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, are lab technicians at PeaceHealth St. John, technicians at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart, and technicians and maintenance workers at PeaceHealth Southwest. The agreement comes after almost a year of discussions and a strike lasting five days in October, according to a Nov. 30 news release from the union.

The workers sought increased wages and greater influence in their workplaces. The agreement includes a minimum 20% raise for Southwest and St. John employees over four years, with certain individuals receiving up to a 55% raise.

At Sacred Heart, selected workers will receive a 37% raise over three years, with the majority receiving a 20% increase.

The union also said workers have now secured safeguards against disciplinary actions and the establishment of a committee to address the challenge of systemic understaffing.

A spokesperson for two Washington PeaceHealth facilities lauded their respective negotiating teams, Fox affiliate KPTV reported Nov. 30.

"Together with the union, we worked hard to reach three separate agreements that our caregivers can be proud of and support, and we look forward to the outcome of the vote," the spokesperson told the news outlet, referring to union members' voting process to ratify the contract.
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems agreed to sell three Florida hospitals to Tampa General Hospital for $294 million.

The hospitals in the deal include 120-bed Bravera Health Brooksville, 124-bed Bravera Health Spring Hill and 128-bed Bravera Health Seven Rivers. The addition of the hospitals will create a new division at Tampa General: TGH North, according to a Dec. 1 Tampa General news release.

The two parties first announced the deal in July. The acquisition is Tampa General's largest expansion in recent years, according to the health system.

"We have a bold vision to offer world-class health care, research and innovation to communities throughout Florida, and a key step toward realizing this vision is embracing partnerships that allow us to expand services where they are needed most," Tampa General Hospital President and CEO John Couris said in the news release. "By bringing the Bravera Health network into our system and coming together as one organization, we will be stronger in our united mission to transform health care for all Floridians."
South Korea and the United States discussed ways to tackle the spread of false information and other information manipulation activities during their bilateral talks Friday, Seoul officials said.

The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in these fields for joint responses during the talks between Hong Seok-in, ambassador and deputy minister for public diplomacy, and Liz Allen, U.S. under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, the foreign ministry in Seoul said.

The commitment to tackling false information and information manipulation was part of the agreement at the trilateral Camp David summit among President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in August.

In Friday's talks, Hong and Allen agreed that the fabrication of information and dissemination of false information are a "transnational threat that undermines the foundation of democracy and trust in the government," according to the ministry.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in these areas.

They also discussed efforts to boost people-to-people exchanges, cooperate on public diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region and elevate the public diplomacy dialogue to higher levels on a regular basis, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
HCA Healthcare's Medical City Healthcare in Dallas has completed its acquisition of three-hospital Wise Health System in Texas.

Medical City Healthcare is now a 19-hospital system with the addition of Decatur, Texas-based Wise Health System's three inpatient hospitals, according to a news release shared with Becker's. The facilities are now named Medical City Decatur (Texas); Medical City Argyle (Texas); and Medical City Surgical Hospital | Alliance in Fort Worth, Texas.

Medical City Healthcare said it was in exclusive acquisition talks with Wise Health System in January. The deal brings Wise Health, formerly a locally owned and operated nonprofit system dating back to 1974, under the umbrella of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, the for-profit operator of more than 180 hospitals.

Separately, HCA Healthcare is also buying bankrupt Trinity Regional Hospital Sachse (Texas) for $41 million in a deal expected to close by the end of January.
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Health and Ascension Saint Thomas are entering a joint venture, in which the two organizations will jointly own Highpoint Health, a four-hospital system owned by Lifepoint.

Highpoint includes Sumner Regional Medical Center and Sumner Station in Gallatin, Tenn., Trousdale Medical Center in Hartsville, Riverview Regional Medical Center in Carthage and more than 15 affiliated clinics and care sites.

The joint venture aims to combine the health systems' clinical expertise, best practices and providers to improve access to clinical programs and specialty care.

The hospitals and care sites included in the joint venture will be co-branded with Ascension Saint Thomas and will be majority-owned and operated by Lifepoint. Each hospital's current leadership team will remain in place, with no significant changes expected for employees.

The Highpoint hospitals will be rebranded as Highpoint HealthSumner, Highpoint HealthTrousdale and Highpoint HealthRiverview.

The partnership is the second joint venture for the two health systems. Lifepoint and Ascension Saint Thomas, part of St. Louis-based Ascension, also jointly own Ascension Saint Thomas Rehabilitation Hospital in Nashville.

"We are looking forward to rolling up our sleeves together to tackle some of the most pressing healthcare issues we face in this region, including growing our specialist base and services," Rod Harkleroad, market president of Highpoint and CEO of Highpoint Health-Sumner, said in a Dec. 1 news release.

In October, Ascension Michigan and Detroit-based Henry Ford Health also announced a joint venture, in which Henry Ford would essentially fold Ascension's sites of care in the southeastern region of the state under its brand.
Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth has added a smaller health system to its network.

On Dec. 1, Pueblo, Colo.-based Parkview Health officially joined UCHealth, according to a news release. With the addition of Parkview Medical Center and Parkview Pueblo West Hospital  to be known as UCHealth Parkview Medical Center and UCHealth Parkview Pueblo West Hospital, respectively  UCHealth will operate 14 acute care hospitals in Colorado.

In the third quarter of 2023, Parkview Health reported a net loss of $7.2 million. UCHealth will invest nearly $200 million into Pueblo and the Parkview hospitals over the next decade, including a $5 million donation to the Parkview Foundation, which is intended to stabilize the hospitals' finances, allow for upgrades to their facilities and technology, and establish a long-term fund to support patients, the community and the hospitals.

The health system will also help the Parkview hospitals with workforce efforts by assisting with recruitment, nursing and clinical education programs and partnerships with universities and community colleges, the release said.

The merger comes later than anticipated. Originally, the deal was expected to close mid-2023, but was delayed due to regulatory issues.

"We know this was not only the right decision for Parkview, but more importantly, for the patients and communities Parkview serves," Judy Fonda, president of Parkview's board of directors, said in the release. "We look forward to continuing our support through local oversight of Parkview's services and quality."
Following a seven-week trial, five defendants, including hospital and laboratory executives, have been found guilty in a kickback conspiracy.

The defendants are:

- Susan L. Hertzberg, 65, of New York City

- Matthew John Theiler, 57, of Mars, Pa.

- David Weldon Kraus, 65, of Loudon, Tenn.

- Thomas Gray Hardaway, 51, of San Antonio

- Jeffrey Paul Madison, 48, of Georgetown, Texas

The defendants were convicted for their roles in a conspiracy where physicians were motivated to refer patients to two rural Texas hospitals, Rockdale-based Little River Healthcare and Stamford-based Stamford Memorial Hospital, and a connecting lab, Boston Heart Diagnostics in Framingham, Mass., for kickbacks disguised as investment returns. Marketers were also incentivized to set up and recommend service orders from said facilities, according to a Nov. 30 Justice Department news release.

"Patients should be able to trust that their physicians are ordering tests and making laboratory referrals based on what is best for the patient, and not because the physicians are looking to pad their pockets with profits from kickbacks," U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs said in the release.

Along with 13 others, the five defendants were originally indicted for conspiring to commit illegal remunerations on Jan. 12, 2022. The defendants face up to five years in federal prison, with a sentencing hearing to be scheduled following the completion of a U.S. Probation Office presentence investigation.
Two employees of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore were victims of two separate armed carjacking incidents this week in the hospital parking lot, the hospital confirmed in a statement shared with Becker's.

The incidents occurred on Nov. 29 and on Nov. 30.

Baltimore police posted on Facebook Nov. 30 that it was looking for help in identifying an individual in reference to the recent carjackings. Police included a photo and asked anyone with information on the identity of this person to call 911.

An employee told police she was approached by two individuals with a gun around 11 a.m. Nov. 30, who took the employee's keys and drove off with her vehicle, according to NBC affiliate WBAL. The news station reported that another employee told police that around 6 p.m. Nov. 29, they were approached by a man with a gun in the hospital parking lot who drove off with their vehicle. The employees were not physically injured.

"The entire team is troubled and concerned about these events, which are abnormal in the beautiful Mt. Washington community. We are grateful that neither employee was physically harmed," the hospital said in its statement.

The statement added that Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, which is affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins Medicine, is focused on the safety and security of patients, families and staff, and is ramping up security.

"When these events happened, our administration immediately reached out to our partners at the University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins Medicine, and both organizations are providing additional support and resources," MWPH said.

"The hospital is bringing in additional private security resources, including K9 assets, to provide additional safety.

"Our security and administration are working in close collaboration with the Baltimore Police Department. Its officers and command staff have been on-site and are meeting with team members, offering reassurance, and answering questions from the staff.

"In addition, MWPH leadership is continuing to work with law enforcement as they investigate the crimes and is offering a variety of support services to our staff while patient care continues.

"The safety and security of our team members, patients, and visitors are always of paramount importance for MWPH."






In a victory for hospitals and medical equipment manufacturer Becton Dickinson, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Nov. 30 that these entities cannot be sued for privacy violations over requiring nurses to scan their fingerprints when accessing medicine for distribution.

The class-action lawsuit was originally brought to trial by Lucille Mosby, RN, a nurse at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Ill., who asserted that enforcing the use of the fingerprint scanning technology violated nurses' privacy rights.

Ms. Mosby alleged that Becton Dickinson's fingerprint scanner, which uses and stores biometric information to secure access to dispense drugs, violated several sections of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act "by using the medical station scanning device to collect, use, and/or store her fingerscan data without complying with the Act's notice and consent provisions and by disclosing her purported biometric data to third parties without first obtaining her written consent," according to court documents.

In April, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed an amicus brief in response to the lawsuit, recommending that the court uphold that the language in the Biometric Information Privacy Act outlines exclusions that apply to data and biometrics collected on patients and employees in healthcare settings.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice David Overstreet, who wrote the opinion, noted that the court was "not construing the language at issue as a broad, categorical exclusion of biometric identifiers taken from health care workers," adding that the nurses' biometric information "is excluded from coverage under the Act because it is information collected, used, or stored for health care treatment, payment, or operations under [HIPAA].
Novo Nordisk has sued about a dozen spas, clinics and pharmacies, over unapproved versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient for its Type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss therapy Wegovy.

In late November, the drugmaker filed suit against two Florida compounding pharmacies, Wells Pharmacy and Brooksville Pharmaceuticals, alleging they sell semaglutide therapies containing impurities up to 33% of the product.

The lawsuits are the latest in a series of litigation across the U.S. In June, Novo Nordisk filed lawsuits against six spas and clinics, and the next month saw filed suits against three compounding pharmacies.

The FDA is currently investigating schemes that sell counterfeit versions of Ozempic to unsuspecting pharmacies.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit against Pfizer, accusing the drugmaker of misrepresenting the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The lawsuit, announced Nov. 30, contends Pfizer violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by making unsupported claims about the vaccine, including that it's 95% effective against the virus.

The suit says the claim is based on just two months of clinical trial data and represents a "relative risk reduction." Mr. Paxton also noted COVID-19 cases increased after widespread administration of Pfizer's vaccine.

"Pfizer intentionally misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine and censored persons who threatened to disseminate the truth in order to facilitate fast adoption of the product and expand its commercial opportunity," the lawsuit reads.

Pfizer told Becker's it believes the case has no merit and contends that all claims made about the vaccine have been accurate.

"Pfizer is deeply committed to the well-being of the patients it serves and has no higher priority than the safety and effectiveness of its treatments and vaccines," the drugmaker said. "Since its initial authorization by FDA in December 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to more than 1.5 billion people, demonstrated a favorable safety profile in all age groups, and helped protect against severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization and death. The representations made by the company about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based."

The legal action comes several weeks after Texas filed a separate suit against Pfizer and its drug distributor Tris Pharma, alleging it exaggerated the efficacy of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication to the state's Medicaid program.
Hospitals in Warren County, Ohio, have reported 142 cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children since August, meeting the state's definition of an outbreak, according to the local health department.

Officials with the Warren County Health District said the 142 cases as of Nov. 29 are well above normal case counts.

Massachusetts is also reporting cases of 'walking pneumonia,' which is said to be a milder version of what's happening in Ohio.

M. pneumoniae infections are also cropping up across China right now. It is most common among children, according to the CDC, but anyone living or working in crowded quarters could be as well, since the infection spreads via the air.

Sometimes called 'white lung syndrome' the infection can result in the need for hospitalization. There is currently no vaccine to prevent it.

State health officials in Ohio say they have not determined any specific link between the cases, and recommend clinicians lower their usual threshold to test children presenting symptoms for the M. pneumoniae bacteria.

"We have an ongoing investigation to examine possible linkages and risk factors" a Nov. 29 news release from Warren Count Health officials states. "WCHD is working with the Ohio Department of Health, local children's hospitals and primary care providers in hopes to determine a cause and further prevent the spread of illness."

Cases in Massachusetts are not nearing the numbers of Ohio, but Western Mass News reported Nov. 29, that physicians are seeing increased cases of several respiratory viruses including mild cases of M. pneumoniae in children.

John Kelley, MD, a physician at Redwood Pediatrics in East Longmeadow, Mass., told the news outlet that 80% of walking pneumonia cases in children develop as a result of RSV infections, and the other 20% develop as a result of bacteria transmission.
Spine surgeon Jose Canseco, MD, PhD, of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, has his eye on the potential benefits that behavioral healthcare can have for musculoskeletal patients.

The Philadelphia-based practice and Harvard MedTech partnered to study cognitive behavioral therapy in orthopedic patients using virtual reality technology.

Dr. Canseco, principal investigator of the study, spoke with Becker's about the state of behavioral healthcare in orthopedics and where it's headed

Note: This conversation was lightly edited for clarity.

Question: Can you provide more insight into this collaboration and what the study will entail?

Dr. Jose Canseco: So they developed a technology where they want to look into virtual reality or augmented reality and see how that can affect patients being treated for pain related to surgery. They're very interested in two populations of patients that have had a history of issues with narcotic pain medications  spine and shoulder.

Along with spine patients, the goal is to have between 15 and 25 shoulder patients on each arm and try to have two subgroups on each side with and without the treatment and see if we can find if intervention helps with their pain control. Because of the way that the opioid epidemic is affecting our country, we're trying to find alternatives to pain control other than narcotic pain medicines. Some studies that have already been published have shown that some of these virtual reality environments have helped in patients outcomes and help improve their pain control.

Q: What has been your experience in your practice with addressing the mental health side of pain management?

JC: We did publish a study a couple of years ago where we're looking at patients that were diagnosed with some form of psychiatric disorder, either anxiety or depression, and if that affected their outcomes in spine surgery. We found people with a co-diagnosis of depression or anxiety have worse outcomes after spine surgery, and it is all related to the way that they see their disease progressing. If you're depressed and you're in pain even after surgery, you're going to feel worse than if you're not depressed after surgery. Right now for patients with anxiety and depression, we try to communicate with their primary care providers or with their mental health providers and see if there's any optimization they can get prior to surgery. But it's really hard now because that sometimes entails changing their medications. If we can have some alternative form of therapy that can help with those symptoms, I think that'd be fantastic. I've used Oculus headsets in gaming, and once you take it off, you feel a little dizzy because you're so immersed and it really changes the way you perceive reality. Hopefully it has that effect in patients.

Q: Current VR headsets and hardware can be a little bit expensive. Have you done any other research on mental healthcare and accessibility in orthopedics?

JC: We've seen that in that study that we published that people who got their mental healthcare by their providers have better outcomes compared to the people that didn't have them.

Other than that, this is really the first time we're going into alternative therapies in mental health and orthopedics. As an orthopedic physician, it's hard to address psychiatric illness without the help of a provider that can look into other symptoms that we're unable to see in the short period of time that we take care of them. A lot of patients have very long term relationships with their mental health providers, and it's a different type of relationship than what we can provide.

But in this type of therapy it's longer term. They follow the patient before and after the surgery for up to six months to a year. It sounds like that's going to really provide access that otherwise it would be unavailable. Patients in the study won't pay for the VR headset, and the goal is to have them covered by insurance. Now with the improvement in technology, these headsets are getting cheaper and cheaper.

Q: How would you rate the current state of mental healthcare integration in orthopedics? Do you think this is something that will grow in future years?

JC: Over the past couple of years, mental health has taken a forefront in many aspects. You see it in sports, you see it in the Olympics, and you're going to see physicians and patients taking care of their mental health. Now that we're more aware and people are less afraid of speaking about it, we can take more time discussing with patients about their mental health and trying to find therapies that can co-address that.
A former U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) chief raised the possibility Thursday that tensions on the Korean Peninsula could rise to a level unseen in recent years as North Korea walked away from a 2018 inter-Korean military accord following South Korea's partial suspension of it.

Retired Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, who led USFK from 2013-2016, also expressed his "greatest concern" over the absence of dialogue with Pyongyang, as the two Koreas have started to restore activities suspended under the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) aimed at reducing cross-border tensions and preventing accidental clashes.

Seoul partially suspended the CMA in response to Pyongyang's launch of a space rocket last week. The North later said it would "never" be bound by the CMA, and started reinstalling guard posts and weapons in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

"My view is this. I think it will introduce a level of tension again that we've not seen since the CMA was put in place in 2018," he said at the forum hosted by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Scaparrotti touched on a series of steps that the two Koreas took under the CMA, including moving troop positions on both sides away from the DMZ.

He, in particular, pointed out South Korea installed sensors and electronic devices for an early warning program along the border instead of putting troops right on the DMZ  a posture change, which he called "some real positive."

"I hope that they will balance how they react to this," he said. "We will see what happens but overall, I think it probably will lead to a little more opportunity for tension than we've had here recently."

Describing the overall contours of security in Korea, he noted that Pyongyang has been advancing in "almost every area" of their weapons programs  a development that he stressed as a "real cause for concern."

"They now have missile and nuclear capability that's greater in diversity and lethality, and in scope than they've had," he said.

With the two North Korean backers, China and Russia, the North is in a place to "act with a little more ease and a little more agility," the retired general said.

"My greatest concern is we're not talking to North Korea," he said.

Commenting on deterrence efforts by South Korea and the U.S., Scaparrotti applauded the Washington Declaration that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden issued during their April summit to strengthen the credibility of extended deterrence, the U.S.' commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities to defend its ally.

But he called for concrete action to ensure the declaration will deliver effective deterrence. He stressed the need to improve the command and control apparatus in the South Korea-U.S. alliance to enhance communications, particularly in terms of military data transfers.

"Even though we've spent 70 years together, we still have areas that we keep isolated with each country," he said. "And it impacts your ability to communicate across the entire spectrum at the speed which you need to do warfare."

Scaparrotti underscored the importance of the South Korea-based U.N. Command (UNC) for security on the peninsula.

"Its activity with respect to stabilizing activity on the peninsula is often not fully realized, but it's powerful and it's very important," he said

"Those 17 (UNC member) countries have influence through their national powers, and some of those actually still have consulates in North Korea, or at least they have diplomatic relations ... so they can assist here in this communications with North Korea," he added.

Led by a U.S. general, UNC enforces the armistice agreement that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. During annual defense ministerial talks this month, Seoul and Washington agreed to seek to expand UNC membership. (Yonhap)
Spine and orthopedic experts in November spoke with Becker's about topics from shifting away from hospital employment to diversity in the field.

"The biggest investment we can make is in our staff. The patient experience doesn't solely depend on the physician. The patient experience starts with that phone call that they first make to schedule an appointment, the way they are greeted when they check in, whether or not they are escorted to the exam room and also at the end of the visit, how quickly their questions are answered. The investment we make in our staff comes in many forms. Of course, making sure that our staff feel fairly compensated for their efforts is an essential part of the equation. As important is making sure they truly feel they are part of the team. An engaged staff performs better. In lean methodology, involving every staff member in process improvement work that pertains to their role leads to the development of better processes that they are truly invested in. This sense of purpose and sense that everyone is essential to taking care of the patient is a key component of the culture that we have to build."  Vijay Yanamadala, MD, of Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare, on the most important investment for spine practices.

"The most valuable lesson I have learned from younger spine surgeons is the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. During my residency, we were accustomed to being on call every other night and then every night as a fellow. These experiences influenced my approach in private practice, where I have maintained a similar workload. Although I found it fulfilling  and still do  I've more recently recognized the value in taking more time off for myself and not stressing about having every OR slot filled. While I remain busy, I've discovered a more sustainable balance that allows me to succeed in my spine practice and enjoy life outside of work."  Philip Schneider, MD, of The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics in Bethesda, Md., on lessons from younger spine surgeons.

"The first step is to learn. Ask what we don't know and learn. If you are curious about the topic, there are tons of resources about how to approach LGBTQ patients and transgender patients. Just because I'm a gay man doesn't mean I understand the LGBTQ alphabet soup or what pronouns are proper or not proper with a certain person. These are all things that I had to learn by educating myself. Try to get to know and interact with some of your LGBTQ colleagues, residents or patients. Sometimes having a small symbol of allyship; a small rainbow sticker or some kind of LGBTQ lanyard or any kind of symbolism in your office or on you that says, "I am a safe space. I can be trusted, don't worry I've got your back."  Qusai Hammouri, MD, of NYU Langone Health in New York City, on how spine and orthopedic practices be more inclusive to LGBTQ+ physicians.

"Despite significant efforts and extra time devoted to creating a spine program in the hospital employed set up, I found that there were still significant barriers to having a successful spine practice due to the disconnect between administration and those of us tasked with building a new spine program within a large healthcare system and also being productive spine surgeons throughout the process. Spine surgery is different from both general orthopedic surgery as well as general neurosurgery. The large healthcare systems are able to engulf practices with those broader scopes and apply basic templates that are easily adhered to within their established system with relative success, but there's more nuance involved in elective spinal surgery that those general orthopedic and neurosurgical clinic templates will set the spine surgeon up for failure. I think most surgeons would agree that there are so many inefficiencies within a large system that waste time and don't contribute to positive patient care or improve their work-life balance. I believe that, in time, our practice model can represent an option for spine surgeons to maintain their autonomy and be very successful when other surgical subspecialties are being forced into hospital-employed positions to remain viable."  Peter McCunniff, MD, of the Pain Center of Arizona in Peoria, on his transition to private practice.

"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."  Ronjon Paul, MD, of Duly Health and Care in Downers Grove, Ill. on the trajectory of healthcare innovation.
General views of the General Merchants at Forestside (Photo by Stephen Hamilton)

General views of the General Merchants at Forestside (Photo by Stephen Hamilton)

An independent coffee shop in a temporary structure at Forestside is to close in the new year, as the shopping centres new owners make major changes.

Northern Ireland property developers Michael and Lesley Herbert acquired the south Belfast centre, whose anchor tenants include Marks & Spencer, Dunnes and Sainsburys, earlier this year.

Now General Merchants, a homegrown coffee business, is having to close down after six years in a wooden structure outside the centre, as renovations are to be made to the entrances.

Its understood the business may be able to relocate within the centre but no agreement has been reached.

Paul Wilson, director of lettings agency Savills, said the business had opened as a short-term pop-up though its period was extended.

"The new owners, Lesley Forestside, are investing heavily in their centre and its going to be very exciting,

There will be a lot of change in the centre in the very near future, and part of these plans is a big investment in the enhancement in the centre.

"Theyre looking at the entrances to the centre where General Merchants has its Portakabin, so it will be disappearing in the new year.

Read more Family bid goodbye to Co Down restaurant after over 40 years in business

But he said the owners were not seeking to get rid of retailers. We have a lot of retailer interest, both national and independent, in the centre. We are looking at how we can accommodate some of these requirements.

"This is not about losing a retailer but enhancing the overall retail offer. Theres investment planned to enhance the aesthetics and the architectural appearance of the key entrance points.

General Merchants location is at an extremely busy entrance to the Sainsburys end of the mall so theres the planned enhancement there, and we are looking as well at how we can grow the retail footprint and accommodate retailers requirements. Those will include independent retailers, so it's all very positive.

"As the letting agents, were bringing new retail and always striving to enhance the retail offer to the centre and making it relevant and vibrant. Theres a lot of exciting things that are planned.

"All I can say for the Herberts is theyre passionate about what they now own and theyre going to be investing heavily.

He said there was no exact date for the closure of General Merchants at its present site.

The centre has been rebranded Lesley Forestside, in keeping with Mr Herberts tradition of lending his wife and business partners first name to his properties.

A range of prominent companies operate coffee shops in the centre  including Marks & Spencers cafe, and Caffe Nero and Jamaica Blue.

Read more Top chef at Michael Deane restaurant to take over Co Down village pub

Tim Fetherston, the owner of General Merchants, declined to comment.

His business operates six branches in total around Belfast, also including Stranmillis, Upper Newtownards Road, Ormeau Road, Antrim Road and a kiosk in the city centre.

Mr Herbert was formerly best-known as the owner of a major KFC franchise, though he sold the business in 2020.

He gave details of his plans for Forestside in an interview with Radio Ulsters Evening Extra in September.

Mr Herbert said he had three major restaurants currently under offer to come to the site and planned to make the centre more of a leisure destination and a shopping destination.

He added that in the future, they may add a cinema to the site.
Nick Boyle co-founded Lightsource and will stay on as chief executive after the sale

A solar energy company founded by a Co Down man will be fully acquired by oil giant BP in a 254 million deal.

Nick Boyle co-founded renewable energy giant Lightsource in 2010 and will be staying on as chief executive of the company which has grown to be one of Europes biggest solar groups.

The London-based company, which was then known as Lightsource Renewable Energy, was established with a handful of employees and a solar farm in Truro, Cornwall. It was capable of generating enough electricity to power 430 homes.

BP first took a stake in Lightsource in 2017, and since then the company has expanded from operating in three countries to 19, it has built a 61GW development pipeline and employs more than 1,200 people.

In a post on social media platform LinkedIn Mr Boyle said: Im very proud to announce that BP will be acquiring the remaining 50% of Lightsource BP, doubling down on its investment in us.

BP has always been our partner of choice and were very excited about this next, natural step. This agreement, once approved, will mean that Lightsource BP can fulfil its enormous potential to become a global leader in onshore renewables.

About a fifth of the UKs large-scale solar generation has been built by the company which is also behind the Crookedstone solar farm which provides energy to Belfast International Airport.

When it opened in 2017 it was Northern Irelands first large-scale solar farm and the largest solar project to connect a UK airport.

Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, BP executive vice president for gas and low carbon energy said: We will continue to scale this successful business, and also apply its capabilities and expertise to help meet BPs growing demand for low carbon power from our transition growth engines.

Ms Dotzenrath added: 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.

We will continue to scale this successful business, and also apply its capabilities and expertise to help meet BPs growing demand for low carbon power from our transition growth engines. I look forward to welcoming the Lightsource BP team to BP and am confident that together we can further strengthen its position as a leading global renewables developer.

The Times has reported that following the original investment by BP in 2017 Mr Boyle retained a near 30% shareholding in Lightsource, and co-founder Paul McCartie retained about 12% according to filings, meaning the two are sitting on 151 million and 59.9 million respectively from the deal.

Mr Boyle was born in Lisburn and went to Rathmore Grammar School in Finaghy, before going on to study quantity surveying at University of Ulster.

He changed direction after university and starting working in financial services, before building up London financial services firm Thinc with three partners.

It was sold to Axa for a reported 100m in 2006. A few years later, Nick started exploring what to do next, leading to his famed discovery of solar while driving around Italy.
Izyum was the first town where the unique windows were installed

Harry Blakiston Houston developed the unique windows which can be built for $15

A Co Tyrone student has issued an appeal for support as he continues to roll out his unique windows to help households in Ukraine - as temperatures in the country begin to drop to below freezing.

Harry Blakiston Houston founded the NGO Insulate Ukraine after developing a design for shatterproof windows with insulating benefits, which can be put together in 15 minutes and cost only $15 (around 12).

Since visiting eastern Ukraine in January 2023 to test his design, over 10,000 windows have been installed, allowing 3,000 civilians to return to their homes.

But with winter drawing in and temperatures dropping to below freezing - reaching minus 12 in certain areas - Harry has ambitious plans to scale up his project and install 50,000 windows by March 2024.

Calling for support Harry said: Giving to this project at this time will make a huge difference to helping people stay warm and safe this Christmas. You are giving people somewhere they can live and they dont have that at the minute.

Russia is waging war using the weather as a weapon.

The simple design involves four sheets of recycled polythene plastic stretched around a PVC piping frame. Speaking about the design and assembly process, Harry said it is as simple as wrapping Christmas presents.

Simplicity was built into the design. We wanted something that was really simple, because what we do is we teach a local team, then we establish an operation and support them in delivering that operation really well.

Harry said that Insulate Ukraine oversees the wider operation of the project, including securing funding and materials, but the real grind, the day-to day-work is carried out by Ukrainians on the ground.

The 27-year-old began his work in Izyum, a town which was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 and was eventually freed from occupation in September of that year.

The surviving inhabitants of Izyum were using carpet, sandbags, OSB boards and plastic to keep out the cold. But, as Harry discovered, these did almost nothing.

He installed his first window and came back later to see if it had made any difference to the inside temperature of the home. Harry recorded a temperature spike of 12C in the space of eight hours.

The unique shatter-proof windows also have insulating qualities

Speaking about his first visit to Ukraine, Harry said: You go there to these areas and it just hits home. Every single building has a bullet hole, every single building has marks of fire and marks of war and every single building has shattered windows.

And it always strikes me when I am in these villages because a lot of them are about the same size as my village in Northern Ireland and they have just been totally razed to the ground.

Harry grew up in the small village of Gortin in Co Tyrone, which is around 10 miles north of Omagh.

He added: It's one of the most shocking things. But the most surprising thing which provides a huge amount of hope and is quite extraordinary is the resilience of the locals  even in these scenarios  to continue living.

Harry paused his PhD at Cambridge in order to take up his work with Insulate Ukraine full time, adding that he suspects that life has sailed past him as he focuses on scaling up the project.

Weve done a lot of windows so far but we want to spread the windows right across the active firing zone, which is where they will have the most impact because they are shatter resistant, he said.
November retail footfall figures for NI suggest Black Friday on November 24 did not rescue the month as a whole

Consumers in Northern Ireland are tightening the purse strings with the region emerging as the UKs worst for shop visits, a report said today.

In growing evidence that the cost-of-living crisis is still biting, Belfast was the poorest-performing city in the UK for retail footfall, the research from the NI Retail Consortium said.

The data suggests retailers in NI are having a tough time in the so-called golden quarter of trading from October to December in the run-up to Christmas.

The data covers Black Friday, a shopping day on the third Thursday of November designed to entice shoppers to make an early Christmas splurge.

Footfall in both high streets and shopping centres here dropped 4.9% year-on-year in November, the worst of 13 UK regions and far below the UK average of a 0.7% decline.

Read more Retail and hospitality chiefs express fears as transport strike to get underway from midnight

Compared to NI, the next-worst performing region was North East England, with a drop of 2.8%. And the figure for the UK in November also marked a recovery from Octobers decline of 5.7%.

Of 11 UK cities, Belfast has the poorest performance, with a slump of 7.6%. The next-worst performer was Glasgow, where footfall had dropped 4.5% year-on-year.

But the data, produced with Sensormatic IQ, also showed that Novembers decline in footfall in NI was not as severe as the 6.8% year-on-year drop of October.

However, shopping centre footfall had dropped last month by 0.5%, which was 2.9 percentage points worse than October. And Belfasts footfall had also deteriorated on a 3.2% drop in October.

Neil Johnston, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said action from a reformed devolved government to tackle the problem of business rates  which are traditionally higher in NI  was required.

The message from these figures is clear. Consumers are still cautious about getting out to the shops. Retailers are struggling and we need two things urgently. An Executive needs to be formed at Stormont and the first decision they need to make is to freeze the regional rate.

There was a modest improvement in footfall the past month, however, compared with the rest of the UK the situation is weaker in Northern Ireland.

Footfall is down in our shopping centres and Belfast saw a further decline in footfall, falling 4.4 percentage points from October to November. This is a fall of 7.6% year-on-year.

Read more 10 of the best Christmas markets around the island of Ireland for food, gifts and festive spirit

He added: While we hope that things will continue to improve as we enter the Christmas shopping period, we are calling on politicians at Stormont to bring business rates down in line with what retailers face in England, Scotland and Wales.

Given that rates in England and possibly Wales and Scotland are going up this year a freeze by Stormont in the regional rates would narrow the gap considerably.

The regional rate of 27.90 was frozen for 2022/23.

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, said improvements in UK-wide figures between October and Novembers decline may have been down to Black Friday offers.

Undoubtedly, footfalls recovery in November will allow retailers to look ahead to Christmas trading with more confidence, but the challenge will be not just encouraging ongoing spend into December when disposable incomes remain squeezed, but also ensuring discounting is optimised to protect margin.
Author and musician Paul Burgess bids farewell to a beloved legend

When I first met the late, lamented Shane MacGowan, there was little evidence of the individual who would become the beloved icon of Irish culture we know today, lauded for his songwriting abilities and legendary performances.

Whilst on a UK tour supporting The Pogues in the mid-80s, I always found him personable and self-effacing. While the other band members might gather in rowdy communion, when in his cups, Shane liked nothing better than to find a quieter corner to settle in alone with his drink.
The Pogues frontmans music is up there with the giants of song

Shane MacGowan at age 19 when he was editor of punk rock magazine 'Bondage' in London (Photo: Sydney O'Meara)

Shane with singer Kirsty MacColl (1959-2000). The pair collaborated on the Pogues' Christmas song Fairytale Of New York in 1987 (Photo: Tim Roney)

Shane on stage with The Pogues at The Olympic Ballroom in December 1986 (Photo: Independent News And Media)

A candle burns next to a photo of the Pogues frontman in Dublins Mansion House

It is easy to forget just how great a songwriter Shane MacGowan was.

His hard living and even harder drinking often got in the way of our perceptions, but the music stands for itself and his best work keeps company with the giants of song.

As frontman of The Pogues, he put Celtic folk-rock into the mainstream. While many were inspired to follow in his wake, few could come close to matching his gifts.

His songs captured much of what it was to be born in Britain of an Irish background and to feel fiercely Irish in a sometimes hostile land.

Shane on stage with The Pogues at The Olympic Ballroom in December 1986 (Photo: Independent News And Media)

They are songs about fights and booze, about falling in love and crashing out of it, of lust and desire, of escape and of the kitchen sink and the gutter.

Actress Siobhan McSweeney put it well: Shane was the voice of London for us Irish with songs about chancers, drinkers, lovers, poets and scoundrels.

Although rooted in reality, Shane was a dreamer and theres a great romanticism to his work.

He could convey multitudes through music. Later in life, his talents as a visual artist started to be recognised too but its through song that his creativity found greatest expression.

That love of music was fostered on childhood visits to his mothers family home in Tipperary. The dance of fiddles, the room-quietening magic of sean-nos, the potency of a pan-generational sing-along all had an impact on a young Shane.

He was supremely bright, too. He was still in primary school when he started to read the likes of James Joyce and Dostoyevsky. His teachers at the posh Westminster School were impressed by the depth of his literature knowledge and his faculty for language. Voracious reading would pay dividends when he first began to write songs.

Incidentally, he got kicked out of that fee-paying school, when he was caught with drugs. But he certainly left his mark there.

If traditional Irish music was vital to the young Shane, it was punk that would provide the catalyst for his own creative endeavours.

Being a teenager with a rebellious streak in late-1970s London coincided neatly with the emergence of punk.

Shane with singer Kirsty MacColl (1959-2000). The pair collaborated on the Pogues' Christmas song Fairytale Of New York in 1987 (Photo: Tim Roney)

Shane was immediately drawn to its urgent, visceral message and he was transfixed by gigs from the Clash and the Sex Pistols. Punk gave licence to many kids that they, too, could form a band.

Many of them had only rudimentary music knowledge; Shane had the attributes to soar. He needed like-minded souls to make his ideas come to life.

He found them in future Pogues band mates, especially English names Peter Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. Although there would be an acrimonious split years later, Shane never lost sight of the fact that the band was a union of rare talents.

They were initially called Pogue Mahone, a bowdlerised version of pog mo thoin (kiss my arse), but the BBC got spooked upon learning of its meaning.

Some DJs abbreviated the name and The Pogues stuck.

They made their mark from the off, a band deliciously out of step with prevailing trends. Their debut album, Red Roses for Me, came out in 1984 when Britain  and Ireland  were listening to Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Duran Duran. But it was their second album, Rum, Sodomy & the Lash, that would forever burnish the legend of Shane MacGowan and The Pogues.

Rebellious, rambunctious and rowdy, the album remains as startlingly potent today as it was when it was first released in 1985. The album was produced by another figure with a proud Irish background, Elvis Costello, and although Shane would later complain about Costellos involvement, Elvis got the very best from the band.

Two songs, in particular, demonstrate why MacGowan deserves his standing as a masterful songwriter.

Shane MacGowan at age 19 when he was editor of punk rock magazine 'Bondage' in London (Photo: Sydney O'Meara)

A Rainy Night in Soho and A Pair of Brown Eyes have become canonical and rightly so. They are songs so beautifully crafted and so gloriously performed that they render the drunk Paddy slurs that were thrown at Shane null and void.

Shane had a poets eye for language and thats conveyed on many of his tracks, including a personal favourite, the aforementioned A Rainy Night in Soho.

Not only is it an outstanding song, boasting the virtuosic majesty of all the Pogues combined, but it can stand alone as a first-rate poem. From one line to the next, his mastery of words is evident. Theres such lyrical beauty in The wind was whistling all its charms while Youre the measure of my dreams is uncommonly lovely.

The other monumental Pogues album is the Steve Lillywhite-produced If I Should Fall From Grace With God, which was released in 1988, arguably at the very height of Shanes creativity.

Its brilliance is in its eclecticism and an unwillingness for the band to be boxed into the corner. It was an album that was especially admired by US critics and there was a real opportunity for the band to break that huge market. But Shanes demons would hamper that chance.

Fairytale of New York is on the track-list. It has long been hailed as a Christmas classic, as much part of the festive soundtrack as Bing Crosby and Band Aid.

Its dark, lonely and desperate and never less than compelling. It could only have been penned by a songwriter like Shane MacGowan  one who knew what it was like to be in the drunk tank.

It got no further than number two in the UK singles chart, but it will almost certainly hit the top before 2023 is done. Justice of sorts.

Shanes drinking had become so excessive by the end of the 1980s that it had a detrimental effect on the band.

He struggled to perform on stage and, on occasion, he failed to turn up for shows. The band surely felt as though they had no option but to ask him to leave.

There were Pogues albums after his departure, but they didnt have the intrinsic spirit he brought to them.

Shane would release a pair of albums in the 1990s with his new band, the Popes. There were some fine moments, but the glories of the previous decade proved elusive.

Shane McGowan singing at Waterstones Bookshop, Dawson Street, Dublin, in 2007 (Collins Photos)

Drink had taken a damaging toll and for the last quarter century of his life, Shane delivered precious little new material.

And, yet, it would be wrong to say that alcohol didnt have a positive impact on his creativity. In fact, his drinking and his songwriting were perfect bedfellows for about five years between 1983 and 1988.

Its an uncomfortable truth but one that must be acknowledged, much like the Rolling Stones drug use helped fuel their miraculous 1970s.

I interviewed Shane twice, 15 years apart. The first time, he drank ferociously  pints of Guinness chased by whiskey. The more he drank, the more lucid and passionate he became.

The second time was at his Ballsbridge home late last year. He wanted to talk about his coffee table art book, The Eternal Buzz and the Crock of Gold  a collection of 40 years worth of his art.

Confined to a hospital-issue armchair, he was subdued. A number of debilitating injuries had taken their toll.

It was his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, who did the lions share of the talking. And yet, it was obvious that he was hanging on to every word.

One thing he said stayed with me. I asked him if he had a wish and, perhaps thinking of those song-filled boyhood days in Tipperary, he said he longed to be able to hit a hurling ball against the wall.

Its unlikely to have happened, but the romantic who wrote songs that will forever stand the test of time never stopped dreaming.
PLA's 3rd carrier Fujian holds mooring tests according to plan: MOD

10:02, December 01, 2023 By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan ( Global Times

The Fujian, the third aircraft carrier of China, undergoes outfitting and mooring trials in Shanghai in early 2023. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is holding mooring tests and will progress its construction steadily according to plan, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MOD) revealed on Thursday, amid speculations by foreign media reports saying that the Fujian recently tested its electromagnetic catapult system with a test vehicle in preparation for its upcoming maiden voyage.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, an MOD spokesperson, disclosed the information at a regular press conference on Thursday in response to a question from the Global Times.

Mooring tests aim to check the completeness and reliability of the building and construction of the hull, the propulsion system, the mechanical equipment, the electrical devices and other devices, and to make necessary adjustments to ensure the ship can sail, Zhang Xuefeng, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Thursday.

When the mooring tests are completed, the navigation tests, or sea trials, may begin, Zhang said.

Citing a video recorded from an airplane flying over the shipyard facilities in Shanghai where the carrier is currently berthed, US media outlet Newsweek reported on Monday that the Fujian has trialed its catapult aircraft launch system.

The video showed the launch and subsequent drop of a test vehicle from one of the catapult positions on the Fujian, Newsweek said.

The report also said that the testing marked another significant step toward the carrier's full completion.

Fu Qianshao, another Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that the Fujian is the first Chinese aircraft carrier to be equipped with electromagnetic catapults and arresting devices. He said that this is a new and complex technology that requires testing during the mooring tests before the navigation tests.

Launching test vehicles can examine the catapults' parameters including power and acceleration, which will provide bases for the Fujian to eventually host aircraft takeoff and landing tests during future navigation tests, Fu said.

The Newsweek report also speculated that the Fujian could soon make its maiden voyage for sea trials, citing recent satellite imagery analysis that implied the carrier had been relocated from its original position.

Chinese military expert and TV commentator Song Zhongping agrees that the maiden voyage for the Fujian is approaching.

The presence of a carrier support ship near the Fujian was reported by US-based think tank Center for Strategic & International Studies on November 21.

Song said it indicates that the carrier's sea trial is not far away.

Experts said that navigation tests will usually examine comprehensively the warship's subsystems including the propulsion, radar, communications, weapons, aviation and catapult systems at sea.

Usually, sea trials for aircraft carriers take about one year, and as the Fujian features many new technologies, it cannot be ruled out that its testing could be longer than that of China's first domestically developed carrier, the Shandong, observers said.

With a full displacement of more than 80,000 tons, the Fujian is China's first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults and arresting devices.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
South Korea's first homegrown spy satellite will be launched from U.S. Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday (local time) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the defense ministry said.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was erected vertically on the launch pad at the base, as seen in a photo released on the U.S. aerospace company's homepage.

The launch was initially planned for Nov. 30 but was delayed by two days due to bad weather.

According to SpaceX, the Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off at 10:19 a.m. Friday and separate the first and second stage rockets 2 minutes and 22 seconds after the launch. It will separate the fairing, a protective covering for the payload, 19 seconds later.

If the satellite successfully enters orbit, it is expected to communicate with a ground station later in the day.

Beginning with the electro-optical and infrared satellite, South Korea plans to launch four more synthetic aperture radar satellites by 2025 to better monitor North Korea.

The upcoming launch comes after North Korea placed its first spy satellite in orbit on Nov. 21, following two failed attempts earlier this year. (Yonhap)
the Royal Courts of Justice where the High Court and the Court of Appeal sit in Belfast (PA)

A man who allegedly went on the run seven years ago while accused of motoring offences has at least eight different aliases, the High Court heard today.

Felix Nolan was arrested in Paris last month and extradited back to Northern Ireland on charges connected to a police vehicle being rammed by a stolen car.

The 34-year-old, of Collingwood Avenue in Belfast, faces counts of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop or remain at the scene of an accident, and aggravated vehicle taking.

Prosecutors said the case relates to a burglary in the city back in November 2015 where the keys to a high-performance Audi were taken.

The stolen car later rammed a PSNI vehicle in Doagh, Co Antrim before being driven off at speed.

Nolan was subsequently arrested at Mallusk Road in Newtownabbey on suspicion of involvement in the earlier incident.

He denied the offences and claimed that he had been staying in a nearby hotel.

Nolan was initially granted bail after surrendering his passport, the court heard, but in March 2016 he was not present when police went to search his address in connection with an investigation into other burglaries.

With a European Arrest Warrant issued, he was eventually detained at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris on November 10 this year.

Crown lawyer Adrian Higgins claimed Nolan went on the run using a freshly issued passport and has links to Germany, Belgium and England.

He has no fewer than eight aliases, the prosecutor said.

Opposing bail, Mr Higgins contended: He has already absented himself from this jurisdiction for a period of (seven) years.

A defence barrister said Nolan left Northern Ireland and moved to Germany after a relationship with a woman led to him coming under paramilitary threat.

Lord Justice Horner was also told that he denies the charges and has not been connected to footprints found at the scene of the burglary.

Refusing bail, however, the judge ruled: Given the past history and previous flight, Im not satisfied that I could impose conditions that would manage the risk of the applicant not turning up for trial.
A school welfare officer is to stand trial in the new year on multiple charges of sexually assaulting 11 females, a court heard today.

Neil Clarke Beckett, a health and wellbeing officer at Lagan College in Belfast, who denies the offences, also pleaded not guilty to two separate charges of sexual communication with a child.

From Kilmore Village in Downpatrick, 43-year-old Beckett appeared before Judge Donna McColgan KC at Belfast Crown Court who fixed his trial date for February of next year.

After confirming his identity to a court clerk, the 27 counts of sexual assault and two of communication were formally put to Beckett.

When the first charge was put to him, he replied not guilty. He denied a further 24 charges of sexual assault which date between September 2018 and February 2023.

Read more Belfast school welfare officer to go on trial charged with sexually assaulting 11 girls

Beckett repeated his denials when the two counts of sexual communication with a child for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification were also put to him.

These charges involve two young complainants and it's alleged that Beckett committed one offence between August 21, 2021, and February 1, 2023, and the second between September 1, 2022 and February 1, 2023.

Judge McColgan said she would review the case at the end of January next year.

Beckett  who is believed to be on suspended leave  was released on continuing bail on conditions which include having no contact with staff at Lagan College in relation to the case.
A Co Wexford man arrested in England over a spate of ATM thefts in Northern Ireland which saw over 250,000 stolen, has appeared in court.

Christian Nicola, with an address in Co Wexford, was arrested in Hull by detectives from the PSNIs Organised Crime Branch on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old appeared before Dungannon Magistrates Court today charged with 35 offences relating to multiple burglaries and attempted burglaries of ATMs over a four week period earlier this year.

The burglaries saw a total of 261,320 stolen.

After his arrest, Nicola was transported back to Northern Ireland and taken into custody for questioning regarding the ATM burglaries in Articlave, Dungannon, Portadown, Poyntzpass, Irvinestown, Derrylin, Coleraine, Ballymena and Dungiven in February and March.

Nicola was charged with entering premises in Dungiven as a trespasser and stealing 43,640, damaging lights, sensors, a satellite cable and an ATM bunker between February 6 and 7.

On February 15, it was also alleged that he entered a shop in Articlave and stole 71,250 as well as damaging lights and a satellite cable.

Read more Man arrested in England in relation to ATM burglaries across Northern Ireland

On February 24, Nicola is accused of entering a shop in Dungannon as a trespasser and stealing 93,850 cash as well as damaging an ATM machine, wire fencing and satellite cabling.

The next alleged incident occurred on March 3, when Nicola is accused of entering a Portadown filling station and stealing 52,300, and in the process damaging an ATM machine, wire fencing as well as a telephone and satellite cabling.

Nicola is also charged with entering a filling station in Irvinestown on March 9, with intent to steal, damaging lights, fencing, satellite cabling and an ATM machine and bunker.

The following day on March 10, it is also alleged Nicola entered a shop in Poyntzpass as a trespasser and stole 280 cash, damaged an ATM machine, lights, fencing and satellite cabling.

Matters moved to March 14, when Nicola is charged with entering a shop in Derrylin with intent to steal, damaging an ATM and bunker, fencing, satellite and telephone cabling as well as street lighting belonging to the Department of Infrastructure.

Finally, on March 29, Nicola is accused of attempting to enter shops in Coleraine and Cushendall with intent to steal and damaging a fuel gauge cable at a service station in Ballymena.

After the charges were read, a detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court all matters could be connected.

Defence counsel Patrick Taggart advised there would be no application for bail at this stage.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan remanded Nicola into custody to appear by video-link later this month.
It comes as the judge in the case repeated his displeasure and distaste at the decision not to send this and similar cases to Crown Court.
Two men were jailed on Friday after they were secretly recorded discussing dissident republican activity in a hotel.

Carl Reilly (47), of Pollard Close off the Springfield Road in west Belfast, was sentenced to 30 months in custody.

Paul Philip Crawford (48), of Carrickree Mews, Warrenpoint, Co Down, was handed an 18-month prison sentence.

Both had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of belonging to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on dates between January 1, 2014 and October 17, 2015.

Reilly also faced a charge of directing terrorism but this was not proceeded with by the prosecution and it was left on the court books in the usual terms.

Passing sentence today, Judge Paul Ramsey KC said: "It is quite clear from a cursory reading of the transcripts that there were discussions and exchanges which strongly supported the charge of belonging to or professing to belong to a proscribed organisation.

The subject of these recorded discussions represented disquieting, disturbing and twisted views which have simply no place in our society.

A senior prosecution barrister told Belfast Crown Court that on February 17, 2015, the defendants met at the Carrickdale Hotel in Dundalk, Co Louth, which was subject to covert surveillance by An Garda Siochana and their conversations were recorded.

He said that Garda surveillance officers were both inside and outside the hotel and observed Crawford arriving in his own BMW while Reilly arrived in a BMW owned by another man.

At around 8.10pm, Crawford sat down at a table in the hotel lobby while Reilly sat facing him, said the prosecutor. They sat there until 8.45 pm and then went to Crawford's car which drove out of the hotel and a surveillance team picked it up at Aisling Park, Dundalk.

Surveillance was also carried out at a house in Oaklands Park of Peter McVeigh and Reilly and Crawford were seen in conversation with McVeigh on a grassy communal area.

The defendants had referred to McVeigh in their hotel discussions as Wee Peter. Reilly talked about what was going to be discussed with the lads tonight but was told by Crawford that only McVeigh would be present.

Paul Crawford

Reilly said: I'm going to say to McVeigh tonight to stay the path with me, look where we came from and if you stick to the path we can keep going.

The court heard McVeigh was convicted and jailed for life for the murder of two RUC constables in 1973 and was released on licence in 1991.

The prosecution counsel said Garda seized CCTV as part of its investigations which corroborated the observations of the surveillance teams.

During one recorded conversation about known dissident republicans, Reilly said: I am losing men in Belfast. They are going to Maghaberry (prison). The f***ing (Special) Branch are buzzing us.

On October 16, 2015, PSNI detectives arrested Reilly under section 41 of the Terrorism Act. He was interviewed 14 times and did not speak during interview and refused to engage with police.

However, a solicitor read out a statement prepared on behalf of Reilly in which he denied directing terrorism and denied being a member of a proscribed organisation.

On the same day, Crawford was arrested at his home in Warrenpoint, was interviewed 13 times and did not speak to detectives.

The court heard that in June 2000, Reilly was jailed for five years for making property available for acts of terrorism.

The prosecution counsel told the court that the defendant's guilty plea triggered both the dangerous provisions and also the notification requirements under the Counter-Terrorism Act.

Desmond Hutton KC said the delay in the case should be taken into account in sentencing as Reilly had offered to plead guilty to the membership charge in June 2020 but that was not accepted by the prosecution and it was over eight years since the commission of the offence.

He told the court that in some of the recorded conversations there was an element of bravado on Reilly's behalf and some conversations referred to matters dating back 20 years ago.

John Larkin KC said Crawford played a lesser role, was more of a listener during the conversations, had no previous terrorist convictions and should receive a lesser sentence.

During his sentencing remarks today, Judge Ramsey said that he did not believe either defendant posed a danger to the public in the future.

However, the judge said they would be made the subject of the notification requirements under the Counter-Terrorism Act for a period of 10 years.
The Sunday Times has named Londonderrys Lumen Christi College the leading secondary school in Northern Ireland.

The grammar school appears in the papers Parent Power Guide, and is ranked 17th in the UK in the annual league table of the top-performing schools.

The honour is a fitting farewell for principal Siobhan McCauley, who is leaving her post at the end of the term, with Dr Marie Ferris taking over in January.

All the schools in the list were ranked according to the first true set of post-pandemic examination results.

The latest guide is the 31st edition and is available online from Friday and in print this Sunday.

Lumen Christi, a co-educational Catholic grammar school that opened in 1997, rose to the top of the table after placing seventh in the last list, which was topped by St Marys Magherafelt.

Lumen Christi claimed the honour in the year before.

Lisburn Friends School took second place in the latest list, (21st position overall in the UK), with Our Lady and St Patricks College Knock in third.

The top 10 was filled out by St Marys Magherafelt, St Dominics Grammar and Strathearn School (both in Belfast), Sullivan Upper in Holywood, St Louis Grammar in Ballymena, Banbridge Academy and the Rainey Endowed in Magherafelt.

Principal Siobhan McCauley

Making it into the UK top 100 were Belfast Royal Academy, Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School (also Belfast), Dalriada School in Ballymoney, Ballymena Academy, Omagh Academy, Ballyclare High School, the Royal School Armagh and Wallace High School in Lisburn.

Wilsons School in Wallington, England, was named the best in the UK.

Parent Power Guide editor Helen Davies said she hoped the league table would prove a useful tool for parents.

She added: The educational landscape continues to be challenging across both the state and independent sectors, and this is the first true assessment of post-pandemic exam results.

We believe these rankings  and all the additional information on offer in Parent Power  provide parents with a more reliable guide to academic achievement in schools today.

Being a teenager is hard enough, and the past few years since Covid have made life even harder.

It is heartening to highlight the achievements of so many students and schools across the UK.

The Sunday Times guide is published at the start of December every year.

The latest publication was extended to include tips from an expert panel of teachers on keeping children happy and healthy.

There is a parents survival guide to secondary school politics and the tyranny of pupil WhatsApp groups.

The guide also has details on how one parent tutored his children for the 11-plus for free.

Other features include what has gone wrong with the teaching of English literature  an investigation into why more pupils are choosing to study physics than read Dickens  and why maths has become cool.

For the full Sunday Times Parent Power Guide results, listing more than 1,000 schools across the UK, visit thetimes.co.uk/schools-league-table
Belfast's first permanent Pride crossing has been unveiled at the Kennedy Centre in the west of the city.

The permanent fixture to show support to the LBGTQ+ community has been unveiled on Friday after being painted in the colours of the Pride flag.

The manager of the Kennedy Centre, based on the Falls Road, John Jones said they were delighted to unveil the new addition. " At Kennedy Centre, our unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community extends well beyond Pride month and we wanted to acknowledge this with a permanent installation," he said.

We actively engage with many local LGBTQ+ groups, such as The Rainbow Project, and we hope that this crossing represents our commitment to equality, diversity and to being an inclusive and welcoming hub for everyone in the community.

"We have plans for 2024 and beyond to ensure Kennedy Centre remains a champion of local diversity and inclusion.

Nuala Devenny, deputy director at the Rainbow Project said: "We would like to thank Kennedy Centre Belfast for this public display of support for the local LGBTQ+ community.

"It is fantastic to have the support of such a prominent organisation and we hope to continue our collaboration for many years to come.

The Kennedy Centre has in the region of 45 stores and services and also houses an Omniplex cinema.
A man has been charged in connection with graffiti that said IRA near the site of the Enniskillen bombing.

Police have been investigating a report of criminal damage caused to the Clinton Centre building on Belmore Street in the Fermanagh town.

The centre was officially opened in 2002 by President Bill Clinton and is situated at the site of the 1987 Remembrance Day bombing which killed 12 people in the town.

Last Sunday graffiti saying IRA was sprayed on a wall in the area. Police had said the incident was being treated as a hate crime. They have been investigating a potential link between this incident and similar incidents of criminal damage in the town recently.

On Saturday the PSNI said A 52-year-old man has been charged with four counts of criminal damage, displaying written material to stir up hatred or arouse fear and possession of class B drugs. He is expected to appear at Enniskillen Magistrates on December 18.

The charges follow incidents of graffiti in the Enniskillen area in the past week. As is usual procedure the charges will be reviewed by the PPS.

DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Deborah Erskine, described the graffiti as a despicable act.

"IRA sprayed on Clinton Centre, Enniskillen. Upsetting for innocent victims, especially for the families who lost loved ones in the Enniskillen Bomb, she said.

"Shame on whoever was responsible. Police are aware & investigating. Terrorists deserve absolutely zero public showings of support.

She later praised the PSNI saying they have been excellent since she first reported the incident.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Police have appealed to anyone with any information in relation to this matter, to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1600 26/11/23.

A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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 national security advisers of South Korea, Japan and the United States will meet in Seoul next week, government sources said Friday, amid escalating threats from North Korea following its launch of a military satellite.

The three-way meeting is set to be held for two days starting next Friday, they added. It will be held between South Korea's Cho Tae-yong, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Japan's National Security Secretariat Secretary-General Takeo Akiba.

Cho and Sullivan had agreed to push for a trilateral meeting during their bilateral phone call on Nov. 9.

"I understand the three countries have agreed to hold a three-way national security advisers' meeting as agreed before," an official said, while speaking on condition of anonymity.

The meeting, if held, will be the first of its kind since June when the top security advisers held three-way talks in Tokyo.

Next week's meeting is widely expected to discuss ways to jointly deal with North Korean provocations.

Pyongyang successfully launched its first military reconnaissance satellite last month following its two failed attempts in May and August.

The recalcitrant state has also scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at easing tension along the inter-Korean border after Seoul partially suspended the agreement in response to the North's space launch in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions that prohibit any ballistic missile launches by Pyongyang.

According to informed sources, the national security advisers will likely issue a joint statement at the end of their trilateral meeting here next week.

They are also expected to hold bilateral meetings, followed by a joint press conference, they noted. (Yonhap)
Offensive messages were placed on lampposts in the Glen Estate

Anti-immigration signs erected in Newtownards after similar signs appeared in parts of Belfast

Anti-immigration signs have been erected in parts of Belfast and beyond in what seems to be a coordinated UDA campaign.

The PSNI previously confirmed it is treating the appearance of placards in south Belfast as a hate incident after sinister signs were put up in the Belvoir area.

Detectives are also investigating signs erected on Tildarg Avenue in the west of the city.

Now a similar probe is underway in Newtownards after offensive messages were placed on Glen Estate lampposts warning the NI Housing Executive and private landlords to take note.

The posters claim the area will no longer accept the rehousing of illegal immigrants or the excrement of other communities.

Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong condemned the racist posters, which she said are clearly threatening violence.

I am absolutely disgusted to see this, especially following similar incidents elsewhere in Northern Ireland recently, the Alliance representative told the Belfast Telegraph.

These posters have been designed purely to stoke fear and tension within the local community, the vast majority of whom I know are as disgusted as I am.

Alliance contacted the local PSNI team and they were removed.

However, the PSNI said it is aware of other signage erected recently in the town and vowed to work with partners to have them taken down.

This is being treated as a hate incident and engagement is ongoing with community representatives in the area in relation to this matter, a spokesperson added.

Anyone with any information that can assist police is asked to call our non-emergency number 101.

Alliance Partys Kellie Armstrong

Ms Armstrong said many local residents are upset following the attempt by outside forces to exert control over their community.

Its not surprising that groups which lose control of some places try to take control of other areas, she added

A small faction, most from outside the area, are involved with these posters which share the exact same wording.

But Newtownards is open and welcoming. Locals dont want to see racism or xenophobia here.

Asked if it is safe to house immigrants in areas where signs have appeared, Ms Armstrong warned against allocating housing based on skin colour or religion.

Those days are over. Thats what the civil rights marches were about in the 1960s, she said.

If the Housing Executive ever goes down that road it would be a breach of quite significant legislation and the Good Friday Agreement.

There is a points system based on need, and tenants have the ability to reject their first offer if they are concerned.

But it seems these signs have been designed to influence that process.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey branded similar signs in west Belfast as disgraceful.

On Wednesday, graffiti reading Irish lives matter was daubed on the wall of the Kennedy Centre on the Falls Road.

It was condemned as racist poison by People Before Profit.

Housing Executive chief executive Grainia Long said: We do not believe incidents like this reflect the values of the local community and we understand this is now under investigation by police.

We work proactively to promote inclusivity and diversity in our homes and estates and that is why it is particularly disappointing when incidents of this nature occur.

All our housing allocations will continue to be carried out in line with the rules of the common housing selection scheme.
Winston 'Winkie' Rea at the Northern Ireland Supporters club on Belfast Shankill Road. Pic by Colm O'Reilly, Pacemaker Press.

A former loyalist paramilitary commander who was on trial over two Troubles related murders has died at the age of 72, just over a week after losing his wife.

Its understood that Winston Churchill Rea, better known as Winkie Rea, was unable to attend the funeral of his spouse which took place on Thursday.

Liz Rea died a week earlier on November 23.

Dearly loved wife of Winston, beloved mother of Colin, Pauline and Christine, a funeral notice read.

Rea, who founded the First Shankill Northern Ireland Supporters Club, missed the service in St Michaels Parish Church due to illness.

The wheel-chair bound suspects Diplock-style no-jury trial had been repeatedly delayed because of his health condition and as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The accused always denied the catalogue of charges against him before he passed away aged in his early 70s.

They were rooted in Reas alleged interviews with Boston College researchers into loyalist and republican paramilitaries and related to the murder of two Catholic men more than three decades ago.

The Groomsport man pleaded not guilty to conspiring to murder John Devine (37) in July 1989 and John OHara (41) in April 1991 and denied being a member of the Red Hand Commando gang.

Before the case was adjourned in early 2021, a judge was told how Mr Devine was brutally murdered by loyalists in the presence of his 13-year-old son.

The father-of-three was struck by up to nine bullets in his Fallswater Street home in the afternoon of Sunday July 23, 1989.

The court heard that the victim was later described by a senior policeman as an innocent Catholic who was murdered for no other reason than his religion.

Rea and Mr Devine were coalmen and worked together using the same merchants yard in Belfast.

Mr O'Hara was murdered at Dunluce Avenue in the south of the city on April 17, 1991.

The taxi driver was on his way to pick up a passenger when two masked men approached and fired several shots at his car.

All 19 of Reas alleged offences were linked to loyalist paramilitary activity between 1973 and 1996.

Rea also denied conspiring to threaten to kill LVF leader Billy Wright in August 1996 in addition to other firearms and terror-related charges.

They related to the attempted murder of an unknown male in the city's Falls Road area sometime between January 1, 1971 and February 23, 1973 and Reas alleged possession of an AK47 assault rifle, three revolvers, a 9mm Browning pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

A further charge related to information useful to terrorists allegedly in the accuseds possession between 1984 and 1986  it was said that the documents contained the identification and address details of suspected members of the IRA.

Efforts were being made to have the trial re-listed so it could conclude.

Rea was jailed for eight years back in 1973 for his role in the sectarian murder of two Catholic postmen, Michael Coleman and Joseph McAleese.

The getaway driver was found to be in possession of a machine gun following the deadly loyalist attack on Divis Street in west Belfast where both men were shot dead.

Rea later helped bring about the loyalist ceasefires in 1994 and was part of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) team that took part in negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Winston 'Winkie' Rea at the Northern Ireland Supporters club on Belfast Shankill Road. Pic by Colm O'Reilly, Pacemaker Press.

Winkie Rea stands beside a Loyalist mural on the Shankill Road in Belfast (Credit: PA)

Former Red Hand Commando leader Winston Winkie Rea should be remembered for transitioning the terror gang away from violence, a former PUP representative has said.

Dr John Kyle, who defected to the UUP from the Progressive Unionist Voice before quitting politics last year, paid tribute to the paramilitary-turned-peacemaker following his death today at the age of 72.

Winston Rea was a man who was profoundly influenced by David Ervine and Gusty Spence, Dr Kyle said.

He was a natural leader who men up looked to and became someone who was an example of a former paramilitary who became committed to radical politics instead of radical violence.

That for him meant engaging with former enemies.

Mr Ervine was sentenced to 11 years for transporting a UVF bomb in 1974 and went on the play a crucial role in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement by delivering loyalist support.

The former PUP leader was in the Combined Loyalist Military Command, which included the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando, when it announced a ceasefire in response to the IRAs cessation of violence in 1994.

Mr Ervine previously served as a councillor in east Belfast and as an MLA at Stormont before his death in 2007.

Dr Kyle said Reas life followed a similar trajectory.

Dr John Kyle (Credit: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker)

Winkie was the genuine article and came to be convinced, for the sake of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, that we needed to find a peaceful way forward.

He was by certain accounts the head of the Red Hand Commandos and he stood them down.

It is the one paramilitary organisation that transitioned away from violence.

That was a considerable achievement that is worth acknowledging.

Rea died a day after the funeral of his wife Liz took place in Belfast.

She was the daughter of one of the most prominent figures within the underworld of loyalist paramilitarism in the earliest days of the Troubles.

Augustus Gusty Spence evolved from a UVF commander to a committed peacebuilder after undergoing a dramatic transformation during his 18-year prison sentence for the murder of a teenage Catholic barman.

Peter Ward was shot dead just off the Shankill Road as he left a pub in on June 22, 1966.

At the time of his death, Rea was standing trial for the murder of two Catholic men  John Devine and John O'Hara  more than 30 years ago.

Winston 'Winkie' Rea at the Northern Ireland Supporters club on Belfast Shankill Road. Pic by Colm O'Reilly, Pacemaker Press.

He denied all 19 charges against him which arose from his testimony to Boston College staff compiling an oral history of the conflict here.

Reas participation was agreed on the understanding the tapes would not be made public until after his death, but the material was handed over to the PSNI following court battles on both sides of the Atlantic.

Asked if Rea ever expressed regret about his past, Dr Kyle said that he never personally heard him speak of remorse.

But I did hear him express his absolute conviction that violence is destructive and counter-productive, he said.

I heard him saw that he saw no justification for continued violence and he was very opposed to paramilitary criminality.

We have never heard those Boston tapes, who knows what he said in them.
Caroline de Vechere who was handed a three-month jail sentence at the High Court (Family handout/PA)

A wealthy American financiers French ex-wife has been handed a three-month jail sentence after a High Court judge ruled that she had breached an order relating to the ownership of a premium luxury ski chalet following divorce litigation in London.

Mr Justice Moor has concluded that Caroline de Vechere, 53, is in contempt of court as a result of failing to transfer ownership of the chalet, which is in a French Alps, to ex-husband Eric Hersman, 62, as ordered.

The judge, who heard that the pair were married for more than 20 years and had lived in South Kensington, London, imposed the sentence at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court after Mr Hersman launched contempt proceedings.

De Vechere was not at the hearing  staged in public at the Royal Courts of Justice complex in London  and was not represented by a barrister.

The judge, who heard that de Vechere was thought to be in France, made an order which means she could be arrested and imprisoned if she travels to England or Wales.

He said she could apply to purge her contempt.

Lawyers representing Mr Hersman said he did not want to de Vechere go to jail  but to comply with the order to transfer ownership of the chalet.

The judge heard that Chalet Pearl, in Courchevel, could be worth in the region of 15 million.

Barrister Tim Amos KC, who led Mr Hersmans legal team, told Mr Justice Moor how another judge had made an order, in 2019, after overseeing a dispute over money between de Vechere and Mr Hersman at High Court hearings in London.

Mr Justice Moor heard that Mr Hersman had been ordered to pay de Vechere a lump sum of about 700,000, and de Vechere had been ordered to transfer ownership of the ski chalet.

American financier Eric Hersman outside the Royal Courts of Justice after his French ex-wife, Caroline de Vechere, was handed a three-month jail sentence (Brian Farmer/PA)

He was told that the pair had also jointly owned a villa in Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera.

The case concerns the sedulous, repeated failure of the respondent ex-wife to transfer to the applicant husband a premier luxury ski chalet in Courchevel, known as Chalet Pearl, Mr Amos told Mr Justice Moor.

(De Vechere) has gone to immense lengths to frustrate (Mr Hersmans) position.

Mr Amos told Mr Justice Moor that there had been a misappropriation by de Vechere of more than 1.5 million in rent between October 2021 and February 2023.

He said there was an urgency to get (de Vechere) out before the impending ski season and told Mr Justice Moor that Mr Hersman had lucrative clients lined up to rent Chalet Pearl.

Mr Justice Moor said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that de Vechere had breached an order and was in contempt.

He said de Vechere had no right to rent out the chalet.

The judge said contempt of the High Court was a very serious matter and added: This contempt is so serious that an immediate sentence of imprisonment is the only sentence that I can pass.

He told the hearing that de Vechere would serve half of the three-month sentence before being eligible for release on licence  and said, if arrested, she would return to court for a further hearing.

Lawyers told him that the pair had also been involved in litigation in France.
Fertility clinics have been warned by a judge to make sure paperwork relating to the parental legal status of children is in order (Alamy/PA)

A High Court judge has told fertility clinics to make sure paperwork relating to the parental legal status of children is in order.

Mrs Justice Theis warned clinic bosses to ensure that robust systems were in place after overseeing litigation centred on a couple who were told that our baby might not be our baby any more because of a paperwork problem.

She said it was not the first case where a clinic audit had revealed relevant forms had not been completed.

The judge, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, outlined her concerns in a written ruling on the couples case.

She said she had to consider what evidence there was to satisfy legal parenthood requirements in the couples case.

Mrs Justice Theis said the baby at the centre of the case could not be identified in media reports of the litigation, but named the clinic involved as the Herts and Essex Fertility Centre, in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

The judge said a manager at the Herts and Essex Fertility Centre had told her that a clinic audit had revealed 99.18% compliance.

This is another case where an audit of a licensed clinic has discovered that the relevant forms have not been completed, resulting in uncertainty about the parental legal status of a child born to individuals undergoing fertility treatment, said Mrs Justice Theis, in a case ruling which has been published online.

The ramifications of non-compliance, on even a limited number of individuals, are far reaching.

She said the couple had described their shock at being told by the clinic about difficulties regarding the forms.

We had been through such a long journey, they had said in a statement.

We couldnt believe that at this stage, after all we had been through, we were being told that our baby might not be our baby any more.

Mrs Justice Theis added: This demonstrates the need for clinics who undertake this type of treatment to take every step to ensure they have robust systems in place to avoid what happened in this case occurring again.

She said the couple involved in the case were an unmarried couple, had lived together for more than five years, and due to medical reasons were unable to conceive.

A barrister representing the couple had suggested a solution to the problem of establishing the babys legal parenthood.

Natalie Gamble argued that there was no need to resolve an issue relating to a form.

She said was other evidence relating to signed consent documents which would satisfy legal requirements.

Mrs Justice Theis agreed.

She concluded that evidence presented in the couples case meant legal requirements were met and made a declaration of parentage.
The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall (Aaron Chown, PA)

The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared relaxed at the Royal Variety Performance amid the ongoing furore over Omid Scobies highly critical book, according to a pop singer.

Paloma Faith said William and Kate seemed calm when they spoke with her after she sang at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday night, and quipped they were not bothered by her going barefoot.

It comes as the Dutch version of Endgame, penned by journalist Mr Scobie, names two members of the royal family alleged to have raised concerns about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son, Archie.

Mr Scobie has been accused of being behind a stunt to sell books and the Dutch edition was subsequently pulled from shelves, but Kate and William did not appear to be affected on Thursday evening.

The Prince and Princess of Wales meeting Paloma Faith (Aaron Chown, PA)

After the show, Faith said: I was just saying how relaxed they [William and Kate] are and warm. They just put you at ease, which is a skill in itself isnt it? Not everyone can do that, Royal or not.

Theyre good at their jobs arent they, and it is a job.

Chinese pianist Lang Lang also performed at the variety show, and he claimed Kate told daughter Charlotte she would be able to play like him if she keeps practising piano.

Lang Lang performed alongside 13-year-old Lucy, a blind and autistic girl that he discovered playing on a public piano in a train station, at the Royal Albert Hall.

He said: The Royal Highness was asking me about how long we were practising together, and how we discovered Lucy.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden stand for the national anthem during the performance (Aaron Chown, PA)

We were talking about how we found her in Leeds Train Station, and how everything happened magically and how Im so happy to play with her.

We talked about Charlotte. Her Royal Highness we talked about Charlottes piano playing, Im sure shes good.

Her Royal Highness said to me that she said to Princess Charlotte to say hey, look, if you practise a lot you can be like him.

So Im happy to be helpful a little bit. Its really funny, I was like, wow, Im sure she will do well at the piano. I think she is practising.

He said that they discussed the acoustics in The Royal Albert Hall, and added: I played two shows last week, its always great to play here.

I really love it here because they have very precise equipment, to make it sound like a smaller concert hall.

The Prince of Wales meeting Rick Astley at Royal Albert Hall (Aaron Chown, PA)

Comedian Rosie Jones said the Prince of Wales understood how comedy can help people with disabilities.

She said: It was really great. It was a dream come true to meet them, and I always thought they were lovely and friendly but turns out they are.

We were talking about comedy and about disability, and Will asked me when I started comedy and I said well, Ive been doing comedy for as long as I remember, because having a disability means that people are awkward around me.

I found that comedy is such a is such a great way to feel comfortable and release tension.

She joked: He responded really well, and he understood, so I expect him to invite me to tea  also, Dame Rosie Jones, make it happen.

Step one, Royal Variety Performance, step two, Damehood.

Kate was so lovely, and she said she enjoyed my performance.
The inquest heard that following the Ofsted inspection, Ms Perry contacted her local GP, as well as local mental health services (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Headteacher Ruth Perrys GP has said that the Ofsted inspection of her school contributed to her death.

Ms Perrys family say she took her own life after a report from the watchdog downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from its highest rating to its lowest over safeguarding concerns.

Her sister, Professor Julia Waters, previously said Ms Perry had experienced the worst day of her life after inspectors reviewed the school on November 15 and 16 last year.

The inquest heard that following the Ofsted inspection, Ms Perry spoke to her local GP, as well as contacting local mental health services.

Ms Perrys GP, Dr Tom Back, gave evidence to the inquest at Berkshire Coroners Office in Reading on Friday.

Ruth Perrys sister, Professor Julia Waters, previously said Ms Perry had experienced the worst day of her life after inspectors reviewed the school last year (NAHT/PA)

He said Ms Perry spoke both to him and another GP in the weeks following the Ofsted inspection.

Mr Back said he had known Ms Perry for years, and that she had no history of mental illness, except for one visit to the GP around 30 years ago over stress.

Senior coroner Heidi Connor asked Mr Back if there was a link between the Ofsted inspection and Ms Perrys mental health deterioration and death.

He said: Yes, I think there is a link.

He later added that the inspection contributed in a more than minimal way to Ms Perrys death.

Previously, the inquest heard that Ms Perry and her husband were due to exchange contracts on a new home.

Mr Back said Ms Perry became concerned about the cost of going through with the deal after the Ofsted inspection, as she was worried that she would lose her job and she was the main breadwinner.

The court also heard more from the statement of Ms Perrys husband, Jonathan Perry.

He described Ms Perrys final weeks, following the Ofsted inspection.

She kept repeating that she had let everyone down, he said.

He said that Ms Perry worried about the impact of the schools downgrading on the local community.

She worried that local house prices would fall and that the whole community would be angry at her, he said.

Mr Perry said his wife regretted buying their new home.

He said that she began to have dark thoughts about ending her own life, and that she asked him to take her to hospital.

They visited Prospect Park Hospital, a psychiatric centre in Reading.

The headteacher then began to see her local GP, as well as local mental health services.

Mr Perry said his wife was very depressed and anxious over the rest of the term.

He said that she felt completely devastated, but she did not feel that she was allowed to talk about the inspection with anyone, due to maintaining confidentiality about the result.

Brian Grady, director of education at Brighter Futures for Children, which supports schools on behalf of Reading Borough Council, also gave evidence to the inquest on Friday.

He was asked about the decision not to appeal against the result of Ofsteds inspection of Caversham Primary School.

Mr Grady said that while be believed lead Ofsted inspector Alan Derrys behaviour had caused distress, the issues raised were around his tone.

There was nothing I had heard that meant that we could escalate a complaint around behaviour, he said.

He said that Ofsteds rulebook set out what would happen if certain things were not in place.

He added: At the time my view was that I was not able to challenge the rules that Ofsted had set down.
Chancellor Alistair Darling (centre) is flanked by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander (right) during Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons, London.

Scotland has lost one of our finest sons in Alistair Darling, former Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander has said.

The former chancellors family announced on Thursday he had died aged 70.

He has been remembered in tributes for his calmness in a crisis and wry good humour, although Mr Alexander said his friend  who he described as one of the good guys  would have hated all the fuss.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Friday, Mr Alexander said: Truthfully, I think Scotland has lost one of our finest sons in what happened yesterday.

Mr Darlings family announced his death on Thursday (PA)

Its a terrible, terrible tragedy, not just for, first and foremost, the family but for our public life which Alistair graced for more than 30 years.

Born in London and educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh and Aberdeen University, Mr Darling won the Edinburgh Central seat for Labour in 1987 and held it and its successor constituency Edinburgh South West until 2015, when he was made a life peer.

As well as stewarding the countrys economy through one of its most perilous economic crashes on record, Mr Darling also led the successful campaign against Scottish independence in the lead up to the 2014 referendum.

Mr Alexander served with the former chancellor on the pro-union Better Together campaign as well as in government.

He recalled the solidity his friend brought to the team during the shaky final weeks of the referendum campaign, when a Sunday Times poll just days before the vote put the Yes side marginally ahead.

You get a measure of someones character and strength of character in the tough times more than in the easy times, Mr Alexander said.

And he was just as solid that day as he was the night of the referendum debate when he bested Alex Salmond.

There was a solidity and a quiet confidence that endured in those difficult times.

Mr Alexander also spoke of the affection afforded to Mr Darling by international figures due to his actions in the wake of the 2008 economic crash.

Henry Paulson, the former US treasury secretary, he said, was effusive in the tributes he paid to Alistair in a meeting last month.

Mr Alexander said that during the financial crash, Mr Darling understood it was a solvency crisis, not a liquidity crisis.

He added: It wasnt just that they had to get through the next 24 hours, but actually in a way that Alistair would never have imagined, the British state was going to have to stand behind Scotlands banks and the UKs banks.

In that sense, we were well-served by not just his calmness but his intellect and his judgment at what was a really critical time for the country.

In the wake of the crash, with UK banks seemingly on the brink of collapse, Mr Darling was able to negotiate a 137 billion bailout package.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown, speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today programme, said briefings against Mr Darling in 2008 as he warned of a severe recession following the crash were completely unfair.

Mr Brown described his chancellor as a compassionate politician who wanted to get things done but was always very quiet in the way he did it.

Mr Darling remarked in 2010 that Mr Browns No 10 had unleashed the forces of hell against him through negative briefings after he warned of a severe recession in 2008.

The former prime minister said one of the problems of government was that you have lots of people said to be briefing on your behalf who you dont even know the names of.

Asked if he had apologised to Mr Darling afterwards, Mr Brown said: If there had been a briefing against him that was attributed to me, yes, of course. I mean that was completely unfair.
A Palestinian girl wounded in Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is brought to a hospital in Khan Younis (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Israels war with Hamas has resumed in full force, with air strikes hitting targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after a week-long truce expired.

Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory and Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City and southern parts of the enclave, urging civilians to leave their homes to avoid the fighting.

In Israel, sirens warned of incoming rockets at several communal farms near Gaza, a sign that militants have also restarted attacks.

The renewed hostilities heightened concerns for Palestinians  many of whom have been displaced by the war  as well as about 140 hostages still in Gaza, after more than 100 were freed during the truce.

Qatar, which has served as a mediator along with Egypt, said negotiators were still trying to restart the ceasefire. Qatars Foreign Ministry singled out Israels role in the resumption of fighting and said it complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe.

A day earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli officials and urged them to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas.

Mr Blinken arrived on Friday at the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai, where he was to meet Arab foreign ministers and other officials.

Israels retaliation for Hamass deadly October 7 raid has killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted most of Gazas 2.3 million people and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are crammed into the territorys south with no exit, raising questions over how any Israeli offensive there could avoid heavy civilian casualties.

It was not clear to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed appeals from the United States, Israels most important ally.

Mr Netanyahus office said on Friday that 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.

Only hours in to the renewed offensive, the Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza said 178 people had been killed and dozens wounded.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv(Saul Loeb/Pool/ AP)

In the leaflets it dropped in southern Gaza, Israel urged people to leave homes east of Khan Younis, warning that the southern town was now a dangerous battle zone. Other leaflets warned residents of several neighbourhoods in Gaza City in the north to move south.

The Israeli military also released a map carving up the Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered parcels, and asked residents to learn the number associated with their location in case of an eventual evacuation. It was not immediately clear how Palestinians would be updated on calls for evacuation.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war in an extraordinary mass exodus that saw many take shelter in Khan Younis and other places in the south.

One of the first air strikes on Friday destroyed a large building in Khan Younis. Moments later, residents were seen frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached. One wounded person was carried away on a stretcher.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

In Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development near the city, a strike hit an apartment in a multi-storey residential building, while other parts of the building appeared largely intact.

Elsewhere, a strike hit a home near Gaza City in the north, and in the refugee camp of Maghazi, in central Gaza, rescuers clawed through the rubble of a large building hit by warplanes.

Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the group, accusing the militants of operating in residential neighbourhoods. Since the war erupted on October 7, in response to a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel, many of those killed in Israeli bombardments have been women and children.

In Israel, white smoke trails could be seen in the skies over Sderot on the border with northern Gaza after Israels missile protection systems activated.

Mr Netanyahu said the war resumed because Hamas had violated the terms of the truce. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens, he said.

Hamas claimed Israel had asked for the release of 10 female soldiers, which it rejected.

Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the truce, saying in a statement that it had rejected all offers Hamas made to release more hostages and bodies of the dead.

The Israeli militarys announcement of the resumption of strikes came only 30 minutes after the ceasefire expired early Friday.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

A woman is overwhelmed by emotion after being released from prison by Israel (Nasser Nasser/AP)

Virtually all of those freed were women and children but the fact that few such hostages now remain in Gaza made it hard to reach a deal to extend the ceasefire.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers.

Mr Netanyahu has been under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home but his far-right governing partners have also pushed him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

A total of 81 Israelis, including dual nationals, were freed during the truce, most of whom appeared physically well but shaken. Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  were also released, including several men.

The Palestinian prisoners who were released were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several were women who were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers.

In its October 7 attack on Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 240 people captive.

Since then, Israels bombardment and invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Israeli fighter jets have hit targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after a week-long truce expired as the war with Hamas resumed in full force.

Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory and Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, suggesting it was preparing to widen its offensive.

Renewed hostilities heightened concerns for about 140 hostages who remain in Gaza, after more than 100 were freed as part of the truce.

Mediator Qatar said that efforts are continuing to renew the truce and expressed deep regret over the resumption of Israeli bombardments.

Israel and Hamas have traded blame, with each saying the other side violated the terms of the truce. Qatar, which has served as a mediator along with Egypt, appeared to single out Israels role in the resumption of violence.

Qatars Foreign Ministry said that the continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in the first hours after the end of the pause complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the territory. It urged the international community to move quickly to stop the violence.

The collapse of the ceasefire came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli officials and urged them to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Avi v(Saul Loeb/Pool/ AP)

Mr Blinken was on his way on Friday to the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai, where he will meet Arab and other leaders.

It was not clear to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed the appeals of the United States, Israels most important ally.

Mr Netanyahus office said on Friday that 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.

In the leaflets it dropped in southern Gaza, Israel urged people to leave homes east of the city of Khan Younis. The leaflets also warned that Khan Younis was now a dangerous battle zone.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war, with many taking shelter in Khan Younis and other places in the south.

One of the first air strikes on Friday destroyed a large building in Khan Younis. Moments later, residents were seen frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached. One wounded person was carried away on a stretcher.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

In Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development near the city, a strike hit an apartment in a multi-storey residential building while other parts of the building appeared largely intact.

In the refugee camp of Maghazi, rescuers clawed through the rubble of a large building hit by warplanes.

Only hours in to the renewed offensive, the Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza said 32 people had been killed and dozens wounded.

Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on Hamas, accusing the militants of operating in residential neighbourhoods.

Since the war erupted on October 7, in response to a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel, many of those killed in Israeli bombardments have been women and children.

In Israel, sirens warning of incoming rockets blared at several communal farms near Gaza, a sign that Hamas also resumed attacks, but there were not reports of hits or damage.

Mr Netanyahu said the war resumed because Hamas had violated the terms of the truce. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens, he said.

The Israeli militarys announcement of the resumption of strikes came only 30 minutes after the ceasefire expired at 7am (0500 GMT) on Friday.

The halt in fighting began on November 24. It initially lasted for four days, and then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

A woman is overwhelmed by emotion after being released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Thursday (Nasser Nasser/ AP)

Virtually all of those freed were women and children but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza made it hard to reach a deal to extend the ceasefire.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers.

It was not immediately clear whether negotiators were continuing efforts for another temporary ceasefire. Qatar and Egypt, which have played a key role as mediators had sought to prolong the truce by another two days.
President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted the resignation offer of Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Lee Dong-kwan on Friday, his office said, hours before a National Assembly vote on his impeachment.

The chief of the state broadcasting watchdog offered his resignation to Yoon late Thursday, according to a source. The president approved a motion for Lee's dismissal on Friday, his office said in a notice to the press.

The move came days after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) introduced an impeachment motion against Lee, accusing him of unfair personnel decisions and appointments aimed at increasing government influence over broadcasting stations.

The DPK, which has a controlling majority in the 298-member Assembly with 168 seats, was set to pass the motion during a plenary parliamentary session Friday.

The chairman reportedly expressed his intention to step down following recent mishandling of KCC operations and over concerns that the commission could face a monthslong suspension of duties if the impeachment motion is passed.

"I cannot predict how many months it may have taken for the results of my impeachment trial to be finalized," Lee said at a press conference held after his resignation.

Lee said he decided to step down because the KCC and the National Assembly would be in limbo during the DPK's political offensive over what would have been his impeachment trial.

"I believe it is the duty of a public servant to avoid such situations, even if I have to sacrifice myself," Lee said.

The clash over the position of the broadcasting watchdog chief is widely believed to be part of efforts by the rival parties to put themselves in better positions ahead of April's parliamentary elections in consideration of the huge influence that broadcasting stations have over voters.

Following Lee's resignation, KCC Vice Chairman Lee Sang-in will oversee the watchdog as its acting chief.

Previously, three of the total five KCC standing member positions had been vacant. With Lee's resignation, the committee is now operating with a single person in charge.

The KCC is expected to only maintain essential tasks until the appointment of a new chairperson. Observers speculate that a new chairperson nominee could be announced in the near future due to concerns over a vacuum in the KCC's duties. (Yonhap)
Japanese officials have expressed concern that the US military is continuing to fly Osprey aircraft in the country without providing adequate information about a fatal crash this week despite repeated requests.

One crew member was killed and seven others are missing, along with the aircraft.

The cause of Wednesdays crash, which occurred during a training mission, is still under investigation.

Search operations widened on Friday with additional US military personnel joining the effort while Japanese coast guard and military ships focused on an undersea search using sonar.

A Japanese coast guard helicopter and patrol vessel conduct search and rescue operations (Kyodo News via AP)

The Pentagon said on Thursday that US Ospreys continue to operate in Japan, and deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said she was not aware of an official request from Japan to ground them.

We are concerned about the continuing Osprey flights despite our repeated requests and the absence of a sufficient explanation about their safety from the US military, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Friday.

The US-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 a plane, during flight.

Ospreys have had a number of crashes, including in Japan, where they are used at US and Japanese military bases, and the latest crash rekindled safety concerns.

Japanese officials say they asked the US military to halt Osprey flights in Japan except for those involved in the search operations.

Defence minister Minoru Kihara said he met the commander of US Forces Japan, Ricky Rupp, on Thursday afternoon and repeated his request that flights be allowed only after the aircrafts safety is confirmed.

He acknowledged that he did not specifically use the words grounding or suspension.

Mr Kihara said he asked Mr Rupp to explain what measures are being taken for Osprey flights in Japan in response to the crash.

Japan has raised concerns about the safety of Ospreys (Kyodo News via AP)

On Thursday, Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa met US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and asked the United States to promptly provide information to the Japanese side.

US Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey that crashed was one of six deployed at Yokota Air Base, home to US Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force, and was assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing.

The aircraft had departed from the US Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture and crashed on its way to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japanese officials said.

A total of 44 Ospreys have been deployed at US and Japanese military bases in Japan. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops in Japan are based, Governor Denny Tamaki called on Japans defence and foreign ministries to request the US military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan, including in search operations.

It is extremely regrettable that Ospreys are still flying in Okinawa, Mr Tamaki said in a statement on Thursday. I have serious doubts about Osprey safety even for their search and rescue operations.
Military cadets hug before taking part in the National Day parade in Bucharest (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Tens of thousands of people have turned out in Romanias capital to watch a military parade that included troops from Nato allies to mark the countrys national day.

The annual parade at the Arc de Triomphe in Bucharest brought together thousands of marching soldiers as dozens of combat jets and helicopters flew overhead. Many spectators waved Romanian tricolour flags of red, yellow and blue.

Fridays ceremony celebrated the 105th anniversary of Great Union Day of 1918 when modern-day Romania was formed after its unification with the neighbouring regions of Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bukovina.

Crowds of people watch the National Day parade in Bucharest (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

After communism ended in 1989, December 1 was declared a national holiday to commemorate the ethnic Romanians in Alba Iulia who declared the union of Transylvania with Romania.

In a reception held at Cotroceni Palace after the parade, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis described the day as a holiday that brings Romanians together, no matter where we are, reconnecting us to the spirit of our national unity.

We remember the culture and traditions that define us, he said. And, above all, the great crossroads of our history, when only through solidarity and unity were we able to resolutely overcome difficulties that seemed insurmountable.

Military cadets sit on a bench before taking part in the National Day parade (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

The US Department of State offered its congratulations on Friday, saying Romanias leadership within the Nato alliance strengthens our collective security, especially in the Black Sea region and said future cooperation between the two nations grows ever brighter.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Romania has played an increasingly prominent role in the alliance  which it joined in 2004  including hosting a Nato meeting of foreign ministers in November 2022.

In December, Romania inaugurated an international training hub for F-16 jet pilots from Nato countries and other partners, including war-torn Ukraine.
My upcoming father of the bride duties has me banning the six Cs but its going to be worth it
A fighter jet releases flares during an air show marking the 78th anniversary of the Indonesian Armed Forces in Jakarta, Oct. 5, 2023.

Indonesias decision to increase defense spending by 20% next year shows that the country is prioritizing building up its armed forces and arsenal amid a U.S.-China rivalry in Southeast Asia, analysts said.

To guard against a potential escalation of regional tensions between the superpowers, Indonesia will need capital to replace outdated military equipment even as Jakarta has acknowledged it will have to rely on foreign loans to fund a bigger defense budget, observers said.

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the defense budget would rise from U.S. $20.75 billion (321 trillion rupiah) to $25 billion (387 trillion rupiah), partly funded by foreign debt.

Khairul Fahmi, a researcher at the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies, said Indonesia was nearing the deadline to achieve its Minimum Essential Force strategy by 2024.

We also face the problem of the gap between our actual and desired capabilities, especially in the air and naval sectors, he told BenarNews.

Fahmi said the air force was the weakest among the three branches of the Indonesian military and needed new fighter-jets.

We need to upgrade and maintain our existing defense equipment, as well as procure new ones, to avoid operational failures and incidents, he said. We need a robust defense posture to anticipate the escalation of threats in a dynamic and volatile geopolitical environment.

While Indonesia is not a territorial claimant in the South China Sea, its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) overlaps Beijings claims in the waterway. Bilateral diplomatic tensions have arisen in recent years from Chinese fishing boats and coast guard ships encroaching on Indonesias EEZ.

China has demanded that Indonesia stop drilling for oil and gas, alleging in an unprecedented diplomatic note in 2021 that these activities were occurring in South China Sea waters it claims, an Indonesian lawmaker has said.

In September, Indonesia hosted a joint military exercise involving all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and a potential 11th member, Timor-Leste.

The five-day non-combat exercise was held to show joint agency [cooperation], regardless of the contention and rivalry between great powers, said Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma, a researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta, referring to the U.S. and China.

Potential political benefit

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who is running for president in the February 2024 general election, could benefit electorally from the budget increase if some defense projects are approved before the vote, Fahmi said.

Postponing the projects for fear of boosting Prabowos popularity as a presidential candidate would risk weakening the defense capability, he said.

Since becoming defense minister in 2019, Prabowo has visited weapons-producing countries including the United States, Russia, China and France to secure deals.

Defense officials have sought to acquire new military hardware including fighter-jets, patrol boats and submarines, as part of its five-year strategic plan ending in 2024. The plan also emphasizes the need for surveillance and territorial defense capabilities including radar, drones and other detection devices.

The Indonesian Air Force operates a mix of fighter-jets including the U.S.-made Northrop F-5 Tiger and the F-16, the Russian-made Sukhoi SU-27/30 and the British-made Hawk 100/200.

Defense officials said some of the aircraft are aging and need to be replaced or upgraded.

Beni Sukadis, a military analyst at Marapi Consulting, a defense and security think-tank, said the budget increase would provide flexibility and stability for the defense projects.

With the high complexity of military modernization projects such as defense equipment procurement, the use of foreign debt enables it to meet the financial needs without disrupting domestic financial stability, he said.

He also said the government should explain the rationale behind the spending hike to avoid public suspicion and scrutiny.

Without an explanation, suspicions that the budget increase will be associated with the election can develop as a valid public opinion, he said.
Mention Kadavu Island to anyone in Fiji and it likely conjures up one word: Marijuana.

The volcanic island  which lies south of the Fijian archipelago, about halfway between Tahiti and Sydney, Australia  is notorious for its illegal cannabis crops, often grown in hidden clumps between lines of taro leaves.

Drug-busts are common. This year alone, Fijian police have uprooted more than 10,000 cannabis shrubs on the island.

But farmers on Kadavu are hopeful they can soon grow their crops of weed out in the open. Fijis government is planning to legalize medical cannabis exports after being approached by investors in Australia and New Zealand. Its Department of Trade is undertaking a feasibility study into the industry.

Josateki Korovulavula, who heads the Kadavu Farmers Association, spent more than five years in prison after police raided his marijuana plantation in 2012. He said he hoped to bring [his] reputation back by participating in Fijis budding medical cannabis industry.

If only the government can see what weve seen, the 40-year-old farmer, who claims to make thousands of U.S. dollars a month selling marijuana on Fijis black market, told BenarNews.

Theyve branded me as a ganja farmer, but I want to prove to them Im not wrong.

Fijian police officers are pictured at a marijuana plantation on Kadavu Island, Fiji, in this undated handout photo. [HO/Fiji Police Force]

Western demand for cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals has fueled business interest in the Pacific, where favorable climates and soil conditions have made the region a target for commercial-scale growers.

Governments in the region are hoping to tap into the $40 billion global cannabis market by passing laws to entice foreign investors.

Cash cow

Vanuatu recently became the first Pacific island nation to allow the cultivation of medical cannabis, licensing two international companies to grow and manufacture the plant for sale overseas.

Meanwhile, the Cook Islands prime ministers office said earlier this year it would embark on a study tour of New Zealand, where medical cannabis is legal, to guide the development of its own medical marijuana industry.

Fijian businessman and lobbyist Mosese Waqanika calls medical cannabis a potential cash cow for his country. He has been in talks with investors in Great Britain and Singapore to support his company once the industry is legalized.

I believe, in a few more years time, other Pacific island nations will be joining the same bandwagon, Waqanika said.

Josateki Korovulavula, who hopes to participate in Fijis budding medical cannabis industry, is pictured near Suva, Oct. 31, 2023. [Prianka Srinivasan/BenarNews]

Proponents say the quick-growing cannabis crop can provide a valuable injection to Pacific economies struggling to recover from the impacts of a changing climate. Traditional export crops like coffee and sandalwood can take years to regrow when floods and cyclones strike, whereas cannabis can be harvested nine weeks after planting.

Hemp is a renewable crop that's coming in every single year. It's in, it's out and the farmer has his cash, said Australian business owner Andrew Smith of Tafea Industries. His company has partnered with the Vanuatu government to develop the first legal medical cannabis plantation in the country.

But in a region where extreme weather is frequent, risks remain for the new crop. Two devastating Category 5 cyclones have hit Vanuatu this year alone, and such storms have the potential to decimate expensive cannabis operations, Smith said.

With the regularity that cyclones are coming through at the moment, you could get crops wiped out every couple of years, he said.

Domestic use illegal

On the streets of Suva, Fijis capital, the illicit marijuana market is barely visible. Based on seizures by police, its worth at least tens of millions of U.S. dollars annually.

Boats that dock in the harbor, ferrying passengers between islands, are also used to offload packages of weed to the citys dealers, police statements say. At nighttime, young Fijians pass around a joint in between swigs of an indigenous psychoactive drink called kava. In some villages, marijuana leaves are boiled in coconut oil to create a skin treatment.

Police say marijuana is ferried on passenger boats traveling from Fijis islands into Suva harbor, pictured here, Nov. 2, 2023. [Prianka Srinivasan/BenarNews]

All these activities are illegal, and Fijians face heavy fines and prison time if caught with marijuana. Fijis government has a zero-tolerance policy on any use of the drug by locals, and any products made from domestic cannabis farms will be strictly for overseas customers.

Whilst we are keen to develop this [medical cannabis] industry, we also are very mindful of the sensitivities involved, Manoa Kamikamica, Fijis minister for trade, said at the launch of public consultations.

We will demonstrate to the people of Fiji that this is going to be handled responsibly.

To do this, the government has said it will employ monitoring technology such as cameras on cannabis farms to ensure plants stay out of the hands of locals.

Drug abuse fears

Opponents of Fijis medical cannabis industry, such as Kalesi Volutabu of Drug Free World Fiji, worry that such precautions are not enough. Her non-profit organization, which is affiliated with the Church of Scientologys Foundation for a Drug-Free World, works in rural Fiji to educate villagers on the risks of drug abuse.

Volutabu said Fijis feasibility study into medical cannabis has already given the green light to illegal marijuana farmers, who have ramped up production in recent months.

We are literally saturated with marijuana in this country, she said.

I can totally understand why Fiji wants to look at [medical cannabis] for the economy. But not right now, Fiji is not ready for that because our system is not strong enough.

Kalesi Volutabu of Drug Free World Fiji, pictured in Suva, Nov. 1, 2023, says the island country is saturated with marijuana and even limited legalization would send the wrong signal. [Prianka Srinivasan/BenarNews]

Pacific countries are already grappling with a rapid rise of methamphetamine and cocaine use, driven by new international drug trafficking routes through the region. Volutabu believes that legal marijuana plantations will send the wrong signal to Fijians and cause addictions to skyrocket.

We cant even police the drugs right now in this country, she said.

So how can you police cannabis?

Fijis government, which is expected to finalize policy recommendations in the coming months, has said it will only allow foreign companies with relevant experience to grow cannabis in the country, to ensure a heightened level of control around the industry.

Nonetheless, Korovulavula from Kadavu Island remains optimistic that Fijian farmers like him will soon be included in the governments plans.

These are God-gifted plants. You cant put God in a box, or it will explode.
Additional notes of the will from the late Ven. Jaseung have been found at his residence, the country's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, said Friday.

"Ven. Jaseung had always pursued nirvana, the world of enlightenment, and I think he decided to come to that moment by himself," Ven. Jinwoo, leader of the Jogye Order, said, while meeting with visitors to the memorial altar for Ven. Jaseung at Jogye Temple in Seoul.

Earlier in the week, Ven. Jaseung, who served as the president of the Jogye Order from 2009 to 2017 and assumed key positions at other religious groups, was found dead at a burnt dormitory at Chiljang Temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.

The Jogye Order officially confirmed Thursday that he self-immolated, "praying for the stability of the religious group and the salvation of the world through the dissemination of the Dharma." Self-immolation is a Buddhist practice of burning oneself alive as an offering to Buddha.

The police later discovered notes from the monk's car that implied he was about to end his life.

"Given the various circumstances so far, I think he had considered the option for a long time and believed it was the right time (to act on it)," Ven. Jinwoo said.

Ven. Jaseung "seemed to have entered into the ultimate state of enlightenment" with his decision, he stressed, seemingly in an effort to tamp down speculation surrounding the influential monk's sudden death. (Yonhap)
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%.
BENNINGTON  The defendant in two recent home improvement fraud cases in Bennington has a long pattern of ripping off both unsuspecting homeowners and close, personal relations for the past 12-plus years, according to a woman who says she experienced the charm, manipulation, and lasting misery of financial hardship from his brief presence in her life.

Amy Campbell knows full well what financial hardship is. She and her teenage son lived with Robert Billings between 2014 and 2015 in Milton. In that fateful year, Campbell claims she lost her apartment and her sense of self-worth, and amassed well over $20,000 in debt at the hands of Billings.

Campbell reached out to share her story in the hopes that by doing so, others will learn from what happened to her and maybe other victims might come forward with their own stories of being deceived by who she considers a charming con-man who she says wreaked havoc on the life of a vulnerable single mom and doesnt know how to tell the truth.

I think I just immediately went into the role of fixing things with him, and it just got out of control real fast, said Campbell, who is just now recovering both financially and emotionally from what happened back in 2015.

Amy Campbell, Amy Marquis at the time, says she met Billings in 2014 after being set up on a date in Milton.

I was set up with him by one of his high school friends who dated one of my friends, Campbell explained. I don't think I was in a great place at the time. I was very vulnerable from a breakup, and I think he knew that. He can be very charismatic, and honestly, the next thing I knew, he was staying with me. He did not have a vehicle at the time, which should have said something to me  but it didn't. We wound up living together, unfortunately.

Campbell said she started sensing something was wrong pretty quickly.

I think initially, he was working for a private plumber, Tom Stebbins, under Toms license out of Chittenden County at the time  in the Fairfax and Milton area, Campbell said. I didn't know at the time that Rob was not licensed. And in Tom Stebbins's defense, he desperately tried to tell me to stay away from this person, but I did not listen.

"At some point, I don't know why, I allowed him to use my credit cards occasionally. He wanted to start his own company  Mechanical Solutions  a plumbing business, but he needed a vehicle. I thought at the time that was legitimate. I foolishly took out a loan from my 401K and gave him $3,000 to start that company and purchase a truck. He started using the credit card to purchase various auto parts for a business he said he was starting with friends down in Georgia, but I think they went there just to drink."

"Between the credit card use  which started adding up quickly  and the loan, I was suddenly in serious debt. About $20,000 worth.

Campbell said on two occasions during that year, Billings also asked her to deposit checks for a home improvement client into her bank account.

Those checks were deposits for promised home improvement work from local homeowners, Campbell said. Hed go to someone and say, I'll do work for you, and then they would give him a check. He brought me the first check, $1,500.06 and asked if I would deposit it. So, I did that. I found out later that he never followed through.

Campbell said she confronted Billings numerous times about the quickly accumulating debt, but when confronted, Billings would directly deposit a small amount from his paycheck with the plumbing company into her account to smooth things for a while.

That was just a band-aid type of thing, she said.

Then, Campbell said, Billings suddenly moved out a year after they started dating, down to Bennington County, leaving her with all of the debt. She said she asked Billings for the money he took after he left, but he never repaid her.

I think he realized that I had nothing more financially and that I was broke, so he just left.

I never went after him for the money," she explained. I thought about it on several occasions. The bottom line is no matter what, I would have never recovered any funds. I felt that you can't get any money from somebody that doesn't have any.

"I think that, in truth, I felt responsible for this whole thing. I mean, I repeatedly permitted this person to do this stuff. I really felt at fault, quite frankly. The heart does what the heart does ... When you think you can help someone ... you do some things that just  when you look back  dont make any sense.

Campbell eventually had to move out of the apartment she shared with her son. They ended up renting a room from a friend and putting all of their things in storage. She said shes been pulling herself out ever since. She is coming forward now, after the latest charges against Billings surfaced, to warn others about people like him and the damage they can do  especially to people who might be vulnerable to his charms.

Please be careful, she says. Thats all I want to say.

In verifying aspects of Campbells story, one of the names on a $1,500 deposit check that Campbell claimed she deposited on behalf of Billings appeared in a records search of Robert Billings in the Vermont court system database.

That person, Tammie Lynn Carter, confirmed the check and the amount. Tammie Carter, then, Tammie Schmitt, of Milton did pursue charges against Billings in 2016 after the check was cashed with none of the work done. Part of the evidence in the case included the $1,500 check that shows it was deposited into Campbells account. Carter agreed to go on the record, she says, To help put a stop to this happening again.

In 2016, Rob Billings was hired to do a bathroom for us, put in a new sink and tub, finish plumbing work, Carter said. I think it was around $3,000 total for the job. We gave him $1,500, which was supposed to be half the cost of the job plus enough to buy the material. It was cashed. He never came out to do the job. He was like, Oh, I can't do it. I'm out of town. Then, he just stopped talking to us. He never offered to give us the money back or anything like that.

"It was probably a good six months. Vermont had an attorney who was hired to do these types of crimes as part of a task force for these kinds of crimes. It was a big push to stop this type of home improvement fraud. The attorney from the attorney generals office actually called me because I think I filed a complaint with the police, which started the process.

A records search confirms Billings was convicted of the home improvement fraud tied to Schmitt in 2016. A further records review revealed several fraud charges and convictions starting in 2010. That conviction was followed by a 2013 no contest plea on false pretenses greater than $900. He was convicted again on a similar count in 2015. In Carters case, in 2016, Billings pleaded guilty to two counts of home improvement fraud, resulting in a 0-60-day furlough sentence with credit for time served.

Billings has also been sued in civil court by multiple plaintiffs for work never completed and sums owed and never returned. Part of his 2015 and 2016 plea deal included language that he never enter a contract with or perform home repair or improvements for homeowners.

Billings is currently facing two new cases of home improvement fraud in which he pleaded not guilty in August and then again in October. He currently faces a possible life sentence in these new cases as a habitual offender. In Vermont, an individual who is convicted of three or more felonies is considered a habitual offender and can face a life sentence if convicted a fourth time. There is no trial date set.

This gentleman took money from me and never did the work, Carter said. I'm a savvy person. Ive never been taken advantage of. My ex-husband was a contractor. Just be really careful. Check out the state websites. It lists everybody that has a license in Vermont, like plumbing, electricians, etc. If they are convicted of any kind of fraud, it will be on there. Check it out before you give anybody money.

I want to stop people from doing this, especially against the elderly. I was lucky we had three incomes, so we were able to finish the project until we got the money back. A lot of less fortunate people can get destroyed.

If you feel you were a victim of home improvement fraud, or if you want to check on any issues with a contractor, please visit the states Home Improvement Fraud Registry website at ago.vermont.gov/cap/home-improvement-fraud-registry.
This is a subscriber exclusive story.

Subscribe today to access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access.

Subscribe today. Cancel anytime.

Subscribe now for 99

Subscriber Sign In | Return Home
For many North Korean defectors in South Korea, arriving here in one piece is one thing, but finding a job to support themselves in the capitalist society is another mission.

Lee Hye-young, 39, still remembers the first few months into her job at a company that makes filters for car air conditioners when she was constantly fazed by the amount of English words used at work.

"My boss asked me if I could hand him some labels. It's a very simple word used in the manufacturing industry, actually in any workplace. But I had no clue," said Lee, who hails from the North Korean city of Wonsan.

"Of course, that was just the beginning. Adjusting to South Korea's corporate culture was a whole new process that took about a year," Lee told Yonhap News Agency on the sidelines of a job fair organized by the unification ministry.

Kim Seung-hee, 57, also went through language issues.

"When my colleagues heard me speaking, they would immediately ask where I am from," said Kim, who has worked various stints since she arrived in South Korea 10 years ago.

"I responded that my accent doesn't matter since we all use Korean. But some people just have this misconception about North Korean defectors," she said.

The divided Koreas use the same alphabet, known as Hangeul. However, decades of division  capitalist South and communist North  following the 1950-53 Korean War have resulted in dialectical differences and deviations in the meaning of words. Many South Koreans incorporate numerous English words into their daily lives, causing communication challenges between South and North Koreans.

Like Lee and Kim, many North Korean defectors still face numerous hurdles when looking for jobs in South Korea.

While indicators of their employment  such as employment rate, salary and retention period  have overall improved in the past three years, the figures still tend to lag behind the nation's average.

The jobless rate of North Korean defectors in South Korea reached 6 percent in 2022, more than twofold of the 3 percent for all South Koreans, while their average retention period came in at 35.3 months, less than half of 72 months for all South Koreans, according to government data.

Data also showed that 26 percent of North Korean defectors picked misperception against them as the biggest hurdle in finding jobs, followed by 19.2 percent and 17.6 percent who picked lack of relevant experience and information on job hiring.

To better support defectors in the job market, the unification ministry held a job fair featuring 141 companies and government agencies hoping to hire new recruits.

More than 1,000 North Korean defectors, including Lee and Kim, attended the job fair in search of better job opportunities.

Among the companies were those seeking to fill jobs shunned by South Koreans due to irregular working hours and tough working conditions.

"Demand for new hires has surged in our company since the end of the pandemic but we've had difficulties in filling those jobs as they require working outdoors on graveyard shifts," said Jeon Hyun-woo, a hiring specialist at Swissport Korea, which provides various services to airlines at Incheon International Airport.

"We didn't consider hiring defectors, assuming it would be difficult to conduct security checks for their airport access, but it seemed like a great opportunity as the job fair is organized by the government," Jeon said.

For the local duty-free unit of cosmetics giant Estee Lauders Companies, the job fair appeared to be a chance to hire airport sales specialists who are fluent in Chinese, given that a large number of defectors arrive in South Korea via China.

"Most second-generation defectors born in third countries came from China and are fluent in the language," said Lee Jin-hee, the principal of Hangyeore Middle and High School, a government-funded education organization for North Korean defectors.

"It will be a great opportunity for them to make use of their skills if they work in service industry jobs in global companies," Lee said.

The unification ministry said strengthening support for the resettlement of North Korean defectors is a policy priority that would help them identify themselves as members of South Korea.

"North Korean defectors who have gone through various difficulties to come to our society in pursuit of freedom and human rights are talented people who have a notable spirit of challenge and are full of energy," Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said.

Despite the challenges in finding the right job, some North Korean defectors said the freedom to choose their occupation is a new-found opportunity in itself.

"In North Korea, you have to work where the regime tells you to go. That becomes your life," said a 52-year-old defector from North Hamgyong Province, who declined to identified.

"Here, I have the option to make a choice for myself. This is something that I learned. It's an opportunity." (Yonhap)
Bill Schmick is registered as an investment adviser representative of Onota Partners Inc. in the Berkshires. He can be reached at 413-347-2401, or email him at billiams1948@gmail.com.
PITTSFIELD  Doctors at the state's correctional mental hospital say Edward Jennings is incompetent to stand trial on charges alleging he fatally shot a man on North Street in 2021.

But Jennings no longer meets criteria to be held Bridgewater State Hospital, where criminal defendants are evaluated for mental illness. He's being held at Berkshire County House of Correction while prosecutors evaluate whether he'll stand trial.

Jennings, 37, was discharged from Bridgewater State Hospital on Sept. 27, court records show. Doctors associated with the hospital determined that Jennings "remains incompetent to stand trial but does not meet criteria for further hospitalization," said Department of Corrections attorney Scott D. McLean in court documents.

Court documents filed in March indicated that Jennings had been found to be mentally ill with symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office did not oppose Jennings' release to the Berkshire House of Correction. First Assistant District Attorney Marianne Shelvey said in court this week that the most recent report from the hospital contains information that "may affect how we go forward."

Whether and how criminal proceedings against Jennings in the April 2021 shooting death of Lemond Grady remains to be seen. Police said Jennings allegedly admitted to shooting Grady, who at the time of his death was facing charges alleging he attacked and injured Jennings.

Jennings has been at loggerheads with his previous defense lawyers, seeking to dismiss his previous attorneys and ultimately petitioning to represent himself in court. He has made hard-to-follow court filings criticizing how his prosecution has been unfolding.

The court on Sept. 14 determined that Jennings should not continue to represent himself and appointed defense lawyer Jennifer Cox to handle his case, according to court records. Cox was due to meet with Shelvey this month to go over the evidence, according to the prosecutor. The prosecution itself still appears to be weighing the competency evaluation reports.

Toward the end of a Tuesday Zoom hearing, Jennings appeared to become upset and had an outburst when he learned that his next hearing was scheduled for Feb. 5, before being directed away from the camera by a corrections officer.
When the Pittsfield City Council voted to approve a rising tax rate, four councilors voted against the increases and argued that the city tax levies were outpacing residents abilities to pay. It turns out, those four councilors know the burden of mounting unpaid tax bills, firsthand.
The Berkshire Community Action Council's fuel assistance program aims to lighten the burden of heating costs for Berkshire County residents. This year, rising utility rates has added to the challenge, organizers say.
The Northern Berkshire YMCA in North Adams is getting a new roof, but the project may cost $136,000 more than the original $319,000 after a contractor backed out.
You are the owner of this article.
Israeli hostage Itay Jerbi, left, is greeted by his mother upon his arrival Thursday in Israel after being held hostage by Hamas. The disappearance of loved ones is painful enough, columnist Donald Morrison notes, but not knowing whether they are alive or dead can be pure torture.
Bayard Rustin, deputy director of the 1963 march on Washington, points to a map showing the march's route several days before it took place.
By Lee Hae-rin

A migrant workers' union and civic activists lambasted the Seoul High Courts ruling, Friday, in favor of local companies underpaying foreign workers on commercial sea vessels. Describing the latest ruling as "racist," the union urged the Supreme Court to overrule the decision as Korea grows increasingly dependent on foreign laborers.

The leader of the union as well as human rights lawyers and civic activists held a press conference in front of the Supreme Court in Seoul on the occasion of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, which falls annually on Dec. 2.

The day marks the 1986 adoption of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others by the General Assembly, and aims to draw attention to slavery that still exists in the world.

Their call came months after the Seoul High Court overturned a ruling by the Seoul Administrative Court that ordered a local company to make a fair compensation to a migrant sailor who suffered severe injuries while at work.

Udaya Rai, the head of the Migrants' Trade Union, called the high courts decision racist and demanded that the Supreme Court make a fair ruling and acknowledge the right of foreign workers to receive proper wages for their work.



Migrant workers play an indispensable role in many Korean industries, including the agricultural and fisheries and manufacturing (sectors)  However, many are not given proper payment and overdue wages of migrant workers amount to 120 billion won ($91.8 million) every year. Several workers return home empty-handed after their hard work," he said.

Under such circumstances, the high court ruled that paying migrant workers less than the minimum wage does not violate the constitutional principle of equality, citing a rational argument to justify treating foreign commercial sea vessel crews differently, he added.



According to Rai, a Vietnamese migrant broke his right shoulder blade and lost his right thumb while reeling in metal-wired fishing nets on a Korean boat on May 4, 2020. He demanded compensation for the accident from the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, which manages accident compensation insurance for fisheries industry workers.

However, he only received 1.86 million won ($1,400) per month in compensation, which is less than half of the average 4.5 million won given to Korean fishermen who suffer from accidents while working.

In response, the Vietnamese national filed a lawsuit to cancel and redress the calculation, to which the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in his favor. The Seoul High Court, however, dismissed his request in October this year and decided that underpaying foreign workers is justifiable.

The high court said foreign boat crewmen fall under standard labor contract regulations, which allows employers to consider their charge of board and lodging, and trips back to the worker's home country when calculating their wages.

According to the migrant labor union and numerous activists, a standard labor contract is the last resort for foreign workers to have their labor rights protected and should not be used to justify wage deductions.

Despite signing such contracts, foreign seamen experience violations of human and worker rights and psychological distress, including having their passports confiscated by employers, while laboring under dangerous and harsh conditions. Many migrant workers also live in subpar housing conditions, while being exposed to various industrial accidents, which often lead to little to no compensation, according to the activists.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries belatedly announced last year that it will eliminate discrimination in minimum wage payments by 2026. Under such circumstances, the high court made a ruling that justifies wage discrimination against migrant boat crewmen, which is not in line with the government's policy, said Park Young-ah, an attorney with Gong Gam, a human rights law foundation.

Park said that the Seafarers Act, a special law on boat crew wages and conditions, includes the Labor Act's guidelines against discriminating against foreign workers based on nationality.

Also, the International Labor Organization (ILO) stipulates that employers should pay for any fees or costs incurred in the recruitment process, including expenses integral to recruitment and placement within or across national borders.

The deadline for the judgment by the Supreme Court on the case is indefinite.

.
The three gifts listed are gold, frankincense, and myrrh  money, and moneys worth as Matthew Henry describes them. They are not the kind of gifts we would think of bringing to a baby shower, or presenting to a new mother, but in fact, were the most practical of gifts. God knew that as soon as the wise men bypassed Herod on their way home, the kings rage would erupt. They would not be able to return to their hometown, to be embraced, loved, and supported by their families. Instead, Joseph received some startling news.

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him. So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Out of Egypt I called My Son (Matthew 2:13-15).

Lukes account of the early days after Jesus birth sheds light on why God would have arranged to shower Mary and Joseph with such valuable gifts. When He was forty days old, they brought Him to the Temple in Jerusalem to present the sacrifices as prescribed in the Old Testament law. Their choice of animal reveals this young couple had very little in the way of material possessions.

And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (Luke 2:22-24).

Leviticus 12:1-8 indicates a lamb was to be brought, but if they could not afford a lamb, then the turtledoves or pigeons would be acceptable. Since no mention of a lamb is made in Lukes account, we can conclude that Mary and Joseph had little funds available. Now, they were being forced to flee their homeland and travel to Egypt with a baby. God knew they would need physical provision. How timely the magis visit! When Joseph awakened from his dream, he certainly realized that God had once again provided exactly what was needed to care for His Son.

In addition to the practical aspect of the gifts, each gift seems to indicate it was chosen to represent some deeper truth about this tiny baby. While Scripture does not tell us this directly, by considering each gift in light of its normal use, and understanding that God mentioned these three specifically, we see something very special was taking place.

Photo credit: Getty Images/miniseries
BillOReilly.com is not available in this country.



We apologize for any inconvenience.
Despite geopolitical uncertainties like the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts lingering in 2023, the healthcare and pharma sector in India continues to gain momentum through new investments and collaborative efforts. In 2023 alone, more than 30 partnerships, MoUs and other collaborations have been forged to boost Indias pharmaceutical growth trajectory. The Indian pharmaceutical products market is projected to hit $130 billion by the end of 2030. Let's explore further.

India is expected to remain one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world due to robust domestic demand. The deal activity increased as the year progressed, with the life sciences and healthcare sector continuing to remain promising for further investments during the year.

In Q1 2023, deals in the Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) and Private Equity (PE) space remained subdued. They are expected to improve in the latter part of the year. In the life sciences sector, the focus remained on acquiring products, licenses in regulated markets and building capacity in India, with an interest in contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMO) and the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and biosimilar businesses. In the healthcare sector, health tech continues to account for a significant share of the volume of deals, according to the Grant Thornton Bharat dealtracker report for 2023.

Compared to Q4 2022, while the volumes remained on par, Q1 2023 saw a 70 per cent decline in values owing to one marquee deal witnessed in the previous quarter (Q4 2022)  Biocons acquisition of Viatris Inc. valuing $3.3 billion, accounting for 88 per cent of M&A values for the quarter (Q4 2022). Barring this deal, Q1 2023 saw a 50 per cent increase in values. The pharma and biotech segment accounted for 81 per cent of the values, for the last three quarters, across both the M&A and PE/ Venture Capital (VC) activity. The segment witnessed two top deals  Biocons acquisition of Viatris (Q4 2022) and Suven Pharmas fundraising by Advent International (Q1 2023).

Fuelled by an Aatmanirbhar Bharat push and growing preference for India-made pharmaceutical raw materials, the API sector remains in the spotlight. The PE firm Advent International has acquired 50.1 per cent of Suven Life Sciences Limited for $769.88 million to build a leading end-to-end CDMO and merchant API player servicing the pharma and specialty chemical markets. TA Associates acquisition of Synokem Pharmaceuticals for $125 million also highlights the continued interest in the domestic market.

Healthcare and life sciences witnessed a 17 per cent decline in deal volumes compared to Q2 2022. However, a few significant transactions led to a remarkable 146 per cent increase in deal values, from $1.3 billion in Q2 2022 to $3.1 billion in Q2 2023. There was an interest in PEs in Indian multi-specialty hospitals. Temasek Holdings bought stakes in Manipal Health Enterprises from TPG Capital Management and National Infrastructure Investment Fund for $2 billion, marking the largest fundraiser in the sector in the last 13 years. In another notable transaction, Blackstone Group bought stakes in Quality CARE India Limited  Care Hospitals for $560 million, making it the third-largest fundraising ever recorded in India in the sector.

Driven by these big-ticket investments, the PE activity reported a 158 per cent growth in deal values, taking the average ticket size from $32 million in Q2 2022 to $139 million in Q2 2023. However, the volumes declined by 41 per cent.

The M&A activity reported a 60 per cent increase in deal volumes over Q2 2022, recording 16 deals. Deal values surged by 97 per cent to reach $487 million, resulting in an average ticket size of $30 million, compared to $25 million in Q2 2022. Serum Institute of India Ltd - Serum Institute Life Sciences bought a minority stake in Biocon Biologics Limited for $150 million, and IPCA Laboratories Limited acquired Unichem Laboratories Limited for $126 million, contributing around 57 per cent of overall M&A transactions.

Bhanu Prakash Kalmath S J, Partner and Healthcare Services Industry Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, noted that the pharma and healthcare sector in India witnessed a few large M&A transactions in Q3 2023, indicating continued interest in the sector. However, the overall volumes declined by 26 per cent. The total value of the deals announced in Q3 2023 was over $2.7 billion, which reflects the positive sentiments from the investors.

The API and CDMO segments in life sciences and single specialty in the healthcare sectors continue to be the focus segments for deals. This has led to a surge in investments in these segments, with several notable deals announced in Q3 2023, aligning with our expectation that these segments will maintain momentum. There is a growing trend toward consolidation in the pharmaceutical sector, with pressure on margin. Additionally, the CDMO business is also attracting interest from both strategic investors and private equity funds. By volume, India is already the worlds third-largest pharmaceutical producer and the leading manufacturer of generic drugs.

Bhanu Prakash Kalmath observed, We expect deals to continue in the healthcare sector, although the volumes may be subdued. The key drivers for growth, such as increasing demand for healthcare services, growing adoption of new technology, digital health and sustained government support, are expected to remain in place.

Strategic Partnerships

Leading Indian pharmaceutical companies, including Biocon, Advent International, Syngene, Eurofins, Foxx Life from the US, and Flanders from Belgium, are strategically involved in partnerships, acquisitions, sales, and divestments to consolidate their growth in 2023.

Industry analysts highlight that companies like Dr. Reddy's and Cipla are exploring opportunities in branded domestic assets or deals in emerging markets, while Sun Pharma is eyeing assets abroad.

In a recent development, Biocon Biologics Limited, a subsidiary of Biocon Limited, based in Bengaluru, announced an agreement with Eris Life Sciences to divest its dermatology and nephrology branded formulations for Rs 3600 million. This move is expected to reduce debt and allow a focus on core biological therapeutics, with the deal set to conclude by the end of November 2023.

International firm Advent International declared a $2 billion investment in Hyderabad's Suven Pharmaceuticals on September 30, 2023, planning to establish its Cohance Lifesciences Platform in Genome Valley. This move follows the approval to acquire a 76.1 per cent stake in Suven Pharmaceuticals for Rs 9589 crore from the Union government.

Syngene International Limited, a global contract research, development, and manufacturing services organisation, announced its expansion in the Genome Valley project in Hyderabad in September 2023. With an investment of Rs 788 crore, the company aims to provide 1000 jobs in the next five years

Eurofins, a global leader in testing services, inaugurated its biopharma services centre in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, in partnership with Genome Valley, investing Rs150 crore in its second biopharma services campus in India.

AG Poly Packs invested Rs 42 crore in a new facility in Himachal Pradesh, operational from June 2023, manufacturing flexible tubes for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Highlighting the conducive ecosystem provided by the Government of Telangana, Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of Industries and Information Technology, emphasised the importance of collaborations, partnerships, and MoUs for expanding the growth horizons of the pharma and healthcare sectors globally.

The Government of Telangana collaborated with the Flanders region of Belgium in February 2023 to explore opportunities in the life sciences sector for its Pharma City Project. US-based Foxx Life Sciences also announced a Rs 200 crore investment in Hyderabad on February 27, 2023, to enhance pharmaceutical capabilities.

Another firm, Surface Measurement Systems, a UK-based company, invested over $2 million in Particle Characterisation Laboratories Pvt Ltd (PCL) in Telangana in February, with plans to invest $3 million over the next three years.

Eagle Genomics, a UK-based tech bio platform company, expanded its capabilities in Hyderabad and signed an MoU during the BioAsia 2023 event in February.

In another strategic partnership, SGD Pharma and Corning announced a collaboration in February, attracting Rs 500 crore in investments to Telangana. This collaboration aims to bring cutting-edge technology to Mahabubnagar district, boosting innovation in the pharma packaging sector, with commercial production set to commence in 2024.

In a significant development, Croda International Plc, an international company, inaugurated its Global Technical Centre in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, in June 2023. Utilising smart science, the company focuses on creating high-performance ingredients and solutions to enhance lives. Croda International invests in developing advanced pharmaceutical ingredients and technologies for the life sciences sector. Additionally, the company has established a new Greenfield manufacturing plant in Dahej, Gujarat.

In January 2023, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd agreed to acquire Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $576 million, gaining access to the US company's experimental drugs for treating skin diseases, including patchy hair loss. This strategic move is expected to bolster Sun Pharma's global dermatology franchise, complementing its already robust specialty business in the US.

Later during the year in September, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals finalised a deal with Nirma Limited, selling a 75 per cent stake in Glenmark Lifesciences at Rs 615 per share. Nirma, a detergent soap manufacturer, acquired the stake at an estimated enterprise value of Rs 7,500 crore. This transaction underscores the escalating investment interest in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, a rapidly growing global sector.

Key MoUs

The collaborative efforts between governments, private companies, academic, and research institutions have played a pivotal role in fostering the growth and expansion of the pharma sector in India. These MoUs, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, technology, and key materials, have led to a substantial increase in research and development spending by the top 10 pharma companies in India.

Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU) and Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited (Akums) have entered into an agreement, collaborating to research and introduce novel products for Indian patients. This partnership aims to enhance pharmaceutical education and research opportunities for DPSRU students.

The National Health Mission and the Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Services have signed an MoU with AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based lung cancer screening technology capable of screening a patient for 29 lung diseases in one chest X-ray.

Boehringer Ingelheim India entered into an MoU with Pet Practitioners Association of Mumbai on September 22, to combat rabies in the Greater Mumbai area. The collaboration includes free vaccination camps, a donation of 30,000 doses of the anti-rabies vaccine Rabisin, and a month-long awareness drive.

India and Saudi Arabia signed over two dozen MoUs on September 11, covering various sectors such as IT, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and human resources.

The Maharashtra state health department signed an MoU with Boehringer Ingelheim India on June 22, to improve stroke care at government hospitals through Artificial Intelligence, including hands-on training for hospital staff.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and Ministry of Health, Government of the Republic of Suriname, signed an MoU on June 4, aimed at extending cooperation in the field of Medical Product Regulation.

The UK-based Centre for Process Innovation Limited (CPI) signed an MoU with Indias CSIR  National Chemical Laboratory in April to decarbonise the pharma industry.

The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) signed an MoU with the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) in June 2023 to provide industrial training to 300 teachers, building on their earlier agreement from May 2021.

All these strategic business agreements and many more others pave the way ahead for laying a robust road map for further growth of the Pharma sector beyond 2023-24.

Surge in R&D Investments

Indian pharmaceutical powerhouses have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to innovation, as the top 10 leading companies in the sector collectively increased their Research and Development (R&D) spending by 7.6 per cent from 2022 to 2023.

Sun Pharma Industries, a major generic manufacturer in India, notably allocated Rs 2368 crore towards R&D in the fiscal year 2022-23. This marked a significant uptick from the previous year's investment of Rs 2,219 crore, aligning with their increased revenues of Rs 44,520 crore in 2022-23, compared to Rs 39,576 crore in 2021-22.

In contrast, Aurobindo Pharma experienced a decrease in R&D spending, allocating Rs 1,412 crore in 2022-23, down from Rs 1,581 crore in 2021-22. However, their revenues demonstrated an upward trajectory, rising from Rs 23,456 crore to Rs 24,855 crore.

Dr. Reddy's Labs showcased a noteworthy increase in R&D expenditure, reaching Rs 1,938 crore in 2022-23 compared to Rs 1,748 crore the previous year. This correlated with revenue growth from Rs 21,139 crore to Rs 24,588 crore.

Cipla also demonstrated a commitment to innovation by investing Rs 1,344 crore in R&D, up from Rs 1,122 crore, while witnessing a revenue shift from Rs 21,763 crore to Rs 22,753 crore.

Other major players in the industry, including Zydus Lifesciences, Lupin, Alkem Labs, Biocon, and Torrent Pharma, similarly increased their R&D expenses, reinforcing their dedication to innovation and contributing to substantial revenue growth across the sector.

Collectively, the R&D expenditure of these top 10 pharma companies surged to Rs 13,078 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 12,186 crore in 2021-22. This significant investment not only fuelled innovation but also led to a 7.6 per cent rise in total revenues, reaching Rs 195,557 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 176,717 crore in 2021-22.

As of June 2023, the top 10 Indian pharma companies have witnessed a substantial 19.2 per cent increase in R&D expenditure, underscoring their unwavering commitment to innovation and advanced healthcare solutions.

Sun Pharma Industries, in particular, significantly raised its R&D expenditure to Rs 668 crore in June 2023 from Rs 450 crore in June 2022, indicating a substantial leap in its dedication to research endeavours.

In a notable trend, Aurobindo Pharma and Dr. Reddy's Labs have both increased their R&D investments, allocating Rs 388 crore and Rs 498 crore, respectively. This showcases their unwavering dedication to pioneering pharmaceutical innovation.

Cipla, Zydus Lifesciences, Lupin, Glenmark Pharma, Biocon, and Torrent Pharma have also intensified their R&D spending, symbolising a collective commitment to advancement and groundbreaking research within the industry.

Overall, the cumulative R&D spend by these top 10 companies surged to Rs 3,452 crore in June 2023 from Rs 2,895 crore in the corresponding period of 2022, marking a substantial 19.2 per cent increase.

Industry analysts assert that this remarkable upswing in investment reflects a collective effort to harness innovation, thereby driving the growth of the pharmaceutical sector. It ensures the development of superior healthcare solutions in the days ahead.

Beyond 2023

India's pharmaceutical industry is one of the leading global producers of cost-effective generic medicines and vaccines, supplying 20 per cent of the total global demand by volume and 60 per cent of the global demand for vaccines. With liberal foreign investment rules allowing 100 per cent FDI, the future of the industry appears promising.

Currently ranked third globally for pharmaceutical production by volume and 14th by value, India has a well-established domestic pharmaceutical industry with around 3,000 drug companies and approximately 10,500 manufacturing units.

The industry's future trajectory is optimistic, with the Indian pharmaceutical products market projected to reach approximately $130 billion by the end of 2030. Concurrently, the global pharmaceutical products market is expected to surpass the $1 trillion mark by the end of 2023.

The market share of the Indian pharmaceutical industry is currently valued at approximately $50 billion, with industry analysts projecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7 per cent through 2030. The pharmaceutical market in India is anticipated to surge to $65 billion by 2024 and double by 2030, reaching $130 billion.

India currently holds the second-largest share of the global biotech and pharmaceutical workforce. In conclusion, the pharmaceutical industry in India is abuzz with dynamic business strategies, including strategic partnerships, investments, new deals, and MoUs. These developments are not only shaping the industry's future but also providing exposure to global markets.

Amguth Raju
Karnataka is taking bold steps to weave together a Global Innovation Alliance with as many countries to facilitate regular knowledge and idea exchanges, fostering innovation and investment on a global scale, paving the way for the creation of new industries, the development of emerging technologies, and the generation of high-skilled jobs. Biotechnology is a critical area of investment for the Karnataka government in the coming times as it plans to open Centres of Excellence in this sector. To find out more about the governments focus on promoting the biotech sector, BioSpectrum spoke in detail with Priyank Kharge, Minister for IT & BT, Government of Karnataka.

Karnataka is establishing Centres of Excellence for health science and medical devices. What is the strategy in place and how soon do we expect these establishments? Which are the industry partners in this project?

Karnataka government is running the highest number of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across sectors such as deep tech, IoT, cybersecurity, aerospace, and robotics, and now we are coming up with Centres of Excellence for health science and medical devices and also a circular economy lab, for all of which we wish to collaborate with ecosystems of countries from across the globe. By the end of this financial year, we would come up with probably Indias first life sciences and medical devices Centre of Excellence, to funnel the IT and biotech sectors together with one common infrastructure. We have many industry partners coming forward for this project such as GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Merck, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, and a few more companies that are working in the space of biotechnology, medical technology etc. The whole objective of these CoEs is to nurture talent, nurture leadership within the sector, provide incubation and ensure more innovations. This project will be directly linked with the Department of Health and Medical Education. Besides commercial products, we will also focus on research-based products.

We have recently seen huge investments being made by global biotech/biopharma companies in Hyderabad with support from the government. How is Karnataka supporting the biotech/biopharma companies in a public-private partnership model, for better innovation & increased R&D investments?

Hyderabad has a strong base in the pharmaceutical space with the presence of institutes like the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) while Karnataka has a better ecosystem for the biotech sector. We are upscaling the biotech sector with provisions like biofoundry and biobank. In the next 6 months, we will come up with biotech accelerators to help the startups scale-up, and make their products more viable.

How do you view the role of deep tech startups for the growth of the biotech sector in India?

Karnataka government has launched a deep tech cluster seed fund to nurture startups specialising in deep tech and artificial intelligence (AI). Also, Karnataka is set to introduce a preferential public procurement policy to enhance support for startups. Under this policy, the Karnataka government would be the primary customer, streamlining the purchase of products and services that possess distinctive intellectual property. For the biotech sector, we are pushing the industrys priorities and preparing a framework to concentrate on the sector. The biotech sector is so vast and includes many newer areas such as genomics, longevity, drug discovery, pandemic preparedness etc. We need to eventually re-evaluate the priorities set by the industry, keeping in view what is best for the public at large.

How is the government improving job opportunities and upskilling within the biotech sector?

The Karnataka government has constituted a Skill Advisory Committee on Emerging Technologies which aims to contribute towards increased employability of graduates, larger and focused talent pool for companies as per their requirements. We want to produce most industry-employable candidates. We aim to engage with all the stakeholders in order to bridge the growing skill gaps between the industry requirement and Karnatakas tech talent pool.







Dr Manbeena Chawla

(manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com)
Song Young-gil, a former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will appear before prosecutors next week for his first questioning in an investigation into a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding the party's 2021 leadership election, sources said Friday.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has summoned the 60-year-old Song to present himself for questioning next Friday morning, the legal sources said.

Prosecutors launched an investigation in April into allegations that Song's campaign distributed cash envelopes totaling 94 million won ($71,986) to 20 DPK lawmakers and other party members in the run-up to the party's leadership election in May 2021, which he ultimately won.

Prosecutors suspect Song's involvement in the handout of 20 cash envelopes to lawmakers, each containing 3 million won.

DPK Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, who worked for Song's campaign, is currently standing trial on charges related to the cash distribution allegations.

Suspicions against Song also include that Song took 40 million won in bribes from a former chief of the Yeosu arm of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry via his support group, the Research Institute for Peace & Livelihood, in return for business favors.

Song has denied involvement in the scandal, accusing the prosecution of an illegal investigation targeting him. (Yonhap)
Intelligent assistant built by South African partnership recognised by Mobile Marketing Association.

Helm's Sean Alborough in Berlin

South African customer experience company Helm, and long standing partners DStv, were honoured on Thursday night at a gala event held by the Mobile Marketing Association. AI-powered solution DStv Assist took home a Smarties Award in the Customer Experience covering Europe, Middle East and Africa.

DStv Assist has radically changed the self-service experience for 4.7 million South Africans since its launch, and currently solves queries of 1.2 million South Africans every month. With that many users now able to problem-solve via WhatsApp, its no surprise that the average customer satisfaction score is at an all-time high of 77%.

Helm head of marketing, Stef Adonis, attributes the success of the project to positive and radical change. Five years ago, a DStv customer would have to phone a call centre, take out their smartcard, unplug their decoder and wait in a queue in order to clear a decoder error. Today, they can do that in 30 seconds without leaving their couch  all thanks to a smart use of technology, a well-chosen WhatsApp platform, and a DStv team who are committed to making the self-service experience as good as the viewing experience.

DStv Assist, built using a South African AI-powered platform called Helm Engine, has gathered data and learnt language nuances from over 1.6 billion messages. The DStv WhatsApp assistant can now complete over 13 self-service tasks in a matter of seconds.

Noni Tshabalala, group digital enablement, senior manager of product at Multichoice, says: The award is a testament to our team's dedication to creating the best personalised experiences. Our customers are able to have an enriched self-service experience and engage with us about our value-added services and products through our DStv Assist platform.

With the success of this proudly South African partnership reaching the international stage, as well as the emergence of generative AI into mainstream society, the possibilities are starting to come alive for other local companies looking to instill change and improve the human experience through the power of technology.

To find out more about how Helm can help you, click here.
Multiple award-winning and Grammy nominated James Blunt, and one of the biggest-selling global comedians, Jimmy Carr will be touring to South Africa in 2024.

James Blunt will be touring to South Africa in 2024 in support of his new album Who We Used To Be. Blunt and his band will play at the Grand Arena, GrandWest on Thursday 12 September, and Saturday 14 September at SunBet Arena, Time Square. For more information on the James Blunt tour, click here.

Jimmy Carr announced two South Africa dates have been added to his Terribly Funny stand-up comedy tour. The 2024 shows kick off on Saturday 2 March in Pretoria at SunBet Arena, Time Square, and wraps up on Sunday 3 March 2024 in Cape Town at the Grand Arena, GrandWest. For more information on the Jimmy Carr tour, click here.

Tickets for both tours go on sale this Friday, 1 Dec at 9am from www.ticketmaster.co.za.

*Important Note: Fans are strongly advised against purchasing tickets from Viagogo. These tickets are unlawfully resold by deceitful sellers for multiple times the face value and are not legitimate tickets. Should you purchase these tickets you will be denied entry into the venue and you will not be entitled to a refund.
Isuzu Motors South Africa has announced the handover of three new Isuzu D-Max bakkies to humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers.

Isuzu corporate and public affairs department executive, Lebogang Makoloi hands over three ISUZU D-Max a bakkies to Gift of the Givers foundation spokesperson and project coordinator, Ali Sabla | Image supplied

"The handover is a continuation of a partnership started in 2019 where a total of three Isuzu D-Max bakkies and three Isuzu trucks. The partnership has since seen these vehicles help Gift of the Givers with much needed logistical support in carrying out its humanitarian work and disaster relief efforts across the country, often navigating difficult terrain to reach those communities facing adversity," Isuzu noted in a press statement.

The bakkies handed over in 2019 is currently in use today, providing water to drought-stricken areas such as Makhanda, Graaff Reinet, Somerset East, Alice and Fort Beaufort, transporting an average of 250,000 litres of water per month.

At Isuzu Motors South Africa we care about the communities within which we operate. As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to taking action and boldly doing more to make a positive impact in uplifting vulnerable communities.

Our collaboration with Gift of the Givers reflects the core team values of our organisation and has significantly expanded our ability to rapidly respond to our communities when they need it most. We pride ourselves in being a company that builds reliable vehicles that bring hope to our communities, says Isuzu Motors South Africa, senior vice president: human capital and corporate affairs, Mongezi Hermans.

The partnership has provided Gift of the Givers with fundamental support needed to further extend its disaster relief efforts to provinces that have suffered from devastating floods and drought which include Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

As we receive these three Isuzu D-Max bakkies today, we are extremely motivated to do more. These vehicles are lifelines which serve as a critical logistic tool, especially with mobilising our teams to reach communities situated in challenging terrains. Transport forms a big part of what we do as we are often the first point of contact to provide disaster relief to those in need, making our partnership with Isuzu invaluable, says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder: Gift of the Givers.

Isuzu had previously made available three D-Max bakkies and three trucks, for Gift of the Givers to support communities in distress.
ArcelorMittal South Africa has announced the closure of its operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging, along with ArcelorMittal Rail and Structural. This decision is expected to have a profound impact on multiple fronts, including the 3,500 employees likely to be affected, the surrounding communities, suppliers, contractors, and the broader metals and engineering sector.

A steel blast furnace. Source: Foresaken Films/Unsplash

Downstream industries heavily rely on the long products produced by these plants. The transition to alternative sources will not be immediate. Even if these products can be imported, it would result in the export of jobs that are desperately needed in South Africa. Furthermore, the country's logistics challenges raise fundamental questions about whether the port and rail infrastructure can deliver products to end manufacturers.

The closure comes in the wake of a slow economy, a challenging trading environment, high transport, logistics and energy costs, and logistic failures. The introduction of a preferential pricing system for scrap, a 20% export duty, and a recent ban on scrap exports have all contributed to the current state of affairs. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition's (DTIC) narrow focus on creating an enabling environment conducive to growth, stability, and job security has also been criticised.

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has repeatedly warned that the decisions relating to the scrap metal policy and its industrial policy consequences will yield casualties. The unfolding situation at ArcelorMittal seems to confirm these warnings.

Lacks the capacity

SEIFSA, representing the most significant voice of both the upstream and downstream value chains in the metals and engineering industry, is urging that these and related industrial policy matters be escalated to the Economic Cluster of Ministries. The DTIC seemingly lacks the capacity and understanding of the broader implications of these developments.

The situation is now critical, and Seifsa is urging the President and key Ministers in the Economic Cluster to treat it as such. Failure to do so could result in a socio-economic catastrophe of gigantic proportions in the metals and engineering industry. This would reverberate throughout the economy and the continent, impacting the auto, motor, construction, and mining sub-sectors of the economy and all who work in them.

The reconstruction and recovery of the South African economy, and more specifically the metals and engineering industry, must be considered in the wider context of reindustrialising critical sectors. This includes addressing the challenges facing the economy from energy and logistics to water infrastructure and crime.
In early 2024, Grindrod Bank, acquired by African Bank for R1.5bn in 2022, is set to introduce a new transactional business account. This initiative aligns with its strategy to enhance outreach and attract clients within the lower echelons of the business-banking sector.

Source: Supplied.

The upcoming transactional account not only enhances the value proposition for Grindrod Bank's current business clients but also aligns with its overarching objective to introduce a business-banking solution tailored for owner-operated small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the long run.

Following the announcement by its parent company, African Bank, of the R3.26bn acquisition of Sasfin Bank's Commercial Equipment Finance (CEF) and Commercial Property Finance (CPF) units in October, Grindrod Bank is poised to incorporate approximately R3.2bn in assets, bolstering its existing book, which stands at about R12bn.

With the expanded balance sheet of African Bank, Grindrod Bank is now positioned to pursue more substantial commercial and industrial property deals, surpassing the traditional scope of transactions ranging from R100m to R150m, which have historically constituted its primary focus.

David Polkinghorne, the group executive responsible for Grindrod Bank said the bank was looking at deals between R300m and R400m.

"Were even looking at a R1bn transaction," he said.

Grindrod Bank is also looking at writing cheques ranging from R50m to R100m.

The banks priority involves enhancing its physical presence in business banking across new geographies, including Mbombela (Nelspruit), Bloemfontein, Howick, Pietermaritzburg, Stellenbosch, Paarl, and selected areas in the Eastern Cape.

Since its acquisition of Grindrod Bank and Ubank assets, liabilities and operations, African Bank is now servicing 4 million active customers across its platforms, a massive 158% increase from its previous fiscal year.

Its net advances portfolio surged by 41%, reaching R32bn (FY22: R22.6bn), wherein secured business banking loans constituted more than a third of the group's overall loan portfolio.
South African asset manager Stanlib on Thursday, 30 November, launched an energy fund which aims to attract $1bn by the end of 2028 to finance greener energy projects across the African continent.

The launch of the Khanyisa Energy Transition Fund comes amid a global move towards more environmentally-friendly energy options.

The COP28 summit opened on Thursday with a plea to countries and fossil-fuel companies to work together to meet global climate goals.

"The need and urgency for mobilising capital into some of these (climate) commitments is greater today," said Johan Marnewick, Stanlib's head of credit alternatives and portfolio manager.

South Africa has secured $676m in grants from rich nations for a transition to green energy, in addition to the $8.5bn pledged by developed nations at Cop26, a figure which has since increased.

A government official said in October that South Africa could get more grants during COP28 climate talks.

The fund, which aims to fulfil four of the 17 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, is not limited to renewable energy components.

Khanyisa will also focus on energy-transition assets such as green hydrogen infrastructure, investments into gas as a transition fuel and critical minerals, Stanlib said.

The Khanyisa initiative will fill the gap of government in kickstarting "long needed backlog infrastructure", Asief Mohamed, chief investment officer at Aeon Investment Management, said.

Khanyisa - the word for "illuminate" in the isiZulu language - has received an initial seed investment of R3bn ($159.47m) in assets from Standard Bank and insurer Liberty Holdings, the parent company of Stanlib.

"The energy transition is at a critical junction on the continent... We have over 561m sub-Saharan Africans that have no access to electricity," said Asanda Tsotsi, Standard Bank's head of project and export finance.
The South African judiciary continues to deal with an onerous workload, and diversity, and transformation challenges against a backdrop of continuous evolution in legal practice.

On a well-attended LexisNexis webinar, these issues were discussed at length with Justice Eduard Derek Wille, whose tenure as an Acting Judge of the High Court of South Africa (Cape of Good Hope Provincial Division) has equipped him with invaluable perspectives on the state of justice in the country. His reflections, grounded in years of judicial experience, provided a useful roadmap for understanding the complexities of legal practice in South Africa, as well as the qualities essential for those who don the robe and take on the mantle of judge.

Wille says the judiciary, marked by its diversity and complexity, requires judges to be adept across a broad spectrum of legal disciplines there remains a lack of specialisation within the high courts: One day might involve delving into matrimonial disputes, the next navigating the intricacies of criminal law, and yet another adjudicating commercial or patent matters.

This vast array of responsibilities, Justice Wille says, is often underestimated, with the public unaware of the breadth and depth of issues that high court judges grapple with daily. Navigating the court environment, particularly interactions with advocates, adds another layer of complexity to a judges role. Justice Wille spoke about the relationship between the bench and practising advocates suggesting a need for a balance that reduces intimidation while preserving the courts dignity. He also advocated for a demystification of judicial roles, aiming to bridge the gap between judges and litigants, fostering a more inclusive and understandable legal process.

The workload that currently burdens judges in South Africa is substantial, and he pointed out a dire need for more judicial appointments: The sheer volume of cases and the intensity of the required legal analysis creates a scenario where judges are stretched thin, potentially impacting the quality and timeliness of justice that is delivered.

Justice Wille also touched on the art of judgment writing. While experience does bring a certain ease to crafting judgments, he noted that each cases unique nature ensures that the task remains challenging and demanding. He stressed the importance of immediate action in summarising cases and drafting judgments, underscoring the value of diligence and promptness in maintaining the judicial systems integrity.

In that respect, he said, technology has become vital in the job. I am completely computer literate. So, I do all my own typing. Otherwise, I use dictation tools. You can always revise but at least you know exactly what was argued; the finer points, the nuances, and you then have a basis for your judgment at the end of the day.

Addressing the question of whether the South African judiciary broadly keeping pace with technological advancements, Wille said many judges still take notes with pen and paper in the bench book. I have an iPad and pencil, and I use various applications to change what I write into words so that I can produce a judgment. But I think we do need to move forward.

Legal research, says Wille, is also an area that needs to transform: One cannot do all your research in your chambers, so it must be done online. In that respect, he suggested that it might be a future option to partner with the private sector to embrace technology: If a major law firm comes to court on a big civil matter, can you imagine the technology it has at its disposal compared to the technology that a judge has? Private sector companies, after all, are on the cutting edge of technology. Will explained that, while protocols need to be put in place to balance independence and the advantage provided by tech, he is confident that these partnerships could help: It will really help a lot in streamlining the process. And at the end of the day, we are your servants, we need to provide a service. Thats what judges and public servants are here for.

The webinar also touched on artificial intelligence but with this caveat from Justice Wille. I think artificial intelligence has its place but at the end of the day, there must be that human touch of experience, and knowledge and insight into jurisprudence.

Reflecting on the transformation within the judiciary, Justice Wille expressed support for a more diverse bench and the consideration of candidates from various backgrounds, including academia. He encouraged those aspiring to join the judiciary to approach the role with passion and humility, ready to face the challenges and embrace the opportunities of this noble profession.

About LexisNexis Legal & Professional

LexisNexis Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,300 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
The Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA) introduced significant changes to the Employment Equity Act (EEA), including the removal of the annual turnover threshold for designated employers and the empowerment of the Minister of Employment and Labour to set numerical employment equity targets for each national economic sector.

Image source: Christina Morillo from Pexels

Recap

The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA) applies to all employers and employees in South Africa. The purpose of the EEA is twofold: to promote equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination; and to provide for the implementation of affirmative action measures.

Affirmative action measures are designed to ensure that suitably qualified people from designated groups (defined by the EEA as black people, women and people with disabilities) have equal employment opportunities and are equitably represented in all occupational levels of a designated employers workforce.

Whilst the provisions dealing with the elimination of unfair discrimination apply to all employers, the provisions relating to affirmative action only apply to designated employers.

Currently, the definition of designated employer includes employers who:

employ 50 or more employees; or



employ fewer than 50 employees but have a total annual turnover equal to or above the threshold amount listed in schedule 4 of the EEA (the annual turnover threshold ranges from R2m  R25m, dependent on the industry).

Amongst other obligations (such as consulting with employees and conducting a workplace analysis), a designated employer must prepare and implement an employment equity plan that will achieve reasonable progress towards employment equity in that employers workforce. An employment equity plan is a document that outlines the steps an employer will take to achieve employment equity in the workplace. It must include specific goals and objectives, as well as measures to address any disparities in the employer's workforce. Designated employers are required to report to the Department of Labour annually on their progress in terms of their employment equity plan.

Failure to comply with the EEA, including the obligations of a designated employer, may attract fines ranging from the greater of R1.5m or 2% of the employers turnover, to the greater of R2.7m or 10% of the employers turnover, depending on whether there have been previous contraventions.

Employment Equity Amendment Act

On 14 April 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Employment Equity Amendment Act 4 of 2022 (EEAA). Although the amendments were expected to become operational in September 2023, the President has yet to proclaim the effective date of the EEAA.

Some of the key amendments brought about by the EEAA are:

Amended definition of Designated Employer. The annual turnover threshold will fall away when the amendments become operational, meaning that the new definition excludes employers who employ less than 50 employees, irrespective of annual turnover.



The Minister of Employment and Labour (Minister) is empowered to identify and set numerical employment equity targets for each national economic sector, after consultation with the affected sectors. Designated employers are currently permitted to set their own targets in their employment equity plans. However, once the amendments become operational, designated employers must align the numerical targets in their employment equity plans with the applicable sectoral targets set by the Minister. Designated employers are required to comply with the targets and assess and report against them.

Employers who wish to contract with the State require a compliance certificate (obtained from the Department of Labour), confirming compliance with, inter alia, the EEA.

Whilst the amended definition of Designated Employer is likely welcome news for smaller employers, the pricklier amendment relates to the ability of the Minister to set targets, which Designated Employers must use when preparing their employment equity plans.

Draft employment equity regulations 2023

The draft employment equity regulations outlining sector and sub-sector targets were published for comment on 12 May 2023, and tabulate the proposed 5-year sector targets for the various economic sectors in terms of population groups and gender, for the four upper occupational levels (top management, senior management, professionally qualified, skilled employees), and for employees with disabilities. The numerical goals set by the designated employer in its employment equity plan must comply with any applicable sectoral target set by the Minister.

On Wednesday 15 November 2023, the Minister reportedly briefed the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour and advised that the revised draft employment equity regulations under the EEAA would be released for a second round of public comments. Interested parties are again expected to have at least 30 days to comment on the draft regulations.

Looking ahead

There is undeniably a need to see meaningful, impactful and sustained transformation at all levels of society. Affirmative action obligations aside, there is a lot that employers can and should be doing to eliminate unfair discrimination and ensure sustained representation and advancement of underrepresented groups at every level of an employers workforce  simply put, its good for business and its the right thing to do.

However, viewed in isolation and in the absence of a meaningful D&I transformation strategy, affirmative action measures may present as additional bureaucratic red tape through which larger employers need to navigate, failing which they may be slapped with hefty penalties.

The advent of the EEAA caused a fair amount of panic; however, its not all brimstone and fire for employers with 50+ employees. Employers are anxious that failure to meet the targets set by the Minister may result in hefty penalties and the inability to contract with the State.

In an assessment of compliance with the EEA, a designated employer may raise any reasonable ground to justify its failure to comply. The hefty fines for non-compliance are also not new; these predate the 2023 amendments and should not be cause for alarm. In practice, the Department of Labour will typically conduct an assessment and issue a compliance order as a first step.

Employers who are either over the 50-employee headcount mark or who are teetering close to it should await the release of the draft regulations for a second round of public comments and participate meaningfully in the process.

Employers may also consider alternative creative solutions to keep their headcount below 50, where justified by the underlying operational requirements. Examples include restructuring business operations where viable or utilising alternative staffing solutions (temporary employment services, outsourced service providers, etc.).

Until the effective date of the EEAA is proclaimed, the status quo remains intact, and designated employers (as per the old definition) must comply with their current obligations under the EEA.
The Pietermaritzburg Regional Court this week sentenced Mdumiseni Khetha Zuma to an effective 12 years imprisonment for instigating the 2021 July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal.

Image source: Kindel Media from Pexels

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the 36-year-olds conviction comes after contravening Sections 17 and 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act, where he incited people to gather and commit public violence.

This was done by making an inciteful video, pertaining to the Brookside Mall, and distributing it on the WhatsApp platform. The charges relate to the incidents of looting and public violence, which occurred in July 2021 in parts of the country, especially KwaZulu-Natal.

This, according to the NPA, resulted in the Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg being looted and burnt to the ground.

According to the statement, Senior State Advocate Yuri Gangai led the evidence of video footage, audio clips and the testimony of a guard who worked at the mall.

Gangai further led the evidence of two experts who translated the audio clips.

In aggravation of sentence, Gangai led the testimony of the manager of the mall, at the time it was burned, said the NPA.

The manager told the court that the estimated damage caused by the looting and fire was approximately R500m.

He further stated that the mall serviced five different communities, as well as about 5,000 people who collected their SASSA [South African Social Security Agency] grants there.

They have all been adversely affected by the burning down of the mall, the NPA said.

Zuma was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for count one, two years of which are suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of the same offences during the period of suspension.

He was also sentenced to six years in prison, of which two years are to run concurrently with count one.

This results in the effective sentence of 12 years direct imprisonment, the NPA explained.

While the NPA in KwaZulu-Natal has finalised several cases in respect of the July 2021 unrest, the agency said this was the first conviction where an individual has been convicted and subsequently sentenced for inciting the unrest.

We hope that this sentence serves as a deterrent to others who intend on engaging in similar offences. We commend the working relationship between the DPCI [Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation] KZN and the prosecution, the NPA said.
Climate change is the biggest threat to human health in Africa and the rest of the world, the head of the continent's public health agency said.

A view shows a part of Sidi El Barrak dam at low water levels, in Nafza, west of the capital Tunis, Tunisia, 7 January 2023. Reuters/Jihed Abidellaoui

Mitigating that risk was top of his agenda, Jean Kaseya, the director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told Reuters as he headed to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, which begins on Thursday.

The measures needed, Kaseya said, would include funding to help countries in Africa trying to contain outbreaks of disease.

In an online interview, he said the threat of "a climate change-related disease becoming a pandemic and coming from Africa" was what kept him awake at night.

Since the start of this year, Kaseya said Africa has tackled 158 disease outbreaks.

"Each outbreak, if not well managed, can become a pandemic," he said.

This year's climate talks for the first time will include a health day on 3 December, which Kaseya and global health figures from around the world are expected to use to raise awareness of the link between climate change and health.

Scientists have linked a surge in diseases, including dengue and cholera, to rising global temperatures, which have broken records this year.

Extreme weather events such as floods can also help diseases spread and challenge response efforts. Deforestation, a contributor to climate change, also pushes humans into closer contact with disease-carrying animals, like bats.

The lessons of Covid

Speaking on the sidelines of the international conference on public health in Africa, taking place in Lusaka, Zambia, until Thursday, Kaseya said that the mistakes of Covid-19 must not be repeated, particularly concerning equal access to vaccines and treatments.

"No-one will be safe if all of us are not safe," he said.

As a result, he said the CDC was encouraging regional vaccine manufacturing initiatives as well as a pooled procurement mechanism for African countries to lower prices.

In addition, he said he expects the African Medicines Agency, the first continent-wide regulatory body, will be operational by 2024.

For outbreaks that spread regionally, the CDC is drawing up procedures to declare "public health emergencies of continental concern", echoing the World Health Organization's (WHO) terminology used to flag the most significant health threats internationally.

Last year, leading African scientists and public health experts criticised the WHO's decision to only give mpox its highest level of alert after the disease spread beyond Africa, where it had been a problem for years.
President approves resignation of broadcasting watchdog chief ahead of National Assembly's impeachment vote

By Nam Hyun-woo

Tension is rising between the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as the main opposition partys attempt to impeach a controversial broadcasting watchdog chief forced him to resign, while the president vetoed a DPK-pushed labor bill.

The presidential office said, Friday, Yoon approved the resignation of Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Lee Dong-kwan, hours before his impeachment vote at the National Assembly takes place. Lee reportedly expressed his intention to step down, Thursday.

The DPK with 168 lawmakers at the 300-strong Assembly has been accusing Lee of unfair personnel decisions and appointments aimed at increasing government influence over broadcasters, and planned to pass an impeachment motion during a plenary meeting on Friday by using its majority seats.

If the impeachment motion is passed at the Assembly, Lee would be suspended from his position for months until the Constitutional Court decides whether to uphold it. As the KCC has been run with only two  Lee and another member  out of a required five seats, his suspension would have virtually grounded the commissions operations to a halt.

The rival parties have been butting heads over the broadcasting watchdog chief in order to gain an advantage before the general elections in April next year, given the huge influence that broadcasters have over voters.

The DPK has been claiming that Lee seeks to dictate broadcasting with his right-leaning views, but the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been arguing that the KCC chairman is tasked with normalizing broadcasting, and the impeachment attempt is the main opposition partys attempt to use left-leaning TV programs for the general elections.

The DPK said Lees resignation is a mean trick to avoid impeachment.

Accepting the KCC chairmans resignation is a blatant impediment to the Assemblys constitutional process, DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said during a Supreme Council meeting, Friday.

PPP floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok said at a party meeting, also on Friday, a majority decision that does not adhere to the rule of law is nothing but an act of violence, and the DPKs disregard for the rule of law cannot prevail over the countrys rule of law.

While tussling over the broadcasting watchdog chief, Yoon approved the Cabinet's motion asking the president to use his right to request the Assembly to reconsider a controversial pro-labor bill, better known as the yellow envelope bill.

During a Cabinet meeting, Friday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the bill grants special privileges only to labor unions by exempting them from the principle of compensation for damages, and it will encourage illegal strikes by making it difficult for businesses to hold unions accountable for losses incurred due to unlawful strikes.

When the president requests the Assembly to reconsider a bill, it requires the attendance of more than half of all registered lawmakers and approval by two-thirds of attending legislators for the act to be passed again, thereby making it more difficult to get the green light. Due to this, demanding a reconsideration is widely considered as a de facto veto by the president.

It is the third case of Yoon vetoing a bill that was passed by the Assembly. In April, he vetoed a revision of the Grain Management Act and then rejected the Assembly's approval of the Nursing Act in May.

The DPK stepped up its accusation of Yoon irresponsibly handling state affairs.

"There is a high level of national consensus and a pressing need for the bill," DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung said. "Exercising the veto power for strategic reasons is not the kind of responsible stance expected from the government that is entrusted with managing state affairs."

As tension mounts between the Yoon administration and the main opposition party, the process of approving the 657 trillion won ($504 billion) state budget will also slow down. The deadline for the budget is Dec. 2 every year, and the Assembly failed to meet the deadline for the 2022 and 2023 state budgets.

Along with the yellow envelope bill, Yoon also vetoed three revisions of broadcasting laws aimed at expanding the board members of public broadcasting stations and changing their governing structures. The DPK, which unilaterally passed the revisions, believe they will help improve the independence of broadcasters, while the government believes they will make broadcast networks more vulnerable to political influence.
Twenty-six companies have concluded the first ever pilot of the four-day week in a developing country - and the first in Africa - which has produced some surprisingly successful results.

Image source: Anastasiia Yanishevska  123RF.com

Launched in March 2023, the trial run by 4 Day Week Global, in partnership with 4 Day Week South Africa NPC and researchers at Boston College and Stellenbosch Business School, was initially met with skepticism.

However, the research findings of the pilot, released today, reveal that companies rated their experience an impressive 8 out of 10, with 92% definitely intending to continue the four-day week or considering it. Employees value their time off so much that 51% say they would need a 21 - 50% pay increase to revert to a 5 day week at their next job. Moreover, 13% report that no amount of money would induce them to return to the five-day formula.

Benefits and improvements

Companies reported a range of business benefits from revenue increases, to improved productivity, positive impacts on recruitment, decreased resignations and decreases in absenteeism.

Employees noted improvements in their overall well-being including a reduction in stress, burnout, fatigue, poor sleep and anxiety, a positive boost in mental health and work-family balance, and an increase in exercise frequency. Self-rated productivity emerged as the most significant change with nearly half of employees reporting an increase in productivity during the trial.

Pilot participants underwent significant review in the way they operated, implementing more structured focus periods throughout the day, reducing meeting duration and frequency, increasing the use of technology and automation, and improving communication, delegation, and employee autonomy.

Companies were innovative in their approach to work-time reduction, working with employees to agree on the day or times that best suited their individual needs while ensuring alignment with business requirements. Although still short of the target of 8 hours a week, 64% of participants reported a reduction in work time, and 57% reported a decrease in the number of days worked each week.

SA's unique challenges

Unique in the South African context are the benefits of more time off in a country where intergenerational caring responsibilities are high, administrative responsibilities such as renewing driving licenses demand in-person attendance, poor public transport and traffic congestion present daily challenges, and a large number of people engage in side hustles and embryonic entrepreneurial pursuits.

The South African findings differ in some regards from those of pilots in the developed world. No change was observed in time spent by participants volunteering to help the environment. There was little change in domestic and international travels and little to no change in childcare costs.

Surprising results

Commenting on the unexpected success of the experiment in South Africa, Karen Lowe, 4 Day Week South Africa Global Head of Partnerships said: We seized our Moonshot Moment to be the first African country to trial the four-day week, met initially with much skepticism and frequent debate about its viability in South Africa. Our journey reveals success despite numerous challenges facing South African employers and employees.

On the significance of the trial for South Africa, local research lead Professor Mark Smith of Stellenbosch Business School remarked, The four-day week presents the rare combination of benefits for both employees and employers by enhancing well-being, productivity, and work organisation. It is exciting to see South African results showing similar benefits to those we observe around the world while also having unique aspects that leave us enthusiastic about its potential for future participants and the wider economy.

Lead researcher, Professor Juliet Schor of Boston College, highlighted an important outcome, stating We were encouraged that participants did not experience an increase in the intensity of work. This suggests that the work re-organisation strategy succeeded, and performance was not achieved via speedup, which is neither sustainable nor desirable.

Participant feedback

Reflecting on the trial experience, pilot participant Annerike Meiring, Human Resource Officer at Elnatan reported that "Elnatan has overall achieved success with the four-day week and will continue. Our employees are more rested, productivity has increased, and our customers have not experienced any difference in our quality of service. The pilot has taught us how to be more agile and efficient. We are using those learnings to rethink and optimise for the future."

Kealeboga Kaelo, CEO of Precision Vehicle and Asset Tracking shared, When we signed up for the six-month pilot, we believed that a four-day week was the future of work worth exploring. We are happy to announce that post the pilot, this has become our new normal, our current way of work. We have adopted the four-day week on a permanent basis. Our staff unanimously agreed that the four-day week has significantly benefited them at individual levels since they have an extra day to attend to personal affairs. Some employees mentioned that being given an extra day to rest during the week helped them be more productive the following day.
When German singer-songwriter Jann Klose was on tour in South Africa earlier this year, Tamara Dey sang with him at a performance and later she approached Klose about releasing a new version of You & I for her new EP La Musica, which is out now. The result is now on the charts across South Africa.

Image supplied

Klose and Dey always connected on a friendship level and arent afraid to be honest with each other about what they want to do creatively. Klose will perform alongside Dey when he returns to South Africa in April 2023.

The back story is even more amazing...

Seven years ago at a Music Exchange/BMI song camp in Cape Town with Brandon Bakshi and John Fishlock, You & I was conceived and written by BMI songwriters

The writing session involved Klose, Dey and Jonathan Ziyon Hamilton (Liquideep). The track initially was released on Klose's 2018 album In Tandem and was then produced by RJ Benjamin featuring South African star players Leagan Starchild Breda, Ezra Erasmus, Sakhile Nkosi, Tlale Makhene, Larah Eksteen and Gerrit Koorsen. The album was recorded at the Academy of Sound Engineering in Johannesburg.

I recently chatted with Klose.

What is your purpose?

To live a creative life.

What does music mean to you?

Its a way of expressing myself freely.

My music is about

Many things, but I write about overcoming obstacles a lot!

What is your motto?

Those who rush lose time.

Fame is about

Filling a void.

Retirement will happen when

I have nothing more to say.

I don't do

Shellfish.

I would love to co-write with

Someone lesser known, someone with a new perspective on the world and life.

Where do you go for inspiration to create?

Inside.

Image supplied

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

The writing processes.

The song you must do during every show?

Song to the Siren

Any funny moments on stage?

Bleeding finger, blood on fretboard of my Martin Guitar.

My heroes are

Prince, David Bowie, Margaret Singana and my mother.

My style icon is

George Michael.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

Anyone that seeks peace rather than conflict.

What is your most treasured possession?

My health.

It's your round; what are you drinking?

Bourbon.

Dream gig to do?

Blue Note Tokyo.

What makes you stand out?

I never give up.

Any nicknames?

Nope.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

Never thought about anything else .

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Driven, creative, joyous, hopeful, fit.

5 must have songs on your Spotify playlist

I Feel It Coming - The Weeknd

Soul Food To Go - Manhattan Transfer

Free - Prince

Constant Craving - k.d. lang

Phantom Limb - The Shins

Greatest movie ever made?

Some Like It Hot

What book are you reading?

Lenya: A Life by Donald Spoto.

Image supplied

What song changed your life?

Black Dog by Led Zeppelin.

Who do you love?

Myself.

What is your favorite word?

The beginning.

Top of your bucket list?

Own a home in Cape Town.

Your greatest achievement?

Staying the course.

What do you complain about most often?

Politicians.

What is your biggest fear?

Illness.

Happiness is

Not a given.

On stage, I tend to

Sing!

What has been your favorite journey so far?

Walking to the afterparty.

Do you do charity work, and if you do  what do you do?

Most recently, The Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Wishes and dreams?

Continue to travel the world with music.
Britske listy Interview 637. Czech Republic brutally distorts the human rights situation in Gaza

1. 12. 2023

cas cteni 17 minut





Jan Culik talks to Andrew Stroehlein, media director of Human Rights Watch. Andrew Stroehlein visited Prague recently and tried to persuade a number of Czech journalists to publish objective information about the situation in Gaza. War crimes must be punished, whether they have been committed by Hamas or by Israel. Political loyalty, based on historical aspects of the Czech Republic's relationship with Israel cannot interfere in this.

The interview is conducted in English.

Here is a full transcript:







Jan Culik: Brutal killings in Gaza. The alleged war between Hamas and Israel. And the absolute ideological bias of the Czech media. That's what we'll be talking about in today's Britske listy Interview. In it, we have, it's a great honour for us, the media director of Human Rights Watch, Andrew Stroehlein, who has been in Prague in recent days talking to journalists there, trying to persuade them not to be stupid and to write objectively. I don't know if he succeeded. One article was published by Seznam Zpravy, one interview, which reproduces quite faithfully the warning that Andrew Stroehlein brought to the Czech Republic. Already underneath it there are ideological and racist attacks. We will be speaking in English in today's Britske listy Interview, although Andrew Stroehlein can speak Czech and follows Czech affairs.

Andrew Stroehlein, you were in Prague at the beginning of the week and talked to journalists. What happened?

Andrew Stroehlein: Yes. Well, I talked to several journalists and commentators and observers, let's say, and you know, I think there is in terms of the questions I got in interviews and whatnot, you know, they were fair questions and challenging questions and, you know, completely normal. Same questions that I get on these subjects everywhere. But , talking to people, they explain, there's there's a recognition that the Czech Republic is an outlier in Europe and globally on this particular issue for many reasons and this plays a a role in the way government policy has emerged in the Czech Republic and how the Czech Government has been, extremely one sided in its condemnation of atrocities in Gaza.

Jan Culik: Well, why do you think this is? In the interview In Seznam Zpravy you actually said that there are certain historical reasons for this. Can you actually outline these things? What do you think?

Andrew Stroehlein: I think we could write books about this to be honest. Just as a a quick shorthand, you could go back to a kind of an intellectual political tradition that the, the First Republic of Czechoslovakia comes out of that really included a kind of anti anti-Semitism of Masaryk and and others. And we saw that in things like Hilsnerova afera and other incidents and a proud tradition that way. And then in 1948 we saw strong support from Czechoslovakia for the new state of Israel, including training and arms. Then we had kind of the flip side of that, pushed by the communist regime for the other side for the Palestinian side politically. And then after the the return of democracy, we saw an attitude that to support Palestinian aspirations that was somehow, you know, seen as that's what the Communists did. So that's what we don't want to do. But that's all kind of politics and the political history of it and maybe why and probably 100 other reasons as well. That Prague finds itself where it finds itself.

From the human rights standpoint, where where we are, it shouldn't really matter what political side you're on when it comes to things like war crimes, when one side commits war crimes, there are war crimes. When the other side commits war crimes, they are war crimes. And war crimes suddenly don't become acceptable just because your friends or your allies are committing them. And we need to see, a stronger voice against atrocities generally, war crimes specifically. And a more even handed approach, because this is, the basis of of international humanitarian law that, we apply the same rules and the same laws of war to all sides.

Jan Culik: Well, what you have described is a condemnation of the Czech attitude. An ideological attitude of journalists and politicians therefore and as you rightly pointed out, Czech Republic was an absolute outlier in voting totally differently from everybody else in the United Nations, and there was even one mad Czech politician who basically said that the Czech Republic should leave the United Nations. But the point is that they don't seem to be really following the events day by day, what is actually happening in Gaza and they're just presenting this ideological view. I was quite interested in some of the racist comments under the article in Seznam zpravy, one reader basically said, well, really, the onus is on them. Why don't they basically drive Hamas out? I thought. Well, I know it's 35 years, but I mean Czechs with the experience of Communism, they could actually understand that when you have an authoritarian regime, it's not really your responsibility to drive it out. So this is one thing, but would you, Andrew, actually point out what are the problems, the war crimes, the Israeli war crimes that the Czechs are ignoring.

Andrew Stroehlein: Sure. Well, I mean, just just to take the one side first, I mean the the Czechs, the Czech Government and and other governments around Europe and elsewhere were very quick and right to condemn the Hamas and Hamas led atrocities of October 7th. these were brutal war crimes that they committed, including shooting into crowds and taking hostages, those are all war crimes without question. And I think, the international community generally was very quick and and and proper to condemn those. When it came to the response from Israel, there's a number of war crimes we could point to, but I think the one that is most obvious and very clear and ongoing has been the blockade. So you're not allowed in international humanitarian law, the laws of war, you're not allowed to collectively punish a population for the attacks of the other side. So there are 2.2 million people in Gaza, about half of them are children, and there's no way you can tell me that all 2.2 million people and half children are responsible for the attacks of October 7th. They're just not. And so collective punishment of all of them, like cutting electricity, cutting water, or extremely restricting these things and food aid and so on, that's collective punishment. And that is, you know, a war crime.

Jan Culik: If you follow what's going on and when they, during the pause in fighting, they started releasing some people from Israeli prisons as well and to my horror they were mostly children although the media and the Czech Republic kind of ignores this and then I've actually realised from reports by Amnesty International and others thats Israel keeps in prison using some kind of British law from decades ago, incarcerating children 14 year old. For an indefinite period, for crimes that they may or may not have committed, I mean like throwing stones at soldiers, or maybe just being there somewhere where somebody threw stones and you were then arrested indefinitely. I'm really absolutely fascinated that this is not reported.

One other thing, Channel 4 News have been brilliant as some of the other British media they happened to be in the West Bank and they actually noticed and recorded, there was some kind of Palestinian demonstration about 100 meters from some of Israeli soldiers. These soldiers shot into the air, the demonstration, dispersed, and there was a disabled person, mentally disabled person, somebody, a young boy whom everybody loved in the village, a Palestinian and he was left behind. And he kind of picked up a stone and threw it towards the soldiers. It was about 100 meters away, so he couldn't hit them. He then picked up another stone and third stone. And when he threw the third stone, the the Israelis soldiers shot him, shot him dead. Right. This is recorded on the Channel 4 video. The report is about 7 minutes. Only on Twitter, it has been watched by 5 million people. I translated it for Britske listy, it had about 1000 views. Nobody cares in the Czech Republic. Can you explain this?

Andrew Stroehlein: We talked a little bit about the history and the political history of it, but I wonder really how much interest there is among the public for this issue generally, right? I mean, it's not like, I mean, one person I was speaking with was explaining it to me in Prague that it's not like the the war in Ukraine where it's near and it feels, you know, fresh and threatening. And, you know, this is far away and people don't maybe carequite as much combined with the media bias and the political bias, there's just not an enormous amount of public interest. You know, when there's protests in the street, they're very small in the Czech Republic, if at all and you know, they may even be outnumbered by pro Israeli counter protesters. So it's not, it's not like, what you see in parts of the West.

Jan Culik: Well, this was again kind of distorted news. 800,000 maybe people attending a demonstration in London. So Czech media would say and the Czech social networks, oh, they are all Muslims. Obviously Britain has been overridden by it. It's lost. Britain is lost to us, to the West, yes.

Andrew Stroehlein: This is how the narrative plays out in the Czech Republic. I mean, and not just the Czech Republic, but you know, parts of East Central Europe, let's say. This is how the narrative often plays out. It plays right into the kind of Islamophobia and the anti Muslim attitudes that have emerged in recent years and yeah, you get this narrative of let's see, that's what we don't want. This is why we don't want these people here and so it's this mixing of Islamophobia and these kind of hatreds for foreigners, particularly Arabs. Particularly Muslims. And it is just a completely different approach from a country that's, let's face it, still pretty monocultural and doesn't have the kind of diversity that might bring some deeper understanding, nuance and balance to events.

Jan Culik: I am conducting this interview badly because I should be criticizing you and I'm actually maybe more upset by this than you, but nevertheless, I will still ask a question which some people might consider biased. It's I don't know whether it's that the people are not that interested. I would say that they are quite passionate kind of debates on the social media about it in Czech as well. But what seems to be the problem is that they seem to lack compassion. They seem to kind of totally ignore the human misery that is caused in any family where they would actually kill your teenager. And then there are 5000 cases and I'm just wondering whether this is racism, but of course this is Islamophobia, which was introduced by President Zeman, it has just basically caused that the Czech Republic is a victim of a totally constructed virtual reality discourse. But let's be critical. Some of the people under that article in Seznam are saying, oh, of course, Human Rights, Watch is totally biased, it's financed from Qatar. Is that true?

Andrew Stroehlein: No. People try to smear our organization all the time with this stuff, and it's simply not true. We never accept any money from governments. It's just not the case.

Jan Culik: Well, on Seznam Zpravy is says at the beginning, that article says, well, Human Rights Watch is well known for being anti-Israeli. Is that true?

Andrew Stroehlein: Again, there are people who try to smear us that way. There are supporters of every single government that we criticize, who say we are anti that government. So you know if there's a government in Ruritania, they have their supporters and they say we are anti Ruritanian, we criticize Russia and supporters of Russia say that we are anti-Russian and then you know we criticize Myanmar and supporters of the Junta say that we're just anti-Myanmar. And then and then we criticize Israel for its crimes. And there are people who are supporters of the Israeli Government and say we're anti Israeli or whatever. Its just a typical thing that all governments do or supporters of governments do when they're criticized by human rights organizations.

Jan Culik: You did in the past point out that Israel is actually practicing apartheid against the Palestinians and you were not the only ones. I think Amnesty International said that as well. Could you elaborate on this briefly?

Andrew Stroehlein: Sure. Well, first of all, so everyone understands, apartheid is a crime in international law is it's not simply just referring to the specifics of what happened in South Africa and really what it is is a system of domination by one group over another. Your rights within the legal system depend on your status and if you're of one background, then you have a better set of rights or a fuller set of rights under the law than you do elsewhere. So some people for example get tried for some act of violence or even would not be tried in a case, in a court, a civilian court, a normal court. But for others, they'll be tried in military courts, where your rights are are much less. So it's an entire system of suppression, repression that, you know, we've documented. Amnesty has documented, Israeli human rights organizations have also documented like Betselem, so we're not saying anything that is out of the ordinary. It's pretty well documented. These are crimes and you know there are officials who should be held responsible for these crimes.

Jan Culik: Back to your visit to Prague the other day. So how many journalists did you speak to there and how many were even interested in speaking to you?

Andrew Stroehlein: I was only there for about a day and a half, Honza, so I was not there for a very long time, I talked to about six or seven, probably. But in terms of formal interviews, there was there was the one for Seznam zpravy and that was that's I think the only interview I'm expecting to come out. So the other ones were more like off the record, when I have these conversations with journalists, sometimes it's an interview where I'm giving, Human Rights Watchs standpoint as a spokesperson and other times, I really just want to understand what the situation is. And so I talked to journalists and commentators and others, observers.

Jan Culik: And what did they tell you that the situation is then?

Andrew Stroehlein: They explained how things are very one-sided and there's multiple reasons and you get back to the the historical political reasons. But we get back to why is the country such an outlier politically and that happens because the public is not well informed. Thats clear the media are really quite biased in one direction. And so the politics and the media, they're informing each other in terms of how they react and how they respond to things and how they define things and the narrative they use to define things. And that means that the general public is not really informed in any kind of balanced way. So we learn about the atrocities from one side and we don't learn about the atrocities from the other side or the victims of one side are humanized and are accepted as they're suffering, their suffering is accepted as real. And the suffering of the other side is dehumanized, it's not accepted as well. They are somehow lesser human beings or they somehow deserve it or they are guilty or this just happens in war and sometimes that's bad, when it's one side. But when it's the other side it's not that at all. So what you have to do in all these situations and when you start talking about the international humanitarian law and the laws of war and whatnot, you get to a kind of whatever legal level, but you really have to take it back down to a human level. These are people who are innocent and suffering. And there are people who are committing crimes against them, I don't really care if it's side A or side B, right? There are still crimes and the people who are responsible for these crimes should be brought to justice. There is an International Criminal Court case, International Criminal. Court investigation that the prosecutor has jurisdiction here, for all the crimes that have been committed on October 7th and afterwards. So all of these crimes could potentially go to the International Criminal Court and, you know, some countries in the EU, like Belgium, have supported that all of these crimes from both sides should get justice at the International Criminal Court and other fora and you know that's what we need to see all EU Member States pushing for, including the Czech Republic, we need to see justice and the Czech Republic's been, good in other places on on human rights in places like China but also on international justice, in places like Ukraine has been a very strong supporter of international justice when it comes to Russia's crimes during its invasion and occupation of Ukraine, and why can't we see that same kind of support for international justice from the Czech Republic in the crisis in Israel?

Jan Culik: Thank you very much. Andrew Stroehlein, Human Rights Watch.

Thank you for watching. Good-bye

Andrew Stroehlein: Good-bye.



-1
Ferocious opposition from establishment puts committee chief in tough spot

By Jung Min-ho

In what he called an ultimatum, Ihn Yo-han, chief of the ruling People Power Partys (PPP) innovation committee, demanded on Thursday the right to nominate its candidates for the April 10 general elections, saying he would wait for an answer by Dec. 4.

But within two hours, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, the partys chairman, turned him down. Speaking to reporters, he said it would be inappropriate to stir up controversy by bringing up the issue of who should have the nomination right. Then he added, The innovation committee has done a lot of work. I want to thank them for having tried their best to make good suggestions they could come up with.

Experts believe his answer has left the committee under Ihn with only two possible options: He could wait out the remainder of his two-month term or resign. Either option could be interpreted as a failure of the partys mission to transform itself ahead of the elections.

When it was launched on Oct. 23, the committee drew much attention and praise from both within and outside the PPP. Ihn, a naturalized Korean doctor with four generations of close ties to the country, said its 13 members including himself, mostly people with no experience in politics, symbolized changes to come.

When the committee recommended special pardons to key members of a PPP minor faction for the sake of "unity in its first proposal, the partys Supreme Council approved it in just three days.

But the efforts to improve the PPP have lost speed since it proposed that senior lawmakers not seek reelection or run in swing districts instead of the partys traditional strongholds. No progress has been made since amid ferocious opposition from the establishment.

"Perhaps the committee was doomed to fail from the beginning, ironically due to their lack of political experience," said Cho Jin-man, a politics professor at Duksung Womens University.

One of the most obvious mistakes Ihn made was issuing too many uncoordinated, personal messages to the public. This is something an experienced politician leading such a committee would not do, Cho told The Korea Times, Friday.

In doing so, Ihn was criticized for making politically inappropriate remarks about (former PPP chief) Lee Jun-seoks parents and talking about the presidents intention. As a result, he lost support from the public and once-supportive politicians.

Cho said if the committee announces its breakup on Monday as widely expected, this would result in the very opposite of the strengthened establishment it initially intended.

Those who opposed the committees way of reform will likely have a bigger say during the nomination process if it ends like this, he added.

With dwindling support from the PPP leadership and even other members of the committee, Ihn would be able to achieve little even if he chooses to remain and finish his term (until Dec. 24), said Hahm Sung-deuk, a professor political science at Kyonggi University.

According to a survey released on Friday by Gallup Korea, a pollster, the approval rating for the PPP was 33 percent. The rate increased to 37 percent in the second week of November when the reform committee was stepping up efforts to lay out proposals. But it dropped to 35 percent the following week amid a stalemate before reaching the current level.
BEIJING (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.


Britain's King Charles has warned that the world remains dreadfully far off track in key climate targets and called for meaningful change in an opening address at Cop28 in Dubai.

Charles said at the opening of the World Climate Action Summit on Friday that despite some progress, transformational action was needed as the dangers of climate change are no longer distant risks.

Advertisement

The British monarch told heads of state, heads of government and business and climate delegates at Expo City Dubai that nature was being taken into dangerous, uncharted territory by human activity, and called for nature-positive change.

Cop28 will be the first time that countries will conduct a global stocktake of progress made since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, although it is expected that it will not produce a positive result.

Advertisement

Advertisement

In his address, Charles said: I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when, already, as scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached.

Despite all the attention, there is 30% more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than there was back then, and almost 40% more methane.

Some important progress has been made, but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track as the global stocktake report demonstrates so graphically.

Advertisement

The dangers are no longer distant risks. I have seen across the Commonwealth, and beyond, countless communities which are unable to withstand repeated shocks, whose lives and livelihoods are laid waste by climate change.

Charles attended several engagements on Thursday, including meeting Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Surely, real action is required to stem the growing toll of its most vulnerable victims.

Advertisement

Under the Paris Agreement, states agreed to limit the average global temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels and aim to stop it from rising above 1.5C.

But the United Nations has warned that the planet is on course for a catastrophic 3C increase by the end of the century under current climate policies, despite efforts.

The king pointed to repeated cyclones seen in island nations, wildfires across Europe and unprecedented floods in Asia as some of many clear signs of ongoing climate change.

Advertisement

Advertisement

As I have tried to say on many occasions, unless we rapidly repair and restore natures unique economy, based on harmony and balance, which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperilled, he said.

Charles tasked world leaders to answer five key questions during the climate summit, adding that the hope of the world rests on decisions taken over the coming days.

They are how public and private organisations can be brought together to combat climate change; how to ensure money is found for developments to secure a sustainable future; how innovation can be accelerated; how long-term approaches can be found; and how an ambitious new vision can be forged for the next century.

Cop28 began on Thursday and runs until December 12th, with the UK government pledging 1.6 billion for international climate change projects throughout the summit.

Charles joined world leaders in walking to the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai (Andrew Matthews/PA)

That includes a 60 million contribution to a loss and damage fund for the worlds poorest countries worth a total of about $420 million, which was announced on Thursday.

Charles address was his first at the conference as king, having previously opened Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021 and Cop21 in Paris in 2015.

Closing his speech, Charles said: Ladies and gentlemen, in your hands, is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive.

Advertisement

I can only urge you to meet it with ambition, imagination, and a true sense of the emergency we face, and together with a commitment to the practical action upon which our shared future depends.

After all, ladies and gentlemen, in 2050 our grandchildren wont be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didnt do.

So if we act together to safeguard our precious planet, the welfare of all our people will surely follow.

We need to remember too that the indigenous worldview teaches us that we are all connected, not only as human beings but with all living things and all that sustains life.

As part of this grand and sacred system, harmony with nature must be maintained.

The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

Charles has used his trip to Dubai to promote peace in the region in several talks, having also met with the presidents of Nigeria, Guyana and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.
Nobody thought it was true when Laurence Fox referred to two people as paedophiles in a Twitter spat, the British High Court has heard.

The Reclaim Party founder previously claimed he had been diminishing the ridiculousness of being labelled a racist amid exchanges on the social media platform, now known as X, about a decision by Sainsburys to provide a safe space for black employees during Black History Month.

Advertisement

Mr Fox called for a boycott of the supermarket in October 2020 and was called a racist by the drag artist Crystal, former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake, and broadcaster Nicola Thorp.

Laurence Fox denies being a racist. Photo: Lucy North/PA.

The 45-year-old subsequently termed each of the trio a paedophile, prompting the libel action by Mr Blake and the drag star, also known as Colin Seymour.

Advertisement

Mr Fox, who denies being a racist, is counter-suing the trio for libel over their tweets.

Advertisement

On Friday, Patrick Green KC, representing Mr Fox, argued that the Twitter spat had been started by the claimants and that his client was defending himself.

He said: Other than upsetting trolling there wasnt any harm in any real sense.

What the court is considering is harm to reputation  we say there isnt any.

Advertisement

Theres a good reason for it which is that nobody thought the allegations to be true.

No-one formed an adverse view and indeed there appears to be evidence quite to the contrary.

He added that nothing in Mr Foxs initial Tweet about Sainsburys would lead anyone to the honest opinion that he was racist.

Advertisement

Simon Blake, Nicola Thorp and Colin Seymour are being counter-sued by Mr Fox. Photo: Lucy North/PA.

The barrister added in written submissions that the libel claims by Mr Blake and Mr Seymour should not have been brought and that dominant was the aim to take him down, and worse, as well as discrediting Mr Fox as he was launching his political party.

Mr Green concluded: Whether one agrees or disagrees with Mr Foxs views on various topics, he is not a racist. That is important to him.

Lorna Skinner KC, representing Mr Blake, Mr Seymour and Ms Thorp, described Mr Fox earlier on Friday as unequivocally racist, describing his evidence throughout the trial as lacking honesty and consistency.

Advertisement

Advertisement

She said: Each of the claimants was honest, open, and consistent. Laurence Fox was not.

(He) gave long rambling answers regarding the context of those Tweets (and) refused to accept that in the absence of that context his meaning could be misunderstood.

It is notable that the more egregious examples of Mr Foxs racism are also the most recent, which reveals a trend over time in which Mr Fox becomes increasingly emboldened to speak his mind.

In written submissions, Ms Skinner added his explanations of what he meant in his Tweets ranged from the nonsensical to the incredible, revealing a level of arrogance that is frankly insulting to the intelligence of everyone present at the trial.

The barrister previously said the trio honestly believed, and continue honestly to believe, that Mr Fox is a racist.

Ms Skinner added the 45-year-old has made a number of highly controversial statements about race, adding: If and to the extent that Mr Fox has been harmed in his reputation, it is his own conduct and not the claimants comments on it that caused that harm.

The trial before Mrs Justice Collins Rice ended on Friday, with a decision expected at a later date.
The family of a murdered GAA official are being retraumatised by ongoing delays in police making sensitive material available to an inquest into the death, a Belfast court has heard.

A barrister representing the family of Sean Brown said their treatment by state agencies was a public shame and a public disgrace.

Advertisement

Des Fahy KC also said it was impossible for the Brown family to escape the conclusion that the state parties are running down the clock ahead of a cut-off point for legacy inquests imposed by new British government legislation.

Belfast High Court was told on Friday that the inquest cannot now resume in January as scheduled.

The hearing took place at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Advertisement

Mr Brown (61) was abducted and killed by loyalists as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club in Co Derry in May 1997.

Advertisement

No one has been convicted of his murder.

His inquest began in March and had been scheduled to resume in January.

The proceedings are taking place against the backdrop of the British governments new Legacy Act, which states that any legacy inquests that have not reached the point of verdict by May 1st, 2024, will be discontinued.

Advertisement

Mr Browns widow Bridie attended the latest review hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast.

Ahead of the inquest resuming, material relating to the murder must be security-vetted and distributed to the legal parties involved.

A separate hearing will be needed to consider any applications made by police or the security services to redact evidence on PII grounds.

Counsel for the coroner, Joseph Aiken KC, told the court that the PSNI had given an update on the PII process in a closed hearing.

Advertisement

The hearing heard that PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher was absolutely committed to assisting the court (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said it was now apparent that the hearing could not resume as planned on January 8.

Representing the PSNI, Mark Robinson KC said Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is absolutely committed to assisting the court.

Advertisement

He said an initial tranche of sensitive material in the case would be considered by Mr Boutcher on December 11, allowing a PII hearing to take place in January.

Advertisement

Mr Robinson added: We say that material will include matters of significance and will assist the court in its decision-making process as to whether or not the inquest is to continue.

Mr Fahy said there had been a degree of inevitability about the further delay in the proceedings.

He added: Nevertheless, to hear this morning that the date for the resumption of the inquest is not going to be met is something that is profoundly disappointing and upsetting for the Brown family to hear.

We have now reached a stage in this process where what is happening is re-traumatising the family, 26 years after the murder of Sean Brown.

The responsibility, the Brown family feel, lies solely with the state parties and their treatment by the state parties is a matter of public shame and public disgrace.

It is impossible for the Brown family to escape the conclusion that the state parties are running down the clock so we do not have sufficient court time to hear this inquest by the cut-off date.

Bridie Brown, the widow of murdered GAA official Sean Brown, holding a picture of him at a previous hearing (Liam McBurney/PA)

Coroner Mr Justice Kinney said he now finally had a timetable to start consideration of PII matters.

He added: I think it is very regrettable and frustrating we are in this position.

Advertisement

It is also abundantly clear that the oral hearing cannot proceed in January so I am going to remove it from the list.

The coroner said he was not prepared to let the case sit in limbo.

He added: We are potentially in difficulties because of the guillotine imposed by the legislation.

Mr Justice Kinney said the inquest would be rescheduled to resume on March 4th and would sit for four weeks.

He added: I will not be looking at peoples other commitments or diary commitments, this will take priority.

He said another review would be held on December 8th.
South Korea has been selected as one of the top council members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 12th consecutive term, officials said Friday.

South Korea was elected as a category A member of the IMO Council at its 33rd general meeting held in London, according to officials from the oceans ministry and the foreign ministry.

Category A status is given to 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services every two years through a general vote, according to the maritime body under the United Nations.

South Korea has held the status for 22 straight years since 2001.

"As a category A council member, South Korea will contribute to the development of the organization and actively lead talks on major pending issues for the IMO," Oceans Minister Cho Seung-hwan said. (Yonhap)
No garda is likely to face a criminal prosecution in relation to the death of a Dublin man who suffered a cardiac arrest while being restrained by officers last year, an inquest has heard.

Ronan Lawless (35), of Tara Court, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, died at Beaumont Hospital on November 23rd, 2022, around a week after he was admitted to hospital after gardai were called to his home.

Advertisement

A sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard from Inspector Liam Hickey of the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) that it was unlikely that any prosecution was likely to arise in relation to the death of Mr Lawless.

No criminal proceedings are being contemplated, but we are continuing our investigation, said Insp Hickey.

However, he stressed that the ongoing nature of the Gsoc inquiry was not to imply any misconduct by a garda.

Advertisement

The deceaseds brother, Darren Lawless, gave evidence of formally identifying his brothers body to gardai at the city mortuary in Whitehall.

Advertisement

In a statement, Garda Michael May said a number of exhibits had been seized in relation to the death of Mr Lawless, but no details were provided.

The coroner, Aisling Gannon, said postmortem results had shown that Mr Lawless had died from complications arising from a lack of oxygen to his brain.

The coroner said the deceased had also suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest when his heart stopped suddenly.

The inquest heard this had occurred after Mr Lawless had been restrained in a prone position.

The coroner said a toxicology report also confirmed a high level of cocaine in his body at the time.

Insp Hickey sought an adjournment of the inquest for a period of six months to allow Gsoc to complete its investigation.

Ms Gannon granted the application and adjourned the case until May 28th 2024.
Israels military has resumed combat operations in the Gaza Strip minutes after a temporary truce with Hamas expired on Friday, blaming the militant group for breaking the ceasefire.

The truce expired at 7am (5am Irish time) on Friday. The halt in fighting began a week ago, on November 24th. It initially lasted for four days, and then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.

Advertisement

The Israeli military said on Friday that its fighter jets have begun striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

The announcement came 30 minutes after the ceasefire expired.

Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory.



The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gVRpctD79R Advertisement  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 1, 2023

Advertisement

Palestinian residents said Israel has dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza, urging people to leave homes east of the town of Khan Younis. The leaflets also warned that Khan Younis was now a dangerous battle zone.

Advertisement

The leaflets signalled that Israel is preparing to widen its offensive, which has so far focused largely on the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war, with many taking shelter in Khan Younis and other cities in the south.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Virtually all of those freed were women and children, but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza complicated reaching a deal for a further extension.

Advertisement

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had also been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers. About 140 hostages remain in Gaza, with more than 100 having been freed as part of the truce.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt had sought to prolong the truce by another two days.

The deal ended after a week and multiple extensions, despite international pressure for the truce to be upheld as long as possible.

Advertisement

Advertisement

A woman is overwhelmed by emotion after being released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Thursday (Nasser Nasser/ AP)

Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gazas population of 2.3 million uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed  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.

Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed, mostly during Hamas deadly October 7th attack on Israel that triggered the war.
Israeli fighter jets have hit targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after a week-long truce expired as the war with Hamas resumed in full force.

Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory and Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, suggesting it was preparing to widen its offensive.

Advertisement

Renewed hostilities heightened concerns for about 140 hostages who remain in Gaza, after more than 100 were freed as part of the truce.

The collapse of the ceasefire came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli officials and urged them to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Avi v(Saul Loeb/Pool/ AP)

Advertisement

Mr Blinken was on his way on Friday to the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai, where he will meet Arab and other leaders.

Advertisement

It was not clear to what extent Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed the appeals of the United States, Israels most important ally.

Mr Netanyahus office said on Friday that 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.

In the leaflets it dropped in southern Gaza, Israel urged people to leave homes east of the city of Khan Younis. The leaflets also warned that Khan Younis was now a dangerous battle zone.

Advertisement

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war, with many taking shelter in Khan Younis and other places in the south.

One of the first air strikes on Friday destroyed a large building in Khan Younis. Moments later, residents were seen frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached. One wounded person was carried away on a stretcher.

Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory.



The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gVRpctD79R Advertisement  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 1, 2023

In Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development near the city, a strike hit an apartment in a multi-storey residential building while other parts of the building appeared largely intact.

Advertisement

Advertisement

In the refugee camp of Maghazi, rescuers clawed through the rubble of a large building hit by warplanes.

Only hours in to the renewed offensive, the Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza said 32 people had been killed and dozens wounded.

Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on Hamas, accusing the militants of operating in residential neighbourhoods.

Since the war erupted on October 7th, in response to a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel, many of those killed in Israeli bombardments have been women and children.

In Israel, sirens warning of incoming rockets blared at several communal farms near Gaza, a sign that Hamas also resumed attacks, but there were not reports of hits or damage.

Mr Netanyahu said the war resumed because Hamas had violated the terms of the truce. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens, he said.

The Israeli militarys announcement of the resumption of strikes came only 30 minutes after the ceasefire expired at 7am (0500 GMT) on Friday.

The halt in fighting began on November 24th. It initially lasted for four days, and then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.

Advertisement

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

A woman is overwhelmed by emotion after being released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Thursday (Nasser Nasser/ AP)

Virtually all of those freed were women and children but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza made it hard to reach a deal to extend the ceasefire.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers.

It was not immediately clear whether negotiators were continuing efforts for another temporary ceasefire. Qatar and Egypt, which have played a key role as mediators had sought to prolong the truce by another two days.
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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.
Britain's King Charles wore a tie with a Greek flag motif when he met UK prime minister Rishi Sunak just days after the politician snubbed his Greek counterpart in a row over the Parthenon sculptures.

Charles chatted to Mr Sunak during the opening day of Cop28, the UN Climate Change summit being staged in Dubai, sporting the neckwear decorated with the blue and white flag.

Advertisement

Mr Sunak sparked a diplomatic row by controversially cancelling a planned meeting in London on Tuesday with Greeces prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The decision came after Mr Mitsotakis used an interview ahead of the talks to push for the return of the Parthenon sculptures, saying the current situation was like the Mona Lisa painting being cut in half.

Charles addressing Cop28 on Friday (Chris Jackson/PA)

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Charles has close ties to Greece through his late father Prince Philip, who was born on the Greek island of Corfu, to parents Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg, before becoming a naturalised British subject in 1947.

The head of state also wore his natty neckwear during last weeks state visit by South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Advertisement

Charless tie bore a Greek flag motif (Chris Jackson/PA)

While Charles has been in Dubai, a book about the future of the royal family has caused controversy after its Dutch edition named two members of the monarchy alleged to have raised concerns before he was born about how dark the skin of Prince Hrry and Meghan Markles son might be.

The names have been repeated by many national newspapers and the row has overshadowed Charless address to Cop28, when he warned global leaders the world remains dreadfully far off track in key climate targets and called for meaningful change.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said his government is not prepared to review its goals in Ukraine  delivering a blunt and confrontational message to Western leaders on a rare trip to a Nato member state.

We arent seeing any signals from Kyiv or its masters about their readiness to seek any kind of political settlement, Mr Lavrov told reporters while attending a security conference in North Macedonia.

Advertisement

We see no reason to review our goals, he said.

North Macedonia, which joined Nato in 2020, waived a flight ban on Russian officials so that Mr Lavrov could attend the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, prompting the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to skip the meeting in protest.



Antony Blinken made a brief visit to Skopje (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)

Advertisement

Advertisement

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a brief stop in North Macedonias capital of Skopje before Mr Lavrov arrived.

Participants at the two-day conference accused Moscow of undermining the OSCE.

The Austria-based organization  originally created to ease Cold War tensions  includes countries from North America, Europe and the former Soviet Union.

It is Russia that is waging an unprovoked and unlawful war against Ukraine, and it is Russia that is obstructing the OSCE agenda, Katrina Kaktina, Latvias representative at the organisation, said on Friday.

Advertisement

Russia is continuing violations of human rights: deliberate killings of civilians, including children, forced deportations, tactics of torture and sexual violence. Those are war crimes being committed by Russia in Ukraine, she said.

Speaking at a news conference in Skopje, Mr Lavrov accused Western countries of showing cowardice by refusing to meet with him.

They probably want to emphasise their intention to isolate Russia but I think they just chickened out, Mr Lavrov said during the briefing that lasted over an hour.

Theyre afraid of any honest conversation, he said. Its cowardice, simple cowardice.

Advertisement

While in Skopje, Mr Lavrov held several bilateral meetings including talks with the foreign ministers of Armenia and North Macedonia as well as with Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister of Hungary which has maintained close ties with Moscow despite European Union sanctions.
Ukraines spy agency has bombed trains on a railway in Siberia that serves as a key route for trade between Russia and China, Ukrainian media reported.

Ukrainska Pravda and other news outlets claimed the Security Service of Ukraine conducted a special operation to blow up trains loaded with fuel on the Baikal-Amur Mainline, which runs from south-eastern Siberia to the Pacific Ocean in the Russian Far East.

Advertisement

The media cited unidentified sources in Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, a regular practice in claims of previous attacks in Russia.

The security service, which is known in Ukrainian as SBU for short, has not confirmed the reports.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky honours servicemen during his visit to the front-line city of Kupiansk,(Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Advertisement

The first explosion hit a tanker train in the Severonomuisky tunnel in Buryatia early on Thursday, causing a fire that took hours to extinguish, Russian news outlets said. The 9.5-mile tunnel in southern Siberia is the longest in Russia.

Advertisement

A second explosion hours later hit another train carrying fuel as it crossed a 115ft-high bridge across a deep gorge while travelling on a bypass route, according to the Ukrainian news reports.

Russian railways confirmed the tunnel explosion but did not say what caused it.

Russian daily business newspaper Kommersant cited investigators saying an explosive device was planted under one of the trains carriages.

Advertisement

There was no comment from Russian authorities on the second explosion.

Ukrainian authorities have emphasised that the countrys military and security agencies can strike targets anywhere in Russia to fight Moscows aggression.

Officials in Kyiv have claimed responsibility for some previous attacks on infrastructure facilities deep inside Russia.



(PA Graphics)

Advertisement

Russias top counterintelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, or FSB, said on Friday that it detained a man accused of attacking a military airbase in western Russia with exploding drones in July and staging an explosion that derailed a cargo train in western Russia last month.

The FSB identified the suspect as a dual Russian-Italian citizen and alleged he was recruited by the Ukrainian military intelligence in Istanbul and underwent training in Latvia before returning to Russia.

As the war continued into its 22nd month, Ukraines forces shot down 18 of 25 Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones and one of two air-launched missiles that Russia launched early on Friday, the Ukrainian air force said.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least four civilians and wounded 16 others between Thursday and Friday morning.

Three of them died when Russian warplanes struck the village of Sadove in southern Ukraines Kherson region. The fourth was killed in Russian shelling of the town of Toretsk in the eastern Donetsk region, the presidential office said.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When South African alleged conman Johann Steynberg was led away in handcuffs after being tracked down by police in the Brazilian city of Goiania two years ago, many of his investors  including thousands of Australians  thought their nightmare was over. Built like a front rower for the Springboks, Steynberg, 40, was arrested under Interpol warrants for allegedly heading up the worlds largest cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, Mirror Trading International. Mirror Trading International  also known as MTI or MTI Club  pledged to deliver high returns to investors by pooling tens of thousands of bitcoin. Bitcoin trading took off during the pandemic, pushing the currency to new heights and attracting droves of new investors. Credit: Getty It blitzed through social media in 2020, sucking in as many as 100,000 people from 140 countries before coming unstuck following a flurry of investor complaints. By the time the man with a thick neck, acne and a new mistress was arrested in December 2021, at least $US1.7 billion ($2.6 billion) of investments were long gone. And unfortunately, as more than 5000 people based in Australia are about to find out, the matter is far from over.

Advertisement

This masthead can reveal that MTIs South African-based liquidators hope to claw back money from 5250 Australians who are believed to have made money off the scheme, either by receiving payments during the schemes duration (as returns on their investments) or via commissions for bringing in new investors. Loading The fallout from the MTI scheme underscores the huge risks that ordinary people take when they click on a link shared on social media and buy into an investment scheme that sounds great, but in reality is too good to be true. It also highlights the often wealth-destroying outcomes of the heady days of bitcoin investments during the pandemic, when people were spending more time on social media, and increased interest in cryptocurrency led to a huge surge in the price of the digital currency. One of Australias top consumer advocates, Gerard Brody, says dodgy investment schemes skyrocketed during the pandemic and continue to be a problem. It certainly seems that Ponzi schemes and investment scams are something thats not uncommon here in Australia, says Brody, who chairs the Consumers Federation of Australia and is a board member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. Brody points to how the corporate watchdog recently put out an investor alert encouraging people to check whether a business offering an investment was licensed to operate in Australia. A list published with the alert included scores of new illegal investment schemes being offered to local consumers.

Advertisement

The fact that the national financial services regulator is doing that says that theyre worried about these sorts of investments  Ponzi-scheme scams and the like  in the community, Brody says. Home to roost Despite the massive numbers of investors involved, MTIs victims have kept a low profile in Australia, keeping their discussions to private pages on Facebook and Telegram groups. On those forums, investors discuss the possibility that some of them might have to pay back some of the money they earned from the scheme, and the benefits that pooling these winnings could have to the groups many thousands of victims worldwide. Most seem unaware of the recent legal action in Australia regarding the case. Last month, a group of liquidators appointed to MTI in South Africa won urgent court orders from Australias Federal Court that recognised the liquidation in Australia. The orders granted the liquidators the legal right to interview investors about their winnings, so they can seek to recoup money from scheme participants. In making the orders, Justice Catherine Button noted that the evidence does not disclose what, if any, assets MTI has in Australia. That said, potential recoveries from early investors who did receive proceeds funded by later investors may constitute an asset.

Advertisement

To the extent that MTI does have assets in Australia, it is appropriate that the liquidators have the capacity to realise those assets and deal with them in the liquidation for the benefit of MTIs creditors, Button added. Thousands of Australian-based investors in the schemes will be interviewed by lawyers from local firm Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams, according to documents filed by the liquidators Australian lawyers with the Federal Court. Those documents, obtained by this masthead, included a request for judicial assistance to the Australian court from South African High Court judge Judith Cloete, which revealed the extent of the scheme in Australia. Cloete said in her request: The jointly appointed liquidators have, through their preliminary investigations, determined that approximately 5250 individuals ordinarily residing in the Commonwealth of Australia either received bitcoin from MTI [or] alternatively benefited from the scheme. Digital forensic specialists in the Republic of South Africa have been employed to determine the exact number and reports have become available. It is further believed that those who benefited from the scheme did so inter alia, at the prejudice of other creditors, as defined in ... the [South African] Insolvency Act. The liquidators told the court they also believed that about 3735 creditors  or scheme losers  resided in Australia. Their lawyers declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.

Advertisement

Not all victims are created equal Sorting through the Australian winners and losers of MTI could be a very hard task for the liquidators and their lawyers. Many investors remain wary of engaging with lawyers, even ones officially working with the liquidators, believing they are being scammed all over again. This is the only way victims will see any of their money again. Its highly unlikely though and its time-consuming. So when we get a recovery guy on the scene its just another scam, says an MTI user on a victims-focused Facebook page. Investors, who spoke to this masthead under the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals, also believe there are people in Australia who were intimately involved in the scheme. This includes two men believed to be linked to the development of the groups fake software and other promoters of the scheme. According to court documents, about $83 million was paid in commissions to marketers of the scheme. For locals who received those commission payments, it could get very sticky.

Advertisement
The Kremlins shadow fleet is today running such a smooth trade to India and China that Putin is essentially getting the world market price for his oil. Volumes are booming. S&P says shipments averaged 3.5 million barrels a day in October, up from the 3.1 million before the war. Export revenues from fossil fuels over the last two months have been running at $US800 million ($1.2 billion) a day, as if there never had been sanctions. The West is complicit. VesselsValue says Greek shipowners have sold 290 ships since the war began, mostly to Russias Sovcomflot or other opaque traders helping Putins war. The EU has turned a blind eye. It is still the biggest buyer of Russias LNG gas. Russias oil revenue continues to flow in. Credit: Bloomberg Washington was always lukewarm about the oil price cap. Joe Biden wanted to keep the oil flowing to avert petrol rage at home, while depriving Putin of revenue at the same time. That balancing act has proved impossible.

Russia is able to run a hot war economy on these revenues. The structural damage goes deep but it will not be obvious enough, soon enough, to change the Kremlins political calculus. Loading Ukraine has lost 30 per cent of its economy, most of its heavy industry, and a fifth of its grain output. The West expects the country to fight an offensive campaign against Russian trenches and minefields without air cover, and with inadequate counter-battery fire, anti-mine kit, and electronic warfare capability. General James Jones, former NATO supreme commander, said the US has been too slow in trickling out weapons, and too cowed by Putins bluster. Theyre having to fight the war with one hand tied behind their backs, he said. It is a view shared by a venerable list of ex-Nato commanders. Ukraine is still waiting for F16 fighter jets. The US and Germany are still withholding cruise missiles.

America has an excuse, arguably  it must plan for a war on three fronts against the colluding autocracies; and must husband depleting stocks of weapons. Europe has no such constraint. It is facing an enemy that wishes to restore Tsarist borders and retake swaths of EU territory. What is the EU doing about this existential threat? It is absorbed by its usual squabbles over euros and process. Mujtaba Rahman, Europe chief at Eurasia Group, says support for Ukraine risks unravelling ahead of a make-or-break summit in December. With an election on the horizon, Joe Biden wanted to keep the oil flowing to keep petrol prices low, while depriving Putin of revenue at the same time. That balancing act has proved impossible. Credit: AP The Commissions Ursula von der Leyen wants a 100 billion ($166 billion) top-up package, including 50 billion for Ukraine. This is now in jeopardy. Berlin was already baulking at fresh money before the German constitutional court issued its maximalist ruling two weeks ago, forcing deep fiscal retrenchment. The chances are even lower now. Berenberg Bank estimates that Berlin must come up with 30-40 billion in 2024 and 20-30 billion for 2025, and a total of 130 billion by 2027.

Rahman said von der Leyen blundered badly in linking Ukraine aid to the EU budget, hoping to use the war as a rocket booster for other ambitions. Everything is instead crashing around her. Italy, Spain and Greece are angling for concessions. The creditor bloc of Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Austria, along with Germany, insists on cannibalising existing EU funds rather than paying more. Long-festering tensions are bursting into the open. As matters stand, Putin may outlast the West, exposing all those pious pledges of support  for as long as it takes  as humbug. It is now clear that a deal is seriously at risk. The blame game is already in full swing, said Rahman. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is holding everything to ransom, threatening to veto the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine unless Brussels releases 37 billion of EU funds withheld over rule-of-law and press violations.

Ukraine fatigue in Washington is perhaps worse. Less than $US5 billion remains of the $US44 billion approved by Congress in military aid. Joe Bidens request for another $US61 billion in aid  half for defence  is deadlocked in Congress, entangled with a dispute over the Mexican border. With each week, the Republicans fall further under the philo-Putinist spell of Donald Trump. There may be some poetic licence in Bild-Zeitungs claims that Biden and Germanys Olaf Scholz are pressuring Kyiv to accept brutal compromises. It undoubtedly reflects a strain of thinking in both capitals. Volodymyr Zelensky is being urged by some to take any deal he can, while he can. Ukraine has lost 30 per cent of its economy, most of its heavy industry, and a fifth of its grain output. Credit: AP Needless to say, Putin has no intention of reaching a durable settlement. He regards Ukraine as an artificial entity created by the enemies of Russia that has no right to exist. Even if there was a deal he would attack again in short order, said Bond.

Professor Alan Riley from the Atlantic Council said war works well for Putin. It has become the justification of the regime, making it easier to maintain repression. He can import anything he needs through Turkey or Central Asia, and he feels that the West is weakening, he said. Europes defence ministries get it. There is a sense of fear that this can spin completely out of control. They know there has to be massive rearmament. The politicians do not yet get it. As matters stand, Putin may outlast the West, exposing all those pious pledges of support  for as long as it takes  as humbug. Europeans must decide whether they are going to defend themselves or rely on an America where Trump is running five points ahead in the polls. The decision must be made immediately. They are starting from a dire position. Western Europe slashed defence to the bone during the Lost Decade, chiefly in order to comply with the scorched-earth demands of the eurozones fiscal regime. Germany did so out of self-inflicted austerity mania and strategic complacency.

Loading They cut spending on weapons systems and materiel because these were easiest to cut. That is why Europe has so little to give Ukraine today. Europe cannot wind back the clock. It can ditch its pettifogging rulebook and behave as if it understands the threat. It can still disabuse Vladimir Putin of his belief that Russia has greater staying power. If the European project cannot rise to this challenge, what is the point of it? Telegraph, London
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size

Inspiration is a word we use in the most casual fashion, but it originally meant being under the direct influence of God. For the artist John R. Walker, it has retained that significance. As a practising Christian, Walker believes there are paintings that are divinely inspired, the breath of God having touched something in the artists soul as he stood in silent communion with the landscape. Personally, Im more in tune with the madcap philosopher Slavoj Zizek, who describes himself as a Christian atheist, but I can see exactly what Walker means when he talks, haltingly, about the spiritual aspects of painting.

Whether we be mystics or materialists, the survey John R. Walker: Journeys and Return, at the Orange Regional Gallery, reveals an artist who has found a way to paint what he feels about a landscape, rather than settling for a depiction based on simple observation. Walker is very far from being an impressionist, but there is a loose affinity with the great neo-impressionist Georges Seurat who covered his canvases with thousands of tiny dots.

Seurat had a scientific explanation for the mechanics of vision, noting the way colour and form were constructed in the retina. Walker can recognise this phenomenon but feels there must be more to it. In his recent work he has become a dedicated exponent of the short, sharp dab. Being anything but a purist, he combines these touches with washy applications of pale colour and meandering lines made by holding the brush at the very end, letting it stumble drunkenly across the canvas.

Eagle Spirit Vathiwarta 1, 2021 Credit: National Gallery of Australia

Paintings such as Eagle Spirit, Vathiwarta and Eagle Spirit, Vathiwarta I (both 2021) are like nothing else in Australian art, laden with seemingly incompatible associations. Although indisputably landscapes, these works have a powerful abstract dimension, as Walker sketches in the bare outlines of the rocky Flinders Ranges and fills in the blanks with a storm of small marks, smears, splashes, and drawn-out lines. Despite this frantic activity, the mountains feel transparent, as if we can look right through them to the void of the canvas. The resulting paradox is a mountainous landscape that is simultaneously monumental and insubstantial.

We are accustomed to seeing mountains as solid grey hunks of rock, but Walker treats them as if they were mirages, or buzzing clusters of atoms. Here he is closer to Indigenous artists, or perhaps to those ancient Chinese landscape painters who could convey the bulk of a mountain with a few swipes of the brush. The difference is that Walker doesnt share the Chinese preoccupation with the void, or negative space. He is no devotee of that emptiness that is also a fullness, but a gestural painter who thrives on detail.

Ultimately, these landscapes are like vast swirling fields of energy, which may be the way Walker experiences vistas he absorbs for days on end, jotting down his impressions in gouache in Chinese folding sketchbooks. The large canvases that follow in the studio are products of memory, with the sketchbooks providing structural guidelines.
Zimbabwe commissions Chinese company's lithium processing plants

Xinhua) 10:04, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Park Jae-hyuk

Unionized workers at Nexon indicated their intention to leave the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), as the umbrella union supported feminists who condemned the company for its countermeasures against a controversial hand gesture spotted in promotional videos for its games, according to industry officials, Friday.

The KCTU held a press conference without discussion and understanding of this issue, Nexon union leader Bae Soo-chan said in a statement, Wednesday. We will reconsider whether we really need the KCTU.

Their conflict started as the KCTU joined Tuesdays press conference in front of Nexon Koreas headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Feminist groups claimed in the press conference that the gaming firm is unreasonably bullying its employees and Studio PPURI, which created animated videos to promote Nexons games.

The animation studio has faced a strong backlash from male gamers, who spotted characters making a gesture  featuring a pinching thumb and index finger  in promotional videos for multiple games of Nexon and other companies. The users claimed that the gesture is associated with defunct online feminist community Megalia who used it to mock Korean men's genitalia.

Nexon employees went to work at 3 a.m. on Sunday to take down the videos in question. Management of Nexon and other gaming firms apologized to their customers as well, promising every effort to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Studio PPURI also said it will take responsibility for all scenes that raise suspicions and make necessary modifications. The employee in question will not participate in any future editing work or ongoing promotional videos, according to the studio.

In contrast, feminist groups argued that the gaming firms and users are in a state of collective illusion.

A groundless rumor led users to regard a perfectly natural hand gesture as the symbol of a certain ideology, one of the participants in the press conference said.

If Nexons union leaves the KCTU, it will join the unions of POSCO, Coupang, Lotte Chemical and KEPCO E&C, which decided to withdraw from the umbrella union. They criticized the KCTU for focusing more on political activities than on efforts to protect the rights of its members.

Meanwhile, controversies over the hand gesture have not been limited to Koreas game industry.

Convenience store franchise GS25 apologized in 2021 after a large-scale boycott movement in response to a camping event poster that included a hand gesturing similarly as it appears to reach for a tiny sausage.
We are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits and into dangerous, uncharted territory, he told the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at COP. We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition, all at once, at a pace that far outstrips Natures ability to cope...how dangerous are we actually prepared to make our world? Loading While the futuristic petro-state is anxious to promote its credentials transitioning away from fossil fuels  oil exports account for less than 30 per cent of GDP  its hosting of the climate summit has attracted criticism. In particular, the appointment of the countrys state-owned oil company chief executive Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber as conference president has stoked fears industry will have an outsize role at the talks. Nadeem is just one of 100 youth delegates chosen to represent developing nations and indigenous groups at the conference, where she hopes to give voice to some of the most vulnerable people as a representative of Pakistan.

The third-year university student gripes at critics of a major oil-producing nation hosting a climate summit, insisting no country is exonerated of blame when it comes to the climate emergency. For us to criticise a particular country for hosting COP is to then imply that there are certain countries that occupy a perfectly blemish-free position, Nadeem said, adding that she saw value in oil having a seat at the table. People walk near a lit up Al Wasl Dome at Expo City at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit. Credit: AP If its just people getting together, and acting as sounding boards for each other, thats not a climate negotiation. Thats an echo chamber. In the run-up to COP28 youth delegates gathered for their own Conference of Youth, or COY18, in Dubai on Sunday. More than 1000 young people gathered for the three-day conference which combined advocacy with policy development training led by Harvard and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to prepare young people to participate in the upcoming negotiations.

Australia does not have an official national youth delegate for COP28. However, more than 80 youth representatives will travel to Dubai, including nine backed by the federal government and the Australian Youth for International Climate Engagement. We have a responsibility to take ownership of our own histories... and not just turn to certain countries to lead us in this conversation. COP28 youth delegate Manal Nadeem Among them is 22-year-old Kupakwashe Matangira from NSWs Hunter Valley, who will advocate for countries like Australia to do more to financially assist countries feeling the worst impacts of climate change, particularly in the Pacific. Matangira, who has worked with rural communities across NSW following fires, floods and drought, said young people needed to be taken seriously at COP28. I hate the thought of youth delegates being used as a tick box for saying we have the youth voice, I want youth opinions to be more than a token, she said.

In Samoa, 27-year-old Nicollo Meono-Alaiasa counts his community as one of the most vulnerable, where many primary school-age students have experienced three or four cyclones before the age of 10. Loading The engineer, who is currently completing his PhD on renewable energy systems for small islands, said, if nothing else, COP28 needed to reach consensus on the long-awaited loss and damage fund  a financial scheme for wealthier nations to buttress developing countries against the impacts of climate change. Currently decisions are made for us, without us. We are calling for fair, equitable and effective solutions that can build resilience, Meono-Alaiasa said. Delegates representing global youth at the talks will be led by UAE minister Shamma Al Mazrui, who was this year appointed the UAEs Youth Climate Champion. Mazrui, who became one of the worlds youngest ministers at 22 in 2016, has led young people in negotiation training and simulations for COP28.

She said her mission was to open the climate process for young people to represent the 4.3 billion people across the world below the age of 35, with a focus on equipping youth from the developing world with the skills to engage in negotiations. King Charles III talks to Tuvaluan Youth Delegate for the RNI Grace Malie and Youth Climate Champion Ellyanne Wanjiku at the Women Climate Leaders and Small Island Developing States reception during COP28 in Dubai. Credit: Getty Small island developing states, least-developing countries and climate vulnerable communities are severely under-represented. Over 70 per cent of the organisations that come [to COP] are from the USA and Europe, she said. Mohamed Al Taher, a 23-year-old UAE youth delegate, said the consequences of decisions made at the conference would fall to younger generations, which makes us a key stakeholder in the conversation. Among her peers, Nadeem said there was consensus that young people were inheriting a broken planet, but that many retained hope in the power of their collective voice.
This story is part of the December 2 Edition of Good Weekend.

SPOTLIGHT / Gran designs

Granny chic, here demonstrated by model Kaia Gerber, is alive and kicking. Credit: Getty Images

When nepo baby Kaia Gerber recently turned up at a Hollywood farmers market in a decidedly nana-ish, off-white, short-sleeved, button-through shirt and flowy patchwork midi skirt (pictured, with Austin Butler on her arm), she confirmed that grandmillennial style  aka granny chic/grandma chic/nana chic  is still alive and kicking. (And that dressing like a 72-year-old doesnt preclude you from having a seriously hot boyf.)

The trend isnt exactly new  New York label Batsheva has been embracing grannyness in a big way since 2016  but as sustainability becomes an increasingly potent force in fashion, raiding Nanas closet and buying second-hand/vintage seems absolutely on point.

But what is gran-ifying? Its about taking the wardrobe pillars of your average nana  think floral blouses, top-handled handbags, frilly frocks, chunky cardigans, ruffly skirts, crocheted vests, tweed or boucle jackets and sensible sandals (orthopaedic loafers, as Refinery29 website unkindly suggested)  and adding sleek, contemporary styling. Gerber, for example, modernised her look with a pair of Aeyde Mary Janes and oval Celine sunglasses.
Two centuries have now passed since explorer John Oxley and a small crew first rowed into a broad river he described as capable of producing the richest productions of the tropics.

December 2, 1823, marked the start of the areas transition from Meeanjin  place of blue water lillies and home to 3000 Turrbal people  to colonial Redcliffe (1824) and finally Brisbane (1825), sharing the name with the river itself.

The view from Kangaroo Point cliffs, 200 years after the river was first explored by John Oxley. Credit: Tony Moore

Today Brisbane is home to more than 1,283,000 people, a third of whom were born overseas, and part of one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia.

In 200 years, the river has gone from being a place of natural wonder and sustenance for Aboriginal people to the heart of a thriving metropolis. Yet, there is unfinished business honouring the Aboriginal people who first called the area home, as well as the European explorers and settlers.
He walked out of his tiny Mitcham unit nine years ago to clear his head and finished almost 11,000 kilometres later in the CBD.

Rob Olifiers, a primary school teacher and 18-year State Emergency Service volunteer, has gone through 22 pairs of shoes to trek every road in Melbourne.

Robert Olifiers completes his 21st and last metropolitan Melbourne council walk on Friday afternoon. Credit: Luis Ascui

On Friday, the 64-year-old took his last steps on Swanston Street  one of the about 71,000 thoroughfares he estimates he has wandered  and was welcomed by the Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece at Melbourne Town Hall.

Melbournes ever-expanding urban sprawl means Olifers metropolitan map may have different boundaries to the state government surveyor, but youd be hard-pressed to find anyone to deny him the title of Melbournes Forrest Gump.
The only road to Mallacoota has reopened after a landslide was cleared, but several Gippsland towns remain on flood alert as the heavy rain that battered the states east causes swollen waterways to rise.

Eight watch-and-act alerts remained as Mallacoota ended more than a day of isolation. The State Emergency Service confirmed a landslide the size of a house on the Mallacoota-Genoa Road had been cleared on Friday afternoon.

Resident Dale Winward said the Mallacoota flooding was the worst he had seen. Credit: Dale Winward

Mallacoota resident Dale Winward said the flooding was the worst he could remember in the 53 years he had lived in the coastal town. Its the biggest flood Ive seen here, he said.

Winward said floodwater was now covering the only road into the town, not far from the landslide that blocked the road on Thursday. Other low-lying roads were also flooded, he said. All the foreshore at the main wharf is completely inundated.
A suspected war criminal who sent boys on missions for the Tamil Tigers during Sri Lankas long-running civil war  some of which proved to be suicide bombings  was freed into community detention by the Coalition two years ago after being stricken with cancer.

Never tried in any country, the former immigration detainee, known as GZCK, has been living in legal limbo because his shocking past had been flagged as a concern by ASIO, while he also feared persecution if returned to his home country.

Sri Lankan asylum seekers on their boat in 2009. Credit: Irwin Fedriansiyah

While he was already living in the community when the High Court last month overturned indefinite immigration detention, GZCK has been caught up in emergency laws passed since the ruling and now must wear an ankle bracelet monitor and abide by curfews despite poor physical and mental health and a downgraded ASIO profile.

His case captures the complexity of the detention debate: he arrived on a boat during the Rudd years and was released from detention under the Coalition. And as both sides of politics fight to show theyre tough on borders, one constitutional expert says the tale of GZCK illustrates the challenges of writing new preventative detention laws to deal with those whose violent pasts have, in some cases, never been tried in courts.
Israeli strikes on houses and buildings have killed at least 178 people throughout the Gaza Strip in the first hours of fighting after a weeklong truce collapsed Friday, according to the Health Ministry there.

Israel said it struck more than 200 Hamas targets. Militants in Gaza resumed firing rockets into Israel, and fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah militants operating along Israels northern border with Lebanon.

Palestinians injured in Israeli airstrikes arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Credit: Getty

Ceasefire mediator Qatar said efforts are ongoing to renew the truce, which saw Israel pause most military activity in Gaza and release 300 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for militants freeing over 100 hostages held in Gaza.

Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left homeless more than three-quarters of Gazas 2.3 million residents, causing a humanitarian crisis as they face widespread shortages of food, water and other supplies. No trucks carrying aid entered Gaza from Egypt on Friday, Palestinians authorities said.
The 51-year-old Haley has an impressive resume. In deeply conservative South Carolina, where the first shots rang out in the American Civil War, she became the states first female governor. What made this all the more remarkable is that she is an Indian American whose name at birth was Nimrata Nikki Randhawa. Will Haley be able to defy history and break one of the worlds most impregnable glass ceilings? Credit: Matt Davidson Loading Haley was governor in 2015, when Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who had draped himself in the Confederate flag, massacred nine African-American parishioners at a Black church in Charleston. Bravely, Haley called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the State House, where it had been hoisted in the early 1960s as a rebuke to the civil rights movement. I was there the day when the flag came down, a ceremony that felt like the final surrender of the Civil War. Little did we know that what we were actually witnessing that summer was the beginning of the white nationalist counter-offensive headed by Trump. In a strange quirk of history, he launched his presidential bid the very day before the Charleston massacre.

During the Trump presidency, Haley served as Americas United Nations ambassador, and drew praise from her boss for bringing glamour to that role. Though a foreign policy neophyte, she quickly established herself as a formidable diplomat. From her seat at the Security Councils famed horseshoe table, she excoriated the Russians, a bold move since Trump was so smitten with Vladimir Putin. At a time when UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres privately expressed fears that the US president could destroy the global body with a single tweet, Haley helped protect it from the America First wrecking ball. After the Capitol Hill attack of January 6, 2021, she said Trump would be judged harshly by history, although she quickly backtracked when it became clear that many Republicans supported his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Haleys campaign launch video also spoke of her political timidity in the face of the MAGA mob. Footage of her most courageous act, the lowering of those Confederate colours, was banished from view. More recently, shes become the cut-through star of the Republican televised debates, which, in the absence of a boycotting Donald Trump, have felt like watching Gladiator without the thunderous presence of Russell Crowes Maximus Decimus Meridius.

Lets play fantasy punditry for a moment, and imagine an improbable scenario in which Trump either withdraws or somehow gets beaten by Haley. Having overcome Trump, would she then be able to defy history and break one of the worlds most impregnable glass ceilings? Misogyny in American politics runs deep. It was the founding fathers who produced the US Constitution, and when the countrys second first lady, Abigail Adams, told her husband, John, that women should get the vote, he witheringly responded that America should not succumb to the despotism of the petticoat. Loading The 19th amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was not ratified until 1920, 18 years after nationwide female suffrage in Australia. Even though female politicians started winning election to the US Senate in the 1930s, as recently as the 1970s there were times when not a single seat was occupied by a woman. At the beginning of the 1990s, there were just two female senators. For all that, the glass will surely be shattered. Indeed, were it not for the vagaries of the Electoral College, one of the founding fathers more problematic inventions, America would already have had a female president. In 2016, Hillary Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes than Donald Trump. It was just that they werent distributed in the right states.

Hillary Clinton in the hours after her defeat and Donald Trumps election in 2016 as the 45th president of the United States. Credit: Bloomberg/Andrew Harrer Today, there are a record number of female US senators (although still only 25 out of 100) and an unprecedented number of female state governors (12 out of 50). America also has its first Madam Vice President, Kamala Harris. Few Democrats, however, think Harris should replace Biden as the nominee, partly because of fears of misogynoir  the combination of racism and sexism  and partly because she was a lacklustre candidate in the past. Loading Assumptions about the electability of women have long been a bar to female advancement. Furthermore, as well as contending with male chauvinism, Hillary Clinton struggled in 2016 to mobilise a sisterhood. Even after he was heard boasting about sexually molesting women in the Access Hollywood tape, Trump won more white, female voters than she did.
Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Generally cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 27F. SW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph.
Chairmen vow safety measures amid absence of ruling party lawmakers

By Park Jae-hyuk

The chairmen of DL and SPC groups vowed, Friday, to enhance safety measures to prevent fatal industrial accidents, apologizing for a series of worker deaths involving their companies.

They were summoned to the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committees hearing on industrial accidents, as they had refused to attend the annual parliamentary audit in October, citing overseas travel commitments. At that time, the two groups respectively sent DL E&C CEO Ma Chang-min and Shany CEO Lee Kang-seop to the audit session.

The ruling People Power Partys lawmakers boycotted the latest hearing in protest against the opposition partys refusal to their proposal of holding closed-door meetings with the chairmen at their offices.

During the hearing, DL Group Chairman Lee Hae-wook told lawmakers that the company plans to hike its budget for safety measures by 25 percent next year, following a 29 percent increase this year. He also denied allegations that his company has recklessly rushed constructions.

Since the implementation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act in January last year, seven fatal industrial accidents occurred at construction sites under the supervision of DL E&C, killing eight workers, who were hired by the builders subcontractors. The law states that a companys CEO can be sent to jail if a serious worksite accident occurs when the company has not taken sufficient safety precautions.

After lawmakers asked Lee to attend the hearing, DL Group apologized last week to the bereaved families of the deceased workers and announced various follow-up measures.

In collaboration with employees and subcontractors, we will make efforts to become a company running the safest worksites in Korea Lee said.

SPC Group Chairman Hur Young-in said that the company is considering automation of dangerous processes and the introduction of robots to its factories.

After a worker in her 20s died in October last year from an accident at the groups bakery factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Hur held a press conference to make an apology and to announce a 100 billion won ($77 million) investment over the next three years in safety management. In August, he also apologized for another fatal accident at the companys bakery factory in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

Lawmakers urged SPC to reform its double shift system, which places workers under exhausting conditions.

All our employees bitterly regret the accidents, Hur said.

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung-sik also attended the hearing to promise stricter supervision of worksites, where fatal industrial accidents have frequently occurred.
Fossil Fuel Nations Under Fire Ahead of COP28 Amid Concerns Over Climate Commitments (Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0))

On the first day of COP28, a significant breakthrough was achieved as the conference agreed on a preliminary text for the climate "loss and damage" fund, specifying funding sources and assigning the World Bank as the custodian. However, this may not be the final text, as all documents are subject to change until the conference concludes on December 12.

The host country, the United Arab Emirates, led the way by pledging $100 million to kickstart the fund, followed by Germany with $100 million, the United Kingdom with $75 million, the United States with $24.5 million, and Japan with $10 million. Additionally, the EU Climate Commissioner indicated that the EU, including Germany, is expected to collectively contribute at least $245 million. The total amount confirmed so far is $454.5 million.

The second and third days of the conference, Friday and Saturday, will see concentrated participation from national leaders, with more countries likely to pledge, putting wealthy nations under greater moral pressure. Over 160 national leaders are expected to attend Friday's events, with the King of the United Kingdom joining the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UAE to deliver the opening remarks. Countries confirmed to be led by their leaders include the UK, Brazil, and India.

On the second day, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment by announcing a $30 billion climate fund, ALTeRRA, with $25 billion for climate solutions and $5 billion to incentivize climate transition investments in the Southern Hemisphere. The fund aims to attract $250 billion in climate finance by the end of the century.

According to the preliminary agreement, the "loss and damage" fund will be sourced from wealthy industrialized nations, emerging economies, and fossil fuel-producing countries. It is designed to compensate poor and vulnerable countries for irreversible climate disaster impacts. The World Bank will manage these funds for four years and distribute them to eligible developing countries.

This development is a significant step forward. The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Stiell, praised it as a positive start to this year's climate summit, urging governments and their negotiators to strive for unprecedented results.

Barbados Prime Minister's advisor, Persaud, lauded the agreement as a historic achievement after strenuous efforts.

However, there are questions about the fund's sustainability. Environmental organizations pointed out that the latest agreement text lacks specifics on the scale of funds needed or replenishment periods, raising doubts about its sustainability.

Research indicates that developing countries already suffer over $400 billion in losses and damages annually, a figure expected to rise.

Criticism also arises from the small amount pledged so far. Adow, Director of Power Shift Africa, welcomed the formal establishment of the fund but criticized the current funding as a drop in the ocean compared to the required scale, particularly highlighting the embarrassment of the U.S. contribution of $24.5 million.

Controversy also surrounds the choice of the World Bank as the fund's custodian. Critics question whether the World Bank, where developed countries hold more control, can truly represent the interests of developing nations.

Christian Aid warned that ensuring the vulnerable groups ultimately receive the funds requires significant work. Paoli, the organization's global advocacy head, expressed concerns about the World Bank's role as a temporary steward, calling for strict scrutiny of the fund to ensure easy and direct access for vulnerable groups.

The decision to have the World Bank manage the fund was advocated by wealthy countries like the U.S., who argued that establishing a new fund would be slower, more troublesome, and costlier than utilizing an existing institution.

However, this stance faced opposition from developing countries and activists who suspect wealthy nations prefer the World Bank due to their greater control as major contributors. The World Bank's top five shareholders are the U.S., Japan, China, Germany, and the UK.

Critics also question the World Bank's high management fees, noting that at least one similar fund managed by the bank incurred a 24% "custodial fee." The bank's financing process is criticized as slow and difficult, with most funds provided as loans rather than grants.

Many environmental activists have long harbored resentment towards the World Bank for its lack of focus on climate financing, leading to the resignation of its former president, Malpass, earlier this year, who was appointed by climate-skeptic former U.S. President Trump.

The preliminary agreement at COP28 is not entirely surprising. Before the conference, there was already a broad consensus and a framework blueprint.

Since COP27's agreement last year to establish the "loss and damage" fund, multiple meetings have been held. For instance, the fund's transitional committee met four times between March and October this year. However, negotiations broke down in October due to significant differences, mainly over who should contribute, who benefits, and who manages the fund.

Regarding contributions, developing countries emphasized that developed nations with historical emission responsibilities should compensate with grants, potentially placing a significant financial burden on the U.S. Some developed countries, including the U.S., argued for contributions from emerging economies and sought to separate China, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia from the "developing countries" category, while also expanding financing methods like taxes, public and private loans.

However, a consensus was finally reached at a meeting in early November. After two days of intense debate, parties agreed on a framework text, including key points of the agreement passed on the first day of the current conference. Regarding contributions, the text "urges" developed countries to donate and "encourages" developing countries to do the same. In terms of management, developing countries conceded, agreeing to "temporary management" by the World Bank.
A Pakistani accountability court on Friday filed a corruption case against jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife and other suspects in a Rs 50 million corruption case.

The National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General Muzafar Abbasi and investigative officer Umar Nadeem filed the case in an accountability court in Islamabad.

A total of eight people have been charged in the case.
Agritask, a crop supply data intelligence software company, today announced the addition of its carbon accounting solution, integrated with the IRRI calculator, to its agriculture optimization project in Vietnam with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The sustainability-focused solution will enable rice traders and manufacturers to track scope 3 agricultural emissions as reported by farmers through a mobile application.

At IFCs request, Agritask developed a mobile application to digitize agriculture practices, which over 2,000 smallholder farmers of coffee, pepper and rice used in the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta in Vietnam throughout 2022 and 2023. We have helped farmers adopt best agriculture practices and digitize their workflows while also improving visibility down the value chain. We are proud to support over 2,000 Vietnamese farmers utilizing this system, said Marta Bogdanic, Senior Operation Officer at IFC.

Agritask built a custom mobile application through which growers receive tailored digital agronomic advice, such as real-time weather alerts and crop care. Food and beverage traders engaged in the project, such as ECOM and Simexco, with the support of JDE, gain access to digitized dashboards from growers that improve accountability, visibility, and standards.

On November 9, 2023, Ofir Ardon, CEO of Agritask, discussed the impact of digitized agriculture workflows on safety, regulation, and sustainability in Vietnam during the IFC-organized event, Digital Disruption in Agriculture Forum: The Way Forward in Vietnam. Ardon shared his expertise on the panel, Digitizing Supply Chains to Enhance Sustainable Agri Practices, Traceability, and Enable Certification.

I was honored to be on the ground in Vietnam to talk about the local agri-food supply chain transformations that are driving food security, supply chain resiliency and sustainability, says Ofir Ardon, CEO of Agritask. Together with the IFC and participating Vietnamese agribusiness companies, Agritask is helping pioneer digital, responsible farming in Vietnam to inform and improve communities for decades to come.

For more information and to download the full case study on Agritask and IFC in Vietnam, visit agritask.com.

About Agritask:

Agritask is a Crop Supply Data Intelligence Software Company, providing predictability and sustainability into crop supply for Food & Beverage enterprises. Our SaaS platform is a crucial link that directly connects enterprises to growers and suppliers at the source of their value chain. Leveraging augmented agronomic data, AI/ML, and data analytics, Agritask equips Food and Beverage enterprises with invaluable insights and cutting-edge tools. Agritask helps these enterprises optimize supply operations and achieve and quantifiably measure their sustainability goals while mitigating risks across globally distributed farming ecosystems.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130069051/en/
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/
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/
Partner with us for Press release distribution and get best in class service, guaranteed postings on tier 1 media and maximum reach
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
Hyundai Motor, South Korea's biggest carmaker, said Friday its November sales rose 5 percent from a year earlier helped by strong demand for high-end models.

Hyundai Motor sold 365,576 vehicles in November, up from 348,280 units a year earlier on strengthened sales of SUVs and its independent Genesis brand's models, the company said in a statement.

Domestic sales surged 18.3 percent on-year to 72,058 units while overseas shipments gained 2.1 percent to 293,518 units.

A Hyundai representative said the company will actively respond to the uncertain business environment through optimizing production and sales, as well as improving its product line mix with a focus on high-value-added vehicle models. (Yonhap)
Kia, South Korea's second-largest automaker by sales, said Friday its November sales rose 1.7 percent from a year earlier thanks to increased overseas demand for its SUV models.

Kia, the smaller auto affiliate of Hyundai Motor, sold 260,227 vehicles last month, up from 255,836 units a year ago, on increased sales of its Sportage, Seltos and Sorento SUV models, the company said in a statement.

Foreign shipments rose 3 percent on-year to 209,637 units last month, but domestic sales slid 3.6 percent to 50,022 units.

The Sorento was the most popular model domestically, having sold 9,364 units last month, while the Sportage was the top selling model overseas, having shipped 41,218 units. (Yonhap)
The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has recently announced the date for the RO/ARO 2023 recruitment examination. The examination is scheduled to be held on February 11, 2024. Aspirants aiming to secure government positions through this competitive examination can now gear up their preparation based on the exam date.

Details about the RO/ARO Recruitment Exam

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has announced the exam dates for the positions of Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer (RO/ ARO). The exam will be held on February 11, 2023, according to the announcement. The exam will take place in two shifts, from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Candidates can view the detailed notification on the UPPSC website at uppsc.up.nic.in.

UPPSC RO/ARO Admit Card: How to download

Go to the official website uppsc.up.nic.in and click on the RO/ARO admit card link on the homepage.

Enter your login details and log in.

Print out the admit card for future use.
Hamas began freeing Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their cease-fire in Gaza by another day. But 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.

Hamas freed two Israeli women 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.

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 Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war . 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 cease-fire ends.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped on Oct. 7. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers.

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 over how an Israeli ground assault backed by bombardment can avoid heavy civilian casualties.

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.

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 attackers, brothers from a neighborhood 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 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.

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.

The initial truce, which began 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.

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.

The two women released so far on Thursday  who are 21 and 40 years old  have 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.

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.

The 30 Palestinians due to be released by Israel on Thursday include 22 teenagers 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.

The 210 Palestinians released so far under the cease-fire have mostly been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several of the freed women 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 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 cease-fire, 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 Oct. 7.

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed over 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.

The toll is likely much higher, as officials have only sporadically updated the count since Nov. 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.

Palestinians in Gaza have been calling for a permanent end to the war, saying the temporary truces dont resolve the humanitarian catastrophe across the territory. Over 1.8 million people, around 80% of the territorys population, have fled their homes, with more than 1 million sheltering in U.N. schools

In the central city of Deir al-Balah, lifes daily struggle now consists of hunting down basic commodities such as flour and cooking gas that remain scarce despite increased aid entering during the truce.

People want the war to stop ... to see what happened in our homes and to our families, said Samir Yaghi, who fled from Gaza City. He said hes been searching for flour but cant find any. (AP)
Transcargo International to build cement silos for Sinai White Portland Cement

01 December 2023

Transcargo International (TCI), a veteran terminal operator in Egypt, announces the signing of an agreement with Sinai White Portland Cement (SWCC), for the development of Egypts first bulk cement silos in Arish Port, marking a significant milestone in the cement industry in Egypt and its export capabilities.

SWCC, a subsidiary of the world's largest white cement manufacturer, Aalborg Portland Group (Cementir Holding NV), operates one of the world's largest white cement plants in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. This collaboration marks the launch of Egypt's inaugural bulk cement silos in Arish Port, signifying a monumental leap forward for the nation's cement export capabilities.

Under the terms of the commercial agreement, TCI will build and operate for SWCC a white cement terminal with a capacity exceeding 200,000tpa, facilitating the export of the company's products to different export markets. The terminal will boost SWCCs competitive position providing extra logistics capability to fulfil market needs across all Mediterranean region and worldwide. This strategic initiative will facilitate seamless exports of SWCC's premium products to diverse global markets.

The Arish Port bulk terminal project features six cement silos with a total storage capacity of 60,000t (10,000t each). Two silos will be used for white Portland cement and four for grey Portland cement. The objective is to streamline cement exports, reduce costs, and enhance competitiveness for the Egyptian cement exports. This partnership between TCI and SWCC marks a pivotal milestone in optimising the cement export process, fostering cost efficiency, and positioning Egypt as a formidable player in the global cement industry.

"This project aligns with our commitment to supporting Egyptian exports by providing specialised logistics solutions across several industries. 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," stated Mr Mohamed El Ahwal, TCI CEO.

Alberto Barbieri, MD of Sinai White Portland Cement Co, expressed his pleasure concerning the collaboration with TCI. He stated that 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. In addition, this project is in line with Cementir Holdings 2030 sustainability road map and the Egyptian government development plan for Sinai.

The partnership between TCI and SWCC marks a significant step forward in optimising the cement export process, fostering cost efficiency, and positioning Egypt as a major player in the global cement industry.

Published under
Betolar to speak on sustainable alternatives to cement at COP28

01 December 2023

At COP28 UAE, Finnish sustainable materials technology company Betolar is tackling one of the largest sustainability issues of our time: how to reduce climate impacts of the construction industry and decarbonise the sector by replacing concrete with sustainable alternatives to one of the world's largest sources of carbon emissions, cement.



Betolar is disrupting the concrete sector with scalable, circular alternatives to cement, used in applications such as the worlds lowest-emission hollow-core slabs, which can reduce the carbon footprint by as much as 80 per cent compared to traditional concrete. At the same time, the company is offering a circular solution to increase environmental safety in the mining industry.



The company will be present in Dubai during COP28, for its attendance at Big 5 Global, the largest and most influential event for the construction industry in the Middle East, and invites media representatives to visit this free event during COP28. Betolar is participating with its local partner Fujairah Concrete Products, at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, A 121.



The pair are launching cement-free Geoprime pavers and blocks at the event. The products have already gained recognition as they were shortlisted in the Green Building Material of the Year category at the MENA Green Building Award in November 2023.

Published under
Karsan Ramji signs geothermal power deal

01 December 2023

Kenya-based Karsan Ramji and Sons, which produces Ndovu Cement, has signed a 20-year deal with the countrys state-owned geothermal developer Geothermal Development Company (GDC). Under the agreement, GDC will provide Karsan Ramji with 40tph of steam from which the cement producer will generate power using a 4MW wellhead generation unit. Karsan Ramji will also use the geothermal heat for a 700tpd drying unit. This marks the first time in Kenya that an industrial player and manufacturing firm has sought to generate its own power using geothermal steam, reports Think Geoenergy.

This engagement opens new investment frontiers around the geothermal ecosystem, says Paul Ngugi, CEO, GDC. We are taking a departure from the conventional power generation into an exciting and promising realm of captive power and thermal heat. And this is crucial. It means, we are, in essence, expanding the geothermal pie and making it accessible and profitable.

GDC manages the steam field of the Menengai Geothermal Field, supplying geothermal steam to the 35MW power plant of Sosian Energy, which began operations this year. Two more 35MW power plants are in development in Menengai, while GDC is also conducting drilling and well testing in the Baringo-Silali Geothermal Field.





Published under
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 Nov. 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, U.S. 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 Oct. 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 Oct. 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 Oct. 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. (AFP)
Palestinian officials say 109 people killed since truce expired

Israel's warplanes pounded Gaza on Friday after talks to extend a week-old truce with Hamas broke down, sending wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and others onto the streets to seek safety.

Eastern areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza came under intensive bombardment as the deadline lapsed shortly after dawn, with columns of smoke rising into the sky, Reuters journalists in the city said. Residents took to the road with belongings heaped up in carts, fleeing for shelter further west.

In the north of the enclave, previously the main war zone, huge plumes of smoke rose above the ruins, seen from across the fence in Israel. The rattle of gunfire and thud of explosions rang out above the sound of barking dogs.

Rocket sirens also blared across southern Israel as militants fired from the coastal enclave into towns.

Within hours of the truce expiring, Gaza health officials reported that 109 people had been killed and dozens wounded in air strikes that hit at least eight homes.

Medics and witnesses said the bombing was most intense in Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been sheltering from fighting further north. Houses in central and northern areas were also hit.

"Anas, my son!" wailed the mother of Anas Anwar al-Masri, a boy lying on a stretcher with a head injury in the corridor of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. "I don't have anyone but you!"

Further south in Rafah, residents carried several small children, streaked with blood and covered in dust, out of a house that had been struck. Mohammed Abu-Elneen, whose father owns the house, said it was sheltering people displaced from elsewhere.

At the nearby Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital, the first wave of wounded were men and boys.

Gazans said they feared that the bombing of southern parts of the enclave could herald an expansion of the war into areas Israel had previously described as safe.

Leaflets dropped on eastern areas of the main southern city Khan Younis ordered residents of four towns to evacuate - not to other areas in Khan Younis as in the past, but further south to the crowded town of Rafah on the Egyptian border.

"You have to evacuate immediately and go to the shelters in the Rafah area. Khan Younis is a dangerous fighting zone. You have been warned," said the leaflets, written in Arabic.

Israel released a link to a map showing Gaza divided into hundreds of districts, which it said would be used in future to communicate which areas were safe.

'Hell on earth has returned to Gaza'

The United Nations said the collapse of the ceasefire would worsen an extreme humanitarian emergency.

"Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office in Geneva.

There were expressions of regret and dismay from leaders around the world, though notable silence, at least initially, from Washington, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a trip to the region, declining to answer questions about it to reporters on his plane.

Each of the warring sides blamed the other for causing the collapse by rejecting terms to extend the daily release of hostages held by militants in exchange for Palestinian detainees.

The pause which began on Nov. 24 had been extended twice, and Israel had said it could continue as long as Hamas released 10 hostages each day. But after seven days during which women, children and foreign hostages were freed, mediators failed at the final hour to find a formula to release more, including Israeli soldiers and civilian men.

Israel accused Hamas of refusing to release all the women it held. A Palestinian official said the breakdown occurred over female Israeli soldiers.

Qatar, which has played a central role in mediation efforts, said negotiations were still ongoing with Israelis and Palestinians to restore the truce, but that Israel's renewed bombardment of Gaza had complicated its efforts.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, has ruled Gaza since 2007.

Israel's bombardment and ground invasion have laid waste to much of the territory. Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed and thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble.

The United Nations says as many as 80 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million have been driven from their homes, with no way to escape the narrow territory, many sleeping rough in makeshift shelters.

Israel has imposed a total siege, and residents and humanitarian agencies say aid that arrived during the truce was trivial compared to the vast needs of so many displaced people.

Drivers at the crossing from Egypt said the resumption of fighting had halted the movement into Gaza of aid trucks, which go through a laborious process of Israeli inspections that had sped up during the truce.

"The bombardment has been going on since seven in the morning. There are planes and artillery and we haven't moved," said driver Saleh Ebada, who had already been waiting to enter the crossing for inspection for eight days.

Washington has said publicly that it was putting pressure on its ally Israel to better protect civilians once war resumed. Blinken, who had met Israeli and Palestinian officials on Thursday on his third trip to the region since the war began, had praised the truce and said Washington hoped it would be extended. (Reuters)




Greg Callaham Graphic Design, a Chattanooga design firm, announces it has received national recognition for creative excellence in advertising design. Mr. Callaham captured five American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA, a nationwide trade publication, for his work on behalf of out-of-home advertising customers CADAS, Fluhman Outdoor Media, Sisson Outdoor Advertising, Visual Outdoor Advertising and Vector Media. The award-winning ads appeared across the United States as billboards and bus graphics.This marks the 14th consecutive year Mr. Callaham has earned the prestigious awards since starting the company in 2009.The ad for CADAS, which appeared in Chattanooga, featured mountain climbers representing the challenges and helping hand relationship embodied by CADAS. The Fluhman Outdoor Media ad featured a shark as an expert on dental health and appeared in Texas. An ad for Sisson Outdoor Advertising in Blue Ridge displayed a largemouth bass in a Santa hat for a local marina. The campaign for a health and beauty spa ran in the Blue Ridge and Murphy areas on Visual Outdoor Advertising billboards. The bus wrap ran in Orlando and featured menu items from a local restaurant covering the entire vehicle.Im really blessed, said Mr. Callaham. I have such wonderful clients who present me with the opportunity to use my God-given gifts and the talents learned from four decades of experience to bring their messages to life with impact. Sometimes its tweaking their vision in an unexpected way, sometimes they turn me loose with the proverbial blank sheet of paper. Either way, I get to do something I love, execute my craft to the best of my ability and make the customer happy.The editors of Graphic Design USA, honor the outstanding work of creative professionals in the graphic arts community each year. To win an American Graphic Design Award means the entry is recognized as some of the best and brightest among thousands of entries from graphic design firms, advertising agencies, in-house corporate and institutional designers, publishers and other media across the United States, in over 20 categories from print and packaging to internet and interactive design. Of approximately 10,000 entries, only a highly selective 10 percent receive recognition for creative excellence. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the American Graphic Design Awards.
Dark money refers to funds spent in politics and lobbying where the donors' identities are not disclosed. Without transparency, it can shape policies and influence elections while raising concerns about the integrity of the political process.

I am concerned about the amount of dark money that is being spent on politics. Enormous sums of money are flowing into political campaigns and parties both at the state and national levels. Unfortunately, we tend to ignore the exorbitant costs of political campaigns and the individuals or organizations that are influencing them. As a result, polarization and partisanship have increased, and the free, open, and civil exchange of ideas has decreased. This is detrimental to improving the lives of citizens.

Political consultants, strategists, and various other individuals such as pollsters, advertisement creators/buyers, and hangers-on receive payment from both political parties. However, most consultants do not seem to be concerned about the essential problems that the average citizens face daily such as education, healthcare, fiscal and regulatory issues, housing, transportation, and economic opportunities. It's hard to believe that this is what our founding fathers had in mind.

The revolving door between government and the private sector, where officials become lobbyists, raises ethical concerns, and can contribute to a perception of undue influence. Its a complex issue that often sparks debates about transparency and accountability in the political system. State leaders need to craft better policies around these issues.

It is crucial that we push for full transparency when it comes to political donations and passing laws that address the impact of dark money on the political system. Strengthening regulations on campaign financing can help to create a more just and responsible political atmosphere. This will ensure that the political process remains credible and fair for everyone.

Transparency is also critical in policymaking. We must be critical consumers of research, before making policy. Who is paying for the research? Where is it from? Can it be replicated?

Promoting an informed citizenry and reducing the influence of money in politics are essential principles for a healthy democracy. Striving for policies that prioritize the public interest over financial interests contributes to a more robust and representative political system.

Concerns about education have been a long-standing issue in Tennessee, even before it became a state. Recently, Governor Bill Lee has proposed a universal voucher system for education that will be modeled after similar legislation in other states. However, it's important to find Tennessee-specific solutions for Tennessee-specific problems. Education policies must be tailored to the needs of the state, because a one-size-fits-all approach is not effective.

The voucher debate will be intense. While Tennesseans debate the issue, we hope that outside influences and outside state dollars do not influence elected leaders more than their constituents. I have already read and heard of politicians being threatened by opposition or support for their political position on this issue. That is unfortunate. Our politicians should never be for sale to the highest bidder, nor should they be intimidated.

If we have learned anything since 1776, it is an informed citizen is the most critical element for good government or better public policy. Rational debate is the key to a healthy democracy. Laws shaped through thoughtful discussions lead to better outcomes. It ensures that all voices are heard, promoting progress and community. Dark money harms policies and silences citizen voices.

JC Bowman

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
Pictured, left to right, are 1st Lt. Michael Maroon, Lt Col. Tony Crowder and Col. Barry Melton photo by Maj. Larry Stewart, public affairs officer, CAP Pictured, left to right, are 1st Lt. Michael Maroon, 2nd Lt. Serena Frailey and Col. Barry Melton photo by Maj. Larry Stewart, public affairs officer, CAP Pictured, left to right, are Capt. Ed Dempsey, 1st Lt. Michael Maroon and Col. Barry Melton photo by Maj. Larry Stewart, public affairs officer, CAP Previous Next

During a recent meeting of the Choo Choo Senior Squadron, four of their newer Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members were promoted.S.M. Serena Frailey was promoted from senior member to second lieutenant. She joined the squadron last year, as one of the BEST (Beginning Emergency Service Training) Program trainees. Since joining, she has completed level one (out of five career-long levels) of her professional development program, and has earned her aircrew wings by qualifying as a mission scanner and is currently training as an airborne photographer.Second Lieutenant Michael Maroon is another of the BEST Program recruits, and has recently been commissioned as the squadron commander.In addition to completing level two, he has also earned several mission qualifications including mission radio operator, mission scanner and airborne photographer. On Thursday evening, he was promoted to first lieutenant, an advanced promotion recognizing his value to CAP for his medical experience as a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist), APN (advanced practice nurse) and RN (registered nurse), with 40 years of experience.Past Tennessee Wing Commander and past Southeast Region Commander Colonel Barry Melton presided over the promotions ceremony. He was asked to make a special visit to the squadron in order to present one of the new members with an advanced promotion to lieutenant colonel.Before joining Civil Air Patrol about 18 months ago, Lt. Col. Tony Crowder (USAF Ret.) had a long military career, including his appointment as the director of the National Security Operations branch of the U.S. Customs Service. Before that, he retired from 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. He was trained in air battle management, and was first in his class in his Advanced Air Defense class. He served as the weapons and tactics officer for the USAF's largest wing, and deployed combat ready units to Desert Storm. His other career accomplishments are equally impressive. He retired from the USAF in 2000 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.As a member of CAP (Civil Air Patrol), Lt. Col. Crowder was eligible to receive an advanced promotion equal to the rank which he held in the Air Force. After lots of paperwork and waiting, his promotion just came through, and on Thursday night, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In just 18 months, Lt. Col. Crowder has completed level one, and earned his mission scanner and mission observer qualifications.One of the Choo Choo Squadron members was absent from the promotion ceremony, but was recognized for advanced promotion to captain. Captain Gregory Van Fossen was recognized for his experience and qualification as a CFII (certified flight instructor, including instrument) rating. Capt. Van Fossen has completed level one, and is also qualified as a mission scanner, mission observer and mission pilot, and frequently flies the Red, White and Blue Cessna 182 that is usually based at Chattanooga Airport.Other promotions that have occurred over the last few months include Captain Wendy Britt, a professional instructor who has completed level two, and is a qualified mission scanner, and First Lieutenant Thomas Tomisek, who completed level one and is a qualified mission scanner.Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the worlds largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving Americas communities, saving lives and shaping futures.Last year, the Choo Choo Senior Squadron conducted the Beginner Emergency Services Training (BEST) Program and recruited about a dozen new members to the squadron. Since then, several more members have joined, and the squadron is anticipating more promotions in the coming year. They continue to invite potential members who have an interest in general aviation and desire to serve the community to visit a squadron meeting, usually held from 7-9 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month at Wilson Air Center, 932 Jubilee Dr. in Chattanooga, on the west side of the airport. For more information, contact the squadron's Recruiting and Retention Officer Major Larry Stewart at 483157@tncap.usFor more information about Civil Air Patrol, visit CAP.news or GoCivilAirPatrol.com and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
The Chattanooga Cadet Squadron Civil Air Patrol held a change of command ceremony on Tuesday at Wilson Air Center.During the change of Command ceremony, Cadet Major Kira Michelle Vassilev relinquished command of the squadron to Cadet First Lieutenant Jonathan Alexander Colston.I have enjoyed working with you and growing my professional leadership skills, Cadet/Maj. Vassilev said in her exit speech. I have learned many things about myself. She ended with an encouraging list of advice, including, Remember that you get out of the program what you put into it.Cadet/Maj.Vassilev currently attends Chattanooga State University for her business degree. She works as well and has many other hobbies that she is interested in. Cadet/Maj. Vassilev has been a member of the squadron since February 2017. She accepted command on June 28, 2022.Cadet First Lieutenant Colston said that he has enjoyed working under Cadet/Maj. Vassilev and that he has learned much from her. I am Looking forward to working with all of the cadets and leading you all, he said. Senior Members, I look forward to working with you all as well and continuing to grow the squadron for future cadets. Cadet 1st Lt. Colston has served the squadron since March of 2018.Squadron Commander First Lieutenant David J. Breedlove said he has enjoyed working with both cadets this past year. Both cadets have been outstanding leaders and inspiration for the squadron, he said. He congratulated Cadet 1st Lt. Colston on his new role and assured him that the senior members are here to help support them in any way they can.Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the worlds largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving Americas communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.Visit CAP.news or GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information. Follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.Before ending the night C/1st Lt. David Zachariah Frank Breedlove who served as the master of ceremonies, congratulated both cadets on their hard work and achievements. He also thanked their special guest, Tennessee Group II Commander Maj. Robert E. Lawson, Jr., for his support and help in securing a meeting place to make the change of command special, and to Wilson Air Center for allowing them the opportunity to use the lobby.If you would like to learn more about Chattanooga Cadet Squadron, you may visit the webpage at tn187.cap.gov or you can find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CAPTN187.
Girls on the Run of Southeast Tennessee will host its 5K event this Sunday at the Tennessee Riverpark Shelter #4, and they are welcoming members of the community to participate."Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in third to eighth grade. During the ten-week program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season celebratory 5K event," officials said.This season, participation in the 5K event is open to the public and all proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run of Southeast Tennessee.Registration cost is $20 per person. Participants are welcome to run or walk as this is a non-competitive, untimed event. Every finisher receives a medal. Parking is free.Packet pick up will be at the registration table on the day of the event beginning at 1:30 p.m. Festivities start at 1:30 p.m., with the 5k starting at 3 p.m.For more information about the event, how to register and volunteer opportunities, visit 5K | GOTR Southeast Tennessee (girlsontherunsetn.org)."Join us for 5k fun and cheer on the girls who completed the Fall 2023 Girls on the Run program," officials said.
The East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra joins the Annie Moses Band for their national Christmas tour this Sunday at 7 p.m. at Collegedale Community Church, 9305 Four Corners Place in Collegedale.This family-friendly event is open to the public.Tickets are free with online registration here A schedule of future concerts is available on the ETSOs website at www.etsomusic.org. Formore information, contact Mathew Miller at 423-580-4999, or visit etsomusic.org.
Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla took turns showcasing their own versions of 'regal' during the South Korea state visit, a commentator says.

Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton did more than participate in hosting South Korea as part of a state visit. The queen and Princess of Wales also demonstrated just how closely they work together on their outfits. Ahead, how Queen Camilla and Kates patriotic outfits, complete with tiaras, signaled an exchange, per a commentator.

Camilla and Kate cemented how synchronized they are with King Charles and Prince William while welcoming South Korea

Flag dressing is a thing for royals. On Nov. 21, 2023, Queen Camilla and Kate, alongside their husbands, King Charles III and Prince William, welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

They did so with a symbolic choice of clothing, according to Bethan Holt, The Telegraphs fashion director. The four royals sported nods to the South Korean and Union Jack flags by wearing red, white, and blue.

Kate wore head-to-toe red and Camilla navy blue. King Charles the Prince of Wales color-coordinated, wearing blue and red ties, respectively.

I think it definitely cemented how synchronized the four of them are, Holt told People. There is a real sense of them being a unit together, and the flag dressing really underlined that.

Camilla showed off a new kind of regal at the state banquet for South Korea with a red velvet gown

Holt then turned her attention to the nighttime event, a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. Queen Camilla and Kate both wore tiaras  more on those ahead  and, per the commentator, it was the formers try at regal that stood out.

Kate looked stunning, she said of the 41-year-olds white gown. But Camilla really went bold in that red velvet gown. I think Kate looked incredibly regal in the day; I think Camilla looked like a new kind of regal in the evening. You could feel this kind of exchange going on between them, which I think is really interesting.

As for tiaras, Kate sported the Queen Mothers Strathmore Rose tiara, one that hadnt been worn publicly since the 1930s. Queen Camilla also had a tiara first. She wore the Burmese Ruby tiara for the first time.

That was Camillas big fashion moment in the evening, although obviously, everyone was talking about Kates tiara, Holt said. So that did take away from it a little bit. But for the most senior royal woman to be in such a fashion look, it felt like a departure, definitely.

I feel like Camilla is dressing the part, she added. But I dont think she has any ambitions to be kind of a bold fashionista, the center of attention, whereas Kate knows this is part of her role.

Kate, Camilla, and the rest of the royal family put on a united front via fashion at the 2022 Christmas concert

The South Korean state visit marked far from the first time Queen Camilla and Kate stepped out publicly with coordinated outfits. Perhaps the most memorable example over the last year came in December 2022.

White taping Together at Christmas, the annual holiday carol concert hosted by Kate at Westminster Abbey, the two women, along with other royals, matched in burgundy or white.

The sartorial united front contrasted a claim Kates sister-in-law made just days earlier in Netflixs Harry & Meghan docuseries. Meghan Markle explained she dressed in neutral colors in an effort to not stand out or inadvertently match another senior royal, which she called a no-no.



To my understanding, you cant ever wear the same color as Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth II] if theres a group event, the Duchess of Sussex said. But then you also should never be wearing the same color as one of the other more senior members of the family.
Here's what an expert noticed about the Prince and Princess of Wales' demeanor during their public appearances amid new allegations.

Amid troubling allegations made about the royals in a new book, members of the family have stepped out in full force. It was busy as usual for royal family despite the release of Endgame by Omid Scobie, who also authored the Sussex-friendly biography Finding Freedom.

On Nov. 29, Prince William and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) appeared at Windsor Castle with Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden and Prince Daniel. The next night, the Waleses attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Now, a body language expert is breaking down what he saw from the prince and princess while they were out and about amid the new attacks against them.

Prince William and Kate Middleton | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Expert says Prince William and Kate appeared relaxed with no nerves during appearance

Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and TV as a consultant and has been dubbed the Human Lie Detector.

Stanton discussed what he observed from William and Kate when they greeted their fellow royals at Windsor. Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, he explained: Kate and William look super relaxed, and no one looks nervous or out of place either. We cant see William putting his hands in his pockets, which he normally does when he feels nervous. It tells us that all four feel confident, resilient, and happy.

Kate and Victoria both went in for a hug, which tells us they are fond of each other and on the same page. They show theyre genuinely happy and want to be in each others company. Their smiles are authentic and their open body gestures reveal they are being open and honest about themselves with each other. Neither of them are hiding or pretending their feelings.

William and Daniel did something very similar where they mirrored each others gestures, Stanton continued. It shows neither of them feel more powerful than the other. Theyre both enjoying the moment and feel equal to each other.

William and Kate also put on a united front and nothing is fazing them

Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive to attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London | DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images

The expert added that although the royals arent happy about whats out there, they have not shown signs that anything is bothering them. Moreover, they have been getting on with their duties as if nothing fazes them.

The pictures of William and Kate show they feel confident and strong. Theyre putting on a united front together and nothing is fazing them, Stanton said. In the photo with the four of them looking at the camera, we see Kate and William adopting the same posture, which suggests they feel at ease and want The Crown Princess of Sweden and Prince Daniel to feel equal. They want them to feel theyre on the same page.

Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
Scientists led by Peter Zoller have developed a new tool for the measurement of entanglement in many-body systems and demonstrated it in experiments. The method enables the study of previously inaccessible physical phenomena and could contribute to a better understanding of quantum materials. The work has now been published in Nature.

Entanglement is a quantum phenomenon where the properties of two or more particles become interconnected in such a way that one cannot assign a definite state to each individual particle anymore. Rather, we have to consider all particles at once that share a certain state. The entanglement of the particles ultimately determines the properties of a material.

Entanglement of many particles is the feature that makes the difference, emphasizes Christian Kokail, one of the first authors of the paper now published in Nature. At the same time, however, it is very difficult to determine. The researchers led by Peter Zoller at the University of Innsbruck and the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OAW) now provide a new approach that can significantly improve the study and understanding of entanglement in quantum materials. In order to describe large quantum systems and extract information from them about the existing entanglement, one would naively need to perform an impossibly large number of measurements. We have developed a more efficient description, that allows us to extract entanglement information from the system with drastically fewer measurements, explains theoretical physicist Rick van Bijnen.

In an ion trap quantum simulator with 51 particles, the scientists have imitated a real material by recreating it particle by particle and studying it in a controlled laboratory environment. Very few research groups worldwide have the necessary control of so many particles as the Innsbruck experimental physicists led by Christian Roos and Rainer Blatt. The main technical challenge we face here is how to maintain low error rates while controlling 51 ions trapped in our trap and ensuring the feasibility of individual qubit control and readout, explains experimentalist Manoj Joshi. In the process, the scientists witnessed for the first time effects in the experiment that had previously only been described theoretically. Here we have combined knowledge and methods that we have painstakingly worked out together over the past years. It's impressive to see that you can do these things with the resources available today, says an excited Christian Kokail, who recently joined the Institute for Theoretical Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics at Harvard.

Shortcut via temperature profiles In a quantum material, particles can be more or less strongly entangled. Measurements on a strongly entangled particle yield only random results. If the results of the measurements fluctuate very much  i.e., if they are purely random  then scientists refer to this as hot. If the probability of a certain result increases, it is a cold quantum object. Only the measurement of all entangled objects reveals the exact state. In systems consisting of very many particles, the effort for the measurement increases enormously. Quantum field theory has predicted that subregions of a system of many entangled particles can be assigned a temperature profile. These profiles can be used to derive the degree of entanglement of the particles.

In the Innsbruck quantum simulator, these temperature profiles are determined via a feedback loop between a computer and the quantum system, with the computer constantly generating new profiles and comparing them with the actual measurements in the experiment. The temperature profiles obtained by the researchers show that particles that interact strongly with the environment are hot and those that interact little are cold. This is exactly in line with expectations that entanglement is particularly large where the interaction between particles is strong, says Christian Kokail.
The average morning routine for many Americans includes inhaling several milligrams of chemicals that may be harmful to their health, Purdue University researchers have found.

Within a residential archiectural engineering laboratory, Purdue researchers studied how various hair care products can release chemicals that linger in the air after use. Purdue University photo/Drew Stone

In a newly-published paper in Environmental Science & Technology, a journal of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Nusrat Jung, an assistant professor in the Lyles School of Civil Engineering, discovered that several chemicals, particularly cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes  which are ubiquitous in hair care products  linger in the air after use. On average, Jungs team reports, a person can inhale a cumulative mass of 1-17 milligrams of potentially harmful chemicals in a single hair care session in their home.

We found the results to be extremely alarming, Jung said. We did not expect to see such significant emissions of volatile chemical mixtures from off-the-shelf hair care products during typical hair care routines that many people perform each and every day.

The often greatest  and most concerning  chemical inhaled, Jung said, is decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (aka D5 siloxane). It is an organosilicon compound and is often listed first or second in the ingredient lists of many hair care products, indicating it can be among the most abundant ingredients. It has become a common ingredient over the past few decades in many personal care products due to its low surface tension, inertness, high thermal stability and smooth texture.

D5 siloxane has been found to lead to adverse effects on the respiratory tract, liver and nervous system of laboratory animals, Jung said. The use of the chemical in wash-off cosmetic products has already been restricted in the European Union because of this. Many of these products are scented, too, and some of the chemicals used to make these fragrances are potentially dangerous to inhale as well.

According to the European Chemicals Agency, D5 siloxane is classified as very persistent, very bioaccumulative. And while the test results on laboratory animals is already concerning, Jung said, there is little information on its human impact.

There has not been much in-depth research into this, so we really have no idea to what extent the threat these chemicals pose when inhaled over a long period of time, Jung said. There have been tests into wash-off products like shampoos, but almost none for leave-on products like hair gels, oils, creams, waxes and sprays.

Jungs research also noted that applying high heat to these chemicals, such as though curling irons and hair straighteners, serves to further release the chemicals into the air. When met with temperatures of 210 degrees Celsius, researchers found the chemical emissions from the hair care products increased anywhere from 50% to 310%.

To make matters worse, Jung said, these airborne chemicals do not merely remain in a single room  or even just the home.

Home ventilation is likely a major pathway of indoor-to-outdoor siloxane transport, Jung said. In urban environments, this is especially significant as you will have hundreds  even thousands  of homes ventilating out potentially harmful chemicals into the urban atmosphere all in a short span of time as people get ready for work and school in the morning. These chemicals are then collectively piped back into buildings through ventilation systems once more. So even if using products with harmful chemicals is not part of your hair care routine, you will still be impacted due to your surroundings in an urban environment.

Surveys on different population groups indicate 16% to 70% of participants use leave-on hair care or hair styling products, Jungs research reported. Considering an average use frequency of hair care products between two and five times per week, based on surveys on hair care product usage patterns, and assuming that 10% of leave-on hair care products are siloxane-based, the total indoor-to-outdoor emission of D5 could reach 0.4 to 6 metric tons per year in the U.S.

So, how can people protect themselves from inhaling these chemicals?

The best solution is to simply not use these products, Jung said. I used to use similar products myself to straighten my hair, but after we analyzed the data, it became immediately clear that the best thing I could do to protect my own health was to stop using them.

If one must use these products, the next best thing is to have an exhaust fan running to minimize the amount of chemicals inhaled, said Purdue civil engineering PhD student and researcher Jinglin Jiang.

Ventilation can be an effective way to reduce siloxane exposures during indoor hair care routines, Jiang said. Our model shows that turning on the bathroom exhaust fan can reduce D5 inhalation exposures by over 90%.

That, however, further contributes to its environmental impact. Jungs research reports that the cumulative indoor-to-outdoor D5 emission with the exhaust fan always off reaches 710 milligrams within three hours, while the indoor-to-outdoor D5 emission with the exhaust fan always on reaches 900 milligrams within only one hour.

Theres a good reason why these chemicals are restricted from being used in wash-off hair care products in certain parts of the world, Jung said. The effects on people and the planet need to be studied further and regulatory action needs to be taken.

Gathering the data Jungs experimental research was conducted in a residential architectural engineering laboratory that she designed: the Purdue zero Energy Design Guidance for Engineers (zEDGE) Tiny House.

zEDGE is a mechanically ventilated, single-zone residential building with a conditioned interior. A state-of-the-art proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) from Jungs laboratory was used to measure D5 siloxanes and other volatile chemicals in the indoor air in real time, second-by-second.

The hair care routine emission experiments were conducted during a measurement campaign in zEDGE over a period of several months, including three experiment types: realistic hair care experiments that replicate actual hair care routines in the home environment, hot plate emission experiments that explore the relationship between the temperature of the hair care tools and volatile organic compound emissions, and surface area emission experiments that investigate how hair surface area impacts volatile organic compound emissions during hair care events.

For the realistic hair care routine emission experiments, participants were asked to bring their own hair care products and hair styling tools to replicate their routines in zEDGE. Prior to each experiment, the participants were instructed to separate their hair into four sections. The hair length of each participant was categorized as long hair (below the shoulder) or short hair (above the shoulder). The sequence of each experiment consisted of four periods, to replicate a real-life routine.
Runners show up in a variety of costumes

CHENEY - On the brisk Thanksgiving Day morning, hundreds of eager participants from Cheney, Medical Lake, Sprague, Davenport and beyond took to the streets for the annual Turkey Trot, a lively 5K run that has become a beloved community tradition.

The Turkey Trot, which kicked off at 9 a.m. from Cheney High School, served as a unifying force for the region, bringing together residents from various communities to celebrate the holiday with a healthy dose of exercise and community spirit.

Dressed in a colorful array of costumes ranging from turkeys and bananas to Pringles cans, participants added a festive flair to the event showcasing the community's creativity and enthusiasm. The chilly temperatures did little to deter the spirited crowd as they filled the streets, creating a lively atmosphere that echoed with laughter and camaraderie.

Notably, furry companions joined the festivities as well, with many participants bringing their dogs, adorned in equally festive costumes. The sight of four-legged friends trotting alongside their human counterparts added an extra layer of charm to the event.

Upon registration, participants were given specially designed Turkey Trot shirts, creating a sea of unity among the diverse group of runners.

Following the energetic run, participants were rewarded with more than just a sense of accomplishment.

A hot Thanksgiving meal awaited them, providing a well-deserved feast to refuel after the run. The post-run gathering allowed participants to share stories, laughter, and the joy of a communal celebration.

The Turkey Trot has evolved into more than just a run; it has become a symbol of community spirit and togetherness according to organizers.

In a year marked by challenges, the Turkey Trot proved once again that community bonds remain strong. As residents from different corners of the region came together to run, laugh and celebrate.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
(L-R) Front Row: Chief of Staff Corey Bunch, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Tahlequah City Mayor Suzanne Myers and Attorney General Chad Harsha. Middle Row: Secretary of State Shella Bowlin, Council of the Cherokee Nation for District 1 Sasha Balckfox-Qualls, Delegate to Congress Kim Teehee and Tahlequah Police Chief Nate King. Back Row: Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, Secretary of Veterans Affairs S. Joe Crittenden, Deputy Secretary of State Taralee Montgomery, Tahlequah City Councilor for Ward 3 Stephen Highers, City of Tahlequah Administrator Taylor Tannehill and Tahlequah City Assistant Police Chief Dexter Scott.
One-night stands are obviously meant to be over after one night of fun. When the deed is done, both parties never see each other again.

But in some cases, things dont go according to plan, and the woman winds up with a bun in the oven.

TikToker Brooke (@brookemcguire43) is asking the internet to help her reach the man who got her pregnant during a one-night stand. Her video blew up, amassing over 13.1 million views.

In late April of 2022, she got pregnant by a man named Ceru. She does not know his last name. Ever since then, they have not been in contact with each other.

They met on Bumble in Acworth, Georgia. Ceru is Salvadoran and has dark hair, tattoos, and one dimple on his cheek.

I am searching for him to let him know that he has a daughter, she wrote on one of the slides in her video. Her daughter is named Lillyana.

In response to numerous questions about her situation, Brooke further explained the circumstances of how she came to meet Ceru in a follow-up video.

So, the day her daughter was conceived was supposed to be a meet-up to gauge whether or not Ceru would be a good fit for a roommate.

However, their meeting turned into something a little more intimate. After they had hooked up, Brooke simply thought that she had made a stupid mistake and nothing would come of it.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Evangelicals and other pro-life advocates saw the 2022 Supreme Courts decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization as a turning point in the fight against abortion in the United States. After the court overturned Roe v. Wade and removed federal protection for the procedure, some conservative states began introducing fetal personhood laws, granting the unborn the same rights as full-born children.

But Hannah Strege watched it all unfold with another vulnerable group in mind: frozen embryos. In this new era, would they have rights? If they did, would anyone respect them?

Strege, 24, was conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1996 and frozen for two years. In 1997, she and 19 of her siblings were adopted in embryo form by John and Marlene Strege. They were shipped by FedEx to a local fertility clinic. Hannah was the only embryo to survive thawing and to successfully implant in Marlenes uterus. She was born in December 1998.

The baby is created in a laboratory and transferred to a uterus. The baby contains all the components of a separate life to become fully developed, at the time of fertilization. The frozen embryo lives outside his or her mothers womb, albeit with artificial aid, wrote the authors of an amicus brief submitted in July 2021 for the Dobbs case to highlight personhood at the earliest stages of development. Hannahs life is proof-positive of this fact.

Hannah was not the first human born from a donated embryothat is thought to have happened in 1984. But Hannah was born at the height of the debate over embryonic stem cell research in the late 90s and early 2000s and is known as the first snowflake baby to be formally adopted in a frozen state.

The Strege familys advocacy for embryo adoption elevated the concept in the US at a time when evangelicals were uncertain about many artificial reproductive technologies. At five months old, Hannah appeared on James Dobsons national Focus on the Family radio show. She appeared before Congress at age two and met President George W. Bush at age seven.

We were at the fore of an embryo adoption movement that began to allow countless other embryos in frozen storage to be given the same opportunities that Hannah had, John Strege wrote in his memoir, A Snowflake Named Hannah. We were obligated to make a stand on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, as the Bible instructs us to do, and we agreed to do so.

Article continues below

Now Hannah has grown up. And so has the fertility industry.

Since Hannah was born, the number of frozen embryos sitting in storage in the United States has risen from roughly 100,000 to an estimated 1.5 million. British couples are freezing 100,000 embryos per year. Western Australia alone reported 30,000 frozen embryos in 2022. Many of these embryosfertilized eggs in their first stages of developmentremain from IVF treatments, indefinitely chilled in canisters of liquid nitrogen with no plans for their future.

There are technical complexities surrounding the storage of embryos; its expensive and requires office space and oversight. And there are legal complexitiesfrozen embryos are generally considered personal property, so destroying or mismanaging them invites serious liability.

But Christians who believe that life begins at fertilization also see serious moral complexities with this storage process. Some frozen embryos will be birthed by their genetic mothers, but thousands of others belong to parents who are done having kids. Some embryos have been stored for decades or abandoned, even as more are frozen every day.

Image: Photography by Austin Keith for Christianity Today

Increasingly, evangelicals are adopting these embryos and giving birth to them as their own children. In December 2022, the Snowflakes embryo adoption program, a division of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, logged its 1,000th birth since its founding in 1997. Director Kimberly Tyson said the program is growing 20 percent year over year and in 2023 they served more than a hundred new adoptive families. Another faith-based nonprofit, the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) in Knoxville, Tennessee, marked its 1,400th birth from embryo adoption this year.

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that from 2004 to 2019, more than 21,000 donated embryos were transferred to wombs and nearly 8,500 of them were born. The federal government since 2002 has annually earmarked funds, most recently

$1 million, for embryo adoption awareness.

Occasionally, these snowflakes, as Nightlight calls them, make headlines: The embryo is just a year younger than the mother who birthed her. Twins born from embryos frozen nearly 30 years ago. They donated their embryos  and 20 years later, met the triplets that resulted.

But these nature-defying news articles often miss the gravity of the broader situation: Globally, as many as a million or more frozen embryos are at risk of being abandoned.

Article continues below

I

n October, Hannah and her mom met me at the Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs. The ministry was a staple of Hannahs childhood and a formational part of her story. Dobson addressed John and Marlenes ethical quandary in 1997 and later hosted their family on his radio program several times, dubbing himself Hannahs godfather.

During a break in our conversations, I meandered with the two women through a local farmers market. At one booth, Marlene Strege pointed out a candleholder decorated with snowflakes. Their family has received many snowflake-themed gifts in Hannahs honor. Marlene often wears a snowflake necklace.

Hannah initially comes across as quiet and serious. But when shes with her friends, she said, her extrovert side comes out. She reads avidly and is newly consumed with walking and training her golden retriever puppy, Aspen.

She is also continuing the mission her parents began. She has her work cut out for her: She graduated this summer with a masters degree in social work from Baylor University, which she plans to use to promote embryo adoption and raise awareness around ethical fertility practices. Shes studying for her social work license and thinks someday she might pursue a PhD.

If I wasnt doing the [advocacy] work, it wouldnt get done, she said. God gave me a unique story to share. To not be open about my story would be a disservice.

Since she was young, Hannah has connected with others like her, thanks to Nightlight and her familys awareness-raising efforts. Shes attended adoptee meetups, traveled several times to Washington, DC, and agreed to dozens of media interviews. She runs an Instagram page for embryo adoptees over the age of 14 (most embryo adoptees are teenagers or younger), since their numbers are still small enough that it can be difficult to find people with a similar story.

I took it on as my own to be a spokesperson, because most snowflakes are younger than me, Hannah told me.

Image: Photography by Austin Keith for Christianity Today

But spokesperson is also a role history has chosen for her. The Strege family has been a go-to source for many other families that have adopted or plan to adopt embryos. In graduate school, where Hannah focused on adoption, she read case studies written about her. Its been 24 years [of advocacy], and I dont know why its not widely known, Hannah said.

Article continues below

Although shes tired, in many ways shes also just beginning her advocacy career. In addition to supporting adoptees, Hannah dreams of starting a nonprofit that facilitates adoptions and also educates fertility clinics and supports adoptive parents.

Put simply, her goal is to see more babies born.

One year ago in Birmingham, Rodney and Mary Leah Miller delivered twins. Dalton and Mary Elizabeth were babies No. 1,000 and 1,001 born through the Snowflakes program.

After 10 years of infertility, including several failed rounds of IVF, the Millers doctor suggested egg donation. Uncomfortable with that option, the Millers heard about embryo adoption from a friend and began to research the possibility.

I think it was the first time we had a renewed sense of hope, Mary Leah said. Prayerfully, and with counsel from their pastor, they moved forward, and the twins were born following one failed transfer and one miscarriage. They have three more embryos from that adoption and plan to continue growing their family.

These children are everything we always hoped and dreamed for, Rodney Miller said.

Most women exploring embryo adoption have already tried IVF, Kimberly Tyson said. Around one in six adults deals with infertility, which can affect both men and women, according to the World Health Organization. A recent Pew Research Center study found that around 1 percent of American women have received IVF or artificial insemination.

But fertility treatments are becoming more common. The Pew study also found that 42 percent of adults in the US either have personally undergone some form of fertility treatment or know someone who has, compared to one-third of adults who did five years ago.

In vitro fertilization is costly, ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 per cycle, during which a woman is injected with hormones and her eggs are withdrawn and fertilized. And couples are not always fully informed about its downsides: While IVF has come a long way in terms of safety and efficiency, most treatment cycles are still unsuccessful.

Image: Courtesy of the Cheatham Family

The 770,000 IVF babies born in 2018 required some 3 [million] cycles, an editorial in The Economist reported. In America and Britain roughly half go home with a baby in their arms, even after several years and as many as eight cycles of treatment.

Those daunting statistics are one reason fertility centers encourage women to retrieve many eggs and create multiple embryos on the front end of treatments. It increases the chances of conceivingand frequently creates more embryos than a couple can actually birth.

Article continues below

Chris and Rebecca Henderson were married in 1992. After 12 years of trying to have children, they were advised to explore IVF. Uncertain but prayerful, they moved forward and created 13 embryos, and two were born as fraternal twins.

When the twins were six months old, the Hendersons fertility clinic began to ask about next steps for their 11 remaining embryos. Rebecca was advised not to have more children, so the Hendersons faced a difficult decision.

Most people with remaining embryos in storage have a few options. They can discard them. They can donate the embryos for scientific researchthough few labs take embryos from IVF due to limited government funding. Following Dobbs, the volume of embryos donated to research has been reduced significantly, an IVF laboratory director for Stanford Medicine Fertility and Reproductive Health toldThe Washington Post.

Alternatively, embryos can be frozen in storage for a monthly fee ranging from $500 to $1,000. Or embryos can be given to another family that wants to raise them as their own.

The longer the embryos are stored, the more likely [the families] are to walk away, Tyson said.

Some clinics feel overwhelmed by the growing volume of embryos sitting in storage, as the nitrogen canisters take up space and doctors may create dozens of embryos per patient. One doctor told NBC News in 2019 that some patients have 4060 eggs retrieved in a cycle, and the embryologist gets the orders from her doctor to inseminate all of themand the question isnt asked if the patient even wants that many inseminated.  Nobodys going to have 30 kids.

We were not prepared for any of this, a Florida reproductive endocrinologist told NBC News. Twenty-one percent of our embryos have been abandoned.

Image: Courtesy of the Henderson and Gassman Families

The Hendersons, though, found Snowflakes and were matched with Dan and Kelli Gassman.

Its a roller-coaster ride of emotions in deciding to sign over, even when you step outside of yourself and think of it rationally, Rebecca said. We loved this option, but it took us a while emotionally to get to that point.

Kelli married in her early 40s. After several years of trying to conceive, the Gassmans turned to embryo adoption and ultimately adopted the Hendersons 11 embryos. At age 46, Kelli gave birth to Trevor, who is now 10. A year later, she gave birth to Aubrey.

Article continues below

Its the most selfless gift anyone has ever given me, Kelli said.

The Henderson-Gassman adoption was initially a partially open adoption, where all communication was mediated by the adoption agency. But soon the families decided to meet, and then they continued meeting. Now they vacation together annually, and the children are like cousins. Their story is unique, but the families say that its bigger than us.

Its a very emotional journey, Rebecca said. But if you can put yourself on the back burner and see that its a great path for parenthood  it can be a great path to help others have children who cannot.

Many Christian couples who struggle with infertility feel uncomfortable using donated eggs or sperm. And if they dont pursue IVF because of cost, low success rates, or moral objections, they generally turn to adoption to grow their families.

But not all adoption is equal.

There are at least 369 fertility clinics in the United States that have performed donated embryo transfers, a CDC study found. They rarely function like traditional adoption agencies, since embryo donation involves far less red tape than adopting a child. Embryo recipients generally arrive at a fertility clinic having already found an embryo donorthrough networking groups or even on social media.

On the plus side, this informality helps make embryo adoption relatively affordable. Implanting a donated embryo costs half the price of IVF and a third of the price of a private adoption.

But while some fertility clinics require patients to participate in some level of counseling, new parents often receive little support beyond that, compared to parents who adopt traditionally.

Hannah Strege thinks embryo-adopting families should participate in every part of an adoption process, including home studies and interviews, which most fertility clinics dont offer. She also wants to see standards raised across the embryo donation industry. If embryos are people, after all, they should not simply be traded on social media without some additional layers of protection.

Embryo adoption is in the best interest of the child, versus the interest of the [placing] family, Hannah said. God knows where he has your child.

Article continues below

Only a few embryo organizations facilitate embryo transfers as adoptions, matching potential adoptive families with donor families who want to place their embryos up for adoption. Most of them are faith based, and the two largest are Nightlight, an adoption agency which has locations across the US, and the NEDC in Knoxville.

The NEDC launched in 2003 as a nonprofit facilitating embryo donations and adoptions. Donor families from across North America sign their rights over to the NEDC, and the adoptive family can browse through a digital catalog of the thousands of embryos stored on site. The organization does not require families to be religious, but it does require adoptive couples to be heterosexual and married.

Theres no empirical data, but anecdotally, the vast majority of people who come through are Christian, and most of those are evangelicalsand a significant amount of Catholics as well, said spokesperson Mark Mellinger. Embryo adoption tends to resonate with evangelical believers. He estimates that the NEDC performs about 10 percent of all US embryo adoption transfers per year.

Most donated embryos are Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic. Very few are African American, Mellinger said, and they are saved for Black adoptive families. We generally reserve minority embryos to be matched with recipients of the same ethnic background, he added.

The NEDC facilitates both donations and transfers to families who want to adopt. It works closely with an onsite clinic in Knoxville and outsources some of the adoption process, such as home studies, to accredited providers like Nightlight. The NEDC offers both open and closed adoptions.

Unlike the NEDC, Nightlights Snowflakes program has no affiliation with fertility clinics. It works as a liaison for families who want to surrender their embryos, adoptive families, and fertility clinics nationwide that can perform the transfer procedure. Tyson and her team match adopting and donating families based on mutual requirements, which means that many of their families are evangelical, two-parent households. They encourage families to communicate early on, with both families choosing the kind of relationship they will hold in the future.



The number one reason that families adopt via embryo adoption is that the woman wants to experience pregnancy and childbirth, Tyson said. They want to give birth to a baby.

Article continues below

Tyson estimates that maybe 20 percent of embryo adopters are driven by altruism, people eager to give embryos a chance at a life instead of pursuing a child who has already been born.

But there are also outspoken critics of embryo adoption. They argue that to participate in the industry is to participate in an unethical system and promote the overproduction of embryos. Some say adopted children will struggle with their origin stories the way traditional adoptees do. Others are parents who struggle with the idea of surrendering their embryos to other families.

Jennifer Lahl, a bioethics advocate and founder of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, believes that our obligation is first to the orphan among us and the needs of children here now who are without a loving home to be raised in.

Matthew Lee Anderson, a Christian ethicist and professor at Baylor University, believes adoption cant ultimately solve the surplus embryo problem. He argues that evangelicals, on the whole, dont have the capacity to adopt every child needing a family and every embryo deserving to be born.

Its not a problem; its a grave moral crisis, he said. If embryo adoption, as a practice, extends the manner of thinking that brought [embryos] there in the first place, then I think we ought to look on it with a wary eye. He believes that embryos who cannot be born should be allowed to go back to God with contrition and lament.

Most other critics, however, agree that if an embryo cant be born to the genetic parents, adoptionideally, open adoptionis the only positive outcome for these tiny lives caught in a global fertility crisis.

Embryos are not leftover or unused, as though they were things or tools, wrote Russell Moore (now CTs editor in chief) in 2012. These are image-bearing persons who are endowed by their Creator, not by their usefulness with certain inalienable rights. Opening our hearts, and our homes, and sometimes our wombs, to the least of these is a Christ-like thing to do.

Aaron and Jennifer Wilson agree. Quintessential US evangelicals, they live in Nashville, where Aaron works for Lifeway and Jennifer works for Union University, both homeschooling their 12-year-old twins. As newlyweds, they had stumbled upon a Baptist Pressarticle about embryo adoption and were immediately excited at the possibility. But they put the idea on hold.

Article continues below

Three years later, still childless, they were encouraged to try IVFa process they were uncomfortable pursuing.

We made a call in the parking lot at the doctors office the day we got the diagnosis, Aaron, 42, said. Two weeks after talking to the NEDC on the phone, they applied for embryo adoption. After two failed transfers, they welcomed their twins into the world via C-section. Embryo adoption resonated with us, because we are also very passionate about pro-life options. Embryos are invisible to the naked eye, but they are microscopic souls.

God called Jesus a person when he was still in Marys womb, Aaron pointed out. God humbled himself into the form of an embryo  as only a few cells, the size of a pixel, he said. Embryo adoption really just opened my eyes to the wonder of the Incarnation.

For many Christians like Hannah who believe that life begins at fertilization, its not enough to see stored embryos be born into the world. They want to see the number of frozen embryos stop growing.

Embryo adoption is trying to solve a problem of excess embryos, said John Strege, Hannahs dad. The problem, and its solution, is twofold, advocates say: Too many embryos are being created, and too many are being abandoned. (Some studies have also suggested that prolonged freezing can harm embryos.)

Advocates agree that in an ideal world, the first solution is to prevent the proliferation of frozen embryos, through regulations or simply awareness and education. Some see the solution being in laws and regulations in the fertility industry. In Germany, for example, freezing embryos is banned except under rare circumstances.

I dont believe embryo adoption should be neededwhat is needed is a federal law like Germanys, said Lahl.

Fertility doctors and clinics should also educate patients on the long-term implications of creating and storing embryos, advocates like Hannah say.

I would highly recommend [families] create the number of embryos that would be immediately implanted each cycle, said Jeffrey Barrows, a former ob-gyn and senior vice president of bioethics and public policy at the Christian Medical and Dental Association.

He acknowledges that this is more expensive and physically demandingremoving and fertilizing one egg at a time is less efficient than creating whole batches of embryos. But Barrows thinks such personal choices are a better solution than legislation, because laws can backfire on Christian organizations (governments might impose requirements that go against a groups convictions). Youre saving human livesits worth the money and extra cycles.

Article continues below

Many families who donate or place their embryos for adoption say they werent properly educated or didnt think through the long-term results of creating more embryos than they could give birth to.

Some, like Lahl and Barrows, say families, as able, should bring their remaining embryos into the world as the best possible solution for the children. And Aaron Wilson observed that if parents die without surrendering their embryos, legal responsibility could potentially pass to their childrenthe embryos siblings.

The childs perspective is often missed, Barrows said. It is ideal for the child to grow up with genetic parents.

In addition to wanting to see fewer excess embryos formed, Hannah just wants more families to consider embryo adoption, whether they are able to conceive naturally or not. People are so in love with their own egg and sperm and not considering adoption, she said. I want to see more lives saved through embryo adoption.

The Strege family has heard many stories of families who ultimately pursued embryo adoption after hearing Hannahs story on the radio, in a news article, or through word of mouth.

As Hannah and her mom talked with me over steaming cups of chili from Focus on the Familys cafeteria, Whits End, a young Canadian woman from an nearby table interrupted us.

I felt God told me to talk to you, because Ive been listening to your conversation, she said, holding back tears and stumbling over her words. My husband and I have been struggling with infertility for several years and have been talking about next steps. Ive heard about embryo adoption and have been waiting for confirmation that it is the right direction for us. Meeting Hannah and Marlene on a random afternoon seemed like divine confirmation, she said.

Its these little conversations, day after day, that are just as important for the work of adoption awareness as the trips to Washington and the radio interviews, Hannah said.

The work can feel exhaustingexplaining for the thousandth time what an embryo is, or why someone should use adoption language to recognize embryos humanity. But its these conversations that are slowly making embryo adoption more commonplace among evangelicals.

The numbers may seem impossible, but theyre not hopeless. If Hannahs aspirations come true, every snowflake could one day have a chance at growing up.

Kara Bettis Carvalho is an associate editor at Christianity Today.

[ This article is also available in espanol and Portugues. ]

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.
Are evangelicals and Orthodox allies in the faith?

While both confess the Nicene Creed, Orthodoxys smaller population in the United States remains obscure to most American believers, especially when compared with Catholics. Many think of Orthodoxy as a nominal religion with empty cathedrals in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Yet there is also an awareness of not-insignificant numbers of evangelical converts to Orthodoxy, drawn by its ancient roots and sacramental practice.

Bradley Nassif knows both worlds. Raised in Kansas, where his Lebanese immigrant grandparents helped establish St. Marys Antiochian Orthodox Church, his spiritual transformation came through his local congregation, a Billy Graham sermon, and participation in a high school Bible study. But though he remained in his church of origin, he became an academic director at Fuller Seminary and is now professor of New Testament and Orthodox-Protestant dialogue at the California-based Antiochian House of Studies.

Oxford University professor John McGuckin said that Nassif, a leader in the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative (LOI), is the leading world expert on Orthodox-Evangelical dialogue. CT talked with Nassif about his 2021 book, The Evangelical Theology of the Orthodox Church:

You have said, I am Orthodox, and therefore evangelical. How does Orthodoxy address the general markers of evangelical faith?

Eastern Orthodoxy embraces the classic Bebbington quadrilateral of biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism, but transcends it through a maximalist vision of the Incarnation in its liturgical, sacramental, and spiritual life. The gospel permeates the churchnot only about Jesus dying for our sins and the need for personal faith but including the whole story of Jesus from creation to consummation. This implies that the fullness, the catholicity, of the faith is formally present in the Orthodox church. So, yes, I am Orthodox, and therefore evangelical, in an incarnational, Trinitarian, wholistic sense of the word gospel.

What are the most significant theological differences between us?

Many are found in the way we appropriate the past and in our understanding of the nature of the church. Evangelicals and Orthodox share a common interest in Christian history, but the Orthodox are more organically linked to the past than our evangelical brothers and sisters, whose communities are only loosely connected to the fullness of the faith and polity of historic Christianity.

Article continues below

Evangelicals seem unaware that the early church is the Orthodox church. The congregations they meet in the pages of antiquity are treated as if they were an invisible body of believers, instead of a visible community of local Orthodox churches. Those churches shared the same faith and sacraments, led by bishops in communion with each other in apostolic succession, continuing to the present day.

In contrast, evangelicals stress the invisible body of Christ as the basis of unity and seem content to permit the visible disunity that exists in Christianity today. The Orthodox, however, maintain that this is a detrimental counter-witness to the truth of the gospel.

Another critical difference in mindset lies in the hermeneutics of biblical interpretation. We agree on the Bible as the source of divine revelation and the standard by which all claimed Christian belief must be evaluated. But we disagree on the role of the Christian community in testing our exegetical conclusions, in light of the apostolic tradition that has been handed down in the life of the church. The Holy Spirit inspired not only the writing of the Scriptures but also their interpretation.

That difference helps to account for why Orthodox churches have escaped the destructive aspects of liberal Protestant theology that permeate mainline denominations and progressive circles today. A reliance on Holy Tradition keeps biblical interpreters from an idolatrous confidence in their own exegetical conclusions, by testing them against the common faith of the wider Christian community.

Can there yet be an ancient and preserved consensus of error?

Not everything received from the past is of equal value or necessarily true. The Orthodox mind follows the holy Fathers, as stated in the preamble of the Chalcedonian Definition (A.D. 451), but it does not merely appeal to the past as if that alone is the source of truth. Antiquity itself is no proof of truth; it may simply be old error! To follow the holy Fathers is to embrace not only their witness to the faith, but also their method of theological reasoning.

For example, in the eighth century, the Orthodox world lived over 30 years with the understanding that icons were idolatrous. This decision was passed by bishops at the Council of Hieria but overturned in A.D. 787 by the Seventh Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. In both cases, the theological sources were the same: Scripture, previous councils, and tradition. The difference in outcome is attributed to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness over time through reception in the church.

Article continues below

Here we touch upon the mystery of the Orthodox doctrine of the church, which Protestants and Catholics often find hard to understand. Neither Scripture nor pope is the sole criterion of truth. There is an inseparable link between the Holy Spirit living mysteriously in the church and its dogmas, worship, and spiritual life.

A beautiful flower might illustrate the point. Lets say the roots of the flower represent the church. The church, in turn, connects to a stem, which represents doctrine, and from that doctrinal stem comes a beautiful flower, which is the churchs spiritual and liturgical life. The roots, stem, and flower all belong together.

But to embrace the doctrinal stem of the Nicene or Chalcedonian councils, as evangelicals do, while rejecting the root that produced it and the spiritual flower that blossoms forth from it, does violence to the organic integrity of the flower. It cuts off the stem from both its life-giving roots and spiritual flower. The Orthodox believe the Holy Spirit keeps the whole flower intact, for the life of one part belongs to the life of all.

Image: Courtesy of Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative

Are evangelicals in need of conversion to Orthodoxy?

Conversion is a word that properly refers to the new life given by God when one first becomes a Christian. In this sense, most evangelicals I know are already converted. But the question of changing ones church affiliation is very personal, and each individual must answer for himself.

Orthodoxy believes that the church on earth must remain visibly united. So where does this leave evangelicals and other Christians who are not visibly united with it? Different Orthodox would answer in different ways.

A more rigorous group says that anyone who is not Orthodox does not belong to the church. Grace may be active in non-Orthodox churches, but they cannot be regarded as members of the church. Therefore, evangelicals, like everyone else, must convert and become Orthodox or risk losing out on salvation.

A more moderate group, however, believes that while there is only one church, there are many ways of being related to it. In this spirit I have no doubt that believing evangelicals are already in the Orthodox church, the body of Christ, even if they are visibly separated. This is not the witness God wants, but if anyone is in Christ, they must in some sense be in the church. A much fuller spiritual experience, however, can be found in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Orthodox church, for anyone who desires it.

Article continues below

Around the world, how many Orthodox are therefore evangelical?

All Orthodox are evangelical in doctrine but not always in practice. Too often, we live in a golden ghetto, surrounded by theological treasures but living in spiritual poverty. Thats the elephant in the room that goes back to at least the fourth century, when Christianity became the official religion of Rome. Im not saying the union of church and state was inherently wrong, but it had liabilities, which include dead formalism and nominal faith.

The sermons of St. John Chrysostom offer eloquent testimony to the carnal state of the average Christian. Little has changed over the centuries since then. Fortunately, the rise of monasticism in the fourth century saved the integrity of Christianity by preserving the churchs evangelical spirit.

Nonetheless, we must honor the Orthodox for preserving the faith during the harsh persecution and social humiliation suffered under Islamic and Communist rule. But like a spring flower budding after the winter thaw, Orthodox Christianity is undergoing a renaissance in the 21st century.

And spiritually, although Orthodoxy in America shares the same challenge of nominalism that exists in traditional Orthodox lands, it appears more alive due largely to the renewing influence of evangelical converts. In many ways, the Orthodox church in America is in the best spiritual condition it has ever been.

Once it reawakens to the centrality of the gospel, what must the Orthodox church do differently to evangelize its own people?

Orthodoxy cannot nurture its people simply by offering more liturgies, lectures, and try harder sermons. Rather, a robust emphasis on the gospel must be made central in every life-giving action of the churchits preaching, liturgical rites, sacraments, missionary outreach, and educational curricula.

This isnt rocket science; its an emphasis on the ABCs of the faith. Spiritual transformation starts at the beginning by renewing our baptismal vows through repentance and faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, relying on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for Christian living.

Renewal comes to a parish one person at a time, so we begin with ourselves. Leaders and laity alike must ask if we have consciously embraced Jesus call to take up the cross and follow him (Mark 8:34).

Article continues below

The gift of salvation requires a response. People sometimes need a gentle question about where they stand in relation to Christ. That can happen throughout the liturgical year in sermons, counseling, Bible studies, home visits, or simply over a cup of coffee. Regardless of how it happens, internal evangelism and the call to discipleship are the prescriptions for a vibrant parish.

Is this necessary for their salvation from hell, or only for living the fullness of Christian life?

Only God knows! It depends on where each individual stands in relationship with God. Some think they are Christians just because they are from an Orthodox country; others are religious but lost. Many have been spiritually neglected and need pastoral care. Overall, Orthodox people are quite receptive to the gospel when it is presented clearly by a loving and trusted member of the church.

Just because the gospel is in the church doesnt mean that our people have understood and appropriated its message. Our mystical teachers, such as St. Symeon (tenth century) and St. Makarios of Egypt (fourth century), remind us of the need for a conscious experience of God in the heart.

While repentance leads to this consciousness, for some the awareness of Gods life in the soul may come suddenly, while for others only gradually as they obey the commandments.

Especially in the Orthodox world, how can evangelicals assist this gospel message?

Evangelicals must first examine their own attitudes and goals. Do they believe Orthodoxy is not true Christianity? Do Orthodox need an evangelical conversion?

Missionaries can further their work in Orthodox lands by first learning as much as they can about the faith and its influence on the cultural heritage.

Monasticism, for example, is at its core the embodiment of Jesus call to take up your cross and follow me (Luke 9:23). Study the icons and the saints. Read Dostoevsky and listen to Tchaikovsky. Conversations around these topics are also a good way to build bridges with clergy.

Greater success among the Orthodox might come through a reminder of the gospel witness already present within the writings of their own cherished leaders.

Your book notes that evangelicals are sometimes discriminated against in the Orthodox world.

Recognizing the major concern over proselytism by evangelical missionaries in Orthodox lands, the Orthodox also need to understand who evangelicals are. Too often, they are lumped together indiscriminately with sects and cults who reject the divinity of Christ and the Holy Trinity.

Article continues below

I think the Lord would be pleased if more Orthodox leaders could understand the difference between the popular, sometimes less sophisticated forms of evangelicalism that appear on TV or the internet, and the respectable theological heritage of evangelical scholarshipsuch as that present in LOI.

But with or without an improved mutual understanding in Orthodox countries, faith is best served by protecting the rights of all people to exist without discrimination. Human and religious freedom lie at the heart of the biblical and patristic understanding of the image of God, because the only love worth receiving is a love that is freely given.

What is your hope for the unity of the church?

We are already united in Christ but that unity is imperfectanything more requires full agreement in faith. But we cannot take Communion together, for example, since we believe so differently about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

I do not believe Orthodox and evangelical Christians will ever become visibly united, and I am fine with that. There are too many differences that must not be minimized for the sake of superficial unity. Our imperfect unity, however, can have a more perfect witness by supporting our mutual proclamation of Christ as Lord and Savior.

We can do this through social action to help the poor, defense of the unborn child and monogamous heterosexual marriage, and the cooperative evangelism advocated by Billy Graham. Years ago, high-ranking Orthodox bishops publicly supported his campaigns in Russia and Romania, on the condition that all Orthodox people who came forward to dedicate their lives to Christ would be directed back to an Orthodox church for follow-up.

Together, may God give us such mutual humility and love, for the sake of Christ and his worldwide church.

[ This article is also available in Portugues. ]
The following books are selected by IChing Thomas, a writer and speaker specializing in the relevance of the Christian faith in Eastern cultural contexts, and author of Jesus: The Path to Human Flourishing: The Gospel for the Cultural Chinese.

Confucianism is a belief system rather than a religion, a system of ethics rather than a story of the divine. As the former state religion of ancient China, Confucianism serves as the foundation for Chinese culture, shaping its worldview, forming its traditional values, and offering a structure for relationships and the challenges of everyday life.

Many of Gods truths, which Chinese people have observed and applied from general revelation, can be understood through Confucianism and acknowledged when Christians share the gospel with people of Chinese descent. For example, both recognize the corruption of humanity.

But while the Bible finds the root of depravity in sin, Confucius blames it on a bad environment and doesnt offer an account of what makes this context bad to begin with. Understanding these similarities and differences can help us in our apologetics, evangelism, and ministry to Chinese people.

Below are five books about Confucianism that I recommend:

An Introduction to Confucianism, by Xinzhong Yao

This is a balanced and concise textbook on Confucianism. Unlike many books that offer a linear account of Confucian intellectual history and influence, this title presents Confucianism as a system of thought with many dimensions and as an ancient tradition that still holds contemporary appeal. As we witness the growing interest in Confucian studies around the world today, this book gives us a glimpse of why this revival is taking place.

Confucius and the Chinese Way, by H. G. Creel

What are some of the images or impressions that come to mind when we think of Kongzi (Confucius, ) or Confucianism? It may surprise us today that the traditional Chinese depiction of Kongzi is not what we would expect for a sage whos reputed to have had such a deep and wide imprint on East Asian worldviews and cultures. It is this inconsistency that led Creel to explore whether or not tradition has failed to accurately portray the Kongzi who lived 2,600 years ago. Though extensively researched, the book is fully accessible to the general reader. If you want to understand what makes the largest ethnic group in the world tick, start with this book.

Confucianism and Christianity: A Comparative Study, by Julia Ching

Confucianism and Christianity: Isnt that like comparing apples and oranges? Is Confucianism a religion or a philosophy? These questions have not been adequately answered for at least 300 years (since the arrival of early missionaries in China) and its not Chings intention to attempt this. Rather, in placing the biblical faith side by side with the Confucian heritage, she hopes to provoke further thinking on whether Christianity and Confucianism are compatible.

Article continues below

Today this reflection is ever more urgent as missiologists emphasize the need for cultural contextualization in Christian evangelism and discipleship. This book may not sufficiently persuade you one way or the other, but this dialogue ought to be revived.

To Acquire Wisdom: The Way of Wang Yang-ming, by Julia Ching

Wang Yang-ming was an accomplished soldier, statesman, and Confucian philosopher during the Ming dynasty whose writings profoundly influenced the political and intellectual development of China, Japan, and Korea. He was fascinated by questions wrestling with the meaning of life but also spent much of his life attempting to rescue Confucianism from the vulgarized form he believed it had morphed into. Chings work on the thinker opens with a general discussion of truth and ideology before seamlessly moving into analysis of Wangs philosophy, concluding with a selection of his poemstheir first appearance in English.

The Religions of China: Confucianism and Taoism Described and Compared with Christianity 1880, by James Legge

In this classic by James Legge, 19th-century missionary to China, the Scotsman argues that Confucianism, while not purely a religion, does allude to the existence of a monotheistic God. Along this line of thinking, he contends that in order for the Chinese to readily accept Jesus Christ and not perceive Christianity as a foreign religion, missionaries must contextualize the term used to refer to God from shen () to shangdi (). While he received strong criticisms and was disregarded for his work by his peers then, I suspect he would be very much commended today.
This week on The Bulletin hosts Mike Cosper and Nicole Martin invite atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe to discuss the worlds changing climate and the case for hope rather than doom and gloom. Hannah Anderson joins the conversation to talk about authenticity and what it requires to really be real. The episode wraps up with a recap of Mikes recent trip to Israelhis interactions with the Israelis and Palestinian Christians and his new insights into the conflictmaterial that will be forthcoming as special Bulletin episodes!

Joining us this week:

Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist who studies climate change, one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. But Katharine may be best-known to many because of how shes bridging the broad, deep gap between scientists and Christians work she does primarily because shes a Christian herself. Shes been named by Christianity Today as one of their 50 Women to Watch and the United Nations as a Champion of the Earth. She serves as the World Evangelical Alliances Climate Ambassador and as the science advisor to organizations from Young Evangelicals for Climate Action to the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. Shes the author of Saving Us: A Climate Scientists Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, has a weekly newsletter, Talking Climate, and hosted the PBS digital series, Global Weirding: Climate, Politics and Religion. She is the Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Distinguished Professor and Chair at Texas Tech University.

Hannah Anderson is the author of Made for More, All Thats Good, and Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul.

Read More from Christianity Today about Todays Topics:

Changing the Conversation on Climate Change

To Whom Much Is Given, Much Will Be Required: On Christians and Climate Change

Is Authenticity Enough for Christian Apologetics?

My Generation Prized Authenticity. Why Ive Come to Love Wearing a Mask.

Israel-Hamas War Coverage

The Bulletin is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Producers: Clarissa Moll and Matt Stevens

Associate Producer: McKenzie Hill

Editing and Mix: TJ Hester

Music: Dan Phelps

Show Design: Bryan Todd

Graphic Design: Amy Jones

Social Media: Kate Lucky
Home Politics ADF head slams proposed Irish 'hate speech' law, warns of 'global trend towards censorship'

The head of a legal nonprofit specializing in religious freedom cases raised concerns about the scope of proposed Irish legislation that would clamp down on supposed hate speech, warning about the growing impulse of Western governments to restrict free expression.

"What we're seeing is a global trend toward censorship," Alliance for Defending Freedom CEO Kristen Waggoner told The Christian Post in an interview this week, warning that the United States is "not immune to authoritarian impulses."

"And it's not just a disregard for free speech; it's an active targeting to silent speech by the government."

Waggoner expressed particular concern regarding proposed anti-hate speech legislation that the Irish government has renewed efforts to pass after riots roiled Dublin. The unrest came after an Algerian immigrant stabbed three children and a care worker outside a Catholic school last week.

"I think that what we're seeing happening in Ireland is a horrific tragedy and certainly demands that there be targeted government action about the specific issue at hand, but to resort to criminalizing free speech is chilling," she said, adding that she has "many concerns" about it and the impact it will have in Ireland.

Thelegislation would not only criminalize speech "likely to incite hatred or violence" but also merely possessing material that could. Hatred is broadly defined as "hatred against a person or a group of persons in the State or elsewhere on account of their protected characteristics or any one of those characteristics." Among such characteristics are sexual orientation and "sex characteristics."

The proposal also would mandate that if a judge issues a warrant suspecting such material is on an Irish citizen's device, they must surrender their passwords to authorities under threat of jail.

X CEO Elon Musk blasted the Irish proposal earlier this week, predicting that it would apply even to memes on one's phone. In October, ADF International issued an open letter to Musk urging him to stand in solidarity against government suppression of speech.

Waggoner believes the Irish legislation is part of a more significant global drift away from free speech and pointed to multiple high-profile religious cases ADF International has litigated in recent years.

One such case involved Finnish parliamentarian Paivi Rasanen, whom state prosecutors dragged into court repeatedly over the past four years because of her 2019 tweet that took issue with the Finnish Lutheran Church's promotion of LGBT "pride month" by citing Bible verses.

The government also accused her of hate speech for a pamphlet she wrote nearly 20 years ago arguing that homosexuality is incompatible with "the Christian concept of humanity." The bishop who published the pamphlet was also charged.

Rasanen was acquitted for the second time earlier this month, though prosecutors could potentially appeal to the Supreme Court of Finland.

Waggoner cited the case of Gabriel Quadri, a sitting Mexican congressman who was accused of being a "gender-based political violator" for tweets he made opposing trans-identified men being identified as women when determining the requisite 50/50 gender parity in the Mexican Congress. Former Mexican Congressman Rodrigo Ivan Cortes faces a similar situation.

In a more extreme case, she recalled the imprisonment of Bishop Rolando Alvarez of the Catholic Diocese of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, who was convicted of "undermining national integrity" and "propagation of false news" because of his sermons denouncing the human rights abuses of the government. He was also convicted of "aggravated obstruction of functions" and "disobedience of contempt for authority."

Alvarez was sentenced to 26 years in prison after a trial he was unaware of, ADF International said at the time, noting that there were no effective legal avenues for him in Nicaragua. ADF International has filed petitions in such cases to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Waggoner said governments opposed to free speech intentionally go after high-profile figures, hoping to intimidate ordinary citizens into self-censorship.

"It sends a strong message to citizens that they should be afraid, and even when a person is acquitted in court for their expression, we know that the average person doesn't want to risk police investigation and a court case like Paivi Rasanen has gone through," she said.

In the United Kingdom, Waggoner said the government has gone so far as to prosecute Christians for praying silently while standing near abortion facilities.

Waggoner worries that the animus against free speech has seeped into the U.S. and that the First Amendment might not necessarily protect it. She noted that all major human rights treaties in Western democracies have protections for free speech, some of which are even stronger than the First Amendment, but that "these written guarantees are only as good as the citizens who enforce them."

"If we allow activists and government officials to censor speech, then the First Amendment means nothing; and when governments do censor speech, they're blurring the line between democracies and dictatorships," Waggoner said.

Based on many of the cases ADF is litigating in the U.S., the flashpoint issues typically involve sexual orientation and gender identity.

Waggoner singled out Tingley v. Ferguson, a case ADF is appealing to the Supreme Court.

In 2021, ADF filed the case on behalf of Brian Tingley, a licensed counselor in Washington state who has practiced for more than 20 years. They argue his practice is jeopardized by a 2018 state law prohibiting private conversations between counselors and minors that would attempt to affirm their biological sex or reduce same-sex attraction.

Similar "conversion therapy" bans exist at least partially in more than 25 other states and the District of Columbia, as well as numerous cities and municipalities, which Waggoner described as an example of "pure censorship."

"It's important to understand that if we don't have that very basic right of free speech, then every other right that we have is imperiled," she added. "It's the cornerstone right. You can't have self-government without it."
Home Entertainment Catholic app defends partnership with Liam Neeson despite actor's pro-abortion views

The Catholic prayer app Hallow is defending its partnership with actor Liam Neeson after receiving blowback for collaborating with the movie star despite his advocacy in favor of an effort to legalize abortion in Ireland.

Hallow announced its collaboration with Neeson and actor Jonathan Roumie of the faith-based series "The Chosen" for the Advent Pray 25 challenge. The initiative will feature "readings from the works of C.S. Lewis, voiced by award-winning actor and the voice of Aslan in the Narnia movies, Liam Neeson."

"Liam Neeson, Jonathan Roumie, and an incredible nun will guide you in daily prayer for four weeks of Advent with reflections based on different works of Lewis, including The Four Loves,Mere Christianity,The Great Divorce, and more," the blog post unveiling the Pray 25 challenge explained.

"Advent Pray 25 will focus on the three comings of Christ: personally into each of our hearts, His Second Coming at the end of time, and as an infant in Bethlehem."

Hallow touted the Pray 25 challenge as a way to help the faithful "slow down and find quiet this Advent" and enable people to discover "how the desires of your heart point to far more and greater than what the world offers."

Hallow's collaboration with Neeson did not sit well with many Catholics because the actor voiced his support for the 2018 abortion referendum in his home country of Ireland. The referendum, which passed with two-thirds of the vote, overturned the country's ban on abortion, which included exceptions for when a mother's life is at risk.

Catholic YouTube personality Brian Holdsworth took to X on Nov. 21 to share a video of what he described as "an anti-Catholic propaganda campaign to seal the fate of the unborn in Ireland" that featured the actor.

Apparently Hallow is partnering with Liam Neeson to produce some content for their app. Did Neeson ever disavow his work on this anti-Catholic propaganda campaign to seal the fate of the unborn in Ireland? https://t.co/tcqjvWz67k  Brian Holdsworth (@briankeepsworth) November 21, 2023

The ad contained dark, black-and-white imagery of blustery weather accompanied by Neeson lamenting that "a ghost haunts Ireland, a cruel ghost of the last century still bound to the land."

"It blindly brings suffering, even death, to the women whose lives it touches. Feared by politicians, this is a ghost of paper and ink, a spirit that lives in a constitution written for a different time," Neeson said.

"It is the shadow of the country we'd hoped we'd left behind," he added. "Ireland doesn't have to be chained to its past. It's time to lay this ghost to rest."

After showing images of a cross and an old building presumed to be a church, the ad transitioned from black-and-white to color, with Neeson urging residents of Ireland to "repeal the eighth." The video concluded with a declaration that "Abortion is illegal in Ireland, even when there's a risk to health and in cases of rape, incest and severe fetal impairment" and a call to action to "help us change this."

Holdsworth asked if Neeson ever disavowed the ad spearheaded by the nongovernmental organization Amnesty International.

Hallowresponded to Holdsworth and suggested that the app considered Neeson's pro-abortion advocacy when deciding whether or not to hire the actor to do voice-over work for the Pray 25 series.

"It's something we've discerned intensely," Hallow wrote in a tweet.

Hallow founder and CEO Alex Jones reacted to the pushback over his company's collaboration with Neeson in a statement published Sunday.

"Hallow stands proudly and unequivocally in support of all Catholic Church teaching, especially the pro-life stance of the Church and the [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops's] affirmation of the end of abortion as the preeminent priority," Jones stressed. "We would never allow any content on the app that goes against the pro-life teaching of the Church."

After highlighting the app's pro-life credentials, Jones stood by the decision to work with Neeson.

"When we originally decided on the theme for this year's Advent challenge, we prayed and reflected on who might be best to help bring C.S. Lewis's words to life and help us all grow closer to Christ, while still remaining, as we always do and will, fully in-line with Church teaching."

"We were thrilled with the opportunity to partner with Liam as a voice actor to read the C.S. Lewis passages because of his powerful portrayal of Aslan (who is C.S. Lewis's representation of Christ) in the C.S. Lewis films. We felt that pairing Liam alongside Jonathan Roumie and an incredible religious sister would allow us to hear Liam bring to life the writings in a new way, while also letting the religious sister and Jonathan lead us deeper into a Catholic reflection on the passages."

Jones clarified that Hallow does not "stand behind or claim to endorse any of the personal views, past actions, or political opinions of any of the narrators on the app."

"We have many actors on the app with differing personal views on many topics, some who are practicing Catholics, but several of whom come from different faith backgrounds," he acknowledged.

"Several have done things in the past or may hold personal views that we would disagree with. The one thing we do stand strongly behind is every word they read within the app itself."
Home Politics Priests for Life files FOIA request on Biden admin.'s 'targeting' of 'traditional Catholics'

A pro-life organization has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Department of Justice seeking details about federal law enforcement's retracted report labeling "radical-traditionalist Catholics" as terror threats.

Priests for Life announced in a statement Tuesday that it filed a FOIA request "to get to the bottom of the Biden administration's targeting of pro-life individuals and its increased scrutiny of 'traditional Catholics.'"

Frank Pavone, a former Catholic priest who serves as director of Priests for Life, said the purpose of the request was to "know exactly how they are using our taxpayer dollars to go after groups like ours and activists just like us, who is involved and who has been targeted."

The FBI faced pushback this year after "radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology" was identified as a national security threat in a memo circulated in the FBI's Richmond Field Office on Jan. 23.

"Republicans in Congress, with the help of courageous whistleblowers, have brought to light in recent months that the FBI is targeting 'traditional Catholics,' sometimes even enlisting the help of pastors and Diocesan church officials," he added.

"We are demanding more information about that as well. We want to see the memos; we want to know about the communications they have undertaken to pursue American citizens based on their religious beliefs and practices."

Pavone demands to "know what members of the hierarchy have been complicit in this," referring to Catholic Church leaders.

Priests for Life filed the Freedom of Information Act request with the assistance of the American Freedom Law Center.

"We have seen an unprecedented attack against 'traditional' Catholics and pro-lifers under the Biden administration," Rob Muise, co-founder and senior counsel for the AFLC, said in a statement.

"Biden and his attorney general, Merrick Garland, have weaponized the Department of Justice, which includes the FBI, to target peaceful, law-abiding citizens because they are political adversaries."

Muise alleges, "federal law enforcement authorities turn a blind eye to the observed and well-documented violence of left-wing radical groups associated with Antifa and the Black Lives Matter movement because this administration considers them political allies."

"These police state tactics must stop. We intend to use the Freedom of Information Act to shine a light on these dark tactics of the Department of Justice," he added.

The January memo stated that "the increasingly observed interest of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) in radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology almost certainly presents opportunities for threat mitigation through the exploration of new avenues for tripwire and source development."

The document, made public by former FBI Special Agent Kyle Seraphin in February, defined "radical-traditionalist" Catholics as those "characterized by the rejection of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) as a valid church council; disdain for most of the popes elected since Vatican II, particularly Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II; and frequent adherence to anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT, and white supremacist ideology."

The memo attempted to clarify that "radical-traditionalist Catholics compose a small minority of overall Roman Catholic adherents and are separate and distinct from 'traditionalist Catholics' who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass and pre-Vatican II teachings and traditions."

The FBI told The Daily Signal that the document did not "meet the exacting standards" of the law enforcement agency and "quickly began taking action to remove the document from FBI systems and conduct a review of the basis for the document.

Catholic advocacy groups have viewed the federal government's corrective actions as inadequate.

Priests for Life is not the first advocacy group to seek documents from federal law enforcement following the publication of the Richmond office memo.

Earlier this year, CatholicVote sued the FBI and the Department of Justice after the agencies declined to comply with its FOIA requests in a timely manner.

Aninvestigation conducted over the summer by the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee revealed that the FBI's Richmond Field Office "coordinated with multiple FBI field offices across the country" when compiling the memo warning of "radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology."

In a lesser-redacted version of the memo, the committee found that "both FBI Portland and FBI Los Angeles field offices were involved in or contributed to the creation of FBI's assessment of traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists." The discovery came after FBI Director Christopher Wray assured lawmakers when testifying under oath that the memo was limited to a "single field office."

The pre-dawn arrest at the home of pro-life activist Mark Houck in 2022 is often cited as the most prominent example of the Biden administration's targeting of the pro-life movement, which Priests for Life's FOIA request also inquires about. Houck was arrested for a purported violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for allegedly assaulting an abortion clinic escort.

Houck maintained his innocence and contended that he "pushed" the clinic escort because the man repeatedly harassed and cursed in front of him and his young son as they prayed outside a Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A jury found Houck not guilty on all counts in late January.
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 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 World Pastors wife, mother of 2-month-old-baby, fatally shot in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria  A funeral was held in southwest Nigeria on Saturday for a pastors wife shot to death in Taraba state a week earlier, sources said.

Oluwakemi Moses, wife of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor serving in Jalingo, Taraba state, was returning to the town with her 2-month-old baby from her native Ondo state when terrorists shot at her vehicle along the Wukari-Jootar highway on Nov. 17, said her husband, Pastor Konye Timilehin Moses.

Addressing mourners at her funeral in Akure, Ondo state in southwest Nigeria, Pastor Moses stated in humble supplication that he would love the Lord no matter what, and that the devil was defeated in Christs death and resurrection, then paid tribute to his wife.

Goodbye, righteous soul, till the resurrection morning, he said. I love you, Oluwakemi. Keep resting, my dear love, youre indeed in the bosom of our Savior. Til we meet again.

Attacks along the Wukari-Jootar federal highway at the intersection of Taraba and Benue states have been relentless, said Taraba resident Emmanuel Yakubu.

Despite the heavy presence of military and police checkpoints along this route, incidents like these persist unchallenged, Yakubu told Morning Star News in a text message. Numerous citizens have faced similar ordeals. These occurrences demand immediate action from the appropriate authorities.

Yakubu called on the military and the police to urgently intervene.

Mrs. Oluwakemi left behind a 2-month-old baby. We vehemently condemn these criminal acts and urge swift action against these perpetrators, Yakubu said.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people.

In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year.

Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation.  Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity.
Home Politics Sandra Day OConnor, first female Supreme Court justice, dies at 93

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to sit on the high court bench and served for 25 years, died at the age of 93 on Friday.

The Supreme Court announced she died this morning in Phoenix, Arizona, as a result of complications from advanced dementia and a respiratory sickness.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said that O'Connor "blazed a historic trail as our Nation's first female Justice."

"She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor," stated Roberts. "We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education. And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot."

A native of El Paso, Texas, O'Connor was born in 1930 and married John Jay O'Connor III in 1952, earning multiple degrees from Stanford University before serving on the Maricopa County Superior Court and then the Arizona Court of Appeals.

O'Connor was nominated to the Supreme Court by Republican President Ronald Reagan and served on the high court from 1981 until her retirement in 2006, being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by Democrat President Barack Obama.

During her time on the Supreme Court, O'Connor was considered a moderate swing vote who often supported pro-choice policies.

In 2003, O'Connor authored the majority opinion in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger, in which the Supreme Court narrowly upheld a University of Michigan Law School policy that used race as a factor in admissions.

O'Connor wrote in her opinion that "race-conscious admissions policies must be limited in time" and predicted that "25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today."

O'Connor's statement about when the need for racial preferences might expire was a major point in the case of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The ruling handed down in June concluded that colleges and universities could not use race as a factor in admissions.

"University programs must comply with strict scrutiny, they may never use race as a stereotype or negative, and  at some point  they must end," wrote Roberts, alluding to O'Connor's words.

"Respondents' admissions systems  however well intentioned and implemented in good faith  fail each of these criteria. They must therefore be invalidated under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."

In addition to her legal work, O'Connor authored five books: Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest(2002),The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice(2002),Chico(2005),Finding Susie (2009) and Out of Order: Stories from the History of the Supreme Court (2013).

In 2018, O'Connor announced that she had dementia, the same disease that her late husband had been afflicted with and retired from public life.

"I hope that I have inspired young people about civic engagement and helped pave the pathway for women who may have faced obstacles pursuing their careers," she wrote at the time.

"My greatest thanks to our nation, to my family, to my former colleagues, and to all the wonderful people I have had the opportunity to engage with over the years."

Funeral details are pending.
Home Church & Ministries 62 Michigan churches leave UMC amid schism over homosexuality

A regional body of the United Methodist Church has voted to allow 62 congregations in Michigan to leave the denomination over its debate over homosexuality, joining thousands of other churches who have done the same.

The UMC Michigan Conference held a virtual special session on Thursday evening to approve the disaffiliation votes of 62 congregations, with delegates accepting the departures in a vote of 739 in favor to 21 opposed.

With the 62 churches set to leave the UMC, the Michigan Conference has seen 120 congregations disaffiliate this year, with 630 congregations still affiliated with the regional body.

In remarks made after the vote, Bishop David Bard said that there is grief and there is parting, comparing the departing congregations and the remaining congregations to Isaac and Ishmael, the sons of Abraham who went their separate ways.

The dim glimmer of new horizons is perhaps growing less dim. Perhaps even a little brighter, said Bard. Isaac and Ishmael standing at the grave of their father Abraham. They cannot stand there forever.

They must move on, each in his own way, each with his own people. Move toward a new horizon. Move forward on a rather mapless shore. Weve never been here before. We move on.

Bard noted that, as they move on, they will go with profound faith in Jesus Christ our risen Lord, trusting in the deep love of God, and trusting in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

We move on, giving each other to God, he continued.

Delegates at the special session also approved the closure of Charlevoix United Methodist Church due to other factors by a vote of 726 in favor to 13 opposed.

Over the past few decades, the UMC has experienced a divisive debate over whether the mainline Protestant denomination should remove language from its Book of Discipline banning same-sex unions and the ordination of clergy in same-sex romantic relationships.

Although efforts to change the Book of Discipline at the UMC General Conference have failed, liberal leaders within the denomination have often refused to follow or enforce the rules, drawing the ire of many theological conservatives.

In 2019, at a special session of General Conference, delegates voted to add Paragraph 2553 to the Book of Discipline, creating a disaffiliation process for congregations who want to leave due to the debate over LGBT issues. The measure is slated to expire at the end of this year.

As of last month, more than 7,200 churches have left the UMC under the provisions laid out in Paragraph 2553, with over 5,000 congregations departing the denomination in 2023 alone.

Over 3,000 departing congregations have affiliated with the Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative denomination launched last year.
Home World Exiled Catholics testify about their imprisonment under Nicaragua's Ortega dictatorship

An exiled prisoner of conscience from Nicaragua told members of U.S. Congress he was arrested without a warrant, stripped naked and subjected to multiple interrogations about Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for sermons criticizing the government's human rights violations.

The unnamed witness was one of two exiled prisoners of conscience to offer their testimonies for Thursday's U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations hearing.

With the hearing titled "An Urgent Appeal to Let Bishop Alvarez Go," witnesses called on President Daniel Ortega to release him.

Both of the witnesses are members of the Catholic Church currently living in exile due to criminal convictions by the regime. They shared their stories to help advocate for the bishop's release. Their names were concealed for safety reasons.

In February, a court sentenced the bishop to 26 years in prison and issued a fine of almost $5,000. Alvarez was stripped of his citizenship and found guilty of "undermining national integrity" and "propagation of false news." He was also found guilty of "aggravated obstruction of functions" and "disobedience of contempt for authority."

According to the witness referred to as Exiled Prisoner of Conscience #2, the injustices against people of faith worsened in April 2018 after armed paramilitary groups and police violently shut down a demonstration of young people protesting the government's social security reforms.

Alvarez and some of his clergy defended the protestors, according to the witness, who recalled that the churches served as a refuge for young people "feeling repression" from police and ruling party members.

The witness said he was kidnapped by the National Police of Nicaragua, who did not present an arrest warrant before transferring him to Auxilio Judicial de Managua jail. Once there, the exiled prisoner said that he was stripped naked and forced to wear a prison uniform.

"That same day the interrogations began, there were more than 30 interrogations, which could take place at any time of the day, even in the early hours of the morning," the witness said.

"They blackmailed me and threatened the lives of my relatives because they wanted me to declare that the bishop was a member of an organization that wanted to promote a coup d'etat against Daniel Ortega and that he received money from the U.S. government and the European Union," he continued.

In February, the unnamed witness said that he and 222 others, most of them political prisoners, members of human rights organizations and priests imprisoned for defending human rights, were exiled from Nicaragua.

The other unnamed witness, referred to as Exiled Prisoner of Conscience #1, testified that he was arrested in the street by two police officers and six members of the security troops. He was later transferred to the El Chipote prison.

While he was imprisoned, the exiled Nicaraguan said he was also interrogated about Alvarez, including how much money he supposedly received from the U.S. government and the European Union. The interrogators also asked what worship leaders discussed during parish meetings and if they used this as an opportunity to badmouth the government.

"I was accused of undermining the dignity of the state and of Nicaragua, of spreading false news," the exiled witness said.

The hearing also featured testimonies from a parent of a prisoner of conscience and Deborah Ullmer, the regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean Programs at the National Democratic Institute.

During her testimony, Ullmer named actions the U.S. Government could take to advance democracy in Nicaragua, such as working with Latin American countries and U.S. allies to advance a democratic reform in the country.

In his opening remarks, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member, called for Ortega to release Alvarez from prison and allow him to travel to the United States or the Vatican.

He noted that 12 priests last month who had been imprisoned in Nicaragua were sent to the Vatican in exile. Smith questioned why the bishop was not among them.

In early July, the newspaper Divergentes reported that Alvarez met with a representative of the Vatican who tried to persuade him to be exiled to Rome, which he reportedly refused, demanding his unconditional release.

In a statement, Bishop David J. Malloy, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, cited "another breakdown in negotiations."

Smith highlighted a video of Alvarez released by the Nicaraguan government this week. The congressman expressed concern regarding the bishop's apparent weight loss. Smith wondered whether the bishop was fed enough at La Modelo, which the congressman described as "one of Latin America's most notorious prisons."

"The international community can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening to the people of Nicaragua  including and especially people of faith," Smith said.

"The regime has closed Catholic radio stations and universities, obstructed access to places of worship, banned public Way of the Cross processions, and frozen the bank accounts of hundreds of Catholic institutions," he added.

The lawmaker said prisoners have had their requests for Bibles denied. He pointed to the Nicaraguan government's expulsion of the Missionaries of Charity  an order founded by Mother Teresa  as another religious freedom attack.

In a statement provided Tuesday to The Christian Post by Alliance Defending Freedom International, the legal advocacy group said it filed a petition in September on Alvarez's behalf with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. ADF is awaiting a response.

"For simply fulfilling his duties as a bishop and preaching on the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church, Bishop Alvarez has been unjustly convicted and imprisoned," Kristina Hjelkrem, legal counsel for Latin America for ADF International and the lead lawyer on the bishop's case, said in a statement.

"The U.S. Congress should strongly condemn the Nicaraguan government's actions against Bishop Rolando Alvarez and strongly advocate that Nicaragua comply with its human rights obligations by releasing the bishop from prison and restoring his full rights," she concluded.
Home U.S. Televangelist Mark Barclays son-in-law accused of criminal sexual conduct with person under 13

The Rev. James Randolph, a minister with Living Word International Church in Midland, Michigan, and the son-in-law of televangelist Mark Barclay of Mark Barclay Ministries, has been charged with several counts of criminal sexual conduct, including one allegedly involving a person younger than 13.

Randolph was arrested and charged Tuesday with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a relationship, four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes for crimes allegedly occurring in 2011, the Midland Daily News reported.

The televangelists son-in-law was arraigned Tuesday in Midland County District Court and is out of jail on a $500,000 cash bond. He will return to court for a probable cause hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 7.

In a statement to The Christian Post on Thursday, Josh Barclay, Mark Barclays son who also works with his ministry, said Randolph had been placed on administrative leave "pending the results of the criminal justice process."

We are aware of the arrest of James Randolph, one of our ministers on staff, and the allegations against him, Josh Barclay said. Importantly, the allegations do not involve the church, and the alleged acts did not take place in the church.

He further noted, "Living Word International Church takes seriously our responsibility to ensure the safety of our congregation, and we are committed to taking any necessary steps to protect the congregation and the church.

The charges against Randolph come months after Brandon Saylor, 44, a volunteer with the church, was charged in July with six counts of criminal sexual conduct and three counts of accosting children for immoral purposes for crimes which allegedly took place in 2010. Saylor remains in custody on a $500,000 cash/surety bond.

The charges against Randolph also upends Mark Barclays family themed ministry.

The Barclays serve God as a family team. His wife Vickie, daughter Dawn with her husband James, and son Josh with his wife Trish are all full-time in the ministry and flowing together with the Lords anointing, the ministry declares on its website.

In 2013, Mark Barclay, who is known as the self-styled "Preacher of Righteousness," asked his followers for $79,000 to repaint a luxury jet he said "actually belongs" to the Lord.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," Barclay told his supporters in a letter seeking support for his jet paint fundraiser. "Please pray about any part God would have you do, for actually the airplane does belong to Him and not me and is used for His ministry and not personal use."
2,430 hacking crimes investigated; 7,092 suspects arrested since 2022, effectively safeguarding cybersecurity: public security authority

Global Times) 10:08, December 01, 2023

Since 2022, public security organs across China have investigated 2,430 hacking crimes and arrested 7,092 suspects, effectively cutting off the chain of hacking crimes, protecting network and data security, and safeguarding the normal order of cyberspace, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Thursday at a press conference.

The authority noted that according to its latest statistics, the number of hacking cases in China has been increasing for three consecutive years, with an average annual growth rate of 27.7 percent. The ministry also noted that the average age of hackers has been decreasing year by year, and there have even been cases of elementary school students proficiently using hacker tools.

The rise in hacking crimes has become increasingly prominent in recent years. During the press conference in Beijing, Shi You, the deputy director of the Bureau of Network Security Protection of the ministry, introduced that hacking crimes mainly involve illegal intrusion into computer information systems, unauthorized access to computer data, illegal control of computer information systems, providing programs and tools for illegal intrusion and control of computer information systems, as well as the destruction of computer information systems.

The ministry released 10 typical cases of hacker crimes, as part of the efforts and significant achievements by the authority during the nationwide campaign called "Clean up the Internet."

In one typical hacking case, the Panzhihua public security bureau in Southwest China's Sichuan Province successfully handled in January a case of making profit through illegal remote manipulation of older mobile phones, with the whole chain making illegal profits of more than 100 million yuan ($14.02 million).

The local public security authority in September 2022 uncovered multiple cases of automatic ordering of value-added services on older phones, resulting in monthly deductions of 1 to 10 yuan ($1.4) for related value-added services, indicating that the phones were remotely controlled.

After investigation, it was found that the suspects surnamed Chen and Gao colluded with vendors and manufacturers of older phones to implant Trojan programs during production. They then automatically ordered value-added services such as "weather forecasting." It was verified that this gang illegally controlled over 14.4 million older phones. The Panzhihua public security bureau arrested 29 suspects in Guangdong, Beijing, Hainan, and Hunan and froze over 60 million yuan of funds involved in the case.

In another typical case, the Ya'an public security bureau in Sichuan in May discovered that the local HPV vaccine reservation platform had been hacked, resulting in a large number of HPV vaccine resources being illegally reserved for others. After investigation, it was found that suspects Chen and Yu, among others, had been using hacker techniques for a long time to illegally obtain encrypted data packets transmitted by the HPV vaccine reservation platforms of the local health commissions in 18 provinces and regions as well as 47 cities across the country. In May, the Ya'an authority cracked down on these types of crimes, arresting 36 suspects and seizing over 10 million yuan.

In another case, the Shantou public security bureau in South China's Guangdong Province in May discovered a clue during their investigation that lead them to uncover the illegal mass registration of verified network accounts using overseas AI software to bypass the facial recognition system of Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok). The Guangdong authorities found that the suspect surnamed Chen and others had purchased the personal information of citizens online and used overseas AI facial technology software to create videos of these citizen's faces, thus bypassing the real-person verification process. On July 5, the provincial and Shantou's local authorities conducted a coordinated operation in Shenzhen, Jieyang, Shantou, and other areas to apprehend seven suspects of the criminal gang, and seized a large number of related items such as computers, mobile phones, hard drives, SIM cards, and bank cards. More than 10,000 implicated Douyin accounts were investigated, with an involved amount exceeding 600,000 yuan.

The ministry launched a cluster campaign against criminal acts of illegally tampering with the tax control chip of refueling machines to steal oil and evade taxes, investigated and punished a large number of private gas stations involved, and recovered 1.46 billion yuan in evaded taxes.

Also, the ministry launched a cluster campaign against the criminal behavior of putting Trojan programs on WeChat, postal delivery, and e-commerce platforms, knocking down 121 gangs, arresting 426 criminal suspects, successfully dissuading 964 enterprises from actions that would make them a target of fraud, and recovering losses of more than 93.5 million yuan. At the same time, the authority cracked down on a number of hacker criminal gangs that illegally obtained citizens' personal information through technical means and made profit through inquiries, and seized billions of pieces of various information and data.

Shi said at the press conference that, in addition to directly infiltrating and damaging computer information systems, criminals also provide technical support, material information, and promotion services for illegal activities such as telecommunications fraud, online gambling, online pornography, and "internet water armies," through methods such as data theft, website tampering and traffic hijacking.

In addition, the scope of hacking infringement has extended from online to offline world. For example, some hackers remotely controlled parking lot barriers, tampered with fuel dispenser tax control chips, and interfered with environmental monitoring devices, forming an interconnected network of virtual and real-world crimes, according to Shi.

As new technologies, new formats, and new applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things continue to evolve, hackers are constantly upgrading their techniques. For example, they are now using AI to create fake images and voices, and exploiting vulnerabilities in blockchain smart contracts to generate large amounts of "virtual currency" and steal other people's assets.

Among the hacking cases, the technological barriers are constantly decreasing, and there is a significant trend towards younger criminals. With the highly shared nature of internet information, there are now thousands of hacker tools circulating online. Most of these tools come with detailed tutorials and are easy to operate, allowing criminals to carry out activities such as vulnerability scanning, Trojan implantation, and DDoS attacks without needing to be proficient in professional skills. The average age of hackers is decreasing year by year, and there have even been cases of elementary school students proficiently using hacking tools.

In addition, hacking crimes are shifting from being about showing off skills to being about financial gain. They are also transitioning from being individual acts to being carried out by organized groups. These crimes involve stealing online assets and infringing upon the property rights and interests of citizens. They also involve seizing public resources, disrupting social fairness and justice, interfering with pricing and measurement systems, disrupting the market economy order, tampering with ecological monitoring data, undermining ecological civilization construction, forging professional qualification certificates, and endangering production and transportation safety. Moreover, hackers provide assistance at various stages to facilitate activities such as telecommunications fraud and other malicious crimes.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Home Entertainment Rob Schneider discusses what his newfound faith in Christ means for his Hollywood career

Since emerging on the comedy landscape several decades ago, Rob Schneider has become a household name, often associated with an absurdist and raunchy brand of humor, from "Hot Chick" to "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo."

But since converting to Catholicism, an announcement the "Saturday Night Live" alum made on his 60th birthday in October, Schneider feels called to leave behind the type of comedy he has performed in the past  and he doesn't care what Hollywood thinks about that decision.

"I know I can't do the same stuff I used to do," Schneider told The Christian Post. "Not because I have anything against what I did; I did what I did, and I felt fine about it at the time. I'm not going to judge myself. But I won't do the same stuff I've done. I don't know what I'm going to do.  I want to come to it from a place of faith, a place of something good in my heart."

"I don't know if I can tell dirty jokes anymore," he added. "I don't know if I can. I don't know if I'm going to. I have an act I'm doing now; I don't know if I'll do it again next year. Just some of the bad words, I go, 'Maybe I don't want to say those words anymore.' I don't know. I also think it's important to not only talk to the converted but to bring people in, and the best form is to show by example. People talk all the time; that doesn't mean anything. So I hope that me standing up for what I believe in  God, family country  I'm OK with whatever comes my way, positive or negative. When you have faith, nothing can really rock you."

In an Oct. 31 announcement on X, the storied comedian said that he converted to Catholicism. His post declared, "I am the luckiest man in the world" and featured shout-outs to his wife, Patricia, and their three daughters, Elle, Miranda and Madeleine.

"At last it is forgiveness itself that is the gift that we give ourselves because it frees us as Christ intends for all of us to be free. For His gift of ultimate and unlimited forgiveness is indeed the gift for all humanity," Schneider concluded his post at the time.

Schneider acknowledged that his newfound faith might come at a cost when it comes to his Hollywood career  but it's a risk he's willing to take.

"I don't feel a part of Hollywood," he told CP. "I don't feel any obligation to Hollywood whatsoever. I don't feel like I'm from Hollywood. I'm just an actor and made my living for a long time there. I feel no sense of loyalty or disloyalty to Hollywood. Let them do whatever they want. I don't feel the same fear that they feel.

"I'm not speaking for all of Hollywood, but what I noticed is that there's a fearfulness to speak the truth and to talk about what people believe in and what they want," he continued. "I think a lot of it is self-motivated and protecting themselves. You're always going to be missing something if you're led by fear."

Schneider is now promoting "Daddy Daughter Trip," a heartwarming family movie he stars in with his daughter, Miranda. His wife, Patricia, co-wrote the film with his best friend, comedian Jamie Lissow. The film also stars John Cleese, Jackie Sandler, Monica Huarte and others.

The family-friendly comedy follows Larry Buble, an ambitious yet broke inventor struggling to keep his family eating and sleeping indoors. When he promises his 8-year-old daughter the spring break vacation of a lifetime, he is forced to get more inventive than ever before.

"I wanted to make a movie that finally, my wife would let my kids see," Schneider said. "This is the first one. And I wanted to make a movie that makes people feel good ... and makes you laugh, makes you think and makes you feel like you're watching a real family, and it is a real family."

The actor said that through comedy, what he does best, he wanted to highlight the importance of spending time with one's children, no matter how busy life might be.

"No matter how much money or who you have, whether it's little to no money, it's time [kids want], they want to do stuff. Childhood flies by no matter what; it's just zooming by. And you need to spend time.  It is the most special time in life," he said.

Next, Schneider wants to make a film based on a true story that explores a woman's journey to prove that the Shroud of Turin's carbon dating was flawed.

The film is "really about the love of Jesus Christ," he said, adding: "It's very difficult to make an expensive independent movie. And I've been trying for a few years to put it together and we're getting closer."

It's the love of Christ, Schneider said, that has transformed his outlook on life. He emphasized the power of love, forgiveness and loving one's enemies  a countercultural message in the face of cancel culture and what he sees as tyrannical government overreach in response to COVID-19.

"Jesus has always been there in my life; it was just me running away. But He never ran away. He was always there. So it was just acknowledging it and also realizing there was so much evil that was happening during the COVID and the tyranny that was forcing people to do things against their will. It really did come to a head for me. You had to acknowledge that there is some sort of organized evil. And the opposite of that was much stronger, which is Jesus and God."

"I think if you get to the core of Christianity, it's about love," he added. "That's it, love. Love your neighbor, love your enemy, love your neighbor as thyself. It's a beautiful way to go through life; it's a more peaceful way. And what better way to raise children? You see the countries that don't have that, and it's a cold or darker place. You see other beliefs where it's not about loving your enemy but killing your enemy. And you realize that Christianity is the true faith."

Schneider regularly addresses hot-button issues on his social media pages and expressed concern about people being misled and used for hidden agendas. He urged Christians to hold onto their faith and be courageous during these challenging times.

He sees the U.S. as an experiment in freedom and liberty that requires vigilance to maintain.

"There is a threat to liberty," he said. "The Founding Fathers, who founded this nation under God, were very astute in saying that this freedom requires eternal vigilance. I don't think our country has been extremely vigilant, either. We've been very lax. I think it's going to take some leaders with some backbone, not just worried about getting reelected, to stand up to this tyranny and to stand up against what I can't describe in any other way but evil."

Christians, he said, should be "buoyed" and "fortified" by the reality that Christianity is "under attack," adding: "It means there must be something to it."

"There is a real storm brewing," he warned. "Jesus already won. This is a mop-up mission, but it will be a mission. You need to fortify yourself and protect yourself, protect your family with faith and also be prepared. There's a cultural war that's happening, whether that cultural war turns into spiritual warfare or an actual war  and there is war in some parts of the world. It's time to get closer to God and to heed the words and be strengthened by it, not weakened, not fearful."

"Daddy Daughter Trip" will be available to own on DVD and digital on Dec. 5. Check out the trailer for the film here.
Home Church & Ministries Wife of Sam Collier, Hillsongs first black lead pastor, announces divorce amid allegations of infidelity

Toni Collier, the wife of former Hillsong Atlanta Pastor Sam Collier, who served as Hillsong Churchs first black lead pastor before he stepped down early last year as the global church network faced a wave of scandals, announced Friday that she is seeking a divorce over alleged infidelity. In response, her husband accused her of abuse.

The couple issued dueling statements on Instagram just minutes apart on Friday morning, confirming their relationship is over.

Im in the middle of the hardest season of my life. I am heartbroken, yet still hopeful. If you could see all the ways God has been kind to me and my kids your jaw would be on the floor. After years of discovering and enduring repeated acts of infidelity, I have chosen to end my marriage with Sam, Toni Collier announced minutes before 10 a.m. Eastern time.

Despite seasons of hope, attempts at reconciliation, and counseling, after recently discovering more infidelity, I realized this wasnt a sustainable or God-honoring marriage anymore. Im at a point where I have to say no more. Im taking time off the stage and social media to focus on healing with my kids. I have no desire to hurt Sam but do want to vigorously protect my heart and my children, she added before ending with, Thanks for giving us privacy to do that, and for prayers that will undoubtedly be felt. Love yall.

In a separate post that has since been deleted, Sam Collier accused his wife of being a liar and abuser and insisted that they made a mutual decision to divorce.

Toni Collier is a liar and abuser. It is documented that she has abused me our entire marriage and wants to continue to. I asked Toni not to do this. As well as our team and our lawyers. She is not divorcing me, we are divorcing each other, he wrote. AND I tried to divorce her 7 times and she begged me to stay and kept abusing me. I will tell more of the story later.

Following that post, Sam Collier released a separate, formal statement and an apology: "I would like to apologize for my earlier comments regarding my divorce. It did not reflect the leader I am or my sincere feelings. I was emotionally overwhelmed and angry at the highest level. These past two months have been extremely exhausting."

The public statements come days after The Christian Post reached out to the couple after Toni Collier posted pictures of herself and her two children last week on her social media while calling out unfaithful, manipulative and unhealthy church leaders.

Went to a safe, honest church with my babies today, sat next to dear friends who held grief with me, and left with these thoughts  Ive been in a lot of churches as a member, as a volunteer, a minister, a pastor, and as a speaker and heres what I know to be true. God will not be mocked, she wrote.

The church is designed to be the safest house on the block, Gods plan A for humanity and Ive seen it be destroyed in my time, not because of its design, but because of its unhealthy leaders. The root of this destruction is shame, she insisted. Weve all seen how the disgusting behavior of leaders and their attempt to cover up addictions, infidelity, and manipulation has torn apart Gods design and have His people left in disappointment and confusion about their own faith. But God will not be mocked.

Sam and Toni Collier both led the Georgia-based branch of Hillsong for approximately one year until he announced on March 23, 2022, that he was stepping down.

My greatest reason for stepping down as pastor of Hillsong Atlanta is probably not a secret to any of you. With all of the documentaries, scandals, articles, accusations and the churchs subsequent management of these attacks its become too difficult to lead and grow a young Church in this environment, Collier, who currently leads Story Church wrote on Instagram. I have no shame in admitting I cried like a baby moments after I informed the Hillsong global pastor of my departure."

While Story Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CP about his wifes latest announcement, Collier noted in a statement on his social media accounts that God knows the story, Im just glad Im still alive to tell it one day. Heres to better and brighter days ahead!
Home Opinion Is America leading the world in child neglect?

Americans are more accustomed than they should be to hearing that their country is leading the world in this category or that cultural development. And, they tend to just assume that whatever the subject or category is, it is a positive development. After all, its America!

This tendency to narcissistic self-regard has never been one of Americas more attractive traits, and it has served to blind Americans to serious problems bringing serious, perhaps catastrophic harm to its people.

Melissa Kearney, an MIT-trained economist, has just authored a blockbuster new book, The Two-Parent Privilege. How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind(2023).

The books dust jacket asserts that Kearney makes a provocative, data-driven case for marriage by showing how the institutions decline has led to a host of economic woesproblems that have fractured American society and rendered vulnerable populations even more vulnerable.

Dr. Kearney does indeed make her case succinctly and convincingly. Americans are unique in the degree to which we condemn our children to being raised in single-parent (almost exclusively mothers) homes. Pew Research conducted a study in 2015 covering 130 countries which shows that the U.S. has the worlds highest rate of children living in single-parent households, and the gap between the U.S. and the rest of the world is vast and cavernous.

Approximately one out of four (23%) of American children under 18 years of age is living in a single-parent home. Worldwide, the percentage of children living in such circumstances averages 7%. In contrast to America, in China (3%), Nigeria (4%), and India (5%), the percentage is drastically lower. In Canada, the percentage is 5%. Adding to the dilemma, the Pew study revealed that U.S. children from Christian and religiously unaffiliated families were about equally likely to live in this type of arrangement.

Dr. Kearneys message is powerfully argued and economically it is impeccable. As a result of the sexual revolution and the cultural elites implacable determination to never criticize that revolutions consequences on the cultureand especially on its most vulnerable victims, the childrenthe elites remain mute.

The evidence for this willful blindness is massively evident. Kearney writes that the absence of a father from a childs home appears to have direct effects on childrens outcomesand not only because of the loss of parental income and that for the social and economic well-being of children, America needs to restore and foster a norm of two-parent homes for children.

The evidence is overwhelming that Ms. Kearney is correct, but her message is hardly new or unique. The late, great Daniel Patrick Moynihan led the way in saying much the same thing in his groundbreaking report on the Black family (The Negro Family: The Case for National Action, commonly known as The Moynihan Report).

George Gilder emphasized the critical importance of the nuclear family in Sexual Suicide (1973) and Men and Marriage (1986). Charles Murray, Losing Ground (1984) and Coming Apart (2012) plowed some of the same ground.

Among others, Linda Waite and Maggie Gullager in The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier and Better Off Financially (2001) make the same case, pointing out the powerful evidence that long-term, stable marriage is good for children and their parents.

I even attempted to make the case myself in Imagine! A God-Blessed America. How It Could Happen and What It Would Look Like (2003). In that year I reported on the groundbreaking study, a Report to the Nation from the Commission on Children at Risk, entitled Hardwired to Connect. The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities.

The Commission warned that one in five children in America was at serious risk for emotional and physiological problems because of a connection crisis.

The study is Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities, a Report to the Nation from the Commission on Children at Risk, sponsored by YMCA of the USA, Dartmouth Medical School, and the Institute for American Values (New York: Institute for American Values, 2003)

In other words, the hard evidence continues to mount that failing to provide children with stable, close familial and community relationships to provide moral and spiritual meaning harms childrens biological and emotional development is extremely detrimental. And, the evidence has been accumulating for over a generation that this is so. With such large numbers of our children being denied that two-parent family environment, as a society we are practicing collective emotional and spiritual child abuse of an entire generation of American children.

The evidence of the damage to our children is there. It has been there for over a generation. And yet, our cultural elites continue to either ignore the evidence or to disconnect it as mere conservative propaganda.

Americas future will in large part depend on whether we revalue marriage, parenting, and child-rearing at the expense of the self-destructive and false search for meaning and self-fulfillment in sexual self-gratification. Our nations children await our answer.
Home Opinion World AIDS Day: The small African nation predicted to go extinct due to HIV/AIDS

As the world marks another World AIDS Day, the plight of Eswatini, a small country in Southern Africa, serves as both a testament to the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and a beacon of hope for a brighter future.



Twenty years ago, the United Nations issued a chilling warning about the potential extinction of Eswatini's population by 2050 due to the severe HIV/AIDS crisis, with a staggering 27% prevalence rate. Today, as we reflect on our journey in this resilient nation, we find that while the pandemic is not over, the end is in sight.

In 2005, at the peak of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, our family, which at the time included 3-year-old triplets and a 2-month-old baby, embarked on a life-altering mission to Eswatini, then known as Swaziland. We were armed with a calling from God and a commitment to provide compassionate, comprehensive healthcare, especially to those suffering from the complications of HIV/AIDS. Our small team ventured into a seemingly silent landscape where people were dying everywhere, and treatment options were virtually nonexistent. Our daily mission was not just a medical one; it was a testament to Christs love.

But how do you treat a condition that is rarely discussed? A disease that is thought to be shameful and patients struggle to acknowledge the reality of HIV, let alone allow themselves to be tested for it. Our approach from the outset was to treat each person with compassion and destigmatize HIV, recognizing that only by doing so could we increase the uptake of health services for all patients. Instead of overtly promoting HIV testing, we focused on what brought patients to us  be it difficulty seeing, disability, a rash, a cough, or any other condition  and then provided a full panel of comprehensive services, including HIV testing. Led by our Christian faith, every patient, irrespective of age, economic status, or health condition, was treated with dignity and confidentiality. As we treated their physical needs, we also shared with them the spiritual healing found in Jesus.

Over the years, advancements in antiretroviral treatment (ART) have transformed the narrative surrounding HIV/AIDS. No longer is it an inevitable death sentence; instead, it has become a manageable condition. Eswatini was one of the first African countries to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for treatment and viral suppression of HIV/AIDS. With a goal to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, Eswatini has made significant strides, yet the crisis's impact lingers.

The HIV/AIDS crisis left a trail of orphans, a challenge our ministry, The Luke Commission, has taken head-on. With over 700 staff, 97% of whom are Emaswati, we have become a leading healthcare provider in Eswatini. We choose to care for every last patient with compassion, no matter the cost of time or energy. Like the shepherd who leaves 99 safe sheep for one vulnerable sheep, we are unshakably committed to serving all that we can. This includes our staff.

Recognizing that many of our staff were among the orphaned and are now caring for others, we established Base Camp, a 10-week onboarding program that offers counseling opportunities to help staff process pain and trauma. This program operates at the heart of our vision to treat the whole person, empowering the team to live out The Luke Commissions mission to serve others as if they were our father, mother, brother, sister, or child. Through Base Camp and other training programs, we can care for our staff, so they are better equipped to care for others.

As the world observes World AIDS Day, let Eswatini be a reminder that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, compassionate care can pave the way from crisis to hope. The HIV pandemic is not over, but the spirit of Eswatini suggests that with continued dedication, we can indeed see the end in sight.
Doctrines and dogmas: the West's dilemma

"The strength or weakness of a society depends more on the level of its spiritual life than on its level of industrialization. Neither a market economy nor even general abundance constitutes the crowning achievement of human life. If a nation's spiritual energies have been exhausted, it will not be saved from collapse by the most perfect government structure or by any industrial development. A tree with a rotten core cannot stand." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

It was just 45 years ago that Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn gave his famous speech, "A World Split Apart," at Harvard University. Like the Biblical voice that cries in the wilderness, Solzhenitsyn criticized the moral decline in Western societies, pointing out that the emphasis on individualism, self-indulgence, and materialism was weakening the fabric of Western society.

He also called for a rediscovery of traditional moral and ethical values, a reevaluation of the pursuit of individual desires over collective well-being, and a return to a sense of purpose and responsibility.

Over four decades after his famous speech, the West seems to have gone the opposite of Solzhenitsyn's counsel. Individualism, self-indulgence, and materialism seem to be the prominent doctrines of Western civilization. I wonder if we are witnessing the beginning of the collapse of nations whose "spiritual energies have been exhausted," as Solzhenitsyn predicted.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked college students in the United States a philosophical question: "What is the key to happiness?"

I noticed a pause as if questions of this manner were not supposed to be asked. Then, a few summoned the courage to answer. One said having good friends; another said making money, and someone said sleeping well. Only one student whispered, "Having a relationship with God." I was stunned by the shallowness of their responses.

From doctrines to dogmas

The postmodern mind, forged by doctrines based on materialism and individualism, perceives the world as a purely materialistic enterprise. The transcendent has been substituted for the mundane. The mind curdled, weaned of every conception of the divine, has fallen into the abyss of materialism, consumerism, and an acute lack of meaning.

The famous English writer G.K. Chesterton once pointed out that "the special mark of the modern world is not that it is skeptical, but that it is dogmatic without knowing it." The fundamental characteristic of a skeptic is that he is open to ideas that may seem different from his. This is how civilization grows: ideas arise, people debate freely, and lesser ideals are substituted in the long run for better ones.

One of the problems of the postmodern mind is the closure of the mind against ideas that fall outside the prominent narratives of the post-enlightenment era. Traditional values are scorned, Judeo-Christian ideals despised, as man is elevated above God.

The doctrines of postmodernism, as is the case with religious doctrines, have become dogmas. It is not uncommon to find conservative speakers scorned and despised without any form of open debate.

For the postmodern mind, the doctrinal dogmas of postmodernism must be held even without the slightest objective evidence. The subjective feelings of individuals must be exalted above social norms that have worked for millennials.

Since the knowledge of God has been deposed from the core of the postmodern mind, moral relativism prevails. It is the individual that matters, not the collective good of society.

The role of the church

In his book, The Madness of Crowds, Douglas Murray writes: "In the latter part of the twentieth century, we entered the postmodern era. An era that defined itself, and was defined, by its suspicion towards all grand narratives." The heightened suspicion towards all grand narratives has led to the alternating of various institutions as ideas deemed heresies are substituted for wokerideals.

Even the church, a body that should be separate from the world, has, for the most part, in the West, fallen to doctrines and dogmas of postmodernism. The dilemma of the Western church is thus: following the ways of God or succumbing to the lures of the doctrines and dogmas of secular humanism, which seems to be the prevalent religion in some quarters.

If the West is to be saved from its self-inflicted demise, I believe the church has a crucial role to playenough of mixing Jesus with the world to appeal to a lost and dying world.

Jesus is perfect theology; thus, we need no additions. Preach Christ and him crucified. It may offend many, but therein lies the power of Godthe gospel.
Fossil fuel protest at Chichester Cathedral 'disappointing'

Chichester Cathedral has called the disruption of a service by climate protesters as it was being broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 "disappointing".

The protest on Wednesday was staged by a dozen Christians, mostly belonging to the campaign group, Christian Climate Action (CCA).

The protesters stood up during the 4pm Evensong service holding signs reading 'Chichester Diocese funds climate chaos'.

The group then sang a penitential chant before CCA member Mary Smail read out a statement condemning Chichester Diocese's alleged investment in fossil fuels.

Smail said, "Eleven days ago, the Chichester Diocesan Synod voted to retain the Dioceses' investments in fossil fuels, despite the Church of England National Investment Bodies having decided to divest - because 'engagement has failed'.

"It is astonishing that Chichester has chosen this path, described by the UN Secretary General as 'a highway to climate hell'. We protest at this wanton irresponsibility and call upon the Diocese to reverse its decision."

Anglican vicar, Rev Hilary Bond, who joined the protest, said: "As Christians we follow a God who is all about justice, especially for the poor.

"Many of the poorer parts of the world are already enduring great suffering because of the effects of climate change, brought about by the continued use of fossil fuels by the richer parts of the world.

"In continuing to invest in fossil fuels the Diocese of Chichester are ignoring the cry of the poor when they could so easily invest more ethically and be part of bringing climate justice to the whole of God's world."

In addition to its cathedral protest, CCA has sent a letter to the Bishop of Chichester, saying, "We feel compelled to make it plain that Chichester Diocese is supporting the greenwashing of Total, Shell and BP, and is complicit in the suffering of millions of people in the global south and the breakdown of the earth's life support systems."

In response, the cathedral issued a statement saying that it "is an independent charity that holds no investment in companies whose main business is the extraction of oil, gas or coal".

It went on to say, "It is understandably disappointing to see a service disrupted, particularly one as special as this, where we were joined for a live broadcast by BBC Radio 3."

It added, "We would however like to acknowledge the importance of the message behind the protest - safeguarding God's creation. It is an ambition we share, and one we are actively working towards."

The statement concluded, "We believe the best way we can respond to the climate crisis is together."
Government employees may be barred from wearing religious attire, EU court rules

(CP) 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.

 The Christian Post
Synod's refusal to back brave bid for legal clarity doesn't bode well for due process

A General Synod member's brave bid at November's meeting to get legal clarity on services of blessing for same-sex couples has revealed the reluctance of elected clergy and laity to hold the Church of England's bishops to account.

This unfortunately does not bode well for due process in the implementation of the services, which the bishops are calling Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF).

On November 14, Clive Scowen, a lay member for London Diocese, moved an amendment to the main motion on the continuing implementation of the services. His amendment called on the "the House (of Bishops) to take no further steps towards implementing that motion until this Synod has considered the full legal advice received by the House prior to agreeing the proposals in GS 2328".

GS 2328 was the document circulated to Synod members before they met in Westminster setting out the bishops' plans for implementing the PLF services and a summary of the bishops' view of their legal basis under the C of E's Canons (rules), which are enshrined in English law.

Scowen is a trained barrister and former editor of the Law Reports published by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. He was scathing in his criticism of the bishops for not sharing the legal advice they had received with the Synod's Houses of Clergy and Laity.

He said: "Synod is profoundly divided both as to the rightness of the Prayers and as to the nature of our disagreement. At times like this, the laws of the Church are exceptionally important. They are the structure which enables a divided Church to function.

"So, surely the one thing we can all agree on is that we need clarity about whether what is proposed is lawful."

He continued: "And divided though we are, we are one Synod with three Houses. The House of Bishops has no legal existence apart from the Synod. Each House is equal. Each has to agree in order for Synod to make decisions."

He said the House of Bishops is "not the government or the executive or even a governance body over against the other Houses of Synod. Yet the bishops are not willing to share with the rest of us the advice that they have received.

"And it is not good enough to say that the advice is reflected in the papers. What we have there is the bishops' view of the advice received and what they've made of it. That is not the same thing."

He said the legal advice could be sent to Synod members that same day so that they could read it in the evening before the debate resumed the next day.

The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, the lead PLF bishop before she stepped down from that role post-Synod, resisted Scowen's amendment. She said: "GS 2328 is a document which is the foundation of the House of Bishops' theological and legal basis for how we are going forward."

She claimed the legal position set out in the paper "is clear and it is transparent".

To audible noises of protest from some members of Synod at Church House, Westminster, she suggested to Scowen that "tonight" he "go back, re-read GS 2328 and you will see the foundation of the legal advice that we have been given".

She said it was "impossible" to show Synod members the details of the legal advice because it came in "many forms". These forms included the results of "conversations" among the bishops which were not recorded.

She denied Scowen's contention that the Houses of Clergy and Laity have equal decision-making status with the House of Bishops. "Governance is entrusted to the House of Bishops," she said.

Scowen's amendment fell in all three Houses of Synod, with 22 bishops against, 10 for, and two abstentions; 99 clergy against, 88 for and no abstentions; and 98 laity against, 93 for and six abstentions.

Though the amendment would still have fallen because of the bishops' opposition, elected Synod members among the clergy and laity still had an opportunity to send a clear message to the bishops that they wanted equal access to the expert advice from church lawyers which the bishops had received. But they turned it down, albeit by a very narrow majority in the House of Laity.

The six abstentions among the laity may be revealing. Did the abstainers feel out of their depth in a legal argument?

Whatever members' motivation for voting against Scowen's amendment, its defeat is clear evidence that revisionist bishops eager to push ahead with same-sex blessings as quickly as they can get away with are winning the power struggle in the C of E.

Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in the UK.
TOKYO, Dec 01 ( NHK ) - Former Japanese Foreign Minister Maehara Seiji has left the opposition Democratic Party for the People to form a new party with four other members of the Diet.

Maehara was deputy leader of the DPP. He left the party on Thursday, and held a news conference later in the day with the four lawmakers who will join him in the new endeavor.

He criticized the DPP for looking for ways to step up cooperation with the administration of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in the hope of getting it to agree to adopt the DPP's policy proposals.

Maehara said that he is forming a new party to help bring together a coalition of opposition parties based on the idea of "not the Liberal Democratic Party nor the Communist Party," with the aim of forcing the LDP out of power.

He said he wants to work with anyone who can share his policy positions and ideals.

Maehara said the new party will aim to introduce free education, as well as student loan debts forgiveness.

The four other members of the new party include three lawmakers who are also from the DPP, and one independent Lower House member.

Maehara served as foreign minister and transport minister when the Democratic Party of Japan was in power. That party later split into the DPP and the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.
TOKYO, Dec 01 ( NHK ) - The operator of Narita Airport, near Tokyo, says applications for new international flights cannot be fully met because of a shortage of ground staff.

Airport officials said on Thursday they carried out a survey on the impact of the labor shortage amid the rise in inbound foreign tourists following the pandemic. They said overseas airlines are hoping for a total of 152 new and additional flights per week. They added that only about two-thirds of that number will likely be accepted by the end of March, even though there are enough flight slots.

Airport ground staff numbers have fallen nearly 15 percent in Japan from four years ago due to the downturn in travel during the pandemic.

The labor union at a major firm providing ground handling services has said it would reject overtime work from December. But the company says effects on aviation services will likely be avoided through negotiations.
Blog Archive: Jan 2024 (56) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55)
IT leaders looking for a blueprint for staving off the disruptive threat of generative AI might benefit from a tip from LexisNexis EVP and CTO Jeff Reihl: Be a fast mover in adopting the technology to get ahead of potential disruptors.

Since its origins in the early 1970s, LexisNexis and its portfolio of legal and business data and analytics services have faced competitive threats heralded by the rise of the Internet, Google Search, and open source software  and now perhaps its most formidable adversary yet: generative AI, Reihl notes.

Reihl concedes that generative AI is evolving much faster than anything he has seen in his career, which spans nearly four decades in IT leadership roles. To address this new reality, his companys C-suite convened to strategize after the debut of OpenAIs GPT-4 last March. The meeting consensus? To rewrite and reprioritize all the companys annual goals to address the new innovations head on.

We were all-hands-on-deck, Reihl says. We did a major pivot because this was a game changer in terms of its interactive abilities, as well as the comprehensiveness of its answers and its data generation capabilities. It was just staggering in terms of its capabilities.

Given LexisNexis core business, gathering and providing information and analytics to legal, insurance, and financial firms, as well as government and law enforcement agencies, the threat of generative AI is real. But Reihl is confident that LexisNexis can tackle generative AIs advances due to imperfections in todays general-purpose large language models (LLMs), as well as the proprietary data and unique tools LexisNexis has honed to enhance and customize the LLMs it uses for its services, including Anthropics Claude AI assistant and GPT-4 on Microsoft Azure.

LexisNexis 2,000-plus technologists and around 200 data scientists have been working feverishly to incorporate unique features that exploit generative AI and add more value for the companys global customer base. But the foray isnt entirely new. LexisNexis has been playing with BERT, a family of natural language processing (NLP) models, since Google introduced it in 2018, as well as Chat GPT since its inception. But now the company supports all major LLMs, Reihl says.
Consultant/a sau echipa de consultanti care sa elaboreze un joc de societate ce va contribui la educatia juridica a adolescentilor
By nicklivyi, Adobe

If, as former prime minister Harold Wilson is said to have quipped, a week is a long time in politics, then you could be forgiven for thinking that the past month has been a political eternity. There has certainly been plenty of political news, comments and events.

In terms of official announcements, there has been both the kings speech and the autumn statement. However, much of the political interest stemmed from comments and moments outside of these.

For example, prior to the kings speech it was widely reported that the then-home secretary Suella Braverman was planning a crackdown on people experiencing homelessness sleeping in tents. She went as far as to call this a lifestyle choice and indicated that she wanted to stop charities handing out tents to these individuals.

This plan did not make it into the kings speech but Braverman did make it back into the headlines when she wrote an article for the Times that openly criticised the Metropolitan Polices handling of demonstrations, especially in allowing a pro-Palestine demonstration to take place on Armistice Day.

The article had been submitted to the prime ministers office for approval before publication  but the published piece did not include amendments that number 10 had wanted made, leading to comments that Bravermans days as home secretary were surely numbered.

And indeed, this turned out to be true as she was sacked as part of a reshuffle shortly after the article appeared.

While Bravermans departure from government may not have been a surprise, another element of the reshuffle certainly was. Former prime minister David Cameron made a shock return to politics as foreign secretary (facilitated by accepting a seat in the House of Lords).

All of these events (and there is not space to consider the implications of resignations from the shadow cabinet over Labours position on calls for a ceasefire in Gaza) have taken up headlines and brought areas close to many charities hearts to the fore (homelessness, overseas development, the right to campaign etc).

The past month has clearly demonstrated that charities cannot afford to ignore the political world or stay quiet on contentious issues which affect them.

Tristan Blythe is the editor of Charity Finance

Charity Finance is packed with practical articles and analysis of the latest financial trends, as well as in-depth briefings on technical and legal changes, and benchmarking surveys to help busy finance teams get value for money. Find more information here and subscribe today! is packed with practical articles and analysis of the latest financial trends, as well as in-depth briefings on technical and legal changes, and benchmarking surveys to help busy finance teams get value for money.
Charities need to be aware of the new Non-Party Campaigner Code which comes into effect from 1 December, the chair of the Charity Commission has advised.

Orlando Fraser, chair of the charity regulator, and John Pullinger chair of the Electoral Commission, wrote in a blog that charities need to know what this will mean for the charity sector.

By way of summary, in addition to a charitys continuing obligations under normal charity law, electoral law requires charities to register as non-party campaigners if they spend over a certain amount on regulated campaign activities in the 12 months leading up to the next election, the blog states.

It adds that spending on certain activities is regulated if the activity can reasonably be regarded as intended to influence peoples voting choice.

Thus, such activity, which is lawful under charity law if it isnt supporting a specified party or candidate, is regulated under electoral law, counting towards your spending limit, the blog reads.

You will be required to register with the Electoral Commission as non-party campaigners if your charity spends over 10,000 (previously this was over 20,000 in England), on regulated campaign activities, across the UK. After the election, you may then need to provide financial returns to support public transparency, it adds.

The third thing the blog highlights is that the law now requires an imprint to be included on digital material that falls within the definition of regulated campaign activities.

The blog states: An imprint tells voters who is responsible for publishing and promoting campaign material. This means that many types of digital material such as social media adverts and posts will require an imprint.

Charities can take part in political activity

The blog adds that the organisations understand many charity leaders and trustees will see this as a critical moment to speak up for beneficiaries and highlight causes.

Charities have a proud record of engaging in public debate and campaigning on behalf of their purposes which is entirely legitimate and doing so consistently with the legal framework is crucial.

Charities can take part in political activity provided it supports their purpose and is in their best interests. However, political activity mustnt become the reason for a charitys existence. Charities must also remain independent and must not give their support to a political party, it states.

The chairs point to guidance for charities on campaigning and political activity , as well as the social media guidance.

The blog adds: We understand that these changes can appear daunting. Thats why we want to make sure you feel equipped to enter the next election period, undertaking any campaigning to advance your charitys purposes, with confidence.

We want to stress that electoral law exists not to limit campaigning, but to ensure that there is transparency around key campaigning activity.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,




Tearfund has reported a record total income of 85.4m, a rise of 7% on the previous year, despite a large increase in its redundancy and severance costs.

According to newly filed accounts for the financial year ending March 2023, the charitys redundancy and severance costs rose from 61,000 to 461,000.

Tearfund told Civil Society that these payments were made to 34 people as part of a restructuring of its communications functions. Seven staff that received payments were UK-based while the remaining 27 were regional.

The purpose of the restructure was to place more emphasis on the charitys digital outreach, the charity said.

In 2020, Civil Society reported that Tearfund had made severance payments worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to employees since 2017.

General reserves at the charity were below the lower end of the target range as expenditure rose, and a growing percentage of its income was restricted for responding to particular crises.

Emergency appeal income increased by almost 50%

The charitys income from emergency appeals rose by 45%, from 9.1m to 13.2m this financial year. This included 4.2m of Disasters Emergency Committee funding, up from 2.4m the previous year.

Most of the funding was received for its Afghanistan, Ukraine, Pakistan floods and Syria earthquake appeals.

As such, the countries that Tearfund awarded the most grants to in the year were Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Chair of Tearfund, Anna Laszlo, said in her introduction to the accounts: With crisis after crisis, the past few years have felt unrelenting, and 2022 was no different. But once again, the church has stepped up and been at the centre of our response.

Increase in government grants

General donations accounted for more than half of the charitys overall income at 45.6m. This is a slight fall from the previous year when Tearfund received 46.2m in general donations.

Government grants to the charity also increased by 1.9m to 25.8m for the year.

After a rise in donations to emergency appeals, which are restricted funds, the accounts state that the charity understands this had led to a drop in unrestricted funds and donations. However, this excludes donations and legacies.

Indeed, gifts in wills to Tearfund increased from 5.76m to 6.65m this financial year.

Expenditure rises by almost 20%

Total expenditure at Tearfund rose by 17% on the previous year, to 90.3m. The charity put the increase down to costs incurred on restricted charitable activities, with a 19% increase on meeting emergency needs (3.6m).

Tearfund received 346 complaints about its fundraising for the financial year, down from 403 complaints the previous year. The charity said it was not aware of any complaints that were escalated to the Fundraising Regulator.

The charitys general fund of reserves sat at 6.5m for the year, a drop from 11.5m.

A Tearfund spokesperson told Civil Society: Reserves income comes from and is related to general funds. Tearfunds supporters are incredibly generous, and actually this last financial year has been a record year of income. However, with so many crises and emergency appeals  like the Syria / Turkey earthquake, the East Africa hunger crisis and the Pakistan floods, it means a growing percentage of our income is restricted for responding to a particular crisis.

Thats vital  but we also need whats called unrestricted or flexible income, to respond to the needs of people living in poverty who never hit the headlines. At the end of 2022-23, our general fund stands at 6.5m (2021-22: 11.5m), which is below the lower end of the target range.

Staff costs rise by 5m

Staff costs for the charity rose from 31.7m to 36.9m this financial year. Wages and salaries accounted for the majority of the increase, rising by 4.4m to 32.1m, despite overall headcount decreasing from 1,088 in 2022 to 1,057 this year.



Nine more people were reported to be earning 60,001 - 70,000 than the year before and the members of the executive team earned a total of 705,000 compared to 669,000 in 2022. This included pensions and national insurance.

Trustees received no remuneration for their roles but incurred 8,850 more in travel and subsistence expenses than the previous year.

The highest earner at Tearfund made between 140,001 - 150,000 for the year.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
DOVER, Del. (AP)  The DuPont Co. and two spin-off firms will pay $110 million to the state of Ohio to settle a lawsuit over environmental threats from toxic chemicals used at a former DuPont facility in neighboring West Virginia, the companies said Wednesday.

The settlement involving DuPont, the Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc. resolves Ohios claims relating to releases of manmade, fluorinated compounds known as PFAS. It also resolves claims relating to the manufacture and sale of PFAS-containing products and claims related to firefighting foam containing PFAS.

The compounds, which are associated with an increased risk of certain cancers and other health problems, are often referred to as forever chemicals because of their longevity in the environment. They have been used in the production of nonstick coatings such as Teflon, firefighting foam, water- and stain-resistant textiles, food packaging and many other household and personal items.

According to the companies, Ohio will allocate 80% of the settlement to the restoration of natural resources related to the operation of the Washington Works facility near Parkersburg, West Virginia, on the eastern shore of the Ohio River. The other 20% will be used to address PFAS claims statewide, including the use of firefighting foam. The settlement is subject to court approval.

Under a 2021 agreement with the state of Delaware, the Ohio settlement means the companies also are obligated to pay $25 million to Delaware for environmental initiatives. As part of the 2021 settlement, the companies agreed to pay $50 million to Delaware and to fund up to an additional $25 million if they settled similar claims with other states for more than $50 million.

Ohio began litigation against DuPont and Chemours in February 2018 regarding historical emissions of perfluorooctanoic acid, known as PFOA, from the Washington Works site. PFOA was once widely used in a variety of products, including nonstick cookware. Ohio alleged damage to natural resources from the use of the compound, and impropriety in the 2015 spinoff by DuPont that created Chemours.

DuPont will contribute about $39 million to the settlement. Chemours, the former performance chemicals unit of DuPont, will pay about $55 million, with the rest owed by Corteva. Chemours was spun off as a stand-alone company in 2015. Corteva, the former agriculture division of DowDuPont, became a separate company in 2019.

Under a 2021 cost-sharing arrangement that resolved legal disputes over PFAS liabilities arising out of pre-2015 conduct, DuPont and Corteva, on one hand, and Chemours, on the other, agreed to a 50-50 split of certain expenses incurred over a term of up to 20 years, or an aggregate $4 billion.

DuPont began using PFOA in products at the Washington Works facility in the 1950s. Chemical releases from the site have been blamed for a variety of health problems among local residents and have resulted in multiple lawsuits.

In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Chemours to address PFAS pollution in stormwater and effluent from the Washington Works facility. The EPA said it was the first Clean Water Act enforcement action to hold polluters accountable for discharging PFAS into the environment.

According to the EPA, PFAS levels in the discharges from Washington Works have exceeded levels set in the facilitys Clean Water Act permit.

Top photo: In this June 7, 2018 photo, PFAS foam gathers at the the Van Etten Creek dam in Oscoda Township, Mich., near Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are generating substantial public health concern across Michigan, the United States and other countries. The chemicals are polluting drinking water and the environment at sites where they were used and discarded by industry, or seeped into the ground as leftover contaminants in chemical-based firefighting foam. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
DALLAS (AP)  The air traffic controller on duty when FedEx and Southwest planes nearly collided earlier this year in Texas told investigators that he expected the airliner to take off more quickly  before the incoming FedEx plane reached the same runway.

That is because in his four years working the tower at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the controller said, Southwest planes usually took off as soon as they got permission.

But hindsight being 20/20, controller Damian Campbell told investigators, he definitely could have held them, referring to making the Southwest crew wait.

Campbell said in a transcript released Wednesday that he couldn`t even see the Southwest plane through the dense early morning fog on Feb. 4. The FedEx pilots spotted it at the last second and aborted their landing.

The planes missed each other by about 100 feet (30 meters).

The National Transportation Safety Board released transcripts of interviews and other details of its investigation but did not state a probable cause for the harrowing close call. That determination is expected early next year.

The near-disaster in Austin is the scariest among more than a half-dozen close calls that the NTSB has investigated this year.

The surge in such incidents prompted the Federal Aviation Administration  which hires air traffic controllers and manages the nation`s airspace  to convene a safety summit of aviation industry officials this spring.

A panel of independent experts concluded this month that the FAA needs better staffing, equipment and technology to cope with a surge in serious close calls. The panel said aviation`s margin of safety is shrinking.

The captain of the FedEx plane flying into Austin said he was irritated and perplexed when the controller cleared Southwest to take off from runway 18- left, the one he was approaching.

My initial response was an expletive, like Whats he doing?` Hugo Carvajal III told investigators. Still, he assumed that the Southwest plane was going to be well down the runway by the time he touched down.

Carvajal`s first officer, Robert Bradeen Jr., estimated they were 100 to 150 feet (30 to 45 meters) above the runway when he saw the Southwest jet  first a light, then a silhouette of a wing.

I think I said, `Go around, go around, go around to the captain, Bradeen said, meaning pull up and fly away. He used the radio to tell the Southwest crew to abort their takeoff, but they did not.

Asked what saved the day  special training or something else, Bradeen said, I think it was more experience and just the combination of luck that I happened to look out (the cockpit window) at the right time.

At a recent congressional hearing, the president of the union representing air traffic controllers complained about understaffing and frequent overtime leading to fatigue.

Campbell, a Navy veteran who had been a controller for 13 years at the time of the Austin incident, said he was on a mandatory six-day work week.

Austin-Bergstrom doesn`t have the latest technology, called ASDE-X, for tracking planes and vehicles on the ground  which could have helped prevent the February close call.

We had this dense ground fog  you couldn`t see anything, Campbell told investigators. He couldn`t see the Southwest jet from the tower.

It became a concern when I didn`t hear Southwest`s engines revving for takeoff on a flight to Cancun, Mexico, he said. And at that point, it became a critical issue.

Top photo: The National Transportation Safety Board logo and signage are seen at a news conference at NTSB headquarters in Washington, Dec. 18, 2017. The nations top accident investigator says a surge in close calls between planes at U.S. airports this year is a clear warning sign that aviation is under stress. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, told a Senate panel Thursday, Nov. 8, 2023 that close calls are incredibly rare, but we cannot ignore the recent increase in such events. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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.
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.
CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday told investors why it's hard to be bullish about healthcare stocks, citing challenges stemming from government action and lack of innovation.

"We could really use some strength in the downtrodden health care sector, which accounts for just 13% of the S&P 500 even though it's 18% of the economy," Cramer said. "That mismatch is because there's so much going wrong in the group."

According to Cramer, the healthcare sector is "in the crosshairs" of the U.S. government because of the upcoming election. The Biden Administration passed legislation last year that would allow Medicare to negotiate the price of some prescription medications, which Cramer said he thinks could hurt drug makers' revenues. Johnson & Johnson and Bristol Meyers are among several drug makers to file lawsuits against the government, broadly arguing that the pricing measures are unconstitutional.

The Federal Trade Commission is doing its best to block mergers in the sector, Cramer said. He said he was worried that drug outfits attempting mergers  namely Cigna and Humana  are wasting their time and getting distracted from more important endeavors. Aside form drug makers, Cramer added that medical device companies haven't seen their business pick up since Covid, also hurting the sector overall.

Cramer also asserted a lack of innovation at certain healthcare companies makes their stocks less desirable. He was pessimistic about AbbVie's Thursday announcement it would acquire Immunogen, which is known for its ovarian cancer drug. He said the deal seemed to be less about Immunogen's prospects and more about Abbvie "losing exclusivity on big drugs."

"All the drug companies have to worry about patent cliffs. But only Eli Lilly, with its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drug, along with its Alzheimer's formulation, seems to do anything but buying smaller companies with so called 'blockbuster' products," he said. "Homegrown is what we want. We can't seem to get it, though."
After what seems like a lifetime but has only been four years of delays, the Cybertruck has finally zoomed into the automotive world and has taken many by surprise. Tesla CEO Elon Musk hosted a delivery event this week at the company's factory in Austin, Texas, touting its towing abilities, race-car like acceleration, and even bulletproof doors. Production was supposed to kick off in late 2021, but was adversely impacted due to Covid's supply chain shortages and manufacturing hiccups. Tesla stated that initial production will be small as they ramp up the Cybertruck line. This jaw dropping event is in the wake of Elon Musk's comments earlier this week at the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York. Sir Elon succinctly let advertisers know how he feels about any and all threats towards his X platform. As I have traded in and out of Tesla for years, I do believe Elon's emotional roller coaster (either derived from Tesla or one of his other companies) has provided opportunities for investors. The current opportunity I see for TSLA is a move higher into 2024 once this volatility is digested, yet again. Tesla call spread To capture this move higher, I want to buy a call spread. This bullish view is predicated on the Tesla chart below that depicts the potential for the share price to elevate and revisit $300. The option strategy that I will utilize is buying a call spread better known as a bull call spread. This credit spread can be established by buying an out-of-the-money call and then reducing the cost of the call purchase by selling another call option further out of the money. The same expiration will be used for both call options. I want to look at the last three years of price action for Musk's car company to select the strike prices for this call spread. TSLA mountain 2020-12-01 Tesla, 3 years The trade Buying one January 19 th (regular expiration) TSLA $260 call option for $6.70 Selling one January 19 th (regular expiration) TSLA $300 call option for $1.70 Net debit of $5.00 costing an investor $500 per spread. Risking $500 to make $4,000 (net $3,500 winner if Tesla settles above 300 on Jan 19. Love Musk or hate Musk, the volatility associated with his behavior can potentially be profitable. This trade is not bulletproof like the Cybertruck but, it should allow you to profit from a move back to a high volume area for the leading EV company up at $300. DISCLOSURES: (Long Tesla, short tesla puts, long call spread) THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer.
Bill Gates delivers a speech on Oct. 11, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Thierry Monasse | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES  Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday shared his "big hope" for this year's U.N. climate conference and said he was "definitely glass half-full" when it comes to preventing the worst of what the climate crisis has in store. Speaking as world leaders convened in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on the second day of the COP28 summit, Gates said he believed there were many encouraging climate solutions but that these projects required the necessary support from policymakers and business leaders. "Now, we need to take what looks very promising and scale it up, build the pilot plants, prove those out," Gates told CNBC's Tania Bryer on Friday. "And that requires government policies, it requires the big corporations to come in and so all these different communities that have to come together, they are represented here."

watch now

COP28 is the United Nations' biggest and most important annual climate conference. The two-week long summit got underway on Thursday, with more than 160 world leaders expected to attend  alongside an estimated 70,000 delegates. It is regarded as a pivotal opportunity to accelerate action to address the climate crisis at a time when global temperatures are hitting record highs and extreme weather events are affecting people worldwide. "You know, I think 70,000 people and it seems like wow, do we need that many? But in fact, a lot of meetings here will be where those companies get the backing and the kind of experience of big companies, the government help and these entrepreneurs are going to come together," Gates said. "And so, facilitating the speed of innovation and the speed of the scale up, that's my big hope for COP28."

'Magic of invention and scale-up'

Asked about criticism of conferences such as COP28, given that some feel they are often all talk and no action, Gates defended the platform as a means to help drive progress across the globe. "The collaboration between those sectors has improved a great deal," Gates told CNBC. "We are falling short of our aspirations in many areas and coming and saying, you know, how do we catch up? Can we do better in one area? Which countries are doing particularly well? Are there models from that?"

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. Hollie Adams | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Consumers eating shabu shabu at a restaurant in Lianyungang City, East China's Jiangsu Province, Nov 26, 2023. Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images

BEIJING  China's consumer isn't going to be spending big anytime soon, which means companies need to be more strategic to tap what's still a massive market, according to McKinsey. "I'm hopeful we will see an incremental improvement over the next year," said Daniel Zipser, leader of McKinsey's Asia consumer and retail practice. "But there are no signs it should be a strong, V-shaped recovery," said Zipser, who is also a senior partner at McKinsey and author of a new report called "China Consumption: Start of a New Era." China's retail sales have generally remained lackluster since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020. Despite the end of Covid controls at the end of last year, falling global demand for Chinese goods and a slump in the real estate market have weighed on the country's overall economy. Looking ahead, growth is expected to slow. The government is tackling long-standing issues in the real estate sector, while tensions with major trade partners such as the U.S. have risen.

The overall economic recovery and the recovery of the property market has not been what people hoped for. Daniel Zipser senior partner, McKinsey

All that has kept Chinese consumer sentiment at the same level it was about 12 months ago, when the country was still living under Covid restrictions, Zipser pointed out in a phone interview Thursday. "The overall economic recovery and the recovery of the property market has not been what people hoped for," he said. "People are aware of the geopolitical tensions, very aware of ... exports declining." "They don't yet have the confidence this will be different [in] 2024, 2025."

Clear winners and losers

Despite the overall gloom, there's a divergence in how Chinese consumer companies are affected. McKinsey's analysis of 80 publicly listed consumer companies that generate most of their revenue from mainland China found a significant divergence  many saw double-digit growth while others saw double-digit declines. "I think in the old days, you could invest in whatever you want[ed], everything will grow, most companies have been doing well," Zipser said. "Those days are over."

watch now

Today, the market is more competitive, he said, pointing out that the product is much more important and the "consumer is much more sophisticated." Those tastes have changed swiftly with the country's economic boom of past decades, creating a lucrative market for American corporations such as Apple and Starbucks . Between 2012 and 2022, China's per capita GDP more than doubled to $12,720, according to the World Bank. U.S. GDP per capita rose by about 47% during those 10 years to $76,398 in 2022, the data showed. China's massive size means that even if the economy slows from a high pace of growth to around 4% or 5% a year, the country's incremental increase in retail sales will be the same as the combined total retail sales of South Korea, India and Indonesia, Zipser said. Slower growth is still growth. China's retail sales rose by 7.6% in October from a year ago, beating analysts' expectations. Major e-commerce companies reported third-quarter revenue growth. While growth for most companies was modest, bargain-focused Pinduoduo saw revenue nearly double from a lower base.

What people are buying
(This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Friday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) There were several notable calls Friday morning on J & J, Spotify and Alibaba. Check out the latest calls below: 8:38 a.m. ET: Wells Fargo believes Chevron will deliver on upside potential in 2024 Chevron will deliver on its upside potential in 2024 after a tough year in which its stock has plummeted, according to Wells Fargo. Although Chevron's stock is down 20% year to date, Wells is maintaining its overweight rating and price target of $197, which would deliver 37% upside from the last closing price of $143.60. Analyst Roger Read noted that the U.S. oil major has led its sector in dividend growth, 5.6%, over the past five years and stands out among its peers for not slashing payouts to shareholders since 2014. The company also has strong clashflow generation with relatively disciplined capital expenditures, Read wrote. Share buybacks will be limited to $3 billion in the fourth quarter this year and the first quarter of 2024 due to a blackout period related to Chevron's pending acquisition of Hess. But buybacks will rise to $4.375 billion after Hess' shareholder vote, Read wrote.  Spencer Kimball 8:20 a.m. ET: Stifel initiates coverage of Boeing with a buy rating Boeing is poised to see accelerating growth in the next two years, which should push shares higher, according to Stifel. The investment firm believes new aircraft production is more likely to improve than get worse and named Boeing a top pick in the space. "Boeing is on track to see build rates improve, which, when paired with BGS strength and modest BDS improvement, should position the company to see material FCF growth over the next 2+ years that we think will drive upside for shares as demand for new aircraft remains very high," analyst Bert Subin wrote in a note Thursday. Subin's $265 price target implies more than 14% upside from Thursday's close. Michelle Fox 7:52 a.m. ET: Bank of America upgrades Norfolk Southern to buy Norfolk Southern is seeing fundamental improvements and its stock could be poised to erase most of its losses from this year, according to Bank of America. Analyst Ken Hoexter upgraded the railroad stock to buy from neutral, saying in a note to clients on Friday that shipping volumes appear to have bottomed and turned back up. "Carloads are up 2.6% year-year 4QTD, above our prior +1.8% target (now 2.6%), led by stronger-than-expected Intermodal, Coal, and Automotive gains. The positive inflection is set to end 9 consecutive quarters of negative volumes at NS. We target 2024 volume growth of 4.7% y-y, above peers' +3.6% average (aided by E. Palestine comps)," the note said. NSC YTD mountain Norfolk Southern YTD East Palestine refers to the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Ohio earlier this year. Shares of Norfolk Southern are still down more than 14% since the derailment. Norfolk has shown "faster service gains than we expected" following two network outages that came after the derailment, Hoexter's note said. Bank of America's new price target on the stock is $248 per share, representing upside of more than 13%. Jesse Pound 7:41 a.m. ET: Piper Sandler becomes cautious on Texas Roadhouse Piper Sandler moved to the sidelines on Texas Roadhouse amid concerns about the full-service restaurant sector and recent performance. Analyst Brian Mullan downgraded the restaurant chain to neutral from overweight. His $110 price target implies 2.3% downside from Thursday's close. Mullan's downgrade follows his initiation at overweight in July. He said the stock has fallen about 2% since then, while the broad S & P 500 has gained around 1% in the same period. Still, the stock has outperformed all but one full-service restaurant Piper Sandler covers. "In summary, TXRH has not worked on an absolute basis; but has been quite good on a relative basis," Mullan told clients. Mullan said the downgrade is part of an attempt to maintain discipline as the stock is already above the firm's price target after stronger performance since mid-October specifically. He also noted that full-service restaurants are in a challenging position, with traffic struggling, price increases harder to defend and difficult comparable figures to meet. "We think absolute share price could be a challenge for the near future; and in the case that we do get an imminent recession, we'd expect the group (TXRH included) to struggle from here," he said.  Alex Harring 6:59 a.m. ET: JPMorgan downgrades BioNTech, cites limited catalysts for the vaccine maker Investors should sell BioNTech , even after its decline this year, as it continues to face challenges, according to JPMorgan. Analyst Jessica Fye downgraded shares to underweight from neutral. Fye said investors should wait for a "more catalyst-rich period" as the company deals with weakening Covid vaccine demand, as well as limited near-term advances in its oncology pipeline. "While we acknowledge the healthy cash balance and see limited absolute downside from here, we believe downward revisions to long-term estimates and protracted time lines to meaningful pipeline readouts could hinder the stock's ability to recover," Fye wrote on Friday. The U.S. listed shares of BioNTech are down by 33% in 2023. The analyst lowered her price target to $99 from $106 per share. The new price target implies just a 5% gain from Thursday's close. In Friday premarket trading, the stock slid 3.4%. Sarah Min 6:34 a.m. ET: This little-known search company is a buy on the generative AI opportunity, Wells Fargo says Search engine company Elastic NV is a buy on the generative AI opportunity, according to Wells Fargo. Analyst Andrew Nowinski upgraded shares to overweight from equal weight, and hiked his price target, saying he expects Elastic will start gaining meaningful revenue from generative AI on its search platform. He also sees further upside from the company's expansion into log analysis markets. "We believe Elastic is well-positioned to capture GenAI workloads, leveraging key features like ESRE and vector search. Elastic is also capitalizing on recent M & A activity to gain share in the log analytics/SIEM markets, leveraging the new ESQL, which makes it easier to convert from a legacy vendor," Nowinski wrote on Thursday. "Finally, we see further upside to the current valuation (~5x EV/Sales) if either of these new catalysts take off," he said. The upgrade follows Elastic's latest earnings report, which exceeded expectations. On Thursday, the company posted fiscal second-quarter earnings of 27 cents per share on revenue of $311 million. Analysts polled by FactSet anticipated earnings of 24 cents per share on revenue of $304.4 million. The analyst's $115 price target, hiked from $70 previously, implies 43% upside from where the stock closed Thursday, at $80.36. The stock jumped 18% in the Friday premarket. Sarah Min 6:25 a.m. ET: Morgan Stanley downgrades Alibaba Morgan Stanley cut Alibaba to equal-weight from overweight and lowered the firm's price target to $90 from $110. The firm cited a slower turnaround for its cloud business. "Our previous OW thesis on Alibaba was premised on the assumptions of a fundamental turnaround in core businesses, reorganization to unlock shareholder value, and sizeable capital management potential. However, we have turned more cautious on each of the above given recent developments," stated the note. The new target still represents 20% upside from Thursday's close. Morgan Stanley said PDD Holdings was its top China e-commerce pick, saying its Temu business was "not fully valued by the market." John Melloy 5:53 a.m. ET: Citi downgrades Spotify, says risk-reward is no longer compelling It's time to move to the sidelines on shares of Spotify , according to Citi. Analyst Jason Bazinet downgraded the streaming stock to neutral from buy, but left his price target unchanged, saying expectations may be too high after a double in the stock this year. "While we like Spotify's strategy and execution, we no longer believe the risk-reward is compelling," Bazinet wrote on Thursday. "And, when we look at consensus estimates, we see a few reasons to be a tad more cautious." SPOT YTD mountain Spotify, year-to-date Of note, the analyst worries consensus expectations for Spotify's ability to raise the average revenue per use (ARPU), while simultaneously reducing the number of users who stop using the platform, are too confident. "While our forecast (and the Street's) expects Premium subs to continue growing, any surprises may cause a material re-rating of the equity as investors shift from EV-persub metrics to more traditional levered FCF multiples," Bazinet wrote. Spotify shares are up by 134% this year. The analyst's $190 price target implies shares can rise just 2.6% from where they closed Thursday. The stock is down 1.5% in Friday premarket trading. Sarah Min 5:40 a.m. ET: UBS upgrades Johnson & Johnson to buy, cites improved outlook Johnson & Johnson is a buy given the improved outlook in its pharmaceutical business, UBS said. Analyst Danielle Antalffy upgraded shares to buy from neutral ahead of the firm's upcoming analyst day, citing an "increasingly bullish" view on the company's ability to deliver upside on total sales. Specifically, the analyst said the potential in Darzalex, the prescription drug to treat multiple myeloma, is underappreciated. "Our Buy rating reflects our increased confidence into JNJ's ability to deliver above-consensus Pharma sales growth and at least in-line MedTech growth for the next few year," Antalffy wrote on Friday. "Importantly, our conviction in the Pharma outlook is driven more by existing, already commercially available drugs in DARZALEX, STELARA (generic erosion overdone given precedent and launches on the horizon), and TREMFYA, which we believe to be underappreciated," Antalffy added. The stock is down by more than 12% in 2023. However, the analyst's $180 price target, raised from $167, suggests 16% upside from Thursday's close. The stock was higher by nearly 1% in Friday premarket trading. Sarah Min 5:30 a.m. ET: Bank of America hikes Costco price target Bank of America hiked its price target on Costco to $655 from $610 after the warehouse retailer reported a 4.4% increase in November sales, excluding gasoline and FX impact. "We reiterate our Buy rating and expect COST (and other warehouse clubs) to gain share in the current environment as consumers continue to adjust to higher prices, making COST's value proposition more attractive," wrote analyst Robert Ohmes. COST YTD mountain Costco YTD The new target represents a 10% increase from Thursday's close. John Melloy
Gap CEO Richard Dickson on stage at the Voices conference, organized by website The Business of Fashion, in Oxfordshire, U.K., on November 29, 2023.

New Gap CEO Richard Dickson has spoken about his experience upon joining the struggling company from toy business Mattel in August.

"You barely knew what we were actually selling," he said on Wednesday, describing how the firm's four apparel brands had leant heavily on promotions and discounts.

Dickson was addressing an audience at Voices, a conference organized by apparel industry website The Business of Fashion, in Oxfordshire, U.K. Displayed behind him on stage was a screenshot of Gap's website where money-off messages were a prominent part, which Dickson said was typical of the company's brands "a few months ago."

"To some extent, the clarity of the conversation with consumers just needed an edit. Our product is a great product, but it's lost in the message," Dickson added.

Gap announced third-quarter earnings earlier this month, which outperformed analysts' expectations, but its holiday sales forecast was muted. Revenue at its flagship Gap brand was down 15% year-over-year and same-store sales slid 1%. Excluding the sale of Gap's China business and the shutdown of Yeezy Gap, sales fell 6%. Shares are up about 78% in the year to date.

Dickson took on the CEO role at Gap after an almost 10-year tenure at Mattel, where he was president and chief operating officer. He is widely credited with reviving the company's Barbie brand, whose sales were seeing double-digit falls at the time he joined in 2014.
Eastbound BART commuters are stopped at Montgomery Street station after reports of a person in the Transbay Tube disrupted train service Wednesday evening during rush hour. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

The masses of people pressed together, shoulder to shoulder, at downtown San Francisco BART station platforms Wednesday evening was a strange scene for the regional rail agency.

But the scene, which conjured sights of pre-pandemic BART crowds, wasnt spurred by an influx of office workers commuting home for the day. Rather, it was the result of a near two-hour service delay that began after a man entered the train tracks inside the Transbay Tube.

The disruption packed station platforms full of evening commuters waiting for trains to move, or doors to close. But the situation also called into question BARTs procedures for stalled service, and why it allowed people to squeeze together on the platforms.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

BART told The Chronicle that the disruption began when the man pulled an emergency door release while aboard a train traveling through the Transbay Tube. The door release, meant for emergency evacuations, automatically triggered a gradual stop to the train, at which point the man pulled the release again to open the train car doors. Once he got out, the man opened one of the tubes passageway doors, triggering an alarm.

BART Police searched inside the tube for the man, who triggered more door alarms and ultimately escaped via an emergency exit on the San Francisco side of the system outside the Embarcadero Station platform area, according to the agency. He was arrested Thursday night, BART said, and identified by police as San Francisco resident Jerry Howard.

The agency said it resumed Transbay service only after transit authorities confirmed through surveillance footage that Howard was no longer on the tracks.

People crowd together at the BART Embarcadero station Wednesday while service is disrupted after a man was reported to be on the tracks of the Transbay Tube. Marta Alejandro-Martinez

A review of the BART Police Departments arrest logs shows that Wednesdays incident involving a person on the tracks is not an uncommon occurrence for the agency. Since Oct. 1, BART police have made at least 30 arrests involving people who were charged for entering BART tracks unauthorized.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Several of the people recently arrested for entering the unauthorized areas of BARTs train tracks are repeat offenders.

On Nov. 21, for example, BART police arrested a 48-year-old Petaluma man at Lafayette Station for entering BARTs tracks. Transit police had arrested the man the day before for the same offense at Walnut Creek Station, as well as on Nov. 18 at Lafayette Station and Nov. 15 at Orinda Station.

Since Oct. 1, BART police have arrested at least 30 people who were charged with entering BART tracks unauthorized. That Petaluma man was among six suspects arrested by BART police since Oct. 1 for alleged repeated unauthorized entrance on tracks.

BART police noted in their arrest logs that suspects did not have proof of fare payment in at least 18 of these arrests, though officers have discretion on whether to include that information in the logs.

The exact prevalence of these types of incidents is unclear. The BART arrests dont capture incidents where a suspect may remain at large, nor do they appear to include incidents involving suspects experiencing mental health crises who may have been placed in psychiatric holds.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

These types of incidents dont just place the suspect in harms way, they can also lead to service delays that can reverberate across the entire BART system, stifling commutes.

But few, if any, of the recent incidents that prompted these misdemeanor arrests led to the severe disruptions BART commuters experienced Wednesday afternoon.

Commuters wait at the Embarcadero Station after BART stopped service into and out of San Francisco due to a person on the tracks Wednesday evening. Harsha Devulapalli/The Chronicle

BART station platforms across the system  particularly at Market Street stations  began to swell with confused train commuters shortly after the agency halted Transbay Tube service at about 4:40 p.m. Wednesday.

The shutdown of BARTs most critical artery  the 3.6-mile underground tunnel that connects San Francisco and the Peninsula to the East Bay by rail  meant that commuters bound for the city couldnt get to San Francisco via BART, and vice versa. BART also briefly suspended service on its Red Line to Richmond and Green Line to north San Jose.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

BARTs Powell Street Station platform was overcrowded by 5 p.m. with commuters scrolling through their phones for updates. Public announcements from BART about the service disruption were drowned out by the crowd noise, adding to commuters confusion.

Would-be BART riders scurried to the Ferry Building and Transbay Transit Center in desperate attempts to catch a ferry or transbay bus to the East Bay. At the Embarcadero Station platform, some commuters shouted into the dense crowds to ask if others wanted to hail a ride share to the East Bay together.

BART posted warnings of service delays on X, formerly Twitter, and some BART personnel could be seen among the frantic crowds on Market Street platforms, though the effectiveness of those communications is unclear. People were still entering BARTs crowded Embarcadero Station platform at 6 p.m.  almost an hour and a half after BART halted transbay service  with some commuters seemingly unaware of the major disruption.

But BARTs mixed messaging, along with the fact that the disruption happened during peak riding hours, left many commuters either scrambling for other ways to get home or waiting out a disruption they assumed was going to be cleared much sooner.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Commuters crowd the platform at the Embarcadero Station after BART stopped service into and out of San Francisco on Wednesday evening. Harsha Devulapalli/The Chronicle

Among those commuters was Steven Lopez, 29, who hopped on a BART train to San Leandro from Montgomery Station after getting off work about 5:30 p.m. He saw no announcement of the delays when he scrolled the BART app, and said he later received conflicting updates from BART during the disruption. This included a vague announcement from the BART Alert system warning of a 30-minute delay with no mention of halted Transbay service.

His train ride stopped at Embarcadero Station, where an announcement over the trains intercom advised riders to seek other means of transportation, Lopez said.

Embarcadero was extremely packed. There wasnt a spot on the platform that wasnt empty, Lopez said. I had to cut through a crowd of people just to get to the escalator.

Lopez eventually made it home on an overly packed BART train filled with frustrated commuters after waiting out the delays. The train car Lopez boarded from Montgomery Station was so packed that the door sensors malfunctioned and temporarily wouldnt close.

Wednesdays service meltdown happened at a time when BART says it has seen noticeable declines in these kinds of incidents that prompt service delays because of responses by transit police.

The number of trains delayed by BART police incident responses dropped by 40% in October compared with May, which the agency attributes in part to more officers patrolling trains with fewer train cars.

Eastbound BART commuters are stopped at the Montgomery Street station after service was disrupted when a person was reported in the Transbay Tube on Wednesday evening. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Alicia Trost, BARTs chief communications officer, said Thursday that the arrest would hopefully make the point that you cannot do that and disrupt peoples commutes without being held accountable.

BART personnel first became aware that Howard entered BART tracks after he set off an alarm inside the Transbay Tube and amid calls from riders who witnessed him pull the door release, Trost said. BART relies on robust surveillance systems and alarms throughout our system to detect people who enter the systems tracks, she added.

The agency took the unusual step of publishing a photo of the suspect who entered the Transbay Tube on Wednesday, saying in a statement BART was very sorry for the service disruption this individual caused and we are looking to hold them accountable.

BART restored service through the Transbay Tube about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday. But the peace would be short-lived.

Sixteen hours later, BART police responded to another service disruption. A man reportedly entered BART tracks from 19th Street Station, stalling BART service in Oakland.
China e-commerce is one of Goldman's top preferred sub-sectors  and there will be six key themes coming up in 2024, the bank said. The themes are: Consumers' focus on value for money  for which e-commerce platforms are well positioned. Advertising tech upgrades to drive platform take rate, which refers to the amount of money  made up of fees and commissions  made from a transaction. Livestreaming growth. Market expansion from overseas opportunities. User engagement set to be driven by content creation and categories that will draw traffic. Other growth drivers, including on-demand services, grocery and pharmaceuticals. Goldman said that despite slowing consumption growth in China, e-commerce and e-commerce advertising is still one of its top preferred sectors  thanks in part to global expansion and attractive valuations. The bank named three Chinese stocks it says are "well positioned across the six themes." They are Alibaba , which is on Goldman's conviction list, Pinduoduo , and Kuaishou . All have a buy rating from Goldman. Goldman's conviction list stocks are buy-rated names it expects to outperform. The bank said Pinduoduo continues to gain market share in domestic e-commerce, as it improves its tools to drive the adoption of its advertising products. Goldman also expects its global e-commerce arm Temu to continue its growth momentum as a result of its global expansion. Launched in the U.S. in September last year, Temu was PDD's first major push outside of China and the app quickly found success among budget-conscious consumers. "We  expect Pinduoduo to be more resilient in bear/stress test scenarios due to its strongest value-for-money customer mind share," said the bank. Pinduoduo is known for its bargain-priced products. It gave Pinduoduo a price target of $155, or potential upside of about 9%. As for Alibaba, the renewed focus on its Chinese online shopping platform Taobao "could potentially drive more growth under the environment where consumers pivot towards more value-for-money" goods, Goldman said. The bank said it expects ongoing buybacks funded by Alibaba's free cash flow generation. It gave Alibaba a price target of $134, or potential 79% upside. Goldman expects its third favored name  Kuaishou  to continue outpacing the industry. It noted that Kuaishou has strong mind share  consumers' awareness of a brand  in China's lower-tier cities. It gave Kuaishou a potential upside of 59%, as of its Nov. 15 note.  CNBC's Michael Bloom, Evelyn Cheng contributed to this report.
Goldman Sachs believes Constellation Brands (STZ) has the potential to revive sales in its struggling Wine & Spirits division. It's not impossible, but we're more bullish on the company's core beer business. Constellation Brands on Friday was added to Goldman Sachs' conviction buy list. Analyst Bonnie Herzog cites the company's growing market share in beer and sees stabilization ahead in lagging wine and spirits. Goldman has a $290-per-share price target on the stock. Constellation is known for its best-selling premium Mexican beer brands: Modelo, Corona and Pacifico. While it also has a decent line-up of wine and spirits  such as Simi wines and Svedka vodka  the segment has been under pressure as management tries to shift the portfolio to premium selections. In the Goldman note, Herzog acknowledged that Wine & Spirits has, indeed, struggled. At the same time, she believes that part of the business can "stabilize  or at least stop being a drag." The analyst sees growth opportunities in direct-to-consumer sales and international expansion, as well as ways to develop "more efficient marketing to create a better base of business going forward." Similar to the Club's base case, Herzog believes Constellation is "poised to continue to gain market share in the U.S. beer market as it expands distribution in the middle of the country from its coastal strongholds." Management's emphasis on "driving shareholder returns reduces the risk of its underperforming Wine business," she added. During its fiscal 2024 second quarter  released on Oct. 5  Wine & Spirits sales fell 11% year-over-year organically to $444 million, while the segment's operating margin contracted to 18.2%. In our view, the quarter's weak Wine & Spirits performance strengthened the case to divest the division  so the company could use the cash to buy back more stock or possibly invest more in its stellar beer business. Overall, fiscal Q2 was strong with revenue and profit beats and rosier full-year guidance. On earnings day, Constellation dropped more than 3% to $241 each. At the time, we thought the decline was unwarranted, and we upgraded the stock back to our buy-equivalent 1 rating . STZ 1Y mountain STZ 1-year stock performance. Less than a month later, Constellation held its Investor Day on Nov. 2. We had been hoping to hear news about a breakup of its underperforming Wine & Spirits, which did not happen. However, Constellation management did discuss at the event sequential improvement in sales and profitability in the segment, as well as a continued focus on beer and consistent capital returns through a $2 billion buyback. Despite the positives, "the stock has done nothing" since earnings, Jim Cramer said Friday. Constellation shares have been bouncing around a bit but have not made any sort of a breakout. The stock has gained nearly 4% year-to-date but has dropped 6.5% over the past 12 months. Still, we see opportunities for the company to grow because the fundamentals of the business are intact, which should translate to a higher stock price in the future. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long STZ. 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.

Workers load bottles of alcohol into boxes at Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits LLC distribution center in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, June 28, 2021. Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., departs the U.S. Capitol following being voted out of Congress in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1, 2023.

The House voted Friday to expel Rep. George Santos from Congress for his alleged finance crimes and his campaign lies, shrinking the GOP's already slim majority.

Lawmakers voted 311-114 to oust the New York Republican. The measure required the support of two-thirds of the chamber to pass. Two members voted present.

Santos is the sixth House member in U.S. history to be booted from Congress, and the third since the Civil War.

The removal of Santos lowers the number of House Republicans to 221, with 213 Democrats. This makes it even more difficult for the majority to pass legislation without Democratic support.

Democrats see his seat as a prime pickup opportunity. New York law gives Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul 10 days to announce a special election to fill his seat, with a vote coming sometime in late February.

"I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York's 3rd District," Hochul wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after the expulsion vote. "The people of Long Island deserve nothing less."

Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, who left the seat in New York's 3rd congressional district to run for governor, has already launched a campaign to take it back.

House Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, were wary of ousting one of their colleagues and had opposed the expulsion resolution.

The resolution, brought by Santos' fellow New York Republicans, was the latest effort to boot the embattled 35-year-old freshman lawmaker. So far, none of the motions passed.
watch now

Israeli bombs hit the Gaza Strip Friday morning after a week-long truce with Hamas expired and Israeli forces accused the Palestinian militant group of breaching the terms of their agreement. "Following sirens that sounded in communities near Gaza, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a launch from Gaza," a post on the Israeli Defense Forces' official X account read at 6:18 a.m. local time.

Palestinians inspect the destruction around residential buildings following Israeli air strikes in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023, as fighting resumed shortly after the expiration of a seven-day truce between Israel and Hamas militants. Said Khatib | AFP | Getty Images

One hour later, it posted an update that read: "Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza."



The truce itself expired at 7 a.m. local time on Friday. It went into place on Nov. 24, initially meant to last four days but was extended for three more days as Qatari and Egyptian negotiators worked to further the pause in fighting. That allowed for many more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged and more humanitarian aid to enter the battered Gaza Strip. In total, as of Friday, 110 of the hostages taken by Hamas into Gaza on Oct. 7 have been released. That includes 78 Israeli and dual-nationals, mostly women and children, freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners who had been held in Israeli prisons. Under the terms of that deal, three Palestinian prisoners were exchanged for every one Israeli hostage.

A man waves an Israeli flag as a vehicle carrying two Russian hostages released by Hamas militants on November 29, 2023, passes by Ofakim in southern Israel. Menahem Kahana | AFP | Getty Images

Separately, three Israeli-Russian dual nationals were released as part of a deal between Hamas and Moscow, and 24 non-Israeli foreign nationals  23 Thai and one Filipino  were freed in an agreement between Hamas and those captives' governments. Before the Nov. 24 deal, four other Israeli hostages were freed and one was rescued in an operation by IDF forces. Around 140 Israeli hostages are still in Gaza, mostly men and soldiers, for which Hamas is expected to set a higher price. Egyptian and Qatari negotiators said on Thursday they were pushing for a new two-day extension, but those efforts apparently failed after what the IDF said was a rocket attack from Gaza. The resumption of combat comes a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel, his third since the war began, where he met with Israeli political and military leaders and urged the continuation of the then-ongoing truce and stressed the protection of Gaza civilians. Blinken also visited the occupied West Bank, where he met with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. The secretary's trip 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.

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
Tom Werner | Digitalvision | Getty Images

If you elected not to participate in your company's 401(k) plan, your employer may have other ideas. The concept of 401(k) plan "reenrollment" has been gaining traction. That means companies are more regularly choosing to automatically sweep workers into their workplace plan if they don't currently participate. While automatic enrollment, which has also gained popularity, generally applies to new hires, reenrollments typically apply to all workers who don't currently save in the 401(k). As of 2022, about 10% of companies that offer a retirement plan reenroll workers into the 401(k) every year, according to a recent survey by the Plan Sponsor Council of America, a trade group. That share is up from 4% a decade earlier.

The calculus is often one of retirement security and trying to help boost workers' savings, said Sean Deviney, a certified financial planner based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "A lot of times employees make their [401(k)] election when they're hired and never look at it again," said Deviney, director at Provenance Wealth Advisors. Most companies, about 85%, direct workers' savings into target-date funds if they're automatically enrolled, according to PSCA data. Workers receive a notification from their employer ahead of reenrollments and have the chance to opt out or reduce their contribution. Employers' hope is that inertia will cause workers to stay in the plan rather than opt out.
U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., walks to a series of votes including a vote to expel him from the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Dec. 1, 2023.

Democratic Party officials in New York held a meeting Friday evening with at least three potential candidates to replace former GOP Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the House on Friday.

The meeting was a "screening process" to help party officials decide who will have the best chance at flipping the seat from red to blue, Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs told CNBC ahead of time.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, planned to attend, said Jacobs. Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi also planned to be there. Suozzi held this seat, representing New York's 3rd Congressional District, until he left to run for governor and Santos replaced him.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has 10 days to announce the date of a special election for Santos' seat. The vote is expected in late February.

Santos' expulsion shrunk the Republicans' already slim House majority and gave Democrats a good chance to flip the seat in February and further weaken the GOP's hold on the chamber.

The Cook Political Report labels the seat a toss-up. But Santos was expelled over alleged campaign finance violations and other ethics issues, giving Democrats a stronger chance of winning a special election. Voters tend to select the other party when a lawmaker leaves Congress under a cloud.

Since Santos' New York seat touched both Queens and Nassau County in New York, both Meeks and Jacobs will be responsible for selecting the Democrat who will run. County leaders from each party select and internally vote for candidates who will participate in the special election, according to New York election law. Jacobs said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Gov. Kathy Hochul will be consulted before a decision is officially made.

"We [Jacobs and Meeks] are both committed to finding the best candidate," Jacobs said. "We don't want George Santos' brother as our candidate," he quipped.

The Queens Democratic Party and a spokeswoman for Meeks did not respond to emails seeking comment.

The screening process includes questions about whether each potential candidate would be able to raise enough money to compete and win back the district, according to Jacobs.

Suozzi was in touch with Jacobs before Santos was expelled, pitching himself as the right candidate for a special election contest.

"I've heard from him. I wouldn't say that it's constant or often, but he's made his interest very clear," Jacobs said.

"But I've heard from a number of other candidates, and some, more than I've heard from him," Jacobs said, without disclosing the names of the other contenders.

A spokeswoman for Suozzi declined to comment and referred CNBC to Suozzi's tweet on the expulsion.
Processing towers stand at the RN-Tuapsinsky refinery, operated by Rosneft Oil Co., in Tuapse, Russia, on Monday, March 23, 2020.

Oil prices are expected to rise in the new year after some OPEC+ oil producers voluntarily pledged to cut output.

The oil cartel on Thursday released a statement that did not formally endorse production cuts, but individual countries announced voluntary reductions totaling 2.2 million barrels per day for the first quarter of 2024.

Leading the cuts is OPEC kingpin and largest member Saudi Arabia. Riyadh agreed to extend its voluntary production cut of 1 million barrels per day  which has been in place since July  until the end of the first quarter of 2024. Russia said it will cut supply by 300,000 barrels per day of crude and 200,000 barrels per day of petroleum products over the same period.

Iraq is cutting by 223,000 bpd, the United Arab Emirates by 163,000 bpd, Kuwait by 135,000 bpd, Kazakhstan by 82,000 bpd, Algeria by 51,000 bpd and Oman by 42,000 bpd.

"Compliance is key. It can't just be Saudi Arabia. We have to have compliance from the other OPEC nations," Bill Perkins, CEO and head trader of Skylar Capital Management, told CNBC. "When these other nations say they're going to cut, the market doesn't trust it as much," he added.
Peter Mutabazi and some of the children he has fostered or adopted. Peter Mutabazi

Peter Mutabazi has fostered or adopted 36 children in the past seven years  by himself. Right now, he's caring for kids aged two, three, seven, eight, 10, 17 and 19 years old, three of whom are his adopted children. His is an extraordinary story. Raised in rural Uganda, Mutabazi ran away from home at the age of 10, becoming a street kid in the capital city of Kampala, sleeping under stationary vehicles, selling peanuts at a bus station and surviving off fruit taken from stands at a market. "I grew up [the] poor of the poorest," Mutabazi told CNBC by video call. "I became a street kid, and I was trying to change my life," he said. For five years, he lived in this way, carrying people's shopping in return for bananas or plantain, and sharing what little food he had with other children. He didn't have much hope for the future until, as a teenager a man named James befriended him after Mutabazi made a habit of helping with his shopping. James paid for Mutabazi, by then 15, to attend a small Christian school. There, he eventually thrived, sometimes borrowing richer children's books in exchange for doing their homework. During a gap year between high school and university, Mutabazi became a relief worker, taking food and medicine to children living in Rwandan refugee camps following the genocide of the mid-1990s. Then, after completing degrees in Uganda, the U.K. and the U.S., he became a manager at non-profit Compassion International, which raises money to sponsor children in developing countries.

Becoming a solo foster father

It wasn't until he was 43 that Mutabazi became a foster dad. His own father was abusive, which is why he left home so young  and Mutabazi feared becoming like his dad, he wrote in his memoir "Now I Am Known: How a Street Kid Turned Foster Dad Found Acceptance and True Worth." He also thought that a single, black man would not be allowed to foster children. "I had never seen a black person who was adopting from Uganda or from Ethiopia or from China. They were always Caucasians and married," he told CNBC. But a conversation with a colleague  a white American man, who with his wife had fostered (and subsequently adopted) a baby, Brittany, who is black  made him re-think those assumptions. Mutabazi also questioned how devoted he was to helping children in his role at the non-profit, and realized he wanted to do more. "I knew I was making a difference in the lives of children, but everything I did kept those children at a safe distance. I made my trips and sent my checks, and at the end of the day, I came home and closed my mind," he wrote in the book.

Peter Mutabazi with Skylar, one of the children he has adopted. Peter Mutabazi

Mutabazi, now 49, has lived in the U.S. for 18 years. "When I came to the United States, I was really shocked to see how wealthy and how developed a country can be  but there was a divide. People just didn't know what was happening to the kids," he told CNBC. He approached a fostering agency in Oklahoma City, where he lived, suggesting he could mentor at-risk children. But a social worker asked if he would consider fostering, and explained that he was eligible to do so as a single man. To get approved as a foster parent, Mutabazi underwent multiple interviews and background checks and took months of classes known as MAPP  or Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting  which train foster parents in understanding children who have experienced trauma. He found the classes helped him process his own trauma. "I didn't want my past to drag into the future," Mutabazi said of his difficult childhood. He realized: "I can really be a good dad  I can parent in the best way I can," he told CNBC. Now, on top of being a foster dad, he runs the Now I Am Known Foundation, where he does room makeovers for teenagers.

Dealing with anger

The first child Mutabazi fostered was a five-year-old boy who would sometimes have screaming fits. "One time, he cried for three hours nonstop, and at the end of it he just said, 'hey, Daddy can you hold me?'" Mutabazi told CNBC. "Once he went into that [angry] mode, he just didn't know how to come back," Mutabazi said. "My approach was to say, how do I help this kid regulate, control his anger, but also know that I was there for him  rather than focusing on what I was seeing, but really focusing on what was causing it really helped me to know how to parent him," he said. The boy stayed with Mutabazi for six months before moving in with an aunt. "Even through the fits, this was a boy who just wanted to be held, and I thank God I was there for him," he wrote in his book.

Words of affirmation

When Mutabazi was living with James and his family as a teenager, he would carry a notebook and write down the positive things James said to him. "James told me I was brave for making it through all the things I'd endured in life. In fact, he said that to me a lot. Brave went in my notebook," he said in his memoir. Mutabazi continued to write down these "words of affirmation," and this notebook became a guide for how he speaks to the children in his care. "I memorized the words: you're chosen, you matter, you're special, you're enough, you're a gift, you're not alone, and I make sure that [with] my kids, I'm going to use those words at all times," he told CNBC.

Peter Mutabazi with three children he has adopted: Skylar, Ryder and Anthony. Peter Mutabazi

He also has the phrases printed on his steering wheel, on his fridge, in his closet, and even on his dog's tag. The words have helped him raise his son Anthony, who came to stay with Mutabazi at 11 years old, and whom he has since adopted. Mutabazi said his son had issues with abandonment, and his approach has been one of reassurance. "That has really helped him to know, hey, my dad loves me no matter what, despite the challenges that I have," Mutabazi said.

Small wins

Celebrating smaller achievements is one way that Mutabazi shows love to the children in his care. "I come from the poorest place you could think of [and] ... I have overcome trauma in so many different ways that I do not expect my child to do the same overnight," he said. For example, when one of the teenagers in his care struggled to make his bed, Mutabazi encouraged him to do it. "[Now] I'm able to say son, that was awesome. And I'm grateful," he told CNBC. That also helps to reassure the children that he cares about them, so if they fail at something larger they have more faith that he loves them regardless. "I have already shown that their love and that faithfulness through the small things," he said.

Coping with teens
Pfizer on Friday said it would stop developing the twice-daily version of its experimental weight loss pill after obese patients taking the drug lost significant weight but had trouble tolerating the drug in a mid-stage clinical study.

The drugmaker observed high rates of adverse side effects, which were mostly mild and gastrointestinal, among patients. A significant share of patients also stopped taking the pill, which aims to be a more convenient alternative to highly popular weight loss injections.

"At this time, twice-daily danuglipron formulation will not advance into Phase 3 studies," the company said.

But Pfizer said it still plans to release data on a once-a-day version of the drug in the first half of 2024, which will "inform a path forward." The pharmaceutical giant will wait to see that data before deciding whether to start a phase three study on the once-daily pill, which Wall Street views as the more competitive form of the treatment.

Shares of Pfizer closed 5% lower Friday after it announced the trial results.

Still, the data on the twice-daily drug is a blow to Pfizer's hopes to win a $10 billion slice of the booming weight loss drug market, which CEO Albert Bourla has said could grow to $90 billion. The company is betting on a successful weight loss pill to help it rebound from plummeting demand for its Covid products and a roughly 40% share price drop this year.

But investors have been pessimistic about Pfizer's potential in the weight loss drug space since the company scrapped a different once-daily pill in June and proceeded with the less attractive danuglipron. Now, Friday's data puts Pfizer even further behind the dominant players in the weight loss drug market, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk , which are racing to develop pill versions of their blockbuster weight loss and diabetes injections.

Pfizer's phase two trial on its twice-daily pill followed around 600 obese adults who did not have Type 2 diabetes. The trial examined the drug's effect on weight loss after 26 or 32 weeks, at different dosage amounts ranging from 40 milligrams to 200 milligrams.

Like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, Pfizer's pill works by mimicking a hormone produced in the gut called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when a person is full.

Pfizer said the trial on danuglipron met the primary goal of demonstrating "statistically significant" reductions in body weight.

Patients who took the pill twice a day lost 6.9% to 11.7% of their body weight on average at 32 weeks, and from 4.8% to 9.4% at 26 weeks.

Meanwhile, patients on a placebo gained 1.4% of their body weight at 32 weeks and 0.17% at 26 weeks.

When adjusting for the difference between the weight gain observed in patients who took the placebo, Pfizer's twice-daily pill caused 8% to 13% weight loss on average at 32 weeks and 5% to 9.5% at 26 weeks.

The company said high rates of adverse events were observed among patients in the study, with up to 73% experiencing nausea, up to 47% vomiting and up to 25% experiencing diarrhea. More than 50% of patients across all dose sizes stopped taking the pill, compared to roughly 40% among those on the placebo, according to Pfizer.

No new safety issues were observed, and danuglipron was not associated with increased liver enzymes like Pfizer's other discontinued weight loss pill.

Data from the phase two trial will be presented at a future scientific conference or published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, rings the opening bell at the Nasdaq on July 29, 2021.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev says he doesn't believe that the payment for order flow (PFOF) model of market-maker routing that the company incorporates in the U.S. is under threat.

That's despite calls from notable consumer trading advocates and regulators for a ban on the practice.

Speaking with CNBC, Tenev defended the practice of PFOF, saying that it's "inherently here to stay." He was referring to PFOF as it exists in the United States, where the practice is legal and regulated.

PFOF is the practice of routing trades through market-makers like Citadel Securities in return for a slice of the profits. The phenomenon has helped trading firms like Robinhood drive commissions down to zero, making it cheaper generally for consumers to invest in stocks.

"If I'm a business that's selling things, and I'm generating transaction revenue, the more you use it, the more money you get. Inherently, there's a conflict there because I make more money by getting you to transact more," Tenev told CNBC in an interview.

"I think it's important not to take the baby out with the bathwater. What does that mean, you shouldn't make revenue on a transaction-based business? That's unreasonable. And I think the point has been politicised to some degree."

PFOF is viewed as controversial because of the perceived conflict of interest it creates between the broker and clients.

Critics say that brokers have an incentive to direct order flow to market makers offering PFOF arrangements over the interests of their clients.

PFOF is banned in the U.K., where Robinhood announced plans to launch Thursday.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had looked at banning PFOF in light of concerns surrounding the practice, but opted not to, while the European Union has imposed a blanket ban on PFOF.

PFOF accounts for a small chunk of Robinhood's revenues today, Tenev said, while much of its income today comes from net interest income which is generated from cash in user balances.

Transaction-based revenues, which includes PFOF, decreased 7% in Robinhood's second fiscal quarter to $193 million.

"If you look at equities, PFOF in particular, it's about 5%. of our revenue, so a much smaller component of the overall pie. And we've diversified the business quite a bit," including other areas like securities lending, margin, and subscriptions.
Belarus ratifies memorandum on joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Xinhua) 10:09, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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.
Ukrainian servicemen of a drone hunting team stand next to an anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon that they use to target Russian launched drones, in the outskirts of Kyiv, on November 30, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday called for quicker fortifications in key battlegrounds that face assaults from Russian forces, particularly in eastern Ukraine.

"In all major sectors, we need to boost and accelerate the construction of structures," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address, according to a translation, after touring Ukrainian positions in the northeast that have been trying to repel recent Russian advances and recapture certain areas.

The Ukrainian air force said on its Telegram channel that it shot down 18 out of 25 attack drones launched overnight from Russia towards eastern and southern Ukraine, along with one of two guided cruise missiles.

Russia's navy reported early Friday morning that it destroyed a Ukrainian navy vessel without crew that was heading towards Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

U.S. National Security Spokesman John Kirby said Washington has been working with Ukraine to prepare for an expected Russian onslaught heading into winter by shoring up supplies in the event of attacks on heat and electricity infrastructure.

Separately, Russia's presence at a European security meeting taking place Thursday caused a stir.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended the annual meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with Baltic nations and Ukraine refusing to attend as a result.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Ensuring Judicial Independence Through Civics Education" on Wednesday, July 25, 2012. Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images

Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, has died. O'Connor was 93 years old. She died in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday "of complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer's, and a respiratory illness," the Supreme Court said in a statement. O'Connor was appointed to the court in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and served nearly a quarter-century, retiring in 2006. She was replaced by Justice Samuel Alito, who in 2022 wrote the majority opinion overturning a federal right to abortion that had been protected for decades by the cases Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. O'Connor had co-authored the majority opinion in the latter case, which Alito blasted for having "enflamed debate and deepened division" in the United States. She stepped back from public life in late 2018, after having problems with her short-term memory, her family said at the time.

Newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor stands in front of the US Supreme Court Building following her being sworn in, September 25, 1981, in Washington, DC. David Hume Kennerly | Archive Photos | Getty Images

Chief Justice John Roberts, in a statement released by the court, said, "A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O'Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation's first female Justice. She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor." "We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education," Roberts said. "And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot."

Iraq Study Group member and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in her offices at the United States Supreme Court on January 23, 2007 in Washington, D.C. Charles Ommanney | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Georgetown University Law School Professor Julie O'Sullivan, who clerked for O'Connor in the mid-1980s, said she was a "brilliant" justice who came on to the court as a libertarian, but "who evolved quite a bit" over the years in terms of legal philosophy. O'Sullivan also said that O'Connor was "a very courageous woman to take" on the role of the first female justice. "She was always very conscious that everybody was watching," said O'Sullivan, noting that O'Connor was known to say that "she didn't mind being the first, but she didn't want to be the last." O'Connor insisted that the nine justices "all have lunch together" regularly, made lunch for her clerks when they worked on Saturdays, and strongly believed in getting along with her colleagues, regardless of their differences of opinion, O'Sullivan said. And "she knew how to get to five," O'Sullivan noted, referring to the minimum number of justices needed for a majority ruling in most cases. "She was very strategic." During her tenure, O'Connor was joined on the nine-member Supreme Court by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993. Before O'Connor died, Ginsburg was the most recent justice to have died, in September 2020.

Diane Sawyer leads a discussion with U.S. Supreme Court justice Ruth Badar Ginsburg, left, and retired justice Sandra Day O'Connor, during the Women's Conference in Long Beach, CA on October 26, 2010. Jeff Gritchen | Medianews Group | Getty Images
OPEC is facing growing challenges in its efforts to boost oil prices amid record output outside the alliance, particularly in the U.S., raising questions about how long the group can maintain its deep production cuts. OPEC and its allies, OPEC+, failed to reach a unanimous agreement Thursday on cuts, even after delaying the meeting by five days in an effort to shore up unity within the alliance. Instead, seven members announced voluntary, unilateral cuts to the tune of 2.2 million barrels per day for the first quarter of 2024. The outcome is a "bittersweet victory" for OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, wrote Jorge Leon, senior vice president of Rystad Energy, in a note Thursday. Riyadh convinced members to share some of the burden in cutting. But the failure to secure a formal agreement "does not bode well for the group's unity and cohesion and limits the group's ability to balance the market," Leon wrote. With oil prices down more than 14% since September highs, traders were hoping that OPEC could provide a boost. So far, however, the cuts are not having the intended effect oil on prices. U.S. crude fell more than 2% Thursday, while Brent dropped 0.3%. Oil futures were down more than 2% on Friday. Traders are disappointed that the cuts are short term, just one quarter, and worried that OPEC+ will not be able to hold itself together, Leon wrote in a note Thursday. OPEC+ is increasingly struggling to coordinate large reductions given the size of cuts already in place and the limited impact they are having on prices, JPMorgan analyst Natasha Kaneva wrote in a note Friday. In the end, Saudi Arabia may have only one option  launch a supply war by flooding the market with oil. "They could just add two and a half million barrels into the market for six months and just flush it," Paul Sankey, a top oil market analyst and president at Sankey Research, said on CNBC's " Fast Money " Thursday. Oil below $60 on supply war? The Saudis face two problems  restlessness within the OPEC+ ranks on the cuts and record production outside the alliance, particularly in the U.S. Oil producers outside OPEC+ are pumping oil at record levels and can now cover global demand, which which has forced the Saudi-led alliance to cut to keep the market balanced in their favor, according Kaneva. John Kilduff, founder of Again Capital, thinks the Saudis are fighting a losing battle with the U.S. Riyadh is currently producing 9 million bpd compared to 13 million bpd in the U.S. And record production outside OPEC comes at a time when demand growth is faltering in China, Kilduff said. "They have a big problem on their hands," Kilduff said of Saudi Arabia. "They have their hands full and to me it's not going to prove to be a winning strategy for them," he said of the output cuts. Sankey said the Saudis would need to dramatically slash prices to keep production from growing in the U.S. This would require pushing crude below $60 per barrel because that is the price U.S. producers are planning for right now, Sankey said. The Saudis already came close to "burning the house down" this week as they struggled to get OPEC+ members in line, Kilduff told CNBC's " Squawk on the Street " on Thursday Given the challenges facing OPEC+, the group's exit strategy from the current cuts is now in sharp focus, Kaneva wrote in a November note. If Saudi Arabia and Russia return 1.3 million bpd to the market in April, the price of Brent would average $77 per barrel in 2024 and $57 per barrel in 2025, according to Kaneva. This would trigger a slowdown in drilling and fracking activity in the second half of 2024, shaving off about 170,000 bpd of U.S. production growth, she wrote. In 2025, U.S. liquids production would be flat compared to JPMorgan's baseline of 740,000 bpd of growth. Compliance under scrutiny For now, the focus is on whether OPEC+ will actually come through with the cuts promised Thursday. The 2.2 million bpd in voluntary cuts from the coalition of the willing is somewhat deceiving. Saudi Arabia, for example, simply rolled over its current 1 million bpd cut, while Russia increased its export curbs  not production  by 200,000 bpd to 500,000 bpd total. In reality, the new cuts to production for the first quarter total about 700,000 bpd total from Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman. Goldman Sachs, for its part, declined to change its oil price forecast on the OPEC decision as the investment bank waits for "clarity on compliance with cuts and additional inventories data." Goldman still expects OPEC to keep Brent in a range of $80 to $100 a barrel in 2024. But compliance with voluntary cuts is a "stress test" of whether Brent will maintain an $80 floor, analyst Daan Struyven wrote. A slowdown in U.S. supply growth in 2024 is another major assumption supporting that price floor. One downside risk to the $80 floor would be persistent upside surprises in crude inventories particularly in the U.S., according to Goldman. Global inventories rose by 300,000 bpd on average in October and November, while Goldman had forecast a decline of 700,000 bpd. And then there is the problem of OPEC unity  or lack thereof. "The further rise in spare capacity and the voluntary nature of today's cut imply that additional large OPEC+ cuts in response to any additional inventory beats become increasingly difficult to implement," Struyven wrote.
Pfizer (PFE) has suffered another setback in its efforts to develop a weight-loss pill  and that's good news for Club holding Eli Lilly (LLY) as it looks to maintain an edge in the fast-growing obesity-treatment market. Pfizer said Friday it will discontinue its twice-daily weight-loss pill, danuglipron, after patients in a mid-stage trial experienced high rates of side effects like nausea and vomiting. More than 50% of recipients stopped taking the drug all together, the company said. Pfizer said it will focus future development of danuglipron on a once-daily version of the drug. In June, the New York-based pharmaceutical giant stopped developing a different obesity pill, known as lotiglipron , due to concerns about liver safety. Shares of Pfizer tumbled nearly 5% Friday, to around $29 each. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly shares were mainly flat in afternoon trading, at around $591apiece. "I don't think this should be going down," Jim Cramer said Friday, referring to Eli Lilly stock. For the year, shares of Eli Lilly have soared more than 60%  significantly outperforming the S & P 500  largely tied to optimism around its obesity-treatment pipeline. We lifted our Eli Lilly price target Friday to $630 per share, up from $600. LLY .SPX YTD mountain Eli Lilly's stock performance in 2023 compared with the S & P 500. Eli Lilly and Danish rival Novo Nordisk (NVO) are the two dominant players in the obesity market. Pharmaceutical analysts widely expect both companies to continue to dominate in the medium term, despite competition from other drugmakers such as Pfizer, Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN). Pfizer's latest setback "could further widen Lilly and Novo's leads," Bank of America analysts said in a note to clients Friday  a view we share. As Jim argued in November after AstraZeneca bought the rights to an experimental obesity pill from a Chinese biotechnology firm, Eli Lilly  and Novo Nordisk, for that matter  has an incumbency advantage. The longer it takes for competitors to get to this burgeoning market, the more revenue first-movers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk can capture. Our preference for owning Eli Lilly over Novo Nordisk comes down to Eli Lilly's broader drug pipeline, including its Alzheimer's treatment donanemab that's awaiting U.S. regulatory clearance. Right now, the leading weight-loss drugs  Novo's Wegovy and Lilly's recently approved Zepbound  are injectable. Wegovy and Zepbound are in an emergent class of drugs known as GLP-1s, which mimic a hormone in the gut to assist in blood sugar control and effectively suppresses appetite, helping contribute to weight loss. Novo's Ozempic and Lilly's Mounjaro are GLP-1s used to treat type-2 diabetes. Drugmakers and analysts alike see oral treatments playing an important part in a GLP-1 market that some Wall Street firms project will eventually generate at least $100 billion in annual revenue. The thinking is that daily obesity pills will appeal to more people than a once-weekly injection, even if the pills lead to less weight loss. Pills are also easier to manufacture than injectable GLP-1s. Eli Lilly has advanced its leading oral GLP-1, known as orforglipron, to large-scale phase-three studies after releasing impressive phase-two trial results in June . The large-scale studies are expected to be completed in 2025, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In the mid-stage trial, patients who took the highest dose of orforglipron on average lost nearly 15% of their body weight. Between 10% and 17% of patients on the once-daily drug stopped taking it due to side effects, much lower than Pfizer's more-than-50% discontinuation rate for twice-daily danuglipron. Novo Nordisk's leading obesity pill  semaglutide, which is the same active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic  is a bit further along than Lilly's. The company has said it expects to apply for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by year-end. In a late-stage trial , overweight adults who took the oral version of semaglutide lost up to 15% of their body weight over a 68-week period. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long LLY. 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.

Eli Lilly headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, US, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Eli Lilly & Co.'s shares climbed in early US trading after its experimental drug for Alzheimer's slowed the progress of the disease in a final-stage trial, paving the way for the company to apply for US approval. AJ Mast | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Visa applications have been consistently increasing, nearing the figures seen before the pandemic, as per BLS International Services.

Share Market Live NSE

Shikhar Aggarwal, the Joint Managing Director of the company, told CNBC-TV18 that visa applications have recovered to about 75-80% of the pre-COVID levels. However, lower number of applications from China and Russia is limiting the overall growth.

Aggarwal expects a recovery in China soon, but Russia may take a while.

Earlier this week, BLS secured a contract from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) with potential revenues of 50 crore.

We have won new contracts with the Aadhaar authority in India, involving data quality checks for around 70 million applications over three years. This contract alone is expected to contribute around 50 crore in revenue, and it is extendable, he said.

In its second quarter post-earnings conference call the company noted a steady upward trend driven by both growth in applications as well as improving realisations on a month-on-month basis

This Delhi-based company has also signed an exclusive global visa outsourcing contract for Slovakia to offer outsourced visa services across 18 countries.

Aggarwal said, We have also won a few contracts with the government of Slovakia, Germany, Italy, Hungary, that we have rolled out and Slovakia is a big win because it's another global Schengen contract that we have won where we will be rolling out in 18 countries.

The market capitalisation of BLS International Services is 10,718 crore and it competes with industry rivals such as VFS Global, Seaman Tours, and Kiltons.
India has called for a globally coordinated strategy to curtail criminal organisations that operate across international jurisdictions, asking all Interpol member countries to deny any safe havens for crime, criminals and proceeds of crime. The Indian delegation at the ninety-first Interpol General Assembly in Austria's Vienna held discussions on police cooperation with Austria, UAE, USA, UK, Nepal, Brazil, Australia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Singapore and Zambia.

India's five-member delegation to the Assembly was led by CBI's Director Praveen Sood and also included the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Dinkar Gupta. While supporting the adoption of Interpol's Vision 2030 and the creation of an Interpol Future Council, India held discussions for better sharing of criminal information via Interpol channels to expedite mutual legal assistance and extradition requests.

India's extradition requests for several fugitives currently remain pending before various countries. Among many others, the following fugitives remain in foreign countries at large despite court orders or extradition requests made by the Indian authorities: David Headley, Tahawwur Rana, Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel, Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. In 2023, 24 criminals and fugitives wanted by India were returned after close coordination via Interpol channels. India has geolocated over 184 criminals in various countries and has initiated formal proceedings for their return.

This years General Assembly also marks the centennial anniversary of Interpol and returns to the city where the organisation was founded a century ago. India hosted the nintieth Interpol General Assembly from October 18 to 22, 2022, in New Delhi, which witnessed the participation of delegations from 168 countries. Several resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly, relating to strengthening collaborative responses to disrupt financial crime and corruption, combating the menace of online child sexual exploitation and promoting diversity within Interpol. Subsequently, India had also hosted the Interpol Young Global Police Leaders programme earlier in 2023, which involved the participation of 44 countries.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday inaugurated its new station on Pag-asa Island, which is expected to enhance the agencys ability to monitor movements of Chinese forces in Philippine waters.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Ano said he is optimistic that the new state-of-the-art facility will help the governments efforts to raise awareness of Beijings provocative and bullying actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The official said he believes this so-called transparency strategy will ultimately influence Chinas behavior.

Its ability to collect real-time data, along with its coastal radars that can track the presence of vessels near the island, will certainly have an impact on the behavior of our Chinese neighbor, Ano said in a speech during the inauguration.

According to the NSA, the new station has radar systems, coastal cameras, and equipment for automatic identification, satellite communication, and vessel traffic management.

This facility is poised to be a game-changer in promoting transparency and influencing their (China's) behavior to abide by international laws and support the rules-based order, he added.

On Friday morning, 19 Chinese ships could be seen in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island, also known as Thitu Island. Located southwest of Palawan, it falls within the country's exclusive economic zone in the WPS  something China contests despite a landmark 2016 ruling in favor of the Philippines.

Some incidents between Manila and Beijing on the island and other parts of the WPS in recent months have raised tensions between the two nations, including the latter's persistent shadowing of Philippine vessels and its conduct of dangerous maneuvers which, in October, resulted in a collision.

Such actions by China, Ano said, are pure bullying.

Actually, hindi na yan gray-zone (tactics), pure bullying na yan, and its pure illegal," he said in a media interview. Hindi na yan acceptable sa international law."

[Translation: Actually, those are no longer gray-zone tactics, it's pure bullying and it's purely illegal. Thats no longer acceptable under international law.]

The security adviser said that apart from Pag-asa Island, the government is also looking at improving other maritime features occupied by the Philippines.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday destroyed smuggled cigarettes worth 323.59 million in Zamboanga City.

BOC Zamboanga said 5,624 master cases and 1,171 reams were seized in different checkpoints in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi from May to November this year.

It added that the smuggled items were drenched with water by the Bureau of Fire Protection and were destroyed using a payloader in a customs-rented warehouse in Barangay Tetuan. These were eventually discarded in a sanitary landfill in Barangay Salaan.

Zamboanga City is known for its seaports and port facilities for exports of sardines and goods.

"The Bureau of Customs will be persistent in its relentless efforts in stopping the proliferation of unlawfully imported tobacco products in the country and safeguard the nation's interests against smugglers," Zamboanga Port Acting District Collector Arthur Sevilla Jr. said in a statement.

Sevilla vowed to strengthen their contraband operations under the instruction of BOC chief Bienvenido Rubio to combat illicit tobacco trade.

RELATED: BOC destroys smuggled cigarettes worth 1.43B in Zamboanga
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor should have used the one-year grace period from the filing to the effectivity of the Philippines' withdrawal from the tribunal to request the probe into the Duterte administration's drug war for it to be legal, the solicitor general said Friday.

"'Yung one-year period provides the opportunity for the ICC prosecutor to commence his investigation bago mag-take effect 'yung withdrawal pang balance 'yun," Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told CNN Philippines' The Source.

[Translation: The one year period provides the opportunity for the ICC prosecutor to commence his investigation before the withdrawal takes effect it's for balancing.]

In the case of the Philippines, Menardo said the ICC failed to do so.

Former ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda sought authorization from the pre-trial chamber in May 2021 to start an investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Philippines between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019 in relation to the anti-drug campaign. This was approved in September 2021.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte notified the ICC about the Philippines' withdrawal in 2018. It took effect in 2019.

With this, Menardo maintained that the ICC no longer has jurisdiction over the country.

He also cited the case of Burundi, whose withdrawal took effect on Oct. 27, 2017, but the authorization to investigate alleged crimes against humanity there was approved on Oct. 25, 2017. This means the tribunal still has jurisdiction over the African nation.

Menardo, meanwhile, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to give him specific instructions on the country's possible return to the ICC. If this pushes through, the solicitor general said it will need the Senate's concurrence.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The government has issued implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s executive order to expedite the permitting processes for telecommunications infrastructure.

In a statement on Friday, Malacanang said a technical working group released a joint memorandum circular for the implementation of Marcos' directive.

The chief executive ordered last July to streamline guidelines for the issuance of permits, licenses, and certificates for the construction of telco and internet infrastructure. This would also cover the network's installation, repair, operation, and maintenance.

He also sought the establishment of a technical working group composed of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Anti-Red Tape Authority, National Telecommunications Commission, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The Palace said a "unified application form" or "preformatted form building permit applications" will be adopted across the country, specifically at the local level.

Industry players applying for building permits should submit the following requirements together with the unified application form:

- property documents

- technical documents

- height clearance permit

- homeowners association or HOA clearance

Meanwhile, to get a certificate of use and a business or mayor's permit, the following documents are needed:

- certificate of completion

- construction logbook

- photocopy of valid licenses

- photograph of structure

- yellow card/clearance from electrical service provider

- copy of As-Built Plan reflecting changes and modifications

The IRR has also laid out requirements for erection of poles, deployment of underground fiber ducts, operation, repair, and maintenance of other telco assets.

"It mandates all cities to set up a One-Stop Shop for Construction Permits, preferably at the Office of the Building Official, which will provide frontline services to applicants securing building permits and other certificates related to telecommunications and internet infrastructure," the Palace said.

It added that the IRR orders local government units to implement a "zero-backlog policy."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The United Nations (UN) Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) will visit the Philippines this week to assess how the government has implemented the recommendations it made during its first visit in 2015.

The UN body on Thursday announced that it will be in the country from Dec. 3 to 14 to advise authorities on how to fulfill its international commitments to prevent torture and ill treatment.

In 2012, the Philippines ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, which obliges State parties to set up independent national preventive mechanisms that would examine the treatment of people in detention and strengthen policies that protect them from abuse.

The Philippines is one of the States parties who are significantly overdue in establishing a national mechanism for torture prevention under the Optional Protocol, and we consider our visit as an opportunity to help the authorities set up the countrys independent monitory body, said Victor Zaharia, head of the delegation.

The subcommittee said it will conduct confidential interviews and check the situation of people deprived of liberty, including not only detainees but also patients in psychiatric hospitals. During its stay, it is expected to meet with government officials, civil society representatives and UN agencies.

At the end of its visit, the SPT will present its confidential preliminary observations to the national government.

The delegation will be accompanied by two human rights officers from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The group Karapatan said it will raise a number of issues with the UN delegation, including alleged torture against political prisoners and documented violations of the anti-torture and anti-enforced disappearances laws.

Based on the human rights group's data, there are 795 political detainees in the country, 84 of whom were arrested under the current administration.

Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said several political detainees have been arrested on trumped-up charges.

CNN Philippines' Kristel Limpot and Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
Bill Gates speaks to The Associated Press during a visit of the Institut Pasteur in dakar, Senegal, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.A $40 million investment will help several African manufacturers produce new messenger RNA vaccines on the continent where people were last in line to receive jabs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo)
If nothing else, Apples most recent emergency security update should be considered proof of an increasingly tense security environment.

Enterprises must understand that while Apple maintains a pretty solid ecosystem  certainly at present the most secure, even according to Cisco  that doesnt mean its entirely safe, and every Apple customer needs to get wise to the growing proliferation of threats.

With more and more business users turning to the companys solutions, its important to get ahead of the threat.

What is the current threat environment?

The latest Orange Cyberdefense Security Navigator Report claims a global 46% surge in cyber-extortion attacks across the last year  and warns that just over a third (37.45%) of detected incidents originated from internal actors, not all of these by accident.

With employees and trusted insiders remaining the soft vulnerable point for a third of attacks, its essential every business and every user spend time learning about the best approach to online security.

The Orange report points out that attacks are taking place at strategic points in the supply chain. It warns that larger enterprises are the most targeted entities, and points to a surge in attacks against the manufacturing sector.

Ransomware, it seems, has become so prevalent that some of the more organized groups now host help desks targets can contact for assistance  and to arrange payment and data recovery.

Weaponizing WebKit

Keep these findings in mind as you consider Apples latest emergency security updates. Released at the end of November, these address two zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-42916 and CVE-2023-42917) that have been exploited by hackers to access sensitive information on Apple devices and/or to execute arbitrary code by using malicious webpages to take advantage of a memory corruption bug.

Michael Covington, vice president of portfolio strategy at Jamf, explained:

These latest OS updates, which address bugs in Apples WebKit, show that attackers continue to focus on exploiting the framework that downloads and presents web-based content. The latest bugs could lead to both data leakage and arbitrary code execution and appear to be tied to targeted attacks that are common against high-risk users.

Its quite natural that WebKit has become a prime attack target against Apples devices.

Can it get worse? Probably

Thats inevitable as the company at present wont support other browser engines, meaning that even non-Apple browsers make use of WebKit. This might change as regulators seem insistent on forcing Apple to open up, though when it does, it will allow criminals to try multiple web engines and app stores to crack their way into Apples devices. Well see how that goes.

Security researchers, meanwhile, continue to kick WebKit around in their attempt to find vulnerabilities before the bad guys do, and hopefully get an Apple security bounty payment for their trouble. But the fact that WebKit is such a popular attack vector should really inform every Apple user as to how they are being attacked  think dodgy web links in messages and emails, finely crafted phishing sites, and offers that are too good to be true on sites you dont entirely trust.

Those are the vectors being used.

Just update all the things

In this environment, a relatively recent survey from Qualys is all the more frightening; it claimed over half the Macs in use today might not yet have installed the latest security software upgrades. That really has to change (and Apple knows it).

At the same time, battle is joined.

The industry is keenly aware of the nature of the attacks taking place, but everyone can play their part. Update your devices swiftly.

Though these patches validate that Apple devices are not immune to cyber threats, the patching process is helping to reduce the attack surface, said Covington.

You dont want to be an easy target now, do you?

Patch today.

Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
DP World is pleased to announce the opening of the Lusaka Commercial Cold Store (LCCS) in Lusaka, Zambia. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to revolutionize the cold storage industry in Zambia, meeting the needs of local meat, poultry and fish producers, as well as the growing foodservice and retail sectors.



Deep Catch Group, a division of DP World's Market Access Consumer division, specializes in the wholesale, distribution and cold storage of fast food products. With a successful track record of providing strategic storage solutions in South Africa and Namibia, Deep Catch is now expanding its offerings to Zambia.



LCCS is designed to suit Zambia's unique climate, including dedicated areas such as cold rooms for freezing, cold storage, dry goods warehouse and food processing area. The facility includes a receiving and shipping area with efficient mobile and stationary pallet handling systems.



Once fully operational, LCCS will have a capacity of up to 5,500 pallets distributed across freezing, refrigeration and dry storage areas. This extensive capacity provides efficient inventory management for businesses dependent on cold storage solutions.

Find out more on our website about: refrigeration

Please share the news
Former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, left, leaves court in 2020. On Thursday, a former state parole officer in San Francisco was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to passing bribes to Nuru. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press 2020

A former state parole officer in San Francisco will spend six months in prison after pleading guilty to passing $20,000 in bribes to former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru to convince Nuru to hire an engineer, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Ken Hong Wong, 58, had hoped to avoid jail time, but U.S. District Judge William Orrick rebuffed that request. He noted that Wongs criminal acts tarnished a lengthy and distinguished history of public service.

Its one of the sleaziest and lowest things that somebody could do, Orrick said, as he handed down his sentence. Im trying to understand why.  It was more than stupid and dumb. Yes, it was corrupt. It was morally bankrupt.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Nuru was San Franciscos Public Works director from 2011 until his arrest in 2020 on charges of accepting bribes to influence his decisions, including payments of $150,000 a year from the citys garbage collector, Recology, whose rates were overseen by his office. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

The ensuing federal corruption probe has led to charges against more than 20 businessmen, engineers, bureaucrats and developers, along with the people who enabled them.

Wong was a parole officer from 1987 until his retirement in 2015. His attorney, Steven Gruel, had noted in his sentencing memo Wongs many awards and commendations from San Francisco mayors, and support from other local luminaries, including state Treasurer Fiona Ma, San Francisco Police Commissioner Larry Yee and others.

Gruel had argued that Wongs crime was not as severe as others wrapped up in the scandal, and noted he began cooperating with federal investigators immediately after they contacted him.

Hed argued that there was no real need to punish Wong with incarceration, and that it would not accomplish anything.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In his agreement pleading guilty to charges of bribery and conspiracy, Wong acknowledged that he received $10,000 after passing Nuru a series of cash payments totaling $20,000 to help a woman get hired at Public Works in 2019. The employee lasted only a few weeks before she left the city job. She has not been charged.

In court, Wong elaborated on the crime, saying Nuru told him, Ken, I dont know these people. Youve got to give me this money yourself.

He said that the woman had needed a job to be able to continue to live in the United States. He said he had received the money after she obtained the job, but that he had not sought compensation.

I feel so ashamed, so bad, he told Orrick. I feel like a piece of sand on the floor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ward argued that Wongs crime had more severe implications than a single $10,000 payout and pushed back on arguments that Wong had been little more than a bag man.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
The researchers implanted the deep brain stimulation systems in the patients' medial forebrain bundle (blue) of the brain, a part of the brain's reward system. | (Photo : Source: University of Freiburg - Medical Center)

In a significant advancement in mental health treatment, a novel brain stimulation technique has shown remarkable promise in patients grappling with hard-to-treat depression.

This breakthrough, emerging from the latest research on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), offers a glimmer of hope for those who have found little relief in conventional therapies.

The study, spearheaded by Sabrina Segal, Ph.D., Director of Research at Family Care Center, has achieved a striking success rate.

Overall, 66% of patients responded to the modified TMS protocol, with 42% experiencing acute remission. The figures are notably higher than the 29% response rate for the standard FDA-approved TMS, as pointed out by Dr. Segal in a news release.

The findings were recently published in the journal Brain Stimulation.

This novel approach tweaks the existing FDA-approved TMS technique, a non-invasive procedure that involves magnetic stimulation of specific brain regions.

"Our TMS protocol reduced patient symptoms considerably more than other approaches and with virtually no side effects," Segal added.

The need for such advancements is underscored by the fact that only 30-50% of depression patients achieve full recovery with traditional psychotherapy or medication. These conventional treatments often bring with them a host of side effects, ranging from weight gain to sexual dysfunction.

For those with major depressive disorder, the leading cause of disability globally as per the World Health Organization, the search for effective treatments is particularly urgent.

Segal underscored the scale of the challenge: "This is a global epidemic. Simply put, we need more effective treatment options, and that's where TMS can make an impact."

The trial involved over thirty patients receiving TMS to the front left portion of the brain, followed by a unique addition: three minutes of high-frequency stimulation to the right side of the brain.

"We took that approach a step further. 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," explained Charles L. Weber, DO, FASAM, chief medical officer at Family Care Center.

"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," Weber added.

Remarkably, the study's patient group, with a mean age of 42.5 years, diverges from the older populations typically involved in TMS research.

Patients in the study, many of whom also suffered from conditions like anxiety and PTSD, demonstrated significant improvement in their depression symptoms.

"There is much more research needed in those areas, but given our initial success, we're optimistic about the potential, particularly given their demographics," Segal said.

"We are making huge strides in understanding how TMS works, but we're still just scratching the surface," Segal concluded. 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."

With this groundbreaking study, the path towards more effective, side-effect-free depression treatments seems more promising than ever, potentially transforming the lives of millions suffering in silence.
Death is always stupid, but some deaths are more stupid than others. Consider for example the death of Alexander Bogdanov. Bogdanov believed that by transfusing his blood into other people, and transfusing their blood into him, both parties would grow in strength. After 12 of these blood exchanges, he died.

You might be tempted to call Bogdanovs death stupid. His was actually a death no one called stupid. They called him smart, a man who died as a soldier for science. No, for people to stand around and say, Huh, that was stupid, we must instead look to such stories as...

4 The Unswallowable Fish One day in 1998, an Ohio 911 operator received a call about a choking man. Michael Gentner had a fish stuck in his throat, said his friends now calling emergency services. Not a piece of fish, which he was eating, but a live 5-inch fish that they had dared him to swallow whole. The center dispatched paramedics, but there was little chance of this being a successful visit. If someone is choking, maybe an operator on the phone can walk you through the Heimlich maneuver, but this may be too pressing a problem for you to be able to wait for help. Berkeley Communications When the fish is stuck in your ass, we can help with that, no problem. Sure enough, help came too late. The paramedics showed up and saw 23-year-old Gentner dead, with half the fish still protruding from his mouth. They couldnt revive him. The friends surely mourned his passing, and another issue remained. They were the ones whod dared him to try that fatal stunt. Could they face legal consequences? No, said the police. As one spokesman said, If I dare you to jump off a bridge, and you do it and you're 23 years of age, you're stupid. Let that be a lesson to us all. By all means, have fun, but also ask yourself: Based on how Im acting, will police mock my intellect when they announce my death?

3 The Man Sued After Death A Chicago train killed a guy crossing the tracks in 2008, and we have quite a few reasons for sympathizing with him. Hiroyuki Joho hadnt leapt off the platform to take some unauthorized shortcut. He was using the designated pedestrian crossing. He wasnt expecting a train to come, because the noticeboard said five minutes remained till the next ones arrival. Heavy rain made it hard to hear. He smiled at the passengers on the other side as he crossed. Then came the train  not the commuter train due in five minutes but a separate Amtrak express train going 73 miles per hour. Zol87/Wiki Commons Fuck Amtrak. Not for this, just in general. Advertisement The train plowed through him and split his body apart. The chunks went flying, and one hit another waiting passenger. This 58-year-old woman, Gayane Zokhrabov, fractured her leg and wrist, though those injuries may have resulted as much from her resulting fall to the ground as from the missiles impact. She went on to sue Johos estate for damages. His estate, in this case, refers to his mother, who had dropped her 18-year-old son at that station that morning then received the news that he was dead. Advertisement If you do something as stupid as this guy did, you have to be responsible for what comes from it, said the womans lawyer. One might suggest that dying already constituted being held responsible, and she could try suing the city if she must sue someone, but she went forward with action against the mother. Advertisement Three years after the accident, an appeals court ruled that she did have grounds to sue. There are no reported cases we have found in which a pedestrian who was struck and injured by a flying body sued the deceased persons estate, wrote the judge, which was not a sentence he had ever imagined having to write. According to the four elements of a duty analysis (rain, pain, bloodshed and train), Joho owed the woman a duty of care, and this is a debt death does not erase.

2 Death of a Philosopher Prophet Albert Camus is the one person were covering today who is famous for matters other than his death. Camus (pronounced Ca-MOO) was a philosopher of absurdism and won a Nobel Prize in Literature. You might have heard this quote of his: The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion. Right now, though, were mostly concerned with this other quote of his: I know nothing more stupid than to die in an automobile accident. Advertisement Camus, as you savvy readers immediately guessed, died in an automobile accident, which we wouldnt call stupid ourselves, but who are we to question Camus own assessment? It was January of 1960, and he was just coming off a New Years holiday. He, his wife and his daughter were all due to return to Paris by train, and Camus died with his train ticket in his pocket. Rather than board the train like his family did, he decided late to cover those 500 miles through a road trip with a buddy. via Wiki Commons Here lies Albert Camus. Instead of le train, he died on la rue. Advertisement When police found the crashed car, the speedometer was stuck at 100 miles per hour. The car was the fastest available in France, and the public concluded hed taken this trip to test what this crazy engine could do. Later investigations showed the car had been traveling at a normal speed when a tire burst, and the speedometer shifted during the crash. The real motive behind the road trip? Trains dont serve great food, and Camus wanted a chance to stop at several French restaurants. Advertisement So, he died, but at least his stomach was full of frogs legs and snails. Thats not us making fun of the French  those were the specialties served by the specific restaurants he visited.
Statues and other architectural commemorations usually stand to signify one of two things: Either a happy statue that commemorates some crowning achievement, like a countrys independence or a Super Bowl win, or a memorial statue, which are much more of a bummer. Scattered across the globe, though, are monuments that fall into a third, much more complicated category: celebrating bad people and failed movements.

Here are five monuments to failure still standing today

5 Statues of Napoleon Osbern Onwards! To defeat! Theres zero argument to the fact that Napoleon might be one of the most recognizable figures in history. If you make it into Bill & Ted, its a testament to making it into the general publics base historical knowledge. Note to those seeking a legacy: Wear a funny hat, it helps. A central part of that story is the fact that, despite military victory, Napoleon eventually got roundly spanked and sent packing. The thing about a warmonger, even one with a fairly good win-loss record, is that a whole lot of death follows them. To this day, in France, hes a heavily divisive figure, seeing that some people dont appreciate celebrating a national hero responsible for over a million French deaths. Regardless, in places like Rouen, you get to see him rearing up powerfully astride a horse even while people boycott the anniversary of his coronation.

4 La Cambe Cemetery Jebulon A lot kinder than the burial places they chose for their enemies. Generally, a cemetery filled with soldiers who died fighting for their country is an unassailable, honored place of memory. The sort of place filled with flowers and silent salutes. Youre going to see a whole lot less of both at La Cambe in France. Thats because La Cambe is a cemetery filled with fighters that died during the famous battle of Normandy, but on the wrong side. Advertisement The whole give your life for the good of the country chestnut hits a little sour when the man you were fighting for was Adolf Hitler. Plenty of families with relatives in the cemetery probably spend a lot of their time trying not to remember their military service. Sure, youve got to put them somewhere. I mean, its not like you can just dump them all in a big hole and leave them there. Though, they famously had no problem with that. It might be the only cemetery in the world where youd see someone pissing on a grave and think, Attaboy.

3 Statues of Oliver Cromwell Rob Emms God, I hate the monarchy.  Advertisement Of all countries, it maybe isnt entirely surprising that controversial statues remain in England, the global king of not wanting to make a fuss. Youd think, though, that at least out of a semblance of self-respect, they might not want to have big, proud metal Oliver Cromwells around their country. First off, Cromwell is famous for killing thousands of Irish in cold blood. Now, no ones really shocked that Englands capable of waving that away, but he also famously deposed two British monarchs. Given that monarchy is like, their whole thing, youd think they wouldnt want everyone staring at a guy who managed to kick two of them off the throne. Obviously, crown-bearers are back on top, and yet, Cromwell is still poking around in cast bronze. Im just saying, theres mixed messages in having statues of a guy who you posthumously charged with high treason, dug up, performatively re-executed, and desecrated the body of. Advertisement Advertisement

2 So Much Confederate S**t Woodlot He  s so mad that the employees of his library get paid. Probably the most thoroughly discussed, in absolutely grating fashion, is the continued existence of so much Confederate bullshit in the United States. Whether its the stars and bars on a beer koozie or a giant statue of Robert E. Lee, the country has bestowed an incredible amount of honor on its most famous losers. Self-proclaimed barroom historians are quick to exclaim that its an important part of our history, something we have to make sure not to forget. Which would make a little more sense if throwing a tomato at one wouldnt get you a wired jaw. Ah, so youre flying a confederate flag off the back of your pickup truck in order to remind everyone of the great mistakes of American history, and as a warning not to repeat them. Next youre going to tell me youre rolling coal to visually illustrate the environmental effects of fossil fuel dependence. Advertisement
During his visit to Congress yesterday, poor Dave Chappelle was blindsided. The guy went and got tricked! Might as well throw in bamboozled and hoodwinked, while were at it. Blame that sneaky Lauren Boebert, who Chappelle claims outfoxed him with her request for an innocent selfie.

Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox.

How exactly did Boebert fool Chappelle into posing for her anti-trans message? The comic told reporters as he was leaving Congress yesterday that he was in D.C. for a show and had stopped by to see old friends. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna stopped him in the halls to say thanks for all you do, prompting Boeberts request for a quick selfie. I know youre trying to leave, Boebert said but the amiable Chappelle obliged.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Of course, he might not have posed if hed known Boebert was about to throw the picture up on Twitter/X with the caption, Just three people who understand that theres only two genders. For good measure, Boebert punctuated the hostility with a happy face.

At Chappelles show last night at Washingtons Capital One Arena, the comic complained about Boeberts post, according to reporting from HuffPost. Chappelle was only trying to do his part to bridge the political divide during difficult times, he told the crowd, but he was blindsided by Boeberts actions.

Its a shame she tricked me, Chappelle said, according to Call to Activism. I had two tickets to Beetlejuice and I was going to give her one! Boebert was one of several Congressional representatives who stopped him for pictures yesterday, he said, although he was surprised that she wanted one. I saw her there rubbing her mitts together, he reportedly told the crowd. What was I supposed to do?

Advertisement

What was Chappelle supposed to do? Here are a couple of suggestions. First, dont take pictures with Lauren Boebert, one of the most divisive and most ridiculed members of Congress in recent memory. Chappelles been around the block a few times -- it never occurred to him that opportunists post selfies on social media? If you dont want to be associated with Boebert, politely say no and continue your exit.

Second, none of this happens if Chappelle didnt continually double down on transphobic material in his act. If Chris Rock or Ali Wong or Taylor Tomlinson happened to be strolling the Congressional halls, there would be no ground for Boebert to claim theyre all on the same team. Chappelle doesnt want to be used for Boeberts ugly messages, but wheres the lie here? If you dont want to be associated with the hate-mongers, Mr. Chappelle, then rethink the transphobic jokes you continue to insist on telling.
Capt. Jeff Thomason of the Oakland Police Department announces that the city is boosting the number of officers in its commercial corridors to combat retail theft and other crimes and to encourage local shopping during the holiday season. Sarah Ravani/The Chronicle

Oakland will deploy more police officers throughout the city for the next 30 days as part of an effort to combat retail crime in its business corridors and encourage people to shop locally, officials said.

Capt. Jeff Thomason of the Oakland Police Department said that starting Thursday, the department will increase foot patrols, traffic enforcement, community resource officers and members of the anti-violence Ceasefire unit throughout the city. The department also plans to put undercover officers in commercial corridors, including downtown, uptown, Jack London Square, the Laurel district, parts of East Oakland, Fruitvale and other areas.

We want to let the public know that they can come and dine and shop in Oakland during the holiday season, Thomason said at a news conference on Piedmont Avenue.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He declined to say how many officers total would be involved in the operation, which will last until Jan. 2.

Oakland joins other Bay Area cities in boosting police to combat retail theft. San Francisco officials announced last week that the city would have more police officers than ever during the holiday season, especially in Union Square.

Oaklands move to reassure visitors and shoppers comes as the city grapples with an increase in violent and other crimes. Violent crime, which includes aggravated assaults and robberies, has risen by 22% this year compared with 2022. Homicides are slightly down, by 5%, but robberies are up 35% and burglaries up 28%.

Mayor Sheng Thao applauded the departments efforts Thursday and encouraged holiday shoppers to head to Oakland stores. The city and Visit Oakland, the tourism bureau, have also begun a marketing campaign called Think Oakland First, a shop-local initiative to encourage people to patronize small businesses in the city.

Of course, people are going to insist that when they come to shop at our businesses here locally in Oakland, that they are safe, that their vehicles are safe, Thao said. We are actually going to be providing more safety mechanisms in our business corridors.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Thao noted that the city has doubled its foot patrol officers to 12 people citywide over the past year and pointed to a new city program that charges drivers only $5 to park at a downtown garage from 5 p.m. to closing time.

Council Member Dan Kalb, who is running for state Senate and represents the area around Piedmont Avenue, said there are lots of stores on Piedmont Avenue at which people can shop. A sign posted on a parking meter sign read, Beware, High Theft Area, Do Not Leave Valuables In Your Car!
To Josh Donald and Kelly Kozak, the owners of San Franciscos Bernal Cutlery, knives are like living beings.

Their blades contain smells, emotions and past lives.

So it only makes sense that knives saved theirs.

More than 20 years ago, emerging from the throes of drug and alcohol addiction, the couple put up flyers advertising Donalds knife-sharpening services. They charged $5 per knife. Word quickly spread through San Franciscos restaurants and butcher shops about the talented young sharpener and his knife-obsessed wife.

Bernal Cutlery co-owner Kelly Kozak talks with customer Jasper Kasle-Muthig at the San Francisco store in June. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

In 2005, Donald and Kozak formalized their operation as Bernal Cutlery, a cult favorite business beloved by chefs and home cooks alike. They hit two major milestones this year: 21 years sober, and the production of their first-ever knife. After years of studying and sharpening other blades, Bernal Cutlery now has its own Greenfield Gyuto knife, made with Oakland bladesmith Elias Sideris, available for preorder starting Friday, Dec. 1.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The utilitarian but elegant chefs knife ($396) comes in carbon or stainless steel. It marries Western and Japanese knife-making techniques, stamped with a California poppy and the first letters of the city where they built their business. And its a tangible expression of the couples deep-seated reverence for the living history of knives.

Tim Ferron tests a prototype of Bernal Cutlerys own chefs knife in San Francisco in September. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Donald remembers his first blade: a pen knife he found in the back of a dresser at 5 years old.

Kozak, who grew up in a family of Pennsylvania steelworkers, long felt a nostalgic connection to her grandmothers kitchen knives and grandfathers pocket knife.

The craft and utility of objects became a throughline in their lives. Donald moved to San Francisco in 1993 and worked in sculpture, carving stone and casting bronze, trades that required expertly sharpened tools. Kozak came to San Francisco at age 24 to attend art school. They met at Paxton Gate, a curiosity shop selling taxidermy and pinned insects. She needed moths for an art project. He was the stores bug guy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Bernal Cutlery co-owner Josh Donald, right, speaks with customer Eloise Bates. The store carries thousands of knives and offers sharpening services. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

They fell in love, and then into serious addiction.

They lived in a studio on OFarrell Street overlooking an alleyway in the heart of the Tenderloin. Any money they could scrape together went to heroin and cocaine. They rationed a hot dog and tortilla a day between the two of them and their cat. Kozak weighed less than 100 pounds. She remembers walking into a coffee shop at that time, and it was like people kind of parted, she said. It was clear, the contrast between real life and where we were.

They benefited from the citys harm reduction services, meant to minimize the negative consequences of drug use through programs like needle exchanges. They would periodically try to get sober, then relapse.

Bernal Cutlery co-owner Josh Donald, right, chats with Elias Sideris, an Oakland knifemaker who helped create the stores chefs knife. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

Donald had the creeping sense that, Im not really driving this train. Like, the brakes dont work.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

They were four months late on rent, about to be evicted, when something shifted in each of them. They called Donalds uncle, who picked them up the next day at 7 a.m. and took them to the city-run Tom Waddell Urban Health Clinic. They had bloodwork done and were placed in separate detox facilities for 17 days.

After getting sober, they relied on social services and food stamps. Their early hustles  reselling knives they found at flea markets and sharpening new ones  put food on the table and kept them focused on sobriety. They had their first child and then two more. While their kids slept, theyd hunt for antique knives on eBay and research their origins. The sharpening business soon took over the utility room of their Bernal Heights apartment, where butchers knocked on the front door at a certain time to drop off and pick up their knives.

They graduated to a nearby food business incubator, then their own small storefront on Guerrero Street in 2013. Around this time, they began to fantasize about manufacturing their own knife and bringing knife-making back to San Francisco, Kozak said, but doing so was prohibitively expensive.

The Bernal Cutlery team spent months tinkering with materials and prototypes to create the store's first-ever knife. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

Donald  enthusiastic, tattooed and often wearing a newsboy cap  was eager to keep learning. So they offered free follow-up sharpenings, during which they could ask how the knives performed and what they could improve  curiosity that set them apart from mostly formulaic sharpening services. Chefs appreciated someone who just did it the right way, said Cory Obenour, owner of longtime San Francisco restaurant Blue Plate and one of Donalds earliest customers.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In 2019, Bernal Cutlery moved into the former Paxton Gate for Kids space on Valencia Street.

The store, their largest yet, has a church-like feel. Customers  often reverent line cooks making a pilgrimage to the famed knife haven  pass through a large arched front door and under a piece of colorful stained glass (stamped with a knife) to the abundant selection of cutlery and cooking accoutrements.

Tiffany Lyons, left, shops at Bernal Cutlery in San Francisco with her son, Logan Lyons, and sister Haley Mason, right, in June. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

Each of the stores 28,000 knives tells a story. Theres a French nogent-style knife that Kozak likes to tell customers Julia Child would have peed her pants over. There are hand-forged German steak knives with walnut wood handles ($578 for six), but also a $19 simple French paring knife. Every inch of the store is full of discoveries: cookbooks and Chinese cleavers and Japanese donabes.

During the pandemic, they created one of the Bay Areas best pantry sections, stocked with everything from dashi made in Japan for the store and Taiwanese soy sauce to a wall of tinned fish. Their customer base expanded to include more novice cooks and tech workers, with unused Bed Bath & Beyond knives. Kozak, a warm well of knife knowledge, contributes to the sense that Bernal Cutlery welcomes amateurs as much as experts. (They say they will never judge any knife brought in for sharpening.)

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

San Francisco chef Spencer Horovitz recalls vividly his first trip to Bernal Cutlery in 2015. Fresh out of culinary school, he drove over an hour to purchase a Japanese slicer and a razor-sharp santoku knife. The store served as a gathering place for many local cooks, who would check the shops job listings board as their knives were sharpened.

Theyve created a community around knives, which is really special and helps them transcend just a physical place to buy things, Horovitz said.

Prototypes of Bernal Cutlerys own knife, which is now available. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

A knife is an intimate, personal choice, almost like picking a partner. Theres no best knife, said Sideris, the bladesmith and a former Bernal Cutlery customer, who bonded years ago with Donald and Kozak over the wonky annals of knife production. (All three like to smell knives as a way to get to know them better.)

But the new Greenfield Gyuto encapsulates, for them, the most compelling parts of knife history: 19th century American and Japanese cutlery production. The name refers to Greenfield, Mass., the birthplace of American knife-making, and where Sideris once ran a workshop. (Kozak also grew up in a Pennsylvania neighborhood called Greenfield.) Kanto-gyuto, meanwhile, is a knife made with Japanese techniques but spurred by the introduction of Western food to the country in the late 19th century. The knifes 9-inch blade is inspired by that Japanese tradition, while its wooden handle cites a New England Industrial Revolution style.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its a simple design that took how it works and feels as a primary consideration, Donald said. Its not aesthetics first.

Bernal Cutlery co-owner Josh Donald grinds a knife prototype on a Japanese kaiten in the San Francisco store. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

The knives are ground at Bernal Cutlery on a 200-pound stone wheel called a kaiten. Used by few American knife stores, Donald and Kozak purchased it from a knifemaker in Sakai, Japan. This summer, Donald and Sideris hand-ground several early prototypes, feeling intuitively as the metal blades shrieked and sparked against the enormous, spinning wheel.

By the fall, they had two final prototypes, one made from carbon steel and the other from Swedish stainless steel. Employees tested them for the first time for a staff meal in September, keeping detailed notes as they sliced through red cabbage, potatoes and carrots. They performed stress tests by cutting through a crusty baguette and sturdy lemongrass.

For years, when people asked how they started Bernal Cutlery, they kept its origin story mostly private. They didnt want to prescribe a certain path to recovery or be reduced to a caricature.

But recently, as national narratives around addiction and homelessness in San Francisco intensified, that shifted. They see themselves when they drive through the Tenderloin and in San Franciscos addiction statistics. The city is on track to see more than 800 overdose fatalities this year and spends hundreds of millions of dollars on treatment programs for substance use and mental health disorders.

San Francisco's Bernal Cutlery has been a staple of the Bay Area food community since 2005. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

The pair felt an increasing responsibility to share what at least one path to recovery in this city can look like.

It sounds corny, but it was like choosing life, Kozak said of their sobriety. We woke up every morning and thats what we chose.
A glass of beer poured in California. The craft beer movement has slowed in recent years, and one of its local players, Oaklands Ale Industries, has closed down. Pete Kiehart/The Chronicle Hobees in Mountain View, a diner known for its popular coffee cake, has closed after almost 50 years in business. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/SFC

The following is a list of notable restaurants that closed in November 2023. Click here for a list of restaurants that closed in October 2023.

The original Hobees, a Mountain View diner known for its world famous coffee cake, closed after 49 years. The restaurants management posted on instagram that the buildings aging infrastructure was a factor in making the decision, as reported by SFGATE. Hobees operates other locations in Belmont, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)

After more than 20 years in business, Basque restaurant Piperade closed at the end of November, as reported by Eater SF. Chef and owner Gerald Hirigoyen said the high-end Embarcadero restaurant closure was not about the state of downtown San Francisco, rather, it was time to retire.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Oakland craft brewery Ale Industries announced via Facebook it ceased brewing Nov. 6. Co-founder and brewer Morgan Cox said a 50% rent increase, higher operating costs and a series of regular break-ins over the past year forced the decision.

Pachas Afghan Kabab House in Old Oakland announced its last day in business was Nov. 16. An Instagram post states the property at 1015 Clay St. is being sold and thanks diners for their support. The restaurant opened in March of last year offering classic Afghan dishes like potato-stuffed flatbread, curries with chicken or lamb, and the lamb shank-rice dish known as quabili pallow. It was on the Chronicles list of the Top Indian and South Asian Restaurants in the Bay Area.

The exterior of Vico Cavone, a now-closed Italian restaurant in the Castro in San Francisco. Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle

Litigation between its owners abruptly shut down Italian restaurant Vico Cavone in the Castro, Hoodline reports. Co-owner Sanaa Hams sued the restaurants holding company and co-owner Alessandro Raimondi, alleging she did not receive a salary or compensation other than tips. In an instagram post announcing the closing, Raimondi claims Hams walked away from the business and added that the related legal fees are close to $250,000. The restaurant was on former restaurant critic Soleil Hos guide to the Bay Areas Top Italian Restaurants.

Gluten-free and vegan outfit Wholesome Bakery shut down on Divisadero Street after seven years. But the business posted on Instagram that it is not leaving San Francisco completely. Fans can still order treats online.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A Greek staple on Oaklands Piedmont Avenue closed for good on Nov. 7. Simply Greek shuttered after two decades of serving gyros, souvlaki and salads. The business owners shared on Facebook that the business lease expired and they were unable to secure a new term without endangering the restaurant.

San Carlos bistro and bottle shop Cuisinett announced it closed Nov. 25 after offering classic French dishes like steak frites and prawns in mustard sauce for 12 years. The announcement mentions another restaurant will take over the space.

Caffe 817 in Old Oakland, a stop for casual European dishes, closed on Nov. 11 after 30 years at 817 Washington St. Owners Scott and Emily Goldenberg, who took over the longtime cafe in 2011, announced on Instagram factors like rising costs, space limitations and safety issues in the neighborhood forced the closing.

Rue Lepic, at the corner of Pine and Mason streets, has closed. Demian Bulwa/The Chronicle

Nob Hills long-standing bistro Rue Lepic closed after 41 years of serving classic French fare for neighbors and star guests like Robin Williams and Yoko Ono. The restaurant quietly went up for sale, a neighboring business owner told the Chronicle. Chef-owner Michiko Boccara ran the restaurant for over four decades. A new beer and wine license has been filed for the address.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

San Franciscos Michelin-starred Avery held its last dinner service on Nov. 4. Chef Rodney Wages, a former chef de cuisine at Atelier Crenn, told the Chronicle he was relocating the concept to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he spent three months working and visiting family this summer. The space at 1552 Fillmore will become a more casual restaurant.

The SF-style sausage on a French roll from Rosamunde Sausage Grill in San Francisco. The restaurant closed in November. Cesar Hernandez/The Chronicle

The Mission Districts Rosamunde Sausage Grill closed in late November, after 10 years of offering grilled sausages like cheddar brats and Hungarian-style sausages and chicken habanero links, among others, nestled inside buns or in platters with sides like salad or baked beans. The Top Hot Dogs spot announced the closing on Instagram, adding the menu will live on at Willkommen in the Castro.

Vung Tau in Milpitas closed after 27 years in business. The restaurant was known for dishes like catfish soup, fried egg rolls and grilled pork. It was the second of three Vung Tau locations around the Bay Area, including the original San Jose location, which opened in 1985, and a Newark location launched in 2000.

San Francisco tech company Expensify shut down its upscale lounge meant to draw workers back to in-person activities at the companys headquarters at 88 Kearny St. The Expensify Lounge offered craft cocktails and a daily Champagne sabering, as well as work areas for employees to make calls and work on their laptops.
People take a moment of silence to mourn the six Asian Americans killed in the March 2021 Atlanta mass shooting during a rally in Houston against hate incidents. Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle 2021

Usually, the conversation goes something like this:

So, where are you from? Well-Meaning person asks.

I grew up in the Sacramento area, is how I usually reply.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Not satisfied with that answer, Well-Meaning, follows up with, But where are you really from?

If that sounds familiar, its because it happens so often to Asian Americans and others who dont look like what many consider to be prototypical American.

I got some version of this question regularly while growing up in a small town outside of Sacramento with few Asian Americans. Living in a rural area, maybe thats not unexpected. I used to brush it aside, but I was always left with a gnawing sense that I didnt belong. I realize now that this is not the case, but that sense of being an outsider lingers.

Its not surprising that this feeling is widespread among Asian Americans, and now theres new data to quantify it. The idea that Asian Americans are foreigners  no matter if theyre native-born U.S. citizens or have lived in the country for decades  is the basis of much of the discrimination they face, according to a report released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.

In the report, 78% of respondents to a survey of Asian Americans said they had been treated as foreigners and some respondents recounted being told to go back to their home countries.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Pews report is based on a survey of 7,006 people and is the largest nationally representative poll of Asian Americans, allowing researchers to capture the groups diversity.

Theres been a lot of national attention recently since COVID-19 with the rise of anti-Asian hate and discrimination. But discrimination against Asian Americans is not new, said Neil Ruiz, Pews head of new research initiatives and the reports co-author.

Asians in America  like all racial minorities  have always faced discrimination, and what scholars call being perpetual foreigners permeates it.

Its why early Chinese immigrants endured many discriminatory laws, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned most immigration from China for 60 years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its why the U.S. government imprisoned 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II as suspected spies.

Its why hate incidents against South Asian Americans, who looked Muslim, and Muslim Americans rose after 9/11.

Its why more than 11,000 reports of anti-Asian hate have been collected by the group Stop AAPI Hate since the beginning of the pandemic.

Thats why its also not surprising that 58% of Asian American adults surveyed by Pew said they experienced discrimination or being treated differently because of their race. Or, that 57% said discrimination is a major problem, and that 63% said too little attention is paid to racial issues concerning Asian Americans.

One of those racial issues is whats known as the model minority stereotype. The survey found that 53% of respondents believed they experienced this stereotyping.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Along with perpetual foreignness, being viewed as the model minority are two types of stereotypes that shape their experience, that are driving the discrimination directed at Asian Americans, Ruiz said.

So, what is a model minority?

At first glance, it doesnt sound bad. Its the perception that Asian Americans are smart  particularly with math  and have high educational and income levels.

Well, if you are like me and not good at math, you might become a journalist. My parents got over it (mostly) when I didnt become a doctor, engineer or lawyer. But overcoming parental pressure and going beyond the stereotypical careers for Asian Americans can be a tortuous path. For some, these unattainable expectations cause mental health and other problems.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Lumped together, Asian Americans do have high incomes and educational attainment. But a deeper dive into the numbers reveals glaring disparities.

For example, some Southeast Asian groups have some of the nations highest poverty rates and lowest levels of education. When it comes time to dole out scarce resources, some of these groups could get left out because their needs are glossed over by model minority stereotypes.

The model minority baggage also includes the perception that Asian Americans are book smart and good worker bees, but when applying for promotions, they hit the bamboo ceiling because they are perceived as not having the personality traits to be managers or CEOs.

Another negative: As the model minority, Asian Americans are used as a wedge and upheld as a model for how other racial and ethnic minorities should behave  especially in comparison with Black Americans and Latinos, the Pew report said.

This happened in the lawsuit over affirmative action in college admissions, which the Supreme Court effectively gutted. Some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit were Asian Americans, recruited by conservative groups to end what they view as unfair preferential treatment for Black and Latino students.

Though the survey found that many Asian Americans are concerned about racial issues, most respondents also reported that race was never (38%) or rarely (30%) discussed in their families.

This mirrors the finding that Asian Americans 65 and older, who were typically immigrants, didnt feel discrimination was as much of a problem as younger people.

I know my Chinese immigrant parents always soldiered on when there was a hardship, so I can see how something like racism might not be discussed by some Asian American families. Whatever this country throws at you, try to dodge it and survive.

But avoiding the issue wont solve it.
Public transportation and bikes arent for everyone in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2022

The lack of bike lanes on surrounding streets has nothing to do with the impact of the bike lane on the merchants of Valencia Street. Were the interests of merchants taken into account? Does the convenience for the few who use the bike lane make up for the economic losses? I doubt it.

The fact that some car drivers dont scrupulously observe the traffic laws is, likewise, irrelevant. Nobody, least of all me, is contending that drivers are without sin. Everybody should observe traffic laws.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We all want San Francisco to prosper. Public transit doesnt always live up to its promise. Cars, like them or not, are essential to the economic viability of our city.

Farinaccis complaint that cars take up an inordinate amount of space ignores this reality, which generally has unpleasant consequences.

Robert Linderman, San Francisco

Jews not monolithic

Regarding Oakland passes resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Gaza, but some are dismayed (East Bay, SFChronicle.com, Nov. 28): As a Jewish resident of San Francisco, I was thrilled by the Oakland City Councils resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and appalled by the Chronicles framing of the story as Jews vs. Arabs.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Most of the Jewish speakers at the City Council meeting supported the resolution, but the Chronicle chose to quote the Jewish Community Relations Councils CEO as the voice of Bay Area Jews. The group unconditionally supports Israel, but thousands of Jews like me are dismayed at what Israel is doing to Palestine and demand that it stop.

The Jewish Community Relations Council framed the ceasefire resolution as a threat to Jews, but the real threat is stories like the Chronicles, which present the Jewish community as unified in its support for Israels actions. We are not.

Check out Jewish Voice for Peace to see what non-Zionist Jews are saying.

David Spero, San Francisco

No bias in headline

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Regarding Anti-Israel bias shows (Letters to the Editor, Nov. 29): Louise Kimball lambastes the Chronicle for its supposed bias against Israel, specifically for the headline Israel shows journalists what it calls hideout for Hamas.

Kimball bristles at the phrase what it calls and further states that Of course, this was built by Hamas. However, recently on CNN, Israels ex-prime minister, Ehud Barak, stated that this underground facility was built decades ago by Israel. Of course, this does not preclude the possibility that Hamas is now using the bunker and tunnels, but their very existence cannot be used as proof of such use.

Given this ambiguity, and absent further evidence, I fail to see how the Chronicles headline shows bias against Israel. Rather, I see it as accurate, careful writing.

James Edwards, San Francisco

Enact reparations

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I appreciate the thoughtful columns by Justin Phillips to inform California communities about the issue of reparations.

San Francisco has led the way on major inclusion reforms like gay rights and support for immigrants. More must be done to expand this critical work by educating the public about the history and the need for reparations for injustices to Black Americans.

There is a precedent: Japanese American citizens imprisoned during World War II received reparations and an official apology. Its long overdue to make financial and institutional reparations to Black Americans.

Let San Francisco and California again lead the country in an essential social reform.

Margo Wixsom, Inverness

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

An appropriate name

Regarding This favorite Golden Gate Park destination is due for a new name. Here are 14 possibilities (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Nov. 27): I was unaware that Stow Lake was an artificial lake or that it was named after an antisemitic individual.

To describe the true qualities of the lake and avoid the possible negative qualities of a potential namesake, I suggest calling it Fake Lake.
The random naming of two royals allegedly accused of racism could make King Charles's task of holding on to overseas thrones more difficult.

With Barbados no longer a kingdom, other Commonwealth countries Jamaica, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda face growing republican sentiment.

Plans are already under way for a referendum in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The monarch will not welcome this added headache from a Sussex cheerleader.

The random naming of two royals allegedly accused of racism could make King Charles's task of holding on to overseas thrones more difficult

William and Kate not only drew the short straw for last night's Royal Variety Performance but inflicted the show on Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and husband Prince Daniel.

The event has become an annual chore adroitly dodged by the King after his mother sat through 38 of them, taking herself off the rota as a Diamond Jubilee present to herself in 2012.

Charles and Camilla hoped they had done their last stint in 2016, leaving William and Kate to turn up in alternate years with Harry and Meghan.

In the end, the Sussexes made just one appearance in 2018. Haven't the Waleses suffered enough?

William and Kate not only drew the short straw for last night's Royal Variety Performance but inflicted the show on Sweden 's Crown Princess Victoria and husband Prince Daniel

The shelving of a plan in the Scottish parliament to pardon the hundreds of witches condemned centuries ago would have disappointed the late Queen Mother.

She befriended Doreen Valiente, the 'mother of modern witchcraft', summoning her to Balmoral in the 80s to warn her of plans to outlaw witchcraft.

It had been banned in the 16th Century by Henry VIII and was punishable by death. To the relief of HM, no ban was introduced. Did Doreen work her magic?

Rishi Sunak's adviser Frederika Mitchell reveals the PM's dog Nova has worked out how to use the lift in No 10.

He has mastered the art of getting up on his hind legs to push the 'call' button with a paw. With such talent, shouldn't the labrador join the rest of Rishi's boobies in Cabinet?

For Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire, the BBC butchering of her programme is a case of deja vu following the 2020 axing of her own show, when she described herself as 'absolutely devastated'.

Former anchor Emily Maitlis, pictured, refers to the Eagles' hit, announcing: 'Newsnight is our Hotel California. All of us who checked out never really left.'

Canny Emily jumped ship from sinking Newsnight in February 2022, landing a lucrative podcast contract over at Global.

For Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire, the BBC butchering of her programme is a case of deja vu following the 2020 axing of her own show, when she described herself as 'absolutely devastated'

Unimpressed by cocky new University Challenge host Amol Rajan, Cambridge-educated broadcaster Joan Bakewell snaps: 'Has University Challenge speeded up? Or am I slowing down?'

One-time 'thinking man's crumpet' Joan firmly advises Amol and co: 'Calm down folks it's not fun any more!'

Adios Shane MacGowan, gone to join old friend Sinead O'Connor in the celestial Top of the Pops.

Sinead once rescued a drunken Shane, abandoned with a broken leg in a supermarket trolley at Dublin Airport.

On second thought, the Pogues warbler's arrival at the Pearly Gates might prompt Sinead to hide behind a cloud.
At 75, King Charles has seen all kinds of changes within the monarchy, yet one thing has remained a constant: as Christmas approaches he will head to Sandringham, the royal residence where he has spent most of his Christmases to date.

And like most families, the royals have their own traditions, which we are being given a unique insight into courtesy of a new documentary that takes us behind the closed doors of the Norfolk estate, from the silly gifts exchanged on Christmas Eve to the two vast turkeys served on the big day.

Sandringham has been a feature of royal life since 1862 when Queen Victoria bought the estate as a gift for her son, the future Edward VII, who was turning 21 that year and was soon to marry. It was during Victoria's reign that Christmas evolved into the festival we know today, sparked by an 1848 newspaper image of the Queen, Prince Albert and their children standing round a Christmas tree.

'The public loved it, and the modern Christmas was born,' says historian Professor Kate Williams, who features in the documentary.

Yet for all its association with Christmas, Sandringham is marked with poignancy too, the scene of the deaths of George V in January 1936 and George VI in February 1952. 'Her beloved father's death was one reason the Queen would usually stay at Sandringham until early February, because she wanted to commemorate that moment of great sadness,' says Kate.

Like many families, the royal family will celebrate Christmas this year according to their most favourite festive traditions (Pictured: Princess Charlotte, Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla, Prince George, King Charles and Prince William attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2022 in Sandringham, Norfolk)

The royals are expected to gather for a stately black tie dinner at their country residence in Sandringham on Christmas Eve (Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a dinner hosted by Her Majesty's Ambassador to France, on March 17, 2017 in Paris, France)

Despite this, Christmas at Sandringham has always been a joyful affair. 'At Christmas Elizabeth was monarch and consort in one, she effectively did both jobs which meant she oversaw all the planning  and she loved it,' says Kate.

'Now, Charles is the King and Camilla is the hostess, so I suspect Camilla will be yuletide planner-in-chief.'

In a tradition inherited from the German side of the family, the royals exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. 'They don't do big presents  in fact the rule is, the jokier the better,' says Kate.

'One year William and Kate bought Harry a grow-your-own-girlfriend kit, the Duke of Edinburgh got a light-up pepper mill and the Queen was given an apron. Princess Diana was famously caught out by this when she first joined the family  no one had told her not to splash out and she bought Princess Anne a beautiful cashmere sweater.'

The family then dress for dinner, the first of at least five formal outfit changes over the Christmas period, according to fashion designer Jacques Azagury, who once designed for Diana. 'Christmas Eve is when everything comes out, the tiaras, the long dresses, it's a full-on black tie evening, they pull out all the stops,' he reveals.

King Charles delivering his 2022 Christmas Day message - months after his mother The Queen died

Sandringham (pictured) has been a feature of royal life since 1862 when Queen Victoria bought the estate as a gift for her son, the future Edward VII, who was turning 21 that year and was soon to marry

Pictured: King Charles, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Sandringham in 2018)

Drinks are followed by a candlelit dinner, which can stretch into the small hours, making the Christmas morning buffet breakfast a most welcome affair. 'Sausages, kedgeree, kippers, everyone helps themselves,' says Kate.

The family then attend church before returning for drinks at 12.45pm. Christmas lunch is served at 1.15pm, with two turkeys carried into the dining room.

'Christmas dinner is the only time the bird goes into the dining room whole and is carved in front of the family,' says Darren McGrady, who spent 11 years as the Queen's personal chef.

And for afters? Christmas pudding is the only dessert on offer, of course.

'You light the brandy just as you walk into the dining room and everyone cheers,' says McGrady.

Sandringham: The King At Christmas, Saturday, 8.25pm, Channel 5.
Lucy was asked to present a BBC2 series on Doyle after her previous success

Like many of his fans, Lucy Worsley has always had a bit of a crush on Sherlock Holmes. Bookish, fiendishly clever, bohemian, a bit antisocial, what's not to love?

But she has never been so keen on his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

So when she was asked to present a new BBC2 series on the author after the success of her Agatha Christie show last year, she was hesitant. 'I was worried he was a toxic imperialist mansplainer,' she laughs.

'And that is partly true. But nothing is ever black and white.

'There's this whole other story with him; a tragic family history and a life-and-death struggle with his key character that was just fascinating.'

Doctor, mystic and one of the best-paid authors of his day, Conan Doyle came to hate his most successful creation. As a struggling young physician, he wrote his first Sherlock novel, A Study In Scarlet, in less than a month.

Doctor, mystic and one of the best-paid authors of his day, Si Arthur Conan Doyle came to hate his most successful creation

His character was partly based on his lecturer at Edinburgh Medical School, Joseph Bell, a surgeon who dazzled students with his clever deductions.

'He would hardly allow the patient to open his mouth, but he would make his diagnosis entirely by his power of observation,' said Conan Doyle.

'So naturally I thought to myself, 'Well, if a scientific man like Bell was to come into the detective business, he wouldn't do these things by chance.'

At the time, he lived in Portsmouth and had hardly ever visited London, so he used a Post Office map to come up with one of the capital's most iconic addresses  Sherlock's home at 221b Baker Street. Lucy discovers that at one point he was going to be called Sherrinford Holmes  but Sherlock, with his intellect and idiosyncrasies, was there from the start.

'Sherlock left the page fully formed,' she says.

Conan Doyle struggled to get a publisher for A Study In Scarlet. It was finally accepted for the 1887 Beeton's Christmas Annual, and he was paid 25 (about 3,000 today).

The publisher gave him the sort of feedback that would regularly assault his fragile ego: 'It's just what we're after. Cheap fiction.'

Backhanded compliments like that were to plague the Sherlock stories; Conan Doyle got a similar one from a contemporary whose reputation he envied. 'Very ingenious and very interesting That is the class of literature that I like when I have the toothache,' wrote Robert Louis Stevenson.

Ouch.

Lucy discovers that at one point he was going to be called Sherrinford Holmes  but Sherlock (pictured is Benedict Cumberbatch who plays the character), with his intellect and idiosyncrasies, was there from the start

It was when Conan Doyle turned to writing Sherlock short stories (he wrote 56 in total) that he started to accumulate fame and money, but he really wanted to concentrate on the historical fiction he thought would make him a serious author. Yet the public loved Holmes.

He was offered more and more money for his stories, and it's this conflict that drives Lucy's three-part series. In footage seen on the show, he complains, 'This monstrous growth has come out of what was really a comparatively small seed.'

The Man With The Twisted Lip, a Holmes story in which a journalist pretends to be a homeless person because he can make more money that way, is said to be an allegory for the author. 'Maybe it's the way he saw himself because he believed he should be writing literature and he considered Sherlock commercial trash,' Lucy says.

'But I think the mark of great literature is that you can read it from different viewpoints and find something that speaks to you. You really get that from the Sherlock Holmes stories.'

Conan Doyle killed Sherlock off after five years, but it wasn't the end of his detective. His other work never earned him the respect he craved.

Conan Doyle considered Sherlock to be commercial trash; he wanted to write great literature

There were also two incidents that changed the way he was perceived. One was his support for the Boer War, and the second was his fight against a miscarriage of justice.

'He wrote propaganda for the British war effort which left him on the wrong side of history,' says Lucy. 'But what left him on the right side is when he decided to be a real-life Sherlock Holmes.'

George Edalji, lawyer and son of Britain's first vicar of Indian origin, had been convicted of mutilating horses and cows but the only 'evidence' was anonymous letters accusing him. He spent three years in jail.

Conan Doyle investigated, Edalji was exonerated, and the case helped establish the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Like many of his fans, Lucy Worsley (pictured) has always had a bit of a crush on Sherlock Holmes. Bookish, fiendishly clever, bohemian, a bit antisocial, what's not to love

Lucy also explores Conan Doyle's personal life. His wife Louise, known as Touie, with whom he had two children, had been ill with tuberculosis for years when he fell in love with another woman (they later married and had three more children), but when Touie died he was wracked with guilt.

His beloved son Kingsley died of pneumonia in 1918, having never recovered from injuries sustained during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Spiritualism and psychic phenomena became his enduring obsession.

'He was a very buttoned-up sort of person,' says Lucy. 'But he'd always had this connection to things that were on the edge of our knowledge.

'That came partly through the influence of his father, who was interested in fairies and goblins.'

In response to public clamour, he revived Sherlock in The Hound Of The Baskervilles in 1901. The last Holmes story was published in 1927.

'In the later stories you see the impact of WWI,' says Lucy. 'Some were really dark.

'People think of Flappers and the Jazz Age, but it was covering up all of this terrible pain and loss.'

So who wins  Holmes or Conan Doyle? For Lucy it's the former.

'Sherlock is alive and well in all our hearts, isn't he?' she says. But having made the series, she believes we should make room for the complex and sometimes problematic man who created him too.

Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley On The Case Of Conan Doyle, Sunday December 10, 9pm, BBC2.
Do you feel like you spend too much time and money on manicures, pedicures, eyebrow waxing, eyelash extensions and Botox?

Women have been discussing their frustration with the expensive beauty treatments they feel expected to get after US-based TikTok content creator Devonneleigh went viral for discussing the high cost of maintaining pricey routines.

Devonneleigh stitched a Dear Media podcast where the host talked about why women need a manicure and pedicure every two weeks and explained why she thinks it's overkill.

Commenters quickly weighed in, agreeing that it's bizarre that women are expected to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars each month on pricey beauty treatments.

US-based TikTok content creator Devonneleigh went viral discussing the high cost of maintaining pricey routines

Devonneleigh stitched a Dear Media podcast where the host talked about why women need a manicure and pedicure every two weeks and explained why she thinks it's overkill

'I've been thinking a lot about the idea of beauty as maintenance and it reminds me of when I worked at a previous job,' the TikTok creator said, explaining that her colleagues 'pretty much all had their nails painted on a regular basis.'

Breaking down beauty treatments: Here's how much average 'maintenance' costs in New York City Gel manicure: $67

Pedicure: $59

Lash extensions: $200

Botox: $500

Brow waxing: $35 Advertisement

The women at her office all got their brows done and most of them had eyelash extensions. She started to feel like she wasn't 'doing enough maintenance.'

She spoke to her partner and explained she wanted lash extensions because the women in her office had them, not because she wanted to 'fix' her lashes but because she felt like everyone around her was doing 'a baseline level of appearance upkeep' that she wasn't taking part in.

'It felt like it wasn't enough' that she had on a professional outfit and makeup when everyone around her was 'doing so much more.'

One of her co-workers even told her that she didn't like it when people had bare nails and that looking at her clean, unpainted nails 'creeped her out.'

'I'm all for people getting whatever beauty treatments they wanna get done,' she explained and says she wears makeup and occasionally gets manicures.

'But it just feels like we're moving the goalpost so rapidly on what is considered a baseline level of appearance maintenance, especially when I think about things that used to be only for celebrities and rich people, like Botox.'

'It makes me kind of sad and I can't help think about how tied to capitalism that is, because there's just so much money to be made and convincing women they need to be doing these beauty treatments on a two- to six-week basis just to keep up themselves,' the creator said and many TikTok users completely agreed.

Getting regular expensive manicures proved controversial, as commenters discussed how it can cost $100 for one appointment

The most popular comment read: 'Let's keep one thing straight: it's WOMEN convincing (shaming) other WOMEN into doing this. Stop blaming capitalism and men (ugh) for everything,' which proved controversial, as plenty of women said they didn't blame men for the problem.

One critical commenter questioned, 'How are people affording nails every 2-3 weeks?' and someone replied, 'Literally! Just a simple nail polish is 35 where I live, 50 of gel,' and another answered, 'Where I live it's $70 simple gel plus tip.'

Some commenters said they had stopped tipping entirely as prices were on the rise.

Many people said they were 'tired of spending so much money for nails when the experience isn't treated as luxury in most nail shops,' with one person explaining the manicurists 'act like you're an inconvenience.'

However, not everyone was against keeping up with pricey manicures and pedicures.

One beauty lover commented, 'I pay $100 once a month to get a full service pedicure with gel. Simply because I like it. It makes me feel good. And it lasts all month.'

Others were simply appalled that the TikTok creator's co-workers had the gall to comment on her lack of a manicure, with one writing, 'If your natural nails creep her out, she can pay you to get them done!'

Commenters complained that they were now expected to get Botox, regular gel manicures and lash extensions, which were previously services exclusively enjoyed by wealthy people (stock images)

Some women said they loved keeping up appearances, while others complained about the expenses adding up over time

Women agreed that it seems like more beauty products and procedures are required regularly, as someone called it 'crazy how Botox has became part of the regular beauty maintenance,' asking 'What is happening?'

'They've raised the bar so high I can comfortably just walk underneath it,' a commenter joked.

'Self care is knowing when to draw the line. No reason you should do something that doesn't bring you joy,' another person lectured.

Some ignored the beauty baseline entirely, with one person weighing in, 'It's exhausting and so freeing when you decide you're not conforming.'

Most people were simply appalled by how expensive it is to keep up appearances, explaining, 'When you do the math on how much the average woman spends on beauty upkeep over a 40 year career it's SHOCKING.'

They're not the only people shocked by high prices.

British actress Betsy-Blue English, 24, went viral on TikTok when she shocked her followers by explaining she flies from Los Angeles to London because beauty procedures are less expensive abroad.
We've all been there, you're having a normal day, when all of the sudden one event sends everything into chaos.

From spilling your morning coffee to tripping over, varying degrees of accidents can make a day go from bad to worse very quickly.

Online gallery Twisted Sifter has compiled some hilarious, bizarre and at times cringe-worthy incidents.

One catastrophic snap from the US shows a feline sitting in a rice cooker pot, after having urinated on a pile of uncooked food.

Elsewhere, a Home Depot employee in the US was in for a very messy shift after a wild paint spill.

Another minivan owner was also thoroughly creeped out after realising how many spiders were living in their vehicle.

Kitchen catastrophe! This feline, understood to the from the US, shocked their owner when it urinated all over some uncooked rice

One photo also shows a woman who seemingly laid claim to all the rotisserie chickens available during a shopping trip to Costco.

And another demonstrates how a DIY fix job on a hook went wrong.

Here, FEMAIL shared the best of these worst days...

Spill on aisle five! One Home Depot employee in the US was definitely in for a long shift after this accident

Bugging out! This minivan owner from the US was confronted with some creepy crawlies after bug-bombing the vehicle when they saw spiderwebs everywhere

Accident! This DIY wood glue operation definitely ended up looking more messy than the poster intended it to

Chicken run! This woman left people in Costco, in the US, devastated when she grabbed a trolley full of rotisserie chickens

Playtime is over! One parent bought their son a Play Station 5 - only to realise it had somehow been swapped out with a ROCK

Stuck in traffic! Some rockfall in Colorado meant commuters were faced with a four-and-a-half hour detour
People watch the debate between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday at Mannys restaurant and community space in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Deeper interrogation here, though, makes us question to what extent Americans consider being informed about social injustices  racism, sexism, classism, etc.  to be a good and necessary thing. Exhibit A: Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida.

On Thursday night, DeSantis took the stage in Georgia to debate California Gov. Gavin Newsom for reasons that probably still arent legible to fans of either politician. It was a vacuous affair, moderated by Fox News host and grifter Sean Hannity, which provided more soundbites than clarity into the roots of the debaters grievances with one another, most of which centered around a hazy woke/anti-woke binary.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Yet as a diversity, equity and inclusion instructor for the past 15 years who now does DEI trainings at UC Berkeley, seeing the War on Woke play out on such a high-profile stage was instructive and a bit nauseating.

Over the years, Ive watched the term wokeness gradually morph into DeSantis tired catch-all for virtually anything that disrupts conventional understandings of the dominant social order. Still, though ambiguous, wokeness has become an undeniably strong political buzzword that captures Americas torturous mystification on the root of its ceaseless inequities and cultural conflicts.

Whether you love it, cant stomach it, or merely tolerate the War on Woke, one things clear  its not going anywhere.

The movement and its main jester, DeSantis, have the wind at their backs  even if DeSantis didnt own Newsom, his apparent primary objective, in his fruitless debate on Thursday.

UC Berkeley, an institution synonymous with everything DeSantis and the contemporary right deem problematic about DEI  and theyre far from wrong with that critique  has been the nucleus and sanctuary of American wokeness dating back to its students pioneering of the anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s. Capturing todays zeitgeist, Berkeley continues to find itself in the political crosshairs. De Santis encouraged those who wanted to study gender dynamics and the like to Go to Berkeley. They just might.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

As I observe the arguments made by those like DeSantis that universities like UC Berkeley are incubating socialists and pushing anti-American DEI trainings that induce more resentment and bias rather than temper it, I begin to wonder  have any of these people actually taken a DEI training?

Our training participants are neither dyed-in-the-wool Marxists nor seething conservatives forced to cross the political spectrum. The overwhelming majority of those taking these trainings are earnest and looking to be exposed to new ways of improving their engagements with people from different cultural backgrounds. No woke litmus test is applied before or afterward, and no brow-beating or shaming is done for participants awareness or readiness for action.

Based on the online reactions, what Thursdays debate made clear to me is that a sizable portion of the American public likely has no idea what DEI programming like ours  where we talk about strategies for improving self-awareness, inquisitiveness, respect and patience, and outline the business case for diversity  actually does. Anti-woke critics instead retreat to the sense that the trainings like ours are forced  they very rarely ever are  and that its some kind of abridgment of their rights to have to endure one. Few such criticisms surround the other trainings on sexual harassment, client confidentiality, etc., that most employees in the corporate and education world have long had to attend.

Its the War on Woke that is forcing America to look at its prejudices and hypocrisies in the brightest setting. Modern DEI programming is indeed mostly performative and largely ineffective in changing biased attitudes and behaviors and bolstering representation. Consider one particularly apt headline regarding the Supreme Courts recent affirmative action ruling: Colleges decry Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, but most have terrible track records on diversity.

And then take for instance UC Berkeley. Said its, chancellor, Carol Christ: A university should reflect that diversity, and prepare its students for that reality.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its a nice thought. But less than a quarter of UC Berkeleys undergraduate students and only 15% of its graduate students come from an underrepresented group. Underrepresented minorities at Berkeley also graduate at substantially lower rates. And only around 10% of its 1,500-odd faculty are from underrepresented groups. These imbalances are not new or aberrations  they are very much the legacy and standard at UC Berkeley and most other academic institutions.

This smokescreen certainly isnt just limited to academia. The average growth for minority representation on Fortune 500 boards since 2004 is less than 0.5% annually, and 40% minority representation, a modest goal, wont be reached until 2074. Among the corporations that consistently underperform in this space is Disney, which DeSantis spent the better part of 2022 trying to tar-and-feather for opposing his so-called Dont Say Gay bill, with little to show for his efforts. The problem is corporations like Disney have pretty abysmal records in terms of representation: 73% of Disney executives are white while just 10.2% are Asian American, 6% are Black and 6.3% are Latino. So, despite the outrage and fearmongering, DEI  and extensions like affirmative action  havent done and wont do nearly as much as detractors would have you believe.

So, who exactly benefits from DEI programs?
The Princess of Wales is often celebrated for her thoughtful choice of accessories, frequently paying homage to both Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth.

And the mother-of-three, 41, showcased her sentimental side at last night's Royal Variety Performance, wearing a glittering bracelet reminiscent of the late Queen's Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet.

Kate exuded elegance in a 1,745 Safiyaa gown, made from heavy crepe, with a jewelled boat neck, dramatic shoulders and split sleeves for the event at the Royal Albert Hall, yesterday.

She didn't hold back on sparkle either, adding a glittering Jenny Packham clutch and J.Crew crystal and pearl earrings - as well as the bracelet in question.

Despite ongoing fallout from the Omid Scobie race row, the royal dazzled as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside her husband Prince William, 41, and their guests, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel.

The Princess of Wales showcased her sentimental side at the Royal Variety Performance, wearing an alluring bracelet reminiscent of the late Queen's Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet

The Princess' wide cuff bracelet incorporated crystals and gemstones of varying sizes, perfectly complementing the embellished neckline on her dress.

The design was reminiscent of the late Queen's Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet, which was a gift from her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

When Philip designed an engagement ring for his bride-to-be, he recycled stones from the Diamond and Aquamarine Tiara that belonged to his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg.

The sparkler featured a round three-carat brilliant stone, flanked by smaller pave-set diamonds, leaving plenty of diamonds left over for additional pieces, including the bracelet made by Philip Antrobus Ltd in London.

Queen Elizabeth wore the bracelet on a number of occasions, including the opening of Canada's parliament in Ottawa in 1957 and the State Opening of Parliament in 1999.

She also loaned the opulent design to the Princess of Wales, notably for the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in 2017.

Kate's bracelet, debuted last night, offered a subtle nod to the Queen's beloved Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet.

Queen Elizabeth II pictured wearing the Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet while posing for a portrait in 1954

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during celebrations for their Silver Wedding anniversary in 1972

Phillip created Elizabeth's bracelet using diamonds from the Diamond and Aquamarine Tiara, which belonged to his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg (pictured in 1908)

Safiyaa's Destiny gown boasts a sleek silhouette and extended sleeves, created in a teal shade named Poseidon - the distinct hue from Penny Mordaunt's Coronation outfit.

Kate expertly styled her floor-sweeping dress with J.Crew crystal and pearl earrings, a Jenny Packham Casa lame clutch and Emmy London Rebecca suede pumps - all of which she has previously worn.

It comes after Mr Scobie, 42, took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book.

He said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe that he is 'in cahoots' with Meghan, declaring: 'It couldnt be further from the truth'.

The author also refused to apologise for the racism scandal that has erupted, claiming: 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it'.

But questions about whether he put the names in remain because one of the Dutch translators told MailOnline yesterday: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them'.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Scobie was asked to say 'hand on heart' that the farrago over the Dutch translation was not a PR stunt. He raised his hands, shaking his head, and replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.' Ms Derbyshire said: You dont have to go that far, its fine.

The Prince and Princess of Wales put on a business-as-usual attitude as they attended the Royal Variety Performance 2023 amid a deepening race row reignited by Omid Scobie

William and Kate applaud during the Royal Variety Performance last night

Scobie then said: 'No its serious because I feel hurt by some of the things Ive seen that have suggested a conspiracy theory, that this is some kind of publicity stunt, and Im in cahoots with my pal [Meghan] and nonsense like that because it feeds into something that couldnt be further from the truth'.

Victoria then said: In some version you must have written the names in and the wrong version has potentially gone to the people in charge of the rights around the world, I suppose. Mr Scobie didnt respond.

READ MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William ignore fallout from Omid Scobie race row as they arrive hand-in-hand at the Royal Variety Performance Advertisement

It came as media organisations around the world, including ITV, The Guardian and The Times, named the two royals accused of asking about Archie's skin colour as King Charles and his daughter-in-law Kate.

During Good Morning Britain's opening credits today, Ben Shephard said: 'The Princess of Wales made no comment at the Royal Variety performance in London last night and it was business as usual for the King at the climate conference in Dubai after they were named in the Dutch version of a new book as the royals who questioned what colour skin Prince Archie would have.'

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television.

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly named the pair in a letter to Charles, have insisted to the Telegraph that she had 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp'.

Members of the Royal Family have got down to business as usual, with King Charles in Dubai for Cop28 and Prince William and Kate dazzling at the Royal Variety Performance in London last night.

Palace sources told The Mirror that the 'entire Royal Family is united in outrage' after members of the family were 'unfairly named in this way'.

They added: 'There is absolute and unequivocal denial that anything said by the two persons named publicly was said, or even could be considered to be said, in a racist manner.'

The row was described as 'an outrageous smear' that began with the Oprah interview but has now 'blown up into another stratosphere'.

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.
A plus-sized influencer has shared the struggles she has encountered while backpacking around the world, including people asking to touch her stomach.

Lexi Malan, 28, from Rexburg, Idaho has been travelling Southeast Asia since 2022, and despite being viciously fat-shamed, she is still urging plus-sized people to travel.

The content creator, who gained weight as a result of her polycystic ovary syndrome, refuses to let nasty comments get in her way.

She started her trip in Bali before travelling to Cambodia. While there, locals asked her if she was pregnant, while strangers told her to 'walk more'.

'Travelling as a plus size person can definitely have hardships than travelling as a straight-sized person does not,' she said. 'At the beginning of my travels, I realised I was not only very plus-size, but I was also very out of shape as far as physical fitness.

Lexi Malan (pictured), 28, from Rexburg, Idaho has been travelling Southeast Asia since 2022, and despite being viciously fat-shamed, she is still urging plus-sized people to travel

'It also feels like you have to think two times as much as everybody else. Will I be able to fit in the chairs at this restaurant? I need to remember to ask for a seat belt extender on my flight.

'Is there a weight limit on this activity? Will I be able to keep up with everyone if I go somewhere in a group? There are tons of things to consider.'

Shockingly, the traveller has even had strangers approach her to touch her, purely because of her size.

She said: 'I spend a good amount of my travel time in more local areas, so I have had children and old ladies come and touch my stomach and tell me I am fat, but nobody ever means it in a bad way'.

Lexi has also come across challenges when travelling with other people. She said: 'When you are with a group it can sometimes be hard to voice the things you need because it can feel embarrassing or like a burden to everyone.

'I have met some incredible people while travelling, but it's always hard to not get in your own head.

'The plus side of travelling solo while being bigger is that you can decide a lot more things for yourself without having to explain or have people accommodate you.

'If you don't feel like you can manage a hike then you just don't have to go. If you don't think you can be at a certain restaurant then you pick a new one'.

Lexi has dealt with harsh comments from locals abroad who have asked her if she was pregnant or even touched her belly. Pictured in Cambodia

Lexi amazed by Thailand's stunning White Temple - a sacred religious site for Buddhists

Lexi set out to see the world in September 2022, starting in Bali before heading to Cambodia, and then on to the rest of Southeast Asia

In her video, Lexi can be seen speaking to the camera as she reads out some negatives.

She said: 'If you go to Asia, people will talk about you being fat. Not especially backpackers but locals definitely will. I've had so many people touch my stomach, people telling me to walk more and little kids asking me if I'm pregnant'.

'Also a lot of people stare. Also aeroplanes, busses, trains, small boats, they can be difficult. I've managed to luckily do everything but it can be super uncomfortable.

'I've been on trains where you have to share tiny seats with people and it can just be hard.

'There are also weight restrictions for some things like if you do skydiving or zip-lining it can be difficult. More extreme activities can be harder to do but the vast majority are possible.'

Lexi is proud of her body and urges other plus-size women to travel despite what she tells them in her TikTok clip

Lexi peeking behind some green foliage, beaming gleefully as she travels across southeast Asia

The post has since amassed just under 4,000 views, as well as hundreds of likes and comments from users showering Lexi with love.

Lexi said: 'As far as people I've met, I have had some people be mean to me or just treat me differently but the vast majority of people I have met have been absolutely incredible!

'I know that sounds like such silly advice you always hear but people often get frozen in the planning or wanting to do something stage and then never end up doing it'.

The travel influencer urges plus-size people to go for it and take a risk. 'No time will ever be perfect and you will never be 100 per cent prepared.

She added: 'When I first left to backpack I had never been out of the country on my own, and I could barely walk for 10 minutes without being absolutely exhausted and now here I am!

'I never would have done so many of the incredible things I have been able to experience if I waited until I was "ready" or "prepared". You can do this, you are just as capable and worthy of living the life you want as anybody else.'
Molly Whitehall has shared a behind the scenes glimpse of Princess Eugenie's star-studded charity gala at Battersea Arts Centre in south London.

Taking to Instagram, the sister of national treasure Jack Whitehall an old school friend to Eugenie, posted a selection of unseen photographs from the Anti-Slavery Collective's inaugural Winter Gala.

Dressed in a glitzy sequined blue dress rented from By Rotation X Net a Porter, Molly stunned in a selection of snaps.

The mother-of-one, 34, who has known Eugenie since their days at Marlborough College, cozied up to the royal, 33, in an unseen picture- along with Prince Harrys ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas, and the co-founder of the Anti-Slavery Collective, Julia de Boinville.

The post, captioned: Proud chicks, received a hilarious response from Mollys father, Michael Whitehall, 83. He commented: 'A bunch of posho chicks hanging out in Battersea.'

Molly Whitehall shared a unseen image from the glamorous event. From R to L, Princess Eugenie, Molly Whitehall, Cressida Bonas, Julia de Boinville, Lizzy Mason, and Emily Few Brown

Michael Whitehall offered a hilarious response to the post, and called them 'a bunch of posho chicks'

Molly also shared a glimpse of the luxurious table settings- and a snap of a post-dinner performance by Ed Sheeran.

Perhaps one of the best connected royals, Eugenie was joined by a flurry of A-list stars, including James Blunt.

Looking stunning in a black satin dress with a thigh-high split, by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, the royal was also joined by dozens of high society pals including cousin Zara Tindall, Prince Harry's ex Cressida Bonas, TV presenter Natalie Pinkham and former Prime Minster Theresa May.

Both the York sisters husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank dressed up in smart tuxedos for the evening.

Julia de Boinville, the co-founder of the Anti-Slavery Collective, added a touch of glam in sequined green gown.

Through the charity, founded in 2017, Julia and Eugenie, have worked across several sectors to help bring an end to modern slavery and also launched their podcast Floodlight, where they interview guests on how best to end the practice around the world.

The York trio each oozed elegance in black frocks as they smiled alongside each other, with Beatrice sporting a Self Portrait dress with jacket detailing, while Eugenie chose a Peter Pilotto & Christopher de Vos satin-effect gown with a slit in the skirt and gathering at the waist, plus gold button detailing.

Eugenie is clearly a fan of the Australian-Italian design duo who also made her wedding dress to marry Jack Brooksbank in 2018.

Molly Whitehall, who is sister to the comedian Jack Whitehall, shared a selfie with close friends at the event

Adding even more star-power to the look, Eugenie added a Gabriela hearst Metallic Nina Lambskin Bag and Jimmy Choo Lang 100 Gold Metallic Sandals.

Speaking ahead of the event Eugenie, 33, praised Ed Sheeran, who performed, for his involvement, saying: 'It's the most insane thing. Ed is game changer and an entertainer of a generation, so I'm absolutely lost of words that he's coming.

'He's also one of the nicest people so I'm truly honoured and very grateful to have him there and help us on The Anti-Slavery Collective's mission.'

Eugenie, the second child of the Duke and Duchess of York, said she had been motivated to set up the charity, which aims to end modern slavery by the humanitarian work of her mother, Sarah Ferguson

'My mum does a lot of charity work and always raised my sister and I to give back,' Princess Eugenie said.

The Royal, who now lives in Portugal with her husband Jack and their two sons, said that a trip to Calcutta with her mother and Julia in 2012 had sown the seeds for the Anti-Slavery Collective.

'We went to Calcutta to visit Aloka Mitra, who founded The Women's Interlink Foundation,' she recalled.

The mother-of-one shared an unseen picture of the glamorous dinner at the star-studded event

Molly, a 'very proud friend', shared a photograph of Eugenie and Julia speaking to the attendees on stage

'Aloka is an amazing woman who rescued girls from the streets, housed them and taught them how to print on fabrics.

'During that trip to India, Jules and I were so shocked by what we'd discovered about modern slavery, when we returned to the UK we learned as much about it as we could, met with anyone who would listen to us, visited safe houses and talked to survivors.'

The charity's mission is to raise awareness of the 50million people around the globe who are currently trapped in modern slavery.

'I was 21 when I first learned about modern slavery. I don't want people to get to the same age without being educated about the realities,' the Royal said.

The Princess also paid tribute to a slavery survivor from Manchester who played a vital role in setting up the charity in 2017.

'One survivor who has been an inspiration to our charity was born and raised in Manchester and trafficked by her next door neighbour into a local gang.

'She was integral in setting up The Collective and we're always asking her what she thinks This is an example of modern slavery being everywhere, even here in the UK.'

Attendees of the Anti-Slavery Collective's inaugural Winter Gala enjoyed a performance by Ed Sheeran

Dressed in a glitzy sequined blue dress rented from By Rotation X Net a Porter, Molly stunned in a selection of snaps.

She urged every Briton to play their part in the war against modern slavery.

'A victim can walk amongst you but be suffering unfair wages or working forcibly to within an inch of their life in perhaps the construction industry, a nail bar or at a car wash.

'Everyone has to open their eyes to what might be happening around them.'

Sheeran had a notorious encounter with Princess Eugenie's sister, Princess Beatrice, who accidentally sliced his cheek with a ceremonial sword while she was jokingly 'knighting' James Blunt at a dinner party in 2016.

The musician always refused to name the Royal but his manager, Stuart Camp, eventually confirmed it was the Princess who had wielded the sword and called her an 'idiot'.

But it looks like Sheeran has put all that behind him as he prepares to lend his star power to Princess Eugenie's charity in London tonight
Omid Scobie 'has done his master's bidding' after the Dutch translation of his new book named two royals alleged to have expressed 'concerns' about the colour of Prince Archie's skin, a royal expert has told Palace Confidential.

Despite Mr Scobie's insistence that he is not in 'cahoots' with Meghan Markle, 42, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden suggested the Endgame author 'wouldn't do anything that he thought would upset' the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Mr Eden told the Mail+'s weekly talk show: 'Let's be clear here, Harry and Meghan are Omid Scobie's meal ticket. They really are. He wouldn't do anything that he thought would upset them.

'When Meghan made those claims back on Oprah Winfrey, she knew exactly what she was doing. She set that hare running, and those names were always likely to come out. They wanted it to hang over the Royal Family.

'They wanted to do as much damage as they possibly could with that interview, they knew that it would linger, that nasty smell, would linger over the Royal Family. So Omid, whether directly or not, is doing his master's bidding.

Despite Mr Scobie's insistence that he is not in 'cahoots' with Meghan Markle, 42, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden (pictured) suggested the Endgame author 'wouldn't do anything that he thought would upset' the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Mr Eden continued: 'It's appalling, it's disgusting. You've got all these people who can't answer back, with the Royal Family.

'I mean imagine how poor Catherine feels, she's had all of this sent her way, with all the stuff in the interview and the book, and she's trying to rise above it as they all have but it's very hard.'

READ MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William ignore fallout from Omid Scobie race row as they arrive hand-in-hand at the Royal Variety Performance Advertisement

Mr Scobie, 42, took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book.

He said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe that he is 'in cahoots' with Meghan, declaring: 'It couldnt be further from the truth'.

The author also refused to apologise for the racism scandal that has erupted, claiming: 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it'.

But questions about whether he put the names in remain because one of the Dutch translators told MailOnline yesterday: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them'.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Scobie was asked to say 'hand on heart' that the farrago over the Dutch translation was not a PR stunt. He raised his hands, shaking his head, and replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.' Ms Derbyshire said: You dont have to go that far, its fine.

Scobie then said: 'No its serious because I feel hurt by some of the things Ive seen that have suggested a conspiracy theory, that this is some kind of publicity stunt, and Im in cahoots with my pal [Meghan] and nonsense like that because it feeds into something that couldnt be further from the truth'.

Victoria then said: In some version you must have written the names in and the wrong version has potentially gone to the people in charge of the rights around the world, I suppose. Mr Scobie didnt respond.

It came as media organisations around the world, including ITV, The Guardian and The Times, named the two royals accused of asking about Archie's skin colour as King Charles and his daughter-in-law Kate.

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan (pictured with Harry in September 2021) allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television

Mr Scobie (pictured), 42, took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book

During Good Morning Britain's opening credits today, Ben Shephard said: 'The Princess of Wales made no comment at the Royal Variety performance in London last night and it was business as usual for the King at the climate conference in Dubai after they were named in the Dutch version of a new book as the royals who questioned what colour skin Prince Archie would have.'

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television.

The inclusion of the names led to 5,000 copies of the book (pictured)  called 'Final Battle' in Holland  being withdrawn from sale on the bookshelves and pulped

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly named the pair in a letter to Charles, have insisted to the Telegraph that she had 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp'.

Members of the Royal Family have got down to business as usual, with King Charles in Dubai for Cop28 and Prince William and Kate dazzling at the Royal Variety Performance in London last night.

Palace sources told The Mirror that the 'entire Royal Family is united in outrage' after members of the family were 'unfairly named in this way'.

They added: 'There is absolute and unequivocal denial that anything said by the two persons named publicly was said, or even could be considered to be said, in a racist manner.'

The row was described as 'an outrageous smear' that began with the Oprah interview but has now 'blown up into another stratosphere'.

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.
Generation Z across the UK have discovered the appeal of Brussel sprout's

Once thought of as a sad, soggy side to a turkey main, Brussel sprouts are now officially back on trend as Gen Z have dubbed them cool.

Despite being one the most controversial Christmas dinner sides for generations, British supermarket Waitrose have witnessed a whopping 150 per cent boom in sales compared to this time last year.

Their revival comes after a 2021 study conducted by Tesco, which found nearly one in four people aged 18-24 said they hate Brussel sprouts.

Fast forward two years, and Waitrose have predicted the sprouts sale increase will continue all the way until Christmas and beyond. And it's not just Waitrose that has witnessed a rebirth of the cabbage-like dish- but social media too.

Pickled, roasted, smashed- you name it, Gen Z have shared their fashionable recipes to dress up the humble sprout- and it seems to be working because 92.7 million people on TikTok have searched ways to serve up the vegetable.

Brussel sprout's have recently had a resurgence, and TikTok content creator's have shared their favourite recipes. Pictured above is Balle Hurns filming a smashed Brussels sprouts recipe.

Trendy restaurants have implemented the dish in their yuletide additions, such as Marugame Udon's Brussel Sprout Tempura, and amateur food influencers are sharing their ways to spice up the dish.

Home cooks are also seeking new recipes, and Waitrose.com found recipe searches for 'shredded sprouts' surged 607 per cent month on month and 65 per cent year on year.

Sam Witherington, Vegetable Buyer at Waitrose told FEMAIL: 'The Brussels sprout was once consigned to Christmas lunch, over cooked and under loved.

'But in recent years, as the sprout has made its way onto restaurant menus, home cooks are now getting creative too.

'If these current sales of Brussel sprouts are anything to go by it's going to be a bumper year for Brussels'.

Brands are locking in on it too. Cereal company SURREAL, who have launched a limited-edition festive Brussels Sprout Cereal just in time for Christmas.

SURREAL's Brussels Sprout Cereal features suitably festive green hoops, with a flavour they're claiming is similar to 'honey-roasted sprouts'.

SURREAL's co-founder, Kit Gammell said 'Christmas is a time of peace, joy and indulgence. Luckily for those feeling they need a break from the endless pigs-in-blankets and cream-on-everything, our Cereal Scientists have been back in the lab experimenting. What's they've come up with is decidedly divisive'.

One TikTok influencer recreated Brussel sprout's as a crispy snack covered in breadcrumbs. Pictured above is Maya Leinenbach

Another influencer enjoyed the vegetable with minimal changes, and simply dipped them into gravy. Pictured above is @ggflavour

Food content creator @cookiterica enjoyed her Brussel sprouts pickled, and quickly went back for a second helping

London brand Sauce Shop also have Brussels Sprout Ketchup, while drinks company Pickering's make a Brussels Sprout Gin/

Research from Hovis further consolidated the resurgence of Brussel sprouts.

Brussel sprouts, chestnuts and pancetta recipe Ingredients Brussels sprouts, four per person or more if you are a sprout lover

Five slices pancetta, cut into squares

Eight peeled chestnuts

20g butter

A pinch of s ea salt Method Cut all of the Brussels sprouts in half discarding the outer damaged leaves

Blanch in boiling water for two minutes only, being careful not to overcook them

In a large non-stick pan on a medium heat, add the squares of pancetta

Add the Brussels sprouts to the pan along with the butter

Once the Brussel sprouts have coloured and are fully cooked add the chestnuts and warm through

Keep warm until ready to use Source- Chef Mark Greenaway of Pivot in 3 Henrietta Street Advertisement

The company polled the public on their favourite Christmas sandwich fillings and found an impressive 60 percent of Brits to be in favour of sprouts in their sarnie.

Proving that sprouts aren't just for Christmas day, food influencers have also shared their creative recipes to dress up the vegetable.

In one instance, a Gen Z food influencer combines smashed sprouts with Sriracha, maple syrup, and olive oil, to create an Asian-infused dish.

Elsewhere, a vegan food influencer covered the vegetable breadcrumbs to produce a dish even the biggest haters of sprouts might take a liking too.

And another kept it simple by having a huge bowl of the green vegetable dipped in Bisto gravy.

One influencer teased her viewers with a taste test of picked brussel sprouts - and she quickly went in for a second helping.

It comes after farmers reckoned they have found a way to get people to like Brussels sprouts  by making sure they are all the same size so they can be cooked evenly.

To help them pick matching sprouts, bosses at R&K Drysdale, one of the UK's largest brassica growers, have invested in a hightech grading machine, nicknamed the 'sproutatron'.

Working with Tesco to supply around 70 per cent of its sprouts, Drysdale uses the machine  which looks like the sort of gadget that could be in a Wallace & Gromit movie  to size the sprouts accurately with the push of a button.

They will be more consistently sized in packets, making the cooking process more even.

It means an end to the lottery of some people getting small and overcooked soggy sprouts, while others crunch through harder big ones.

New milder and sweeter varieties, particularly Cobelius, have been introduced too.

A survey by Tesco revealed that the number of 18-to-24-year-olds who claim to 'love' sprouts has risen from 26 per cent in 2021 to 44 per cent this year.

The 'sproutatron' works by taking eight photographs of each sprout as it travels along the conveyor belt, assessing it for a predetermined size.

And it can take pictures of 25 sprouts per second. The computerised grader then identifies all sprouts of the same size.

Mark Greenway at Pivot recommends adding pancetta and chestnuts to the cabbage-like vegetable (pictured)

Maple pecan Brussel sprouts recipe Ingredients Two dozen Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half

Two tbsp. olive oil

One tbsp. butter

255g pecan halves

Two tbsp. pure maple syrup (preferably amber syrup for its rich taste)

Salt and pepper, to taste Method Add oil to skillet on medium-high heat. When hot, add the Brussels sprouts. Saute for about eight to 10 minutes, stirring fairly often, or until the Brussels sprouts are nicely browned and tender crisp.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the butter and pecans. Cook for four to five mins.

Stir in the maple syrup and cook for about a minute. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and serve immediately. Source- Maple Advertisement

One recipe adds a sweet twist to Brussel sprouts (pictured), and adds Maple syrup and peanuts

These are sent into the same lane to be processed. It means that when the sprouts are bagged up they are all of a uniform size.

Tesco produce buyer Sam Miller said: 'Thanks to the latest technology, our customers will be able to buy some of the very best-tasting and freshest sprouts.

'These machines speed up the grading procedure, which drastically cuts the time it takes to get the sprouts from the field to our shelves.'

Gavin Milne, general manager of Drysdale  based in Cockburnspath, Scotland  said: 'We work closely with seed houses onvarietal development and taste, with the aim being to eliminate varieties that are more bitter than others.'

Around 25 per cent of the annual consumption of Brussels sprouts is at Christmas. Tesco expects to sell around 1.5million kilograms (3.3million pounds) of sprouts in the two weeks before the big day.

They are so named after becoming popular in the Belgian capital in the 16th century, but come from Iran and Afghanistan originall
Favouring sleek silhouettes in flattering shades, the Princess of Wales, once voted the best dressed royal, certainly knows what suits her.

And while Kate's been known to buy the same outfit in two colours - her Coronation dress, for example, was a copy of an Alexander McQueen style she had already worn - there's one look that works so well that the royal owns it in four colours.

Named after the Princess of Wales, the item of clothing in question is British-based and New Zealand-born designer Emilia Wickstead's 'Kate' dress, which the royal has in lavender, cobalt blue, olive green and teal.

Long-sleeved and belted at the waist, the bespoke A-line dresses differ only slightly in length.

While the teal version that Kate was seen in yesterday when she welcomed the Queen of Sweden to Windsor Castle is a midi, the other three fall to the knee.

Kate wore the teal version of the Emilia Wickstead 'Kate' dress yesterday to welcome the Queen of Sweden and her husband to Windsor Castle

Kate wore the lavender version in October 2018 when she attended the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London

Three of the four - the lavender, the blue and the teal - feature a beateau neckline, while the olive green dress has a square neckline.

Wickstead's 'Kate' dress was previously available to buy in pink, red and navy for 1,350, but is no longer on sale.

Kate, aged 41, was first spotted in the lavender version in October 2018 when she attended the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London.

Less than a year later, Kate debuted an olive green version of the designer gown to open the Anna Freud Centre in London.

In November 2019, she wore the cobalt blue dress to attend the launch of the National Emergencies Trust.

For that occasion Kate added some sparkle in the form of Princess Diana's dazzling diamond and sapphire earrings, which complemented the dress perfectly.

Yesterday's meet-and-greet with the Queen of Sweden and her husband came just before Kate and King Charles were identified by media organisations around the world, including the Guardian and the Times, as the two royals alleged to have expressed 'concerns' about the colour of Prince Archie's skin, following the inclusion of their names in the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie's book Endgame.

British designers Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham are also among Kate's favourites, and the Princess of Wales has also been seen in different versions of their designs.

Kate debuted an olive green version of the designer gown to open the Anna Freud Centre in London

In November 2019, the Princess of Wales wore the cobalt blue dress to attend the launch of the National Emergencies Trust

Eagle-eyed fans may have spotted that the Alexander McQueen gown that Kate wore to the Coronation is almost identical to one the royal already owns.

The British fashion house has long been one of the Princess of Wales' top designers - with the royal even selecting their Creative Director Sarah Burton to design her wedding dress in 2011.

In December 2019, the then Duchess of Cambridge wore a black version of her Coronation gown to attend a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace.

For this occasion, Kate wore her show-stopping gown with the Lover's Knot tiara, her Royal Victorian Order's badge and the accompanying blue sash.

Less than 24 hours before King Charles' Coronation, Kate Middleton joined the monarch and Prince William to surprise royal fans who had lined The Mall outside Buckingham Palace.

To meet with members of the public, the royal opted for a slim-fitting midi dress which was custom-made for her by UK designer Jenny Packham and featured a black velvet belt.

The mother-of-three had also worn the exact same dress but in black to greet mourning royal fans outside Windsor Castle with Prince William and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in September 2022.

For that sombre day, the Princess kept her accessories minimal and simply wore a pair of black tights and suede heels.
Prince Andrew wrapped up against the cold temperatures as he rode his horse around the grounds of Windsor Castle this morning.

The Duke of York, 63, couldn't help but smile as he chuckled to a companion while taking to the saddle today.

Andrew wore a navy jacket bearing the royal cypher of the Grenadier Guards, despite being stripped of his honorary military roles by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022.

The father-of-two is frequently spotted enjoying equestrian activities - and Range Rover driving - around the extravagant Berkshire estate.

He continues to reside at Royal Lodge, having reportedly been granted permission from King Charles to 'stay indefinitely' after they 'thrashed out a new deal'.

Prince Andrew was seen riding his horse around the grounds of Windsor Castle this morning

The outing comes at a turbulent time for the Royal Family after the Dutch translation of Omid Scobie's new book named two royals alleged to have expressed 'concerns' about the colour of Prince Archie's skin.

READ MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William ignore fallout from Omid Scobie race row as they arrive hand-in-hand at the Royal Variety Performance Advertisement

Mr Scobie, 42, took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book.

He said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe that he is 'in cahoots' with Meghan, declaring: 'It couldnt be further from the truth'.

The author also refused to apologise for the racism scandal that has erupted, claiming: 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it'.

But questions about whether he put the names in remain because one of the Dutch translators told MailOnline yesterday: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them'.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Scobie was asked to say 'hand on heart' that the farrago over the Dutch translation was not a PR stunt. He raised his hands, shaking his head, and replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.' Ms Derbyshire said: You dont have to go that far, its fine.

Scobie then said: 'No its serious because I feel hurt by some of the things Ive seen that have suggested a conspiracy theory, that this is some kind of publicity stunt, and Im in cahoots with my pal [Meghan] and nonsense like that because it feeds into something that couldnt be further from the truth'.

Victoria then said: In some version you must have written the names in and the wrong version has potentially gone to the people in charge of the rights around the world, I suppose. Mr Scobie didnt respond.

It came as media organisations around the world, including ITV, The Guardian and The Times, named the two royals accused of asking about Archie's skin colour as King Charles and his daughter-in-law Kate.

During Good Morning Britain's opening credits today, Ben Shephard said: 'The Princess of Wales made no comment at the Royal Variety performance in London last night and it was business as usual for the King at the climate conference in Dubai after they were named in the Dutch version of a new book as the royals who questioned what colour skin Prince Archie would have.'

The Duke of York, 63, chuckled to a companion as he took to the saddle this morning

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television.

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly named the pair in a letter to Charles, have insisted to the Telegraph that she had 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp'.

Members of the Royal Family have got down to business as usual, with King Charles in Dubai for Cop28 and Prince William and Kate dazzling at the Royal Variety Performance in London last night.

Palace sources told The Mirror that the 'entire Royal Family is united in outrage' after members of the family were 'unfairly named in this way'.

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan (pictured with Harry in September 2021) allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television

Mr Scobie (pictured), 42, took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book

They added: 'There is absolute and unequivocal denial that anything said by the two persons named publicly was said, or even could be considered to be said, in a racist manner.'

The row was described as 'an outrageous smear' that began with the Oprah interview but has now 'blown up into another stratosphere'.

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.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden looked remarkable in a show-stopping two-piece suit today while stepping out in the UK.

The heir apparent to the Swedish throne, 46, made the stylish debut during day three of her official UK tour, while alongside her husband Prince Daniel.

The royal couple were pictured stepping off of a flight before attending Cranfield University, which is situated in Wharley End, near the heart of Cranfield village.

Victoria looked elegant in a mid-length violet collared jacket, while a pair of matching straight-cut trousers, a cotton dress shirt and leather gloves finished off the ensemble.

The mother-of-two opted for an extra splash of colour by way of a stunning silk scarf, which featured an assortment of yellow, blue and purple hues.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden looked remarkable in a show-stopping two-piece suit while attending Cranfield University today

Her stunning brunette locks were highly pronounced in a voluminous bun, tied backwards and set just above the nape of her neck.

For her make-up, she donned a natural base with just a dash of glowy bronzer, a smidge of mascara and a nude lip.

Bringing the look to a close were a pair of leather round toe boots in colour black, alongside a set of distinguished gold drop down earrings.

Also making a stylish statement was her husband Prince Daniel, who looked exceptionally suave in a navy blue two-piece suit and a sky-blue button-front shirt.

The prince, also known as the Duke of Vastergotland, teamed the look with a matching pocket square, a dark blue tie and a sleek hairdo.

The royals appeared in high spirits as they participated in the day's events at Cranfield University, known as one of the oldest business schools in Europe.

The heir apparent to the Swedish throne, 46, made the stylish debut during day three of her official UK tour, alongside her husband Prince Daniel

The royals spared time to visit the cockpit of a Saab 340 - a twin-engine turboprop aircraft - which was based at Cranfield Airport

Victoria looked elegant in a mid-length violet collared jacket, while a pair of matching straight-cut trousers, a cotton dress shirt and leather gloves finished off the ensemble

The university is situated next to both Cranfield Airport and Cranfield Flying School, of which the royals spared time to visit the cockpit of a Saab 340, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft.

Both the prince and princess smiled delightfully as they sat in the cockpit and posed for photographs.

The trip comes amid a busy week for the Swedish royals, as they were seen mingling with the Prince and Princess of Wales last night.

Both couples attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Thursday evening.

For her make-up, she donned a natural base with just a dash of glowy bronzer, a smidge of mascara and a nude lip

The royals appeared in high spirits as they stepped off an aircraft at Cranfield Airport

The eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf looked stunning in a sophisticated monochrome ensemble, which featured light feathered fabric.

The shoulderless dress teamed perfectly with a matching wrap, which she huddled into for warmth.

Victoria accessorised her elegant look with a golden necklace band and another, more delicate chain.

Meanwhile, her husband - Crown Prince Daniel of Sweden, 50 - cut a dapper figure in a black and navy suit which featured a chic, two-toned double-breasted blazer.
Amanda Knox has revealed she quietly welcomed her second child with husband Christopher Robinson two months ago, just weeks after she announced that she was expecting again.

The couple confirmed their exciting new arrival during the most recent episode of their Younglings podcast, announcing that Amanda, 36, had secretly given birth to a baby boy back in September.

They added that they have named their newborn Echo.

Christopher told their listeners that Echo - who is younger brother to the couple's daughter Eureka - was born on September 23 and weighed seven pounds, six ounces.

Amanda Knox has welcomed her second child with husband Christopher Robinson. She and Christopher are seen with their first child, daughter Eureka, who was born in 2021

The couple, who met in 2015 and wed in 2020, confirmed the exciting news during the most recent episode of their Younglings podcast

They revealed that Amanda, 36, had secretly given birth to a baby boy back in September, who they named Echo. She's seen in August

'He was born on September 23, 2023 at 9:23pm,' he shared. 'Isn't that crazy? We were immediately like, "Well, we don't believe in numerology, but that's crazy."'

Amanda, who revealed she was pregnant with a second baby back in August, added that the birth was 'easy-peasy.'

'The birth was really, really ideal as far as births go,' she explained. 'It was a very chill room.

'It was just me and Chris this time. Again, we had a very good nurse. Although, she was also kind of drifting in and out, so a lot of the time was just us hanging out.

'Chris was reading poetry to me, and I was having contractions. But then I had an epidural so I was easy-peasy.'

Amanda and Chris, an author and poet, met in 2015 when she was working for the West Seattle Herald and had to review on of his books.

They got engaged in 2018, and tied the knot in March 2020 during an outer space-themed wedding.

Christopher told their listeners that Echo was born on September 23 and weighed seven pounds, six ounces

On the podcast, Amanda said that Eureka has 'been such a frickin' champ' with the new baby. She gushed: 'She wants to help when I change diapers. She's been so sweet'

After becoming a mom for the first time, Amanda revealed that she wanted to keep her daughter out of the spotlight. She's seen during the first pregnancy

Amanda (seen in 2011) was thrown into the public eye back in 2007 after her roommate Meredith Kercher was brutally murdered

Amanda was wrongfully arrested and convicted for killing Meredith (seen) and spent four years in prison before she was exonerated

They welcomed their first child, a daughter who they named Eureka, in August 2021.

On the podcast, Amanda said that Eureka has 'been such a frickin' champ' with the new baby.

'She was so sweet to him when she met him. And ever since then, she's just very much been, like, gentle with him,' she gushed.

'"I love you baby Echo," [she says]. She wants to help when I change diapers. Like, she wants to put the cream on his butt. She's been so sweet.'

After becoming a mom for the first time, Amanda, who was thrown into the public eye back in 2007 after her roommate Meredith Kercher was brutally murdered, revealed that she wanted to keep her daughter out of the spotlight.

Amanda was wrongfully arrested and convicted for the killing and spent four years in prison before she was exonerated.

The trial gripped the globe, as millions watched on and debated over whether or not they believed Amanda was innocent or guilty.

'Since my exoneration, Ive struggled to reclaim my identity and protect the people I love from being exploited as tabloid content,' Amanda wrote on Instagram following Eureka's birth.

'Its not easy, and I often feel like Im trying to invent good choices out of bad whole cloth.

Amanda, who was 20 years old at the time, and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were first blamed for the crime, and she was sentenced to 26 years in prison

Later, a burglar named Rudy Guede was found guilty for killing Meredith after his fingerprints were found on her belongings and Amanda and Raffaele's convictions were overturned

'I know that I cannot 100 per cent protect my daughter from the kind of treatment Ive suffered, but Im doing the best I can.

'Which is why this will be the only picture of her I will ever share on social media. Im so grateful to everyone who has wished [Chris] and I well on our journey to parenthood. Thank you for believing in us.'

Back in October, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Amanda was teaming up with Monica Lewinsky to create a big-budget TV drama that will tell her story and shed new light on the untimely death of British student Meredith, who was found brutally stabbed to death at age 21 in their shared home in Perugia, Italy, in 2007.

The case and its many gory details, twists, and turns, have since been the focus of several TV dramas.

But now, Amanda is set to put her own spin on the retelling of events that have been so closely scrutinized over the last 16 years - and all with the help of Monica, 50.

Monica was herself thrown into the spotlight after it was revealed that she'd had an affair with then-President Bill Clinton when she was 22 years old and working as a White House intern.

More than a decade after the fateful day that Amanda was undeservingly found guilty of murder, a source told DailyMail.com that she is going to retell her story for a new Hulu series

The insider revealed in October that Amanda teamed up with Monica Lewinsky to create the big-budget TV drama that will shed new light on the untimely death of Meredith

A source told DailyMail.com that the two women became 'very close' while making the show together.

'[They] are in touch almost constantly. They find that they have a lot in common, and support each other,' the insider added.

Amanda - and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito - were both found guilty of exchange student Meredith's death.

Amanda was the one to first call the police after she discovered Meredith's bedroom door locked and found blood in the bathroom, but after law enforcement officials noticed her acting odd, she became a suspect.

At the time, Amanda put the blame on her boss at a local bar she worked at, Patrick Lumumba, who had a solid alibi, which only made police more suspicious of her.

After an immense investigation and trial, Amanda, who was 20 years old at the time, as well as her boyfriend Raffaele, were convicted for the crime in 2009 - and she was sentenced to 26 years in prison for faking a break-in, defamation, sexual violence, and murder.

Later, however, a known burglar named Rudy Guede was arrested and found guilty for killing Meredith after his bloodstained fingerprints were found on her belongings.

Amanda and Raffaele's convictions were both overturned by an Italian court in 2015. She was eventually paid nearly $19,000 in compensation for miscarriages of justice, including not being given a lawyer or a competent interpreter when she was first held in custody.

Since then, she wrote a memoir about what happened to her, and in 2018, she became the host of a series called The Scarlet Letter Reports, which focuses on the 'gendered nature of public shaming.' In addition, she runs a podcast called The Truth About True Crime.
Fans of The Golden Bachelor have raised their doubts about Gerry Turner's integrity after the live season finale.

Turner, 72, dropped to one knee and proposed to 70-year-old Theresa Nist during Thursday night's final episode on ABC.

While the happy couple are thrilled to start their lives together, some skeptics have taken to Reddit to question Turner's true character  reflecting on the possible reactions of the women who weren't chosen by the retired restaurateur.

'Is anyone else wondering about the reactions of the "not-picked" ladies to the revelations about Gerrys caddish and cheapo dating life after his wife died?' one fan wrote in The Golden Bachelor subreddit, the day before the finale aired.

Fans of The Golden Bachelor have raised their doubts about Gerry Turner's integrity following Thursday's live season finale

The 72-year-old retired widow, from Indiana, and Theresa Nist, 64, beamed while celebrating their engagement

'Since he's clearly shallow and narcissistic - and potentially even a misogynistic body-shamer  it makes sense why Gerry/Gairy/Gary's final 2 are the thin, petite and somewhat waif-like women.

'All those strong amazing women dodged a big, cheap-a**, lying bullet!!!'

The Reddit user then suggested Turner would pick Nist because she's 'financially sound,' and 'can pay her half of the rent, dinners out, and the cable bill, all while still gazing at him adoringly.'

'You could practically see his eyes pop out on springs, with dollar signs spinning like a slot machine jackpot when he finally got that she had a lucrative career! CREEP!' they wrote.

'Every one of those women deserves FAR better than this phony baloney-with-mayo-on-white-bread boring and blubbering old Midwestern hot tub installer!' they concluded the scathing post.

Viewers shared their thoughts on the first-ever Golden Bachelor, with some agreeing there was something suspicious about the 72-year-old widower.

'I hope they're all in a group chat roasting the s**t out of him. Knowing now that when Teresa was talking about how she's strapped and Gerry suddenly knowing she's the one is revolting. I hope her kids set her straight about him. Gross,' one user commented.

'He's so yucky... I hope the winner dumps him immediately,' another raged.

Leslie Fhima (pictured) was also vying for Turner's heart and accused the bachelor of lying to her about his feelings

In the finale, Turner met with his family, his two daughters - Jennifer and Angie - and his grandchildren, in Costa Rica to help him make his decision

The 72-year-old was presented as a loving retired restaurateur who had not had a single date since his wife of 45 years Toni suddenly passed away from an infection in 2017

An investigation by The Hollywood Reporter claimed Turner has a professional and personal history that does not match with the persona of a grieving man

Some fans sprung to the defense of the first-ever Golden Bachelor.

'I have a feeling that some of the ladies who got to know him in person would be a little kinder to him and slower to judge than some of the fans on Reddit,' one person argued.

Viewers also posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts about the finale  and Turner.

Many commented on the fact that Turner had told both Nist and Leslie Fhima, 64, that he loved them.

'The only thing this show has taught me is a 70 year old man is no different than a 27 year old man. My nights ruined goodnight,' one user wrote.

'I didn't think men would still be immature trash in their 70s,' another agreed.

'I really hope Theresa gets a good prenup - she's gonna need it when he shows his true colors,' a viewer warned.

'The Hollywood Reporter article reinforced what his actions showed tonite.'

'Gerry the moment Theresa started talking about her finances ,' another wrote, along with a gif from SpongeBob Squarepants showing the characters eye's popping out to become dollar signs.

Turner proposed to Nist, choosing her over Fhima in the emotional final episode.

'You're not the right person for me to live with, you are the person that I can't live without,' Gerry, 72, said

While a few viewers stood up for the bachelor, some users online were also disappointed with the 72-year-old

'You're not the right person for me to live with, you are the person that I can't live without,' he told the financial services professional.

'Theresa I love you 1,000 percent. I'm never going to stop believing that every day I choose you. Will you marry me?' Turner asked the Shrewsbury, New Jersey native.

The 72-year-old initially pulled on the hearts of millions as he was presented as a loving retired restaurateur who had not had a single date since his wife of 45 years suddenly passed away from an infection in 2017.

However, an investigation by The Hollywood Reporter claimed Turner has a professional and personal history that does not match with the persona of a grieving man who hadn't gone on a first date in 40 years.

Turner reportedly had a three-year relationship with a woman who claims she was dumped because she gained 10 pounds.

The woman, who goes by Carolyn and is 14 years younger than Turner, said she lived with him for more than a year at his Indiana lake house.

While Turner was introduced as a 'retired restaurateur' on the show, his LinkedIn profile shows he has not owned a restaurant since 1985, when he sold his Mr Quick hamburger franchise in Iowa, where had worked his way up since high school.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price listens to a speaker during a town hall meeting in Oakland on Aug. 26. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Emilie Raguso, a journalist for 20 years, left the online Berkeleyside publication a year ago to start her own website, Berkeley Scanner, covering local crime and safety issues, including Alameda Countys high-profile district attorney, Pamela Price. Access has been no problem, until now.

Raguso went to Prices Oakland office Wednesday for a news conference on issues relating to crime victims. Upon request, she showed her credentials, including a press pass from the Oakland Police Department. Not good enough, she was told.

Everybody else was welcomed in.  Nobodys credentials were being checked, Raguso said Thursday. She said she was told her credentials were under review, the same explanation she had been given several weeks ago when she stopped receiving press releases from Prices office.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Asked about the incident, Patti Lee, a spokesperson for Price, said in an emailed statement the office requires all media members to have an official press credential issued by a bona fide national news network, local news affiliate, or a long-standing independent news journal.

At Wednesdays news conference, the statement said, an uninvited person, not on the media list, was turned away for lacking the required media credentials.

We also informed this individual that all media outlets are vetted for security reasons before being added to the list. Those standards are long-standing, Lee said, and require a newsroom with a management structure and editorial oversight.

That would indicate that a one-person publication, like Ragusos, would be permanently denied access. The action, and the criteria announced by Prices office, were denounced by press-freedom groups.

The First Amendment prohibits the government from arbitrarily excluding specific reporters from access to press conferences or other facilities or materials generally open to the media, the First Amendment Coalition, the Society of Professional Journalists and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said Thursday in a letter emailed to Price. Your offices actions exert a chilling effect on the journalism community.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

They asked for a public commitment by your office that, going forward, all members of the press will receive equal access to press releases and any other general announcements as well as equal opportunity to attend any events generally open to the media.

The government doesnt get to pick and choose which members of the press get to attend press conferences, David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, told the Chronicle. That includes one-person publications and freelancers, he said.

Prices predecessor, Nancy OMalley, said she admitted all reporters to news conferences while she was district attorney from 2009 until this January. We had a press room and we would never exclude a member of the press, she told the Chronicle.

There was no immediate response from the district attorneys office.

Price, a former civil rights lawyer who was elected district attorney a year ago, reduced some previous mandatory-sentencing policies and soon became the target of a recall campaign organized by law-and-order groups.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

That might account for her offices response to Raguso, who told the Chronicle she has tried her best not to promote the recall in her publication.

Ive been told Im not liked in the office. They dont feel the coverage is fair, she said. Im a professional reporter who covers things from a very traditional, balanced way.  Ive always taken pains to quote her (Price) and quote her supporters.
The first trailer for the final instalment of The Crown shows a glimpse into William and Kate's romance including when he spotted her in the now infamous see-through dress at St Andrews and their first kiss.

Elsewhere in the trailer, then Prince Charles is shown as 'unpopular' and arguing with his heir, while the Queen is shown grieving over her sister Margaret's death.

The part 2 trailer for season six of the show is 2 minutes 44 seconds in length and opens with Princes William and Harry in happier times, showing the two brothers - now thought to be estranged in real life - grinning together as they pose for a family photo.

The Peter Morgan drama, which will be released on Netflix on December 14, has courted controversy for its portrayal of the Windsor family.

The first trailer for the final instalment of The Crown shows a glimpse into William and Kate's romance including when he spotted her in the now infamous see-through dress at St Andrew's and their first kiss

As anticipated, the trailer for part two of the final series focuses on that famous catwalk show that is said to have brought the Prince and Princess of Wales closer

A smitten Prince William, played by Ed McVey, appears in the just released trailer for season six, part two

The part two trailer opens with Prince Harry and Prince William, played by Luther Ford and Ed McVey respectively, in happier times posing for a family portrait

The final season cover the early 2000s, with the family struggling with the aftermath of Princess Diana's death, a growing republican movement and Charles' tense relationship with William.

The late Queen Elizabeth II, played by Imelda Staunton, is seen in the trailer being offered public feedback by aides on the royals, including criticism that the Windsor family 'lacked compassion'.

Tony Blair, prime minister in the years following Diana's death, is dubbed 'King Tony' in one scene, as the portrayal of his perceived power during his first term is dramatised.

The drama depicts the moment Prince William (Ed Mcvey) arrives at Kensington Palace to greet mourners following the death of his mother in 1997

McVey portrays a William overwhelmed with grief and public duty in the first glimpse of scenes from part two of series six

The series also depicts Prince William as overwhelmed as he gets out of the car to greet thousands of mourners gathered at Kensington Palace in the days after his mother was killed in a car crash in a Paris underpass in 1997.

Later, the show suggests friction between father and son, as Prince Charles is seen telling William: 'We don't do fathers and sons very well in this family'.

There's plenty of feel-good moments as the teaser reaches its crescendo though.

It's thought a large chunk of part two of the final series of The Crown will focus on the blossoming relationship between the now-Prince and Princess of Wales onto our screens.

In the trailer, Prince William is seen looking doe-eyed as he spots his future wife in the now famous fashion show. As the trailer closes, they share a passionate first kiss.

Photos released earlier this week showed Meg Bellamy, the 21-year-old actress from Wokingham who was plucked from obscurity to play Kate, recreating the royal's iconic look as she took centre state at St Andrew's Bay Hotel in 2002.

Hard to swallow: Imelda Staunton as the late Queen Elizabeth II is seen taking in the news that public opinion of the family had reached one of its lowest points during her reign

The first-look images show Meg wearing a recreation of the Charlotte Todd-designed strapless dress with turquoise trim for the scene, with her hair in the same soft ringlet waves.

Posting the photos on X, formerly Twitter, the Netflix account teased the 'first look at the epic conclusion' of the royal drama - while Meg herself posted the catwalk snaps on her Instagram account and wrote: 'It's nearly timeeee...'

In first look photos released by Netflix, 21-year-old Meg Bellamy recreates Kate Middleton's catwalk appearance that first turned Prince William's head. Right, the now Princess of Wales during that famous catwalk strut

William is thought to have paid 200 for a ticket to sit on the front row of the show with friends and is rumoured to have turned to one of them and said: Wow, Kates hot.

It is said to be the turning point in the couple's relationship, as they eventually went from close friends to developing romantic feelings for each other.

The dress in question went on to sell for a staggering 78,000 at auction following the catwalk show and became one of Kates best-known fashion moments.

The pair were studying at St Andrews University at the time and met the previous year, although Kates catwalk appearance is thought to have been the catalyst for romance.

Kate was working towards an art history degree, while William, who initially enrolled for history of art, had switched to geography.
The North Face responded to her TikTok video in an unexpected way

Jennifer Jensen was soaking wet in the rain from a faulty waterproof jacket

A fed-up woman caught out in a rainstorm in a jacket that was meant to be 'waterproof' was met with an unprecedented brand response when she publicly complained about it.

Jennifer Jensen was drenched from head to toe despite wearing a black waterproof rain jacket from outdoor clothing brand North Face.

She was visiting New Zealand from Texas for her 30th birthday and purchased the jacket with 'DryVent' fabric for hiking as she knew there was heavy rain predicted.

After making 40-second TikTok clip about it where she demanded a new, better one be delivered to her on the hilltop, a follow up video showed a North Face team member jumping in a helicopter to drop her off a non-faulty alternative.

What started as a lighthearted post as a laugh to her 'minimal followers' had become a clever marketing opportunity for the company and resulted in a stunt hailed one of the best brand responses ever.

Jennifer told FEMAIL she was disappointed the jacket had failed her, with the buy 'soaked through almost immediately' after the rain started.

Jennifer Jensen was drenched from head to toe while hiking in New Zealand despite wearing a North Face waterproof jacket. The 30-year-old from Texas posted a TikTok video expressing the issue and addressed the company

In the clip Jennifer recorded herself walking in the rain and addressed the company directly.

'I've got a bone to pick with North Face. I bought this "rain jacket" a couple days ago and the tag for the advertising said that it's waterproof, as a rain jacket would be,' she began.

'Well listen, I'm 100 per cent sure it's raining outside and I'm soaking wet.

'Listen, I don't want a refund. I want you to redesign this raincoat to make it waterproof and express delivery it up to the top of Hooker Valley Lake in New Zealand where I will be waiting. I'll be the only one up here looking like a drowned rat. Waterproof my a**.'

The TikTok video quickly went viral and reached The North Face marketing team who not only reached out to offer her a new rain jacket but to ask Jennifer to be part of a marketing video involving a helicopter.

The second clip published on The North Face TikTok page shows a worker grabbing a red women's jacket before jumping in a helicopter.

They met Jennifer in the mountains to personally deliver her the jacket, as she had asked for express delivery.

'Thanks North Face!' she said at the end with a smile and the video has been viewed more than four million times.

The North Face worked with Jennifer to create a response video posted on TikTok. It shows a worker grabbing a new jacket and delivering it directly to her via helicopter

Pictured: The new jacket gifted to Jennifer by the company

Jennifer said she's not sure why the first jacket didn't work properly and wondered if it was just a 'one-off faulty product issue'.

'I'd never had issues with North Face products before,' she said.

'I made that short video thinking only my best friend would see it because I didn't have a lot of followers at the time. I never imaged it would go viral and I didn't post it expecting it would get any traction.

'I'm not an influencer and never set out to be one. I was just trying to make an unfortunate situation funny and lighthearted. I'm glad the company reached out to make amends for the customer experience let-down. It was a very fun and unexpected adventure.

'I did test out the new North Face jacket a few days later on another rainy New Zealand hike. It worked like a charm and I stayed very dry the entire eight miles (12km).'

Both videos combined have exceeded a staggering 16million views.

'Well done marketing team, perfect response,' one person commented, another said: 'They saw an opportunity and absolutely smashed it.'

A another wrote: 'This is customer service.'

'A brand that understood the assignment,' someone else said.

One person said they're 'very impressed' and another commented: 'Say WHAT? I think they may have redeemed themselves.'
Heart attacks among young people in England are on the rise, MailOnline analysis shows.

Cases in some younger age groups have almost doubled over the last decade, with rates in under-40s as a whole rising by a quarter.

Our revelation comes after the death of 29-year-old mother Lauren Page Smith, who was discovered lying on her bathroom floor with her two-year-old daughter clinging to her chest just hours after paramedics had given her the all-clear.

Experts say the rise, which has become increasingly obvious in the wake of Covid, is down to a multitude of factors, including soaring obesity rates in the young. Over half of under 35s are now overweight or obese.

Being too fat is a major contributor to heart attacks, as critical arteries get clogged over time.

NHS data shows a rise in the number of younger adults suffering from heart attacks over the past decade. The biggest increase (95 per cent) was recorded in the 25-29 year-old demographic, though as numbers of patients are small even small spikes can look dramatic

Lauren Page Smith was found dead at her home hours after paramedics gave her the all-clear

Lauren's parents Emma and Geoffrey Carrington are calling for the paramedics to be sacked and have vowed to do whatever it takes to get justice for their daughter

Top cardiologists have said fears that Covid vaccines may have fuelled the increase are way off the mark.

Heart attack admissions were broadly increasing across most adult age groups, including the young, before the pandemic took off.

A blip in people not getting care or coming forward during Covid sparked an NHS campaign for the public to be aware of the potential symptoms they might ignore.

These include signs like a squeezing feeling across the chest, sweating and a general feeling of unease.

Covid vaccines, like the mRNA versions made by the likes of Pfizer and Moderna can, rarely, trigger a heart complication called myocarditis.

This can weaken the heart muscle causing clots to form that can, in theory, trigger a heart attack.

But the overwhelming majority of vaccine-induced myocarditis cases are mild, real world evidence shows.

Many resolve on their own, and the under 40s haven't been routinely invited for jabs since 2021 during the Omicron wave.

Cardiologists have repeatedly insisted that the vaccine has not led to a spike in cardiovascular health problems.

Professor Nick Linker, cardiologist and NHS England's national clinical director for heart disease, said a multitude of reasons were behind a rise of heart attack admissions in young people.

'Thanks to medical advances, most people who experience a heart attack and receive prompt NHS treatment will survive.

'Despite this, due to a range of lifestyle factors including obesity, smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption, we are seeing a global picture of people who are developing cardiovascular disease at younger age which is putting them at risk of potentially life-threatening or debilitating conditions such as a heart attack or stroke.'

Charities like the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have said that Covid vaccines are not believed to a major contributor to cardiovascular health trends.

'Most people who have been affected have experienced a mild illness and recovered without medical treatment,' its website reads.

While there has been a rise in admissions post pandemic this is considered to be, at least in part, due to people not coming forward for cardiovascular care while in lockdowns

The latest figure shows levels beginning to lower to pre-pandemic norms after a sudden drop during the pandemic and a sudden spike when the NHS made a public symptoms appeal

Obesity is one of the factors, with rates having generally increased in younger groups over time. Data is taken from the annual NHS data survey, no data was recorded for 2020

READ MORE: Patients are 'dying from remote GP consultations' as major study warns virtual and phone appointments can miss serious illnesses Oxford researchers said remote consultations carry a risk of patients being under-diagnosed, GPs being swayed by what has been said previously, and less qualified staff not acting on signs of illness. Pictured: Virtual appointment stock Advertisement

It has also highlighted that people are at greater risk of developing myocarditis from a Covid infection than as a side effect of the jab.

MailOnline analysis of NHS data shows heart attack patients from Lauren's demographic, 25-29, are at the highest level recorded in a decade.

Figures for such emergencies have almost doubled from just 97 in 2013/14 to 189 in this year's data.

Jumps in admissions have also been seen in other under-40 age groups.

Rises of a about a quarter have been seen among 20-24 year olds, 30-34 year olds and 35-39 year olds, data shows.

It should be noted that the number of young people suffering heart attacks is small so even minor increases in the numbers can result in large percentage jumps.

The vast majority of heart attacks occur in older adults, with the average of a heart attack victim in England being 69.

However, the average age has been creeping steadily down from the 71 recorded a decade ago.

According to NHS data, some 80,000 people are admitted to hospital for a heart attack every year, with men making up twice as many case as women.

Yet despite the rise, death rates from cardiovascular disease  an umbrella term that includes the multiple heart conditions  in Britain have actually fallen.

In 2013, there were 2.7 deaths of cardiovascular disease in women of Lauren's age per 100,000 population.

This translates to about 40 deaths a year.

By 2021, the latest data available, the cardiovascular death in this group fell to 2.5 per 100,000 people.

This relationship, attacks up but deaths down, is mirrored across adults under-35.

But charities have warned of a massive spike in excess deaths from cardiovascular disease overall.

The BHF calculated that, as of June this year, there have been nearly 100,000 excess deaths involving cardiovascular disease since the start of the pandemic.

Excess deaths are those above a number that would normally be expected for a given period of time calculated using long term trends.

A BHF report on the issue found these deaths were overwhelmingly concentrated in older adults, those aged 45-plus.

They attributed the rise to multiple factors, including the impact of Covid infections on heart health, delays with ambulance response times due to NHS demands and disruption to GP and heart health screening services.

ONS data shows the rates of cardiovascular deaths in younger men in England spiked in 2020 then generally returned to pre-pandemic norms

A similar pattern was seen among younger women, with death rates peaking in 2020 (notably before Covid vaccines were rolled out to younger demographics) and then declined

While some warning signs are easy to spot  such as severe chest pain  others are more vague and hard to pinpoint. The NHS issued a public appeal after the pandemic

The charity also highlighted the longer term rise of diabetes and obesity, factors that increase an individual's risk of cardiovascular mortality, becoming increasingly common in the population.

Professor Linker urged people to be aware of the early signs of a heart attack, regardless of their age.

'Often people dismiss the early signs of a heart attack as they do not consider themselves to be at risk,' he said.

'But make no mistake, a heart attack is a medical emergency and if youre experiencing signs such as chest pain, a sensation of squeezing or tightness across the chest, call 999 immediately and describe your symptoms.'

His warning comes after the heart-breaking death of Lauren.

Lauren's mother, Mrs Carrington, 49, had to perform CPR on her daughter after she discovered her lying on the bathroom floor.

She found her collapsed with Lauren's two-year-old daughter clinging to her chest saying: 'mummy won't wake up.'

Lauren's parents are now calling for the two paramedics involved in the incident to be sacked and have vowed to do whatever it takes to get justice for their daughter.

In a heartbreaking interview with MailOnline, Ms Carrington said: 'I blame them two. I want their jobs. I blame them. Nothing's going to bring Lauren back but I don't want this happening to anybody ever again.'

Mr Carrington, 56, said that the couple got 'no comfort' from Lauren's inquest last month, adding: 'It just rubber-stamped what we already thought, that they basically let her die.'

A coroner ruled on November 1 that Lauren died after 'gross failures' in her care when West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) crews failed to spot that there was a 'clear sign' of a cardiac event in progress. But they did not rule there was 'neglect'.
Experts said while impossible to predict Britain could see a similar wave of cases

China's 'mystery' pneumonia wave could hit Britain imminently, experts warned today.

Officials in Beijing last week sparked fears of a new pandemic after sounding the alarm over an unusual spike in cases among children.

Authorities ruled out a new virus, instead pinning the blame on a winter surge in respiratory illnesses, including a bug called mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Since China raised concerns, cases of 'myco' have exploded in the Netherlands, Denmark and parts of the US.

Experts have blamed the effects of Covid lockdowns, warning that other countries might suffer a 'bad year'. Pandemic measures interrupted the spread of routine bugs and weakened immunity across populations.

Britain could itself see an uptick in cases of myco  including 'white lung syndrome' in the coming weeks, scientists claimed.

A person carrying a child into the children's hospital in Beijing last month. Experts say the nation's harsher and longer lockdown may have left it with it a lowered immunity to pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae than other nations

This UK Health Security Agency graph shows the average number of Mycoplasma pneumoniae cases reported in England and Wales over 3-week periods between 2010 and part-way through 2020. It shows how cases tend to spike in three to four year periods

Warning signs of myco revealed Typical symptoms include fever, cough, bronchitis, sore throat, headache and tiredness. A common result of mycoplasma infection is pneumonia (sometimes called 'walking pneumonia' because it is usually mild and rarely requires hospitalization). Infections of the middle ear (otitis media) also can result. Symptoms may persist for a few days to more than a month. Source: New York State Department of Health Advertisement

The bacterial infection typically causes a flu-like illness, sometimes called 'walking pneumonia' because of its mildness. Children are particularly vulnerable.

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'As we have a small physical break with Europe we might get away with it this season.

'The important point is that this sort of "bounce back" should be expected and the public health system should be aware of it.'

He added that it was unlikely the recent surge in myco is down to a new contagious or deadlier strain.

Instead, Professor Jones attributed the wave cropping up across the world to a lack of immunity in the population following lockdown and anti-Covid measures.

Masks, social distancing, improved hand hygiene and a lack of people mixing led to decline the spread of other non-Covid pathogens during the pandemic's first years, leading to a concept called 'immunity debt'.

Bugs can hit harder than normal if swathes of the population haven't been exposed to a bug, and consequentially built-up defences against it.

Numerous countries, including the UK and the US, experienced post-lockdown rises in viral winter pathogens such as flu and RSV.

In the case of myco, Professor Jones said: 'Circulating cases would have generated immunity in the population, particularly kids in school, which would have then held the cases down for a couple of subsequent years, only to cycle again a few years later when immunity had declined.'

READ MORE: Now MASSACHUSETTS says it's being hit by wave of 'white lung' pneumonia in children as Ohio county issues similar warning - after China and Europe saw surge in cases and hospitalisations 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 Advertisement

'Restriction on movement (from lockdowns) would have kept what would have been a natural immunization cycle from happening.'

This means there would be a 'bigger susceptible population when the next natural uptick occurs', he said.

Professor Jones added: '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.'

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, said myco was 'somewhat unusual' compared to other respiratory pathogens.

Myco itself causes big waves every few years because of waning immunity, he said.

He added: 'This is probably because immunity against myco lasts somewhat longer than immunity against flu or Covid, though we still dont know how long immunity lasts.'

Professor Hunter added that the last global wave seemingly struck in 2019/2020, just before Covid.

This combined with the slower transmission of myco compared to other winter bugs could have led to the current 'build-up' of cases being observed in multiple countries.

He also said the outbreak could be worse in China because of Beijing's harsher and longer Covid lockdown, creating a greater immunity debt than that seen in places like the UK.

'This is the first full winter that China has not had general Covid restrictions in place,' he said.

'We had our first open winter last year and saw a bad flu and RSV season.

'So China has had another year to further reduce population immunity to these infections and that is why I suspect it is particularly bad this year for them.'

The above image shows 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

Beijing previously reported an upsurge in influenza-like illnesses since mid-October.

But the outbreak only started making headlines earlier this month when local media reported hospitals were becoming overwhelmed by the volume of cases.

The wave has been accompanied by chilling images of Chinese workers in hazmat suits disinfecting spaces and public health warnings to wear face masks and social distance, in echoes of the earliest days of the Covid pandemic.

Like Denmark, which recently reported an epidemic, the UK tends to experience a myco surge every three to four years as part of a normal cycle.

Data collected by the UK Health Security Agency suggests a small spike in cases was recorded in early 2020, and prior to that in 2016 and 2012.

It comes as more parts of the US begin to report their own wave of cases of child pneumonia.

Massachusetts has now joined Ohio in reporting a spike, with the latter reporting 142 cases detected since August, a figure health officials described as 'extremely high'.

While there were initial concerns the outbreak in China could be caused by a new pathogen these have slowly started to abate.

The wave of cases sparked global concern due to a perceived lack of transparency from China when Covid was first spotted in Wuhan in late 2019, shortly before the virus swept the globe.

Earlier this week the World Health Organization (WHO) requested more data from China on the outbreak of pneumonia in children.

This followed the UN-agency's initial, and unusually public, request for information from Beijing earlier last month.

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 China 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 medical scans.
Stuart May is living every husband's worst nightmare.

As the 35-year-old decorates the family home for Christmas, he faces the heartbreaking prospect of driving his bed-ridden wife 800 miles to Switzerland to end her 'torture'.

For mother-of-four Kelly Louise has spent the last 18 months battling a long Covid 'death sentence' that has left her 'imprisoned' in a dark room in constant agony and unable to care for her children.

Mrs Smith-May's condition gradually deteriorated after she caught Covid in December 2021.

It has now gotten so bad that the 39-year-old, from Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, has 'reached the point where dying would end her suffering'.

Kelly Louise Smith-May, 39, from Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, is seeking 10,000 to travel to an assisted dying facility 'to end her suffering'

Stuart May, husband to a wife who wants to travel to Switzerland for an assisted death, has shared his heartbreaking account of the 'torture' his wife is suffering

She is no longer able to look after her children  Kai, Tawny, Zayn, and Jett  'whom she absolutely adores with every piece of her heart'

After a loved one launched a 10,000 fundraiser to finally end her 'torture', Mr May shared his heartbreaking account of how they have come to this decision.

Speaking to MailOnline from his home, Mr May  who has become his wife of eight year's full-time carer, quitting his job as a digger driver in order to do so  said they wanted to make the most of what might be their last Christmas together.

Mr May said: 'I had no choice but to give up work and step in and do absolutely everything.

'People say weve got a lovely home but thats all the stuff we had when Kelly was fit and well.

'Kelly was very house proud, she wanted the best for her children like any mum.

What is the current law on assisted dying in the UK? In England, Wales and Northern Ireland helping someone to take their own life is punishable with up to 14 years in prison. While no specific law exists in Scotland helping someone end their own life could lead to to prosecution for culpable homicide. This, in theory, includes helping someone go through assisted dying overseas. Charities say the current system leaves terminally ill Brits with little choice but to pay thousands to go overseas for their death. They also warned that those who can't afford to travel are deciding to take their lives at home, sometimes in pain, compared to a medically assisted death. UK charities currently estimated that one Brit travels overseas for assisted dying every eight days. There are currently proposals to change the law in some parts of the UK. Last September in Scotland, Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur lodged the final proposal to introduce a Member's Bill which would legalise assisted dying for people who are terminally ill, though no date has been given yet for when this might be considered. A public consultation on a Private Member's Bill on assisted dying closed on the Isle of Man at the end of January. A consultation on assisted dying proposals also took place in Jersey between October 2022 and January and publication of a consultation feedback report is expected in April. Advertisement

'But for more than 18 months shes been bed bound  I wash her hair once a month and I have to turn her over. Shes in so much pain.'

Mr May said his wife was diagnosed with long Covid shortly after catching the virus nearly two years ago.

She was, it is claimed, later diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Long Covid, a poorly-understood phenomenon, can leave sufferers with a persistent cough, fatigue, muscle aches and loss of smell. While many long Covid sufferers find their symptoms eventually fade, some, such as Kelly, experience them for months or even years.

But, although unable to prove it, Mr May believes the Covid vaccine, which his wife received in April 2022, exacerbated her symptoms.

'I know its difficult to prove,' he said.

'At first doctors said it was psychological, then she was diagnosed with long Covid.

'After they said it was chronic fatigue and ME but they didnt know which because the symptoms are the same.'

There is no scientific evidence the jab is responsible for Kelly's condition or if the timing was a coincidence.

Regardless of the trigger, Mr May said the process of getting his wife help has been a terrible ordeal.

'Kelly has been let down by doctors for the last two years and now she has reached the point where dying would end her suffering,' he said.

To start with, Mr May claims his mother-in-law helped with the couples four children, Kai (aged 22), Tawny (16), Zayn (nine) and Jett (six).

When it became too much for her, he quit his job as a digger driver to stay at home to care for his wife and children.

The family car was on finance and had to be returned and for the first time the family had to rely on benefits.

Mr May said that, at first, the GP didnt believe Kelly was ill and 'tried to fob her off with the mental health team'.

He said: 'They made out she was lying. They said cancer patients could get themselves to the surgery so Kelly should be able to.

'The doctors treated her badly, they were ignoring what she was telling them when she was in so much agony she couldnt get off the bed.

'They wanted her to go into respite care for two weeks but it was a place where you had to do your own cooking and look after yourself. Kelly wasnt able to do any of those things.

'Every doctor weve had come round here has not really believed her. All the health professionals who have seen her dont give a toss.'

Mrs Smith-May, once a bubbly, loud and creative person, hasnt left her bedroom at the couples three-bedroomed house since June last year.

Mr May said: 'The health service has left her like a dying dog. Shes been left to suffer, a doctor comes out every few weeks but we are not getting anywhere.

'The blinds are down, she has no TV, theres just an electric bed and a commode in there. Its torture, like being prison.

Mrs Smith-May, a stay-at-home mum, previously described her illness as 'being poisoned every minute of the day' and a 'living death sentence',

Her condition has gradually worsened ever since she caught Covid in December 2021

'The suffering she is going through, missing out on being a mum and a wife.

'For me it seems like Im caring for someone I no longer recognise, shes not the woman I married.

'I try to look after her the best I can, keep her as comfortable as I can.'

To make matters worse Mrs Smith-May has contracted the flu and a doctor visited this week to start her on a course of medication.

Earlier this year she was able to use a laptop where she joined a forum for other patients suffering from the long-term effects of Covid.

READ MORE: Matt Hancock defends catastrophic decision to empty infected patients into care homes, letting Covid run riot as shamed ex-Health Secretary says 'every decision was a choice between difficult options' in grilling over testing failures Mr Hancock (pictured today) told the Covid inquiry that every decision on discharging care home patients during the pandemic was 'a choice between difficult options' Advertisement

She was in regular contact with a woman from Florida seriously ill with ME, who travelled to Switzerland to end her life at the Swiss Pegasos clinic.

Mr May said: 'Thats where the idea came from, weve talked about it a lot and its what Kelly wants.

'The idea is that we will hire a camper van  or maybe just a van and I will put Kelly in the back and drive her there. Our passports are out of date so we will have to renew them first.

'I dont know when this is going to happen. At the moment I am just focusing on having as normal a Christmas as possible for our two youngest boys.

'Kelly wont be able to come down to join us. I will take videos of the boys opening their presents and then wake Kelly to show them to her in her room.

'The last time she went outside was April 2022 when she had the Covid jab. She hasn't left her room since June last year.

'I wanted her to come down and sit outside in a wheelchair but she just couldn't do it. One time I tried to carry her down but we only got as far as the bedroom door, she was in too much pain.'

The couple use their mobile phones to communicate while Mr May is doing the housework downstairs. As MailOnline were interviewing Mr May, Mrs Smith-May called his mobile and whispered: 'Im so ill.'

Neither Mr May or any of Mrs Smith-May family have looked into the legalities of helping her to take her own life, an offence under UK law which is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Mr May said: 'Assisted dying is the easy option for Kelly now because shes given up on all hope. Her friend went and did it and is out of pain and suffering, thats what she wants.

'So the option is to go there and end it peacefully. Theres no talk of Kelly wanting to do it herself.

'Its her wish, everyone has got that right to do that with some sort of dignity.'

Asked if he thought the day would come when they would set off for Switzerland on Mrs Smith-May final journey, Mr May said: 'I try not to think about it.

'Since our GoFundMe page went global we've had offers of help and people suggesting cures and things.

'Before that we didn't get any help, not even from the NHS.

'For now I'm just getting on with my day to day life looking after Kelly and the children.'

Mrs Smith-May has become 'totally dependent' on her husband , who has to roll her over in bed

Figures released earlier this year show as of the end of December 2022, there were 1,528 members of Dignitas from Great Britain, according to figures from the not-for-profit organisation, which assists dying patients with a 'self-determined end of life'. This has risen from 821 in 2012. Some 33 people from the UK had an assisted death at Dignitas in 2022  up on 23 people the year before

Some experts consider long Covid to be on par with ME due to an overlap of symptoms, though the conditions are both still poorly understood.

Viral infections are hypothesised to be a potential trigger for people to develop ME by both charities and the NHS.

Much like long Covid, there is no test that can diagnose ME and no established cure. The NHS instead focuses on treating sufferers' symptoms to help people manage their condition.

Mild cases are treated with cognitive behavioural therapy and 'energy management'  a system to help patients utilise their limited energy throughout the day.

READ MORE: Revealed: More than half of A&Es are failing as experts fear dire winter ahead for NHS... so is YOUR casualty unit faring badly? Here are the eight NHS hospitals named in recent analysis as having an inadequate rating from the health and care watchdog Advertisement

Drugs can help sufferers with pain and insomnia they experience, as well as devices like wheelchairs to increase their mobility.

Similarly, long Covid treatment also focuses on helping sufferers alleviate the dozen or so symptoms attributed to the condition.

The most common symptom of ME is extreme tiredness but sufferers can also experience muscle and joint pain, flu-like symptoms, nausea and cognitive problems.

In severe cases, people can no longer use the toilet or feed themselves independently.

As both ME and long Covid are poorly understood conditions, any relationship between the two is uncertain.

Medically assisted dying, or euthanasia, is illegal in the UK, and can be prosecuted as manslaughter or murder with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Helping someone take their own life, called assisted suicide, is also an offence and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Campaigners have been pushing ministers to reconsider the law on assisted dying for decades, wanting Britain to follow the likes of Australia and New Zealand in making the it legal.

Earlier this year MPs were told terminally ill Brits are having to choose between 'suicide, Switzerland or suffering' and that future generations would be 'appalled' by current legislation.

UK charities currently estimated that one Brit travels overseas for assisted dying every eight days.

They have repeatedly warned that Brits unable afford the many thousands of pounds it can cost to go overseas for medically assisted dying are taking their own lives at home.

This, they add, can lead to people experiencing pain and suffering as they die, compared to a painless medically assisted death.

But a change in the law is opposed by many religious groups, who claim it would undermine the value society places on human life.

Over the past 13 years, there have been 200 cases of assisted dying or assisted suicide referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police, with four successful prosecutions.

Figures released earlier this year by Dignitas - the not-for-profit organisation assisting patients with a 'self-determined end of life' - revealed there were 1,528 members from Great Britain at the end of 2022.

This has risen from 821 in 2012.

Some 33 people from the UK had an assisted death at Dignitas in 2022  up on 23 people the year before.

Mrs Smith May's GoFundMe page has so far raised 3,890 - more than a third of its target.
READ MORE: Two dead and 50 hospitalized from salmonella outbreak

The CDC is 'concerned' about 'severe' illnesses from the salmonella outbreak

A nationwide deadly food outbreak has left health officials 'concerned' after cases and hospitalizations rose again this last week, including in children and the elderly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the number of salmonella infections linked to cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit continues to increase.

There have been 117 cases reported in 34 states, including 61 hospitalizations. Minnesota also reported two deaths. The CDC also reported that 14 cases were from long-term care facilities, and seven were in children in daycare.

The CDC reports there have been 117 cases, 60 hospitalizations, and two deaths in 34 states from a salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe and other cut fruit

The CDC urged people not to eat any recalled cantaloupes or other fruit products and to wash items and surfaces that could have touched the recalled fruit with hot, soapy water (stock)

The CDC said: 'CDC is concerned about this outbreak because of severe illnesses. Do not eat pre-cut cantaloupes if you don't know whether Malichita or Rudy brand cantaloupes were used.'

'This includes cantaloupe chunks and fruit mixes with cantaloupes at restaurants and grocery stores.'

The affected produce was sold at retail chains like Kwik Trip, Kroger, Trader Joe's, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Aldi.

All contaminated fruit has been recalled.

The agency urged people not to eat any recalled cantaloupes or other fruit products and to wash items and surfaces that could have touched the recalled fruit with hot, soapy water.

Customers should go to their doctor if they start experiencing diarrhea that lasts longer than three days, fever, bloody stool or vomiting.

In a warning issued last week, the CDC said it carried out interviews with sick people and analyzed test samples to confirm the patients were sick with the same strain found in fruit.

The agency said that the true number of sick people 'is likely much higher.'

Malichita and Rudy were two of the brands with contaminated produce

Fruit made by the Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac brands were sold in clear square or round plastic containers

Some pre-cut versions have a yellow label with 'Vinyard,' and some have a red label with 'Fresh'

Salmonella bacteria are passed from feces of people or animals, and symptoms of an infection usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure. They typically resolve within another four to seven days without requiring medical intervention.

Some people have no symptoms. However, the illness can sometimes be more severe and lead to hospitalization.

People with pre-existing medical conditions, weakened immune systems, children under 12 months old, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to serious side effects - or even death.

In rare circumstances, salmonella infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and causing more severe illness, such as infections in the arteries, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valve) and arthritis.

Salmonella infects more than 1.3 million people every year, leading to 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths annually.

The CDC said the contaminated whole cantaloupes might have a sticker that says 'Malichita', '4050', and 'Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique'.

Some pre-cut versions have a yellow label with 'Vinyard,' and some have a red label with 'Fresh'.

ALDI's cantaloupe chunks in clamshell packaging and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging were also affected.

Meanwhile, cantaloupe chunks, seasonal blend, melon mixes, and fruit mixes made by the Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac brands were sold in clear square or round plastic containers.

The CDC said it will continue to investigate and identify other cantaloupe or cut fruit that could be contaminated.
Matt Hancock today boldly claimed that more Brits could have died if potentially Covid-infected hospital patients weren't discharged untested into care homes.

During the earliest days of the pandemic, homes in England were made to accept patients who hadn't been swabbed for the virus in a desperate attempt to free up NHS beds.

Thousands of care home residents are feared to have died as a direct result of the Government's disastrous policy.

This is despite bold claims from the disgraced ex-Health Secretary, who resigned after being caught kissing an aide in breach of Covid guidelines, that ministers had thrown a 'protective ring' around care homes.

Staunchly defending the highly contentious policy, Mr Hancock told the Covid inquiry that every decision on discharging care home patients during the pandemic was 'a choice between difficult options'.

He said: 'The only choice is between bad options here.

'I fear that if we had left those patients in hospital, those who were medically fit to discharge, there is a high likelihood that more would have caught Covid and the problem could have been bigger.'

Mr Hancock (pictured today) told the Covid inquiry that every decision on discharging care home patients during the pandemic was 'a choice between difficult options'

The inquiry also heard that Mr Hancock was warned that there should be a 'focused effort' on testing people in care homes. A WhatsApp message from his adviser, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, on April 4, 2020, stated: 'On testing, do we need to have a specific strand/push on testing in care homes? We are testing hospital admissions and clinical patients at risk'

Leaving patients under NHS care would have made them 'more likely to have caught Covid' because of the risks of hospital-acquired infections, he said.

He said 'it was rational and reasonable to make sure that they were in the safest place that they could be'.

He added: 'Nobody has yet brought to me a solution to this problem that I think, even with hindsight, would have resulted in more lives saved.'

Mr Hancock also blamed a lack of swabs for failing to offer 'as much testing in care homes as many would have wanted'.

Matt Hancock claims he knew about long Covid before virus even 'reached our shores' Matt Hancock has claimed that he knew patients would be struck with long Covid before the virus even spread to the UK. The former Health Secretary told the Covid Inquiry today that long Covid is an issue 'close to his heart'. Inquiry counsel Hugo Keith said Mr Hancock's witness statement to the probe 'makes plain' that 'from an early stage' he asked NHS England to consider the issue of long Covid. He said: 'I was alive to it from before the infection reached our shores. 'Chris Whitty raised the concern about the potential of some kind of post-viral fatigue syndrome, which happens with other viruses as well. 'And then, after the first peak, I was acutely aware of it, not least because members of my family were affected by long Covid, including my mother who still attends a long Covid clinic. 'So this was very close to my heart.' Advertisement

The inquiry also heard that Mr Hancock was warned that there should be a 'focused effort' on testing people in care homes.

Mr Hancock said there was 'not as much testing in care homes as many would have wanted' because the UK 'did not have enough tests'.

A WhatsApp message from his adviser, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, on April 4, 2020, stated: 'On testing, do we need to have a specific strand/push on testing in care homes? We are testing hospital admissions and clinical patients at risk.

'Do we also need a push on testing people in care? Or at least have some sort of focused effort on testing people in care.

'I know it is complex and the people dying in care homes are often people who were near the end regardless, but I worry that if a load of people in care start dying, there will be front pages demanding why we weren't testing people in care homes.

'Do we need to get ahead of this now?'

Mr Hancock's WhatsApp response stated: 'Let's have rapid advice on this tying together all the angles'.

In response to the exchange, Mr Hancock told the inquiry: 'The reason that we did not at that point have as much testing in care homes as many would have wanted, was that we didn't have enough tests and the clinical prioritisation of who got test, in what order, was absolutely something that I wouldn't have interfered with.'

He was asked if he was aware that care homes were homes to disabled adults living in long-term care from a young age, as well as those 'near the end' regardless.

Mr Hancock said: 'I absolutely had that at the front of my mind and, before the pandemic, had done significant work in trying to improve outcomes for those who are in adult social care.'

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows there were more than 43,000 fatalities in care homes in England and Wales that involved Covid in the first two years of the pandemic

On April 2, 2020, Government guidance setting out restrictions on care home visiting is published. The guidance said 'family and friends should be advised not to visit care homes, except next of kin in exceptional situations such as end of life.' It added: 'alternatives to in-person visiting should be explored, including the use of telephones or video, or the use of plastic or glass barriers between residents and visitors'

He said the fact that his response to Mr Njoku-Goodwin's WhatsApp message did not correct his adviser 'in no way implies that wasn't what I was thinking'.

The former health secretary said Mr Njoku-Goodwin was 'one of the most exceptional public servants', but added he was approaching the issue 'from a comms angle in terms of what the newspapers might say'.

In his pandemic diaries, serialised by the Daily Mail last year, Mr Hancock claimed hospital discharges were not solely to blame for the thousands of deaths in care homes.

Instead, he pointed the finger at infections being 'brought in from the wider community, mainly by staff'.

However, others have blamed the lack of testing among those discharged from hospital.

The NHS was instructed in mid-March 2020 to discharge the thousands of in-patients medically fit to leave into adult social care, in order to free up beds and support those with acute healthcare needs.

And care homes were told that 'negative tests are not required' for new admissions from hospital.

This is despite Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, warning that there should be 'testing of all going into care homes', according to Mr Hancock's WhatsApp messages, which were leaked by journalist Isabel Oakeshott.
READ MORE: Dr Anthony Fauci FINALLY agrees to testify in front of House

A new Covid variant is spreading across the US, but experts have urged people not to panic.

BA.2.86 is a mutation on the Omicron BA.2 subvariant and is responsible for almost one in 10 new Covid cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated Monday.

This is close to triple the proportion two weeks ago. However, Covid cases are not rising, and the variant appears to be replacing other variants rather than initiating a new wave.

It is the first time the variant, dubbed Pirola, has surged enough to be listed on its own as part of the CDC's estimates.

It comes as a wave of pneumonia in children hits Ohio county and Massachusetts,similar to the outbreak spreading in China and parts of Europe.

CDC's estimates of Covid variants spreading across the US. It shows that BA.2.86 is behind an estimated nine percent of infections

Scientists first warned of BA.2.86 back in August. It had more than 30 mutations to its spike proteins, making it genetically distinct from other versions of the virus that causes Covid and worrying scientists that it may evade the immunity from vaccines

BA.2.86 is most common in the Northeast, with 13 percent of cases in New York and New Jersey.

But the variant is still mild and not more likely to kill. BA.2.86 does not appear to be driving increases in infections or hospitalizations, the CDC said in its report.

The agency said it agreed with the World Health Organization's (WHO) recent risk assessment of BA.2.86, which said that the public health risk posed by this variant is low, compared to other variants that are circulating.

However, it stepped up its classification of BA.2.86 to a 'variant of interest' rather than a 'variant under monitoring.'

XBB.1.5, XBB.1.6 and EG.5 are classified as variants of interest by the WHO. There are no current variants of concern, which is the highest categorization.

Scientists first warned of BA.2.86 back in August. It had more than 30 mutations to its spike proteins, making it genetically distinct from other versions of the virus that causes Covid and worrying scientists that it may evade the immunity from vaccines.

But BA.2.86 never really took off. Some studies suggested that while it mutated, it lost part of its ability to infect cells, which decelerated its growth.

Currently, the dominant variant is HV.1 - a mutation on the EG.5 variant which sparked concern earlier this year - and is causing roughly one in three new Covid cases.

Other studies found that the Covid shot offered some protection against the variant.

In its most recent update, the CDC said it did not know whether BA.2.86 infection caused different symptoms from other variants and said that in general, symptoms are similar across the board.

'The types of symptoms and how severe they are usually depend more on a persons immunity than which variant causes the infection,' it said.

There were 18,119 hospitalizations due to Covid in the week ending November 18.

Covid hospitalizations are currently trending upwards slightly, with hospital admissions rising 10 percent in the week ending November 18.

The number of deaths for the same week was estimated to be 506.
Republican senators have called for the US to ban travel from China 'immediately' amid an outbreak of child pneumonia that is overwhelming hospitals.

Florida senator Marco Rubio said President Joe Biden 'must take the necessary steps to protect the health of Americans', after DailyMail.com revealed some parts of the US are also experiencing rises in cases.

'That means we should immediately restrict travel between the United States and the [People's Republic of China] until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness,' he added.

'A ban on travel now could save our country from death, lockdowns, mandates, and further outbreaks later.' Sen. Rubio and four other Republican senators - including JD Vance from Ohio and Rick Scott from Florida - called for the ban in a letter sent to the White House today.

But data seen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows China's outbreak is being driven by mycoplasma, a common bacterial infection that flares up every few years, and seasonal illnesses like RSV and flu.

Children and their parents wait at an outpatient area in a children's hospital in Beijing as the city's hospitals are overwhelmed with cases of a new virus

Florida senator Marco Rubio said President Joe Biden 'must take the necessary steps to protect the health of Americans'

The letter said China had an 'incentive to lie' about the severity of its outbreak to protect 'its economy'.

'As you know, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a long history of lying about public health crises,' the letter reads.

'During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCP's obfuscation of the truth, and lack of transparency, robbed the United States of vital knowledge about the disease and its origin.

'On January 31, 2020, President Trump issued an order to restrict travel from the PRC [People's Republic of China] into the United States to protect the American people and counter the spread of COVID-19.

'Many officials and commentatorsincluding youcriticized his decision as being influenced by 'xenophobia.' But history and common sense show his decision was the right one.'

Senators Tommy Tuberville, from Alabama, and Mike Braun, from Indiana, also attached their names to the letter.

Scenes of crowds of mask-wearing patients in hospitals and hazmat suit-clad workers spraying disinfectant through schools and streets in China in recent weeks have had chilling similarities to the early days of Covid.

But CDC director Mandy Cohen said Thursday that her agency is confident the outbreak is being caused by known pathogens that are rebounding post-pandemic.

'We believe there is no new or novel pathogen,' Cohen told House lawmakers.

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'

'These are related to existing pathogens  COVID, flu, RSV' and mycoplasma, a bacterium that can infect the lungs.

Mycoplasma infects around 2million people in the US each year, usually when the immune system is low from another illness.

However, the bacterial infection is not routinely tested for and is usually mild, so the CDC says the 'true numbers are likely higher'.

Cohen said the Chinese explanation for its outbreak has been corroborated by 'other sources from our European Union partners and others to make sure that we are getting a complete picture.'

But the Republican senators said the infections were suspicious, warning: 'If history is any indication, we have cause to be concerned.'

'The WHO has requested that the CCP share detailed information about the mystery illness,' the letter adds.

'However, CCP has an incentive to lie, just as they did throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and any new pathogen could derail its efforts to stimulate its economy.

'Besides, we should not wait for the WHO to take action given its track record of slavish deference to the CCP.

'We must take the necessary steps to protect the health of Americans, and our economy. That means we should immediately restrict travel between the United States and the PRC until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness.'

Since the outbreak in northern China was first reported last month, cases of 'myco' have also exploded in parts of Europe.

On Thursday, this website revealed how a county in Ohio had also seen 'extremely high' cases of childhood pneumonia, some of whom tested positive for mycoplasma.

More than 140 children in Warren County have been struck down by pneumonia since August. Mycoplasma is not routinely tested for, which makes exact case numbers hard to come by.

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

A man using respirator for breathing is being carried to the ambulance vehicle by medical personnel, in Shanghai, China, 29 November 2023. It's unclear if the photo is relevant to the latest outbreak

Western Massachusetts is also recording high levels of 'walking pneumonia', a milder form of the condition for which mycoplasma can be a cause.

RSV, flu, strep and other viral infections can also cause pneumonia when they spread to the lungs.

Dr Amesh Adalja, from Johns Hopkins University, told DailyMail.com the global phenomenon is not being caused by a single virus, but the mixture of several pathogens hitting at once.

He said mycoplasma was 'cyclical', hitting in waves around every five years. 'Mycoplasma goes through epidemic cycles every few years and that may be what's occurring globally at the moment.'

Global immunity against seasonal illnesses is also low because pandemic restrictions robbed people of immunity against the infections - especially China, which locked down harder and longer.

'So what's happening in China makes sense', Dr Adalja said, adding: 'Last year we [the US] was dominated by so much Covid, flu and RSV when we opened up.'

Children are particularly vulnerable because social interaction during people's early developmental years is crucial.

'When children are born they haven't experienced any infectious diseases, so the more of them you have in the population so lower threshold for an outbreak to start.

'The pandemic allowed the number of these susceptible people to build up over years.'
Men should check their testicles once every month, he recommended

A urologist has explained the best time of day for men to check their testicles for signs of cancer.

Testicular cancer is the leading cause of a condition doctors called 'cannonball lung' - where the disease spreads to the lungs and forms a splattering of rapidly-multiplying tumors.

A simple, 10-second self-exam could make the difference between life and aggressive cancer leading to cannonball-shaped tumors in the lungs.

Dr Vivek Wadhwa, a consultant urological surgeon at Spire Little Aston Hospital in the UK, said the best time to check your testicles is after a warm shower or bath.

This is because the heat will relax the scrotum and muscles holding the testicles, making it easier to feel any changes.

Men should start with one side, and gently roll the scrotum with their fingers to feel the surface of the testicle. They should check for any lumps, bumps or unusual features.

Dr Vivek Wadhwa, a consultant urological surgeon at Spire Little Aston Hospital in the UK, said the best time to check your testicles is after a warm shower or bath

Dr Wadhwa warned that it is possible to have testicular cancer without a lump, and the testicle may look swollen and larger than usual instead.

'Most men naturally have one testicle that is slightly larger than the other, so it is important to look for a change in the size of your testicle from what is normal for you,' he said.

Men should check their testicles once every month.

The odds of survival worsen from about 96 percent when spotted early to as low as 73 percent once the cancer has spread beyond the testicles to the lungs.

Florida-based emergency department physician Dr Sam Ghali took to Twitter to warn people of the deadly risk, after seeing the scenario in a young patient.

In a voice recording posted to the social media site, he told of a man in his 20s who went to the hospital for a persistent cough - and was found to have advanced-stage testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs.

Multiple growths appeared as cloudy blobs on the chest X-ray - a classic case of 'cannonball metastases', Dr Ghali said.

If caught early, such as through a self-exam, testicular cancer is largely treatable.

A near-perfect 99 percent of testicular cancer patients who catch it before it spreads throughout the body will survive it. That rate falls slightly to 96 percent when the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen.

But if the cancer goes untreated and is able to spread further, it often ends up in the lungs.

There are no hard figures to quantify exactly how many men with testicular cancer go on to develop cannonball-shaped nodules in their lungs.

Whether a cancer will spread to the lungs or other organs depends on the individual patient's physiology. A subtype of testicular cancer called non-seminomas have a higher likelihood of metastasizing compared to seminomas which tend to grow and spread more slowly.

The cannonball-like lesions can also result from other types of cancers, including kidney, breast, and colon.

Dr Ghali told his 472,000 Twitter followers: 'Right off the bat, we notice these large, very well-circumscribed, rounded lesions' in both lungs.

There are so many that you cant even count them all. That is the classic appearance of whats known as cannonball metastases.'

Testicular cancers are relatively uncommon  approximately 0.4 percent of men will be diagnosed with the condition at some point during their lifetime.

However, it is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 44 years old.
1 mln Sri Lankans admitted to hospitals each year due to accidents: minister

Xinhua) 10:27, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves the Capitol after being expelled from the House of Representatives on Friday. Mariam Zuhaib/Associated Press

The House of Representatives voted to expel now-former Rep. George Santos from the chamber Friday with the assistance of eight California Republicans.

Six of those lawmakers  Reps. Ken Calvert of Palm Desert (Riverside County), John Duarte of Turlock (Stanislaus County), Young Kim of Anaheim, Jay Obernolte of Hesperia (San Bernardino County), Michelle Steel of Cypress (Orange County) and David Valadao of Bakersfield  had previously voted against expelling Santos during a failed Nov. 1 vote.

Reps. Mike Garcia of Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County) and Kevin Kiley of Rocklin (Placer County) also voted to expel Santos on Friday, as they had on Nov. 1.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Santos has been indicted on 23 federal charges, including for wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. He has pleaded not guilty. Santos was also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which issued a report Nov. 16 concluding that Santos cannot be trusted. At nearly every opportunity, he placed his desire for private gain above his duty to uphold the Constitution, federal law, and ethical principles.

The vote required a two-thirds majority, a high bar for a polarized chamber. Only five lawmakers had ever been expelled from the House before Fridays vote  three for fighting for the confederacy during the Civil War and two after being convicted of public corruption charges. The last lawmaker to be expelled was former Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, in 2002 after a conviction on criminal charges of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion.

In total, 311 lawmakers voted to expel Santos (including nearly half of House Republicans), 114 voted against (including Santos himself), two voted that they were present, and eight didnt vote.

Mr. Santos has repeatedly broken the public trust required to hold public office by lying to his constituents and the American people about his identity and credentials, Valadao said in a statement. His conduct is beneath the dignity of the House of Representatives, and we must hold our public officials to a higher standard.

The overwhelming evidence uncovered by the House Ethics Committees Investigative Subcommittee investigation makes it clear that Rep. Santos actions warrant punishment and he should no longer serve in the House. If he does not resign, I would vote to expel him, Calvert wrote Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Three California Republicans voted against expelling Rep. George Santos from Congress, from left: Reps. Doug LaMalfa, Tom McClintock and Darrell Issa. Eight California Republicans voted to expel Santos. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call; Alex Edelman -Pool/Getty Images ; Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Three California Republicans  Reps. Darrell Issa of Escondido (San Diego County), Doug LaMalfa of Chico and Tom McClintock of Modesto  voted against removing Santos. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield didnt vote.

Congress should follow the precedent of the last 232 years and only vote to expel once a member is convicted of a crime or treason, LaMalfa wrote Friday on X. I do not condone Mr. Santoss actions, and I would strongly urge him to resign in light of the evidence against him presented in the Ethics Committee report.
Texas is suing Pfizer over claims the drugmaker made about its Covid shot.

The state's Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the pharma giant of misrepresenting the efficacy of its widely-used Covid vaccine.

In a complaint filed in a Lubbock County state court, Paxton said it was misleading for Pfizer to claim its vaccine was 95 percent effective because it offered a 'relative risk reduction' for people to who took it.

Paxton said the claim was based on only two months of clinical trial data, and vaccine recipients' 'absolute risk reduction' showed that the vaccine was just 0.85 percent effective.

Nevertheless, the Covid shots collectively saved millions of lives. The Commonwealth Fund estimated that from December 2020 through November 2022, the Covid vaccination program in the US prevented more than 18.5 million additional hospitalizations and 3.2 million additional deaths.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused Pfizer of misrepresenting the efficacy of its widely-used Covid vaccine

Relative risk reduction gives a percentage reduction in the treatment group compared to the control group. The figure can be misleading and over-exaggerate how helpful something is.

Absolute risk reduction is the actual different in risk between the treatment group and control group. This gives a realistic picture of how likely someone is to benefit from the vaccine.

Paxton also said the pandemic got worse even after people started taking the vaccine, developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

'Pfizer intentionally misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine and censored persons who threatened to disseminate the truth in order to facilitate fast adoption of the product and expand its commercial opportunity,' the complaint said.

The lawsuit seeks to stop New York-based Pfizer from making alleged false claims and silencing 'truthful speech' about its vaccine, and more than $10 million in fines for violating a Texas law protecting consumers from deceptive marketing.

Pfizer said more than 1.5 billion of people have received its vaccine. The drugmaker has reported more than $74 billion of revenue in 2021 and 2022 related to Covid immunizations.

In a statement, Pfizer said its representations about its vaccine have been 'accurate and science-based,' and that it believed Paxton's lawsuit had no merit.

Pfizer also said its vaccine has 'demonstrated a favorable safety profile in all age groups, and helped protect against severe Covid outcomes, including hospitalization and death.'

Infectious disease experts have said relative risk reduction is a more meaningful way to judge a vaccine's efficacy than absolute risk reduction. Relative risk shows how well a vaccine protects recipients relative to a study's control group.

Paxton, a Republican, has criticized Biden administration efforts to fight the pandemic.

Earlier this year, he began probing whether Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson misrepresented their vaccines' efficacy, to examine the 'scientific and ethical basis' for public health decisions addressing Covid.

'Pfizer did not tell the truth about their Covid vaccines,' Paxton said in a statement.

'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.'

The lawsuit is Paxton's second against Pfizer in November.

In a case unsealed on November 21, Paxton accused Pfizer and a supplier of manipulating quality control tests, resulting in the distribution of ineffective drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.

The status of the probe into Moderna and Johnson & Johnson was not immediately clear.

Paxton's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Mary Makes it Easy

by Mary Berry (BBC Books 28, 288pp)

Dame Mary's latest book is full of useful time-saving tips, tricks and shortcuts to make your life easier.

Her food is elegant yet uncomplicated, with recipes such as chicken legs with smoky bulgur wheat, or a roasted vegetable wellington, and, of course, there are plenty of divine cakes. You'll want to cook it all.

5 Ingredients Mediterranean

by Jamie Oliver (Michael Joseph 28, 320pp)

Jamie Oliver roams all around the Mediterranean for his latest five ingredients book, with dishes ranging from garlicky Moroccan pasta to Greek lemon tzatziki chicken. This is a great collection of super-speedy meals with, as Jamie says, 'big flavours at its heart'.

Mary Berry with her Beef and Aubergine Filo Pie in the studio kitchen for Mary Makes It Easy, Oxfordshire

Jamie Oliver, author of 5 ingredients Mediterranean, pictured with roast potatoes

Mary Makes it Easy by Mary Berry (BBC Books 28, 288pp) and 5 Ingredients Mediterranean by Jamie Oliver (Michael Joseph 28, 320pp)

Rick Stein's Simple Suppers

(BBC Books 28, 320pp)

Rick Stein decided to write this book when he was recovering from surgery in hospital and dreaming of good, simple food. Highlights include mushroom and thyme tart, prawn and fennel risotto, beef bibimbap, and Black Forest Eton mess.

Most dishes can be made in under an hour  perfect for time-pressed cooks.

Cucina di Amalfi

by Ursula Ferrigno (Ryland Peters & Small 20, 192pp)

Revelling in the food of Italy's beautiful Amalfi coast, this sunny book features dishes passed down through the author's family. Recipes include savoury ricotta pie, spaghetti with lobster sauce, sweet and sour courgettes, skewered lamb parcels, and the famous Amalfi lemon tart. Mediterranean food at its most enticing.

Finch Bakery Disco Bakes & Party Cakes

by Lauren and Rachel Finch (DK 20, 224pp)

If you like your bakes colourful and over-the-top, this will tick all the boxes. The Finch sisters pull out all the stops with sweet treats such as a caramel latte cake, brownie scotch eggs, red velvet cheesecake blondies and creme brulee cookies. Perfect for special occasions, these are showstoppers for confident bakers.

Nadiya Hussain is pictured posing for her cook book Nadiya's Simple Spices

Rick Stein's Simple Suppers (BBC Books 28, 320pp), Cucina di Amalfi by Ursula Ferrigno (Ryland Peters & Small 20, 192pp), and Finch Bakery Disco Bakes & Party Cakes by Lauren and Rachel Finch (DK 20, 224pp)

The Pepperpot Diaries

by Andi Oliver (DK 27, 288pp)

Broadcaster and chef Andi Oliver describes Caribbean food as 'constantly evolving and bursting with flavour'. This warm, chatty book mixes tales from her own life with recipes from all over the Caribbean; highlights are chocolate curry goat, green banana and coconut dumplings, and a spicy rice pudding. A delightful guide to this vibrant cuisine.

Pub Kitchen

by Tom Kerridge (Bloomsbury 27, 272pp)

Pub food used to be awful, but how times have changed. Tom Kerridge  owner of two Michelinstarred pubs  shows how to make more than 100 pub classics such as prawn cocktail, truffle mac 'n' cheese and roast pork belly, plus a range of sweet tarts and pies. His extra touches elevate these familiar dishes to something special.

The Pepperpot Diaries by Andi Oliver (DK 27, 288pp) and Pub Kitchen by Tom Kerridge (Bloomsbury 27, 272pp)

Nadiya's Simple Spices

by Nadiya Hussain (Michael Joseph 26, 240pp)

TV star Nadiya goes back to her roots here, recreating the dishes she ate when growing up. Combining just eight different spices, she creates centrepieces including beef lemon balti, duck egg bhuna and an unusual watermelon rind curry. With tempting side dishes and sweet treats such as kulfi ice cream bars, this is fragrant, filling, family food.

Gohan

by Emiko Davies (Smith Street Books 26, 256pp)

'Gohan' means rice in Japanese, as well as 'everyday home-cooked meals'. This charming book, full of anecdotes and family stories, is a collection of accessible recipes such as tempura vegetable fritters, miso eggplant and marinated fried mackerel. Sweet dishes include a pretty, green matcha tiramisu. Japanese food, Davies promises, 'is quick and remarkably simple.'

Bold Beans

by Amelia Christie-Miller (Kyle Books 22, 192pp)

Packed with protein, low in calories and cheap to buy, beans are invaluable in salads, dips, soups, stews and as an accompaniment to meat. Stand-out recipes here include a smoky black bean bake, stuffed chicken with truffle beans, mascarpone braised beans and a butter bean dauphinoise. No wonder the author calls beans 'the world's best food'.

Bold Beans by Amelia Christie-Miller (Kyle Books 22, 192pp) and Nadiya's Simple Spices by Nadiya Hussain (Michael Joseph 26, 240pp)

Bitter

by Alexina Anatole (Square Peg 27, 240pp)

Writing in praise of bitterness may seem odd, but Masterchef finalist Alexina Anatole loves the 'complexity, depth, dimension and nuance' of bitter food. She proves her point with unusual dishes like burnt aubergine dip, chicory gratin, braised pork shoulder with ginger and liquorice, and a decadent bitter chocolate torte with passion fruit sauce. An excitingly original book.

Imad's Syrian Kitchen

by Imad Alarnab (HQ 26, 256pp)

The author of this heartfelt cookbook fled war-torn Syria in 2015 and now runs his own restaurant in London. Syrians 'show their love through cooking', and from mezze and dips to katif ghanam, a spiced lamb shoulder, and eawaama, doughnuts in date molasses, Imad Alarnab's enticing recipes are suffused with nostalgia for the country he left behind.

Bitter by Alexina Anatole (Square Peg 27, 240pp) and Imad's Syrian Kitchen by Imad Alarnab (HQ 26, 256pp)

The Art of Friday Night Dinner

by Eleanor Steafel (Bloomsbury 26, 288pp)

Passionate foodie Eleanor Steafel recommends celebrating the start of the weekend with sophisticated comfort food such as pork chops with quince butter, brown-butter mashed potatoes or a hot tahini fudge sundae. Interspersed with amusing accounts of her disastrous dates and a list of favourite cocktails, this is also a fun read  20-somethings will love it.

A New Way to Bake

by Philip Khoury (Hardie Grant 30, 256pp)

The head pastry chef at Harrods, Philip Khoury shows off his considerable skill with sweet treats including silky extra-virgin olive oil cake, triple chocolate cake and a spicy sweet potato pie, as well as biscuits and buns. These delicious recipes are all vegan, with no eggs, butter or cream in sight  and the results are superb.

The Secret of Cooking

by Bee Wilson (4th Estate 28, 432pp)

Aiming to make cooking 'less of a drag and more of a joy', this is full of delectable recipes. Best of all, though, are Wilson's suggested shortcuts, her reassuring advice and her musings on how to be relaxed about your cooking. She writes so well that even a chapter devoted to carrots is gripping. An outstanding book.

The Art of Friday Night Dinner by Eleanor Steafel (Bloomsbury 26, 288pp) and The Secret of Cooking by Bee Wilson (4th Estate 28, 432pp)

James Martin's Spanish Adventure

(Quadrille 27, 256pp)

There's so much more to Spanish food than tapas, as TV chef James Martin demonstrates here. Travelling around Spain, he showcases dishes such as Seville escabeche mackerel, slow-cooked pork with Beluga lentils, and a classic burnt Basque cheesecake. A handsomely illustrated celebration of Spanish regional cooking at its best.

Baking for Pleasure

by Ravneet Gill (Pavilion 26, 256pp)

These are the dishes that pastry chef and Junior Bake Off judge Ravneet Gill cooks for her family and friends. Her crowd-pleasing treats include a tiered celebration pavlova, brown butter and honey tart and rum and raisin pudding; there are also savoury bakes such as chicken and Marmite pie. This is the best kind of comfort food.

James Martin's Spanish Adventure (Quadrille 27, 256pp) and Baking for Pleasure by Ravneet Gill (Pavilion 26, 256pp)

Malta

by Simon Bajada (Hardie Grant 26, 224pp)

Influenced by the cuisine of Sicily, North Africa and Greece, Malta's food is based around fresh vegetables, seafood and pasta. With photos of the island and recipes for traditional dishes including spinach and tuna pie, whitebait fritters, stuffed artichokes and a zingy orange tart, this book offers a burst of pure Mediterranean warmth.

Flavour

by Sabrina Ghayour (Aster 26, 240pp)

Known for her Persian-influenced cooking, Sabrina Ghayour has a knack for colourful, intensely flavoured, no-fuss recipes. There are some spectacular light dishes here, such as a harissa broccoli and black rice salad, plus heartier ones such as a layered vegetable and feta bake and lamb with tahini garlic yoghurt. Perfect for relaxed family suppers.

Vietnamese Vegetarian

by Uyen Luu (Hardie Grant 25, 224pp)

This beautifully produced book demystifies Vietnamese cooking with recipes for wontons and dumplings (you can buy ready-made wrappers for them), stir fries, curries, soups, stews and pancakes. Whether it's the lemongrass noodle soup, vegetable curry puffs or mung bean dumplings in sweet ginger syrup, Luu's recipes are full of delicious flavours and textures.
Our Strangers

by Lydia Davis (Canongate 20, 368pp)

Lichens, tiny insects, solitary reading, train journeys, overheard conversations, dissolving friendships and matrimonial irritations make up the subject matter of Daviss delicious short stories. Davish as a wonderfully economical writing style, brilliantly showcased in these 144 offbeat, funny, occasionally sad, but drolly observant tales.

Our Strangers by Lydia Davis (Canongate 20, 368pp)

Games And Rituals

by Katherine Heiny (4th Estate 16.99, 240pp)

Here are bad relationship choices, marriages on the wane and friendships that wander far from the ideal, derailing the lives of her disarming characters, who are as funny and flawed and relatable as their scattershot choices. Its Heinys enviable knack of combining the painful with the poignant that makes this collection hilarious and heart-breaking.

If I Survive You

by Jonathan Escoffery (4th Estate 14.99, 272pp)

Smart, savvy and snappy, If I Survive You unfurls the lives, lies and loves of a Jamaican family who head to Miami in the hope of a better life in eight funny, furious stories. Ferocious weather, fractious relationships and financial struggles skewer their every chance in this superb collection.
The FTSE 100 closed up 75.60 points at 7529.35. Among the companies with reports and trading updates today are AstraZeneca, London Square, DP Eurasia and Rentokil. Read the Friday 1 December Business Live blog below.

> If you are using our app or a third-party site click here to read Business Live
Rentokil Initial has hired a new chief executive officer for its North American region, which has suffered from weaker performance this year.

The Crawley-based pest control group appointment the boss of electrical supplier Rexel USA Brad Paulsen as chief executive of its North America region.

Rentokil warned in October that North American performance would miss annual forecasts after sales ticked just 2.2 per cent higher in the third quarter and the unit suffered lower orders for chemical products used in pest control.

The Crawley-based pest control group appointment Brad Paulsen as CEO of its North America region, who will join the firm this month

The firm also revealed on Friday that it has appointed Will Lin as vice president of performance and digital marketing in North America.

Andy Ransom, CEO of Rentokil Initial, said: '[Paulsen] has gained significant leadership experience from his years at Rexel, HD supply and home depot, across a mix of multi-site retail and route-based service organisations.

'We have a significant opportunity for growth and value creation as we integrate Terminix in North America and [Paulsen] brings a proven track record of successful delivery.;

Paulsen said: 'I'm excited to be joining this world class company and very much looking forward to working with [US pest control CEO] John Myers and the team to deliver the integration, building on the strong foundations that have already been laid, and using our strengths of brilliant people, brands, innovations and technologies to drive profitable growth and provide an even better service for customers. I can't wait to get started.'

In October, Rentokil shares tumbled after the company warned its performance in North America would miss annual forecasts.

It revealed organic turnover across the region, its largest market, increased by just 2.2 per cent in the third quarter, compared to 9.5 per cent growth in Europe.

Trading was impacted by its US products wholesale distribution arm experiencing lower orders for chemical products used in pest control, as well as turf and ornamental end markets.

Rentokil shares down 0.23 per cent to 427.70p in Friday morning trading.
EXCLUSIVE

A man has been charged with possessing liquid nicotine despite Health Minister Mark Butler claiming smokers will not be personally targeted in the vape crackdown.

Trinite Williams, 49, faced the Magistrate's Court of Western Australia on Friday and pleaded not guilty to possessing liquid nicotine, which is a controlled substance, after police found it during a search of his car on October 8.

Police charged him with possessing a scheduled four Poison under the state's Medicines and Poisons Act 2014. He is facing a fine of up to $2,000 and/or up to two years jail if found guilty.

Mr Williams' lawyer Kyle Kutasi told Daily Mail Australia his client was 'extremely frustrated' because he believed owning a vape was not against the law.

A 49-year-old Western Australian man was charged for possessing a liquid nicotine in a vape found by police after a search of his car

'He just had a vape, that's it. Not litres of nicotine liquid. He had just enough for the one vape for his personal use,' Mr Kutasi said.

'Mr Williams is extremely frustrated because he is trying to defend a load of nonsense and it is a complete waste of time and money.

'It was his understanding that it was not illegal to possess a vape since Health Minister Mark Butler publicly said users would not be penalised.'

Mr Kutasi wrote a 'please explain' to Mr Butler about his client's charges, which are essentially possessing a vape without a prescription.

READ MORE: The single picture that shows Anthony Albanese's got a huge problem if he wants to ban disposable vapes Advertisement

He added the criminal charges came after multiple public comments by Mr Butler assuring vapers that they would not be the target of the nationwide crackdown.

Australia will ban imports of disposable vapes in January and in March this will be expanded to include all non-therapeutic vapes, including refillable devices, while importers of vapes for medical purposes will need permit from the Office of Drug control.

The ban will include $75 million in extra funding for the Australian Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration to bust vape smugglers.

But at a press conference explaining the crackdown on Tuesday, Mr Butler said 'there is no penalty for people who use vapes'.

'I do send this message. These are not measures targeting users. These are not measures that impose any penalty whatsoever on people that are using vapes.

'There is no penalty for people who use vapes, but there are substantial penalties for people who end up illegally selling them or are possessing them for commercial purposes.'

Mr Butler told Daily Mail Australia in a statement that the Commonwealth does not interfere or comment on prosecutions undertaken by the states under state law.

'The Commonwealth Government will introduce legislation in 2024 to prevent domestic manufacture, advertisement, supply and commercial possession of non-therapeutic and disposable single use vapes to ensure comprehensive controls on vapes across all levels of the supply chain,' the minister said.

'This legislation will not criminalise personal possession or use.

'The Australian Government is not about to attribute blame to people who use these products and have become addicted.

'This has been a vast act of subterfuge by the tobacco industry that promoted the development of these products and the marketing of these products, for one clear purpose to recruit a new generation of nicotine addicts.

The Australian Government is not going to blame those users.

'The Australian Government is going to blame the people who develop, import and supply them, and we're going to try and stamp that out.

'However, there are a range of state and territory laws that regulate vape supply and use that will continue unless the states and territories repeal them.

'Most states and territories make it an offence to possess or use a S4 medicine (such as a nicotine vape) without a prescription. The Department of Health and Aged Care has been discussing alignment of laws in this area through the E-Cigarette Working Group.'

Health Minister Mark Butler (pictured) has publicly said users will not be penalised for having a vape, claiming government measures will target suppliers and vendors

Mr Kutasi said police are not listening to Mr Butler's direction and that the Health Minister needs to step in to stop vape users from being charged.

He suggested vapes be removed from the Therapeutic Goods Act's poisons list as states and territories have laws against possessing a controlled substance without a prescription.

'Having vapes under the poisons list and in the same category of cocaine and heroin is absolutely ludicrous,' Mr Kutasi said.

'You would think that the government would want to encourage a substance that helps people to quit smoking rather than discourage its use.'

Director of Legalise Vaping Australia Brian Marlow told Daily Mail Australia Mr Butler's promise not to penalise vape users is a 'lie'.

'In my opinion the Australian government is lying to the public if they say they will not be prosecuting vapers,' Mr Marlow said of the West Australians case.

'He may get off but we don't know. The fact is the process of being criminally charged is already punishment enough.'

The Albanese Government has been warned that banning disposable vapes rather then legalising and regulating them will open the door to black market criminals

Mr Marlow said the federal government's vaping reform forces states and territories to criminalise vapers.

'If people are concerned with 1.5million Aussie facing criminal charges for vaping they need to demand the government change how they classify vapes,' Mr Butler said.

'The only solution to this is for vapes to be regulated like alcohol and cigarettes and not as a therapeutic product.'

Liquid nicotine is a prescribed substance and like any other prescribed substances, it carries a maximum term of imprisonment in numerous states for possession.

In the Australian Capital Territory an individual could face up to two years in jail for possessing liquid nicotine without a prescription.

Vapes have exploded in popularity in Australia as the price of cigarettes have surged beyond $40, prompting the new ban on all vapes.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Tuesday the government's plan to ban the importation of single-use disposable vapes from January 1

The federal government announced plans on Tuesday to ban the importation of single-use disposable vapes from January 1 after flagging vaping law reforms in May.

Under the Federal Government's smoking reforms, nicotine vapes will only legally be available from a chemist with a prescription, while the importation and sale of nicotine e-cigarettes, pods and liquids will be criminalised.

Nationals Senator Matthew Canavan told Daily Mail Australia an outright ban on the importation and sale of vapes was a 'Christmas wish' come true for Chinese gangs.

Mr Canavan is pushing for significant change to the bill, urging the government to create a regulated legal market for vapes.

'We have evidence that only 10 per cent of vapers have a prescription, leaving the rest with no other option than to return to traditional cigarettes or become a criminal and go to the black market, which will be readily available.

'The government's efforts on this will fail, they will not beat the black market. We'll end up in a worse situation with a greater supply of these inferior products and more criminals pushing vapes on our kids.'

Senator Canavan said more than 1.3million Australian adults who vape would effectively be turned into criminals after the ban.

Nationals Senator Matthew Canavan told Daily Mail Australia an outright ban on the importation and sale of vapes was a 'Christmas wish' come true for Chinese gangs

He said the seven-page amendment to the bill would see vapes regulated by strict guidelines similar to alcohol and other tobacco products.

Health Minister Mark Butler claimed the smoking reforms are focused on stopping the domestic black market for vapes, which sees millions of devices sold to young Aussies online or under the-counter at some stores.

'These reforms will protect Australians, particularly young people, from the harms of vaping and nicotine dependence,' he said in a statement on Tuesday.

However, Senator Cavanan said a legally regulated market would give Australians access to higher-quality vapes and minimise the incentive to engage with the black market.

Most Australians want the government to legally regulate vaping in the same manner as alcohol and tobacco

Senator Cavanan labelled the reform as a 'typical Canberra approach' and said there was a twinge of hypocrisy among politicians.

'Parliament House has the highest per capita rate of vaping anywhere in the country,' he said.

'But we want to tell everybody else you can't do what we're doing. It's a typical Canberra approach.'

A poll, conducted by RedBridge in October, revealed most Australians want the government to legally regulate vaping in the same manner as alcohol and tobacco.

Nearly 70 per cent of the 1,500 people surveyed rated the government's regulative efforts on vapes as 'poor' or 'very poor'.

Those surveyed said they wanted e-cigarette items to be sold to adults aged 18 years and older through licensed retail outlets.

It would bring Australia in line with New Zealand and the UK, where there are strict regulations on the sale of nicotine vapes and e-cigarettes.
Girls Aloud have reunited, Arsenal are top of the Premier League, low-rise jeans are back in fashion - and now Westminster has also caught Noughties fever.

A string of New Labour stalwarts are back on manoeuvres as the party scents a return to power for the first time since 2010.

Sir Keir Starmer this week handed a top job to Lord Livermore, who previously served as a senior aide to Gordon Brown in Downing Street.

Sir Tony Blair and Lord Mandelson, who formed New Labour's key trio alongside Mr Brown across the 2000s, are also back in favour with their party.

And the Tories haven't let Labour indulge in Noughties nostalgia all on their own, with David Cameron making a dramatic return to the political frontline.

Here's a look at the key figures who are creating a sense of deja vu in Westminster:

Lord Livermore

Lord Livermore served as a top adviser to Gordon Brown between 2001 and 2008. He is now Labour's shadow exchequer secretary to the Treasury

Spencer Livermore this week returned to political prominence as he took on the role of Labour's shadow Treasury spokesperson in the House of Lords.

He began his political career by serving as Gordon Brown's chief strategy adviser while he was Chancellor.

Lord Livermore then followed Mr Brown into Downing Street, when he became prime minister in 2007, as No10's director of strategy.

He left Government just a year later when he moved to the private sector with Saatchi & Saatchi and, later, Teneo Blue Rubicon.

But Lord Livermore was not away from Westminster politics for long, as he was put in charge of Labour's campaign at the 2015 general election.

That campaign ended in disaster for the party with the Tories defying opinion polls to secure a House of Commons majority, while Labour - under then-leader Ed Miliband - suffered a near wipe-out in Scotland.

When Lord Livermore was handed his peerage in late 2015 after the election defeat, then Labour deputy leader Tom Watson slammed the move as an example of his party 'rewarding failure'.

But Lord Livermore is now back in favour among Labour ranks, with Sir Keir Starmer having now promoted him to shadow exchequer secretary to the Treasury.

He had previously been among the Labour whips in the House of Lords.

The reshuffle of Sir Keir's shadow team also saw Steve McCabe - a Labour whip in Mr Brown's government - return to the party's frontbench as shadow veterans minister.

Sir Tony Blair

Sir Tony Blair is believed to be advising Sir Keir Starmer on how to transition to power as he bids to enter No10

As the last Labour leader to win a general election, Sir Tony Blair is believed to be advising Sir Keir on how to transition to power as he bids to enter No10.

A recent report in the i revealed that Sir Tony is also acting as a broker for Sir Keir in the Middle East amid the current Gaza crisis.

The former PM is assisting with diplomatic introductions and contacts in the Middle East, according to the newspaper.

Experts from Sir Tony's thinkthank, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), could also take on temporary roles within Labour as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, it has been suggested.

A source said said: 'There's no official role here, but the TBI does have a number of experts in this area that are helping Labour on its policy in this area.'

The report added that while Sir Tony has not held any direct conversations with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, he has been working to assure the Israeli government that Sir Keir is 'not Jeremy Corbyn'.

But it has also been claimed that Sir Tony might be seeking a grander role than work as an adviser to Sir Keir.

Reports in Israel have suggested that Mr Netanyahu is hoping to install Sir Tony as a 'humanitarian co-ordinator' in Gaza.

After he left Downing Street as PM in 2007, Sir Tony became a Middle East envoy working on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU. He quit the role in 2015.

Lord Mandelson

Lord Mandelson recently placed himself on the front row of the Labour conference audience, among senior shadow ministers, for shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves' keynote speech

Lord Mandelson is widely regarded as the architect of New Labour and remains close to key figures around Sir Keir.

Indeed it was noted at Labour's conference in Liverpool last month how omnipresent the former Cabinet minister - a close ally of Sir Tony - appeared to be.

The 70-year-old placed himself on the front row of the conference audience, among senior shadow ministers, for shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves' keynote speech.

He also hosted a lavish cocktail party at a Liverpool restaurant during the conference, put on by his Global Counsel firm, which was reportedly attended by a slew of senior Labour figures including advisers to Sir Keir.

But while Sir Keir and Lord Mandelson might enjoy a close relationship, some within Labour have expressed concern about how voters could react to the peer's apparent return to the heart of the party.

One senior Labour source told the Daily Mail's Andrew Pierce: 'Starmer talks to Mandelson all the time, but he doesn't want the evidence of it all over the TV.

'He knows how unpopular Mandelson is with many Labour Party members, not to mention voters.'

Lord Cameron

Now known as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, after Rishi Sunak handed him a seat in the House of Lords, the ex-PM is back in Government as Foreign Secretary

Not to be outdone in the recent bout of Noughties nostalgia, the Tories have returned David Cameron - who led the party between 2005 to 2016 - to the political frontline.

Now known as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, after Rishi Sunak handed him a seat in the House of Lords, the 57-year-old is back in Government as Foreign Secretary.

Secret talks between Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron about ending his seven-year spell in the political wilderness were held in Downing Street at the beginning of this month after the ex-PM was smuggled in by a back door.

Over a drink in Mr Sunak's study, the two men agreed the outline of a sensational comeback deal, which Lord Cameron formally agreed to a few days later.

Yet the former premier's appointment to lead the Foreign Office has not been without controversy, with questions being asked about his links to China during his time away from Downing Street.

Prior to his return as Foreign Secretary, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee had raised concerns about Lord Cameron's appointment as vice-chair of a 1 billion UK-China investment fund.

There has also been scrutiny of the ex-PM's involvement with the Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka, viewed as a major part of China's controversial belt and road initiative.

In addition, it was recently reported that HMRC are looking into Lord Cameron's use of private jets during his lobbying work for collapsed lender Greensill Capital.

Although he won two general election victories for the Tories, in 2010 and 2015, Lord Cameron is not universally popular among the electorate.

A poll by More In Common showed almost half of 'Red Wall' voters thought it was a bad move for Mr Sunak to appoint the ex-PM as Foreign Secretary.

And who else could be plotting a return?

David Miliband

David Miliband has recently raised the prospect of a return to Westminster as Labour looks poised to re-enter government at the general election

David Miliband served as a minister throughout the 2000s as part of the New Labour government.

This included a near-three year spell as Foreign Secretary when Gordon Brown was PM.

He now leads the New York-based International Rescue Committee after quitting the House of Commons in 2013, having famously lost out to his brother Ed in a battle for the Labour leadership.

But he has recently raised the prospect of a return to Westminster as Labour looks poised to re-enter government at the general election.

Asked by Politico at a recent event whether he would rule out finding a parliamentary seat to run in over the coming months, Mr Miliband said: 'Not getting into that at all. You must think I was born yesterday!

'I always say the same thing - I'll make my professional choices on the basis of where I can do most for our values and where I can support my family, which is really important.'
EXCLUSIVE

The Opposition leader has been slammed by Labor as 'Double Standards Dutton' for quietly taking a trip to India while the Coalition was ripping into Anthony Albanese as 'Airbus Albo' for taking four trips overseas in a month.

Photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia show Mr Dutton in New Delhi between November 1 and 4 for the India Australia Strategic Alliance summit, on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the trip, Mr Dutton dined with billionaire steel magnate Naveen Jindal and wore traditional clothes on visits to temples and while cooking naan with locals.

He also met with other businesses executives and attended a gala dinner.

The trip coincided with Mr Albanese's meeting with President Xi Jingping in China - one of four trips the PM after the unsuccessful Voice referendum - sparking a wave of 'Airbus Albo' criticism from both voters and the Opposition.

Mr Dutton didn't have a crack at Mr Albanese's overseas trips - besides telling him not to go to the APEC summit in San Francisco and instead stay and focus on domestic issues.

These pictures of Mr Dutton in India perhaps show why.

On the trip, Mr Dutton spoke of Australia and India's close ties, of his desire for the two nations to foster a closer and deeper relationship moving forward

In parliament on Wednesday, assistant minister to the prime minister Patrick Gorman said Mr Dutton was joined on the trip by a delegation of 20 which included 'an unlicensed real estate agent, a disgraced Liberal candidate, unregistered migration agents and property developers'.

'I think you have a right to know about who was on his delegation, how are they selected? What did they do? Who footed the bill?' he said.

'And the only person actually promoting the Leader of the Opposition's trip was the Member for Latrobe, Jason Wood.

'He was out there showing on Facebook how great it was to be there with the Opposition Leader. At the same time, he was criticising the Prime Minister for the Prime Minister's travel.'

Mr Gorman told Daily Mail Australia Mr Dutton's India trip was reminiscent of 'secret overseas trips Scott Morrison did'.

The Opposition Leader posed in a traditional bright orange scarf with local women who showed him how to cook naan bread, and flashed a smile with his hands joined in a prayer position in front of an elaborate temple.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton took a whirlwind trip to India last month on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pictured here with fellow Coalition MP Jason Wood (left) and Liberal Councillor for Blacktown Livingston Chettipally (centre)

Elsewhere, he was pictured at two separate functions, dining with billionaire Mr Jindal, who made his fortune operating an iron manufacturing plant and has ties with the India Australia Strategic Alliance, and at a separate gala dinner.

Mr Dutton rounded out the trip with a visit to school children. One picture shows the grinning Liberal leader leaning down to allow a young girl to try on his glasses.

According to Mr Gorman, these lighthearted snaps capturing the softer side of Mr Dutton could be the handiwork of a 'PR firm in India' which was reportedly hired to 'promote' the visit.

'Double standards Dutton isn't usually afraid of hypocrisy - but attacking Ministers travel while in India himself lacks any self awareness,' Mr Gorman said.

He argued the Albanese Government is working to 'restore Australia's position in the world' after almost a decade of the Coalition's rule.

During that time, relations between Australia and some of our allies deteriorated to the point Scott Morrison 'couldn't even get a phone call back' from China and was branded a liar by French President Emmanuel Macron over a botched submarine deal.

Mr Dutton seized upon his opportunity in India to indicate how Australia's foreign policy could look with a Coalition government under new management.

Speaking of Australia and India's already strong ties, Mr Dutton said he'd like to see more frequent military training operations - not only between our two nations, but multilaterally as well.

'This is not a time for appeasement. Whenever we witnessed authoritarian coercion and aggression, it is vital that nations large and small link together to unequivocally condemn such behaviour,' he said.

Speaking directly to the crises in the Middle East and Eastern Europe right now, Mr Dutton said 'democracy is always under threat' and indicated he'd show tougher leadership.

'Times of terrorism have not disappeared. Recent world events are a reminder that civilization doesn't tilt naturally towards democracy.'

And while Mr Dutton is yet to respond to Mr Gorman's criticism of the trip, or answer and of the questions raised about the delegation, he showered the group in praise in one of the speeches he gave at the Strategic Alliance summit.

Describing the group as 'hard workers' who had achieved success, he said: 'They value the rule of law, and they've created wealth for themselves and for their country.'

Among them were former Liberal candidates, like Virosh Perera, who during the 2022 election campaign described himself as an 'influencer in the political arena', and Livingston Chettipally, the onetime candidate for Chifley turned Councillor for Blacktown.

Mr Dutton visited Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib, a Sikh place of worship in Delhi

Mr Dutton was also pictured at a gala dinner during the whirlwind trip

Mr Dutton, in New Dehli to speak about the economy and trade, dined with billionaire industrialist and steel magnate Naveen Jindal. He is pictured here sitting at the head of the table.

Recent polling conducted by Newspoll recently found the major parties are split 50:50 on a two-party preferred basis.

Mr Dutton and the Coalition have capitalised on voter dissatisfaction over several key issues, most notably a High Court decision which allowed 142 asylum seekers - some of whom are 'hardened criminals' to walk free from indefinite detention.

The PM's jam-packed travel schedule had also raised eyebrows among critics, who questioned whether it was necessary to attend so many international summits.

Mr Dutton himself called on Mr Albanese to skip APEC - which has only ever been missed by one serving PM due to a death in the family - to work with the Coalition to find a solution to the High Court mess.

Coalition MP Jason Wood (pictured right) was also on the trip with Mr Dutton

A compilation of photographs from the trip now paint a clearer picture about the itinerary, which included visiting school children, places of worship, and meeting government ministers

The Coalition repeatedly noted that the PM had made four international trips in one month - twice to the US, to China and to the Cook Islands.

And it was in the midst of this schedule, which was dominating headlines and Question Time, that Mr Dutton slipped away for the India Australia Strategic Alliance.

Meanwhile, 16 per cent of the Coalition's party room and 26.7 per cent of their front bench were also out of the country, wrapping up a visit to London for an international gathering of conservative politicians called the 'Alliance for Responsible Citizenship'.

That summit ended on November 1, the day Mr Dutton's began in New Delhi.

A large delegation of MPs and Senators from the Opposition attended the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship event - a gathering of international conservative politicians, from October 28 to November 1
Energy Minister Chris Bowen is joining a staggering 70,000 people flying into Dubai to talk up climate change action, as Sky News host Andrew Bolt issues a scathing critique of the latest trip.

Mr Bolt said the fact Cop28 would have 70,000 people flying in, which is double the attendees at the previous 2022 UN climate conference in Egypt, was 'an elaborate and stupid joke'.

Mr Bowen will be accompanied by Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Senator Jenny McAllister as part of a government delegation of 48.

Opposition shadow energy minister Ted O'Brien will head a separate contingent from the Opposition, and will deliver a speech to the World Nuclear Association.

The opposition has ramped up calls for nuclear power in Australia , but Mr Bowen has dismissed the idea as a 'fantasy wrapped in a delusion, accompanied by a pipe dream'.

Instead the Albanese government will focus on renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, battery and hydro.

Bolt savaged Mr Bowen's oft-repeated claim that renewables are 'the cheapest form of energy', calling the claim 'absolute bollocks'

He also cited a quote from AGL CEO Markus Brokhof contradicting Mr Bowen's claim, at least in the shorter timeframes.

'There's a bit of misunderstanding at the moment when people say renewables will be cheaper and that lead to cheaper generation costs,' Mr Brokhof said.

'That's wrong. In the short and the medium term this will lead to higher costs.'

Bolt scoffed at the Cop28, which he said was a 'quasi-religious' gathering to 'worship the climate gods' and accused those attending of being part of a climate activist and advocate 'industry'.

'Bowen's saying renewables are cheaper and will save you money. The guy who makes your electricity says well no, it will cost more.

'Who's telling the truth? Check your bills over the year you will find out who is conning you, Bolt advised his viewers.

'That's the thing with this government, they're so carried away with ideaology the facts don't seem to count.

The choice of UAE has proven a controversial one.

The UAE is the world's eighth largest fossil fuel exporter and produces more than 4 million barrels of oil per day.

The hydrocarbon sector makes up a quarter of the small Arab state's GDP, half of its exports and 80 per cent of government revenues

With fuel priced well below international market rates and subsidies to allow for almost continuous air conditioning in many homes, buildings and public spaces it is also one of the highest emitters of CO2 emissions in the world per capita.

On the eve of the conference the BBC reported leaked documents that showed the UAE has been using its role as the host and presidency of conference to secure oil and gas deals.

The BBC reported that the UAE's COP28 president, Sultan Al Jaber has continued in his role as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Leaked documents provided to BBC 'by a whistleblower' showed that Al Jaber and his COP28 leadership team have been planning to use their access as host and presidency to increase exports of Adnoc's oil and gas.

COP28 discussions will focus on attempts to get an agreement making the promises of climate change action governments give should be broadened to cover the emissions from all economic activity - including food and farming, for example.

There will also an attempt to make countries more accountable for promises they make.

Meanwhile Mr Bowen has been accused of trying to hide a report that leaves his government's CO2 emissions targets and claims in tatters.

The Annual Climate Change Statement table in Parliament on Thursday showed that Australian carbon emissions rose by 3.6million tonnes in the year to June compared to the previous 12 months and the nation was not on track to meet reduction targets.

However, Mr Bowen insisted the nation was 'within striking distance' of the Albanese's government's target of 43 percent cut in emissions by 2030.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen is joining a staggering 70,000 people attending the UN Cop28 climate talks beginning on Thursday in Dubai

READ MORE: New York Times full-page advert brutally slams Australia over climate change inaction Advertisement

'With policies we have announced and are in the process of implementing, Australia's emissions are projected to be 42 per cent below 2005 levels in 2030, compared to 40 per cent in last year's projections,' Mr Bowen told parliament.

'The fact is that our targets are ambitious in that they require a big lift in effort over the next seven years.'

Despite Mr Bowen's optimism, the report clearly stated that current trends had to be drastically reversed to meet 2030 targets.

To achieve the 2030 target, Australia will need to decarbonise at an average annual rate of 17 million tonnes of carbon per year, but in the year to June emissions were rising not falling.

'Australia emitted 467million tonnes (Mt) CO2-e in the year ending June 2023, which is 116 Mt CO2-e more than the level we need to reach by 2030 if we are to meet the Paris Agreement target of a 43% reduction below the level of emissions in 2005,' the report said.

Performers greet those jetting in for the Cop28 talks in the United Arab Emirates beginning on Thursday

Mr O'Brien accused Mr Bowen of trying to sneak the damning report through by not tabling it well in advance to allow for scrutiny but letting other MPs look at it 'just a couple of hours ago'.

'The Minister didn't even have the courage to be upfront with the Australian people on this issue,' Mr O'Brien said.

'He didn't even mention it in his speech.

'This Minister relies on the dark arts of politics with all the smoke and mirrors a deflection here,' Mr O'Brien said.

He also claimed that clean energy investment 'has dropped to among the lowest level since such figures have been recorded'.

'Wind and battery are below one-tenth the pace that's required for Labor to meet its target, Mr O'Brien said, citing the Clean Energy Council's report on the September quarter.

Shadow energy minister Ted o'Brien accused Mr Bowen of Mr Bowen of trying to hide the fact emissions in Australia are going up

Conservative firebrand has labelled the UN Cop28 climate talks as 'dangerous and dumb'
Christina Revels-Glick was arrested in July 2021 for pleasuring herself on Tybee Beach in Georgia

The woman whose arrest for pleasuring herself on a Georgia beach went viral following the release of bodycam footage last week, took her own life just eight months after the humiliating incident in a tragic end to a once promising life, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Video of police cuffing Christina Revels-Glick after she was reported by a beachgoer who witnessed her using her vibrator by the shore July 1, 2021, was viewed by 2.5million people within the first three days of its posting.

Many took to the internet to express sympathy for the mother-of-two and unconfirmed internet rumors suggested she had killed herself across the weekend because of the public shaming.

Today DailyMail.com can set the record straight as family members have confirmed that Revels-Glick did die by suicide but that her death came more than a year and a half ago and had nothing to do with the Tybee Island Beach incident or its recent resurfacing.

Instead, Revels-Glick's story, told here for the first time, is a sorry tale of a downward spiral caused by drink and drug abuse, that saw her cut off from those who once loved her the most and led to the university graduate and one-time realtor ending her own life in abject squalor.

Revels-Glick can be seen in the arrest footage released last week denying the intimate moment, claiming she was merely lying down on her towel

Eight months after her arrest, Revels-Glick was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Her death certificate listed her cause of death as suicide

Speaking to DailyMail.com a family member who asked for anonymity said, 'Christina's gone. She died about a year and a half ago. I really can't tell you why she went the way she did.

'She had a good life for a while, drove a BMW, had a nice house  but she was wild.'

The family member said that Revels-Glick simply, 'went off the rails'. The attractive 35-year-old had two sons, a 19-year-old from one relationship and a 15-year-old from a marriage which ended in divorce in 2015.

But while the marriage legally ended that year it had long since broken down with Revels-Glick first leaving her then-husband and their child just six months after the baby was born.

The relative said, 'She got in trouble. She went to prison in Florida, got herself arrested, her husband took her back after all that, but she was just wild.

'Then she fell in with a real bad crowddrinks, drugs.'

Liberty County Coroner told DailyMail.com that Revels-Glick's date of death was March 31, 2022, and, according to the family member, she had been dead for approximately 30 days before her body was found in an rented apartment in Hinesville, Georgia, in which she had been living.

They said, 'It took a while to figure out who she was, but they managed to work it out because she had bought her son a motorbike and she'd filled out the registration paperwork, so they had that.'

They added, 'When they told us we thought, 'Well at least we know where she's at now.'

The death certificate and police incident report shed light on the sad truth. Revels-Glick shot herself in the head and died of a wound that appears not to have been fatal immediately.

Instead, her landlady found her decomposing remains amid an horrific scene of an apartment spattered and trailed with blood after entering the home because Revels-Glick had failed to pay rent.

Her family members say the Tybee Beach incident did not lead to her death, but instead she fell into alcohol and drug abuse

The police incident report shed light on the sad truth. Revels-Glick shot herself in the head and died of a wound that appears not to have been fatal immediately

Revels-Glick's landlord found her decomposing remains amid an horrific scene of an apartment spattered and trailed with blood after entering the home because she had failed to pay rent

The Hinesville Police Department report states that a pistol was found lying on the master bedroom bed. It notes, 'A hole was also observed in the roof directly above the bed. On the opposite side of the hallway a decomposing female body (later identified as Ms. Christina Revels-Glick) was observed laying on the ground.'

There was 'a large amount of blood' on the living room floor, 'two separate blood trails leading in both directions in the hallway,' and 'blood [was] observed in the guest bedroom on a chair, desk and computer', Officer Timothy Conley wrote.

The report notes that Revels-Glick had 'an exit wound from a bullet on her forehead.'

It also reveals that Revels-Glick's landlady had requested a welfare check 12 days earlier, on March 19, and that 'negative contact was made'.

In a poignant detail police officers stated that an attempt to have animal control come out and take control of Revels-Glick's two cats was refused, 'due to their protocol of coming out only for sick or injured animals'.

Revels-Glick was cremated following a small ceremony held in her hometown of Fitzgerald, Georgia. Neither her ex-husband nor their son attended.

Records show that Revels-Glick had numerous brushes with the law in Georgia and Florida, where she was deemed a fugitive from justice having been accused of stealing a car in 2018. And she was arrested on more than one occasion as well as cited for public drunkenness that same year.

Court records in Chatham County, Georgia, also show several civil filings against her including suits pursuing her for unpaid rent, damage to property and stolen property.

In one instance repeated attempts to find and serve Revels-Glick  who appears to have re-partnered by 2017 and was going under the name Glick-Revels Snell  proved unsuccessful.

In July 2018 and in her absence the court ruled against her and her then partner  to whom DailyMail.com could find no record of marriage  to the tune of $11,051.71.

Revels-Glick, who was 34 at the time, was approached by cops after families reported her salacious behavior on Tybee Island beach on July 1, 2021

The mother-of-two was released shortly after her arrest on subpoena but there are no records of her ever having appeared in court on the charges

By January 2019, having now reverted to the name Revels-Glick, she was sued in Savannah by Harmony Towne Homeowners Association for breach of contract, but the case was dismissed as, again, court officers were unable to locate her.

Revels-Glick was barely in contact with her family or the fathers of her children when the Tybee Island Beach incident occurred back in 2021.

At the time it made only a small ripple on social media although the website The Smoking Gun did post details of the arrest on line.

That all changed last week when bodycam footage was released.

According to the incident report beachgoer Sarah Moss informed police and recorded Revels-Glick's act. She told officers that Revels-Glick walked past her family's tent several times before stopping and laying out a towel.

The report stated, 'At one point the female stopped in front of their tent and lay out a white towel then sit on the towel. Sarah observed the female open her green backpack and pull out what looked like a vibrator. Sarah stated the female began masturbating, using the vibratorshe could hear her moaning. Sarah said after about five minutes the female gathered her belongings and left the area.'

The video of the woman admitting to masturbating on the beach, which has been viewed more than 2.5 million times, drew sympathy from many viewers, with many criticizing the cops' decision to book her

Bodycam footage showed Revels-Glick initially trying to deny she had done any such thing, and instead asked officers 'Who saw that?' and assumed one of her friends was pranking her.

She said the whole thing was 'highly offensive' to her, before one of the officers asked to search her bag and Revels-Glick was forced to admit that it contained her vibrator.

The officer said, 'So you had a vibrator?' To which Revels-Glick replied, laying down to demonstrate, 'Listen, I was sitting on the water like this. I just put it in there. I was covered up and I just had an orgasm. I am sorry. I was just stressed out.'

She went on to tell officers that the whole thing had only taken '20 seconds.'

Revels-Glick apologized while she was booked for indecent exposure and disorderly conduct, telling officers she didn't think anyone had seen her.

She was released shortly after her arrest on subpoena but there are no records of her ever having appeared in court on the charges.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
A crowd views Thursdays debate between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a watch party at Mannys in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

One point is undebatable about Thursdays Fox News debate between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom: It was worthless. Electorally speaking.

The word great should be insulted for being included in The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The only winner of the cacophony between two people not running for the same job was host Sean Hannitys ratings. Oh, and the fundraising coffers associated with the combatants after each predictably declared that he won the debate. Team Newsom leveraged his appearance to raise $325,000 for President Joe Biden from 11,000 donors Thursday before the show started, according to a spokesperson.

But Thursdays 90-minute affair did provide some value, especially when it comes to Newsom. (DeSantis presidential campaign is toast, barring several concurrent miracles, as he trails Donald Trump by 48 percentage points nationally, according to RealClearPolitics.com, and 30 points in Iowa, where he has focused all his efforts.)

The spectacle offered a rare chance to evaluate Newsom doing something he never has done in his more than two decades in California politics: Debate a top-tier Republican face to face.

It was also a bellwether of whether Newsom can live up to his designated role as the Dems No. 1 attack dog in 2024. The political id to Bidens avuncularity, as the hyper-articulate former San Francisco mayor is charged with defending the partys values with bare knuckles.

But to be effective in that role, Newsoms brand of California politics  and Newsom  has to travel well to purple and red states. Could he communicate effectively in hostile media territory? Would he lapse into his habit of talking like a wonky Silicon Valley tech bro, or could he explain his worldview as a real human?

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It was a tall order. And Thursdays results were a mixed bag. America saw what an articulate advocate he could be for Democrats  and what his potential weaknesses might be if he runs for the White House in 2028, after he is termed out of the governors office.

Newsom was at his best when he was talking about abortion rights, LGBTQ issues and in defending the Biden administration. His answers were clear and strong.

He painted a stark contrast between Democrats defending a womans right to have an abortion and DeSantis signing a bill that would ban the procedure at six weeks, a position shared by the hard right of the GOP.

So extreme is your ban that criminalizes women and criminalizes doctors that even Donald Trump said it was too extreme, Newsom said.

When DeSantis dodged whether he would sign a national abortion ban if it landed on his desk and Hannity tried to move on to the next question, Newsom said, the American people should know this. Ill answer it for Ron DeSantis because he cant answer  he will sign that extreme six-week abortion ban.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Newsom also stood tall when pressed to defend the Biden administration, even when he was on rickety ground, like supporting its immigration policy. Newsom turned the tables, bringing up how DeSantis was responsible for flying 36 migrants to Sacramento as a way of criticizing Californias sanctuary state policies.

I met with those migrants that you lied to under false pretense, Newsom said. That kind of gamesmanship, using human beings as pawns, I think is disqualifying.

And on a personal note, Newsom corrected DeSantis for again mispronouncing Vice President Kamala Harris first name, perhaps the first time anyone has done that on Fox News.

Like any decently prepared debater/attack dog, Newsom came armed with zingers that were finely crafted in a debate prep lab.

After DeSantis waited less than a minute to whack Newsom for his infamous maskless meal at the bougie Napa Valley restaurant the French Laundry while pandemic restrictions were in effect, Newsom shot back that the one thing he shared in common with DeSantis is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Even nastier was his dig at DeSantis losing momentum to former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Republican primary: When are you going to drop out and at least get Nikki Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump?

And when the inevitable questions arose about Bidens cognitive ability, Newsom said, I will take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age.

DeSantis tried to deflect the flurry of statistics and facts, some of them rarely heard on Fox, as the musings of an elite Left Coast politician. DeSantis, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, twice brought up the French Laundry incident.

Hes lying to you about all these other facts and figures about all this other stuff, DeSantis said, looking into the camera. Hes just throwing stuff out to see what sticks against the wall. This is a slick, slippery politician whose state is failing, people are leaving his state and hes trying to run interference for his failure.

Others have tried to tag Newsom as a smooth-talking, slick politician. Hes won every time hes been on the ballot. But thats in California. Hes still unproven outside.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Newsom dodged answering the first question of the night, and one everyone was expecting: Why have more Californians moved to other U.S. states than are moving in? He also took it on the chin on homelessness. He attempted to answer by citing history, which  while it may be accurate  is a reminder that nuance and context doesnt do well when youre mud wrestling.

Homelessness has been an issue in the making for decades in the state of California, ever since we started shutting down our mental health institutions back in Ronald Reagans day, Newsom said. The difference is that Im the first governor in California history to take this head on. We are investing unprecedented resources, more accountability.

DeSantis mocked the freedoms that California has. DeSantis even busted out a piece of paper that showed a map where human feces have been reported on the streets of Newsoms former home city of San Francisco, aka the poop map.

You have the freedom to defecate in public in California. You have the freedom to pitch a tent on Sunset Boulevard. You have the freedom to create a homeless encampment under a freeway and even light it on fire, DeSantis said. You have the freedom to have an open-air drug market.
'TikTok is perhaps the largest scale malign influence operation ever conducted,' says Chairman Mike Gallagher

Lawmakers are focusing on how to combat China's online 'manipulation' tactics as the hostile nation increases its 'deception' techniques - through TikTok and other methods - putting the U.S. on high alert.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is leading a hearing Thursday about how the U.S. can effectively counter propaganda efforts by China designed to corrupt Americans.

According to his opening remarks obtained by DailyMail.com, Gallagher says that China's top priority is conquering the 'minds' of westerners.

'On the 'smokeless battlefield' of people's minds we don't have a standing military at all,' says Gallagher - and that makes it extremely difficult to fight back.

'TikTok is a perfect weapon, camouflaged in plain sight,' he continues. The committee plans to examine data on how TikTok's parent company ByteDance has strengthened China's 'discourse power.'

'TikTok is perhaps the largest scale malign influence operation ever conducted,' said Gallagher.

Congress' heightened focus on China this week comes as the annual Reagan National Defense survey released Thursday revealed that 51 percent of Americans think China is the 'greatest threat to the U.S.'

Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is leading a hearing Thursday about how the U.S. can effectively counter propaganda efforts by China designed to corrupt Americans

51 percent of Americans say China is the 'greatest threat to the U.S.'

That figure is a large increase from last year, which Americans answered China at just 43 percent.

In addition, an overwhelming number of Americans (77 percent) view China as an enemy, with only 15 percent considering the communist state an 'ally.' And 42 percent of respondents consider China to be a 'strong' enemy.

That's a steep difference from 2018 results which found that only 55 percent of Americans viewed China as an enemy and 38 percent as an ally.

Additionally, the survey results revealed that only 46 percent of Americans have confidence in the U.S. military - falling 25 points from 2018.

Respondents were also supportive of increased monetary assistance to Israel and Ukraine as Congress battles over whether they will approve the $105 billion request from the by Biden administration to provide supplemental funding.

The primetime hearing Thursday is featuring testimony from experts John Garnaut of Garnaut Global, Miles Yu of the Hudson Institute and Yaqiu Wang of Freedom House.

Gallagher says he plans to ask the witnesses how best to 'fight back on the battlefield of people's minds' while also staying 'true to our values.'

Garanut says that the CCP flexes its 'discourse power' through propaganda, diplomacy, proxies and also covert operations.

Other top lawmakers have raised the alarm about China's 'deceptive' online tactics.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member on the China committee, warned of the use of 'deepfake' videos by the CCP, which can mislead Americans seeking basic information on news of the day.

He showed a video of a deepfake where former President Donald Trump was speaking Chinese, and another falsely suggesting the Biden administration was behind the Maui wildfires.

'I condemn the CCP's increasingly deceptive online campaigns targeting the U.S. and other countries. The CCP has made clear it will use every tactic to spread its malign intent. TikTok is not the only threat to democracy,' House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'The Biden administration must stay vigilant against Beijing's manipulation efforts and not tolerate this kind of aggression.'

During the hearing, Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif., called out 'problems' with top universities taking money from China.

UC Berkeley 'received $220 million from the CCP. Never reported it,' she said.

The congresswoman also raised alarm about the CCP controlling American ports and crane's tracking date systems.

'We dont have a problem with the Chinese people. We have a problem with the CCP,' she stated.

Earlier this week, the china committee released a memo outlining how the U.S. has little grasp of how deep China's network of espionage and influence operations runs through the nation.

The memo details show the U.S. has failed to combat Beijing's infiltration - and it could get worse.

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.

'TikTok is perhaps the largest scale malign influence operation ever conducted,' said Gallagher

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.

'United front work damages U.S. interests through legal and illegal technology transfer, surveillance of Chinese diaspora communities, promotion of favorable narratives about the PRC through ostensibly independent voices, and the neutralization or harassment of critics of the CCP,' the new report found.

'The United States has no direct analogue, and the U.S. Government has struggled to counter united front work with traditional counterintelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic tools,' it warned.

The background memo is meant to guide Americans to remain vigilant if they are targeted by China's influence operations.
Scots TV presenter Kaye Adams has told of the toll on her mental health after winning a nine-year legal dispute with the taxman.

The Loose Women host said she has been in financial limbo for almost a decade and the stress of the case had been almost unbearable.

In a judgment issued this week, the 60-year-old won a battle with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to prove that she is a freelance worker.

HMRC officials had claimed that she was an employee and that she owed thousands in unpaid taxes.

Glamorous Loose Women host on Strictly Come Dancing

Kaye Adams on set on Loose Women

They said she should pay more than 124,000 in tax and national insurance from her work presenting The Kaye Adams Programme on BBC Radio Scotland between 2013 and 2017.

Ms Adams appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax), and won her case in April 2019. However, HMRC refused to accept the decision, leading to more hearings.

HMRC had tried to use the IR35 directive, which aims to clamp down on disguised employment.

Ms Adamss self-employment status was confirmed this week by tribunal judge Tony Beare and she pleaded with HMRC not to appeal again.

She said: I am delighted that the First-tier Tribunal has confirmed my self-employed status for the third time, but there is no jubilation for me in this result.

Over the nine years of this investigation, the mental stress has been close to unbearable at times, and the legal costs I have incurred far outweigh the tax at stake.

I accept that HMRC has a duty to ensure that everyone pays the correct tax, and I wholeheartedly support it in that endeavour.

To that end, I have fully co-operated with this inquiry for nearly a decade.

However, this is the third court which has concluded that I am a self-employed individual, and HMRC has not once proven otherwise.

Ms Adams, originally from Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, added: I was 51 when this all began, and now, at the age of 60, I would really like to be released from my financial limbo and be able to plan for my future.

Having scored a hat-trick of wins, I would politely request that HMRC accepts the emphatic judgment of our courts and desists from appealing yet again.

She added: There are hundreds of thousands of self-employed freelancers like me in the country.

If IR35 is deemed too problematic to apply, it is surely time for HMRC to work with our legislators to address the flaws rather than picking off decent, hard-working, law-abiding people one by one in the hope that others will buckle under the pressure.

Off-payroll rules  IR35  dictate how workers who provide their services through an intermediary, such as a limited company, are assessed for tax purposes.

If they are deemed outside IR35, they will be taxed as a self-employed worker.

If they are inside IR35, they will be taxed as an employee. Ms Adams was contracted through her limited company Atholl House Productions Limited.

HMRC said it would carefully consider the outcome of the tribunal before deciding whether or not to appeal.

Ms Adams, who was the first celebrity to be kicked off Strictly Come Dancing when she appeared on the show last year, told the Daily Mail earlier this year that she had started thinking about winding down her career.

She said she told her financial adviser: Actually, I really want to work less.
The sister of a teen school shooter who killed their parents before opening fire on their Oregon school has revealed the intense bond she has with her brother since his infamous rampage - calling the convicted killer her 'best friend.'

Kristin Kinkel, sister of Thurston High School shooter Kip Kinkel, shared in a rare interview with The New Yorker that despite his past, she maintains a strong connection with her brother.

The sibling's relationship intensified following the 1998 shooting in which Kip, now 41, murdered their parents before shooting up his school, killing two students when he was 15-years-old.

More than two decades after the school shooting, Kristen said she never needed to forgive her brother because she never reached a moment she was 'mad at him.'

'There's no way his behavior was a choice,' Kristen told the outlet. 'We had just lost our parents. It always felt that way for meit's kind of like "We lost our parents" instead of "He took them away."'

Kip Kinkel, pictured at his arraignment in 1998, says he has been rehabilitated by intensive mental health treatments behind bars, and has earned a degree and yoga teaching qualification

Kristin Kinkel is seen in 1998, when she was 21, at a memorial service for her parents

Kinkel is seen in June 2007, led into a courthouse in Oregon to try and reduce his sentence

Kip Kinkel is seen with his father, Bill, who he murdered in 1998

Kip, serving a nearly 112-year sentence, called his sister his 'lifeline,' crediting her for his survival, and in turn, Kristen, now 46, calls her brother her best friend.

'If I didn't have her love and support,' Kip said, 'I probably would have ended things a long time ago.'

He expressed gratitude for his sister's support over the years, emphasizing its crucial role in sustaining him since the time of his arrest and said they both hope one day he will win release.

'He just has this insight and wisdom,' Kristen said. 'And he knows me so well. He knows how to comfort me.'

Kristen detailed Kip's life in prison, his struggles with mental illness and the circumstances leading to the tragic 1998 school shooting in the lengthy interview.

After her brother lost multiple appeals, she reached out to the magazine for an interview - despite spending years avoiding the press.

Kip suffered extreme schizophrenia as a child, which went undiagnosed, and led him to believe Disney had planted a chip in his brain

Kristin recalled the tragic day - May 21, 1998 - when she first realized what her brother had done.

'I remember turning on the TV and seeing my house, the house I grew up in, from a helicopter view,' Kristin, who was at college at the time, recalled in the New Yorker interview.

'There was something about that moment when it settledI really did have to believe it, I can't ignore it, I can't pretend that this didn't happen,' she added.

'This can't be true, there's no way this is true, this is completely impossible.'

Kristen was in shock upon hearing the news. She couldn't believe the brother she grew up - who slept above her bed and had a cat named Tiger Lilly - was capable of the horrific act of violence that left four people dead.

'That's not Kip,' she said. 'There must be something wrong.'

She insisted on finding out what was wrong with her brother and helping him.

One of the first times she saw him, Kristen said her brother was unable to speak.

'He had his head down on the table, and he was crying, and the only thing he could say was 'I'm sorry.'

Kinkel murdered his mom Faith and dad Bill the day after being caught trying to buy a stolen gun. They had taken his own 9mm Glock from him

Kinkel then drove to his school and shot 17 year-old Mikael Nickolauson (left), and 16 year-old Ben Walker (right) dead. He chose his victims at random and injured 22 others in the rampage

Kristin continued to visit Kip regularly in prison. He also continued to speak openly with a psychologist he saw weekly.

Kip was faced with a chance for release two years ago, when Oregon's governor Kate Brown granted clemency to 73 people who had been long sentences as juveniles, making them eligible for parole - but Kip was left off the list.

Kristen provided insight into how Kip felt over the decision to leave him behind bars.

'There were a whole bunch of us on the island, and this big lifeboat came and picked up everybody except for me,' Kristin said in New Yorker interview. 'I keep telling him, 'It's going to make multiple tripsit's not one opportunity. We are going to fight our entire lives to be able to make sure that you are in the place where you need to be.'

Kip's lawyer is set to appeal the decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals, according to court records.

Students attend a vigil in the wake of the deadly shooting in Springfield, Oregon, in May 1998

In 2021, Kip spoke out for the first time, expressing his 'shame' over his crimes 23 years after the massacre shocked America.

Kip said he is full of remorse for killing his dad Bill, mom Faith, as well as schoolmates Mikael Nickolauson and Ben Walker.

He told HuffPost: 'I've never done this. I've never done an interview. Partly because I feel tremendous, tremendous shame and guilt for what I did.

'And there's an element of society that glorifies violence, and I hate the violence that I'm guilty of. I've never wanted to do anything that's going to bring more attention.

'I have responsibility for the harm that I caused when I was 15. But I also have responsibility for the harm that I am causing now as I'm 38 because of what I did at 15.'

Kip also spoke of his fears that he may have inspired the Columbine High School massacre, which saw 12 students and one teacher gunned down in Littleton, Colorado, the year after his killings.

Two Columbine High School students, Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, committed one of the worst massacres in US history that left 12 students and one teacher dead, and 21 wounded on April 20, 1999.

Kip detailed his suffering from schizophrenia and amassing weapons before the horrific murders.

Kinkel said he was 12 when he started hearing voices telling him: 'You need to kill everyone, everyone in the world.'

He recalled looking around but not seeing anyone.

The frightening voices continued as Kinkel started to believe he was hearing them because Disney and the US government had planted a chip in his head.

His paranoia continued to grow, as did his interest in weapons. Kinkel started to think that China would invade the West Coast.

'I became obsessed with obtaining weapons. Not just guns, but knives and explosives,' Kip told HuffPost.

Kip said his parents were not gun enthusiasts so he hitched rides to gun shows from a friend's parents. At the shows, he bought books and magazines filled with paranoid warnings about 'foreign invaders' and the 'government plans to seize guns from Americans.'

He claims that a lot of his interest in amassing weapons was also because of recent news of the deadly Ruby Ridge and Waco standoffs with federal agents.

'The narrative was, "They're gonna take our guns." And my fear, twisted into my illness, was, 'Our own government is going to take away our guns before the Chinese invade, and we're not going to be able to defend ourselves,' Kip said.

Thurston High School is pictured. Kinkel's shooting there was one of the first to hit a US school, and came a year before the Columbine Shooting in Colorado, where 12 students and one teacher were murdered

'I have responsibility for the harm that I caused when I was 15. But I also have responsibility for the harm that I am causing now as I'm 38 because of what I did at 15,' Kip said. Pictured: A victim coming out of the window at Columbine High School

Police stand outside the east entrance of Columbine High shool as bomb squads and SWAT teams secure students on April 20, 1999, in Littleton, Colorado

Kinkel told HuffPost that the voices in his head would come and go. Then when he was in eighth grade, he and a friend got in trouble with the cops for throwing rocks off a freeway overpass.

His parents found bomb-making materials in his room and started taking him to a psychologist, with whom he had nine therapy sessions in 1997.

However, Kinkel tried to hide the symptoms of his mental illness and doctors diagnosed him with depression. He took Prozac for three months until the prescription ran out.

Kinkel said the voices in his head told him to shoot his father so he picked up the rifle and walked downstairs where he found his dad sitting.

'Kill him, shoot him. You have no choice,' he claimed the voices said.

He then shot his dad in the back of the head and dragged his body to the bathroom where he covered it with a sheet, then waited for his mom to get home.

Kinkel met his mom in the garage and told her he loved her before shooting her twice in the back of the head, three times in the face and once in the heart before then covering her body with a sheet.

'Get guns and bullets. You have no other choice. Kill everybody. Go to school and kill everybody. Look at what you've already done,' the voices told Kinkel, he said.

He took his mom's SUV to the school the next morning with three guns concealed under a trench coat, as well as a hunting knife and two bullets he taped to his chest to make sure he would have enough rounds to then kill himself.

'Shoot these boys,' the voices in his head said when he got to the school.

Kinkel said he headed to the cafeteria and shot his classmates.

Both boys killed were chosen by Kinkel at random.

Asked if he thinks he will ever be free, Kinkel said: 'I think that there's a few different ways to answer that.

'I've learned through a lot of years of therapy and self work that I really need to be careful with expectations. So I don't want to have false hope. But hope is always really important.

'So, of course, there's always a sense of hope that maybe I can leave an environment such as this that is miserable and designed to torment and inflict, basically, pain onto my body and soul. With that being said, I don't know what that would look like.

'So, I don't allow myself to spend too much time thinking about that because I think that can actually bring more suffering.'
Scotlands police chief yesterday made a humiliating apology after using an unmarked car to take her on a 120-mile trip to England when a train was cancelled.

In her first appearance before the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), Chief Constable Jo Farrell said she had re-directed a road policing vehicle to take her home to Northumberland.

The Mail revealed on Monday the officer who drove her across the Border during Storm Babet had turned on the unmarked cars emergency blue lights on his way to pick her up in central Edinburgh.

The disclosure sparked a row over the misuse of police resources less than two months after she began her 248,724 job and the trip was dubbed a taxpayer-funded taxi ride.

Police chief Jo Farrell made a humiliating apology after using an unmarked car to take her on a 120-mile trip to England

Ms Farrell made the apology to members of the SPA board at a public meeting in Edinburgh, where she said Storm Babet had been one of the worst storms in living memory, creating dangerous and challenging conditions.

Meanwhile, she also made a desperate plea to the SNP Government for 128million of funding next year  in addition to an extra 5million of contingency cash this year  amid a deepening financial crisis which could lead to a recruitment freeze next year.

Ms Farrell delivered a mission statement outlining her vision for the force but paused to publicly repeat an apology for an error in judgment.

She told those present: With my usual police vehicle unavailable, I asked my office for a car to drive me home.

A colleague who had been visiting Police Scotland was also driven home in the same vehicle.

Having a road policing vehicle redirected to carry out this journey was an error of judgment.

I apologise unreservedly to my colleagues, to the Authority and to the public.

During Ms Farrells trip, on October 20, she was accompanied by Assistant Chief Officer Gary Ridley of Durham Constabulary  her former force  who was giving unpaid advice on issues such as reducing bureaucracy.

The trip left the Lothian and Borders area with just one traffic officer on shift.

Martyn Evans, chairman of the SPA, told Ms Farrell: I want to recognise your apology for an error in judgment.

Meanwhile, Ms Farrell said that the 128million police were seeking from the SNP Government was crucial.

She said: Without that additional reform money, we are going to need to make difficult decisions as to how we police; my experience is that we will become a very reactive organisation.

So our priority becomes in the high-harm, high-threat area  but our engagement, our visibility and our proactivity minimises without that investment.

She said: This is an organisation that has saved 2billion over the past ten years and is operating with over 500 or 600 police officers less than it was 18 months ago.

David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said a recruitment freeze would be terrifying.

The Scottish Government said despite difficult circumstances it had increased funding by 80million to 1.45billion in 2023-24.
The only giant pandas in the UK went on display for the last time at Edinburgh Zoo yesterday.

Star attractions Yang Guang and Tian Tian, also known as Sunshine and Sweetie, will return to China in the coming days after spending the past 12 years in Scotland.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) welcomed in the crowds from 10am, with most visitors making a beeline to the panda enclosure.

Since their departure was announced earlier this year, visitors have flocked to say farewell. The last month was one of the zoos busiest Novembers on record.

Thousands of visitors flocked to Edinburgh Zoo for a last fond look at the only giant pandas in Britain

One final opportunity to say goodbye to giant pandas Yang Guang and Tian Tian at Edinburgh Zoo

From today, however, the pandas indoor enclosure will be closed off as their keepers prepare Yang Guang and Tian Tian for their journey home early next week.

Darren McGarry, head of living Collections for RZSS, said yesterday: Last weekend there were around 3,000 people, so its clear that a lot of people want to say their goodbyes.
The cousin of a missing Indigenous man claims he phoned him 'scared for his life' just hours before disappearing more than two years ago.

Jeremiah 'Jayo' Rivers, 27, was last seen at a remote campsite at Wippo Creek, near Noccundra in Queensland's south-west, on October 18, 2021.

A five-day inquest in the Coroners Court in Brisbane on Thursday heard Mr River's cousin, Matthew Perris, received a phone call from him where he was 'begging for rescue'.

Mr Perris claims Mr Rivers called him from his brother Joe Joe Kantilla-Gaden's phone through Facebook Messenger.

The 27-year-old said he was 'scared for his life' and 'outnumbered' in the early hours of October 18.

Jeremiah 'Jayo' Rivers (above) was last seen at a campsite in remote south-west Queensland on October 18, 2021

The group - who said they pig hunting in the remote area - claim Mr Rivers went swimming alone in Wippo Creek (pictured, an officer searching the creek)

Mr Perris claims his cousin had been in a fight with Mr Kantilla-Gaden who'd then turned other members of their camping group against him.

Mr Rivers then 'begged' for Mr Perris to come from the Northern Territory to pick him up.

'The situation was he wanted to get away from there, he was outnumbered,' Mr Perris said.

Mr Kantilla-Gaden denied the claims on Monday and his phone records show no history of the call. It is not known whether a Facebook Messenger call would appear in the phone log.

Mr Perris has also been unable to show any history of the call as he since created a new Facebook profile and cannot remember the password to his old account.

Mr Kantilla-Gaden had organised for he, Mr Rivers and five other men to illegally drive 1,000km to camp in Queensland during the Covid border lockdown.

The rest of the group was made up by the brothers' friend Matthew Moore and four Victorians - Travis Clare, Dylan Thomas, Joel McMaster and Kane Toohey.

The group claims they had travelled to Wippo Creek to go pig hunting and arrived between 7am and 8am on October 18.

Once they arrived at the campsite, they claim Mr Rivers went down to the creek to swim and cool off.

However, he didn't return and was reported missing around 3pm the following day.

A massive eight-day land and water search including ATVs, planes with monitors to track heat patterns, a gyrocopter diver and local police officers found no trace of the 27-year-old.

Queensland Police had also released CCTV footage showing Mr Rivers outside a service station the day before he disappeared.

Mr Rivers' family was immediately suspicious of his disappearance as he was a well-known Gija-tribe bushman who would've known better than to swim in a creek alone.

Mr Rivers' (above) cousin claims he called him 'scared for his life' and 'outnumbered' just hours before disappearing

Acting Superintendent Timothy Mowle told the Brisbane inquest the group's story didn't match Mr Rivers' character.

'He wouldn't walk away from camp, he wouldn't go swimming on his own and he doesn't even go swimming in the water up in Darwin, he was good in the bush, and had done a rangers' course or something similar,' he said, Courier Mail reported.

'From the outset, I instructed all search personnel to be on the lookout for any signs of suspicious activity including disturbed soil, signs of a struggle, blood, torn clothing, and ammunition casing.

'No such evidence was located in that search area.'

During initial interviews with police, one member of the group allegedly claimed they'd last seen Mr Rivers when he left to chase down their hunting dogs.

However, they later changed their answer to last seeing Mr Rivers when he went for a swim.

One man from the group (pictured at the Wippo Creek campsite) first claimed Mr Rivers had disappeared while chasing down hunting dogs but later said he was last seen swimming

READ MORE: Baffling pub food order that deepened the mystery of Jeremiah Rivers' disappearance Advertisement

Detective Senior Constable Christopher Brooks on Thursday said Mr Rivers' case was treated as a 'suspicious disappearance'.

'It appeared on the face of it that the group was travelling unlawfully in Queensland due to the border restrictions at the time,' he said.

'Their multiple initial versions to the police were inconsistent with some of the information we had gathered.

'Jayo was known to be a very competent bushman and had survival skills, his skills were inconsistent with him becoming lost based on the (nearby) creek line and roadway.'

Mr Kantilla-Gaden's story also changed through the investigation, admitting to officers the pig hunt was actual a cover to smuggle drugs across the border.

He claimed the group was planning to move three pounds of cannabis to communities around Darwin, worth an estimated $72,000.

Other members of the group denied the claim during the inquest.

Detective Senior Constable Brooks told the inquest police have at least one source outside of the group who can confirm the drug theory.

Coroner Donald MacKenzie has remained adamant the other group members played a role in Mr Rivers' disappearance.

Mr Kantilla-Gaden told the inquest Mr Rivers (pictured the day before he disappeared) and the group were planning to smuggle cannabis into the Northern Territory

'From the brief of evidence, there is a clear line of criticism of the QPS investigation, whether it was incompetent is another matter altogether,' he said.

'But it wasn't the perfect investigation, and there are reasons for that  the primary reason was that the information they had to act on at the start was a movable feast of lies.'

The inquest is due to conclude on Friday afternoon.
Neighbour said elderly man had been battling cancer for years

Two dead in Adelaide murder-suicide revealed as father and son

An elderly man killed in a suspected father-son murder-suicide had been battling cancer for several years before his shock death.

Brian Scherr, 88, was discovered by first responders at his home in Glenelg North in Adelaide at about 1.30pm on Tuesday.

About 15 hours later, Mr Scherr's son Peter, 63, was found dead at the same address.

The younger man's body was found at about 4.10am on Wednesday, just hours after an investigation into his father's death was launched.

Police are treating their deaths as a suspected murder-suicide.

Neighbour Norman Schueard revealed that Brian, who he used to chat to over their shared fence, had been battling cancer for the last few years.

'He had cancer and was being treated for that in Sydney for a number of years, but I think it was under control,' he told The Advertiser.

'He was a nice guy. Very friendly. I used to hang over the fence and chat to him.'

An elderly man killed in a suspected father-son murder-suicide had been battling cancer for several years before he was found dead at this Glenelg North home

Peter Scherr, 63, and his wife were seen walking in Glenelg North, hours after his father was discovered dead at his home in what police are treating as a murder-suicide

Shocked neighbours described the men who lived at the home as quiet and friendly

Mr Schueard said Peter had moved in to the home about three to four months ago.

He said he only spoke to him on one occasion but chatted with his 'pleasant' wife several times over the fence.

Mr Schueard said he had assumed police were coming to ask him about a home invasion when they knocked on his door.

Instead he learned his long-time friend and neighbour had been found dead at the home with his son's body found just 15 hours later.

He said the air traffic controller had moved down from Brisbane a few years ago.

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.

'The man actually put his arm around her,' one woman told The Advertiser.

'And because they were hugging and walking down the street there I thought they're obviously distressed about what's happened.'

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

Police were seen at the home taking away brown bags containing evidence earlier this week

The father and son lived in a quiet leafy street in an affluent beachside suburb of Adelaide

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 2005, according to real estate records.

Detectives and forensic officers have spent the last two days examining the Kibby Avenue home and were seen removing two large desk computers from the home.

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.
The ABC's health expert has been accused of 'scaremongering' after he said people should be wearing masks this Christmas.

Dr Norman Swan said people should mask up to reduce the spread of Covid and avoid 'stuffy' indoor areas by holding events outside.

'Stay outdoors, don't go indoors to stuffy environments, wear masks to protect yourselves, and if you've got symptoms like a runny nose or a cough stay away from your relatives,' Dr Swan told The Project on Tuesday night.

'For those of you that have not had a jab in 2023; Really, another jab? I mean you haven't had a jab for quite a while [so] put on your big boy pants or your big girl pants and go out and get one.

'This is not a mild virus and the death rates are going back up again.'

2GB radio host Chris O'Keefe said Dr Swan needed to 'give it up' and was giving advice more suited to circumstances in 2020 when Covid case numbers peaked.

'Can we just drop off this stuff?' he told listeners on Friday.

'It feels like we're back in 2020 when you hear Dr Norman Swan, doesn't it? Listen, Dr Swan, please, just give it away. Enough.

'Most of us have had Covid once, maybe twice, maybe two or three times. And you know what? We're all still here to tell the tale.

'We know ourselves as individuals, and we'll make the decision to go and get vaxxed, depending on whether or not we think we are particularly vulnerable.'

Dr Norman Swan, an ABC health expert, said people should mask up to reduce the spread of disease and avoid 'stuffy' indoor areas this festive season (pictured on The Project)

2GB radio host Chris O'Keefe said Dr Swan needed to 'give it up' and was giving advice more suited to circumstances in 2020 at the height of Covid infections

O'Keefe said Dr Swan was damaging his 'credibility' with his hardline Covid Christmas predictions.

'This wave if you knew it was on, it's due to peter out by Christmas. But honestly, Norman, we get it,' he said.

'Can you please just stop? Enough is enough.'

Dr Swan's advice came as Australia enters its eighth Covid wave with infections in NSW alone up by 20 per cent in the last fortnight.

The ABC health expert called on Aussies to stay up to date with their injections in spite of vaccine fatigue.

'About five million Australians are under-immunised,' he told The Project.

'Really it's about, have you had a jab in 2023? And if you haven't had one, wait until a new one comes on stream [on December 11] and get one. But if you have had an immunisation in 2023 you don't need another one probably until 2024, unless you're at high risk or you're over 75, or over 65 with risk factors.'

The new version of the vaccine is designed to specifically fight off the most common version of the virus as emergency rooms struggle to keep up with cases.

It targets the new XBB variant that was first discovered in late December 2022 and has quickly become the dominant strain in the country.

Up to 89 per cent of eligible Australians are not up to date with vaccines amid warnings NSW's Covid wave is due to peak at Christmas (pictured, a masked shopper in Sydney)

Up to 89 per cent of eligible Australians are not up to date with vaccines amid warnings NSW's Covid wave is due to peak at Christmas.

However, federal health data shows there has been a recent spike in vaccinations as case numbers balloon in all states and territories.

Up to 35 per cent of people admitted into hospitals carry the virus which can lead to deadly outbreaks in high-risk settings.

Infectious diseases physician Professor Peter Collignon last week warned that the current wave will peak within weeks.

'This wave has been going on for weeks already and they usually peak at about six weeks,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'We will likely see cases returning to the amounts seen in October by mid December.'
The claws came out early in the showdown between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the two state leaders took personal jabs and fought to speak over each other.

DeSantis slammed his California counterpart by pointing to his hypocrisy during COVID-19 by going out to fine-dining restaurant The French Laundry and sending his children to in-person private schools while his residents were still under lockdown.

He said California ran out of UHauls because so many people were moving out to head to red states  including Florida. He said among the new residents in Florida is Newsom's wife's father.

Newsom didn't back down in the one-on-one debate in Alpharetta, Georgia on Thursday night, taking a dig at DeSantis by saying they both won't be presidential nominees in 2024.

'You almost have to try to mess California up,' DeSantis said during feisty opening remarks explaining why his state is superior. 'That is what Gavin Newsom has done since he has been governor.'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (right) met for a one-on-one debate hosted by Fox News and moderated by Sean Hannity (center) on Thursday night in Alpharetta, Georgia

'You almost have to try to mess California up,' DeSantis said during feisty opening remarks. 'That is what Gavin Newsom has done since he has been governor'

'He has imposed restrictions on his own people while exempting himself from those restrictions and going to the French Laundry while his people were suffering,' the Florida governor said. 'He led the country in school closures, blocking kids out of school while he had his own kids in private school in-person.'

Newsom has repeatedly said he has no plans to run for president in 2024 and has served as a surrogate for President Joe Biden since he launched his reelection campaign this year.

On the other hand, DeSantis is engaged in a heated primary election where he comes in distant second to former President Donald Trump.

'I'll give Gavin credit  he did at least admit in his first answer, he's joined at the hip with Biden and Harris,' DeSantis said at Thursday's debate. 'He thinks Biden and Harris have done a great job. He thinks the economy is working because of their policies for Americans, and they are not.

The governor added: 'What California represents is the Biden-Harris agenda on steroids.'

He noted that Newsom is the first California leader to see the state lose population rather than gain.

'They actually at one point, ran out of U-Hauls in the state of California because so many people were leaving,' DeSantis said at the start of a debate filled with a lot of tension and cross-talk.

Newsom acknowledged: 'There are profound differences tonight, and I look forward to engaging.'

'But there's one thing in closing that we have in common is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024,' he jabbed.

The governors took stage Thursday evening to prove once and for all which of their states are superior and which of their governing styles works better for their residents.

The highly anticipated match-up was expected to get heated  and did not disappoint right out the gate.

Following the debate, DeSantis said in a press conference that he decided to do the debate because it was 'good exposure' for him since Trump is sucking up most of the media attention in the GOP primary.

'Part of the reason I did it is Sean's a friend,' Desantis said of the Fox host, adding that he was hesitant to participate at first since Newsom isn't an official 2024 candidate.

'But then I thought about it,' he explained in a post-debate press conference. 'I'm in a race where one candidate gets a disproportionate amount of media coverage. And so I have to be able to get my message out.'

'So to have 90 minutes on national TV, where I'm able to go and box somebody who is on the far left  that is good exposure for me,' he said.

The two men have spent months going at each other's throats on airwaves and finally get the chance to meet-up face-to-face.

Tensions between DeSantis and Newsom culminate in Alpharetta, Georgia, where Fox News host Sean Hannity is asking the two to share why their approach to governing is best.

The battle of the governors not only offers the ultimate red v. blue showdown, but also could preview a future presidential race  if not in this cycle, during a later one.

Newsom took a jab at DeSantis with: 'There are profound differences tonight, and I look forward to engaging. But there's one thing in closing that we have in common is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024'

Some are also looking to see alternatives to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are likely set for a rematch in 2024.

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 ahead of the battle with Newsom.

Meanwhile, Newsom is not in the 2024 race  and insists he has no intentions of entering the running and instead is serving as a surrogate to Biden.

'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,' DeSantis campaign manager James Uthmeier said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com

He added: '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 spokesman Nathan Click told DailyMail.com the day before the debate that the California governor is participating because he 'has long believed that Democrats have to go on offense in enemy territory, and that's exactly what he intends to do.'

Hannity helped brokered the terms of the debate, including at least one of the candidates preferring not to have an in-studio audience.

The Fox News host told DailyMail.com in an interview Tuesday: 'I took on the crazy position of personally handling this myself. I thought it was too important.'

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 during an interview: '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.
Aussies are in for a wet but hot start to summer as the effects of this week's heavy rains linger in many parts of the country.

Forecasters warn flood warnings are being maintained into the weekend in parts of eastern Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales after a drenching from heavy rains over the past three days.

'There is more rain on the way for those parts of the country but the intensity will ease back on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,' senior meteorologist Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology said.

'Rain falling onto saturated soil and swollen rivers means a number of flood warnings are to be maintained over the weekend.'

Aussies will see a warm change heading into next week following a week of wild weather

Parts of northern Queensland will see severe thunderstorms on Friday but are set to diminish by the evening, while northern parts of the Northern Territory have been warned to batten down the hatches for a wet and wild weekend of storms.

'Rain will start to clear up by Sunday with most of the nation seeing drier and warmer weather,' Hines added.

Western Australia will see dry and warm weather across the state, with the primary impact in the area being elevated fire dangers into Saturday, he said.

Perth will see temperatures consistently in the high 20s over the weekend and into the new week with no predicted rainfall.

Many parts of the country will see the last remnants of rain on Saturday, which could cause flooding due to already 'saturated soils and swollen rivers'

'It will be dry and settled throughout the centre,' Hines noted.

The meteorologist added that while temperatures nationwide are currently average for this time of year, they will begin to rise next week as summer begins.

Sydney could see showers continuing into the weekend with up to 8mm of rainfall on Saturday, most likely in the afternoon and evening.

Residents will see a warm change moving into the week with a high of 27 and sunny on Tuesday.

In Victoria, there is a high chance of showers which will quickly clear up by Monday, with temperatures soaring into the early 30s.

There are minor flood warnings in place throughout the state for waterways such as the Genoa River, Buchan River, Snowy River, Avon River and Thomson River.
The Jamba Juice at 74 New Montgomery St. in downtown San Francisco has closed. Laura Waxmann/The Chronicle

New Montgomery Street in downtown San Francisco recently lost a Starbucks store, but thats not the only vacancy thats cropped up between Mission and Jessie streets in the past few weeks.

Jamba Juice, the juice bar chain that has its origins in California but is now based in Atlanta, has pulled the plug on a location next to the now-shuttered Starbucks at 74 New Montgomery St. Both businesses operated in ground-floor commercial spaces in the seven-story building, which also features more than 100 condos.

Multiple sources have confirmed that the Jamba Juice store shuttered in late October, a week before Starbucks announced the closure of its New Montgomery Street storefront. Jamba Juices space is now being marketed as available for lease by real estate firm Maven; Joan Ruyle and Pamela Mendelsohn have the listing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A sign at the former Jamba Juice location at 74 New Montgomery St. in downtown San Francisco details the stores closure. Laura Waxmann/The Chronicle

One source confirmed that depressed foot traffic and increasing rent were at the core of Jamba Juices exit from 74 Montgomery. Jamba Juices former landlord could not be reached to confirm a potential rent increase.

Jamba Juice, which does business as Jamba Inc., did not respond to a message Thursday seeking comment. The store listing has been removed from the companys website, which now lists eight Jamba Juice stores in San Francisco, three downtown: 149 Kearny St. in the Financial District, 170 OFarrell St. near Union Square, and 865 Market St. inside San Francisco Centre.

Over the summer Jamba Juice was sued for falling behind on rent at a store on the other side of the city, inside Stonestown Galleria at 3251 20th Ave. The unlawful detainer lawsuit, filed in August, alleged that the store owed over $20,000 for missed rental payments since May. As of Thursday, that location remained open.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The empty storefronts left behind by Jamba Juice and Starbucks on New Montgomery Street sit next to another vacancy at 90 New Montgomery St., a 15-story office building that, until 2020, housed a Papyrus store on its ground floor.

The Jamba Juice at 74 New Montgomery St. in downtown San Francisco has closed due to depressed foot traffic and increasing rent. Laura Waxmann/The Chronicle

In the months leading up to the pandemic, the stationery and greeting card retailer confirmed that it planned to close all of its Bay Area stores. The storefront at 90 New Montgomery remains vacant.

In Starbucks case, the international coffee company shuttered its New Montgomery Street store after closing seven other downtown locations a month earlier, citing several factors that went into the decision without providing details. The company also said that it planned to invest $2.5 million in upgrades at stores in other parts of the city. It recently launched or reopened three new stores, including 333 Market St. as a pickup-only location and a new location at Powell and OFarrell streets.

The downtown closures are not necessarily surprising: Office workers have been notably missing from the area since the start of the pandemic, when many companies shifted to remote work. Meanwhile, vacancies in the citys office buildings have risen steadily, surpassing 30% this year.
A farmer has come up with a unique solution to deal with an error by Google Maps after hundreds of tourists found themselves on his property in search of a scenic national park.

Cattle farmer Graham Anderson, who lives in the country town of Isla, about 330 km west of Bundaberg in central Queensland, said he was sick of strangers showing up on his property.

Mr Anderson said tourists were showing up on his farm as they tried to make their way to the nearby Isla Gorge National Park.

He said the visitors were being misdirected to his property instead of the park thanks to an error on Google Maps.

Queensland farmer Graham Anderson (pictured) said strangers began showing up on his cattle farm on their way to Isla Gorge National Park in Central Queensland

'We had people coming in just all the time and they were saying it was Google, that they were following the maps across our property to get there,' Mr Anderson told the ABC.

After the Covid-19 lockdowns were eventually eased across Queensland, Mr Anderson found the problem got worse.

Mr Anderson said there would be people showing up out of the blue every other day at his farm in search of the national park, which is known for its spectacular sandstone rock formations and bushwalking trail.

He estimates that at least 200 groups of people have visited his 2,800 hectare property while in search of the park.

'We back onto the gorge and it's along our border, but there's no access to the gorge from our place at all.'

The park is about 20km farther down from his property and is around 34 kilometres from Isla along the Leichhardt Highway.

He feared visitors would get lost while trying to get to the park and run into trouble if they were cut off from Google Maps or the internet.

Mr Anderson decided to take matters into his own hands and had his own roadside sign made (pictured) to tell tourists which way to go

Fed up after years of having people drive up onto his farm, Mr Anderson decided to take matters into his own hands and put up a sign to tell tourists which way to go.

'For a thousand bucks, I thought I'd get a sign made,' he said.

Sure enough, the farmer put his knowledge of the local terrain to good use and made a large roadside sign which included a bold statement.

'Trust me not Google - Isla Gorge on Highway 17.5km,' the sign reads.

He said he had to make sure people were aware that Google Maps were leading them along the wrong path.

His efforts have paid off as the number of people accidently making their way through his property has since reduced.

A spokesperson from Google told Daily Mail Australia that the error has now been fixed.

'We use multiple sources to accurately model the real world, including third party data, user contributions, along with Street View and satellite imagery,' the spokesperson said.

The Isla Gorge National Park (pictured) is close to 20 kilometres further from Mr Anderson's property along the Leichhardt Highway and is known for its spectacular sandstone rock formations

'When there are inaccuracies, we work to fix them as quickly as possible. We have fixed this issue.'

Mr Anderson said he would keep the sign up even though the tech giant has fixed the problem.

Travelers can download maps off Google and use them offline if they are heading on a trip where mobile and internet service is limited.

Tourists should also have a paper map with them as a backup and ensure they plan their trip well in advance.
A New York City 19-year-old has been arrested and checked into a mental health facility in connection with the murder of his five-year-old half brother, their father and the child's mother in their apartment building.

Jayden Rivera was arrested and charged in the grisly-triple murder and also faces manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon charges, an NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

The bodies of Jonathan Rivera, 38, Hanoi Peralta, 33, and Kayden Rivera, five, were found inside an apartment building on 674 East 136th Street in Mott Haven.

Jonathan Rivera is Jayden's father and Peralta is Jonathan's girlfriend and mother of their son, Kayden.

Police responded to a 911 call at 6:40am on Sunday to discover Jonathan Rivera in the hallway covered in blood with several stab wounds.

Jayden Rivera was arrested and charged in the grisly-triple murder and also faces manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon charges, an NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com

The bodies of Jonathan Rivera, 38, Hanoi Peralta, 33, and Kayden Rivera, 5, were found inside an apartment building on 674 East 136th Street in Mott Haven

Peralta and Kayden were found shortly after also with multiple stab wounds inside their first-floor apartment in the same building.

All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny revealed that the five-year-old was basically disemboweled by his half-brother.

Kenny said that Jayden - a scholarship student at SUNY Oswego - had told his own mother - while still covered in his victims' blood - that he was 'hearing voices' in the days leading up to the murder and believed his father and his father's girlfriend meant to harm him.

'Later on, when he returned home, he stated to his mother again that he was hearing voices and that he thought that Mr. Rivera and Ms. Peralta were going to hurt him.'

Jayden initially fled the apartment after killing his victims but returned to attempt to violently pound their bodies with a kitchen pot, the New York Post reported.

He was checked into Westchester County Medical Center in Valhalla, where he allegedly confessed to the murders.

Jonathan Rivera and Peralta had broken up but were reconciling at the time of their deaths.

The bodies of Jonathan Rivera, 38 (right) Hanoi Peralta, 33 (left) and their son Kayden Rivera, 5, were found on Sunday morning in the Bronx

Police removing one of the victims from the scene. Mr Rivera was discovered in the hallway covered in blood with several stab wounds

Rivera has two other daughters in Connecticut. Friends and relatives said he worked two jobs to make ends meet, including at Kayden's school.

Hours after the grisly discovery was made, the former superintendent of the building fondly reminisced on his interactions with Kayden as he went to and from school.

'I play with him every day,' said Jose Torres. 'That's my little buddy there.'

Neighbor Paulette Williams said: 'I heard people talking about they heard loud fighting and arguing, and then it stopped  and that's when they found out they were dead,' she added.

Torres, 60, believes the family moved to the building about five years ago.

'They always go out together,' he said. 'I never had no problem with none of them.'

Dahan Ali owns a deli in the building and knows all the victims, said: 'I would always see her every morning at 7, 7:30 when I came she would take her son to school, with her son every morning.'

They were found at an apartment building on 674 East 136th Street in Mott Haven at 8 a.m (pictured)

Police presence at the scene

Police cordon off the scene outside the building

People living in the building say the family kept to themselves and that they never saw any problems between the couple or their little boy.

Ms Ali continued: 'Lovely boy, very lovely -- saw home day before yesterday, he took a cookie, I said 'where is your father?' He said outside.'

The medical examiner has determined the cause of death as homicide.

The investigation is ongoing and so far there are no suspects or motive.
President Joe Biden name dropped Prince Harry and his work with the Invictus Games at Thursday night's National Christmas Tree Lighting on the Ellipse.

The acknowledgment comes as the British Royal Family is embroiled in the latest chapter of the 'royal racist' row, which started when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told Oprah Winfrey that a family member had 'concerns' about the color of Prince Archie's skin.

The latest turn came after the Dutch publication of author Omid Scobie's book Endgame, in which two senior royals were inadvertently named.

During brief remarks at the National Tree Lighting ceremony, Biden called attention to 43 members of Team USA who were in the audience and who had traveled to Dusseldorf, Germany in September for the Invictus Games - an event first lady Jill Biden had skipped.

'Give them a hand,' Biden told the crowd. 'Jill and Prince Harry went to the first Invictus Games in '14 and the Invictus Games in Ontario, I was there, in '16 in Toronto. Anyway, there's been great, great, great effort that we've seen.'

President Joe Biden (right), flanked by first lady Jill Biden (left), name dropped Prince Harry at Thursday's National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse. It comes as the Royal Family is embroiled in the latest chapter of the 'racist row'

At the Christmas Tree Lighting, Biden (left) referenced how Dr. Jill Biden (center) attended the Invictus Games with Prince Harry (right) in 2014 and both Bidens went when they were held in Toronto, though the president messed up the year

The Toronto games were actually held in 2017.

Dr. Biden attended the 2016 Invictus Games when they were held in Florida.

'And you know these athletes are incredible. Wounded warriors - from service branches, from every service branch, the essence of who we are as Americans,' the president continued.

The 'royal racist' row took on new life after the publication of the Dutch version of Omid Scobie's book Endgame, which inadvertently named two senior royals as the perpetrators

On September 1, the East Wing made it official that Dr. Biden, a staunch advocate for servicemembers, veterans and their families, would skip the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.

The first lady instead attended a going-away dinner and addressed a group of 60 wounded, injured and ill active-service military members in Belvoir, Virginia.

DailyMail.com reported in July that Dr. Biden had wanted to attend the April 2022 Invictus Games in The Hague.

They would be the first games held since the COVID-19 pandemic, since the start of the Biden administration and since Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family.

But the first lady ultimately didn't go for fear of offending the British Royal Family, sources said.

British officials, in a working level conversation, conveyed to National Security Council staff that they thought the idea would land badly, a source said.

'She wanted to go,' a person familiar with the event told DailyMail.com of the first lady, but noted the East Wing was concerned the Palace could be hurt if she attended.

Several months later, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wanted a ride back to the United States on Air Force One after the Queen's funeral.

That request was quickly denied by the White House, as it was considered a 'non-starter,' sources told DailyMail.com.

'It would have caused such a commotion. It would have strained relations with the Palace and the new King,' another source told DailyMail.com.

Dr. Biden had enjoyed a close friendship with Prince Harry for years, bonding over their shared support for veterans.

During her time as second lady, she and first lady Michelle Obama launched Joining Forces to support military families.

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014 after attending the Warrior Games in the U.S. the year before.
In a separate nearby hotel, he was gunned down by police in front of children

Witnesses say he shot out a window of a Connecticut motel before fleeing

Shocking bodycam footage captured the moment three Connecticut police officers raided a hotel room and shot a suspected gunman in front of screaming children.

Suspected gunman Christopher Nolan, 42, was gunned down in the hotel room after allegedly shooting at someone from the window of a separate nearby hotel.

Cops were initially called to reports of shots fired at the America's Best Value Inn in New London, Connecticut at around 1:50pm on Sunday, where witnesses claimed Nolan rushed into a room and fired at someone out of the window before fleeing the scene.

The police then learned that Nolan fled to the nearby Clarion Inn Hotel, where a room-by-room search saw them find Nolan on the second floor, in a room with multiple children inside.

Shocking police bodycam footage captured the moment three officers entered a hotel room to find a suspected gunman inside around several children, where he was trying to 'escape'

Several terrified witnesses, including children, were inside the room at the time of the shooting, with a child's legs seen on a bed on the left as police enter the room

After Nolan sustained several gunshot wounds, the bodycam footage showed the officers discovering a revolver in the corner of a windowsill next to where Nolan stood

According to the Office of the Inspector General (IG), which is investigating the police shooting, when officers knocked on the room another person allowed them to enter.

Nolan was found pressed against a window in an 'apparent effort to escape', the IG said in a report.

Frantic bodycam footage shows the moment officers say they realized Nolan was still holding a firearm, and when he turned towards the officers they opened fire.

The IG said the officers involved in the shooting were identified as Joseph Nott, Annie Agnew, and Seth Bolduc.

The footage also shows several children witness the shooting, some of them sitting on beds, and reacting in terror as the police burst into the room.

Police were initially called to reports of shots fired at the America's Best Value Inn in New London, Connecticut at around 1:50pm on Sunday, where Nolan allegedly fired out of a window before fleeing the scene

After the first shots were fired, cops went room-to-room at the nearby Clarion Inn, where they discovered and shot Nolan inside a room with several screaming children

Nolan sustained multiple gunshot wounds and received medical treatment at the scene, with the moments after the shooting showing the officers also finding a firearm.

Surrounded by bullet holes in the window of the room, a revolver can be seen in the bodycam footage on the corner of a windowsill near to where Nolan was allegedly trying to flee.

He was rushed to hospital and was transferred to the Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, which listed as him being in good condition on Wednesday, reports NBC Connecticut.

The New London Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for update when contacted by DailyMail.com.

The shooting is currently under investigation by the IG, the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad, the New London Police Department and the New London States Attorney's Office.

It is unclear who the witnesses inside the room were, although the Department of Children and Families says it is aware that children were present as the incident unfolded and is also investigating.
An inquiry has been opened into Mayor Eric Adams Director of Asian Affairs following reports she was allegedly improperly benefitting from her government position.

Winnie Greco, 61, is a senior advisor in New York City, on an $100,000-a-year salary.

She was accused of promising a job to an unnamed campaign volunteer in exchange for renovating her Bronx kitchen in 2022, according to a report by The City.

The Department of Investigations has now confirmed to the outlet that an inquiry into Greco has begun - after a referral from the mayors office was made.

Spokesperson Diane Struzzi said: 'Weve received the referral and we are reviewing the matter.'

Winnie Greco, 61, the city's current director of Asian affairs, has been accused of promising a job to a campaign volunteer in exchange for renovating her kitchen

It's a new blow for mayor Eric Adams as the FBI probes his campaign fundraising

The City reported that Greco also asked for a $10,000 donation from a Chinese executive in exchange for access to a Chinese-focused government event at Gracie Mansion.

The two volunteers spoke to The City before the FBI raided the home of Adam's chief fundraiser Brianna Suggs as part of an investigating into an alleged kickback scheme.

The tech worker claimed he took up Greco's offer and she helped him land interviews with the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs two months after he began working on her house.

The man was hired as a program coordinator in July 2022, and says Greco continued asking him to help clean her kitchen and remove debris from her home.

He told The City: 'I felt obligated to help her. Two weeks after I began working at MOIA, she said to me, "Do you know how much effort I made to get you hired?"'

According to the report, he was fired in June following a three-month warning. The man claims things turned south after he began refusing to help Greco.

When he was give the warning, he was allegedly told by his bosses to 'be good to Winnie.'

The Chinese executive, on his part, told The City that Greco asked for the donation to go to a nonprofit she founded, and claimed she has asked the same of at least five other donors.

Adams poses with advisor Winnie Greco at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in August

Greco, who has a salary of $100,000, has denied the reports, according to The New York Post.

A spokesperson for City Hall described the former campaign volunteer as a 'disgruntled former employee.'

A campaign spokeswoman for Adams told The Post: 'Ms. Greco did not have a formal role on the campaign and has no authority to make promises to volunteers. A number of assertions made by The City in their article are simply incorrect.'

The serious allegations come after the FBI seized Adams' electronic devices following a raid on the home of his top fundraiser and longtime confidante Brianna Suggs, 25.

Suggs' house in the Crown Heights neighborhood was searched while Adams was on his way to meetings in Washington DC, forcing him to abruptly cancel and return to 'deal with a matter.'

The agents seized three iPhones, two laptop computers, papers and a 'manila folder labeled Eric Adams,' The New York Times reported. They also took seven 'contribution card binders.'

The agents also wanted records of travel to Turkey by any employee, officer or associate of the campaign; and documents related to interactions between the campaign and the government of Turkey, 'including persons acting at the behest of the Turkish government.'

Agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs , a campaign consultant who has helped Adams raise $2.5million for his 2025 election

Agents in FBI vests were among those who removed boxes from the home

After news of his devices being seized broke, Adams told CNN 'he has nothing to hide.'

'As a former member of law enforcement, I expect all members of my staff to follow the law and fully cooperate with any sort of investigation  and I will continue to do exactly that,' he added.

Authorities are investigating whether the campaign conspired with a Brooklyn construction company and the Turkish government to funnel foreign money into the campaign's coffers, apparently through a straw donor scheme.

Neither Adams nor anyone in his campaign have been charged with any crimes.
The King will tell world leaders that 'the hope of the world rests on the decisions you must take' when he addresses the Cop28 eco-summit in Dubai today.

He is the only foreign head of state who has been invited to speak at the climate action meeting of global leaders, in honour of the work he has been undertaking in the environmental field for decades.

In his speech, His Majesty is expected to tell delegates: 'I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action.'

But he is also set to warn that while progress has been made towards a more sustainable future, the repeated warning signs of the impact of climate change  especially in vulnerable regions across the Commonwealth  are being ignored.

The King believes this could have devastating consequences as 'lives and livelihoods are laid waste'.

The King will tell world leaders that 'the hope of the world rests on the decisions you must take' when he addresses the Cop28 eco-summit in Dubai today

King Charles talks to representatives at the Commonwealth and Nature reception during COP28

Aides said His Majesty 'deeply appreciates' the invitation, which came from the UAE as host nation and at the request of the British Government

It is understood he will argue that the world needs real action, and that solutions will come only by nations working together to make it easier for the public sector, the private sector, philanthropic organisations and other stakeholders to take the necessary steps in unison.

'The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth,' he will add. It will be the King's first major speech on the environment since becoming monarch last year and his words have been shaped with the 'full support' of the Government, aides stressed.

Unlike the King, who is an ardent environmentalist, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been rowing back on his green pledges. Mr Sunak will be present along with new Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, who spent time with the King yesterday.

Aides said His Majesty 'deeply appreciates' the invitation, which came from the UAE as host nation and at the request of the British Government.

The King told Lord Cameron: 'I would not have missed it for the world', as he met students at a campus in Dubai.

Later he was given a present by indigenous tribes from Brazil of a handmade decorated wooden bird, a symbol of biodiversity. Joenia Wapichana said: 'I thanked him for everything he has done to help protect biodiversity in the Amazon.'

However, in news that could cause red faces among green campaigners, Cop28 is likely to be the biggest and most polluting event of its kind, according to official figures.

The amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the event is set to outstrip previous meetings due to the sheer numbers attending, experts said.

More than 104,000 official delegates are attending the summit  and an estimated 400,000 others will attend related events in the United Arab Emirates.

The vast majority of attendees at the oil- and gas-rich Gulf country will come by plane  so the amount of emissions produced is likely to dwarf that in previous years.

Scientists calculate a return economy commercial flight to Dubai from the UK will generate about 1.3 tonnes of CO2  and a private jet more than nine times this figure per passenger.

King Charles is greeted by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron as he arrives to meet students at Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus during Cop28

In his speech, His Majesty is expected to tell delegates: 'I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action'

People walk the venue for the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit with the Al Wasl Dome in the background at Expo City

However, climate experts say that the huge amounts of greenhouse gas generated by the event will be worth it if it helps to put the brakes on global warming, by getting countries to commit to reducing their emissions.

Richard Black of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said: 'Given the number of people expected here, yes this probably will have the highest carbon footprint of any COP to date.

'But the size of that footprint is absolutely dwarfed by the emission cuts that a deal can produce. If all the agreements made at the Glasgow summit two years ago are realised, that would save 70,000 times more carbon than the summit itself produced.

'And for this one, the biggest element of a deal that's on the table  agreeing to triple renewable energy deployment by 2030  would avoid 7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions this decade, equivalent to about 20 years of UK emissions.'

A Cop28 spokesman said: 'Cop28 will demonstrate its sustainability ambition by delivering a carbon conscious and sustainable event.'
Omid Scobie has refused to apologise to the two royals the Dutch version of his book claimed had 'concerns' over Prince Archie's skin colour - after both Endgame translators insisted the names were in the manuscript they were sent.

In a tense BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire last night, Mr Scobie was given the chance to say sorry to the Royal Family but instead declared: 'It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.'

The royal author, 42, said that the book that he 'was extremely proud of' has been 'completely overshadowed by an event that's caused me a lot of frustration'.

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television.

The pair identified in the book were named widely by media organisations around the world last night, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and Kate.

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly named the pair in a letter to Charles, have insisted to the Telegraph that she had 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp'.

Omid Scobie has refused to apologise to the two senior royals his book claimed had 'concerns' over Prince Archie 's skin colour

In a tense BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire , Scobie declared: 'It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.'

Dutch translators Saskia Peeters (left) and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern (right) who worked on Omid Scobie's controversial book have insisted the names of two royals at the centre of racism scandal were in the manuscript they were sent

The Prince and Princess of Wales put on a business-as-usual attitude as they attended the Royal Variety Performance 2023 amid a deepening race row reignited by Omid Scobie

King Charles also brushed off the racism row as he visited Dubai for the Cop28 summit. Here, he talks to representatives at the Commonwealth and Nature reception yesterday

When Mr Scobie was asked whether he could 'hand on heart' say that this wasn't a publicity stunt to sell more books, he replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.'

He told Newsnight last night that 'there are irresponsible people in this country that have broken the law and repeated names that should never have been repeated'.

'The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it,' he added. 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else.'

READ MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William ignore fallout from Omid Scobie race row as they arrive hand-in-hand at the Royal Variety Performance Advertisement

Mr Scobie said there is a full investigation going on into what happened after he first heard about it on social media.

The author, who said his book had been 'legalled and vetted', explained that he was in back to back interviews on the day that he was told by the Dutch publisher that there was a 'translation error'.

He added: 'So I'm looking forward to finding out more about it because the English version of the book - the only one I know - the version I signed off on, that's the book that is out there today, that's the book that has no names in it.

'I make it very clear, because ultimately to write the names it's a show and tell situation, there's no ability to show so there was never an attempt to name.'

Mr Scobie was speaking as members of the Royal Family got down to business as usual, with King Charles in Dubai for Cop28 and Prince William and Kate dazzling at the Royal Variety Performance in London.

Palace sources told The Mirror that the 'entire Royal Family is united in outrage' after members of the family were 'unfairly named in this way'.

They added: 'There is absolute and unequivocal denial that anything said by the two persons named publicly was said, or even could be considered to be said, in a racist manner.'

The row was described as 'an outrageous smear' that began with the Oprah interview but has now 'blown up into another stratosphere'.

The interview also came just hours after both Dutch translators who worked on Mr Scobie's controversial book insisted that the names of two royals at the centre of a racism scandal were in the manuscript they received.

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.'

The second translator, Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern, then told The Sun: 'We are professionals and we've done this for years, both of us. It's unfair.'

Her claims appear to contradict Scobie's (pictured yesterday) who has insisted 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)

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 on Wednesday night.

Last night, he hosted another show where he defended his decision before describing Mr Scobie as a 'proven liar' who is 'dragging the Royal Family through the mud all over again and reigniting these racism charges because he wants to sell books and make money'.

In response to Mr Scobie saying he was 'frustrated', Morgan also tweeted: 'Must be very frustrating when some random person in the Netherlands decides to insert passages naming and racist-shaming King Charles and the Princess of Wales in your own book, and you have no idea how that happened.'

The Dutch edition of the book is said to include the two royals' names but there is no detail of what was supposedly said during the alleged conversations. Mr Scobie has provided no evidence to back up the claims.

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 Mr 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 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 'considering all options' over the royal race row stoked by Mr 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 Mr 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 yesterday 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 yesterday 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 yesterday. They later attended the Royal Variety Performance.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their children Archie and Lilibet in December 2021

Before his BBC appearance, Mr Scobie appeared on ITV's This Morning to square the blame on the Dutch publisher, declaring: 'I never submitted a book that had those names in it'.

The interview started with a denial he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece' and he 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'.

Mr 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.'
Iran's support for terrorist group Hamas saw Republicans and Democrats come together to freeze the nation's access to the funds

President Biden had used the funds as leverage to release five imprisoned Americans in Iran in September

President Biden is facing a humiliating foreign policy setback as $6 billion he used to leverage the release of five imprisoned Americans from Iran could be frozen.

Lawmakers including members of Biden's own party voted on Thursday to approve a bill that would permanently freeze the funds, which were unfrozen by the White House in September as part of a controversial deal.

The bill, named the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act, passed in a 307 to 119 vote - which was approved by almost every Republican and 90 Democrats.

The legislation would prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran from accessing the funds via sanctions, and now heads to the Senate.

It comes as Republicans have heaped pressure on the White House to U-turn on unfreezing the $6 billion in the wake of Hamas' October 7 attacks, with Iran a principal supporter of the terrorist group.

President Biden, pictured in the Oval Office on Thursday, could see $6 billion he used in an agreement with Iran frozen by Congress in an international relations setback

The funds were used as leverage by the White House in September to release five American citizens imprisoned in Iran, in a months-long negotiation that could now be undercut

Congressman Michael McCaul introduced the legislation, approved by the House on Thursday, to freeze the funds. He is pictured with the father of a Hamas hostage in a discussion with family members of those held by the terrorist group, on Wednesday

The prisoners-for-cash deal sparked controversy in September as it coincided with the anniversary of 9/11, as five hostages were released after the money was transferred to Qatar, which acted as an intermediary for the funds.

The US citizens held in the nation were accused of espionage on behalf of the US government in Iran, and five Iranian citizens held in the US were also released as part of the deal.

The deal had been months in the works and was long expected, but Republicans reacted with fury - with Donald Trump saying the money would pay for terrorism and calling Biden an 'incompetent fool', and Ron DeSantis accusing Biden of 'selling out on America.'

Following Hamas' brutal attack that saw 1,400 people lose their lives and a further 240 taken as hostages, Biden put a temporary hold on the funds, a move that critics argued did not go far enough.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Michael McCaul, who introduced Thursday's bill, said after his bill was approved in the House: 'If they won't do it, then we will.'

'Congress will stop this money from going into Iran, not just for politics, not even for the American people, but for the victims of terrorism around the world, especially the people of Israel,' he added.

In response, the ranking Democrat on the committee Congressman Gregory Meeks, an opponent of the bill, argued that 'not one penny' of the unfrozen funds had yet been spent by Iran.

The potential freezing of the funds was also seen by critics as hurting ongoing negotiations to release more hostages captured by Hamas, as it would be seen as a sudden U-turn on a deal agreed over two months ago.

While dozens of Hamas' hostages have been freed amid a tenuous hold on the conflict with Israel, the terrorist group said Thursday that around 100 people are still in captivity.

'Supporting this legislation will shoot American global credibility in the foot,' added Meeks.

Republicans have heaped pressure on the White House to halt the $6 billion deal following Hamas' brutal attack on October 7, as Iran is seen as a principal supporter of the terrorist group. Pictured: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on November 11

Family members embrace freed Americans Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi after they were freed from Iran in the swap deal on September 19

The prisoner exchange in September sparked controversy around Washington, as it came amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran as the two nations also stall over nuclear talks.

Republicans reacted with fury at the deal, with many seeing it as amounting to funding Iran's support for Hamas in its conflict with Israel.

Several Republicans running to succeed Biden in the White House spoke out after the hostages returned to the US, as Trump said he had never paid to release any hostages, and added: 'This incompetent FOOL is absolutely destroying America. He had the audacity to announce this terrible deal today, September 11th.'

His Republican rival for the presidency, DeSantis, said: 'This deal bankrolls nuclear ambitions, hostage takers, and extremists who hate America.'

McCaul expressed support for the hostages being freed, but said he was 'deeply concerned' by the deal and called the timing of the announcement 'particularly egregious.'

'I remain deeply concerned that the administration's decision to waive sanctions to facilitate the transfer of $6 billion in funds for Iran, the world's top state sponsor of terrorism, creates a direct incentive for America's adversaries to conduct future hostage-taking,' he said.
One of Australia's leading economists has been dismissed from his high-paying university job over revelations he had a relationship with a PhD student.

Dr Chris Edmond was sacked from his job as an Economics Professor at the University of Melbourne this week after over 10 years in the role.

An email from Professor Paul Koffman, the dean of the business and economics faculty, advised staff that Dr Edmond had been dismissed for 'serious misconduct' following an investigation into the relationship and his subsequent behaviour.

The 'disturbing news' came to light after the PhD student came forward with allegations about Dr Edmond - including that he had been persistently 'intimidating' and 'bullying' her over a period of 12 years.

'While I appreciate this is disturbing news to hear, the university takes seriously its support for victims of serious misconduct and its expectations of staff regarding standards of behaviour and adherence to university policy,' Dr Koffman wrote.

In his departure from the university, Dr Edmond attempted to clear his name with an email to staff that detailed his version of events.

He concurred that he made 'mistakes' and said the relationship with the female student was first initiated when he was her PhD supervisor 13 years ago.

Dr Chris Edmond (pictured) was sacked from his job as an Economics Professor at the University of Melbourne this week after over 10 years in the role

Dr Edmond said their relationship had ended but that he continued to oversee the woman in a professional capacity 'as was her wish'.

He said that while the woman was working on her PhD he sent her several emails that were 'angry and unprofessional'.

'I made terrible mistakes and in trying to deal with that mistake made yet more mistakes,' he wrote in his email to staff.

The professor conceded that he had failed to declare a conflict of interest with the student on several occasions.

However, the student slammed Dr Edmond's version of events as 'misleading'.

'My complaint described a systematic pattern of deliberate and persistent discrimination, intimidation, and bullying by exclusion that has occurred over a period of 12 years after I finished my PhD and continued through to this year,' she told the Australian Financial Review's Rear Window column.

A University of Melbourne spokesperson said: 'We confirm that the University of Melbourne has terminated the employment of Professor Chris Edmond.

'This follows an independent investigation conducted this year which led to findings that Professor Edmond had engaged in serious misconduct in contravention of University policies.

'The behaviour that was investigated was deliberate and persistent over a period of more than ten years and involved Professor Edmond denying the complainant professional opportunities.

'The University of Melbourne does not tolerate behaviour that fails to meet expected standards of professionalism. We thank the complainant for raising the matter and giving the University the opportunity to take action.'

In 2019, Dr Edmond appeared on an episode of 60 Minutes to discuss the impacts of Covid lockdowns on Australia's economy.

Professor Paul Koffman, the dean of the business and economics faculty at the University of Melbourne (pictured) advised staff via email that Dr Edmond had been dismissed

In his departure from the university, Dr Edmond (pictured on campus) attempted to clear his name with an email to staff that detailed his version of events

He told the program that Australia was in one of the strongest fiscal positions in the world and that economic progress had to be slow and measured.

'Australia as an economy overall, has had very prudent fiscal policy for a generation. That has put us in a very, very good position to use those fiscal tools in the midst of an unprecedented crisis,' he told former host Sarah Abo.

'What we want to avoid is having to crunch the shutdown again and again.

'Letting it get out of control because we were too impatient to get back to normal, we end up in some sense taking longer to get back to normal because of that impatience.'

Dr Edmond graduated with honours from the University of Queensland before he earned a PhD in economics from the University of Florida in the United States.

He became a professor of economics at the University of Melbourne in 2013 after working as an associate professor for several years.

Dr Edmond (pictured during a Zoom lecture) became a professor of economics at the University of Melbourne in 2013 and had been in the role for 10 years before he was let go

In April, Dr Edmond hosted the then-deputy Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock during a panel on lessons learnt on monetary policy during the pandemic.

In a bio on his personal website, Dr Edmond said his main research interests are in macroeconomics, international economics, and information economics. '

'Before coming to Melbourne I was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University,' he writes.

'I received my PhD in economics from UCLA in 2004. I am a Fellow of the Econometric Society and an Associate Editor of Econometrica.'

He lists an undergraduate course in Introductory Macroeconomics and a PhD course in macroeconomics as those he is currently teaching.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr Edmond for comment.
A testy Anthony Albanese has refused to apologise on behalf of two of his top ministers who accused Opposition leader Peter Dutton of 'protecting peadophiles' .

In an often fiery radio interview during 3AW host Neil Mitchell's last day as a broadcaster, the prime minister was reminded he had promised a more respectful political discourse before the election, yet had failed to reign in his ministers' 'outrageous' suggestion about the Opposition leader.

Embattled Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil in parliament on Wednesday tried to lay blame on Mr Dutton, her Liberal predecessor in the job, over the government's asylum seeker debacle claiming the 'mess' originated under him.

Ms O'Neil claimed Mr Dutton had voted to protect paedophiles over children, with Minister for Sport Anika Wells then repeating the claim on morning TV the following day.

Mr Dutton, a former Queensland Police detective, said it showed the government was getting desperate, adding that he had 'arrested sex offenders before'.

'It's one of my life's passions to make sure women and kids are safe. I feel very genuinely and deeply about it,' he said.

'Yes the comments hurt, but they don't mean anything to me because I know who I am. I think I am owed an apology from Anika Wells and the Prime Minister.'

Other senior government ministers like Richard Marles and Bill Shorten refused to endorse the characterisation.

Retiring radio host Neil Mitchell (left) and Anthony Albanese (right) have gone toe to toe after Mitchell said the PM was falling short of his pledge to raise the standard of political discourse

Sports Minister Anika Wells repeated the nasty comments on the Today Show after Clare O'Neil said Mr Dutton voted to protect paedophiles

When grilled by Mitchell on Friday, Mr Albanese refused to apologise to Mr Dutton sparking a heated clash.

'Neil, this opposition leader has a record - and go back and look at the front page stories accusing us of a range of things - it is Peter Dutton,' Mr Albanese said.

'But you've said you are better than that,' Mitchell interjected.

'That's right,' Mr Albanese said.

'Is there an apology there?' Mitchell asked.

'Well I. Hang on. Hang on. Ask me about things I've done, and I'll be happy to be accountable for them.'

'But they are your ministers,' Mitchell said.

'Oh Neil, Neil, he moved a motion yesterday in the parliament saying essentially that we wanted a range of sex offenders, rapists, that we wanted them out on the streets. He did that yesterday in the parliament,' Mr Albanese said.

'So in reply you say he's protecting pedophiles? Terrific. Thank you for that. That's a terrific standard of debate. You've really improved the quality of politics. That's outrageous. Alright he's insulted you. Take the high moral ground. Apologise.'

'Neil.'

'Yes, Prime Minister.'

'I'm accountable for what I say.'

'They're your ministers. You're the boss.'

'I'm accountable for what I say. And he has accused consistently those ministers. And what the minister said was that his opposition to the legislation that was before the parliament on Monday - it's completely inconsistent with what he has said. From day one, we have here on this issue the High Court of Australia making a decision.

'And consistently what the Opposition have done, led by Peter Dutton, is suggested that somehow we wanted these people, these people to be out on the streets. None of that is true Neil and you know that that is not true.'

'I agree that that is not true, nor do I believe that Peter Dutton is protecting pedophiles. Do you apologise to him or not? Or are you standing by your ministers?'

'Neil. I am accountable for what I say,' Mr Albanese said.

'Oh Prime Minister. You're the boss. You're the boss.'

'It's about time that Peter Dutton took responsibility for what he said.'

'So I'll repeat the question. Do you stand by what your ministers said?'

'Neil. I stand by everything that I say. And I stand by the fact that my ministers have been doing everything they can to protect community safety. And Peter Dutton from day one has been focused on just politics,' Mr Albanese said.

'You can solve it all here just by making that point and apologising.'

'No I can't. I hate to tell you Neil, but I can't solve it all here. The fact is that Peter Dutton has made a decision consciously as he used to as a minister (to) stand up and accuse us consistently of not being concerned about community safety.'

Mr Dutton has demanded and apology with other senior Labor ministers refusing to endorse the description

Mr Dutton, a former cop who has long been an outspoken advocate for child safety , lashed the comments and said they indicated the government is 'really getting desperate'

Mr Albanese also rebuffed assertions he should 'spend more time in the country' if he wanted to prevent leading a one-term government.

The Prime Minister again defended his recent overseas travels, maintaining that none of those trips were for holidays and at all times he was 'representing Australia'.

In the last two months, Mr Albanese has visited the US twice, China, and the Cook Islands.

The Coalition has been supportive in principle for much of Mr Albanese's recent travel but last month called on him not to go to APEC amid rising concerns about community safety.

He said he spent 'every day I can in the country'.

'I haven't been on overseas holidays,' he said.

To that, Mitchell put to him that he was needed at home as well.

'Part of the job is to represent Australia. You know why? Because one in four of our jobs depends upon our trade,' he said.

'Now fixing some of the trading relationships that we have, either with the United States deals we've done on critical minerals in clean energy, the removal of some of the impediments to trade with China, which is making a difference for our barley farmers and our wine growers and all of those industries, benefits Australia.'

Mr Albanese said he wasn't paying much attention to recent polls that showed support for Labor had plummeted to its lowest level since last year's election.

He told Mitchell he didn't agree that the public was 'turning' on him.

'Polls come and go ... What I'm focused on is the medium term, just day to day,' he said.

'Because if you do that (spend too much time on the polls), you'll end up not delivering the sort of government that we need.'
Law firm BraunHagey & Borden LLP will be moving into this building at 747 Front St. in San Franciscos Jackson Square neighborhood. Bridgeton

Adam Sugarman, a managing partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP, does not think of the law firm as a trend setter. And yet, his firm is at the forefront of a wave of companies  from law practices to tech and venture capital firms  that have recently recommitted to space in San Francisco, just not in its once coveted downtown core.

After three decades in the same Financial District office, Gordon Rees is swapping the areas towering  and today, increasingly empty skyscrapers for a low-density, historic neighborhood. In the spring, the firm will take over a three-story, standalone brick building at 315 Pacific Ave. in Jackson Square.

S.F. Bay Area property map: Heres who owns every building in region

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Theyre not the only ones making the move, albeit for varying reasons.

Boutique law firm BraunHagey & Borden LLP announced this week that it is calling it quits in the Financial District, where it currently leases space on the 10th floor of 351 California St., and is also moving to Jackson Square. The firm has signed a lease for a 22,000-square-foot office at 747 Front St., a block over from where Gordon Rees is slated to land next year, once the build-out of 315 Pacific wraps up.

Other companies that have moved to the area in the wake of the pandemic  which has seen office vacancy in downtown San Francisco neighborhoods collectively rise to a historic high of roughly 34% in the third quarter of this year  include Fintech Ripple, which last spring signed a lease for an 124,500-square-foot building at 600 Battery St. The company is relocating its headquarters from a 16-story high-rise at 315 Montgomery St. in the Financial District.

At the end of 2022, VC firm Bain Capital signed a lease for a full, roughly 28,000-square-foot building at 450 Pacific Ave., with plans to give up its current offices at 301 Howard St., a 23-story Class A tower near Salesforce Park, and at 1 Market St., a three-building office complex in the South Financial District near the Ferry Building.

In November, landlord Jamestown Properties  which owns several large properties along the northern waterfront  confirmed that it has lured two tech firms to its Levis Plaza office complex, which sits about three blocks north of Jackson Square at 1105 Battery St. The companies  Snapchat parent Snap Inc. and mobile game maker Supercell  were previously located in SoMa and the Financial District, respectively.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Coit Tower provides a backdrop for Levis Plaza in the old brick warehouse district of San Francisco. The area, near Jackson Square, has become a target for companies looking for office space outside of downtown. Lance Iversen/The Chronicle 2009

I think there is a trend  but we are doing this for our own reasons, not to be trend setters, said Sugarman, of Gordon Rees. We had our lease in the Financial District expire and wanted to take the opportunity to think about how a modern law office should be. We started with a totally blank slate and this is where we landed.

Gordon Rees signed a lease for the 12,500-square-foot Pacific Avenue building at the start of the year and has since been managing the build-out of its new office, which Sugarman referred to as a collaboration hub.

Though the move is yet another sign downtown doesnt have the gravity it once had, it also signals that more companies want space that reflects the changes in how they conduct their business.

The first floor will be a collaborative workspace, and the second and third floors are more traditional office settings. We are also building a virtual trial studio in the building  we want a first class facility for broadcasting, Sugarman said, adding that this is a major change from the firms longtime office at 275 Battery St., which, in terms of design, has provided the more traditional rigidity that law firms offices have been known for over the years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We believe its the way of the future, he said.

Another notable change is that Gordon Rees new office is about one-fourth the size of its current digs on Battery Street. Thats because the firms 140 San Francisco-based attorneys will not face a mandate requiring office attendance.

Our attorneys will cycle through in a new fashion  they wont be there every day, said Sugarman, adding that the law firm has fully embraced the hybrid work concept and wants to draw its employees back to the office on their own volition.

They wont have fixed offices  instead, Gordon Rees attorneys will be using an app to reserve spaces.

What we see this new facility doing is allowing attorneys to cycle through, work together, share ideas and socialize, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sugarman added that the decision to leave the Financial District was a big one and stressed that Gordon Rees is not running away from downtown.

We were in the Financial District for over 30 years and were happy  this was about finding the right space for this new type of office we want to create, and Jackson square checked every box, he said.

While its motivations and practice differ, that sentiment is something that BraunHagey & Borden  the boutique law firm that this week announced its move to 747 Front  can get behind.

We love downtown. We love the Financial District. We love the restaurants. For us, this is less about needing to get out  its the natural analogue to who our firm is, said Noah Hagey, co-founder and managing partner at BraunHagey. We always wanted a more informal, relaxed and functional environment, as opposed to a stiff and corporate, sterile high-rise ambiance.

Hagey said the move is motivated by growth, the space and the neighborhood.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The bicoastal firm is just 15 years old, but it is growing rapidly. In Jackson Square, it will be almost tripling the size of its current California Street office, from 8,500 square feet to 22,000 square feet. All of BraunHageys approximately 50 attorneys will be required to be in the physical office four or five days per week.

BraunHagey was represented by Cale Miller of real estate firm Hughes Marino in the deal; Brendon Kane of Cushman & Wakefield represented the law firms new landlord.

Kane said rents in Jackson Square are comparable to downtown and in some cases higher.

Its not a value proposition  its about neighborhood feel and architecture type, amenities and atmosphere, Kane said.

Before committing to a 10-year lease at 747 Front, BraunHagey was on the space hunt for about two years, said Hagey. But its always had its eyes on Jackson Square.

Our goal is to revitalize that block, said Hagey, adding that along with its soon-to-be top floor office, a portion of the ground-floor commercial space at 747 Front is also part of the deal  it will be occupied by Andytown Coffee, a long term client of BraunHagey.
The Culture Secretary last night dramatically intervened in the United Arab Emirates-funded bid to buy the Daily Telegraph.

Lucy Frazer ordered the media watchdog to investigate whether the controversial deal risked 'the need for accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers'.

She issued the Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) after concluding that concerns raised by the proposed takeover of the long-established newspaper by the RedBird IMI consortium led by the vice- president of the Gulf state 'warrant further investigation'.

Her move will lead to Ofcom reporting to her on 'the media public interest consideration' while separately the Competition and Markets Authority will look into 'jurisdictional and competition matters' relating to the newspaper industry.

Both must report back by January 26 next year but if these preliminary reports identify serious issues then further investigations, taking an expected six months, could be launched.

Lucy Frazer has intervened in the proposed takeover of The Telegraph by ordering the media watchdog to investigate it. Pictured: The Culture Secretary at Downing Street on November 14

The Telegraph is the target of a takeover bid by RedBird IMI, a joint venture which involves the investment firm IMI controlled by Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour (pictured)

'My department has today written to the Barclay family and RedBird IMI, the current and proposed owners of Telegraph Media Group, to inform them that I will be issuing a Public Interest Intervention Notice in relation to the anticipated acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group Ltd by RedBird IMI,' Ms Frazer said in a statement.

'This relates to concerns I have that there may be public interest considerations... that are relevant to the anticipated acquisition of TMG by RedBird IMI and that these concerns warrant further investigation.'

However, her order does not scupper completely the bid by RedBird IMI, a joint venture run by former CNN boss Jeff Zucker which is comprised of US private equity firm RedBird Capital and the investment firm IMI controlled by Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour. Despite the regulatory probes, the group is still expected within days to repay the debts run up by the Telegraph's long-standing owners, the Barclay family, to Lloyds Bank.

READ MORE HERE: Tory MPs demand national security probe into the sale of the Telegraph to Abu Dhabi-based investment fund Advertisement

RedBird IMI has already reached a deal with the Barclays to give 1billion to Lloyds, which seized control of the paper in June, and so avoid the bank putting the paper and the Spectator magazine up for auction.

Sheikh Mansour is taking a risk in making the payment months before knowing if he will be able to take control of the Telegraph but a source told the BBC last night it is a 'risk he's willing to take'.

It would leave the paper in limbo while the watchdogs investigate, with the existing directors appointed by Lloyds remaining in place and the new owners not exercising control.

If the Government eventually allows the deal to go ahead, RedBird IMI will then be able to convert its debt funding into ownership of the media company.

A spokesman for the bid said: 'RedBird IMI has today received confirmation... that a Public Interest Intervention Notice has been issued regarding a potential change of ownership of the Telegraph Media Group.

'We welcome the opportunity to provide the Government with the information needed to scrutinise our deal, and we will continue to co-operate fully with the Government and regulator throughout this process.

'RedBird IMI remains entirely committed to maintaining the existing editorial team of the Telegraph and Spectator publications and believes that editorial independence for these titles is essential to protecting their reputation and credibility.'

Despite the assurances, however, the proposed takeover has alarmed many senior political figures. This week former foreign secretary Lord Hague described the deal as 'disturbing' and said allowing a foreign state to effectively own a British newspaper was 'going too far'.

The proposed takeover of The Telegraph has alarmed many senior political figures despite assurances from those behind the bid that its editorial independence will be maintained

Then 18 Conservative MPs warned ministers that the deal 'represents a very real potential national security threat'.

New Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron highlighted the vital importance of a free Press at an awards ceremony run by the Spectator magazine on Wednesday night. He told the event: 'I'm delighted to be Foreign Secretary, supporting a Prime Minister who is doing a great job leading our country in such difficult times when freedom, the rule of law and democracy are under such jeopardy across the world.

'At moments like this our free Press is more important than ever. So thank you for what you do to uphold free speech, to scrutinise power, to fight misinformation.' However others in government are less concerned, with Investment Minister Lord Johnson claiming opposition is 'sentimental' and insisting the UAE is a 'first-class and extremely well-run country'.

It was also claimed that the Foreign Office had stepped in to 'soften' the language used by the Culture Secretary when she wrote to RedBird IMI to avoid offending Abu Dhabi ahead of a summit for foreign investors at Hampton Court Palace.

Last night former Cabinet minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the Mail: 'It's the right thing to do, so well done to her. However, it's not good enough to look at it solely from a commercial standpoint. Because of the nature of where the money is coming from, there needs to be a proper security review done by the security services.'
A Florida baby abandoned in the woods an hour after she was born has been adopted by a couple yesterday, officials confirmed.

The newborn girl had been found with her umbilical cord and placenta still attached to her body in shrubs outside a trailer park in Mulberry by neighbors in January.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a Florida couple, who didn't wish to be identified, adopted the child yesterday.

Officials announced the 'exciting update' on Facebook and said that despite extensive efforts by detectives, the girls parents were never located or identified.

The newborn baby, who weighed 6.5 pounds at birth, was found just before 2am by deputies and immediately taken to a hospital.

Doctors told authorities she was healthy and had only a few bug bites.

A Florida baby that was abandoned in the woods an hour after it was born was adopted by an unidentified couple yesterday

Despite 'Safe Haven' laws allowing parents to legally surrender their newborn babies, the child was instead left in deep shrubs and bushes outside a trailer park. Pictured: The location that the residents found the crying newborn girl

In the Facebook post, authorities noted that morning temperatures that day were in the 50s.

The Office wrote: 'We have an exciting update to share with you.

'Nearly one year ago, on January 28th, at about 1.47 in the morning, PCSO deputies rescued an abandoned newborn baby girl in Mulberry. The girl was wrapped in a blanket, still attached to the placenta.

'The temperature outside was in the lower 50s, and members of Polk County Fire Rescue checked the girl out and determined that, based on the girls temperature, she had been born about an hour before she was found.

'Despite an extensive effort by PCSO detectives, the girls mother has never been located or identified.

'Fast forward ten months and one day, the baby girl has officially been adopted.

'We are thrilled to share with you these photos from this morning of this precious angel with her new mom and dad, along with PCSO's Detective Green and Sgt. Ryan.

'Mom & Dad wish to keep their names from being published, but they allowed us to share these photos with everyone who followed this childs story and prayed for her well-being.'

'We are thrilled to share with you these photos from this morning of this precious angel with her new mom and dad, along with PCSO's Detective Green and Sgt. Ryan,' said the Facebook post

The newborn baby was found at around 2am on Saturday morning near a trailer park in Mulberry, Florida

The baby had been found by 12-year-old Eulia Gregorio and her mother Magdalena Gregorio Ordonez.

After the mother-daughter duo made an emergency call to the sheriff's office, deputies immediately arrived at the scene.

Once the baby was safe, officials called upon a K-9 unit, a drone and a bloodhound in its search for the mother, but to no avail.

At the time the baby was found, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said: 'We have worked throughout the community, and no one claims to know who the mother is.

Magdalena Gregorio Ordonez and her 12-year-old daughter, pictured, discovered the baby after they heard crying, which they initially believed to be from a cat

12-year-old Eulia Gregorio, one of the residents who found the child, said she was 'really surprised' the baby's mother abandoned her

'It was by the grace of God that we found the abandoned baby girl when we did, before exposure to the cold or any animals caused her any harm.

'She was left in an extremely vulnerable condition, but shes a strong little girl, and it looks like shes doing great.

'I have named her Angel Grace LNU. She's as beautiful as an angel.

'It is by the grace of God that she is not dead. And LNU is Last Name Unknown.'

The baby's actual name, given to her by her new parents, has not been released.

Although they have been unsuccessful in identifying the baby's birth mother so far, the sheriff said she will likely be charged with child neglect once identified.

He said: 'We will hold her accountable because she left this child abandoned in the woods, ostensibly, to die.'

After the baby was adopted, the office thanked the community for keeping the child's well-being in their thoughts.
Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway alleged in a lawsuit that the billionaire Haslam family tried to bribe at least 15 executives at one of his companies in order to inflate the value of their remaining stake in it.

An attorney for the billionaire Haslam family called bribery allegations leveled by Pilot, the truck stop chain, a 'wild invention' Thursday.

But a judge didn't decide immediately whether those allegations will be resolved at a January trial that should help determine the multibillion-dollar price Berkshire Hathaway might have to pay the Haslams for the rest of the chain.

The Haslams and Buffett's company are accusing each other of manipulating Pilot's earnings this year to affect the price Berkshire would have to pay for the Haslams' remaining 20 percent stake in the company if the family decides to sell.

The Haslam family - which includes Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew owner Jimmy Haslam and former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam - accused Berkshire last month of trying to understate Pilots earnings this year by changing its accounting practices.

Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway says the billionaire Haslam family tried to bribe at least 15 executives at one of his companies in order to inflate the value of their remaining stake in it

Berkshire responded this week with a lawsuit of its own accusing Jimmy Haslam of trying to bribe key Pilot executives with payments several times their annual salaries to inflate the company's profits.

'We called Berkshires allegations wild inventions in our opposition brief,' said attorney Anitha Reddy, who represents the Haslams.

'I dont think we could have been clearer that we dispute them. And if there is any doubt in Berkshires mind, we think theyre false and we intend to defeat them on whatever schedule the court orders.'

The judge promised to rule by the end of the week whether Berkshire's lawsuit can be heard at the same time a trial on Pilot's original lawsuit is scheduled in January.

Berkshire wants the court to prevent the Haslams from exercising their option to sell the rest of the company to Berkshire next year because it says there are so many doubts about the accuracy of Pilot's 2023 earnings.

Even if the judge agrees, the Haslams would still have the option to sell in future years under the agreement they signed back in 2017.

Berkshire's attorney Craig Lavoie argued that it's crucial to block a sale next year because it will be hard to determine just how much Pilot's earnings have been effected by the alleged bribes.

He said Berkshire believes at least 28 executives - many of whom are involved in buying and selling fuel for the nation's largest truck stop chain - were offered bribes.

The Haslam family - which includes Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam (pictured left) and former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam (pictured right) - accused Berkshire last month of trying to understate Pilots earnings this year by changing its accounting practices

An attorney for the billionaire Haslam family called bribery allegations leveled by Pilot, the truck stop chain, a 'wild invention' Thursday

Berkshire said in its lawsuit that it just learned a couple weeks ago about the Haslams' attempts to bribe executives who used to work for the family at the company Jim Haslam - Jimmy and Bill Haslams father - founded before Berkshire became the majority owner at the start of this year.

A senior executive who had been promised a bonus revealed that to the current Pilot CEO, according to Berkshire.

Lavoie said it's difficult for Berkshire to sort out what short-term decisions those executives might have made because of the bonuses.

'Mr. Haslams side promises have forced the company to investigate and interrogate many of the key employees it relies on today to operate the company,' Lavoie said.

When Berkshire bought its initial 38.6 percent stake in Pilot in 2017 it paid $2.758billion.

This year, it paid another $8.2billion to give it control of 80 percent of the company, and it went on to install a new CEO and chief financial officer.

Buffett told Berkshire shareholders this spring that he wishes he could have bought the entire company at once because the price was better in 2017, but the Haslams wouldnt sell it all then.

Pilot's chain of more than 850 locations and roughly 30,000 employees in the United States and Canada has already provided a meaningful boost to Berkshires revenue and profits this year.

Buffett told Berkshire shareholders this spring that he wishes he could have bought the entire company at once because the price was better in 2017, but the Haslams wouldnt sell it all then

Berkshire said in its lawsuit that it just learned a couple weeks ago about the Haslams' attempts to bribe executives who used to work for the family at the company Jim Haslam - Jimmy and Bill Haslams father - founded before Berkshire became the majority owner at the start of this year

The Haslams said Berkshires decision to shift to something called 'pushdown accounting' this year forced Pilot to take on higher depreciation and amortization costs and that resulted in lower net income.

The Haslams were outvoted on that change at Pilot board meetings.

In addition to Pilot, Berkshire owns an eclectic assortment of other businesses including Geico insurance, BNSF railroad and several major utilities along with a number of smaller manufacturing and retail businesses.

It also holds a sizeable stock portfolio with big stakes in Apple, Coca-Cola, American Express and Bank of America among other holdings.
Ukraine's security service has claimed to have blown up a railway line in Siberia that Russia uses to haul military supplies.

Four explosive devices were detonated overnight as a cargo train was moving through the Severomuysky Tunnel in Buryatia region, which borders Mongolia, a source told Reuters.

Such an attack, over 2,480 miles from Ukraine, would be a striking demonstration of Kyiv's ability to conduct operations deep inside Russia.

MailOnline could not independently verify the account or whether the rail route is used for military supplies.

Russian sources told Reuters that a train had caught fire in the area, but made no mention of explosives.

Four explosive devices were reportedly detonated overnight as a cargo train was moving through the Severomuysky Tunnel (pictured)

Ukraine has increasingly been taking the fight to Russia in recent months, 21 months into the bloodiest conflict on European soil in decades

Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement that a train carrying fuel caught fire in the Severomuysky tunnel on Wednesday night, that there had been no casualties

Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement that a train carrying fuel caught fire in the Severomuysky tunnel on Wednesday night, that there had been no casualties and that a preliminary probe was under way to establish the cause.

Russian Railways, the state company which owns and operates the rail network, said the train was stopped when they noticed smoke coming from a tank containing diesel fuel.

In a statement online, it said rail traffic had been rerouted, slightly increasing journey time, but that transport had not been interrupted.

Ukraine has increasingly been taking the fight to Russia in recent months, 21 months into the bloodiest conflict on European soil in decades.

Last week, a Ukrainian strike on a power station in Russian-held territory in eastern Ukraine took out power to towns and cities in the region, authorities said.

Denis Pushilin, the pro-Russia leader in part of Donetsk, said that most of the drones Ukraine sent to attack the infrastructure were caught, but 'due to the massiveness of the strikes, not everything was shot down.'

'The situation is not easy,' he added.

The mass drone attack hit the thermal power plant in Starobesheve, a town that lies just 25 miles east of the front line in the region.

As a result, power had been cut in half of the regional capital, Donetsk, and in half of the port city of Mariupol, about 60 miles to the south.
A Business minister yesterday revealed the Government is very concerned about the impact of the tourist tax on companies.

Kevin Hollinrake said Cabinet colleagues would make our views known very strongly to the Treasury as it reviews whether to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas visitors.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt pledged in last weeks Autumn Statement to carefully consider industry evidence of the damage of the tax. His commitment marks a major victory for the Mails Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign, which has fought on behalf of scores of firms to demand the Government ditches the levy.

Research suggests the move could boost the UK economy by 10billion a year and support 200,000 jobs, with more than 400 businesses signing a letter demanding the Government rethinks its position.

During business and trade questions in the Commons yesterday, former minister Sir Desmond Swayne told MPs: There are streets in the West End of this city important to our economy that would certainly benefit from the ability of tourists to reclaim VAT, arent there?

A Business minister yesterday revealed the Government is very concerned about the impact of the tourist tax on companies

Kevin Hollinrake said Cabinet colleagues would make our views known very strongly to the Treasury as it reviews whether to reinstate tax-free shopping for overseas visitors

Mr Hollinrake responded: He raises a very important point and one that this department has looked at very carefully. We are very concerned about the impact of the withdrawal of that tax concession on business. Not just the businesses themselves, but the other businesses that rely on our foreign visitors, our hoteliers, our restaurateurs.

He said the Chancellor had committed to review the evidence to see what impact this was actually having. We will look at that evidence with great interest, and make our views known very strongly to the Exchequer.

Mr Hunt told MPs he wanted to do everything possible to encourage international visitors. He added: When we changed policy on this particular issue a year ago, it was because the cost was around 2.5billion a year and we didnt think we could afford to continue doing it.

But we are looking again at the numbers in the light of the most recent data... we will review that and see if it is still that expensive  and I hope it isnt.

The Treasury scrapped tax-free shopping for overseas tourists in 2021. Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng announced plans to reintroduce the VAT rebate last autumn, but Mr Hunt reversed the move soon after entering No 11 in September 2022. Campaigners believe the removal of the scheme is driving tourists away to cities such as Paris and Milan.
Cambridge University students have been accused of 'actively seeking' diagnoses for mental health conditions to get extra time in exams.

Dr Fiona Cornish, a GP in the city of the famous university, said she noticed a 'massive spike' in students wanting a letter to provide a diagnosis before exam term.

Doctors have been provided with template letters saying a student's medical condition 'has impaired their ability to prepare for or perform in their academic work or examinations', which they can then give their tutor before sitting the assignment.

The university can then offer options for alternative exam arrangements, such as taking the paper into a quiet room or getting 25 per cent extra time.

Dr Cornish claimed their have been rises in people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and being 'too anxious to be in a great big exam hall'.

Dr Fiona Cornish, a GP in the city of the famous university, said she noticed a 'massive spike' in students wanting a letter to provide a diagnosis before exam term

The Newnham Walk Surgery GP also believed this pattern was occurring across the country, having been almost unheard of when she first started practicing three decades ago.

Dr Cornish said: 'I think the pendulum has swung too far the other way. I don't know anyone who went to an ADHD clinic who hasn't come back with a diagnosis.

'The you got on amphetamines and perform better in exams.'

One in four GCSE and A-level entrants had extra time this summer, the most on record.

Many current students had A-level and GCSEs cancelled because of lockdowns, meaning they have little experience of exam halls.
Rishi Sunak has warned China that it must step up its efforts to tackle climate change as he prepared to fly to Dubai last night for Cop28.

In pointed comments, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said other countries need to do their bit to address global warming  and singled out China as 'vitally important'. He said 'significant action' must be taken to 'keep 1.5 alive'  the goal of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5C.

Asked what Mr Sunak hopes to achieve at the climate summit, the spokesman said: 'He is clear-eyed about the challenges on a global scale that we still face on climate change. There is some significant action that must take place to keep 1.5 alive.

'He understands the challenges all countries  and that includes China, which is obviously vitally important  have to take action. We need to see not just commitments but real-world demonstration and action, as we have done, to make sure that this progress continues.'

Asked if the PM was frustrated China is not doing enough, the spokesman said: 'It's simply a matter of fact that China, given its size and economy, is a crucial part of this.'

Rishi Sunak has warned China that it must step up its efforts to tackle climate change as he prepared to fly to Dubai last night for Cop28

China, together with India, watered down the Cop26 climate pact in 2021 when Britain hosted the summit in Glasgow (Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping)

Cop28 is the first time that countries will assess progress towards this goal in what is being called the 'global stocktake'

China, together with India, watered down the Cop26 climate pact in 2021 when Britain hosted the summit in Glasgow.

Ahead of the latest talks in the United Arab Emirates, Mr Sunak said he was 'proud' of the UK's record on tackling climate change. He said he was 'not in hock to ideological zealots' as he vowed to meet net zero targets in a 'sensible' way that does not burden ordinary people with costs.

Mr Sunak, criticised for backing North Sea oil and gas drilling, added: 'We've reduced carbon emissions faster than any other major economy. Our targets for the next few years are also more ambitious than any other major economy... because of that, I thought the right thing to do was to ensure we get to net zero in a pragmatic and proportionate way that saves working families thousands of pounds.'

Mr Sunak will join world leaders at the UN's Conference of the Parties to try to accelerate climate action in the UAE, one of the world's chief oil exporters. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries vowed 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'.

Mr Sunak's spokesman said it would be the moment where the world 'takes a long hard look in the mirror to see if we are delivering on the 2015 Paris Agreement'.

Sixteen Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested yesterday after a demonstration outside the PM's west London home calling for a halt on fossil fuel exploration.

The group said 18 supporters gathered outside Mr Sunak's Kensington property carrying placards stating: 'Arrest the Real Criminals.'

The Metropolitan Police said those arrested remained in custody last night. No10 declined to comment.

Greenpeace activists scaled Mr Sunak's North Yorkshire home in August in protest against North Sea oil drilling.
Hamas terrorists have been accused of branding two teenage brothers with a motorcycle exhaust to stop them escaping.

Yagil, who turned 13 while in captivity, and his older sibling Or Yaakov, 16, were abducted by gun-toting terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 and taken back to Gaza with more than 200 other hostages.

The young brothers survived more than 50 days in captivity before they were released on November 27 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal which the White House is 'working by the hour' to try and extend.

Yagil and Or Yakoov's uncle Yaniv Yaakov has now revealed the horrors that the child hostages were subjected to in Gaza.

'They told us stories about what they went through inside Gaza. The stories are horrible,' Yaniv told an event in North Macedonia with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, The Times of Israel reports.

'Each child that was taken by Hamas was taken on a motorbike and they took every child, took his leg and put it on the exhaust of that motorbike, so they have a burn so they will be marked if they run, if they escape, so [Hamas] can find them.'

Yagil, who turned 13 while in captivity, and his older sibling Or Yaakov, 16, were branded with a 'motorcycle exhaust' by Hamas, their uncle has said

The brothers were released by masked Hamas terrorists on November 27 during a temporary ceasefire

Yagil Yaakov, 13, is pictured as he returns to Israel in an IAF helicopter on Monday following more than 50 days as a hostage

He added: 'They were drugged, they were treated so bad, but at least they are with us.'

The boys had been asleep and home alone when terrorists launched their barbaric attack on their village.

They sealed themselves in a safe room and called their mother, Renana Gome, who survived an attack on another Kibbutz where she had been staying with her daughter.

The boys' mother previously said they were 'scared to death' and had to whisper to her over the phone as she heard voices speaking in Arabic in the background.

Yagil's older brother desperately tried to hold the door shut as the terrorists forced their way in.

Tragically, the last thing the mother heard her youngest son saying was: 'Don't take me, I'm too young,' before the phone cut out.

Yagil and Or Yakoov were captured along with their father Yair Yaakov and his partner Meirav Tal, both of who are still thought to be in captivity.

The brothers were among 11 Israeli hostages released on Monday. The group also included mother Sharon Aloni Cunio, and her three-year-old twin daughters Ema and Yuly.

Another mother and seven children were released on what was the fourth day of a truce between Israel and Hamas.

The boys had been asleep and home alone when terrorists launched their barbaric attack on their village. Pictured: Yagil (R) and Or Yaakov (L)

Negotiators are working to renew the pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza as a senior Israeli official reiterated plans to resume the war unless the terrorist group agreed to release more hostages.

After two last-minute extensions, the enemies marked on Thursday the seventh day of a Qatari-mediated truce with the exchange of eight hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners as well as the infusion of more humanitarian aid into the shattered Gaza Strip.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who succeeded in achieving the earlier deals, were working to negotiate a further truce of two days, Egypt's official state media agency said.

Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel was open to continuing the ceasefire if Hamas committed to further hostage releases.

Israel had previously set the release of 10 hostages a day as the minimum it would accept to pause its assault.

Mia Schem (pictured, centre) was one of the two women released by Hamas last night after the ceasefire deal was extended minutes before it was due to time out

The hostages released last night, 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

'We're ready for all possibilities.... Without that, we're going back to the combat,' he said on CNN.

Before the prior truce was due to expire early on Thursday, Hamas and its ally, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, put their fighters on alert for a resumption of hostilities.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza, in response to the October 7 rampage by the terrorist group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Israel retaliated with intense bombardment and a ground invasion. Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed.

When the ceasefire first came into effect a week ago, Israel was preparing to turn the focus of its operation to southern Gaza after its relentless seven-week assault to the north.
It comes amid mounting scrutiny on Israeli intelligence and its failure to grasp the military capabilities of Hamas

Israeli officials had an intimate understanding of Hamas' brutal October 7 terrorist attack over a year before it happened, but brushed off the battle plan as too aspirational for the group to pull off, a bombshell report has claimed.

In a 40-page document obtained by The New York Times, Hamas laid out a detailed plan to carry out its assault on Israel that ultimately led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in a day.

The blueprint reportedly did not set a date for the attack, but offered an exhaustive look at the terrorist group's strategy, including a targeting fortifications around the Gaza Strip while storming key military bases and division headquarters.

According to the outlet, the plans within the document were followed by Hamas with chilling precision in the attacks last month, raising questions as to why Israel failed to take steps to prevent it.

It is also claimed that officials admitted they could have stopped, or at least blunted, the October 7 attacks had they taken a number of urgent warnings from analysts seriously.

A bombshell report claims that Israel had an extensive understanding Hamas' plans for an attack a year before the October 7 siege, including detailed training exercises (pictured) of Hamas terrorists planning to paraglide at the outset

A document reportedly offered chillingly accurate information over Hamas' intentions to take Israel by surprise and launch a blistering attack, which saw them attack a music festival on unsuspecting partiers (pictured)

This graphic (above) shows how the Hamas massacre on the Kfar Aza kibbutz unfolded

The report comes amid mounting scrutiny on Israel's intelligence systems and its failure to understand the military capabilities of Hamas. It is not known if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured October 24) saw the document, which was widely circulated a year before the attacks

For over a year, Israeli officials reportedly understood that Hamas had designs on beginning an attack over the border with a barrage of rockets in a surprise onslaught.

The use of drones to knock out security cameras and automated machine guns positioned along the border were also part of Hamas' longstanding plan.

In a sign of the shocking accuracy Hamas followed to its master plan, the document ordered gunmen to fly into Israel on paragliders, with the unorthodox strategy used to horrific affect at the fateful Supernova music festival where at least 364 people were killed.

Israeli intelligence officials have come under scrutiny in the weeks after the October 7 attacks, amid questions over a lack of understanding of the impending attack before it took place.

But Hamas appeared to have a far better grasp on Israel's apparatus than previously known, as the document included extensive, sensitive details on the location and size of Israel's military forces and communication hubs.

This has also raised questions as to how Hamas was able to obtain this information, and the possibility of leaks within Israeli intelligence.

Despite the chilling details found in the document, which was circulated widely within Israeli military and intelligence circles, experts reportedly determined that the attack was far too ambitious for Hamas to achieve.

It is not known if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saw the document.

Named 'Jericho Wall' after the border in modern-day West Bank that are cited in biblical texts, sixty points within the wall were said to be the targets for Hamas fighters for their siege into Israel.

'Surprise them through the gate. If you do, you will certainly prevail', the document began, a quote from the Quran. The same quote has been repeated by Hamas terrorists in chilling footage from the October 7 attacks, and in the weeks since.

Shocking footage showed festival goers flee carnage as Hamas terrorists gunned down revellers at a music festival on October 7

The blood-stained floors of a kibbutz after Hamas terrorists ripped through the area

A house left in ruins after an attack by Hamas militants on this kibbutz days earlier when dozens of civilians were killed near the border with Gaza on Tuesday

The burned-out carcass of the home of Bilha and Yakovi Inon, an Israeli couple who were killed by Hamas terrorists when their American style wooden chalet was burnt to the ground with them inside

Despite widespread knowledge of the document, it was largely dismissed, including by the Israeli military's Gaza division, the wing tasked with defending the border with Gaza where much of the ongoing conflict has centered.

The division's experts determined that Hamas' objectives and intentions were unclear, with a separate military assessment of the document finding: 'It is not yet possible to determine whether the plan has been fully accepted and how it will be manifested.'

Three months before the October 7 attacks, German diplomat Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff demonstrated how 'everything is possible in Gaza' as he paraglided into the region in a warning over its vulnerability.

At that same time, a veteran analyst with Unit 8200, the signals intelligence division of the agency, reportedly warned that Hamas had carried out days-long training exercises that chillingly mimicked the battle plans from the document.

'I utterly refute that the scenario is imaginary,' the analyst warned, comparing the exercise to the 'content of Jericho Wall.'

'It is a plan designed to start war... it is not just a raid on a village.'

A dead body lies on the ground at the site of an attack on the Nova Festival by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, days after the bloody attack was launched

An Israeli flag flies over body bags of over 20 dead Hamas militants with the word 'terrorist' written in Hebrew, on a main field at Kibbutz Be'eri, where dozens of Israeli civilians were killed days earlier near the border with Gaza on October 11

According to encrypted emails seen by the New York Times, a colonel in Israel's Gaza division brushed off the veteran analyst's concerns.

The outlet claimed that in interviews with officials, it was admitted that Hamas' siege could have been prevented, or at least diminished, if the warnings had been taken seriously.

Israel's lack of proper attention paid to the blueprint appears to be directly tied to a misunderstanding of Hamas' military capabilities.

Officials reportedly admitted that this came even as they saw growing evidence of the terrorist group's growing influence, with many staggered in the weeks since over the extensive tunnel systems the group has constructed in Gaza.

It is unclear how the document was obtained by Israeli officials, and the counterterrorism division and the military declined to comment on the Times report.

The blueprint is also not the first such document to be seen by the nation, with a separate 2016 Defense Military memo reportedly claiming: 'Hamas intends to move the next confrontation into Israeli territory.'

In a chilling contrast to the 2023 attack, the plans for seven years ago also included hostage taking and 'occupying an Israeli community (and perhaps even a number of communities).'

Similarly to the plans were seen in 2016, the recent document also included details of rocket attacks to distract Israeli soldiers and direct them to bunkers, alongside drones to target Israel's surveillance and security apparatus.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday night that 'ten 9/11s' worth of Californias would have died of COVID-19 had he followed the same policies as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The two took part in a red state-blue state debate in Georgia moderated by Fox News' Sean Hannity, with COVID-19 playing a supporting role.

At the top of the debate, DeSantis hammered Newsom for going to the French Laundry restaurant while other Californians were stuck at home, while Newsom swatted back by saying that DeSantis had followed the recommendations of Dr. Anthony Fauci until the Republican Party changed its tune.

Newsom noted that DeSantis closed beaches, bars and restaurants, touted vaccines and wore a mask.

'He did all of that until he decided to fall prey to the fringe of his party,' Newsom said. 'And as a consequence of that Ron, tens of thousands of people lost their lives. The equivalent - if I had your policies - the equivalent to ten 9/11s.'

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (pictured) said Thursday night that 'ten 9/11s' worth of Californias would have died of COVID-19 had he followed the same policies as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) slapped back and shamed Newsom for 'ruin[ing] livelihoods. We reopened the state very quickly. We saved hundreds of thousands of jobs. We saved thousands of businesses'

A Los Angeles Times report ahead of the debate found that significantly more Floridians died on a per capita basis during the pandemic than Californians.

Of the four most populous states, California lost 2,560 people for every million residents, while Florida lost 4,044 people for every million, according to the Times analysis of John Hopkins University data.

But DeSantis argued that the death rates in the two states were 'basically the same.'

'Now why is that important?' he mused. 'Gavin Newsom did huge damage to people in California. He ruined livelihoods. We reopened the state very quickly. We saved hundreds of thousands of jobs. We saved thousands of businesses. We had our kids in school. He had the kids locked out of school because of the teachers' unions.'

DeSantis said that keeping kids out of school had a 'generational impact' and accused California of having one of the lowest literacy rates in the country.

'So you should apologize for not getting your kids in school. Why didn't you get kids in school in the summer of 2020 like we did?' DeSantis asked.

Newsom shot back and said the 'only person who should apologize is Ron DeSantis.'

Crowds of people took over Ocean Drive in Miami Beach during spring break of March 2021, just as COVID-19 vaccines were first being rolled out. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis started reopening the state in May 2020, without pushing residents to wear masks

'For the tens of thousands of lives that died unnecessarily because he played to the fringe of his party,' the California governor said.

During the pandemic, which started during former President Donald Trump's tenure, the Republican leader initially backed social distancing policies, including the temporary closures of businesses and schools to stop the spread of the contagious disease.

But as months went on, Trump started pushing Republican leaders to open their states, with DeSantis starting the process in May 2020, two months after the pandemic took hold, and the president cheering on Florida as an example.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during a debate with Gavin Newsom, used a map of San Francisco that showed where human feces has been documented in public spaces to criticize the California governor. Ashley Landis/Associated Press

Conservative politicians have criticized San Francisco for its liberal politics and issues with homelessness and drug use, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has a stinkier reason to snub the city: its public poop.

This is a map of San Francisco, DeSantis said, holding a map up for the cameras to see Thursday night as he debated Gov. Gavin Newsom on Fox News.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Theres a lot of plots on that, you may be asking, What is that plotting?  Well, this is an app where they plot the human feces that are found on the streets of San Francisco, and you see how almost the whole thing is covered.

The map DeSantis held up was created in 2019 by Openthebooks.com, a nonprofit that has created several maps using data gathered through Freedom of Information Act requests and publicly available data. Founder and CEO Adam Andrzejewski said the organizations mission is government oversight and transparency. It has published maps documenting New York City rat sightings, the number of forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans, and more. But the San Francisco poop map is by far its most popular map, according to Andrzejewski.

When he saw his map wielded during the debate, my first thought was one of pride, Andrzejewski told the Chronicle on Thursday evening. It was surprising to see at the end of the day that our poop map was still being recycled.

The map was initially inspired by personal experience, he said  after OpenTheBooks.coms chairman traveled to San Francisco and saw human feces on the street, he came back with the idea to create a map of the foul-smelling phenomenon. To do so, the organization used data from the citys Department of Public Works, Andrzejewski recounted in Forbes.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The dots on the map each represent a reported instance of feces found on city streets between 2011 and 2019  more than 75,000 of them, according to the map. But it doesn't necessarily mean all of those cases were human feces, like DeSantis stated. The city's data of 311 calls doesn't differentiate between human and animal waste.

Sam Dodge was working at the Department of Public Works when the map first came out. While working on the citys Pit Stop program, Dodge surveyed many streets where feces was reported and noticed in many if not most cases, the offending culprit was a canine, he said. The department responded by including free dog waste bags alongside portable public toilets through the Pit Stop program, according to Dodge.

When it was first published, the map attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers, Andrzejewski said. He recognized the screenshot of the map DeSantis used as one that went viral on X, then known as Twitter, in 2019.

It was a cultural moment in 2019, and obviously it was a moment again this evening, he said.

Its not the first time DeSantis team has brought up this particular map. In April, DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern shared the map on X, in response to a video of Newsom criticizing Floridas book bans and its Dont Say Gay law, which banned grade school teachers from teaching students about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

San Francisco poop map, Redfern simply said.

Its also not the first time DeSantis has commented on public defecation in San Francisco.
Ron DeSantis pulled out a map of human feces on the streets of San Francisco and tore into the homelessness and crime in the city in his fiery debate with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday night.

Newsom, a Democrat, claimed he had taken 68,000 people off the streets and closed 6,000 homeless camps when the Florida governor pulled out the visual aid.

'You may be asking 'what is that plotting?' This is an app where they plot the human feces that are found on the streets of San Francisco,' Republican Gov. DeSantis detailed. 'That is what has happened in one of the previous greatest cities this country has ever had.'

He then took a jab at Newsom for cleaning it up for the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping earlier this month as the testy showdown wrapped.

The pair went to war over COVID policies, the southern border, taxes, crime and book bans in the primetime head-to-head on Fox News .

Both governors accused each other of lying about many of their states' policies in what was a display of two alternatives to Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Ron DeSantis pulled out a map of human feces in San Francisco and tore into the homelessness and crime in the city in his fiery debate with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday night

The end devolved into chaos when they called each other 'bullies' and shouted over each other while moderator Sean Hannity tried to intervene.

Along with the feces map, DeSantis' campaign also unveiled on its website the sale of $37 brown socks with the words: 'Newsom's California Walking Socks. Watch your step.'

The description reads: 'Thinking about visiting California? You're going to need a pair of these. Order your California walking socks before you're dodging feces in San Francisco!'

The two specifically sparred over some noticeable changes in California and Florida since they both become governors at the start of 2019. This included homelessness, drug use and crime.

In the U.S., 30 percent of those experiencing homelessness are located in California, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Of every 10,000 people in California, 44 are homeless, while only 12 of every 10,000 people in Florida are experiencing homelessness.

DeSantis started the debate by slamming his California counterpart by pointing to his hypocrisy during COVID-19 by going out to fine-dining restaurant The French Laundry and sending his children to in-person private schools while his residents were still under lockdown.

He said California ran out of UHaul moving trucks because so many people were moving out to head to red states  including Florida. He said among the new residents in Florida is the father of Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

Newsom didn't back down in the one-on-one debate in Alpharetta, Georgia on Thursday night, taking a dig at DeSantis by saying they both won't be presidential nominees in 2024.

He also accused DeSantis of 'trolling' with his move to transport migrants out of border states to Democratic sanctuary cities  and said he's trying to one-up former President Donald Trump with the antics.

'You almost have to try to mess California up,' DeSantis said during feisty opening remarks explaining why his state is superior. 'That is what Gavin Newsom has done since he has been governor.'

'He has imposed restrictions on his own people while exempting himself from those restrictions and going to the French Laundry while his people were suffering,' the Florida governor said. 'He led the country in school closures, blocking kids out of school while he had his own kids in private school in-person.'

Newsom has repeatedly said he has no plans to run for president in 2024 and has served as a surrogate for President Joe Biden since he launched his reelection campaign this year.

But DeSantis is among a group of Republicans who don't take the California leader at his word, and believe he plans to launch a 2024 bid for president  especially if Biden for some reason is no longer in the race.

Newsom claimed he had taken '68,000 people' off the streets and closed 6,000 homeless camps when the Florida governor pulled out the visual aid

'You may be asking 'what is that plotting?' This is an app where they plot the human feces that are found on the streets of San Francisco. That is what has happened in one of the previous greatest cities this country has ever had.'

DeSantis' website features a $37 pair of brown socks titled 'Newsom's California Walking Socks', it says they are for making sure your feet are protected from feces on the city streets of San Francisco

'I thought this was state versus state,' moderator Sean Hannity of Fox News posed to the two men as they devolved into debate over national-level policies.

'But it's about the United States of America, I thought this guy was running for president of the United States,' Newsom shot back.

'You will not admit it,' DeSantis said, demanding: 'Admit that you're running.'

DeSantis is currently in the middle of a heated primary election where he comes in distant second to former President Donald Trump. He will debate his fellow 2024 competitors on Wednesday  just six days after the one-on-one with Newsom.

The California governor claims that despite DeSantis 'playing political games,' he is failing at trying to be the new Trump with policies more radical than the ex-president's.

'You're trolling folks and trying to find migrants to play political games to try to get some news attention to out-Trump Trump,' Newsom alleged of the Florida governor's actions.

'And by the way, how's that going for you? Down by 41 points in your own home state.'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was all-in for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' reelection campaign Thursday night, while mocking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for trailing former President Donald Trump badly.

Newsom and DeSantis took part in a red state-blue state governors' debate on Fox News Channel Thursday night, which was moderated by Sean Hannity.

The California Democrat hit back when DeSantis, 45, said that 81-year-old Biden was 'in decline' and thus a 'danger' to the country.

'I would take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age,' Newsom said.

Newsom also asked DeSantis how his primary fight against Trump was going, pointing out, 'you're down 41 points in your home state,' while slamming the Florida governor when he flubbed the pronunciation of Harris' first name.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was all-in for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign even going as far to tell Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: 'I would take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said that President Joe Biden was 'in decline' and a 'danger' to the country while accusing Newsom of running a 'shadow campaign' for president

'Shame on you, it's Ka-mala Harris, Ron, it's Ka-mala Harris. Madame vice president to you,' Newsom said.

At the top of the debate, Newsom took an early swipe at DeSantis by announcing that neither participant onstage that evening would be their party's presidential nominee.

'There are profound differences tonight and I look forward to engaging,' DeSantis said. 'But there's one thing, in closing, that we have in common is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.'

Newsom, 56, predicted that Biden would become the Democratic nominee 'in a matter of weeks.'

'In a matter of weeks, Sean, he'll be endorsing Donald Trump as the nominee in the Republican Party,' the California Democrat said of DeSantis.

Biden is being challenged by Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help guru Marianne Williamson and leads Williamson, who's currently in second place, by 61 points, while DeSantis is trailing Trump nationally, on average, by around 48 points.

Florida Atlantic University released a poll this month that had Trump 41 points ahead of DeSantis, like Newsom said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom predicted that President Joe Biden (pictured) would be the Democratic nominee 'in a matter of weeks,' while saying that former President Donald Trump would be the GOP nominee in the same time period

Former President Donald Trump is leading Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis nationally by around 48 points. In Florida, Trump leads DeSantis by 41 points, according to a November poll from Florida Atlantic University

At times during the debate, however, Newsom was pressed on whether he held ambitions for higher office.

'You will not admit it. Admit that you're running,' DeSantis told Newsom at one point, adding at another that Newsom knows Biden is in decline which is 'why he's running a shadow campaign. '

Hannity pushed that narrative too, asking Newsom what would happen if Democrats at the convention tried to nominate him.

'I don't know how many times I can say it,' Newsom huffed. 'Just making this stuff up about a shadow campaign.'

'It's not even optional,' he continued.

'He's doing fantastically,' he said of Biden. 'I appreciate and respect the work the president's doing and the vice president, the Biden-Harris campaign and team, so absolutely unequivocally look forward to continuing to support their effort. President Biden will be reelected and President Trump will be rejected.'

Both Hannity and DeSantis pushed that Biden, who turned 81 earlier this month, was in cognitive decline.

'He says Joe Biden is 100 percent up to the job. You know that that's not true. Anybody who can look. He wants you to believe him over your own lyin' eyes,' DeSantis said.

DeSantis also hit Newsom over his recent trip to China.

'I would not go to China and grovel in front of Xi like Gavin Newsom did,' DeSantis said looking into the camera. 'He says China is a partner on climate change?'

'China is laughing at us,' DeSantis said.

Newsom responded by saying, 'I confronted Xi on the issue of fentanyl' and brought up the country's human rights abuses with the 'foreign minister and the vice president and other leaders in China.'

Again bringing up DeSantis' faltering position in the polls, Newsom called attention to the GOP hopeful's feud with rival Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, over who's been more friendly toward Chinese businesses.

Newsom called out the Florida governor's 'hypocrisy.'

'This is just a reminder, I think it's a question that some people probably ask and I know Nikki Haley's campaign is asking. When are you going to drop out and at least give Nikki Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump and this nomination?' Newsom asked.

Politifact found no evidence that DeSantis, as Florida governor, courted Chinese businesses in recent months like Haley claimed.
Two billionaire Australian families have sold the country's arm of 7-Eleven stores to its Japanese-based parent company.

The Withers and Barlow families, who are related, have sold the 752 Australia 7-Elevens to 7-Eleven International LLC, 7IN, for $1.7billion after putting it on the market earlier this year.

In a statement, former chairman of 7-Eleven Australia Russell Withers said: 'The Withers and Barlow families have had a proud association with the 7-Eleven brand since we brought it to Australia in 1977.

'From a single store in suburban Melbourne, 7-Eleven has grown to a network of over 750 stores across Victoria, New South Wales, ACT, Queensland and Western Australia, processing 250 million transactions each year, and employing more than 9,000 people across the corporate and franchise network.

The Withers and Barlow families have sold 7-Eleven's 752 Australian branches for $1.7billion

'Now is the right time for our families to pass the business to new owners to continue to build and develop this wonderful brand.'

According to The Australian's 2023 Rich 250, the Withers and Barlow families are the 62nd richest in Australia with an estimated net worth of $2.11billion.

The families also own the Australian branch of Starbucks.

Mr Withers stood down as chairman of 7-Eleven in 2015 after it was found franchisees were underpaying staff.

The company has since paid back $173.6million in wages, interest and superannuation to 4,043 employees.

In less than 50 years, 7-Eleven has managed to claim 32 per cent of Australia's convenience store market.

However, there are currently no 7-Eleven stores in Tasmania, the Northern Territory or South Australia.

The branch's new owner, 7IN, plans to open another 35 stores next year.

Australia's 7-Eleven stores will soon be owned by its Japanese parent company, 7-Eleven International LLC

CEO of 7-Eleven Australia Angus McKay admitted cost-of-living has seen customers spend less in stores but foot traffic has remained consistent.

In the financial year to June 30, 2023, 7-Eleven Australia made $85.1million before tax, an increase compared with the $36.6million it generated last year.

The deal will be subject to regulatory approval, likely to be complete in the second quarter of 2024.
Bruce Lehrmann has been photographed at a Liberal Party Christmas function as Brittany Higgins is cross-examined in his defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.

Mr Lehrmann was seen at a drinks event attended by deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Thursday evening.

The former political staffer is suing Ten and Wilkinson in the Federal Court over an interview his former colleague Ms Higgins gave on The Project in February 2021.

Bruce Lehrmann has been photographed at a Liberal Party Christmas function as Brittany Higgins is cross-examined in his defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson

During the interview Ms Higgins claimed she had been raped in Parliament House in March 2019. She did not name Mr Lehrmann but he claims his identity was recognisable.

He has always denied having had any sexual contact with Ms Higgins and is seeking damages in the Federal Court.

Mr Lehrmann has been in the Sydney court room each day this week to watch Ms Higgins give evidence-in-chief and then be cross-examined by his barrister Steven Whybrow SC.

Thursday's Christmas drinks were organised by the Liberal Party's Wentworth branch and held at Villa Orme in Darling Point, according to news.com.au, which first reported the story.

Villa Orme is a 1920s estate available for hire and described in online marketing material as offering 'a Gatsby-era ambience perfect for any event'.

A spokeswoman for Ms Ley told the outlet she did not know Mr Lehrmann would be in a attendance at the Christmas drinks and she had not interacted with him.

Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Lehrmann was invited to the event by Villa Orme's owner Paul Haege.

Mr Lehrmann was photographed with a woman called Natalie he met that evening who is a member of the Wentworth branch.

Brittany Higgins is pictured arriving at the Federal Court with fiance David Sharaz. She spent the day under cross-examination by Bruce Lehrmann's barrister Steven Whybrow

On Friday, a long excerpt of a five-hour meeting attended by Wilkinson, her now fiance David Sharaz, Wilkinson and a Ten producer was played in the Federal Court.

The meeting was recorded in January 2021 - a few weeks before The Project episode went to air, during which Ms Higgins aired her rape allegations publicly for the first time.

During that conversation, Wilkinson could be heard saying the Liberal Party 'play mind games' and Ms Higgins described the party as a 'weird, gross family'.

Wilkinson's voice rose at one stage, before Mr Sharaz laughed and said 'I like how angry you're getting'.

Wilkinson acquired a headset to ensure she could hear the proceedings properly.

Her lips pursed as the recording was played for the court.
Negotiations broke down as dozens of hostages remain trapped in Gaza

Israel this morning relaunched its brutal offensive on Hamas, firing a barrage of missiles and sending warplanes screaming over Gaza as a week-long ceasefire expired.

The truce officially expired at 7am local time (5am GMT), but the IDF claimed that Hamas 'violated' the ceasefire early and launched rockets on Israel in the early hours, with footage shared to social media appearing to show attacks on the city of Sderot close to the border with Gaza.

In response, the 'IDF renewed fire against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip', Israeli military announced on X, with reports indicating it had dropped leaflets urging Gaza residents to leave parts of southern Gaza, signaling a widening offensive.

Just under an hour before the ceasefire officially expired, the IDF claimed it had 'intercepted' another attack, adding that a 'number' of rockets had been fired by Hamas before the truce ended.

The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza said 14 people had been killed in the first two hours after fighting resumed. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, there were '14 dead and dozens injured, most of them women and children'.

Though the seven-day truce offered a welcome reprieve from bloodshed and saw Hamas release dozens of Israeli and foreign hostages, dozens more remain trapped inside Gaza as fighting resumed this morning.

Yet despite the fresh violence, Qatari and Egyptian mediators are still negotiating a new extension of the seven-day truce.

In a statement this morning, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its 'deep regret at the resumption of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip following the end of the humanitarian pause' but confirmed that negotiations between the two sides 'are continuing with the aim of returning to a pause'.

A Palestinian youth carries a badly wounded child as poeple rush out of a bombarded area in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023

Residents and personnel conduct search and rescue works continue in the rubble of the destroyed building after the end of the week-long 'humanitarian pause' in Rafah, Gaza on December 01, 2023

This picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke rising from buildings still after being hit by Israeli strikes in the battles between Israel and Hamas militants, on December 1, 2023

Israel resumed its bombing campaign of Gaza this morning as the week-long truce ended

It was reported that there were dead and wounded as a result of the Israeli army's attack on a building in Rafah in south Gaza

Israeli forces take a Palestinian into custody as they intervene in Palestinians gathering at Wadi al-Joz neighborhood to perform Friday prayer in East Jerusalem on December 01, 2023

This picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke rising from buildings after being hit by Israeli strikes, as battles resume between Israel and Hamas militants, on December 1, 2023

Within minutes of announcing the resumption of the conflict, Israeli air raids struck the Palestinian city of Rahaf in the southern Gaza Strip

Palestinians inspect the quick destruction of a residential building in Rafah, as the city was shelled almost as soon as Israel announced the ceasefire had been 'violated'

Hamas last night released another round of hostages hours before the resumption of hostilities.

The freed hostages were named as Nili Margalit, 41, Sapir Cohen, 29, Shani Goren, 29, Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, Aisaha Ziadana, 17, and her brother Bilal, 18.

Ziadana's father Yousef and eldest brother Hamza remain in captivity.

The IDF last night confirmed the six Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross.

An IDF statement said: 'According to the information provided by the Red Cross, six Israeli abductees were transferred to them and are on their way to Israel.'

Those hostages were freed hours after Mia Schem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40 were released by Hamas earlier Thursday.

Another 30 Palestinians will be released in exchange for 10 hostages in Gaza, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said.

Meanwhile, IDF officials said Hamas' claims that ten-month-old Kfir Bibas, his brother Ariel and mother Shiri were killed in an airstrike remain unverified.

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'Hamas' claims about the Bibas family are still unverified. The published documentation is psychological terrorism.'

Within minutes of announcing the resumption of military action in Gaza, Israeli forces bombarded the northwest with rocket fire, and aircraft were seen circling the skies overhead, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Interior in Gaza.

The dramatic re-escalation of the conflict saw strikes land in the southern Gaza regions of Khan Younis and Rafah.

Reports indicate tanks have been swiftly positioned to the area, and in a tweet half an hour after the relaunch, the IDF said it had deployed 'warplanes' focused on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas 'didn't respect its obligation to release today all the abducted women and launched rockets toward the citizens of Israel.'

He insisted that because the conflict is now back on, the 'government of Israel is obliged to accomplish the targets of the fighting', which he claimed was to 'release the hostages' and 'to liquidate Hamas.'

A handout picture provided by Israel's Government Press Office (GPO), shows former Franco-Israeli hostage Mia Schem (L) with her mother and brother upon arrival at the Hatzerim air base following her release by the Palestinian Hamas group on November 30, 2023

Hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel sit inside a vehicle after a helicopter carried them to Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, Israel, December 1, 2023

A helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, Israel, December 1, 2023

People react as a bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners from the Ofer Israeli military prison arrives in Ramallah, West Bank, 01 December 2023

A Palestinian prisoner hugs his mother as she reacts after he was released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, December 1, 2023

Smoke rises over the Gaza Strip after being hit by Israeli air raids, seen from southern Israel which the IDF claimed had been struck by Hamas terrorists before the ceasefire was over

An IDF soldier patrols a combat area as the ceasefire with Gaza came to a close

A house left in ruins after an attack by Hamas militants on a kibbutz near the border with Gaza on October 10

Israeli soldiers are seen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Nov. 29, 2023

Hours before the ceasefire officially ended at 7am Friday morning in the war-torn region, footage purported to show rocket sirens sounding near the Israel-Palestine border for the first time in a week.

According to footage posted on social media by a reporter from Yeshiva World News, a Jewish outlet, sirens could be heard in Sderot followed by sounds of a large explosion.

Further surveillance video also appeared to show a rocket launch towards Sderot intercepted by the Iron Dome. It is unclear if reports of a blast in Sderot are the same incident the Israeli military claimed it had 'intercepted.'

Reports of Telegram communications from the Shehab News Agency, considered tied to Hamas, had also claimed gunfire and several explosions struck northern Gaza earlier on Friday.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Virtually all of those freed were women and children, but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza complicated reaching a deal for a further extension.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had also been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers. About 140 hostages remain in Gaza, with more than 100 having been freed as part of the truce.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt had sought to prolong the truce by another two days.

The deal ended after a week and multiple extensions, despite international pressure for the truce to be upheld as long as possible.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry statement said: 'The continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in the first hours after the end of the pause complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and in this context calls on the international community to move quickly to stop the violence.'

Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gaza's population of 2.3 million uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed - 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.

Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed, mostly during Hamas' deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' odds to win in 2024 shortened last night after his fierce debate performance against California's Democrat leader Gavin Newsom.

DeSantis, 45 and Newsom, 56, took the stage and went head-to-head in Alpharetta, Georgia to defend their states on Thursday night, moderated by Fox News' Sean Hannity.

The two men have spent months going at each other's throats on airwaves and finally got the chance to meet-up face-to-face to battle out some of the most contentious issues plaguing America in recent years.

The battle of the governors not only offered the ultimate red versus blue showdown, but also previewed a future presidential race  if not in this cycle, during a later one.

At 6pm EST, before the debate began, DeSantis' odds to win the presidential election in 2024 sat at 53/1, while Newsom was at 10/1.

But following the fierce fight, DeSantis' odds improved to 48/1, while Newsom's dipped to 12/1, according to oddschecker.com.

At 6pm EST, before the debate began, DeSantis' odds to win the presidential election in 2024 sat at 53/1, while Newsom was at 10/1. But following the fierce fight, DeSantis' odds improved to 48/1, while Newsom's dipped to 12/1, according to oddschecker.com

Despite neither governors sitting at the forefront of their respective parties' presidential candidate ticket, the scores nonetheless show that gamblers were seemingly more impressed with DeSantis compared to Newsom.

Throughout the tense showdown, the two state leaders took personal jabs and fought to speak over each other.

DeSantis slammed his California counterpart by pointing to his hypocrisy during COVID-19 by going out to fine-dining restaurant The French Laundry and sending his children to in-person private schools while his residents were still under lockdown.

He said California ran out of UHauls because so many people were moving out to head to red states  including Florida. He said among the new residents in Florida is Newsom's wife's father.

Newsom didn't back down in the one-on-one debate, taking a dig at DeSantis by saying they both won't be presidential nominees in 2024.

'You almost have to try to mess California up,' DeSantis said during feisty opening remarks. 'That is what Gavin Newsom has done since he has been governor'

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (pictured) said Thursday night that 'ten 9/11s' worth of Californias would have died of COVID-19 had he followed the same policies as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

'You almost have to try to mess California up,' DeSantis said during feisty opening remarks explaining why his state is superior. 'That is what Gavin Newsom has done since he has been governor.'

'He has imposed restrictions on his own people while exempting himself from those restrictions and going to the French Laundry while his people were suffering,' the Florida governor said. 'He led the country in school closures, blocking kids out of school while he had his own kids in private school in-person.'

Newsom has repeatedly said he has no plans to run for president in 2024 and has served as a surrogate for President Joe Biden since he launched his reelection campaign this year.

On the other hand, DeSantis is engaged in a heated primary election where he comes in distant second to former President Donald Trump.

'I'll give Gavin credit  he did at least admit in his first answer, he's joined at the hip with Biden and Harris,' DeSantis said at Thursday's debate.

'He thinks Biden and Harris have done a great job. He thinks the economy is working because of their policies for Americans, and they are not.

The governor added: 'What California represents is the Biden-Harris agenda on steroids.'

He noted that Newsom is the first California leader to see the state lose population rather than gain.

Despite neither governors sitting at the forefront of their respective parties' presidential candidate ticket, the scores nonetheless show that gamblers were seemingly more impressed with DeSantis compared to Newsom

'They actually at one point, ran out of U-Hauls in the state of California because so many people were leaving,' DeSantis said at the start of a debate filled with a lot of tension and cross-talk.

Newsom acknowledged: 'There are profound differences tonight, and I look forward to engaging.'

'But there's one thing in closing that we have in common is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024,' he jabbed.

The governors took stage Thursday evening to prove once and for all which of their states are superior and which of their governing styles works better for their residents.

The highly anticipated match-up was expected to get heated  and did not disappoint right out the gate.

Following the debate, DeSantis said in a press conference that he decided to do the debate because it was 'good exposure' for him since Trump is sucking up most of the media attention in the GOP primary.

'Part of the reason I did it is Sean's a friend,' Desantis said of the Fox host, adding that he was hesitant to participate at first since Newsom isn't an official 2024 candidate.

'But then I thought about it,' he explained in a post-debate press conference. 'I'm in a race where one candidate gets a disproportionate amount of media coverage. And so I have to be able to get my message out.'

DeSantis slammed his California counterpart by pointing to his hypocrisy during COVID-19 by going out to fine-dining restaurant The French Laundry and sending his children to in-person private schools while his residents were still under lockdown .

'So to have 90 minutes on national TV, where I'm able to go and box somebody who is on the far left  that is good exposure for me,' he said.

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 ahead of the battle with Newsom.

Meanwhile, Newsom is not in the 2024 race  and insists he has no intentions of entering the running and instead is serving as a surrogate to Biden.

'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,' DeSantis campaign manager James Uthmeier said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com

He added: '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 spokesman Nathan Click told DailyMail.com the day before the debate that the California governor is participating because he 'has long believed that Democrats have to go on offense in enemy territory, and that's exactly what he intends to do.'

Hannity helped brokered the terms of the debate, including at least one of the candidates preferring not to have an in-studio audience.

The Fox News host told DailyMail.com in an interview Tuesday: 'I took on the crazy position of personally handling this myself. I thought it was too important.'

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 during an interview: '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.
Viewers worried about the country's future found themselves worried for Gavin Newsom's health as the California governor croaked his way through this evening's debate with Florida's Ron DeSantis.

Crime, immigration and schools were on the agenda as the two potential presidents attempted to set out their stalls for politics after Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

But the clash of ideologies was lost on some viewers who struggled to concentrate in the face of Newsom's hoarse delivery.

Many then took to social media but they were split over whether it was health, nerves or the sheer amount of talking that did for the Democrat.

'What happened to your voice? It's crazy scratchy,' wrote Shanna I on X, formerly Twitter.

Both governors had their work cut out being heard at all as they constantly spoke over each other on the Fox debate show .

Fox was anticipating a big audience as voters gathered to listen to the two young presidential possibles set out their stalls for the future

But the California governor's vocals proved too much for some who vented their irritation

'This debate proves that Gavin Newsom is a whiny child with an extremely annoying voice,' added spieswholie.

'Nobody outside California will vote for this idiot.'

'Gavin started off cocky and laughing, and now he's straining his voice and no longer laughing,' wrote Ahuva Shain, 'body language tells a big story!'

Both governors had their work cut out being heard at all as they constantly spoke over each other on the Fox debate show.

DeSantis slammed his California counterpart by pointing to his hypocrisy during COVID-19 by going out to fine-dining restaurant The French Laundry and sending his children to in-person private schools while his residents were still under lockdown.

Newsom accused DeSantis of 'trolling' with his move to transport migrants out of border states to Democratic sanctuary cities  and said he's trying to one-up former President Donald Trump with his antics.

'The great red and blue state debate  can they just stop talking over each other??' demanded Melody 22.

'Ron DeSantis let Gavin Newsom with his crackling voice (is that due to California smog) get a word in!'

'I can't even watch this debate right now because the sound of Gavin Newsom's voice makes me nauseous,' added Paula Scanlan, complete with a vomiting emoji.

Crime, immigration and schools were on the agenda for the much anticipated showdown

But the candidates talking over each other proved more of an annoyance for some

'Real question: what health condition does Newsom have?' demanded at seethew0rld.

'Besides his always raspy voice, what is up with his bright red hands?'

'Dear God, that voice,' added Linda Traitz.

Republican broadcaster Jenna Ellis had urged conservatives to tune into the debate in a bid to see whether the Florida governor has what it takes to unseat Donald Trump in the hearts of primary voters.

But that earned her a clapback from viewers with sensitive ears.

'So if I don't watch because I can't stand the sound of Gavin Newsom's voice I'm not a real conservative? Demanded Andfrew Lovsness.

Owen Durden suggested the 56-year-old was simply trying to channel former Democrat president Bill Clinton 'from the voice, to the hand motion to body jitters'.

And Timothy Lassley suggested an even more extreme comparison: 'All I hear is Nancy Pelosi voice when Gavin Newsom talks,' he tweeted.

But DeSantis did not have it all his own way with a different take from Mike Tausig.

'Neither Newsom nor Ron DeSantis will shut up and answer a question,' he wrote.

'Desantis' voice is GRATING!'

Newsom initially challenged DeSantis to a debate in September 2022. At the time, DeSantis was not yet running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

DeSantis is now running but consistently polling second, far behind Trump.

He has already participated in three Republican presidential primary debates against his GOP competitors without Trump ahead of the battle with Newsom.

Meanwhile, Newsom is not in the 2024 race  and insists he has no intentions of entering the running and instead is serving as a surrogate to Biden.

Fox News host Sean Hannity chaired the debate in Alpharetta, Georgia

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 during an interview: 'I'm game. Let's get it done. Just tell me when and where.'

'We were shocked when he accepted,' the Californian's spokesman 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.
Newsom tried to fight back against DeSantis with claims that many of the cities with the highest murder rates are in 'red states'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hammered California Governor Gavin Newsom on the crime rate in the Golden State during their televised debate Thursday, with Newsom being forced to play defense on the issue.

Crime in Democrat-run cities like Los Angeles has soared following the defund police movement. The lax law enforcement has sparked an exodus of residents to Republican states such as Texas and Florida.

Debate moderator Sean Hannity showed a graphic displaying how there were nearly 500 violent crimes 100,000 people in California, versus a national average of 380.7 and Florida's rate of 258.9

DeSantis responded to those rates and Newsom's arguments against them by calling him a 'slick politician.'

'You saw the rates, he has 500 per 100,000, Florida is 250. People are leaving California in droves, largely because public safety has collapsed. When Californians come to Florida, people say it's like an out-of-body experience.'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (pictured left) hammered California Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured right) on the crime rate in the Golden State during their televised debate Thursday, with Newsom being forced to play defense on the issue

He also accused Newsom of having 'basically legalized retail theft' with many stores putting products under lock and key out of fear of robbery.

'They have chosen in California to put the interests of the criminals over public safety. They're easier on sex offenders, they're easier on all these crimes that are leading to a collapse in the quality of life.'

DeSantis, who says crime is at a 50-year low in Florida, then slammed Newsom for taking 'the San Francisco model' and using it as 'California's model.'

When challenged on the crime and lawlessness that have seemingly become the norm in his state, Governor Newsom deflected, comparing crime rates to that of the 1990s. He then attempted to turn it on DeSantis.

'We're near 50-year lows, down 55 percent violent crimes in the state of California in the 1990s,' Newsom said. 'I want to compare and contrast that with the issue in Florida and that's the murder rate.

Newsom then attacked, claiming that seven of the top ten murder rates in America are 'red states' like the ones DeSantis governs.

According to CBS News, while many of the cities in the top ten are in states with Republican governors, all ten of them have Democrat mayors.

Newsom also claimed that Florida had a higher gun death rate and that cities like Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa Bay have murder rates 'off the charts' compared to San Francisco. All of those cities have Democrat mayors as well.

DeSantis slammed Newsom's arguments against him by calling Newsom a 'slick politician.'

When challenged on the crime and lawlessness that have seemingly become the norm in his state, Governor Newsom deflected, comparing crime rates to that of the 1990s

DeSantis, who says crime is at a 50-year low in Florida, then slammed Newsom for taking 'the San Francisco model' and using it as 'California's model'

DeSantis also accused Newsom of having 'basically legalized retail theft' with many stores putting products under lock and key out of fear of robbery

DeSantis responded by cracking of Newsom : 'I know you like to jabber, I know you like to lie.'

According to Los Angeles crime statistics, from October 1 to October 28 there have been 718 robberies in the city.

There were a total of 7,111 robberies in 2023, higher than the number of reported robberies in 2022.

Overall crime rates in the Golden State have soared in recent times as flash mobs and looters have raided storefronts.

A rise in homelessness and drug addiction has also plagued the area and has contributed to the uptick in crime.

In September Newsom signed a law that added an 11 percent tax on top of the federal governments already implemented gun tax.

Debate host Fox News billed the 90-minute affair as 'The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.'

It was held in a television studio with no audience in Georgia, a location chosen for its key swing-state implications in national politics.

In September California governor Gavin Newsom signed a law that added an 11 percent tax on top of the federal governments already implemented gun tax

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

And it played out in the heart of presidential primary season with voters in both parties paying closer attention to their 2024 options heading into next fall's general election.

Newsom initially challenged DeSantis to a debate in September 2022. At the time, DeSantis was not yet running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

DeSantis is now running but consistently polling second, far behind Trump.

He has already participated in three Republican presidential primary debates against his GOP competitors without Trump ahead of the battle with Newsom.

Meanwhile, Newsom is not in the 2024 race  and insists he has no intentions of entering the running and instead is serving as a surrogate to Biden.

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 during an interview: 'I'm game. Let's get it done. Just tell me when and where.'

'We were shocked when he accepted,' the Californian's spokesman said to DailyMail.com.

Newsom initially challenged DeSantis to a debate in September 2022. At the time, DeSantis was not yet running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary

'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.

Newsom, California's 56-year-old term-limited governor, has positioned himself to seek the Democratic nomination for presidency someday.

But like the rest of his party's most ambitious leaders, he declined to challenge Biden for the nomination in 2024.

Instead, he's emerged as a leading defender of Biden and a formal campaign adviser.

He embraced that role Thursday night after DeSantis said he was 'joined at the hip with Biden and (Vice President Kamala) Harris.'

Later, the Florida governor said that Biden, at 80 years old, is 'in decline' and represents 'a danger to the country.'

'I'm proud of the work Biden and Harris have done,' Newsom said, ticking through unemployment statistics. 'I will take Joe Biden at 100 rather than Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age.'

Trumps campaign, aware that the unusual event was drawing national attention, unleashed a slew of fresh insults at DeSantis, one of his strongest Republican primary rivals, shortly before it began.

'Ron DeSanctimonious is acting more like a thirsty, third-rate OnlyFans wannabe model than an actual presidential candidate,' the Trump campaign wrote, using one of the many nicknames the former president has given his rival.

'Instead of actually campaigning and trying to turn around his dismal poll numbers, DeSanctus is now so desperate for attention that hes debating a Grade A loser like Gavin Newsom.'
A 20-year-old New York man has been arrested after a a three-year-old boy was run down by vehicle and killed in front of his father in a Dunkin Donuts carpark.

Kevin Gomez was taken into custody for allegedly being the driver behind a 2014 white Infiniti Q50 sedan which struck Quintas Chen on Wednesday night.

Gomez was arrested on Thursday afternoon and has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license.

Police told DailyMail.com the toddler was crossing the middle of the street on College Point Boulevard at around 6.41pm when the driver was pulling away from their parking spot.

The child fell to the ground when the car hit him and was then struck by the side tires of the sedan. The suspect continued to drive away from the scene.

Chen was immediately taken to Booth Memorial Hospital, where he died.

Kevin Gomez was arrested for supposedly driving his 2014 white Infiniti Q50 sedan into Quintas Chen and striking him last night

The child fell to the ground when the car hit him and he was then struck by the driver's side tires of the sedan

Officials later found the Infiniti abandoned a few blocks away from the scene.

The child was walking with his father Jimmy Chen back to their home from a doctor's office when he was hit.

He told CBS: 'He was a sweet boy. He was very adorable. He's so loving. We miss him so much.'

His mother Karen Ng said while holding back tears: 'I don't think I spent enough time with him.'

She described her son as a 'cute and adorable' boy, saying: 'His teachers say he learns pretty fast.'

The driver was in a white, four-door sedan and drove away from the scene, continuing south on College Point Boulevard

Police told DailyMail.com that the driver was pulling away from their parking spot when it struck the three-year-old

On the day of the suspect's arrest, local lawmakers and police made an urgent plea to the public

On the day of the suspect's arrest, local lawmakers and police made an urgent plea to the public.

Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim said the tragedy was every parent's 'worst nightmare' and said that an incident like this 'could've happened to any of us.'

'Obviously, they're in complete shock and traumatized,' he said of the grieving parents.

'They want to make sure that everyone's held accountable and there's justice for what happened to their child.'

'I know how dangerous it is on College Point; as you can see, the vehicles are parked and backing out every day, it is not a safe sidewalk for families.'

Officials believe the car was parked in an illegal zone, which is why he rushed to leave the area.

The NYPDs Highway District Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to investigate the crash.
A high pressure system is set to build across Northern California starting Saturday, leading to warmer and somewhat drier conditions for Bay Area residents by the end of the weekend. Baron/Lynx

Bay Area residents can expect partly cloudy skies and a slight chance of drizzle throughout Friday along the immediate shoreline. But drier air and the high pressure will gradually stomp out any lingering sprinkles, keeping rain chances out of the forecast this weekend.

Warmer conditions arrive Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures expected to rise 3 to 5 degrees across the region. Daytime highs will range from the lower 60s to mid-60s along the coast, while residents in inland areas can expect mid- to upper 60s. The South Bay will likely experience some of the warmest weather in the Bay Area by Sunday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Despite the higher temperatures, high clouds will linger this weekend. This means residents in select inland regions like the North Bay highlands and Tri-Valley area can expect mostly cloudy skies Saturday and Sunday, along with a few breaks in the clouds. Dont forget the sunscreen as these thin clouds wont offer much protection from the suns UV rays.

Weekend breakdown

San Francisco: Partly cloudy skies and afternoon temperatures in the lower 60s are on tap for San Franciscans on Friday, along with a chance of drizzle in the outer Sunset and Richmond districts and North Beach.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Slightly warmer air will arrive over the weekend. Expect partly cloudy conditions to continue and for daytime highs to reach the mid-60s, though the sea breeze is likely to keep the west side about 2 to 3 degrees cooler than downtown. Expect nighttime lows near 50 degrees.

East Bay: Sprinkles will be possible in the Oakland and Berkeley hills Friday morning before drier air arrives in the afternoon. Look for daytime highs around 60 degrees along the bay shore while residents east of the Caldecott Tunnel are in for sunnier skies and temperatures in the lower 60s.

High pressure arrives this weekend and will help bring a slight warming trend to residents in the Tri-Valley area. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-60s Saturday and upper 60s Sunday, roughly average for this time of year. Bay shore residents in Alameda and Oakland can expect the mercury to stay in the lower 60s in the afternoon hours.

Have a sweater handy after sunset. Nighttime lows are slated to fall to the upper 40s by the water and lower 40s inland.

North Bay: A cozy Friday is on tap for residents in the Napa, Santa Rosa and Petaluma valleys, where partly cloudy skies will accompany daytime highs in the mid-60s.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Light breezes off San Pablo Bay and the delta are expected Friday afternoon, keeping highs closer to 60 by the water. Stray drizzle is possible around Mount Tam and the Sonoma County coast throughout the day, though drier weather returns by the weekend.

Look for a repeat of partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures across the region Saturday and Sunday. But dont forget to bundle up after sunset, because temperatures are slated to fall to the lower 40s in the inland valleys and upper 40s by the water the next several nights.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Those along Highway 1 from Daly City to Pacifica can expect a slight chance of drizzle throughout the day Friday, while partly cloudy skies prevail over the San Bruno Gap and Silicon Valley. Look for daytime highs in the lower to mid-60s.

A subtle warming trend arrives this weekend, leading to a 2- to 3-degree warmup on the Peninsula. That said, cloud cover is expected to increase Saturday and Sunday. Look for mostly cloudy skies by the end of the week.

Nighttime lows are slated to fall to the upper 40s over the next several nights.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

South Bay and Santa Cruz: A warming trend is expected to take hold of the Santa Clara Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains and communities along Monterey Bay on Friday and into the weekend. Daytime highs in San Jose and the Highway 17 corridor will steadily rise from the lower 60s Friday to upper 60s Sunday. A similar warmup is slated to occur along the shoreline, where Capitola, La Selva and Watsonville can expect 2 to 3 degrees of warming.
Almost 800 rural banks have closed since June 2017

Major banks are 'bullies' who are abandoning rural communities and leaving vulnerable customers at risk of financial scams, a Senate inquiry has been told.

Nearly 800 bank branches have closed in regional and rural Australia since June 2017, according to data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).

A long-running inquiry is examining the effect of closures on rural towns and considering possible mandates to keep a minimum number of country branches open.

When a bank shuts, customers are usually directed to a local post office for limited cash services through Bank@Post.

Nearly 800 bank branches have closed in rural locations across the country since June 2017 which could be leaving communities at risk of financial scams

Australia Post says it's interested in expanding its financial services in regions of need

READ MORE: Mum from Melbourne scammed out of $200,000 A mother was left devastated after hackers drained her bank account following a mysterious $210 deposit. Advertisement

Australia Post has told the inquiry there are about 1150 rural communities with post offices, but no banks.

The LPO group, which represents post office licensees, is pushing for the establishment of a government-backed postal bank using Australia Post's vast regional network.

Co-chair Scott Etherington said three of the four major banks paid Australia Post for transactions, but post offices had to manage customers' banking inquiries at no charge.

'How much longer should our members continue subsidising the banks?' Mr Etherington told the inquiry in Canberra on Friday.

'These bankers are not clever businessmen. They're bullies.'

Elderly rural customers relied on face-to-face banking at post offices, often in fear of being caught up in scams or losing money, Mr Etherington said.

'They can't afford for $5 or $10 or $1000, heaven forbid, to go astray because they hit the wrong button on their phone or hit the wrong thing on their web browser.'

Banks point to the rapid uptake of digital banking and decline in cash transactions to justify widespread closures.

Australia Post chief executive Paul Graham said though Bank@Post was also likely to decline as customers moved online, cash was important for regional communities and would not disappear soon.

About 1,150 rural communities are currently dealing with their financial services through post offices since they do not have access to any banks

The national postal service paid $90,000 last year to fly cash into remote towns such as Coober Pedy in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, where the last banks have shut down.

'The closures they have made, they have done so because they don't see a future in having branch outlets; that's their view,' Mr Graham said.

'We obviously do see a future in it.'

A record $100 billion in cash was in circulation after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reserve Bank's note issue department deputy head Merylin Coombs said.

'People, at times of uncertainty, they do want cash as protecting against uncertainty,' Ms Coombs said.

APRA data presented to the inquiry showed the number of banks in regional and rural areas reduced by 34 per cent in the past six years, along with 39 per cent in the cities.

The number of ATMs provided by banks dropped by 50 per cent in the country and 62 per cent in metropolitan areas.

The committee is due to hand down its final report next May.
A Supreme Court Justice has been charged with assault and emotional abuse.

Police confirmed that they arrested and charged a 62-year-old Hobart man, who is believed to be Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason, according to the Mercury.

'The man has been charged with one count of common assault as well as one count of emotional abuse,' a Tasmania Police statement read.

Justice Geason appeared at Hobart Magistrates Court during an out of hours hearing on Friday night.

It comes a month after Attorney-General Guy Barnett issued a brief media release stating that a Justice had been asked to take leave.

Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason, 62, (pictured) has been arrested and charged with assault and emotional abuse

The initial release from the Attorney-General did not list specific details such as the judge's name, the nature of the charges, or how the issue would be resolved.

'Today I met with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in relation to a significant matter involving a judge,' Mr Barnett said.

'The Chief Justice has asked the judge to take leave until further notice.

'As Attorney-General, I take this matter very seriously and will consider any further action as appropriate.'

A Tasmanian Police spokesperson said that an investigation was launched after receiving a number of inquiries.

'Tasmania Police has received inquiries in relation to whether an individual was the subject of a police family violence order,' a spokesperson said.

'Police do not provide comment in relation to police family violence orders.'

It's understood the family violence order issued to Justice Geason relates to a relationship with a woman.

A parliamentary process is required to remove a Supreme Court judge.

The Tasmania state government refused to comment on it would respond to the developments, The Australian reported.

Justice Geason appeared at Hobart Magistrates Court during an out of hours hearing on Friday night

Attorney-General Guy Barnett (pictured) initially issued a brief media release on November 2 stating that a Justice had been asked to take leave

No findings have been made against Justice Geason.

Justice Geason was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench in 2017 where he vowed to do the best he could behind the bench during his tenure.

'The court will have before it the unfortunate and the fortunate, the powerful and the weak, the strong and the broken,' he said at his swearing-in.

'I'll do my best to live up to your expectations of me.'

Justice Geason had been a respected judge at the time and was commended for his 30 years of experience in civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts.

He was admitted to practice in 1987 and worked as a Crown Prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, according to his bio on the Supreme Court website.

Previously the respected judge had been the best man at former premier Will Hodgmans wedding.
Ron DeSantis thinks Florida's Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler should step down while he's investigated for rape allegations from a woman he and his wife were engaged in a three-way relationship with.

In a press conference following a debate in Georgia on Thursday with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Florida leader said the mission of his state's GOP is 'too important' to get muddied with the investigation.

Ziegler's wife, Bridget, is co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing parental rights group and Sarasota County School board member.

The couple rising in the ranks of Florida politics had their ambitions rocked this week with the emergence of allegations against Christian.

'[The accusations] are very serious. I don't see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations,' DeSantis said when asked if Ziegler should resign.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference after his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom that Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler should step aside as he faces investigation for sexual battery and rape

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)

He said that he just learned of the allegations today.

'I think he should step aside and should tend to that,' DeSantis said. 'He's innocent till proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny.'

'I hope that the charges aren't true. I've known him, I've known Bridget, they've been friends, but mission is more important.

Christian Ziegler, the Florida Republican Party Chair, now finds himself under criminal investigation after a woman claiming to be part of a three-way relationship with Ziegler's wife alleged he raped her.

Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty 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.'

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 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.

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.
Omid Scobie took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book.

Mr Scobie, 42, said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe that he is 'in cahoots' with Meghan Markle, declaring: 'It couldnt be further from the truth'.

He also refused to apologise for the racism scandal that has erupted, claiming: 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it'.

But questions about whether he put the names in remain because one of the Dutch translators told MailOnline yesterday: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them'.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Scobie was asked to say 'hand on heart' that the farrago over the Dutch translation was not a PR stunt. He raised his hands, shaking his head, and replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.' Ms Derbyshire said: You dont have to go that far, its fine.

Scobie then said: 'No its serious because I feel hurt by some of the things Ive seen that have suggested a conspiracy theory, that this is some kind of publicity stunt, and Im in cahoots with my pal [Meghan] and nonsense like that because it feeds into something that couldnt be further from the truth'.

Victoria then said: In some version you must have written the names in and the wrong version has potentially gone to the people in charge of the rights around the world, I suppose. Mr Scobie didnt respond.

It came as media organisations around the world, including ITV, The Guardian and The Times, named the two royals accused of asking about Archie's skin colour as King Charles and his daughter-in-law Kate.

In a tense BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire , Scobie declared: 'It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.'

The Prince and Princess of Wales put on a business-as-usual attitude as they attended the Royal Variety Performance 2023 amid a deepening race row reignited by Omid Scobie

King Charles also brushed off the racism row as he visited Dubai for the Cop28 summit. Here, he talks to representatives at the Commonwealth and Nature reception yesterday

Omid Scobie has refused to apologise to the two senior royals his book claimed had 'concerns' over Prince Archie 's skin colour

Dutch translators Saskia Peeters (left) and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern (right) who worked on Omid Scobie's controversial book have insisted the names of two royals at the centre of racism scandal were in the manuscript they were sent

During Good Morning Britain's opening credits today, Ben Shephard said: 'The Princess of Wales made no comment at the Royal Variety performance in London last night and it was business as usual for the King at the climate conference in Dubai after they were named in the Dutch version of a new book as the royals who questioned what colour skin Prince Archie would have.'

The royal author, 42, claims that the book that he 'was extremely proud of' has been 'completely overshadowed by an event that's caused me a lot of frustration'.

In a tense BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire last night, Mr Scobie was given the chance to say sorry to the Royal Family but instead declared: 'It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.'

The royal author, 42, said that the book that he 'was extremely proud of' has been 'completely overshadowed by an event that's caused me a lot of frustration'.

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television.

The pair identified in the book were named widely by media organisations around the world last night, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and Kate.

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly named the pair in a letter to Charles, have insisted to the Telegraph that she had 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp'.

When Mr Scobie was asked whether he could 'hand on heart' say that this wasn't a publicity stunt to sell more books, he replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.'

He told Newsnight last night that 'there are irresponsible people in this country that have broken the law and repeated names that should never have been repeated'.

'The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it,' he added. 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else.'

READ MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William ignore fallout from Omid Scobie race row as they arrive hand-in-hand at the Royal Variety Performance Advertisement

Mr Scobie said there is a full investigation going on into what happened after he first heard about it on social media.

The author, who said his book had been 'legalled and vetted', explained that he was in back to back interviews on the day that he was told by the Dutch publisher that there was a 'translation error'.

He added: 'So I'm looking forward to finding out more about it because the English version of the book - the only one I know - the version I signed off on, that's the book that is out there today, that's the book that has no names in it.

'I make it very clear, because ultimately to write the names it's a show and tell situation, there's no ability to show so there was never an attempt to name.'

Mr Scobie was speaking as members of the Royal Family got down to business as usual, with King Charles in Dubai for Cop28 and Prince William and Kate dazzling at the Royal Variety Performance in London.

Palace sources told The Mirror that the 'entire Royal Family is united in outrage' after members of the family were 'unfairly named in this way'.

They added: 'There is absolute and unequivocal denial that anything said by the two persons named publicly was said, or even could be considered to be said, in a racist manner.'

The row was described as 'an outrageous smear' that began with the Oprah interview but has now 'blown up into another stratosphere'.

The interview also came just hours after both Dutch translators who worked on Mr Scobie's controversial book insisted that the names of two royals at the centre of a racism scandal were in the manuscript they received.

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.'

The second translator, Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern, then told The Sun: 'We are professionals and we've done this for years, both of us. It's unfair.'

Her claims appear to contradict Scobie's (pictured yesterday) who has insisted 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)

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 on Wednesday night.

Last night, he hosted another show where he defended his decision before describing Mr Scobie as a 'proven liar' who is 'dragging the Royal Family through the mud all over again and reigniting these racism charges because he wants to sell books and make money'.

In response to Mr Scobie saying he was 'frustrated', Morgan also tweeted: 'Must be very frustrating when some random person in the Netherlands decides to insert passages naming and racist-shaming King Charles and the Princess of Wales in your own book, and you have no idea how that happened.'

The Dutch edition of the book is said to include the two royals' names but there is no detail of what was supposedly said during the alleged conversations. Mr Scobie has provided no evidence to back up the claims.

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 Mr 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 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 'considering all options' over the royal race row stoked by Mr 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 Mr 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 yesterday 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 yesterday 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 yesterday. They later attended the Royal Variety Performance.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their children Archie and Lilibet in December 2021

Before his BBC appearance, Mr Scobie appeared on ITV's This Morning to square the blame on the Dutch publisher, declaring: 'I never submitted a book that had those names in it'.

The interview started with a denial he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece' and he 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'.

Mr 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.'
Facebook parent company Meta has filed a lawsuit calling the Federal Trade Commission unconstitutional, as it seeks to block the regulator from re-opening a consent agreement and blocking the social media giant profiting off the data of kids.

In a lawsuit filed late Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., Meta Platforms Inc. said it is challenging 'the structurally unconstitutional authority exercised by the FTC' in reopening the privacy agreement.

'Meta respectfully requests that this Court declare that certain fundamental aspects of the Commissions structure violate the U.S. Constitution, and that these violations render unlawful the FTC Proceeding against Meta,' the company says in its complaint.

In addition to the agency, the lawsuit names Chair Lina Khan and the two Democratic commissioners, Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, as defendants.

The dispute stems from a 2020 consent agreement Meta made with the FTC that also had the social media giant pay a record $5 billion fine over privacy violations.

Facebook parent company Meta has filed a lawsuit calling the Federal Trade Commission unconstitutional

In May, the agency said that it had re-opened the case 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 FTC proposed sweeping changes to the agreement that includes barring Meta from making money from data it collects on minors, including data collected through its virtual-reality products.

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.

Meta's complaint came after the US Supreme Court's conservative majority on Wednesday seemed open to a challenge to how the Securities and Exchange Commission fights fraud in a case that could have far-reaching effects on other regulatory agencies.

In addition to the agency, the lawsuit names Chair Lina Khan (above) and the two Democratic commissioners, Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, as defendants

A majority of the nine-member court suggested that people accused of fraud by the SEC should have the right to have their cases decided by a jury in federal court, instead of by the SECs in-house administrative law judges, echoing elements of Meta's lawsuit.

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.

US Sen. Edward Markey, a frequent critic of Meta and other Big Tech companies, called Meta's lawsuit a 'weak attempt to avoid accountability.'

'In the face of a potentially massive fine, Metas adoption of extreme, right-wing legal theories to challenge our countrys premier consumer protection agency reeks of desperation,' Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a statement.
A man has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of a woman at a slapping therapy workshop in a country hotel.

Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, died at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, where she was taking part in a workshop to help her diabetes on October 20, 2016.

The workshop is understood to involve paida lajin therapy, which sees patients being slapped or slapping themselves repeatedly.

Mrs Carr-Gomm, from Lewes, East Sussex, embraced alternative and holistic medicine and therapies, her family said.

On Thursday, Wiltshire Police said Hongchi Xiao, 60, of Cloudbreak, California, was charged with Mrs Carr-Gomm's manslaughter by gross negligence.

Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, died at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, where she was taking part in a workshop to help her diabetes on October 20, 2016

Wiltshire Police said Hongchi Xiao, 60, of Cloudbreak, California , had been charged with Mrs Carr-Gomm's manslaughter by gross negligence

A force spokesman said: 'Hongchi Xiao, 60, of Cloudbreak, California, returned to the United Kingdom from Australia on an extradition warrant and has been taken to Gablecross custody in Swindon where he was charged.

'This relates to the death of Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, at Cleeve House in Seend in October 2016.'

The force said the man was due to appear before Salisbury Magistrates' Court today.

Mrs Carr-Gomm, who was born in France and moved to the UK aged 21, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 and struggled to inject insulin due to a fear of needles.

Speaking after her death, her son Matthew Carr-Gomm, who lives in New Zealand, said: 'She was always keen to try and find alternative methods of treating and dealing with her diabetes and was very interested in alternative and holistic medicine and therapies.

'I know she was desperate to try and cure herself of this disease. She always maintained a healthy lifestyle and was adamant that nothing would stop her from living a full life.

'In recent years, mum was in a great place with a partner, a lovely home, and was travelling the world. She had a lot of life left in her.'

He said the death of Mrs Carr-Gomm had come as a 'huge shock' to the family.
A catfight is brewing to save a popular strip club being eyed off by developers as a prime piece of real estate.

The owners of Kittens in South Melbourne have launched a desperate fight to keep the doors open instead of being demolished and turned into high rise units.

Kittens is informally known as the South Melbourne ballet by AFL stars and socialites who frequent the venue, which is regarded as 'the last good strip club in town'.

It's understood the owners and management are in 'fierce negotiations' to renew the lease and not end up in the same demise of other strip clubs on King Street in the nearby CBD which have since closed.

They included Goldfingers, which was destroyed in a raging fire last year.

The owners of Kittens strip club in South Melbourne are currently renegotiating their lease as real estate developers eye the location for potential high rises

Regulars praised the club as being 'the last good one in town' after it spruced up its reputation when it was named the 'Best Gentlemens Club' in Australia at the Adult Industry Awards

Kittens has revamped its image to tailor towards a refined clientele after winning the 'Best Gentlemens Club' in Australia at the Adult Industry Awards.

READ MORE: Dancers slam plan to ban clubs Advertisement

One regular says the women who work there have become more comfortable with their patrons after all of the 'old blokes' moved elsewhere.

'Its not all old blokes leering at chicks on a pole at Kittens. The girls like to hang out more,' they told the Herald Sun.

Other patrons offered similar praise of the ladies who are known to provide the 'girlfriend experience'.

Imagining a Melbourne without Kittens had another flustered when he considered that 'it was the only place [left] where you could touch skin on skin'.

Transactions are discreet and appear as 'tradie invoices' on bank statements

Kittens promotes 'wild water fights' and 'girl-on-girl shows' on its website.

It also describes itself on social media as Melbourne's 'number one gentleman's club' and the 'purrfect place to party'.

Imagining a Melbourne without Kittens had one regular flustered when he considered that 'it was the only place [left] where you could touch skin on skin'. Pictured are ladies at Kittens

The strip club has come a long way since being the target of a series of drive-by shootings in 2015-2016.

A bouncer was shot and injured in one of the shootings which police believe was the culmination of an 18-month turf war by Comanchero bikie gang members against the security industry.

A second Kittens strip club in Caulfield South has been permanently closed since 2016 after the venue was firebombed and destroyed.
James Bulger's murderer Jon Venables is likely to be subject to the strictest ever release conditions if he wins parole, including lie detector tests and tight restrictions on his movements and use of the internet.

The child murderer will be told if he has won parole within two weeks, meaning he could be out on the streets before Christmas. Today, experts said the conditions he could have to abide by may be some of the toughest ever enforced.

A criminal lawyer told MailOnline the conditions would include 'very heavy monitoring and restriction to his movements'.

This could involve curfew times, restrictions on international travel and access to the internet and the requirement to live in a 'pre-ordained place'.

Mike Neville, a former police officer and CEO of Neville Forensic Recognition, said the conditions would focus on preventing him from gaining access to child pornography.

Jon Venables (pictured) will be told if he has won parole in the 'week commencing the 11th December' and could still be free before Christmas

Venables, and Robert Thompson, now 41, were both aged 10 when they kidnapped, tortured and killed two-year-old James Bulger (pictured) before leaving his mutilated body by a railway line in Liverpool 30 years ago

He told MailOnline: 'There'll be limits on his use of the internet, particularly the dark web, and possession of laptops and mobile phones. He'll also be stopped from going within a certain distance of a school.

'They might well be the strictest conditions ever but they need to be enforced. There's not enough police and probation officers to monitor all the sex offenders that have been released.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE - Jon Venables could be freed by Christmas: James Bulger's murderer will learn if he has won parole in week beginning December 11 Advertisement

'He'll be put in a hostel in some council estate in Middlesbrough, Bolton or Stoke. And the working class people will have to put up with him rather than the middle class fools who released him.'

Mr Neville warned that precautions like on-the-spot lie detector tests were likely to be ineffective because they could be faked.

'People who are child abusers live a whole life of lies,' he added.

Ian Acheson, a former prison governor who led an independent review of Islamist extremism in prisons and the probation service, said the conditions would be 'very stringent' if Venables was released.

He told MailOnline: 'Looking at the hierarchy of risk the most important thing to prevent him from doing is downloading, viewing or distributing online material. There will be huge restrictions around his ability to do that.

'I would expect there to be extremely stringent rules around his access to IT and he'd probably be forbidden to have any kind of relationship with a minor.

'I'm sure he'd be subject to multi-agency public protection arrangements if he was released into the community. Although the fact the probation service has been decimated by cuts is an issue.'

The toddler (pictured) was snatched from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on February 12, 1993

James' mother Denise Fergus (pictured) previously said she endured 'three decades of hell' after Venables killed her son

The Ministry of Justice refused to respond to the claims, telling MailOnline they would not comment on individual cases.

A spokesman for the Parole Board previously confirmed that the decision regarding Venables' release will be 'sometime during the week commencing the 11th December.' It had been expected on November 28.

The halfway house from HELL: The bail hostel that some of UK's most evil women from Karen Matthews to Baby P killer Tracy Connelly called home By Andy Gardner A property on a quiet residential street has been home to some of the most notorious women criminals in British history. Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly and Karen Matthews, who kidnapped her nine-year-old daughter Shannon and held her prisoner for 24 days, are among former residents of the 'Monster Mansion'. Karen Matthews (pictured) kidnapped her nine-year-old daughter Shannon and held her prisoner for 24 day Mairead Philpott, who was jailed for 17 years for her role in the death of her six children in an horrific arson in June 2013, has also lived there. So too has 'Chucky' killer Bernadette McNeilly, who spent 21 years in prison for the sadistic murder of 16-year-old Suzanne Capper. The infamous rogue's gallery all lived at the property in Reading, Berks - a probation hostel for high risk offenders. The independently-run facility has provided them with their first homes after being released from custody on licence. The 24-bed hostel is one of just nine 'Approved Premises' for women offenders in England and Wales. Advertisement

Venables was released in 2001 on licence for life but had to be recalled to prison twice, in 2010 and 2017, having been found to be in possession of indecent images of children.

After his 2001 release he was given a new name - which may happen if he is freed again.

Previous conditions placed on Venables included informing his parole officer if he ever got a job and getting their permission before leaving the UK.

He had to regularly see a forensic psychologist and was banned from contacting Robert Thompson or any member of James Bulger's family.

He also had to ask his parole officer for permission to leave Merseyside, stay overnight in the same house as a child under 16 or spend time with anyone under 12.

The licence conditions placed upon double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork when he was released from prison in 2021 are instructive for Venables' case.

In prison Pitchfork began using a new name, David Thorpe, but he is now required to reveal his true identity to any new girlfriends or end up back behind bars.

The fiend strangled and raped 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.

The killer must wear an electronic tag so he can be monitored at all times. He is banned from going near the relatives of his victims and faces restrictions on using the internet by himself.

He also faces unannounced lie detector tests to see whether he has broken any conditions.

Venables' parole bid has already sparked controversy after it emerged that he skipped giving evidence during the two-day hearing to prevent 'disproportionate emotional stress.'

James's family have also been told of the new decision date and are fearful that the warped murder will be quietly released during the festive season.

A source said: 'The family are extremely anxious having been told the decision will be made in the run-up to Christmas.

'It is always a difficult and poignant time for them as it brings their shattering loss into focus when others are celebrating with their families.

'They are braced for bad news and fear that Venables will be back on the streets and will celebrate Christmas as a free man.'

Venables, and Robert Thompson, now 41, were both aged 10 when they kidnapped, tortured and killed two-year-old James before leaving his mutilated body by a railway line in Liverpool 30 years ago.

MailOnline revealed in September that the child murderer's case would be heard on November 14 and 15, but despite requests for it to be heard in public, the appeal was held behind closed doors.

The child killers were convicted of murder in November 1993 and detained indefinitely. The pair were released aged 18 in 2001 after just eight years, and were given new identities. Thompson (pictured) has not reoffended. But Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his PC

The three person parole panel did not have the opportunity to cross examine Venables, but took evidence from a number of prison sources, including officers who have day-to-day contact with him, his probation officer and psychiatrists.

The panel heard heartrending victim impact statements made by James's mother Denise Fergus, 54 and father Ralph Bulger, 55, who both begged the Parole Board to reject Venables' bid to be released on licence.

Denise Fergus implored Parole Board chiefs: 'If you let him free, you could be ruining the lives of another family like ours.

'When you look at Venables' file just remember what he is capable of. He killed my son James, has reoffended time and time again and I have no doubt he would kill another child if he is released.'

READ MORE - James Bulger's mother in desperate plea as her son's killer Jon Venables makes bid for freedom Advertisement

The decision is doubly significant as it is likely to be the last Venables can appeal before new parole reforms proposed by former Justice Secretary Dominic Raab come before Parliament.

Under his parole reform plans, a dangerous, reoffending prisoner like Venables would never go free.

The Victims and Prisoners Bill will make public safety the sole priority in considering the release of repeat offenders.

Before the decision to make the parole hearing private was announced, Ralph Bulger told The Sun: 'If the Justice Secretary is serious on reform then he must allow me to be present at Venables' parole hearing, just as I was at his Old Bailey hearing.

'I want Venables to hear why I believe he should have his parole denied. For too long, victims and families have been ignored while authorities put the so-called rights of dangerous criminals first.'

The parole decision can be scrutinised by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, who under new powers has the right to ask the Parole Board to reconsider any decision to release Venables.

If released, Venables has life-long anonymity given to him by the courts, meaning the public will not know where the killer is relocated.

He would be under strict licence conditions, including severe restrictions on his movement and who he can contact. It is possible that Venables could also be made to wear an ankle tag.

The licence conditions placed upon double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork when he was released from prison in 2021 are instructive for Venables' case

Pitchfork (pictured) was released in September 2021 but returned to prison two months later for approaching a lone female whilst litter picking

James' brother Michael Fergus, 29, said earlier this year that even after three decades he will never forgive the killers, adding that Venables must be kept behind bars.

Mr Fergus was born eight months after the tragedy, and though he never got to meet his brother, he has grown up with the impacts of those events.

READ MORE - Lord Blunkett leads calls to throw out Venables' parole appeal Advertisement

He told the Sunday Express: 'My brother's killers will never be forgiven. They took away my older brother who I never got to meet.'

He added: 'They robbed me of my childhood, in a nutshell.'

Michael still lives close to his mother Denise, and her husband Stuart, in north west England.

Denise and James' father Ralph divorced in 1995 as grief took its toll.

James, from Kirkby, was a month away from his third birthday when he was snatched by Venables and Thompson, tortured and brutally murdered.

The child killers were convicted of murder in November 1993 and detained indefinitely.

The pair were released aged 18 in 2001 after just eight years. Thompson has not reoffended.

Venables was turned down for parole in 2020 after serving his minimum 40 months.
An Instagram-famous bodybuilder reacted in self-defence after he was approached and insulted at a music festival by someone who was drunk and high, a court has been told.

Hossein 'Yakiboy' Balapour appeared at Burwood Local Court in Sydney on Friday where he expected to fight a charge of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.

He is accused of assaulting a man at Sydney Olympic Park in October last year, causing grievous bodily harm and breaking the alleged victim's jaw.

Balapour arrived at court flashing a big gold-toothed grin and took to Instagram to share selfies posted by supporters while waiting to enter the courtroom.

He was still smiling when he left court after his bail conditions were relaxed as the case was adjourned until next year.

Hossein 'Yakiboy' Balapour was all smiles as he arrived at Burwood Local Court on Friday

Magistrate Vivian Swain removed the 24 hour curfew placed on Balapour, which means he can leave the house.

His seven-day police reporting was also reduced to just three days a week.

But the hearing was cut short when his lawyers argued the NSW Police had not fulfilled their duty of full disclosure as CCTV of the alleged incident was not sent to them in full.

Dressed in a black suit paired with patent black loafers, the 33-year-old sat in the back of the court as a police prosecutor said both men attended the Knockout Festival on October 1, 2022.

'They didn't attend together  there was an altercation between the two and the prosecution submits a punch was thrown,' the prosecutor said.

'Our ultimate case is that punch caused injuries amounting to grievous bodily harm  there's significant jaw injury which required surgical intervention.'

He said it was not in dispute the pair had an 'altercation' but alleged it was a 'conscious and voluntary act' by Mr Balapour to punch the alleged victim, telling the court there was 'no provocation' and it was 'out of the blue'.

But Mr Balapour's barrister, Tom Hughes, told the court the punch was an act of self defence.

Hossein 'Yakiboy' Balapour was still in good spirits leaving court after his bail conditions were relaxed

Hossein 'Yakiboy' Balapour often shows off his lavish lifestyle to his 361,000 Instragram followers. Picture: Instagram

Mr Hughes said the alleged victim attended the festival with friends after smoking marijuana and drinking 350ml of tequila, when he recognised Balapour and approached him.

He said the man was 'clearly intoxicated'.

'There was a confrontation and the defendant (Mr Balapour) struck the complainant  it's a question of reasonable self defence,' Mr Hughes said.

Mr Hughes told the court Balapour had never met or heard of the man, who recognised the fitness influencer from Instagram.

'He was recognised by the complainant who had seen his Instagram posts and then gave some abuse directed at my client,' he said.

He told the court there was a conversation between the men with the alleged victim saying 'some unpleasant things' about Balapour.

The court heard both men were from Iran and the alleged victim directed 'some insulting conversation towards' Mr Balapour in relation to his opposition to the regime in Iran.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Senior Constable William Lay, was called to give evidence but it was cut short when Mr Hughes objected to CCTV footage of the incident being tendered.

Mr Hughes told the court he had only received two minutes and 40 seconds of footage from police when they actually had 10 hours from the event.

Hossein Balapour (pictured on Friday) now only has to report to police three times a week

Fitness instructor Hossein 'Yakiboy' Balapour had his 24 hour curfew lifted on Friday

It was later disclosed Senior Constable Lay had received 10 hours of footage from 20 different cameras, meaning he had 200 hours of footage from the festival.

'What was not disclosed is 10 hours of footage where the complainant, who had a broken jaw, was at the concert for five to six hours after the altercation,' Mr Hughes said.

Senior Constable Lay told the court he didn't serve the entire 200 hours as he had watched about two hours following the incident and deemed it irrelevant

After lengthy argument from both sides, Magistrate Swain told the court it was clear not all material was served on the defence.

'The prosecution has a duty of full disclosure, it cannot pick what it can serve  it is a matter for defence to have access to everything to determine what is relevant,' Ms Swain said.

'The officer's opinion about what he thought was relevant isn't something the court takes into account.'

She decided to adjourn the matter to allow the defence to be served the 200 hours of footage and use it in its case.

Mr Hughes told the court as the reason for the adjournment was not Balapour's fault, he would be applying for NSW Police to pay costs for the delay.

The magistrate said she would determine costs at the end of the proceedings, with the matter adjourned to July 2024.

The influencer boasting 361,000 Instagram followers is famous for provocative 'pizza' selfies
This incredible footage shows a thrill seeker as close as he will ever want to get to drowning  saved only when a crashing wave washes him to safety on a rock.

The mystery man was coasteering - moving along a rocky coastline by jumping off high cliffs into the sea and swimming then climbing up again  in South Africa.

But here at Llandudno beach near Cape Town he leapt 35-feet off a granite boulder into calmish but icy seas but within seconds they turned into a near-lethal swell.

As the adrenaline junkie heads into what he thought was a rock enclosed exit point he found himself battered with 4-foot-tall huge waves smashing in from all sides.

The daredevil quickly realises he's in trouble as he is pummelled forward by powerful breaker then sucked back out again in rip currents as the pummel him like a cork.

He can be seen being swirled round in a vortex caused by currents coming from all directions in what is known as a 'washing machine' threatening to pull him under.

Video showed the man leaping into the calm ocean at Llandudno beach near Cape Town, SA

The man caused a large splash after jumping into the sea, before being pulled into a vortex

Suddenly he was dragged along by the foaming sea, through dangerous rocks

At the last moment he gets a brief respite as the waters rush out and his bare feet touch the razor-sharp reefs below and he tries to scramble up a sheer rock wall.

Then 2 large foaming breakers hit hard from behind and the side in a pincer movement plucking him off the rocks and sucking him underwater through a jagged gully.

READ MORE: Pilot is banned from flying for decapitating wingsuit skydiver with the wing of his plane shortly after he jumped out Advertisement

The tombstoner is dragged out helplessly into deep water and dropped into a 6-to-8-foot-high swell as he swims for his life helped by the buoyancy in his wet suit.

He can be seen by his friends filming the drama on a mobile phone trying to make it back to the safety of the rocks against the merciless Llandudno sea currents.

In the last year a 17-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy have all drowned along that rocky strip of shoreline infamous for their strong rip currents.

However this cliff jumper who can be clearly seen tiring fast as the freezing water saps his energy finally gets a stroke of luck when a wave helps push him shorewards.

As he is washed onto the barnacle encrusted granite he falls to his hands and knees but thankfully another large wave does not crash forward and drag him back out.

The 2min 29 second video will have seen like a lifetime to the fortunate cliff jumper.

A National Sea Rescue Institution lifeboatman who watched the video said: 'Well that was his lucky day as most swimmers would not have got out of that situation alive.

'He is clearly a strong and powerful swimmer and does not make the mistake of fighting the waves but goes where they take him and that is what saved him drowning.

'But he was still helpless to the force of the waves and was fortunate that he was not dashed against the rocks because if he had hit his head then it was game over.

'That is a dangerous stretch of coast and many lives have been lost along it over the years as people underestimate the cold and the power of the rip currents' he said.

The video has gone viral on Twitter with over 6.6m views and comments almost all agreeing the swimmer was extremely lucky not to have become 'a statistic'.

PatriotPie203 said: 'Man that was close. See how tired he was at the end. If he was hit by just one more wave sucking him back then he would be meeting Poseidon'.

ViktorGavorn said: 'This could easily be a video of him dying. He got lucky to get back on the rocks. He's an idiot but I am glad he's OK. He must learn his lesson'.

Jezza said: 'That was survival. He almost didn't make it. The waves were severe the moment he was close to the rocks. Most would have drowned in that sea'.

The cameraman could only look on as the daredevil was swept up in the current

He can be seen by his friends filming the drama on a mobile phone trying to make it back to the safety of the rocks against the merciless Llandudno sea currents

At last the man is able to escape the swirling currents and retreats safely back to the beach

Exhausted, he drops to his knees on the beach after narrowly surviving the ordeal

The record height for a cliff jump is 193 ft which is held by Brazilian Laso Schaller, 35, who jumped off a Swiss waterfall in 2015 hitting the water below at 74mph.

Llandudno is a resort for the super-rich and Prince Harry and Cliff Richard are Elton John have all stayed there and David Beckham nearly bought an ocean home there.

It is a 20-minute drive from Cape Town and is known for its surfing and nudist beach Sandy Bay and local byelaws forbid pubs, restaurants or shops from opening up.
Notice is given that the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders of Me Today Limited (the Company) will be held over Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 20 December 2023 commencing at 10:00am. Please register for the meeting by clicking on the link in the Notice of Meeting, or email vote@metoday.com (providing your full name, shareholder number and associated organisation (if any). To ensure registration, we advise shareholders to register by 4pm Tuesday 19 December 2023.

Agenda

1 Chairmans address

2 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution:

That Grant Baker, who retires in accordance with the NZX Listing Rules, and having offered himself for re-election and being eligible, is re-elected as Chairman of the Company

3 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution:

That Michael Kerr, who retires in accordance with the NZX Listing Rules, and having offered himself for re-election and being eligible, is re-elected as a Director of the Company

4 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution:

That Stephen Sinclair, who retires in accordance with the NZX Listing Rules, and having offered himself for re-election and being eligible, is re-elected as a Director of the Company

5 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution:

That Hannah Barrett, who retires in accordance with the NZX Listing Rules, and having offered herself for re-election and being eligible, is re-elected as a Director of the Company

6 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution:

That Antony Vriens, who retires in accordance with the NZX Listing Rules, and having offered himself for re-election and being eligible, is re-elected as a Director of the Company

7 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following ordinary resolution:

That the directors of the Company be authorised to fix the fees and expenses of BDO as auditor of the Company.

8 To consider any other business that can be properly brought before the meeting.

Explanatory notes regarding the resolutions are attached to this notice of meeting.

For and on behalf of the Board

Stephen Sinclair

Company Secretary

29 November 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTES TO NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Election of Directors

Under Listing Rule 2.7.1 of the NZX Listing Rules, and in accordance with the constitution of the Company, a director must not hold office (without re-election) past the third annual meeting following the directors appointment or 3 years, whichever is longer. If the Director is eligible, they may offer themselves for re-election by shareholders at the third annual meeting following their appointment. In this case, the following Directors offer themselves for re-election by shareholders at the Annual Shareholders Meeting.

Election of Grant Baker, Non-executive Chairman

Grant was appointed to the Board in March 2020. Grant offers himself for re-election by shareholders at the Annual Meeting, as required by the NZX Listing Rules.

Grant Baker has wide experience at a senior level in both public and private New Zealand companies. He is currently the chairman of Turners Automotive Group, a position he has held for more than 10 years. He was a cofounder of The Business Bakery and has a number of successes under his belt, including being chairman of both 42 Below vodka and Trilogy International. 42 Below was sold to Bacardi in 2006, and Trilogy was sold to CITIC Group. Grant is also a cancer survivor and has a strong interest in the health and wellbeing sector. Until recently he was the chairman of The Gut Cancer Foundation, a position he has held for 15 years.

Grant is not considered to be an independent director under the NZX Listing Rules as MTL Securities Limited, a company in which he is a director, is a substantial product holder of Me Today. Also, interests associated with Grant have an ownership interest in MTL Securities Limited.

The Board unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of Grants election.

Election of Michael Kerr, Executive Director

Michael was appointed to the Board in March 2020. Michael offers himself for re-election by shareholders at the Annual Meeting, as required by the NZX Listing Rules.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in marketing and management, from the University of Auckland. Michael has worked in sales and marketing roles for several local and multinational businesses. More recently he was responsible for establishing the Swisse brand in New Zealand across multiple retail channels, and was the general manager of the skincare brand, Trilogy. Michaels career spans 20 years, in which time he has developed a wealth of knowledge both locally and internationally of how to create and grow brands in the Health and Wellness space.

Michael is not considered to be an independent director under the NZX Listing Rules as he is the Chief Executive Officer and a director of MTL Securities Limited, a substantial product holder of Me Today. Interests associated with Michael have an ownership interest in MTL Securities Limited.

The Board unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of Michaels election.

Election of Stephen Sinclair, Executive Director

Stephen was appointed to the Board in March 2020. Stephen offers himself for re-election by shareholders at the Annual Meeting, as required by the NZX Listing Rules.

Stephen is a Chartered Accountant, and spent the early part of his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. In 1999 he started working with Grant Baker and since then has been involved with numerous successful startups, including 42 Below, Ecoya and Trilogy, and was involved in the recapitalisation of Dorchester Pacific which is now the Turners Automotive Group.

Stephen is not considered to be an independent director under the NZX Listing Rules as MTL Securities Limited, a company in which he is a director, is a substantial product holder of Me Today. Interests associated with Stephen have an ownership interest in MTL Securities Limited. Stephen also provides consulting services to Me Today.

The Board unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of Stephens election.

Election of Hannah Barrett, Independent Director

Hannah was appointed to the Board in March 2020. Hannah offers herself for re-election by shareholders at the Annual Meeting, as required by the NZX Listing Rules.

Hannah has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in commercial law and accounting, from Victoria University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Hannah spent three years working at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Financial Advisory team working on assignments for global companies as well as New Zealand based businesses and individuals. Hannah also runs her own business specialising in digital consulting and marketing. Hannah supports a number of charities and is an ambassador for Sweet Louise.

The Board unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of Hannahs election.

Election of Antony Vriens, Independent Director

Antony was appointed to the Board in March 2020. Antony offers himself for re-election by shareholders at the Annual Meeting, as required by the NZX Listing Rules.

Antony is a seasoned executive with a career in health and financial services corporations across New Zealand, Australia and Asia. He is currently an Independent Director of the Turners Automotive Group, and is the Chairman of DPL Insurance Limited (Turners insurance subsidiary). Antony is a medical doctor by background and brings a strong interest in wellness and nutrition, which is supported by his medical training. Antony is also currently involved in new health technology initiatives to support lifestyle change in the Asia region. In addition to his medical degree, Antony holds an MBA from the University of Auckland, with a background in international business and innovation.

The Board unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of Antonys election.

Auditor Remuneration

BDO is automatically reappointed as auditor of the company under section 207T of the Companies Act 1993 (the Act). Pursuant to section 207S of the Act, this resolution authorises the Directors to fix the fees and expenses of the auditor.

Voting

The resolutions will be voted on by shareholders of the Company as ordinary resolutions. An ordinary resolution is a resolution passed by a simple majority of the votes cast of the shareholders entitled to vote and voting.

Voting on the resolutions will be by poll. Results of voting will be available after the conclusion of the meeting, and will be notified on NZX.

The only persons entitled to vote at the annual meeting are registered shareholders as at 5:00pm on Monday, 18 December 2023 and only the ordinary shares registered in those shareholders names may be voted at the annual meeting.

Any shareholder who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting may appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf. A shareholder wishing to appoint a proxy should complete and return the Proxy Voting Form (enclosed with this notice of meeting) in the manner specified on the Proxy Voting Form so that the form is received by Computershare no later than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting. Alternatively, shareholders can appoint their proxies online at www.investorvote.co.nz.

A proxy does not have to be a shareholder in the Company. A shareholder may appoint any person to act as a proxy. The Chairman of the meeting or any other director can be a proxy for a shareholder if a shareholder wishes to appoint the Chairman or director as their proxy.

If, in appointing a proxy, you have inadvertently not named someone to be your proxy (either online or on the enclosed Proxy Voting Form), or your named proxy does not attend the meeting, the Chairman of the meeting will be your proxy, and will vote in accordance with your express direction. If appointed as a discretionary proxy, each Director and the Chairman intends to vote in favour of the resolution.

To direct your proxy how to vote on the resolution, you should tick the appropriate box on the enclosed Proxy Voting form (or using the online portal at www.investorvote.co.nz). Except as set out in the Proxy Voting Form, if you appoint a proxy, but do not tick one of the boxes in relation to a resolution, you will be deemed to have granted your proxy the discretion to cast your votes as he or she decides.

Any corporation that is a shareholder may appoint a person as its representative to attend the annual meeting and vote on its behalf, in the same manner as that in which it could appoint a proxy. A corporation wishing to appoint a person must ensure that the representative brings an original of the notice appointing him or her to the meeting. To assist administration, the Company would be grateful if notices appointing representatives are delivered to Computershare Investor Services Limited, Level 2, 159 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand (Private Bag 92119, Auckland 1142) at least 48 hours before the time of the meeting. If the note of appointment is not delivered to the Companys Share Register prior to the meeting, the representative must bring to the meeting an original copy of the notice of appointment signed by the relevant company or body corporate.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

AFT broadens R&D pipeline with new product candidate

ATM - Response to Synlait's market update announcement

ENS - NZMDT DETERMINATION

TWL and nChain agree to cancel agreement with settlement

Accountant gets home detention for wage subsidy fraud

BIF acquires shares in NewFish

KMD Brands Trading Update

NEF - Director Appointment: Neal Barclay

FPH announces executive management team changes

December 20th Morning Report


Rishi Sunak today urged a restoration of the 'humanitarian pause' in Gaza as violence flared between Israel and Hamas.

The PM said he would be discussing the dramatic escalation this morning with fellow leaders in Dubai, where he is attending the COP28 summit.

A barrage of missiles have been fired into Gaza as a week-long truce ended, despite frantic efforts to extend it for longer.

The IDF claimed that Hamas 'violated' the pause early and launched rockets at Israel in the early hours, with footage shared to social media appearing to show attacks on the city of Sderot.

In response, the 'IDF renewed fire against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip', the Israeli military announced on X.

Rishi Sunak today urged a restoration of the 'humanitarian pause' in Gaza as violence flared between Israel and Hamas

This picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke rising from buildings still after being hit by Israeli strikes in the battles between Israel and Hamas militants, on December 1, 2023

Speaking to broadcasters as the reports emerged, Mr Sunak said he would discuss the issue in meetings with regional leaders on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate talks when he was asked to react to news that the Israeli military has restarted fighting against Hamas.

He told broadcasters in Dubai: 'Obviously this is news that has just broken in the past few minutes so I need to get into the details of it. It wouldn't be right to speculate so early.

'But I am having meetings with leaders from around the region in a matter of hours to discuss the situation.

'We've been consistent that we want to see sustained humanitarian pauses so that more aid can get into the people of Gaza but also the hostages can come out. Those are critical ingredients. And as we've said everyone needs to adhere to the terms of these agreements.'

Just under an hour before the pause officially expired, the IDF claimed it had 'intercepted' another attack, adding that a 'number' of rockets had been fired by Hamas before the truce ended.

The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza said 14 people had been killed in the first two hours after fighting resumed. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, there were '14 dead and dozens injured, most of them women and children'.

Residents and personnel conduct search and rescue works continue in the rubble of the destroyed building after the end of the week-long 'humanitarian pause' in Rafah, Gaza on December 01, 2023

Within minutes of announcing the resumption of the conflict, Israeli air raids struck the Palestinian city of Rahaf in the southern Gaza Strip

Mr Sunak is in Dubai today where the COP28 climate summit is taking place

Though the seven-day truce offered a welcome reprieve from bloodshed and saw Hamas release dozens of Israeli and foreign hostages, dozens more remain trapped inside Gaza as fighting resumed this morning.

Yet despite the fresh violence, Qatari and Egyptian mediators are still negotiating a new extension of the seven-day truce, according to a source who spoke anonymously with AFP.

'Negotiations are still ongoing with Qatari and Egyptian mediators despite the resumption of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza,' the source said.
Home buyers can snap up a bargain flat for just 10,000 but there is a catch - it's currently just air, hasn't been built and doesn't even have planning permission.

The four-storey building, in Battersea, south London, currently has two apartments above a Mediterranean restaurant.

But the freeholder is flogging the airspace above which could add an extra floor but still requires planning permission.

Asked why anyone would bid on thin air, auctioneer Phillip Arnold explained that it was an affordable way to get a foothold in the neighbourhood - where the average flat sells for over 600,000.

Do YOU live in 47 Northcote Road? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk

The air above the building in the centre in south London is for sale for 10,000

The online listing adds: 'The lot being sold is the airspace above with development potential, subject to obtaining any necessary consent required'

The 'vacant possession', which has a guide price of 10,000 and is advertised on Rightmove, is up for grabs with a 150-year lease and a 'peppercorn ground rent'. Although it has no planning permission for redevelopment, Mr Arnold is confident it will meet its goal.

The plot is situated a short walk from Clapham Junction railway station, and hovers above two flats and a restaurant space on the ground floor, which currently being transformed into a cafe.

One homehunter joked: 'People are now selling the airspace above their properties. Ten thousand pounds and you get nothing but air.'

It will go under the hammer with Phillip Arnold Auctions on December 7.

The listing reads: 'The property is located off Battersea Rise to the South of Clapham Junction and within easy reach of Wandsworth and the River Thames.

'Numerous rail stations and open spaces are within walking distance.

'This airspace is being offered on a brand new 125-year lease and sits above a terraced dwelling that is currently arranged as a restaurant with two self-contained flats above.

'The lot being sold is the airspace above with development potential, subject to obtaining any necessary consent required.

'The freeholder will be providing landlords consent to develop at no additional charge to the purchaser.

'We have noted that the adjoining properties at numbers 43/45 have been subject to planning permission and will be extending into the airspace above that dwelling by way of development.

'The airspace is sold with vacant possession and will be of interest to developers.'

The concept of selling airspace is thought to have been big in New York a decade ago, but remains an anomaly in London. A plot of airspace in Russell Square went up for auction in October but failed to reach its guide price of 100,000.

In March, multi-million-pound apartments in Battersea Power Station were quietly reduced in price after more than two years on the market

Despite the draw of Battersea, not all recent property redevelopments in the area have hit their targets.

In March, it was reported the multi-million-pound apartments in Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms were being quietly reduced in price after up to two years on the market.

Rightmove listings revealed others listed on the market for years without being sold, such as in Nine Elms, which was dubbed 'Dubai on Thames'.

One four-bed apartment at the St George Wharf development has been on the market at a price of 15million since December 2019.

Another, in the nearby Damac Tower, has been for sale for 12.3million since 2021. Both properties have lavish interiors and panoramic views across London.

When former London mayor Boris Johnson launched what was named the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea 'opportunity area', he described it as 'the final piece in the jigsaw' of central London.
Advertisement

Rishi Sunak insisted Britain is still a 'leader' on climate change today as he attended the Cop28 summit.

The PM dismissed warnings that the UK's standing has been 'diminished' by a rethink on the Government's net zero strategy as he said the country could 'walk tall'.

But Mr Sunak was left languishing at the back of the 'family photo' of leaders at the gathering this morning, behind the Albanian prime minister Edi Rama.

As head of state, King Charles was in the front row of the group near French president Emmanuel Macron. The monarch will be giving a keynote speech on the environment, an issue he has campaigned on for decades.

But the EU commission's Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel were more prominently placed in the middle.

Mr Sunak was asked at the summit how he would respond to those accusing him of not being serious about climate action.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted Britain is still a 'leader' on climate change today as he attended the Cop28 summit but was delegated to the back row during the 'family' photo

Mr Sunak joined world leaders in Dubai

King Charles speaks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani this morning

'We have got an incredible track record in decarbonising in the UK, faster than any other major economy. We should be really proud of that,' the premier said.

'And I'll be proud of that record at my meetings later today.'

Mr Sunak added: 'We're leading the world in new industries like offshore wind. We're protecting nature at home, so we've got a great story to tell.'

He said other countries are 'deeply appreciative' of the support that they are receiving from the UK to help them with the transition.

Speaking to journalists en route to Dubai, Mr Sunak said: 'We've got a better track record than any other major economy in decarbonising.

'Any which way I look at it, we are a leader on this issue. We have been, we're continuing to do so. So I will walk around very proudly tomorrow championing the UK's achievements in this space.'

Mr Sunak also swiped at 'ideological zealots' who refused to take into account the costs on ordinary families of getting to Net Zero.

'There are people who think we should get to net zero without any regard to the cost on ordinary families. I don't think that's right,' he said.

'I think we've got to be cognisant of the impact of this on ordinary families up and down the country.'

It came after Lord Goldsmith, who resigned as his environment minister accusing Mr Sunak of being 'uninterested' in green issues, told Sky News: 'There's no doubt our standing has diminished considerably in recent months.

'The UK is just not seen by our allies  big and also small island members of the commonwealth  as a reliable or serious partner.'

Meanwhile, Downing Street has warned China that it must step up its efforts to tackle climate change.

In pointed comments, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said other countries need to do their bit to address global warming  and singled out China as 'vitally important'.

Cop28 is the first time countries will assess progress towards the 2015 Paris Agreement goal

The Prime Minister has warned China it must step up its efforts to tackle climate change

He said 'significant action' must be taken to 'keep 1.5 alive'  the goal of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5C.

Asked what Mr Sunak hopes to achieve at the climate summit, the spokesman said: 'He is clear-eyed about the challenges on a global scale that we still face on climate change. There is some significant action that must take place to keep 1.5 alive.

'He understands the challenges all countries  and that includes China, which is obviously vitally important  have to take action. We need to see not just commitments but real-world demonstration and action, as we have done, to make sure that this progress continues.'

Asked if the PM was frustrated China is not doing enough, the spokesman said: 'It's simply a matter of fact that China, given its size and economy, is a crucial part of this.'

But Mr Sunak refused to single out China today, saying: 'Everyone collectively needs to do more to make sure that we do reduce emissions sufficiently.'

China, together with India, watered down the Cop26 climate pact in 2021 when Britain hosted the summit in Glasgow.

In the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries vowed 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 countries will assess progress towards this goal in what is being called the 'global stocktake'.

Mr Sunak's spokesman said it would be the moment where the world 'takes a long hard look in the mirror to see if we are delivering on the 2015 Paris Agreement'.
97,000 are due to attend as delegates - up from 49.7k at COP27 in Egypt in 2022

The conference in Dubai is expected to break records for carbon emissions

COP28 will have the biggest carbon footprint in the event's history due to the large number of attendees flying in, experts have warned.

Some 400,000 people are expected to travel to Dubai between November 30 and December 12 for the UN's annual Climate Change Conference.

This includes 97,000 registered as official delegates with access to the security-protected inner 'Blue Zone' for accredited government figures and companies.

The number of registered delegates has soared from 49,704 at COP27 last year in Egypt and 38,457 in Scotland in 2021. In sum, attendance has tripled since 2019.

Glasgow's conference set a record for emissions, pumping out some 102,500 tons of carbon dioxide - roughly what 8,000 Brits produce in a year.

But with so many flocking to the UAE this month, some expect COP28 to build on a worrying new trend.

Richard Black, senior associate of the green Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank told The Telegraph: 'Given the number of people expected here, yes this probably will have the highest carbon footprint to date.'

This includes 97,000 registered as official delegates with access to the security-protected inner 'Blue Zone'. Pictured: world leaders and delegates walk at Dubai's Expo City, Dec 1

King Charles III (C) speaks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (R) as they pose for a photo during the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023

A general view at UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference at Expo City Dubai on December 1

The conference, intended for governments to agree on policies to limit and manage environmental impact, has become steadily more popular over the years, attracting government officials, companies and delegates from far and wide.

When COP began in the mid-1990s, its attendance averaged just 5,000, according to Bloomberg. This year, the whole event is expected to attract 80 times that.

That accounts for the wider Green Zone, open to all, and the inner Blue Zone, protected and reserved for 'officials'.

The outer Green Zone is a space for paying organisations to show off what they are doing about climate change and meet potential customers. The Green Zones are not officially tacked onto the COP programme but run as a regular extension.

The Blue Zone invites countries, territories and their representatives to negotiate over climate change agreements and actions inside. Each region receives its own pavilion to put on exhibitions, receptions and presentations, and can host a number of delegates.

The worry is that COPs have expanded to such an extent that the conferences themselves may now be contributing to large and unnecessary emissions spikes. In Glasgow, it was expected that about 60 per cent of summit emissions came from international flights.

The conferences also risk growing their own carbon footprint by finding housing for so many delegates over the two-week period, policing the event and transporting people in and out of the venues.

Climate campaigners expressed outrage this week as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed he would be flying to the summit in his own private plane, as Foreign Secretary David Cameron and King Charles also made their own way in by jet.

Downing Street defended the decision after critics warned the move 'sent all the wrong signals' about the UK's commitments to tackling climate change.

No 10 said it was important for Britain to have a 'strong attendance' at the summit and said the government's position wasn't 'anti-flying'.

A spokesperson said on Wednesday: 'I think the Government's approach to tackling climate change has been set out repeatedly, it's not about banning or reducing people from flying, it's for investing in new technologies of the future as evidenced by the flight just yesterday using sustainable aviation fuel.

'Obviously, you would expect most ministers travelling to Cop to fly commercially. The PM's plane will be using sustainable aviation fuel, which some of you will be on. And obviously we are using carbon offsetting as well.'

'Obviously the Prime Minister uses the planes that you're all well accustomed to. But as I say, it's in line with the Government's position that we are not anti-flying. We do not seek to restrict the public in doing so. And it's important that the UK has a strong attendance at Cop28, given we continue to be world-leading in tackling climate change.'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) joins world leaders in proceeding on foot to the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, during the Cop28 summit. Picture date: Friday December 1, 2023

King Charles III and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak attend the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit during COP28 on December 1, 2023 in Dubai

Leaders posing during a photo session at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earlier today

Tory MP Graham Stuart, the Minister of State for Climate, will lead Britain's delegation to COP28 this year.

Stuart has urged Britain to focus on 'phasing down, phasing out' the 'unabated' use of fossil fuels - while stressing that there was 'nothing fundamentally wrong with oil and gas' in November.

Britain has, in recent weeks, doubled down on domestic production of fossil fuels, last month mandating annual licencing rounds for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer meanwhile will be taking a commercial flight to COP28 this year, meeting a 'range of leaders' and 'banging the drum to Britain'.

The party faces ongoing criticism over reported plans to cut its 28bn 'green prosperity plan'.

Late in November the party was accused of being 'in total disarray' after then being forced to deny reports that it was virtually abandoning its flagship plan.

Tory MP Paul Bristow told The Mail on Sunday last week: 'No wonder Sir Keir is known as Sir Flip Flop.

'First, he had a crazy plan to borrow 28 billion a year, then it was watered down, then there was a plan to back off even further, only for Labour to say it's all OK. They're in total disarray.'

Even Labour MPs voiced concern, with one saying: 'It just gives the impression that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.'
Meghan Markle and members of Team Sussex did not hand Omid Scobie her letter to King Charles about the two so-called 'royal racists', sources close to the duchess insisted today.

An insider close to the former Suits star also insisted that despite the royal racism row she started after appearing on Oprah in March 2021, she did not want them named publicly.

Meghan and Harry have not commented publicly on Endgame or the scandal that has erupted over the Dutch translation accusing King Charles and the Princess of Wales of discussing Archie's skin colour before he was born.

The Royal Family is considering legal action and leading lawyers have called on the usually privacy-conscious Sussexes to sue Omid Scobie after he revealed he had seen the names on letters exchanged between Meghan and King Charles III.

Royal experts have also said that the couple must publicly condemn the book, with several commentators severely doubting whether the names in Endgame can even be correct.

The Daily Telegraph reported today that they had spoken to sources close to Meghan who say she is clear that she never intended any royals to be publicly identified. The source also denied that the letter she sent to Charles was leaked to Scobie by her or anyone in her camp.

Sources close to Meghan deny that she shared a letter between her and the King with Omid Scobie and nor have her team

King Charles, pictured with Rishi Sunak in Dubai for COP28 today, also brushed off the racism row

The Prince and Princess of Wales had a business-as-usual attitude as they attended the Royal Variety Performance last night despite the race row reignited by Omid Scobie

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'The onus is now very much on Harry and Meghan. 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.'

READ MORE: Omid Scobie swears 'on my family's life' that naming royal 'racists' was not a publicity stunt Omid Scobie has refused to apologise to the two senior royals his book claimed had 'concerns' over Prince Archie 's skin colour Advertisement

Security minister Tom Tugendhat told TalkTV last night: 'Some individual has written some rumour and scuttlebutt that has made various claims about His Majesty the King that are, frankly, completely unproven. I see this as just rumour, hearsay and an attempt to disparage somebody who's served our country with enormous dignity and enormous grace for many, many years'.

Omid Scobie took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book.

Mr Scobie, 42, said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe that he is 'in cahoots' with Meghan Markle, declaring: 'It couldn't be further from the truth'.

He also refused to apologise for the racism row that has erupted, claiming: 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it'.

But questions about whether he put the names in remain because one of the Dutch translators told MailOnline yesterday: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them'.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Scobie was asked to say 'hand on heart' that the farrago over the Dutch translation was not a PR stunt. He raised his hands, shaking his head, and replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.' Ms Derbyshire said: 'You don't have to go that far, it's fine'.

Scobie then said: 'No it's serious because I feel hurt by some of the things I've seen that have suggested a conspiracy theory, that this is some kind of publicity stunt, and 'I'm in cahoots with my pal [Meghan]' and nonsense like that because it feeds into something that couldn't be further from the truth'.

Victoria then said: 'In some version you must have written the names in and the wrong version has potentially gone to the people in charge of the rights around the world, I suppose'. Mr Scobie didn't respond.

It came as media organisations around the world, including ITV, The Guardian and The Times, named the two royals accused of asking about Archie's skin colour as King Charles and his daughter-in-law Kate.

In a tense BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire , Scobie declared: 'It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.'

Dutch translators Saskia Peeters (left) and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern (right) who worked on Omid Scobie's controversial book have insisted the names of two royals at the centre of racism scandal were in the manuscript they were sent

During Good Morning Britain's opening credits today, Ben Shephard said: 'The Princess of Wales made no comment at the Royal Variety performance in London last night and it was business as usual for the King at the climate conference in Dubai after they were named in the Dutch version of a new book as the royals who questioned what colour skin Prince Archie would have.'

READ MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William ignore fallout from Omid Scobie race row as they arrive hand-in-hand at the Royal Variety Performance Advertisement

The royal author, 42, claims that the book that he 'was extremely proud of' has been 'completely overshadowed by an event that's caused me a lot of frustration'.

In a tense BBC interview with Victoria Derbyshire last night, Mr Scobie was given the chance to say sorry to the Royal Family but instead declared: 'It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.'

The royal author, 42, said that the book that he 'was extremely proud of' has been 'completely overshadowed by an event that's caused me a lot of frustration'.

The Dutch edition of Mr Scobie's book named the two royals Meghan allegedly accused of having 'concerns' over 'how dark' Prince Archie would be, which was followed up by Piers Morgan last night identifying them on live television.

The pair identified in the book were named widely by media organisations around the world last night, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and Kate.

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly named the pair in a letter to Charles, have insisted to the Telegraph that she had 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp'.

When Mr Scobie was asked whether he could 'hand on heart' say that this wasn't a publicity stunt to sell more books, he replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.'

He told Newsnight last night that 'there are irresponsible people in this country that have broken the law and repeated names that should never have been repeated'.

'The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it,' he added. 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else.'

Mr Scobie said there is a full investigation going on into what happened after he first heard about it on social media.

The author, who said his book had been 'legalled and vetted', explained that he was in back to back interviews on the day that he was told by the Dutch publisher that there was a 'translation error'.

He added: 'So I'm looking forward to finding out more about it because the English version of the book - the only one I know - the version I signed off on, that's the book that is out there today, that's the book that has no names in it.

'I make it very clear, because ultimately to write the names it's a show and tell situation, there's no ability to show so there was never an attempt to name.'

Mr Scobie was speaking as members of the Royal Family got down to business as usual, with King Charles in Dubai for Cop28 and Prince William and Kate dazzling at the Royal Variety Performance in London.

Palace sources told The Mirror that the 'entire Royal Family is united in outrage' after members of the family were 'unfairly named in this way'.

They added: 'There is absolute and unequivocal denial that anything said by the two persons named publicly was said, or even could be considered to be said, in a racist manner.'

The row was described as 'an outrageous smear' that began with the Oprah interview but has now 'blown up into another stratosphere'.

The interview also came just hours after both Dutch translators who worked on Mr Scobie's controversial book insisted that the names of two royals at the centre of a racism scandal were in the manuscript they received.

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.'

The second translator, Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern, then told The Sun: 'We are professionals and we've done this for years, both of us. It's unfair.'

Her claims appear to contradict Scobie's (pictured yesterday) who has insisted 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)

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 on Wednesday night.

Last night, he hosted another show where he defended his decision before describing Mr Scobie as a 'proven liar' who is 'dragging the Royal Family through the mud all over again and reigniting these racism charges because he wants to sell books and make money'.

In response to Mr Scobie saying he was 'frustrated', Morgan also tweeted: 'Must be very frustrating when some random person in the Netherlands decides to insert passages naming and racist-shaming King Charles and the Princess of Wales in your own book, and you have no idea how that happened.'

The Dutch edition of the book is said to include the two royals' names but there is no detail of what was supposedly said during the alleged conversations. Mr Scobie has provided no evidence to back up the claims.

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 Mr 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 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 'considering all options' over the royal race row stoked by Mr 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 Mr 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 yesterday 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 yesterday 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 yesterday. They later attended the Royal Variety Performance.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their children Archie and Lilibet in December 2021

Before his BBC appearance, Mr Scobie appeared on ITV's This Morning to square the blame on the Dutch publisher, declaring: 'I never submitted a book that had those names in it'.

The interview started with a denial he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece' and he 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'.

Mr 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.'
Has your holiday been cancelled? Or have y ou lost your job?

The Home Office has denied online rumours that Pontins has shut two of its holiday camps in order to house migrants.

Families with cancelled holidays have been left devastated after Pontins suddenly announced yesterday it would be closing down its Prestatyn and Camber Sands sites 'with immediate effect'.

Customers have been promised refunds - but there has so far been no official explanation as to why the locations have shut.

As Pontins announced the news on Facebook, rumours began circulating on social media that the sites would instead be used to house asylum seekers.

'It is believed theyre (Pontins) in talks with the Home Office to house 1600 migrants,' one said.

Another claimed: 'Pontins in Prestatyn & Camber Sands in Sussex have been requisitioned by the Home Office to house migrants.'

But the Home Office says the rumours are NOT true - and do not know where the rumour came from.

The Home Office told MailOnline they are not looking to use the Pontins sites as asylum seeker accommodation - insisting that there are no plans for that.

The Official Pontins Holiday's Facebook page released a statement on Thursday afternoon to let customers know it would be closing its Prestatyn and Camber Sands (pictured) locations with 'immediate effect.'

Prestatyn (pictured) has been closed, along with Camber Sands, with immediate effect

The parks are loved by families wanting an affordable getaway - as well as for hen and stag dos. Many have spoken of having 'happy memories' at the resorts and have described the move as 'so sad'.

'Many happy memories here as a kid,' one said, with another fan adding: 'We used to come here in the 70s and it was a fantastic place to holiday. Many happy memories.'

Hundreds of staff are also believed to work at the two sites affected and it is currently unknown exactly how many job losses the news will create.

A former worker wrote on Facebook: 'The time has come, a sad time but an expected one. Pontins was where my Ents journey began, was it perfect no but it created memories I'll never forget...'once a blue always a blue'.'

According to Kent Online, customer Kev Goodwin said he 'had nothing but fantastic memories and laughter in the 80s at Christmas  brilliant memories.'

Another said: 'We used to go every Christmas and it was the best time. Sadly it did get really run down. If it could be brought up to its previous glory it would be an amazing place to go.'

Others questioned if the closures were temporary or 'for good' and remarked on the fact there had been 'no explanation'.

The Official Pontins Holidays Facebook page released a statement on Thursday afternoon to let customers know the news.

Families with cancelled holidays have been left devastated after Pontins suddenly announced yesterday it would be closing down its Prestatyn and Camber Sands sites 'with immediate effect'

Pontins chalets in Prestatyn, Wales, pictured on April 16, 2016

The Pontins Holiday Camp at Prestatyn. Circa 1970. Families have been enjoying holidays there for many years

The post by Pontins on Facebook reads: 'We regret to inform you that our parks in Prestatyn and Camber Sands will be closing with immediate effect.

'Customers whose bookings will be affected by these closures will be contacted by our team and refunded. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

Pontins is owned by Britannia Hotels, which earlier this year was voted the UK's worst hotel chain for the 11th year in a row by Which? magazine.

Britannia's decision slashes the number of Pontins locations in the UK down by a third.

It is not currently known why Britannia chose to close down the two locations, given that the company posted record profits earlier this year.

It posted pre-tax profits of 33.3m for the 12 months to March 31, 2022, after falling to a loss of 9.5m in the prior year, while accounts filed to Companies House shows it achieved a turnover of 117.8m, up from just 38.4 million.

Despite the clean financials, Pontins, along with other Britannia hotels, have long been criticised for their lack of hygiene.

One TripAdvisor review of the Camber Sands centre reads: 'I would rather eat my own eyes.

'Rice in the drawers!? Aggressive notes stuck on every door, barbed wire surrounding it, don't even get me started on the pool.

'No staff so could only open for 45 mins at a time and smelt like drains changing rooms dirty, legitimately felt like we were in a dystopia prison.'

Meanwhile, a review of the Prestatyn centre describes it as the place 'where happiness and hygiene go to die.'

It is not currently known why Britannia chose to close down the two locations, given that the company posted record profits earlier this year (stock image)

Pontins is owned by Brittania Hotels, which earlier this year was voted the UK's worst hotel chain for the 11th year in a row by Which? magazine (stock image)

'The rooms are a health hazard. I know it's cheap but you shouldn't have to clean somewhere when you arrive!!

READ MORE: Migrants will NOT be housed in Pontin's holiday park after council opposed Government plan Advertisement

'Don't waste your money! Butlins, Haven or Parkdean are a little more money but much better.'

MailOnline previously reported that a woman who spent 195 for a weekend away at Pontins' Prestatyn site left early after she discovered the area was 'littered with broken glass', had 'vomit everywhere' and 'stained beds'.

Becky Swiers, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said: 'There were marks on the walls; the curtains were hanging off the rails it was just an absolute dive. I wouldn't let my dog stay there.

She went on to describe how no one was working at reception when they went to complain about their chalet, which she thought had 'never been cleaned.'

'I just wanted to bring this (experience) to everyone's attention; in this day and age, not to have a clean room or site, and unkept grounds with litter, vomit and broken glass everywhere, I just don't know how they're allowed to get away with it.'

In 2021, it was revealed that Pontins circulated a blacklist that told its staff not to book accommodation for people with Irish or Romani sounding surnames.

The list included names such as Carney, Boylan, McGuinness and O'Mahoney, and was shared with the message: 'Several guests are unwelcome at Pontins, however some of these will still try and book  especially in the school holidays.'

The document, first reported by The i newspaper, was headed with a cartoon of a wizard-like character and the words 'You Shall Not Pass', a phrase from Lord of the Rings.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found, following an investigation, that Pontins was 'directly discriminating on the basis of race.'

Britannia later signed an agreement with the EHRC promising to end the practice.

MailOnline has contacted Pontins for comment on the closures.
Squid Game star Geoffrey Giuliano was rushed to hospital after a chainsaw severed his toes in a freak accident.

The 70-year-old actor was having his home renovated when a builder dropped the industrial tool and it bounced onto his foot on Tuesday.

He reportedly collapsed in a pool of blood and then scooped up the severed toes for medics to reattach them in Pattaya, Thailand.

Now the Netflix star has undergone a second reconstructive surgery in the capital Bangkok today, December 1.

The Netflix Squid Game star is pictured in hospital after accidentally severing his toes with a chainsaw

Mr Giuliano finally achieved acting success when he starred as the evil VIP 4 in the South Korean show in 2021

In December last year, the actor was reportedly thrown out of a McDonald's in Holland for 'being American'

Mr Giuliano said: 'It hurts like crazy today. The doctors told me I'm lucky to be alive, but I don't feel lucky. A chainsaw almost killed me.'

He also said the gruesome scenes were 'worse' than anything the contestants endured on Squid Game.

Speaking in a video shortly before the operation at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Mr Giuliano added: 'The chainsaw flew about 8ft into the air, hit the floor, chewed up the floor, then landed on my foot, so there went the top of my big toe and second toe.

'I was in Squid Game, I saw what was happening there, this is much worse, none of the contestants from Squid Game could have survived this.

'I was in shock. It didn't hurt at the time, but there was lots and lots of blood.

'I picked up my toes, put them in a paper towel and we rushed to the hospital.

'They sewed them on temporarily and now we're here to fix them properly.

'Those actors would've fainted if they had to go through what I went through.'

Mr Giuliano finally achieved acting success when he starred as the evil VIP 4 in the South Korean show in 2021.

The Netflix star was also reportedly thrown out of a Dutch McDonald's for 'being American'

He has since appeared in the second series Squid Game: The Challenge.

Earnings from the show allowed him to buy his dream house, which is what the builders were working on when the horror chainsaw accident unfolded.

In December last year, the actor was reportedly thrown out of a McDonald's in Holland for 'being American'.

He was returning from a work trip in Lisbon, Portugal, when the incident unfolded on December 31.

The father-of-six, 69, said he visited the McDonald's outlet during a connection at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol when the staff allegedly refused to serve him a veggie burger.

Footage shows a male employee seemingly barge into Giuliano, who actually once played Ronald McDonald on TV, before a second man appeared to raise his hand towards him.

The actor, who had been using a wheelchair for a knee injury sustained during a movie stunt, claims he was assaulted during the confrontation and has demanded that McDonald's apologise.

He said that he is diabetic and needed food at the time, with McDonald's the only food establishment available to him.

Adding: 'It was conveniently 'closing time' as soon as they saw me.

'An older Indian McDonald's greeter saw me, politely put me in the line and pushed me forward.

'However, when I started talking to my son Eden, a young manager heard my American accent and suddenly they would not serve me.

'When they realized we were American, they would not serve me. The whole thing was due to an aggressive manager and another employee who obviously did not like Americans.'

Giuliano says this is not the first time he has experienced 'anti-American discrimination' in Holland, claiming it has worsened since Donald Trump was elected president.

It comes after footage of the actor and his son emerged in 2017 showing what the cameraman claimed was Giuliano cutting in line at a supermarket in Thailand before telling him 'I'm an American, I do what I want, we're the kings of the world'.

He said he had another incident with his granddaughter where a woman in a shop told him 'why don't you go back to America and Donald Trump'.

In this incident, as in Thailand in 2017, Giuliano was with his son Eden, now 15.

He said his 'very shy' son was 'upset' by the two experiences and no longer wants to go out for food with his father.
The body of a 20-year-old woman has been found in a Texas creek a week after an Uber driver she went off-roading with killed himself when cops tried to question him.

Mystery has surrounded the case since Amanda Stevenson, 20, from Victoria, went missing on November 19. Two days later her mother reported her missing, setting off a frantic search by law enforcement and members of the community.

On Tuesday, Steven's mother received the tragic news that she was dreading. Her daughter's body was discovered in a creek, around 16 miles from where she was last seen just over a week ago. Her cause of death has not been made public.

Police followed up on their belief that former teacher 45-year-old Kevin Bennetsen, an Uber driver, who was known to give her rides, could be connected with Stevenson's disappearance.

Her family maintain that he was the last person to see her alive. Complicating the investigation is the fact that detectives are still working to gain access to her password-protected phone, which police are hopeful will shed some light on the case.

A map of the area around Victoria, Texas, showing how the tragedy unfolded

Mystery has surrounded the case since Amanda Stevenson, from Victoria in Texas, went missing on November 19

Stevenson's mother, Jennifer Blankenship Horsley, posted this picture on Facebook shortly after her daughter's body was discovered

Police followed up on their belief that former teacher 45-year-old Kevin Bennetsen, an Uber driver, who was known to give her rides, could be connected with Stevenson's disappearance

Bennetsen's car pictured shortly after he killed himself as police sought to ask him questions about Stevenson's disappearance

Police said the two went 'mudding on [all-terrain vehicles],' before she went missing.

Investigators conducted an initial interview with Bennetsen and on November 22, the day before Thanksgiving, pulled him over for a traffic stop to ask more questions about the case. Stevenson had been due to celebrate her birthday on November 24.

But Bennetsen fatally shot himself during the stop, around a mile from a property that he owned in the area, reports the Victoria Advocate.

According to the newspaper's report, cops made contact with Bennetsen before he shot himself with a pistol. He was rushed to a local hospital where he died.

Earlier that day, cops had already begun searching his home and an area he often frequented in Yoakum, around 35 miles north of where Stevenson was last seen.

Bennetsen was married with two children, and officials said his wife has been cooperating with authorities during the search.

He was a substitute teacher in the Victoria School District as recently as 2022, according to his LinkedIn page.

The father of two is also an Army and Air Force veteran, serving between 2005 and 2008. He had worked as a parole officer for four years and had also spent time in a security role at Target.

On Sunday, a Candlelight Vigil for Stevenson will be held in the park where Stephenson's body was found

As the family deals with the grief of the 20-year-old's death, police continue to investigate.

An autopsy has been ordered for Stevenson and Bennetsens death is being investigated by Texas Rangers.

In announcing her death, Victoria Police Chief Jeff Young described the efforts to locate Stevenson as 'tireless'.

While in the midst of the search, her mother, Jennifer Blankenship Horsley, celebrated her birthday.

On Sunday, a Candlelight Vigil for Stevenson will be held in the park where her body was found.

'The not knowing is the worst part,' Blankenship Horsley told the Victoria Advocate earlier this month.

In the same interview, she called her daughter a 'very sweet girl'.

'I'm just devastated. I want to bring her home. At times it doesn't feel real,' she added.

She went on to express her gratitude to those who were aiding in the search effort.

She said: 'Know that I am so thankful for everyones help from the bottom of my heart. I cant say that enough.'
A second oil train has exploded in Buryatia, deep inside Russia, in an evident Ukrainian secret services bid to block munitions from North Korea.

Yesterday it was revealed a train had exploded inside a nine-mile-long tunnel, the longest in Russia.

The line is used for munitions from North Korea to supply Vladimir Putin's invading forces in Ukraine, according to InformNapalm channel.

The channel added: 'The explosion incident allegedly occurred on the Itikit-Okushikan section of the East Siberian Railway in the Northern Railway Tunnel.

'It is located on the BAM (Baikal-Amur Mainline) and receives military supplies from the DPRK (North Korea).'

The report said investigators were treating the explosions as 'sabotage' and had opened a criminal case into 'terrorist' attacks

A second oil train exploded in Buryatia, deep inside Russia. It happened on the BAM (Baikal-Amur Mainline)

The line is used for munitions from North Korea to supply Vladimir Putin 's invading forces in Ukraine

Earlier a train exploded inside a nine-mile-long tunnel, the longest in Russia

Kim Jong-un has supplied Putin with vast supplies of artillery shells and other munitions after the pair met in Vladivostok in September.

It is also on the main line for imports from China, said reports.

Dramatic footage from Russian news sites shows the carnage after the second explosion some 3,000 miles from the Ukrainian border in Siberia.

Ukrainian security sources had claimed the SBU secret service responsibility for the Severomuysky Tunnel explosion on Thursday.

Russian authorities have reported a number of attacks on transport infrastructure since it launched full-scale hostilities in Ukraine in February last year, occasionally pointing the finger at Kyiv.

'The Russians have fallen into the SBU's trap twice - another fuel train has exploded on the Baikal-Amur railway,' a source in Ukrainian law enforcement agencies said, referring to the SBU security services.

The source said the alleged attack on Friday was a follow-up to an initial explosion on Wednesday night involving a train transiting the remote region of Buryatia.

The second explosion on another train was reported 'in the same area'.

There was no immediate response from the Russian side to the latest incident, but Moscow confirmed a train crew earlier this week had spotted smoke in a fuel tank and called firefighters to the scene.

Russian business daily Kommersant on Friday cited sources as saying that investigators had opened a criminal probe into Wednesday's incident and that the fire on the train was likely caused by an unidentified explosive device.

'Russian special services should get used to the fact that our people are everywhere. Even in distant Buryatia,' the Ukrainian source said.

The source added that the second attack had targeted an alternative route for trains using the same railway - over the Chortov Bridge - also in Buryatia.

'This is exactly what the SBU was counting on: as the train was passing over this high 35-metre bridge, the explosive devices planted in it detonated.'

The Baikal-Amur railway is over 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) long and runs adjacent to the borders of China and Mongolia.

Russia earlier on Friday announced it had detained a dual Russian-Italian national for carrying out sabotage attacks on a railway and airbase, acting under the orders of Ukraine.

'Four tanker wagons from the train burned out, two more were damaged by fire,' reported Baza media outlet.

Fuel spread over an area of 1,600 square feet, it was stated.

The tunnel remains blocked from the first explosion which appears to have caused massive damage.

The nine-mile-long Severomuysky Tunnel in the Buryatia region of Siberia where a freight train exploded

Kim Jong-un has supplied Putin with vast supplies of artillery shells and other munitions after the pair met in Vladivostok in September

One account said the train comprised 50 tanker wagons - 41 with diesel and three with aviation fuel.

'As a result of the explosion, tanker wagon 16 at the head of the train burned out,' reported Baza.

Holes were found in two more tankers.

' After the explosion, it was possible to remove 14 tanks, but further transportation of the wagons is not yet possible.

'The explosion seriously damaged the rails, and the leaked fuel flooded them.

'Later, another train was blown up in the same area.'

A leaked internal email from Russian Railways stated: 'Attention EVERYONE!!!

'There was a terrorist attack in the Severomuysky tunnel!!!

'There are signs of explosions on the tankers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pays visits the soldiers in the Kupiansk frontline on November 30, 2023 in Kharkiv, Ukraine

'High alert mode has been introduced!!! Extra vigilance!!! Instruct all the employees!!!'

Russia initially claimed the tunnel explosion was caused by a 'short circuit'.

Last month Lt-Gen Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, said rockets in Kim's arsenal are suitable for the Grad anti-aircraft missile defence system, and some Russian tanks.

North Korea is capable of producing a significant number of artillery shells, since, unlike Russia, the Pyongyang regime has preserved facilities for serial weapons production.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian military plants can satisfy seven per cent of the Russian army's needs for artillery shells.

'It's a question of how much the Koreans will be able to transfer quickly,' said Budanov.
Hamas hostage Mia Schem was seen today smiling as she exited a hospital surrounded by her grateful family after she was released from captivity in Gaza yesterday.

Heartwarming images showed Schem, 21, leaving the Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan with her mother and brother in tow.

The French-Israeli woman spent 54 days in Hamas captivity after being shot and taken hostage at the Nova festival, and became one of the most high-profile captees after Hamas released a video in the early days of the war showing her recovering from surgery.

'Hi, I'm Mia Schem, 21 years old from Shoham. Currently, I'm in Gaza. I was seriously injured in my hand. I underwent surgery on my arm at the hospital for 3 hours. They are taking care of me, giving me medicine, everything is fine,' she was heard saying.

Schem was one of eight hostages released yesterday by Hamas hours before the seven-day ceasefire broke down and hostilities resumed early this morning.

But Mia's aunt told Israeli media her niece underwent less than stellar care in captivity. 'She is thin, she is weak. A vet operated on her arm. She did not receive physiotherapy,' she declared.

The extent of Mia's injuries has not yet been verified, but it is thought she will likely make a good recovery with physiotherapy, having been discharged from hospital.

Schem, 21, reunites with her family following her release after being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip

Mia is seen walking with family members at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel after her release

Mia Schem, 21, reunites with her mother and brother following her release after being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip

Mia Schem is seen being released to the Red Cross as a crowd of Palestinians watch on

Schem, 21, became one of the most high-profile captees after Hamas released a video in the early days of the war showing her recovering from surgery

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum describes Schem as 'a young woman with an old soul' and says that she is studying tattooing, works at a tattoo parlour and enjoys drawing and cooking

Heart-rending footage showed her breaking down into tears as she hugged her mother and brother, knowing her ordeal was at an end

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum describes Schem as 'a young woman with an old soul' who was studying tattooing and worked at a tattoo parlour prior to her kidnapping.

Nir Oz kibbutz confirms death of two more Israelis in hands of Hamas Israeli kibbutz Nir Oz has claimed two members of its community have been killed by Hamas. Arye Zalmanovich (85), and a kindergarten teacher, Maya Goren (56), were captured the attack on the kibbutz on October 7 which resulted in the deaths of about 180 residents. Hamas initially claimed Arye died of a heart attack during an IDF bombing, but the kibbutz has now revealed he was murdered. Maya was also taken as a hostage, and the exact date of death remains unclear. IDF soldiers have thus far been unsuccessful in efforts to retrieve her body which remains in Gaza Advertisement

Mia was seized by Hamas gunmen at the Nova music festival along with her friend Elia Toledano, 27. She is still believed to be held captive by Hamas.

Amit Soussana, 40, was released alongside Mia earlier on Thursday, with six more hostages following late last night.

Nili Margalit, 41, Sapir Cohen, 29, Shani Goren, 29, Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, Aisaha Ziadana, 17, and her brother Bilal, 18, were named as the final hostages released before the breakdown of the truce.

Ziadana's father Yousef and eldest brother Hamza remain in captivity.

The IDF last night confirmed the six Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross.

'According to the information provided by the Red Cross, six Israeli abductees were transferred to them and are on their way to Israel,' a statement read.

But fears for other hostages grew last night after Hamas said they had the bodies of three Israelis to hand over, with a resumption in hostilities meaning the remaining 100 or so hostages in Hamas captivity will remain there indefinitely.

Hamas' mention of three bodies prompted fears they could be those of ten-month-old Kfir Bibas, his brother Ariel, four, and mother Shiri, 32.

On Wednesday the military wing of Hamas had announced their deaths and blamed them on an Israeli airstrike  although they offered no proof.

Meanwhile, IDF officials said Hamas' claims remain unverified.

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'Hamas' claims about the Bibas family are still unverified. The published documentation is psychological terrorism.'

Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman, is reunited with her family following 55 days in Hamas captivity on November 30, 2023 in Be'er Sheva, Israel

Schem is seen in captivity

Keren, mother of Mia Schem and representatives of the families of the abducted and missing persons held by Hamas militants in Gaza hold a press conference following the release of a video by Hamas

Within minutes of announcing the resumption of military action in Gaza, Israeli forces this morning bombarded the northwest with rocket fire, and aircraft were seen circling the skies overhead, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Interior in Gaza.

The dramatic re-escalation of the conflict saw strikes land in the southern Gaza regions of Khan Younis and Rafah.

Reports indicate tanks have been swiftly positioned to the area, and in a tweet half an hour after the relaunch, the IDF said it had deployed 'warplanes' focused on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas 'didn't respect its obligation to release today all the abducted women and launched rockets toward the citizens of Israel.'

He insisted that because the conflict is now back on, the 'government of Israel is obliged to accomplish the targets of the fighting', which he claimed was to 'release the hostages' and 'to liquidate Hamas.'

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

But more than a 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Rishi Sunak has ducked questions on the royal 'race' row today as he attended the COP28 summit with King Charles.

The PM insisted that it would not be 'right' for him to comment, pointing to the 'longstanding and appropriate' convention that ministers do not talk about the Royal Family.

Asked about the raging row over Omid Scobie's book by journalists en route to Dubai, Mr Sunak said: 'By longstanding and appropriate convention it wouldn't be right for me to talk about the royal family in any way shape or form.'

But the premier did heap praise on the King, saying he was 'delighted' the monarch is at the global climate summit and hailing 'the respect that he's got on this issue around the world'.

Scobie took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book.

Rishi Sunak insisted that it would not be 'right' for him to comment, pointing to the 'longstanding and appropriate' convention that ministers do not talk about the Royal Family

Mr Sunak did heap praise on the King (pictured today), saying he was 'delighted' the monarch is at the global climate summit and hailing ' the respect that he's got on this issue around the world'

Mr Scobie, 42, said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe that he is 'in cahoots' with Meghan Markle, declaring: 'It couldn't be further from the truth'.

He also refused to apologise for the racism scandal that has erupted, claiming: 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it'.

But questions about whether he put the names in remain because one of the Dutch translators told MailOnline yesterday: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them'.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Two's Newsnight, Mr Scobie was asked to say 'hand on heart' that the farrago over the Dutch translation was not a PR stunt. He raised his hands, shaking his head, and replied: 'On my life, on my family's life.' Ms Derbyshire said: 'You don't have to go that far, it's fine'.

Scobie then said: 'No it's serious because I feel hurt by some of the things I've seen that have suggested a conspiracy theory, that this is some kind of publicity stunt, and 'I'm in cahoots with my pal [Meghan]' and nonsense like that because it feeds into something that couldn't be further from the truth'.

Victoria then said: 'In some version you must have written the names in and the wrong version has potentially gone to the people in charge of the rights around the world, I suppose'. Mr Scobie didn't respond.

It came as media organisations around the world, including the BBC, ITV, The Guardian and The Times, named the two royals accused of asking about Archie's skin colour as King Charles and his daughter-in-law Kate.
A frail elderly man has admitted to suffocating his wife of 69 years to death with a pillow to end her suffering with dementia.

Sporting bandages around the top of his head, Donald Morley, 93, appeared in the ACT Supreme Court via audio-visual link on Friday.

He was charged with murder after his wife Jean, 92, was found dead inside their home in the Canberra suburb of Fisher on July 30 this year.

Morley is currently in custody at a hospital older persons mental health unit.

He sat in a chair as he appeared via videolink alongside Legal Aid lawyer Nathan Deakes, who asked the court if his client could stay seated during the hearing 'due to frailty at this time'.

Donald Morley (left) has pleaded guilty to murdering his wife of 69 years Jean (right)

Morley replied 'guilty' when asked how he would plea to the charge, The Canberra Times reported.

The court also heard there were no fitness to plead issues.

It is understood Morley is the oldest person to be charged with murder in the ACT.

According to police documents previously tendered to the court, Morley told a registered nurse who discovered Mrs Morley's body during a routine visit that he had 'done a terrible thing'.

'I suffocated her with a pillow last night,' Morley allegedly told the nurse.

The court also heard that Morley told the nurse that he tried to take his own life multiple ways after his wife died.

Jean Morley (pictured) died after her husband suffocated her to death with a pillow, a court has heard

Jean, 92, was found dead inside their home in the Canberra suburb of Fisher on July 30. The couple had lived there for 45 years

Police allegedly found a suicide note at the home, where the couple had lived for more than 45 years.

'After 69 years married, we were both afraid of the future,' a part of the note allegedly read.

'Please don't call this 'murder'-suicide.

'Sorry to upset all our family and friends this wasn't easy for me, especially my darling.'

A sentencing hearing date could be set down as early as next week when the case goes before a registrar.

If you or anyone who know needs support, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636.
A leading equalities campaigner today dismissed claims that royals discussing Prince Archie's skin colour should be considered racist, declaring: 'There is no family of colour anywhere in the world where that conversation doesn't take place'.

Sir Trevor Phillips has said that any chat about Archie would have been out of 'excitement' for a new baby and about whether he would look more like Meghan or Harry.

Sir Trevor revealed that his family had the same conversation about his youngest grandson and believes that discussing skin colour in a mixed race home should be viewed no differently to discussing the colour of a child's eyes or hair.

The chat about Archie, if it happened at all, came to a head this week with two alleged 'royal racists' being outed on national television in the UK after King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named in the Dutch first edition of Omid Scobie's Endgame.

Sir Trevor, a former Labour politician and former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, was previewing his Sunday show live on Sky News last night when he was asked about whether he would cover the Endgame scandal.

He said: 'It's unlikely we're going to spend much time on that because I'll be absolutely frank and say I think it's a nonsense story. I think that there is no family of colour anywhere in the entire world where that conversation doesn't take place'.

Sir Trevor Phillips has dismissed the row over royals allegedly discussing skin colour of Archie now named in Omid Scobie's book as 'nonsense'

The prince and Meghan Markle told Oprah that a a member of Harry's family speculated about what colour Archie's skin would be when he was born

'I have a grandson who is absolutely gorgeous and delicious, I wish I could show you a photograph of him, and of course we as a family talk about is he going to look more like his mother, who looks like me, or his father, who is of Puerto Rican heritage.

'In the same way that I guess your family might talk about what hair colour, what eye colour. We all have the same hair colour. The thing that is different about us is skin colour.

'So it's a mark of excitement. I suspect, I have no idea what context the conversation took place - and I imagine the conversation did take place - but I suspect what somebody might have been saying is I really hope this baby looks more like her than it looks like him.'

His comments echo those made previously by a host of other figures, including Meghan's father, Thomas Markle.

He told ITV's Good Morning Britain back in 2021 that he did not 'think the British royal family are racist at all', adding that he hoped the comment on skin tone was 'just a dumb question'.

He said: 'The thing about what colour will the baby be, or how dark will the baby be, I'm hoping it's just a dumb question from somebody, it could be that simple. It could be somebody's just asked a stupid question, rather than someone being racist.'

He added: 'This whole thing about colour and how dark the baby is is bull****. I married a beautiful black woman and had a beautiful child. If she turned out dark, it wouldn't have been a problem.'

Ex-footballer John Barnes also previously claimed that the royal who asked about the skin tone was 'being realistic' and claimed most black people would say 'so what' to the question reportedly posed during Meghan's pregnancy.

Barnes, a father-of-seven who is married to a white woman, said he would 'expect that conversation' to happen, adding that people will 'always wonder' what the baby will look like.

King Charles III speaks during the opening ceremony at the Cop28 Climate Summit today

The Princess of Wales waves in her striking blue dress as she steps out alongside Prince William at the show in London amid the furore over Omid Scobie's book

The Princess of Wales beamed and looked effortlessly elegant as she attended the event at the Royal Albert Hall

In an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, he said: 'You speak to most black people and they'll say 'Yeah, so what?' I would expect that conversation to be had by the family.

'People will always wonder what the baby will look like and if it is going to be dark.

'If you listen to what Meghan says, it's not about them [the royal] worrying if the baby is dark or not, it's them worrying about how the public are going to view that.

'Because they know if the baby is too dark, the public will not view the baby as positively. They're being realistic.

'Let's not pretend the public won't care whether it's a blond-haired blue-eyed baby or jet black, because they will.'

Linden Kemkaran, a mixed-race mother, also claimed in a piece in the Telegraph that the comments were curiosity and not racism.

She wrote: 'During my own pregnancies, I had many comments from family, friends and colleagues who wanted to know if I thought the baby might have my colouring  brown skin, eyes and hair  or my husbands  white skin, blue eyes and blonde hair.

'Would the dominant genes triumph or would the recessive blue-eyed gene break through? None of this offended me or struck me as being racist.'

It comes as Omid Scobie took the extraordinary step of swearing on his own life, and his family's, on live TV last night that the naming of two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame is not a 'stunt' to shift more copies of his book.

Mr Scobie, 42, said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe that he is 'in cahoots' with Meghan Markle, declaring: 'It couldn't be further from the truth'.

He also refused to apologise for the racism scandal that has erupted, claiming: 'I'm as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it'.

His comments echo those made previously by a host of other figures, including Meghan's father, Thomas Markle

Ex-footballer John Barnes also previously claimed that the royal who asked about the skin tone was 'being realistic' and claimed most black people would say 'so what' to the question reportedly posed during Meghan's pregnancy

Prince Harry claimed in his interview with Meghan and Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 (pictured) that a member of the Royal Family asked about what colour Archie's skin would be

The Dutch version of Endgame, which has had to be pulled from bookshops

But questions about whether he put the names in remain because one of the Dutch translators told MailOnline yesterday: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them'.

Meghan first revealed vague details of the exchange in an interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey in 2021. She claimed there had been 'conversations'  suggesting more than one  in which 'concerns' were raised to Harry about how dark Archie's skin might be.

But Harry stated later in the interview that it was one conversation. No other details were provided about who was involved. When Harry was asked about the allegations in a interview earlier this year with ITV's Tom Bradby, he insisted the couple had accused his family members of nothing more than 'unconscious bias'. He blamed the media for blowing the situation out of proportion.

The racism row was not mentioned in either Harry's autobiography Spare or the Netflix series the couple made about their exit from royal life.

The statement from the late Queen about the alleged remarks, that 'recollections may vary', suggests it was only Meghan and Harry who considered them racist at the time.

The row resurfaced earlier this year when it emerged Meghan had written to the King setting out her concerns about racism in the family. Reports indicated it specifically named only one individual about a single comment made.

This week the Dutch edition of a book by royal biographer Omid Scobie  long seen as a mouthpiece for the Sussexes  appeared to accidentally name the 'royal racists', citing Meghan's letter as its source.

They are separately named in different chapters, the first reference claiming the letter 'revealed and confirmed' the identity of one and the second suggesting the letter disclosed another royal 'took part in such conversations'.

Mr Scobie denies writing the names in his manuscript, blaming it on a 'translation error'.

Booker-nominated translator David McKay said it seemed 'very plausible' the confusion had arisen either due to an earlier manuscript being translated inadvertently, or changes being made post-translation which were not copied across.

Both Dutch translators who worked on Mr Scobie's controversial book insisted that the names of two royals at the centre of a racism scandal were in the manuscript they received.

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.'

The second translator, Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern, then told The Sun: 'We are professionals and we've done this for years, both of us. It's unfair.'
A Donald Trump spokesperson compared Ron DeSantis to an OnlyFans model in a bizarre statement issued before the Florida governor took to the debate stage to square off against California's Gavin Newsom.

Thursday's event, which aired on Fox News, was a hard-to-explain 90-minute clash that pitted one struggling Republican presidential hopeful against a Democratic rival who may or may not seek the presidency in four years.

Seizing an opportunity, the Trump campaign's Steven Cheung issued a 'spolier' of how the debate would pan out.

'Ron will flail his arms and bobble his head wildly, looking more like a San Francisco crackhead than the governor of Florida. This isn't a prediction. It's a spoiler,' Cheung said.

'Ron DeSanctimonious is acting more like a thirsty, third-rate OnlyFans wannabe model than an actual presidential candidate,' Cheung continued.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (right) met for a one-on-one debate hosted by Fox News and moderated by Sean Hannity (center) on Thursday night in Alpharetta, Georgia

Former President Donald Trump is leading Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis nationally by around 48 points. In Florida, Trump leads DeSantis by 41 points, according to a November poll from Florida Atlantic University

'Instead of actually campaigning and trying to turn around his dismal poll numbers, DeSanctus is now so desperate for attention that he's debating a Grade A loser like Gavin Newsom,' he added.

On Thursday, the big-state governors were eager to represent their parties on the national stage as they battled over the economy, pandemic restrictions and President Joe Biden's leadership in a faceoff peppered with fiery policy disputes and personal insults.

'This is a slick, slippery politician whose state is failing,' DeSantis said of Newsom.

The California Democrat defended his state, but was equally eager to shift the discussion to DeSantis' stagnant 2024 presidential bid.

'How's that going for you, Ron? You're down 41 points in your own home state,' said Newsom, who is backing Biden for president. 'Neither of us will be the nominee for a party in 2024.'

The host, Fox News Channel, billed the event hosted by Sean Hannity as 'The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.'

Yet it was held in a television studio with no audience in Georgia, a location chosen for its key swing-state implications in national politics.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom predicted that President Joe Biden (pictured) would be the Democratic nominee 'in a matter of weeks,' while saying that former President Donald Trump would be the GOP nominee in the same time period

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said that President Joe Biden was 'in decline' and a 'danger' to the country while accusing Newsom of running a 'shadow campaign' for president

And it played out in the heart of presidential primary season with voters in both parties paying closer attention to their 2024 options heading into next fall's general election.

As leaders of two of the three most populous states, DeSantis and Newsom have spent much of the past year poking each other's policy choices and leadership style from afar.

But on Thursday night, they got their first chance to challenge each other on the same national stage.

The two participants, standing at podiums alone onstage, accused each other of lying repeatedly and talked over each other throughout. And while they largely focused on policy differences, the debate was also deeply personal at times.

DeSantis called Newsom 'a liberal bully.' Of DeSantis, Newsom said, 'I don't like the way you demean and humiliate people you disagree with.'

Hannity struggled to control the action. Over and over, he encouraged the men to give each other 'breathing room.'

DeSantis, a 45-year-old Republican governor elected to his second and final term last fall, is grasping for momentum in a 2024 campaign plagued by missteps in his bid to defeat former President Donald Trump, who remains the overwhelming front-runner in the GOP primary.

Newsom, California's 56-year-old term-limited Democratic governor, has positioned himself to seek the presidency someday, but like the rest of his party's most ambitious leaders, he declined to challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was all-in for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign even going as far to tell Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: 'I would take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age'

Instead, he's emerged as a leading defender of Biden and a formal campaign adviser.

He embraced that role Thursday night after DeSantis said he was 'joined at the hip with Biden and (Vice President Kamala) Harris.' Later, the Florida governor said Biden, at 81 years old, is 'in decline' and represents 'a danger to the country.'

'I'm proud of the work Biden and Harris have done,' Newsom said, ticking through unemployment statistics. 'I will take Joe Biden at 100 rather than Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age.'

Throughout the event, the Biden campaign was sending out video clips of Newsom's performance.

And afterward, Newsom issued a fundraising appeal on Biden's behalf. DeSantis' team, too, issued a steady stream of his own highlights, just as it would during a traditional presidential debate.
A Norwegian cinema employee has been praised for his response to a furious American 'Karen' complaining about the theatre's advertising of a film.

The unnamed woman had taken her 12-year-old son to see There's Something in the Barn, but was not aware that this new release was a horror film, rather than a Christmas movie as she had expected.

There's Something in the Barn is about how an American family fulfills their dream of moving back to Norway after inheriting a remote cabin in the mountains, but get a hostile reception from the resident 'Barn Elf'.

'I brought my 12-year-old kid to see this movie,' she shouted at the member of staff, 'and this is not a Christmas movie... My kid is crying!'

The film has been given an R rating in the U.S. and is 15 rated in the UK, but has a 12 rating in Norway.

A Norwegian cinema employee has been praised for his response to a furious American 'Karen' complaining about the theatre's advertising of a film.'I brought my 12-year-old kid to see this movie,' the unnamed woman shouted at the member of staff, 'and this is not a Christmas movie... My kid is crying!'

The unnamed woman had taken her 12-year-old son to see There's Something in the Barn, a new film about how an American family fulfills their dream of moving back to Norway after inheriting a remote cabin in the mountains, but get a hostile reception from the resident 'Barn Elf'

The mother continued to berate the man behind the counter, and proceeded to utter the words which cemented her 'Karen' status: 'Who's your manager? I need to talk to who's in charge here.'

However, she was told that the manager was not in.

One comment under the clip, shared to TikTok by @norwegian.karens, read: 'He is so unbothered I love it.'

Another commenter was impressed by the employee's calmness, as he eventually had to insist that the complainant left.

'You're making the other guests upset,' he said.

But she replied: 'I don't care. I need your manager's phone number.

'I am not leaving until you give me her name.'

Other commenters on the clip were similarly unsympathetic. One said: 'Should do the research before getting a ticket.'

Similarly, someone else said: 'Maybe watch a trailer or something before ordering tickets.'

Another asked: '"There's something in the barn". That name really didn't give it away?'

There's Something in the Barn - directed by Magnus Martens - was released on November 3 and has been met by mixed, but overall positive reviews.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie an aggregate critics' score of 85 per cent but its 'audience score' comes in lower, at 67 per cent.

And iMDb users largely agree, giving the movie a rating of 6.1 out of 10.
A murderous hardline general who was banned from the US and other countries for human rights abuses could become the next president of Indonesia.

Prabowo Subianto, 72, was one of the most feared and hated men in the country 25 years ago.

He was the son-in-law of the late dictator Suharto and has been accused of ordering the abduction, torture and killing of democracy activists.

But now he has transformed his public image as a cute dancing grandad in widely circulated social media videos.

Prabowo Subianto, 72, was one of the most feared and hated men in the country 25 years ago

He has been referred to as 'gemes' by younger generations, who are largely unfamiliar with his history

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka

The general has transformed his public image as a cute dancing grandad in widely circulated social media videos

The videos show him performing comically bad dad-dancing and have gone viral in Indonesia.

As part of his campaign, he has also put up large billboards depicting him as a smiling cartoon character.

He has been referred to as 'gemes' by younger generations, who are largely unfamiliar with his history.

It is an Indonesian slang term that translates to 'adorable', The Times reported.

The polls show he is ahead of his two rivals in the campaign to replace President Joko next year.

Prabowo was an Indonesian special forces general in the 1990s, running a regime of terror in East Timor - torturing and killing independence fighters.

He also kidnapped human rights activists, several of whom have never been seen since, and he was banned from several countries including the US and Australia.

After being a fierce political rival of Joko, he became the defence minister in 2019.

The social media videos have gone viral in Indonesia and may help him win the presidency

Prabowo was an Indonesian special forces general in the 1990s, running a regime of terror in East Timor

It was a strategic move intended to secure Joko's government in his second term.

Prabowo's running mate is Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of President Joko.

Gibran, 36, was younger than the minimum legal age to run for vice-president but Indonesia's constitutional court changed the law to make it possible. Also, the chief justice in the court was Joko's brother-in-law.

With the announcement of Gibran as Prabowo's running mate, critics accused Joko of betraying his party.

Joko is from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Ganjar Pranowo, 55, is the candidate for the February 2024 elections.

But Ganjar is lagging in second place behind Prabowo and his Gerindra party.

The third candidate is Anies Baswedan, 54, the former governor of Jakarta, who has support from conservative Muslim voters.

Voters go to the polls on February 14, 2024.
Russia lost a dozen elite marines when they cooked food on an open fire and triggered an explosion from nearby live ammunition.

Eight more were wounded in the incident that Vladimir Putin's regime has sought to cover-up.

Reports say a RPG-7 grenade launcher shell caught fire and exploded at Kuzminsky military training ground in Rostov region, bordering Ukraine.

Eight of the marines from 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade, based in Vladivostok, were killed on the spot.

Four more died in hospital, said the News 166 outlet in Rostov, which said the humiliating tragedy had been confirmed by three independent sources.

'About 20 people from [the marine brigade] lit a fire next to stocks of ammunition during their lunch break. An RPG-7 grenade launcher shell rolled into the fire and exploded,' 161.ru quoted one government source as saying.

An explosion at Kuzminsky training ground in Rostov region, where 12 elite Russian Marines were killed and eight wounded when they cooked on a fire which ignited a nearby ammo depot

The troops were believed to be due for deployment to Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.

READ MORE: Bungling Russian sergeant accidentally detonates a grenade in his dorm at ammo storage unit with explosion and massive fire killing three, injuring 16 and leaving at least eight missing Advertisement

All of those killed were said to have been marines from the Primorye region of Russia.

marines from the Primorye region of Russia.

The dead and wounded from the lunchtime cookout have not been named.

A major criminal case has been launched into a suspected breach of safety regulations.

The commander of the Pacific Fleet Admiral Viktor Liina, 55, Pacific fleet commander, has visited the training base to read the riot act over the blunder, it was reported.

Neither the Russian defence ministry nor the Investigative Committee has commented on the fiasco.

A serviceman who witnessed the horror revealed details but it has taken since it occurred on 3 November to verify the details.

MailOnline was unable to verify the details of the Russian reports.

In February, Russian soldiers in Kursk, which also borders Ukraine, were reported to have been killed in an explosion triggered by the men using a cooking stove.

The soldiers poured gasoline onto an open fire, causing an explosion, Russian Telegram channel Baza reported.

Elite Russian troops from the 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade, located at Vladivostok

In January, a Russian sergeant killed three and injured 16 after accidentally detonating a grenade in his dorm at an ammo storage unit, also causing a large explosion.

A source in the local emergency services said: 'The preliminary cause of the explosion is careless handling of ammunition.'

Emergency services told Interfax that a sergeant unintentionally detonated an RGD-5 anti-personnel grenade in the building's sleeping quarters, next to the weapons storage room, causing an explosion and fire that grew to 4,843 square feet (450 square metres).
The father of tragic eight-month-old Indi Gregory told her funeral service she was a 'true warrior' for whom he would have gone 'into the pits of hell to fight' - as the Pope sent the bereaved family his condolences in a special message.

Indi, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, died on November 13 after UK High Court judges had ruled that it would not be in her best interests for the child to be flown to Italy for 'specialist treatment' for her rare and incurable mitochondrial disease.

Heartbroken parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth were joined by mourners for a beautiful farewell at Nottingham's St Barnabas Cathedral on Friday, the tot arriving in a white horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a train of Rolls Royces.

In a touching eulogy read out on his behalf, Mr Gregory said his daughter 'overcame so much' in her battle for life.

A message sent on behalf of the Pope ahead of the service thanked 'God for the gift of her all-too-short life' and expressed his 'condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness' with the family.

Indi Gregory died on November 13 after UK High Court judges ordered that she could not travel to Italy for care

Indi Gregory's mother, Claire Staniforth (centre), arrives at St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham for the eight-month-old's funeral

Indi Gregory's father Dean Gregory (front) carries the casket of his daughter into St Barnabas Cathedral for the funeral service

The young girl, eight months, was brought to the church in a white horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a train of silver Rolls Royces

The carriage bearing Indi Gregory arrives outside St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham as mourners watch on

The white carriage, adored with floral tributes and drawn by horses dressed in pink, drew up at St Barnabas Cathedral on Friday morning

One touching tribute left at the church, made up white carnations and pink roses, was arranged in the shape of a teddy bear

Messages left with the flowers featured heartbreaking tributes. One (left) read: 'RIP Indi, always will love you' while another from relatives (right) read: 'Go dance with the angels'

The carriage, pulled by white horses dressed in pink, arrived outside the cathedral on Friday morning, from where Indi's white casket was borne inside by a pair of pallbearers  including her father.

Mourners stood by and wiped tears as Indi was carried inside, her casket so small it could be borne by two people.

In his written eulogy, Mr Gregory said his daughter had been 'not only beautiful, but strong and unique', adding: 'I just knew, from the start, she was very special.'

He continued: 'Yet it was her weakest point, her health problems, that distinguished lndi as a true warrior.

'lndi overcame so much...(her) determination to fight for a chance at life really inspired me.

'She had to fight to live from day one of her life. I was even willing to go down into the pits of hell to fight and to protect lndi.

'In a way I did, because the court system itself felt like being in hell to me.'

Mr Gregory thanked the Italian Government in his eulogy after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had granted Indi Italian citizenship in a bid to maximise her chances of being allowed to travel to Italy for ongoing care.

He continued: 'I truly believe it has been a battle of good versus evil. God put lndi on this earth with the mission to expose the evil in the world. He chose her because she was strong, beautiful and special.

'But now, this chapter of lndi's destiny is over. Her legacy, however, has only just begun.'

The eulogy was read out on his behalf by Canon Paul Newman.

The Pope expressed his grief for Indi's death in a message sent on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State for the Vatican.

It read: 'His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of little Indi Gregory, and he sends condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to her parents, Dean and Claire, and to all who mourn the loss of this precious child of God.

'Entrusting Indi into the tender and loving hands of our Heavenly Father, His Holiness joins those gathered for her funeral in thanking Almighty God for the gift of her all-too-short life.

'He likewise prays that the Lord Jesus, who said to his disciples, "let the little children come to me for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (Matthew 19:14), will grant abiding comfort, strength and peace to you all.'

Dean Gregory speaks to mourners outside baby Indi's funeral following her service on Friday

Indi Gregory's heartbroken mother Claire Staniforth is embraced and comforted following her daughter's funeral service. She could be seen clutching an order of service

Mourners gather outside the cathedral ahead of the funeral service for eight-month-old Indi Gregory

Dean Gregory (left, partially obscured) carries Indi Gregory's casket out of St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham following her funeral service, which was led by Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham (right)

The order of service for the funeral of Indi Gregory is held outside St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham on the morning of the service

Indi's parents wrote a note to their daughter accompanying their flowers at her funeral. It reads: 'Taken far too soon, will never be forgotten, fly high - you're now one of heaven's angels'

Indi had been baptised in the weeks before her death. Mr Gregory told Christian news website the New Daily Compass: 'I have seen what hell is like and I want Indi to go to heaven.'

The service was presided by Right Reverend Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham, who preached the homily and blessed Indi's casket with holy water and incense.

The Bishop said: 'We believe that Jesus has a very special place prepared in heaven for all children, and especially for those who, like baby Indi, die so young.

'Dean and Claire described baby Indi to me as a real fighter, as someone who really wanted to live and who, in her short eight months of life, battled through some challenging health issues.

'Although only 8 months old, Indis struggle for life from her hospital crib here in Nottingham touched the hearts of so many people here in the UK and in other parts of the world, especially in Italy, as did the example of her mum and dad in doing all they could to try and give her every chance to live.

'Indis short life serves to remind us of how precious life is, how precious every person is...thats a wonderful legacy of Indis short life on earth.'

The service was also attended by a delegation from the Italian government, including Minister of Families Eugenia Roccella and Minister of Disabilities Alessandra Locatelli after it had vowed to support the family's fight for Indi's life.

They were to present a book to Indi's family towards the conclusion of the funeral service, according to the order of service.

Floral wreaths were laid at the funeral service bearing messages of condolence for Indi and her family. One touching tribute, made up white carnations and pink roses, was arranged in the shape of a teddy bear.

A note written by Indi's parents, accompanying their flowers, read: 'To our little daughter Indi, RIP. Taken far too soon, will never be forgotten, fly high...you're now one of heaven's angels.

'Miss you so much! Love you immensely...Mummy and Daddy.'

Other mourners also left tributes: 'RIP Indi, always will love you,' read one.

Another note, left by relatives, read: 'RIP Indi...go dance with the angels beautiful, love you always.'

Indi Gregory was cared for at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham before being moved to a hospice in her final days

Claire Staniforth and Dean Gregory with Indi Gregory in September after she was baptised

Indi Gregory's fight for life picked up a number of high profile supporters including Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured), who granted the child Italian citizenship

Pope Francis had expressed support for Indi, and sent a message of condolence to her family ahead of her funeral

The funeral was attended by Hollie Dance, mother of Archie Battersbee, who died in August 2022 after his family lost a similar court battle to keep him alive.

Archie, 12, had been found unconscious with a ligature over his head at home in Southend, Essex, in April last year.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Dance said Indi's plight had left her 'heartbroken', adding that her son's death was still 'very raw'.

She said of contacting Indi's parents: 'I reached out to let them know I was there for them, supporting them going forward with their fight. I said, whatever you decide to do, just know we are all behind you.

'We have to do Something to try and change this. Parents are powerless in this situation.

'Parents need to have more say, we grow these babies inside us, we carry them, and the fact all your rights are taken away - we werent allowed to take Archie to a hospice, or take him home, or the two countries that offered to help us.

'If the parent doesnt want to fight, thats totally fine, its their choice, but if you are given hope in another country, you should be allowed to do that.'

Indi, born on February 24, had mitochondrial disease, a rare, incurable and degenerative condition which meant that her cells did not produce enough energy.

Doctors at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham said she had been living in significant pain and distress.

Mr Gregory revealed in the eulogy that she had suffered seizures, sepsis, e-coli and other infections while undergoing care.

But Mr Gregory and Ms Staniforth's fight to give their daughter the best chance of survival saw Indi at the centre of in several High Court and Court of Appeal cases in the UK as after an Italian hospital under Vatican jurisdiction offered to treat her.

The offer sensationally led to Indi being granted Italian citizenship by the country's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - but UK judges refused to grant her parents permission to take her abroad after hearing from doctors who had cared for her.

Indi Gregory during her time being treated at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham

Mum Claire Staniford holds Indi in hospital. She described her daughter as a 'real fighter', according to the Bishop of Nottingham

Hollie Dance, mum of Archie Battersbee (pictured in August 2022) attended the funeral to show her support for Indi's family's legal battles

Archie Battersbee (pictured), 12, died in August 2022 after his family failed in their own attempts to keep him on life support

Rome's Bambino Gesu children's hospital, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Holy See, had offered to administer treatment for Indi.

But Indi's parents, supported by campaign group Christian Concern, failed to convince High Court and Court of Appeal judges in London and judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to keep Indi on life-support.

High Court judge Mr Justice Peel had ruled limiting Indi's treatment would be lawful, and doing so would be in her best interests.

She was moved from the QMC to a hospice where she died in the early hours of November 13 in her mother's arms, a few hours after sisters Liv, 19, Olivia, 13, and Vienna, six, had said their final farewells.

Mr Gregory and Ms Staniforth have accused the NHS and the courts of taking away Indi's 'chance to live a longer life' and her 'dignity' by refusing to let her die at home.

Mr Gregory said after her passing: 'They managed to take Indi's body and dignity, but they will never be able to take her soul.

'They tried to get rid of Indi without anybody knowing, but we made sure she would be remembered forever. I knew she was special from the day she was born. Claire held her for her final breaths.'

The child had been given support by a number of Italian public figures, as well as Pope Francis, who said on the day before she died he had been praying for Indi alongside all children suffering from war and diseases.

The Pontiff said in his message prior to her death: 'Pope Francis embraces the family of little Indi Gregory, her father and mother, prays for them and for her, and turns his thoughts to all the children around the world in these same hours who are living in pain or risking their lives because of disease and war.'
Nova festival survivors are coming together at a wellness retreat in Cyprus as they try to get to grips with the trauma of the October 7 music festival bloodbath in Israel.

At the Israeli-run wellness retreat, set deep within a mountainous forest, survivor Matan Madar wants to dull the cries, while Dor Rahamim is looking for peace. Neta Cohen says she wants to live her life to the full, after seeing the lives of others so brutally cut short.

'We are trying to clear the mind of the screams,' said Madar, 23, who lost friends when Hamas terrorists went on a bloody rampage at the Nova festival.

Some 364 people were shot, bludgeoned or burned to death at the all-night festival, held about 5km (2 miles) from the Gaza Strip.

Israel estimates that 1,200 people were killed in the overall attack on its south that triggered a retaliatory onslaught, which the Hamas-run health ministry says has seen more than 15,000 Palestinians killed in the coastal enclave.

Survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in Israel attend art therapy lessons at the Secret Forest wellness retreat in Miliou, Cyprus

Matan Madar and Chen Ben David, survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack on a music festival in Israel, are seen at the Secret Forest wellness retreat in Miliou, Cyprus

People fleeing after Hamas terrorists descended on the Nova music festival on October 7

Israeli businessman Yoni Kahana, who operates the retreat on the east Mediterranean island, is hosting survivors free of charge.

Aided by an Israeli NGO, IsraAID, the Secret Forest retreat in the mountains above Paphos in western Cyprus has a steady rotation of festival survivors seeking solace.

'When we saw what was happening in Israel we decided immediately to help,' said Kahana.

He said more than 1,800 Israelis had signed up to a programme that includes yoga, therapy sessions, hiking and meditation overseen by up to 20 volunteer therapists.

'They are getting the tools to get back to living,' he said.

Rahamim, 28, sits on the floor in a corner of an art therapy class, his back against the wall.

Survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack hold an introductory meeting with a therapist at the Secret Forest wellness retreat

The Secret Forest wellness retreat in Miliou, Cyprus, which is hosting survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack on a music festival in Israel

Hamas attack survivor Neta Cohen, 28, works on a collage at the wellness retreat

Therapist Lilach Galkin and survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack at the Secret Forest wellness retreat

Survivors of the Hamas gunmen attack on the Nova festival take part in a ceremony officiated by the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus Arie Zeev Raskin (not pictured), marking the end of a seven-day healing process that took place at the Secret Forest resort, at the Jewish Community Centre in Larnaca, Cyprus, on November 30, 2023

Survivors of the Hamas gunmen attack on a music festival take part in a ceremony officiated by the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus Arie Zeev Raskin, marking the end of a seven-day healing process that took place at the Secret Forest resort, at the Jewish Community Centre in Larnaca, Cyprus on November 30, 2023

Survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack on a music festival walk to a therapy session at the Secret Forest wellness retreat

Survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack on a music festival gather ahead of a therapy session at the Secret Forest wellness retreat

Survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack on a music festival in Israel walk to a therapy session at the Secret Forest wellness retreat

Dor Rahamim, 28, makes a scrapbook with dry leaves at the Secret Forest wellness retreat in Miliou, Cyprus

Survivors of the Hamas gunmen attack on a music festival in Israel take part in a ceremony officiated by the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus Arie Zeev Raskin (not pictured), marking the end of a seven-day healing process that took place at the Secret Forest resort, at the Jewish Community Centre in Larnaca, Cyprus, on November 30, 2023

He says: 'I just feel like I am nervous all the time. It's very intense. I need to look around, to feel, to see that everything is OK, that somebody doesn't surprise me.'

Many trauma survivors turn to art in an attempt to externalise their feelings, painting with red, white and black, the colours of trauma, before adding rays of sun, a rainbow, or a flower, said therapist Lilach Galkin.

'A lot of things are connected to hope. Hope and peace,' she said.

Neta Cohen is working on a collage. It included a photo taken from a social media website of a person with no 'likes', because, she said, people do not need to live their lives craving approval from others.

She said: 'You need to do what you want and you like, because I've realised in these past two months that life is short.'
An Israeli government spokesman today declared that Hamas 'will now take the mother of all thumpings' after a truce pausing fighting in the Gaza Strip expired and hostilities resumed.

'Unfortunately, Hamas decided to terminate the pause by failing to release all the kidnapped women,' government spokesman Eylon Levy told a briefing.

'Having chosen to hold onto our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings.'

Israel this morning relaunched its brutal offensive on Hamas with full force, firing a barrage of missiles and sending warplanes screaming over Gaza as a week-long ceasefire expired.

The truce officially expired at 7am local time (5am GMT), but the IDF claimed that Hamas 'violated' the ceasefire early and launched rockets on Israel in the early hours, with footage shared to social media appearing to show attacks on the city of Sderot close to the border with Gaza.

Just under an hour before the ceasefire officially expired, the IDF claimed it had 'intercepted' another attack, adding that a 'number' of rockets had been fired by Hamas before the truce ended.

The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza said 14 people had been killed in the first two hours after fighting resumed. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, there were '14 dead and dozens injured, most of them women and children'.

Though the seven-day truce offered a welcome reprieve from bloodshed and saw Hamas release dozens of Israeli and foreign hostages, dozens more remain trapped inside Gaza as fighting resumed this morning.

Smoke rises from buildings due to Israeli airstrikes after the humanitarian pause ended on December 01, 2023 in Rafah, Gaza

Palestinians carry wounded children following an Israeli strike on a house, after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip December 1, 2023

A woman holding a child mourns her baby girl killed in an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, as she waits to receive the body for burial in the courtyard of the al-Najjar hospital on December 1, 2023

An injured Palestinian child is taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital to receive treatment after Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on December 01, 2023

Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023, after battles resumed between Israel and the Hamas movement

Palestinians evacuate wounded in Israeli bombardment Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023

Dead Palestinian bodies are brought to the Nasser hospital after an Israeli attack at the end of the week-long 'humanitarian pause' in Khan Yunis, Gaza

Palestinians begin to migrate to areas in the central part of the city due to Israeli attacks following the end of the week-long humanitarian pause in Khan Yunis, Gaza on December 01, 2023

A Palestinian youth carries a badly wounded child as poeple rush out of a bombarded area in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023

Residents and personnel conduct search and rescue works continue in the rubble of the destroyed building after the end of the week-long 'humanitarian pause' in Rafah, Gaza on December 01, 2023

Despite the fresh violence, Qatari and Egyptian mediators are still negotiating a new extension of the seven-day truce.

In a statement this morning, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its 'deep regret at the resumption of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip following the end of the humanitarian pause' but confirmed that negotiations between the two sides 'are continuing with the aim of returning to a pause'.

Hamas last night released another round of hostages hours before the resumption of hostilities.

The freed hostages were named as Nili Margalit, 41, Sapir Cohen, 29, Shani Goren, 29, Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, Aisaha Ziadana, 17, and her brother Bilal, 18.

Ziadana's father Yousef and eldest brother Hamza remain in captivity.

The IDF last night confirmed the six Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross.

An IDF statement said: 'According to the information provided by the Red Cross, six Israeli abductees were transferred to them and are on their way to Israel.'

Those hostages were freed hours after Mia Schem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40 were released by Hamas earlier Thursday.

This picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke rising from buildings still after being hit by Israeli strikes in the battles between Israel and Hamas militants, on December 1, 2023

Israel resumed its bombing campaign of Gaza this morning as the week-long truce ended

It was reported that there were dead and wounded as a result of the Israeli army's attack on a building in Rafah in south Gaza

Israeli forces take a Palestinian into custody as they intervene in Palestinians gathering at Wadi al-Joz neighborhood to perform Friday prayer in East Jerusalem on December 01, 2023

This picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke rising from buildings after being hit by Israeli strikes, as battles resume between Israel and Hamas militants, on December 1, 2023

Within minutes of announcing the resumption of the conflict, Israeli air raids struck the Palestinian city of Rahaf in the southern Gaza Strip

Palestinians inspect the quick destruction of a residential building in Rafah, as the city was shelled almost as soon as Israel announced the ceasefire had been 'violated'

Another 30 Palestinians will be released in exchange for 10 hostages in Gaza, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said.

Meanwhile, IDF officials said Hamas' claims that ten-month-old Kfir Bibas, his brother Ariel and mother Shiri were killed in an airstrike remain unverified.

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'Hamas' claims about the Bibas family are still unverified. The published documentation is psychological terrorism.'

Within minutes of announcing the resumption of military action in Gaza, Israeli forces bombarded the northwest with rocket fire, and aircraft were seen circling the skies overhead, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Interior in Gaza.

The dramatic re-escalation of the conflict saw strikes land in the southern Gaza regions of Khan Younis and Rafah.

Reports indicate tanks have been swiftly positioned to the area, and in a tweet half an hour after the relaunch, the IDF said it had deployed 'warplanes' focused on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas 'didn't respect its obligation to release today all the abducted women and launched rockets toward the citizens of Israel.'

He insisted that because the conflict is now back on, the 'government of Israel is obliged to accomplish the targets of the fighting', which he claimed was to 'release the hostages' and 'to liquidate Hamas.'

A handout picture provided by Israel's Government Press Office (GPO), shows former Franco-Israeli hostage Mia Schem (L) with her mother and brother upon arrival at the Hatzerim air base following her release by the Palestinian Hamas group on November 30, 2023

Hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel sit inside a vehicle after a helicopter carried them to Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, Israel, December 1, 2023

A helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, Israel, December 1, 2023

People react as a bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners from the Ofer Israeli military prison arrives in Ramallah, West Bank, 01 December 2023

A Palestinian prisoner hugs his mother as she reacts after he was released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, December 1, 2023

Smoke rises over the Gaza Strip after being hit by Israeli air raids, seen from southern Israel which the IDF claimed had been struck by Hamas terrorists before the ceasefire was over

An IDF soldier patrols a combat area as the ceasefire with Gaza came to a close

A house left in ruins after an attack by Hamas militants on a kibbutz near the border with Gaza on October 10

Israeli soldiers are seen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Nov. 29, 2023

Hours before the ceasefire officially ended at 7am Friday morning in the war-torn region, footage purported to show rocket sirens sounding near the Israel-Palestine border for the first time in a week.

According to footage posted on social media by a reporter from Yeshiva World News, a Jewish outlet, sirens could be heard in Sderot followed by sounds of a large explosion.

Further surveillance video also appeared to show a rocket launch towards Sderot intercepted by the Iron Dome. It is unclear if reports of a blast in Sderot are the same incident the Israeli military claimed it had 'intercepted.'

Reports of Telegram communications from the Shehab News Agency, considered tied to Hamas, had also claimed gunfire and several explosions struck northern Gaza earlier on Friday.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Virtually all of those freed were women and children, but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza complicated reaching a deal for a further extension.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had also been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers. About 140 hostages remain in Gaza, with more than 100 having been freed as part of the truce.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt had sought to prolong the truce by another two days.

The deal ended after a week and multiple extensions, despite international pressure for the truce to be upheld as long as possible.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry statement said: 'The continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in the first hours after the end of the pause complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and in this context calls on the international community to move quickly to stop the violence.'

Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gaza's population of 2.3 million uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed - 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.

Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed, mostly during Hamas' deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.
A man who suffered serious problems from an upset stomach on holiday in Turkey has won a Supreme Court battle for compensation after a decade-long fight with travel firm Tui.

Peter Griffiths, 61, says he became unwell while staying at Aqua Fantasy Aquapark Hotel in Izmir with his wife and son in 2014.

Mr Griffiths was previously handed a 29,000 payout in 2020 but this was overturned by the Court of Appeal the following year, which found against his claim that his illness was caused by eating at the all-inclusive hotel.

IT consultant Mr Griffiths took his case to the Supreme Court and five judges have now ruled in favour, after stating that he did not have a fair hearing.

The judges indicated, at an earlier stage, that any compensation awarded would be about 30,000.

Mr Griffiths, of Fleet, Hampshire, said: I am delighted, but also very relieved, that the Supreme Court has ruled in my favour.

Peter Griffiths, 61, has won a compensation battle with travel firm Tui after he suffered long-term problems from an upset stomach while on holiday in Turkey

Mr Griffiths became ill while staying at Aqua Fantasy Aquapark Hotel in Izmir with his wife and son in 2014

Tui argued against Mr Griffiths' claim that his illness was caused as a result of eating at the all-inclusive hotel

Following so many years of litigation, my case has taken a toll on my family and I, but I now feel vindicated that justice has been served by the highest court in the land, allowing us to move on with our lives.

Justices Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Briggs, Lord Burrows and Lord Stephens had considered arguments at a Supreme Court hearing in London.

They upheld the challenge to a ruling by Court of Appeal judges on Wednesday.

Lord Hodge explained, in a written Supreme Court judgment, how the dispute centred on a report by the medical expert.

Lord Hodge said the expert had opined that, on the balance of probabilities, the food or drink served at the hotel was the cause of Mr Griffiths stomach upset.

Tui had not required the expert to attend a county court trial for cross-examination.

But lawyers representing Tui had persuaded the trial judge that deficiencies in the experts report meant that Mr Griffiths had failed to prove his case.

The appeal raises a question of the fairness of the trial, said Lord Hodge.

The question is whether the trial judge was entitled to find that the claimant had not proved his case when the claimants expert had given uncontroverted evidence as to the cause of the illness.

He concluded that Mr Griffiths had not had a fair trial - and the four other justices agreed.

This map shows the location of the Aqua Fantasy Aquapark Hotel and Spa in Izmir, Turkey

He said he took all of his meals at the hotel, which boasts six restaurants (one pictured) and nine bars along with a huge water park

Both the trial judge and the majority of the Court of Appeal erred in law in a significant way, added Lord Hodge.

The trial judge did not consider the effect on the fairness of the trial of Tuis failure to cross-examine (the expert).

Lord Hodge added: In my view... Mr Griffiths did not have a fair trial.

Lawyer Jatinder Paul, who represented Mr Griffiths and is based at law firm Irwin Mitchell, said after the ruling: Its been tough for Peter since 2014, dealing with the ongoing effects of his illness while also dealing with a David v Goliath legal battle against a tour operator with very deep pockets.

He added: Following years of litigation, and numerous legal challenges, were delighted that the Supreme Court has now ruled that Peter did not receive a fair trial.
Train drivers have voted overwhelmingly to continue taking strike action for the next six months in their long-running dispute over pay, the Aslef union confirmed today.

Workers backed more industrial action after being reballoted, well over a year since the dispute began.

The announcement comes ahead of expected disruption for passengers from today and over the next week because of the union's strikes and an overtime ban.

Members of Aslef at 16 train companies will refuse to work overtime from today until December 9 and will stage a series of strikes between tomorrow and December 8.

Operators said they will operate as many trains as possible but there will be wide regional variations, with some operators running no services at all on strike days.

Services that are running will start later and finish much earlier than usual - typically running between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

It is likely that services on some lines will be affected on the evening before and morning after each strike between December 2 and 8 because much of the rolling stock will not be in the right depots.

Full list of train strikes in December 2023 Saturday, December 2 East Midlands Railway

LNER Sunday, December 3 Avanti West Coast

Chiltern Railways

Great Northern

London Northwestern Railway

Thameslink

West Midlands Railway Monday, December 4 No strikes Tuesday, December 5 c2c

Greater Anglia

Stansted Express Wednesday, December 6 Gatwick Express

South Western Railway

Southeastern

Southern Thursday, December 7 CrossCountry

Great Western Railway

Heathrow Express Friday, December 8 Northern

TransPennine Express Advertisement

Unions involved in disputes have to reballot their members every six months to ask if they want to continue taking industrial action.

Aslef (the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) members at 12 train operators in England were reballoted, each returning huge votes in favour on high turnouts.

Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said the union was 'in this for the long haul', adding: 'Our members, who have not had a pay rise for nearly five years now, are determined that the train companies, and the Tory Government that stands behind them, do the right thing.

'The cost of living has soared since the spring and summer of 2019, when these pay deals ran out. The bosses at the train companies, as well as Tory MPs and Government ministers, have had increases in pay.

'It's unrealistic and unfair to expect our members to work just as hard for what, in real terms, is considerably less.

'Train drivers are fed up and frustrated that their employers failed to negotiate in good faith, making a proposal through the Rail Delivery Group which they knew - because we had told them  would be turned down and then to blame drivers for the train companies' inability to manage services and the rail industry effectively.

'Aslef members, key workers who kept our country moving through the pandemic, are simply asking for a fair and decent deal.

'We haven't had a meeting with Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, since December 2022. We haven't had a meeting with Huw Merriman, the rail minister, since January, and we haven't heard from the employers, the private sector train operating companies for whom we work, since April.

'We have always said that we are prepared to come to the table but the Government and train companies need to understand that this dispute won't be resolved by trying to bully our members into accepting worse terms and conditions of employment.

'Looking at the resolve of our members as shown by all the branch meetings I have attended and these new ballot results - and the solidarity they have shown on the picket line since the first ballots went out in June 2022 - we are calling on the Government to let the companies come back to the table and make our members a sensible offer, with no strings attached, to reflect the increase in the cost of living.'

Members of Aslef have voted overwhelmingly to continue strike action for the next six months

Mr Whelan said that Aslef members remained solidly behind the campaign of industrial action after not having had a pay rise for almost five years.

Aslef said the rolling programme of one-day strikes and overtime ban was designed to 'ratchet up the pressure' on the train operators (TOCs) and the Government.

'We are determined to win this dispute and get a significant pay rise for train drivers who have not had an increase since 2019 while the cost of living, in that time, has soared.

'Our strikes have forced TOCs to cancel services and the ban on overtime has seriously disrupted the network as none of the train companies employs enough drivers to provide a proper service - the service they have promised passengers and businesses they will deliver - without asking drivers to work their rest days.'

Aslef members will strike at East Midlands Railway and LNER on Saturday December 2; at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, Great Northern Thameslink, and West Midlands Trains on Sunday December 3; at C2C and Greater Anglia on Tuesday December 5; at Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway and Island Line on Wednesday December 6; at CrossCountry and Great Western Railway on Thursday December 7 and at Northern and TransPennine on Friday December 8.

READ MORE Train strikes December 2023: Full list of dates as Aslef announce next round of cancellations and travel disruption Advertisement

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: 'This unnecessary and avoidable industrial action called by the Aslef leadership has been targeted to disrupt customers and businesses ahead of the vital festive period, where people will be attending events and catching up with friends and loved ones.

'It will also inflict further damage on an industry that is receiving up to an additional 175 million a month in taxpayer cash to keep services running, following the Covid downturn.

'The Aslef leadership are blocking a fair and affordable offer made by industry in the spring which would take average driver base salaries for a four-day week from 60,000 to nearly 65,000. We urge them to put it to its members, give Christmas back to our customers, and end this damaging industrial dispute.'

It comes despite members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union voting this week to accept a deal to end their long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls has warned that the latest Aslef strikes could cost the industry up to 800million - and the industrial action has already cost hospitality businesses more than 3billion.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: 'Strikes called by the Aslef leadership continue to result in huge disruption for our customers, staff and the hospitality industry.

'It is disappointing that after the rolling strikes and overtime ban which start today there could be more strikes in 2024.

'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 54 million a week to keep services running post covid.

'We have always been clear that we remain open to constructive dialogue with Aslef to find a resolution, and that is still the case.'
Richard Madeley today revealed his iPhone was stolen at his local pub - as he called for the thief to be hanged.

The Good Morning Britain host said the theft, carried out by someone trying to sell him a magazine, left him feeling like his right arm had been 'chopped off'.

Madeley, 67, explained how the thief cleverly placed the product on top of his mobile before sweeping it away undetected.

The furious TV presenter claimed in The Spectator that he wanted to see the perpetrator 'hanged'.

'I've always been against capital punishment but after the week I've had I'm making an exception,' he wrote.

Richard Madeley said his iPhone was stolen at his local pub in a 'bog-standard' technique

Detailing the incident, Madeley added: 'I was in my local when a weird-looking guy shambling around the bar slammed a dog-eared magazine down on my table and demanded I buy it.

'When I refused he swept it back again and wandered off. Five minutes later I realised he'd smuggled my phone away underneath the magazine.'

The star bemoaned the loss of his phone, which he said resulted in him being without his photos, email, the ability to pay for parking and personal banking.

Describing the technique as 'bog-standard', he issued a warning to readers before reiterating his desire to see the thief hanged, adding that he would like to be the one to 'pull the trapdoor leaver'.
Neil Mitchell signs off for the last time

A legendary talkback host has promised his loyal listeners it won't be the last they'll see or hear from as he departed morning radio.

Neil Mitchell signed off for 3AW the last time on Friday after 36 years, 34 of which spent as the host of the station's morning timeslot.

The Melbourne broadcaster didn't finish up quietly on his last day after clashing with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a fiery interview.

A nostalgic Mitchell used his final 60 seconds on air to thank his family, staff, and his audience for making his time on the air a 'privilege' and said that he found the most pleasure in his work when he could help people.

The mulit-winning award journalist will now go on to host his own podcast and said that he plans on making routine appearances on TV and radio in the not-too-distant future.

Neil Mitchell has signed off for the last time after 36 years on the air, 34 of which he spent as the host of 3AW's morning timeslot

Mr Mitchell said that his time at 3AW had seen its fair share of ups and downs and that he would hate to work for himself but that it was the highlight of his life.

'It's been a bit of fun at times, been sad at times, it's been difficult, but there's one thing that's always driving me: it's you, the audience,' he said.

'I'm not comfortable with fame, I'm not comfortable with praise [but] my trip has been overwhelmingly positive and we achieved a lot, we got some answers.

'And I got banned by a brace of politicians on both sides, and that shows how weak they are if they couldn't handle me.'

The controversial broadcaster paid special tribute to his wife, who quit working to look after their two children, Kel and Cam so that he could focus on his career.

The iconic broadcaster spent 36 years at 3AW. He's pictured in his early days at the station

READ MORE: Drive's Tom Elliott slated to replace Neil Mitchell Advertisement

Mitchell also discussed his ethos as a journalist and took pride in the fact that he never sold out or recorded advertisements for a quick paycheck.

'That's always been my journalistic philosophy: You don't have a microphone or a camera or a newspaper for your own self-indulgence, you have access to an audience because you work for that audience.

'You represent them, you give them a voice, you give them answers when they deserve them.

'Unless it's Victoria and you get banned, you give them a chance to be part of a wider process.'

He also retold the tale of how he famously campaigned the Victorian government to refund $26 million in dodgy speeding fines after he exposed a slew of faulty speeding cameras in Victoria.

'We fixed problems for people that didn't have a voice,' he said.

'I'm delighted with the time I've had, you really have given me 36 years of a life that I could not have expected in my wildest dreams, so like me or loathe me, thank you for listening.

'Thank you for talking, thank you for caring, thank you for trusting, thank you for having a go and helping us to have a go, thank you for being there. Take care.'

It won't be the last time we'll see or see from Neil Mitchell, the iconic broadcaster promised

Mitchell announced his retirement on September 1 which set off a major reshuffle in the broadcast booths.

Drive host Tom Elliott will replace Mitchell in the breakfast timeslot in 2024.

'It's (been) a great privilege. I've been there forever,' Mitchell told the Today show shortly before before his last show on air.

'But I'm a bit bemused by the amount of attention quite seriously. I'm never comfortable with it. I've done TV, radio and newspaper interviews and I am just a bloke who has a microphone.

'There is nothing special about any of us. The power of us is the microphone. I'm bemused and embarrassed by it but comfortable with what I'm doing next.'

Mitchell spent his final day on the 3AW airwaves boldly pushing back on a testy Mr Albanese who refused to apologise on behalf of two of his top ministers who accused Mr Dutton of 'protecting peadophiles'.

Neil Mitchell (pictured) didnt go easy on the Prime Minister on his final day on air

Embattled Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil in parliament this week tried to lay blame on Mr Dutton, her Liberal predecessor in the job, over the government's asylum seeker debacle claiming the 'mess' originated under him.

Ms O'Neil claimed Mr Dutton had voted to protect paedophiles over children and Minister for Sport Anika Wells repeated the claim on morning TV the following day.

Mr Dutton, a former Queensland Police detective, said it showed the government was getting desperate, adding that he had 'arrested sex offenders before'.

When grilled by Mitchell, Mr Albanese refused to apologise to Mr Dutton sparking a heated clash.

'Neil, this opposition leader has a record - and go back and look at the front page stories accusing us of a range of things - it is Peter Dutton,' Mr Albanese said.

'But you've said you are better than that,' Mitchell interjected.

'That's right,' Mr Albanese said.

'Is there an apology there?' Mitchell asked.

'Well I. Hang on. Hang on. Ask me about things I've done, and I'll be happy to be accountable for them,' Mr Albanese replied.

'I stand by the fact that my ministers have been doing everything they can to protect community safety. And Peter Dutton from day one has been focused on just politics,' Mr Albanese said.

'You can solve it all here just by making that point and apologising,' Mitchell it back.
An enormous turbine blade has been pictured making its way through the Scottish Borders en route to a wind farm.

The propeller, which measures a huge 212ft (64.8m) in length, was seen being slowly transported along a road near Hawick.

It is the fourth of some 21 blades being moved to the new Pines Burn Wind Farm, with a further 21 tower sections - measuring between 21m and 37.4m - also due to be delivered.

Pictures show the blade being driven past fields dusted with snow, and transport chiefs say bad weather has been hampering its planned movements.

The convoy was unable to make it to the site as a result of the conditions and will remain on the A6088 layby over the weekend, the Border Telegraph reports.

An enormous turbine blade has been pictured making its way through the Scottish Borders en route to a wind farm

The propeller, which measures a huge 212ft (64.8m) in length, was seen being slowly transported along a road near Hawick

Its next movement will be on Tuesday, with an announcement on specific timings to be made in due course.
Esther McVey has been forced to defend her appointment as 'Minister for Common Sense' after her new job role was mocked on the BBC's Question Time.

The Tory MP was drafted back into the Cabinet last month as part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's reshuffle.

She was officially appointed as a 'Minister without Portfolio' in the Cabinet Office.

But No10 sources suggested the 56-year-old Liverpudlian would likely be known as 'common sense minister' and would 'stand up for working people'.

The Tatton MP is also expected to focus on combating Whitehall 'wokery' in her new job.

Appearing on Question Time, Ms McVey was quizzed by host Fiona Bruce as to whether her role suggested other Cabinet ministers 'don't have enough common sense'.

Esther McVey was forced to defend her appointment as 'Minister for Common Sense' after her new job role was mocked on the BBC's Question Time.

Ms McVey was quizzed by host Fiona Bruce as to whether her role suggested other Cabinet ministers 'don't have enough common sense'

The exchange was prompted by a question from an audience member who asked: 'I just wondered whether it tells us something that the Tory party need a Minister for Common Sense?'

'It seems in the media I was dubbed the 'Minister for Common Sense',' Ms McVey replied, after enduring widespread laughter at the question.

She also described how her role 'is about scrutiny, it is about oversight, it is making sure there is delivery for money'.

The Cabinet minister noted how Ken Clarke and Peter Mandelson had both been ministers without portfolio in past governments.

But, pressed as to whether it was 'inaccurate' to describe her as 'Minister for Common Sense', Ms McVey dodged the question.

She pointed to Mr Sunak's watering down of Britain's Net Zero commitments, and the PM's scrapping of the HS2 rail line - with the cash diverted to local transport projects instead - as examples of 'common sense'.

Prompting further laughter from the audience, she was then asked: 'Now you are Minister for Common Sense, is that suggesting the ministers that are already doing their jobs in the various parts of Cabinet, they don't have enough common sense?

'So you've got to come in and display more common sense? Literally how does it work?'

'They do have common sense, absolutely,' Ms McVey replied.

Bruce then interjected: 'But not quite enough?', to which McVey added: 'It is bringing in a scrutiny.'

'Peter Mandelson held the role for Labour. You had Ken Clarke.'

She continued: 'Do politicians listen to what people need? Are they looking at those Net Zero targets?

'Actually, should we have delayed them because the infrastructure wasn't there? People would have been pushed into poverty.

'It is working on behalf of the people to bring pragmatism into politics.'

The comedian Zoe Lyons, also appearing on the Question Time panel, suggested it was 'irksome' to have a 'Minister of Common Sense'.

'All I can imagine in my head is that your office is next to the minister for funny walks. It's on that sort of level,' she added.

Ms McVey was drafted back into the Cabinet last month as part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's reshuffle

Ms McVey ran to be Tory leader in 2019, after Theresa May announced her resignation as PM, as part of a Blue Collar Conservatives campaign

The ex-GMTV star, who married fellow Tory MP Philip Davies in 2020, has given up her job as a part-time presenter on GB News to take on her new ministerial role

Mr Sunak's move to reappoint Ms McVey to Cabinet last month was widely seen as the PM offering an olive branch to the Tory Right, after he angered many of MPs by sacking Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.

Ms McVey, who married fellow Tory MP Philip Davies in 2020, has given up her job as a part-time presenter on GB News to take on her new ministerial role.

The ex-GMTV star has held a series of ministerial positions - including Work and Pensions Secretary under Theresa May - since becoming an MP and also served under previous PMs David Cameron and Boris Johnson.

She ran to be Tory leader in 2019, after Mrs May announced her resignation as PM, as part of a Blue Collar Conservatives campaign.

But Ms McVey failed to make it past the first round of voting among Tory MPs.

She revived her hopes of top office in July last year, when she endorsed Jeremy Hunt in the contest to replace Mr Johnson as PM.

Ms McVey was Mr Hunt's candidate for deputy PM, but he was defeated in the first round of parliamentary voting.

The Cabinet Office lists Ms McVey's current responsibilities as 'ensuring effective communication of Government priorities'.

She is also expected to support Oliver Dowden, the Deputy PM, on 'driving delivery of Government priorities' and 'ensuring efficiency and value for money in Government policy'.
Around 160 exotic animals including snakes, spiders and turtles were seized at a Peruvian airport.

The animals were confiscated at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima.

They were found in the luggage of a passenger travelling from Miami to an unspecified Asian country, the Peruvian National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) said.

Peruvian authorities found the animals in appalling conditions, almost suffocated, as they were stashed inside medicine bottles, in plastic boxes of tools and bolts, and even wrapped with cotton inside straws.

This undated handout picture released by SERFOR shows a frog after being seized from a passanger at the Lima International airport in Lima

Several animals were internally protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora including the map turtle (pictured)

A Jackson chameleon that was found among the luggage that the passenger was trying to smuggle

There were also a variety of snakes with 29 corn snakes found inside a container of infant formula and 14 Cranwell's frogs

The animals were found inside two suitcases, in the hold and carry-on luggage, of a Peruvian-American passenger on November 17.

It is understood that the passenger intended to illegally enter and later traffic the animals in Asia.

SERFOR and officers from the Technical Forestry and Wildlife Administration (ATFFS) of Lima found tarantulas of various species coming from Africa, Panama and Brazil.

There were also a variety of snakes with 29 corn snakes found inside a container of infant formula and 14 Cranwell's frogs.

But there were also at least 15 specimens of internationally protected species such as the savannah monitor, Jackson's chameleon and the map turtle.

But because of the poor conditions they travelled in, as well as the lack of food, four animals were sadly found dead

It is understood that the passenger intended to illegally enter and later traffic the animals in Asia

Peruvian authorities found the animals in appalling conditions, almost suffocated, as they were stashed inside medicine bottles, in plastic boxes of tools and bolts, and even wrapped with cotton inside straws

The animals were transferred to two specialised centres in Lima and they were quarantined under specialised care

This shipment of animals would have a value of tens of thousands of dollars and would have been sold on the black market

The animals were transferred to two specialised centres in Lima and they were quarantined under specialised care.

But because of the poor conditions they travelled in, as well as the lack of food, four animals were sadly found dead.

This shipment of animals would have a value of tens of thousands of dollars and would have been sold on the black market.

It is estimated that the illicit trafficking of exotic animals makes 20billion a year worldwide.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), illegal wildlife trafficking is classified as one of the largest and most lucrative transnational organised crime activities in the world, along with drug trafficking, human trafficking and arms trafficking.
Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror after a columnist slammed the tycoon for championing Brexit and then moving his global head office to Singapore.

The inventor, 76, gave evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice over two days in a trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over an article published in January 2022.

In the piece, journalist Brian Reade referred to the engineer as 'the vacuum-cleaner tycoon who championed Vote Leave due to the economic opportunities it would bring to British industry before moving his global head office to Singapore'.

Mr Reade continued: 'Kids, talk the talk but then screw your country and if anyone complains, tell them to suck it up.'

Sir James brought the High Court claim against MGN, describing the allegations in the article as a 'vicious and vitriolic' personal attack.

Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror after a columnist slammed the tycoon for championing Brexit and then moving his global head office to Singapore

The inventor, 76, gave evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice over two days in a trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over an article published in January 2022

In the piece, journalist Brian Reade referred to the engineer (pictured in a court sketch) as 'the vacuum-cleaner tycoon who championed Vote Leave due to the economic opportunities it would bring to British industry before moving his global head office to Singapore'

But in a ruling this morning, Mr Justice Jay dismissed the inventor's claim.

He said: 'In the present case the Claimant cannot demonstrate that he has suffered financial loss as a result of these publications. Nor can he show that his philanthropic work, particularly directed to young people and schools, has been harmed in any way.'

During the trial, Justin Rushbrooke KC, for Sir James, said in written submissions that the articles, both in print and online, 'constituted a serious and unjustified slur on Sir James's reputation, business and personal'.

However, MGN defended the claim, including by arguing that Mr Reade's article was 'honest opinion'.

Adrienne Page KC, for MGN, said the words in the article were 'substantially correct' and that Sir James could not dictate how the commentator posed them.

Following the ruling in its favour, a Mirror Group Newspapers spokesperson said: 'We welcome today's judgment which upholds the rights of our columnists to share honestly held opinions, even about powerful or wealthy individuals.'

Following the ruling, a Dyson spokesperson said: 'The facts are that Dyson is a highly successful global technology company which employs 3,700 people in the UK, paid more UK Corporation Tax after 2019 than before, continues to invest vast sums in the UK, files more patents than any other company, and in 2017 founded a university in Malmesbury which has educated hundreds of undergraduates who pay no tuition fees while earning a salary and even paying tax.'
Jennifer Kohl, 27, died in December 2017

A German backpacker who died after a lawnmower crash at a Queensland avocado farm was on a 'romantic outing' outside designated work areas, a coroner has found.

Jennifer Kohl, 27, arrived in Australia in February 2017 on a working holiday with her 27-year-old boyfriend Paul Tunik.

The couple of seven years had been working on the farm at Tamborine Mountain, about 20km north-west of the Gold Coast, for two or three weeks prior to Ms Kohl's death in December 2017.

Coroner Carol Lee handed down her findings on Friday at Southport Magistrates Court following a two-day inquest in May 2023.

Ms Lee found the farm could not have foreseen that Mr Tunik would depart from instructions and drive the mower through an steep and overgrown area.

'Mr Tunik and Ms Kohl had completed (work) on the day of the accident and had engaged in sexual intercourse in a disused and out of sight part of the property, on a joyride pretending the property was theirs,' Ms Lee said.

At 8am on December 8, 2017, the couple started work on the 10-acre farm and were tasked with picking four crates of avocados over a couple of hours.

The job involved driving a large John Deere X595 four-wheel-drive ride-on mower with a homemade trailer to the orchard, loading it and driving back to the packing shed.

Ms Kohl's mother travelled to Australia for her daughter's inquest

At about 11am that morning Mr Tunik was driving the mower while Ms Kohl was sitting on the wheel arch.

Mr Tunik drove the mower down a steep hill and to slow down he turned sharply, causing it to roll and entrap Ms Kohl underneath, the coroner found.

After regaining consciousness, Mr Tunik unsuccessfully tried to move the mower off Ms Kohl and called triple-zero at 11:20am.

There was a delay in emergency services attending the scene in part due to Mr Tunik's limited English.

Mr Tunik flagged down passing cars but even with the help of three bystanders Ms Kohl could not be freed.

Paramedics arrived at 11.52am and extracted Ms Kohl but she could not be revived.

An autopsy later showed Ms Kohl died from traumatic asphyxia.

Ms Lee on Friday found the farm's co-owners, Kathryn Singleton and Kenneth Jacobi, had provided sufficient instruction and supervision of two adults for using the mower and trailer in designated areas.

Mr Tunik had given evidence about the 'romantic nature of the outing' and Ms Lee said the couple did not have any fruit picking equipment with them at the time of the crash.

Ms Lee recommended that the Department of Home Affairs set up a 'one stop shop' website for holiday workers to advise them of workplace health and safety as well as their statutory rights in Australia.

Ms Lee expressed her sincere condolences to Ms Kohl's family over the tragic accident.

'Her death has had an impact on many people, in particular her mother who travelled from Germany for the inquest,' Ms Lee said.
A hero civilian who tackled two Hamas terrorists at a bus stop in Jerusalem has died from his injuries after being mistakenly shot by IDF reservists on November 30.

Yuval Doron Kestelman, should have been celebrating his 38th birthday on Friday but died overnight in hospital from his injuries.

Traffic cameras caught the dramatic moment he leapt over a central reservation and fired on two Hamas attackers as they opened fire in a spree that left four dead, including a pregnant teacher.

Eight people were also wounded in the shooting carried out by two terrorist brothers in Jerusalem.

The clip shows how Yuval, who as a former soldier was allowed to carry a gun, ran towards the pair firing at them as they attacked commuters in East Jerusalem on Thursday.

He is then seen frantically pulling open his shirt and falling to his knees as bullets ping around him before the footage suddenly stops.

Further pictures from the scene later show him lying on the floor motionless as paramedics raced to the scene.

Civilian Yuval Doron Kestelman, who tackled two Hamas gunmen at a bus stop in Jerusalem, has died from his injuries after being mistakenly shot by IDF reservists. Video shows him in the middle of the road pleading with them not to shoot. He is then gunned down by the reservists after his heroic display against the terrorists

Yuval Doron Kestelman (pictured) was mistakenly shot by the IDF who mistook him for a terrorist

The gunmen can be seen running towards the crowd at the bus stop in Jerusalem before the shooting

People fled from the bus stop as the gunmen fired indiscriminately into the crowd. Civilian Yuval Doron Kestelman is shown running across the road towards the pair firing at them as they attacked commuters on Thursday

Israeli officials work at the scene of a violent incident in Jerusalem November 30, 2023

Israeli armed police stand guard at the scene of a violent incident in Jerusalem November 30, 2023

A family member told Israeli media: 'Yuval noticed the attack from the opposite side of the road as he was driving to work at the government complex, and stopped his car to neutralize the terrorists.

'He served in the security forces in the past, and was always a hero, and the first to jump in and save lives, just like this time.'

Officials said two reservists had seen what was happening and rushed to the scene and mistakenly fired thinking he was a terrorist.

Local media identified the victims as student teacher Livya Dickman, 24, who had recently got married and was said to be pregnant, teacher Hanna Ifergan, 67 and rabbi Elimelech Wasserman.

Terrified onlookers dived for cover as brothers Murad and Ebrahim Nemer, aged 38 and 30, leapt out of a car at a bus stop in East Jerusalem just after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was extended for another day.

Superintendent Doron Turgeman, commander of the Jerusalem police district where the shooting took place said: 'This incident involved two terrorists who shot civilians after arriving in a vehicle.

'One had an M16 machine gun and the other a pistol, they were both residents of East Jerusalem.

'A soldier and an armed civilian neutralized the terrorists.'

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon said: 'This is a very serious attack. I offer my condolences to the families of the dead and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.

'The quick response of the citizen and the soldier who arrived at the scene prevented a much greater disaster.

'I have ordered the increase of the police presence in the city to ensure a sense of security among the residents.'

Israeli TV broadcast Livya's funeral on TV a few hours later and hundreds had gathered to pay their respects.,

Among them was her husband Meir who said: 'You were so righteous and pure, you only wanted to do good.'

Officials said both of the men were Hamas operatives and had served time in prison during the last few years.

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

The weapons used in the shooting are seen in this image provided by Israeli police

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

Israeli police later raided the homes of the two men in east Jerusalem and took away members of their families for questioning.

Eight injured were taken to hospital with an ambulance spokesperson telling the Mail that 'two, a male and female in their 60s, were in a critical condition'.

Several other people were treated at the scene for panic attacks and in a statement Hamas claimed responsibility for the attacks and called the brothers 'jihad-waging martyrs'.
Tourists and native New Yorkers can reach new heights for a limited time on an all-new ride called The Beam.

Located in Rockefeller Center, The Beam Experience opened today for visitors looking to recreate an iconic New York photo of 11 ironworkers taken 91 years ago at the same building.

The 1932 black and white picture shows all the men sitting on a steel beam during their lunch break 69 stories high with a spectacular view of Central Park in the background.

The lucky visitors who try this new ride at the Top of the Rock are guaranteed a picture while sitting on a steel beam that raises them 12 feet above the Observation Deck.

Individuals looking to ride on The Beam can do so now until January 31 by purchasing tickets online starting at $34 per person.

The Beam opened to the public today at the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center and will will run now until January 31

The Beam is inspired by legendary photograph called Lunch Atop a Skyscraper, which was taken in 1932 at the same building

Tishman Speyer Properties first proposed The Beam ride idea in 2021 as a way to re-create the famous photograph formally named Lunch Atop a Skyscraper.

Directing Rockefeller Center's redevelopment since 1996, the company suggested the ride be a rotating beam safe for riders looking for a great photo opportunity in New York City.

Tishman Speyer managing director EB Kelly discussed the proposal at a 2021 August Manhattan Community Board 5 meeting with hopes to implement The Beam and other ideas the company had to enhance 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

'We're looking to tell the story of Rockefeller Center in a new way that will bring people back to discover what Rockefeller Center symbolizes,' she said at the meeting via New York Post.

She continued by saying Rockefeller Center represents 'a beacon in the city, a place with incredible history, a place that is of the city, and that provides this beautiful and unique perspective on this city.'

The photograph, published in October 1932 by The New York Herald-Tribune, is one of 'the most recognizable photos of the 20th century.'

Information about the photograph had been a mystery for several years, with people originally thinking it was near the Empire State Building and not Park Avenue

Some social media users on X (formerly Twitter) do not want to go on The Beam despite the ride being inspired by such an incredible photo.

In fact, many tweets have been from people who are absolutely terrified of the new ride.

'Nope! That afraid of heights thing kicks in just by looking at this,' one person tweeted.

Another person tweeted: 'No! Are they strapped onto the beam? I also would have to see all certificates and permits showing the ride is safe!!!'

'No, only because with my crap luck the beam I'm sitting on would start spinning out of control and throw me over the edge,' wrote another X user.

Social media users also remembered how they 'fainted on the deck' and another even tweeted that she 'hated it' and was 'crawling back to the nearest stairs in despair.'

Other X users thought the idea of the ride was cool, and one person even wrote that it was like 'something out of Super Mario.'

Social media users are excited and terrified of this new ride, many users thinking The Beam is not safe

A Beam Experience ticket guarantees a visitor time entry, worry-free weather, ticket rescheduling, and sunset access.

Most of the times available for people looking to ride The Beam go between 9:00 am and 11:10 pm.

The ride will be open for people hoping to get the excellent photo op on Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
An amber alert has been issued for a 10-month-old baby in Idaho who was allegedly abducted by his 'heavily armed and dangerous' murder suspect father.

The endangered child, Zeke Gregory Best, is thought to have been abducted by his dad Jeremy Albert Best, 48, who was last seen on Thursday night at around 11:40 pm.

Kali Jean Randall, 38, was the mother of the 10-month-old and married to the baby's father Jeremy Best, police told Dailymail.com.

She was found unresponsive in her home in the Idaho town, and her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Roughly 24 hours before the kidnapping - Best was allegedly had a run-in with law enforcement after he was seen walking through Swan Valley General Store completely naked.

A 10-month-old baby in Idaho was allegedly abducted by a murder suspect - who is also his father (Pictured: Zeke Gregory Best, 10-months-old)

Kali Jean Randall was found unresponsive in her home in the Idaho town, and her death is being investigated as a homicide

Kali Jean Randall, 38, was the mother of the 10-month-old and married to the baby's father Jeremy Best, police told Dailymail.com credit: Kali Randall on Facebook

The baby's father is thought to be 'heavily armed and dangerous'

Deputies from Bonneville County Sheriff's Office were called out after reports of the disturbance at the general store.

Best was reportedly evaluated by EMS and taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further psychological evaluation.

It's unclear when he was released - but the kidnapping occurred just hours after the initial incident.

An officer from the Teton Count Sherriff's office said there has been no update on the case - and that Best has not been seen since Thursday night.

Teton County Sheriff's Office said they received an open line 911 call from a residence at 4600 Skyline Loop in Victor, Idaho, at 11.39pm on November 30 - just before Best was last seen.

In a statement police said deputies were dispatched to respond to a disturbance heard over the line by the dispatcher. When they arrived they located a non-responsive female subject who was identified as Kali Jean Randall.

Her death is currently being investigated by the Sheriff's Office and the Idaho State Police as a homicide at the time, the statement added.

An amber alert for the couple's child was issued at 4:30am Friday morning.

Police said Best was last seen driving a Black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV with an Idaho license plate 1T39349.

Best is described as a 5'11 male weighing 245 pounds with brown/grey hair and green eyes.

His son Zeke is described as 1'00" weighing 20 pounds.

They warned the public not to approach the 'heavily armed' suspect and have asked anyone with information about the suspect, vehicle or endangered child is asked to call 208-354-2323 or 911 immediately.

Jeremy Albert Best, 48, is a suspect in the murder of Kali Jean Randall, 38

Police said Best was last seen driving a Black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV with an Idaho license plate 1T39349

An amber alert for the couple's child was issued at 4:30am Friday morning

Zeke was born at the end of January - according to Randell's social media

Best owns a local mechanic shop in Victor, Idaho, called Jeremy's Auto, and has been a mechanic for 20 years.

On his business website it says: 'Meet Jeremy Best, your local mechanic and new best friend'.

Jeremy said that when not repairing cars - he's 'soaking up the sun on his leisure boat' or 'cruising the backroads with his lady, Kali, and three dogs'.
A teacher has revealed the hidden costs she and her tens of thousands of colleagues are hit with every year just to allow them to do their work.

Teachers - whose starting salaries are around $75,000 - may have to occasionally shell out on stationery, but that's not the only cost they face.

Like some other industries, teachers have to pay yearly registration fees to allow them to work.

Some teaching graduates say this is unfair fresh out of university, where they may have undertaken unpaid or lower paid work placements during their training.

Nicola Markovic, a teacher in South Australia, said she was forced to cough up $465 before she was allowed into classrooms.

Nicola Markovic, a teacher in South Australia , said she was forced to cough up $465 before she was allowed into classrooms

'As someone who has just come off the back of four years of uni student wages, nearly $500 is a lot of money to me and it required a transfer out of my already dwindled savings account,' she told Yahoo News.

Ms Markovic had to pay for two years of registration - one to take her up to the renewal date of January 31 next year, and also for the year following that.

The $465 fees included $245 total for both years of registration, a $195 application fee and a $25 criminal background check.

'It seems as though it is designed to make people who earn the least amount of money, pay the most amount of money, in order to start earning money,' Ms Markovic said.

The Teachers Registration Board in South Australia receives no government funding and is paid for by registration fees.

Each state and territory has different fees for teachers, but they all charge something.

New South Wales has an annual fee of $100.

Queensland graduates must pay between $167.85 and $183.80 when they first sign up. After that, yearly renewals cost $100.70.

Victorian teachers pay $152.88 and then $114.40 going forwards when they renew.

In Western Australia, graduates pay a fee of between $140 and $178. After that they must pay two separate annual fees of $95 and $56.

Teachers in Tasmania pay an annual fee of $169.29.

The Northern Territory charges $101 a year, and graduates pay an extra $54 the first time around.

The Australian Capital Territory charges teachers $115 to renew their registration each year.

Teachers have to pay yearly registration fees to allow them to work (file picture)

There is a shortage of teachers across swathes of Australia and that is expected to worsen in years to come, with a decreasing number of people choosing to take education degrees.

In Victoria, more than 2,250 positions were being advertised on the state's Education Department's website earlier this year.

The Minister for Education Jason Clare told the Guardian earlier this year that in the past 10 years, the number of young people going into teaching had fallen by about 12%.

'Of those who do start a teaching degree, only 50% finish,' he said. 'And of those who finish it, 20% are leaving after less than three years.

'Teachers do one of the most important jobs in the world and we need more of them.'

In response to the drop in numbers of teachers, the federal government has rolled out its National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, which will provide $40,000 scholarships to 5,000 young people who want to become teachers.

Paramedics and nurses are among other professions who also have to pay an annual registration fee to work.
Stunned Pontins staff learned two of their sites were closing on FACEBOOK  at the same time the general public found out and almost two hours before the company officially informed them, MailOnline has been told.

The Official Pontins Holidays Facebook page released a statement on Thursday afternoon at about 4pm to let customers know it would be shutting its Prestatyn and Camber Sands locations 'with immediate effect,' but provided no reason.

This was the first that staff had heard about the closures, according to a Camber Sands worker.

Almost two hours later, at about 5.40pm, they then received a letter emailed from HR officially informing them of their fate, it is claimed, but at that point news of the closures was already 'viral'.

The worker explained that between 10-15 permanent workers at Camber Sands are being placed in a redundancy consultation period  and they have not been told how long this will last.

But the staff member says between 30-40 other Camber Sands workers have been given a letter saying 'your services are no longer required'.

The worker claims many of these people live on site and have done for years  but have been given until 5pm to pack up their belongings and leave, just weeks before Christmas.

And they said that yesterday's announcement came just weeks after managers at the East Sussex location were informed in a meeting there would be a 5million refurbishment of their site.

The Official Pontins Holiday's Facebook page released a statement on Thursday afternoon to let customers know it would be closing its Prestatyn and Camber Sands (pictured) locations with 'immediate effect.'

Prestatyn (pictured) has been closed, along with Camber Sands, with immediate effect

Pontins has not yet responded to requests for comment.

A worker, who has asked to remain anonymous, told MailOnline: 'The staff found out yesterday via Facebook when the company put it on their Facebook page. We were all working as normal.

'The company put it up on Facebook. Nobody had any idea.

'Two hours later we received an email from HR saying some of us will be made redundant. We have been told to wait to hear.

'A lot of people are being sacked on the spot. They are sacking people now.'

They added: 'This company is awful. It's the worst company to work for. They don't care about the staff at all.

'People have not just lost their job, they are having to move out of their accommodation with a day, and before Christmas.

'I have had two members of staff crying on my shoulder.'

Families with cancelled holidays have been left devastated after Pontins suddenly announced yesterday it would be closing down its Prestatyn and Camber Sands sites 'with immediate effect'

Pontins chalets in Prestatyn, Wales, pictured on April 16, 2016

The Pontins Holiday Camp at Prestatyn. Circa 1970. Families have been enjoying holidays there for many years

The worker said rumours were circulating that the site would be turned into a migrant camp. Similar rumours have been circulating online.

But the Home Office has since denied these rumours and said they do not know where the claims came from.

The Home Office told MailOnline they are not looking to use the Pontins sites as asylum seeker accommodation - insisting that there are no plans for that.

Customers have been promised refunds for cancelled trips - but there has so far been no public explanation as to why the sites have shut.

The post by Pontins on Facebook reads: 'We regret to inform you that our parks in Prestatyn and Camber Sands will be closing with immediate effect.

'Customers whose bookings will be affected by these closures will be contacted by our team and refunded. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

The parks are loved by families wanting an affordable getaway - as well as for hen and stag dos. Many have spoken of having 'happy memories' at the resorts and have described the move as 'so sad'.

Pontins is owned by Britannia Hotels, which earlier this year was voted the UK's worst hotel chain for the 11th year in a row by Which? magazine.

It is not currently known why Britannia chose to close down the two locations, given that the company posted record profits earlier this year.

It posted pre-tax profits of 33.3m for the 12 months to March 31, 2022, after falling to a loss of 9.5m in the prior year, while accounts filed to Companies House shows it achieved a turnover of 117.8m, up from just 38.4 million.

Despite the clean financials, Pontins, along with other Britannia hotels, have long been criticised for their lack of hygiene.

Pontins is owned by Britannia Hotels, which earlier this year was voted the UK's worst hotel chain for the 11th year in a row by Which? magazine

One TripAdvisor review of the Camber Sands centre reads: 'I would rather eat my own eyes.

'Rice in the drawers!? Aggressive notes stuck on every door, barbed wire surrounding it, don't even get me started on the pool.

'No staff so could only open for 45 mins at a time and smelt like drains changing rooms dirty, legitimately felt like we were in a dystopia prison.'

Meanwhile, a review of the Prestatyn centre describes it as the place 'where happiness and hygiene go to die.'

MailOnline has contacted Pontins and Britannia for comment.
Shane MacGowan's wife has revealed The Pogues star's cause of death following the news of his passing on Thursday after battling a brain condition for eight years.

MacGowan, 65, had been battling viral encephalitis and was released from hospital just last week. He died in the early hours of Thursday morning at home in Dublin surrounded by his family.

His wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, confirmed the cause of death as pneumonia.

Funeral details are yet to be confirmed for the frontman, whose death was announced in a heartbreaking statement issued on The Pogues' social media accounts on behalf of the band and his wife, sister Siobhan and father Maurice.

The death prompted an outpouring of tributes from famous faces and Pogues fans  and has rejuvenated a campaign to make the band's best known song, Fairytale of New York, the UK Christmas number one.

Shane MacGowan in hospital shortly before he was released on November 22, eight days before he died

MacGowan with his wife Victoria Mary Clarke, who has confirmed that The Pogues legend died of pneumonia

McGowan performing live with The Pogues in 2010. The band continued performing until 2014

Victoria Mary Clarke shared a tribute to The Pogues frontman online, writing: 'I am going to miss him so much'

The statement read: 'It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan.

'Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning (30 November 2023) with his wife Victoria and family by his side.

'Prayers and the last rites were read which gave comfort to his family.

READ MORE: How Shane MacGowan first tried to make it on the punk scene by calling himself Shane O'Hooligan and pretending to enjoy cannibalism at gigs MacGowan, then 19, with the only issue of his fanzine Bondage Advertisement

'He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Siobhan and his father, Maurice, family and a large circle of friends.

'Further details will be announced shortly but the family ask for privacy at this very sad time.'

McGowan had spent most of the last year receiving treatment for viral encephalitis - a condition that causes inflammation in the brain - at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin, but had been discharged just over a week before his death.

His cause of death was first reported in an obituary published by the New York Times.

Victoria later shared further tributes to her husband, whom she married in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2018, on social media.

She shared an image of MacGowan smiling on X, formerly Twitter, and captioned it: 'I am going to miss him so much! His smile, his eyes his laugh his sense of humour and his voice, every little part of him.'

She later revealed MacGowan had spent his final months binging on the Channel 4 Irish comedy classic Father Ted.

She brought him a portable DVD player in hospital  and said he couldn't get enough of the Graham Linehan show about a pair of hapless priests living off of Ireland's west coast.

Victoria, 57, told The Sun: 'So he wouldn't get bored we brought a little DVD player into Shane and friends have been giving him presents of classic movies on DVD.

'But the thing he won't stop playing is the 'Father Ted; boxset. Shane watches that all day long and can't stop laughing.'

In recent years, the Irish icon was confined to a wheelchair and was aided by his wife and carer at home, having been plagued by ill-health linked to his years of alcohol and substance abuse.

He had even written in a memoir, co-authored with his wife, of memories of his uncle bringing him bottles of Guinness from the pub each night from the age of five.

The legendary musician, who was behind the Christmas anthem Fairytale of New York, died 'peacefully' at 3am yesterday, wife Victoria Mary Clarke (left) and family by his side

He had enjoyed visits from a string of famous stars, including his Pogues bandmates Spider Stacy and Terry Woods as well as US star Bruce Springsteen (pictured)

His wife Victoria Mary Clarke had posted regular updates about her husband's wellbeing on social media

MacGowan's bandmate, Spider Stacy, was among famous faces leading tributes to the Irish star

Singer Shane with his father Maurice, mother Therese and sister Siobhan celebrate his 40th birthday in 1997

MacGowan was first hospitalised last December suffering from viral encephalitis, but was able to send a message in which he wished his legions of fans well and 'all the luck in the world'.

'Hi friends, I'm sitting here suffering from encephalitis,' he said. 'The light is killing me. But I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and Happy Christmas and many more.

'All the luck in the world and all the love. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year, love Shane.'

READ MORE: Could The Pogues' Fairytale of New York finally reach No1 at Christmas for the first time on the British charts? The Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan with Kirsty MacColl, with whom he duetted on Fairytale of New York Advertisement

But he has enjoyed visits from a string of famous stars, including his Pogues bandmates Spider Stacy and Terry Woods as well as US star Bruce Springsteen.

The Born To Run Singer was photographed paying homage to MacGowan and urging him to keep fighting in his health battle.

Announcing the news of the beloved punk star's death yesterday, Victoria wrote she had been 'blessed beyond words' to have been 'so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him'.

She declared: 'You will live in my heart forever... you meant the world to me.'

Bandmate Spider Stacy posted a black and white photo of the singer performing on stage to X, formerly Twitter, writing: 'O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done.'

Irish President Michael D Higgins hailed the musician as one of 'music's greatest lyricists', adding: 'Like so many across the world, it was with the greatest sadness that I learned this morning of the death of Shane MacGowan.

'Shane will be remembered as one of music's greatest lyricists. So many of his songs would be perfectly crafted poems, if that would not have deprived us of the opportunity to hear him sing them.

'His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways.'

In the UK, Downing Street said Rishi Sunak's thoughts were with MacGowan's family and fans, adding that 'Christmas would not be Christmas without Fairytale Of New York'.

Irish DJ Annie Macmanus - better known as Annie Mac - said he was 'one of the finest lyricists of a generation. A man who loved Ireland with all his heart and took the music and culture and mixed it with his London upbringing to bring us The Pogues.'

And Irish singer and actress Imelda May said: 'Thank you Shane. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing with us your glorious talents. We'll never see the likes of again.

'Your genius song writing and poetry weaved of words and wisdom that made mortals feel seen, heard and moved from stoney stoicism to quiet tears.

'In a world of perfection bulls*** you were always real. You always lived your truth.

'Your defiance, passion, energy, self awareness, honesty, daring, anger, love was always inspiring.

Farewell to the Spirit of Christmas Plastered: Hellraiser Shane MacGowan defied the doctors so often he achieved a kind of immortal status. Aged 65, the Pogues star has passed away - decades later than anyone expected (including him)

By CHRISTOPHER STEVENS

Farewell to the Spirit of Christmas Plastered. Shane MacGowan, the ravaged, staggering, foul-mouthed, broken-toothed rock star who co-wrote the best-loved festive karaoke song of all time, has died aged 65  decades later than he or anyone else expected.

The former singer with punk-folk band The Pogues defied the doctors so often that he achieved a kind of immortal status.

Earlier this month, his devoted wife Victoria, who became his lover at 16 and stayed loyally at his side ever after, released photographs of him in a hospital bed. He was skeletal, paper-skinned but still flashing his reprehensible grin.

His beloved festive hit, Fairytale Of New York, will be bellowed out at pub parties across the land this year with more gusto than ever.

The lyrics are infamous: 'You're a bum, You're a punk, You're an old sl*t on junk, Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed. You scumbag, You maggot, You cheap lousy f****t, Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it's our last.'

He was a punk, a poet, an icon of Irish ballads and an extraordinary songwriter. Shane MacGowan, who has died at the age of 65, was the man who brought us all to tears with his lyrics. Above: MacGowan in 1984

With his band The Pogues and his double act with the tragic Kirsty MacColl on 1987 festive hit Fairytale of New York, MacGowan cemented himself into the hearts of millions. Above: MacGowan and MacColl pose in festive attire and toy guns in 1987

The belligerent former junkie, with a book of poetry in one hand and a bottle of Bushmills in the other, became the unlikely patron saint of Yuletide, after surviving heroin addiction, a high-speed fall from a car on a motorway and numerous booze-fuelled fights.

But, like a drunk on Christmas Eve whose personality flipped from raucous extrovert to maudlin crybaby at the flick of a switch, there was a surprising hidden side to Shane MacGowan.

For a start, he was born in England  outside Royal Tunbridge Wells, of all places.

In 1957, his parents were visiting dad Maurice's sister in Kent, when mum Therese went into labour unexpectedly. Shane, their first child, was born in Pembury maternity hospital.

He spent the first few weeks of his life sleeping in a drawer in his auntie's bedroom, before they returned to the crowded family farmhouse in Tipperary, Ireland.

Therese was a singer and imbued the boy with a passion for music. Maurice, a Dubliner, was a great reader, though all the family believed Shane's gift with words emerged after a bout of measles, aged four: 'The spots never came out, they went to my head and I went completely mad for a month. That's when I started making up stories and poems and songs.'

While he was growing up on the farm, both his parents were away working in England. Shane's aunts and uncles started him on Guinness when he was just four years old. When he was eight, he got drunk on whisky for the first time.

MacGowan was married to music journalist Victoria Mary Clarke, who cared for him until the end of his life. Above: The pair in October last year

MacGown with Pete Doherty, formerly of The Libertines, at The Boogaloo pub in Highgate in 2005

Actor Johnny Depp, who was best man at his wedding, called him 'one of the most important poets of the 20th century'. Above: The pair in 1994

Rather than send him to the Christian Brothers school in Tipperary, his parents enrolled him in an English prep school, Holmewood House in Langton Green, Kent.

The villages around Tunbridge Wells were an unlikely hotbed of punk. Sid Vicious (whose name was then John Ritchie) was in the same year at the nearby Sandown Court school.

As a London schoolboy in 1971, he discovered marijuana, grew his hair long like a hippie, and got hooked on prescription tranquilisers.

After a brief spell at art college, he suffered a drug-induced breakdown and spent six months in a mental hospital, being weaned off Valium.

When he emerged, he hacked off his hair and dyed the spikey remnants white. His name, he announced, was now Shane O'Hooligan.

He launched his own band, The Nipple Erectors. Known as The Nips, they released four singles but failed to dent the charts. MacGowan's next band, Poguemahone, appeared to be destined for equal obscurity.

MacGowan performing with Kirsty MacColl in the 1980s. The pair most famously collaborated on 1987 hit Fairytale of New York

MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl in 1994. She was killed in 2000, when she was hit by a powerboat while on holiday in Mexico

MacGowan performing with Cerys Matthews during The Pogues's concert in Cardiff in 2005

Shane MacGowan, then editor of punk rock magazine 'Bondage', in his office at St Andrews Chambers, Wells Street, London

Shane MacGowan with fellow Pogues members Andrew Ranken, Jem Finer, Terry Woods, James Fearley, Philip Chevron, Spider Stacy and Cait O'Riordan

MacGowan (fourth from left) in 1987 comedy film Straight to Hell

MacGowan with British film director Sam Taylor-Wood at a charity event in London in 2009

MacGowan with comedian Lenny Henry at an event in Dublin in 2010

MacGowan, with drink in hand, in 1994. The singer was a famously heavy drinker

Wild times: MacGown as a young man, on the floor as others dance around him

Shane MacGowan is seen smoking at a pub table in 1994. The singer was the most famous member of The Pogues

Before The Pogues, MacGowan had a series of bands, including one called The Nipple Erectors

After a 1984 tour supporting The Clash they landed a record deal  as the Pogues.

Elvis Costello produced their second album, Rum, Sodomy And The Lash, and though he and the band grew to loathe each other during the recording, it yielded their first hit single  a dirge called Dirty Old Town.

Goading them in the bar at Dublin's Blooms Hotel, Costello bet the band they couldn't write a Christmas song without turning into a schmaltzy pop variety act, all twinkles and knitwear.

Winning the bet took nearly two years, but in December 1987, Fairytale Of New York was No 2 in the UK, No 1 in Ireland.

Sell-out tours followed, but MacGowan found life on the road gruelling. Sustaining himself with alcohol and drugs, he became increasingly paranoid.

In 1991, after too many missed flights and drunken collapses, he was kicked out of his own band. He retaliated by forming The Popes, effectively a tribute band to himself.

Famous for his mouthful of rotten teeth, in 2015 he underwent extensive dental surgery to replace them with implants.

MacGowan with his mother Therese and father Maurice MacGowan at their family home in Ireland, 1997

MacGowan and his mother at the family home in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1997

MacGowan in 2006, posing with a lifetime achievement award for his performances in The Pogues

MacGowan beams at The World nightclub in New York in February 1986

He married his wife, the music journalist Victoria Mary Clarke, in 2018. By then, they'd been together, with periodic break-ups, for 36 years.

She became his carer as a series of medical problems saw him hospitalised. MacGowan used a wheelchair since 2016, when he fell and broke his pelvis while dancing.

Actor Johnny Depp, who was best man at his wedding, calls him 'one of the most important poets of the 20th century'. But it is that rebellious, contrary, angry, lyrical Christmas ballad which will always be his great achievement.

That angered him, because he claimed not to like Christmas. 'I can't stand all that sort of stuff. It's gross.'

'Not all characters in songs and stories are angels or even decent and respectable. Some have to be evil or nasty to tell the story effectively. Fairytale of New York is a fine record,' he admitted, 'but the Christmas song I like best is by Nat King Cole. Ours is good but his is better.'
The sentence comes after he and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley were cleared of date raping seven women

He has been sentenced to probation including 31 hours of community service and 16 hours of drug-education classes

Bravo TV star surgeon Dr Grant Robicheaux who was accused of drugging and gang-raping seven women he and his girlfriend picked up in bars has pleaded guilty to gun possession and a drug charges after being cleared of the sex crimes.

Robicheaux, 43, took a plea deal which saw him placed on a year's probation for the misdemeanor drug charge and two years probation for the felony weapon count.

He has been ordered to carry out 32 hours of community service and undergo 16 hours of drug education classes, ABC7 reports.

His attorney Philip Cohen told the outlet that despite being cleared of the most serious charges, his 'professional life is done'.

The sentence comes after a California judge dismissed felony charges of poisoning and sale of phencyclidine against Robicheaux and his model girlfriend Cerissa Riley, 36.

Dr Grant Robicheaux pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge and a felony gun possession charge after he an d his girlfriend Cerissa Riley were cleared of drugging and raping seven women

The Bravo TV doctor took a plea deal which saw him placed on a year's probation for the misdemeanor drug charge and two years probation for the felony weapon count

He has been ordered to carry out 32 hours of community service and undergo 16 hours of drug education classes

The pair were initially accused of date-raping up to 13 women at their Newport Beach home.

Prosecutors claimed they picked up the alleged victims at swanky celeb-haunt Nobu in Orange County, as well as other bars in the vicinity before luring them back to their property.

Both maintained their innocence since being arrested in 2018, with their lawyers depicting them as swingers who like to party but who never engaged in non-consensual sex.

Robicheaux, a 42-year-old hand doctor, was previously best known for his appearances on the reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. He was charged with assaulting five women. Riley, 36, was charged with assaulting three.

In July, Orange County Superior Court Judge Michael Leversen tossed the charges, leaving none against Riley and just drug and gun possession charges against Robicheaux.

Police discovered six guns at Robicheaux's home, four of which belonged to his father, according to the Cohen.

They will now be shipped back to his dad's home in Texas, while the other two will be destroyed.

Robicheaux's felony gun charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor after 16 months of successful probation and may later be expunged from his record.

Robicheaux and Riley were accused of picking up the women at celebrity hotspots like Nobu

The couple was first charged with a string of sexual assaults in 2018

He voluntarily surrendered his medical license during the investigation, but it remains to be seen whether he can return to work. 'Think about where we started,' Cohen said. 'He (Robicheaux) was (labeled) the most prolific rapist in history.'

'His reputation is done. It's sad to see what allegations can do regardless of the outcome.'

Cohen said he had continued working on the case pro bono even after his client stopped being able to pay his legal bills because the case had become so important to him

He confirmed Robicheaux is considering a civil suit to clear his name.

The last remaining accuser in the case penned a victim impact statement for the hearing on Wednesday which remains under seal.

The woman's attorney, Sharon Tekolian, said her client was being 'silenced' as the Attorney General's office refused to fly her back from Israel, where she is serving as a commander in the military's war against Hamas.

'Jane Doe has worked on an impact statement for weeks,' Tekolian told ABC7. 'During a literal war in Israel she's fighting in. It's frustrating. My client is being silenced.'

Philip Cohen, Robicheaux's attorney, said his 'professional life is done' despite the allegations being dismissed

The pair were accused of drugging women after meeting them at bars and luring them back to their home in Newport Beach, California, for the purposes of sexual assault

She claimed the statement was filed under seal after Cohen threatened her client with a defamation lawsuit if it was read aloud into the record.

The defense attorney denied the claims, saying: 'I'll leave what was said in chambers in chambers, but that's not what was said.'

Tekolian also criticized the Attorney General's Office for keeping her 'out of the loop'' on the plea negotiations.

Deputy Attorney General Namita Patel told the court the woman's location made a meeting impossible.

'And not until this morning did we reach a negotiated plea,' She said.

The alleged victim was no longer considered part of the case after Leversen dismissed poisoning charges against the defendants, so she lacked standing as a victim under Marsy's Law which is designed to give victims the same rights as the accused.

The case became a flashpoint during the re-election bid by then-District Attorney Tony Rackauckas who was unseated by current-District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Spitzer then controversially moved to dismiss the charges, publicly apologized to Robicheaux and Riley saying there was not sufficient evidence to bring the case.

Jane Doe 2 alleged she met the couple at Nobu Newport Beach on Easter Weekend 2017, after she connected with Robicheaux on a dating app

One of the alleged victims claimed she met Riley and Robicheaux at Baja Sharkeez on Oct. 2, 2016, while out drinking with her roommate

The women's attorneys pushed back, arguing seven different women who had never met brought similar credible allegations against the pair.

A judge denied Spitzers request to dismiss the case, describing it as a 'back-room dismissal' of a case 'infected' by politics.

Two alleged victims pulled out of the case, stating they had been 'grossly mistreated' and 'dragged through the mud.'

A separate judge dismissed the charges relating to three other women at the request of the State Attorney Generals Office, leaving two remaining alleged victims.

Jane Doe 1 claimed she was attacked by the couple after meeting them at Baja Sharkeez on Oct. 2, 2016, while out drinking with her roommate.

She said they gave her a drink which caused her to 'black out' and then awoke in a state of undress next to her topless roommate who she could not rouse.

She claimed she then encountered Robicheaux who allegedly grabbed her and said: 'You wanted this' before a struggle ensued.

Her screams woke neighbors who then called 911.

Robicheaux, a 42-year-old hand doctor, was previously best known for his appearances on the reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male

The second woman initially met Robicheaux through dating app Bumble and said she trusted him because of his standing as a TV doctor.

She recalled her surprise when she met him for a date and Riley who he described as a 'good friend' was in tow.

Prosecutors claimed they spiked her drink, with the alleged victim claiming her next memory was waking up to being fondled by the couple at their home.

The sexual assault charges were dismissed in July, leaving only poisoning and drug possession charges which were dismissed in October.
An Oscar-winning film company is being sued for sex discrimination by its founder after he was fired following a dispute with his ex-wife.

Producer and businessman Andy Whittaker was sacked from Dogwoof last year when his former spouse and company chief executive Anna Godas made a complaint against him.

The high-flying couple worked together in running the London-based film company which has released 31 Academy Awards-nominated documentaries.

The fallout following their split is to be played out at a London employment tribunal as Mr Whittaker insists that he was the victim of sex discrimination.

A preliminary hearing was told that Mr Whittaker, 56, was dismissed from Dogwoof after bosses upheld a grievance that Ms Godas, 49, had made against him.

Producer and businessman Andy Whittaker (right) was sacked from Dogwoof last year when his former spouse and company chief executive Anna Godas (left) made a complaint against him

In its early days, Dogwoof concentrated on foreign films - including romance thriller Don't Move starring Penelope Cruz - but it later went on to produce award-winning documentaries

While details of the grievance are unknown, Mr Whittaker also claims that he suffered disability discrimination in relation to stress, anxiety and depression.

The entrepreneur - who has worked for Marconi, Barclays and eBay - was employed as Dogwoof chairman since setting it up in March 2003, Judge Jonathan Gidney was told.

In 2004, Mr Whittaker met Ms Godas at the Cannes Film Festival and the pair worked together in expanding Dogwoof.

Spanish-born Ms Godas 'steered the company from a small UK indie film distributor to a leading global brand', according to her profile on Dogwoof's website.

In its early days, Dogwoof concentrated on foreign films - including romance thriller Don't Move starring Penelope Cruz - but it later went on to produce award-winning documentaries.

Among its long list of accolades, Dogwoof won an Oscar and a BAFTA for its 2018 documentary Free Solo which follows professional rock climber Alex Honnold in his attempt to conquer the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan's 900-metre vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.

Dogwoof also produced the BAFTA-nominated documentary Blackfish about an orca kept in captivity in SeaWorld.

Mr Whittaker acted as chair of the film studio until June 2021, and in August of last year he was formally removed as its director.

He claims that he suffered sex discrimination after Ms Godas, his wife, raised a grievance against him which later saw him suspended and dismissed.

Mr Whittaker also claims that he was subject to unfair treatment after he 'blew the whistle' on business irregularities at the studio between March 2019 and January 2022.

Dogwoof also produced the BAFTA-nominated documentary Blackfish about an orca kept in captivity in SeaWorld

He believes he was subjected to various 'detriments' by Dogwoof Limited and company director, Anthony Tabatznik.

These detriments, he said, included him being 'isolated from decision making', having information 'withheld from him' and 'having a disciplinary process initiated against him resulting in his suspension'.

EJ Gidney ruled that his claims of sex and disability discrimination - in relation to stress, anxiety and depression - can proceed despite representatives saying the company did not have knowledge of these disabilities during the time.

However, his claims of unfair dismissal and public disclosure detriments were rejected for having been brought forward too late.

A previous claim of marriage discrimination was withdrawn by Mr Whittaker.

A full hearing at the London Central Employment Tribunal will be heard at a later date.
Advertisement

Rishi Sunak dismissed warnings easing the Net Zero timetable has 'diminished' Britain's standing today as he attended the Cop28 summit.

At a press conference wrapping up his whistlestop appearance in Dubai, the PM insisted the rethink was 'reasonable' rather than 'extreme' and the UK is still on track to meet all its commitments.

He said none of the leaders he had seen during his morning's visit had raised concerns about the changes, claiming they had actually been 'grateful' for his pioneering stance.

Mr Sunak tried to underline the 'constructive' discussions by announcing a deal between Masdar and RWE to invest up to 11billion in a new wind farm at Dogger Bank.

However, there was an awkward moment for Mr Sunak earlier, as he was left languishing at the back of the 'family photo' behind the Albanian prime minister Edi Rama.

As head of state, King Charles was in the front row of the group near French president Emmanuel Macron. The monarch has given a keynote speech on the environment, an issue he has campaigned on for decades.

But the EU commission's Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel were more prominently placed in the middle.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted Britain is still a 'leader' on climate change today as he attended the Cop28 summit but was delegated to the back row during the 'family' photo

At a press conference wrapping up his whistlestop Dubai visit, Rishi Sunak insisted the Net Zero rethink was 'reasonable'and the UK is still on track to meet goals

King Charles speaks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani this morning

Mr Sunak was seen in animated discussion with the King at the opening ceremony

Mr Sunak also took the opportunity for a few words with former PM Sir Tony Blair at the summit today

Mr Sunak said he had heard no complaints from fellow leaders about delaying the ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.

'Hand on heart, 100 per cent, no  not a single leader that I have spoken to today has spoken about that,' he said.

'Do you know why? Because most of their targets are less ambitious than the UK's.'

He said the 2035 date for internal combustion engine vehicles was in line with other developed countries.

It 'demonstrates just how distorted this debate has become' when 'I shift a date to be in line with basically every other country and it's somehow portrayed as some extreme measure'.

Earlier, Mr Sunak was asked at the summit how he would respond to those accusing him of not being serious about climate action.

'We have got an incredible track record in decarbonising in the UK, faster than any other major economy. We should be really proud of that,' the premier said.

'And I'll be proud of that record at my meetings later today.'

Mr Sunak added: 'We're leading the world in new industries like offshore wind. We're protecting nature at home, so we've got a great story to tell.'

He said other countries are 'deeply appreciative' of the support that they are receiving from the UK to help them with the transition.

Speaking to journalists en route to Dubai, Mr Sunak said: 'We've got a better track record than any other major economy in decarbonising.

'Any which way I look at it, we are a leader on this issue. We have been, we're continuing to do so. So I will walk around very proudly tomorrow championing the UK's achievements in this space.'

Mr Sunak also swiped at 'ideological zealots' who refused to take into account the costs on ordinary families of getting to Net Zero.

'There are people who think we should get to net zero without any regard to the cost on ordinary families. I don't think that's right,' he said.

'I think we've got to be cognisant of the impact of this on ordinary families up and down the country.'

It came after Lord Goldsmith, who resigned as his environment minister accusing Mr Sunak of being 'uninterested' in green issues, told Sky News: 'There's no doubt our standing has diminished considerably in recent months.

'The UK is just not seen by our allies  big and also small island members of the commonwealth  as a reliable or serious partner.'

Challenged at the press conference this afternoon on what he could achieve with a visit lasting just 11 hours in total, Mr Sunak said: 'I wouldn't measure our impact here by hours spent, I would measure it by the actual things that we're doing that are making a difference.

Announcing the wind farm deal, Mr Sunak told the conference: 'I'm pleased to announce a new deal between Masdar and RWE which includes a commitment to jointly invest up to 11 billion into the UK's new wind farm at Dogger Bank, which will be the biggest in the world.

'This is a huge boost for UK renewables, creating more jobs, helping to power three million homes and increasing our energy security.'

Mr Sunak also announced 1.6billion for international climate finance, including to support projects to halt deforestation and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

Meanwhile, Downing Street has warned China that it must step up its efforts to tackle climate change.

In pointed comments, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said other countries need to do their bit to address global warming  and singled out China as 'vitally important'.

Mr Sunak (top row, second from left) looked a bit isolated as he lined up for the family photo in Dubai today

Mr Sunak and Emmanuel Macron were seen chatting at a climate finance summit

The PM held talks with the Emir of Qatar on the fringes of the summit in Dubai today

Cop28 is the first time countries will assess progress towards the 2015 Paris Agreement goal

He said 'significant action' must be taken to 'keep 1.5 alive'  the goal of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5C.

Asked what Mr Sunak hopes to achieve at the climate summit, the spokesman said: 'He is clear-eyed about the challenges on a global scale that we still face on climate change. There is some significant action that must take place to keep 1.5 alive.

'He understands the challenges all countries  and that includes China, which is obviously vitally important  have to take action. We need to see not just commitments but real-world demonstration and action, as we have done, to make sure that this progress continues.'

Asked if the PM was frustrated China is not doing enough, the spokesman said: 'It's simply a matter of fact that China, given its size and economy, is a crucial part of this.'

But Mr Sunak refused to single out China today, saying: 'Everyone collectively needs to do more to make sure that we do reduce emissions sufficiently.'

China, together with India, watered down the Cop26 climate pact in 2021 when Britain hosted the summit in Glasgow.

In the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries vowed 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 countries will assess progress towards this goal in what is being called the 'global stocktake'.

Mr Sunak's spokesman said it would be the moment where the world 'takes a long hard look in the mirror to see if we are delivering on the 2015 Paris Agreement'.

Mr Sunak joined world leaders in Dubai as the climate conference continued
A Greek newspaper has launched a vile expletive-laden attack on Rishi Sunak amid the latest row over the Elgin Marbles between Athens and London.

In a front-page headline being widely shared on social media, the Eleftheri Ora newspaper declared 'F*** You B******' next to a picture of the Prime Minister.

Labour crowed the 'embarrassing headlines' had been generated by Mr Sunak's 'hissy fit' when he cancelled a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart this week.

But Mr Sunak denied claims of 'petulance' and stressed any deal to loan the Elgin Marbles back to Athens must come with Greek acceptance that Britain is the legal owner.

In a warning to ex-Tory chancellor George Osborne, now chairman of the British Museum's board of trustees, the PM said: 'Our view and our position on that is crystal clear: the marbles were acquired legally at the time.'

In a front-page headline being widely shared on social media, the Eleftheri Ora newspaper declared 'F*** You B******' next to a picture of the Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak stressed any deal to loan the Elgin Marbles back to Athens must come with Greek acceptance that Britain is the legal owner

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

Labour shadow foreign secretary David Lammy claimed the 'embarrassing headlines' had been generated by the PM's 'hissy fit' when he cancelled planned talks with his Greek counterpart

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

Eleftheri Ora, which translates as 'Free Time', is known to be a provocative newspaper and has been accused of promoting far-right, anti-Semitic and homophobic views.

Alongside an image of the newspaper's front page on Wednesday about Mr Sunak, Labour shadow foreign secretary David Lammy posted on Twitter: 'Rishi Sunak threw a hissy fit and ended up generating embarrassing headlines like this. It's time for change.'

Mr Lammy also noted how Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer held talks with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London this week, despite Mr Sunak having cancelled his own planned meeting.

But Mr Sunak today denied his refusal to meet the Greek PM following a row over the Elgin Marbles was a 'hissy fit'.

Mr Osborne accused the PM of 'petulance' for cancelling the meeting and said it would not prevent a deal to return the artefacts to Athens.

But Mr Sunak denied the claims and said that a loan could only happen if the Greeks accepted that the UK was the legal owner of the relics, which are also known as the Parthenon sculptures.

Asked about Mr Osborne's comments, Mr Sunak told reporters that he had not had a hissy fit, adding: 'When it comes to [the marbles] our position is very clear as a matter of law that the marbles can't be returned and we've been unequivocal about that.

'And I think the British Museum's website itself says that in order for the loans to happen the recipient needs to acknowledge the lawful ownership of the country that's lending the things and I think the Greeks have not suggested that they are in any way shape or form willing to do that.

'Our view and our position on that is crystal clear: the marbles were acquired legally at the time.'

Mr Sunak dramatically cancelled a bilateral meeting with Mr Mitsotakis on Tuesday, which triggered a diplomatic spat between Athens and London.

The PM said the Greek premier went back on his promise not to publicly raise the issue of the Elgin Marbles during his visit to London.

It came after Mr Mitsotakis used a BBC interview on Sunday to claim keeping the 2,500-year-old sculptures in London was akin to cutting the Mona Lisa painting in half.

Mr Osborne, commenting on Mr Sunak's actions, said on his Political Currency podcast: 'Is it just petulance? Is it just having a bit of a hissy fit?

'And, I think if that's the reason, it's not because Mitsotakis was going to raise the Elgin Marbles. It's because he had met [Labour leader] Keir Starmer the day before.'

Mr Osborne added that Mr Sunak's actions may have been driven by his frustration at being behind in the polls and said the power was 'draining away' from No10.

He added the British Museum had been exploring a deal 'whereby they spend part of their time in Athens and part of their time in London  and we have Greek treasures coming our way in return. And that is, I think, something worth exploring.'

He said of the diplomatic spat: '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.'

Mr Osborne  who was Conservative chancellor from 2010-2016  insisted the diplomatic feud would not stop talks over the future of the marbles.

The sculptures were removed from Athens by diplomat Lord Elgin in the 19th century and have been displayed in the British Museum ever since.
Bruce Springteen's drummer Max Weinberg has sued a garage in Florida for $375,000 over claims it stole $125,000 from him.

The musician, 72, filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County last week against Investment Automotive Group, alleging they promised to restore a vintage car that he would then purchase from them, but used the cash for personal expenses instead.

He claimed the automotive restoration company promised to transform a 1957 Mercedes-Benz roadster into like-new condition but failed to deliver.

Weinberg said he contacted Arthur Siegle and his son, Stuart Siegle in April 2021 about a vehicle they were restoring. He made a $125,000 deposit and was to pay $225,000 in total for the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL.

But once he learned they could not restore it to the condition promised, he canceled the order and requested a refund. Weinberg claims he was not returned his money and is seeking $375,000 from Arthur, three of his family members and their company.

Bruce Springteen's drummer Max Weinberg has sued a garage in Florida for $375,000 over claims it stole $125,000 from him

The musician, 72, filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County last week against Investment Automotive Group and alleged they promised to restore a 1957 Mercedes-Benz roadster for him but used the cash for personal expenses instead

Weinberg claims he was not returned his money and is seeking $375,000 from Arthur, three of his family members and their company. Pictured: A gaping hole in the 1957 Mercedes-Benz car

The 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Weinberg wanted to buy is a convertible manufactured from 1955 to 1963.

The Siegles had assured him the car they were restoring would be a 'work of art' and 'best of the best', according to the lawsuit.

He claimed Investment Automotive Group refused to return his deposit after it could not restore the vehicle to his standard and spent it on personal expenses.

Weinberg hired an expert named Pierre Hedary to inspect the car. Following examination, he allegedly found significant rust, evidence it had been involved in an accident and other major problems.

The lawsuit stated that the company knew of these issues before taking Weinberg's down payment and the car was not even from 1957 but from 1956.

Hedary added that once the car was restored it would impress laypeople but would not pass scrutiny at top-level car shows.

He estimated the vehicle was worth around $120,000 rather than $225,000 and said claims it would be a 'work of art' are usually 'the most egregious form of puffery unfortunately at times demonstrated throughout the classic/vintage motorcar industry'.

Weinberg hired an expert Pierre Hedary to inspect the car. Following examination, he allegedly found significant rust, evidence it had been involved in an accident and other problems

The lawsuit stated that the company knew of the issues before taking Weinberg's down payment and the car was not even from 1957 but from 1956

When Weinberg did not get his money, he filed a complaint with the Broward Sheriff's Office.

A law enforcement investigation in 2022, which was conducted by Detective Scott Schaefer, found that Siegle used little to no funds from the deposit to work on fixing the car.

The investigation found he paid off credit card debts and made deposits to personal accounts.

'I did not find any transactions that could have been attributed to the work being done on (Weinberg's) vehicle,' Schaefer said in a report which was included in the lawsuit.

He added that when he confronted Stuart about Weinberg's accusations, he responded: 'I have no idea what this guy is complaining about nor do I really care.'

Weinberg does not consider himself an expert on vintage cars but has always wanted to own one

No criminal charges have currently been filed against the Siegles or their company.

Weinberg's attorney Valentin Rodriguez said: 'I guess they figured he's Max Weinberg, million-dollar drummer for Bruce Springsteen, Mighty Max. He can afford to lose $125,000.

He added that Arthur '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.'

Weinberg does not consider himself an expert on vintage cars but has always wanted to own one. He is suing under a Florida law that allows triple damages for intentional theft.

DailyMail.com has contacted Weinberg and the Siegles for comment.
Hong Kong: Space delegation ends visit

Chief Executive John Lee hosted a farewell ceremony for the China Manned Space delegation at Government House this afternoon to thank them for accepting the invitation to visit Hong Kong.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said their four-day visit allowed Hong Kong citizens to experience the country's determination to realise the dream of space, and feel proud of the country's extraordinary achievements in aerospace technology.

He noted that the visit helped sow three seeds of strengthening national pride, exploring science and technology and inspiring people in the community to follow their dreams, adding that Hong Kong people, himself included, all hope that the dream of a local astronaut can come true, which could inject Hong Kong's presence into the nation's aerospace system, towards contributing to building the country into one which stands tall in science and technology.



Delegation leader Lin Xiqiang said at the ceremony that the China Manned Space Agency will follow the plan to recruit the fourth batch of astronauts, with a view to obtaining a result by year end to address concerns from Hong Kong people. He added that the agency will foster exchanges with Hong Kong's education and technology sectors.

Mr Lin also said the delegation sincerely hoped that the three seeds mentioned by the Chief Executive could sprout, blossom and yield fruits in the hearts of youth, as they will be the new force to build Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub.

During the visit, the delegation attended various activities and met members of the public as well as people from different sectors for exchanges, including the innovation and technology sector, as well as teachers and students from tertiary, secondary and primary schools. They also attended a variety show to mark Hong Kong's welcoming of the delegation and officiated at the opening of the China Manned Space Exhibition to share with Hong Kong people the joy of the distinguished development of China Manned Space Program.

Mr Lee presented a photo album of the delegation's visit to Mr Lin as a souvenir.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
3rd China-New Zealand Arts Festival kicks off

Xinhua) 10:51, December 01, 2023

WELLINGTON, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Third China-New Zealand Arts Festival kicked off in New Zealand's capital Wellington on Thursday night, with a music concert held successfully as a centerpiece of the event.

Played by Chinese and New Zealand artists together, the concert -- the China National Symphony Orchestra Forbidden City String Quartet with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) Guests Concert -- featured programs of Chinese and Western musical works, such as "The Butterfly Lovers," "Death and the Maiden," and "Piano Quintet in A Major."

The musicians also presented "Whakatipua for String Quartet," created by a New Zealand composer, and "Me and My Country" by a Chinese composer, which won warm applause from the audience.

Wang Xiaolong, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, said at the event that the concert is another example of the cultural exchanges and people-to-people affinity between the two countries.

Zhou Yu, secretary of the China National Symphony Orchestra Party Committee, said he believes the Chinese artists' visit will contribute to further cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between China and New Zealand.

The opportunity to make music together is always an opportunity to engage in dialogue and cultural exchange, which leads to greater understanding, said Peter Biggs, Chief Executive of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Pianist Jian Liu, one of the performers of the concert, hoped that this festival will continue to create opportunities for artistic collaboration between China and New Zealand, bringing authentic cultural voices to the audience.

"Cultural dialogue between professional artists creates mutual understanding and inspiration, and music, the universal language, acts as a perfect medium to engage this communication," said Liu, also a Trustee of New Zealand Music Trust.

Jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, China National Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, China Cultural Center in Wellington, New Zealand Music Trust, and Flying Dog Artistic Management NZ, the festival aims to deepen understanding between the two countries and enhance bilateral friendship and cultural exchanges.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Charles' sartorial choices as he gave his speech at the COP28 eco-summit in Dubai has set tongues wagging - with the King wearing a tie emblazoned with fluttering Greek flags amid a diplomatic spat between the Mediterranean country and Britain.

He took to the stage at the climate conference to make an urgent plea for nations to work together to combat climate change ahead of 2050 - the year by which the UK, among other countries, has committed to net-zero carbon emissions.

But suggestions have been made that the King appeared to make an altogether different plea for international co-operation with his choice of tie, stitched with a pattern of Greek flags fluttering in the wind.

Charles was also pictured wearing the tie whilst in conversation with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - who days ago snubbed a meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the Elgin Marbles.

The Greek press seized upon his fashion choices, claiming that it could be interpreted as a 'gesture of support' for the country in its decades-long war of words over the artefacts, which were taken from Athens more than 200 years ago.

King Charles III at the opening of COP28 in Dubai on Friday, wearing his distinctive tie patterned with fluttering Greek flags

Charles used his COP28 address to flex his well-established environmental credentials

He was later pictured, still wearing the Greek tie, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who snubbed a meeting with his Greek equivalent amid a row over the Elgin Marbles

The tie is stitched with patterns of fluttering Greek flags - which could be a nod to his Greek father, Prince Philip

Charles wore the same tie on Horse Guards parade last week to welcome the South Korean President to Britain

Online news website the Greek City Times wrote: 'Just a few days after the uproar caused in Great Britain and Greece by Rishi Sunaks unfair treatment of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, King Charles III appeared to take a stand by choosing an obvious message, perhaps much stronger than any statement.'

Daily newspaper Kathimerini noted: 'The kings sartorial choice of a Greek-themed tie was widely commented on.'

However, it is understood the tie the King was wearing is simply one of his 'current collection'. He wore it on Horse Guards Parade last week to welcome the South Korean President, prior to any recent news stories about Greece.

READ MORE: King Charles tells world leaders 'the Earth does not belong to us' and says his grandchildren will be living with effects of climate change in 2050 Charles pictured with his grandchildren, George, Charlotte and Louis in a family photo from 2018 Advertisement

It may have also been a nod to his own heritage: Charles is half-Greek and his father, Prince Philip, was born at Mon Repos on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921.

His ensemble also included a pocket square in light blue and white, but in a different pattern.

The Elgin Marbles are chunks of the Parthenon in Athens that were removed by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and brought back to the UK in the 19th century.

A Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry in 1816 found the acquisition of the Marbles had been entirely legal and done with permission of Ottoman authorities.

Mr Sunak cancelled a meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis last week after the European leader said he would be raising the issue of the Marbles.

But the meeting was never confirmed by Downing Street and the PM's spokesman accused Greece of breaking a promise not to raise the Marbles row in public.

Greece, however, remains noisy in its view that the sculptures should be back in Athens.

Mr Mitsotakis told the BBC that the UK retaining the Marbles was a form of cultural vandalism akin to 'cutting the Mona Lisa in half'.

And a Greek newspaper has raged at Mr Sunak for refusing to discuss the future of the sculptures. The Eleftheri Ora front page declared: 'F*** You B******!'.

Suggestions have been made in the past that the British Museum could lend the Marbles back to Athens.

The PM has stressed any deal to loan the Elgin Marbles back to Athens must come with Greek acceptance that Britain is the legal owner.

In a warning to ex-Tory chancellor George Osborne, now chairman of the British Museum's board of trustees, the PM said: 'Our view and our position on that is crystal clear: the marbles were acquired legally at the time.'

However, public support for retaining the Marbles is not strong. A YouGov poll of 2,871 British adults on November 28 found that only 15 per cent of people support keeping them in the country.

Opinion polling suggests that the relative majority of Brits are supportive of returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says the UK's retention of the Elgin Marbles is akin to 'cutting the Mona Lisa in half'

The Elgin Marbles were taken from the Parthenon in Athens (pictured) in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin. A parliamentary inquiry found they had been acquired legally

The British-owned pieces of the Elgin Marbles can be viewed at the British Museum in London

The relative majority of those polled, 49 per cent, supported returning the artifacts to Greece.

Charles' COP28 address gave the King an opportunity to flex his well-established environmental credentials as he addressed global powers.

He said: 'I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when, already, as scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached.

'The dangers are no longer distant risks. I have seen across the Commonwealth, and beyond, countless communities which are unable to withstand repeated shocks, whose lives and livelihoods are laid waste by climate change.

'Surely, real action is required to stem the growing toll of its most vulnerable victims.

'After all, ladies and gentlemen, in 2050 our grandchildren won't be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didn't do.'

COP28 began on Thursday and runs until December 12, with the UK Government pledging 1.6billion for international climate change projects throughout the summit.
Nicola Sturgeon's habit of 'gazumping' the UK government's Covid policies was 'unhelpful and confusing', Matt Hancock said today.

Giving evidence to the official inquiry, the former health secretary gave a damning assessment of the ex-SNP leader's behaviour.

He complained that she would 'spin' policies to make it look like she was ahead of Westminster, even when issues had been discussed collectively.

The Covid-19 Inquiry was shown WhatsApp messages from Mr Hancock from July 2020, regarding communications around travel from Spain and quarantine.

When told that No10 wanted to communicate the matter 'ASAP', Mr Hancock replied: 'Me too. It will leak anyway  and the Scots will try to get their announcement out first.'

At the inquiry today, Mr Hancock was asked by a representative of the Scottish Covid bereaved: 'What is the issue with the First Minister communicating that to the people of Scotland first?'

Nicola Sturgeon 's habit of 'gazumping' the UK government 's Covid policies was 'unhelpful and confusing', Matt Hancock said today (pictured, the former SNP leader holding a briefing in August 2020)

Mr Hancock said: 'There were a number of moments when the first minister of Scotland would communicate in a way that was unhelpful and confusing to the public.

'And sometimes, (she) would leave a meeting and begin communication of a decision, for instance, sooner than agreed.'

He added: 'We found it much more difficult when decisions went up to first minister level, particularly with Nicola Sturgeon.

'Because we would find that sometimes some kind of spin was put on what was essentially substantively the same decision. So it was a frustration, I've got to be honest about that.'

However, Mr Hancock also told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry he had a 'constructive relationship' with his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and that their weekly briefings felt like 'therapy sessions'.

Ms Sturgeon was first minister of Scotland and SNP leader from 2014 until earlier this year
Chicagoans are turning on Mayor Brandon Johnson's 'open doors' policy to migrants, staging daily protests against expensive new government-run tent shelters for the homeless newcomers.

Hundreds of locals attended a community meeting this week, and dozens more have staged protests near a construction site where one of two new shelters is being built in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood.

The shelters, funded by the state of Illinois, are set to open within weeks.

They will house up to 2,200 asylum seekers and cost $65 million to build and accommodate some of those migrants sleeping on floors or in tents outside city police stations.

Residents protest in Brighton Park against a proposed migrant camp to accommodate the influx of migrants

Workers erect a tent frame as they start building Chicago's first government-run tent encampment for migrants in the Brighton Park neighborhood

Community members in Brighton Park are suing the city to try to halt construction.

They say it will lead to overcrowding, is being built on dangerous, contaminated land, and violates Chicago zoning laws.

Longtime resident Ricardo Palacios told Reuters that taxpayers like him should not have to foot the bill for new arrivals, many of whom have fled insecurity and abysmal government in Venezuela.

'These people are just getting off the bus and everything's given to them,' said Palacios.

'As a taxpayer, I don't think that's right.'

The city of 2.6 million people has been among the worst-affected by a surge of asylum seekers and illegal entries at the southern border since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Hundreds of migrants are still sleeping on floors or in tents outside city police stations, which have been used to accommodate the surge.

Some who remained this week huddled near tents wearing parkas, knit hats and even ski goggles to cope with the falling snow and cold weather, which has fallen to the low 40s in recent days.

The crisis has been so bad that some migrants camped out at O'Hare International Airport.

Chicago's progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson said there was enough room for migrants when he took office in May

Venezuelan migrants look over new clothes, outside a police station where they have sought shelter since arriving in Chicago

Hundreds of asylum seekers temporarily bedded down at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois

In recent weeks, the city and churches have stepped up efforts to move migrants into shelters.

Some 1,000 asylum seekers remain at police stations, down from 4,000 three weeks ago, according to city figures.

Mayor Johnson has struggled to find places for the arriving migrants.

Upon taking office in May, an African-American, progressive Democrat, said there was 'enough room' for the migrants.

Speaking this week, however, he slammed Texas Governor Greg Abbott for laying on buses that have taken tens of thousands of migrants from the border up to Democrat-run sanctuary cities.

Johnson this week called it 'right-wing extremism' aimed at cities 'led by people of color.'

'Their whole motivation is to create disruption and chaos,' said Johnson, who seeks more federal funds to tackle the crisis.

Since April 2022, Texas has bused more than 66,000 migrants to six Democratic-run cities, four of which have black mayors  Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Washington.

Renae Eze, a spokesperson for the Texas governor, slammed Johnson's comments as 'falsehoods and outright lies.'

'In May, Mayor Johnson welcomed migrants to Chicago, saying the city has 'enough room' for them,' Eze said in a statement.

'With millions of residents, Chicago is only dealing with a fraction of what our small border communities deal with on a day-to-day basis.'

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

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.

An immigration watchdog this week said America's foreign-born population has swollen massively under 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.

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.

Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, has long called for reduced people flows

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 an 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.

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.
A policeman who carried out unauthorised searches on his friends while they were under investigation has been spared jail by a judge - because prisons are too 'overcrowded'.

PC Mohammed Rahman, 39, made a series of searches on the police database over a period of three years from 2018 to 2021.

He looked up the names, address, and dates of births of suspects and victims involved in ongoing investigations he had nothing to do with.

Some of these searches included the names of his friends, family, and he found information on a woman who had reported domestic violence on behalf of the perpetrator.

Rahman, based at Forest Gate police station, admitted seven counts of misconduct in a public office at Westminster Magistrates Court in September this year and he was sent to Southwark crown court for sentence.

PC Mohammed Rahman (pictured arriving at Southwark Crown Court) made a series of unauthorised searches on the police database over a period of three years from 2018 to 2021.

A map shows the ten most overpopulated prisons in the UK, with HMP Leeds in first place, followed by Durham and Wandsworth

The UK's prison population has also increased substantially since the Covid pandemic in 2020

Prosecutor Steven Perian, KC, said: 'The most aggravating incident took place on 27 December 2020.

'This defendant searches a registration number in relation to a green Toyota Prius where on 20 November 2020 there had been an alleged criminal damage investigation.'

Rahman had passed on the names, dates of birth and addresses of three individuals who were linked to that allegation after he had been asked for the information via text message by the driver of that car.

The court heard the father-of-three sent a message to the owner of the car, Mr Miah Mahon, that read 'write it down on paper then delete please.'

Later that evening at 10:26pm an anonymous call was made to the police reporting an incident of robbery where a firearm was seen, and the suspect was seen driving the same car.

Passing sentence Judge Chris Hehir said: 'You committed these offences between October 2018 and February 2021 when you were a police constable at the Metropolitan Police based at Forest Gate police station.

'All the offences involved you unlawfully accessing police computer systems and databases to which you had access.

'The only incident where there is evidence of you passing on information to a third party is Miah Mahon on 27 December 2020.

'There is the case of the grossly overcrowded state of our prisons at the moment, on the other hand you have committed very serious offences in gross breach of public trust.

'In view of the very unusual position of prison overcrowding - and this is a case where there is no evidence of financial motivation - I have decided to just suspend the inevitable prison term in your case.

'I acknowledge that in doing so I'm being very lenient indeed, but not in the circumstances.'

Rahman, of Maltings Close, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 24 months. He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.
Leona Milne's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the center for not resuscitating her when she had difficulty breathing because of her 'DNR'

The Georgia healthcare facility photocopied DNRs with signatures before mandated evaluations took place

A rehabilitation facility in Georgia is being investigated after 194 'do-not-resuscitate' orders were placed on patients who did not have the capacity to sign them, according to InvestigateTV.

'Do Not Resuscitate' orders- or DNRs - are medical orders written by doctors and assigned to patients who have decided not to receive resuscitation (CPR) if their death is imminent.

Medical staff at Roselane Health and Rehabilitation in Marietta, Georgia, have been accused of 'playing God' after they issued DNRs to patients without their consent.

Leona Milne died in 2018 at the age of 73 when being treated as a temporary patient the Rehab center for an infected toe.

The 73-year-old was born with a mental disability and had the cognitive ability of a nine or 10-year-old as an adult.

Leona Milne died in 2018 at the age of 73 when being treated as a temporary patient the Rehab center for an infected toe. The 73-year-old was born with a mental disability and had the cognitive ability of a nine or 10-year-old as an adult

Milne's brother Chuck Milne said he received a call from nurse's at the facility who informed him that his sister was having difficulty breathing - but when he showed up at the center, Leona was dead

She was described as 'very gregarious, very outgoing,' by her brother - who said she 'loved attention'.

Milne's brother Chuck Milne said he received a call from nurse's at the facility who informed him that his sister was having difficulty breathing - but when he showed up at the center, Leona was dead.

Milne had begged the nurses to take his sister to the hospital when she struggled to breathe - but they refused because she had signed a DNR, according to the workers.

'I told the nurse she didn't have the mental capabilities to sign one,' Milne said.

He told the worker 'you don't understand, she's not capable of signing a DNR.'

Leona's family brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the Roselane's former medical director Dr. Sara Sambandham - who was the physician ultimately responsible for Leona's treatment during her time at the facility.

When the case was first brought about - the wrongful death charge was referring to Leona's inability to sign a DNR - but as the lawsuit developed investigators discovered a far deeper issue.

Leona's family brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the Roselane's former medical director Dr. Sara Sambandham - who was the physician ultimately responsible for Leona's treatment during her time at the facility

Patients were prompted to sign off on their DNRs without a doctor's evaluation. In Leona's case - her form was signed by a physician who didn't even work at the facility at any point during her the 73-year-old's stay. Sambandham, who claims she didn't know this was happening and denied wrongdoing.

A social worker from the Georgia facility confessed that the correct and legal procedures for issuing a DNR were not being followed at Roselane.

According to Georgia medical laws - two doctors are required to evaluate a patient before a DNR order is placed on someone mentally disabled and then sign off on it.

Before the DNR is officially confirmed - it must go to an ethics committee.

The social worker revealed that these practices were not being followed by the doctors at Roselane.

It was eventually uncovered that workers at the rehab center were photocopying pre-signed DNRs before even evaluating the patient.

'Well, the process at that time is that we had pre-signed DNR forms just as this one. They were already pre-signed,' said the social worker in the videotaped deposition. 'I had them in my notebook. We had them when we went to see our residents.'

Patients were prompted to sign off on their DNRs without a doctor's evaluation.

In Leona's case - her form was signed by a physician who did not work at the facility at any point during her the 73-year-old's stay.

'She had been gone for seven months before the DNR was ever executed in our case was ever executed,' the family's attorney Mike Prieto said.

Prieto's law firm discovered almost 200 other DNR orders that had been photocopied - all under the supervision of Sambandham, who claims she didn't know this was happening and has denied wrongdoing.

Milne settled a civil lawsuit with SavaSeniorCare - who owned the Roselane facility - for an undisclosed amount of money.

Roselane was not the only facility found to be ordering DNRs for mentally impaired patients who are incapable of giving consent.

Grace Schara died at the age of 19 after contracting COVID-29 and being sent to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Grace Schara died at the age of 19 after contracting COVID-29 and being sent to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin. The patient had Down Syndrome - but her dad Scott Schara said her disability never slowed her down. Medical staff asked Grace's family if they wanted her to be resuscitated if things went downhill - but a DNR was never mentioned

When things did go downhill with Grace on October 13, 2021, staff at the hospital didn't allow the family to enter the room the 19-year-old was in - and yelled at them 'she's DNR'

The patient had Down Syndrome - but her dad Scott Schara said her disability never slowed her down.

Medical staff asked Grace's family if they wanted her to be resuscitated if things went downhill - but a DNR was never mentioned.

When asked if the family would ever request a DNR order - Schara answered: 'Absolutely not. Why would we ever request it? It makes no sense. We were expecting our daughter to get out of there. We're not expecting her to die.'

When Grace's health declined on October 13, 2021, family said staff at the hospital did not allow them to enter the room - and yelled at them 'she's DNR'.

The family members begged 'she's not DNR save our daughter' - but the nurses refused.

But the hospital supposedly did not break the law because of the location.

'Wisconsin's Statute does not apply to physicians operating in a hospital, non-emergency setting,' a spokesperson from the agency told InvestigateTV.

A written DNR order is not necessarily required when the doctor works outside an emergency department or an out-of-hospital emergency setting - like St. Elizabeth Hospital.

This doesn't make sense to Grace's dad, who said: 'How can someone be immune from liability for killing somebody?'

Grace's family maintained that they did not request a DNR because they didn't expect their daughter to die during her time in the medical facility - they expected her to return home.

The hospital allegedly received clear consent from the family to place the patient on a DNR and claimed they had three conversations confirming this with family members.

DailyMail.com approached both health care facilities for comment on the lawsuits.
The California homeless woman charged with murdering social justice advocate Michael Latt was motivated to kill him because of his friendship with a female director she'd been stalking, prosecutors have alleged.

Michael Latt was shot on Monday at his home in Los Angeles. He was later pronounced dead in the hospital.

Jameelah Elena Michl, 36, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with his murder.

Michl, who had been living out of her car, was obsessed with Latt's friend, female director A.V. Rockwell, and had been stalking her, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office.

She previously threatened Rockwell, telling her she would kill herself unless Rockwell engaged with her and leaving handwritten letters at her home including one in which she threatened: 'My glock is loaded.'

Michael Latt (right) with director A.V. Rockwell (center) and his mother, Michelle Satter. Latt's alleged killer was obsessed with Rockwell, according to police

This was the scene at Latt's home on Monday when he was shot

The pair knew each other because Michl once appeared as an extra in Rockwell's movie A Thousand and One.

Rockwell was so disturbed by Michl that she had a restraining order taken out against her. She begged police to help, telling them she couldn't eat or sleep for fear that Michl would strike.

Michl is said to have called her repeatedly, left letters at her home and sent numerous texts and emails.

In one letter, she said: 'One pull of the trigger and Ill be free.'

She also threatened to kill herself at Griffith Park.

It remains unclear why she was not arrested, or whether any steps were taken to strip her of any weapons she owned.

Michael Latt, who founded the Lead with Love charity, was fatally shot by a female intruder at his Los Angeles home on Monday

The homeless woman reportedly stayed at the scene following the shooting

Michl remains in custody on a $3million bond. She is next due in court on December 15.

Yesterday, LA County DA George Gascon mourned Latt's loss without taking any responsibility for the fact his killer was known to police and free to roam the streets.

'Our hearts ache for the loss of a passionate advocate who believed in the principles of justice and equity within our criminal legal system.

'It is devastating to see a life cut short, especially one dedicated to fighting for a more just society,' Gascon said.

Latt's family are yet to weigh any kind of public criticism against police and prosecutors.

In their tribute to him, they said: 'Our beloved son Michael Latt fell victim to a tragic act of violence this week.

'Michael devoted his career to supporting artists, championing organizations that raised up artists of color, & leveraged storytelling for enduring change.

'We celebrate his legacy, love & compassion.'
Romeo the Manatee has been kept at the Miami Seaquarium since 1956, and activists say he has been held alone in a small tank since at least April

America's loneliest manatee is set to be moved from his tiny 30ft concrete pool in Miami after outcry from animal right activist over his living conditions.

The 67-year-old has been at the Miami Seaquarium since 1956, and campaigners say he has been kept in isolation since at least April.

US Fish and Wildlife Services have confirmed that they will be transporting Romeo from the center, where the 'loneliest whale in the world', Lolita, died earlier this year

A spokesperson for the service said: 'The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service takes the health and welfare of manatees in managed care seriously.

'The Service is working with an experienced team of manatee rescue and rehabilitation experts through the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership to assist with the transport effort of manatees from Miami Seaquarium.'

Romeo has been kept at the Seaquarium since 1956 and campaigners say he has been alone since at least April of this year

The manatees at the facility are to be moved and receive appropriate care, with three of them appearing to be experiencing health issues.

It remains unclear when and where Romeo will be moved to, Miami Seaquarium told DailyMail.com they are 'evaluating' the best option for the animals.

They said: 'At this moment we are evaluating along with the authorities and other partners the best option for our manatees.'

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that transport of the animals was high-risk, but necessary for the animals' future wellbeing.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture slammed the site operators, The Dolphin Company, for their treatment of Romeo and general poor care.

Manatees are semi-social animals and 'suffer psychologically when not living in pairs or groups' - but Romeo has long been separated from his partner, and the mother of his offspring, Juliet, and has been alone since his other companions were released.

Video of Romeo swimming forlornly in his tank - estimated to be just 30ft wide - went viral last week as surfing legend Kelly Slater backed a campaign for his release, which quickly gained more than 20,000 signatures.

The video, shot by campaign group UrgentSeas, pans over a desolate area of the park before zooming in on the solitary figure of Romeo, spinning in circles in the murky waters.

UrgentSeas co-founder, Phil Demers, claims that Romeo has been kept alone in the tank in 'Pompano pools' which are closed to the public, since at least last April.

It is not clear exactly how long he has been alone, or why he cannot be with his partner Juliet, but Demers said: 'He was separated from Juliet a long time ago - I think it's a breeding issue, they aren't allowed to breed manatees.'

In an update, Demers said: 'US Fish and Wildlife are expected to relocate Romeo, Juliet and another manatee from the Miami Seaquarium to an MPR (Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership) facility in the coming days. Cant happen soon enough.'

The drone footage shows Romeo alone in a small concrete tank in an 'off-limits' area of the park where he is allegedly kept alone

Sharing the original video online, Demers wrote: 'This video was taken on November 13, 2023, above the Miami Seaquarium.

'Romeo, a 67-year-old manatee lives in complete isolation in ever-deteriorating conditions. We must fight for Romeo!'

Romeo's plight was picked up by 11-time World Surf League champ Kelly Slater who called for people to put pressure on the Florida aquarium to release him.

Kelly Slater told DailyMail.com: 'Im always confused and sad seeing these stories. For context, I dont know how the manatee ended up in the aquarium or if there is a reason it cant be returned to the wild but my thoughts on it are that manatees are very social creatures and very free, roaming large distances across the state of Florida.

'Theyre the gentlest creatures in the world and such a great and recognizable mammal in our state.

'It seems the humane thing to do to return these animals to their rightful place in nature, along with cetaceans of all kinds which shouldnt be in captivity at all unless terribly injured and unable to return to the wild and have quality of life.

'I grew up swimming with and admiring manatees my whole life and it would be a feel good story to see this manatee returned safely to live out its days in the wild.'

Surfing legend Kelly Slater has backed the campaign to free Romeo

Romeo has been at the Miami Seaquarium since 1956, he is now 67 years old

The Miami Seaquarium says on its website that Romeo and his partner Juliet were 'rescued in 1956' and are 'local celebrities' at the aquarium where they have lived for 66 years.

Romeo's partner, Juliet, who he has had multiple calves with is also still at the Seaquarium, but she is kept in a separate 'celebrity' tank on the main site.

But Demers claims that Romeo has been kept 'all alone' in the 'off-limits' Pompano pools that are closed to the public.

He added: 'Manatees are semi-social animals and suffer psychologically when not living in pairs or groups. But Romeo remains all alone. All the time.'

Manatees can live to between 50 and 60-years-old in wild, and up to 65 in captivity, making Romeo a senior.

In a report release earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited the Miami Seaquarium for alleged insufficient animal care and staffing problems - and slammed them for their treatment of Romeo.

The report said that Romeo had been housed alone in his enclosure because the three other manatees he was living with were released back into the wild in the spring.

And despite numerous attempts to acquire another manatee the Seaquarium did not meet the requirements to do so.

The report noted: 'Although numerous attempts have been made to acquire another manatee it was determined the facility did not yet meet the requirements to receive another animal.

'Manatees are semi-social animals and do better medically and psychologically when they are housed in pairs or groups.'

Footage from April showed Romeo alone in the same tank in the Pompano pools. The pool was uncovered at the time, prompting concerns there was nowhere for him to shelter from the sun

He could be seen swimming into the shaded area of the tank, while two other tanks in the off-limits area stood empty

In March 2022, the lease for the site was transferred to The Dolphin Company - since then, the USDA has issued a series of violation warnings, and findings of animals hurt and in distress.

The most recent report accused the aquarium of issues with inadequate veterinary care, animal handling, facilities and critical separation.

Dolphins were found to have eaten concrete and zip ties while one had broken ribs after an attack.

The report said the facility had 'failed to provide proper equipment or services to ensure adequate veterinary care' and failed 'to maintain a marine mammal enclosure in good repair and protect the animals from injury.'

Despite the report, the November footage showed Romeo was still alone in the tiny pool surrounded by three other empty and stained tanks.

Manatees are classed as a threatened species in the US with just 7,500 in the wild in Florida.

The slow-moving creatures swim and rest in very shallow water and are very curious, making them vulnerable to injury by boat propellers.

Lolita, the 'loneliest whale in the world' and the star attraction at Miami Seaquarium for decades, died aged 57

Experts and concerned individuals had long protested against Lolita's conditions in captivity, including the size of her 80-foot long and 35-foot wide tank

Romeo is being kept in the same Seaquarium that Lolita the orca died in in March this year.

Lolita was once dubbed the 'loneliest whale in the world' and died aged 57, just months before her scheduled retirement.

Experts and concerned individuals had long protested against Lolita's conditions in captivity, including the size of her 80-foot long and 35-foot wide tank, the smallest of its kind in the US.

Just 10 years after Lolita arrived at the aquarium, her companion Hugo died of an aneurysm that was caused by repeated head trauma, earning her the title of the world's loneliest whale.

Lolita was the oldest whale in captivity at age 56 and performed until 2022 when she was finally retired after falling ill.
Arcadu has been accused of serially squatting and was most recently evicted from an Omaha townhouse by a court order

The home's owner Liz McIlree says he owes her $20,000 in unpaid rent

Robert Arcadu and his wife and child were booted out of a Nebraska mansion after two months

A serial squatter couple and their child have been evicted from a $1 million rental after refusing to leave for two months.

Roberto Arcadu and his family were turfed out of the $10,000-a-month Nebraska home after its owners changed their locks.

Host Liz McIlree claims Arcadu, who has been accused of similar behavior four times in two years, is yet to pay her a dime for his stay at her Papillon mansion.

'They just stay, they just squat,' McIlree told WOWT. 'Essentially, he was squatter.

'I said, 'We really can't let you stay here if you aren't going to pay,' Yet he continued to stay.

Serial squatter Roberto Arcadu and his wife and child were turfed out of a $1 million Nebraska mansion after staying for two months

The property's owner Liz McIlree claims she is owed $20,000 by Arcadu, who has a history of squatting allegations

Arcadu has been accused of squatting four times in over two years and is accused of owing $130,00 in unpaid rent

'That's where it's a bit fuzzy with the landlord-tenant law, you can't really kick them out until you go through the eviction process, yet he wasn't a tenant but a guest.'

The homeowner decided to take matters into her own hands, changing the locks and moving Arcadu's possessions to the garage.

It comes after 'tenant from hell' Elizabeth Hirschhorn was finally evicted from a $3.5 million LA mansion after living their rent free for 575 days.

McIlree says she is still awaiting payment after Arcadu holed up at her six bedroom, eight bathroom luxury property for months.

The unwelcome guest has been accused of similar schemes at other short term rentals.

Most recently he was booted out of an Omaha townhouse after its desperate owners managed to obtain a court order to evict.

Patty and David North originally called police to report the family for trespassing after they refused to leave.

But officers said they were effectively powerless to remove the Arcadu due to hazy laws around tenant rights.

The family holed up in McIlree's stunning six bedroom home and refused to leave, according to the host

The family have most recently been evicted from an Omaha townhouse after its owners were forced to obtain a court order

David and Patty North claim they are owed $6,000 by Arcadu and his wife who they commenced legal proceedings to evict

The Norths say the squatters initially booked the $138-a-night rental for a week which quickly became longer.

'He had sick family in town  he was here for that. He's moving here, so he's trying to purchase a house. Those types of stories,' David North said. 'Yeah, we'll help you out you just continue to pay.'

Except he stopped making payments on October 18, according to the couple who say he owes them $6,000.

When they contacted an attorney, they found that Arcadu and his wife were 'prolific squatters'.

Court filings allege Arcadu owes $130,000 in rent and lease fees over two years.

This includes almost $76,000 that Arcadu allegedly owes The Magnolia hotel for overstaying by six months, The  and his credit card failed to cover the charges.

'He knows how to game the system and stay in a property and not pay rent,' attorney Michael Polk said.

Polk began the process to remove Arcadu after a judge in Douglas County Court, a judge ruled Arcadu and his wife are not protected by landlord-tenant laws.

Liz McIlree (left) told how she was forced to change the locks on the rental home and remove the family's posessiosn to get them to leave

The Norths contacted a lawyer after police advised they were powerless to help evict Arcadu due to hazy laws around tenants rights

Arcadu denied the allegations and said, 'it's no scheme' when approached outside court.

He testified he would pay the Norths in full if he could stay a few more days, which the Norths refused.

'Even if we never get our money, I just want to see that he doesn't do this to someone else like us,' Patty North said.

Polk said that while tenant disputes are typically civil matters, he plans to take his evidence to a criminal prosecutor.

The case has echoes of 'serial squatter' Elizabeth Hirschhorn, 55, who was finally booted out of a Brentwood home earlier this month.

She and landlord Sascha Jovanovic became embroiled in a lengthy legal fight in which she is demanding $100,000 to leave.

Janovich claimed Harvard graduate Hirschhorn, 55, owes him $60,000 in unpaid rent.

Hirschhorn unsuccessfully attempted to argue she is not required to pay because he had failed to get the correct permit for the shower inside the guesthouse.
A disgraced multi-millionaire tech tycoon was today slammed as arrogant and misogynistic by a judge as she jailed him for 15 years for sex attacks on three women.

Lawrence Jones, 55, who was once dubbed Britains nicest boss, behaved with entitlement, dominance and a total lack of regard for the rights and freedoms of women, Judge Sarah Johnston told him.

She said the success of the 700million business empire Jones created with his loyal wife hid the reality of a workplace that was tainted by your attitude to women.

The father of four had built a reputation as a business guru, playing chess against Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island and regularly featuring on the BBC.

Staff at his Manchester-based web hosting firm UKFast enjoyed perks including an on-site bar, ice rink, recording studio and even a den for taking naps.

Businessman Lawrence Jones - seen outside court - pounced on both women at his flat while working as a hotel pianist in the early 1990s. Pictured outside Manchester Crown Court in January

Former tech tycoon Lawrence Jones was last week found guilty of drugging and raping two women

Jones' loyal wife Gail, pictured today leaving Manchester Crown Court after his sentence, had stood by him during the trial. The couple share four daughters

Lawrence Jones arriving at Manchester Crown court earlier this year with wife Gail

Jones's success saw him appointed MBE in 2015 for services to the digital economy (pictured with wife Gail)

Lawrence Jones, once known as 'Britain's nicest boss', pictured with his wife Gail

But his fortune began to crumble following a bombshell Financial Times article in which unnamed female employees accused him of bullying and sexual harassment.

Last week the father-of-four was convicted of drugging and raping two stupefied women in the early 1990s while earning a living as a hotel pianist.

READ MORE - The stunning downfall of tycoon Lawrence Jones as he's found guilty of rape Advertisement

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 spend the past ten months behind bars on remand  could not be reported at the time to avoid prejudicing the jury in the second trial.

Today his 46-year-old wife and two elder daughters were in the public gallery to sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.

Jones watched grim-faced as all three women he was convicted of attacking sat side-by-side from behind a screen as they spelt out the impact of his crimes.

His first rape victim, referred to as Woman A, said she had been consumed by feelings of anger and revulsion after the attack.

When she learned years later that Jones had become a millionaire businessman and father of four girls, she felt struck to my core, she said.

But she did not go to police at that stage, saying that now he had daughters of his own he might have changed for the better.

However in January 2021 she learned that Jones had been charged with rape and sexual assault.

My response was immediate and visceral - I retched, she said.

She felt disgusted and repulsed but decided to go to police.

Rape and sexual assault are never, ever about sex, she added. Theyre only ever about power, something the perpetrator was clearly desperate to feel.

Woman B said her ordeal had made her mistrust mens motives.

Thirty years later I can clearly see him for what he is, she said. Everyone now knows the real Lawrence Jones.

To quote Lawrence Jones MBE We are the sum of all the decisions we make. How true that is.

Jones was appointed MBE for services to the digital economy in the 2015 New Years Honours list (pictured with his medal)

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

Woman D said she was sexually assaulted by my boss, someone in a position of power while on a business trip, somewhere I should have been safe.

I was isolated, trapped overnight.

She said the resulting anxiety and the battle to bring Jones to justice had consumed an entire decade of her life.

Jones pictured at the time he was earning a living as a hotel pianist

Jailing him, Judge Johnston told Jones his work ethic was unquestionable, as was his love for his family.

She said a letter from Mrs Jones had made plain the devastating impact of his convictions on his young daughters.

But she said that by contrast he had shown no remorse for his crimes.

Jones did not react when his sentence was handed down, but he mouthed I love you to his wife before being led to the cells.

The couples success at turning a business they started in a spare bedroom into a leading light of the UK tech sector saw Jones appointed MBE for services to the digital economy, and he twice donated 100,000 to the Conservative Party.

The Bentley-driving entrepreneurs downfall has been dubbed Manchesters #MeToo moment after he survived multiple allegations of sexism and accusations of being a dinosaur in a suit.

Jones, of Hale Barns, was acquitted of raping a second female former employee who alleged he had pinned her down and attacked her as she was preparing for the UKFast Christmas party at a trendy Manchester hotel in 2010.

A string of lurid revelations about his lifestyle and behaviour towards female employees emerged during the first trial.

They included his own claim that one performed a sex act upon him in the steam room of his 3million Cheshire mansion following a tequila-fuelled drinking session  something she denied.

Jones inside the Salford flat where the rapes took place. One of the women described him as having poor hygiene Pictured: Jones in his flat in the 90s

A young Jones on the phone inside the messy apartment in Salford in the 90s

Another testified that Jones told her she needed to have a boob job if she wanted to get ahead in the company.

His second trial last month heard that two women were rendered stupefied and left partially conscious but unable to react.

One claimed Jones invited her to his Salford flat for a late night drink in late 1993.

She told police she began feeling spaced out and very floaty after he poured her a glass of wine and rolled her a cannabis joint.

When she came round, she found him kissing her neck before a grinning Jones then had forceful sex with her.

The other alleged victim alleged that Jones told her to sniff a small medicine bottle with a clear liquid inside.

She claimed she immediately felt relaxed all over and really out of it, and slumped onto a bed where she alleged that Jones had opportunistic sex with her.

Jones maintained he would never give any substance to a woman without her consent.

This week Manchester Metropolitan University formally rescinded the award of honorary doctor of business administration it bestowed on Jones in 2016.
Israel has plans to eliminate Hamas and will take out its leaders abroad when the war ends, it has been reported.

Hamas leaders around the world could be the target for assassination, Israeli officials told WSJ.

According to the report, Israel has already started the preparation for targeted killings abroad.

Hamas group's members are known to hide across the Middle East.

In fact, Hamas terror chief Ismail Haniyeh was spotted cheering for joy from the safety of his Qatar office during the October 7 terror attacks.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a press conference: 'I have instructed the Mossad to act against the heads of Hamas wherever they are'

Israel Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant (pictured) said the Hamas leaders were 'marked for death'

The Israeli officials told WSJ: 'The question now for Israeli leaders isn't about whether to try to kill Hamas leaders elsewhere in the world, but whereand how.'

In November, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a press conference: 'I have instructed the Mossad to act against the heads of Hamas wherever they are.'

During the same conference, Israel Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant said the Hamas leaders were 'marked for death'.

But not everyone is on board with the plan as former Mossad director Efraim Halevy reportedly described the plan as 'far-fetched'.

He added: 'Pursuing Hamas on a worldwide scale and trying to systematically remove all its leaders from this world is a desire to exact revenge, not a desire to achieve a strategic aim.'

Hamas terror chief Ismail Haniyeh was spotted cheering for joy from the safety of his Qatar office during the October 7 terror attacks

Le Figaro reported that Qatar received assurances from Israel that Mossad will not eliminate terrorists on their soil.

Meanwhile, an Israeli government spokesman declared that 'will now take the mother of all thumpings' after a truce pausing fighting in the Gaza Strip expired and hostilities resumed.

'Unfortunately, Hamas decided to terminate the pause by failing to release all the kidnapped women,' government spokesman Eylon Levy told a briefing.

'Having chosen to hold onto our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings.'

Israel this morning relaunched its brutal offensive on Hamas with full force, firing a barrage of missiles and sending warplanes screaming over Gaza as a week-long ceasefire expired.

Smoke rises from buildings due to Israeli airstrikes after the humanitarian pause ended on December 01, 2023 in Rafah, Gaza

An injured Palestinian child is taken to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital to receive treatment after Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on December 01, 2023

The truce officially expired at 7am local time (5am GMT), but the IDF claimed that Hamas 'violated' the ceasefire early and launched rockets on Israel in the early hours, with footage shared to social media appearing to show attacks on the city of Sderot close to the border with Gaza.

Just under an hour before the ceasefire officially expired, the IDF claimed it had 'intercepted' another attack, adding that a 'number' of rockets had been fired by Hamas before the truce ended.

The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza said 14 people had been killed in the first two hours after fighting resumed. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, there were '14 dead and dozens injured, most of them women and children'.

Though the seven-day truce offered a welcome reprieve from bloodshed and saw Hamas release dozens of Israeli and foreign hostages, dozens more remain trapped inside Gaza as fighting resumed this morning.

Despite the fresh violence, Qatari and Egyptian mediators are still negotiating a new extension of the seven-day truce.
The ex-wife of a F1 tycoon has been handed a three-month jail sentence for failing to give him a 15million luxury chalet in the French Alps before the ski season.

Caroline de Vechere, 53, was found to be in contempt of court by a High Court judge after breaching an order telling her to transfer ownership of the chalet to her ex-husband Eric Hersman, 62.

Lawyers for the wealthy American financier had told the court he wanted his French ex 'out' of the property before the impending ski season and accused her of 'misappropriating' 1.5million in rent from the chalet.

They added that de Vechere had gone to 'immense lengths' to frustrate Mr Hersman and had 'repeatedly' failed to hand over control of the property to him.

Mr Justice Moor, who heard that the pair were married for more than 20 years and had lived in South Kensington, London, imposed the sentence at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court after Mr Hersman launched contempt proceedings.

Caroline de Vechere (pictured), 53, has been found to be in contempt of court as a result of failing to transfer ownership of the chalet

Lawyers for her ex-husband Eric Hersman (pictured) said he did not want his ex-wife to go to jail but wanted to comply with the order transferring ownership of the chalet to him

De Vechere was not at the hearing - staged in public at the Royal Courts of Justice complex in London - and was not represented by a barrister.

The judge, who heard that de Vechere was thought to be in France, made an order which means she could be arrested and imprisoned if she travels to England or Wales.

He said she could apply to 'purge' her contempt.

Lawyers representing Mr Hersman said he did not want to de Vechere go to jail - but to comply with the order to transfer ownership of the chalet.

The judge heard that Chalet Pearl, in Courchevel, could be worth in the region of 15 million.

Barrister Tim Amos KC, who led Mr Hersman's legal team, told Mr Justice Moor how another judge had made an order, in 2019, after overseeing a dispute over money between de Vechere and Mr Hersman at High Court hearings in London.

Mr Justice Moor heard that Mr Hersman had been ordered to pay de Vechere a lump sum of about 700,000, and de Vechere had been ordered to transfer ownership of the ski chalet.

He was told that the pair had also jointly owned a villa in Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera.

'The case concerns the sedulous, repeated failure of the respondent ex-wife to transfer to the applicant husband a premier luxury ski chalet in Courchevel, known as Chalet Pearl,' Mr Amos told Mr Justice Moor.

'(De Vechere) has gone to immense lengths to frustrate (Mr Hersman's) position.'

Ms de Vechere was told to hand over Chalet Pearl, in Courchevel, to her ex-husband but has not done so yet

Mr Amos told Mr Justice Moor that there had been a 'misappropriation' by de Vechere of more than 1.5 million in rent between October 2021 and February 2023.

He said there was an 'urgency' to 'get (de Vechere) out' before the impending ski season and told Mr Justice Moor that Mr Hersman had 'lucrative clients lined up to rent Chalet Pearl'.

Mr Justice Moor said he was 'satisfied beyond reasonable doubt' that de Vechere had breached an order and was in contempt.

He said de Vechere had 'no right' to rent out the chalet.

The judge said 'contempt of the High Court' was a 'very serious matter' and added: 'This contempt is so serious that an immediate sentence of imprisonment is the only sentence that I can pass.'

He told the hearing that de Vechere would serve half of the three-month sentence before being eligible for release on licence - and said, if arrested, she would return to court for a further hearing.

Lawyers told him that the pair had also been involved in litigation in France.
Republican fabulist George Santos has been expelled from Congress in an extraordinary vote after his long history of lying was exposed and he was hit with multiple criminal charges.

The Long Island congressman, who stole donor funds to spend on OnlyFans and Botox, fled Capitol Hill as he became just the sixth House member in history to be kicked out.

Over 100 Republicans joined Democrats in booting out the fabulist liar in a historic vote Friday totaling 311 to 114, with two members voting 'present.'

Santos stormed off the House floor minutes before the vote sealing his fate concluded. He warned reporters immediately after that the House 'set a new dangerous precedent for themselves' adding, 'to hell with this place.'

Facing the daunting vote count, serial fabulist 35-year-old George Santos remained defiant until the very end, but said he would leave Congress if it is 'God's will.'

His mountains of lies include fabricating family links to the Holocaust, 9/11 killing his mother, working on Wall Street, recovering from a brain tumor, being of Ukrainian-Jewish descent and starting a charity.

Santos stormed off the House floor minutes before the vote sealing his fate concluded

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) is surrounded by journalists as he leaves the U.S. Capitol after his fellow members of Congress voted to expel him from the House of Representatives

It's the sixth time the House of Representatives has voted to expel a member in history. And it is the first time a member has been expelled without a conviction or because of support for the Confederacy during Civil War times.

Santos survived a vote to expel him last month because 31 Democrats and most Republicans voted to keep him, many of them saying they would rather wait until an Ethics Committee report came out detailing his wrongdoings. It takes a two-thirds vote in the House to expel a sitting member of Congress.

This vote was different, with 105 total Republicans voting to boot out their colleague. Santos is the first member to be expelled in more than two decades.

The devastating ethics report alleged he improperly diverted campaign contributions to pay for Botox treatments, Hermes bags, OnlyFans purchases and cash withdrawals at a casino.

Now, the Republican's thin majority in the House is even smaller, and the GOP can only afford to lose three votes. The new breakdown totals 221 Republicans and 213 Democrats.

Despite denying it, internet sleuths appear to have discovered that Santos - who is claimed to be pictured here dressed in drag in 2007 - confirmed it himself in a 2011 post on Wikipedia

Some in GOP leadership - including Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik - were reluctant to expel Santos because he has not been convicted in court for his alleged crimes.

Santos' expulsion from the House is immediate and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will have to declare the seat vacant and call for a special election to fill his position.

Hochul wrote on X Friday: 'I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New Yorks 3rd District. The people of Long Island deserve nothing less.'

Santos has pleaded not guilty to 23 charges in federal court, including identity theft, charging his donors' credit cards without their approval and submitting false campaign reports. He is not expected to face a trial until next September.

In the now-public ethics report, Santos was found to have used campaign money and donations to fund a lavish lifestyle, engaged in fraud, filed false election reports and 'willfully' violated ethics.

The freshman member called his expulsion vote and the report 'theater for the American people at the expense of the American people because no real work's getting done.'

'I've accepted the fate. I believe that if it's God's will to keep me here, I will stay. And if it is His will for me to leave, I will leave, and I will do so graciously,' he told Fox & Friends in an interview hours before he was set to be judged by his colleagues.

Separately, Santos has already pleaded not guilty to 23 charges in federal court, including identity theft, charging his donors' credit cards without their approval and submitting false campaign reports.

He is not expected to face a trial until next September.

The Ethics Committee said two charges of $1,500 and one $1,400 on the congressman's campaign debit card, which were not submitted to the FEC, were listed as 'Botox'.

The report notes another $20,000 transfer from the campaign to Santos' company Devolder, whose account had a negative balance at the time. From there, money was used to make $6,000 worth of purchases at Ferragamo, withdraw $800 in cash at a casino, withdraw another $1,000 in cash near Santos' apartment, and to pay his rent.

The report found Santos also received repayments to his personal account for money he had never loaned to the campaign.

Ethics report key takeaways:

H ouse Ethics Committee found Santos 'sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit'

Says the Long Island lawmaker was a 'willing participant' in a 'complex web of unlawful activity'

Santos spent thousands in campaign funds on Botox treatments and trips to Atlantic City with his husband

The Republican used $3,000 in campaign funds for an Airbnb in the Hamptons

Transfer to his business was used on $6,000 of luxury Ferragamo goods, to pay his rent and for $800 at a casino

Santos made a purchase on his campaign debit card note as 'Botox'

Santos told his campaign staff he had a Maserati despite no evidence he ever owned one

Inflated six personal loans to his campaign. He claimed they were worth $80,000 when they only amounted to $3,500

Santos has pleaded not guilty to 23 charges in federal court, including identity theft, charging donors credit cards without authorization and submitting false campaign finance reports

In the now-public ethics report, Santos was found to have used campaign money and donations to fund a lavish lifestyle, engaged in fraud, filed false election reports and 'willfully' violated ethics

Congressman George Santos said he will introduce a measure to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm ahead of a House vote to remove Santos himself

The defiant New York Republican again insisted he will not resign - he will force his colleagues to remove him and will go down fighting

He inflated over six personal loans he made to the campaign - which in reality totaled $3,500 but he had claimed would total as much as $80,000.

'Representative Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit,' the report stated.

In announcing he would not run again but would remain in Congress through the end of his term, Santos posted on X: 'My family deserves better than to be under the gun from the press all the time.'

The other lies that the infamous liar told span nearly every aspect of his life.

In one interview, Santos said his family name on his mother's side was the historically Jewish name 'Zabrovsky.'

'My grandfather was born in Kyiv and left in the late 20s and migrated to Belgium where he met my grandmother and then started a family,' Santos told Fox Digital in February. 'We don't carry the Ukrainian last name, for a lot of people who are descendants of World War II refuges or survivors of the Holocaust, a lot of names or paperwork were changed in the name of survival.'

Reports indicate that there have been no successful efforts to find any Jewish or Ukrainian heritage in his family tree according to the Forward.

Santos said in a separate interview in 2020 that he was raised by 'a white Caucasian mother, an immigrant from Belgium. But Santos' mother, Fatima Devolder, was born in Brazil, according to her obituary in 2016.

Additionally, resurfaced tweets showed that Santos, who is Brazilian-American, claimed in July 2020 on Twitter that he was biracial, meaning 'Caucasian and black.'

Santos also wrote in a July 2021 tweet that he was 'blocking' an account with the handle '9/11 was a victimless crime' because his mother was a victim of the terrorist attack.

He wrote, '9/11 claimed my mother's life so I'm blocking so I don't ever have to read this again,' after the user responded to a tweet from Santos regarding immigration.

An obituary for Santos' mother, however, states that she died in December 2016, which is more than 15 years after the attack took place.

He also confirmed the real date in a December 2021 tweet where he said: 'December 23rd this year marks 5 years I lost my best friend and mentor. Mom you will live forever in my heart.'

Santos' campaign website said his mother 'survived the tragic events of September 11th' in the South Tower office of the World Trade Center and died 'a few years later when she lost her battle to cancer.'

A New York Times report had described Santos' mother as a 'domestic worker' or 'housekeeper.'

His campaign website described his mother as a top executive.

'George's work ethic comes from his mother, who came from nothing, but worked her way up to be the first female executive at a major financial institution,' the website states.
Hopes that Israel and Hamas would be able to negotiate a fresh truce to stem the bloodshed in Gaza were dashed today after the Palestinian group did not produce a new list of hostages it is willing to release.

The families of hostages still being held in Gaza on Friday said the end of a truce that saw 80 kidnapped Israelis freed was a 'very hard blow' to bear.

Under an agreement between Hamas and Israel, the hostages were being released at a rate of 10 each day, forcing the families to endure an agonising waiting game.

But as the pause in the conflict ended early this morning, there was bitter disappointment for the families of those still not freed. This disappointment quickly turned to despair and fear as the IDF restarted its brutal bombing campaign of Hamas targets up and down the Gaza Strip.

'We saw a chance for people to come out, be reunited with their families and resume their old lives,' said Ilan Zharia, the uncle of 20-year-old Eden Yerushalmi, one of the women not to have been released.

His niece and other young women detainees had been 'very close to being freed', he said, speaking at an event in Tel Aviv organised by the Hostage Families Forum.

Instead the resumption of hostilities has quickly brought about fresh bloodshed - Gazan health authorities this afternoon reported 109 Palestinians had been killed in a matter of hours since the end of the peace deal early this morning.

The bleak fate faced by those living in Gaza was put into perspective by former RAF Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell, who told Sky News up to 75,000 Gazans could be killed before Israel is able to defeat Hamas.

A Palestinian girl wounded in Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is brought to a hospital in Khan Younis, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023

Palestinian search for victims following the resumption of Israeli bombing raids on houses in Rafah in southern Gaza on Friday, December 1, 2023

A Palestinian infant wounded in an Israeli strike on a house receives medical attention, after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 1, 2023

A plume of smoke rises during an Israeli strike on the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023

A young child injured in Israeli airstrikes arrives at Nasser Medical Hospital on December 01, 2023 in Khan Younis, Gaza

Palestinian medics search for survivors in the rubble of a building following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023

A Palestinian boy wounded in an Israeli strike is assisted, after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 1

Palestinians carry wounded children following an Israeli strike on a house, after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip December 1, 2023

Smoke rises from buildings due to Israeli airstrikes after the humanitarian pause ended on December 01, 2023 in Rafah, Gaza

Israeli airstrikes hit houses and buildings in the Gaza Strip minutes after the expiry of the truce, sending black smoke billowing from the besieged territory.

Israeli Mia Schem is released from hospital alongside her overjoyed family as it is revealed she was operated on by a VET while held by Hamas Advertisement

The resumption of the war threatens to quickly compound the suffering in Gaza. Some 2 million people - almost its entire population - are crammed into the territory's south, where Israel urged people to relocate at the start of the war and has since vowed to extend its ground assault.

Unable to go into north Gaza or neighbouring Egypt, the only escape for people is to move around within the 85-square-mile area and hope to avoid Israel's munitions.

In the leaflets dropped in southern Gaza this morning, Israel urged people to leave homes east of Khan Younis, warning that the southern town was now a 'dangerous battle zone'.

One of the IDF's first airstrikes destroyed a large building in Khan Younis, with harrowing images showing how residents were frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached, while stricken passers-by staggered about the debris clutching their wounds.

Meanwhile Qatar, which has served as a mediator along with Egypt, said negotiators were still trying to reach an agreement on restarting the ceasefire.

Israel and Hamas traded blame for ending the truce, but Qatar's Foreign Ministry singled out Israel's role in the resumption of fighting, saying it 'complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe.'

The IDF meanwhile has argued Hamas broke the truce, firing rockets into southern Israel in the early hours of this morning before the ceasefire had expired.

It comes just one day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli officials and urged them to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas.

'Clearly, we want to see this process continue to move forward... We want an eighth day and beyond,' he told reporters in Tel Aviv.

Palestinians inspect the site of Israeli strikes on houses after a temporary truce between Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel expired, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 1, 2023

An Israeli soldier stands on his tank at an undisclosed location near the Israeli-Gaza border, in Israel, 01 December 2023

Palestinian medics work to rescue a man from the rubble of a building which collapsed following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023

Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023, after battles resumed between Israel and the Hamas movement

Palestinians begin to migrate to areas in the central part of the city due to Israeli attacks following the end of the week-long humanitarian pause in Khan Yunis, Gaza on December 01, 2023

Palestinians evacuate wounded in Israeli bombardment Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023

Negotiators have until now concentrated on securing the release of women and children.

The release of male hostages and soldiers, male and female, is likely to be much harder to negotiate, with their captors expected to demand a high price for their freedom.

And it is not clear to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed the appeals of the United States, Israel's most important ally.

Netanyahu's office said Friday that 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.'

Netanyahu said Hamas had violated the terms of the truce and as such merited an armed response.

'It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens,' he said in a statement.

Hamas blamed Israel, saying in a statement that it had rejected all offers Hamas made to release more hostages and bodies of the dead.

Netanyahu has been under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home. But his far-right governing partners have also pushed him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

During the truce, which began one week ago, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel. Virtually all of those freed were women and children.

A total of 81 Israelis, including dual nationals, were freed during the truce. Another 24 hostages - 23 Thais and one Filipino - were also released, including several men.

The 240 Palestinians released were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several were women who were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers.
A young Mexican women has learned the hard way that not all love stories enjoy a happy ending.

Kary Santana had spent the last two years chatting with an Ohio man she met online and sold her on the dream of spending their lives together.

But the 30-year-old revealed in viral TikTok video - viewed more than two million times - that after flying to meet the 27-year-old man in Indianapolis last month to spend two weeks with him, it emerged he had a girlfriend all along.

The lovebirds visited a bar and nightclub, but Santana noticed that he was acting strangely and disappearing for long stretches.

His cell rang non-stop for an hour while he was sleeping after a night of heavy drinking so she decided to pick up because she was curious about the amount of calls and ended up speaking with his girlfriend of one month.

Santana also told DailyMail.com the man, whose name she is withholding, expressed sadness over the breakup with his former girlfriend in 2019 during their night out.

Kary Santana spent the last two years talking to an Ohio man, who told her he wanted to marry her, and flew last month to Indianapolis to spend two weeks with him and get to know him more before she discovered that he had a girlfriend back home

Kary Santana said she found out that the love interest who she traveled to see in Indianapolis actually had a girlfriend when the phone would not stop ringing while he was knocked out sleeping after a long night of drinking

In a TikTok video the Mexico City resident said: 'I have been here one week and he already drunkenly told me that he does not want me here, that he misses his ex-girlfriend,'

'Now I am in Indianapolis but he lives in Ohio and he has another girlfriend in Ohio and he is blatantly lying to her and he is telling her that he is with his friend when he is with me.'

The Mexican entrepreneur was also dealing with the dilemma that she had nowhere to stay because her return flight was scheduled for November 19.

Santana joked that she had no other options but to take a page out of Tom Hanks's character in The Terminal until she could fly back home.

'Like literally I'm adrift and the guy is super asleep, super drunk, but I'm just waiting for dawn to go to the airport and live like Tom Hanks or I don't know dude,' she said while panning the camera around the room.

Santana was also accepting invitations from her TikTok followers as long as they lived in Indiana and would allow her to crash in their sofas for the time being.

'I would really appreciate it because I don't know what to do. Like I could I buy another return flight but I don't know. I don't know if there are flights. I don't know what's up,' she said.

'He literally just told me like, 'You need to get the f*** out of here because I miss my ex-girlfriend' and he's lying to another girl.'

At one point, Santana admitted feeling like if the man had made a mockery of out her.

'I feel like I was clowned. I feel like I was clowned,' she said. 'I was internationally humiliated, wow, that's the last thing I was missing.'

Followers on Santana's TikTok poured in with support with one person offering to help.

'My wife is in Indianapolis, write back,' one user wrote.

Another TikToker felt empathy for Santana, telling her: 'I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's so hard to trust people these days.'

Kary Santana said that at one point the Ohio man told her to 'get the f***' out of the hotel room before she eventually flew back to her home in Mexico

Kary Santana joked with her TikTok followers in a video viewed more than 2 million times that 'love' was not a thing for her after she revealed her heart was broken by a man who told her he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her before she discovered he was lying about were he lived and that he actually was involved with another woman

One follower thought the letdown was part of the process.

'Take care of yourself baby! It was worth the trip to really get to know him otherwise you wouldn't know,' a woman told her. 'You are worth gold, leave or say goodbye, it is not worth it.'

Another suggested she leave the hotel immediately and head to the airport and change her flight.

'Girl just go change your flight and bye bye Indiana,' one woman wrote.

Santana eventually left the apartment and booked her own hotel room, deciding not to cut short her trip because she also wanted to experience the fall foliage.

The guilt-ridden man apologized for his behavior and did not want her to leave, insisting his reaction was caused by excessive alcohol intake.

'He apologized a lot for having harmed me and for having told me what he said to me,' Santana said.

The man also said the woman who claimed to be his girlfriend had only gone out with him on one date.

'He said there was nothing. But the chic was very persistent,' Santana said. 'I didn't believe him. His reaction was total regret.'

She said he accepted it was his fault and that they are both at peace.

'It was an experience,' Santana said. 'The reality is that you do learn from these things. I think that's the greatest lesson. How to understand that sometimes it will work, sometimes it won't. It doesn't have to deal with out.'
Did someone dose my chamomile last night or did we really watch two big state governors go toe-to-toe in a substantive debate over the issues that actually matter to America?

It wasn't a dream!

Governors Gavin Newsom  who is clearly not running for president (wink!)  and Ron DeSantis duked it out in front of my friend Sean Hannity over issues ranging from COVID lockdowns and homelessness to barely blurred cartoon porn and poop maps.

Sure, it wasn't the Lincoln-Douglas debates, but I'll take what I can get.

Right off the bat, Newsom summed up what we were thinking: 'What are we all doing here?'

The answer for the slick string bean (who always seems to be doing a creepy Patrick Bateman impression) is drawing a clear contrast between himself and our aging, ashen Commander-in-Chief, President Stumblebum.

Newsom claims he's not running for the top job, but as we learned last night you can't exactly believe the words flowing from between those gleaming white chompers.

Governor Hair Putty has been to China and Israel (not to mention Iowa and Florida) un-selling himself as the next Leader of the Free World. This 'Great Red State/Blue State Debate' allowed Grinning Gavin to opine on national issues in front of a massive audience of potential voters.

He got to finger wag, name-call and pontificate; all the while cheerleading for the Biden/Harris ticket like he wouldn't elbow them both off the Golden Gate Bridge and pretend he was sneezing.

Governors Gavin Newsom  who is clearly not running for president (wink!)  and Ron DeSantis duked it out in front of my friend Sean Hannity over issues ranging from COVID lockdowns and homelessness to barely blurred cartoon porn and poop maps (shown above).

Right off the bat, Newsom summed up what we were all thinking: 'What are we all doing here?'

DeSantis on the other hand had much more to lose. It doesn't look particularly presidential to debate someone who isn't officially running. But by landing the right philosophical jabs Ron could conceivably re-frame his dragging campaign by deftly taking on an able ideological nemesis.

And that's exactly what last night offered  the debate America deserved.

It was the first time post-COVID that we heard from two major politicians after collecting the data to inform us on how badly we've suffered over the last four years.

Distrust in government grew when we were told to shut up and stay inside, especially in California where Greasy Gavin dined at fancy pants French Laundry while his mask-mandated citizenry huddled over Hungry-mans.

Now in the glare of hindsight, America sees that COVID death rates in the two states were almost identical even though vastly different restrictions were in place.

California was a Tony Fauci-ian nightmare, while Florida's blue hairs roamed free.

Now the Golden State grapples with a net population loss of 750,000 residents over the past two years compared to the Sunshine state's 450,000-person gain.

Them's the facts. But when the going got tough - Gavin squirmed, deflected, and outright lied. Viewers might've felt like they overdosed on pharmaceutical grade delusion.

Taking a page out of President Donald Trump's playbook, Newsom accused DeSantis of, '[closing] down your beaches, your bars, your restaurants. It is a fact.'

Not 'a fact.'

Ron never ordered his sandy shores closed. He did bolt the doors on hotspots in the virus's early days, but opened them up earlier than most governors in the spring of 2020. Meanwhile, half of California's restaurants went out of business for good.

When the going got tough - Gavin squirmed, deflected, and outright lied. Viewers might've felt like they overdosed on pharmaceutical grade delusion.

Ron never ordered his sandy shores closed. He did bolt the doors on hotspots in the virus's early days, but opened them up earlier than most governors in the Spring of 2020.

Newsom also can't refute that his state bowed to the teachers' unions who bilked the feds out of $200 billion in mostly unused 'relief', as they goosestepped all over kids and parents with Fauci's blessing 'out an abundance of caution.'

On illegal immigration, Ron skewered Da Ali Gavin with the flaming hot poker of Biden's failed border policies which allow millions  including thousands from Iran, Afghanistan and Syria and an untold number of terrorists  to illicitly enter the country.

Newsom? 'When [DeSantis] was in Congress, he supported amnesty.'

Objection  relevance? And wrong to boot.

Congressman Ron voted to offer legal status to DACA recipients - kids brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents. So that's another nasty smear, Gav.

But the bad trip really started to set in when the Newsomian doublespeak turned to Bidenomics.

He touted low black unemployment, yet black voters are voting Republican in higher numbers because, like most Americans, they feel their quality of life declining.

Violent crime and homelessness are all worse in California, but to hear Gooey Gavin tell it he's lording over the safest, most home-ful state in the union.

'Human feces is now a fact of life,' said DeSantis holding up a map of San Francisco  a Map of the Stars from Hell  documenting everywhere in the city someone has relieved themselves.

Worst of all, despite Hannity's best efforts, Newsom never answered the damn question, and - most disappointingly - DeSantis never seized on the opportunity to hammer home just how oily the handsome governor really is.

'Human feces is now a fact of life,' said DeSantis holding up a map of San Francisco  a Map of the Stars from Hell  documenting everywhere in the city where someone has relieved themselves.

The slick string bean (who always seems to be doing a creepy Patrick Bateman impression) is drawing a clear contrast between himself and our aging, ashen Commander-in-Chief, President Stumblebum.

Yes, Ron blasted Newsom's 'slick and slipperyblizzard of lies,' but he was too stiff and failed to paint Gavin for what he is: the latest in a long line of shameless leftists, who will do or say anything.

Did this debate breathe new life into DeSantis 2024? Sadly, no.

And the biggest load of hot turds last night came when Governor Pants on Fire was asked about Biden's age and ability.

Hannity to the Governors: How would you grade President Biden?

Ron: Big Fat F.

Newsom: A.

You could almost hear Biden bellowing from the bowels of the White House: 'COME ON MAN! Even I know you're are a lying dog-faced pony soldier!'

Newsom to DeSantis: 'I'd take Biden at 100 over you.'

Sick burn, you friggin' sycophant!

Clearly Newsom doesn't believe anything he says - not about lockdowns or the economy or Biden/Harris or his phony outrage over the pronunciation of the Vice President's name ('It's KAH-muh-luh! How dare you!!').

This debate was a roadmap to 2024 for Republicans. Hold the Dems' darn feet to the fire, because when COVID hit they went full authoritarian and the country is still paying the price.

Unfortunately for Ron  he may not be the man to make that case.

And Gavin  I wouldn't start measuring the Oval Office drapes just yet.
Serial liar former Rep. George Santos joins a short list of just five lawmakers who committed treason against the Union or tried to steal from constituents or taxpayers and got kicked out of the House.

The House has rarely used its power to expel members from its ranks. It has now happened just six times since 1789. Santos is the latest, after just 100 Republicans joined Democrats on a 311 to 114 vote to throw him out of the body.

That came after Santos complained about being lumped in with 'three Confederate turncoats' and two more recent lawmakers, one now dead, who were expelled following their criminal convictions.

The Confederates were Reps. John B. Clark and John W. Reid of Missouri and Henry Burnett of Kentucky. The other two were Rep. Michael 'Ozzie' Myers of Pennsylvania and Rep. James C. Traficant of Ohio.

Clark was a slaveowner elected as a Whig who then joined the Democrats. He served in both the House and the Confederate Congress and led a secessionist guard force in his home state, then took up arms against the U.S.

Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was expelled from Congress on a 311 to 114 vote. He complained shortly before the vote about being lumped in with 'turncoats who were expelled for treason'

Reid was a slaveholder who led raiders to attack the Kansas town of Osawatomie and battled forces of John Brown during the run-up to the Civil War  something he did before he was elected to the House.

Burnett was a slaveowner and secessionist who also took up arms against the United States. He served as a colonel in the Confederate Army and served as a senator in the Confederate Congress.

Traficant, the last member to be expelled, was convicted on bribery, fraud, and obstruction charges after representing himself at trial. He died in farm accident after serving his sentence.

He was a colorful lawmaker who made use of C-SPAN's broadcast of proceedings, known for yelling 'Beam Me Up!' during speeches and sporting an infamous toupee. He was removed on a 420 to 1 vote.

Beam me up! Former Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, was convicted on fraud charges and expelled after the Ethics Committee found him guilty on 9 counts. He was expelled after being convicted of 10 counts in court on a 420-1 vote in 2002

John W. Reid led forces attacking the town in the Battle of Osawatomie in 1956, then got elected to Congress. He was kicked out after serving in the Confederate Congress

John B. Clark, Representative from Missouri, led a secessionist guard force in his home state and joined the Confederate Congress

Hon. Henry Cornelius Burnett of KY, between 1855 and 1865. He was a colonel in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War

Rep. Michael Myers, D-Pa., was convicted in the Abscam scandal, then went back to jail last year after pleading guilty to election fraud charges

Myers was served time in prison after his conviction in the Abscam scandal after taking bribes from undercover FBI agents, serving more than a year in prison. Last year he reported back to prison last year at the age of 79 after pleading guilty to election fraud charges.

Santos is accused of diverting campaign funds and using them to fund Botox treatments, Hermes bags, OnlyFans payments, and cash withdrawals at a casino. He blasted colleagues for forcing him into the expulsion club in advance of his trial, set for September.

He said it was unfair to do so before a conviction, even while admitting there are things he would have done differently.

'I want people to vote their conscience and I don't want to make anybody feel uncomfortable,' he told Fox News hours before his expulsion.

'So if it's your choice to change precedent and loop me in with three Confederate turncoats who were expelled for treason, and two convicted members who were convicted in a court of law, so I'll be the first person to get expelled from Congress without a conviction or without committing treason. And it sets a dangerous new precedent for the future ... to the the demise of this body eventually,' he said.

He also said in that interview he would be 'gracious' if his colleagues voted to remove him. Then after the vote he said 'to hell with this place' before wading through a media phalanx to get into a black car.
The number of international students remaining in the US after finishing their degree has risen to around 200,000 per year.

The increase has been fueled by more relaxed visa policies from a succession of Democrat and Republican presidents.

New data from the Institute of International Education, a State Department agency showed there were more than a million international students currently in the United States, with more than 800,000 enrolled in college and almost 200,000 participating in the government's Optional Practical Training program.

This means nearly 200,000 foreigners classified as students are actually working, without paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, making them cheaper to hire than Americans, the College Fix reports.

The figures show that international students remaining in the US on student visas has doubled in the past decade.

The numbers of international students has risen sharply in recent years

President George W. Bush added 17 months to the work period for international student visas

The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows international students to remain in the country as workers after they graduate.

The program initially allowed some foreign students to work for an American employer for 12 months to receive training in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math).

President George W. Bush added 17 months to the work period, and a subsequent rule from the Obama administration gave STEM graduates 36 months of OPT as 'students.'

Most recently the Biden administration expanded eligibility for OPT by adding dozens of majors broadly classified under STEM, including business analytics and financial analytics.

A rule proposed last month would also offer OPT authorization for workers waiting to be approved for an H-1B visa.

The Institute of International Education told the College Fix that 'International students on OPT remain on a student visa as their work experience is practical training related to their studies.

Most recently the Biden administration expanded eligibility for OPT by adding dozens of majors broadly classified under STEM

Adding: 'As such, U.S. colleges and universities still hold their student visa and are able to provide insights about how many students pursue this opportunity.'

However, thinktank the Center for Immigration Studies argues that the figures actually downplay the tax break.

'Every version of the report in prior years was totally silent on this subsidy,' analyst David North told the College Fix.

'The speakers announcing the report [this month] were equally quiet on this subject.'

North estimates the tax break to be worth around $1 billion characterizing it as 'a disguised  and subsidized  foreign worker program at the expense of our elderly, sick, and unemployed.
Ruth Perry had 'dark thoughts' about ending her own life after the Ofsted inspection which downgraded her school, her husband has told an inquest.

The headteacher, 53, felt she had 'let everyone down' when the watchdog changed the rating of Caversham Primary School in Reading from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate', Jonathan Perry said in a statement.

He said that she worried about the impact on the wider community, fearing it would cause her neighbours' house prices to plummet and that locals would be 'angry' at her as a result.

Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters, previously said the headteacher had experienced the 'worst day of her life' after inspectors reviewed the school on November 15 and 16 last year.

The inquest heard that following the Ofsted visit, Ms Perry spoke to her local GP, as well as contacting local mental health services.

Ruth Perry had 'dark thoughts' about ending her own life after the Ofsted inspection which downgraded her school, her husband has told an inquest

The headteacher, 53, felt she had 'let everyone down' when the watchdog changed the rating of Caversham Primary School in Reading from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate', Jonathan Perry said in a statement

Ms Perry's GP, Dr Tom Back, gave evidence to the inquest at Berkshire Coroner's Office in Reading on Friday.

He said Ms Perry spoke both to him and another GP in the weeks following the Ofsted inspection.

Mr Back said he had known Ms Perry for years, and that she had no history of mental illness, except for one visit to the GP around 30 years ago over stress.

Senior coroner Heidi Connor asked Mr Back if there was a link between the Ofsted inspection and Ms Perry's mental health deterioration and death.

He said: 'Yes, I think there is a link.'

He later added that the inspection contributed 'in a more than minimal way' to Ms Perry's death.

Previously, the inquest heard that Ms Perry and her husband were due to exchange contracts on a new home.

Mr Back said Ms Perry became concerned about the cost of going through with the deal after the Ofsted inspection, as she was worried that she would lose her job and she was the 'main breadwinner'.

The court also heard more from the statement of her husband, who said: 'She kept repeating that she had let everyone down.

He said that Ms Perry worried about the impact of the school's downgrading on the local community.

'She worried that local house prices would fall and that the whole community would be angry at her,' he said.

Ruth Perry's death sparked an outpouring of emotion from the local community (two women pictured with signs in March)

Ms Perry's sister, Professor Julia Waters (pictured), previously said the headteacher had experienced the 'worst day of her life' after inspectors reviewed the school on November 15 and 16 last year

Mr Perry said his wife regretted buying their new home.

He said that she began to have 'dark thoughts' about ending her own life, and that she asked him to take her to hospital.

READ MORE: Headteachers struggling to sleep due to stress of Ofsted visits is 'usual', Ruth Perry inquest hears Advertisement

They visited Prospect Park Hospital, a psychiatric centre in Reading.

The headteacher then began to see her local GP, as well as local mental health services.

Mr Perry said his wife was very depressed and anxious over the rest of the term.

He said that she felt 'completely devastated', but she did not feel that she was allowed to talk about the inspection with anyone, due to maintaining confidentiality about the result.

Brian Grady, director of education at Brighter Futures for Children, which supports schools on behalf of Reading Borough Council, also gave evidence to the inquest on Friday.

He was asked about the decision not to appeal against the result of Ofsted's inspection of Caversham Primary School.

Mr Grady said that while be believed lead Ofsted inspector Alan Derry's behaviour had caused 'distress', the issues raised were around his 'tone'.

'There was nothing I had heard that meant that we could escalate a complaint around behaviour,' he said.

He said that Ofsted's rulebook set out what would happen if certain things were not in place.

He added: 'At the time my view was that I was not able to challenge the rules that Ofsted had set down.'
An Illinois appeals court has slapped down Jussie Smollett's appeal against disorderly conduct.

Smollett was jailed last year for staging an anti-gay, racist hate crime on himself and filing a false police report in January 2019.

During the police probe into the incident, Chicago cops concluded that Smollett had hired brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo to carry out the crime.

Smollett was convicted on five counts of disorderly conduct, sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months felony probation and $120,106 in restitution to the City of Chicago and a $25,000 fine.

However, he only served six days in jail before he was released on March 16, 2022 when his lawyer's filed an appeal.

Empire actor Jussie Smollett filed an appeal of the December 2021 conviction for staging an anti-gay, racist attack on himself and then lying to Chicago police about it

Brothers Abel and Ola Osunadairo, who were hired by the actor to attack him

Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about being the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack

Now the Appellate Court of Cook County has denied the appeal Smollett may be required to complete the rest of his sentence.

During the original sentencing hearing Smollett shouted at the judge that he was innocent, warning that he was not suicidal and if he died in custody it was somebody else, and not him, who would have taken his life.

Smollett initially told Chicago police he had been accosted on a darkened street by two masked strangers.

According to his account of the attack, the assailants threw a noose around his neck and poured chemicals on him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs and expressing support for then-President Donald Trump.

The two assaulters were Nigerian brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, who are black.

The brothers, who testified in court, told the jury Smollett hired them to fake the attack because he wanted to boost his celebrity profile.

Smollett later claimed that in the days before the stunt, when prosecutors said he and the brothers were rehearsing the attack, they were actually getting together to smoke marijuana.

Smollett shocked the court by claiming he 'made out with' and 'masturbated' with Abimbola Osundairo during a visit to a bathhouse.

Jussie Smollett was found guilty of orchestrating and reporting a false hate crime on himself

Jussie Smollett raises his fist to proclaim his innocence as he is escorted to jail at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse during his sentencing for staging an attack on himself in Chicago, 10 March 2022

Jussie Smollett poses for a Cook County jail booking photograph as he begins his sentence in Chicago, March 10, 2022

Nigerian brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundario recreated how they staged the attack on actor Jussie Smollett in January 2019

The actor told the jury he thought the brothers staged the attack on him to try to scare him into thinking he needed bodyguards, and to give them the job.

Offering their point of view in a segment for a FOX Nation docuseries on Smollett's web of lies the brothers returned to the scene of the 'crime' and share how they gave him a 'noogie' and poured bleach on his shirt before they ran away in the darkness of night.

The brothers took cameras to the spot where they sat on a bench waiting in the cold for Smollett at 2am on January 29.

'We had no phones because he did not want us to bring any phones,' Abimbola said. 'He said, "So we don't lose them." I don't know if that's really the reason, but you can deduce your own reason.'

He claimed Smollett told them to show up at exactly 2am, but 'he was nowhere to be found, so we're like "Damn, what do we do?"

'We had no way of contacting him, he had no way of contacting us.'

At that point, his brother interjected to say that they were waiting for Smollett for about four minutes 'but it felt like forever.'

'Because it was cold as balls,' Abimbola explained.

Smollett's face is blurred but he's seen holding the long white rope nose around his neck

Eventually, he said, he saw Smollett walking 'out the corner of my eye,' and the two sprang into action remarking 'We gotta go get this Empire f******' and 'Let's get that n*****.'

When they go to cross the street, Abimbola said, they said 'Hey n*****' to get his attention, 'and then he turned around, looked at us and that's when we started yelling the famous slurs he wanted us to yell.'

Among those slurs was 'This is MAGA country.'

'And then he said, "What did you say to me?" And that's when I threw the first punch at him. I held the blow, of course, so I made it look real.

'And then we started tussling, moving around and then I threw him to the ground,' Abimbola continued, noting: 'He wanted it to look like he fought back. That was very important to him.'

Abimbola said he 'wanted it to look more real, so then I threw him to the ground. I used my knuckle to give him a nooggie,' demonstrating how he balled his face and rotated around Smollett's eye.

'Why did I do that? To make it look like he had a scar , to give him a mark, to make it look real like he really did get his a** beat,' he explained. 'After I did that, I fake kicked him.'

That's when Olabinjo said he 'came around with the bleach  the infamous bleach n the hot sauce bottle, poured it on his shirt, then I finally put the rope around his face.

Considered the state's star witnesses at the time, the brother's both delivered in-depth testimonies that laid bare the plot, leading to the actor's conviction in December 2021

'I did not put it around his neck,' he emphasized. 'I just placed it on his face, and that's when we took off.'

But when cops arrived at Smollett's apartment 40 minutes after he made the call to police about a hate crime, he still had a white noose around his neck. He said he left it on to show the cops what happened as he also pointed to the bleach on his shirt.

But after just three days of probing the incident, cops began to hone in on the brothers - and subsequently suspected that Smollett's hate crime claims were, in fact, bogus.

Video evidence from more than 55 sources would prove that narrative to be true, unmasking the brothers as the definite culprits.

At this point, due to conflicting accounts offered by Smollett, cops knew the incident was a hoax - but were then faced with the task with forcing it from the brothers' mouths themselves.

Cops quickly encountered a road block after learning the pair were out of the country, but would only have to wait a few weeks before they would return.

They eventually were able to confront the brothers when they handed over their passports.

They were held in a Cook County detention cell for 47 hours before they cracked and owned up to taking part in Smollett's strange plot for the first time - which they said the actor designed with the ultimate goal of being viewed as a hero for not only the LGBTQ community, but to black people as well.

In the aftermath, the brothers said they were dumbfounded by Smollett's public remarks about the experience.

Speaking about how the actor consistently lied and tried to play innocent after the hoax, the brothers told Fox Nation: 'Insane. That's when I really saw a different side of Jussie. Like, dude, really? This is when I knew that this dude was like a super villain.'

'I thought he was a good actor, but I also thought this guy was a fraud,' said Amibola of Smollett's continued attitude toward the incident, which has remained unchanged since his 2021 trial.

'This guy is really just sitting her, lying to these people. Lying through his teeth, and not caring,' he said, referencing how Smollett 'even shed a tear' during a now widely seen interview with ABC News in which he denied the attack was a hoax.

Calling the actor 'crazy' for his continued devotion to the ruse, Amibola admitted that he feels betrayed by Smollett for not embracing his guilt, and taking the fall as he and his brother were forced to do

'I did feel betrayed by Jussie and what he had done. I didn't know what to do - I wasn't ready to say anything. Like, I was mute. And I didn't want to say anything.'

They added that they felt Smollett just wanted to be 'the poster child for activism,' with Ambibola saying: 'He wanted to be the hero for gay people, for black people.'

The two brothers ultimately testified against their one-time friend in court and were able to walk away from the incident with just two years' probation and a small fine, after cooperating with police and unmasking the ruse.
An alternative healer appeared in court today charged with the unlawful killing of a diabetes patient who died during 'slapping therapy' at a country hotel.

Californian Hongchi Xiao appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court, Wilts following his extradition to the UK from Australia.

The 60 year old, who was wearing a green fleece, spoke only to confirm his name during the brief hearing.

Wiltshire Police charged Xiao with manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, at Cleeve House in Seend in October 2016.

Mrs Carr-Gomm, who was born in France and moved to the UK aged 21, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 and struggled to inject insulin due to a fear of needles.

Alternative healer Hongchi Xiao appeared in court today after being charged with the unlawful killing of grandmother Danielle Carr-Gomm (pictured)

Xiao was accused of advising Mrs Carr-Gomm to cease taking medication for diabetes before she died three days later at Cleeve House, Seend in October 2016

The court heard that Xiao is accused of advising Mrs Carr-Gomm to cease taking her diabetes medication and she died three days later.

Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, said Xiao operated a business providing medical advice or assistance to members of the public but that he was 'not qualified by the British Medical Association'.

Xiao was previously interviewed in the UK before moving to Australia and Mr Nightingale said he currently had no lawful basis to be in the country.

Magistrates remanded Xiao in custody to appear at Winchester Crown Court for a pre-trial preparation hearing on January 3, 2024.
Crealogix Holding AG / Key word(s): Tender Offer

VENCORA UK LIMITED publishes offer prospectus on public tender offer for all publicly held shares of Crealogix Holding AG (CREALOGIX)



01-Dec-2023 / 07:01 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR VENCORA UK LIMITED published today its offer prospectus on the public tender offer for all publicly held shares of CREALOGIX.

The Board of Directors of CREALOGIX unanimously resolved to support and recommend the tender offer submitted by VENCORA UK LIMITED. VENCORA UK LIMITED published today its offer prospectus on the public tender offer for all publicly held shares of CREALOGIX. Pursuant to the offer prospectus and in line with the pre-announcement of the public tender offer published by VENCORA UK LIMITED on 16 November 2023, the price offered by VENCORA UK LIMITED in the offer is CHF 60.- in cash for each CREALOGIX share. The report of the Board of Directors of CREALOGIX, which contains the recommendation and the rationale, is included in the offer prospectus. The offer prospectus, as well as any further publications of VENCORA UK LIMITED in connection with the public tender offer, are available on the offer website https://docshare-red.vercel.app/.



The main offer period will start on 18 December 2023 and is expected to end on 18 January 2024. The public tender offer is subject to regulatory clearances and other customary conditions. Media Contacts:



Vencora:

Jonathan Denbok

Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer

Vencora

jonathan.denbok@vencora.com





Media Contacts:



CREALOGIX:

Manuela Wanzek

Head of Group Marketing & Communication

manuela.wanzek@crealogix.com About Vencora



As an opeRating group of Constellation Software Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Vencora acquires, strengthens and grows vertical market technology companies in the banking, insurance and financial services sector. Vencora has a presence in 70 geographies with 15 collaborative brands, 1,300+ employees and 1,800+ clients across banking and insurance industries. At Vencora, we build legends and preserve legacies. Vencora provides new acquisitions with business opportunities and the resources to pursue them. We are focused on bringing together a strong family of software businesses in the area of financial services in order for them to grow and continue serving the best interests of their customers and employees. Vencora is all about strengthening businesses within the markets they compete in and enabling them to grow  whether that growth comes through organic measures such as new initiatives and product development, day-to-day business, or through complementary acquisitions. For more information, visit vencora.com.



About CREALOGIX



CREALOGIX is a global leader in digital banking technology and a Swiss Fintech 100 company. For 25 years now, CREALOGIX has partnered with some of the worlds leading banks and wealth management firms. CREALOGIX provides them with in-depth sector expertise and innovative technology.



For more information, visit crealogix.com. Legal Notice and Information No Offer The information contained in this ad hoc release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or invitation to purchase, sell, exchange or issue, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, purchase, exchange or subscribe to, any registered shares or other securities of Crealogix Holding AG (CREALOGIX) or any other person, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract therefor. This ad hoc release is not part of the Offer Documentation (as defined below) relating to the public tender offer from the Offeror for all publicly held registered shares of CREALOGIX (the Offer). Terms and conditions of the Offer have been published in today's offer prospectus regarding the Offer. Shareholders of CREALOGIX are urged to read the Offer Documentation (as defined below), which is and/or will be available at https://docshare-red.vercel.app. Offer Restrictions 1. General

The release, publication or distribution of the pre-announcement of the Offer, the offer prospectus relating to the Offer and/or of any other materials relating to the Offer (the Offer Documentation) and the making of the Offer may in certain jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia and Japan (the Restricted Jurisdictions), be restricted by law, be considered unlawful, or otherwise violate any applicable laws or regulations, or may require the Offeror or any of its direct or indirect affiliates to change or amend the terms or conditions of the Offer, to make an additional filing with a governmental, regulatory or other authority, or to take additional action in relation to the Offer. Therefore, persons obtaining any Offer Documentation, or into whose possession any Offer Documentation otherwise comes, are required to, and should inform themselves of and observe, all such restrictions. Neither CREALOGIX, nor the Offeror, nor any of their affiliates or representatives accept or assume any responsibility or liability for any violation by any person whomsoever of any such restrictions. The Offer is not being and will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into the Restricted Jurisdictions. There is no intention to extend the Offer to any such Restricted Jurisdictions. The Offer Documentation should not be sent or otherwise distributed in or into the Restricted Jurisdictions, and the Offer cannot be accepted by any such use, means or instrumentality in or from within the Restricted Jurisdictions. Accordingly, copies of the Offer Documentation are not being, and must not be, sent or otherwise distributed in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdictions, or to custodians, trustees or nominees, in their capacities as such, holding shares of CREALOGIX for persons in any Restricted Jurisdictions, and persons receiving any such Offer Documentation (including custodians, trustees and nominees) must not distribute or send them in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Any purported acceptance of the Offer resulting directly or indirectly from a violation of these restrictions will be invalid. No shares are being solicited in the Offer for purchase or sale from or to a resident of the Restricted Jurisdictions and, if such are sent in response by a resident of the Restricted Jurisdictions, the Offeror reserves the right to reject such acceptance. Such Offer Documentation must not be used for the purpose of soliciting the purchase or sale or exchange of any shares in CREALOGIX (the CREALOGIX Shares) by any person or entity resident or incorporated in any Restricted Jurisdiction. 2. United States of America

The Offer is being made for the securities of CREALOGIX, a Swiss company whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, and is subject to Swiss disclosure and procedural requirements, which are different from those of the United States of America (the U.S.).



The Offer will be made in the U.S. in accordance with the requirements of Swiss law and pursuant to Section 14(e) of, and Regulation 14E under, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the U.S. Exchange Act), and will be subject to the exemptions provided by Rule 14d-1(d) under the U.S. Exchange Act (the Tier II Exemption) and Rule 14e-5(b)(12) under the U.S. Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Offer will be subject to disclosure and procedural rules, including those relating to the notice of extension of the Offer, the timing of settlement (including as regards the time when the payment of the consideration is rendered), and the purchase of CREALOGIX Shares outside the Offer, which are different from the U.S. rules and practices relating to public offers in the U.S.



Any financial statements or figures included or referenced in the Offer Documentation have been or will be prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting standards of, or recognized in, Switzerland, which may not be comparable to the financial statements of U.S. companies.



In accordance with the laws of Switzerland and subject to applicable U.S. securities laws, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, the Offeror and its affiliates or their respective nominees or brokers (acting as agents for the Offeror or its affiliates as the case may be) may from time to time after the date of the pre-announcement, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly, purchase or arrange to purchase CREALOGIX Shares or any securities that are immediately convertible into, exchangeable for, or exercisable for CREALOGIX Shares. Any such purchases will not be made at prices higher than the Offer Price or on terms financially more favorable than those offered pursuant to the Offer unless the Offer Price is increased accordingly. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase will be publicly disclosed in the U.S. on https://docshare-red.vercel.app if and to the extent that such information is made public in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of Switzerland. In addition, subject to applicable laws of Switzerland and applicable U.S. securities laws, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, the financial advisor to the Offeror and its affiliates may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of CREALOGIX, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities. No purchases outside the Offer shall take place by or on behalf of the Offeror or its respective affiliates in the U.S.



It may be difficult for CREALOGIXs shareholders who are resident in the U.S. (the U.S. Shareholders) to enforce their rights under U.S. federal securities laws because the Offeror and CREALOGIX are companies headquartered outside the U.S. and some or all of their respective officers and directors are residents of countries other than the U.S. The U.S. Shareholders may not be able to bring proceedings in a court outside the U.S. against a non-U.S. company or its officers or directors alleging violations of U.S. securities laws. In addition, it may also be difficult to compel a non-U.S. company and its affiliates to comply with judgments rendered by a U.S. court.



The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a U.S. Shareholder may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and under applicable U.S. state and local laws, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each U.S. Shareholder is urged to consult his or her independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of an acceptance of the Offer.



Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory authority in the U.S. has granted or rejected approval of the Offer or issued a decision as to the fairness or the merits of the Offer, or issued an opinion as to the accuracy or exhaustive nature of the disclosure in the Offer Documentation. Any representation to the contrary constitutes a criminal offence in the U.S.



The U.S. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their own legal (including with respect to Swiss law), financial and tax advisors regarding the Offer. 3. United Kingdom

Any communication relating to the Offer is directed only at persons in the U.K. (i) who are persons falling within article 19 (investment professionals) or article 49 (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, or (ii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). Any communication relating to the Offer must not be acted on or relied upon by persons in the U.K. who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity in the U.K. to which such communication relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. 4. Australia and Japan

The Offer is not addressed to shareholders of CREALOGIX whose place of residence, seat or habitual abode is in Australia or Japan, and such shareholders may not accept the Offer. Other Important Information This ad hoc release contains or may contain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as anticipate, believe, expect, estimate, aim, project, forecast, risk, likely, intend, outlook, should, could, would, may, might, will, continue, plan, probability, indicative, seek, target, plan and other similar expressions are intended to or may identify forward-looking statements.



Any such statements in this ad hoc release speak only as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions and contingencies subject to change without notice, as are statements about market and industry trends, projections, guidance and estimates. Any forward-looking statements in this ad hoc release are not indications, guarantees, assurances or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the person making such statements, its affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors, and may involve significant elements of subjective judgement and assumptions as to future events which may or may not be correct and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such statements. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and no person accepts or assumes any liability in connection therewith.



This ad hoc release is not a financial product or investment advice, nor is it a recommendation to acquire, exchange or dispose of securities or accounting, legal or tax advice. It has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, legal, financial or tax situation and needs of individuals. Before making any investment decision, individuals should read the Offer Documentation and consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own objectives, legal, financial and tax situation and needs and seek legal, tax and other advice as appropriate for their individual needs and jurisdiction.

End of Inside Information
A young Missouri roller skater who fell down while playing with friends has been given a shocking cancer diagnosis after doctors found a tumor the size of a squash following the incident.

Beckett Thomas was diagnosed with a malignant neuroblastoma after the 12-year-old fell on his stomach while roller skating.

The youngster experienced intense pain and vomiting after the fall, with his parents Pat and Cassie deciding to rush him to Children's Mercy Hospital.

After weeks of tests, which included a biopsy, CT and MRI, doctors informed them they had discovered a large mass in his abdomen measuring 10 x 5 x 6 inches.

The family have said the tumor is around the size of a squash, with Beckett telling Fox4 News he was grateful for the fall.

Beckett Thomas was diagnosed with a malignant neuroblastoma after the 12-year-old fell on his stomach while roller skating

After weeks of tests, which included a biopsy, CT and MRI, doctors informed them they had discovered a large mass in his abdomen measuring 10 x 5 x 6 inches

Speaking to the outlet, Beckett said: 'I was just in a lot of pain. I could hardly breathe, I wasn't feeling any better.

'I'm honestly grateful about that fall, it really showed that I had it, and without it, I wouldn't be in the care that I have right now.'

Beckett's mother Cassie Thomas recounted finding out about the tumor, saying: 'The doctor said 'I don't know how to tell you this, there's no good way to say it'.

'She showed us the picture, she said, "this is a tumor, and it shouldn't be here'".

'The world stops and you just feel like you are so blindsided by the worst thing that you had ever imagined happening.'

According to the family, a small amount from the initial tumor has since spread into his bone marrow.

His father Pat added that their local community has rallied round the family since the diagnosis.

Their dishwasher broke after they brought Beckett home from hospital, but their church had a new one installed.

The youngster experienced intense pain and vomiting after the fall, with his parents Pat and Cassie, seen here, deciding to rush him to Children's Mercy Hospital

According to the family, a small amount from the initial tumor has since spread into his bone marrow

Beckett quoted scripture, telling Fox: 'I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.

'It's just been really great and nice to know that people are out there. They will help you through the toughest time.'

On Monday, the youngster started his chemotherapy, with his Mom saying that after 15-18 months of treatment, surgery to remove the tumor and a bone marrow transplant, he is looking forward to returning to school.

Cassie added: 'It is the worst, darkest season we could imagine walking through, but we have had such an amazing community walking beside us and walk with us, support us, pray for us, encourage us.'

Following an upcoming eighteen months of treatment, Beckett is looking forward to return to school

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with expenses they may incur while Beckett undergoes treatment, and has already raised over $22,500.

In a post to the page, the family said: 'Please pray the treatment is effective. Please pray Beckett has minimal side effects, and we all stay healthy.

'Pray we can find some normalcy and joy as we face the holiday season and the uncertainty of the future.

God has shown us love through the outpouring of support. He has provided through all of you enough to make treatments happen without financial stress at this time.

'We love you all and are so blessed to see how God is providing for us and holding us. Even in the deepest valley we could imagine, God is with us.'
READ MORE: Over THREE HUNDRED migrants move into San Diego airport

Dover, Kent was frosty this morning, with a maximum temperature of just 5C

The mostly-male group of migrants dressed in hooded jackets and red blankets

Dozens of migrants have braved the Artic snap as they crossed the Channel by small boat on Friday.

The mostly-male group of asylum seekers - clad in hooded winter jackets and red blankets - were brought into Dover, Kent on Border Force catamaran Hurricane shortly after 10am.

The government is yet to confirm the official figures for the group - who are the first to reach the UK this month.

The coastal town was frosty on Friday morning, with freezing fog which was slow to clear.

The Met Office also issued a yellow alert for snow and ice in parts of the South East, including Dover. The maximum temperature in the coastal town today was only 5C.

This comes after 224 migrants were escorted into the port by Border Force officials after making the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Strait in four boats on Thursday.

The first small boat, carrying around 50 people, was intercepted before sunrise. Its occupants were escorted into the port in the dark around 7am, on board Border Force catamaran Ranger.

The mostly-male group of asylum seekers - clad in hooded winter jackets and red blankets - were brought into Dover, Kent on Border Force catamaran Hurricane shortly after 10am

The coastal town was frosty this morning, with freezing fog which was slow to clear

A second similar-sized group was intercepted and brought into the harbour on Border Force catamaran Hurricane around 9.30am.

The same day, the French coastguard centre CROSS in Cap Gris-Nez was informed of two migrant boats in difficulty off the coast of Calais.

In the early hours of the morning, Apollo Moon, a rescue ship chartered by the State, was tasked with rescuing an inflatable dinghy with engine failure.

The crew recovered 66 people on board and dropped them off at the port of Calais, where they were taken care of by the land rescue services and the Border Police.

At the same time, the French Navy boat Rhone, and the Maritime Police vessel Aber Ildut, were tasked with attending to a further 62 people in a dinghy in difficulty off the coast of Wimereux.

The migrants were recovered on board Rhone and dropped off at the port of Boulogne sur Mer, in the early hours of Thursday morning, where they were taken care of by civil security and Border Police.

A total of 28,360 asylum seekers have crossed the Channel by small boat so far this year, according to official government figures.

The government is yet to confirm the official figures for the group - who are the first to reach the UK this month

November alone saw 1,661 migrants arrive in the UK in 33 boats - an average of 50 people crammed into each vessel.

Last year, a record 45,755 asylum seekers reached Britain - 60 per cent higher than the previous year when 28,526 people made the treacherous journey.

Border Force catamaran Defender is currently patrolling the Channel, suggesting more migrants may arrive on the Kent coast later today.

The weather is expected to turn much colder in the seaside town tonight, with widespread frost and wintry showers in eastern coastal areas.

Freezing fog patches are expected to develop inland, with a minimum temperature of -4C.
The parents of an eight-year-old disabled boy are filing a lawsuit against the Laramie County Sheriff's Department in Wyoming after claiming shocking bodycam footage showed their son getting brutalized by a cop.

Emily and Ishmael DeJesus said that a deputy from the Laramie County Sheriff's Department violated their son's Fourth and 14th Amendment rights and violated federal disability laws, according to the complaint.

They allege that Benjamin Jacquot - a school resource officer - beat up the second grader and deleted the bodycam footage.

The boy - who has a neuro-divergent disability as well as ADHD - was on an individualized education plan at Freedom Elementary School in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The education plan involved regular lunchtime check ins at the principal's office.

The parents of an eight-year-old disabled boy are filing a lawsuit against the Laramie County Sheriff's Department in Wyoming after claiming shocking bodycam footage showed their son getting brutalized by a cop

Shortly before his visit on February 15, 2022 - the little boy had allegedly made unpleasant comments to an adult lunch cashier.

At no point did the second-grader do anything that indicated he was a threat to himself or anyone else and he was allegedly responding well to the behavior intervention, the complaint said.

The school principal discussed whether the eight-year-old should apologize to the lunch worker for his behavior.

When the meeting was over Jacquot - who allegedly knew of the boy's disability - escorted him out of the principal's office, which is when things turned violent.

The DeJesus parents claimed that Jacquot deleted the part of the bodycam footage that came next.

'According to Principal (Chad) Delbridge's written report, Deputy Jacquot grabbed (the boy) by the arm when (he) stood up and began walking away from Principal Delbridge to return to class,' the complaint said.

'Deputy Jacquot, nevertheless, forcibly wrestled (him) into a nearby conference room using an armlock where the assault grew violent,' it continued.

The complaint alleged that the deputy repeatedly 'slammed' the boy's face down onto the floor of the conference room - which caused multiple bleeding face injuries that were later pictured.

Jacquot weighed 280 pounds at the time of the alleged attack and the boy weighed only 68 pounds.

The complaint stated: 'The undeleted body cam video returns at (timestamp) 5:16, at which point (the boy) is pinned underneath Deputy Jacquot while (the boy) screams and cries in pain and fear.'

They allege that Benjamin Jacquot beat up the second grader and deleted the bodycam footage. The boy - who has a neuro-divergent disability as well as ADHD - was on an individualized education plan at Freedom Elementary School in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Allegedly - the little boy said 'I give up' in the bodycam footage after the deputy pinned him down and impaired his breathing.

'I should be taking you to jail!' Jacquot shouted back, the complaint claims.

After the alleged attack - the principal called Ishmael DeJesus and told him to come to the elementary school to collect his son.

DeJesus and Jacquot had a verbal dispute before the father took his son to hospital for treatment.

The complaint revealed that the young boy now attends a school for children with emotional disturbances and said the traumatic event left the boy psychologically disturbed and terrified of law enforcement.

'(His) psychological injuries from the assault, at this time, appear to be permanent,' the document stated.

The lawsuit alleged that Jacquot was not re-trained after the violent incident and stated that the boy's rights were violated.

The Fourth Amendment was cited as the lawsuit alleged that excessive force and unreasonable seizure was used.

It also brought up the Americans with Disabilities Act - claiming the he faced disability-based discrimination.

The complaint seeks a jury trial and the parents are asking for compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys fees and costs.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Laramie County Sheriff's Department and the Laramie County Clerk for comment on the lawsuit.
Inspector Ken Wharfe said had never heard any form of racist views from Royals

One of the royal familys most trusted protection officers, who witnessed their private views and behaviour for more than nearly two decades, has rubbished claims that any royals are racist.

Inspector Ken Wharfe, who was personal protection officer to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, said he had never heard or witnessed any form of racist views or expressions from anyone within the entire royal family over more than 16 years.

Mr Wharfe, who was speaking after Omid Scobies controversial new book Endgame ignited a controversy around the claims, served as a Metropolitan police officer for 35 years with more than half his service dedicated to the royals.

A storm has broken out over claims in Mr Scobies book that two Royals questioned what the skin colour would be of Archie, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, while Meghan was pregnant - and they have been named in the Dutch translation of the book.

The pair identified in the book were named widely by media organisations around the world last night, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Inspector Ken Wharfe said he had never heard or witnessed any form of racist views or expressions from anyone within the entire royal family over more than 16 years

Personal protection officer to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, he said he was astounded at the accusations against the two royals and declared that the interests and engagements of their working life showed that they consistently welcomed diversity and multiculturalism in Britain and overseas

A storm has broken out over claims in Mr Scobies book that two Royals questioned what the skin colour would be of Archie, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex , while Meghan was pregnant. Pictured: King Charles at COP28 today

After the book went on sale in The Netherlands naming the two royals, the edition was quickly withdrawn and around 5,000 copies were pulped.

READ MORE: Omid Scobie swears 'on my family's life' that naming royal 'racists' was not a publicity stunt Omid Scobie has refused to apologise to the two senior royals named as having speculated about Prince Archie 's skin colour Advertisement

But Mr Wharfe, who retired in 2002, said he was astounded at the accusations against the two royals and declared that the interests and engagements of their working life showed that they consistently welcomed diversity and multiculturalism in Britain and overseas.

He told MailOnline: I never saw any evidence of racism. It was very much to the contrary.

And he said the alleged remarks recited by Scobie speculating over Harry and Meghans sons skin colour lacked supporting proof.

As a former police officer, I would only be guided by evidence. And weve seen none of that.

All I can talk about is that from my experience - having worked with them in many, many countries across the world with all their charities - and Ive never ever witnessed one issue, or even sensed anyone in the family making some racial comment or racist remark. I didnt see any of that ever.

The loyal officer, who was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order, an honour awarded as the Sovereigns personal gift, said: I worked with probably every single member of the royal family, notably, Diana in the eighties when she had two young children, and the King himself when he was the Prince of Wales.

The King has for example consistently supported Gurkhas - and diversity among members of his staff. I think even more so now than the eighties.

After the book went on sale in The Netherlands naming the two royals, the edition was quickly withdrawn and around 5,000 copies were pulped. Pictured: King Charles with Rishi Sunak in Dubai for COP28 today

Mr Whatfe said the way the two Princes were brought up at the very core of the royal family reflected the anti-racist backbone throughout the royal household. Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance last night

The pair identified in the book (pictured) were named widely by media organisations around the world last night, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and the Duchess of Cambridge

READ MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William ignore fallout from Omid Scobie race row as they arrive hand-in-hand at the Royal Variety Performance Advertisement

Charles engagements throughout the country and throughout the world, involved diverse themes and they would visit Africa and India, and every continent on the planet.

He said the way the two Princes were brought up at the very core of the royal family reflected the anti-racist backbone throughout the royal household.

He said one particular incident when The Duke of Sussex was a toddler emphasised the Waless desire to bring their children aware that racism was not to be entertained.

Mr Wharfe said Diana wanted her sons to be aware of life outside the royal bubble and would take them out secretly on the London Underground and buses.

One incident when they were on a London bus gave him a strong indication of the desire for racial equality at the heart of the House of Windsor.

I remember coming back from Piccadilly Circus on the number 38 bus and in those days you had to buy your ticket on a platform.

There was a Sikh bus conductor and Harry tried to imitate an Indian accent and it entirely embarrassed Diana.

When we got off the bus at Green Park she slapped him across the back of the head. And told him Dont you ever, ever, ever do that again. It is rude and embarrassing and that is not how we live in this world.

Mr Wharfe said Diana wanted her sons (pictured together) to be aware of life outside the royal bubble and would take them out secretly on the London Underground and buses

It comes as sources close to Meghan Markle say neither she nor members of Team Sussex handed Omid Scobie her letter to King Charles about the two so-called 'royal racists'. Pictured: Harry and Meghan

The Royal Family is considering legal action and leading lawyers have called on the usually privacy-conscious Sussexes to sue Omid Scobie (pictured yesterday) after he revealed he had seen the names on letters exchanged between Meghan and King Charles III

It was the only time that I actually saw her hit somebody or one of the children.

So really I never, ever witnessed anything (racial). if you only look at the functions that the King attended to both public and private, they always had a representative cross section of society and do even to this day.

He said the young royals had been raised to appreciate diversity, cultures and religions which reflected the views of more senior royals.

He said Diana was instrumental in bringing about a change of education for the two Princes, particularly William.

He added: They were educated to accept that we do live in a diverse society.

And we know how it has played out.

The efforts put in by senior royals for younger members to encourage them to engage and learn about diversity reflected their core values which we see today he added.

It comes as sources close to Meghan Markle say neither she nor members of Team Sussex handed Omid Scobie her letter to King Charles about the two so-called 'royal racists'.

An insider close to the former Suits star also insisted that despite the royal racism row she started after appearing on Oprah in March 2021, she did not want them named publicly.

Meghan and Harry have not commented publicly on Endgame or the scandal that has erupted over the Dutch translation accusing King Charles and the Princess of Wales of discussing Archie's skin colour before he was born.

The Royal Family is considering legal action and leading lawyers have called on the usually privacy-conscious Sussexes to sue Omid Scobie after he revealed he had seen the names on letters exchanged between Meghan and King Charles III.

Royal experts have also said that the couple must publicly condemn the book, with several commentators severely doubting whether the names in Endgame can even be correct.
Police are investigating after a three-month-old baby boy was killed by his family's pet wolf in Alabama.

Shelby County Sheriff's Office said that they had been called to a residence in Chelsea, Alabama, on Thursday to reports of an animal attack on a child.

Authorities arrived at the property alongside animal control officers, with the infant being transported to an area hospital by ambulance.

After arriving at the hospital, the child was pronounced dead due to injuries that police suspect the animal to have caused.

The Sheriff's Office described the animal as a 'wolf-hybrid', and said the family had kept the animal as a pet.

Shelby County Sheriff's Office said that they had been called to a residence in Chelsea, Alabama, on Thursday

Authorities arrived at the property alongside animal control officers, with the infant being transported to an area hospital by ambulance

The Sheriff's Office described the animal as a 'wolf-hybrid', and said the family had kept the animal as a pet

The animal was euthanized at the scene by a veterinarian at the request of law enforcement.

Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans told the New York Post: 'It appears that the wolf or wolf-dog picked up the child that was down on the floor and started playing with it, and unfortunately killed the baby.

'The parents did try to get the baby from the wolf, but it was too late.'

Wayne Morris, a spokesman for the City of Chelsea, told WBRC that other children were in the home.

Officers said it was taken to the Alabama State Diagnostics Laboratory in Auburn for further examination and investigation.

Chelseas Mayor Tony Picklesimer said: 'Its been confirmed that one of our children here in Chelsea was killed by an exotic family pet and succumbed to its injuries yesterday afternoon after being taken to the hospital by Chelsea Fire & Rescue.

'We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate and tragic event and lift up the family and all those affected with our deepest prayers and thoughts.'

Sheriffs officials said the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Former President Donald Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' debate against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, dubbing it the 'Battle of Loserville,' as DeSantisworld sources say the governor's 2024 campaign is running out of steam.

After midnight on Truth Social Friday, Trump shared a dubbed 'Battle of Loserville' video, with moderator Sean Hannity asking DeSantis, 'Have you ever betrayed the greatest president who ever lived, President Donald J. Trump.'

Trump has long fumed that DeSantis shouldn't be running against him for the 2024 nomination because the then-president backed the aspiring Florida governor over another Republican in the 2018 GOP gubernatorial primary.

In the faked clip, Hannity also asks DeSantis, 'Are you a short insecure little man that likes to wear lifts inside your cowboy boots, yes or no answer please,' while faux Newsom outs the Florida governor for bringing along a stepstool.

The 55-second clip ends with DeSantis shrinking and then slinking offstage.

Former President Donald Trump responded to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Thursday night debate on Fox against California Gov. Gavin Newsom by sharing a dubbed video entitled: 'BATTLE OF LOSERVILLE' after midnight on Friday

In the faked clip, Hannity asks DeSantis, 'Are you a short insecure little man that likes to wear lifts inside your cowboy boots, yes or no answer please,' with DeSantis shrinking and slinking offstage (pictured)

In reality, The Washington Post reported Friday on the troubles plaguing DeSantis' presidential campaign.

During Thursday night's debate with Newsom, the California governor declared that neither he nor DeSantis would be the 'nominee for our party in 2024.'

At one point Newsom told DeSantis, 'you're down 41 points in your home state.'

Beyond the paltry polls, DeSantis's chief rival for second place, former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley, got the endorsement of the Koch network this week, a group that had previously been drawn to the Florida governor.

Senior campaign aides are feeling gloomy about their chances in the upcoming primary, which kicks off with the Iowa caucuses on January 15.

'People increasingly think it's over,' a person close to DeSantis told The Post. 'It's a dumpster fire.'

In recent weeks, a tiff between DeSantis' campaign and its allied super PAC, Never Back Down, spilled out into public view.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' participation in the Fox News debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom comes at a time when sources close to his presidential campaign are describing it as a 'dumpster fire'

Allies of former President Donald Trump are relishing reports that show discord between the DeSantis campaign and its primary super PAC Never Back Down. 'For a group named Never Back Down, it sure seems everyone is backing out,' said one Trump insider

On November 21, NBC News reported that Jeff Roe, a longtime consultant for the PAC, got into a heated argument with DeSantis confidant Scott Wagner.

'You have a stick up your a**, Scott,' Roe reportedly said.

Wagner responded by saying, 'Why don't you come over here and get it!'

And then last week, Never Back Down's CEO Chris Jankowski quit the group.

On Friday, failed Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Adam Laxalt, a DeSantis friend who was serving as chairman, stepped down, according to The New York Times.

In the meantime, DeSantis' allies have set up another PAC to help their guy: Fight Right.

That PAC ran an ad against Haley calling her out for saying that she jumped into politics after being inspired by something Democrat Hillary Clinton said.

FactCheck.org called the ad misleading because the videos were edited to omit Haley saying that she does not agree with Clinton on 'anything' or 'a lot.'

The move created more internal strife with Ken Cuccinelli, a Never Back Down board member, calling the hits against Haley 'exceedingly objectionable' and asking that his comments be preserved in the records of the board, NBC and The Post reported.

On Friday, Trump's allies highlighted the discord.

'For a group named Never Back Down, it sure seems everyone is backing out,' Taylor Budowich, the CEO of the Trump-aligned PAC Make America Great Again Inc., said in a statement.

But Communications Director for Never Back Down, Erin Perrine, told The Post to be prepared for a DeSantis upset in Iowa on caucus night, where Trump presently leads by nearly 30 points.

'The governor has received the support of Iowa's popular Gov. Kim Reynolds, evangelical leaders like Bob Vander Plaats, will hit all 99 counties across the state, and has our historic and unmatched caucus operation and grassroots efforts behind him to win on caucus night,' Perrine told the paper.

'Instead of regurgitating the consultant class talking points, The Post should get back to reporting,' she also said.

A Never Back Down source contacted by DailyMail.com did not respond to a request for comment.
A 63-year-old Georgia horse owner has been arrested after six severely malnourished horses were discovered locked in a barn - with one already dead and another later needing to be euthanized.

Disturbing images released by the Haralson County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday depict the horses starved and dehydrated, with their ribs painfully visible.

One horse on the ground was unable to stand when deputies arrived and had to be euthanized after Animal Control experts were called.

Ulas Dudley Bolan, the owner, was arrested last week and faces two counts of felony cruelty to animals and four counts of cruelty to animals.

The four surviving horses, under the care of Jonny Cook, a local expert in training horses, drank 25 gallons of water on their first night in recovery.

Disturbing images released by the Haralson County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday depict the horses severely starved and dehydrated, struggling to stand

The four surviving horses, under the care of Jonny Cook, a local expert in training horses, drank 25 gallons of water on their first night in recovery

Ulas Dudley Bolan, the 63-year-old owner from Georgia, was arrested last week and faces two counts of felony cruelty to animals and four counts of cruelty to animals

Haralson County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a welfare call last month regarding six malnourished horses.

When deputies arrived, the owner of the animals, Bolan, was not present. He later returned to the property during the investigation.

Authorities contacted Haralson County Animal Control and Cook, 'who came and got the four standing horses.'

'The one on the ground was too far gone and had to be put down,' officers said in a statement.

In horrifying photos released by the sheriff's office, five horses can be seen extremely starved, with one displaying visible bones beneath its skin.

Bolan voluntarily released his four living horses to Cook, who took the animals to his farm and provided immediate care for them.

The surviving horses drank 25 gallons of water on the first night and have started gaining weight gradually in the past month.

Cook detailed his encounter with the five emaciated horses on the night of October 27 on social media.

The horse care expert said he had been in friendship with Bolan, the owner of the animals, for 30 years but had not seen the horses for around five years.

'When I arrived at the scene. one horse was down and dead in the hall of the barn. He was in very very poor condition severely starved and with feet almost a foot long in growth...never been trimmed,' he wrote.

The second horse 'could not get off the ground,' Cook said. 'She had sores on her jaw bones from what I assumed was from struggling to get off the ground.'

The 11-year-old horse could only move her head and neck, and was seen continually beating her head on the ground, according to Cook.

He added that 11 years old is typically regarded as the prime age for a horse, but the one 'was deemed helpless' and had to be euthanized.

Other four horses on the scene survived, including one 23-year-old and three 11-year-old who 'were all thin but not in as bad of condition as the two horses on the ground.'

Cook said: 'These four horses had no hay and no water. None.'

Haralson County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a welfare call last month regarding six malnourished horses

In horrifying photos released by the sheriff's office, five horses can be seen extremely starved, with one displaying visible bones beneath its skin

The surviving horses drank 25 gallons of water on the first night and have started gaining weight gradually in the past month

Cook said that the owner granted permission to care for the horses, adding that one is blind in her right eye, another is suspected to have cancer in her right eye.

The third horse has soundness issues in her hips, and the fourth is experiencing soreness in all four feet.

Cook was told that the owner fully released all rights to the horses and he had been given the full authority to find them homes.

He said he found homes for all four horses without charging anyone for the horse or the delivery to them.

In a statement, the sheriff's office said: 'Under the expert care of Mr. Cook, the horses have begun to gain weight and their coats are looking healthy.

'We would like to thank Mr. Johnny Cook for stepping up to rescue these horses who were in such bad shape.'

Bolan, from Bremen, Georgia, was charged with two counts of felony cruelty to animals and four counts of cruelty to animals.
A female hiker from Texas who was found alive after being lost in Big Bend National Park for over a week has shared astonishing pictures from her frightening ordeal - as she says she is just 'grateful to be alive.'

Christy Perry, 25, was found about a quarter mile below the summit of Lost Mine Trail at Big Bend National Park on the morning of November 24, eight days after she was declared missing.

Perry, who is from Houston, was 'awake and speaking' when rescue crews arrived, the National Park Service said in a statement. She was then transported to a hospital in Odessa by helicopter.

Perry has since published a series of 10 photos on TikTok depicting the increasingly brutal conditions she faced during her time wandering the woods alone - and revealed she survived on only rainwater as she had no food.

Christy Perry, 25, was found at Big Bend National Park on Friday morning after an extensive search, eight days after she was declared missing

Perry was 'awake and speaking' when rescue crews found her, about a quarter mile below the summit of Lost Mine Trail, the National Park Service said in a statement

Perry, who is from Houston, was transported to a hospital in Odessa by helicopter. She said she didn't eat but survived on rainwater to make it out alive

'We are pleased to report a successful search and rescue operation in Big Bend National Park,' the National Park Service announced on Facebook.

'Our highly skilled team, in collaboration with outside law enforcement, has located and safely rescued the missing hiker.'

Perry has since made light of her harrowing experience in a series of photos shared on TikTok that has gained over a million view and thousands of comments.

'Swipe to watch me get lost at Big Bend for eight days,' she writes at the start, accompanied by a laughing and heart eye emoji.

The first photo shows a happy and exciting Perry posing with a wide grin as she extends her arms to show the beautiful scenery surrounding her.

Then things begin to take a turn for the worse.

The next photos are blurry selfies showing her with teary eyes and a terrified expression, while drenched by rain.

The last photo shows Perry after she was found, smiling in a hospital bed, receiving medical treatment after the traumatic event.

Perry made light of her harrowing experience in a series of photos shared on TikTok that has gained over a million view and thousands of comments

The series of 10 photos depict the increasingly brutal conditions she faced during her time wandering the woods alone

The next photos show a blurry selfie with a terrified expression, drenched in rain with teary eyes

Perry captioned the photos: 'But seriously I am so grateful to be alive and healthy. I'm so thankful for NPS and their search efforts along with the hospital staff for their care. I'm joyfully overwhelmed by so many loved ones who've reached out to me.'

Many viewers questioned how the young hiker survived without food and water for eight days.

'A person surviving the elements for 8 days unprepared is the craziest thing Ive seen on tiktok,' one commented.

In response, Perry wrote: 'I was too scared to eat the berries on the trees or mushrooms on the ground lol.'

'I did not have food for 8 days but because it rained at big bend the first three days I got lost I had access to water!'

On November 16, NPS released a statement regarding their search for the missing hiker.

'A search is currently underway for a hiker reported missing after her family reported that she did not return home from a trip to Big Bend National Park,' the statement read.

'Christy Perry is a 25-year-old female, 5' 2" tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has brown hair and a fair complexion.'

According to NPS, Perry picked up a rental car in Midland, Texas, and arrived in Big Bend National Park on November 9.

The next photos are blurry selfies showing her with teary eyes and a terrified expression, while drenched by rain

Perry wrote: 'I did not have food for 8 days but because it rained at big bend the first three days I got lost I had access to water!'

' I was too scared to eat the berries on the trees or mushrooms on the ground lol,' she added

According to NPS, Perry picked up a rental car in Midland, Texas, and arrived in Big Bend National Park on November 9

When she failed to show up for her camping reservation that evening at the Chisos Basin Campground, a team of Park Rangers and US Border Patrol Agents searched the trail all week, while pilots in two helicopters and an airplane surveyed from above. Texas Game Wardens and Los Diablos fire crew also combed the area.

Perry's vehicle was found at the trailhead for the Lost Mine Trail.

The Lost Mine Trail, which is a very popular nearly five mile hiking trail, climbs 'steeply through the woodlands of the Chisos Mountains and offers magnificent views of the rugged mountains and deserts of Big Bend and Mexico.'

The trail was closed until further notice to allow searchers room to work efficiently and quickly, the statement added.

Her incredible story comes just weeks after a lost Colorado hiker's body was found after nearly three months on a trail.

Rich Moore, 71, and his black and white Jack Russell, Finney, disappeared on a hike on August 19 in Blackhead Peak, located in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado.

Moore's loyal dog stayed by her dead owner's side for nearly three months.

The starving pup weighed just 6lb after surviving on insects and chipmunks, and fending for herself in the Colorado mountains.

The arduous search for Rich and his dog was the 'most comprehensive' in the Sherriff's team's history - and despite having other K9s searching for Finney and handlers calling out his name in the mountains, it did not lead to a sighting.

The missing man's body was then discovered by a local hunter on October 30 in the Lower Blanco drainage basin - and by a miracle, little Finney was still by his side.

Rescuers who had come to collect Moore's body were able to coax loyal Finney away from his remains with a can of dog food - after loyally sticking by for three months.

The gaunt dog was still wearing her purple collar with 'Finney' written on the tag, but the personnel said that she was so skinny it was drooping off of her neck.

Finney, who had most likely had to fend off other wildlife during the fraught 72 days and nights alone in the mountains, had long scars on her nose.

Rich Moore, 71, and his black and white Jack Russell, Finney, disappeared on a hike on August 19 in Blackhead Peak, located in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado

The day after Moore's body was found, members from the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office and search and rescue were flown into the area to recover the victim

Finney, who had most likely had to fend off other wildlife during the fraught 72 days and nights alone in the mountains, had long scars on her nose.

The pup was starving to the point that she gripped on to the can of food with her teeth, refusing to let go and savoring every bite, because she had most likely been surviving on insects and chipmunks for the past three months

It was only when the team offered starving Finney a can of wet beef dog food that she came close, and was able to be captured in a blanket by Roy Vega, Archuleta County's Deputy Director of Emergency Management.

The pup was starving to the point that she gripped on to the can of food with her teeth, refusing to let go and savoring every bite, because she had most likely been surviving on insects and chipmunks for the past three months.

And the only source of water for Finney to drink from was a nearby spring.

As a result, Finney's body weight had halfed - and she weighed just six pounds.

The search for the hiker was called off on September 22, after 2,100 hours. Teams had used nine dogs and five choppers, as well as 175 flight and ground crews to find him.

Ryan Foster, the sheriff's emergency management commander, told the Gazette: 'The day they found him there was a wildland fire, and then a call came in. A hunter messaged his son in town that he had found a body and a dog.

'I called the sheriff and I said 'I think we've found Rich.'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's wife Jennifer reportedly put a stop to his debate against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stretching to two hours Thursday night.

NBC News reported Friday that Jennifer Siebel Newsom ended the Fox News debate moderated by Sean Hannity by saying, 'we're done,' according to a source on the ground who was not affiliated with either governor.

The red state-blue state debate was supposed to go on for 90 minutes, but the 2024 presidential hopeful and California's governor went over their time limit, with Newsom telling Hannity, 'Let's just do an extended hour. I'm happy to do it.'

But once Hannity's show resumed from commercial break, neither governor was still on-set.

The longtime Fox News host told his audience that 'by mutual agreement both candidates had other commitments and they realized afterwards they couldn't stay longer.'

A source told NBC News that it was California Gov. Gavin Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom (right), who put a stop to her husband debating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for a full two hours

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (right) were to debate each other on Fox News Channel for 90 minutes Thursday night. The debate stretched longer than that but didn't go a full two hours

Longtime Fox News host Sean Hannity told his audience after he returned from commercial break that the debate had concluded after all. Hannity said, 'by mutual agreement both candidates had other commitments and they realized afterwards they couldn't stay longer'

Behind the scenes, however, there wasn't much agreement on anything.

Sources told NBC that members of both DeSantis' and Newsom's teams argued throughout the night that the other politician was breaking the rules.

Both men often talked over one another with Hannity breaking in to complain.

The teams also complained that the candidates had agreed to keep a distance from their guests.

Violating that rule, sources told the liberal-leaning network, was Siebel Newsom on at least two occasions.

A Newsom staffer accused DeSantis of having conversations with a staffer and his wife Casey on at least two occasions as well.

Siebel Newsom came onstage as the two camps discussed whether to elongate the back-and-forth until the end of Hannity's second hour.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) pulled out a map of human feces left on the streets of San Francisco. NBC reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom's aides objected to DeSantis using props during their debate

That's when she uttered, 'we're done,' a source said.

One of Siebel Newsom's complaints was that DeSantis interjected her father - and his move to Florida - into the debate.

Hannity kicked off the slugfest by asking Newsom - who avoided the question - why so many Californians had left the state, with a number heading to DeSantis' more conservative Florida.

DeSantis relished telling one anecdote to illustrate that trend.

'So I was talking to a fella who had made the move from California to Florida and he was telling me that Florida is a much better governed, safer, better budget, lower taxes, all this stuff, and he's really happy with the quality of life,' the Florida governor said.

'And then he paused, and he said, "You know, by the way, I'm Gavin Newsom's father-in-law,' DeSantis said smiling.

Siebel Newsom's parents, Kenneth Siebel Jr. and Judith Siebel, purchased a $3.3 million house in Naples, Florida in March 2020, according to Fox News.

In his spin room afterward, Newsom said the debate wrapped when it did because 'everyone started panicking on both sides' because each candidate 'had some place to be.'

Both governors had promised the press they'd speak with reporters afterward, as there was no studio audience nor reporters allowed in the debate room.

Newsom's staff also complained that DeSantis was able to see Hannity's teleprompter during the debate - and thus what questions he would ask - while the Californian didn't have the same vantage point.

A Fox News spokesperson denied this, saying neither candidate could read the debate questions before they were asked.

The California governor's team also took issue with DeSantis' use of props - despite Fox saying they weren't explicitly barred.

Fox had told the governors' staffs they couldn't use multimedia productions.

In the most memorable moment of the night, DeSantis whipped out a paper map that he said showed the location of all the human excrement found in San Francisco, where Newsom had previously served as mayor.

'You may be asking "what is that plotting"' DeSantis said, showing off the map, which was all brown. 'This is an app where they plot the human feces that was found on the streets of San Francisco.'

'That is what has happened in one of the previous greatest cities this country has ever had,' the Florida governor added.
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.
A London council has backtracked on its decision to cancel a planned Hanukkah ceremony, just 24 hours after warning the event could 'inflame tensions'.

Havering Council announced on Thursday that the annual Menorah lighting ceremony outside the town hall would be 'paused' over concerns that the nine-branch candelabrum would be vandalised.

The move provoked a backlash from leaders of both local Jewish and Muslim communities who expressed 'deep dismay' at the decision.

A joint statement between the council and local Rabbis confirmed the permanent installation would go ahead as planned on December 12, following a 'constructive discussion'.

Leader of Havering Council, Ray Morgon said: 'We had a very constructive meeting to discuss our concerns and I fully appreciate why this is such an important installation for our Jewish community.

Havering Council reversed its decision to cancel a Hanukkah ceremony scheduled to take place later this month after talks with Jewish community leaders

The nine-branched candelabrum is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

The King holding a Menorah while attending a Hanukkah event last year at JW3

Pictured: A large Menorah erected in Trafalgar Square in central London as part of celebrations last year

'We look forward to the completion of the permanent installation and our first Chanukah ceremony.'

The London Jewish Forum said yesterday that the council had shown a 'lack of understanding' and that the announcement had 'undermined' relationships with the community.

Following the council's reversal of its decision, it said: 'The London Jewish Forum thanks the Council for meeting us at short notice, and for their careful consideration of our views.

'The London Jewish Forum was able to provide the wider picture, which had important implications beyond Havering.

'Our community has been listened to and as a result we are very pleased to say the planned installation of the Havering Menorah will be going ahead.'

In a video message, Rabbi Lee Sunderland from Romford and District Synagogue said it was 'relief' that the ceremony would take place.

He said: 'It's a great relief to us. The purpose of this festival is that everybody should actually be able to celebrate their own festivals or cultural customs freely or openly without any prejudice, barriers and that's what's happening now.'

He added that the council had 'come to the realisation' that the issues given for cancelling the occasion didn't exist.

Hanukkah is celebrated this year starting on December 7 and commemorates the revolt of the Maccabees - a group of Jews who fought to protect their faith 2,000 years ago.

Heightened tensions have been felt across the capital since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as pro-Palestinian protests have taken place every weekend.

Last Sunday thousands marched in central London in a protest organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism, amid a spike in hate-crimes against the Jewish community.

Numerous protests have taken place across the capital since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in October

Explaining its original decision on Thursday, Havering Council, which is controlled by the local residents' association with support from Labour, said in a statement: '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.'

Conservative MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell slammed the decision and blamed Havering Council for 'capitulating to terrorism'.
The new 'LBGTQ+ 101' course was rolled out as part of the university's sexual harassment prevention training

The prestigious university warns that calling transgender people by their birth names could 'trigger a trauma response'

MIT professors have been warned that calling a transgender person by their birth name - or 'deadnaming' - is a 'violent act' .

The prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge rolled out a mandatory course called LGBTQ+ 101 as part of its sexual harassment training.

During the LGBTQ+ Education, Allyship and Self Advocacy section, staff members were told that using the original name of people who have transitioned could 'trigger a trauma response'.

MIT forced students and faculty to take the training course - which included a series of videos, vocabulary lists, reflection questions and 'knowledge checks' to quiz learners on their understanding of the LGBTQ+ rules.

Lauryn McNair is the assistant dean of LGBTQ, Women and Gender Services at the institution, according to the lgbtq@mit website.

MIT professors were told during new sexual harassment training that calling a transgender person by their birth name is a 'violent act'

In a mandatory training course called LGBTQ + 101 - professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were warned against 'deadnaming' credit: https://www.dailywire.com/news/mit-presses-students-and-faculty-to-take-radical-lgbtq-101-training

Lauryn McNair is the assistant dean of LGBTQ, Women and Gender Services at the institution - she created high level training and educational modules for MIT

Staff members at the prestigious university in Cambridge learned during sexual harassment training that using the original name of people who have transitioned could 'trigger a trauma response'

McNair said she created high level training and educational modules for MIT - including the LBGTQ+ 101: Education, Allyship and Self-Advocacy course for preventing sexual harassment, which was administered to all staff, faculty and graduate students.

On her Linkedin - McNair said she was also responsible for overseeing MIT's million dollar renovation of their 'Cheney Room,' which is the women and non-binary student center.

The private training module was obtained and viewed in full by The Daily Wire.

One portion of the guide defines 'deadnaming' as 'the act of referring to a transgender or nonbinary person by a name they used prior to transitioning.'

The training allegedly teaches participants that 'deadnaming is invalidating and may trigger a trauma response'.

'Even when done accidentally' deadnaming 'brings all of their negative life experience with that name to the surface it is considered a violent act,' the online course said.

On top of LGBTQ+ 101 - faculty, staff and grad students are also allowed to choose an additional training course.

One of the options is 'Responding to Disclosures at MIT,' which explores 'behaviors that constitute sexual harassment'

Another is 'how to support someone who discloses to you,' and 'Power Dynamics,' which explores 'ways in which power manifests in our relationships and your attitudes towards power, including your feelings about having power and the authority of others.'

The private training module was obtained and viewed in full by The Daily Wire credit: https://www.dailywire.com/news/mit-presses-students-and-faculty-to-take-radical-lgbtq-101-training

'Even when done accidentally' deadnaming 'brings all of their negative life experience with that name to the surface it is considered a violent act,' the online course said

MIT forced students and faculty to take the training course - which included a series of videos, vocabulary lists, reflection questions and 'knowledge checks' to quiz learners on their understanding of the LGBTQ+ rules

Twitter users were outraged by MIT's new training.

'MIT used to be science and engineering. It looks like they understand neither now,' one user said.

Another said: 'Some of the faculty members might want to look into filing a religious discrimination case with the EEOP.'

MIT is not the first university to incorporate new 'woke' guidance.

In June - an attempt to use woke inclusive language in a terminology guide saw John Hopkins University completely erase the word 'women' from the definition of 'lesbian'.

The Baltimore-based university is known for its excellence in education and research, particularly in the field of medicine and recognized as one of the top medical institutions in the world.

Yet the establishment appears to fall well short when it comes to basic terminology involving the sexes in the university's LGBTQ+ glossary.

At the University of Cincinnati - a gender studies professor gave a student a zero on an assignment because they used the phrase 'biological women' in their work.

The university rebuked the gender studies professor and ordered them to take a course on free speech.

Siena Heights University in Adrian Michigan created a taxpayer-funded course teaching students how to address transphobia and other diversity equity and inclusion issues in the workplace.

Students on the course will be expected to complete 12 hours worth of training on concepts including, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and xenophobia.
Tragically Skoland lost both her legs and parts of her hand as a result of the vicious attack

An Iowa woman has had both her legs and parts of her hands amputated and will need facial reconstruction surgery following a vicious dog attack last week.

Brittany Skoland, from Fort Dodge, was attacked by three pit bulls last Friday, leaving her in critical condition.

Police were called to the 800 block of South 16th Street in Fort Dodge at around 11:25am, by a neighbor who reported that they could hear someone yelling for help.

When an officer arrived on scene, they found a woman being mauled by three dogs.

After attempting to scare the dogs away the officer was forced to shoot each dog multiple times, killing all three.

Brittany Skoland, from Fort Dodge, was attacked by three pit bulls last Friday, leaving her in critical condition

Police were called to the 800 block of South 16th Street in Fort Dodge at around 11:25am

Severely injured, Skoland was taken from the scene to Unity Point Trinity Medical Center in Fort Dodge by ambulance and then by helicopter to Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

The mother suffered severe head trauma and had to undergo several surgeries after being admitted to hospital.

Skoland's aunt Teresa Hanus, also from Fort Dodge, set up a fundraiser which had raised more than $8,000 by Friday afternoon, to support accommodations her niece will need following the brutal assault.

Hanus revealed her niece 'has lost a lot more then we originally thought.'

'She has had both legs amputated to her knees and parts of her hands. She is going to need facial reconstruction surgery, she also has serious head trauma and much more' Hanus explained.

'Those who know Brittany, know she loves to be outside, doing yard work, helping her Mom decorate for the Holidays. She also enjoys playing outside with her younger children' Hanus added.

Neighbor Kerri Johnson told KCCI about the horrifying aftermath of the attack last Friday

Explaining how any raised funds will be used Hanus wrote: 'The doors will be widened to accommodate a wheelchair and a ramp to allow her to go in and out of the house.

'The house will also need updates to accommodate her needs inside.'

Neighbor Kerri Johnson told KCCI about the horrifying scene.

'I had heard the gunshots. I came outside originally and I saw police with his gun drawn. He had said for me to go inside and I did, I did go inside, but after a couple of moments, my curiosity is piqued' he recalled.

'I stepped out into the driveway just to take a peek, I saw a black dog lying down on the ground, deceased, which is super sad,' he said.

Adding: 'I don't know what happened to the lady, but I know somebody got pulled off in a stretcher.'
Krugel has not said how much money she spends to go to work

A nurse that doesn't want to be a nurse anymore is going viral after showing TikTok users how she got to work in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sarah Krugel shared a video on November 14 of herself in an Uber after saying that paying for a ride on the app was cheaper than paying for parking.

'Paying to park at work should be a crime,' she wrote in the caption.

Krugel, who announced her temporary unemployment on TikTok one day after the Uber video, is still viral now that other users are admitting their costs for parking and what they do instead of calling a car service.

The TikToker currently works in a part-time healthcare position and has not said how much money she pays to Uber to work, or whether her unemployment is related to her parking complaints and statements that she no longer wants to be a nurse.

Sarah Krugel shared a video on November 14 of herself in an Uber after saying that she takes an Uber to work rather than a drive so she can save money on parking

She has not said how much money she pays for parking or if it differs depending on the day or her current workplace

Krugel, who primarily worked as a traveling nurse, announced she would move to Nashville in a June 1 post on her Instagram.

Her previous job was in California, and she worked in six different places before leaving her job as a traveling nurse.

She started her first nursing gig in Miami, Florida back in 2021 and later worked in Charlotte, North Carolina, before moving to California.

Krugel explained in a TikTok video that she will use her part-time job as 'a stepping stone' and advised users the medical field will 'always need nurses.'

Krugel calls herself 'a nurse that does not want to be a nurse anymore' and is residing in the Nashville area after she previously worked California

TikTok users have responded to the video with their own parking stories and what they do instead of parking their cars at work

TikTokers both in and out of healthcare have been sharing comments of parking issues that either they or others they know have gone through.

One person recently wrote: 'Catch me riding a bike at that point.'

'I park my car at burger king and walk to the hospital,' another TikTok user commented.

One woman who doesn't have the same parking issue commented that her husband has to pay money to park, and he doesn't even work in health care.

'My husband gets charged $60/month to park at his job. he's a line cook,' she wrote.

Other TikTok users have suggested she take the bus since she would not need to spend as much money.

They commented: 'How about taking the bus? Probably cheaper than ubering and good for the environment.'

Krugel responded to another commenter regarding the bus and wrote that she could not do it because there wasn't one within a safe distance of her workplace.
The family of a Brooklyn, NY woman who mysteriously passed away after giving birth has filed a $42 million lawsuit against the hospital.

Christine Fields, 30, died after giving birth at Woodhull Hospital last month, and her family are now demanding damages, claiming the hospital committed malpractice.

The family filed a $42 million lawsuit against the institute on Thursday, with Fields' mother Denene Witherspoon speaking of her heartbreak.

Speaking earlier this week at a press conference, Witherspoon said: 'That was my heart.

'She made me so proud, and now I don't have that in my life anymore. Now, I have to help raise three kids that don't have a mother.'

Christine Fields, 30, died after giving birth at Woodhull Hospital last month, and her family is now demanding damages

The family has alleged that her death was due to hospital staff not properly performing an emergency C-section and monitoring her post surgery.

New York Daily News reported that Fields had objected to the cesarean birth, and was conscious and responsive after the baby was born.

Fields then went into cardiac arrest the next day after the C-section, and according to one of the family's attorneys there was pooling blood.

Attorney Ira Newman told PIX11: 'Her babys heart rate drops, and theres fetal distress.

'Shes rushed in for a C-section, and we are investigating and have learned from the [medical examiners] office that there was pooling blood.'

Blood pooling occurs when the blood is unable to pump back to the heart and collects in the extremities.

Witherspoon added: 'I miss my daughter so much, and I need to know what happened to my daughter.

'My daughter was healthy, my daughter was 30, my daughter did everything right.

'She had had a birthing plan. Nothing was followed according to her birthing plan, and now I dont have my child, and it just hurts so much.'

Fields leaves behind three children, including her newborn baby and her fiance Jose Perez, who has spent the last two weeks trying to piece together this nightmare.

Fields' mother Denene Witherspoon spoke at a press conference of her heartbreak over her daughters death, Fields' fiance Jose Perez is seen on the right side of Witherspoon

Fields leaves behind three children, including her newborn baby and her fiance Jose Perez, who is she seen here with her

Speaking to New York Daily News, Perez said: 'We were looking forward to a wedding this year, but she ended up pregnant and we put it on hold.'

Wiping away tears, Perez added: 'We just thought it was going to be a regular birth like the first, second kid.'

The family of Fields is now awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine a cause of death.

Family attorney Sanford Rubinstein said: 'Three children, ages 3, 5 and a newborn infant, will now be raised without a mother.

'This is tragic. This family had no reason to think this wasn't going to be a healthy childbirth.'

A spokesperson for NYC Health + Hospitals told PIX11: 'The health and safety of our patients is our highest priority, and we express our sincere condolences to those affected by this tragic loss.

The family launched a $42 million lawsuit against Woodhull Hospital, seen here, following her death

'NYC Health + Hospitals has a steadfast commitment to providing quality, dignified, culturally responsive care to all New Yorkers without exception.

'We will continue to make advances to protect the safety and health of new mothers and address the national crisis of high rates of maternal mortalities.'

DailyMail.com has approached Woodhull Hospital directly for comment on the case.

This new suit against Woodhull Hospital comes after an anesthesiologist at the facility was probed over the death of Sha-Asia Washington in July 2020.

Washington died of cardiac arrest just two hours after delivering a healthy baby girl, Khloe, via C-section at Woodhull Hospital in Bedford-Stuyvesant in July 2020.

Dr. Dmitry Shelchkov, then working as an anesthesiologist at Woodhull, 'deviated from medically acceptable standards' when he administered an epidural to Washington.

Sha-Asia Washington, 26 (left), died after undergoing a C-section in Brooklyn in July 2020. Dr Dmitry Shelchkov, 60 (right), who was Washington's anesthesiologist, had his license suspended in March pending an investigation by health officials

According to a state medical review reported on by the New York Times earlier this year, Shelchkov botched the routine procedure.

The outlet reported that when delivering anesthesia, Shelchkov should have gone four inches into her lower back with a catheter, but inserted 13 inches instead.

Shelchkov also administered a full dose of anesthesia, and failed to wait and see how Washington reacted to a small test dose.

In the days after her death, Washington's loved ones and maternal health activists staged a rally outside Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, demanding justice for the young mother.
A senior advisor for the scandal-plagued COP28 climate summit in Dubai resigned on Friday, saying alleged duplicity by the UAE organizers over stopping rising temperatures were 'deeply disappointing.'

Hilda Heine, former president of the low-lying Marshall Islands, said reports that the UAE presidency planned to use the meeting to secure oil, gas deals shattered the credibility of the talks in Dubai.

Heine's letter was addressed to COP president Sultan Al Jaber  who was always a controversial choice for leading global climate change efforts because he also heads the UAE's national oil company, Adnoc.

'These actions undermine the integrity of the COP presidency and the process as a whole,' wrote Heine, an educator and politician whose country is threatened by rising sea levels.

Hilda Heine said she was quitting COP28 because its UAE hosts were not serious about tackling climate change

Leaders posing during a photo session at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In the letter, which was seen by Reuters, Heine said Al Jaber had to restore trust in the process by delivering an outcome 'that demonstrates that you are committed to phasing out fossil fuels.'

Al Jaber's spokesperson said he was 'extremely disappointed' by the resignation, but that the work of COP28  including a multimillion dollar fund for low-lying island states  would continue.

Despite a slew of damaging allegations, the summit has managed to attract such luminaries as King Charles III, Pope Francis, and US Vice President Kamala Harris  even though her boss Joe Biden skipped the confab.

Environmentalists say the talks could be the world's last chance to agree on aggressive emissions cuts and stop a catastrophic and irreversible rise in global temperatures, or at least devise a serious plan to mitigate it.

Leaked internal reports showed that Al Jaber used his position of COP28 president to raise commercial oil and gas interests with foreign officials from 15 countries in the run-up to the talks  claims he dismissed as 'false, not true, incorrect.'

Meanwhile, the Centre for Climate Reporting revealed that the UAE's neighboring petromonarchy Saudi Arabia is similarly talking up its green credentials while secretly cutting deals to keep oil and gas flowing for decades to come.

Critics say Sultan Al Jaber shouldn't head both a UN climate summit and a massive oil firm

King Charles III and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak attend the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit during COP28 on December 1, 2023 in Dubai

A natural gas facility in Saudi Arabia, which has been secretly working to keep developing countries 'hooked' on hydrocarbons for generations

The desert kingdom's so-called oil demand sustainability program (ODSP) was aimed at driving up use of fossil fuel-powered cars, buses, and planes in Africa and beyond, as rich countries increasingly switch to renewables.

Critics said it was aimed at getting developing nations 'hooked on its harmful products' so they would continue buying hydrocarbons from Gulf exporters when people in rich countries had switched to electric vehicles.

Research this month from the Global Oil and Gas Exit List (Gogel), a public database, showed how oil and gas expansion plans by the UAE's Adnoc and other major energy firms would only add to emissions of planet-heating gases.

Researchers also found that UAE oil and gas fields have been flaring gas almost daily, despite committing to a policy against burning extracted gas that's not captured and sold 20 years ago, according to The Guardian.

Al Jaber's team was earlier this year accused of 'greenwashing' his image, by trying to edit Wikipedia pages that highlighted his role in Adnoc.

Al Jaber was on Thursday the victim of a spoof  journalists covering COP28 received an email, purportedly from the conference organizers, saying he had resigned from his Adnoc leadership role.

Climate activists from Fridays for Future MAPA and WeSmellGas later claimed responsibility for the stunt.

Expo City in Dubai: the hub of climate change talks or more greenwashing?

Al Jaber has allegedly used the climate summit to bag more oil and gas deals for his national petro-firm Adnoc

More than 90,000 people were expected to attend COP28 in Dubai, which started on Thursday and is set to end on December 12.

The largest-ever climate meeting comes at the end of one of the hottest years on record, where extreme weather events linked to man-made pollution have ravaged every continent.

Britain's King Charles pleaded with world leaders to make progress in the global climate agenda.

'Scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached,' he said.

'Unless we rapidly repair and restore nature's economy, based on harmony and balance, which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperiled.'

Diplomatic efforts to keep global temperature rises below an agreed 1.5C benchmark are likely to be hampered by differences over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The UN on Friday published its first draft for a final agreement for the summit.

It laid out plans to either 'phase down' or 'phase out' the use of fossil fuels, to quit coal energy and to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Also on the table is whether to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, which totaled some $7 trillion globally last year.
The King is taking the furore over the Omid Scobie book 'very seriously' and will consult senior advisors next week on the family's next step.

Buckingham Palace is 'considering all options' after two senior royals - reported to be the King himself and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales - were named in a Dutch-language edition of the ill-reviewed Endgame as having been identified by Meghan over claims 'concern' was expressed about her future son's skin colour.

This includes the possibility of legal action.

It comes as Scobie, appearing on BBC's flagship Newsnight programme, said he was 'hurt' and 'frustrated' by the week's events.

But he refused to apologise to the royals concerned, saying: 'It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.' He has previously described it as a 'translation error' but says an 'investigation' has now been launched.

Meanwhile sources close to the Duchess of Sussex, who allegedly wrote down the names of the two family members in letters to King Charles, have insisted to that she 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp', according to the Telegraph.

The King (pictured at Cop28 in Dubai) is taking the furore over the Omid Scobie book 'very seriously' and will consult senior advisors next week on the family's next step

Scobie, appearing on BBC 's flagship Newsnight programme (pictured), said he was 'hurt' and 'frustrated' by the week's events

The two royals were named in a Dutch-language edition of the ill-reviewed Endgame (pictured) as having been identified by Meghan over claims 'concern' was expressed about her future son's skin colour

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex , who allegedly wrote down the names of the two family members in letters to King Charles, have insisted to that she 'never intended them to be publicly identified' and that it 'was not leaked to Mr Scobie by anyone in her camp', according to the Telegraph

However The Mail understands that Buckingham Palace has also been internally investigating who could have seen the letters from their end.

They are considered so deeply personal that only a 'tiny handful' of people are believed to have seen them and there is 'extreme confidence' that the leak didn't come from them.

READ MORE: Omid Scobie swears 'on my family's life' that naming royal 'racists' was not a publicity stunt Omid Scobie has refused to apologise to the two senior royals his book claimed had 'concerns' over Prince Archie 's skin colour Advertisement

The King was last night due to arrive back in Britain from Dubai, where he gave a well-received keynote speech at the COP28 climate conference, and head straight for his Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Aides have been keen for the furore not to derail his big moment but will resume discussions next week as to where they go next.

They have, it is understood, been 'greatly encouraged' by the sympathetic public reaction to Scobie's revelations, which may have a bearing on their final decision.

Although it was billed as a look 'inside the royal family and the monarchy's fight for survival', Endgame's relentlessly savage tone, attacks on the Princess of Wales - whom the author describes as a 'pliable' Stepford wife and a part-time royal because of her devotion to her children - has seen it roundly denounced and attracted a slew of eye-wincingly brutal reviews.

On Newsnight Scobie took the extraordinary step on swearing on 'my family's life' that the leaking of the names was not a 'stunt' to shift more books.

He said he was 'hurt' by the suggestion and dismissed it as a conspiracy theory by people who want to believe he is in 'cahoots' with the Duchess of Sussex.

Aides have been keen for the furore not to derail Charles' big moment at Cop28 but will resume discussions next week as to where they go next

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

Dutch translators Saskia Peeters (left) and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern (right) who worked on Omid Scobie's controversial book have insisted the names of two royals at the centre of racism scandal were in the manuscript they were sent

Their claims appear to contradict Scobie's (pictured on This Morning) who has insisted that he did not include the names of the two royals

He claimed, clearly choosing his words carefully: 'I am as frustrated as everyone else. The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it.'

However the Mail revealed this week that one of the two highly experienced translators responsible for the Dutch edition insisted that she had been given a manuscript with 'the names of the royals there in black and white'.

And her co-translator said it was 'unfair' they were being blamed.

Significantly, The Netherlands version also omitted the legal explanation for not naming the royals that was contained in the English-language edition.

Many within the industry believe the only reasonable explanation is that the Dutch publishing house was given an early manuscript before it had been seen by lawyers and signed off.

Newsnight interviewer Victoria Derbyshire told Scobie: 'In some version you must have written the names in and the wrong version has potentially gone to the people in charge of the rights around the world, I suppose.' Scobie did not reply to this point.

He claimed he was still 'proud' of his book.

The alleged racist comments were made about 'concerns' over Prince Archie's skin colour

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

Royal insiders have told the Mail that there is complete 'unity' between Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace over their response to the incident, which has been described as deeply 'upsetting'.

There is also immense sadness and anger at what has been described as a 'terrible injustice' for those involved.

King Charles has spent his entire life trying to promote interfaith and cultural harmony and helped thousands of young people, many from disadvantaged and ethnic minority communities, to achieve their potential through his charity the Prince's Trust.

But showing their mettle, the king and the princess have continued with their programme of public engagements and have several commitments lined up for next week, including the recording of Kate's now annual carol service at Westminster Abbey.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat described the claims as 'scuttlebutt' and 'unproven'.

He told Talk TV: 'The king's done a brilliant job for us, not just in the last year since he's been king, but he's been absolutely fantastic for many, many years in arguing in the interests of people as Prince of Wales.

'So frankly I see this as just rumour, hearsay and an attempt to disparage someone who's served our country with enormous dignity and enormous grave for many, many years.'

REBECCA ENGLISH: As King Charles lands back in UK from Dubai there will be no time for quiet reflection... instead he will be forced to ruminate on how he plans to address yet another Sussex-shape storm cloud on his horizon amid Omid Scobie book fallout

The King was due back at Sandringham last night after jetting straight to the countryside fresh from his well-received address in Dubai.

As is his habit at this time of year, he plans to spend the weekend striding around the late Queen's beloved Norfolk estate wearing his favourite patched green tweed jacket and cap, pruning clippers in hand.

It should be a time for quiet reflection on a job well done in the UAE, where he was the only foreign head of state invited to address the annual United Nations climate change conference.

At the age of 75, Charles also managed to cram in half a dozen or so bi-lateral meetings with world leaders, discussing everything from net zero to the crisis in the Middle East.

Instead, he will be forced to spend a rare moment of leisure ruminating on how he plans to address yet another Sussex-shaped storm cloud on his horizon.

King Charles (at Cop28) will be forced to spend a rare moment of leisure ruminating on how he plans to address yet another Sussex-shaped storm cloud on his horizon

It was Meghan who first alleged that family members raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' Archie would be

The row over who said what has been lurking in the Royal Family's rear-view mirror ever since Meghan first 'weaponised' conversations Harry had with family members in which she alleged 'concern' was raised about 'how dark' their son's skin might be and what that would 'potentially' mean for the family.

Although the word racism wasn't used during her bombshell 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the inference was clear (Harry himself used the phrase 'unconscious bias' to describe it earlier this year and predictably  ludicrously  blamed the resulting furore on 'the British Press').

It's fair to say the global uproar re-ignited by Omid Scobie's 'poisonous' book on the Royal Family and the naming of two royals  reported to be the King himself and the Princess of Wales  in a Dutch-language edition of Endgame was an 'unwelcome' distraction for His Majesty in an immensely important week for him as an international statesman.

Although leaks had already emerged by last weekend that Scobie intended to refer to two members of the Royal Family, not one, palace officials had hoped the revelation would be a storm in a teacup and had refused to engage with the subject.

All that changed on Tuesday, when a local journalist in the Netherlands revealed the names were included in the Dutch-language edition of the book.

The journalist later told me he had been in possession of a review copy book for a week, waiting for the embargo to lift, and couldn't understand why British news websites weren't running the same 'scoops' as him.

An hour later he received a panicked call from a small local publisher demanding he take down his story about 'Koning Charles' from the Libelle website, which he refused to do, because there was a massive blunder in the translation.

Scobie, appearing on BBC 's flagship Newsnight programme (pictured), said he was 'hurt' and 'frustrated' by the week's events

I was the first journalist to contact publisher Xander Uitgevers who personally confirmed it was true. I was also the first to call Buckingham Palace to break the news and seek comment.

It's fair to say their reaction was one of quiet shock. Many will ask why royal aides didn't immediately seek to get an injunction on the book.

But it was a rapidly developing situation and there was immense confusion as to how it could even have happened.

Was it an 'error in translation' as was initially claimed, or had Scobie  as now seems likely  deliberately intended to 'out' the royals concerned at the start of his project, before being warned off by lawyers concerned over the UK's strict libel laws.

Unfortunately for him  as the Mail exclusively revealed this week  it seems that an early draft of his manuscript was sent to the two entirely innocent (and highly experienced) Dutch translators who faithfully reproduced what they had been given.

For the first 48 hours the Palace held the line that it would not comment.

It was clear they wished to see how it would land, although calls were already flying between London and Dubai, where the advance party of the King's team had just landed.

And it was equally clear that officials were desperate the scandal didn't derail the King's big COP28 moment. As one source said: 'Sometimes the Palace need to act very quickly and other times they need to act carefully and with great thought. This was one of those times.

It was equally clear that officials were desperate the scandal didn't derail the King's big COP28 moment

'Queen Elizabeth took three days after the Oprah interview to issue a rare public statement because she and her advisers recognised, given the seriousness of the allegations that had been made, she should not be bounced into doing something because of the headlines. It was a case of caution in abundance and when she spoke, people listened.'

What was abundantly clear to me from speaking to multiple contacts, however, is that there was no 'push back' on the names that had been suggested.

I was also told Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace were acting with complete 'unity' on the issue.

On Wednesday night, TalkTV presenter Piers Morgan took it upon himself to name the King and Kate, drastically raising the stakes.

By the following morning I was clearly and unequivocally told the Palace was now 'considering all options', which included the possibility of legal redress.

While it is highly unusual for Buckingham Palace to go down such a route, one informed source pointed out to me that it is not unheard of.

They recalled three occasions that the Palace had involved lawyers and each had been successful: The Sun's suggestion that the late Queen backed Brexit (for which a front page apology was secured), William and Kate's suing of a French magazine over topless photographs of the then duchess, and the King's High Court battle over the publication of travel diaries.

'It's not something the Palace does lightly, but there is precedent. And they've won,' my source said.

Behind the scenes, I understand that officials have also this week launched an investigation into who, if anyone, would have had access to, or even glimpsed, the letters passed between the monarch and the Duchess of Sussex over her allegations. They were considered so personal and so deeply private that all but a 'tiny handful' of family members and staff are known to have seen them.

The result? There is 'extreme confidence' at the Palace that the leak 'didn't come from us'.

Which is, of course, exactly what the Duchess of Sussex has also made known via her own sources, insisting that she never 'intended' for the names to become public and no one on her team leaked the letters' contents to Scobie.

The public will have to decide whose version of events they believe.

It's quite clear to me that, once again, 'recollections may vary'.

Despite the accusations made by Meghan of 'unconscious bias' in her letters, one well-placed source tells me firmly: 'It is only one person's version, one side of the story.'

Which strongly suggests that behind Palace walls, those at the heart of events strongly dispute anything of the sort was even said  or could be considered to have been offensive.

Interestingly, while Meghan used the word 'concern' in her interview, it wasn't repeated by a distinctly uncomfortable-looking Harry, who only said it was an 'awkward' conversation.

So where do things go from here? I'm told the Palace's main focus, despite the furore, has been to get through COP28 and the King's important appearance.

But conversations will start again in earnest next week when the team are back at Buckingham Palace about what their next move is.

It is something they are taking 'extremely seriously' and legal action still hasn't been ruled out.

There is also immense sadness and anger at what has been described to me as a 'terrible injustice' to those involved. Some feel the Royal Family should address such mendacious smears in public once and for all.

But that, of course, comes with the risk of another very public falling out with the Sussexes, who had, for once, appeared equally keen to put the whole matter to bed.

One thing is for certain: That rumoured invitation to Christmas dinner for Harry and Meghan looks vanishingly unlikely.
The King was due back at Sandringham last night after jetting straight to the countryside fresh from his well-received address in Dubai.

As is his habit at this time of year, he plans to spend the weekend striding around the late Queen's beloved Norfolk estate wearing his favourite patched green tweed jacket and cap, pruning clippers in hand.

It should be a time for quiet reflection on a job well done in the UAE, where he was the only foreign head of state invited to address the annual United Nations climate change conference.

At the age of 75, Charles also managed to cram in half a dozen or so bi-lateral meetings with world leaders, discussing everything from net zero to the crisis in the Middle East.

Instead, he will be forced to spend a rare moment of leisure ruminating on how he plans to address yet another Sussex-shaped storm cloud on his horizon.

King Charles (at Cop28) will be forced to spend a rare moment of leisure ruminating on how he plans to address yet another Sussex-shaped storm cloud on his horizon

It was Meghan who first alleged that family members raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' Archie would be

The row over who said what has been lurking in the Royal Family's rear-view mirror ever since Meghan first 'weaponised' conversations Harry had with family members in which she alleged 'concern' was raised about 'how dark' their son's skin might be and what that would 'potentially' mean for the family.

EXCLUSIVE Palace could take legal action in race row: King Charles is taking allegations 'very seriously' and 'considering all options' - as aides hunt for leaker who shared private letters with Omid Scobie after sources close to Meghan said it wasn't her Advertisement

Although the word racism wasn't used during her bombshell 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the inference was clear (Harry himself used the phrase 'unconscious bias' to describe it earlier this year and predictably  ludicrously  blamed the resulting furore on 'the British Press').

It's fair to say the global uproar re-ignited by Omid Scobie's 'poisonous' book on the Royal Family and the naming of two royals  reported to be the King himself and the Princess of Wales  in a Dutch-language edition of Endgame was an 'unwelcome' distraction for His Majesty in an immensely important week for him as an international statesman.

Although leaks had already emerged by last weekend that Scobie intended to refer to two members of the Royal Family, not one, palace officials had hoped the revelation would be a storm in a teacup and had refused to engage with the subject.

All that changed on Tuesday, when a local journalist in the Netherlands revealed the names were included in the Dutch-language edition of the book.

The journalist later told me he had been in possession of a review copy book for a week, waiting for the embargo to lift, and couldn't understand why British news websites weren't running the same 'scoops' as him.

An hour later he received a panicked call from a small local publisher demanding he take down his story about 'Koning Charles' from the Libelle website, which he refused to do, because there was a massive blunder in the translation.

Scobie, appearing on BBC 's flagship Newsnight programme (pictured), said he was 'hurt' and 'frustrated' by the week's events

The two royals were named in a Dutch-language edition of the ill-reviewed Endgame (pictured) as having been identified by Meghan over claims 'concern' was expressed about her future son's skin colour

I was the first journalist to contact publisher Xander Uitgevers who personally confirmed it was true. I was also the first to call Buckingham Palace to break the news and seek comment.

It's fair to say their reaction was one of quiet shock. Many will ask why royal aides didn't immediately seek to get an injunction on the book.

But it was a rapidly developing situation and there was immense confusion as to how it could even have happened.

Was it an 'error in translation' as was initially claimed, or had Scobie  as now seems likely  deliberately intended to 'out' the royals concerned at the start of his project, before being warned off by lawyers concerned over the UK's strict libel laws.

Unfortunately for him  as the Mail exclusively revealed this week  it seems that an early draft of his manuscript was sent to the two entirely innocent (and highly experienced) Dutch translators who faithfully reproduced what they had been given.

For the first 48 hours the Palace held the line that it would not comment.

It was clear they wished to see how it would land, although calls were already flying between London and Dubai, where the advance party of the King's team had just landed.

And it was equally clear that officials were desperate the scandal didn't derail the King's big COP28 moment. As one source said: 'Sometimes the Palace need to act very quickly and other times they need to act carefully and with great thought. This was one of those times.

It was equally clear that officials were desperate the scandal didn't derail the King's big COP28 moment

'Queen Elizabeth took three days after the Oprah interview to issue a rare public statement because she and her advisers recognised, given the seriousness of the allegations that had been made, she should not be bounced into doing something because of the headlines. It was a case of caution in abundance and when she spoke, people listened.'

What was abundantly clear to me from speaking to multiple contacts, however, is that there was no 'push back' on the names that had been suggested.

I was also told Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace were acting with complete 'unity' on the issue.

On Wednesday night, TalkTV presenter Piers Morgan took it upon himself to name the King and Kate, drastically raising the stakes.

By the following morning I was clearly and unequivocally told the Palace was now 'considering all options', which included the possibility of legal redress.

While it is highly unusual for Buckingham Palace to go down such a route, one informed source pointed out to me that it is not unheard of.

They recalled three occasions that the Palace had involved lawyers and each had been successful: The Sun's suggestion that the late Queen backed Brexit (for which a front page apology was secured), William and Kate's suing of a French magazine over topless photographs of the then duchess, and the King's High Court battle over the publication of travel diaries.

'It's not something the Palace does lightly, but there is precedent. And they've won,' my source said.

Behind the scenes, I understand that officials have also this week launched an investigation into who, if anyone, would have had access to, or even glimpsed, the letters passed between the monarch and the Duchess of Sussex over her allegations. They were considered so personal and so deeply private that all but a 'tiny handful' of family members and staff are known to have seen them.

The result? There is 'extreme confidence' at the Palace that the leak 'didn't come from us'.

Which is, of course, exactly what the Duchess of Sussex has also made known via her own sources, insisting that she never 'intended' for the names to become public and no one on her team leaked the letters' contents to Scobie.

The public will have to decide whose version of events they believe.

It's quite clear to me that, once again, 'recollections may vary'.

Despite the accusations made by Meghan of 'unconscious bias' in her letters, one well-placed source tells me firmly: 'It is only one person's version, one side of the story.'

Which strongly suggests that behind Palace walls, those at the heart of events strongly dispute anything of the sort was even said  or could be considered to have been offensive.

Interestingly, while Meghan used the word 'concern' in her interview, it wasn't repeated by a distinctly uncomfortable-looking Harry, who only said it was an 'awkward' conversation.

So where do things go from here? I'm told the Palace's main focus, despite the furore, has been to get through COP28 and the King's important appearance.

But conversations will start again in earnest next week when the team are back at Buckingham Palace about what their next move is.

It is something they are taking 'extremely seriously' and legal action still hasn't been ruled out.

There is also immense sadness and anger at what has been described to me as a 'terrible injustice' to those involved. Some feel the Royal Family should address such mendacious smears in public once and for all.

But that, of course, comes with the risk of another very public falling out with the Sussexes, who had, for once, appeared equally keen to put the whole matter to bed.

One thing is for certain: That rumoured invitation to Christmas dinner for Harry and Meghan looks vanishingly unlikely.
A glamorous British mother could face more than six years in prison after being accused of being part of a food poisoning scam on the Spanish island of Majorca.

Laura Holmes Cameron, who hails from Essex, is one of eight people alleged to have convinced tourists to lie about being ill so they could claim compensation from hotels on the island.

Spanish detectives say the alleged scheme, which came to light in 2017, saw them target three hotel groups on the Balearic island in the space of two years and could have cost the businesses up to 9.6million.

The 44-year-old, who is also known as Laura Joyce, is accused of setting up a company with her brother which prosecutors say was actually a 'profit-motivated organised gang'.

Authorities have alleged that Holmes Cameron and her brother Marc Cameron Grinstead are the ringleaders and have charged them with fraud and membership of a criminal gang.

Laura Holmes Cameron, Essex-born owner of a notorious Magaluf bar, now faces trial

Laura Holmes Cameron (left ) is pictured with her mother Deborah who was investigated but freed with no further action taken

Pregnant Laura Cameron arriving at court in Majorca, September 7, 2017

Six other Britons have also been charged and named as Ryan Bridges, Simon Robert Flanagan, Tegan Jewel Sumerlee, Susan Amanda Lyle, Nicola Marie Sanderson, and Peter Carl Murphy.

In documents seen by the Sun, the Majorca Hoteliers Federation has called for the 44-year-old to be jailed for six-and-a-half years if convicted - five if she is found guilty of aggravated fraud, and another one-and-a-half if convicted of belonging to a criminal gang.

The publication claims the organisation is calling for her brother to be jailed for five years if convicted - four years for fraud and 12 months for membership of a criminal gang.

READ MORE HERE: Eight Brits are charged over 'fake Spanish holiday food poisoning scam where tourists were convinced to lie that they had been ill and sue for compensation' Advertisement

It said Bridges should get the same sentence as Cameron Grinstead if found guilty, as he is the one accused of processing the fake food poisoning claims while knowing they were not genuine.

The organisation is also demanding that the other Britons should be jailed for three years and nine months if found guilty, with all members made to pay compensation.

A date for the trial has not yet been set and Spanish prosecutors have not yet said what sentences and fines they are seeking.

In a hard-hitting six-page ruling issued by an investigating court in Majorca earlier this year, the suspects were accused of forming a 'profit-motivated organised gang' through a Spanish company the pair set up called Elite Project Marketing SL.

It said: 'The gang specialised in obtaining the details of British tourists in all-inclusive hotels in Majorca, it convinced... [them] to falsely claim they had been ill during their stay in one of those hotels... to claim compensation in the UK.'

It added: 'The amount of compensation obtained in the UK with the consequent damage it caused tour operators and hotels significantly exceeded 176,000.'

Reports at the time of Holmes Cameron's arrest in September 2017 described hoteliers' losses as a result of the scam as 'multi-million.'

Laura Holmes Cameron (right) and her mother Deborah Cameron, who was previously held in the probe but freed with no further action was taken

Laura Holmes Cameron (pictured) was prosecuted under her maiden and not her married name of Laura Joyce

Laura Holmes Cameron pictured with her husband Stuart Holmes

Detectives were also said at the time to have estimated up to 9.6million the losses of the three hotel groups whose fraud claims sparked the Civil Guard-led Operation Claims.

Investigating judge Maria Perez Ruiz admitted in her key court ruling made public today that the final figure defrauded has yet to be determined, as she invited prosecutors involved in the case to submit indictments.

The eight suspects have been accused of fraud and membership of a criminal gang, with the crimes they are alleged to have committed occurring in 2016 and 2017.

Bridge has been described as 'one of the people tasked in England with processing the false claims'.

The other five Brits were reportedly paid on commission 'hired by the two siblings to go to different hotels and get tourists' personal details including details that would enable the consumption of meals in hotels to be linked to supposed food poisoning'.

Four other Britons were identified in the investigation but they have been provisionally archived because their whereabouts is unknown and they have not been formally questioned.

The investigating judge made her key court ruling after rejecting an attempt by lawyers acting for Holmes Cameron and Bridge to shelve the case against them, stating 'several indications of criminality existed.'

She said in her ruling that only 38 of the 800 holidaymakers staying at Club Mac Alcudia who submitted compensation claims had asked for medical assistance.

A state prosecutor and private prosecutors acting for the hotels affected will now be invited to submit indictments failing a last appeal by the suspects. A trial date would then be set.

Laura Holmes Cameron with her husband Stuart Holmes

The alleged criminal gang was accused of targeting all-inclusive hotels in Majorca with the bogus claims

The judge said in her ruling that only 38 of the 800 holidaymakers staying at Club Mac Alcudia (pictured) who submitted compensation claims had asked for medical assistance

Holmes Cameron's lawyer Gabriel Llado said after his client appeared in court in May 2018 in a closed hearing that she had admitted to passing on the names and phone numbers of holidaymakers for payment but insisted it was part of a pure market research exercise.

He insisted neither Holmes Cameron or any of the so-called 'claims farmers' she used to gather data of tourists she passed on to others in the UK, encouraged them to get chemist's receipts so they could make fake food poisoning claims as police and hoteliers' representatives have claimed.

And he claimed his client had spent just a few months doing it and stopped because she was earning very little.

Holmes Cameron's mother Deborah Cameron was previously held in the probe but freed with no further action was taken.

The wealthy mother was also held at the luxury villa in upmarket Bendinat the pair then shared near the glamorous Majorcan port of Puerto Portals which police raided, but was freed before she went to court.

After Holmes Cameron was arrested, it emerged her Magaluf bar Playhouse had been identified as the venue where a British tourist was filmed performing sex acts on 24 men for a cheap drink in the summer of 2014.

The fallout from the infamous video sparked a crackdown on bar crawls in the party resort after regional governors described the 'outrageous' sex scenes as giving the area and women 'a terrible image' and promised to 'stop it whichever way' they could.

Laura Holmes Cameron and husband Stuart Holmes' bar Heroes in Puerto Portals, was raided by police in 2017

Peter Carl Murphy (left) is among the other suspects alleged to have been involved

Holmes Cameron, who was not at her bar when the incident occurred, shut Playhouse down soon after.

The British government announced new measures to clamp down on fake holiday sickness claims as a result of scandals like the Majorca fake food poisoning scam.

The same year of the Majorca arrests, Benidorm hotel association HOSBEC estimated British guests' were costing Spanish hotels around 55 million in bogus food poisoning claims.

Some reports at the time even claimed Brits were facing a holiday ban in some all-inclusive Costa hotels.

Many fraudsters were caught out after private detectives hired by hotels trawled their social media and discovered they had been posting photos of themselves eating and drinking when they later claimed to insurers they had been in bed with diarrhoea.

One family who claimed their holiday was ruined by food poisoning were jailed in February 2021 after Facebook photos revealed them enjoying the waterslide and bar throughout the trip.
Aid could be delivered to Gaza by sea, Rishi Sunak announced yesterday as fighting resumed in the region.

New routes to get help to Palestinian civilians will be explored due to Government concerns that not enough is getting through the Rafah crossing from Egypt.

Speaking on the sidelines of the climate conference in Dubai, he said: 'I strongly welcomed the pause in fighting to get hostages out, and we've been using the opportunity to get more aid into Gaza.

Aid could be delivered to Gaza by sea, Rishi Sunak announced yesterday as fighting resumed in the region

A Qatar Emiri Air Force plane carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip waits to be unloaded at Al-Arish Airport in North Sinai Province, Egypt

'The UK has trebled its aid, but still not enough is getting in via Rafah and other crossings.

'So we are actively exploring other routes, including by sea.'

It is understood the UK could use ships already in the area to deliver aid to either Gaza or Egypt.

Mr Sunak also called on Israel to take maximum care to protect civilians.

A worker transfers humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip at Al-Arish Airport in North Sinai Province, Egypt

A Qatar Emiri Air Force plane carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip lands in Al-Arish Airport in North Sinai Province, Egypt

In the strongest terms he has used so far, the Prime Minister said that he would be opposed to anything that involved the mass displacement of people.

Israel has told civilians in the north of the strip to move to the south while it fights Hamas terrorists.

'I've said before that the number of civilian casualties and the scale of the suffering has been far too high,' he added.

'We're making it clear that Israel must take maximum care to protect civilian life. We're opposed to anything that would involve the mass displacement of people.'
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.
Soaring numbers of foreign nationals are claiming asylum after arriving on regular visas, the Mail can reveal today.

At least 20,000 such applications were lodged in the 12 months to June, a record high.

The total has surged by more than 100 per cent in a year, exposing a shocking abuse of legal routes.

The foreign citizens are handed the right to come to Britain temporarily  for work, study or a visit  but then claim refugee status to stay permanently. The claims made up about a fifth of all asylum applications.

'It's clear the migration system is operating very far short of what our constituents expect,' said Miriam Cates of the New Conservatives group of backbench MPs. 'The Government needs to close loopholes like this as a matter of urgency.'

At least 20,000 such applications were lodged in the 12 months to June, a record high (Pictured: A boat carrying around 50 migrants drifts into English waters after being trailed by a French emergency tug)

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, by RNLI lifeboat in August this year

The largest number of asylum claims by visa holders is understood to come from Bangladeshi nationals. Many were also made by Pakistani and Indian nationals.

Thousands are thought to have been granted visas for holiday or business reasons. These people are usually allowed to stay for only a few weeks or months.

Alp Mehmet of Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for tougher border controls, said: 'This has long been a scam-ridden area about which the Government has little interest. Matters have been made worse by abandoning face-to-face interviews in countries students come from.

'It's clear the migration system is operating very far short of what our constituents expect,' said Miriam Cates of the New Conservatives group of backbench MPs

'Control has been handed to universities who are happy to offer places but accept no responsibility for students' departure.'

Net migration  the difference between the number arriving and those leaving  hit a record 745,000 last year, driven by an influx from non-EU countries.

The Mail on Sunday revealed in October that universities had been warned about a 'marked' increase in students seeking asylum.
A pro-Palestine protestor has been left in critical condition after setting themselves on fire outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta.

The city's police chief, Darin Schierbaum, described the incident as an 'extreme act of political protest', and said a Palestinian flag was recovered from the scene.

It comes just hours after Israel's military wing IDF announced the re-launch of its offensive against Hamas in Gaza after a six-day ceasefire expired.

At least two people were injured in the act of self-immolation, including a security guard who attempted to intervene.

The security guard's condition is unclear, and officials said the protestor is in critical condition.

At least two people were injured in the horror act of protest outside Atlanta's Israeli consulate

The incident has been described as an 'extreme act of political protest' by the city's police chief

Officials ruled out terrorism as the cause and said there was no threat to staff inside the consulate (pictured) in Atlanta

The protestor has not been identified and no pro-Palestinian groups have taken responsibility for the demonstration.

On social media, a singed backpack and burned items were seen outside of the building.

Everyone inside the building is safe, and Schierbaum said that officials have not determined any connection to terrorism.

'We do not see any threat here,' he said. 'We believe it was an act of extreme political protest that occurred.'

Anat Sultan-Dadon, consul general of Israel to the southeastern U.S., said in a statement: 'We are saddened to learn of the self-immolation at the entrance to the office building.

'It is tragic to see the hate and incitement toward Israel expressed in such a horrific way.

The sanctity of life is our highest value. Our prayers are with the security officer who was injured while trying to prevent this tragic act.

'We are grateful to the city of Atlanta's law enforcement and first responders for all they do to ensure safety.'
LAPD has warned that a potential serial killer could be on the loose after three homeless people were murdered in the past week.

Police are asking the public's assistance in identifying the suspect responsible for three murders that occurred on November 26, 27, and 29 around downtown and in South Los Angeles, California.

The LAPD said the investigation is at the early stage, but noted similarities in those three killings.

'A single individual approached each one and shot and killed each one as they slept,' LAPD Chief Michel Moore said.

Police are asking the public's assistance in identifying the killer who is responsible for three murders that occurred on November 26, 27, and 29 around downtown and in South Los Angeles , California

The suspect, hooded, targets lone, unsheltered individuals sleeping on the streets, shooting them before fleeing in a vehicle without any observed altercation, LAPD reported during a Friday afternoon press conference

The LAPD said the investigation is at the early stage, but noted similarities in those three killings

'A single individual approached each one and shot and killed each one as they slept,' LAPD Chief Michel Moore said

'The suspect, hooded, targets lone, unsheltered individuals sleeping on the streets, shooting them before fleeing in a vehicle without any observed altercation', LAPD reported during a Friday afternoon press conference.

'To the person responsible: We will find you, we will catch you and you will be held accountable,' Mayor Karen Bass said.

A 37-year-old man was killed in south Los Angeles early Sunday morning.

The following day, around 4:45am, a homeless man in his 50s was shot to death in downtown LA, and the third victim, in his 60s, was killed the day after.

Moore did not use the term 'serial killer,' but said the three victims were found dead under similar circumstances.
Ryanair has become the latest airline to be hit by an international scandal after it found fake engine parts in two planes.

The parts were discovered during maintenance checks in Texas and Brazil during the past few months.

Major US carriers Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have also found suspect parts in their planes.

Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary said the bogus components came from the British supplier AOG Technics, which is not one of Ryanairs approved suppliers.

Regulators have been alerted to fake parts found in Boeing and Airbus planes this year and investigators have allegedly traced the supplies back to AOG Technics. Aviation watchdogs in the UK, US and Europe have accused the company of supplying engine parts with faked certification documents, raising concerns over safety.

The parts were discovered during maintenance checks in Texas and Brazil during the past few months

Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary said the bogus components came from the British supplier AOG Technics, which is not one of Ryanairs approved suppliers

Mr OLeary called for tighter control of third-party jet engine suppliers. US engine maker CFM International has taken legal action against AOG Technics after its CFM56 model  the worlds most widely used jet engine  was allegedly affected by the scandal.

The Civil Aviation Authority, Britains watchdog, has issued a safety notice to airlines and said it was investigating the supply of a large number of suspect unapproved parts that could, it said, be traced back to AOG Technics.

The EU Aviation Safety Agency said in August it was examining reports of parts with suspected falsified documents, while the US Federal Aviation Administration has warned airlines about the scandal. The US Justice Department is said to be in the early stages of a probe.

AOG Technics did not respond to a request for comment last night.
A toddler has been killed after the child was hit by a car in a Melbourne driveway.

The infant was struck by the vehicle in the driveway of an Esteem Road property at Craigieburn about 8.20pm on Friday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and paramedics worked on the child but they were unable to be saved.

Victoria Police said the male driver stopped at the scene and is assisting officers with inquiries.

A toddler has died after being hit by a car in the driveway of a property in Craigieburn (pictured) in Victoria's north-east on Friday

A male drive is assisting police with their inquires as an investigation into the incident continues

The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established, with officers continuing their investigation.

The fatality comes as Victorian drivers are being urged to take more care when travelling as the road toll continues to climb.

Victoria's road toll has hit a 15-year high with a total of 270 lives lost on the state's road compared to this time last year when 225 lives were lost.

The figure is the highest since 2008 when 261 people died on the state's roads and represents a more than 20 per cent increase for the year to date.

The male driver stopped at the scene and has been assisting police with their inquires as they continue to investigate the horror incident

A total of 241 people were killed in road crashes in 2022, slightly up from the five-year average of 237. Of those, 36 died between November and December.

Earlier this year, Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir described the grim milestone as 'truly tragic'.

'With two months to go in the year, it is incredibly concerning that we find ourselves in this position. This should be a wake-up call to everyone,' he said.

The latest incident comes after a ute reversed over a toddler on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island), 133 kilometres east of Hervey Bay in central Queensland on Thursday around 10am.

The latest incident comes after another toddler was badly injured in K'gari (pictured) on Thursday morning after a ute reversed over a child

The little girl suffered extensive bruising and tyre marks on her leg, back and ear from the horror accident.

The child was flown to hospital by a LifeFlight rescue helicopter after being treated by paramedics, after her father initially performed CPR on her.

The ute's tyres are understood to have rolled over the girl at slow speed, pushing her into the sand.
Derek Chauvin, the ex-police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed 22 times with an 'improvised knife' in a horror prison stabbing last week, it has been revealed.

The attacker, identified as former FBI informant and gang member John Turscak, 52, has been charged with attempted murder, and told officers he would have killed the disgraced former cop if they had not responded quickly, prosecutors said.

Chauvin was targeted in the law library at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona, last Friday, with Turscak telling FBI agents he had been planning the attack for around a month.

The inmate also said he chose Black Friday as the date of his attack for symbolic connection to the Black Lives Matter movement, which were in-part sparked by Chauvin after he killed Floyd in May 2020.

Turscak was sentenced to 30 years behind bars in November 2001 for a number of crimes while in the Mexican Mafia gang, and was acting as an undercover informant for the FBI at the same time.

Derek Chauvin was stabbed 22 times in a horror prison attack last Friday

The disgraced former cop was targeted in the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona (pictured) where he was transferred in August 2022

Turscak, a career criminal who went by the nickname 'Stranger', shot to notoriety over two decades ago after providing information that led to the indictments of more than 40 suspected members of the Mexican Mafia while acting as an informant, according to the Los Angeles Times.

While an informant, he was dropped from the investigation and charged after admitting to a slew of crimes including drug dealing, extortion and authorizing assaults.

As well as connecting the stabbing to the BLM movement, Turscak said he chose Black Friday in tribute to the 'Black Hand' symbol, which is associated with the Mexican Mafia gang, prosecutors said.

He remains in custody and has no attorney listed in court records, and has previously represented himself in numerous court proceedings.

His guilty plea saw him admit to conspiring to kill a rival in the Mexican Mafia in the late 1990s, who he reportedly battled for control over the cartel's Los Angeles territory.

In a 2005 court filing reported by the Star Tribune, Turscak requested a transfer from a federal penitentiary in Atlanta because he feared his life was in 'imminent danger' from fellow inmates.

He said he felt he was a target 'as a result of my past cooperation with the government in the Mexican Mafia investigation, and assistance to authorities here at the prison.'

After his conviction, Turscak said he believed his cooperation with the FBI would have earned him a lighter sentence, adding: 'I didn't commit those crimes for kicks... I did them because I had to if I wanted to stay alive.'

The ex-Minneapolis police officer was sentenced to 22- and-a-half-years in prison for the murder of Floyd after pressing his knee against his neck for more than nine minutes

Chauvin is serving 21 years for violating the civil rights of Floyd, and is also serving a simultaneous 22-and-a-half-year sentence for second degree murder.

He was convicted of the May 2022 murder of Floyd after pressing his knee on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes, in horror footage witnessed by millions online.

One of the highest profile inmates in America, he was originally housed in a maximum-security prison in Minnesota before being moved to FCI Tuscon in Arizona in August 2022.

The former police officer's lawyer, Eric Nelson, has previously advocated for keeping his client out of general prison populations due to his client's notoriety.

As an anticipated target, Chauvin was kept mainly in solitary confinement 'largely for his own protection', Nelson said last year.

Chauvin sparked nationwide protests in the summer of 2020 after Floyd's killing

Chauvin pleaded not guilty in his murder trial, and claimed in his first comments to the media seen last week that his trial was a 'sham.'

Speaking in documentary The Fall of Minneapolis, a new documentary that examines Floyd's death, Chauvin argued over a prison phone that the death was due to a lengthy wait for an ambulance.

He claimed an ambulance took too long to respond to the incident, taking a 'not normal' 20 minutes to arrive.

He also repeatedly referred to the fact that he and other cops had been trained in MRT - Maximal Restraint Technique.
A special envoy to Britain 'plotted' the kidnap of a diamond tycoon in the Caribbean at the behest of the Indian state.

Gurdip Bath, who has been pictured with King Charles, allegedly hatched the extraordinary plan on British soil.

India-born Mr Bath, who lives in an 8 million Mayfair mansion near the Ritz, is accused of flying with a gang from London to Antigua to abduct Mehul Choksi as part of a honeytrap on Delhi's orders, according to a court claim in Antigua and Barbuda.

Mr Bath  who has citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis and has acted as its commercial attache to the UK for 11 years  strongly denies involvement.

He and his alleged associates are accused of deploying glamorous London-based property consultant Barbara Jarabik to lure Mr Choksi to an apartment near his home in Antigua. There, he was pounced on by thugs claiming to be police, according to the court claim filed by Mr Choski.

The jewellery dealer, 64, says he was beaten, tasered, bound to a wheelchair and loaded on to a yacht bound for Dominica.

Gurdip Bath (pictured, left), who has been pictured with King Charles (pictured, right), allegedly hatched the extraordinary plan on British soil

Diamond tycoon Mehul Choksi says he was taken against his will

He says he suffered serious injuries at the hands of the group of thugs that allegedly kidnapped him

The group allegedly hired property consultant Barbara Jarabik to lure Mr Choksi to an apartment near his home in Antigua

He claims an Indian delegation flew in to deport him to his homeland where he is wanted over a supposed 1 billion banking fraud.

But whistleblowers alerted his lawyers who found him battered and bruised in a cell before they secured his release.

Mr Choksi is suing Antigua's attorney general and police chief for not properly investigating his abduction and bringing his assailants to justice after he suffered 'inhuman or degrading treatment'.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court refused attempts by Antigua to dismiss the claim and found Mr Choksi had an 'arguable' case in May.

The authorities finally filed a defence last week detailing steps taken since the kidnap and calling for the claim to be dismissed. A trial date is yet to be set.

Now Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) is being called on to investigate Mr Bath, 47, along with his co-accused over alleged conspiracy to kidnap in the UK.

Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) is being called on to investigate Mr Bath, 47, along with his co-accused over alleged conspiracy to kidnap in the UK

This is the first time Delhi has been accused of planning an extrajudicial abduction from the UK.

It comes after India was accused of masterminding the assassination of a Canadian Sikh leader, in Canada, in September. Delhi denies both allegations.

Michael Polak, of Justice Abroad, told the Mail: 'The NCA must investigate and prosecute all the individuals named in proceedings. To fail to do so would allow Britain to be a haven for those accused of international criminal activity, encouraging state-sponsored kidnapping and murder.'

Mr Choksi moved to the Caribbean in 2017 and gained Antiguan citizenship before falling foul of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi who called for his extradition in 2018.

Mr Bath holds great sway in the region as a St Kitts diplomat with alleged links to the premiers of Antigua and India.

He has claimed credit for securing Covid vaccines for the Caribbean from Delhi and met then-Prince Charles in 2014 at a Commonwealth event.

But Mr Choksi's legal team have obtained flight manifests, CCTV, witness accounts and other records they say prove Mr Bath and his accomplices committed the kidnapping after plotting together in the UK.

Court papers compiled by Edward Fitzgerald KC show records of Ms Jarabik, originally from Hungary, flying to Antigua in the week of Mr Choksi's abduction in May 2021.

Mr Bath allegedly joined her after he touched down days later with co-accused Gurjit Singh Bhandal and Gurmit Singh  Indian friends who live in West Bromwich.

Documents show Mr Singh and Mr Singh Bhandal then boarded the Calliope of Arne yacht.

Mr Choksi claims Ms Jarabik invited him to her apartment on May 23 where he was ambushed and bundled on to the boat, tied into a wheelchair.

On board, the men allegedly stated they were 'agents' of India's Research and Analysis Wing, Delhi's MI6, and threatened him at knifepoint.

They sailed to Dominica where Mr Choksi was charged with illegal entry. Dominica then pushed for his deportation to India until lawyers won his release back to Antigua on July 12.

Interpol has said it was a 'credible possibility' that his abduction 'had the ultimate purpose of deporting the applicant to India'.

None of the individuals accused by Mr Choksi is a party to his case against the Antiguan authorities, so cannot file a formal response defending themselves.

However, they have all strenuously denied the claims. Mr Bath told Indian media he had 'not played any role in the activities related to Mehul Choksi and in particular his kidnap'. He said he has 'no association with any Indian government-owned intelligence service'.

Ms Jarabik denied involvement and said Mr Choksi was obsessed with her. She said she was with him but left several hours before the alleged kidnap.

Mr Singh said his presence in the region was 'purely coincidental' and branded the allegations as 'baseless and fake'.

He said he was willing to assist the NCA and Antiguan authorities.

Mr Singh Bhandal said he had been on a sailing trip and had never heard of Mr Choksi before being accused, nor had they met Ms Jarabik.
A British tank commander has spoken exclusively to MailOnline of her pride at being in an all-female tank unit taking on Hamas terrorists in a role that she says is 'a dream come true'.

Tamara, 20, is one of just 40 women in the 33rd Caracal Battalion's tank unit which has seen service since October 7 after Hamas launched their deadly invasion killing more than 1,200.

Originally from Hendon, north London, Tamara moved to Israel after her grandfather was killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem in 2008.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline at her base in a classified location in southern Israel close to the Egyptian border, she described how she had sprung into action on the day of the invasion.

Standing by her Merkava battle tank Tamara said: 'I was woken by the sound of rockets and sirens and knew that this was what we had been trained for and my time was now.

Tamara, 20, holding a rifle in a classified location in southern Israel close to the Egyptian border

Tamara is one of just 40 women in the 33rd Caracal Battalion's tank unit. Left to right- top, Oshrit, 20, Abigail, 21, bottom, Commander Tamara, 20, originally from Hendon, London, and Efrat, 19

Tamara stands in front of a gigantic tank in southern Israel close to the Egyptian border

'I jumped into my car and within a few minutes I was at the base and in the tank. Our role is to defend our country and that's what I am trained to do and what I am ready for.

'We must do it and we have to look after ourselves - our grandparents and parents looked after us when we were younger and that's what I am doing now here for my country.'

The Caracal Battalion is legendary within the Israeli Defence Forces and is named after the caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same and more than 70 per cent of whom are women.

Its motto in Hebrew translates as 'The Winning Combination' and it has seen action numerous times since it was formed in 2000.

Tamara in civilian clothes. Tamara, who has two younger brothers and a sister, said: 'My family are proud of what I'm doing, and we decided to move here because of what happened to my grandfather, and since then we have never looked back'

Tamara said: 'My little sister wants to join up as well, and she wants to defend her country as well'

The Caracal battalion. Left to right - Tank Commander Tamara, 20, originally from Hendon, London, with women's tank unit members Oshrit, 20 and Abigail, 21, Efrat, 19

Tamara with a rifle in front of her tank. Originally from Hendon, north London, Tamara moved to Israel after her grandfather was killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem in 2008

Tamara - who had perfectly manicured and painted nails - said: 'It's in my blood to defend our people. My grandfather was killed in a terrorist attack in 2008 in Jerusalem, so for me it's personal'

Tamara - who had perfectly manicured and painted nails - added: 'It's in my blood to defend our people. My grandfather was killed in a terrorist attack in 2008 in Jerusalem, so for me it's personal.

'My comrades and I are women of action - we are more than ready to fight. Women can operate in any field and my unit is one of the best in the battalion and I'm very proud of them.

'I see no reason why women can't be in the front line and I'm proud to be fighting for my country and I'm proud of my British roots. I do miss London, especially the chocolate but my life is here now.'

Tamara, who has two younger brothers and a sister, added: 'My family are proud of what I'm doing, and we decided to move here because of what happened to my grandfather, and since then we have never looked back.

'I'm proud to be where I am right now, especially after what happened on October 7. It's our priority to protect people and that's what we did.

'My little sister wants to join up as well, and she wants to defend her country as well.'

Tamara standing on top of a tank. She said: 'My comrades and I are women of action - we are more than ready to fight. Women can operate in any field and my unit is one of the best in the battalion and I'm very proud of them'

Merkava battle tank. Tamara said: 'Women can operate tanks. We have the ability to do anything but we all work as a team with the men. We all hold hands together'

Tamara walking away from the tank. She said: 'I see no reason why women can't be in the front line and I'm proud to be fighting for my country and I'm proud of my British roots. I do miss London, especially the chocolate but my life is here now'

Tamara added: 'We saw a lot of rockets and missiles that day. Our tanks were sent into Gaza and are always ready for battle. We were moved into areas where they needed to be.

'I can't go into too much detail of what we did because it's confidential, but I can assure you we will be doing our best to make sure that nothing like October 7 ever happens again.

'It's our job to protect our country because if we don't protect Israel we will have no place else to go.'

The unit was credited with killing dozens of Hamas terrorists in a 17-hour running battle and stopping the terrorists advancing further into Israel.

Tamara, who has been in the military for two years, added: 'When I drafted I always knew that I would get into combat.

'Like I said, I'm a woman of action. I was never going to do something inside four walls. I was always ready to combat and my life as a tank commander is a dream come true.'

Tamara explained they were able to spend as long as two weeks in the tank if needed and said: 'We have enough ammunition, food and water and sleep in the tank. It's cramped but we all get on.'

Addressing the elephant in the room, Tamara said: 'If we need to sue the bathroom there is a hole in the floor and we use a funnel.

'Women can operate tanks. We have the ability to do anything but we all work as a team with the men. We all hold hands together.'

Battalion commander mother-of-three Lt-Col Or Ben-Yehuda, 34, described how her soldiers had taken on 100 terrorists, eliminating them all with no losses or casualties.

Tamara standing next to a tank. She said: 'I'm proud to be where I am right now, especially after what happened on October 7. It's our priority to protect people and that's what we did'

Tamara reaching towards the top of a tank. Her unit was credited with killing dozens of Hamas terrorists in a 17-hour running battle and stopping the terrorists advancing further into Israel

Tamara getting into a tank. She said: 'It's our job to protect our country because if we don't protect Israel we will have no place else to go'

At Sufa and Holit in southern Israel, close to the Rafah border crossing, the Caracal Battalion and the 17-hour battle against them has gone down in Israeli military history.

Lt Col Ben-Yehuda told MailOnline: 'We had rockets and guns and grenades coming down on us but my soldiers were more than up to the fight.

'They did us proud they were lions and lionesses. That day I told my soldiers we are going out to eliminate terrorists and that's what we did.'

The career solider, who was injured in an attack in 2014 and mentioned in dispatches for her bravery, said: 'The female soldiers within the Battalion played a significant contribution in the battle.

'They were exceptionally brave in battle at the kibbutz near Sufa and Holit in the south of Israel. They fought bravely, saved lives and were heroes.'

Eleven people were killed at the kibbutz in Holit but the battalion prevented a wider loss of life - and Lt Col Ben-Yeuda used deadly force herself on the terrorists.

Lt Col Ben-Yeuda told MailOnline: 'We suffered no losses and no casualties. Every terrorist that approached my soldiers was taken out. They didn't return to Gaza.

'I looked many in the eye. They saw me, and they saw I was a woman. Put it this way, they won't be getting 72 virgins because they were taken out by a woman.'
A tattooed female prison psychologist who admitted to being in a sexual relationship with a former jailbird patient was promoted by her boss while under investigation by the medical watchdog.

Prison psychologist Caroline Gorman admitted to hooking-up with a violent inmate she treated in jail after he contacted her upon his release.

The Psychology Board of Australia already had Ms Gorman under investigation when she was employed by Dr Catherine Hart at at Succoris Psychology, which operates clinics in Victoria and New South Wales.

Prison psychologist Caroline Gorman believed it was alright to have sex with a former patient she had treated in jail a little over a year after she met him

On Thursday it was revealed Ms Gorman received the equivalent of a slap on the wrist by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for her 'inappropriate relationship' with the unnamed crook.

That villain, referred to as AB, had been jailed following a conviction for aggravated burglary and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

AB's offending involved 'violent conduct towards an ex-partner and another male victim who was then in a relationship with the ex-partner', the tribunal heard.

Ms Gorman had been supported in the hearing by Dr Hart, who claimed she knew full well Ms Gorman was sleeping with a former client ex-con when she hired her at her Sunbury clinic in March 2021 - just two months after Ms Gorman claimed to have started sleeping with the crook.

The tribunal heard Dr Hart had no concerns as to Ms Gormans professional conduct and was of the opinion that she had a good understanding of her ethical obligations as a psychologist.

'She also indicated that Ms Gorman was promoted in the practice after one year and now has a role managing staff,' the tribunal heard.

'She described her as maintaining professional boundaries, and as a competent member of staff with relevant skills, and attributes including diligence, reliability and dedication to her work.'

It is understood Ms Gorman was investigated on the back of a complaint to the Board.

Prison psychologist Gorman was promoted despite being under investigation over bad behaviour

On Monday, VCAT vice president Judge Caitlin English let Ms Gorman off with a reprimand and refused to suspend her registration or impose further conditions.

'Ms Gorman is already practising without restriction. Her employer Dr Hart was specifically asked in evidence if Ms Gorman represents a threat to the public and she answered "no",' Judge English ruled.

'The tribunal is of the view that, in these circumstances, the suspension of Ms Gormans registration or the imposition of conditions on her re-registration will not serve to protect the public.'

The tribunal had heard Ms Gorman started treating AB 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.

AB was released in October 2020 and contacted Ms Gorman on Facebook the following month.

Within two months, in January 2021, they were in an 'intimate and sexual relationship', which continues to this day.

Gorman (in green) was supported in VCAT by her boss Dr Catherine Hart (front right)

The Australian Psychological Society's 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.

READ MORE: Good news for pot smokers as talks to legalise cannabis in one Aussie state to get underway Advertisement

VCAT heard that Ms Gorman breached 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.

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.

The psychologist agreed not to repeat her error and said she would in future adhere to the APS Code of Ethics, submitting that 'her error was a solitary lapse of judgment and out of character'.

In August 2021, the Psychology Board of Australia 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'.

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

Ms Gorman followed the conditions - which she said helped her gain 'substantial insight into her error' - and they were removed in March this year.

The Board argued 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.

'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'.
Love triangle killer Kaitlin Armstrong, recently convicted by a Texas jury of killing the woman her boyfriend had dated, will not face charges for trying to escape jail prior to her trial.

Liberal Austin, Texas District Attorney Jose Garza-- known for going easy on criminals-- filed a motion to dismissed felony charges against Armstrong for injuring a sheriff's deputies during her failed escape.

This comes as Armstrong's attorney appealed her Nov. 16 conviction for the murder of Moriah 'Mo Wilson-- a woman Armstrong's boyfriend had dinner with hours before she was gunned down in May 2022.

Garza, who campaigned on criminal justice reform, announced he dropped the charges after consulting the family of the victim and law enforcement.

The DA previously offered Armstrong a plea deal, which she rejected.

'It's a terrible decision because there should be consequences to trying to escape from jail,' stated Austin Attorney Adam Loewy.

Cyclist Moriah 'Mo' Wilson, had dinner with Armstrong's boyfriend the night she was shot and killed, prosecutors said.

Jose Garza, the district attorney in Austin, Texas, campaigned on criminal justice reform, including offering reduced sentences to offenders

'This sends a terrible message to inmates and will encourage more escapes.'

Armstrong tired to outrun two jail guards who had taken her to a doctor's appointment Oct. 11-- 19 days before her trial for murder was scheduled to get underway.

She was only on the lam for about 10 minutes, as she jumped over a fence and ran into a near-by neighborhood.

Jail guards caught up with her and later learned she had plotted the botched escape for months, training for the big day by 'vigorously' exercising.

She also faked a leg injury in order to go to the doctor and be free of the usual leg shackles inmates must wear outside the jail.

Cellphone video captured by a witness shows alleged killer Kaitlin Armstrong (top left) fleeing from police (bottom left) after a doctor's appointment in Austin, Texas on Wednesday

Kaitlin Armstrong, the Texas yoga teacher accused of murdering professional cyclist Moriah 'Mo' Wilson in a jealous rage has tried to escape from jail

The yoga teacher is pictured before the attack, left, and after fleeing the country, right, after officers claim she underwent plastic surgery, said to be a nose job

That was Armstrong's second attempt to evade authorities.

Days after Wilson was shot to death in May 2022, Armstrong fled the country to Costa Rica using her sister's passport.

She was on the run for about 45 days before US Marshals caught up with her and returned her to the Lone Star State where an arrest warrant in Wilson's death was waiting for her.

While on the run, she had a nose job, a brow lift and filler to change her appearance.

Two weeks ago, jurors found Armstrong guilty of shooting Wilson once in the heart and twice in the head after deliberating for less than three hours.

She was sentenced to 90 years in prison but will be eligible for parole in 30 years.
In a bid to combat concerns over European privacy, TikTok has revealed plans to open an enormous data centre in Norway.

The social media company has taken possession of a facility in the Hamar region, which will become its largest data centre in Europe.

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.

'We understand the skepticism,' said Theo Bertram, TikTok's VP of government relations and public policy.

'And that's precisely why we're not just doing the step of putting the data in Europe, building that digital barrier around it.'

In a bid to combat concerns over European privacy, TikTok has revealed plans to open an enormous data centre in Norway

TikTok, 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

Could TikTok be banned in the UK? TikTok has been restricted for Parliamentary devices and devices that connect to the Westminster WiFi. However, it is extremely unlikely that the app will be banned more widely. Michelle Donelan, science secretary, has said that there is no evidence to suggest a wider ban is necessary. Even government officials are not banned from having the app on their personal phones. Advertisement

According to TikTok, over 150 million people across Europe use TikTok every month.

This scale 'comes with responsibility', according to the tech giant.

'We want people on TikTok to be confident that they can trust us with their data,' Mr Bertram explained.

Several European countries including Italy, Norway, and The Netherlands have raised concerns about the security and safety of the app.

Back in March, Italy's antitrust authority opened an investigation into the app as it allegedly breaches its rules by allowing the publication of 'dangerous content' inciting suicide, self-harm and poor nutrition.

Meanwhile, both the Dutch and British governments have banned central government employees from having the app installed on their phones.

Norway's justice minister, whose active TikTok use has previously landed her in hot water, also recommended that her country's government employees refrain from using the Chinese app on their work devices.

TikTok has announced a 12 billion euro investment over the next 10 years, as it officially takes possesion of the data centre in Norway

'The first of three separate buildings at the site was handed over this week; each of these buildings will ultimately store European TikTok user data,' Mr Bertram explained

To combat these fears, TikTok announced Project Clover back in March, which aims to build data centres and store European user data locally.

Now, it has announced a 12 billion euro investment over the next 10 years, as it officially takes possesion of the data centre in Norway.

'The first of three separate buildings at the site was handed over this week; each of these buildings will ultimately store European TikTok user data,' Mr Bertram explained.

TikTok will now begin installing and testing servers in the first building, with the goal of commencing user data migration by next summer.

When completed, this will be the largest data centre in Europe, according to TikTok

The app hopes that the new data centre will not only help to combat concerns about user privacy, but will also help achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030

Meanwhile, the other two buildings are expected to be handed over during the second half of next year, with data migration to these scheduled to begin towards the end of 2024.

When completed, this will be the largest data centre in Europe, according to TikTok.

The app hopes that the new data centre will not only help to combat concerns about user privacy, but will also help achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Once it is fully operational, the Norway data centre will run on 100 per cent renewable energy.

'Most of the energy generated will be transformed to low temperature heat (25C), effectively enabling the energy to be used twice,' Mr Bertram said.


They're some of the most popular smartphones around the world, but if you have an iPhone, make sure you update it immediately.

Apple has released an urgent software update called iOS 17.1.2.

The update includes 'important security fixes', and is recommended 'for all users', according to the tech giant.

'Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product's security,' Apple said.

Here's how to download the iOS 17.1.2 update on your iPhone.

They're some of the most popular smartphones around the world, but if you have an iPhone , make sure you update it immediately

HOW TO INSTALL IOS 17.1.2 To download the update on your iPhone, simply head to your iPhone Settings and scroll down to General. Tap Software Update and you'll see the option to install iOS 17.1.2 now. The download should only take a few minutes to install. Advertisement

iOS 17.1.2 went live last night, and is available now for the iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 6th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later.

The update addresses flaws in Apple's WebKit - its open source Web content engine for browsers and other applications.

'These latest OS updates show that attackers continue to focus on exploiting the framework that downloads and presents web-based content,' said Michael Covington, VP of Strategy at Jamf.

'The latest bugs could lead to both data leakage and arbitrary code execution and appear to be tied to targeted attacks that are common against high-risk users.'

To download the update on your iPhone, simply head to your iPhone Settings and scroll down to General.

Tap Software Update and you'll see the option to install iOS 17.1.2 now.

The download should only take a few minutes to install.

To download the update on your iPhone, simply head to your iPhone Settings and scroll down to General. Tap Software Update and you'll see the option to install iOS 17.1.2 now

If you'd like these security updates to install automatically in the future, you can also turn on automatic updates.

To do this, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Automatic Updates, then turn on Download iOS Updates. Turn on Install iOS Updates.

Your device will then be updated automatically to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.

'Though these patches validate that Apple devices are not immune to cyber threats, the patching process is helping to reduce the attack surface,' Mr Covington added.

'Now that the patches are issued, it is up to users, and organisations that utilise Apple devices for work, to update their devices and monitor for compliance to ensure that all critical devices are no longer vulnerable as soon as possible.'
Parents should use nursery rhymes and sing-song speech to help young babies learn language, according to experts.

The slow, rising and falling rhythm of nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty, much like the relaxed sing-song speech parents use with young infants, helps babies to identify the individual words within sentences, evidence suggests.

Scientists have now concluded rhythm is vital, after finding babies do not properly detect individual sound types like 'ba' and 'ga' until they are seven months old.

Researchers led by the University of Cambridge measured the brain activity of 50 babies, who were played recordings of 18 sung nursery rhymes when they were four, seven and 11 months old.

Previous analysis found the babies' brains respond to rhythm at all of these ages.

Parents should use nursery rhymes and sing-song speech to help young babies learn language, according to experts (stock image)

READ MORE: Why it pays to be a chatty mum: Babies start learning language BEFORE birth, study finds It's already known that between five and seven months of gestation, a fetus can begin to hear sounds outside of the womb (file photo) Advertisement

For example, a word like 'Humpty', where the first syllable is said with greater emphasis than the second syllable, produce specific brain activity in babies, and may help them to understand that many English words have this 'da-dum' structure.

Now new analysis provides more evidence that it is indeed rhythm, rather than individual word sounds, which helps young babies to learn language.

To look at whether babies learn from the phonetic building blocks of every word, like 'ba', 'ma' or 'ga', researchers looked at their brain response about a quarter of a second after each sound during nursery rhymes.

They ignored the brain responses previously seen in response to rhythm, to focus only on the individual sounds in words.

Stronger brain activity to word sounds was not seen in young babies and emerged only once babies are seven months old.

This activity was not very strong, even when the infants were 11 months old.

The findings suggest rhythmic speech is better than individual word sounds for learning language during the important window when babies are very young.

That means parents who recite nursery rhymes, or use sing-song speech, which both exaggerate the rising and falling tone of words like 'Humpty Dumpty', provide babies with more clues about how language works than if they spoke normally.

To look at whether babies learn from the phonetic building blocks of every word, like 'ba', 'ma' or 'ga', researchers looked at their brain response about a quarter of a second after each sound during nursery rhymes

READ MORE Baby talk helps infants make words, study shows Babies will reportedly pay more attention to baby talk than regular speech Advertisement

The study's senior author, neuroscientist Professor Usha Goswami, from the University of Cambridge, said: 'Our research shows that the individual sounds of speech are not processed reliably until around seven months, even though most infants can recognise familiar words like 'bottle' by this point.

'From then, individual speech sounds are still added in very slowly  too slowly to form the basis of language.

'We believe that speech rhythm information is the hidden glue underpinning the development of a well-functioning language system.

'Parents should talk and sing to their babies as much as possible or use infant-directed speech like nursery rhymes because it will make a difference to language outcome.'

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, used a special algorithm to separate out how babies' brains respond to rhythm and phonetic word sounds separately, in EEG recordings taken from electrodes placed on their heads.

Babies appear to take a long time to learn word sounds, starting by understanding sounds produced by the upper front teeth like 'd' for 'daddy' before picking up sounds produced using air puffed through the nose, like 'm' for 'mummy'.

But this detection of phonetic sounds only seems to start at seven months - beyond the four to six-month-old window when babies are known to recognise words.

Therefore rhythm must be helping before this point, the researchers suggest.

Previous studies suggest babies do detect some phonetic sounds at a younger age, but have often been based on babies turning their heads more towards a word sound in their own language, rather than those in a different or pretend language.

The authors say their research, using brain activity during nursery rhymes, suggests very young babies may not rely on word sounds when processing language from full sentences in speech - even if they can detect the individual sounds.

The findings could help to better understand what goes wrong in children who learn language with more difficulty, like those with dyslexia, when they are still babies.

Professor Giovanni Di Liberto, first author of the study, from Trinity College Dublin, said: 'This is the first evidence we have of how brain activity relates to phonetic information changes over time in response to continuous speech.'
Several US states are moving to ban cell phones, claiming the devices have greatly contributed to cyberbullying, poor mental health and a lack of learning.

Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and California have prohibited use during school hours or are working on such restrictions.

One Minnesota school has completely banned smartphones from 8am to 3pm, claiming the move has led to more socializing, fewer distractions and overall happiness for children.

However, parents have raised concerns about the lack of communication with their children during the day due to fears of what could happen while they are apart - such as shootings and bullying.

Several US states are moving to ban cell phones, claiming the devices have greatly contributed to cyberbullying, poor mental health and a lack of learning

'Everything is just so politicized, so divisive. And I think parents just fear what's happening with their kids during the day,' Shannon Moser, a New York parent of two teens, told PBS.

One parent wrote on parents.com: '... Given the many terrifying things that can and do happen in today's schools, something about not having a direct line to her when she's away from me just doesn't sit well.

'Between the threats of a school shooting and bullying, a parent's mind is always swirling with worst-case scenarios,' she wrote.

'A quick 'Hi Mom' or being able to ask, 'How's the day going?' goes a long way in easing these concernsnot just for parents, but kids, too.'

Principal Patrick Smith implemented the ban at Maple Grove Middle School in Minnesota last year, claiming the effort was to combat cyberbullying and fights between students in the hallways and to force students to focus on their studies instead of their devices.

Maple Grove Middle School in Minnesota banned cell phones a year ago, and the principal said the response has been an overwhelming success

Dailymail.com has contacted Smith for comment.

'I believe [the ban] is game-changing and will have lasting impacts on our students for years to come,' Smith told CBS News on Wednesday.

The board of ed asked parents for their opinions on a schoolwide cellphone ban at a county meeting, and Smith said the response was overwhelmingly positive, adding when they unveiled the plan, parents applauded.

'There was no cross-the-table conversations, there was no interaction in the hallways.

'And let's be real, with these devices, our students  especially our teenagers  there's a lot of drama that comes from social media, and a lot of conflict that comes from it,' he told the outlet.

Since the ban, Smith claimed students have had more positive interactions with their peers.

While he could not provide data proving students' grades have improved, he said parents informed him they had seen a difference in their performance.

'I do notice that he is thriving and really focused and doing really well, participates in class discussions. I get feedback from the teachers on that,' parent Kim Gillen told CBS.

Timber Creek High School in Florida also has an all-day cellphone ban. It initially faced roadblocks from parents who said their children should be able to contact them directly if needed

Smith encourages students to leave their cellphones in their lockers and said the device is confiscated for the day if they're seen using it in the classroom or hallway, specifying that the rule applies from 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. when the school day ends.

Like other educators, Smith said that 'kids are happy' with the cellphone ban.

'Nobody has ever pushed back,' he said on the Chad Hartman Show.

'... In my experience, not one parent or community member has come in and said this is bogus; you shouldn't be doing this; our kids should be able to have their phones.

'It's been very much supported by our community, parents, and staff.'

Parents or guardians can reach the students by calling the principal's office, and each classroom has a phone for emergencies.

But the question remains if that will be enough if there's a school lockdown or emergency where a student or teacher can't reach the in-class phone.

Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, said the pros outweigh the cons and warned cellphone use during an emergency can do more harm than good.

'During a lockdown, students should be listening to the adults in the school who are giving life-saving instructions, working to keep them safe,' Trump said on the National Education Association site.

'Phones can distract from that. Silence can also be key, so you also don't want that phone noise attracting attention.

Students support schools prohibiting cellphone use during the day but express concerns over the lack of access to their phones in case of an emergency.

'... Schools need to have these conversations upfront and explain the rationale behind new cellphone policies. The disruption to the educational environment is something parents understand.'

School districts around the country are working to implement similar cellphone bans to the one in Maple Grove, but with the caveat that students can still carry their phones on them and use them between classes.

In Orange County, Florida, an all-day cell phone ban initially faced roadblocks from parents who said their children should be able to contact them directly if needed.

Some students are pleased with the change, saying it has contributed to more honesty and acceptance between them and their classmates.

'Now people can't really be like: 'Oh, look at me on Instagram. This is who I am,' a 12th grader at Timber Creek High School in Florida told The New York Times.

'It has helped people be who they are  instead of who they are online  in school.'

However, the student expressed concern that she couldn't at least carry her cell phone while in class and the hallways, telling the outlet she would feel safer if she knew she could text her mom immediately.

A 2021 report revealed about 77 percent of U.S. schools prohibit nonacademic use of cell phones during school hours, with some adding a 'We see it, we take it' policy.

The number of studies showing a link between students' mental and emotional deterioration and social media is growing, including a 2023 review by BMC Psychology, which found that screen time is associated with a student's well-being and is linked to increased depression in girls.

'The majority of our students, when we surveyed them, were thankful for it because it has reduced the stress in their life,' Brush, Colorado Superintendent Bill Wilson told The Washington Post. 'They're not worried about what their friends are saying, at least not during school time.'
He's widely regarded as one of the world's greatest living artists.

And now David Hockney, 86, has revealed his latest artwork - on the side of London's Battersea Power Station, no less.

The stunning animation was drawn on an iPad Pro, and transforms Battersea's iconic 328ft chimneys into festive Christmas trees.

Incredible footage shared exclusively with MailOnline shows Hockney skillfully using an Apple Pencil to sketch his design.

'Battersea Power Station is such a beautiful building, I wanted to decorate it in a way that I hoped would bring joy and hope to Londoners,' said Hockney.

From December 1 until Christmas Day, visitors of Londons Battersea Power Station can see Hockneys Bigger Christmas Trees, drawn on iPad Pro using Apple Pencil

He's widely regarded as one of the world's greatest living artists. And now David Hockney, 86, has revealed his latest artwork - on the side of London 's Battersea Power Station, no less

The stunning animation was drawn on an iPad Pro, and transforms Battersea's iconic 328ft chimneys into festive Christmas trees

READ MORE: Harry Styles portrait unveiled in new David Hockney exhibition Advertisement

Hockney has used Apple products in his work for years, first using an iPhone and then transitioning to the iPad.

Writing in his book, David Hockney: My Window, the artist explained his love for this modern medium.

'I started on the iPhone in 2009  there was great advantage in this medium because it's backlit and I could draw in the dark,' he wrote.

'I didn't ever have to get out of bed. Everything I needed was on the iPhone.'

Hockney now focuses on the iPad, explaining that being able to use a stylus allows him to 'get more details in'.

His most famous iPad works include a vibrantly coloured glass window at Westminster Abbey, and his 'A Year in Normandie' series.

Now, Hockney has turned to his favourite Apple device once again with his latest work, titled Bigger Christmas Trees.

As the name suggests, the artwork features two huge Christmas trees, which will be projected onto Battersea Power Station.

As the name suggests, the artwork features two huge Christmas trees, which will be projected onto Battersea Power Station

His most famous iPad works include a vibrantly coloured glass window at Westminster Abbey (pictured), and his 'A Year in Normandie' series

'David is one of the world's most important and influential artists, and we couldn't be more excited to see his latest creation lighting up Battersea Power Station,' said Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

'It is a privilege for us that he chooses iPad for his work, and to create this beautiful Christmas gift for the people of London.'

Battersea Power Station recently underwent a 9 billion restoration project, and is home to Apple's new UK headquarters.

'Battersea Power Station has been a source of inspiration for many artists for over 90 years and we are thrilled to be working with Apple to continue this legacy with a festive animation from David Hockney, one of Britain's most influential artists, creating a moment for all to enjoy throughout December,' said Simon Murphy, CEO at Battersea Power Station Development Company.

The artwork will be projected onto Battersea Power Station from 5pm to 10:30pm from today until Christmas Day.
READ MORE: How Sam Altman got fired, got a new job, then got rehired

Instead of denying Q*, the OpenAI CEO called it an 'unfortunate leak'

Sources have claimed a new AI breakthrough was the reason for the CEO's firing

Sam Altman has appeared to lead credence to the theory he was fired from OpenAI over his company's super powerful, secret new AI system he helped build.

Multiple employees reportedly warned the company's board of directors that this project, named Q* (pronounced 'Q star'), was becoming so advanced it could already pass math exams and perform critical thinking tasks.

And they felt Altman was not taking their warnings seriously.

In an interview this week, Altman did not deny the existence of the secret program that some employees said was responsible for his firing.

Instead, he called the revelation of Q* an 'unfortunate leak.'

Altman was fired, then hired by OpenAI investor Microsoft, and then re-hired by OpenAI - which also gave the boot to most of the board that cut Altman loose - all over the course of just five days in November.

Sam Altman is CEO of OpenAI, the company known for creating the artificial intelligence chatbot called ChatGPT. OpenAI is reportedly developing a more powerful AI called Q*, which could be the reason he was fired, according to news reports

When confronted with questions about Q* in an interview with The Verge, he had the opportunity to deny the program existed.

The public learned about the existence of Q* in a recent Reuters story, which also shared some concerns raised in the employees' warning letter to the board.

But that news story only covered Q* and the letter's contents in general terms, as Reuters reporters did not view the letter.

With all this uncertainty, Altman was well-positioned to deny the existence of Q* and dismiss it as a baseless rumor.

Instead, he seemed to confirm it.

'No particular comment on that unfortunate leak,' he said. 'But what we have been saying - two weeks ago, what we are saying today, what we were saying a year ago, what we were saying earlier on - is that we expect progress in this technology to continue to be rapid and also that we expect to continue to work very hard to figure out how to make it safe and beneficial.'

People working in AI have warned that once computer scientists achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI), it may become more powerful than humans can contend with.

They could even view humans as a threat that must be eliminated, enlisting internet and computer infrastructures to carry out a doomsday plan.

Such fears align with experts' predictions that one day AI will reach a point known as the singularity, when technology has become more powerful and intelligent than humans can compete with, changing the course of our evolution.

Former Google engineer Ray Kurzweil once predicted that the singularity would arrive by 2045.

A secret program called Q* may be the reason Sam Altman was sacked as CEO of OpenAI. When given the chance to deny the program's existence, Altman appeared to acknowledge it instead

In April, more than 25,000 people signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause in AI research. At the time, Altman said he agreed with calls for caution, but he disagreed with the 'technical nuance' contained in the open letter.

He did not sign it.

Reports have claimed that several employees wrote a letter to the OpenAI board before Altman was removed from OpenAI.

The letter is said to detail how Altman's company was working on new AI discoveries that were dangerous, and serious risks were involved with commercializing technologies whose potential consequences the company did not firmly grasp.

Reuters reported that Q* is part of the reason Altman was fired from OpenAI, due to the new system's advanced abilities.

Sources said Q* was already acing math tests, while the last version of ChatGPT, GPT-4, still struggles with high school exams.

People working in AI have warned that once computer scientists achieve AGI, it may become more powerful than humans can contend with. They could even view humans as a threat that must be eliminated

GPT-4 launched in March, giving it time to advance, while Q* has yet to be confirmed.

Sources also claimed Q* could use non-linear methods such as Tree-of-Thoughts, Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS), Process-Supervised Reward Models (PRMs), and a learning algorithm.

However, OpenAI staff are said to believe that Q* could be the breakthrough that enables the development of AGI.

OpenAI has defined AGI as 'AI systems that are generally smarter than humans.'

This week, when asked why he was fired in his interview with The Verge, Altman remained tight-lipped, redirecting questions to OpenAI's board members - who were not interviewed.

At the time of this article's publication, OpenAI had not responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
An engineer at the Jeff Bezos-owned spaceflight company Blue Origin nearly suffocated to death while working under an experimental rocket engine due to lax safety rules, according to a new lawsuit obtained by DailyMail.com.

The explosive suit also outlined a toxic company culture, in which management forced employees to fare for themselves and ignore safety rules, including multiple 24-hour shifts.

The events are said to have occurred between 2020 and 2022, when Blue Origin was racing to fulfill US government contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Blue Origin's BE-4 explosion this past June was so catastrophic, according to leakers who reviewed a video of the accident, that it also severely damaged the test stand infrastructure at the company's West Texas facility. Above, an earlier, more successful BE-4 test firing in Texas

Plaintiff Craig Stoker brought the lawsuit, which also alleged wrongful termination that stemmed from his complaints about safety issues.

Stoker managed the Blue Origin BE-4 rocket engine project for two years ending in October 2022, when he was fired without cause.

The BE-4 has been plagued by delays for years.

According to the lawsuit, Stoker and others were ordered to withhold information about production and delivery delays from United Launch Alliance, whose Vulcan launch vehicle the BE-4 is supposed to fly on.

Stoker's lawsuit alleged that Blue Origin retaliated against him for blowing the whistle on safety issues and the company culture that created them.

He alleged in the lawsuit that then-CEO Robert Smith pushed the team 'to frequently violate safety procedures and processes in order to meet unreasonable deadlines.'

'Then when issues inevitably arose (including those related to safety), Smith would explode,' according to the plaintiff Craig Stoker.

One of the $7 million BE-4s exploded in a fireball during a routine test in June of this year, adding to the 'frustrating delays' in the engine's development.

'There seems to be a cultural problem there,' Stoker's attorney Will Reed told DailyMail.com.

The allegations paint a picture of a company that prized deadlines over employee safety, and Stoker was canned for trying to speak up to protect his fellow employees - violating California laws protecting whistleblowers who raise concerns.

Blue Origin did not respond to a request for comment.

Jeff Bezos' rocket company Blue Origin received $500 million from the US Air Force to develop launch systems for national defense missions, but delays with the BE-4 rocket engine had been experiencing 'frustrating delays'

Not only were Stoker's complaints swept under the rug, the lawsuit alleged, but women in leadership also dismissed his concerns and expected him to grin and bear it by his because he was a man, the suit claims.

It was filed by the law firm of Shegerian and Associates in the Superior Court of California for Los Angeles County's central district on November 27.

In one of the more shocking allegations, Stoker said that one of his fellow Blue Origin employees almost asphyxiated while working beneath an engine nozzle during a nitrogen purge in the summer of 2022.

This process uses nitrogen to clear any residual fuel, oxygen, or moisture from a rocket engine's fuel lines. Nitrogen gas is nonflammable, but it can suffocate people if enough of it fills an enclosed space.

'Despite the fact that industry practice required barriers and notification systems in the areas subject to nitrogen purges to make employees aware of the imminent danger, neither of those systems were in place at the time,' the lawsuit alleged.

This incident happened not long after Stoker had raised his first concerns with company leadership.

According to the lawsuit, Stoker made his initial complaint about safety concerns in a meeting with Linda Covy, vice president of the engines business unit, and Mary Plunkett, senior vice president of human resources, in May 2022.

Later that month, Stoker emailed Cova and Plunkett 'to reiterate and report other serious concerns related to the behavior of CEO Smith and the ever present hostile work environment that was hampering Blue Origins ability to operate safely, efficiently, or competently,' according to the lawsuit.

In the email, Stoker complained that rather than moving more quickly due to Smith's urgings, he and his leadership team wasted time and energy cleaning up after the CEO.

'We spend significant time smoothing things over, building back morale, repairing damage, stopping people from overreacting to direction to violate policies and procedures and guiding them in making the right decisions,' the lawsuit reads.

In early 2023, he also reported that on at least two occasions, teams were required to work 24-hour shifts.

The resulting exhaustion and burnout led to mistakes that required additional time and energy to correct, he alleged.

Melissa Beatty, senior director of human resources at Blue Origin, was assigned to lead the investigation into stoker's complaints, according to the lawsuit, and she met with Stoker in May and June of 2022 to go over his complaints. Since they involved the CEO, they were handed over to outside counsel, Stoker was reportedly told.

In the time after he made his complaints, the company retaliated against him, Stoker alleged.

They 'actively sought to embarrass Stoker in front of his peers' by denying him a permanent work station in the company's Los Angeles office, he claimed.

Stoker kept complaining about safety problems and the dismissive culture around them, until in October 2022 he was told that he was being terminated 'without cause,' according to the lawsuit.

Regardless of the company's stated reasoning, Stoker's termination had the appearance of retaliation, Reed told DailyMail.com.

He received good performance reviews, but after he started complaining about the company, he was fired without cause.

When he got canned, Stoker was informed he had done nothing wrong, nor was he being accused of any misconduct. He later received a severance offer that he characterized in the lawsuit as 'crappy.'

'You shouldn't throw away good employees - who try to protect other employees - like trash,' said Reed.

This lawsuit isn't the first the world heard of management and leadership issues at Blue Origin.

In October 2021, reports surfaced that the company suffered from a toxic, dysfunctional 'bro culture.'

But whereas at that time female employees alleged a toxic environment for women, Stoker's suit said it was toxic for men, too.

In September of this year, Smith stepped down as CEO.

Stoker demanded that Blue Origin pay damages for the total of 12 separate claims the lawsuit contains, and he demanded a trial by jury.

Reed did not disclose how much his client was seeking in the lawsuit.

This article will be updated if Blue Origin responds to our request for comment.

Read the full lawsuit here.
Police Departments are warning iPhone users to be wary of Apples new NameDrop feature, citing security and privacy concerns.

The feature is part of the iOS 17 update and is used to quickly share contact details with fellow iPhone or Apple Watch users. The feature was also added as part of the Apple Watch OS 10.1 update.

To access the feature, users hold their devices on top of each other, with a few centimeters space in between until the NameDrop prompt appears on both screens.

Apple added a NameDrop feature in its iOS 17 update to allow users to easily share contact details with each other.

When the notification pops up, the users can select the option to exchange contact details or only one person can choose to share their personal information with the other, without receiving their contact details in return.

The NameDrop request can be quickly canceled by either separating the devices or locking the screen before the transfer has successfully gone through.

Police are concerned that the ease of transferring data could be disastrous for children, who they say could be coerced into sharing all their details.

The information could include a picture, phone number, email address, or other personal information and some local authorities are issuing formal warnings to users.

We urge all members of our community to take proactive steps to protect their privacy and the privacy of their loved ones by turning this feature off, the Crenshaw County Sheriffs Office in Alabama said in a statement on Facebook.

Tennessee's Henry County Sheriff's Office, Virginia's Halifax Police Department, Wisconsin's Village of Mount Pleasant Police Department, and Ohio's Middletown Division of Police have also issued similar warnings.

To turn off NameDrop, users can select Airdrop from the general tab in the settings app and turn off the option for Bringing Devices Together.

Alan Crowetz, a cyber security expert with IT firm InfoStream, warned iPhone users that strangers walking by could try to receive contact information using NameDrop, telling CBS Philadelphia: Weve seen how the bad guys, the pedophiles and whatnot really take advantage of personal information, calling the feature a major red flag.

Apple says it created the feature for users to share specific contact information with each other, while also withholding information they want to keep private.

An Apple spokesperson declined Dailymail.coms request for a statement.

Apple users can use the NameDrop feature from an iPhone to an Apple Watch the same way they would connect one phone to another.

Although many police departments are issuing urgent warnings to parents about the dangers of the NameDrop feature, the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) in Indiana is debunking some of the misinformation circulating online in a Facebook post.

The SBPD listed the rumor that a stranger can swipe personal details just by walking past another iPhone user but clarified that given the devices need to be stacked close together it isnt possible.

However, the SBPD did acknowledge the rumor that the technology can be used to obtain a minors contact information does have some validity.

If, for example, a child or a person without the ability to read or understand functions on a device, is asked to NameDrop, they may agree to send their contact details, without understanding the prompt on their phone, the department wrote.

Parents and caregivers should assess whether this feature is appropriate on their child or loved one's device.

Yet some experts say parents and authorities are overreacting to the NameDrop feature, saying it's not as dangerous as it's portrayed.

To the extent theres panic here about nonconsensual taking of contact information, Im not that worried, Mark Bartholomew, a law professor focusing on cyber law at the University at Buffalo told The New York Times.

Cybersecurity analyst Davey Winder wrote in a Forbes OP-ED that the risk of someone accessing the NameDrop feature without the users knowledge or permission is a very tenuous truth.

Both phones need to be unlocked to access the NameDrop feature, and Winder added that if a stranger already gained access to an unlocked phone, then its game over as far as privacy is concerned.

Child identity theft is a growing issue in the U.S. with roughly 1.25 million kids  or about one out of 50 children  affected every year, and in most cases, the victim knows the perpetrator, according to a 2021 study by Javelin Strategy & Research.

Kelly Merryman, president and chief operating officer of digital safety company Aura told The Washington Post that kids arent always able to distinguish the difference between a person with good or bad intentions and will sometimes disclose personal details to identity thieves.

Bartholomew said that while the specific concerns over NameDrops security are potentially unfounded it is still worthwhile being wary of new technology.

Too often we see new technologies and exchange our information without thinking about the trade-off, he said. When a new feature is introduced, he added, we should be cautious before we embrace it.
A dusty path lined with cherry orchards and vineyards leads to the old city walls

As we steered our rented hatchback up the narrow gravel road behind the walled city of Obidos, we had the sinking feeling that Google Maps' idea of the best route to the popular tourist destination wasn't the standard way there, and certainly not the most direct.

The dusty, tan path was wending past apple, pear and sour cherry orchards, which then transformed into vineyards, then back again to orchards as we climbed.

The gap-toothed ramparts loomed in the distance to our right and ahead, a stereotype of a castle that a child would draw: vertical rectangle, horizontal line, vertical rectangle, horizontal line.

A dog barked from somewhere down the hillside, and as we reached the walls of the old city, our car wheels started to spin out.

'Well, you wanted to get off the beaten path,' my husband said. 'You're here.'

Residents' homes in the village of Monsanto, Portugal, are situated around massive boulders

The answer was no, and no. What did happen was we found ourselves at the top of the walled city, near a few raptor handlers sitting with their owls, hawks and falcons under a wooden structure, and remarkably few other tourists.

We parked the car on the side of the road, observed only by an orange cat, and entered Obidos literally through the back door.

Were we doing something wrong? Would our car get towed?

The goal for our very first trip to Portugal was to find smaller cities, mountain villages and activities that wouldn't mean standing in long lines with other tourists.

Our digital navigator led us down ancient Roman roads, footpaths, and narrow cobbled city streets as we explored a more or less scalene triangle-shaped portion of Portugal this fall, traveling from Lisbon to Porto to Monsanto to Evora and back to Lisbon.

Choosing to stay inland before heading to the island of Berlenga led us to Lourinha, where we stayed in a converted ancient windmill and discovered the region's famous brandy.

Glasses of Vinho Verde and local olives appear at sunset outside an old windmill-turned-Airbnb in the hills above Lourinha

Staff at Adega Cooperativa da Lourinha dip brandy bottles into red wax to seal the tops

As the only visitors to the facility that day, we were treated to a private tour of Adega Cooperativa da Lourinha, one of only three demarcated brandy regions in Europe, the others being Armagnac and Cognac.

The English-language guide and her school-age son gave us a spin around the aging barrels, and the women in the packaging department let us dip bottles of what they call aguardiente into red wax to seal them.

We next ventured via ferry to the island of Berlenga, about 6.2 miles (10km) off the fishing village of Peniche.

It's a pink chunk of granite jutting out of the turquoise-to-emerald-green waters of the Atlantic, home to a vast array of seabirds.

Most visitors come in the morning and leave in the early evening, but we decided to overnight there. The handful of rooms available offer exquisite views of the water, with schools of fish visible even from high above - a dreamy sunset viewing spot.

After swimming in the bracing water at the main beach, where a snorkeler showed an octopus to a group of screeching 20-something Dutch men, we enjoyed a sparkling sangria and Sagres beer, soaking in the views and waiting for our fellow tourists to leave for the day.

The early morning sun shines on the pink granite rocks on the island of Berlenga

LEFT: Visitors to the island of Berlenga soak in the sun, sights, sparkling sangria and Sagres beer on the patio of restaurant Mesa da Ilha. RIGHT: Steps lead down to the 17th-century Forte de Sao Joao Baptista in Berlenga

Then, the island was transformed. Only a small group of local fishermen and the occupants of two other rooms at the inn could be found.

As we settled into bed, night birds were just revving up. When the proprietor told us we would hear some birdsong in the night, I imagined they would sound like the adorable coqui in Puerto Rico.

Instead, it was somewhat like a toddler screaming 'Ow, ow, ow, ow, owowowowowowowow!' while standing by our bedside, all night long.

Being awake at the crack of dawn after a night of screeching birds had its benefits, though.

We spent the morning hiking to the 17th century fort at the opposite side of the island, down a path lined with tiny succulents and bright yellow flowers.

After a few days back in the tourist crowds in Porto, we took the long way to Monsanto, near the Spanish border, choosing a route through the Parque Nacional da Serra da Estrela.

It was our first rainy day on the trip, and winding switchbacks met terrifying wet dirt roads that hovered over sheep down the foggy mountainside. We passed by ski resorts and, during one break in the rain, found ourselves high above a rainbow.

Stopping at the hilltop village of Belmonte, we discovered a 12th-century castle, a historic Jewish population and some of the best cheese of our trip.

Wheels of traditional sheep cheese from the Serra da Estrela region of Portugal are shown for sale at the Mercado Nacional tavern in Belmonte

An old stone bridge crosses the Zezere River in the Parque Nacional da Serra da Estrela near Valhelhas

What we thought would be a basic lunch at a nondescript taverna ended up being a great meal at a shop that sold wheels of Serra sheep cheese made by the owner's cousin, and wine made by the owner himself.

It was an afternoon stop that could easily have merited a few days' exploration.

We arrived in the late afternoon at our Airbnb just below Monsanto, a magical mountaintop village where residents built their abodes in and around massive boulders.

The rain paused and we decided to hike the Roman road behind our inn up to the village. The rain didnt stay away long, however, and the walk back in the near dark was slippery on the ancient stones.

Monsanto village pictured from the ramparts of the medieval Castelo de Monsanto

Friendly donkeys greet pedestrians on the way to the Fonte do Pego freshwater swimming pool in the village of Penha Garcia

A steep, narrow street in the boulder-strewn mountaintop village of Monsanto

The caretaker of the inn suggested we explore the nearby village of Pehna Garcia, where there is a castle, ancient water mills and fossils to discover.

Our main objective, though, was the swimming hole nestled beneath the steep rocky hillside. Yet again, Google Maps led us to what it deemed a road but was more of a gravel walkway flanked by donkeys under olive trees.

A kind man emerged and told us in perfect, British-accented English that we were free to park in front of his red-tiled-roof stone home.

The donkeys were happy to see us as we made our way to the natural pool fed by the Ponsul River. We ate a few bites of our picnic lunch before plunging into the cold water and splashing under a waterfall, the only visitors there.

Leaving Monsanto for Evora, we made a quick stop in Idahna-a-Velha, one of the oldest towns in Portugal, once prosperous and bustling with a long Roman history but now home to a population of a few dozen.

It boasts a ruin of a Knights Templar tower, Roman city gate and walls, and a ghost town vibe.

We then descended into the Alentejo region, passing vineyard after vineyard. Cork trees dotted the vast grassland, and cows and sheep took in the shade beneath them.

LEFT: Templo Romano, also known as the Temple of Diana, dating from the 2nd or 3rd century AD, appears in Evora. RIGHT: Coffee and traditional Portuguese custard tarts called pasteis de nata are displayed in Evora

Skeletal remains of an estimated 5,000 people appear inside the Capela dos Ossos, a chapel built by Franciscan monks, in Evora

We stopped in Arraiolos, known for its hand-knitted rugs, and nodded at the women sitting and knitting outside their whitewashed homes.

In Evora, we opted for the sitting-and-eating type of tourism rather than the walking-around-exploring brand.

We did take a journey up to the Temple of Diana and stood in line for the (somewhat creepy) chapel containing the bones of an estimated 5,000 people, including Franciscan monks, that were plucked from cemeteries.

But overall, we just enjoyed the vibrant citys vibes, and had the best meal of the trip at Restaurante Fialho.

Traditional Alentejan dishes - dogfish in coriander sauce (front) and medallions of local black pork, smashed apples and roasted potatoes (back) are served at Restaurante Fialho in Evora

Under dark, wood-beamed ceilings, we had a lunch of presunto ham, grilled octopus, medallions of the famous local black pork and baked dog fish, served by bow-tie-sporting waiters.

Driving in the rain to catch our flight home, we talked about how we felt we had seen much of Portugal, but how in reality it was such a small slice of the country, and a tiny taste of each place we spent time in.

'It's like I was served the most delicious sandwich of my life, and I took one bite and I'm having to just get up and leave the restaurant,' my husband said. We agreed that we'll have to come back again to finish the meal.
MANZINI  Police have quashed allegations of a Form V exam paper leak following investigations.

The police in the Lubombo Region had to investigate the alleged leaking of Form V examination papers which were written this week. The investigation is said to have ensued after there were allegations that some pupils from at least three schools in the region reportedly had access to the Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE) examination papers.

The allegations were said to have jolted the police into action and they visited one of the schools where they engaged the head teacher. It was gathered that, when engaging one of the head teachers, it was established that the allegations were nothing but mere hearsay as there was no physical proof of the examination papers.

Resit

On the other hand, in the Manzini Region, some pupils expressed fear that they may have to resit the examination. The pupils, who came to the Times of Eswatini office in Manzini, claimed that they were concerned because, in one of the popular schools, a learner had informed classmates of the exact questions, before they sat SiSwati Paper III on Monday. The pupils claimed that the learner informed them that they should discard studying anything else, but focus on the three items which she listed to them.

They supposed that discussions after sitting the paper revolved around that she had been precise on what was contained in the examination paper. Among them, they claimed that there were those who became concerned about how she got to know the exact content of the examination paper, before they could write it.

Aware

On the other hand, the head teacher of the school said he was not aware of the said incident. Thereafter, he requested to report the issue to the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA). Meanwhile, Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer, Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that there had been suspicions; however, when they investigated the issue, they discovered that there was no evidence. She said the investigation had since been stopped for now.

Also, the ECESWA Communications Officer, Hlengiwe Ndlovu, said the EGCSE resit examination (which started on Monday November 27, 2023) progressed smoothly. She said ECESWA, working closely with the police, was vigilant and swiftly responded to tip-offs and or reports of alleged leakages of the resit examination. Ndlovu said their investigations proved that there was no substance or truth to the leakage rumours, which were doing the rounds.

Suspects

It is worth noting that ECESWA reported that the EGCSE papers were leaked by 10 suspects. ECESWA Registrar Dr Mandla Dlamini said the leaked examination papers were Religious Education (RE) Paper I and II, Mathematics Paper III and IV, Physical Science Papers II and IV and SiSwati Paper III. Last Monday, the ECESWA Registrar gave an update on the preliminary investigations into the leakage of the examination papers and said police were finalising charges to be preferred against the perpetrators.

Dr Dlamini said during investigations that the implicated teachers confessed and owned up to being the source of the leakage. He said they allegedly committed the acts as a well-coordinated syndicate, with a distributor, agents and candidates. He declined to name the school where the teachers are from.
TikTok travel vloggers and globe-trotting gurus can be extremely handy if you are looking to get to know more about a holiday destination and what to take with you.

However, with such a wealth of information about what to bring on your travels, it can be tricky to know what you really need to pack.

From light travellers - who will take only the bare minimum - to those who simply cannot arrive at the airport without packing their entire wardrobe.

Now, a TikToker has hit out at other content creators on the platform, who they believe are wrongly advising jetsetters to overpack.

Posting to her handle @thetravelteacherx, backpacker Melissa appeared in a clip with her friend, in which they discuss what you don't need to pack in large quantities.

Posting to her handle @thetravelteacherx, an individual named Melissa appeared in a clip with her friend, in which they discuss what you do not need to pack in large quantities.

Her companion begins the video by saying she regretted bringing a large toiletry bag on holiday, as she 'only needs three things in the shower', so it would take up unnecessary space in her suitcase.

Also labelling that item as 'pointless', Melissa continued by saying that bringing excessive sanitary products takes up valuable space in your luggage.

She remarked there was no need to bring 'a million tampons', adding that 'everyone makes out they are so expensive but they only cost a few pounds.

Clarifying her reasoning for this, Melissa said it was because she 'had carried that many tampons around that they all got damaged and needed to buy new ones anyway'.

Shoes were the next item that Melissa claims you should avoid overpacking, stating: 'Don't bring too many shoes. You only need a maximum of two pairs'.

Her next item was one that will provoke debate among many travellers, as Melissa bemoaned those who pack several different outfits.

The vlogger advised backpackers to 'only bring basics and stop overpacking' as 'if you need stuff, you can buy it at your destination'.

Finishing off the clip, the pair touched on how much sun cream to bring, as they both came to a consensus that you might need less than you think.

They said: 'You do not need crazy amounts. You won't use it'.

Melissa added: 'I only used one bottle of sun cream while in Bali, Thailand and Australia. Take our advice and do not listen to these TikTok gurus'.

Despite their advice, other users in the comments disagreed on the quantities of sun cream and sanitary products that could be required.

The pair hit out at other content creators on the platform, who they believe are wrongly advising jetsetters to overpack

One replied: 'Id recommend bringing tampons for anyone going to Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam. I found it super difficult to get them there compared to Thailand/Bali!'.

A second responded: 'Definitely disagree with the sun cream one. I brought nine bottles for two people and in two months weve probably used about three.'

A third added: 'Half everything youve packed & half it again. One thing I learned is to pack what you are comfortable in.'

A fourth wrote: 'The more you travel the better you get at packing. I took 14 kg the last time I went to Thailand.'
Netflix fans have been swift to recommend one of the platform's new additions - an 'unhinged' 2021 horror film.

The 'absolutely insane' movie comes from the same director as The Conjuring, Lights Out and Saw.

James Wan's Malignant has been given a new lease of life by Netflix after its introduction to the streaming giant on November 27.

One horror fan posted on X in celebration: 'Malignant is on Netflix! One of the most unhinged horror movies in years. So good.'

Another said: 'IF you haven't seen the horror movie Malignant, it's now on Netflix and I fully recommend it. F***ing bats***, love it.'

'Unhinged': Netflix fans have been swift to recommend one of the platform's new additions - 2021 horror film Malignant

Terrifying: The movie stars Annabelle Wallis as Madison Mitchell (right) who is 'tormented by shocking visions of murder'

Thumbs up: One viewer on X said that it was 'f***ing bats***' in recommending the film, which was available on Netflix in the UK form November 27

Malignant tells the story of a young woman, played by Annabelle Wallis, who is 'tormented by shocking visions of murder' and ends up 'face to face with a sinister entity from her mysterious past'.

Wallis' character, Madison Mitchell, decides to try and save those who she has premonitions of being murdered.

One person described it as 'absolutely insane and so much fun'.

But that is not it, there is also a shocking twist to the story which gives it an extra element on top of the classic ghost story which it originally seems.

'The first film I recommend to anyone that wants a good horror film to watch is Malignant,' another Netflix viewer commented.

'The absolutely bonkers reveal in this one, along with it turning into a legit action film, was incredible!'

'Bonkers': Another commenter referenced the movie's unique plot twist, saying: 'The absolutely bonkers reveal in this one, along with it turning into a legit action film, was incredible!'

Someone else described it as 'very weird but good and refreshing'.

This is not the first resurgence the thriller has enjoyed this year - it was introduced to Amazon Prime Video in June, and newcomers to the movie were similarly impressed by it then.

One said: 'The movie offers a twist that's so ludicrous I simply had to applaud it.'

Malignant has a Rotten Tomatoes average rating of 76 per cent, highlighting 'memorably bonkers twist' despite it not being 'particularly scary'.
Gigi Hadid is worried that she may have caused 'collateral damage' for her rumored love interest Bradley Cooper after receiving a backlash for a social media post she shared about the Israeli government.

The supermodel, 28, apologized this week after sharing claims on Instagram that Israel is 'the only country in the world that keeps children as prisoners of war' - a post she illustrated with an image of a boy who, as a 13-year-old, went on a stabbing rampage in Jerusalem.

Now Gigi is said to be concerned that her actions could have a knock-on effect for 48-year-old Bradley ahead of the release of his new movie Maestro on December 20, and even fears it could impact his success during awards season.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, a source said: 'Not that she is making what is happening with Bradley public, but as he is embarking on his new film coming out and he is looking to get nominated, she doesn't want to ever have him answering any questions about anything she does or says.

Gigi Hadid is worried that she may have caused 'collateral damage' for her rumored love interest Bradley Cooper

The 28-year-old star has received criticizm over her social media posts about the Israeli government

The model posted a photo on Instagram falsely portraying Palestinian terrorist Ahmed Manasra as a 'child prisoner of war'

'She doesn't want to provide any collateral damage to his career and the relationship they are trying to pursue.'

The insider continued: 'Gigi is looking to stay out of the limelight in the next few weeks as she would love for her words to die down and she wants to see where her apology takes her and where that all lands.

'Many people have been rattled by her words and it is making an impact on her livelihood. She isn't fearing for her life, but she knows she made people uncomfortable that she works with and may work with in the future.

'She wants to mend some fences, learn from it all, and not be canceled as she feels she made a mistake.'

The source added that Gigi is very much focused on getting 'back to work' now, but also wants to 'make things right'.

'She now has to go through the forgiving process and only hopes that people rally for her just as much as people have recently rallied against her. And once that happens, she can get back to work with a trust that may have been lost with her recent comments,' they said.

'She is eager to make things right and is anxious to see how it all goes from here. It has matured her.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Gigi for comment.

The post in question saw Gigi accuse Israel of the 'abduction, rape, humiliation, torture, and murder of Palestinians' and falsely portrayed Palestinian terrorist Ahmed Manasra as a 'child prisoner of war.'

According to a source, Gigi is 'looking to stay out of the limelight in the next few weeks'

On Tuesday, after receiving a backlash against her post, the model - whose father is Palestinian, and last month likened Israelis to Nazis - apologized for her 'mistake,' which she said was careless.

'It is important to me to share real stories about the hardships that Palestinians have endured and continue to endure, but this weekend I shared something that I did not fact check or think deeply about prior to reposting,' she wrote.

Gigi said she 'wanted to show the ways in which international law is being violated by the Israeli government', and said that a Palestinian child arrested by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would be treated differently than an Israeli child stopped by the IDF.

'Unfortunately, I used the wrong example to make that point, and I regret that,' she continued.

Gigi, who has frequently courted controversy with her anti-Israel posts, asked for forgiveness from her 80 million followers.

'I understand that with the power of my platform comes a huge responsibility,' she said.

'I'm human and I make mistakes. But I also hold myself accountable for those mistakes.'

Despite her explanation, Gigi was slammed by Megyn Kelly who labeled her an 'idiot' during an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, and said she 'should concentrate on walking down the long runway and trying to look pretty,' claiming 'she stinks as a political pundit.'

Gigi was first linked to Bradley earlier this year, following an alleged romance with Leonardo DiCaprio.

The pair were pictured enjoying several dinner dates in New York City before they were later seen returning from a weekend getaway.

Bradley has also dealt with his own backlash over his prosthetic nose for his role as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro.

Father-of-one Bradley, pictured here on November 27, was first linked to Gigi back in October

Bradley (left) has been accused of playing to 'Jewface' stereotypes after his decision to wear a prosthetic nose to portray Leonard Bernstein

Bradley was accused of playing to 'Jewface' stereotypes by some, while others criticized the casting of a non-Jewish actor in a Jewish role.

The Philadelphia native plays the role of the legendary musical conductor in the film opposite Carey Mulligan as his wife Felicia Montealegre.

On social media, many users sounded off on the size of the prosthetic - which was visible as he filmed the movie in 2022 - with some using photos to show that Bernstein's nose was not close to that size.

'It seems completely unnecessary to have gone in that direction given the uncanny resemblance,' one user said 'the real Leonard Bernstein did not have the funny nose that Bradley Cooper is wearing in Maestro.'

Another user added that 'there was no need for Bradley Cooper to add an odd prosthetic nose on top of this to play Leonard Bernstein,' as 'his own nose is longer!'
Disney+ has announced a fabulous collection of kids movies to get the family into a holiday mood this weekend.

Here's the ultimate guide to the top ten shows and films that fans can look forward to viewing on the streaming giant.

Topping the list is the new animated comedy blockbuster LEGO Marvel Code Red.

In the special, The Avengers get set to save New York City from the Red Skull and his Hydra Forces but things go awry when Black Widow's dad Red Guardian disappears.

The team of super heroes soon discover that anyone with 'red' in their name is in danger - including their friend Red She-Hulk.

Disney+ has announced a fabulous collection of kids movies to get the family into a holiday mood this weekend including the new animated comedy blockbuster LEGO Marvel Code Red (pictured)

Meanwhile, Disney+ are hosting a list of beloved classics, including a re-mastered version of the children's classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Originally released in 1937, the beautiful animated fairytale was restored for modern audiences in celebration of Disney studios 100th anniversary.

Known as the first full length animated feature using the cell technique - a process which entails drawing each frame of the film by hand - the film tells the story of a Princess who longs to escape her step-mother, the wicked Queen.

The Princess falls in love with a handsome Prince and befriends seven dwarfs.

Disney+ is also celebrating the famed Disney brand with other animated classics from the past including Bambi (1942) and Pinocchio (1940).

Beloved by generations of fans, Bambi tells the story of a little deer who will grow to be Prince of the forest.

Meanwhile, Disney+ are hosting a list of beloved classics, including a re-mastered version of the children's classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (a still frame the restored 1937 film)

Fans can catch the original 1940 animated version of Pinocchio as well as the 2022 live-action CGI remake of the children's classic this weekend on Disney+ (pictured with Tom Hanks)

Fans can also catch the 2022 live-action CGI remake of Pinocchio on the streaming giant.

Directed by filmmaker Robert Zemeckis of Forrest Gump fame, the new version features superstar Tom Hanks and Knives Out actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

In this charming fairytale a little wooden puppet sets out on an adventure to discover how he can be transformed into a 'real boy'.

Also available to stream this weekend on Disney+ is the modern classic Frozen.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, this is the heartwarming story of a young princess who sets out to save her kingdom.

Boasting a 90 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this animated classic is famed for its touching story and iconic songs like 'Let It Go'.

Another classic worth catching this weekend on Disney+ is The Little Mermaid.

The voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen feature in the animated classic comedy Toy Story from 1995 which is also available to stream on Disney+ (pictured)

Originally released in 1989, this delightful story of a mischievous mermaid who leaves the sea for an adventure among humans was re-booted this year.

Both versions are now streaming on Disney+.

Meanwhile, the classic Disney animated musical fantasy The Lion King from 1989 is also ready to stream.

Starring the voices of Matthew Broderick (The Producers) and Jeremy Irons (Watchman) its the beautiful story of a lion cub Simba who learns how to become a 'king' of the jungle.

Also streaming is the photo-real CGI Lion King reboot from 2019.

The voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, meanwhile, feature in the animated classic comedy Toy Story, which is also available on Disney+.

Released to universal acclaim in 1995, this box-office blockbuster tells the story of a bunch of toy's who come to life whenever their owners aren't around.

Also available to stream this weekend on Disney+ is the modern class Frozen (pictured)

Beloved characters from the film, such cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks) and astronaut Buzz Lightyear returned in Toy Story 2, also streaming on Disney+, alongside sequels Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4.

And rounding off the list of top kids movies to catch on Disney+ this weekend is Aladdin.

Starring the voice of the late comic genius Robin Williams this 1992 animated comedy musical classic follows the adventures of a street urchin called Aladdin who discovers a genie hiding inside a lantern.

Also streaming is the 2019 live-action reboot of Aladdin.

The classic Disney animated musical fantasy The Lion King from 1989 is also ready to stream
The celebrity chef Michael Chiarello was taking a weight-loss drug prior to his shocking death last month.

The cooking show fixture, who died on October 7 at the age of 61, was taking a weight-loss drug that was described as being similar to Ozempic, according to legal documents obtained by The Blast.

It's currently unclear if he was taking the brand-name drug that's a favorite of celebrities looking to shed weight, or if it was a similar competitor drug.

It was previously reported that he had suffered anaphylactic shock from an allergic reaction, which in turn led to a heart attack, causing a fatal loss of oxygenated blood to the brain.

The latest report on the coroner's findings indicates that the weight-loss drug in his system may have played a part in his death, though it is not known with certainty.

The celebrity chef Michael Chiarello was taking a weight-loss drug prior to his shocking death last month at age 61, according to the coroner's report obtained by The Blast; seen in 2015

The coroner's report indicates that Chiarello's ex-wife Eileen Gordon and his girlfriend Kellie Martin were both interviewed by a deputy from the Napa County Coroners Office.

Among their questions were queries about the weight-loss drug he had been taking.

'Eileen was not sure about the decedents drug use because she and the decedent had been separated for several years. She knew he was known to drink alcohol, but did not know if he was a heavy drinker,' the deputy wrote in their findings.

'She said the decedent told her he was on a new weight loss drug called Ozempic or something similar,' they continued. 'It was her understanding the drug was a diabetic medication that had recently found use as a weight loss medication. She knew Ozempic was given by injection, but did not know how it was administered to the decedent.'

Chillingly, Gordon said she had been concerned about her ex-husband's use of the weight loss drug, as she had heard that a friend's husband had suffered 'an allergic-type reaction to the medication.'

She claimed that 'her friends husband developed a rash and swelling and the symptoms persisted for over thirty days.'

It's unclear if Chiarello's allergic reaction was similar in any way, and so far the cause of it is unknown.

Gordon added that she didn't know if the drug played any part in her ex-husband's death, but she wanted investigators to be aware of the context.

Interviews with his ex-wife and girlfriend both confirmed he was taking an Ozempic-like weight loss drug originally intended to treat diabetes

However, Martin had been with Chiarello when his allergic reaction began, so she had first-hand knowledge of the incident.

'Kellie said she and the decedent lived together in Yountville. I asked Kellie about the decedents drug use, and she said she did not know how much or what the decedent used,' the investigation report continued. 'She said the decedent hid his drug use from her. She also said she was unsure if the decedent had any friends or associates who used illicit drugs.'

When quizzed about any allergies Chiarello had, Martin said she wasn't aware of any.

She added that she wasn't aware of any recent procedures he might have undergone that required a local anesthetic.

When asked about the Ozempic use, she clarified that he was 'not taking Ozempic, but was on a similar medication called Tirzepatide.'

According to her, he received weekly injections, though she wasn't aware when his last injection had been and how close to his death it occurred.

'As far as she knew, he hadnt taken the medication in the last two weeks. Kellie did tell me the decedent had been taking Tirzepatide for approximately three months,' the report said.

The deputy included some background on the weight-loss drug.

'I researched Tirzepatide and found the brand name of the drug is Mounjaro. It is administered with a single-dose pen injector once a week,' they explained. 'The company website lists common side effects as: nausea; diarrhea; decreases appetite; vomiting: constipation: indigestion: and stomach pain [sic].'

Although those were the extent of side effects listed by the manufacturer, 'The Mayo Clinic listed the following less common side effects: difficulty in breathing or swallowing; fast heartbeat; gaseous stomach pain; heartburn; recurrent fever; skin itching, rash, or redness; stomach, fullness; swelling of the face, throat, or tongue; vomiting; and yellow eyes or skin.'

Several of those potential side effects could be similar to symptoms seen with a severe allergic reaction.

The report also noted that Chiarello had cocaine in his system, which might have contributed to his death, though he did not overdose on drugs.

Chiarello's death was caused by the allergic reaction, according to the Napa County coroner.

The coroner's deputy writing the report noted that the Mayo clinic lists additional side effects of the drug, some of which are similar to the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction; seen in 2013

Chiarello died in October at age 61 from an allergic reaction, the Napa County coroner told TMZ. The reaction precipitated an ultimately fatal heart attack; seen on Supermarket Superstar in 2013

The official said the allergic reaction set off an anaphylactic shock, which in turn led Chiarello to suffer a heart attack, the coroner told TMZ earlier this month.

According to the coroner, doctors were able to restart Chiarello's heart after he was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California.

However, he later succumbed to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a form of brain dysfunction caused by a prolonged lack of oxygen-rich blood flow, which would have been shut off when he suffered his heart attack.

He described the presence of cocaine as a 'significant condition,' but he stressed that Chiarello's death was not brought on by a drug overdose.

There are still questions unanswered about his allergic reaction, as it's unclear what may have caused it, and whether it was a food-based allergen or something else, such as an insect sting.

The Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello would certainly have been versed in numerous foods due to his profession as a chef, but allergies can develop over time and build up in severity over years of exposure.

Although it is most common for adult-onset allergies to manifest in one's 20s and 30s, adults of any age can still develop new allergies.

The most widely reported triggers causing anaphylactic shock are insect stings (wasp and bee stings in particular), peanuts and tree nuts, other foods such as milk and seafood, and certain medicines  such as antibiotics.

A representative for the late star previously revealed that 'doctors don't know what caused the allergic reaction' in a statement to People.

The former Food Network star, known for his Italian-influenced California cuisine, was treated for over a week at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa before his death.

'The doctors dont know what caused the allergic reaction, and neither does the family. They may never know,' the representative stated.

His heart was restarted at the hospital, but he later succumbed to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or brain dysfunction caused by a prolonged lack of oxygen-rich blood flow; seen in 2013 in Napa, Calif.

Among the coroner's findings was that Chiarello had cocaine in his system from earlier drug use, but he did not die of a drug overdose; seen in 2015 in Miami Beach, Florida

Following Chiarello's death, his family members, who were with him when he died, released a statement that read: 'We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael.

'His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table.

'As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts. His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor lifes flavors.'

Born in 1962, the passionate cook followed his childhood dream of becoming a world-class chef and hosted a slew of television shows for a decade.

He was named Food & Wine magazine's Chef of the Year in 1985, and later received CIAs Chef of the Year award in 1995. He was also recognized by the James Beard Foundation and authored many cookbooks.

Chiarello hailed from an ItalianAmerican family and came up in the central California community of Turlock.

He left his sunny hometown for Hyde Park, New York, to study at the Culinary Institute of America.

After graduating in 1982, Chiarello attended Florida International Universitys School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, receiving a bachelor's degree two years later.

'The doctors dont know what caused the allergic reaction and neither does the family. They may never know,' the representative stated

The Food Network star was being treated for over a week at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, before dying; pictured at 32nd Daytime Emmy Awards

The Italian-American culinary whiz and TV host appeared on a slew of television shows and opened several restaurants

It was then he kicked off his professional career by opening his first restaurant, Toby's, in Miami.

Chiarello found immediate fame and moved back home to open Tra Vigne Restaurant in Napa Valley, where he acted as Executive Chef and a partner for the restaurant  and seven others.

As his influence grew further, Chiarello hosted shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel for a decade, also making appearances as a guest chef on the Today show and The View.

He served as a judge on Bravos Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, and, in 2011, competed on the fourth season of Food Networks Next Iron Chef.

He will be most remembered for his show Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello, which ran for ten seasons on Food Network and scored him a Daytime Emmy in 2005 for Outstanding Service Show Host.

Toward the end of his life, Chiarello was steeped in legal trouble including allegations of sexual harassment and wage stealing from two former employees in 2016.

Following the accusations, Chiarello continued his public appearances and prompted a public outcry when he was invited to be a part of the South Beach Food and Wine Festival in 2018.

Afterward, the chef worked on his restaurants, Bottega and Coqueta, and largely retreated from the spotlight.

He appeared on networks like PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel throughout his career; Pictured in 2014

He hosted a slew of television shows for a decade, including the Emmy-winning series Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello; Pictured 2014

'Chef Michael Chiarellos passion for food and life will forever be etched in our kitchens and our hearts,' his Gruppo Chiarello partners said in a statement.

The group oversees his restaurants Bottega, Coqueta  with two locations in San Francisco and Napa Valley  and Ottimo.

'In remembrance, we ask that you join us in celebrating his remarkable journey and the incredible impact he had on the world of food, wine, and family by inviting you to share a meal with your family and friends to remind all of us that the bonds forged over a meal are among lifes most precious treasures,' the statement read.

Chiarello's has asked for donations to Meals on Wheels in place in lieu of flowers.
Eden Sassoon has been sued by a woman who said that the reality star's Australian Shepherd bit her and her dog earlier this year.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 50, was named in lawsuit by a woman named Olga Mill, who says she and her dog Gus were 'savagely' attacked 'without provocation' in Los Angeles this past August 11 by Sassoon's dog, who is named Winston, The Blast reported Thursday after reviewing legal docs.

Mill said in court docs filed in Los Angeles she she was walking her dog on a leash when Winston, who was being walked by a man named Ed Munoz, attacked her and her pet, biting both of them.

Munoz was also named in the suit, according to the outlet.

Mill said that injuries suffered in the attack led her to be hospitalized overnight after she suffered a severe infection from the cuts and bruises from the incident, The Blast reported.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Eden Sassoon, 50, has been sued by a woman who said that the reality star's Australian Shepherd bit her and her dog earlier this year. Pictured August 23 in LA, less than two weeks after the alleged incident took place

Mills told the court she 'sustained severe and permanent injuries to her body and shock and injury to her person' and 'great mental and physical pain and suffering' as result of the incident.

Mill told the court her dog had to be treated at a veterinary clinic for an extended period following the incident.

Winston has proven to have 'violent and vicious tendencies having previously attacked people in the past,' Mill told the court.

Sassoon permitted Winston - with his 'dangerous propensities and dangerous traits' - to be in public off a leash despite the canine's past, Mill said in court docs.

Mill said Sassoon 'had the duty of care to control [her] dog's behavior and keep Winston on a leash to ensure that he would not attack or bite anyone.'

Mill is seeking compensation for more than $25,000 from Sassoon for 'injuries and damages' she suffered as result of the Bravo personality's 'willful and conscious disregard of the safety of others.'

Sassoon 'wantonly, recklessly and negligently' let the dog be off a leash in 'public knowing that [he] would seek to attack and bite anyone in his view,' Mill said, The Blast reported.

Sassoon posted a picture of Winston earlier this month on the account, captioning the image, 'LOVE'

She appeared on 16 episodes of the seventh season of RHOBH in 2017, announcing she was leaving the series that May

Mill is also asking Sassoon cover her court costs and provide 'further relief as the court deems just and proper.'

Sassoon has not yet responded to the lawsuit, and hadn't addressed it on her Instagram page as of Thursday.

She posted a picture of Winston earlier this month on the account, captioning the image, 'LOVE.'

Sassoon is the daughter of the late hair entrepreneur Vidal Sassoon, who died in May of 2012.

She appeared on 16 episodes of the seventh season of the Bravo show in 2017, announcing she was leaving the series that May. She said on social media, 'I want to BE the one to share with everyone this news. I WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO #RHOBH NEXT SEASON.

'In receiving this #news I feel free & ALIVE to BE the REAL ME that was not shown to the #Bravo world of viewers. I truly am #grateful for the experience & huge life lessons I was up against.'
Talks of romance rumours have surrounded the couple for weeks.

Yet despite all the kisses, moments of PDA and the professional dancer calling the actress his 'diamond', Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola have not publicly confirmed their romance.

And reports are now claiming the couple are in fact not dating, and are faking their romance to gain popularity on the competition.

According to The Sun a source revealed that their close relationship is just a 'showmance' and has no truth behind it.

They said: 'Vito is an experienced pro, and knows what hes doing. He and Ellie had an instant friendship and a great connection, but it definitely wasnt sexual.'

Strictly star's Ellie Leach, 22, and Vito Coppola, 31, are reportedly 'faking' their romance to gain popularity on the dance show, The Sun has reported

According to The Sun a source revealed that their close relationship is just a 'showmance' and has no truth behind it

The source went on to suggest that once Vito realised the attention the couple's intimate connection was receiving from the public the pair decided to run with it.

They continued: 'Vito especially was keen to let people jump to their own conclusions.

'By letting people think theyre together, the hope is theyll further endear themselves to the nation.'

Meanwhile the couple continued to fuel romance rumours as they put on a cosy display on Strictly's spin-off show It Takes Two on Wednesday.

The pair sent fans wild with their passionate Argentine Tango performance on Saturday night with viewers convinced they were close to kissing as they lingered in hold after the dance ended.

And Vito, 31, and Ellie, 22, did little to quash speculation as they put on a tactile display with the professional dancer touching her arm and calling her a 'shiny diamond'.

In a video tape which played on the show Vito called Ellie a 'shiny diamond' who was ready for the 'perfect ring'.

He said: 'I see Ellie like a rough diamond and you see this diamond shining and shining and shining and then it's ready to be put on the perfect ring.'

Talks of romance rumours have surrounded the couple for weeks. Yet despite all the kisses, moments of PDA and professional dancer calling the actress his 'diamond', Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola have not publicly confirmed their romance

The source revealed: ' By letting people think theyre together, the hope is theyll further endear themselves to the nation'

Yet the couple did little to quash romance speculation during It Takes Two on Wednesday as they put on a tactile display with the professional dancer touching her arm and calling her a 'shiny diamond'

Ellie and Vito were pictured getting a taxi together as they left their dance studio in London

The two will perform the Quickstep to Belle from Beauty And The Beast for musicals week.

It comes after Ellie and Vito shared a joint post on Instagram where they posed together for several cosy snaps.

In one snap, Vito wrapped his arms around Ellie and rested his head on hers while in another, he held her face while leaning in for a kiss.

Alongside the post, he wrote: 'Live the present and be grateful for what you have in life. Be happy for waking up every morning and appreciate the small things. This makes the real Happiness'.

'These are the words that Lulu and I keep repeating to each other.'

Ellie commented on the post and wrote: 'Always live in the present and appreciate the little things so lucky and grateful for this experience with you xxx'.
Jourdan Dunn turned heads in a glamorous black strapless jumpsuit as she attended the star studded London premiere of Beyonce's Renaissance on Thursday.

The model, 33, looked incredible in the wide legged one-piece which boasted an eye catching silver buckle on the bust.

She teamed the number with a bold black padded coat which donned a huge dramatic collar and a fur lining.

Jourdan elevated her frame in a pair of silver dazzling heels and added a silver diamond necklace and a pair of simple coordinated stud earrings.

The beauty styled her long dark tresses in a neat high bun and applied a flawless palette of makeup.

Jourdan Dunn turned heads in a glamorous black strapless jumpsuit as she attended the star studded London premiere of Beyonce's Renaissance on Thursday

The model, 33, looked incredible in the wide legged one-piece which boasted an eye catching silver buckle on the bust

Jourdan joined the likes of Taylor Swift, Blake Lively and of course Beyonce herself with her daughter Blue Ivy.

It comes after Jourdan put on a daring display as she attended British Vogue's Force For Change party in London last week.

She narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction as she hit the red carpet in a black cut-out gown which came complete with a thigh-high slit.

The material was held together by silver clasps at the waist, while Jourdan's bird tattoo was visible due to the halterneck design.

Jourdan added a boost to her leggy frame with satin heels and amped up the glamour with drop earrings and a clutch bag.

The fashionista appeared in her element as she posed for photos before mingling with a host of stars including Rita Ora and Maya Jama at The Maine in Mayfair.

Beyonce's London bash comes after the Los Angeles premiere of the film, which was held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverley Hills.

She teamed the number with a bold black padded coat which donned a huge dramatic collar and a fur lining

Jourdan elevated her frame in a pair of silver dazzling heels and added a silver diamond necklace and a pair of simple coordinated stud earrings

The beauty styled her long dark tresses in a neat high bun and applied a flawless palette of makeup

It comes after Jourdan put on a daring display as she attended British Vogue's Force For Change party in London last week

It was a private affair with guests receiving a 'save the date' invite that only included the time and a dress code which requested 'cosy opulence'.

According to Variety, the location of the theatre was only revealed to Beyonce's guests just 24 hours before the screening took place.

The publication reported that guests were advised to 'take a ride share to an address in Beverly Hills, where they were then directed to the location of the screening'.
The finale aired after an article claimed Gerry has a secret past that includes a three-year relationship after the death of his wife and various blue-collar jobs

Leslie Fhima, 64, was blindsided by Gerry when he revealed that he was in love with Theresa after previously telling Leslie that she was 'the one'

The 72-year-old retired widow and financial services professional Theresa, 70, appeared together on the After The Final Rose episode as an engaged couple

Gerry Turner got down on one knee and proposed to Theresa Nist on Thursday's live season finale episode of The Golden Bachelor on ABC.

'You're not the right person for me to live with, you are the person that I can't live without,' said Gerry, 72, a widow and retired restaurateur from Hudson, Indiana. 'Theresa I love you 1,000 percent. I'm never going to stop believing that every day I choose you. Will you marry me?'

'Yes!' said Theresa, 70, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

'I love you,' said Gerry, who was the subject of a recent article that claimed he has a secret past that includes a three-year relationship after the death of his wife and various blue-collar jobs.

When Theresa arrived to meet Gerry, wearing a flowing sparkly dress and diamond earrings, host Jesse Palmer, 45, walked her to the lush mountain in Costa Rica where he was waiting.

Gerry Turner got down on one knee and proposed to Theresa Nist on Thursday's live season finale episode of The Golden Bachelor on ABC.

Gerry smiled when he saw her. Theresa said she thought she was going to live the rest of her life alone until she met him.

'I feel like for us life isn't over, that the best is yet to come,' Theresa said. 'I think you are the most wonderful man in the world. Now that I've found you, I don't ever want to let you go. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.'

'You make me the happiest woman in the world,' Theresa said.

Gerry then handed Theresa a golden rose.

'We're engaged!' Theresa and Gerry screamed.

When the show started, Gerry said that he had fallen in love with both women after overnight stays with them in the Fantasy Suites.

'I came here on this journey hoping to find a second true love in my lifetime and how this week goes determines who I propose to: Theresa or Leslie,' Gerry said. 'On one hand, when I'm with Leslie, we kind of get lost in each other. It's almost like words become unnecessary. We know what the other person is feeling.'

And then there was Theresa.

The 72-year-old retired widow from Indiana and Theresa, 64, beamed while celebrating their engagement

Theresa clutched her golden rose while kissing her new fiance Gerry

'You're not the right person for me to live with, you are the person that I can't live without,' said Gerry, 72, a widow and retired restaurateur from Hudson, Indiana . 'Theresa I love you 1,000 percent. I'm never going to stop believing that every day I choose you. Will you marry me?'

'You make me the happiest woman in the world,' Theresa said

'After our overnight, everything changed,' Gerry said.

Gerry then met with his family, his two daughters - Jennifer and Angie - and his grandchildren, in Costa Rica to help him make his decision. He told them that he already told both women that he was in love with them. He asked them to meet with both women. The family met first with Theresa.

Jennifer and Angie pulled Theresa aside. Theresa told her about her first husband and losing him after kidney failure. Jennifer asked Theresa what she would do if Gerry got down on one knee if she was there at the end.

'Yes, I'm there, absolutely,' Theresa said. 'We both at this age see that we don't know how much time we have and we want to make the most of every moment.'

Jennifer said in a confessional that she would be in favor if her father proposed to Theresa.

'I think it would be a great thing actually,' Jennifer said. 'I'd be really happy for him.'

Angie asked her father if the Fantasy Suite brought him any more clarity and if he 'knocked the boots.'

'We are not talking about that,' Gerry said smiling.

Gerry said Theresa opened up even more when they had a chance to spend time in private.

Gerry's family Jenny, Angie, Charlee and Payton met first with Theresa

'The hugs were sweeter,' Gerry said. 'The conversation was easier. So I'm really encouraged at what you're telling me about her and what you guys see.'

'I just want to remind you that I love you,' Gerry said to Theresa.

'I love you,' Theresa said.

Gerry and Theresa had one final date. Theresa was hopeful it was going to be her and Gerry in the end. The held hands and told stories about their past. Theresa said she was concerned because there was still another woman.

'I still want you to be happy,' Theresa said. 'As hard as it would be for me, I wouldn't want you to choose me if you weren't 1,000 percent wanting me and overwhelmingly wanting me.'

'It will be 1,000 percent or nothing,' Gerry said.

'At the end of the day one of us is going to get hurt,' Theresa said in a confessional. 'At this point, I don't want to have a life without Gerry. This is extremely hard. I might be walking out of here completely broken-hearted.'

Gerry and Theresa had one final date before the rose ceremony

The next day, Gerry brought Leslie Fhima, 64, a fitness instructor from Golden Valley, Minnesota, to meet his family.

Leslie told them that she made Gerry laugh and that they have always had fun together. Leslie told Gerry's grandchildren Payton and Charlee that she was crazy about their grandfather. Payton started crying seeing how much love there was between Leslie and her grandfather.

'I loved her,' Payton said later. 'We had our hearts set on Theresa and now? Like, Leslie, she's great. I got so emotional and I think that spoke volumes to me.'

Leslie then spoke to Gerry's daughters who told her she wanted to travel and see the world with Gerry. They asked her if she was ready for a proposal. Leslie told her the thought of it scared her because she had never had a person who wanted to commit to her fully.

'He is the man of my dreams,' Leslie said crying. 'He really is.'

Gerry told his daughters that he was getting stressed about his decision and wanted to make sure it was a 'woman that I can't live without and it's for the rest of my life.'

In a confessional, Gerry said that things had gotten confusing and he didn't know how he would handle it. Leslie felt that Gerry seemed a little off and it gave her anxiety. At their final date, Leslie tried to focus on the positive.

'I could be engaged tomorrow, which would be amazing,' Leslie said to the camera.

Gerry apologized to her for not being himself, but said that stress had been getting to him. Gerry raised his glass and toasted to 'us', which put Leslie in a good mood.

'I love this guy,' Leslie said in a confessional. 'He's great. I adore him and I want to start sharing a life with him.'

Leslie gave him a scrapbook of their memories. The book had photos of them and their date card.

Theresa wore a white dress as she walked out for the rose ceremony

'And then there are plenty of pages for more,' Leslie said.

Gerry told her that the gift left him speechless. The two kissed and hugged.

'I can't imagine being without you now,' Leslie said. 'I love you very very much.'

'That's such a special sentiment,' Gerry said.

Gerry hugged her as she cried.

'Be happy,' Gerry said looking at her.

'I want you to be happy too,' Leslie said.

'I think it's time for me to go,' Gerry said.

A studio audience in Los Angeles watched the finale on screen with interviews on a stage

Gerry hugged her at the door and cried.

'Is there something you want to tell me?' Leslie said.

Gerry shook his head no.

'No, just that I have a tough decision to make,' Gerry said. 'It's harder than I ever thought possible.'

Gerry sat down on the stairs crying. Leslie in her room was also crying.

'I'm definitely not confident now,' Leslie said. 'I know why he was off today. I know exactly why.'

Gerry decided he needed to go back and talk to Leslie. Gerry told her he had made a decision about how he wanted to go about things.

'And I have fallen in love with Theresa,' Gerry said. 'And that's the direction I'm going to take.'

'Okay,' Leslie said. 'So everything you told me the other night was a lie.'

'No, it wasn't a lie,' Gerry said.

'Okay,' Leslie said. 'So everything you told me the other night was a lie'

'Yeah it was,' Leslie said. 'Everything you told the other night was a complete and utter lie, Gerry.'

'No, because at that time that was the truth,' Gerry said. 'Things have changed. Things have evolved.'

Gerry told Leslie he was so sorry. Leslie cried and Gerry held her.

'It's typical,' Leslie said. 'This is my life. This is the way it always goes.'

Gerry told her not to think like that.

'Gerry it doesn't matter, no offense, but I can think whatever the f*** I want,' Leslie said crying. 'I'm heartbroken once again but now I have to di it in front of the whole world to see once again how broken I am. How no one chose methe other night you made it sound like you chose me. You said things to me that made me think that this was going to be it.'

Leslie said it was mind-boggling to her that he could tell her he loved her and then 12-hours later change his mind. Leslie said the only good thing was that she didn't have to put on that $60,000 dress with the diamond earrings and get on the platform and be completely embarrassed.

'And that I thank you for,' Leslie said.

'I'm sorry,' Gerry said.

'There is nothing you can say or do that can make me feel better,' Leslie said.

'All right, I'll see myself out,' Gerry said.

'There is nothing you can say or do that can make me feel better,' Leslie said

'I'm tired of putting myself out there,' Leslie said to the camera. 'Time is running out.'

Gerry met with Jesse and told him that he was not okay.

'I took a really good person and f***ing broke their heart,' Gerry said crying . 'I hate myself and I hate everything right now. I think the only time I felt worse in my life was when my wife passed away. And this is a god**** close second.'

'I'm sorry,' Jesse said.

'She's a good person and I f***ed her over,' Gerry said.

Leslie then joined Jesse on stage during the live show. The crowd cheered for her. Jesse asked her how she was feeling after watching the show back.

'I took a really good person and f***ing broke their heart,' Gerry said crying . 'I hate myself and I hate everything right now. I think the only time I felt worse in my life was when my wife passed away. And this is a god**** close second.'

Leslie then joined Jesse on stage during the live show

'I was devastated,' Leslie said.

Leslie said she had fallen in love with Gerry and that it was hard. Leslie said after the overnights that she was 100 percent certain that she was his girl. Leslie said she felt blindsided and had picked out a dress and wrote her vows. Jesse then brought out Gerry and Leslie gave him a hug.

'I was myself with you completely,' Leslie said. 'I wanted to give you that till death do us part so bad.'

Leslie said she really fell in love with his integrity. Leslie said she would never share what he said in the overnights but that his words gave her a 100 percent certainty that 'she was his girl and we were going to get engaged.'

Leslie said she was blindsided and wasn't sure how it all suddenly changed. Gerry said he was so sorry and that he never wanted to hurt anyone. He said he got caught up in moments and that he believed she was his person until he suddenly realized she wasn't.

'It didn't really go wrong, Leslie,' Gerry said. 'It was just better with someone else.'

'I was devastated,' Leslie said

'It didn't really go wrong, Leslie,' Gerry said. 'It was just better with someone else'

'I don't know if I accept your apology but I understand it,' Leslie said.

'I had to find that one person that I couldn't live without and I did that,' Gerry said. 'It was my journey and I had to see it through till the end.'

Gerry and Theresa came out to the live show holding hands. Theresa said she was nervous and wasn't sure that Gerry was going to propose to her on the final day up until the final moment when he did. Jesse asked Gerry if something happened on the overnight date that 'just changed everything.'

'What I want to know is Jesse, how often do you ask your parents what happened on overnight dates?' Gerry said. 'Since everyone asked, there were moments in conversations that were subtle realizations.'

'If he's not going to tell you exactly what happened in the fantasy suite, I'll tell you,' Theresa said. 'I knocked his boots off.'

Gerry laughed. Theresa said she hoped people realize that there is no age limit on love. Theresa said she now talks on the phone with Gerry each night for hours. Jesse then announced as a surprise that the show was sending them on a special vacation cruise to Italy.

'We can use that as our honeymoon trip,' Gerry said. 'Because we are going to get married, we are going to do it as quickly as we can because at our age we don't have a lot of time to waste.'

Joey Graziadei, 28, the next star of The Bachelor, was in the studio audience and provided a preview of the upcoming 28th season that will premiere in January.
The House Of Bernarda Alba (Lyttelton National Theatre, London)

Rating:

Shortly after writing The House Of Bernarda Alba in 1936, the Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca was shot by fascist militiamen as a homosexual and suspected communist.

In doing so, they simultaneously silenced the finest Spanish writer of the 20th century and ensured that his last play would stand as a monument against them.

The drama has now been revived at the National Theatre starring Harriet Walter as the forbidding matriarch Bernarda Alba, who rules her five grown-up daughters like a prison governor.

It is a pitiless allegory of political, sexual and psychological oppression that embodies the social conflicts of the period in the quintet of sisters restlessly incarcerated in the home of the title.

Each of them nurses fantasies of getting their mitts on the village hunk, Don Pepe, who is betrothed to the eldest, Angustias (the always riveting Rosalind Eleazar).

Do not hope, though, for the colour and castanets of the Iberian peninsula. Rebecca Frecknall's production, designed by Merle Hensel, sets the play instead in a transparent, toothpaste-tinted dolls' house, arranged over three floors as a convent, prison or mental hospital. Take your pick.

The drama has now been revived at the National Theatre starring Harriet Walter as the forbidding matriarch Bernarda Alba

With all the women wearing black (except the youngest, who dons a bright green frock in a moment of spirited defiance), colour and music are regimentally excluded as the family embark on eight years of mourning for the father. The only standout item is a brown rifle hanging on the wall of the dining room, acting as an unmistakable spoiler.

The big unanswered question, however, is what all this means today? There is a danger of it being reduced to a modern liberal cautionary tale.

And what, on the other hand are we to make of the claim that women without men grow desperate and mad? Perhaps because she was one of the writers of the global TV hit Succession, Alice Birch's very free version of the play coarsens the poetry of Lorca's writing by embroidering it with gratuitous F-words.

Even Walter's stickler Bernarda Alba is not immune: 'I fight constantly to make people decent, but the goat will always go to the f***ing mountains.'

Although such artless profanities soil her spotless home and undermine her lofty status, Walter (who was also involved in Succession, as Logan Roy's ex-wife, and mother of Kendall, Shiv and Roman) cuts an impressively forbidding mother superior.

With parchment skin lined like an Ordnance Survey map, she is at first detached, arid and cruel.

Colour and music are regimentally excluded as the family embark on eight years of mourning for the father

As things start to unravel, we glimpse the pain behind her stoical mask. And she is made to pay for discarding the warnings of her peasant housekeeper (Thusitha Jayasundera) - the only character licensed to speak truth to her power.

Also notable in a tightly drilled cast, Eleazar's Angustias - pushing 40 and never been kissed - combines frightening mental fragility with alarming flares of ferocity.

And as the youngest, Adela, Isis Hainsworth's wish to be manhandled by Pepe is memorably and vigorously fulfilled through the locked gates of the family compound. Not normally seen on stage, James McHugh's steamy Pepe also haunts proceedings as a silently cavorting dancer, suggestively representing forbidden desire.

This is not a play that ends well for anyone. Great as it is, the conclusion is as shocking as the barbarous execution of its author. Do not expect winter cheer.

Joyous madcap Pan takes to the stage with a croc of gold!

Peter Pan goes wrong (Lyric Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, London)

Rating:

Tidings of great joy! Mischief Theatre, the stage anarchists behind the plays that 'go wrong', are in the West End for Christmas.

Their Peter Pan is an exquisitely choreographed slapstick spoof.

Posing as plucky amateurs, they pull it off like seasoned pros. All the J.M. Barrie ingredients are here, with Oliver Reed look-alike Harry Kershaw leading the mayhem as the show's fictional director, who also plays Mr Darling and Captain Hook in end-state exasperation with cast and audience.

While Adam Meggido's manic production always flirts with disaster, it survives its figurative walk down the plank - and even the perils of a skateboard-propelled crocodile

Their Peter Pan is an exquisitely choreographed slapstick spoof. Posing as plucky amateurs, they pull it off like seasoned pros

Just as brilliant is Matthew Howell as the giant Newfoundland dog who gets stuck in the cat-flap, while Greg Tannahill as Peter Pan on overhead wires crashes into scenery and spins like a dysfunctional satellite.

Action-packed from start to finish, the show's narrator (Jean-Luke Worrell) is harassed by his roll-on throne which refuses to budge and pitches him off.

There is so much to genuinely go wrong in this helter-skelter caper that there must surely be a serious risk of real injury. Yet while Adam Meggido's manic production always flirts with disaster, it survives its figurative walk down the plank - and even the perils of a skateboard-propelled crocodile.

A genuine hoot for young and old ensuring that once again, with Mischief, you really can't go wrong.

Odyssey: A Heroic Pantomime (Jermyn Street Theatre, London)

Rating:

By Veronica Lee

What a pun-tastic treat: a clever mash-up of Greek mythology and pantomime as writer/director John Savournin recounts the Odyssey in panto form.

His witty script is bursting with groaners - he must have raided a Christmas cracker factory  while David Eaton's music and lyrics are complicated and equally funny ('Here on Mount Olympus/We can hear the whimpers').

What a pun-tastic treat: a clever mash-up of Greek mythology and pantomime as writer/director John Savournin recounts the Odyssey in panto form

The terrific five-woman cast - Amy J Payne, Meriel Cunningham, Rosie Strobel, Emily Cairns and Tamoy Phipps - play multiple roles and sing beautifully as they give their all in energetic performances that only occasionally dip.

This is a wonderfully well-crafted show where no previous knowledge of the Odyssey is necessary - indeed that may help, as Mr Savournin delves into other myths and feeds them into his own story, which gets madder by the minute (there's a swine-loving monster and a constipated Trojan horse), while paying affectionate homage to pantomime tropes, including audience participation. Great fun.

Boo-hiss, though, to Theatre Royal Stratford East for cancelling Jack And The Beanstalk's press performance at the last minute for 'technical reasons'.

Fortunately someone found the magic beans and you can see Nikhil Singh Rai as Jack in this traditional panto until January 6.
EZULWINI  Persons who fail to honour Parliament summons will be arrested.

These are usually persons who are being investigated by Members of Parliament (MPs) on suspicions that public funds have been mismanaged, one of the core mandates of Parliament. This clarity was given by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo, when responding to concerns raised by his colleagues that some witnesses were not appearing in Parliament despite being told to do so.

Responsibilities

This was during the fourth day of the induction conference for both MPs and senators held at the Happy Valley Hotel, since the beginning of the week, where the MPs were taken on committee system, roles and responsibilities. Khumalos response on summoning of witnesses is provided for in Section 168 of the House of Assembly Standing Orders, 2023 and he was giving clarity as the former Chairperson n of the Standing Orders Committee of the 11th Parliament, having played a major role in the amendment of same in the last days of the aforementioned Parliament.

The query on this was first raised by Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, who brought it to the attention of the legislators that a witness, in the probing of the University of Eswatini on a petition from NAWUSHI, did not appear in Parliament despite being requested by the then select committee to do so. NAWUSHI is the National Workers Union of Swaziland Higher Institutions.

Vehicles

The probe unearthed that the said witness had purchased two vehicles for himself from the university, but there was no proof that he had actually paid for these vehicles. Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, who is Nkwene MP, also asked a similar question, citing that some people were not bothered to come before Parliament to give clarity on issues emerging from probes and seemingly nothing was done to them. Both MPs expressed concern that the integrity of the House was being injured by these instances as people would no longer give it the seriousness that it deserved when people were disregarding the call for them to appear before the House.

Making reference to the issue of UNESWA, Khumalo explained that the House did not adopt the report that was tabled by the then committee probing the institution, owing to the failure of the witness to appear in Parliament. He mentioned that the committee requested the witness, in writing, to appear in the House to give clarity on matters arising from the probe, and he did not oblige. He further explained that the next step would have been summoning him to the House, which he had to oblige to, but that further step was not taken by the committee, hence the feeling in the House was that they had not executed their task duly.

Had the witness been summoned, having failed to honour the Parliaments request to appear before it through a letter, he would have been arrested. However, the committee did not exhaust all its options, hence the rejection of the report when it was tabled, he explained. Khumalo further revealed that there had not been an instance where someone had been summoned to Parliament but did not honour that summons.

Witness

Summoning of a witness is provided for in Section 168 of the Standing Orders, 2023 which depicts that a select or portfolio committee shall not be permitted to summon a witness from a distance of more than 36 kilometres from the Houses of Parliament without having first satisfied the Speaker that the evidence so to be obtained will be material to the enquiry and for the examination of every such witness the select or portfolio committee shall sit from day to day until the evidence is taken.
My Teacher The Abuser: Fighting For Justice (BBC1)

Rating:

The Art Of Film With Ian Nathan (Sky Arts)

Rating:

The pity is that justice can never really be done. The sexual predators whose abuses went unchecked in British schools during the 1970s and earlier are all now dead or ancient.

Television and radio presenter Nicky Campbell and a group of his long-ago classmates from the Edinburgh Academy have worked steadfastly to expose the crimes of one evil man, a former maths teacher named Iain Wares.

But the shuffling figure glimpsed on the Panorama special My Teacher The Abuser: Fighting For Justice is no longer the monster who tormented generations of pupils. He hobbled into court in South Africa, where he now lives, looking like a poisonous wizened gremlin without any shred of remorse  knowing that, whatever the punishment he faces, he got away with perverted assaults on children throughout his career.

For Campbell and his friends, now men approaching pension age, the frustration is not only that Wares was enabled by Edinburgh Academy and, later, at Fettes College, to molest boys without restraint.

Television and radio presenter Nicky Campbell (pictured) and a group of his long-ago classmates from the Edinburgh Academy have worked steadfastly to expose the crimes of one evil man, a former maths teacher named Iain Wares

For Campbell and his friends, now men approaching pension age, the frustration is not only that Wares was enabled by Edinburgh Academy and, later, at Fettes College, to molest boys without restraint (pictured: Iain Wares)

It is also that he can safely admit his behaviour, while minimising or dismissing its importance  and always has done. Incredibly, the report revealed, when he first came to Britain in the 1960s, he had already been accused of sex crimes and underwent psychiatric treatment on his arrival in Scotland.

Yet he was able to walk into a job as a master at a boy's boarding preparatory school. Worse still, when a succession of complaints from parents forced him to leave, he was given a glowing reference.

Campbell said that Wares's predatory behaviour was always common knowledge among the teaching staff  whom he called 'really bad men, awful, appalling men doing horrible things'.

But this documentary was unable to spread the blame or accuse multiple teachers. Its focus was on Wares and a teacher at Fettes, Hamish Dawson, who died in 2009 without ever facing disciplinary or legal action.

As a former pupil at a 1970s boys' day school, I understand too well the battle for survival in an atmosphere of twisted normality  how nicknames for masters, for example, helped children know instinctively which teachers were prone to lashing out with knuckles, canes and board dusters. Some were drunks, others were kerb-crawlers, others prowled the changing rooms and showers, flicking a wet towel.

'Weirdo Wares', though, does not begin to convey the full horror of maths lessons at Edinburgh Academy, where boys were brought to the front of the class to be abused. Much of the testimony from the men who sat, fighting back tears, is too graphic and upsetting to be repeated here.

Movie critic Ian Nathan's series The Art Of Film concluded with a retrospective of biopics, dramas based loosely on real lives, from Queen Victoria to Charlie Chaplin and Howard Hughes

Like a stick stirring up mud in a stagnant pond, all this brought a lot of old muck to the surface. After the hour was over, I went for a long, freezing walk with the dog  seething with anger that it's too late for real justice now.

Passing judgment on history is much easier when it is committed to celluloid. Movie critic Ian Nathan's series The Art Of Film concluded with a retrospective of biopics, dramas based loosely on real lives, from Queen Victoria to Charlie Chaplin and Howard Hughes.

Contributions from fellow critics, and from film-makers including Stephen Woolley and Paul Webster, shed light on the storytelling techniques of biographical movies. But the real pleasure of this show lies in the well-chosen excerpts.

This time we saw clips from Greta Garbo's Queen Christina, and even a glimpse of Georges Melies's Joan Of Arc from 1900. Now that is cinema history.
Advertisement

Beyonce ditched her daring black gown for another eye-catching look as she headed to a swanky after party following the star-studded premiere for her Renaissance Tour movie on Thursday.

The hitmaker, 42, slipped into a funky black gown with a bold silver jewelled embellishment and a $295 pair of Kimeze 'Gabriel' cat-eye sunglasses as she headed to Harry's Bar in Mayfair with her husband Jay-Z.

After wowing on the red carpet with her sexy black bodysuit and a platinum blonde wig, Beyonce put on another showstopping display as she headed to the post-premiere party.

She wasn't joined by the premiere's guest of honour Taylor Swift, who was spotted leaving the UK on her private jet after a whirlwind 12-hour visit.

Beyonce's Balmain gown boasted a striking 3D starburst design decked out with Swarovski crystals, pearls and sparkling sapphire stones on the chest, and she added some more bling in the form of her diamond Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

Beyonce ditched her daring black gown for another eye-catching look as she headed to a swanky after party with her husband Jay-Z following the star-studded premiere for her Renaissance Tour movie on Thursday

The hitmaker slipped into a funky black Balmain gown with a bold silver jewelled embellishment and a $295 pair of Kimeze 'Gabriel' cat-eye sunglasses as she headed to Harry's Bar in Mayfair with her husband Jay-Z

The star who wowed on the red carpet hours earlier  was photographed hopping out of the backseat of her black SUV in a stunning bedazzled bodysuit

Beyonce was flanked by security, one of which held her hand as they escorted her to the bar's entrance.

Following close behind was her music producer husband Jay-Z, who cut a dapper figure for his wife's big night in a classic black tuxedo with a black bow tie, with their daughter Blue Ivy, 11, in tow.

Missing from the action was the couple's six-year-old twins Rumi and Sir Carter.

Noticeably absent from the party was Taylor, who had stunned in a dazzling silver gown earlier in the evening.

The star has already departed London on her private jet after a whirlwind 12-hour visit to attend Beyonce's premiere on Thursday.

Taylor has been holed up with boyfriend Travis Kelce in Kansas City and was clearly keen to get back to her new squeeze as she boarded her flight as the premiere was still in full swing.

Snaps taken at London's Stansted Airport showed Taylor being taken to the plane under an umbrella and surrounded by a three-car convoy of security. She is expected to be returning to the US.

Taylor and Beyonce were joined at the star-studded premiere by BFF Blake Lively, Beyonce's Destiny's Child bandmate Michelle Williams and Will.i.am.

Beyonce's arrival at the after party (left) came after she and guest of honour Taylor Swift (right) put on a show-stopping display at the London premiere of her Renaissance concert movie

Beyonce's sexy look exposed her curvaceous legs and allowed her to show off her sky-high heels

After recently debuting her new platinum blonde tresses, Beyonce caught the eye in her sparkling black look as she celebrating the release of her Renaissance concert movie

The Grammy Winner has already received rave reviews for her concert movie, which comes hot on the heels of Taylor's hugely successful Eras Tour movie, which hit cinemas in October

The star was joined by her daughter Blue Ivy, who was taken into the venue by two of the singer's pals

Beyonce made a show-stopping arrival at the premiere of her Renaissance tour film in London on Thursday that boasted A-list guests like Taylor Swift and Blake Lively

Beneath her sparkly frock was a busty black bodysuit with a gold flower embroidered just below her abdomen

Beyonce was still rocking platinum blonde tresses  which she debuted over the weekend  styled into an elegant half up, half down look

A source close to Taylor told DailyMail.com said: 'Taylor and Beyonce have been chatting a lot since Beyonce surprised her at her Eras film premiere. They would seem like unlikely friends but the two of them truly get each other. In a world of copycats and wannabes both are at the top of their game.

'Beyonce cemented such a special place in Taylor's heart in 2009 when she shut Kanye down. They both know now that karma took care of Kanye exactly as they believed it would.

'At the time, Taylor was not the powerhouse she is today. It was just so showing of who Beyonce really is and ever since that moment the two of them have celebrated each other's successes. Their music is very different. Their fans are very different, and their lives are so different.

'But one thing that they can both relate on is that they are a master of their craft. There is nothing that Taylor would not do for Beyonce, and she will go to bat form this woman until the day she dies.'

A source told The Sun that it was 'the most tightly guarded premiere this year' as it brought Swifties and the Beyhive together.

'Because of the stars' fan bases, crowd control measures were put in place to make sure everyone was safe,' they dished.

This comes as it was revealed Taylor and Travis will move in together for good if their 'practice run' at his $6 million Kansas City mansion goes well, according to insiders, who claim the loved up 'soulmates' have discussed a family.

A moving truck was spotted outside the NFL star's new pad on Tuesday - just one day after Taylor, 33, wrapped the South American leg of her Eras tour with a sold out concert in Brazil - with furniture and other items pictured being carried inside.

The couple, who started dating in September, are said to be 'obsessed' with each other, with the pair flying to and from his games and her concerts to spend time together.

'While Taylor is not officially moving in with Travis, her friends and family believe she isn't exactly moving out either,' a source close to the Blank Space singer told DailyMail.com exclusively.

This red carpet is Beyonce's first since her mother Tina Knowles-Lawson fired back at 'racist and self-hating' critics who accused the star of 'lightening' her skin.

Flanked by security guards, Jay-Z cut a dapper figure in a smart black tuxedo as he joined his glamorous wife at the party

The rapper looked sharp for his wife's big night in a classic black tuxedo with a black bow tie

He braved the London chill in a cozy black overcoat after proudly supporting his wife at the premiere

Like Beyonce, Jay-Z also wore sunglasses despite it being nighttime

The legendary MC was kind enough to sign autographs for fans before joining his family inside for dinner and drinks

Jay-Z was not present for the premiere's red carpet, and instead joined his wife for the private after party

A slew of stars who attended the premiere were also spotted at the after party, including presenter AJ Odudu (left) and Viscountess Emma Weymouth (right)

Angela Bassett cut a chic figure in a stylish red trouser suit as she made her way into Harry's Bar where the party took place

Beyonce oozed confidence posing for shutterbugs with her hands on her hips

She joined stylish daughter Blue Ivy, 11, on the red carpet

Taylor Swift, who has been holed up with boyfriend Travis Kelce in Kansas City, opted for old school Hollywood glamour in a glittering sequined Balmain gown

Taylor exuded Old Hollywood glamour as she attended the event in London

The star looked incredible after jetting into the UK capital to support her friend

The star was certainly center of attention in her glittering gown

Blake Lively was among the celebs attending the premiere - and an integral part of Taylor's girl squad

For her big night, Beyonce flashed the flesh in a glitzy black peekaboo dress with a long, glamorous train.

Beneath her sparkly frock was a busty black bodysuit with a gold flower embroidered just below her abdomen.

Beyonce was still rocking platinum blonde tresses  which she debuted over the weekend  styled into an elegant half up, half down look.

Beyonce had on edgy black vinyl fingerless gloves and shiny silver drop earrings.

As for her shoes, the A-lister stood on platform boots with laces.

The mother-of-three was accompanied by her stylish daughter Blue Ivy, 11, who joined in on the photo fun ahead of the screening.

Blue, who joined Beyonce on her Renaissance tour as a dancer, wore a one-shouldered black gown with a structured shoulders and futuristic shades.

The precocious 11-year-old braved England's freezing winter weather wearing only a sleeveless black Versace gown selected by her famous 42-year-old mother's stylist Shiona Turini.

'Are you cold?' Beyonce asked Blue in the 1C temperature, who responded: 'Yeah.'

Knowles-Carter then told a staffer behind the camera, 'Wait a minute. She's cold,' and dashed off, seemingly, to find her eldest child a coat.

The 32-time Grammy winner could certainly relate considering she was scantily clad in a crotch-flashing, black blazer dress from Thom Browne's FW/23 collection.

'This has me in tears right now,' the 69-year-old grandmother-of-four wrote in the caption.

'To the fans that are there uplifting this beautiful, talented 11-year-old I thank you. I appreciate you.'

Taylor's appearance comes over a month after Beyonce supported her at the premiere of her Eras Tour concert tour at The Grove in Los Angeles.

The Crazy In Love songstress wowed in a silver chrome breast plate styled with a skintight black catsuit as she hit the red carpet.

Taylor gave Beyonce a shout-out after the premiere, posting a fun boomerang of the duo sitting inside the movie theatre as they shared a bowl of popcorn.

'I'm so glad I'll never know what my life would've been like without @beyonce's influence,' she captioned the clip. 'The way she's taught me and every artist out here to break rules and defy industry norms.

'Her generosity of spirit. Her resilience and versatility. She's been a guiding light throughout my career and the fact that she showed up tonight was like an actual fairytale.'

Beyonce's London bash comes after the Los Angeles premiere of the Renaissance film, which was held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

It attracted a star-studded crowd including her Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

And the film's latest trailer gave a peek at Beyonce reuniting with the former members on stage for an epic performance.

The LA premiere was a private affair with guests receiving a 'save the date' invite that only included the time and a dress code which requested 'cosy opulence'.

Destiny's Child alum Michelle Williams made an appearance

will.i.am was among one of the big names in attendance

According to the official synopsis for the film, the project 'accentuates the journey of RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, from its inception, to the opening in Stockholm, Sweden, to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri

Beyonce's London bash comes after the Los Angeles premiere of the Renaissance film, which was held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater

According to Variety, the location of the theatre was only revealed to Beyonce's guests just 24 hours before the screening took place.

The publication reported that guests were advised to 'take a ride share to an address in Beverly Hills, where they were then directed to the location of the screening'.

An announcer told guests no photos or recordings were permitted in the theater as Beyonce entered when the lights were dimmed.

For her big night, the multi-Grammy Award-winner turned heads in a rear-length platinum wig and a stunning silver Versace gown.

The star's ethereal look sparked rumors that she 'lightened' her complexion  something her mother Tina Lawson shutdown in a fiery Instagram rant this week.

She furiously struck out at online critics in a post shared Tuesday, writing that she was over people 'attacking' her daughter.

Tina accused her daughter's critics of perpetuating 'Jealousy and racism, sexism, double standards,' instead of 'celebrating a sister or just ignoring if you don't like her.'

Beyonce's premiere guests included mom Tina as well as Lizzo, Janelle Monae and Lori Harvey.

According to the official synopsis for the film, the project 'accentuates the journey of RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, from its inception, to the opening in Stockholm, Sweden, to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri.

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce will hit theaters on December 1.
She became a Hollywood star through her portrayal of Nebula, a blue skinned alien in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.

But now Karen Gillan will turn a fetching shade of yellow for her dream role  in an episode of The Simpsons.

The Inverness-born actress plays Maisie, the Scottish love interest of show favourite Groundskeeper Willie in the animated series.

The episode, called Ae Bonny Romance, sees The Simpsons swap Springfield for Scotland after Willie is kidnapped and taken back to his homeland.

Ms Gillan will be joined in the show by Scots star David Tennant, a fellow Doctor Who veteran, who voices a character called Pa MacWheldon.

She became a Hollywood star though her portrayal of Nebula, a blue skinned alien in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

The Inverness-born actress plays Maisie, the Scottish love interest of show favourite Groundskeeper Willie in the animated series

The episode, called Ae Bonny Romance, sees The Simpsons swap Springfield for Scotland after Willie is kidnapped and taken back to his homeland

Ms Gillan shot to fame when she landed the part of Doctor Who's assistant Amy Pond in 2010 after dropping out of drama school. She left the BBC show in 2013

Ms Gillan, 36, told of her delight, saying on social media: 'I can finally announce the role I was born to play. That's right folks, I'm Groundskeeper Willie's new Scottish love interest in The Simpsons. So honoured to join this legendary show.'

The actress also posted a photo on Instagram showing her red-haired character dancing with Willie.

Ms Gillan shot to fame when she landed the part of Doctor Who's assistant Amy Pond in 2010 after dropping out of drama school. She left the BBC show in 2013.

She is now one of the most-sought after names in the film industry.

Karen is soon set to star as Madeline in Steven Moffat's four-part series with Huge Bonneville
Priyanka Chopra was looking her finest when she was spotted stepping out with her husband Nick Jonas in New York City on Thursday night.

The 41-year-old pageant queenturnedactress stood out with her gorgeous scarlet dress, which hugged her svelte figure.

She and Nick, 31, appeared to be heading out to dinner at the exclusive members-only club Casa Cipriani, located on the water in a beaux-artsstyle former ferry terminal.

The club was also hosting a wedding that evening, though it's unclear if they were attending.

Nick opted for a more casual ensemble, though his purple coat complemented Priyanka's bright ensemble.

Priyanka Chopra was looking her finest when she was spotted stepping out with her husband Nick Jonas in New York City on Thursday night. The 41-year-old pageant queenturnedactress stood out with her gorgeous scarlet dress, which hugged her svelte figure

She and Nick, 31, appeared to be heading out to dinner at the exclusive members-only club Casa Cipriani. A wedding was being held there, but it wasn't clear if they were attending

Priyanka's dress featured a flat neckline highlighting her cleavage, and any potential shoulder straps were covered by her jacket.

The dress hugged her hips and reached halfway down her knees.

She added another elegant touch with classic black pumps, and she appeared to have an anklet on.

The Citadel actress accessorized with a small red leather handbag that perfectly matched the hue of her dress.

She layered up against the cold with a long black double-breasted overcoat with wide lapels, which she wore open to showcased her dress.

The Indian-born star completed her look with a splash of red lipstick, which was framed by her lustrous brunette tresses.

She held her love Nick's hand as they stepped out of their building together.

The Jonas Brothers star wore a simple white shirt under a tan Gucci cardigan with the bottom two buttons undone.

Priyanka's dress featured a flat neckline highlighting her cleavage, and any potential shoulder straps were covered by her jacket

The dress hugged her hips and reached halfway down her knees. She added another elegant touch with classic black pumps, and she appeared to have an anklet on

The Citadel actress accessorized with a small red leather handbag that perfectly matched the hue of her dress

She layered up against the cold with a long black double-breasted overcoat with wide lapels, which she wore open to showcased her dress

He layered up with the double-breasted purple coat, and he wore a crisp pair of grayblue jeans and black leather shoes.

After leaving the building, Nick and Priyanka headed toward a luxury shuttle, and they were snapped again as they stepped out and arrived at Casa Cipriani.

Earlier in the day, the lovebirds were spotted stepping out in the city again while holding hands.

They were dressed more casually this time, with Priyanka wearing a cool ribbed graygreen sweater and a matching skirt.

She also had on a white shirt with a small collar that popped out from underneath her sweater top.

The Quantico star also had on black stockings and chunky black high-top sneakers, and she covered her hair with a black ski cap.

She rocked chic aviator style sunglasses with a hint of pale blue tint, along with the same black overcoat that she donned later in the evening.

Nick displayed a stylish retro vibe with a black hoodie and a midnight blue and tan jacket that was left undone.

Nick opted for a more casual ensemble, though his purple coat complemented Priyanka's bright ensemble

The Jonas Brothers star wore a simple white shirt under a tan Gucci cardigan with the bottom two buttons undone

After leaving the building, Nick and Priyanka headed toward a luxury shuttle, and they were snapped again as they stepped out and arrived at Casa Cipriani

She held her love Nick's hand as they made their way to their destination

He wore workman-like tan pants with holes punctured around the legs, along with brown leather boots.

He completed the low-key look with a royal blue ski cap and chunky, old-school sunglasses.

Missing from their dual outings on Thursday was their daughter Malti Marie, who is just two months shy of turning two.

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.

Earlier in the day, the lovebirds were spotted stepping out in the city again while holding hands. They were dressed more casually this time, with Priyanka wearing a cool ribbed graygreen sweater and a matching skirt

She also had on a white shirt with a small collar that popped out from underneath her sweater top. The Quantico star also had on black stockings and chunky black high-top sneakers, and she covered her hair with a black ski cap

Nick displayed a stylish retro vibe with a black hoodie and a midnight blue and tan jacket.

He wore workman-like tan pants with holes punctured around the legs, along with brown leather boots, and he completed the look with a blue ski cap and chunky retro sunglasses

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.
Eva Longoria doted on her young son Santiago on Thursday while out in Beverly Hills.

The actress, 48  who recently opened up about her time on Desperate Housewives  carried the five-year-old boy after lunch with husband Jose Baston.

The family dined together at the pricey Italian restaurant E Baldi and were later seen at the valet.

Longoria looked incredible rocking a makeup-free face and large designer sunglasses.

The film producer was the embodiment of quiet luxury in head-to-toe neutrals.

Eva Longoria doted on her young son Santiago on Thursday while out in Beverly Hills

The actress, 48  who recently opened up about her time on Desperate Housewives  carried the five-year-old boy after lunch with husband Jose Baston

She rocked a cream cardigan with a matching top, flared pants and bright white sneakers.

The brunette beauty swept her hair back in a bun and accessorized with shiny gold hoop earrings.

She kept her cellphone tucked away inside a crossbody holder.

Longoria kept Santiago wrapped in a cozy black blanket with white cartoon bunny heads on it.

He had on an adorable blue button-up and mini brown leather loafers for lunch with his parents.

The little one turned five in June.

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 Desperate Housewives star, 48, wore a plum sheer blouse which featured a long necktie and nude culottes for the outing

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

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.'

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 son Santiago.

Longoria was in full mom mode Thursday but earlier this week she enjoyed a rare evening out.

She attended the TIME Latino Leaders Event at Soulmate, Hollywood, with her husband Jose on Wednesday.

For the occasion, the actress wowed in a stylish 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.

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

Eva wed her third husband, Jose in May 2016, in a ceremony attended by her close pals Victoria and David Beckham. They met on a December 2013 blind date arranged by a friend

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.

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.
Rebel Wilson is already preparing baby daughter Royce to take on the family legacy in Hollywood, as she taught the tot to close her first director's slate on Thursday.

The Pitch Perfect star, 43, who welcomed the one-year-old to the world via surrogate last November, brought the bub to set as she filmed her new movie The Deb.

Sharing an adorable video of Royce to Instagram, the Hollywood star sat her daughter in her lap as she taught her how to open and close a clapboard.

'When babies direct they use the baby slate,' Rebel said as she handed the directing tool to Royce who already had a microphone in hand.

'Ready Royce? Put it down like this and say action,' she continued as she demonstrated how to use the slate.

Rebel Wilson, 43, (right) is already preparing baby daughter Royce, one, (left) to take on the family legacy in Hollywood, as she taught the tot to close her first director's slate on Thursday

In a very sweet mother-daughter bonding moment, Royce copied her famous parent by opening and closing the clapboard repeatedly as Rebel proudly watched.

'Good,' the Australian actor praised. 'Teaching them young.'

It comes after Rebel shared a moving tribute to her family on the set of her new comedy film on Tuesday.

The Pitch Perfect star who welcomed the one-year-old to the world via surrogate last November, brought the bub to set as she filmed her new movie The Deb

On Monday, the Jojo Rabbit star beamed in a photo with her mother Sue and her niece, all sitting on director's chairs.

'Three generations of Wilsons on set today,' Rebel captioned the photo.

The Deb will be Rebel's first turn in the director's chair in the highly-anticipated release of the quirky Aussie comedy.

Sharing an adorable video of Royce to Instagram, the Hollywood star sat her daughter in her lab as she taught her how to open and close a clapboard

Rebel has been making the film set somewhat of a family reunion with her often bringing daughter Royce along to work.

The tiny tot has been has been stealing the show in recent months, with other actors cooing over her on set.

The Deb has been described as a musical production based around a country town's debutante ball, modelled off the musical of the same name.

According to IMDB, high school outcast Taylah joins her inner-city cousin Maeve to snare the spotlight at Dunburn's annual debutante ball from jocks and cool girls.
There doesn't seem to be any let up to Nicolas Cage's incredible work ethic over the course of the last two decades.

During that time his output has ranged from three to seven films released in a given year.

On Thursday, the Academy Award winning actor took part in a Q-and-A panel for his new black comedy fantasy film Dream Scenario at The Grove in Los Angeles.

For the promotional spot, Cage looked dapper and handsome in a classic black suit that he matched with a white dress shirt and black dress shoes.

The Long Beach, California native only just returned to the U.S. after wrapping on a six week shoot for the psychological thriller film The Surfer in West Australia less than a week ago.

Nicolas Cage, 59, looked handsome and dapper in a classic black suit with a white dress shirt and black shoes when he attended a Q-and-A panel for his new film Dream Scenario

After leaving the Q-and-A, the always engaging Hollywood leading man would also make a point of stopping by an area where fans gathered to sign autographs and pose for photos.

Once he did his best to mingle with his adoring audience Cage (born Nicolas Kim Coppola) made his way Rolls-Royce and drove off.

Dream Scenario made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, ahead of the theatrical release on November 10.

Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, Dream Scenario stars Cage as sad-sack professor Paul Matthews, who becomes an overnight sensation when, for some unknown reason, he starts appearing in thousands of people's dreams around the globe, according to USA Today.

The film explores topics like cancel culture and narcissism in the internet age. But it also asks what dreams reveal about ourselves, and how many scientists fear that dreams will soon be used for advertising.

As a result, Paul tries to leverage his newfound celebrity by scoring brand deals, carrying Sprite cans and all manner of products into people's dreams.

Along with Cage, the cast also includes Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula and Dylan Bake, among others.

After leaving the Q-and-A, Cage made his way to an area where fans were gathered so he could sign some autographs and pose for selfies

Considering Cage hasn't let up on his incredible work load over the course of the last couple of decades, the actor has no less than seven new films slated for release in 2023

Cage showed off his eclectic fashion sense when he attended the world premiere of Dream Scenario at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9 in a black animal print suit.

He and his wife Riko Shabata and their daughter August ended up living in West Australia for the duration of the shoot for The Surfer in October and November.

During their time Down Under, the family of three were spotted out together grocery store shopping and on the movie set.

They were also seen at airports in Perth and Sydney during their travels to and from Australia.

Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, Dream Scenario stars Cage as sad-sack professor Paul Matthews, who becomes an overnight sensation when, for some unknown reason, he starts appearing in thousands of people's dreams around the globe, according to USA Today .

The longtime Hollywood leading man attended the world premiere for Dream Scenario at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9; he has seven new films released in 2023

Along with Dream Scenario, Cage has seven new films dropping in the calendar year of 2023, including Butcher's Crossing, The Old Way, Renfield, an uncredited cameo in The Flash, Sympathy For The Devil and The Retirement Plan.

So far there's no word on when The Surfer will debut, although it's likely to not drop until 2025

The hardest working man in Hollywood has also wrapped on the horror thriller film Longlegs and the action horror film Arcadian.

During his career in film Cage is best known for his roles in Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982), Valley Girl (1983), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Raising Arizona (1987),Moonstruck, (1987), Wild At Heart (1990), Honeymoon In Vegas (1992), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), The Rock (1996), Con-Air (1997), Face/Off (1997), Gone In 60 Seconds (2000), The Family Man (2000), Adaptation (2002) and Ghost Rider (2007).
Kathy Hilton got emotional as she recounted how she and Kyle Richards managed to reconcile after their explosive argument on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

After not speaking to each other for months following their series' tense reunion and Hilton's meltdown during a season 12 cast trip to Aspen last year, the socialite, 64, revealed to Page Six how they mended their relationship ahead of their niece Whitney Davis' wedding in June.

While the sisters were both getting ready for Davis' big day on June 24, they fatefully ran into each other at a 'very quiet' salon in Aspen.

Upon seeing her older sibling walk in, Hilton said Richards let out a joyful shriek and excitedly informed the woman washing her hair that her sister had just arrived.

Friendly again: Kathy Hilton got emotional as she recounted how she and her sister Kyle Richards managed to bury the hatchet after their epic argument on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (seen on November 28, 2023)

'She goes, Oh, theres my sister!' Hilton remembering. 'And I was literally like  it made me feel so good... I hadnt seen her yet. But she was so excited telling the person, so it made me feel good.'

Upon recalling the moment they buried the hatchet, the mother-of-four got teary-eyed and choked up.

The revelation was made at DIRECTV Celebrates Christmas at Kathys party at her $55M Bel-Air mansion on Tuesday.

Kathy and Kyle stopped speaking after Hilton allegedly told former costar, Lisa Rinna, that she would 'f***ing ruin Kyle' during an off-camera meltdown in February 2022.

During a cast trip to Aspen, Hilton got angry at fellow castmate Lisa Rinna when she ordered Kendall Jenners 818 Tequila instead of her own Casa Del Sol brand.

Hilton's agitation only seemed to get worse after the group decided to go to a different club later that night, for which Rinna alleged sent the Paris In Love alum into an 'absolute meltdown' away from the cameras, where she griped about her ups and downs with Richards.

But the former I Want To Be A Hilton star has since disputed the claims.

By the time the cast returned home to Southern California, Hilton made an attempt to apologize to Rinna as the cameras were rolling. But, in the end, nothing was resolved and they left the reunion, which was broadcast in October 2022, still at odds.

Fateful run-in: After not speaking to each other for months following their series' tense reunion and Hilton's meltdown during a season 12 cast trip to Aspen last year, the 64-year-old socialite revealed to Page Six they mended their relationship ahead of their niece Whitney Davis' wedding in Aspen

Sweet: Upon recalling the moment, the mother-of-four got teary-eyed and choked up (pictured in March 2023)

By July, the ladies have mended their differences and even participated in a karaoke night to sing Sister Sledge's classic hit We Are Family together.

While Richards has starred in all 13 seasons of RHOBH, which premiered back in 2010, Hilton recently left the show after serving as a guest star for six of the first 10 seasons.

She most appeared as a 'friend' of the cast for seasons 11 and 12.

Their sister Kim, who left RHOBH after the shows fifth season in 2015, and Kyle have also had a contentious relationship over the years, but they're on friendly terms as well, now.
Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth kicked off the first day at Comic-Con Experience (CCXP) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday.

The actress, 27, and her Furiosa co-star, 40, promoted their upcoming prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road during a panel at the event.

The Miami born beauty stunned as she put her toned midriff on display in a sheer cream co-ord, featuring a ruched crop top and a matching Grecian style skirt.

The star  who got married to musician Malcolm McRae in October  wore her platinum blonde tresses cascading down in light curls.

Meanwhile the Australian hunk  who looked unrecognizable in the first trailer for the film  sported a black shirt and jeans and accessorized with a silver pendant.

Anya Taylor-Joy, 27, flashed her taut tummy as she kicked off the first day at Comic-Con Experience (CCXP) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday

She was joined by Furiosa co-star Chris Hemsworth, 40, with the duo discussing the upcoming film at a panel

The pair were joined by Furiosa director George Miller, 78.

CCXP 2023 will feature panels from a number of major studios including Warner Bros., Netflix, Paramount and Apple TV+ according to Screen Rant.

Aside from Furiosa CCXP will also show Dune: Part Two, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom.

CCXP first launched in 2014 inspired by San Diego's Comic-Con.

During the panel, Hemsworth described his character Dementus as 'a very violent, insane, brutal person that is born from the Wasteland.'

'He has been birthed into a space where its kill or be killed. Hes learned to rule with an iron fist. Theres a charisma to him and its a very manipulative charisma.'

Furiosa is a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road with Taylor-Joy starring as a younger version of the character played by Charlize Theron.

The first action-packed trailer for the film was released earlier in the day.

Hemsworth appeared completely unrecognizable in the clip, after he transformed into villain Dementus with long, shaggy, shoulder-length hair, an overgrown beard and a prosthetic nose.

The Miami born beauty stunned as she put her toned midriff on display in a sheer cream co-ord, featuring a ruched crop top and a matching Grecian style skirt

Meanwhile the Australian hunk sported a black shirt and jeans and accessorized with a silver pendant

Friday's trailer begins with an image of Furiosa (Anya) stumbling through the wasteland.

'Whatever you have to do, however long it takes, promise me you'll find your way home,' we hear a woman's voice say over the image.

'Furiosa, give me this promise,' she continues, before we see Taylor-Joy's dirt-caked face for the first time.

Onscreen titles then tell us that '45 years after the collapse' of society, 'a young Furiosa is taken from her family'.

'She will devote the rest of her life to finding her way home,' the words continue.

'This is her odyssey' they conclude, before we see a series of action-packed imagery featuring both Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth.

The film tells the origin story of a young Imperator Furiosa, played by Anya, who rose to fame as the star of Netflix hit The Queen's Gambit.

Her character was originally portrayed by Charlize Theron in the 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road.

The first action-packer trailer for the film was released earlier in the day

Hemsworth appeared completely unrecognizable in the clip, after he transformed into villain Dementus with long, shaggy, shoulder-length hair, an overgrown beard and a prosthetic nose

Coming next year: The film is set to hit theaters on May 24, 2024

Furiosa is a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road with Anya starring as a younger version of the character played by Charlize Theron; Theron and Tom Hardy pictured in a still

The film is a 'standalone action adventure that will reveal the origins of' Furiosa.

'As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus,' a synopsis reads.

'Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.'

Furiosa was filmed in New South Wales and was expected to become the biggest movie ever to be made in Australia. Filming wrapped up in September, 2022.

Miller has described the prequel as 'a saga' that will be told over a 15-year period, which is much different from Fury Road, which spanned three days in its timeframe.

The film is set to hit theaters on May 24, 2024.
Jimmy Barnes has given a health update after he was hospitalised with a severe infection and forced to cancel upcoming gigs.

The 67-year-old rocker said in a statement on Friday that he will be unable to play the By The C festival in Torquay, Victoria, this weekend.

'I know a lot of people travel a long way for this gig so I'm really sorry that I won't be able to see you in Torquay,' he said.

'This infection has knocked me for six so there's no chance that the doctors will let me out of bed for the next few days.'

Barnes had earlier shared the bad news of his illness to his official Facebook page on Tuesday.

Jimmy Barnes has given a health update after he was hospitalised with a severe infection and forced to cancel upcoming gigs. Pictured in hospital earlier this year

'I'm sorry to let you know that I've been receiving intravenous antibiotics over the last 36 hours to treat bacterial pneumonia,' he wrote.

'Unfortunately, this has stopped me travelling to Noumea to join Rock The Boat 2023 as planned,' he continued.

'My band will still perform on board, together with my daughter Mahalia and other special guests.

'I'd like to apologise sincerely to everyone for the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused, but the doctors have confined me to bed for two days.

'The timing couldn't be worse. I'm expected to make a full recovery in time to perform live at By The C in Torquay,' Jimmy concluded.

Barnes had earlier shared the bad news of his illness to his official Facebook page on Tuesday

Jimmy was on bed rest for months earlier this year and was forced to cancel his summer tour to receive emergency hip surgery

He had to regain his strength and for some weeks required the aid of a cane to walk, but had made a full recovery by March

Jimmy was on bed rest for months earlier this year and was forced to cancel his summer tour to receive emergency hip surgery.

He underwent a major hip operation in late 2022 to ease years of chronic pain.

'We had some (live) things planned, but they fell through because of my surgery,' he said at the time.

Barnes spent time recovering in his second home in Thailand with his wife Jane and was on the mend in recent months.

He had to regain his strength and for some weeks required the aid of a cane to walk, but had made a full recovery by March.
MANZINI  Three males have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a three-year-old daughter of a businessman and demanding a ransom.

The trio is said to have been arrested yesterday, following that on Tuesday, they kidnapped the three-year-old girl, whose parents descend from Burundi. According to sources, following the kidnapping of the minor, the parents were contacted by the kidnappers, stating that their daughter was safe and she would be released to them when they paid a ransom of about E200 000.

Suspects

It has been gathered that the suspects kidnapped the minor at Fairview, which is a township three kilometers west of the Manzini central business district (CBD). The sources claimed that there were suspicions that more people were involved in the kidnapping of the minor other than the three, who have since been arrested by the police. It is worth noting that there had been a number of kidnappings in the country, where kidnappers demanded ransom. In 2017, this publication reported that kidnappers of businessman Almor Oliveira wanted E5 million ransom for his release.

Kidnapped

The businessman was kidnapped outside his business premises, while closing his shop, following a scuffle that was confirmed by the police who spotted blood stains in his car. His vehicle was found parked outside his office building in Matsapha on April 16, 2017. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the arrests and kidnapping. She said the minor was reunited with her parents while the police had arrested three men. She said the investigations were still ongoing.
AJ Odudu put every inch of her incredible figure on display as she headed to the London premiere of RENAISSANCE: A Film By Beyonce on Thursday.

The Big Brother host, 35, stunned in a diamond-embellished 3,500 Clio Peppiatt stretch-mesh gown for the launch at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square.

Her floor-length gown shimmered as the TV sensation joined a slew of celebrities to celebrate Queen Bey's latest film release at Harry's bar in Mayfair.

She accessorised the fit with a Bvlgari flower necklace by Fiorever and a simple black clutch with a diamond buckle.

AJ completed her dazzling look with a pair of towering black satin platform heels and simple diamond earrings,

AJ Odudu, 35, showed off her incredible figure in a dazzling silver gown as she attended the London premiere of RENAISSANCE: A Film By Beyonce on Thursday

The Big Brother host donned yet another jaw-dropping look as she donned a diamond-embellished 3,500 Clio Peppiatt stretch-mesh gown

Sporting her glossy tresses in a mass of dramatic curls, AJ looked sensational with glam makeup that featured silver eye makeup.

Unlike many celebs who attended the star-studded event, AJ opted out of switching outfits for the exclusive after-party and rocked up in the same outfit.

For the event, the woman of the hour, Beyonce, ditched her daring black gown for another eye-catching look as she headed to a swanky after-party.

The hitmaker slipped into a funky black gown with a bold silver jewelled embellishment as she headed to Harry's Bar in Mayfair with her husband Jay-Z.

After wowing on the red carpet with her sexy black bodysuit and a platinum blonde wig, Beyonce put on another showstopping display as she headed to the post-premiere party.

Beyonce's gown boasted a striking 3D starburst design decked out with Swarovski crystals, pearls and sparkling sapphire stones on the chest.

Beyonce was flanked by security, one of whom held her hand as they escorted her to the bar's entrance.

Following close behind was her music producer husband, Jay-Z, who cut a dapper figure for his wife's big night in a classic black tuxedo with a black bow tie, with their daughter Blue Ivy, 11, in tow.

Her floor-length gown shimmered as the TV sensation joined a slew of celebrities to celebrate Queen Bey's latest film release

She accessorised the dress with a Bvlgari flower necklace by Fiorever and a simple black clutch with a diamond buckle

AJ completed her dazzling look with a pair of towering black satin platform heels and simple diamond earrings

Unlike many celebs who attended the star-studded event, AJ opted out of switching outfits for the exclusive after-party and rocked up in the same outfit

Beyonce ditched her daring black gown for another eye-catching look as she headed to a swanky after party

Noticeably absent from the after party was Taylor Swift, who had stunned in a dazzling silver gown earlier in the evening

The couple's six-year-old twins, Rumi and Sir Carter, were missing from the action.

Noticeably absent from the party was guest of honour Taylor Swift, who had stunned in a dazzling silver gown earlier in the evening.

The star has already departed London on her private jet after a whirlwind 12-hour visit to attend Beyonce's premiere on Thursday.

Taylor has been holed up with boyfriend Travis Kelce in Kansas City and was clearly keen to get back to her new squeeze as she boarded her flight as the premiere was still in full swing.

Snaps taken at London's Stansted Airport showed Taylor being taken to the plane under an umbrella and surrounded by a three-car convoy of security. She is expected to be returning to the US.

Taylor and Beyonce were joined at the star-studded premiere by BFF Blake Lively, Beyonce's Destiny's Child bandmate Michelle Williams and Will.i.am.

According to the official synopsis for Beyonce's upcoming film, the project 'accentuates the journey of RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, from its inception to the opening in Stockholm, Sweden, to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri.

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce will hit theatres on December 1.
Scarlett Johansson adoringly gazed at her third husband Colin Jost while attending the American Museum Of Natural History Gala in Manhattan on Thursday.

The 41-year-old SNL co-head writer and the 39-year-old former child star - who began dating in May 2017 after she hosted the NBC sketch show for the fifth time - celebrated three years of wedded bliss last month.

Scarlett and Colin looked thrilled to have a glamorous date night without their two-year-old son Cosmo and her nine-year-old daughter Rose from her second marriage to Romain Dauriac, which ended in September 2017.

Johansson flaunted substantial cleavage in a black silk cocktail dress with matching clutch and pumps as well as a white maxi-coat selected by stylist Kate Young.

Hairstylist David von Cannon coiffed the two-time Oscar nominee's piecy updo and make-up artist Frankie Boyd applied her bright red pout.

Scarlett Johansson adoringly gazed at her third husband Colin Jost while attending the American Museum Of Natural History Gala in Manhattan on Thursday

The 41-year-old SNL co-head writer and the 39-year-old former child star - who began dating in May 2017 after she hosted the NBC sketch show for the fifth time - celebrated three years of wedded bliss last month

Meanwhile, Jost - who graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2004 - looked sharp in a classic tuxedo at the black-tie event.

The native New Yorkers were photobombed by the 14-time Emmy nominee's colleague, SNL cast member Mikey Day.

Colin currently stars as sad corporate loafer Trent Brockett opposite Wanda Sykes in the Audible Original catfishing comedy Trust Fall, which premiered Thursday.

The podcast production also features current SNL cast member Heidi Gardner as well as Rachel Dratch, Cecily Strong, Jay Pharoah, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Jost - who's the Weekend Update anchor - is overseeing this Saturday's episode hosted by five-timer Emma Stone, and featuring musical guest Noah Kahan.

'It's definitely an adjustment in the household,' Scarlett told ET last month of the SAG/AFTRA and WGA strikes finally ending.

'That [SNL] schedule is so crazy. But it's always exciting to see those guys. They're incredible, and we need them now more than ever.'

Johansson has three upcoming films - Josh Cooley's animated prequel Transformers One, Jason Bateman's space race drama Project Artemis for Apple TV+, and Kristin Scott Thomas' feature directorial debut My Mother's Wedding.

Scarlett and Colin looked thrilled to have a glamorous date night without their two-year-old son Cosmo and her nine-year-old daughter Rose from her second marriage to Romain Dauriac, which ended in September 2017

Johansson flaunted substantial cleavage in a black silk cocktail dress with matching clutch and pumps as well as a white maxi-coat selected by stylist Kate Young

Hairstylist David von Cannon coiffed the two-time Oscar nominee's piecy updo and make-up artist Frankie Boyd applied her bright red pout

Meanwhile, Jost - who graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2004 - looked sharp in a classic tuxedo at the black-tie event

The native New Yorkers were photobombed by the 14-time Emmy nominee's colleague, SNL cast member Mikey Day (R)

Colin currently stars as sad corporate loafer Trent Brockett opposite Wanda Sykes in the Audible Original catfishing comedy Trust Fall, which premiered Thursday

Jost - who's the Weekend Update anchor - is overseeing this Saturday's episode hosted by five-timer Emma Stone, and featuring musical guest Noah Kahan

Scarlett told ET last month of the SAG/AFTRA and WGA strikes finally ending: 'It's definitely an adjustment in the household. That [SNL] schedule is so crazy. But it's always exciting to see those guys. They're incredible, and we need them now more than ever'
Doctor Who fans have been treated to a first look at the upcoming Christmas Day special, where Ncuti Gatwa will make his debut as the titular Time Lord.

New snaps from the upcoming episode offer a glimpse at the festive episode, titled The Church On Ruby Road, which sees The Doctor join forces with his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.

In the episode, The Doctor and his new companion bond over their shared orphanhood, after it was revealed that the Time Traveller was actually adopted by the Gallifreyan race.

Ncuti is set to take on the role of The Doctor after David Tennant briefly returned to the show for a trio of specials to celebrate the show's 60th Anniversary.

Airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the festive special sees the Doctor come face-to-face with the mythical and mysterious goblins as his life collides with Ruby.

Doctor Who fans have been treated to a first look at the upcoming Christmas Day special, where Ncuti Gatwa will make his debut as the titular Time Lord

New snaps offer a glimpse at the festive episode, titled The Church On Ruby Road, which sees The Doctor join forces with his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson

Little is known about Ruby Sunday as she was abandoned on Christmas Eve as a baby.

Now living with her mum, Carla and grandmother, Cherry her world is about to be turned upside when she encounters the Doctor and the two set off on their first adventure together...

Alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson is Davina McCall who will be playing herself as she joins the cast alongside Michelle Greenidge as Ruby's mum Carla, Angela Wynter as Ruby's grandmother Cherry and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood.

Davina said: 'It is beyond an honour to be asked to appear in not only Doctor Who but also Ncuti's first episode as the new Doctor.

'It was such an extraordinary experience and Russell has written you all a Christmas delight! Now I just can't wait for everyone to see it!'

Russell T Davies, Showrunner adds 'From Day One in this job, I wanted Doctor Who back on Christmas Day!

'And with Ncuti, Millie, Davina and the Goblin King, I hope it's a feast for all the family!'

The first 60th Anniversary Special was praised by fans after it hit screens on Saturday, with David and Catherine reprising their roles as the Time Lord and his companion Donna Noble respectively.

Airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the festive special sees the Doctor come face-to-face with the mythical and mysterious goblins as his life collides with Ruby

Davina McCall has also joined the cast for the upcoming episode, playing herself

The pair's return to the BBC show, in the first of three specials, was lauded by fans, 15 years after they last travelled in the TARDIS together.

Viewers will next see The Doctor and Donna land on a mysterious alien planet in the second episode, titled The Wide Blue Yonder.

Little is known about the second special, with plot and cast details kept a closely-guarded secret.

The specials will then conclude with The Giggle, starring Neil Patrick Harris as the villainous Toymaker, and will lead into Ncuti Gatwa's debut as The Doctor on Christmas Day.

Doctor Who's second 60th Anniversary Special airs on Saturday at 6:30pm on BBC One. Ncuti Gatwa's first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will air on Christmas Day.
Megan Barton Hanson enjoyed a night out with on/off girlfriend Demi Sims as they attended the Sol De Janeiro event at London's Langan's Brasserie on Thursday.

The glamour model, 29, hinted that she had rekindled things with the TOWIE star, 26, as they cuddled up for snaps, with Demi later sharing a snap of the pair with a love heart emoji.

Megan showcased her hourglass curves in all-black, pairing a midi skirt and turtleneck with black heeled boots.

She looked in good spirits as she enjoyed a night out after she abruptly left Love Island Games because of 'medical' reasons'

By her side, Demi showcased her quirky style in a graffiti print bomber jacket, teamed with combat trousers and Timberland boots.

Megan Barton Hanson enjoyed a night out with on/off girlfriend Demi Sims as they attended the Sol De Janeiro event at London's Langan's Brasserie on Thursday.

The glamour model, 29, hinted that she had rekindled things with the TOWIE star, 26, as they cuddled up for snaps

Demi later shared a snap of the pair with a love heart emoji on their way to the party

Megan and Demi rekindled their romance earlier this year after their whirlwind summer romance in 2019,

The reality stars had first struck up a romance on E4's Celebs Go Dating four years ago but after just a few months they went their separate ways.

Megan went onto admit that Demi made her question if she was actually gay or not and said they had no 'sexual chemistry'.

After their bitter split, the pair quickly made amends and remained friends over the years before romance blossomed again in February.

The pair were still dating in the summer but it was assumed they had split when Megan jetted to Fiji in September to film Love Island Games.

On the show, the star was seen getting close to Kyra Green, with the couple forming the show's first same-sex couple and sharing a steamy kiss.

Yet their romance came to an abrupt end when Megan was forced to leave the villa, with Scottish narrator Iain Stirling telling viewers that Megan had left for 'medical reasons.'

Back in September, Megan revealed how she believed that she was suffering with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease for the first time.

Demi showcased her quirky style in a graffiti print bomber jacket, teamed with combat trousers and Timberland boots

Demi looked in good spirits as she posed up a storm inside the venue

Inside the event, Demi posed with co-star Chloe Meadows

Megan showcased her hourglass curves in a black midi skirt and turtleneck with black heeled boots that she layered beneath a khaki bomber jacket

On an Instagram story she wrote: 'Which one of my queens have ever suffered from pelvic inflammatory disease?

'I've never heard of it but think i may have had my first experience, I've not had pain or fever quite like it. The last 5 days have been hell.

She said: 'If you have any good Essex/London based Gynaecologists, please let me know or any tips or remedies for the pain and to stop it reoccurring.'

According to the NHS: 'Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive system which includes the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

'PID is a common condition, although it's not clear how many people in the UK are affected.

'If diagnosed at an early stage, PID can be treated with a course of antibiotics, which usually lasts for 14 days.'
Celebrity cosmetic nurse Alex Pike is used to injecting customers in her clinics across Australia.

And now the 46-year-old has revealed the various procedures she's undergone herself in a bid to remain youthful.

Speaking to the Not Super Woman podcast, the mum-of-three confessed to having two procedures on her face.

'I'm not shy about having things done,' she declared.

'I have treatments obviously. I've had upper eyelid surgery -blepharoplasty- and some liposuction to my jawline,' Alex continued.

Alex Pike (pictured) admitted to getting upper eyelid surgery and liposuction on her jaw in an interview with the Not Super Woman podcast last week

'I'm not afraid to own the things [I've had done],' she finished.

The brunette beauty has also admitted to getting fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, and laser treatments in the past.

Alex first dabbled with anti-wrinkle injections at the age of 23 after a surgeon urged her to try Botox.

'I ended up having the treatment - just my frown line,' she told the Curious Conversations podcast in 2021.

The brunette beauty has also admitted to fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, and laser treatments in the past

'And when it started to take effect, I could not believe the difference and I then started getting more modelling jobs because I was looking super fresh.'

In addition to her injectables clinics, Alex also runs her own kickstart beauty and wellness bootcamp called Inside Out Beauty.

And while she's incredibly comfortable in her skin these days, it hasn't always been like that for the former WAG.

'I don't want to be good for my age. I want to be good,' she previously said. (Pictured in 2022)

'I used to hide my age and be very ashamed because there's such a stigma for women,' she told Curious Conversations.

'I hate when people say, "You're really hot for a mum." It's like, really? Do I have to be attractive for a mum? Can't I just be attractive?

'I don't want to be good for my age. I want to be good,' she added.
The New Zealand version of The Project has been cancelled after six years on the air and on Friday night the show's cast bid their final farewell.

There were tears and laughter from hosts Jeremy Corbett, Kanoa Lloyd and Jesse Mulligan as a final half hour special aired.

'We never imagined it would last this long but in other ways it feels like we've been doing it forever,' Mulligan said.

Lloyd repeatedly became tearful including when sometime host Kate Rodger said, 'by crikey we're really going to miss you guys'.

She broke down again when asked to pick her favourite moments from the show, and she replied emotionally that she, 'couldn't pick a moment'.

The New Zealand version of The Project has been cancelled after six years on the air and on Friday night the show's cast bid their final farewell. Pictured: hosts Jesse Mulligan, Kanoa Lloyd and Jeremy Corbett

'In seven years, my life has changed because of this show,' she said.

'I'm going to miss the people here. My wonderful friends. My brothers on the desk. And you. Thank you for watching us.'

Mulligan signed off for good with, 'To you, Aotearoa, New Zealand, thank you for watching.'

The nightly current affairs show, based on the Australian series of the same name, first premiered on the Three network in February 2017.

There were tears and laughter from hosts Jeremy Corbett, Kanoa Lloyd and Jesse Mulligan as a final half hour special aired. 'We never imagined it would last this long but in other ways it feels like we've been doing it forever,' Mulligan said

Lloyd repeatedly became tearful including when sometime host Kate Rodger said, 'by crikey we're really going to miss you guys'

The news program will wrap up by the end of 2023, production company Warner Bros Discovery announced in October.

'We have commenced consultation to discontinue The Project on Three from the end of the year,' a spokesperson said.

'Our primary focus is to support our people as we work through this process.'

The move will see about 24 job losses in total from the network's Three HQ, based in the North Island city of Auckland.

The Project New Zealand did not air for one night after the announcement to allow staff to digest the news, reported the New Zealand Herald.

The nightly current affairs show, based on the Australian series of the same name, first premiered on the Three network in February 2017

Three pays a hefty licensing fee to use The Project brand created by Roving Enterprises, the production company owned by Rove McManus.

The cancellation will free up funds for a cheaper news show without an expensive, foreign-owned licence.

The Project New Zealand is hosted by Jesse Mulligan and Kanoa Lloyd, along with a rotating panel of guest presenters.

The New Zealand television industry has faced numerous cutbacks this year, as challenging economic conditions hit the media.

The Australian version of The Project has been the subject of cancellation rumours for years due to its declining ratings.

The Australian version of The Project has been the subject of cancellation rumours for years due to its declining ratings. Pictured are hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris

However, at its Upfronts presentation earlier this week, Channel Ten committed to another year of screening the show.

While the program is safe - for now - there are still rumours it could be bumped to a later timeslot to make way for a rebooted Deal or No Deal, hosted by Grant Denyer.

Once Ten's flagship news show, The Project has been on a downward trend for years.

Ratings have steadily fallen from 2022 to 2023, shedding one third of its national audience over the last 18 months.

A year ago, The Project lost most of its star power with the departure of long-serving hosts Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and Lisa Wilkinson.

However, at its Upfronts presentation earlier this week, Channel Ten committed to another year of screening the show
Beyonce sent the internet into a meltdown as she debuted platinum blonde locks at her film premiere in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The vocal powerhouse stunned as she graced the carpet of Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce in a silver Versace dress in Beverly Hills, California.

But her new long bright silver tresses have been at the epicentre of a very heated conversation, leaving many divided over her new look.

Some fans speculated the pop superstar had been bleaching her skin, after she posted a flurry of images with her new sultry ice blonde hair.

Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles was quick to shut down the claims, saying it was 'sad' that 'her own people continue the stupid narrative with hate and jealousy.'

Beyonce sent the internet into a meltdown as she debuted platinum blonde locks at her film premiere in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The vocal powerhouse stunned as she graced the red carpet with platinum blonde locks after lightening her honey blonde tresses (pictured right earlier in the year)

Taking to X, formerly known at Twitter, users were divided, penning: The platinum blonde looks amazing on Beyonce. Sorry guys. Yall were wrong lol.'; 'beyonce keeping this blonde in rotation but i need jet black beyonce back IMMEDIATELY';

'I am shocked Beyonce died her real hair platinum blonde.'; 'Beyonce LET THE BLONDE GO'; 'Beyonce rly bleached her real hair platinum blonde  bald era incoming

'Beyonce ice blonde era is SICKENING'; 'Still cant get over Beyonce with platinum blonde hair'; 'Beyonce is really turning into Becky with Good hair.'; 'Perfect is an understatement.'

Others praised the Break My Soul crooner for always switching up her looks, while another labelled her as the greatest artist and, 'the most beautiful woman on earth.'

Some fans commented on how young Beyonce looks with her new platinum blond locks, with one stating: 'Tell me Beyonce is not 25 damn she looks so young and cute.'

Another added: 'Is it just me or is she getting more attractive as she gets older. I just cant put my finger on why...'

'Beyonce looks incredible with that Icelandic hair,' wrote an ecstatic fan.

Even the superstar's own mother came to her defence, slamming online users for criticising Beyonce and hurling accusations of skin lightening her way.

Beyonce's bright silver tresses have been at the epicentre of a very heated conversation, leaving many divided over her new look

Tina Knowles furiously hit out at online critics who complained the 42-year-old superstar appeared to have lighter skin after she donned a platinum blond wig.

In a lengthy caption posted to Instagram, Knowles penned: 'I am sick and tired of people attacking her,' whilst vehemently denying accusations of skin lightening raised against her eldest daughter.

Poll What do you think about Beyonce's platinum hair? Love it! Not keen What do you think about Beyonce's platinum hair? Love it! 99 votes

Not keen 269 votes Now share your opinion





She also compared her daughter's outfit to styles worn by Black entertainers going back at least as far as Etta James.

'Came across this today and decided to post it after seeing all of the stupid ignorant self, hating racist statements about her, lightening her skin, and wearing platinum hair wanting to be white,' Knowles wrote.

She elaborated that Beyonce's look was solely for her Renaissance documentary, 'where the whole theme is silver with silver hair, a silver carpet, and suggested silver attire'

She added:' And you bozos decide that she's trying to be a white woman and is bleaching her skin?'

'How sad is it that some of her own people continue the stupid narrative with hate and jealousy.'

'Duh, she wore silver hair to match her silver dress as a fashion statement clown. ALIEN Superstar duh!'

She continued: 'Lying and faking and acting like you're so ignorant that you don't understand That black women have worn platinum hair since the Etta James days.

'I just went and looked at all the beautiful talented black celebrities who have worn platinum hair and it has been just about everyone of them at one time or another. Are they all trying to be white?'

Knowles expressed that she was 'sick and tired of people attacking her.'

Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles (pictured) also came to her defence hitting out at those criticising her daughter new appearance
Daisy Lowe and Vick Hope dressed to impress at Thursday night's American Express party in London.

The stars turned heads as they posed for photographers at the Amex Gold Unsigned 2023 showcase at The Dome, Tufnell Park. Unsigned is an initiative launched by Amex to support the grassroots music industry, and provide a platform for unsigned artists to get their music heard.

Daisy, 34, showcased her love of leopard print once again as she donned a semi-sheer blouse that tied at the top, while Vick, 34, teased a hint of her toned abs in a casual outfit.

She teamed the stunning top with a pair of wide legged black trousers that featured a satin stripe down the side.

The model wore her dark locks wavy and brushed to the side, keeping her makeup natural as she posed confidently for photographers.

Daisy Lowe showcased her love of leopard print once again as she attended the London party in a semi-sheer blouse

Daisy teamed the leopard print blouse with a pair of high-waisted, wide legged black trousers featuring a satin stripe down the side

Vick Hope kept things casual at the party, showing off her enviable abs in a cropped black jumper and boyfriend jeans

Vick - who tied the knot with Calvin Harris in September - on the other hand, opted for a casual chic ensemble. She showed off her enviable abs in a cropped black jumper that she teamed with a pair of light blue boyfriend jeans.

The TV and radio presenter finished off the low-key look with a pair of white trainers and wore her dark tresses loose around her shoulders.

Daisy's latest outing comes after she set pulses racing when she hit the red carpet for the British Vogue's Forces For Change party in London last month.

The model showed off her figure in a black PVC dress which had a perilously plunging front that accentuated her ample cleavage.

Daisy teamed the look with matching tights, a leather jacket and lace-up heeled boots.

The star has been very busy recently after welcoming her first child, daughter Ivy, with fiance Jordan Saul back in April.

Daisy gushed of how motherhood has been so far: 'I have wanted to be a mum all my life, but nothing can prepare you.

'All of the fantasising about what being a mum is, it's worlds apart to what it's like in practice, but I'm so grateful that my little girl is here,' she added to Hello!

Daisy beamed for photographers at the American Express bash and showed off her natural beauty by keeping her makeup natural

The model set pulses racing as she hit the red carpet for the British Vogue's Forces For Change party in London last month (pictured)

Daisy, who gave birth to her daughter Ivy in April, recently posed nude for an adorable bath time snap with the little one

Daisy - who is the daughter of Gavin Rossdale and Pearl Lowe - called the little one 'a joy, hilarious and bright and very sassy,' admitting she's 'obsessed' with her baby.

The model added of how her other half Jordan has been doing: 'It's just warmed my heart more than I ever thought was possible.

'He's so wonderful with her and as soon as she sees his face, she just lights up.'
Anna Heinrich is expecting her second child with husband Tim Robards.

And the former Bachelor star was flaunting her motherly curves as she met a friend for lunch on Friday.

Heading out for a meal at the trendy at Bills eatery in Sydney's Double Bay, Anna showed off her blossoming bump in a black mini dress.

The ribbed frock was sleeveless and included a V-neck cut and buttons down the front.

Anna appeared to have on minimal makeup and wore her blonde hair down around her face, added a a pair of designer sunglasses.

Anna Heinrich (pictured) is expecting her second child with husband Tim Robards. And the former Bachelor star was flaunting her motherly curves as she met a friend for lunch on Friday

She finished her look by tying a denim shirt around her waist and carrying a cream and brown purse, while wearing white sneakers.

Anna met up with husband Tim who stepped out in a bright neon shirt and black shorts.

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.

Last month, she took to Instagram to share her pregnancy progress.

Heading out for a meal at the trendy at Bills eatery in Sydney's Double Bay, Anna showed off her blossoming bump in a black mini dress

Anna met up with husband Tim (pictured) who stepped out in a bright neon shirt and black shorts

She finished her look by tying a denim shirt around her waist and carrying a cream and brown purse, while wearing white sneakers

In a luxurious marble bathroom, Anna posed for a mirror selfie which displayed her growing tummy and added a caption saying 'Bumping along nicely.'

The pair, who recently revealed Anna, 36, is pregnant with their second child, hosted a gender reveal party in October in the backyard of their $6 million mansion in Sydney's Dover Heights and announced they are having another 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.

Anna hosted a gender reveal party in October in the backyard of her $6 million mansion in Sydney's Dover Heights and announced they are having another girl
90s movie Pretty Woman is one of Julia Roberts' most famous films, but it was originally meant to tell a very different story.

Julia appeared on the latest episode of The Graham Norton Show - set to air on Friday - alongside fellow guests Timothee Chalamet, Tom Hanks and Cher.

Graham made sure to ask Julia about the movie, which is when she admitted it was meant to be 'much darker' than it ended up being.

The 56-year-old actress famously played prostitute Vivian, who was hired by Edward - played by Richard Gere - . The pair ended up falling in love after he initially hired her to accompany him to some social events.

Julia said: 'It was going to be a much darker film called $3,000 (the price for Vivian to spend the night with Edward).'

Julia Roberts spoke about iconic 90s movie Pretty Woman on the Graham Norton Show, set to air on Friday, admitting it was originally meant to be a 'much darker' film

Julia starred as prostitute Vivian Ward in the beloved 1990 flick Pretty Woman

She explained how the movie was originally meant to be called 3000 and wouldn't have ended with Vivian and Edward falling in love

Julia starred in Pretty Woman alongside Richard Gere, who played Edward Lewis

'Vivian was a drug addict and the movie ended with him leaving her in a side street, throwing the money at her, and driving away.

'I got that part in that movie and felt really proud, but when the production company folded and the film disappeared I was crushed. But then Disney picked it up, which seemed so unlikely, and made it funny.'

Julia's latest comments about 3000 comes after she spoke about the original idea for 'Pretty Woman' back in 2019.

After going over the previous script idea, Julia admitted she 'had no business being in a movie like that' in a 2019 chat with Patricia Arquette for Variety's Actors on Actors series.

She added, 'There was one producer that stayed with the script and then it went to Disney. And I went, "went to Disney? Are they gonna animate it? How does this become a Disney movie?"'

Julia is now starring in the new Netflix movie Leave The World Behind.

The Mona Lisa Smile star spoke about starring in the flick to Graham, sharing: 'I was sent the book by the director who told me I would love it and to read it as fast as I can, but I just couldnt because it was scaring me and as soon as it got dark, I had to get away from it.

'The film is spooky and frightening but so good.'

Julia appeared on The Graham Norton Show alongside fellow guests (from left to right) Cher, host Graham, Tom Hanks and Timothee Chalamet

Speaking about Barack and Michelle Obamas involvement in the movie, Julia added, 'They are brilliant people and great human beings who have made the world a better place so when they said they were interested in collaborating on the film through their production company I was very excited.'

Leave The World Behind tells the story of a family vacation on Long Island taking an unexpected turn after a cyberattack knocks out their devices and two strangers turn up at the door.

The film also stars Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Kevin Bacon, Myha'la Herrold and more.

The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One on Friday, November 30 at 10.40pm.
EZULWINI  You would swear parliamentarians were having a moment of silence when an officer from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development detailed how poorly government was managing the Eswatini economy.

The officer said there was lack of monitoring of government resources, high corruption in ministries which had made service delivery impossible, and uncontrolled spending, which had affected some sectors of the economy. During the presentation, the parliamentarians would simply squirm in their chairs, nod in agreement or show faces of exasperation when Principal Planning Officer in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Siphiwe Dlamini, detailed to them that transforming the lives of people would remain a dream because government was poorly managing the economy. Dlamini was speaking during the ongoing induction conference for the 12th Parliament yesterday. She was taking the parliamentarians through the 2023 to 2026 National Development Strategy.

Recovery

Dlamini stated that the plan clearly stated that good governance was the anchor of economic recovery. It is impossible to transform peoples lives if the economy is not performing well, she said. She started by presenting figures to put things into perspective. She noted that the numbers did not give a good picture of the country. Dlamini said the National Development Plan was aimed at changing the picture of the country. She told the MPs that, according to the figures, the population of the country was 1.1 million and its growth was at 0.7 per cent, with a majority being the youth.

Dlamini added that 33 per cent of the population was unemployed. This group, Dlamini said, was formed by the youth, which is 58 per cent of the polulation. She noted that these statistics were as per the 2021 Labour Survey. The officer added that 69 per cent of the population had access to clean water. She noted that the Human Capital Index was 37 per cent. Dlamini said the lower figures of the human index reflected the need for the government to invest more in education and health.

Not just education but quality education, that will make them productive when they reach productive ages, she said. Dlamini stated that it was unfortunate that the current education system was not good enough, because it was providing opportunities for white-collar jobs, yet that sector was saturated. She said there was need to bring in more skills. She recalled that the lockdown that was introduced due to COVID-19 cost a lot of people, who had white collar jobs, their employment, while only those with technical and vocational skills thrived.

That showed that having a life skill is very important in life and for the economy, for the good production of goods and services, she said.

The officer said when they were drafting the National Development Plan, they assessed the situation in the country and in government. She said they also assessed what needed to be done to develop the lives of the public.

Dlamini said the plan looked at the management of the economy. She mentioned that the assessment showed that the countrys economy was poorly managed. It is for that reason that it is growing below average, and government is facing a fiscal crisis, she said. Dlamini told the MPs that it had been announced that the country would receive a lot of money from regional economic bodies. Noteworthy, the country received the highest Southern African Customs Union (SACU) receipts of E11 billion.

Money

Can you see or feel the money? she asked. The house was as quiet as a graveyard when she posed the question. Dlamini further said that was the problem in government that needed to be addressed. She urge the parliamentarians, who would be heading the Portfolio Committee of Finance, to share more information on the subject on the financial situation in government because it does not look good. She said with that problem at hand, a lot of government money was spent on operations, while less was left for investment, hence a number of projects were suffering in the process.

She said education and health were suffering in the process, because if government did not have money, it became difficult to support these sectors. The officer stated that these two sectors were consumptive in nature. As a result, the quality of education dropped and parents enrolled their children in learning institutions outside the country.

If government is not in a good financial state, it will be difficult to support the education and health sectors, she said. Secondly, she decried the quality of expenditure by government. Dlamini said government, as the main driver of the economy, had a lot of parastatals. She wondered what government gained by having the many parastatals. Does government really need these parastatals whose personal costs and operations heavily rely on the broke government? she questioned.

Parastatals

She said all parastatals received a subvention from government and none of them, in any financial year, had ever returned the leftover of their budget. She said there were no monitoring tools for the parastatals budgets and reliance was placed on what they reported. She said if there was a monitoring tool, what remained of the budget would be used to fund more projects. Whose job is it to monitor that? Government has 19 ministries. Do we need the 19 ministries for government to perform well? What would happen if the ministries could be reduced? she wondered.

Dlamini said she heard that countries with bigger economies than Eswatini, such as Botswana, had 16 ministries. The officer said government was also the driver of the economy, in the sense that most businesses in the private sector were supplied their produce to government. With the fiscal crisis, government cant pay these businesses, according to Dlamini. She pointed out that the question was, how were these businesses going to survive if their largest client, which was government, was not paying them and how would they pay taxes, which were a revenue source for government?

Dlamini said governments poor performance was suffocating the private sector, as a result, it was failing to produce and support the economy. She said for the economy to grow, the private sector needed to be productive. She noted that, of late, government had a high domestic debt, which meant most of governments loans were sourced from local institutions. Governments domestic debt is at over E17 billion. The officer said that was a disadvantage for individuals who might be approaching banks for loans, because it would mean they were competing with government and in most cases the financial institutions would prefer government, because of the low risk factor associated with it.

In that process, if the government has been borrowed a lot of money, there is less left for private businesses. In addition, Dlamini alleged that political governance was not on track and that government failed to honour promises that were made to the public. She mentioned Goal 16 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Dlamini said government was weak when it came to programmes that were meant to reach that SDG.

She added that government was also failing to provide services to its people. She said government needed to improve service delivery, as it was obligated to do so, since the citizens paid taxes. Dlamini went on to say the poverty rate was still high and social protection poorly targeted. According to Dlamini, civil service pensioners were also receiving the elderly grant from government. Why do they need to compete with those who have never worked? she asked. The officer said the Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM) Office needed to relook the criteria and channel government interventions to those who needed them.
Kate Beckinsale left little to the imagination as she posed for a sizzling photoshoot ahead of attending a party thrown by Paris Hilton.

The actress, 50, looked sensational as she went braless in a sheer gown that showed off her ample assets and toned stomach.

Silver embellishment was strategically placed along the gown to protect her modesty and added a touch of glamour to the risque garment.

She added to the look with lilac underwear that matched her backdrop and complemented her tanned skin.

Kate wasn't alone in the shoot, however, as she posed alongside her pet cat Willow for some shots, while branding a stuffed toy version for the other.

Kate Beckinsale left little to the imagination as she posed for a sizzling photoshoot ahead of attending a party thrown by Paris Hilton

The actress, 50, looked sensational as she went braless in a sheer gown that showed off her ample assets and toned stomach

Kate captioned the snaps: 'When @parishilton says dress festive for her #Slivmas party (to celebrate the release of Paris in Love Season 2 Now streaming on Peacock) you must obey.

'Queen of pink rule s(I especially like that in the first picture, the cat, the handbag and I have all achieved the same expression).'

The mother-of-one has been making the most of time with Willow after having to say goodbye to her beloved cat Clive who passed away in June at 18 years old.

She paid tribute to her late furry friend in a sweet Instagram post on Thanksgiving, posting five videos of herself and the Persian cat to her 5.6million followers.

Kate wrote in the caption: 'Thank you for being with me through every single thing and loving me fiercely and unconditionally for almost 19 years...

'The gratitude I have for the privilege of loving and being loved by you is boundless . My god how I miss you, my Clive xxx'.

In one of the sweet videos, Clive wore a hat fashioned out of an orange, a blue jumper, and sported bright pink claws.

One fan admitted: 'I am not really a fan of cats. But Clive was a dude.' Kate replied: 'The dude of all dudes'.

In the first video, Clive unceremoniously climbed on top of Kate who was lying peacefully on her bed.

Kate asked: 'What are you doing? Wait. Hi. OK, well, Iguess I'm stuck here then am I? You nut job.'

Silver embellishment was strategically placed along the gown to protect her modesty and added a touch of glamour to the risque garment

She added to the look with lilac underwear that matched her backdrop and complemented her tanned skin

Kate wasn't alone in the shoot, however, as she posed alongside her pet cat Willow for some shots, while branding a stuffed toy version for the other

Later in the night Kate wore her glamorous gown to attend Paris Hilton's 'sliving' party in honour of her new reality show

Coined by Paris Hilton, sliving is a blend of the slang slaying and living your best life

Clive repeated this action in the second video, except this time was infinitely more impractical as Kate was getting a Brazilian bikini wax.

Kate worried out loud that Clive's tail would get caught in the hot wax and Clive walked up towards her face, leaving the danger zone, as if he heard her.

She joked: 'Clive is really standing guard over the portals.' And the beautician replied: 'He really is. He's like, "waxing is not coming above the stomach", apparently.'

Kate jokingly replied: 'I mean, I don't need it above the stomach,' to which the beautician quickly said: 'No, you don't.'

Much to the amusement of the beautician, Kate later joked: 'Hi honey. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you so much.'

In the third clip, Kate was in a car with Clive, who wore a blue shirt with anchors, and she looked chic in huge black sunglasses.

Kate was stroking Clive's head rhythmically, while Bruno Mars' Locked Out Of Heaven played in the background.

Towards the end of the video, Kate began lip-syncing and humorously moved Clive to the beat of the music.

Kate's fourth clip only featured Clive and he modelled the aforementioned blue jumper and fruit orange hat.

The mother-of-one has been making the most of time with Willow after having to say goodbye to her beloved cat Clive (pictured) who passed away in June at 18 years old

The Pearl Harbour star's final tribute video was of herself in the corridor of her home wearing a grey apron which held Clive in its pocket.

Kate and Clive, who had been together for almost twenty years, danced liked no one was watching to Shania Twain's Man! I Feel Like A Woman.

Her hair was in a messy bun at the top of her head and she struck her best best moves, rocking her hips back and forth, thus jolting Clive about.

Kate then declared: 'Man! I feel like a woman' and slid backwards. At the end of the video, she asked someone called Harvey to 'come here!'
Girls Aloud have added more dates to their much-anticipated reunion tour, after selling 200,000 tickets in a matter of hours.

Nicola Roberts , Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, and Kimberley Walsh, shot to fame in the band alongside the late Sarah Harding - who died in September 2021 at the age of 39 following a battle with breast cancer.

The band were formed in 2002 when they won Popstars: The Rivals before splitting in 2013 and then announcing a reunion tour last week.

Tickets for The Girls Aloud Show went on general sale on Friday at 9am following two days of pre sales, and within hours, The Promise hitmakers had already shifted 200,000 tickets for the May/June shows.

The surge in sales has prompted the BRIT Award-winning girl band to double the initial length of the tour by adding a further 14 dates.

Girls Aloud have added more dates to their much-anticipated reunion tour, after selling 200,000 tickets in a matter of hours

Cheryl Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh are hitting the road in May and June 2024 to mark 21 years since Pop Idol (pictured with Sarah Harding in 2002)

The additional performances will take place in Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Leeds, Birmingham, London and Liverpool.

During the initial pre-sales on Wednesday, some fans were left disappointed - some 'absolutely disgusted' - due to the website Ticketek glitching.

One wrote: 'Three times I had seats selected and got to checkout before it timed out, each repeat occurrence with worse seats than before. When at the checkout stage surely the timer should reset ! Have given up now, absolutely disgusted with the experience here!'

Others said: 'Anyone trying to get Girls Aloud tickets, sod Ticketek off and go back to the presale link in the email. Took me to Ticketmaster and I got tickets straight away, no queueing at all!! (Up in the gods but I refuse to pay 100+'.

'@ticketek_uk utter disaster with the #girlsaloud pre sale, got tickets but the page timed out as I was signing in to then get to the payment page, despite signing in before I clicked to look for tickets. Not happy not stuck in the stupid lounge again'.

'Don't use ticketek use ticketmaster!!! Was in the queue on ticketek for 2 hours, on ticketmaster I went straight through!'.

MailOnline has contacted Tickettek for comment.

Ticketek is an Australian event ticketing company and is a rival for Ticketmaster.

Many fans were left disappointed - and some were 'absolutely disgusted' - due to the website Ticketek glitching during the pre-sale on Wednesday

Girls Aloud fans shared their hysteria as they rushed to try and get their hands on tickets after the pre-sale kicked off on Wednesday

The tour will see the band provide fans with a whole dose of nostalgia by performing their best-loved hits, as the group have not recorded new music but just want to celebrate their back catalogue.

The group have said that they plan to use the tour to 'celebrate' their late friend, Sarah and will keep her vocal parts the same.

Cheryl revealed that in her final months before her tragic death, Sarah expressed her wish that the girls reunited without her one day.

Speaking to British Vogue, she detailed the moment Sarah gave her blessing for a Girls Aloud reunion, admitting at the time she couldn't fathom the idea of losing her friend and was still waiting on a 'miracle'.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham made for a picture perfect couple as they posed for snaps on their recent trip to Abu Dhabi.

The couple had been in the UAE for the Grand Prix but ensured they also saw the sights of the country as they visited the largest mosque in the country, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Respecting the country's customs, Rosie, 36, donned a white hijab to cover her hair that she paired with a tunic top and matching wide legged trousers.

The mother-of-one added a designer touch as she toted a small Valentino handbag.

In contrast to his partner's ethereal ensemble, actor Jason, 56, opted for all-black, layering a tailored blazer over a plain T-shirt and trousers.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham made for a picture perfect couple as they posed for snaps on their recent trip to Abu Dhabi

The couple had been in the UAE for the Grand Prix but ensured they also saw the sights of the country as they visited the largest mosque in the country, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sharing the snaps on Instagram for her 19.6 million followers on Friday, Rosie penned: 'Such an honour to tour the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque whilst we were #InAbuDhabi @visitabudhabi.'

Earlier the pair had spent time at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which took place over 58 laps of the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island on November 26.

Despite Rosie and Jason's 20-year age gap, they have been together since 2010 and share a son, Jack, six, and a daughter, Isabella, 21 months.

The couple is fiercely protective over their children and will not directly post their faces on social media.

Their engagement was confirmed in 2016 but Rosie has since admitted that the two have no plans to get married anytime soon.

As a model, Rosie is best known for being a Victoria's Secret Angel, though she also did extensive work with Marks & Spencer.

She moved towards acting in 2011 and played a supporting role in Transformers: Dark Of The Moon.

Then, in 2015, she joined the cast of Mad Max: Fury Road - her last acting performance to date.

Respecting the country's customs, Rosie, 36, donned a white hijab to cover her hair that she paired with a tunic top and matching wide legged trousers

The mother-of-one added a designer touch as she toted a small Valentino handbag

In contrast to his partner's ethereal ensemble, actor Jason, 56, opted for all-black, layering a tailored blazer over a plain T-shirt and trousers

After Jack's birth, Rosie launched beauty publication Rose Inc which has since branched out to selling make up and skincare.

Jason recently resumed his role as Lee Christmas in Expend4bles, the fourth film in The Expendables series, but the film unfortunately isn't doing too well.

His latest project, The Beekeeper, an action film also starring Jeremy Irons and Josh Hutcherson, is in post-production.

The English actor plays a heroic beekeeper who also happens to be a former operative of a secret organization known as 'Beekeepers'.

The David Ayer-directed action film sees Statham, who stars as Mr. Clay, out for blood as he shoots his way through a number of scenes after his friend and former caretaker takes her life due to a phishing company scam.
It's been at the centre of Brexit, race and immigration debates between divisive characters such as Nella Rose and Nigel Farage as they argue over issues including cultural appropriation.

And as tensions continue to rise in the camp, I'm a Celebrity faces fresh accusations of misogyny after the EastEnders actress, Danielle Harold, was ignored by her three male co-stars during a BushTucker trial.

It comes as Josie Gibson and Nella Rose are tasked with washing up the pots after Fred Sirieix, 51, cooks and 'takes charge' around the campfire.

During Thursday night's Bushtucker Trial, Barbaric Barbershop, the JLS star Marvin Humes, champion jockey Frankie Dettori and Fred Sirieix struggled to complete the task of fitting two halves of their stars together.

Down the line of chairs Danielle Harold, 31, sat one seat away from them and shouted to be included because Josie Gibson dropped out.

I'm a Celebrity faces fresh accusations of misogyny after the EastEnders actress, Danielle Harold, was ignored by her three male co-stars during a BushTucker trial

When the five celebrities returned it was relayed to the other campmates that the girls 'struggled', with viewers branding the comment 'sexist'

She said: 'Guys, please can I have some bits, the more I ask the angrier these rats get.'

Fans were quick to spot this and wrote on the platform TikTok: 'I felt really bad for Danielle they weren't listening to her. If they passed to her they would have got more.'

When the five celebrities returned it was relayed to the other campmates that the girls 'struggled' after Josie Gibson had to pull out due to her fear of spiders.

But this enraged viewers and one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'Do not put Danielle down as the ''Girls struggled''. Fred, you could have said not Danielle - she actually rescued you all by coming up with the idea that one person puts all the stars together.'

Another person wrote: 'Did Nigel just assume that the girls struggled? Sexist!'

Meanwhile, two out of the three female campmates Nella Rose and Josie Gibson have been paired to clean the pots after Fred Sirieix does the cooking which has caused tensions between them.

The First Dates Maitre'd threw the clean pots on the ground after he declared they were dirty and blamed their lack of thoroughness for him mistaking a stock cube for food and throwing it on the fire.

It comes as Josie Gibson and Nella Rose are tasked with washing up the pots after Fred Sirieix, 51, cooks and 'takes charge' around the campfire

Fred threw clean pots on the ground after he declared they were dirty and blamed their lack of thoroughness for him mistaking a stock cube for food and throwing it on the fire

Fans have called Mr Sirieix out on his behaviour, one person wrote: 'Fred saying 'You haven't done a good job'... how sexist'

Fans have called Mr Sirieix out on his behaviour, one person wrote: 'Fred saying 'You haven't done a good job'... how sexist.'

Another wrote: 'Fred having a pop at the girls for dirty dishes meanwhile launching an oxo cube into the fire and saying ''Oh, it's alright.'' Not cool. You can make a mistake but they can't. Oh, alright then.'

Made in Chelsea's Sam Thompson, the favourite to win this year's show then stepped in and said: 'We need to keep the peace between the washer uppers and Fred.

'Nick you are also helping the ladies carrying the washing up down there but you can't do the washing up.

'You can carry it down and bring it up.'

While the Hollyoaks actor was employed to do the heavy lifting for the two women, Danielle Harold was asked to assist Mr Sirieix in the kitchen.

Nigel Farage, 59, was pleased and commented: 'Danielle is fantastic, she just gets on with things.'
Katie Price appeared to be in good spirits as she joined the likes of Carol Vorderman and Katherine Ryan at the Women in Film & Television Awards 2023 on Friday.

The TV personality, 45, put on a stylish display as she posed up a storm at the event, now in its 32nd year, held at the London Hilton Park Lane.

Katie looked effortlessly chic in a cropped pink jumper, which she styled with fitted leather-look trousers and a black jacket with a faux-fur lined collar and cuffs.

The star - who released her documentary Trauma And Me in 2022 - gave herself a few extra inches in heeled boots and kept her essentials in a bright pink clutch bag.

Carol, 62, was also in attendance and showed off her incredible figure in a nude top adorned with silver gems, which she styled with a beige latex skirt.

Katie Price appeared to be in good spirits as she attended the Women in Film & Television Awards 2023 on Friday

She joined the likes of Carol Vorderman and Katherine Ryan at the glitzy event

The former Countdown maths whizz added to her height with a pair of leopard print platform heels to complete her look.

She was seen smiling for snaps inside the event with comedian Katherine, 40, who looked as elegant as ever in a floating pink gown with flared sleeves.

Katherine was also joined at the event by her partner Bobby Kootstra, who kept it casual in a cream jumper and matching trousers.

She shares two children Fred, two, and Fenna Grace, 11 months, with Bobby, while she also has a teenage daughter Violet with her ex-husband.

Also in attendance was Laura Whitmore, who stunned in a sheer black blouse, which she wore over a black bra, and fitted trousers.

The former Love Island host completed her ensemble with a pair of pointed heels and accessorised with a gold pendant necklace.

Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Rippon was also seen at the event after her exit from the BBC show, cutting a sophisticated figure in a blue dress.

Also on the guest list were the likes of Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood, Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh and Meera Syal, among many others.

The TV personality, 45, put on a stylish display as she posed up a storm at the event, now in its 32nd year, held at the London Hilton Park Lane

The star - who released her documentary Trauma And Me in 2022 - gave herself a few extra inches in heeled boots and kept her essentials in a bright pink clutch bag

Carol, 62, was also in attendance and showed off her incredible figure in a nude top adorned with silver gems, which she styled with a beige latex skirt

The former Countdown maths whizz added to her height with a pair of leopard print platform heels to complete her look

Carol kept warm as she swept a cream jacket across her shoulders while posing on the red carpet

Carol accessorised with droplet earrings and appeared to be in jovial spirits as she flashed a huge smile

Carol posed up a storm inside the venue which had been decorated for the festive season

Katherine was also joined at the event by her partner Bobby Kootstra, who kept it casual in a cream jumper and matching trousers

Carol and Katherine were also seen socialising with Genevieve O'Reilly as they posed inside the lavish event

Katherine looked very elegant in her gown, which featured a ruffled neckline and waterfall sleeves

She styled her golden tresses in a blunt bob as she posed up a storm for the cameras

Katherine opted for a slick of eyeliner and a touch of blusher and accessorised with an array of gold earrings

Katherine hosted the star-studded event for the second year

Alison Hammond received the of The Eikon Presenter Award 2023 during Friday's This Morning (pictured with co-host Dermot O'Leary)

Sheridan Smith cut a chic figure in a cream waistcoat and wide-legged trousers

Sheridan (L) presented Grace Ofori-Attah (R) with the ScreenSkills Writing Award,

Co-host Dermot O'Leary (L) surprised her with the gong on live TV

She proudly lifted her trophy for the camera as the studio audience applauded

The Women in Film and Television Awards celebrate the achievements of women across the industry in 14 categories, including director, writer and producer.

The event comes just days after Katie's youngest daughter confirmed that her mother is single.

During a TikTok Live on Sunday, Bunny, nine, revealed that Katie has split from her on/off fiance Carl Woods, 34.

While the famous glamour model was sat in the background going through boxes, little Bunny was sitting next to the camera.

During the live stream, Bunny read aloud a question from a fan, which appeared on screen: 'Hello Kate, are you single?'

Bunny looked back to her mother for a response, but was ignored, and so returned to the camera and answered the fan herself, asserting: 'Yes she is.'

The confirmation of the end of Katie's relationship comes days after she and Carl unfollowed each other on Instagram.

She is also said to avoided mentioning the businessman during a recent chat with fans on TikTok - despite the pair putting on a cosy display on the red carpet last week.

A source told The Sun: 'When Katie was asked if she was single on TikTok, she paused for ages then refused to answer the question'.

The couple rekindled their romance in July and were said to be planning a secret wedding.

Also in attendance was Laura Whitmore, who stunned in a sheer black blouse, which she wore over a black bra, and fitted trousers

Laura appeared to be in excellent spirits as she laughed while posing for glamorous photographs

She accessorised her look with an array of gold jewellery and opted for a bronzed make-up palette

Laura added extra height to her frame with heels and toted a chic handbag

Laura (L) grabbed a stylish snap with fellow TV host Carol (R)

Aimee Lou Wood showed off her trendy sense of style in black leather-look trousers and a T-shirt, which she styled with a brown leather jacket

She styled her chocolate tresses in loose curls and opted for an orange smokey-eye make-up palette

Meera Syal CBE, 62, received The EON Productions Lifetime Achievement Award

The acclaimed actress and writer posed proudly with her wanky glass trophy

Former Goodness Gracious Me star Meera cut a chic figure in a sequinned black suit

Meera was presented with the award on stage by Sir Lenny Henry

Angela Rippon, 79, fresh from her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing cut an elegant figure in a blue midi-dress

Angela (L) and Carol Vorderman (R) were delighted to run into each other and posed for snaps

The pals cuddled up before heading inside for the ceremony

Angela (L) added a little extra sparkle to her frock with a large old brooch

The ladies enjoyed a chat and a giggle as they rubbed shoulders with fellow celebs

The duo defiantly raised the glamour stakes on the evening's red carpet

Angela (R) pictured with Sue Ayton (L)

(L-R) Carol Vorderman, Angela Rippon, Sir Lenny Henry and his partner Lisa Makin

Lenny and Lisa looked as loved-up as ever as the comedian sweetly planted a kiss on his partner's head

Lenny cut a suave figure in a burgundy velvet suit as he matched with Lisa, who sported a black velvet suit of her own

Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh cut a stylish figure in a black gown and a leather-look jacket

Angela Rippon and Adjoa Andoh (L-R)

DJ Edith Bowman (L) joined Susan Wokoma (R) at the star-studded event

Edith (L) presented Nina Hartstone (R) with The Gravity Media Creative Technology Award

Singer Jenna Lee-James stunned in a quirky white gown complete with cut-outs

The stunner oozed confidence as she took to the red carpet

Film director Charlotte Mikkelborg (L) cut a sophisticated figure alongside fellow movie maker Aoife McArdle (R)

Paul McCartney's photographer Mary looked effortlessly chic in a grey ensemble

Tom Burke and David Morrissey (L-R) both presented awards on the big night

The pair have been in a turbulent relationship since July 2020, getting engaged the following April.

Katie and Carl called off their engagement in March last year, before sparking rumours of a reunion following being spotted together on a string of occasions.

The couple seemed loved-up once again, as they were seen cuddling on sun-loungers at the Jacaranda Lounge Beach Club in Ibiza.

Katie and Carl were thought to have broken-up, despite being spotted kissing, as Katie declared she was single over the summer.

Katie has been married three times. She was married to Peter Andre for four years, and then tied the knot with Alex Reid in 2010. They split after 11 months of marriage and Katie went on to marry Kieran Hayler in 2013, but they broke up in 2018.
456 real-life people have been battling it out to be crowned the winner of Squid Game: The Challenge.

Competitors had flown in from as far as the United States and Australia for the show, with only one contestant able to take home the huge 3.63million cash prize.

In a trailer released on Friday ahead of next week's finale, the three remaining hopefuls, numbers 016, 287, and 451, will take on the last challenge.

The clip opens as one contestant says: 'We've come so far to get here and now... this is it.'

Someone else explains: 'It's like a pack of wolves trying to get the last piece of meat

456 real-life people have been battling it out to be crowned the winner of Squid Game : The Challenge

'Money changes people sometimes', another adds.

A total of 456 players, the same as in the original series, took part in the show, which was being filmed at Cardington Studios, a former RAF base near Bedford.

Hundreds were eliminated in the first round and then stayed in bunkbeds at the studios, just like in the Korean series.

In the original series, hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children's games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.

Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of unscripted and documentary series, previously said of the reality programme: 'Squid Game took the world by storm with [director Hwang Dong-hyuk's] captivating story and iconic imagery.

'We're grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment.

'Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest-ever cash prize at the end.'

The reality series will consist of ten episodes - one more than the original thriller.

Competitors had flown in from as far as the United States and Australia for the show, with only one contestant able to take home the huge 3.63million cash prize

In a trailer released on Friday ahead of next week's finale, the three remaining hopefuls, numbers 016, 287, and 451, will take on the last challenge

A total of 456 players, the same as in the original series, took part in the show, which was being filmed at Cardington Studios, a former RAF base near Bedford

Hundreds were eliminated in the first round and then stayed in bunkbeds at the studios, just like in the Korean series

The TV production company behind the show Studio Lambert has previously been accused of allowing 'inhumane' working conditions and faced allegations of mistreating staff on previous reality shows.

Some of those working on the popular Gogglebox series described a toxic culture where staff worked excessive hours and were expected to go without breaks.

The trade union BECTU, which represents film production workers, received complaints from staff about the way they were being treated.

One member of staff told the union: 'People have had enough. You don't turn up to be screamed at for 12 hours a day.'

Bectu said they urgently requested a meeting with the company who are behind many contestant led shows, including 'BBC show 'Traitors and 'Race across the world.'

Squid Game became Netflix's most-watched programme in 2021, drawing in 142 million people in its first month - nearly double the previous record held by Bridgerton.

The Korean drama is also being praised with adding 4.4 million new subscribers, increasing Netflix global subscriptions to 213.5 million from 209 million.

It boosted the company's profits to 1.1billion - nearly double the amount it took in during the third quarter of 2020.
Advertisement

Gerry Turner proposed to Theresa Nist on Thursday's live season finale episode of The Golden Bachelor.

And he presented her with a huge diamond ring from jeweler Neil Lane who also made an appearance on the hit show as he helped Jerry pick the perfect bauble.

The TV star got down on one knee and presented Theresa with the rock when it was still in its fancy black velvet jewelry box stamped by Lane.

The stunning ring had as its main stone a princess cut diamond with two longer baguette diamonds on the sides as it was set in gold.

The rock looks to be worth about $40,000, Chris Arakel of The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles tells DailyMail.com. 'The center stone is a generous size and the baguettes are not small, so that is why the price is on the high end,' he shared. 'It has a timeless traditional setting.'

Gerry Turner proposed to Theresa Nist on Thursday's live season finale episode of The Golden Bachelor

And he presented her with a huge diamond ring from jeweler Neil Lane. The rock looks to be worth about $40,000, Chris Arakel of The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles tells DailyMail.com. 'The center stone is a generous size and the baguettes are not small, so that is why the price is on the high end,' he shared

She showed off the ring on the finale and during the After The Final Rose

She showed off the ring on the finale and during the After The Final Rose as it looked to fit her petite finger perfectly.

'You're not the right person for me to live with, you are the person that I can't live without,' said Gerry, 72, a widow and retired restaurateur from Hudson, Indiana.

'Theresa I love you 1,000 percent. I'm never going to stop believing that every day I choose you. Will you marry me?'

'Yes!' said Theresa, 70, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

'I love you,' said Gerry, who was the subject of a recent article that claimed he has a secret past that includes a three-year relationship after the death of his wife and various blue-collar jobs.

When Theresa arrived to meet Gerry, wearing a flowing sparkly dress and diamond earrings, host Jesse Palmer, 45, walked her to the lush mountain in Costa Rica where he was waiting.

The star got down on one knee and presented Theresa with the rock when it was still in its fancy black velvet jewelry box

Theresa flashed the rock on her ring finger as she brings her hands up to her face in a show of joy

Here Jerry was seen looking at the rings with jeweler Neil Lane

Gerry smiled when he saw her. Theresa said she thought she was going to live the rest of her life alone until she met him.

'I feel like for us life isn't over, that the best is yet to come,' Theresa said. 'I think you are the most wonderful man in the world. Now that I've found you, I don't ever want to let you go. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.'

'You make me the happiest woman in the world,' Theresa said.

Gerry then handed Theresa a golden rose.

'We're engaged!' Theresa and Gerry screamed.

When the show started, Gerry said that he had fallen in love with both women after overnight stays with them in the Fantasy Suites.

'I came here on this journey hoping to find a second true love in my lifetime and how this week goes determines who I propose to: Theresa or Leslie,' Gerry said. 'On one hand, when I'm with Leslie, we kind of get lost in each other. It's almost like words become unnecessary. We know what the other person is feeling.'

And then there was Theresa.

The 72-year-old retired widow from Indiana and Theresa beamed while celebrating their engagement

Theresa clutched her golden rose while kissing her new fiance Gerry

'You're not the right person for me to live with, you are the person that I can't live without,' said Gerry a widow and retired restaurateur from Hudson, Indiana. 'Theresa I love you 1,000 percent. I'm never going to stop believing that every day I choose you. Will you marry me?'

'You make me the happiest woman in the world,' Theresa said

'After our overnight, everything changed,' Gerry said.

Gerry then met with his family, his two daughters - Jennifer and Angie - and his grandchildren, in Costa Rica to help him make his decision. He told them that he already told both women that he was in love with them. He asked them to meet with both women. The family met first with Theresa.

Jennifer and Angie pulled Theresa aside. Theresa told her about her first husband and losing him after kidney failure. Jennifer asked Theresa what she would do if Gerry got down on one knee if she was there at the end.

'Yes, I'm there, absolutely,' Theresa said. 'We both at this age see that we don't know how much time we have and we want to make the most of every moment.'

Jennifer said in a confessional that she would be in favor if her father proposed to Theresa.

'I think it would be a great thing actually,' Jennifer said. 'I'd be really happy for him.'

Angie asked her father if the Fantasy Suite brought him any more clarity and if he 'knocked the boots.'

'We are not talking about that,' Gerry said smiling.

Gerry said Theresa opened up even more when they had a chance to spend time in private.

Gerry's family Jenny, Angie, Charlee and Payton met first with Theresa

'The hugs were sweeter,' Gerry said. 'The conversation was easier. So I'm really encouraged at what you're telling me about her and what you guys see.'

'I just want to remind you that I love you,' Gerry said to Theresa.

'I love you,' Theresa said.

Gerry and Theresa had one final date. Theresa was hopeful it was going to be her and Gerry in the end. The held hands and told stories about their past. Theresa said she was concerned because there was still another woman.

'I still want you to be happy,' Theresa said. 'As hard as it would be for me, I wouldn't want you to choose me if you weren't 1,000 percent wanting me and overwhelmingly wanting me.'

'It will be 1,000 percent or nothing,' Gerry said.

'At the end of the day one of us is going to get hurt,' Theresa said in a confessional. 'At this point, I don't want to have a life without Gerry. This is extremely hard. I might be walking out of here completely broken-hearted.'

Gerry and Theresa had one final date before the rose ceremony

The next day, Gerry brought Leslie Fhima, 64, a fitness instructor from Golden Valley, Minnesota, to meet his family.

Leslie told them that she made Gerry laugh and that they have always had fun together. Leslie told Gerry's grandchildren Payton and Charlee that she was crazy about their grandfather. Payton started crying seeing how much love there was between Leslie and her grandfather.

'I loved her,' Payton said later. 'We had our hearts set on Theresa and now? Like, Leslie, she's great. I got so emotional and I think that spoke volumes to me.'

Leslie then spoke to Gerry's daughters who told her she wanted to travel and see the world with Gerry. They asked her if she was ready for a proposal. Leslie told her the thought of it scared her because she had never had a person who wanted to commit to her fully.

'He is the man of my dreams,' Leslie said crying. 'He really is.'

Gerry told his daughters that he was getting stressed about his decision and wanted to make sure it was a 'woman that I can't live without and it's for the rest of my life.'

In a confessional, Gerry said that things had gotten confusing and he didn't know how he would handle it. Leslie felt that Gerry seemed a little off and it gave her anxiety. At their final date, Leslie tried to focus on the positive.

'I could be engaged tomorrow, which would be amazing,' Leslie said to the camera.

Gerry apologized to her for not being himself, but said that stress had been getting to him. Gerry raised his glass and toasted to 'us', which put Leslie in a good mood.

'I love this guy,' Leslie said in a confessional. 'He's great. I adore him and I want to start sharing a life with him.'

Leslie gave him a scrapbook of their memories. The book had photos of them and their date card.

Theresa wore a white dress as she walked out for the rose ceremony

'And then there are plenty of pages for more,' Leslie said.

Gerry told her that the gift left him speechless. The two kissed and hugged.

'I can't imagine being without you now,' Leslie said. 'I love you very very much.'

'That's such a special sentiment,' Gerry said.

Gerry hugged her as she cried.

'Be happy,' Gerry said looking at her.

'I want you to be happy too,' Leslie said.

'I think it's time for me to go,' Gerry said.

A studio audience in Los Angeles watched the finale on screen with interviews on a stage

Gerry hugged her at the door and cried.

'Is there something you want to tell me?' Leslie said.

Gerry shook his head no.

'No, just that I have a tough decision to make,' Gerry said. 'It's harder than I ever thought possible.'

Gerry sat down on the stairs crying. Leslie in her room was also crying.

'I'm definitely not confident now,' Leslie said. 'I know why he was off today. I know exactly why.'

Gerry decided he needed to go back and talk to Leslie. Gerry told her he had made a decision about how he wanted to go about things.

'And I have fallen in love with Theresa,' Gerry said. 'And that's the direction I'm going to take.'

'Okay,' Leslie said. 'So everything you told me the other night was a lie.'

'No, it wasn't a lie,' Gerry said.

'Okay,' Leslie said. 'So everything you told me the other night was a lie'

'Yeah it was,' Leslie said. 'Everything you told the other night was a complete and utter lie, Gerry.'

'No, because at that time that was the truth,' Gerry said. 'Things have changed. Things have evolved.'

Gerry told Leslie he was so sorry. Leslie cried and Gerry held her.

'It's typical,' Leslie said. 'This is my life. This is the way it always goes.'

Gerry told her not to think like that.

'Gerry it doesn't matter, no offense, but I can think whatever the f*** I want,' Leslie said crying. 'I'm heartbroken once again but now I have to di it in front of the whole world to see once again how broken I am. How no one chose methe other night you made it sound like you chose me. You said things to me that made me think that this was going to be it.'

Leslie said it was mind-boggling to her that he could tell her he loved her and then 12-hours later change his mind. Leslie said the only good thing was that she didn't have to put on that $60,000 dress with the diamond earrings and get on the platform and be completely embarrassed.

'And that I thank you for,' Leslie said.

'I'm sorry,' Gerry said.

'There is nothing you can say or do that can make me feel better,' Leslie said.

'All right, I'll see myself out,' Gerry said.

'There is nothing you can say or do that can make me feel better,' Leslie said

'I'm tired of putting myself out there,' Leslie said to the camera. 'Time is running out.'

Gerry met with Jesse and told him that he was not okay.

'I took a really good person and f***ing broke their heart,' Gerry said crying . 'I hate myself and I hate everything right now. I think the only time I felt worse in my life was when my wife passed away. And this is a god**** close second.'

'I'm sorry,' Jesse said.

'She's a good person and I f***ed her over,' Gerry said.

Leslie then joined Jesse on stage during the live show. The crowd cheered for her. Jesse asked her how she was feeling after watching the show back.

'I took a really good person and f***ing broke their heart,' Gerry said crying . 'I hate myself and I hate everything right now. I think the only time I felt worse in my life was when my wife passed away. And this is a god**** close second.'

Leslie then joined Jesse on stage during the live show

'I was devastated,' Leslie said.

Leslie said she had fallen in love with Gerry and that it was hard. Leslie said after the overnights that she was 100 percent certain that she was his girl. Leslie said she felt blindsided and had picked out a dress and wrote her vows. Jesse then brought out Gerry and Leslie gave him a hug.

'I was myself with you completely,' Leslie said. 'I wanted to give you that till death do us part so bad.'

Leslie said she really fell in love with his integrity. Leslie said she would never share what he said in the overnights but that his words gave her a 100 percent certainty that 'she was his girl and we were going to get engaged.'

Leslie said she was blindsided and wasn't sure how it all suddenly changed. Gerry said he was so sorry and that he never wanted to hurt anyone. He said he got caught up in moments and that he believed she was his person until he suddenly realized she wasn't.

'It didn't really go wrong, Leslie,' Gerry said. 'It was just better with someone else.'

'I was devastated,' Leslie said

'It didn't really go wrong, Leslie,' Gerry said. 'It was just better with someone else'

'I don't know if I accept your apology but I understand it,' Leslie said.

'I had to find that one person that I couldn't live without and I did that,' Gerry said. 'It was my journey and I had to see it through till the end.'

Gerry and Theresa came out to the live show holding hands. Theresa said she was nervous and wasn't sure that Gerry was going to propose to her on the final day up until the final moment when he did. Jesse asked Gerry if something happened on the overnight date that 'just changed everything.'

'What I want to know is Jesse, how often do you ask your parents what happened on overnight dates?' Gerry said. 'Since everyone asked, there were moments in conversations that were subtle realizations.'

'If he's not going to tell you exactly what happened in the fantasy suite, I'll tell you,' Theresa said. 'I knocked his boots off.'

Gerry laughed. Theresa said she hoped people realize that there is no age limit on love. Theresa said she now talks on the phone with Gerry each night for hours. Jesse then announced as a surprise that the show was sending them on a special vacation cruise to Italy.

'We can use that as our honeymoon trip,' Gerry said. 'Because we are going to get married, we are going to do it as quickly as we can because at our age we don't have a lot of time to waste.'

Joey Graziadei, 28, the next star of The Bachelor, was in the studio audience and provided a preview of the upcoming 28th season that will premiere in January.
Timothee Chalamet has revealed he spent a 'joyous' five months living in London while filming the much-anticipated Wonka prequel.

The actor, 27, who has starring as a younger incarnation of the chocolatier, admitted he feels like 'an honourary Brit' after spending a lengthy stint in the UK in 2021.

Speaking on Friday's episode of The Graham Norton Show, Timothee revealed that this is the 'favourite' he's starred in during his career so far.

Talking about his role in the prequel, Timothee said: 'I am proud of all the films I have done but this is my favourite. It is the most fun Ive had working on anything ever. It is sweet and good and will fill you with joy.'

'We shot the film in London so, after spending five months here I feel like an honorary Brit  it was joyous.'

Timothee Chalamet has revealed he spent a 'joyous' five months living in London while filming the much-anticipated Wonka prequel

The actor, who has starring as a younger incarnation of the chocolatier (pictured), admitted he feels like 'an honorary Brit'

Timothee spent a lengthy stint in the UK working on Wonka from October 2021 until February 2022, including scenes filmed at Oxford University (pictured)

Graham went onto ask the Little Women star how he's been lucky to star in such a long string of hits at such a young age.

He said: 'I just try to work with great directors.'

Joining Timothee on Graham Norton were Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and Cher.

Those lucky enough to catch a preview screening of the movie, which is out on general release in Europe on December 8 and in the US on December 15, have hailed leading man Timothee Chalamet 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.

'#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.'

Another posted that 'it absolutely rules.'

Speaking on Friday's episode of The Graham Norton Show, Timothee revealed that this is the 'favourite' he's starred in during his career so far

Joining Timothee on Graham Norton were Julia Roberts, in her first UK TV interview, Tom Hanks and Cher

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.'

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.

'Hugh Grant [as an Oompa-Loompa] in exceptional IDGAF mode.'

IndieWire chief film critic David Ehrlich simply wrote: 'Wonka good. Paul King king.'

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.'

'The staging is good and there's lots of heart and whimsy. I did not however like the barrage of fat jokes. Poor form in a delightful film,' Daniels scoffed.

The origin tale on Willy Wonka - based on Roald Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - hits UK theaters December 8 and US theaters December 15.

Wonka also features Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, and newcomer Calah Lane.

Chalamet earned $9M to portray the titular character after beating out Tom Holland, Donald Glover, Ezra Miller and Ryan Gosling for the role.

The eccentric genius, who delighted in punishing naughty children, was memorably originated by Gene Wilder in Mel Stuart's 1971 beloved classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
The family of late Euphoria star Angus Cloud are being sued by a bank amid claims the actor owed more than $9000.

According to legal documents obtained by The Blast and filed by JP Morgan Chase Bank, Cloud, 25, who died on July 31 from an accidental overdose, owed them $9,056.11 and they want to collect their payment from his estate.

The claim was filed on Monday, November 27, by the bank and served to Cloud's mother Lisa Cloud.

The legal documents indicate the 'Decedent purchased goods and/or services totaling the owed amount'.

Lisa filed for control of Cloud's estate two months ago, asking to be made sole executor of his estate as he died without a will.

The family of late Euphoria star Angus Cloud are being sued by a bank amid claims the actor owed more than $9000 (pictured 2021)

The star played Fezco in the hit show Euphoria (pictured)

Lisa estimates his personal property is worth around $1,000,000.

She wrote in a court document: 'Angus Cloud was a young, successful actor, best known for his work in the HBO series Euphoria.

'Upon his passing, he was engaged in a number of agreements that require immediate oversight, management, and enforcement

'Based on a review of some existing agreements, (Lisa) believes Angus assigned certain rights to (a loan-out company), including, but not limited to, certain intellectual property and/or name, image, and likeness rights, as well as his rights to receive income.'

It was noted that Cloud 'finished an acting job shortly before his death, but may not have signed all the applicable agreements. These require the prompt attention of the Company and/or the Estate to allow the project to move forward with the requisite rights.'

This comes after Lisa opened up about the actor's final weeks before his death at 25 on July 31 from an accidental overdose.

Lisa spoke with People Monday about her son's passing, and how she found him in his childhood room the morning he died.

The emotional interview came less than a week after officials with the Alameda County Coroners Bureau Cloud ruled the actor's death an accidental overdose as result of acute intoxication from combined effects of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and benzodiazepines.

While at the family's Oakland, California home, Lisa pointed to a desk in his room and told the outlet, 'This is where my boy passed away.

'He loved his home and he loved this little, tiny room,' she said of Angus, who was with his family in the wake of father's passing earlier in the month.

This comes after Lisa opened up about the actor's final weeks before his death at 25 on July 31 from an accidental overdose. He was pictured in Paris in June of 2022

Lisa Cloud spoke with People about her son's passing, and how she found him in his childhood room the morning he died

She recalled to the outlet how she found him in the morning, slumped down on his desk, and tried to revive him.

'I started shaking him and screaming,' Lisa said. 'I pushed him hard, and he fell on the floor. I tried to resuscitate him - mouth to mouth - and I was compressing him.

'I was screaming for my neighbor because I didn't want to leave him and call 911, and I just kept at it until they took him away. I miss him so much. He was the love of my life.'

Lisa said that Angus had been 'deeply grieving' his father Conor Hickey's May 18 death of at the age of 65.

She said that Angus and twin sisters Molly and Fiona in July had traveled to Ireland to spread the ashes of Hickey, who had been diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year.

'They were all devastated,' she said of the actor and his siblings, adding that Angus 'absolutely loved his father.

'He also knew he really loved him. He was so proud of Angus. My son thought of Pops as his best friend. There is no doubt that his father's death took a toll on him.'

Angus had missed the funeral service because he was too high, his mother told the outlet, but was able to spread his dad's ashes near his grandparents' gravesite in Dublin.

The emotional interview came less than a week after officials with the Alameda County Coroners Bureau Cloud ruled the actor's death an accidental overdose. Pictured in November of 2021 in LA

Cloud died as result of acute intoxication from combined effects of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and benzodiazepines, officials said. He was pictured in LA in early 2022

Lisa said that Angus had been 'deeply grieving' the death of his father Conor Hickey (pictured) this past May. On July 14, he posted a pic of his late dad on Instagram captioned, 'miss u breh'

'His heart was overflowing with the love to share, running into the waves, heart filling with the ocean,' Lisa said of her son. 'His smiles and laughs will live on with us forever.'

Cloud's mother said that the actor was dealing with frequent headaches and illness after the family returned to the U.S., adding that 'there were deep troubles.

'He was not functioning, and it was clear he was grief-stricken,' she said. 'And if you are somebody who turns to drugs, that would be the logical thing to do, and that's what he did.'

Lisa said that the death of Angus's father 'isn't responsible for his, but he clearly couldn't cope.'

Angus on July 14 shared a post on Instagram of an image of his father with the caption, 'miss u breh.'

Lisa said that 'it was predominantly the central nervous system depressants' that led to her son's passing, as the medication 'started to slow his heart and slow his breathing.'

'He got tired from lack of oxygen,' she added. 'Everything just slowed down, and eventually his heart stopped and he went to sleep. But he didn't kill himself.'

Lisa continued: 'He went out at his total power, his total beauty, his total influence, and the reaction that everyone has had is very moving to me.

His final post came on July 18 when he showed off a set of grillz from the company Grant Grillz, with the geotag coming from Dublin, Ireland

Cloud played the role of Fezco on the hit HBO series from 2019-2022

'You know, he's not just an actor who overdosed. He was a beautiful soul, and that's why people miss him so much.'

Cloud's uncle Kevin Cloud said that Angus appeared to be in a decent mood the day before his death.

'We spent about four hours of his last afternoon together,' he said. 'It was an easy and happy time. He seemed supremely fit and healthy.'

Lisa said of her son: I always knew he was special and I'm so glad the world also found out he was special. My son will always shine bright.'

Angus's final Instagram post came on July 18 when he showed off a set of grillz from the company Grant Grillz, with the geotag coming from Dublin, Ireland.

Cloud had past appeared in films such as 2023's The Line opposite John Malkovich, 2021's North Hollywood and on the TV series The Perfect Women.

He also had appeared in music videos for Becky G & Karol G's Mamii in 2022; and in Juice WRLD's Cigarettes in 2022.

At the time of his passing, Cloud had a number of projects in the works, including two unreleased films, according to iMDb, including a horror film titled Your Lucky Day and an Oakland-based drama titled Freaky Tales, starring Pedro Pascal and Ben Mendelsohn. He was also linked to Scream 6 slated for next year.

Cloud was pictured at an Oscar party in LA in March of 2022

Cloud was pictured with Euphoria collaborators Hunter Schafer, Sam Levinson and Zendaya in January of 2022 in LA

Cloud did not have any acting experience ahead of his role on Euphoria, as he was discovered by casting scout Eleonore Hendricks while walking in New York City, according to the AP.

Cloud was initially skeptical of the opportunity, thinking it was a scam, but eventually got the role after meeting with casting director Jennifer Venditti.

Fans of the show lauded Cloud for his authenticity in the role, to an extent that he spoke about the misconceptions people had that he didn't have to do much when the cameras were on.

'It does bother me when people are like, "It must be so easy! You get to go in and be yourself,"' he told Variety. 'I'm like, "Why don't you go and do that?" It's not that simple. I brought a lot to the character. You can believe what you want. It ain't got nothing to do with me.'
Katie Price has revealed she knows who killed her pet dog and set her car on fire after her mucky mansion was targeted by vandals.

The former glamour model, 45, told fans her dog, Blade, was 'attacked on purpose' by the same group who smeared expletive-ridden graffiti over the fences of her 3million Sussex property in April.

Speaking to her sister on their podcast The Katie Price show on Thursday, she explained: 'They killed my dog and dragged him to the road.'

'Just like they set a car alight at the top of my driveway and vandalised my gates. Somebody has killed my dog on purpose as an attack against me I'm investigating it.'

In June it was reported her beloved German shepherd protection dog Blade died after being hit by a car, with Katie sharing the sad news to Instagram.

Katie Price, 45, has revealed she knows who killed her pet dog and set her car on fire after her mucky mansion was targeted by vandals

Following the incident leading animal charity PETA slammed Katie saying she had 'blood on her hands'.

In April, fencing leading up to Katie's newly refurbished home, which had been transformed on Channel 4 series Mucky Mansion, had been graffitied.

Katie called the police to report the vandalism and was assisting their bid to find the culprit.

A source told MailOnline: 'Katie has no idea who would go out of their way to do this, especially while she's at home with her children.

'It's terrifying because as they were sleeping, someone was outside the property, and smearing the fencing with unkind and intimidating words.

'Katie will find it difficult to rest now until the person responsible is found. She has done everything possible to turn the Mucky Mansion into a place that she and the children can feel is home and this is the last thing she wanted to happen.'

The star has faced a slew of tragedies over the past six years, including the deaths of now five dogs, a horse and even her chameleon, Marvin.

Katie announced Blade's death on Instagram, writing: 'Words can't express the loss of my best friend my protector my absolutely everything who had sadly passed away today. I have no words to say how I'm feeling but numb and shocked rip Blade.'

The former glamour model told fans her dog, Blade, was 'attacked on purpose' by the same group who smeared expletive-ridden graffiti over the fences of her 3million home

Speaking to her sister on their podcast, she explained: 'They killed my dog and dragged him to the road. Just like they set a car alight at the top of my driveway and vandalised my gates'

Blade's death came just seven months after another of Katie's dogs, Sharon, was killed on the same road.

Sharon was killed when she allegedly escaped and ran on to the road where she was hit by a car. She was picked up off the A24 by the driver and taken to Arun Vets in Pulborough, West Sussex, where her death was confirmed.

In 2020, Katie's pet dog Rolo suffocated in her home, while her Alsatian Sparkle was mowed down in February of the same year, in shocking echoes of the death of her dog Queenie, who was killed in 2018.

In July 2020, Katie was criticised by animal rights activists after Rolo's suffocation. The French bulldog died after getting stuck in an electric armchair while the reality star was packing some bags in another room, reported The Mirror.

Rolo was given to her daughter Princess as a birthday present.

Katie later revealed her shock after she was illegally advised to give her late puppy Rolo cannabis oil before he 'suffocated to death in an armchair'.

Katie told The Mirror that she was unaware that it is illegal to give dogs the substance without a veterinary prescription, in accordance with the The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013.

One of Katie's horses was tragically hit by a car and killed in 2017 after escaping from a field.

And in 2018 her dog Queenie was struck and killed by a delivery driver.

At the time, she wrote: 'I'm absolutely devastated, heartbroken, my faithful loving family dog's life Queenie has been shortened as she was killed by a heartless delivery driver who ran into our dog seeing her struggle and drove off without telling us and left her to die very disappointed a human being can be this heartless! [sic]'

Loss: Katie's pet chameleon Marvin (pictured her with her son Harvey) died in 2018

Difficult: One of Katie's horses was tragically killed on a road in 2017 after escaping from a field

It was claimed the driver worked for Domino's pizza, but a spokesman said at the time: 'Our investigation revealed our driver inadvertently called Ms Price's property via the security gate intercom, whilst trying to make a delivery to a neighbour.

'Upon realising the error, GPS tracking reveals she went straight to the correct address. Our driver remained on public roads and had no access to Ms Price's land.

'Our driver holds a clean, valid EU driving license and maintains she did not hit an animal. She has voluntarily contacted the police but has been told no criminal charges are pending. We want to understand what happened and have asked Ms Price to share the CCTV to help our investigation.'

'Unfortunately, despite repeatedly requesting, we're still unable to get a crime reference number or sight of the CCTV Katie mentioned, to help our investigation.'
China ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with Slovenia: Chinese FM

Xinhua) 11:00, December 01, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with Slovenia to enrich cooperation and push for greater development of bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Slovenia, bilateral relations have maintained steady and sound development, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, when meeting with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.

Wang said that the two sides have always adhered to mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation, which has become a distinctive feature of their relations.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU) and the two sides have maintained close high-level exchanges, with bilateral cooperation in various fields having achieved fruitful results, he said.

China has always believed that China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and should respect, learn from and appreciate each other to jointly advance the progress of human civilization, Wang said.

China regards the EU as an independent force in multi-polarization and supports the development and growth of Europe and the strategic independence of the EU, he said.

Wang said China hopes that Slovenia will play a constructive role within the EU, help the EU form a more independent, objective and friendly opinion of China, and actively support and participate in the open cooperation between China and the EU.

Noting that China is an important trading partner of Slovenia, Fajon said that the Slovenian side values its relations with China, and looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges, deepening cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and sports, among others, to further consolidate and develop bilateral relations.

The one-China policy is a solemn commitment made by Slovenia when the two countries established diplomatic ties, and Slovenia will continue to firmly adhere to the policy, she said.

Slovenia supports the development of EU-China relations and looks forward to the success of the EU-China leaders' meeting, she said, adding that her country will serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the next two years and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to jointly safeguard international peace and security.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

As shown by the high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, achieving a comprehensive ceasefire, initiating peace talks, and ultimately implementing the "two-state solution" are the common aspirations of the vast majority of countries, and only in this way can the Middle East usher in real peace, Wang said.

Peace is mutual and common, and the security of one country cannot be based on the insecurity of others. China is ready to work with Slovenia and other members of the international community to continue working for peace in the Middle East, he said.

Fajon said that Slovenia's position is highly consistent with China's, and the immediate priority is to cease fire and stop the humanitarian disaster, on the basis of which, all parties should actively explore concrete ways to implement the two-state solution, in a bid to truly resolve the Palestinian issue.

Only when Palestine achieves independence and establishes its state can Israel have real peace, Fajon noted, expressing appreciation for China's initiative and chairing of Wednesday's high-level meeting.

Slovenia expects the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities and promote lasting peace in the Middle East, Fajon added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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
Paris Hilton cooed over a congratulatory gift she received on Friday after welcoming her daughter London into the world.

She shocked the public on Thanksgiving by announcing her younger child's arrival on Instagram, gushing: 'Thankful for my baby girl.'

The socialite and her husband, venture capitalist Carter Reum, had London and their 11-month old son Phoenix via surrogate.

After news broke of her daughter's birth, Paris revealed she got a huge celebratory pink bouquet from Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner.

Alongside the flowers, Kim and Kris sent London a large stuffed unicorn that, in an on-theme touch, featured a pink mane and collar.

Paris Hilton cooed over a congratulatory gift she received on Friday from Kim Kardashian after welcoming her daughter London into the world

After news broke of her daughter's birth, Paris revealed she got a huge celebratory pink bouquet from Kim and her mother Kris Jenner

Alongside the flowers, Kim and Kris sent London a large stuffed unicorn that, in an on-theme touch, featured a pink mane and collar

The two reality stars have a long history together - long before she was famous herself, Kim worked as Paris' wardrobe organizer.

Kim briefly stepped back into the role ahead of Paris' wedding, per a source who told E! News: 'Kim had a sweet pep talk with Paris and helped her with her dress.' '

Paris sent her fans into a frenzy last week when she marked Thanksgiving by posting a picture of a pink baby dress with: 'London,' written on it.

'Thankful for my baby girl,' she wrote, leaving the public scratching their heads at whether the little tyke was on her way or had already been born.

The matter was cleared up on Black Friday, when a representative for Paris confirmed to the Associated Press that a surrogate had given birth to London.

Social media was set ablaze by the news, with fans pointing out that the old Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody included a character called London Tipton (Brenda Song) who was an obvious parody of Paris.

Paris herself noticed the link between her and the sitcom character years ago, tweeting that she had realized 'London Tipton is basically me.'

As Thanksgiving Weekend wore on, Paris shared a heartwarming video of her and Carter telling Phoenix he had just become a brother.

The two reality stars have a long history together - long before she was famous herself, Kim worked as Paris' wardrobe organizer

Paris cradled her baby son Phoenix over the weekend as she sat by the pink Christmas tree she lit for her newborn daughter London

The socialite and her husband, venture capitalist Carter Reum , had London and their 11-month old son Phoenix via surrogate

Paris sent her fans into a frenzy on Thursday when she marked Thanksgiving by posting a picture of a pink baby dress with: 'London,' written on it

Phoenix, being not even a year old, found his attention drifting between his parents and the holographic paper he was playing with as he sat on the couch.

In January, Paris and Carter ecstatically announced that they had welcomed baby Phoenix into the world with the help of a surrogate.

She and Carter hid the baby's arrival from even their immediate families until right before she broke the news on social media.

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, she explained why she took such drastic measures as hiding the news from her family.

'My entire life has been so public,' she said. 'Ive never had anything for myself. We decided that we wanted to have this whole experience to ourselves.'

While the surrogate was in labor with Phoenix, Paris was so determined to protect her secret that she even went to the bother of disguising herself with a brunette wig and checking into the hospital under an alias.

Her decision was especially notable considering how close she is to her family, particularly her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild and their mother Kathy Hilton.

However tension flared up between mother and daughter in November 2022 when Kathy let slip to E! News that IVF had been a 'struggle' for Paris.

Social media noticed the old Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody included a character called London Tipton (Brenda Song) who was a parody of Paris

Paris herself noticed the link between her and the sitcom character years ago, tweeting that she had realized 'London Tipton is basically me'

'I don't know where she got that,' Paris shot back in a TMZ interview the following day. 'Its never been a struggle at all.'

When Paris announced the arrival of her firstborn child, all she said was 'You are already loved beyond words,' on a photo of the babys hand holding Pariss finger.

On an episode of her podcast This Is Paris, she spilled that Phoenix was 'like over a week old' before she told Kathy and Nicky about his birth.

During a March episode of the same podcast, she explained that she had already decided on the name London for a daughter she hoped to have.

'I'm really excited for Phoenix to have a baby sister one day - named London. It's my favorite city and I've always wanted to name my daughter London,' she said.

'I had actually picked that name for a long time now, probably over 10 years. I always wanted London. I love that name for my daughter.'
Kourtney Kardashian responded to Kris Jenner's concerns about her pregnancy reveal during Thursday's episode of The Kardashians.

The 44-year-old reality television figure announced that she was pregnant with her fourth child - who arrived this past November - during a Blink-182 concert that took place in Los Angeles in June.

The entrepreneur's 68-year-old mother went on to voice her disappointment about not being told about her daughter's new development in life and having to learn about the situation 'on the news.'

Jenner recalled: 'I thought I was being Punk'd and then I realized it was the ABC News. I knew she was pregnant, but I just didn't know she was going to announce it.'

Khloe, 39, also told her older sister that their mother was 'really hurt' by her eldest child's failure to privately inform her about the pregnancy.

Kourtney Kardashian responded to Kris Jenner's concerns about her pregnancy reveal during Thursday's episode of The Kardashians

The entrepreneur's 68-year-old mother voiced her disappointment about not being told about her daughter's new development in life and having to learn about the situation 'on the news'

Although Kardashian maintained that she simply 'forgot' to tell the matriarch of her family, her mother replied by stating that she had been suffering from 'pregnancy brain.'

The Poosh founder responded by stating that she did not think that her family 'would care to come' to the concert during a confessional appearance.

However, she went on to reveal that she 'did tell Khloe about' the pregnancy reveal and added that her younger sister 'asked me to change it to San Diego.'

She continued: 'This is why I don't invite you guys to stuff, because it's not about you. Everything becomes about everyone and the way they want to do it and all their complaints and I'm like, "Ah, I see why I didn't invite you to the other thing."'

Kardashian concluded by stating that she was mainly concerned about surprising her husband, Travis Barker, when she announced her pregnancy at the concert.

'It was truly just our way to tell the world and it was just about me and Travis, not about anything else,' she said.

The entrepreneur gave birth to her son, Rocky Thirteen, last month in Los Angeles.

Kardashian also shares sons Mason, 13, and Reign, 8, as well as a daughter named Penelope, 11, with her former partner Scott Disick.

Kardashian concluded by stating that she was mainly concerned about surprising her husband, Travis Barker, when she announced her pregnancy at the concert

The media figure's daughter Khloe, 39, also told her older sister that their mother was 'really hurt' by her eldest child's failure to privately inform her about the pregnancy

The entrepreneur gave birth to her son, Rocky Thirteen, last month in Los Angeles

The couple maintained a long-term relationship for several years, which ultimately ended in 2015.

Barker, 47, also shares a son and daughter named Landon, 20, and Alabama, 17, with his former wife Shanna Moakler, and he also serves as a stepfather to her eldest daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 24.

Kardashian and the drummer began seeing each other in late 2020, and they publicly revealed that they had been dating the following September.

The happy couple went on to tie the knot in Santa Barbara in May of last year, and they held a star-studded wedding in Italy that same month.
She recently revealed her fashion brand was finally turning a profit - 15 years after it's launch.

And Victoria Beckham looked nothing short of sensational as she modelled a look from the line on Instagram on Friday.

The former Spice Girl, 49, put on a very leggy display while flaunting her jaw-dropping figure in a tiny black blazer mini dress.

Victoria completed the ultra chic enemble with heels and slipped her long toned legs into a pair of lace monogram VB tights costing a cool 95.

Proving she is the best advert for her brand, Victoria modelled the hosiery in the hallway of her 31million London townhouse.

Victoria Beckham, 49, puts on a VERY leggy display in a tiny black mini dress and 95 tights from her own fashion range on Friday

Posh previously announced the expansion of her fashion brand as she debuted the tights last month.

Telling her followers: 'So I'm really excited about my new VB monogrammed tights. I've been wearing the samples for quite some time but now we have produced them,' Victoria said.

'They are available at Victoria Beckham.com and also at our store in Dover Street. These are really great tights.

'I feel like it's my holiday uniform, whether I'm wearing my tights with a small dress or a slashed jacket like this, a midi length dress - I'll just have the monogrammed tights poking out the bottom.

'It might be trousers and you just see the little foot part.

'But these tights are amazing. The other great thing about these tights is that they're not constricting all all but they suck you in and give you a good leg shape.

'They are available at Victoria Beckham.com and also at our store in Dover Street. These are really great tights.

'I feel like it's my holiday uniform, whether I'm wearing my tights with a small dress or a slashed jacket like this, a midi length dress - I'll just have the monogrammed tights poking out the bottom.

Posh previously announced the expansion of her fashion brand as she debuted the tights last month (pictured)

'It might be trousers and you just see the little foot part.

'But these tights are amazing. The other great thing about these tights is that they're not constricting all all but they suck you in and give you a good leg shape.'

Victoria revealed last month she has finally made a profit on her fashion and beauty brand, which she founded in 2008.

The business, which has borrowed 30million from other parts of the Beckham empire over the years, is at last showing a profit.

Victoria told Vogue France: 'This is just the beginning. I have lots of ambitions, and I work hard to achieve my goals. I never wait for things to just fall into my lap.

'It's such an exciting time. This year, we made a profit! This takes time, especially for an independent brand. My perfume isn't a license - I own it.

'Now that I have laid down the groundwork for the house, the real work can begin.'

The fashion label, which has a flagship store in Mayfair, London and sells items such as coats for up to 2,900 each

In an interview with industry bible Women's Wear Daily (WWD) in March to celebrate the news, her brand's investor, David Belhassen, shone a rare spotlight on the inner workings of Posh's empire.

He said revenues were up by a huge 42 per cent to 58 million  and predicted that when the business files accounts for the 2022 financial year this coming December, the former Spice Girl will make her many critics eat their words.

Victoria's certainly taken her time to get here.

In January, accounts for Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd show it made losses of 5,887,036 in 2021, down from 8,581,944 in 2020.

This means overall losses for the firm now stand at 66.3m since its launch in 2008 and directors of the firm - including Victoria and her husband David - were not paid a dividend.

The luxury fashion business has expanded to Europe and the Middle East, with the annual accounts saying the brand was also expanding into new products, with the launch of leather goods and the VB Body range.
Jeannie Mai has hinted her estranged husband Jeezy was unfaithful during their marriage in new court documents responding to his divorce petition.

In legal documents obtained by TMZ, an attorney for the TV host, 44, suggests Jeezy, 46, had cheated on her by bringing up a section of their pre-nuptial agreement which states the financial consequences of infidelity.

Jeannie's attorney has asked the court to enforce the section which says that the adulterous party are to pay a 'significant financial penalty'.

The documents define infidelity as sexual relations, an emotional relationship, or 'emotionally or sexually suggestive' electronic communication sent to a third party.

'Wife further shows that the Court should enforce Paragraph 8 of the Prenuptial Agreement regarding infidelity which provides, in pertinent part, that in the event that either party engages in sexual relations, an emotional relationship, or is emotionally or sexually suggestive in communication with a third party via all forms of electronic communications, including but not limited to texting, sexting, Facetiming, social media and/or Direct Messages, shall result in a significant financial penalty upon the adulterous party...' the documents state.

Jeannie Mai has hinted her estranged husband Jeezy was unfaithful during their marriage in new court documents responding to his divorce petition

The court documents also include language in which Jeannie refuses to explicitly state what other 'conduct' had led to the split.

'Wife reserves the right to amend this counterclaim to add other grounds for divorce, but which Wife does not wish to specify herein at this time in the hope this matter can be resolved without having to disclose such conduct publicly,' the documents state.

The documents do not state who Jeezy allegedly cheated on his wife with.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Jeezy for comment on the matter.

The topic of cheating was raised in Jeezy's new double album I Might Forgive... But I Don't Forget, which was released November 3 - nearly two months after he filed for divorce.

In a song entitled Don't Cheat, Jeezy raps: 'I be out here getting paper while you sleep. Yeah, once again, baby, cause real n***as dont cheat.'

'Real shit, been cheated on and I been lied to,' he also states.

Shortly after Jeezy filed for divorce in August, Jeannie was accused of having an affair with Mario Lopez.

Jeannie's attorney has asked the court to enforce the section which states that the adulterous party are to pay a 'significant financial penalty'

However, sources told TMZ that there is no truth to that rumor and not only that, she hadn't cheated on her husband of two years.

The Lopez rumor seems to have stemmed from her gig as co-host alongside the Saved By the Bell alum on Access Hollywood.

However, the chemistry fans picked up between them is just their playful banter and friendship - not anything salacious.

Jeezy, who filed for divorce in mid-September, finally broke his silence about the split in October.

'The decision to end this chapter in my life was not made impulsively and comes with a heavy heart,' he declared, according to Just Jared.

'Despite this, my love and respect for Jeannie remains and the time we spent together holds a cherished place in my heart,' he continued.

Mai and Jeezy pictured in 2022 in Atlanta

'Our beautiful daughter is the best gift from our relationship and I am committed to assuring she feels the love and stability she deserves,' continued the rapper, whose legal name is Jay Wayne Jenkins.

The hitmaker concluded with a request for privacy for his family.

Jeezy and Jeannie Mai share a daughter named Monaco, whom they welcomed in January 2022.

In his initial divorce filing, the rapper requested joint custody of their child.

He also stated that the exes have a prenuptial agreement in place that should guide the divorce outcomes.

The songwriter also described their marriage as 'irretrievably broken,' and he added that 'there is no hope for reconciliation.'

In September, Page Six reported that Mai was 'devastated' her husband filed for divorce and was still hopeful they could 'work' through their issues; pictured last month

In September, Page Six reported that Mai was 'devastated' her husband filed for divorce and was still hopeful they could 'work' through their issues.

'The truth is Jeannie wants her marriage to work, and wants her family to be one solid unit,' a source told the outlet.

'She deeply loves Jeezy, and she wants to work things out. She did not get married to get divorced. This was not a part of the plan. This is not how she ever imagined things would go down.'

The insider added: 'Even though Jeezy has filed, Jeannie is holding out hope that he would be willing to sit down and works things [out]. She is hoping for a resolution and wants to remain as a united family unit.'
Netflix is preparing to release the first part of its most expensive film of the year after splashing out $166m on a project that's been 20 years in the making.

The streaming giant will release Zack Snyder's hotly-anticipated Rebel Moon  Part One: A Child of Fire just in time for Christmas on December 22.

While the second part, Rebel Moon: Part Two  The Scargiver, is predicted to drop in April 2024.

Vanity Fair has estimated the project has a budget of $166 million - $83million each - making it Netflix's most expensive of the year.

Netflix to release MOST expensive film of the year as they splash out on $166 million two-part movie that's been 20 years in the making

Just in time for Christmas the platform is releasing the hotly-anticipated Zack Snyder 's Rebel Moon

Zach has indicated in past interviews that he's been working on this story for the past 20 years, and at one point it was a pitch for a new Star Wars movie.

The first part sets up the 'star-trotting epic' which is centred around Sofia Boutella's character Kora - 'a lone-wolf soldier who's found community and connection on the quiet farming moon of Veldt.'

The IMDB synopsis reads: 'When a peaceful settlement on the edge of a distant moon finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, a mysterious stranger living among its villagers becomes their best hope for survival.'

Instead of relying on CGI and visual effects to help bring his sci-fi world to life, Zach chose to use much of the budget to build the sets in Santa Clarita canyon just outside Los Angeles.

Crews got to work there creating a Scandinavian-style village complete with homes, shops and barns, a stone bridge and even an entire river.

Ensuring it looked as realistic as possible, the director also insisted they grew real crops for the farmers to harvest in the film.

While there is no confirmed release date for part two, Zach told Vanity Fair that fans won't have too long to wait.

'It won't be long after. Netflix can do things that a traditional studio can't do as far as how close together the movies are released,' he explained.

The first part sets up the 'star-trotting epic' which is centred around Sofia Boutella's character Kora - 'a lone-wolf soldier who's found community and connection on the quiet farming moon of Veldt'

Split into two parts, the first instalment is set to arrive on viewers screens on December 22, while the second part The Scargiver is predicted to drop in April 2024

Instead of relying on CGI and visual effects to help bring his sci-fi world to life, Zach chose to use much of the budget to build the sets in Santa Clarita canyon just outside Los Angeles

Zack Snyder, (pictured), has been working on Rebel Moon for roughly 20 years, in which time he has directed a vast array of hit movies

He previously told Netflix: 'I've been working on this idea for this film Rebel Moon for about 20 years.'

In that time, he has directed a host of DC movies including The Flash, Wonder Woman, and Man Of Steel.

His cast for this latest venture includes Anthony Hopkins voicing a robot called Jimmy, and Deadpool's Ed Skrein as sadistic admiral Atticus Noble.

Rebel Moon is the latest collaboration between Snyder and Netflix following his 2021 feature Army Of The Dead.

That bodes well for the new venture, with the film viewed by 72 million households in its first four weeks, according to the streaming platform.

He also wrote Army Of Thieves, Netflix's prequal to the aforementioned original, and is working on a sequel and anime spinoff series.
A new version of Naya Rivera's song Prayer For The Broken saw the light of day this week more than three years after her tragic drowning.

Naya recorded the ballad for her prospective debut album in 2012, back when she was still starring on the smash hit series Glee.

Although the album ultimately never materialized, Naya put her original recording of Prayer For The Broken up on Soundcloud in 2019.

Now a new edit of the song has been made public as part of a Christmas event for the Los Angeles nonprofit Alexandria House, according to Variety.

The charity version of the number features Naya with newly recorded backing vocals from her old Glee co-stars Ashley Fink, Vanessa Lengies, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Amber Riley and Jenna Ushkowitz.

A new version of Naya Rivera 's song Prayer For The Broken saw the light of day this week - more than three years after her tragic drowning; the new cover art is pictured

Naya recorded the ballad for her prospective debut album in 2012, back when she was still starring on the smash hit series Glee; she is pictured that year

Revenue from the song goes to Alexandria House, a transitional home that per its website is 'for women and children experiencing homelessness and trauma.'

The new version of Prayer For The Broken was released as part of Alexandria House's Snixxmas Charity Fundraiser, which is conducted annually in memory of Naya.

'This is a prayer for the broken, for those who are afraid,' she sang on the track. 'This is a cry for this brave world, so beautiful and strange. It's all so temporary, so temporary, but we are not alone, so hold me like you'll never let me go.'

Naya took her son Josey, then four, boating on California's Lake Piru on July 8, 2020 and vanished. He was found safe and asleep on the boat, but she was gone.

Police declared her presumed dead one day after her disappearance, and a search ensued until her body was recovered on July 13.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office found no sign of drugs or alcohol being involved in her death, which was declared an accidental drowning.

'We know from speaking with her son, that he and Naya swam in the lake together at some point during their journey,' said Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub at a news conference, as quoted by People magazine.

'It was during that time that her son described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him onto the deck from behind. He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water.'

The charity version of the number features Naya with newly recorded backing vocals from her old Glee co-stars including Amber Riley, who is pictured with her on the show

Naya took her son Josey, then four, boating on California's Lake Piru on July 8, 2020 and tragically drowned; they are pictured the previous year

Naya shared Josey with her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey, an actor who has appeared on such television series as Ray Donovan and Justified.

Ryan and Naya had a tumultuous marriage from 2014 to 2018, during which time she was at one point faced with a domestic battery charge that he later had dismissed.

After their divorce, Ryan and Naya established joint custody of their son and embarked on an amicable co-parenting relationship.

Naya's sister Nickayla moved in with Ryan after the death in order to help him with his childcare responsibilities with Josey.

Although rumors quickly began to spread that Nickayla and Ryan were romantically involved, Ryan staunchly denied as much.

He revealed on social media that Nickayla moved in with him at Josey's request, and that the little boy in fact wanted his aunt 'to live with us forever.'

Ryan noted that Nickalya was 'now the closest thing that [Josey] has to a mom' and that 'youre gonna need all the help you can get as a single parent.'
Emily Ratajkowski flashed her abs in a cropped tee as she stepped out in NYC on Friday.

The 32-year-old supermodel showed off a slight hint of her toned tummy while wearing a cropped navy blue graphic-printed t-shirt.

She paired this with a dark gray trench coat as she made her way through the Big Apple.

The fashion industry figure, who was recently spotted with Irina Shayk, wore a pair of slightly wide-legged beige jeans, and she also donned a pair of dual-tone Puma sneakers.

The social media personality accessorized with a pair of hoop earrings and dark brown SALT. Optics sunglasses.

Emily Ratajkowski flashed her abs in a cropped tee as she stepped out in NYC on Friday

Her voluminous brunette hair cascaded onto her shoulders and back as she stepped out.

Ratajkowski opened up about single life during an interview with Vogue Australia that was shared just a week ago.

During the sit-down with the magazine, the model stated that she found it 'chic to be divorced by the age of 30.'

The model is currently separated from her estranged husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard, whom she married in 2018 after just a few weeks of dating.

The runway regular and her spouse share a son named Sylvester, two, whom she welcomed in March of 2021.

Ratajkowski and her husband separated last July after he was faced with claims of infidelity and sexual misconduct, and she filed for divorce in September.

The model told the media outlet that she was planning on writing further about her split from her husband, as she wanted to provide a fresh perspective about the end of modern relationships.

'I've read a lot of literature about divorce, but it tends to be about families ending after children have grown up,' she stated.

The 32-year-old supermodel appeared to be preparing for the upcoming winter season as she wore a fuzzy dark gray trench coat as she made her way through the Big Apple

The fashion industry figure, who was recently spotted with Irina Shayk, also showed off a slight hint of her toned tummy while wearing a cropped navy blue graphic-printed t-shirt.

Her voluminous brunette hair cascaded onto her shoulders and back as she stepped out

Ratajkowski opened up about single life during an interview with Vogue Australia that was shared just a week ago; she is seen with her estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard in 2020

Ratajkowski went on to state that she was glad to have been able to show off a more vulnerable side of her personality through her public split.

'Sharing parts of my experience with my divorce has been somewhat cathartic and also kind of nice, because I don't want everybody to think that I'm some perfect person,' she said.

The entrepreneur then discussed how young women should be praised for ending unfair and one-sided marriages.

'Marriage isn't always as fair of a deal as it used to be, or at least how it was supposed to be. I'm not sure if it was ever a fair deal, so it shouldn't be shameful for them to walk away from that s****y deal,' she said.
Jamie Foxx's 'fearful' sexual assault accuser has pleaded for her identity to remain hidden in a lawsuit against him.

In court documents obtained by Radar Online, the accuser has sought permission to remain as 'Jane Doe' in her lawsuit against the actor over an alleged 2015 incident.

She says: 'I was sexually assaulted as indicated in the Complaint and as a result, I suffered psychological and emotional injuries.'

'I do not desire to publicly disclose my identity as a victim of sexual assault because this matter is highly sensitive, and I have already experienced significant shock, shame, and embarrassment for my disclosure due to the prominence and celebrity status of the Defendants.'

'This case has already been on every major news outlet and has caused me to fear for my safety given the fame of Defendant,' she added.

'It is very difficult for me to come forward and talk about the events that occurred. The sexual assault I suffered has caused my depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, distress, and I am fearful that a public disclose will cause further emotional trauma,' she said.

Jamie Foxx's 'fearful' sexual assault accuser has pleaded for her identity to remain hidden in a lawsuit against him (seen in 2023)

Celebrity hotspot: The plaintiff claimed he 'started rubbing her breasts' after he 'pulled her by the arm to the back area of the rooftop' at Catch NYC & Roof (the restaurant seen above)

'I do not want to bear the stigma that is associated with being a sexual assault victim,' she continued.

The woman added she wouldn't mind providing her name with Foxx and his attorneys, but wanted her identity to remain private from the world.

Foxx has denied the allegations made against him in the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, obtained by DailyMail.com last week, the 55-year-old Oscar winner was accused of placing 'both hands' on the woman's waist, before proceeding to move them 'under her top.'

The plaintiff, identified only as 'Jane Doe,' claimed he 'started rubbing her breasts' after he 'pulled her by the arm to the back area of the rooftop' at Catch NYC & Roof.

She further claimed the 'intoxicated' star told her 'she looked like Gabrielle Union' and touched her in her intimate areas.

A spokesperson for Foxx denied the allegations in a statement to DailyMail.com, saying: 'The alleged incident never happened. In 2020, this individual filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Brooklyn.

'That case was dismissed shortly thereafter. The claims are no more viable today than they were then.

'We are confident they will be dismissed again. And once they are, Mr. Foxx intends to pursue a claim for malicious prosecution against this person and her attorneys for re-filing this frivolous action.'

Meanwhile the Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff - who are representing the plaintiff - said in a statement to DailyMail.com that the allegations of the lawsuit being previously dismissed are 'baseless and untrue.'

The statement went on to say that due to the passing of the Adult Survivors Act (ASA) 'thousands of sexual abuse survivors have bravely come forward to hold their perpetrators accountable.'

'The scars from sexual abuse have no time limits. The time for change is now. There should be no statute of limitations for any form of sexual assault or abuse. Those responsible must face consequences, especially those using their celebrity status to victimize others.

In her lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges the incident occurred, around 1 a.m., a few hours after she and a friend were seated at a table away from him at the celebrity hotspot.

According to the lawsuit, 'the plaintiff's friend asked Foxx if he'd take a photo with her and the plaintiff' and he allegedly replied: 'Sure, baby anything for you.'

She claims he 'seemed intoxicated at the time' and told her that 'she looked like Gabrielle Union.'

Additionally, the plaintiff claimed he told her: 'Wow, you have that supermodel body' and that she smelled 'so good.'

After he allegedly got physical with her, the plaintiff said she 'attempted to step away and noticed a security guard and others who saw what had happened' but says they 'chose to walk away.'

The plaintiff says things escalated quickly and alleges that he 'slid his hand into her pants and put his fingers on and in her vagina and anus.'

She alleges the incident occurred, around 1 a.m., a few hours after she and a friend were seated at a table away from him at the celebrity hotspot (seen in 2015)

According to the lawsuit, 'the plaintiff's friend asked Foxx if he'd take a photo with her and the plaintiff' and he allegedly replied: 'Sure, baby anything for you'

Once her friend saw what allegedly occurred, the plaintiff said her pal rushed over and 'Jamie stopped touching her.'

The plaintiff claims to have sought medical treatment and suffered pain as well as emotional distress 'as a result of the 'sexual assault, abuse, assault and battery.'

She is suing Foxx and Catch as well as its employees for compensation and punitive damages.

The suit is filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which opened a one-year revival window to file sexual abuse claims that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations.

The deadline to file such claims ends on Thursday.

At the time of the alleged incident, he was in a relationship with actress Katie Holmes, who he split from after six years of dating in May 2019.

He was previously accused of sexual misconduct after a woman claimed he 'slapped' her 'with his penis' in 2002.

At the time of the alleged incident, he was dating actress Katie Holmes, who he split from after six years together in May 2019 (seen together in 2019)

In 2018, the Las Vegas police confirmed to People that a 'female victim came to the LVMPD and alleged that a sexual assault occurred in the Las Vegas area in 2002' and Foxx was named 'as the suspect.'

At the time, Foxx's lawyer issued a statement to the outlet denying the claims.

'Jamie Foxx emphatically denies that this incident ever occurred, and he will be filing a report with the Las Vegas Police Department against the woman for filing a false police report against him,' Foxx's attorney said. 'The first time Mr. Foxx became aware of this woman's absurd claims about an incident that supposedly occurred sixteen years ago was when TMZ contacted his representatives today about this story.'

The lawyer added, 'The alleged incident was not reported to law enforcement in 2002, or at any other time in the last sixteen years until last Friday because the incident never happened. We consider it to be extraordinarily reckless for any publication to publish this bogus story.'

The allegations come seven months after he suffered an unspecified medical emergency in April, which left him hospitalized for months.

In August, he revealed to his fans that he 'is 'finally starting to feel like' himself again after his health scare.

Rough year: The allegations come seven months after he suffered an unspecified medical emergency in April, which left him hospitalized for months

While speaking to his 16.8 million Instagram followers, at the time, he opened up about going through 'an unexpected dark journey.'

Despite the challenges in his recovery, the performer said he 'can see the light' and is 'thankful to everyone that reached out and sent well wishes and prayers.'

'I have a lot of people to thank u just dont know how much it meant I will be thanking all of you personally and if you didnt know GOD IS GOOD all day every day,' he concluded.

The update came less than a month after Foxx giving his first detailed update on how he has been doing since getting discharged from the hospital.

Foxx informed fans that he is not 'blind' or 'paralyzed' in an emotional three-minute recording about his health.

'I went through something I never thought I would go through. I know a lot of people [were] waiting or wanting to hear an update, but to be honest with you, I didn't want you to see me like that man,' he admitted, with tears in his eyes.

The actor, who returned to work last month to film a commercial in Las Vegas, continued: 'I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a joke, doing a movie, [or] a television show.'

'I didn't want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through.'

The father-of-one added that he went through 'hell and back' to survive and has experienced some 'potholes' on his 'road to recovery.'

Over the summer, Foxx informed fans that he is not 'blind' or 'paralyzed' in an emotional three-minute recording about his health

The Beat Shazam host also praised his sister, Deondra Dixon, and daughter, Corinne, 29, for 'saving' his life and keeping the details around his hospitalization private.

'To them, to God, to a lot of great medical people, I'm able to leave you this video,' Foxx added. 'I cannot tell you how great it feels to have your family kick in in such a way, and y'all know they kept it airtight, they didn't let nothing out, they protected me, and that's what I hope that everyone could have in moments like these.'

He proceeded to show how his 'eyes are working just fine' by moving them from side to side, before making it clear that he is 'not paralyzed.'

Speaking to fans directly, he said: 'I just want to say I love everybody and I love all the love that I got.'

The actor got choked up as he warned: 'If you see me out from now on and every once in a while I just burst into tears, its just because its been tough, man. I was sick, man. But now I got my legs under me, so youre gonna see me out.'

'Man, I know they talk about people crying on videos... but I'm not going to do a take two, it is what is is,' he mused. 'Like I said, I want you to remember me for the jokes that I crack and the movies that I make  some of them good, some of them ain't (I think I've got a good one out), and songs that I sing.'

'I'm here on earth because of some great people. I'm here on Earth because of God, man,' the performer concluded. 'I'm on way back.'

Foxx captioned the video: 'Thank u a billion to everybody been a long road but all the prayers great people and God got me through.'

In July, the star was reported to be in 'amazing shape' as he resumed his work commitments, an insider told TMZ.

Another source added to People: 'Jamie was putting in really long days and was spot on. It was like nothing happened. You would have never known [he had a health issue].'
Advertisement

Abbie Clancy, AJ Odudu and Ashley Roberts led the star-studded audience in attendance for Kylie Minogue's ITV special at London's historic Royal Albert Hall on Friday evening.

TV host Abbey, 37, looked sensational in a chic champagne coloured dress which boasted a plunging neckline and eye-catching high low hemline.

The former model channeled old Hollywood glamour with a stunning feathered cape which she left slip effortlessly down her shoulders.

Abbey slipped her feet into a pair of black sparkly heels as she strutted her stuff on the red carpet ahead of Australian Kylie, 55, taking to the stage.

Meanwhile Big Brother host AJ, 35, flaunted her eye-popping curves in a skin-tight colourful mini dress adorned with sequin which sparkled under the lights.

(L-R) Abbie Clancy, 37, AJ Odudu, 35, and Ashley Roberts, 42, led the star-studded audience in attendance for Kylie Minogue's ITV special at London's historic Royal Albert Hall on Friday evening.

TV host Abbey looked sensational in a chic champagne coloured mini dress which boasted a plunging neckline and eye-catching high low hemline

The frock featured key hole detailing which teased a glimpse of her ample cleavage as she a racy arrival at the London venue.

AJ added extra height to her already statuesque frame with strappy silver heels carrying the colour into her accessories as she opted for a pair of hoop earrings.

Meanwhile former Pussycat Doll Ashley, 42, sent temperatures soaring in a strapless burgundy gown complete with racy thigh-high split.

The beauty risked a wardrobe malfunction in the saucy ensemble and could be seen frantically adjusting her cleavage-enhancing bustier as she hit the red carpet.

Her look also featured matching knee-high boots from Lipsy and she swept her blonde tresses high while individual strands framed her dainty features.

Elsewhere BGT judge Amanda Holden, 52, who showcased her incredibly toned physique in a figure hugging black sequinned Lipsy bodysuit.

She layered the look with a cropped tuxedo jacket and added further sparkle to her outfit via a pair of jewel encrusted ankle boots.

Laura Whitmore, 38, proved herself to be a huge Kylie fan as she donned a T-shirt with the Padam Padam hitmaker's name.

The stunner channeled old Hollywood glamour with a stunning feathered cape which she left slip effortlessly down her shoulders

Abbey slipped her feet into a pair of black sparkly heels as she strutted her stuff on the red carpet ahead of Australian Kylie, 55, taking to the stage

Abbey accentuated her gorgeous featured with a light dusting of make-up

The chic ensemble showed off the former model's long toned legs perfectly

Meanwhile Big Brother host AJ flaunted her eye-popping curves in a skin-tight colourful mini dress adorned with sequin which sparkled under the lights

The frock featured key hole detailing which teased a glimpse of her ample cleavage as she a racy arrival at the London venue

AJ added extra height to her already statuesque frame with strappy silver heels carrying the colour into her accessories as she opted for a pair of hoop earrings

She posed confidently with her hand at her tiny waist

Meanwhile former Pussycat Doll Ashley sent temperatures soaring in a strapless burgundy gown complete with racy thigh-high split

The beauty risked a wardrobe malfunction in the saucy enmseble and could be seen frantically adjusting her cleavage-enhancing bustier as she hit the red carpet

Ashley flashed her gorgeous smile for the cameras

Her look also featured matching knee-high boots and she swept her blonde tresses high while individual strands framed her dainty features

Inside Abbey posed for some photos with her mum Karen, 62

Karen looked incredible in a leopard print maxi dress

The mother and daughter duo posed for a snap in front of the stage

Abbey shared a video of Karen singing a long when Kylie took to the stage

In the clip, Kylie looked a s glamorous as ever in a feathered dress

Also dressed to impress was BGT judge Amanda Holden, 52, who showcased her incredibly toned physique in a figure hugging black sequinned bodysuit

She layered the look with a cropped tuxedo jacket and added further sparkle to her outfit via a pair of jewel encrusted ankle boots

Amanda put on a very animated display with pal and fellow Italian Job host Alan Carr and even threw her leg around the comedian

The duo left onlookers in stitches with her escapades

Amanda topped her outfit off with a bronzed makeup look

The funnyman, 47, cut a suave figure in an emerald green dinner jacket

Carol Vorderman, 62, flaunted her curves as she slipped into a figure-hugging lime green sequinned dress for the occasion

She kept warm with a cream wool coat but ensured to leave it open as she showed off her toned physique

Carol accessorised with dangling diamond earring and wore her blonde tresses in loose curls

Laura Whitmore, 38, proved herself to be a huge Kylie fan as she donned a T-shirt with the Padam Padam hitmaker's name

The former Love Island host also channeled Kylie's You Spin Me Round video dazzled in a mini skirt adorned with silver and red sequins, showing off her toned legs

Laura added height to her frame with a pair of silver high heels, which also accentuated her long pins

She carried a large gold tote bag and a small crossbody bag as she departed the show

Newlyweds Ashley Jensen (R) and Kenny Doughty (L) looked more loved up than ever

The pair secretly tied the knot earlier this month at a swanky venue near Bath

S Club's Rachel Stevens was glamorous in green and stunned in a sparkly jumpsuit with feathered trim

Rachel gasped as she was greeted by the crowd

The singer is currently on tour with S Club after recently reuniting

Emma Willis, 47,and husband Matt, 40, put on a loved up display as they hit the red carpet

The couple beamed and couldn't keep their hands off each other

The Voice host cut a chic figure in a strapless black jumpsuit which was tailored to perfection and fitted like a glove

The Busted singer rocked a stylish suit which he wore with shirt unbuttoned teasing a glimpse of his toned and tattooed physique

Alex Scott was stylish in a tailored suit

The BBC Sports pundit made the appearance without girlfriend Jess Glynne

This Morning's Alison Hammond opted for all black and accessorised with diamond jewellery

She wore a glamorous palette of make-up for the VIP event with her dark tresses blow dried to perfection

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty put on a busty display as she went braless beneath a plunging black blazer dress

Ruth Wilson got the fashion memo and turned heads in a black velvet jumpsuit adorned with sequins

She toted her essentials for the evening in a quirky lip shaped clutch

Opting for minimal make-up she wore her brunette tresses in loose waves

Angela Scanlan, following her Strictly exit on Sunday, commanded attention in a maxi dress adorned with mirrored embellishments

Gone was the big hair from the BBC dancing competition and she opted to slick back her ginger locks to complement the chic look

Angela packed on the PDA with her entrepreneur husband Roy Horgan

Munroe Bergdorf looked stunning in a sequinned dress with feather detailing

The former Love Island host also channeled Kylie's You Spin Me Round video dazzled in a mini skirt adorned with silver and red sequins, showing off her toned legs.

Laura added height to her frame with a pair of silver high heels, which also accentuated her long pins.

ITV announced earlier this year that they would be airing An Audience with Kylie, an unforgettable live music event hosted by the global icon.

The pop superstar will look back on the highlights of her staggering career in music and showbiz.

The show follows in the footsteps of An Audience with Adele, which aired in November 2021 with a peak of 5.4 million viewers.

The singer will perform both her current hits, like chart topper Padam Padam and a dazzling array of favourites from her award-winning back catalogue.

Iconic telly host opted for a stylish blue suede suit which she teamed with a pussy bow blouse

Lorraine strutted her stuff in silver glittery heels which she matched to her bag

Clara Amfo caught the eye in a graphic frock that hugged her cuvres

She tied back her braids and sported a striking red lip

Rylan cut a stylish figure and sported a pricey Gucci belt around his waist

The TV host wrapped his arms around friend Ashley Roberts (L) and lifted her off the ground in a sweet embrace

Rylan left hand-in-hand with makeup artist Bernice Cole

Loose Women's Katie Piper was the epitome of chic in a skimpy black mini dress

Katie (R) caught up with pal AJ (L) before taking her seat

Dermot O'Leary wrapped up warm in a double-breasted winter coat

He added a navy flat cap for the journey home

Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander rocked a studded leather biker jacket

He layered it over a plunging black vest which teased a glimpse of his hairy chest

(L-R) Kelly Holmes, Rosie Jones and Munroe Bergdorf

Sir Lenny Henry attended with partner of 13-years Lisa Makin

The couple put on a very cosy display as they arrived at the event

Strictly Come Dancing star and Olympian Ellie Simmons

Comedian Tom Allen (L) joined Leigh Francis (C) and Calum Scott (L)

Actor Stephen Mangan colour coordinated with wife Louise Delamere

Pete Waterman who helped launched Kylie's pop career also attended the concert

Discussing the show, Kylie said: 'Im so excited to announce that I am teaming up with ITV for An Audience with at Londons iconic Royal Albert Hall!'

'Ill be performing some of my favourite tracks from throughout my career and no doubt answering some surprising questions from the audience. I cant wait to share this moment with you all.'

Fiona Clark, Creative Director, Lifted Entertainment, said: 'An Audience with is the ultimate night in and night out all in one, and we couldnt be more excited to welcome the icon that is Kylie to this legendary show.'

Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, said: 'Kylie is unquestionably a music superstar, which makes her the perfect next headline star to front An Audience with. We look forward to another unmissable evening.'

An Audience with Kylie will air on ITV1, ITVX and STV and STV Player later this year
Emotions are starting to run high in the camp as the second week of I'm A Celebrity draws to a close.

And This Morning presenter Josie Gibson was overcome with emotion as she broke down in tears in the toilet during Friday's episode.

Sensing the TV star was feeling down, Danielle Harold went to check on Josie as she asked: 'What's the matter?'

Struggling to control her tears, Josie sniffed: 'I just miss my little boy. I shouldn't have ever left him this long.'

Josie's son Reggie, five, has been staying with his dad Terry Bond - the pair started dating in 2017 but split up in 2018 when Reggie was five months old.

I'm A Celebrity's Josie Gibson, 38, broke down in tears as she struggled being apart from her son Reggie, 5, during Friday night's episode: 'I just miss my little boy'

Josie's son Reggie, five, has been staying with his dad Terry Bond - the pair started dating in 2017 but split up in 2018 when Reggie was five months old (pictured with Josie's friend Mia Williams and her son Romey)

The EastEnders actress rushed to comfort the mother as she reassured her: '100% you should, you're showing him that you're a strong mum, strong woman. So proud of you babe.'

She continued: 'I hate seeing you upset. You're the best mum.'

Speaking in the Bush Telegraph she admitted: 'Just had a little wobble. You just feel very guilty. I'll never leave him this long again, ever.'

But it won't be long until Josie will be reunited with her son as this Sunday marks the start of their final week in camp.

And Reggie has now touched down at Brisbane Airport for his first trip to Australia to ensure he's there to greet his mum at the bridge when she leaves I'm A Celebrity.

Sporting a Team Josie T-shirt while sitting on a baggage trolley, Reggie proudly declared: 'I think that my mummy's going to win'.

Reggie, who is used to sleeping with his mum every night, was joined by the This Morning presenter's best friend Mia Williams, also from Bristol, who has been looking after Reggie and her son, Romey Williams for the journey down under.

The trio touched down at Brisbane Airport at 9.45am and Ms Williams said: 'He's coped really well considering she's been gone for a couple of weeks now.

Struggling to control her tears, Josie sniffed: 'I just miss my little boy. I shouldn't have ever left him this long'

The EastEnders actress rushed to comfort the mother as she reassured her: '100% you should, you're showing him that you're a strong mum, strong woman. So proud of you babe'

Josie's son Reggie touched down at Brisbane Airport for his first trip to Australia to be there to greet his mum when she leaves I'm A Celebrity (pictured with Josie's best friend Mia Williams and her son, Romey)

'It's the longest they've been apart, it's obviously tough all around but he's been dealing with it well but it's tough for her you can see that.

'She is missing him but she's doing it for him - she wants him to see her on the TV.'

It comes as the second time Josie has broken down in tears during her time in the jungle.

During Thursday night's episode Josie screamed: 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here' as she quit the Barbaric Barbershop trial.

The star was surrounded by huge spiders by her face - after she was voted to receive the eight-legged critter by the public.

Josie put in a valiant effort to get the stars but soon began swearing in fright and had to quit the trial - after Nella Rose and Nigel Farage quit their respective challenges previously.

In the end she yelled: 'Ah, get me out of here!' and fell to the floor crying as she took her head out of the box.

A very panicked Josie said: 'Sorry, oh my god' as Ant and Dec asked if she was alright.

After the end of the trial she admitted: 'I'm petrified of spiders. I was hoping I might be able to get rid of that fear but because they're coming from you from behind, I don't know what it was.'

'I am ok. I've got to get over this! It's not going to harm me. You can't help it, if you're frightened or scared of something.'
Willard Purkel Jr., circled in yellow, and his son Colby Purkel, in the green square, are pictured outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia)

A father and son from Covington were arrested Thursday in Louisiana for being part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, to stop Congress certification of presidential electoral votes.

Willard Purkel Jr., 51, and Colby Purkel, 27, are charged with felony civil disorder and multiple misdemeanor charges, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. They were apprehended Thursday and expected to make their initial federal court appearance in New Orleans.

Court documents indicate the Purkels joined a crowd of rioters who forcibly entered the Capitol through its East Rotunda doors, pushing police who tried to close the entrance. They allegedly forced their way into the lobby outside the Rotunda and joined others to acess the Rotunda itself.

Investigators subpoenaed the Purkels cellphone data to track their movements through the Capitol, according to a statement of facts accompanying their warrant.

The Purkels were escorted along with other protestors outside of the Capitol building but remained on the Capitol grounds after being ordered to leave, the court documents said. While outside, Willard Purkel allegedly climbed atop an armored truck before he and his son walked to the west side of the building. They and other rioters remained on the grounds while police tried to clear the area, authorities claim.

Misdemeanor charges against the Purkels include 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 or grounds, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,200 people from nearly all 50 states have been charged with crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, according to federal authorities. More than 400 have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.

The post Louisiana father and son arrested for Jan. 6 breach of U.S. Capitol appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Kellie Pickler has put the Nashville home she shared with her late husband Kyle Jacobs on the market for nearly $3 million.

The home was tragically the place where Jacobs died by suicide on February 17. He was 49.

Kellie's home was purchased in 2010 for $1.4 million. It is now being sold for $2.89 million.

The Tudor residence comes with four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, a three car garage, wine cellar and media room, and two laundry rooms, according to a listing for the home.

The living room also has a two-story fireplace.

Kellie Pickler has put the Nashville home she shared with her late husband Kyle Jacobs on the market for nearly $3 million

Pickler pictured with Jacobs in 2017

TMZ reports sellers are not legally required in the state of Tennessee to disclose a death in the house to prospective buyers.

It has now been nearly 10 months since Jacobs tragically died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Nashville home.

The toxicology report found no drugs in Jacobs' system, though it added Jacobs did have a history of 'pseudoseizures, gastrointestinal bleeding, elevated liver enzymes, and chronic alcohol use.'

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department were called to Jacobs and Pickler's home at 1.21pm on February 17 when Pickler couldn't find her husband when she woke up.

The American Idol alum and her assistant called 911 when they were unable to open an upstairs bedroom.

'Officers and Nashville Fire Department personnel responded and located resident Kyle Jacobs, 49, deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in an upstairs bedroom/office,' Nashville police said in a statement.

'His death is being investigated as an apparent suicide,' the statement concluded, with spokesman Don Aaron adding all others at the home were safe.

Pickler with her husband in 2015

Within a few weeks of the incident, it was announced that she would be leaving her role as the midday on-air personality at SiriusXM's The Highway.

Just a day before Jacobs's death, he was celebrating a record he worked on  Lee Brice's album Hey World  going platinum.

Jacobs was a producer on the record, in addition to playing acoustic guitar and providing backing vocals.

In his final Instagram post, he wrote: 'Platinum?! SWEEEET!!! An amazing crew of incredibly talented peeps put this one togetherDeeply honored to be a creative part of itThank you Jesus!!!'

Pickler gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol in 2006 and finished in sixth place

In August, Kellie broke her silence following the death in a statement thanking supporters for all their love during 'the darkest time in my life.'

'One of the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of a crisis, if you dont know what to do, do nothing, just be still,' she said in a statement to People. 'I have chosen to heed his advice.'

'Thank you to my family, friends, and supporters, for the countless letters, calls, and messages that you have sent my way,' she said. 'It has truly touched my soul and its helping me get through the darkest time in my life. As many of you have told me, you are all in my prayers.'

A Celebration of Live service for Jacobs occurred in September at Franklin First UMC in Franklin, Tennessee, according to People.

Pickler gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol in 2006 and finished in sixth place.

That same year she signed to 19 Recordings and BNA Records as a recording artist, with her hits including Don't You Know You're Beautiful and Best Days of Your Life, co-written with Taylor Swift.

She started dating Jacobs in 2008, and after two and a half years of dating, Jacobs popped the question in June 2010.

They tied the knot January 1, 2011 in an intimate ceremony on a private island in the Caribbean.

Pickler said of her wedding, 'Private Island. Caribbean. Cigar in one hand, Rum in the other. Someone just called me 'Mrs. Jacobs.'.sounds nice.'
Strictly's Angela Scanlon attended an Audience with Kylie Minogue with husband Roy Horgan at London's Royal Albert Hall on Friday after her shock exit from the BBC competition.

The TV host, 39, packed on the PDA with the entrepreneur as they shared sweet kisses on the star-studded red carpet.

Angela looked incredible in a futuristic maxi dress which was adorned with mirrored embellishments and sparkled under the lights.

She slicked back her long ginger locks while completing the look with a pair of dazzling diamond earrings.

Meanwhile Roy, who shares five-year-old daughter Ruby with his wife, cut a dapper figure in a tailored navy suit.

Strictly's Angela Scanlon, 39, attended an Audience with Kylie Minogue with husband Roy Horgan at London's Royal Albert Hall on Friday after her shock exit from the BBC competition

The TV host packed on the PDA with the entrepreneur as they shared sweet kisses kiss on the star-studded red carpet

It comes after Angela broke down in tears as she addressed her shock Strictly exit on Monday's It Takes Two.

The One Show host and her professional partner Carlos Gu, 30, were voted off in Sunday's show after a tense dance off with Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin.

An emotional Angela had to be comforted by Carlos as she addressed her departure after watching a reel of her highlights.

The presenter told host Fleur East it 'stung' to leave the competition just one week after wowing the judges with her Argentine Tango in Blackpool.

'There's been a few standout moments. I feel really grateful for them. In life, in this glorious madness you can have a steady road, either middle of the road and have quite a smooth journey', Angela said.

'I've always felt like those ups and downs are better for you to feel things deeply, whether that's right down there or right up there.

'Charleston, week three and top of the leaderboard - this kind of took us totally by surprise and it was so joyful and glorious.

'The Argentine Tango in Blackpool, for me, which is possibly why this stings so much to come a week later.'

Angela looked incredible in a futuristic maxi dress which was adorned with mirrored embellishments and sparkled under the lights

She slicked back her long ginger locks while completing the look with a pair of dazzling diamond earrings

The pair showed their strong bond as they held each other's hand, with Carlos wiping away tears as they watched their best moments on the show.

During Sunday's dance off, Angela narrowly missed out on a place in the quarters after failing to win over the judges with her cha-cha-cha to Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive.

Angela faced Layton and his professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, who performed an American Smooth to Magic Moments by Perry Como, originally scoring 34 points.

After watching both routines, the judges delivered the verdicts, with only Shirley Ballas revealing she would pick Angela over Layton.

Shirley said in her critique: 'Well important for me always when it comes to Ballroom and Latin is the character of the dance, that it's true to the dance, timing and quality and I would have voted for Angela and Carlos.'

Viewers flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter to suggest Shirley 'has an issue' with Layton.

It comes after Angela broke down in tears as she addressed her shock Strictly exit on Monday's It Takes Two

'Between her comments last night and choosing to save Angela tonight, Shirley has an obvious personal problem with Layton and I won't hear otherwise. I hope this won't knock his confidence,' one wrote.

'It was the right decision to let Layton and Nikita move on to the quarterfinals. @ShirleyBallas was absolutely wrong. The boys deserve a place in the finals,' insisted a third.

'Shirley definitely has a problem with Layton, her comments to him this week were bordering on downright rude actually. She also can't handle boos from the audience.'
Could Carol Vorderman be a Labour candidate at the next general election?

The former Countdown star, 62, who was axed from her BBC radio show after she refused to tone down her anti-Tory social media posts, tells me she has some big news.

'I know what's about to come: there is a lot of news to be announced and I'm really happy,' she tells me at The Women in Film & Television Awards at the London Hilton Park Lane.

'I'm looking forward to the general election happening as soon as possible.

'Dismantling the Tory Party is my aim for the rest of next year.'

Could Carol Vorderman be a Labour candidate at the next general election?

The former Countdown star, 62, was axed from her BBC radio show after she refused to tone down her anti-Tory social media posts

Vorderman was told to leave her job at BBC Radio Wales after she breached the corporation's guidelines.

She said she was 'not prepared' to stop airing her 'strong beliefs' on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram.

She had used social media to launch regular attacks on the Conservatives.

She has called for the 'dismantling' of the Tory party 'vote by vote' and branded ministers a 'lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks'.

She tells me: 'I haven't felt a second of regret because I've never felt freer, or that my life has more purpose than it does now.'
Sabrina Elba looked phenomenal in a black cape at the London premiere of Beyonce's Renaissance film on Thursday night.

The Canadian model, 35, wore the cape, which gathered on one shoulder, with a black trouser suit featuring a very low-cut top.

She kept one hand in her pocket and the other on her clutch as she elegantly walked the black carpet at Leicester Square.

The UN goodwill ambassador completed her look with a pair of sling-back high heels and stunning solid gold hoops.

Sabrina joined the likes of Taylor Swift, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and of course Beyonce herself, with her daughter Blue Ivy, at the premiere.

Sabrina Elba, 35, looked phenomenal in a black cape at the London premiere of Beyonce's Renaissance film on Thursday night

The Canadian model wore the cape, which gathered on one shoulder, with a black trouser suit featuring a very low-cut top

She kept one hand in her pocket and the other on her clutch as she elegantly walked the black carpet at Leicester Square

On Tuesday, Sabrina graced the candy-filled red carpet at the premiere of Wonka.

Wonka, which will hit cinemas on 8 December, is a musical and tells the origin story of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory's Willy Wonka.

Sabrina married Idris Elba, 51, in 2019 and she is his third wife. They first met in 2017 in a Vancouver jazz bar.

This glamorous outing comes after Sabrina spoke about teaming up with her husband Idris Elba to launch their own skincare line, S'ABLE Labs in 2023.

Sabrina was at BeautyCon in Los Angeles in September to launch the line.

The model opened up in a wide-ranging interview with People about how different it has been working with her husband.

She admitted there was, 'a big learning curve' when it came to working with her husband.

'It's not a perfect tie-in, but weve definitely developed ways of working together,' Sabrina said.

Sabrina and Idris Elba, 51, married in 2019 and she is his third wife. They first met in 2017 in a Vancouver jazz bar

Beyonce's London bash comes after the Los Angeles premiere of the film, which was held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverley Hills.

It was a private affair with guests receiving a 'save the date' invite that only included the time and a dress code which requested 'cosy opulence'.

According to Variety, the location of the theatre was only revealed to Beyonce's guests just 24 hours before the screening took place.

The publication reported that guests were advised to 'take a ride share to an address in Beverly Hills, where they were then directed to the location of the screening'.
Banks filed to close 24 branches last week - and to open just two - as part of an ongoing scramble to eliminate costly brick and mortar banking locations.

Wells Fargo notified its regulator of 15 planned closures, including three in Florida and two in California, Georgia and New Jersey.

Bank of America reported seven over the same week, between November 19 and November 25, according the latest bulletin published by the regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Wells Fargo has the second largest number of physical bank branches in the US with around 4,500 as of July - but that tally is continuing to dwindle.

In 2013 it had more than 6,000 locations, according to data from BankRegData.

Wells Fargo notified its regulator of 15 planned closures, including three in Florida and two in California , Georgia and New Jersey, according to the latest OCC bulletin

Wells Fargo had more than 6,000 branches until 2017, but its count fell to around 4,500 as of July, according to BankRegData

Bank of America has also been cutting its branch count, and began some years earlier than Wells Fargo.

The company had 5,400 branches in 2013 and around 3,800 this year, according to BankRegData.

A spokesperson for Bank of America told DailyMail.com that it was closing certain branches in response to diminishing customer traffic.

'What we're seeing across the industry is that our clients are using digital banking for more of their everyday needs. They only come into our financial centers when they want to have a conversation about their finances or something that's a little more complex,' they said.

As the habits of consumers are changing, so too are the way banks are set out, said the spokesperson.

In the past Bank of America branches were arranged in such a way that the teller line was at the front. That line is now often at the back of the branch to make space for customers to meet with bank employees privately nearer to the entrance.

Although the majority of consumer banks have been closing branches in recent years, the extent of the downscaling could begin to level off, the spokesperson suggested.

Another spokesperson for Wells Fargo, Amy Amirault, also told DailyMail.com that the bank is evolving with its customers.

'As customer preferences and transaction patterns change, so will our branches,' she wrote in a statement. 'For example, we may open new branches where we combine two older existing branches into one better situated location.'

Of the seven branches Bank of America indicated it would close, two were in Fullerton, California. Others were scheduled in Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and New York.

The two banks that reported last week that they would be opening branches were Flagstar Bank and BankUnited.

Of the seven branches Bank of America indicated it would close, two were in Fullerton, California. Others were scheduled in Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and New York

Bank of America had 5,400 branches in 2013 and around 3,800 this year, also according to BankRegData

In the first half the year - between January 1 and July 31 - a total of 1,144 national and regional banks were closed, according to data from S&P reviewed by DailyMail.com.

An exclusive poll by DailyMail.com revealed 51 percent of consumers said they were very or somewhat concerned about the declining number of bank branches.

It also found that brick and mortar services were less accessible to black Americans. While 14 percent of black Americans said they did not have a local branch, that was only the case for 8 percent of white Americans.

Have bank branch closures been affecting you, or are you able to manage your financial affairs online? Write us an email at money@dailymail.com.
One of the billionaire heirs to the Lego fortune has sold shares in the company's family firm for about $930 million.

Sofie Kirk Kristiansen, 47, is the great-granddaughter of founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen, who established the Danish toymaker in 1932, and a close friend of Princess Mary of Denmark.

Sofie sold 4 million shares in company Kirkbi A/S, which controls 75 percent of The Lego Group, for 6.32 billion kroner - around 158,000 kroner a piece - according to a filing with the Danish company register reported by Bloomberg.

The proceeds of the share sales were paid out as a form of dividend and the shares were subsequently canceled by Kirkbi, meaning that other family members increased their stakes in the family firm, the company said in a statement.

'Earlier this year, Sofie Kirk Kristiansen agreed with the other shareholders to sell a small portion of her shares to Kirkbi in order to dedicate a greater part of her time and resources to a number of nature conservation projects,' Kirkbi said.

Sofie Kirk Kristiansen, 47, is the great-granddaughter of founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen, who established the Danish toymaker in 1932

According to Forbes, Sofie has a net worth of $6.8 billion. And according to the company's index of the richest people in Europe in 2022, the Lego dynasty remains the richest family in Denmark - representing $32.8 billion of the country's $57 billion total billionaire wealth.

The family firm is currently chaired by Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, Sofie's brother, who took over when their father Kjeld stepped down in May.

According to a Kirkbi press release at the time, Sofie had 12.7 percent voting rights at the company, while her sister Agnete had 12.8 percent and Thomas had 37.7 percent.

The three fourth-generation heir siblings had 25 percent ownership share in Kirkbi each, and the rest is held by their father - at 22.5 percent - and the family's non-profit foundation.

It is not clear how Sofie's selling of her shares could increase her siblings' share ownership or voting rights in the family holding company.

Sofie Kirk Kristiansen sold 4 million shares in company Kirkbi A/S, which controls 75 percent of The Lego Group

Sofie Kirk Kristiansen is a friend of Princess Mary of Denmark

Although Lego has been around for more than 90 years, the toy company is still managing to beat its rivals in sales and revenue.

The company began making plastic bricks in the 1950s, after starting out in wooden toys.

Lego saw huge growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, with sales soaring 43 percent in the first half of 2021.

In 2022, the company's revenues were $9.1 billion - compared to $5.4 billion at Barbie-maker Mattel.

Ole Kirk Kristiansen established the Danish toymaker in 1932

Lego has seen a steady increase in revenue since 2018, according to official company figures

Demand has since cooled - and the toymaker saw its worst profit drop in nearly two decades - 19 percent - in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period the year prior.

However the company's CEO Niels Christiansen told The Financial Times this was planned.

Profitability soared to unsustainable levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, and Lego decided to invest in sustainability and a digital push.

'We've kept outperforming the market at the same rate as the past four or five years. This year, the market was down,' Christiansen told the outlet in August.
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%.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor on Thursday said playing a son to Anil Kapoor's character in "Animal" brought back "a lot of sweet memories" of his late father, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor.

Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, "Animal" also stars Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna and Triptii Dimri. The movie is set to be released on Friday in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Ranbir Kapoor, who made his film debut opposite Anil Kapoor's daughter Sonam Kapoor with 2007's "Saawariya", thanked the veteran actor for playing his father on screen.

"Thank you, Anil uncle, for doing this. I have shared a very warm relationship with him all these years. To play father-son relationship with him was very grateful.

"I see a lot of my father in him, because they come from similar generations, they have similar thinking patterns. While performing with him, there were a lot of sweet memories that I could recall," he told reporters here at the film's promotional event.

The actor said it was amazing to play a son to Anil Kapoor, "who doesn't look like my father but my younger brother".

"He promised me long back, when I was debuting with his daughter, Sonam Kapoor... He had said, 'Main kisi ka baap nahi banoonga, lekin jab tu film leke aayega main tera baap banoonga'," he added.

"Animal" showcases a violent world set against the backdrop of a troubled relationship between Ranbir Kapoor's Arjun Singh and his father Balbir Singh, played by Anil Kapoor.

Drawing parallels with his equation with his real-life father, Ranbir Kapoor said his relationship with Rishi Kapoor was a combination of love, respect and fear.

"The relationship that I shared with my father, like most of the father-son relationships in India... There's a bit of distance, a bit of fear but there's also love and respect.

"'Animal' is about seeing a father-son relationship through an obsessed son, so it is very different from what I probably shared in real life. Somewhere, subconsciously, you have certain beats and moments in life, the emotional bank to play such scenes," the actor added.

Deol, who plays the antagonist in "Animal", said he is looking forward to the film's release.

"There's nervousness. Every film is special and this film is very special to me as I got to play this character and the opportunity to be working with these actors, so I feel blessed," the "Aashram" star said.

Mandanna said she is nervous about the release of the film. The actor plays Geetanjali, wife to Ranbir Kapoor's character in "Animal".

"I feel like my body has gone super numb and cold right now. I might fumble a lot," she said.

Watching movies on a big screen is an amazing experience, added Mandanna.
Sixty-eight private schools in and around the city on Friday received emails warning of bomb threat on their premises, triggering panic among the staff and parents, police said.

The school authorities immediately alerted police, who reached the institutions concerned with the bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage check teams, they said, while indicating the bomb threat could be a hoax.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has asked police to seriously investigate the e-mail and its source, and provide adequate security to schools and temples as a precautionary measure.

State Home Minister G Parameshwara said the message had come from an email id kharijites@beeble.Com, saying bombs have been placed in the schools in Bengaluru and threatened to kill children and staff.

We are seriously verifying it and its source. I have spoken to the Commissioner and officials and have given the necessary instructions and verification on whether it is true or hoax and measures to be taken accordingly. We will verify as to who is behind it and if there is an involvement of any terrorist organisation, and take measures accordingly. For now, it cannot be said who is behind it. The message in the email asks people to convert and other things--it will be verified, he told reporters.

Among 68 schools which received the bomb threat, 48 of them are located within the city while the rest are in Bengaluru Rural limits, police added.

The students and staff were immediately evacuated from the school premises, police said, adding no suspicious objects were found yet and prima facie, it looks like a hoax message.

City Police Commissioner B Dayananda said bomb detection and disposal squads were sent to all these schools, and most likely it seemed to be a hoax. Earlier also similar threat letters and emails had come to schools and they were found to be a hoax for mischief and police had identified those behind it. Police are verifying todays mails too...Officials and personnel have gone to all these spots. I appeal to people not to worry, as most likely all these are hoax calls (mails), he said.

Another senior officer said the police teams have not found any suspicious objects on any of the school premises. Prime facie, it appears to be a hoax message. We are also in the process of registering a case in this regard and a thorough investigation is underway.

Students had already reached schools when they got to know about the email threat. Panic-stricken parents rushed from their respective offices and homes to get their children back home safely.

Some of these students from different schools which received bomb threats said they had exams scheduled for the day.

CM Siddaramaiah said, I have spoken to police officers and I have instructed them to take adequate security measures at all places, to remain cautious, and to find out those behind it.

There is no need for anyone to worry. I have asked security to be tightened, and checks to be conducted at schools which have received threats, he added.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited one of the schools which received the bomb threat. He enquired about the situation from the school authorities and the police.

I was a bit dismayed after seeing the news on TV, as some schools I know and the one near my house were also mentioned. So I went out to check. The police have shown me the e-mail. Prima facie, it appears to be fake (hoax). I spoke to the police...But we should be cautious.Parents are a bit worried, no need to worry. Police are looking into it, he said.

He appealed to parents not to worry and said their children would be safe. Some mischief mongers might have done this, in 24 hours we will nab them. Cyber crime police are active; they are doing their job...We should also be cautious, he added.

The home minister also pointed about a similar threat last year turning out to be a hoax.

This also may be a hoax, but we wont take it lightly. Even if there is one per cent (doubt), we will take it seriously and take measures like sensitising the intelligence and informing central agencies, which the department has to do, he said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition slammed the government over the matter, alleging there was deterioration of law and order in the state.

The BJP and JD(S) alleged lack of fear about police among anti-social elements.

social forces in the state have no fear of police. As a result, miscreants have fearlessly tried to create an atmosphere of fear by spreading the message that bombs have been placed at some schools in Bengaluru, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra said.

However, this case cannot be treated lightly as a hoax as schools have been targeted, he said, adding serious investigation and precaution should be the priority of the government.

In order to provide protection to every school in the state and to create a worry-free environment for students, teachers and parents, I urge for a comprehensive investigation of this case and necessary immediate action, he said in a post on X.

With such incidents, certain vested interests were able to create an atmosphere of fear or panic among people, state JD(S) chief and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said.

After the Congress came to power, the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state and there is a lack of confidence among the people about their safety. The government has to take this threat e-mail seriously and immediately bring the truth out, he added.
The Government is exerting all possible efforts to repatriate eight former Indian Navy personnel who were sentenced to death in Qatar last month, stated Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday.

We are working closely to ensure that their interests are taken care of, Admiral Kumar mentioned during a media briefing. The Government of India is making exhaustive efforts to ensure their safe return, he affirmed.
With a user base exceeding 450 million on social media, social commerce in India is a booming market, currently valued at $8 billion in 2023, with the potential to reach $85 billion by 2030.

To seize this opportunity, business communities are keen to jump on the bandwagon to expand their businesses.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), in collaboration with META, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is spearheading a national initiative to train the business community across the country in maximising the use of social media for business purposes, thus promoting social commerce in India.

Qualified trainers from META provided training to traders on optimising the use of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and short reels to ensure the growth of their businesses, as stated by Praveen Khandelwal, the national general secretary of the CAIT. In essence, social commerce refers to selling and purchasing products or services directly through social media platforms.

This could comprise every element from the discovery of products to the checkout process that covers a consumers complete shopping experience. Not surprisingly, many companies conduct sales both via e-commerce sites and social media handles.

However, in India, the bulk of social commerce transactions are driven by new brands and first-time entrepreneurs. Considering the constant rise in social media users, brands are devising new ways to convert captive audiences into customers.

The CAIT on Friday launched a National Training Campaign Vyapar Aapke Dwar by organising a Traders Workshop on social commerce in New Delhi which was attended by trade leaders of more than 200 leading trade associations of Delhi. During the campaign, CAIT has a plan to organise 250 workshops across the country.

Khandelwal said in India there are 75 crore users on WhatsApp, 37 crore on Facebook and 33 crore on Instagram which is much larger number than e-commerce landscape and having about 100 crore users of smartphones. Social commerce will emerge as a much larger digital commerce than e-commerce. Khandelwal said social commerce is preferred because it has simplified shopping, scalable trust-building, smart curation, tools for sellers, unlocking new consumer segments, reimagining high value

categories, and building enablers for the social-commerce

ecosystem.

On average, people spend three hours daily online - posting, scrolling, viewing videos and messaging. This period is the window of opportunity when marketing tools deployed by brands can target consumers. Unlike other largely transactional buy-and-sell models, social commerce revolves around developing a specific community.

In other words, brand building is based on dedicated fans or followers who admire and extol the brand, commenting about its offerings and even sharing and promoting the same, Khandelwal said.

Social commerce is bound to expand because it already has a large number of both sellers and buyers and the only thing which is needed is to make both these ends connected in a cohesive manner which is an easier way. The CAIT will rope in its affiliates of more than 45,000 trade associations all over the country to carry the echoes of social commerce to every market of the country, he added.
In view of the recent reported surge in respiratory illness especially in children in northern China in the recent weeks, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Arun Kumar Singh has written to all Deputy Commissioners stating that there is an urgent need to keep on constant vigil, monitor trends of cases and quick response to any emerging public health threat. All districts and health facilities need to proactively review the preparedness measures against respiratory illnesses, as a cautionary measure.

Due to continuous surge of childhood pneumonia, in view of the ongoing influenza and winter season there might be an increase in respiratory illness cases. This is predominantly attributed to usual causes like influenza strain (H1N1/H3N2/H5N1/H9N2 etc.), mycoplasma pneumonia, SARS-CoV-2 etc. In order to minimize the incidence of respiratory diseases along with current scenario of unusual causes of respiratory diseases in Children or any unexpected clinical manifestations, there is need to increase the surveillance and remain vigilant and to monitor the continuously changing nature of the virus including respiratory pathogen (H1N1, H3N2 etc and evolution of SARS CoV-2 variants.

The Additional CS has said that in order to limit transmission of these respiratory pathogens, several public health actions are advisable, which are the following.

1. To strengthen the Flu/Respiratory clinic in the OPD/IPD of Medical colleges, District Hospital, SDH and CHC for testing of symptomatic ILI/SARI Cases. To test the healthcare workers, co- morbid and other vulnerable population for enhancing the testing and timely detection of respiratory pathogen. Dept of Microbiology, RIMS and MGM, MC, Jamshedpur are sentinel sites for sending the suspected samples from HCFs.

2. To ensure to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory etiquettes and hand hygiene (like covering one's mouth and nose with a tissue/elbow when coughing or sneezing, avoiding spitting in public places, preferably use of mask in crowded environment, frequent hand wash etc), prompt reporting and limiting contact with people who are suffering from respiratory illness.

3. To ensure monitoring and reporting of district wise Influenza like illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in all health facilities including medical colleges on regular basis for detecting the early rising trends of cases along with data upload in the IDSP-IHIP portal. Trends of IL/SARI to be closely monitored by District Surveillance Officer.

4. It should also be ensured that the health facilities including Private facilities and medical college hospitals, report all cases of ILI and SARI on IDSP-IHIP at District Surveillance Unit,

5. For the surveillance perspective, District administration shall ensure to monitor the implementation of "Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of COVID- 19, annexed along with this letter.

6. To ensure preparedness by reviewing the existing hospital capacities including paediatric ward, NICU, PICU with regards to bed availability including Oxygen supported beds, ICU beds, logistic requirements like human resources, equipments, testing kits & reagents, PPE, drugs, antibiotics and consumables as well as re-orientation of health care workers in working in the hospitals. This may be tested by conducting 'dry runs' in hospitals. . To ensure proper functioning of medical oxygen equipment like 02 Cylinders, Flowmeters, 02 7 Concentrators, Ventilators, LMO plants, PSA plants, oxygen pipelines etc. by following measures:

a. Assess availability of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) in the health facilities and uninterrupted supply chain for their refilling.

b. To monitor the supply and installation of LMO-10 KL with MGPS in 19 District Hospitals and 6 Medical Colleges under ECRP-2, updated work progress report has been shared vide letter no idsp/ECRP-II/LMO tank/66/2022-528(MD), dated 10.11.2023 for your needful action.

c. Ensure adequate inventory of 02 Cylinders with backup stocks and refilling systems along with functionality of all available 02 Concentrators, Ventilators, BIPAP machines, SpO system etc. d. To ensure functional PSA plants by conducting regular mock drills.

PAN India Mock drill exercise across all health facilities on 24th November was conducted in your respective districts under the overall guidance of your able leadership to ensure operational readiness of medical oxygen infrastructure preparedness in case of oxygen demand increases in future and corrective measures to be taken for non-functionality of any Bio-medical equipment. I am sure that under your able leadership, districts shall take proactive actions in this regard and undertake requisite public health measures on this evolving situation to minimize any spread.
Union Minister S P Singh Baghel on Friday emphasised on the role of communities in handling HIV-AIDS related cases, including in promoting safe behaviours for prevention of spread of the virus.

The Union Minister of State for Health also stressed the importance of studies to gauge the extent of prevalence of the disease to enable the government to frame meaningful policies.

Speaking at the World AIDS Day 2023 event here, Baghel said the government has engaged communities at all levels in its various initiatives towards control and awareness of the issue.

He maintained that this year's global theme 'Let Communities Lead' highlights the importance of community involvement in controlling HIV-AIDS.

The Government of India has engaged communities in advocacy and providing services, awareness and counselling to promote safe behaviours, promote community-based testing, income-generation opportunities and linking their peers with social protection schemes, he said.

The minister released the fifth edition of 'Sankalak', the flagship report providing data-driven comprehensive progress across all components of National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), and 'India HIV Estimates 2022', a technical report with the latest round in the series updating the epidemiological evidence in the country.

"The HIV Estimates 2022 and the Sankalak report are a stepping stone towards disease burden estimation in India. This is intrinsic to aid accurate, consistent and meaningful health policies and programmes," he said.

He also expressed satisfaction at the adoption of new-age communication strategies by the National AIDS Control Society (NACO) and State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) to create awareness and to decrease stigma and discrimination among general population.

Baghel also released NACO Calendar 2024 and 'National Communication Strategy' which is a comprehensive framework outlining strategic approach to effectively communicating and disseminating vital information pertaining to HIV/AIDS/STI prevention, treatment, care and support across the nation.

'Laboratory Technical Guidelines on Early Infant Diagnosis for HIV-Exposed Infants', 'Prevention Progress Update 2022-23' and Research Compendium, Volume-I, from Research Studies undertaken by State AIDS Control Societies in FY 2021- 22, were also released by the Union minister on the occasion.

Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta was also present at the programme, which was also attended by more than 1,500 people, including people living with HIV (PLHIV) communities, NGOs, development partners and youth.

Additional chief secretary to government of Assam Avinash Joshi, NACO director Nidhi Kesarwani and country director of UNAIDS David Bridger were also among others present.

Cultural and musical performances by representatives from Chhattisgarh, Nagaland and Assam were presented on themes of HIV and STI to generate greater awareness among the audience.

Several stalls displaying the programmatic achievements and latest interventions were also placed at the event venue, an official release said.
Police complaints were lodged against 11 BJP MLAs of West Bengal charging them with disrespecting the national anthem during a sit-in on the assembly premises earlier this week.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhondeb Chatterjee said the complaints were lodged on behalf of the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party.

The TMC legislators led by party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were singing the national anthem on November 29 at the base of BR Ambedkar's statue before calling off a demonstration against the Centre's discriminatory attitude towards West Bengal.

The state's ruling party accused the BJP legislators of shouting anti-state government slogans and ringing bells while the anthem was sung barely 50 metres away.

The saffron party, however, asserted that even if the anthem was sung by TMC MLAs, it was being done in a very low volume, inaudible from their protest spot and alleged that efforts were on to frame them in fabricated charges.

"The BJP has shown scant respect to the national anthem and appropriate action is being initiated, senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said.

Assembly Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay also said that appropriate steps would be taken.

An assembly secretariat source said the Hare Street police station has registered FIRs against 11 BJP MLAs in this connection.

Video footage of the alleged incident has been submitted to the police, the source said.

Asked to comment, senior BJP leader and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh told PTI that they did not realise that the national anthem was being sung.

"Our protest against the TMC's dictatorship and corruption was continuing and we were just a little distance away from the Ambedkar statue. Even if it was sung, it was being done in a very low volume. Why? Did they forget the lyrics of the national anthem? We do not need to learn patriotism from the TMC," he said.

Ghosh, one of the BJP MLAs against whom FIRs were lodged, alleged that the TMC was trying to frame them in fabricated charges to divert the attention of the people.

The BJP's Darjeeling MLA, Neeraj Zimba, said, "We could not hear any song. Our protests were on at that time but it seems the charges were deliberately made."
A Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday.

Acting on specific intel regarding the presence of a terrorist in Arihal village of the south Kashmir district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area on Thursday, a police spokesman said.

During the search operation, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately at the security forces, which retaliated, triggering an encounter, he said.

The terrorist, identified as Kifayat Ayoub Alie, a resident of Pinjoora Shopian and associated with the proscribed terror outfit LeT, was neutralised. His body was retrieved from the encounter site, the spokesman said.

Police records indicate his involvement in several terror-related crimes, the spokesman added.

Incriminating material and arms and ammunition, including a pistol, two magazines, five rounds, and two grenades, were seized from the encounter site, police said.
Forty-eight private schools in Bengaluru on Friday morning received an email with a bomb threat on its premises, triggering panic among the staff and parents, police said.

The school authorities immediately alerted police, who reached the institutions concerned with the bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage check teams, they said.

The students and staff were immediately evacuated from the school premises, police said, adding no suspicious objects have been found yet and prima facie, it looks like it's a hoax message.

"So far, 48 schools in Bengaluru have received an email about bomb threat. The message about a bomb threat was received from an email id. Search operations are almost over and so far, our teams have not found any suspicious objects on any of the school premises. Prime facie, it appears to be a hoax message. We are also in the process of registering a case in this regard and a thorough investigation is underway," a senior police officer said.

Students had already reached schools when they got to know about the email threat. Parents rushed to schools from their respective offices and homes in panic to get their children back home safely. Some of these students from different schools which received bomb threats said they had exams scheduled for the day.

"The email claimed that explosives had been planted on school premises. We received a call from the command centre and immediately rushed our teams to schools which are located in different parts of the city. All students and staff have been safely evacuated from the school premises and a thorough search operation was carried out," another senior officer said.

Parents need not panic, our teams are on the ground, he said.

Earlier in the day, City Police Commissioner B Dayananda said, some schools in Bengaluru received threat emails. Bomb detection and disposal squads were sent to all these schools, and most likely it seemed to be a hoax.

"Earlier, also similar threat letters and emails had come to schools and they were found to be a hoax for mischief and police had identified those behind it. Police are verifying today's mails too... Officials and personnel have gone to all these spots. I appeal to people not to worry, as most likely all these are hoax calls (mails)," he said.

Last year also, some miscreants sent such emails claiming about a bomb threat to schools in Bengaluru, which later turned out to be a hoax message, police said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has asked police to seriously investigate the e-mail and its source, and provide adequate security to schools and temples as a precautionary measure.

"I have spoken to police officers and I have instructed them to take adequate security measures at all places, to remain cautious, and to find out those behind it. There is no need for anyone to worry. I have asked security to be tightened, and checks to be conducted at schools which have received threats," he added.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited one of the schools which received the bomb threat. He took information from the school and the police about the situation. "I was a bit dismayed after seeing the news on TV, as some schools I know and the one near my house were also mentioned. So I went out to check. The police have shown me the mail. Prima facie, it appears to be fake (hoax). I spoke to the police... But we should be cautious. Parents are a bit worried, no need to worry. Police are looking into it," he said. Shivakumar appealed to parents not to worry and said their children would be safe.

"Some mischief mongers might have done this, in 24 hours we will nab them. Cyber crime police are active; they are doing their job... We should also be cautious and should not neglect," he added.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the message had come from email id kharijites@beeble.Com. The email says bombs have been placed in about 15 schools in Bengaluru and threatened to kill children and staff.

"We are seriously verifying it and its source. I have spoken to the Commissioner and officials and have given the necessary instructions and verification on whether it's true or hoax and measures to be taken accordingly.

"We will verify as to who is behind it and if there is the involvement of any terrorist organisation, and take measures accordingly. For now, it cannot be said who is behind it. The message in the email asks people to convert and other things, it will be verified," he told reporters here.

The home minister recalled that last year, too, a similar threat had come. It was a hoax. This also may be a hoax, but we won't take it lightly. Even if there is one per cent (doubt), we will take it seriously and take measures like sensitising the intelligence and informing central agencies, which the department has to do.

Stating that he is in regular touch with officials and, if necessary, will hold a meeting with senior officials, Parameshwara appealed to parents and the public not to worry. "First we will focus on checking and clearing in 15 schools, and will look into other schools later with jurisdiction police station officials visiting them," he added.
Lynn Greenky in The Conversation:

The First Amendment does not protect messages posted on social media platforms.

The companies that own the platforms can  and do  remove, promote or limit the distribution of any posts according to corporate policies. But all that might soon change.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear five cases during this current term, which ends in June 2024, that collectively give the court the opportunity to reexamine the nature of content moderation  the rules governing discussions on social media platforms such as Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter  and the constitutional limitations on the government to affect speech on the platforms.

Content moderation, whether done manually by company employees or automatically by a platforms software and algorithms, affects what viewers can see on a digital media page. Messages that are promoted garner greater viewership and greater interaction; those that are deprioritized or removed will obviously receive less attention. Content moderation policies reflect decisions by digital platforms about the relative value of posted messages.

More here.
David Hudson at The Current:

When Kiju Yoshida, whose work will be celebrated with a weeklong, sixteen-film retrospective at Film at Lincoln Center in New York starting Friday, died last December, several obituaries began along the same lines as Jean-Francois Raugers in Le Monde: Along with Nagisa Oshima, Shohei Imamura, and Masahiro Shinoda, he was one of the great figures of the Japanese New Wave. He was the most secretive and the most intellectual, too. Yoshida probably would have raised a few objections to that first sentence, but he may well have given a modest yet affirmative nod to the second.

The critic and director known for years as Yoshishige Yoshidahe later decided that an alternative transliteration of his first name, Kiju, was simply easier for everyone to deal withoften graciously conceded that it was difficult to resist the temptation to group a generation of filmmakers with similar backgrounds into a movement, especially during a period when there were New Waves rolling out in France, Czechoslovakia, and other regions of the world, but just as often, he added: We never thought of ourselves as a movement, then or ever.
In todays fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety often reign supreme, finding a practice that nurtures both the body and mind has become increasingly crucial. Enter yoga  a centuries-old discipline renowned for its transformative effects on physical, mental, and emotional well-being, enhancing your life for the better. Implementing the transformative power of yoga into your daily routine can pave the way for a profound enhancement in various aspects of your life.

Physical Wellness

At its core, yoga is a holistic practice that promotes physical fitness through a combination of postures (asanas), controlled breathing (pranayama), and meditation. Regular practice enhances flexibility, strength, and balance. The various poses stretch and strengthen muscles, improve joint mobility, and promote better posture, reducing the risk of injury and enhancing overall physical resilience.

Stress Reduction and Mental Clarity

One of the most celebrated aspects of yoga is its ability to alleviate stress and promote mental clarity. Through the practice of mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, and meditation, individuals can effectively manage stress levels. Yoga encourages a present-centred focus, calming the mind and offering a reprieve from the chaos of everyday life. This heightened awareness fosters mental clarity, leading to better concentration, improved decision-making, and enhanced emotional resilience.

Emotional Balance

Yoga isnt merely a physical practice; it delves into the realm of emotions and spirituality. Regular practice helps individuals connect with their inner selves, fostering emotional balance and stability. By acknowledging and processing emotions on the mat, practitioners learn to navigate lifes challenges with greater ease. This emotional intelligence gained through the transformative power of yoga often translates into improved relationships, self-awareness, and a more positive outlook on life.

Improved Sleep Patterns

In a world where sleep disorders are increasingly prevalent, yoga offers a natural remedy. The relaxation techniques and meditative aspects of yoga calm the nervous system, helping individuals unwind and prepare for a restful nights sleep. By reducing stress and promoting relaxation, yoga contributes to improved sleep quality and better sleep patterns.

Enhanced Overall Well-being

The cumulative effects of yoga on the body, mind, and spirit result in an overall sense of well-being. The practice encourages a lifestyle centred around self-care and mindfulness. From increased energy levels and better immunity to a more profound sense of inner peace and happiness, yoga paves the way for a holistic improvement in quality of life.

Implementing Yoga into Daily Life

Incorporating the transformative power of yoga into your routine doesnt necessitate hour-long sessions or complex poses. Starting with just a few minutes of practice each day can yield noticeable benefits and contribute significantly to enhancing your life. Whether its a gentle morning stretch, a lunchtime breathing exercise, or a calming bedtime routine, consistency is key. Joining a class, accessing online resources, or seeking guidance from a qualified instructor can provide structure and support as you embark on your yoga journey.

Subsequently, the multifaceted benefits of yoga extend far beyond the physical realm. By integrating this ancient practice into your life, you open the door to a transformative journey toward improved physical health, mental well-being, emotional balance, and overall ejaculatory life satisfaction.
According to several reports from across localities, many people had come to the polling station carrying the soft copy of identity cards stored in their mobiles. (Representational Image/DC)

Hyderabad: Just 48.7 per cent of voters cast their votes in the Greater Hyderabad region, according to data released by the Election Commission of India. While officials said they will look into the reasons that contributed voter apathy in urban areas, one issue appears to have contributed clearly  the ban on carrying mobile phones to the polling station.

According to several reports from across localities, many people had come to the polling station carrying the soft copy of identity cards stored in their mobiles. When police refused to allow them to carry mobile phones and having no facility to print their cards nearby, they dropped their plan and left the place.

Some people who carried physical copies of identity cards were found struggling to find a facility to safe-deposit their mobile phones when they entered the polling station. When they found no such facility, they left the polling station and did not come back again to vote.

Though voters argued with police personnel, they did not relent and insisted on following the Election Commissions order to the letter.

Veena, who carried her mobile phone to cast her vote for the Goshamahal candidate, was surprised when the mobile phone was not allowed. However, her co-voter, who was facing the same situation, helped her by allowing her to park her phone with her car driver.

"People were shocked to know that mobiles are not allowed inside the polling booth. In present times, most people use smartphones for almost everything. So when police did not allow voters to take mobile phones inside, people were disappointed and returned back without voting," said Bhagat Singh Khalifa, a resident of Mangalhat.

According to Arvin Thakur Singh, who is one of the polling agents: "Many people failed to carry physical identification cards, which forced them to return back home."

Usha Turaga Revelli, a radio journalist, said: "The mobile ban was enforced suddenly. It was advertised and information was available to everyone. So its a flimsy excuse for not voting. This shows that people dont have respect for democracy."

"These are the same people who when given a chance in social media, have all the informed opinions, and post their ideas, get into arguments, but still they dont want to spend an hour standing in queue on a holiday, which was given to exercise their vote," she added.

According to Lasya Nadimpally, marketing manager at a corporate company, "An urban voter uses a holiday that comes before the weekend for planning a long weekend vacation. The urban voter is habituated to the convenient lifestyles, where they get all things at a click of a button. There were so many campaigns asking citizens to come and vote, yet people refused to move out of their comfort zones."
Accompanied by his wife Nara Bhuvaneshwari and a group of TD leaders, Naidu bowed before the presiding deity, expressing his gratitude for the divine intervention that he believes saved his life in the 2003 claymore mine attack and during the recent cases and his jailing. (Twitter)

TIRUPATI: Telugu Desam (TD) president, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, offered prayers at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala on Friday morning.

Accompanied by his wife Nara Bhuvaneshwari and a group of TD leaders, Naidu bowed before the presiding deity, expressing his gratitude for the "divine intervention" that he believes saved his life in the 2003 claymore mine attack and during the recent cases and his jailing.

As is the custom, Naidu first worshipped at the Bhu-Varaha Swamy temple before proceeding to the main temple. He later participated in the rituals at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple and received Veda Aseervachanam from the pundits. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams officials also presented teertha prasadams to the former chief minister.

Speaking to the media after the darshan, Naidu reflected on his deep connections with Lord Venkateswara, emphasising the deity's influence in his political and personal lives.

He recounted the life-threatening incident in 2003 when the deity's blessings saved him from a Naxalite attack at claymore mines near Alipiri.

"Lord Venkateswara holds a special place as our family deity. It is through the benevolent grace of the almighty that I ascended to great positions," he stated.

The TD chief also acknowledged that he was "turning to prayer for justice" during the recent tumultuous periods in his life. Thanking the Telugu people globally for their support during his period of imprisonment, Naidu said, "I sought Lord Venkateswara's blessings for strength and good health for me in improving the lives of the Andhra people. My aspiration is to see India becoming a global leader, with AP emerging as the number-one state in the nation."

Asked by the media about his future political course, the TD chief remained tight-lipped. He did not want to discuss political matters at the holy town. "I will disclose my action plan very soon," he said.

Meanwhile, mild tension arose at the Gayatri Nilayan rest house, where Naidu stayed during his two-day pilgrimage to Tirumala. An altercation occurred between local police and MLC K. Srikanth, who alleged obstruction and use of abusive language by police officials. The situation was diffused with the intervention of TD senior leaders and higher police officials.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. (Image: Twitter)

HYDERABAD: Exuding confidence that the BRS government would return to power for the third term in the Assembly election results on December 3, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has convened a Cabinet meeting at the state Secretariat on December 4.

The sudden decision of the Chief Minister to hold the Cabinet meeting of the new BRS government on December 4 without waiting for December 3 results created a sensation in political and government circles, especially at a time when the majority of the exit poll surveys predicted a Congress victory in Assembly polls on December 3.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with senior party leaders and reportedly told them not to believe exit polls. He said the BRS would form the government on December 4 and the first Cabinet meeting will be held on the same day.

The Chief Minister convened a meeting with ministers K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao and several senior party leaders at Pragathi Bhavan. He reviewed the polling percentage, polling trend from all the constituencies in all the districts.

The issue of the majority of exit polls predicting a victory for the Congress in Assembly polls learnt to have come up for discussion.

When ministers and senior leaders pointed out this issue, the Chief Minister reportedly rubbished these surveys and asked them to ignore them and not to get worried about these reports unnecessarily. Rao asked them to remain calm and composed until the counting of votes on Sunday and stated that the BRS is going to win the Assembly polls with a clear majority, it is learnt.

The Chief Minister reportedly told them that the BRS government will assume office for a third term on December 4 and he will hold the first cabinet meeting on the same day at Secretariat to take decisions on implementation of promises made to people in Assembly polls.

He reportedly told them that the BRS government implemented several pathbreaking development programmes and welfare schemes in the last nine years benefitting all sections which will be reflected in the counting of votes on December 3.
TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy with his grandson. (DC Image)

HYDERABAD: Congress leaders and workers have made a beeline to TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy's residence in Jubilee Hills on Friday to congratulate him after a majority of exit polls predicted victory for the Congress in the Assembly elections.

Several Congress candidates, who contested Assembly polls, also met Revanth Reddy and shared details about their winning prospects. Senior leaders Mallu Ravi, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Malreddy Ranga Reddy, and A. Chandrashekar were among those who met the PCC chief.

A jubilant mood prevailed at his residence as scores of Revanth Reddy's supporters raised "CM Revanth" slogans. They said the exit polls will be repeated on the day of election results on December 3 and expressed confidence that the Congress government led by Revanth Reddy as the Chief Minister will assume office on December 9.

Revanth Reddy along with senior Congress leaders reviewed polling percentage and trend constituency-wise. They discussed the party's plans and strategies in the event of Congress getting a clear majority or the voters giving a hung verdict on December 3.

The meeting went on for over about three hours in which the senior leaders took stock of the party's situation in every Assembly constituency. They obtained details from booth-level committee members, party's mandal, constituency and district incharges on the polling trend in all the 119 Assembly constituencies in 33 districts.

After analysing all the reports, the leaders reportedly felt that the Congress would secure a clear majority and form the government on its own. Despite this, the party leaders discussed Plan-B in the event of a hung Assembly.

Party sources said that if the Congress secures a clear majority, all the newly-elected MLAs will be asked to come to Hyderabad soon after they receive their election certificate on December 3. In the event of a hung Assembly, then the party is planning to shift the MLAs to Bengaluru to prevent poaching of its MLAs by the BRS.

The Congress suffered huge blows at the hands of the BRS after the 2014 and 2018 Assembly polls. The Congress won 21 seats in 2014, but seven of them joined the BRS. In the 2018 elections, the Congress won 19 seats but 12 of them joined the BRS within six months due to which the Congress even lost principal opposition status in the Legislative Assembly.

The BRS engineered defections in Congress in 2014 and 2018 though it had clear majority on both the occasions. In the event of hung Assembly this time, the Congress leadership expects the BRS to go even more aggressive to poach the Congress MLAs to secure power. To prevent recurrence of such instances, the Congress leadership is adopting a more cautious approach this time.
Members of Congress are demanding answers to why it took the Pentagon days to notify Congress and the White House about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins hospitalization. The lack of transparency has prompted some lawmakers to urge... More of this article 
Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP) pays an annual dividend of $1.64 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 2.63%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 2 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 142.61%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, TAP will have a dividend payout ratio of 30.31% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.

Read our dividend analysis for TAP.
Americas changing view of China

In the wake of the annual Reagan National Defense Survey, startling revelations have surfaced regarding the American populaces shifting perceptions of China. The survey, conducted among 2,506 U.S. adults from October 27 to November 5, unveils a seismic shift in how Americans view China, shaping national sentiment and strategies concerning this global powerhouse.

Rising perceptions of hostility

A significant transformation has occurred in American attitudes towards China. An overwhelming 77% now perceive China as an enemy, marking a staggering rise from just 15% viewing the nation as an ally. This drastic shift is a stark departure from statistics recorded merely a few years ago. In 2018, the survey highlighted that 55% considered China an enemy, with 38% holding it as an ally. Concerningly, the perception of China as the greatest threat to the U.S. has soared to 51%, up from 43% the previous year and a mere 21% in 2018.

Get alerts:

Concerns and defense strategies

The surveys exploration into American concerns surrounding China reveals a multi-faceted landscape of worries. Beyond the overarching apprehension, several specific issues draw significant attention. Chinas rapid military expansion, exemplified by increased defense spending and advancements in technology, rings alarm bells among 20% of respondents. Human rights violations against the Uyghur minority, involving reports of forced labor camps and cultural suppression, deeply trouble 20% of those surveyed. Additionally, anxieties over Chinas foreign policies, such as territorial disputes and assertive actions in the South China Sea, concern 17% of participants. Economic practices, including trade imbalances and accusations of intellectual property theft, weigh heavily on 15% of respondents.

Taiwans delicate status adds another layer to American apprehensions. While the U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwans independence due to its One China policy, a substantial 72% express readiness to reconsider this stance in the event of a Chinese invasion. Moreover, an intriguing 46% voice support for deploying American ground troops to defend Taiwan if such an invasion were to occur. This heightened willingness to act signifies the escalating concerns about potential geopolitical tensions and the need to safeguard regional stability.

Tactical responses and Congressional focus

Lawmakers are intensifying their focus on countering Chinas pervasive online manipulation tactics. Concerns have escalated regarding the use of platforms like TikTok and other deceptive methods employed by China to sway American public opinion. Committees are exploring strategies to combat Chinas propaganda efforts, acknowledging the intricate challenges posed by this smokeless battlefield of the mind.

Congressional deliberations and warning signals

The increased congressional attention towards China is underscored by the release of a memo outlining the depth of Chinas espionage and influence operations within the United States. This memorandum underscored the vast scope of Chinas united front strategy, a method aimed at extending influence beyond conventional channels. By shedding light on this strategy, the document brings attention to the intricate challenges encountered in effectively countering these expansive operations.

Looking ahead

As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, the revelations from the Reagan National Defense Survey offer a glimpse into the evolving American perception of China. The data not only portrays a significant shift in sentiment but also underscores the multifaceted challenges faced in countering Chinas influence operations.
Mandalay Resources Corporation, a natural resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, extraction, processing, and reclamation of various mineral properties. It explores for gold, silver, and antimony deposits. The company holds a 100% interest in the Costerfield gold-antimony mine covering an area of 7,540.78 hectares (ha) located in Central Victoria, Australia; and the Bjorkdal gold mine that comprises 9 mining concessions and 19 exploration permits located in Vasterbotten County in northern Sweden. It also holds a 100% interest in the Cerro Bayo silver-gold mine covering 29,495 ha of exploitation concessions and 45 hectares of exploration concessions located in the Cerro Bayo district, southern Chile. In addition, the company holds a 100% interest in the Challacollo silver-gold project, which includes 98 mining exploitation concessions covering an area of 20,378 ha located to the southeast of the port city of Iquique, Chile. Mandalay Resources Corporation was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Salesforce, Inc. is a cloud-based SaaS company founded by former Oracle exec Marc Benioff in 1999. Mr. Benioff founded the company with 3 partners who will remain active in management until nearly 2020. Larry Elison, a co-founder of Oracle, is a noteworthy early investor who helped propel the company to its success. The company is a leader in CRM or customer relationship management and is largely responsible for the proliferation of digitized CRM solutions that is ongoing today.

The company was not immune to the DotCom bubble bursting and had to cut back its workforce and plans but the event is nothing but a blip on the radar now. Even then, the company could sustain a hyper-growth rate that saw revenue skyrocket from $0 in 1999 to over $100 million by the end of 2003. The company held its IPO in 2004 and raised $110 million. The hypergrowth continued until 2014 driven by the growing recognition among C-suite executives that digital CRM was the path to accelerated revenue and earnings growth.

The company made multiple small acquisitions in the period leading up to 2014, but it was then that investment in other technology accelerated. Total spending in 2016 topped $5 billion and led to the acquisition of Slack in 2020. The company was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, instantly becoming the largest technology company in the index. The Slack acquisition came under some criticism due to the elevated cost the company paid. The track record of growth that includes sustained sequential growth through the end of 2022 put an end to the criticism.

Today, Salesforce.com provides customer relationship management technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. It is the 1st cloud stock to reach $1 billion in revenue, hitting that target in 2009. It is the worlds largest enterprise-level software provider and the 61st-largest company by market cap. In regards to US businesses, it is ranked 136th on the Forbes Fortune 500 list for 2022 when revenue topped $7.7 billion.

The company offers its services via the Customer 360 platform. The platform is designed to deliver connected experiences for a business's customers in a way that delivers sales. Revenue is generated in 2 channels that include Sales and Service. The Sales offering stores data, monitors leads and tracks traffic progression through the sales funnel. It can forecast and provide other analytics as well as deliver quotes, contracts and invoices.

The Service segment allows companies to provide personalized services and support at scale. Scale is the fundamental quality that drives Salesfoce.coms success because it has been able to scale and aid its clients when they scale. Among Services many offerings is the ability to create apps with a drag-and-drop builder tool. This segment also includes Slack which permits easy communication among business associates.

Salesforce.com Ventures is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Salesforce.com. It is in business to invest in start-up and early growth phase businesses and has invested more than $5 billion since 2009.
Waterside PSNI station will open its new custody suite, which is expected to hold between 400 and 500 people a week, today, Thursday 2 November.

The 15 million suite will provide custody provision for the whole of the North West, from Coleraine to Strabane.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the new 21-cell suite will enable detainees to have their needs met to a greater degree than before.

It gives us 21-cell provision here in an ultra modern, fit for purpose, custody facility, which has been designed by the people who will be working within it, he said.

With the facilities we have here, it just makes it a really good place, a bright place for our staff to work within and for those detainees to be kept with us in a way that makes sure we do our duty to them, our duty of care to them, in a way that absolutely meets the standards that a modern custody suite must.

As part of a regional custody healthcare service, there will be an embedded healthcare model, led by nurse practitioners, within Waterside Custody Suite.

Six specially trained Custody Nurse Practitioners (CNPs) appointed by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust will work as part of the custody team. CNPs from an Acute Care background will assess, treat and, when necessary, refer detainees on as appropriate.

What police tend to see within the custody suites is that it's very much the front line of some of the crises that are facing people across Northern Ireland. So many of the detainees who come through here have got needs in terms of addiction, healthcare, literacy, a lot of real complex issues.

Here's an opportunity to actually have some of those needs met in a way that thinks about them, not just as someone who's in the custody provision but as someone who needs greater support.

Anyone detained, and who previously would have been taken into custody at Strand Road and Coleraine, will now go to Waterside. Strand Road Custody Suite has now closed while the Coleraine Suite will continue to be used on an ad-hoc basis.

Our long term plan for our custody provision is to build fewer but bigger purpose built custody suites, Assistant Chief Constable Henderson said.

It allows us to invest in a facility that just far better meets the needs of the detainees. The previous accommodation we had is night and day compared to what we have here now.

Waterside Suite has a dedicated sight-link court room with direct access to any courtroom in Northern Ireland.

The Custody Suite has been designed to include provision for detainees who are vulnerable, in particular those with neurodiversity needs and those with disabilities.

The cells all have translucent windows which allow as much natural light in as possible. Lighting can be dimmed if needed. Four of the cells have LED screens to assist in communication with vulnerable detainees, and exercise yards at the end of each cell wing.
A new mural which is the culmination of a community led cancer and mental health project was unveiled on Derrys Strand Road on Thursday.

We Carry On was designed by Peaball graffiti collective based on new research from Ulster University into the mental health impact of cancer surgery, commissioned by Hive Cancer Support (formerly the Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group).

The resulting piece of community art on one of Derrys busiest streets will help people who have been through cancer surgery feel seen.

Maureen Collins, Project Manager of Hive Cancer Support said: We are delighted to see this mural come to fruition.

Taking part in this research project was a hugely emotional experience for our members who spoke in depth about their cancer surgery and its lasting impact.

Some of them had to confront really difficult feelings that they thought were gone and buried and I have so much admiration and respect for them for being willing to do that.

In recognition of this, we brought the people who took part in the study together and presented the mural to them first before this evenings launch.

This mural, at the heart of our city, is a tribute to all cancer thrivers and reminds people Hive Cancer Support is here to help you carry on- whatever that looks like for you.

Dr Claire McCauley, Lecturer with the School of Nursing and Paramedic Science and Lead Researcher at Ulster University paid tribute to the bravery of the people who took part in the study.

The collaborative approach between the participants, Hive Cancer Support project team, and Ulster University has underlined the importance of research informed by local people and their experiences.

We have been inspired by the bravery of the Hive Cancer Support members. Their participation has enabled a deeper understanding of the long-term impacts of cancer surgery and treatment on mental health. Study findings highlight that mental and emotional wellbeing, potentially overlooked, now need to be recognised, prioritised and supported alongside physical recovery.

This groundbreaking research and the lived experience the participants shared with us will be absolutely critical in starting necessary conversations to enable holistic and person-centred healthcare delivery.

Donal ODoherty of Peaball street art collective interpreted the findings of the Ulster University research study guided by Hive Cancer Support.

He commented: We here at Peaball would like to thank Hive Cancer Support, Ulster University and all the participants who took part in the research for inviting us to be part of this amazing project.

Wed also like to thank Quayside Shopping Centre for giving us permission to use the building for the mural.

Street art can have the power to engage with its audience in a different way and we hope this finished piece can play a part in raising awareness of the impact cancer can have on peoples mental wellbeing.

This mural was created using GrafClean paint by Graphenstone, which reacts with sunlight to reduce air pollution and is situated on the side wall of the Turkish Restaurant at Quayside Shopping Centre on the Strand Road.

Maureen Collins added that the busy city centre location will help to raise public awareness

We want this mural and the resources to spark important conversations and lead to greater awareness around the mental impact of cancer surgery.

This project was made possible through funding from the Ideas Fund, a grants programme run by the British Science Association and funded by Wellcome, which enables the UK public to develop and try out ideas that address problems related to mental wellbeing by working with researchers.

For more information on Hive Cancer Support go to www.hivecancersupport.co.uk

PICTURED ABOVE: From left: Michelle McLaren Development Worker and Maureen Collins Project Manager at Hive Cancer Support, Dr Claire McCauley and Dr Carrie Flannagan of Ulster University, Sarah Duddy Programmes & Services Coordinator and Jacquie Loughrey Education and Prevention Officer at Hive Cancer Support with Donal O'Doherty of Peaball graffiti collective.
Members of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership met at the An Grianan Hotel in Burt this week for a winter plenary session to celebrate and raise awareness of the hugely important work of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership, the North West Development Group and the North West Development Fund.

This high-level meeting was held between senior Government officials from both the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government and civic leaders and partners and officials from Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council.

A key element of the meeting was the launch of the North West Tertiary Education Clusters Memorandum of Understanding, showcasing the important vision of further and higher level education provision in the North West.

This unique and innovative partnership between ATU, Ulster University, the NWRC and Donegal ETB assists with the growth of third level education places across the region. It emanates from the strong cross border working relationship over the years and the excellent work done to develop each institutions capacities to achieve their respective missions through enhanced cooperation.

Members attending the meeting received a comprehensive overview on the achievements of the North West Strategic Partnership and the positive impact it has on the North West City Region.

There also was a series of detailed discussions by panels made up of key partners and representatives. Among the topics discussed were the Territorial co-operation of the North West City Region; Infrastructure and spatial growth and how to achieve Net Zero by 2045 and the potential of green growth with the Regional Energy Agency Investment Concept.

Delegates were also given the opportunity to hear at first-hand about the joint cross border Colmcille Arts and Culture Project from Donegal County Council project officer, Deirdre Harte.

The North West Strategic Growth Partnership is a unique structure that was first established in 2016 through the North South Ministerial Council, to provide support and discussion to the North West City Region.

Jointly led by Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council, and chaired by the two Mayors, the meeting is supported by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD). The Partnership is established in conjunction with and supported by The Executive Office and The Irish Government.

Jointly chairing the meeting was Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue, who welcomed the innovative cross border work being taken forward by all partners.

She said: This is a significant meeting that is attended by very senior officers from government across the island of Ireland who are doing a tremendous amount of work to look at the growth needs of the region.

"I was very impressed with the level of work that is taking place on important issues relating to further and higher education and was delighted to welcome the Teritary Education Partnership to the meeting to hear at first-hand about their ambitious and forward thinking vision for third level education provision across the North West City Region.

"The signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their existing relationship will allow all four institutions to continue with their work in capitalising opportunities to improve third level education provision for all.

Referring to the panel discussions, the Mayor said they highlighted the joined up approach being taken across all our partners to really develop and address the regional priorities for the growth and development across this North West City Region.

It was also positive to hear about the achievements of the North West Strategic Partnership and about the success of the Colmcille project in creating greater awareness and appreciation of the life of St Colmcille. I was also glad to hear about the commitment to achieving Net Zero and putting green growth top of our agenda going forward.

Extending a sincere thanks to everyone participating in the meeting, Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council John Kelpie said it was more important than ever that these strong links with senior government officials are retained and re-emphasised the importance of collaboration.

PICTURED ABOVE: Members of the North West Teritary Education Cluster signing the Memorandum of Understanding at the NW Strategic Growth Partnership meeting this week, from left, Anne McHugh, Chief Executive Donegal Education and Training Board; Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice Chancellor, UIster University; Dr. Orla Flynn, President, Atlantic Technological University and Leo Murphy, Principal and Chief Executive, North West Regional College.
The Strathfoyle community has launched a new Village Plan and Welcome Pack.

Enagh Youth Forum's Strathfoyle Cleaner, Greener & Safer Project has aimed to support tenants to better engage with their community, become better informed, improve the local environment and make Strathfoyle a Safer, Cleaner & Greener space for them to live in.

Since May 2022 the project has involved local NIHE tenants getting involved in a number of community safety activities and environmental initiatives including the 'Strathfoyle In Bloom Community Planting Project' and 'Strathfoyle Re-Imaging' Project. Tenants helped carry out a number of community litter clean up's, installed bird and bat boxes on the new Strathfoyle Greenway and delivered a road safety campaign.

Two core elements of the project have saw the development and publication of a new village welcome pack and five year village plan.

Michelle Hayden (Project Coordinator) said: "The Strathfoyle Community Plan sets out a clear vision for the local area for 2023 - 2028 which has been co-designed through consultation with local tenants, community groups and stakeholders, detailing the actions which the wider community feel are needed to build upon the strengths and qualities that the Strathfoyle area has.

"This plan has been developed based on a shared vision from the local community of Strathfoyle as a thriving area where people live, visit, work and play and where the wider community collectively thrive and prosper.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NIHE Sustaining Tenancies team and local NIHE Waterside team for funding and supporting this project."

Paul Hughes (Youth & Community Development Worker) said: "I would like to thank all local NIHE tenants and residents, Insight Solutions, community partners and stakeholders for contributing their ideas to the new village plan.

"The plan, while also highlighting key issues and concerns from local residents within the area, focusses more so on aspirations and hopes for services and projects which can be developed in the Strathfoyle area - setting foundations for plans for the next five years.

"Whilst the plan also includes a range of actions which assign priorities and timescales to the projects, it should not be treated as a final blue print for development.

"Rather, it should be viewed as a series of priorities and actions which will deliver significant benefits for the local area. The plan is a standalone document but has clear links the wider Faughan Local Growth Plan and the Local Development Plan being led by Derry City & Strabane District Council.

Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Jason Barr said: "It is great to be hear in Strathfoyle today, learning more about Enagh Youth Forum's 'Strathfoyle Safer, Cleaner & Greener' project which is funded and supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executives 'Sustaining Tenancies' funding program.

"It is clear that this project has made a meaningful difference to the local area and has had a positive impact. It has helped put tenants front and centre within the local community, it has helped give voice and empowered and enabled local tenants be involved in the local decision making process and have their say and their voices made matter.

"The new 'Village Welcome Pack' is a brilliant initiative and a fantastic community resource. It is something I feel could be replicated in other areas across the city and district.

"I am delighted to be hear today to help launch the new village plan, which sets out key actions for all local groups and the community as a whole to work towards collectively over the next five years."

Ken Breslin (NIHE Sustaining Tenancies Funding Officer) said: "The NIHE are delighted to be supporting this project in Strathfoyle. Its refreshing to see all of the projects recent achievements over this past year. Its clear that the project is making a positive impact to the local area and NIHE tenants.

"The new village plan will help bring together tenants, residents, community partners and statutory agencies including Derry City and Strabane District Council to work together to re-generate the local area.

"Community planning is so important to helping shape our rural communities and I wish you all every success as you work towards implementing the actions and making them a reality."
Derry City and Strabane is 90% 'more dangerous' than other areas in the North and unfit funding has left PSNI in 'a really bad place' according to the Chair of the Police Federation for NI.

Liam Kelly, a PSNI Inspector and current Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland told Derry City and Strabane Council about the budgetary pressures facing PSNI.

He presented to DCSDC's Governance and Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday last.

The PSNI currently has 6,557 Police officers and 2,358 police staff members however Mr Kelly told Council those are not the latest figures and are both likely reduced by up to 40.

Mr Kelly said the drop in staff is due to the lack of funding and in turn creates a number of problems in the district.

That's a direct consequence of the PSNI operating in a deficit budget and there will be consequences for that, in fact we're experiencing some of those consequences as we speak, he said.

Last year the PSNI had a 59 million deficit, which they were able to do by finding efficiencies and closing down parts of the police estate.

This year they started with a negative budget of 141 million  so far they've got that down to 38 million, still in deficit, however, that doesn't represent any pay award for their police officers or staff for 2023. So that figure has been upwardly revised to reflect that to be in and around a 52 million deficit as things stand today.

From April 2023 the PSNI has had no new recruitment of staff or officers according to Mr Kelly. Meanwhile, officers are leaving the service 'not only on retirement but leaving service early in careers or mid careers'

That's a direct consequence of PSNI being unable to pay a competitive salary.

At the moment, basically, we're in a bit of a bad place, a really bad place, and it's a place not of our own making. Policing has not had the budget allocated to it to make it sufficient to provide the full services that it can and we're starting to see the consequences of that now.

Derry and Strabane is one of four areas in the North that saw crime rise in 2023. According to the Crime Rate website it is 90% 'more dangerous' to live in Derry City and Strabane than other areas in the North.

Mr Kelly said the only place ahead of it on the website is Belfast City.

He said 'crimes against the person' such as sexual offences, robbery, assaults are on the rise, as are theft, drugs and possession of weapons are on the rise in four areas, including Derry.

It's also a sad reflection that some 25 year after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement that we still have a terrorist threat where our officers are being targeted both on and off duty and you don't need me to tell the Derry City and Strabane Council, it was November of last year where we had the first attack on our officers in your city and also the device left outside Waterside Police station.

He also mentioned the attack in February on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh in February.

Those things, compounded by the data breach that occurred over the summer months, has resulted in PSNI having spiralling sickness levels with reducing resource because there hasn't been investment in place and we've seen officers having increased workloads and their morale has plummeted.

Because of no uplift in remuneration we've seen a lot of junior officers who were employed to come into the police service being unable to take second employment because of the nature of their role as police officers, which has resulted in them moving on to other careers.

Officers sometimes step in when other workers go on strike, adding to the stress on its own resources Mr Kelly explained.

In one instance this year police officers drove ambulances when health care workers went on strike.

According to Mr Kelly, police also have to 'pick up the slack' with mental health support and social services but can't maintain that going forward.

I'll put it to yourselves as councillors: what would happen if the police as a body were unable to provide their full statutory function? Because I believe we are getting to that point now because of the crippling budget.

"It's difficult to address at present because we haven't got our own devolved administration and the Conservative party in England seems to be turning its attention now to survival in relation to its own reelection when the general election is called next year so unfortunately policing in Northern Ireland is well down the political radar.

Underfunding has resulted in the decimation of some services and an inability to carry out repairs.

We've already seen the decimation of our community policing teams right across Northern Ireland. We have reduced visibility of police. We have police vehicles unable to be repaired because the money is not there to do it, therefore that reduces the visibility and the ability of patrols to be conducted, which results in reduced community interactions.

Another thing we've seen is a reduction in the reporting of matters to police because the reality is we're not going to be able to respond as effectively as we have in the past and slower or reduced investigations will produce poorer criminal justice outcomes for victims of crime so confidence levels in policing will recede.

Despite the many issues the force faces, a recent report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary showed the North is safer on average than much of Britain.

The rate of crimes is 58.6 crimes per 1000 people average across Northern Ireland, compared with England and Wales that number is 93.6 so that's a credit to our staff and officers for the work that they put in, Mr Kelly said.

However, he said those 'encouraging levels' are going to be difficult to maintain unless something is done about the budgets and numbers continue to decline.

He said a proper budget is needed to maintain current crime rates and to start recruiting and in turn address the issues he outlined.
Derrys Lumen Christi College has been named as the leading secondary school in Northern Ireland.

The grammar school appears in The Sunday Times' Parent Power Guide, and is ranked 17th in the UK in the annual league table of the top-performing schools.

All the schools in the list were ranked according to the first true set of post-pandemic examination results.

The latest guide is the 31st edition and is available online from Friday and in print this Sunday.

Lumen Christi, a co-educational Catholic grammar school that opened in 1997, rose to the top of the table after placing seventh in the last list, which was topped by St Marys, Magherafelt.

Lumen Christi claimed the honour in the year before.

The top 10 was filled out by St Marys Magherafelt, St Dominics Grammar and Strathearn School (both in Belfast), Sullivan Upper in Holywood, St Louis Grammar in Ballymena, Banbridge Academy and the Rainey Endowed in Magherafelt.

Parent Power Guide editor Helen Davies said she hoped the league table would prove a useful tool for parents.

She added: The educational landscape continues to be challenging across both the state and independent sectors, and this is the first true assessment of post-pandemic exam results.

We believe these rankings  and all the additional information on offer in Parent Power  provide parents with a more reliable guide to academic achievement in schools today.

Being a teenager is hard enough, and the past few years since Covid have made life even harder.

It is heartening to highlight the achievements of so many students and schools across the UK.
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
The family of a murdered GAA official are being retraumatised by ongoing delays in police making sensitive material available to an inquest into the death, a court has heard.

A barrister representing the family of Sean Brown said their treatment by state agencies was a public shame and a public disgrace.

Des Fahy KC also said it was impossible for the Brown family to escape the conclusion that the state parties are running down the clock ahead of a cut-off point for legacy inquests imposed by new Government legislation.

Belfast High Court was told on Friday that the inquest cannot now resume in January as scheduled.

Mr Brown, 61, 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.

His inquest began in March and had been scheduled to resume in January.

The proceedings are taking place 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.

Mr Browns widow Bridie attended the latest review hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast.

Ahead of the inquest resuming, material relating to the murder must be security-vetted and distributed to the legal parties involved.

A separate hearing will be needed to consider any applications made by police or the security services to redact evidence on PII grounds.

Counsel for the coroner Joseph Aiken KC told the court that the PSNI had given an update on the PII process in a closed hearing.

He said it was now apparent that the hearing could not resume as planned on January 8.

Representing the PSNI, Mark Robinson KC said Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is absolutely committed to assisting the court.

He said an initial tranche of sensitive material in the case would be considered by Mr Boutcher on December 11, allowing a PII hearing to take place in January.

Mr Robinson added: We say that material will include matters of significance and will assist the court in its decision-making process as to whether or not the inquest is to continue.

Mr Fahy said there had been a degree of inevitability about the further delay in the proceedings.

He added: Nevertheless, to hear this morning that the date for the resumption of the inquest is not going to be met is something that is profoundly disappointing and upsetting for the Brown family to hear.

We have now reached a stage in this process where what is happening is re-traumatising the family, 26 years after the murder of Sean Brown.

The responsibility, the Brown family feel, lies solely with the state parties and their treatment by the state parties is a matter of public shame and public disgrace.

It is impossible for the Brown family to escape the conclusion that the state parties are running down the clock so we do not have sufficient court time to hear this inquest by the cut-off date.

Coroner Mr Justice Kinney said he now finally had a timetable to start consideration of PII matters.

He added: I think it is very regrettable and frustrating we are in this position.

It is also abundantly clear that the oral hearing cannot proceed in January so I am going to remove it from the list.

The coroner said he was not prepared to let the case sit in limbo.

He added: We are potentially in difficulties because of the guillotine imposed by the legislation.

Mr Justice Kinney said the inquest would be rescheduled to resume on March 4 and would sit for four weeks.

He added: I will not be looking at peoples other commitments or diary commitments, this will take priority.

He said another review would be held on December 8.
HIGHLIGHTS The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G smartphone has been spotted the NBTC certification website.

On the NBTC certification website, the Galaxy A25 5G model carries the model number SM-A256E/DSN.

It could feature a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U display.

For quite some time, there have been rumours about the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G smartphone. Recently, this smartphone was spotted on Singapores IMDA certification platform. Now, the Galaxy A25 5G device has made its appearance on the NBTC certification website.

On the NBTC certification website, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G model carries the model number SM-A256E/DSN, reports MySmartPrice.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy A15 5G & Galaxy A25 5G spotted on IMDA certification: Heres what to expect

Credit: MySmartPrice

The listing confirmed the moniker of the upcoming handset, and revealed 5G support.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy A25 5G India launch seems imminent as its support page goes live: Check expected specs

No other specification of the Galaxy A25 5G was revealed by the NBTC listing.

So far, rumours suggest that the upcoming A25 5G handset is expected to feature a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U display. This display will likely have a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1000 nits.

The Galaxy A25 5G will likely be powered by the Exynos 1280 chipset. It could be available in two storage configurations: 6/8 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of internal storage.

For photography, it is anticipated to house a 50MP primary sensor with OIS support, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor. It could also feature a 13MP front camera. Moreover, the upcoming smartphone could pack a 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging support. It will also likely have a USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers.

In addition, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G smartphone model will likely carry Android 14 along with the OneUI 6 skin. Recently, the leaked renders showed the smartphone in four colour options: Blue, Blue-Grey, Lime Green, and Black.

We are yet to hear officially from Samsung. So until then lets take these specifications with a pinch of salt.
Save my User ID and Password

Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.

Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.
Nio adds Geely as battery-swapping ecosystem partner

China-based EV company Nio secured a partnership with another traditional carmaker in China. Nio signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Geely Holding on November 29 for battery swapping.

Nio has been scaling its battery-swapping stations and services inside and outside China. According to the company's website, it has set up 2187 battery-swapping stations worldwide and completed over 32 million times of services. More than 2,000 of the stations were constructed in China. Bloomberg reported that Nio plans to build 1,000 battery-swapping stations in 2023.

The company formed a strategic partnership with Geely on Wednesday. Geely has a subsidiary focusing on developing battery-swapping technology for ride-hailing service vehicles.

According to a statement, Nio and Geely will collaborate on forming swapped battery standards and technologies. They also intend to establish service networks and develop EVs supporting battery swapping together.

Less than 10 days ago, Nio built a similar partnership with Changan Automobile, another China-based traditional carmaker. The pair will collaborate on the ownership, technologies, maintenance and financing of swapped batteries as well as vehicle development, according to Bloomberg.

Chinese media reported that William Li, Nio's co-founder and CEO, said the company has discussed partnerships with another four to five automakers when announcing the collaboration with Changan.

Rumors have emerged in the industry that China-based JAC Motors might be Nio's next partner in battery swapping. JAC has been manufacturing EVs for Nio. Neither company has responded to the speculation.
Subscriber content preview

NEW YORK (AP)  Most drivers would pay $15 to enter Manhattan's central business district under a plan released by New York officials Thursday.

The congestion pricing plan, which neighboring New Jersey has filed a lawsuit over, will be the first such program in the United States if it is approved by transportation officials early next year.





. . .
Subscriber content preview

Photo via Hudson Pacific Properties [enlarge] The firms new office is located in this building, at 411 First Ave. S., Suite 200.





Infrastructure solutions firm HNTB has moved into a new Class A office space in Pioneer Square. As of yesterday, the firm now occupies 12,305 square feet at Hudson Pacific Properties' Merrill Place building at 411 1st Ave. S.





. . .
FIVE-TIME All-Ireland winning hurler Kyle Hayes has been found guilty of two violent disorder charges but not guilty of assault causing harm.

Following more than three hours of deliberations this Friday afternoon, the jury of seven men and five women returned unanimous verdicts on all four counts before them.

A co-accused - Craig Cosgrave, aged 24, of Caherelly, Grange, Limerick - was found not guilty of engaging in violent disorder in the Icon nightclub in Limerick city centre. He was discharged by Judge Dermot Sheehan after the verdicts were handed down.

On the ninth day of the trial at Limerick Circuit Court, Mr Hayes, aged 25, of Ballyoshea, Kildimo, Limerick was found guilty of engaging in violent disorder in the Icon nightclub in Limerick city centre and of engaging in violent disorder at Upper Denmark Street on October 28, 2019.

The jury found the All-Star Limerick hurler not guilty of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy (24), at Upper Denmark Street, Limerick city on the same date.

There was no reaction from Mr Hayes as the verdicts were read out shortly after 4pm.

Throughout the trial, Mr Cosgrave was defended by Seamus Roche SC, appearing with Reginald Garrett BL, instructed by solicitor Kieran OBrien.

Mr Hayes was represented by Brian McInerney SC, appearing with Joseph McMahon BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan.

The case was prosecuted by John O'Sullivan BL, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe

The jury began its deliberations at 11.57am this Friday afternoon. Judge Dermot Sheehan recharged the jury at 12.35pm following legal argument.

The jury recommenced their deliberations at 12.44pm before breaking for lunch at 1pm. The jury then returned to the court at 2.32pm as they wished to listen the DAR (digital audio recordings) of the evidence of five witnesses - Christopher Heelan, Fiona Cowhey, Detective Garda Dean Landers, Garda Daniel O'Riordan and Sergeant Shane Thornton.

They resumed deliberations at 3.25pm. They returned at 3.39pm, seeking clarification on one of the charges before resuming deliberations at 3.42pm

The jury returned at 3.58pm when the foreperson told the court clerk they had agreed unanimously on the four counts.
Chinese FM calls for comprehensive cease-fire between Israel and Hamas

Xinhua) 11:13, December 01, 2023

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Sales and service outsourcing partner, SalesSense International, has announced today that along with a rebranding of the company, it plans to create over 100 new jobs at its customer engagement centre in Dundalk.

Effective immediately, as part of a strategic rebranding initiative and expansion, the company will operate under its new name, Uniquely. In a statement announcing a significant investment in the region, along with the rebrand, it says its new redefined corporate identity has been specially tailored to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

Announce a "significant investment in the North-East region and M1 Corridor  within the next 18 months", Uniquely says it plans to create over 100 new job opportunities.

It says that this expansion is "not just a testament to Uniquelys commitment to the local economy but also an indication of the vibrant opportunities that exist in this dynamic region of Ireland". In addition, the company hopes to expand its footprint even further in the coming years, both in Ireland and abroad.

Established in 2006, Uniquely says it boasts a wealth of experience in diverse markets, collaborating with various organisations to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. Its expertise, which it says is rooted in knowledge and practical experience, spans service solutions in sectors such as Energy, Financial Services, Medical Technology, Telecoms, Media, and Retail.

Gerard Teahon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Uniquely said: Today is an exceptionally proud day for all of us in Uniquely.

"As a result of our unwavering focus on operational excellence, clients are increasingly coming to us to help them with their development and growth objectives and this significant investment of over 100 new job opportunities is in response to increased demand for our services across all our business areas.

At Uniquely, our vision is to create extraordinary experiences, that push the possibilities of careers, businesses and our category.

"We collaborate with leading banks in Financial Services on innovative care solutions, we are pioneering sustainable strategies in Utilities, and we are transforming communications sales and support in the Telecoms sector.

"Across all these domains, our central mission is to elevate standards in customer support and engagement, ensuring exceptional care is woven into the fabric of every sector we touch.

In addition, people are at the heart of everything we do at Uniquely including these new employment opportunities, which are a welcome investment for our sector, the local economy and the North-East region, as well as contributing to the sustained reputation of the M1 Corridor as an international hub for businesses.

Uniquely has Customer Engagement Centres in Dundalk and Galway, field sales teams operating nationwide, as well as offices in Manchester.

It says these locations were all chosen to optimise service delivery, foster collaboration and support local economies. The company partners with large Irish and International businesses such as AIB, Bord Gais Energy, Sky, Pinergy, SSE Airtricity and the Irish Red Cross.

Uniquely is a Deloitte Best Managed Company (Platinum Partner) and has also been awarded the Guaranteed Irish symbol for its commitment to excellence and innovation, local jobs and communities.
Three friends for life whose dream it was to set up their own pub.

Now, after two years of running the Community Taphouse Mo Chara in Dundalk, the Beer Boys are now launching Irelands most sup-able lager Mo Chara Lager.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream, three best friends, Cillian Mulligan, Paul Kelly, and Vincent Mulligan, set up their own community taphouse in their hometown of Dundalk, offering the best the local community has to offer in a novel and unique setting.

The name Mo Chara, meaning my friend in Irish, was inspired by their lifelong friendship and the spirit of their brand.

Opened in 2021, Mo Chara, has become a multi-generational hub of the community in the northeast, offering top notch pizzas and one of the widest ranges of craft beers in Ireland.

Now the lads, who are all in their twenties, are expanding their sights by bringing a wee taste of Dundalk to the masses.

The lads said they are now delighted to be launching Mo Chara Lager. With a tagline like Lager na Daoine / The Peoples Lager, this grip & sip is the no nonsense top-notch tasting beer you've been waiting for, they said.

They said it is a real clean and smooth 4.2% gluten-free lager with all of that flavour. This is one you're gonna want to grab a four pack and sup a few back.

Mo Chara Lager is being distributed nationwide by Four Corners and is available now from all good independent off licences, bars, and restaurants.

The label takes visual cues from the classic label artwork of the Great Northern Brewery in Dundalk from the 1890s, along with nods to the interior of the Mo Chara premises which was built in 1902.

The lads will be launching the brand-new beer in Mo Chara on Friday 8th December.

Visitors can expect the full Mo Chara experience with a free stubby on arrival, banging pizza, and a vinyl DJ and live music to get the night going. All welcome!

Cilian said that launching their own lager is an exciting prospect.

We have come so far in such a short time, he continued.

We were honoured to win Pub of the Year at the Louth Business Awards in our first year open, and now we cant wait to bring a little bit of Dundalk to beer lovers nationwide.

Dundalk has a rich history of brewing and distilling, and our wee stubby is the perfect combo of tradition meets tomorrow, with the label design featuring a special nod to Mo Charas arched brick windows built in 1902.

Not a lot of people know, but our initial dream was to start a brewery and launch a beer, but we very quickly realised we didnt have a spare couple of million lying around and decided opening a pub first and going about it a different way would allow us time to build the brand and our vision.

So, launching Mo Chara Lager is kind of a culmination of everything we had initially dreamed of, and we firmly believe Mo Chara Lager will be Irelands most sup-able lager!

When Cillian, Paul and Vincent met during primary school, they became instant best friends and have been inseparable ever since.

The three studied at NUIG together and spent their summers on J1 visas in Canada, France, and Chicago.

After their studies Cillian and Paul worked as Jameson Brand Ambassadors in Bangalore, India, learning all about the drinks industry; and Vincent completed a thesis in Marketing in the Irish Craft Beer industry.

When they found themselves back together working in a local brewery in Dundalk, they started to dream again.

Using all the knowledge they had collectively accrued and their common love of the area, they set out to make this dream a reality.

The opportunity arose to take over the historic Century Bar in the heart of Dundalk and the plan was set in motion.

They jumped at the chance and set about restoring the listed building to its former glory.

Mo Chara is not simply a pub, but a hub in the northeast, they said.

They showcase the best arts and culture from the region by creating a space that encourages collaboration and celebrates the creators, through musical performances by local artists, Comedy Nights, Mos Sunday Markets, Cocktail Canvas Club, and Pottery and Pints events to name a few.

Supporting local producers is very important to them, and they use only the best quality ingredients in their kitchen, combining Neapolitan style pizza with Irish takeaway toppings.

They host sell-out kitchen pop-ups each month, inviting the best restaurants from all over Ireland to take over their kitchen for a night.

Most recent to host was Michelin Guide listed Dublin based Chinese restaurant Big Fan, in September.

It is a big part of Mo Charas ethos to give back to the local community, donating 10c of every pint of house beer to a local charity.

They also host regular community led events and initiatives, sponsoring local and national charities.

Even though recent times have been trying for the hospitality sector, the Mo Chara lads have thrived with their unique take on community and inclusivity while embodying the spirit of the mystical area surrounding Dundalk where they grew up and became friends.

They are representatives of the warrior spirit of the town as shown by their tireless commitment to community.
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently hosted local Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Colm Markey on campus.

MEP Markey actively engaged with students on a wide range of EU issues and gave an insightful lecture to Students (from the Bachelor of Business Studies (Hons), Bachelor of Business (Hons), and BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance which proceeded with a lively Q&A

The role of the European Parliament, how it represents citizens, and the importance of voting were some of the topics up for discussion on the day. The Midlands-North-West MEP said it was an invaluable opportunity for students to gain insights into how the EU functions.

He commented:

I was certainly put through my paces today at DkIT, covering topics from EU enlargement to the green transition. It was a brilliant opportunity to address pressing EU matters directly impacting the lives of young people. I also spoke to them about career opportunities in Brussels and the need to have more Irish people working in influential positions within the institutions.

"The enthusiasm demonstrated by the students reflects a genuine interest in EU affairs. Given the challenging times we live in and with elections on the horizon, fostering ongoing dialogue between policymakers and the younger generation is more crucial than ever."

Markey also urged students to make their voices heard in the upcoming elections.

Its clear to me that young people want to be involved in shaping the future, and they can do so by voting in next years local and European elections. I urge them all to take the first step by ensuring they are on the electoral register.

"Europe is facing a number of pressing issues, including a war on our doorstep, and who we send to Brussels to represent us is of upmost importance. Voting is not only a right but a responsibility, and I hope to see young people out in force at the ballot boxes in June, he concluded.

Shane Hill, Head of Department of Management and Financial Studies added,

It was a fantastic experience for our students to get this opportunity to engage so closely with Colm on EU issues. Id also like to take this occasion to thank DkIT Law Lecturer Dr. Siobhan Duffy who organised the lecture today, along with Colm and his team who took the time to facilitate this extremely worthwhile session for students.
Louth Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu, has paid a warm tribute to his party colleague Deputy Imelda Munster who has announced her intention not to seek re-election.

The Dundalk-based TD said he wished Deputy Munster all the very best and said he had been honoured to work alongside, and be elected alongside, the Drogheda poll-topper.

He said: "Imelda has been an exceptional public representative for Drogheda and for Louth for two decades. She has been a passionate and hard-working advocate for her beloved town and for all of Louth, both in the council and in Leinster House.

"She is an extraordinary TD, always able to get to the heart of the matter and is uncompromising and fearless in holding the powers that be to account.

"She works really hard for people in her constituency and has been a wonderful colleague to me for many years. We worked together for almost 20 years within Sinn Fein. She was always someone I, and many others, sought out for advice on issues.

"I am sad to know that we will not fight the next general election together as candidates, but I know that she will remain as committed as she has always been in her republicanism and I know she will support all of us who carry on in public life for Sinn Fein.

"I wish Imelda and Niall, and the family, all the very best for the future."
PUBLIC transport bus routes that cannot be served by Bus Eireann on short notice in Cork are being covered by private contractors.

Bus Eireann has confirmed that private contract vehicles are being used to fill gaps in the bus schedule in Cork, and that they are working towards a permanent solution through actively recruiting.

Bus Eireann media and communications manager Colin Heeney told The Echo: Private contract vehicles [are] being used to cover short notice non-availability and also to provide additional capacity to a scheduled service.

For example, we provide an extra vehicle on the 6pm 245x 1 Cork to Dublin to provide additional capacity to customers.

We are actively recruiting for drivers in the Cork City area. We have a recruitment day in Capwell Station on the December 2, but our current resources have the ability to operate full services.

Deputy lord mayor of Cork Colette Finn told The Echo: I think it is a good idea to have some flexibility because of sudden or short-term shortages.

There is nothing worse than waiting for a bus that doesnt show or is overcrowded, she said.

However it should not be used to mask a deficient service.
AN advocate for the elderly in Cork has called for the HSEs Home Support Service to be revised, claiming that limitations on the current scheme are not acceptable.

Speaking to The Echo Paddy OBrien said Health Care Support Assistants (HCSA), formerly known as Home Helps, previously carried out a far wider range of tasks but claimed that the scope of the scheme has now been refined to personal care only.

The original home scheme was a great scheme, approximately 40 years ago a home help did everything.

Theyd come into the house in the morning.

First of all, theyd have time for a chat, which doesnt exist now.

The home help would go into the house, have the chat, make a light breakfast, if it was wintertime light the fire, tidy the home, dress the bed, go to the shop and get a few messages, he said.

Another service HCSAs performed for clients who wished to attend Mass was dropping them to their local church, he said. That now is banned, Mr OBrien claimed.

He stressed that HCSAs do great work but are limited in the tasks they can carry out under the current iteration of the scheme, which he described as not acceptable.

Mr OBrien, claimed to have encountered instances of people being refused a HCSA if they do not require assistance with personal care.

Speaking to The Echo Paddy OBrien said Health Care Support Assistants (HCSA), formerly known as Home Helps, previously carried out a far wider range of tasks but claimed that the scope of the scheme has now been refined to personal care only.

One worker, who has been working as a HCSA for over 25 years, told The Echo they had seen a change in the scheme over the years.

Its all personal care. We were told were not to do any housework.

Now, if we go into someone and they have a fire, we are allowed to light the fire but were not allowed to bring in buckets of coal, but to be honest we do because the person would need the coal in the room, they said.

Giving an example of what a visit might look like, they said:

If were going into someone in the morning, we do make them a breakfast, wed give them a shower maybe and make the bed and just make sure that theres nothing on the ground that theyd trip over, get them dressed.

The HCSA said they have been told on numerous occasions, that their role is not to clean a clients house.

They said if the person needs the house cleaned, were not to do it, theyre to go away and hire a cleaner, they said.

A Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) spokesperson said the type and quantity of support provided is determined by the clients assessed care needs, which are clinically assessed by the HSE.

The nursing care plan outlines the needs of the client and it is this which determines what service each client receives within the limits of the staff resources available.

A wide range of tasks are carried out by our Health Care Support Assistants as determined by the clients care plan, including; assistance with personal care tasks (getting in and out of bed, showering, shaving), cleaning out and lighting of fire to ensure an adequately warm environment, cleaning of a clients personal space where non-performance of such duties impacts on the health, safety and well-being of the individual, reminding clients to take their medication etc.

They added that, in the current environment, there is significant ongoing demand for Home Support around personal care needs in all areas and available staff resources are deployed to provide this essential support to as many clients as possible.
A REMARKABLE Cork woman who cared for her husband after a life changing car accident has been announced as the 2023 family carer of the year.

Breda Morrissey from Ballyvolane was named the overall Netwatch Family Carer of the Year for 2023. Her inspiring story dates back to 1999 when Bredas life changed forever. It began with a knock on the door from Gardai who informed her of a horrific accident. Her husband Timmy became a quadriplegic due to severe head injuries sustained during the ordeal which was compounded by a subsequent fall in hospital. Breda managed to care for him while also tending to their children at home. She did her utmost to retain any semblance of the couples former life. The selfless Cork woman even set up a bed in the sitting room where she slept next to Timmy for years and tended to his every need from dressing to feeding.

Breda Morrissey from Ballyvolane the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year 2023, with her husband Timmy.

She has done so over the years without any financial assistance or even a medical card to ease the everyday pressures of caring for a loved one. This is in spite of the hefty costs of equipment such as wheelchairs, bed modifications and physiotherapy.

Breda has proved an invaluable support over the years, not only for her husband Timmy but also for her sister, who she cared for during a 10-month battle with cancer. The Ballyvolane locals kindness knows no bounds and is also evident in her charity work.

Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland, Catherine Cox, commended Bredas extraordinary commitment.

"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".

Breda Morrissey from Ballyvolane, the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year 2023, with her husband Timmy and Miriam O'Callaghan. Picture: Mark Stedman

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. Awards patron Miriam O'Callaghan, who hosted the event, also praised the dedication of award recipients.

"These awards celebrate the immense love and courage shown by family carers across Ireland. They underscore the role family carers play within our communities, serving as beacons of inspiration and reminding us of the incredible impact of their work.

Meanwhile, fellow Corkonian Lyrah Dooley who is 17 years old, was recognised as Netwatch Munster Young Carer of the Year to acknowledge the care she provides for her mother.

The Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards highlights the invaluable work of family carers and their contributions within communities. Held at the College Green Hotel in Dublin, the ceremony raises awareness of carers from all walks of life.
The Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by a mother to set aside her plea of guilty to the repeated harassment of a doctor who was working at the hospital where her son was awaiting a kidney transplant.

Marlies Walsh, representing herself at the three-judge court, argued that she was given ineffective assistance by her lawyers and was under duress when she entered the guilty plea as she had to prioritise her son's care.

She also argued that the investigation into her offending was flawed because no recording was made of an interview she gave to gardai.

In November last year, Ms Walsh pleaded guilty to harassing the doctor in 2018 and 2019 and was given a fully-suspended two-year sentence.

No previous convictions

Walsh (51) of Pedlars Cross, Clonakilty, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin. She had no previous convictions.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Walsh contacted the doctor and others at the hospital by phone and email over a period between December 2017 and August 2020 as she wanted to work as a patient advocate.

Her son, now in his early 20s, was a kidney transplant patient at the hospital.

Judge Elma Sheahan in the Circuit Court said Walsh had engaged in repeated harassment of the doctor and every effort had been made to get Walsh to stop her behaviour before a formal complaint was made to gardai.

Judge Sheahan imposed a two-year sentence, which she suspended on strict conditions. She also barred Walsh from communicating with the doctor or approaching his residence or place of work for 20 years.

Appeal court judgment

Delivering the appeal court's judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards noted that within one week of the trial, Ms Walsh underwent tests to see if she could be a kidney donor for her son.

While he said that this "must have been an extremely stressful time for the appellant, there is no suggestion that she entered her plea of guilty on an uninformed basis."

He said that she had not offered "any cogent evidence that her will was so overborne by the undoubted stress that she was under that she was in truth coerced into pleading and that her plea was not a voluntary one."

She provided no medical evidence or affidavit to support her claim, he said, adding: "Such limited information as she has provided concerning the basis of her complaint suggests that, notwithstanding that she was highly stressed, she fully understood what she was doing, in circumstances where she was legally represented and had been advised as to her options."

He said there was no suggestion her lawyers or anyone else had exerted undue pressure on her or sought to coerce her to plead guilty.

Her decision to plead guilty so she could get back to her family is "not duress in the legal sense such as might justify the setting aside of her plea of guilty," Mr Justice Edwards said.

The judge also rejected the complaint regarding alleged inadequate representation by counsel. He said there is no evidence that her lawyers were instructed to apply for an adjournment and refused to do so or that she was unable to give instructions or that her instructions were not followed. There was also no evidence or suggestion she didn't understand the advice she was given.

Mr Justice Edwards said that one interpretation of Ms Walsh's complaint is that she has "developed post-transactional regret for having pleaded".

Her complaint regarding the quality of the garda investigation, the judge said, would have been an issue for trial and is not relevant where she had decided to plead guilty. Ms Walsh will appeal the severity of her sentence at a later hearing.

Previous hearing

At the sentencing hearing in the lower court, Garda Eimear Cantwell told Kate Egan BL, prosecuting, that Walsh's son had been a kidney transplant patient at Temple Street Hospital. Walsh had indicated to the team that she wished to become involved in advocacy on behalf of patients and families.

The transplant team declined her offer as there was already a full-time team of this nature in place. Her son's care was transferred to Cork but Walsh continued to contact the hospital and doctors. She also made unannounced visits to Temple Street.

The doctor later received a parcel from Walsh, which contained her CV.

Walsh also copied him into emails sent to other hospital staff in which she expressed her desire to take on a patient advocacy role. In April 2018, the hospital asked Walsh not to contact Temple Street, unless it related to her son's care.

On August 14, 2018, the doctor became alarmed after receiving an envelope from Walsh which contained a handmade object tied with a ribbon, post-it notes and five A4 sheets.

One of the pages included a drawing of a stick figure with no legs and a message asking the doctor to ring her.

Another envelope sent by Walsh to the doctor contained three small envelopes labelled 'past', 'present' and 'future' and contained items including Walsh's business card, a spool of golden thread and a note using the question style of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' with Walsh as the 'phone a friend' option.

At the Court of Appeal Walsh, who represented herself, submitted that she had been under duress at the time she entered her guilty plea.

"I never said I didn't make numerous contacts for my son's quality of life and healthcare. It was my duty of care. I felt I had a duty to offer my help. I highlighted that," she told the appeal court.

Walsh said she found not being able to help her own child "very stressful" and said she felt that he had met with barriers regarding the "bespoke nature" of his care, which she said needed to be taken into account for him to have optimum help.

The appellant said she felt "stonewalled" and that "sadly, we just had to work around it but it wasn't like he didn't pick up on that. We were without the basics of reassurance, confidence and trust".

Walsh said "there was no fear or threat coming from our end" and claimed hospital staff "overreacted - there was an element of hysteria to it".

Mr Justice John Edwards said he did "not doubt the sincerity that you [Walsh] were trying to raise concerns".

"But at the end of the day, you received cautions from gardai and cease-and-desist letters from the hospital. You were not complying and the preferment was a charge of harassment. In interviews, you admitted the harassment. In the course of the trial you pleaded guilty and made admissions in a situation when you were represented by a solicitor and a barrister," said Mr Justice Edwards.

'Frustrated'

"I felt I had no choice as to why I pleaded guilty this one time," said Walsh, who added that the issue was about the duty of care of the hospital but her legal team sought to frame the case as a "political issue, or a protest issue".

Walsh said she had to come to Dublin for her case and found it a "protracted" process with her legal team while her son was sick at home in Cork.

Walsh said that she pleaded guilty after the prosecution's opening speech in order to return home to her son. "The frustration is this could have been avoided," said Walsh.

"You can't plead guilty and then say 'I was frustrated'," said Mr Justice Edwards.

"I was frustrated with the legal expertise in what I thought were instructions that would not be coming across to the court. That was the duress. He was at home. I had to prioritise him. What could I do?" said Walsh.

"The judge asked you if it was the case you wished to plead guilty and you confirmed and you pleaded guilty. You have to show us a legal deficiency. That you regretted the decision is not a basis on which it can be set aside," said Mr Justice Edwards.
THE 4.8m renovation of a 19th century mill in the heart of Kinsale and its transformation into a state-of-the-art library and cultural space was opened officially yesterday by Community and Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphreys.

The project to repurpose the coastal towns Old Mill received 2.17m from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and 2.6m from Cork County Council.

Minister Humphreys said she was delighted that a grant from her Department was used to bring the old building in Kinsale back to life.

This is what the RRDF is all about  tackling vacancy and dereliction and breathing new life into our rural town centres.

Kinsale is also now host to Irelands newest library, said the minister.

Its a facility that will do so much in terms of providing a wonderful library, community and cultural venue and bringing people of all ages together.

The RRDF investment, a statement from the Community and Rural Affairs Department said, was consistent with the objectives of two of the ministrys key policies, Our Rural Future and Town Centre First.

Those policies aim to attract more people to live, work, invest in and enjoy rural towns through strategic regeneration.

Later yesterday, Ms Humphreys visited Ballydesmond to open the north Cork villages new Pocket Park, a project to improve the village centre which received RRDF funding of almost 870,000.

As well as funding the new park, the support from the department aided the delivery of much needed public realm improvements and recreational amenities for the community.

This new park has provided a vibrant, attractive space for the local community to gather, socialise, exercise or simply relax, said the minister.

Cork today is benefiting from an investment of almost 5.8 million, which really will make such a difference to the communities of Kinsale, Ballydesmond, and beyond.
A 38-year-old man carrying a Coca-Cola bottle who was charged with stealing an e-scooter in Cork city made a noisy appearance at Cork District Court.

Paul Russell, of Presentation Place, Gurranabraher, is charged that on August 30, at Parnell Place, he stole the electric scooter valued at 400.

Consulting with Mr Russells solicitor, Eddie Burke, in court, 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 f***ing bullying me at all.

When his case was called, he walked quickly back into court, addressing the judge as his case was being discussed, saying: 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 jobseekers. Youre meant to get 220. I only get 200.

The judge granted free legal aid and adjourned the case until February 21, 2024, for Mr Russell to decide if he is going to plead guilty or not guilty.

Judge Dorgan said to Mr Russel: 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.
THE Sexual Health Centre in Cork is set to host a 5km run this weekend in a bid to tackle HIV stigma and encourage people to test regularly.

Established in 2018, the World AIDS Day run is delivered in partnership with Parkrun Ireland and in conjunction with sexualwellbeing.ie, Healthy Ireland, and the HSE.

People across the country are being urged to get involved in the event, which takes place at three locations in Cork tomorrow at 9.30am. The locations are Ballincollig Regional Park, Glen River Park, and Tramore Valley Park.

Dr Martin Davoren, executive director of the Sexual Health Centre, said: Each of us plays a part in reducing stigma. Were encouraging people to get involved so that, together, we can tackle HIV stigma in Ireland.

Chairperson of the Sexual Health Centre, Ciaran Lynch, highlighted how the U=U message (Undetectable = Untransmittable) associated with World AIDS Day has changed the landscape for people living with HIV.

Misinformation within the Irish population regarding HIV still exists, he said.

Many people still believe that HIV can be transmitted through saliva, kissing, or sharing utensils.

This lack of knowledge reinforces existing stigma and has a strong negative impact on people living with HIV and their families.

The World AIDS Day free 5K run aims to highlight the U=U message, address existing misconceptions, normalise the process of HIV testing and reduce associated stigma.

Referencing advances in treatment, he said: People living with HIV, who take treatment daily as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner.

To register for the event and receive a free World AIDS Day dri-fit top, visit www.sexualhealthcentre.com/wadrun2023
ENTERPRISE and Trade Minister Simon Coveney has said that the EU Commission is unlikely to show any further flexibility to farmers who have appealed for more time to avoid a cull of up to 40,000 cattle before the end of the year.

The former agriculture minister was speaking today after a group of 130 or so Cork farmers herded two cows through the streets of Carrigaline to his office and that of Michael McGrath, before bringing them to the office of Tanaiste Micheal Martin on Evergreen St, in Cork city.

The protest was held to highlight the mid- term review of Irelands derogation on the Nitrates Directive  which farmers claim could lead to the culling of up to 40,000 pregnant cows before the end of December.

The chairman of the County Cork Central Executive of the IFA, Conor OLeary, told The Echo that farmers in the county had received a notice, on November 14, that they would have to reduce their herd size before the end of December.

Farmers would have put their cows in calf last April, May, and June, and theyd all calve now in January, February, and March, he said.

At the moment, a typical farmer with 80 cows ready to calve in the springtime would have to make a decision now, if he has to comply with the 220 limit, to get [15-20] cows off his farm by January 1.

At the moment, theres no trade for the sale of those cows because no farmer can buy them in. Traditionally, there wouldnt be a big sale at this time.

Members of IFA Cork Central and Carrigaline IFA brought their protest to the constituency offices of Minister Simon Coveney, and Minister Michael McGrath in Carrigaline and the office of Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Evergreen Road, Cork City where they handed in letters to the Ministers. Pic Larry Cummins

He said other options the commission suggested  including renting other land  were not possible.

Our ask was to allow us to calve these cows down and then put them for sale, rather than getting them off the farm, because our only route now is to the factory.

The reason the reduction is being sought is to improve water quality in Ireland, as nitrates from cows can contribute to pollution.

Nigel Bryan from Fountainstown with a dairy cow at the protest. Pic Larry Cummins

However, farmers claim that water quality in Ireland has improved significantly since 2014 and said improved farm practices have contributed to this.

Mr Coveney told The Echo that he understood the concerns of the farmers, but said: I dont think that theres going to be any more flexibility given from the commission.

The new system comes in on January 1 thats what farmers are frustrated about, the turnaround time is short.

The new limits that apply are averaged over the full 12 months of next year, he said, adding that he and the Government would be willing to sit down with farmers to look at how to work within the existing flexibilities.
A GENERAL meeting of the Queenstown Baths Company was held, with Mr Swanton in the chair and directors J. Grogan and P. OMahony also present, the Echo reported 100 years ago today, on Saturday, December 1, 1923.

Among the shareholders were Messrs OReilly, Stapleton and OLeary.

The directors regretted that they were not in a position to pay a dividend, as had been done some years ago. But owing to improved conditions nationally and locally there was every prospect of this changing. The directors are contemplating many new developments to make Cove more attractive for visitors.

Mr Swanton said the town has an unrivalled winter climate, magnificent harbour and delightful scenery and compares more than favourably with health resorts such as Torquay, Bournemouth or Brighton.

Our hotels and businesses leave nothing to be desired for comfort and convenience, he continued. At our Baths, visitors can enjoy the benefit of hot and cold, salt and fresh water, and many wonderful cures have been effected.

We trust that now our trains are in full working order that the G.S.&W.R. will issue weekend tickets to Cove at reduced rates.

Mr Grogan was re-elected Director and many complimentary references were made to the services he has rendered the company.

Cork City Administration

An important meeting was held in the offices of the Cork Progressive Association on Grand Parade this afternoon to consider the question of the administration of the city.

After discussion, it was decided to call a general meeting for Friday next of the ratepayers of Cork, who will be expected to attend in large numbers. Not only to look after their own interests, but to see that the affairs of the city are properly administered and that improvements are brought about.

Theft at Woolworths

Ellen Comerford, of no fixed place of residence, was charged with having on November 30 stolen one handkerchief, one bandage and one ladys suspender, the property of Woolworth & Co, Patrick Street.

Nicholas Reay, Assistant Manager, said he saw accused in the establishment ten days earlier and asked her to leave after an assistant made a complaint to him. Her presence was noted again on the day in question between 2pm and 2.30pm and he kept her under observation.

After seeing her take up the items, he asked her to accompany him to the office and asked her had she stolen anything. She said she had and laid the items on the desk. They were priced at 6 pence each.

Guard OMalley was on duty on Patrick Street and asked to come into the shop. Accused was cautioned and admitted the theft to him. I took the small handkerchief, and a small waistband, and one bandage just for curiosity sake, she said.

She said she only went into Woolworths to look around and had no bad intentions. She asked Justice Sullivan that the case be finished with and was sentenced to seven days, not to take effect if she paid the 20 shillings cost of prosecution or entered into a 5 bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

Cork Blind Asylum

The monthly meeting of the trustees of the Blind Asylum was held at the asylum on Infirmary Road on November 27. Present were Canon Murphy (Chair), W. Roche (Sec.), Humble Johnson and R. Fitzgerald.

The Secretary reported receipt of a donation of 40 from a friend of the blind. Efforts are ongoing to collect arrears due from some country Poor Law Unions. These have been delayed because of the process of transference to County Councils.

A few took the first opportunity to clear their indebtedness that more settled times have given, while others have not even acknowledged receipt of correspondence. In these cases legal action will be taken to recover amounts due. Two aged blind women have been admitted.

Social Notices

The Annual Triduum of the Cork Catholic Young Mens Society and the Society of St Vincent de Paul will be held on December 5 in SS Peter & Pauls Church at 8pm. All members and other young men who may wish to do so are earnestly requested to attend. Cobh Ramblers and Cork City meet tomorrow at 2.30pm at Victoria Cross for their third replay in the Free State Cup.

Farrenferris v. Presentation

The hurling 15s of Farrenferris and Presentation at the Mardyke did not attract anything like the usual attendance, probably because of the serenity of the weather. Presentation held mastery from the start, though the defensive work of Farrenferrisa was very good. The full whistle left Presentation winners by a large margin.
Ruairi Domican Byrne is a man who appreciates the finer things in life  as anyone whos seen or tasted one of the masterpieces from his bakery, Ruairis Kitchen, can quickly tell.

While this quality of his plays no small part in inspiring the luxurious and jaw-droppingly beautiful bespoke cakes that hes become known for, its also, naturally, whats made him so besotted with Cork.

I grew up near Macroom, out by the Gaeltacht area, and then moved to the city when I was about 17, Ruairi shares. That was nearly two decades ago now, and Ive never left the city since.

My husband Eduardo is originally from Brazil and saw all sorts of places before he settled down here in Ireland  hes always had the travel bug but Ive just never wanted to move away from Cork! Once Id decided to set up my own business, it was really important to me to keep it Cork based.

That decision turned out to be an incredibly wise one. Since he founded Ruairis Kitchen just over two years ago, support from the local Cork community has helped the business go from strength to strength  so much so that Ruairi is now ready to get stuck in to the companys biggest project yet next year.

Ruairi Domican Byrne has big plans for the future of his company.

At the moment, Ruairis Kitchen is just me flying solo, and everythings done from my small apartment in Douglas Street, he explains. Its all HSE registered and has passed inspections with flying colours, so I just keep everything separate for business use and personal use. However, as the business has grown, Im now hoping to open up a whole new premises. Ill be hoping to open a bakery and coffee shop in May next year if all goes according to plan!

I worked in the hospitality industry for most of my life, as a waiter, bartender, manager, you name it. I felt that hospitality was my lifelong career, it was what I was going to do forever. When Covid came along though, I realised I couldnt just sit around and wait for the industry to open up again. It had always been my dream to set up my own business, so the pandemic was the kick that I needed to just go for it.

Ruairi's Kitchen has dozens of five-star reviews from couples who say their cake added an extra special touch to their big day!

The skills I got from the hospitality sector are ones that Im still using today, though. Im very personable, very friendly. I love talking to people and going to events like wedding showcases, because a lot of the time Im trapped in my kitchen these days. The only times I get to meet customers is when I go out and give them their cakes or I meet them at those showcases, but I love that side of it and thats what Im really looking forward to with this coffee shop and bakery, because my kitchen there wont be enclosed. Its all going to be open plan, so the customers can see me working and have that interaction. In a way Im getting back in to the hospitality sector!

Ill be taking on some staff by then as well, because I definitely need it. Im at the stage now where Id love for someone even to just do the dishes, he jokes.

Once the washing and drying is seen to, however, Ruairi will certainly need all hands on deck in the year ahead, with bookings for 2024 already flying in. I have 105 weddings booked for next year, a lot of those are in the summer. I have about a wedding a day coming up in August! Im already taking bookings for 2025/2026 too, so Im really delighted that demand has grown so much. I think, in a way, people are still making up for all that lost time where they couldn't celebrate their important occasions during the pandemic.

Despite how busy it all is, Ruairi admits he wouldn't have it any other way. For him, adding joy to peoples special occasions with his one-of-a-kind cakes is an unbeatable feeling.

I get a lot of great feedback online, and I have over 80 five-star reviews at the moment from wedding couples. Im really chuffed to have so many after only being in business for just over two years. I love getting those reviews and knowing that I was an important part of a couples big day, even in cases where I never actually got to meet the bride or groom in person! Sometimes theyre so busy on the day and Im just in and out setting up the cake very quickly, but Im always delighted to know they loved their cake in the end.

Its not just wedding couples that are fans of Ruairis creations either. People turn to him for all kinds of celebration cakes  and they tend to keep coming back!

Its the repeat business that I find most gratifying, Ruairi reflects. There are people whove been coming to me for the last two years and for every single birthday in their family, theyd order a new cake from me. There are some families that have ordered 7 or 8 cakes from me over the years, and they keep coming back, so thats been one of the standouts for me.

I think its partly due to word of mouth and the great community here in Cork  if someone tells even one person about their cake and theyre raving about it, then that could lead another new customer towards Ruairis Kitchen. Thats how Id get a lot of my business, through word of mouth around Cork and the lovely reviews from people.

In fact, it's exactly this kind of community support that has inspired Ruairi to give back and help a local charity this Christmas. Hes recently launched a special menu for the festive season, featuring mince pies, cupcakes and Christmas biscuit puddings  with up to 20% of the proceeds for some items going directly to Marymount University Hospice.

Ruairi's extensive consultation process means customers always get a cake that totally matches their vision.

I know a lot of people who sadly have had family members battling cancer. With the position my business is in currently, I felt that I could finally give back this year, so I wanted to do something for charity that would help others in the same boat. I spoke to Marymount and they were absolutely delighted for me to go ahead with this initiative and help them out, so I've registered the event with them officially. Orders are already coming in for Christmas week, which is great to see.

It's definitely a cause that my customers care about, a lot of people have told me theyre delighted to give something to charity while theyre getting something tasty as well!

Even if there wasnt the added bonus of donating to Marymount, buying baked goods for your loved ones can be a charitable act in itself  especially in households where one poor creature often takes it upon themselves to cook an extravagant five-course Christmas dinner AND be a star baker!

I think people put an awful lot of pressure on themselves at Christmas, especially if they have guests or extended family visiting, Ruairi says. My own mother is a great cook and a fantastic baker as well, so Id always help her out at Christmas and bring down the baked goods, to share some of the work. I think if people can just save the hassle and buy their Christmas pudding or their treats, theyre happy out! Not everyone can bake and not everybody has the time to do it. Thats my business, its what my market is, Im there to help people who dont have the time to bake but still want something delicious!

The Christmas Cupcakes from Ruairi's Kitchen are available in three different flavours  choose from chocolate, vanilla or red velvet.

My recipes are passed down from generations and generations on my Moms side, so theyre tried and tested, and I only use the very best ingredients. A lot of my suppliers are Cork-based. I get all my eggs from the English market, I get flours and butter from local producers. Once I open the cafe next year I will be sourcing cheese and so on from local producers too. Its important to have that traceability, and a lot of Cork brands are so well-known, people recognise the names and trust them, so why wouldnt I use them?

The proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. To test out Ruairis selection for yourself, and provide much needed funds to Marymount University Hospice through your purchase, head to www.ruairiskitchen.ie.
Fast fashion, durability and other hurdles to climate neutrality

SPONSORED CONTENT - Slow and steady wins the race, says the International Wool Textile Organisation.

We all know the Aesop fable about the hare and the tortoise. It comes to mind when looking at EUs ambitious textile strategy and its aim to put fast fashion out of fashion with a plethora of policy measures.

If the aim is to win the race against climate change, should we bet on the hare or the tortoise?

Rewriting the old fable, we can equate the hare with technological innovations such as fibre measurement tools to make projections about durability, longevity and repairability. These are ingredients in many EU policy instruments, including the EUs Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the Ecodesign Directive and Green Claims Directive.

The tortoise, on the other hand, represents the slow and the steady, processes that stand the test of time.

Meet the hare

Most tools in the EUs Textile strategy and the underpinning policy currently favour synthetic-based fabrics.

During a recent Lasting project seminar (see lasting.world), Ingun Grimstad Klepp, Professor of Clothing and Sustainability at Consumption Research Norway at Oslo Metropolitan University, said: If we are demanding more durable products, using standard tests for strength, pilling, colour-fastness and abrasion, this means more plastic in apparel.

If we are looking at regulation of waste, eco-modulating fees based on weight, we favour plastic apparel, as synthetics in general are lighter.

If we are looking at recycled content as a policy tool, synthetics win again, even though this will mainly be from recycled bottles.

And, last but not least, if we use LCAs to dictate what are preferred fibers, synthetics come out ahead.

Research shows us that consumers prefer natural fibers over synthetics.i

Meet the tortoise

The tortoise takes a different tack. Rather than projecting what products will have a long life, the tortoise urges consideration of one factor: how long an item of fashion has been used.

Actual use means the reality of use, regardless of how durable, repairable, or recyclable the apparel item is projected to be.

We can understand actual use through a very simple technique: the humble waste audit.

The biggest hurdle in this race: overproduction

The main problem in the fashion sector is overproduction. Images of clothing-clogged beaches and textile mountains, from the Atacama Desert in Peru to the beaches in Ghana, should haunt us. The OR Foundation has started its own waste audits, which will give us valuable data that can feed into the EUs policy tools. The revised EU Waste Framework Directive proposes that biannual waste audits take place in all EU Member States.

If all apparel and other textile labels include the date products go to market, these audits will show the actual Duration of Service.

Research shows that the majority of clothing is not thrown out because it is worn out, but because it no longer fits, or we have grown tired of itii. Looking at durability for clothing the way we would for a toaster or a battery simply does not capture the true picture.

In the meantime, one waste audit pilot study, completed earlier this year in Norwayiii, showed that 80% of the brand and care labels in diverse waste streams were intact, offering sufficient data to pinpoint which brands and what products have had a long or a short life; and what the fiber-composition is. The study also revealed a number of items were discovered with the price-tag still intact, having never been used at all.

A similar study in Holland had many of the same findingsiv; 75% of labels were intact. As in the Norwegian study, a few brands dominated the findings, ones identifiable as fast fashion (albeit a term that requires more precise defining).

The real winner: climate neutrality by 2050

The real winner of this race is neither the tortoise nor the hare. The real winner is the planet, in the form of climate neutrality by 2050.

To get there, a just transition is required that safeguards better use of our natural resources. Natural fibres, such as wool, are worthy of attention and should be rewarded for their contributions as renewable, biodegradable resources.

There is no silver bullet; slow and steady will be part of winning this race.

i Schytte Sigaard, A. & Laitala, K., 2023, Natural and Sustainable? Consumers Textile Fiber Preferences. Special Issue Natural Fiber and Competitiveness. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/11/2/12

ii Laitala, Kirsi and Klepp, I.G., 2022, Review of clothing disposal reasons. SIFO/Oslo Metropolitan University. https://clothingresearch.oslomet.no/2022/10/19/review-of-clothing-disposal-reasons/

iii Klepp et al., 2023, USED, BUT NOT USED UP: Using textile waste to inform textile rating schemes. SIFO/Oslo Metropolitan University. https://clothingresearch.oslomet.no/wp-content/uploads/sites/1026/2023/09/Used-but-not-used-up.pdf

iv https://reports.fashionforgood.com/report/sorting-for-circularity-europe/
(Photo: REUTERS / Hamad I Mohammed)Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir attends the closing ceremony of the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait City, March 26, 2014. The general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, wrote to Sudan President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir in June about religious freedom after a Sudanese court sentenced Meriam Ibrahim to death for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.

The inauguration of Sudan as the 39th Province of the Anglican Communion marks a "new beginning" for the Christian community in the country, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said.

"Like all new births it comes with responsibility within Sudan for Christians to make it work, and from outside to support, to pray, to love this new Province," he said, The Church Times reported.

Welby was speaking at the service of inauguration in All Saints' Cathedral, Khartoum, on July 30, at which he installed the new Primate of Sudan, Ezekiel Kumir Kondo, Bishop of Khartoum.

He prayed for wisdom and the abolition of fear.

Sudan is predominantly Muslim but has around one million Christians.

Welby spoke of seeing Christians and Muslims "co-existing powerfully and effectively" when he had visited the southern diocese of Kadugli on July 29.

Such tolerant co-existence needs freedom, he said, the Anglican Communion News Service reported.

"My prayer for Sudan is that there will be freedom continually so that Christians may live confidently, blessing their country. The more they are free, the more they will be a blessing to Sudan, he said."

The archbishop praised the Khartoum government for welcoming refugees from the conflict in South Sudan and thanked it for sending representatives to the service.

"No government anywhere in the world need fear Christians," he told them.

Later Welby urged the protection of Christians and peaceful co-existence between the Christians and majority Muslims in Sudan, Xinhua news agency reported.

SUDANESE PRESIDENT OMAR AL-BASHIR

The archbishop made his remarks when Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir received him in Khartoum.

"We talked about the protection of Christians and listened carefully to his excellency as he explained the good relations, the co-habitation, even within families between Christians and Muslims," Welby told reporters following his meeting with President al-Bashir.

"We spoke about sanctions, and of the British policy which encourages the end of sanctions, and about the burden of debts and the need for development," he noted.

The archbishop added that "at the center of everything that we said was our deep concern, our mighty concern for the poor, the weak, the refugees and the helpless; and to encourage every government and every president where they seek the common good and benefit of the weakest in our societies."

Sudan's Minister of Guidance and Endowments, Abu Bakr Osman, for his part, told reporters that the meeting reiterated the political leadership's concern with religious co-existence in Sudan.

"The meeting stressed the religious co-existence in Sudan and that all the Sudanese citizens are equal in rights and duties and in assuming public posts, regardless of their religious or ethnic affiliations," he noted.

Welby arrived in Sudan on July 30, leading a high-level delegation of bishops around the world, to officially inaugurate the Anglican Church in Sudan to be the 39th Anglican church in the world.

The Anglican church in Sudan officially declared its separation from its South Sudanese counterpart in May 2017, where after the cessation of South Sudan, Khartoum's Anglican church remained affiliating to the church in the South.

Most of the Christians in Sudan are present at the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan State which has been witnessing an armed conflict between the Sudanese army and fighters of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector, Xinhua reported.
(REUTERS/MOHAMED NURELDIN ABDALLAH)Christians pray during Easter Sunday service at Episcopal Church of the Sudan Diocese of Khartoum All Saints Cathedral in Khartoum, April 24, 2011.

Sudan could face a return to Sharia law as civil war continues to rage in the north east African nation for almost 10 months says the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The insight is contained in the report title: Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Sahel Region of Africa.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica Sharia is the fundamental religious concept of Islamnamely, its law.

The report says, "Freedom of religion or belief in the Sahel region of Africa has experienced serious regression in recent years due to the activities of violent extremist groups, the fragility of governments, the presence of the armed forces in politics, and ethno-religious clashes in isolated areas."

The Sahel is semiarid region of western and north-central Africa extending from Senegal eastward to Sudan which is one of Africa's biggest countries.

"Violent insurgent groups such as the Islamic State Sahel Province (IS Sahel) and Katiba Macina perpetrate serious violations against religious minorities, often in a context of weak state security," says Britannica.

In Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces under the country's transitional leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has recruited thousands who worked as intelligence operatives of former pro-Islamic President Omar al-Bashir, the commission said.

It has raised concerns among Christians that al-Burhan has hopes of establishing Sharia law.

The United Nations says that the war between rival militaries in Sudan, which has been raging for over seven months has further intensified in recent weeks, particularly in the volatile Darfur region.

Sudan's military government under the leadership of Omar al-Bashir (1989-2019), one of the longest lasting on the African continent, severely repressed traditional religious communities who themselves often intermixed with smaller ethnic groups within Darfur and the "Two Areas" of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

In 2017, Sudan was the first country in Africa to request assistance in security management from Russia's Wagner Group.

The U.S. commission's report said that the Wagner Group would serve as a foreign policy tool for the Russian government in the region in assisting Sudan's and other governments in these capacities.

FALL OF BASHIR REGIME

"After the fall of the Bashir government (April 2019), the transitional government granted Muslim and Christian groups some important freedoms, earning praise and support from the U.S. government.

However, the outbreak of new conflict in April 2023 within the state security apparatus has severely diminished any possibility of safe, open religious practice in Sudan says the U.S. commission.

An estimated 5.4 million people have been displaced, most of them internally, due to the current conflict in Sudan. More than 1 million have travelled to bordering countries in search of refuge.

With the fall of the Bashir regime, the interim government produced a constitutional declaration that included several provisions protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief and worship "in accordance with the requirements of the law and public order."

Unlike the former constitution, it made no reference to Sharia as a source of law, although the clause restricting the death penalty permits its imposition in the form of hudud (religiously prescribed) punishments for certain crimes.

The transitional government also took positive steps to repeal repressive laws and regulations that restricted religious freedom, including the country's public order and apostasy laws.

Most of Sudan's estimated 49 million people are Sunni Muslims, but a small minority are Christians.




Indonesian aquaculture tech startup secures US$13.1 million in funding



Jala, an Indonesia-based startup specialising in aquaculture tech services, has successfully raised US$13.1 million in a series A funding round, which will be used to improve Jala's platform focusing on delivering more comprehensive predictions for cultivation performance, water quality, and shrimp disease, Tech In Asia reported.



The funds will also be used to boost its capabilities for automated data input concerning shrimp weight and feed data.

The series A funding round was led by Intudo Ventures, which also saw participation from Sinar Mas Digital Ventures, along with contributions from existing investors Mirova and Meloy Fund.

Established in 2017 by Aryo Wiryawan and Liris Maduningtyas, Jala's app empowers Indonesia aquaculture farmers to record, monitor, and analyse their shrimp farm activities in real time. The company highlights its impact, revealing that it has effectively monitored shrimp activities across more than 35,000 water bodies, catering to nearly 20,000 users.

Beyond its core services, Jala extends a credit scoring facility named Jala Smartfarm, providing farmers with access to financing options. Simultaneously, its Jala Harvest offering assists farmers in bringing their products to market.

- Tech In Asia
New era for Isle of Man fisheries management

The Isle of Man has entered a new era in fisheries management, marking a significant milestone in its autonomy over how its sea fishery resources are managed.

It follows the introduction of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving the Isle of Man, UK, Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish Governments last week.

The MoU means the Fisheries Management Agreement (FMA) 2012 has been revoked and replaced, redefining the landscape of fisheries governance within Manx waters.

The arrangement shows the five governments are equally committed to mutual consultation and information sharing on changes in their respective jurisdictions, underpinned by a high-level policy on cooperation, fairness, respect, and reciprocity.

Clare Barber MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) said: Its a significant step forward for the Isle of Man that will empower the Isle of Man Government to shape local fisheries policies, while fostering collaborative relationships with neighbouring administrations and ensuring the Island upholds its international obligations.

The MoU is a departure from previous agreements by recognising the Islands autonomy to develop any aspect of sea fisheries policy within its waters.
Two Isle of Man churches to host same-sex marriages

Trinity Methodist Church and Promenade Methodist Church in Douglas have become the first churches on the island to register for same-sex marriages.

Members from both congregations took the initiative to approach their governance team about making their church more inclusive after the 2021 Methodist Conference.

Despite facing hurdles due to local regulations, the churches were determined to make a change. They went on to lead pastoral discussions on the topic for the past few months, and finally, with an overwhelming majority, both churches voted to register their buildings for same-sex marriage.

The churches' leadership team is thrilled to have taken this step towards becoming an inclusive church, and they are excited to welcome the LGBTQ+ community to be part of their community.

Many LGBT people don't go to church as they do not feel welcomed. We wanted to change that, to make ourselves visible and let them know we would love them to be part of our community, explains Pam Gold, EDI Officer for the district, We are overjoyed that Trinity and Promenades trustees voted for their churches to be inclusive.
Manx Care appointment letters to be sent six weeks in advance of appointment date

Manx Care is piloting a process where patients are informed of their appointment six weeks before the appointment date.

It says this will reduce the number of letters that patients receive, and is predicted to reduce confusion and therefore reduce the number of patients that do not attend appointments.

Manx Care will initially trial this for all Orthopaedic first Consultant outpatient appointments, running the pilot for six weeks, from December 4, to measure its success.

It is expected that other services will follow the same process early in 2024.

Appointments will continue to be booked in the usual way, with the only change to the process being in the timing of when the appointment letter is sent.

All those who have appointments booked less than six weeks in advance will have their letter sent to them at time of appointment booking.

Another reason for the change is that Manx Care expect improvements in terms of efficiency and paper/postage costs.

If you have any queries about this change, the Manx Care Advice and Liaison Service (MCALS) can be contacted on mcals@gov.im or 01624 642642.
NASA and IBM are building an AI model for weather and climate applications, combining their knowledge and skills in earth science and AI. They say the foundation model (more on that in a bit) should offer significant advantages over existing technology. Current AI models, such as GraphCast and FourCastNet, are already generating weather forecasts more quickly than traditional meteorological models. As IBM notes, those are AI emulators rather than foundation models. AI emulators can make weather predictions based on sets of training data, but they dont have applications beyond that.

The model may predict meteorological phenomena better, inferring high-res information based on low-res data and identifying conditions conducive to everything from airplane turbulence to wildfires.

 Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Steams streaming software now lets you wirelessly play PC VR games on Quest headsets

Bipartisan Senate bill would kill the TSAs Big Brother airport facial recognition

The best Android phones

Teslas long-awaited Cybertruck will start at $60,990 before rebates 

You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

We recognize these changes may lead you to reconsider your relationship with Evernote.

Evernote

Evernotes new, tightly leashed plan will restrict new and current accounts to 50 notes and one notebook. Existing free customers who exceed those limits can still use their notes, but theyll need to upgrade to a paid plan to create new ones. Evernotes premium plans include a $15 monthly Personal plan with 10GB of monthly uploads. Thats a pricey subscription for what is dedicated note cloud storage. When Evernotes parent company, Bending Spoons, moved its operations from the US and Chile to Europe, it said the app had been unprofitable for years. That push into socks didnt work .

Continue reading.

Officials have paused tips to Meta.

Meta says the government paused in July 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 contact with social media firms.

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.

Continue reading.

But this has nothing to do with messaging iPhones and all that drama.

Google is rolling out a string of updates for the Messages app, including customizable text bubbles and background colors. So, if you really want, you can have blue bubbles in your Android messaging app. You can even have a different color for each chat, which could help prevent you from telling the wrong thing to the wrong person. But none of this means nothing to iPhone users and has nothing to do with the prolonged toing and froing on text message compatibility.

Continue reading.

The generative AI chatbot has helped kickstart a multibillion-dollar industry.

SOPA Images via Getty Images

ChatGPT exploded in popularity, from niche online curio to 100 million monthly active users  the fastest user base growth in the history of the internet. In less than a year, it has earned the backing of Silicon Valleys biggest firms, as well as being shoehorned into myriad applications from academia and the arts to marketing, medicine, gaming and government. ChatGPT is just about everywhere. Engadgets Andrew Tarantola looks at the blazing first year of OpenAIs chatbot.

Continue reading.
Walmart has seen enough from X. The retailer, Americas single biggest employer and largest company by revenue, told Reuters on Friday its no longer advertising on the platform formerly known as Twitter. The departure follows owner Elon Musk amplifying antisemitic posts and flinging expletives at fleeing advertisers. We arent advertising on X as weve found other platforms to better reach our customers, a Walmart spokesperson told Reuters.

Walmarts exit adds to a growing list of companies that have pulled ads from the platform. Apple, Disney, IBM, Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery are among the businesses no longer buying ads on X. A group of advertisers told The New York Times on Thursday their temporary pauses will likely become permanent. There is no advertising value that would offset the reputational risk of going back on the platform, Lou Paskalis, CEO of marketing consultancy AJL Advisory, told the paper.

Xs former advertisers had no shortage of reasons to jump ship. Musks latest series of self-inflicted wounds began when the billionaire appeared to endorse and amplify a post falsely claiming Jewish communities were stoking hatred against white people. Musk replied to the user who spewed the racist Great Replacement conspiracy theory, saying their comments reflected the actual truth.

Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images

Watchdog group Media Matters then published a report showing ads from well-known brands placed next to antisemitic content. X responded by suing the organization, accusing it of knowingly and maliciously [manufacturing] side-by-side images depicting advertisers posts on X Corp.s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white national fringe content.

Musks attempt to smooth things over only made things worse. After apologizing for amplifying the antisemitic content at The New York Times DealBook event, he told advertisers backing off of the platform to Go fuck yourself. His company now potentially stands to lose $75 million.

Walmart employs around 1.6 million people in the US. The retailer made $611 billion in revenue in the 2023 fiscal year.
American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's most recently liked tweet seemingly hinted at the inspiration for her song "Sweet Nothing."

In the tweet posted by @maccaarchive in October 2022 was an old quote from Beatles' Paul McCartney about his relationship with his previous wife of 29 years, Linda McCartney.

According to the quote, the English musician had a sweet tradition with his former wife in which he would come back home from a run with a poem to share with Linda. After listening to the poem Paul made, Linda would then respond with, "What a mind."

| Taylor just liked this old tweet from 2022 which suggests that "Sweet Nothing" may have been partly inspired by Paul McCartney and his love for Linda. pic.twitter.com/wY4DTzTMcK  Taylor Swift Updates  (@swifferupdates) November 30, 2023

In Taylor's song "Sweet Nothing," a verse read, "On the way home / I wrote a poem / You say, 'What a mind' / This happens all the time."



By liking the tweet, Swifties -- Taylor's fans -- assumed the singer could have been inspired by the iconic couple when she wrote the song.

"I love 'Sweet Nothing.' It's about how the simple and pure things mean the most. And I love being able to add this new context," one fan tweeted.

"So this account knew Taylor was referring to Paul McCartney hence the date they posted it (the week after 'Midnights' came out) and Taylor wants us to know that the line was inspired by this. It's really that simple," another one claimed.

this tumblr user had the tea the whole time i- https://t.co/EIrPD5h8y0 pic.twitter.com/Epd2v6mx0E November 30, 2023

Meanwhile, another X user unearthed an old post from Tumblr dissecting "Sweet Nothing" and its connection to Paul and Linda McCartney's love story.



The post also highlighted a place Taylor mentioned in her song, Wicklow. Per the Tumblr post, the McCartney family vacationed at the Luggala Estate in County Wicklow, Ireland, in the summer of 1971 after the Beatles split up.



A line from "Sweet Nothing" also read, "You're in the kitchen running." Per The Post, it could reference Linda's passion for cooking and the fact that she was also a singer who had recorded songs with his husband.



Aside from Paul and Linda's love story, Taylor may have allegedly referenced the Beatles breakup as a band and the public fight Paul had with John Lennon in the song, specifically in the lyrics, "Industry disruptors and soul deconstructors / And smooth-talking hucksters out glad-handing each other."
Guy Fieri is solidifying his status as one of the highest-paid celebrity chefs in the world.

Variety reported that the 55-year-old restaurateur inked a lucrative three-year deal worth upwards of $100 million with the Food Network.

The new deal surpasses his previous $80 million agreement in 2021, which already made him the highest-paid talent on the cable channel.

A Celebrity Net Worth estimate put Fieri's net worth at $100 million as of 2023.

This new contract bumped up Fieri's annual salary from $27 million to $33 million, according to the website.

Between his 2021 and 2023 contracts, Fieri is set to earn an impressive $180 million from 2021 to 2027.

The agreement extends Fieri's longstanding relationship with Food Network to the 20-year mark, allowing him to continue producing popular shows like "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," "Guy's Grocery Games," and "Tournament of Champions."

Additionally, he will pursue projects through his production company, Knuckle Sandwich.

Fieri's journey with the Food Network began in 2006 when he won "The Next Food Network Star" and got his own series, "Guy's Big Bite."

His vibrant personality and unique fashion sense propelled him to stardom, leading to the immense success of his shows, especially the Emmy-nominated "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," which has gone on to become a pop culture phenomenon.



His other titles include "Guy's All-American Road Trip," "Guy Off the Hook," "Guy Fieri's Road Show," "Guy's Family Road Trip," "Guy & Hunter's European Vacation" and "Guy's Ranch Kitchen."



Fieri has also made appearances in other Food Network shows, including "Dinner: Impossible," "Paula's Party," "Ace of Cakes" and "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."

He has also explored non-food-related TV gigs, including hosting "Minute to Win It," which aired for two seasons.



Apart from his TV ventures, Fieri's brand extends to various domains.



He has opened over 80 restaurants worldwide, collaborated on a tequila brand called Santo Tequila with Sammy Hagar, and licensed his name to Disney theme parks, cruise ship lines, and a franchise of "ghost" kitchens called Flavortown Kitchen that has more than 170 locations in the U.S.

Fieri's restaurants include Guy's Burger Joint, Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen and Bar in Las Vegas and Guy Fieri's Baltimore Kitchen & Bar at the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, Maryland.



In 2018, he teamed up with Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl to open Chicken Guy! at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida.



Fieri has bought several properties and luxury cars with the fortune he's earned over the years.



His real estate portfolio includes a 450-acre ranch near Napa, California, a $3.9 million home in West Palm Beach, Florida, and a $7.325 million mansion in Palm Beach.



His classic car collection features a 1971 Chevelle, 1968 Firebird, 1969 Impala, and 1967 Chevy C10 pickup.
Whether its cold pizza, a few cookies, or a second helping of dinner, we all love a little bedtime snack. But for some people, nighttime eating stretches beyond that sneaky bowl of ice cream before turning in. For a small segment of Americans, night eating syndrome (NES) is a very real eating disorder.

People with the condition feel an uncontrollable urge to eat after dinner and during the night, and typically have a large portion of their daily food intake at these times, according to the Sleep Foundation. They do this even if they dont feel hungry. They may wake up several times in the night and cant go back to sleep until theyve eaten.

Its an eating disorder that disrupts sleep, causing a form of insomnia. The person usually feels that if they do not feel full or eat something in particular, they will not be able to return to sleep, says Michael Breus, PhD, a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

He says the disorder is relatively rare, affecting less than 2 percent of the population. It is most common in people being overweight, obese, depressed, anxious, or abusing drugs or alcohol, Dr. Breus says.

If left untreated, it can lead to significant weight gain and other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression. "If you suspect you have a nighttime eating disorder, speak with your doctor," says David Schulman, MD, MPH, a professor at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta who specializes in sleep disorders.
Thursday, November 30, 2023

Introduction

The Bit.Store Card functions as a prepaid card available in both virtual and physical forms, bringing the best of both worlds.

Bit.stores Virtual Card, denominated in US Dollars, and the Physical Card, in Euros, both offer a tactile and smooth spending experience.

What sets the Bit.Store Card apart is its focus on cryptocurrency. Unlike conventional cards, its designed solely for crypto use, offering a dedicated solution for digital currency enthusiasts.

Additionally, you have the flexibility to apply for multiple Virtual Cards, each with a distinct BIN number, catering to your diverse spending needs. This feature grants unparalleled freedom in spending your crypto assets.

Join us in embracing the ease of online payments with Bit.Stores Cards, bringing the crypto world closer to your daily life.

Card Features

Seamless Crypto Spending

Move beyond traditional banking limitations. The Bit.Store Card lets you fluidly spend your cryptocurrency for everyday activities, be it dining out or casual shopping.

User-Friendly Experience

Access your Bit.Store account with ease, whether on your computer, phone, or tablet. Our user-friendly interface ensures a swift and simple process to get your card ready for use.

Security and Reliability

Your security is our priority. The Bit.Store Card is fortified with 2FA, ensuring safety in every transaction. Its backed by Mastercard and Visa through regulated banking partnerships, offering you peace of mind. Additionally, we strongly comply with PCI DSS Standards.

Flexible Card Selection

The power of choice is in your hands. Opt for a Virtual Card or a physical one. The Bit.Store Virtual Card doesnt require KYC and comes with a more relaxed spending quota. However, if you need higher limits, the Standard version, requiring KYC, is your go-to.

Diverse Payment Options

The possibilities are endless. Add your Bit.Store Card to Apple Pay or Paypal. Pay for subscriptions on OpenAI or Netflix, shop to your hearts content on Amazon or eBay, book a luxury hotel, or even grab a coffee on your way to work. As long as the merchant recognizes Mastercard (and soon Visa), your Bit.Store Card has got you covered.

Rewarding Cryptoback Program*

Elevate your spending with our exclusive rebate program for Physical Cards. Earn rewards on every purchase, adding more value to every transaction.

*This feature is exclusive to Physical Cards.

Getting Your Bit.Store Card

How to Register?

Go to the Bit.Store Card Website and sign in. Enter your email, agree to the terms, and proceed. Verify your email with the 6-digit code sent to you. Youre now a registered Bit.Store Card user!

Applying for a Virtual Card

Find the Virtual Cards." under the My Card." section, and click on the Apply for a new one." button. Click add your card.", and choose the card with the BIN number you want to apply for, shown below. Enter your First name and Last name Choose or input an initial amount to charge into your card (minimum $15 required), then click Confirm." Wait for the system to confirm your transaction, then you are good to go.

Activating a Physical Card

Find the Physical Cards." tab on the page, and click Active my Physical Card ." or the Activate my card." button. If you havent complete the KYC process, You will then be brought to the KYC Verify screen, follow the instructions on-page, and submit your documents. After the KYC and the review process for Basic information is completed. Click on the Activate my card." or Activate my Physical Card." again. Youll be brought to the Physical Card activation page. Please take out your card, and fill in all the blanks on the page, after that, click the Confirm." button. Your Physical Card should now be activated.

Making Payments

Using your Bit.Store Card is as straightforward as using any debit or credit card. Accepted by Mastercard and Visa, its your versatile companion for a range of purchases.

Fees and Limits

For a comprehensive overview of fees and limits, visit our Fees and Limits page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bit.Store Cards?

Its a prepaid card that operates just like a regular debit or credit card, powered by MasterCard, and designed for cryptocurrency.

Load your physical Bit.Store card (priced in Euros) with either fiat or cryptocurrencies, or top up your virtual Bit.Store card (priced in US dollars) with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies.

How do I apply for a Bit.Store Virtual Card?

Simply create an account, choose your card, top up with crypto, and youre ready to go.

How does it work?

To get started, create an account with Bit.Store, then apply for the card of your choice.

Physical Cards require KYC verification, while Virtual Cards can be obtained without KYC in just 3 minutes. After topping up and setting your PIN, your card is ready for spending.

Are there any fees I should be aware of?

Both the physical and virtual Bit.Store Cards have specific fees and limits. For a detailed breakdown, please visit our Fees and Limits page.

Who can get a Bit.Store Card?

To be eligible for a Bit.Store Card, you must be at least 18 years old and reside in one of our approved countries.

For a full list of eligible countries, please refer to:

Bit.Store Physical Card Country Eligibility

How do I activate my Bit.Store Physical Card?

To activate your Bit.Store Physical Card, simply register an Bit.Store account, complete the KYC verification, top up with Euros or cryptocurrencies, and your card will be automatically activated and ready to use.

What can the Bit.Store Card be used for?

Bit.Store Card is supported on all platforms that accept Mastercard or Visa, including merchants/services such as OpenAI API, Netflix, and Amazon.

Is the Bit.Store Card a credit card?

No, its a prepaid card with a fixed amount and no overdraft.

What fiat currencies and countries are supported for spending with the card?

The Bit.StoreCard supports both USD and EUR currencies and enables payments worldwide wherever Mastercard and Visa are accepted.
Call them zombie schools.

A significant but unknown number of public schools across the U.S., particularly in big cities, have lost so many students in the last half-decade that many of their classrooms sit empty. Gone is the loud clatter of students bursting through crowded hallways and slamming lockers.

The harm from these half-empty schools is inflicted directly on all students in a district. Without enough per-pupil state funding to cover their costs, they require financial subsidies to remain open, forcing district-wide cutbacks in academic programs.

I visited one school that takes up an entire city block but there were only five classrooms used, plus a library, a computer room, and an afterschool room, said Sam Davis, a member of the Board of Education in Oakland, California. As our budget officer said, if you dont have enough students for two teams to play kickball, there are a lot of other academic activities that are not going to be sustainable either.

But nothing in public education is more controversial and difficult than closing a neighborhood school. The protests that recently flared up in cities like Oakland and Denver over proposals to shut low-enrollment schools, which also tend to be the worst academic performers in districts, are just a prelude of the reckoning to come, according to interviews with school leaders, researchers, educators, and charter officials.

The permanent closure of schools slowed drastically during the pandemic, even though many urban districts suffered a major exodus of students, with double-digit losses in New York City and Los Angeles. Many hollowed-out districts have temporarily sidestepped the tempest of shutting schools because Congress provided them with a historic windfall of pandemic-related funding and wide latitude in spending it, said Georgetown Professor Marguerite Roza, who directs the Edunomics Lab.

But the $190 billion lifeline  called the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund  ends next September. So school leaders are facing mounting pressure to shrink their oversized districts, setting up the next battleground over public schools.

Many districts have too many schools, not enough kids, and are propping them up with federal relief funds, Roza said. And they havent laid the groundwork for closures when the funding goes away. Imagine the anger and protests when families learn suddenly that their schools are on the list to close.

With aid flowing during the pandemic, districts shut an average of 810 schools a year in 2021 and 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Thats far less than the 1,350 average from 2011 to 2020, a difference that underscores the magnitude of the problem of zombie schools.

Why Schools Are Hard to Close

In the business and nonprofit sectors, wasteful spending is typically reined in by downsizing operations into fewer buildings and personnel. But public schools often find protection from the calls for efficiency. The first wave of pandemic-era proposals to shut schools in several districts has been countered by a formidable coalition of local advocates, forcing school boards to backpedal on their consolidation plans.

Families are leading the protests at school board meetings. Some have sentimental ties to neighborhood schools that go back generations, and others cite transportation issues in switching to another location thats further from home. Teachers unions have joined the fight in Oakland and other cities, arguing that closures pose unfair labor practices. And racial justice advocates have succeeded in reframing the issue as a matter of equality rather than wasteful spending since nearly all the schools to be closed serve mostly black and Latino kids.

Districts like Seattle that aim to shutter schools often cite reasons that are out of their control. The birth rate has been dropping since 2007, according to federal data, chipping away at enrollment. Families are also leaving cities like Los Angeles and Chicago because of the rising cost of living and concerns over crime and homelessness. San Francisco, for instance, lost 7.5% of its population between 2020 and 2022, according to the census.

But public schools share in the blame. With test scores on the Nations Report Card in decline since 2012, families have been quitting traditional schools in search of a better education and a safer environment at charters, micro, and home schools. Charter enrollment, for instance, grew 7% from 2020 to 2022, while district schools lost 3.5% of students, according to the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools.

School districts cant do anything about the birth rate. But many of them do control the fate of charters. In Los Angeles and other cities facing closures, school boards that formerly encouraged the expansion of charters have grown hostile toward them and blocked their expansion, in part to preserve their own enrollment.

How Zombie Schools Hurt Education

Some districts are now devising proposals to close under-enrolled facilities because of the financial burden they create.

Even a school at half capacity needs a principal, support and food service staff, custodians, and sometimes a nurse, librarian, and counselor. Education is highly labor-intensive, with compensation comprising at least 85% of a schools expenses, Georgetowns Roza says.

Since zombie schools dont cover their own expenses, superintendents have to pull resources from other schools and programs to subsidize them. Funding for art, music, special education, and advanced placement classes may be cut, affecting students throughout the district.

In the end, districts have to spread resources too thinly, across too many buildings, and nobody gets served well, Roza says.

In Denver, Superintendent Alex Marrero detailed the financial benefit of shutting schools in a memo to families last year. In proposing to close 10 out of about 155 traditional and innovation schools  one of which had only 93 students  Marrero said the cost to the district to subsidize them was $5 million annually. That money was pulled from healthier schools and programs.

But if the 10 skeletal schools were closed, the superintendent added, the district could hire an additional 50 full-time employees to benefit students.

The financial logic of school closures has won the day in some districts. Indianapolis announced it was shutting six schools in May to promote the efficient use of taxpayer funding and higher student achievement. St. Louis said it would lock the gates on eight schools, some of them half-empty, two years ago.

The city of Jackson, Miss., may approve a sweeping closure plan in December. The superintendent is calling for the elimination of more than a quarter of its 55 district schools after community outcries scuttled plans over the years to close under-enrolled facilities.

The closures are long overdue and I think they will happen, says Rachel Canter, executive director of Mississippi First, a nonpartisan education policy group. The reality is that the population has declined so much that Jackson cannot support the number of schools it has and provide a quality education.

Opponents Prevail in Oakland

But in many cities, schools that are almost empty shells are protected from closing. Consider the heated battle in Oakland.

The performance of the Oakland school district, which is two-thirds Latino and black, is among the worst in California: Just 25% of students meet or exceed math standards, and only 33% reach this bar in English.

The poor results have contributed to a steady drop in enrollment to about 34,000 last year from more than 50,000 two decades ago. Many students left for charters, which now educate about a quarter of students in Oakland.

To improve performance, the district had set up a number of small schools with about 400 kids. That provided enough funding for a couple of teachers at each grade, as well as art and music programs, to create a rich learning environment. Thats now mostly gone.

Several of our campuses have dwindled to what I call micro schools that are each under 250 students, with only one class at every grade level and without much enrichment, said Davis, the school board member. We no longer have that robust environment for teachers or students.

The urgency for Oakland to close schools, in addition to buildings it shut years ago, is underscored by the state takeover of the district in 2003 to prevent bankruptcy. The district is still paying off the bailout loan, so wasting money on under-enrolled schools could prompt another intervention by its Alameda County overseer.

To stave off more financial trouble, the board approved a plan in 2022 to shut or merge 11 schools, beginning with two that year. The savings would give the district a chance to reinvigorate the remaining schools with more teachers and programs.

But weeks of community demonstrations and a hunger strike by a group of protestors culminated in the election of new board members who opposed school closures. Two of the winners were backed by the Oakland Education Association teachers union.

In January, the new board hastily overturned the earlier vote on closures, saving five schools from shuttering without considering the financial impact in apparent violation of its own policy.

Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez, who has numerous relatives attending Oakland schools, helped rally thousands of protesters to keep them open. She says the schools targeted by the board were disproportionally black and low-income and questioned whether the savings would actually benefit students or get absorbed in what she considers a bloated district bureaucracy.

I oppose closing schools, said Ritzie-Hernandez, who lost a race for an open board seat in November. Families in Oakland didnt feel like they were involved in the decision-making process, so we mobilized parents to the board meetings because there was not robust community engagement.

The decision to keep the schools open adds at least $5 million a year to the districts budget, forcing the board to consider across-the-board cuts to its 78 schools, which could only add to their struggles.

Up Next: Denver

The Denver school district is now in the throes of a closures fight after enrollment has suffered from a declining birth rate and gentrification.

While Latinos make up the biggest group of students, their families are having fewer children. At the same time, rising housing costs are pushing lower-income families out of the city, and young couples without kids are moving in. The district is becoming whiter and smaller.

Enrollment peaked in 2019 at about 94,000 students and has fallen each year to 89,000 in 2022, according to the district. It projects it will lose thousands more students in the next few years.

When birth rates fall, elementary schools are emptied first. At the beginning of the year, the Board of Education expected that 15 district-run elementary and middle schools would have fewer than 215 students. Two elementary schools would have fewer than 120 students and not enough incoming kindergarteners to form a viable class.

After more than a year of gathering community feedback and analysis by an advisory committee, Superintendent Marrero, in the fall of 2022, recommended closing 10 of the 15 schools with fewer than 215 students. Nine of them were predominately Latino and black.

In the racial politics of Denver, the plan drew swift blowback from families and some members of the school board, which was entirely backed by the influential Denver Classroom Teachers Association. Vice President Auontai Anderson declared in the media that the closure plan was a tactic of white supremacy culture  despite the fact that it was developed by a Latino superintendent.

Bowing to pressure, several weeks later, Marrero was expected to cut the list in half to five schools, targeting those that required the largest subsidies. Instead, he chopped the list to just two schools.

Still, that wasnt good enough. The school board rejected the slimmed-down plan, saying more input from the community was needed. A few months later, in early 2023, as the financial burden of zombie schools sank in, the board finally acted, closing just three of them.

What will happen to the rest of the under-enrolled schools is anyones guess. This month, Denver voters signaled they wanted a more moderate school board, electing three new members  none of them backed by the teachers union  to the seven-person panel. One new member is the former CEO of a charter network in Colorado who has expressed support for closing under-enrolled schools.

If Denver shutters more schools, it will likely happen slowly over many years, says William Anderson, a former public school teacher in the city whos now on the faculty at the University of Denver.

Maybe they close three next year, and see if its working the way they expected, and then they tweak the process before closing three more, he says.

Charters on the Firing Line

As a subplot in the battle over vacated schools, districts in Oakland and Denver have rejected several requests by charters to expand. While that may help protect a districts funding, its not good for families looking for better options for educating their children.

Charters, which are publicly funded but privately managed, have been particularly effective in accelerating the academic growth of low-income students, outperforming traditional schools by a significant margin, according to a 2023 study by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford.

This is true in Denver, according to a separate CREDO study of the city, where charters make up about a quarter of all public schools. DSST, a charter network in Denver with waiting lists for many of its schools, stands out. It won national acclaim for the outstanding academic results of its disadvantaged students, 80% of whom are Latino or black. All of its graduates have been admitted to college since 2008, according to its website.

Yet DSSTs expansion in Denver has come to an abrupt halt. It last started a school in 2021, and that required the charter to appeal to the state after the school board sought to delay the opening for years. Since 2020, the Denver board has received three requests for new charter schools and rejected all of them, citing the potential difficulties they would have in recruiting students and other reasons, according to board memos.

The local school board has been controlled by members who are hostile to authorizing new charter schools, says Todd Ziebarth, senior vice president for state advocacy at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. While Colorados law does create an appeals process, the time-consuming nature of it can serve as a deterrent to growth."

In Oakland, the school board has rejected two charter proposals it has received since 2020: a new school was denied because it didnt have a sound educational program, and an expansion was shot down because of the financial impact on the district from losing more students to the charter, said Davis, the board member.

Even Yu Ming, the top performing K-8 public school in Alameda County, which includes Oakland, encountered resistance in its request to grow its enrollment in the city. Students in the Mandarin immersion charter30% of whom are low-incomeperformed about three times better than Oakland students on a 2022 state test, an extraordinary margin. Although Yu Ming has a waiting list, the Oakland board passed a resolution to compel the county, which controls the charter, to allow it to expand into a neighboring city.

The problem is that if we expand enrollment at charter schools, including the highly successful ones, that contributes to the decreasing enrollment in the district and leads to us closing more neighborhood schools, which is very painful, Davis said.

But the benefit to students who would have enrolled in an expanded charter like Yu Ming could be significant. One of the most effective ways to deal with the chronic academic problems of low-income students is simply to put them in a better school. That alone makes a big difference, according to a CREDO study of school closures in 26 states.

The research showed that students  particularly blacks and Latinos  who transferred to superior schools made greater academic gains than their peers who remained in poorly performing schools. But a little less than half of the displaced students were moved to higher quality schools, which are in short supply in many cities.

Margaret Raymond, the CREDO director, says local boards closing facilities should also focus on finding ways to transfer students to better schools, including charters, even if districts take a financial hit.

The lesson is that choosing the worst schools to close is probably a good thing, but thats only half the exercise, Raymond said. Districts also have to figure out how to marshal those kids into settings where they have a chance of recovering academically.
Chewing on psychoactive coca leaves in a traditional ritual, Colombian Indigenous leader Fabio Valencia seeks the advice of jungle spirits and ancestors about a project sold to his community as a planet-saving initiative.

In a remote corner of the Amazon, far from COP28 in Dubai where world leaders will thrash out the final parameters for a reform of the global carbon credit system, the 43-year-old told AFP that one such project was destroying his people in the region of Pira Parana.

Carbon credits allow companies to buy carbon credits from forest preservation or other projects to offset or "compensate" for their greenhouse gas emissions.

But according to Valencia, the Baka Rokarire project in Pira Parana was "worse" for the community than even pollution from mining and oil extraction.

It threatened the very fiber of the community, he claimed, fraudulently wresting control from the region's Indigenous leadership and driving a wedge between locals who support the project with its quick cash injection, and those against it.

"This contaminates spiritually, physically, it destroys everything... in this territory, for money," Valencia said.

AFP walked, motor-boated and overflew part of the Pira Parana territory, which is nearly the size of Puerto Rico. It is an area so remote it is accessible only by million-dollar private flights or a boat trip of at least six days from the nearest city, Mitu.

A total of 2,246 members of six tribes in Pira Parana are contracted to the Baka Rokarire project to reduce deforestation in Pira Parana. It's the type of carbon credit project known as REDD+, which stands for "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation."

Trees are crucial absorbers of carbon dioxide -- the most widespread greenhouse gas -- and Colombia, one of the world's most biodiverse countries, has tens of millions of hectares of forest.

But local leaders say they wish they had never heard of Baka Rokarire, which they claim was illegally foisted on them.

They cite an increase in disputes between individuals and groups and a loss of Indigenous autonomy in the region. Valencia also points to a sudden rise in alcohol consumption, anathema in a region with a deeply traditional way of life.

- Autonomy threatened -

Masbosques, a public-private sustainable forest management partnership, states on its website that Baka Rokarire protects more than 702,000 hectares of Colombian Amazon, with an estimated annual emissions reduction of 524,146 tons of CO2 equivalent.

But some experts charge that the Baka Rokarire project is a farce as there is no real deforestation threat in the area and thus no emissions "savings" to be made.

Inhabitants of Pira Parana further accuse Masbosques of having hoodwinked the community when it acted as an intermediary in a carbon credit deal with a private company.

They have referred the matter to the Constitutional Court in the first case of its kind in Colombia, claiming violations of their rights to territorial autonomy and self-government. The matter is pending.

Valencia, a leader of the Makuna people, claims Masbosques negotiated a deal with a community member who had no legal power to take such decisions.

The prosecutor's office is also investigating claims that Masbosques falsified documents related to the deal signed in 2021.

Masbosques, which describes itself as a not-for-profit organization, told AFP the contract was "valid, legal" and claimed to be the victim of a "smear campaign".

The credits were sold to a Colombian data processing firm called Latin Checkout for some $3.8 million -- all of which went to community members, representatives and organizations, said Masbosques.

According to the www.ecoregistry.com, which keeps tabs on carbon credit trading, Latin Checkout then sold the credits to US airline Delta which faces a lawsuit at home for alleged "greenwashing" -- claiming to be carbon neutral while purchasing questionable carbon offsets.

Wilmer Garcia, another Indigenous leader, told AFP he was one of many community representatives never consulted on the deal.

"The company (Masbosques)... invaded this territory. It did not recognize that there are already environmental and traditional authorities here," said the 37-year-old, a jaguar fang dangling on a string around his neck.

Traditional leader Roberto Marin, 58, added the project was never approved in the "maloka" -- an Indigenous council that has the final say on such matters.

"It must be recognized that we exist here, people, human beings with rights," he told AFP.

A similar project elsewhere in Colombia was stopped by a judge on the grounds that the community was not adequately consulted.

- 'Taking advantage' -

Colombia's Environment Minister Susana Muhamad told AFP a "lack of regulation" meant carbon credit projects are negotiated between private parties with no government control or participation.

This has given rise to "some companies taking advantage of some communities," she told AFP, adding there were plans for the creation of a regulatory agency.

According to Colombia's Sinchi Amazonic Institute of Scientific Research, some two-thirds of Indigenous territory in the rainforest fall under carbon credit projects today.

The Paris Agreement that emerged from COP21 in 2015 widened a system of exchange of carbon credits -- something the oil and gas industry had been demanding for years.

The details of the system have yet to be finalized, but the very concept took a major hit this year with several scientific studies and investigative reports questioning the credibility of the lucrative voluntary market which lies outside the UN process.

"Many of these populations have experienced a long history of conflict with extractive industries. In some cases, the offset income can help support them.

"But we've seen many projects... putting at risk some of the most vulnerable communities on the planet," researcher Barbara Haya, director of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, told AFP earlier this year.

das/lv/vd/mlr/sms/fg
The emblem of the United States federal court of Montana (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Attorneys for a Northern Cheyenne woman who was raped by a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer and was impregnated as a result has appealed a federal courts ruling that even though the assault happened while he was on duty, the federal government shouldnt be held liable for his conduct.

In a separate civil lawsuit, the woman won a $1.6 million judgment for child support, but according to the latest legal filings, former police officer Dana Michael Bullcoming hasnt paid a dime of that money.

The challenge, which is heading to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, claims that despite federal law and a ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that says the federal government can indeed be held responsible for its employees conduct, the federal judge in the case refused to hold the government liable.

In their brief, the victims attorneys, Timothy Bechtold and John Heenan, argued that U.S. District Court Judge Susan Watters not only created new legal conditions not found in state or federal law in order to absolve the federal government, but that she should be removed from the case entirely. Furthermore, the attorneys argue that Watters also disallowed motions that would have allowed them to examine evidence they said proves that attorneys with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Montana manipulated former BIA officer Dana Bullcomings testimony after hed already admitted to the crime in order to allow the judge enough latitude to hold the federal government harmless in the crime.

The U.S. Attorneys Office told the Daily Montanan that it does not comment on pending litigation or appeals.

In a case that dates back to 2015, Bullcoming served federal prison time for three years, much shorter than the recommended time of between 168 to 210 months (14 to 17.5 years), for raping the woman.

He originally responded to her house on a call that reported she was intoxicated while caring for her children on the Northern Cheyenne reservation, which is dry. He coerced her into having sex by threatening to remove her children.

Court records are undisputed that Bullcoming was there while on duty and that he forced her into having sex by threatening her. However, in her ruling, Watters said that attorneys for the victim had not proven that Bullcoming believed his actions were somehow advancing the BIAs position. In other words, the victims lawyers would have to prove that Bullcoming believed he was helping the agency by sexually assaulting her.

The district court ignored the Montana Supreme Courts ruling and invented a new requirement that Montana law does not recognize, and that no plaintiff could possibly prove, the appeal said. In addition, in a desperate attempt to avoid the fate dictated by the Montana Supreme Courts decision, the government flip-flopped on its previous stated positions, and, troublingly, proffered testimony by the offending officer that contradicted his prior testimony.

Montana attorneys abusing their positions

The brief said that Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Tanner and Mark Smith conducted a private phone call with Bullcoming in October 2022, which did not include notifying attorneys for the victim. It claims that attorneys did not have a phone call or notes from that meeting, but got Bullcoming to admit that the sexual encounter had no law enforcement purpose.

They later used that testimony in court, which contradicted other testimony that he had previously given. Bullcoming had previously said he told the victim that something had to be done to remedy the situation because she was intoxicated, or he would have to take her children away.

Attorneys for the victim asked the U.S. Attorneys to agree that they would not rely on Bullcomings perjured testimony, or if they did, that the victims attorneys could pursue impeachment. The government refused both requests.

The government essentially offered Bullcoming immunity from criminal prosecution in exchange for his deposition testimony, the attorneys said.

Remove the judge

The victims attorneys in the case have taken the unusual step of asking the appeals court to remove Watters as the judge in the case because of her refusal to allow cross-examination and for her interpretation of a case that has bounced between the state and federal courts.

Neither the Montana Supreme Court (nor federal law), which is relied upon by the Montana Supreme Court, requires that the plaintiff must prove that the employee had a subjective belief that he was acting at least in part in further of the employers interest, the appeal brief said. By defining the issue this way, the district court makes it impossible for a victim like L.B. to prevail because it is unlikely that a police officer like Officer Bullcoming would subjectively believe that, by engaging in sex with a person under his authority, he was furthering his employers interest. The Montana Supreme Court established an objective test, not a subjective test, of the wrongdoers motives.

Attorneys point out that in Bullcomings criminal case the U.S. Attorneys Office had already established that he deprived the victim of her civil rights under the color of law, something he did as a federal law enforcement agent.

But the victims attorneys said when it came to Bullcomings civil case, including the one which charged the federal government with vicarious liability  meaning, it should be responsible for the conduct of its employees  they said the court allowed a completely opposite argument.

(The federal government) argued that Bullcoming was not a governmental actor and that his sexual assault of L.B. was not in the course and scope of employment, it said. The district court erred in allowing the government to take positions contrary to those it had taken previously.

Attorneys for the victim say theyve satisfied three different prongs that are necessary to reassign  or remand  the case to a different judge.

The district court has twice erroneously granted summary judgment to the government in this case, the latter time ignoring Montana law as applied by the Montana Supreme Court in this very case, the brief said. L.B. asks this court to direct the district court to a different district court judge upon remand so that a different judge can make an objective determination about the contradictory testimony offered to the district court by Bullcoming.

The post Victim appeals court decision that says BIA cant be held responsible for police officers rape appeared first on Daily Montanan.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio  The 77th annual Summit Soil and Water Conservation District meeting and election for the Board of Supervisors took place on Sept. 21, at Sarahs Vineyard in Cuyahoga Falls. The event featured highlights of progress and programs as well as awards presented by Catherine Perrow, Secretary of Summit SWCDs Supervisory Board.

The Urban Conservation of the Year Award was given to two county organizations, the Summit County Executive Office and the Summit County Engineers Office. Both organizations banded together to establish a Surface Water Management District to solve the water quality and flooding problems in Summit County Townships and two villages. Greta Johnson accepted the award for Ilene Shapiro of the Summit County Executives Office, and Alan Brubaker accepted for the Summit County Engineers Office.

The Conservation Partner of the Year Award was awarded to Cheryl Luck from the Portage Lakes Branch Library for featuring watershed education and outreach activities with a special library corner and speaker presentation. She also provided library resource materials with a water quality theme.

The meeting also recognized volunteers for their commitment to monthly stream sampling of 20 district watershed sites. This sampling and data collection will assist the district in observing trends and changes in the water quality in the watershed.

The AmeriCorps service recognition was given to Claire Hardi who contributed to the districts education and watershed programs this year.

Summit SWCD Recognitions were mentioned for Michael Rorar and Dan Ross. Rorar, current district chair, and Dan Ross, current treasurer, were both lauded for their dedicated service. Both have chosen not to run again and will serve through December.
Arla's December price for conventional and organic milk will increase by 0.89 pence per litre as the sector's outlook is forecast to be 'positive'.

This means the UK manufacturing price for conventional and organic milk will be 36.10ppl and 43.54ppl respectively.

It is the first price increase announced by the cooperative since the summer.

Arla Foods amba board director, Arthur Fearnall, said the outlook was 'positive' for the dairy sector.

This announcement is a step in the right direction for our cooperative business," he explained.

"Global milk supplies are slowing down in major production areas and retail sales continue to pick up after the turnaround in Q3."

In Sweden, farmers will see an Arla organic on-account milk price increase of 2.0c per kg.

Mr Feranall explained: "In Sweden, the additional organic increase is driven by improved utilisation," adding that global commodity markets were also recovering.

Paul Savage, agriculture director for Arla UK, welcomed the announcement for the co-operative's 2,000 UK farmers.

It is good news that we have been able to increase our farmgate milk price for all farmer owners in our cooperative," he said.

"Our branded retail sales continue to pick up and both conventional and organic markets are coming back to growth.
Labour has confirmed it will seek to improve rural grid connections to allow farmers to connect their renewable energy projects to the grid quicker.

At the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) conference, Labour's Shadow Defra Secretary Steve Reed promised to 'rewire Britain'.

He pledged to get pylons built quicker in rural areas and reduce the wait for farmers to plug their renewable energy into the grid 'from years to months'.

Farmers currently own or host up to 1,200 of the UKs solar farms, generating around 10% of the country's energy needs.

However, farming businesses and renewable energy companies have to wait years to connect to the electricity grid.

YLEM Energy, an independent power generation specialist, welcomed the announcement, calling it 'encouraging' from Labour.

"Farmers currently generate around 10% of the UKs energy needs, with this number set to grow in the years to come," said the firm's CEO Ian Gadsby.

However, he said that in many cases the grid was not up to the challenge in rural areas.

"[It] is in desperate need of upgrading if farmers are to help the UK meet its ambition to increase its solar output to 75GW by 2035.

It comes as Labour is aiming to win over rural voters ahead of a general election, which is widely expected to be held next year.

Rural campaigners recently welcomed Labour's U-turn on its pledge to create a Scottish-style right to roam in the English countryside if elected.

However, a recent poll by the CLA revealed a lack of trust among rural voters over Labour  though many remain undecided as support for the Tories falls.
Meadow Walker said she will love her dad Paul Walker forever in a tribute to the tragic actor on the 10th anniversary of his death.

Meadow Walker said she will love her dad Paul Walker forever in a tribute to the tragic actor on the 10th anniversary of his death

The model was 15 when the Fast and Furious actor was killed in a fireball car crash on 20 November 2013 aged 40, and has now taken to her Instagram to post a throwback video of him on his birthday.

In the clip, Meadow is seen sneaking up on the actor and shouting Happy birthday! as he jumped in surprise and fell back on the bed.

Paul tells her: You just scared the hell out of me, while laughing and then pulling his daughter in for a hug.

Meadow captioned the video: 10 years without you I love you forever.

She revealed earlier this year she is convinced she still receives signs from her dad, telling E! News: For me, its numbers  four and seven are my dads favourite numbers.

And I swear whenever Im doubting anything or whenever Im in an argument with someone or anything, I start seeing four and seven everywhere. So I always know that its him.

Even yesterday, I was having a moment and then the clock bells started ringing. And I was like, OK, its all good, its gonna be OK.

Meadow also recently honoured Paul by playing a flight attendant in Fast X  the 10th film in the Fast and Furious franchise.

She said in an Instagram post ahead of the films release in May: The first Fast was released when I was one year old!

I grew up on set watching my father, Vin (Diesel), Jordana (Brewster), Michelle (Rodriguez), (Ludacris) and more on the monitors.

Thanks to my dad, I was born into the Fast family. I cant believe now I get to be up there, too.

I am so blessed to be able to honour my fathers legacy and share this with him forever. I love you all so much!

She has also told Page Six about how she keeps Pauls memory alive: I like to watch (his films) at night.

For me, it brings me joy to talk about him and keep his spirit alive. He was seriously my best friend, my confidante, my everything. I feel like hes always with me.
Sarah Jessica Parker has hailed Frances Sternhagen as a "beautiful human".

Frances Sternhagen died aged 93

The actress died on Monday (27.11.23), aged 93, and her former 'Sex and the City' co-star has taken to Instagram to pay a glowing tribute.

Alongside a throwback image, Sarah, 58, wrote on the photo-sharing platform: "Class.

"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 (sic)"

Kristin Davis has also taken to social media to pay tribute to her former co-star.

The 59-year-old actress - who played Charlotte Goldenblatt on 'Sex and the City' - wrote on Instagram: "Just heard that glorious Frances Sternhagen has passed away. She lived a wonderful, full life and was a joy to work with. Thinking of her family."

Sternhagen's death was announced by her family, who revealed that she died "peacefully of natural causes".

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, her family said: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear mother, actress Frances Sternhagen, died peacefully of natural causes in New Rochelle, NY, on November 27th, 2023 at the age of 93.

"She is survived by her six children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A celebration of her remarkable career and life is planned for mid-January, near her 94th birthday. We continue to be inspired by her love and life."

The actress - who was best-known for starring in 'Cheers' and 'Sex and the City' - enjoyed a hugely successful career on stage and screen.

She received two Tony Awards for her performances in 'The Good Doctor' and The Heiress'.

Sternhagen also starred in a number of well-known movies, including 'Raising Cain', 'Julie and Julia', 'Independence Day' and 'Doc Hollywood'.
Jennifer Lopez thinks women "get sexier as they get older".

Jennifer Lopez is keen to work for many more years

The 54-year-old star believes that there are a growing number of on-screen roles for older women in Hollywood, and Jennifer is keen to continue working for many years to come.

She told ELLE's December/January 2023 Women in Hollywood issue: "It has changed a lot, and I think its appropriate.

"As you get older and you have more experience, you become a richer human being and you have more to offer. The idea of, Theres nothing really valuable about watching a woman over 30 is so ridiculous, its the opposite of right. It just makes me laugh.

"People have realised that women just get sexier as they get older. They get more learned and more rich with character. All of that is very beautiful and attractive, and not just physically, but on the inside, the beauty that you gain as you get older, the wisdom you gain."

Jennifer hasn't made any retirement plans, and she doesn't plan to slow down anytime soon, either.

The 'If You Had My Love' hitmaker - who is married to actor Ben Affleck - explained: "I see myself working [as long as] I want to. I dont know what that age is.

"It might be 70, it might be 80, it might be 90, I dont know. But I know that its there for me if I want it and I want to create it. That has always been the mindset that Ive had: to never let anybody put me in a box because of where I was born, where Im from, what age I am, anything like that. Those boundaries dont exist for me."
Chennai girl Maria Akshita who was selected to represent the country in Fencing in various international events this year, recently created history by becoming the first Indian fencer to be honored with the prestigious Fairplay Award at the 2023 FIE Awards held in Egypt. This remarkable achievement not only highlights Maria's exceptional skills on the fencing strip but also underscores her commitment to the highest standards of fair play, respect, and integrity showcasing her sportsmanship.



Competing at one of the prestigious events of fencing, she has not only demonstrated exceptional skill but also showcased her spirit of fair play, earning the admiration of peers and the international fencing community alike. The Fairplay Award is more than just an accolade; it is a recognition reserved for athletes who embody the true spirit of fair play on and off the field. Maria's receipt of this prestigious honour speaks volumes about her character and conduct, showcasing her as a role model for aspiring athletes globally.



It is also seen that this award is not just an individual triumph; it marks a significant milestone for Indian fencing on the global stage. Her achievements underscore that Indian athletes are not only formidable competitors but also ambassadors of fair play.
To read the full story, become a PRIME member today.

PRIME Unlimited Access to

Insightful Industry Information

All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials.
There will be no problem if the US imposes sanctions on Bangladesh, according to the latters foreign minister AK Abdul Momen. Commerce minister Tipu Munshi, meanwhile, asserted that US and European efforts to hinder Bangladesh's garment exports will finally prove futile.

Momen, however, clarified Bangladesh has not been informed of any such US decision.

US sanctions on Bangladesh, if imposed, will pose no problem, the latter's foreign minister AK Abdul Momen recently said. Commerce minister Tipu Munshi, meanwhile, asserted that US and European efforts to hinder Bangladesh's garment exports will finally prove futile. Momen, however, clarified Bangladesh has not been informed of any such US decision.

US secretary of state Anthony Blinken recently said countries violating labour rights may face US sanctions.

The workers of the US were heavily repressed during the period of their economic development. Contrary to that, the conditions of our workers during our present economic development are much better, Momen was quoted as saying by Bangladesh media outlets.

"Even a century ago, a worker [in the United States] got only 20 cents for working 18 hours a day, he noted.

The per capita income of the US is 65,000 dollars, while it is only 2,800 dollars in our country. So, in terms of per capita income, the condition of our workers is far better than in the US, Momen pointed out.

Bangladesh cannot afford to provide facilities to workers like those in European countries or the United States overnight, he added.

He urged Western buyers to buy Bangladeshs garment products at higher prices so that the additional amount will be spent for the welfare of the workers.

"Politics and business are distinct spheres. They [the US and European countries] will not do anything that jeopardises Bangladesh's garment industry," Musnhi said, urging apparel entrepreneurs not to worry about the US memorandum on labour rights.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Novo Freight Logistics Limited recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand trade and investment in the country.

The MoU will help attract domestic and foreign investors, offer improved investment services, coordinate between domestic and foreign investors, offer investment guidelines and expand logistics cooperation for investors.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Novo Freight Logistics Ltd. have signed an MoU to expand trade and investment in the country. The MoU will attract domestic and foreign investors, offer better investment services, coordinate between domestic and foreign investors, offer investment guidelines and expand logistics cooperation for investors.

BIDA executive member Mohsina Yasmin and Novo Group managing director Syed Mustafizur Rahman signed the MoU in Dhaka, according to a press release.

In the last 15 years, infrastructure development, political stability and the application of technology in business and trade investment has made Bangladesh one of the best destinations for safe investment, BIDA executive chairman Lokman Hossain Mia said at the signing ceremony.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Touted as one of the biggest festivals held in Cuttack, Odisha, the annual Bali Yatra celebrates the ancient trade relations between India and Indonesia. Attended by a large number of visitors, this year Bali Yatra will have the celebrated music duo Sachin-Jigar perform and weave magic with their soul-stirring renditions.

Known for their chart-topping numbers, the duo have always managed to create an authentic connection with the audiences and it looks like they're ready to do that yet again this time around in Cuttack.

Expected to perform their popular romantic numbers such as 'Apna Bana Le', 'Phir Aur Kya Chahiye', 'Tere Vaaste' and more, Sachin-Jigar will take over the stage at the Bali Yatra on December 2nd, 2023.

Looking forward to performing at the iconic Bali Yatra, Sachin-Jigar jointly said, "It truly feels wonderful to be a part of such a historic moment. We have always found the Bali Yatra very fascinating and today being a part of it and being able to perform for visitors from all walks of life and different parts of the country and the world, it's truly a privilege for us as artists. We are very excited and looking forward to giving everyone a memorable soulful experience."

Meanwhile, coming in as a great year-ender surprise, Sachin-Jigar's superhit love ballad 'Phir Aur Kya Chahiye' has created history and earned a spot on Spotify India's Most Streamed Songs of 2023, solidifying the duo's impeccable music talent.
Jigarthanda Double X OTT Release: The Tamil period action-comedy movie "Jigarthanda Double X," also known as "Jigarthanda 2," hit theatres on November 10, 2023.

Parking X Review: Harish Kalyan's Movie Promises Exceptional Performances And Compelling Storytelling

Directed by Karthik Subbaraj and jointly produced by Kaarthekeyen Santhanam, Alankar Pandian, and S. Kathiresan, the film falls under the banners of Stone Bench Films, Five Star Creation, and Invenio Origin.

"Jigarthanda DoubleX" stands as an independent prequel to the 2014 film "Jigarthanda." Leading roles are portrayed by Raghava Lawrence and S. J. Suryah. The film boasts a soundtrack and background score crafted by Santhosh Narayanan, while the cinematography is handled by S. Thirunavukkarasu, and editing is done by Shafique Mohamed Ali.

Jigarthanda Double X Synopsis: Set in 1975 in Tamil Nadu, the story unfolds as a filmmaker and a feared gangster join forces to create a Western film.

The production commenced its shoot in Madurai on December 12, 2022. Principal photography kicked off with the first schedule at Thandikudi and wrapped up within 14 days at the same location. The film is scheduled for release on November 10, 2023, alongside dubbed versions in Telugu and Hindi.

Jigarthanda Double X OTT Release Date And Platform

Netflix has obtained the streaming rights for the film, while Sun TV has secured the broadcast rights. 'Jigarthanda Double X' is set to stream on Netflix starting on December 8.

Joe OTT Release Date And Platform: Here's When And Where To Watch Rio Raj And Bhavya Trikha Starrer Movie

Dhanush's Glowing Review For 'Jigarthanda 2'

Following the exclusive premiere of the movie "Jigarthanda," actor Dhanush took to social media to share his enthusiastic review. He expressed his admiration for the film's craftsmanship, highlighting director Karthik Subbaraj's talent. Dhanush also praised S. J. Suryah for his exceptional performance and credited Raghava Lawrence as a revelation in his role. He commended the film's music, courtesy of Santhosh Narayanan, and reserved special praise for the last 40 minutes, describing them as heart-stealing. Dhanush concluded with warm wishes for the entire crew and cast. His positive review is sure to pique the interest of movie enthusiasts eagerly awaiting "Jigarthanda 2."
Isha-Samarth breakup: It doesn't take a minute for equations to change inside the Bigg Boss house. From becoming friends to turning into arch rivals, things can change anytime in the show. Isha Malviya and Samarth Jurel, who grabbed eyeballs with their closeness and PDA in Bigg Boss 17, have reportedly parted ways in the show.

ISHA MALVIYA-KHANZAADI FIGHT

In the previous episode, Sana Raees Khan engaged in a war of words with Khanzaadi, accusing of her not saying things on the face. She slammed the rapper for not taking a stand against Isha Malviya and backbiting about her. Firoza Khan had a breakdown and she refused to be a part of the sponsored task.

While Ankita Lokhande tried her best to cheer her up, she didn't come out of her room. According to a report in Tellychakkar, Khanzaadi had another fight with Isha Malviya. Things got personal and the two ladies took nasty potshots at each other. They reportedly brought each other's families into the conversation.

Firoza Khan accused the actress of 'playing a fake love angle with two boys' to stay in BB 17. "You're running on two horses," she said while taunting Isha.

Samarth Jurel came in between and asked them to not drag his name in the conversation.

ISHA MALVIYA-SAMARTH JUREL BREAKUP REASON

After her argument with Khanzaadi, Isha Malviya had a fight with Samarth. This paved way for their breakup as Isha said that she doesn't wish to be with the Udaariyaan. She ended their relationship on national television, leaving the other housemates shocked.

It remains to be seen how their parents, Karan Johar and Salman Khan react to Samarth and Isha's split. The two lovebirds have made headlines with their PDA in front of the other housemates. Celebrities like Kamya Panjabi even trolled the duo, stating that she could not watch Bigg Boss 17 with her family because of them.

BIGG BOSS 17 ELIMINATION

Eight contestants are in the danger zone in the current week. Anurag Dobhal, Rinku Dhawan, Khanzaadi, Ankita Lokhande, Arun Srikanth Mashettey, Mannara Chopra, Vicky Jain and Neil Bhatt have been nominated for eviction. The name of the evicted contestant will be announced in either tonight or tomorrow's Weekend Ka Vaar episode.

Last week, Jigna Vora was eliminated from the show. Before her Soniya Bansal and Manasvi Mamgai were evicted from Bigg Boss season 17.
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 Project

The 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 deposit

The 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 drilling

Pampa 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 Agreement

On 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 signing Work Commitments 6,000 meters of drilling (minimum); and

$6m USD additional exploration expenditure Option Exercise Price 14.75M USD and a 1.25% NSR

Pampa may elect to scrip settle up to $2.5m USD

The latest Company Presentation can be accessed at https://pampametals.com/investor/.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

INVESTORS CONTACT

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

Joseph@pampametals.com

+1 604 347 8777

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa 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 Person

Technical 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 defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego is a consultant to the Company.

* %CuEq values are calculated based on copper and gold metal prices: Cu = US$3.20/lb and Au = US$1,700/oz. The formula utilized to calculate %CuEq is: Cu Eq Grade (%) = Cu Head Grade (%) + [(Au Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Au Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04).



Note: The reader is cautioned that Pampa Metals' projects are early-stage exploration projects, and reference to existing mines and deposits, or mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties, is not necessarily indicative of any mineralization on Pampa Metals' properties.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Pampa Metals Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812088/pampa-metals-options-copper-gold-project-along-san-juan-porphyry-belt-historical-unaudited-intervals-include-4135m-from-167-047-cu-and-052-gt-au-087-cueq
Sam Gibbons to return as General Manager, lead the office and support growing client base in the upper Midwest

CHICAGO, 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 Background

Mr. 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 Faust

Alpha Advisory Group

info@alpha-ir.com

312-445-2870

SOURCE: Alpha Advisory Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812051/alpha-advisory-group-announces-opening-of-minneapolis-office
SEBA Bank AG, a fully licensed Swiss crypto bank, announced today its new brand identity: AMINA Bank AG. The group operates globally from its regulated hubs in Zug, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, offering its clients traditional and crypto banking services.

SEBA Bank made history in 2019 by becoming one of the first FINMA-regulated institutions to provide crypto banking services. This rebrand marks a new chapter for the company, which has proudly been in operation for more than four years. AMINA Bank is inspired by the same trailblazing ambition to lead the way for its clients and to write its own future as a Swiss-regulated crypto bank offering services to its traditional and crypto savvy clients around the globe.

The name 'AMINA' stems from the term 'transAMINAtion', meaning transference of one compound to another. AMINA is a brand driven by perpetual change, bringing together the various 'compounds' of traditional, digital, and crypto banking to unlock new potential and growth for our clients. This vision of change represents the transformation of our clients' financial future.

Franz Bergmueller, CEO of AMINA, said: "We are delighted to introduce the world to our new brand identity. While we say goodbye to the SEBA name, we remain forever proud of the achievements made by the group under the former brand.

"Our brand signifies a new era in the company's growth and strategy; we are a key player in crypto banking and are here to define the future of finance. With our client-focused approach, our years of traversing traditional and crypto finance, we offer a platform for investors to build wealth safely and under the highest regulatory standards."

"We are grateful to be encouraged by our supportive and committed investors who have been very helpful, supporting the growth of the company. We thank our employees in all the regions for their dedication and client focus. As we look forward to 2024, our ambition is to accelerate the growth of our strategic hubs in Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi, and to continue our global expansion, building on all the successes we have laid down over the past years."

Current clients of AMINA Bank (formerly SEBA Bank) will be unaffected by the rebrand other than encountering the new name; all operations will be business as usual across the board.

The branch office based in Abu Dhabi and the subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Singapore will subsequently apply for a name change to align with the head office in Zug.

To learn more about AMINA, visit www.aminagroup.com

Franz Bergmueller, CEO of AMINA, is available for interview.

About AMINA Crypto. Banking. Simplified.

Founded in April 2018 and headquartered in Zug, AMINA (formerly SEBA) is a pioneer in the financial industry. In August 2019, AMINA received a Swiss banking and securities dealer license. The broad, vertically integrated spectrum of services, combined with the highest security standards, make AMINA's value proposition unique. AMINA operates globally from its regulated hubs of Switzerland, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong to offer fiat and crypto services to progressive investors, traditional and crypto-native alike, whether individuals, corporates or institutions.

CVVC Global Report and CB Insights named AMINA as one of the Top 50 Companies within the blockchain ecosystem. Aite Group awarded AMINA their 2021 Digital Wealth Management Impact Innovation Award in the 'Digital Startup of the Year' category, and LinkedIn listed AMINA as one of the Top Startups 2021 in Switzerland. In 2022, AMINA won the Digital Assets Offering or Service at the WealthBriefing Swiss EAM Awards, and the bank was also recognised for its product offering SEBAX and won the Best ETP of the Year award at the Swiss ETF Awards 2022. In 2023, AMINA won the European WealthBriefing Award in the Digital Assets Solution, Fund Manager category.

For more information on AMINA, please visit our website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130844758/en/

Contacts:

Wachsman

Matt Turner

Senior Consultant

aminabank@wachsman.com

AMINA Bank AG

Yves Longchamp

Managing Director

yves.longchamp@aminagroup.com
A large-scale exhibition featuring 130 original works, including early paintings and large-scale objects.

More than 130 works on display, including early works collected by the Delaive family since 2006

Highlighting the unique "finger painting" technique of applying paint with bare hands

Special exhibition combining large-scale objects with animation, interactive media content, and more

On view from December 2, 2023 to March 24, 2024 at Hangaram Museum of Art, Seoul Arts Center

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- C.C.O.C. (CEO Kang Wook Kang, www.ccoc.co.kr), an exhibition specialist, announced today that they will present "Ayako Rokkaku, Dreams in my Hand" at the Hangaram Museum of Art, Seoul Arts Center, from December 2 (Saturday) to March 24 (Sunday), 2024. This is the largest solo exhibition of Ayako Rokkaku's work in Korea, featuring approximately 130 original works collected by the Delaive family of the Netherlands, including her early drawings and large-scale objects.

Ayako Rokkaku, painting spring with her hands

Ayako Rokkaku is an artist from Chiba Prefecture, Japan, known for her unique "finger painting" method of working, in which she improvises by applying acrylic paint with her bare hands without sketching. With no formal art training, she began painting at the age of 20 to find a way to express herself beyond words. Active in various parts of the world, including Tokyo, Berlin, Porto, and Amsterdam, she is a sought-after artist for collectors and set a new personal record on the 52nd Japanese SBI Auction in 2022 with JPY 160,000,000. She first came to prominence when she participated in the GEISAI Art Fair organized by Takashi Murakami's Kaikai Kiki in 2006, and has been hailed as representing the next generation of Japanese artists, following in the footsteps of Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama.

will feature more than 130 works, including some of the best of her early works, some top-level later canvasses, collected by the Delaive family since 2006, such as Untitled (2020), painted on a 2-meter circular canvas, depicting a girl lying in a field of flowers on a spring day and is filled with colors that evoke the warmth of spring. Also on display will be a selection of painted objects including three large scale works over 3 meters in height, including "Sculpture with two ghost rabbits (2011)," a 2.3-meter-high large-scale sculpture of a girl. All of these works are rarely seen in the art market and are highly anticipated by Korean fans.

Six different sections

Upon entering the exhibition, a sand art animation that tells the story of Ayako Rokkaku's journey from Japan to the Netherlands is shown first, followed by a photo wall that shows the meeting between the self-taught artist and gallerist Nico Delaive. After the introductory section, the first section, 'Little Girl with Bare Feet', will showcase some of the artist's earliest works. Twenty-three early original paintings are on display, including two works from 2006.

In the second section, 'Dreaming Fingers,' you'll see some of the most iconic works that come to mind when you think of Ayako Rokkaku. The works are made from a variety of everyday materials, including canvas, cardboard, T-shirts, vinyl, and plates, et cetera. The third section, 'To the Wider World,' introduces the original paintings that the artist worked on while igniting his passion for art after leaving Tokyo and starting a new life in Amsterdam, the city of Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Three large 3-meter-high original paintings by Ayako Rokkaku, who despite her small stature love to paint large-scale works, will be on display, and her Amsterdam studio will be recreated as a photo zone for added enjoyment.

The next section, 'My Friends,' features the 'About Us' works. 'About Us' is the title of an animation created by the artist in collaboration with Tokyo-based music label contrarede. The animated work tells the story of a girl who bridges the gap between past and future time, and features autobiographical characters from the artist's life. The 18-minute film will also be screened in the media room. Upon entering the gallery through a door that looks exactly like the one at Gallery Delaive in Amsterdam, you'll find the 'Delaive Family' section. There's a photo wall that shows the decades-long friendship between the Delaive family and Ayako Rokkaku, as well as portraits of the Delaive family painted by the artist with an intimate feel. The sixth and final section, 'The Beginning of Spring,' will feature recent works created between 2021 and 2022.

"Ayako Rokkaku can be described as an artist who calls for spring," says Kang Wook Kang, CEO of CCOC, who organized the exhibition. "She creates a dreamy, surreal world without sketches and instead improvises, making the viewer feel the lovely spring, and we expect this winter to be warmer with Ayako Rokkaku's exhibition."

For the digital catalogue with the following link visit: https://issuu.com/gallerydelaive/docs/306007_cataloog_prive_collectie_ayako_digitaal?fr=sZWVlOTY4MzAzNzU

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2288537/Gallery_Delaive_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2288538/Gallery_Delaive_2.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/family-delaive-presents-ayako-rokkaku-dreams-in-my-hand-302002177.html
CoinShares Digital Securities Limited / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

CSDS Appointment of Administrator



01-Dec-2023 / 07:20 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





1 December 2023

CoinShares Digital Securities Limited

Exchange Traded Products Programme for the issue of

CoinShares Digital Securities

LEI: 549300DR7967WVLR3P83

Appointment of Administrator

Jersey - 1 December 2023 - CoinShares Digital Securities Limited (the "Issuer") announces the termination of the appointment of its existing Administrator and the appointment in substitution of IQ EQ Fund Services (Jersey) Limited ("IQ-EQ") with effect from 1 December 2023 pursuant to an Administration Services Agreement dated 30 August 2023. IQ-EQ's offices are at 2nd Floor, Gaspe House, 66-72 Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey JE1 1GH, Channel Islands. Tel: (0)1534 714591 Email: CSDSL@IQEQ.com

The Administration Services Agreement may be terminated by either party on not less than 90 calendar days' written notice, where either party is declared insolvent or bankrupt or where either party is in breach of the Administration Services Agreement, amongst other scenarios. The Administration Services Agreement also sets out the liability of IQ-EQ to the Issuer and the associated liability cap.

Terms used in this announcement and not otherwise defined bear the same meanings as were used in the base prospectus of the Issuer dated 3 March 2023 or the base prospectus of the Issuer dated 20 April 2023 (as the case may be).

For further information, please contact:

CoinShares Digital Securities Limited

2 Hill Street

St. Helier, Jersey,

JE24UA

Channel Islands

ir@coinshares.com
YOKOHAMA, Japan, Dec. 01, 2023, a leading global provider of automated driving technologies, is proud to announce a strategic distributor partnership with Macnica, a renowned Japanese technology solutions partner. This partnership signifies aiMotive's commitment to enhancing its presence in the Japanese market and further solidifying its position as a pioneer in the automated driving technology sector.



Macnica, with its exceptional expertise and extensive network, will serve as aiMotive's official distributor in Japan, responsible for addressing customer and partner needs. Their rich history of delivering innovative solutions engineered to future-proof businesses aligns seamlessly with aiMotive's mission to revolutionize the automotive industry with cutting-edge technologies.

As aiMotive continues to innovate and expand its product portfolio, this partnership allows the company to provide Japanese customers with direct access to its advanced solutions, including aiWare, aiSim, and aiData. These technologies have gained recognition worldwide for their contributions to the development of automated driving and advanced driver-assistance systems.

"We are thrilled to join forces with Macnica in this partnership," said Szabolcs Janky, Product Strategy SVP of aiMotive. "Their deep-rooted commitment to excellence and innovation perfectly complements our vision of driving automotive technology forward. With Macnica as our trusted distributor, we aim to better serve the Japanese market and meet the increasing demand for cutting-edge AI-powered solutions."

Macnica's expertise in understanding local market dynamics, coupled with aiMotive's state-of-the-art technologies, promises to unlock new opportunities for Japanese automotive manufacturers and technology providers. This partnership marks a significant milestone in aiMotive's global expansion strategy, enabling the company to empower Japan's automotive industry with innovative AI solutions.

About aiMotive:

https://aimotive.com/

About Macnica:

www.macnica.co.jp

For media inquiries, please contact:

Bence Boda

Marketing & Communications Director

aiMotive

email: bence.boda@aimotive.com

Macnica Contact Information

Macnica Inc. Smart City & Mobility Division

email: auto-solution@macnica.co.jp
BOSTON, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

Thermal management of EVs: Batteries take focus but motors and power electronics follow

The battery deservedly takes the major focus when it comes to technology development in EVs. But an EV's powertrain has to act holistically to operate with optimal performance and interact with the passenger cabin's conditioning system. This means that the thermal management of the motors, power electronics, and how this all interacts is just as important as the battery.

The early EV market trend was away from passively cooled or forced air cooled batteries towards liquid cooling through cold plates and coolant channels. This transition is all but complete with IDTechEx finding that 95% of the electric car market has adopted cold plate cooling (water or refrigerant) in the first half of 2023. The next stage of evolution is around battery integration, with cell-to-pack and cell-to-body type designs becoming increasingly common. This typically involves larger form factor cells and somewhat reduces the complexity of the cold plate design. For example, BYD's Blade battery requires one large cold plate for the entire pack. Tesla's 4680 pack requires fewer coolant channels for side wall cooling its cells thanks to fewer individual cells being used in the pack.

This also profoundly impacts the thermal interface material (TIM) use. Firstly there is a lower quantity per vehicle, but as cells can be bonded directly to the cold plate, the TIM has to provide greater adhesion properties. IDTechEx's research finds that despite the reduction in TIM quantity, the price of the thermal conductive adhesive is higher than that of a typical gap filler, meaning similar revenues per vehicle can be obtained for TIM suppliers. Combining this with the growing EV market, IDTechEx predicts a 5.6-fold increase in yearly revenue for TIM by 2033 compared to 2022.

Cell-to-pack/body deployment is still at an early stage, with IDTechEx estimating that approximately 15% of the electric car market utilized a cell-to-pack or cell-to-body design in 2022. The market is somewhat split on development, with large Chinese players and Tesla in the US focusing heavily on cell-to-pack and greater integration, whilst some players have taken a module-based approach, like GM with its Ultium platform, that can potentially aid in servicing.

Electric motors present a different thermal management challenge; while water jackets around the motor have been common, the trend is towards motors that use oil within them. This allows for more direct contact between coolant and motor windings but also a smaller overall motor if the jacket is eliminated. Oil-cooled motors overtook water jacket-cooled motors in 2022, with the growth continuing into 2023, with estimates for H1 2023 approaching 65% of the market. IDTechEx expects both approaches to remain but with oil cooling taking the majority for the future of the market, especially for higher cost/performance models.

With motors moving to direct oil cooling, is it possible that the same could be seen for power electronics? The adoption of silicon carbide power electronics results in a larger heat flux at the MOSFETs (over silicon IGBTs) thanks to the higher power density. Typically, the inverter and motor are housed together in the drive unit, with the same water loop cooling both components. There has been some interest in directly cooling the inverter chips with oil too, to provide better thermal contact, but this could also eliminate the water circuit from the drive unit. A single water/oil heat exchanger could therefore be used to contact the thermal system of the vehicle with the drive unit. The SingleOilCnL project between Dana, Diabatix, Lubrizol, Siemens, and Flanders Make explores this idea. IDTechEx believes this is a promising approach but is unlikely to become a dominant solution in the near future. However, with greater adoption of SiC power electronics and more highly integrated drivetrains, we could start to see some examples later in the decade.

What can be done to mitigate EV fires?

The concerns around EV fires are still at the forefront of both the EV industry and, now more than ever, the public eye. The automotive market experienced significant recalls relating to battery fire risks from automakers such as GM, Hyundai, VW, and several others. More and more data has been published suggesting that EVs are at significantly less risk of a fire than a combustion engine vehicle, although it should be noted the data at this stage does not account for factors like the age of the vehicles. The market has made several moves overall to combat the likelihood of EV fires, such as more stable chemistries, greater quality control of batteries, and improved software management.

Regardless of the occurrence rate, EV fires can be very destructive and quite different from their combustion engine counterparts. The combination of volatile chemicals and the mechanism of thermal runaway can make fires explosive and difficult to extinguish. This is one of the major drivers behind IDTechEx's prediction that demand for fire protection materials in EVs will grow by 13 times by 2033 compared with 2022.

Despite the focus, regulations have evolved fairly slowly. China was the first (01/01/2021) to mandate a 5-minute warning between a thermal event occurring and fire or smoke exiting the pack, allowing occupants to exit the vehicle. Other regions have had draft regulations in progress for several years, but these often struggle to keep up with the rate of technology development in this field. The UN GTR 20 regulation looks to include similar escape times but also add features like testing gas release risks while the vehicle is turned on or off. However the regulation specifics play out, it will surely put more pressure on OEMs to provide propagation mitigation and detection approaches along with overall fire protection.

There are many materials that can provide protection from thermal runaway in a battery pack. In general, especially with more energy-dense battery designs, these materials should provide multiple functions, including thermal insulation, fire protection, electrical isolation, and cell mechanical support. The market so far has largely employed materials like mica sheets or ceramic blankets at a module/pack level to provide electrical isolation and fire protection; this was often the case even before regulations and greater awareness of EV fires progressed. When Tesla first released the Model 3, it shifted towards using encapsulating agents around its cells to eliminate oxygen within the pack and add fire protection. The variety in battery designs and the need to keep weight and cost low is seeing manufacturers consider several options.

One material that has seen rapid market growth is aerogels. Aerogels provide excellent thermal insulation with minimal weight, but their maximum temperature protection and higher cost has historically limited their uptake. IDTechEx's "Aerogels 2024-2034" report found that the total aerogel market in 2020 was under US$300 million, with less than 10% of this accounted for by the EV market. In 2022, aerogel application within EV battery packs became a US$150 million market by itself. IDTechEx expects aerogels to become one of the standard options in this application, alongside several other material options.

Thermal management for data centers

Over the last 17 years, GPU thermal design power (TDP) has surged fourfold. The growing demand for cloud computing, crypto mining, and AI suggests TDP of chips will continue to rise. In 2023, chips with TDP near 1000W already exist. This trend presents significant challenges for data center thermal management. Traditional air-cooled setups using fan walls and air conditioning struggle when TDP exceeds 500W. As a solution, liquid cooling has emerged, encompassing direct-to-chip and immersion cooling. Direct-to-chip cooling notably boosts cooling capacity and can be relatively easily integrated into existing air-cooled data centers, facilitating a gradual transition for end-users.

IDTechEx has observed industrial collaborations between liquid cooling solution providers and critical supply chain components, including chip manufacturers (Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Broadcom), server manufacturers (Dell, Gigabyte, Lenovo, Inspur, Hewlett Packard Enterprise), system/infrastructure integrators (Vertiv, Schneider Electric), and data center end-users like Meta, Microsoft, and Verizon. Driven by tech giants, IDTechEx projects the data center liquid cooling market to surpass US$900 million by 2033.

Immersion cooling opportunities: EVs and data centers

Currently, immersion cooling for data centers is in its early stages due to limited demand, successful cases, and industrial expertise. However, IDTechEx has observed notable pilot projects led by major companies. In 2021, Microsoft introduced pilot projects using two-phase immersion cooling for its Azure cloud services. Being the first cloud provider to employ two-phase immersion cooling in a production environment, Microsoft intends to continue its use in the long term. Similar trends are happening with other players; for example, Meta partnered with Iceotope to transition a standard high-density storage from air cooling to single-phase immersion cooling in 2022. Additionally, Minerbase, a leading cryptocurrency mining solution provider, launched an immersion cooled data center in May 2023.

While debates persist regarding liquid costs and PFAS regulations, IDTechEx believes that applications requiring high-performance computing are likely to adopt immersion cooling more rapidly, opening substantial market opportunities for coolant suppliers, hardware manufacturers, end-users, and other entities within the supply chain. IDTechEx's report "Thermal Management for Data Centers 2023-2033: Technologies, Markets and Opportunities" finds that the annual revenue of the data center immersion cooling industry will triple between 2022 and 2033.

Immersion cooling is also gaining much attention for electric vehicle batteries. Whilst immersion can provide greater thermal homogeneity for the cells and eliminate cold plates and TIMs, it has some major challenges to greater adoption. First is the greater fluid pumping pressure needed due to the lower thermal conductivity of the fluid. Second is the extra spacing required between the cells for fluid flow. There is also the challenge in effectively sealing the batteries to avoid leaks.

There are several examples of high-performance or high-cost EVs using or planning to use immersion cooling, such as Mercedes-AMG and McLaren. There are also partnerships between technology developers and coolant suppliers, but for the reasons outlined above, IDTechEx predicts that immersion cooling will be largely limited to applications that require power-dense but not very energy-dense battery packs. Despite this, a small portion of the growing EV market is still significant, with IDTechEx's "Thermal Management for Electric Vehicles 2023-2033" report predicting an 8-fold increase in fluid demand between 2022 and 2027 across EV segments.

IDTechEx offers a number of in-depth research reports on thermal management, and all the expert-led data and analysis on this topic is available as part of a market intelligence subscription. For more information please visit www.IDTechEx.com.

This article is from "Technology Innovations Outlook 2024-2034", a complimentary magazine of analyst-written articles by IDTechEx providing insights into a number of areas of technology innovation, assessing the landscape now and giving you the outlook for the next decade. You can read the magazine in full at www.IDTechEx.com/Magazine.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com .

Images download:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/i90h5kt5txdltme575phg/h?rlkey=k9fd84vy67i19t098pgp6l4ou&dl=0

Media Contact:

Lucy Rogers

Sales and Marketing Administrator

press@IDTechEx.com

+44(0)1223 812300

Social Media Links:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/IDTechEx

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/IDTechEx

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2287135/Electric_Car_Battery_Share.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/future-technologies-materials-and-markets-for-thermal-management-301999859.html
CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Super Absorbent Polymers Market by Type (Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyacrylate/Polyacrylamide Copolymer, Bio-Based Sap), Application (Personal Hygiene, Agriculture, Medical, Industrial), And Region - Global Forecast to 2030", is projected to reach USD 13.2 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.3% from USD 8.7 billion in 2023.

The Super absorbent polymers market is driven by increasing demand for adult incontinence product, increasing use in water treatment application, and increasing demand of disposable baby diapers combined with growing market of bio-based SAP due to stringent regulations.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Super Absorbent Polymers Market".

250 - Tables

50 - Figures

212 - Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=177336849

Sodium Polyacrylate is projected to be the largest type of super absorbent polymers, in terms of value, during the forecast period.

Sodium polyacrylate is the largest type of super absorbent polymer due to its ability to absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. t is a cross-linked polymer that contains sodium atoms and absorbs water through a process called osmosis. When dissolved in water, it forms a thick and transparent solution due to the ionic interactions of the molecules. The cross-links that connect the chains together prevent them from dissolving or breaking apart in the water, allowing sodium polyacrylate to absorb large amounts of water.

Agriculture is the fastest growing application of the super absorbent polymers, in terms of value.

Agriculture is the fastest-growing application of super absorbent polymers market. Super absorbent polymers can improve the fertility and water holding capacity of soil, which is essential for sustainable agriculture and crop production. These polymers can help retain water in the soil, providing a reliable water source for plants during droughts, which is crucial for maintaining crop health and yield.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=177336849

Asia Pacific captures the largest share in the super absorbent polymers market during the forecast period, in terms of value.

Asia Pacific is the largest market for super absorbent polymers due to several factors. The region has the largest consumption of super absorbent polymers, with China, India and Japan being the major contributors. The increasing demand for personal care products and agricultural products in the region is driving the growth of the super absorbent polymers market. The region's economic expansion is also a significant contributor to the expansion of the global super absorbent polymers market.

Key Players

The key global players in the super absorbent polymers market include Nippon Shokubai (Japan), BASF (Germany), Evonik Industries (Germany), Sumitomo Seika (Japan), LG Chem (South Korea), Chase Corporation (US), Formosa Plastic Corporation (Taiwan), Kao Corporation (Japan), Satellite Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (China), SDP Global (Japan), Yixing Danson Technology (China).

Browse Adjacent Market: Resins and Polymers Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Healthcare Adhesive Tapes Market - Global Forecast to 2023

Spunbond Nonwovens Market - Global Forecast to 2023

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/super-absorbent-market.asp

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/super-absorbent.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/super-absorbent-polymers-market-worth-13-2-billion-by-2030--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302002957.html
BEIJING, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) has successfully concluded its "Economic Leadership - Win in China" program, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Management (RAM) in Muscat, Oman, on November 20-22, 2023.

The program hosted 40 CEOs from Omani state-owned companies and the private sector, with the goal of equipping them with the skills to successfully navigate the Chinese market, build their capacity to win in and with China, and foster closer business relations between the business communities of the two countries.

Dignitaries such as Her Excellency Li Lingbing, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Nasser Mohammed Khalifa Albusaidi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the People's Republic of China (virtually), His Excellency Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and His Excellency Abdulsalam Mohamed A-Murshidi, President of the Oman Investment Authority were present during the program.

The program featured lectures by CKGSB professors and leaders such as CKGSB Dean Xiang Bing, CKGSB Professor of Economics and Associate Dean, Li Wei, Sinopec's former Chairman Fu Chengyu, and JD.com's former Chief Strategy Officer Liao Jianwen. They delved into topics such as China's economic development and its global implications, China's reform and opening up, the, China's SOE sector and foreign investment, and insights into Chinese e-commerce, that may prove useful for Omani businesses as they expand into China and other overseas markets. The program also featured panel sessions with business leaders invited by CKGSB and RAM.

Dean Xiang Bing expressed his satisfaction, stating, "As the Founding Dean of CKGSB and a member of the International Advisory Board of the Royal Academy of Management, I am delighted that our strong partnership led to a significant stride in fostering closer business relations between China and Oman."

His Excellency Dr. Ali Qassim Al Lawati, President of the Royal Academy of Management, stated, "The inception of Economic Leadership - Win in China aligns with His Majesty the Sultan's vision to develop proficient national leaders equipped with advanced capabilities in order to support transformation towards a resilient and sustainable economy. It mirrors the Sultanate of Oman's dedication to diversify revenue streams, fortify investments, and foster the expansion of both government entities and private enterprises, facilitating their access to local and global markets."

Read more: https://english.ckgsb.edu.cn/new/economic-leadership-win-in-china-program-a-resounding-success-in-oman/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ckgsbs-win-in-china-program--a-resounding-success-in-oman-302003108.html


JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - Israel has resumed combat operations targeting Hamas in Gaza after seven days of truce expired without renewal.



Reports say that even as Egyptian and Qatari mediators are continuing efforts to reach an agreement between the two sides to extend the truce, explosions and gunfire are taking place in the Palestinian enclave.



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials on Thursday, he made clear that before Israel resumes major military operations, it must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimize further casualties of innocent Palestinians.



'That means taking more effective steps to protect the lives of civilians, including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza where they can be safe and out of the line of fire,' Blinken said at a news conference in Tel Aviv.



He urged Israeli leadership to spare life-critical infrastructure, like hospitals, power stations and water facilities, from attacks.



The top U.S. diplomat said he told Netanyahu that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale seen in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south.



'Israel understands the imperative of protecting civilians, the imperative of the humanitarian assistance, and we'll continue to work to ensure that that carries forward in practice,' he told reporters.



The Israeli military accused Hamas of violating terms of the deal for pause in fighting by firing toward Israel while the truce was still in force.



Hamas has claimed responsibility for its attack on people waiting at a bus stop in Jerusalem Thursday, which killed three Israeli civilians and wounded at least six others, including two American citizens.



The Hamas-controlled Government Media Office put the blame on the United States and the international community.



The Gaza militant group has released a total of 110 hostages, while Israel freed 240 Palestinians detainees during the week-long truce period, according to reports. Most of them are women and children.



Out of 259 hostages Hamas abducted in a surprise attack carried out in Israeli cities on October 7, 149 people are still held in captivity. Around 1,200 people, mostly Israelis, were killed in the militant attack across the border, while around 14,800 people lost their lives in Gaza in retaliatory attacks by Israel Defense Forces.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Increase in adoption of data intensive apps drives the growth of the global WiGig market.

NEW CASTLE, Del., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "WiGig Market? by Product (Network Infrastructure Devices and Display Devices), Type (802.11ad and 802.11ay), Technology [System-on-Chip (SoC) and Integrated Circuit Chip (IC)], and End User (Networking, Consumer Electronics, and Commercial: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032".

According to the report, the global generated $22.83 million in 2022 and is estimated to reach $278.11 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 28.7% from 2023 to 2032. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscapes, and competitive scenarios.

Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

Surge in adoption of data intensive apps drives the market growth. In addition, advancement in wireless technologies primarily fosters the growth of the market. However, rise in costs of chipset manufacturing and spectrum congestion are primarily expected to hamper the growth of the market. Furthermore, advancement of 5G is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for the market.

Download Sample Pages: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/8834

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $22.8 Million Market Size in 2032 $278.1 million CAGR 28.7 % No. of Pages in Report 360 Segments covered Product, Type, Technology, End User and Region. Drivers Increasing adoption of data intensive apps Advancement in wireless technologies Opportunities Advancement of 5G Restraints Rising costs for chipset manufacture Spectrum congestion

Buy this Complete Report (360 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/wigig-market/purchase-options

COVID-19 scenario

The COVID-19 pandemic exerted a notable influence on diverse sectors, including the realm of technology. The WiGig market, which pertains to the wireless technology that facilitates the rapid exchange of data over limited distances, may have encountered both impediments and prospects as a result of Covid-19. Also, the surge in demand for remote work and online pursuits during periods of confinement and adherence to social distancing measures conceivably fueled the necessity for more expeditious and dependable wireless connectivity solutions such as WiGig.

The pandemic also caused significant disruptions to global production processes, supply systems, and consumer purchasing habits. WiGig technology's development, dissemination, and adoption that ended up influenced by these factors.

In addition, many organizations have restricted resources and cautious expenditure due to the economic uncertainties driven on by the pandemic. The adoption of WiGig technology may are impacted by this, as consumers and businesses choose to spend their money on more urgent demands and economical fixes.

The Display Devices segment to rule the market

By product, the display devices segment held the major share in 2022, garnering nearly two-third of the global WiGig market revenue, owing to advancement and widespread use of these technologies are fueled by the need for convenient and seamless communication between devices and display screens propels the market growth significantly. The network infrastructure segment would also showcase the fastest CAGR of 30.5% during the forecast period, owing to improve to provide quicker speeds, reduced latency, and increased dependability.

The 802.11ay segment to dominate by 2032

By type, the 802.11ad segment accounted for nearly three-fourth of the global WiGig market share in 2022, and is projected to retain its dominance by 2032, as it provides a dependable option for gigabit wireless connectivity, allowing real-time streaming and interactivity in VR and AR applications, due to its high data transfer rates and low latency propels the market growth significantly. The 802.11ay segment would also display the fastest CAGR of 32.0% throughout the forecast period, owing to need massive file uploads, high-quality video streaming, and low-latency gaming due to its high data transfer speeds and low latency.

The Integrated Circuit Chips (IC) segment to rule the market in 2022

By technology, the integrated circuit chips (IC) segment accounted for nearly half of the global WiGig market share in 2022, and is projected to retain its dominance by 2032, owing to several gadgets, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, Internet of Things devices, and networking equipment use wireless gigabit SoCs propels the market growth significantly. The system-on-chips (SoC) segment would also display the fastest CAGR of 30.5% throughout the forecast period, owing to facilitating data-intensive applications like online gaming, high-definition video streaming, and cloud-based services.

The Consumer Electronics segment to dominate 2032

By end user, the networking segment accounted for nearly three-fifth of the global WiGig market share in 2022, and is projected to retain its dominance by 2032, owing to growing proliferation of smart devices and the growing need for high-speed wireless connectivity propels the market growth significantly. The consumer electronics segment would also display the fastest CAGR of 31.6% throughout the forecast period, owing to offers opportunities for 5G network integration owing to its fast, short-range wireless communication. This combination facilitates cutting-edge applications such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and connected cars. It allows local data offloading and improves network bandwidth.

Asia-Pacific garnered the major share in 2032

By region, North America garnered the highest share in 2022, holding nearly two-fifth of the global WiGig market revenue in 2022, and is projected to retain its dominance by 2032, owing to the growing need for applications requiring extremely low latency and real-time data processing is crucial for sectors such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) aiding the growth of the WiGig market. Asia-Pacific would also portray the fastest CAGR of 48.0% during the forecast period, owing to the growing use of 5G technology as well as the rapid growth of IoT devices and applications which is expected to fuel the market growth in Asia-Pacific.

Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/8834

Leading Market Players

Intel Corporation

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

Broadcom

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Panasonic Corporation

Samsung

NEC Corporation

Nvidia Corporation

Mediatek Inc.

NXP Semiconductors

The report analyzes these key players in the global WiGig market. These players have adopted various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, 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.

AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model):

AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports.

Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

Trending Reports in ICT & Media Industry:

Customer Experience Management Software Market Expected to Reach USD 23,835 Million by 2027

Customer Relationship Management Market Expected to Reach $96.39 Billion by 2027

Predictive Maintenance Market Expected to Reach $31.97 Billion by 2027

Enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is Expected to Reach $53.06 Billion By 2026

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:

David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

Int'l: +1-503-894-6022

Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285

UK: +44-845-528-1300

India (Pune): +91-20-66346060

Fax: +1-800-792-5285

help@alliedmarketresearch.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wigig-market-to-reach-278-1-million-by-2032-at-28-7-cagr-allied-market-research-302003154.html
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the 29th of November, Liquid Wind won the Capgemini Sustainability Tech Award 2023 for Sweden, held at a ceremony at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm. The award celebrates organizations and inspirational tech pioneers, across the Nordic region, pushing the boundaries of sustainable technology solutions and their role in limiting the environmental and social impact of climate change.

Claes Fredriksson, CEO and founder of Liquid Wind, comments:

"I?am honored to receive the Capgemini Nordic Sustainability Tech Award on behalf of the Liquid Wind team. It feels great to be recognized as an innovative tech company creating practicable solutions for a sustainable future."

The jury's motivation:

"Set out to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel, the Swedish winner of Capgemini Nordic Sustainability Tech Award is making great progress pioneering the field of eFuel production. This will accelerate the transition to carbon neutral shipping and reduce global carbon emissions."

This is the second prestigious acknowledgement received in just a week, as Liquid Wind on the 23rd of November also won Sweden's E-Prize 2023 award in the category Renewable Energy.

Media contact:

Klaudija Cavala, Head of Digital, Marketing & Communications

media@liquidwind.se

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/18536/3886497/2468509.pdf PRESS RELEASE_Liquid Wind awarded Capgemini Nordic Sustainability Tech Award 2023 in Sweden_1 December 2023 https://news.cision.com/liquid-wind/i/claes-fredriksson-liquid-wind-ceo-and-founder-photo-by-capgemini,c3245128 Claes Fredriksson Liquid Wind CEO and Founder Photo by Capgemini

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/liquid-wind-awarded-the-capgemini-nordic-sustainability-tech-award-2023-for-sweden-302003160.html
Marula Mining Plc - Update on Expansion to Processing Capacity at Blesberg

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 01

Marula Mining PLC

("Marula'' or the "Company")

1 December 2023

Update on Expansion to Processing Capacity at Blesberg

Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU), an African focused mining and development company, is pleased to provide an update on the Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine ("Blesberg" or the "Project"), where the Company is completing an expansion and installation of new equipment to materially expand the ore processing capacity and the production of up to 5,000 tonnes per month of a high-grade lithium spodumene product from both the current stockpiled material from the historic mining activities and from the development plans of a larger scale hard rock open pit mining operation that is scheduled to commence in January 2023.

As announced on 29 August 2023, the Company is completing an expansion to the ore processing capacity at Blesberg following the approx. ZAR40.6 million (1.75m) acquisition of two sensor-based, XRF ore sorters (together "XRF Ore Sorters") from Tomra Systems ASA ("Tomra") and Rados International Technologies (Malta) Limited ("Rados") and the planned installation of new static crushing and screening equipment.

This work has advanced over the past 3 months, with site works and process plant acceptance testing underway and ongoing plant optimisation work also being undertaken by recently appointed mineral processing and metallurgical consultants.

Highlights

Rados has completed construction of the Rados SRF100-8 ore sorter in South Africa

Successful factory acceptance testing work completed, and which has validated all of the pre-work, design and development to ensure the Rados SRF100-8 ore sorter has been constructed to the agreed design specifications

Rados SRF100-8 ore sorter scheduled to arrive on site at Blesberg by mid-December 2023

Ore commissioning of the Rados SRF100-8 ore sorter to be completed by end of December 2023

Tomra to now commence testing of the Tomra COM XRT 1200 ore sorter in South Africa with material from Blesberg

Tomra COM XRT 1200 ore sorter to arrive on site at Blesberg in early January 2024

Ore commissioning of the Tomra COM XRT 1200 ore sorter on site at Blesberg to be completed by end of January 2024

South African metallurgical and mineral processing group, Erudite Strategies Limited ("Erudite") appointed as project managers to oversee the installation and commissioning of the expanded process plant and XRF Ore Sorters at Blesberg

Erudite's work will also involve optimisation of the mineral process design, including the Rados and Tomra sorting technology with the new primary crushing and screening circuit and plant with mica extraction and bagging, to increase operating and cost efficiencies and maximise recovery of the high-value spodumene

Civils and concrete works are underway at Blesberg ahead of the planned installation and commissioning of the XRF Ore Sorters and new crushing and screening circuit

Commissioning of the expanded processing plant at Blesberg on schedule to be completed in Q1 2024 in line with the increased mining activities that are also scheduled to commence then

Jason Brewer, Marula Mining PLC CEO said:

"We continue to make good progress at the Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine in the Northern Cape in South Africa.

"The progress with the XRF Ore Sorters has been positive to see and after testing of the Rados SRF100-8 ore sorter, we now look forward to its arrival and commissioning at Blesberg. Credit to the team at Rados for how quickly and effectively they have completed this work to date. With the Tomra COM XRT 1200 ore sorter to undergo testing ahead of transportation and commissioning on site at Blesberg, all is on track for the increase in processing capacity to produce up to 5,000 tonnes per month of a high-grade lithium product.

"An important step for us at Blesberg recently has been the appointment of Erudite, who will oversee the installation and commissioning of the expanded process plant and XRF Ore Sorters at Blesberg. They will also complete further optimisation and process design work on the new primary crushing and screening circuit, to maximise recoveries and improve efficiencies.

"I recently met Erudite's CEO Johann de Bruin and Hector Mapheto, who heads up the Process Engineering team, whilst in Johannesburg and I look forward to working with them as we commission and commence operations from the expanded mineral processing facilities at Blesberg.

"I look forward to providing further updates on our progress with the expanded processing plant and capabilities at Blesberg, as I believe it will assist us as we look to positioning Marula as a fast emerging battery metals producer at Blesberg."

The Directors of Marula are responsible for the contents of this announcement.

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

Caution

Certain statements in this announcement, are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identi?ed by their use of terms and phrases such as 'believe', 'could', "should" 'envisage', 'estimate', 'intend', 'may', 'plan', 'potentially', "expect", 'will' or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements re?ect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.
CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive is projected to grow from USD 0.3 billion in 2023 to USD 3.3 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 42.4%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The sensor fusion market for automotive is experiencing a remarkable surge in growth, revolutionizing the global automotive industry. Integrating sensors, data, and artificial intelligence has transformed how cars perceive and interact with the environment. This technology is instrumental in reducing accidents, enhancing road safety, and improving traffic management.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id= 260287840

Browse in-depth TOC on "Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive".

315 - Tables

112 - Figures

387 - Pages

Sensor Fusion Market for Automotive Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 3.3 billion by 2030 Growth Rate 42.4% of CAGR Largest Market Asia Pacific Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Level of Autonomy, Vehicle Type, Electric Vehicle Type, Sensor Platform, Fusion Level, Sensor Type, Algorithm, Data Fusion Type, Technology, Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Rising demand for safer and sustainable transportation solutions Key Market Drivers Increasing advancements in ADAS technology

Data fusion is expected to be the largest market by fusion level

Data fusion refers to combining data from multiple sensors to produce a more accurate and reliable representation of the surrounding environment. This is achieved by combining the complementary strengths of different sensors to overcome their individual weaknesses. LeddarTech (Canada), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), and BASELABS GmbH (Germany) provide data fusion for autonomous vehicles. Data fusion serves as an indispensable catalyst for the advancement of autonomous driving technologies. These pivotal systems hinge upon the continuous acquisition of data streams from diverse sensors to facilitate real-time decision-making processes. Through the amalgamation of information from multiple sensors, vehicles can construct an exceptionally resilient and redundant perceptual framework, thereby mitigating the potential risks associated with erroneous judgments in pivotal decision-making scenarios. Data fusion augments situational awareness by enabling a more precise and comprehensive discernment of environmental attributes. This kind of sensor fusion happens with basic data generated from individual sensors and requires higher processing. This also increases accuracy, however, also increases cost associated with sensor fusion.

Autonomous Driving to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period

Autonomous driving technology represents a shift in the automotive industry. It takes the concept of ADAS to a new level, aspiring to relieve drivers of the burden of manual control. Vehicles equipped with this technology use sensors, high-definition mapping, artificial intelligence, and connectivity to navigate and make decisions. A crucial element of autonomous driving technology is sensor fusion. Modern autonomous vehicles are equipped with a wide array of sensors, including cameras, lidar, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. These sensors continuously scan the vehicle's surroundings, collecting data about nearby objects, road conditions, and other vehicles. Combining the information from these sensors allows the vehicle to create a detailed, real-time map of its environment, which is essential for safe navigation. Another critical aspect of autonomous driving technology is machine learning and artificial intelligence. The vast amount of data collected by sensors is processed and analyzed by sophisticated AI algorithms. These algorithms can recognize and interpret objects in the environment, predict their behavior, and make real-time decisions based on this information. Machine learning enables the vehicle to learn from past experiences and improve its decision-making capabilities.

Mobileye Global Inc., NVIDIA Corporation, Qualcomm Incorporated, Robert Bosch GmbH, Waymo LLC, and Continental AG provide SOCs and operating systems for autonomous vehicle OEMs. Mobileye focuses on developing advanced operating system features with its EyeQ 5, which provides supercomputer capabilities within a low-power envelope. The EyeQ 5 features generic multithread CPU cores to provide a complete and robust computing platform that ADAS/automated driving applications demand. NVIDIA's Drive Orin and Thor SOCs are also developed for autonomous driving. They are used by OEMs such as Mercedes Benz for Level 3 Autonomy. Other OEMs are working with component providers to develop autonomous driving systems. In June 2022, the BMW Group and Valeo disclosed their collaboration to develop fully automated parking technologies, specifically focusing on achieving Level 4 automation.

Europe to be the second-fastest growing market during the forecast period

The automotive sector holds a prominent position within the European industrial landscape. As of 2022, the region boasted 322 automobile assembly and production plants, encompassing various vehicle types. Specifically, 127 plants are dedicated to passenger car production, 46 focus on vans, 56 specialize in trucks, 71 are engaged in bus manufacturing, 71 are dedicated to engine production, and 42 are involved in battery manufacturing. Despite the recent global automotive slowdown, the European automotive market has exhibited consistent growth over the past six years. To maintain competitiveness, leading European automotive manufacturers prioritize offering high-performance engines and incorporating advanced safety features. Major players in the European automotive industry, including the Volkswagen Group, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Hyundai, BMW, Toyota, and Stellantis, are driving demand for sensor fusion technology through the integration of ADAS features in their vehicles. Industry experts anticipate that stringent emission regulations and the pursuit of zero-emission targets in Europe will significantly impact both passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturers in the forecast period. Consequently, manufacturers are anticipated to increasingly adopt sensor fusion technology in automated vehicles, particularly in the realm of electric vehicles. Notably, Germany, France, and the UK have already granted approval for the operation of autonomous vehicles on roads, with ongoing testing endeavors assessing the viability of these vehicles for road use.

The sensor fusion industry for automotive in Europe is anticipated to experience heightened demand, primarily driven by stringent safety regulations. The EU has set a targeted goal to reduce fatalities and injuries by 50% by the year 2030. As part of this strategic initiative, the EU has mandated the inclusion of major safety features, including lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and drowsiness and attention detection, in new vehicles. These regulations came into effect in July 2022, reflecting a comprehensive approach to enhance automotive safety. Several European countries, including Germany, France, and the UK, have already granted approval for the utilization of automated vehicles on specific roadways. Notably, Germany took a pioneering step in July 2021 by enacting the Autonomous Driving Act, positioning itself as the first country globally to permit sensor fusion-based level 4 automated vehicles to operate on public roads without the requirement for a human driver as a backup control. In 2015, the French government declared its intention to mandate the installation of automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane departure warning (LDW) systems in all new heavy trucks, contributing to an increased demand for safety systems within the country. Furthermore, the support from OEMs and the burgeoning presence of numerous startups dedicated to the development of sensor fusion technology are expected to be pivotal factors propelling market growth in the European region.

Inquire Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id= 260287840

Key Market Players:

The Sensor fusion companies for automotive are Mobileye Global Inc. (Israel), NVIDIA Corporation (US), Qualcomm Incorporated (US), Tesla Inc. (US), and Huawei Technologies, Co., Ltd. (China), among others.

Recent Developments:

In September 2023, Mobileye Global Inc. and FAW Group unveiled a strategic collaboration, capitalizing on their software, hardware, and technology product strengths. Their joint efforts will focus on developing innovative products utilizing Mobileye SuperVision and Mobileye Chauffeur platforms.

In September 2023, Qualcomm partners with Mercedes-Benz to power vehicles using Snapdragon Digital Chassis Solutions. The collaboration aims to enable high-bandwidth, always-on, and always-connected in-vehicle experiences, starting with Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans.

In September 2023, JMC Group partnered with Baidu, Inc. for intelligent driving, combining AI expertise with advanced automotive technologies to promote and develop high-level intelligent driving and urban transportation solutions.

In July 2023, Samsung Electronics Co. is designated to produce Tesla Inc.'s forthcoming Full Self-Driving (FSD) chips intended for application in Level-5 autonomous driving vehicles. These chips will be manufactured using Samsung's cutting-edge 4-nanometer node technology and will be integrated into Tesla's Hardware 5 (HW 5.0) computers.

In May 2023, Waymo LLC and Uber partnered to integrate Waymo's cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with the extensive reach and scale of Uber's ridesharing and delivery networks.

In May 2023, Vector Informatik GmbH acquired BASELABS GmbH a specialist in sensor fusion for automated driving. The company aims to focus on software-defined vehicles throught this strategic investment.

In March 2023, Renesas Electronics Corporation partnered with Tata Consultancy Services to inaugurate an Innovation Center dedicated to crafting semiconductor designs and software solutions for various sectors, including IoT, infrastructure, industrial, and automotive segments.

In February 2023, Mercedes-Benz collaborated with NVIDIA Corporation to leverage its software, data, and AI proficiency alongside its Orin system-on-chip. This collaboration aims to augment SAE Level 2 functionalities within urban contexts and ultimately achieve SAE Level 3 capabilities, specifically targeting speeds up to 80 mph (130 km/h).

Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id= 260287840

Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

ADAS Market - Global Forecast to 2030

Autonomous / Self-Driving Cars Market - Global Forecast to 2030

Sensor Market for Automated Vehicles - Global Forecast to 2030

Powertrain Sensor Market - Global Forecast to 2027

About MarketsandMarkets:

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/automotive-sensor-fusion-market.asp

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/automotive-sensor-fusion.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sensor-fusion-market-for-automotive-worth-3-3-billion-by-2030---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302002958.html
Foundation calls for donors to support global agriculture research network CGIAR's 2025-2027 investment need to reach 500 million farmers by 2030 and reduce emissions from the sector by 1 gigaton per year

DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today joined the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to accelerate the development of innovations that will help smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia build resilience and adapt to climate change. Together, they made new commitments totalling US $200 million in response to immediate and long-term threats to food security and nutrition caused by climate change.

The announcement was delivered at the World Climate Action Summit by foundation Co-Chair Bill Gates, who was joined by H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, minister of climate change and environment of the UAE. Gates also called on global leaders to elevate agriculture as a focus of global climate finance initiatives and support the global agriculture research network, CGIAR.

Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 60% of the population depends on agriculture for food and income, accounts for only 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, a surge of extreme climate events, such as devastating droughts in East Africa and catastrophic flooding in West Africa, has contributed to reduced economic growth and increased income inequality with wealthy countries-primarily by eroding crop and livestock production. While numerous innovations exist to help smallholder farmers in the region, less than 2% of global climate finance is devoted to meeting their needs.

"We need to make big bets on innovation to ensure smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have the tools they need to adapt their practices, feed their people, and build resilience in the face of climate change," said Gates. "The needs of farmers are an integral part of the global climate agenda."

CGIAR , the world's largest publicly funded agriculture research network, plays a critical role in supporting resilient, sustainable food production in a climate-stressed world. Earlier this week, it launched a three-year investment case to secure US $4 billion by 2027, helping CGIAR to reach 500 million farmers by 2030 with climate adaptation innovations, and to reduce emissions from the agriculture sector by 1 gigaton per year-the equivalent of eliminating emissions from more than 200 million cars.

"We are ready to quickly scale up proven innovations that already are helping farmers in vulnerable regions like Africa and South Asia adapt to more challenging climate conditions," said Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, chair, CGIAR System Board. "That includes increasing access to improved varieties of naturally stress tolerant crops like cassava and millets, employing new tools and strategies farmers are using to support healthy ecosystems by reviving degraded lands, and providing long-range climate forecasts that help farmers anticipate and navigate weather extremes and shifting rainfall patterns."

The foundation's US $100 million investment announced today, which matches the UAE's commitment of US $100 million, will support organizations, like the CGIAR, that are on the forefront of developing agricultural innovations. Additional foundation funding will support the work of AIM4Scale, a new climate adaptation initiative to be launched by the UAE. The foundation will also join partner countries, philanthropies, and financial institutions to help accelerate access to high-impact agricultural innovations for small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by reducing policy and funding-related barriers.

CGIAR a "best buy" in adaptation

For over 50 years, CGIAR's work has helped save millions of lives and trillions of dollars globally. Its focus on smallholder farmers has delivered humanitarian benefits that rival the lifesaving power of vaccines. It consistently delivers high-impact innovations at a very low cost, with every dollar invested in its work returning US $10 in benefits for local farming communities.

With the foundation's commitment announced today, it has exceeded its current pledge to CGIAR of US $315 million and joins a growing global movement for action on climate adaptation. This includes new funding from donor countries to CGIAR totaling over US $800 million for the 2023-2024 funding cycle.

The foundation's support for agriculture adaptation at COP28 builds on previous commitments dating back to 2017 to help smallholder farmers cope with climate change. To learn more about the foundation's work to create a pipeline of climate-smart agricultural solutions, new applications of digital technologies, low-emission approaches to small-scale livestock farming, and innovations that address the neglected needs of women farmers, please visit: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/climate-adaptation.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.

Media Contact:media@gatesfoundation.org

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gates-foundation-announces-partnership-with-united-arab-emirates-to-accelerate-action-on-climate-and-strengthen-food-systems-through-investment-in-agricultural-innovation-302002923.html
(In United States dollars, except where noted otherwise)

TORONTO, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or "the Company") (TSX: FM) notes comments made by the President of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo, that on publishing of the Supreme Court of Panama's ruling of Law 406 as unconstitutional, there will be a transition process for the closure of the Cobre Panama mine. Minera Panama S.A. ("MPSA"), a subsidiary of First Quantum, is currently seeking additional details in respect of the ruling and its implications. With these developments, the Company is suspending its production guidance for Cobre Panama for the current year.

The Court's decision does not take into account a planned and managed closure scenario, in which key environmental measures are required to be implemented to maintain the environmental safety of the site during this process. Typically, this would involve the development of environmental controls to ensure the long-term physical and chemical stability of all infrastructure under current and extreme climatic conditions to avoid long-term environmental impact. Some of these environmental requirements requiring clarification include the Government's plan for the management of the tailings storage and water treatment facilities to preserve water quality, maintain safety and prevent failure. Furthermore, the future of Cobre Panama's rehabilitation, reforestation and species conservation programs, as well as protection of almost 20% of Panama's total protected areas, currently funded by Cobre Panama will need to be addressed.

On November 14, First Quantum submitted to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama a notice of intent to initiate arbitration to enforce its rights under international law pursuant to the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement. The notice of intent facilitates consultations between the Government of Panama and MPSA under the Free Trade Agreement in order to avoid the need to file any such arbitration.

Furthermore, on November 29, MPSA initiated arbitration before the International Court of Arbitration ("ICC") to protect its rights under the 2023 concession agreement that the Government of Panama agreed to earlier this year. The arbitration agreement provides for arbitration in Miami, Florida.

First Quantum, through Cobre Panama, reiterates that transparency and compliance with the law has always been fundamental for the development of its operations and remains open to constructive dialogue in order to reach consensus.

Further information about Cobre Panama:

For the past 25 years, MPSA has developed and operated the Cobre Panama mine. The development of the mine has been governed by a Concession Agreement contract first signed by the Republic of Panama and MPSA in February 1996 and approved by contract law 9 by the National Assembly in February 1997. On the basis of that contract, Cobre Panama has invested $10 billion in the mine and associated infrastructure, including a power plant, cross-country transmission lines, roads and a port.

Cobre Panama has also developed substantial community outreach and environmental mitigation programs, both during the construction phase of the mine and since commercial operations commenced in September 2019. The mine is governed by an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment approval which stipulates 371 obligations in regards to stewardship of the mine, communities and the environment, for example the requirement to provide ongoing reforestation of 11,175 hectares of forest in Panama. To date, the mine has impacted around 3,000 hectares for mining activities whilst it has completed reforestation of some 4,200 hectares throughout Panama, and provides support programs for more than 200,000 hectares of protected areas, representing almost 20% of Panama's total protected areas.

Following a Supreme Court decision in late 2017 and at the request of the Government of Panama, MPSA engaged in an extensive process to renegotiate the terms of the Concession Agreement, which took more than two years. The Company and Panama agreed to a new Concession Agreement contract in March 2023 which, following due public consultation and regulatory signoff, was approved by contract law 406 by the National Assembly on October 20, 2023.

For further information, visit our website at www.first-quantum.com (http://www.first-quantum.com) or contact:

Bonita To, Director, Investor Relations

(416) 361-6400 Toll-free: 1 (888) 688-6577

E-Mail: info@fqml.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements in this news release include statements as to the transition process for the closure of the Cobre Panama mine, the potential for a planned and managed closure scenario at Cobre Panama, the long-term physical and chemical stability of infrastructure under current and extreme climatic conditions, the Government of Panama's plan for management of tailings storage and water treatment facilities and the future of Cobre Panama's rehabilitation, reforestation and species conservation programs and the protection of protected areas in Panama. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions regarding publication of the Supreme Court of Panama's ruling and the effect thereof, the ability to seek and receive clarification of the Supreme Court of Panama's ruling, the ability and willingness of the Government of Panama to develop and implement a management plan for the tailings storage and water treatment facilities at Cobre Panama and the funding for rehabilitation, reforestation, species conservation and protection for protected areas. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to, the ability to receive clarification of the Supreme Court of Panama's ruling; the Company's legal position with respect to the rehabilitation, reforestation, species conservation and protection for protected areas; the Government of Panama's management plan for the tailings storage and water treatment facilities at Cobre Panama; the political and social situation in Panama; potential political, legal, social and environmental challenges; and events generally impacting global economic, political and social stability. There may also be other factors that cause actual results, performance, achievements or events not as anticipated, estimated or intended, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law.


TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - In the wake of a U.S. military plane crash off the coast of Japan's Yakushima Island Wednesday, the Japanese government has urged the Pentagon to ground the operations of its Osprey hybrid planes in te country.



Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Friday it has been informed by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo that it received a formal request from its Asian ally to suspend flying Osprey transport aircraft until the aircraft can be confirmed as safe.



Reports quoting the Japan Coast Guard said that it received information that a CV-22 Osprey crashed into waters off the coast of Yakushima Island in southern Kagoshima prefecture at around 2:47 p.m. local time, or 12:47 a.m. ET.



One person has been found dead at the crash site, according to the Coast Guard spokesperson.



The CV-22 Osprey's left engine was on fire, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.



It was trying to land at Yakushima Airport when the accident occurred.



However, the Pentagon did not mention about the casualties or the condition of those who were on board the plane at a news conference Thursday.



It confirmed that a CV-22A Osprey aircraft assigned to the U.S. Air Force's 353rd Special Operations Wing was involved in an aviation mishap off the shore of Yakushima Island. There were eight airmen on board, according to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.



The Osprey aircraft is based out of Yokota Air Base, Japan, in Tokyo, and was performing a routine training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island - about 630 miles southwest of Tokyo, she said at a press briefing.



Search and rescue operations are underway to locate both the aircrew and their aircraft, she added.



The cause of this incident is being investigated.



Singh said that U.S-owned Ospreys in Japan continue to operate.



'We have a commitment to safety. There is an investigation that is currently determining and looking into what exactly happened with this aircraft and the mishap. Should that investigation yield [any] results that require the department to change anything about the Osprey or to take additional steps, we will certainly do that,' she told reporters.



Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said that the defense ministry has information about multiple takeoffs and landings by U.S. MV-22 Ospreys at the U.S. military's Futenma air base in Okinawa Prefecture Thursday.



Sabrina Singh said officials at Yokota Air Base have set up an 'Emergency Family Assistance Center' to support families of Airmen who were on the aircraft and others at the installation who were affected by the accident.



The CV-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing and short takeoff and landing capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.



Years ago, Okinawa residents had voiced concerns about the safety of Osprey planes.



The U.S. military's other aircraft in this series have been involved in accidents previously, some of which were fatal.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vale Base Metals Limited (VBM) today announces that Deshnee Naidoo has elected to leave the company and will step down from her position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VBM effective March 31, 2024.

The Board has initiated the process to identify and appoint a new CEO, who will be based in Toronto, to succeed Deshnee in leading VBM through its ongoing transformation into a world-class metals business.

Mark Cutifani, Chairman of VBM, said: "We thank Deshnee for the tremendous commitment and dedication she has shown as CEO of Vale Base Metals. She was instrumental in guiding the company through the carve out of the business earlier this year, which has positioned the company for value-creating growth in the coming years. For our producing operations and development projects, business improvement continues to be the focus. I look forward to working with Deshnee until the end of March as we guide the business to the next stage of our journey."

VBM CEO, Deshnee Naidoo, added: "It has been a privilege to serve Vale since 2021 as CFO and most recently as CEO. Having led the successful carve out of VBM from Vale SA, now is the right time for me to hand over to a successor who will take the business on to the next phase of growth. I am proud of what we have achieved and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with incredible people across the business and around the world. I look forward to continuing my role until the end of March and supporting the Board with the succession process."

Eduardo Bartolomeo, CEO of Vale SA said: "Deshnee has been a valued member of the Vale executive team and I thank her for her leadership and friendship, working together to progress our journey to position VBM for the next phase of growth. Under Deshnee's leadership, VBM has made notable improvements in safety performance, culture, operational reliability, key project approvals and project execution."

Over the next decade, VBM maintains its plans to invest US$25-30bn in strategic mineral projects in Brazil, Canada and Indonesia, with the aim to nearly triple copper output to 900,000 tonnes a year and to almost double nickel production at the same time to 300,000 tonnes per year from 160,000 to 175,000 tonnes.

The Board will make an announcement regarding a successor as the process completes.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vale-base-metals-chief-executive-deshnee-naidoo-to-step-down-302003216.html
BROOKFIELD, NEWS, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management ("Brookfield") announced today the closing of its flagship global infrastructure equity fund, Brookfield Infrastructure Fund V ("BIF V" or the "Fund"), having raised $30 billion for the strategy, including $28 billion for the Fund and approximately $2 billion in related co-investment vehicles. BIF V is the world's largest closed-ended private infrastructure fund, and the largest fund ever raised by Brookfield.



BIF V benefitted from strong investor support, with a diverse group of approximately 200 limited partners committing to the Fund. The fundraising exceeded Brookfield's target of $25 billion and BIF V is 40% larger than its predecessor vehicle, BIF IV. The majority of the capital has been raised from existing investors, including public and private pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, endowments, foundations and family offices.

Sam Pollock, CEO of Brookfield's Infrastructure Group, said: "We are pleased with the strong endorsement of our business by our investors, which we believe is a function of our market-leading position in the infrastructure sector. With significant momentum in the sector as a result of multi-decade investment themes, we look forward to deploying the Fund's remaining capital and creating long-term value for our investors."

BIF V is expected to benefit from significant investment opportunities related to the "Three Ds" of digitalization, decarbonization, and deglobalization. These multi-decade themes underpin BIF V's investment strategy of investing in high-quality assets that are critical to the global economy and creating sustainable value through an active asset management approach. The Fund has already deployed approximately 40% of its capital in six investments, including marquee investments in renewable, transport, data center and telecom tower assets.

About Brookfield Asset Management

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager with over $850 billion of assets under management across renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world - including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield's heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

For more information, please visit our website at https://bam.brookfield.com or contact:

Media:

Simon Maine

Brookfield Asset Management

M: +44 739 890 9278

E: Simon.Maine@brookfield.com

Notice to Readers

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management's current estimates, beliefs and assumptions and which are in turn based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of Brookfield are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "foresee", "could", "estimate", "goal", "intend", "plan", "seek", "strive", "will", "may" and "should" and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to the prospects of the Fund.

Although Brookfield believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, certain factors, risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States, not presently known to Brookfield, or that Brookfield currently believes are not material, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements.

Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Brookfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Spain's business community welcomes visa-free access to China

Xinhua) 13:10, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
UAE's newly launched ALTERRA joins forces with Brookfield to enable the creation of a multi-billion catalytic fund to accelerateglobal energy transition



ALTERRA commitment of up to US$1 billion from ALTERRA Transformation will help deliver significant additional capital to emerging markets and developing economies



ALTERRA Additional commitment of US$2 billion from ALTERRA Acceleration to the Brookfield Global Transition Fund II to invest in clean energy and transform businesses in carbon-intensive sectors

BROOKFIELD, NEWS, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today at COP28, Brookfield Asset Management ("Brookfield") (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) and ALTERRA, the world's largest private markets climate vehicle launched at the World Climate Action Summit, announced the creation of a multi-billion dollar Catalytic Transition Fund ('CTF' or the 'Fund') with commitments from ALTERRA Transformation. ALTERRA also committed to investing US$2 billion from ALTERRA Acceleration into the second Brookfield Global Transition Fund ("BGTF II"), Brookfield's flagship fund focused on the energy transition.

CTF will have a differentiated and focused mandate, raising and then deploying capital exclusively for emerging and developing markets, with a dedicated focus on supporting the four key pillars that underpin COP28's Action Agenda, namely: Energy Transition, Industrial Decarbonization, Sustainable Living and Climate Technologies.

The Fund will be managed by Brookfield and will receive up to US$1 billion in catalytic capital from ALTERRA Transformation, to enhance the risk-adjusted returns available to commercially-oriented investors. Brookfield is concurrently pursuing opportunities to add further catalytic capital from strategic partners.

CTF will focus on decarbonization initiatives, with an innovative structure that leverages ALTERRA's financial commitment to attract private sector investment at scale. Through this unique approach, the Fund will mobilize climate finance for markets that are critical to achieving Net-Zero, but which have to date been chronically underinvested. The Fund will focus its catalytic investments in South and Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Other investors including CDPQ, a global investment group based in Quebec, Canada, and Temasek, a Singapore headquartered global investment firm, have also expressed interest in contributing commercial capital to the Fund, subject to their customary approval requirements. The potential participation of these institutions offers the opportunity to share expertise and market knowledge to benefit the Fund's investments. In line with its typical approach of aligning interests with its investment partners, Brookfield will commit at least 10% of CTF's capital.

ALTERRA represents a vital lever in further deepening the UAE's longstanding commitment to climate action globally, through partnerships and collective action.

ALTERRA Acceleration is also today announcing a US$2 billion commitment to the second Brookfield Global Transition Fund, making it the single-largest third-party investor in the fund to date. BGTF II will follow the strategy of its predecessor fund, BGTF I, and invest in growing clean energy, scaling sustainable solutions and providing capital for transforming businesses in carbon-intensive sectors.

Taken together, the commitments from ALTERRA to CTF and BGTF II will support the deployment of over US$20 billion toward decarbonization initiatives.

Speaking about the partnership, His Excellency Majid Al Suwaidi, Director General of COP28 and Incoming Chief Executive Officer, ALTERRA, said, "ALTERRA's goal is to mobilize US$250 billion in capital by 2030 and stimulate a new climate economy in emerging and developing markets that achieve both climate and commercial outcomes. The partnership with Brookfield is a powerful demonstration of the UAE's commitment to meaningful climate action and represents our wider ambition to fundamentally strengthen global climate finance."

Mark Carney, Chair and Head of Transition Investing at Brookfield Asset Management, said, "The UAE is demonstrating bold leadership in tackling the challenge of raising transition finance for emerging markets and developing economies. The Catalytic Transition Fund is an innovative private sector solution to this imperative which combines institutional capital and Brookfield's decades of experience in renewable power and transition investing. The UAE's substantial commitments to our transition investing platform will greatly accelerate progress towards Brookfield's Net Zero emissions target while supporting vital clean growth initiatives across the globe."

Brookfield is already pursuing investment opportunities, with immediate capital investment earmarked for the development of over 6.0 GW of new clean energy capacity in India. This includes the near-term construction of 1,200 MW of wind and solar projects set to generate clean power by 2025.

Brookfield will seek to bring on board other institutional partners in 2024.

About ALTERRA and Lunate

ALTERRA is a newly established climate focused investment manager in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), established by Lunate. With a dedicated team of climate and investment professionals, ALTERRA invests its LPs capital in climate investment themes through fund investments and direct/co-investments.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Lunate, a global independent investment manager, headquartered in Abu Dhabi. With 150 employees including 80 investment professionals, Lunate invests through Fund investments, Direct and Co-investments across asset classes, sectors and geographies.

About Brook?eld Asset Management



Brook?eld Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alterative asset manager with over $850 billion of assets under management across renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We o?er a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world - including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, ?nancial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brook?eld's heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

About the Brook?eld Global Transition Fund



The Brook?eld Global Transition Fund, co-led by Mark Carney, Brook?eld Chair and Head of Transition Investing, and Connor Teskey, CEO of Brook?eld Renewable, is Brook?eld's record-breaking impact fund series. The strategy is focused on investments that accelerate the global transition to a net-zero carbon economy, while delivering strong risk-adjusted returns to investors.

The Fund targets investment opportunities relating to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, as well as increasing low-carbon energy capacity and supporting sustainable solutions. Consistent with its dual objectives of earning strong risk-adjusted returns and generating a measurable positive environmental change, the Fund reports to investors on both its ?nancial and environmental impact performance.

Find out more at www.brook?eld.com/zero-compromise.

Media Contact:

Brook?eld

Simon Maine

Simon.maine@brook?eld.com

+44 (0)7398 909 278

Notice to Readers

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management's current estimates, beliefs and assumptions and which are in turn based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of Brookfield are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "foresee", "could", "estimate", "goal", "intend", "plan", "seek", "strive", "will", "may" and "should" and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to CTF's mandate, strategy and funding, the participation of CDPQ and Temasek in CTF, Brookfield's commitment to CTF and the mandate and strategy of BGTF II.

Although Brookfield believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, certain factors, risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States, not presently known to Brookfield, or that Brookfield currently believes are not material, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements.

Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Brookfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - Radio Fuels Energy Corp. (CSE: CAKE) (OTCQB: CKEFF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to commence a normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB"), under which it may purchase up to 6,925,214 common shares of the Company over a period of one year (the "NCIB Period"), representing approximately 5% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares, with up to 2,770,085 common shares of the Company purchasable over any 30-day period within the NCIB Period, being 2% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The NCIB is expected to commence on or about December 1, 2023, and will continue until the earlier of November 30, 2024, or the date by which the Company has acquired the maximum number of common shares which may be purchased under the NCIB.

All common shares purchased under the NCIB will be purchased on the open market through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange at the prevailing market price of the common shares at the time of purchase, and shall be duly cancelled and returned to treasury.

The Company believes that the market price of the common shares may not fully reflect the value of its business and prospects, and as such it believes that purchasing its own common shares for cancellation is an appropriate strategy for increasing long-term shareholder value and represents an appropriate use of the Company's financial resources. The Company intends to appoint PI Financial Corp. as its broker to conduct the NCIB transactions on its behalf.

About Radio Fuels Energy Corp.

The Company is a junior natural resource company focused on providing exposure to uranium and other commodities through the investment, acquisition, exploration, and development of projects and companies.

For further information, please contact:

Cejay Kim

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (778) 886-1826

Email: cejay.kim@gmail.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.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189422
NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders (the "Group") of the Republic of Sri Lanka ("Sri Lanka") notes the statements released by the Official Creditor Committee ("OCC") and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance on November 29, 2023 on the agreement-in-principle ("AiP") reached between Sri Lanka and the OCC. The Group welcomes progress on the restructuring of official claims, as uncertainty around the treatment of these claims has hindered Sri Lanka's recovery.

At this point, the terms of the AiP reached between the Sri Lankan authorities and the OCC on the one hand, and China Exim Bank, an official sector creditor, on the other hand on October 11, 2023, have not been shared. The Group finds it regrettable that there remains such a significant lack of transparency on the part of official sector creditors despite the Group's efforts so far to act as a constructive counterparty.

Transparency between creditors is critical for the private sector to reach an agreement compliant with the parameters of Sri Lanka's IMF programme's first review, and one that provides fair and equitable debt treatment.

The Group has expressed support for Sri Lanka's efforts since February 2023, has been forthcoming and transparent with official stakeholders at every stage of the process, and has repeatedly made efforts to engage with the Sri Lankan authorities and its advisors in good faith. Unfortunately, no substantive engagement has taken place between Sri Lanka and its private creditors to date.

The Group remains committed to reaching an agreement with the Sri Lankan authorities as quickly as possible to find a sustainable solution to Sri Lanka's debt challenges as they relate to the international bond debt.

The Group is advised by Rothschild & Co and White & Case LLP as financial and legal advisors, respectively.

Media inquiries should be directed to Greenbrook at the addresses below:

Email / Telephone: GBSriLankaBondholderGroup@greenbrookadvisory.com / +44 (0) 20 7952 2000

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ad-hoc-group-of-bondholders-statement-on-progress-in-sri-lankas-debt-restructuring-302003270.html
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Mr. Donald G. Lang, Executive Chairman of CCL Industries Inc. ("CCL" or "the Company") (TSX:CCL.A)(TSX:CCL.B), a world leader in specialty label, security and packaging solutions for global corporations, government institutions, small businesses and consumers, announced the appointment today of Mr. Claude Tessier to the Board of Directors.

Claude Tessier, CPA, has had a distinguished 35-year career as a senior executive with extensive financial and operations experience in the food and convenience store industries. Mr. Tessier served as Chief Financial Officer of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., a multinational operator of convenience stores, mainly operating under the Couche-Tard, Circle K and Ingo brands, from January 2016 until his retirement in July 2023. Prior to joining Alimentation Couche-Tard, Mr. Tessier was President of the IGA Operations Business Unit at Sobeys Inc. from 2012 to 2016, and prior to that was Senior Vice President, Finance & Strategic Planning of Sobeys Quebec from 2003 to 2012. Mr. Tessier also served on the Executive Committee of Sobeys Inc. Prior to his roles at Sobeys, Mr. Tessier gained more than 15 years of experience in senior financial leadership positions with Provigo Inc., a Loblaw company, and Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. Mr. Tessier has also held prior management positions with Mallette International and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Tessier currently serves on the board of the TMX Group Limited, and is a member of the Derivatives Committee, the Self-Regulatory Oversight Committee, and is Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee. He also serves on the Board of Hydro Quebec and is a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Tessier is past Chairman of Circle K AS, the European division of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. operating Statoil Fuel & Retail ASA, the retail gasoline filling stations. He also served on the board of La Maison de la Serenite de Laval, a centre providing free-of-charge quality palliative care, and participated, on a yearly basis, in its fundraising campaign.

Mr. Tessier received a Bachelor of Accounting degree from the Universite du Quebec a Montreal in 1986 and has been a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1987. He brings to the CCL Board deep financial expertise, as well as extensive experience in capital markets and financings, global mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, operations and risk management, and governance of publicly traded companies.

Mr. Donald G. Lang, Executive Chairman, stated, "We are extremely pleased to welcome Mr. Claude Tessier to our Board and look forward to the value his financial expertise and business experience will bring to the Board and CCL's business."

For more information on CCL, visit - www.cclind.com or contact:

Sean Washchuk

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

416-756-8526

Business Description

CCL Industries Inc. employs approximately 25,300 people operating 205 production facilities in 43 countries with corporate offices in Toronto, Canada, and Framingham, Massachusetts. CCL is the world's largest converter of pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for a wide range of decorative, instructional, functional and security applications for government institutions and large global customers in the consumer packaging, healthcare & chemicals, consumer electronic device and automotive markets. Extruded & laminated plastic tubes, aluminum aerosols & specialty bottles, folded instructional leaflets, precision decorated & die cut components, electronic displays, polymer banknote substrate and other complementary products and services are sold in parallel to specific end-use markets. Avery is the world's largest supplier of labels, specialty converted media and software solutions for short-run digital printing applications for businesses and consumers available alongside complementary products sold through distributors, mass market stores and e-commerce retailers. Checkpoint is a leading developer of RF and RFID based technology systems for loss prevention and inventory management applications, including labeling and tagging solutions, for the retail and apparel industries worldwide. Innovia is a leading global producer of specialty, high performance, multi-layer, surface engineered films for label, packaging and security applications. The Company is partly backward integrated into materials science with capabilities in polymer extrusion, adhesive development, coating & lamination, surface engineering and metallurgy; deployed as needed across the four business segments.

SOURCE: CCL Industries Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811959/ccl-industries-announces-appointment-of-new-director


BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Euro area manufacturing sector remained in the contraction zone but deterioration in production and orders slowed, survey results from S&P Global showed on Friday.



The final HCOB manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index posted 44.2 in November, up from 43.1 in October. This was the highest since May and above the flash estimate of 43.8.



Factory output continued to fall in November but the rate of decline was the softest since May. A slower drop in output coincided with a weaker contraction in new orders.



Manufacturers were less aggressive with their destocking efforts with pre- and post-production inventory levels falling at weaker rates.



Backlogs of work declined in November, extending the current sequence of depletion in outstanding business to a year-and-a-half.



Producers reduced their staffing capacity for a sixth consecutive month. Further, the rate of job shedding was the fastest since August 2020.



There was a pick-up in business confidence in November with growth expectations hitting the strongest in three months. Suppliers' delivery times shortened for the tenth straight month.



There was a further sharp reduction in costs faced by Eurozone factories. Input prices cooled to its softest since April. And output charges decreased reflecting lower costs.



'The current state of the PMI indexes suggests that this turning point might still be a distance away,' Hamburg Commercial Bank Chief Economist Cyrus de la Rubia said.



'While the downturn is broadly based across the eurozone, dynamics differ among the top four economies of the currency union,' Rubia added.



Downturn in Germany eased in November with businesses reporting the slowest declines in both output and new orders for six months.



France's manufacturing sector remained under intense pressure due to rapid deterioration in new orders and output.



Spain's manufacturing activity also shrank at a slower pace. Similarly, Italy's manufacturing activity contracted on weaker production and orders.



Germany's final HCOB manufacturing PMI climbed to 42.6 in November from October's 40.8. This marked a fourth straight monthly rise in the index. The flash reading was 42.3.



France's HCOB final factory PMI was little changed from October's 41-month low. The index rose marginally to 42.9 from 42.8 in October. The initial estimate was 42.6.



Spain's manufacturing PMI rose more-than-expected to 46.3 in November from 45.1 in October. The score was forecast to climb to 45.5.



Italy's factory PMI slid to 44.4 from 44.9 in October. This was the sharpest contraction since June and well below economists' forecast of 45.3.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
The information contained within this announcement is considered by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information will be considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Paul Atherley, Chairman.

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.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - 1844 RESOURCES Inc. (TSXV: EFF) (the "Company" or "1844") is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's news releases dated March 6, 2023 and September 23, 2023, the Company has entered into an amended and restated option agreement (the "Amended and Restated Option Agreement") with Nickel North Exploration Corp. ("NNX") with respect to the option agreement between the parties dated March 6, 2023, as amended (the "Option Agreement"), relating to the Company's option to acquire the Hawk Ridge Project. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, the parties have agreed to amend the payment terms and conditions of the Option Agreement as follows:

Upon entering into the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, the Company paid NNX $15,000 in cash as a non-refundable deposit and, upon receiving TSX Venture approval of the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, the Company will pay NNX $335,000 in cash and issue to the Optionor 5,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company.



The Company is now entitled to acquire a 20% undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project on the first anniversary of the date that is two business days following the approval of the Amended and Restated Option Agreement by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Effective Date") by paying $350,000 and issuing 4,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX and incurring $500,000 of exploration expenditures before the first anniversary of the Effective Date (the "First Option").

If the Company exercises the First Option, it can now acquire an additional 10% (for an aggregate 30%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $350,000 and issuing 4,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX on the second anniversary date of the Effective Date, and incurring $500,000 of exploration expenditures before the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Second Option").

If the Company exercises the Second Option, it can now acquire an additional 20% (for an aggregate 50%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $750,000 and issuing 3,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX on the third anniversary date of the Effective Date, and incurring $1,000,000 of exploration expenditures before the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Third Option").

If the Company exercises the Third Option, it can now acquire an additional 30% (for an aggregate 80%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $1,000,000 and issuing 3,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX on the fourth anniversary date of the Effective Date, and incurring $2,000,000 of exploration expenditures before the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Fourth Option").

If the Company exercises the Fourth Option, it can now acquire an additional 20% (for an aggregate 100%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $2,000,000 to NNX on the fifth anniversary date of the Effective Date (the "Fifth Option").

Additionally, under the Option Agreement, if the Company did not satisfy the previous payment terms and conditions of the Second Option, the Company's option to acquire the Hawk Ridge Project would terminate and the Company was return to NNX the undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project that the Company would have acquired upon the exercise of the First Option for nil consideration, resulting in the Company holding no interest in the Hawk Ridge Project. Now, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, if the Company does not satisfy the payment terms of the Third Option, the Company's option to acquire the Hawk Ridge Project will terminate and the Company will return to NNX the undivided interests in the Hawk Ridge Project to be acquired upon the exercise of the First Option and the Second Option for nil consideration, resulting in the Company holding no interest in the Hawk Ridge Project.

The remaining terms of the Option Agreement are restated in the Amended and Restated Option Agreement.

Mr. Sylvain Laberge, President and CEO of the Company commented: "The option to acquire a 100% interest in the Hawk Ridge Project is transformational for 1844. Hawk Ridge is expected to become one of the flagship properties of the Company and is expected to add to our existing portfolio of copper and other critical mineral projects in coastal Quebec."

For more details regarding the Option Agreement and Hawk Ridge Property, see the Company's news releases dated March 6 and 7, 2023. Copies of the Company's news releases are available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

About 1844 Resources Inc.: 1844 is an exploration company with a focus in strategic and energetic metals and underexplored regions "Gaspe, Nunavik Quebec". With a dedicated management team, the Company's goal is to create shareholder value through the discovery of new deposits.

1844 RESOURCES INC.

(signed) "Sylvain Laberge"

Sylvain Laberge

President and CEO

514.702.9841

Slaberge@1844 resources.com

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's option on the Hawk Ridge Project, the First Option, the Second Option, the Third Option, the Fourth Option, the Fifth Option, approval by the TSX Venture and the payment and issuance of common shares upon such approval. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; and Exchange approval.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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 Company's expectations include exploration or other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

Neither the 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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189480
Oscillate Plc - Director/PDMR Shareholding

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 01

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014, AS AMENDED ("MAR"). ON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Oscillate Plc

AQSE: MUSH

("Oscillate" or the "Company")

DIRECTOR'S SHARE DEALING

The Company announces that today, Steven Xerri, executive director of the Company, has purchased 6,291,666 ordinary shares in the Company at 0.42 pence per share.

Following the above purchase, Mr Xerri owns 16,420,653 ordinary shares, representing approximately 7.80% of the issued share capital of the Company.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

Enquiries

Company:

John Treacy

ir@oscillateplc.com

https://oscillateplc.com

Corporate Adviser:

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Guy Miller & Heena Karani

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7220 9796
PITTSBURGH, PA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Today, Liberated Syndication Inc. ("Libsyn"), the leading all-in-one podcasting platform for creators and advertisers, announced its November 2023 Podcast Advertising Rates, including the highest and most accessible CPM categories, and shares 2024 podcast advertising predictions.

2024 Podcast Advertising Developments to Watch

Podcast advertising has experienced a meteoric rise in recent years, and as we enter 2024, there is no sign of this growth abating. According to IAB research, in 2023 alone, U.S. podcast ad revenue is projected to soar to $2.28 billion, up 25% year over year - and will reach $4 billion by 2025. With more people immersing themselves in their favorite podcasts, listenership and engagement is surging, offering advertisers a golden opportunity to connect with dedicated and loyal audiences.

Dave Hanley, Chief Revenue Officer of Libsyn AdvertiseCast, outlines five predictions for podcast advertising in 2024, underscoring the industry's continued momentum.

Persistent Brand Safety Concerns Put to Rest: Advertisers will become more comfortable with brand safety in the podcast channel due to recent technology and procedural developments. The emphasis will shift towards brand suitability, authenticity in tone, and aligning with the right content creators. As brands recognize this, the call to action will be clear: Don't sit on the sidelines in 2024-leverage the genuine connection podcasts offer to engage audiences effectively.

Advertisers will become more comfortable with brand safety in the podcast channel due to recent technology and procedural developments. The emphasis will shift towards brand suitability, authenticity in tone, and aligning with the right content creators. As brands recognize this, the call to action will be clear: Don't sit on the sidelines in 2024-leverage the genuine connection podcasts offer to engage audiences effectively. AI-Powered Contextual Targeting Expands Ad Inventory: Libsyn's AdvertiseCast expects a rise in adoption of AI and predictive contextual targeting in the year ahead. Leveraging innovative tools to provide accurate context to content will unlock a wealth of relevant inventory for advertisers. This ensures that their messages resonate with intended audiences, driving precise targeting and ad effectiveness, while eliminating waste.

Libsyn's AdvertiseCast expects a rise in adoption of AI and predictive contextual targeting in the year ahead. Leveraging innovative tools to provide accurate context to content will unlock a wealth of relevant inventory for advertisers. This ensures that their messages resonate with intended audiences, driving precise targeting and ad effectiveness, while eliminating waste. Regional & Local Ad Boom with Data-Driven Precision: Libsyn's AdvertiseCast anticipates more regional and local advertisers will enter the podcast advertising space, fueled by the growing interest in data-driven targeting. Advertisers can now geo-target with increased precision and at scale to connect with desired local podcast audiences across hundreds of audience segments.

Libsyn's AdvertiseCast anticipates more regional and local advertisers will enter the podcast advertising space, fueled by the growing interest in data-driven targeting. Advertisers can now geo-target with increased precision and at scale to connect with desired local podcast audiences across hundreds of audience segments. Surge in Video Enhancing Discoverability: The growing popularity of video podcasts will see the further blurring of lines between audio and video. Libsyn's AdvertiseCast, which already offers a "simulcast" ad product to advertisers, recognizes the significant advantage of using video to improve podcast discoverability. This approach amplifies the reach and impact for creators - thereby attracting more advertisers.

The growing popularity of video podcasts will see the further blurring of lines between audio and video. Libsyn's AdvertiseCast, which already offers a "simulcast" ad product to advertisers, recognizes the significant advantage of using video to improve podcast discoverability. This approach amplifies the reach and impact for creators - thereby attracting more advertisers. Cause-based Advertising - An Untapped Opportunity: An untapped opportunity lies in the underutilization of cause-based advertisers collaborating with podcast hosts. The influential voice of podcast hosts presents a powerful platform for promoting social and environmental causes, and this synergy fosters impactful conversations and prompts action. Beyond cause-based campaigns, we see this strategy being applied for political advertisers gearing up for the 2024 election cycle.

Hanley commented, "Podcasting has emerged as one of the fastest-growing advertising channels, and its trajectory remains on an upward curve. With greater access to sophisticated audience-based targeting and attribution measurement, new advertisers are capitalizing on the expanding opportunities to achieve their brand goals, be it direct response or brand awareness. We've been at the forefront of delivering new capabilities for advertisers, and since introducing programmatic ads in August 2022, we've witnessed a threefold increase in advertisers utilizing our automatic ad solution."

November 2023 Podcast Advertising Rates

The following rates, which are denoted as cost per thousand or CPM, are published monthly by Libsyn's AdvertiseCast, the industry's premier podcast advertising marketplace that connects advertisers with podcasters. The Company releases the figures to empower the podcaster and advertiser communities to readily monitor market pricing and provide greater insight into podcasting advertising as a monetization vehicle. The data is derived from actual sales data across AdvertiseCast's network of thousands of shows.

For November 2023, the average CPM rate was $22.94 for a 60-second ad spot. That figure is up by 2.5% compared to last month (October 2023 avg. CPM rate: $22.37) and has decreased year-over-year (November 2022 avg. CPM rate: $24.58).

The three highest CPM categories in November based on delivered advertising were:

Kids & Family: $27

Arts: $26

Education: $25

Moreover, three categories where advertisers can effectively tap into highly engaged audiences at more accessible CPM rates include History, TV & Film, and True Crime, which averaged around the low 20s in November.

Libsyn's AdvertiseCast combines an industry-leading ad buying and management platform with full-service capabilities that makes it easy for podcast advertisers to initiate and manage highly targeted and measurable campaigns, while providing maximum return for creators. Historical monthly CPM rates can be found on AdvertiseCast's website at: www.advertisecast.com/podcast-advertising-rates.

About Liberated Syndication

Founded in 2004, Liberated Syndication Inc. ("Libsyn") is the leading all-in-one podcasting platform for creators and advertisers to host, distribute, monetize, amplify, and measure their audio content. In 2022, the Company hosted over 75,000 shows and delivered over 8 billion downloads to listeners globally. Libsyn's AdvertiseCast marketplace combines an industry-leading ad buying and management platform with full-service capabilities that make it easy for podcast advertisers to initiate and manage highly targeted and measurable campaigns on over 3,000 shows. Based in Munich, Germany, Libsyn's Julep Media platform is the leading podcasting hosting platform and advertising marketplace in Europe. Libsyn also powers podcast membership platform, Glow, and web hosting platform, Pair Networks. Visit libsyn.com or investor.libsyn.com for more Company information.

#? #? #

Media Contacts: Ray Yeung + Nancy Zakhary | ray@relev8.co + nancy@relev8.co

Investor Contact: investor@libsyn.com

SOURCE: Liberated Syndication, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812246/libsyn-unveils-november-2023-podcast-advertising-rates-5-developments-to-watch-in-2024
In September 2023, an international group of leading sustainable forestry companies launched the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC) to support an increased contribution of the forestry sector to the transition to a sustainable society.

Today the ISFC is delighted to announce that Sumitomo Forestry has joined the coalition.

Sumitomo Forestry, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a globally respected forestry sector leader with a long and honourable history. The Company's history dates back to the seventeenth century when the Sumitomo family opened a copper mine in the Southern part of Japan and sourced timber for fuel and construction as well. Now, the company operates across the forestry value chain from forestry management, to wood processing, trading, wooden construction and biomass power generation. The firm is pursuing a long-term vision for the role of the forestry sector in the decarbonized society.

Sumitomo Forestry manages sustainable working forests in Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. It produces sustainable fibre-based building products and operates wooden construction businesses worldwide.

Convening Chair of the ISFC, Dr. David Brand said, "Sumitomo Forestry brings to the group a wealth of experience and is completely aligned around our principles as we all seek to support the transition to a circular bio-economy and sustainable land use systems that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation and the conservation of nature."

President of Sumitomo Forestry Mr. Toshiro Mitsuyoshi said, "accelerating sustainable forestry and promoting wood products and wooden construction play a critical role in the decarbonization transition. By joining the ISFC, we can collectively contribute to seeing the value of sustainable forestry practices and wood products be recognized and this view prevails. We look forward to working with the members of the ISFC towards creating the decarbonized society and beyond."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201510185/en/

Contacts:

Charlie Morrow

Charlie.Morrow@cognitomedia.com
WINDOW ROCK, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Dine Development Corporation (DDC) , a Navajo Nation-owned IT, professional, and environmental services company, announces the acquisition of Spin Systems, Inc. (SpinSys), a Virginia-based data management and analytics company. This strategic move diversifies DDC's client portfolio and expands the organization's capabilities while solidifying its commitment to government agencies and the Navajo Nation.

A premier software company specializing in big data aggregation, virtualization, predictive modeling, and AI/ML-driven intelligence visualization, SpinSys has amassed success throughout its 25-year history in delivering cloud-based sustainment and modernization services for the U.S. government and Fortune 500 clients. Aligning with DDC's capabilities, SpinSys' suite of technical solutions and innovative growth model strengthen the corporation's dedication to value-driven efficiency, agility, and scalability.

"Data virtualization and predictive modeling are key capabilities that differentiate our company and complement DDC's robust suite of IT solutions," SpinSys Chief Executive Officer Wael Ali stated. Highlighting the acquisition is SpinSys' award-winning MDACA data fabric product suite, the Department of Defense's cornerstone framework for data integration and analysis. "Through this holistic data solution, we are able to provide actionable insights for DOD stakeholders to ensure mission readiness," added Shourya Ray, SpinSys Chief Operating Officer.

SpinSys' union with the family of companies, integrated and rebranded as SpinSys-Dine, expands DDC's nationwide footprint with two major office locations in Falls Church, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina.

"This acquisition is not only a testament to DDC's strategic growth, but also a vision for the future," shared Austin Tsosie, DDC Chief Executive Officer. "We celebrate this milestone in expanding our deeply rooted commitment to advancing the Navajo Nation while positioning the organization for future expansion." Dan Riggs, DDC Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, stated, "We are proud to welcome SpinSys-Dine to the family of companies. The company's people-focused culture, passion for innovation, and client dedication align with the mission-driven spirit that runs through our organization. Our combined strengths will propel us to new heights as we provide our clients with an expanded service offering to power mission success."

About DDC

DDC's family of companies has powered government missions through an unwavering dedication to our clients and communities we serve. Our innovation-driven IT practice, specializing in cloud, cyber, data management, and enterprise IT solutions, has delivered lasting value to defense and civilian agencies across the world. Central to DDC's mission is its commitment to advance the Navajo Nation and its People to inspire change for future generations.

About SpinSys-Dine

SpinSys-Dine offers integration and interoperability by providing cloud-based sustainment and modernization services for government and private sector clients. As a leading small business specializing in data transformation, we streamline business processes through cloud deployment across enterprises. Our team harnesses the power of business intelligence to enable informed decision making.

Contact

For more information on SpinSys-Dine and its service offerings, please contact Shourya Ray, SpinSys-Dine President, at shourya.ray@spinsys-dine.com. For press inquiries or more acquisition details, please contact Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw, DDC Director of Marketing, at jocelyn.billy-upshaw@ddc-dine.com.

Contact Information

Jennifer Creamer

DDC Chief of Staff

jennifer.creamer@ddc-dine.com

Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw

Director of Marketing

jocelyn.billy-upshaw@ddc-dine.com

Shourya Ray

SpinSys-Dine President

shourya.ray@spinsys-dine.com

SOURCE: Dine Development Corporation (DDC)

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812188/din-development-corporation-expands-portfolio-with-acquisition-of-spin-systems-inc
BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Silver Spruce Resources, Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") (TSXV:SSE) is pleased to announce receipt of our permits and drill mobilization for the Tote Brook target at the 602-claim Mystery Au project ("Mystery") (see Figure 1).

"Our drill permit was approved by the Mineral Lands Division of the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology (IET) and access for the drilling was granted by the Ministry of Transport. The Company recently signed a contract with Trust Drilling of Springdale, NL and their rig was mobilized to the Tote Brook target (Figures 1, 2 and 3) this week with diamond drilling scheduled to start immediately upon arrival", said Greg Davison, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director. "A second drill target in the southern claim showed elevated Au, As and Sb in exposed quartz and chalcedony veins will follow at the earliest opportunity."

Figure 1. Map of the core and southern areas of the Marilyn property regional geological map and sampling locations. Tote Brook target located in E-W trending lineament with quartz and calcite veins and breccias. Geology units with contacts shown from east to west - Mount Peyton intrusion (red), Badger Group (pale brown) and Botwood Group (brown).

"We met our goal for the summer programs completing rock and soil sampling, structural mapping and regional till sampling with a primary view to drill target generation in Q4 2023. The Company is excited to begin a 4-hole, 1,000-1,500metre program to target the downdip projection of the surface vein exposures at Tote Brook and look forward to receiving promising core samples over the next few weeks", added Mr. Davison. "Sawn core will be sampled and sent to Eastern Analytical in Springdale, NL for precious metal assays. Core photographs and interval descriptions will be provided in due course."

Four holes (two scissor sections) directed to the north and south are proposed from the collars TB01 and TB02, respectively, to intersect the down-dip projection of the veins. Trust Drilling will supply a new Duralite Rig(DL1400), moveable with tracks, 5-Ton excavator, Marooka track vehicle and all the necessary supplies associated for NQ core drilling using in-house logistics support (Figures 2 and 3).

Figure 2. Marilyn property - Trust Drilling rig mobilizing to Tote Brook

The Tote Brook prospect is located 22km south of the intersection between Bay d'Espoir Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway. Phase 1 drill targeting on Tote Creek is focused where structural geological mapping on the ground and desktop analysis of the property geophysics identified a coincident E-W topographic and magnetic lineament in the Badger Group and western contact of the Mount Peyton Intrusion (MPIS) Surface exposures of steeply south-dipping, multi-stage quartz-carbonate veins and breccias with silicification, carbonatization and vuggy to drusy quartz and laminated chalcedonic textures exposed along the banks of Tote Brook.

The east-northeast zone of brecciation is 8-10m wide and parallel to Tote Brook. Along the north bank of the brook a vein of massive, bladed calcite is exposed for approximately 50m along a similar orientation to the quartz veins. Locally-sourced angular boulders of quartz vein material have been discovered by prospectors above the calcite vein. The hydrothermal system covers an estimated 55m width on surface.

Prospecting of the new Marilyn claims identified localized float and outcropping rock samples showing intense silicification with iron carbonate accompanied by multi-phase siliceous veins and breccias, and minor to trace arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and malachite. Gold to 1035ppb, arsenic to >1000ppm and antimony to 346ppm are typical to the coincident precious metals and pathfinder elements of the regional orogenic mineralizing systems.

Figure 3. Marilyn property - Trust Drilling rig mobilized on first collar at Tote Brook

The eastern side of the property is mostly underlain bymafic intrusions of the MPIS. The western side of the property is mapped as a narrow window of Ordo-Silurian age Badger greywacke overlain by extensive Botwood metasediments. The erosional pattern suggests a westerly dip though exposures are very limited by a veneer of glacial till. The regional and our 2022 high-resolution airborne magnetic survey is strongly influenced by the sharp, northerly-trending boundary of the MPIS with local decreases inmagnetic intensity interpreted as embayments by the overlying siliciclastic rocks of the Badger Group.

Exploration Going Forward

The Properties comprise a large, virtually untested area with many outcrop showings and mineralized float, prospective geology, and regional and second order geophysical structures within and adjacent to our holdings. The Company has staged plans to continue regional till sampling for gold grain analysis and soil geochemistry, regional and property scale airborne geophysical compilation and interpretation, prospecting, ArcGIS geological and geophysical data compilation and grid soil sampling with a tighter grid spacing. Further wide-spaced sampling also is proposed for both the currently incomplete areas near anomalous sample results and infill sampling for several targets of the claim package.

Contracting for detailed compilation and interpretation of the regional geophysics and Property airborne data was announced recently (see Press Release of November 9, 2023). Mineral textures and chemistry point to high-level epizonal veins though more evaluation of the spatial position within the system is clearly warranted. Further work to isolate and orient the bedrock source and define Au-bearing drill targets in the southern Marilyn claim also will be a focus of the follow-up field program.

Project Background

The Company signed a Definitive Agreement in September 2021 with two parties (the "Vendors") to acquire 100% of three early-stage gold exploration properties, Mystery, Till and Marilyn, located near Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, 20-25 kilometres west of New Found Gold Corp.'s Queensway project and 15-35 kilometres south of Sokoman Minerals Corp.'s Moosehead gold project. Map staking (see Press Release February 8, 2023) of additional claims tied to both the Marilyn and Till properties effectively doubled property coverage to 148 square kilometres (14,790 ha). The new claims are subject to first rights under the 5 km Area of Interest in the Agreement and occur adjacent to several gold grain and geochemical anomalies reported from the Company's 2021 and 2022 Phase 1 programs.

The Properties are located within the Exploits Subzone, an extensive area of mineral exploration activity and discoveries over the past four years and are well situated in terms of exploration logistics 10-45 kilometres south by Bay d'Espoir Highway from Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland. The Properties are located <70 kilometres from the Gander International Airport and are easily accessible from major paved roads and local trails.

The region is structurally complex and located, in large part, between several major crustal lineaments. Numerous major to lesser sub-parallel features merge and bifurcate along strike and are transected by NW and EW-trending faults. These deep-seated structures, which juxtapose geological terranes over hundreds of kilometres, are key to the location and formation of orogenic gold deposits with several million ounces of gold as reported by junior companies.

Early work on the Mystery Lake area reported massive to semi-massive occurrences of arsenopyrite and gold assay values to 17,678 ppb (17.7 g/t Au). Historical assays were reported for 123 samples collected by the Vendor from Mystery and Marilyn (see Press Release of September 14, 2021). Eighteen samples reported Au >0.5 g/t (max. 12.5 g/t Au). Cu values were reported up to 9.85% with minor Ag, Pb and Zn. Arsenic was highly anomalous in thirty-six samples reporting over 2,200 ppm upper limit for Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-OES) analysis, strongly associated with elevated Au values and displayed as minor to abundant arsenopyrite.

Multiple surface occurrences are reported of agate chalcedony to colloform and crystalline silica veining and multi-phase breccias, carbonate replacement by quartz, and open-space filling quartz and calcite, all textures indicative of the upper zones of epithermal systems and structural conduits in orogenic systems, and are accompanied by gold, arsenopyrite, stibnite, chalcopyrite, bornite and Cu carbonate mineralization.

Silver Spruce received an independent due diligence report on the mineral and rock textures potentially related to shallow epithermal and/or orogenic vein-style mineralization. The Company completed an initial phase of till and soil sampling in late 2021, and an airborne magnetic, VLF-EM and radiometric survey in February 2022 (see Press Release of February 23, 2022). The Company's reconnaissance sampling (95 sites) was completed before the winter 2021 shutdown and an additional thirty-four of the readily accessible sites were tested during the 2022 field season. A total of twenty-seven (27) rock samples, one hundred and eight (108) soil samples and 65 till and soil samples were collected during the recent 2023 exploration programs. The 2023 till sampling (66 sites) of the new claims identified our best gold grain frequency data so far with a maximum of thirty-nine grains in GR-37 in the southern part of the claims and other significant results spread from north to south throughout the Marilyn claims.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the Mystery Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, 100% interest in the Mystery Au project near discoveries by Sokoman Minerals Corp. and New Found Gold Corp. among others in the Exploits Gold Belt, Newfoundland and Labrador, 100% interest in the Pino de Plata Ag project located 15 kilometres west of Coeur Mining's Palmarejo Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico and up to 50% interest in Colibri Resource's Diamante Au-Ag project near Alamos's Nicho deposit in Sonora, Mexico. Silver Spruce signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Colibri on the nearby Jackie Au project, Sonora, Mexico. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director

(250) 521-0444

gdavison@silverspruceresources.com

Michael Kinley, CEO

(902) 402-0388

mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com

www.silverspruceresources.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.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements "Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future".

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812180/silver-spruce-receives-permits-signs-drill-contract-and-mobilizes-to-tote-brook-target-in-marilyn-claims-at-mystery-au-project-exploits-gold-belt-newfoundland-and-labrador
CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the advantages of social and emotional skills become more widely recognized, the market for SEL is expected to rise in the coming years. With education always changing to meet the requirements of students, SEL will probably become even more important in moulding well-rounded, emotionally aware people who can succeed in a variety of spheres of life.

The Social and Emotional Learning Market size is projected to grow from USD 3.6 billion in 2023 to USD 10.3 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 23.6% during the forecast period, according to MarketsandMarkets. SEL has been rising among educators internationally to assist children and adults in their personal and professional lives to overcome anxiety, despair, and aloofness. Educational stakeholders proactively include SEL in their curricula to deal with student's emotions, stress, anxiety, and hostile conduct. Despite the outdated idea, SEL is becoming more popular among educators, parents, and the healthcare industry. SEL is essential to education and human development. It involves equipping youth and adults with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to understand and manage their emotions, build healthy identities, foster empathy, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and achieve personal and collective goals.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Social and Emotional Learning Market"

261 - Tables

43 - Figures

261 - Pages

Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=245017024

Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units Value (USD) Million/Billion Segments Covered SEL Market by Offering (Solution, Services), Solution (Social and Emotional Learning Platform, Social and Emotional Learning Assessment Tool), Service (Consulting, Integration and Deployment, Training and Support), End User (Pre-K, Elementary Schools, Middle and High Schools, Therapists and Psychologists, and Other End Users), Core Competency (Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision Making), Type (Web-based, Application) Region covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Companies covered Committee for Children (US), EVERFI (US), Illuminate Education (US), Nearpod (US), Panorama Education (US), SchoolMint (US), Newsela (US), Playworks (US), Wings of Kids (US), Rethink ED (US), etc.

Based on offering, the service segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Building relationships with peers, instructors, and others is more accessible for pupils through social-emotional learning. Through SEL, children and adults learn how to control their emotions in challenging circumstances. Students acquire these skills through SEL, which helps them maintain their social connections and demonstrate empathy for others. Certain service providers assist learners in individual professional development for career path planning and professional development. These service providers implement solutions tailored to business processes, such as network services. Services refer to the support offered by SEL providers to assist educational stakeholders in efficiently using SEL solutions.

Request Sample Pages@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=245017024

North America is expected to have the largest market size during the forecast period.

The demand for social and emotional well-being in educational institutions, expanding government support and awareness programs. The early deployment of cloud and mobile technology in North America has also been a significant factor in accepting SEL solutions to increase worker effectiveness and productivity. The most prominent market vendors, including Committee forCommittee for Children, EVERFI, Nearpod, Illuminate Education, and Panorama Education, are present, and their presence is a significant growth driver for the North American SEL industries.

Top Key Companies in Social and Emotional Learning Market:

The Social and Emotional Learning Market comprises significant providers, such as Committee for Children (US), EVERFI (US), Illuminate Education (US), Nearpod (US), Panorama Education (US), SchoolMint (US), Newsela (US), Playworks (US), Wings of Kids (US), Rethink ED (US), etc. These competitors have used various growth methods to increase their market share in the SEL industry, including partnerships, agreements, collaborations, new product releases, enhancements, and acquisitions.

Recent Developments

In August 2023, EVERFI from Blackbaud collaborated with Truth Initiative to launch an updated prescription drug safety curriculum for middle and high school students amid the growing youth overdose crisis.

In June 2023, Panorama Education acquired Mesa Cloud, complementing its platform with graduation support technology and enhancing Panorama's suite of offerings to improve learning and well-being.

In June 2023, Newsela acquired Formative to expand its real-time assessment delivery vastly. The acquisition will allow the company to weave Formative assessments and data analysis across its content, which covers social studies, English-language arts, science, and social-emotional learning.

In March 2023, Rethink Ed announced an expanded partnership with the country's most extensive public school system, New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), to deliver innovative, evidence-based, specialized support to help students with autism thrive.

In January 2023, Wings for Kids partnered with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta to provide more than 3,750 children with educational support, social-emotional learning, real-world skills, and workforce development to close the opportunity gap.

Inquire Before Buying@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=245017024

Social and Emotional Learning Market Advantages:

There is a correlation between enhanced academic achievement and SEL programmes. Students are better able to focus on studying, handle stress, and participate in the educational process when social and emotional skills are fostered.

The growth of solid interpersonal abilities like cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution is encouraged by SEL. Students get ready for success in social and professional contexts as well as an improved learning environment overall in the classroom.

SEL implementation helps to create a welcoming and encouraging environment in the classroom. When students feel like they belong, the learning environment is more conducive and they feel comfortable expressing themselves and participating in class activities.

A decrease in behavioural problems like bullying, violence, and disciplinary concerns has been connected to SEL programmes. Through addressing the underlying causes of maladaptive behaviours, SEL promotes an inclusive and courteous classroom climate.

Students that participate in SEL grow in empathy and compassion. In the process, prejudice incidences decrease and an acceptance culture is fostered, making the community more accepting and understanding.

Through SEL, kids acquire the abilities necessary to deal with obstacles in the actual world. This includes lifelong-valuable decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.

Teaching life skills outside of the classroom is the main goal of SEL. These abilities-self-awareness, resilience, and interpersonal efficacy, among others-are essential for success in adulthood and a variety of real-world circumstances.

Report Objectives

To determine, segment, and forecast the global SEL market by offering solutions, services, core competency, type, end user, and regions in terms of value.

To forecast the size of the market segments to five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America

To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, opportunities, threats, and challenges) influencing the growth of the SEL market

To study the complete value chain and related industry segments and perform a value chain analysis of the SEL market landscape.

To strategically analyze the macro and micro markets to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the total SEL market

To analyze the industry trends, pricing data, patents, and innovations related to the SEL market.

To analyze the opportunities for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the SEL market

To profile the key players in the market and comprehensively analyze their market share/ranking and core competencies.

Track and analyze competitive developments, such as mergers and acquisitions, product launches and developments, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, business expansions, and Research & Development (R&D) activities.

Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Service Integration and Management Market- Global Forecast to 2028

Digital Circular Economy Market- Global Forecast to 2028

Bot Services Market - Global Forecast to 2027

Crypto Asset Management Market- Global Forecast to 2026

Catalog Management System Market- Global Forecast to 2026

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/social-emotional-learning-market.asp

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/social-emotional-learning.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/social-and-emotional-learning-market-worth-10-3-billion-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302002999.html
The growth of the global public safety drones is driven by factors such as rise in awareness of the capabilities and benefits of public safety drones, increase in need for streamlined operations, and government investments in R&D.

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Public Safety Drones Market by Application (Search & Rescue, Firefighting, Law Enforcement, and Others), Drone Type (Fixed Wing, Multirotor, and Hybrid), and Mode of Operation (Autonomous and Non-autonomous): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032".

According to the report, the global public safety drones industry size generated $1.1 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $3.7 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 13.1% from 2023 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

The growth of the global public safety drones market is driven by factors such as rise in awareness of capabilities and benefits of public safety drones, increase in 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 public safety drones market during the forecast period.

(We are providing public safety drones industry report as per your research requirement, including the Latest Industry Insight's Evolution, Potential and Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis)

127 - Tables

54 - Charts

255 - Pages

Download Sample Pages - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/10505

Report Coverage and Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $1.08 Billion Public Safety Drones Market Size in 2032 $3.7 Billion CAGR 13.1 % No. of Pages in Report 258 Segments Covered Application, Drone Type. Mode of Operation, and Region. Drivers Rise in awareness of the capabilities and benefits of public safety drones Increase in need for streamlined operations Government investments in R&D Opportunities Growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental awareness Technological advancements Restraints Regulatory compliance and certification requirements Budgetary constraints

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. The geopolitical situation is expected to negatively impact the production and availability of drones due to disruptions in the manufacturing and supply chain of drone components. Economic challenges stemming from the conflict could result in financial constraints for public safety agencies.

, Russia initiated an invasion of Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. The geopolitical situation is expected to negatively impact the production and availability of drones due to disruptions in the manufacturing and supply chain of drone components. Economic challenges stemming from the conflict could result in financial constraints for public safety agencies. Stricter regulations on drone usage may be imposed in sensitive areas due to increased geopolitical tensions. During geopolitical unrest, the demand for advanced surveillance and security measures rises, which is expected to drive the growth of the market.

The law enforcement segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Depending on application, the law enforcement segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global public safety drones market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is majorly attributed to surge in adoption of drones by law enforcement agencies, which is facilitated by favorable regulations and guidelines governing their use in public safety applications. Moreover, the search & rescue segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 14.2% from 2023 to 2032, owing to increase in demand for drones equipped with thermal cameras, which detect heat signatures, aiding in the identification of individuals in search & rescue operations.

The multirotor segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

On the basis of drone type, the multirotor segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fourths of the global public safety drones market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to surge in development of specialized tactical multirotor drones for police and other public safety operators. However, the hybrid segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2032, owing to rise in demand for hybrid drones in inspecting critical infrastructure, such as power lines or pipelines during search and rescue missions.

Interested to Procure the Research Report? Inquire Before Buying - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/10505

The non-autonomous segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By mode of operation, the non-autonomous segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global public safety drones market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to advancements in drone design, sensor capabilities, and communication systems. However, the autonomous segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 13.8% from 2023 to 2032, owing to increase in demand for drones that can be used with minimal human intervention, enabling public safety agencies to focus on data analysis and informed decision-making.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Region wise, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting more than two-fifths of the public safety drones market revenue, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, as there is an increase in adoption of drone by law enforcement and other public safety agencies. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2032, owing to rise in the adoption of drones by law enforcement departments in various countries for surveillance, crowd monitoring, and various other public safety reasons.

Key Highlights of the Report:

The market study on public safety drones includes 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.

Recent Developments in the Public Safety Drones Industry:

In September 2023 , Skydio introduced its latest enterprise drone, the Skydio X10, designed to serve diverse industries such as defense, energy, public safety, transportation, construction, and communication.

, Skydio introduced its latest enterprise drone, the Skydio X10, designed to serve diverse industries such as defense, energy, public safety, transportation, construction, and communication. In October 2023 , Hoverfly Technologies announced a strategic partnership with Serverli, a leading provider of security services, aiming to enhance public safety through the implementation of tethered drone technology.

, Hoverfly Technologies announced a strategic partnership with Serverli, a leading provider of security services, aiming to enhance public safety through the implementation of tethered drone technology. In March 2023 , Draganfly, Inc. collaborated with Lufthansa Industry Solutions in a partnership aimed at providing drone solutions to enhance safety and precision in marine search and rescue missions, as well as mapping operations.

, Draganfly, Inc. collaborated with Lufthansa Industry Solutions in a partnership aimed at providing drone solutions to enhance safety and precision in marine search and rescue missions, as well as mapping operations. In November 2023 , BRINC DRONES INC, a U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of technology for public safety, secured a contract to deliver its flagship drone model, LEMUR 2, to U.S. public safety agencies. These drones are deployed to de-escalate dangerous situations, aid in search and rescue missions, and enhance first responder safety.

, BRINC DRONES INC, a U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of technology for public safety, secured a contract to deliver its flagship drone model, LEMUR 2, to U.S. public safety agencies. These drones are deployed to de-escalate dangerous situations, aid in search and rescue missions, and enhance first responder safety. In November 2022 , Draganfly Inc. received a contract from PromoDrone, a San Diego-based digital display drone company, to provide public safety drone technology for emergency management.

, Draganfly Inc. received a contract from PromoDrone, a San Diego-based digital display drone company, to provide public safety drone technology for emergency management. In May 2022, Skydio, a U.S. drone manufacturer specializing in autonomous flight, partnered with Axon, a public safety technology company, to empower public safety agencies. This integration enhances situational awareness for public safety applications, contributing to the safety of first responders and community service. The partnership underscores the growing importance of drones as a critical tool in public safety.

Procure Complete Research Report (PDF with Qualitative and Quotative Data, Insights, Statistics, Tables, Charts, Figures) - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/public-safety-drones-market/purchase-options

Leading Market Players: -

Skydio, Inc.

DJI

Parrot Drone SAS

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated

Draganfly, Inc.

Yuneec

Autel Robotics

Hoverfly Technologies

Tekever

BRINC DRONES, Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global public safety drones market. These players have adopted various strategies such contract, partnership, and product launch 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 Drone Industry:

Commercial Drones Market Research Report 2023-2032

Inspection Drones Market Research Report 2023-2032

Nano UAV Drones Market Research Report 2023-2032

Micro Drone Market Research Report 2023-2032

Small Drones Market Research Report 2023-2032

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

USA/Canada (Toll Free):

+1-800-792-5285

UK: +44-845-528-1300

Hong Kong: +852-301-84916

India (Pune): +91-20-66346060

Fax: +1-800-792-5285

help@alliedmarketresearch.com

Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com

Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/public-safety-drones-market-to-reach-3-7-billion-globally-by-2032-at-13-1-cagr-allied-market-research-302003308.html
CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical Excipients Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $10.7 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $14.9 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The pharmaceutical excipients market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2028. The major factors attributing to the growth of the market are increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products, increased R&D Investments for the development of novel excipients and growing emphasis on patient-centric formulations. Collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for customized excipient solutions are likely to boost the growth of the market in the near future.

Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=956

Browse in-depth TOC on "Pharmaceutical Excipients Market"

562 - Tables

51 - Figures

373 - Pages

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $10.7 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $14.9 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% Market Size Available for 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product, By Functionality, By Formulation, By Functionality application Geographies Covered North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing growth of functional/Multifunctional Pharmaceutical Excipients Key Market Drivers Increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products is propelling the demand for pharma excipients

The organic chemicals segment dominated the market share in 2022 for the product segment.

Based on product, the global pharmaceutical excipients market is categorised into organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals and other chemicals. Organic chemicals are mainly chemicals with carbon atoms covalently linked to atoms of other elements. The non-toxic nature of organic chemicals is expected to drive the organic chemicals segments which in turn will uplift the pharmaceutical excipient market from 2023 to 2028.

Fillers and Diluents segment achieved top market share for the functionality segment in 2022

The fillers and diluents segment accounted for a majority of the market share in 2022. Fillers and diluents give form, bulk, or consistency to the product. The fillers and diluents market is expected to grow due to the rising use of fillers and diluents in developing and producing solid oral drugs. Tablets are the most popular dosage forms due to their advantages to manufacturers and patients and hence can drive the fillers and diluents market. The lubricants and glidants market is expected to grow at the fastest rate because they can improve the flow properties of a formulation by reducing the friction and cohesion between particles.

The Asia Pacific region predicted to showcase the most rapid growth during the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific region is poised to lead the market's expansion with the fastest market growth, driven by the low labor and manufacturing costs in China and India. These cost advantages have attracted significant investments from pharmaceutical giants to these countries. Additionally, the growing prevalence of lifestyle-related and age-related diseases, the rising disposable income, and government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure further contribute to the region's robust market growth.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=956

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products is propelling the demand for pharma excipients

Restraints:

High Development Costs associated with Novel excipients

Opportunities:

Increasing growth of functional/Multifunctional Pharmaceutical Excipients

Challenge:

Stringent Regulatory Requirements

Key Market Players of Pharmaceutical Excipients Industry:

The global pharmaceutical excipients market comprises of many key market players competing for markets shares like International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (US), Ashland Inc. (US), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Kerry Group Plc (Ireland), Roquette Freres (France), Merck KgaA (Germany), Associated British Foods Plc (UK), ADM (US), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany).

The primary interviews conducted for this report can be categorized as follows:

By Respondent: Supply Side- 80%, and Demand Side - 20%

By Designation (Supply Side): Managers - 45%, CXOs & Directors - 30%, Executives- 25%

By Region: North America -20%, Europe -10%, Asia-Pacific -55%, Latin America -10%, MEA- 5%

Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=956

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Recent Developments:

In June 2023, Ashland introduced Polyplasdone Plus, a co-processed multifunctional direct compression superdisintegrant comprising a glidant and lubricant.

In October 2023, Lubrizol Life Science Health was awarded the Finished Formulation Award for Apisolex Polymer solubilizing excipient at CPhI Barcelona.

In July 2022, DFE Pharma announced the broadening of its Dry Powder Inhalation (DPI) portfolio by launching Lactohale 400.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help market leaders/new entrants by providing them with the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall pharmaceutical excipients market and its subsegments. It will also help stakeholders better understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their business and make suitable go-to-market strategies. This report will enable stakeholders to understand the market's pulse and provide them with information on the key market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (Increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products, increased R&D Investments for the development of novel excipients, growing emphasis on patient-centric formulations, collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies), restraints (Stringent Regulatory Requirements, High Development Costs), opportunities (Rising demand for functional/multifunctional pharmaceutical excipients, advancements in nanotechnology, emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and Latin America) and challenges (Safety & quality concerns, limited availability of certain raw materials) are influencing the growth of pharmaceutical excipients market.

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on newly launched products of the pharmaceutical excipients market.

Functionality Apllication: Additional segment provided for functionality applications where segregation has been provided based on the applications of various excipients highlights the various uses of different excipients classes.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the pharmaceutical excipients market across varied regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the pharmaceutical excipients market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and service offerings of leading players include International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (US), Ashland Inc. (US), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Kerry Group plc (Ireland), Roquette Freres (France), MERCK KGaA (Germany), Associated British Foods plc (UK), ADM (US), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany) and among others in the pharmaceutical excipients market.

Related Reports:

Autoinjectors Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

High Potency APIs Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

Wearable Injectors Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

About MarketsandMarkets:

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.





Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/pharma-excipients-market.asp

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/pharma-excipients.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pharmaceutical-excipients-market-worth-14-9-billion--marketsandmarkets-302003000.html
The micro battery market is driven by factors such as an increase in adoption of wearable devices that propels the growth and demand for flexible and thin batteries in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry.

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Micro Battery Market by Type (Button Batteries, Thin Film Batteries, Printed Batteries, and Solid-State Chip Batteries), Application (Consumer Electronics, Medical Devices, Smart Packaging, Smart Cards, Wireless Sensors, and Others), and Battery Type (Primary and Secondary)". According to the report, the global micro battery market was valued at $0.5 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $4.0 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 21.63% from 2023 to 2032.

Download Research Report Sample & TOC: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5781

(We are providing report as per your research requirement, including the Latest Industry Insight's Evolution, Potential and COVID-19 Impact Analysis)

122 - Tables

66 - Charts

387 - Pages

Prime Determinants of Growth

The surge in use of wearable technology, the growth of the semiconductor sector, and the rise in private expenditures on technical R&D for Internet of Things (IoT) technology are the main drivers of market revenue growth. The market demand is also driven by consumers switching from conventional batteries to micro batteries due to their many benefits. Rise in awareness of the advantages of micro batteries is a major factor driving the worldwide market for micro batteries.

Micro batteries often have a large operating temperature range and a high energy density. The batteries are flexible, lightweight, and able to be shaped into any shape without sacrificing their effectiveness. These attributes make micro batteries pivotal in powering portable and wearable electronic devices, where space and weight considerations are critical. As industries and consumers alike recognize the benefits of these compact power sources, the demand for micro batteries continues to escalate, driving innovation in their design and application across an array of technological domains.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $0.5 billion Market Size in 2032 $4.0 billion CAGR 21.63 % No. of Pages in Report 387 Segments covered Type, Battery Type, Application, and Region. Drivers Increase in adoption of wearable devices. Propelling the growth and demand for flexible and thin batteries in the Internet of Things (IoT) Opportunities Surge in integration of micro batteries in small textiles Restraints Lack of designs in fabrication

COVID-19 Scenario

The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the micro battery market witnessed an increased demand for power electronics components in medical devices and healthcare infrastructure.

The Button Batteries Segment to Maintain its Leadership Status Throughout the Forecast Period

By type, the button batteries segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global micro battery market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, due to the surge in need for small and portable electronic gadgets is one important factor. Button batteries are vital power sources due to the rise in usage of consumer gadgets, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and hearing aids, which are smaller and having a higher energy density. In addition, the button batteries segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 22.19% from 2023 to 2032.

Inquiry before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/5781

The Primary Segment to Maintain its Leadership Status Throughout the Forecast Period

By battery type, the primary segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for two-third of the global micro battery market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. In addition, the secondary segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 22.33% from 2023 to 2032 due to increase in electrical appliances, smartphones and others.

The Consumer Electronics Segment to Maintain its Leadership Status Throughout the Forecast Period

By application, the consumer electronics segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global micro battery market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, due to the growing need for small and portable electronics. In addition, the consumer electronics segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 22.59% from 2023 to 2032.

Asia-Pacific to Maintain its Dominance by 2032

By region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global micro battery industry revenue. This region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 22.48% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the world's rapid industrialization, technical developments, and the growing demand for consumer electronics in nations such as South Korea, Japan, and China. The micro battery market is growing due in part to the region's proactive adoption of emerging technologies, particularly on the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart device sectors.

Leading Market Players:

Panasonic Corporation

Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd.

TDK Corporation

Maxell, Ltd.

VARTA AG

Enfucell

Duracell

Molex

Renata

Seiko Instruments Inc

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global micro battery market. These players have adopted different strategies such as product development, and product launch 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:

As per the micro battery market outlook, this report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the micro battery market analysis from 2022 to 2032 to identify the prevailing micro battery market opportunities.

The micro battery Market Forecast 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 make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.

In-depth analysis of the micro battery market 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 micro battery market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and micro battery Market growth strategies.

Micro Battery Key Segments:

By Type

Button Batteries

Thin Film Batteries

Printed Batteries

Solid State Chip Batteries

By Battery Type

Primary

Secondary

By Application

Consumer Electronics

Medical Devices

Smart Packaging

SmartCards

Wireless Sensors

Others

By Region

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

(U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe)

(Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

(China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) LAMEA (Brazil, Saudi Arebia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Rest of LAMEA)

Procure Complete Report (387 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/47SvbDI

Trending Reports in Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount + COVID-19 Scenario):

Graphene Battery Market is projected to Grow $398.6 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR from 31.2% 2020-2027

Automotive Battery Thermal Management System Market is Anticipated to Garner $4.6 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 15.6% from 2023 to 2032

Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage System Market is projected to Grow $17.1 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15% from 2022 to 2031

Battery Energy Storage System Market is Anticipated to Garner $51.7 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 20.1% from 2022 to 2031

Consumer Electronics Batteries Industry generated $13.9 billion in 2022, and is anticipated to generate $61.3 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 16.2% from 2023 to 2032

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports 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:

David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

Int'l: +1-503-894-6022

Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285

UK: +44-845-528-1300

India (Pune): +91-20-66346060

Fax: +1-800-792-5285

help@alliedmarketresearch.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/micro-battery-market-to-reach-4-0-billion-globally-by-2032-at-21-63-cagr-allied-market-research-302003315.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Mary Kay:

Each year, Giving Tuesday sparks a global giving movement that has the power to transform lives around the world. But that's just one day a year. In the spirit of giving year-round, and in honor of Mary Kay Ash's legacy, Pink Changing LivesSM was born. The global cause marketing program reinforces Mary Kay's on-going commitment to recognize women and girls who are changing the world for the better and support organizations worldwide who tirelessly work to improve the lives of women and their families.

Mary Kay Inc. beloved founder, Mary Kay Ash, said "the very foundation of this company is based on the premise of helping others." Those words continue to guide the Company's global philanthropic efforts.

The Pink Changing Lives global cause marketing program is entirely funded by a portion of the sales from Pink Changing Lives designated products in participating Mary Kay markets. Since 2008, the program has impacted more than six million women and their families by partnering with approximately 3,250 organizations around the world, donating over $17 million. Mary Kay markets partner with local organizations addressing critical needs in their immediate community and focusing on key areas like women's empowerment, cancers affecting women, ending domestic violence, beautifying the environment and more.

Below are highlights from 2023 Pink Changing Lives initiatives around the globe:

Mary Kay Canada donated to Look Good Feel Better to support women facing cancer, giving them the tools and techniques to feel beautiful.

donated to Look Good Feel Better to support women facing cancer, giving them the tools and techniques to feel beautiful. Mary Kay China Charity Fund has provided free surgeries for girls with cleft lip and palate who need help since 2014. In June 2021, Mary Kay China launched the "Smile 1000" campaign with the goal of completing 1,000 cleft lip and palate repair surgeries by September 13, 2023, coinciding with the 60 th anniversary of Mary Kay's establishment, which it successfully completed.

has provided free surgeries for girls with cleft lip and palate who need help since 2014. In June 2021, Mary Kay China launched the "Smile 1000" campaign with the goal of completing 1,000 cleft lip and palate repair surgeries by September 13, 2023, coinciding with the 60 anniversary of Mary Kay's establishment, which it successfully completed. Mary Kay Germany/Netherlands/Sweden presented a check for 15,000 euros to Cleft Kinderhilfe in support of the Fly and Help program, which builds schools in under resourced communities.

presented a check for 15,000 euros to Cleft Kinderhilfe in support of the program, which builds schools in under resourced communities. Mary Kay Lithuania donated to Rimantas Kaukenas Charitable Foundation whose goal is to make life easier for seriously ill children and their families by supporting them through their long journey towards recovery.

donated to Rimantas Kaukenas Charitable Foundation whose goal is to make life easier for seriously ill children and their families by supporting them through their long journey towards recovery. Mary Kay Philippines donated to Talikala, Inc. to improve the quality of life for women and young children who are victims and survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution.

donated to Talikala, Inc. to improve the quality of life for women and young children who are victims and survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution. Mary Kay Portugal supported Ajuda de Berco providing foster care for children waiting to be adopted, returned to their biological family, or a safe place to call home.

supported Ajuda de Berco providing foster care for children waiting to be adopted, returned to their biological family, or a safe place to call home. Mary Kay Spain donated to Fero Foundation providing a research grant to a specific group of scientists working to identify the different mechanisms of response to current treatments in Advanced Breast Cancer.

donated to Fero Foundation providing a research grant to a specific group of scientists working to identify the different mechanisms of response to current treatments in Advanced Breast Cancer. Mary Kay U.S. donated to the Mary Kay Ash FoundationSM to help provide grants to domestic violence shelters across the country and support research of cancers affecting women.

Mary Kay Ash reminds us, "I've often said that we are doing something far more important than just selling cosmetics; we are changing lives." In a world that is rapidly evolving, Mary Kay stands at the forefront of change, championing the cause of women while recognizing the immense power they hold in shaping our global economy and driving meaningful change in sustainability efforts. For the most recent updates on Mary Kay's global sustainability strategy, click here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Mary Kay on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Mary Kay

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mary-kay

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Mary Kay

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812278/mary-kay-pink-changing-lives-global-cause-marketing-program-improves-millions-of-women-and-girls-lives-around-the-world
BANGALORE, India, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telecom API Market is Segmented by Type (MS, MMS, and RCS API, WebRTC API, Payment API , Maps & Location API, Identity Management API, Voice API ), by Application (Enterprise, Government): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2029. It is Published in Valuates Reports Under the Category of Internet & Telecom .

Telecom API Market is projected to reach USD 83520 Million in 2029, increasing from USD 23120 Million in 2022, with a CAGR of 19.9% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

Claim Your Free Sample Now: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-10Q2560/Global_Telecom_API

Major Factors Driving the Growth of Telecom API Market:

The global adoption of mobile, IoT , and 5G technologies as well as the growing need for enhanced communication services are driving the telecom API market's notable expansion. Telecom APIs are essential for smooth integration, supporting telecom operators' digital transformation objectives, and enabling the creation of creative applications. The market's growth is further aided by improved consumer experiences, the fusion of AI and machine learning, and the explosion of business mobility.

Furthermore, cross-industry cooperation and regulatory support for open standards and interoperability foster an environment that is favorable to the telecom API market's continuing expansion. Telecom APIs are key facilitators of the market since it is driven by a convergence of technical breakthroughs, changing consumer requirements, and smart industry collaborations.

Own It Today - Buy Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-10Q2560&lic=single-user

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE TELECOM API MARKET

The constant increase in the number of mobile subscribers worldwide is a major factor driving the growth of the telecom API (application programming interface) industry. Telecom operators are using APIs more and more to improve service offerings, user experiences, and the ability to seamlessly integrate third-party apps as more people worldwide have access to mobile devices and data services.

One game-changing element driving the telecom API business ahead is the introduction of 5G technology. 5G networks' high speed and low latency open up new opportunities for cutting-edge services and applications. In order to fully use the promise of 5G, telecom APIs are essential. They let developers construct cutting-edge solutions like Internet of Things (IoT) apps, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) that take advantage of faster connectivity.

The market for telecom APIs is expanding because of the increase in demand for Internet of Things (IoT) applications and devices. Telecom APIs make it easier for IoT devices to communicate and share data with one another, which helps organizations implement and maintain IoT systems effectively. As more sectors embrace IoT for smart homes, healthcare, industrial automation, and other uses, there is an increasing need for telecom APIs as the underlying communication infrastructure.

In order to remain competitive in the rapidly changing telecom market, telecom operators all over the world are implementing digital transformation programs. In this transition, telecom APIs are essential tools that operators may use to open their networks, simplify operations, and generate new income streams by forming alliances with developers and companies that use their APIs for creative solutions. Telecom APIs facilitate the creation of feature-rich apps and services, which greatly improve consumer experiences. Telecom APIs enable developers to build solutions that meet changing consumer expectations and ultimately increase customer loyalty and retention. These solutions might range from location-based apps and personalized communication services to secure authentication techniques and more.

Businesses looking to incorporate mobile capabilities into their operations are driving the need for telecom APIs due to the growing trend of enterprise mobility. Telecom APIs give businesses the resources they need to develop unique communication strategies, manage mobile workers, and streamline internal operations all of which support the industry's expansion.

The expansion of the telecom API business is largely attributed to regulatory actions that support interoperability and open standards. Collaboration between telecom carriers, developers, and third-party service providers is made easier by standardized APIs. An atmosphere that is more favorable for market development is created when governments and regulatory agencies acknowledge the value of open APIs.

Unlock Insights: View Full Report Now! https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-10Q2560/global-telecom-api

TELECOM API MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Three-quarters of the market is held by Verizon, AT&T, and China Mobile.

The sophisticated telecommunications infrastructure and broad use of mobile and IoT technologies in North America are driving the market for telecom APIs. An active developer community and the existence of significant technological centers are factors that lead to higher API usage. The focus on the 5G rollout and the quick integration of APIs into a variety of industries, such as banking and healthcare, further contribute to the region's market expansion.

Purchase Chapters: https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/QYRE-Auto-10Q2560/Global_Telecom_API

Key Players:

Verizon

AT&T

China Mobile

Deutsche Telekom AG

Softbank

China Telecom

Telefonica

Vodafone

America Movil

Orange

AU By KDDI

China Unicom

NTT DOCOMO

SK Telecom

Bharti Airtel Limited

LG Uplus

Purchase Regional Data: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-10Q2560/Global_Telecom_API_Market

SUBSCRIPTION

We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans.

DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS!

- Telecom API Platform market was valued at USD 163.5 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 347.7 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 13.4% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS and API market is projected to reach USD 200.8 million in 2029, increasing from USD 165.9 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 2.3% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

- API Integration Platforms Market

- The AI In Telecommunication market was valued at USD 2482 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 19170 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 40.6% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Telecom Managed Services market is projected to grow from USD 22130 million in 2023 to USD 42430 million by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.5% during the forecast period.

- GIS in Telecom Sector market is projected to reach USD 1346.6 million in 2029, increasing from USD 1062 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 3.5% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

- IT Managed Services market size is projected to reach USD 399170 million by 2028, from USD 224010 million in 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.5% during 2022-2028.

- Managed Services market size is projected to reach USD 271640 Million by 2028, from USD 142300 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 9.2% during 2022-2028.

- Telecom IoT Market

- 5G and IoT Services Market

- Telecom Enclosure market is projected to reach USD 2984.1 million in 2029, increasing from USD 1742 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 8.7% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

- Railway Signal & Telecom Cables Market

- 5G RedCap Technology Market

- Telecom Tower Management Market

- Telecom Tower Power System market size is projected to reach USD 5,517 million by 2028, from USD 3,489 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 6.76% during 2022-2028.

- 5G enterprise market size was valued at USD 1,682 Million in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 16,846 Million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 33.9% from 2021 to 2028.

- Security Software in Telecom market size is projected to reach USD 5501.7 million by 2028, from USD 3380.4 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 6.7% during 2022-2028.

- IoT Telecom Services market size is projected to reach USD 41320 Million by 2028, from USD 14610 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 15.7% during 2022-2028.

DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US!

Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs.

Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs.

To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources.

YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS: REACH OUT TO US!

Valuates Reports

sales@valuates.com

For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225

WhatsApp: +91-9945648335

Website: https://reports.valuates.com

Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/

Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatespins/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports

reports.valuates.com/sitemap/sitemap_2023-11-08-19-21-24.xml

reports.valuates.com/sitemap/sitemap_2023-11-09-02-07-09.xml

reports.valuates.com/sitemap/sitemap_2023-11-09-03-26-24.xml

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/telecom-api-market-size-to-grow-usd-83520-million-by-2029-at-a-cagr-of-19-9--valuates-reports-302003341.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Whole Foods Market Foundations

Since 2017, Whole Planet Foundation has honored annually a trailblazer advocate who has gone above and beyond to support our mission as they foster their own. This year, we are delighted to award this honor to the Kasperick Foundation.

In 2020, the Kasperick Foundation donated $100,000 to Whole Planet Foundation, launching a special partnership to alleviate poverty around the world. The Kaspericks renewed that support in 2021, along with $890,590 for microfinance projects in Haiti, Kenya and Mozambique.

During 2022, the Kasperick Foundation contributed $2,069,908 to Whole Planet Foundation and microfinance partners in Burkina Faso, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Uganda, and Tanzania, for a current total of $3,160,498 for microlending programs.

Vince Kasperick shares: "The Kasperick Foundation is honored to be the recipient of this year's Trailblazer Award. It is a privilege to be able to work with Whole Planet Foundation and contribute to the great work they are doing to alleviate global poverty through economic opportunity."

On behalf of our Whole Planet Foundation team and microcredit clients, we thank the Kasperick Foundation for supporting our mission in numerous meaningful ways over the years. They are an inspiration!

Learn more at wholeplanetfoundation.org.

Vince and Candace Kasperick, his sister Helen Finneran and Whole Planet Foundation in Kenya learning from the community.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whole Foods Market Foundations on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Whole Foods Market Foundations

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whole-foods-market-foundations

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Whole Foods Market Foundations

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812339/whole-planet-foundation-announces-the-kasperick-foundation-as-2023-trailblazer-honoree
BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust Plc - Total Voting Rights

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 01

BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (the "Company")

LEI: UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151

Voting Rights and Capital (Article 15 Transparency Directive, DTR 5.6)

In conformity with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1R, the Company would like to notify the market of the following:

As at 30 November 2023, BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc's capital consists of 29,448,641 Ordinary Shares of 10 cents each, carrying one vote each, excluding 2,181,662 ordinary shares held in treasury.

As at 30 November 2023, the total number of voting rights for Ordinary shareholders in BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc is 29,448,641.

Shareholders should use 29,448,641 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.

All enquiries:

Graham Venables

BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, Company Secretary

Tel: 0203 649 3432

1 December 2023
HBM Healthcare Investments AG / Key word(s): Monthly Figures

Key Figures 30.11.2023



01.12.2023 / 18:18 CET/CEST



in CHF Performance in % 30.11.2023 MTD FYTD CYTD NAV 226.62 0.0 -8.1 -7.7 Share Price 175.00 10.5 -14.7 -9.2 Total Net Assets (in million) 1'569 HBM Healthcare Investments AG Bundesplatz 1 CH-6300 Zug - Switzerland Tel. +41 41 710 75 77 Fax +41 41 710 75 78 E-Mail: hbm@hbmhealthcare.com Web: www.hbmhealthcare.com Wenn Sie keine Mitteilungen von HBM Healthcare Investments mehr wunschen, konnen Sie diese hier a bbestellen . Should you wish to unsubscribe from all HBM Healthcare Investments news, please unsubscribe here. Disclaimer: This message may contain confidential or privileged Information and is intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or information herein. If you have received this message by error, please advise the sender immediately and delete this message. The publication is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities. Statements regarding the past performance may not be understood as indication for the current or future performance. The value of investments and the income therefrom may fluctuate. A good past performance may possibly not be repeated in the future. It is possible that the investor will not be paid back the full amount invested. Performance data does not take into account any commissions and costs charged when units of the Fund are issued and redeemed. An investment entails risks, which are fully described in the individual offering documents. Some information quoted was obtained from external sources HBM considers to be reliable. HBM cannot guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of or be held responsible or liable for errors of fact regarding such data and information obtained from third parties, and this data may change with market conditions. 06/2023 If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link .



End of Media Release


Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 01

For immediate release

1 December 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 108,521 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 824.74 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 25,217,186; 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 199,774,117.

The figure of 199,774,117 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
'Chubby the Bear's Big Choice,' by Author Daryl R. McCullough and Illustrated by Maryanne Smith, Sets Its Story Among the Enchanting California Redwoods, Where a Young Bear Fends Off Bullies and Self-Doubt and Regains Self-Esteem and Acceptance

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Author Daryl R. McCullough's second book, "Chubby the Bear's Big Choice," is set in a California redwood forest and tells the story of a sensitive, young bear struggling with bullies and self-esteem issues. This tender new book offers children, parents, and others of all ages an engaging story with several timely lessons on bullying, body image, weight-shaming, and self-esteem to be shared and discussed. Parents and children's therapists have already heralded the book as an essential tool on the subject matter. Order now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target or Archway Publishing.

'Chubby the Bear's Big Choice'

Author Daryl R. McCullough's second book, 'Chubby the Bear's Big Choice,' is set in a California redwood forest and tells the story of a sensitive, young bear struggling with bullies and his self-esteem issues.

Chubby is a fitting follow-up to McCullough's award-winning first book "The Story of Tree and Cloud" - 1st Place, Pen Craft Awards; Finalist/5-Stars, "Reader's Choice Book Awards"; 1st Place, "Firebird Awards"; and 3rd Place, "Best Children's Book" and "Best Illustrated & Picture Book," Spring 2022, Outstanding Creator Awards. "Tree and Cloud" is a story about loss and managing grief, also set among California's natural beauty, starring a California live oak tree named Folie and her new friend Puddle. "Chubby the Bear's Big Choice" is similarly illustrated - not as a cartoon, but in a pure and naturalist style - by McCullough's 80-year-old aunt Maryanne Smith, an acclaimed nature artist from Pennsylvania.

"I grew up a chubby child who was bullied and weight-shamed by my peers and even by teachers and staff in grade school," McCullough said. "I hope that by sharing this story, any child who might be dealing with these issues and feelings can find the strength to talk about it with their parents and learn self-care.

"Of course, I also hope the story might thwart a bully or two, providing a teachable moment for them that our individuality is powerful, and compassion is paramount in any friendship," McCullough said.

The story follows its hero, Chubby, a sensitive young bear cub with a rare talent for befriending honeybees and perhaps enjoying too much of their honey. Bullied by other bear cubs in the forest, Chubby finds solace by retreating up in the air, high in the branches of the redwood trees. One day, Chubby's mood gets lifted by his forest friends - a sweet raccoon and a wise beaver - and Chubby embarks on a journey to reclaim his self-esteem, choosing to teach the other cubs a lesson along the way. Ultimately, Chubby takes the high road and shows others he is emotionally mature enough to stand up for himself while showcasing his strengths in a thrilling culmination of the tale, which ends happily for all.

Available now, the book invites readers of all ages to embark on a powerful journey of self-discovery and empathy and helps foster essential conversations and empower the next generation.

"This magical story touched my heart and reminded me how, as a mother of two fabulous daughters, I always had my eye on bullying, particularly when it came to body shaming. Bullies teach us all how not to behave! Conversely, I taught my girls that staying connected with their bodies and loving and sharing their unique gifts with others were some of the healthiest ways to care for themselves and live fulfilled lives. Life is indeed a gift, so like Chubby, let's all choose love, acceptance, and kindness!" - Melora Hardin, Emmy-nominated star ("The Office," "Transparent," "Dancing with the Stars," "Monk")

"Chubby the Bear's Big Choice" by Daryl McCullough

ISBN: 9781665749640 (Softcover); 9781665749664 (Hardcover); 9781665749657 (Ebook)

About the Author

Daryl McCullough is a professional writer and marketing communications executive who loves creative expression. He lives and works in the Los Angeles area with his husband George Griffin; together, they have a marketing communications and social media business, McGriffin Media. He is formerly CEO and now Chair Emeritus of Citizen Relations, a global brand marketing firm. The family adores their dog, Ferdinand, named after another delightful book.

About the Illustrator

Maryanne Smith is a talented 80-year-old artist. She has designed and painted many high-end wallpaper designs for the premier York Wallcoverings. She has sold many works of art drawn from nature, and "Chubby the Bear's Big Choice" is her follow-up to "The Story of Tree and Cloud." She is from York County, Pennsylvania. Prints of images from each book are available for purchase.

Contact Information

Melissa Penn

melissa@mielpr.com

323-605-3361

SOURCE: Daryl R. McCullough

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812084/new-childrens-picture-book-addresses-bullying-body-image-weight-shaming-and-self-esteem-opening-opportunities-for-important-conversations-between-kids-and-adults
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb+" (Good) of Seguros e Inversiones, S.A.(SISA) (El Salvador). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect SISA's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings also reflect SISA's strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), supported by consistent profitability, a diversified business profile and its market-leading position, as well as its appropriate reinsurance program. The company's affiliation with Inversiones Financieras Grupo Imperia Cuscatlan S.A. (IFGIC) provides synergy and operating efficiencies. Offsetting these positive rating factors is El Salvador's current macroeconomic conditions, which may temper SISA's asset allocation strategy within non-investment grade fixed income.

SISA initiated operations in 1962. At year-end 2022, the company was El Salvador's market leader with 27% of gross premiums written covering domestic exposures. Life insurance products comprise 61% of SISA's business portfolio, with the balance being property/casualty products (28%) and health (11%). Historically, SISA's distribution channels have been positioned mainly with brokers, pension funds, bancassurance and the government. In 2020-21, IFGIC led the acquisition of Seguros SISA SV, S.A. (Seguros SISA SV) in order to support SISA's growing domestic and regional expansion.

SISA's risk-adjusted capitalization is supportive of its ratings, and its capital base was further strengthened further by the Seguros SISA SV acquisition. Additionally, SISA's balance sheet strength assessment is supported by a comprehensive reinsurance program placed with reinsurers that have excellent security. AM Best's opinion on the company's very strong balance sheet strength assessment remains pressured by the country's macro fundamentals, given the company's exposure to non-investment grade securities, which could ease as El Salvador sustains signs of improvements within the short to mid-term.

The company reported a combined ratio above 100% for 2021, driven by the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic claims on its life business book, as well as increased frequency on its auto business resulting from economy improving. However, SISA historically has shown disciplined underwriting, consistently reporting overall premium sufficiency levels that compare positively with its competitors, as reflected in an improved combined ratio of 96.4%, as of year-end 2022.

Key factors that could lead to positive rating actions for SISA include enhancements to the company's very strong balance sheet strength assessment resulting from sustained improvements in El Salvador's macroeconomic conditions. Conversely, a sharp deterioration in operating performance and further pressure on the company's balance sheet strength driven by El Salvador's macroeconomic conditions could lead to negative rating actions.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings Assessments

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com

Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201636805/en/

Contacts:

Salvador Smith

Senior Financial Analyst

+52 55 9085 7506

salvador.smith@ambest.com



Alfonso Novelo

Senior Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107

alfonso.novelo@ambest.com



Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com



Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terra Balcanica Resources Corp. ("Terra" or the "Company") (CSE:TERA) announces the intent to complete a non-brokered, private placement ("Private Placement") for gross proceeds of up to $150,000 through the issuance of up to 3,750,000 common shares ("Common Shares") at a purchase price of $0.04 per share.

The Common Shares will be offered by way of prospectus exemptions in Canada and the Common Shares sold in the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day. The Closing Date is expected to occur on or about December 11th, 2023, subject to regulatory approvals, including the approval by the CSE and certain other customary conditions including, but not limited to, execution of subscription agreements between the Company and the subscribers. The Private Placement will be utilized for opportunities in the critical battery metal exploration space in the Western Balkans.

About the Company

Terra Balcanica is a polymetallic exploration company targeting large-scale mineral systems in the Balkans of southeastern Europe. The Company has 90% interest in the Viogor-Zanik Project in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, 100% of the Kaludra and Ceovishte mineral exploration licences in Serbia. The Company emphasizes responsible engagement with local communities and stakeholders. It is committed to proactively implementing Good International Industry Practice (GIIP) and sustainable health, safety and environmental management.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terra Balcanica Resources Corp.

Aleksandar (Alex) Miskovic

President and CEO

For further information, please contact amiskovic@terrabresources.com, or visit our website at www.terrabresources.com.

Cautionary Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of any of the words "will", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - As requested by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission, First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTC: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") has filed an: (a) amended and restated management's discussion and analysis (the "A&R MD&As") related to its annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended February 28, 2023 and February 28, 2022, and the interim period ended May 31, 2023, (b) amended and restated annual information form for the year ended February 28, 2023 (the "A&R AIF"), and (c) amended and restated Form 51-102F6V Statement of Executive Compensation for the year ended February 28, 2023 (the "A&R Form 51-102F6V" and together, the "A&R Annual Filings"). The A&R Annual Filings have been filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ under the applicable "amended" document type.

In the A&R MD&As, the Company has made certain corrective disclosures in respect of the Company's business, operations, projects, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company, related party transactions, capital expenditure commitments and known trends or expected fluctuations in the Issuer's financial resources and sources of financing that have been arranged but not yet used, breakdown of material expenses, including consulting fees and share based compensation, objectives and milestones as required under Form 51-102F1 Management's Discussion and Analysis.

The A&R AIF has been amended to reflect the Company's September 11, 2023 technical report with respect to its material property, the Lac a L'Orignal project.

Finally, the A&R Form 51-102F6V was amended to correct share based compensation made to certain directors and officers that was previously omitted in the management information circular dated July 25, 2023.

The Company will be placed on the public list of Refiling and Errors in accordance with OSC Staff Notice 51-711 (Revised) Refilings and Corrections of Errors for a period of three years from the date of the refiling.

About First Phosphate Corp.

First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the LFP battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in responsible manner and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements.

For additional information, please contact:

Jerome Cliche, VP, Business Development

jerome@firstphosphate.com

Tel: +1 (514) 815-8799

Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com

Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com

Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com

Follow First Phosphate:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189578
Ursa Major, a Berthoud, Colorado-based rocket propulsion company, raised $138M in Series D and D-1 funding.

The investments were led by Explorer 1 Fund and Eclipse, and included RTX Ventures, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Exor Ventures, Mack & Co., LLC, XN, and other institutional shareholders.

The company intends to use the funds to develop Lynx, its new solid rocket motor (SRM) program, while scaling production capacity and advancing multiple propulsion programs.

Led by CEO and founder Joe Laurienti, Ursa Major is an independent rocket propulsion provider and a player in building the defense industrial base in the United States. It 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 propulsion systems are manufactured using 3D printing for scalable production, which save customers an average of five years and $50m compared to building propulsion in-house.

FinSMEs

30/11/2023
COP28, the annual climate conference is on  it will run until 12 December  and it kicked off on a very auspicious note on Thursday (30 November). A whopping 196 parties adopted the decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage fund, which has been 30 years in the making.

The initial funding is estimated to be $475 million  host UAE pledged $100 million, the European Union promised $275 million, $17.5 million from the US, and $10 million from Japan.

Notably, the fund was first agreed upon during COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, but only became operational on Thursday, almost a year later.

Shortly after the announcement was made, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav termed it as a landmark decision that India strongly supported. 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.

Joe Thwaites, senior advocate for International Climate Finance at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) called it a historic achievement. The Loss and Damage Fund will provide urgent assistance to vulnerable communities living on the frontlines of the climate crisis they did little to cause. All wealthy and high emitting countries now have a responsibility to step up and contribute to the fund, he said.

Here is a look at the development of the idea of loss and damage, and what we know about the fund.

History of the loss and damage fund

Before diving into the history of the loss and damage fund, lets understand what this means. Loss and damage refers to the irreversible cost of extreme weather and slow-onset disasters such as sea level rise, ocean acidification and melting glaciers caused by global heating. The idea is to hold the biggest fossil fuel polluters liable for the pain and suffering already caused by climate breakdown. Climate finance for loss and damage is considered separately, and in addition to, securing funds for mitigation and adaptation to help developing nations prepare for what is coming.

It refers to the costs, both economic and physical, that developing countries are facing from climate change impacts.

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 UN 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.

Finally, at last years climate talks in Egypt, a commitment was made to establish this fund  which many dubbed as the most important outcome of the meet.

Since then, a series of meetings had taken place to try to secure international agreement about how the fund would work, who would commit to it, and who would be eligible to receive funds.

According to research, 55 vulnerable countries have already suffered a total loss worth $525 billion in the past 20 years. Moreover, this number will climb to $580 by 2030. This clearly underlines the importance of such a fund.

The funding

Initially, the loss and damage fund will be hosted by the World Bank, despite the initial resistance to it. The money will come in from rich nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, as well as some developing countries. However, it is still unknown as to how large will be the fund or who shall replenish it in the coming years.

Right after it was agreed upon on the first day of COP28, several countries pledged money to the fund. The COP28 host country, the United Arab Emirates, pledged $100 million, as did Germany. The United Kingdom has pledged $75 million, while the US committed $17.5 million to the fund and Japan contributed $10 million.

The US has been criticised for its $17.5 million-contribution, with some experts and advocacy groups saying it was embarrassing and striking for how small it is compared to the pledges of other nations.

Ani Dasgupta, president & CEO of World Resources Institute, told CNN: Given the size of its economy, there is simply no excuse for its contributions to be far eclipsed by others.

Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, also questioned the US contribution, calling it far too small. The initial funding pledges are clearly inadequate and will be a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the need they are to address, Adow said in a statement. In particular, the amount announced by the US is embarrassing for President Biden and (US climate envoy) John Kerry. It just shows how this must be just the start, he told CNN.

Recipients of the fund

Now, that we have understood who shall provide the money for the loss and damage fund, lets look at who shall gain from it.

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.

Concerns around the loss and damage fund

Apart from the size of the fund, there are other concerns surrounding it. There is concern about the World Banks role in overseeing the fund. Developing countries had earlier expressed opposition to this idea, questioning the World Banks environmental credentials and the transparency of its operations.

Analysts also note that while initial funding seem generous, it is a long way from covering the full range of climate change effects.

Lastly, countries have made pledges, which may not actually translate to countries putting their hands in their pocket. The Green Climate Fund announced in 2009  designed to help developing states with their transition away from fossil fuels and to help with adaptation initiatives  included a commitment for developed states to provide $100 billion per year by 2020. They fell well short of this goal.

As Ambassador Paolelei Luteru, Alliance of Small Island States Chair was quoted as telling New Indian Express: 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.

With inputs from AP and agencies
Modi, Modi, Modi and Ab ki Baar, 400 Paar chants resonated loud and clear in Dubai as Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the city to attend the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Conference of the Parties on climate, known as COP28.

PM Modis visit to Dubai, which will be 21-hours-long, comes at the invitation of President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In fact, even before he departed for his visit, where he will address the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit, the PM said that 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.

After arriving in Dubai, Modi further wrote on social media platform X: Landed in Dubai to take part in the COP-28 Summit. Looking forward to the proceedings of the Summit, which are aimed at creating a better planet.

The World Climate Action Summit will be attended by several world leaders  such as Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, UKs Rishi Sunak, King Charles II. The leaders will discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively combat climate change.

As we await his address at the World Climate Action Summit, lets take a closer look at whats his agenda in Dubai.

PM Modi's agenda at COP28

The PM has a packed schedule in Dubai. He is not only addressing the World Climate Action Summit, but will also be participating in three high-level side events, of which two are being co-hosted by India.

It is expected that PM Modi will make a stronger pitch for the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), which was launched in September at the G20 Summit in New Delhi. While it has attracted the participation of 22 countries, the alliance is yet to secure backing from OPEC+ countries, particularly from Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The world is waking up to the potential of biofuels and Indias efforts to champion the GBA will give further impetus to this movement.

In all probability, PM Modi will also push for climate finance at the summit. Earlier, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman had said that India will certainly be pushing forward to showcase what it has achieved with its own funds, and the need for more money.

PM Modi will also launch the Green Credit Initiative with the UAE at the COP28. This initiative is based on the Green Credit Program, which was notified by the Ministry of Environment in October. It is a market-based mechanism to incentivise voluntary environmental actions by various stakeholders such as individuals, communities, private-sector industries, and companies. The aim of this initiative is to motivate stakeholders across the board to play a role in environmental conservation and adopt sustainable practices.

But how will this work? Individuals or companies must enlist their eco-friendly endeavours on a government website. These activities will be scrutinised by an agency and based on their results, the firm will receive a Green Credit certificate, and Green Credits, which could then be exchanged in the market.

Additionally, PM Modi will also launch another initiative called LeadIT 2.0 at an event co-hosted by India and Sweden.

It is essentially a leadership group for energy transition. This was a joint initiative launched by India and Sweden in 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. This initiative fosters collaboration among the decision-makers bringing together both the public sector and the private sector with the objective of accelerating the industry transition to net zero emissions.

Also read: COP28: Why India's role is pivotal in climate justice and finance

The prime minister will also be participating in another high-level event which is titled Transforming Climate Finance. This will be hosted by the presidency of COP28, the UAE.

Besides the climate-related events, 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.

Protecting Indias interests at COP

However, it will be interesting to see how PM Modi is able to balance the countrys climate commitments vis-a-vis its own growth models. New Delhi has in the recent past come under pressure to make a commitment on reducing its coal consumption, but officials have asserted that Indias per capita emission is far below the world average and will remain so.

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, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, responding to the question of how India would tackle proposals from the US and France to halt private financing in coal-fired power projects.

PM Modi will also remain firm on Indias stand when it comes to methane production. Despite rich nations asking for a reduction, India has remained firm on the matter to protect the farmers and livestock.

India and climate commitments

India has embraced climate as an issue it can lead on. In fact, in 2021, at the UN Climate Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made one of the most ambitious pledges to date of any major emitter, vowing to make India net zero by 2070.

This was one of five commitments from the country, including a vow for the nation to get 50 per cent of its energy from renewable resources by 2030 and also reduce total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes in the same time period.

India has also given the world Mission LiFE  Lifestyle for Environment, which got traction from word leaders at the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Mission LiFE aims to adopt a three-pronged strategy for changing peoples approach towards sustainability and the effects of climate change. This includes encouraging citizens to introduce simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their lifestyle (demand), nudging industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply), and to influence governments policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy).

COP28 is being held at a very crucial time; the world for the first time witnessed a two degrees rise in temperature from the pre-industrial level (1850-1900).

With inputs from agencies
India and America are staring at a major diplomatic situation after the US Justice Department alleged an Indian government officials role in the unsuccessful plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.

The explosive allegations could impact India and US ties even though both sides have put out measured responses so far. Indias reaction has been markedly different, as Bloomberg noted, this time than three months ago when Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau linked the Indian government agencies to the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

What are the allegations by the US? What have India and the US said? Will this strain ties between the two countries? We explain.

What has the US alleged?

According to the indictment unsealed on Wednesday (29 November), prosecutors in Manhattan federal court accused an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta, 52, of trying to orchestrate the murder of Pannun in June, on the instructions by an Indian official, who has been identified only as CC-1, the chief conspirator, reported Bloomberg.

The prosecutors alleged that the Indian official, whose responsibilities included security and intelligence, hired Gupta in May to plot the assassination, as per Reuters.

The US Justice Departments indictment refers to this Indian official as earlier serving in the Central Reserve Police Force and receiving officer training in battle craft and weapons, noted Indian Express.

Citing the indictment, The Washington Post reported, 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 (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent

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.

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June and is awaiting extradition.

Before the indictment

An Indian official in the know of the matter told Reuters that the US started raising concerns with the Indian government in April.

According to the official, the issue also came up when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi for the 2+2 dialogue on 10 November.

A report in The Washington Post earlier this week revealed that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director William Burns had met with their Indian counterparts to demand accountability after Nijjars killing in June in a Vancouver suburb.

Reactions to the indictment

In response to the US allegations, India said it had formed a high-level inquiry committee on 18 November to investigate all the relevant aspects of the matter. This came days after New Delhi said it is probing the inputs furnished by the US on the alleged plot to kill Pannun.

According to Indian Express, this committee possibly comprises Indian officials from intelligence, investigative and law-enforcement agencies, along with a nominee from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a media briefing on Thursday (30 November) called the US allegations a matter of concern.

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, he said, as per ANI.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, 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 nexus between pic.twitter.com/k445jwS78Y  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, said on Thursday that the US takes this very seriously, referring to the indictment.

He said, however, this would not affect the relations between India and the US. India remains a strategic partner, and we are going to continue to work to improve and strengthen that strategic partnership with India, ANI quoted him as saying.

At the same time, we take this very seriously. These allegations and this investigation, we take very seriously, he added.

Secretary of state Blinken made similar comments in Tel Aviv, saying that the US government takes the issue very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian government in past weeks, he said, adding US president Joe Biden and his team look forward to seeing the results of Indias investigation, Bloomberg reported.

What does it mean for India-US ties?

Foreign policy experts do not believe the alleged murder plot will upend Indias ties with the US. The high-level meetings and expanding cooperation continued between the two countries despite the US reportedly unearthing the alleged murder plot in July.

However, it was not all business as usual. As per ThePrint report, two senior Research and Analysis Wing officers  the head of the RAW station in San Francisco and the second-in-command of its operations in London  were expelled earlier this summer. The Indian government was also not allowed to replace RAWs station chief in Washington, DC, after the its head retired in June.

Bidens foreign policy has been to bolster ties with the Indian government to counter Chinas growing ambitions in Asia. Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Centers South Asia Institute, told The Washington Post that the China factor will not let the relations between the US and India deteriorate.

In most cases, if Washington accuses a foreign government of staging an assassination on its soil, US 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.

Indias cooperative response to the US allegations is also in sharp contrast to its reaction to PM Trudeaus charges in September, with Delhi dubbing them absurd and even calling Canada a safe haven for terrorists, extremists and organised crime.

India doesnt share a strategic partnership with Canada, which it does with the US Happymon Jacob, an Indian foreign policy expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told Reuters. Both the US and India realise that they need each other, perhaps the US a bit more than India.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Richard Rossow, chair in US-India policy studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, The two governments chose to proceed with meetings, and build up new areas of strategic cooperation, with this in the backdrop.

The potential ramifications to the relationship, now that this plot has come to light, depends on the level of American public interest and related pressure on the Biden administration.

The relationship is important for both the countries, with the US being Indias largest trading partner. To avoid a Pannun-sized problem in these ties, New Delhi will have to be transparent and take necessary actions to avoid any reputational cost, as per Indian Express.

According to Ashley Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, India and the US relations will survive this fiasco even though the issue of sovereignty involved in the alleged attempted attack on a US citizen on US soil would be troubling American officials. But it will reinforce the qualms of many who believe that the claims about shared values between the US and India are simply mythology, he told Reuters.

With inputs from agencies
Never has a fictional country caused so much trouble.

An official in Paraguay was sacked after signing a deal with Kailasa.

The United States of Kailasa was the brainchild of Nithyananda  the self-styled godman who fled India after a rape case was filed against him in Karnataka.

The fugitive in 2019 claimed to have established the USK after purchasing an island off the coast of Ecuador.

Its name was reportedly inspired from mount Kailash in Tibet.

Its website describes it as revival of an ancient enlightened Hindu civilisational nation being restored by displaced Hindus worldwide.

Nithyanandas whereabouts remain unknown.

Lets take a closer look at the controversies Kailasa has been embroiled in:

Paraguay official sacked

A Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with representatives of the fictional country.

Paraguay official resigns after signing agreement with fictional country Kailasa. https://t.co/B6TZCpm1aA  Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) December 1, 2023

Several other officials in South American nation also appear to have been fooled by the so-called representatives who presented Kailasa as a South American island.

Arnaldo Chamorro was replaced as chief of staff for Paraguays Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday shortly after it was revealed that he signed a proclamation with representatives of the United States of Kailasa.

The memorandum signed by the two parties had envisaged the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Among other things, the October 16 proclamation expressed a sincere wish and recommendation for the government of Paraguay to consider, explore and actively seek the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa and support the admission of the United States of Kailasa as a sovereign and independent state in various international organisations, including, among others, the United Nations, according to a copy of the agreement posted on social media.

In the document, complete with the ministrys letterhead and official seal, Chamorro salutes the honorable Nithyananda Paramashivam, sovereign of the United States of Kailasa and praises his contributions to Hinduism, humanity and the Republic of Paraguay.

Representatives of the fictional country met with Chamorro and Agriculture Minister Carlos Gimenez, M Chamorro said in a radio interview.

During the interview, Chamorro recognised he didnt know where Kailasa was located and said he signed what he characterised as a memorandum of understanding because they offered to help Paraguay with a variety of issues, including irrigation.

They (the officials) came and expressed a wish to help Paraguay. They presented several projects, we listened to them and that was that, he said, admitting to having been fooled.

Photos posted in Kailasas social media accounts also showed representatives of the fictional country signing agreements with local leaders of the Maria Antonia and Karpai municipalities. The social media account celebrated each of these signings.

The revelation sparked a scandal  and lots of social media mockery  in Paraguay.

The agriculture ministry in a statement lamented procedural errors committed and said the memorandum cannot be considered official nor confer any obligations on the state of Paraguay.

But this isnt even the first time self-described representatives of the United States of Kailasa duped international leaders.

Dupes city of Newark, scams 30 cities

In March, Newark City Hall in New Jersey acknowledged it had gotten scammed when it signed a sister-city agreement with Kailasa.

The sister-city agreement between Newark and the fake United States of Kailasa was inked on 12 January and the signing ceremony took place at City Hall in Newark.

That revelation came after it was revealed that over 30 American cities signed a cultural partnership with the fake nation of Kailasa  cities from Richmond, Virginia to Dayton, Ohio, to Buena Park, Florida.

Jacksonville, North Carolina told Fox News: Our proclamations with Kailasa are not an endorsement. They are a response to a request and we do not verify the information that is requested.

Fox News blamed the cities for not googling for information about the fake nation.

If someone wants a proclamation, someone gets a proclamation. Theyll just say youre an exotic Hindu Island and theyll name a street after you, the Fox News anchor said.

The report added that its not just mayors or city councils but people running the federal government who are falling for the fake nation too.

It added that according to the fake guru, two members of the Congress have given Kailasa special congressional recognition. One of them is Congresswoman Norma Torres of California, who is on the House Appropriations Committee.

So, the person who decides what we spend our tax dollars on just got duped by an alleged rapist guru with a fake country, the Fox News anchor said.

Republican Troy Balderson from Ohio also presented his divine holiness and pontiff of Hinduism congressional recognition.

Earlier this month, Press Secretary in the Department of Communications, City of Newark, Susan Garofalo had told PTI in an email that as soon as we learned about the circumstances surrounding Kailasa, the City of Newark immediately took action and rescinded the sister city agreement on 18 January.

Based on deception, the ceremony was groundless and voidAlthough this was a regrettable incident, the City of Newark remains committed to partnering with people from diverse cultures in order to enrich each other with connectivity, support, and mutual respect, Garofalo said.

Newark Councilman at Large Luis Quintana sponsored the motion to rescind the agreement.

He said during official proceedings that going forward any city entering into a sister city agreement must be in good standards of human rights.

We cannot bring Sister Cities International into an issue where there is controversy. This is an oversight, cannot happen any longer, he said, adding that Newark cannot put itself in a situation where there is a sister city that has no human rights.

He had said going forward, it must be ensured that while sister cities are encouraged, agreements cannot be entered into with governments that dont have human rights.

The Fox News report quoted a Newark resident to say that the sister-city agreement with a fake nation was an embarrassing episode for the city. I think thats embarrassing that he didnt do his background research before entertaining them.

At the UN

Earlier this year, so-called USK representatives even managed to participate in a United Nations committee meeting in Geneva.

The so-called representatives participated in two UN committee meetings in Geneva in February.

The first was a general discussion on Equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems organised by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 22 February.

The second was a general discussion on the General Comment on economic, social cultural rights and sustainable development on February 24, hosted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR).

The representatives, led by a woman named Vijayapriya Nithyananda  who claimed to be the Permanent Ambassador to the UN from the United States of Kailasa  demanded protection for the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism (SPH).

They claimed Nithyananda was being persecuted.

Nithyananda wrote on X:

USK at UN Geneva: Inputs on the Achievement of Sustainability Participation of the United States of KAILASA in a discussion on the General Comment on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Sustainable Development at the United Nations in Geneva The Economic, Social, and pic.twitter.com/pNoAkWOas8  KAILASAs SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam (@SriNithyananda) February 25, 2023

Vijyapriya at the time said, Kailasa is the first sovereign state for Hindus, established by the supreme pontiff of Hinduism, Nithyanand Paramashivam, who is reviving the enlightened Hindu civilisation and its 10,000 indigenous traditions of Hinduism, including the Adi Shaivite indigenous agricultural tribes for which the supreme pontiff of Hinduism is the leader as well.

IANS further quoted her as saying, Kailasa has been implementing the ancient Hindu policies and indigenous solutions that are in alignment with the time-tested Hindu principles for sustainable development.

Vijapriya also spoke about Nithayanandas intense persecution and human rights violation for reviving the indigenous traditions and lifestyle and lifestyle of Hinduism.

And he was even banned from preaching and exiled from his birth country, she said and also asked the panel what can be done to help him, according to IANS.

Responding to questions on the United States of Kailasas participation at the UN forums, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had said registration for such public events is open to NGOs and the general public.

Anyone can submit information to the treaty bodies, who will use their judgment to determine the credibility of the submissions received.

On the day of the CEDAW general discussion, USK members were prevented from distributing promotional material in front of and inside the conference room.

Their written submission to CEDAW will not be published by the committee as it is irrelevant to the topic of the general discussion, OHCHR had said.

At House of Lords Party

As per The Guardian, two conservative party MPs invited a representative of Nithyananda to a Diwali Party in the House of Lords.

The representative called Atmadaya was invited to the soiree by MP Bob Blackman and the peer Rami Ranger.

Nithyanandas group also took out a full-page advertisement in a brochure given to attendees.

The newspaper quoted Ranger as saying, I do not know Kailasa or this person.

If I had known I would never have attended an event where such unsavoury characters were being promoted.

The Hindu Forum of Britain, however, refused to back down.

Trupti Patel, the groups president, said: We do not discriminate; each entity has their own following. Social media/internet hype and unsubstantiated allegations against UK-registered charities cannot stop any two organisations working together.

Nithyananda has denied all charges against him.

With inputs from agencies
Dr Naresh Trehan, a world-renowned cardio surgeon, is Indias newest billionaire.

But who is Trehan? And how did the chairman and managing director of the Medanta chain of hospitals join the exclusive club?

Lets take a closer look:

Who is Trehan?

Trehan was born on 12 August, 1946.

His father was an ENT doctor and his mother was a gynaecologist.

His family moved to Delhis Connaught Place after Partition.

Trehan studied at Delhis Modern School.

In 1963, Trehan joined Hindu college after which he decided to pursue his MBBS at King Georges Medical College in Lucknow.

Trehan did his internship New Delhis Safdarjang Hospital.

As per Moneycontrol, Trehan then practiced at New York University Medical Center from 1971 to 1988.

He conducted his first surgery in 1976  on a 55-year-old man from New York City.

In 1988, Trehan returned to India.

Trehan and HP Nanda founded the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC).

Its aim was to have the best cardiac treatment in India, to arrange for better training of doctors and to pioneer new research projects with a special focus on Indian patients.

In 1991, Trehan was appointed as the personal surgeon to the President of India.

Trehan remained the executive director and chief cardiovascular surgeon of the EHIRC for two decades.

In 2005, the Fortis Healthcare Group bought EHIRC.

Trehan also served as senior consultant, cardiovascular surgery at, New Delhis Apollo Hospital,.

In 2007, Trehan began Medanta in Haryanas Gurgaon.

As per the Medanta website, Trehan has conducted over 48,000 open heart surgeries.

Trehan has received several prestigious awards in the course of his career including the Padma Shri (1991), Padma Bhushan (2001), Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award, and Dr BC Roy Award.

In 2012, Trehan was given the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for Medanta.

How he joined the billionaire club

As per Moneycontrol, Trehan, 77 became a billionaire after shares of Global Health  Medantas operator  rose massively in 2023.

Global Healths shares were listed at Rs 366 per unit on 16 November, 2022.

The stock on 30 November touched a record high at Rs 972.55 per share on 30 November, 2023.

Thats a 165 per cent jump.

Trehan owns a 33.06 per cent stake in Global Health  around 88.73 million shares.

That puts his net worth at Rs 8,402.30 crore  $1 billion.

As per The Times of India, Global Healths market cap has spiked to Rs 25,696 crore  a 104 per cent increase  over the past year.

In the last one year, the companys market capitalisation has increased by Rs 13,100 crore or 104% to Rs 25,696 crore, based on Thursdays close price of the stock.

Jeffries India in its latest note maintained its buy rating on Medanta.

We maintain our Buy rating on Medanta, driven by their high growth prospects, clinical excellence, and balanced play between Metros and Tier I. We increase our FY25/26E by 14%/14% on higher margin and occupancy for both mature and developing hospitals. We value Medantas EV at 25.5x Sep-25E EBITDA, said Jefferies India in its latest note.

With inputs from agencies
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a wanted man in India. Now the United States claims to have foiled a plot to assassinate the separatist leader and alleges Indias involvement. The US department of justice (DoJ) filed an indictment on Wednesday in the New York district court, accusing an Indian national identified as Nikhil Gupta and an unnamed Indian government employee of allegedly planning to kill Pannun.

The case was filed by 43-year-old federal prosecutor Damian Williams on behalf of the US government. Dubbed the face of the US justice deparment, he has worked on several high-profile cases.

Who is Damian Williams?

Damian Williams is an attorney for the Southern District of New York, making him Manhattans most powerful law enforcement officer for the US government. He is the first Black person to lead the Southern District since it was established in 1789.

Nominated by US president Joe Biden, he was confirmed by the Senate in October 2021. After taking office, Williams said rooting out corruption in our financial markets would be one of his top priorities, a familiar role for an office known as the main enforcer on Wall Street, according to a report in Reuters.

As the United States attorney, Williams supervises the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters in which the United States has an interest. He leads a staff of approximately 450 lawyers, special agents, paralegals and other support professionals, says the DoJ website. He also serves as chair of the Attorney Generals Advisory Committee (AGAC), a select group of attorneys who advise the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management.

Also read: How a man named Nikhil Gupta plotted to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

What are the cases handled by Williams?

Keeping with the legacy of the Southern District of New York, Williams has handled numerous high-profile cases in the last two years.

The case about Pannun will not be an easy one, as it poses a diplomatic challenge to India and the US. An Indian government employee directed a plot from India to murder a US-based leader of a Sikh separatist movement, the indictment reads.

Williams said, 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 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 Indian government has responded to the charges. New Delhi has announced a probe into the charges, a decision welcomed by the US. The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and thats good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said.

Until now, the most known case that Williams has fought was that against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Williams charges against Bankman-Fried came just one month after FTXs collapse, which former prosecutors say is very fast for a complex white-collar case.

Bankman-Frieds lawyers have accused prosecutors of rushing to bring the case. Williams office ultimately split off several counts it brought after his extradition from the Bahamas for a separate trial after a court in the Caribbean nation said Bankman-Fried could object to the charges.

Joshua Naftalis, who worked alongside Williams on fraud cases at the southern district, said the speed with which the charges were filed sent a quick, emphatic message to crypto markets. Hes not afraid to take a calculated risk if its for the good of the case, Naftalis, now a partner at law firm Pallas, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Williams said in a statement that Bankman-Frieds conviction delivered on that promise, and sends a warning to any fraudster who thinks they are untouchable to think again, and cut it out. And if they dont, I promise well have enough handcuffs for all of them, he added.

Also read: Nijjar vs Pannun: Why Indias response to Canada and US probes is so different

The attorney has brought several indictments against former executives in the rough-and-tumble cryptocurrency space, including Alex Mashinsky who founded the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency lender Celsius Network, reports Reuters.

Williams won a victory at trial this year against a former product manager at non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea for insider trading, after earlier securing an insider trading guilty plea from a former Coinbase Global employee. Prosecutors had described the cases as the first insider trading cases brought involving digital assets.

In the two years since assuming the offices top job, Williams has brought multiple major fraud and public corruption cases beyond the crypto space. In May 2022, the office secured a guilty plea from Allianzs US asset management unit. Allianz agreed to pay more than $6 billion as part of a fraud settlement.

Under his leadership, the Southern District of New York also successfully concluded its case against Ghislaine Maxwell, a former socialite and longtime associate of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reports The Indian Express. Maxwell was found guilty of grooming and sex trafficking girls for abuse by Epstein, resulting in a 20-year prison sentence. This was two months after Williams took charge.

In April this year, the attorney called an indictment targeting fentanyl trafficking the most significant of my tenure, citing the urgent public health crisis spurred by the synthetic opioid. But the crisis has continued. In September, Williams announced charges against four people allegedly distributing fentanyl out of a Bronx daycare centre, after a one-year-old boy died due to possible exposure, reports Reuters.

In September, his office charged New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez with bribery. Williams made the announcement, showing reporters photos of gold bars and stacks of cash found at the senators home. Menendez pleaded not guilty.

What was the early life of Williams?

Williams was born in Brooklyn to parents who immigrated to the US from Jamaica in the early 1970s. He spent most of his growing-up years in Atlanta after his family moved there when he was a baby. While his father studied medicine, his mother was a student of nursing.

The attorney is a graduate of Harvard University and Yale University. He holds a bachelors degree in economics from Harvard. He also secured a masters degree in international relations from the University of Cambridge.

Williams has had a brush with politics. He worked as a field organiser on John Kerrys presidential campaign in 2004. In 2004, he was hired by Terry McAuliffe, then chairman of the Democratic National Committee, as his body man  his driver, executive assistant and one of his closest aides, according to the report in The New York Times (NYT).

I threw so much at him, McAuliffe was quoted as saying in NYT. Never rattled, always smiling, solid as a rock.

With inputs from agencies
As South Korea faces growing uncertainty over its security, the question of acquiring nuclear weapons has again taken centre stage. Concerns about North Koreas nuclear capabilities, coupled with shifts in global dynamics, have sparked debates among the public.

Here are the key factors at play, including trust in the US alliance, potential economic consequences, and the looming threat from North Korea.

Fading trust in the US

To the steady rat-tat-tat of machine guns and exploding bursts of smoke, amphibious tanks slice across a lake not far from the big green mountains that stand along the worlds most heavily armed border.

Dozens of South Korean and US combat engineers build a pontoon bridge to ferry tanks and armoured vehicles across the water, all within easy range of North Korean artillery.

For seven decades, the allies have staged annual drills like this recent one to deter aggression from North Korea, whose 1950 surprise invasion of South Korea started a war that has technically yet to end.

The alliance with the United States has allowed South Korea to build a powerful democracy, its citizens confident that Washington would protect them if Pyongyang ever acted on its dream of unifying the Korean Peninsula under its own rule.

Until now.

With dozens of nukes in North Koreas burgeoning arsenal, repeated threats to launch them at its enemies, and a stream of tests of powerful missiles designed to pinpoint target a US city with a nuclear strike, a growing number of South Koreans are losing faith in Americas vow to back its longtime ally.

The fear is this: That a US president would hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend the South from a North Korean attack knowing that Pyongyang could kill millions of Americans with atomic retaliation.

Frequent polls show a strong majority of South Koreans  between 70 per cent and 80 per cent in some surveys  support their nation acquiring atomic weapons or urging Washington to bring back the tactical nuclear weapons it removed from the South in the early 1990s.

It reflects a surprising erosion of trust between nations that like to call their alliance an unshakable cornerstone of Americas military presence in the region.

I think one day they can abandon us and go their own way if that better serves their national interests, Kim Bang-rak, a 76-year-old security guard in Seoul, said of the United States. If North Korea bombs us, we should bomb them equally in retaliation, so it would be better for us to have nukes.

Underscoring those fears: Just hours before the US-South Korean tank drills began in Cheorwon, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw two ballistic missile test launches meant to simulate scorched earth nuclear strikes on South Korean command centres and airfields.

At the heart of South Korean unease is a broader debate over who gets to have nuclear weapons, a question that has anguished nations since two US nuclear bombs flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The sharp rise in support for South Korean nuclear weapons is not occurring in a vacuum. Nonproliferation experts say a vibrant global nuclear arms race shows little sign of slowing.

Nine countries  the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel  spent nearly $83 billion (Rs 69,13,48 crore) in 2022 on nuclear weapons, according to a recent report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Thats an increase of $2.5 billion (Rs 2,08,24 crore) from 2021, with the United States alone spending $43.7 billion (Rs 36,40,16 crore).

How South Korea deals with the nuclear question could have major implications for Asias future, potentially jeopardising the US-South Korean alliance and threatening a delicate nuclear balance that has so far kept an uneasy peace in a dangerous region.

US vows defending South Korea

Ironclad. Thats how the United States has long described its commitment to South Korea should a war begin. US officials are adamant that any attack on Seoul by North Koreas 1.2-million-member military would be met with an overwhelming response.

The United States, bound by treaty to defend Seoul and Tokyo, stations 28,500 troops in South Korea and another 56,000 in Japan. Tens of thousands of Americans live in greater Seoul, a sprawling area of 24 million people about an hours drive from the inter-Korean border.

The ironclad commitment is not just words; its a reality. Weve got thousands of troops right there, General Mark Milley, who was then the top US military officer, recently told reporters in Tokyo. An attack, said the now-retired Milley, would spell the end of North Korea.

Asked about the South Korean publics support for creating its own nuclear force, Milley said, The United States would prefer non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. We think theyre inherently dangerous, obviously. And we have extended our nuclear umbrella to both Japan and South Korea.

South Korean Defence Minister Shin Wonsik said recently that he and his US counterpart signed a document in which Washington agreed to mobilise its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend the South from a North Korean nuclear attack.

Many in Seoul, however, would prefer nuclear weapons of their own.

North Koreas only advantage over the Souths high-tech military is nuclear bombs, Kim Taeil, a recent university graduate, said in an interview.

So, if South Korea gets nuclear weapons, well secure an advantageous position where North Korea cant rival us.

South Koreas path to security

While the idea of South Korea pursuing its own nukes has been around for decades, it was rarely mentioned in public by senior government officials. That changed in January when conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol said that his nation could acquire our own nukes if the situation gets worse.

It would not take long, he said, while also raising the possibility of requesting that the United States reintroduce nuclear weapons into South Korea.

At an April summit in Washington, Yoon and President Joe Biden took steps to address such South Korean worries. The result was the Washington Declaration, in which Seoul pledged to remain in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a nonnuclear weapons state, and the United States said it would strengthen consultations on nuclear planning with its ally. It also said it would send more nuclear assets to the Korean Peninsula as a show of force.

Not long after the meeting, the USS Kentucky became the first nuclear-armed US submarine to visit South Korea since the 1980s.

Opponents of South Korea obtaining nuclear weapons said they hope the declaration will reassure a nervous public.

No one can tell 100 per cent for sure whether a US president would order nuclear strikes to defend Seoul if it meant the destruction of an American city, Wi Sung-lac, a former South Korean nuclear envoy, said in an interview at his Seoul office.

Thats why the greater consultations called for between the allies in the Washington Declaration are needed to manage the situation (so) we can tone down public anger and frustration, he said.

Part of the worry in Seoul can be traced to the presidency of Donald Trump  and to his possible re-election in 2024.

Trump, as president, repeatedly suggested that the alliance, far from ironclad, was transactional. Even as he sought closer ties with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump demanded South Korea pay billions more to keep American troops on its soil and questioned the need for US military exercises with South Korea, calling them very provocative and tremendously expensive.

No matter how strong of a security commitment President Biden makes now, if someone who espouses isolationism and an America-first policy becomes the next US president, Bidens current commitment can become a mere scrap of paper overnight, Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea, said in an interview.

Nuclear dilemma

South Korean support for nuclear bombs can also be linked to North Koreas extraordinary weapons advancements and to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

North Korea first tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the US mainland in 2017. While the North is still working to overcome technological hurdles with its ICBMs, the weapons have fundamentally changed the regions security calculus.

One of the poorest countries on Earth, North Korea may now have an arsenal of 60 nuclear weapons and has declared that it is deploying tactical missiles along the Korean border, implying its intent to arm them with lower-yield nuclear weapons.

While the Koreas have avoided major conflict since the end of the Korean War in 1953, deadly skirmishes and attacks in recent years have killed dozens.

If future violence escalates, some observers believe that North Korea, outmatched by US and South Korean firepower and fearing for the safety of its leadership, could resort to using a tactical nuclear bomb.

There is probably no conventional-only scenario in Korea anymore, according to Robert Kelly, a political science professor at Pusan National University in the South. North Korea would rapidly lose a conventional conflict. Pyongyang knows this, dramatically raising the likelihood it will use nuclear weapons first, at least tactically.

Russias war against Ukraine may also be showing South Koreans that even friendly nations may hesitate to fully help a country battling a nuclear-armed enemy. Kims visit earlier this year to Russia, where he met President Vladimir Putin and toured weapons facilities, has raised fears that North Korea could receive technology that would boost its nuclear program.

We absolutely need nuclear weapons. Basically, peace can be maintained only when we have equal power to (our enemys), Kim Joung-hyun, a 46-year-old office worker in Seoul, said. If you look at the Russian-Ukraine war, Ukraine cant handle the Russian invasion on its own, other than begging for weapons from other countries.

Balancing public support, economic risks, and regional stability

Opponents of a nuclear-armed South Korea point out that the strong public support for nukes likely doesnt calculate the high costs, nor the damage to ties with ally Washington and to crucial trade with neighbour China. Seoul going nuclear could lead to sanctions targeting South Koreas export-dependent economy.

Theres also concern it could encourage sometimes-rival Tokyo to consider developing its own atomic weapons program.

Some are pushing for a less drastic solution to South Koreas unique security worries.

We dont have other options except inviting American tactical nukes to the Korean Peninsula, Cheon Seong-whun, a former presidential adviser to a past conservative government, said in an interview. This, he said, would allow South Korea to use those weapons if North Korea uses its tactical nukes, but wouldnt harm the alliance with Washington.

John Bolton, Trumps national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, has written that redeploying US tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea would also buy valuable time for Seoul and Washington to evaluate fully the implications of South Korea becoming a nuclear-weapons state.

The Washington Declaration and follow-up high-level meetings between the allies have reassured many in Seoul, according to Richard Lawless, a former senior US State Department and Central Intelligence Agency official dealing with nuclear proliferation in Asia.

The (South Korean) nuclear option genie is not yet back in the bottle, but it is being successfully contained, he told The Associated Press via email.

Still, Lawless said, there remains the deeply felt conviction among some senior politicians and among many in the populace that the only real way to deter nuclear-armed North Korea is for South Korea to have its own nuclear weapons capability. That concern is now mostly below the waves, but it remains and would be awakened with some passion.

However, the debate ends up, many in Seoul, on all sides of the issue, share another strong conviction.

Theres a 100 per cent certainty that the North Korean threat will grow, said Cheon, the former presidential adviser. North Korea will definitely not stay silent.

With inputs from AP
Two sisters in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi district were discovered living with the corpse of their mother, who died around a year ago, at their residence in the citys Madarwa area.

According to the police, the woman had died in December 2022, but her daughters did not perform her last rites and kept the body locked in a room.

Police officers reached the spot after getting information about the incident and initiated a probe.

Shivakant Mishra, Lanka Station House Officer (SHO), said Usha Tripathi, 52, died after a prolonged illness.

Her 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 after their mothers death and kept it locked in the room, he said.

Both of them had not been leaving the house for the last one week and its door remained closed, raising suspicion among the neighbours who knocked the door but when it did not open, they informed the police.

When the door of the house did not open, police broke open it and entered inside the room only to find the corpse lying there.

Both the daughters were also found sitting in the same room.

The police have taken both the daughters into custody and the incident is being investigated.

With inputs from PTI
Chinese hospitals are struggling. Personnel at medical facilities across the country are stressed as they keep pace with the high number of patients, especially children, suffering from bacterial pneumonia.

And it seems that this strain of bacterial pneumonia now dubbed White Lung Syndrome is also rearing its ugly head in the United States. Doctors in parts of Massachusetts and Ohio are reporting a spike in child pneumonia cases similar to the outbreak spreading in China.

We take a closer look at the cases in the US, and examine if it has a link to China. Moreover, we also see how this strain is also being detected in other countries and if theres a larger risk.

White Lung Syndrome outbreak in US

Warren County, in Ohio, has recorded a spike in hospitalisations with children reporting to have the mysterious pneumonia, which has been dubbed as the white lung syndrome, since August.

According to health officials in Warren County, there have been 142 paediatric cases of the condition. The officials said on Wednesday, Not only is this above the county average, it also meets the Ohio Department of Health definition of an outbreak.

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.

The average age of the affected children is eight, with the youngest being three-years-old. Health officials have noted that the most common symptoms associated with the outbreak of white lung syndrome are a cough, fever and fatigue.

Officials have noted that 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.

Some medical experts opine that childrens immunity has been weakened by lockdowns, mask-wearing and school closures during the pandemic  leaving them more vulnerable to seasonal illnesses.

Dr Scott Roberts, an infectious diseases expert at Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut, was one of those who believed that the cases were linked to 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.

Reacting to the situation, Warren County Health District said in a statement, 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.

When questioned about the outbreak, a source at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was quoted as saying that nationally, nothing is out of the ordinary.

Nothing is flagging out of the ordinary, but we are continuing to monitor, he said.

Dr Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland told DailyMail, I would caution against extrapolating one Ohio county to a country of 330 million people.

White lung syndrome outbreak across the world

Prior to the US, the Netherlands and Denmark also said they were recording mysterious spikes in pneumonia cases, many of which are being attributed in part to mycoplasma.

According to the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), 80 out of every 100,000 children between age 5 and 15 were treated for pneumonia last week. Similarly, cases among those in the age group between ages 4 and under were also on the rise, jumping from 124 to 145 per 100,000.

Danish health chiefs have also noted that pneumonia cases have reached epidemic levels. Denmarks Statens Serum Institut (SSI) revealed rates have tripled over the past five weeks and warned more kids will be struck down this winter.

Also read: China pneumonia outbreak: Could it spread to India?

Sweden, Switzerland and Singapore have also recorded more than 100 cases each from April through September, according to a study published last week in The Lancet Microbe.

Chinas neighbouring countries like Taiwan, Nepal and India have also sounded an alert over the pneumonia cases, with authorities stepping up vigilance.

White Lung Syndrome cases and China

Over the past fortnight, hospitals Beijing and other megacities in China are overflowing with children suffering pneumonia or similar severe ailments. Earlier called walking pneumonia because it wasnt serious enough to land you in hospital, parents have been rushing their little ones to medical facilities with this ailment.

Also read: In Graphics | Whats causing the pneumonia outbreak in China?

Doctors have noted that microbe causing the surge in hospitalisation of children is Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which causes M pneumoniae pneumonia, or MPP. Discovered in 1938, the microbe was believed for decades to be a virus because of its lack of a cell membrane and tiny size, although in fact it is an atypical bacterium. These unusual characteristics makes it invulnerable to most antibiotics (which typically work by destroying the cell membrane).

The surge in cases also prompted a reaction from the Chinese authorities. The Chinese health ministry spokesperson Mi Feng was quoted as saying that efforts were underway to bolster healthcare provisions. Additionally, the recommendation to wear masks and maintain social distancing was also made.

Commenting on the same, Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said the rise in respiratory illness was in line with what most countries dealt with a year or two ago.

With inputs from agencies
Russian president Vladimir Putin wants women in his country to have eight or more children. His remarks come in the backdrop of Russias bloody war with Ukraine that has resulted in lakhs of casualties and the countrys steadily declining birth rate.

While Moscow has not confirmed the figures, Kyiv claims Russia has lost 300,000 lives since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine last February.

What has Vladimir Putin said? What has Russia done to tackle its falling birth rate? Lets take a closer look.

Putin calls for making large families

The Russian president said large families should be the norm in the country. Addressing the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow virtually on Tuesday (28 November), Putin said increasing the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades, according to The Independent report.

Many of our peoples maintain the tradition of the family, where four, five or more children are raised. Recall that in Russian families our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had both seven and eight 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, he reportedly said.

Putin said that boosting the population was Russias goal for the coming decades and even generations ahead. This is the future of the Russian world, the millennium-old, eternal Russia, NDTV quoted him as saying.

Impact of Russias war

Although the Russian presidents speech did not directly refer to the loss in population due to casualties in the Ukraine war, his statements are being linked to the conflict.

The UKs Ministry of Defence said in November that more than 300,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war. Fatalities have also included many high-ranking Russian officials. As per a Newsweek report, Russia has lost at least seven generals in the Ukraine war.

People have also left the country to escape the conflict. Citing independent policy group Re:Russia, The Independent reported that approximately 820,000-920,000 people have fled Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year.

Russias population crisis

Russia has been witnessing a fall in the birth rate since the 1990s. Its population peaked in 1992 at 149 million (14.9 crores) and is currently down to about 144.4 million, reported Al Jazeera.

Russia is recording 1.5 births per woman, which is lower than the rate of 2.1 required to maintain the population.

As per The Independent, experts say stringent abortion rules and the worsening economy are behind the declining birth rate in Russia.

Addressing the issue of low fertility has been a key agenda since Putin came to power. His government has taken several measures, including offering financial incentives to families with more than one child. The Kremlin relaunched the Soviet-era Mother Heroine award for women with 10 or more children, granting a lump sum cash prize of $16,500 (over Rs 13 lakh).

However, these steps have failed to tackle the population crisis.

Russia, which Putin describes as a country of traditional family values, has cracked down on reproductive rights in recent months. There has been a rise in anti-abortion steps at a wider scale.

In the central Nizhny Novgorod region, lawmakers said recently they will submit a draft amendment to the Russian Parliament to ban abortions at private clinics, reported The Moscow Times. This comes after authorities in several areas across Russia and even in occupied Crimea claimed that private clinics had voluntarily agreed to stop facilitating abortions.

In October, laws restricting access to abortion drugs were passed.

As per Al Jazeera, two Russian regions, Mordovia and Tver, passed legislations in August and November to punish anyone who would coerce women into getting abortions.

The Russian Orthodox church is also reportedly pushing for limiting the period for legal abortion to eight weeks or 12 weeks in cases of rape.

These attempts to ban abortion have been happening for the last five years, but no one paid much attention, Zalina Marshenkulova, an activist and prominent Russian feminist blogger, told Al Jazeera. Womens voices arent generally heard in a patriarchal state. Womens problems arent considered important problems.

Observers say Russias war with Ukraine has once again put the spotlight on the countrys demographic concerns. But it is not only Russia that is facing a declining population problem.

The birth rate in Ukraine decreased by 28 per cent since the start of the war, with 38,324 fewer babies born in the country in the first six months of 2023 as compared to 2021, The Guardian reported citing data analytics company OpenDataBot. This is the largest drop since Ukraines independence in 1991.

With inputs from agencies
On a Friday morning, there was massive chaos at the premises of at least 15 schools in Karnatakas Bengaluru. More than 5,000 students and staff were hurriedly evacuated when the administrative staff received a bomb threat via email.

There was panic among students, parents and school authorities who immediately informed the police. At the time of filing this report, anti-sabotage and bomb squads of Bengaluru police were conducting checks in these schools.

Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda said, many anti-sabotage teams were scanning the school premises and they found no suspicious objects.

As of now, it looks like a hoax-message. We will complete the search operation soon. However, we request parents not to panic, the senior cop said.

Looking into all aspects: Karnataka govt

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said, At present, we have received information about 15 schools where threatening e-mails have been received, last year also such threats were received. We cannot take any risk, we are inspecting the schools and are taking all precautionary measures in schools. We will take strict action against those who are making threatening calls. We are looking into all aspects.

VIDEO | Over 10 schools in Bengaluru receive bomb threats via email. Police conducting a probe into an apparent case of a hoax call. pic.twitter.com/boSsyKG9kj  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 1, 2023

Email sent from different addresses

A report by The Indian Express quoted sources in Bengaluru Police saying the emails received on Friday were sent from various addresses with masking of the IP address of origin of the emails.

Bengaluru schools on alert after bomb threat email

Initially, the email of bomb threats was received by seven schools, including Napel and Vidyashilpa in Basaveshwar Nagar. One of the schools that received the threats is situated next to the residence of Karnatakas Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar.

#WATCH | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar visits a school in Bengaluru after several schools received threatening e-mails. pic.twitter.com/7y3ReGOtAt  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023



Soon, more educational institutions complained of receiving similar threats via email.

B Dayananda said the email threats appeared similar to last years when miscreants had sent similar threat emails to many schools in the city.

On 8 April 2022, at least 16 schools in Bengaluru received hoax bomb threat emails between 11 am to 2:30 pm.

A very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, attention is not a joke, this is not a joke, a very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, immediately call the police and sappers, hundreds of lives may suffer including yours, do not delay, now everything is only in your hands! the email read.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said that 97.26% of Rs 2,000 notes in circulation as of May 19, 2023, have returned, adding, that the notes still continue to be a legal tender.

97.26% of the Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation as of May 19, 2023, have returned. The Rs 2,000 banknotes continue to be legal tender: RBI pic.twitter.com/rSxx8hv4By  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

The total value of Rs 2000 notes in circulation, which amounted to 3.56 lakh crore as at the close of business on May 19, 2023 when the withdrawal of Rs 2000 banknotes was announced, has declined to Rs 9, 760 crore as at the close of business on November 30, 2023. 97.26% of the Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation as of May 19, 2023, have returned. The Rs 2,000 banknotes continue to be legal tender, the RBI said in a statement.

The RBI had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2000 notes from circulation on May 19, 2023 and the status of the withdrawal of the notes is periodically published by the central bank.

The facility for deposit or exchange of the notes was available at all bank branches in the country initially up to September 30, 2023, which was later extended to October 7, 2023.

The facility for the exchange of Rs 2000 banknotes was also available at the 19 Issue Offices of the Reserve Bank from May 19, 2023. From October 9, 2023, RBI Issue Offices, in addition to exchanging Rs 2000 denomination banknotes across the counters, are also accepting Rs 2000 banknotes for individuals/entities for deposit to their bank accounts, read the statement.

Further, members of the public from within the country can send Rs 2000 banknotes through India Post from any post office in the country, to any of the RBI Issue Offices for credit to their bank accounts in India, it added.

The decision to discontinue the circulation of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes was made in accordance with the RBIs Clean Note Policy.

A few months ago, a study published by the State Bank of India said the removal of Rs 2,000 notes from circulation will have positive implications for the countrys banking system.

It added that the move will boost bank deposits, and repayment of loans, and have an overall positive impact on consumption and the Reserve Bank of Indias retail central bank digital currency (CBDC).

With inputs from agencies
Indias border with Pakistan and Bangladesh will be completely secured in the next two years as work is underway to plug the gaps along the two fronts.

Shahs comments came during a ceremonial parade of the Border Security Force (BSF) on the occasion of its 59th Raising Day celebrations here.

The home minister said that the Narendra Modi-led government has fenced and plugged gaps in about 560 km of the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders in the last nine years since it came to power in 2014.

In the next two years we will entirely secure these two borders, Shah said.

The two borders 2,290 km of the India-Pakistan International Border and 4,096 km of the India-Bangladesh border are marked by long riverine, mountainous and marshy areas where it is very difficult to erect fences and hence the BSF and other agencies use technical gadgets to check infiltration.

Narendra Modi has led the country to the moon with the Chandrayaan mission, G20 Summit and brought the economy from the 11th to the fifth spot, and this was all possible due to our forces deployed for securing the borders like the BSF, he said.

You, the BSF, are the essential pillar of this journey, the minister told the BSF personnel at the Meru training camp here.

I believe that the border fence does not alone protect the country, it only helps in rendering this task. It is the brave BSF jawan who does this task, he said.

Shah also asserted that the BJP has prioritized security in states ruled by the party.

With inputs from PTI
The Biden administration has bent backwards to avoid a public spat with Delhi, according to Ashley Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, but U.S. officials would be troubled by the issues of sovereignty involved in an attack on a citizen of the United States.

I think the bilateral relationship will survive this fiasco, he stated. But it will reinforce the qualms of many who believe that the claims about shared values between the U.S. and India are simply mythology.

By a vote of 6:4, the report was approved. The report was supported by Preneet Kaur, the wife of former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who is currently with the BJP, according to panel chairman Vinod Sonkar.

In a letter, Dubey had accused Speaker Om Birla of the Lok Sabha of pressuring Moitra to attack the Adani Group at the request of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, he said, had given him evidence of purported bribes. The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee had heard testimony from Dehadrai and the BJP MP.

According to the sources, Moitra visited the United Arab Emirates four times between 2019 and 2023, according to the preliminary report on her cash-for-questions case.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Information Technology (IT) had provided detailed records on IP address and location, which the Ethics Committee had requested.

The committee also wanted to hear from MHA regarding the risks associated with exchanging login information, with a focus on the legal ramifications under Section IT ACT 2000.

According to what is known, the draught report recommended that Mahua Moitra face harsh punishment for his serious misdemeanours.

The Committee, therefore, recommends that Mahua Moitra, MP may be expelled from the Membership of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha. In view of the highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct of Mahua Moitra, the Committee recommend for an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by the Government of India in a time-bound manner, the report is learnt to have said.

Opposition MPs gave dissent notes on the draft report. One common ground for all the opposition MPs to submit a dissent note is that the enquiry is not fair. They have said that Darshan Hiranandani should have been summoned by the committee to ensure a free and fair enquiry in all respects, a source said.

Moitra, in a post on X on November 10, had said she was being unethically expelled.

Proud to go down in parliamentary history as 1st person to be unethically expelled by Ethics Comm whose mandate doesnt include explusion. 1st expel & THEN ask govt to ask CBI to find evidence. Kangaroo court, monkey business from start to finish, she said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has also initiated an investigation against Moitra to look into quid pro quo allegations of raising questions in Parliament, sources said.

In this regard, a senior CBI official said that no Preliminary Enquiry (PE) has been registered, However, an investigation has been initiated as the matter was referred by the anti-corruption body Lokpal.

The winter session of Parliament will conclude on December 22.

(With agency inputs)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met and interacted with eight workers from his state who were among the 41 safely rescued from the partially collapsed Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: UP CM Yogi Adityanath meets the 8 workers who hail from UP, in Lucknow. They were among the 41 workers who were trapped in the Uttarkashi tunnel for 16 days pic.twitter.com/rA8XjOMs1N  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

In a post shared on X, the chief minister can also be seen offering them shawls and gifts.

The eight workers arrived in Lucknow on Friday morning via road from AIIMS Rishikesh. All 41 workers who were trapped inside Uttarakhands Silkyara tunnel since 12 November were evacuated safely on 28 November. After being kept under medical observation for a night at the community health centre at Chinyalisaur, they were airlifted on Wednesday to AIIMS, Rishikesh.

Taking to X earlier, UP CM hailed the efforts of the Central and state governments in rescuing the 41 trapped labourers.

It is the result of the tireless efforts of the Central and Uttarakhand governments that all the workers are safe with their families. Heartfelt gratitude to the respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on behalf of the people of the state and heartfelt thanks to the Honorable Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami Ji, he wrote.

Meanwhile, five workers hailing from Bihar were also among the 41 workers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel. They received a rousing welcome at the Patna airport on Friday and were welcomed with flowers and bouquets by Labour Minister Surendra Ram.

Fifteen labourers hailing from Jharkhand were airlifted to Delhi from AIIMS Rishikesh on Thursday and from there to Ranchi this morning.

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also met all the rescued workers at Chinyalisaur Hospital and said that the workers have been completely examined and are healthy.

As the trapped workers were safely rescued on 28 November, their family members in different parts of the country burst into joy and celebrated the moment by bursting crackers and sharing sweets.

On 12 November, a section of the tunnel between 205 and 260 metres from the Silkyara side collapsed. 41 workers who were beyond the 260-metre mark were trapped, with their exit blocked. After huge efforts of different rescue teams and 16 days of the rescue operations, all 41 labourers were safely evacuated on 28 November.

With inputs from agencies
In the vast deserts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, amidst the typical sights of sand dunes, camels and palm trees, an unexpected marvel is taking shape. Imagine a sprawling Hindu temple, standing at an impressive 108 feet tall  the BAPS Hindu Mandir. Located just outside Abu Dhabi, this stone temple not only marks the first of its kind in the country but is also set to be the largest in West Asia. With an estimated cost of Rs700 crore, this architectural masterpiece raises questions about its builders, the acceptance of its construction by the ruling authorities and the unique story behind its existence.

The unveiling

Venturing 50 kilometres outside Abu Dhabi, the landscape gradually transforms from an urban jungle to a rugged desert. Amidst the scaffolding, bustling workers and dedicated artisans, the identity of the structure becomes evident - a Hindu temple. However, not just any temple; the BAPS Hindu Mandir is poised to be the biggest in the country. As we explore this remarkable site, we delve into the intriguing tale of its inception.

The genesis

In 2015, during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the UAE, the Emirati president generously gifted 17 acres of land on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway. Two years later, the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Modi himself. The construction, a testament to the harmony between two civilisations and governments, has been underway since then, with an expected inauguration in February of the following year.

Architectural marvel

The BAPS Hindu Mandir is a testament to architectural prowess, employing pink sandstone and marble inspired by Vedic architecture and sculptures. Many intricate carvings and statues were crafted by artisans in India and transported to the site, a logistical feat in itself. The temple, standing at 108 feet tall, requires around 40 thousand cubic metres of marble, 180 thousand cubic metres of sandstone and an immense amount of labour  approximately 4,00,000 man-hours expended until now.

While the design and artistry are distinctly Indian, the temple also pays homage to its location in the UAE. Seven spires, each representing an emirate in the UAE including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, embody a cultural exchange and intermingling. It symbolises the rich history of cultural ties between India and the Arab world.

Builders and purpose

The Hindu sect behind this grand endeavour is BAPS, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. Known for their worship of Swaminarayan as an avatar of Krishna, BAPS has constructed over 1,100 Hindu temples globally, including notable landmarks such as Akshardham in New Delhi and the recently inaugurated temple in New Jersey, the largest Hindu temple outside Asia. Beyond places of worship, these temples serve as community hubs, fostering education, exhibitions and recreational spaces.

For the Indian community in the UAE, comprising around 30 per cent of the population, this temple is a source of pride. While smaller temples existed for prayers, the BAPS Hindu Mandir goes beyond, providing a sprawling complex that welcomes and integrates the community into the cultural fabric of the UAE.

Grand inauguration

With high-profile visitors such as Indias Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Bollywood celebrities already awestruck by its architectural splendour, the temples official inauguration is eagerly anticipated in February. Termed the Festival of Harmony, the celebration is set to commence on 10 February, featuring the active participation of the local Indian community and culminating in a grand two-hour-long ceremony on 15 February.

At first glance, the BAPS Hindu Mandir may seem like an anomaly in the desert landscape, but as one delves into its backstory and mission, its presence becomes a symbol of cooperation and harmony. Standing as a testament to the unity between two distinct countries and cultures, this grand temple emerges not only as an architectural marvel but as a beacon of cultural fusion in the heart of the UAEs expansive deserts.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In January 1985, the government of Taiwan admitted that it was involved in the murder of one Henry Liu, marking the targeted killing of a Chinese-American citizen on American soil by an allied nation. According to The Washington Post, the 52-year-old Liu wrote several articles and books critical of the Nationalist Party that ruled Taiwan.

That extraordinary admission came three years after Taiwans denial that the country was involved in another plot where a Chinese-American professor, Chen Wen-chen, a vocal critic of the Taiwanese governments policies, was found dead at National Taiwan University. Taiwan held that Chen had committed suicide.

Heres a lesson for those who think international relations is a morality play where nations are adjudged and ranked on good behavior. There are no points for being nice, but penalties for being weak. Any talks of reputational damage to India on the purported Gurpatwant Singh Pannun case, where nothing has been proved and India has issued a denial, is laughable. Friendship, alliance, or partnership have nothing to do with a nations self-interest. Had that been the case, prime conspirator of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks David Coleman Headley would be rotting in an Indian prison instead of United States.

There are several conclusions to be drawn from the incredible accusations levelled at India by US federal prosecutors who have blamed an Indian government official for orchestrating a plot to take out Pannun, a designated terrorist, on American soil. None of the conclusions point to anything credible.

If it is to be taken seriously, and Washington insists that we do, parts of the indictment are an affront to Indian intelligence agencies.

If seasoned Research and Analysis Wing officers were busy hatching incriminating murderous plots over WhatsApp or Telegram (the document calls it encrypted messaging application), then they might as well give up intelligence and join my school alumni group to talk about olden days. Even mildly competent officers ought to know that messages can be apprehended, and its not wise to take chances with Americans who run possibly the worlds most sophisticated intelligence apparatus.

The entire case reeks of a bad Hollywood plot in a C-grade film where the audience is asked to suspend disbelief at gunpoint.

In the indictment unsealed Wednesday, the US justice department claimed to have thwarted an elaborate plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader (the victim) and charged one Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, for conspiring with the unnamed Indian government employee (referred to as CC-1 in the document), to carry out a sinister murder-for-hire plot.

The US authorities claim that CC-1 directed a scheme from India to murder the US-based Sikh separatist who remains unidentified in the indictment filed in a federal court in New York, but western media reports say the individual is Pannun, a top-Khalistani activist and general counsel for the banned New York-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group that seeks to Balkanise India and carve out an independent Khalistan state for Sikhs.

Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, was declared an individual terrorist under Section 51A of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on 1 July, 2020. His properties in India have been confiscated and a non-bailable warrant issued against his name for calling for the assassinations of Indian diplomats, burning of the Indian flag, holding secessionist referendums in Canada, running a terrorist campaign against the Indian state and inciting Sikh youth to join militancy.

In a video message released this month, Pannun was seen threatening to blow up an Air India flight and asking Sikh people not to fly the airliner after November 19 or their lives could be in danger. While Canadian authorities tightened Air Indias security following Indias request, the threat triggered memories in India of the 1985 Air India bombing when Khalistani terrorists blew up a flight travelling from Canada to India via London, killing all 329 people on board. Majority of the passengers were Canadian nationals of Indian descent.

In July this year, Pannun declared a reward of $125000 for anyone providing information about the foreign visit of Indias Union home minister Amit Shah, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Indian high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma. His organisation SFJ urged Sikh radicals based in Canada to lay siege to Indian diplomatic premises in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver on 15 August.

The remarkable thing in the brouhaha over the purported murder plot and American outrage is that Pannuns brazen remark of threatening to blow up a flight has not only been interpreted as economic boycott by western media outlets, but the entire 15-page indictment that goes into great details over the so-called conspiracy fails to mention Pannuns terrorist antecedents even once and paints him as the victim of a foiled homicide plot.

Weak case

The entire American case hinges on Gupta, who apparently was subcontracted by an agent of the Indian government who wasnt named or charged in the document but described as a senior field officer with responsibilities in security management and intelligence, and who has previously served in Indias Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). According to the US prosecutors, CC-1 (the Indian agent) has received officer training in battle craft and weapons and is the prime conspirator who directed the assassination plot from India.

It stretches the boundaries of credulity to think that a senior field officer belonging to the Indian intelligence cadre would be so callous and daft as to hire a notorious, high-profile, easily recognizable international narcotics and weapons trafficker Gupta, who in turn would recruit none other than a US government informant working with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (the CS), and from there the CS would subcontract the supari killing to another US government agent, a hitman identified as a DEA undercover officer (the UC).

To sum up, the US prosecutors are asking us to believe that an Indian intelligence officer with enough seniority and smarts to run a covert operation in such sensitive locations as Canada and the US hires a well-known tango known internationally for his involvement in drug-running syndicates, who in turn recruits and sub-recruits two American government operatives, arranges for the money, hands some of the cash over, and every little exchange between the Indian government employee (CC-1) and Gupta (arrested in Czech Republic) are carried out explicitly and without a worry in the world through encrypted apps that the entire world knows are unsecure and easily penetrable by western intelligence agencies.

Neither CC-1 nor Indias intelligence agency sound very competent and were found flouting every basic element of spying. In fact, it may be argued that such a horribly botched-up operation by R&AW should raise a stink on the American side as a red herring unless the Americans think that Austin Powers was directing the show.

A far more damaging inference may be drawn from the incident, one that paints US-India ties in an unflattering light, given the track record of American intelligence agencies in laying fake plots and conducting sting operations for bogus arrests.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has been named in countless such plots. A Guardian report observes that in June 2006, the FBI arrested seven men from the poor, predominantly black neighbourhood of Liberty City, in Miami, on charges no less than attempting to wage war on America. It later turned out, as exemplified in a PBS documentary released on the case in 2021, that the men, members of an obscure religious group called the Seas of David, had no actual connection to al-Qaida, no weapons, no explosives, no reconnaissance on the Sears Tower, no consistent ideology of violence. The evidence against them  words of intent considered, in the years of fear post-9/11, to be overt acts of terror  were prodded and encouraged by a paid informant in an elaborate game of pretend.

FBIs method of baiting suspects with fishing expeditions is well-documented. In May 2009, black American boy David Williams was arrested and hit with a 25-year jail sentence for an Islamic terrorist plot to blow up Jewish synagogues and shoot down military jets with missiles, which, according to another Guardian report, came from the FBI, and an informant paid to pose as a terrorist mastermind paying big bucks for help in carrying out an attack. A typical FBI move, for instance, would be to send informants to trawl through Muslim communities, hang out in mosques and community centres, and talk of radical Islam in order to identify possible targets sympathetic to such ideals.

American intelligence agencies have been accused repeatedly of creating terror plots where none existed through its elaborate informant network and according to data from The Intercept, the US government has prosecuted 992 people for terrorism since the 9/11 attacks. Most of them never even got close to committing an act of violence. It cant be a cosmic accident that Gupta, the narco trader, picked up American agents for subcontracting the murder.

On the other hand, Indias carefully worded response to the allegations, denying any official involvement, puts the focus back on the link between Khalistani network and organized crime, internecine gang wars and the nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gun running and extremists at an international level.

Worth noting that Indias response to the allegations levelled by US differ substantially from its reactions to Canadian accusations, but that could be put down to an overenthusiastic Justin Trudeaus penchant for playing to the gallery and the procedural tactics adopted by Washington. India announced that the charges (inputs) are being taken seriously, and a high-level inquiry Committee has been constituted. We will obviously be guided by its results, said a spokesperson of Indias Ministry of External Affairs.

In a report on Thursday, The Print claimed, quoting intelligence sources, that two senior RAW officers were asked to leave their stations in major Western cities earlier this summer (San Francisco and London) and RAW was also blocked from replacing its station head in Washington, DC.

If accurate, these developments present a setback to Indias interests, and while the link between American indictment and expelling of Indian officers isnt clear, it would seem that the damage control exercise has already been put in motion.

It will be interesting to see, however, whether the pace and scale of US-India engagement remains unabated. The West is well within its rights to demand that India refrain from carrying out covert plots on its soil, but it cannot in the same vein expect India to remain oblivious of the threat posed by secessionists who have been given a free rein by America and Canada.

For all the sermons of India breaching trust through attempted covert operations, and predictions that New Delhi has made a mistake in concluding that Indias importance to the US strategy for balancing against China gives India the latitude to unilaterally target US citizens, as Ashley Tellis tells Asia Nikkei, it is worth pointing out that harbouring a designated Khalistani terrorist, who might even be a CIA asset, isnt the hallmark of trust.

The American security establishment and the commentariat in DC perhaps underestimate the length the Indian state will go to, to mitigate perceived threats to its territorial sanctity. This, after all, is a nation that has suffered the trauma of a partition on religious lines and the Khalistan issue is linked with one of independent Indias most painful episodes.

New Delhi has always cooperated with Washington DC on terrorism. It is reasonable to expect that fellow democracies in the West, in turn, wont harbour and provide a safe haven to so-called political activists who threaten to blow up airplanes, issue kill lists against Indian diplomats or carry out targeted killings on Indian soil.

Mutual trust also isnt ensured when the US and its lackey, Canada, demand that India cooperate with the investigation but refuse to hand over David Headley, one of the masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Headley, who confessed to helping terrorists plot the 2008 terror attack, was working as an informant with the American agency, DEA, while training with Pakistani terrorists. Hedley has been convicted in India, but the US has turned down all extradition requests.

Alongside, Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman and co-conspirator of the Mumbai terror attacks Tahawwur Rana, who is facing extradition to India, has just been allowed more time to file a motion against his extradition by a federal US court on 3 October.

At the end of the day, the spy drama is a game of leverages. I believe the most interesting question in this equation is the stand taken by the Biden administration that is facing internal dissent from the American security establishment over its policies on Israel and India, and New Delhi may have got stuck in the middle of an inhouse power game.

Worth noting that though according to the indictment document the murder plot was given a go-ahead on May 29 (which indicates by that time the American intelligence agencies were aware of the proceedings), it wasnt before late July that Biden administration was told of the plot, a full month after Gupta was arrested in Czech Republic. What explains the delay?

Finally, if the US is serious about its partnership with India, it must remember that it is a relationship of equals, between equals, and one based on shared interests that includes a unified approach to counterterrorism and secessionism, not a selective agenda. It seems likely that despite the hiccups, a firefighting route will be etched out because mutual strategic imperatives demand no less.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In a significant move that reflects the evolving landscape of global investments, Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to acquire a 10 per cent stake in Londons Heathrow Airport. This ownership shake-up in Europes largest air hub comes as part of a broader strategy by PIF to diversify its international portfolio, which already includes major holdings in sectors such as aviation, infrastructure and luxury automotive.

Background on PIF

Established in 1971, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund initially managed local funds. However, a pivotal shift occurred in 2017 when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took charge, transforming PIF into the worlds sixth largest sovereign wealth fund. Under the Crown Princes leadership, PIFs asset portfolio has surpassed $700 billion with ambitious plans to control assets worth $2 trillion by 2030.

PIFs portfolio spans 92 companies across 13 strategic sectors, with a keen focus on international investments. Notable holdings include being the second-largest shareholder in Aston Martin and an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle United, a prominent English Premier League club.

Heathrow investment and strategic alignment

PIFs acquisition of a 10 per cent stake in Heathrow Airport aligns with its long-term strategy to support businesses as a reliable partner. The investment, valued at $3 billion, is a testament to PIFs confidence in the global significance of Heathrow as a key gateway.

In a statement, PIF expressed its satisfaction with the investment, citing Heathrow as a world-class airport. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans direct involvement in overseeing PIFs investments underscores the strategic importance of this acquisition.

Stakeholders in Heathrow

Heathrow Airport boasts a diverse group of stakeholders with the Spanish firm Ferrovial currently holding the largest share at 25 per cent. The ownership structure also includes Qatar Investment Authority holding a 20 per cent stake and China Investment Corporation with 10 per cent. Singapores sovereign wealth fund and the Australian Retirement Trust each own nearly 11 per cent.

Upon completion of the deal, 40 per cent of Heathrow Airport will be foreign owned, with Qatar, China and Saudi Arabia collectively holding a substantial share.

While the final confirmation of Saudi ownership is pending regulatory clearance, the financial challenges faced by Heathrow make the deal appear unlikely to encounter significant hurdles. Heathrow has struggled since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, losing over $4.5 billion in revenue. The airports plans for a third runway have been delayed due to a lack of funds and it currently sits on a substantial debt of 15 billion (over $18 billion).

Global competition from emerging transit hubs in Asia further intensifies the need for financial infusion into Heathrow. The acquisition by PIF is poised to provide a lifeline to the airport as it navigates through these challenges.

As Saudi Arabias PIF becomes a major stakeholder in Londons Heathrow Airport, the deal not only signifies a shift in the airports ownership but also reflects the broader trends in sovereign wealth funds diversifying their portfolios internationally. With Heathrow facing financial constraints and increased competition, the infusion of Saudi funds is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the airports future growth and resilience in the global aviation landscape.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A mysterious respiratory disease, which is being called walking pneumonia or white lung syndrome, is targeting children in China. However, its not clear exactly whats causing it.

The cases originated in northern China, and Beijing is the worst affected city. Other major cities are showing spikes as well. A hospital in Shanghai reported a 175 per cent increase in paediatric visits this month. Schools in the city have started taking precautions. Hospitals in central and south-western China are issuing alerts.

If children have persistent fever, or even have convulsions, or are listless, they should go to the hospital as soon as possible, said Hua Ziyu, Vice President, Childrens Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

It looks like the infections are spreading throughout the Chinese mainland, but Beijing insists everything is under control.

China has a fully-fledged medical system. Recently, we have seen some clusters of flu cases among children in certain parts of China. In fact, that is a very common phenomenon in many countries and in China that has been put under effective control, said Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Chinas interactions with the international community will not be affected by any factors. And we welcome more visits from friends from across the world, including you, said Yi.

So Wang Yi is trying to encourage visitors, and dispel fears. But its not working. China is already being accused of a cover up. Again, it feels like a rerun of the Wuhan Virus. Now, whether you believe the reports or not, the rest of the world is being cautious. For example, Taiwan has issued a warning on Thursday, this is for people with low immunity, children and older people. Theyve been urged to avoid going to China. Taiwan has also ramped up the production and imports of antibiotics. Domestic production of a pneumonia cure has been tripled, so Taipei isnt taking any chances. Neither are other countries near China.

Thailand has begun reviewing its hospitals, it has also asked people to mask up again. Nepal has also increased surveillance, it is already seeing a rise in respiratory infections. The head of a Kathmandu hospital said: 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.

He says it is crucial to prepare for an outbreak, and that view is reflected in India as well. Indias health ministry has issued a warning.

States have been asked to check their disease readiness. Beds, ventilators and oxygen cylinders are being prepared in Uttarakhand. The state shares a land border with China. It is on high alert.

So are the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Maharashtra. They want hospitals to ensure pandemic response systems are functional. There will be an increased surveillance of children who are hospitalised. This is to better understand the outbreak.

Meanwhile, reports say international travellers may start getting screened at Maharashtras airports. This hasnt been finalised yet. But it is being considered, and it makes sense.

The cases are on the rise across the world. In Europe, there are reports of a spike in child pneumonia cases. The Netherlands has seen a surge. This is among children under the age of four. It is similar to the reports from China. Even though no direct link has been established.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is investigating. Though it seems to accept Chinas explanation. China says this surge isnt due to a new virus, but a combination of existing diseases.

We are following up with the situation in China and again, they have seen overall an increase in acute respiratory infections due to a number of different pathogens, including influenza, which is on the rise, said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead COVID-19, WHO health emergencies programme.

The WHO says it is being vigilant, but it needs to act quicker, thankfully, Asian nations arent waiting around. We cannot afford another round of the Wuhan Virus.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a Khalistani terrorist, was born in India and is a dual citizen of the US and Canada. He founded the Sikhs for Justice in 2007 and acts as general counsel for the group.

Pannun has threatened Indians and has asked Punjabi youth to take up arms. He wants a separate Sikh state. Now, America says an Indian national tried to assassinate him.

On November 29, a person named Nikhil Gupta was charged by the US Justice Department for allegedly plotting the murder of a US citizen.

The indictment says Nikhil Gupta tried to hire a hitman  to kill a US citizen. This was for $100,000. The hitman turned out to be an undercover federal agent. Now, the indictment doesnt mention who the target was. It just says it was someone who advocates for a separate Sikh State.

But reports suggest it was Pannun. He was the subject of the plot. The indictment also mentions an Indian government employee. Again, he is not named, but referred to as CC-1. The Department of Justice says, CC-1 was a senior Indian officer, and he was the one directing the plot from India.

This officer then hired Gupta in May  the pair apparently met in New Delhi  they used to stay in touch via texts  and after his orders, Gupta tried to hire a hitman, but the hitman turned out to be an undercover agent.

Gupta paid him $15,000 upfront. All of this is mentioned in the indictment. Nikhil Gupta has now been arrested. He was caught in the Czech Republic. He is now awaiting extradition to the United States. Of course, these are all very serious allegations.

The White House says it has raised the matter with New Delhi, when CIA director William Burns was in India, so was the National Intelligence Director Avril Haines. They were here to discuss Washingtons concerns.

So what is New Delhi saying? India says it is investigating the claims. It has set up a high-level inquiry committee.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, 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 nexus between pic.twitter.com/k445jwS78Y  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

So, Washington has raised the issue, and India responded. It has vowed to investigate it, and frankly, thats how things are done.

Biden did not go to the US House of Representatives and accuse India of attempted assassination. He took the diplomatic route. He discussed it with New Delhi. But who will explain this to Justin Trudeau?

In September, Trudeau accused India of killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He said it in the Canadian parliament. And now, he is back to making the same allegations.

India needs to take this seriously..says Canadian PM Trudeau on US development https://t.co/ukpjxaZIqz pic.twitter.com/kogQvdKzit  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 30, 2023

Of course, Trudeau saw this as a perfect opportunity  a way to bring the focus back to himself. But the fact is  he made these allegations two months ago  he said he had proof  60 days on, he hasnt shared it. Not a shred of evidence is there. But the allegations continue. Which brings us to the main issue. The issue of Indias national security.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Khalistani terrorist and so is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. They have threatened India- and Indians, and they always got away with it. They were given a safe haven. Why is that?

Washington expressed concern about this assassination plot, and India listened to them, and promised to investigate it.

But what happens when India expresses concern? What about the security of its diplomats and people? What happens when New Delhi seeks action against Khalistani terrorists operating in these countries? Does the US respond with the same promptness and sincerity?

The US has taken up this case at the highest levels  the case of a bona fide terrorist  but what about making an effort to crack down on them? On making sure that America is not a haven for Khalistani terrorism?

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
YouTube, the video streaming giant owned by Google, is set to combat the spread of fake news and disinformation in the lead-up to Indias general elections. A senior official from the company revealed plans to remove misleading content and provide users with access to high-quality news by collaborating with reputable news publishers and independent journalists.

During a recent interaction with the press YouTube India Director Ishan Chatterjee emphasized the platforms commitment to addressing misinformation. He explained that their policies dictate action against content that has been technologically manipulated to deceive users and poses a real-world harm risk. However, Chatterjee stressed that this is only one facet of their strategy.

The second part of YouTubes strategy focuses on ensuring users have access to reliable and high-quality news content produced by news organizations and independent journalists. Despite news not being a distinct category on YouTube, it remains a significant driver of content consumption.

Chatterjee highlighted the substantial growth in news consumption on platforms such as YouTube Shorts and Connected TV (CTV). CTV has been the fastest-growing platform for YouTube in India, boasting over 58 million people streaming YouTube on their TVs as of June.

YouTubes Director and Global Head of Responsibility, Tim Katz, noted the uniqueness of the Indian market, where the consumption of live content, particularly news, is exceptionally high, even on CTV. Katz observed significant growth during sensitive moments, such as major news stories and election cycles.

Emphasizing diversity, Katz acknowledged the increasing presence of various news partners on the platform, ranging from independent journalists to broadcasters, print publishers, and digital native publishers. He expressed the platforms commitment to serving and supporting the entire spectrum of the news ecosystem.

A report by the Google News Initiative in collaboration with Kantar highlighted video as the most popular format for news consumption across different languages and formats. The report also revealed that half of Indian language internet users engage with news, with a third of them residing in urban areas. Furthermore, seven in ten users consume hyperlocal news across India.

According to the Oxford Economics Impact Report, 70 per cent of media and music companies in India with a YouTube channel consider the platform to be a crucial source of revenue for their businesses.

(With inputs from agencies)
Having been embroiled in a number of antitrust legislations itself, Google is now trying to get Microsoft to face the same music that they have been dancing to.

Google has urged Britains antitrust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), to take action against Microsoft, alleging that the companys business practices create a significant disadvantage for competitors, as per a report by Reuters.

In a letter Google claimed that Microsofts licensing practices discouraged customers from using rival services, leaving them with no economically reasonable alternative to Microsofts Azure.

The CMA initiated an investigation into Britains cloud computing industry in October, following concerns raised by media regulator Ofcom about the dominance of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsofts Azure.

In 2022, AWS and Azure held a combined 70-80 per cent share of the UKs public cloud infrastructure services market, with Googles cloud division being their closest competitor at around 5-10 per cent.

According to Googles letter to the CMA, Microsofts licensing restrictions force UK customers to use Azure even if they prefer the prices, quality, security, innovations, and features offered by rivals.

Google argued that such practices directly harm customers and constitute a significant barrier to competition in Britains cloud computing market.

Microsoft updated its licensing rules last year in an attempt to address concerns and promote competition, but Google and other rivals were not satisfied with the changes.

A Microsoft spokesperson stated that the company had worked with independent cloud providers to address concerns and provide opportunities, with over 100 worldwide taking advantage of the changes.

Google Cloud Vice President Amit Zavery criticized Microsofts practices and emphasized Googles commitment to a multi-cloud approach, allowing customers to easily move between providers based on their needs.

Google made six recommendations to the CMA, including improving interoperability for customers using Azure and other cloud services and preventing Microsoft from withholding security updates for those that switch.
Huawei is reportedly developing a high-end virtual reality (VR) headset to rival Apples Vision Pro, set to launch by the end of 2024, according to information shared by Twitter user Mochamad Farido Fanani.

The rumoured Huawei device is said to be powered by a flagship processor, but this should be taken with a massive pinch of salt, as Fanani lacks a proven track record for accurate leaks.

While details about the chip powering Huaweis VR headset remain unknown, Apples Vision Pro relies on two processors: the M2 chip for standard operations and a dedicated R1 chip for processing spatial input from cameras, microphones, and sensors.

Fanani claims Huaweis VR glasses will incorporate an internal fan-driven heat dissipation system for thermal management, similar to Apples approach with the Vision Pro, which also utilizes external batteries.

Fanani notes that Huawei is not alone in developing a VR headset; the companys former sub-brand, Honor, is also working on a virtual reality system.

However, specifics about Honors hardware have not been disclosed. Samsung is also reportedly in the process of creating its Infinite extended reality (XR) headset, expected to debut in the latter half of 2024.

Prior to Apples unveiling of the Vision Pro mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023, Xiaomi showcased its Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition at MWC 2023.

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR 2 Gen 1 chip, Xiaomis headset supports both augmented reality (AR) and VR content, featuring advanced retina-level displays and AR gesture controls.

In the previous year, Oppo introduced its second assisted reality headset, the Oppo Air Glass 2, at the companys annual Oppo Inno Day in China.

Weighing 38g, the wearable device supports voice-to-text features, real-time translation of conversations, phone calls, and location-based navigation instructions.

(With inputs from agencies)
Microsoft has officially launched its art generator, Cocreator, within the classic Paint app for Windows 11, allowing users to easily create original images by describing their desired visuals.

Initially available to Windows Insiders testing early releases, the text-to-image generator, powered by OpenAIs DALL-E model, is now accessible to all users.

To utilize Cocreator, users can open a new Paint project and click the Cocreator button on the toolbar. By typing a description of the desired image, the AI will provide three options for users to choose from.

Microsoft has previously incorporated DALL-Es advanced image generation into products like Bing and Copilot, but integrating it into Paint aims to enhance accessibility for everyday users.

Microsoft has included a 4-step tutorial for newcomers to get started with AI artistry. Some users may need to join a waitlist before using Cocreator, and there is a daily limitation on image generation, with each generated image consuming 1 credit out of the 50 allocated upon sign-up.

While Cocreator is currently limited to users in the United States, France, the UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Germany, those within these regions can check for availability by ensuring their Paint app is updated and signing up through the side panel.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Biden administration has compelled a venture capital firm owned by Saudi Arabias Aramco, Prosperity7, to divest its shares in Rain AI, a Silicon Valley AI chip startup supported by Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI.

The sale comes after a review conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the principal US watchdog overseeing deals with potential national security implications.

Prosperity7, a key investor in a funding round that raised $25 million for Rain AI in 2022, underwent the divestment process under CFIUS instructions within the past year, according to anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

The heightened scrutiny reflects the US governments increasing caution towards Middle Eastern wealth funds, particularly those perceived to have close ties with China. CFIUS is currently evaluating several multibillion-dollar deals this year amid concerns about potential national security risks.

Rain AI, a startup focused on designing AI chips inspired by brain functionality and partially financed by Sam Altman, saw Prosperity7 selling its stake to Silicon Valley investment firm Grep VC, as reported by data firm PitchBook.

Altman, Rain AI, Prosperity7, and Grep VC declined to comment on the matter. CFIUS, in an emailed statement, stated it cannot comment on ongoing transactions but is committed to taking necessary actions within its authority to safeguard US national security.

As geopolitical tensions rise between the US, Europe, and China, Beijing has sought closer ties with the Middle East. In November, China and Saudi Arabia inked a local currency swap agreement worth around $7 billion.

Saudi Aramco, the parent company of Prosperity7, has invested significantly in Chinas energy sector, even as Saudi Arabia attempts to attract Chinese tech firms.

Prosperity7s divestment gains significance against the backdrop of the White Houses efforts to curb Chinas technological dominance, particularly in semiconductors critical for future innovations like artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, Sam Altman is reportedly raising billions for a new AI chip venture, code-named Tigris, aiming to compete with NVIDIA Corp. Altman has travelled to the Middle East to secure funds for the project, though the connection between Rain AI and this initiative remains unclear.

While the AI chip market is presently dominated by NVIDIA, Rain AI, along with Altman and numerous startups globally, aims to design chips that are cost-effective and energy-efficient. The US has restricted the sale of top-performance chips to China, impeding its aspirations to compete in AI.

Rain AI, like other in-memory chip startups, seeks to reconfigure data processing to reduce transfers and decrease power consumption. Altmans current involvement with Rain AI and his perspective on its technologys current stage remain uncertain.

(With input from agencies)
The United States is facing criticism for its notably low contribution to COP28 climate fund, igniting disappointment among experts and advocacy groups.

Global delegates at COP28 in Dubai ratified a long-awaited damage fund aimed at aiding nations severely impacted by the climate crisis and carbon emission. This was an early success on the first day of talks that allows more time to discuss the thorny issues around slashing fossil fuels.

We have delivered history today  the first time a decision has been adopted on day 1 of any COP, a CNN report quoted COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber as saying.

According to the report, citing a release, several countries promptly pledged funds to the initiative following its formalisation.

While the United Arab Emirates and Germany led with contributions of $100 million each, and the UK pledged 60 million, the US, in contrast, committed only $17.5 million, and Japan contributed $10 million, drawing sharp criticism from experts and groups who labelled it as disappointing and embarrassing considering the size of its economy, added the report.

The notably smaller amount from the US compared to other major donors attracted attention, with experts highlighting political pressures faced by the US delegation, given the dynamics within the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

The United States, the largest historical contributor of the planet-heating emissions that scientists agree are fueling the climate crisis, has objected to tying loss and damage funding to each wealthy nations emissionsperhaps partially explaining why the Biden administration pledged only $17.5 million to the fund, Hindustan Times report quoted Common Dreams think tank as questioning in a column.

Mohamed Adow from Power Shift Africa deemed the US contribution insufficient, calling it a mere fraction of what is required to address pressing needs.

Such contributions are a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the need they are to address, the HT report quoted Adow as saying.

In particular, the amount announced by the US is embarrassing for President [Joe] Biden and (Special Presidential Climate Envoy) John Kerry, Adow added. It just shows how this must be just the start.

Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO of World Resources Institute, emphasised the funds significance but expressed concern over the inadequate contributions from the US and Japan.

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, he told CNN.

Tom Evans of E3G acknowledged the cautious labeling of the US donation as a climate impacts fund, possibly to avoid resistance from Congress. He highlighted the challenge of securing approval for such contributions, citing past difficulties faced by the United States in this regard, according to the report.

Several individuals expressed disappointment over President Bidens decision to skip the summit.

Given the US status as the worlds biggest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, Bidens decision to skip the world leaders summit at COP28 in Dubai will invite criticism from the Global South, which has done the least to cause global warming yet is bearing the brunt of its  Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) November 27, 2023

Given the US status as the worlds biggest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, Bidens decision to skip the world leaders summit at COP28 in Dubai will invite criticism from the Global South, which has done the least to cause global warming yet is bearing the brunt of its effects, wrote former diplomat Brahma Chellaney on X.

With inputs from agencies
Soon after New Delhi announced an investigation into allegations by the United States that an Indian official was involved in a foiled plot to assassinate a Khalistani terrorist in the US, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hailed the move as good and appropriate.

The Indian government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and thats good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results, Blinken told reporters travelling with him in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Blinken was responding to a question on the appearance of an unnamed Indian official in an indictment filed by federal US 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 one espousing the cause of a separate Khalistan.

This is an ongoing legal matter and it is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian government in the past weeks. The government has announced that it is conducting an investigation and that's good and appropriate. We look forward to seeing the results, the US State Department Secretary said soon after India launched an investigation into the allegations.

Earlier in the week, the US had alleged that an Indian national was found involved in a plan to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil.
Beijing has sponsored cut-price trips to China for hundreds of Taiwanese politicians ahead of key elections on the island, according to Taiwan sources and documents, unnerving officials with a broad campaign that one called election interference.

President Tsai Ing-wen and other Taiwan officials have warned that China might try to sway voters toward candidates seeking closer ties with Beijing in the elections, which could define the islands relations with China. However, the scale of the Chinese activity has not previously been reported.

Beijing, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has ramped up military and political pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty, frames the Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections as a choice between peace and war, calling the ruling party dangerous separatists and urging Taiwanese to make the right choice.

Taiwanese law forbids election campaigns from receiving money from external hostile forces, including China, and prosecutors in southern Taiwan this week said they were investigating 22 people, including grassroots politicians, for potential violations of election and security laws.

Across Taiwan security agencies are looking into more than 400 visits to China in the past month, most led by local opinion leaders such as borough chiefs and village heads, a Taiwan security official looking into Chinas activities told Reuters.

The agencies believe the trips, with discounted accommodations, transportation and meals, were subsidised by units under Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, said the person, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The Chinese office did not respond to a request for comment. It has previously said it respects Taiwans social systems when commenting on the elections.

Asked for comment, Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council, the top China-policy body, referred Reuters to comments this week by its minister, Chiu Tai-san. He said it was self-evident Beijing was trying to sway Taiwan elections through means including free trips for politicians.

They have already made it clear that a so-called right choice has to be made, meaning choosing candidates that the Chinese Communist Party prefers, he told reporters without elaborating.

ELECTION INTERFERENCE

People taking these trips typically pay their own airfare, but other expenses are offered by Chinese authorities, officials looking into the matter said.

Election interference has started under the name of group tours, said a second Taiwan security official, who was briefed on the matter, adding Beijing was targeting politicians crucial to the islands administrative systems who play key roles in shaping public opinion.

More than 300 borough chiefs or village heads from populous central Taiwan alone have participated in such trips to China in the past few months, this person said.

More than 20 borough chiefs from a district of the capital Taipei joined a China-sponsored trip to Shanghai with their families in September, while more than 10 people from an association for local politicians in neighbouring New Taipei City joined a trip this week, according to two security reports reviewed by Reuters.

The number from the Taipei district has increased significantly compared with elections four years ago and registrations have been fairly enthusiastic, one report said. Certain borough chiefs have become the window of contacts in Taiwan for some Chinese units.

So far this year, more than 1,000 borough chiefs or village heads joined such trips, more than last time, the second official said, adding China was targeting electoral districts where support was strong for candidates campaigning for closer China ties.

HARD TO BUILD A LEGAL CASE

In the investigation in the southern city of Kaohsiung, prosecutors said they believed the five trips from there were fully funded by Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office.

Chinese officials allegedly asked participants to support certain political parties and oppose Taiwan independence, the prosecutors said in a statement.

There is no such thing as a free lunch, Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-chao said on Thursday. He said external forces were trying to influence citizens in an unprecedented fashion and urged Taiwanese not to accept perks or instructions from Chinese authorities when travelling there.

Building criminal cases against trip-takers is challenging, security officials said, because it can be hard to establish a money trail to Chinese state agencies behind the tours, which often come much below going market rate, and to establish what was said during meetings with Chinese officials.

Taiwan suspended group tours to China via travel agencies after the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are no restrictions on individuals visiting.

Recent government scrutiny has prompted some politicians to be more low-key about such trips, the two officials said, with some making arrangements separately, then gathering in China.

They now even avoid sitting in seats next to one another during their flight.
According to senior officials and diplomats, China and Vietnam are collaborating on a potential major improvement of their undeveloped rail connections to strengthen a line that passes the heartland of rare earths in Vietnam and ends at the nations main port in the north.

According to officials and diplomats, the discussions are a part of getting ready for Chinese President Xi Jinpings potential visit to Hanoi in the upcoming weeks. This would further validate Vietnams increasingly strategic role in global supply chains as major powers, including the US, compete for influence there.

Following Chinas top diplomat Wang Yis meeting with Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Friday, the two nations decided to strengthen their railway connections and commercial ties, according to a readout posted on the Vietnamese government portal.

In a statement issued last month in response to Chinas Commerce Minister Wang Wentaos unusual visit to Vietnam, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had earlier demanded an improvement of the railway connecting the southern Chinese city of Kunming to the port city of Haiphong.

The significance of increasing infrastructure links with its southern neighbour has been emphasised by Chinese officials.

Although Vietnam already has rail links to China, these connections are outdated and have little capacity on Vietnams end. Trains must halt at the border where passengers and cargo are transferred to domestic services because the two systems are currently incompatible.

China is by far the worlds greatest refiner of rare earths, and the expanded railway would travel through the area where Vietnam has its highest resources.

In an attempt to counter Chinas hegemony, Vietnam is attempting to develop its own industry, although these efforts have been hampered by apparent internal strife.

According to Vietnamese official media, professionals in the rare earths business from China and Vietnam talked about stepping up their collaboration on mineral processing last week.

Chinas contribution to Vietnams upgraded railway track is yet unknown, as is Hanois acceptance of Beijings substantial financial offer.

The line might be considered a component of Chinas premier infrastructure-supporting Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The Vietnamese government announced on Friday that the two nations had finished their discussions to encourage linkages between infrastructure projects in Vietnam and the BRI.

In addition to increasing Chinese tourism to northern Vietnam and Vietnams exports of agricultural goods to China, a strengthened railway link could further integrate the two nations manufacturing sectors, which experts already view as symbiotic because factories in Vietnam primarily assemble parts made in China.

China is Vietnams biggest commercial partner and, as of now this year, its top investor (excluding Hong Kong investment), since a number of Chinese businesses have moved parts of their operations south due to trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

In spite of their growing economic ties, the two communist countries are involved in a protracted naval conflict in the South China Sea and fought a brief war in the late 70s.

(With agency inputs)
After approval from the government, a Pakistani special court on Friday agreed to hold an open hearing in the cypher case against former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Since a formal permission for a jail trial had not been granted by the government, Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqernain presided over the hearing against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the Federal Judicial Complex building.

However, during the hearing, the court was informed that a formal notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, granting permission for the jail trial of the accused in the cipher case, had been received.

Subsequently, Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain remarked that further proceedings would be held Saturday at 9:00 inside the Adiala jail and ordered the authorities to produce Khan, 71, and Qureshi, 67, for the hearing.

He also assured that the proceedings would be open for media, relatives and other people who are allowed to witness the hearing process.

Not only will justice be done but it will be seen as well, the judge said at one point during the hearing.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document sent by the countrys embassy in Washington in March last year. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched a case on Aug 15 against Khan and Qureshi, accusing them of violating the secret laws while handling the document.

Both the leaders are in Adiala jail where they were indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both have pleaded not guilty. However, the Islamabad High Court nullified the proceedings and now the court would begin the process of the case from the beginning.

The IHC also ordered that the trial should be completed within four weeks.

With inputs from agencies
Spiritual guru and environment activist Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder, Save Soil Movement, urged global leaders to take up the issue of soil conservation during the COP28 in Dubai on Friday.

The spiritual guru from Tamil Nadu was among several luminaries who attended the inaugural sessions of the COP28, Dubai on Friday.

Several world leaders, including the Prime Minister of UK, Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, President of France, Emmanuel Macron, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, UAEs Minister of Climate Change and Environment HE Mariam Almheiri, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, were in attendance.

Addressing the gathering, Sadhguru asserted that religious and spiritual leaders should do their bit to influence people to take up conservation of the environment on a serious note.

It doesnt matter who you are, what you believe, or which heaven you will go to, all of us come from the same soil, we eat off the same soil, and when we die, we will go back to the same soil. Soil is the ultimate unifier! Faith leaders can play an instrumental role in influencing and inspiring people and policymakers to enact soil revitalization policies, Sadhguru said in his inaugural address at the Faith Pavillion of COP28.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday proposed to host COP33 in India in 2028.

PM Modi, the only head of the state in the opening panel of the COP28 high-level segment, said: India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028.

#WATCH | Dubai, UAE | At the Opening of the COP28 high-level segment for HoS/HoG, PM Narendra Modi says, India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028. pic.twitter.com/4wfNBn7r3L  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

In a special gesture by the UAE, PM Modi was given the honour of speaking at the Ceremonial Opening of COP28. Others speaking were COP28 President Sultan Jaber and UNFCC Executive Secretary.

India to triple its renewable energy sources by 2030

The Prime Minister further said India is committed to triple its renewable energy sources by 2023. He also said India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030.

"We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuels to 50 per cent," PM Modi said in his address at the COP28 heads of state/heads of government segment in Dubai.

VIDEO | "India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030. We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuels to 50 per cent," says PM Modi while addressing the ceremonial opening of high-level segment for Heads of States at COP28 in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/OvxgkTJ3gK  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 1, 2023

The Prime Minister also said India achieved emission intensity-related target 11 years ago.

He said India has presented a model of development to world striking a great balance between ecology and economy.

'India on track to achieve its NDC targets'

"Today, India has presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world. Despite India being home to 17 per cent of population of the world, its contribution to Global Carbon Emissions is less than 4 per cent, India is one of those few economies of the world that is on the path to meet Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets," the Prime Minister said.

#WATCH | Dubai, UAE | At the Opening of the COP28 high-level segment for HoS/HoG, PM Narendra Modi says, "Today, India has presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world. Despite India being home to 17% of population of the world, its pic.twitter.com/t8XQTDJi6I  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

'Don't have much time...'

"We do not have much time to correct mistakes of last century," PM Modi said at COP28.

"Mother Earth is looking towards us to protect her future, we have to succeed, we have to be decisive," PM Modi said.

He also from the forum of COP28, he wants to invoke another pro-planet, pro-active and positive initiative - Green Credit Initiative.

VIDEO | "From this forum today, I want to invoke another pro-planet, pro-active and positive initiative - Green Credit Initiative," says PM Modi speaking at the ceremonial opening of high-level segment for Heads of States at #COP28 in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/JZACG9ec39  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 1, 2023

At COP28, the Prime Minister also proposed Green Credit Initiative which focuses on creating carbon sinks through people's participation.
Palestinians on Friday said that Israel has been dropping leaflets over southern Gaza, asking residents to evacuate their houses east of the town of Khan Younis as it was now a dangerous battle zone.

The leaflets indicated that Israel, which has so far concentrated primarily on the northern section of the Gaza Strip, was getting ready to expand its operation.

Earlier in the conflict, hundreds of thousands of civilians left northern Gaza and sought safety in Khan Younis and other southern cities.

Fighting resumed in Gaza on Friday immediately after the expiry of a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, with Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reporting 29 deaths after the truce expired.

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.

Israels military said fighter jets were currently striking Hamas targets in Gaza, and AFP reported air strikes in the north and south of the territory.

Earlier Friday, Israel accused Hamas of having violated the terms of the cease-fire, including by firing rockets toward Israel from Gaza.

The halt in fighting began Nov. 24. It initially lasted for four days, and then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Virtually all of those freed were women and children, but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza complicated reaching a deal for a further extension.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had also been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers. About 140 hostages remain in Gaza, with more than 100 having been freed as part of the truce.

Qatar and Egypt, which have played a key role as mediators had sought to prolong the truce by another two days.

Israel has been under growing pressure from its main ally, the United States, to do more to protect Palestinian civilians when it resumes its strikes against Hamas.

With inputs from agencies
The Democratic Party has no backup if President Joe Biden decides for any reason to halt his 2024 re-election campaign, and a sudden need to replace him as its nominee would spark a messy battle within.

Despite weak poll numbers and questions, including from some Democrats, about his age, Biden has stuck to his plan to seek a second term after clearing the field of serious Democratic primary challengers when he announced in April that he was running for the presidency again.

Even if more Democratic candidates were to jump in now, the path forward would be unclear as deadlines to get on the primary ballot in critical states such as Nevada, South Carolina and Georgia have already passed.

Loyalists of Biden, citing his record in office, argue that the party does not need a backup plan to defeat probable Republican nominee Donald Trump, who Biden beat in the 2020 election.

Among the possible scenarios if the president, 81, did drop out: Democrats could pick another nominee next August at their convention, or even later, in line with party rules.

Bidens running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, who has her own popularity problems, would not automatically replace him as the top candidate if he stepped aside; she would benefit from their joint campaign infrastructure if she ran for president in his absence, but other Democrats would likely swoop in to the race as well.

There is no Plan B. If he were  suddenly not to run, everyone you know would run. The VP scares no one, a senior Democrat told Reuters.

If Biden were to drop out while the Democratic primaries were ongoing, other candidates could join the race, depending on state filing requirements.

It normally takes months to set up a presidential campaign and raise the money to run, and deadlines to get on the ballot in consequential states including California, Illinois and Michigan are approaching in the coming weeks.

Democratic officials are united behind the president, despite some trepidation, they say; otherwise big name competitors already would have entered the race.

Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee and he will beat whichever MAGA extremist the Republicans put forward, Biden campaign spokesperson Daniel Wessel said, referring to former President Trumps Make America Great Again slogan.

Trump, 77, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, also faces concerns about his age and a litany of charges including mishandling of classified documents and interfering in the 2020 election, which he lost to Biden. He denies any wrongdoing.

Multiple candidates are challenging Trump in the Republican primary race, giving the party built-in alternatives in the unlikely event that Trump drops out.

GOOD OF THE COUNTRY?

To the dismay of the White House, Bidens age has become a defining part of the 2024 campaign. David Axelrod, a top White House adviser during Barack Obamas presidency, said Biden needed to decide whether it was smart to run again, after November polling showed him lagging in key swing states against Trump.

If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether its in HIS best interest or the countrys? Axelrod wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A physical examination in February found Biden healthy and fit for duty.

Biden has long believed that he is the Democrat most likely to beat Trump, but a Reuters/Ipsos poll on November 7 showed his approval rating at 39%, its lowest since April.

Democrats primary elections start in February and end in June. They hold their convention in Chicago in August.

Biden is expected to win his partys nomination after an easy primary process. He has a massive lead in polls over declared Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson, a writer, and US Representative Dean Phillips.

If he dropped out after the last primaries in June 2024, delegates would be free to vote for another candidate in Chicago.

Any departure before the convention would almost certainly lead to jockeying among a broad group of presidential hopefuls, including Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom, to convince more than 4,000 Democratic delegates to give them the job.

It would augur a return to a time in which convention delegates truly chose, not just rubber-stamped, their nominee.

If he drops out before the convention, we will have an old-fashioned convention where the delegates essentially get to make up their mind (on whom to vote for) regardless of who they were elected to represent, said Elaine Kamarck, an elections expert, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington and a member of the Democratic National Committee.

That could spark intraparty warfare, leaving Democrats to mirror Republicans in a battle in which candidates spend time and money fighting each other.

Things get more complicated if for any reason Biden dropped out after the convention. Kamarck, the author of the book Primary Politics, said the 435 members of the DNC would then meet in a special session to select a nominee.
Following the breakdown of negotiations to prolong a week-long ceasefire with Hamas, Israels jets bombarded Gaza on Friday, forcing wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and others onto the streets in search of shelter.

As the deadline passed just after dawn, Reuters journalists in the city reported that heavy artillery was directed towards the eastern parts of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in columns of smoke billowing into the sky. With their belongings piled high in carts, the residents fled westward, seeking refuge elsewhere.

Huge plumes of smoke soared above the ruins in the north of the enclave, which was once the main combat zone. This view was captured from Israels side of the border. Dogs barking could be heard above the thud of explosions and the rattle of gunfire.

As militants launched rockets into towns from their coastal enclave, sirens sounded throughout southern Israel. On yet another front, the Hezbollah organisation in Lebanon claimed to have supported the Palestinians by firing at Israeli forces stationed along Israels northern border.

While the White House singled out the Palestinian terrorist organisation, saying it had not produced a new list of captives to free in order to facilitate an extension of the truce, Israel and Hamas accused each other of sabotaging the negotiations.

According to the U.N., the conflict would make the dire humanitarian situation worse. Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza, declared Jens Laerke, the UN humanitarian offices Geneva spokesperson.

Gaza health officials announced within hours of the ceasefire ending that 109 people had died and numerous others had been injured in air strikes.

Rejecting arrangements to extend the daily release of terrorist hostages in exchange for Palestinian inmates, each of the fighting factions laid the blame for the others downfall.

Israel had stated that the respite, which started on November 24, might go as long as Hamas freed ten hostages per day, and it had been extended twice. However, after seven days of releasing women, children, and international prisoners, negotiators were unable to come up with a plan at the last minute to free more hostages, including males and Israeli soldiers.

Israel said that Hamas was holding all the women and would not let them go. The breakdown, according to a Palestinian authority, was caused by female Israeli soldiers.

Negotiations to reinstate the truce between Israel and the Palestinians are still ongoing, according to Qatar, which has been a major player in mediation efforts. However, Qatar said that Israels recent resumption of its shelling of Gaza has hindered its efforts.

According to the White House, President Joe Biden will continue to be actively involved in attempts to liberate captives and that the administration is working to extend the humanitarian halt in Gaza.

In reaction to the militant groups October 7 massacre, during which gunmen allegedly killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 more, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas. Since 2007, Hamas, which has vowed to destroy Israel, has dominated Gaza.

(With agency inputs)
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has published a map of Gaza splitting the region into multiple zones to help Palestinian civilians identify areas that are active combat zones.

Dear residents of Gaza! Please pay attention and check this map. Anyone who sees the block number in which he lives or is near it must track and follow the instructions of the IDF through various media outlets and obey them, IDF said.

Palestinians on Friday said that Israel has been dropping leaflets over southern Gaza, asking residents to evacuate their houses east of the town of Khan Younis as it was now a dangerous battle zone.

The leaflets indicated that Israel, which has so far concentrated primarily on the northern section of the Gaza Strip, was getting ready to expand its operation.

The IDF has published an interactive map splitting the Gaza Strip into hundreds of small zones, which it will use to notify Palestinian civilians of active combat zones.https://t.co/rAJdkMRcze pic.twitter.com/rmhAj50sYH  Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) December 1, 2023

According to its statement, the IDF might use the interactive map to warn Palestinians in specific areas to evacuate when the Israeli militarys operation expands into the Gaza Strips north, instead of ordering mass evacuation as it did in the north.

The IDF is operating strongly against terror organizations, while making great efforts to differentiate between civilians and terrorists, it said.

The people of Gaza are not our enemies. For this reason, as of this morning the IDF is leading controlled and specific evacuations of Gaza residents in order to remove them as much as possible from areas of combat, IDF added.

Fighting resumed in Gaza on Friday immediately after the expiry of a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, with the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reporting 29 deaths after the truce expired.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Dubai to attend the COP28 Summit, said India and the UAE stand as partners in shaping a greener and more prosperous future and both nations remain steadfast in their joint efforts to influence the global discourse on climate action.

PM Modi, who is on his sixth visit to UAE since becoming Prime Minister, in an interview to Dubai newspaper Aletihad said, Indias partnership with the UAE in this key area is going from strength to strength, driven by a futuristic vision.

The Prime Minister further said India and the UAE, which enjoy robust and enduring relations, can join forces in establishing a common grid to enhance energy security, leveraging each others strengths in the energy sector, and providing support to the International Solar Alliances Global Solar Facility.

PM Modi also said India is optimistic that COP28, hosted by UAE this year, will inject fresh impetus into effective climate action.

India and the UAE have emerged as leaders in global renewable energy efforts, PM Modi said.

Climate change a collective challenge

PM Modi said he always maintained that climate change is a collective challenge that demands a unified global response.

It is essential to recognise that developing countries have not contributed in the creation of the problem. Yet developing countries are willing to be a part of the solution, the PM said

But, they cannot contribute without access to the financing and technology needed I have, therefore, advocated strongly for global cooperation for ensuring requisite climate financing and technology transfer, PM Modi said emphasising the importance of ensuring that climate financing flows to the developing world in a practical, assured manner.

I believe climate action must be based on equity, climate justice, shared obligations and shared capacities. By adhering to these principles, we can forge a path toward a sustainable future that leaves no one behind, PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister stressed that as nations pursue climate action, we must ensure that development priorities of the Global South are not compromised.

I am happy that during the recent New Delhi G20 Summit, this aspect has been properly addressed, including through a recognition of the need to rapidly and substantially scale up investment and climate finance from billions to trillions of dollars globally from all sources, PM Modi noted.

The implementation of commitments of developed countries to provide technological and financial support to developing countries needs to be at the forefront of the agenda at COP28, PM Modi stressed, adding that rising ambitions on climate action must see matching progress on climate finance.

At COP28, we hope to have credible progress on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance, he said.

Panchamrit

Over the last nine years, India has demonstrated by example that the country is at the forefront of doing its part to address climate change. At COP26, I presented Panchamrit  five ambitious commitments of India  as our contribution to global climate action, the Prime Minister said.

The five ambitious commitments include the following: reaching 500GW Non-fossil energy capacity by 2030; ensuring 50 per cent of its energy requirements are met by renewable energy sources by 2030; reducing the total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes between now and 2030; reducing the carbon intensity of the economy by 45 per cent by 2030 over 2005 levels; and achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070.

Translating its promises into action, India submitted its updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) prior to COP27, and submitted the Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), which put forward its Net Zero pathways, during COP27, according to the Prime Minister.

We are the only G20 country that is on track to achieving our NDCs, he said.

Unfortunately, on a global level, the climate outlook is not that positive, and there are concerns that we will not achieve our 2030 targets as a global community.

PM Modi also brought attention to the first Global Stocktake envisaged during COP28, highlighting it as an important opportunity to undertake a mid-point review of global efforts.

I hope that this event will energise the global community to undertake a course correction and redouble efforts to ensure that we return on track to achieve our 2030 targets, PM Modi said.

Read PM Modis full interview here.
A 20-year-old Indian student was rescued by US authorities after he was kept hostage for months without access to a bathroom, viciously beaten, and forced to work at three homes by his cousin and two other men in an incident described as absolutely inhumane and unconscionable.

The victim, whose name was not revealed, was imprisoned in three homes in the US state of Missouri for several months. On Wednesday, police descended upon a home on a rural highway in St Charles County.

They later arrested Venkatesh R Sattaru, Sravan Varma Penumetcha and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa, and on Thursday charged them with offences including human trafficking, kidnapping and assault.

Police were dispatched to investigate the home after a concerned citizen became aware of his situation and called 911.

The victim is safe and being treated at a hospital for multiple bone fractures, as well as lacerations and injuries covering his entire body, said prosecutor Joe McCulloch.

Over seven months, the men locked the student in a basement and forced him to sleep on an unfinished floor without access to a bathroom, charges say.

He scavenged for scraps in nearby restaurant dumpsters and was beaten with electrical wire, PVC pipe, metal rods, wooden boards, sticks and a water supply hose for a Washing machine , St Louis Post-Dispatch, a major regional newspaper, reported.

Its absolutely inhumane and unconscionable that one human being could treat another human being like this, said McCulloch at a news conference Thursday.

The three defendants are accused of confining and abusing the victim at three different homes owned by Sattaru in Defiance, Dardenne Prairie and OFallon, starting in April 2023, according to St Charles Countys official website.

Sattaru was identified by investigators as the ringleader and lives in the OFallon home with his wife and children.

The main suspect in the case, Sattaru, 35, is additionally charged with human trafficking for the purpose of slavery and contributing to human trafficking through misuse of documentation.

Penumetcha and Penmatsa live in the home where the student was rescued.

Authorities said the student had come to the US from India last year with hopes of studying at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Instead, he was taken to Sattarus homes beginning in April and was forced to begin chores around 4:30 am, work a full day for Sattarus IT company and then complete a list of evening tasks.

The student told police he regularly got three hours of sleep on a concrete floor in a locked basement where Sattaru monitored him with a surveillance camera, according to court documents.

If the 20-year-old didnt complete the tasks properly, he was severely beaten. Charges say he was forced to strip down naked and was hit all over his body. He was kicked, stomped and lashed, charges say, and his injuries included previous fractures and breaks that did not heal properly.

No one answered the door at Sattarus home on Thursday afternoon. None of the three men had attorneys listed in court documents.

They beat him with their fists, they stomped on him, they beat him with electrical wiring, with PVC pipes, McCulloch said. They forced him to sleep in an unfinished basement, they starved him, and limited his access to the public and to restrooms.

McCulloch commended that citizen for making the rescue possible.

If you see something, say something. We would much rather check it out and find nothing than have an incident like this thats been going on for nearly a year, McCulloch said.

Because the three suspects are wealthy and have political connections in India, McCulloch said they are being held at the St. Charles County Jail without bond.

Neighbours in OFallon were shaken by the arrests on Thursday.

Many said theyd had pleasant interactions with the family, waving as they passed on the street or playing with children in the cul-de-sac.

Its shocking, for sure, said Chirag Shah, who lives down the street from Sattarus home.

And in Defiance, an unincorporated community of less than 100 people known for its wineries, gift shops and position along the Katy Trail, neighbours watched as police flocked to the home beginning Wednesday morning, the paper reported.

Police were told at first by a man in the home that they couldnt come inside, but the 20-year-old eventually came running from the basement. He was trembling uncontrollably, heavily scarred and suffering from bruising and swelling all over his body, charges say.

With inputs from agencies
Iranian delegates Friday walked out of the COP28 discussion in protest against the presence of the Israeli delegation.

The Iranian side considered Israels presence at COP28 as contrary to the goals and guidelines of the conference and, in protest, it left the conference venue, Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian, who headed the Iranian delegation, was quoted as saying by the official news agency IRNA.

Meanwhile, there was no third extension of a truce between Israel and Gaza on Friday leading to the resumption of battle between the two sides.

Iran has blamed Israel and the United States for a resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip.

After killing more than 15,000 Palestinians, the Zionist vampires have started a new round of killing under the continued support of the American government, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Kanani added that the political and legal responsibility for the continuation of the aggression and massacre rests with Israel, the US and a few governments that support this apartheid regime.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Hamas for violating the truce as Israels army reported the interception of a rocket fired from Gaza about an hour before the pause expired.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has published a map of Gaza splitting the region into multiple zones to help Palestinian civilians identify areas that are active combat zones.

Dear residents of Gaza! Please pay attention and check this map. Anyone who sees the block number in which he lives or is near it must track and follow the instructions of the IDF through various media outlets and obey them, IDF said.

Palestinians on Friday said that Israel has been dropping leaflets over southern Gaza, asking residents to evacuate their houses east of the town of Khan Younis as it was now a dangerous battle zone.

With inputs from AFP
Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates

Aid to Gaza stopped as Israel resumes campaign

According to Egyptian security and assistance sources, the entry of gasoline and relief trucks for the Gaza Strip at Egypt's Rafah crossing ceased on Friday, when Israel recommenced its military campaign after a seven-day ceasefire.

Supplies authorities stated that although the amount of supplies passing through the Rafah crossing has increased during the truce, it is still significantly less than what is required.

Deliveries of humanitarian aid to Gaza began on October 21, two weeks after the conflict broke out, and Rafah has been the only port of entry.
Heavy fighting was reported in Gaza as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed resuming combat against Hamas terrorists on Friday, ending the truce. Israel also accused the Palestinian terrorist group of violating the ceasefire by firing rockets into its territory.

Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, IDF said in a post on X.

Hamas did not meet obligation

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement said Hamas violated the framework, did not meet its obligation to release all hostage women, and fired rockets at Israel.

Amid the return to combat, we stress the government of Israel is committed to achieving the goals of the war  releasing our hostages, eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza can never again threaten the people of Israel, the Israelis PMO said.

No list of hostages from Hamas

IDF also said Hamas did not provide a list of hostages to be released by 7 am on Friday (1 December 2023).

Stating the violation of the truce deal, IDF said it had renewed its attacks on Hamas.

IDF said several rockets were fired from Gaza just before 7 am, setting off sirens in the southern community of Holit.

It further said the Iron Dome was not used to intercept the projectiles as they were headed for uninhabited areas. This is in addition to several launches around 6 am.

The resumption of fighting between Hamas and Israel followed the breakdown of a week-long truce that began on 24 November 2023 and saw two extensions.

The ceasefire allowed for the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the shattered coastal strip.

However, IDF said, sirens warning of rockets sounded in Israeli areas near Gaza again on Friday just minutes before the deadline.

 Following sirens that sounded in communities near Gaza, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a launch from Gaza.  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 1, 2023

Soon after the truce ended at 7:00 am local time, Israeli military vehicles were firing in northwest Gaza.

A statement by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Interior in Gaza said Israeli aircraft were in the skies above the area.

The statement was released by Hamas soon after Israeli troops said it had resumed combat operations against the terrorist group, accusing it of violating the truce agreement by firing toward Israel.
Tokyos top government spokesperson on Friday said that Japan is worried that the US military is still using its V-22 Osprey aircraft following a deadly crash this week, even though Tokyo requested that the planes be grounded until their safety was known.

Japan, a key US ally, had sought the suspension of all non-emergency V-22 Osprey flights over its territory after one fell into the sea on Wednesday in western Japan. Japans Coast Guard has said one person was found and confirmed dead, and the search for the remaining seven aboard continues.

After one of the V-22 Ospreys crashed into the sea in western Japan on Wednesday, Japan, a significant ally of the US, requested that all non-emergency flights over its country be suspend. According to Japans Coast Guard, seven people are still missing after one was discovered and declared deceased.

However, the Pentagon said on Thursday it was still flying Ospreys for now as it was not aware of any official request for their grounding. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Asked about that statement, Japans chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said Tokyo had officially made the request.

We are concerned that despite our repeated requests, and in the absence of sufficient explanation (from the US military), the Osprey continues to fly, Reuters quoted Matsuno as saying at a news conference.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF), which also operates Ospreys, has said it would suspend flights of the transport aircraft.

Japans foreign minister, Yoko Kamikawa, said she had directly asked US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Thursday to confirm the safety of Osprey flights before further flights were carried out.

The US embassy in Japan declined to immediately comment.

The deployment of the hybrid aircraft in Japan has been controversial, with critics of the US military presence in the southwest islands saying it is prone to accidents.

Pacifist Japan hosts the biggest overseas concentration of US military power, with the country home to the only forward-deployed American carrier strike group, its Asian airlift hub, fighter squadrons and a US Marine Corps expeditionary force.

Robert Dujarric, a scholar at Tokyos Temple University, said Japan was very sensitive to residents concerns about military operations, which date back to Japans defeat in World War II and its subsequent reliance on the US for security.

They think that if it looks like the US and Japan are not sufficiently investigating this, it is going to put problems on deployment because in Japan, unlike what happens in other countries, the local communities have an impact on what type of assets are deployed, he said.

Dujarric said that he did not expect the issue to blow up into a major diplomatic spat between the allies, who have been forging closer ties in the face of Chinas increasingly muscular military stance in the region.

With inputs from agencies
Tokyos top government spokeswoman stated on Friday that Japan is worried that the U.S. military is still using its V-22 Osprey aircraft despite its request to ground them until their safety is established following a deadly crash this week.

After one of the V-22 Ospreys crashed into the sea on Wednesday in western Japan, Japan, a significant ally of the United States, requested that all non-emergency flights over its country be suspended. The search for the remaining seven people on board is still ongoing, according to Japans Coast Guard, after one person was discovered and declared deceased.

On Thursday, the Pentagon announced that it was continuing to fly Ospreys and that it was not aware of any formal requests to halt them. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Japans chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, responded that Tokyo had officially made the request when questioned about that assertion.

We are concerned that despite our repeated requests, and in the absence of sufficient explanation (from the U.S. military), the Osprey continues to fly, he stated during a news conference.

The Ospreys operator, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF), has declared that it will cease the transport planes operations.

Before any more flights were conducted, Japans foreign minister, Yoko Kamikawa, stated that she had personally requested U.S. ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, to vouch for the safety of Osprey flights on Thursday.

The American embassy in Japan declined to react right away.

The use of hybrid aircraft in Japan has generated controversy; opponents of US military presence in the southwest islands claim it increases the risk of accidents.

With its Asian airlift hub, fighter squadrons, U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary force, and the only forward-deployed American carrier strike group, Pacifist Japan is home to the largest concentration of U.S. military strength outside of its borders.

Japan is particularly sensitive to locals worries about military operations, which stem from Japans defeat in World War II and its subsequent reliance on the United States for security, according to Robert Dujarric, a scholar at Tokyos Temple University.

They think that if it looks like the U.S. and Japan are not sufficiently investigating this, it is going to put problems on deployment because in Japan, unlike what happens in other countries, the local communities have an impact on what type of assets are deployed, he stated.

The partners have been forming stronger connections in response to Chinas more assertive military posture in the area, so Dujarric stated he did not anticipate the issue to blow up into a significant diplomatic dispute between them.

(With agency inputs)
The presidents of Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania refused to join world leaders for a family photo at the COP28 climate meeting on Friday due to the attendance of Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko.

Accused by the European Union of repressing the Belarusian opposition and siding with Russia, Lukashenko joined the heads of state and government that convened in Dubai for the UN climate conference.

The leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland  all staunch supporters of Ukraine as it fights off Russian aggression  cited Lukashenkos presence as reason for boycotting the traditional opening photograph at COP28.

This is called a family photo. Lukashenko does not belong to the family which we want to be a part of, AFP quoted Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda as saying in a statement.

It would be hypocritical to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the head of state that has become a staging ground for Russias aggression against Ukraine and to discuss the future of the world and climate change as if nothing happened, Nauseda added.

Lithuania and its fellow Baltic state Latvia, former Soviet republics, are among the most vocal critics of Russia and the Kremlin and proponents of increased military aid to Kyiv.

Both countries as well as Poland have accused the authorities in Minsk of orchestrating an influx of migrants trying to cross into the EU in an attempt to destabilise the region.

With inputs from agencies
After completing its operation in Gaza, Israel will hunt down Hamas leaders across the world. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked spy agencies in the country to draw up plans to assassinate Hamas top leaders living outside of Gaza in Qatar, Turkey and Lebanon.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Israel has been carrying out secret operations to assassinate senior Hamas leaders for decades now and the latest plot is an extension of it.

Countries like Qatar, Turkey, Iran and Russia have provided a haven to Hamas. Under its previous plans, Israel has been able to hunt down Hamas terrorists disguised as women in Beirut and tourists in Dubai.

On November 22, Netanyahu said, I have instructed the Mossad to act against the heads of Hamas wherever they are.

In the same address, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas leaders are living in borrowed time.

They are marked for death. The struggle is worldwide, both the terrorists in Gaza and those who fly in expensive planes, Gallant said.

An Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that soon after the October 7 attack some officials called for the launch of an immediate campaign to kill Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and other leaders living abroad. However, such an operation on Turkish or Qatari soil would have torpedoed diplomatic efforts to free hostages.

Meanwhile, an ex-Mossad director Efraim Halevy has called Israels latest plans ill-advised.

Pursuing Hamas on a worldwide scale and trying to systematically remove all its leaders from this world is a desire to exact revenge, not a desire to achieve a strategic aim, Halevy said adding that the plan is far-fetched.

As of last month, Israel has claimed to have killed over 60 senior and mid-level Hamas leaders in Gaza since the October 7 attack.

Last month, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that the house of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was bombed by an Israeli drone.

As per media reports, a missile was fired at Haniyehs home in the Al-Shathi neighborhood in northern Gaza. It is however not clear whether any of his family members were at home when the strike occurred.
Interviewees on the streets of Tel Aviv supported their armys decision to resume action in the Gaza Strip on Friday, recognising the risks involved but holding Hamas accountable for the breakup of the week-long ceasefire.

A seven-week battle break had allowed hundreds of Palestinian captives captured since a Hamas attack on October 7 to be exchanged for hostages, and it had made it easier for humanitarian aid to reach the coastal strip.

They didnt return all the captives. They didnt reunite the families together. We had no other choice. You know, its not the war that we choose, said Dvir Feller.

We still have 156 hostages in Gaza, still have babies there  We dont want this war, but we have to, he said.

The army resumed airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave early on Friday, accusing Hamas of violating a week-long truce by firing rockets and failing to free all the women it was holding hostage.

Israeli Yael Segal, 53, said, Im really worried about that because I know its a must, it should continue. But on the other hand, all the hostages are in real danger.

I hope Hamas will be clever enough to keep the hostages safe and also the innocent citizens of Gaza, that they will be safe also, she said.

The army on Friday released a link to an online map showing Gaza divided into hundreds of districts, which it said would be used to help communicate future evacuation instructions.

Israel usually, you know, sends messages before attacks and asks the people to go from this area, but Hamas doesnt let them do so and then blames Israel and the victims, which are innocent citizens, Segal said.

Opinion polls traditionally show Israelis give high marks to the military. Conscription is mandatory, and it is often described as a peoples army, though exemptions are given, often to Jewish seminary students.

Israeli Lior Feuer said: I think the fighting will continue no matter what. And I dont believe Hamas will give up all the hostages because they use it as a human shield.

So if they give up all of them, they wont have anything to stand up against Israel because Israel has a much stronger army than Hamas does. And Im all for the fighting against Hamas. And I think they should pay for what they did to Israel, he said.

Much of Gaza, an enclave of 2.3 million people, was reduced to a wasteland in an Israeli retaliatory offensive for the Oct. 7 Hamas rampage in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and about 240 taken hostage.

Gazan authorities say Israels bombardment has so far killed more than 15,000 people in the Hamas-run enclave.

We really need to finish the work we started because were scared to live in our country. Its our country, we have one small Jewish country. We are afraid to go around to be hit by rockets, to have suicide attacks, said Tania Rubinshtein.

I just called my friend and I said, I hope we wont get stabbed. We just came for a coffee. We just want to live. We dont have any other place to go.

(With agency inputs)
As Manila steps up attempts to resist Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard on Friday inaugurated a new surveillance facility on a remote island in the disputed vital waterway that is occupied by Filipino forces.

Philippines National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and other officials flew to Thitu Island on an air force plane on Friday and led a ceremony to open the centre.

Addressing the reporters after the ceremony, Ano said, Its no longer gray zone. Its pure bullying.

The newly built, two-story centre will have radar, ship tracking, and other monitoring equipment  either already installed or added early next year  to monitor Chinas actions in the highly disputed waters and other issues, including sea accidents.

Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified this year in the contested waters, resulting in minor but alarming collisions near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal occupied by a Filipino marine contingent in October.

The high-seas faceoffs have fueled fears of a larger conflict that could involve the United States, which has repeatedly warned that its obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

China has accused the US of meddling in an Asian dispute and sowing discord in the region.

Later peering through a mounted telescope on the island, Ano said he spotted at least 18 suspected Chinese militia ships scattered off Thitu, including a Chinese navy vessel.

Villagers say they have gotten used to the sight of Chinese ships lurking at a distance from Thitu, but a few say theyre still haunted at times by the fear of Chinese forces intruding one day into the island.

I cant avoid thinking sometimes that they would suddenly barge into our territory, said Daisy Cojamco, a 51-year-old mother of three whose husband works as a town government employee.

Surrounded by white beaches, the tadpole-shaped Thitu Island is called Pag-asa  Tagalog for hope  by about 250 Filipino villagers. Its one of nine islands, islets and atolls that have been occupied by Philippine forces since the 1970s in the South China Seas Spratlys archipelago.

The Philippines claims the region as its most remote offshore township, under its western island province of Palawan. It has encouraged fishing families to move there with incentives such as free rice, to underscore its control over an area also claimed by China and Vietnam.

The 37-hectare (91-acre) island now boasts internet and cellphone connections, a more stable power and water supply, a newly cemented runway, a wharf, grade school, gymnasium and even an evacuation center in times of typhoons. However, Thitu remains a meagre frontier settlement compared to the Chinese-built Subi island, more than 22 kilometers (14 miles) away.

Subi is one of seven mostly submerged reefs that China transformed starting about a decade ago into a missile-protected cluster of island bases, three of them with military-grade runways, sparking alarm among other claimant states in the South China Sea.

Philippine aircraft and ships, including those visiting Thitu island, have routinely been warned by the Chinese coast guard via radio calls to stay away from what China claims as its territory or face unspecified repercussions. The Filipinos have countered with their own radio messages, ordering the Chinese to leave their territory and stop dangerous and provocative maneuvers.

It was not immediately clear if Chinese radio warnings were sent to the Philippine air force and coast guard planes that brought Ano and other officials to Thitu on Friday along with three Associated Press journalists and several other invited members of the media.

Dwarfed by Chinas military might, the Philippines has decided this year to allow an expansion of US military presence in its local camps under a 2014 defense pact. It also recently launched joint sea and air patrols with the United States and Australia in a new deterrent strategy that puts the two allied powers on a collision course with Beijing.

China has warned that such joint naval patrols must not hurt its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office last year, the Philippines has been deepening its security ties with Washington and US allies like Japan and Australia in a major shift from his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who had nurtured cozy relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin while criticizing Western security policies.

Duterte had mostly kept the territorial disputes with Beijing on a backburner during his six-year term.

Early this year, the Marcos administration launched a strategy of exposing Chinas aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including the Chinese coast guards use of a military-grade laser and water cannons and the blocking of Philippine patrol ships and supply boats near disputed shoals, to draw international attention to such aggression, according to Philippine officials.

Speaking in Honolulu, where he met US military leaders about two weeks ago, Marcos said the situation in the South China Sea has become more dire with China showing interest in atolls and shoals that are closer and closer to the Philippine coast.

But he stressed that the Philippines wouldnt yield.

The Philippines will not give a single square inch of our territory to any foreign power, Marcos warned.

With inputs from agencies
North Koreas Kim Jong Un has asked the military to be on standby to respond to any provocation by the enemy. The development comes after Pyongyang warned to deploy stronger armed forces and new weapons along its border with the South.

Tensions between North and South Korea have increased since the former launched a spy satellite, forcing South to suspend a key clause in a 2018 inter-Korean military accord.

Visiting North Koreas air force command on Thursday to the branchs airmen day, Kim rolled out guidelines to improve the militarys 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.

Meanwhile, Kim and his daughter visited a fighter wing where pilots staged a demonstration flight.

Kim praised the air force for being fully prepared to perfectly carry out their air combat missions under any unfavourable situation, KCNA said.

North Koreas spy satellite has drawn condemnation from the US and its allies, saying the country has violated multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. However, Pyongyang has said it would launch more satellites, calling it an exercise of a right to self-defense.

With inputs from Reuters
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is accused of using delimitation exercise and redrawing the voting map to allegedly make things fall in favour of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and bring him back to power.

The ECP is already being questioned about the coming general elections in the country and the possibility of pre-polling rigging.

As many as 1,300 objections have been raised over the delimitation process in Pakistan which followed on from a census that was recently conducted.

The objections were raised over the proposed amendments to constituencies by the ECP, including over the merging of the Balochistan districts of Harnai and Sibi into a single constituency, despite the two being 400 km apart with no road connections and stark climate, culture and demographic differences.

Elections in Pakistan were earlier scheduled for November 2023, but now they have been delayed and will be held in February 2024. The reason was the results of the census, but opposition parties in the country alleged that the dates have been pushed by months to give more time to Nawaz Sharif to return from exile in the UK and prepare for the polls.

Sharif, leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is said to be the favoured candidate of Pakistans all-powerful military. He has served as the prime minister of the country four times.

Not just political opponents, the monitoring group Free and Fair Election Network has also raised serious objections over the preliminary delimitations and said more than one-fifth of the proposed constituencies did not conform to the regulations on voter numbers.

A report by The Guardian stated Deenar Domki, a politician from Balochistan, raising objection to the merging of the Harnai and Sibi districts.

Domki alleged that the constituency borders were being altered to favour former minister Noor Muhammad Dumar, who recently joined Sharifs PML-N party. He further claimed that Dumar was the main beneficiary of this unjust demarcation, pointing out that some voters would have to cross five districts in order to vote or participate in local campaigning.

Domki also alleged that the ECP has accepted bribes and said decisions had been made in a closed room with no information about geography, cultures and demography of constituencies.

This is pre-poll rigging. With such measures, there cant be free elections, Donki said.

The ECP has also been accused of redrawing the map in order to directly undermine the support Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which still is popular among the voters of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday met Israels President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. PM expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 07 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet on X.

The Prime Minister also reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population in Israel and Gaza. He also highlighted Indias support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

Last month, PM Modi emphasised the importance of ensuring that the war between Israel and Hamas does not turn into a regional conflict.

At the G20 virtual summit, Modi welcomed the deal between the two warring sides to release hostages and underscored the significance of timely and uninterrupted humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met several world leaders including UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit and exchanged pleasantries and held meaningful conversations.

PM Modi praised the UAE Vice President for his visionary leadership on various issues.

It was a privilege to meet His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His visionary leadership on a wide range of issues is truly commendable, PM Modi wrote on X.

He also met Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai.

Meaningful conversations with @president_uz Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of Tajikistan, Mr. Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of COP-28 in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/R6gqHurbSv  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

In a post shared on X, PM Modi said, Meaningful conversations with @president_uz Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of Tajikistan, Mr. Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of COP-28 in Dubai.

The Prime Minister also met Jordan King Abdullah II and during their meeting they held enriching and reflective discussions of deep-rooted friendship between India and Jordan.

Delighted to meet His Majesty @KingAbdullahII of Jordan at COP-28. Our discussions were enriching and reflective of our nations deep-rooted friendship. Looking forward to strengthening our ties further. pic.twitter.com/kOt2DuJmHI  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

Taking to X, PM Modi said, Delighted to meet His Majesty @KingAbdullahII of Jordan at COP-28. Our discussions were enriching and reflective of our nations deep-rooted friendship. Looking forward to strengthening our ties further.

PM Modi also met with Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte.

In a post shared on X, PM Modi said, Its always refreshing to exchange ideas with my friend Mark Rutte of Netherlands.

Its always refreshing to exchange ideas with my friend Mark Rutte of Netherlands. @MinPres pic.twitter.com/3v2HbiutiX  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

In the midst of COP-28 proceedings, PM Modi also caught up with Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Its always wonderful to connect and discuss various issues. @RW_UNP, he wrote on X.

In the midst of COP-28 proceedings, caught up with President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka. Its always wonderful to connect and discuss various issues. @RW_UNP pic.twitter.com/y50amRstdb  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

PM Modi, along with other world leaders have gathered in Dubai for the COP28 World Climate Action summit. Earlier in the day, world leaders were seen posing for the customary family photograph as the Summit began on Friday.

Earlier today, PM Modi was received by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the venue of the 28th edition of the climate change conference.

He interacted with various world leaders including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen.

This morning PM Modi took to social media platform X to thank Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Antonio Guterres for their warm welcome.

Glad to join the COP-28 Summit, a pivotal platform for global climate action. Looking forward to engaging in meaningful dialogues and collaborations for a sustainable future. I thank my brother HH @MohamedBinZayed and @UN Secretary General Mr. @antonioguterres for the warm pic.twitter.com/uLNC8Cdy78  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

Glad to join the COP-28 Summit, a pivotal platform for global climate action. Looking forward to engaging in meaningful dialogues and collaborations for a sustainable future. I thank my brother HH @MohamedBinZayed and @UN Secretary General Mr. @antonioguterres for the warm welcome, PM Modi posted on X.

He warmly interacted with both leaders and they posed for a picture together. During his stay in Dubai, PM Modi will participate in two special initiatives on climate events.

PM Modi is scheduled to address the opening session of the World Climate Summit Action Summit, which is a High-Level Segment of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

He will attend the Presidencys session on Transforming Climate Finance, which is to be hosted by the Presidency of the COP28  UAE. PM Modi will also attend a high-level event on the Green Credits Programme, which is being co-hosted by India and UAE.

Later he will also participate in the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Event co-hosted by India and Sweden.

This is PM Modis third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021. On his arrival at Dubai airport on Thursday night, PM Modi was welcomed by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Members of the Indian diaspora, waiting outside a hotel, sang Saare Jahan Se Achha and chanted slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, as well as Vande Mataram.

Upon his arrival in UAE, PM Modi in a post on X stated, Landed in Dubai to take part in the COP-28 Summit. Looking forward to the proceedings of the Summit, which are aimed at creating a better planet.

COP28 is being held from 28 November- 12 December 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.

With inputs from agencies
Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, was detained longer on Friday by a Russian court while she awaited trial for failing to register as a foreign agent.

Her incarceration was extended by the Kazan court until

February 5. The trial has not been assigned a date.

Kurmasheva works as a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Prague. RFE/RL is supported by the US Congress and is listed by Russia as a foreign agent, which means that it receives funding from outside sources for activities that are considered political.

According to RFE/RL, Kurmasheva entered Russia on May 20 to attend to a family emergency. She is in possession of both a Russian and an American passport. She was arrested and her passports seized on June 2 while she waited for her return flight.

Kurmasheva was fined 10,000 roubles ($103) on October 11 for neglecting to register her U.S. passport with Russian officials, according to court documents. A week later, she was accused of failing to register as a foreign agent, a crime that entails a maximum five-year prison sentence.

With its espionage implications from the Cold War, the term foreign agent has been used in Russia to refer to organisations, journalists, human rights advocates, and even artists. It carries with it a tonne of red tape and intense government oversight.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Kurmasheva is the second American journalist to be imprisoned in Russia.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained by the FSB security service in March 2023 on suspicion of espionage, a crime that carries a maximum 20-year jail sentence. U.S. President Joe Biden, his newspaper, and Gershkovich have all denied being spies, and the U.S. ambassador has charged Moscow with hostage diplomacy.

(With agency inputs)
In response to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiys plea for nations to forbid Moscow from participating in the UN organizations executive branch, Russia was unable to secure enough votes on Friday to be re-elected to the governing council of the maritime agency.

The result is a further setback for Russia, which already suffered when it lost an election in October that was viewed as a crucial litmus test for Western attempts to maintain Moscows isolation from the world.

Last year Moscow also failed to win enough votes for re-election to the UN aviation agencys governing council.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which has 175 member states and is headquartered in London, is in charge of policing international maritime safety and security as well as combating pollution. Since 1958, Russia has been a member of the IMO Council and has been re-elected several times.

40 nations were chosen by secret ballot to serve on the IMO Council, which oversees the organizations operations, with voting starting on Friday. China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Panama, Norway, South Korea, Britain, and the United States are among them.

The country of Ukraine, which was not running for office, has advocated for Russias expulsion from the IMO Council.

Russia said in October that external pressure was causing the IMO to stray from its impartial position and that this was affecting how each member country was treated fairly.

(With agency inputs)
South Korea on Friday announced that it will launch its first military spy satellite early on Saturday on a SpaceX rocket, escalating the space race on the Korean Peninsula following Pyongyangs first military eye in the sky last month.

A defence ministry source informed reporters on Friday that Seouls surveillance satellite, which will be launched by one of Elon Musks SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, will take off from the Vandenberg US Space Force Base in California at 0319 Seoul time (GMT 1819).

A picture of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket with the letters KOREA painted on it, standing vertically on the launch pad, was made public.

In order to keep an eye on North Korea, which is armed with nuclear weapons, South Korea will have launched its first indigenously produced spy satellite into orbit.

By the end of 2025, Seoul intends to launch four more spy satellites to increase its ability to conduct reconnaissance over the North.

Set to orbit between 400 and 600 kilometres above the earth, Seouls satellite is capable of detecting an object as small as 30 centimetres (11.8 inches), according to the Yonhap news agency.

Considering resolution and its capacity for Earth observation our satellite technology ranks in the top five globally, the defence ministry official said, as quoted by Yonhap.

The launch comes less than two weeks after Pyongyang had successfully put its own spy satellite into orbit.

Until now, South Korea has relied heavily on US-run spy satellites when it comes to monitoring the North, Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University told AFP.

While the South has succeeded in the launch of a military communications satellite, it has taken much longer for a reconnaissance satellite due to higher technological hurdles, he said.

Following the Norths successful launch of its own spy satellite, Choi said, the South Korean government needs to demonstrate it can also pull this off.

Experts have said putting a working reconnaissance satellite into orbit would improve North Koreas intelligence-gathering capabilities, particularly over South Korea, and provide crucial data in any military conflict.

Since last weeks launch, the North has claimed its new eye in the sky has provided images of major US and South Korean military sites, as well as photos of the Italian capital Rome.

It has not yet disclosed any of the satellite imagery it claims to possess.

Last weeks launch of the Malligyong-1 was Pyongyangs third attempt at putting such a satellite in orbit, after two failures in May and August.

Seoul has said the North received technical help from Moscow, in return for supplying weapons for use in Russias war with Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies
The Ukrainian military stated on Friday that it had shot down eighteen of the twenty-five Russian drones that it had launched overnight, all but two of which had been in southern Ukraine. The strikes had resulted in one person being killed and damage to a warehouse and farm equipment.

According to information released by Ukraines Southern Military Command on the Telegram messaging app, there was damage to a cultural centre and one civilian was murdered and another injured in strikes on the southern Kherson region.

It added that agricultural equipment, a hangar, and a warehouse were damaged in the nearby Mykolaiv area.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, two missiles and two drones were launched from the seized portion of the Kherson region, as well as from southwest Russia and Russian-controlled Crimea. One of the rockets had been destroyed, it was noted.

(With agency inputs)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will pledge 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion) in funding at the United Nations led climate summit on Friday, in an effort to bolster his green credentials after watering down Britains measures to reach net zero targets.

Sunak, in Dubai for the COP28 leaders day, will try to restore the United Kingdoms reputation as a leader in tackling climate change by committing to spend the money on projects in Africa and Asia to tackle deforestation and energy innovation.

He will also underline Britains pragmatic approach to climate change, a description he has stuck with since he was criticised by environmental campaigners for delaying a ban on sales of new petrol cars, easing the transition to heat pumps and granting new North Sea drilling licences.

Tagging behind the opposition Labour Party in the polls before a national election expected next year, Sunaks team believes voters will only support measures to tackle climate change when, or if, they are affordable.

The world made ambitious pledges at previous COP summits to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. But the time for pledges is now over  this is the era for action, Sunak said in a statement.

The transition to net zero should make us all safer and better off. It must benefit, not burden ordinary families. The UK has led the way in taking pragmatic, long-term decisions at home.

The funding, which will be announced during the two-week summit, includes up to 500 million pounds to tackle the causes of deforestation, 316 million for energy innovation projects around the world and up to 60 million for loss and damage.

King Charles, a long-time environmental campaigner, will give the opening address to the summit, calling on world leaders to acknowledge the repeated warning signs of the impact of climate change and take genuine transformational action.
Since its inception at the beginning of this year, a United Nations-led project to employ space satellites to detect methane leaks from fossil fuel infrastructure has informed governments about 127 significant methane plumes across four continents.

With 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. Approximately one-third of global warming to date has been caused by these emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was developed in order to facilitate the worldwide commitment made by over 150 countries in 2021 to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.

According to Reuters, citing a report published on Friday, UNEP said the system was fully operational and providing satellite data to companies and governments on leaky fossil fuel infrastructure found to be emitting several metric tons of methane per hour.

Every kilogram of methane matters, but what we can see from our satellites is only the most outrageous of those emissions, Reuters quoted Manfredi Caltagirone, head of UNEPs International Methane Emissions Observatory, as saying.

Restricting leaks, as well as routine venting and flaring, from oil and gas wells and equipment is one of the fastest ways to curb methane emissions, which are often invisible to the naked eye and for the most part odorless.

While satellites picked up more than 127 major plumes in 2023, some appeared short-lived and therefore too hard to trace, he said. MARS also only works with national governments with whom they have an ongoing collaboration.

Super-emitting events such as these are responsible for between 8% and 12% of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

One leak in Argentina was found in March 2023 to be emitting roughly 5.8 metric tons of methane every hour, the report said. That is equivalent to the emissions of about 100 passenger vehicles over a year in a single hour.

MARS sent a notification to the Argentinian government alerting them to the plume, which was then resolved.

It is so far unclear how many of the other 126 leaks were plugged, Caltagirone said.

Delegates at this years UN COP28 climate summit that began Thursday in Dubai are seeking practical solutions to curbing methane.

This could include providing financial support for developing countries efforts and national regulations over methane-emitting sectors such as oil and gas and agriculture.

With inputs from agencies
Over three decades after an arms embargo was imposed on Somalia, the United Nations Security Council will vote on Friday to remove the final restrictions on weapons delivered to the countrys government and security forces.

The embargo was put on Somalia by the UNSC in 1992 to cut the flow of weapons to feuding warlords, who had ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and plunged the Horn of Africa country in civil war.

A report by Reuters quoted diplomats saying the 15-member body is due to adopt two British-drafted resolutions on Friday  one to remove the full arms embargo on Somalia and another to reimpose an arms embargo on Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab terrorists.

One of the draft resolutions spells out that for the avoidance of doubt, that there is no arms embargo on the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The UNSC also expressed concern about the number of safe ammunition storage facilities in Somalia, and encourages the construction, refurbishment and use of safe ammunition depots across Somalia. It has been urging other countries to help.

Since 2006, Al Shabaab has been waging a brutal insurgency against the Somali government and has been trying to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Somalias government had long asked for the arms embargo to be removed so it could strengthen its forces to take on the terrorists. The UNSC began to partially start lifting measures Somalias security forces in 2013.

Last week, president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia has one year to expel al Shabaab, with the deadline for remaining African Union peacekeepers to leave looming next December.

With inputs from Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome at the Dubai airport as soon as he landed there to attend the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) Summit.

The Prime Minister will be participating in the World Climate Action Summit of COP28 which is scheduled on 1 December.

PM Modi was received by UAEs Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahayan at the airport.

PM Modi gets rousing welcome in Dubai

The Indian diaspora, waiting outside a hotel in Dubai, were all excited upon PM Modis arrival in UAE. They sang Saare Jahan Se Achha and chanted slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Vande Mataram, Modi, Modi, Ab Ki Baar Modi Sarkar.

#WATCH | Members of the Indian Diaspora raise Modi, Modi and Abki Baar Modi Sarkar slogans as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dubai pic.twitter.com/LY2SsyqvBS  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, PM Modi said, "Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds."

Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds. pic.twitter.com/xQC64gcvDJ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2023

'World needs a leader like PM Modi'

The members of the Indian diaspora in Dubai were elated at the opportunity to meet PM Modi and they highlighted his global leadership qualities.

"I have been living in UAE for 20 years but today it felt as if one of my own has come to this country," said a member of the Indian diaspora after meeting PM Modi in Dubai.

#WATCH | UAE: "...I have been living in UAE for 20 years but today it felt as if one of my own has come to this country...," says a member of the Indian Diaspora after meeting PM Modi in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/t8tOvWpP6j  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

After meeting PM Modi, a student said, "It was a very inspiring and motivating moment. We felt good after seeing him."

"The amount of time PM Modi gave us and the events that happened here we are very happy to witness it," said another student after meeting the Indian Prime Minister.

#WATCH | UAE: "...It was a very inspiring & motivating moment. We felt good after seeing him...," says a student after meeting PM Modi in Dubai. "The amount of time PM Modi gave us & the events that happened here we are very happy to witness it...," says another student after pic.twitter.com/8YkYtBPz41  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

"We are so happy to see PM Modi here. We will never forget this day in our lives. The world needs a leader like PM Modi," said another member of the diaspora after meeting PM Modi.

#WATCH | "We are so happy to see PM Modi here. We will never forget this day in our lives. The world needs a leader like PM Modi...," says a member of the Indian Diaspora after meeting PM Modi in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/4iHTCJiPSu  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

"We felt good that PM Modi has come here. He shook hands with us. He is a global leader," said another member of the Indian diaspora.

#WATCH | UAE: "...We felt good that PM Modi has come here. He shook hands with us. He is a global leader...," says a member of the Indian Diaspora after meeting PM Modi in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/H720Q6iBmM  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

"We have no words to say. We are very happy that PM Modi shook hands with us and he recognised us because of our 'pagdi'," said another member of the diaspora.

#WATCH | "We have no words to say. We are very happy that PM Modi shook hands with us & he recognised us because of our 'pagdi'...," says a member of the Indian Diaspora after meeting PM Modi in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/XTzwzAR7CI  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

"I am big fan of PM Modi. He is favourite leader. I told him about the lotus saree that I am wearing," said a woman of Indian origin after meeting PM Modi in Dubai.

VIDEO | "I am big fan of PM Modi. He is favourite leader. I told him about the lotus saree that I am wearing," says an Indian woman after meeting PM Modi in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/XFWPtbzkfm  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 30, 2023

Prime Minister Modi also witnessed cultural performance by members of Indian diaspora upon his arrival at hotel in Dubai.

#WATCH | UAE: Cultural performance by members of Indian Diaspora as PM Modi arrived at hotel in Dubai pic.twitter.com/lBwLtBtcnA  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

PM Modi is on a one-day visit to the UAE and has a packed schedule on Friday (1 December, 2023).

The Prime Minister will arrive at the Leadership Pavilion of the COP28 venue at Expo City around 10:30 am (local time). The leaders will then have a welcome photograph with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

There will be the traditional family photograph of all the attending delegates (heads of state/heads of government) around 11:30 am (local time).

As PM @narendramodi sets foot in Dubai, here is an overview of his action-packed programme tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/SkML9HZYvV  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 30, 2023

PM Modi will speak at five events as part of the COP28 summit. These are the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit, ceremonial opening of high-level segment for heads of state/government, presidency's session on transforming climate finance, high-level event on green credits programme, and leadership group for industry transition.

With inputs from agencies
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin announces:

On December 4, Vice President Han Zheng will attend upon invitation the opening ceremony of the 2023 Imperial Springs International Forum to be held in Guangzhou.
London-based consumer tech brand, Nothing, launched the Nothing Phone (2) in India back in India, starting at Rs. 44,999. Today, the company has announced a price reduction of Rs. 5000 for the phone.

The Nothing Phone (2) is available in both White and Dark Grey, with the following discounted variants:

8GB/128GB in Dark Grey  Rs. 39,999 (Rs. 5000 price cut)

12GB/256GB in Dark Grey and White  Rs. 44,999 (Rs. 5000 price cut)

12GB/512GB in Dark Grey and White  Rs. 49,999 (Rs. 5000 price cut)

The phone was sold for Rs. 35,999 during the Flipkarts Big Billion Days Sale a couple of months back, and with bank offers, it was available for as low as Rs. 32,999.

Additionally, for a limited time, the CMF by nothing 65W GaN charger which is available for Rs 2999 will be available for just Rs. 1999 as part of a bundle offer when purchased with Nothing Phone (2). This offer is valid until stocks last, said the company.

The company rolled out Nothing OS 2.5 for the phone recently that brought customize grid design, widget size, and colour themes while introducing new folder layouts and illustrated covers.

The Nothing Phone (2) is available from Flipkart and select retail outlets.
Samsung R&D Institute, Bangalore, has partnered with Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) to inaugurate the Samsung Student Ecosystem for Engineered Data (SEED) Lab. This collaboration provides an immersive opportunity for students and faculty to explore artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data engineering.

The SEED Lab, a five-year initiative between SRI-B and VIT, spans 4,000 sq ft. Equipped with facilities, including a green room for lighting experiments and robust backend infrastructure for data storage, the lab accommodates up to 75 members.

Within VITs SEED Lab, students and faculty will engage in joint research on cutting-edge technologies such as mobile tech, speech and text recognition, and machine learning. Senior engineers from Samsung R&D Institute, Bangalore (SRI-B) will closely collaborate with VIT members.

This marks Samsungs expansion of SEED Labs beyond Karnataka, with two existing labs in the state. Over 250 students have participated in AI and big data-related projects through previous initiatives. The VIT-based lab aims to harness academic capabilities in executing AI and data-centric projects.

Collaborative research opportunities are extended to third and fourth-year B. Tech and M. Tech students, as well as Ph.D. scholars at VIT. Emphasizing knowledge dissemination, students are encouraged to co-author papers with SRI-B engineers.

Samsungs engagement with students extends beyond this collaboration, with ongoing initiatives like Samsung PRISM, fostering R&D projects across top engineering colleges in Karnataka.

Regarding the inauguration, Mohan Rao Goli, Chief Technology Officer, SRI-B said,

At Samsung, we believe in leveraging the power of the ecosystem. Our strategic partnership with VIT, Vellore not only reflects our commitment to fostering cutting-edge research but also reinforces our dedication to nurture talent and upskill our workforce. With VIT, we are forging new frontiers in research and innovation, while nurturing the next generation of digital leaders. Together, we are embarking on a journey to unlock the limitless potential of research and learning in the fast-evolving technology and business landscape. This will further Samsungs unwavering commitment to its vision of #PoweringDigitalIndia.

Regarding the inauguration, Dr. G Viswanathan, Founder & Chancellor, VIT, Vellore said,
Bloombergs recent report sheds light on HUAWEI Technologies Co., which, after facing U.S. sanctions, has become a pivotal force in Chinas semiconductor battle.

HUAWEIs involvement in Chinas chip industry goes beyond known roles, as it not only serves as a major chip customer and designer but also supports smaller firms in the chip supply chain, discreetly avoiding U.S. restrictions.

HUAWEIs role extends further than acknowledged, encompassing its status as a primary chip customer and influential designer.

The company now offers engineering expertise and financial aid to smaller entities in the chip supply chain. Notably, these contributions remain undisclosed to bypass U.S. restrictions triggered by HUAWEIs involvement.

Unprecedented State Backing

The Chinese government has notably backed HUAWEIs semiconductor endeavors. A Shenzhen city government fund supports a network of enterprises aiding HUAWEI in building a self-sufficient chip network.

A $30 billion state-sponsored project further assists HUAWEI in establishing chip fabrication facilities, highlighting an unusual collaboration between the state and industry.

Contrary to HUAWEIs denial of government support for semiconductor development, Bloombergs report suggests otherwise. The decision to position HUAWEI as a key player in Chinas chip industry stems from a direct order at the highest government levels.

HUAWEI, considered a rare national champion, is crucial for Chinas semiconductor ambitions, preventing overreliance on external technologies. While HUAWEIs recent successes, such as the Mate 60 Pro smartphone launch, showcase Chinas technological progress, concerns in Washington arise.

The U.S. worries about advanced semiconductors being repurposed for military use, intensifying tensions between the two nations. As the U.S. aims to contain Chinas defense capabilities, HUAWEIs technological prowess becomes a focal point.

HUAWEI and Chinas Semiconductor Future

The network supporting HUAWEI includes the Shenzhen Major Industry Investment Group Co., operating with state capital. This fund plays a vital role in facilitating HUAWEIs collaboration with chip making entities, emphasizing the close relationship between Huawei and the various entities fueling Chinas chip industry.

As HUAWEI evolves into a key player in Chinas semiconductor ambitions, its trajectory becomes inseparable from Chinas technological rise, shaping the future of the global semiconductor landscape and world economy.

Source
TM Forum, the global alliance of telecom and tech companies, in collaboration with Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, inaugurated the inaugural TM Forum Innovation Hub in Mumbai, India.

Pioneering the industry, this Innovation Hub focuses on advancing Generative AI (Gen AI), Large Language Models (LLM), and Open Digital Architecture to drive industry-wide benefits.

Leaders from TM Forum, Jio, and founding members such as Accenture, Deutsche Telekom, Google Cloud, Orange, Telenor, and Vodafone gathered at the Reliance Corporate IT Park in Navi Mumbai for the opening ceremony.

Hybrid teams, comprising talent from the telecom and tech sectors, will collaborate at the Innovation Hub to address industry challenges and pioneer breakthrough solutions.

Addressing Telco Challenges with AI and LLM

The hubs initial focus includes applying Generative AI and LLM to priority use cases for telcos, addressing challenges like security, privacy, accuracy, performance, and scalability.

Another key focus area is expediting the development and adoption of TM Forums Open Digital Architecture (ODA). ODA facilitates the creation of modular, cloud-native software, replacing traditional BSS and OSS. Objectives include creating reference implementations of the ODA Canvas, migration patterns, and innovative approaches for transitioning to ODA-compliant, cloud-native components.

The outcomes of the Innovation Hub projects are expected to benefit the entire TM Forum membership and the industry at large by providing practical solutions, testing standards, accelerating code asset development, and industrializing concepts explored in the Catalyst program.

The pilot phase of the Innovation Hub program is scheduled to conclude in March 2024, with further projects commencing shortly thereafter. TM Forum Members can apply to join existing projects or propose new ones in 2024, with a focus on bringing distinct expertise and meeting dedicated resource commitments.

Regarding the matter, Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited said,

The TM Forum Innovation Hub is about delivering real-world solutions that will change our industry and there is no better way than to lean on talent from across the industry to solve our existing challenges as well as finding better ways to overcome future obstacles. We are delighted to see the first innovation hub open on our Mumbai campus as I believe Mumbai is the perfect location to foster the innovation needed. This is a really exciting time for Jio, TM Forum and the wider telecoms industry and we are honoured to be at the heart of this project.

Regarding the matter, Dr. Steffen Roehn, TM Forum Chair and Partner at Bain & Company said,

Rapid, open collaboration is today more important for our industrys future than ever before. The TM Forum Innovation Hub will prove hugely beneficial as our members explore new technologies, more radical approaches to transform their organizations and strengthen their muscles. Were delighted to be collaborating closely with Jio and all the founding members on this first Innovation Hub in Mumbai and look forward to seeing the first outcomes from the hubs pilot projects.

Regarding the matter, Nik Willetts, CEO, TM Forum said,
Chinese military ready to work with U.S. counterpart: defense ministry

Xinhua) 13:17, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Up to now, operators who wanted to protect their wind turbines against ice had to dig deep into their pockets: Heating mats that can be integrated in the blades or systems to pump warm air into the rotors are extremely expensive  as is the use of helicopters to spray de-icing agent onto the turbines. Drones that are only used when needed offer a cost-effective alternative, says Andreas Stake, project manager at Fraunhofer IFAM. However, in order to use drones to prevent ice, a number of conditions have to be met: As well as being environmentally friendly, the coating materials need to demonstrate good adhesion and sufficient durability so they remain on the rotors for weeks and protect them from ice. The spraying system used needs to be highly accurate but lightweight at the same time. And finally, the drones need to have a high payload and allow for very precise control.

Important for wind turbines: environmentally friendly materials and precise application equipment

The Fraunhofer researchers working on the TURBO project succeeded in developing a prototype which fulfills all of these requirements: The coating material designed by the scientists at Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen is made from urea and wax, is environmentally friendly and demonstrates good adhesion. This material can be applied quickly and easily using a spray technique and also dries quickly. The coating underwent testing in an ice chamber at the institute to confirm that it reliably protects against the formation of frost.

The team at Fraunhofer IPA built the equipment used to apply the coating. It consists of a small pump which presses the fluid urea/wax mixture at high pressure into a long, thin lance, at the tip of which is a nozzle with a diameter of just 0.3 millimeters. This airless pump system is able to produce droplets with a diameter of 100 micrometers. Even at wind speeds of 35 kilometers per hour, these droplets can still be sprayed precisely onto the edges of the rotor blades where they then solidify. The edges are particularly important as this is where the icing process starts when wet, cold air hits the turbine.

Ensuring success with simulations

Dr. Oliver Tiedje, project manager at Fraunhofer IPA, and his team determined the technical parameters  for example, the required pressure, an efficient atomization method and the optimum droplet size  using fluid dynamic simulations. Our decades of experience in modeling coating processes really helped us out. We were able to draw on this expertise, says the physicist. However, we did have to adapt the process parameters to the complex geometry of the wind turbines.

The researchers now intend to work with industry partners to develop the technique further and get it ready for series production. There are numerous applications in which drones can be used to apply coatings, ranging from ice protection for wind turbines and overhead lines in rail transport to building refurbishment  for example, repairing defects in render on parts of buildings that are difficult to reach.

The TURBO: Temporary coating by means of drones  Icing protection of wind turbines as a case study project was supported by 19 companies including coating and raw material manufacturers, manufacturers of coating equipment and drones, and operators of wind turbines. The project was submitted to the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF) via the Research Society for Pigments and Paints (FPL) as an Industrial Collective Research project (IGF) and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
Nowadays, living without portable electronic devices (PEDs) is inconceivable. Smartphones, laptops, tablets, digital cameras, e-book readers and smartwatches are our constant companions  on plane journeys just as much as anywhere else. Passengers, however, are not always aware of the risks: If a PED gets caught in a seat or overheats while charging, the lithium-ion battery inside it can heat up and expand. In extreme cases, it can give off hot, toxic and flammable gases that could put passengers and crew members at risk. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), incidents caused by lithium-ion batteries on passenger flights have increased in recent years. The administration estimates between 35 and 50 cases per year. On December 26, 2022, a Lufthansa aircraft even had to make an unscheduled landing at OHare International Airport in Chicago after an overheated laptop belonging to a passenger started a smoldering fire in the cabin.

This alarmingly high rate of incidents can be attributed to the growing number of PEDs and lithium batteries being brought on board, including e-cigarettes, power banks and battery-powered screwdrivers. In the LOKI-PED (Lithium batteries in pOrtable electronic devices  risK of fIre and smoke) project, researchers at Fraunhofer EMI and Fraunhofer IBP are collaborating with Airbus to investigate and assess the smoke and fire risks associated with lithium batteries in PEDs in cabins and cockpits. The project is supported by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and financed by the European Unions Horizon Europe program.

Test bench and flight lab tests

A scientifically sound risk assessment is urgently needed, especially as cabin and firefighting procedures have not changed since 2014. In LOKI-PED, we are investigating whether standards need to be updated and new guidelines and protective measures established to minimize risks, says the project manager Dr. Simon Holz of Fraunhofer EMI. Dr. Holzs team is complemented by Dr. Victor Norrefeldt, technical manager at Fraunhofer IBP, and his research group, alongside experts from Airbus. The project partners are working on characterizing the main risks of PEDs and the effects of fire and smoke in cockpits and cabins, assessing the risks in view of the number and energy content of PEDs, evaluating emergency measures and additional countermeasures  such as ventilation and protective bags  and identifying gaps in the regulatory provisions. The consequences of smoke and fire are being investigated at high-performance test benches such as the Flight Test Facility at Fraunhofer IBP and the TEVLIB battery testing center at Fraunhofer EMI. The TEVLIB center offers unique conditions for carrying out destructive tests, even on large battery systems, while maintaining the highest standards of safety. The experiments serve as a basis for numeric simulations and the subsequent risk assessment.
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many islands did the Netherlands Antilles have, after 1986?



5



After 1986, the Netherlands Antilles consisted of five islands: Curacao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius.

Prior to 1986, Aruba was also part of the Netherlands Antilles, but it separated on January 1, 1986, and became a separate entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

In 2010, the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved: Curacao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius became special municipalities of the Netherlands. Answer:After 1986, the Netherlands Antilles consisted of five islands: Curacao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius.Prior to 1986, Aruba was also part of the Netherlands Antilles, but it separated on January 1, 1986, and became a separate entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.In 2010, the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved: Curacao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius became special municipalities of the Netherlands.

2. Which of these islands is shared with France?



Answer: Sint Maarten



Sint Maarten is the Dutch portion of the Caribbean island shared with Saint Martin, a French overseas collectivity. Located in the Lesser Antilles, Sint Maarten covers roughly 34 square kilometers and has Philipsburg as its capital. It's known for its vibrant nightlife, beaches, jewelry shops, and casinos. The island offers a mix of Caribbean, African, and European cultures.

The border between the Dutch and French sides is almost imperceptible, with both communities living harmoniously.

3. The Netherlands Antilles consisted of two island groups, a northern group and a southern group. Which three islands were in the northern part of the Netherlands Antilles?



Answer: Saba - Sint Maarten - Sint Eustatius



The Netherlands Antilles, once a unified entity within the Caribbean, was geographically divided into two distinct parts: the northern and southern islands. The northern part comprised Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, while the southern part included Curacao and Bonaire.



This division wasn't administrative but purely geographical. The two groups of islands are separated by a vast expanse of the Caribbean Sea, with the northern islands located close to the Virgin Islands and the southern islands off the coast of Venezuela.



Despite this geographical divide, they functioned under a single governmental structure until the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010.

4. What was the smallest island of the Netherlands Antilles?



Saba



The smallest island of the Netherlands Antilles was Saba.

Saba is a Caribbean island known for its lush green landscapes, towering Mount Scenery - the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands - and its unique biodiversity. Often dubbed the "Unspoiled Queen," Saba is renowned for its ecotourism, especially diving around its pristine coral reefs.

With its steep terrain and small population, the island has maintained a tranquil, untouched aura. Its capital, The Bottom, and other quaint villages offer a glimpse into its rich history and diverse culture. Answer:The smallest island of the Netherlands Antilles was Saba.Saba is a Caribbean island known for its lush green landscapes, towering Mount Scenery - the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands - and its unique biodiversity. Often dubbed the "Unspoiled Queen," Saba is renowned for its ecotourism, especially diving around its pristine coral reefs.With its steep terrain and small population, the island has maintained a tranquil, untouched aura. Its capital, The Bottom, and other quaint villages offer a glimpse into its rich history and diverse culture.

5. What Caribbean island used to be the sixth island of the Netherlands Antilles and now has a 'Status Aparte'?



Answer: Aruba



Aruba, located in the southern Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela, used to be the sixth island of the Netherlands Antilles. In 1986, it separated from this entity and acquired a "Status Aparte," making it an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Unlike the other islands, Aruba has a distinct governance structure but shares a monarch with the Netherlands. Known for its white-sand beaches, steady trade winds, and vibrant culture, Aruba attracts tourists from around the world.



Its economy heavily relies on tourism, and it's celebrated for its multicultural influences, including Dutch, indigenous, and African heritages.

6. What's the capital of the island Bonaire?



Answer: Kralendijk



Kralendijk is the capital of Bonaire, one of the Caribbean islands in the former Netherlands Antilles and now a special municipality of the Netherlands. Located on Bonaire's western coast, Kralendijk is the island's largest town and main port. The name "Kralendijk" is derived from the Dutch word "koralendijk," meaning "coral reef." The town is characterized by colorful colonial architecture and offers a mix of local shops, restaurants, and waterfront promenades.



As Bonaire is renowned for its underwater nature reserves and exceptional scuba diving, many visitors to Kralendijk engage in water-related activities, exploring the rich marine life surrounding the island.

7. The National Holiday on the Netherlands Antilles was, before 2010, on what day?



30 April



April 30th, known as Queen's Day ("Koninginnedag"), was the national holiday of the Netherlands Antilles before 2010, as it was in the Netherlands. It celebrated the birthday of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. After Queen Beatrix ascended to the throne in 1980, she decided to keep the holiday on April 30th in honor of her mother, even though her own birthday is on January 31st.



After King Willem-Alexander's accession in 2013, the holiday was moved to April 27th and renamed King's Day ("Koningsdag"), as that is his birthday.



The day is marked with festivities, parades, and other celebratory events. Answer:April 30th, known as Queen's Day ("Koninginnedag"), was the national holiday of the Netherlands Antilles before 2010, as it was in the Netherlands. It celebrated the birthday of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. After Queen Beatrix ascended to the throne in 1980, she decided to keep the holiday on April 30th in honor of her mother, even though her own birthday is on January 31st.After King Willem-Alexander's accession in 2013, the holiday was moved to April 27th and renamed King's Day ("Koningsdag"), as that is his birthday.The day is marked with festivities, parades, and other celebratory events.

8. The island of Curacao was once ______ .



Answer: the center of the Caribbean slave trade



Curacao, an island in the Caribbean Sea, played a central role in the Atlantic slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. Controlled by the Dutch West India Company, it became a crucial transshipment point for enslaved Africans.



The island's location made it an ideal hub: it was strategically positioned between the Spanish colonies in South America and the other Caribbean islands where labor-intensive sugar plantations were expanding. Enslaved Africans were brought to Curacao, where they were held in pens, often under horrific conditions. From there, many were resold and transported to other colonies in the Caribbean and the Americas.



The Asiento agreement of 1713, which granted the British the right to sell slaves in the Spanish colonies, further intensified Curacao's significance in the trade. The island remained a major trading center until the late 18th century, by which time the abolitionist movement was gaining ground in Europe.



It wasn't just a trade hub: plantations on the island itself used enslaved labor for salt mining and agriculture. Slavery persisted on Curacao until its abolition in 1863.



Today, the legacy of slavery can be seen in Curacao's multicultural population, its cultural practices, and historical sites like the Kura Hulanda Museum in Willemstad, which offers a comprehensive overview of the transatlantic slave trade and its impact on the island.

9. The northern islands of the Netherlands Antilles were located _______ of the Virgin Islands.



Answer: Southeast



The northern islands of the former Netherlands Antilles, which include Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, are located in the northeastern part of the Caribbean Sea. They are southeast of the Virgin Islands.



The Virgin Islands, split between the U.S. Virgin Islands (to the west) and the British Virgin Islands (to the east), lie to the northwest of these three islands. Specifically:



Sint Maarten is the northernmost of the three and is situated roughly 150 miles southeast of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Saba lies to the southwest of Sint Maarten and a bit further south.

Sint Eustatius is located southeast of Saba and south of Sint Maarten.

So, when navigating from the Virgin Islands, one would generally head southeast to reach the northern islands of the former Netherlands Antilles.

10. What is Papiamento?



A Spanish-Portugese-Dutch-English dialect



Papiamento is a Creole language primarily spoken in the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, collectively known as the ABC Islands. It has evolved from multiple influences, including Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, African languages, Arawakan languages, and English, reflecting the region's diverse history of colonization, trade, and migration. Papiamento is characterized by its unique phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, making it distinct from other Creole languages.



In both Aruba and Curacao, it's recognized as an official language alongside Dutch.



The language serves as a powerful symbol of local identity and cultural unity among the inhabitants of these islands. Answer:Papiamento is a Creole language primarily spoken in the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, collectively known as the ABC Islands. It has evolved from multiple influences, including Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, African languages, Arawakan languages, and English, reflecting the region's diverse history of colonization, trade, and migration. Papiamento is characterized by its unique phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, making it distinct from other Creole languages.In both Aruba and Curacao, it's recognized as an official language alongside Dutch.The language serves as a powerful symbol of local identity and cultural unity among the inhabitants of these islands.

Source: Author piet This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Dien Bien Phu



Dien Bien Phu was the site of the battle in 1954 which led to the end of the First Indochina War, and the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords which split Vietnam into two separate countries. Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh forces, took control of the northern part (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam), while the southern part (the State of Vietnam) was declared to be ruled by the emperor. While the First Indochina War was ostensibly between the French colonial rulers and the Vietnamese people who wanted to control their own destiny, it was also steeped in Cold War politics, with the United States providing significant support (military and financial) to the French, while the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China supported the Viet Minh.



Dien Bien Phu is located in the extreme northwest of the country of Vietnam, and its distance from logistical support centres was one of the decisive aspects of the 1954 battle. In the 1950s, the region was known as a source of opium (good for French income, which made it a key spot for them) and rice. Dien Bien Phu was the site of the battle in 1954 which led to the end of the First Indochina War, and the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords which split Vietnam into two separate countries. Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh forces, took control of the northern part (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam), while the southern part (the State of Vietnam) was declared to be ruled by the emperor. While the First Indochina War was ostensibly between the French colonial rulers and the Vietnamese people who wanted to control their own destiny, it was also steeped in Cold War politics, with the United States providing significant support (military and financial) to the French, while the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China supported the Viet Minh.Dien Bien Phu is located in the extreme northwest of the country of Vietnam, and its distance from logistical support centres was one of the decisive aspects of the 1954 battle. In the 1950s, the region was known as a source of opium (good for French income, which made it a key spot for them) and rice.

2. Hanoi



After the partition of Vietnam, the city of Hanoi (Vietnam's second-largest city) became the capital of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, more commonly referred to as North Vietnam. The city is located on the Red River Delta, about 100 km from the coastal port of Haiphong.



The name Hanoi, meaning "inside the rivers" was made official in 1831; previously it had a number of other names, such as Long Dho (Dragon's Belly), Dai La (Big Net), and Dong Kinh (Eastern Capital).

3. Gulf of Tonkin



The Gulf of Tonkin got its name from one of the titles given to Hanoi, Dong Kinh, meaning Eastern Capital. This arm of the South China Sea borders the east coast of Vietnam north of Hon La Island, and is bounded on the north and east by Chinese territories. It forms an important maritime link between the northern part of Vietnam and the rest of the world.



The Gulf of Tonkin became a household name following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964. This was a confrontation between covert American forces and the North Vietnamese. The Americans blamed the North Vietnamese for it, although it later became clear that they had actually invaded territorial waters (and another later incident never actually happened). The publicity helped gain public support for a larger, and more visible, presence of American troops in the region, and the subsequent Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave President Johnson the authority to use American troops to support any country in southeast Asia which was threatened by communism. And the escalation began.

4. DMZ



When the Geneva Accords established a border between the northern and southern parts of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, a zone about five miles wide was set up as a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), providing a buffer between the two states. The DMZ is actually somewhat south of the parallel for most of its length, because natural features that made sense were used. Starting at the border with Laos, it ran roughly east until it picked up the course of the Ben Hai River, following that to its mouth on the coast at the 17th parallel.



While the DMZ was in theory free of combatants, in practice there was a lot of infiltration by both sides. When Vietnam was reestablished as a single nation in 1976, the DMZ ceased to exist (unlike the Korean DMZ, which was established in 1953, and still separated the two antagonistic parts of that country 70 years later). When the Geneva Accords established a border between the northern and southern parts of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, a zone about five miles wide was set up as a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), providing a buffer between the two states. The DMZ is actually somewhat south of the parallel for most of its length, because natural features that made sense were used. Starting at the border with Laos, it ran roughly east until it picked up the course of the Ben Hai River, following that to its mouth on the coast at the 17th parallel.While the DMZ was in theory free of combatants, in practice there was a lot of infiltration by both sides. When Vietnam was reestablished as a single nation in 1976, the DMZ ceased to exist (unlike the Korean DMZ, which was established in 1953, and still separated the two antagonistic parts of that country 70 years later).

5. Khe Sanh



Khe Sanh Combat Base, located north of the city of that name, was established as a base for the US Marines in 1962, with the purpose of monitoring for incursions from North Vietnamese troops across the DMZ. Being close to the border, it was a regular target for attacks, including the 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh, which occurred between 21 January and 9 July.



Although the siege was broken (so claimed as a success by the Americans), the base was abandoned shortly afterwards, leading to the North Vietnamese to also claim it as a victory. There is also disagreement about the relationship of this battle with the Tet Offensive at the same time; US General Westmoreland held that the Tet Offensive was intended to distract attention and troops from Khe Sanh, while most historians now consider that Khe Sanh was placed under siege to keep US forces from noticing the buildup of North Vietnamese troops near Saigon.

6. Da Nang



Da Nang is an important port city near the centre of Vietnam (roughly midway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), first established at the mouth of the Han River when the region was part of the Champa empire that occupied most of southern and central Vietnam from around 200 CE until they were conquered by the Vietnamese in 1832, ending a long-running conflict. It was the point from which the French established French Indochina in the middle of the 19th century. In June of 1965, following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, US troops arrived in Da Nang to defend the air base there. By December there were 200,000 troops, and Da Nang had become a major air base.



The air base was massively busy moving troops and armaments, handling thousands of flights a day at its peak. The withdrawal of a residual force from the base on 13 August 1972 marked the end of US ground combat in Vietnam, although they continued to provide logistical assistance to the South Vietnamese. (This means there were soldiers there, but technically offering advice and training, not fighting.)

7. Ho Chi Minh Trail (portion)



This was not actually a single entity, but a network of roads, tunnels and trails used to transport people and equipment between North and South Vietnam during the war. It ran through neighbouring Laos and Cambodia. Consolidation of older transport routes began in 1959, when Ho Chi Minh's troops invaded Laos. Use of this network allowed the North Vietnamese to dispatch and support troops in the southern part of Vietnam without having to fight their way past the South Vietnamese army.



In an effort to curtail movement along the trail, US forces conducted extensive bombing raids, and sprayed the ground with Agent Orange, a defoliant that was hoped to remove cover that sheltered those using the network. Despite some success, the movement of troops and equipment along the Ho Chi Minh Trail played a significant role in the fall of Saigon in 1975, which marked the end of the conflict. This was not actually a single entity, but a network of roads, tunnels and trails used to transport people and equipment between North and South Vietnam during the war. It ran through neighbouring Laos and Cambodia. Consolidation of older transport routes began in 1959, when Ho Chi Minh's troops invaded Laos. Use of this network allowed the North Vietnamese to dispatch and support troops in the southern part of Vietnam without having to fight their way past the South Vietnamese army.In an effort to curtail movement along the trail, US forces conducted extensive bombing raids, and sprayed the ground with Agent Orange, a defoliant that was hoped to remove cover that sheltered those using the network. Despite some success, the movement of troops and equipment along the Ho Chi Minh Trail played a significant role in the fall of Saigon in 1975, which marked the end of the conflict.

8. My Lai



My Lai was one of a number of small villages that were virtually unknown (aside from those who lived there) before US soldiers, frustrated at trying to eliminate enemy troops who were moving freely in the region, and hiding in the villages, decided to destroy the villages to remove the concealment they were providing. What followed became known as the My Lai Massacre, one of the most notorious war crimes committed by US troops during the 20th century.



The savage killing of villagers, on the pretext that if they weren't the enemy, they were helping the enemy, was photographed and seen around the world. The armed forces initially attempted to cover it up, saying that a few civilians had been caught in a military action, but the full scope of the massacre eventually became clear, and a number of the perpetrators faced a court martial. Only one man was convicted, a result which many saw as confirming suspicion that US soldiers were not being discouraged from killing civilians; there may well have been many more massacres that did not receive the same notoriety as My Lai.

9. Saigon



Because this quiz is about Vietnam War sites, I have used the name that was then used for Vietnam's largest city, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon was the capital of French Indochina from 1945 until 1954, at which time it became the capital of South Vietnam. In 1975, with the fall of Saigon Vietnam once more became a single country, and the city was renamed in honour of the man who had inspired the Vietnamese to rise against the French colonial rule, and led the struggle to reunite the nation. Locals still refer to the centre of the city as Saigon.



Saigon's location traffic routes connecting Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand (known as Siam when the city was growing) and its selection to be the site of the royal palace for the Nguyen dynasty in the 18th century led to its development as a major settlement. It grew further from the mid-19th century under French control - their architectural legacy can still be seen.

10. Mekong Delta



A large part of the land region of what was known as South Vietnam between 1955 and 1975 is occupied by the Mekong Delta. The Mekong River is the third-longest Asian river, running generally southwards from the Tibetan Plateau through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before entering southern Vietnam and reaching the South China Sea.



Most of the wide-fanning delta is in Vietnam, and its fertility has made it one of the most intensively farmed regions in the country. As such, it has been fought over by neighbouring powers through much of the time since it was first settled, at least as long ago as the fourth century BCE.



During the Vietnam War, the Mekong Delta was the site for a number of battles between Viet Cong and US troops. 1975 saw it used to launch the invasion leading to the fall of Saigon. A large part of the land region of what was known as South Vietnam between 1955 and 1975 is occupied by the Mekong Delta. The Mekong River is the third-longest Asian river, running generally southwards from the Tibetan Plateau through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before entering southern Vietnam and reaching the South China Sea.Most of the wide-fanning delta is in Vietnam, and its fertility has made it one of the most intensively farmed regions in the country. As such, it has been fought over by neighbouring powers through much of the time since it was first settled, at least as long ago as the fourth century BCE.During the Vietnam War, the Mekong Delta was the site for a number of battles between Viet Cong and US troops. 1975 saw it used to launch the invasion leading to the fall of Saigon.

Source: Author looney_tunes This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
felicilin at 1-12-2023 08:45 AM (1 month ago) (f)

Following the dust raised by the Oba of Benin, Omo NOba NEdo, Oba Ewuare II, over the founders and settlers of Lagos, the Olofin of Isheri and Adimula of Awori Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Bamgbade, yesterday, insisted that the Awori people were the first settlers in Lagos.

Following the dust raised by the Oba of Benin, Omo NOba NEdo, Oba Ewuare II, over the founders and settlers of Lagos, the Olofin of Isheri and Adimula of Awori Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Bamgbade, yesterday, insisted that the Awori people were the first settlers in Lagos.

But the Erelu Kuti of Lagos, Abiola Dosunmu, said that the controversy over ownership of Lagos will soon be put to rest.



Oba Ewuare II recently caused a stir during a visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State when he said the Binis founded Lagos.



The Benin monarch had said: 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.



Lagos was founded by Olofin Ogunfuminire

But countering Oba Ewuares claim, the Isheri Olofin monarch, in a statement, said Lagos was founded by Olofin Ogunfuminire, the progenitor of the Awori people.



In an attempt to set the records straight, Oba Bamgbade said: But the Erelu Kuti of Lagos, Abiola Dosunmu, said that the controversy over ownership of Lagos will soon be put to rest.Oba Ewuare II recently caused a stir during a visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State when he said the Binis founded Lagos.The Benin monarch had said:But countering Oba Ewuares claim, the Isheri Olofin monarch, in a statement, said Lagos was founded by Olofin Ogunfuminire, the progenitor of the Awori people.In an attempt to set the records straight, Oba Bamgbade said: Quote 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, and 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. Before the 16th century, Aworis, the southernmost of the Yoruba-speaking people, dispersed from Isheri, a village 12 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.

Benin came to Lagos as mere traders

Quote 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, as the Aworis have always done, Olofin stated.



Controversyll soon be put to rest Erelu Dosumu

Also speaking, the Erelu Kuti of Lagos, Abiola Dosunmu, yesterday, said that the controversy over ownership of Lagos will soon be put to rest.



Dosumu, who is also the Erelu Yeye Oodua, stated this while briefing the press on the forthcoming inauguration of the Erelu Yeye Oodua Cultural Renaissance Centre which will be held on December 3, 2023, in Lagos.



Speaking on the controversy trailing the history of Lagos original settlers, she said one of the reasons her foundation instituted the new centre was to address such controversy relating to history, culture, art, lifestyle and other issues about Africans.



People refuse to use common sense

Erelu Dosumu said: Olofin stated.Also speaking, the Erelu Kuti of Lagos, Abiola Dosunmu, yesterday, said that the controversy over ownership of Lagos will soon be put to rest.Dosumu, who is also the Erelu Yeye Oodua, stated this while briefing the press on the forthcoming inauguration of the Erelu Yeye Oodua Cultural Renaissance Centre which will be held on December 3, 2023, in Lagos.Speaking on the controversy trailing the history of Lagos original settlers, she said one of the reasons her foundation instituted the new centre was to address such controversy relating to history, culture, art, lifestyle and other issues about Africans.Erelu Dosumu said: Quote First, I have spoken about this issue several times. And you see, if people refuse to use common sense and do research and use relics for their argument, why do you waste your time?



All these things that have been said have the evidence, relics and proofs for a whole lot of these for you to be able to bring the story to the right perspective.



Everybody is talking from different corners of their mouths especially those who dont even know anything about it.



How old are they, how many of them who are kings today grew up within an environment where they could be impacted by the authentic history of their people?



I became Erelu in my early 20s, and I was sitting with 80 and 90-year-old men, and those men had at least another 90 years of experience and narrated verbatim before I started getting it from them.



So, already 200 years of verbatim story I got it from the source. I am almost 80 and I have acquired another century of information by myself.



If I say anything, I am saying it from at least 300 years of verbatim fact.



So, some people talk from here, another one from there, who are they? What was the point of their entry? Some of them may be, they started imbibing the culture and traditions five years ago and they make themselves authority.



Hopefully thats one of the things we will be unveiling here at the centre.

Speaking further, she said it is important for government and critical stakeholders to collaborate towards rekindling the interest and increasing consciousness of people to promote the potential of their culture to the world. Speaking further, she said it is important for government and critical stakeholders to collaborate towards rekindling the interest and increasing consciousness of people to promote the potential of their culture to the world.

Post Reply Posted: at 1-12-2023 08:45 AM (1 month ago) | Addicted Hero
Google's RCS Messaging Hits 1 Billion Users: Unveils New Features for Messages App News oi -Kabir Jain

Google proudly declared a significant achievement for its RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging platform, surpassing the 1 billion monthly active users mark. This comes as a major stride forward since Google's earlier struggles to garner RCS support from US carriers.

Messages App Enhancements: 7 New Features

To celebrate this milestone, Google is rolling out seven new features for its Messages app. While RCS aims to replace the traditional SMS and MMS, it still utilizes them as backups. The features include:

Photomoji: Transform Photos into Reactions

The Photomoji feature employs on-device Google AI to turn photos into reactions. Users can store these creations in a dedicated tab for future use, fostering a more expressive messaging experience.

Voice Moods: Animated Emoji for Voice Messages

Voice Moods introduces animated emoji overlaid on voice messages, enhancing the visual expression of feelings. Improved voice message bitrate and sampling rate contribute to better-perceived quality.

Screen Effects: Dynamic Screen Animations

Screen Effects trigger vibrant animations when specific phrases like "it's snowing" or "I love you" are typed. Google has hidden over 15 effects, inviting users to explore and discover them.

Custom Bubbles: Personalize Message Bubbles

Custom Bubbles allow users to customize the color and background of message bubbles, enabling a personalized touch to conversations-a feature not available on iMessage.

Reaction Effects: Animated Reactions

Reaction Effects inject life into conversations by animating reactions over messages. This feature works with the ten most popular emoji, adding a dynamic element to user interactions.

Animated Emoji: Visual Effects for Specific Emoji

Animated Emoji introduces visual effects triggered when sending specific emoji, reminiscent of similar features in other messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Profiles: Personalize Profile Information

Profiles enable users to personalize their profile name and picture associated with their phone number. This helps in group chats, ensuring users can identify each member easily.

Availability

However, the excitement comes with a caveat. These new features will initially be available in the beta version of Messages, with an unspecified timeline for a stable channel release.

The Future of RCS

Google anticipates broader RCS adoption when Apple incorporates the industry-standard version into its iOS Messages app, expected next year. This move will bring encryption, read receipts, typing indicators, and improved media sharing to cross-platform messaging between Android and iPhone users.

Via

Source

Best Mobiles in India

Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications
Local governments in Mesa County are still trying to determine what impacts property tax relief legislation approved during last months special session will have on them, and whether they would be able to provide additional relief in the face of skyrocketing property assessments.

Since property taxes are collected by counties, municipalities, school districts and special districts  not the state  much of that will depend on whether that local government is exempt from revenue caps under the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, and how much the state plans to reimburse some for any lost revenue due to the states tax relief measures, which included lowering the statewide assessment rate for residential property from 6.765% to 6.7%.

Despite what the Colorado Legislature enacted, which ensured at least some backfill in lost revenues for schools and certain special districts, Gov. Jared Polis is calling on local government to provide more relief on their own.

Whether those governments will, or even can, is unknown.

Mesa County commissioners, who are putting the final touches on next years budget, said they held off deciding what to do about all this to see what voters would do with Proposition HH, a ballot measure designed to address the issue, but one that failed.

Now, they are assessing what, if any, impacts the new legislation will have, and are still in the throes of trying to determine what actions to take next, such as lowering its mill levy.

We are looking at all our options to save our residents the maximum amount of money possible, and lowering the mill levy will be considered, said Commissioner Bobbie Daniel.

Ive always maintained that one size does not fit all, and local solutions are best, added Commissioner Cody Davis. Cutting the statewide assessment rate will affect counties, schools and fire districts differently, and those local boards should approach the problem with the unique challenges of their locality and the will of their constituents.

Mesa County Assessor Brent Goff said his office still is working on revenue calculations for next year for each of those local governments, and one of the measures approved by the Colorado Legislature gave all assessors an additional month to do those calculations. Normally, mill levy certifications for counties are done by Dec. 22, but now they have until Jan. 17.

Still, Goff said an increase in the amount of value of a home that previously was exempted from property taxes was increased from $15,000 per parcel to $55,000 under the new legislation, and the lowering of the assessment rate could result in an impact to the county of more than $2 million in lost revenues, but he wont know for certain until he recalculates everything.

The Prop HH called for using surplus state TABOR revenue to backfill all local governments for a 10-year drop in the states assessment rate and an increase in the exemption.

But because that failed, the Legislature limited its relief to 2023 assessments only, and only for residential property. That means the assessment rate for commercial property, which also would have been lowered under Prop HH, will remain at 29%.

Instead of paying for the measure with surplus state TABOR revenues as the proposition called for, it takes $196 million from the states general and school finance funds. And instead of reimbursing all local governments for their loss in tax revenues, it would fund only schools and some special districts, such as fire and ambulance services.

Like much of the rest of the state, property values in Mesa County have risen dramatically over the past two years. Here, that average increase is about 40%, but some parts of the state have seen average increases of up to 60%.

But because Mesa County residents have not voted to exempt the county from revenue caps under TABOR, any revenue increases will result in higher refunds. Thats not the case for such local governments as Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Mesa School District 51 and some local special districts, where voters have already exempted them from the TABOR revenue caps.

It helps the countys finances that voters last year approved allowing it to use money in its capital development fund, which is generally protected from such things. Without that approval, all of any refund would have to come from its general fund, impacting the services it provides.

What refund mechanism the county will use  TABOR requires such refunds, but is silent on how they are to be dispersed  hasnt yet been determined, said Commissioner Janet Rowland.

Normally, it does so through property tax relief, but last year the county refunded money to taxpayers through direct checks to all registered voters in the county.

It did that because most of that excess revenue stemmed from sale taxes.

At that time, we felt that checks reached more people and since the sales tax was a part of what causes our refunds, it seemed fair to do it that way, Rowland said. But assuming the majority of our TABOR surplus this time will be from the increase in housing values, we might want to use the temporary mill levy reduction. We just havent had any conversations about that just yet.

DISTRICT 51

While municipalities did not have their revenue backfilled by the legislation, school districts will be backfilled.

District 51 Chief Financial Officer Melanie Trujillo said the legislation will not affect the amount of funding the district receives, but will shift the balance from property taxes to more state funding.

Any total program funding not generated locally through property and specific ownership taxes is backfilled by the State, Trujillo stated in an email. Because of this dynamic, this change to property tax legislation will not impact the amount received by D51 in total program revenue. Instead, the legislation effectively shifts the amount of local property tax relief back to the states obligation for this year. D51 will receive $10,033.51 per student in the current budget year, which ranks 174 out of 178 districts in Colorado.

The district has been de-Bruced since 1999, so is not required to refund any excess revenue collected over the TABOR limit. Trujillo said the districts three mill levy overrides will also not be impacted this year because they are for fixed dollar amounts.



Sentinel reporter Dan West contributed to this article.
Saturday Night

Cloudy with snow showers in the evening and steady snow likely after midnight. Low 29F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
British Documentary Alleges China Influences Universities, Spies on Hong Kongers in UK

By Lyndon Lee November 30, 2023

A BBC Channel 4 documentary, "Secrets and Power: China in the UK," claims the Chinese government is interfering with academic freedom and spying on Hong Kong activists in the United Kingdom.

The 49-minute film released Wednesday alleges that the University of Nottingham used a Beijing-approved curriculum in classes taught on a satellite campus in Ningbo and closed its School of Contemporary Chinese Studies under pressure from Beijing.

The program also claims a professor at the Imperial College London collaborated with researchers at a Chinese university on the use of artificial intelligence weaponry that could be used to benefit the Chinese military. Both institutions deny the allegations.

The film also alleges that Chinese government agents pretending to be journalists used fake profiles and avatars to target Hong Kong activists now living in the U.K.

VOA Mandarin sent an email to the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom seeking comments on the claims in the documentary but has not received a response.

Nations track China's influence

The documentary comes as other nations, including the U.S., are monitoring China's influence on campuses (( https://www.voanews.com/a/us-officials-warn-of-chinese-influence-in-american-higher-education/4600204.html )) and its so-called "overseas police centers," purportedly intended to help Chinese diaspora and tourists with everyday problems.

VOA has previously quoted human rights groups saying the outposts are in fact part of a complex global surveillance and control web that gives Beijing reach far beyond China's borders.

The University of Nottingham was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education to open a campus in Ningbo, China, in 2004. On the China campus, all courses are taught in English and students are awarded the same degrees as on the U.K. campus.

Professor Stephen Morgan, the former vice provost for planning at the Ningbo campus, said in the documentary that books and articles on campus are censored by local Communist Party officials.

According to Morgan, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also encouraged students to spy on their teachers. He said he was forced to resign from his management position after writing a blog criticizing constitutional changes that enabled President Xi Jinping to serve a third term. The CCP secretary at the Ningbo campus deemed the blog "totally unacceptable," he said.

Steve Tsang is director of the China Institute at SOAS London and a former director of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham, which closed in 2016.

Tsang, an outspoken critic of the CCP, said in the documentary that University of Nottingham administrators told him not to speak with media when Xi visited the U.K. in 2015. Tsang also said the university did not allow him to host a senior Taiwanese politician who planned to deliver a speech in 2014.

School denies taking political action

The University of Nottingham has denied that the closure of its Institute of Contemporary China was for political reasons and denied Channel 4's allegations about Nottingham's Ningbo campus.

"We do not recognize the description of the University of Nottingham's Ningbo campus. Any U.K. organization operating overseas ... must comply with the laws and customs of the host country."

The documentary alleges that Imperial College London's collaboration with researchers from Shanghai University included the publication of several papers on the military applications of artificial intelligence. The work was overseen by Guo Yike, director of Imperial College's Institute of Data Science.

According to a report in the English newspaper The Telegraph, Imperial College said staff have a "clear code of research" and insisted that due diligence and regular reviews of partners have been done.

The Chinese Embassy in London also denied to The Telegraph in the same article that it had interfered in the running of British universities, saying the allegation was "aimed at discrediting and smearing China."

Film alleges China targets activists

A study prepared by the British think tank Civitas and released this month in parliament found that a number of British universities have received significant funding from organizations linked to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) over the past five years.

The documentary alleges Hong Kong activists who have taken refuge in Britain appear to be the targets of sophisticated Chinese government espionage.

It follows the case of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Finn Lau, who said he had been repeatedly approached by fake journalists and feared being followed. In July, Hong Kong offered a bounty equal to $128,000 for Lau's arrest. Seven others were also targeted.

According to the documentary, an American man who taught English in Shanghai pretended to be a journalist working for a Canadian media outlet and used a false avatar and profile to ask Lau for information about pro-democracy activities. When the American was asked by a Channel 4 reporter for his real name and those of his superiors, he hung up the video call.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NETT Positive: Training the Next Generation for the ACV Era

US Marine Corps News

29 Nov 2023 | Johannes Schmidt Marine Corps Systems Command

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES -- Since its 1775 establishment by the Continental Congress, the Marine Corps has been a force in transition. Initially serving as ship guards alongside the fledgling revolutionary Navy, Marines have left an indelible mark on our nation's history-- transforming into a versatile, expeditionary fighting force and distinguishing themselves in battles such as Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, and Fallujah.

Four years into Force Design's strategic modernization plan, the Corps is once again reimagining its role in joint force interoperability and expeditionary warfare, with eyes set firmly on the global littorals. A pivotal element in this transformation is Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault's, or PM AAA, New Equipment Training Team, or NETT, whose role has become increasingly vital in equipping Marines with the skills and knowledge required for these new operational demands.

One of the most dynamic new tools in the Corps' toolbox is the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, or ACV. Fielded by Program Executive Officer Land Systems, the ACV is the Corps' next-generation vehicle designed for the swift and secure transport of Marines from ships to shore along island chains like those found in the South China Sea. This bleeding-edge family of vehicles includes personnel, command and control, recovery, and 30-mm gun variants, and stands to replace the Corps' aging Assault Amphibious Vehiclea staple of amphibious operations since it was first fielded in 1972.

As Staff Sgt. Latham Faver, NETT Course operator, recently stated, "Based on lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, the ACV is a major advancement. With its V-shaped hull and armored plating, enhanced mobility, and stabilized weapons, it far surpasses previous models in survivability, lethality, and communication."

In today's era of great power competition, ensuring the warfighter is equipped with the most advanced tools and training is essential to keep pace with our stated adversaries. As Program Executive Officer Land Systems Stephen Bowdren recently noted, "The strategic rationale behind our approach is clear: equipping our forces with the capabilities to effectively engage in this highly challenging theater ensures that we have the necessary tools to respond to crises, conflicts, and responsibilities wherever they may arise worldwide."

Although major programmatic changes are often met with apprehension, the NETT is playing a key role in this evolution, guiding Marines through the significant shift from the tracked AAV to the more advanced, wheel-based ACV platformensuring a smooth and effective transition in operational capabilities with a focus on safety and operational proficiency.

According to Erik Benitez, director of the NETT for PM AAA, the NETT's primary role is to bridge the gap between the Assault Amphibious Vehicle, or AAV, and the ACV by providing specialized licensing and initial training to operators and maintainers. NETT's operator new equipment training, or OPNET, approach focuses singularly on the ACV, allowing Marines to develop a deeper, more concentrated expertise in this specific platform.

"The transition to the ACV demands rigorous training, as it's not just about mastering new hardware but adapting to a fundamentally different operational approach, especially in challenging environments like the surf zone. Our training emphasizes precision, safety, and quick decision-making, crucial for the ACV's more nuanced and tactical employment in amphibious operations. We operate with the understanding that safety must be a key pillar of our training efforts," he said.

Considering recent safety concerns surrounding the ACV, safety has been a paramount focus for Benitez's team. Although the ACV's technology exceeds that of the AAV in aspects like force protection and safety features-- such as enhanced armor and individual blast-attenuating seatsit demands more repetitions in the driver's station to build confidence and proficiencya concern the NETT is acutely aware of.

Benitez notes, "While the AAV was a blunt instrument, straightforward in its operation, the ACV is more akin to a surgical tool, requiring precise navigation and careful attention to elements like wave angles and ocean behavior in the surf zone. This heightened need for precision and awareness in operating the ACV underscores the importance of the specialized training and safety measures we've implemented."

But ACV operators aren't the only ones who enjoy comprehensive training; maintainers also undergo rigorous training programs designed to ensure they are fully equipped to handle the technical complexities and maintenance demands of the advanced vehicle system.

According to Gunnery Sgt. Rouch, Field Level Maintenance New Equipment Training Team course chief, "The maintainer's role is crucial in ensuring operational vehicles for the Fleet Marine Force. We emphasize in our courses that every Marine or civilian acts as a safety officer. We operate strictly by the book, taking all safety precautions and thoroughly addressing every caution and warning sign to maintain the highest standards of safety in training and operations."

At the end of the day, practice makes perfect, as evidenced by a recent intensive training exercise that showcases the NETT's commitment to operational excellence. In just six weeks, 90 students successfully and safely completed approximately 300 surf transitsa testament to the rigorous and comprehensive training regimen that the NETT enforces. This challenging program not only honed the skills of the participants but also underscored the importance of practical, hands-on experience in mastering the complexities of the ACV in demanding amphibious environments.

While many former "trackers" still look back fondly on their AAV days, those who spend time around the ACV recognize its advantages. Reflecting on his own deployment experiences in Afghanistan, Toby Cook, NETT OPNET team lead noted, "The ACV is leaps and bounds superior to its predecessors, especially in terms of survivability and lethality. That's something I've come to understand first-hand."

Ultimately, as the Corps continues to modernize with the fielding of the ACV, the NETT stands as a linchpin in this evolution. Through rigorous training and an unwavering focus on safety, the NETT plays a pivotal role in equipping Marines to navigate the complexities of modern warfare safely and effectively. As the Corps returns to the global littorals, the ACV's enhanced capabilities in survivability, lethality, and communicationcoupled with NETT's specialized training-- ensure that Marines are well-prepared to meet evolving global challenges while prioritizing their safety. This not only safeguards the Corps' legacy, but also secures its future.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Meeting with North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Osmani

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 North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani today in Skopje, North Macedonia. The Secretary commended North Macedonia's strong contributions and leadership as the OSCE Chair-in-Office, fostering a united response in support of Ukraine while promoting peace and stability for Europe. The Secretary also thanked the Foreign Minister for the strong bilateral partnership between the United States and North Macedonia and stressed the importance of strengthening democratic institutions, including the fight against corruption, increasing energy security by bringing non-Russian gas to the region, and continuing rule of law reform. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States would remain a steadfast partner and Ally in support of North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic path.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

29 November 2023

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Briefings

Good afternoon. Thank you for coming. At 1 p.m., just as a reminder, Dennis Francis, the President of the General Assembly, will be here to talk to you about his forthcoming visit to the UAE [United Arab Emirates], where he will be attending COP28 [twenty-eighth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]. And a programming note that tomorrow, we will have our colleagues from UNRWA [UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East], Thomas White, the Director of UNRWA's Affairs in Gaza, and Juliette Touma, the Director of Communications of UNRWA. They will be joining us virtually to give you an update on the situation on the ground.

** Secretary-General's Travel

Tonight, our Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will be heading to Dubai to attend the COP28, the Climate Change Conference. He will have a rather busy agenda during the first days of the Conference. First, he will speak at the opening ceremony and at the Local Climate Action Summit. Both those events will take place on the 1st [December]. He will also have a live conversation with Indian actress Dia Mirza, who is also an SDG [Sustainable Development Goals] Advocate and a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador.

On Saturday, he will take part in the High-level Meeting of the Landlocked Countries; the opening of the G77 [Group of 77] and China Summit; the opening of the Global Climate Action High-level Event entitled "Towards a Turning Point for Climate Action", among other events. In addition, he will also be launching his Initiative for Supercharging Battery Storage Deployment Globally and he will meet with his Youth Advisory Group, as he does at every COP meeting.

On Sunday, he will meet with a group of scientists, including the Chair of the IPCC  the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  as well as other young climate leaders who are attending the Conference in the United Arab Emirates. He will also speak at the opening of the Delivering Early Warnings for All and engage in discussions with civil society on the follow up of the High-level Expert Group's recommendations on net zero commitments. And of course, he will be having a number of bilateral meetings with the COP28 presidency and various leaders attending the conference. And we will keep you updated on his events as they go along.

** Gaza

Turning to Gaza, you heard the Secretary-General this morning briefed the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 2712 (2023). He discussed the violence in which more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed. He also noted that, 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 he became Secretary-General in 2017. The nature and scale of death and destruction are characteristic of the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, with a significant impact on civilians, he said. At the same time, rocket attacks on population centres in Israel by Hamas and other groups have continued  along with allegations of the use of human shields.

The Secretary-General welcomed the arrangement reached by Israel and Hamas  with the assistance of course of Qatar, and Egypt and the United States. We are working to maximize the positive potential of this arrangement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, he added. But, he said, the level of aid to Palestinians in Gaza remains completely inadequate to meet the huge needs of more than 2 million people. Although the total amount of fuel allowed into Gaza has increased, it remains utterly insufficient to sustain basic operations. He also asserted that all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. Until then, they must be treated humanely, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) needs to be allowed to visit them.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Tor Wennesland, also, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, also briefed. While he did mention the situation in Gaza, he very much focused his remarks on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. And those remarks were shared with you. On the humanitarian side, our friends at OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] tell us that a Palestine Red Crescent Society aid convoy carrying food, medical supplies, water, and non-food items reached areas north of Wadi Gaza yesterday. However, the bulk of aid distribution during the day took place in areas south of Wadi Gaza, where the vast majority of Palestinians who are internally displaced are located.

But despite an increase in supplies entering Gaza since the start of the pause, the volume of aid entering is insufficient to meet the extensive needs. Aid groups have called for the immediate re-opening of more crossing points, including for the entry of commercial goods. UNRWA continued distributing flour to IDPs [internally displaced persons] in and outside shelters. Key service providers, including hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, and IDP shelters, have been able to operate during this halt in the fighting with daily fuel provisions they have been receiving.

On 28 November, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned about the high risk of infectious disease in shelters where internally displaced people are staying and said that this was because of severe overcrowding and the disruption of health, water and sanitation systems. This concern is underscored by recent reports of hepatitis cases at shelters in the south. Also, before attending the Security Council this morning, the Secretary General met with members of the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit Extraordinary Summit that took place earlier today. This was a delegation of foreign ministers. They discussed the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the wider region, including the humanitarian response and the progress made in the implementation of [UN Security Council] Resolution 2712, on which the Secretary-General later briefed.

** International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

As you know, today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. In his message that was delivered by the Deputy Secretary-General at an event earlier today, the Secretary-General says that this is a day for reaffirming international solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to live in peace and dignity. He underscored that it is long past time to move in a determined, irreversible way towards a two-State solution, on the basis of UN resolutions and international law.

** Yemen

Quick update on Yemen: Our Special Envoy [for Yemen], Hans Grundberg, continued his peace efforts this week in the Omani capital, in Muscat. Yesterday, Mr. Grundberg met senior Omani officials and with Mohamed Abdel Salam, Ansar Allah's Chief Negotiator. They discussed opportunities to foster cooperation between Yemeni stakeholders to address the current economic issues, to establish a sustainable nationwide ceasefire, and resume an inclusive political process under the auspices of the United Nations. Also, during his meetings with representatives of diverse Yemeni political parties, the Special Envoy explored ways to progress towards a political solution that reflects the priorities and aspirations of all components of Yemeni society. Some of you have been asking for an update on the tanker formerly known as the Safer. We are trying to get an update. Our colleagues are working on it. We will not sit on it, Dezhi, we will share it with you as soon as we get it.

** South Sudan

Turning to South Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues yesterday launched the 2024 humanitarian appeal for the country. They seek $1.8 billion to support 6 million people across South Sudan next year. There is an estimated 7.1 million men, women and children who will continue to be food insecure during the lean season, and that is from April to July. Some 1.6 million children will remain at critical risk of malnutrition. The Sudan conflict has had an impact on the South Sudan economy, increasing the prices of food and the number of vulnerable people who need assistance. The acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney, said that humanitarians will continue to work to ensure that people no longer have to depend on aid, adding that, sadly, we expect climate change and other multiple shocks to continue to drive acute humanitarian needs next year. And to note that the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for South Sudan, calling for $1.7 billion, is only 54 per cent funded with just over $900 million. So, we hope the 2024 plan will be fully funded.

** Peacebuilding

An event to announce to you: Over 70 peacebuilders from around the world will come together this week, here at the UN in New York for the first Civil Society-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding. The dialogue begins tomorrow and will continue until Friday. The launch of this new annual initiative is co-hosted by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Peacebuilding Support Office and Interpeace, which is an international NGO [non-governmental organization], with the generous support of our friends in Finland. The Dialogue will not only facilitate exchange among a diverse range of civil society organizations from across the globe, but more importantly, will allow discussions on strategy and policy in peacebuilding. The platform will enable civil society actors to influence global peacebuilding goals and objectives. More information on this brand new Dialogue is available on the website of the Peacebuilding Support Office.

** Senior Personnel Appointment

Senior personnel appointment and then I will turn it over to you. Babatunde A. Ahonsi of Nigeria is taking up his new function as the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkiye, after completing his appointment as Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone. The Secretary-General's appointment follows the confirmation from the host Government to lead the UN team's work in support of Turkiye's commitment to advance the SDGs and leave no one behind. Mr. Ahonsi has 26 years of experience in international development. His full biography is available on the Development Coordination Office's website, and we congratulate him. And we move to Benno.

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you, Steph. I have a follow-up to the Security Council and an actual question. First, I need your help in understanding the SG [Secretary-General]. He said in his briefing, 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 years by any party to a conflict since I've been Secretary-General. Does he mean the total number of all conflicts combined? Or does he mean there was... it's a higher number than in any other conflict since he's...?

Spokesman : A higher number of any conflict. And this is all based on the data that is in our annual Children and Armed Conflict reports. [He later clarified: The Secretary-General made clear that a greater number of children have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza than the total number of children killed during any individual year, by any party to a conflict since he became Secretary-General  as clearly indicated in the annual reports on Children and Armed Conflict that were submitted to the Security Council.]

Question : Okay. And then my question is about Mali. Can you give us an idea regarding the withdrawal, how the situation of peacekeepers and UN personnel in Mali is right now? I heard that in some parts of the country, they had to ration foods because there is no access to stores anymore.

Spokesman : I'm not aware of our peacekeepers having to ration food, but I do expect an update on the withdrawal tomorrow from our peacekeeping colleagues. And the SG, I think, addressed it pretty vigorously yesterday. Dezhi?

Question : When everyone's talking about implementing the Security Council resolution 2712, what would be the standard to say that, okay, this resolution has been implemented? Because I think it's quite a vague, small step, baby step resolution, right? I mean, how can we define that the resolution is implemented?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, I think the resolution sets forward a number of goals. The Secretary-General reported on what he was able to report on. But others are able to make their own assessment, as well.

Question : Okay. Another question. It seems that the Hamas is willing to have another four days' extension of the pause. And multiple parties are working on this. What does the Secretary-General has to say on this? And what could be another four days' extra pause would do to humanitarian aid delivery?

Spokesman : Well, pretty clear, it would... given that it would silence the guns for a further amount of time, it would allow for us to distribute aid safely, for people to receive aid safely, and it would stop people getting killed.

Question : Does the UN hope that this possibility of another extension could lead to maybe an even longer period of pauses?

Spokesman : Listen, I think we all have to be very realistic. I think we're taking this one day at a time, but we do hope, obviously, that there's an extension. And the Secretary-General has been reiterating his call for a humanitarian ceasefire. Yes, sir?

Question : Rebeca Grynspan, a few days ago, took part in the summit, grain from Ukraine. How do you evaluate the efforts?

Spokesman : Sorry. She said... she took... right. She was in Kyiv.

Question : Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. If you evaluate the efforts of Ukraine and other countries that were at the conference, their decisions reflected in the joint statement aimed to find solutions to the acute food insecurity in many regions of the world.

Spokesman : Well, I mean, we're not... I'm not in the business of evaluating statements. I mean, our goal is clear, and I think the Secretary-General also referred to it yesterday, that the more grain and fertilizer is able to go quick... to go out to market freely, the better it is for the world as a whole. We know there's an export route through the Black Sea, which the Ukrainians have organized, which is helping. But I think what global markets need is not only greater volume, but stability as well. Okay. Iftikhar, then Stefano.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Can you share more details about the meeting the Islamic and Arab Foreign Ministers had with the Secretary-General this morning?

Spokesman : I read it out.

Question : No, I know. But you just said that they discussed the situation. Any outcome, any decision?

Spokesman : No. I mean, they were... obviously, the Foreign Ministers were here to participate in the Security Council meeting. They wanted to meet with the Secretary-General. He gave his thoughts on where we are in the process, which I think are, you know, he's... what he said in... often what he says in private is what he says in public. He laid out, a few minutes later to the Security Council, his thoughts. I don't think the meeting was that long. It was probably about 10-15 minutes. Everything was a bit rushed this morning. Stefano, then Dulcie, I think, has a mic in her hand.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. First is a follow-up on the speech of Guterres... on the report of Guterres at the Security Council. Was it clear that he's saying basically that the resolution has not been respected so far?

Spokesman : Well, listen, I...

Correspondent : Because he didn't say.

Spokesman : I think you will have to do your homework, in a sense, and analyse what he said. But has the resolution been implemented in full? I think one can't really come with a positive answer to that question.

Question : Okay. And then Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan had a conversation with the Secretary-General yesterday. And he's... according to the release of the Turkish Government, he said to Guterres that expectation of the international community regarding Israel unlawful attack, basically he wants the Israel of violating international law, conducted crime in Gaza, and so should be put on trial. Now we know that because that's what the Government say. What was the reaction of Guterres when Erdogan was telling...?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General's position is clear, and I think he's said it. As in any conflict, after a conflict ends, there needs to be accountability. There are different mechanisms, whether within the international system, within the UN system, that are designed to pursue that accountability.

Question : And on what you just said, because in Ukraine, with the war and the conflict is still going on, we see actually a tribunal, I mean, if I understand, there is... President [Vladimir] Putin cannot go, cannot travel easily because he will be arrested in some countries. Why in Ukraine, the case of Ukraine-Russia conflict, this kind of investigation or also mandate by the tribunal are done during the... [Cross talk]

Spokesman : Stefano, that's a question to ask the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Dulcie, then Michael, then Ibtisam.

Question : Thank you. I wanted to ask you when people, diplomats refer to the two-State solution and a contiguous Palestine territory, what are they actually referring to? Because it's not contiguous, the territory.

Spokesman : I don't speak for those diplomats who are saying that. Obviously, I would say the contiguous in terms of the West Bank and, I mean, I think that's what people are referring to when they mean that.

Question : You mean, they're referring to the two separate enclaves within?

Spokesman : That's correct. Yeah.

Correspondent : Okay. But it's not...

Spokesman : I mean, but I don't... you're ask... I...

Correspondent : Well, I'm asking what the UN considered.

Spokesman : Okay. Okay. Yeah.

Question : Whether the UN refers to it as a contiguous...?

Spokesman : And I... but I don't know what they were referring to. I don't know what the people you're talking to...

Question : And also, I just wanted a little clarity on the humanitarian aid deliveries. Before the war started, the UN has been saying that an average of 500 truckloads were getting in daily into the Gaza Strip. Is that correct?

Spokesman : Yes. But that was not all humanitarian aid.

Question : Okay. What was it? But also, because there's...

Spokesman : It was... a lot of it was commercial transactions. I mean, there was a bustling economy in Gaza. They exported. They imported. So, it was... my sense is that the majority of that traffic was commercial traffic, which is now ground to a halt.

Question : Okay. Because that really wasn't clear, but...?

Spokesman : I mean, I think we've been clear on that but, I mean, I hope we have.

Question : Okay. So of that 500 average a day, you're saying very little was actually humanitarian aid?

Spokesman : No. I didn't say very little. I said my sense is that the majority was commercial traffic. I don't think we have... I'll see if we can get you a percentage breakdown.

Question : So that humanitarian aid that did get in, where was it going? Who was it? Who were the recipients?

Spokesman : Well, UNRWA, World Food Programme (WFP).

Correspondent : UNRWA.

Spokesman : World Food Programme and UNRWA. I mean, UNRWA obviously is the largest humanitarian organization. WFP also has a large presence in Gaza, dealing a lot with those people who may not be entitled to UNRWA services. But, you know, as in any crisis, it is so important to have the economy be revived, because the more you have business and economic activity, the less people will depend on humanitarian aid.

Question : Okay. So, based on that, to what extent is the UN trying to negotiate, if it is, commercial traffic into Gaza?

Spokesman : Well, I think that question was asked of me on Monday. We are... we would like to see, obviously, a reopening of the Gazan economy. And those are messages that we're passing on. Mike?

Question : Thanks, Steph. Two questions for you. The Iranian Foreign Minister, conspicuous by his absence today, complained that the US [United States of America] was late issuing visas to him and his delegation. Therefore, he didn't arrive today in time for the meeting. Has there been any complaint lodged to the UN about that?

Spokesman : Let me... I've not been made aware of any complaints lodged. There may have been. I will ask the people who usually get those complaints, but I'm not. Nobody tells me.

Question : Okay. Second question. The Secretary-General parroted words from the head of UN Women today, saying that there are reports of gender-based violence on 7 October. There must be a rigorous full investigation. What is this problem that the UN, despite the forensic evidence, despite the eyewitness accounts, despite video that I'm sure the Israeli Government would share in a closed setting, cannot say Hamas raped women, committed sexual assault on 7 October? It opines on all sorts of war crimes without full investigations. What is the problem...? [Cross talk]

Spokesman : I don't... I mean, Mike, you and I have different interpretations of what the Secretary-General said. He condemned the actions of Hamas on 7 October. Within that, he talked about the issue of sexual violence, which is clear from all the press reports that we've seen; that is, of course, included in his condemnation.

Correspondent : Those are two. He hasn't linked those two issues together.

Spokesman : Well, I think he has. If you look at the way it's written, I think it's clearly linked. Ibtisam, and then we'll go to round two.

Question : A lot of people who were freed in the exchange lately, including children, reported about that they were beaten, harassed, and a lot of human rights violations. Does the UN believe that all these violations should be...?

Spokesman : I'm sorry.

Correspondent : Palestinian, yes.

Spokesman : Palestinian. Okay. That wasn't clear. Okay.

Question : Who were either prisoners or a lot of them, at least I think one third of them were part of the so-called, like, I forgot the term. But, you know, when Israel holds children and arrests them without any trials or any allegations, so do you believe that should be investigated?

Spokesman : I think people... anyone who is detained either in a jail or under administrative detention needs to be treated according to basic human rights and international law. And any case of violations of that law need to be investigated.

Question : Okay. My other question is about the American Ambassador to the UN, in her statement today at the Security Council, talked about settlers' violence, and she said that her Government is troubled by the sharp rise of violence by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. She also said that President [Joseph R.] Biden has made clear that the United States is prepared to take action, including by issuing visas bans against extremists. Does the Secretary-General believe that the issue of settlers and the extremist settlers should be more discussed and maybe even some of these movements banned and declared as terrorist organizations? Especially that some of them are using violence openly against farmers and Palestinian civilians.

Spokesman : I think we have been very clear and other parts of the UN have been very clear in condemning the violence that we've seen by settlers, sometimes lethal and fatal violence and the harassment of Palestinian civilians. The issue of listing groups as terror organizations, as you know, is not something that the Secretary-General designates. It goes through the Security Council, but we have been, I think, very clear on condemning that violence. I think that was your... yeah.

Question : Can I just follow up quickly? I mean, okay. Condemnations is great and good, but it's not enough, given the fact that this is not new. This violence has been going on.

Spokesman : No, and I think... and we've been... I think we have been very public about it for a long time in the Secretary-General's own reports, in Tor's reports. It is also something that we have repeatedly raised with our Israeli counterparts. Dulcie. Sorry. Sorry to shock you. I actually haven't answered your question. 80 to 85 per cent of the truck traffic before this phase of the conflict was commercial.

Question : Okay. So if I do the math, you've been saying an average of 500, so 85 per cent...?

Spokesman : Don't ask me. I can only give you... I'm giving you the percentages. I will let you calculate in terms of trucks.

Question : Okay. But then you're talking about a much lower number than 500 average a day on humanitarian aid. So where are we in relation to that number?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, we've been reporting on that. We've been saying very clearly, we're not able to get in enough aid to meet the needs. It's not a matter of truckloads. It's a matter of volume and it's a matter of goods. And we're not getting enough in. Dezhi?

Question : Sorry. Just a very quick question. Since the Secretary-General is leaving for COP28 in Dubai, the Israeli President, [Isaac] Herzog, also is planning to attend that meeting. Will the Secretary-General meet with President Herzog in person?

Spokesman : If they have a chance, of course, they will. I mean, we don't have the list of bilateral meetings yet. As you may know, these events are rather chaotic and, you know, things are scheduled, but the Secretary-General, I think, has a very good and long-standing relationship with President Herzog, dating from the time before he became president.

Question : And what about his phone call with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu?

Spokesman : I will report things as they happen. Mr. Schwinghammer?

Question : Yeah. You might have seen this story that the US has foiled a plot to assassinate an American citizen in New York who advocated for a Sikh separatist state. Now my question to you is, did the US authorities indicate to the UN in any way that diplomats representing India to the UN were involved in this case?

Spokesman : I have not seen that report at all.

Correspondent : Oh, it was breaking news.

Spokesman : News is being broken everywhere all the time. I'm happy to do a pop quiz if you... to make sure you're on top everything. No. I just... I haven't seen, but this is not the... I mean, I don't know anything about it so. Mike, and then we'll go because... and then we'll go to Mushfique, and then we'll go to the President of the General Assembly.

Question : One quick question for you. A senior Biden admin official had suggested earlier on in the week that even though Israel refused to open up the Kerem Shalom crossing, that possibly could be used for inspections and the [inaudible]. Have there been further discussions on that?

Spokesman : I know that's one of the discussions that would facilitate things. Because there's an infrastructure there. But what would really facilitate things, if things could go through Kerem Shalom in addition to Rafah. Mushfique, and then we'll leave the space to the President of the General Assembly.

Question : Okay. Thank you, Stephane. According to Human Rights Watch report, ongoing systematic crackdown on opposition members and critics by Bangladesh security forces makes a free and fair election impossible. What specific steps is going to take from the Secretary-General to ensuring the voting rights of the Bangladeshi people, as the Voice of America English service reports, Bangladesh prepping for unfair election?

Spokesman : Well, we do not have... the UN is not deploying observers to these elections. We don't... we rarely, rarely do that without a specific mandate. We, again, and we've seen the reports from Human Rights Watch and other organizations, we again call on all parties involved to ensure that people are able to express their votes freely, their opinion freely, free of any harassment. Thank you all, and I will leave you with the President of this General Assembly.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council - on the Middle East

United Nations Secretary-General

29 November 2023

Mr. President, Excellencies,

I welcome this opportunity to brief the Security Council on implementation of resolution 2712.

My Special Coordinator for the Middle East process Tor Wennesland will follow with his regular monthly briefing.

Mr. President,

Resolution 2712 was approved in a context of widespread death and wholesale destruction unleashed by the conflict in Gaza and Israel.

According to Israeli authorities, more than 1,200 people were killed -- including 33 children -- and thousands were injured in the abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas on 7 October.

Some 250 people were also abducted, including 34 children.

There are also numerous accounts of sexual violence during the attacks that must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted.

Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere.

Mr. President,

According to the de facto authorities, more than 14,000 people have been killed since the start of the Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have also been injured, with many more missing.

In Gaza, more than two-thirds of those killed are reported to be children and women.

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 - as clearly indicated in the annual reports on Children and Armed Conflict that I have submitted to the Council.

Over the past few days, the people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel have finally seen a glimmer of hope and humanity in so much darkness.

It is deeply moving to see civilians finally having a respite from the bombardments, families reunited, and lifesaving aid increasing.

Mr. President,

Resolution 2712 "demands that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially children."

It is clear that before the pause, we witnessed serious violations.

Beyond the many civilians killed and wounded that I spoke of, eighty percent of Gaza's people have now been forced from their homes.

This growing population is being pushed towards an ever-smaller area of southern Gaza. And, of course, nowhere is safe in Gaza.

Meanwhile, an estimated 45 percent of all homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.

The nature and scale of death and destruction are characteristic of the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, with a significant impact on civilians.

At the same time, rocket attacks on population centres in Israel by Hamas and other groups have continued - along with allegations of the use of human shields.

This is also inconsistent with international humanitarian law obligations.

Mr. President,

I want to stress the inviolability of United Nations facilities which today are sheltering more than one million civilians seeking protection under the UN flag.

UNRWA shares the coordinates of all its facilities across the Gaza Strip with all parties to the conflict.

The agency has verified 104 incidents that have impacted 82 UNRWA installations - 24 of which happened since the adoption of the resolution.

A total of 218 internally displaced people sheltering in UNRWA schools have reportedly been killed and at least 894 injured.

In addition, 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.

Let me put it plainly:

Civilians - including United Nations 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.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2712 calls "for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip ...to enable ...full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access."

I welcome the arrangement reached by Israel and Hamas - with the assistance of the governments of Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

We are working to maximize the positive potential of this arrangement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The pause has enabled us to enhance the delivery of aid into and across Gaza.

For example, for the first time since 7 October, an inter-agency convoy delivered food, water, medical supplies, and shelter items to northern Gaza - specifically to four UNRWA shelters in Jabalia camp.

Prior to this, minimal or no assistance had reached these locations - even as tens of thousands of people had crowded there for shelter.

Also, for the first time, supplies of cooking gas entered Gaza where people waited in lines that extended for two kilometres.

In the south, where the needs are dire, UN agencies and partners have increased both the amount of aid delivered, and the number of locations reached.

I express my appreciation to the Government of Egypt for their contribution in making this assistance possible.

But the level of aid to Palestinians in Gaza remains completely inadequate to meet the huge needs of more than two million people.

And 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.

Humanitarian partners carried out several medical evacuations from north to south Gaza, including to transport dozens of premature babies as well as spinal and dialysis patients from Shifa and Al-Ahli Anglican hospitals.

Several critically ill patients have also been evacuated for treatment in Egypt.

Hospitals across Gaza lack the basic supplies, staff and fuel to deliver primary health care at the scale needed, let alone safely treat urgent cases.

The medical system has broken down under the heavy caseload, acute shortages, and the impact of hostilities.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2712 calls for "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups."

The arrangement announced on 22 November has so far led to the release, over 5 days, of 60 hostages - 29 women, 31 children - held by Hamas and other groups since 7 October.

Outside the arrangement during the same period, another 21 hostages were released.

This is a welcome start. But as I have been saying from day one, all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Until then, they must be treated humanely and the International Committee of the Red Cross must be allowed to visit them.

The arrangement also saw the release of 180 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli jails, mostly women and children.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2712 "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."

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.

Gaza needs an immediate and sustained increase in humanitarian aid including food, water, fuel, blankets, medicines and healthcare 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 lifesaving aid.

But humanitarian aid alone will not be sufficient. We also need the private sector to bring in critical basic commodities to replenish completely depleted shops in Gaza.

Mr. President,

Finally, Security Council Resolution 2712 "underscores the importance of coordination, humanitarian notification, and deconfliction mechanisms, to protect all medical and humanitarian staff, vehicles, including ambulances, humanitarian sites, and critical infrastructure, including UN facilities."

A humanitarian notification system is now in place, and is being constantly reviewed and enhanced, including through plans for additional civil-military experts to support coordination.

Mr. President,

I welcome the adoption of resolution 2712 - but its implementation by the parties matters most.

In accordance with the resolution, I will revert to the President of the Security Council with a set of options on effectively monitoring the implementation of the resolution.

I have already established a working group composed of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Department of Peace Operations, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of Legal Affairs to urgently prepare proposals in this regard.

So far it is clear that implementation has been only partial at best, and is woefully insufficient.

Ultimately, we know that 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.

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 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.

Failure will condemn Palestinians, Israelis, the region and the world, to a never-ending cycle of death and destruction.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Polish airmen visit APS-2 site in Italy to see what right looks like, prepare for their mission

By Cameron Porter, 405th AFSB Public Affairs Officer November 30, 2023

LIVORNO, Italy -- Mission command of the five Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksites in Europe is the responsibility of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade and it's four battalions, but the primary workforce at these APS-2 sites is a mix between contractors, local national employees and in the Netherlands - Dutch Ministry of Defense civilian employees.

In a first, foreign national uniformed military personnel will conduct the day-to-day maintenance operations and work at an APS-2 site in Europe, and those military personnel recently took their first step to assume that mission.

More than 30 Polish air force personnel who will work at the new APS-2 site in Powidz, Poland - officially known as the Long Term Equipment Storage and Maintenance-Complex - recently conducted a site visit to Leghorn Army Depot in Livorno to see how an APS-2 site operates.

Robert Guess is the support operations director for Army Field Support Battalion-Africa at Leghorn. He said the Polish air force personnel tapped to work at the APS-2 site in Poland came to Italy to "get a taste of what an APS-2 operation looks like and what that all entails."

"Our Polish counterparts who visited were split up into groups," said Guess. "For example, some shadowed the maintenance directorate, and some shadowed the directorate of supply. The goal was to show them our day-to-day operations and how APS-2 supports U.S. Army Europe and Africa and two combatant commands."

"It was a lot of young officers, some of them straight out of their military academy, and they asked a lot of very good questions," Guess said.

When introduced to AFSBn-Africa's manning and workload planning and analysis efforts, Guess said he could tell the Polish airmen were slightly overwhelmed, especially at first. But he said the visit was mainly a chance for them to observe how an APS-2 worksite operates, and they'll learn much more over the next year or two before they assume full responsibility of APS-2 maintenance operations at the site in Powidz.

"This initiative gave the Polish military personnel an opportunity to put eyes on what a fully operational APS-2 worksite looks like," said Thomas Fiori, AFSBn-Africa's director of maintenance. "Even though our APS-2 set here at Leghorn is quite a bit different than what they're going to have in Poland - they're going to have an [Armored Brigade Combat Team] and we have mostly tactical sustainment brigade type sets - the goal was to show them what right looks like."

In total, the Polish military personnel spent almost a week on the ground at Leghorn with AFSBn-Africa. During this time, they attended briefings, met with senior leaders from the battalion, walked the APS-2 worksite, spoke with the maintainers and team leads doing the work, and observed all the day-to-day operations at the site.

"It wasn't a lot of showing them how we physically turn wrenches, but more of the planning, production control and supply management functions," Fiori said. "Overall, I think it was successful, especially as a first look. Nobody walked out of here an APS-2 expert. What we gave them was some basic tools to get started."

"I don't want to say first level," Guess added, "more of an observation and orientation to APS-2 - a firsthand look at what a well-managed and well-maintained APS-2 worksite looks like."

And the Polish military personnel who visited AFSBn-Africa and the APS-2 site at Leghorn made it clear they don't take lightly the importance of their role in supporting the APS-2 mission in Europe.

"This is one of the most important missions for the Polish military right now," said Lt. Col. Przemel Musiej, the officer in charge of the Polish logistics support workforce at Powidz. "This is the first site of its kind in Poland, and for us the Long Term Equipment Storage and Maintenance-Complex demonstrates the strong partnership we have with the U.S. and NATO."

Comprised of 650,000 square feet of humidity-controlled warehouse space, a vehicle maintenance facility and supporting facilities, and a 58,000 square foot munitions storage area - the state-of-the-art LTESM-C in Poland demonstrates the commitment and investment of the U.S. with Poland and NATO through enduring agreements to posture resources for rapid deployment and deter potential adversaries.

On order, the 405th AFSB's Army Field Support Battalion-Poland will assume mission command of APS-2 operations at the LTESM-C. Musiej's workforce will work shoulder-to-shoulder with AFSBn-Poland, performing the vast majority of maintenance and mechanical repairs on APS-2 vehicles and equipment pieces.

In Livorno, AFSBn-Africa is charged with receiving, maintaining, storing and issuing APS-2 at Leghorn Army Depot as well as at locations forward - known as equipment configuration and hand off areas. The battalion is also responsible for linking national logistics capabilities and providing logistics solutions to Army units and joint forces South of the Alps through U.S. Army Materiel Command's Life Cycle Management Commands.

Organizations AFSBn-Africa directly support - helping to enable readiness across two theaters of operations - are U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Southern European Task Force-Africa, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and other strategic partners and allies.

The 405th AFSB is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and under the operational control of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. Forces throughout Europe and Africa - providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging the AMC materiel enterprise to support joint forces.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






November 30, 2023

Transcript

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Ms. Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Briefing

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby

DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: So good afternoon. Happy Thursday. So just a few items at the top, and then I'll be happy to take your questions.

So sadly, as many of you know, a United States Air Force CV-22B Osprey from the -- from Yokota Air Base, Japan, assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing was involved in an aircraft mishap Tuesday, Tuesday Eastern, while performing a routine training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island, Japan. Emergency personnel remain on scene conducting search and rescue operations. The cause of this incident is currently under investigation. Our thoughts are with the unit and their families, and we'd like to thank the government of Japan and the Japanese Coast Guard for all their assistance.

As a reminder, Secretary Austin will travel this week to California, December 1st and 2nd. On Friday, he will host the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Marles and the U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps at Moffett Field to discuss the Australia-U.K.-U.S. security partnership, or as you all know it, AUKUS, and this is on the campus of the DOD's Defense Innovation Unit. And then, later that day, he will travel to Simi Valley to deliver a keynote address on Saturday at the 2023 Reagan National Defense Forum.

And shifting to the Middle East, the United States remains encouraged by the humanitarian pauses that we're seeing in Gaza, and we remain in close contact with our Israeli partners. As you know, on Tuesday, the U.S. airlifted 54,000 pounds of humanitarian assistance, which included medical supplies, warm clothing, food and nutrition assistance to the people of Gaza. We expect more aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance to come in the coming days.

And lastly, tomorrow, approximately 180 U.S. Army soldiers from the Fifth Corps, Second Cavalry Regiment will join Exercise Brave Partner in North Macedonia, concluding on December 10th. This U.S. Army and Africa-led exercise tests the regiment readiness on short notice, enhancing interoperability and strengthening our NATO alliance. The exercise also demonstrates our commitment to the Western Balkans' aspirations for European integration, emphasizing that no nation can face today's challenges alone.

And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. Lita? Yeah.

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Japan has suspended its Osprey flights and has asked that the U.S. also suspend some Osprey flights. Is there any move or any decision yet by the department to suspend, pause or otherwise slow down in that area flights of the Osprey until after -- even until after recovery operations are finished? And has the department received an official request from Japan to do some sort of standdown?

MS. SINGH: So I'm not tracking an official request received here at the department. We -- I've seen some of the comments that you just referenced. Right now, the Ospreys are still operating in Japan, but at the time -- right now, our focus on, in terms of what just happened this -- earlier this week, remains on search and rescue efforts. So that's the priority, of course, and you know, we're grate- -- we're, of course, eternally grateful for the government of Japan and their Coast Guard for helping in our search and recovery efforts.

Q: So is there no concern within the department that there are possibly problems within the Osprey that should be looked at before others continue to fly?

MS. SINGH: Well, there -- I mean, I would say as a department, and of course, the secretary values -- there's a true commitment to safety when it comes to any of our airmen operating any aircraft. Again, I'm not going to get ahead of the investigation. It's currently under investigation to see exactly what happened. And so until that concludes, if there are any -- if the investigation concludes that there need to be additional steps taken, we'll make -- certainly do that, but at this time, the investigation is underway on what happened.

Idrees?

Q: There were eight personnel on board. Do you know how many have been recovered versus how many of the (inaudible)?

MS. SINGH: I don't have an update for you on recovery efforts just yet. Again, we know that there are eight missing. The search and recovery efforts are ongoing. I hope that we will have more to share soon, but at this moment, I just don't.

Q: Did you have any updates on the five Somali attackers who were on the Carney over the weekend? And have you been able to find any link between the Somalis and the Yemeni Houthis?

MS. SINGH: Do you mean the Mason?

Q: Pardon me.

MS. SINGH: That's OK. So in terms of connection, let me take the second part of your question first. So in terms of connection, again, we're still doing our assessments. We're not seeing one right now, but if there is one, we'd certainly, of course, you know, let you know. But at this time, these five armed individuals that the Mason -- was able to interdict as they were trying to flee from the Central Park remain in U.S. custody.

Yeah, Lara?

Q: Can you tell us, have there been any additional attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since Thanksgiving? The last we were tracking was 73, I believe.

MS. SINGH: Yes, let me see here. I just want to make sure. Yeah, so there was -- so we do have an update. There was an attack on Tuesday*, so that was earlier this week. So that brings the total attacks up to 74 attacks from October 17th until now. We did not see, as you just mentioned, over the period of Thanksgiving, and then over the last two days, we did not observe any additional attacks on our troops.

Q: And where was the attack on Tuesday?

MS. SINGH: That was in Syria.

Q: Thanks.

MS. SINGH: Yeah.

Q: Were there any injuries?

MS. SINGH: No injuries, no damage to infrastructure. If there are any injuries -- and again, I know that we provide those updates. I don't have any more updates to provide on additional nonserious injuries, but I'm not tracking that there were any injuries from that attack on Tuesday that happened.

Q: Drone -- drones, rockets?

MS. SINGH: I would have to get back to you on that. I'm -- I just don't have that information in front of me.

Q: Do you have any (inaudible) of the drone that was shot down, I think, was it yesterday? What type of drone was it? I think it was an Iranian drone. Can you say what type of drone...?

MS. SINGH: It was an Iranian-manufactured drone. I believe that -- also there's more information that I think CENTCOM did put out on the drone but it was a drone that we know was headed in the general direction of the Carney and was engaged in -- because the commander of the ship obviously felt that it was a threat, and so they did take it down. But I think there is more information available online, in terms of the type of drone that it was.

Konstantin?

Q: Thanks. I -- on the topic, can you say what the Carney used to down the drone -- missiles or guns?

MS. SINGH: I would refer you to CENTCOM for more information. I just don't have that.

Q: And one other question -- can you say whether the Mason fired any weapons as part of its engagement with the ballistic missile that was headed its way?

MS. SINGH: On the -- are you talking -- I'm sorry, are you talking about the event when -- from Wednesday -- or Tuesday? No, I'm not aware that the Mason did fire any weapons in regards to the ballistic missile.

Again, that ballistic missile we know landed, you know, far away from the ship. I believe it was at least 10 nautical miles away. So I don't believe there was any need to use any weapons.

Q: Thank you.

MS. SINGH: Yeah. Ryo?

Q: Thank you. Following up on the Osprey missile in Japan -- so are you saying the Japanese government should not be worried about the safety of other Osprey aircraft going to Japan?

MS. SINGH: Well, I'm not going to speak for the Japanese government, but what I can tell you as the U.S. government and this department, of course safety is our number one priority and of course we're concerned when any -- when there's any mishap, which is why we have launched an investigation into what exactly happened to try and figure out more of the facts here.

At the -- in the immediate, our focus is on search and recovery -- or search and rescue efforts for our eight missing airmen. But in terms of, you know, the comfort of the Japanese government, I would refer you to them to speak to speak to that.

Q: Just to be clear ...

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: Just to be clear -- so does the -- will the U.S. military continue to operate the Osprey as you did before this crash happened?

MS. SINGH: Again, as of right now, we are still continuing to operate the Osprey aircraft. We have a commitment to safety. There is an investigation that is currently determining and looking into what exactly happened with this aircraft and the mishap.

Should that investigation yield in results that require the department to change anything about the Osprey or to take additional steps, we will certainly do that, but at this time, I'm not going to get ahead of that investigation and its process.

Yeah, Fadi?

Q: Thank you, Sabrina. I just have one clarification about this extra attack in Syria.

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: Did it happen this Tuesday or Tuesday of last week?

MS. SINGH: There was -- it was an attack this past Tuesday, yes.

Q: OK. And then on the incident with the drone yesterday with the Carney, the statement from CENTCOM mentioned one of the ships that the Carney was escorting was carrying weapon -- military equipment to the region. My understanding, that this is not a government ship. But are you able to say whether that shipment was going to Israel or somewhere else and maybe tried to understand what actually happened with that incident?

MS. SINGH: Sure. I -- all I know -- that is -- it's not a military ship, it's a commercial vessel. In terms of where it was going, I don't have more information for you on that. I would direct you to the CENTCOM team to answer more of those questions.

But yes, the Carney was escorting that ship as a matter of safety and to ensure, you know, international passageways obviously remain open, but in terms of where that ship was bound for, the Central Park, I think that -- oh, I'm sorry, not -- I'm getting my own incidents confused here -- in terms of where that -- the Carney was escorting that commercial ship, I just don't have more for you on where it was going.

Q: And then lastly ...

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: in terms of rules of engagement with the -- with some of the UAV activity ...

MS. SINGH: Yeah.

Q: ... what is the threshold -- I mean, obviously these incidents are happening in international waters. Did you have information on how far out was the drone before it was shot down by the Carney?

MS. SINGH: I don't have the exact measurements of how far it was from the Carney but of course a commander of a ship, if he or she assesses that the drone or missile is a threat to that ship and the personnel on that ship, they have the authority to shoot it down.

So I don't know that there's a threshold that needs to be met so much so as that the commander of that ship feels that it is under threat and therefore they must take action and respond in whatever is coming its way.

Yeah, Liz?

Q: Yeah, the USS Carney shot down a drone that was, quote, "heading towards it," according to the statement we got yesterday, in the Red Sea. And then on Sunday, the USS Mason, at least one ballistic missile was heading towards it. But these are not deemed the targets of these Houthi missiles.

So my question is if -- what makes these not considered targets? What is the target? Why are these not being considered attacks like the attacks in Syria and Iraq? Because the Iranian proxies are missing there too.

MS. SINGH: Well, I don't know that we wouldn't say that these aren't attacks. I mean, they -- I mean, we are of course taking action if we feel that they are a threat to us. But in terms of intended target, our initial assessments -- when it came to what the Mason took down and what the Carney took down, our initial assessment is that the ships were not the intended target but they came close enough where at least the Carney felt the need that it had to engage the drone that was coming its way or heading toward -- in the general direction.

And I'm sorry, I forgot your -- you had another question in there that I'm ...

Q: I guess just to pinpoint it a little bit more, if it's not the intended target, then is it an attack or not an attack?

MS. SINGH: Well, again, I would refer you to the people who are launching these drones or missiles, what their intended target is. We can't really speak to that. What we can speak to is the fact that our initial assessment -- and if that changes, we would let you know -- but our initial assessment right now is that these ships are not the intended target.

If that changes and if we continue to go through our assessments and say, you know, we did another analysis and it did look like they were targeting the Carney, we would of course let you know and adjust how we're talking about these.

But again, it is up to the commanders of these ships if they feel that they are under attack or they're -- feel like their personnel are threatened to be able to respond and take action.

Q: And ... separate topic. So President Biden met with Chinese President Xi earlier this month in San Francisco and they said that military-to-military communication would continue or would restart. Has Secretary Austin or anyone in the U.S. military been in contact with their Chinese counterparts since that meeting?

MS. SINGH: I don't have anything to read out today. We certainly welcomed the conversation, and that was something that you saw the President announce in San Francisco, that mil-to-mil communications would start back up again, but again, until the PRC appoints the Secretary's counterpart, the Secretary doesn't have someone to necessarily engage with just yet. But of course we welcome mil-to-mil communications at the very high levels, from the Secretary, to our lower levels and of course in the Indo-Pacific as well.

I'm going to go to Ellee.

Q: General VanHerck opened an investigation into alcohol consumption at NORAD/NORTHCOM. Is Secretary Austin aware of that investigation? And is the Pentagon confident that drinking in the workplace has not impacted national security?

MS. SINGH: Yeah, the Secretary is aware of the investigation, and I think it shows just how seriously the commander is taking this, by immediately launching one. And of course we are aware of the reports of allegations of alcohol being in the workplace. Again, NORAD/NORTHCOM, they continue their mission uninterrupted. I'm not going to get ahead of the investigation, as it's ongoing now, but we are certainly tracking it here.

Q: What is the DOD policy on alcohol consumption on duty?

MS. SINGH: I would have to get back to you but I -- think you would probably guess that we're not supportive of alcohol consumption on duty while performing certain tasks, but, you know, I'd have to get back to you on the exact policy.

Yeah, Tom?

Q: Thanks. Just two quick follow-ups please. You said earlier that the -- you all are not tracking an official request from the Japanese government regarding the Osprey. If such a request is -- does that come from -- to the Department of Defense or does that come through State Department, such a request? Would you -- do you know?

MS. SINGH: I don't know. I think it could come through varying levels though, yeah.

Q: And my second follow-up -- thank you on that -- my second follow-up is regarding the drill in North Macedonia, is this the first time U.S. troops will be participating in a NATO exercise in North Macedonia?

MS. SINGH: Certainly not first time U.S. troops are participating in a NATO exercise. I -- in North Macedonia? I don't know. I'd have to -- I can take that question.

Q: Thank you.

MS. SINGH: OK, great. I'm going to go to the phones and then we'll come back into the room. Howard Altman?

Q: Thanks. Is the Pentagon tracking an attack on a Houthi base in Yemen? And if so, do you know who might be behind it?

MS. SINGH: I've seen the reports of an attack within Yemen. I can tell you that it was not a U.S. military that conducted that.

Q: Do you know who might have been behind that?

MS. SINGH: I don't.

Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose?

Q: Thank you. Can the Defense Department confirm that one of the crew members from the missing -- from the Osprey that crashed has been recovered and pronounced dead? And are the -- are efforts right now still search and rescue or have they transitioned to recovery?

MS. SINGH: Thanks, Jeff, for the question. So I've seen the reports. I can't confirm what's being reported about a death. What I can tell you is this is still a search and recovery -- I'm so sorry -- search and rescue mission for the eight that were on board that aircraft.

When we have more to share, we certainly will do, but again, this is still a search and rescue mission.

MS. SINGH: And the last question from the phones, Heather from USNI?

Q: Thank you so much. So this is the first time that CENTCOM has actually said that -- or CENTCOM or the DOD has said that the drones are Iranian made, and I was just wondering what that tells the DOD about what the Houthis have, in terms of drones and weapons that we've been seeing launched at -- near the U.S. ships?

MS. SINGH: Thanks, Heather, for the question. So again, when it comes to drones or other equipment, I mean, we have been very clear from the beginning that Iran equips, funds, supports, trains various IRGC militia groups, has supported the Houthis, has supported Hezbollah.

So I think what you saw is us directly calling that out in a statement yesterday. We have not shied away from doing that. We've certainly done that, again, when we have taken our own -- self-defensive strikes within Syria and Iraq. We have said that we know that these are Iranian-used, IRGC-used facilities that fund and support many of these militia groups. So that was just us doing that again.

All right, I'm going to come back in the room. Yes?

Q: Thanks, madam. Two questions quick, one on India, another one on Middle East.

As far as the U.S.-India relations are concerned, military-to-military, now in the midst of two wars, Ukraine -- Russia and Ukraine and also of course Israel and Hamas, anybody -- the Secretary or anybody in touch with the Indian Defense Minister or anybody in connection of these two wars?

MS. SINGH: As you know, the Secretary was just in the region. It feels like three months ago but it was literally just, I think, three weeks ago. The Secretary was in India engaging with his counterparts. Of course, world events came up and we put out detailed readouts of those meetings. So he is, you know, of course regularly engaged with his Indian counterparts, as recently as, you know, last month.

Q: And the second, madam as far as Israel's war against Hamas, Hamas has been designated as the international terrorist organization, but they have a political office in Doha, so did, maybe even still today, Taliban.

So if anybody's talking to the Qataris or Doha people that why they still have the critical office there and they are running this terrorist organization against innocent people around the globe, including India or U.S. or Israel, among others? And Qataris -- Qatar, they are friends of -- our friends, U.S. friends, India friends, Israel friends, among others. So -- and they -- the actors in this area still have not condemned these terrorist organizations.

MS. SINGH: I think the actors in the region have certainly condemned the actions that Hamas took on October 7th, and what you're seeing with Qatar is engagement and them working and -- with the Egyptian government, as well as of course with this administration, to free hostages and to continue this enduring humanitarian pause that is happening right now.

I don't have anything further to say about where they're located but I think we've been very definitive on the grotesque and disgusting actions that were taken on October 7th, and I'll just leave it at that.

Yeah?

Q: Hi, Sabrina. Thanks for doing this. 972 Magazine this morning reported that the IDF has been hitting what it describes as, quote, "power targets in Gaza." That includes high-rise complexes, civilian homes, in some cases without prior warning, in order to, quote, according to their sources, "lead civilians to put pressure on Hamas not to collate -- locate with combatant -- non-combatants," excuse me. Is the department aware that the IDF has been using this tactic? And has this issue come up in conversations between the department (inaudible) counterparts in Israel?

MS. SINGH: I'm not -- I'm sorry, I'm not aware of this report that you mentioned or where it's being reported in the magazine. I think we've been very clear -- in all of our engagements that the Secretary's had on a near daily basis with Minister Gallant -- and he just had another call yesterday with Minister Gallant -- that IDF operations, that they are precise, that they're targeting Hamas.

But let's be very clear -- and just to go off the last question -- Hamas is a terrorist organization that embeds deeply within civilian infrastructure and uses civilians as a way of shielding their operations. So they are making it incredibly difficult for the IDF of course to conduct their own operations.

But in all of the Secretary's calls and engagements with the Israelis, we continue to of course emphasize that innocent lives -- that they are taking into consideration in any military operation civilian lives and innocent lives.

Q: (Inaudible) reporting that one of the examples given in the article is that IDF officials are instructed to find a building, say a high rise, that it has civilian inhabitants, and if they find half a single floor of the building occupied by Hamas offices, then it's a target, wipe it out. Is that something the department condones?

MS. SINGH: Again, I have not seen this report that you're referencing. I do not -- I'm not aware of this. I think what I just said -- and I'm happy to reiterate it -- but we have been very clear when it comes to engagement and the need to protect innocent civilian lives, but again, finding and targeting any member of a terror network is going to be any challenge for any military, especially when that network is operating in an urban environment like in Gaza.

So we're continuing our engagements with the Israeli government, we're continuing to, again, support them in their operations against this terrorist organization, but it is -- in all of our conversations and as you've seen in the readouts that we've put out, the Secretary continues to emphasize the need to uphold the law of armed conflict and protect innocent lives.

Chris, yeah?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. You thanked the government of Japan and their Coast Guard, but to clarify that this search and rescue effort -- is this being led by the U.S. military at this point?

MS. SINGH: Yes.

Q: OK.

MS. SINGH: Yeah.

Q: And how many assets roughly do you have ...

MS. SINGH: I don't have more on how many assets are being used for the search and rescue efforts. It's ongoing. Again, when we have more to share, I will certainly let you know, but I don't have more to provide on that front.

Yes, in the back? And then I'll come over here.

Q: Yeah, thank you. Just a quick question. So the House is voting today to freeze the $6 billion in funds that the U.S. released for Iran earlier this year. Can you respond to what lawmakers are saying? Do you think the unfrozen money has emboldened Iran and its proxy groups in the Middle East, especially considering all of the clashes that we've seen?

MS. SINGH: I would say that's really a question for Treasury and the State Department, but to my knowledge, Iran hasn't been able to access those funds. They're -- still remained frozen and -- or sorry, they still remain intact and -- they have not been able to be tapped into.

Again, I'm not going to just comment on pending legislation, and that's really something that I think Treasury would be better to answer.

Yeah? And then I'll come -- and then the last one over to you.

Q: Thank you.

Q: Japanese Defense Minister Kihara has publicly stated that he has requested the U.S. military to halt operations of Ospreys in Japan. While there hasn't been any official request, I was wondering has there been -- has that concern been communicated directly to this building throughout the informal channels?

MS. SINGH: Yeah, again, I think I answered this but appreciate the question. Haven't received a formal request that I am aware of. Again, we are taking what happened, the mishap of one of our aircraft, extremely seriously. Our focus right now is on search and rescue of the eight that are missing.

There is an investigation. I'm not going to get ahead of that investigation, but when those results, you know, are concluded, if there's any action or additional action that needs to be taken, we will certainly let you know, but at this time, our efforts are on, of course, you know, thinking of these families who are missing their eight loved ones right now.

Yeah, and last question over here?

Q: Thank you, Sabrina. There are reports claiming that the White House has requested the removal of restrictions on all categories of weapons and ammunition. Israel is allowed to access from U.S. weapons stockpiles stored in Israel itself. So do you confirm that (inaudible)? And if so, how that will affect providing weapons to Ukraine?

MS. SINGH: So I'm not exactly sure on the report or what you're referencing but I think we've been very clear from this podium, and again, throughout this administration that we are providing Israel with what it needs in its fight against a terrorist organization like Hamas.

We've provided the contours of what we are providing, which is ammunition, precision-guided munitions, and air defenses. These are the requirements that the IDF needs when it comes to engaging in its fight with Hamas in Gaza.

In terms of Ukraine, different area of responsibility, different war, very different landscapes too. We continue to provide Ukraine with what we can on what's remaining from the presidential drawdown authority that we have.

We are running low, as you know. That's why we requested a supplemental package, that we submitted to the Hill that has still not been passed. But the authorities that we're using to provide Ukraine with the weapons and capabilities and systems it needs are coming from presidential drawdown authorities. What Israel and -- what we're providing to Israel is coming mainly through FMS and FMF. So Israel is purchasing equipment.

So again, we're going to continue to provide both countries with what it needs in each of their areas of them fighting for their sovereign territory against an aggressive neighbor, and we've had that long-term commitment to them from the very beginning.

I mean, you've seen the President, you've seen the Secretary committed to Ukraine for as long as it takes. He -- what also feels like three months ago but just last week, he was in Kyiv reassuring the Ukrainians that the U.S. is with them for the long haul.

And so I'll just, I guess, leave it on this note, that we are -- would hope that Congress, over these next few weeks, not only pass a full time appropriations but also passes our supplemental because we need to keep providing Ukraine with what it needs on the battlefield, we need to keep supporting Israel, and of course we are always looking to the Indo-Pacific to shore up what we need there.

OK, great, and I'll leave it at that.

(CROSS-TALK)

Q: ... are you saying that you saw the reports of an attack in (inaudible) or are you confirming an attack happened but the U.S. was not involved in it?

MS. SINGH: I've seen the reports out there. I can't confirm that the attack happened. All I can tell you is that the U.S. military did not initiate any attack. Yeah.

Thank you, everyone. Have a good Thursday.

*Editor's Note: On the morning (EST) of Nov. 29, a single rocket attack was launched against US and Coalition forces at Mission Support Site Euphrates, Syria. No casualties and no damage to infrastructure.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3603079/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






"A European Defence for our Geopolitical Union" : speech by President Charles Michel at the EDA annual conference

European Council / Council of the European Union

European Council

Speech

30 November 2023

"Europe will not be made all at once, but it will be made."

Those famous words by Robert Schuman express what we are doing today. We are making another important part of our European Union. We are making our security and defence union.

History will judge, but I sincerely believe our defence union was born in the hours after Russian tanks rolled over the Ukrainian border. In those first hours, we took the historic decision to send weapons to Ukraine, a decision that was impossible to imagine just a few days before. And we have not looked back. Now we must build on this momentum.

So, what do we need to do, and how should we do it?

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.

I know some ideas are not consensual so far, but they will feed our democratic debate and chart the way forward. Today, I would like to share some ideas with you.

For almost 20 years, you, the EDA, have spearheaded European defence cooperation. The idea of European defence is not new. Russia's war against Ukraine, and the increasingly unstable security environment, have injected a new urgency. So we must confront today's changing security paradigm. With war on our doorstep, our ambition must match the urgency.

Since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine, we, the EU, have acted decisively and with unity in at least four key areas:

First, we took the unprecedented decision to deliver weapons and ammunition to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility.

Second, we endorsed our Strategic Compass in March 2022. For the first time, the EU agreed on a common threat assessment and a common course of action on defence.

Third, in Versailles, we decided to develop our strategic autonomy in three critical areas: our economic base, the energy sector and defence. In fact, we agreed to take greater responsibility for our security and to invest more and better in defence capabilities and innovative technologies.

And fourth, in March this year, we decided to boost joint procurement and ramp up production.

Under the leadership of High Representative Borrell and your leadership, Chief Executive Jiri Sedivy, the EDA has played a crucial role in coordinating these fundamental decisions. I would like to say thank you for that.

These collective decisions have launched our union into a new era of enhanced security and defence. Our European awakening is just beginning to take shape. I feel that the time has come to create a real union of defence, coupled with a true defence single market.

It should focus on two goals moving forward.

First, our ironclad military support for the people of Ukraine, because Ukraine's security is our security, the security of all of us.

Second, we must make our European defence stronger. Now, tomorrow, and in the future.

The people of Ukraine are fighting for a free and sovereign homeland. But we know that they are also fighting for our shared values - for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous European continent.

So far, with our member states, we have provided unprecedented military assistance to Ukraine: 27 billion through our European Peace Facility and our EU military assistance mission and with the EU Member States. But we need 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. Our continued strong military support also sends a signal to our partners - especially our American allies - a clear signal that we take our security more seriously than ever.

Our European Peace Facility will remain key to our military assistance. We have already topped it up twice, but with fewer stocks left to donate, it should evolve towards more acquisition and procurement, and towards more support to our European defence industry, which will increasingly be the engine of our security. I intend to put this topic on the agenda of European Council meetings to come.

We adopted our Act in Support of Ammunition Production in record time and now we are already putting it into action to ramp up production. We are working to get one million rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Yes, this is a challenge. It will take slightly more time than we hoped, but it will happen.

We have broken countless taboos since Russia invaded Ukraine. We have done what would have been unthinkable only a few weeks before: jointly procuring military equipment, using the EU budget to support the increase in our military production, and funding joint research and development in defence. All this without changing the treaties.

At the same time, member states have sharply increased their defence spending, already before the start of the war - some by more than 12% on a yearly basis.

This year alone, the total defence spending of all EU member states is roughly 270 billion. Last year, a quarter of total defence spending - nearly 60 billion - was allocated to defence investment. This means that we can invest at least 600 billion in the next 10 years. With 600 billion, we can do great things. This can and should be a watershed moment.

Our capability development priorities, set out by our member states this year, provide a clearer picture. This is a unique opportunity to break the pattern of market fragmentation: fragmentation of demand and fragmentation of supply. We must be more coherent, we must be more effective.

On the demand side, as long as EU defence companies are structured along national lines, demand will primarily come from their respective national governments. This leads to a scale of production that does not match the geopolitical reality we face.

Competition in the defence market spurs innovation, but it only works if capabilities are the driving priority. So we must encourage member states to pool their resources more for greater efficiency and interoperability.

Just one example: some European states are committed to a joint effort for a future combat air system, while others have teamed up with Japan on a global combat air programme to develop fighters by 2040. In my view, consolidated projects would be preferable in the future.

On the supply side, we are all dependent on critical raw materials and rare earths from third countries, including China. Graphite, for instance, is the most-used material in the defence industry - for helicopters, submarines, artillery and missiles - and China produces 70% of the world's graphite. Only coordinated European action will ensure that we have access to critical raw materials to increase domestic military production - much like our Chips Act, which strives to strengthen the EU chips value chain.

We must work towards a true defence single market. I would like to propose four concrete ideas:

First, we need to make the coordination of our defence spending more effective. The role of the European Defence Agency has significantly expanded in recent years. The EDA should become a powerful European defence department, run by the High Representative under the core guidance of the European Council. It would be a driving force to bundle military expertise and instruments, and we need to provide you with the resources that will be needed to coordinate and lead on joint procurement and its financing, in close connection with the member states.

Of the 68 PESCO projects the EU has set up to date, 10 are coordinated by the EDA. This number has to go up.

Second, we must adapt our regulatory framework so we can act faster and with more flexibility. Buying tanks or air defence systems is not the same as buying paper and printers. Public procurement and joint purchasing need to be more adapted to the specifics and geopolitics of the defence sector.

Third, we must ramp up financing in our defence industry. Increasing the predictability of public orders will help our industry access private financing and it will send a very clear message: produce and we will buy. We will ensure long-term contracts because our security and stability will require long-term investment. We must also support our SMEs, especially those innovating for our defence industry. I commend the EIB decision to invest 8 billion in security until 2027, because financing European defence is in our common interest, it involves both public and private money.

We should also consider the idea of European defence bonds to strengthen our technological and industrial base. These EU bonds could emerge as a new asset class, including for retail investors.

And fourth, we need to focus on concrete projects that have a structural European impact and that provide safety for our citizens. We already have strategies for space and for maritime domains, but we can go further in the air domain. For instance, the EU could develop next-generation and fully interoperable capabilities in future combat systems. Recent initiatives, such as the Future Air Combat System project and the European Sky Shield initiative, are proof that our member states are more ready to cooperate.

Now is the time to think big. The cyber domain offers vast potential for the future. Cyber defence is still in its infancy. That is why it can offer the greatest opportunity for developing common cyber capacities. I propose a European cyber force that would be a fundamental component of our European defence. It would help us to take a position of leadership in cyber responsive operations and information superiority, and I believe it should be equipped with offensive capabilities. The sensitive issue of chain of command would need to be addressed. If we are serious about enhancing our security, this is the domain where we can make a quantum leap.

Finally, I am currently consulting with EU leaders on our strategic agenda for the coming years. I had meetings over the last few days in various capitals. Let me assure you, Europe's security and defence is a key part of these discussions, because all 27 leaders want to make it clear to their citizens that we will be there for them to ensure their safety and their security in this unpredictable world.

We need a true European defence for more security. We need a true European defence for our ambitious geopolitical union. We must build a virtuous triangle of common threat assessment, common strategic goals, and enhanced operational capabilities.

Thank you once again for everything you do at the European Defence Agency. You can count on me and on the European Council to make Europe defence-ready, more sovereign and better prepared to protect our European values and freedoms.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Record high European defence spending boosted by procurement of new equipment

European Defence Agency

30 November 2023

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has today published its annual Defence Data report for 2022, for the first-time detailing defence spending from all EU Member States. At a record 240 billion, 2022 European defence spending again increased by 6% on the previous year, marking the eighth year of consecutive growth. 20 of the 27 EU Member States increased defence expenditure, with six increasing spending by over 10%.

2022 European Defence Spending - Key Findings

 Sweden (+30.1%), Luxembourg (+27.9%), Lithuania (27.6%), Spain (19.3%), Belgium (14.8%) and Greece (13.3%) recorded the highest increases in overall expenditure among the EU 27.

 A record 58 billion was allocated to defence investments; overwhelmingly towards the procurement of new equipment, which increased by 7% on the previous year.

 Significant jump in value of projects managed by EDA; with 18 projects starting in 2022 worth more than  76 million, for a combined value of  250 million across 46 projects managed on behalf of Member States by EDA.

High Representative/Vice-President and Head of the European Defence Agency Josep Borrell said: "Our armed forces must be ready for a much more demanding era. Adjusting to these new realities first and foremost means investing more on defence. A record 240 billion underpins the commitment of Member States to bolster European defence. However, we have key capability gaps and continue to lag behind other global players in spending. This is why it's not just about spending more in defence, but also about spending better and together. We must find extra value in our ability to cooperate and seize the opportunities to strengthen our armed forces through common planning, shared projects and joint procurements."

Commitment to investment

The allocation of 58 billion of total defence expenditure to defence investment by the 27 EU Member States marks a robust growth of 5.9%. The agreed benchmark of 20% total expenditure to this area is surpassed for the fourth year with a 24.2% total across the EU. 20 Member States reached this collectively agreed benchmark, with Luxembourg (53.5%), Hungary (48.1%), Greece (42.6%), Finland (37.4%) and Lithuania (34.8%) with the highest allocation of their overall defence expenditure to investment.

Research spending slips

Despite record overall spending, expenditure dedicated to defence research and technology (R&T) is down, 200 million compared to the previous year. Only two MS meet the agreed 2% benchmark of defence expenditure dedicated to R&T activities, together accounting for more than 80% of all defence R&T expenditure. EU collaborative endeavours such as the EDA Ad Hoc framework and funding via the European Defence Fund can collectively bring the EU closer to achieving the benchmark for defence spending allocated to R&T activities.

BACKGROUND

EDA collects defence data on an annual basis, and has done so since 2006, in line with the Agency's Ministerial Steering Board Decision of November 2005. The Ministries of Defence of the Agency's 27 Member States provide the data. EDA acts as its custodian and publishes the aggregated figures in its "Defence data" booklets and on its website. On 23 March 2023, Denmark joined the Agency, allowing for the first time EDA's Defence Data Publication to account for all European Union MS. Of note, this edition incorporates Denmark's defence data for 2022 only. Datasets of MS are available since 2006 on the Defence Data Portal on EDA's website.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel/Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on the terrorist attack in Jerusalem and raid in West Bank

European External Action Service (EEAS)

30.11.2023

EEAS Press Team

The European Union strongly condemns Thursday's terrorist attack in Jerusalem, in which at least three Israeli citizens were killed and several others injured.

The European Union also deplores the death of two Palestinian minors shot dead during a military raid in Jenin day before.

Incidents like these show the urgency of breaking out of the cycle of violence, terrorism and retaliation. The EU will remain a steadfast supporter of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, even in its most difficult moments.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Defence: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the EDA Annual Conference 2023

European External Action Service (EEAS)

30.11.2023

30/11/2023, Brussels

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Good morning to everybody, I am very glad to be here with you. I have just come back from Skopje. The weather was very bad at the Brussels airport, so we had to divert to another airport, that is why I came late, and I was unable to listen to the full speech of the President of the [European] Commission [Ursula von der Leyen].

But I am very happy to be here. It is my duty to be here, because, as Head of the European Defence Agency (EDA), I know how important it is the role of this agency is. It was important when it was created and now it is more important than ever because we are living troubled times. And it is clear that the European Defence Agency is an important tool to strengthen European defence.

This gathering brings together more than 1,000 participants from all key stakeholders. European Union institutions - President [of the European Council, Charles] Michel and President von der Leyen attended this year's conference, which is a clear signal of the importance of the agency and the centrality of this event on how to "Power up our European Defence".

I will try not to say the same things that both Presidents have already said. It will be difficult. It will be difficult because both have been delivering important speeches, and I was very happy that the two Presidents wanted to attend our meeting.

Let's try to be a little bit more operational in order to look ahead. But let's also remind all of us that to talk about defence is as old as the European project itself, if you remember 1950.

In 1950, the first idea about European integration was through defence and it was a plan - the Pleven Plan - to build a European Defence Community. And the history would have been written in a different manner if the French National Assembly would have ratified the treaty that [would have] created a European army.

In fact, governments agreed but the French Parliament decided to say "no" for a coalition of the Gaullists who were not very happy to see a French soldier under the command of a German officer, and the Communist party who was not very happy to increase the defence capacities of the Europeans in front of the Soviet Union.

So, for one reason or the other, the fact is that this treaty was never ratified. And then the founding fathers decided that maybe to go through defence was too hard. It was touching too much the national fibre. It was touching too much the national sovereignty, and it was better to go through another way which was less sensitive: economics and trade.

Then we went through the market. We started creating the "Common Market". When I was a young student, the European Union did not exist, it only existed the common market. It was a common market, it was common. But it was a long time ago.

Now, today, we are living in a completely different geostrategic context and today, the Europeans, the European governments are undertaking the biggest rearmament effort in Europe since 1950. We are in a moment in which everybody agrees that it is necessary to re-increase our military capacities, to build weapons together, arguing that it will be cheaper, but also to strengthen European defence capabilities from any point of view.

That is why, in this moment, we are living in a situation in which nobody doubts about the fact that Europe is in danger - as crude as this. I said that - when I presented the Strategic Compass - "Europe is in danger". At that time, people believed "That is a slogan. That is a slogan to sell the product".

Because it was before the Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, some weeks before that. It was before the major security crisis in the Sahel, [which] we still do not know exactly how to deal with. And certainly, it was much before what is going on in the Middle East.

So, the feeling that Europe is in danger has been growing since the moment we presented the Strategic Compass.

Russia's aggression against Ukraine has reminded us how critical our military capabilities are. They were and they still are. [I am] talking about tanks, ammunition, artillery. [I am] talking about hybrid threats on space, cyber, critical infrastructures, on information manipulation, on security of supplies. All sense of being in danger, I think has become real.

And my job - my portfolio - is about Foreign and Security [policy]. The term "Security" was a second rank issue, because, well, "security" [but] we are not at war, we do not talk about security. But now, more and more the High Representative is not only about foreign policy, it is about foreign policy, security, and defence. I was very happy to have presented this Strategic Compass, that will be for sure one landmark for the building of the European Defence.

Now, we have to push forward. We have to push forward moving from a crisis approach to a sustained strategy, because we are living in crisis mode. There is an everyday crisis, and you pay attention to what is going on today, and maybe tomorrow. But we have to switch to a sustained and strategically-defined defence effort.

Our reaction to the war in Ukraine - against Ukraine - has been, as the President [von der Leyen] has explained, unprecedented on many levels, particularly on the military one.

I remember very well on the first days of January 2022 , one month before the war [aggression] started, I visited [the] Donbass and I had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine [Denys Shmyhal] and he asked me: "They will invade me" - it was not a question, it was an affirmation. "They will invade us, and when this happens, will you support us? I am sure you will tell me that you will not send your troops to fight together with us. You will not sacrifice the lives of the young Europeans but at least, are you going to provide us with the arms that we will need in order to defend us?" And I could not give a positive answer at that moment. I was not sure that this could be what [in] the end has happened. I could not say: "Oh yes, be sure, we will."

But when the war started, the answer was: "Yes, we will." The next time I saw the Prime Minister of Ukraine, he was in the same office with a lot of sand sacks on the windows of the office to protect [it] against the bombs. Things had changed a lot but then, I could say: "Yes, we are supporting you." A taboo was broken. Military support to a country at war is something that the European Union - as European Union, not as Member States isolated - had never done before.

And since then, we have mobilised 27 billion of military support - not from the European institutions alone, all together. Member States bilaterally plus through the European institutions, through the European Peace Facility, we have provided 27 billion of military support - which is far from being negligeable - and we have been training 34,000 Ukrainian soldiers all over Europe. In almost all European countries, there are training activities and we plan to continue increasing the number of trained soldiers until 40,000 in the immediate weeks. This is unprecedented.

We have been using innovative tools, like the European Peace Facility (EPF) which was not at all conceived to support Ukraine. It was conceived, with a very much limited amount of resources to provide arms to the partners, mainly in Africa, where we were having training activities. But immediately after, the question was quite natural: if we are able support, in Africa, people who are fighting against terrorism, why shouldn't we support a country like Ukraine who is fighting a full-range invasion? And this positive answer has changed the political landscape of the European Union, with respect [to] our role as a security and defence provider.

Now, we are very much engaged on the joint procurement of ammunition. I want to thank the European Defence Agency for its work, organising a joint procurement framework with 7 Member States already placing orders - these framework contracts. And more will be signed in the coming weeks in order to reach this 1 million ammunition target that we set some months ago.

We need to do much more to fulfil this target. We are not there yet. There are European armies that have been providing from their stocks about more than 300,000 shots, but we have to produce. Maybe we have to redirect our exports because an important part of our production is being exported to third countries. Maybe today it is much more urgent to provide this production to Ukraine because some of the clients of our defence industries - good for them - they will not need these ammunitions for tomorrow, they will stock it. So, maybe they can stock less and provide more to Ukraine. With the same capacities of production, you can give more to Ukrainians.

But certainly, we have to increase our capacity of production and the President von der Leyen has already explained how the [European] Commission and my colleague [Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry] Breton - with whom I am very happy to have such good cooperation - has put in place this new "Act in Support of Ammunition Production" (ASAP) and this reinforcement of the Procurement Act "EDIRPA". This has been explained. I will not go into details, but it is an important way for the European Commission to participate in the effort of boosting the defence capabilities through boosting the defence industry capability.

There is not a strategic autonomy without a strong defence industry capacity. But we know that today, many European armies are buying a lot of their arms out of Europe. We know that inside Europe, we have discussion about the fragmentation of our industry. It is the old debate among economists. What is better? To have a small number of providers and to use economies of scale or, to have many in order to create competitivity and to boost innovation through competition? Economists have been discussing about that for years.

Well, in the United States, they have a less [smaller] number of providers for their military welfare than us, but they are asking themselves if this is a good solution and maybe they should have some more [providers] in order to boost competition and increase innovation.

Later, we will see that one of our weak points is research and innovation. But this is going on: how many industries, the fragmentation among Member States, army, national security, national identity rooted in the history, what kind of arms each army needs - it depends for what they want to use these arms. It is not the same thing to face an invasion from Russia on the flat lands of Central Europe that go to the jungles somewhere, to the desserts in Africa. You do not need the same kind of warfare. And in different scenarios, different Member States have been forging their military history, their military capacities.

The scenarios of war are different for ones and the others. When we want to build a common approach, we have to take into account all [of] that. And we do. I think we have been able to look for common ground and see all together how we can address our weakness.

Our mobilisation for Ukraine has been impressive. But this war has exposed our lack of defence investment in the previous decades. Until 2014, the Europeans have gone through a silent process of disarmament. Slowly, slowly, we were investing less in defence. And in 2014, Crimea's invasion was the first wake up [call] and since 2014 until now, we have continued increasing our defence expenditure.

And last year, the defence expenditure of the 27 Member States - 27 because this report is the first time that it talks about the 27 [Member States] because Denmark is included. By the way, the report now puts names. [In] the last report, you could not see who is doing what. Now, you see Member State by Member State, it has been deanonymised. The press was criticising us saying: "But you do not tell us one by one who is doing [what] each one of them, the Member States." Now, you have it.

All together, we raised the figure of 240 billion. It is []70 [billion more] than in 2014. So, in less than 10 years, we have increased our military expenditure by []70 [billion].

And last year, [it increased] by 6% compared to 2021. It shows that it is a [sustained] trend.

Compared to 2014, as I said, it is 70 billion more. If I am not mistaken, it was 170 [billion], it is about a little bit less than 50% [so] 40% [increase]. It is quite impressive, and it is accelerating.

But if you want to compensate the under-expenditure of these years, you have to make the integral. You have to sum up all the years differences, not just to have a look at the last year but all the years. And there is a lot of support, a lot of money needed in order to fill in this gap.

An important thing is that our expenditure privileges investment. Investment has increased [to] the figure of 58 billion - which is almost one quarter, about 24-25% of the defence expenditure.

It is the fourth year in a row that defence expenditure investment is increasing inside total figure. Four years in a row, we have increased our material capacity. It is good because we had a benchmark. We said defence investments have to be 20% of the total expenditure. We are at 24%, we are above the benchmark.

And what about our relationship with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? We are far away from the 2% target of NATO, we are at 1.5%. It means that if we were at the 2% target, we should add to this expenditure about 75 billion more per year.

Certainly, it is going to be difficult to ask the Ministers of Finance to make this big effort in a single budget period. But keep the figures in mind - we have increased a lot, we still are at 1.5% of the GDP.

In comparison to the United States, the United States is [at] about 3.5% [of the GDP]. So, they spend two points more of their GDP than us.

Russia - certainly Russia is at war - has been increasing its [defence] expenditure from 3.6% of the GDP to 4.3% last year. An increase of 70% [in the 2024 defence budget compared to 2023]. This is certainly a war economy. They have to do that, because they have been losing a lot [of] military capacities, but 70% increase in the military defence capability is a lot.

We are doing well, but we still lack a lot of critical capabilities, and we need to invest more on defence.

This is a message that, as High Representative for Security and Defence, I have to address to the European governments.

Not only we have to spend more, not only we have to invest more, we have to do it in the more [most] cooperative possible way. We have to do it together to fill gaps, to avoid duplication, strengthening industrial capabilities, to take care of our strategic enablers, in which we have a certain weakness. I said from [since] the beginning of my mandate: we have to do more and better together. This should not be a slogan, this should be a reality.

In order to build this reality, we have tools. We have the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), that shows us what do we need to do.

We have the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and we have the European Defence Fund, from the side of the Commission that will provide additional financial support.

On PESCO, we have 68 cooperative projects, but I think that we have to increase the level of our ambition, because these projects are important but they are in the periphery of the military capacity.

Why could we not think that the next generation of warships could be a PESCO project? We have to have a strategic review of PESCO. We launched it, and this is an opportunity - I am addressing the managers of the EDA - to think bigger.

PESCO projects have to touch the core of the military capabilities. This idea of thinking of the next generation ships as a PESCO project is something that would enhance the role of the European Defence Agency.

We have our Capability Development Plan, which defines which are our priorities.

The [27] Ministers of Defence agreed [on] which are these priorities. The industry has to have the capacity to supply, but the military responsibles have to have the demand side. The defence industry has to produce, to fulfil some requirements of our armies. It is up to our armies to define what do they need, and the industry has to follow.

The industry has to produce what we need, but what we need has to be defined. And this exercise of defining our needs is what the European Defence Agency is doing. It is a clear roadmap. It is a clear map of what our European armies need, and what the industry has to provide.

We have defined [priorities across] five strategic domains - land, air, maritime, cyber and space - and the strategic enablers that are crucial as force multipliers.

Then, we had to do something that is closed to this expression: "To put boots on the ground". I mean, we have to have military capacities to be able to be deployed under the European Union's banner.

It is not the European army, but it is the [EU] Rapid Deployment Capacity. To be able to deploy quickly a capability of intervention in some scenarios in which it is clear that going together, will multiply our capacity, and will decrease risks and costs.

This is the most important part of the Strategic Compass, and it has to be a reality by 2025. I will not be here, but I want to [leave] to my successor everything in order for this being a reality.

We started doing that in Cadiz - thank you to the Spanish Presidency [of the Council of the European Union] - for the first-ever European Union live military exercise. I think it was nine Members of the European Union deploying navy, air and land capacities, not in the framework of NATO, but among us, as a pre-configuration for the deployment of this force in 2025.

Thanks to Germany for being ready to do the same kind of exercises next year.

Another example, two days ago - I was not able to attend the inauguration but - in Portugal, we opened the new Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) in Sintra, where the already existing EDA programmes gathered together in order to train the crews of helicopters from 16 Member States. It is another way of creating economies of scale, and making our people work together and share not only the technical capability but this sense of community, this sense of partnership, friendship, comradery that is an important part of any army.

This is something that EDA is pushing. It is not just a paperback, it is just something lively, involving people, involving capacities in some concrete places, doing concrete things that increase the interoperability of our armies.

This is the way. We have to aggregate demand and procure together. Instead of going to the industry one by one without a clear horizon, we have to aggregate demand and to give a clear horizon to the firms. Because if I was a leader of a defence industry and I was asked to increase my capacity of production, the first thing I will ask is: "Is it going to be a solvable demand? And for how long?"

This is what we have to define otherwise there will not be investments: aggregate demand and to procure together.

The ammunition [is] the first thing, but others will have to follow. Because we need a stronger, resilient and innovative European defence industry. Important for Ukraine, important for us. If we can increase our capability together with the Ukrainian capability - much better.

We have created immediate responses [EDIRPA and ASAP] but we need more strategic thinking and acting.

That is why, together with the Commission, we are working on this European Defence Industrial Strategy. Once again, I want to thank Commissioner Breton and his Commission' services for the good cooperation between in an inter-governmental body, as is the European Defence Agency, and a community body as is the internal market and the industrial regulation of Europe's economy.

We have a challenge, which is the access to public and private finance. The financing of the defence sector has to be addressed. The joint statement endorsed by the European Union Defence Ministers earlier this month, during our last [Ministerial] Board [meeting] of the EDA, sends a clear message in this regard.

I was very surprised when some important European banker told me that his risk committee would not advise them to finance defence projects. How is it [possible]?

It looks a bit strange that, at that moment our risk management people could say: "No, no, we do not invest, we do not support financing the [defence] industry because there is a kind of negative connotation about investing in defence".

This is a cultural fact. Our society has to understand that they need to invest in defence. Everybody prefers butter to cannons but sometimes, if you do not have cannons, you do not have butter. That is important to bring to the mindset of the European people that defence expenditure is not just a waste of money. It is an existential requirement for Europeans to face the challenges of our world.

This is a task for the politicians, for the ones who go to ask for the votes of the people, the ones who explain where tax money goes, in order to make a choice between social needs - which are certainly very important - but also to make clear that defence is a boost for the economy. It is a job creation process, it is an innovation process and it is the basis of our security.

With that comes the weak point. I said that we are spending more, we are investing more. Unhappily, the figures show that in research and technology, we are not doing as well as needed. The expenditure in research and technology has decreased in 2022 with respect to 2021. [It is] not a small decrease, it is almost 6% less. This, we cannot afford.

The new generation of arms will not grow up on trees, they will not appear by an accident of nature. It will be the result of our engineers working, researching, investing, discovering how to make better use of all the materials and technologies.

We have to reverse urgently this trend. This is a warning. We cannot spend more, invest more and research less. Because if we want to be at the forefront of the military capability, it has to be through research and technology. And to develop better the state-of-art of our defence, we have this Hub for [Defence] Innovation at the European Defence Agency. We can play a role in this context. Later today, we will award the 2023 EDA Defence Innovation Prize. But we cannot continue investing on the tools of the past. We have to create the tools of the future, and that requires research and innovation.

In conclusion, defence has come a long way during the last years. I do not see our geopolitical environment to improve. On the contrary, what I see is a clear deterioration and degradation of our geostrategic environment. This requires us to do more and in a closer coordination among us.

The same ambition applies to the defence sector. The same ambition applies to the industry and to the cooperation between our armies. Because the transformation that Russia has started, aggressing Ukraine, and the trends in the world with more and more contestation about the role of the "West" with respect to so many conflicts, some of them [which] we are not talking about, but they exist. Who is talking about the situation in Sudan? Who is talking about the Horn of Africa? Who is talking about Sahel? Who is talking about some conflicts which are still there for years and years?

It looks like our society can only talk about one crisis at the time, and now it is the crisis in Palestine and Israel. But the war in Ukraine continues every day with a high toll on human lives. So, we cannot decrease our engagement with our defence and in our support in defence of Ukraine. Because, in the end, it is the same fight, the fight for our existential [existence], and we have to make the sacrifice and the efforts necessary, supporting our armed forces, developing our defence capacity, and making understand our societies that this is the challenge for today and we cannot miss it.

Thank you.



Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-249965

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






USEUCOM, Austrian defense leaders explore opportunities to expand cooperation

By U.S. European Command Public Affairs, United States European Command Stuttgart, Germany Nov 30, 2023

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander, U.S. European Command, hosted Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of Defense, Dr. Arnold Kammel, and members of Kammel's staff at the command's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, on Nov. 30, 2023.

The meeting, aimed at identifying areas for future military cooperation, builds on a broadening relationship after Austria and the Vermont National Guard formalized their partnership under the State Partnership Program in 2022.

"Today's meeting was another important step toward strengthening our relationship with a long-standing partner in Austria," said Basham. "Our strategic partnership with Austria already includes cooperation for military mobility, information exchanges and military-to-military engagements through the State Partnership Program. We look forward to furthering our mutual commitment to realize a shared vision for European security."

The two nations' military-to-military engagement has steadily increased since partnering via the State Partnership Program, including an air exchange in June in which the Vermont Air National Guard flew F-35s alongside Austrian Eurofighter Typhoons at Hinterstoisser Air Base near Zeltweg, Austria.

"Relations with the USA are of particular importance to Austria. The deepening of the strategic partnership with the USA, anchored in the Austrian government program and the growing State Partnership Program, underline this fact," said Kammel. "As one of the key players in global security and defense policy, the USA is also relevant for Austria in other areas. Today's talks mark a further point in the strengthening of joint cooperation."

The long-standing cooperation between the U.S. and Austria has also included participation in the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation program, which aims to enable movement of military personnel and assets within the borders of the EU. That intra-European movement is pivotal to the U.S.' ability to successfully conduct military exercises and operations.

The State Partnership Program pairs U.S. National Guard units with Allied and partner militaries within the USEUCOM area of responsibility to facilitate cooperation across all aspects of international civil-military affairs.

-30-

About USEUCOM

U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 65,000 permanent military personnel supported by rotational forces and DoD civilians working closely with NATO Allies and partners. As no nation can confront today's challenges alone, U.S. European Command is committed to preserving the mutual commitment, support and trust we share with our Allies and partners. The command is one of two U.S. forward-deployed geographic combatant commands headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






USS Mount Whitney arrives in Larnaca, Cyprus

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mario Coto , U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa Public Affairs LARNACA, Cyprus Nov 30, 2023

The U.S. 6th Fleet Blue Ridge-class command-and-control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Larnaca, the Republic of Cyprus, for a scheduled port visit, Nov. 30, 2023.

The USS Mount Whitney is conducting U.S. operations in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, where the ship's crew and embarked staff will work alongside Allies and partners in support of maritime operations, which encompass naval diplomacy and national efforts to build comprehensive maritime power. The USS Mount Whitney, forward deployed from Gaeta, Italy, operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners in the U.S. Sixth Fleet. The fleet operates in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.

U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, including NATO Allies and partner nation naval assets.

The Republic of Cyprus is an important regional partner. Port visits aim to strengthen security and stability and build enduring relationships. Liberty for the ship's crew and embarked personnel is an opportunity to demonstrate a common commitment to ensure goodwill.

U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. Also headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa has forged strategic relationships with Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability for over 80 years.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Government proposal on Finland's accession to NATO SOFA and Paris Protocol submitted to Parliament

Finnish Ministry of Defence

30.11.2023

Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice

The Finnish Government submitted a proposal on Finland's accession to NATO SOFA and the Paris Protocol to Parliament on 30 November. In addition to the acts bringing into force the treaties, the proposal contains amendments to nine related acts. The Government's assessment is that acceptance by Parliament will require a two-thirds majority decision.

The Government proposes that Parliament accept the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces (NATO SOFA). The agreement concerns the legal status of the forces of a NATO member country when they are in the territory of another NATO member country in connection with their official duties.

The Government also proposes that Parliament accept the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty (Paris Protocol). The Paris Protocol extends the provisions of the NATO SOFA to Allied headquarters in the territory of a NATO member country and to their military and civilian personnel.

On acceding to NATO on 4 April 2023, Finland committed to approving these treaties within one year of the date of accession. As a NATO partner for peace, Finland has already applied the NATO SOFA and the Paris Protocol to a smaller extent.

The government proposal includes bills for the acts bringing into force the two treaties and for related individual amendments to certain national acts.

The government proposal assesses the provisions of the NATO SOFA and the Paris Protocol on such matters as entry formalities, right to carry arms, division of jurisdiction, right to compensation, waiver of the right in some cases, and privileges and immunities of forces.

The proposal examines the most important effects of Finland's accession to the treaties and especially the effects on fundamental and human rights in situations where Finland sends or receives forces. It also explains the key principles of the treaties, which are reciprocity, consent of the Parties and respect for the laws and regulations of the receiving state.

The proposal includes an exchange of notes with the United States, confirming the Parties' common understanding that in their interpretation and application of the NATO SOFA the Parties will respect the laws, regulations and international legal obligations of both countries.

According to the proposal, Article VII of the NATO SOFA on the right to exercise criminal and disciplinary jurisdiction and on the jurisdiction of the authorities of the sending state contains provisions that are in conflict with Finland's Constitution. This means that Parliament must make its decision concerning the acceptance of the treaties by at least two thirds of the votes cast.

Finland will accede to the NATO SOFA and the Paris Protocol by depositing its instruments of accession with the Government of the United States, the depositary. Finland's accession will enter into force 30 days after of the date of deposit of the instruments of accession.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China calls for comprehensive ceasefire in Palestinian-Israeli conflict in position paper

Global Times

By Liu Xin Published: Nov 30, 2023 11:31 PM

China on Thursday released a position paper on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which offered five proposals on promoting peace, and achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue, including immediately implementing a comprehensive ceasefire, effectively protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian assistance, intensifying diplomatic mediation, and seeking a political solution.

By releasing the position paper, chairing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, and being engaged in diplomatic mediation with Arab and Muslim foreign ministers, China has spared no effort to seize every chance to work with the international community to promote a ceasefire, analysts said, noting that any small step toward peace would be conducive to deescalating the conflict.

The paper, titled "Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict," was released one day after China, the rotating president of the UNSC for November, led a Security Council high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue on Wednesday.

The position paper noted that the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to heavy civilian casualties and a serious humanitarian disaster. There is a high level of concern throughout the international community. Chinese President Xi Jinping stated China's principled position on the current Palestinian-Israeli situation on a number of occasions and 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, the position paper read.

Among the five proposals China made in the position paper to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, implementing a comprehensive ceasefire and ending the fighting was put as the priority.

China has repeatedly expressed its views on the Palestinian issue on various occasions. This document is the first time that these views have been consolidated and expounded more systematically, which not only focuses on the current situation but also eyes on the future and long-term solutions to the issue, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

A comprehensive ceasefire is the most crucial step to deescalate the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict and this is why China calls on all parties to truly implement the UN resolutions to realize a durable and sustained humanitarian truce and implement the UNSC Resolution 2712 as its basis, Liu said.

Addressing the protection of civilians and ensure humanitarian aids are also important given the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Liu noted that the increasing humanitarian assistance during the truce is far away from meeting the needs and how to maintain the humanitarian channel open is important for people in Gaza.

On Tuesday, eight vehicles carrying supplies including canned food, biscuits, milk, honey, cereal, and drinking water were shipped to Arish, Egypt, and will be transported to Gaza through the Rafah crossing. On Wednesday, Chinese Office to Palestine, representing the Chinese government, signed a $1 million emergency cash assistance handover certificate with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

During the current conflict, the authority of the UN has been greatly undermined due to multiple vetoes by the US. The weakening of the role of the UN is an important reason for the marginalization of Israeli-Palestinian issue in recent years. Therefore, it is particularly important to emphasize the role of the UN in mediation and reconciliation, to prevent the escalation of the conflict, and to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, Liu said.

Moreover, given that Arab and Islamic countries as well as neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan are actively mediating in the conflict, how to rebuild the mechanism for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli issue with the UN and how to encourage regional countries to play their roles are also important, said the expert.

On Thursday, Israel's military said that the temporary pause in fighting in Gaza will continue "in light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing hostages" and in a separate statement, Hamas said an agreement has been reached to extend the truce. The initial four-day truce began on Friday and Hamas released 81 captives and Israel released 180 Palestinians, according to Al Jazeera.

The conflict has no winner, and both sides have suffered greatly, Liu said, noting that currently Israel is under increasing domestic pressure to ensure hostages are freed, and it is also coming under increasing international pressure, particularly from the US and the West. More efforts can be made to put a stop to the fighting as calls for a ceasefire continue to increase.

Wednesday also marks the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. President Xi extended congratulations to the UN meeting to commemorate the day. Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi travelled to New York to chair the meeting.

Wang Yi also met with Arab and Muslim foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in New York, during which Wang said the Wednesday meeting at the UN is held with a clear purpose, which is to promote a comprehensive ceasefire, effectively protect civilians, ensure humanitarian assistance, and determine the direction for a comprehensive and permanent solution to the Palestinian issue, according to a release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

China's position is clear and firm, that is, the result of the temporary ceasefire agreement should be a comprehensive ceasefire, not a resumption of hostilities; a comprehensive ceasefire is not only the end of the war, but also the beginning of the peace process. The UNSC should speak with one voice on this matter, said Wang.

Arab and Islamic countries also express gratitude to China for its moral support to Palestine and its efforts for regional peace. All parties appreciate China's consistent stance on peace and justice, and its adherence to historical correctness.

They noted that the temporary ceasefire should be the beginning of peace, aiming for a comprehensive ceasefire rather than a return to conflict. They also look forward to China playing a leading role in promoting joint efforts among all parties to explore a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China firmly opposes US' instigation of Philippines' infringement in Ren'ai Jiao: defense ministry

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 30, 2023 08:11 PM

The Philippines illegally "grounded" a warship on Ren'ai Jiao and has continuously sent ships intruding into the waters of the area, attempting to reinforce the "grounded" warship, which seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. History has shown that the US' interference always makes things worse, Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said at Thursday's press briefing in response to media reports saying that the US has proposed relevant suggestions to the Philippines.

It is reported that the US has advised the Philippines on the repair of the illegally grounded warship at Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea.

China firmly opposes the US' interference in the South China Sea issue. China strongly objects the US of instigating and supporting the Philippines' infringement, stirring up trouble, and escalating maritime tensions, Wu noted.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr recently launched a joint statement and made wrong remarks on China's legal enforcement in the waters near Ren'ai Jiao.

China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. The Ren'ai Jiao issue is between China and the Philippines, and has nothing to do with the US, said Wu.

China strongly condemns relevant countries' wrongful acts of provoking confrontation and undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, urging them to be prudent in their words and acts. China's military will take resolute measures to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Wu said.

Ren'ai Jiao has been China's territory since ancient times. It is an integral part of China's Nansha Qundao geographically, economically, politically and historically. This has been established as a widely held international common view and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on October 9.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China releases position paper on resolving Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calls for comprehensive ceasefire

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 30, 2023 08:31 AM

China on Thursday released a position paper on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which offered five proposals on promoting peace, and achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue, including immediately implementing a comprehensive ceasefire, effectively protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian assistance, enhancing diplomatic mediation, and seeking a political solution.

The paper, titled "Position Paper of the People's Republic of China On Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict," was released one day after China, the rotating president of the UN Security Council for November, led a UN Security Council high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue on Wednesday. Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi travelled to New York to chair the meeting.

The paper stated that the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to heavy civilian casualties and a serious humanitarian disaster. There is a high level of concern throughout 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, according to the paper.

The paper noted that 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 an end to fighting, work toward de-escalation of the conflict, and cooling down the situation as soon as possible.

The paper also proposed to ensure the protection of civilians. It noted that 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 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.

Other proposals include ensuring humanitarian assistance, enhancing diplomatic mediation and 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 which enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with east Jerusalem as its capital, the paper noted.

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, according to the paper.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Enhanced surveillance of critical underwater infrastructure

Government of Iceland

November 30, 2023

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) have decided to activate a JEF Response Option, which includes enhanced surveillance of critical underwater infrastructure. The activity will take place in early December and is intended to increase surveillance and presence in cooperation with NATO, which also carries out similar missions in the Baltic Sea region.

"Underwater infrastructure such as communications cables and energy piplines can be extremely vulnerable to sabotage, as we have witnessed this year. Iceland relies heavily on this critical infrastructure and therefore this JEF capability is important for us, just like other participating nations," says Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Over the past year, JEF has been developing a series of JEF Response Options aimed at strengthening deterrence and response capabilities to a wide range of security challenges. This is the first time such a Response Option has been put to the test and demonstrates concretely the contribution of the JEF to the security of Northern Europe, especially the security of critical undersea infrastructure and action against hybrid threats. Iceland contributes with civilian information officers from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Icelandic Coast Guard, who will be working at the JEF Headquarters in the UK.

JEF is a group of like-minded Northern European countries cooperating on security and defence with a focus on the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea Region. The JEF combines the strengths of ten nations by planning, training, and operating together continuously, and is intended to support other multinational defence cooperation, including NATO. The participating countries also hold regular and effective security political consultations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari November 30th, 21:00

IDF Press Release

Press Briefing

30.11.23

IDF

Good Evening,

Tonight, dear Mia and Amit returned to us. How we waited for you. At this hour, we continue to wait for the return of additional hostages, who are meant to come back tonight according to the framework that was agreed upon.

Overnight, we insisted on continuing the current agreement to bring back the hostage women and children and this is what we will do [tonight] for tomorrow as well. The mediators, Qatar and Egypt, are also obligated to carry out the set agreement in order for the pause to continue. The IDF is prepared to continue the war. We are prepared for our offensive at all times. Tonight, and also tomorrow, we are prepared to strike at any hour. We are maintaining a high level of preparedness, on all borders and in all areas. The terror organization, Hamas, put out a vicious and horrible video of Yarden Bibas. Our hearts are with him and the entire Bibas family. We will continue to take every action needed to return our hostages home. This is the psychological warfare that Hamas uses against the families of the hostages, the citizens of Israel, and the whole world, with the purpose to exert pressure, to cause pain, and to harm our morale.

Hamas' claims regarding the Bibas family are not confirmed. I repeat- they still are not confirmed. This emphasizes what the mediators and the world must demand from Hamas - the return of women and children hostages, and the medical examination of the hostages by the Red Cross or another international organization. This is the framework, and this is the deal that was agreed upon. This is what we are preparing for tomorrow as well. Our hearts are with the families of the hostages, and also with the families whose loved ones have not yet returned.

We have a deep moral obligation to do everything in our power in order to bring all of the hostages back home.

This morning, three civilians were murdered in a terror attack in Jerusalem. In the afternoon, a car ramming attack was carried out near a military checkpoint in the Jordan Valley. IDF combat soldiers in reserves killed the terrorist. IDF troops are stationed throughout Judea and Samaria and are thwarting terror attacks, arresting terrorists and are preventing additional attacks.

Today is the National Day of Appreciation for Israel's Wounded Soldiers and Victims of Terror. We are accompanying the wounded throughout the year, and today more than ever. Injured IDF soldiers: you, more than anyone, know the high and painful toll of war. We embrace the injured in body and mind. In the name of the IDF commanders and soldiers, I salute you and wish you a speedy recovery.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






28th Meeting of the Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

November 30, 2023

The 28th Meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on 30 November 2023. Joint Secretary (East Asia) from Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation and Director-General, Boundary & Oceanic Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.

2. 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. They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquility along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident.

3. 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.

New Delhi

November 30, 2023

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Security Council failed to fulfill its responsibilities towards Palestinian people: Iran FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 30, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that the UN and especially the Security Council have so far failed to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities regarding the Palestinian issue, and this failure is due to US' support for the Israeli regime.

Amirabdollahian was supposed to give a speech at the meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday, but due to the delay in issuing visas to the Iranian delegation from the US, it was not possible for the Iranian delegation to attend the meeting.

The full text of the speech by Amirabdollahian at the UN Security Council meeting in New York is as follows:

Statement by Amirabdollahian at the UNSC High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of Resolution 2217

New York-29 November 2023

In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Mr. President, Your Excellency Mr. Wang Yi the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

Distinguished Delegates

Assalamu Alyakum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

I am delighted to share with you in this important meeting of the United Nations Security Council some points on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This meeting is convening today on the 29th of November which was named 46 years ago by the General Assembly after the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. We take it as a good omen. Holding such a meeting to attract attentions to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is of immense significance and value per se.

However, such meetings will really prove fruitful only if they culminate in tangible measures to alleviate the pain and malady of the oppressed people of Palestine and ensure a permanent cessation of interminable genocide of Palestinians especially in Gaza.

We must courageously and frankly admit that the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council, so far, has failed to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities towards Palestinians and the question of Palestine.

Such failure is greatly blamed on the unquestionable support the United States is giving to the occupying regime and preventing any effective measures to make Israel accountable. This is in fact an ethical fiasco and depreciation of conscience for the international community and the United Nations system. Notwithstanding, the main responsibility rests with the powers that adamantly prevent the Security Council from fulfilling its roles as enshrined in the UN Charter.

More than any other time, reference is made today to Resolution 2217a resolution which is considered a small step on the right direction, even though it was approved belatedly and with poor substance.

Nevertheless, this resolution needs to be strongly enforced and followed. The natural expectation of the international community was that the Security Council would take an action immediately after the start of indiscriminate attacks on Gaza and prevent the further murder of innocent humans.

Who can camouflage that the all-out aggression of the occupying regime against Gaza, as one of the most densely-populated regions of the world which has been under absolute blockade for more than 17 years, as well as the killing of thousands of innocent people more than 70 percent of whom women and children, do not constitute a threat to international peace and security? The intensity and volume of the killing of civilians during 50 days of disproportionate attacks on Gaza are unprecedented. The number of children and women killed in Gaza alone far exceeds the total number of women and children killed in various conflicts across the world during the past year including the war in Ukraine. This is while the murder and suppression machine of the racist regime has killed or wounded more than 3,100 Palestinians in the West Bank in just two months as reported by the New York Times on November 25.

Who can ignore the reality that blind and indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza by 2,000-pound bombs and other prohibited weapons such as phosphorous bombs, which make no exception for hospitals, schools, mosques and churches, contain all the elements of grave international crimes including war crime, genocide and crime against humanity? How can one justify the inaction of the Security Council towards the horrible human catastrophe in Gaza?

Mr. President,

Now the Security Council and its member are posed to a very severe test. Under circumstances in which the besieged and occupied Gaza is under the most savage military attacks and has lost more than 16,000 of its children of whom 6,000 are minors and 4,000 are women, and under circumstances in which more than half of northern Gaza has been reduced to rubble, nothing other than guaranteeing a complete cessation of the criminal attacks of Israel can partly compensate the moral shame of the international community before the people of Palestine and the Muslim world.

One must be alert that humanitarian pause, while being partly fruitful, is not turned into a tool for cleaning the past crimes and create an opportunity for perpetrating new murders.

Mr. President,

The Palestine tragedy as a human, moral and legal issue with global dimensions, did not begin as of October 7. The occupier regime and its supporters and defenders should not be permitted to distort the reality and spread lies and disinformation aimed at marginalizing and overshadowing the long reality of occupation, suppression, humiliation and genocide of a nation for more than eight decades. Violence and conflict in the Middle East have never been a choice of the people of Palestine and the nations of the region. Violence is a commodity imposed on our region as the result of the occupation and racial megalomania of the Zionist ideology. The continued and suppressive occupation which began as of 1920 was institutionalized in 1948 and caused forced displacement of one million Palestinians and was later expanded through force and military coercion, and continues to date through the seizure and confiscation of Palestinian lands and expansion of illegal settlements. All these reflect and represent a racist and narcissistic mentality which regards no human rights for the people under occupation. Murdering and exterminating the people of Palestine should not become normalized. This is a legal and moral obligation and duty in accordance with the joint article one of the four Geneva conventions of 1949 and the Genocide Convention of 1948. Perpetrators must not be allowed to play the victim and evade accountability and responsibility before the international community and keep on genociding the Palestinian nation by resorting to and misusing the crimes committed by others decades ago in another continent against the Jews and by accusing critics of anti-Semitism. The legitimate and legal resistance of the Palestinian nation to achieve the right to self-determination as well as defending human rights and human dignity of Palestinians are an entitlement admitted in the UN Charter and international law. And no person, state or organization cannot depose Palestinian of such an entitlement. Branding the legitimate struggle of the people of Palestine for their self-determination right as terrorism is the blatant and deliberate violation of the UN Charter and the peremptory norms of international law and is Immoral and reprehensible.

Mr. President

Distinguished colleagues

The Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of its principled policy of opposing aggression and use of force in international relations as well as occupation, racism and racial discrimination, and in line with its responsible policy to safeguard regional and international peace and security, continues to support the legitimate and lawful movement of the Palestinian nation to eliminate occupation and apartheid imposed on Palestine.

Under the present conditions, what needs be the priority of the UN Security Council and all governments is to guarantee a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, prevent the expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland, and immediately deliver humanitarian assistance such as food and medicine to the people of Gaza and reconnect electricity and fuel.

All Palestinians, including seven million refugees and Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, are directly and indirectly mourning their lost loved ones. The majority of the population of Gaza has lost their houses and properties during the Israeli attacks. The world cannot remain indifferent to this obvious cruelty, which is a gross violation of human rights and humanitarian rights and constitutes an example of the most severe international crimes. Impunity of the designers, perpetrators and accomplices of these atrocity crimes is a license and incentive for repeating such crimes. Based on this, the trial and administer of justice for the perpetrators of these crimes should be placed high on the agenda of the international community. Governments that for decades have presented themselves as self-proclaimed claimants of human rights and humanitarian rights, and have greatly utilized international mechanisms as a tool to tarnish and smear developing states, under the pretext of violating human rights - on very small scales and incomparable to what happened in Gaza - have failed in the test of honesty and true belief in their claims. Hypocrisy and double standards in relation to human rights will distort the rule of law in international relations and prepare the ground further for criminals and violators of international law.

This is not something to be appreciated by any responsible and peace-seeking state.

With the hope of liberation of the people of Palestine from the yoke of the occupation and suppression of occupiers.

I thank you for your attention.

2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hamas military wing ready to resume clashes with Israelis

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 30, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, has declared readiness to resume military confrontation if the Israeli regime rejects the extension of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Sama news agency, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades issued a statement, urging all their fighters in Gaza to be prepared for any conflict in the coming hours. The Palestinian fighters should maintain preparedness until an official statement comes out on the extension of a ceasefire.

Earlier, Hamas announced the Israeli regime rejected a prisoner swap deal with Palestinians.

However, Hebrew and Arab sources have reported that an agreement on Thursday truce has been reached. Qatar's Foreign Ministry also declared the warring sides agreed upon extending the ceasefire another day.

Sama news agency reported that the Zionist regime's army spokesperson confirmed the extension of the ceasefire in a bid to pave the way for returning Israeli captives.

The regime's radio also quoted a top official as saying that the ceasefire will be in place in light of progress in negotiations. The official claimed that Hamas will propose a new list for the prisoner swap deal.

4208**9417

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PM Netanyahu Visits the Intelligence and Negotiations Command Center for returning the Hostages from the Gaza Strip: "You are doing amazing work."

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

30.11.2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, the intelligence and negotiations command center for returning the hostages from the Gaza Strip, under the command of Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Alon.

At the start of the visit, the Prime Minister was briefed on the activity at the command center in the many efforts being made to return the hostages home.

Prime Minister Netanyahu then went to the intelligence control center, where he met representatives from the entire intelligence community, reservists and conscripts. The Prime Minister praised their work around the clock and the inter-agency cooperation for the good of the sacred mission.

Prime Minister Netanyahu to the intelligence control center staff:

"You are doing amazing work, and it blends with all of our war efforts. Continue; we will continue together."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PM Netanyahu to Council Heads from the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip: "Our goal is to ensure that after Hamas is eliminated, the Gaza Strip does not go back to being a threat to the State of Israel

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

30.11.2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, last night (Wednesday, 29 November 2023), at the Sdot Negev Regional Council building, held a lengthy and in-depth meeting with council heads from communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, under its new name, the 'Tekuma Region.

Sdot Negev Regional Council Chairman Tamir Idan, Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi, Merhavim Regional Council Chairman Shai Hajaj, Eshkol Regional Council Chairman Gadi Yarkoni, Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council Acting Chairman Yossi Keren, Hof Ashkelon Regional Council Chairman Itamar Revivo and Prime Minister's Office Director General Yossi Shelley.

Also participating in the meeting were representatives from the communities and kibbutzim who fought on the dark day of Saturday, October 7th, and who told of the heroism of the emergency squads.

Tekuma Authority Director Moshe Edri presented Prime Minister Netanyahu with the plan for rebuilding the communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip and thanked him for fully backing the work of the Authority, which was established at his direction.

The Prime Minister heard about residents' various needs and the existing responses. He said that the State of Israel is committed to settlement in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, to rebuilding the kibbutzim that were attacked and to restoring security.

The council heads thanked the Prime Minister for visiting and commended him for his efforts to return all of the hostages and for his goal of bringing about a decisive victory over Hamas.

Prime Minister Netanyahu to the council heads:

"On the first day, we declared that this was a war, not an operation or another round, but a war. This war has several goals. The first goal is the elimination of Hamas. The second goal is returning all of our hostages. The third goal is to ensure that after Hamas is eliminated, the Gaza Strip does not go back to being a threat to the State of Israel, to any part of the State of Israel.

We will not spare investments. I hear both the little things and the big things. There is a battle here with the bureaucracy and I am fighting it. I hear your cry. The Government ministries are working hard but there is much to improve. We will not rest just with rebuilding. We need to establish new communities."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Announcement from the Prime Minister's Office

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

30.11.2023

The Government of Israel embraces the two hostages who have just been released.

The Government of Israel is committed to the return of all of the hostages and missing:

The citizens who were released are are:

Mia Shem (21)

Amit Soussana (40)



The Government, together with all of the security agencies, will assist them and their families.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Latvia and German company "Diehl Defence" sign purchase order on procurement of the IRIS-T medium-range air defence system

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence

11/30/2023

In Latvia

Capabilities

Defence policy

Information prepared by Media Relations Section

On November 30, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and the German company "Diehl Defence" signed a purchase order on the procurement of the IRIS-T medium-range air defence system.

By signing the purchase order worth around 600 million euros, Latvia will receive all the necessary equipment for an effective operation of IRIS-T systems, which will ensure the introduction of layered air defence in Latvia.

Deliveries of medium-range air defence systems are scheduled to start in 2026. Until then Latvia needs to train its personnel and upgrade its infrastructure, as well as fulfil other preconditions, so that the National Armed Forces are ready to fully operate and maintain the IRIS-T systems by the time of the delivery.

As reported earlier, in September Latvia and Estonia signed the framework agreement on the purchase of the IRIS-T medium-range air defence system manufactured by the German company "Diehl Defence".

IRIS-T air defence system is capable of destroying enemy aircrafts and drones within a radius of up to 40 kilometres and at altitudes of up to 20 kilometres. The joint procurement of one type of system will allow Latvia and Estonia to save budgetary funds and facilitate mutual coordination in the defence of the Baltic States region.

The purchase of IRIS-T medium-range air defence system will contribute to Latvia's goal to establish a multi-layered air defence system, where air defence systems of various range not only protect other ground assets but also provide mutual protection to each other. Each successive layer increases the overall resilience of the entire system against adversary activity. The development of such air defence capabilities in Latvia is one of the government's priorities.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Landsbergis at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting: "Ukraine proves daily that it can effectively stand up to its aggressor. We must strengthen the Alliance's willpower and support for Ukraine, which is fighting for the security of the Euro-Atlantic area

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023.11.30

On 28-29 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis attended a NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

On the margins of the meeting, the NATO-Ukraine Council met for the first time at the level of Foreign Ministers. The Council was launched this July at the Vilnius summit.

"Ukraine proves daily that it can effectively stand up to its aggressor. Thus, we must strengthen the Alliance's willpower and support for Ukraine, which is fighting for the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area. NATO countries must provide Ukraine with all possible weapons necessary to achieve victory," the head of Lithuania's diplomacy said.

During the historic meeting, NATO ministers and Dmytro Kuleba discussed in detail the situation in Ukraine, the implementation of priority reforms on Ukraine's path towards its future membership of the Alliance, and what support, especially military support, is needed for Ukraine's victory.

The Allied session, together with Sweden, focused on NATO's role in ensuring long-term support for Ukraine, the commitment to increase defence spending, the need to strengthen the military industry, and preparations for the Washington summit.

At the session with the EU's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, ministers discussed pressing security challenges in the Western Balkans.

The head of Lithuania's diplomacy also met with General Christopher G. Cavoli, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, and discussed the situation in Ukraine and actions to ensure transatlantic security.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission transferred to Belgium and France

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-11-30

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

Detachments conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states have changed over. After four months of safeguarding the Baltic skies, the Italian Air Force handed over the mission to the Belgian Air Force who will lead and fly the mission with four F-16 Fighting Falcons. Their strength will be enhanced by the French Air Fore Detachment with four Mirage2000.

"The Alliance collective defence commitment has a special meaning in the current security situation. The air policing is a proof of NATO solidarity and credibility. The Allies play a critical role ensuring protection of the Baltic skies and enhancing readiness for deterrence and defence. This is exactly why we continue consulting with NATO Allies about the possibility to deploy additional fighter aircraft and ground-based air defence systems in Lithuania," said Vice Minister of National Defence Zilvinas Tomkus who attended the official Hand Over-Take Over ceremony at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Siauliai on November 30.

The Italian troops were farewelled and the Belgian and French welcomed by the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Gen Valdemaras Rupsys, Deputy Chief of Staff Support at the NATO Headquarters Allied Air Command Brigadier General Gilles Juventin, Chief of the Defence Staff of Italy Adm Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chief of Staff of the Lithuanian Air Force Col Devis Martusevicius and Commander of the Air Base Lt Col Eligijus Ruksnaitis, representatives of Siauliai City, and other guests.

The Belgian Air Force will be providing its seventh rotation of the mission. It includes approx. 80 members: pilots, technicians, medical personnel, support groups, communications specialists, etc.

The French will be guarding the Baltic skies for the seventh time as well with a contingent of strength of approx. 100 military specialists of different areas.

The outgoing Italian detachment was protecting the Baltic airspace with four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft. Over the course of the deployment they were also generously engaging in community support events in Panevezys.

NATO Allies have been deploying troops and assets to guard the Baltic airspace since March 2004 when Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joined NATO. Since then, 17 Allies have flown the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states. The mission completed by the Italian Air Detachment will the 63rd since the launch of the NATO Baltic Air Policing effort in 2004.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






High-level Forum on Eastern Partnership, Security and Defence Policy took place in Vilnius

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-11-30

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

The High-level Seminar held for a decade by the Ministry of National Defence for the Eastern Partners and their engagement in the EU Common Security and Defence Policy takes place in Vilnius today. It is attended by senior officials on behalf of Lithuania, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.

This year the High-level Seminar: the Refocused EU Efforts and the Level of Ambition on Cooperation with the Eastern Partnership Countries in Security and Defence Area focuses on the ideas and expectations of the new security architecture in the region, partnership in security and defence area, situation in Ukraine and the EU role in resolving tensions in the South Caucasus.

Vice Minister of National Defence Zilvinas Tomkus said opening the event that the security situation in the region presented quite a few challenges but at the same time it was important to prove to ourselves and the world again and again that we were able to withstand and adapt to any, be it extremely difficult situations.

"The Eastern Partnership Policy has expanded and adapted over the past year. I will repeat what many know beforehand: Ukraine is at war with Russia, part of Georgia is under occupation, Moldova is fighting off economic, energy and other kinds of Russian blackmail. The situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains fragile. At the same time we have positive signals of two Eastern partners about to enter formal talks to join the European Union. The Eastern Partnership and partners has always been a priority to Lithuania. We have and we will continue to support those countries," said Vice Minister of National Defence.

Participants engaged in heated debates and shared insights about the current security situation, the situation in Ukraine and way forward for the region.

The annual event was attended by Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence of Moldova Valeriu Mija, First Deputy Minister of Defence of Georgia Lela Chikovani, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Yuriy Dzhygyr, representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ahead of the seminar, Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anusauskas met bilaterally with Ukraine's Deputy minister of Defence Y. Dzhygyr. Their discussion focused significantly on anti-corruption and transparency in acquisitions. Vice Minister Z. Tomkus met with First Deputy Minister of Defence L. Chikovani and signed a bilateral cooperation plan.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






5 killed in Jerusalem shooting attack

People's Daily Online

(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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel receives 6th batch of hostages released by Hamas, says assault will resume as truce ends

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:41, November 30, 2023

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel's Elbit to provide U.S. Marines with advanced night vision systems

People's Daily Online

(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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN humanitarian office warns Gaza's critical shortfall in humanitarian supplies

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:20, November 30, 2023

GAZA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) --The United Nations humanitarian office urged Wednesday the immediate reopening of more aid entry points into Gaza, including for commercial goods.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement that entry of supplies including food, water, medical supplies and fuel via Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt has increased during the ceasefire, but is still far from sufficient.

Approximately 85 tons of cooking oil were transported daily to Gaza since the ceasefire, accounting for only one-third of the average daily consumption in Gaza before the conflict, it added.

Queues at filling stations for cooking gas in Khan Yunis, south of Gaza, extended for nearly two kilometers, with people waiting there overnight. Reports indicated residents resorting to burning doors and window frames for cooking.

The mere shortage of supplies has also cost Gaza 1.6 million U.S. dollars every day in agricultural production loss, not even counting the destruction of agricultural equipment, farmland, and crops, especially olive trees.

"Furthermore, (only) one of the World Food Programme bakeries resumed operations in southern Gaza, providing bread to around 90,000 people in UN shelters, while other bakeries operate intermittently," the statement noted.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






IRGC chief: Israel will vanish with another al-Aqsa Storm

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 6:41 PM

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) chief Major General Hossein Salami says Operation al-Aqsa Storm showed that the collapse of Israel is much closer and easier than thought.

"There is 70 km from Gaza to Tel Aviv, 120 km from northern Palestine and southern Lebanon to Tel Aviv, and 40 km from the West Bank to Tel Aviv. The time for the collapse of this fake regime is short," he told a group of Basij members in Qazvin Thursday.

"If like in Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the driving engine of the Palestinians starts moving again, the Zionist regime will be removed from the political geography of the world in 48 hours," he said.

Gen. Salami said "few people thought the army and the security establishment of the Zionist regime is so close to collapse".

"Operation al-Aqsa Storm showed the Zionists living in the occupied territories and America the fact that the collapse of the regime is much, much closer and easier than they imagine," he added.

Gen. Salami said no Israeli sleeps peacefully at night anymore because the nightmare of another attack has become a constant companion of the occupiers who "are in a painful situation" after the Oct. 7 operation.

"Today, anxiety and confusion over the defeat of the Zionist regime can be seen in the faces of American officials more than ever, since there is no prospect of saving the fake Israeli regime, and its supporters cannot talk about its survival."

The IRGC chief said to escape defeat, Israel and its supporters have chosen a very dangerous strategy that will never lead to victory.

The US, he said, can no longer endure the pressure of resistance forces on its overstretched forces in the region.

Over the past week, Gen. Salami also said, 2,000 Israeli soldiers have fled the West Bank and Gaza because they cannot continue the war.

"On the other hand, the damage of the war is at least 300 million dollars a day, and one out of every three jobs in Israel has been lost, and all hotels have turned into accommodation for their refugees."

The situation in Palestine is quite the opposite, Gen. Salami said.

"The Gazans are patient, grateful, thoughtful and exceptional people who will surely achieve victory in the near future because of their perseverance," he said.

This is while "Israel and America are stuck in a quagmire in which they sink deeper, the more they struggle", the IRGC chief added.

Gen. Salami touched on the strict censorship in the Israeli media about the regime's losses in the Gaza war.

He said out of 1,600 tanks and personnel carriers brought to Gaza by Israel, 300 have been hit and hundreds of Israelis killed based on accurate information including aerial photos, wiretapping and other intelligence means as well as accurate field information.

"Today, all the news we hear is about Gaza and the Palestinians, but we don't hear or see anything about the turmoil in the cities of the Zionist regime, where the situation is much worse than what even we wish for. This fact forced them to agree to a ceasefire."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Spanish PM says Israel disdains humanitarian law, calls on EU to recognize Palestine

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 3:20 PM

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says given the number of casualties among civilians, including a huge number of children, in the besieged Gaza Strip during Israel's weeks-long war, he has "serious doubt" that Tel Aviv respects international humanitarian law.

In an interview with Spanish state-owned broadcaster TVE on Thursday, Sanchez reiterated that Israel's military action in the densely-populated strip is unacceptable.

"The footage we are seeing and the growing numbers of children dying, I have serious doubt [Israel] is complying with international humanitarian law," he said. "What we are seeing in Gaza is not acceptable."

Sanchez also said the European Union should recognize a Palestinian state since this would help end the conflict and "stabilize" the region.

"It is obvious that we must find a political solution to put an end to this crisis and this solution requires, in my opinion, the recognition of the Palestinian state," he said.

"It is in Europe's interest to address this issue out of moral conviction because what we are seeing in Gaza is not acceptable", and also for "a geopolitical objective -- to stabilize a region", he added.

When he was sworn in for a new term this month, Sanchez said his foreign policy priority would be to "work in Europe and in Spain to recognize the Palestinian state".

If there is no consensus among the EU's 27 member states, Sanchez has said Madrid does not rule out unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state.

A handful of smaller European countries have taken the step, mainly east European nations like Hungary, Poland and Romania that did so before they joined the EU.

Spain's parliament voted in 2014 in favor of a resolution calling for recognition of Palestine as a state.

The vote was non-binding, however, and there has been no follow-up.

"The situation has changed," Sanchez told TVE, adding that Arab nations did not understand the EU's position.

"During all these years, we have seen how Israel systematically occupied Palestinian territory," he added in a reference to Israeli settlement expansion.

Israel's top diplomat said he was recalling the regime's envoy to Madrid over what he called "outrageous remarks" by the Spanish prime minister questioning the legality of Israel's military invasion of 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," Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The new spat came less than a week after Israel expressed anger with Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, who demanded the regime stop its massacre of civilians holed up in Gaza.

Tel Aviv also summoned ambassadors of both European countries over their remarks voiced at a joint press conference on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on November 24.

Cohen claimed the remarks by Sanchez and De Croo repeated "false claims" and "gave terrorism a boost."

In response, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Cohen's allegations were "false, unacceptable and out of place."

Sanchez on Thursday said European countries should discuss the recognition of a Palestinian state.

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 regime's decades-long campaign of devastation against Palestinians.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, over 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,000 children, were killed in Israeli strikes during the 49 days of war. Many more dead people are feared to be under the rubble.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hamas wants 'escalation of resistance' after Israelis killed, soldiers injured

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 3:01 PM

A Palestinian shooting operation near the occupied al-Quds has left at least three Israelis dead and over a dozen more injured.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has called for "an escalation of resistance" across the occupied territories.

In the first incident at the entrance into the city on Thursday morning, two Palestinians were involved.

Israeli police and ambulance service said 16 people were also injured.

Israeli media said the two attackers were brothers from East al-Quds: Murad Nimr, 38, and Ibrahim, 30. Both were shot dead by the regime's forces.

Camera footage aired by Israel's Channel 12 showed the moments of the attack.

Hamas has said in a statement "the operation came as a natural response to unprecedented crimes conducted by the occupation."

"We confirm that this operation came as a natural response to the occupation's unprecedented crimes, including brutal massacres in the Gaza Strip and the killing of children in Jenin, and the widespread violations to which our prisoners are exposed in the occupation's prisons."

The Palestinian Wafa news agency has reported Israeli soldiers raided the neighborhood of Sur Baher in East al-Quds where the attackers lived. The regime forces broke into their house, and detained some of their family members.

Meanwhile, Israeli minister Israel Katz has demanded the attackers' family members lose identity cards, saying they must also be denied any other "allowances and privileges."

On Thursday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the regime will continue to distribute weapons to settlers.

Netanyahu also vowed to continue the war on the besieged Gaza Strip. He made the remark after meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in al-Quds on Thursday. Blinken had already told Israeli leaders that a temporary truce with Hamas was "producing results" and should continue.

Separately in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said two soldiers were injured in a car ramming attack at a checkpoint. Troops at the scene "shot and neutralized the assailant," it said. The attack was reportedly claimed by the armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the Gaza truce for a seventh day.

The initial 4-day truce went into effect on November 24. The truce agreement has so far seen the release of nearly 310 people from both sides.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japan calls on US military to suspend Osprey flights after fatal crash

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 10:36 AM

Japan has asked the US military to suspend all non-emergency V-22 Osprey flights over its territory after one crashed into the sea in western Japan, killing at least one person onboard and leaving several more missing, authorities said.

A US military Osprey aircraft, assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing, experienced an "aircraft mishap" during a "routine training mission," on Wednesday near the small southern Japanese island of Yakushima with eight people on board.

In this regard, Japanese defense minister, Minoru Kihara, told the parliament on Thursday that "the occurrence of such an accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region ... and we are requesting the US side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after these flights are confirmed to be safe."

The crash happened near Yakushima, an island about 45 miles south of the Kagoshima region on the southern main island of Kyushu. The island is a World Natural Heritage site, where the water depth is about 30 meters.

The Coast Guard confirmed that one man was recovered from the sea "unconscious and was not breathing" 1.8 miles from Anbo Port, on the eastern side of Yakushima, by a boat from the Yakushima Town Rescue Center.

According to witnesses, the left engine of the aircraft appeared to be on fire as it went down into the sea near Yakushima airport, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. Nearby fishing boats rushed to the scene, where three of the crew members were located.

Search and rescue operations to find the other missing are still ongoing, while the US Air Force has said the cause of the mishap is currently unknown.

"Our focus is on the ongoing search and rescue operations, and we're praying for a safe return," Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to Japan, said in a post on X.

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (SDF), which also operates Ospreys, will suspend flights of the aircraft until the circumstances of the incident are clarified, another senior defense ministry official said in parliament.

An Osprey is a military aircraft that is mostly used to transport "troops, equipment, and supplies from assault ships and land bases," according to the US Marine Corps.

The V-22 Osprey, one of many variants of this aircraft, is due to replace older helicopters and other fleets in the Corps.

The hybrid aircraft which is dual-piloted and takes off and lands like a helicopter but can rotate its propellers and cruise like an airplane, has a troubled history, with a string of fatal crashes over the years.

In the last series of Osprey crashes, in August the aircraft crashed on a remote Australian island during a joint exercise with countries including the Philippines, killing three of the 23 who were aboard the aircraft.

Also in June last year, an MV-22B Osprey aircraft, crashed in southeastern California just north of the Mexican border, killing four marines onboard.

The last fatal US military aircraft crash in Japan was in 2018, when a mid-air collision during a training exercise killed six people, according to Japan's defense ministry.

More than 50,000 US troops are stationed across Japan, which hosts the biggest overseas concentration of US military forces.

Last year, the Japanese government approved a new $8.6 billion, five-year host-nation support budget to cover the cost of hosting American troops in the country in order to focus on joint response and deterrence amid rising threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli forces kill at least one Palestinian youth, injure four, during clashes in occupied West Bank

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 8:11 AM

Israeli military forces have killed a Palestinian youth and injured four others during clashes near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.

The victim-- identified as 21-year-old Fadi Badran-- was shot in the chest during confrontations between Palestinian people and Israeli troops near the Ofer jail in the West Bank town of Beitunia on Thursday, medical sources said.

According to local sources, the clashes erupted after the occupying regime's forces started dispersing the citizens who were waiting for the release of Palestinian prisoners from jail as part of the humanitarian truce deal in the Gaza Strip.

The clashes escalated after Israeli troops stormed nearby neighborhoods in Beitunia town, the sources added.

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.

The temporary ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Friday, giving Palestinians in the besieged territory a brief respite from Israel's 7-week brutal war.

The truce deal included a prisoner swap agreement between Hamas and Israel, which mandated the release of 50 Israeli captives in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, all of them women and children.

Israeli forces raid refugee camp in West Bank

In a separate development on Thursday, Israeli forces carried out a large-scale incursion into the West Bank city of Tulkarem and its refugee camp, causing heavy destruction.

Palestine's official Wafa news agency reported that Israeli troops, accompanied by bulldozers, entered the city from the west direction on Thursday, storming several neighborhoods.

The regime forces also raided the Tulkarem refugee camp, deploying snipers to the rooftops of high buildings, as bulldozers destroyed the camp's main streets, several vehicles, and properties of residents.

Violent clashes reportedly broke out between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian youths, with the regime forces firing live bullets toward them. There were no reports of injuries.

Israeli military forces also stationed troops in the vicinity of Thabet Government Hospital in Tulkarem, searching ambulances and interrogating their drivers.

The regime forces also detained a Palestinian youth, identified as Abdel-Fatah al-Qadoomi, after they stormed several residents' homes in the southern part of the city. According to local sources, drones were also flying low over Tulkarem.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hamas says temporary Gaza truce extended for one more day; Israel confirms extension

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 6:00 AM

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement says a six-day truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip has been extended for one more day.

"It was agreed to extend the truce for a seventh day, which is Thursday," Hamas said in a statement on Thursday.

Israel's military also announced that the Gaza ceasefire will continue "in light of the mediators' efforts" to secure a prisoners swap.

Additionally, Qatar's Foreign Ministry confirmed the one-day extension of the truce, saying that it will include the same terms as the previous days.

Hamas' military wing: Fighters on high alert if war resumes

Earlier in the day, Hamas' military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, had said it had ordered its fighters to be ready for a resumption of combat with Israel if the truce in Gaza expired.

"The al-Qassam Brigades asks its active forces to maintain high combat readiness in the last hours of the truce," the group said in a statement.

Fighters, it added, should "remain on such footing unless an official statement is issued confirming the extension of the truce."

The statement came shortly before the expiry of the ceasefire at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).

The initial truce took effect on Friday after weeks of bloody Israeli aggression against the besieged Gaza.

It allowed the delivery of some desperately needed aid to Gaza as well as a swap of captives held by Hamas and Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails.

A total of 97 captives, 73 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals, were released from Gaza in exchange for the freedom of 210 Palestinians for Israeli prisons.

Hamas announced that Israel had rejected its offer to receive seven captives and the bodies of three others killed during the regime's strikes on Gaza in return for extending the Gaza 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.

Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas conducted Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping 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, injured 36,000 others and left vast swathes of Gaza in ruins.

An additional 7,000 Palestinians are missing and believed to be under the rubble in Gaza, home to more than two million people who are being subjected to a "complete siege" by Israel.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China requires job applicants in Tibet to denounce Dalai Lama

Beijing considers the spiritual leader to be a separatist and wants 'loyal' public sector workers.

By Pelbar for RFA Tibetan 2023.11.30 -- 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 China's 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 Tibet's status as a part of China but urges greater cultural and religious freedoms.

China's 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 it's impossible to get a government job."

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Eugene Whong.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






OSCE Opens Summit In Skopje Amid Boycotts, Criticism Directed At Russia's Presence

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service November 30, 2023

SKOPJE -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on November 30 kicked off its annual summit in North Macedonia amid boycotts and criticism from some member states for the presence in Skopje of Russia's top diplomat as Moscow continues its war on Ukraine.

North Macedonia's foreign minister, Bujar Osmani, who currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the pan-European security body, slammed Russia's ongoing invasion in his opening remarks as host of the summit.

"Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine flies in the face of all this organization holds dear," Osmani said.

Despite Osmani's remarks, North Macedonia has still faced criticism that it has given in to Moscow by allowing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to attend the meeting, though not without issues.

Sofia lifted an EU-wide ban imposed on Lavrov's plane flying over the bloc's airspace -- implemented as a measure against Russia for its full-scale invasion -- to allow him to attend the summit.

Russia, however, said the plane with the Foreign Ministry delegation was refused entry at the last minute because spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is under European Union sanctions, was on board the plane as well and didn't have permission. The flight was rerouted over Greek airspace after Athens approved an exception.

Sofia has not commented on the Russian claims.

Lavrov's intention to attend the summit already threatened to overshadow the meeting after it sparked a boycott by Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Established initially as the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, in 1975 as a tool of cooperation between the West and the Soviet-led Eastern bloc, the OSCE brings together 57 states from Europe, Central Asia, and North America.

The Vienna, Austria-based OSCE deals with issues such as arms control, the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections.

Osmani told RFE/RL in an interview ahead of the summit that he regarded the meeting as a "victory of the rules-based international order."

"What we are doing is continuing the rules of conduct of this organization so that all participating states are at the table, since this is a consensus-based organization," Osmani told RFE/RL.

"All the more, taking into account that the organization goes through an exceptional moment when its very existence is being questioned, we considered it crucial to reach a consensus, especially on those pillars that ensure the functionality of the organization for the future."

Still, several other members, including Poland, took issue with Lavrov's presence in Skopje.

"We just cannot ignore the fact that the Russian minister of foreign affairs will be present at the table of the organization that is supposed to build peace and security in Europe," Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek told reporters ahead of the meeting.

Osmani also rejected criticism that by allowing militarily neutral Malta to take over the rotating chairmanship of the OSCE in January, the organization acquiesced to Moscow, which had vetoed Estonia's taking the helm of the group because of its being a member of NATO.

"I think [Malta's chairmanship is] a diplomatic victory. It is a victory for the OSCE and a victory for the rules-based international order," Osmani said, adding that Russia was "not happy" during the chairmanship of NATO member North Macedonia.

"We were unequivocal in our condemnation of Russian aggression in Ukraine. Russia openly violated the basic, founding principles and obligations of the organization, and from the beginning we recognized our role as guardians of those principles and obligations.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Skopje on November 29, attended a pre-summit dinner with representatives of other OSCE states, but did not attend the opening of the summit on November 30.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-macedonia- osce-lavrov/32708350.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Blinken: Massive Loss of Civilian Life in Northern Gaza Must Not Be Repeated

Sputnik News

20231130

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that during his visit to Israel he discussed details of Tel-Aviv's military operations and underscored that massive civilian casualties that took place in northern Gaza must not repeat in the south of the enclave.

Blinken's remarks came during his third visit to the region since hostilities first hit a renewed boiling point following the October 7 surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The American diplomat told reporters during a Thursday conference that US officials had renewed calls for Israel to comply with international laws and take steps to ensure that civilians in the Gaza Strip are not enveloped in the conflict.

"We discussed the details of Israel's ongoing planning, and I underscored the imperative the United States, that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza, not be repeated in the South," Blinken said.

"In my meetings today with the Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] and senior Israeli officials, I made clear that before Israel resumes major military operations, it must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimize further casualties of innocent Palestinians."

Weighing in on reports of rising extremist settler violence, Blinken further relayed to journalists that the US does in fact expect Israeli officials to take appropriate steps to quell the developments.

"I raised our deep concerns about steps that could escalate tensions in the West Bank, including extremist settler violence and proposals from parts of the Israeli coalition government to further expand settlement," Blinken said.

"With regard to extremist violence, all I can tell you is this. We're looking to the Israeli government to take some additional steps to really put a stop to this. And at the same time we're considering our own steps."

Free & Fair Elections in Palestine

Touching on the importance of free and fair elections, the US secretary of state emphasized that the United States "as a matter of basic principle, we support free and fair elections around the world, including, of course for Palestinians."

Blinken added that Palestinians should have the right to choose their own leaders.

"But that has to be a process. And it's something that we need to be talking about as we move from the conflict to, as we've been calling it, the 'day after,' looking at what needs to happen in Gaza, as well as the West Bank, but starting in Gaza, particularly, with regard to things like governance, like security, like rebuilding," Blinken said. "And part of that discussion needs to be about elections."

Earlier this month, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced readiness to hold general presidential and parliamentary elections in all Palestinian territories.

Regarding his recent talks with Abbas, Blinken noted that the pair had discussed the need for a range of reforms to revamp the Palestinian state so it could be more effective in meeting the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

"I had an opportunity to discuss today with President Abbas the need for reform, the need to revitalize, to revamp the Palestinian Authority, so that it can most effectively meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people and deliver for them," Blinken said.

The Palestinian Authority has not conducted elections since January 2006, when Hamas came to power in Gaza after winning a parliamentary vote.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japan Asks US to Suspend V-22 Osprey Flights Following Deadly Crash

Sputnik News

20231130

Fantine Gardinier

Japan has suspended operations of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in the wake of a crash off the coast earlier this week. The notoriously unstable aircraft has had dozens of crashes, often triggering similar temporary groundings.

The suspension announcement was made on Thursday by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, who said Tokyo had asked the US to temporarily halt non-emergency flights of Ospreys.

"Safety has to come first," he said, adding that Japan had to take the situation "seriously."

On Wednesday, an Osprey carrying six US service members (the US Coast Guard initially told the press it was eight) crashed off the coast of Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture, one of whom died in the accident. Little information has been released since, including the fate of the other five people on board. One eyewitness told Japanese media he had seen the aircraft's left engine on fire as it plummeted into the sea.

"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, adding it was not the first time an Osprey had crashed near Japan, but it was the first time someone had died in such an incident.

Just last year, Japan temporarily grounded all of the US Air Force's Ospreys amid a series of "safety incidents," something the US Navy did for its version of the aircraft just months before.

The V-22 was first unveiled in 1988, but due to a series of chronic issues involving its highly complex tilt-rotor system, which allows it to fly either horizontally like a fixed-wing aircraft or vertically like a helicopter, the Osprey didn't enter service with the US military until 2007.

The US has several military bases in Japan, which has been a close US ally since its defeat in World War II. However, Japanese residents have at times resisted the US military's activities, including mobilizing to block several proposed Aegis Ashore radar and air defense installations, which are likely to become targets in the event of a war with North Korea or China. Residents of Okinawa, an island in the Ryukyu Islands, have also fought plans to expand the massive Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in central Ginowan city.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem, At Least 7 People Injured - Israeli Media

Sputnik News

20231130

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 launched retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip.

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.

"Medics are treating seven victims, two are in critical condition, they are being treated on the spot, five have been sent to hospital," media reported, citing medics.

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.

"Breaking: 24 year old woman killed and at least 5 injured in a shooting attack in Jerusalem. Two heavily armed terrorists neutralized," the ministry wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Press Availability

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

David Intercontinental Hotel

Tel Aviv, Israel

November 30, 2023

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good evening, everyone, and thanks for bearing with us through a long day.

So this is my fourth trip to Israel since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7th. On my last visit here, I discussed the potential for humanitarian pauses to facilitate the release of Hamas's hostages, the surge of humanitarian assistance, the protection of Palestinian civilians.

And I said that there were a number of issues that needed to be worked through, but that the United States was committed to achieving these goals.

Today - today - marks the seventh day of the humanitarian pause in Gaza that the United States worked closely with Israel, Qatar, and Egypt to put in place. The seventh day that hostages have been freed and are returning home to their families. The seventh day that significantly more humanitarian assistance is getting into the people of Gaza who need it. And the seventh day that civilians in Gaza have been able to move to safer areas.

I've come, again, here today to advance a number of goals.

Our immediate focus is working with our partners to extend the pause so that we can continue to get more hostages out of Gaza and more assistance in.

We share the elation, the relief, of the families from more than a dozen countries, including the United States, who've been reunited with their loved ones. And yet, there are scores of family here in Israel, the United States, and around the world whose loved ones continue to be held captive and who are desperate to get them home safely.

We will not stop working until we get every hostage back home with their families and loved ones.

At the same time, we continue to surge humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Together with the UN, our partners in the region, we have significantly increased the flow of food, water, medicine, fuel to power desalination plants, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure.

Just over the past week, the mechanisms that we helped to negotiate and implement have more than doubled the number of trucks getting Gaza. But this is still not enough to meet the needs of its people, which is why we continue to work urgently to get more aid in and to get it in faster.

Sustaining and increasing the flow of humanitarian aid, in particular fuel, restocking stores with commercial goods - these are vital to the lives and livelihoods and well-being of men, women, and children.

That's especially true for the most vulnerable parts of the population: children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities. And it's even more pressing as winter sets in, bringing with it a heightened risk of infectious disease outbreaks. The Government of Israel agrees with the imperative of humanitarian assistance and the need to sustain it.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also made clear that Israel intends to resume its military operations against Hamas when Hamas stops releasing hostages. As we've said from the outset, Israel has the right to do everything it can to ensure that the slaughter Hamas carried out on October 7th can never be repeated. 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.

We mourn those killed, just as we mourn the loss of every innocent civilian life, Israeli or Palestinian.

But as I've also said since I first came here after October 7th, the way Israel defends itself matters. It's imperative that Israel act in accordance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war, even when confronting a terrorist group that respects neither.

In my meetings today with the prime minister and senior Israeli officials, I made clear that before Israel resumes major military operations, it must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimize further casualties of innocent Palestinians.

That means taking more effective steps to protect the lives of civilians, including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza where they can be safe and out of the line of fire.

It means avoiding further significant displacement of civilians inside of Gaza. It means avoiding damage to life-critical infrastructure, like hospitals, like power stations, like water facilities.

And it means giving civilians who've been displaced to southern Gaza the choice to return to the north as soon as conditions permit. There must be no enduring internal displacement.

All of this can be done in a manner that still enables Israel to achieve its objectives.

Of course, we know that every one of these elements is made more complicated by the fact that Hamas intentionally embeds itself with civilians, within and below hospitals, schools, apartment buildings, refugee camps.

But Israel has the most sophisticated - 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. Ultimately, that's not just the right thing to do, it's also in Israel's security interest. The prime minister and members of the war cabinet agreed with the need for this approach.

We discussed the details of Israel's ongoing planning, and I underscored the imperative to the United States that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south. As I told the prime minister, intent matters, but so does the result.

At the same time, Hamas has choices, too. Hamas could immediately release all of the hostages it holds. It could stop using civilians as human shields and stop using civilian infrastructure to stage and launch terrorist attacks.

Hamas could lay down its arms, surrender the leaders who are responsible for the slaughter, the torture, the rapes of October 7th. Hamas could renounce its stated goal of eliminating Israel, killing Jews, and repeating the atrocities of October 7th again and again and again.

Meanwhile, everyone around the world who cares about protecting innocent civilians, innocent lives, should be calling on Hamas - indeed, demanding of Hamas - that it immediately stop its murderous acts of terror and deplorable use of innocent men, women, and children as human shields.

In our meetings with Israeli leaders here and in Jerusalem and Palestinian leaders in Ramallah, we discussed our continued focus on preventing the conflict from spreading - whether to the West Bank, to Israel's northern border, or to the broader region.

I raised our deep concerns about steps that could escalate tensions in the West Bank, including extremist settler violence and proposals from parts of the Israeli coalition government to further expand settlements. I made clear our expectations about addressing these issues.

We also focused on what we can - what we must do now to prepare for the day after the conflict, to create the conditions for a durable and lasting peace, building on the principles that I set out a few weeks ago during the G7 meeting in Tokyo.

Breaking out of the cycle of violence, the cycle of conflict, ensuring Israel's enduring security demands improving the lives of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank in immediate, tangible ways, and providing them with a credible path toward their legitimate aspiration for statehood.

In our ongoing conversations with Israeli, Palestinian, and Arab leaders, we'll discuss practical steps to make real a just and lasting peace and what each of us is prepared to do to help achieve it.

We have no illusions this is going to be easy. We will surely have disagreements along the way.

But if we're going to move forward on practical steps toward lasting peace, lasting security, we have to be willing to work through those disagreements, because the alternative - more terrorist attacks, more violence, more innocent suffering - is unacceptable.

That is why the United States is here and we're leading toward this goal.

With that, happy to take some questions.

MR MILLER: The first question goes to Humeyra Pamuk with Reuters.

QUESTION: Hello, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good evening.

QUESTION: You just said the U.S. is urging Israel to ensure the protection of civilians before starting its operations in southern Gaza. I'm wondering - you talked about what you made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the war cabinet, but what concrete and specific assurances have you gotten from them, if any? Based on what you heard from them today, are you confident Israel will follow the international laws of war in southern Gaza when it resumes its military operations?

My second question is you and others in the administration have repeatedly said that United States wants to see a revitalized Palestinian Authority to rule Gaza and the West Bank. So could you tell us what exactly the U.S. vision is for a revitalized PA? And does it include a reshuffle in the leadership? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Humeyra. So as I said, we made clear the imperative that before any operations go forward in southern Gaza that there be a clear plan in place that puts a premium on protecting civilians, as well as sustaining and building on the humanitarian assistance that's getting into Gaza. And the Israeli Government agreed with that approach.

There are concrete steps that it's not appropriate for me to detail here tonight that we know and we heard can make - ensure, to the best of anyone's ability, that that happens. It's obviously challenging, given the particular conditions that Israel has to deal with in getting to Hamas and making sure, again, that it can't represent the threat that it posed on October 7th.

But again, Israel understands the imperative of protecting civilians, the imperative of the humanitarian assistance, and we'll continue to work to ensure that that carries forward in practice.

And again, as I said to the prime minister, to the war cabinet, intent is obviously where you start and it's vitally important. And I'm very confident in the intent, but results, of course, are fundamentally what matters.

With regard to the Palestinian Authority, we've said - and indeed, I had an opportunity to discuss today with President Abbas - the need for reform, the need to revitalize, to revamp the Palestinian Authority so that it can most effectively meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people and deliver for them. There are a number of things that go into that including, for example, reform so that it more effectively combats corruption, that it engages and empowers civil society, that it supports free press and open media, and a number of other things.

Leadership choices - these are, of course, up to the Palestinian people and Palestinians themselves. But there are a number of things that we think would be critical to making sure that, again, the Palestinian Authority can be effective in helping to advance the aspirations and the needs of its people.

MR MILLER: For the next question, Tal Shalev with Walla.

QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, reportedly there are disagreements between you and the Israeli Government about the way forward regarding the timetable. Is there a time limit from the U.S. point of view on the operation, on the continuation of the operation in Gaza? And another question. There are about 140 hostages still left in Gaza. Many of them are reportedly severely injured, and yet the Red Cross hasn't yet visited them. Can you clarify if this was indeed included in the agreement? And if it was, why isn't it being implemented, and why is Israel pressured to continue to expand the humanitarian assistance to Gaza while the Hamas does not let humanitarian access to our hostages?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. First part of the question - we support, continue to support, will continue to support Israel's efforts to do everything possible to ensure that Hamas cannot repeat the horrors of October 7th. And that means, among other things, that Hamas cannot remain responsible for governance in Gaza and it cannot retain the capacity to repeat those attacks. How Israel does it, those are decisions for Israel to make. But as I've said, we also believe it's very important that, in engaging in that effort, the way it does matters, makes a big difference. And as we've just discussed, the imperative of putting a premium on protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian assistance flows into Gaza is something that is vital to us and something that the Israeli Government agrees with.

On the hostages, I'm not going to get into any of the negotiations or any agreements. But clearly it would be very beneficial and important for the Red Cross to have access to hostages, to be able to check on their well-being and condition. Having said that, of course none of that should be necessary because there shouldn't be any hostages in the first place. That horrific part of what Hamas did on October 7th is something that we are dealing with now every single day. The positive development is, as I said, we're now completing the seventh day where hostages have been returned to their families. And that's a very positive and powerful thing; it's something that we want to see continue. And Hamas should release everyone right now. But in the absence of doing that, and as this process, I hope, continues, yes, it would be very good for the Red Cross to have access and to see them.

The question of humanitarian assistance is something fully apart from Hamas or the hostages, because this is about innocent men, women, and children in Gaza - they're not Hamas - who desperately need the aid, who desperately need the help. Conditions in Gaza are very, very, very difficult and severe. And the need for the most basic things - for food, for water, for medicine, for fuel to make sure that people can have clean water, that they can have sewage systems that work - that's absolutely essential and imperative.

And as I said earlier, particularly as we head into winter, we're already seeing the potential for disease outbreaks because, for example, of a lack of potable drinking water. So this is an imperative. It's an imperative because it's the right thing to do; it's an imperative because it's the necessary thing to do. And again, I come away convinced from my discussions with the Israeli Government that they fully not only understand that, but believe that and will act on it.

MODERATOR: Vivian Salama with The Wall Street Journal.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I know it's been a long day, so apologies for the bundle of questions. Hamas is believed to have released the vast number of women and children that were in its captivity. So what assurances, if any, do you have that Hamas might be open to releasing male hostages? And on the flip side of that, is Israel prepared to agree to the conditions set out by Hamas on that?

Separately, President Biden has signaled that he - that the U.S. is prepared to issue visa bans on what he described as extremist Israeli settlers. What is the status of that?

And forgive me - one last one on India. Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged India - an Indian national in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Sikh separatist and activist in New York who's a U.S. citizen. According to the indictment, the assassination plot was organized by an Indian Government official. The U.S. charges come shortly after Canada - Canada's prime minister said that an Indian government - the Indian Government participated in extrajudicial killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. Are you concerned that India is turning to tactics that violate international human rights law to silence its critics around the world? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Vivian. So three - not bad. All right. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Shorter than usual.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: But yes, nice and concise. So on the release of more hostages - look, I can't speak to Hamas's views or its intentions. I can tell you that for the United States, for Israel, for other countries who have their citizens being held captive by Hamas, clearly we want to see this process continue, move forward. We want an eighth day and beyond so that people can be returned to their families, and that applies to all hostages, whatever category they may happen to be in. But it's also up to Hamas, and again, I can't speak to their intentions. I can say that I think this process has clearly been beneficial, and the fact that so many have now been reunited with their loved ones and families is something we, I think, take joy in. But a lot of unfinished business, and we're determined to finish it when it comes to bringing the hostages home.

With regard to extremist violence, all I can tell you is this: We're looking to the Israeli Government to take some additional steps to really put a stop to this. And at the same time, we're considering our own steps.

Finally, with regard to India, first, this is an ongoing legal matter. So you'll understand I can't comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks. The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results.

MR MILLER: And the final question goes to Qassam Al Khateeb with Al Sharq.

QUESTION: Good evening, Mr. Secretary. This is Qassam Khateeb from Al Sharq News. My questions: Lots of discussion are going on with your call to revamp the Palestinian Authority leadership. Do you consider that via free, fair election in Gaza, Jerusalem, and West Bank?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So first, as a matter of basic principle, we support free and fair elections around the world, including, of course, for Palestinians. They should have a right to choose their own leaders, and the way to do it is through free and fair elections. But that has to be a process, and it's something that we need to be talking about as we move from the conflict to, as we've been calling it, the day after - looking at what needs to happen in Gaza, as well as the West Bank, but starting in Gaza particularly with regard to things like governance, like security, like rebuilding. And part of that discussion needs to be about elections.

But again, it's a process, and it's something that work needs to go into in the time ahead.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So again, we're focused right now on Gaza and the - what we need to see happen in Gaza to make sure that there is governance that is different from what it has right now, which is Hamas; that is has security; that it has rebuilding. All of those things are what we're focused on and need to be focused on. And as part of that discussion, we'll obviously look at the question of elections and when and how Palestinians are able to choose their leaders.

Thank you.

MR MILLER: Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, everyone. Have a good evening.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Palestinian Authority President Abbas

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 30, 2023

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Secretary Blinken discussed ongoing efforts to accelerate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including through maximizing humanitarian pauses. The Secretary condemned extremist violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and said he would continue to insist on full accountability for those responsible. Secretary Blinken and President Abbas also spoke about the urgent need for measures to improve security and freedom for Palestinians in the West Bank. The Secretary reiterated that the United States remains committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UNRWA

30 Nov 2023

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

Nearly 958,000 IDPs were sheltering in 99 facilities in the Middle, Khan Younis and Rafah areas .

As of 29 November, nearly 1.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were sheltering in 156 UNRWA installations across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including in the North and Gaza City.

Around 1.8 million people (or over 80 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

The humanitarian pause, which entered into force on the morning of 24 November, was maintained for a sixth consecutive day on 29 November.

UNRWA confirms that one colleague was killed during strikes before the humanitarian pause. In total, 111 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since the 7 October.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

In the evening of 28 November, the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) undertook an operation in Jenin city and Jenin refugee camp. The operation lasted for over 17 hours.

There were several exchanges of fire in the city and the camp, resulting in the killing of four Palestinians, including two children. Six Palestinians were reportedly injured by live ammunition, including one Palestinian paramedic and two children. Dozens of Palestinians were arrested. ISF bulldozers destroyed infrastructure and houses in the camp. ISF also reportedly forced Palestinians to leave their houses in Ad Damaj neighbourhood in the camp.

UNRWA operations in the camp, including in its four schools, were suspended. Repeated and increasingly intense operations have resulted in many residents reporting that they no longer feel safe living in the camp. A significant number have either left the camp, or are spending the night outside and returning in the morning.

A rapid assessment conducted among the students from one of the UNRWA schools in the camp has found that 37 per cent of the students remain inside the camp, 25 per cent are not staying in the camp overnight, 30 per cent now live in the vicinity of the camp and come to school on foot, and eight per cent have transferred to remote areas.

Overnight an ISF search and arrest operation was reported in Askar refugee camp, Nablus. ISF detained six Palestinians, including one UNRWA sanitation labourer.

Overnight search and arrest operations were also reported in Aqbat Jaber and Ein Sultan refugee camps, in Jerico.
UNRWA Situation Report #42 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (All information is valid as of 28 November 2023 at 22:30 local time)

UNRWA

30 Nov 2023

The Gaza Strip

UNRWA confirms that one colleague was killed during strikes before the start of the humanitarian pause. In total, 110 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since the 7 October.

The humanitarian pause, which entered into force on the morning of 24 November, was maintained for a fifth consecutive day on 28 November, after the decision was taken by Israel and Hamas to extend on the evening of 27 November.

A convoy of trucks delivered humanitarian 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. Around 1.8 million people (or over 80 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

As of 28 November, nearly 1.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were sheltering in 156 UNRWA installations across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including in the Northern area.

Nearly 956,000 IDPs were sheltering in 99 facilities in the Middle, Khan Younis and Rafah areas.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Arab diplomatic envoys expect more China-Arab cooperation

Xinhua) 13:19, December 01, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
U.S.-Italian Navy Undersea Warfare staff talks underway in Naples

US Navy

30 November 2023

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy -- Italian Navy Rear Adm. Vito Lacerenza, commander, Italian Submarines, hosted Rear Adm. Stephen Mack, commander, Submarine Group 8, aboard the Italian Todaro-class submarine, Scire (S 527), during U.S. and Italian Navy Undersea Warfare staff talks, Nov. 20, 2023.

The U.S. Navy and its Italian counterparts routinely meet to discuss interoperability, exercises, and best practices while operating in the same battle space.

After meeting with Sailors, and a demonstration of Scire's capabilities at sea, both U.S. and Italian staffs met at U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) headquarters in Naples, where Rear Adm. Mack expressed his appreciation for the cooperation and partnership between both navies.

"It was a pleasure to visit and go to sea with Rear Adm. Lacerenza aboard Scire while the submarine visited Napoli," said Rear Adm. Stephen Mack. "It underscores the long-standing relationship between our forces and a visible demonstration of how critical the U.S.-Italy partnership is to this theater, on, above, and below the sea."

Undersea warfare seeks to integrate platforms from various navies to deliver effects against enemy forces and involves submarines, surface units, air platforms and sensors. The ability for these two navies to work together and build each other's strengths is a core reason these engagements exsist.

"Today's visit underscored the strong cooperation between the Italian and U.S. Navy, which is especially important in this dynamic environment," said Rear Adm. Vito Lacerenza. "The relationship between our two navies is critical to safeguarding our nations and visits like these demonstrate the strength of that relationship."

In August, the Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728), hosted members of the Italian Navy as a visible demonstration of the strength of the U.S.-Italy partnership.

For over 80 years, NAVEUR-NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. 6th Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






USS Mount Whitney Arrives in Larnaca, Cyprus

US Navy

30 November 2023

From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mario Coto

LARNACA, Cyprus -- The U.S. 6th Fleet Blue Ridge-class command-and-control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Larnaca, the Republic of Cyprus for a scheduled port visit, November 30, 2023.

The U.S. 6th Fleet Blue Ridge-class command-and-control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Larnaca, the Republic of Cyprus for a scheduled port visit, November 30, 2023.

The USS Mount Whitney is conducting U.S. operations in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, where the ship's crew and embarked staff will work alongside allies and partners in support of maritime operations, which encompass naval diplomacy and national efforts to build comprehensive maritime power. The USS Mount Whitney, forward deployed from Gaeta, Italy operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners in the U.S. Sixth Fleet. The fleet operates in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.

U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners including NATO allies and partner nation naval assets.

The Republic of Cyprus is an important regional partner. Port visits aim to strengthen security and stability and build enduring relationships. Liberty for the ship's crew and embarked personnel is an opportunity to demonstrate a common commitment to ensure goodwill.

U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. Also Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability for over 80 years.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Rocket Launched at US Forces in Syria; No Injuries

By Carla Babb November 30, 2023

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 doesn't 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 week's attacks, U.S. fighter jets had carried out three rounds of strikes targeting four facilities in Syria used by Iran's 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Nigeria Boosts Military Spending, but Analysts Doubt It Will Improve Security

By Timothy Obiezu November 30, 2023

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 Nigeria's non-functioning oil refineries.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Vietnam's Rare Earth Sector on the Rise

By VOA News November 30, 2023

Vietnam, with the world's 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 that's 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, O'Connor 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 Washington's 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."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Readout of Meeting Between President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola

November 30, 2023

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola at the White House to address opportunities to deepen our relationship, identify areas of future cooperation, and discuss regional and global challenges. Together they discussed significant U.S. economic investment in Angola, including through the President's flagship Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) in the Lobito Corridor with over a billion dollars in U.S. financing committed this year alone. These investments include support for over 180 rural bridges, upgrading 4G and 5G digital connectivity across the nation, introducing the first ever mobile money application, and bringing 500 megawatts of solar power to the grid, with an additional billion mobilized for the biggest rail investment in Africa in our history. These investments also will advance Angola's goal of becoming a net food exporter by 2027 and strengthening regional food security.

President Biden and President Lourenco committed to increased partnership on issues that define our shared future, including strengthening democracy, energy production and exportation, and space cooperation. To that end, the leaders welcomed the launch of a U.S. - Angola Energy Security Dialogue in 2024 focused on the secure and stable supply of energy and deeper commercial ties while advancing our shared climate goals. President Biden also congratulated President Lourenco for Angola's signing of the Artemis Accords, which advances a common vision of space exploration for the benefit of all humankind, and for joining the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation. Lastly, the leaders resolved to address together global challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine and the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The meeting reaffirmed the significant progress made in our 30-year diplomatic relationship and exemplified the President's commitment to Africa, as outlined at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit last year.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel-Hamas ceasefire holds amid more hostage releases, diplomatic efforts

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:12, December 01, 2023

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Operation Iron Swords - Day 55 - 30 November 2023

Minutes before the end of the humanitarian truce, Hamas announced its extension for a seventh day. Talks are becoming more challenging as most women and children held by the resistance have been freed, and the Qassam Brigades are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers.

The IDF announced "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." With Qatari-Egyptian-American mediation, a 4-day humanitarian truce began on November 24, which was extended for two days and then an additional day. Its terms include a ceasefire, an exchange of prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, The extension of the temporary humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip to a seventh day came in in exchange for the exchange of more prisoners and detainees between the Palestinian resistance, led by Hamas, and Israel.

Hamas announced at dawn that Israel refused to hand over 7 detainees, including women and children, and the bodies of 3 others who had died under Israeli bombing, in exchange for extending the truce for one day under the same conditions as the previous 6 days. The movement stated that its rejection of the occupation came despite its confirmation through mediators that this number was all the movement had reached of detainees from this category.

The official spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Majed Al-Ansari, confirmed the continued intensification of efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources connected to the Doha talks revealed to Al Jazeera Net that the ongoing talks focus exclusively on humanitarian truces in Gaza, and did not address in the dialogue a permanent ceasefire, or the completion of a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal. The sources indicated that the issue of a permanent ceasefire is still far-fetched, in light of Israel's insistence on completing its military operation against Gaza and causing strategic harm to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

White House Strategic Communications Coordinator, John Kirby, announced that the United States does not support the idea of a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Kirby said: We do not support a permanent ceasefire at this time. We support the idea of a humanitarian truce. He pointed out that the United States wants to extend the current agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement for a temporary cessation of hostilities if an appropriate agreement is reached between the two parties.

He added that the United States will continue to support Israel after the end of the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip. He said: When they make this decision, they will continue to receive American support, stressing that military support will continue. "We still believe that Israel has the right to pursue Hamas, and we will continue to support them," he said.

Operational Update

"The Israeli armys expanded authorization for bombing non-military targets, the loosening of constraints regarding expected civilian casualties, and the use of an artificial intelligence system to generate more potential targets than ever before, appear to have contributed to the destructive nature of the initial stages of Israels current war on the Gaza Strip, an investigation by +972 Magazine and Local Call reveals. These factors, as described by current and former Israeli intelligence members, have likely played a role in producing what has been one of the deadliest military campaigns against Palestinians since the Nakba of 1948." Yuval Abraham reported November 30, 2023.

The Israel operaton saw "the army significantly expand its bombing of targets that are not distinctly military in nature. These include private residences as well as public buildings, infrastructure, and high-rise blocks, which sources say the army defines as power targets (matarot otzem). The bombing of power targets, according to intelligence sources who had first-hand experience with its application in Gaza in the past, is mainly intended to harm Palestinian civil society: to create a shock that, among other things, will reverberate powerfully and lead civilians to put pressure on Hamas, as one source put it....

"In one case discussed by the sources, the Israeli military command knowingly approved the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in an attempt to assassinate a single top Hamas military commander. The numbers increased from dozens of civilian deaths [permitted] as collateral damage as part of an attack on a senior official in previous operations, to hundreds of civilian deaths as collateral damage, said one source....

"... another reason for the large number of targets, and the extensive harm to civilian life in Gaza, is the widespread use of a system called Habsora (The Gospel), which is largely built on artificial intelligence and can generate targets almost automatically at a rate that far exceeds what was previously possible. This AI system, as described by a former intelligence officer, essentially facilitates a mass assassination factory." Former IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi confirming that Habsora was used to auto-generate targets for bombing during the 2021 air campaign. "This is a machine that, with the help of Al, processes a lot of data better and faster than any human, and translates it into targets for attack," Kochavi went on. "The result was that in Operation Guardian of the Walls [in 2021], from the moment this machine was activated, it generated 100 new targets every day. You see, in the past there were times in Gaza when we would create 50 targets per year. And here the machine produced 100 targets in one day.""

According to Politico, "Hamas' rule" appears to be unaffected by the Israeli war on Gaza, as seen by its capacity to carry out intricate discussions, uphold the cease-fire with other armed factions, and plan the liberation of hostages. Politico speculated that Yehya Sinwar and other top Hamas figures have probably moved south. Following almost 2 months of war, the Israelis have failed to reach any of the Resistance's high-ranking officials, falling short of accomplishing their announced war goals.

The Israeli forces established six volunteer battalions to safeguard West Bank settlements. These new reserve regional "battalions" consist of volunteers from Israeli settlements and occupied cities and towns who have undergone previous IOF training. Critics argue that this has blurred the distinction between settlers and the military, allowing extremist settlers to exploit their military status for the further harassment and assault of Palestinians.

The diverting global and Israeli attention from the West Bank provides cover for more land usurpation in the West Bank. At the beginning of November, the 150 residents of Khirbet Zanuta had been forcibly displaced once again. At the time, armed settlers, some of whom were dressed in reserve army uniforms and others concealing their identities, started to break into their homes during the night, assaulting adults, vandalizing and looting possessions, and traumatizing their children.

According to a classified document revealed by Israeli Channel 12, Israeli occupation Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir exerted pressure on senior police officers in the West Bank, urging them to avoid pursuing extremists responsible for offenses against Palestinians. Video footage surfaced, depicting armed Israeli extremist settlers invading residences in the Palestinian village of Muarrajat in the Jordan Valley. The video shared on social media captured multiple settlers armed with firearms and dressed in khaki clothing, raiding a Palestinian home. They were heard insulting, beating, and harassing Palestinians in inside their own home. The Israelis' faces were readily identifiable in the videos. At a certain moment, an Israeli settler struck a Palestinian in the stomach using the butt of his rifle, subsequently aiming the weapon at him as he managed to flee.

A pregnant Palestinian woman was martyred after being stabbed by an Israeli settler in the occupied city of al-Lydd as she was on her way to drop her children off at school. Local sources reported that the victim in this stabbing incident was identified as Ayah Abu Hjaij from al-Lydd. A video captured by a surveillance camera documented the settler stabbing the woman in her back in front of her children. Consequently, she fell to the ground, and he continued to stab her while she attempted to defend herself. Later, another person in a private car arrived at the scene, which the killer got into and fled the scene.

Since the beginning of hostilities over 10,000 rockets have been launched into Israel. Israeli Army Radio announced the activation of an interceptor missile from the Iron Dome system towards a target above Netivot in the western Negev, noting that the warnings were not activated. In addition, the Hebrew Channel 14 reported that an interceptor missile was fired at a suspicious target in Netivot in the Western Negev. In addition, Israeli media confirmed that the interceptor missile was launched over Netivot, located to the east of the Gaza Strip.

This development on the ground comes after days of cautious calm during the truce between Hamas and Israel, which has continued with some violations recorded for 7 days. Hezbollah media reported earlier that the southern front in Lebanon is not in a declared truce, adding: We are in a state of cautious calm, and approaching the border is risky.

The Wall Street Journal quoted American officials as saying that they expect the Israeli military campaign to resume and to begin moving into the southern Gaza Strip. For its part, Israeli Channel 13 quoted informed sources that the Israeli Defense Minister told the US Secretary of State that the military operation in Gaza may take months, not weeks. The Axios news website also quoted sources as saying that the Israeli Chief of Staff informed Blinken that the military operation may take more than a few weeks. Agence France-Presse reported that Blinken informed Netanyahu of the need to protect civilians in the southern Gaza Strip if fighting resumes. Strategic Policy Coordinator at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that if Israel decides to return to attack Hamas , his country will continue to support it in doing so.

The situation in the Middle East is prompting concerns within the United States, namely among national security officials, who are voicing growing concerns over the potential for a regional conflict following recent tit-for-tat attacks between the Israeli occupation forces and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Syria, The New York Times reported. According to the NYT, officials fear a miscalculation, coupled with the belief on each side that the other does not desire a larger conflict could inadvertently trigger a broader war.

Citing unnamed US officials, the newspaper revealed that the Biden administration was urging the Israeli occupation to "lean away" from "skirmishes", in reference to the escalation in the north with the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and the heroic Yemeni attacks on "Israel" in solidarity with the people of Gaza. However, details on the specific measures being taken by the administration to prevent the Israeli occupation from opening a two-front war remain undisclosed.

Since the start of Operation al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, intelligence officials have been briefing US President Joe Biden on the risk of a wider war with Iran. The assessment from intelligence agencies suggests that, at least for now, Iran aims to avoid a broader conflict. US defense officials, guided by intelligence that Tehran does not want a war, have proposed targeted retaliatory measures against the Islamic Resistance groups attacking US occupation bases in Iraq and Syria.

As the White House considers its options, The New York Times notes that Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, and Biden have engaged in discussions about potential outcomes. Biden administration officials emphasize that the calibrated strikes are designed to impose costs on Iran and its so-called "proxies" - the Western nom de guerre for the majority of Resistance movements in the region, at least the ones Iran voices its support for - without sparking a regional war that could involve the United States.

The report, moreover, indicates that Biden rejected more aggressive bombing options in recent weeks, according to senior military officials. The crucial question, as outlined by officials, revolves around whether President Biden can effectively prevent the Israeli occupation from expanding the circle of fire in the region. Senior US military officials, cited in The New York Times, acknowledge that the United States has, so far, avoided more serious casualties largely due to luck amid the escalation in attacks by the Resistance on its occupation bases in Iraq and Syria.

According to the NYT, the "White House's countermeasures have been so limited that Republican critics in Congress and some air power supporters argue that they just invite more frequent and lethal strikes on US soldiers in the region"." Moreover, the Pentagon and other Biden administration officials dismissed criticisms, claiming that the American airstrikes were allegedly in self-defense, "proportionate to the attacks by Iran-backed militias, and meant to disrupt the militants' activities".

Four Israelis were killed and others were injured in a shooting in occupied Jerusalem claimed by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades , the military arm of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), while a run-over operation targeted Israeli soldiers in the Jordan Valley area in the eastern West Bank , resulting in the injury of two. The Israeli authorities reported 3 deaths and 12 injuries, including serious injuries, in an operation carried out by two Palestinian brothers at the northwestern entrance to Jerusalem, while the Israeli police announced that its forces killed the perpetrators of the operation.

The shooting took place on Thursday morning at a bus stop at the northwestern entrance to the occupied city of Jerusalem , and was carried out by two brothers Murad Al-Nimr (38 years old) and Ibrahim Al-Nimr (30 years old) from the village of Sur Baher in Jerusalem. It resulted in the killing of 3 Israelis and the injury of others, some of whom were in critical condition. The settler who killed the perpetrators of the Jerusalem operation was announced dead, after an Israeli army soldier shot him without verifying his identity, suspecting him of being an Arab. Soldiers opened fire on the settler, wounding him seriously, after he himself killed the perpetrators of the " Jerusalem Operation ".

The Al-Qassam Brigades adopted the Jerusalem operation, describing it as heroic and calling its perpetrators Qassamists Murad and Ibrahim al-Nimr. The Al-Qassam Brigades said - through its account on the Telegram application - that the Jerusalem operation comes in response to the crimes of the occupation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank and the desecration of Al-Aqsa and the holy sites. It added that this operation is "a direct warning message against Ben Gvir and his gang's violations against prisoners in the occupation prisons."

The Hamas movement had previously mourned the perpetrators of the Jerusalem operation, and said that the Jerusalem operation was a natural response to what it described as the brutal massacres committed by the occupation in the Gaza Strip, the killing of children in Jenin, the widespread violations suffered by prisoners, the continued violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the prevention of worshipers from reaching it. In a statement, Hamas warned the occupation that it must feel its head in every city, village and street, as it put it, stressing that the Palestinian people are mobilized to avenge the blood of the martyrs and repel the aggression.

The Islamic Jihad movement also blessed the Jerusalem operation, saying that it indicates that resistance options are open and multiple, and that the enemys obstacles will not protect its security.

The Israeli newspaper Maariv said that among the dead was Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, dean of the Rabbinical Court in Ashdod. For its part, the Israeli police said that two soldiers in the army reserve forces shot and killed two Palestinian gunmen who carried out the attack. Israeli Radio quoted security sources as saying that the perpetrators were Palestinians from the village of Sur Baher, south of occupied Jerusalem, and that they were former prisoners of the occupation authorities, and confirmed their affiliation with the Hamas movement. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also said that the one who carried out the Jerusalem attack was from Hamas.

Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that the police stormed the home of the family of the perpetrators of the shooting attack in Jerusalem, and arrested a number of its members. For his part, Israeli Energy Minister Yisrael Katz called for the Jerusalem IDs to be withdrawn from the family members of the Jerusalem operation perpetrators,as part of of what he called fighting terrorism.

In a divisional counter-terrorism operation under the command of the Menashe Brigade , reservists, IOS, Lotr and MGB insurgents operated tonight in the Tulkarm refugee camp. The forces arrested four wanted persons, confiscated military equipment and interrogated suspects. During the operation, armed men shot and threw explosives at the forces, who responded by shooting.

Within hours of the Jerusalem operation, a Palestinian ran his car over two Israeli soldiers near a military checkpoint in the Jordan Valley. The Israeli army announced that two reserve forces soldiers were slightly injured in the run-over operation. For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the death in the Jordan Valley of the young man, Karem Bani Odeh (25 years old), from the town of Tammoun in Tubas, in the northern West Bank, by Israeli bullets. Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the occupation forces opened fire on the attacker in the Jordan Valley.

Qassam Brigades, in a statement, asked its fighters to be highly prepared in anticipation of renewed battles in the Gaza Strip. The Brigades said in a statement that they "request their active forces to maintain high combat readiness during the final hours of the truce in anticipation of renewed fighting in the event that it (the truce) is not renewed, and to maintain that status unless an official statement is issued confirming the extension of the truce."

Bloomberg newspaper said that Palestinian celebrations of Israel's release of prisoners outside the municipality of Ramallah last Friday witnessed the spread of green Hamas flags among the crowds and young men wearing green hats, noting that this is the latest sign of the movement's increasing popularity in the West Bank. It added that support for Hamas was also clear outside the Abdel Nasser Mosque in Ramallah a few hours ago, when hundreds of worshipers protested after dawn prayers against the war waged by Israel on Gaza.

The newspaper reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pledge to completely destroy Hamas appears to be an unattainable goal, as the movement's heavily armed fighters are holed up in tunnels extending hundreds of miles under Gaza. The newspaper pointed out that the truce, which allows the exchange of Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners, will continue for the seventh day, and efforts to extend it as international pressure increases for a permanent ceasefire.

Bloomberg says that the biggest problem facing Netanyahu is the support enjoyed by Hamas in the occupied West Bank, which is governed by the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas. The newspaper says that interviews with dozens of Palestinians indicate that the events witnessed in the past eight weeks have strengthened Hamas' position and weakened Abbas's "more moderate" administration, as it puts it.

Ghassan Al-Khatib, former Palestinian Minister of Labor and lecturer at Birzeit University in the Gaza Strip, told the newspaper, Hamas in the West Bank has become more popular, more important, and more powerful, and in return the Palestinian Authority has become more marginalized and less popular. You cannot eliminate Hamas. As long as the political root is not addressed. "These rounds of violence will continue."

A poll published in November 2023 by the Arab World Research and Development Group, a Palestinian opinion polling group, found that 83% of 391 participants in the West Bank supported what the Palestinian resistance did in the Gaza Strip on October 7.

Palestinian media reported that Israeli gunboats bombed the coast of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip with missiles. Media sources reported that three explosions were heard as a result of the renewed Israeli naval firing of shells on the shore of the Deir al-Balah Sea in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli Army Radio said that the army had thwarted what it described as a massive weapons smuggling operation across the Jordanian border, and the smuggled weapons were intended for criminal elements inside, according to the Israeli authorities. In detail, the Israeli police said in a statement that the seized shipment in bags contained 137 weapons, including 120 pistols, 17 M16 rifles, and 250 cartridges, worth 6 million shekels (approximately $1.6 million).

The police added that it was the largest smuggling operation on the Jordanian border, and spoke of the arrest of 4 smugglers from Yeruham residents in the Negev desert. According to the same source, two four-wheel drive vehicles used by smugglers were seized. The Israeli police said that thwarting the smuggling operations prevented illegal weapons from reaching criminal elements that harm the safety and well-being of the public.

Last April, the Israeli army announced the thwarting of an attempt to smuggle weapons from Jordan, and reported the arrest of 3 people who were traveling in a car that came from Jordan in the Jordan Valley area, noting that bags containing dozens of different weapons and about 100 kilograms of gold were seized. In this context, the Israeli forces arrested the Jordanian parliamentarian, Imad Al-Adwan, for allegedly smuggling quantities of weapons and gold, before later handing him over to his country.

The Israeli shipping company "Zim" decided to divert its ships from the Egyptian Suez Canal, as a precautionary measure under the pretext of the situation in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea. The Israeli company indicated that changing the ship's route means "a delay in the arrival of shipments to Israel," according to what was reported by Israeli media. Yesterday, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries called on the Houthis to immediately stop threatening maritime shipping routes and release the crew of the cargo ship they seized in the Red Sea ten days ago.

Qatari and Egyptian negotiators continued their contacts for a new extension of the humanitarian truce in Gaza for two days, and while Israeli officials spoke of their readiness for a battle in the south of the Gaza Strip, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) - demanded that its fighters be highly prepared in anticipation of renewed battles.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-Detainees Affairs Authority, 30 male and female prisoners are scheduled to be released on Thursday evening as part of the seventh batch of the exchange deal, in exchange for the release of 10 Israeli detainees, women and children. In the same context, a statement issued by the Egyptian State Information Service on Thursday stated that Egyptian and Qatari negotiators are pressing for a new extension of the truce in Gaza for two days, with the release of more detainees and an increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The head of the State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, said that Egypt is doing its utmost to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid to the north and south of the Gaza Strip.

Bystanders

The United Nations welcomed the increase in aid deliveries into Gaza afforded by a temporary truce but warned it was not enough to even start addressing the Palestinian territorys massive needs. UN childrens agency UNICEF said the aid flow to the northern Gaza Strip -- the largest since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7  was the right start.

(Its) definitely the right type of aid  fuel, medicines, food, warmth, spokesman James Elder told a press briefing in Geneva via video-link from Gaza. But, he warned, the needs in the besieged enclave of more than two million are so huge that all this aid is triage... Its not even enough for triage. When there are insufficient resources to treat everyone who needs it, hospitals and aid organizations are forced to triage  that is, to prioritize the most urgent cases, or those people most likely to survive, and leave the others.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his country's support for the Palestinians' quest to establish their state, while the Chinese Foreign Ministry called for the immediate establishment of a "sustainable humanitarian truce" between the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and Israel. The Chinese news agency (Xinhua) quoted Xi as saying, in a message to a conference to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, that the essence of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the delay in achieving the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state.

"The bitter lessons from the cycle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict fully demonstrate that only by adhering to the concept of common security can sustainable security be achieved," Xi said. He called on the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and make efforts to stop the fighting, protect civilians, and put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe, stressing the need to resume peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis as soon as possible, and to restore the right of the Palestinian people to establish their state, their survival, and their right to return as soon as possible.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said yesterday evening, Wednesday, that the two-state solution is the only way to solve the Palestinian issue radically. During a meeting with reporters after chairing a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Wang stressed that resolving the Palestinian issue does not lack grand plans or slogans, but it lacks courage and measures to defend justice.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed - during his meeting with Blinken - the necessity of establishing a ceasefire in Gaza and stopping the Israeli aggression completely, reiterating his rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians, whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan renewed the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza that establishes a credible peace process, and demanded international recognition by Security Council resolution of the independent State of Palestine. This came during Bin Farhans participation in the UN Security Council session on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue.

The Saudi Foreign Minister recalled the difficult and painful conditions that the Gaza Strip is experiencing as a result of the horrific military escalation by the Israeli occupation forces, in continuous violation of the charters and resolutions of international legitimacy, and our common humanitarian principles, stressing that the complete absence of international accountability mechanisms prevails in light of this Councils inability to Take any deterrent measures against these violations.

He stressed that the message of the joint Arab and Islamic summit held in Riyadh is an immediate and permanent ceasefire that establishes a serious and credible peace process. He renewed Saudi Arabia's welcome of the humanitarian truce, and its appreciation for the Qatari, Egyptian and American efforts to complete it, but he clarified that this step is insufficient, especially in light of the continuing restrictions on the number of aid trucks entering Gaza.

Bin Farhan called for the need to deliver aid continuously, sustainably, and adequately, without unjustified restrictions and additional complications, stressing that the truce does not absolve the Israeli side of its responsibilities within the framework of international law and international humanitarian law, and the flimsy pretexts for self-defense are unacceptable and unreasonable in light of the scenes. The recurring humanitarian tragedies on a daily basis in Gaza.

He stressed that allowing the military escalation in Gaza to continue immediately after the end of the truce, and taking two steps backward, would constitute a disgrace to the United Nations and the Security Council. He said: We heard during this session that water, food and medicine will not lead us to a solution, so what will? Can we reach a solution? More death, more suffering for civilians. No, what brings us closer to the solution is a ceasefire and Israels response to peace efforts that have continued for decades.

The minister continued, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presented the Arab peace plan at the Fez Arab Summit in 1982. It also presented the Arab Peace Initiative at the Beirut Arab Summit in 2002, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation supported it, and the Palestine Liberation Organization recognized the State of Israel in 1993. So where is the Israeli peace plan? And where is the recognition?" "The Israeli state of Palestine?... Peace has always been our strategic choice, and we want it to be the other side's choice as well."

Bin Farhan stressed that the time has come for international recognition, by a Security Council resolution, of the independent State of Palestine, and for it to gain full membership in the United Nations, renewing the call for holding an international peace conference, under the auspices of the United Nations, through which a serious and credible peace process will be launched that guarantees Implementing the two-state solution on the basis of international legitimacy resolutions.

Axis of Resistance

As the humanitarian truce between the Palestinian Resistance and Israel came closer to an end, factions in the Axis of Resistance reiterated their readiness to confront the US-backed Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said that it will not abandon Palestinians, as they face the "tyrants of the world" on their own.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced its readiness to escalate its military operations inside and outside Iraq in support of the Palestinian people. The resistance said in a statement : The Zionist massacres and brutal genocide that the Palestinian people were subjected to do not fall within the circle of war run by America against the people of Gaza and southern Lebanon.

The statement added: As the Islamic Resistance in Iraq affirms that it will not leave its people in this war to face the tyrants of the world alone, it declares its readiness and readiness to escalate military operations inside and outside Iraq, if the American enemy insists on continuing the Zionist killing machine, whether in Gaza, steadfastness or resistance. In southern Lebanon, Al-Ibaa .

The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) reiterates its readiness to resume its operations against the Israeli occupation, in case the latter resumes its aggression on the Gaza Strip, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya al-Saree announced. Moreover, Yemen's military said that it will not hesitate to expand the scope of its confrontation against the Israeli occupation "to encompass targets (Israel) does not anticipate, on land and in the sea."

The statement confirmed that the Yemeni Armed Forces will cease their attacks on Israeli targets once Israel ends its aggression on the Gaza Strip. Israeli-owned vessels will not be allowed to sail in and out of the Red Sea, the Yemeni military confirmed. The YAF said that its actions come in line with the guidelines set by Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, Ansar Allah's leader, and the demands of the Yemeni people and the free people of the Arab and Islamic Ummahs, to support the Palestinian people and their Resistance.

A top military advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Sayyed Ali Khamenei commended the Resistance front in the region and warned the US occupation forces in the region of a fate similar to that they experienced in Afghanistan, represented by a "humiliating escape". Iranian Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi stated, The resistance of the people and governments of Iraq and Syria caused the defeat of Daesh. these American and Zionist mercenaries, [and] the resistance of the Afghan people caused the defeat of the US in Afghanistan and their humiliating escape. It caused the failure of the US in the plans to overthrow the Syrian government.

Rahim Safavi continued by emphasizing that the decrease in US forces in Iraq and Syria can be attributed to the active resistance in these nations. He added that, in the end, American troops are destined to retreat from Iraq and Syria, mirroring their withdrawal from Afghanistan. As of now, almost 900 American troops are deployed in Syria as of February 2021 and 2,500 others in Iraq, a presence that Washington claims exists to fight extreme terrorists in both countries. But the US has for long employed the alleged "ISIS threat" as a pretext to continue its illegal occupation of northeastern Syrian territories.

Rahim Safavi said it has done so for two reasons: to destabilize the Syrian government and to pursue the systematic looting of the country's oil resources. The senior Iranian military official also pointed out that the Israeli regime's losses in the 33-day and 55-day wars on the Gaza Strip, as well as its setbacks following Operation al-Aqsa Flood, are attributed to the Resistance in Palestine.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that the United Nations, especially the Security Council, has failed so far in assuming their legal and moral responsibility towards the Palestinian issue, and this failure is the result of American support for the Zionist entity. This came in a speech that the Iranian Foreign Minister was scheduled to deliver at the Security Council meeting, but due to Washingtons delay in issuing a visa for the Iranian delegation, he was unable to participate in the meeting.

Amir Abdullahian said in his speech that it must be acknowledged with courage and frankness that the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council, has so far failed to carry out its legal and moral tasks and responsibilities towards the Palestinian issue, and this failure is the result of blatant American support for the occupying Zionist entity and limiting the adoption of any effective measure to make Israel bear responsibility. He added that this is a moral failure of the international community and the United Nations system, but its main responsibility lies with the forces that prevent the Security Council from carrying out its role in accordance with the United Nations Charter.

The Iranian Foreign Minister continued that the Security Council and its members are facing a very serious test today. Nothing but ensuring a complete cessation of Israel's criminal attacks compensates for a small part of the international community's moral shame towards the Palestinian people and the Islamic world. He stressed that attention must be paid to the fact that the humanitarian truce, although useful, should not turn into a tool to whitewash past crimes and an opportunity to pave the way for new crimes.

He stressed that the crime and genocide of the Palestinian people should not be normalized. This is a legal and moral duty in accordance with the single common article of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Genocide Convention of 1948. He went on to say that the legitimate and legal resistance of the Palestinian people to gain the right to self-determination and to defend the human rights and human dignity of the Palestinians is an acceptable right in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law, and no one, state or organization is able to take away this right from the Palestinians.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of its principled policy based on opposition to aggression and the use of force in international relations, occupation, racism and racial discrimination, as well as within the framework of its responsible policies to protect regional and international peace and security, continues its support for the legitimate and legal movement of the Palestinian people to get rid of the occupation and apartheid imposed on the land of Palestine.

Alalam News Network. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, reported "While blood was bleeding and one martyr after another fell, the dark bats were stealing the bodies of the martyrs. As soon as they stormed Al-Shifa Hospital, the Israeli occupation army kidnapped an unknown number of bodies. Three days later, 110 of them were handed over, while traces of the remaining bodies were lost.

"Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Health , said: The Israeli occupation proceeded to steal and kidnap the bodies of our honorable martyrs who were in the courtyard of the Shifa Medical Complex and in the refrigerators of the complex, as well as in the mass grave that we dug to cover the graves for the bodies of the martyrs. Therefore, this is a humanitarian and moral crime that must be tolerated. The Israeli occupation bears responsibility for what it did to our righteous martyrs.

"Doctors in Gaza Strip hospitals, after receiving some of the detained bodies , noticed strange marks on the bodies of the martyrs , which suggests a scenario where a number of their organs were stolen. Stealing organs is not an unlikely matter. The occupation has previously stolen the organs of a number of prisoners in the Cemetery of Numbers, and therefore the world is now required to conduct an urgent investigation into this crime."

Major General Salami said, at the Ability to Mobilize forum: The Leader of Hearts ( martyr Qasem Soleimani ) rushed to help the peoples of Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, along with these Iranian youth, because the arrogant people have set foot on various lands in recent decades and wanted to subject politicians to their authority and obliterate the cultural identity of Muslims.

This senior military official continued: The Palestinian people were confronting the Zionists with stones, but since the mobilization transferred its culture to Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, the lands besieged by the Zionist entity were equipped with weapons in a miraculous step, and although Gaza is small geographically, but politically and socially, it has taken Its place is in the hearts of the peoples of the world in view of the tragedies created by the Zionist entity, and the European peoples expressed their support for the Palestinian people even though their rulers were the ones who created Zionism.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said: In the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood, there was a stealth war [harb al-ashbah, harb = war, shabah = ghost, spectre, phantom, sprite, shadow, spook, wraith, stealth] between the forces of the Zionist enemy and the faithful Palestinian fighter youth who were hunting down the enemys tanks one after another. Major General Salami said: Over the years, Britain and America have established a large army and a very strong security system in the Zionist entity, so that the Zionists can live in the usurped Palestinian homes in peace.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Guards added: Few people imagined that the army and the security apparatus of the Zionist entity would be this close to collapse. The Al-Aqsa Flood operation showed the Zionists living in the occupied territories that the collapse of the entity is much closer and easier than they imagined.

Representatives in the National Assembly of the People's Power in Cuba called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to allow the unrestricted entry of urgent humanitarian aid. A motion signed by several Cuban parliamentarians called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. They emphasized that the war has caused a humanitarian catastrophe for the residents of Gaza, who have been displaced from their houses and now face food insecurity and medical emergencies. Fidel Castro always expressed his personal support and the support of Cubans for the Palestinian cause.

They condemned the Israeli aggression for having resulted in thousands of innocent civilian casualties due to the indiscriminate and continuous bombing. The parliamentarians also emphasized the Palestinians' right to return to their lands, demanding full accountability for all war crimes and human rights violations committed by the Zionist occupation against the Palestinians. The announcement affirmed the right of the people of Gaza and Palestine to live in peace and security, adding that the world cannot remain indifferent to Israeli crimes and this senseless war, while the Palestinian people suffer on a daily basis.

Allied for Democracy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Sdot Negev Regional Council building, held a lengthy and in-depth meeting with council heads from communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, under its new name, the 'Tekuma Region. "On the first day, we declared that this was a war, not an operation or another round, but a war. This war has several goals. The first goal is the elimination of Hamas. The second goal is returning all of our hostages. The third goal is to ensure that after Hamas is eliminated, the Gaza Strip does not go back to being a threat to the State of Israel, to any part of the State of Israel.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that Tel Aviv is fighting what he called a just war and that we will not stop until we recover the detainees in Gaza and destroy the Hamas movement, as he put it. The Israeli War Council met at dawn to discuss extending the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip after a session that lasted about two and a half hours without taking a decision. CNN network quoted Israeli Knesset member Danny Danon as saying that the Israeli government is ready to discuss a different deal to release men and soldiers detained by Hamas.

Minister Gallant said during a press statement with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, "We will fight Hamas until we win, no matter how long it takes." In his statement to the media, Gallant thanked Minister Blinken for coming to Israel, pointing out that this visit comes at a time of a just war for the future of the Jewish people and the future of the state. Gallant added: "We will fight Hamas until we win, no matter how long it takes. This is a just war, to defeat Hamas, ISIS in Gaza - and return all the hostages to their homes."

Gallant's statements are similar to what Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for to "return immediately and with massive force" to the war on the Gaza Strip, in order to completely "destroy" the Hamas movement. In his post on the X platform, Ben Gvir considered:  Hamas signs a ceasefire with one hand, and with the other hand sends terrorists to kill Jews in Jerusalem.

He added: "This is not a ceasefire, but rather a continuation of the concept of comprehensiveness and surrender," noting that "we must stop deals with the devil, meaning Hamas, and immediately return to fighting with enormous intensity in order to achieve the ultimate goal of the war: the complete destruction of Hamas with all its arms and followers." The statements of the leader of the far-right "Jewish Power" party came in response to what he said was "Hamas's claim of responsibility" for the shooting attack in West Jerusalem , which resulted in the death of 3 Israelis.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called to return immediately and with massive force to the war on the Gaza Strip, in order to completely destroy the Hamas movement, he said. The words of the leader of the far-right Jewish Power Party came in a statement commenting on Hamass claim of the shooting attack in occupied Jerusalem, which resulted in the death of 3 Israelis and the injury of 13 others, including 3 who were seriously injured. At the same time, the spokesman for the Israeli occupation army, Daniel Hagari, renewed his declaration of readiness to resume the war on the Gaza Strip, stressing that the Chief of Staff had approved the plan for the military operation in southern Gaza.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir called on the Israelis to take up their weapons, and also called for an immediate and massive return to the war on the Gaza Strip in order to completely destroy the Hamas movement , he said. During his visit to the entrance to the Ramot settlement in occupied Jerusalem, where the operation carried out by the martyrs Murad and Ibrahim al-Nimr took place, Ben Gvir said that whoever carried out the attack in Jerusalem was Hamas, and added that the operation amounted to a violation of the ceasefire.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government - shortly after the operation in occupied Jerusalem carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades - issued threats to the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and called for expanding the scope of the carrying of weapons among Israelis. Netanyahu said that the government will continue to expand the distribution of weapons to citizens, adding that this measure proves its effectiveness in the war against what he called terrorism.

He added that the quick reaction of two soldiers and a civilian who opened fire on the perpetrators of the Jerusalem operation - in which 3 Israelis were killed - prevented a more serious attack from occurring, he said. The Israeli Prime Minister also said that all those he called Hamas fighters are dead, in Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank and everywhere, as he put it.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that Israel will continue to fight what he called terrorism forcefully, and will respond to enemies attempts to undermine the security of its citizens, as he put it. For his part, Israeli Energy Minister Yisrael Katz said that he called for the Jerusalem IDs to be withdrawn from the family members of the Jerusalem operation perpetrators as part of the fight against what he described as terrorism. As for Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, he said, Israel will continue to strike terrorism everywhere it raises its head, as he put it.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he pledged to the US Secretary of State to eliminate the Hamas movement, and Netanyahus office announced that the Israeli War Council would be held in the presence of Blinken. Netanyahu said in a televised statement after his meeting with Blinken in occupied Jerusalem, I swore that we would continue this war until we achieved the three goals: releasing all our kidnappers, completely eliminating Hamas, and ensuring that we would not face such a threat from Gaza again. Blinken informed Netanyahu of the need to protect civilians in the southern Gaza Strip if fighting resumes.

The Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" said, in its editorial, that "last October 7 was a day of failure for Netanyahu and his government, and that government is still shirking its responsibilities, and this is manifested in several ways, the most important of which is: Netanyahu's refusal to resign, or at least announce his intention." His resignation, and his failure to acknowledge responsibility for what happened last month, as well as his evasion of the families of Israeli prisoners whose sons were killed in Gaza, did not attend funerals and offered only a few condolences.

The newspaper pointed out that: What makes matters worse is that the Israeli police have begun to show harsh treatment of the Israeli protesters against Netanyahu and his government, noting that the police suppressed the demonstrators and broke a banner carried by a settler who lost his son in the Kibbutz Kissufim settlement, in the Gaza Strip . , under the pretext that the police felt threatened.

Also, the police confiscated another banner and suppressed a number of demonstrators who approached the police checkpoint, which escalated its actions against the protesters until it took some of the demonstrators to its station for investigation. The police said in response that they "will not allow disturbance of public order and violation of the freedom of movement of elected officials to their workplaces, even during war."

Haaretz also pointed out: We cannot expect National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to bear responsibility for this shame, adding: We cannot expect Netanyahu to be concerned about his political survival more than anything else.

The newspaper also denounced: The suppression of protesters, especially those whose lives were destroyed because of the sin of the government, especially the sin of the one who heads it.

For her part, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, We must build a bridge beyond the ceasefire in Gaza to a political process, noting that Israel cannot live in security unless the Palestinians live in security. As for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, he said that what Israel is doing in Gaza is unacceptable. This statement prompted Israel to recall its ambassador to Spain and summon the Spanish ambassador in Tel Aviv to reprimand him.

The European Union should recognize a Palestinian state since this would help end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stabilize the region, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. It is obvious that we must find a political solution to put an end to this crisis and this solution requires, in my opinion, the recognition of the Palestinian state, the Socialist premier said during an interview with Spanish public television TVE.

It is in Europes interest to address this issue out of moral conviction because what we are seeing in Gaza is not acceptable, and also for a geopolitical objective -- to stabilize a region, he added. When he was sworn in for a new term this month, Sanchez said his foreign policy priority would be to work in Europe and in Spain to recognize the Palestinian state.

If there is no consensus among the EUs 27 member states, Sanchez has said Madrid does not rule out unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state. A handful of smaller European countries have taken the step, mainly east European nations like Hungary, Poland and Romania that did so before they joined the EU. But until now no large member of the bloc has made the move, which would make Spain a pioneer.

Spains parliament voted in 2014 in favor of a resolution calling for recognition of Palestine as a state. The vote was non-binding, however, and there has been no follow up. The situation has changed, Sanchez told TVE, adding that Arab nations did not understand the EUs position. During all these years, we have seen how Israel systematically occupied Palestinian territory, he added in a reference to Israeli settlement-building.

According to Amnesty International: Israels policy of settling its civilians in occupied Palestinian territory and displacing the local population contravenes fundamental rules of international humanitarian law. Palestinians say the settlements jeopardize their goal of a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel last week summoned Spains ambassador over criticisms Sanchez made of the Israeli offensive on Gaza during a visit to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Friendly nations must tell the truth, Sanchez said before recalling he had unequivocally condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians and soldiers. But we must tell Israel with the same conviction that it must respect international law, he added.

Later in the day, Israel summoned Spains ambassador for a reprimand after Sanchez said he doubted Israel was respecting international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed his foreign minister to call in the ambassador for a reprimand after the shameful statement by the Spanish prime minister on the same day that Hamas terrorists are murdering Israelis in our capital Jerusalem.

The Wall Street Journal said that officials in the United States and Israel are studying proposals related to governance in Gaza after the end of the war, including the establishment of Hamas-free zones to be administered by a new authority and the expulsion of Hamas militants to other countries. The newspaper shows that Israeli military and political leaders face a challenge: how to deal with the thousands of militants who represent the basis of the strength of the movement.

To meet this challenge, the newspaper reveals that some Israeli and American officials are exploring the idea of expelling thousands of low-level militants as a way to shorten the war. The newspaper adds that this idea is reminiscent of the agreement brokered by the United States that allowed the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and thousands of Palestinian fighters to flee Beirut during the Israeli siege of the Lebanese capital in 1982. It points out that the idea of getting rid of Hamas militants comes as part of the Israeli and American talks regarding who will administer Gaza when the war ends and what can be done to ensure that the region is not used as a launching pad for another attack similar to the October 7 attack.

One proposal for how to govern post-Hamas Gaza, drawn up by the Israeli Military Research Center and seen by the Wall Street Journal, would begin with the creation of so-called Hamas-free safe zones governed by a new authority in Gaza backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. According to the newspaper, the American-Israeli discussions about expelling Hamas militants and their families from the Gaza Strip aim to give them an exit strategy and facilitate the rebuilding of Gaza once the fighting ends.

Before the war began, Israel estimated that Hamas had about 30,000 militants in the Gaza Strip, and subsequently vowed to kill its senior leaders and any members who participated in the October 7 attacks.

The newspaper notes that this huge number of Hamas militants in Gaza prompted Israeli officials to apply the Beirut model to deal with them and their families. In 1982, Israeli forces surrounded Beirut in an attempt to weaken the power of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon. The two-month siege and intense Israeli bombing of Beirut led to rifts between Israel and the United States, which brokered an agreement to end the fighting by allowing Arafat and about 11,000 Palestinian fighters to leave Lebanon and head to Tunisia.

But the newspaper confirms that it has not yet been discussed whether senior Hamas leaders, such as the movements leader in Gaza, Yahya al-Sinwar, and military commander, Muhammad Deif, will be allowed to leave because of their role in planning the October 7 attacks. It adds that leaving Gaza will be fundamentally different for Palestinian militants today than leaving Lebanon in 1982, given that they were visitors in Beirut, compared to the Gaza Strip, which is their home.

The newspaper quotes a senior Israeli official as saying that it is not clear whether Hamas militants would choose the option of exile, if offered to them, adding: I do not think they are as rational as the Palestine Liberation Organization. It (Hamas) is a more religious jihadist organization linked to the ideas of Iran. The official confirmed that there is currently no "practical discussion" to remove Hamas militants, but said that if Israel leaves Hamas no other option, this option may become possible.

Randa Slim, director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, says some Hamas militants may be willing to consider the idea if their leaders are killed. However, she pointed out that the idea in general faces many obstacles that may make it impractical. Moving forward with the proposal requires obtaining the support of countries willing to accept hosting Hamas militants, whose senior leaders are located in places such as Turkey, Qatar, Iran, Russia and Lebanon, according to the newspaper.

The newspaper also points out that the issue of whether the militants will be able to leave with their families must also be dealt with, and this also requires that Hamas trust Israel's ability to respect any commitments it makes in the deal, such as agreeing not to target the militants once they leave Gaza. Saleem says: I think this is unrealistic today given the current state of conflict... but things may develop in the future.

A recent Gallup poll conducted in the aftermath of the Israeli operation in Gaza reveals that 50% of Americans approve of "Israel's" actions in the Gaza Strip, while 45% disapprove. Delving into demographic details, approval is higher among Republicans, men, older adults, and White adults, while Democrats, young adults, people of color, and women are more likely to disapprove. The survey also explores opinions on US aid to the region. About 42% believe the military aid to "Israel" is appropriate, with an additional 25% thinking it's insufficient. In contrast, 74% feel the US is providing the right amount or not enough humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

The approval of US assistance aligns with attitudes toward Israel's military actions, with Republicans and White adults favoring increased military aid to Israel, while Democrats, young adults, people of color, and women are more likely to believe not enough humanitarian aid is reaching the Palestinians. In terms of President Biden's handling of the war on Gaza, his approval rating stands at 32%, lower than his overall job approval of 37%. Notably, groups opposing Israel's military actions express less approval for Biden's handling of the Middle East situation.

Despite not reaching the level of historical events like 9/11 or the start of US operations in Iraq, 72% of Americans are closely following the events of the war in Palestine. Higher percentages of college-educated and older adults, as well as those approving of Israel's military action, report closely following the situation.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the temporary humanitarian truce in Gaza between Hamas and Israel is bearing fruit, in light of the release of detainees and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip. Blinken expressed his hope that the truce would continue, and his happiness at the release of Americans among the detainees released by Hamas, during his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit to Tel Aviv. Blinken reiterated the United States strong support for what he called Israels right to defend itself, and its endeavor to ensure that what happened on October 7 would not be repeated, with reference to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood launched by the Palestinian resistance against the occupation in response to its crimes against Palestinian civilians.

Blinken expressed his concern about proposals made by some members of the Israeli coalition government about expanding settlements in the West Bank. Blinken said at a press conference in Tel Aviv: I expressed our deep concern about steps that could lead to an escalation of tensions in the West Bank, including extremist violence practiced by settlers, and proposals made by some members of the Israeli coalition government about continuing to expand settlements. Clear expectations about how these issues will be resolved."

In response to a question about the escalation of violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and Washingtons possible response to it, the US Secretary of State stressed that with regard to violence, I can say that we are waiting for additional steps from the Israeli government to stop it. He added At the same time, we are considering our own procedures.

Blinken called for a further extension to a truce that has paused fighting between Hamas and Israel in Gaza for seven days, as the hours ticked down to its expiry. Clearly, we want to see this process continue to move forward, he told reporters in Tel Aviv following a visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank. We want an eighth day and beyond. Blinken also urged Israel to create safe zones for Palestinian civilians in Gaza before it resumes major military operations in the Hamas-ruled territory.

Israel must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimize further casualties of innocent Palestinians, he told reporters in Tel Aviv, including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza, where they can be safe and out of the line of fire. He said protecting civilians meant avoiding further significant displacement of civilians inside Gaza as well as damage to life (or) critical infrastructure like hospitals, like power stations, like water facilities.

And it means giving civilians who have been displaced in southern Gaza the choice to return to the north as soon as conditions permit. There should be no enduring internal displacement, he said. Blinken said Israel was capable of neutralizing the threat posed by Hamas while minimising harm to innocent men, women and children. And it has an obligation to do so."

I underscore the imperative of the United States that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south, he added.

Joe Biden is facing mounting internal opposition due to its support for the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip , according to what NBC reported, citing American officials. The American network added that the scope of this opposition is exceptional and has not occurred in previous administrations, pointing out that there is a widespread belief among State Department employees that Americas assistance to Israel must be subject to restrictions.

NBC quoted a US State Department official as saying that there is a feeling that Israel should not be able to escape punishment. He added, As soon as the pictures of Gaza appeared and the number of civilian deaths increased, we learned of the munitions used, in what appears to be a reference to the American munitions that were used. Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip. The US State Department official confirmed, "Messages from our diplomats in the Middle East warn that our reputation is being severely damaged due to our supportive approach to Israel."

Senior Israeli military officials, including Maj. Gen. Tal Kelman, former head of the strategic directorate and Iran Division; Col. Itai Shapira, a former senior Israeli Intelligence officer; and Lt. Col. Yotam Shefer of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, were scheduled to conduct private briefings for members of the US Congress. Briefings included an in-person session on Capitol Hill and another with retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, the former chief of Israeli military intelligence. Additionally, a closed screening of footage showing excerpts of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7 was organized by Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Marco Rubio.

A source said to The Intercept, "It isnt a coincidence that these briefings are now happening as public opinion is shifting and the pressure to corral lawmakers and the recipients of their campaign contributions."

Demands for a ceasefire on Capitol Hill initially progressed gradually but have gained momentum in the past few weeks. A collective total of 43 members from both houses of Congress have advocated for a ceasefire. Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive who had previously expressed support for Israel following the October 7 attack, mentioned that he is considering introducing a bill that would condition aid to Israel, according to The Intercept.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

Palestinian armed group Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and deployed its militants to infiltrate Jewish settlements near the countrys border with Gaza on 07 October 2023. The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."

It is the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war, as the Palestinian resistance killed more than 1,200, wounded more than 5,132 others, and captured more than 250, most of them military personnel, some of whom were high-ranking officers in the army.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that the United Nations relies on the death toll figures provided by Gaza's Ministry of Health and deems them generally accurate. "The numbers that we're using are from the Ministry of Health in Gaza. We have found them by and large to be correct," Dujarric said during a press briefing. The spokesperson explained that the decision to utilize the death toll figures from Gaza is rooted in the UN's unfortunate experience in the region, where a significant number of UN staff have lost their lives in recent years due to the ongoing aggression. As of mid-November, 104 United Nations employees in the Gaza Strip have lost their lives due to "Israel's" extensive and indiscriminate strikes as well as the ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave.

Gaza's health ministry registered the deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians, a major jump from the "about 15,000" reported a few days earlier. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Observatory reports that it had "counted up to this moment about 17,500 dead Palestinians". The count included about 6,150 children killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza Press Office said. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The Hamas-run government said more than 4,000 women were among the dead, with more than 33,000 more people wounded. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza said the number of missing people had risen to more than 7,000 [nearly double the 3,750 previously reported], including 1,800 children still under the rubble, including 4,700 children and women. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the number of wounded as 36,000 [previously announced as about 32,000 wounded], 75 percent of them children and women.

Israeli forces killed eight Palestinians, including a child, in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, taking the total number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank to 239 since October 7. Israeli forces shot dead five Palestinians in the city of Jenin late on Saturday and early Sunday, and killed three others elsewhere in the West Bank, the ministry said on Sunday. Six other Palestinians were injured in the Israeli raid in Jenin.

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

The number of Israeli soldiers that the IDF admitted were killed in ground battles with the Palestinian resistance reached 75, while the death toll for the Israel forces had risen to 395 soldiers since the beginning of Operation al-Aqsa Flood. At least 7,771 Israelis were injured. The Israel Defense Forces on 28 November 2023 that three of its soldiers formerly listed as missing were dead. SSgt. Tomer Yaakov Ahimas, 20, Sgt. Kiril Brodski, 19, and Sgt. Shaked Dahan, 19, were killed by Hamas terrorists in the October 7 massacre. The jihadists took their bodies into Gaza, where they are still being held, the military said.

The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz revealed that the number of soldiers who were injured since the start of the aggression reached about a thousand soldiers, noting that 202 soldiers were seriously injured. The army rarely referred to casualties when talking about the deaths of soldiers during battles. According to the same newspaper, this policy differs from what was prevalent in previous wars and military campaigns, during which the army also published the number of its wounded, in addition to publishing other details. The IDF previously announced that more than 260 soldiers had been injured since the start of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, including 100 in serious condition.

Israeli army (IDF) reported the total number of casualties since October 7th to 392 and the number of troop deaths there to 72 since the ground war began.

Lebanons Health Ministry released its first official casualty numbers in fighting, saying 77 people were killed and 251 wounded since the start of the war on Gaza.

Hostages

The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children,

The Al-Qassam Brigades announced the death of an Israeli woman and her two children who were detained by them as a result of a previous Israeli bombing of Gaza.

Before the release of the sixth batch of Israelis detained in Gaza, Israeli government spokesman Elon Levy said that 161 Israelis are still detained in the Strip [al-Jazeera reported "more than 100 prisoners" remain with the resistance]. Levy added that Israel has prepared a list of 50 Palestinian detainees to be released if Hamas continues to release detainees. At least 76, and possibly more than 80, hostages had been released by Hamas over six days of a cease-fire. During the pause, Hamas fighters released 60 Israeli women and children. In return, Israel released 180 security detainees from its prisons, all of them women and minors under the age of 19. Hamas also separately released 19 foreign hostages, most of them Thai farm workers, under separate agreements parallel to the truce agreement.

Thirty children held by Gazan terrorists have been released as part of a four-day ceasefire deal with Hamas that began Friday, but 10 still remain in the Strip. The terror group has said it planned to release 20 more hostages as part of a two-day extension to the deal. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the Biden administration believes eight or nine more Americans are still being held but the U.S. does not have "solid information on each and every one of them." Perhaps 100 are Israeli civilians. Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.

By one account

236 confirmed abducted civilians and IDF soldiers.

18 of the abductees are elderly people aged 75 and older.

121 of the abductees have foreign citizenship (including dual citizenship).

Conflicting estimates were provided regarding the number of Thai nationals still in captivity. The Wall Street Journal reported 25 November 2023 that Hamas is interested in releasing 23 Thai citizens during the four days of the ceasefire, mediated by Iran. On the other hand, the Thai Foreign Ministry claims 20 more citizens who are held captive by Hamas, and that four of the ten who were released were not included in the number initially estimated.

According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The main points known about the hostage deal so far:

there will be a ceasefire from both sides in the Gaza Strip,

There is no ceasefire on the northern front with Lebanon, and the truce will be limited to the southern front with Gaza. But the ceasefire deal would also apply as a truce on the northern border with Lebanon, according to a Lebanese report in Nidaa al-Watan. "Hezbollah will adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that Israel does too," the first report announced, following a meeting between the leaders of the Lebanese and Palestinian organizations. An official source from Hezbollah later told Al-Jazeera that the group will respect the ceasefire also in Lebanon, reiterating the condition that Israel does too, adding that the Lebanese group was not consulted on the deal.

there will be a halt to the movement of Israeli military vehicles penetrating into the Gaza Strip,

During the days of the truce, the Israeli forces remain as they are and in their positions, provided that Hamas and the rest of the resistance forces adhere to a complete ceasefire.

Israeli military overflights in the southern Gaza Strip will be halted for four consecutive days. Israeli military overflights in the northern Gaza Strip will be limited to six hours daily, in order to allow Hamas to locate the other hostages who are being held by Hamas terrorists and Islamic Jihad.

Israel agreed to refrain from targeting or arresting any individuals throughout the truce's timeframe.

freedom of movement will be ensured for all Palestinians along Salah al-Din Street, which connects the districts of the Gaza Strip.

"The movement of residents from the south of the Gaza Strip to the north will not be allowed in any way, but only from the north to the south. Uncoordinated movement of trucks from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip will also not be allowed" the Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said via  X .

The prisoners in Israeli custody will be handed over to the Red Cross, which will transport them to the Rafah area, and there, under the auspices of Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators, they will be transferred to the Israeli side.

Upon their receipt by the Isreeli army, the occupation authorities begin releasing Palestinian female prisoners and children according to the agreed upon number

10 hostages will be released every day

Minimum of 53 hostages will be released, mostly minors (under 19) and their mothers, [the 50 prisoners, who appear to be 30 children, eight mothers, and 12 elderly women]. Hamas has 80 captive children, mothers, and elderly women, but at least in the first stage, if Hamas does not find more, at least seven children and five mothers will remain in captivity. The number of foreign workers is 41 prisoners, meaning that Hamas has 195 Israelis, more than 100 of whom will remain in Gaza even after this deal.

Israel will release approximately 150 Palestinian prisoners, women and minors (under 19), held in its prisons, and who do not have Jewish blood on their hands.

potential of the total number released reaching 80 prisoners, out of about 300 minors (under 19), and 33 female prisoners, detained in its prisons. The mechanism of the process is for Hamas to send through mediators a list of Israeli prisoners who will be released the next day, and the Israeli government approves it, so that the implementation process begins the next day. The number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementing the agreement.

hostages to be released do not include foreigners who do not have Israeli citizenship or foreign workers who were around the Gaza Strip.

it is also possible that foreigners such as Thai citizens will be released, but this has nothing to do with the truce agreement.

The deal does not include Israeli soldiers.

on the fourth day of the truce, new names will be given to the Israeli detainees. Hamas will announce its desire to release them in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, according to the agreed-upon equation, which is one Israeli for 3 Palestinians.

Israel would extend the pause in fighting for one further day for each additional 10 captives released.

Hamas expressed its approval for the Red Cross to visit the remaining kidnapped persons in Gaza, and that it had committed to searching for the remaining kidnapped persons not in its custody, with the aim of seeking their release at later stages. But Hamas refused to allow the workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit the hostages and evaluate their health condition. Hamas believes that "any information related to the hostages must come at a price paid by Israel."

The agreement would also include the entry into the Gaza Strip, including in the north, of 4 trucks of fuel daily and two trucks of gas, in addition to at least 200 to 300 trucks of food, medicine and humanitarian aid

HAMAS said the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip will continue beyond the days of the agreement, and that the aid that will enter the Strip includes basic materials and clothing.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russo-Ukraine War - 30 November 2023 - Day 645

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 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. 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 VDV's order of battle will increase to five. 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 responsible for Kherson, General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky; his routine role is overall commander of the VDV.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 30, there were 73x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile strike, 43x air strikes, 34x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Moreover, since the beginning of the day, Russian occupants have attacked Ukraine with 7x attack UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type, 5 of which were shot down by air defense forces. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings as well as other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

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 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Hrem'yach, (Chernihiv oblast), Popivka, Atyns'ke, Loknya (Sumy oblast), Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, northeast of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the area. Russian forces launched an air strike near Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: Russian forces made assaults in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), and Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 21x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults with air support near Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks in the area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Novokalynove, Orlivka, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke 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 9x attacks. Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda, Kostyantynivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Bohoyavlenka, Novoukrainka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 11x attempts to regain lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. Also, Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian forces launched air strikes near Kam'yanka and Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Zaliznychne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, Lobkove, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Tyahynka and Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson and the settlements of Beryslav, Ivanivka, Sadove (Kherson oblast), as well as the city of Ochakiv (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 30, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 1x strike on an air defense system of the Russian occupiers.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x air defense systems, 1x radar station, 1x electronic warfare station, and 2x 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 two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 14th and 30th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The enemy lost up to 45 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by helicopters repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 60th Mechanised Brigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 250 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 79th Assault Brigade near Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 93rd Mechanised Brigade near Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 270 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three pickup trucks.

One U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery radar station was destroyed near Zhelannoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 79th Airborne Brigade, and 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka, and Novoukrainka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 100 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were neutralised.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 82nd Airborne Brigade and 71st Jaeger Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade, 46th Air Mobile Brigade, and 15th National Guard Brigade near Rabotino and north of Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation, the AFU lost up to 55 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

Operational-tactical and Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation wiped out a rear command post of the AFU 53rd Mechanised Brigade, an artillery battalion command and observation post of the AFU 31st Mechanised Brigade near Krasnoarmeysk and Novogrodovka (Donetsk People's Republic), two CT-68UM and P-18 radar stations for detecting and tracking air targets, as well as manpower and military hardware in 118 areas.

Air defence units intercepted nine Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Lipovoye and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Pshenichnoye (Zaporozhye region), and Chaplinka (Kherson region).

In total, 544 airplanes and 255 helicopters, 9,310 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,712 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,205 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,781 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign National Convicted of Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Thursday, November 30, 2023

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A federal jury in the District of Columbia convicted a national of the Dominican Republic yesterday of a felony drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Cesar Gomez Almonte, aka Jhonny Gomez and Johnny Gomez, 51, was a member of a drug trafficking network based in the Dominican Republic. The network facilitated the transportation of multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine by boat from the Caribbean to the United States. The drug trafficking network insulated itself by compartmentalizing operations and covering up true ownership of the boats used to transport cocaine. Gomez Almonte's role within the organization was to search for and acquire new boats the network could use for future drug ventures, to coordinate the straw transfer of a boat used in a prior drug venture, and to broker the use of a boat for a cocaine shipment knowing that the cocaine was bound for the United States.

On Dec. 12, 2020, Gomez Almonte was arrested in the Miami International Airport.

The jury convicted Gomez Almonte of conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York made the announcement.

The case is supported by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).

HSI New York investigated the case.

Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Melanie L. Alsworth and Trial Attorneys Samantha Thompson and Janet H. Turnbull of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and Customs and Border Protection's Miami Air and Marine Branch also provided significant assistance.



Topic: Drug Trafficking

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

Press Release Number: 23-1342

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian National Pleads Guilty to Trickbot Malware Conspiracy

Thursday, November 30, 2023

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A Russian national pleaded guilty today to his role in developing and deploying the malicious software known as Trickbot, which was used to launch cyber-attacks against American hospitals and other businesses.

According to court documents and public reporting, Vladimir Dunaev, 40, of Amur Blast, provided specialized services and technical abilities in furtherance of the Trickbot scheme. Trickbot, which was taken down in 2022, was a suite of malware tools designed to steal money and facilitate the installation of ransomware. Hospitals, schools, and businesses were among the millions of Trickbot victims who suffered tens of millions of dollars in losses. While active, Trickbot malware, which acted as an initial intrusion vector into victim computer systems, was used to support various ransomware variants.

"Dunaev's guilty plea and our collaboration with South Korea that made his extradition possible are a prime example of what we can accomplish together with our foreign partners," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Cybercriminals should know that countries around the world stand ready to bring them to justice and hold them accountable for their crimes."

Dunaev developed browser modifications and malicious tools that aided in credential harvesting and datamining from infected computers, facilitated and enhanced the remote access used by Trickbot actors, and created a program code to prevent the Trickbot malware from being detected by legitimate security software. During Dunaev's participation in the scheme, 10 victims in the Northern District of Ohio, including Avon schools and a North Canton real-estate company, were defrauded of more than $3.4 million via ransomware deployed by Trickbot.

"As set forth in the plea agreement, Vladimir Dunaev misused his special skills as a computer programmer to develop the Trickbot suite of malware," said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. "Dunaev and his codefendants hid behind their keyboards, first to create Trickbot, then using it to infect millions of computers worldwide a including those used by hospitals, schools, and businesses a invading privacy and causing untold disruption and financial damage. The Justice Department and our office have prioritized investigating and prosecuting cybercrime, and today's guilty plea demonstrates our willingness to reach across the globe to bring cybercriminals to justice. We will continue to work closely with our partners, foreign and domestic, and use all resources at our disposal to stop similar behavior."

"Combating bad actors in cyberspace is a team sport, and we are proud of the collaboration and coordination at the international level that went into today's plea," said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI's Cyber Division. "The FBI will pursue criminals who target the American people with malware no matter where they reside."

"As the world of technology is ever-changing, cybercrime continues to evolve. This case underscores the FBI's relentless pursuit of cyber criminals and highlights our expertise to find and dismantle criminal networks," said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. "We appreciate the coordinated work among our public and private sector global colleagues together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to further protect the public from destructive malware."

In 2021, Dunaev was extradited from the Republic of Korea to the Northern District of Ohio.

Dunaev pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison on both counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The original indictment returned in the Northern District of Ohio charged Dunaev and eight other defendants for their alleged roles in developing, deploying, managing, and profiting from Trickbot.

In June, one of Dunaev's co-conspirators, Alla Witte, who was a Trickbot malware developer and Latvian national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

In February and September, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued financial sanctions against multiple suspected Trickbot members.

The FBI Cleveland Field Office is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Candy Heath of the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan Brown and Daniel Riedl for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and National Security Division, as well as the Treasury Department's OFAC, provided significant assistance.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs worked with the International Criminal Affairs Division of the South Korean Ministry of Justice to secure the arrest and extradition of Dunaev.





Topic: Cybercrime

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Criminal Investigative Division (FBI)

Cyber Division (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Ohio, Northern

Press Release Number: 23-1348

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China-Russia lunar base collaboration 'a perfect match'

Global Times

By Fan Anqi Published: Nov 30, 2023 11:08 PM

Russia has officially ratified a cooperation agreement with China for the joint construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, according to reports in the Russian media on Wednesday. The inclusive project has so far welcomed nearly 20 countries and organizations.

Experts believe that this collaboration will greatly enhance the space exploration capabilities of both countries by leveraging their respective strengths, with China bringing abundant resources and skills while Russia contributes its expertise and innovative thinking.

The Russian Government Legislative Committee approved the project after the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding last year. According to Russian media reports, Moscow and Beijing plan to develop the ILRS in several stages from 2025 to 2035.

For the first stage, the two countries will determine the location for the base and verify relevant technologies for a safe, high-precision soft landing on the Moon's surface, with Russia reportedly utilizing its Luna-Glob lander, Sputnik reported.

Then they will deliver modules to the Moon through several missions, which is necessary for the exploration of the Earth's satellite. In the future, the project also plans to send manned expeditions to the Moon.

When asked if the recent failure of the Luna-25 mission will have an impact on the Moon base project, experts said it wouldn't, as they believe the failure was a result of Russia's decades-long absence from the field of lunar exploration, and does not indicate a lack of competence. However, they said it was a warning to be prudent and patient.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Thursday that the scientific community is working on a feasible approach for building the lunar base by using 3D printing technology. By utilizing the technology to process lunar soil into a concrete-like substance, it further reduces costs and improves efficiency.

Anatoly Petrukovich, head of the Space Research Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that it would be logical to first create units on the Moon's surface from already existing materials for maximum efficiency and coordinate different joint projects using them, Sputnik reported.

Experts believe that the cooperation between China and Russia on the project will have a "one plus one is greater than two" effect. For Russia, its advantages lie in its past experience of multiple lunar exploration missions during the Soviet era. Over the past few decades, Russia has not stopped pursuing this grand blueprint for the Moon, conducting extensive foundational research in areas such as astrophysics and chemistry, Wang noted.

In addition, Russia has demonstrated remarkable engineering innovation in this field, with its teams of engineers successfully overcoming many challenges in early human spaceflight during the Soviet era.

However, Russia's space development has been relatively lackluster, with a shortage of talent and resources in the aerospace field.

This is the part where China can fill in this gap, with its abundant economic resources as well as engineering resources. Having had a period of fast growth in aerospace technology, China has built a great number of reliable engineering resources that are always ready for new tasks. For example, there is the Chinese space station, manned and cargo spacecraft, and various kinds of carrier rockets that have served in major space tasks with a wide range of applications, Wang said.

Financially, China's investment in the space sector is also well planned, and able to withstand changes in the economic environment.

China also has a large amount of young talent in this area, and more high-level researchers are coming through, including those from Hong Kong and Macao in the foreseeable future.

"I believe that the cooperation between China and Russia will also be a mutual learning experience. For example, China's pursuit of meticulousness and Russia's innovative thinking can complement each other and bring out their respective strengths," Wang noted.

Being an inclusive project, the ILRS initiative is reported to have attracted support from nearly 20 countries from around the world, including South Africa, Belarus, Pakistan and Azerbaijan, as well as from The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT).

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Canada purchasing up to 16 P-8A Poseidon Multi Mission Aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force

National Defence

News release

November 30, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario, Department of National Defence

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and the Honourable FranAois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry announced that Canada has finalized a government-to-government agreement with the United States (US) government for the acquisition of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for up to an additional two.

The P-8A will replace Canada's current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora, which has been in service for more than 40 years. As it ages, the CP-140 aircraft is becoming increasingly difficult to support, expensive to sustain, and less operationally relevant in comparison to the threats against which it must defend. This procurement will allow Canada to seamlessly transition to a replacement capability, thereby ensuring that Canada can continue to meet its domestic needs and international obligations.

After significant engagement and thorough analysis, we are confident that the P-8A delivers the best anti-submarine and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for our country. The aircraft will operate seamlessly with allies. This platform is a proven capability that is operated by all our Five Eyes alliesathe United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealandaas well as other defence partners.

The estimated investment for this project is $10.4 billion CAD; it includes up to $5.9 billion USD for the P-8A, associated equipment, training devices and sustainment set-up. The balance will cover additional investments in simulators, infrastructure and weapons.

To defend Canadian interests in our maritime approaches, the Arctic, and internationally, the RCAF needs to be able to identify, detect, track and potentially engage advanced surface and sub-surface threats using an array of highly sophisticated sensors and weapons. The RCAF must have self-protection systems that afford our aviators a measure of survivability against known threats. The P-8A meets these requirements. It will protect Canadians, enhance our Arctic security and national sovereignty, and enable Canada to meet its NATO, NORAD and other obligations well into the future.

The P-8A will provide Canada an advanced multi-mission platform to conduct maritime and overland surveillance in defence of Canada and to support our allies, with integrated C4ISR, anti-submarine and anti-surface capabilities. 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 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. We anticipate full operational capability by 2033.

As part of this project, Boeing will provide meaningful business activities and make targeted investments in Canadian industry to support the growth of our aerospace and defence sector. To that end, Boeing has plans to integrate Canadian companies in global supply chains, develop clean technologies and support the development of skills and training in Canada.

Boeing's economic commitments to Canada have the potential to generate more than 3000 jobs annually for Canadian industry and value chain partners, contribute at least $358 million annually to Canada's gross domestic product over a ten-year period, and will bring benefits to hundreds of Canadian companies.

This important agreement will deliver the most modern and advanced equipment and ensure the protection of our country for years to come. The Government of Canada will continue to make significant investments to give the members of our Canadian Armed Forces the equipment they need to do their jobs.

Quotes

"In today's complex global environment, Canada requires a military that is capable of protecting our country well into the future. We are committed to ensuring that our current and future aviators have the most advanced equipment possible to do just that. Canada requires a multi-mission fleet to contribute to the safety and security of Canadians and protect the sovereignty of a country with the longest coastline in the world. The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is the right aircraft to fulfil this role." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

"Canadians take great pride in their armed forces, and, in today's global environment, it is more important than ever to ensure that those who serve our country have the right equipment to keep Canada safe and secure. The purchase of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon will do just that, while also contributing to Canada's aerospace and defence sector." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"Our government will ensure that Canadian companies from coast to coast will directly benefit from this procurement. It will not only create good jobs, but also help grow our domestic aerospace industry. Boeing will be making strategic investments with leading Canadian firms and has also committed to growing its presence in Canada through further investments. We will continue to work with Boeing to ensure that Canadian companies can fully seize on all opportunities related to this important procurement." The Honourable FranAois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Quick facts

The P-8A will replace Canada's current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora. The CP-140 Aurora fleet was originally procured in 1980 and is currently scheduled to retire from service in 2030. At that point, it will have been in service for almost 50 years and will face significant obsolescence challenges. Procuring a new fleet is required to continue protecting Canadian sovereignty along our three coastlines.

Domestically, the CP-140 plays an important role in protecting the longest coastline in the world, including by detecting security threats, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and polluters along the Canadian coastlines. Internationally, it routinely participates in international missions, providing aerial Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) support to coalition air operations.

Canada's adversaries are deploying increasingly sophisticated, stealthy, and lethal capabilities in the surface and subsurface domains, which reduce the effectiveness of the CP-140.

Following a thorough market analysis, engagements with industry and Canada's closest allies, and after assessing the findings of an independent third-party report, the Government has determined that the P-8A is the only currently available aircraft that meets all the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project operational requirements.

The P-8A will specialize in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare and is optimal for C4ISR. This capability will also be upgradeable, resilient, and interoperable with the RCAF's joint, interagency, multinational and public partners, and provides an operational advantage over adversaries.

Canada determined that it requires a minimum fleet of 14 aircraft to meet domestic and international obligations, as well as the minimum force generation and development requirements.

Canada will be acquiring training aids and simulators for the new fleet. The cost of training aids and simulators is included within the overall project budget and within the current Foreign Military Sale (FMS) case.

As part of the project, Canada is assessing the infrastructure needs for the replacement fleet and requirements to recapitalize infrastructure at the operating bases.

The P-8A aircraft will be based at 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. and 19 Wing Comox, B.C.

As soon as Canada's new CC-330 Husky aircraft fleet reaches initial operational capability, it will be able to refuel other aircraft, including the P-8A.

Our Allies will be operating and supporting the P-8A for decades to come. The U.S. Navy has advised of their intent to support the fleet P-8A aircraft until the 2060s.

Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including the Value Proposition, applies to the CMMA project. This requires that Boeing provide business activities and make investments to the Canadian economy equal to the value of its activities related to the Foreign Military Sale.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






HKSAR government condemns US Congress for meddling in Hong Kong affairs

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Nov 30, 2023 04:14 PM

The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on Thursday strongly condemned the US House Foreign Affairs Committee for passing the so-called Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act, urging the US to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs.

The House on Wednesday (US time) passed the legislation targeting Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs). The act "would require the White House to 'remove the extension of certain privileges, exemptions and immunities' to the offices," the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday.

The HKSAR said that the act is factually wrong. The act aims to achieve political objectives by smearing and attacking the work of Hong Kong ETOs in the US in terms of promoting mutually beneficial economic and trade relations, and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the US, and misleadingly promoting the removal of those privileges, exemptions and immunities and even the closure of the ETOs.

The HKSAR government strongly condemned any attempts to damage bilateral trade relations out of individuals' political interests, and sternly urged the US not to violate the basic norms governing international relations and to stop political smears and attacks against the HKSAR and interfering in Hong Kong matters.

In response to the US intervention in Hong Kong affairs and in China's internal affairs, the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on Thursday issued a strong condemnation and expressed resolute opposition, urging the US to immediately stop pushing forward the relevant bill.

"The US act is a refusal to recognize the Hong Kong ETOs as representing the HKSAR government, as well as an attempt to discredit and smear the Hong Kong National Security Law, which is unjustified," He Weiwen, senior fellow of the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The smooth operation of the three ETOs in Washington DC, New York and San Francisco contributes to strengthening cooperation between the HKSAR and the US in different areas such as trade, investment and arts and culture, and is mutually beneficial to both places, the HKSAR government said.

The US has enjoyed a significant economic dividend through trade ties with Hong Kong, recording a trade surplus of $284.9 billion with Hong Kong in the past 10 years, the largest among its global trading partners.

If the US insists on undermining these mutually beneficial relations through legislation like the act, it will ultimately harm the interests of the US and its companies, read the HKSAR's statement.

If the act is implemented, it will jeopardize economic and trade relations between the HKSAR and the US, and will also hurt the US financial industry, leading to gaps in the global system of the US financial sector, as Hong Kong is an internationally renowned financial center, He said.

More than 1,200 US enterprises have invested and operated businesses in Hong Kong, and most major US financial institutions operate there.

The US business community remains optimistic about the prospects of Hong Kong's growth and opportunities in the Greater Bay Area comprising South China's Guangdong Province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

However, a small number of US politicians are politicizing and instrumentalizing economic and trade issues. What they are doing is against the people's will, and is destined to fail, the Commissioner's Office said.

China will not sit idly by while the US concocts bills related to Hong Kong, which are detrimental to Hong Kong and interfere in China's internal affairs, and it will resolutely defend its own rights and interests. The US is urged to return to the right path of promoting mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US through practical actions, and give up any intention of suppressing China and "curbing China with Hong Kong," the office stated.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Beijing silent on key meeting amid growing dissent in party ranks

Analysts say Xi Jinping's leadership is in crisis, and a plenary session could expose political in-fighting.

By Yitong Wu and Chingman for RFA Cantonese 2023.11.30 -- 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.

"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.

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."

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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China's workers face layoffs, unpaid wages ahead of Lunar New Year

State media paints a rosy picture, yet workers say business is terrible and people are losing jobs everywhere.

By Gu Ting for RFA Mandarin 2023.11.30 -- 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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Kim Jong Un's sister hints nuke weapons are non-negotiable

Pyongyang has long linked its nuclear weapons program to its state identity of self-reliance and sovereignty.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2023.11.29 -- Kim Jong Un's influential sister ramped up Pyongyang's pressure campaign against the United States, indicating that she would not put the country's 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 Korea's 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 nation's 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 Korea's leader Kim Jong Un often emerges as the face of Pyongyang's 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 Korea's 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 Pyongyang's 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 North's 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 Korea's formal name.

Kim Yo Jong's 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 Korea's 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 sister's remarks carry a dual message, subtly reiterating Pyongyang's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






North Korea bars contact between soldiers and civilians

The move aims to prevent theft and smuggling of military resources.

By Moon Sung Hui for RFA Korean 2023.11.30 -- 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 People's 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 can't 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."

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 Un's "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 Un's 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 country's nascent market economy was in its infancy during the rule of Kim Jong Un's 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 Security's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Designating Supporters of DPRK Weapons Programs Together with Allies

US Department of State

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

November 30, 2023

The United States today designated eight nationals of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) who are located in the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and elsewhere, as well as one entity in the DPRK in response to the DPRK's unlawful November 21 launch of a claimed military spy satellite. That launch used ballistic missile technology in contravention of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and directly undermined regional and global security.

In addition, Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea are each announcing designations in our four countries' first-ever coordinated imposition of sanctions on the DPRK. The U.S. designations target a range of activities including illicit procurement, revenue generation, malicious cyber activity, and arms proliferation. The United States will continue to pursue actors who support the DPRK's illicit activities and work with our allies and partners to deprive the DPRK of the funds to advance its destabilizing missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.

The Department of the Treasury's actions are being taken pursuant to Executive Orders 13382, 13551, 13687, 13722, and 13810. For more information on these designations, see Treasury's press release. On June 1, the U.S. Department of State, the FBI, and the National Security Agency together with partners from the Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Police Agency, and National Intelligence Service released a cybersecurity advisory on social engineering and hacking threats posed by the DPRK cyber group known as Kimsuky.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Treasury Targets DPRK's International Agents and Illicit Cyber Intrusion Group

U.S. Department of the Treasury

November 30, 2023

Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States

Sanction DPRK for its November 21 Satellite Launch

WASHINGTON a Today, in coordination with foreign partners, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned eight foreign-based Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) agents that facilitate sanctions evasion, including revenue generation and missile-related technology procurement that support the DPRK's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. Additionally, OFAC sanctioned cyber espionage group Kimsuky for gathering intelligence to support the DPRK's strategic objectives.

Today's actions are in response to the DPRK's November 21 claimed military reconnaissance satellite launch and demonstrates the multilateral efforts of the United States and foreign partners to hinder the DPRK's ability to generate revenue, procure materiel, and gather intelligence that advances the development of its WMD program and the unlawful export of arms and related materiel from the DPRK.

"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," said Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The DPRK's use of overseas laborers, money launderers, cyber espionage, and illicit funding continue to threaten international security and our allies in the region. We will remain focused on targeting these key nodes in the DPRK's illicit revenue generation and weapons proliferation."

DPRK ILLICIT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Today's actions target the DPRK's access to revenue and weapons, generated through state-owned entities, banks, and trading companies, specifically through their globally deployed trade and bank representatives. These individuals provide critical access to foreign technology vital to the DPRK's domestic weapons program and enable DPRK revenue generation through access to the international financial system. A portion of the revenue from these activities has been funneled towards domestic WMD-related technology and missile systems.

OFAC is designating eight individuals that are associated with U.S.-designated DPRK state-owned weapons exporters, financial institutions, and front companies including Green Pine Associated Corporation (Green Pine), Foreign Trade Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (FTB), KoryoCommercial Bank LTD. (KCB), Korea United Development Bank (KUDB), and Mansudae Overseas Project Group of Companies (MOP).

DPRK Weapons Sales Representatives

U.S. and UN-designated Green Pine is responsible for approximately half of DPRK arms and related materiel exports. The Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB)-controlled Green Pine specializes in the production of maritime military craft and armaments and has provided both technical assistance and weapons to Iranian defense-related firms.

Kang Kyong Il and Ri Sung Il are Tehran, Iran-based Green Pine representatives. Kang Kyong Il has attempted to sell Chinese-origin aluminum and Ri Sung Il has worked with other DPRK representatives to sell conventional weapons to foreign governments. Both Kang Kyong Il and Ri Sung Il have travelled to China together on multiple occasions.

and are Tehran, Iran-based Green Pine representatives. has attempted to sell Chinese-origin aluminum and has worked with other DPRK representatives to sell conventional weapons to foreign governments. Both and have travelled to China together on multiple occasions. Kang Phyong Guk is a Green Pine representative in Beijing, China and is a central liaison between Green Pine and its overseas representatives.

Ri Sung Il, Kang Kyong Il, and Kang Phyong Guk are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13551 for acting or purporting to act, for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Green Pine, an entity that was included in the Annex to E.O. 13551.

DPRK Financial Representatives

The DPRK continues to use agents and individuals associated with its state-owned entities and banks to access the international financial system to conduct illicit financial activity. They have long-standing networks of front or shell companies and use embassy personnel to move money and procure materiel for the DPRK's WMD and ballistic missile programs as well as to procure conventional weapons.

So Myong is the chief representative of FTB in Vladivostok, Russia and has facilitated financial transfers on behalf of designated DPRK financial institutions and weapons trading entities and including representatives, of the U.S.-designated Second Academy of Natural Sciences. So Myong is designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, FTB.

is the chief representative of FTB in Vladivostok, Russia and has facilitated financial transfers on behalf of designated DPRK financial institutions and weapons trading entities and including representatives, of the U.S.-designated Second Academy of Natural Sciences. is designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, FTB. Choe Un Hyok is a KUDB representative in Russia who has coordinated multiple payments to an entity subordinate to the U.S. and UN-designated, Munitions Industry Department. Choe Un Hyok is designated pursuant to E.O. 13722 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf, of, directly or indirectly, KUDB.

is a KUDB representative in Russia who has coordinated multiple payments to an entity subordinate to the U.S. and UN-designated, Munitions Industry Department. is designated pursuant to E.O. 13722 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf, of, directly or indirectly, KUDB. Jang Myong Chol is a KCB representative in China that has facilitated transactions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jang Myong Chol is designated, pursuant to E.O. 13810 for having acted or purported to act for on or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, KCB.

DPRK Front Companies

Additionally, OFAC is designating two individuals that have generated revenue for the Government of North Korea and were previously designated by the European Union for generating revenue through the exportation of DPRK workers.

Choe Song Chol and Im Song Sun have represented front companies for UN and U.S.-designated MOP. MOP was designated pursuant to E.O. 13722 for having engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea [OFAC Press Release]

Choe Song Chol and Im Song Sun are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13810 for being North Korean persons, including a North Korean person who has engaged in commercial activity that generates revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Worker's Party of Korea.

A CYBER ESPIONAGE UNIT WITH STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

Active since 2012, Kimsuky is subordinate to the UN- and U.S. designated Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), the DPRK's primary foreign intelligence service. On August 30, 2010, OFAC designated the RGB by adding it to the annex of E.O. 13551. OFAC subsequently re-designated the RGB on January 2, 2015 pursuant to E.O. 13687 for being a controlled entity of the Government of North Korea. Malicious cyber activity associated with the Kimsuky advanced persistent threat is also known in the cybersecurity industry as APT43, Emerald Sleet, Velvet Chollima, TA406, and Black Banshee.

Although Kimsuky is primarily an intelligence collection entity, its cyber espionage campaigns directly support the DPRK's strategic and nuclear ambitions. Kimsuky primarily uses spear-phishing to target individuals employed by government, research centers, think tanks, academic institutions, and news media organizations, including entities in Europe, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. Kimsuky employs social engineering to collect intelligence on geopolitical events, foreign policy strategies, and diplomatic efforts affecting its interests by gaining illicit access to the private documents, research, and communications of their targets.

Kimsuky is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13687, for being an agency, instrumentality, or a controlled entity of the Government of North Korea.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, pursuant to E.O.s 13687, 13382, 13551, 13722, and 13810, all property and interests in property of the persons named 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, 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 otherwise 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. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated today may themselves be exposed to designation. Furthermore, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. correspondent or payable-through account sanctions.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from its 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.

For additional information on the DPRK Cyber Activities refer to the Guidance on the North Korean Cyber Threat.

For additional information on Kimsuky's recent social engineering operations refer to the Joint Cyber Advisory DPRK Using Social Engineering to Enable Hacking, its tactics, techniques and procedures Joint Cybersecurity Advisory.

For additional information on DPRK illicit finance and procurement activities see the North Korea Ballistic Missile Procurement Advisory and the FinCEN Advisory on North Korea's Use of the International Financial System.

For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Find identifying information on the individuals sanctioned today here.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Transcript of Special Briefing by Foreign Secretary on Prime Minister's visit to UAE (November 30, 2023)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

November 30, 2023

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: A very good afternoon to all of you. Thank you for joining us today for this Special Media Briefing on the eve of Prime Minister's visit to the United Arab Emirates for the COP28. To give a sense of the visit and what's in store we have the privilege of having with us Foreign Secretary Sir, Shri Vinay Kwatra; also joining us on the dais, Shri Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary looking after Gulf Division in the Ministry. Sir, may I hand over the floor to you.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much and good morning everyone. As you all know, Honorable Prime Minister will be traveling to Dubai later this evening to attend the World Climate Action Summit, which is the high-level segment of the 28th Conference of Parties, COP28; to the UNFCCC, that is, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Departing later this evening, he will be attending the Summit events tomorrow, 1st of December, before returning to India later tomorrow evening. Just to recall, Honorable Prime Minister had last visited the UAE earlier in July this year.

In terms of Prime Minister's participation at the COP28, Honorable Prime Minister will deliver his address at the Opening Session of the World Climate Action Summit. Besides his address to the COP28, Prime Minister will also be participating in three high-level side events, of which two are being co-hosted by India. The first high-level event, which is being co-hosted by India and the UAE, is the launch of Green Credits Initiative. If you would recall, this was something which was rolled out earlier this month, or late last month by the Ministry of Environment in India. The Green Credits Initiative is based on the Green Credit Program, which was notified by the Ministry of Environment in October this year, and basically envisions the issue of Green Credits for plantations on waste and degraded lands and the river catchment areas in order to restore their vitality.

The second side event, co-hosted by India and Sweden, is the launch of LeadIT 2.0, essentially a Leadership Group for Industry Transition. This, you would recall, was a joint initiative launched by India and Sweden in 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. Essentially, this initiative fosters collaboration among the decision-makers, bringing together both the public sector and the private sector with the objective of accelerating the industry transition to net-zero emissions, essentially from heavy industries. Honorable Prime Minister will also be participating in another high-level event, which is titled Transforming Climate Finance, which is to be hosted by the Presidency of the COP28, that is the UAE.

In terms of substance, as you all know, the Conference of the Parties, COP, is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC that meets annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change, also discuss and negotiate further actions that the parties to the COP have to take, and make decisions on Global Climate Action.

Previously, Prime Minister has attended two climate conferences, COP21 in Paris in November 2015, where the historic Paris Agreement was concluded, and you would recall that International Solar Alliance was launched at that COP; and then COP26 in Glasgow where Prime Minister made the announcement of 'Panchamrit', outlining the five key elements of India's action aimed at environment conservation and climate protection. Converting these announcements into action, India submitted its enhanced NDCs, Nationally Determined Contributions, before COP27, and also submitted a long-term development strategy to pursue our goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. India is among the few large economies which are on track to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions. Also noteworthy that in recent years, under the vision and personal guidance of Honorable Prime Minister, India has taken a leadership role in shaping the global agenda on climate and environment, including through focusing on this issue in the two Voice of Global South Summits organized by India, first in January this year, and most recently, the one earlier this month.

India's approach to climate action is deeply rooted in our civilizational ethos and is reflected foremost in our contributions and our ambitious and effective national policies, especially those which are aimed at economic development, energy, health and nutrition. We have also been pioneering and in the forefront in taking global initiatives in fighting climate change and its impacts. These initiatives include, as I just said, launch of International Solar Alliance in COP in 2015, and the Alliance has now grown to be a truly international framework. Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure is another such global initiative; Infrastructure for Resilient Island States and Mission LiFE, and most recently in September this year on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance.

Our approach to climate action is also reflected in our principled positions in the international negotiations and our global efforts to help the rest of Global South in combating this serious challenge of climate change, as also its impact on the development framework of the developing countries. We have engaged, as you all know, very actively in the multilateral negotiations under the UNFCCC, and our approach has been to preserve an effective, cooperative and equitable geo-global architecture based on climate justice and the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, CBDR-RC.

Most recently, India has been, as I said, been able to mainstream this discourse during the G20 Presidency. Several of the decisions in the New Delhi Declaration reflect the discourse initiated, led by India, and various factors of our initiatives reflected in its decision, but also through the two Voice of Global South Summits. We have seen Green Development Pact, which was mentioned in the New Delhi Declaration, but also another accomplishment of the launch of Global Biofuel Alliance, which I just mentioned.

This visit and the participation of Honorable Prime Minister at the COP28 would also give us another opportunity to further advance Prime Minister's vision and attempt to forge global consensus on this very important issue of climate change.

I would stop here and if there are questions, we'll try and answer them. Thank you.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you, Sir. We'll open the floor for questions. Please introduce yourself and the organization that you represent.

Rishabh: Good morning, Foreign Secretary. This is Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, apart from this Summit event, are we looking at any bilateral from our side with the leaders who are visiting for COP28 tomorrow in Dubai?

Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir India has been pointing out that how the West has failed in its commitment regarding climate finance, how much that will be focused during the Prime Minister's engagement and addresses at these events?

Krishnan: Hi Sir, its Krishnan this side from Reuters. I have a two-pronged question, Sir. What is India's position on the recommendations made by Transitional Committee 5 on the Loss and Damage fund? Will India support its adoption today? And second, France and US are likely to propose a halt in private finance of coal, coal-fired power projects actually. India, on the other hand, needs coal power and is rushing to have more plants to meet unprecedented demand. What will be India's stand on coal exit in COP28?

Dhairya Maheshwari: Sir, Dhairya Maheshwari, Sputnik India. My question is on... there was a recent UN report which called for intensifying the GHG emission cuts. So does India support the developed countries advancing their GHG emission timelines, you know, which are 2050 at present? Thank you, Sir.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, we'll take this round of questions. Before handing over the floor to Sir, some of these are prejudging not just the visit but the discussions in COP, particularly, Krishnan, to your comments or even the other ones. There's a process, people are going there for two weeks to negotiate various important documents, but I will let Foreign Secretary...Sir.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much. On the question of bilaterals, yes, Honorable Prime Minister will have a set of bilateral meetings with many of his counterparts. We will keep you briefed about those meetings and the discussions that take place during those meetings as they progress.

With regard to the focus on climate finance, and some of it is perhaps in a way linked partly, not necessarily entirely, to the question on the Loss and Damage fund which was asked by Reuters. Look, one of the key objectives for us, and we all know this, this has always been our clear perspective and priority, that climate finance and also climate technology is a very, 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, which is NCQG at COP29.

I have already mentioned in my opening remarks that Honorable Prime Minister is also scheduled to participate in a high-level presidency event which is focused exclusively on climate finance. The outcome of that event is under discussion by the principal participants at that event, and it would be useful for those interested on this entire ecosystem of climate action issues, in particular climate finance, I would say even climate technology, to perhaps follow that event closely. In a way, the loss and damage part, we have always been interested in finding a successful outcome on operationalizing the Loss and Damage fund. This has always been very upfront in terms of our articulation. We think this will be of great benefit to the developing countries by providing them with potentially a new source of financial support to address the loss and damage aspect related to this.

With regard to the question on coal and how it is positioned...look, if you look at not just the articulation of India's position, India's belief and India's action related to climate change, and I would particularly draw your attention to the Panchamrit- five principles that the Honorable Prime Minister announced at the COP26, and I'll just sort of put this up front here in order to draw a proper correlation to how is coal looked at. One was to reduce the emission intensity of India's GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 level. Two, to achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. Three, to achieve 1 billion ton reductions in the projected emissions between then, when it was announced, and 2030; and to achieve 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, and of course, what I said earlier, achieve net-zero by the year 2070. If you were to analyze each of these actions which the Prime Minister had outlined at COP26, you will clearly see India's commitment to look at, focus at, take targeted action towards green energy. Having said 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.

With regard to the greenhouse emission timelines, I have already clearly mentioned to you what our enunciated goals and priorities are. I would essentially mention one more point here which is important to keep in mind, which is related to how the question of emission timelines gets linked to the Nationally Determined Contributions. As I said, we are among the very few major economies that is well on its track to complete its obligated NDCs. In fact, I am sure if you follow this closely, you would know we had announced upgraded NDCs last year, and I am very happy to say that we are now well on our way even to meet those upgraded NDC targets which we had announced last year. So we are among the few major few economies which is well on its way to meet NDCs. We are proactive in taking practical climate action measures and basing them on a very firm conceptual understanding and a very firm belief that our development has to be green development, while at the same time it also should triangulate well with your own development priorities in the country.

Sridhar: Good morning Sir, Sridhar from the Asian Age. Sir, I was just wondering, you outlined the big-ticket announcements that were made by the PM at COP26 at Glasgow, and you said some upgraded NDCs were also announced last year. Any fresh set of such nationally determined goals, are they likely to figure in the PM's opening remarks? And secondly, we saw during the Ukraine-Russia crisis, the pressure on the fossil fuels, the pricing, and everyone was scrambling for these fossil fuel resources. So has that put somewhat a spammer in the works of the ultimate climate goals for the globe? Thanks.

Srinjoy: Sir, first of all, climate financing, developed countries had promised $10 billion. How much of that has actually come? Secondly, Sir, yesterday John Kerry spoke about the importance of curbing methane emissions apart from CO2 because methane has very high... is more dangerous in the short run. Now, apart from the petroleum industry, the one reason why methane emissions are as high as they are is rice cultivation. Now, how does India handle that?

Suhasini Haidar: This is Suhasini Haidar from the Hindu. Foreign Secretary if you will permit me, since this will be the first visit the Prime Minister will take abroad after this indictment has come out in the United States. I would like to ask, will the high-level enquiry announced by the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday now include allegations from Canada about Indian involvement in a plot to kill a Canadian national, a Khalistani separatist? The Canadian Prime Minister has gone on the record. He has said, after this indictment, India should look at the allegations made more seriously. Thank you.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: What's your original question? What is the first part of it, that, will it be raised?

Suhasini Haidar: My question was, this will be the first visit abroad the Prime Minister will be taking, since the indictment came out, this is what the Canadian Prime Minister has said.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: And?

Suhasini Haidar: I would like a response on that.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Oh, you want a response on it. Okay, fair enough.

Suhasini Haidar: Also especially will that high-level enquiry that was announced, now include the Canadian allegations because the indictment very specifically mentions that?

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Before that, I thought, Srinjoy on your question, you said 10 billion? I am not aware of the 10 billion number. It was supposed to be 100 billion a year. And then in the last G20 deliberations, in fact, if I remember in the New Delhi Leaders' Summit, there was an acknowledgement that we need to move from billions to trillions and that I think is part of what the success of the G20 has been. I will come back to answer, I just thought I will clarify on the question part.

Sudhi Ranjan: Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. Sir if you could give us an understanding, there is an enquiry that the MEA also talked about in the statement, who is conducting that enquiry? If you can give us a broad understanding which are the agencies. And also Sir given the US's indictment, is India any clearer to understand who at all, if any, was the Indian government official involved?

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: This is a briefing on the Prime Minister's visit to UAE for COP, but I will just do that. Anybody else has a question on this one, on this issue, which has been asked by Suhasini and Sudhi?

Abhishek Jha: Sir Abhishek Jha from CNN News18. And since you are taking questions, maybe one round on this issue, has India....

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Please don't make your assumptions a fact.

Abhishek Jha: Has India requested for extradition of Pannun, SFJ leader in USA?

Shailesh Kumar: My name is Shailesh Kumar. I am from National Defence. Do you see an international conspiracy to malign India or for a regime change or desiring a regime change...

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry, regime change?

Shailesh Kumar: Yes. As we see that the Canadian allegations...

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I don't think you are meaning seriously all that. International conspiracy, I got your question.

Shailesh Kumar: If you take my question full, I can read that out. At least two of the accused in US indictment alleging Indian involvement are sources or have previous links with US agencies. While we see India's most wanted terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is harbored at the same building area, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, where National Press Club is located. This is the same building. Some time back, we see a prominent Indian leader was invited there at the same building. In the light of serious allegations of assassination...

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I think we have to keep the question tight. Your question was specific to, you said international conspiracy. I got your question.

Manish Jha: Sir main Manish Jha hoon TV9. Kyuki US ki taraf se ye bataya gaya ki jo ek indian citizen hain Nikhil Gupta usko arrest kar liya gaya hai, aur isi case mai ek Indian officer ka bhi naam hain, toh kya US government ne Indian government se is maamle mein contact kiya hain, Indian officer ko lekar is case mein?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate Translation] Sir, I am Manish Jha from TV9. It has been informed from the US side that Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen, has been arrested. And in the same case, the name of an Indian officer is also involved. Has the US government contacted the Indian government regarding the Indian officer in this case?

Krishnan: Hi Sir, its Krishnan again from Reuters. My question is, the MEA yesterday announced that they had created this enquiry committee on 18th of November. But the US officials have been coming here for a few months before that, trying to raise this concern. What had been done before this committee was established, if any steps at all were taken from India's side?

Krishna Pokharel: Sir, I am Krishna Pokharel from the Wall Street Journal and the indictment until yesterday also showed that the US was intercepting communications to the Indian official mentioned in the indictment. And Canada has also said in its allegation that such interceptions were taking place. So any comments on the surveillance that was happening?

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sir, there was this question also on climate finance in the beginning, as I mentioned. Let me start with that one.

Before I give the floor to Sir, I also wanted to make a comment on these other questions, which are not part of our usual briefing. On the climate finance part, I think there is some misunderstanding. It is not that money is coming to India. So we are not the right people to answer how much money has come to us. We should ask...there is mechanism within the UN framework. And I think the COP is a good opportunity to stock take. In fact, the global stock taking is part of COP28. And we are also looking forward to this high-level meeting on climate finance. And I think precisely these are the issues that will be asked. We have, of course, talked about the need for additional financing. So I do not think that is a question for answering at this point. On methane, I will leave that for Sir to answer.

But before I go on that...look, I think that this is...usually we do not take any questions which are not related to the visit. However, this is a pressing question, as I can see from a lot of queries. So let me make clear what our position has been on that, and before I hand over the floor to Sir on the visit. Look, as you would have seen, 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, other extremists. We take, of course, such inputs very 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. You would have seen this in our statements that we have issued. 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 also contrary to government policy. The nexus between organized crime, trafficking, gun running, and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organizations to consider, and it is precisely for that reason that a high-level enquiry committee has been constituted, and we will obviously be guided by its results. I have seen a series of questions that you have asked on this issue. I do not think there is anything additional that I would like to say on that.

There is also a query on Canada. On the issue of Canada, 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. 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. We have said this from this podium, and that is obviously unacceptable. So I think that covers... Sir has correctly said about Canada. I will now hand over to Sir.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: See question on whether Honorable Prime Minister will be making any fresh announcements, whether with regard to the NDCs or other initiatives, I think it would not be correct really for us to prejudge in any way what the substance of Honorable Prime Minister's interventions, his thought processes at different events would be. But as I said earlier, this is only the third COP that the Honorable Prime Minister is attending. We attach tremendous significance and importance to the outcomes that are scheduled to come from this COP. I listed out some of the key elements of what would be under focus at this COP, and that included a substantial segment of climate finance. As I said, the specific figures is one part, but the point of principle and translating that principles into availability of climate finance, but also climate technology so that the developing countries can actually move forward, move aggressively forward to take climate action is important. So I think it would not be correct for us to really...but as and when it comes out, you will see what Honorable Prime Minister has to say on these various subjects.

With regard to your reference to pricing of the fossil fuel as a derivative of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which you mentioned. I think it's a larger issue of essentially the energy transition into, a green energy transition, and I think COP28 would essentially be focusing on various elements of that. So when I talked about we participating in LeadIT 2.0, essentially it is an initiative which brings together the governments and the private sector to see how the heavy industries, which may be causing additional pollution, could then be addressed in a manner that the products of those industries are more green in that sense. So obviously that part would focus on shifting to a form of energy which is greener than the usual. Even in case of fossil fuel, although I'm not an expert, but it is an understanding that fossil fuel production also can undergo a certain process of greening in terms of the process steps that are used for the production of a particular fossil fuel.

So the challenge of climate change is intrinsically linked to such actions, and these actions, as I said, are referred to through our own NDCs. As I said, we have submitted our upgraded NDCs last year, which we are well on course to assume that. I don't think I would like to get into the specifics of, which specific gases get produced through which specific action. You mentioned one particular aspect of methane production under the rice cultivation. I think those are questions that are best left to the experts and the relevant departments to answer. But suffice it to say that irrespective of which domain that we talk about in terms of climate action, our effort is to focus on doing our development which is green while absolutely being mindful and acutely conscious of our own developmental priorities in this space.

The other questions relating to non-COP28 issues have already been answered.

Speaker: The November 18 committee that was formed, do you plan to make its findings public at any time?

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I specifically said that is all we could say because of the security matter. We do not discuss such security matters publicly. I am sorry.

Suhasini: No, because you referred to drug runners and gun runners and extremists, but the indictment is about an Indian government official.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: No, the indictment is not about an Indian government official. I am sorry. Just check.

Suhasini: CC1, as it is named, is supposed to be in the service of the Indian government official.

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Very clearly, let me reiterate what we said. As regards the case. Are you talking about the legal case?

Suhasini: I am talking about the legal case and the inputs that you say on the basis of which you are...

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: The inputs, I cannot share anything further. We made it very clear. As regards the legal case which you are basing, we have said that the individual, filed in the US court, it is allegedly linking that person with an Indian official. That is a matter of concern. We have said, and as I said, that is not government policy and there is high level enquiry and we have also talked about, as you mentioned, the nexus between organized crime, drug trafficking, gun running and extremists. That is something that needs to be investigated. I think this high level committee is precisely constituted for that, looking at all aspects. Let us wait for its results and we will take it forward. Thank you all for joining us for the special briefing. Please stay tuned as Prime Minister's visit unfolds.

Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






SIMULTANEOUS LAUNCH OF 'MAHE, MALVAN AND MANGROL', FIRST THREE SHIPS OF ASW SWC (CSL) PROJECT ON 30 NOV 23 AT CSL, KOCHI

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 30 NOV 2023 4:29PM by PIB Delhi

Mahe, Malvan and Mangrol, the first three ships of 08 x ASW Shallow Water Craft (CSL) project being built by CSL, Kochi for the Indian Navy, were launched on 30 Nov 23 at CSL, Kochi. In keeping with maritime tradition, Mahe was launched by Mrs Anjali Bahl in the presence of VAdm Puneet Bahl, Commandant INA, Malvan was launched by Mrs Kangana Berry in the presence of VAdm Suraj Berry, C-in-C, and Mangrol was launched by Mrs Zarine Lord Singh in the presence of VAdm Sanjay J Singh, Vice Chief of Naval Staff. The ships were launched to the invocation from Atharva Veda. The Mahe class ASW Shallow Water Crafts have been named after ports of strategic importance along the coast of India, and will look to carry forward the glorious legacy of the erstwhile minesweepers which were their namesake.

The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Limited on 30 Apr 19. The Mahe class of ships will be equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors, and are envisaged to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as well as Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations. The ASW SWC ships are 78 m long and displacement is approx 900 tons, with a maximum speed of 25 knots.

Simultaneous launch of three ships of the same class highlights our strides in indigenous shipbuilding, towards 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. The first ship of the project is planned to be delivered in 2024. The ASW SWC ships will have over 80% indigenous content, thereby ensuring that large scale defence production is executed by Indian manufacturing units, generating employment and capability enhancement within the country.

***

VM/PS



(Release ID: 1981148)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






India forms high-level panel to probe security concerns raised by U.S.

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:14, November 30, 2023

NEW DELHI, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- India's foreign ministry Wednesday said it has set up a high-level committee to look into the security concerns raised by the United States on a nexus between organized criminals, gun runners and terrorists.

British daily Financial Times last week reported that the United States authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Canadian and American citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. It said the United States issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns that it was involved in the plot.

India has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to probe the matter, said India's foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

"Government of India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the inquiry committee," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran rejects 'baseless' Israeli allegations over violating Chemical Weapons Convention

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 30, 2023

London, IRNA -- Iran has categorically rejected allegations by the Israeli regime regarding the violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention by Tehran, saying that playing blame game does not help the regime cover up its "brutal crimes" against Palestinians over the past seven decades.

The comment was made by Iran's Representative Reza Najafi at the 28th Session of the Conference of the States Parties that oversees the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The conference, held on Nov. 27-Dec. 1 in the Hague, is composed of representatives of all Member States of the OPCW (The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons).

Addressing the session on Thursday, Najafi called allegations leveled by the Israeli representative baseless, saying that Iran is one of the main victims of chemical weapons.

The Iranian envoy also said that the "child-killing Israeli regime, which has not declared its stockpiles of chemical weapons, has no position to make comments about a member state that is a victim of such lethal weapons."

Playing the blame game and leveling accusations against member states will not help the Israeli regime, which is the main cause of instability in West Asia, he added.

4194**7129

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran, Oman hold joint drill in Strait of Hormuz

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 30, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran and Oman have jointly held a daylong maritime rescue and relief exercise in the northern Indian Ocean and the Strait of Hormuz.

Combat vessels and flight units of the naval forces of the Iranian Army as well as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) along with Oman's Navy took part in the exercise on Thursday, according to a report by the Public Relations Office of the Iranian Army's Navy.

The drill was aimed at boosting combat readiness and implementing bilateral agreements on maritime security.

Part of the maneuver involved military choppers providing support to surface combat units that included domestically-produced Iranian destroyers, Dena and Sahand, with both warships regarded as a symbol of national self-sufficiency in manufacturing maritime defense equipment, the report said.

As another part of the drill, Iranian drones and reconnaissance aircraft monitored traffic of military and cargo vessels.

Planning and coordination to successfully implement various scenarios by the two countries along with the joint command over the operation were an indication of capabilities of both sides and the important roles they play in establishing the security of the world's main energy highway in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, without the presence of extra-regional forces, the report said.

4194**7129

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran ready to improve military ties with Saudi Arabia: Cmdr.

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 30, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri has expressed Iran's readiness to upgrade the country's military relationship with Saudi Arabia.

In a phone conversation, Bagheri and Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia Khalid bin Salman Al Saud exchanged views on the issues of mutual interests on Thursday.

The Iranian commander expressed satisfaction with the development of amicable ties between the two nations and appreciated the Saudi government's efforts in hosting the extraordinary summit of the leaders of the member states of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The Saudi defense minister, for his part, welcomed the proposition of improving cooperation between the armed forces of the two nations.

The Iranian and Saudi officials also held talks on important issues concerning the Islamic world, and at the end of the phone call, the two sides invited each other to pay a visit to their respective countries.

4208**9417

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






President Raeisi skips Dubai summit due to Israeli attendance

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 7:32 PM

Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi will not attend the UN's COP28 climate summit in Dubai because of the presence of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, official news agency IRNA reports.

President Raeisi had been invited to the summit during UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan's meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdullahian on the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cape Town in June.

"Due to the invitation of the officials of the Zionist regime to attend the United Nations climate change meeting, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran is not participating" in the event, IRNA said on Thursday.

Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian had instead left for the United Arab Emirates to outline Iran's position on the ways to deal with air pollutants, it added.

Earlier Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian expressed Iran's thanks for the UAE president's invitation in a phone conversation with Sheikh Abdullah, during which he explained Iran's reservations about the presence of Israeli officials.

"While understanding the UN's COP28 climate summit being held under the chairmanship of the UAE, the presence of the authorities of the occupying regime of Israel in the meeting is worthy of serious consideration in view of the recent war crimes and genocide of the Zionist regime," he said.

An Israeli delegation of 28 officials will attend this year's annual United Nations climate summit COP28, which kicked off Thursday. It is reportedly down from the 1,000-strong group the foreign ministry had originally planned to send, including Herzog and hardline prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Amir-Abdollahian touched on the temporary ceasefire in Gaza, saying "the Islamic countries must continue their efforts to completely stop the war crimes of the Zionist regime and open wide routes for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza".

The Iranian foreign minister also said the UN Security Council is expected to fulfill its duties towards the Palestinian people by issuing an effective resolution.

Sheikh Abdullah explained his country's efforts to establish a ceasefire, saying the UAE will make every effort to continue the truce and step up the sending of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 9:38 AM

Iran's highest-ranking military commander says the country's Armed Forces are fully prepared to promote military ties with Saudi Arabia.

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri made the announcement in a phone conversation with Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Thursday.

Baqeri hailed the two countries' efforts to improve amicable relations and Riyadh's hosting of an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Israel's brutal attacks against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Salman, for his part, said Saudi Arabia welcomes the improvement of cooperation between the two countries' Armed Forces.

Baqeri and Salman also discussed key issues of the Muslim world and invited each other to visit their respective countries.

Back in March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed under a Chinese-brokered deal to restore diplomatic relations severed in 2016.

As part of a joint statement issued by the two sides, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to implement a security cooperation agreement signed in April 2001 and another accord reached in May 1998 to boost ties in various sectors.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The UK, France and Germany have issued a joint statement in response to Iran's announcement on the unveiling of the Fattah-2 missile system.

30 November 2023

E3 statement on Iranian Fattah-2 missile announcement:

The E3 - France, Germany and the United Kingdom - condemn the unveiling of a further new ballistic missile variant by Iran on 19th November. Iran continues to develop its missile programme despite repeated international calls to halt it, and after years of disregarding UN restrictions.

Iran's continued development of its ballistic missile programme follows continued nuclear escalation, beyond all credible civilian justification, and previously conducted research on nuclear weapons delivery. These escalations also highlight the grave threat Iran poses to global and regional security.

The E3 remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to holding Iran to account for its destabilising activity around the region and internationally.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Kirya

Tel Aviv, Israel

November 30, 2023

DEFENSE MINISTER GALLANT: Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Mr. Minister, good to be with you.

DEFENSE MINISTER GALLANT: Thank you for coming. Thank you for being here in the middle of the war, the just war, for the future of the Jewish people and for the future of Israel. We appreciate very much your personal commitment to this just war, and we are going to fight Hamas till we prevail, no matter how long it takes. It's a just war. It's a war to end Hamas, the ISIS of Gaza. And it's a war to bring the hostages back home - as long as it takes. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much, Yoav. First, I should say, again, this day started off in a terrible and very negative way with another terrorist attack that took the lives of innocent Israelis in Jerusalem, a reminder of what Israel and what 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.

At the same time, this was the seventh day of the humanitarian pause, the seventh day of hostages coming home to their loved ones. And I know that for Israel, for the United States, for a number of other countries around the world who have their citizens being held hostage by Hamas, we want every hostage to come home. And so we look to see if this can continue. Certainly that would be a good thing. It's also allowed much more humanitarian assistance to get in to the Gazans who need it, but it's going to be up to Hamas whether they will continue to do this.

We had a very good conversation session earlier today with the prime minister, with the war cabinet. I appreciated the discussion we had. I'll have more to say about that later today. And again, look forward to our conversation now. Thank you.

DEFENSE MINISTER GALLANT: Thank you. With your permission, can I say a few words in Hebrew?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Of course, of course.

DEFENSE MINISTER GALLANT: (In Hebrew.)

(In English) Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 30, 2023

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli War Cabinet in Jerusalem. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' support for Israel's right to protect itself from terrorist violence in compliance with international humanitarian law and urged Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm.

Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages. They also spoke about the need to accelerate the delivery of critical, life-saving humanitarian assistance to Gaza. 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. Secretary Blinken reiterated that the United States remains committed to tangible steps to advance a Palestinian state living in peace, freedom, and security alongside Israel.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Myanmar exile government seeks foothold by supporting overseas workers

Amid death threats and disappearances, the National Unity Government takes on hundreds of labor dispute cases.

Special for RFA 2023.11.30 -- Some 210,000 migrants from Myanmar have flooded into Thailand over the past two years under a renewed bilateral labor agreement with Myanmar's 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, it's not Myanmar's 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, Myanmar's 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, NUG's 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 they're denied compensation, according to the ministry.

"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 NUG's 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 don't want it taken to higher Thai authorities, but others simply don't acknowledge the communication they receive from his office.

"On one hand, the [employment] agencies are not taking responsibility, on the other hand, we haven't got the legal or entity status in Thailand. It's very, very challenging."

Limited capacity

Despite its efforts, the NUG has struggled to establish a strong presence in Thailand's foreign policy arena, and Naing Htun Oo lamented that the lack of formal recognition has significantly hindered the government in exile's 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.

Surachanee Sriyai, a visiting fellow from the Yusof Ishak Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, notes that with Thailand's 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 Thailand's Pheu Thai Party, there is potential to include Myanmar's non-junta actors in future track 1.5 or track two diplomacy.

"It's 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. "That's also overall good for the Burmese workers, for sure. But is that good enough for the NUG?"

Safety risks

The NUG isn't seeking a foothold in Thailand alone. As Myanmar nationals are regularly sent to other East and Southeast Asian countries for jobs, the government is also working to establish a presence in Malaysia and South Korea.

But a more pronounced role can come with serious risks. While the NUG's 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.

Thuzar Maung served as the NUG's 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 Maung's abduction, the NUG has not appointed a successor for her.

The situation is not that different for Naing Htun Oo in Thailand. He said despite the volume of workers he assists year-round, he's received threats from Myanmar embassy staff appointed by the junta.

"When I receive the complaints from the Burmese migrant workers, even though I'm 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Chin allied resistance claims big junta losses in western Myanmar

Roughly 30 junta soldiers surrendered to an Indian border group, locals said.

By RFA Burmese 2023.11.30 -- Allied resistance armies seized two towns in northwestern Myanmar, one of the groups said this week.

The joint forces captured Matupi township's 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 Wednesday's 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 Lalengpi's 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 state's junta spokesman Kyaw Soe Win, but phone calls went unanswered on Wednesday.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hospitals under fire amid widening Myanmar conflict

Three facilities were damaged in clashes in the third week of November alone.

By RFA Burmese 2023.11.30 -- At least three hospitals were damaged in clashes between Myanmar's 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 d'etat and launched a scorched earth offensive targeting the armed opposition.

A resident of Rakhine's 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 facility's 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 Sagaing's 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 state's Pangsang township and Rakhine state's 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 Rakhine's 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 Shan's 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 Ta'ang 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 Ta'ang Women's 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 Naing's concerns over the junta's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






In rare admission, junta chief acknowledges military losses in Shan state

But Min Aung Hlaing chalks rebel victories up to aid from 'foreign experts' and drone attacks.

By RFA Burmese 2023.11.30 -- Myanmar's 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 campaign's 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 Ta'ang 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 alliance's 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 military's entire 125th Light Infantry Battalion in Shan's 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.

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 don't 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 country's 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 Myanmar's various ethnic rebel forces is even more opaque.

Blaming China for losses?

Political and military commentator Than Soe Naing said Thursday that Min Aung Hlaing's comments, taken together with those he made earlier this month, appear to blame China for the junta's defeats in northern Shan state.

"It was simply good military strategy by the Three Brotherhood Alliance's 'Operation 1027' that forced the military's 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Chinese military 'highly concerned' over situation in northern Myanmar: defense ministry

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 01, 2023 12:53 AM

The Chinese military is highly concerned and will be prepared for all kinds of possible emergencies that might occur along the China-Myanmar border, a Chinese defense ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, urging relevant parties to stop the fighting in northern Myanmar as soon as possible and resolve differences through dialogue.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian made the remarks at a regular press conference on Thursday.

China is closely following the situation in northern Myanmar and has worked actively to encourage talks for peace, Wu said.

According to an annual training schedule, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command organized its army troops and launched a three-day combat exercise on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border starting Saturday.

Wu said that the goal of the exercise by the PLA Southern Theater Command is to test the troops' capabilities in areas such as fast maneuverability and border blockades, so as to better safeguard security and stability in the border region and defend people's lives and properties.

The exercise is part of the defense of China's national sovereignty and security and safeguarding stability along the China-Myanmar border amid domestic conflict in Myanmar, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday.

China's perspective is that Myanmar should stop its domestic fighting as soon as possible, and only a peaceful, unified and stable Myanmar can provide the basis for economic development, Song said.

On Monday afternoon, the PLA Navy's 44th escort task force started a four-day friendly visit to Myanmar, as the Type 052D destroyer Zibo and the Type 054A frigate Jingzhou arrived in Yangon, the PLA Navy said in a press release on Tuesday.

It marked the sixth time a PLA Navy warship group has visited Myanmar, the PLA Navy said.

Song said that the PLA Navy vessels' visit to Myanmar is a prescheduled arrangement and is not related to the current conflict in the country.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






4th Round of Pakistan-China Maritime Dialogue

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The 4th round of Pakistan-China Maritime Dialogue was held on 30 November 2023 in Islamabad. Director General (China) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Mohammad Aamir Khan, and Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of Chinese MFA, Wang Jinfeng, co-chaired the consultations.

Deputy Director General Wang Jinfeng later called on Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Secretary (Asia-Pacific) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the session, an in-depth exchange of views on the entire spectrum of bilateral maritime cooperation was held including naval exchanges, regional cooperation, development of maritime infrastructure, collaboration in fisheries, science and technology, search and rescue missions, maritime disaster management and combating maritime pollution. The two sides expressed satisfaction at time-tested Pakistan-China friendship and All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries while committing to further expanding bilateral maritime cooperation since the 3rd round.

The two sides also noted the evolving regional and global maritime changes and agreed that their mutual cooperation was in-line with their shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.

Emphasizing the need to advance practical cooperation to jointly respond to emerging threats and challenges, the two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of bilateral exchanges and to promote ties between the navies of the two countries.

The Chinese side thanked Pakistan for extending hospitality and warm reception to the Chinese delegation.

It was agreed that the 5th round of Maritime Dialogue will be held in China next year.

Islamabad

30 November 2023

219/2023

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia: OSCE turning into appendage of West, in 'deplorable state'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 November 2023 5:17 PM

The Russian foreign minister says the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is in a critical situation, and its future is "unclear."

In his address to the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, Sergei Lavrov said after decades of work, the organization "is now in a deplorable state, and its prospects remain unclear."

The OSCE was founded to ease tensions between the East and the West during the Cold War. It helps its members to coordinate on issues such as human rights and arms control.

Russia accuses the organization of turning away from its founding principles.

Lavrov said after the end of the Cold War, the OSCE was supposed to become an inclusive platform for creating sustainable security architecture in Europe and promoting international cooperation. "Unfortunately, Western political elites, arrogating to themselves the right to shape the future of mankind, made a short-sighted choice in favor... of NATO."

"The OSCE is essentially being turned into an appendage to NATO and the EU. The organization - let's face it - is on the brink of the abyss. Here is a simple question: Does it make sense to invest energy in its revival?"

The foreign minister said a campaign by Western states to thwart the OSCE's renaissance is going on by creating parallel institutions that in practice seek to alienate Russia and Belarus.

Lavrov said the United States and its European allies have virtually destroyed any chance of broad-based East-West cooperation by imposing unprecedented sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. In this sense, the European Union, which supported the restrictions, "continues to dutifully play its unenviable role and bear the brunt of the consequences of America's Ukraine adventure, while humbly abandoning those forms of economic partnership that have ensured the [bloc's] prosperity... for many decades."

The Russian foreign minister also accused the West of waging a "hybrid war" against Russia and said the European Union had become an "aggressive political project."

Russia says the OSCE's agenda is "almost completely Ukrainized."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






'Shameful And Absurd': Russian Supreme Court Declares LGBT 'Movement' Extremist

By Current Time November 30, 2023

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."

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-lgbt-supreme- court-rights-movement/32708163.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks during the 30th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, Skopje, November 30, 2023

30 November 2023 16:18

2442-30-11-2023

Mr Acting Chairman-in-Office,

Madam Secretary General,

Colleagues,

In just over a year, the Helsinki Final Act will mark its 50th anniversary. Regrettably, the OSCE is approaching this milestone in a lamentable condition, and its prospects remain uncertain.

After the Cold War and the ideological confrontation ended, there emerged a historic opportunity for the OSCE's unifying capacity to be utilised to its full potential in order to turn the organisation into a platform for broad-based pan-European cooperation and to make it a central element in shaping inclusive architecture of equal and indivisible security in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic region across all three dimensions.

Acting within the military-political basket, participating states adopted a number of fundamental documents aimed at creating a Europe without dividing lines in the broadest sense of the term, and emphasising the unacceptability of enhancing one's own security at the expense of the security of others. These documents include the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990), the Charter for European Security (1999), and the Astana Declaration (2010).

For its part, Russia did all it could to achieve these noble goals. Our numerous initiatives, including the conclusion of the Treaty on European Security and the creation of a cooperation-based common security space were geared towards achieving these objectives.

Unfortunately, Western political elites appropriated the role of rulers of humanity's destiny and made a shortsighted choice in favour of NATO rather than the OSCE. They embraced a philosophy of containment, geopolitical zero-sum games, and the leader-follower logic. The bloc's reckless expansion to the East, which started after the dissolution of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation, was a key component of this approach. On the face of it, though, the end of bipolar confrontation rendered the continued existence of the North Atlantic Alliance meaningless.

NATO and EU member states have destroyed the military-political dimension of the OSCE. In 1999, NATO committed an act of an unabashed and violent aggression against Yugoslavia, a member of the OSCE and the UN. In 2008, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the principle of the inviolability of borders in Europe enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, Kosovo was separated from Serbia without a referendum.

At the 2008 Bucharest Summit, NATO countries which are also OSCE participants tempted Tbilisi and Kiev with a promise of NATO membership. Their goal was simple and straightforward: to pit them against Russia. Mikheil Saakashvili, who came to power as a result of the West-supported Rose Revolution, worked off the carte blanche issued to him in Bucharest in full, as he ordered Georgian forces to bomb the South Ossetian cities and to attack the positions of the peacekeepers stationed there with the consent of the OSCE. The United States was behind this provocation. Some time earlier, Washington launched a Georgia Train and Equip Programme which Saakashvili obediently carried out.

Creating an anti-Russian foothold in Ukraine required much more - a bloody coup in 2014 and eight years of Western-backed punitive operations against the people of Donbass carried out in violation of the UN Security Council-approved Minsk Package of Measures. I would like to once again remind you of the cynical confessions by former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, ex-President of France FranAois Hollande and ex-President of Ukraine Petr Poroshenko, who said that the purpose of the Minsk agreements was not to achieve peace in Ukraine, but to give the Kiev regime time to build up its military capability against Russia.

A list of sabotaged attempts to resolve urgent problems of Europe based on OSCE principles also includes the Dmitry Kozak Memorandum that could have achieved a reliable settlement in Moldova 20 years ago. At that time, NATO and the EU unceremoniously torpedoed the document that had already been initialed by Chisinau and Tiraspol. Now they are killing the 5+2 format that is the last remnant of the joint efforts to reach a settlement in Transnistria.

In effect, Moldova is destined to fall the next victim in the West-unleashed hybrid war against Russia. This should give food for thought to every country where Western emissaries, funds and so-called NGOs are now active.

At US prompting, NATO members blocked the entry in force of the CFE Treaty Adaptation Agreement and ignored Russia's specific proposals to restore the viability of conventional arms control measures in Europe. The Americans buried the Open Skies Treaty and devalued many other fundamental documents aimed at building up trust in the area of security.

The genuine intentions of the Western politicians again revealed themselves when Washington and Brussels rejected Russia's December 2021 proposals on legally binding security guarantees in Europe. They did not even want to talk to us. On January 28, 2022, I sent a message to the foreign ministers of the US and other NATO countries. I asked them to interpret the commitments assumed at the highest level within the OSCE not to enhance one's own security at the expense of the security of others, but nobody bothered to reply to my question. Instead, they sent us empty papers from the EU's foreign policy service and the NATO Secretary-General to which this message was not even addressed. The gist of the Western position is as follows: We could not care less what our presidents and prime ministers signed within the OSCE; NATO alone can provide legal security guarantees. This is how this group headed by the "exceptional" power treats our organisation for which it has obviously lost all respect.

The plight of the OSCE's second basket is no less sad. In a bid to crush the Russian economy, the United States and its European satellites have introduced thousands of anti-Russia sanctions, thereby making impossible any significant East-West practical cooperation in what was once our common region. The Kiev regime is Washington's investment into its egoistic interests of deterring Russia and resolving its own problems at the expense of others. This applies to the removal of economic competitors, primarily the EU. Regardless of anything, the European Union continues obediently playing the unenviable role assigned to it. It bears the brunt of the consequences of the US adventure in Ukraine. The EU is humbly renouncing the forms of economic partnership that ensured its prosperity for many decades. One gets the impression that the EU has given up the initial goals of its founders to enhance the prosperity of the member-states' citizens and turned into an aggressive geopolitical project - largely due to the efforts of the Brussels bureaucracy.

Speaking about the OSCE's destiny, it is impossible to leave out the human dimension. Its members filled this basket with a big set of commitments addressed to all - I repeat - all participants.

However, the problem of equality and objectivity is also moving to the fore. Without any rules and procedures, the ODIHR has focused exclusively on the countries "to the east of Vienna." OSCE observers come to elections with conclusions made in advance. Meanwhile, ODIHR ignores numerous human rights violations in the West. The Moscow mechanism with its engaged experts is also thoroughly carrying out a political order. A representative on freedom of the media keeps silent when non-Western media are subjected to reprisals.

For many years, we have been unable to come to terms on the agenda of the Human Dimension Conference, partly because some delegations are stubbornly opposing the inclusion of the neo-Nazi problem. It is revealing that this is being done at a time when Nazi ideology and practices and other forms of racial and religious intolerance are on the rise in Europe, especially in Ukraine and the Baltic countries. They are glorifying Hitler's collaborationists, crushing monuments to liberator-soldiers and giving a legislative seal of approval to these criminal actions.

The ruling neo-Nazi regime in Kiev has surpassed even the Baltic States in its legislative efforts to eradicate everything Russian. They deny even the existence of the Russians and their decisive contribution to Ukraine's history. People in Ukraine are prohibited from communicating, reading, or receiving instruction in their native language, or accessing Russian-language media and culture. Examples abound, but the OSCE and its relevant institutions remain silent. They were silent when the Kiev regime made exceptions from blatantly discriminatory national language legislation only for languages spoken in the European Union, not Russian. "Enlightened" Brussels said nothing either about the importance of respecting numerous UN, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe conventions guaranteeing equal rights to all ethnic minorities.

The other day, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, didn't even blink when he stated that there were "no and may be no Russian minorities" in Ukraine. It appears that the Ukrainian parliament speaker has never read the following: "In Ukraine, the free development, use and protection of Russian, and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine, is guaranteed. The State promotes the consolidation and development of the Ukrainian nation, of its historical consciousness, traditions and culture, and also the development of the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of all indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine. The content and scope of existing rights and freedoms shall not be diminished. There shall be no privileges or restrictions based on race, colour of skin, political, religious and other beliefs. Citizens who belong to national minorities are guaranteed in accordance with the law the right to receive instruction in their native language."

These are just a few quotes from the current Constitution of Ukraine, which no one has repealed, and to which Vladimir Zelensky, and before him, Petr Poroshenko, took an oath amid applause from the West. However, everyone, including the OSCE, the Venice Commission, the EU, and the United States, is silent again and oblivious of the violation of Ukraine's fundamental law.

Emboldened by the silence coming from the West, the Kiev regime unleashed an abhorrent campaign against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which included the seizure of churches, persecution of believers, and physical violence against clergy.

Please note that these human rights abuses did not begin in February 2022, but shortly after the bloody coup in February 2014, when neo-Nazis seized power and tore up the settlement agreement which had been signed the day before and guaranteed by Germany, Poland, and France which quickly reconciled themselves to this humiliation.

Considering this background, the Brussels leadership's mantras to the effect that Zelensky "defends European values" in everything that he is doing are stunning. Now they want to expedite access to the EU for the Kiev regime. Nazis are being moved to the front of the line, so to say. It's a shame.

Hence, the question: Why do we need flawed human rights institutions that are used as a tool by those who are set on privatising the secretariats of international organisations to suit their own needs? What interests of pan-European security and cooperation does such an OSCE serve?

The current situation is a direct consequence of the persistent attempts by our Western neighbours to ensure their dominance, as they shamelessly use the OSCE to aggressively push through their self-serving interests and consciously undermine the fundamental principle of consensus and the culture of diplomacy. An unbiased person can clearly see that addressing European security issues in a serious and honest manner is impossible with this approach. However, Western capitals demonstrate enviable obsessiveness as they finish off the chances for the OSCE's revival. They have created a "European political community" without Russia and Belarus. Thus, another dividing line on our continent has been drawn, which destroys the OSCE space. Those behind this venture should seriously consider how their creation correlates with the noble ideals promoted by the founding fathers of the Helsinki process and the authors of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe.

As is customary, we conclude our remarks at our meetings on an optimistic and positive note. However, there are no particular reasons to be optimistic now. Essentially, the OSCE is being reformatted to become an appendage of NATO and the EU. This organisation (let's face it) is on the brink of the abyss. Hence, a simple question: Does it make any sense to invest in any effort to revive it? Can it ever adapt to objective global realities and once again become a platform for addressing regional security issues based on the Helsinki Final Act principles, primarily the principle of equality of all participating countries? So far, there have been many more questions than answers.

Meanwhile, life goes on. Eurasian integration and equal cooperation based on a fair balance of interests are proceeding on our continent in constructive formats, regardless of the OSCE drowning under the confrontational agenda that was imposed on it.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan

30 November 2023 14:54

2440-30-11-2023

On November 30, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov had a brief conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Skopje.

The foreign ministers discussed topical issues on the bilateral agenda, as well as cooperation on international platforms and in common integration associations.

There was an exchange of views on regional issues. The Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to vigorously promote Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation on the basis of the set of trilateral agreements signed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020-2022, including efforts to conclude a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku.

The ministers confirmed the need for further contacts at various levels.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto

30 November 2023 14:45

2439-30-11-2023

On November 30, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto as part of the 30th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje.

They compared positions on a wide range of practical issues of bilateral cooperation with a focus on the implementation of the agreements confirmed in Beijing on October 17, 2023 during the meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.

They exchanged views on key issues related to OSCE activities and topical international problems, including the situation in Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council meeting

30 November 2023 01:12

2434-30-11-2023

On November 30 and December 1, the OSCE Ministerial Council will meet in Skopje, North Macedonia, for its 30th regular meeting, which Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to attend.

The OSCE Ministerial Council is the second top governing body, which convenes in years when summit meetings are not held. The most recent OSCE summit was held in 2010 in Astana. The Council's meetings usually take place in the country holding the rotating OSCE chairmanship. In 2023, that position is held by the Republic of North Macedonia. The OSCE foreign ministers gather to discuss the implementation of decisions and to coordinate mid-term goals. The Council also serves as a platform for the political dialogue among member states.

The main theme at the upcoming meeting will be the crisis situation within the OSCE. We hope to be able to discuss all the outstanding issues and to address a number of administrative and personnel issues essential for the organisation's normal functioning next year. Decisions within the OSCE are made based on consensus.

The current profound crisis within the OSCE is the result of destructive actions by certain Western countries, which are using the organisation in their own interests and violating its fundamental principles. The OSCE agenda has been focused on Ukraine since 2022, with annual consensus events being replaced by uncoordinated formats in all three areas of OSCE operation: the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human dimensions.

Russian delegates at OSCE governing body meetings consistently draw attention to the most pressing issues within the organisation's zone of responsibility, such as combating terrorism and drug trafficking, safeguarding traditional values, countering neo-Nazism, preventing the distortion of history, and addressing Christianophobia and Islamophobia. Russia consistently urges member states to unite in these areas.

The Russian delegation to the OSCE regularly updates the delegations of other member states on progress towards the objectives of the special military operation and provides objective information regarding war crimes committed by the Kiev regime, attacks on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the extensive campaign in Ukraine to "cancel" the Russian language and culture, and the persecution of Russian media. We also publicly disclose information about the reckless policy of the Western alliance in perpetuating the conflict in Ukraine through the provision of NATO weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces.

The conceptual foundations of building an equal and indivisible security were enshrined in the primary instruments of the CSCE/OSCE: the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990), the Charter for European Security (1999) and the Astana Declaration (2010). A series of agreements was developed on a broad range of military and political issues that are included in the first-basket competences. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) was signed in 1990 to eliminate military formations from the Cold War era. Continuous improvements were made to the Vienna Document on confidence and security-building measures. The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 1992, and the Forum for Security Cooperation was established the same year. The forum participants approved an entire range of foundational documents: the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security; the principles governing non-proliferation and transfer of conventional weapons; the Global Exchange of Military Information; the Stabilising Measures for Localised Crisis Situations. The Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition were approved in 2000. Currently, however, these documents have little effect.

Over time, more issues have arisen in relation to implementing these agreements, largely due to the destructive stance of the NATO member states. One example is the situation with the CFE. After Russia completed its withdrawal from the treaty on November 7, there have been attempts to accuse the Russian side of undermining Europe's control over arms. However, it is important to note that Russia ratified the Adapted CFE Treaty in 2004, while the NATO countries blocked its implementation and ignored Russia's specific proposals on restoring the viability of the conventional weapons control regime in Europe. Considering NATO's direct responsibility for provoking the conflict in Ukraine as well as allowing Finland to join the alliance and considering an accession application from Sweden, maintaining the CFE even nominally became unacceptable from the perspective of Russia's basic security interests.

The OSCE's economic and environmental activities have also become politicised. The constructive work on economic and environmental issues has been overshadowed by empty slogans and unrelated speculations. While the European Union is compelled to prioritise the economic interests of its American partners over its own under pressure from the United States, the space for constructive discussion on second-dimension topics within the OSCE is steadily shrinking.

The Organisation's work in the humanitarian dimension has been complicated by thematic and geographical imbalances. There are serious complaints about the competent executive bodies of the OSCE (the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Representative on Freedom of the Media and the High Commissioner on National Minorities). These bodies have shown political bias on multiple occasions in the past years, especially the ODIHR, which conducts a highly biased monitoring of the human rights situation in countries to the east of Vienna and issues opinions on election results before elections take place.

The incumbent Representative on Freedom of the Media has openly taken a politically biased stance, thus discrediting the work of this OSCE institution. This executive body deliberately ignores grave violations of the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking journalists and media outlets, complying exclusively with pro-Western principles on media issues.

On the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Skopje, the head of the Russian delegation plans to hold bilateral talks with representatives from OSCE member states and senior OSCE officials.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






OSCE Understands Impossible to Discuss Europe's Fate Without Russia

Sputnik News

20231130

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The logic that it is impossible to discuss Europe's fate without Russia has prevailed in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

The Russian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is participating in the OSCE ministerial meeting in North Macedonia on Thursday.

"The logic prevailed that without Russia's participation, everyone who knows the map of Europe understands the significance of our country and this is not only geography, it is also significant in terms of energy, economics, security, and the humanitarian sphere. This means that the logic prevailed that discussing the problems of the European continent from the point of view of security and cooperation as a whole without Russia makes no sense," Zakharova told the Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Navy Gets Two New Nuclear Submarines - Source

Sputnik News

20231130

The Alexander III, a strategic nuclear submarine known as Project 955A or Borey-A, joined the fleet as the seventh ship in the Borey/Borey-A series (code 955/955A). Additionally, the Krasnoyarsk, a multipurpose vessel, became the fourth ship in the Yasen/Yasen-M series (code 885/885M).

Two nuclear submarines - the strategic Alexander III and the multipurpose Krasnoyarsk - have been handed over to the Russian Navy, a source in the military-industrial complex told Sputnik.

"The acceptance documents on the transfer to the fleet of two submarines Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk, which were built at Sevmash, have been signed. The official flag-raising ceremony on the two nuclear-powered missile carriers will take place after December 10," the source said.

According to the source, a ship is considered to have been accepted into the Navy's combat service only after the St. Andrew's Navy flag is hoisted on it.

"Technically, the ships have been handed over," the source noted.

Yesterday, the fifth submarine of the Yasen-M project, the Arkhangelsk, was launched at the Sevmash shipyard. Presently, the Navy has three Yasen project submarines, namely Severodvinsk (code 885), Kazan (code 885M), and Novosibirsk (code 885M), all equipped with Oniks and Kalibr missiles. Furthermore, these submarines will soon be armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Taiwan armed forces simulate Chinese military landing in Kaohsiung

ROC Central News Agency

11/30/2023 10:25 PM

Kaohsiung, Nov. 30 (CNA) A simulation of a Chinese military beach landing was staged in Kaohsiung on Thursday, enabling Taiwan's armed forces to review locations used to deploy defensive units, a military official told CNA anonymously.

The drill was conducted on Sizhiwan beach, as it has been listed as a potential landing point for Chinese forces in the event of an attack against Taiwan, the official said.

The exercise began with three AAV-7 amphibious landing vehicles being dispatched from a Chung Ho-class tank landing vessel off the coast of Kaohsiung, covered by attack boats operated by special forces.

The first AAV-7 landed on Sizhiwan beach north of Kaohsiung Harbor and used a MK154 mine clearance launcher to remove mines and other obstacles on the beach.

It was followed by two other vehicles, which lingered on the beach for a few minutes before all three AAV-7s returned to the tank landing vessel.

This was the first time such a landing exercise was carried out in Sizhiwan, the official said, noting that the drill will be used by Taiwan's armed forces to better plan the deployment of its units, to eliminate the possibility of Chinese forces conducting amphibious assaults.

The AAV-7 vehicles were first deployed in a similar simulation in April at Jhihben beach in Taitung County ahead of the annual Han Kuang military exercises in late July.

Jhibben beach is also listed as a potential attack point in a landing assault scenario by Chinese forces.

(By Tsai Meng-yu and Kay Liu)

Enditem/AW

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China too 'overwhelmed' by internal challenges to invade Taiwan: Tsai

ROC Central News Agency

11/30/2023 02:17 PM

Taipei, Nov. 30 (CNA) China has its hands full with its current economic and political problems and is therefore unlikely to attempt an invasion of Taiwan soon, President Tsai Ing-wen (ee) said.

"I think the Chinese leadership, at this juncture, is overwhelmed by its internal challenges," Tsai said, in a pre-recorded interview for the New York Times' DealBook Summit. "My thought is that perhaps this is not the time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan."

Tsai, whose second and final term in office will end next May, said that aside from its internal issues, China has also been facing international pressure to avoid a military attack on Taiwan.

"The international community has made it loud and clear that war is not on option and that peace and stability is in everybody's interests," she said.

On the topic of Taiwan-U.S. relations, interviewer Andrew Ross Sorkin asked Tsai if she was worried that Washington's efforts to revive domestic semiconductor production would ultimately make its relationship with Taiwan "less valuable."

In response, Tsai said Taiwan has more value than just its semiconductor production, and she cited the example of the clusters of industries built around chip manufacturing.

"We're pretty confident that the capacity we have now, and the importance of our industry, cannot be replaced anywhere else," Tsai said.

Sorkin also pressed Tsai on what she thought the United States' real "policy in practice" would be in terms of defending Taiwan.

While the U.S. has historically maintained a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on the issue, President Joe Biden has said several times in recent years that U.S. forces would intervene in the event of a major Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Tsai replied that the people of Taiwan are grateful for the support of the U.S., but remain "resolute in our commitment to self-defense" and "clear-headed" about the fact that one is responsible for protecting one's homeland.

Regarding Taiwan's presidential elections on Jan. 13 to pick her successor, Tsai said China would try to influence the outcome, through actions such as military threats, economic coercion and media campaigns, as it has done in past Taiwan elections since 1996.

"Instead of wishing for the day when Beijing would give up on these tactics, we should rather focus on strengthening the resilience of our democracy," she said.

(By Wen Kuei-hsiang and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/pc

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Defence Secretary sends Royal Navy destroyer east of Suez to safeguard security in the Gulf

HMS Diamond has set sail to bolster UK naval forces across the Middle East.

30 November 2023

HMS Diamond is en route to join Operation Kipion, the UK's maritime presence in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, the Defence Secretary has announced.

As a powerful demonstration of the UK's commitment to regional security, the Type 45 Destroyer will bolster the UK's naval presence in the Gulf and work to deter escalations from malign and hostile actors who seek to disrupt maritime security.

The Type 45 destroyer will conduct operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the region, reassure merchant vessels and ensure the safe flow of trade. She will join HMS Lancaster, which deployed to the region last year, as well as three mine hunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) support ship.

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. 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.

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.

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 additional deployment of HMS Diamond, one of the Royal Navy's most advanced vessels, will significantly bolster international efforts to protect maritime security in the region.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Royal Navy task force to deploy with JEF partners to defend undersea cables

Six Royal Navy warships, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, and a Royal Air Force maritime patrol aircraft will form the UK's contribution to the JEF deployment.

30 November 2023

A Royal Navy task force of seven ships will deploy with allies early next month to jointly patrol areas with vulnerable undersea critical infrastructure, following an unprecedented agreement by ministers of the ten JEF nations.

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 - supported by a Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The contingent will depart in early December to join other ships and aircraft from JEF participant nations to launch joint patrols, with vessels spaced to cover a wide area from the English Channel to the Baltic Sea - demonstrating the interoperability between JEF nations in the maritime and air domains.

It comes after defence ministers from all ten JEF nations met on Tuesday and unanimously agreed to activate a protocol mobilising military assets from across participant nations - known as a JEF Response Option (JRO) - for the first time in JEF's history.

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 today's 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.

During the deployment, ships and aircraft from JEF nations will work together to carry out deterrent patrol in areas of key interest, as well as to deepen surveillance around offshore assets and share intelligence.

The patrols will ensure an extended security presence, picking up from NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activity which took place in the Baltic Sea region throughout November.

The agreement comes following an extraordinary meeting of JEF defence ministers to discuss options for joint activity to defend offshore critical infrastructure, after an increase in attacks and threats.

Ministers from the ten JEF nations issued a joint statement following Tuesday's virtual meeting, highlighting the significance of the first activation of a bespoke JRO - providing a tangible demonstration of the JEF as a credible contributor to Northern European security.

The JEF is a group of like-minded nations - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The nations share the same purpose, values and a common focus on security and stability in the JEF core regions of the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea region.

At a meeting of leaders from the JEF nations last month, the Prime Minister vowed to step up the UK's military presence in northern Europe - deploying more than 20,000 troops to the region next year, with the intent to combat emerging hybrid threats and to defend critical national infrastructure.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Norway donates NOK 250 million to food security in Ukraine through the Nansen programme

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 30/11/2023

Today, at the food security summit in Ukraine, Norway will announce NOK 200 million 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.

At today's Second International Summit on Food Security, Norway will announce support totaling NOK 250 million to Ukraine under the five-year support programme for Ukraine. NOK 50 million will be allocated to the "Grain from Ukraine" programme administered by the World Food Programme.

'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 is one example of how we manage to combine those efforts,' said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

An additional NOK 150 million 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.

NOK 50 million will be allocated to the World Bank's Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF). The Bank's agricultural programme, ARISE (Ukraine Agriculture Recovery Inclusive Support Emergency), is providing access to affordable financing to farmers in Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Krisjanis Karins reiterates his call on Poland to find an immediate solution to the tense situation at the border with Ukraine

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

30.11.2023

On November 30, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krisjanis Karins, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek, who has arrived in Latvia for a working visit. The Ministers discussed the burgeoning situation at the Polish-Ukrainian border, priority matters for the European Union, and the issues of bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Poland.

Krisjanis Karins emphasized that blockading of cargo transport at the Polish-Ukrainian border has been causing significant losses to the European Union Member States and Ukraine alike. The Latvian Foreign Minister repeatedly called on Poland to urgently find, in cooperation with Ukraine, a solution to increasing the speed of border crossing. The Polish Foreign Minister confirmed that efforts were being made to come up with a solution, and the situation would improve soon.

Ministers also discussed the need to launch, as soon as possible, the EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and the integration of the two countries into the EU.

Krisjanis Karins commended the close bilateral relations and active political dialogue between Latvia and Poland. The Minister thanked Poland for its contribution to the strengthening of security in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO-Ukraine Council holds first meeting at FM level

People's Daily Online

(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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Zelenskiy Discusses Need To Fortify Ukraine's Defenses Along Front

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 30, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy traveled to the southern region of Zaporizhzhya on November 30 for meetings with military leaders, saying afterward that the fortification of frontline areas should be accelerated.

Speaking in his evening address, Zelenskiy referred to areas of the Donetsk region, saying they will receive "maximum attention." He also noted the need to strengthen defensive lines at Lyman and Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, where he met earlier with Ukrainian troops and visited a school and an underground shelter.

He said one of his meetings in the Zaporizhzhya region was on the construction of fortifications "primarily [in] Avdiyivka and Maryinka and other areas in the Donetsk region." He also mentioned other regions, including Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv, which have been regularly targeted by Russian forces.

Zelenskiy also said he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and thanked them for their support.

"We have reasons to be grateful to our partners. All of our agreements are being put into action," he said. "We also coordinated new joint steps to protect our people, our Europe, and the international order."

Ukraine's commander in chief, General Valeriy Zaluzhniy, reported on November 30 that he spoke by phone with U.S. Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to discuss the situation at the front.

Zaluzhniy said on Facebook that he told Brown that Ukrainian troops are causing the enemy to suffer significant losses in troops and equipment across the front line, and Brown "agreed to continue joint work on finding technological solutions to gain superiority over the enemy in air, fire attack and demining."

During a stop earlier on November 30, Zelenskiy presented awards to soldiers in Kupyansk for their efforts to "protect the peaceful life of Ukrainians and the people of Kharkiv region," a statement from the president's office said.

Zelenskiy, who was accompanied by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and senior adviser Andriy Yermak, met with General Oleksandr Syrskiy, the commander of that sector of the front.

He was briefed on the situation along the Kupyansk-Lyman defense line, where Russian forces have been pushing in an attempt to regain territory they lost to a Ukrainian blitz offensive last year.

The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains difficult, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in its evening summary on November 30. There were 73 combat clashes along the front during the day, it said.

The General Staff also reported that Russian troops conducted "unsuccessful" assaults in a number of directions, including in Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Zaporizhzhya.

In Washington, White House national-security spokesman John Kirby said the United States has been working with Ukraine to prepare for an anticipated winter attack by Russia. Kirby said the United States expects Russia will again try to destroy Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure and has therefore been providing equipment and supplies to keep people from losing heat and electricity.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Russian troops carried out an air strike on the city of Toretsk in the Donetsk region on November 30, killing one person and injuring three others. Two people were rescued from the rubble of a house, which was destroyed in the attack, the service said on Telegram.

Russian shelling killed two people in Novogrodivka, a city about 90 kilometers southwest of Toretsk. A rescue operation was still ongoing late on November 30, the Interior Ministry said, adding that a family of three may be under the rubble.

Russian shelling earlier on November 30 killed one civilian and wounded five others in Darivka in the southern Kherson region, the press service of the regional military administration reported.

It said a dozen residential buildings, a kindergarten, and a hospital were damaged in the shelling.

In the eastern region of Donetsk, at least 10 civilians were wounded by Russian shelling overnight, regional Governor Ihor Moroz said on November 30.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Russian troops fired six S-300 missiles at Pokrovsk and shelled Myrnograd, a city east of Pokrovsk. Four of the 10 wounded people are children, he said.

"As a result of the shelling, 10 people were wounded, including four children. They are looking for five missing people under the rubble," Klymenko said.

Russian forces also shelled Ukraine's northeastern region of Sumy, the Prosecutor General's Office said on November 30, without giving details about casualties or damages.

Separately, Ukraine's air defense said it shot down 14 out of the 20 Iranian-made drones that Russia launched at Ukrainian territory early on November 30.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia- attacks-east-civilians/32707957.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Loses Up to 270 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day

Sputnik News

20231130

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine has lost up to 270 soldiers in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Thursday.

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.

"The enemy lost up to 270 soldiers, two infantry fighting vehicles and three pickup trucks [in the Donetsk direction]," the ministry said in a statement.

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.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister for Armed Forces calls out Russian aggression during OSCE Ministerial Council

Minister for Armed Forces attends OSCE Ministerial Council in North Macedonia to call out Russian aggression across Europe.

30 November 2023

Minister for Armed Forces attends OSCE Ministerial Council in North Macedonia to call out Russian aggression across Europe.

During the meeting, James Heappey addressed the Council to highlight the UK's resolute support for Ukraine - urging a united approach.

He reaffirmed the UK's strong support for the OSCE and its leadership - highlighting Russia's responsibility for undermining the institution.

In a meeting with the Minister of Defence of North Macedonia, he reaffirmed the UK's commitment to our bilateral defence relationship.

Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey travelled to Skopje, North Macedonia this week for the opening of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council.

Addressing OSCE participating states, the Minister underlined the value of the OSCE as a key pillar of Euro-Atlantic security, covering all aspects of security - from border security to election observation and minority rights.

Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey said:

The OSCE holds a vital role as a mechanism through which participant nations can hold Russia to account. During the meeting of the Ministerial Council, I made clear the UK's support for Ukraine is resolute, and we continue to encourage our partners and allies to continue their support for Ukraine and condemnation of Putin's barbaric actions.

During his visit to Skopje, the Minister also met with the Minister of Defence of North Macedonia, Slavjanka Petrovska. They discussed the UK's long-standing support for the Armed Forces of North Macedonia, the security situation in the Western Balkans and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Minister stressed that the UK remains committed to supporting North Macedonia with its NATO integration and thanked North Macedonia for its strong support for Ukraine, both in equipment and training of Ukrainian recruits.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






OSCE Ministerial Council Plenary 2023: UK statement

UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey says the UK will ensure that Ukraine prevails and that OSCE principles should be the foundation of peace in Europe.

30 November 2023

Thank you, Foreign Minister Osmani.

I wanted to begin by paying tribute to you, for your personal leadership of the OSCE in such difficult times. And to the Secretary General and her staff.

Our thoughts are with those OSCE personnel cruelly detained by Russia. They must be released, immediately.

As our new Foreign Secretary said at dinner last night, we face a daunting set of challenges. But these only make clear why we must back the OSCE.

The return of war to Europe only underlines the enduring value of this institution.

OSCE principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-use of force should be the foundation of peace on the European continent.

Russia has trampled on these principles with devastating results.

Ukraine is fighting not just for its freedom but the right of all nations to make sovereign choices free from coercion.

Sustaining Ukraine's success means sustaining our support.

The UK will continue to provide the economic, military, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to ensure that Ukraine prevails.

We want them to secure the lasting peace that their people deserve and that the European continent needs.

Nor can we waver in holding Russia to account for its actions against OSCE principles and commitments. Commitments that it co-wrote.

The OSCE has played a key role through the Moscow Mechanism reports in exposing the appalling reality of Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

Given the crucial role of the OSCE in holding Russia to account, it is no surprise to see their continued efforts to undermine this organisation.

We are delighted that in Malta we have a highly qualified Chair in Office.

But we also need an agreed and appropriate budget.

And above all we need institutional leadership as well.

All four job holders are carrying out their mandates extremely effectively and should be extended for at least a year.

The OSCE was forged in the middle of the Cold War.

Since then, it has had Britain's full support.

Russia is failing in its illegal war.

And failing in its attempts to disrupt this organisation.

We must deliver a strong, functioning and adequately resourced OSCE.

We owe it to the OSCE's founders, to our citizens, and to future generations to have an effective Organization.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






In Zaporizhzhia, President held a meeting on fortifications

President of Ukraine

30 November 2023 - 21:37

During a working trip to Zaporizhzhia region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the construction of fortifications.

The Head of State listened to the reports of Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and his First Deputy Oleksandr Pavliuk. Representatives of military administrations, local authorities and military commanders also delivered reports.

The participants of the meeting discussed the issue of fortification of strongholds and construction of fortifications on the main defense lines, in particular on the Avdiivka, Maryinka, Kupyansk-Lyman directions, as well as in the regions bordering the aggressor country and Belarus.

Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Yuriy Malashko reported on the construction of shelters in schools in the region.

The participants of the meeting paid special attention to mobilizing resources, in particular financing, for the construction of fortifications and to the formats of cooperation with private businesses that could be involved in performing such work or supplying the necessary materials.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that the proper fortification of defense lines must become a priority, particularly in the frontline regions.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed further defense cooperation with Olaf Scholz

President of Ukraine

30 November 2023 - 14:33

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.

The Head of State thanked the interlocutor for a powerful "winter" defense package from Germany, which includes four IRIS-T systems. The parties discussed further defense cooperation.

The President also expressed gratitude for the multi-year program of financial assistance from Germany.

"Along with Germany's significant reinforcement of our air defense, these are the best signs of unflagging support from your country. I highly appreciate that all our agreements are being fulfilled," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The leaders discussed the current situation on the battlefield. The President spoke about his morning visit to Kupyansk in Kharkiv region, as well as to Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa the day before.

Separately, the Head of State informed the interlocutor on the security situation in the Black Sea, the functioning of the "grain corridor" and the measures necessary to further protect civilian navigation in the region.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Germany for its participation in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, in particular for delegating a representative of Germany to the meeting of advisors in Malta and for the readiness to join the next consultations. The interlocutors coordinated positions in the run-up to the upcoming bilateral and multilateral events at various levels.

The President emphasized the importance of ensuring unity within the European Union in making a decision to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, as well as to allocate a50 billion in aid for the coming years.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






President of Ukraine visited the headquarters of the Defense Forces in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region

President of Ukraine

30 November 2023 - 13:06

During a working trip to Kharkiv region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the frontline command post of the defenders of Kupyansk and presented state awards.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov listened to a report by Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Commander of the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops Oleksandr Syrskyi on the operational situation in his area of responsibility. The plan for further actions of the military units was clarified, in particular, the defense of the Kupyansk - Lyman line.

In addition, information was provided by the commander of the Kupyansk tactical group, Oleksandr Lutsenko, and the commander of the 57th separate motorized infantry brigade named after Kish Ataman Kost Hordiienko, Oleksandr Bakulin.

The most vital needs of the defenders were also discussed: electronic warfare equipment, drones, protection against enemy UAVs and the construction of fortifications.

The President presented awards to five servicemen and handed over 18 awards for presentation at the place of service. In particular, Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Presidential Cross of Military Merit to Colonel Oleksandr Bakulin, Colonel Pavlo Palisa and Major Andriy Matskal.

"Here are the commanders of brigades and battalions, combat commanders who are protecting peaceful life in Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, in the Kupyansk sector... I know that you lose your close people and brothers-in-arms every day. Everyone understands that this is the highest price. Please, take care of yourselves, take care of your fellow soldiers, officers who are fighting alongside you every day. I wish you victory, to be strong, to keep up the momentum, to defend Kharkiv region, Kupyansk, every village, every square meter of our land," the Head of State said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with students of three Mykolaiv universities: Once Mykolaiv region has powerful air defense, we will be able to restore important educational facilities

President of Ukraine

30 November 2023 - 11:41

During a working trip to Mykolaiv region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with students of three Mykolaiv higher education institutions: Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding, Mykolaiv National Agrarian University, and Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University.

Speaking to the students, the Head of State thanked the young people for staying in Ukraine and getting higher education here despite the Russian war.

"I believe that the state is standing as an iron shield against the Russian invasion only because of the Ukrainians who are here in Ukraine. Because of our warriors, because of the people who work every day, and because of those for whom all this is happening and who are the face of Ukraine's future. These are students, young people like you," the President said.

According to him, young people in Ukraine are one of the strongest factors motivating to win the war.

"There is someone to fight for - everyone is in their place in the state. You are a motivating factor: cities are not empty, there is life in cities. And life must be protected," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The Head of State also noted the volunteer movement among students. He also reminded that many students had volunteered for the front at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Answering the question about the restoration of the educational infrastructure of Mykolaiv region, which suffered from Russian shelling, the President noted that today Ukraine is working with its partners to enhance the air defense system, including in Mykolaiv, to protect residents from Russian attacks and minimize the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

"Once Mykolaiv region has powerful air defense, I think we will be able to restore important facilities very quickly: universities, hospitals, and many social institutions," he said.

The Head of State also spoke about the Danish Patronage Program for the restoration of Mykolaiv region.

In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his belief that in the future there will be a great demand for professional education and security education in Ukraine.

"Military, mil-tech, professional military education, technical education in this area... All these Western-type weapons, NATO standards - Ukrainians already have experience of using them in combat, not just theoretically. We have all these specialists. There is a great demand for this. Therefore, we should look at this from the point of view of commercial education for Western students," the President noted.

According to him, education in the agricultural and maritime industries, as well as medicine in the area of physical and psychological rehabilitation, is also promising.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine is moving step by step towards its goal of restoring peace on our land.

The Head of State noted that Ukraine needs reliable air defense and modern fighter jets to control its skies.

"When will we get them? When our guys finish their training. It depends on many things. Besides expertise, experience and a good knowledge of English are required for studying. I think that in 2024 we will be able to get the first fighter jets," he said.

The President also expressed his belief that the Russian aggressor will eventually be held to account, and we must direct all our efforts to this end.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also proposed to create a platform where various student initiatives and proposals could be discussed.

"The most important thing is to find a simple tool for people who respect each other, without any bureaucracy. So let's think about a platform that will have proposals, a simple format of selecting these proposals, and then understanding what you need," he said.

Answering the question about how the state plans to mentally return people who have been living in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia for a long time after the de-occupation of Donbas and Crimea, the Head of State noted that the situation with Donbas is even more complicated than with Crimea, because after the occupation in 2014, a touch line appeared in Donbas, where there were constant hostilities involving separatists who fought on the side of the occupiers.

"Crimea is very much looking forward to returning, and Donbas is also waiting for it. But it will be extremely difficult, because most of this territory was occupied and militarized to the maximum. People went to the touch line and then to the full-scale war against us," the President noted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the main thing for Ukraine today is to preserve the existing integrity within the country, which is a unique experience of uniting the country.

"Everything else will definitely come back. It takes time for some territory. It takes time for people, a new generation, a lot of work, a long way. But we need to preserve this core, because it is the core of Ukraine today," he is convinced.

The Head of State urged young people to live with the feeling that Russia could not take away their best years as students.

"They wanted to take away as much of your time as possible. But you should know that this is your life, and you haven't given it to anyone. You already have a lot of experience, and if you preserve values in this experience, we will have a country based on them. I wish you to preserve this," summarized the President.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Blames Russia for No Recent Prisoner Swaps

By VOA News November 30, 2023

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 don't happen because Russia doesn't want them to," Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's 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 Ukraine's 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 Odesa's 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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP reminds investors that a complaint has been filed on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (ChargePoint or the Company) (NYSE: CHPT) securities between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period). Click Here to Join Investigation.



If you acquired ChargePoint securities during the Class Period and would like to discuss this case, please click here . You may also contact us by emailing pmayer@kaplanfox.com or calling (646) 315-9003.

If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than January 29, 2024 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process.

On September 6, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint reported its second quarter fiscal year 2024 financial results, including a "$28.0 million, or 19 percentage point, inventory impairment charge." The Company stated the "inventory impairment charge was taken to address legacy supply chain-related costs and supply overruns on a particular DC product." As alleged in the complaint, the Company reported a second quarter GAAP gross margin of 1%, down from 17% in the prior year's same quarter.

Following this news, the Company's share price fell $0.77, or 11%, to close at $6.29 per share on September 7, 2023, on heavy trading volume.

Then, on November 16, 2023, after the market closed, the Company disclosed that ChargePoint's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were both replaced, effective immediately. ChargePoint also released preliminary financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, including an "additional non-cash inventory impairment charge" in the amount of $42 million "related to product transitions and to better align inventory with current demand resulting in GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%." The Company also reported revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected.

Following this news, the Company's share price fell $1.11, or more than 35%, to close at $2.02

per share on November 17, 2023, on heavy trading volume.

WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX - Kaplan Fox is a leading national law firm focusing on complex litigation with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago and New Jersey. With over 50 years of experience in complex litigation, Kaplan Fox offers the professional experience and track record that clients demand. Through prosecuting cases on the federal and state levels, Kaplan Fox has successfully shaped the law through winning many important decisions on behalf of our clients. For more information about Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, you may visit our website at www.kaplanfox.com .

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:

Pamela Mayer

KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP

800 Third Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, New York 10022

(646) 315-9003

E-mail: pmayer@kaplanfox.com
Owenton, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Owenton, Kentucky -

November 30, 2023: OWENTON, KY  Broadlinc, a local broadband service provider, has announced a transformative expansion to increase internet accessibility in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. This initiative emerges from a strategic partnership with The Center for Rural Development, backed by a $10 million portion of a broader $30 million grant initiative. This project embodies Broadlinc's commitment to connecting unserved or underserved communities, impacting approximately 33,000 homes with cutting-edge broadband services.

Kerry Bowlin, President of Broadlinc, asserts, "This initiative represents a pivotal moment for rural Kentucky. Our efforts will not only connect homes but will also foster a thriving, connected community that stimulates economic growth and empowers individuals to work and learn remotely."

Echoing this sentiment, TJ Scott, Broadlinc's VP of Operations, highlights the broader implications of the initiative: "By enabling access to reliable broadband, we are unlocking a world of opportunities for Southern Kentucky, fundamentally changing the way people live and work."

The endeavor will leverage the latest in fixed wireless technology, including 5G LTE, to provide at least 25mbps down/3mbps up internet speeds. Broadlinc's network design strategically utilizes licensed CBRS and EBS Spectrum to deliver a high-performance wireless experience across nine critical counties.

We have all now seen how important reliable internet is almost every aspect of our lives.  said Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO of The Center for Rural Development. With this expansion, we are taking a monumental step towards bridging the digital divide in rural Kentucky. This is a further testament to our commitment to empowering and enriching our communities.

Broadlinc prioritizes a collaborative approach, actively engaging with the communities it serves to tailor the broadband rollout to their unique needs. The project kick-off is scheduled for early 2024, with the first sites going live in Pulaski County.

Partnerships with key organizations like The Center for Rural Development, the Commonwealth of KY and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) underscore the collaborative nature of the project, ensuring a comprehensive approach to rural development.

With this expansion, Broadlinc not only addresses the current digital divide but also sets the stage for ongoing growth and development in digital literacy and broadband access across rural Kentucky. The company is also ready to engage with the NTIAs BEAD program for future enhancements and connectivity improvements.

The anticipated economic and social impact of the initiative is significant, promoting rural development and potentially reversing the urban migration trend by making remote lifestyles more feasible.

Broadlinc is prepared to tackle the inherent challenges of the project, drawing on its expertise in fixed wireless installations and robust spectrum access to serve previously hard-to-reach areas.

Residents eager to experience the Broadlinc difference can explore their service options by visiting the companys website at www.Broadlinc.com. The 'Check Availability' feature provides quick insights, and for personalized queries, the 'Contact Us' form ensures a swift and responsive answer.

It is easy for potential customers to learn more about Broadlinc:

Call Broadlinc at 855-552-2253

Visit Broadlinc.com

Follow Broadlinc on social media for news, product and service updates as well as behind the scenes activity at the company @getbroadlinc - Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Ask a friend, neighbor or colleague.



About Broadlinc: Broadlinc uses a combination of fiber optic, cable, and wireless internet to deliver the last mile of the internet to Kentuckys rural towns. Their redundant systems help ensure more uptime, while their personalized customer service and IT support help solve internet problems that have plagued customers with other providers.

Contact:

Brittany Derderian

Director of Marketing

Broadlinc

859-630-9087

brittany.bowlin@broadlinc.com

###

For more information about Broadlinc, contact the company here:



Broadlinc

Brittany Bowlin

855-552-2253

support@broadlinc.com

150 Progress Way, Owenton, KY 40359
TORONTO, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toronto-based marketing agency, Blue Door Agency , proudly announced that it has been selected as the Agency of Record (AOR) by Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO) following a competitive RFP process earlier this year. The agency has been tasked with leading overarching strategy development, creative direction, and tactical execution for FBOs workforce development initiative, CareersNow! .



Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing Ontarios food and beverage processing industry. While this industry is the top manufacturing sector employer in Ontario, it is facing an employment gap of approximately 25,000 people by 2025. The CareersNOW! program was developed to attract and retain new talent for the critical and essential industry.

Were thrilled to be working with the incredible team at Blue Door to implement the largest marketing campaign weve had for CareersNOW! to date, said Chris Conway, CEO of Food and Beverage Ontario. As we continue to grow the CareersNOW! program and work towards filling the 25,000-person gap in the provinces workforce, we knew we needed strategic partners who could deliver across all facets of our marketing needs - from research to complete website development. In addition to extensive digital and OOH experience, Blue Door demonstrated direct experience in recruitment campaigns in the province, which set them apart from other bidders.

Armed with research from Toronto-based market research firm Over/Zero , Blue Door designed a robust marketing campaign to attract job-seekers leveraging occupational benefits to working within the industry including purpose, balance, growth and mentorship. The campaign is anchored in programmatic display and META, while paid social and out-of-home advertising serve as amplifiers to ensure visibility.

Our mandate with Food and Beverage Ontario is a significant milestone for Blue Door and highlights the calibre of our teams talent and expertise across the marketing spectrum, said Laura Silver, Founder and CEO, Blue Door Agency. We are proud to be playing a critical role in this program and helping to create 25,000 new jobs by 2025.

Blue Door was founded in 2017 by Laura Silver and has rapidly grown to one of the most sought-after marketing agencies in Canada. The agency is well known for its work with Longos where it has served as the Agency of Record since 2018. The agency recently signed a mandate with King Ursa and Timberland for its Made From Fiona initiative, and also represents Ripleys Aquarium of Canada, Cavinona Wine Club, and Canadian Opera Company.

About Blue Door Agency

Founded in 2017, Blue Door is a Toronto-based agency employing Canadas leading experts in marketing, communications, public relations, digital advertising, and branding. The agency operates across Canada and has direct experience across several sectors, including food and beverage, healthcare, technology, travel, retail, hospitality, and municipal services. Blue Door is known for its expertise with omnichannel campaigns and its ability to deliver across traditional media, digital advertising, and branding/design - all from under one roof.

About CareersNOW!

CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontarios flagship workforce development initiative. Food and Beverage Ontario and its partners created CareersNOW! in 2020 to connect jobseekers and students with employers for career opportunities and development. Visit www.careersnow.ca .

About Food and Beverage Ontario

Food and Beverage Ontario is the non-profit leadership organization for food and beverage processors across the province. Governed by an industry-led Board of Directors, Food and Beverage Ontario advocates for a robust business environment to ensure Canada continues to be a global leader in safe, premium food and beverage production for consumers at home and abroad.

Media Contact

Melissa Prince

melissa@bluedoor.agency

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3077c35a-0061-4562-a3a2-2087143dcef0
London, England, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shisha Vibe, a leading vape store in the UK known for its quality, reliability, and commitment to providing individuals with a healthier alternative to smoking, is proud to announce the launch of its new website.

Devoted to ensuring the satisfaction of its customers, Shisha Vibes new website features a more visually appealing user-friendly design that conveniently lists the online vape stores array of Disposable Vapes, diverse E-Liquids, Nic Salts, Beginner Starter Kits, Advanced Vape Kits and Vape Tanks, as well as premium CBD options from some of the biggest names in the industry in easy to navigate pages. Additionally, customers will find an added blog section on the updated website that features a range of in-depth articles explaining how customers can improve their vaping experience.

To celebrate the new website launch and help customers receive their vape products in the quickest and most convenient way possible, all UK orders placed at Shisha Vibe above 20 are eligible for free Royal Mail Tracked 48 shipping. Also, for customers exclusively in London, the store is offering same-day vape delivery on all orders, with costs based on their distance from Shisha Vibes physical location on London Bridge.

We want you to get the most out of your experience with us! said a spokesperson from Shisha Vibe. And we know that time is preciousthats why we offer Same Day Vape Delivery on all orders. Whether you need a new vape kit, some fresh coils, vape flavours or a bottle of e-liquid, well make sure it arrives at your doorstep correspondingly from our shisha vibe store. Also, if you order over 20, youll receive Free Delivery!

With over 1 million vape products sold, Shisha Vibe has become a trusted ally for customers in the pursuit of a cleaner, healthier future. The online store has everything to help individuals make the switch from traditional cigarettes to vaping by stocking the newest and best Vape Starter Kits, with a variety of hardware brands available such as Aspire, Innokin, OXVA, Voopoo and Smok.

Shisha Vibe offers an extensive selection of TPD Compliant, tested, and trusted vaping products and E-liquids with over 1200 unique flavours that have been sourced from the UK, USA and Malaysia. The vape stores collection is unmatched and offers something for every taste preference, from fruity and sweet to savoury flavours.

Only providing products from the most trusted and renowned brands, including Dinner Lady, ELFLIQ, Vampire vape and Ohm Brew, Shisha Vibe offers a safe and cost-effective way for those who want to enjoy the experience of smoking without any of the unpleasant side effects.

Shisha Vibe invites individuals who are looking to find a new way to relax, save money, or quit smoking to visit its new online store and take a look at its variety of high-quality vape products, read its informative blog or reach out to its friendly customer service team, who are dedicated to offering expert advice and support.

About Shisha Vibe

Established in 2013, Shisha Vibe is a renowned online vape shop with additional physical locations in London that offers customers a high-quality selection of Disposable Vapes, diverse E-Liquids, Beginner Starter Kits, Advanced Vape Kits and Vape Tanks, as well as premium CBD options for those seeking alternative wellness solutions. Committed to helping individuals transition away from traditional cigarettes, Shisha Vibes dedication to its customers and range of top-notch products has resulted in the sale of over 1 million vape products and 1,700 five-star Google reviews, cementing the vape shop as the most highly-reviewed in London.

More Information

To learn more about Shisha Vibe and the launch of its new website, please visit https://www.shishavibe.com.

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/shisha-vibe-online-vape-store-announce-the-launch-of-new-website/


Respiratory Care Leader Honored for Excellence in Products and Services

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y., Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monaghan Medical Corporation, a pioneering force in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of respiratory devices, is delighted to announce its receipt of the esteemed 2023 Zenith Award. Bestowed by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), this accolade reaffirms Monaghan Medical's steadfast dedication to excellence in the respiratory care industry.

Awarded on November 5, 2023, the 2023 AARC Zenith Award commends Monaghan for its outstanding contributions to the respiratory care profession. AARC members specifically recognized Monaghan for its exceptional products, accessible sales staff, responsiveness, service record, truth in advertising, and unwavering support of the respiratory care profession.

"The AARC Zenith Award stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence, and we are thrilled to be acknowledged in this way," remarked Bill Seitz, President at Monaghan Medical. "Earning the trust and recognition of those at the forefront of patient care is a true honor, and we are grateful for their continued support."

The award was formally presented during the opening ceremonies of the AARC's 67th International Respiratory Convention & Exhibition, hosted in Nashville, Tennessee. AARC, boasting over 47,000 members, remains the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care professionals and allied health practitioners.

Dominic P. Coppolo, Senior Vice President of Clinical and Hospital Marketing at Monaghan Medical Corporation, expressed his excitement about the recognition, stating, "This award underscores our ongoing commitment to advancing respiratory care. We are dedicated to providing innovative solutions that empower healthcare professionals in their mission to improve patients' lives."

For media inquiries, please contact:

Dominic P. Coppolo, Senior Vice President of Clinical and Hospital Marketing

Monaghan Medical Corporation

Phone: 800-343-9071

Email: dcoppolo@monaghanmed.com

Website: http://www.monaghanmed.com

ABOUT MONAGHAN MEDICAL CORPORATION

Monaghan, headquartered in Plattsburgh, New York, is a prominent US-based manufacturer celebrated for crafting exceptional respiratory care products design specifically to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and others. Monaghans excellence is rooted in innovative product development and design, underpinned by its world-class Aerosol and Research Laboratory.

For more information about Monaghan Medical products, please visit www.monaghanmed.com

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE (AARC)

With more than 47,000 members, the AARC is the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care whose ranks include respiratory therapists and allied health professionals that assist physicians in the treatment of lung disorders and related ailments. The AARC encourages and promotes professional excellence, advances the science and practice of respiratory care, and serves as an advocate for patients, their families, the public, and the profession.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82f34a2e-b37a-409b-a84a-4f4c8506dfe5
Lectra insources cutting equipment production in China



Paris, December 1, 2023 - Lectra, leader in technology solutions accelerating the transition to Industry 4.0 for the fashion, automotive and furniture industries, will now directly manage the production of its cutting equipment manufactured in China, primarily dedicated to its Asian customers. The Suzhou site, located to the west of Shanghai, will thus benefit from the standards of operational excellence already implemented by Lectra at its two other plants in Bordeaux-Cestas, France, and Tolland, USA.

Lectra's teams have over 35 years experience in the Asia-Pacific region, which in 2022 generated 25% of the Group's revenues.

Since the acquisition of its competitor, Gerber Technology, in 2021, Lectra had been relying on a plant belonging to Dutch group VDL Groep (VDL), to manufacture Gerber-brand multi-ply cutters and spreaders.

For its industrial activities, Lectra aimed to adopt the same standards of operational excellence in China as those currently in effect at its Bordeaux-Cestas and Tolland sites. The Group therefore created a new subsidiary, Suzhou Lectra Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., to take over from subcontractor VDL as of December 1, 2023.

Our objective is to offer our customers unrivalled quality, wherever they are located. This means applying the same standards of operational excellence to all our equipment manufacturing sites. We must also ensure that we optimize our production lead times, while contributing to the dynamism of our local supplier ecosystems. That's why we favor local production sites in each of the major regions where we operate. Today, we are the only company in our sector to have three manufacturing sites, in China, the United States and France, explains Jerome Viala, Executive Vice President of Lectra.

Following the takeover of in-house production at the Tolland site in October 2022, the creation of the Suzhou Lectra Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd. subsidiary marks a new milestone in the deployment of Lectra's industrial excellence strategy on a global scale. The Group intends to give priority to regional industrial production, which is beneficial to the local economy.

About Lectra:

As a major player in the fashion, automotive and furniture markets, Lectra contributes to the Industry 4.0 revolution with boldness and passion by providing best-in-class technologies.

The Group offers industrial intelligence solutions - software, equipment, data and services - that facilitate the digital transformation of the companies it serves. In doing so, Lectra helps its customers push boundaries and unlock their potential. The Group is proud to state that its 2,500 employees are driven by three core values: being open-minded thinkers, trusted partners and passionate innovators.

Founded in 1973, Lectra reported revenues of 522 million euros in 2022. The company is listed on Euronext, where it is included in the following indices: SBF 120, CAC Mid 60, CAC Mid&Small, CAC All Shares, CAC All-Tradable, CAC Technology, EN Tech Leaders and ENT PEA-PME 150.

For more information, visit lectra.com.

Media contacts:

Hotwire for Lectra

Alexis Bletsas - t: +33 (0)1 43 12 55 71

Laura Bandiera - t: +33 (0)1 43 12 55 70

Elise Martin - t: +33 (0)1 43 12 77

email: lectrafr@hotwireglobal.com

Attachment
Washington, DC, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, AmeriCorps and the US Department of Agricultures Forest Service held a ceremonial signing of an agreement establishing the AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps program, the first major interagency partnership under President Bidens American Climate Corps. Applications to join the AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps or Forest Corps are now open at AmeriCorps.gov/ForestCorps.

AmeriCorps and the Forest Service are invested in training the next generation of diverse conservation and climate resilience workers, said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. During their service, AmeriCorps members will support our highest environmental priorities across the country, from reforestation to wildfire mitigation.

Since our founding, tens of thousands of AmeriCorps members have been combatting climate change, and were prepared to accelerate and strengthen our response through the AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps, the first major interagency program of President Bidens American Climate Corps, Smith added.

The Forest Corps is a five-year, $15 million interagency agreement, with the first cohort of 80 members to begin service in the summer of 2024. AmeriCorps members will serve across the country to conserve national forests and grasslands, mitigate risks of wildfires in high-risk regions, and support reforestation efforts and wildfire crisis response.

This partnership with AmeriCorps provides a great opportunity inviting people from diverse backgrounds to learn about conservation and forestry and become our future workforce, said Randy Moore, Chief, Forest Service. Bolstering our future workforce is a crucial part of implementing the Forest Service Wildfire Crisis Strategy and creating climate resilient forests, I cant think of a better win-win.

AmeriCorps members in the Forest Corps program will receive a compensation package equivalent to $15 an hour which includes lodging, transportation, clothing, a living allowance, health benefits and more. No prior education or experience will be required.

"In just about six months, the first AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps cohort will deploy, marking a new era of youth-powered climate action, said Ken Goodson, AmeriCorps NCCC Director, AmeriCorps. "This program will not only help with reforestation, wildfire response, and conservation of America's beautiful public lands, but it will deliver jobs for young Americans and strengthen the climate resilience economy. We're grateful to the Forest Service for their partnership."

Each year, AmeriCorps engages more than 14,600 members and volunteers in conservation, renewable energy and community resilience projects. Last year, AmeriCorps members and volunteers preserved and protected more than three million acres of public lands, trained hundreds of thousands of Americans in conservation and energy efficiency and restored thousands of miles of waterways, to name a few examples.

###

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nations most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at AmeriCorps.gov/serve.

The US Department of Agricultures Forest Service manages more than 192 million acres of public land as national forests and grasslands. Grounded in world-class science and technology - and rooted in communities - the Forest Service connects people to nature and each other. As a federal agency in service to the American people, the Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. In doing this, the agency supports nature in sustaining life. To learn more about the Forest Service, visit USDA.gov.

Attachments
Thunder Bay, 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
Vancouver, November 30, 2023 - Further to the news releases of November 6, 2023, and November 20, 2023, Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V:JUGR) (OTC:JUGRF) (FSE:4JE) (the "Company" or "Juggernaut") is pleased to announce it has filed documents with the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") for approval to close the second and final tranche of its non-brokered financing of 1,402,460 units, combined with the first tranche close of 12,092,616 units. Crescat Capital LLC ("Crescat") and Dr. Quinton Hennigh personally have subscribed to this institutionally supported financing. This is a follow-on investment by Crescat, previously announced on May 12th, 2023 (Link to May 12th 2023 news). Post-closing of this financing, Crescat will retain a significant portion of the company, and Juggernaut welcomes this additional strategic investment. Dr. Quinton Hennigh has long provided his technical support to the projects, and the Company looks forward to his continuing guidance. Juggernaut's projects continue to garner strong interest and support from leading institutions and miners alike globally, confirming the quality of its three fully permitted, 100% controlled, drill-ready projects, Midas, Empire, and Bingo, located in world-class geologic terrane of Northwestern British Columbia encompassing the Golden Triangle.

Dr. Quinton Hennigh is a special technical advisor to the Company and technical and geologic director of Crescat. Dr. Hennigh is a world-renowned exploration geologist with more than 30 years of experience, including with major gold mining firms Homestake Mining, Newcrest Mining, and Newmont Mining.

Dr. Hennigh stated, "Juggernaut had a very successful exploration season in 2023. Over the past couple of years, the Company's exploration team diligently accumulated high-quality data to define drill targets with maximum chance of success at the flagship Midas precious metal-rich VMS project near Terrace, BC. That work paid off this year when Juggernaut encountered long intervals of stockwork feeder mineralization displaying considerable sulfides, including chalcopyrite. This program has confirmed the presence of a sizable, strong VMS system at Midas. We anxiously await results from this encouraging drill program."

View Juggernaut videos by Clicking Here.

Dan Stuart, Director, President, and CEO of Juggernaut, states:

"We are pleased to strengthen our ongoing relationship with both Crescat Capital as a strategic investor and Dr. Hennigh as a Special Technical Advisor and personal investor. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners, who bring a proven track record of both financial and technical strength. This will enable Juggernaut to unlock the full potential of its assets over the long term, building value for all shareholders. This investment and continued strategic partnership, coupled with the ongoing support and interest from other globally recognized Institutions and senior miners, is a strong endorsement that clearly demonstrates the significant near-term discovery potential of our 100% controlled properties. Post financing, Juggernaut will have a tight capital structure of just 76,044,528. As such, we are well-positioned to move forward with our plans of further drilling on Midas, Empire, and Bingo. With much anticipation, we look forward to releasing drill results once received, complied with, and interpreted by the technical team.

The Company has paid finder's fees in cash and broker warrants. This non-brokered private placement is subject to TSXV approval, and all securities issued pursuant to this offering are subject to a four-month plus one-day hold period from the date of issuance.

About Crescat Capital LLC

Crescat is a global macro asset management firm headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Crescat's mission is to grow and protect wealth over the long term by deploying tactical investment themes based on proprietary value-driven equity and macro models. Crescat's goal is industry-leading absolute and risk-adjusted returns over complete business cycles with low correlation to common benchmarks. The company's investment process involves a mix of asset classes and strategies to assist with each client's unique needs and objectives and includes Global Macro, Long/Short, Large Cap, and Precious Metals funds.

Crescat is advised by its technical consultant, Dr. Quinton Hennigh, on investments in gold and silver resource companies. Dr. Hennigh became an economic geologist after obtaining his Ph.D. in Geology/Geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines. He has more than 30 years of exploration experience with major gold mining firms, including Homestake Mining, Newcrest Mining, and Newmont Mining. Recently, Dr. Hennigh founded Novo Resources Corp and is serving as Chairman. Among his notable project involvements are First Mining Gold's Springpole gold deposit in Ontario, Kirkland Lake Gold's acquisition of the Fosterville Gold Mine in Australia, the Rattlesnake Hills gold deposit in Wyoming, and Lion One's Tuvatu gold project in Fiji, among many others.

The use of proceeds from this financing is for an option payment requirement related to Bingo, Due Dec 30th, 2023; Bingo is located next door to our sister company, Goliath Resources Surebet Discovery. Bingo contains the same world-class geological units, including Hazelton Volcanics and related sediments and intrusives, as well as completion of Midas and Empire interpretation and general working capital.

Each Unit will consist of one common share at $0.13 plus one warrant to purchase one common share at $0.25 for a thirty-six-month period with a conversion option at management discretion "may" exercise at $1.00 upon 10 consecutive trading at or above.

About Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. is a precious metals project generator in the geopolitically stable jurisdiction of Canada, focused on the prolific geologic setting of northwestern British Columbia encompassing the Golden Triangle.

For more information, please contact

Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.

Dan Stuart

President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer

604-559-8028

info@juggernautexploration.com

www.juggernautexploration.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 RELEASE.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernaut's operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.




December 1 - Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Belmont Resources Ltd. ("Belmont" or the "Company") (TSX.V: BEA; FSE: L3L2) is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of Mr. Michael Kriebel to its board of directors.

Mr. Michael Kriebel, a highly accomplished Certified Management Accountant based in Berlin, Germany, brings a wealth of experience to Belmont. Commencing his career in tax consulting, he swiftly progressed to serve as the Head of Accounting at a groundbreaking technology start-up in Germany. Michael's expertise extended to managing the accounting departments of the English, Polish, and Spanish subsidiaries of an esteemed international media corporation.

Belmont is confident that Mr. Kriebel's extensive financial acumen and international business insights will be invaluable assets for the Company.

The Company also announces the resignation of board member Mr. James Place. Mr. Place resigned his position to allow for the appointment of Mr. Kriebel. Mr. Place will continue on the Advisory Board.

George Sookochoff, Belmont President & CEO commented "I welcome Mr. Kriebel joining our board as I believe he will significantly enhance our presence in the European investment and financial communities."

"I also would like the thank James for his long service to the Company as a director and past president. I am glad that he will remain on the advisory board and will continue to provide counsel to management and the board."

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 drill program recently completed with assay results pending.

CrackingstoneUranium-Rare Earths: Some of the highest grade Rare Earth Elements (REE's) are being discovered in Northern Saskatchewan due to the presence of Uranium, Thorium Pegmatites. Crackingstone project meets the criteria for potentially discovering a large REE's 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 REE's ;



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.



Click Image To View Full Size

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"George Sookochoff"

George Sookochoff, CEO/President

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.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, December 1, 2023 - Lithium Lion Metals Inc. ("Lithium Lion" or the "Company") (CSE:LLM) (OTC:GLIOF) (FWB:2BC) announces that it has entered into an arm's length property option agreement (the" Agreement") as of November 30, 2023 (the "Effective Date"), pursuant to which it has the option to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in 59 mining claims covering approximately 3,107 hectares in Bartouille and Ducros Townships in Quebec.

The Transaction

Lithium Lion entered into the Agreement on November 30, 2023 with Mosaic Metals Corporations ("Mosaic"). Pursuant to the Agreement, Lithium Lion can exercise its option to acquire a 100% interest in the 113N Project (the "Project") by completing the following milestones on or before the indicated dates:

Shares Cash Exploration Commitment On Effective Date (or as soon as practicable thereafter) 200,000 $10,000 1st Anniversary of Effective Date 400,000 $25,000 $75,000 2nd Anniversary of Effective Date 600,000 $50,000 $250,000 3rd Anniversary of Effective Date 800,000 $115,000 $1,000,000 Totals: 2,000,000 $200,000 $1,325,000

Any shares issued by Lithium Lion under the Agreement will be subject to a four month hold period pursuant to applicable securities laws. Upon Lithium Lion's successful exercise of the option and acquisition of the Project, Mosaic will retain a 2% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR"), one-half of which (1% NSR) can be purchased by Lithium Lion for $1,000,000.

The Company also wishes to advise that Mr. Mark Haywood has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Haywood for his many contributions to the Company and wishes him well with his future endeavours. Mr. David Beck will assume the role of interim Chief Executive Officer while the Company seeks a suitable full-time replacement.

About Lithium Lion Metals Inc.

Lithium Lion Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company actively involved in the exploration of its lithium and precious metals focused portfolio, including the Mia Li-3 Lithium Project in Quebec. Please visit: https://www.lithiumlion.ca/.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sebastian Lowes Director+

Head Office 305-1770 Burrard St. Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J3G7

Telephone +1 (604) 416 0569

Website https://www.lithiumlion.ca/

Email mark@lithiumlion.com

The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "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. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's expected benefits of the Transaction and opportunities which will arise from the acquisition of the Property. The forward-looking information reflects management's 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. Such risk factors may include, among others, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation and environmental regulation; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; competition for, among other things, skilled personnel and supplies; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions; geological, technical, processing and transportation problems; changes in tax laws and incentive programs; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; and the other factors. 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 time frames or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; and (ii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company's management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Company's 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 included in this news release are made as of the date of this news 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. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Sonnie Badu involved in an accident, says the devil really tried

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Dec - 01 - 2023 , 18:28

Award-winning UK-based Ghanaian gospel artiste Sonnie Badu has undergone a major surgery following a domestic accident yesterday.

Announcing the unfortunate incident on his Facebook wall this evening with pictures of him in the hospital and also in crutches, the Baba artiste disclosed that he was doing well. ( Related article: Youre useless if another man takes care of your child  Sonnie Badu)

He also noted that the unexpected accident will not stop his upcoming Sonnie Badu Live In Concert - Rhythms of Africa scheduled to hold at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on December 9.

Beloved, I wish to announce that I was involved in a domestic accident yesterday and had to undergo a major surgery.

By the grace of God, I am doing well and recuperating.

I want to wholeheartedly apologize to the Churches and media houses that expected my presence in the last day and got disappointed.

In the name of Jesus, I want to assure the good people of Ghana and everywhere else that *Sonnie Badu Live In Concert - Rhythms of Africa* would still come off on Saturday, Dec 9, 2023.

Grab your tickets and come witness the glory and presence of God.

The devil really tried it, but we only win ..

#lion #BaduIsBack #Titanium #AsanteKotoko #WokumAbemApemBeba (sic), he posted.

MOG Music, Piesie Esther, Joe Mettle, Nacee and Perez Musik from Ghana, as well as Neon Adejo and Preye Odede from Nigeria are some of the artistes who will be performing at 'Sonnie Badu Live in Concert-Rhythms of Africa' concert.

The event is being held in partnership with Image Bureau, an events company founded by Media Personality and Communications professional, George Quaye.

See post below:
Substitution funding key to cutting tomato import bill

Dr Paul Kofi Fynn Opinion Dec - 01 - 2023 , 07:44

Lately, the conversation in my kitchen revolves around the soaring prices of tomatoes.

Every time the shoppers in my family return from the market, they can't help but comment on the exorbitant cost of this red fruit, which happens to be an essential ingredient in many of our meals.

Ghana is a country that is heavily dependent on imports to meet its domestic needs.

One of the areas in which this is most apparent is in the agriculture sector, where the country imports a significant amount of its food products.

In particular, Ghana is heavily reliant on imported tomatoes from a Sahelian country, Burkina Faso, to meet the demands of its population.

Data from the Ministry of Trade and Industry pegs the import from Burkina Faso alone at $400 million.

The recent insurgence in the Sahelian country meant that we are in the middle of a tomato famine.

While tomato production in Ghana has the potential to meet local demand, the country's tomato farmers face a range of challenges that have hampered their ability to produce enough tomatoes to meet domestic needs.

One of the key solutions to this problem is the provision of import substitution funding from the government.

Import substitution

The first step in addressing Ghana's reliance on imported tomatoes is to understand the factors that have led to this situation.

One of the key factors is the lack of investment in the country's tomato industry.

Ghana's tomato farmers lack the resources and support they need to produce enough tomatoes to meet the demands of the country's population.

In addition, the country's tomato farmers are facing increasing competition from imports, which are often cheaper than locally produced tomatoes.

Although tomato was part of the vegetables that received attention from the Planting for Food and Jobs (1D1F) policy, it appears the needed impact in the value chain has not been made and felt in the markets and in our pockets.

Given these challenges, import substitution funding from the government could play a critical role in supporting Ghana's tomato farmers.

Such funding would provide financial support to farmers, enabling them to purchase the equipment, fertilisers, and other inputs they need to produce enough tomatoes to meet domestic demand.

Additionally, such funding could be used to support research and development efforts that would help to improve the quality and yield of locally produced tomatoes.

Benefits of import substitution

Import substitution funding from the government could have a range of benefits for Ghana's economy and its population.

One of the key benefits is the potential to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

By supporting local tomato farmers, the government could create new employment opportunities in the agriculture sector.

This would not only benefit the farmers themselves but also other businesses that support the sector, such as transport companies and fertiliser suppliers.

Another potential benefit of import substitution funding is the reduction of Ghana's trade deficit.

The country's reliance on imported tomatoes is contributing to a significant trade deficit, as Ghana is forced to spend large sums of money importing tomatoes from other countries.

By supporting local tomato farmers, the government could reduce this deficit, saving valuable foreign exchange reserves that could be used to support other areas of the economy.

Furthermore, import substitution funding could also have a positive impact on Ghana's food security.

The country's dependence on imported tomatoes has left it vulnerable to external shocks, such as changes in global market prices or disruptions to global supply chains.

By supporting local tomato farmers, the government could help to ensure that the country has a reliable and secure source of tomatoes, reducing the risk of food shortages or price spikes.

Challenges

While import substitution funding could be an effective solution to Ghana's reliance on imported tomatoes, there are several challenges that must be addressed to make this a reality.

One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that the funding reaches the farmers who need it most.

This will require effective coordination between the government, financial institutions, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

Another challenge is ensuring that the funding is used effectively.

The success of the funding will depend on the ability of farmers to use it to increase their productivity and produce high-quality tomatoes that meet domestic demand.

This will require effective training and education programmes that help farmers to improve their farming practices and access new markets.

Sustainable

Finally, there is the challenge of ensuring that the funding is sustainable over the long term.

While import substitution funding can provide a boost to Ghana's tomato industry, it is not a long-term solution in and of itself.

To achieve sustainable growth, the government will need to implement policies that support the continued development of the sector and encourage private investment in the industry.

Which soup or stew in Ghana doesnt require tomatoes?

We cant do without it so we must do all we can to make it cheaper and affordable.

The author is Founder & Chancellor of the Wisconsin International University College and the immediate past President-General of the West Africa Nobles Forum.
Transforming economy through agriculture: Tree Crops Development Authority leads charge

Severious Kale-Dery Opinion Dec - 01 - 2023 , 11:06

On September 19, 2020, when President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo inaugurated the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) in Kumasi, he foresaw Ghanas economic transformation hinging on agriculture.

His belief in the agricultural sector as the surest way to transform the economy led to the rollout of the agricultural flagship policy, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), which covered five broad areas.

These are the Planting for Food and Jobs (Crops), the Rearing for Food and Jobs, the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), the Greenhouse Technology and Mechanisation.

TCDA Act, 2019 ( Act 1010)

The TCDA, a legal institution established by an act of Parliament, Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 ( Act 1010), is projected to lead the charge in using six tree crops to generate a minimum of $6 billion annually starting from the year 2028.

The TCDA, an offshoot of the PERD, is, thus, tasked to regulate and develop in a sustainable environment; the production, processing, pricing and marketing of six tree crops, namely Oil Palm, Rubber, Shea, Coconut, Cashew and Mango.

The authority was, therefore, set up to lead the agenda for the diversification of Ghana's agriculture by putting in place policies and programmes to guide research, production, processing, pricing and marketing of the six stated tree crops with enormous agricultural, economic, export and forex earning potential for Ghana.

The TCDA, with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), William Quaittoo, is undoubtedly the unnoticed gold mine and the panacea for the country permanently weaning itself from this perennial phenomenon of going back to seek funding support in terms of loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank or any of those international financial agencies.

Potentials of TCDA

This is because of the potential the six tree crops have in posting between $6 billion and $12 billion annually for the country as each one is expected to give the country a maximum of $2billion.

Currently, there is an overreliance on cocoa, as the main foreign exchange earner, which is said to have even lost steam because available information suggests that this year, we are likely to earn less than $1 billion.

That is why the government must be committed to supporting the TCDA to stabilise.

Oil Palm tree with truits

It is therefore disturbing to learn that out of the $15 million seed money for the authority, so far, only $1.3 million has been released.

This is unacceptable, considering the potential of the TCDA.

There are best practices in other jurisdictions and one is just our neighbour, Cote d'Ivoire, which is currently doing it so well.

Major task

One major task that the new Agriculture Minister, Dr Bryan Acheampong, will face is to find ways to ensure that the TCDA is stabilised to enable it to stand on its feet and have the capacity to borrow money based on its balance sheets.

As a country, we cannot sit down and see TCDA crumbles down. TCDA has come to stay and everything possible should be done to put it on its feet to enable it to realise the purpose for which it has been set up.

Even before its third anniversary, the TCDA has achieved some modest successes. For instance, as of December 2022, the authority has been able to supply 3.7 million elite seedlings of Coconut, Oil Palm, Rubber, Mango, Shea and Cashew freely to farmers.

It has also developed and launched a five-year strategic framework (20222027) to improve policy and regulatory environments conducive to leveraging both public and private sector investments to stimulate inclusive and sustainable growth in the tree crop sub-sector.

It has also established a digital framework for traceable supply chains and sustainable financing mechanisms to enhance the operational capacity of TCDA and the value chain actors of the six tree crops.

The authority is tasked to develop pricing mechanisms for cashew, oil palm and rubber with the objective of incentivising producers to sustainably increase production.

Consequently, the authority had already started last year with the monthly minimum producer price for cashew and starting from January this year, it has added oil palm fresh fruits bunch (FFB) and raw rubber (Cup-lumps).

Producer price

The monthly minimum producer price per tonne of FFB for January 2023 was GH 1,252. 92 while the minimum producer price for raw rubber cup lumps for the same month stood at GH 4.9167 per kilogramme.

For February, the price per tonne of FFB was GH1,157.27, while the raw rubber was GH5.0911 per kilogramme.

In March, the monthly minimum producer price per tonne of FFB was GH1,433.70 and that of the raw rubber is fixed at 5.5200/kg.

The advantage of the monthly minimum producer price is that it informs the producers, how much their product will cost to make.

This ultimately encourages the producers to supply more as prices are high.

As there will be more competitors, it gives the customers more choices in the market.

The monthly minimum producer price ensures that the farmer is not unduly cheated by middlemen or the market women.

It is clear that with the political will to stabilise the TCDA, Ghana is on its way to being truly FREE FOREVER from relying on international donor support to meet our developmental challenges.
Poisoned for Gold! - Scorched-earth policy?

Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Opinion Dec - 01 - 2023 , 11:41

As I watched GJA Journalist of the Year 2023 Erastus Asare Donkors documentary on galamsey titled, Poisoned for Gold on TV in the third week of November 2023, my mind went back to an earlier documentary of his. In the article titled A Journalists Crusade in Environmental Sustainability? I stated as follows.

In the last week of August 2023, Joy FM premiered the investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkors latest documentary Forests under siege. Showing drone/aerial pictures of the devastation to forests and the environment and water bodies in Apamprama Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region, I asked myself a question journalist Raymond Acquah asks in frustration, what is wrong with us Ghanaians?

Watching Poisoned for Gold, these questions welled up in my mind.

Why will Ghanaians collude with foreigners to destroy our environment? I asked the question Joy FMs Raymond Acquah often asks in frustration, what is wrong with us Ghanaians? Are our rulers on a deliberate scorched-earth policy against Ghana for reasons best known to them only?

Scorched-earth

Scorched-earth policy is a military strategy where a withdrawing/retreating army destroys anything that might be useful to an advancing enemy.

While it is generally carried out in enemy territory, it could in some cases be carried out in own friendly territory.In order not to leave anything advantageous to the enemy, a withdrawing army destroys anything in sight.

The aim is to prevent any valuable asset from falling into enemy hands, which could be of advantage to them.In addition to the destruction of communication equipment, electricity/water installations and general infrastructure, oil wells as happened to the Kuwaitis in their war with Iraq in 1991 could also be destroyed.

Indeed, in January 1991, while retreating under pressure from the American-led coalition in the Iraq-Kuwait War, the Iraqis set fire to over 600 Kuwaiti oil wells in a scorched-earth action.

While scorched-earth may generally be a military action originated at the strategic level as in the Iraqi case, it could also happen in non-war situations as happened in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso

In mid-November 2022, in a reaction to the nationalization of mines by the government of Burkina Faso, Canadian mining firm Trevali at Perkoa, Burkina Faso destroyed vehicles and any equipment they could, in what could pass for a scorched-earth action, albeit in a non-military situation.

Rather than leave intact any equipment which the Burkinabes could utilize, they destroyed anything/everything in sight.

Ghana

In recent times, the unbelievable impunity of destruction of lands, the pollution of our surface water bodies (both galamsey-inspired), the denuding of our forest vegetation, the cutting and export of millions of rosewood trees in Ghana, makes me wonder if we have not embarked on a deliberate and unconscionable domestic scorched-earth policy against ourselves in support of foreigners!In scorched-earth policy, the target is the enemy as in the Iraq-Kuwait scenario where the retreating Iraqis destroyed Kuwaiti oil wells.

To a lesser extent, the foreign mine owners, out of frustration may see the government of Burkina Faso as the enemy for wising up to exploit their minerals themselves.

However, in the case of the destruction going on in Ghana where Forest Reserves are busily being converted into deserts, and rivers into sewage sludge heavily polluted with mercury and cyanide, I have difficulty understanding what Ghanaians are doing to Ghana, aiding foreigners to destroy Ghana.

Ghana Water Company spends heavily treating our almost untreatable water.Where is the patriotism Osagyefo taught us, as Ephraim Amu composed in our patriotic song Y3n ara yasaase ni?Chinese AmbassadorThe documentary reminded one of the caustic question by the Chinese ambassador on radio/TV in 2019.

Responding to questions on Chinese nationals involvement in the illegal mining after speaking at a lecture organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast in Graphic of 8th April 2019, Chinese Ambassador Mr Shi Ting Wang stated; We dont know where your gold is. We dont issue visas too for the Chinese people coming to Ghana.

Ghanaians issue the visas. Ghanaians aid the Chinese to where they can find your gold. Why are Chinese not doing illegal mining in South Africa where there is also a lot of gold? Because they cannot do that there and the locals dont support such illegalities.

He added, the Chinese Embassy was surprised as to how some Chinese arrested for illegal mining were released without any communication with the embassy for their repatriation.Ambassador Shi advised it was important that Ghanaians must first stop aiding/blaming foreigners in the galamsey business if efforts at fighting the menace are to be successful.

He told Ghanaians to blame ourselves and not his countrymen/women. Need Ghana be schooled on such a basic existential and commonsensical issue about our own national survival by a Chinese?Petty galamseyer-miners who are occasionally arrested do not have the finances to import the expensive equipment-of-mass-destruction used in galamsey! Can the authorities swear they have no idea who the rich galamsey sponsors are, such that seized equipment simply disappear?

Comments

The scorched-earth direction of corruption, arrogance, destruction, impunity and disrespect must stop if we are to survive as a nation.

While Ivory Coast has recently built a $100 million factory to process all her cocoa, Ghanas cocoa trees are being destroyed for galamsey.

Unlike Ghana, Ivory Coast does not import tilapia. Every district/region grows its own tilapia from their water bodies.

So, tilapia does not cross regional boundaries! Here, our polluted Pra, Ankobra, Tano and Offin no longer support effective fish-life.

What lessons can we not learn from Ivory Coast which is still recovering from the effects of a civil war?Greed is destroying Ghana!

Our internally-generated scorched-earth policy against Ghanaians must stop, or we wipe ourselves off the globe!Leadership, lead! Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP!

The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya and Council Chairman, Family Health University College, Accra
South Korean farmers scuffle with police at protest over dog meat ban

Reuters International News Dec - 01 - 2023 , 12:35

About 200 South Korean farmers who breed and raise dogs for human consumption held a rally on Thursday near the presidential office in the capital Seoul, demanding the government scrap a plan to ban the controversial centuries-old practice.

Dozens of farmers, who had tried to drive into the street in front of the presidential office by truck with dogs in cages that they intended to release at the scene, were turned away by the police who inspected the cargo covered with blankets.

The ruling party of President Yoon Suk Yeol has introduced a bill to ban the breeding and sale of dogs for consumption and offer financial compensation for those in the industry forced to shutter their business within a three-year grace period.

The time is now to put an end to the controversy around eating dog meat, party members have said, adding there was broad support from the opposition party, which currently controls parliament, and from the public.

More than 6 million South Korean households now own dogs as pets in a country of about 51 million people, and Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee are owners of six dogs, including a retired guide dog and a rescue dog.

A Gallup Korea poll last year showed almost two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015.

Ju Yeong-bong, who represents an industry group and led Thursday's rally, said politicians had no right to close down an industry or decide what people chose to eat.

"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," he said.

The farmers had been completely excluded from discussion on the bill and proposed financial compensation was completely inadequate given they would lose their livelihoods, Ju said.

The farmers scuffled with police who outnumbered them and set up barricades to stop them from crossing the street to move closer to the presidential office. Three protesters including Ju were detained by police in a chaotic scene, the organisers said.

While the practice of eating dog meat has declined in popularity, the farmers and restaurant owners who serve the meat have been fighting to keep it legal.

The farmers have accused First Lady Kim, a vocal critic of dog meat consumption, of exercising what they call improper pressure on the government and the ruling party to bring in the ban.

"The First Lady has spoken out about this issue with keen interest, and both in the country and abroad there is support and consensus, as well as from the opposition party," the presidential office said.
Nigeria: Ethiopian Airlines bans "Ghana-Must-Go" bags on flights

Graphic.com.gh Dec - 01 - 2023 , 12:04

Ethiopian Airlines has banned passengers from using 'Ghana-Must-Go' on any of its flights from Nigeria.

The restriction was disclosed in a letter signed by Henok Gizachew, the airlines Manager of Airport Services, addressed to the Regional Manager of the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (FAAN).

The letter is dated November 24, 2023.

"The use of Ghana-Must-Go [bags] as a means of packing baggage has cost the airlines huge loss and also damaging the converyor belt system, not only on our flight but also on other foreign airlines, hence the prohibition," the letter stated.

The only condition under which the airline will allow users of the bag to continue to use them to package their luggage is when they are well packed in cartons of a hardcover of rectangular size.

The ban took effect from November 25, 2023.

Please be informed that effective November 25, 2023, the usage of Ghana-Must-Go to travel on our flight is hereby prohibited, the letter read.

The sack-like bag earned the "Ghana-Must-Go" nickname in 1983, when Nigeria expelled about two million undocumented West African migrants, half of whom were from Ghana.

Many of the expelled Ghanaians packed their things in the checked bags, which later became known as 'Ghana Must Go' bags.

The "Ghana-Must-Go" bags were cheap, ordinary bags and had no name. They came in various colours and sizes. Nigerian traders sold out the bags as hundreds jostled to get as many as they could to pack their things.
Cassava  Ghanas next gold mine

Daily Graphic Dec - 01 - 2023 , 11:10

In an effort to elevate Ghana's cassava industry onto the global stage, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, rallies actors in the cassava industry to take advantage of development in the sector.

Delivering a compelling address to a global audience at the recently concluded International Cassava Fair in Brazil, she advocated a transformative approach to Ghana's cassava industry, emphasising the critical need to reshape the narrative around cassava cultivation in the country and the necessity for value addition.

Addressing the topic :"Securing Ghanas Future Through Cassava" at the International Cassava Fair (FIMAN 2023) in Brazil, monitored in Ghana, Ms Akosa shed light on the unique opportunities and challenges facing Ghana's cassava industry, exploring avenues for collaboration with international partners, adoption of best practices, value addition, mechanisation, and innovative strategies.

The goal is to position Ghana as a major player in the global cassava market.

The FIMAN 2023, organised by Podium Alimentos, was held from Tuesday, November 21 to Thursday, November 23, 2023, to foster knowledge exchange, networking, and collaborative exploration in the cassava sector.

Ms Akosa highlighted the crucial role of Ghana-Brazil collaboration in propelling advancements within Ghanas cassava industry to significantly contribute to food security and economic growth in the country.

Celebrating cassava

Despite its immense potential, Ms Akosa highlighted the startling reality that Ghana was not celebrating cassava enough.

She expressed concern that the majority of cassava farming was directed towards domestic consumption, with limited emphasis on value addition.

While there are noteworthy industries engaged in starch and alcohol production, the broader cassava sector struggles to secure the attention it deserves, particularly in comparison to the historically dominant cocoa and gold industry.

"Despite the abundance of opportunities in our cassava value chain, it remains underrated and under-celebrated.

We all know how easy it is to grow cassava here in Ghana.

Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, making a presentation at the International Cassava Fair in Brazil

Our country, our youth, our women, and the industry as a whole stand to gain more if we fully explore and embrace the vast potential within the cassava value chain, it is time for Ghana to mine Cassava as it mines Gold, she told the international gathering.

She courted the international community to consider Ghana as their destination to take advantage in the cassava sector saying, Our country needs more cassava factories, farms, varieties, and equipment such as planters, harvesters, dryers, and washers.

Hidden riches

Ms Akosa stressed the need for a paradigm shift in Ghana's agricultural focus, calling for a redirection of attention and energy to cassava, which had often been relegated to the level of subsistence farming.

She said her call for a paradigm shift extended beyond the agricultural landscape, saying that it beckoned a recalibration of societal perceptions and urged Ghanaians to recognise the economic and nutritional potential that cassava held.

The abundance of this resilient crop represents an untapped resource that, with the right attention, could blossom into a driving force for economic growth and food security.

With a production capacity that rivals cocoa, the time is ripe for Ghana to seize the opportunity and usher in a new era of cassava appreciation, she said.

While notable industries engage in starch and alcohol production, she said there remained immense scope for diversification, insisting that the versatility of cassava extended far beyond the traditional, offering a canvas for innovative products and industries.

Ms Akosa said encouraging value addition did not only benefit local farmers, but also positioned Ghana on the global stage as a key player in the cassava market.

Challenges

The executive director identified traditional farming methods, which was predominantly through the use of cutlasses and hoes, remained prevalent and one of the major challenges facing the cassava sector.

She, however, noted a positive trend with an increasing number of women small-holder farmers contributing to the sector, adding that the existence of 32 cassava varieties developed by research institutions reflected the genetic diversity available for exploration.

Ms Akosa also identified the lack of machinery and equipment for processing, drying, and planting as another bottleneck that hindered efficiency.

She said the knowledge gap for value addition and the absence of diverse recipes to encourage farmers to explore alternative uses of cassava contributed to the stagnation of the sector.

Proposed measures

Laying a comprehensive set of proposals to propel the cassava sector forward, Ms Akosa said, among other things, the was the need for urgent development and availability of domestic and edible seed varieties, the infusion of machinery and equipment at every stage of the production process, and a robust effort to address the knowledge gap hindering value addition.

She underscored the call for capacity building and know-how to commercialise cassava effectively, along with increased investment in inputs and technology.

Ms Akosa called for partnerships for industrialisation and commercialisation, positioning cassava as the next economic powerhouse akin to cocoa and gold.

The initiative, she emphasised, would not only create more employment opportunities but also generate the much-needed revenue.
CEO Dialogues have been impactful  Silver Star CEO

Daily Graphic Dec - 01 - 2023 , 08:12

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Silver Star Auto, Asad Nazir, has described the CEO Dialogues as impactful in a very personal way.

The dialogue is a bi-annual thought leadership and capacity-building event which brings CEOs together to fashion out strategies and approaches for dealing with contemporary business issues including economic development, corporate governance, legal and regulatory framework and business sustainability.

CEO Dialogues

Launched in 2022, the CEO Dialogues is a niche business conversation among CEOs.

It regularly features established authorities across diverse industries in intimate, frank, peer-to-peer business conversations.

As an invite-only event, the selected CEOs gather around the table for the discussions, giving it a rich mix of leaders who are willing to share, take on board and collaborate.

Speaking to a section of the media to throw light on the effect that CEO Dialogues had had on the local business scene since it was launched last year, the CEO of Silver Star Auto, Asad Nazir, stated: I have had the privilege to attend the previous editions of CEO Dialogues and I have been pleased both by the depth of the subject presentations by the partner institutions and the quality of interactions among the audience.



Uniqueness

One of the leading players in the local auto industry with brands including Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Citroen, Mr NAZIR was also impressed with the uniqueness of the concept of CEO Dialogues.

The whole idea behind the dialogues is quite unique as well and we at Silver Star have obviously been happy to associate with CEO Dialogues.

The richness of the discussions and the depth of the engagement have been very fruitful and I have personally gained a lot of insights plus perspectives from these, he revealed.

Silver Star

Mr Nazir stated that Silver Star Auto Limited, a leading automobile firm in Ghana that has been synonymous with luxury started its operations in 1996 and now has branches in Accra, Tema and Kumasi to cater to all your sales and servicing needs.

As dealers in Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Citroen brands of vehicles in Ghana, he said their product line covered the full spectrum of automobile needs, including saloon cars, SUVs, vans, trucks and buses.

Over the years, we have strengthened our position as a leading automotive distributor in Ghana through our innovative responses to the needs of our customers, including the services we offer them and the effective leadership and teamwork at play in our offices.

With activities like CEO Dialogues, we can identify opportunities to build capacity, engender growth and develop effective teams through the various economic phases, and the attendant challenges and opportunities this market and the world offers, Mr Nazir concluded.



This years event

This years CEO Dialogues (2023) was held under the theme A year after the World Economic Meltdown.

At the event which was sponsored by GCB Bank PLC and Japan Motors, a presentation was made by KPMG and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (Ghana).

CEO Dialogues is a collaboration between Base Element Limited, a worldwide Marketing Agency, and Ishmael Yamson and Associates (IY&A), a foremost Management Consulting Firm.

The event regularly partners with recognised bodies including KPMG, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (Ghana), the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and a network of International Partners including Dale Carnegie (UK), among others.
PFJ2.0 will achieve its ambitious targets  Dr Bryan Acheampong

Daily Graphic Dec - 01 - 2023 , 08:31

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, says the government's target to become self-sufficient in food production within five years through PFJ Phase II is achievable.

He said with the five-year food security plan, "we believe that the trajectory we have embarked on will make us food secure and resilient by 2028".

Dr Acheampong said that effort could only be achieved on the back of farmers, and therefore, if we are committing December 1 and the days before that to honour our farmers then it is in the right step.

Food security

Addressing the official opening of the National Farmers Day Agrifest- 2023, the minister said to achieve food security, there were a lot of actors that would help the country in that regard.

He named them as the input dealers, aggregators, farmers themselves, regional and district agriculture officers, the Fisheries Commission, fisheries department across the country and other stakeholders.

Dr Acheampong ,therefore, said it was important that the week was committed to showcasing the tools that they intended to employ to meet the food security target by 2028.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture also said AGRIFEST was part of the awareness that the ministry wanted to create so that all Ghanaians would come on board to ensure that we march the journey together as Ghanaians for our food security and resilience.

Agrifest 2023

A 5-Day National Agricultural Festival, Agrifest Ghana 2023, preceding the national celebrations was officially opened yesterday in Accra the exhibition is slated for Monday, 27th November to Friday, 1st December 2023, held at the Ministerial enclave in Accra.??????????

The first Friday of December will be commemorated with an Awards Night Ceremony at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), where H E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, will honour best-performing farmers and fishers.

A total of 15 distinguished farmers will receive recognition at the Award Night.

The theme, Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience is appropriate and relevant as it resonates with the PFJ 2.0 programme aimed at achieving food security in Ghana.

PFJ 2.0

While the PFJ programme has shown promising results in its first phase, the second phase, PFJ 2.0, is seen as a critical step towards transforming Ghana's agriculture sector.

PFJ Phase II is expected to build on the successes of the first phase and take the programme to the next level.

The PFJ 2.0 is focused on private-sector partnerships that can help provide financing and technical support to farmers, which can improve their productivity and profitability.

This, the Minister for Food and Agriculture said, will lead to increased investment in the agricultural sector and create employment opportunities.

The success of PFJ Phase II would depend on several factors, including funding, implementation, and sustainability, Dr Acheampong intimated, saying the government therefore, had provided adequate budget to ensure that the programme was adequately funded and that resources were allocated effectively.

The programme's implementation also needs to be efficient and effective, with a focus on reaching mechanised and commercial farmers to address their specific needs.
NMC to GIBA: Notice to suspend broadcasting authorisations of Onua TV/FM stands

Graphic.com.gh Dec - 01 - 2023 , 17:54

The National Media Commission (NMC) has reacted to the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association's (GIBA) concerns in relation to the notice by the NMC on measures, it was taking to suspend the operations of Onua FM and Onua TV, following what the commission describes as "persistently dangerous broadcast" by the two media houses, owned by Media General.

In a press statement dated December 1, 2023, signed by the Executive Secretary, George Sarpong, the NMC indicated that the notice of suspension still stands.

The NMC indicated to GIBA, Onua FM and Onua TV "invited this upon themselves, please note that your [GIBA] press statement is of no consequence to the process. We wrote to you [GIBA] out of courtesy so if it is your wish that we do not grant you that courtesy in future, we respect that."

GIBA in a press statement had said the NMC was not giving Onua FM and Onua TV a fair hearing.

But in responding to GIBA, the NMC advised GIBA not to attempt to dictate to it on how it should handle it's constitutional duties.

"Regarding how we deal with other organisations including the Advertising Association of Ghana, the ordinary rules of etiquette would require you not to attempt to dictate to us," NMC told GIBA and said there was a difference between imposing sanctions without giving a hearing and serving notice to impose sanctions.

What has happened?

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 is following "persistently dangerous broadcast" by Onua TV and Onua FM.

Related: NMC issues final warning to Onua FM/TV and Captain Smart over inciteful broadcast

The NMC has written to some institutional partners, including the Advertisers Association of Ghana (AAG), GIBA and others serving notice of the processes it has initiated towards the suspension of the frequency of Onua TV and Onua FM.

A similar letter has been sent to the National Communications Authority (NCA) as a form of notice on why the frequency authorisations of the two media houses should be suspended.

"We believe our intervention to save the nation may have implications for your members and their clients who deal with the two stations. We therefore deem it necessary to inform you of our action to enable you advise the advertising community accordingly," the letter to the AAG for instance stated.

Background

The NMC in a statement dated November 14, 2023 issued a final warning to Onua FM, Onua TV and one of the station's presenters, Captain Smart over the said inciteful broadcast.

The NMC indicated that Onua had carried a broadcast in which Captain Smart directly insulted the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and other Commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) by describing them as beasts.

On November 24, the NMC in another statement announced that it had extended the final warning after which the commission said it may act without any further reference to Media General, owners of Onua FM and Onua TV.

The extension of the deadline followed a response Onua FM/TV sent to the NMC in a letter dated November 20, 2023,

Captain Smart had claimed that the military officers embezzle monies meant for soldiers on peace keeping operations but offered no evidence to back his claims, the NMC stated.

"This was as dangerous as it was unprofessional," the commission added indicating that Captain Smart was inciting a mutiny in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

The commission in its letter made reference to a similar incident in 2022 where in a letter dated December 8, 2022, it drew the attention of Onua TV/FM to the use of the station to promote violence against the state and the managements lack of capacity to address same.

The NMC said it was of concern that the behaviour persists after attention was drawn to it and the management was not instituting any measures for any internal gatekeeping to help prevent re-occurence.

In the meantime, Media General, the management of Onua FM and Onua TV has sued the National Media Commission and says they will not be cowered by politically tainted harassments.

Media General is seeking an order for perpetual injunction restraining the NMC from taking any steps that adversely seek to impact on the media operations of the company and its associates.

The media house is also asking the court to among other things declare that some orders issued by the Commission to Onua TV and Onua FM 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.

No sanctions on two media houses yet - NMC

On the issue of sanctions without hearing, the NMC has explained that it has only issued a notice and that it has not imposed any sanctions yet. "We also wish to provide you information that the claim in your press statement that the Commission acted without giving the opportunity for fair hearing to the stations rather than pronouncing sanctions upon them has no foundation," the NMC said. "NMC has not issued any sanctions on the two offending stations yet. "What we have done is to file a notice of suspension. We did that after issuing them warnings to desist from their professional delinquency. Neither the cease and desist orders nor the notice of suspension constitutes sanctions. "A cease and desist order only warns a criminal, wrong doer or a delinquent professional to stop their misbehaviour and to withdraw from their lawlessness. It does not constitute sanctions. It is akin to asking a pickpocket to stop stealing or to stop a person poisoning the public well to stop his murderous act. It does not involve any hearing. Opportunity for fair hearing comes in when the criminal ignores the warning and puts himself in harms way with the law. It is at that point that the wrong doer, faced with the law, is given opportunity for fair hearing. "We have initiated a process. We assure you that the errant stations may have their opportunity for fair hearing at the right time in the appropriate forum," the commission added.

Attached below is the NMC's December 1, 2023 statement reacting to GIBA
Three ex-convicts jailed 18 months for stealing cassava worth GH1,800

GNA Nov - 30 - 2023 , 18:48

The Agona Nsaba Magistrate's Court has sentenced three ex-convicts to six months in hard labour each for stealing cassava worth GH1,800 from Mr. Emmanuel Fenyn, a farmer at Agona Nyakrom.

Ernest Saakwa, 35, Emmanuel Amoaning, 33, and Yaw Oboom, 32, pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing and are to serve six months for each crime, with the sentences running concurrently. They had previously served three months in jail for stealing plantain.

Prosecuting Officer Detective Chief Inspector Aglagoh Lawson told the court presided over by Mr. Victor Kusi that the complainant owned a cassava farm at Apumuso, a village near Nyakrom.

On Sunday, November 5, 2023, the convicts went to the complainant's farm and harvested quantities of cassava valued at GH1,800.00. While harvesting, they were spotted by a witness who informed the complainant.

According to Detective Chief Inspector Lawson, the convicts had fled the scene by the time the complainant reached his farm.

However, upon their arrest, they admitted to uprooting the cassava, which they sold to an unknown person from Agona Swedru for GH1,800.00.

They were subsequently charged before the Nsaba Magistrate's Court after investigations.
Water pollution poses threat to Ghana's water security - Water Research Board Chair

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Dec - 01 - 2023 , 10:52

The continued pollution of Ghanas water bodies will serve as additional stress to efforts to supply clean and potable water to Ghanaians.

The Board Chairman of the CSIR-Water Research Institute (WRI), Anthony Boateng, who made the above observation believes that many Ghanaians do not value water nor the environment, hence the continued destruction of the countrys water bodies and environment.

He said even though access to clean and secure water is integral to Ghanas growth and development objectives, Our individual and collective behaviour as citizens clearly does not seem to put greater value on water.

Mr Boateng, who was speaking at the Open Day of the CSIR-WRI on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 in Accra, said our actions have clearly shown over the years that we do not value water nor our environment.

Open Day

The Open Day is an event organised biannually to promote sustainable exploration, use and management of water resources in Ghana.

The Open Day aims to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities linked to water security.

The event brought together government agencies, industry, research and academic institutions, media and the general public to rethink the solutions to enhance Ghanas water security.

Mr Boateng further indicated that even though the acceptable turbidity value for drinking water is 5 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU), in June 2021, the agency recorded turbidity levels ranging from 63 NTU (at Kyebi on Birim) to 1,122 NTU (at Odaso on Offin).

He expressed the concern that the high turbidity levels of the said rivers were recorded a month when pollution levels of the said water bodies were low, raising an alarm for an urgent action to be taken to address water pollution in the country.

The Director, CSIR-Water Research Institute, Prof. Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana, said water is an invaluable resource that affects every facet of our existence, hence its security and sustainability are pivotal to the wellbeing of our nation.

He said the purpose of the Open Day was to bring to the forefront the urgent need for a collective re-evaluation of the value of water in the country.

That, Prof. Osei-Atweneboana, said, through insightful discussions and informative presentations, we will explore innovative solutions and strategies to ensure that Ghanas water resources continue to serve the socio-economic and environmental needs of our society.

Showcase your work

The Board Chair of CSIR Council, Prof. Robert Kingsford-Adaboh, urged the CSIR-WRI and other institutes under the agency to showcase their innovations to the public, pointing out that because many people do not know or are unaware of the work of the agency, some members of the public continue to encroach on the agencys lands, as well as taking over properties belonging to it.

He admonished the agency to use the Open Day celebration to educate Ghanaians on its work.

The Director-General of CSIR, Prof. Paul Bosu, pledged the readiness of the agency to use all available mediums to educate Ghanaians on its work and innovations.

He also called for support from all, including the private sector to enable the agency to extend its influence even in other parts of Africa.

Launch

Launching the event, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Mr Kwamena Essilfie Quaison, who spoke on behalf of the sector Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, commended the Water Research Institute for its contributions to the countrys development, particularly in the areas of water and its related resources.

He expressed the concern that the wanton pollution of the countrys water bodies poses major threats to the countrys socio-economic development, calling for a collective effort to reverse the trend.

Mr Quaison said Ghana depended on fresh water bodies for many economic activities, thus polluting the sources of these water bodies would affect the countrys development negatively.

He said as part of efforts to help redeem the countrys water bodies, the Ministry has initiated process to include water management practices in the curriculum of basic and Senior High Schools in the country.

That, he noted, would help to equip the younger generation with knowledge on how to protect the countrys water bodies.

For him, the countrys problem with water was not about availability but governance, hence needing governance measures to secure it.

The former Director, Institute for Environment and Sanitation studies, University of Ghana, Prof. Chris Gordon, said water has no substitute and that everyone must be an agent to help protect the countrys water bodies and environment.
24-hour economy to ensure sustainable food security in Ghana - Mahama

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics Dec - 01 - 2023 , 11:05

Former President John Dramani Mahama is advocating for smart solutions within a 24-hour economy to ensure sustainable food security for Ghana.

In a post on social media to celebrate Ghanaian farmers and fishers today, Friday, December 1, 2023, the former President, who is also the Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), said the NDC is dedicated to bringing back the joy of farming and revolutionising the agricultural sector.

"We aim to achieve food self-sufficiency through a policy that supports large-scale commercial agricultural production," he noted, adding "As we celebrate our farmers today, we must acknowledge the need for smart solutions within a 24-hour economy to ensure sustainable food security for our nation."

Ghana celebrates its farmers and fisher on the first Friday of every December. The Day is marked to recognise the important role farmers and fishers play in the country's food security drive.

This year's celebration is marked on the theme: "Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience."

Today, we celebrate Ghana's hardworking and dedicated farmers and fishers on National Farmers' Day 2023.

This day is dedicated to recognising the efforts of our farmers in ensuring food security and contributing to our economy.

This year's theme, "Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience," highlights the importance of innovation and resilience in agriculture.

As we celebrate our farmers today, we must acknowledge the need for smart solutions within a 24-hour economy to ensure sustainable food security for our nation.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is dedicated to bringing back the joy of farming and revolutionising the agricultural sector. We aim to achieve food self-sufficiency through a policy that supports large-scale commercial agricultural production.

This will be propelled by a robust cooperative system that will benefit from Farmers Service Centres established nationwide to drive access to agricultural credit and inputs.

We will introduce agro-processing units in all regions to add value to our agricultural products and create more opportunities for all farmers. Establishing agricultural processing plants will target crops such as palm, cashew, groundnuts, cotton, coffee, cocoa, soya, cassava, shea nuts, cereals, ginger, spices, cut flowers, fruits and horticultural products.

On this occasion, I want to assure our farmers that the next NDC government will prioritise their welfare and work tirelessly to ensure they have the necessary resources and support to thrive. Our farmers are the backbone of our economy, and we will continue to invest in their success.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Ghanaian farmers on this special day.

Thank you for feeding our nation.

Happy National Farmers' Day!
Since 1993, Parliament has never resorted to division in making decisions - Majority to Speaker

Graphic.com.gh Politics Nov - 30 - 2023 , 23:36

The Majority side in Parliament has stated that since 1993, Parliament has never resorted to a division in making decisions and was therefore wondering why the Speaker, Alban S.K. Bagbin, on Wednesday, decided to resort to a division in making a decision on the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.

To them, there was no such application to make the decision by resorting to a division and that the application, which was raised by Emmanuel Kofi Armah-Buah on account of Order 113(2) was a result of the challenge, where he called for a headcount.

There was no call for a decision by division and that it was the Speaker, who opted to go by that route.

To them, they are insisting that until the appeal for a headcount is dealt with, not the division that the Speaker had called last Wednesday, the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy has been approved per what transpired in Parliament last Wednesday [Nov 29].

In a press statement signed and issued by the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority side insisted that the decision by the Speaker of Parliament to call for a division "was certainly not the initial application" before the House.

"Despite the procedural objections raised, the Speaker declined to acknowledge these concerns and expressed his intention to proceed with a headcount as demanded."

They, therefore, want the Speaker to stick to the request of the headcount, and the not the possibility of resorting to a division, which the Speaker indeed called for, even though there was no such application before the House.

The Majority side stated: "Since 1993, Parliament has never resorted to a division in making decisions."

"The Majority concluded the choice for a division was unfair under the circumstance, leading to their decision to stage a walkout.

"It is essential to note that despite the Speaker's indication that the "ayes" had prevailed, and despite a petition presented to him, a petition that hadn't followed due process, the Speaker's initial ruling on the "ayes" retaining their advantage stands.

"Consequently, the budget has been duly passed until the appeal for a headcount is dealt with, not the division that the Speaker had called," the added.

Speaker Bagbin's position

Meanwhile, at Thursday's sitting of the House, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin said the Budget Statement and the Economic Policy of the government for the year ending December 31, 2024 is still before the House.

He said the final decision on the budget statement would be taken next week, Thursday, December 7, 2023.He, therefore, directed the Business Committee of the House to reschedule the issue for next week.

Related article: Parliament to take final decision on 2024 budget approval next Thursday

Read the full statement by the Majority side below

STATEMENT BY THE MAJORITY CAUCUS ON THE APPROVAL OF 2024 BUDGET STATEMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICY OF GOVERNMENT

Following the conclusion of the debate on the budget yesterday, the Speaker, as per the established protocol of the House, was to put the question regarding the approval of the policy and principles underpinning the budget.

After a period of deliberation, the Speaker posed the question and announced that the "ayes" had it.

Subsequently, the Deputy Minority Leader, Armah Kofi-Buah, rose on account of Order 113(2) to contest what he (Mr. Armah Kofi-Buah) deemed as a ruling by the Rt. Hon. Speaker.

As a result of the challenge, he called for a headcount.

This prompted an intervention from the Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader.

They raised procedural issues in respect of the application brought before the Speaker.

Despite the procedural objections raised, the Speaker declined to acknowledge these concerns and expressed his intention to proceed with a headcount as demanded.

At this juncture, the leadership of the majority caucus insisted on their readiness to submit to the headcount that was being sought.

The headcount, a process where members indicating "aye" or "no" rise to be counted, typically takes approximately 10 minutes.

The results are then tallied by table officers and presented to the Speaker, who announces the outcome.

Instead of sticking to the request of the headcount, the Speaker then said that he was drawing the attention of the House to the possibility of resorting to a division, and indeed the Speaker then called for a division.

This came as a surprise to Members of the Majority Caucus, since no such application for a division had been presented to the Speaker.

The decision to call for a division was certainly not the initial application.

Leadership of the Majority,-well aware that under our rules, being absent during a headcount disqualifies a member from being recorded present, whereas in a division, absent members who rush in can be counted as participants, even if they were not present when the question was initially put - moved to halt this process that would have allowed some of the minority MPs who were outside Accra at the time to be able to proceed to Parliament to be counted, even though the Majority was fully aware that it was not going to give the minority any advantage.

This departure from the call for a headcount generated heat and was set to frustrate government business; at the same time undermining the sanctity of the parliamentary processes.

Since 1993, Parliament has never resorted to a division in making decisions.

The Majority concluded the choice for a division was unfair under the circumstance, leading to their decision to stage a walkout.

It is essential to note that despite the Speaker's indication that the "ayes" had prevailed, and despite a petition presented to him, a petition that hadn't followed due process, the Speaker's initial ruling on the "ayes" retaining their advantage stands.

Consequently, the budget has been duly passed until the appeal for a headcount is dealt with, not the division that the Speaker had called.
2 more Israeli hostages released from Gaza

Xinhua) 13:29, December 01, 2023

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Huawei is developing a self-sufficient chip network with the active help of the Chinese state, Bloomberg News reports. According to the publication's research, a city government investment fund in Shenzhen has been founded for the sole purpose of putting Huawei as the centerpoint of a big network with optical specialists, chip equipment developers and chemical manufacturers.

Huawei HQ

The decision to make Huawei the leading force came with a direct order from the top of government, said two sources. The state even asked the manufacturer to launch Mate 60 earlier than previously planned as a response to the visit of US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to China.

The Huawei Mate 60 smartphones feature a China-made 7nm chipset Kirin 9000S. We have sent multiple inquiries to Huawei representatives about the SoC, but they declined to comment every time. Insiders said the 7nm chipset, built by SMIC, reveals that China is roughly five years behind the current most advanced technology.

Export controls by the United States aimed to keep China behind at least eight years. The major reason why Huawei and the whole chip business in China is being targeted by the United States is concerns that US technology acquired by Chinese makers could be applied in chips like the 9000S to power AI-controlled drones, supercomputers for code-breaking and surveillance.

The Shenzhen Major Industry Investment Group was created in 2019 with state funding and received direct orders to support China's chip efforts. It has invested in about a dozen companies in the supply chain, revealed data from a public platform about company registration information. Bloomberg found one chipmaking tool company called SiCarrier, which formed a close symbiotic relationship with Huawei, and both sides exchanged talent.

SiCarrier is using engineers to work under the Huawei project, while the chip manufacturer transferred a dozen patents, including technologies for electronic machines and data center designs. Both sides didn't respond to requests for comment to Bloomberg News.

One facility of SiCarrier makes components for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including laser-driven light source gears, pressure control valves, and pumps, according to an evacuation map on a wall.

There is also Zetop Technologies, a company that makes optical machines that put layer after layer of transistors on a silicon wafer, and Huawei is a major shareholder, along with the Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics, and Physics, an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

ASML Holding, a Dutch company that practically holds a monopoly over the sales of lithography machines, is not selling its products to Chinese companies. However, Huawei and its partners managed to hire a number of former ASML employees to help work on chipmaking machines.

Analysts revealed China is not only setting up funds and building $30 billion chip fabrication facilities. The state also helps with land, requires no income tax, and even builds apartment buildings for employee campuses. The country doesn't aim to establish full self-sufficiency. It works only on creating domestic alternatives in fields where the US and allies can choke off supplies, like lithography, wafer production, and electronic design information.

Source

Image source: ASML
A renowned tipster on X shared some spicy details surrounding the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC, which is rather odd because we've barely even seen the recently released Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in action. But the tipster's leaks so far have been mostly accurate, so we have a reason to believe the report.

According to @Tech_Reve, Qualcomm will once again rely solely on TSMC for making the 3nm-based Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset next year. Reportedly, the chip designer has decided to bet on TSMC once again because it's planning to use custom Oryon CPU cores and doesn't want to compromise power and efficiency with the new set of cores. You could say that Qualcomm just isn't convinced with Samsung's yields or performance.

However, a dual chip sourcing strategy is still on the cards for 2025 when the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 comes out, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for Galaxy will be produced at Samsung's foundry 3GAP. At least, according to a Taiwanese news outlet.

Qualcomm's decision does make sense, given the noticeable difference between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipsets. The former was manufactured by Samsung and had throttling issues and lower efficiency, while the Plus variant came out of TSMC's fabs and proved to be a better chip overall.

Back to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the tipster suggests that it will bring impressive performance to the Android world without drawing too much power. In a multi-core scenario, the SD8 Gen 4 is said to surpass 10,000 points on Geekbench 6, while the Adreno 830 GPU offers the same level of power draw as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 while offering excellent performance gains. The whole SoC is rumored to consume just 8W.

In any case, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is still about a year away, so we'll probably get a lot more details about it as the actual announcement nears.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3
A shortage of nurses at the Guam Memorial Hospital has seen patients in the emergency department waiting for a bed for up to 21 hours, according to this weeks meeting of the GMH Board of Trustees.

Trustee Dr. Teresa Borja said the problem is critical and now has emergency room nurses trying to manage less critical patients around the hospital, in addition to their work in the ER.

Hospital Administrator Lilian Perez-Posadas reported that the 40 nurses that were recently brought onboard failed to keep up with the 44 that left over the same period of time.

Were really just challenged, she said.

A total of 36 travel nurses, who are more costly to hire, are now supporting the hospital.

Through the entirety of 2023, a total of 70 nurses quit, said Liezl Concepcion, deputy assistant administrator for nursing services.

Unlike in the past, where nurses arrived at GMH and moved off island after several years, nurses are leaving at a very fast pace, often for better salaries at the Guam Regional Medical City, she said.

GMH leadership is now looking to stanch the nurse drain problem by giving registered nurses a whopping six-step pay raise.

But board members on Tuesday made no move to approve the proposed raise, as the cash-strapped hospital does not have the finances to support it.

Based on the governments 2021 Nurse Pay Plan, a six-step raise would amount to about:

An extra $6,949 a year for a nurse at the very bottom of the pay scale.

An extra $13,882 a year for a nurse close to the middle of the pay scale.

An extra $20,287 a year for a nurse at the first step of the top pay grade.

In addition, nurses at GMH get a 25% pay differential that other government nurses do not.

Cost of raises: $7.2M

Those raises for RNs will cost GMH another $7.2 million a year, according to Perez-Posadas.

GMH did not get the money to cover that cost in their budget for fiscal 2024, she said.

We are very much concerned. (But) if we dont have the funding, I dont want to go to jail, the administrator said.

According to Concepcion, it cost GMH $6.28 million between Jan. 1 and Nov. 4 to cover the cost of expensive travel nurses that were hired to keep up with staffing issues, slightly less than the cost of the raises.

Trustee Borja said the math of keeping travel nurses on board doesnt make sense.

How do we pay the travel nurses, out of what fund? Borja asked.

Well, we havent been paying the travel nurses, GMHA Chief Financial Officer Yuka Hechanova responded.

Where did the emergency funding go?

GMH had to use the $30 million in emergency funding recently passed by the Legislature to cover money that was owed to travel nurses.

Prior to that, nurses were getting paid with reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Typhoon Mawar, Hechanova said.

GMHA may try to raise wages for RNs in quarterly increments, in order to make the six-step raise more financially feasible, Perez-Posadas said.

With the hospital ironing out a financial plan, they will try to support raises by the first or second quarter of 2024.

Hechanova said some $22 million worth of uncollected billings at the hospital are one possibility. If GMH can recover about 50% those billings, the raises could be funded. Other options are also being explored, she said, but all will take some time.

Trustee Melissa Weibel suggested that GMH ask the Legislature for additional funding to cover the raises.

According to Hechanova, that might be the fastest option.

Perez-Posadas said she would talk to Speaker Therese Terlaje, chair of the legislative health committee, about the possibility of getting more money for GMH.

GovGuam entered fiscal 2024 with a balanced budget, so its unclear where the money would come from.

An excess $13 million in tax collections raked in during the month of October has already been used up to cover a power bill credit program for Guam Power Authority customers.

More billings to be thrown out

Meanwhile, GMH trustees want more details about the $2.8 million worth of billings that hospital management has deemed uncollectible and wants to write off.

Trustees requested a breakdown of what year the billings were collected on before taking the write off to a vote.

Hechanova said most of the uncollectible billings are from 2009 to 2018.

Hospital staff said the trustees will be asked to approve the write off of another batch of uncollectible billings in the near future, as GMH works through a batch of billings from 2014 to present that were never collected.

Hechanova said GMH will begin garnishing tax refund payments for patients that fail to pay their bills again. Besides that, they are trying to cut down overtime costs by reexamining staffing schedules at the hospital, she said.

Whos not essential?

New computers have also been received for billing staff, to replace old computers that were severely slowing the ability to send claims to insurance companies.

Trustee Sharon Davis said with personnel being the hospitals highest cost, leadership may have to start the tough conversation of whos essential and whos not essential.

I do feel as though, if you are not contributing to the mission and vision of GMH, then we need to get them off of our payroll, she said.
Tourists gather at the Puntan Dos Amantes, or Two Lovers Point, visitors attraction venue on May 10, 2023.
The Guam Power Authority now has the authorization to lease temporary generators meant to keep the island out of the load shedding blues through next year.

The Public Utilities Commission voted 6-to-1 Thursday night to authorize GPA to go out to bid for the generators, which GPA General Manager John Benavente estimates will cost $11 million to $13 million to lease for a term of two to three years.

Only commissioner Pedro Guerrero voted against the proposal.

Benavente said GPA hopes to have a contract locked in and approved by PUC and the Consolidated Commission by January.

Construction time will take another 100 days, and the temporary generator is expected to be online by April or May.

GPA wants to get more power generation capacity online by next summer, to keep up with rising temperatures and power consumption. If it doesnt, load shedding will have to return any time one of the utilitys aging generators goes down for scheduled maintenance or emergency repairs.

The power authority was hovering at a little over 250 megawatts of capacity just before Thanksgiving. According to historical data from GPA, peak power demand typically dips below 250MW around December, before shooting back up to 250MW in May and then taking off through the summer.

Getting temporary power online was the smart thing to do, PUC Administrative Law Judge Fred Horecky told commissioners Thursday, as GPA was losing money every time that it had to cut the power for load shedding.

Its bad enough that GPA is losing revenue during every outage, but its even harder on the people of Guam experiencing load shedding for a protracted period of time, Horecky said.

Benavente said the temporary generators will be installed near the old Cabras generator fuel tanks in Piti.

If we get it, then were gonna run it, because itd be more efficient combustion turbines that were running today, Benavente told commissioners.

The temporary machines might save GPA between $4 million and $6 million a year.

While a lease-to-own option may be available for the temporary generators, Benavente said he does not plan to go after it as the units are only a stop-gap measure until the 198-megawatt Ukudu power plant comes online around January of 2026.

Procurement hangups

Temporary generators are one of a number of strategies GPA is shooting for to keep the load shedding thats become commonplace since Typhoon Mawar in May from returning, Benavente told commissioners.

But if any company that bids on the generator contract and loses, and tries to protest the project award, that could lead to delays and more power issues.

I think we could have a good holiday. But next summer, I have to get to work. And they have to pull out the handcuffs for me to get to work, he told commissioners.

To that end, GPA is banking on legislation introduced by power oversight chairman Sen. Will Parkinson, Bill 206-37, which would allow the power authority to bypass a number of procurement controls that might cause a delay to the temporary generators being stood up.

Bill 206-37 would waive a review by the attorney general of the generator contract, waive a number of competitive bidding procedures, and waive the right of losing bidders to protest the award of the contract.

Parkinson said hes aiming to get the measure on the agenda for the Legislature by December. Its yet to have a necessary public hearing, but the senator has said he may seek a waiver on the hearing.

Benavente said the go-ahead from the Legislature to bypass procurement controls will be helpful if it comes by January.

Additionally, senators are awaiting a call from Speaker Therese Terlaje to go back into session for Bill 201-37, which will similarly allow GPA to sidestep procurement controls for the overhaul of a number of diesel generator units.

That should add another 25MW of capacity to the grid, Benavente said Thursday night.

The Yigo Diesel unit and a number of old temporary generators are part of the deal, and have been jammed up by a procurement protest for over a year, the general manager said.

Those two bills are not expected to pass automatically, as some lawmakers, notably Sen. Telo Taitague, have objected to moving forward with the bills until more information about their impact is provided.
TakeCare holds its community health fair at the Micronesia Mall in Dededo on Nov. 26, 2022.
The playoffs are feeling like a shoo-in for the Miami Dolphins, who have an 8-3 record and sit atop the AFC East. Per the New York Times playoff simulator, the Dolphins have a 99% chance to make playoffs and a 97% chance to win the division following Week 12.

The rest of the divisions odds dont look as promising, as the New York Jets and New England Patriots have had disappointing seasons. The biggest divisional threat to the Dolphins are the 6-6 Buffalo Bills, who are responsible for delivering one of their three losses this season.

After a 37-34 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills playoff chances have dropped to just 14%. Every game matters for the Bills moving forward. They can secure a playoff seed by winning out, which would include victories over the Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs.

The Dolphins approach a Week 13 matchup against the Washington Commanders, who sit in fourth place in the NFC East with a 4-8 record. According to the simulator, if the Dolphins beat the Commanders, their chances of a first-round bye improve from 19% to 21%. If the Commanders win, the Dolphins playoff chances drop to 98% and the probability of the bye falls to 10%.

To win the division, the magic number for the Dolphins is four victories. Earning the bye week is unlikely, due to a head-to-head loss to the Chiefs in Germany. A Week 17 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens will likely be the determining factor.

The Dolphins and Commanders square off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
A pair of New Orleans restaurants made the cut for Esquires list of top 50 food spots they couldnt stop dreaming about. Dakar NOLA and Hungry Eyes both caught the attention of the magazine, plucked from over 200 establishments across the country.

Hungry Eyes  born from the same masterminds who brought us sandwich-paradise Turkey and the Wolf and its breakfast counterpart Mollys Rise and Shine  has earned critical acclaim since its April opening.

The restaurant, located on bustling Magazine Street, feels like a trip inside a Depeche Mode song. While the decor is reminiscent of an early MTV music video, the menu is all modern: A seafood and turmeric curry combines Louisiana favorites like slow-smoked catfish with Indian-inspired roti flatbread and rice. Meanwhile, the grilled pastrami sandwich nods to the owners early success.

Chef Mason Hereford has managed to open a third nostalgia-heavy food joint, with all the neon of the 80s and none of the gimmick.

A few blocks away at Dakar NOLA, the meal is part oration. The restaurant is one of several brick-and-mortars in New Orleans that originated as a pop-up; only now, Senegalese chef Serigne Mbaye can tell his story his own way.

At the start of each dinner  served promptly at 7 p.m., family style  Mbaye addresses the dining room. He explains the origins of the pescatarian tasting menu, inspired by the journey West African slaves endured to reach Louisiana and the lasting impacts on the citys foodscape.

Fried black-eyed pea fritters, originating from Yorubaland in Nigeria, are paired with Gulf shrimp and kaluga caviar. Freshly caught halibut is layered over sweet potatoes, greens and a burnt-orange onion mustard sauce. If Dakar NOLA is a narrative, then youll want to keep reading.

Both restaurants also are featured on the New York Times list of best restaurants in New Orleans.

Dakar NOLA is located at 3814 Magazine St. and is open by reservation from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday.

Hungry Eyes is located at 4206 Magazine St. and only accepts walk-ins. The restaurant is open every day, except Tuesday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and until 10:30 p.m. on weekends.
On Thursday, Rafael Ramos of Orlando, Florida, was handed a 27-month prison sentence for his role in devising and executing a fraudulent scheme to submit false documents to the Internal Revenue Service and illegally claim substantial tax refunds.

Ramos pleaded guilty in September to conspiring to defraud the United States, filing a false tax return, and aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.

According to a Department of Justice news release, court documents show that Ramos enlisted clients to take part in the plot in which he prepared tax returns for them, falsely boosted their tax withholdings by fraudulently alleging hefty deductions from banks and other financial institutions, and wrongfully claimed they were eligible for IRS refunds.

Further, Ramos and his co-conspirators filed counterfeit documents purportedly from financial institutions to substantiate the bogus withholdings claimed on client returns.

As the IRS moved to recover the illicitly obtained refunds, Ramos actively impeded their efforts by convening with clients and dispensing baseless letters for them to forward to the IRS. Further, he urged them to deceive investigators about the origin of their tax returns and guided them to shift funds to dodge IRS collection actions, the news release said.

The cumulative effect of Ramos fraudulent activities resulted in a tax loss exceeding $1.15 million. Following his incarceration, U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron ordered Ramos to undergo two years of supervised release and mandated he pay restitution of nearly $600,000 to the government.
As World AIDS Day is observed on Dec. 1, the U.S. South continues to be disproportionately affected by HIV.

The human immunodeficiency virus attacks the bodys immune system and currently has no cure. However, patients who receive proper medical care can live healthy lives. But if left untreated, it can develop into AIDS, which is fatal without treatment.

Deaths of people with HIV peaked in the U.S. in 1995 at around 50,000, and was almost 20,000 in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health policy organization KFF.

Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. live with HIV, according to the CDC. The disease is not spread equally across the country: the South experiences the greatest burden of HIV while lagging behind in prevention and care services, according to the CDC.

The region accounted for over half of the countrys new HIV diagnoses in 2020. It leads the nation in HIV-related deaths, according to the CDC. In the Gulf Coast, over 260,000 people live with HIV and over 5,000 died in 2021, according to mapping tool AIDSVu.

Similar to the rest of the country, a majority of diagnoses in the South occur in urban areas. However, it also has the highest proportion of new cases in suburban and rural areas, according to the CDC.

The Souths larger and more geographically dispersed population of people living with HIV creates unique challenges for prevention and treatment, the CDC said in a 2020 report.

The agency defines the area as the 16 states spanning the U.S. lower right, from Texas to Delaware, as well as the District of Columbia.

Racial disparities also exist within the Souths HIV diagnoses. Black Southerners made up 52% of cases in 2020, according to the CDC. Both Black men and women experience higher rates of the disease than their white counterparts.

Poverty, lack of insurance and stigma are some of the most pressing challenges faced by people living with HIV in the South. Researchers and advocates say increasing public health insurance could help.

Medicaid is the key building block to ending the epidemic, reads a 2020 Georgetown University research report.

Medicaid is the largest source of insurance coverage for people with HIV, according to KFF. For those at risk of or with the disease, it covers preventative services, medication and care.

People living in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act are more likely to be aware of their HIV status, as well as use preventative medication, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. But seven states in the South have not adopted Medicaid expansions, including every state in the Gulf Coast except Louisiana.

Uninsured Americans diagnosed with HIV or AIDS can potentially receive care under federal services like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the Health Center Program. State HIV/AIDS hotlines can connect residents to care and services.

Pharmaceutical companies offer Patient Assistance Programs to people with HIV who do not qualify for federal assistance programs. Those with insurance may be eligible for Co-Payment Assistance Programs.




Haiti - Politic : The Government seeks additional financial support from the World Bank





The Haitian Government presented this week to development partners, Haiti's Eligibility Note for the Prevention and Resilience Allocation (PRA) of the World Bank.



This Note will subsequently be presented to the Board of the World Bank with a view to allowing Haiti to access additional financing from the International Development Association (IDA) intended for countries in situations of Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV).



This document, which was developed on the basis of existing strategies, policies and programs of the Haitian Government, represents important commitments of the Government through an action plan intended to help the country gradually emerge from the state of chronic fragility which hinders its socio-economic development. If eligible, Haiti could receive additional financial support estimated at approximately 75% of the IDA allocation for the country over a period of three years.



"The continued support of our development partners, particularly the World Bank, during these recent years of intense fragility, has been decisive in maintaining economic stability, preserving certain development gains and mitigating the impacts of successive shocks on the Haitian population," declared Michel Patrick Boisvert, Minister of Economy and Finance.



The action plan is structured around three strategic objectives which are essential in the current socio-political and security context to strengthen the resilience of institutions and Haitian society in the face of shocks linked to insecurity, violence and natural disasters. At the same time, it constitutes a road map for a possible exit from the multi-dimensional crisis that the country is experiencing, towards a restoration of security and a return to political stability.



"The additional resources from the Prevention and Resilience Allocation would be intended in particular to finance development measures following the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission," said Laurent Msellati, Head of Operations of the Bank. World in Haiti. "Provided that Haiti is declared eligible, the priority sectors at the request of the Government could be the rehabilitation of resilient road corridors; strengthening prevention, preparation and response to natural disasters; and support for the education sector."



Through this action plan, the Haitian Government is committed to promoting peace, security and justice through the peaceful resolution of the crisis and an inclusive transition, the restoration of security and public order. The second objective is to strengthen good governance and the effectiveness of institutions by preserving and consolidating advances in governance and institutional capacities in key sectors including the social protection system and disaster risk management, as well as the improving economic governance through the promotion of macroeconomic stability.



Finally, the Haitian Government intends to strengthen social and community resilience, and reduce vulnerability to shocks, by strengthening food security and sovereignty, social protection and risk and disaster management. Actions aimed at strengthening human capital through better access to basic services and infrastructure have been identified with a view to promoting the recovery of populations in areas affected by the current crisis, including the improvement of community infrastructure and creating opportunities and livelihoods for at-risk youth.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Former Senator-elect Guy Philippe returns to the country





Thursday, November 30, Guy Philippe, former senator from Grand'Anse, elected in 2016, was repatriated aboard an ICE plane which arrived in Port-au-Prince at 9:49 a.m. with around ten other Haitians also deported by the American authorities.



Thursday November 30, 2023, Guy Philippe (55 years old) former senator of Grand'Anse, elected in 2016 former commander of the Haitian police who led the rebellion in 2004 which overthrew President Jean Bertrand Aristide, was repatriated to Port-au-Prince aboard an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plane which took off from Alexandria, Louisiana, at 5:57 a.m. and arrived in Port-au-Prince at 9:49 a.m. with around ten other Haitians also deported by the American authorities.



Released on September 7 in the United States, Philippe was detained in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Georgia while waiting to be repatriated to Haiti after serving 7 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy related to drug trafficking with Colombians. His repatriation would have been delayed by the Haitian government which had not responded favorably to the American request to send him back to Haiti...



Upon his arrival, Guy Philippe was taken into police custody and underwent interrogation at the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police.



Let's recall that Guy Philippe, under an international arrest warrant issued against him by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for several years, for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, had been arrested in Haiti (before his swearing-in in the Senate), by agents of the Brigade for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (BLTS) on January 5, 2017 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19720-haiti-flash-arrest-of-senator-guy-philippe.html then transferred to the USA the same day he was sentenced to 9 years in prison https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21301-haiti-flash-9-years-in-prison-for-guy-philippe.html after pleading guilty to avoid life in prison (following an agreement with the courts) while continuing to proclaim his innocence, accusing the United States of having kidnapped him.



His return raises a lot of questions, because it is not clear what role, if any, Philippe could play in Haiti while he never hid that upon his return he would get involved in politics again... One also does not know that there could be a relationship between him and ex-policeman Jimmy Cherizie alias "Barbecue" Head of the G9 coalition



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40447-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40234-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26598-icihaiti-usa-guy-philippe-loses-his-appeal-but-will-challenge-the-decision.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21301-haiti-flash-9-years-in-prison-for-guy-philippe.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20754-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-confesses-and-risks-20-years-imprisonment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20736-haiti-flash-rebound-in-the-case-of-guy-philippe.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20457-haiti-flash-trial-of-guy-philippe-postponed.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20400-haiti-flash-minister-edouard-speaks-on-the-case-guy-philippe.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20155-haiti-flash-extradition-of-guy-philippe-is-illegal-according-to-mirlande-manigat.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20036-haiti-flash-trial-of-guy-philippe-in-the-united-states.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19799-haiti-politics-demonstration-of-support-to-guy-philippe-front-us-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19796-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-pleads-not-guilty.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19790-haiti-security-all-closed-schools-in-the-department-of-grande-anse.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19774-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-was-extradited-on-what-legal-basis.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19767-haiti-flash-americans-attacked-houses-burned-down.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19757-haiti-flash-violent-reprisals-of-guy-philippe-s-supporters.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19731-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-the-charges-are-known-appearing-on-january-13-2017.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19730-haiti-justice-guy-philippe-appeared-the-minister-of-justice-convened.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19721-haiti-flash-senator-guy-philippe-extradited-to-the-usa.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19720-haiti-flash-arrest-of-senator-guy-philippe.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2023/11/30

Korean movie of the week "Samsara" (2019)

Advertisement

Directed by Moon Jeong-yun

With Kim Myung-gon, Lee Yeong-seok, Kim Jun-bae, Hong Hee-yong, Son Kyung-won, Jung Joon-young-I,...

Synopsis

Do-beop is an old monk who is respected by the religious body and has several successors.

Hye-jin, the first in line, is the chief monk of the biggest temple in Seoul. She was abandoned by her parents when she was young and raised in the hands of Do-beop. Rather than following the Buddhism concepts, she wants to be recognized as the first successor, considering Do-beop as her father, but the dual agony of life and connection bothers Hye-jin.

One day, the monks gather in the mountain hermitage when they hear that the monk is in critical condition. The reason why they visit the old monk after a long time, is not to check on his well-being, but because they have a clear purpose that would benefit them. However, what they face is not the great monk who had been commanded with dignity in the past, but an elderly man who is sick from dementia and paralysis.

At some point, mankind, Buddhism, indiscrimination, truth, life and death are lost and the monks argue with each other over the responsibility for the nursing of Do-beop and the wealth of the temple.

In the meantime, Hye-jin faces her own image in the past, which has been bothering her and looks back on the process of becoming who she is now.

Release date in Korea : 2020/09/23

Read William's review

Available on DVD from YESASIA



DVD (English Subtitled)
Korean Movie | 2023

 Documentary

Directed by Jinyoung Lee Won ()

55min | Release date in South Korea: 2024/06/06

Synopsis

An omnibus music film that unfolds in a space where the sweat and sacrifice of our ancestors is reflected in the scenery of Hawaii. The precious aspects of 120 years of immigration history, overlaid on Korean songs performed by Korea's leading performers, are shown using local footage from Hawaii, computer graphics, and live footage.



Part 1: Their Footsteps

Major events in the history of Korean immigration over the past 120 years unfold like a panorama.



Part 2: Grandmothers Brassware

Movingly illuminates the life and devotion of immigrant women through the true story of 'Im Ok-soon,' a photo bride who went to Hawaii



Part 3: Kalaupapa's Tears

A requiem for the portraits of Korean ancestors who had to face lonely deaths in isolation in a place called 'Sorokdo' in Hawaii, and a narrative of love and hope that bloomed there.
Published on 2023/11/30 | Source

Actor Lee Mu-saeng will appear in "Noryang: Deadly Sea".

Advertisement

The movie "Noryang: Deadly Sea" is a war action masterpiece that takes place in 1598, when the seven-year Imjin War nears an end as Wae invaders prepare to withdraw from Joseon. Admiral Yi Sun-sin leads an allied fleet of Joseon and Ming ships to annihilate the Wae army. Joseon, Ming, and Wae forces clash at Noryang Strait, the deadly sea where Admiral Yi fights his last valiant battle. It is attracting attention as a work that will mark the end of the Yi Sun-sin trilogy, following "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" (2014) and "Hansan: Rising Dragon" (2022).

In the drama, Lee Mu-saeng plays Konishi, the spearhead of the Japanese army. Konishi is a person who carries out a strategy to get rid of Admiral Yi Sun-sin for the victory of Japan. Expectations are high for Lee Mu-saeng's unique transformation with deep and solid acting skills.

Recently, Lee Mu-saeng has been making active moves in movies and dramas. In addition to tvN's new drama "Maestra: Strings of Truth" which is scheduled to premiere in December, he is scheduled to appear in the Coupang Play series "Hide" and the movie "Citizen of a Kind" which are scheduled to be released in 2024.

In particular, Lee Mu-saeng proves a wide spectrum of acting by playing a new character in each of the works he appears in. In "Noryang: Deadly Sea", attention is being paid to what kind of acting he will show as Konishi, a Japanese soldier.

"Noryang: Deadly Sea" which captures the fierce battle scene, will be released on December 20.
Popular support for the ruling right-wing party has jumped by 2.4 percentage points to 22.6 per cent over the past month, giving the party a 0.3-point advantage over the largest opposition party, the Social Democrats. Support for the Social Democrats fell by 1.2 points to 22.3 per cent.

THE NATIONAL COALITION has re-asserted itself as the most popular political party in Finland, indicates the most recent opinion poll commissioned by YLE.

The Finns Party, meanwhile, continued its slide in the poll, dropping from 17.3 to 17.3 per cent.

Tuomo Turja, the research director at Taloustutkimus, told YLE that the National Coalition is currently winning support from the backers of other ruling parties and people who were unsure about their preferences in the previous poll.

The National Coalition has won back its core supporters. Many of them were in the sidelines in the previous poll. The Finns Party is increasingly losing support to the National Coalition, he said to the public broadcasting company on Thursday. Also the Swedish Peoples Partys decline is partly attributable to the party losing support to the National Coalition.

The Social Democratic Party, he added, is losing supporters to the sidelines but also to the Green League.

The National Coalition and Social Democrats have jostled for the top berth in the poll since the parliamentary elections organised in April. They were the most popular parties throughout last month as no party was affected significantly by the recent events at eastern border and the ensuing political and public debate.

There has been a wide parliamentary consensus on measures at the eastern party. No party can distinguish itself from the others by having a somehow different stance [on the issue], said Turja.

Elsewhere, the Centre and Left Alliance both registered an up-tick of 0.1 points in support, the former rising to 10.5 per cent and the latter to 8.6 per cent. Support for the Green League decreased by 0.3 points to 8.4 per cent. The Christian Democratic Party gained 0.2 points to rise to 3.6 per cent, while the Swedish Peoples Party fell from 4.2 to 3.5 per cent and Movement Now from 2.2 to 1.9 per cent.

The Swedish Peoples Party is presently polling at the lowest level since Jarnuary 2019, according to YLE. The ruling party lost supporters both to the sidelines and to the National Coalition.

The whole polling period was pronouncedly flat for the Swedish Peoples Party, summarised Turja.

Taloustutkimus interviewed 2,535 people for the poll on 1128 November. Around four-fifths (1,959) of the people were able and willing to disclose which party would receive their vote if the parliamentary elections were held now.

The poll results have a margin of error of 1.8 points.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Program Continues to Improve HIV Health Outcomes and Make Progress to End the Epidemic in the U.S. Overall and for High Need Populations

Today, in commemoration of World AIDS Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), released the latest Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program data, which show that nine out of ten people with HIV receiving medical care through the program are virally suppressed. Viral suppression means people with HIV taking their medication cannot sexually transmit HIV and can live longer and healthier lives. The percentage of Black/African American clients, Hispanic/Latino clients, and youth and young adult clients receiving care through the program and achieving viral suppression all far exceed overall national viral suppression rates. This announcement highlights the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs vital role in expanding access to care for individuals with HIV, improving HIV health outcomes, and ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.

The Biden-Harris Administration remains dedicated to supporting people with HIV by increasing HIV awareness, ending stigma, and reducing barriers to HIV prevention and treatment, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. We have the tools to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. thanks to our ability to expand upon the vital work of our Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and community health center program. But we need support to continue this critical fight.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides care and treatment services to low-income people with HIV, with a strong focus on tailoring approaches to best meet the needs of high-need communities and addressing factors like access to housing and transportation that directly affect clients ability to enter and stay in care. The federal Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative expands upon the vital work of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to reach people newly diagnosed with HIV and people with HIV out of care by enhancing linkage to and engagement in care, decreasing disparities, and improving viral suppression. However, the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives recently proposed eliminating funding for this initiative.

"Our Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has made incredible progress over the last 33 years toward making it possible for people with HIV to live long, healthy lives," said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. Todays data highlights that achievement and underscores the importance of sustained investments in HIV care, prevention and treatment activities so that we can end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. once and for all.

New Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program data highlight:

Nearly 560,000 people with HIV in the U.S. received life-saving care, medication, and essential support services through Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program recipients.

Nine out of ten clients receiving HIV medical care were virally suppressed in 2022, which means they can live longer and healthier lives without fear of transmitting HIV. This is up from 70 percent of clients virally suppressed in 2010 and significantly higher than 66 percent virally suppressed nationally.

More than 87 percent of Black/African American clients receiving HIV medical care were virally suppressed and over 91 percent of Hispanic/Latino clients were virally suppressed in 2022. This represents a significant increase from 63 percent (Black/African American clients) and 74 percent (Hispanic/Latino clients) in 2010.

Among youth and young adult clients aged 13 to 24 years, nearly 84 percent receiving HIV medical care were virally suppressed in 2022, a major increase from 47 percent in 2010.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program supports recipients that address the epidemic in communities most severely affected by HIV, including cities and counties (Part A); states and territories (Part B); local community-based groups that provide ambulatory health services for people with HIV (Part C); local community-based groups that provide medical care for low-income women, infants, children and youth with HIV (Part D); and for HIV workforce education and training, oral health care, improving access to HIV care and health outcomes for minorities, and other innovative models of HIV care and treatment (Part F).

To access the new 2022 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Client-Level Data Report, visit: https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/ryanwhite/data/rwhap-annual-client-level-data-report-2022.pdf.

To learn more about HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, visit ryanwhite.hrsa.gov.

For more information about HRSA's role in the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative, visit www.hrsa.gov/ending-HIV-epidemic.
North Carolina becomes the fourth state to expand Medicaid during the Biden-Harris Administration

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), celebrated the news that approximately 600,000 North Carolinians between the ages of 19-64 are now eligible for comprehensive health coverage, thanks to the Affordable Care Acts (ACA) Medicaid expansion. Starting today, these individuals will have access to all the benefits they need to stay healthy and be well, such as primary and preventive care, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, emergency care, and access to prescription drugs. Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, three states in addition to North Carolina have expanded Medicaid: Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.

Today is a victory for the 600,000 North Carolinians who have been waiting for health coverage, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Medicaid is a lifeline and ensuring everyone who qualifies for it can access it remains a priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. Every American deserves quality, affordable health care and the peace of mind that comes with knowing one unexpected doctors visit wont throw their life into financial chaos. I want to congratulate North Carolina on joining the ranks of states that are bringing quality health coverage to our neighbors and families. I encourage the remaining 10 states to join us, so that every eligible person can get covered.

Medicaid Expansion is the working families bill of the decade for North Carolina, and its impact on peoples' health, combating the opioid crisis, saving rural hospitals and boosting our economy will be life-changing for families in our state, said Governor Roy Cooper. I am particularly grateful for the federal signing bonus that President Biden signed into law that was a major part of our successful effort to finally expand Medicaid. I encourage anyone who thinks they might qualify to visit medicaid.nc.gov to learn more.

This is a critical milestone for so many people in North Carolina who until now have faced unnecessary barriers to health care, said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Expanding Medicaid is a major step forward towards equity in health for all North Carolinians, especially those in underserved communities, as well as helping to support hospitals across the state. Its crucial that the ten remaining states expand their Medicaid programs so that the millions of people in the coverage gap today can receive the essential health care they need.

In implementing its Medicaid expansion, North Carolina will be able to offer nearly all adults aged 19 to 64 who make less than $20,120 annually comprehensive health coverage through Medicaid.

HHS strongly urges the 10 remaining states  Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming  to expand Medicaid and deliver essential health care coverage for their residents. If all remaining states were to expand their Medicaid programs under the ACA, as many as 3.5 million more un- or under-insured individuals could enroll in high-quality, affordable health care coverage through Medicaid. Medicaid expansion in these states would have an outsized impact in communities of color, with three in five people who would gain eligibility coming from the Black or Hispanic communities.

In addition to becoming the 40th state, along with D.C., to adopt the ACAs Medicaid expansion, North Carolina projects it will receive almost $1.8 billion in additional federal funding thanks to President Bidens American Rescue Plan (ARP).

Medicaid, together with the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), remains the largest source of health care coverage in the U.S., connecting nearly 90 million individuals to a range of critical health services.
Adani Group plans to spend 7 trillion rupees ($84 billion) on infrastructure over the next decade, a similar amount the Indian conglomerate owned by billionaire Gautam Adani has lost in market value since corporate fraud allegations were leveled against it by a US short-seller earlier this year. Indian billionaire Gautam Adani(REUTERS)

We desire to invest more, Jugeshinder Singh, the group chief financial officer, told reporters on Friday in Mumbai, without fleshing out further details.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Singhs ambitious expenditure targets are part of Adanis strategy to attempt to draw a line over damaging allegations made by Hindenburg Research in January, after the short-seller accused the conglomerate of engaging in years of stock price manipulation and accounting malpractice. The company has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

READ | Adani-Hindenburg case: SC reserves its judgment

During an annual address to shareholders in July, Adani announced grand expansion targets across his ports, energy and infrastructure businesses. Before then his conglomerate had pulled back from some of its non-core investments as it sought to shore up shareholder confidence and pay down debt.

The conglomerate aims to raise bonds via high yield papers and private placements through its firms including Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. and Adani Energy Solutons Ltd. next year, Singh said. Adani Group will also infuse money to repay its green energy arms bonds maturing in September and December next year, potentially in July to avoid a prepayment penalty, Singh said.

READ | 'Prima facie no manipulation by Adani Group': Supreme Court panel on Hindenburg report

Shares of Adani Group companies rallied this week after Indias Supreme Court concluded hearing the arguments in a case relating to an investigation into Hindenburgs allegations, reserving its judgment on the matter.

The conglomerate was also buoyed earlier this month when a US government development agency announced that it would provide more than $500 million in financial assistance to Adanis port terminal project in Sri Lanka, which Adanis son declared was a reaffirmation by the international community.
Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) recent decision to allow the creation of small and medium REITs (Real Estate Investment Trust) along with guidelines for fractional ownership, is expected to open the doors to fractional ownership of rent yielding real estate assets, including uber-luxury second homes across the country. Goa is one of the most famous tourism destination in India.

SEBI has given two approvals for smaller REITs of 50 crore, and separately for fractional investments in real estate which in turn is expected to work very well for holiday homes.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

What the rules on fractional ownership mean

A fractional ownership platform allows the cost of property to be split among several investors who own shares or securities issued by a special purpose vehicle established by a FOP (Fractional Ownership Platform). The real estate asset is purchased through a SPV. This means that for 20 assets purchased by a company in five locations, there will be five different SPVs.

To cite an example, the cost of a villa in Goa worth 8 crore will be split among eight owners, with each one of them paying 1 crore. All owners will receive one-eighth share of the property and one-eighth time in a year to use it. Stamp duty and registration cost usually form part of the cost. The co-owners also split the costs for regular maintenance and renovation work in future. An investor can buy one share in a property in Goa and another in Kasauli.

Also read: Land rule changes in Goa spark culture vs progress debate

Shravan Gupta, founder and CEO of YOURS, a platform for fractional ownership of luxury second homes in Goa, Alibaug, Nilgiri, Kasauli and Wayanad, is of the opinion that the guidelines proposed by SEBI are crucial for formalising the sector, instilling investor faith, and addressing the complexity of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) securities issuances.

These are expected to particularly benefit retail investors unfamiliar with such structures. The regulation is anticipated to contribute to the growth and acceptance of this innovative form of property ownership, aligning with established practices in developed nations, he said.

Amit Goyal, managing director, Sothebys International Realty in India is of the opinion that market regulator SEBI's recent decision to allow the setting up of small and medium REITs along with guidelines for fractional ownership, are both excellent steps to broad base real estate as a financial investment.

Goyal is particularly enthusiastic about this SEBI move opening the doors of fractional ownership of rent-yielding real estate assets, including uber luxury second homes across the country.

Also read: Govt property in Goa leased on cheaper rates: VB seeks Punjab govts nod to probe former CM Charanjit Channi

"There is immense potential in this segment as savvy investors see strong growth in it. We, as an organisation, have concrete plans of expanding into it," he said.

Why the rules make sense to an investor

It makes sense to an investor because he is buying a fractional share of a holiday home asset. Also, since a second home asset usually remains idle for a large part of the year, this model proves to be viable because all the owners get to use it a few times a year. "Its a win-win for all," he added.

Besides, the responsibility and cost of maintenance is shared among multiple members and the cost of investment reduces to one-sixth or one-eighth of the total value of the property.

Formalisation of these guidelines is expected to lead to faster closure of second homes deals.

Also read: Goa CM urges Centre to drop 40 villages from list of eco-sensitive areas

The time taken to conclude these deals is expected to narrow, with there being more clarity and a regulatory environment around it.

"The previous opacity meant investors were trying out all sorts of investment formats. Some were forming LLPs, some Private Ltd companies or partnership firms with multiple stakeholders, for luxury holiday or second home assets. There was also a lack of confidence from investors," he said.

Investors' risk is also expected to get reasonably reduced with this formal mechanism being put into place under SEBIs oversight.
This collaboration will impart job-oriented skill development training for 540 wards of project affected families of NLC India Ltd's operating areas in Neyveli. HT Image

"NLC India Ltd...entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Chennai today with Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC), the Nodal Agency of Government of Tamil Nadu for skill development and Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF), Bengaluru, a pioneer institution on providing skill training to unemployed youth, to meet the present industry demands," the coal ministry said in a statement.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The PSU has committed to spend 1.12 lakh per candidate for this free residential programme under its budget for rehabilitation and resettlement. This programme will help the candidates to become technically trained and get employment opportunities in premier companies.
As many as 15 schools in Karnataka capital Bengaluru have received bomb threat emails on Friday morning, leading to a panic situation amongst authorities, students, parents and staff. The city police suspect that the emails are a hoax, however they are conducting a probe to rule out all possibilities, news agency PTI reported. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited a school in Bengaluru after it received a threatening e-mail. (HT Photo/Vipin Kumar/Representative image)

Authorities including the bomb squad department are combing through the premises of these schools to spot and retrieve any suspicious items. Cops have also evacuated students and staff from the schools as a precautionary measure and many schools have instructed parents to come and pick up their children early.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

ALSO READ | Hoax bomb threat at TCS Bengaluru campus causes panic among employees: Report

A senior police official spoke to media and said, The email claimed that explosives had been planted on school premises. We received a call from the command centre and immediately rushed our teams to schools which are located in different parts of the city. All students and staff have been safely evacuated from the school premises and a thorough search operation is being carried out. So far, nothing suspicious has been found yet and prima facie looks like it's a hoax message. Parents need not panic, our teams are on the ground.

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara also spoke on the situation, saying, At present, we have received information about 15 schools where threatening e-mails have been received, last year also such threats were received. We cannot take any risk, we are inspecting the schools and are taking all precautionary measures in schools. We will take strict action against those who are making threatening calls. We are looking into all aspects.

ALSO READ | Kochi-Bengaluru flight receives bomb threat, passengers offloaded

Police will investigate, and I have directed them to do so. Security measures have been taken, and parents need not panic. I have instructed the police to inspect the schools and enhance security. A preliminary report has been received from the police department, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told ANI.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also visited a school in Bengaluru after it received a threatening e-mail. "I was watching TV, the school opposite to my house also got a threat mail. I came here to check. Till now it seems like a threat call. But we have to be very cautious about it," he said.

Several schools in the tech hub have received similar hoax calls and messages last year as well, with the city's National Public School receiving a bomb threat in January this year.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
The Karnataka government on Thursday unveiled 35 "ground-breaking" products and solutions developed by start-ups at the 26th edition of the ongoing Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 here. Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2023 at Bengaluru Palace, in Bengaluru.(PTI)

Out of the 35 start-ups, nine are women-led, underlining the inclusive and diverse nature of Karnataka's start-up ecosystem, a press release from the state government's Department of Electronics, Information technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology said.

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

Several of the start-ups received financial support through the state's seed funding programme, which indicates the government's commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and fostering a culture of innovation, it added.

A majority of the startups have flourished within Government of Karnataka-supported incubators, such as K-tech Innovation Hubs, Centres of Excellence (CoEs), and Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) and anchored by institutions like C-CAMP, NASSCOM, Jain Incubation Centre, Deshpande Startups, and CoE - Cybersecurity, the release further said.

ALSO READ | Bengaluru Tech Summit: Bio Maange More should be mantra, says DST Secretary

The products and solutions launched were from various sectors including IT, Agri-Tech, Med-Tech, Healthcare, Clean-Tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deep Tech, Blockchain, Cyber security and Environment Tech. Some of the innovative solutions include electronic devices integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), advancements in automotive manufacturing, innovations in footwear and accessories, technologies in avionics and defence, and effluent air treatment solutions.

Others include fabric authentication tools, animations and comics, deep tech-based platforms for quality assessment, and apps to prevent fraudulent transactions, the statement said.
Ride hailing giant Uber on Thursday launched Uber green services in Karnataka capital Bengaluru via which users can now book eco-friendly, sustainable rides through electric vehicles. The first of the green vehicles was flagged off by Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge.(Uber)

ALSO READ | Rapido introduces 'Auto Plus' in Bengaluru, offers rides with no cancellations: Report

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The cab aggregator said the new green service has been launched in many areas of the tech hub, specifically central Bengaluru, and that it will soon be plying in other parts of the city as well, according to news agency PTI. The first of the green vehicles was flagged off by Priyank Kharge, Karnataka minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDPR), Information Technology and Bio Technology (IT & BT) as he was attending the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 near the Palace Grounds.

Uber's green services are already in place in several global locations, and customers in Bengaluru can now start opting for environmentally friendly rides through the Uber Green option on their app which will be available starting today.

ALSO READ | Ola begins parcel services in Bengaluru, to be delivered through electric scooters

The service will enable riders to make a conscious choice to pick a more sustainable means of transport, the company said, as quoted by PTI.

"Improving air quality in Bengaluru is our collective responsibility. This launch by Uber endorses our commitment to a Green summit. We have taken tangible steps that pave the way for impactful and meaningful changes in the long run and foster a culture of sustainability," Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said.

ALSO READ | Bengaluru auto drivers earn 189 crore through Namma Yatri app

Uber has an unwavering commitment to sustainability and Uber Green is a step towards that. The launch in Bengaluru marks our second stop in the country for Uber Green. It is already operational in Mumbai where many riders are using it, A highly placed official from Uber India told the agency.

(With inputs from PTI)
A local Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed during an overnight operation in Arihal village of Pulwama district. During the search operation at Arihal village of Pulwama district on Thursday evening, security forces encountered indiscriminate firing from the hiding terrorist and retaliated, leading to the exchange of fire. (HT file photo)

Police said Kifayat Ayoub Alie had recently joined militant ranks. Acting on a specific intelligence input, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the police, army (44RR), and Central Reserved Police Force (182Bn) in the area on Thursday evening.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Also read: Posting social media content that promotes disharmony will soon be criminalised in J&K: DGP

During the search operation, the joint team encountered indiscriminate firing from the hiding terrorist. The security forces retaliated, leading to an encounter. In the ensuing exchange, the terrorist, identified as Kifayat Ayoub Alie of Pinjoora, Shopian, associated with the proscribed terror outfit LeT, was neutralised, and his body was recovered from the encounter site, the police spokesman said in a statement.
Two scooter-borne men snatched a womans purse while she was returning home after buying milk from a Vita booth near her house in Sector 20 on Thursday night. Her purse contained her mobile phone,  3,000 in cash and important documents. Panchkula police have launched a probe to track down the snatchers. (Getty image)

The victim, Sangeeta Nagpal, said she was walking back home around 8.30 pm, when two men on a scooter came from behind and snatched her purse, before speeding away.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Her purse contained her mobile phone, 3,000 in cash and important documents. A case under Section 379-A (snatching) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Sector 20 police station on her complaint. Police have launched a probe to track down the snatchers.
Police have arrested Rupnagar resident who had been hiding in the Nada Sahib gurdwara complex here after kidnapping two minor girls from Chhattisgarh. On Tuesday, ACP (Crime) Arvind Kamboj of Panchkula police received information from Chhattisgarh police that a man wanted for kidnapping two minor girls was hiding in the Nada Sahib gurdwara complex. (Getty image)

The girls, both aged between 14 and 16, were rescued by Panchkula police after a tip-off from their counterparts in Chhattisgarh that the accused was present on the gurdwara premises.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Identified as Jasbir Singh, the accused, along with the minor girls, were handed over to the Chhattisgarh police.

On Tuesday, ACP (Crime) Arvind Kamboj received information from Chhattisgarh police that a man wanted for kidnapping two minor girls was hiding in the gurdwara complex. Acting on this, Panchkula police constituted teams and found Jasbir staying in a room on the gurdwara premises with two minor girls.

On being questioned, he falsely claimed to be Praveen Kumar. Panchkula police shared the minors pictures with Chhattisgarh police, who confirmed their identity and arrived in the city to arrest Jasbir.

ACP Kamboj said the accused was also wanted for kidnapping a child from Delhi railway station, for which a case was found registered in Najafgarh, Delhi, besides the case in Chhattisgarh. For the past three months, he had been hiding at different religious places to evade arrest, he added.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with scientists and experts from India and abroad at the 6th World Disaster Management Conference in the state capital on Thursday. On the third day of the conference, the Chief Minister met with senior scientists and experts from India and abroad. (X/@pushkardhami)

CM Dhami inaugurated the 6th World Disaster Management Conference at Graphic Era University in Dehradun on November 28.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

On the third day of the conference, the Chief Minister met with senior scientists and experts from India and abroad and brainstormed on measures to reduce the loss of life and property in almost all types of disasters.

The conference, scheduled to host experts and scientists from various countries, was scheduled to run from November 28 to December 1, 2023, with over 60 technical sessions planned.

During the event, the Chief Minister also unveiled the book "Resilient India: How Prime Minister Narendra Modi Changed India's Disaster Management Model," based on Prime Minister Modi's experiences.

Chairing the first session of the third day of the conference today, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho (ICIMOD, Nepal) said that the mountains are accessible and they also tell us about the marginality and fragility of growing the country's social economy and the future.

The first session held great significance in the four-day world-class conference as it held discussions about resilience in the Himalayas. Scientists and experts also expressed their views on sustainable development.

At the same time, in the second session, deep concern was expressed about various states of the country that were usually prone to disasters. Experts also expressed their special views on capacity building at the global level.

Technical sessions were held at the international conference, in which capacity building was described as part of the global strategy.

Experts said that research is as important for us as its implementation. Scientists and experts also suggested answers to important questions like how to protect oneself from adverse situations and the importance of development in the Himalayan region.

The technical sessions included panel discussions on net zero, community health, resilience and preparedness for legacy and climate, as well as lessons from Miyamoto's experience in disaster areas in Turkey, Syria, Morocco, Afghanistan, Nepal and Haiti.

It also discussed heat action planning, humanitarian issues, the role of the Indian Armed Forces in assistance and disaster relief, climate-resilient technologies for sustainable natural resource management in mountain ecosystems, and early warning systems to reduce the impact of climate change-induced disasters.

The 6th WDMC-2023 is being organised jointly by the Government of Uttarakhand, Disaster Management Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS), Hyderabad, Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), Dehradun.
State convener of the Delhi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and cabinet minister Gopal Rai conducted a door-to-door campaign in the Laxmi Nagar area on Friday flagging off the Main Bhi Kejriwal (I am also Kejriwal) signature campaign, wherein the party is seeking public feedback on whether Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal should resign if he is arrested or whether he should continue to run the government from jail. New Delhi, India - Dec. 1, 2023: AAP workers during a door to door signature campaign of "Main Bhi Kejriwal" to seek people's opinion at E block Ganesh Nagar Complex in New Delhi, India, on Friday, December 1, 2023. (Photo by Raj K Raj/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

Rai said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is plotting Kejriwals arrest out of fear of losing in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He added that in an initial survey, people said that Kejriwal has done a lot of work for the public and that he should continue to run the government even if he was arrested. Rai said that continuing the survey, AAP will conduct a door-to-door campaign at all 2,600 polling stations from December 1 to 20. Additionally, the party will hold public meetings in all 250 municipal wards from December 21 to 24.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

So far, the people we have talked to say that CM Arvind Kejriwal has done a lot of work for the public. The chief minister has provided free electricity, water, healthcare, and education, facilitated bus travel for women, and pilgrimage trips for the elderly. So he should not resign but run the government from jail. People also firmly said that these arrests are happening under an agenda, said Rai.

The campaign was launched in anticipation of Enforcement Directorate action against the Delhi chief minister in connection with the agencys probe into alleged irregularities in Delhi excise policy case.

The agency, in one of its charge sheets filed in the case said the excise policy was Kejriwals brainchild, and summoned him for questioning on November 2. Kejriwal dismissed the summons as illegal, and skipped the summons, saying the agency didnt clarify whether he was called as witness or accused, as Delhi CM or the AAP chief.

Rai, on Saturday, said that following the door-to-door campaign and the public meetings, the opinion of the people will be compiled and sent to the chief minister.

There is immense anger among the people regarding the arrest conspiracy by the BJP against Arvind Kejriwal ji. People are asking why the BJP wants to arrest a chief minister who has done so much good work for Delhi, Rai said in a post on X.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that the Main Bhi Kejriwal campaign has proved to be a non-starter with people asking counter questions. People raised questions on AAPs corruption in construction of CMs palatial bungalow apart from liquor scam and Jal Board scam. The campaign has found no takers among the common people. It wont be an exaggeration to say that AAPs Main Bhi Kejriwal campaign has died within hours of its launch, Sachdeva said.
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Ali said he was "shocked" over clubbing of his complaint against Bidhuri with the ones levelled against him for allegedly provoking the BJP MP. HT Image

He said while he was hoping for a swift, strict and exemplary action against Bidhuri, he was sad that attempts were being made to turn the victim into an accused.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Ali shared a copy of the letter on social media.

The panel had issued notices to Ali and Bidhuri on November 21. Ali wrote to Birla on Friday.

The Privileges Committee of Lok Sabha has summoned Bidhuri and Ali on December 7 at separate time.

On an earlier occasion, Bidhuri had not appeared before the committee while expressing his inability to do so.

Bidhuri had made remarks against Ali during the Special session of Parliament in September when the House was discussing the success of the Chandrayan-III mission.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had referred the MPs' complaints on the issue involving Bidhuri's use of objectionable words against Ali to the Privileges Committee in September.

While Ali and several other opposition MPs, including Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and DMK's Kanimozhi, had demanded action against Bidhuri, several BJP parliamentarians like Nishikant Dubey said the BSP member "incited" the South Delhi MP when he speaking in the House and urged the Speaker to look into this aspect as well.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Friday wrote to the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan flagging off "irregularities" in 12 Delhi University colleges funded by the Delhi government. Delhi minister Atishi(ANI)

"The Delhi Government has noted several serious irregularities and procedural lapses involving hundreds of crores from the public exchequer," Atishi wrote in her letter.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Atishi has made two propositions to the Union Minister of Education to overcome these "constraints": Complete merger of these 12 colleges under the Delhi Government, then they will be fully funded by the Delhi Government; The Union government may take full control of these 12 colleges under the Delhi University, in that case, the Delhi Govt will stop allocating funds to these colleges.

The officials of Delhi University have not made any comment on this issue yet.
Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has suspended 21 high-ranked government officials and police officers for their alleged involvement in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) cash-for-jobs scam, officials aware of the matter said on Friday. The alleged irregularities took place during the Combined Competitive Examination conducted by APSC in 2013/14, 2015 and 2016 (Representative Photo)

The suspended officials include 10 Assam Civil Service (ACS) officers and 11 Assam Police Service (APS) officers. Kataria issued a letter of suspension on November 30.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The alleged irregularities related to the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) conducted by APSC in 2013/14, 2015 and 2016 came to light when the former APSC chairman Rakesh Paul was arrested by the police in Dibrugarh district in November 2016. He was released on bail in March this year. Following his arrest, at least 57 other government officials were also arrested for their alleged involvement.

In 2021, after assuming the chief ministers position, Himanta Biswa Sarma reopened the investigation and constituted an inquiry commission headed by justice (retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma of the Guwahati high court.

Biplab had played a pivotal role in unearthing evidence on the anomalies and malpractices in the selection process during the CCE,

Last month, the Assam CM also directed to constitute a special investigation agency (SIT) to further investigate the scam. The SIT led by additional director general of police (DGP) (CID) Munna Prasad Gupta is tasked with submitting its report within six months to the Gauhati high court.

Earlier, the state government initiated departmental proceedings against 34 officials of the 2013 batch mentioned in the report submitted by the committee headed by Biplab before the Assam government.

The SIT summoned 29 of these 34 officials and arrested two of them last week.

Governor Katariya in his order wrote that justice BK Sharmas committee reported anomalies and malpractices in the selection of the candidates in exchange for money and other extraneous considerations by APSC chairman (former) Rajesh Paul in CCE-2013, 15 and 16.

The appointments took place by illegal enhancement of marks. Hence, the government considers that allowing the officer to continue in their present posts may not be in the interest of public service, the governor wrote.

He further said that criminal offence cases have also been registered against the suspended officers, and departmental proceedings are going on.

The Governor of Assam is satisfied that it is necessary and expedient to place these Assam Government employees under suspension following the Assam Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1964, the order read further.
Five workers from Bihar, who were rescued on Tuesday from a collapsed under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand where they were trapped for 17 days, on Friday landed at the airport in Patna, where they were received by state labour minister Surendra Ram. One of the workers from Bihar rescued from the tunnel in Uttarakhand, Sabah Ahmad, with his family members after his arrival at the airport in Patna on Friday. (Santosh Kumar/HT)

The five workers  Sabah Ahmad, Sonu Shah, Birendra Kisku, Sushil Kumar Vishwakarma and Deepak Kumar Patel  arrived on a Delhi-Patna Indigo flight (6E 2103). The travel was arranged by the state labour department.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Our chief minister Nitish Kumar and deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav are demanding a well-deserved special status to Bihar so that people of the state do not need to go out to earn their bread and butter, Ram said, adding that the department had arranged vehicles for all the rescued labourers to be taken to their respective homes in different districts.

Spending 17 days in the dark tunnel was a horrific experience, which cant be summed up in words. We lived and died every moment, until we finally saw light of the day. I and my family members are grateful to all those who worked day and night to rescue us. I am thankful to the God, who has given us a second life, said Kishku, who is from Banka.

Sabah Ahmads father Misbah Ahmad, who had come from Bhojpur to Patna to receive his son, was fighting tears as he first caught sight of his son at the airport. I have got a new life, he said.

He thanked the Uttarakhand government for rescuing his son and other workers. Sabah said people like him had to go to other states for jobs as there was little scope in Bihar. Of the 41 labourers trapped inside the tunnel, there was none from Delhi, Uttarakhand and south. They were from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal, he said.

The minister, who escorted all the workers out of the airport, said the state government would provide all the assistance to them for the courage they displayed in overcoming a virtual death. They are real Shramvirs, who have devoted themselves in the national building. People from across the country and in Bihar were praying for their safe recovery, said Ram.
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday reviewed the passing out parade of 145th course of the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, Pune and lauded the participation of the first batch of women cadets in the marching contingent. Murmu extended good wishes to the women cadets terming it as a historic day. President Droupadi Murmu distributes certificate to a cadet during the Passing Out Parade of 145th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, in Pune, Thursday. (PTI)

First time in NDAs history, 15 women cadets participated in the passing out parade along with their male counterparts.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

I was told that from 2022, the training of women cadets has been started at the academy. Today, for the first time, the women cadets were part of the marching contingent. Today is a historic day and I am sure that the women cadets will take the name of the NDA and the country to new heights, she said.

Murmu also congratulated the foreign cadets from friendly nations for the completion of their course.

A total of 1225 cadets participated in the parade of which 348 cadets were from the passing out course. This included 186 Army cadets, 36 Naval cadets and 105 Air Force cadets including 21 cadets from friendly foreign countries (Bhutan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh). The cadets will hereafter join their respective pre-commissioning training academies.

Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the NDA is a cradle of leadership which has given birth to great warriors.

National Defence Academy has a special place among the best training institutes of the country and is recognised as a strong pillar for the armed forces and the country, he said.

The President also expressed confidence that the training and life values received from the NDA always help cadets move ahead in life and advised cadets to move forward by learning and adopting new technologies to face the challenges of the future.

She further said that the armed forces will face every challenge with courage and bravery while carrying forward the values of the services.

Murmu also laid the foundation stone for the building of the upcoming 5th Battalion.
The Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE) has announced the results of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Talent Search Examination or TNCMTSE) results 2023 on December 1. Candidates who took the TNCMTSE 2023 examination can check the results on the official website at dge.tn.gov.in. Tamil Nadu CM's Talent Search Examination, TNCMTSE 2023, results released at dge.tn.gov.in

Candidates can check the TNCMTSE-SEP-2023 results using their roll number and Date of Birth. The TNCMTSE-SEP-2023 examination will be conducted on October 7.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

TNCMTSE result 2023: Know how to check

Visit the official website of DGE at dge.tn.gov.in

On the homepage, click on the result tab

Next, click on the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Talent Search Examination

A new page will be displayed on the screen

Key in your login credentials

Check the results

Save a copy of the result page for future use.

This year, 1,27,673 candidates took the exam, according to information provided by the DGE. 500 boys and 500 female students will be selected out of the 1,000 to participate in the scholarship program. For ten months of the academic year, awardees will get 1,000 per month, up to 10,000 overall.
West Bengal Police Recruitment Board has released the result of the Preliminary Written Test for recruitment to the post of Lady Constable in West Bengal Police  2023. Canididates who have appeared for the Preliminary Written Test can check the result on the official website at wbpolice.gov.in. WB Police Lady Constable Recruitment 2023: Result of Preliminary Written Test Announced

Candidates can check their West Bengal Police Lady Constable Result 2023 using their Application Sl. No. and Date of Birth.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The shortlisted candidates will have to appear in the Physical Measurement Test (PMT) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) scheduled to be commenced tentatively on and from 18.12.2023. The Admit Cards for PMT & PET can be downloaded through link ( wbprb.applythrunet.co.in ) provided in the websites from 11.12.2023, reads the official notification.

WB Police Lady Constable Police 2023 result: How to check

Visit the official website at wbpolice.gov.in

On the homepage, click on the Result of Preliminary Written Test

A new page will be displayed on the screen

Key in your login details

Your results will be displayed on the screen

Download and take a print for future reference.
Animal movie review: Violence reaches its zenith. Gore takes the centerstage. It's bloodbath all over. It's wild and wicked. Sandeep Reddy Vanga's much-awaited Animal has been unleashed sending Ranbir Kapoor in a devilish, menacing and unhinged avatar. Do we love him? Yes, of course! Do we resent him, hell yes! Animal's problematic premise has already been discussed since it's teaser and trailer were unveiled. What the full film offers is a series of events, emotions and sequences leading up to a rather underwhelming climax, which is so rushed that you keep waiting if something more is yet to come post the end credits. Also read: Animal movie review live updates Animal movie review: Ranbir Kapoor plays the protagonist in the movie.

Animal is wild and wicked

Animal takes you on a bloody, noisy, gory and violent journey and for the large part of it, you don't complain. It just immerses you in its gripping tale and scale, but often leaves you in bewilderment each time the hero in is action. Glorified as an anti-hero, Ranvijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor) idolises and worships his father Balbir Singh's (Anil Kapoor), and spends most of his childhood seeking his love and attention but all in vain. So daddy issues start pretty young in his life and have obvious repercussions on most of his formative years.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The premise and main charcaters

Cut to high school (through a flashback sequence), he had entered his sister's college with a gun to teach a lesson to those, who ragged her. As a punishment, he not only gets a series of tight slaps across his face from his dad, but is soon sent to a boarding school in the US. He returns for his father's 60th birthday but ends up in a scuffle with his brother-in-law Varun (Siddharth Karnick). Soon after, a love angle is introduced and he again flees to the US with is lady love Geetanjali (Rashmika Mandanna), as the families don't accept their inter-caste marriage.

He returns, once again, after eight years, following a shooting attack on his father, and he is no longer the same Ranvijay. The hair has grown (thankfully nothing odd about the wig here), the bearded look is making him look even more dashing and he has become far more ferocious, deadly and ruthless. Waging a war to kill Abrar Haque (Bobby Deol), who is after his father's life, Ranvijay is on a mission that nobody can stop him from achieving.

Ranbir Kapoor as an epitome of misogyny

If filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh bothered you, wait till you watch Animal that presents Ranbir as an epitome of misogyny, and he has no qualms about it. Whether it's telling his younger sister to drink wine and not whiskey, or taking a jibe at the elder one, a Harvard graduate, for just saying , 'Chup raho, bas karo (Keep quiet)' in her marriage; he's loved, hated and misunderstood all at once. As the entitled, rich spoilt brat, Ranvijay considers himself the man in-charge after his father, so if the ladies of the houses (read sisters) are in any trouble, he would take law in his hand to serve people right.

Ranbir makes you fall for him

That being said, Ranbir is in top form, and becomes Sandeep Reddy Vanga Vanga's Animal in its truest sense. He is a fine blend of vulnerability and villainous traits. He instantly makes you fall for him, and even when he is getting shot or being punched in the face, you feel bad for him, and never wish for him to be dead.

In a scene, when Ranbir operates a high-tech fancy shooting machine killing over 300 heavily armed men, Sandeep aptly places a Kabir doha (bura jo dekhan main chala) making Ranbir's entry even more heroic. Nuances such as these uplift Animal at quite a few places. Oh, there's a subtle plug of 'Made in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat too.

What does not work

At 3 hours 22 minutes, one of the longest films I watched in a very long time, Animal is determined to give you a headache as the high-pitched dialogues are certain to pierce through your ears causing discomfort. Then, there are portions you wish were underplayed  visually and verbally.

For instance, multiple references to male's pubic hair as a symbol of manhood isn't too pleasant. Or when Ranbir is discussing about his sex life with a psychologist post his accident. The screenplay that Sandeep has co-written with Pranay Reddy Vanga and Saurabh Gupta takes care of all gripping elements and ensures that each frame offers a cinematically visual treat. But, amid all this logic takes a backseat, and the story is continuously being dragged, especially in the second half.

Animal movie review: Ranbir Kapoor in a still from the film.

One thing Bollywood has seamlessly normalised from DDLJ to Animal is the hero breaking into the girl's house and luring her into calling off her wedding. In Animal, slightly differently though, Ranvijay makes Geetanjali fall for him through a lesson on 'alpha males'. Quite cliched, but she's sold in no time, so much so that even if he comments, 'You have got a big pelvis', she doesn't really shut him up. Later, while eloping in a chartered plane, the two indulge in steamy lovemaking session, and once married, when Geetanjali asks how was it, Rannvijay doesn't flinch an eyelid while discussing that it was him who had a lot to manage as they were having sex against gravity and since the man was on top, she has nothing much to do.

What works

The on-screen chemistry between Ranbir and Rashmika is definitely sizzling, but soon, Sandeep gets in his element showing his hero turn into a chauvinist and misogynist with so much ease, and then putting the idea of a toxic marriage on a pedestal. Whether it's him pulling her bra string multiple time and leaving her with bruises only to later calm her down, or him cheating her with another women but she coming back to kiss and caress him - this is taking the Kabir Singh legacy forward and multiplying it many times over. I was pretty impressed when in one scene Rashmika slaps him back, and a few in the theatre screamed, 'well deserved'. Maybe, our audiences no longer want to see such men being shown as heroes.

Among other parts, Anil Kapoor delivers an earnest performance, and he evidently was feeding off Ranbir's energy on screen. You'd find their scenes together relatable whether it's violent ones or the emotional bits. Among others, Charu Shankar as Ranvijay's mum, Anshul Chauhan and Saloni Batra as his sisters play their parts well. Prem Chopra and Shakti Kapoor in cameos make their presence felt, while Tripti Dimri in a special appearance is a treat to watch out for. Last but not the least, I felt cheated watching Bobby Deol's screen time. Firstly, he comes in the film only after 2.5 hours, and with barely two full-fledged scenes and no line to speak, I felt he was terribly wasted in what actually could have been the best opportunity to cash in. But, I must say, even in the two-three scenes we see Bobby in, he leaves you startled.

What I truly enjoyed throughout the film was BGM and the songs being played in the background, especially during the action sequences. Watch out for the 10-minute long fight between Ranbir and Bobby during the climax and the track Saari Duniya Jalaa Denge in B Praak's voice just makes it worth it. Papa Meri Jaan is another track you would instantly fall in love with and it is all heart.

Animal is an absolute massy, entertaining and extremely violent thriller which doesn't believe in conforming to the norms. The bloodshed isn't for the weak hearted to watch, so practice caution if you decide to watch it because there's a lot of it, and you might not be able to take that much.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
Ranveer Singh has expressed his admiration for Johnny Depp at the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival. The actor was honoured for his contribution to cinema. He thanked "master of transformation", Johnny, in his acceptance speech. Sharon Stone presented Ranveer Singh with the honour at the event, which was also attended by Johnny. (Also Read | Ranveer Singh honoured by Sharon Stone at Red Sea Film Festival; poses with his inspiration Johnny Depp) Ranveer Singh and Johnny Depp at the Red Sea International Film Festival.

What Ranveer said to Johnny

He said, I'm going off-script for a moment here. Wow, one of my screen idols is in the house. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Johnny Depp. My good sir, I have followed your work since Edward Scissorhands and What's Eating Gilbert Grape. What an honour to be receiving this award in your presence.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Johnny reacts to Ranveer's speech

"Thank you for everything you have unknowingly taught me about the craft, sir. Master of Transformation, versatility, is something that I am inspired by you," he added. Ranveer's gesture brought a huge smile to Johnny's face. He kept his hand on his chest and nodded his head several times.

About Red Sea International Film Festival

Ranveer was one of the three recipients of this year's Honorary Yusr Awards at the Jeddah-based film gala, which opened on Thursday. Diane Kruger and Saudi actor-writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan were the other two personalities to be honoured with the award. Other Indian cinema personalities who will attend the festival include Karan Johar, Katrina Kaif, Frieda Pinto.

Ranveer poses with Johnny

The official Instagram page of the Red Sea Film Festival posted several pictures and videos from the ongoing edition. In one of the photos, Ranveer posed with Johnny. Both twinned in black for the event. The Red Sea International Film Festival will conclude on December 9.

Ranveer's upcoming films

Ranveer is all set to surprise the audience with his exciting line-up of his films next year. He will reprise his role of Simmba in Rohit Shetty's cop drama Singham Again, which also stars Deepika Padukone, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Kareena Kapoor. Ranveer will also headline Farhan Akhtar's Don 3.

While announcing the film, Farhan requested the audience to give the same love to Ranveer as they showered on previous Don instalments. "In 1978, a character created by Salim-Javed and portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan with effortless elan, captured the imagination of theatregoers across the country. That enigmatic character was Don. In 2006, Don was reimagined and brought to life by Shah Rukh Khan in his own irresistibly charming way."

"The time has now come to take the legacy of Don forward and joining us in this new interpretation will be an actor whose talent and versatility I have long admired. We hope that you will show him the love you have so graciously and generously shown to Mr Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan," his social media post further read. Don 3 will arrive in 2025.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
Newlywed couple Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram returned to Mumbai after tying the knot in Manipur. They made their first public appearance as husband and wife at Mumbai airport on Thursday ight. They will be hosting a wedding reception in the city soon. Also read: Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram share first official wedding pics from traditional Meitei ceremony Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram in Mumbai. (Varinder Chawla)

Randeep and Lin's first appearance after wedding

Randeep and Lin opted for simple looks for their trip back to the city after their traditional Manipuri wedding in Imphal. Randeep looked smart in a white shirt with beige pants. Lin was glowing in a red salwar suit. She wore a minimal mangalsutra, while skipping the sindoor.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The two held hands as they walked outside the Mumbai airport terminal. As many from the media congratulated them, they responded. Randeep and Lin posed for the paparazzi before heading towards their vehicle. Lin also flashed the heart finger for photos.

Lin reminds people of Mahima Chaudhary

Seeing them together, a fan commented in the post, Randeep's wife Lin is so gorgeous. Better looking than other Bollywood star wives. Another said, They had the most beautiful wedding." One more said, No show off. Very respectful. Someone also commented, She looks like Mahima Chaudhary.

Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram wedding

Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram got married in a traditional Meitei wedding ceremony in Imphal's Chumthang Shannapung resort on Wednesday. Randeep turned into a beautiful Manipuri groom while Lin looked stunning as a traditional Manipuri bride with lots of gold jewellery. It was attended by their family and relatives only.

Sharing their first wedding photos on social media, Randeep and Lin wrote in a joint post, From today, we are One. From Vijay Varma to Neena Gupta, Adil Hussain, Aahana S Kumra and Sayani Gupta, many celebrities congratulated the couple.

Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram dated for years before tying the knot. They met for the first time during their theatre days. Lin shared his love story with the news agency ANI, "We actually met at Naseeruddin Shah's theatre group called Motley and he was my senior. That's where I met him. We were friends and it's turning into a beautiful journey."

Talking about getting married in Manipur, Randeep added, "Feels very good. I felt that it's only respectful to come and marry in the bride's tradition. However I have heard that in Meitei love marriages, the groom has to sit for a very long time. So, that's something but I am looking forward to the ceremony and traditions. I want to experience my life partner's culture. That's why I am here."

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow ourWhatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
Sam Bahadur movie review: Sam Bahadur has so much going for it. For director Meghna Gulzar, it comes on the back of two glowing successes in Talvar (2015) and Raazi (2018). It stars Vicky Kaushal, who is no stranger to playing men on a mission against the nations adversaries, having done it for both fictitious and real-life figures in Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) and Sardar Udham (2021). Lastly, its about the life of one of the countrys most storied soldiers, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, a near-mythical colossus who lived after being shot nine times by a Japanese soldier in WWII. Also read: Sam Bahadur Twitter reviews hail Vicky Kaushal as Sam Manekshaw in Meghna Gulzar's film Sam Bahadur movie review: Vicky Kaushal as Sam Manekshaw in a still.

Twisting and fidgeting in your seat for the longest time, you wait for that decisive moment of cinematic brilliance. You smile hard when writer Bhavani Iyer and director Meghna Gulzar try to make you laugh. And yet, at the end of it all, the point of Sam Bahadur eludes you completely. I came out of the movie hall feeling like I had just been administered a fresh retelling of the annual online listicle you read on Manekshaw  renowned feeder of humble pie even to the countrys then Prime Minister, proud owner of the bushy handlebar moustache and dispenser of bangles and battlezone aphorisms.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Biopics are a sketchy genre purely because most of them follow an episodic framework and are limited by the concepts of veracity and length. What makes a product of this genre memorable is how and where the central conflict of a film is located. In Oppenheimer, which came out earlier this year, it was the revocation of the security clearance of the protagonist and how the film wound itself around that. Sam Bahadur chooses to tell the story of its celebrated protagonist without much narrative pyrotechnics, divergence or problematising Manekshaw's recent appropriation as the ultimate sigma male. It is so single-mindedly committed to reaping the rewards of bringing his legend alive on screen that it ends up delivering a hagiography. In fact, the characterisation of Manekshaws Pakistani counterpart, Yahya Khan (Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub), receives more nuance (but not without some scary ageing makeup and prosthetics).

If theres one thing that keeps you hooked to this film, it has to be Vicky Kaushal. After a largely underwhelming year in terms of characters written for him in Govinda Naam Mera, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and The Great Indian Family, Sam Bahadur gives Kaushal just the kind of magic to work that he has showcased in Sardar Udham, Raazi (2018) and Masaan (2015). In the hands of a lesser performer, Manekshaws gait, affected vocalisation and widely known effortless charm and quick wit might look like a caricature, but the ever-confident Kaushal maintains a firm grip over the character. His offscreen candour and self-accepting ways translate beautifully into the protagonists optimism and unwavering faith in his abilities.

Sanya Malhotra, as Sams winsome wife Silloo Bode, brings an emotional anchor to the Manekshaw household, complementing his maverick energy with the ease that she has come to demonstrate most recently in Jawan and Kathal. It is frequently hinted at in the film that Manekshaws wins come at the cost of Silloo and their daughters. Fatima Sana Shaikh as Indira Gandhi, however, is largely an unsteady portrayal whose blame lay largely on the casting choice.

The films music is loud, distracting and unmelodious (the war anthem Badhte Chalo is unbelievably insipid and inelegant), which is surprising considering Shankar-Ehsaan-Loys obvious musical prowess and the trios last fabulous collaboration with Gulzar, Raazi. In addition to a middling background score, Sam Bahadur also makes effective use of archival footage to keep the narrative and bring a documentary gravitas to the proceedings, but even that contributes to the films passive linearity and staccato time leaps.

Sam Bahadur can be seen as sweet and engaging in the individual segments of Manekshaws life that together form the films plot. They are shot, designed and acted very well (props to cinematographer Jay I Patels work on the air strikes and combat scenes in Burma) and might just make it worth watching this larger-than-life vignette reel in the theatres. But the strands that tie them together, such as Manekshaws banter with his radio set-carrying cook, the leading man and his ladys ballroom meet-cute  or the sequence where he is seen making the wildly popular declaration about gurkhas and fear, feel disjointed and in desperate need to be cut some slack on account of the films largely sanguine tone.

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Neeraj Kabi

Direction: Meghna Gulzar

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow ourWhatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
Actors Chris Hemsworth and Jason Momoa had a playful social media interaction as the latter teased him about his muscles. Taking to TikTok recently, Jason posted a brief clip wearing his Aquaman outfit. (Also Read | Furiosa trailer unlocks Anya Taylor-Joy's fierce rise in the Mad Max saga as she clashes with immortan Chris Hemsworth Chris Hemsworth and Jason Momoa teased each other on social media platforms.

Jason teases Chris

In the clip, Jason flexed his muscle and said looking at the camera, "What's up Hemsworth? Check that **** out. You had to work out, I didn't (laughs)." He captioned the post, "Eat your heart out, @Chris Hemsworth."

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Jason posted a brief clip wearing his Aquaman outfit.

Chris reacts to Jason's video

Responding to the clip, Chris shared a video on his TikTok account. In the clip, he said, "That's a lovely padded costume you got there, Jason. I prefer a skin suit myself, mate (makes sounds as he flexes his muscles)." Chris next whispered into the camera, "I love you Aquaman." He captioned the post, "You sure @Jason Momoa??? (Face with tears of joy and flexed biceps emojis)."

Responding to the clip, Chris shared a video on his TikTok account.

Jason plays Aquaman in DC films

Jason had a cameo appearance as Aquaman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). He then featured in Aquaman (2018), and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021). He will be next seen in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It is a superhero film based on the DC character Aquaman. It is the sequel to Aquaman (2018), and the 15th and final instalment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film, directed by James Wan, also stars Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman.

Fans have seen Chris as Thor

Chris played the role of Thor in Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

About Chris' upcoming film

Chris will be next seen in Furiosa alongside Anya Taylor-Joy. George Miller has directed the film, which will be out in theatres in 2024. The trailer, released recently, sees Anya Taylor-Joy shaving her head to take on the role of Imperator Furiosa, the fierce war captain that Charlize Theron played in the 2015 action film.

The prequel, which is the fifth entry in George's Mad Max " franchise, follows a young Furiosa as she comes into her own after being taken away from the Green Place of Many Mothers and is immersed into a sinister world. Tom Burke also star in the film.

The official synopsis available on Warner Bros.' YouTube channel states, "Young Furiosa is taken from the Green Place of Many Mothers in a collapsing world and taken prisoner by the powerful Biker Horde under the command of Warlord Dementus. They come upon The Immortan Joe's Citadel while wandering the Wasteland. Furiosa must overcome several obstacles in the midst of the two rulers' rivalry to acquire the materials she needs to find her way home." An updated title, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, was also confirmed.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
Furiosa Trailer: 'Whatever you have to do, however long it takes, promise me you will find your way back home, Furiosa.' The new movie Furiosa, a prequel to George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road, is coming to theaters in 2024. Fury Road, directed by George Miller, who brought Mad Max's post-apocalyptic world to life, left us reeling for more in 2015. He is currently making strides in discovering the roots of the story of Furiosa, offering an intriguing and entertaining perspective. On December 1st, Warner Bros. UK & Ireland dropped the much-awaited first trailer of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Furiosa(Warner Bros)

Furiosa trailer welcomes Anya Taylor-Joy; let the Mad Max Saga begin

Explaining how this return to the iconic dystopian world was made, the official synopsis available on Warner Bros.' YouTube channel states: Young Furiosa is taken from the Green Place of Many Mothers in a collapsing world and taken prisoner by the powerful Biker Horde under the command of Warlord Dementus. They come upon The Immortan Joe's Citadel while wandering the Wasteland. Furiosa must overcome several obstacles in the midst of the two rulers' rivalry to acquire the materials she needs to find her way home.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Watch the trailer here!

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga release date

As the first trailer for Furiosa, it cleverly withholds key story points while glimpsing a first look at the actors in the roles they play. The movie will be released worldwide by Warner Bros. The film will release globally, exclusively in theaters across the nation on May 24, 2024, and internationally starting from May 22, 2024.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga cast

The cast for the highly awaited George Millers film includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa, Chris Hemsworth as Dementus, Nathan Jones as Rictus Erectus, Angus Sampson as The Organic Mechanic, Alyla Browne, Quaden Bayles, Lachy Hulme, and so on."

Also read: Who is Player 278 Ashley Tolbert, the most hated from Squid Game: The Challenge?
American actor and producer Morgan Freeman was recently spotted out and about in New York and the visuals of his latest outings have fans worried for his health. American actor and producer Morgan Freeman was recently spotted out and about in New York and the visuals of his latest outings have fans worried for his health.

The actor who was most recently seen in the dramedy A Good Person, can be seen walking out of a store and towards an awaiting car in the viral video. However, what sparked fans' concern was his walk. At a slow pace, the 86-year-old actor can be seen moving towards the car and also holding a handle for support to be able to climb onto his seat.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The video posted by a user on X has garnered about 8.3M views with 2.5K comments.

Many have been concerned over the Hollywood legend's health post watching the video.

God I love that man. I  hes okay, commented a worried fan.

Hes getting up there in years pray hes ok, added another.

We can not lose this man right now, commented another concerned fan.

Well, it seems not all are jumping on the bandwagon. Many have been rationalising the actor's walk with the fact that he is 86 which means, he is getting old and will not be as strong as one is in his young age.

Additionally, a hashtag surrounding the video has been trending on X, #He's86, where people are reminding those concerned that old age does this to a person and there's no need to hype it up.

Hes 86: we cant all be Madonna, quipped a fan.

He's 86 what you expecting back flips into the car? added another.

Yall he is old as hell, he was literally just on the View being interviewed, still articulate and coherent just moving slower bc hes 86!!! pointed out another X user.

Hes 86. Him walking on his own at that age is a blessing.
BTS's Jungkook's Standing Next To You remix in collaboration with Usher has started dominating the global music scene hours within its release. The track is the lead single from the K-pop idol's debut album GOLDEN. The recently released remix is currently trending number one in several countries and has hit the US iTunes list in record time. The golden maknae of the seven-member boy group is soon to enlist in the military alongside other members including RM, Jimin, and V. BTS' Jungkook announces new track featuring Usher

Jungkook's Standing Next To You Usher remix rockets to the top 10 of US iTunes

Usher and BIGHIT MUSIC announced on November 29 that they would be working together on the Standing Next to You remix. The smoother version, which was made available on December 1 KST, highlights the two musicians' collaboration by giving the upbeat song a soft and light touch. Jungkook's Standing Next To You Usher remix currently ranks seventh on US iTunes giving tough competition to Taylor Swifts You Are Losing Me, Jack Harlows Lovin on Me, and more. Jungkook and Usher accomplished this feat in just 2 hours.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

As of now, the newly released track is making waves, claiming the top spot on the iTunes chart in over 15 countries, including the Philippines, El Salvador, Peru, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Argentina, Oman, Azerbaijan, UAE, Honduras, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar, and Estonia.

Both artists are currently making top trends on social media. ARMYs are praising and loving every bit of the remix. A fan wrote Usher has posted multiple stories and posts for Standing Next To You remix with Jungkook. He has also pinned the post on his account!, Others said Global Pop Star Jungkook and King of R&B Usher met for Golden Collaboration. Jungkook has released a remix of the title track "Standing Next to You" from his solo album "GOLDEN" at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 with the participation of American R&BI love it when i hear Jungkook's voice harmonizes with real vocalists and so on.
For someone who isnt much active on social media, Naga Chaitanyas personal life sure gets spoken about a lot. Ever since the actor debuted in 2009 with Josh, everyone was curious to know whom he was dating till he married Samantha Ruth Prabhu in 2017 and separated from her in 2021. The actor was recently asked in an interview with The Indian Express, if it bothers him when people speculate about his life, heres what he had to say. (Also Read: Dhootha review: Vikram K Kumar plays to his strengths in Naga Chaitanyas web debut) Naga Chaitanya opens up about speculation on his personal life

I hope my work speaks for itself

Naga said that it doesnt bother him beyond a point when speculation is rife about his personal life. People close to me know the truth, he said, adding, I want to be known more for my work than my personal life. So, I try to focus on the craft and let movies do the talking. At the end of the day, if my movies leave the audience entertained, thats what I want to be remembered for.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

His love story

Naga Chaitanya stated in numerous interviews that he has nothing but respect for his marriage to Samantha. The former couple met on the sets of Ye Maaya Chesave in 2010 and after dating on-and-off for years, they got engaged in 2017. They tie the knot in Hindu and Christian ceremonies in Goa later the same year. Fans were so in love with the couple, they even dubbed them ChaySam. But in 2021, after months of speculation, both the actors confirmed their separation on social media a few days ahead of their wedding anniversary. Recently, the actor was rumoured to be dating Sobhita Dhulipala when pictures of them on a vacation went viral on social media. However, both the actors refused to confirm the same.

Upcoming work

Naga Chaitanya was recently seen in the bi-lingual film Custody, which got mixed reviews and a lukewarm response at the box office. He also debuted on OTT with the Prime Video web-series Dhoota, which is directed by Vikram K Kumar. He plays a journalist in the series that sees him follow clues he finds in newspaper clippings. He will soon play a fisherman for the first time in his career in Chandoo Mondetis Thandel, which will see him reunite with his Love Story co-star, Sai Pallavi.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place.
Recently, a video circulated on social media that hinted that Rashmika Mandanna will play a special role in Parasuram Petlas upcoming film with Vijay Deverakonda and Mrunal Thakur, titled Family Star. While the video was blurry, we could see that Vijay was dancing to a song with Mrunal and another actor dressed in pastels. The makers are yet to confirm anything but heres what we know. (Also Read: Vijay Deverakonda-Rashmika Mandanna vacation pics shown at Hi Nanna event. Mrunal Thakur looks surprised, fans are mad) A video of Rashmika on the sets of Family Star leaked online

Rashmika will be seen in a song

A source in the know confirmed to HT that Rashmika did in fact shoot for the song with Vijay and Mrunal in Delhi this week. They said, Yes, its true that the third actor dancing in the video is Rashmika. She agreed to feature in a special number in the film because she liked the song. She will not have any scenes in the film apart from that cameo.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Rashmika, Mrunal hint at the collab

Both Rashmika and Mrunal took to social media this week to reveal that theyre shooting in Delhi at night. Sharing pictures of heaters, Rashmika wrote, Delhi night shoot essentials. PS - shooting for something special, tvaralo chepta.(will reveal it soon.) Mrunal also shared a picture of a similar heater, writing, Family star #nightshoot.

Upcoming work

Rashmika was recently seen in Animal that hit screens this Friday. The film saw her play Geethanjali, one of the main characters in the film that also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol in lead roles. Her performance in the film has been appreciated since its release. She will also soon be seen in Telugu films titled The Girlfriend and Rainbow, apart from the sequel of Pushpa titled Pushpa: The Rule. Vijay was last seen in Kushi, which received good response from fans. He has also said yes to a project helmed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. Mrunal Thakur will star in Hi Nanna, which will hit screens next Friday, apart from a Hindi project titled Pooja Meri Jaan.

Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!  Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel  Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place
As impacts from prolonged droughts to extreme heat worsen, climate change is threatening the world's ability to produce enough nutritious food and ensure everyone has access to it. A drought-affected corn field in the town of Serodino, Santa Fe province, Argentina, on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.(Bloomberg)

At COP28 in Dubai, more than 130 country leaders on Friday called for global and national food systems to be rethought to address climate change - the first such official recognition at a U.N. climate summit of growing worries about food security and planet-heating emissions from agriculture.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Here's how global food systems and climate change affect each other, and what might be done about rising risks:

How is climate change threatening food security?

As fossil fuel emissions heat the planet, they are driving more extreme weather - from heavy rains and droughts to heatwaves - as well as gradual sea level rise. All can affect crops, ruin farmland and make it harder for farmers to work.

A warming climate also is bringing crop diseases and pests into new locations or making infestations more severe, ruining more harvests and reducing yields.

Such problems, combined with other pressures on food systems - from growing conflict to crop export restrictions by food-producing countries and speculation in markets - mean food is becoming less affordable and more people are going hungry.

The U.N. World Food Programme estimates that 333 million people face "acute" food insecurity in 2023 in the 78 countries where it works - a huge boost from about 200 million prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crop failures are not a new phenomenon, with surpluses in some regions long making up for shortfalls in others, but scientists fear stronger climate impacts could drive simultaneous failures across major global "breadbaskets", resulting in a swift rise in global hunger.

What is being done to address these threats?

Around the world, many farmers are adapting to climate extremes in a variety of ways, from digging irrigation ponds to trap floodwater and store it for dry times, to adopting new climate-smart seeds and bringing back hardy traditional crops.

But some challenges - such as more frequent and extreme heatwaves that can make it difficult for farmers to work outside - are harder to counter.

Money to help small-scale farmers - who supply about a third of the world's food - adapt to climate risks is also falling dramatically short.

In 2021, they received only about $2 billion, or 0.3% of total international climate finance from public and private sources, according to Amsterdam-based think-tank Climate Focus.

With little outside help available, many such farmers - who have contributed little to the emissions heating up the planet - are paying the costs of climate adaptation themselves.

The Climate Focus survey of 13 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America found nearly 440 million small-scale farmer households now spend about $368 billion annually on adaptation costs, or about $838 each per year.

Analysts say efforts to shore up global food security also need to reach well beyond farms, to try to rein in speculators in food markets, discourage export clampdowns and revamp increasingly overwhelmed humanitarian aid systems.

Can we find ways to grow more food to make up for the losses?

Expanding the amount of land being farmed - or boosting the use of fossil-fuel-based fertilisers and developing new crop varieties - have long been accepted ways to grow more food.

But agricultural land expansion often comes at the expense of forests and other natural ecosystems that are critical to conserve because their vegetation absorbs and stores climate-heating carbon dioxide emissions in order to grow, helping to curb climate change.

For example nearly 20% of the vast Amazon rainforest has now been lost, largely to soybean farming and cattle ranching.

Scientists fear additional deforestation could over time turn the forest into a dry savanna, imperiling rainfall for agriculture across South America - and sabotaging the world's climate and biodiversity protection goals.

Efforts to intensify the amount of food grown on a set land area have shown some success but often require large amounts of expensive fossil fuel-based fertilisers.

In recent years, however, more environmentally friendly farming methods are gaining new adherents, from the United States to India.

But food analysts say the best way to increase global supplies is not to grow more but to reduce the huge amount of food wasted each year.

While the world produces enough food for everyone, about a third of it is lost or wasted along the supply chain from field to fork, according to the United Nations, which says the average person wastes 74 kg (163 lb) of food each year.
Around 23 million people voted across 119 constituencies in Telangana on Thursday as the southern state recorded a poll percentage of 70.60% by 11 pm. Around 70.60% voters exercise franchise as polls conclude in Telangana. (PTI)

Election Commission authorities said that thousands of people continued to stand in queues well past the deadline of 5pm, and that the final turnout numbers could well inch closer to the figure of 73.74% five years ago

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Telangana chief electoral officer (CEO) Vikas Raj said barring minor clashes and skirmishes, the polling was by-and-large peaceful and there were no recommendations from the returning officers for repolling in any booths. The counting of votes will be conducted on December 3.

Follow Telangana Election Results 2023 LIVE Updates Here.

Maximum polling of 83.34% was recorded at Jangaon, followed by 83% at Narasampet, 82.75% at Dubbak, 82.34% at Nakrekal, 81.23% at Palakurthy and 81.04 at Bhongir.

Hyderabad recorded a dismal voting percentage of around 39.97%, with Yakutpura recording 27.87%, Nampally 32.40%, Charminar 34.02% and Malakpet 36.90%.

Even assembly constituencies such as Jubilee Hills, Serilingampally and Khairtabad  which cover upscale areas and Information Technology hubs  in addition to high population density areas such as Kukatpally, Rajendranagar, Sanathnagar and Secunderabad recorded lukewarm polling of around 40-45%.

In all, 32.6 million voters were enrolled and 35,655 polling stations were set up across the state.

As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray including chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao from two constituencies  Kamareddy and Gajwel, his minister-son K T Rama Rao from Siricilla, Telangana Congress unit chief A Revanth Reddy from Kamareddy and Kodangal, senior BJP leader Eatala Rajender from Gajwel and Huzurabad, and BJP Lok Sabha member Bandi Sanjay Kumar from Karimnagar.

The CEO said a few incidents of clashes were reported from Kamareddy, Narasapur, Yakutpura, Narayanpet and Sirpur. The police resorted to lathicharge at Pinapaka to disperse the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi workers who were involved in clashes.

At Narasapur, Congress workers allegedly attacked the BRS leaders led by party candidate Sunitha Laxma Reddys son Shashidhar Reddy and damaged his vehicles. The police booked the Congress leaders.

At Yakutpura in the old city of Hyderabad, there were minor clashes between the workers of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Majlis-Bachao Tehreek (MBT), but the police quickly brought the situation under control.

At Varkoor village of Makthal constituency in Narayanpet, the Congress and the BRS workers clashed, but the police restored normalcy within an hour.

The BRS is looking for a third consecutive term in Indias youngest state but is facing a tough challenge from the Congress in a triangular contest also involving the Bharatiya Janata Party.
An Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) was expected to be installed along the entire stretch of railway tracks in North Bengal following the death of three elephants in Alipurduar after a train hit them on Monday. Elephant corridors crisscross railway tracks in the region. West Bengal has the highest26 out of the 150 elephant corridorsin India. (Shutterstock/Representative)

We have installed IDS between Nagrakata and Madarihat in the Alipurduar district covering 37 km as a pilot project. No accident took place in that section, said West Bengals chief wildlife warden Debal Ray. He cited the accident that left three elephants dead and added plans were afoot to cover the entire stretch of 158 km by June 2024 between Siliguri and Alipurduar.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

We have set up a committee comprising officials from the forest department and the railways. They would evaluate the pilot project by looking at the point when the system triggers an alert and the train comes to a halt, how many such alerts were generated, whether there were any false alarms, etc. The committee is expected to submit a report by December-end. Only then I would be able to say how accurate the system worked.

IDS involves sensors that identify the movement of wild animals and alert control offices, station masters, gatemen, and loco pilots. The Northeast Frontier Railway and the state forest department developed the indigenous technology, which bagged the PMI South Asia award for micro-project of the year in September 2023.

It uses fibre optic-based acoustic system to sense the real-time presence of elephants at the tracks. The AI-based software can monitor unusual movements up to 40 km on either side, said a railway official.

West Bengal has the highest26 out of the 150 or 17% of elephant corridorsin India. North Bengal has around 488 and South Bengal has 194 elephants.

A forest official said that barring the towns of Alipurduar and Siliguri, elephants cross the railway tracks all along the 158 km stretch in North Bengal, which includes forest and tea estates.

A Guwahati-Siliguri goods train hit the three elephants on Monday at the Buxa Tiger Reserve in Bengals Alipurduar district. In 2019-2020, at least five elephants were killed after trains hit them.

Officials said IDS will also help detect rail fracture, trespassing, and disaster mitigation due to unauthorised digging, landslides near tracks, etc.
The government is making an all-out effort to ensure that the former Indian Navy personnel, who have been sentenced to death in Qatar, are brought back, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday. Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar at a press conference ahead of the Navy Day celebrations. (ANI)

There is total support and effort being put in by the government, the Navy chief said at his traditional press conference ahead of Navy Day on December 4.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

A court in Qatar handed down the death penalty to seven retired naval officers and a sailor in October.

Admiral Kumar said they were working closely with the agencies concerned to ensure that interests of the veterans are looked after. The ex-naval officers in Qatar are veterans...and we are interested in ensuring their welfare is taken care of. I want to reassure you that the Indian government is putting all-out efforts to ensure that they are brought back, he said in response to a question on the fate of the veterans.

In November, a court of appeal in Qatar accepted the Indian governments application against the death sentence. The government is engaged with the authorities in Qatar to find a resolution to the issue that has cast a shadow on bilateral ties.

The veterans had outstanding careers in the Navy. One of them, Captain Navtej Gill, was awarded the Presidents Gold Medal for excellence when he graduated from the naval academy and later served as an instructor at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Tamil Nadu.

Another veteran Commander Purnendu Tiwari was conferred the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award four years ago. He was the first from the Indian armed forces to be awarded the highest honour for Non-Resident Indians/Persons of Indian origin.

The other veterans are Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, and Sailor Ragesh.

The eight men were employees of Al Dahra Global Technologies, a private firm that provided training and other services to Qatars armed forces and security agencies. They were held on unspecified charges since August 2022. Reports have suggested the men were accused of espionage.

The bail pleas of the men were rejected and their detention was extended. They were also held in solitary confinement and not allowed to meet their families. Following the intervention of Indian authorities, officials from the Indian embassy in Qatar were given consular access to the men. Meetings and phone calls were also arranged with their relatives.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday paid tribute to the Border Security Force personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on the 59th Raising Day of the BSF in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district. Union home minister Amit Shah at BSF's 59th Raising Day in Jharkhand on Friday.

The BSF, which is the largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Mandated to guard the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh border, the BSF is the only force of the nation with a distinctly defined wartime as well as peacetime role. It has successfully proved its mettle in accomplishing every task assigned in times of war and peace while ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border.

The BSF troops, deployed in the most challenging terrain and remote locations, have been serving as the guardians of India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Till 1965, India's border with Pakistan was manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. On April 9, 1965, Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression, due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialised, centrally controlled Border Security Force that would be armed and trained to man the international border with Pakistan.

As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on December 1, 1965.

Initially, in 1965, BSF was raised with 25 battalions and, with the passage of time, was expanded as per the requirement of the nation to fight against militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast region.

At present, BSF is holding 192 (including three NDRF) battalions and seven BSF artillery regiments guarding the international border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In addition, BSF is also performing an anti-infiltration role in Kashmir Valley, counter-insurgency in the North East region, anti-naxal operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh states and security of integrated checkposts along the Pakistan and Bangladesh international borders.
The Assam government on Friday decided to reserve 5 per cent seats in engineering colleges for students of state-run schools, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. (PTI)(HT_PRINT)

The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting in Tinsukia.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Briefing reporters after the meeting, the CM said the decision was taken to encourage more enrolment in state-run schools.

"We have decided to reserve 5 per cent seats in BTech/BE courses in government engineering colleges for students who have studied in government schools from class 7 to 12," he said.

Though Sarma had mentioned during the briefing that seats will also be reserved in medical colleges, the decisions of the Cabinet shared by him on his official X handle specified that only engineering colleges will have the 5 per cent quota.

To boost industrial growth in the state, the cabinet approved 438.27 crore for three projects under the Industrial and Investment Policy of Assam, 2019, Sarma said.

The three projects are a bamboo crash barrier manufacturing unit by Bhavya Shristi Udyog Pvt Ltd in Bongaigaon, a hotel by Tata Group in Kaziranga and a second Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati.

Sarma said these three projects will together create nearly 1,400 new jobs.

He also said that a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Authority of Assam will be formed, headed by an IAS officer, to attract more CSR funds to the state.

To simplify land-related issues, the cabinet decided to harmonise different types of land into five categories, the CM said.

"At present, there are about 100 nomenclatures to categorise different types of lands. This leads to confusion among the people. Henceforth, all land will be placed under five categories," he said.

Sarma also said that about 2.25 lakh people are expected to have their land-related issues settled by the end of 'Mission Basundhara 2.0', which will conclude at the end of this month.

The cabinet also approved the release of 100 crore to Assam Tea Corporation Ltd against the budget provision in 2023-24 for payment of interest on delayed deposit of provident fund to Assam Tea Employees Provident Fund Organisation.

To streamline the process of paddy procurement, Partial Decentralised Procurement (DCP) will be implemented in Bongaigaon and Biswanath districts by Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd during Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24 at an estimated cost of 1.69 crore, the CM posted on X later.

Among the other decisions taken were increasing the upper age limit for public prosecutors and additional public prosecutors by five years, and granting ration cards to retired fourth-grade government employees.

The chief minister also said several decisions targeted at the development of Tinsukia district were taken at the meeting.

Among various projects approved were a multi-level car parking, an interstate bus terminus and a truck terminal in Tinsukia town, and several roads, bridges and a stadium in other parts of the district.

Sarma also said the next cabinet meeting will be held in Lakhimpur in January and in Nalbari in February, in line with his government's decision to hold the sitting in different parts of the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he was looking forward to meaningful dialogues and collaborations for a sustainable future at the COP-28 Summit here. Modi was welcomed warmly by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the venue in Dubai.(X/@narendramodi)

Modi was welcomed warmly by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the venue here.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Glad to join the COP-28 Summit, a pivotal platform for global climate action. Looking forward to engaging in meaningful dialogues and collaborations for a sustainable future, Modi said on X.

I thank my brother Mohamed Bin Zayed and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the warm welcome, he said.

Modi reached here Friday night to a warm welcome by the Indian community in Dubai.

Before leaving Delhi, the prime minister said he was happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, an important Indian partner in 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.

Modi will attend the World Climate Action Summit on Friday during the United Nations 'Conference of the Parties' on Climate, known as COP28.
Bengaluru: Widespread panic hit Bengaluru on Friday morning after forty-eight private schools received a bomb threat via email. As the school authorities alerted the police, parents scrambled to the respective schools of their children. The authorities also reached the schools with bomb disposal squads to rule out the possibilities of bombs inside schools. The security apparatus of the Karnataka city hasn't found a bomb inside any school as of now but is cautious. Bengaluru: Members of a police dog squad search the premises of a school after 48 private schools received an email with a bomb threat on its premises.(PTI)

The students and the staff of the schools were evacuated. A senior police official told the news agency PTI that 48 schools had received the bomb threat from an email id. The search operation was nearly over and the police hadn't found any suspicious objects, he said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"Prime facie, it appears to be a hoax message. We are also in the process of registering a case in this regard and a thorough investigation is underway," he said.

The email claimed explosives had been planted on school premises. The police rushed several teams to these schools and the search operation was performed after evacuating students and teachers, another senior officer said.

Police commissioner B Dayananda said it was not the first time such threats were issued.

Bengaluru: Parents take their children home after 48 private schools received an email with a bomb threat on its premises. (PTI)

"Earlier, similar threat letters and emails had come to schools and they were found to be a hoax for mischief and police had identified those behind it. Police are verifying today's mails too... officials and personnel have gone to all these spots. I appeal to people not to worry, as most likely all these are hoax calls (mails)," he said.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has asked the police to seriously investigate the e-mail and its source. He also asked them to provide security to schools and temples as precaution.

Also read: 15 schools in Bengaluru receive bomb threat emails; Students evacuated

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said the email appeared to be a hoax but "we should be cautious".

"Parents are a bit worried, no need to worry. Police are looking into it," he added. He said the senders of the email would be arrested within 24 hours.

Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said the message had come from email id kharijites@beeble.com, reported PTI. The email said 15 schools had bombs on their premises.

"We will verify as to who is behind it and if there is the involvement of any terrorist organisation, and take measures accordingly. For now, it cannot be said who is behind it. The message in the email asks people to convert and other things, it will be verified," he told reporters.

With inputs from PTI
Hazaribagh: Union home minister Amit Shah said on Friday that fences alone do not secure the borders of the country but it is the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel who play a primary role in it while adding that the remaining gaps on the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh will be plugged in the next two years. Union home minister Amit Shah at BSFs 59th Raising Day in Jharkhand on Friday. (ANI)

Shah said that only 60 km of border with these two countries now remain unfenced after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government completed 560 km of fencing in the last nine years.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

India shares 3,323 km of its land border with Pakistan and 4,096 km with Bangladesh. Government sanctioned the fencing of total 2,097 km border with Pakistan, out of which, 2,064 km has been fenced while 32 km is pending.

Similarly, along the Bangladesh border, 3,180 km border has been fenced while 916 km is being covered through physical and non-physical barriers. To be sure, not the entire length of the border can be fenced due to riverine/low lying areas; Shah, in his speech, was referring to the remaining 60 km of the border which can be fenced physically.

Also Read: Amit Shah-led high-level committee approves reconstruction plan for Joshimath

I have no misconceptions that fencing alone secures our borders. I believe that it is the (BSF) jawans deployed at these harsh border terrains who secure the borders safe from any activity from the enemy, or smuggling of narcotics, weapons or any other illegal activity, Shah said at the 59th raising day of BSF in Hazaribagh.

Asserting that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has given top priority to border security, Shah said it is because of you (BSF) that I am able to sleep in my home without any worry of (the) enemys activities.

The home minister also reiterated that the government is moving for a final assault on left wing extremism (LWE), for which the BSF, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are ready.

While chairing a review meeting in October this year, Shah had said that LWE will be eliminated from the country in two years.

The security forces have opened new 199 camps in the core areas of Naxals in last few years, making it difficult for the red ultras to gather resources for their activities and provides (for) better domination of the forces , Shah said.
The state's capital woke up to a mixed situation a day after it received an average of 10 cm of rainfall  the highest this north east monsoon season. In some localities, water drained away by the new storm water drains and the pumps, while some interior roads were inundated so traffic remained slow. Schools in Chennai were closed on Thursday. However, since rains were intermittent the Greater Chennai Corporation had enough time to clear roads especially arterial roads such as Santhome High road, Anna Salai and East Coast Road which were dry. However, residents and commuters faced hardship in the interior roads such as in Anna Nagar, Kodambakkam, Madipakkam. Locals use a pump set to remove water from a waterlogged street after heavy rain in Chennai on Thursday. (PTI)

On Thursday, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam stations in Chennai received 15.8 and 14 mm rainfall respectively up to 7.30pm. The highest rainfall recorded in Tamil Nadu was in Nagapattinam district at 26mm. The rains are being caused due to a well marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal which is likely to concentrate into a depression in the next 24 hours, the regional meteorological centre (RMC) in Chennai said. This would intensify into a cyclonic storm on December 3 and reach north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh on the morning of December 4, the weather department added.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Drains to drones were readied in Chennai as authorities had plenty of time to prepare for the rains with a delayed and weak start to the north east monsoon. After the DMK formed the government in May 2021, an additional 876.19 km of storm water drains have been constructed in Chennai. Drones have been deployed to cover 5,820 sq km of Chennais basin to identify the flow of water, inundation, lack of connectivity between drains in physically inaccessible areas for corrective measures.

The city corporation has deployed 16000 workers, 491 motors, and additionally 150 tractor borne motors across the city. Except for one, all subways were open to traffic on Thursday, the civic body said.

Saving Chennai from flooding is a matter of serious politics for chief minister MK Stalin who was in the civic headquarters at the Ripon buildings on Thursday monitoring mitigation work. Stalin instructed officials and elected representatives to visit their localities to take up relief work. The chief minister also responded to emergency calls received at the control centre in the civic headquarters.

T Nagar which is usually severely affected received 12 cm of rainfall, said Chennai Mayor R Priya. Corporation employees worked all night to drain out the water, the Mayor said. We are attending to all the complaints from the public zone wise and rectifying the issues. There is no major complaint of rainwater mixing with sewage water.

Chennais corporation commission J Radhakrishnan also said that only selected localities were inundated.Except for selected areas, the water is draining completely in the majority of the places, he said. The chief minister has been monitoring the situation. We have put 15 IAS officers across the city. Water is receding rapidly. We faced challenges in some parts in Korattur, Ambattur and Anna Nagar, but it has been rectified.

Weather department have forecast heavy rainfall for Chennai and other districts up to December 5. The Indian Meteorological has issued an orange alert for Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry which is likely to receive rainfall ranging between 115 up to 204 mm between December 2 and 3.
Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday said he was pressured by the office of the chief minister to appoint Gopinathan Ravindran as the vice-chancellor of Kannur University in November, 2021. The governors statement came hours after the Supreme Court quashed Ravindrans re-appointment to the post. Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khans statement came hours after the top court quashed V-Cs reappointment. (ANI)

The top court bench of Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ruled that even though the notification for reappointment of the V-C was issued by the chancellor, the decision stood vitiated by the unwarranted intervention of the state government.0

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The court also criticised the governor stating that the chancellor abdicated or surrendered the statutory power of reappointment, rendering the entire decision making process bad.

Regarding the V-Cs re-appointment, governor Khan told reporters, Honourable chief minister came to my office and said that Kannur is his home district. I said, Let the process be completed. Once the panel comes, I will consult with you and I will take your views into consideration while appointing the V-C. The process had already begun by then around 10-12 applications had been received. Three days later, the legal advisor to CM and his OSD came to me and said, You have already promised to accommodate the wishes of the CM, then why go through the process? I said, Because the law demands so.

The governor said that the legal advisor to CM and the OSD later produced the opinion of the advocate general that the process to select the V-C could be scuttled and Ravindran be re-appointed as the V-C.

I told them, what you are asking me to do is illegal, irregular and not in line with law. But since you have come with the opinion of the advocate general, I will accept it. The next day, I wrote to the CM saying that what he made me do was illegal and that he will bring such pressure on me in other matters also. Therefore, I requested him to make some alternate arrangements and that I dont want to continue as chancellor, the governor added.

The higher education minister used to write to me but all the pressure came from the office of the CM, Khan said.

Meanwhile, higher education minister R Bindu said that she accepts the SC verdict in the matter. The state government had sent a proposal in this regard based on the legal opinion of the AG. The responsibility of making the appointment rests with the governor. He has to use his wisdom and discretion to make a decision. It will be better to make an informed statement after getting the full copy of the verdict, she told reporters.

Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan demanded the resignation of the higher education minister.

A person who had crossed the age limit was reappointed (to the post of V-C). The SC has made it clear that the state government made unwarranted intervention in this matter. As the pro-chancellor, the higher education minister has violated the norms of the UGC. We had alleged then itself that the governor succumbed to the pressures of the state government and the top court has said the same. It is a strong warning to the state government and the minister must resign, Satheesan said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union minister V Muraleedharan said the SC verdict proves the nepotism and corruption of the CM. The CPM must think whether it wants to carry forward a corrupt CM. The people of Kerala certainly dont want one, he said.
Bhubaneswar: Officers from the Odisha Police, the Central Industrial Security Force (CIDSF) and Customs have seized 22 kg of cocaine worth 220 crore from an Indonesian cargo ship that had anchored at Paradip Port in Odisha. A kg of cocaine is worth  10 crore in the international market.(Representational)

Customs officials in Bhubaneswar said an Indonesian bulk carrier named MV Debi, which had anchored at Paradip International Cargo Terminal berth on Wednesday was on its way to Denmark to pick up steel plates. On Thursday, a crane operator working on the ship noticed some suspicious packets on the vessel and informed the authorities who came with a dog squad, raided the ship and seized the packets.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Also Read: 2 foreign nationals arrested for smuggling 2kg cocaine

At first, the packets looked like an explosive device. But after they scanned the packets, it was revealed that it was drugs concealed in small rectangular packets. We did a preliminary narcotics test, which confirmed the contents to be cocaine. We seized the packets and have sent the sample for further test in a government laboratory, said Madhab Chandra Mishra, commissioner of customs in Bhubaneswar.

A kg of cocaine is worth 10 crore in the international market.

Mishra said the crew members of the vessel would be questioned about the cocaine and further arrests were likely to be made.
The Congress on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his address at the COP28 address in Dubai.



Quoting the prime minister over his statement saying that India has struck a great balance between ecology and economy, the Congress in a statement called his remark as maximum global talk, minimum local walk.



Accusing the Centre of exploiting forests and handing them over to chosen corporates, the Congress claimed that the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 had been made completely hollow with an amendment, thereby doing away with provisions for the consent of forest communities and with requirements for forest clearance in vast areas.



Forests can now be cleared without consulting those who live there, and consent from gram sabhas is no longer needed to use forest land, the statement shared by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh read, also claiming that the Forest Rights Act of 2006 had been weakened. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.(HT_PRINT)

When the world was dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Modi government passed 39 amendments to rules under the Environment Protection Act. Illegal and regressive changes were made to relax environmental protections-pollution control measures were removed, penalties for violations were lowered, criminal prosecutions were stripped, and public notice requirements were waived, the statement added.



The Congress alleged that the Environmental Impact Assessment norms had been continuously weakened since 2020. The timelines for hydro and mining project clearances have been arbitrarily extended, the Congress also alleged, adding that major project types had been removed from central government clearance, public hearings and participation had been skipped.



The Congress further alleged the consistent weakening of the National Green Tribunal since 2014. Vacancies have been left open for years, reaching 70 per cent overall in 2018 and leading to the shutdown of the Chennai NGT bench. The Madras high court had to step in in 2019 and instruct the Union government to fill vacancies. Bureaucrats, rather than scientific experts, are being appointed, it added.



Invoking the air pollution menace, the Congress alleged the Centre had been ineffective in dealing with worsening air pollution.



How can anyone take what the Prime Minister says globally on environment seriously in light of his disastrous track record in India? the Congress added.
Dubai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met the President of embattled Israel, Isaac Herzog, on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in the UAE. The leaders of two of the world's most powerful nations shared their views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. PM Narendra Modi with Israel President Isaac Herzog at COP28.

PM Modi expressed condolences on the loss of lives in Israel because of the Hamas attack on October 7 and welcomed the recent release of hostages. He expressed India's support for a "durable" resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue by way of dialogue and diplomacy.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

PM Narendra Modi met President Isaac Herzog of Israel on the sidelines of COP28 WCAS in Dubai. The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. PM Modi expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 07 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi wrote on X.

He further said that PM Modi reiterated India's support for a two-state solution.

The PM reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population. He emphasized India's support for a two state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy, he added.

Also read: PM Modi proposes to host COP33 in India in 2028

1200 people were killed in Israel after Hamas launched a terror attack on October 7. In retaliatory bombardment and ground attacks, thousands of people in Gaza have been reportedly killed.

Meanwhile, Herzog said he met several global leaders and apprised them about how Hamas "blatantly" violates the ceasefire agreements.

"...at the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world. I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international communitys agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself," Herzog added.

Meanwhile, PM Modi met the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, British PM Rishi Sunak, UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other world leaders.

Also read: India struck a great balance between ecology and economy: PM Modi at COP28

In his address at the event, he proposed to host the COP summit in India in 2028.He also said India's goal is to bring down emissions by 45 percent till 2030.

"We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50%. We will also keep going ahead towards our goal of net zero by 2070, he added.

With inputs from agencies
Forty of the 41 workers, who were pulled out of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand on November 28, have been declared physically and mentally fit to return home after a thorough check-up at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh, officials familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The remaining worker, too, will be discharged once his medical report comes, the official added. Jharkhand workers who were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel leave for their home state after a health check-up at AIIMS, in Rishikesh (PTI)

The 41 workers were buried under a mountain on November 12 when they were attempting to complete the final 400m stretch of the 4.5km-long tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district. They were eventually rescued on November 28, after an arduous 17-day-long rescue operation and airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh for a medical examination.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The workers were kept under medical observation for 24 hours and were thoroughly examined.

After the preliminary examination, no worker was found with any injury or any kind of medical issue. However, a thorough medical examination was done to ascertain the complete status of their health. After several tests, they all were found physically fit and clinically stable. They have been given a clearance certificate so that they can go to their native places, medical superintendent of AIIMS-Rishikesh, Dr RB Kalia, said.

Only changes that occur in workers working in higher altitude Himalayan regions have been found in them. There is nothing serious and cause for concern. All states have been sent intimation in this regard, he added.

He, however, said that these workers could see mental changes in the coming time. All those who have been discharged have been asked to visit their nearest health facility after two weeks, if needed, he added.

Virendra Nautiyal, an official from the PRO department of the AIIMS-Rishikesh, said: We have discharged 40 of the 41 construction workers from our facility. They were found physically and mentally stable. The remaining one worker is still with us since some of his medical reports are awaited.

Dr Anindya Das, a psychiatrist from the hospital, said: They all have been found mentally fit in our examination.

Meanwhile, the Jharkhand government airlifted the 15 labourers from the state from Dehradun to Delhi on Thursday and from there they will be flown to Ranchi on Friday morning.

All 15 workers will be flown to from Delhi to Jharkhand tomorrow. Then they will be taken to their native places across the state by the respective district administrations, Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh, a representative of the Jharkhand government, said.

All our workers are fit..their detailed examination was done, including blood tests and X-rays were conducted. Their counselling was also done to ascertain their mental health. Based on that, they discharged them...they found all of them quite well, he added.

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.
The Delhi high court on Friday refused to entertain pleas seeking implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), citing the Supreme Courts observation in March that such issues are meant for the Parliament to decide. It said that the Law Commission of India was considering the matter afresh and that it did not want to interfere with the process. The UCC refers to a common set of laws for personal matters for all citizens. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The UCC refers to a common set of laws for personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession for all citizens. Constitutions Article 44, one of the directive principles of state policy, advocates UCC. But respective religion-based civil codes have governed personal matters since independence. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states such as Uttarakhand have set up panels to explore UCC implementation.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The Supreme Court in March rejected pleas demanding UCC, saying the courts should not be seen directing the legislature to enact a law. Entertaining these petitions would mean directing the enactment of [a] law and a mandamus [latin word for command] cannot be issued to the Parliament to enact a law, a Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud-led bench said.

Former Karnataka high court chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi-led 22nd Law Commission India in June sought suggestions on the UCC from the public and recognised religious organizations. The panel decided to consider the issue afresh even as a 2018 consultation paper of the panel said that UCC was neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.

A high court bench of acting chief justice Manmohan and justice Mini Pushkarna said the Supreme Court order is clear. This is a matter where the Supreme Court has spoken. Even the Supreme Court is saying the intervention can be through a legislative process. Can we give a direction against this order? Let them [Law Commission of India] proceed ahead with the process. ...Let them work. It added the commission was doing a good job. Do not come to the high court only because the Supreme Court says that it is not intervening, acting chief justice Manmohan told the petitioner, BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay.

The high court allowed Upadhyay to withdraw the petitions and put forth his suggestions before the commission.

Please move the Law Commission. They are undertaking the exercise. At times your action may be bonafide. Why do you want to interdict the process?

Four other petitions also sought directions to the government to constitute a judicial commission or an expert committee to draft UCC within three months by considering the best practices of all religions and sects.

The batch of petitions was earlier listed in April. The court said they appeared to be prima facie unmaintainable.

The government opposed the pleas in an affidavit filed in the high court saying UCC is a matter of policy, which elected representatives of the people have to decide. It argued that no direction can be issued in this regard. The government said it would examine the issue in consultation with the stakeholders after getting the Law Commission of Indias report.
The stage for December 3 was set on Thursday as the exit poll predictions of the five state assembly elections  Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram  came in projecting a tough battle between the Congress and the BJP in at least three of these states. Assembly election 2023 results will be crucial as this is the semi-final before the 2024 general elections. Exit poll predictions, however, often go wrong. Women voters show their ID cards as they stand in a queue to cast their votes for the Telangana Assembly elections, in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Assembly Elections 2023: Full Coverage

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Exit poll results of 5 states: Here are 10 takeaways

Telangana

1. Telangana can spring a big surprise if the exit poll predictions are to be believed. Congress may come to power pushing incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi to the second and the BJP to a distant third, the projections said. This will be the first to happen as since the formation of Telangana in 2014, K Chandrashekar Rao remained the chief minister of the state. This is also the first to happen after KCR's party which was formed in 2001 -- with the demand for a separate state  went national and changed its name to Bharat Rashtra Samithi.

2. According to India TV-CNX exit polls, the Congress may win 63-79 seats while BRS would win 31-47 seats in the 119-member assembly. Jan ki Baat's prediction is that the Congress may win 48-64 seats, BRS 40-55 and the BJP 7-13. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat exit polls projected 49-59 seats for the Congress and 48-58 for the BRS in a neck-and-neck fight. Republic TV-Matrize has predicted a close fight with the Congress at 58-68 seats and the BRS with 46-56 seats. India Today-My Axis has not released their Telangana data yet.

Madhya Pradesh

3. Madhya Pradesh is advantage BJP, according to maximum exit poll predictions. The Congress has rejected the predictions as Kamal Nath said the country is not run by television but by vision. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh cited Axis My India's exit poll before 2021 West Bengal assembly election which was wrong in projecting a greater number of seats to the BJP, and wrote: "Would Psephologists please help us to give correct figures?"

4. According to India Today-Axis My India prediction, the BJP will retain power in Madhya Pradesh with 140-162 seats out of 230. Congress is likely to get 60-90 seats. India TV-CNX exit poll predicted 140-159 seats for the BJP and 70-89 seats for the Congress. The Times Now-ETG gave BJP 105-117 seats, Congress 109-125 seats. Republic TV projected 118-130 seats to BJP, 97-107 to Congress.

Rajasthan

5. Rajasthan, according to the pollsters, will be a tough fight between the BJP and the Congress and in such a case smaller parties and independent candidates may play a crucial role in the formation of the next government.

6. India Today-My Axis sees Rajasthan as a close contest between BJP and the Congress with BJP 80-100 seats and the Congress 86-106 seats out of 199. India TV-CNX poll predicted 94-104 seats for Congress and 80-90 seats for BJP. Times Now-ETG poll predicted 56-72 seats to Congress and 108-128 to BJP indicating a huge gap. Jan Ki Baat poll gave 100-122 seats to BJP and 62-85 seats to Congress.

Chhattisgarh

7. The Congress is likely to retain Chhattisgarh but BJP will be a close second. Incumbent chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said the numbers will only increase for the Congress on the counting day, 57 will become 75.

8. India Today-Axis My India poll predicted 40-50 seats out of 90 for the Congress and 36-46 seats for the BJP. ABP C-Voter projected 41-53 seats for the Congress and 36-48 seats for the BJP. The Republic TV exit poll gave Congress 44-52 seats, BJP 34-42 seats; India TV-CNX poll predicted 46- 56 seats for Congress and 30-40 seats for BJP .

Mizoram

9. Mizoram is likely to see a clean sweep by the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) unseating Mizo National Front. Both Congress and the BJP are distant 3rd and 4th in the contest.

10. According to India Today-Axis My India poll predictions ZPM is expected to win 28-35 seats, MNF 3-7 seats  out of 40. According to Times Now-ETG, it will be a close contest with ZPM at 10-14 seats, MNF 14-18 seats. Jan Ki Baat poll gave 10-14 seats to MNF, 15-25 seats to ZPM. India TV-CNX poll predicted 14-18 seats for MNF and 12-16 seats for ZPM.
Feature: Chinese astronauts encourage youth in Hong Kong to pursue dreams

Xinhua) 13:56, December 01, 2023

HONG KONG, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Members of a visiting delegation of China's manned space program, who have met with hundreds of university teachers and students in Hong Kong, encouraged young people to pursue their dreams persistently.

The delegation, in separate groups, visited the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Thursday and briefed on the latest developments in China's aerospace technology.

Both universities have contributed wisdom to the country's exploration of the mysteries of the universe. Hong Kong has also gained greater opportunities in the development of the country's space industry.

A PolyU student asked Shenzhou-12 astronaut Liu Boming "how not to give up" the pursuit of dreams as the astronaut selection process is highly competitive.

"When you have a clear goal, all the rest to do is persistence," Liu said.

At the HKUST, Shenzhou-15 astronaut Zhang Lu talked about one thing that all the Chinese astronauts have done in space -- looking for the motherland and their respective hometowns through the porthole.

"Why do we love our nation and our hometown?" Zhang believes that a strong nation enables its people to better realize their dreams, and hometown is often the birthplace marking the start of one's life.

"All of us astronauts are working hard to renew China's height and climb to the peak of science and technology," he said.

"In the past, it was out of reach when Hong Kong children said they wanted to become astronauts, but today, it is a dream that can be realized," Christine Choi, secretary for education of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said, encouraging young people in Hong Kong to further develop their potential and actively participate in national scientific research and aerospace development.

Xu Weifan, a PhD student from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of HKUST, said the interaction with Chinese astronauts inspired him to make further contributions to the national space development while realizing his own dream in the efforts.

PolyU PhD student Chen Long expressed the hope that he will have the opportunity to become a payload expert and do research at the space station in the future.

Shenzhou-13 astronaut Wang Yaping, Shenzhou-14 astronaut Chen Dong, and other members of the delegation also participated in the activities.

The delegation is on a six-day visit to the Hong Kong and Macao SARs from Tuesday to Sunday at the invitation of the SAR governments.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
New Delhi Ensuring the financial dignity of judges is essential for maintaining the independence of the judiciary, the Supreme Court held on Thursday as it backed suitable working conditions for the judges  both during their tenure and after they retire. SC bench said the district judiciary is the first point of contact for citizens. (PTI)

Judicial independence, which is necessary to maintain faith and confidence of people in the rule of law, can be assured and enhanced so long as judges are able to lead their lives with a sense of financial dignity, said a bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The bench, which also comprised justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, highlighted the pivotal role the district judiciary plays in states administration while issuing directives on implementation of pay hikes for judicial officers, as recommended by the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC) three years ago.

District judicial service is central to strengthening the functioning of the state and the rule of law. The state is duty bound to ensure that availability of services both during service and retirement is commensurate with the facilities and emoluments made available to the former judicial officers, said the court.

The district judiciary is the first point of contact for citizens, said the bench, adding the conditions in which district judiciary work is arduous and that their work is not confined to only working hours of the courts. It called it a misnomer to postulate that work of a judge is assessed in terms of performance of duty only during court working hours, underlining the officers are required to work both before and after court working hours and judicial work requires preparation before cases called out and deal with cases later after being heard. Besides, the court noted, members of the district judiciary have wide-ranging administrative functions that include numerous duties in relation to prison establishments, postal institutions, legal services camps etc.

Emphasising the correlation between appropriate allowances to judges and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary, the court said that the State is under affirmative obligation to provide services to judges and thus, it cannot resort to financial burden.

Judicial officers spend the largest part of their working hours in service of the institution. The nature of judicial office often renders incapacitated opportunities of legal work which may otherwise be available to a member of the bar. That furnishes an additional reason that by post-retirement, there is necessary for the state to ensure that judicial officers are able to live in conditions of human dignity, it said.

The bench will continue dictating its order on Friday when it would deal with a variety of allowances and post-retirement benefits that the SNJPC recommended in its 2020 report. Advocate K Parameshwar has been assisting the bench as amicus curiae.

On a petition by All India Judges Association, the top court had in 2017 constituted the SNJPC, which was headed by justice PV Reddi (retd) as its chairman with senior advocate R Basant as its member. In January 2020, the Commission submitted its final report to the court with recommendations covering pay structure, pension and family pension and allowances. The report also favoured a permanent mechanism to determine subjects of service conditions of the district judiciary.
Lucknow: The legislative assembly witnessed a heated exchange between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition members over the issue of dynasty in politics and caste census during the debate on Supplementary Budget on Thursday. Energy minister AK Sharma said the supplementary budget would pave the way for the development of the state and to achieve one trillion economy target (Pic for representation)

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party Aradhana Mishra said the state government had failed to spend 50% of the annual budget- 2023-24 . Then what was the need of the supplementary budget? Even the supplementary budget had failed to fulfill the aspirations of the people. There was no mention of the promises made in the Sankalp Patra released by the BJP during the 2022 assembly election campaign. The state government was yet to give scooty to girls or increase the pension of physically diabled, widows and old people. The state government had failed to double the income of the farmers and give them free electricity , she said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Energy minister AK Sharma said the supplementary budget would pave the way for the development of the state and to achieve one trillion economy target. The opposition members said that I have become minister after struggle and I am new to politics. I do not belong to a political dynasty whereas the opposition members are of the view that only persons belonging to political dynasty have the right to join politics, he said.

The SP members opposed the statement of Sharma. Lalji Verma and Sangram Singh Yadav said the SP MLAs had been elected by the people, not with the blessings of a leader.

SP MLA Pallavi Patel said fund had not been allocated for the development of Jain, Sikh and Buddhist religious spots in the supplementary budget. The allocation was only for the development of Hindu religious spots. The OBC and Dalits had played an important role in the election of the BJP government but fund had not been allocated for their welfare, she said.

There is a large number of OBC and Dalits MLAs in the BJP but none has raised demand for caste census whereas I have moved private member bill for the caste census, she said.

Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the House was debating over the supplementary budget, so the opposition should not raise other issues.
India backs an early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a meeting on the margins of the COP28 Summit in Dubai on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Israeli President Isaac Herzog met in Dubai on Friday on sidelines of COP28 Summit (Twitter Photo)

This was the first in-person meeting between the top leadership of the two countries since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7 and was held even as Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza following the end of a truce. India has condemned both the terror attacks by the Hamas that triggered the conflict and civilian casualties in the fighting.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Herzog and Modi exchanged views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, a readout from the external affairs ministry said.

Modi reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population and emphasised Indias support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of [the] Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy, the readout said.

Also Read: PM Modi proposes to host COP33 in India in 2028

Herzog congratulated Modi on the success of Indias G20 presidency and welcomed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

At least 100 people have been killed since Israel resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on Friday. Close to 15,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, have been killed in Israels bombardment of Gaza, while another 1,200 Israelis have been killed in the attacks by Hamas.

The Israel-Hamas conflict also figured in a bilateral meeting between Modi and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders reviewed wide-ranging bilateral ties and exchanged views on the conflict, the external affairs ministry said.

Modi thanked President Mohamed bin Zayed for co-hosting the high-level event on the Green Climate Programme (GCP) at COP28. He invited the UAE leader to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be held in India in January.

Modi also met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit and exchanged views on the priorities and concerns of the Global South related to climate action, climate finance, technology and reforms of the multilateral governance and financial institutions, including the UN, the external affairs ministry said in a separate readout.

He thanked Guterres for his support during Indias G20 presidency and highlighted the countrys progress in achieving climate goals.

Guterres appreciated Indias efforts in areas such as sustainable development, climate action, reforms of multilateral development banks, and disaster management under its G20 presidency. He welcomed Indias Green Credit initiative and said he would work with the country to build on the achievements of its G20 presidency and take them forward at the UN Summit of the Future 2024.

Also Read: India struck a great balance between ecology and economy: PM Modi at COP28

Modi interacted with several leaders from across the world on the margins of the COP28 Summit, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

An excellent interaction with UK PM @RishiSunak during the #COP28 Dubai Summit. Strong India-UK friendship helps create a better future for the coming generations, Modi posted on X. In a separate post, Modi said he and Wickremesinghe had discussed various issues.

Modi also interacted with UK foreign secretary David Cameron and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying he admired their passion to work for sustainable development.

Interacting with PM @AbiyAhmedAli on the sidelines of #COP28. India values the longstanding friendship with Ethiopia, a relationship enriched by strong mutual cooperation.

He also met and interacted with outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the vice president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
New Delhi: India has geolocated 184 criminals in various countries and initiated formal proceedings for their return with the help of Interpol and respective countries law enforcement agencies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Friday even as a team led by agency director Praveen Sood and National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Dinkar Gupta stressed at the Interpol 91st general assembly in Vienna to deny any safe havens for crime, criminals and proceeds of crimes. 91st general assembly of Interpol in Vienna. (X)

The federal anti corruption probe agency has already coordinated the return of at least 24 fugitives this year; over 65 such persons have been brought back since 2021 as a result of enhanced cooperation between Indian and international agencies. While 27 criminals were repatriated to India last year, 18 were returned in 2021.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

It may be recalled that 2023 saw as many as 24 criminals and fugitives wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies being returned from abroad to India through close coordination via Interpol channels, one of the highest ever in a year. Further, India has also geolocated more than 184 criminals in various countries and initiated formal proceedings for their return. This reflects increased leveraging of Interpol channels and relationship with law enforcement agencies internationally to combat crime and criminals, the CBI said in a statement.

Geolocating criminals by Indian agencies refers to finding their whereabouts using various means including technical data, phone locations, criminal activity and human intelligence.

Some of the fugitives repatriated from foreign countries in last three years include Subhash Shankar Parab (a close confidante of diamantaire Nirav Modi, who was deported from Cairo in April last year), Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia (the alleged main conspirator behind the December 2021 Ludhiana court bomb blast; brought back from Kuala Lumpur) and Bikramjit Singh alias Bikkar Panjwar (a pro-Khalistan operative who was behind 2019 Tarn Taran bomb blast in Punjab and was brought back from Vienna in December 2022).

Also Read: India may raise Khalistan issue at Interpol meet

Interpol data shows that there are currently 277 people wanted by India against whom red notices  international arrest warrants  are pending

Interpols 91st general assembly was attended by a five-member team including Sood and Gupta in Vienna from November 28 till Friday.

As reported by HT on Thursday, Sood and Gupta are learnt to have raised the issue of Khalistani extremist activities from the foreign soil with countries including the US, the UK and Australia.

In all, the Indian delegation had bilateral meetings with 14 countries in cooperation on better sharing of criminal information via Interpol channels, to expedite mutual legal assistance and extradition requests.

Indian delegation held discussions with law enforcement agencies from multiple countries for enhanced coordination via Interpol channels with a view for concerted action to combat organized crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, online radicalisation, cyber enabled financial crimes and to prevent these crimes on a real-time basis, the CBI statement said.

India has stressed the need to deny any safe havens for crime, criminals and proceeds of crimes. The need for coordinated strategies to curtail criminal organisations which operate across international jurisdictions was deliberated, the spokesperson added.

Indian officials also held discussions with senior officials of Interpol, Europol, Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Organisation and US Air Force Office of Special Investigations on strengthening arrangements for cooperation.
LUCKNOW: Increasing the number of MBBS and specialist doctors in the country was most necessary for adequate health care to the people of the country , said Vinod K Paul, member NITI Ayog, while addressing the Foundation Day function of Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) here on Thursday. Increasing the number of MBBS and specialist doctors in the country was most necessary for adequate health care to the people of the country , said Vinod K Paul, member NITI Ayog (Pic for representation)

We have a deficit of doctors. India has one doctor per 1000 population or 1.3 doctor if we add Ayush practitioners, whereas developed nations have three doctors for same population volume, said Paul.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The need is even greater for specialists , he pointed out.

He said that use of DNB courses and district residency programme (DRP) should be made to increase number of specialists in the country. Under DRP, one-fourth of the candidates are posted with district hospitals for better learning and service to patients.

In Uttar Pradesh, the DRP was introduced earlier this year and 768 candidates from across medical colleges were posted with district hospitals for a period of three months. Once the first batch completed the posting, the second batch was postedm he said.

Paul said that the MBBS students should not worry about getting a seat in PG courses as the number of PG seats had gone up and work was on to add more seats.

If DPR was implemented properly, each district hospital would have 5 to 10 PG students, he said.

Dr Rajiv Bahl, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research and secretary to Government of India, department of health research said, Research should not be limited to only a few institutes. All institutes must take part in it.

This year ICMR gave 600 grants to 203 different institutes and not many were known as institutes of national importance, said Dr Bahl.

There are over 68,000 PG medical seats in the country and if one-fourth are in hospitals it will help improve the service to patients and also increase the number of candidates as colleges can take additional students, said Paul.

The PG seats have gone up from 32,000 to over 63,000 in the country and UG medical seats are up from 52,000 to 1.8 lakh. The challenge is to increase the number of specialists in the country, he said.

Principal secretary, medical education and health, Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma and RMLIMS director Prof Soniya Nityanand were also present.
Toronto Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called for India to take seriously concerns over its links to the killing of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar -- hours after an American federal court in New York indicted an Indian national in connection with a thwarted plot to allegedly kill Sikhs for Justice general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun in New York. 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, said PM Justin Trudeau (REUTERS)

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. 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.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Canadas minister of foreign affairs Melanie Joly, who is in Brussels, echoed Trudeaus views while speaking to the media. 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. Joly said she was in contact with external affairs minister Dr 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 added.

Meanwhile, Canadas 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 US.

The unsealed indictment against Nikhil Gupta, 52, in a federal court in New York, linked the Pannun attempt to the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

According to the indictment, Gupta mentioned a big target in Canada. In a call, he also apparently talked of four jobs -- three of them were to be in Canada -- and later shared a video of the slain Nijjar with a man he thought was a hitman he had hired to kill Pannun. The hitman, in reality, was a US intelligence agent, the indictment said.

The indictment added that Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 under an extradition treaty between the US and the Czech Republic. His current status wasnt immediately clear from the indictment .

In October, the Canadian daily Globe and Mail reported that three people 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 said in the Canadian 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, with Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma saying in a TV interview on Sunday that Canada had yet to provide specific and relevant information. India has also maintained that the actions being attributed to its officials were not part of government policy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the purview of carbon credits is very limited and plagued by a commercial element, as he pitched for a more holistic Green Credit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Mozambique President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and European Council President Charles Michel during the launch of the web portal of the Green Credits Programme at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit, in Dubai on Friday. (ANI)

The Green Credits Programme has been conceptualised to incentivise voluntary efforts to address the challenge of climate crisis, the PM said at a high-level event on the Programme at the World Climate Action summit at COP28 in Dubai.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

I have always felt that the purview of carbon credit is very limited. In a way, this philosophy is influenced by the commercial element. I have seen a major lack of a sense of social responsibility in the system of carbon credit. We will have to emphasise on a new philosophy in a holistic manner and that is the foundation of Green Credit, the PM said.

The manner in which we give importance to our Health Card in life, we have to similarly start thinking in the context of environment. We will have to see what is to be done to add positive points to Earths Health Card. I think this is what Green Credit is, he said.

Also read- Deliver adequate finance to meet Global South goal: PM

PM Modi together with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE, co-hosted the event, which also saw the participation of Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique and Charles Michel, President of the European Council.

The Green Credit Initiative has been conceptualised as a mechanism to incentivise voluntary pro-planet actions, as an effective response to the challenge of climate change. It envisions the issue of Green Credits for plantations on waste/degraded lands and river catchment areas, to rejuvenate and revive natural ecosystems, the PM explained and invited all nations to join the initiative.

A release from the ministry of external affairs said that the global initiative aims to facilitate global collaboration, cooperation and partnership through exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices in planning, implementation and monitoring of environment positive actions through programs/mechanisms like Green Credits.

During the event, a web platform to serve as a repository of policies and best practices was also launched.

Welcoming the initiative, Kristersson said, The Green Credit initiative could lower the thresholds and show how both companies, authorities and people can take concrete action. Through the Swedish initiative Climate Leap, we know that supporting action really can make a big difference.

Experts said that the initiative could translate into phenomenal global action.

The scheme seeks to incentivise individual and collective action to enhance carbon sinks by valuing not just the carbon sequestration, but the multitude of benefits like biodiversity conservation. In India, in fact, the scheme is already targeting sectors beyond the forestry sector like water conservation. If green credits are traded across borders, it could lead to phenomenal global action to enhance carbon sinks as well as achieve other SDGs, said Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

Indias Prime Minister demonstrated vision at COP28 by outlining crucial mechanisms for global collaboration through the Green Credit Initiative. Building on Indias recent commitment to a Green Credit Scheme, the emphasis is on the interconnectedness of carbon emission mitigation, biodiversity, and adaptation issues. Now, the invitation has been sent out to the world for global cooperation. Equally noteworthy is the re-emphasis on sustainable lifestyles, echoing the PMs 2021 Glasgow call for environmentally conscious living under Mission LiFE, said Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW in a statement.

During the event, PM Modi and Swedish PM Kristersson also co-launched the Phase-II of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0) for the period 2024-26. India and Sweden had co-launched LeadIT at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York in 2019.

To achieve global net-zero emissions, government and industrial partnership is critical, PM Modi said.

For our resilient, sustainable and equitable future countries that are members of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LEAD it) and partnership with industry will be critical, he added.

We need technology innovation for the Global South first. In the first phase we will need to focus on transition road maps and knowledge sharing for the hard to eliminate sectors like iron and steel, cement, aluminium and transport Today 18 countries and 20 companies are members of the Lead-IT group. India in its G20 Presidency focused on circularity strategies for industry, PM Modi said.
India remains a strategic partner of the US and the US is going to continue to work to improve and strengthen the partnership with India but the allegations of the assassination plot are very serious, White House official John Kirby said on being asked about the indictment of an Indian national in a 'plot-to-kill' Gurpatwant Pannun. "We take the allegations and the investigation very seriously. We are glad to see that the Indians are too (take seriously) by announcing their own efforts to investigate this. And we have been clear that we want to see anybody that's responsible for these alleged crimes to be held properly accountable," John Kirby said. The US has charged an Indian man, Nikhil Gupta, for plotting to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The bid was foiled and Nikhil Gupta was arrested.(HT_PRINT)

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken also commented on the issue and said the issue has been raised directly with the Indian government in the past weeks. This is an ongoing legal matter. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian government in past weeks. The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation. And that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results, Blinken said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The US Department of Justice on Wednesday indicted Nikhil Gupta, an Indian, alleging his involvement in a plot to assassinate a US-based Sikh leader in New York -- which got foiled. The US indictment did not name separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Nikhil Gupta allegedly worked with an Indian government official whose name has not been disclosed in the indictment either.

New Delhi reacted to the indictment and said it was a matter of great concern. "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," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. "We have said and let me reiterate that this is also contrary to government policy," he said.

India already constituted a probe team to investigate the allegations regarding a foiled plot to kill Pannun and a 'nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists'. Necessary follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the enquiry committee, the ministry said earlier.

Pannun assassination plot part of a campaign of planned killings: Report

The foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was meant to precede a string of other politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada, US prosecutors said, as reported by AP. The goal was to kill at least four people in the two countries by June 29, and then more after that, prosecutors contend.

The indictment mentioned the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and claimed that Nikhil Gupta told the purported hitman (a Drug Enforcement Administration informer) that Nijjar was also a target. The 'hitman' was told there would be a bigger job, every month, it has been alleged. Nikhil Gupta was arrested on June 30 in the Czech Republic.
The United States has charged an Indian national for allegedly being involved in a conspiracy to kill designated terrorist and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Terming the case against Indian national Nikhil Gupta as a matter of concern, the ministry of external affairs has said that a follow-up action will be taken on the findings of an inquiry committee looking into the matter. A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden at Rajghat on the final day of the G20 Summit, in New Delhi (PTI file)

The development comes months after Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau had alleged potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the Canadian town of Surrey in British Columbia on June 18.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

What does the present controversy mean for the relations between India and the US?

When the US Department of Justice filed an indictment in the court in Manhattan, the Indian government took notice of it and decided to set up a high-level committee under the guidance of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.



The charges were in black and white and there is a chargesheet in the case. The government which does not have a policy of conducting black operations outside the country or anywhere, decided to take notice of what the charges were and look if anything has gone wrong.



As far as Canada is concerned, rather than filing a proper chargesheet or case, its prime minister Justin Trudeau played a political game. On September 18, he decided to go to the Canadian parliament first and accuse India of orchestrating the assassination of Nijjar. The two cases are totally different.



In the first case there is a valid chargesheet the Indian government is looking into it. The second case is an allegation. In the indictment, there is a chain of thought that goes into saying that this person was involved in the killing of Nijjar. It is a heresay. It should be contested in the court in New York and at the same time the Indian government is going to look into it. The two sides will come to a reason as to what should be done about it.



Despite this controversy around the claims of Indian government being allegedly involved in some sort of political assassination, the fact is that both India and US are natural allies and strategic partners. Both the countries know each other very well and can talk on anything they want to.



After this whole plot was unearthed in June, US President Joe Biden had come to India for G20. Last month, 2+2 dialogue was held in New Delhi. The whole orchestration is being carried out to scuttle the QUAD summit that is set to take place on January 27 after Biden attends the Republic Day parade as the chief guest.



A committee has been set up that will look into the matter. There is a legal process. On the other hand, Canada has still not sent us anything that links us or anybody to the killing of Khalistani terrorist of Bhindranwale Tiger Force named Hardeep Singh Nijjar.



Last August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the house of former US president Donald Trump in Florida. In January this year, the FBI raided the house of the serving president. The Department of Justice there serves in its own way. This is a legal process and has nothing to do with bilateral India-US ties.
A 36-year-old Israeli woman, who was found dead near Mukhathala in Kollam district, and her live-in partner, who attempted to end his life and has been hospitalised since, had ostensibly formed a suicide pact, police said on Friday. (Representative Photo)

On Thursday afternoon around 3,30 pm, the Israeli woman (HT is not revealing the names of the two) was found with her throat slit among other injuries at a rented home near Mukhathala, and was rushed to a government hospital by police and locals where she was declared brought dead. Her live-in partner, a 73-year-old a native of Kerala, was hospitalised with knife injuries to his stomach.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

A police officer at the Kottiyam police station, where the case has been registered, said that the woman became acquainted with the man, a yoga teacher, several years ago in Rishikesh.

The woman, who has been staying in India for the last 16 years and has an OCI card, first became his yoga disciple and later his partner, the officer added.

They came to Kerala a year ago and began living in a rented home of his brothers daughter. We learnt that the woman was suffering from depression and began having suicidal tendencies. He was suffering from psoriasis (a skin condition). Both of them decided to end their lives and as part of the pact, the man proceeded to slit his partners throat before attempting to die by suicide. He used the same knife to stab himself, the officer, who asked not to be named, said.

It was his relative in whose rented home they were staying went to their residence at the time and found the woman in a pool of blood and the man with injuries. She alerted the locals who informed the police, he said.

The man, who has been admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, is recovering and his condition is stable. His injuries are not serious, the officer said.

He has been booked under Sections 302 (murder) and 309 (attempt to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code.
Bhopal: Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath on Friday questioned the exit poll results of agencies that predicted a BJP win, saying they were creating a "false atmosphere". He said the BJP would lose the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. He said some exit poll agencies wanted to put pressure on poll officers. Congress leader Kamal Nath (file photo)

In a video on his X handle, he said Congress workers must ensure an impartial counting on December 3.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"All Congress workers should get into the field with full force. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost the elections. Some exit polls have been deliberately created so that Congress workers get disappointed and to put pressure on the officers by creating a false atmosphere. This conspiracy is not going to succeed," he said.

He added that all Congress officials should be geared up for the counting day.

"We are all ready to win and are all united. If you (party workers) feel any problem then please talk to me directly or inform the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office on December 3. The Congress Party is going to be in power in the state on December 3," he added.

Also read: Madhya Pradesh exit poll 2023 puts BJP ahead of Congress; CM Shivraj predicts huge victory

Many exit polls predicted a BJP victory. Dainik Bhaskar predicted 95-115 seats for the BJP and 105-120 seats for the Congress. India Today-Axis My India gave 140-162 seats to BJP and 70-89 seats to the Congress. Today's Chanakya said the BJP will get 151 seats and the Congress 74, Jan Ki Baat exit poll predicted that the BJP would get 100-123 seats and the Congress 102-125, Republic TV-Matrize gave 118-130 seats to the BJP and 97-107 to the Congress.

Other exit polls also predicted similar results.

Meanwhile, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the BJP would retain power in the state.

The results are likely to be declared on December 3.
The Karnataka government has transferred the investigation of a sex determination and illegal abortion racket to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The decision came after chief minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting with home minister G Parameshwara on Thursday. Police said 11 people, including two doctors, have been arrested so far; the accused conducted 242 abortions of female foetuses

According to a statement from the chief ministers office (CMO), the state government has assigned the CID the responsibility of investigation into the case. Siddaramaiah, during the meeting with Parameshwara, demanded the need for a detailed examination into the matter.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda, providing details on the investigation, said the illicit operation was initially uncovered in October when the Byappanahalli police arrested four individuals operating a laboratory at a sugarcane processing unit in Mandya. The facility was found to be conducting sex determination tests. Subsequently, the police had arrested five more individuals, including two doctors, involved in the illegal abortion of female foetuses in Mysuru.

So far, the police have arrested 11 individuals and investigation has revealed that the accused ran the racket with systematic precision and had carried out over 250 abortions in the past three months.

In response to the revelations, Karnataka health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao expressed concern over the apparent dereliction of duty by certain officers. He also ordered the suspension of taluk health officers Rajeshwari and Ravi, who served as the district health officer in Mysuru district.

Minister Rao visited the surgarcane manufacturing unit at Hullenahalli village in Mandya, where the illegal activities took place. He also visited the Mata Hospital in Mysuru city, where illegal 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 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. People should fear getting an abortion. There is a huge gap in the gender ratio in the state. Society must change. If they are coming to a place like this for confirming gender, there is a need to create awareness, the minister added.

The investigation in connection with the case has 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.

Dayananda, providing additional details of the probe, said that the accused had conducted 242 illegal abortions of female foetuses over the past three months. He mentioned that the suspects maintained records of these illegal procedures, charging fees ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 for each abortion, along with an additional 5,000 for sex determination.

The commissioner also highlighted the violation of guidelines related to ultrasound scanning machines, which should be entrusted only to registered doctors with proper permissions. The police are actively investigating whether any officials were involved in granting permission for the accused to use these machines, he said. The incident came to light on October 15 during a routine vehicle checking drive by the Byappanahalli police, who noticed a suspicious behavior from a car. The subsequent pursuit and apprehension of the suspects unveiled the extent of the illegal operations.
Get the latest India and breaking news delivered straight to your screen. Our extensive coverage brings the most important and relevant news from politics, sports, entertainment, business, and more. Follow live updates and briefings here.

Latest india news Live Updates 02-Dec-2023(HT_PRINT)
New Delhi: The Union environment ministry has asked state governments and Union territories to prepare a consolidated report of forest land as available in government records or are notified as forest under law to delineate areas on which the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023 will apply. Forest-like areas or deemed forests identified by expert committees constituted in pursuance of a December 1996 Supreme Court order will come under the purview of the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023 and will be treated as forests. (Sanjeev Verma/HT archive)

Forest-like areas or deemed forests identified by expert committees constituted in pursuance of a December 1996 Supreme Court order will come under the purview of the Act and will be treated as forests. This also means that it is up to states now to identify forest-like areas that have not been identified yet by the expert committees but meet the definition of forests as per dictionary meaning. Otherwise, they will not get the forest tag anymore and hence are available to be developed, experts said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

On November 29, ahead of the opening of the UN Climate Summit (COP28) in Dubai, the MoECC issued a notification on the rules to implement the Forest Conservation Amendment Act which are called the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023. The rules have come into force on Friday.

For the purpose of explanation of government records provided under subsection (1) of section 1A of the Adhiniyam, state governments and union territory administrations, within a period of one year, shall prepare a consolidated record of such lands, including the forest-like areas identified by the Expert Committee constituted for this purpose, unclassed forest lands or community forest lands on which the provisions of the Adhiniyam shall be applicable, the notifiation stated.

The draft Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam legislation received the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on August 4 this year. The Rajya Sabha passed it on August 2 after it was cleared by the Lok Sabha on July 26.

One of the contentious provisions of the new law is that it exempts unrecorded deemed forests from the Act. Forest governance in India was majorly influenced by a Supreme Court judgement in 1996 in TN Godavarman vs Union of India, in which the court interpreted the meaning of forest as its dictionary definition, expanding the purview of the forest conservation law.

Also Read: Department struggles to protect private forest lands from former owners

The December 1996 judgement said forests will not only include forest as understood in the dictionary sense, but also any area recorded as forest in official records, irrespective of ownership. This brought hope to recognize ecologically rich land that were not recorded as forests in government records but still needed to be protected because they were significant natural features.

The Centre, however, said this created confusion on what would encompass forests and the amendment narrows down the definition, leaving vast tracts of unclassified forests vulnerable to destruction.

By giving a period of one year to consolidate all records, including of the forest like areas identified by the expert committee constituted by the purpose - the rules seem to keep a small window open for final identification of forest like areas. But the open-ended language may be used by states to restrict themselves only to areas already identified. This provision can also be interpreted to include areas identified as forest by joint committees formed pursuant to the guidelines of the Lafarge judgement regarding settlement of disputes regarding forest status of any area, said Chetan agarwal forest analyst.

The notification on rules to implement the new amendment comes at a time when 11 retired forest/environment and other civil servants and two environmental experts have challenged the new amendment in the Supreme Court.

The Rules specifically mandate the States and UTs to compile a comprehensive record of forest-like areas identified by Expert Committees, unclassified lands, and community forests subject to the Act within a year. The concern lies in the fact that, as per the Supreme Courts direction in T.N. Godavarman case from December 1996, States/UTs were initially tasked with preparing these lists for forest-like areas which they had to submit within a month, said Debadityo Sinha, Lead- Climate & Ecosystems, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy who had critiqued the act.

However, till date, most states have not submitted these records, nor constituted such Expert Committees. In such a situation, enforcing the Act without the proper documentation of forest lands in the country, while knowing that such forest areas will be impacted the most by this amendment, will have severe consequences for Indian forests. The Centre should have waited for States/UTs to make these records public before implementing the Act. This haste may lead to a fait accompli situation in many forests resulting in irreversible and irreparable losses to ecosystem services and wildlife, Sinha said.

HT had reported on October 3 that the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 will benefit real estate companies that own land in what was to be declared deemed forest in Haryanas Aravallis, documents show.

For example, in Mangar village spread over 4262 acres (of which 3810 acres is hill area), a large part of land that should have been identified as forest as per dictionary meaning is in fact owned by three private companies.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his guarantees or assurances have become a guarantee in themselves, with people reposing faith in his word, making a pitch for re-election in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls based on the delivery of promises to the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with beneficiaries of different government schemes during the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' program, via video conferencing in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI)

He also opted to redefine caste categorisation and said the classification for him was youth, women, poor and the farmers, whose betterment and empowerment was his goal.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Modis guarantee begins where expectation from others ends, he said addressing the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

The Modi guarantees is a counter to the slew of poll promises made by the Opposition, particularly the Congress, dubbed as guarantees. These guarantees were announced by the Opposition in various states to match the BJPs social welfare initiatives and programmes. The PM, in his speech, sought to underline that unlike the Opposition that makes promises that are not kept, the BJP government is known for fulfilling assurances.

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was launched a fortnight ago across the country to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all the targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.

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 are now identifying the raths in the yatra as the Modi ki guarantee wali gaadi [vehicle], Modi said.

He said that before the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, governments largely ignored the basic needs of the citizens, and a sizeable population was deprived of basic amenities such as houses, toilets, electricity, gas connections, insurance and bank accounts.

Lashing out at previous governments, which he accused of fostering corruption and appeasement, he said, ...People of the country have also seen that period when the earlier governments considered themselves the lords and masters (mai baap). Because of this, a large population of the country remained deprived of basic facilities for many decades after Independence, he said.

Through the policies and social welfare schemes launched since 2014, the BJP says it has created a constituency of beneficiaries or labarthis who have benefitted from policy intervention such as subsidies for home construction, cooking gas, power and water connection.

People are a testimony to the work Modi has done, which makes them trust the government and the work it does for them. Our government has bridged the trust deficit which was prevalent between the previous governments and the people. Our top priority is peoples well-being. We are here to serve people, not to rule them, he said.

The PM also set a template for his party colleagues by stating how his image was synonymous with the delivery of promises and a brand to reckon with. He cited the example of the Jan Aushadhi Kendras now being called Modis Medicine Shop and said the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna that has been extended for another five years proved that Modis guarantee means the guarantee of fulfillment.

While the BJPs electoral edifice is built on a rainbow coalition of castes, with government having designed programmes for social groups including backwards, Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes, the PM said the biggest caste for him was the poor, the youth, women and farmers. I will not rest until the issues of the poor, women, farmers and the youth are completely addressed, the PM said.

The governments priority, he said, was to ensure that the extended benefits reached the intended beneficiaries, Only the upliftment of these four castes will make India developed.

Asserting that everyone should benefit from Modis guarantee, he said, Government policies are not for the MPs to make a poster of. For me, each rupee spent should reach the people at the grassroots level. My aim behind the Sankalp Yatra is to know about the experiences of those who have already benefitted from our schemes and to know who all need to be further included.

During the event, Modi also launched an initiative to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which sell generic medicines at subsidised rates and dedicated the 10,000th Jan Aushadi Kendra at AIIMS, Deoghar to the nation. The PM also launched the Drone Didi Yojana, which seeks to provide drones to 15,000 women Self Help Groups between 2024-25 to 2025-2026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose.

HT reached out to the Congress for a response on the matter but didnt get a reaction immediately.

Some light moments as PM interacts with beneficiaries

There were many lighter moments during Prime Minister Narendra Modis interaction with beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra via video conferencing on Thursday. Noticing a woman pull her chair closer to where a village sarpanch Balveer Kaur was seated during the interaction with the PM, Modis tongue-in-cheek comment had the audience in splits.

While Kaur, a resident of Jammus Arnia was giving details of the benefits shes received from multiple government schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card scheme, Farm Machinery Bank Scheme and Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna, a woman pushed her way into the row where the village chief was sitting. Watching the woman inch closer to the sarpanchs chair, the PM quipped that she needed to be mindful of her chair as people were coming in and new claimants were pushing. Ab sarpanch wo hi ban jayengi, (now she will become the sarpanch) he joked.

Modi also congratulated her for being the owner of a tractor that was purchased using Kisan Credit Card and joked, you have a tractor, I do not even have a bicycle.

Even as he urged the beneficiaries to bless him by voting for him, the PM also asked them to create awareness about the various schemes that they have benefitted from so that the others can gain from the schemes as well.
Nagaland Statehood Day: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended their greetings to the people of Nagaland on its 61st Statehood Day on Friday. Praying for the prosperity and well-being of the residents of Nagaland, the President said that a land of vibrant people and rich culture, Nagaland is blessed with natural resources and serene environment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Droupadi Murmu.

PM Modi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: The states fascinating history, colourful festivals and warm-hearted people are greatly admired. May this day reinforce Nagalands journey towards growth and success.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

On the occasion of Statehood Day, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio addressed the people of the state during celebrations in Kohima. Stating that obstacles and the adversities faced by the people of the state made them stronger, the CM said that it is the collective responsibility of the people of the state to carry the legacy forward.

Meanwhile, several other leaders also extended their wishes to the people of Nagaland.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said, A harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, Nagaland stands as a testament to the diversity of our nation. May the cultural tapestry of Nagaland continue to weave stories of growth, strength and harmony.

Greetings to our sisters and brothers of Nagaland on their statehood day. Known for their indomitable spirit, the people of Nagaland have contributed profusely to our rich cultural history. May the state continue to prosper in times to come, wrote Amit Shah in an X post.

Union minister Anurag Thakur wrote: My heartfelt greetings to the people of Nagaland on their statehood day. The breathtaking scenery of the state and its warm-hearted people exemplify a lovely balance with nature, having admirably preserved their rich tradition. Wishing for the state's continued prosperity & growth.

Nagaland Statehood Day is observed every year on December 1 since the state was formally inaugurated as the 16th State of the Union in 1963. A democratically elected government took office in 1964. This year, Nagaland is celebrating its 61st Statehood Day.

Notably, the state consists of 16 administrative districts, inhabited by 17 major tribes along with other sub-tribes.
Tension prevailed at the inter-state major irrigation project of Nagarjunasagar located on Krishna river, when the irrigation department authorities of Andhra Pradesh allegedly trespassed into the project site, clashed with the Telangana police and took control over half of the project spillway in the early hours of Thursday, people familiar with the matter said. Police personnel stand by barricades at the Nagarjuna dam site after altercation with Andhra police in Telangana on Thursday. (HT Photo)

A senior official of Telangana irrigation department, who refused to be quoted in view of the model code of conduct in force for the assembly elections in the state, said the Andhra Pradesh occupied up to half of the dam, gained control over 13 of 26 crest gates and erected barricades and barbed wires to prevent the Telangana police and the irrigation officials entering into their territory.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Later in the morning, the irrigation officials of the Andhra Pradesh government started releasing 500 cusecs of Krishna water per hour from the dam to meet the drinking water needs of their region.

We are releasing water from Nagarjunasagar right canal on Krishna river for the drinking water purposes, Andhra Pradesh state irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu posted a cryptic message on X.

The incident happened at around 2 am, when the police personnel of the Telangana government were busy making arrangements for the polling for assembly elections in the state that began at 7 am on Thursday.

According to the official quoted above, about 700 police personnel from the Andhra Pradesh side barged on to the Nagarjuna Sagar dam and started putting up barricades and barbed wire fencing till 13th crest gate.

When a few of the Telangana state special police forces guarding the dam raised an objection, the Andhra Pradesh pushed them away and even thrashed some of them, leading to clashes. They also damaged the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras setup at the entrance of the spillway as a part of the security arrangement, the official said.

Miryalguda deputy superintendent of police P Venkatagiri rushed to the spot along with his team and tried to talk to the Andhra police, but the latter refused to remove the barricades and fencing. He immediately alerted the higher-ups in the department, but reinforcements of police could not be done immediately as the police were busy with the arrangements for polling scheduled to commence hours later.

Having no other option, the Telangana police returned to their positions on their side. We are going to lodge a complaint with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) which is the authority over the Nagarjunsagar project, the official said.

He said as per the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, Nagarjunasagar dam is controlled and supervised by Telangana, while Andhra Pradesh was given the control over Srisailam project since the projects are joint storage facilities meeting the power generation, irrigation and drinking needs in the two states.

The project has to be ultimately handed over to the KRMB once the water share in Krishna water between the two states is decided. Till such time, trespassing into the dam site is illegal, the official said.

He said due to poor rainfall in the Krishna basin this year, there is hardly any water left in the reservoir and AP had already utilised its share to meet its irrigation and drinking water requirements.

Meanwhile, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy alleged that the midnight episode on Nagarjunasagar was part of a high drama enacted by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government in collusion with the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra only to kick up Telangana sentiment hours before the polling.

There was no immediate provocation and it happened all of a sudden. It is very clear that the AP police had created a hungama at Nagarajunasagar only to see that the BRS government gains political mileage in the elections. The BRS wants to create an impression that only it can protect the interests of the state, Revanth Reddy said.

He appealed to the voters not to get carried away with such dramas and theatrics, which occurred on the polling day. There is no need for any worry. We shall deal with the issue through negotiations soon after coming to power next week, he asserted.

Senior BRS leader and Telangana state legislative council chairman Gutta Sukender Reddy alleged that Andhra police tried to bulldoze release of water from Nagarjunasagar when Telangana was busy with the polling process.

Andhra Pradesh state BJP president Daggubati Purandeshwari took strong exception to the clashes on Nagarjunasagar dam. It is an unfortunate incident. I dont understand why it should happen only hours before the polling in Telangana. It smacks of political conspiracy, she alleged.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson on Friday commended India on landing on the south pole of the moon. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (PTI)

Speaking to news agency ANI, Nelson said, "My congratulations to India, you have done something that no one else has done. You have landed first around the south pole of the moon. We will have a commercial lander that will land next year. But the first was India. Others have tried, and others have failed. But India was successful. You deserve every bit of praise for this accomplishment. It's very significant..."

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Speaking about the NISAR mission further Nelson said, This is a major observatory that we are putting up with the Indian government. There are four major observatories. Once we get all four up, along with the 25 spacecraft that we already have in orbit... We will have a complete 3D composite model of what is exactly happening to the Earth... We want to preserve our home... The first of these great observatories is NISAR.

"It will observe all the surfaces of the earth. It will see any changes in the water, the land, and the ice. That will be another set of data that will help us understand what is happening to the earth... That mission is coming in the first part of next year. The rocket is provided by the Indian Space Agency, and then we have built the spacecraft together... It is being prepared in Bangalore at ISRO..." he added.

The NISAR mission, a collaborative Earth-observing effort between NASA and ISRO, aims to assist researchers in examining the impact of alterations in the Earth's forest and wetland ecosystems on the global carbon cycle, thereby influencing climate change.

Bill Nelson, the Administrator of NASA, arrived in India to engage in a series of strategic discussions and events with the goal of enhancing the collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Upon his visit to India, Nelson met with the first Indian to fly to space Rakesh Sharma.

"It was a great honor to speak with students in Bengaluru today with Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to fly to space. His story lit up the room! To the Artemis Generation in India and beyond: Work hard, dream big, and reach for the stars. The universe is the limit!" Nelson wrote on X.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and INDIA leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said no exit poll, opinion poll are required to confirm that achhe din (good times) for the Congress has arrived. The results of the assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram will come out on December 3, the counting day. The exit polls on November 30 projected a neck-and-neck fight between the Congress and the BJP in the 4 states while Mizoram will continue to be the bastion of the local parties. The predictions for the exit polls 2023 varied but broadly it is 'advantage BJP' in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Congress is likely to have an edge in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, the projection said. Sanjay Raut said Congress winning means the victory of the INDIA bloc.

Assembly Elections 2023: Full Coverage

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"Congress's victory is the victory of the INDIA bloc, I believe this. Congress is the biggest among the opposition alliance and if Congress is winning elections, it is the victory of the alliance. This is happening because of the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge," Sanjay Raut said.

Exit polls on Thursday predicted a cliffhanger in Chhattisgarh with an edge for the Congress, a neck-and-neck fight in Madhya Pradesh with the BJP having an edge. In Rajasthan which never re-elects the incumbent government, the exit polls projected a close fight between the BJP and the Congress with BJP likely to be ahead. In Telangana, the Congress is likely to beat BRS and BJP will be third, according to the predictions.

Businessman and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra said Congress would win in Madhya Pradesh as well. "I don't believe in exit polls too much. I believe in the real result, which is on December 3 and I am looking forward to that," said Vadra.

"I've met a lot of people in the last few months, I very clearly feel that people want a change. People are upset, especially in Madhya Pradesh. They were upset about how the BJP toppled the ruling government," he added.

Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Kamal Nath rejected the exit poll predictions and said a country is run by vision and not by television. "I want to remind all Congress workers of their strength. You people are the power of Congress and it is because of your hard work and dedication that the public has voted overwhelmingly in support of the Congress Party. When the counting of votes begins on December 3, the public will put a stamp on the Congress government," Kamal Nath wrote on X.
The central government on Thursday approved a 1658.17 crore recovery and reconstruction (R&R) plan, to be implemented in three years, for Joshimath in Uttarakhand where cracks appeared in buildings earlier this year ostensibly due to subsidence. In Joshimath, 868 structures have developed cracks and 181 have been declared unsafe so far (ANI)

The decision was taken by a high-level committee, led by Union home minister Amit Shah, said the statement.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Joshimath town in Chamoli district had witnessed ground fissures and cracks in the houses in January this year. The central government then extended technical and logistical support to the state government to deal with the crisis. In Joshimath, 868 structures have developed cracks and 181 have been declared unsafe so far.

According to the government statement, under the plan, the central government will provide an assistance of 1079.96 crore from the recovery and reconstruction window of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The Uttarakhand government will provide 126.41 crore from its State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) towards relief assistance and 451.80 crore from its state budget, including land acquisition cost for resettlement of 91.82 crore.

The recovery plan for Joshimath would be implemented in three years, following the best practices, Build Back Better (BBB) principles, sustainability initiatives, the ministry statement said.

Thereafter, Joshimath will emerge as an excellent example of ecological sustainability, the statement added.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami meanwhile expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah for the financial assistance.
The parents of a one-and-a-half-year-old boy, who died at Bengalurus National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) on Wednesday, held a protest on Thursday, accusing the hospital of delaying the infants treatment. They accused the hospital of withholding the babys body for over 24 hours after his demise and also were made to wait for over one hour to admit him. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said he would discuss the matter with NIMHANS director.

The child, son of Venkatesh and Jyothi, had sustained a head injuries at his home in Basavanagudi of Chikkamagaluru and was initially admitted to the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, but the doctors recommended transferring him to NIMHANS. The baby was then rushed to NIMhANS, Bengaluru for treatment, where he died.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Venting his frustration, the childs father, Venkatesh, said, We waited for an hour and a half. If they had cooperated, they probably would have been able to save him. The body is still in the ambulance.

Venkatesh expressed his dissatisfaction towards the hospitals communication and alleged lack of cooperation from them. This is the first time we came to Bengaluru hoping that the baby would be saved and would be fine if we brought him here. I dont know about the beds, I am new here. They [hospital staff] came and injected something. They didnt even speak to us and when we went to speak, they didnt say anything, Venkatesh told the media.

According to the statement released by NIMHANS on Thursday, the child, who had fallen from a height of four feet, was taken to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences on Tuesday at 7 pm. The infant had suffered severe brain injury, and as the prognosis was poor, the parents were advised not to shift the child to National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences [NIMHANS], it said.

The ambulance driver covered the 224 km distance in 1 hour and 40 minutes, reaching NIMHANS. The baby was brought to NIMHANS on ventilator support at around 2.30 pm on Wednesday, it added. The patient received supportive measures, said NIMHANS, while explaining the medical condition of the child and the clinical investigation done.

However, the infant went into cardiac arrest at around 3 pm and could not be revived. After diagnosis the family was explained about the condition of the patient and childs health was unlikely to improve with the treatment. They were also communicated about the unavailability of the ventilator bed at the hospital, the NIMHANS statement said. He [the baby] was declared dead at 4.05 pm on Wednesday, the hospital added.

Meanwhile, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said he would discuss the matter with NIMHANS director when reporters asked him about the incident. I will discuss the matter with them, he said.
The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has led to the creation of 500,000 jobs in the mobile phone manufacturing industry, Union communications, electronics, and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said. Union communications, electronics, and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. (ANI)

Of all the mobile phones used in India, 99.2% are made in India, he said as he visited Dixon Technologies manufacturing facility in Noida on Thursday.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Dixon Technologies wholly-owned subsidiary Padget Electronics will manufacture smartphones and other related products for Xiaomi. It invested 256 crore in Noidas manufacturing facility spread across 2.7 lakh square feet. The facility has an annual capacity of 25 million units.

Dixons executive chairman Sunil Vachani said the company is setting up another manufacturing facility with an annual capacity of 50 million units once fully operational in the next 10-12 months. There we are looking at other product categories also like IT hardware.

Padgets application to manufacture and assemble computer hardware was approved last month under PLI 2.0. It will manufacture components for Chinese computer giant Lenovo, HT reported on November 19.

Vaishnaw said net employment opportunities creation is almost to the order of 1.4 million per month in the country. He added the domestic value addition in component manufacturing for mobiles is increasing day-by-day and is as high as 60%. For some components, India is becoming the global hub for exports, Vaishnaw said. Right now, goods worth US$ 12 billion are being exported. It is expected to rise further. In 2022, it was valued at US$ 11.1 billion.

Vaishnaw said that law enforcement agencies have acted against 40,000 people and more than 350 cases have been filed over cybercrimes. We are working closely with the RBI [Reserve Bank of India], he said. The growth rate in cyber crimes has plateaued. There is significant pressure on hotspots of cybercrimes...in the next few months, cyber crimes emanating from their will reduce substantially, Vaishnaw said.

On Tuesday, the finance ministry said seven million mobile connections involved in cybercrime and financial frauds reported through digital intelligence platforms have been disconnected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni along the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai.



Meeting with PM @GiorgiaMeloni of Italy on the sidelines of the #COP 28 Summit. I trust in the joint efforts of India and Italy for a prosperous and sustainable future, the prime minister posted on social media platform X.



Meloni clicked a selfie with the Indian prime minister and shared it on her Instagram account. Good friends at COP28 #Melodi," Meloni captioned her selfie with PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a selfie with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.(Instagram/Giorgia Meloni)

Meloni had visited India in September this year for the G20 Summit. The Italian premier met Modi along the sidelines of the G20 summit. I had excellent meeting with PM @GiorgiaMeloni. Our talks covered sectors such as trade, commerce, defence, emerging technologies and more. India and Italy will keep working together for global prosperity," Prime Minister Narendra Modi had posted on social platform X.



Earlier in March, Meloni had come to India a two-day visit to participate as the the chief guest at the 8th Raisina Dialogue 2023. She had held bilateral talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House in the capital.



Addressing a joint press briefing after the meet, Meloni had said that Modi is the most loved one of all the leaders globally. "(PM Modi) is the most loved one of all (leaders) around the world. This is really proven that he has been a major leader and congratulations for that," she said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni at the annual Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) Leadership Pavilion, in Dubai on Friday.(ANI )

PM Modi attends COP28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended the COP28 Summit in Dubai. He launched a 'Green Credit Initiative' focused on creating carbon sinks through people's participation and also proposed hosting the COP33 in India in 2028.



"Carbon credits, driven by a commercial mindset, have limited scope and lack associated responsibility. We need to move away from a destructive mindset that prioritises personal benefit," the prime minister said in his address.

The prime minister met several global leaders at the summit, including Israeli Isaac Herzog, United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres, French president Emmanuel Macron and others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night arrived in Dubai, UAE, to attend the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate (COP28). Members of the Indian diaspora in Dubai received PM Modi with a warm welcome, followed by a cultural dance performance. PM Modi greeted with Modi, Modi, Abki Baar Modi Sarkar chants in UAE

In a video posted by news agency ANI, the members of the diaspora can be heard chanting slogans like Modi, Modi, Abki baar Modi Sarkar, and Vande Mataram. In another video, PM Modi can be seen shaking hands and interacting with the members.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

One of the members of the Indian diaspora expressed joy at meeting PM Modi and said, I've been living in UAE for 20 years, but today, it felt as if one of my own has come to this countryThe one who brings glory to India all over the world is the diamond of India, reported ANI. Another member said, We are so happy to see PM Modi here. The world needs a leader like PM Modi.

Meanwhile, PM Modi also expressed pleasure after meeting the Indian community in Dubai and shared several pictures on X, formerly known as Twitter. Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds, he wrote.

PM Modi's engagement in Dubai

PM Modi is set to attend and address the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit - the high-level segment of COP28 on Friday. He is also scheduled to participate in three other high-level side events.

Before leaving for Dubai, Modi in a statement said that COP28 will provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future course on climate action.

The COP28 Summit is taking place from November 30 to December 12 under the presidency of the UAE. According to reports, this year's COP28 is expected to stress on the importance of collective action to stop climate change and the critical role of finance in the low-carbon transition. It is also likely to focus on delivering money for climate action from richer to poorer countries.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the party should actively promote women within their organisational structure and set a target to have 50% of women as chief ministers within the coming 10 years. Rahul Gandhi inaugurates Utsaah- the Mahila Congress convention, at Marine Drive in Ernakulam on Friday (Twitter/@INCIndia)

Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, inaugurated Utsaah, a Kerala Mahila Congress Convention in Ernakulam and said there are numerous women leaders in the Congress who possess the qualities necessary to become chief ministers.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Today, we do not have a single woman chief minister. But I know many women in the Congress party have the qualities to be very good chief ministers, Gandhi said.

Highlighting the importance of womens participation in the political structure in India, Gandhi said that Congress would ensure that there are more women participants at every level in the Congress party in the years to come.

A good target for the Congress would be that ten years from today, 50% of our chief ministers are women, he said.

We have to ensure that at every level, there are more and more women in the organisation, he added.

Highlighting the major roles that women have played previously in the Congress party as prime ministers and presidents of the country and the party, Gandhi said that the Congress fundamentally believes that women should share the power in the country and that women are not inferior but, in fact, superior to men in many ways.

They have more patience than men, they have a longer-term vision than men, they are more sensitive, theyre more compassionatetoday we dont have a single chief minister who is a woman, he said.

While drawing the distinction, Gandhi slammed the Rashtriya Swamyamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Hindu right-wing nationalist organisation, for their lack of inclusion of women in their organisation and claimed that this is what distinguishes Congress from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The central fight between BJP and Congress is about how women should be treatedIn its entire history, RSS has not allowed women into its rightsthe RSS is purely a male organisation. We believe that women should be allowed to make choices, Gandhi said.

Gandhi further criticised the BJP-led central government for putting on hold the implementation of the Womens Reservation Bill despite receiving approval from Parliament.

I have never seen any other Bill passed in Parliament that says it will be implemented only ten years later. The only Bill that the BJP is implementing after ten years after passing is the one that has to be with womens power, he said.

I have heard statements of leaders from the right-wing  senior leaders  where they will say that a girl would not have got raped if she had been dressed properly. This is an insult to every single woman in the country. It is turning the victim into the villain. And this is the difference between us and the RSS, Gandhi said.

The Congress leader concluded his speech by highlighting the various schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) or the Right to Food, which are particularly directed towards women. He urged women to fight the atmosphere of hatred and violence, propagated by the Opposition.

More than 50,000 Mahila Congress workers, apart from 10,000 Congress workers, were present at the event.

All Indian Congress Committee general KC Venugopal, Mahila Congress national president Neta DSouza, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K Sudhakaran, and Opposition leader V D Satheesan, were also present at the event.
The Gauhati high court has asked the Assam government to review orders passed by the states foreigners tribunals after noting an affidavit by the state administration that in almost 85% cases, those who were declared suspected illegal immigrants were finally found to be Indian citizens. Gauhati HC (HT File Photo)

The order was issued by a bench comprising justices Achintya Malla Bujor Barua and Mitali Thakuria on November 21 -- a copy of which was made available on Friday -- while hearing a petition by Forhad Ali, a resident of Bongaigaon, who was declared foreigner by a tribunal in October 2019.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Ali had approached the high court to appeal against that decision.

Foreigners tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies in Assam which adjudicate whether a person whose name is missing from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the state or are suspected to be illegal immigrants are Indians or not.

The contentious NRC process -- which created a list of people who could prove they came to the state by March 24, 1971, the day before the war for Bangladeshs liberation began -- was completed in 2018 and left out 1.9 million residents.

In its order in the present case, the tribunal had declared Forhad Ali as a foreigner as the name of his father was written as Habi Rahman and Habibar Rahman in different documents submitted by him.

The HC noted that there could be minor discrepancies in the names, but it couldnt be the sole basis of declaring Forhad as a foreigner unless there was proof that both names were of different people. The HC sent the case back to the tribunal, directing it to re-examine all records, including voter lists, before making a final decision.

In a submission made to the HC, the home department of Assam had stated that in about 85% of cases that are referred to foreigners tribunals, the petitioners were declared as citizens.

The high court bench expressed concern that in many cases, people might have been declared as foreigners without citing reasons or properly analysing the documents on record. Similarly, foreigners could have been wrongly declared as Indians by the tribunals, the court said.

The HC ordered the home department to provide judgements of tribunals on a random sampling basis. After examination, it was found that while some decisions were good, reasoned orders many others were issued without citing reasons or analysing records.

We require the secretary to the government of Assam in the home department to conduct a departmental review of all such references that had been answered by the tribunals declaring the proceedees to be citizens, the HC order stated.

It directed the government to take appropriate measures where it is noticed that orders were passed without citing reasons or analysing materials.

The result thereof be put up in the public domain or before the people of the state for their knowledge, as the matter of illegal immigrants in Assam is an issue which may affect the entire state, the order read.
The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Kerala government for its unwarranted interference in the governors power to appoint vice chancellor and quashed the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as the V-C of Kannur University. A bench headed by chief justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud also slammed governor Arif Mohammed Khan, saying he did not independently apply his mind in his capacity as the chancellor of the university. Gopinath Ravindran was reappointed as V-C for a period of four years through a notification issued on November 23, 2021 (PTI)

Ravindran was reappointed as V-C for a period of four years through a notification issued on November 23, 2021. It was challenged before the Kerala high court, which on February 23 last year turned down the petition filed by Premachandran Keezhoth and Shino P Jose, both members of the senate and academic council of Kannur University. They then moved the top court against the high courts decision.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

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, the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said.

As a consequence, the notification dated November 23, 2021 reappointing the respondent as the Vice-Chancellor of the Kannur University is hereby quashed, it held.

The apex court considered the provisions of the Kannur University Act, 1996 and held that only the chancellor is competent to appoint or reappoint the V-C and said any interference by the state government in this regard will be patently illegal and vitiate the decision-making process.

The governor, represented by attorney general R Venkataramani, supported the petitioners, saying the reappointment order issued by him was illegal as it was in conflict with the UGC regulations. The bench was perplexed at this stand by the governor.

While dealing with the case of the Vice-Chancellor, the Governor, being the Chancellor of the University, acts only in his personal capacity, Justice Pardiwala, writing the 72-page judgment for the bench, said.

The bench held that the governor while performing his duties as chancellor, was not bound to act under the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

Reacting to the top courts verdict, Khan accused Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Ravindran as the vice chancellor.

The higher education minister (R Bindu) used to write to me but all the pressure came from the office of the chief minister, he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Bindu said she accepted the apex courts verdict. The state government had sent a proposal in this regard based on the legal opinion of the AG. The responsibility of making the appointment rests with the governor. He has to use his wisdom and discretion to take a decision, she told reporters.

(With inputs from Kerala bureau)
New Delhi The Supreme Court on Thursday refrained from staying amendments to the Forest Conservation Act that come into effect from December 1, after the Union government assured it that no precipitate action will be taken till guidelines are framed to provide for exemptions from the definition of forest under the new law. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by 13 retired public servants who had challenged the constitutional validity of the amendments claiming it to be a death knell on Indias forests. (PTI)

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by 13 retired public servants who had challenged the constitutional validity of the amendments claiming it to be a death knell on Indias forests. The petitioners moved a stay application on the grounds that the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 restricts the expansive scope of forests laid down by the Supreme Court in a landmark ruling in TN Godavarman case delivered on December 12, 1996.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

A bench of justices BR Gavai and PS Narasimha took up the concerns of the petitioners represented by senior advocate Prashanto Chandra Sen and asked additional solicitor general (ASG) Balbir Singh whether the apprehensions of the petitioners was true.

The court noted that the 1996 ruling defined forest land under Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 to mean three categories of land -- land notified as forest under any law, land recorded as forests in government records, and forests as understood in the dictionary meaning of the word.

The amendments do not seek to dilute the definition of forests as laid down by the 1996 Godavarman judgment, ASG Singh claimed. He added that any exemption from the definition of forest cover under the amended law will be as per guidelines which are in the process of 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.

In a short order, the court said, To address concerns of the petitioners, ASG Singh makes a statement that no precipitate action will be taken by the Union government in terms of the definition of forests, as understood by the TN Godavarman judgment. The bench allowed the Centre to file a detailed response to the petition in four weeks and kept the matter for hearing after six weeks.

The amendment covers only land that was declared or notified as a forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or under any other law. It also seeks to recognise only forest lands that were recorded as forests as on or after October 25, 1980 (when the forest conservation law came into effect). This could leave out large swathes of land that are managed as forests by states but arent recognised as such. The new law also exempts strategic national security projects on land situated within 100km of international borders, Line of Control and Line of Actual Control, from environmental clearances. This, experts fear, could endanger sensitive ecosystems in the Northeast, where entire states could fall under the 100km exemption. The act also exempts zoos and eco-safaris from green norms

Sen argued that the 1996 judgment directed states to constitute State Expert Committees (SEC) to identify and demarcate forest cover that were to be protected under the 1980 Act. He said, 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.

Under the changes brought by the Centre and cleared by Parliament in August this year, forest land up to 10 hectares is exempt from scrutiny under the Act if it is being proposed to be used for construction of security-related infrastructure with there being no clarity on what it would include. These kinds of exemptions will sound the death knell of forests in India, the petition stated.

The bench, while examining this aspect on Thursday said, Do you think national security can be compromised, particularly when any construction relates to question of national security? The guidelines can take care of it.

The petition also questioned exemption to activities such as safaris, zoos and ecotourism facilities in forests that could disturb the delicate ecological balance of these protected spaces. 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 such zoos and safaris, the petition added.

The court also issued notice on another petition raising similar challenge that was argued by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan. He pointed out that the amendments allow construction of projects of national importance and natural security infrastructure in forest lands falling within 100km from international border or line of control. He said that North-East states and Sikkim have objected to such a provision as this would apply to projects in the entire state.
Chennai: A governor cannot send bills to the President of India after they are re-adopted by the state's assembly after being returned by the former, the Supreme Court on Friday observed while hearing a matter linked to the Tamil Nadu bills row. The apex court also asked the Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi to meet with chief minister MK Stalin and resolve the impasse. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin (PTI file photo)(HT_PRINT)

The bench -- comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra -- will hear the matter next on December 11.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"We would like the governor to resolve the impasse...We will appreciate it if the governor resolves the impasse with the chief minister. I think the governor invites the chief minister; let them sit down and discuss it," the bench said.

"We are conscious of the fact that we are dealing with high constitutional functionaries, it added.

Earlier this month, the governor returned 10 out of 12 bills -- cleared by the Tamil Nadu assembly -- which were pending before his office since 2020. He, however, didn't cite any reasons for dismissing the bills.

Also read: Tamil Nadu governor returns 10 bills, Stalin govt calls special House session to adopt them again

The Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker later called a special assembly session where the bills were readopted. The Opposition MLAs staged a walkout during the session.

The governor's action had come days after the Supreme Court sought a reply from the Central government on a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government against his delay in processing the 12 bills. It had also said why should governors wait for parties to move the court with their grievances.

Also read: Tamil Nadu assembly readopts 10 bills returned by governor amid Oppn walkout

Referring to Article 200 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court today said the governor can't send readopted bills to the President.

MK Stalin's government and the governor have come face-to-face over a host of issues lately, including the pending bills.

Also read: Governors cant sit on bill to thwart process of lawmaking, says SC

On October 31, Tamil Nadu chief secretary Shiv Das Meena accused Ravi of "toying away with the citizen's mandate", in a petition filed in the Supreme Court.

With inputs from PTI
Light thunderstorms and lightning along with light to moderate rainfall are likely to occur in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram districts on Friday morning, the Meteorological Centre in Chennai said. An orange alert was issued for Tamil Nadu's Chennai for December 2, 3. (PTI)

Persistent heavy rainfall was witnessed in parts of Chennai on Thursday, continuing to disrupt normal life, leading to waterlogging in low-lying areas, traffic jams, and the closure of schools and colleges.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

A well-marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal which is likely to concentrate into a depression in the next 24 hours has caused is behind the incessant rain, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai said. This would intensify into a cyclonic storm on December 3 and reach north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh on the morning of December 4, the weather department added.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for December 2 and 3 for Chennai and its neighbouring districts, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall.

On Thursday, the IMD forecast moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in certain Chennai areas. Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam stations in Chennai received 15.8 and 14mm rainfall, respectively till 7.30pm on Thursday. The highest rainfall recorded in Tamil Nadu was in Nagapattinam district at 26mm.

Schools are closed in Chennai due to the continuous heavy rainfall, causing waterlogging in several areas.

A flood alert was also issued for low-lying regions and six villages along the Adyar River banks following the release of water from Chembarambakkam Lake.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the Ripon Buildings earlier in the day to assess the preparations at the Command Control Centre in Chennai, where the state's rainfall situation is being monitored. During the visit, the Chief Minister personally attended calls from residents through the 1913 helpline, instructing officials to enhance coordination between departments to promptly address grievances.
How do we tell where we are in an evolving landscape? New terms act as milestones, signposts, warnings of danger ahead. The changing nature of surveillance has spawned a host of new phrases that help capture the flux, and nearcast what we might expect to see next. Take a look.

Open-source intelligence or OSINT: This is the term for the procurement and use of publicly available data such as Instagram posts and e-commerce transaction details, now being accessed by law-enforcement agencies (as well as researchers, journalists, and other categories of data analysts and consumers).

OSINT is an extension of dataveillance, a term coined in the 1980s, by an Australian consultant on information technology policy named Roger Clarke.

Clarke came up with the term, he says on his website, to underline the shift from the physical and electronic surveillance of individuals to the relatively cheaper surveillance of peoples behaviour through the increasingly intensive data trails that their behaviour was generating.

Between our financial and professional transactions (salary, work, investments), online purchases, social-media activity and government identities (think travel and tax records, student projects, medical records, biometrics), that is a rich, overlapping tapestry of detail. And, say it with us now, there simply isnt enough clarity on who may access which folders, who might stop or monitor them, or why.

Surveillance capitalism: In her book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism (2018), American academic and social psychologist Shoshana Zuboff, who coined the term, charts how Big Tech companies such as Alphabet and Meta first convinced us to give up our data for security and convenience, and how that data now powers an advertising economy driven by mass surveillance of the internet.

Wearables, smart home devices, smart cars, digital toys, and of course our phones, provide regular updates to the algorithms at work. At its core, surveillance capitalism is parasitic and self-referential. It revives Karl Marxs old image of capitalism as a vampire that feeds on labour but with an unexpected turn. Instead of labour, surveillance capitalism feeds on every aspect of every human experience, Zuboff says in the book.

Soft surveillance: This is the term for that feeling you have when you click I agree, that no one significant is really watching. Who would care what you do on a fashion portal, streaming platform or ride-hailing app?

As things stand, soft monitoring or soft surveillance yields much of the personal digital data in use today. Its entirely voluntary; immensely vast; and it is official data that can eventually be used to piece together a persons day, identity, habits. Many users treat the I agree pop-up window like a casual handshake between two people exchanging information. It might help to think of it more like the signs in public spaces that say: This area is under CCTV surveillance.

Computer-vision dazzle: Asymmetrical hair extensions, shimmery face paint, stick-on jewels computer-vision dazzle, also called anti-surveillance makeup, is a camouflage technique that seeks to confuse computer-vision algorithms.

It was created by Berlin-based artist, software engineer and applied researcher Adam Harvey, as part of his Masters thesis at New York Universitys Interactive Telecommunications Program in 2010.

Harvey created a series of test looks that alter the strategic points of a face that algorithms tend to plot and read. Over the years, he has updated the original set of looks he created, targeting the specific vulnerabilities of evolving algorithms.

Others have added to them, with looks that include paint that breaks up the natural symmetry of the face; rhinestones to conceal the bridge of the nose; and face paint that contrasts with ones natural skin tone. The name of the project was inspired by WWI ship camouflage called Dazzle that used Cubist-inspired designs to break apart the visual continuity of a battleship in order to conceal its orientation and size, he says on his website.

The hacks have spawned a bit of a movement. In London, the Dazzle Club, 2019- 2021 was a project by artists Anna Hart, Evie Price, Georgina Rowlands and Emily Roderick who conducted silent walks to protest the police forces facial-recognition cameras. On Instagram, the hashtags #cvdazzle and #antisurveillancemakeup lead to threads on how to prepare for a heavily surveilled protest.

CV dazzle has also extended into stealth fashion: Prints, fabrics and accessories are being designed to act as armour in the battle to remain unseen. Perhaps best-known among these is HyperFace, a black-and-white textile print prototype created by Adam Harvey of computer-vision dazzle, with the design studio Hyphen-Labs. When scanned by computer vision, the print reveals multiple false faces, distracting and confusing the algorithm and reducing the confidence or accuracy score of facial-recognition software.

Stealth wear neednt be so hi-tech. Hacks circulating on social-media platforms explain that simple lace can obscure features enough for one to be unrecognisable, for instance, in a protesting crowd. Another trick: dress in the colours of the protests flag.

Crypto-anarchism: Could a computer-based network eventually protect identities, so securely that it would never give them up? Crypto-anarchism builds on the fact that this is already happening to a degree, in the world of cryptocurrency, and could potentially be extended to offer end-to-end privacy protection to the online citizen.

Crypto-anarchist organisations, such as the Prague-based non-profit Paralelni Polis (Czech for Parallel State) envision a world in which digital censorship and surveillance would be replaced by a decentralised economy that would operate as freely as bitcoin currently does. The details, admittedly, are not yet clear.
Were all stars of screen today. And activists are beginning to ask: What will it take for people to care about the amount of footage and data now out there, featuring them, that they didnt even create?

In attempts to jog citizens out of their complacency when it comes to this invisible, relatively abstract (for now) threat, artists and analysts are trying new approaches.

Such projects are challenging the purpose, methods and use of surveillance data and asking: Who will watch the watchmen? Take a look.

Watch out

For about two decades, initiatives around the world have sought to map public-facing CCTV cameras. Its an all-but-impossible task. In 2001, Project iSee was launched in the US by the Institute for Applied Autonomy, a group of artists and activists, to track the spread across New York City, and then across other cities in the US. Since 2012, Datapanik and the Belgian League of Human Rights have held camspotting events in Belgium.

Since June 2019, Thejesh GN, chief technology officer with a marketing technology company, has been doing the same in Bengaluru. His Surveillance in Bengaluru project seeks to map all CCTV cameras directed at public spaces in his city.

Anyone can contribute, by taking a picture of a CCTV camera with the OpenStreetMap app OSMAnd and geo-tagging its location.

Seeing the cameras everywhere and reading news of how footage of couples kissing in quiet spaces was ending up on pornography websites, got me thinking: Who are these cameras really meant to watch? Who is monitoring them and what is their motive? says Thejesh, 42.

So far, the project has mapped more than 1,600 cameras, with the help of about 30 regular contributors. Since last year, Thejesh has also been holding mapping parties, inviting people to gather in a specific part of the city and spend the day adding more points to the map.

Thejesh hopes the data will eventually reveal the geographic spread of the surveillance: Which areas are most-watched? How far can one go without turning up on a feed?

He is also filing Right to Information requests on data access and storage. He hopes to eventually collate all his findings on his project website (thejeshgn.com/projects/surveillance-in-bengaluru).

The common purpose behind installing CCTVs and allowing surveillance is the passive understanding that were safe. But my primary objective is to remind citizens that they are being watched, Thejesh says. And if what theyre doing doesnt align with the powers that be, the same CCTVs can target them too.

Hi there

The cameras arent just watching. Some are also mapping and digitising faces.

Facial-recognition software is how some airports in Delhi, Bengaluru and Varanasi can allow check-in without multiple rounds of identity verification. Around the world, facial-recognition technology (FRT) has been used to identify individuals in crowds of protesters. (See the glossary alongside for tactics that are evolving to evade such surveillance.)

In India, the digital rights organisation Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has been attempting to track the use of FRT since January 2020 (and is also separately petitioning the government to reconsider its use).

For now, IFFs Project Panoptic seeks to map public spaces across India where this technology has been deployed. Surveillance, by its very nature, is secretive. Although FRT projects had been launched by many states, there is little to no information on them, says policy researcher Anushka Jain, who headed Panoptic while at IFF.

Government tenders, media reports, project plan outlays on government portals, and responses to Right to Information requests form the basis of the information represented on panoptic.in, with the sources for each listing hyperlinked.

Currently, the interactive map represents 170 FRT systems, at sites ranging from airports and public hospitals to government offices and high-security research institutes.

IFF want to raise public awareness and create transparency around FRT projects, says Jain. There is currently no legislation in place that monitors the use of FRT in India. That alone is concerning, she adds.

Parting shots

American photographer and author Trevor Paglen specialises in art that explores surveillance, threats to privacy, data collection, and how these collectively shape our culture.

I try to see landscapes of surveillance in different ways, says the 49-year-old.

In one recent project, after being stopped while taking images of surveillance infrastructure, he launched an amateur photography contest. In partnership with a museum in Frankfurt, he put out a call encouraging people to take photos of drones, CCTV lenses and other surveillance infrastructure. About 150 participated in the Eagle-Eye Photo Contest, leading to a series of images that all seem to stare back at the systems that stare at us.

In other work, he simply showcases fibreoptic cables, switching and exchange stations, ground stations  the materiality of the internet. With such work, he seeks to demystify internet infrastructure that largely remains unseen, because internet infrastructure is now surveillance infrastructure, he says.

We use metaphors like the cloud and cyberspace, which imply something disembodied  an internet that is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. That is a bad metaphor, Paglen says. Because surveillance capitalism is everywhere. Were moving on from a moment where tech companies extract value from us through surveillance, towards them extracting value by using that surveillance data to manipulate us.

Amid all of this, art needs to help people see what the world looks like, he adds. But thats not easy to do, when much of how the world works is deliberately obscured from us.
The right to privacy is really the right to be left alone, and it includes digital privacy. Digital privacy is about having the ability to control ones online information, including withholding all such information from others. This is such a Herculean task that perhaps the only people who retain a shred of privacy are isolationist tribes such as the Sentinels of the Andamans.

Where is the rest of India on privacy? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. There is a gap between stated preferences and actual behaviour, when it comes to digital privacy. It is called the privacy paradox. Let me illustrate.

How many apps have you installed on your phone? Did you read any of the terms of service, or did you just hit agree in a hurry, without a second thought? Yes, I do the same. That is how willing we are to give up data about ourselves in exchange for convenience and utility.

The privacy paradox is a global phenomenon, and it drives the multi-trillion-dollar digital advertising and commerce ecosystem. If you dont participate in it, the alternative is being marooned digitally and cut off from almost all of modernitys conveniences. Sure, there are some privacy-friendly alternative tools, but they see limited patronage. Google dwarfs DuckDuckGo, WhatsApp dominates over Signal; ditto for the Chrome versus Brave browsers. We all say we want and cherish privacy, but our actions suggest otherwise. That is how strong the pull of convenience is.

What choice does any single individual have anyway, we say (and to some extent, thats fair). We lean heavily on privacy regulations to help. But these can only offer limited relief, if that. For example, the European Union enacted a set of information privacy laws called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but Big Tech firms have just shrugged and co-opted it. Users, addicted to convenience, just end up clicking one more Accept cookies button. Theres no escaping the leviathan.

Do we even want to? In India, it is only in 2017 that the Supreme Court ruled privacy a citizens right. In everyday life, we only pay lip service to privacy. More fundamental to us is the other RTI, the Right to Inquisitiveness. We openly inquire about a colleagues salary. We ask how much their holiday cost, or what they are spending on their wedding. We ask strangers why a child is in a wheelchair, or why another isnt married. No topic is off-limits. Privacy then is only the thin topsoil; a cultural import, as it were.

***

According to the cybersecurity firm Surfshark, India is among the top 10 countries when it comes to data breaches. Despite that, rare is the Indian company that notifies its users of a potential breach and of the remedial actions to be taken (like changing a password). Sunlight is the best disinfectant but alas, we dont find in-depth coverage and analysis about data breaches in the media. Contrast that indifference to the CEO of the large US retail company Target having to resign over his handling of a customer data breach in 2014.

If a societys expectations and norms shape policy and regulation, it is clear that in India we dont prioritise privacy to the same extent as libertarian societies do. Amusingly enough, too-strict digital privacy legislation creates its own problems for the West. GDPR in particular is being seen as so stringent as to affect the ease of doing business in the EU  resulting in the US and EU doing a separate watered-down deal on data transfers, with greater flexibility and concessions for Big Tech companies. In the US, meanwhile, there are state and sectoral laws on data privacy, but no overarching law at the federal level. Robocalling (or automated marketing telephone calls) is a menace, as a result.

Thankfully, India now has a modern law, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, passed in August. It lays down rules for the responsible handling of data, and is a significant improvement over the status quo. The DPDP Act requires that companies establish standard practices for data collection, processing and usage, and stipulates penalties for non-compliance. However, there are exceptions and exemptions for the government and its agencies.

That brings us to the complex issue of government surveillance of citizens. Clandestine intelligence-gathering is the legitimate purview of a State. Spy craft has always been part of statecraft. For instance, 50 of the 150 chapters of Chanakyas Arthasastra, written c. 300 BCE, refer to spying. The real question is the safeguards against the abuse of the States discretionary powers (or unchecked State authority).

Dont shoot the messenger, but it is clear that our society supports (and has supported) or at least tolerates police encounters and more recently, bulldozer justice. Perhaps it is a lingering reverence for authority, passed down for eras, that the ruler likely knows best, and that its best to stay out of the way. Perhaps, it is a fatalistic acceptance due to the snails pace of the judicial system burdened by backlog.

It has always struck me that there is a similarity between the way helmetless motorcyclists are made to do sit-ups and traffic offenders are sometimes slapped  without protest from the public at large  and the way communities and neighbourhoods celebrate the installation of CCTV cameras, without debating or inquiring who controls the footage, or how.

Because put together one can see how the onward march of technology, and our complete dependence on it in everyday life, is creating States with a growing ability to surveil but without a corresponding growth in capacity for oversight.

In India, the typical approach to enforcement resembles a hammer more than a scalpel. How will we then get to devising the many nuanced safeguards and the checks and balances required to prevent the misuse of the States oversight of its citizens? What kind of change in public attitude would it take to navigate the labyrinth better and more urgently, and where is the demand for such action likely to come from?

The answers matter, because there are time bombs waiting to go off. The Aadhaar and passport details of 815 million Indians, allegedly from the Indian Council of Medical Research database, were put up for sale by hackers in October. What happens when one of these mega data breaches causes real damage?

Our new norms, for instance, state that all users must be notified in case of a perceived breach, but they do not specify a time period within which to do so. Meanwhile, the stakes are rising. Our cars, our fridges, our smart speakers, and other smart devices at home and at work, are adding to the pile of information available about us. Artificial intelligence is being used to overlay and cross-index it.

***

What, then, is the answer?

I will go out on a limb and say this: if there were a Maslows hierarchy of things to fix, privacy transgressions by the state would not feature high on that list. But what gets us worked up are online frauds (where people lose money), or altered images used to harass women, and mischief-mongering deepfake videos.

Malicious actors are trying to leverage our lack of interest in privacy to target us in new and sophisticated ways. Fixing these problems requires both prongs: strong data security and better privacy awareness. Concerted action by the government and private players is needed to strengthen data security. But the onus is also on us as citizens and consumers to prioritise and fight to protect our right to be left alone.

(Kashyap Kompella researches and consults in artificial intelligence, regulation and policy)
Assam Divas, also referred to as Asom Divas is a celebration that commemorates the establishment of the state of Assam, in India. Lets delve into some information about the date, historical background and significance of why Assam Divas is celebrated. Asom Divas 2023: Why is it celebrated; all about date, history and significance (Photo by Twitter/vijay_alpa)

Date:

Asom Divas is celebrated every year on December 2.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

History and Significance:

This day holds historical importance as it signifies the formation of the state of Assam back in 1963 as prior to this event, Assam was a part of a larger state that encompassed Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya. On December 2, 1963 Nagaland and Meghalaya were separated from Assam through the implementation of the States Reorganization Act of 1956 which led to the birth of present day Assam, as we know it today.

The occasion serves as a tribute to celebrate Assam's identity and cultural heritage. Asom Divas provides an opportunity for people in Assam to reflect upon their history and diverse culture along with tea plantations, wildlife reserves and traditional art forms, while celebrating both unity and diversity within their state.

Celebration:

On Asom Divas it is quite usual to witness a range of events, programs and gatherings that highlight the Assamese traditions. This includes captivating performances of music and dance along with indulging in the delightful Assamese cuisine.

The purpose of this day is to allow individuals to proudly showcase their affiliation with Assam and celebrate the heritage of the state.
Slow waves, which are normally only present in the brain during sleep, are also present when awake in patients with epilepsy and may protect against the condition's heightened brain excitability, according to a new study led by UCL researchers. Brain waves detected during sleep can protect against epileptic activity: Study(Shutterstock)

The research, published in Nature Communications and involving the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, examined electroencephalogram (EEG) scans from electrodes in the brains of 25 patients with focal epilepsy (a type of epilepsy characterised by seizures arising from a specific part of the brain), while they carried out an associative memory task.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The electrodes had been placed in the patients' brains to localise abnormal activity and inform surgical treatment.

ALSO READ: Purple Day of Epilepsy 2023: Top lifestyle changes for managing seizures

We're now on WhatsApp. Click to join

During the task, participants were presented with 27 pairs of images that remained on a screen for six seconds. The images were in nine groups of three - each group featuring a picture of a person, a place and an object. In each case, participants had to remember which images had been grouped together. EEG data were recorded continuously throughout the task.

After reviewing the EEG data, the team found that the brains of people with epilepsy were producing slow waves - lasting less than one second - while they were awake and taking part in the task.

The occurrence of these "wake" slow waves increased in line with increases in brain excitability and decreased the impact of epileptic spikes on brain activity.

In particular, there was a decrease in the "firing" of nerve cells, which the researchers say could protect against epileptic activity.

Senior author, Professor Matthew Walker (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), said: "Sleep is crucial for repair, maintenance and resetting brain activity. When we are awake we experience a progressive increase in brain excitability, which is redressed during sleep.

"Recent studies have indicated that a specific form of brain activity, slow waves during sleep, play a crucial role in these restorative functions. We wanted to address whether these 'sleep' slow waves could occur during wakefulness in response to abnormal increases in brain activity associated with epilepsy.

"This study unveils, for the first time, a potential protective mechanism, 'wake' slow waves, employed by the brain to counteract epileptic activity. This mechanism takes advantage of protective brain activity that normally occurs during sleep, but, in people with epilepsy, can occur during wakefulness."

As part of the research, the team also wanted to test if the occurrence of "wake" slow waves had any negative effects on cognitive function.

During the memory task, researchers found that the "wake" slow waves reduced nerve cell activity and so affected cognitive performance - increasing the length of time required by patients to complete the task.

The team reported that for each increase of one slow wave per second, the reaction time increased by 0.56 seconds.

Professor Walker said: "This observation suggests that the cognitive difficulties - in particularly, memory deficits - experienced by individuals with epilepsy may be attributed, in part, to the brief impairments induced by these slow waves."

The team hope that future studies will be able to increase such activity as a potential novel treatment for people with epilepsy.

Lead author, Dr Laurent Sheybani (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), said: "The parallel between the function of slow waves during sleep and, here, their beneficial impact in a pathological condition, is particularly interesting.

"Our study suggests that a naturally occurring activity is employed by the brain to offset pathological activities; however, this comes with a price, since 'wake' slow waves are shown to impact on memory performance.

"From a purely neurobiological perspective, the research also reinforces the idea that sleep activity can happen in specific areas of the brain, rather than occurring evenly throughout the brain."

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council, Wellcome, UCLH Biomedical Research Centre and The Swiss National Science Foundation.
The popular north Sikkim tourist destination, Lachung, which was affected by flash floods in early October, has been made accessible after the restoration of road, an official said on Thursday. Lachung in Sikkim allows tourists from Friday after October flash flood (File Photo)

The tourist spot will be open for visitors from Friday, he said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"Lachung is now accessible after successful completion of road restoration efforts. The scenic destination can be reached through an alternative route via Dzongu-Shipgyer and will be open for tourists from December 1," Tourism and Civil Aviation Department Secretary Prakash Chettri said.

Extending a warm welcome to all tourists intending to visit Lachung-Yumthang in the northern part of Sikkim, he said that the alternative route, via Dzongu-Shipgyer, will have an additional 16-17 km to reach Lachung.

He, however, said the Lachen-Gurudongmar point would remain closed until further notice as restoration work in the region was underway in the aftermath of the flash floods.

The decision to allow tourists to visit Lachung comes nearly two months after the massive flood had destroyed road infrastructure and connectivity in North Sikkim towns like Lachen, Lachung and Chungthang in early October.

The flash flood left 46 people dead and a trail of destruction.
The successful rescue of 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel for over 17 days is both thrilling and sobering. Thrilling because the lives of 41 workers were saved and the entire State machinery came together in solidarity to do all that it took to rescue the workers. In this one instance, the lives of Indias workers were prioritised, and successfully so. This is a triumph. But behind this triumphant moment, is a sobering reality.

Away from the bluster about the fastest-growing economy, third-largest economy, and $5 trillion economy, there is a real economy that occasionally makes itself visible in the national consciousness to remind us of the ugly truths about the Indian economy and what it means to be a worker within it. The Uttarkashi episode is one such occasion. Speaking after their successful rescue mission, the real heroes of the hour, the rat-hole miners, reminded the country of harsh truths. All they asked for was a life of dignity, of humanity where workers receive fair wages and work in safe conditions.

The harsh truth is the Silkyara tunnel incident is not an isolated event. Every day millions of Indias workers suffer the worst forms of indignities as they struggle to make a livelihood with little policy protection and on the margins of national consciousness. And so while we celebrate the triumph of the rescue mission, we must also confront our skewed policy regime that flouts worker safety, and environmental norms and preys on worker vulnerabilities.

The grim reality of Indias workers is visible in the limited data we collect. Data from the governments Periodic Labour Force Survey (2022-23) shows that a mere 20% of Indias workforce finds work in regular wage/salaried jobs. Social security is not guaranteed even for these workers  59% do not have written job contracts and 54% are not eligible for any specified social security benefit. More than three-quarters are either self-employed or casual labourers with no income and employment security and social security benefits. More than three-quarters are either self-employed or casual labourers with no income and employment security and social security benefits. Crucially, Indias labour market remains deeply segregated by caste, gender, and religion which shape peoples employment opportunities, type of work, and income. Low levels of female labour force participation have been widely debated, but the roles of caste and religion in shaping employment structures matter significantly and are invisible in the contemporary debate.

Azim Premji University recently released State of Working India, which presents important evidence in this regard. Looking at long-term trends from the 1980s to the present, the report finds that upper castes are twice as likely to have moved out of agriculture into modern services compared to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs) and three times more likely as compared to Scheduled Tribes (STs). Regular wage employment remains the privilege of the upper caste: 32% of upper caste workers are in regular wage employment, compared with 22% of OBC and SC workers and 14% of ST workers. Muslims are less likely to hold regular wage jobs and more likely to be in self-employed/casual wage work over the entire four-decade period analysed.

Finally, a large number of Indias workers are on the move. Absent a census, data is limited but one useful estimate that gives a sense of the magnitude is from the 2016-17 Economic Survey, which estimates migrant workers account for between 17-29% of the labour force. It is these workers who were forced to walk home during Covid-19 and in ordinary times, risk stampedes on trains to live and work in deplorable conditions.

Against this backdrop, the policy environment is not just grossly inadequate but actively callous towards workers. In response to the Covid-19 crisis, for instance, several initiatives like the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), Affordable Rental Housing Scheme, and the eShram portal  a digital database for registering unorganised workers  were launched. However, implementation lacks energy. The flagship ONORC has waned. Data from CPRs Accountability Initiative shows that between April 2021 and December 2022, ONORC was accessed by 17.4 million beneficiaries accounting for less than 1% of total e-transactions in this period. The eShram portal has 291 million workers registered, but there is no clear policy direction beyond the distribution of cards.

State governments, as my colleague Mukta Naik has carefully documented, have innovated to devise social protection schemes for migrant workers. However, none of this translated into a coherent governance approach that cuts across jurisdictional boundaries. Moreover, at a time when digitally enabled cash transfers have come to dominate the electoral landscape, the approach to welfare is curiously delinked from worker needs. This is evident in the fact that most cash transfers are place-based, not portable, and targeted to rural residents. India now has the tools to provide universal social security to unorganised workers. It is scandalous that it has failed to do so. As is a railway policy that prioritises Vande Bharat fast trains for the privileged few over sleeper berths for the vast majority of travellers.

When it comes to labour laws, state after state is privileging deregulation in the hope of attracting investment without adequate consideration of critical issues of worker safety. The gross negligence that caused the Silkyara tunnel incident may have made headlines but taking such risks is the fate of most workers. This is Indias reality. And a daily reminder that no matter how fast we grow or how large an economy we are, an economy that condemns its workers to remain in precarity, will always be poor no matter how fast its GDP grows.

Yamini Aiyar is president and chief executive of Centre for Policy Research. The views expressed are personal
On March 6, 1983, at its Muzaffarnagar convention, the Hindu Jagran Manch passed a resolution for the liberation of Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.

In attendance were notable figures such as Dau Dayal Khanna, Gulzari Lal Nanda, Rajju Bhaiya, and Ashok Singhal. Subsequently, Khanna and Singhal visited Ayodhya, engaging with the late Ramchandra Paramhans of Digamber Akhara. This was followed by a meeting with 50 saints, leading to the formation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti under the chairmanship of Mahant Avaidyanath, the guru of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The convenor of the convention, Khanna, had written a letter to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on May 23, 1983, highlighting the significance of the three temples for Hindus, which, he claimed, were demolished to build mosques. He demanded the unlocking of the Ayodhya shrine and the handing over of the Eidgah in Mathura and the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi to the temple trusts. The letter also asked the central government to construct alternative mosques at their own expense for the Muslims.

Similar letters were also sent to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on January 12, 1987, and late defence minister VP Singh on August 17, 1987. Before that, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) gave a call for a public movement for the liberation of the three purported janmabhoomis at their Dharam Sansad held in Delhis Vigyan Bhawan in April 1984, attended by 558 saints from 76 panths (sects). The VHP constituted in 1964, launched its first formal Rath Yatra in October 1985, demanding the unlocking of the disputed structure in Ayodhya.

Four decades later, the Ram temple in Ayodhya is ready for inauguration on January 22, 2024, a grand corridor in Kashi Vishwanath is already in place, and a batch of petitions asking for worshipping rights in the Gyanvapi Masjid are being heard in lower courts. Now the spotlight has shifted to Mathura.

Since the heydays of the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign, there has also been a perceptible shift in the Sangh Parivars plans, driven by the circumstances on the ground.

In Ayodhya, the battle was waged on the streets even before the case came to the Supreme Court. In Varanasi, a batch of Hindu petitioners have filed various cases in lower courts in Uttar Pradesh, attempting for a legal solution to the Gyanvapi Masjid dispute, even as the government revamped the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

In Mathura, Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the Krishna Janmabhoomi on November 23 has given a fillip to the movement. And there is a reason.

Modi is the first PM since Independence to visit the Krishna Janmabhoomi and its sanctum sanctorum. While BJP chief ministers such as Yogi Adityanath, Rajnath Singh and the late Kalyan Singh, and Congress chief minister, the late Vir Bahadur Singh, visited the Krishna Janmabhoomi, political dignitaries, including Presidents, have typically restricted their visits to the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan.

Narendra Modi is the first prime minister to offer prayers at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi. He had visited Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi 32 years ago but as organisational secretary of the BJP when he was in Vrindavan to attend Pratinidhi Sabha meeting of RSS in 1991 and offered prayers at Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, said Gopeshwar Chaturvedi, who is associated with the Shri Krishna Seva Janmasthan.

PM Modi has visited Mathura four times  in 2015 to present his first-year report card at the Deendayal Upadhyaya Dham at Farah in Mathura and three times to address election rallies.

According to Chaturvedi, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee had come to Krishna Janmbhoomi in the 1970s and stayed there, but never came when he was PM.

In his speech, Modi said, Kashi Vishwanath corridor has come up in Varanasi, Mahakaal Temple in Ujjain is sporting a new look, Kedar Ghati is a new attraction while the Ram Temple is to be inaugurated shortly. Mathura will also not lag behind and the day is not far when people will have divya (magnificent) darshan of Lord Krishna in Mathura.

Advocate Mahendra Kumar Singh  who is not only the first litigant to revive the court cases in the Mathura dispute but is also the president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Nyas  is heartened by this. The PM has given his stamp of approval to our andolan (protest), he said.

Asked if he had any discussions with the chief minister, he first remained silent. Later, he said, Of the 13.37 acre land with the temple trust. 2.5 acres  which is a part of the sanctum sanctorum  is with the Muslims. Thats where the masjid stands. We must get it liberated.

We will expedite the court case in the high court or Supreme Court to claim the land, he added.

Pilgrim footfall remains high. Data says about 2.5 million people visited the spot during the 10-day-long Guru Purnima while on other special days, the daily number varies between 100,000 and 200,000.

The claims

The Mathura plea was originally filed in the court of Mathura civil judge (senior division) on September 25, 2020, by Lucknow-based lawyer, Ranjana Agnihotri, and six others as the next friend of Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman, the presiding deity at the Mathura temple. The next friend is a legal representative of someone incapable of maintaining a suit directly.

The suit claimed that Shahi Eidgah Masjid was constructed on a part of 13.37 acres of land belonging to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust. They demanded the mosque, which abuts the temple, be removed and the land returned to the trust.

The religious dispute simmered in the first half of the 20th century but a 1968 agreement calmed tempers. On October 12, 1968, an agreement was signed between the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and the Shahi Masjid Idgah Trust, which divided the land between the two parties and relinquished any claims of the Hindu parties to the land of the mosque.

But Agnihotris petition challenged the settlement and alleged that the pact had no legal validity because the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust, which the petitioners claimed had the ownership and title of the land, was not party to the settlement.

The Hindu petitioners also claimed that Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan, which is the governing body of the temple complex, entered into an illegal compromise with the Shahi Idgah trust with a view to grab the property in question.

The Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan is working against the interest of the deity and devotees and fraudulently entered into a compromise with the Committee of Management of Trust Masjid Idgah (Trust) in 1968 conceding a considerable portion of property belonging to the deity and the trust, the suit alleged.

The management committee of Shahi Eidgah mosque objected to the petition, arguing that as the compromise agreement was finalised in 1968 and the final judgement and decree of the case was passed in 1974, Agnihotris petition was time-barred.

We pay the taxes and revenue. Muslims should voluntarily give away their claim for an amicable solution, said Chaturvedi.

Tanveer Ahmed, secretary of the Shahi Masjid Idgah in Mathura, had told HT earlier, There is no dispute. We perform namaz five times. Eid namaz and Juma namaz happen here. Access to the Eidgah and Janmabhoomi are separate. In 1968, a compromise was entered through a registered agreement and since then no dispute prevails. Repeated calls to him were not answered.

The compromise entered in 1968 and the court decree in 1971 is the major defence of Muslims contesting the case. They also contend the suit is not maintainable as per the Places of Worship ( Special Provision) Act 1991, which locks the religious character of holy sites (with the exception of the Ayodhya case), as they existed at the time of independence.

Now, the question arises: What will the plan be for Mathura? The top authorities are likely to take a call.
The authoritarian regime Paul Lynch describes in the novel Prophet Song, which recently won the Booker Prize, does not have an ideological character. It is perhaps from our experience and awareness of the surge and installations of authoritarian governments in different nations that we assume it to be right-wing. Unlike societies that are fully controlled by authoritarian regimes, Lynch introduces the readers to a different situation where society is in chaos under the thraldom of an elected autocracy run by the National Alliance Party. The party has been in power for nine years in the Ireland of Lynchs novel. Lynch prophesies that any authoritarian regime, be it elected or otherwise, has a threshold point after which it unleashes forces that can propel complete chaos. The society is torn asunder.

The rebel forces, again an amorphous association of people against the regime, do not subscribe to any political ideology nor do they have any alternative to offer. In one of the protest stickers, the rebels announced that the best defence is an Armed Citizen and another sticker said End Judicial Dictatorship.

The utter chaos created by the police regime acting through emergency provisions of the law has only resulted in the social breakdown and arming of ordinary citizens. This is not the type of Orwellian nightmare nor Nazified anti-Semitic Europe, but a society that has completely broken down under authoritarian rule. Social chaos in Prophet Song recalls the Manipur crisis.

Prophet Song captures the inherent tensions and anxieties of European nations experiencing inner turmoil in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war due to immigration and also because of an economy in a downward spiral. Its dystopian prospects for countries that have chosen for themselves authoritarian governments have to be understood against this social turmoil. It has given rise to everyday fascism that Europe is witnessing through the surge of populist right-wing politics. The internal turmoil has also given rise to popular demagogues, who are riding on the surge of racist anti-immigrant waves and Islamophobia.

The popular authoritarians have identified the immigrants and asylum seekers from West Asian and African countries as the root cause of the problem. Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician who is likely to be prime minister of the Netherlands, rode to power drum-beating hatred against Muslims. His win was greeted with so much enthusiasm by fellow Right-wingers of the other nations in Europe.

The wind blowing through Europe is carrying populist authoritarians to power, who have cunningly deployed the terminology of the liberals ranging from personal freedoms to the rule of law in their war against the immigrants. The rule of law in their precise terms is to legislate emergency provisions to target immigrants. The popular demagogues are perhaps not averse to the everyday fascism in which the citizens are armed for the defence against immigrants.

Every day fascisms are gaining currency in public life. Though it has similarities to the fascism of early 20th century Europe, it is not a strictly ideology-driven movement: It is more characterised by hatred against immigrants, particularly, Muslim immigrants. The hate campaign fuelling it is underpinned by the liberal Wests idea of the clash of civilisations. This clash is now happening in the heart of Europe.

Damodar Prasad is an independent media researcher and Malayalam writer. The views expressed are personal
There are clear risks in writing a column about elections days before the result. Exit poll results notwithstanding, this edition of the column is not interested in predicting what will happen when the votes are counted for this election cycle on December 3. Based on this authors field reporting in Rajasthan and the reporting from other states by my colleagues, there is an issue concerning the two national parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, which needs to be underlined.

Both parties are facing what can only be described as a growing gap between national and state-level politics. The most definite and quantifiable sign of this  at least from 2014 onwards  is the fact that the BJP underperforms at the level of states compared to national elections and the Congress cannot translate its state-level victories at the national level.

What explains this disjoint? The easiest  and correct  answer is the national premium that Narendra Modi brings to the BJP in a national-level election. There is also good reason to believe that there is more to this issue than this.

Let us look at the BJP first. Nobody in the BJP today perhaps even thinks of challenging Modis supremacy within the party. While a palace coup is out of the question, there do seem to be issues of what can be termed as insubordination or exceeding ones brief by state-level leaders in what is clearly Indias most dominant political party today. BJPs relationship with B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka can be described as a case of insubordination vis-a-vis the party's high command. He has been removed and rehabilitated many times because the party has realised that he is still critical for the partys fortunes in Karnataka. Vasundhara Raje Scindias relationship vis-a-vis the high command is also on similar lines and she is seen as one of the few state leaders who is not completely pliable to the party's high command. We will know after the Rajasthan results how indispensable Scindia is for the BJP in the state.

Beyond these personality-centric issues, BJP leaders in states face a more important dilemma. What role does a BJP chief minister have in the so-called "double-engine" formula of the BJP where the central government, read Modi, is always in charge? Most state-level leaders across the political spectrum in India have realised that populism (read welfare benefits) is the best bet at winning elections at the current juncture. The problem for the BJP, however, is that everybody has learnt this lesson and the Opposition is happy to outdo the BJP in this game. How does the BJP differentiate itself from other parties on this front?

This is where the BJP would like to export the Yogi (Adityanath) model to the rest of the states. The ideal BJP chief minister must be hard on Hindutva rhetoric, seen as a tough administrator, especially on law and order, and ideally mix administration with Hindutva rhetoric. The only other chief minister for the BJP who has been remarkably successful in imbibing this model so far seems to be Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam. Others, especially those who have been chief ministers in the pre-2014 era, will have to unlearn a lot of their old political praxis to excel in this script. Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who flirted briefly with the bulldozer model of law and order after regaining power in 2020 found it too difficult to maintain and pivoted back to a more familiar welfare pitch by the time of elections. Unsurprisingly, the Congress has outmatched most of his promises. Scindia in Rajasthan and Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh did not even make any visible efforts to adopt this model. Little wonder then that they are not the high-commands favourites this season.

Why has the BJP not done a complete purge of such leaders from its ranks? The simple answer is it is still wary of the costs of such a purge. As long as such leaders do not challenge Modis authority at the national level, they will continue to hold legitimacy among BJPs supporters at the state level. After all, these leaders have played a crucial role in building both the BJP organisation and support base in these states over decades.

Let us come to the Congress now. Why cant the Congress get a united party organisation in states even where it wins elections? Ashok Gehlot versus Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan, Siddaramaiah versus D K Shivakumar in Karnataka, (what was) Kamal Nath versus Jyotiraditya Scindia in Madhya Pradesh and Bhupesh Baghel versus T S Singh Deo in Chhattisgarh are examples of this absence of unity. One can say with a lot of conviction that almost all of these factional fights in the Congress are more organisational (and thus, related to garnering the spoils of power) than ideological in nature.

In fact, grassroots reporting suggests that the Congress is paying a bigger cost because of such fights than the occasional threat to its state governments. The Congresss leadership would like to portray itself as the party that stands for the socio-economic underclass against what they term as a pro-rich BJP. This narrative loses a lot of credibility once you look at Congresss local-level leaders and candidates who are still mostly a part of the entrenched political elite in these states. This was more than apparent in Rajasthan, where the elections for the Congress are as much about local political battles focused on candidates as they are on Gehlots welfare plank.

In many ways, the Congress and the BJP are facing a similar problem. Their central leadership would like their state units to change themselves to suit the new requirements of national politics. However, the state-level leaders are selective about this prescription and are only picking the instructions which can help them retain power at the level of the states rather than make uncomfortable adjustments for the sake of national politics.

To blame this entirely on a handful of state-level leaders in both these parties will be a blinkered take on the matter. What this tension essentially reflects is the tension between the old and new political economy in India. The former was built around local patronage networks while the latter seeks to bypass all such networks and build a direct-benefit-transfer model between the highest levels of political leadership by eroding the agency of local actors in politics. It is unlikely that this conflict will go away anytime soon in Indias political economy.

Every Friday, HTs data and political economy editor, Roshan Kishore, combines his commitment to data and passion for qualitative analysis in a column for HT Premium, Terms of Trade. With a focus on one big number and one big issue, he will go behind the headlines to ask a question and address political economy issues and social puzzles facing contemporary India.

The views expressed are personal
Elon Musk seems to be having a tough time in maintaining a smooth workflow at X. The billionaire is currently dealing with criticism from advertisers due to his outspoken posts, coupled with recent remarks on an antisemitic conspiracy theory. Additionally, reports suggest internal issues within the company with numerous employees, both senior and junior staff, resigning from their roles. Elon Musk (AFP)

As per a report by Claire Atkinson, Musk's role as the leader of X has been characterised by a turbulent period in the last few months. This includes a recent surge in resignations among both senior and junior sales staff. The report indicates that despite recent bonus distributions, a considerable number of employees, particularly those in the sales department, have opted to leave, raising concerns about the platform's future.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

As outlined in Atkinson's report, X is presently functioning with a reduced workforce in its office, and the advertising division is undergoing financial setbacks. The initial large-scale layoffs occurred subsequent to the acquisition of Twitter last year, followed by widespread resignations in 2023. This undoubtedly raises concerns about the company's ability to sustain its revenue streams and attract new advertisers.

Notably, the unsettled upheaval is also a repercussion of Musk's daring decisions, which have elicited both staunch support and intense criticism. In fact, the company is already dealing with a substantial backlash from advertisers, including prominent names like Apple and Disney.

Elon Musk recently attracted widespread criticism when he endorsed a user's false claim suggesting that Jewish people were inciting hatred against white individuals. Musk, in his post, expressed agreement with the user who referenced the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, stating that they were speaking "the actual truth."

Following this post, Musk faced significant criticism and backlash from both antisemitic individuals and advertisers. He later issued an apology, describing his comment as akin to "handing a loaded gun" to his critics.

While Musk did apologise for his statement and acknowledged it as the most regrettable post among a history of numerous "foolish" messages, the repercussions from advertisers remained notable, with Musk urging advertisers to simply "F... off."

During his discussion with The New York Times at the DealBook Summit, Elon Musk characterised advertisers who suspended their advertising on X as 'blackmailers'. He said that if advertisers are uncomfortable with the platform's content, they should refrain from advertising there. Musk bluntly stated, "If somebody's 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 you're in the audience, that's how I feel, don't advertise."

However, Musk did acknowledge the potential impact of an advertising boycott on X's survival. Nevertheless, he asserted that if the platform were to collapse, the responsibility would squarely rest on the advertisers who withdrew their support. Musk quoted, "The whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company."

Earlier at the summit, Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned that Disney is not reaping positive advantages from its association with Elon Musk's X. "I have great respect for Elon and his achievements. We recognise that Elon is a larger-than-life figure in many ways, and his name is closely tied to the companies he established or owns. By publicly taking the position he did, we felt that the association was not necessarily beneficial for us," stated Iger.
Google has called on Britains antitrust regulator to take action against Microsoft, claiming its business practices had left rivals at a significant disadvantage, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Picture from outside a Google office near the company's headquarters in Mountain View, California.(REUTERS)

Microsoft and Amazon have faced mounting scrutiny around the world over their dominance of the cloud computing industry, with regulators in Britain, the European Union, and the U.S. probing their market power.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) launched an investigation into Britains cloud computing industry in October, following a referral from media regulator Ofcom which highlighted Amazon and Microsofts dominance of the market.

In 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft's Azure had a combined 70-80% share of Britain's public cloud infrastructure services market, Ofcom said. Googles cloud division was their closest competitor, at around 5-10%.

In a letter submitted to the CMA, Google said Microsofts licensing practices unfairly discouraged customers from using competitor services, even as a secondary provider alongside Azure.

With Microsofts licensing restrictions in particular, UK customers are left with no economically reasonable alternative but to use Azure as their cloud services provider, even if they prefer the prices, quality, security, innovations, and features of rivals, Google said in its letter to the CMA.

Such practices directly harmed customers, and were the only significant barrier to competition in Britains cloud computing market, the company said.

Microsoft last year updated its licensing rules to address such concerns and promote competition, though the changes did not satisfy rivals.

A Microsoft spokesperson said the company had worked with independent cloud providers to address concerns and provide opportunity and that more than 100 worldwide had taken advantage of the changes.

"As the latest independent data shows, competition between cloud hyperscalers remains healthy. In the second quarter of 2023 Microsoft and Google made equally small gains on AWS, which continues to remain the global market leader by a significant margin," the Microsoft spokesperson said.

Speaking to Reuters, Google Cloud Vice President Amit Zavery criticised Microsofts practices, and said his company was committed to a multi-cloud approach, in which customers could easily move between providers depending on their needs.

"A lot of our software and cloud services interoperate, and can run on AWS or on Azure as well, so you're not restricted," he said. "If you don't fix this, eventually you will have fewer cloud providers, and then innovation will not really happen, and investments will start shrinking."

At issue was Microsoft's decision to update the terms for when customers wanted to use their Windows or other software licenses in the cloud, effectively resulting in higher costs if they used Google or AWS instead of Microsoft's Azure.

Asked why Amazon, which boasts a larger share of the cloud market than Microsoft, did not pose a similarly anticompetitive risk, Zavery said AWS consumers were not facing the same restrictions.

There are some issues, in terms of cloud interoperability, but we can fix that. That's a discussion between providers, which is much understood, and customers are forcing that conversation, he said.

The problem we run into with Microsoft is that there's no technical issue, but you have licensing restrictions which means we are now being prevented from competing.

Google made six recommendations to the CMA, including forcing Microsoft to improve interoperability for customers using Azure and alongside other cloud services, and banning it from withholding security updates from those that switch.

The CMA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Martin Coulter in London; additional reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in New York; editing by Kenneth Li, Lincoln Feast and Edwina Gibbs)
On the island of St. Helena, a tortoise named Jonathan celebrated its 191st birthday. Although Jonathan's actual age is unclear, Guinness World Records stated that he was at least 50-years-old when he was transported from the Seychelles to the island in 1882. Jonathan has outlived the 150-year average life expectancy of his species. Snapshot of Jonathan, the tortoise who turned 191-years-old. (Guinness World Records. )

Joe Hollins, long-time vet of Jonathan, told GWR that the mammal shows no signs of slowing down.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"In spite of losing his sense of smell and being virtually blind from cataracts, his appetite remains keen. He is still being hand-fed once a week with a fortifying helping of fruit and vegetables by a small, dedicated team. This not only supplements his calories but provides those essential drivers of his metabolism: vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. It is extraordinary to think that this gentle giant has outlived every other living creature on land, including of course the whole human race," Hollins said to GWR.

GWR also took to Instagram to post about Jonathan. In the caption of the post, they wrote, "Oldest living land animal, Jonathan the tortoise is 191 years old."

Watch the video here:

This post was shared a few hours ago on Instagram. Since being posted, it has more than four lakh views. The share also has over 25,000 likes and numerous comments.

Check out what people are saying about the video here:

An individual wrote, "Happy birthday Jonathan."

A second commented, "He could live more years, even longer if the environment is still the same."

"Wow, that's crazy!" posted a third.

A fourth shared, "Just wow, that's massive!"
Advocating for strong global cooperation against climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it must be ensured that these actions don't compromise the development priorities of the Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. (PTI)

Prime Minister Modi, who is in Dubai for the COP28 Climate Summit, spoke to UAE-based newspaper Aletihad, saying that India is the only country that is on track to achieving its National Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Regarding climate finance, PM Modi said that he has always maintained that climate change is a collective challenge that demands a unified global response

"It is essential to recognise that developing countries have not contributed in the creation of the problem. Yet developing countries are willing to be a part of the solution," he added.

"But, they cannot contribute without access to the financing and technology needed...I have therefore advocated strongly for global cooperation for ensuring requisite climate financing and technology transfer," PM Modi further said.

Prime Minister stressed that as nations pursue climate action, it must be based on equity, climate justice, shared obligations and shared capacities.

"By adhering to these principles, we can forge a path toward a sustainable future that leaves no one behind," he said. He further stressed that "we must ensure that development priorities of the Global South are not compromised".

PM Modi also elaborated on multiple initiatives being carried out by India in the direction.

Mission Lifestyle for Environment (Mission LiFE), is an initiative to motivate the world to adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle, Aletihad reported.

"We have launched a Global Mission on sustainable lifestyles - 'LiFE, Lifestyle for Environment' - that promotes sustainable consumption lifestyle changes and circular economy principles," PM Modi said.

He added, "My call for Mission LiFE is based on a belief that a mass movement of pro-planet lifestyles and choices can have a significant contribution towards global climate action".

India has also conceptualised a mechanism to incentivise voluntary, pro-planet actions that can effectively respond to climate change, termed the "Green Credit Initiative".

India announced its National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023, with the aim to become a global hub for the production, utilisation, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. Recently, New Delhi also agreed to establish a joint Hydrogen Task Force to help scale up technologies, with a special focus on green hydrogen production.

PM Modi said that the country has a targeted production of 5 MMTPA of green hydrogen by 2030.

Prime Minister Modi said that the National Green Hydrogen Mission requires 80 GW of electrolyser capacity and 125 GW of renewable energy, with an estimated total investment of around USD 100 billion.

He further urged the "friends from the UAE, who already have substantial investments in India's renewable energy sector, to invest in the green hydrogen sector in India".

Prime Minister Modi emphasised that climate action was one of the priority subjects during India's G20 presidency and was properly addressed in the New Delhi G20 Summit.

"I am happy that during the recent New Delhi G20 Summit, this aspect has been properly addressed, including through a recognition of the need to rapidly and substantially scale up investment and climate finance from billions to trillions of dollars globally from all sources," PM Modi noted.

He said that during India's G20 Presidency, the country ensured that particular attention was paid to climate change and climate action, reflected in the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration.

These include the Green Development Pact, the G20 2023 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress of SDGs, the High-Level Principles of Lifestyles for Sustainable Development, the High-Level Voluntary Principles on Hydrogen, as well the institutionalisation of the Disaster Relief Working Group, Prime Minister Modi said.

He added that over the last nine years, India has demonstrated by example that the country is at the forefront of doing its part to address climate change.

"At COP26, I presented 'Panchamrit' - five ambitious commitments of India - as our contribution to global climate action," the Prime Minister said.

The five ambitious commitments include the following: reaching 500GW Non-fossil energy capacity by 2030; ensuring 50 per cent of its energy requirements are met by renewable energy sources by 2030; reducing the total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes between now and 2030; reducing the carbon intensity of the economy by 45 per cent by 2030 over 2005 levels; and achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070, Aletihad reported.

Prime Minister Modi said that, India has translated its promises into action and submitted its updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) prior to COP27, and submitted the Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), which put forward its Net Zero pathways, during COP27.

Noting that India is the only country achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), PM Modi further said that the climate outlook on global level is not that positive. But, he affirmed hope that the COP28 Summit will energise the global community towards achieving 2030 targets.

"We are the only G20 country that is on track to achieving our NDCs," he said. "Unfortunately, on a global level, the climate outlook is not that positive, and there are concerns that we will not achieve our 2030 targets as a global community."

The Nationally Determined Contribution, is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. Each Party to the Paris Agreement is required to establish an NDC and update it every five years.

The Prime Minister added, "I hope that this event will energise the global community to undertake a course correction and redouble efforts to ensure that we return on track to achieve our 2030 targets".
An Oklahoma man convicted of a double murder was put to death by lethal injection in the US state of Oklahoma on Thursday, the 24th and final execution to be carried out in the United States this year. Phillip Hancock had been sentenced to death for the April 2001 murders of Robert Jett and James Lynch, members of a biker gang. (File)

Phillip Hancock, 59, was executed at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, a spokeswoman for the state's Department of Corrections said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

He had been sentenced to death for the April 2001 murders of Robert Jett and James Lynch, members of a biker gang.

Though the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board had recommended that Hancock -- who claimed he had acted in self-defense -- be granted clemency, it was denied by Governor Kevin Stitt.

Hancock claimed he shot Jett and Lynch during a struggle after they tried to force him into a cage at Jett's Oklahoma City residence.

Shawn Nolan, one of Hancock's attorneys, denounced the governor for ignoring the clemency recommendation from the parole board.

"We are profoundly sad that Oklahoma executed Phil for protecting himself from a violent attack," Nolan said in a statement.

"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," he said. "He fought to stay out of a cage to defend his life only to be caged and tragically killed by the state."

Even members of the governor's own Republican party condemned the execution, including State Representative Kevin McDugle, who called it "simply not justice."

McDugle said in a statement that he had learned of "serious problems in Oklahoma's death penalty system" while following the case.

He called for a halt to any further executions in the state "until we can ensure that only people who truly deserve capital punishment are sentenced to death."

- US support for death penalty down -

No further executions are scheduled in the United States for the remainder of the year.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 2023 was the ninth consecutive year with fewer than 30 people executed in the United States.

The 24 people executed in 2023 -- 23 men and one woman -- were six more than the 18 executed in 2022, the DPIC said in its annual report.

"Most of the prisoners who were executed in 2023 would likely not have been sentenced to death if tried today due to significant changes in the law, prosecutorial decision-making, and public attitudes over the past few decades," the DPIC said.

"Today, they would have powerful arguments for life sentences and decisions from juries who better understand the effects of mental illness, developmental impairments, and severe trauma."

According to a recent Gallup Poll, 53 percent of Americans support the death penalty for someone convicted of murder, the lowest level since 1972.

Capital punishment has been abolished in 23 US states, while the governors of six others -- Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee -- have put a hold on its use.

Executions were carried out in five states this year: Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

The death penalty has been primarily carried out by lethal injection in recent years, but Alabama intends to execute an inmate next year using nitrogen gas.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has set January 25 as the execution date for Kenneth Smith, 58, who was sentenced to death for a 1988 murder.
Two former heads of Canadian intelligence have said that the indictment in a Federal Court in the United States related to an alleged thwarted attempt to kill Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun has substantiated Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement in the House of Commons that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a housing announcement in Ajax, Ontario Canada November 30, 2023. (REUTERS)

Former National Security Advisor Richard Fadden told the outlet CBC News that the indictment of Indian national Nikhil Gupta in a Federal court in New York gives weight to the statement made by Trudeau on September 18.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

I suspect that the police in Canada and the United States have been talking about these things under the radar for some time, he added.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in the House on Thursday that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was continuing to collaborate with American law enforcement partners with regard to Nijjars murder.

Fadden also headed the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), as did Ward Elcock, who agreed with him on Trudeaus allegation being validated by developments in America. Elcock told the outlet Global News, I thought the fact that the Prime Minister actually made such an announcement in the House suggested that they had pretty strong intelligence. So, yes, this does pretty much confirm it.

According to the indictment, Gupta mentioned a big target in Canada. In a call, he also apparently talked of four jobs -- three of them were to be in Canada -- and later shared a video of the slain Nijjar with a man he thought was a hitman he had hired to kill Pannun. The hitman, in reality, was a US intelligence agent, the indictment said. The indictment added that Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 under an extradition treaty between the US and the Czech Republic.

However, neither was certain whether an actionable case could be made out in Canada. Fadden said, It may be difficult to bring a case before the Canadian courts in the absence of some of the sorts of information that seems to be in the US indictment.

Elcock was similarly minded about the investigation being conducted by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in British Columbia. My suspicion is that the people who carried out the attack are probably long gone wherever they came from, he said, adding, So, the likelihood of an ultimate prosecution seems pretty unlikely at this point. Not impossible, but pretty unlikely.

While India has ordered a high-level inquiry related to the US case, such action has yet to be taken with regard to Canadas demand, with Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma saying in a TV interview on Sunday that Canada had yet to provide specific and relevant information. India has also maintained that the actions being attributed to its officials were not part of government policy.
Three men topping Israel's hit-list remain at large: Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades; his second in command, Marwan Issa; and Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar- who have been directing Hamas' military operations as well as leading negotiations for a prisoner-hostage swaps. They are possibly conducting all operations from bunkers beneath Gaza, news agency Reuters reported quoting three Hamas sources. Israel-Hamas war: Yahia al-Sinwar (C), the Gaza Strip chief of Hamas, addresses supporters during a rally.(AFP)

As hostilities resumed in Gaza after a seven-day truce brokered by Qatar collapsed, Israel's offensive was unlikely to stop until the three top Hamas commanders are dead or captured, the report claimed as the seven-week-old military campaign has killed more than 15,000 people in Palestine.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The 61-year-old Yahya Sinwar, as well as Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa, both 58, form a secretive three-man military council that planned and executed the October 7 attack against Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage- the bloodiest in Israel's 75-year history.

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Tel Aviv's objectives are the destruction of Hamas' military capabilities, bringing the hostages back as well as ensuring that the area around Gaza will never be threatened by a repeat of the attack.

Israel defence minister said Yoav Gallant said, They are living on borrowed time- indicating that Israeli intelligence agency Mossad would hunt down the group's leadership anywhere in the world.

Two military experts told Reuters that killing Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa would allow Israel to claim an important symbolic victory.

Michael Eisenstadt, director of the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said, "If (Israel) could say we've killed Sinwar, we've killed Marwan Issa, we've killed Mohammed Deif, that's a very clear, symbolic and substantive achievement. What if they can't get the guys? Do they keep fighting until they get them? And what if what if they just prove elusive?"

This comes as reports claimed that roughly around 5,000 Hamas fighters had been killed  roughly one fifth of its overall strength which implies that six battalions numbering around 1,000 men each had been significantly degraded.

What experts have said on the three leaders

Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas leader, contested the figures terming them as "Israeli propaganda" to cover its lack of military success. Meanwhile, a Hamas insider in Gaza told Reuters that destroying the group as a military force would mean house to house combat and fighting in the warren of tunnels beneath the enclave.

"If we talk about a year, we will be optimistic," he said.

Kobi Michael, a former head of the Palestinian desk at Israel's Ministry for Strategic Affairs, said that capturing Sinwar would be an important victory but not necessarily the ultimate one.

"Israeli society perceives itself under an existential threat and the options it sees before it are two only: To be or not to be," he said.

What US believes on elimination of Hamas' leadership

US president Joe Biden's administration believes that eliminating Hamas' leadership is an attainable goal for Israel, three officials told Reuters. But destroying Hamas completely may not possible at all, they said.
The United States saw that Israel took steps to tell Gaza civilians where safe areas are and how they can get of harm's way, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said. The United States remains "intensely focused" on freeing hostages held in Gaza despite the resumption of the Israel-Hamas war, he said. Israel-Hamas War: US secretary of state Antony Blinken(Reuters)

"We remained intensely focused on getting everyone home, getting hostages back, something that I also worked on today," he reiterated as he met with top diplomats of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain during his brief visit to Dubai. Antony Blinken also met a representative of the Palestinian Authority.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"We're determined to do everything we can to get everyone reunited with their families, including pursuing the process that had worked for seven days," he said, saying that the work was continuing "almost hour by hour".

It came to an end because of Hamas, he said on the truce. Hamas committed an atrocious terrorist attack in Jerusalem that killed three people and reneged on commitments it made, in terms of releasing certain hostages," he explained.

Earlier, Antony Blinken stepped up calls for Israel to comply with international law and spare civilians.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that 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.

The Israeli military had also released a map dividing the Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered drawn parcels asking residents to learn the number associated with their location in case of an eventual evacuation.

Only hours into the renewed bombardment, Gaza said 109 people had been killed and dozens wounded as Israel said that it struck more than 200 Hamas targets. The United States continues to work with Israel, Egypt and Qatar on extending a humanitarian pause in Gaza, a White House spokesperson said.
Hamas on Friday said it had offered to hand over the bodies of a mother and her two sons -- one of them a baby -- in talks to extend a now-expired truce. Israel-Hamas War: A protestor stands next to a sign calling for the release of Kfir Bibas, 10 months, during a protest.(Reuters)

Shiri Bibas, her 10-month-old son Kfir and his four-year-old brother Ariel, along with their father Yarden, have become emblematic of the October 7 attacks due to the age of baby Kfir.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Earlier this week, Hamas's armed wing announced that Shiri, Kfir and Ariel had been killed in an Israeli bombing before the now-lapsed truce went into effect -- a claim Israel's military has said it is investigating, but has yet to confirm.

Combat between Israel and Hamas resumed in the Gaza Strip Friday morning after an agreement could not be reached on prolonging the seven-day pause in fighting.

Under the terms of the temporary truce, Hamas had returned scores of Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of more than 200 Palestinian prisoners.

"Throughout the night, indirect negotiations unfolded to extend the truce," the Palestinian militant group said in a statement Friday.

"Hamas also offered to transfer the Bibas family's bodies and release their father for their burial, along with two Zionist detainees," it added.

Israeli authorities "remained unresponsive", it said.

The Israeli prime minister's office meanwhile told AFP "Israel will not address propaganda-based reports coming from Hamas".

As of Thursday, reports of the deaths of the three Bibas family members remained unconfirmed, according to army spokesman Daniel Hagari.

The army has previously said "Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages".

Government spokesman Eylon Levy on Friday blamed Hamas for the collapse of the truce, accusing it of "having failed to provide a list of more hostages for release".

He said Hamas was still holding 137 hostages taken on October 7, including the Bibas family.

The family were among the roughly 240 hostages dragged back to Gaza after militants streamed into Israel in an attack that left 1,200 people dead, most of them civilians, according to Israeli officials.

Israel's ensuing war against the group has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run government in Gaza.
Hamas is willing to further extend a truce for hostage and prisoner exchanges, a source close to the militant group said Thursday, and the United States urged Israel to set up safe zones for Gaza civilians as a pause in their deadly war neared expiry. Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters accompany newly released hostages before handing them over to the Red Cross in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.(AFP)

International pressure has risen for a lasting halt to the war, sparked by deadly Hamas attacks on Israel that prompted it to mount a devastating assault on the Gaza Strip.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

As the latest group of Israeli hostages was released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a source close to the Islamist militant group said it was willing to extend the truce that has paused weeks of deadly fighting and enabled aid to reach Gaza civilians. Israel had yet to respond.

With the current truce nearing expiry early Friday following a seven-day pause, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged an extension after meeting with leaders in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

"Clearly, we want to see this process continue to move forward," he told reporters in Tel Aviv. "We want an eighth day and beyond."

Israel "must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimise further casualties of innocent Palestinians", he said, "including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza, where they can be safe and out of the line of fire".

A source close to Hamas, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media, told AFP the Islamist movement was "willing to extend the truce".

"The mediators are currently making strong, intense and continuous efforts for an additional day in the truce and then working to extend it again for other days," the source said.

International bodies have called for more time to allow medical supplies, food and fuel into Gaza 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 earlier 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."

He later told Netanyahu it was "imperative" to protect civilians in southern Gaza "before any military operations there".

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, according to the UN.

The initial four-day truce has been extended for three days following work by international mediators, led by Qatar.

Israel has however vowed to continue with its offensive to destroy Hamas once the truce process has run its course.

"We swore... to eliminate Hamas, and nothing will stop us," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, after meeting with Blinken.

Hamas freed two Israeli women hostages in the latest round of exchanges under the existing truce, followed by six more hostages later in the evening, according to Israeli authorities.

Qatari officials mediating in the conflict said those eight people included nationals of Mexico, Russia and Uruguay.

Two others, Russian-Israeli dual citizens, were released on Wednesday night, as part of the group of 10 scheduled for Thursday.

In exchange, 30 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails, prison authorities said, including 23 minors and seven women.

Since the truce began on November 24, 80 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners have been released.

More than 20 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the scope of the agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office named the first two hostages released Thursday as French-Israeli dual national Mia Shem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40.

Shem tearfully hugged her mother Keren and her brother as she arrived at an Israeli air base following her release, video distributed by the Israel government's press office showed.

Keren Shem had called on world leaders to help free her "baby" in a press conference on October 17, days after the Hamas attacks.

Fighting began on October 7 when Hamas militants broke through Gaza's militarised border into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and unleashed an air and ground military campaign that the Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians.

"We are afraid that the truce will end, so the problems and the bombings will start again," Gaza City resident Mohamad Naasan told AFPTV on Thursday.

"I hope that the truce resumes... so peace prevails, and we all go back home."

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.

Only hours after the latest truce extension, Islamist militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for a shooting in Jerusalem Thursday that killed three people and called for an "escalation of the resistance".

The two gunmen, who police said were from annexed east Jerusalem, were shot dead at the scene, a bus stop in the western part of the city.

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".
The horrors of Hamas child hostages have been revealed by their families, who said the captors branded them with hot motorcycle pipes to mark them for recapture. Yaakov, 16, was among the children subjected to branding by Hamas, marked with burns caused by scorching motorcycle exhaust pipes.(Photo courtesy family)

Yaniv Yaakov, the uncle of two boys who were freed this week as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, said his nephews told him terrible stories of their ordeal in Gaza.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

They took every child on a motorbike and put his leg on the exhaust of that motorbike, so they have a burn so they will be marked if they run, if they escape, so they can find them, Yaakov cited to Times of Israel.

He said his nephews, 12-year-old Yagil and 16-year-old Or, were also drugged and moved around constantly by the terrorists.

They were treated so bad, but at least they are with us, he said.

Yagil and Or were among more than 200 hostages, about 40 of whom were children, taken by Hamas during their brutal attack on Israel on October 7. So far, at least 32 children have been released.

ALSO READ| Israel-Hamas war: Fighting resumes in Gaza after truce expires

The youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, died in Hamas custody along with his mother and 4-year-old brother. Hamas blamed their deaths on Israeli shelling.

Eitan Yahalomi, a 12-year-old boy, was assaulted by a crowd of Gazans when he was kidnapped from Israel, his aunt Deborah Cohen said, quoting Reuters.

She said the terrorists also made him watch gruesome videos of their killings in Israel.

Every time a child cried there, they threatened them with a weapon to make them be quiet. Once they got to Gaza, all the civilians, everyone was hitting them, she quoted to BFM TV( French media outlet).

Were talking about a child 12 years old, she added.

A wounded man helps a girl out of a bombarded area in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023, (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)(AFP)

Emily Hand, a 9-year-old girl, was forced to hide in different houses in Gaza with her captors to evade shelling. She has been speaking in a low voice since her return, as they trained her not to make any sound.

I had to put my ear close to her mouth to hear. In captivity, she was told not to make any noise. You can see the terror in her eyes, her father, Thomas Hand, told CNN after her release.

ALSO READ| Hamas open to extending truce as US urges Israel for Gaza safe' zones: Report

Hila Rotem Shoshani, a 13-year-old girl who was held with Emily, is also whispering, her family said. Many children said they were kept in Hamas underground tunnels during their captivity, where they barely survived on meager portions of rice and pita bread.

The ceasefire deal began on November 24, when Hamas agreed to release 50 hostages in exchange for a four-day truce and the release of 150 prisoners. Hamas could extend the truce by one day for every 10 more hostages released.

More than 100 hostages have been freed since then, as the truce is set to end at 7 a.m. local time Friday, unless a new deal is reached.
A 20-year-old Indian student in the US, who was held captive for months without access to a bathroom, beaten, and forced to work at three homes by his cousin and two other Indian-origin men, was rescued, authorities said. The victim spent months trapped in three homes in the Missouri. The victim is safe and being treated at a hospital for multiple bone fractures, police said. (Representational)

Venkatesh R Sattaru, Sravan Varma Penumetcha and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa were arrested from a home on a rural highway in St Charles County, police said. They have been charged with human trafficking, kidnapping and assault. Police rescued the student after they went to investigate the home as a concerned citizen became aware of his situation and called 911.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The victim is safe and being treated at a hospital for multiple bone fractures, police said. The men locked the student in a basement for three months and forced him to sleep on an unfinished floor without access to a bathroom, they said.

Its absolutely inhumane and unconscionable that one human being could treat another human being like this, authorities said.

The main suspect in the case, Venkatesh R Sattaru, 35, is also charged with human trafficking for the purpose of slavery and contributing to human trafficking. The other two live in the home where the student was rescued from.

They beat him with their fists, they stomped on him, they beat him with electrical wiring, with PVC pipes. They forced him to sleep in an unfinished basement, they starved him, and limited his access to the public and to restrooms. If you see something, say something. We would much rather check it out and find nothing than have an incident like this thats been going on for nearly a year, police said.

However, its unclear whether there might be more victims related to this investigation, police said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Hamas did not agree to release further hostages, infringing on terms of a truce, and that Israel remained committed to achieving its objectives as fighting resumed. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets soldiers as he visits the Gaza Strip. (AP)

Hamas did not release all women hostages as agreed and also launched rockets at Israel, Netanyahu's office said.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

"With the resumption of fighting we emphasise: The Israeli government is committed to achieving the goals of the war - to free our hostages, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will never pose a threat to the residents of Israel," it said.
Israeli officials had intelligence that Palestinian militant group Hamas was preparing a wide-ranging attack before its October 7 assault but dismissed the reports, The New York Times reported Thursday. The newspaper said a document obtained by Israeli authorities "outlined, point by point, exactly the kind of devastating invasion that led to the deaths of about 1,200 people." FILE PHOTO: A view shows a destroyed home riddled with bullets, following the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas (REUTERS)

The document, which was reviewed by the newspaper, did not specify when the attack might happen, but provided a blueprint that Hamas appears to have followed: an initial rocket barrage, efforts to knock out surveillance, and waves of gunmen crossing into Israel by land and air.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The Times said the document, which included sensitive security information about Israeli military capacity and locations, circulated widely among the country's military and intelligence leaders, though it was not clear if it was reviewed by senior politicians.

But a military assessment last year determined it was too soon to say the plan had been approved by Hamas, and when an analyst with the country's signals intelligence warned the group had carried out a training exercise in line with the plan, she was dismissed.

She warned it was a "plan designed to start a war," the newspaper said, but a colonel reviewing her assessment suggested: "let's wait patiently."

The warnings did not suggest that Hamas was likely to carry out the plan imminently, and the intelligence community continued to believe that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was not pursuing war with Israel, the Times said, likening the intelligence failure to those in the United States before the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw around 240 people taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.

Israel's retaliatory ground and air offensive in Gaza has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, according to Hamas authorities.
A weeklong cease-fire that brought the exchanges of dozens of hostages held by Hamas for scores of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel gave way Friday morning to resumed fighting between Israel and Hamas. As mediators scuttle between the warring sides in a last-ditch effort to broker another swap, questions emerge on who remains in captivity in the besieged enclave. An Israeli Apache helicopter fires flares over the Gaza Strip on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (AP)

Hamas and other militants seized around 247 hostages in their deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed. Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip in return, killing at least 13,300 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to health authorities in the Hamas-ruled territory.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Here's a closer look at the fate of the hostages.

Hostages still in captivity

Israel said on Friday that 136 hostages remain in Gaza. They include 119 men and 17 women and children, according to military spokesperson Daniel Hagari. Roughly 10 of the hostages are 75 and older, the Prime Minister's Office said Friday.

The vast majority are Israeli while 11 are foreign nationals, including eight from Thailand, one from Nepal and Tanzania each, and one French-Mexican.

Earlier, government spokesperson Eylon Levy listed the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel and their mother Shiri as still being among the hostages. The military has said it's investigating a Hamas claim that the boys and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Hagari provided no information about the three.

Families of hostages who have not been released are still waiting in desperation, calling on the government to bring their loved ones home.

They hear reports from the families of recently freed hostages that conditions are difficult and worry their loved ones do not have sufficient food and water. They plead with the Red Cross to bring their relatives badly needed medicine. They agonize as mere crumbs of information about their relatives surface.

Sharone Lifshitz, whose mother was freed in October, heard this week that a returned hostage had seen her father, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, in captivity. Her father was last seen shot while militants carted him off to Gaza.

She says the news was a ray of light but that she wonders if it's still true.

My father is ill, is frail. He needs medicine, she said. I don't know how long he can survive in such harsh conditions."

She said the return of women and children hostages has been bittersweet as their husbands and fathers remain in captivity. The idea that children would be able to recover from captivity while their fathers remain hostages was "unthinkable, she added.

Little info on hostages who died in captivity

As the cease-fire waned, the military said Friday that four hostages were reported to have died in captivity, including the oldest person held hostage.

All the four, 56-year old Maya Goren, 86-year old Arye Zalmanovich, 54-year-old Ronan Engel, and 75-year-old Eliyahu Margalit, were from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The kibbutz was devastated in the attack, with roughly a quarter of its people killed or kidnapped.

On Thursday, the military announced the death of Ofir Tzarfati, another Israeli believed to have been held hostage. Two other hostages have died in Hamas captivity since Oct. 7, according to the military.

Officials have said little about how the deaths were determined but the army has said it has collected valuable information from the returned hostages.

Zalmanovich, a father of two and grandfather of five, was a founder of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a statement from the missing families group said. Goren was a mother of four and a kindergarten teacher for the kibbutz. Her husband was killed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.

Engel, a father of three, was a photographer and volunteer paramedic whose wife and two daughters were released from Gaza this week, the group said.

The group did not immediately release information on Margalit.

Glimpses of hostages released

During the cease-fire, some 110 hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza were returned to their families, Israel's government said Friday. They include 86 Israeli citizens and 24 foreign nationals, most of them Thais.

The returnees have mostly appeared in stable health condition, able to walk and speak normally though many lost weight in captivity. One 84-year-old hostage returned in critical condition after not receiving proper medical care, doctors said. Another came back on crutches.

Families have greeted the return of their loved ones with joy and excitement, but doctors have warned of the psychological toll of captivity and say they face a long road to recovery.

There have been no in-depth stories of the hostages' ordeal or captivity as the government has urged those released, 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.
A temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas war expired Friday morning, without immediate word from mediator Qatar on an extension, raising the possibility of renewed fighting. The truce expired at 7 a.m (0500 GMT) Friday. (Photo: Waseem Andrabi/ Hindustan Times)

The truce expired at 7 a.m (0500 GMT) Friday. 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.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel. Virtually all of those freed were women and children.

Reaching agreements on swaps appears to be growing harder as most women and children held in Gaza have already been released.
An Israeli government spokesman said that Hamas "will now take the mother of all thumpings" after a truce pausing fighting in the Gaza Strip expired and hostilities resumed. Israel-Hamas War: A Palestinian child sits near the site of Israeli strikes on houses after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired.(Reuters)

"Unfortunately, Hamas decided to terminate the pause by failing to release all the kidnapped women," government spokesman Eylon Levy said, adding, Having chosen to hold onto our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Update on truce between Israel and Hamas

A week-long truce between Israel and Hamas ended as two sides failed to agree on the release of more hostages held by the group. Israeli jets struck Hamas targets in Gaza soon after the cease-fire finished as the army dropped leaflets on southern parts of the enclave telling people to evacuate, signaling an expansion of Israels ground offensive beyond north of the strip.

On the truce, Israel said that Hamas didnt free all the kidnapped women it promised to in the latest group to be released. Hamas violated the truce by firing missiles at Israel, it said while the militant group accused Tel Aviv of refusing to accept any of its hostage-exchange offers.

The truce led to dozens of hostages being freed and Israel releasing jailed Palestinian women and minors. Hamas killed 1,200 people in its attack on Israel and took around 240 back into Gaza. More than 15,000 Palestinians have died since Israel began retaliatory strikes and ground assault.

What Qatar said on the truce

Qatar, the main mediator in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, said it hopes to broker another pause between the two sides.

Qatar continued "its condemnation of all forms of targeting civilians, the practice of collective punishment, and attempts to forcibly displace and displace citizens of the besieged Gaza Strip, and its demand for an immediate ceasefire."

Under the cease-fire, Hamas freed around 10 hostages each day and Israel let roughly 30 prisoners out of jail.
Iran warned of "severe consequences" as the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas resumed on Friday after a seven-day truce expired. Israel-Hamas War: Palestinians look at destruction after the Israeli bombing In Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza Strip.(AP)

Militants from the Iran-backed Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which Israeli officials say about 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and around 240 were taken hostage.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Israel, whose main ally is the United States, vowed to destroy Hamas in response and unleashed an offensive that Gaza's Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people in the Palestinian territory, also mostly civilians.

Fighting resumed on Friday after the expiry of the temporary truce that saw Hamas release 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

"The continuation of the Washington and Tel Aviv war means a new genocide in Gaza and the West Bank," Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Friday in post on X, formerly Twitter.

"It appears that they do not think about the severe consequences of returning to war," he added.

Israel accused Hamas of breaking the pause by attempting to launch a rocket attack shortly before it was due to come to an end Friday at 0500 GMT.

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".

The health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory said at least 60 people had been killed in the hours after the truce ended.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani had earlier blamed Israel and the United States over the resumption of hostilities.

In a post on X, Kanani said "the political and legal responsibility for the continuation of the aggression and massacre" rested with Israel, the United States and "governments that support this apartheid regime".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Thursday with Israeli and Palestinian officials, called for a truce extension and said Palestinian civilians must be protected if hostilities resume.

Other world figures had also appealed for a longer pause.

"The nations and the vast majority of the governments of the world are shouting for the continuation of the ceasefire and the complete stop to the Zionist regime's attacks against Gaza and the West Bank," Kanani said.
Israeli officials reportedly saw a blueprint for Hamas October 7 attack more than a year before it was carried out, it was reported. Israeli intelligence bosses were passed a 40-page battle plan for the attacks but dismissed it as unrealistic, the New York Times reported prompting new questions about intelligence failures over the attack that claimed 1,200 lives. Israel-Hamas War: People walk inside a temporary refuge for displaced people as smoke rises during an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.(AFP)

The report cited a document, codenamed Jericho Wall which contained plans for gliders to enter Israel from Gaza. It also mentioned the use of automatic machine guns on the border and drones to eliminate security cameras- methods that were used by Hamas on October 7 which overwhelmed Israel and resulted in the kidnapping of civilians.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The plan was circulated widely among Israeli military and intelligence leaders but dismissed as aspirational and beyond the capabilities of Hamas, the report claimed.

It is not yet possible to determine whether the plan has been fully accepted and how it will be manifested, a military assessment noted as per the report. If the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had taken action to prevent the tactics from being deployed on October 7, the attack could have been foiled, it added.

The Israeli militarys Gaza division concluded last year that Hamas had decided to plan a new raid, unprecedented in its scope followed by a large-scale manoeuvre inside Israeli territory", the report claimed. Military officials were also aware of a plan to overwhelm the Israeli border wall. The Jericho Wall document quoted the Quran, Surprise them through the gate. If you do, you will certainly prevail", it further claimed.

This comes as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing questions over the failure of the country's intelligence services - which are among the most sophisticated in the world. The premier had initially blamed his military and intelligence chiefs in a tweet, before deleting them amid political backlash.

On why he had failed to prevent the attacks, the Israeli PM told ABC News, Its a very good question, because the first task of government is to protect the people and, clearly, we didnt live up to that. We had a big, big setback.
Israel-Hamas War highlights: United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed to Israeli leaders that they should avoid replicating the extensive destruction and displacement witnessed in the northern Gaza Strip as they plan a military operation further south to eliminate 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 after having a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus war cabinet on Thursday in Tel Aviv. Smoke rises over Gaza following an Israeli strike, after a temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas expired, as seen from southern Israel, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko(REUTERS)

Hamas has expressed its willingness to extend a truce for hostage and prisoner exchanges, a source close to the militant group told AFP. Concurrently, the United States has urged Israel to establish safe zones for Gaza civilians as the expiration of a temporary pause in their deadly conflict approaches. The international community has intensified pressure for a lasting cessation of hostilities, initiated by deadly attacks from Hamas that led to a severe Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. With the current truce set to expire soon, Blinken has called for an extension following discussions with leaders in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Overnight Thursday, 30 Palestinian prisoners, including 23 minors and seven women, were released by Israeli prison authorities. This release follows the freeing of eight Israeli hostages by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The truce agreement mandates the daily release of a minimum of 10 Israeli hostages, but a source close to Hamas mentioned that only eight Israelis were released on Thursday due to the inclusion of two Russian-Israeli women on Wednesday. The truce agreement, which took effect on November 24, has led to the release of 110 hostages, including 80 Israelis. Whereas, Israel has released 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Over the course of the past week Hamas released 80 Israeli women, children and teenagers as part of a truce agreement in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. The Israeli government said Friday that 137 people were still being held -- 126 Israelis, eight Thais, one Nepali, one Tanzanian and a French-Mexican identified as Orion Hernandez-Radoux, 32, by his family.(REUTERS)

The Palestinian militants also freed 25 others outside the scope of the truce deal, most of them Thai farm workers, bringing to 105 the number of captives released during the pause in hostilities.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

With five hostages having already been freed before the truce, a total of 110 captives have returned home alive -- 33 children, 49 women and 28 men -- out of an initial group of around 240.

As Israel resumes its offensive in Gaza, we look at who is still believed to be in captivity.

ALSO READ| US' praise for Israel: They told Gaza civilians to get out of harms way'

The Israeli government said Friday that 137 people were still being held -- 126 Israelis, eight Thais, one Nepali, one Tanzanian and a French-Mexican identified as Orion Hernandez-Radoux, 32, by his family.

- Baby boy -

AFP has managed to identify 110 of the remaining hostages, mainly through interviews with their relatives or Israeli media reports.

It is far from certain that all are alive.

Hamas claims the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza along with his mother Shiri Bibas, 32, and brother Ariel, four.

Israel has yet to confirm the fate of the family, which has come to symbolise the brutality of the hostage-taking.

The Israeli government on Friday confirmed the deaths of two hostages: Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old soldier, and Yehudit Weiss, a 65-year-old woman from Beeri kibbutz.

- At least 17 women -

Besides the Bibas boys there are no child hostages known to be left in Gaza.

The last minor to be released was 17-year-old Aisha al-Zayadna, a Bedouin girl who was freed on the last day of the truce on Thursday along with her 18-year-old brother.

At least 17 women are still being held in Gaza, including Shiri Bibas.

The oldest are Ofra Keidar and Judith Weinstein Haggai, both aged 70.

The women also include Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old who was filmed screaming "Don't kill me!" as she was whisked away on a motorbike from the Tribe of Nova desert rave. Argamani appeared in a video from Gaza shortly afterwards, drinking a bottle of water on a couch.

Five women aged 18-19 were performing their military service when they were snatched.

As soldiers they were excluded from the prisoner swap.

- Men in their 80s -

At least 91 men are still being held, including 10 aged between 18 and 22, most of whom were on military service at the time of the October 7 attack.

Some of the men are fathers of children who were freed with their mothers, relatives or other families in the past week.

They include David Cunio, whose wife Sharon and twin three-year-old daughters Emma and Yuli were released on Monday as well as Tal Shoham, whose wife Adina, son Naveh, eight, and daughter Yahel, three, were released on Saturday.

The father of a French-Israeli boy, 12-year-old Eitan Yahalomi, who was released on Monday into the arms of his mother, is also still being held.

Some of the men are in their 70s and 80s.

Over a month after Hamas released two elderly women, Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Kuper, their husbands Oded Lifshitz, 83, and Amiram Kuper, 85, are still being held.

Oded Lifshitz has been described by his family as a passionate human rights defender from Nir Oz kibbutz, who used to drive people from Gaza to hospital.

- Dozens of ravers -

At least 33 people abducted during the Hamas massacre at the Tribe of Nova festival are still being held. Only five were released during the truce, including 21-year-old French-Israeli Mia Shem.

Of the others, at least 28 come from Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza border, which had at least 71 of its roughly 400 residents abducted.
The United States is preparing to impose a visa ban on Israelis involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, a senior US State Department official said as per news agency AFP. US secretary of state Antony Blinken informed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington was readying the sanctions, the official said. The visa ban could be imposed as early as next week. However, the number of individuals who would be affected was unclear as violence surged in the West Bank in tandem with Israel-Hamas war that erupted nearly eight weeks ago. Israel-Hamas War: Palestinians wounded in Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to a hospital in Khan Younis.(AP)

According to the Palestinian health ministry in the West Bank, nearly 240 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since October 7.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Antony Blinken marked his third trip to the region since the Gaza war began as he urged Israel to prosecute settlers committing acts of violence against Palestinians.

"We're looking to the Israeli government to take some additional steps to really put a stop to this. And at the same time, we're considering our own steps," he said.

The top US diplomat also travelled to Dubai where he was to attend a meeting of counterparts from several Arab countries. Earlier, US president Joe Biden said that his administration was prepared to issue visa bans against extremists attacking civilians in the West Bank.
Qatar urged swift international action to stop violence in the Gaza Strip after Israel renewed bombardment of the territory at the end of the truce. The Qatari foreign ministry said that continued bombing at the end of the pause "complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and... calls on the international community to move quickly to stop the violence." Israel-Hamas War: Security personnel check a car hit by a rocket fired today from the Gaza Strip, after a temporary truce expired between Israel and Hamas. (Reuters)

Qatar continued "its condemnation of all forms of targeting civilians, the practice of collective punishment, and attempts to forcibly displace and displace citizens of the besieged Gaza Strip, and its demand for an immediate ceasefire." The country has been engaged in intense negotiations, with support from Egypt and the United States, to repeatedly prolong truce in Gaza which lasted seven days after two extensions.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Read more: Israel drops leaflets urging residents to leave southern Gaza after truce ends

The agreement was designed to be continued if Hamas could release 10 hostages per day but as the truce expired, the Israeli army said its combat operations had resumed after eight more Israeli hostages were freed under the terms of the deal.

Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed negotiations between Israel and Hamas are continuing with the aim of returning to a pause as it was "committed, along with its mediation partners, to continuing the efforts that led to the humanitarian pause, and will not hesitate to do everything necessary to return to calm".

During the truce 80 Israeli hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners and negotiations between Hamas and other nations led to the release of more than 20 other foreign nationals.

Israel says around 240 hostages were seized when Hamas attacked on October 7 mounting the deadliest attack in the country's history, killing about 1,200 people. In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza which has killed more than 15,000 people, thousands of them children. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 29 people had been killed in the first hours after the pause in hostilities ended.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin also said that it was continuing efforts to free Russian nationals being held hostage by Hamas. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that an extension of a week-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would have been more appropriate than resumption of fighting.
King Charles said that the world was "dreadfully far off track" on addressing climate change owing to which the global economy would be in peril unless environment was rapidly repaired. In an opening address to the COP28 UN climate summit, King Charles told world leaders that the dangers of climate change were no longer a distant risk. King Charles III speaks during an opening ceremony at the COP28 UN Climate Summit.(AP)

"I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action," he said, adding, We are seeing alarming tipping points being reached.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The king is attending the summit on behalf of the British government after an invite from host nation the United Arab Emirates. The monarch spoke about how to involve multilateral organisations and the private sector, the role of the insurance sector and speeding up innovation.

Citing the impact of climate change globally, including floods in India and Pakistan and severe wildfires in the United States, Canada and Greece, he said, Unless we rapidly repair and restore nature's unique economy, based on harmony and balance, which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperilled.

"In your hands is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive," he said.

King Charles had also spoken at COP26 in Scotland in 2021 but did not attend the last conference in Egypt.

At the climate summit, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said, "We cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels... The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate."

I urge governments to help industry make the right choice  by regulating, legislating, putting a fair price on carbon, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and adopting a windfall tax on profits, he added.
Britain's King Charles wore a tie bearing the colours and symbols of the Greek national flag to a climate conference on Friday, days after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak snubbed his Greek peer Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a row over the Parthenon Sculptures. Britain's King Charles III speaks during an opening ceremony at the COP28 UN Climate Summit.(AP)

Charles, who wore the tie when he met Sunak on the sidelines of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates and when he delivered a speech at the event, has Greek lineage through his father, the late Prince Philip who was born on the Greek island of Corfu.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Sunak deepened a diplomatic row with Athens on Wednesday by accusing Mitsotakis of "grandstanding" during a recent trip to London over ownership of the Parthenon Sculptures. Sunak cancelled a planned meeting with Mitsotakis earlier in the week.

A Buckingham Palace source said on Friday that Charles also wore the same tie last week, before the escalation of the dispute. A spokesperson for Sunak declined to comment.

British media noted that, as well as the blue and white tie featuring the same white cross design as the Greek flag, Charles sported a blue and white handkerchief protruding from his jacket pocket.

"In a week when Rishi Sunak cancelled a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister to make a 'stand' over the #ParthenonMarbles #ElginMarbles  King Charles appears to have chosen to wear a very interesting tie when he met Mr Sunak in Dubai today," ITV television's Royal Editor Chris Ship said on social media platform X.

Athens has long called on the British Museum to permanently return the 2,500-year-old sculptures that British diplomat Lord Elgin removed from the Parthenon temple in 1806. The museum has said it would consider a loan to Greece only if Athens acknowledges the museum's ownership of the sculptures.
Get the latest world and breaking news delivered straight to your screen. Our extensive coverage brings the most important and relevant news from politics, sports, entertainment, business, and more. Follow live updates and briefings here.

Latest world news Live Updates 01-Dec-2023(AFP)
Get the latest world and breaking news delivered straight to your screen. Our extensive coverage brings the most important and relevant news from politics, sports, entertainment, business, and more. Follow live updates and briefings here.

Latest world news Live Updates 02-Dec-2023(Reuters)
Malaysia has invited China's President Xi Jingping to visit, its ambassador to Beijing said on Friday, as the Southeast Asian country also seeks to boost the number of Chinese tourists to five million a year to fuel economic growth. Government data showed Malaysia welcomed 498,540 Chinese tourists in the six months to June this year (AP)

China and Malaysia will mark the 50th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic relations next year, and Malaysia recently announced tourists from China would be able to travel visa-free for 30 days, a move mirroring Thailand.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Government data showed Malaysia welcomed 498,540 Chinese tourists in the six months to June this year, a figure almost a third of pre-pandemic levels. In comparison, Thailand said it expected 3.4-3.5 million visitors from China this year.

"We see that we have a big capacity to receive tourists," Ambassador Norman Muhamad said at an event at the Malaysian embassy in Beijing, adding that the goal is not "far-fetched" even if it may take more than a couple of years to achieve.

"Since we are seeking more investment from China, this visa-free travel to Malaysia will also help Chinese investors to come to Malaysia to find opportunities," he added.

Malaysia's economic growth is expected to meet the government's target of 4% this year, driven in part by stronger tourism.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has also invited China's President Xi Jinping to visit the country, Norman said.

"We are hoping that President Xi will consent to visiting Malaysia," he added.

Earlier this week, China's foreign minister Wang Yi was seen holding hands with his Malaysian counterpart Zambry Abdul Kadir in New York, photos released by the Chinese foreign ministry show.
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. C.E.O. of Tesla, Chief Engineer of SpaceX and C.T.O. of X Elon Musk(Getty Images via AFP)

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.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

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."

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)
In a major boost to conservation efforts of the national bird of New Zealand, conservationists registered the first wild Kiwi births in Wellington in over 150 years. Representational picture.(Website of Department of Conservation)

The conservationists found two brown kiwi chicks in New Zealand's capital where the Capital Kiwi Project was reintroduced a year ago. The kiwi chicks were found in Makara, a suburb just 25 minutes from Wellingtons city center. Due to their birth, the birds' total has reached 65 in the region.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Under the Capital Kiwi Project, the two newborn kiwi chicks will be monitored using transmitters.

ALSO READ| Video: German President made to wait for 30 minutes on aircraft after reaching Qatar

Capital Kiwi Project

The mission of the project is "to restore a large-scale wild kiwi population to Wellingtons backyard." The project also aims to protect kiwis from introduced predators  specifically, stoats.

Kiwis, the flightless birds which form an integral part of the island nation's culture and identity, had a huge population of around 12 million in New Zealand at one stage.

According to the Save the Kiwi charity, the birds number around 68,000 nowadays. According to New Zealands Department of Conservation, the kiwi population is declining at an average of 2% a year, mostly due to predators like stoats, cats, dogs and ferrets.

Massive threat to kiwis before reaching adulthood

According to a report by CNN which cited Save the Kiwi , 95% of wild born kiwis in New Zealand are killed before they reach adulthood.

Really the only issue for an adult kiwi is roaming dogs. Where they get hammered is stoats eating the chicks before they get up to their fighting weight, Capital Kiwi Project team leader Paul Ward told CNN earlier this year.
A Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of a fugitive Indian guru's fictional country, who also appear to have duped several local officials in the South American country. Nithyananda (File photo)

The revelation sparked a scandal  and lots of social media mockery  in Paraguay but it's hardly the first time self-described representatives of the United States of Kailasa duped international leaders. Earlier this year, they managed to participate in a United Nations committee meeting in Geneva and also signed agreements with local leaders in the United States and Canada.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Arnaldo Chamorro was replaced as chief of staff for Paraguay's Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday shortly after it was revealed that he signed a proclamation with representatives of the United States of Kailasa.

Among other things, the Oct. 16 proclamation expressed a sincere wish and recommendation for the government of Paraguay to consider, explore and actively seek the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa and support the admission of the United States of Kailasa as a sovereign and independent state in various international organisations, including, among others, the United Nations, according to a copy of the agreement posted on social media.

ALSO READ| Israel drops leaflets urging residents to leave southern Gaza after truce ends

Representatives of the fictional country met with Chamorro and Agriculture Minister Carlos Gimenez, Chamorro said in a radio interview.

During the interview, Chamorro recognized he didn't know where Kailasa was located and said he signed what he characterized as a memorandum of understanding because they offered to help Paraguay with a variety of issues, including irrigation.

Photos posted in Kailasa's social media accounts also showed representatives of the fictional country signing agreements with local leaders of the Maria Antonia and Karpai municipalities. The social media account celebrated each of these signings.

On Kailasa's website, the fictional country is described as the revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation which is being revived by displaced Hindus from around the world.

It is led by a self-styled guru, Nithyananda, who is wanted in India on several charges, including sexual assault. His whereabouts are unknown.

Representatives of the United States of Kailasa participated in two U.N. committee meetings in Geneva in February, according to media reports.

In March, Newark City Hall in New Jersey acknowledged it had gotten scammed when it signed a sister city agreement with Kailasa.
Russian President Vladimir Putin this week urged women in Russia to have eight or more children and make larger families a norm to increase the population in the country. This comes amid the increasing number of deaths in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Russia's President Vladimir Putin(AFP)

In a video speech at the World Russian People's Council in Moscow, Putin said that boosting the population of the country will be the goal for coming decades, reported The Independent.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Many of our peoples maintain the tradition of the family, where four, five or more children are raisedRecall that in Russian families our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had both 7 and 8 children. Let us preserve and revive these traditions. The family is not just the foundation of the state and society, it is a spiritual phenomenon, a source of morality," he said.

Notably, Putin himself has publicly acknowledged having only two children - daughters with his former wife Lyudmila. However, reports have claimed that he has multiple children from his affairs with millionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh and Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Alina Kabaeva.

Speaking further at the conference, Putin added: I would like to emphasise that the Russian world and Russia itself do not and cannot exist without Russians as an ethnicity, without the Russian people. This statement does not contain any claim to superiority, exclusivity or chosenness. This is simply a fact just like our Constitutions clear definition of the status of the Russian language as the language of a state-forming nation. Being Russian is more than a nationality.

The war between Russia and Ukraine entered its second winter this year with thousands of people being killed and displaced every day. According to the UK's defence ministry, the number of Russians dead in the war has likely crossed 300,000, reported The Independent. Meanwhile, an independent Russian policy group claimed that around 820,000-920,000 have fled the country.
Russia on Friday said its troops were progressing in all areas of the Ukrainian front, despite observers seeing little movement more a year and a half after Moscow launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu attends the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit.(Reuters)

"Our servicemen are acting competently and decisively, occupying a more favourable position and expanding their zones of control in all directions," Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said, as his troops intensify assaults on the eastern front.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Despite the frontlines having barely shifted in 2023, fighting has remained intense, with the nearly encircled industrial town of Avdiivka the latest major flashpoint.

Russia launched a renewed bid to capture the war-battered town in October, and analysts suggest Moscow's forces have made incremental gains, though at an enormous human cost.

"Russian troops are effectively and firmly inflicting fire damage on the Ukrainian armed forces, significantly reducing their combat capabilities," Shoigu said.

His ministry announced Wednesday it had taken control of Khromove, a small village on the outskirts of Bakhmut in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

Ukraine has said Russian troops had "considerably increased" their operations in the east, but that its forces were holding on.

Kyiv launched a counteroffensive in June after stocking up on Western weapons.

But it is contending with well-entrenched Russian positions and has made only modest progress.

Two weeks ago it said it pushed Russian forces back a few kilometres from the banks of Dnipro river, which if confirmed would be the first meaningful advance in the counteroffensive.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nations highest court, has died. She was 93. Former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor(AFP)

The court says she died in Phoenix on Friday, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

In 2018, she announced that she had been diagnosed with the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimers disease. Her husband, John OConnor, died of complications of Alzheimers in 2009.

OConnors nomination in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and subsequent confirmation by the Senate ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court. A native of Arizona who grew up on her familys sprawling ranch, OConnor wasted little time building a reputation as a hard worker who wielded considerable political clout on the nine-member court.

The granddaughter of a pioneer who traveled west from Vermont and founded the family ranch some three decades before Arizona became a state, OConnor had a tenacious, independent spirit that came naturally. As a child growing up in the remote outback, she learned early to ride horses, round up cattle and drive trucks and tractors.

I didnt do all the things the boys did, she said in a 1981 Time magazine interview, but I fixed windmills and repaired fences.

On the bench, her influence could best be seen, and her legal thinking most closely scrutinized, in the courts rulings on abortion, perhaps the most contentious and divisive issue the justices faced. OConnor balked at letting states outlaw most abortions, refusing in 1989 to join four other justices who were ready to reverse the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.

Then, in 1992, she helped forge and lead a five-justice majority that reaffirmed the core holding of the 1973 ruling. Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles of morality, but that cant control our decision," OConnor said in court, reading a summary of the decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code.

Thirty years after that decision, a more conservative court did overturn Roe and Casey, and the opinion was written by the man who took her high court seat, Justice Samuel Alito. He joined the court upon OConnors retirement in 2006, chosen by President George W. Bush.

In 2000, OConnor was part of the 5-4 majority that effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of Bush, over Democrat Al Gore.

OConnor was regarded with great fondness by many of her colleagues. When she retired, Justice Clarence Thomas, a consistent conservative, called her an outstanding colleague, civil in dissent and gracious when in the majority.

She could, nonetheless, express her views tartly. In one of her final actions as a justice, a dissent to a 5-4 ruling to allow local governments to condemn and seize personal property to allow private developers to build shopping plazas, office buildings and other facilities, she warned the majority had unwisely ceded yet more power to the powerful. The specter of condemnation hangs over all property, OConnor wrote. Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing ... any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.

OConnor, whom commentators had once called the nations most powerful woman, remained the courts only woman until 1993, when, much to OConnors delight and relief, President Bill Clinton nominated Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The current court includes a record four women.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying South Korea's first spy satellite launched on Friday from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base, after North Korea successfully launched its own military reconnaissance satellite last month. SpaceX, South Korea launches its first military spy satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.(AP)

SpaceX ended its livestream of the mission minutes after liftoff and then recovery of the rocket's core stage booster without showing the South Korean payload's deployment.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

In May, South Korea used its own domestically produced Nuri launch vehicle to place a mission-capable satellite into orbit for the first time, but it has contracted with the American company SpaceX to launch a total of five spy satellites by 2025 in an effort to accelerate its goal of having 24-hour watch over the Korean peninsula.

After two earlier attempts ended in rocket crashes this year, North Korea used its own Chollima-1 launch vehicle to place the Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satellite in orbit.

Pyongyang has yet to release any imagery from that satellite, and analysts say its full capabilities are unknown.
Israeli shelling killed three people in south Lebanon on Friday, Lebanon's state news agency reported, as the collapse of a truce between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas prompted a resumption of hostilities at the frontier. Israel-Hamas War: Israeli shelling killed three people in south Lebanon on Friday, Lebanon's state news agency reported(Reuters)

The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, later said one of its fighters was among those killed. It also said it had carried out several attacks on Israeli military positions at the border in support Palestinians in Gaza, where a week long pause in the fighting ended early on Friday.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

The Israeli army said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon and air defences had intercepted two launches. The army also said it struck a "terrorist cell". Sirens warning of possible incoming rockets sounded in several towns in northern Israel, sending residents running for shelter.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump can be sued for Jan 6 Capitol riots, US court says

Lebanon's state news agency reported that two people were killed by Israeli shelling in the Lebanese border town of Houla, and one person was killed in the village of Jebbayn.

Israeli shelling killed a woman and her 35-year-old son in Houla, Shakeeb Koteich, the head of the town's municipal council, told Reuters, saying both were civilians. Hezbollah later said a "martyr" was killed in Houla.

"A shell landed near the house, and then a second one hit the house," Koteich said by telephone.

Following the eruption of the Hamas-Israel war on Oct. 7, Hezbollah mounted near daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions at the frontier while Israel waged air and artillery strikes in south Lebanon.

It has been the worst fighting since a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, part of an Iran-backed alliance that also includes Hamas. About 100 people in Lebanon have been killed during the hostilities, 80 of them Hezbollah fighters. Tens of thousands of people have fled both sides of the border.

Hezbollah released statements claiming five attacks on Israeli military positions at the border, describing these as "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people ... and its valiant and honourable resistance".

A spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) told Reuters that there had been shelling close to its headquarters near the coastal town of Naqoura, and in Aita al-Shaab also in south Lebanon, in the late afternoon.

Lebanon-based militants from Hamas and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad have also mounted attacks from Lebanese territory.

"Hezbollah has linked what happens at the border with what happens in Gaza," said Nabil Boumonsef, deputy editor-in-chief of Lebanon's Annahar newspaper.

"All the while the war in Gaza continues Lebanon will remain threatened by the danger of a major escalation."

Senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah earlier said the group was vigilant and ready after the Hamas-Israel truce ended.

"In Lebanon, we are concerned in facing this challenge, being vigilant, and always ready to confront any possibility and any danger that may arise in our country," he said.

"No one thinks that Lebanon has been spared from this Zionist targeting or that what is happening in Gaza cannot affect the situation in Lebanon," he said.
International climate talks turned to a power game on Friday as dozens of world leaders including the Saudi crown prince and India's prime minister were to speak, but two of the world's most powerful men  President Joe Biden of the US and China's President Xi Jinping  were glaringly absent. COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber, center, attends the opening session at the COP28 UN Climate Summit. (AP)

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, a top oil producer, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, whose biggest cities are regularly choked under poor air, were among more than 130 world leaders set to address the United Nations climate conference in Dubai over the next two days. The idea is to try to keep the planet from heating too much because of humankind's actions.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was expected to provide an overarching perspective about the need to cut down on fossil fuel use and turn to renewable energies, among other things, to greatly reduce the churn of carbon emissions into the atmosphere that is trapping excess heat near Earth.

But the leaders of the two biggest carbon-polluting nations  responsible for more than 44% of the world's emissions  won't be there to get the in-person message.

Xi and Biden are sitting out this COP, just weeks after announcing a bilateral agreement to help cut down on methane emissions. Their deputies, US Vice President Kamala Harris and China's First Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, will be attending instead.

Left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, home to the most of the world's biggest natural carbon-capture zone on land, the Amazon rainforest, is also set to attend. He was treated like a rock star a year earlier  after his ousting of conservative rival Jair Bolsonaro.

Many of the leaders speaking represent countries hard hit by floods, storms, drought and heat waves worsened by climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Those include the islands nations of Palau and the Maldives as well as leaders of Pakistan and Libya, which have been devastated by recent floods that killed thousands.

Against the backdrop of tensions pitting his country against Hamas militants in Gaza, President Isaac Herzog of Israel  whose post is more ceremonial  will be rubbing elbows with some of the biggest power players in the Middle East.

On Thursday, just moments after the opening of the two-week COP28 climate conference in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, nations rallied together to formally create a loss and damage fund that will help compensate countries  especially developing ones  for the impacts of floods, droughts and heat waves.
Polish truckers burn wood to keep warm as they block crossings at Ukrainian border near the village of Hrebenne, Poland (REUTERS)

Ukraine's infrastructure ministry said on Friday it had agreed with Poland on some measures which could help ease the situation at border crossings blocked by Polish truckers but that protesters' main demands have not been on the agenda.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Protests by truckers over what they see as unfair competition from their Ukrainian peers started on Nov. 6, with four border crossings now under blockade.

A Ukrainian senior official said this would reduce the country's overall imports by about a fifth in November and could cost one percentage point of GDP growth if they drag on.

In a statement on its website, the ministry said that a request to reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian truckers entering the European Union - one of the main demands of Polish protesters - had not been discussed.

ALSO READ| US to impose travel bans on Israelis engaging in violence amid Hamas war: Report

Another issue is Ukraine's system of electronic queuing for crossing the border. Polish truckers argued it was being applied uniformly to fully loaded EU trucks as well as empty ones, causing long waiting times for the latter.

The ministry said among the measures agreed between the countries was the opening of the Uhryniv checkpoint, currently operating only for passenger cars and buses, for free passage of empty trucks aimed at reducing the load on other checkpoints.

Registration upon arrival in the electronic system will be introduced for the Nyzhankovychi crossing, along with special passes for empty trucks at two crossings currently under blockade - Yahodyn and Krakivets.

"At the same time, Polish protesters insist on the operation of Uhryniv  Dolgobychow and Nyzhankovychi  Malchowice only for transport registered in the EU. This position is unacceptable for Ukraine and the European Union," the ministry said.

Truckers from Ukraine have been exempt from seeking permits to cross the EU border under an agreement signed in June 2022, four months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Polish truckers want a return to a limited number of licenses for Ukraine, something that Kyiv and Brussels say is impossible.
Global delegates at COP28 in Dubai ratified a long-awaited damage fund aimed at aiding nations severely impacted by the climate crisis and carbon emissions. Despite the initial success of securing funds on the summit's first day, the United States is facing criticism for its notably low contribution, igniting disappointment among experts and advocacy groups. United Arab Emirates Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber reacts during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky(REUTERS)

US contributed only $17.5m against $100m by UAE

Several nations promptly pledged funds to the initiative following its formalization. The United Arab Emirates and Germany led with contributions of $100 million each, while the UK pledged 60 million. In contrast, the US committed only $17.5 million, drawing sharp criticism, with experts and groups labeling it as disappointing and embarrassing considering the size of its economy.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

US' notably smaller amount compared to other major donors, drew attention, with experts highlighting political pressures faced by the US delegation, given the dynamics within the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

US High on emissions and low on funds

The United States, the largest historical contributor of the planet-heating emissions that scientists agree are fueling the climate crisis, has objected to tying loss and damage funding to each wealthy nation's emissionsperhaps partially explaining why the Biden administration pledged only $17.5 million to the fund, think tank, Common Dreams column questioned.

A drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the need

Mohamed Adow from Power Shift Africa deemed the US contribution insufficient, calling it a mere fraction of what's required to address the pressing needs. Such contributions are a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the need they are to address, Adow said.

"In particular, the amount announced by the U.S. is embarrassing for President [Joe] Biden and [Special Presidential Climate Envoy] John Kerry," Adow added. "It just shows how this must be just the start."

Ani Dasgupta, president & CEO of World Resources Institute, emphasized the fund's significance but expressed concern over the inadequate contributions from the US and Japan.

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, he said.

Reason behind low contribution

Tom Evans of E3G acknowledged the US officials' cautious labeling of the donation as a climate impacts fund, possibly to avoid resistance from Congress. He highlighted the challenge of securing approval for such contributions, citing past difficulties faced by the United States in this regard.

Several were also upset over Biden's decision to skip the summit, Given the US status as the worlds biggest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, Bidens decision to skip the world leaders summit at COP28 in Dubai will invite criticism from the Global South, which has done the least to cause global warming yet is bearing the brunt of its effects, former diplomat Brahma Chellaney wrote on X.
The Republican Party of Florida has suffered a setback on Thursday after its chairman, Christian Ziegler, got caught in an investigation over an alleged rape accusation. At present, the Sarasota Police Department is looking into the matter. Earlier this year, Christian Ziegler took over the position. He was regarded as the best option among Trump's allies. Derek Byrd, Ziegler's attorney confirmed the news on November 30. Republican Party of Florida chairman Christian Ziegler, left, greets former president Donald Trump at the RPOF Freedom Summit on Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. Ziegler is the subject of a rape investigation, though no charges have been filed and police are providing little information on the accusation. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)(AP)

Also read: US faces criticism for embarrassingly small contribution to COP28 climate fund, a drop in the ocean

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Christian Ziegler faces rape investigation by Sarasota Police Department

According to chages levelled, for the past three years, the Florida GOP chairman and his wife, Bridget Ziegler, have reportedly been involved in a "consensual three-way sexual relationship" with the lady who has accused the political figure. Christian's legal representative has dodged questions on several occasions, but in response to a query from CBS News, the Sarasota Police Department provided a police report that had been heavily 'redacted'. The report discusses a rape and sexual assault allegation that occurred in Sarasota on October 2.

Late on Thursday night, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis demanded Christian Zieglers resignation from his role as head of the state party in response to the accusation.

In a conversation with reporters in Georgia, Ron DeSantis said "I don't see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing, given the gravity of those situations, And so I think that he should, I think he should step aside, Stressing on the fact that they are not treating him as guilty, he further stated He's innocent 'til proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny.

Nikki Fried refutes rape claims leveled against Christian Ziegler

Without delving deeper into the charges, Derek Byrd delivered a brief to statement to NY Post saying We acknowledge the reports that there is an investigation being conducted by the Sarasota Police Department regarding Mr. Ziegler, He further added Mr. Ziegler has 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.

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried refuted all of the accusations made against him, claiming that they were made for political purposes and had a hidden agenda. She 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 CNN anchor Chris Cuomo made a surprising statement on Wednesday, saying that he might vote for Donald Trump instead of Joe Biden in the next presidential election. Veteran anchor and former CNN host Chris Cuomo.(REUTERS)

Cuomo, who now works for NewsNation, was a guest on the PBD Podcast hosted by Patrick Bet-David. He said he was always open to the idea of supporting Trump over Biden.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

He explained his reasoning by saying, If its Biden-Trump, look, for meagain, we survived a Trump administration. Would we survive another one? Yes, yes. I dont think theres any greater risk to America with him than with Biden. And for people who are now gonna attack me and say, What are you talking about? Trump is, like, this crazy man, look, you know, as Patrick says, the datas the data. Nobody was trying to kill us when Trump was president in a way that theyre not now.

ALSO READ| Internal rebellion against Biden's Israel policy explodes, CIA issues warning

If anything theres more hostility. Im just saying, existentially, Im not afraid of a Trump presidency. Existentially, Im not afraid of another Biden presidency because, unlike many people in America, I believe that the country is much stronger than any individual leader, he added.

The 53-year-old media personality also said that the country survived various scandals and crises during the Trump and Biden administrations, such as Jan. 6, the Russia thing, and having Biden as a gaffe machine.

He said, We survived these things. Are we better for it? No. Should we be doing things differently? Yes. I think it happens. I dont know when; I dont even know why. But, you know, in terms of who Im gonna vote for, I would really have to see where we are at that moment in time.

Cuomos remarks contrast sharply with his previous criticism of Trump during his time at White House when he was on CNN. In December 2020, he called Trump the worst president we have ever seen, period, after Trump vetoed pay for the military, stalled relief for millions of you, and issued the most toxic tally of pardons we have ever seen.

ALSO READ| Sebastian Stan to play Donald Trump in star-studded biopic, The Apprentice

Cuomo was fired from CNN in December 2021 after it was revealed that he assisted his brother, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, in dealing with sexual assault allegations and trying to find out the identity of one of his accusers.

He also faced a sexual harassment claim from a former colleague who accused him of groping her in 2005.
On Thursday night, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, who is a hard-right hopeful for the Republican presidential nomination, will face off in a debate in Alpharetta, Georgia. Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks on Sept. 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa, at left, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaks on Sept. 12, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo)(AP)

But he will not be debating Donald Trump, the former president and clear leader in the polls, or Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina who has risen to second place. Nor will he be debating any other Republican.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

His rival will be Gavin Newsom, the California governor, a Democrat who is not running for his partys nomination in 2024, since Joe Biden is in the White House and plans to serve a full second term.

ALSO READ| Former CNN host Chris Cuomo says he is open to voting for Donald Trump over Joe Biden in 2024's presidential run

"dont like liars

The debate, which Fox News calls a slugfest, will be hosted by Sean Hannity. The prime-time host and prime culture war fighter, who is close to Trump, has branded his project without Trump as The Great Red vs Blue State Debate. As such, the two governors have tried to hype up some excitement for the event.

DeSantis said to Fox that his opponent caters to a very far-left slice of the electorate. I think that will be on display.

Newsom said to Hannity, I dont like people who demonise other people or go after vulnerable communities. I also dont like liars.

Florida and California are two of the most populous states, with a lot of electoral college votes. But neither is expected to be a swing state in 2024.

California used to be governed by Republicans  most notably Ronald Reagan, most recently Arnold Schwarzenegger  but has turned solidly Democratic.

Florida used to be a toss-up state  the site of the tight, election-deciding race between George W Bush and Al Gore in 2000  but has become more Republican.

ALSO READ| Internal rebellion against Biden's Israel policy explodes, CIA issues warning

The debate also poses political risks for both governors

DeSantis, who was once Trumps closest rival but now trails him in the polls, may look like he is craving attention  and, perhaps, as small. Reports suggest that he wears shoe lifts, and when the 5ft 11in governor meets his 6ft 3in opponent, they will engage in both greetings and confrontations.

While appearance isn't everything in life, it has frequently held significant swayfrom Richard Nixon's stubble and perspiration juxtaposed with JFK in 1960 to Donald Trump's unpredictable demeanor against Biden six decades later, it often plays a crucial role.

Newsom may raise questions about what he is really up to, given that Biden is in the White House but also that polls consistently show voters think the president is too old for a second term, sparking rumours about whether he might step down. At 56, Newsom is 25 years younger than Biden. Of course, that probably means his actual goal is 2028, and the first primary after Biden.

Sidney Blumenthal, a former aide to Bill and Hillary Clinton and now a Guardian columnist, said, Newsoms looking to 2028 and DeSantis is already politically dead.

I dont know that Newsom can perform a Lazarus-like miracle for DeSantis. The more useful debate would be between DeSantis and Dean Phillips  the Minnesota congressman who has started a quixotic, long-shot bid to oust Biden.

They both exist in the political twilight zone.

ALSO READ| Long-time US doctor suddenly loses citizenship after trying to renew his passport

Rick Wilson, a former Republican operative and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, said Fox Newss Great Red vs Blue State Debate would likely be nothing more than a spectacle.

Both men are engaged in purely performative politics, Wilson said.

Neither has a practical goal in mind but both are hungry for attention.

Wilson said that the reason for the debate between DeSantis and Newsom was the Fox News ecosystems desire to portray California as the liberal hellhole of their fervid nightmares.
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on social media on Friday that he had been informed of new criminal charges against him. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny(REUTERS)

Navalny, 47, is already serving sentences in a penal colony totalling more than 30 years on charges including extremism, which he denies, and has spent much of the last two years in solitary confinement for a range of alleged misdemeanours.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

In comments issued through his associates, he said he had now been charged under Article 214 of the penal code, which covers vandalism.

"I have no idea what article 214 is, and there's nowhere to look. You'll know before I do," he said on his Telegram channel.

"They really do initiate a new criminal case against me every three months. Rarely does an inmate confined to a solitary cell for over a year have such a vibrant social and political existence."

ALSO READ| Indian student beaten, held captive at US home for months; inhumane, cops say

Navalny is by far the best known figure in Russia's splintered opposition; supporters cast him as a Nelson Mandela-style figure who will one day be freed from jail to lead the country.

His political movement has been outlawed and its key figures have been jailed or fled abroad as part of a crackdown on dissent that has intensified since President Vladimir Putin sent his armed forces into Ukraine early last year, in what Moscow calls a "special military operation".

Navalny was convicted in August of new charges relating to alleged extremist activity and sentenced to an additional 19 years on top of the 11-1/2 years he was already serving. He rejects all the charges as politically motivated and designed to silence his criticism of the Kremlin.

Last month, three of his lawyers were placed on a register of "terrorists and extremists" by a financial watchdog, five weeks after being arrested on suspicion of belonging to an "extremist group".

Navalny earned admiration around the world for voluntarily returning to Russia in 2021 from Germany, where he had been treated for what Western laboratory tests showed was a near-fatal attempt to poison him with a nerve agent in Siberia.

He was immediately arrested on arrival. The Kremlin denied trying to have him killed.
The Kremlin said Friday it had hoped for an extension of the pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas militants, as combat resumed with strikes across the territory of Gaza. Israel-Hamas War: Palestinian children walk amid debris of buildings hit in Israeli strikes, near Al-Zawiya market in Gaza City.(AFP)

"We would certainly have preferred to see news of another extension of the humanitarian pause," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Moscow would "continue efforts" to secure the release of Russian citizens taken hostage.
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.
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

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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.
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.
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.
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

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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.
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.
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

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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.
On Thursday, a New York appeals court reinstated a gag order against former United States President Donald Trump.

The order prohibits the Republican businessman from commenting about court personnel after repeatedly disparaging a law clerk in his New York civil trial. The decision comes two weeks after an individual appellate judge put Trump's gag order on hold while the appeals process played out.

Donald Trump Gag Order

Judge Arthur Engoron said he plans to enforce the gag order against Trump "rigorously and vigorously." On the other hand, Trump's attorney, Christopher Kise, called the decision a "tragic day for the rule of law."

A spokesperson for the Republican businessman's 2024 presidential campaign, Steven Cheung complained that the judge's gag order was "nothing but attempted election interference, which is failing terribly."

The judge imposed the gag order on Oct. 3 after Trump posted on social media a derogatory comment about Engoron's law clerk. The post included a baseless allegation about the individual's personal life and came on the second day of New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit, as per the Associated Press.

During the first few weeks of the trial, Engoron fined Trump $15,000 for violating the gag order. He later expanded the order, which initially covered only parties in the case, to include lawyers. This came after the Republican businessman's attorneys questioned clerk Allison Greenfield's prominent role on the bench.

Read Also: Alex Murdaugh Given 27-Year Prison Sentence for Financial Crimes

Greenfield is seen sitting alongside the judge, exchanging notes and advising him during testimony in the trial. Trump's lawyers later sued Engoron, challenging his gag order as an abuse of power.

State lawyers supported Engoron's gag order, arguing that protecting the judge's staff was a reasonable step. Additionally, an attorney for the court system tied the former president's comments to an uptick in nasty calls and messages directed at the judge and law clerk.

Verbal Attacks on Court Staff

Following the reinstatement of the gag order, Trump renewed his attacks on Engoron's wife. According to The Guardian, the former president talked about the judge's partner and clerk on his Truth Social media platform.

He called the judge's wife, Dawn Engoron, a "Trump-hating wife" and said that she and her husband's law clerk had "taken over control of the New York State Witch Hunt Trial." He said that the lawsuit was aimed at him, his family, and the Republican Party as a whole.

After Engoron's decision regarding the order, Trump posted screenshots of vulgar and profane anti-Trump messages on X, formerly known as Twitter. He alleged that the posts were made by Dawn, which prompted the judge's wife to swiftly assert that she does not have an account on the social media platform.

The messages and threats sent to Engoron and his clerk last week numbered hundreds. Greenfield received 20 to 30 calls daily to her personal cell phone and 30 to 50 messages daily on social media platforms. She also received two personal email addresses, said CNN.

Related Article: Arizona County Officials Indicted, Charged With Election Interference

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
During the first day of the COP28 Climate Summit, millions of dollars in donations are putting pressure on wealthy countries, such as China, to make pledges to help address the issue.

The UN climate summit kicked off on Thursday with a slew of nations contributing to help poorer countries cope with the effects of global warming. This was seen as a surprise development.

COP28 Climate Summit Donations

The nation that led the charge is the oil-rich host of the summit, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which made a $100 million pledge. The contribution defused months of criticism about whether or not it could properly serve as an honest broker in talks about addressing fossil fuel dependence worldwide.

One made by Germany matched the UAE's pledge and kicked off a series of contributions from other nations. The development marked a remarkable opening day for the 28th annual COP conference. The European Union said it would be giving at least $245 million, including Germany's, for the fund, as per Politico.

On the other hand, the United Kingdom added $50 million, while the United States pledged $17.5 million. The UAE suddenly received praise over its massive donation as EU climate envoy Wopke Hoekstra expressed her gratitude to the nation for "leading the way for new donors."

Hoekstra added that because of the EU's efforts, the fund is open to contributions from all parties that can provide resources. The climate envoy's comment clearly indicated that the pledge transcended a decades-old divide in climate talks between "developed" and "developing" countries.

This is particularly true regarding financial matters, and many activists and climate-vulnerable countries have long argued that wealthy, industrialized nations are responsible for most of the planet's warming emissions. They also demanded for these countries to take responsibility and take the lead on funding climate action.

Despite the relatively good news on the first day of the climate summit, the US is criticized for its "embarrassing" amount of money contributed. For years, the demand for a fund to channel money to developing countries stymied progress at yearly negotiations, according to CNN.

Read Also: UK, Rwanda Officials Commit to Deportation Deal as Delays Challenge Controversial Agreement

Addressing Climate Change

Earlier this month, the details of the fund were agreed upon at a pre-COP meeting and formalized on Thursday. The development was made in the hopes that it would allow for progress in other areas at the summit.

In a statement, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said that they have delivered history following the massive contribution of the UAE. He noted that it was the first time a decision had been adopted on the first day of any COP conference.

While the pledges mark a historic moment for the climate summit, world leaders still cannot agree on stopping the burning of fossil fuels even after 27 years of conferences. Scientists say this particular resource is the main driver of climate change worldwide.

Additionally, the COP28 event is being hosted in the UAE, a country that is increasing its oil production. It has also been accused of using its position as the summit host to strike oil and gas deals with other nations, said the New York Times.

Related Article: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen Says China Won't Start War as Beijing Faces Internal Challenges

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yangtze River Delta advances high-quality integrated development

14:59, December 01, 2023 By Wu Qiuyu, Li Xinping ( People's Daily

The Yangtze River Delta is one of the most economically vibrant, open and innovative regions in China. It encompasses four major economic engines - Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui.

Shanghai serves as a frontier of openness and a prime innovation hub. Jiangsu province features strong real economy. Zhejiang province boasts a developed private economy. Anhui province possesses a rather comprehensive industrial system and rich scientific and technological resources...

On Nov. 5, 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo that China would support integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, and make it a national strategy.

A C919 jet, China's first self-developed large passenger aircraft, is about to depart as MU9191 of China Eastern Airlines from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport for Beijing Capital International Airport, May 28, 2023. It is the first commercial flight of the C919. (People's Daily Online/Wang Chu)

Over the past five years, the region's night light development index jumped 57.24 percent, and the number of cities with a GDP of over 1 trillion yuan ($141.29 billion) increased to eight, or around 1/3 of the total in China. The integrated development strategy has brought tremendous changes to the Yangtze River Delta, writing a new chapter on Chinese modernization.

"In the past, when we encountered technical difficulties, we had to find solutions and resources by ourselves. Now we can directly post requests on the platform," said Yang Weizhong, executive chairman of Shanghai Different Advanced Material Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Different), referring to an open competition platform for selecting the best candidates to undertake research projects launched by Shanghai's Pudong New Area earlier this year.

According to him, developing high-performance hybrid fiber materials had been a headache bothering the company for years. Immediately following the launch of the platform, Shanghai Different posted its technical requests, which were soon picked up and solved by Jiangsu Gem Advanced Fiber Materials Research Institute Co., Ltd.

"Integrated development truly brings innovation resources to one focal point, opening up new possibilities," Yang noted.

Innovation possesses the core position in China's modernization drive. In recent years, the synergetic innovation index in the Yangtze River Delta region has been growing at 9.47 percent annually on average, and the region has shared 23 major scientific research facilities and more than 40,000 large scientific instruments. High-caliber technological supplies are effectively bolstering the high-quality economic development of the region.

On May 28 this year, C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, completed its first commercial flight, which was a testimony to the manufacturing muscle of the Yangtze River Delta. About 10 percent of the aircraft's parts, 50 percent of its aluminum materials, and 50 percent of composite structural components were manufactured in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province.

It marked a close collaboration and integration of industrial chain resources among Yangtze River Delta cities, including Shanghai, Hefei, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Zhenjiang, which realized the dream of the Chinese people to make a large passenger jet of their own.

Under the promotion by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, C919's main manufacturer, around 1,000 enterprises in the nine cities and districts along the G60 Science and Innovation Corridor have been incorporated into the aircraft manufacturing chain.

In Changzhou, a series of innovative industrial clusters have sprouted up around the new energy industry chain, with production value already surpassing 500 billion yuan.

Photo shows a building of a demonstration park for financial technology cooperation under the G60 Science and Innovation Corridor in Hefei, east China's Anhui province. The demonstration park is a key financial cluster of Hefei that aims to build itself into a full-industrial chain financial sub-center of the Yangtze River Delta. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Bing)

In Jiaxing, the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang and the Zhejiang Institute of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences are thriving; top-tier scientific innovation platforms - China Nanhu Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, Nanhu Laboratory, and Institute of Flexible Electronics Technology of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang - have also been launched.

In Hefei, Chinese new energy vehicle giant BYD has built a new manufacturing base, while establishing supporting facilities for key components like power batteries, battery materials, high-voltage devices and wire harnesses in Bengbu, Chuzhou and Fuyang, to form a comprehensive industry chain.

"These epitomize the modernized industrial landscape in the Yangtze River Delta, and the unique strengths bred by integrated development," remarked BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu.

The ever-strengthening innovation and industrial chains come from the continuous unleashing of the talent chain. As the Yangtze River Delta's primary attraction for talents and highland for innovation, Shanghai welcomes both domestic and foreign talents, while also encouraging various talents to fully realize their potential in the region.

Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces have established incubators and empowerment centers in Shanghai to further tap the metropolitan's advantages in talent attraction and innovation resources.

"Previously, for foreigners in China to work in the securities industry, they had to 'follow local customs' and sit China's securities qualification exam - a tall task halting many international finance talents," said Park Pu, Chairman of J.P. Morgan Securities (China) Company Limited.

"Now Pudong has set up an international finance qualification accreditation catalog system, creating favorable conditions to draw global experts," Pu added.

Integrated development is not a simple equation of combining strengths, but rather realizing complementary advantages and building synergy to form new advantages of high-quality development.

As the strategy of integrated development moves ahead, the four major economic engines of the Yangtze River Delta will work together even more closely to propel high-quality development.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The inspector general for the United States General Services Administration (GSA), Robert Erickson, is investigating the decision to move the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters to Maryland.

The federal watchdog is conducting the probe after a contentious competition marked by allegations of conflict of interest from the bureau's director. For the GSA's part, it said that it chose the new location for the FBI's headquarters, in Greenbelt, Maryland, due to lower costs and easy access to transit.

FBI Headquarters Relocation Under Investigation

The consideration for a new headquarters has been discussed for over a decade. Additionally, the nearby states of Virginia and Maryland competed fiercely for the project. The announcement made earlier this month in choosing the latter brought sharp criticism from the former.

Virginia senators and representatives issued a joint statement on Thursday saying that "overwhelming evidence" suggested politics influenced the process. They then called on the GSA to delay anything related to the relocation of the FBI headquarters until the review is finished, as per NPR.

The Virginia delegation thanked the GSA inspector general for moving quickly and encouraged him to move forward to complete a careful and thorough review. On the other hand, lawmakers from Maryland said that the government chose their state because it has the best site and the project would be moving forward.

Maryland leaders said that any objective evaluation will find that the GSA decided after a thorough and transparent process. In a letter to Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the acting inspector general of the GSA said that the evaluation of the agency's process and procedures for selecting the site will start immediately.

The GSA manages the government's real estate portfolio and welcomes the review. It also pointed out that it had already released decision-making materials and a legal review of the concerns FBI Director Christopher Wray raised.

In a collaborative press conference earlier this month, lawmakers explained why Maryland was chosen as an ideal spot for the new building. State Gov. Wes Moore noted that the current building for the agency in Washington, D.C., is already crumbling, according to CBS News.

Read Also: NYC's Pro-Palestine Protesters Attempt to Disrupt Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

Potential Conflict of Interest

The GSA's various reasons for choosing Greenbelt are because it is a 0.1-mile walking distance to Metro and commuter rail. It also provides a consistent and predictable construction schedule as a public entity owns the site and offers a clear public process and timeline to achieve site control.

The area offered the best opportunity for the government's investment to impact the region positively through sustainable and equitable development. Lastly, Greenbelt provides the lowest overall cost to taxpayers.

The review comes after the FBI director told staff earlier this month that he had concerns about a "potential conflict of interest" in a GSA executive choosing a site that a previous employer owned. However, Wray noted that his objections were about the process and not the site, said the Associated Press.

Related Article: Judge Reinstates Gag Order on Trump in NY Civil Trial, Prompts Verbal Attack on Arthur Engoron's Wife

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Meta officials issued a warning that China, Iran, and Russia are planning potential "foreign covert influence operations" ahead of the United States' 2024 elections.

The social media company said that the three countries are coordinating with each other for the operations. Meta noted that the best way to deter such foreign actors from influencing American policies is through greater information sharing between the American government and various social media companies.

Meta Warns of Foreign Covert Influence Operations

Meta officials released a third-quarter "adversarial threat report" for November where they provided "key insights" into what is considered the global threat environment. It also included trends that they anticipate the society and industry would face coming into 2024 due to the many elections worldwide.

The report deemed China, Iran, and Russia the "most prolific geographical sources of foreign interference campaigns to date." It also addresses challenges with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

Regarding the "information environment ahead of 2024," Meta officials warned of operations that seek to take control of authentic partisan narratives. They noted that evidence-based reporting is the key to countering perception hacking that seeks to sow doubt in democratic processes, as per Fox Business.

The social media company stressed that information sharing between industry, government, and civil society is crucial in detecting and disrupting foreign threats early. The report noted that while information exchange continues with experts across the country and civil society, threat sharing by the American government in the U.S. related to foreign election interference has been paused since July.

A federal judge ordered in July that the Biden administration agencies cease communication with social media companies to suppress the protected free speech of Americans. This was in regard to COVID-19 vaccines, elections, and several other issues.

However, Judge Terry Doughty notably made exceptions that allow federal agencies to continue communicating with social media companies to warn about potential risks to national security and criminal activity.

Read Also: California To Spend $300 Million To Solve Homelessness Crisis

Dividing the United States

The report comes as someone from China created thousands of fake social media accounts that were designed to appear to be from Americans. These accounts were then used to spread polarizing political content. It was part of an apparent attempt to divide the U.S. ahead of its elections next year, according to the Associated Press.

It was found to be a network of roughly 4,800 fake accounts that attempted to build an audience before it was identified and eliminated by Meta. The accounts had fake photos, names, and locations to appear like everyday American Facebook users who comment on political issues.

The accounts did not post fake content similar to what other networks have done in the past. They instead reshared posts from X, formerly known as Twitter, that were initially posted by politicians, news outlets, and other accounts.

Meta's global threat intelligence, Ben Nimmo said that they believe it is important to build on the progress that the defender community has made since 2016. He said it is crucial to work together to keep evolving defenses against foreign interference, said CyberScoop.

Related Article: Brandon Johnson Blames Predecessor Lori Lightfoot, 'Right-Wing Extremism' for Migrant Crisis

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola at the White House to address opportunities to deepen our relationship, identify areas of future cooperation, and discuss regional and global challenges.

Together they discussed significant U.S. economic investment in Angola, including through the President's flagship Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) in the Lobito Corridor with over a billion dollars in U.S. financing committed this year alone.

These investments include support for over 180 rural bridges, upgrading 4G and 5G digital connectivity across the nation, introducing the first ever mobile money application, and bringing 500 megawatts of solar power to the grid, with an additional billion mobilized for the biggest rail investment in Africa in our history. These investments also will advance Angola's goal of becoming a net food exporter by 2027 and strengthening regional food security.

READ ALSO: Statement by Press Secretary Kirsten Allen on the Vice President's Travel to the United Arab Emirates

President Biden and President Lourenco committed to increased partnership on issues that define our shared future, including strengthening democracy, energy production and exportation, and space cooperation.

To that end, the leaders welcomed the launch of a U.S. - Angola Energy Security Dialogue in 2024 focused on the secure and stable supply of energy and deeper commercial ties while advancing our shared climate goals.

President Biden also congratulated President Lourenco for Angola's signing of the Artemis Accords, which advances a common vision of space exploration for the benefit of all humankind, and for joining the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation.

Lastly, the leaders resolved to address together global challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine and the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The meeting reaffirmed the significant progress made in our 30-year diplomatic relationship and exemplified the President's commitment to Africa, as outlined at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit last year.

READ MORE: Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke at a security meeting and criticized the NATO global military alliance as well as the West before walking out.

During his fiery remarks on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Lavrov derided the international body as an "appendage" of the EU and NATO.

Sergei Lavrov Speaks at Security Meeting

The Russian foreign minister also blamed NATO's supposed reckless expansion to the East for war coming back to Europe that has torn into the OSCE itself. Lavrov added that the organization is already on the brink of a precipice and the question that remains is if it still makes sense to invest in revitalizing it.

His speech was heard by dozens of other foreign ministers in the North Macedonian capital, Skopje. Lavrov spent 15 minutes speaking before completely walking out of the meeting after blaming what he described as Western tolerance of the "ruling neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv," as per EuroNews.

The Russian official needed to get special permission in order to fly over European airspace to attend the security meeting. It was his first visit to a NATO-allied country since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Three Baltic countries, namely Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, boycotted the OSCE meeting along with Ukraine due to Lavrov's presence. The Western ministers who attended the event were sharply critical of the Russian foreign minister after he spoke.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen spoke after Lavrov walked out and said that Russia's attempts to blame others for its own choices are "transparent." He added that they will not compromise on the core principles of the European security order or allow Moscow to deny Ukraine the right to make its own independent foreign and security policy choices.

During his speech, Lavrov said that the very existence of Russians and their decisive contribution to the history of Ukraine is being "denied." He added that there was plenty of evidence but argued that the OSCE and its relevant institutions remain silent, according to Yahoo News.

Read Also: Putin Urges Russian Women To Have 8 or More Children as Population Decreases Amid War With Ukraine

Criticizing NATO and the West

Lavrov's controversial speech comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly claimed that the Ukrainian government is made up of "neo-Nazis." This is despite the country having a democratically elected Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust.

Putin and other Moscow officials have invoked the Holocaust, World War II, and Nazism to defend their invasion of Kyiv. Historians said that they see these attempts as disinformation and a cynical ploy.

The OSCE is the 57-member successor to a Cold War-era organization for Soviet and Western powers to engage. However, it has largely been paralyzed because of Russia's ongoing use of the effective veto that each country has.

The United States and its allies are seeking simultaneously to keep the OSCE alive as well as hold Moscow accountable for its invasion of Ukraine. They are attending the meeting while also making a point of denouncing the Kremlin's actions. It is a stance that some of Ukraine's closest allies have little truck with, said the Voice of America News.

Related Article: Donations at the COP28 Climate Summit is Pressuring Wealthy Nations To Pledge Contributions

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Senate Judiciary Committee authorized subpoenas for Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo amid Supreme Court ethics probe, prompting GOP backlash.

Democratic lawmakers on the committee voted to issue the subpoenas for the GOP megadonor and conservative judicial activist. The development marked a new front in the panel's investigation into the ethics practices within the high court.

Subpoenas in Supreme Court Ethics Probe

The committee approved the subpoenas after a contentious meeting where Republican lawmakers accused their Democratic colleagues of trying to undermine the Supreme Court. They argued that this was being done by targeting private citizens.

The GOP members of the committee walked out of the room while the vote was taking place and only Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican in the panel, remained. All 11 Democrats voted in support of authorizing the subpoenas against Crow and Leo.

Lawmakers are seeking documents from the two individuals about gifts, trips, and lodging that were provided to any member of the Supreme Court. The two individuals' involvement in luxury trips provided to Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito was revealed in several reports this year, as per CBS News.

In a statement, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Dick Durbin said that the attempts to thwart the legitimate oversight efforts of Congress should concern all of them. His remarks, which came before the vote, added that they are not seeking the authorization lightly and do not do it often.

The Illinois Democrat called the subpoenaed individuals "central players" in the ethics challenges at the Supreme Court. On the other hand, Graham accused the left of attacking the integrity of the court, which now has a 6:3 conservative majority.

He argued that the probe that involves Crow and Leo is "politically motivated" and could lead senators to pursue subpoenas for private citizens they do not like. Graham noted that Democrats' efforts could destroy the court and the justices' reputations.

Read Also: Judge Reinstates Gag Order on Trump in NY Civil Trial, Prompts Verbal Attack on Arthur Engoron's Wife

Prompting a GOP Walk-Out

The subpoenas against Crow and Leo were advanced by Durbin and federal courts subcommittee Chair Sheldon Whitehouse after the two refused to cooperate with their investigation into Supreme Court ethics, according to The Hill.

Durbin said that his committee staff had tried for several months to get information from Crow and Leo. After the meeting, Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee argued that the subpoenas were "invalid" because they were issued in violation of Senate and committee rules.

Cruz said that the vote to authorize the subpoenas did not conclude until a few minutes afternoon. He claimed that this violated the two-hour rule that requires the committee to wrap up all business within two hours unless waived.

A spokesperson for the Office of Crow slammed the approved subpoenas, calling them unlawful and partisan. In a statement, he said that the Democrats on the committee were in violation of their own rules, showing the true nature of the investigation.

Crow's office continued to say that the GOP donor was willing to engage with the committee in good faith despite the unenforceability of the subpoena. It noted that this was the same as he has done in the past and throughout the process, said Fox News.

Related Article: GSA Inspector General Robert Erickson Investigating Decision to Move FBI Headquarters to Maryland

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A top NATO official claims that the 300,000 Russian soldier casualties aren't enough for the Russian government to end its invasion of Ukraine.

Ever since Kremline waged war against Kyiv in February 2022, both sides have lost hundreds and tens of thousands of troops, tanks, fighter planes, etc.

However, for Russia, its current casualties are not enough for it to end the war. Here's what Jens Stoltenberg, the head of NATO and secretary-general of the Western military alliance, explained.

Russia's 300,000 Soldier Casualties in Ukraine Not Enough to End Invasion

Jens Stoltenberg claimed that Russia is a country that has a high tolerance when it comes to military casualties, such as soldiers, aircraft, tanks, war vehicles, etc.

The top NATO officials added that military casualties are just among the issues faced by Russia as it continues its invasion. Other problems the Kremlin experiences are economical and political issues.

"As Ukraine has moved forward, Russia has fallen backward. It is now weaker politically, militarily, and economically," said the NATO leader via Business Insider.

"Oil and gas revenues are dropping. Russian banking assets are under sanctions. Over 1,000 foreign companies have stopped or scaled down their operations in the country. And 1.3 million people left Russia last year," he added.

Aside from these, Stoltenberg also said that Russia could be losing its influence with nearby countries, such as Central Asia and the Caucasus. Because of this, the Russian government is becoming more and more dependent on China.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Urges Russian Women To Have 8 or More Children as Russia's Population Decreases Amid Ongoing War With Ukraine

Russia Shouldn't Be Underestimated

Comparing Russia's casualties to Ukraine's figures, the casualties that Kyiv experiences are definitely lower than Kremlin's.

The New York Times reported that Ukraine lost between 70,000 to 100,000 soldiers. When it comes to injuries, over 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded.

Meanwhile, Russia still has a higher injury figure compared to Ukraine; with between 170,000 to 180,000 Russian troops being wounded.

Despite this, Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russia shouldn't be underestimated by Ukraine and other countries.

He explained that Russian President Vladimir Putin has a high tolerance when it comes to casualties and his goals in Ukraine remain the same.

Now, Putin's hatred towards Ukraine is expected to intensify as NATO leaders said that Ukraine's membership is being finalized. You can read the story below to learn more about this conflict.

Related Article: Ukraine's NATO Membership Being Finalized, But Recommendations for Kyiv's Needed Reforms Still Under Discussion

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 hotels across 19 brands, announces the opening of InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit, a new luxury lifestyle destination for the discerning modern traveller. Situated in Thonglor, the property offers 241 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, and seamlessly weaves traditional Thai craftsmanship with modern international influences to create an unparalleled destination that mirrors the essence of one of Bangkok's most vibrant districts.

Widely regarded as one of Bangkok's most upscale neighbourhoods, Thonglor is awash with chic bistros, upscale bars, and onsen spas; InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit sits amidst the bustle of this energetic area. The hotel's design draws inspiration from the context of the city, bringing memories from the past into the present and reflecting this in the design details. The elegance of Tor-mue, a traditional intricate hand weaving technique, is interwoven through the hotel's design and touchpoints.

The hotel offers three signature dining options including AVA Brasserie, which presents a brasserie-style international menu inspired by Pan Am's key destinations including London, New York, Tokyo, Miami, Frankfurt and Bangkok, a nod to the brand's origin. The Lobby is a stylish all-day lounge that celebrates the connectiveness of Thailand and Japan, with original Thai tea on offer alongside a traditional Japanese green tea ceremony. The Lobby will offer exclusively blended coffee by Sarnies and tea options from well-known tea houses which include Char Flower Tea, TWG, and Peace Oriental Teahouse as well as a selection of Thai craft chocolates from KanVeLa. Finally, Rogues a high-energy cocktail bar, will present curated cocktails, exclusive sake selection and whiskey collections, and live jazz performances.

A selection of suites, including the impressive Presidential Suite - which boasts indoor and outdoor areas - are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a 55-inch Smart TV, Chromecast, Bluetooth audio, soundbar, and motion sensors to prevent energy wastage. Bathroom amenities are from luxury European brand, Byredo in large format instead of miniatures.

Modern travellers lead diverse lives, and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts acknowledges the need for seamless transitions throughout their day. To address this, the brand is committed to helping guests "shape shift" through their day. New initiatives include scientifically backed food and beverage programmes aimed at helping guests reduce travel fatigue while ensuring dining options reflect differing guest needs throughout the day. All guests will also receive access to Timeshifter, a jet lag app which enables travellers to use the latest circadian science to adjust quickly to new time zones.

At InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit, a Sleep Well Program is curated to induce relaxation and promote sound sleep. This includes a pillow and pillow spray menu, calming ambient lighting and a bedtime tea set. An iHome PowerClock Glow in each room further promotes healthy sleeping rituals by creating a calming environment using a combination of light and sound therapy.

THE SPA by HARNN will present a Japanese-Thai inspired concept. Signature treatments include The Origami, which is inspired by the traditional Japanese paper folding and Thai garland knitting; the therapist will employ a combination of massage techniques, including Japanese Shiatsu and Thai soothing massage. The experience is designed to untangle tension in one's mind and body, leaving guests feeling refreshed.

For business travellers, the hotel boasts extensive meeting facilities that feature natural light and accommodates up to 300 guests across 685 square metres. Five multipurpose spaces are equipped with cutting-edge technology for physical and hybrid meetings.

InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit is part of the prestigious InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand, building on its longstanding heritage, the brand continues to refine luxury hospitality and is poised to open more than 30 hotels in the next two years. Having recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, InterContinental is continuing to evolve and redefine its ethos of discovery and modern luxury and this new hotel represents a perfect illustration of this evolution.

Hotel website
Yong Chen, Ph.D., an Associate Professor at EHL Hospitality Business School, Switzerland, where he lectures in marketing and economics of tourism and hospitality. His research interests include tourist happiness, tourism demand, economic impacts of tourism and hospitality, the sharing economy, and Chinese outbound tourism. Dr. Chen's research has been published in diverse outlets, including Tourism Management, the Journal of Travel Research, and the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. His opinions on the sharing economy, Chinese tourism demand and the hotel industry also appeared in CNN, MarketWatch, South China Morning Post, and EHL Hospitality Insights. He is also a Research Fellow at Lausanne Hospitality Research Center of EHL, where he shepherded the research project of Swiss Tourist Happiness Index funded by the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO).
In his role as founder of digital marketing agency Jadewolf, David Nickel, helps luxury travel brands generate qualified leads and direct bookings. His secret: A scalable luxury persona.

When a legacy brand with half a century of history looks to improve its digital marketing, it may be tempting to think success is as simple as running a few online ads. For safari specialists, Ker & Downey Africa, it was not as their unique capability to create and host bespoke, luxury safaris was unclear from their marketing.

Set packages for a specific amount of people over a set number of days was the companys original offering to prospective customers. This was coupled with incongruent language like best price guaranteed and price match.

The average consumer seeks out the best deal possible. The premium consumer is willing to pay a little bit more for extra value  but there is a limit where higher prices result in diminishing returns. Luxury is about a personalised one-of-a-kind experience where monetary value is priceless.

So when price and value are no object, what do marketers have left to sell? Its all about inspiration.

Like with any demographic, luxury shoppers require a dedicated approach to drive the consumer from consideration to purchase.

Luxury purchases are rooted in emotion. For some, its about having time to spend with their loved ones. For others, its about pursuing a lifelong passion. Two travel companies may have the same offering, but the one that can make the luxury consumer feel something beyond the offer is likely to win the sale.

The way to go about this is to apply the luxury consumer persona to everything they do. Like with any demographic, luxury shoppers require a dedicated approach to drive the consumer from consideration to purchase. A good place to start is to get a solid understanding of the customer from key decision-makers within the brand. Work with sales, marketing, and management teams to develop the brands unique luxury persona. This persona includes a number of things:

Demographics: age, place of residence, gender, family status, net worth, source of income

Media consumption preferences: typically used devices, apps, social media networks, sources of news and inspiration

Psychographics: emotional motivators and blockers

Nuances: cultural and traditional identifiers

The data for these personas is created with a combination of client first-party data, our own agencys data, and market research. Once you have a persona set up for a particular market, its time to scale.

For Ker & Downey Africa, the first market of interest was the U.S. The first step towards reaching luxury consumers in this market was eliminating all of the budget tier packages the company previously had on offer. If there are no budget tier options to choose from, it signals to luxury consumers that this may be the best place for them to find that one-of-a-kind experience.

Next, we sharpened the campaigns geographic reach from simply the U.S. in general to the affluent area codes in states like California, Texas, New York, and Florida, for example. Now that we had a good sense of who we wanted to reach and ensured that we had the right offering for them, it was time to move on to communicating to them in a language they understand.

Read the full article at thinkwithgoogle.com
With the use of Artificial Intelligence and the further digitalization of our world, companies and institutions have realized that not only the hard skills in a profession are very important, but also the more human and personal skills. These soft skills are highly in demand and might determine just who in the end is the best fit for a position. In a pool of equal job applicants with similar qualifications and educational backgrounds, the person who will stand out is the one who best fits into the team and the company by sharing the same values and bringing a personal note to the table.

Reading through job applications on LinkedIn and other job searching portals shows, that soft skills are almost as highly valued as professional qualifications.

Finding the right fit for a position is not as easy as it sounds, especially in times of labor shortages. A recently published survey from Manpower shows that 77 percent of employers report difficulty in filling roles  a 17-year high.

To combat this global talent shortage and the economic downturn this consequently causes, a tactic employers have been relying upon to overcome this challenge is finding candidates with the right personality fit - i.e., the right soft skills - and teaching them the hard skills they need to carry out the job effectively.

What is the definition of soft skills?

The term soft skills might apply that they are not as economically strong as their counterpart  the hard skills. However, whereas hard skills can be taught quite easily by taking the necessary courses and partaking in educational programs, learning soft skills is a more in-depth and complex process than some might think.

The recruiting platform Indeed describes soft skills as abilities that relate to how you work and interact with other people.

Commonly noted soft skills include communication, teamwork, and other interpersonal qualities. Employers look for candidates with soft skills as these skills are hard to teach and are important for long-term success. Soft skills are different from hard skills, which are technical in nature and very job- and industry-specific.

While most academic training focuses on hard skills, i.e. mastering specific techniques and analytical know-how, soft skills relate to emotional intelligence, empathy, problem-solving, and adaptability - qualities that facilitate positive human interaction in all contexts. These qualities are highly sought-after across all industries and job types not simply because they are key to successful customer outcomes, but also because in an increasingly digitalized world, human exchange is precious identity capital to be preserved.

According to Forbes, companies that hire employees with emotional intelligence could increase their revenue by over $90,000. In addition, the magazine indicates that two-thirds of all occupations will require these soft skills by the year 2030.

So what are the top soft skills are employers looking for the most in 2024?

A survey from Manpower has identified the top FIVE most-in-demand soft skills for 2024.

The top FIVE most in-demand soft skills:

1. Reliability & Self-Discipline

One of the top five soft skills employers are looking for is reliability and self-discipline. In fast-paced work environments, this is a very important skill set. It includes a good work ethic, so that employees meet deadlines, deliver projects on time, and can balance multiple responsibilities  all while maintaining overall productivity. Also, time management is an important part of reliability. Employees need to be able to set priorities accordingly, and organize various tasks  sometimes all happening at the same time. This strength requires discipline and the ability to set the right priorities.

A lack of these skills can create a lot of stress within teams and also damage the relationship with the customer if a deadline is not met or a project does not meet the quality standards of the target group. People who can manage their time effectively are more likely to be seen as reliable and efficient, which allows them to stand out in the workplace.

Planning projects and tasks early in advance, setting goals, delegating tasks, and following up with the necessary people can help to improve efficient time management and secure a reliable work ethic.

Punctuality and Professionalism go hand in hand with Reliability and Self-Discipline and all together create a sustainable and professional work ethic within a team and an organization.

Creativity & Originality

Being creative and original is a skill set that is not only needed in the Design and Creative professions. From Barista to Manager creativity and originality are needed in a busy day-to-day to stand out as a brand, for the customer experience, and present an organization from its most innovative side. When employees have the ability to work creatively they are more motivated and feel more included in the development of a company.

Innovative thinking leads to fresh ideas, problem-solving, and competitive advantages.

It also helps with problem-solving and looking at an issue from different angles. Being able to think outside of the box is a highly demanded skill, especially in times of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.

Critical Thinking & Analysis

Employers are looking for employees who are able to analyze issues and use critical thinking in daily procedures. Being able to showcase these two skills can make an employee stand out from the masses. Especially in professions that require strategic planning or dealing with business uncertainties, it is an essential skill that is in high demand and one of the top soft skills companies are currently looking for.

Analytical skills are an increasingly prevalent skill set to master for the future job market as the digital world collects more and more data at every touchpoint which can be used to inform decisions and innovate.

To gather and objectively assess key information to inform consensus or decision-making is very important in departments like Computer & IT, Accounting & Finance, and Business Development but also other segments, that require employees to step out of their comfort zone and take a more intellectually bold approach to work procedures.

Reasoning & Problem Solving

A skill set that is also related to critical thinking is problem-solving and reasoning. In todays increasingly complex world, organizations face a lot of unpredictable and unexpected issues. Having employees that can react in such situations is crucial for the success of an organization. Therefore, the ability to solve intricate problems is a valuable soft skill in the job market. Employees who can identify problems, generate solutions, and implement them effectively are very popular candidates.

Finding a solution to a problem involves the ability to come up with alternative solutions. It requires identifying and addressing complex challenges and opportunities in various fields.

It is necessary to make smart decisions in times of crisis or challenge. When employees are able to analyze a situation and can come up with the best course of action it is more efficient for a company and can also save a lot of resources.

Strategically solving problems is a key success factor for any company. Whereas in today's world, there is data to help make informed decisions it still comes down to the human behind it to decide which strategy is the best to combat an issue and overcome a challenge a business is facing.

Resilience & Adaptability

A resilient approach to work but also life in general is a highly important trait. Technological advances are being made at a fast pace, so nowadays things are changing so quickly that humans need to be able to adapt to these challenges, new developments, and circumstances. It is a significant asset for a company to have employees who are able to deal with these changes and adapt to new workflows and procedures.

The mindset of hospitality workers is by nature very versatile since they are working with customers from different cultural backgrounds and different expectations. Long hours, multi-tasking, constant customer accountability  these are just a few of the challenges that hospitality employees and managers face daily. It takes resilience, adaptability, and innovative thinking simply due to the adversity advantage ingrained in its professional DNA.

These skills needed can also be summed up as VUCA, which stands for volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous and acts as a catch-all for the challenges of a rapidly evolving business environment. It is simply engrained in the DNA of hospitality workers to adapt and be resilient in their everyday work processes.

When faced with challenges or if something has gone sideways it is also important to be able to bounce back and not get demotivated by failure. Therefore resilience is a very much needed skill to be able to conquer the challenges employees face at work and to stay ahead of the curve.

How EHL is teaching soft skills and human-centricity

At EHL, with our teaching experience of 130 years the human experience has always been at the center. The teaching focus has been to provide a smart direction for business leadership based on a mix of hard work, vision, and high standards. Ambitious future leaders need to understand that success depends as much on a tight business plan as it does on the people-centricity of their team and the soft skills they bring to the table.

Hospitality is first and foremost a people business, both from the internal business point of view and from the external customer perspective. To be successful in the sector, it is essential to know how to function as part of a team  either as a leader or as a participant. Every team member has a contribution to make and each individual role is critical to the team achieving its objectives: delivering people-driven service excellence at all times. Whether back or front of house, there are few touchpoints in the hospitality industry that do not involve a human exchange.

At EHL, the message to our students is clear: good interpersonal skills are essential to the success of any business. These people skills are as much learned from the experiential, hands-on curriculum that prides itself on in-situ learning, as from the multicultural personality of the school where over 120 nationalities study and work side by side.

We teach that people-centricity is key. People-centricity involves not just the customers, but all stakeholders including employees, business owners, and suppliers. Our curriculum reflects a commitment both to digital innovation as well as preservation and expansion of human themes: the creation of an inclusive community, social accountability, a sense of purpose and belonging. Dr. Achim Schmitt, EHL Dean of Graduate Programs

About EHL Group

EHL Group is the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector.

With expertise dating back to 1893, EHL Group now offers a wide range of leading educational programs from apprenticeships to master's degrees, as well as professional and executive education, on three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. EHL Group also offers consulting and certification services to companies and learning centers around the world. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centered and open to the world. www.ehlgroup.com

EHL Hospitality Business School

Communications Department

+41 21 785 1354

EHL

View source
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts today assumed management of three renowned New Zealand resorts, adding Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, and Rosewood Matakauri to its collection. Formerly known as Robertson Lodges, these spectacular lodges, each situated in quintessential destinations, now form an integral part of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts expanding portfolio.

The ribbon cutting of the three lodges took place in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, with the Robertson family (represented by the three sons of lodge founders, philanthropists and visionaries Julian & Josie Roberston, Spencer, Jay and Alex) officially bestowing the management of their family owned lodges to Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, represented at the official event by Hoss Vetry, Rosewood Hotel Groups Vice President of Operations for the APAC region.

After a traditional New Zealand Maori blessing, Jay Robertson, on behalf of his family, enthusiastically heralded the three lodges into an exciting new era under the Rosewood management.

The latest milestone of Rosewoods intentional and ongoing growth strategy, these additions mark Rosewood's entry into the Oceania region.

They also underscore Rosewoods commitment to championing storied properties in some of the most remarkable destinations around the world.

Rosewoods entrance into this highly captivating area of the Pacific demonstrates the brands commitment to expanding the horizons of ultra-luxury travel. Continuing a strong commitment to instilling its signature A Sense of Place philosophy, while channeling a differentiated approach to service that has contributed to the collections notoriety around the world, Rosewood brings a new level of luxury lifestyle to this destination.
The Shiji ReviewPro Guest Experience Benchmark Report has become the industry standard in understanding how we as an industry are managing experience. If expectations are being exceeded, guests talk about it positively and inversely; if not, reviews show it. Ive spent some time going through the latest report, and here are my thoughts on the subject.

The hospitality industry is witnessing a transformative era in how reviews and guest feedback shape its dynamics. The Report for Q3 2023 offers a comprehensive look into this evolution, revealing critical insights about the industrys current state and future trajectory.

An Indicator of Recovery

The report highlights a noteworthy trend in review scores and volume. Globally, the Review Index (GRI) stands at 85.4%, marking a 1.2-point increase over the previous year. This uptick is encouraging, signalling a recovery in guest satisfaction. Notably, 3, 4 and 5-star rated hotels increased their GRI by a minimum of 1.4 points. Underscoring the resilience of the hospitality industry in maintaining guest satisfaction under challenging circumstances.

 Source: Shiji ReviewPro

Simultaneously, the surge in global review volume, primarily led by the Asia Pacific region, indicates a rebound in travel and hotel usage post-pandemic. This increase is a double-edged sword: while it points to business recovery, it also amplifies the need for vigilant reputation management, as more reviews mean more opportunities for praise and criticism.

Review Market Share

The data on review market share reveals a significant dominance by Booking.com and Google, collectively generating over 70% of reviews. Its noteworthy that Booking.com, despite a slight decline in its market share since Q3 2022, holds a substantial 40.3% of global review volume. Google stands at 30.1%, cementing its influence in the travel review sector. The relatively smaller shares of Tripadvisor and Expedia, at 9.5% and 5.5%, respectively, highlight the competitive disparity in the market. This data underscores the influence both Booking.com and Google have in shaping consumer perceptions and choices in travel and hospitality.

The Diverse Landscape of Customer Feedback

The Source Indexes show Chinese OTAs Ctrip and Trip.com at the top, with review scores of 89.4% and 89.0%, suggesting a high level of customer satisfaction or possibly a different reviewing culture in the Chinese market. Google ranks third with an 86.1% score, indicating solid performance. In contrast, Booking.com landed at 82.4%, reflecting differences in customer expectations, service quality, or even the cultural characteristics of the users on these platforms. These figures offer perspectives on different user experiences on booking platforms, highlighting possible cultural and operational factors in customer feedback.

 Source: Shiji ReviewPro

Positive Feedback Outweighs The Negative

The Semantic Analysis data shows a 74.3% positivity rate in review comments, underscoring the hotel industrys ability to meet and exceed guest expectations, reflecting its adaptability and dedication to guest satisfaction. Notably, this positive trend also suggests that hotels listen to their guests and implement feedback effectively. The higher ratio of positive mentions on platforms like Ctrip, Trip.com, and HolidayCheck, compared to Booking.com, may indicate guest expectations across these platforms. This information could be helpful for hoteliers working to enhance their reputations and offer guests fulfilling experiences.

The Art of Engagement

Hotels are increasingly responsive to guest feedback, increasing their response to reviews, as seen by the rise in response rates to 62.5% for reviews in the latest quarter. This proactive approach clearly intends to celebrate successes, particularly the swift responses to positive feedback. However, given the wide scope of complaint topics included in the report, ranging from Health and Medical, Maintenance, Technology, Security, Bed Comfort and Room Amenities, not addressing negative reviews is a missed opportunity. Managing negative feedback promptly is critical for hotels to show their commitment to resolving issues and to turn dissatisfied guests into loyal advocates.

Benchmarks of Excellence

The City Data shows impressive GRIs of leading hotels in global cities, like the Belmond Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro and the Four Seasons Hotel New York, which set benchmarks for excellence. Including new cities like Singapore, Berlin, and Los Angeles in the city rankings brings fresh perspectives to the report. These results represent consistent quality, exceptional service, and understanding guest needs and expectations.

Conclusion

The Shiji-ReviewPro Guest Experience Benchmark Report for Q3 2023 offers a detailed look at the hospitality industry to understand guest sentiment across various regions and hotel categories.

Guest experience and reputation management are critical areas for continuous improvement in the hospitality industry. The data-driven insights about common areas of complaints and praise can guide hoteliers in making strategic decisions related to guest satisfaction. For instance, addressing negative mentions in key categories like room quality, technology, and value can substantially improve the guest experience and online reputation.

The information in the report underscores the importance of being agile and responsive to external factors such as economic conditions, technological advancements, and global events, which can impact guest expectations and perceptions.

I recommend you download and read the report, to form your own opinion of how the Guest Experience has been changing, or not, in your region.

About Shiji ReviewPro

Shiji Group provides software solutions and services for the hospitality, food service, retail and entertainment industries, ranging from hotel management solutions, to food and beverage and retail systems, payment gateways, data management, online distribution and more. Founded in 1998 as a network solutions provider for hotels, Shiji Group today comprises 5,000 employees in 80+ subsidiaries and brands, serving over 91,000 hotels, 200,000 restaurants and 600,000 retail outlets.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of snow 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.
Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360.

If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email.
Peacemaker Award Nominations Sought

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Peacemaker Award is given annually to an individual or group in Northern Berkshire.

The award, which originated as part of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, is made to persons who have contributed substantially to peace in our region. In general, the Peacemaker Award recognizes persons who have a history of working with people and/or neighborhoods and communities to provide for greater tolerance, understanding, and caring. While the award may be made to a person or group well known in the region, those making nominations are particularly urged to consider those who have worked hard and have made contributions without much recognition.

Past Peacemakers include Kenna Waterman, Don Quinn Kelley, Mark Rondeau, Mark Lincourt, Pastor Dave Anderson, Al & Cindi McLain, PopCares, Inc., Dick Alcombright, Bilal Ansari, Kerri Nicoll, and Mary Lou Accetta.

The MLK Jr. Day of Service Committee is also seeking new members interested in helping to plan the January 2024 event. To join the committee, call the Coalition at (413) 663-7588. To nominate a Peacemaker, pick up a form at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition office at 61 Main Street, Suite 218, North Adams or nominate online at https://bit.ly/Peacemaker2024

Nominations must be received by December 17, 2023.
Pittsfield OKs 3-Year Contract for Curtis

Superintendent Joseph Curtis has agreed to a three-year contract with no raise in fiscal 2025.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The School Committee has approved a three-year contract from 2024 to 2027 with Superintendent Joseph Curtis that does not raise his $185,000 salary in the first year.



Curtis reportedly requested that he not receive higher compensation in this agreement. He was ill at the time of the meeting and not able to attend.



"I would just like to note that I believe Mr. Curtis deserves a higher salary even though he has made it very clear that he does not want a higher salary with this contract," committee member Sara Hathaway said.

"But I hope there will be a point in the near future that we can help to bring his compensation closer to the salary levels of his peers in comparable districts."



Chair William Cameron pointed out that the contract is identical to the superintendent's current contract except for dates being changed and does not replace the current contract.



The contract runs from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, Curtis will be paid his present salary of $185,220. This will be subject to negotiation in 2025 and each subsequent year as well as performance-based salary increases.



Curtis' salary is significantly higher than the fiscal 2024 salary of $115,725 for the mayor. Mayor Linda Tyer, who leaves office in January, said the superintendent has initiated several significant undertakings that are critical to the future of the district and she feels strongly about all of the work that he is leading.

"It's a very unpopular notion. That's usually done at the last second of an administrator's term."

Enc. No. 2, Superintendent&... by Brittany Polito
The 60-year-old vacant office building has become an attraction for graffiti and trespassers.

Pittsfield Council Tackles 'Health Hazard' Properties

The council would like to see the building boarded up as a health hazard.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The City Council on Tuesday tackled petitions on two properties that Councilor at Large Councilor Karen Kalinowsky sees as a health hazard: an abandoned office building on Merrill Road and a "junkyard" of cars on Shaker Lane.



The building at 444 Merrill Road, owned by Peter Petricca of Dallas as Four Forty Four Merrill Road LLC, has been vacant for more than a decade and is in tax title. Aside from the broken windows and graffiti on the exterior, Kalinowsky said there are human feces and garbage inside and she wants the city to secure it.

Director of Public Health Andy Cambi said the Health Department does not board up commercial properties. After assessing the property and finding additional costs, he reported the city has filed a petition in housing court to have the building secured to arson code for the long term.



"He has boarded up the property in previous years, but this time, it's definitely getting worse with the windows on the side being broken into," he said, explaining that it was originally the doors being broken into and the court action requests it to be brought to arson code, making it less likely to be broken into.



Officials say the building's liability is on the owner and they are taking it to court so that the cost the board it up is the owner's responsibility. The ownership is incorporated under an LLC.



Finance Director Matthew Kerwood said the city can file foreclosure in land court but that process takes years and if it were to be auctioned off, it would not be desirable because of limitations associated with it such as wetlands.



Cambi is looking into grants to bring the building to arson code if the owners do not comply with the order.



Councilor at Large Earl Persip III suggested the city "bite the bullet" and pay the $12,000 to $15,000 it will take to board up the property while the court order is in process rather than incurring the costs of a first responder's medical leave if they were injured on site.



"It's been 10 years. He's not going to board it up," Persip said. "It's an LLC for a reason. It's abandoned for a reason."



The councilors agreed to send the petition to Mayor Linda Tyer and ask that she find the funds to board up the property.

The single-story masonry building is 7,940 square feet with a full basement, offices, locker rooms, six restrooms and parking for 30 vehicles on an acre of land.

It opened in 1962 as the corporate headquarters of Transit Mixed Concrete and Petricca Construction. It was designed by Prentice Bradley and described by The Berkshire Eagle as "the epitome of a contemporary office building." The executives' offices had teak wood walls and furniture.

Kalinowsky would also like to see the more than 30 cars, trucks, motorcycles and parts removed from a property at 75 Shaker Lane, of which she is an abuttor.

"This is an illegal junkyard, is not a bunch of antique cars unless you call all old cars antiques," she said during open microphone. "We have been working with the city to try to get this resolved but it's gotten worse. In the last, it's almost six months, there has also been a pile of tires that's going to be between 50 and 100."



She added that junkyards contain hazardous materials such as lead batteries, mercury, PCBs, asbestos, and other heavy metals that pose a risk to human health in the neighborhood.



Persip said that these are the things that frustrate residents.



"That it takes the city so long to get something so obvious done and I wish you came to us a little sooner so we could change the ordinance to give it more teeth but I think we need to just attack this from all angles," he said.



"Because even attacking it from that angle, changing the ordinance, it's going to take another few months. These are just going to sit there and who knows what's happening if they're contaminating the ground or what's happening out there."
A recent state inspection gave the superstructure of the massive overpass a rating of 3, or 'structurally deficient.' Two pillar supports midway of the bridge show the greatest amount of spalling and deterioration. PreviousNext

North Adams Veterans Memorial Bridge Deemed 'Structurally Deficient'



Jersey barriers and barrels were put up this week to limit a section of the roadway to two lanes. Plans are to soon prohibit large trucks from the bridge. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The 61-year-old Veterans Memorial Bridge has been declared "structurally deficient" after the most recent inspection by the state Department of Transportation.

The city's Department of Public Services in a Facebook post on Thursday said the state has issued weight limit restrictions and lane closures.

"These restrictions are due to structural deficiencies found during a recent inspection and are necessary to keep the bridge open until a repair plan can be implemented," stated the post. "Alternate truck routes [sic] detour signage will be posted over the next few weeks. Thank you for your patience."

The span is briefly narrowed to two lanes about halfway through its 171-foot span with barrels and jersey barriers.

"This is a precautionary measure, because there is some critical deterioration," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey on Friday. "So these actions are being taken to really make sure that the rest of the integrity is safe and that big heavy vehicles avoid the area when we get to that point."

The ratings posted by MassDOT's Highway Division on Friday list a deck condition of 7, which is considered "good." But the superstructure rated a 3 and the substructure a 5.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, ratings of 4 or less are classified as poor and 5 or 6 as good. The superstructure's rating of 3 lead to its designation as "structurally deficient."

The bridge was inspected on Sept. 25; prior to that, an inspection on December 2022 rated the superstructure as a 5. Macksey said the city was notified right before Thanksgiving that there was an issue and that Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau has been speaking with MassDOT this week.

Officials have been concerned about the bridge for sometime. There is significant spalling of the concrete pillars and rust on the steel trusses lifting the deck above the Hoosic River.

The bridge was part of the Central Artery project that saw much of the city's center demolished to straighten out Route 2. Not long after, the state (then in a budget crunch) handed the bridge over the to city. The last time it was overhauled was in 1992 with the federal government and state picking up the $2.1 million tab.

Macksey said the city has been told the bridge is safe for now but access by heavy vehicles will be prohibited to prevent further deterioration until a solution can be found. Big trucks and semis that are eastbound will be detoured down West Main Street to and westbound trucks over River Street to Massachusetts Avenue.

The limitations of the bridge will add to the frustrations this year of trying to get from one side of the city to the other. First Ashton Avenue and now a section of Massachusetts Avenue have been closed off for months as part of a massive overhaul of the stormwater system there; plus the Billy Evans Bridge by West Liquors is slated for reconstruction to start before the end of the year.

North Adams already has one bridge out of service: Brown Street. The connector over the West Branch of the Hoosic was closed "indefinitely" in March because of its poor structural condition. The $5.7 million reconstruction of the bridge is in design but the city is working with the Army Corps of Engineers on a temporary solution.

"Not many municipalities own bridges and here we are in the city of North Adams, we own the Veterans bridge and the Brown Street bridge," said the mayor. "And they're both failing."

North Adams is getting $750,000 in federal funding to rethink the Central Artery and consider ways to better connect the downtown to Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, which could include removing the bridge.

Macksey said the bridge and traffic patterns are already being evaluated ahead of that feasibility study but the solution won't be ready in 30 days.

"With all the water we got this summer, everything that was just a little bit deteriorated is now critically deteriorated," she said.
Page Content



At the invitation of the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation, ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar participated in a celebration on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Egypts hosting of ICAOs Middle East Regional Office in Cairo.





Egypts Minister of Civil Aviation, H.E. Air Marshal Mohamed Abbas Helmy (pictured centre), received Mr. Salazar (pictured to his left), at the Ministrys headquarters located in the New Administrative Capital.





The Minister and the Secretary General emphasized the significance of Egypts strong relationship with ICAO, particularly in terms of cooperation in achieving progress towards international civil aviations strategic objectives, and highlighted the importance of identifying opportunities for heightening this collaboration. Mr. Salazar also expressed his profound appreciation to the Government of Egypt for hosting ICAOs MID Regional Office for the past seven decades.





During the Secretary Generals mission, a new technical support agreement to restructure and design Egyptian airspace was concluded. The agreement was signed on the Egyptian side, by the Head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, Pilot Amr El-Sharkawy (pictured second from right). It aims to provide effective solutions for redesigning Egyptian airspace and planning air routes in a way that enhances the reduction of flight time, achieves flexibility in Egyptian airspace more efficiently, and reduces the percentage of carbon emissions, in addition to improving all areas of safety in the civil aviation facility. The signing was attended by the Permanent Representative of Egypt on the ICAO Council, Pilot Sameh El Hefny (pictured third from right).







The Secretary Generals mission to Egypt took place from 17 to 18 November 2023. He was accompanied by ICAOs Regional Director for the Middle East, Mr. Mohammed Abubaker Farea (pictured far left); the Director of ICAOs Air Transport Bureau, Mr. Mohamed Khalifa Rahma (second from left); and the Director of ICAOs Capacity Building and Implementation Bureau, Mr. Jorge Vargas (far right).










Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Tom Hanks has revealed what he believes to be the most stupid moment in his three-decade career.

The Oscar-winning actor has been a Hollywood star since the late 1980s, starring in films ranging from Big and Forrest Gump through to Saving Private Ryan and Elvis.

Hanks reflected on his career during an interview on The Graham Norton Show, which is set to be broadcast on Friday (1 December). The nostalgic chat saw the actor talk about his time filming Ron Howards space drama Apollo 13.

Released in 1995, Apollo 13 tells the real-life story of Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert, astronauts who find themselves in mortal danger when a journey to the moon goes wrong.

It was while filming the movies most-quoted moment  when Hankss Lovell says: Houston, we have a problem  that things took an embarrassing turn for the actor.

He told Norton: Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton and I were recreating the serious moment right after Houston we have a problem, and were going up and down on grips making us look weightless.

Ordinarily, this would have been fine, but that day, the cast and crew were being visited by someone very important: Lovell himself.

Hanks continued: We looked ridiculous and when I looked down there was Jim looking up at us, adding: I have never felt more stupid in my life.

Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (Universal Pictures)

Apollo 13 was nominated for nine Oscars, winning two in the Editing and Sound categories.

Hanks is in London promoting an installation called The Moonwalkers, which he narrates and co-wrote with Christopher Riley.

It tells the stories of the Apollo space missions, with the technology in the rooms is designed to make you feel as if youre sat alongside the astronauts.

Earlier this year, Hanks, who won back-to-back Oscars in 1994 and 1995 for Forrest Gump and Philadelphia, named the one film he starred in that he believes does not get enough praise.

The Graham Norton Show is on BBC One at 10.40pm. Episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Nashville judge has sided with Daryl Hall and ruled that John Oates cannot sell his share of the bands joint venture until a private arbitrator hears the case.

Chancellor Russell Perkins temporarily extended the pause on the sale of Oates share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC while the estranged duo moves through the early stages of arbitration.

Whole Oats Enterprises LLP owns 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 described Oates planned sale as the ultimate partnership betrayal.

Christine Lepera, an attorney for Hall, said she hasnt heard anything from Oates legal team indicating that theres 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 Halls claims that Oates went behind his back are untrue.

Hall and Oates in happier times (AP)

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 Halls 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 Halls 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.

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

Lepera replied that Hall had to submit an affidavit to support why the judge should keep temporarily blocking the deal.

Thats the reason we did that, and not for publicity, Lepera said.

The judge issued a temporary restraining order on 16 November, 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, or until the judges order expires  typically within 15 days, unless a judge extends the deadline.

The parties have since agreed on who will oversee the arbitration, where the dispute over the deal will be decided, the attorneys said.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A journalist reporting for one of Hong Kongs main English-language newspapers has gone missing since travelling to mainland China, according to reports.

Minnie Chan, a defence and diplomacy reporter with the South China Morning Post (SCMP), has been unreachable since she travelled to Beijing to cover a defence forum in October, Japans Kyodo News reported, citing sources.

Family and friends of Ms Chan fear she may have been detained and placed under investigation by the Chinese authorities.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association in a statement on Friday said it was concerned about Minnie Chans safety and is asking South China Morning Post to learn more. The association urged relatives and friends to reach out with more information.

The Alibaba-owner newspaper said Ms Chan was currently on personal leave.

Her family has informed us that she is in Beijing but needs time to handle a private matter, SCMP told The Independent in a statement. Her family has told us she is safe but has requested that we respect her privacy. We are in contact with Minnies family and we have no further information to disclose.

The safety of our journalists in the course of their professional work is of the utmost importance to the South China Morning Post. This has always been our principle. We will continue to communicate with Minnies family and provide all the necessary support they need. The Posts operations and news coverage remain unaffected.

The award-winning journalist was in mainland China to attend the three-day Xiangshan Forum on regional security which ended on 31 October.

Ms Chans last news report, published on 1 November, discussed Chinas mediating role in Israels war on Hamas in Gaza. She has been working with the publication since 2005, according to her bio on the website, which claims she has had several scoops relating to Chinas military development.

She had previously written about the Chinese militarys overhaul and the abrupt sacking of defence minister Li Shangfu.

She had in the past worked for the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, whose founder Jimmy Lai is facing national security charges, according to Ms Chans LinkedIn profile.

Her most recent Facebook post dated 11 November features pictures of her on holiday, while on X she last shared an article on 20 October.

One of Ms Chans Facebook friends told Al Jazeera that her WhatsApp account showed her as last online on 2 November and that her recent activity was very strange.

While Hong Kong enjoys better press freedom as a special administrative region, mainland China ranks 175th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index as it continues to extend its information control model not only within its borders, but also beyond them.

Beijing has also been tightening its grip on dissent and the free press in Hong Kong, however, forcing at least three pro-democracy newspapers there to close in recent years.

China is also the worlds largest captor of journalists, with more than 100 currently detained, according to Reporters without Borders.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The Taliban claims that its diplomats have taken charge of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, India, ending the last trace of the ousted Ashraf Ghani administration in the region after a bitter power tussle.

A video shared by the social media account for Afghanistans Mumbai consul general showed two diplomats raising the Afghan republics flag on the lawns of the embassy in Delhis grand Chanakyapuri embassy district.

India has not recognised the Taliban regime that seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, and evacuated its own staff from Kabul ahead of the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago. It no longer has a diplomatic presence there, and has said it will follow the lead of the United Nations in deciding whether to recognise the Taliban government.

The Afghan embassy in Delhi, led by appointees of the former Ghani administration, had continued to provide consular services to Afghans in India right up until last week.

But with those officials diplomatic visas in India expiring and no prospect of them being extended by the Indian government, last Friday they announced that they were shutting operations due to the lack of a recognised government in Kabul. The former Ghani administration officials have all now left India for third countries.

Two Afghan diplomats are seen in the flag-raising video  Zakia Wardak, the consul general of Afghanistan in Mumbai and Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, the consul general of Afghanistan in Hyderabad.

They said that the Indian government had asked them, as existing consul generals, to take charge of the embassy.

The previous ambassador of Afghanistan, Farid Mamundzay, has accused the two diplomats of working for the Taliban regime in Kabul.

And their move into the Delhi embassy was welcomed by the Taliban itself. The Talibans deputy minister of foreign affairs, Abbas Stanikzai, said the regime would be working with New Delhi going forward and that operations in Delhi would resume this week.

The minister said that the Taliban was pleased to announce the embassy in India and will be led by its diplomats, who will foster friendly relations between the two countries. He said the consuls from both missions moved to New Delhi earlier this week and reopened the offices there.

The flag that is seen being raised in the video this week is at least not the Talibans black-and-white standard of the Islamic Emirate. The diplomats can instead be seen raising the Afghan republics tricolour flag of black, red and green stripes with the national emblem embossed at the centre.

The incoming leaders of the embassy said that the old flag had become weathered and was only replaced because it was worn-out, though they nonetheless described it as a symbolic move.

While India has not reopened its embassy in Kabul, it has joined a small number of other countries in dealing directly with the Taliban  something the Modi administration says is necessary for humanitarian work.

The Indian government was also accused of not doing enough to support the Ghani-appointed former ambassador, who said he had no choice but to leave the country amid constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish control.

The Indian government has repeatedly said that the issue of control of the Afghan embassy was an internal matter for Afghanistan to resolve.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

When Canadas Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of involvement in the assassination of a Sikh Canadian citizen, New Delhi responded furiously to what it called the absurd suggestion, as diplomatic relations between the two countries crashed through the floor.

Less than two months later, and US prosecutors have levelled serious allegations of a similar nature, albeit involving a thwarted plot, of an assassination bid on US-based Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun last spring.

Unlike Canada, American prosecutors have spelled out the full details of the accusations in an unsealed indictment of an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy, and charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta, 52, in the case.

The back-to-back allegations by two members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance have posed a huge diplomatic challenge for India, with Washingtons accusations giving added weight to Ottawas and raising questions about a larger campaign to target and silence Sikh separatist leaders abroad.

Indias response to the US allegations has been much more nuanced, saying it takes the US inputs seriously, and forming what it says is a high-level investigative committee.

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, an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. This is also contrary to government policy.

A member of United Hindu Front organisation holds a banner depicting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (AFP via Getty Images)

The allegations are expected to loom large over US-India relations for some time to come, with the Biden administration now saying it has been repeatedly raising its concerns with New Delhi during several leaders meetings since the alleged plot was foiled. It comes just as relations were growing closer, with both Washington and New Delhi seeking an ally to counter China and boost their trade partnership. US-India ties were recently characterised by Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar as at all-time high and anticipated to go to the moon.

Michael Kugelman, a south Asia foreign policy expert, says that in isolation this incidents damage to US-India ties will be modest, describing the relationship as too big to fail.

The US-India relationship has too much deep trust, expansive cooperation, and strategic convergences to be damaged by this situation. Still, this is the first time US officials have had to grapple with the possibility that a key strategic partner carried out an attack on US soil, he tells The Independent.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken (L) meets Indias external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, ahead of the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

While there will be some impact on how Washington perceives Indias policies, there would be major implications if India crossed the red line by attempting a similar attack.

Trust wont be undermined but it may be a bit shaken, says Mr Kugelman.

Anil Trigunayat, former Indian diplomat to Jordan, Libya and Malta tells The Independent that the fallout on ties will depend on the outcome of the investigations that India undertakes.

At this stage, I do not see the allegations impacting the bilateral relationship in any big way, he says.

Mr Trigunayat, who also served as Indias trade commissioner in New York, says the Indian government will now review the intelligence provided by the US and take into account all the data that the Americans have shared.

India's PM Modi (right) shakes hand with US President Biden ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

There is a possibility that independent groups or individuals are involved, but until substantiated by irrefutable evidence, further scrutiny by other agencies will determine how actionable the intelligence shared by the Americans or any other friendly agency can be, he adds.

The White House has said it raised the issue of the alleged covert operation with India at the most senior levels and the Indian side responded with surprise and concern.

A senior Biden administration official said that President Biden was so concerned by the murder-for-hire allegations that he dispatched top US intelligence leaders, including CIA director William Burns and director of national intelligence Avril Haines, to New Delhi to raise the issue.

Mr Burns travelled to deliver the message that we will not tolerate such activities and that we expect those responsible to be held fully accountable, a senior US official said.

Indias defence minister Rajnath Singh (L) with US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin during their bilateral meeting in New Delhi (PIB/AFP via Getty Images)

The Modi government should not think that ignoring this case will make it go away, says Jonah Blank, a former US government official and political scientist based in Singapore. He said the involvement of top American diplomats and the CIA chief shows Washington is already strongly convinced of the Indian governments complicity.

The allegation was first reported by the Financial Times on 22 November, stating that the US had warned New Delhi about its alleged involvement in the plot to kill Mr Pannun.

According to prosecutors, the Indian official recruited Mr Gupta in May 2023 to lead the assassination in the US and the two met in Delhi to discuss the plot.

We will hit all our targets, Mr Gupta said in one of the text messages to the official, according to the document.

Mr Gupta proposed acting as a client to attract the target, to a place where he could be more easily executed, the indictment said. He intended to meet a hitman in New York City but was instead introduced to an undercover law enforcement officer who offered to carry out the killing for $100,000, it said.

On 9 June, prosecutors allege that Mr Gupta made an upfront payment of $15,000 through an associate, a transaction allegedly documented in a photograph included in the indictment.

Mr Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June and is awaiting extradition to the US. The Indian government official has been described as a senior field officer who worked for security management and intelligence, but has not been named.

Mr Pannun, who is the general counsel of the separatist group Sikhs for Justice, has been designated a terrorist in India and his organisation banned.

He has been involved in organising a string of non-binding referendums calling for a separate state for Sikhs in India in countries with large Indian diasporas, including Canada, the UK and Australia.

Most recently, Indias federal anti-terrorism agency filed a case against Mr Pannun for issuing an alleged threat to Air India passengers. Mr Pannun had issued a vaguely-worded warning for the Sikh people to avoid travelling with the carrier on a specific date or your life will be in danger. None of the alleged threats made in the video materialised.

Mr Kugelman says going forward India will carry out its own investigation but it cannot be said to what extent it would cooperate with any requests coming out of the US.

New Delhi is keen not to damage its ties with the US, but these are sensitive issues and so its hard to know how exactly it will respond, he said.

Mr Blank said the allegations were doing immeasurable harm to the international goodwill that India as a nation has built up ever since its independence.

Few nations have completely clean hands, and the US certainly has its share of shady overseas actions. But none of the victims of Indias alleged overseas assassination schemes posed any plausible threat to the nations security. Is it even remotely worth the high cost, he asked.
Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

King Charles shrugged off a royal racism storm that threatened to overshadow his Cop28 speech, delivering an urgent message to world leaders: The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

Echoing The Independents call for action to turn the tide of climate change before it is too late, he told delegates at the Dubai eco-conference that nations must work together to preserve our planet for generations to come.

I pray Cop28 will be a critical tipping point towards genuine action, Charles said, ignoring the racism row that continues to rumble on in the wake of royal author Omid Scobies palace expose, Endgame.

The row was reignited when a Dutch translation of the book identified Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two senior royals who allegedly raised concerns about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son.

An apparent translation error meant the Dutch versions were dramatically pulled from shelves and pulped at the eleventh hour, but not before the names began circulating on social media.

Neither the Sussexes nor Buckingham Palace has commented on the latest furore, but The Independent understands the palace is considering all options.

Delivering the keynote speech on day two of the summit, Charles warned world leaders they needed to act now to stem the growing toll of its most vulnerable victims.

He said countries were dreadfully far off track on key climate targets and claimed the dangers  wildfires across Europe, cyclones ripping through island nations and unpreceded floods in Asia  were no longer distant risks.

And despite some progress, he said transformational action was needed as he addressed the heads of government and businesses from across the globe.

The call to arms represents a crowning achievement for a monarch who has long fought in the trenches of climate activism.

King Charles delivered an urgent message to world leaders over climate change as he opened Cop28 (AP)

Charles is the only foreign head of state invited to speak at the climate action meeting in recognition of his lifes work. He also opened Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021 and Cop21 in Paris in 2015.

But this years address came as the United Nations warned that the planet is on course for a catastrophic 3C increase in average global temperature by the end of the century.

The King said: I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when, already, as scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached.

Despite all the attention, there is 30 per cent more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than there was back then, and almost 40 per cent more methane.

Some important progress has been made, but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track as the global stocktake report demonstrates so graphically.

Despite the clarity of the message, the King did cause some raised eyebrows by wearing a distinctive tie patterned with the Greek flag, which some speculated was a nod to the recent government spat with Athens over the Elgin marbles.

However, with the Kings father born in Greece, Buckingham Palace insisted the colours were random.

With world leaders including Frances Emmanuel Macron, Indias Narendra Modi and Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan watching, the King said that trillions of dollars will be needed to drive the transformation across all facets of society required to tackle the climate crisis and that public finance alone will never be sufficient.

He concluded: If we act together to safeguard our planet, the welfare of our people will surely follow. The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

But the speech was not quite enough to drown out the racism debate playing out at home.

Charles will soon return to the UK to face the growing storm reignited by Mr Scobies book.

The row was initially sparked in the wake of a bombshell interview of Harry and Meghan by Oprah Winfrey in 2021, where they alleged an unidentified member of the monarchy had raised concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when hes born.

In the interview, Meghan said a member of the royal family  but not Queen Elizabeth II or her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh  had raised concerns over the skin colour of Archie, but fell short of naming them, stating it would be very damaging to them.

Mr Scobie has since brushed off the issue and insisted the names were never included in his own English version despite speculation that their inclusion had been a stunt designed to boost sales. A full investigation has been launched into what happened, Mr Scobie insists.

Nonetheless, the monarchy has suffered long-lasting reputational damage one royal commentator has said.

Joe Little of Majesty magazine said: The allegations, true or untrue, will clearly put doubt in the minds of people who are aware of the individuals who have been named. That cant be helpful in any shape or form.

But mud sticks, once the shadow of doubt is there it never really goes away, and its got to impact not only on the individuals but also the institution as a whole  its a long-lasting reputational damage.

Meanwhile, the second day of the summit also saw:

The United Arab Emirates announce a $30bn climate fund aimed at spurring $250bn in investments this decade towards climate projects in developing countries

Negative attention for Cop27 hero President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, after Brazil said it intends to join the oil group, Opec+

The Israel-Hamas conflict raise tensions during world leaders day; Jordans King Abdullah linked the climate crisis with the war in Gaza while Israels president Isaac Herzog did not make his scheduled speech

The UAEs Cop28 presidency issue a document calling for a phase-down of fossil fuels

More than 100 countries signed a statement demanding the more ambitious phase-out of fossil fuels by the end of the conference.
Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

King Charles has said the hope of the world rests on climate talks taking place in the coming two weeks in Dubai, as he issued a call to world leaders gathered on Friday at the start of the Cop28 summit.

Addressing an auditorium packed with around 1,000 heads of state and senior dignatories, the King warned that the world was dreadfully far off track in delivering a sustainable future for the climate. Charles said the world faces a starker and darker choice now than it ever has before.

When we see the news that this last Northern Hemisphere summer, for instance, was the warmest global average temperature on record, we need to pause to process what this actually means: we are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits, and into dangerous, uncharted territory, he said.

We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition, all at once, at a pace that far outstrips natures ability to cope. As we work towards a zero-carbon future, we must work equally towards being nature-positive... With what we are witnessing, our choice now is a starker, and darker one: how dangerous are we actually prepared to make our world?

Charles delivered the speech at a time when, more than 4,000 miles back home, a race row continued to rumble on in the wake of Omid Scobies royal expose. A Dutch translation of the book identified Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two senior royals who allegedly raised concerns about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son.

The row was initially sparked in the wake of a bombshell interview of Harry and Meghan by Oprah Winfrey in 2021, where they alleged an unidentified member of the monarchy had raised concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when hes born.

The apparent translation error meant the Dutch versions were dramatically pulled from shelves and pulped at the eleventh hour, but not before the names began circulating on social media. The latest twist in the story has increased pressure on Buckingham Palace, which is considering all options, but is yet to respond.

A life-long environmentalist, Charles was invited to be the first foreign head of state to speak at the opening ceremony of the conference, with the King saying he was present at Cop21 when the landmark Paris Agreement was signed, setting out the ambition to keep average global temperature rises below 1.5C. As delegates began arriving for the summit, the World Meteorological Organisation said we are already on track for 1.4C of warming in 2023.

The King said that trillions of dollars will be needed to drive the transformation across all facets of society required to tackle the climate crisis and that public finance alone will never be sufficient. That will mean bringing together the public, private, philanthropic and the NGO [non-governmental organisation] sectors ever more effectively.

I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point for genuine transformational action, the King said.

In 2050 our grandchildren wont be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or did not do.

In your hands is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive, he added. I can only urge you to meet it with ambition, imagination, and a true sense of the emergency we face.

World leaders including Frances Emmanuel Macron, Indias Narendra Modi, Britains Rishi Sunak and Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan were present in the audience to watch the Kings speech. On Friday morning many world leaders, including Charles, strolled in unison down the flag-lined boulevard of Expo City in Dubai in a gesture of unity. Around 160 world leaders were scheduled to address the summit over the course of Friday and Saturday.

If we act together to safeguard our planet, the welfare of our people will surely follow, the King said. The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

Dealing with this is a job for us all. Change will come by working together and making it easier to embrace decisions that will sustain our world, rather than carry on as though there are no limits, or as though our actions have no consequences.

His speech is the culmination of decades of dedication to environmental issues. Charles first publicly addressed the reality of climate change in 1970 while still heir to the throne, and campaigning on conservation issues and promoting organic farming. Ive spent a large proportion of my life trying to warn of the existential threat posed by global warming, he told the summit.

Opening parliament for the first time as monarch last month, Charles read out a list of government bills that included controversial new licences for oil drilling in the North Sea. It is just one of the decisions that has led to questions over the UK governments commitment to tackling the climate crisis. Mr Sunak, the King and foreign secretary David Cameron also raised eyebrows by travelling in separate private jets to attend the Dubai talks.

There was no direct mention of reducing reliance on oil and gas in the Kings speech  a notable omission given the controversy already surrounding a UN climate summit hosted by an oil companys chief executive.

Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International, told The Independent: If we are really serious about tackling the climate crisis, we must address the elephant in the room: the continued expansion of fossil fuels by wealthy Commonwealth nations like the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Zahra Hdidou, senior climate and resilience adviser at ActionAid UK, said the Kings ambition on climate action was is deeply compromised by his own government.

The irony should not be lost that the King is flanked at the summit by two men who remain committed to climate-wrecking policies, she said, referring to Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron.

While we understand His Majesty must stick to his governments script on climate, we can only hope that behind the scenes he uses his influence to persuade both men to abandon their reckless, anti-climate policies.

Tessa Khan, executive director at Uplift, an organisation campaigning for a fossil fuel free UK, said that as a longstanding environmental campaigner the King would no doubt understand that fossil fuels are at the heart of the climate crisis.

While hes duty-bound to stay out of politics, he will know that the UK is one of a small handful of countries that is opening up major new oil and gas fields when we know incompatible with a safe climate.

And Izzie McIntosh, climate campaign manager at Global Justice Now, said Charles dire warnings are meaningless unless the UK government backs them up with actions.

The King spoke after Cop28 was opened by the president of host country the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who said his country had pledged to bring the world together to unite, work and deliver.

Speaking before Charles, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres called on the world leaders gathered to make this Cop a game-changer.

Mr Guterres told the summit that Earths vital signs are failing we are minutes to midnight for the 1.5C warming limit.

We can - you can - prevent planetary crash and burn. We have the technologies if we act now.
Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunak was accused of shrinking and retreating on the climate crisis, as he was condemned for spending more time flying to Cop28 than at the summit itself.

The PM defended watering down his net zero policies, insisting the UK is still leading the charge in tackling climate change during his brief stint in Dubai.

Mr Sunak told the crucial global conference that climate politics is close to breaking point  but also claimed he would only cut emissions in a way that benefits the British people.

The Tory leader was grilled on whether he was taking Cop28 seriously, given he would be spending more time travelling on his private jet  14 hours to and from the UAE  than negotiating at the summit.

The PM  spending only 11 hours in Dubai  fired back at the hugely simplistic idea. I wouldnt measure our impact by hours spent  I would measure it by the actual things we are doing to make a difference.

The row came as:

Rishi Sunak said it was entirely sensible to worry about taxpayers money when meeting climate targets

The PM was accused of a smoke and mirrors accounting trick over a 1.6bn pledge

Keir Starmer claimed he had more requests for meetings at Cop28 than he could possibly handle

The King warned world leaders they were dreadfully far off track on climate change

Before flying back on Friday, Mr Sunak insisted that the UK government can still stand tall at Cop28 and remains a leader on climate change  despite his own rollback of net zero ambitions at home.

The PM has scaled back a host of net zero targets and vowed to max out UK oil and gas reserves by granting new North Sea drilling licences.

Insisting he would not be in hock to ideological zealots, Mr Sunak promised hand on heart that no world leaders had criticised him for delaying the ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.

Not a single leader Ive met today has spoken about that. Do you know why? Most of their targets are less ambitious than the UK.

Rishi Sunak speaks to the King at Cop28 in Dubai (PA)

Labour described Mr Sunaks speech to Cop28 as complacent, with shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband accusing him of being in denial about the energy bills crisis at home and the weakening of the United Kingdoms standing abroad.

Mr Sunak came in for criticism for only spending a brief spell at Cop28  contrasting with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer being in Dubai for three days, and the King spending two days at the summit.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said Mr Sunak seems to spend more time on private jets than he does working on climate crisis solutions.

And Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said Mr Sunak had flown in and out of this Dubai gig like yesterdays chart-topper  crooning about the UKs past glories as a climate leader but with little new material to offer.

Sir Keir is holding a series of meetings at the UAE event in a bid to position himself as a PM-in-waiting, stressing that Britain would be open to major green investment if he wins power.

Mr Sunak accused Sir Keir of just trying to catch up. The Tory leader used his Cop28 appearance to announce a deal between Masdar and RWE to invest up to 11bn in a new wind farm at Dogger Bank.

But Sir Keir accused Mr Sunak of retreating from the climate mission and seeing it as an unwanted obligation  attacking the smallness of his politics.

We saw it with some of the lines that he was putting out about eco zealots as he got on the plane to come here. This is not something to shrink from, not something to retreat from, the Labour leader added.

Sir Keir claimed he had more requests for meetings with world leaders and officials at Cop28 than we can possible handle, as he pledged to play a full part on the international stage if Labour wins power.

Rishi Sunak speaking to media at the climate change summit (PA)

Mr Sunak announced 1.6bn for international climate finance  including to support projects to halt deforestation and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

But ActionAid UK said Mr Sunaks 1.6bn pledge was simply a smoke and mirrors accounting trick based on reheated pledges from years gone by.

Zahra Hdidou, the charitys senior climate adviser, said the sum was neither new nor additional. The campaigner said the PM was refusing to act meaningfully on climate action.

Zac Goldsmith  who quit as an environment minister after accusing Mr Sunak of being uninterested in the issue  told Sky News that the UK was no longer seen as a reliable or serious partner on climate change.

Senior Tory MP Chris Skidmore  the former government net zero tsar  said the country could not wait for the technologies of tomorrow to decarbonise its industries.

Keir Starmer, here at Cop28 on Friday, said he was inundated with requests for meetings (PA)

The new row comes as the King has warned that the world remains dreadfully far off track in key climate targets in the opening speech at Cop28.

The monarch warned of the vast, frightening experiment in rising temperatures, and he said he prayed for transformation action from global leaders.

On Friday world leaders agreed a new declaration aimed at transforming the global food system. It follows the pledge of 330m towards a fund for nations suffering most from the effects of climate change.

Cop28 president Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has been accused of seeking to use the conference to strike oil and gas deals  which he has denied.

Mr Sunak denied that the allegations undermine the UAEs position leading the negotiations. The UAEs president Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, meanwhile, announced a 23.7bn fund for global climate solutions.
Live your life healthier and happier with our free Living Well newsletter, packed with wellness advice, practical tips and nutritious recipes Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Living Well email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rita Moreno has revealed the unique way she made friends after finding herself suffering from loneliness.

Ahead of her 92nd birthday on 11 December, the West Side Story star opened up about her struggles with loneliness after she moved into a new home. In an interview with People published 28 November, Moreno recalled feeling so sad after moving from her house in Californias Berkeley Hills area to a new condominium.

The Broadway alum admitted she felt so lonely that it was even affecting [her] appetite. It wasnt until her daughter, jewellerly designer Fernanda Luisa Gordon, noticed something was wrong that Moreno decided to combat her loneliness. I really didnt understand what was happening, she told the outlet. I remember thinking: I cant go on like this. Im in the most beautiful apartment in the world as far as Im concerned, and this is happening. Why is this happening?

The 80 For Brady star said she used her years of therapy and psychotherapy to help her self-reflect, ultimately deciding that it was her recent move away from friends and family that was making her unhappy. Moreno, who has one daughter and two grandsons, explained that her new home made it difficult for her friends and family to visit.

So when we make plans to see each other, we have to make plans, they cant just kind of drop by, she said. I was really lonely. Moreno admitted that she was fascinated when it dawned on her that she didnt actually know how to make friends because she never had to seek peoples company.

You know why? Because people have always come to me, she added.

When the Family Switch star finally decided to meet some people on her own, she went to the supermarket to do some shopping and met a lovely woman who she had previously seen at the store. She had this big smile on her face and she recognised me, obviously, and we started to talk, Moreno recalled. I said to her: Would you like to have lunch with me?

According to Moreno, the woman was shocked when the Hollywood icon asked to have lunch with her but she ended up accepting the invite. She sat down and she said: Do you always pick people up like this in the market? Moreno recounted. I told her the truth. I said: No, but you always have struck me as such a lovely person. Since Im new here and I dont know anybody, I thought Id take a dip.

Since then, the woman has become one of many people that Moreno befriended, including those from her apartment building. Im so lucky, she added.

The Puerto Rican actor landed her breakout role of Anita in the 1961 movie musical adaptation of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheims original Broadway musical, West Side Story. She later won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role. Moreno also starred as a newly-created character, Valentina, in director Steven Spielbergs version of West Side Story. In 1965, she married cardiologist Leonard Gordon, who later became her manager. They were married for 45 years, welcoming daughter Fernanda, before his death in 2010.

In May, United States surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a public health epidemic, posing health risks as deadly as smoking a dozen cigarettes daily. In a report, Murthy stated that nearly half of US adults say theyve experienced loneliness. The report also stated that loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by nearly 30 per cent, posing a greater risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as increasing a persons likelihood for experiencing depression, anxiety, and dementia.

The crisis was worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as schools and workplaces shut down and people were required to quarantine and socially distance themselves. In 2020, Americans spent about 20 minutes a day in person with friends compared to 60 minutes daily just two decades earlier.

We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. Its like hunger or thirst. Its a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing, Murthy told The Associated Press in an interview. Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and thats not right. Thats why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

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.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

It was a royal saga to put even the most dramatic of Crown episodes to shame.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, sat across from Oprah Winfrey in a sprawling LA mansion, making the astonishing claim that a senior member of the royal family had made comments about the skin colour of their then unborn child, Archie.

The fallout was enormous, and though the Duke of Sussex later distanced himself from the remarks, the damage to The Firm was undeniable.

Fast forward two years when Omid Scobies book, Endgame, which purports to expose the monarchy and the fierce battles fought among the royals, reignited the damaging row thanks to a translation error which identified the two senior royals at the heart of the claims: Charles and Catherine.

Now, as the saga approaches its dramatic climax, The Independent recaps the twists and turns of this very modern royal row.

From Oprah to Endgame, heres how the Harry and Meghan royal racism row unfolded

2016: When Meghan and Harry first started dating there was a wave of abuse

Meghan and Harry claim their hardships began once their relationship went public. Harry confirmed his relationship with Meghan in a formal statement on 8 November 2016.

At the time, he pleaded with the press and public to stop the wave of abuse and harassment" that had been directed at his girlfriend.

The statement further highlighted Harrys distaste for the medias interest in his private life.

Harrys press secretary accused the media of introducing racial overtones into comment pieces on his relationship with Markle and claimed that she had been subjected to a abuse and harassment.

Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markles safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her, it added.

According to Harry, he had been involved in legal battles to stop the media from publishing defamatory stories about Meghan and their relationship.

During an interview with Oprah Winfrey, in her five-episode docuseries The Me You Cant See, released in 2021, Harry spoke candidly about his mental health as well as how Meghan has been treated in the media.

Prince Harry in 'The Me You Cant See (Apple TV)

Harry said within a few days of our relationship being made public was when they said, Harrys girl almost straight outta Compton. And that her exotic DNA will be thickening the royal blood, he told Winfrey.

We would get followed, photographed, chased, harassed.

According to Harry, the constant paparazzi presence and the clicking of cameras and flashes of cameras still makes his blood boil, as it brought him back to his childhood and his mothers experience being hounded by the media.

Reflecting on the constant coverage of their relationship, Harry said he felt helpless, especially when requests for his family to get involved were ignored.

I thought my family would help, but every single ask, request, warning, whatever it is, just got met with total silence or total neglect, he told Winfrey, adding that he and Meghan had done everything to try to make it work as members of the royal family but that she was starting to struggle.

2017: Meghan says their engagement announcement felt like an orchestrated reality show

The pair got engaged in 2017 (PA)

On November 27 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan announced their engagement to the world.

In an interview with the press, the couple sat down together on the sofa, side by side, ready to tell the world about their love. It is an interview that Meghan later said felt like an orchestrated reality show.

Before the realities of how Meghan and Harry felt were exposed, the pair looked happy, but according to Harry years later, there were some real obvious signs ... that this was going to be really hard.

It was rehearsed, Meghan revealed in their Netflix docuseries Meghan and Harry.

We did the thing out with the press, then we went right inside, took the coat off and did the interview. So its all in that same moment."

Asked if she meant that they were told how the interview would play out, she explained: Yeah, but also like, Then therell be a moment where theyll want to see the ring, so show the ring... We werent allowed to tell our story because they didnt want [it].

Weve never been allowed to tell our story, Harry echoed, laughing.

The couple also spoke about Meghans first walkabout post-engagement and how well received she was by the public. But things slowly started taking a turn for the worse.

2020: Exposing the truth behind the royal family

Meghan and Harrys wedding in 2018 (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan tied the knot in 2018, but two years later they decided to step down from their royal duties.

The Duke said he chose to step down because he no longer wanted to feel trapped and controlled through fear both by the media and by the system itself.

And in 2020, the couple decided to make their move to the United States.

Stepping away from royal duties, the couple began their journey to set things straight and expose the difficulties they faced within the institution.

A year after their departure, with Oprah Winfrey the pair spoke about why they left the UK, the racism they suffered and how they were silenced.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions/PA) (PA Media)

It was then that Meghan revealed palace conversations around how dark Archies skin was going to be.

Meghan revealed that in the months leading up to the birth of their son, there were conversations within the palace not only about whether Archie would be given a royal title and security but also about how dark his skin might be when he is born.

She said the concerns were relayed to her through Harry but declined to share who made the comments, adding: I think that would be very damaging to them.

Oprah later revealed that Harry had told her that the royal who made the comments was not the Queen or then, Prince Philip.

Meghan also opened up about her mental health struggles and described her brief time with as a royal as almost unsurvivable.

She said she struggled with suicidal thoughts while the palace staff ignored her pleas for help.

I was ashamed to say it at the time... I just didnt want to be alive any more. And that was a very real and clear and frightening and constant thought.

In December 2022, Harry and Meghan release their docuseries Harry & Meghan. The highly anticipated six-part series explores the couples courtship to the challenges and controversies that led them to feeling forced to step back from their full-time roles in the institution.

I wasnt being thrown to the wolves. I was being fed to the wolves, Meghan said in one of the episodes.

Adding onto the royal rumble, a month later in January 2023, Harry released his tell-all memoir Spare.

The book sheds light on Harrys journey with mental health and the pressures he faced while being a part of the royal family.

2020-2023: Finding Freedom and Endgame

A few months after Meghan and Harrys departure Scobies and Carolyn Durands book Finding Freedom was released in August 2020. The book was an unauthorised biography of Meghan and Harry.

In an extract from the book, it claimed that the couple considered publicly sharing the name of the person who made racist comments about their sons skin colour.

The book said an anonymous source told Scobie and Durand that the couple had considered sharing this detail but they decided not to.

Omid Scobies Endgame (EPA)

Adding more fuel to the fire, Scobies latest sequel Endgame, the Dutch-version seems to have exposed members of the royal family, linking them to the race row.

However, the Dutch-version of Endgame which exposed the names, has now been dramatically pulled from the shelves in The Netherlands on Tuesday evening, with the publisher ackowledging an error had occurred.

King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named as the royals accused of raising questions about the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghans son before he was born.

Speaking to BBC Twos Newsnight, Scobie said he did not know how the Dutch translation of Endgame came to include the names of the two royals and said a full investigation was underway to discover how the names were included. He also said in the English version of the book didnt have names in it.

Endgame further exposes the Dukes relationship with his brother as well as how he found out about the death of the Late Queen, King Charles, Camilla and The Prince and Princess of Wales.
 Close TV host Piers Morgan defended his decision to identify the two members of the royal family at the centre of the furore, saying it was blindingly obvious they were not guilty of racism.

Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Piers Morgan has explained why he named the two allegedly racist members of the royal family featured in a Dutch translation of new book Endgame.

Earlier this week, the broadcaster decided to name the Princess of Wales and King Charles as the two senior royals inadvertently identified in an excerpt from Omid Scobies book about the royal racism scandal involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2021.

At the time, he said: 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.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan are yet to break their silence after the Dutch translation of Omid Scobies book Endgame identified them both at the centre of a racism row.

A source close to the royal family has called on the Sussexes to speak out and defend their relatives as their silence is deafening, according to The Telegraph.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A new book about the royal family has reignited a racism row, after it named two members of the family who allegedly made comments about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son.

Endgame, by royal author Omid Scobie, refers to the row that started two years ago after comments made by Meghan Markle in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

But the Dutch version of the book names the individuals said to have been involved as King Charles and the Princess of Wales.

Copies of Scobies second book were pulled from the shelves in the Netherlands after they were found to have named the pair in a Dutch translation, though it is not clear how it happened.

According to Scobie, the names were discussed in letters exchanged between the Duchess of Sussex and the King.

Translations of the page posted by a royal commentator read: After discussing possible unconscious biases within the family, after it was revealed that the King and Princess of Wales had taken part in such conversations about Archie, Kate has avoided discussing the subject with her sister-in-law.

Questions have been raised about how such a detail was included in the Dutch publication of the book without appearing elsewhere.

Mr Scobie has insisted he did not sign off the book with names in it.

He told Newsnight it was not for him to apologise because he still wanted to know what had happened.

The buck doesnt stop with me because there are irresponsible people in this country whove broken the law and repeated names that should never have been repeated, should never have been named, he said.

The book I edited and signed off on did not have names in it.

King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named as the royals accused of raising questions about the skin colour of Prince Harry and Meghans son before he was born. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The royal reporter and author said that a translation error had led to a names appearing in the book, which had been shared with journalists in the Netherlands.

Xander, the publishers of the Dutch version of Endgame, said: An error occurred in the Dutch translation and is currently being rectified.

Scobie has insisted that there has never been a version that Ive produced that has names in it, but there has been speculation that the names may have been in an earlier draft of the book.

The Dutch translator of the book, Saskia Peeters, refuted claims she had added the names of the two royals in the Dutch translation of her own accord.

Omid Scobie has insisted he did not name the royals in any version of the book he produced (Luke Fontana)

As a translator, I translate what is in front of me, she told MailOnline. 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.

Sharing the pages on Twitter, royal reporter Rick Evers questioned how it is possible to mistranslate a name, and suggested they were included in an earlier manuscript.

He told Good Morning Britain: There are some debates about how these passages were stated in the book. I would say how could you translate a name wrong?

I got through the book with a colleague of yours and we saw some passages were missing in the English version. Like a sentence, five sentences between the first and the third part that was in the Dutch version.

So something has been erased during the work that has been done for the book.

The claims were initially made against one senior royal in Harry and Meghans explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, but the couple declined to name the person allegedly behind these remarks, fearing the backlash would be too damaging for them.

The claims that questions were raised about Archies skin colour were initially made against one senior royal in Harry and Meghans explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 (Getty Images)

After Meghan and Harrys interview with Winfrey was made public, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Noting that recollections may vary with regards to the racism allegations put forward by Meghan, they said: The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

Buckingham Palace has not responded to any of the claims made in Endgame.
Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

There is zero evidence that a pediatric pneumonia outbreak in Ohio is linked to China, a district health official has said.

A county in Ohio has recorded 142 cases of pediatric pneumonia since August, according to the Warren County Health District.

The district added that a number of those infected are cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, the illness that has driven recent outbreaks among children in Denmark and China, with the average patient being around eight years old.

China has recently experienced an uptick in respiratory illnesses among children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), partly attributed to the removal of pandemic restrictions.

Taiwans health ministry warned on Thursday that older adults, young children and people with poor immunity should avoid travel to mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao due to a surge in infectious diseases.

The increase has led to a resurgence in cases of flu, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, but Ohio health officials have insisted that the outbreak of pneumonia in the state is not linked to any viruses circulating in China.

There is zero evidence that what were seeing in Warren County has any connection to any respiratory activity in the state, in the country, or in the world, Dr Clint Koenig, the medical director of Warren County Health District told ABC News.

He added that only a few of the 142 cases are mycoplasma pneumonia.

A pneumonia outbreak in Ohio, China and Denmark has mainly affected children (Rex)

Despite the headlines that were seeing in China, there is no indication that there are any new viruses or bacteria spreading from country to country, Dr John Brownstein, chief innovation officer at Boston Childrens Hospital, said.

This is typical seasonal bacterial and viral activity that we see each year.

Bacterial infections such as mycoplasma pneumonia tend to make a resurgence every three to seven years in the US, with cases rising in colder months. Viruses like influenza, RSV, and the common cold follow similar trends.

Based on our provisional assessment, we are seeing seasonal trends. Nothing is appearing out of the ordinary, but we are continuing to monitor, said a spokesperson from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No deaths have been reported as a result of the pneumonia cases and, according to Dr Koenig the vast majority of cases are getting better and returning to school.

Dr Koenig also noted that although some cases have led to hospitalization, most have been patients with underlying conditions, and that the illnesses are no more severe than in previous years.

Symptoms of pneumonia include a cough, fever and fatigue. Mycoplasma pneumonia is often a milder form of pneumonia, but symptoms may last longer.

China has recently experienced an uptick in respiratory illnesses among children (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Health officials have recommended that everyone over the age of six months old get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and their annual flu shot.

Older adults over the age of 60, pregnant women, and infants under the age of eight months are also eligible for an RSV vaccine to protect against severe illness and death.

Those with respiratory illness symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat should stay at home, get tested, and seek treatment, according to the CDC.
Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Parents should speak to babies in sing-song speech to help them learn language, experts have said.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have found that infants learn languages from rhythmic information  the rise and fall of tone  as seen in nursery rhymes or songs.

They also discovered that babies do not begin to process phonetic information  the smallest sounds of speech  until they are around seven months old.

The researchers said the findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, challenge the view that phonetic information  typically represented by the alphabet  is the key to language learning.

They said it also suggests that dyslexia and developmental language disorder may be associated with rhythm perception rather than difficulties with processing phonetic information.

Study author Professor Usha Goswami, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, said: Our research shows that the individual sounds of speech are not processed reliably until around seven months, even though most infants can recognise familiar words like bottle by this point.

We believe that speech rhythm information is the hidden glue underpinning the development of a well-functioning language system Professor Usha Goswami

From then individual speech sounds are still added in very slowly  too slowly to form the basis of language.

We believe that speech rhythm information is the hidden glue underpinning the development of a well-functioning language system.

Parents should talk and sing to their babies as much as possible or use infant-directed speech like nursery rhymes because it will make a difference to language outcome.

It has previously been thought that infants learn small sound elements and add them together to make words.

To understand whether that was the case, the researchers recorded the brain activity of 50 infants at four, seven and 11 months old as they watched a video of a primary school teacher singing 18 nursery rhymes.

The team used special algorithms to interpret how the infants were encoding this information in the brain.

The scientists found that phonetic encoding in babies emerged gradually over the first year of life, beginning with dental sounds (produced by the upper front teeth)  such as d for daddy  and nasal sounds (produced when airflow is directed through the nose)  such as m for mummy.

Prof Goswami said: Infants can use rhythmic information like a scaffold or skeleton to add phonetic information on to.

For example, they might learn that the rhythm pattern of English words is typically strong-weak, as in daddy or mummy, with the stress on the first syllable.

They can use this rhythm pattern to guess where one word ends and another begins when listening to natural speech.

She said rhythm is a universal aspect of every language where all babies are exposed to a strong beat structure with a strong syllable twice a second.

Prof Goswami added: Were biologically programmed to emphasise this when speaking to babies.

The study forms part of the BabyRhythm project led by Prof Goswami, which is investigating how language is related to dyslexia and developmental language disorder.

She said there is a long history of trying to explain these in terms of phonetic problems but the evidence does not add up, and individual differences in childrens language learning skills may originate with rhythm.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A man who assaulted three women in 30 minutes has been jailed after a group of boys on bikes detained him.

Dylan Makepeace was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday, with an additional three years on licence, after the spate of attacks on 27 November last year.

His crime spree began at about 5.30pm, when two women noticed him behaving strangely near their address in Bethnal Green, east London.

The two women became aware that Makepeace was following them into their residential block and onto their floor despite earlier asking them how to get to a different floor, the Metropolitan police said.

A spokesperson said: Out of concern, one of the women began briefly filming Makepeace. All of a sudden he launched an attack on the women. Both women fought back and hit out at him.

After a significant struggle in which Makepeace pushed the women to the floor and pinned them to the ground, he ran off after one of the women hit him with a mobile phone. As a result of the attack, the women sustained cuts and scratches.

About half an hour later, he approached a third woman walking home from the gym. He followed behind her for a while before he grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth. Makepeace then began calling her offensive names before sexually assaulting her by touching her over her clothing, the force said.

The woman continued to fight back and managed to hit him with her keys. Makepeace ran off when some boys on bikes appeared outside the apartment block.

A resident heard the womans screams and came out to help before taking her into their flat and calling the police.

Officers arrived on scene and were flagged down by the young men on bikes who had followed Makepeace and detained him until police arrived.

Detective Sergeant Michael Dixon, who led the investigation for the Mets Central East Safeguarding team, said: Dylan Makepeace is very clearly a danger to the public and especially lone women. He was opportunistic and violent in his approach. He specifically targeted women as they returned home and entered private residential areas to carry out his attacks.

I want to pay tribute to the bravery of these three women. They all showed incredible fortitude as they supported our investigation. I am in no doubt that London is a safer place with Dylan Makepeace behind bars.

Makepeace was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and was issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Defence minister James Heappey has said it is great at last to welcome Afghans who worked with the British army to their new permanent homes, as he lifted the lid on the secretive operation to airlift thousands of refugees out of Pakistan and bring them to safety in Britain.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent at an army base in Leicestershire, Mr Heappey said the UK government owe these people an enormous debt, as it was revealed that 1,500 had been scrambled to the UK since the Ministry of Defence operation began in October.

Around 1,100 of these have been brought to MoD Garats Hay  a remote army base in the countryside just outside of Loughborough  since October when Rishi Sunaks government performed a U-turn and decided that all Afghans eligible for the UKs flagship resettlement schemes should be brought to Britain from Pakistan immediately.

It came afterThe Independent revealed the plight of nearly 3,000 Afghans who have been approved for refuge in Britain but were stranded in UK-funded hotels in Islamabad after the UK stopped chartering flights, insisting families must find their own place to live in Britain before relocation.

But the operation is far from over. The government still needs to bring around 1,300 Afghans who are eligible under the MoDs resettlement scheme from Islamabad to the UK, which it is aiming to do by the end of December.

Currently, some 4,000 Afghans who worked with the British forces in the fight against the Taliban, and who have been approved for relocation, are still stranded in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Speaking about the extensive operation, Mr Heappey said: We are working at the best speed we can to get people here. We are really grateful to councils and communities across the country who are assisting us in that and to the Pakistan government for their continued support.

We owe these people an enormous debt. They are not here illegally, quite the reverse. They are here because they did great work for and with the British armed forces during their time in Afghanistan.

Its great at last to be able to welcome them to their new permanent homes in the UK.

James Heappey has said we owe an enormous debt to Afghans who fought with Britain (UK MOD Crown Copyright)

The Afghan families are sent to the transitional site before they are moved to temporary homes on other barracks or more permanent homes ringfenced for those in the forces. Around 700 homes have been made available to the families  private rented homes are being organised for others  and the MoD is also working with local councils to find housing for the Afghans in local communities.

The MoD-owned homes will be used as settled accommodation and are being made available to the families for three years. MoD Garats Hay, along with another transitional site at Swynnerton Camp, is designed to house refugees for a few days before they are moved on.

However, some families have arrived with more complex needs  such as one mother who arrived while 38 weeks pregnant  and the longest a family has been at the site so far is three weeks and two days.

Barracks around the country are also being used to house families for up to six weeks while long-term homes are found.

The families were trapped in Islamabad after Rishi Sunak halted the use of UK hotels for Afghans in late November 2022 leaving them effectively stranded.

The UK began chartering flights for the families in October this year after the Pakistan government announced they would start deporting all undocumented refugees from the country. The UK government was also facing legal action in courts over the delays.

Mr Heappey said work had been done to bring down the backlog of applications to the MoDs resettlement scheme, Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap). We know who worked for us, therefore we know who is eligible. There are very, very few eligibility decisions left really to be taken.

We know who weve got to bring out, both from Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.

The defence minister visits MoD Garats Hay, a remote army base in the countryside just outside of Loughborough (UK MOD Crown Copyright)

He added that the UK was working with the Pakistan government to get the Afghans out. Weve got to show the Pakistan government that we are moving at max speed to close down the whole scheme because weve got it done, rather than closing it while there are people who are still eligible who havent come here yet.

The operation to evacuate the Afghans, dubbed Operation Lazurite after the mineral found in the precious gem Lapus Lazuli, was set in motion on 23 September.

On 26 September, then-foreign secretary James Cleverly met with Pakistans caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in London. According to the Pakistan government, Mr Cleverly praised Pakistans support in hosting and facilitating exit of Afghan nationals.

Two days later, on 28 September, B company of the 3rd battalion of the Parachute Regiment were deployed to the former signals base, MoD Garats Hay, and given 72 hours to get it ready to receive the Afghan refugees.

The Independent reported on 9 October that the first few families had been flown to the UK, and by 20 October government lawyers told the High Court that Afghans trapped in Pakistan and Iran would be scrambled to the UK as soon as possible.

In a U-turn of government policy, ministers decided that all Afghans eligible for the UKs resettlement schemes would no longer have to find their own housing before travelling.

Speaking about the MoD homes that have been made available, Mr Heappey said: The properties offered are taken from stock that is not currently being used by service families, to avoid impact on our people. Where there is not suitable service family accommodation to fit the needs of Arap families, alternative accommodation will be procured.

A few hundred Afghans who are eligible for relocation to the UK under Home Office and Foreign Office schemes are also stuck in Pakistan. Though some of these have been brought to Britain, the MoD is not responsible for their relocation. The Home Office did not comment on how the rest would be brought to the UK.

This article was amended on the day of publication. It previously said that 500 of the 700 homes would be used as settled accommodation for up to three years, but this was inaccurate. All 700 homes will be available as settled accommodation.
Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The Dutch translator for Omid Scobie's Endgame has broken her silence to insist the names of the royals who allegedly raised questions about Prince Archies skin colour were "there in black and white" in the manuscript she was sent.

The royal authors second book was pulled from the shelves in the Netherlands after the translated version identified the two royals said to have questioned the skin tone of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs child before he was born.

The publisher dismissed the edition containing the names as a translation error. But translator Saskia Peeters, who worked on Scobies latest book, refuted claims she had added the names of the two royals in the Dutch translation of her own accord, despite the English version leaving them out.

As a translator, I translate what is in front of me, she told MailOnline. 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: Omid Scobie breaks silence over naming of alleged royal racists in Dutch book (This Morning/ITV)

It comes after Scobie insisted during an interview on ITVs This Morning that he did not write the names of the royals in Endgame.

Scobie was accused of being behind a "stunt to sell books", with co-host Craig Doyle saying: 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.

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.

Prince Harry and Meghan told Oprah Winfrey an unidentified member of the monarchy asked about how dark Archies skin would be (PA)

Dutch journalist Rick Evers, who has read the translated book, revealed on Wednesday that the name of the first royal in the Dutch translation is very specific while the second one was a little bit vague.

While The Independent has chosen not to name the royals, TV host Piers Morgan controversially confirmed their identities during an eight-and-a-half-minute takedown of Endgame and its author on Wednesday.

The presenter, who said he does not believe the accusations of racism within the royal family are true, also said the silence from the Sussexes was more than deafening.

He demanded that Scobie or the Sussexes finally come forward with the evidence for their allegations of racism against the royals,.

But the royal author brushed off Mr Morgans scathing criticism on This Morning as he said he did not find the TalkTV hosts comments particularly credible.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The areas in the UK with the highest prevalence of smoking have been revealed.

Data from the Office of National Statisitics show how many people in the UK smoke cigarettes and e-cigerattes as part of the annual population survey.

It comes after Rishi Sunak announced plans for a UK smoking ban by phasing out the sale of cigarettes for the next generation.

Mid Devon leads as the local authority with the highest percentage of adults smokers - 25.1 per cent - closely followed by Hastings (23.7%) and Lincoln (23.5%).

At the other end of the scale, London borough Richmond upon Thames has a smoking prevalence of 6.2 per cent - the lowest number of adult smokers in England.

Statistics from NHS show Richmond upon Thames council spends an average of 2,423 per person on Stop Smoking Services, and the total cost for the delivery of stop-smoking services from April to June 2023 was found to be 21,814 for the council.

Gateshead took the top spot with an average of 43,190 spent per person quitting smoking, including pharmacotherapies. While it is among the highest number of self-reported successful quitters, the total spending costs are almost double that of the second-largest spending local authority, Buckinghamshire.

The Independent has put together this interactive map below which shows smoking prevalence across the UK separated into local and unitary authority areas.

Darker areas on the map show the biggest smoking hotspots and lighter areas show the local authorities with the smallest percentage of smokers.

King Charles announced the plan for a UK smoking ban at State Opening of Parliament in November, by raising the legal smoking age by one year, every year meaning a 14-year-old today will never legally be able to buy a cigarette. He said the legislation will create a smoke-free generation.

The prime minister had previously announced the plans at the 2023 Conservative Party conference, detailing the governments plan to phase out the sale of cigarettes for the next generation in what would be a major step forward for overall health in the UK.

Mr Sunak also pledged to crack down on the sale of disposable vapes to children, saying more must be done to restrict their availability to under-18s.

The Prime Minister said in his speech: Four in five smokers have started by the time theyre 20, later the vast majority try to quit but many fail because theyre addicted and they wish they had never taken up the habit in the first place.

If we could break that cycle - if we could stop the start - then we would be on our way to ending the biggest cause of preventable death and disease in our country.

I propose that in future we raise the smoking age by one year every year. That means a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they and their generation can grow up smoke free.

Rishi Sunak announced plans to cut smoking for the younger generation (PA)

The legal age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products across the UK is 18, having been raised from 16 in 2007 by the last Labour government.

It is expected that the plan would follow a similar format to the measures introduced in New Zealand last December, when they banned the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

Last year a major review led by Dr Javed Khan said that without further action, England would miss the target by at least seven years, with the poorest areas in society not set to meet the target until 2044. He also put the annual cost to society of smoking at about 17bn  2.4bn to the NHS alone.

Dr Khan backed proposals to increase the age of sale in his report, and recommended increasing the age of sale from 18, by one year, every year until no one can buy a tobacco product in this country.

Navin Khosla, Pharmacist at NowPatient said: While it is difficult to pinpoint why cities in the north have a higher smoking prevalence than the south, data from the NHS Stop Smoking service has revealed that the north-east saw over 580 (per 100,000) smokers report successfully quitting the habit, highlighting the efforts being made in the region to reduce these overriding figures.

Similarly, the north-west saw over 440 (per 100,000) smokers reporting a successful end to their habit. Despite the lower smoking figures in the south of England, 441 (per 100,000) smokers reported quitting smoking, suggesting an active effort despite the lower prevalence of smokers overall.

It is important to remember that nicotine is highly addictive and therefore quitting the habit can be a difficult feat, therefore seeing these figures for those quitting is extremely promising and should be commended.
The first time I encountered Alistair Darling was in the summer of 1996. He was a newly appointed member of the Treasury team in Tony Blairs shadow cabinet and I was the business editor of this newspaper. The last time I met him was in Edinburgh in the autumn of 2019 when I was researching a book on the great financial crash of 2008, a crisis in which Darling played no small part.

In the intervening years one of us went on to great things. Darling successively held the briefs for Work and Pensions, Scotland, Transport and Trade and Industry in various Labour governments before finally becoming chancellor of the Exchequer in June 2007  some 12 months before the balloon went up and chaos descended on the worlds banking system.

In some senses, his previous ministerial posts had been one long audition for the crucial role he was to play in that extraordinary drama. Darling was renowned in Westminster and Whitehall as a safe pair of hands and in 2008 that was what was sorely needed. After all, it was he who was transport secretary in 2005 when the 7/7 bombings shook the capitals transport system, killing 52 innocent commuters  a disaster that could have been so much worse had Darling not ensured London Underground had already run mock exercises simulating just such an attack.
Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Labours David Lammy has promised that strengthening the UKs relationship with the EU is the partys top foreign policy concern if it wins power next year.

The shadow foreign secretary said forging closer ties with Brussels after the damage done by Brexit was Sir Keir Starmers number one priority in foreign affairs.

Mr Lammy also claimed EU leaders and officials find dealing with Sir Keir like honey on toast after constant clashes with the Tory government since Britain choose to leave the bloc.

The senior MP added that if Labour were to win the election, there would be a tonal shift in UK-EU relations with a move to return to more regular talks between the governmental powers.

Its our number one priority because its our backyard, Mr Lammy told the is podcast on a stronger partnership.

Its our number one priority because there is war in Europe and because I believe our future prosperity and security is predicated on good relationships with our European partners.

The frontbencher also said he believed voters would find it extraordinary that the government doesnt sit down for talks with the EU every four months or every six months to talk over big issues. We need to get back to that, said Mr Lammy.

I did a meeting with Keir Starmer and European ambassadors and they described the tonal difference as being like honey on toast, said Mr Lammy

He said Sir Keir has built a very good relationship with German chancellor Olaf Scholz, and claimed the chemistry between the Labour leader and French president Emmanuel Macron was very strong.

Keir Starmer recently picked the EU anthem as his favourite piece of classical music (PA Wire)

The shadow minister also said the Ukraine war show that a defence security pact with the EU would be high on the agenda, after it was rejected by Boris Johnson during the Brexit negotiations.

We said that we think a security pact is fundamental, Mr Lammy said. I think war in Europe demonstrates that. He said any security pact with the EU would be cast as wide as possible to include security issues in relation to migration.

But Mr Lammy stopped short of a Labour pledge to return to the EU institutions such as the single market or customs union  claiming there could be no contemplation of it in the current political cycle.

Instead, he insisted that his focus as foreign secretary would be to work in the national interests of both Leave and Remain voters.

However, Mr Lammy said he aware of the changing mood, as a recent UK in a Changing Europe report found that 16 per cent of 2016 Leave voters now say they would vote to rejoin.

The shadow foreign secretary did not rule out a return to the EU down the track, notable after recent polling suggested the British public has an increasing regret about Brexit.

It follows European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen saying young Britons could reverse Breixt by deciding to re-join the EU in the years ahead.

The top EU figure said it was up to the next generation to fix the mistakes made by British politicians on Brexit in surprise remarks. We goofed it up, you have to fix it, she said.

Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson claimed he would move to the remote Scottish islands of Orkney if the UK ever voted to reverse Brexit.

The right-winger recently suggested that migrants should be sent to Orkney if Rishi Sunak fails to enact his Rwanda deportation plan.
 Close Matt Hancock questioned over resignation after affair with Gina Coladangelo

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Matt Hancock has admitted his affair with aide Gina Coladangelo in breach of his own lockdown rules damaged public confidence, as he gave evidence to the Covid inquiry.

Taking the stand for a second day on Friday, the ex-health secretary suggested that the lesson for the future is very clear in that it is important that those who make the rules abide by them, adding: I resigned in order to take accountability for my failure to do that.

Mr Hancock also defended his decision to discharge hospital patients into care homes without testing them for Covid-19 as rational and reasonable, adding: Nobody has yet brought to me a solution to this problem that I think, even with hindsight, would have resulted in more lives saved.

The MP claimed on Thursday that a phone call he had with Boris Johnson on 28 February 2020 marked the moment government really started to come into action, and claimed that had his own doctrine been followed, the first lockdown would have come three weeks earlier  saving 90 per cent of those who died in the first wave.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

King Charles has worn a Greek tie to Cop28, just days after Rishi Sunaks spat with Athens over the Elgin Marbles.

The PM has denied throwing a hissy fit after he scrapped a planned meeting with the Greek PM, accusing Kyriakos Mitsotakis of grandstanding about the return of the sculptures.

It seems Charles may have decided to enter the political controversy by sporting the blue and white tie and handkerchief on Friday.

The pattern in the monarchs tie showed both the colours of the Greek flag and its distinctive cross, symbolising Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

But Buckingham Palace suggested the Greek flag-coloured tie was a random choice by the King. Royal sources pointed out that Charles also wore the tie when he met South Korean leaders last week.

Charless father Prince Philip was born in Greece into the Greek royal family, and the King has spoken about his enduring affection for the country.

The gesture in Dubai, which some have perceived as a snub to the PM, recalls the controversy over the Queens blue and yellow outfit at the 2017 state opening of parliament  seen as a gesture of goodwill to the EU after the Brexit referendum.

However, the Queens dresser Angela Kelly later insisted that the colours were merely a coincidence and had been overinterpretated in the heated days after the divisive vote.

The Greek media saw the choice of tie as Charles offering backing for their country in the antiquities row. The diplomacy of the tie has spoken, said Lifo magazine. Proto Therma said the move could well be interpreted as a show of support for our country.

King Charles III speaks with Rishi Sunak at the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at Cop28 in Dubai (PA)

Charless choice of tie comes after Mr Sunak parked a diplomatic row by controversially snubbing Mr Mitsotakis during his visit to London. The Greek leader compared the artefacts removal and presence in the British Museum to cutting the Mona Lisa in half.

No 10 claimed Mr Mitsotakis had reneged on a promise not to discuss the centuries-old dispute over what are now known as the Parthenon Sculptures, with the Tory leader using PMQs to accuse the Greek PM of grandstanding.

Former Tory chancellor George Osborne  who is the chair of the British Museum  said Mr Sunak may have thrown a hissy fit because the Greek PM chose to meet Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer first.

Mr Osborne has been talking with the Greek government about a potential arrangement which would allow the sculptures to be displayed in Greece.

Is it just petulance? Is it just having a bit of a hissy fit? said Mr Osborne on his Political Currency podcast. And, I think, if thats the reason, its not because Mitsotakis was going to raise the Elgin Marbles. Its because he had met Keir Starmer the day before, he said.

Asked whether the former chancellor was right about a hissy fit, Mr Sunak told journalists at Cop28: No, no. I think Ive said everything Ive got to say on this in parliament the other day.

The royal tie, worn at Cop28 summit on Friday (PA)

The Tory leader also hinted that a loan arrangement could be impossible due to Greeces current stance. Our position is very clear  as a matter of law, the marbles cant be returned and weve been unequivocal about that, he said.

And I think the British Museums website itself says that in order for the loans to happen the recipient needs to acknowledge the lawful ownership of the country thats lending the things.

Mr Sunak added: And I think the Greeks have not suggested that they are in any way shape or form willing to do that. Our view and our position on that is crystal clear: the marbles were acquired legally at the time.

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 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.

But the Tory grandee said on Thursday that it was clear from events this week that Mr Sunaks government would not support an exchange.

Some Tory MPs have criticised Mr Sunaks apparent own goal  which saw him plastered across Greek front pages this week, including one carrying the words F*** you b******.
Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson has doubled down on his newfound affinity with Orkney, as he claimed he would move to the remote Scottish islands if the UK ever voted to reverse Brexit.

The controversial MP  who previously told asylum-seekers to f*** off back to France  was accused of showing disdain and inhumanity after he suggested that migrants should be sent to Orkney if the government fails to resurrect its Rwanda plan.

I know its a bit parky up there this time of year. But if people are genuinely escaping war or persecution then a nice Scottish island with a few outbuildings would be suitable, Mr Ashfield told GB News last week.

If we can find an island in the Orkneys or up there thats got no-one on there to start off with, put some decent accommodation on, then its job done, the Nottinghamshire MP said, adding that parts of Scotland are a go to destination and he would like to be able to afford a place up there himself.

His remarks were condemed by Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael as an exercise in corralling as many prejudices as possible into one space and calling it a policy, while the Scottish Greens hit back that our islands are not empty wildernesses but thriving communities which have welcomed refugees.

Confronted with Mr Carmichaels criticisms on GB News on Thursday, Mr Anderson said his father had been stationed on Orkney while in the military, and claimed people like Mr Carmichael did not want people seeking asylum in their back yard despite bleating on about accepting more refugees.

The Tory MP was then faced with remarks by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen that younger generations should seek to fix the mistake of Brexit.

Jarring with the conciliatory moves made by Rishi Sunak in his relationship with the German EU chief, the Tory deputy chair said it was the generation which fought the Nazis who had fixed the problems in Europe, adding: She needs to shut up.

Asked if he believed the UK will rejoin the EU in his lifetime, he said: I hope not because if we do Im moving to Orkney isles.

Put to him that Mr Carmichael may object, the Tory MP said: Well thatll teach him, wont it ... Im going to live in the Orkney Isles and stand for parliament in the Orkney Isles.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Matt Hancock has admitted that his affair with top aide Gina Coladangelo during the pandemic damaged public confidence in complying with Covid rules  acknowledging his costly failure at the public inquiry.

The former health secretary was grilled on the transgression which forced him out of government in June 2021 after footage emerged of him kissing his adviser during a time of strict regulations.

Inquiry counsel Hugo Keith KC said it had caused incredible offence and upset and asked Mr Hancock if he thought it impacted the publics propensity to adhere to rules.

Mr Hancock replied: Well, what Id say is that the lesson for the future is very clear. And it is important that those who make the rules abide by them, and I resigned in order to take accountability for my failure to do.

The second day of the ex-cabinet ministers testimony also revealed tensions between Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson and Mr Hancock over a second lockdown.

Mr Hancocks affair failure admission came as:

Hancock suggested Sunak would have put enormous pressure on Johnson not to have a second lockdown

He accused ex-SNP boss Nicola Sturgeon of communicating with the public in an unhelpful and confusing way

The ex-health secretary claimed other regional leaders had put politics ahead of public health

Hancock was warned in April 2020 about the need for a focused effort on testing in care homes

On the second day of Mr Hancocks evidence session, Mr Keith said his resignation must have been a reflection of the fact that you understood the importance of ... rule-breaking or guidance-breaking on public confidence in the public at large.

Mr Hancock replied: Yes. The former health secretary had been pictured in CCTV footage embracing Ms Coladangelo, then an aide at the health department.

At the time, the country was in the middle of step two of the lockdown roadmap. People could not socialise indoors with anyone not in their household or support bubble, while strict social distancing was in place for workplace offices.

Hancock with aide, now partner Gina Coladangelo (PA)

Then-chancellor Mr Sunak would have put enormous pressure on Mr Johnson not to have an autumn lockdown, Mr Hancock had suggested during a series of WhatsApp messages.

An exchange from October 2020 between Mr Hancock and cabinet secretary Simon Case showed how Mr Hancock was pressing for information from a meeting on 30 October that he claims he was blocked from attending.

It suggested that Mr Sunak  then chancellor  was in favour of tighter controls when it came to schools, rather than the closure of all shops.

Mr Hancock wrote: When then? Rishi is in the room  contrary to the stupid rules  so the PM will be under enormous pressure to not do enough once again.

Mr Case said Mr Sunak has already resigned himself to the choice ahead in terms of a lockdown, but had argued for tighter controls in schools rather than closing shops.

Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson are still to appear at Covid inquiry (Getty/AP)

It emerged that Mr Hancock was warned in April 2020 about the need for a focused effort" on testing people in care homes.

The ex-health secretary told the inquiry that there were only difficult options, as he discussed his controversial decision to discharge hospital patients to care homes.

He added: I fear that if we had left those patients in hospital  those who were medically fit to discharge  there is a high likelihood that more would have caught Covid and the problem could have been bigger.

Mr Hancock accused then-SNP leader and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon of communicating with the public in a way that was unhelpful and confusing during the Covid crisis.

Sometimes, [Ms Sturgeon] would leave a meeting and begin communication of a decision, for instance, sooner than agreed, he said. He also claimed she sometimes put some kind of spin on what was essentially the same decision by UK and Scottish governments.

Responding, a spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said: There is not a scrap of evidence for Matt Hancocks claims  Nicola communicated openly and frankly with the people of Scotland on a daily basis.

Mr Hancock also told the inquiry that he found local political leaders in Liverpool easier to deal with than those in Manchester  in an apparent swipe at regional mayor Andy Burnham.

He praised Liverpools former mayor, but said in some other cases with regional leaders he thought they gave actively unhelpful input that I felt put politics ahead of public health.

Asked whether he was referring to Manchester, the former health secretary said: Yes. Responding to the apparent criticism, a spokesperson for Mr Burnham said: That may be Mr Hancocks opinion, but hes wrong.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunaks threw a hissy fit with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the Elgin Marbles because he chose to met Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer first, George Osborne has suggested.

The PM created an unexpected diplomatic firestorm this week after abruptly cancelling a meeting in London with his baffled Greek counterpart, with No 10 claiming Mr Mitsotakis had reneged on a promise not to discuss the centuries-old dispute over the Parthenon Sculptures.

Mr Sunak then deepened the row by accusing Mr Mitsotakis of grandstanding, with Sir Keir suggesting the PM had lost his marbles and was playing small politics in a bruising Commons session on Wednesday.

On Friday Mr Sunak was forced to deny throwing a hissy fit, and suggested that any loan deal sought by Mr Osborne  the British museum chairman  was impossible.

The ex-Tory chancellor said on his Political Currency podcast that he had heard various theories of why Mr Sunak cancelled the meeting.

Is it just petulance? Is it just having a bit of a hissy fit? said Mr Osborne. And, I think if thats the reason, its not because Mitsotakis was going to raise the Elgin Marbles. Its because he had met Keir Starmer the day before, he said.

Regardless of his reasoning, Mr Osborne said Mr Sunak had opened the door to a pretty devastating line of attack from Sir Keir.

The museum chair and Tory grandee said: He should be doubling down on being the serious person who of course meets another European leader when theyre in town to discuss things like Ukraine or the energy crisis or migration, all of which Greece is relevant to.

Sir Keir Starmer met with the Greek PM in London on Monday

Mr Osborne added: It just shows again that theyre not focused on delivering a coherent strategy week after week after week, which is the Conservatives only chance of getting back into this political fight.

Asked whether the former chancellor was right about a hissy fit, Mr Sunak told journalists with him at Cop28: No, no. I think Ive said everything Ive got to say on this in parliament the other day.

The Tory leader also hinted that a loan arrangement could be impossible due to Greeces current stance. Our position is very clear  as a matter of law the marbles cant be returned and weve been unequivocal about that, he said.

And I think the British Museums website itself says that in order for the loans to happen the recipient needs to acknowledge the lawful ownership of the country thats lending the things.

Mr Sunak added: And I think the Greeks have not suggested that they are in any way shape or form willing to do that. Our view and our position on that is crystal clear: the marbles were acquired legally at the time.

The Parthenon Sculptures are on display in the British Museum (REUTERS)

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.

As British Museum chair, Mr Osborne has been talking with the Greek government about a potential arrangement which would allow the sculptures to be displayed in Greece.

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.

But he said on Thursday that it was clear from events this week that Mr Sunaks government would not support an exchange.

The Labour leader sought to position himself as PM-in-waiting as he used his own meeting with Mr Mitsotakis to taunt Mr Sunak, saying: I discussed with the Greek prime minister the economy, security, immigration. I also told him we wouldnt change the law regarding the marbles. Its not that difficult.

As Tory MPs cringed at Mr Sunaks apparent own goal, which saw him plastered across Greek front pages this week, including one carrying the words f*** you b******, an alternative explanation was floated by Mr Osborne on Thursday.

Mr Sunak sough to brush off suggestions the Labour leaders meeting with the Greek premier could make him appear more statesmanlike, pointing to his own fantastic track record of global diplomacy over the last year.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A 70-year-old woman has given birth to twins following IVF treatment, three years after her last baby.

Safina Namukwaya became one of the oldest women to give birth on record when she delivered a girl and a boy at a fertility centre in the Ugandan capital, Kampala this week.

The premature babies were placed in an incubator after the birth at 31 weeks, but doctors say they are in a stable condition.

Womens Hospital International and Fertility Centre described the event as historic and told of achieving the extraordinary as it reported that the mother and babies are all well. Ms Namukwaya, who gave birth via caesarean, told local media it was a miracle.

Speaking to Ugandas Daily Monitor newspaper, she said her pregnancy, which comes after she delivered a baby girl in 2020, had been difficult as her partner left her when he found out she was going to have twins.

Men dont like to be told that you are carrying more than one child, she said. Ever since I was admitted here, my man has never showed up.

Ms Namukwaya said her desire to have children came after she was mocked for being childless when younger.

I looked after peoples children and saw them grow up and leave me alone. I wondered who would take care of me when I grow old, she said.

Speaking to the Nigerian Television Authority, she said, They say every child comes with their blessings.

While women usually go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, which causes a drop in fertility, advances in medicine have opened up possibilities for giving birth past this age, namely through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

The process involves an egg being removed from a womans ovaries and then fertilised with sperm in a laboratory, before the fertilised egg, called an embryo is placed in a womans womb to grow.

It is unclear in Ms Namukwayas case whether she used an egg of her own that was stored when she was younger, or if she used a donor egg.

It comes after a 73-year-old woman delivered twin girls by caesarean section in the east Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in 2019 following successful IVF treatment. Doctors at the time claimed the woman became the worlds oldest ever to give birth.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Protesters against the Israel-Hamas war have hit on a common tactic: rallying against companies that provide weapons and technology to the Israeli military.

A crowd of more than 100 people gathered on Thursday outside of a University of Arizona satellite campus that is home to defence contractor Raytheon.

The company has provided weapons to the Israeli military, Fronteras Desk reports.

Protesters, with shirts bearing the message End the genocide economy blocked roadways into the facility, and police arrested 26 people for trespassing, including a local radio reporter for KJZZ.

Multiple demonstrators entered private property, blocked the roadways, and prevented employees from entering and leaving the facility, the Pima County sheriffs office told 12news in a statement. Despite Raytheon and law enforcement requests to leave the private property, many refused, and 26 people were arrested for criminal trespass.

The Independent has contacted Raytheon for comment.

Similar protests have been staged around the state and the country in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, a group of Jewish, anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian activists staged a die-in at Raytheons Tucson office.

Just this month, similar demonstrations have occurred across five states.

In Boca Raton Florida, crowds gathered outside Real-Time Laboratories, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, a major weapons supplier for Israel.

"We need to start directly targeting the material supporters of apartheid and genocide," activist Jeff Weinberger, told the Miami New Times. "And that includes, obviously, weapons manufacturers."

"Elbit America employs thousands of Americans who are dedicated to the mission of creating innovative solutions that protect and save lives," the company wrote in a statement to the paper. "While we support the rights of protesters to express their views peacefully, we take the safety and well-being of our employees extremely seriously, and we will continue to work closely with local officials to ensure safety for all."

In San Diego, California, hundreds rallied outside the offices of defence contractor Northrup Grumman, which organisers saying they hoped to bring about a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has killed over 16,000 people, mostly Palestinian civilians.

Further north in Oakland, protesters temporarily delayed a cargo ship they said was bringing military equipment to Israel.

Palestinian protestor Meena Abushamala told CBS News several of her relatives had been killed in the war.

"One missile killed three generations. An uncle, their son, and their child," she said. "Im enraged that our government is still sending aid, missiles to Israel."

The US Coast Guard said it is investigating three people who were interfering with the ship, including by climbing on its ladder.

Individuals who breached the maritime facility and trespassed aboard the Cape Orlando are currently under investigation for potential violations of federal law, the agency said in a statement.

Last week, an estimated 150 people rallied at a facility for Boeing in the St Louis suburbs.

We were outside Boeing today to demand that Boeing stop manufacturing bombs and warplanes used by the Israeli military," Su Mac, a Palestinian artist from the area, told The New Arab.

"We wanted to go to the Boeing facility to demand a ceasefire and remind them that theres blood on their hands," she added"These are bombs that are made in our backyards and theyre getting away with it."

In Minnesota, a group of about 50 blocked the entrances to a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin based in St Paul.

We dont support weapons manufacturers in general, and we want Lockheed out of our city, Andrew Josefchak of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee told MPR News. But the reason why Im here today specifically is because Lockheeds bombs and jets are being used to massacre civilians.

The Biden administration is seeking an additional $14.3bn in aid to support the Israeli war effort.
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Sandra Day OConnor, the first woman to become a Supreme Court justice, died on Friday 1 December at 93 years old.

OConnor, who announced in October 2018 she had been diagnosed with dementia, died of complications at her home in Phoenix, Arizona, the Supreme Court said in a statement.

Appointed to the Court in 1981 by former president Ronald Reagan, OConnor had a tangible impact on the court, becoming a crucial moderate justice  gaining the reputation of the most powerful woman in America.

A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day OConnor blazed a historic trail as our Nations first female Justice, Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement.

She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor. We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education, he added.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor with Chief Justice Warren Burger after her swearing in at the Supreme Court in Washington in September 1981 (AP)

OConnor was the last living Justice to have served on the Burger Court  the period between 1969 and 1986 when Warren Burger was Chief Justice  prior to her death.

Born on 26 March 1930 in El Paso, Texas to Harry and Ada Mae Day, OConnor was by all accounts raised as a cowgirl.

Growing up on a cattle ranch that did not have running water until she was seven, learning to help maintain the ranch and participate in its culture were central parts of OConnors childhood.

Riding horses, milking cows and shooting coyotes were part of her everyday life. She often reflected that working on the ranch contributed to her work ethic later on.

O'Connor at an installation ceremony for US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in February 2005 (AFP via Getty Images)

She once described how riding the cattle drives with a male-dominated team was her first initiation into joining an all-mens club  something she would become closely acquainted with throughout her career.

In 1946, at just 16 years old, OConnor enrolled at Standford University having graduated sixth in her class in high school.

In 1950, she graduated manga cum laude and continued her studies at Stanford Law School thanks to a program she was admitted to that allowed her to start law school in her senior year. She was only one of four women to do so.

OConnor met her future husband, John Jay OConnor III in her final year of law school. The two married in 1952, just six months after OConnor graduated. They were married for 52 years until John Jay OConnor died in 2009.

They had three children: Scott, Brian and Jay, all born between 1957 and 1962.

O'Connor in 1982 (1982 AP)

Despite her academic success, OConnor had difficulties getting a job after graduating thanks to the blatant sexism of the male-dominated field.

She took a job working for the San Mateo County government until 1954 when she and her husband moved to Germany where he worked as an Army lawyer. The two moved back to the US three years later where OConnor became involved in local politics.

By 1969, OConnor had volunteered with the Maricopa County Young Republicans, former Arizona senator Barry Goldwaters presidential campaign, and spent four years as an assistant state attorney general. When a seat in the Arizona State Senate emerged, OConnor was appointed by the governor.

O'Connor waves as she arrives at the Capitol in September 1981, shortly after her nomination to the Supreme Court was confirmed by the Senate (AP)

In 1972, she ran for re-election and won, becoming the first woman to be the Arizona State Senate Republican majority leader. Two years later, she was appointed to the Maricopa County Superior Court and four years after that to the Arizona State Court of Appeals.

When it came time for Reagan to appoint the first female Supreme Court Justice  a promise he intended to fulfill  OConnor stood out as a well-rounded, moderate Republican who he said shared his views on abortion.

Her Supreme Court nomination hearing began on 9 September 1981  the first to be televised. Three days later, the Senate unanimously confirmed her nomination.

O'Connor is sworn in by Chief Justice Warren Burger in the court's conference room on 25 September 1981 (AP)

During her 24 years on the Court, OConnor delivered 645 opinions on topics ranging from voting rights to religious freedom to abortion.

When OConnor joined the court, she most often sided with the conservative side in decisions, though by todays standard she would have been seen by many as a moderate, having joined the liberal side in various cases.

She wrote the majority opinion in the affirmative action case Grutter v Bollinger, pointing out the benefits, and essential interest of a diverse student body. But she then joined the conservative majority in striking down a similar policy in Gratz v Bollinger.

Notably, OConnor joined the majority opinion in the abortion case Planned Parenthood v Casey, which upheld state restrictions while affirming Roe v Wade  despite having told Reagan she considered abortion personally abhorrent 11 years earlier.

Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States pose for an official photo in December 2003 (AFP via Getty Images)

OConnor was a proponent of states rights, often following former chief justice William Rehnquists federalism trend.

She announced her retirement from the Supreme Court in 2005, after her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease.

Justice Samuel Alito replaced her nearly a year and a half later and upon her retirement she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She later told The Wall Street Journal, I did not step down because I felt I no longer was capable of sitting.

President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to O'Connor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in August 2009 (Getty Images)

In her retirement, OConnor remained active, spending time on cases in federal appeals court, serving as chancellor of The College of William & Mary and promoting civics education.

In 2018, she announced she had been diagnosed with dementia and retreated into private life.

OConnor is survived by her three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay, as well as her six grandchildren.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov came face-to-face with Western critics while attending international security talks on Thursday, amid European protests that Vladimir Putins top diplomat was invited to the summit while he wages war against Ukraine.

Some European officials present in North Macedonia walked out as the Russian minister addressed a session for foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation of Europe (OSCE), videos of the event showed.

A number of foreign ministers refused to attend the event over Russias involvement, including those of Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Some states, Ukraine among them, sent no representatives whatsoever. US secretary of state Antony Blinken made only a brief stop in North Macedonias capital, Skopje, late on Wednesday, and did not attend Thursdays talks.

Mr Lavrov spoke for15 minutes, during which the walkout occurred. It was not immediately clear from videos which countries officials were involved.

The Russian foreign ministers comments followed the now-familiar narrative from the Kremlin that Natos reckless expansion to the East was to blame for war returning to Europe, rather than his own presidents decision to order the invasion of Ukraine.

Unfortunately, the Western political elites, which have arrogated to themselves the right to decide the fate of humanity, have made a short-sighted choice not in favour of the OSCE, but in favour of Nato. In favour of the philosophy of containment, zero-sum geopolitical games and the master-slave logic, Mr Lavrov told the session.

He also attacked the platform of the summit itself, saying that the OSCE and its relevant institutions are silent over what he described as the denial of the very existence of Russians and their decisive contribution to the histroy of Ukraine.

And he blamed the start of the Ukraine war on Western tolerance for the ruling neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv. 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.

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 himself walked out of the summit.

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.

Nato member North Macedonia lifted a ban on Russian flights to enable Lavrov to attend the meeting. 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.

Additional reporting by agencies
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

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.

These included 43 airstrikes and 34 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems. Russian forces also used seven Iranian Shahed drones to target Ukrainian personnel, weapons and military equipment.

Russian troops made dozens of failed attacks on Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Lyman, Kupiansk, Marinka, Zaporizhzhia and other hotspots along the 1000km (600 miles) long front line, according to the update.

Military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun said Ukrainian forces had rebuffed Russian attacks on the coking plant at Avdiivka, which has emerged as a key battleground in recent weeks.

"The plant is under our control. The enemy is suffering significant losses there," he said, confirming Russian artillery and air attacks inside and around the town. "The Russians are actively pressing ground attacks, sometimes using armoured vehicles."

Volodymyr Zelensky called for the bolstering of Kyivs fortifications along the wars frontline, especially in eastern Ukraine amid the surge in Russian activities there.

"In all major sectors where reinforcement is needed, there should be a boost and an acceleration in the construction of structures," Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

"This of course means the greatest attention to the Avdiivka, Maryinka and other sectors in the Donetsk region. In Kharkiv region, this means the Kupiansk sector and the Kupiansk-Lyman line," he added.

The appeal came after the Ukrainian president visited positions in the northeast, one of several areas where Russian forces have been trying to make recent headway and recapture areas liberated by Ukrainian troops a year ago.

One of the meetings Mr Zelensky held with commanders dealt specifically with building defensive fortifications, he said.

Russia has an extensive network of its own fortifications like dragons teeth, trenches, anti-tank ditches and minefields in areas of Ukraine it has invaded and wants to hold onto.

Those defences have been a key factor in holding back a Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in June. Ukrainian troops have made only incremental gains in the east and south since then.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Israel has resumed its war on Hamas after the end of a seven-day ceasefire  with one UN official saying that hell on earth has returned to Gaza.

Israels warplanes pounded Gaza on Friday after talks to extend a week-old truce with Hamas collapsed, sending wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and others onto the streets to seek safety.

More than 100 Palestinians were killed in the airstrikes on Friday, according to officials from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

Israel had bombarded Gaza for weeks in the wake of a Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October that killed 1,200 people and saw another 240 taken hostage into Gaza. Palestinian health officials in the Hamas-controlled territory say more than 14,000 people have been killed since the Israeli military operation began. The airstrikes have been backed up by a ground offensive and a blockade that has left water, food, fuel and medical supplies all running short.

The UN said the renewed fighting would worsen the extreme humanitarian emergency. Hell on earth has returned to Gaza, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office in Geneva, said. The week-long truce had allowed more than 100 hostages out of Gaza, including Israelis and foreign nationals, in exchange for more than 180 Palestinians being held inside Israeli jails. It also allowed residents of Gaza some respite from the aerial bombardment and more aid to be allowed into the territory. That level of aid, which agencies said still wasnt enough to meet the needs of residents, is now at risk.

Mr Laerke said that the week-long truce had seen significantly larger humanitarian convoys entering densely populated Gaza, even reaching north of Wadi Gaza, which prior to the pause had received almost no supplies. With the resumption of war, we fear that the continuation of this [aid] is now in doubt, he said.

The US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, echoed Israeli claims that Hamas began firing missiles prior to the end of the pause in the early hours of Friday, triggering the breakdown. Air raid sirens went off around the end of the truce at 7am local time, in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, near the Gaza border. Hamas also accused Israel of violating the ceasefire.

Palestinians inspect a house destroyed in an Israeli strike after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired (Reuters)

Mr Blinken told reporters in Dubai, where he is attending the Cop28 summit, that the group reneged on the commitments it made in terms of releasing certain hostages and began firing rockets before the pause had ended.

Just after 7.30am, smoke could then be seen billowing from the rubble of buildings hit by the latest round of Israeli airstrikes.

Israels military said its ground, air and naval forces had struck more than 200 of what it called terror targets in the enclave since the morning.

This morning, as promised, we resumed our attack, former defence minister Benny Gantz, who joined prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an emergency unity government last month, said in a statement.

One of the first strikes destroyed a large building in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Moments later, residents were seen frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached. One wounded person was carried away on a stretcher.

Gaza residents said they feared that the bombing of southern parts of the enclave could herald an expansion of the war into areas Israel had previously described as safe, with Israels forces having generally been focused on northern Gaza.

Palestinians flee their houses and head south after airstrikes across Khan Younis (Reuters)

Leaflets dropped on eastern areas of the main southern city Khan Younis ordered residents of four towns to evacuate  not to other areas in Khan Younis as in the past, but further south to the crowded town of Rafah on the Egyptian border. You have to evacuate immediately and go to the shelters in the Rafah area. Khan Younis is a dangerous fighting zone. You have been warned, said the leaflets, written in Arabic.

Israel released a link to a map showing Gaza divided into hundreds of districts, which it said would be used in future to communicate which areas were safe.

The resumption of hostilities in Gaza is catastrophic, said Volker Turk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. I urge all parties and states with influence over them to redouble efforts, immediately, to ensure a ceasefire on humanitarian and human rights grounds.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he regretted the resumption of hostilities and hoped a new pause could be established. The return to hostilities only shows how important it is to have a true humanitarian ceasefire, he said.

Appealing for a lasting ceasefire, UNs childrens agency (Unicef) called inaction on Gaza an approval of the killing of children. Unicef spokesperson James Elder posted a video from a childrens hospital in Khan Younis an hour and a half after the end of the ceasefire.

The ceasefire is over, he said. We can already hear the bombing. There was a hit about 50 metres from here.

Fighting also resumed in northern Israel, on the Lebanese border, after the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, said it had carried out several attacks on Israeli military positions at the border in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon and air defences had intercepted two launches. The army also said it struck a terrorist cell. Sirens warning of possible incoming rockets sounded in several towns in northern Israel, sending residents running for shelter.

Renewed hostilities have also heightened concerns for about 140 hostages who remain in Gaza. The location of some of the hostages remains uncertain.

The halt in fighting began on 24 November. It initially lasted for four days and was then extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Qatar said negotiations were continuing with Israelis and Palestinians in hopes of restoring the truce, but that Israels renewed bombardment of Gaza had complicated its efforts.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Israel said on Friday morning it had resumed combat in the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of violating a ceasefire with a rocket fired an hour before the latest truce deadline.

Air raid sirens were sounded twice in an hour in southern Israel following the interception of a rocket fired from Gaza, a first since the start of the ceasefire last week.

A bout of gunfire and explosions rocked the northern part of the Gaza Strip just minutes before the truce deadline, according to local media affiliated with Hamas.

The seven-day truce, which began on 24 November, ended with daybreak on Friday, although Qatari and Egyptian mediators said they were still in contact with both sides and trying to keep open negotiations to resume the ceasefire for an eighth day.

The Israeli military said its fighter jets had resumed targeting Hamas militants across the Gaza Strip. At least 32 people were killed and dozens sustained injuries just hours into the renewed offensive, the health ministry in Gaza said.

Palestinian residents said Israel dropped leaflets on Friday morning over parts of southern Gaza, urging people to leave homes east of the town of Khan Younis, which it warned was a dangerous battle zone.

The leaflets signalled that Israel is preparing to widen its offensive, which has so far focused largely on the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Israel had said earlier on Thursday evening that it was open to continuing the ceasefire if Hamas committed to further hostage releases. "We're ready for all possibilities.... Without that, we're going back to the combat," Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told CNN.

After two last-minute extensions to the original four-day ceasefire, the seventh day of the Qatar-brokered truce brought the exchange of eight Israeli hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has so far freed more than 100 hostages, including 83 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals, while Israel handed over 240 Palestinians  mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces.

Israel says around 125 men were still being held hostage by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.

The truce was pivotal for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the besieged region of 2.3 million people was reduced to wasteland due to Israel's incessant bombardment.

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.

Israel has killed over 15,000 Palestinians in Gaza in its bid to destroy Hamas following the militant group's 7 October rampage, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages during the initial terror attack.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken, during his third visit to Israel since the onset of the war, agreed that the flow of aid into Gaza was not sufficient.

Mr Blinken told the prime minister that Israel cannot repeat in south Gaza the massive civilian casualties and displacement of residents it inflicted in the north.

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 of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south, Mr Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

And the Israeli government agreed with that approach, he said. This would include concrete measures to avoid damaging critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water facilities and clearly designating safe zones, he said.
Yangtze River Delta makes strides in sci-tech, industrial innovation

16:00, December 01, 2023 By Yu Jianbin, Wu Qiuyu, Chang Qin ( People's Daily

Robotic arms are manufacturing glass products in a workshop of a major enterprise in Suqian, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Sun Dongcheng)

The Yangtze River Delta, encompasses Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, covering around 358,000 square kilometers, less than 4 percent of China's territory, generates nearly a quarter of China's GDP and contributes to over 1/3 of the country's total foreign trade.

The region is home to some impressive high-technology innovations. At the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, incredibly powerful supercomputers are pushing advancements in computing. Tourists visiting the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, can take advantage of a convenient digital tour guide right on their phones. Scientists have constructed the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, or the Chinese artificial sun, to pave new ground in fusion energy. The quantum computer prototype named "Jiuzhang" is striving to unlock the next era of advanced computing...

As one of the most innovative regions in China, the Yangtze River Delta has leveraged its advantages in talents, technology, developed manufacturing, complete industrial and supply chains and huge market potential over the past five years, emerging as a trailblazer for China's technological and industrial innovation.

The Songjiang district, once an agricultural and traditional manufacturing area in Shanghai, began seeking transformation in early 2016 after conducting in-depth investigations and research on the industrial layout along the G60 Expressway.

By transforming thousands of mu (667 square meters) of land once intended for real estate development along the G60 Expressway into industrial zones, the district aimed to promote the division of labor in the Yangtze River Delta, expand the scale of the industrial chain, and turn the G60 Expressway into an "innovation corridor."

With two major expansions, now the G60 Science and Innovation Corridor covers nine cities in the Yangtze River Delta, generating 1/15 of China's GDP. Songjiang district has established itself as an important hub for advanced manufacturing and a vital source of innovation in the Yangtze River Delta.

The Yangtze River Delta today is accelerating the push for boosting high-quality development.

Longgang, a county-level city in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, was known for its prospering printing industry in the 1980s and 1990s. However, it gradually lost its competitiveness as homogeneous competition intensified within this traditional industry.

"Traditional industries can still develop, but they need to find paths of high-quality development. Printing is only rough machining if it's not driven by technologies," said Liang Xiaoke, executive secretary general of Longgang's printing and packaging industry association.

In Longgang today, flat prints come alive on digital screens and can even interact with users with the augmented reality technology, and the near field communication technology allows users to add new contacts to their phones by just simple taps of their phones against business cards.

A quantum computer works in a machine room of QuantumCTek Co., Ltd., Hefei, east China's Anhui province. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Bing)

Longgang has stepped up its efforts to advance industrial transformation and upgrading. Its R&D input in the printing industry surged 44 percent in 2022 from a year ago.

The "Quantum Avenue" in Hefei National High-Tech Industry Development Zone, Anhui province, is where Mozi, the world's first quantum science satellite, was developed. It is also the birthplace to the world's first trunk line for secure quantum telecommunications which known as the Jing-Hu (Beijing-Shanghai) Trunk Line and the first optical quantum computing machine prototype.

In August last year, the largest quantum metropolitan area network in China was launched in Hefei.

"Quantum communication has been well commercialized and widely applied. The quantum metropolitan area network in Hefei has connected over 90 businesses," said Gu Fengbo, an expert with the QuantumCTek Co., Ltd.

According to Gu, quantum communication has moved beyond the confines of the laboratory and made its way into commercial applications. He said QuantumCTek Co., Ltd., has grown from a startup of just over a dozen employees to a listed company, a national-level high-tech enterprise, and a little giant specialized and sophisticated enterprise that produces new and unique products.

Besides, Chinese display panel manufacturer BOE has also thrived in Hefei. With total investment of over 100 billion yuan ($14 billion), the company offers more than 25,000 jobs in the city and has attracted more than 100 supporting enterprises to develop in Hefei, making Hefei one of the world's biggest hubs of display production.

The region of Yangtze River Delta has reaped major benefits from its integrated development during the past five years.

Having breakfast at 7:00 am at home in Pudong, Shanghai, joining meetings an hour later at the R&D center of Hengyu Biotech in Pudong's Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, working in Hengyu Biotech's testing center in Jiashan Economic and Technological Development Zone in Zhejiang province from 2:00 pm, and returning home at 7:00 pm - this is the daily routine of Zhu Xiangying, a senior engineer.

Zhu holds a PhD diploma of Fudan University, and Hengyu Biotech she founded has emerged as a dark horse in global biomedical innovation.

Zhu told People's Daily that the Pudong company focuses on R&D and sales, while the one in Jiashan spearheads manufacturing, and that's why she works in both places.

According to her, Hengyu Biotech has purchased R&D services worth over 1 million yuan from Zhejiang University and Fudan University in the past two years with the "Innovation Coupon" provided by Jiashan government, which tremendously accelerated its innovative development.

The region has set up a National Innovation Center par Excellence, established a joint collaboration mechanism for technological innovation and strengthened cross-regional cooperation on digital economy. With high-standard planning and high-quality implementation, the Yangtze River Delta region is striving to explore the path to build a new development paradigm.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Health authorities in Ohio have alerted in recent days of a paediatric surge of cases of pneumonia in the state.

The Warren County Health District said in a statement on Wednesday that 145 cases of pneumonia have been reported in children between the ages of three and 14 since August. In an initial news release on Tuesday, the health district confirmed that the spreading illness was deemed an outbreak due to the above-average case volumes.

Recent media reports have drawn comparisons between the spike in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, dubbed white lung syndrome, in both Ohio and China. But health officials in the state have warned that the outbreak is not linked to Chinas  meaning that the strains seen by Ohio doctors are not spreading from country to country.

Although cases have risen in Ohio, medical experts said the trend was somewhat expected as part of the flu season, and that it was potentially exacerbated by COVID restrictions being dropped.

We have no evidence whatsoever of any connection to any outbreaks statewide or internationally, said Clint Koenig, a family physician and medical director at the Warren County Health Department. We dont have any evidence to suggest this is anything but routine, standard winter bugs causing pneumonia in higher rates in kids.

Dr Koenig has emphasised that the cases of pediatric pneumonia in Ohio are not a new or novel virus, but rather strains of pneumonia that already circulated in the US. Warren County District reports that most children are recovering at home and no deaths have been recorded in relation to the outbreak.

Heres a breakdown of what you need to know about both outbreaks  and why officials believe theyre not linked:

China sees childhood pneumonia wave; officials tamp down outbreak fears

What strains of pneumonia are circulating in Ohio?

The Warren County Heath District said the main types of pathogens detected so far were streptococcus pneumonia, adenovirus, and mycoplasma pneumonia.

Meanwhile, cases seen in China include respiratory illnesses such as influenza, rhinoviruses and mycoplasma pneumonia. Cases of mycoplasma pneumonia are also spreading in Denmark, reaching epidemic levels and recoding 541 new cases by the end of last week, according to a Danish Ministry of Health research group.

In recent media reports, mycoplasma pneumonia has been described as white lung syndrome, due to the whitening of the lungs shown in x-rays of patients with pneumonia, NBC reports. The term is a medical buzzword and is not used by physicians when treating patients.

Health authorities in the US have been in contact with their counterparts in China. However, medical experts have concluded that the outbreak in Ohio appears to be driven by the usual mix of respiratory viruses during the colder months  all of which previously circulated in the US.

Despite the headlines that were seeing in China, there is no indication that there are any new viruses or bacteria spreading from country to country, John Brownstein, a doctor at Boston Childrens Hospital, told ABC News. This is typical seasonal bacterial and viral activity that we see each year.

The Chinese Health Ministry has also stated that the respiratory illnesses seen in the country are not new and are all known.

What is mycoplasma pneumonia?

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a bacteria that can cause mild infections by damaging the lining of the respiratory system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Around two million cases are recorded each year in the US.

The infection can become pneumonia, where shortness of breath can also be experienced, but is considered a milder version of pneumonia.

Its sometimes referred to as walking pneumonia, which means you have pneumonia but youre not sick enough to be in the hospital, Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center Dr James Cutrell told NBC.

In most cases, people can recover at home and are treated with antibiotics, the Ohio health district said in its release.

The bacteria is spread through coughs and sneezes and is usually spread between people who spend a lot of time together, such as in households, schools, residence halls, and military or care facilities and hospitals.

In Ohio, the Warren County Health District said most children have been experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever and fatigue. Other symptoms listed by the CDC include a sore throat and headaches. If a child under five contracts the illness, they could also experience sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, wheezing, vomiting and diarrhoea.

What has driven the outbreak in Ohio?

Bacterial infections such as mycoplasma pneumonia tend to make a resurgence every three to seven years in the US, with cases rising in colder months. Viruses like influenza, RSV, and the common cold follow similar trends.

Based on our provisional assessment, we are seeing seasonal trends. Nothing is appearing out of the ordinary, but we are continuing to monitor, said a spokesperson from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr Koenig also noted that although some cases have led to hospitalization, most have been patients with underlying conditions and that the illnesses are no more severe than in previous years.

Restrictions on social interactions being further lifted post-pandemic may have also contributed to the spike in cases. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research at the University of Minnesota, told NBC that particularly rings true in Chinas case.

They really did have a total shutdown of all the infectious diseases. So I would have expected exactly what were seeing right now, Mr Osterholm said. Were seeing increases in respiratory infections in general, but particularly it seems like mycoplasma ... Its just because weve got a larger pool of people who are more susceptible.

Health officials have recommended that everyone over the age of six months get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and their annual flu shot.

Older adults over the age of 60, pregnant women, and infants under the age of eight months are also eligible for an RSV vaccine to protect against severe illness and death.
Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A federal judge in Montana has blocked a bid to ban TikToK in the state.

The state-wide ban would have come into effect on 1 January 2024 and would have seen Montana become the first US state to ban TikTok, which is owned by the China-based tech giant ByteDance.

Judge Donald Molloy said he blocked the ban because it oversteps state power and Montana failed to show how the original SB 419 bill would be constitutionally permissible, among other reasons, according to a legal filing released on Thursday.

Despite the States attempt to defend SB 419 as a consumer protection bill, the current record leaves little doubt that Montanas legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting Chinas ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers, Judge Molloy wrote in the filing.

Judge Molloys ruling was a preliminary injunction, so it is possible the ban can still be reinstated.

The bill was signed into law by state governor Greg Gianforte in May with the aim of protecting Montanans from Chinese Communist Party surveillance, he claimed.

Under the law, Montanas 200,000 TikTok users did not face any repercussions for using the app, however TikTok and other companies faced a $10,000 daily fine for each time someone accessed the app or was offered the ability to download it.

Opponents of the bill have argued that it violates users First Amendment rights.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement the company is pleased the judge rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on TikTok.

ByteDance sued Montana in May to prevent the state of Montana from unlawfully banning TikTok, the company said at the time, after state officials alleged the Chinese government could access data about TikTok users, and that TikTok exposes minors to harmful online content.

TikTok has previously insisted that it does not share data with the Chinese government.

Montana attorney general said in a statement that the judges decision is merely a preliminary matter at this point, adding that the state will continue to defend the ban.

In January 2020, the United States Army and Navy banned TikTok on government devices after the Defense Department labeled it a security risk.

US lawmakers have expressed concern over the ability of the Chinese Communist Party to access the data of US citizens using the app, and have considered implementing a nationwide ban on TikTok.
Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Ah, here we are  more visitors to the museum.

Its a common experience for brothers Noel and Silvio Farrugio who own Dianas pub in the tourist hot spot of Qawra in Malta: seeing open-mouthed fans of the late Princess trying to take in the hundreds of pieces of memorabilia on show.

While it must be irritating for the pair when people walk in, gawp, take pictures then leave without buying a drink, the pub has been attracting locals and tourists alike for years. Set up by Noel and Silvios late father  a great fan of the iconic royal  in the early 1990s, it was renamed after Diana in 1996 and has stayed much the same ever since.

As well as an instantly recognisable sign featuring the face of the Peoples Princess drawing punters in, the walls inside are covered in memorabilia of Diana. Plates, photos, portraits  you name it, everything is there.

This Qawra pub is plastered with Lady Di memorabilia (Saskia ODonoghue)

Noel tells me that two prints of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip came from their grandmothers house but the vast majority of the pieces emblazoning the walls and shelves of the low-lit space come as gifts from fans of Diana  and of the pub itself.

Read more on Malta travel:

The Farrugio family have long been stans of the princess, and its a sentiment shared with many on the island. Silvio tells me that, up until at least a decade after her untimely death in 1997, fans would lay flowers at the pub every year on the anniversary of her passing. The brothers say that the interest in her had dropped a little in recent years but the popularity of Netflixs The Crown is bringing Diana  and this quasi-shrine  to a new audience.

And its not just those who come to take pictures with no intention of paying for anything who frequent the offbeat watering hole. The pub boasts a jovial atmosphere where local accents mix harmoniously with British, Italian, French and German voices.

She made the world a better place and Im just so glad I got to be on earth at the same time as her

Sitting at an outdoor table in the warm November sun, Liam, a 28-year-old on holiday from Liverpool, tells me Diana means very little to him as he was a toddler when she died. He comes to the pub for the food  traditional British pub fare, including a ribeye steak dish and a bright orange cocktail named after, you guessed it, Princess Diana.

Two sisters in their sixties, though, say they come to Malta in the autumn every year  and never miss a chance to visit their favourite pub and pay tribute to their favourite royal. She was an angel, Pauline, the eldest sibling says, She made the world a better place and Im just so glad I got to be on earth at the same time as her.

There is some confusion among patrons I get chatting to around whether Diana actually ever visited the pub  or indeed the island. In fact, it turns out she never did make an appearance but, Im told, the Maltese love the British royal family on the whole  and the feeling appears to have been mutual.

Silvio, left, and Noel, right, outside their beloved Dianas pub (Saskia ODonoghue)

From 1949 to 1951, the late Queen  then princess  made several visits here with her husband Prince Philip. The young couple stayed at Villa Guardamangia, just outside the capital Valletta, and by all accounts threw themselves into life in Malta. Philip was serving as an officer in the Royal Navy and, as Kenneth Gambin of Heritage Malta tells me, Elizabeth would frequently wave him goodbye from the Harbour Fire Command station at Fort St Elmo, or watch him play polo at Marsa.

The Villa is currently closed for refurbishment before it opens as a museum, but royal fans visiting the island need not miss out. Half an hour away, there is another Diana-themed pub: the Lady Di in the town of Sliema. This is, unlike Dianas pub in Qawra, very much a joint for locals. Other than the sign out front, there is little indication that its an establishment paying tribute to the late royal.

I walk to the bar where a lump of anonymous meat and a man sharpening knives await. Ordering my pint of Strongbow I head to the outside seating area and get chatting to some regulars. Theyre locals and  luckily  very friendly.

Frankie Cutajar opened the Lady Di on the day of Dianas marriage to Charles in 1981 (Saskia ODonoghue)

Kurt and Andrew are friends in their early forties. While they like the pub itself, its extra special to them being named after Diana. Can you think of a better person to name anything after? I cant, says Andrew. They tell me about some of their earliest memories in pubs, as children in the 1980s and 90s. In every drinking spot, punters would cheers each other, saying: God save the Queen.

Frankie Cutajar opened the Lady Di on 29th July 1981  the day of Dianas marriage to Charles. He tells me that he met the Princess of Wales via a well-connected friend in London and promised her he would name his bar after her. And, clearly, he kept his word.

He even has a letter from Buckingham Palace giving him permission to christen the pub as such. Its somewhere in storage, he says.

If Charles came here and asked me to rename the pub after Queen Camilla, Id have to refuse  no one would come

The chatty customers, Andrew and Kurt, say the vast majority of Maltese people love the entire royal family  though thats not the case for the pubs co-landlord, Frankies son Keith. Hes worked at the bar all his life and still adores Diana. Its a different story when it comes to King Charles though. When I ask him what he would do if he turned up at the door, Keith says, Id simply ignore him. He doesnt deserve my attention.

Back at Dianas pub in Qawra, theres a similar sentiment from Silvio. If Charles came here and asked me to rename the pub after Queen Camilla, Id have to refuse  no one would come.

It seems as though the British royal family will forever be linked with Malta  but its Diana who continues to reign supreme on this Mediterranean island.

Read more of our best Malta hotel reviews
Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A passenger has claimed he was forced to hide a Palestine sweater on board an American Airlines flight.

The man, who was travelling on American Airlines flight 2829 from New York JFK to Phoenix, took to social media to condemn the airline for the alleged incident, accusing the company of being complicit in the murders of innocent Palestinian children in Gaza.

The man said he was wearing his sweater with the word Palestine emblazoned on it. He said that the clothing did not feature any offensive or profane material.

But, when he boarded the plane, he claims he was asked by flight attendants to flip his sweatshirt inside out  and warned that he would be removed from the flight by law enforcement if he did not comply.

The flight crew allegedly told him that passengers are barred from wearing anything political and expressed concerns about how other passengers might feel about the sweatshirt.

What about my feelings? he said he replied.

The man said that he decided to comply with the flight attendants because he didnt know his rights.

According to American Airlines policy on passenger attire, passengers are required to dress appropriately.

Bare feet or offensive clothing arent allowed, it states.

The policy does not mention that political clothing is not allowed.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) condemned the airline over the alleged incident, saying it is deeply troubled.

This action taken by American Airlines is not only discriminatory but also contributes to the broader context of prejudice against Palestinians and their right to self-identification, a statement published on its website read.

The choice presented to the passenger  conceal their identity or face potential removal reflects a distressing disregard for the fundamental rights of individuals to express their cultural and national identities.

This incident is emblematic of a larger pattern of discrimination that Palestinians and their supporters often face, highlighting a concerning trend of silencing and marginalizing their voices.

The ADC called on the airline to issue a formal apology to the passenger and invited the company to engage in direct dialogue with the ADC to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib also criticised the airline over the incident.

A young man who I have known most of his life informed me that on his @americanair flight AA2829 home from New York, he was instructed by a flight attendant to remove his sweater that said Palestine on it, she said on X.

Does American Airlines have a bias towards Palestinians? Is there a policy that enables this kind of targeting and mistreatment?

He was devastated and felt like the erasure of Palestinians in our country has no limits. I emailed @americanair and Im waiting for a response.

A spokesperson for American Airlines told The Independent: We strive to ensure all customers have a positive experience throughout their journey on American.

We are looking into the matter and a member of our team is reaching out to learn more about their experience and address their concerns.

In October, following Hamas attack on Israel in which 1.400 people were killed and hundreds taken hostage, the pilots union for American Airlines directed its members to refuse to fly to Israel.

Union president Ed Sicher said in an email to members that the companys pilots should not fly to Israel until they can be reasonably assured of the regions safety and security.
Author Omid Scobie has refused to apologise as King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named as the two senior royal figures alleged to have made concerns over Prince Harry and Meghans sons skin colour before he was born.

Appearing on BBC Newsnight with Victoria Derbyshire on Thursday (30 November), Mr Dobie said: It's not for me to apologise because I still want to know what's happened.

The 42-year-old was asked if he could hand on heart say the naming of the two royals in the Dutch version of Endgame was not a publicity stunt to sell more books.

Mr Dobie replied: On my life, on my family's life.
Sultan al-Jaber, CEO of one of the worlds largest oil companies and Cop28 president, opened the climate conference in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, 30 November.

The UAE is deeply proud and humbled to be hosting Cop28 at a pivotal time in this critical decade for climate action, he said in his opening speech.

We feel as you feel, the urgency of this work, he added about the importance of climate action.

al-Jaber started the conference in the hot seat after reports released UAE oil company ADNOCs attempts to boost fossil fuel sales while its CEO al-Jaber, worked to curb climate change.
King Charles says he is praying Cop28 will be a critical turning point for climate change in a passionate speech at the opening of the World Climate Action Summit.

The King warned the world remains dreadfully far off track in key climate targets and called for meaningful change in his opening address at Cop28 in Dubai on Friday (1 December).

Charles said that despite some progress, transformational action was needed as the dangers of climate change are no longer distant risks.

He added: I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action at a time when, already, as scientists have been warning for so long, we are seeing alarming tipping points being reached.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators broke up a school board meeting in Ontario on Wednesday 29 November.

Footage shows supporters waving signs and flags in the public gallery, drowning out trustees with chants of Free Palestine, and forcing them to leave.

They began speaking out after a fellow audience member attempted to speak up whilst the board tried to continue the meeting, with a crowd chanting Let them speak.

They then follow the trustees past security and into a room where they had attempted to reconvene the meeting.

The Indepenent have reached out for comment from the Peel District School Board.
Three white lion cubs were born in Venezuela on Wednesday 29 November.

Theyre the first white lions to be born in Venezuela after four white lions arrived in the country in 2022.

The trios births represent a promising contribution to an endangered species with a few hundred left in the world and even fewer in the wild.

White lions are a genetic rarity and incredibly beautiful but have been victims of the notorious canned hunting industry, which sees animals speed bred in captivity for the sole purpose of being hunted.
Its perfectly reasonable to question the point of Cop28, the annual get-together intended to advance the goal of keeping the global temperature within the liveable 1.5 degrees Celsius limit.

Progress has been incremental since the giddy-high of the 2015 Paris Agreement, when leaders clasped hands and promised to hasten the decline of their countrys respective carbon footprints from cooking the planet.

Eight years on, we are facing a deafening cacophony of broken records, as Professor Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, put it during Cop28s opening session in Dubai on Thursday.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

George Santos got what he wanted.

I first realised this about the now-expelled New York Republican during the speakers race in October, when he started shouting at a pro-Palestinian activist who had questioned him earlier. I had caught him coming out of the meeting room in the Longworth House Office Building and asked him about Jim Jordan when he caught the activist and shouted you are human scum.

Immediately, all of the reporters moved from covering the GOP disarray and zeroed in on him, effectively turning it into a reality show. And thats how he wanted it. He got all of the Washington press corps, the House Republican conference and even some Democrats to play along with his charade as he distracted from his legal troubles.

Thats why the House vote to expel him will not deter him. He turned every attempt to shame him into an opportunity. Furthermore, Republicans in the House of Representatives have created an ecosystem that disincentivizes policymaking and instead elevates people who see Congress as a way to build their brand rather than make a difference.

And the press is just as guilty of giving him what he wants as anyone else. The perfect example came the day before his expulsion vote, when Mr Santos called a press conference in the bitter chill of November in Washington outside the Captiol at 8am on a Thursday. Despite these elements, he still had a swarm of reporters willing to hear him air his grievances and shout his questions, even as we knew he would blatantly lie.

He refused to refute the allegations in the House Ethics Committee report that detailed his misdeeds such as lying about loaning his campaign money, using campaign donors for personal expenses such as Hermes and OnlyFans, and falsifying Federal Election Commission reports. Rather, he bragged about how well he served his constituents.

Rep Anthony DEsposito, a fellow freshman Republican from his neighboring district on Long Island, refuted that to me, noting how his office is now having to handle constituent work for Mr Santoss 3rd district.

All of these people do not want to deal with or just don't have the ability to do a deal with George Santos and the people who live there deserve proper representation, he told me.

But when I asked Mr DEsposito what could be done about stopping another George Santos, he didnt have much to say.

I think it's for the person to not run and try to dupe and defraud voters, he said. Similarly, Republican Rep Mike Garcia of California - who like Mr Santos and Mr DEsposito represents a district that President Joe Biden won - dithered when I asked him what could be done to prevent another grifter from arriving in Washington.

How does the Democrat party do better opposition research as well? Mr Garcia told me. I mean, everyone missed this one. So look, when someone is committing a crime, and they're intentionally trying to cover their tracks and it makes it harder to find this thing. So this is the fault of him and his team.

Rep Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the chairman of the House Rules Committee echoed the sentiment, telling me that political opponents are supposed to craft political attacks and the media is supposed to cover it.

The local media in New York City, didn't get his job done, didn't better pay attention, he told me. I can't believe some of this stuff didn't come up during the campaign.

Democrats and the press missed their mark on Mr Santos. But he received the support of the Republican apparatus. The Ethics Committee report noted how he falsely claimed he loaned his campaign money to earn the support of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOPs campaign apparatus, which gave his campaign $5,000 after he won his primary.

The NRCCs then-chairman Tom Emmer, now the House Majority Whip, congratulated him on election night. Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, a fellow New Yorker who could have vetted him, endorsed him in 2021. House Republicans could have easily made sure a shameless con artist did not infiltrate their ranks. Blaming the Democrats or the press is the equivalent of blaming a bartender for not cutting someone off after they get a DUI.

Similarly, the fact remains that there is simply no more incentive for Republicans who want to govern to stay in the House. Kay Granger, the House Appropriations Committee chairwoman, is calling it a day, as is Rep Michael Burgess of Texas, who led Republicans during the many fights about health care.

Conversely, people who see legislation as an obstacle to getting attention populate the House Republican conference.

Like he's the biggest one now, Rep Maxwell Frost, the first Generation Z member and outspoken progressive, told me on Thursday, adding that they still have a whole other host of people who are not here to be serious not here to actually legislate and want to push our country the wrong direction.

Governing doesnt get someone on Fox News. Compromise cramps a conservatives brand of ideological purity. So there will be more George Santoses. Furthermore, they will see him not as a cautionary tale but rather as someone who blazed a trail for them to follow and they will see that their Republican colleagues will defend them until every other option is exhausted.

And hes not even an isolated incident. Last Congress, now-disgraced former congressman Madison Cawthorn became an anthropomorphized ethics report, to the point Kevin McCarthy had to punish him.

But when I caught Mr McCarthy, the now-disgraced ex-speaker who protected Mr Santos in the name of keeping his gavel, and asked how he would vote to expel the lawmaker on Wednesday, he didnt answer.

This differs wildly from Democrats, who almost immediately called for former governor Andrew Cuomo to go amid allegations of sexual misconduct, and are now showing Sen Robert Menendez of New Jersey the door amid an indictment.

Of course, no discussion about how Republicans reward being a serial liar defrauding the public and facing federal indictments is complete without talking about the head of the party, Donald Trump, who had zero previous political experience, who lies about everything from his wealth to whether he lost the presidential election in 2020 and who has received undying fealty from the GOP.

Where did George Santos get the idea that you could lie, cheat and steal and succeed in the Republican Party? Where does that idea come from, Rep Jamie Raskin asked me rhetorically on Thursday, before answering with Mr Trump. I mean, if he can make lying, standard operating procedure, then it invites every kind of charlatan and con man to come on in. The water's warm for them.

That culture of permission now permeates the GOP. The party of personal responsibility now puts the onus on Democrats and the press rather than raising a standard that the wise and honest can repair, to borrow from George Washington. Now, they have adopted the standard of Taylor Swift in her Reputation era, telling everyone Look What You Made Me Do. (Tellingly, Mr Santos has said that Bad Blood is his favourite song from Ms Swift and Reputation is his favourite album, even though Bad Blood is on 1989).

The House GOPs unwillingness to police itself means that more figures like Mr Santos will enter the peoples House and coarsen democracy even more by turning it into their platform to soft-launch their quest for fame.

When I caught Mr Santos on Thursday night, I asked him what he planned to do on his first day as a former member of Congress, he told me: Sleeping in.

And he wont lose a second of sleep for his actions. Why would he? The House GOP all but tucked him into bed.
It's the first fine ever imposed on an investment fund by the Central Bank

The Central Bank has fined investment fund GlobalReach 192,500 for failing to report hundreds of thousands of derivatives contracts.

It is the first fine the Central Bank has ever imposed on an investment fund. The bank has previously fined fund management companies.

The infringement comes under the EUs market infrastructure regulation (EMIR), which requires derivatives contracts  complex financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying commodity or asset  to be reported to a centralised repository by the next working day.

The fund, GlobalReach Multi-Strategy ICAV, admitted that it failed to report 200,640 derivative trades entered into between January 2018 and May 2020 by one of its sub-funds.

The Central Bank had set a fine of 275,000, but reduced it by 30pc to 192,500 as allowed by the discount scheme under EU rules.

This case highlights the importance of timely and accurate data reporting, said Seana Cunningham, the Central Banks director of enforcement and anti-money laundering.

Firms must have appropriate oversight of data reporting from board level down, including where data reporting is delegated or outsourced.

The delegation of reporting obligations must be appropriately managed in order to avoid confusion between the delegates as to their respective reporting responsibilities. Incomplete or inaccurate data actively hinders market monitoring processes and activities.

Ms Cunningham said the bank expects firms to bring any failures to its attention at the earliest opportunity.

She noted that the fund had only notified the Central Bank of its reporting failure following engagement initiated by the Central Bank.

GlobalReach is a Central Bank-authorised fund which does not have any employees but is managed by a board of directors.

The board hired a management company to handle its operational compliance with all applicable laws. The management company then delegated responsibility for the funds investments and reporting obligations to an investment manager.

While the management company had been reporting that the fund was complying with its obligations, the investment manager revealed in 2020  following a Central Bank letter to the wider industry to remind them of their obligations under EMIR  that 21,000 derivatives trades had not been reported. Following an internal investigation, that number climbed to over 200,000.

The fund informed the Central Bank of the trades in March 2021 after the bank queried them.

Under EU rules, GlobalReach is ultimately responsible for all of the activities of its management company and investment manager, and is liable for any breaches of EU rules.

The Central Bank said it was satisfied" that GlobalReach had remediated the failing. The fund said the the remediation was at no expense to its investors.

Derivatives backed by mortgages were a major cause of the 2008 crash.
Dublin-based Avia Solutions Group, the worlds largest aircraft leasing, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) firm, said it generated earnings of 316m in the third quarter of the year, as revenue rose to 1.64bn.

The figures were up 31pc and 22pc respectively.

Avia, which moved its headquarters to Dublin from its home country of Lithuania earlier this year, has customers including Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Wizzair, Ryanair and SAS. Avia is the parent company of SmartLynx Airlines, Avion Express, BBN Airlines, Klasjet and Magma Aviation.

The company is ultimately controlled by businessman Gediminas Ziemelis, the groups chairman.

Avia Solutions Group chief executive Jonas Janukenas said that the third-quarter performance was a reflection of the substantial demand for ACMI services across the world.

The year 2023, especially the extremely active summer season, demonstrated the tremendous need for ACMI services in the aviation industry worldwide, he said.

Europe accounted for 69pc of revenue in the third quarter, while Asia accounted for 19pc. Its revenue in Asia rose just over 9pc in the period. The group now has a fleet of 197 passenger and cargo aircraft and plans to expand in the Asia-Pacific region. It has set up new companies in Thailand and Indonesia to underpin its development and aims to have a total of five operators in Asia by the end of next year. It is also expanding in South America.

Expanding in south-east Asia and South America is a key strategic direction for the group, allowing us to balance the reduced seasonal demand in Europe during the winter by shifting aircraft to these regions, said Mr Janukenas. During the past few years, we have become a major aviation player in this part of the world and plan further expansion.

Additionally, significant investments are being made in MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] infrastructure for the groups aviation companies providing ACMI services. The total investment in the initial development phase in the region amounts to 25m.

Avia Solutions has begun the construction of a 20,000 sqm aircraft maintenance hangar in the Dominican Republic and a 17,000 sqm aircraft maintenance hangar in Bali. The groups subsidiary, Avion Express, has established an ACMI airline in Brazil to serve clients in Colombia, Chile, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic.

This year, Avia freed up almost 1.5bn in capital as part of a technical restructuring of capital reserves. Group equity before and after the restructuring remained unchanged.
Firm says loss was due to unrealised mark-to-market energy valuation changes

The extreme volatility of global energy markets during 2022 saw Irish energy trading group ElectroRoute post a 6.5m loss for the year, with the figure impacted by the recognition of mark-to-market valuation of electricity that will be delivered to clients in the future.

While the valuations have been changed and recognised on the accounts, the losses associated with the valuation changes have not actually yet been realised.

The recorded loss last year compared with a 49.1m profit in 2021, when the company benefited from a surge in energy valuations.

Newly-filed accounts for the business show that revenue at the firm soared last year to 569.7m from 320.1m in 2021.

Last years figure was flattered by much higher global energy costs. It included 623.3m in electricity revenue, and also reflected a negative 56.3m in fair value movement. The previous year, the firm recorded a positive 50m movement in fair value. It also paid a 1m dividend to Mitsubishi in 2022.

ElectroRoute was founded by executives, including Ronan Doherty, in 2011. It is now owned by Japans Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi first invested in the Irish company in 2016, taking a controlling stake of close to 65pc. Last year, it bought the remainder of the business that it didnt own.

ElectroRoute provides electricity trading services to renewable assets including wind farms, solar farms and batteries in 15 separate energy markets.

The group actively trades power across the Irish, UK, French, Spanish, Dutch, Belgian and Italian markets. It said it is looking to expand further in the UK.

The firm also entered into its first physical electricity market transactions in the Japanese market in 2022 and commenced trading on the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) power exchange. This facilitates the provision of specialised trading and risk management services to renewable assets located in Japan.

ElectroRoute noted that while markets had stabilised somewhat since last year, ongoing conflicts including Russias invasion of Ukraine still presented trading challenges with a tendency for news rather than fundamentals to drive market movements on occasion.

The company said it is focused on steadily progressing its global plans with Mitsubishis backing.

Last year, Mitsubishi provided ElectroRoute with a 300m cash injection to enable the Irish firm to navigate the highly volatile energy trading environment and increased price levels.

The capital provided by Mitsubishi allowed ElectroRoute to meet these requirements and maintain a number of profitable positions in its portfolio.

The group has successfully maintained operations since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and expects to continue to do so as required, note ElectroRoutes accounts. This has had minimal impact on the performance of the business in the period since.

Last year. ElectroRoute announced plans to add over 50 jobs, as part of its medium-term growth plans, to be located in Japan and Ireland. It has already hired 18 new people in Ireland and 17 in Japan in the last 12 months. It now employs about 120 people across Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe and Japan.

Looking at the last two years in aggregate we are satisfied with the financial performance and our realised profits across a period of volatility which are unprecedented in the modern era, said Mr Doherty.

He added that trading conditions remain challenging compared with three years ago.
Conor McQuaid has been appointed as chief executive of Pernod Ricard North America.

Mr McQuaid, who has worked for the drinks giant for 25 years, will be based in New York.

He is set to start his new role on January 1 next year and will be focused on the American and Canadian markets.

Mr McQuaid has held a number of leadership positions across the organisation.

He most recently served as executive vice president for sustainability responsibility, communications and public affairs for the group and was based in Pernod Ricards Paris headquarters.

Having started his career in Ireland with Golden Vale Group, he first joined Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard in 1998.

Mr McQuaid was appointed as chief executive and chairman of Irish Distillers in 2018 and remained in the role until 2022.

He has also been a member of the groups executive committee since 2015.

Mr McQuaid holds a degree in International Marketing and Spanish from Dublin City University and Universidad de Sevilla in Spain.

Pernod Ricard chief executive Alexandre Ricard said that the US continues to be the number one market for the group.

"Conor brings a unique skillset from his 25 years at Pernod Ricard that is perfectly suited to continue our transformation in such a dynamic market, Mr Ricard said.

"His leadership and the instrumental role he played in the success of Jameson, particularly in the US, underscore his ability to further advance Pernod Ricards ambitions in North America, he added.

Mr McQuaid will succeed Ann Mukherjee who has decided to step down to focus on her family.

Pernod Ricards portfolio includes brands such as Jameson, Absolut vodka and Beefeater gin.

The groups consolidated sales amounted to 12.1bn in its most recent financial year.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath said GDP does not reflect the true performance of the Irish economy. Photo: Getty Images

The Irish economy is officially in recession, according to updated figures from the Central Statistics Office.

The economy  as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), which is often skewed by a small number of large foreign firms  shrank 1.9pc between July and September, compared to the second quarter.

That is slightly lower than the 1.8pc dip contained in a flash estimate last month.

Revisions to the figures show that there has now been negative GDP growth for four quarters in a row, the CSO said, despite initial estimates showing GDP was slightly positive in the second quarter.

The definition of a technical recession is two quarters of negative growth.

GDP is also down in the nine months to September, shrinking by 1.3pc compared to the same period last year.

The negative quarterly and annual results are largely due to a dip in exports, which fell by 2.1pc in the third quarter, the CSO said. Capital investment was also down in the quarter, by 7.4pc.

The multinational-dominated sectors of the economy shrank by 3.8pc compared to the previous three months, dominated by a fall in the industry sector, which includes modern manufacturing such as pharmaceuticals.

But modified domestic demand  a proxy for the domestic economy, which strips out things like patents and aircraft leasing  was unchanged in the third quarter relative to the previous quarter.

However, there was a mixed picture across the economy: the public, education and health sectors grew slightly, as did real estate. But the transport, hospitality and construction sectors all saw a slight decline in the quarter, with agriculture shrinking by 15.4pc quarter-on-quarter and financial and insurance activity down 8.5pc.

Consumer spending is still growing slightly, by 0.7pc.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath said GDP is not a useful measure in assessing the living standards of domestic residents, given the outsized role the multinational sector plays in our economy.

The decline reflects, in no small part, the ongoing fall-off in demand for Covid-related pharmaceutical products, he said.

We are also seeing a marked softening in global economic conditions, with the OECD this week projecting weak growth for next year  if realised, this would be the lowest rate of global growth since the global financial crisis, with the exception of the first year of the pandemic.

In terms of the domestic economy, modified domestic demand  my preferred metric  was unchanged in the third quarter, with growth in consumer spending and a fall in investment spending largely off-setting each other.

I am cognisant that many households continue to be impacted by price pressures and Government continues to play a key role in protecting those most acutely impacted. Measures introduced in Budget 2024 will help to support households that continue to be impacted by cost-of-living pressures, with many of these measures hitting peoples pockets earlier this week.
XOCEAN chief executive James Ives, winner of the Impact Award, with Deloitte's James Toomey. Photo: Jason Clarke

James Toomey, partner and Fast 50 lead at Deloitte, with Swoop CEO Andrea Reynolds at the Mansion House in Dublin yesterday. Photo: Jason Clarke

Swoop has claimed the top spot in this years Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards.

The company supports businesses by bringing their data into one place. The global platform then instantly matches companies to eligible finance and assesses spend on costs such as energy, banking and foreign exchange.

Swoop, which was founded in 2018, has partnered with Sage, Microsoft, NatWest and Lloyds.

Swoops triumph in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking is a testament to our unwavering mission to provide every business access to finance, wherever and whoever they are, founder and chief executive Andrea Reynolds said.

The company rose from fourth place in last years ranking to take the top spot this year.

Moffett Automated Storage placed second and was followed by customer experience firm Syndeo.

The Deloitte Fast 50 is a ranking of the countrys 50 fastest-growing technology companies based on revenue growth over the last four years.

The Fast 50 winners this year generated over 3bn in total annual revenues, according to Deloitte.

A total of 15 of the 50 businesses on the list were first-time winners, while the average growth rate of the 50 companies on the list was up 721pc compared with four years ago.

The majority have doubled their workforce since 2019 and now employ around 8,800 people across Ireland.

The main challenges faced by the fast-growing businesses this year included finding, hiring and retaining top talent, as well as international expansion.

Even though this has been a difficult year for tech companies, there are encouraging indicators in these rankings that show the strength of Irelands indigenous sector and that our homegrown talent continues to play an important role in building the future of technology, Deloitte partner and Fast 50 lead James Toomey said.

He added that M&A is a focus for many of the companies on the ranking this year as they look to scale up.

XOCEAN chief executive James Ives, winner of the Impact Award, with Deloitte's James Toomey. Photo: Jason Clarke

A number of additional prizes were awarded to Irish companies, with Brightflag presented with the Growing New Technology Award in association with Google.

Brightflag provides legal operations software.

The Scale-up Award in association with Scale Ireland was awarded to Galway-based investigation platform Siren.

Fenergo won the Alumni Award due to its role in the Fast 50 programme to date, while ID-Pal won the Financial Services Innovation Award. XOCEAN, which delivers ocean data, won the Impact Award.
The forecast average dairy farm income in 2024 of 86,000 would represent a 46pc increase on the estimated income level for 2023. Photograph by Eamon Ward

The average farm income in 2024, is forecast to increase by 30pc to 32,200, but the increase will be largely driven by improved incomes in the dairy and tillage sectors.

According to figures from the Teagasc Outlook, a large drop in fertiliser prices is forecast in 2024, while smaller reductions in energy prices and feed prices are also anticipated, which should help see average farm incomes improve next year.

The reduction in input prices that has emerged in 2023 should persist into 2024, leaving input costs for 2024 lower, as a whole, than in 2023.

Irish milk prices are likely to rise in 2024 by 10pc, it says, as global milk production growth slows and demand growth improves.

Dairy

The average milk price for 2024 should increase to just under 48c/L. Margins in 2024 should improve as producers also benefit from a slight drop in production costs. The forecast average dairy farm income in 2024 of 86,000 would represent a 46pc increase on the estimated income level for 2023.

With the sharp decline in milk prices and with average milk production costs of close to 37c/L in 2023, it is estimated that the average dairy farm income will be down 60pc.

This decrease would bring the average dairy farm income in 2023 back to 59,000. Irish milk production is expected to be down 1pc in 2023 compared with 2022. While dairy cows numbers have increased marginally in 2023, this has been offset by slightly lower milk yields, in the face of low milk prices.

Cattle

Cattle prices are forecast to increase marginally in 2024. The forecast is for a 3pc increase in both finished cattle prices and young cattle prices in 2024 relative to 2023, while production costs are also expected to ease slightly.

Average incomes are forecast to rise on cattle farms in 2024, with an increase of 12pc in prospect for cattle rearing farms to 11,500, and an increase of 8pc for other cattle farms to 20,100.

Figures for this year show that the average income on Cattle Rearing farms is estimated to have increased by 2,000 or 24pc in 2023 and brings the average Cattle Rearing farm income up to about 10,300. This estimated increase is largely due to the increase in young cattle prices during the autumn and some declines in input expenditure.

The introduction of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), National Beef Welfare Scheme (NBWS) and the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) provides important support to incomes for farms in this system. While weanling prices are estimated to be up 7pc in 2023, elevated feed prices and overhead costs mean that the average net margin (profit exclusive of direct payments) on Cattle Rearing farms is in a break-even position in 2023.

The average income for Cattle Other farms in 2023 is forecast to be unchanged at about 18,600. The annual average finished cattle price was 3.5pc higher in 2023. However, beef production decreased by 4pc in 2023. The majority of farms in both cattle systems continue to benefit from the Fodder Support Scheme introduced in 2022.

Sheep

Lamb prices in 2024 are forecast to remain at the 2023 level. With a forecast for declines in production costs, coupled with additional supports for the sheep sector, the average income on sheep farms in 2024 is forecast to increase by 8pc, bringing the average income to about 18,300.

Sheep farms have experienced a 3pc drop in lamb prices in 2023 with reductions in total production costs. Sheepmeat output volume is up marginally in 2023. The average income on Sheep farms in 2023, which is further supported by payments form the Sheep Improvement Scheme, is estimated to about 17,000 about 4pc higher than in 2022.

Tillage

Cereal prices are forecast to be marginally higher at harvest 2024. Under the assumption that trend yields are achieved, yields in 2024 would be up on the 2023 level. Factoring in a reduction in production costs in 2024, the average tillage income is forecast to increase by over 60pc to 50,000.

Irish cereal yields will be down significantly for many crops in 2023 compared to 2022 due to less favourable weather during parts of the growing season and again at harvest time. The Spring barley crop and Winter wheat crop were particularly affected with yields per hectare down 21pc and 14pc respectively. Irish cereal harvest prices were also down over 30% in 2023 compared with harvest prices in 2022, reflecting increased grain availability internationally due to favourable weather conditions in key production regions.

While some cost items such as fertiliser fell in price over the course of 2023, the decline came too late in the growing season to bring about significant savings for benefit cereal farmers.

While cereal farmers will benefit from a range of support measures in 2023, the average Tillage farm income is forecast to be approximately 60% lower in 2023 than in 2022. This would bring the average income in the system down to around 30,000.

Pigs

Irish pig prices are forecast to continue to decrease in 2024 by 11pc. A modest drop in production costs in forecast. Irish pig production is expected to increase slightly in 2024 and the margin over feed should drop to 61c/kg.

Pig farmers incurred substantial losses in 2021 and 2022 due to low pig prices and record high feed and energy prices. However, Irish pig prices rose substantially in 2023 returning the sector to profitability. However, output volume was down in 2023, reflecting the contraction in the sow herd which occurred in response to the recent financial difficulties in the sector. It is estimated that the margin over feed in 2023 will be 69c/kg, which is above the five year average.

The average farm income in 2023, is estimated to be down 44pc to just under 24,800, but the decrease is almost entirely driven by the drop in income experienced in the dairy and tillage sectors.
Padric Browne, Donal Sweeney, Nigel Bryan and John Kingston branch march down Main Street in Carrigaline, Co. Cork in protest over the upcoming changes to Ireland's nitrates derogation. Picture; David Creedon

Dairy farmers in Cork are taking to the streets with two cows in protest over the Nitrates Derogation and what they say is a lack of flexibility in its implementation.

Cork Central IFA Chair Conor OLeary told the Farming Independent that farmers will protest first outside the Carrigaline offices of TDs Simon Coveney and Michael McGrath, before moving to the constituency office of the Tanaiste Micheal Martin.

Dairy farmers impacted by the Nitrates Derogation reduction from 250kg N/ha to 220kg N/ha are just looking for flexibility, he said.

"We had a meeting last Sunday night in the Kingsley Hotel after the visit of the EU Commissioner. We had been asking for a phase in period for farmers with excess stock  they need time to calve down these cows rather than send them to the factory.

We believed that the Ministers understood our position and we can not see how that ask around flexibility would not be granted. We are concerned about the rigidity. Dairy sales are finishing up at the moment and the factories will be closing for Christmas.

"Surely there is flexibility there for farmers to get cows off farmers in a couple of months?

Last week, IFA President Tim Cullinan said it is totally unfair that farmers are expected to reduce stock numbers by January 1 due to the midterm review of the Nitrates Derogation.

Following a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Environment Virginijus Sinkevicius in the Department of Agriculture last Thursday, Tim Cullinan said farmers have been thrown under a bus by the Minister for Agriculture and the EU Commission.

We were very clear with the Commissioner that we are very proud of our grass-based production system which is the basis for our derogation, he said.

The mid-term review mechanism agreed by our Department was unfair and did not give any time for the measures underway out to have a positive effect on water quality, he said.

IFA National Environment Chair Paul OBrien, who also attended the meeting, said the reality is that reducing the upper limit of the derogation from 250kg of organic nitrogen per ha to 220kg will have little impact on water quality.

It will, however have huge consequences for the farmers directly impacted and for thousands more farmers indirectly impacted, as it will further increase the cost of rented land. We stressed this very strongly to the Commissioner, he said.

In addition, it is clear that it is completely unreasonable to expect farmers in the so-called Red Zone to reduce their stocking rate to 220kg by the end of this year, which is less than six weeks away, Paul OBrien added.

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, he said.
The success of the Protecting Farmland Pollinators project highlights how getting farmers on board is the key for any eco scheme

Andrew Bergin says the Protecting Farmland Pollinators project was a success because it worked with farmers. Photo: Getty

No pain, no gain seems to be the basis for most of our agri-environment schemes.

Farmers are rewarded only for spending money to improve the environment, or for losing income while they try.

Our work is valued according to its direct or opportunity cost, but not according to the environmental benefits.

It is probably an easy system for accountants to balance and may be politically palatable as the farmers do not enrich themselves while saving the planet.

It needs a lot more courage and more administrative imagination to introduce a results-based scheme, but there is ample evidence in their favour.

The Burren Life Programme in has been the model for results-based schemes across Europe, and local EIPs like the Pearl Mussel and Hen Harrier Programmes have shown how a community of academics, advisors and farmers can halt and begin to reverse a species decline.

Another results-based EIP that is just finishing is the Protecting Farmland Pollinators project, which aimed to develop and test a whole-farm pollinator scoring system and identify what management practices on Irish farmland benefit pollinators.

It aimed to help farmers to provide small habitats that will offer food, safety and shelter on their farms for pollinators (wild bees, hoverflies) and other biodiversity.

Crucially, the whole-farm pollinator scoring system helps farmers to understand how pollinator-friendly their farm is and what simple low-cost actions they can take to work towards improving their score in a way that does not negatively impact on productivity.

Farms in the project were paid based on their scores, and the scores were based on actions that were proved to help pollinators.

To achieve a higher score and a higher payment, farmers mostly had to avoid doing things.

The only mandatory action was providing nesting habitats for cavity nesting and mining solitary bees  costing little but vital for the survival of these species.

After that we were scored on things like not cutting hedges too hard or too often, not spraying weeds around yards and roads, and reducing pesticide use.

Herbal leys and cover crops that were allowed to flower were also rewarded, as were flowering field margins. No action that was already funded by another scheme was paid for.

Low administration costs were another target and farmers filled out their own score sheets, eventually using an app that reduced the burden on both farmers and scheme managers.

Tailored advice for score improvements was passed on to each farmer and farms were audited to monitor accuracy of scoring.

Farm scores increased consistently across all sectors during the project as farmers found that what helped pollinators also helped them. This was the key to building a community where workshops and farm walks were attended by farmers, exchanging advice and knowledge between themselves.

Academic knowledge and practical expertise also flowed between the staff of the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the 40 farmers involved right through the project and felt like a collaboration with a common purpose.

A zero sum game, where one partys gain has to be anothers loss, is not the only way to protect the environment. The results of the Protecting Farmland Pollinators project may be too late to influence ACRES, but they should be scrutinised when the next scheme is being devised.

Andrew Bergin is a tillage farmer based near Athy, Co Kildare
Construction on the EirGrid project is due to commence next year

Opposition from landowners to the North-South Interconnector remains strong and the key to their success depends on everyone sticking together, a public meeting on the issue has been told.

North East Pylon Pressure campaign (NEPP) will do everything to prevent overhead lines going ahead, spokesperson for the group, Padraig Reilly, told a public meeting in Kells, Co Meath on Thursday evening.

The group's determination to oppose the pylons has not waned, he told a crowd of 300 people who attended the meeting.

It was held in response to the recent development of EirGrid issuing letters with an offer of 50,000 in compensation per pylon to landowners along the proposed North-South Interconnector route.

We want to send a clear message to Government and EirGrid that the resolve of landowners [to oppose the pylons] has strengthened over the last 16 years, said Thomas McDermott of Magheracloone, Co Monaghan, a member of the NEPP committee.

Padraig Reilly, who chaired the meeting, told those present that landowners would also receive other payments including 160 for each metre of cable traversing their property that EirGrid and the ESB would need an easement over.

However, the vast majority of landowners are opposed to this offer and only a very small percentage of landowners, if any, had accepted it, Mr Reilly said.

He also told the crowd that any such offer would be reduced by the application of Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

So one third goes back to the Government  that is not mentioned in the letters of offer, McDermott told the Farming Independent.

The meeting also heard that the option of putting the cables underground, which NEPP are in favour of, is a feasible one.

There are a number of independent reports that state it is possible to do undergrounding, Mr Reilly said.

"The Kildare-Meath line, which was approved in 2021, is exactly the same as the North-South Interconnector and goes underground into a narrow trench along public roads."

He also claimed that EirGrid have said that placing the cables underground was as cost-effective as overground, in relation to the Kildare-Meath line.

We would support EirGrid if the development went underground, but EirGrid are not changing and Government are supporting them

We would support EirGrid if the development went underground, but EirGrid are not changing and Government are supporting them, added Mr Reilly.

He was critical of local government TDs and ministers as he claimed that the Cabinet had recently approved the interconnector unanimously.

However, Mr Reilly said that NEPP had received solid support from opposition TDs and local councillors.

Peadar Toibin, leader of Aontu and Matt Carthy, Sinn Fein, also addressed the meeting in support of NEPP.

Anthony Munnelly of Gibstown, Navan is one landowner who told the Farming Independent how he has been affected.

This line they want to put across my land, I dont want it destroying my property for evermore, he said.

"Its a constant worry, I cant enjoy my retirement, I feel I cant leave the place to go away on holidays, my wife is from Spain and we like to spend some time there. I dont know where Im going.

Concerns that landowners have regarding the pylons include health risks, the reduction in value of their property and disruption to local communities.
80,000 forklift teleporter reduced to burnt-out shell by petrol bomb

A forklift teleporter was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford

A suspected petrol bomb attack on the building site for an asylum-seekers centre is being viewed as the latest violent anti-immigrant incident.

Only a week after the riots in Dublin, a teleporter forklift truck worth 80,000 was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford.

A garda forensics team gathered evidence at the site of the old Great Southern Hotel yesterday.

Security sources believe the attack was a reaction to asylum-seekers being housed there.

Last night was a sinister development when a Molotov cocktail was used, judging by the burnt-out teleporter and glass around, a local source said. Is it a warning? Someone could have been injured.

The site of the former Great Southern Hotel is being developed as an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre.

The Department of Integration has said that about 170 asylum-seekers are set to arrive in Rosslare in the coming weeks.

But the site has caused controversy, and for the past 10 days it has been picketed by local protesters objecting to the development.

There is no suggestion anyone involved in the protests carried out the suspected arson attack.

Local protestors have also voiced their condemnation of the attack. Rosslare Harbour Concerned Residents & Peaceful Protest committee member Niamh Dennis said: We would like to have it known that the whole committee was shocked to learn that there was damage to machinery on the site.

The gardai are investigating and have reassured the committee that there is no question of any involvement by any member of our team of protesters, 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.

Independent councillor Ger Carthy said the actions of the few would not deter a community that 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.

Earlier this month, Wexford County Council issued a planning referral to An Bord Pleanala concerning alleged planning breaches at the former hotel.

These centre on the decision to change the development from a nursing home to an IPAS centre.

Gardai confirmed yesterday that an investigation is continuing into the arson attack.

A spokesperson said: Gardai have received a report of an incident of criminal damage by fire that occurred at approximately 4am today. No injuries were reported. No arrests have been made.

The spokesperson said a policing plan is in place around the protests, and added: This policing operation is kept under constant review by local management.

As the Government struggles to find accommodation for refugees and asylum-seekers, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has written to Integration Minister Roderic OGorman, warning that the failure to provide accommodation would put Ireland in breach of European and Irish law.

IHREC chief commissioner Sinead Gibney said: International Protection applicants, who may have experienced persecution, trauma or destitution prior to arriving in Ireland, are among the most vulnerable members of our society.

Any refusal of shelter by the State puts these individuals at high risk on the streets, particularly in the context of increased activity by those wishing to foment anti-immigrant sentiment.
Professor Kevin Rafter was first appointed as Chair of the Arts Council in 2019

Chair of the Arts Council Professor Kevin Rafter has confirmed that he will step down from his position which he held for more than four years.

Prof Rafter confirmed that he will step down as Chair of the Arts Council after chairing his final meeting of the council on December 14.

He will spend the first half of 2024 as a Fulbright Professor at Boston College in the United States while on research leave from his full-time position at Dublin City University.

He stated: "It has been a huge privilege to have served as Chair of the Arts Council during what has been a time of tremendous development and advancement but also unprecedented crisis for the arts sector in Ireland.

He said that he leaves the position with considerable pride in seeing the achievements of artists, arts workers and arts organisations all over the country.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during my term as chair, he added.

Since his appointment as Chair in June 2019, the Arts Councils annual budget increased by 79pc from 75m to 134m.

Much of his term as chair was devoted to working with council colleagues and staff to help steer the arts sector through the Covid-19 crisis.

Among the initiatives since 2019, the council agreed and finalised plans to establish a new all-island dance company, and commenced work on a major artist workspace development in partnership with Dublin Port.

It also published new policies on architecture, dance, music, digital arts and the Pay The Artist document, which has established new criteria for ensuring artists are paid fairly for their work.

Prof Rafter notified the Department for the Arts of his decision on October 18.

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, said Kevins leadership has guided the Arts Council through the crisis of Covid and into a period of growth and significant accomplishment.

During his term, ground-breaking initiatives have been introduced that support the development of artists practice and audiences experience. The arts landscape now enjoys a historic level of support and his insightful advocacy for the sector has been a signature part of his work, she said.

Ms Kennelly noted that his commitment to inclusivity, innovation and accessibility has set a standard for excellence that the council will continue to develop.

On behalf of all the staff, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Kevin for his exceptional leadership and support during particularly challenging and changing times.

The position of chair, and other council member vacancies, will be advertised shortly via the stateboards.ie portal.
A DUBLIN man has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at Mountjoy Prison during an attack on an inmate who later died in a separate assault in the jail.
A young woman who gave her bank card to another individual to allow her account to be used for illegal means was unaware of the scam which was being operated, a court has heard.
Approximately 500,000 worth of luxury goods items seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) including Louis Vuitton designer handbags, Rolex watches and a bar of gold are up for public auction.

The 100 items, which were seized due to being the proceeds of crime, are available in a timed online auction, from 1pm today until 1pm on Monday, December 4, through Wilsons Auctions.

Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins, Chief Bureau Officer with the Criminal Assets Bureau said the website has already garnered over 350,000 hits, with interest registered from as far as New Zealand and the US.

Since the start of the Bureau, criminals have flaunted their wealth, its the clothes that they wear, its the lifestyle that they lead, the cars that they drive, the extensions to their houses, he said.

Chief Supt Gubbins said CAB relies heavily on members of the public who so far this year, have sent in 222 good citizens reports on those in their community who have been flaunting their wealth.

These reports come in the form of handwritten and typed letters, email messages and messages received privately through our Facebook page or by telephone calls, he said.

The items being auctioned over the weekend include 46 watches, assorted jewellery and a variety of designer goods, ranging in value from 400 to 40,000.

A one ounce gold bar, Prada Corsaire velvet crossbody bag, 14ct gold diamond bracelet and a Moncler, Two-Tone Harry Giubbotto jacket are some of the luxurious items sure to drive a bargain.

In the past two months, CAB has successfully sold 12 properties and 30 high-value vehicles.

The Bureau currently has 1,475 targets, 23 of which reside outside the state, with half of those living within the Dublin Metropolitan Region and the rest are spread throughout the country.

The Bureaus targets continue to flaunt their criminal acquired wealth through the purchase of luxury designer goods, such as handbags, clothing, watches and jewellery. They also live a lavish lifestyle that goes beyond their legitimate means, Chief Supt Gubbins said.

Last year, 18 new applications were brought before the High Court under the Proceeds of Crime Legislation, with the majority of the them relating to proceeds derived from drug trafficking.

In the same period, CAB completed 49 search operations, consisting of 134 individual searches across 20 counties, targeting Organised Crime Groups.

The sale of the assets seized is done in accordance with the orders of the High Court.

Since the establishment CAB in 1996, to the end of 2022, the Bureau has returned over 35 million through the Proceeds of crime legislation and 160 million in tax debts from criminals.

Chief Supt Gubbins said that the good news is that the money taken from selling these houses, cars and high value goods can make its way back to the community via the new initiative which supports investment in community safety projects under the Department of Justice.

However, he stressed that when browsing the catalogue there is one thing we must keep in mind.

In acquiring some of these assets, criminals have created victims and use fear and intimidation to pursue their life of crime and leave behind them a trail of destruction which impacts the community.
Gerard Cervi, who is due to be sentenced to life today for the murder of father-of-three Bobby Messett in 2018, was paid 20,000 to carry out the shooting by an unknown criminal.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has voiced its concerns with Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman.

There is deep concern over reports of a shortfall in emergency accommodation for international protection applicants, The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said.

The Commission has written to Integration Minister Roderic OGorman highlighting its concern following reports that emergency accommodation for asylum seekers could run out as soon as this week.

Chief Commissioner Sinead Gibney said: International Protection applicants, who may have experienced persecution, trauma or destitution prior to arriving in Ireland, are among the most vulnerable members of our society.

"Any refusal of shelter by the State puts these individuals at high risk on the streets, particularly in the context of increased activity by those wishing to foment anti-immigrant sentiment.

The Dail was told earlier this week that Mr OGorman is working on identifying accommodation that could be used to house asylum seekers.

The Commission said in a statement that failure to provide accommodation for those seeking asylum can lead to related breaches of the law.

Under law, international protection applicants are to be provided with food, an expense allowance, clothes, hygiene facilities and access to healthcare, ensuring an adequate standard of living.

The special reception needs of an applicant for international protection must be assessed within 30 days of their application  a process the Commission said is likely to be significantly impeded if a person is without accommodation and any vulnerabilities exacerbated by a period of homelessness.

An applicant may have special reception needs if they are particularly vulnerable.

This includes children, people with disabilities, elderly people, pregnant people and single parents.

We stress that while it is critical that the immediate emergency of a lack of shelter for newly arriving international protection applicants is met with the appropriately swift response, we are also of the view that the medium and longer-term solution to the ongoing needs of those seeking international protection  and temporary protection  in Ireland needs to be an urgent, whole-of-Government priority, the Commissions statement read.

Reports of significant pressure on emergency accommodation for international protection applicants come as a new report from the European Migration Network (EMN) Ireland shows a 415pc increase in the number of applicants to Ireland last year.

The report said immigration to Ireland in 2022 was driven by the invasion of Ukraine, the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and shortages in the labour market.
The miniature cube satellite, named EIRSAT-1, was deployed at 8pm this evening at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket.

The satellite was student-built at University College Dublin under the guidance of European Space Agency (ESA).

This represents the culmination of a lot of work by a young team and a huge amount of support by the Irish space industry, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland, SFI and the IRC to deliver a thrilling result of Ireland in space, said Professor Lorraine Hanlon, Director of EIRSAT-1 and the UCD Centre for Space Research (UCD C-Space).

EIRSAT-1 which is now in low earth orbit, will conduct three experiments and study gamma-ray bursts, powerful explosions that are the most luminous events in the universe.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Prof Hanlon said they will use the satellite for research and training.

The next step now is to get used to operating our new spacecraft and get the maximum research and training out of it, he said.

UCD C-Space manager Dr Ronan Wall said the successful launch was incredibly exciting.

Its incredibly exciting and deeply satisfying to have finally joined other nations across Europe and the world that are positioned to do great research and innovation from our own spacecraft, Dr Wall said.

We look forward to continuing to train and develop space expertise to support research and industry in Ireland. Go EIRSAT-1! he added.

The project which took six years and some 20,000 hours. was developed as part of the ESA Academys Fly Your Satellite! programme. Dozens of UCD students, including nine PhD candidates designed and built EIRSAT-1.

The initiative aims to help university students build a satellite as a team to professional standards, with the ESA providing opportunities to launch the final product.

EIRSAT-1 also has a poem called All Ways Home, written by 12 Irish school children, engraved on the outer cover of the antenna module, in the pattern of a spiral galaxy.

UCD president Orla Feely welcomed the successful launch and said it was a remarkable first for the scientific community in Ireland.

What a satisfying moment this must be for the Irish team: a remarkable first for the scientific community in Ireland, Ms Feely said.

By joining the scientific expertise here at University College Dublin together with the ESAs expertise in the building and testing of satellites and space systems, Irelands first satellite EIRSAT-1 has now successfully launched into space and reached its orbit around the earth, she added.

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Neale Richmond offered his heartfelt congratulations to all involved in the project.

History was made here today, and everyone should be proud of the part they played in this milestone for Ireland and its space sector, Mr Richmond said.
Detectives are investigating if 'The Family' gang were involved in a major plot to smuggle heroin into Ireland after the pilot of a light-aircraft was arrested over an 8m drugs haul.

On Friday morning gardai seized around 58 kilos of heroin at Weston Airport in west Dublin as part of an intelligence led operation.

Gardai carried out the search of a light-aircraft and a 4x4 vehicle nearby during which the huge haul, with an estimated street value of 8.1 million, was discovered.

Two Hungarian nationals, including the pilot of the aircraft, were arrested and are currently being detained under organised crime legislation.

The men, aged in their 40s and 60s, are being questioned at a garda station in Kildare and can be held for up to seven days.

The investigation is being led by gardai from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) who are working with Customs.

A number of mobile devices and documentation have also been seized and will be analysed as part of the probe.

It's understood the plane had arrived in Weston Airport after departing from Germany, although investigators are in the process of confirming this and determining the planes exact flight path while liaising with international colleagues.

While the inquiry is at an early stage, gardai are probing if the crime group known as 'The Family' had a significant role in the drugs enterprise.

The gang, led by two brothers and based across west Dublin, operate one of the largest drug networks in the country and are predominately involved in the large-scale importation of cocaine as well as heroin.

Weston Airport

One of the groups leaders, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also previously jailed over a major heroin seizure.

The gang has also been the target of an operation in recent years during which over 1m worth of heroin was seized.

At that time gardai believe they foiled an attempt by The Family to forge drug smuggling routes with traffickers based in the UK and Turkey.

Following the operation, Assistant Commissioner Organised & Serious Crime, Justin Kelly said: "This is a hugely significant seizure of heroin, and the importance of disrupting criminal networks supplying this type of drug into our communities has been reinforced by the recent wave of overdoses in Dublin city centre.

"Worldwide, law enforcement agencies are seeing an increasing use of general aviation (non-commercial flights) to smuggle drugs.

"This operation shows the importance of multi-agency co-operation, in this case between An Garda Siochana, Irish Customs and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC-N) in Lisbon, Portugal. I wish commend the dedication and professionalism of all the personnel involved in this complex operation.
Vaccinate children now against flu and be protected for Christmas, thats the message from the Department of Health as the nasal spray flu vaccine is being made available free of charge from next week.

It will also be extended to older children aged from 13 to 17 years of age from Monday. So far this winter, it was only available to children aged two to 12.

Parents of children aged two to 17 are asked to make use of the two week window for the vaccine to act before the run in Christmas festivities.

However, flu cases are rising although the virus is still at relatively low levels. But cases will inevitably rise this month due to more socialising and travel. There were 90 confirmed cases of flu last week with more people hospitalised.

The Department of Health said the nasal spray flu vaccine, which is available through GPs and pharmacies, and to some groups of children in the primary school setting, is a safe, quick, and pain-free way to protect children from flu this winter.

The vaccine also reduces the risk of children transmitting infection to others, including older, more vulnerable people.

An injectable vaccine is available for other eligible groups including those aged 65 and over, individuals with a certain health condition and healthcare workers.

As it takes two weeks for the full protective effects of the vaccine to kick in, all eligible people are encouraged to top up their protection as soon as possible.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: I would encourage all parents of children aged between two and 17 to avail of a free flu vaccine for their child as soon as possible this winter season.

As children are more at risk of contracting the flu and becoming seriously ill from it, it is vital that they are protected, and enabled to protect those around them from becoming infected.

The nasal spray flu vaccine will help protect our children, our families and communities, keeping us safer and healthier throughout the winter months.

Chief medical officer Professor Breda Smyth added: Vaccines are the best means of protection available for us and for those who are vulnerable in our communities.

"When combined with measures such as hand washing, coughing, or sneezing into our elbows and staying at home when sick, the risk of contracting serious illness is reduced and the burden on our health services is reduced.

As we head towards the peak of the respiratory virus season, there is now a small window of opportunity to increase vaccination levels and to boost protection against flu.

I am urging everyone who is eligible to make an appointment for their flu vaccine today. Some groups of people are also eligible for a Covid-19 booster that can be administered at the same time.

"I would also like to remind healthcare workers that free flu and Covid vaccines are available in healthcare settings and at walk-in vaccination clinics.
Around half of thatch cottage owners in Ireland cannot currently get or afford insurance cover.

A survey of 2,278 owners carried out by the Thatch Insurance Action Group revealed that 50pc are struggling to find insurance.

The joint committee on public petitions heard that the thatch insurance market is the definition of failure and the Government has been urged to intervene to protect an important part of our heritage.

Thatch owners are compelled through Protected Structures legislation to maintain and keep their properties.

However, chief executive of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, Brian Hanley, questioned how they can do so when they cannot obtain insurance cover.

He also alluded to how insurers have continued to make milions in profits while refusing to cover certain sectors.

The situation thatch owners find themselves in did not occur in a vacuum and many of the issues they are experiencing resonate with other people and organisations  sharing common hardships such as unaffordable premiums and an absence of adequate underwriting cover, he told the committee.

Insurance cover was historically built on the premise that the fortunes of the many covered the misfortune of the few. The new model of micro-sectoring - only covering niches that are projected to be profitable in themselves without any pooling of risks - seems determined to squeeze the few out of existence, thatch included.

Mr Hanley accused insurers of cherry-picking the sections of society that are profitable, while leaving others to wither on the vine.

We already know there is ample profit to be made for insurers in this country and it is past time they played their part in finding the solutions that are needed, he added.

People seeking first-time quotes are being offered premiums in excess of over 2,500 and many have been unable to obtain insurance as the only Irish firm providing thatch cover stopped offering new policies last year as its underwriter had reached its quota.

Junior minister for the insurance sector, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said thatch properties experience a number of issues that make them difficult to insure due to a much higher risk of fire.

Department of Finance officials have been informed by the industry that for insurance providers, thatch is too risky for many to take on, she told the committee.

She referenced a Department of Housing report which found there were 72 fires in thatch properties in the previous five years.

The Fine Gael TD indicated the most effective action of the Government will be to introduce fire safety measures and reduce the risk fire poses to thatched buildings.

Insurance Ireland, the body which represents insurers in Ireland, said that a single fire claim from a thatch cottage could exceed the annual premiums collected from all thatch properties.

Chief executive Moyagh Murdock also addressed calls for the introduction of compulsory insurance for the sector.

She said that while there is nothing stopping compulsory insurance being introduced for properties, given the risk associated with thatch properties, this could result in high premiums which would be unaffordable for many.

Ms Murdock said there is some new capacity coming into the market through the brokers channel.
There is a chance of snow for some counties tonight as temperatures are to fall to as low as -4C due to a winter chill gripping the country.

Freezing temperatures will continue for the country today with motorists advised of hazardous road conditions as a second ice warning comes into effect from this evening.

Temperatures are to drop as low as -4 degrees tonight with sharp frost and icy patches forming overnight. Some counties, most likely in the northwest, will see showers fall as sleet or snow.

A Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning, issued by Met Eireann for the entire country came into effect on Thursday at 5pm and remains in place until midday today.

Very cold with temperatures expected to fall below -3 degrees in many areas. Frost and ice developing will cause hazardous travelling conditions, the warning states.

The national forecaster has issued a second Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning for every county in the country from 5pm this evening, lasting until midday on Saturday.

Fog and freezing fog will create hazardous road and path conditions as well as some travel disruption.

Met Eireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly warned of black ice on roads as she shared news of a frightening moment as she fell from her bike and injured herself this morning.

"Hit a spot of black ice, bike went sideways under me on way to work. Landed very hard on my left side. Thankfully no car behind me. Leg banjaxed, Im nauseated from shock. Will visit doctor soon to make sure nothing broken, the Met Eireann forecaster said.

This morning any frost, ice, and mist or fog will gradually clear.

It will be cold and bright today with sunshine and scattered showers, mainly in the north and west, with the odd shower on eastern coasts.

Some showers will fall as hail or sleet. Highest temperatures today will range between 2 to 6 degrees in just a light variable breeze.

Some isolated showers are expected overnight, possibly of sleet or snow, mainly across the northwest.

Very cold with lowest temperatures of 0 to - 4 degrees with a widespread sharp frost and icy patches. Mist and fog in parts too, Met Eireann has warned.

Tomorrow will be cold with frost and ice to begin. Most areas will be dry through the day, with any wintry showers mainly along north and west coasts.

Highest temperatures of just 2 to 6 degrees in light west to southwest breezes.

The weekend will be very cold with frost, ice and some wintry precipitation before turning less cold by next week.

It will be cold on Saturday night, with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle moving in off the Atlantic, possibly turning wintry over higher ground. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees, with light variable breezes.

Sunday will likely be a mostly dry day with showers lingering near coasts, along with low cloud or mist struggling to clear through the day. Highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees, with light northeasterly breezes.

Monday will be wet and windy, which will spread over the south and east of the country early on in the day, with the possibility of scattered falls of sleet. Coldest in the north with milder weather possible in the south.

It is expected to be less cold next week, however Met Eireann has said there is considerable uncertainty in the further outlook, with a signal so far for a return to a more Atlantic regime.
The CEO of Ryanair has criticised the Government and An Garda Siochanas response to last weeks riots in Dublin city centre.

Michael OLeary said that the Government has 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.
Bloomberg says the Fine Gael TD is considering a bid for IMF jobDonohoes spokesperson insists he plans to run in next election No candidate has put their name forward yet

PUBLIC Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe is holding preliminary talks about putting his name forward to be the next head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Fine Gael TD is reported by Bloomberg to be considering a bid to lead the financial body which stepped in to help Irelands economy after the Celtic Tigers collapse.

Previous Managing Directors of the IMF include Christian Lagarde and Dominique Strauss-Kahn. The current term of IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva ends in September 2024, but the selection can take shape months in advance.

If Mr Donohoe was to be successful in a bid for the prestigious global role it would be a major blow to his party who will struggle to hold his Dail seat in Dublin Central, the same constituency as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Mr Donohoe confirmed as recently as two weeks ago that he planned to contest the next general election - which is due by March 2025 at the latest. He has been a TD since 2011.

Speaking after ruling out running for Fine Gael in the European elections in Dublin next June, he said: I am going to keep at this work here in Ireland and as Minister for the rest of this government.

Mr Donohoe's spokesperson has responded to the reports by telling the Irish Independent that he is fully focused on his current work and responsibilities in Ireland and as President of the Eurogroup.

They added: He is committed to serving his full mandate in Europe and will also be a candidate in the next election in Ireland.

The 49-year-olds international standing has been helped by his unorthodox re-election as chair of the Eurogroup of finance ministers for a second term.

The position is usually held by the finance minister of an EU country  but Mr Donohoe was selected unopposed despite no longer holding the main finance portfolio in the coalition government.

Finance Minister Michael McGrath also attends meetings, meaning Ireland has two ministers in the room.

Mr Donohoe has led the Eurogroup since mid-2020.

While no candidate has put forward their name yet for the IMF role, sources told Bloomberg Mr Donohoe is holding preliminary conversations over the matter. They requested anonymity to discuss the private talks.

Ms Georgieva has not yet publicly stated whether she intends to seek a second term. An IMF spokesperson said Georgieva's attention "is on helping the membership of the IMF face the pressing economic challenges that the world is grappling with."

According to the Bloomberg report, Mr Donohoe has forged a reputation as a consensus builder, well-liked and respected by all sides both in his home country and in Brussels.

These traits helped him stay head of the Eurogroup even when his job change to budget minister would have given his EU counterparts the opportunity to find a new leader.

In his capacity as the representative of the euro-zone economy, Mr Donohoe has also regularly attended the Group of Seven meetings of finance ministers and central bankers from the world's largest advanced economies, along with the IMF chief.

Whoever takes on the post at the helm of the IMF will do so at a precarious time, with several low-income nations in or near debt distress and persisting challenges to the global economic outlook following aggressive interest-rate hikes from central banks.

Ireland was itself under an IMF lending programme just over a decade ago, alongside other euro-zone peers during the region's sovereign debt crisis.

It's unclear how other IMF members, particularly those from emerging market economies, would react to another European candidate. Several of these countries, including China and Brazil, have also called for a realignment of IMF voting shares to better reflect their relative weight in the global economy.

The IMF has always been led by a European national, in a tacit understanding between Europe and the US, which in turn gets to nominate the president of the World Bank. Over the IMF's eight decades, five of 12 managing directors have been from France; none has been from Ireland.

While the Washington-based fund's Executive Board elects the leader in a vote, the support of Europe and the US together accounting for around half of all voting shares would make it tough for other candidates to surmount.

Mr Donohoe has a plausible path to US support. He has a close relationship with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, largely forged during Yellen's efforts to cajole support from countries including Ireland for a global tax accord. His backing was seen as key in Yellen's push to clinch a deal.

The two of them have met regularly over the past few years, most recently for dinner in Washington earlier this week. Ms Yellen attended the Eurogroup meeting Donohoe chaired in Luxembourg in October; she has also spoken to the Eurogroup in Brussels and met with him in Dublin.

A Treasury spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Through his role as Eurogroup president, Mr Donohoe has built a good rapport with several European finance ministers who'll have to endorse him for the job, as well as European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, who previously held the top IMF post.

Mr Donohoe's potential bid emerges as one of the top possible candidates, Spanish Economy minister Nadia Calvino, is moving closer to taking on the presidency of the European Investment Bank.

But even within Europe, the choice of a single candidate is often the result of an effort to balance a series of different and often divergent geographical and political interests, and Mr Donohoe could face an uphill battle.

Ms Georgieva, a Bulgarian national, beat out other hopefuls in 2019, in part because she was from an Eastern European nation, a region typically underrepresented in top institutional positions.

In 2019 the IMF executive board scrapped an age restriction for the fund's managing director to be under 65 years old at the time of appointment so Ms Georgieva, who was 66 at the time, could secure the job.

If European nations fail to agree on an IMF candidate before June, the choice could get caught up in broader horse-trading for top jobs that's set to take place next summer over posts atop the European Commission, European Council and potentially NATO.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited Al Ain Farms in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to see how Irish people and products are helping the UAE in its efforts to improve its food security and sustainability, in the face of climate change.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he would be happy to meet the Israeli president during the Cop28 climate summit but added it won't change Ireland's position on the conflict in Gaza.

Isaac Herzog is in Dubai for the gathering of world leaders which is dominating the summit's agenda today and Saturday.

Mr Varadkar has met with the prime minister of Qatar and president of Lebanon since arriving in Dubai and had a meeting lined up with the king of Jordan  heads of nations traditionally aligned to Palestine.

He said he had also met like-minded European leaders such as the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium.

They've been taking a very similar position to us on the conflict in Gaza, he said.

We feel it is a very balanced one - one that respects Israels right to defend itself but also stands over the primacy of humanitarian law; that condemns Hamas but also makes it very clear that there can be no solution in the region without a Palestinian state.

We're going to stick to that position even if others might put pressure on us not to.

Irelands position on the conflict is a source of diplomatic tensions with Israel.

The Taoiseach has also been personally criticised over remarks in relation to the kidnapping and release of Irish-Israeli child Emily Hand which Israel claimed glossed over her abduction.

Mr Varadkar said he would happily meet with his Israeli counterpart.

We've nothing formally planned but one of the good things about events like this is you do have those opportunities to bump into each other so certainly if we do, Id be very happy to talk to President Herzog, he said.

Im very familiar with his links to Ireland and Id be happy to have an exchange of views with him should it arise.

President Herzogs father was born and raised in Ireland and his grandfather was a Chief Rabbi here.

Mr Varadkar was speaking to press on his first full day at Cop28.

He has had formal and informal meetings with heads of state including those of Kenya, Chile, Germany, India, Brazil and the UK.

He also attended a function hosted by Britains King Charles.

All attending heads of state or their envoys are delivering national statements today and tomorrow.

Mr Varadkar will deliver his sometime between late morning and mid-afternoon Irish time on Saturday.

He said when he met President Lula da Silva of Brazil, he invited him to visit Ireland and expressed thanks for the bravery of the Brazilian citizens who intervened in last weeks stabbings in Parnell Square.

Mr Varadkar addressed concerns at home over misinformation circulating on social media outlets about the incident.

The stuff that goes around online is full of conspiracy theories, he said.

I think most people are smart enough not to believe conspiracy theories but unfortunately some people do and those people can be very dangerous.

To me it just speaks to the need to support proper media because even though I have my rows with the media all the time, the alternative is so much worse.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

In a statement Mr Varadkar said: I learned this morning of the renewed hostilities between Israel and Hamas with a deep sense of outrage and disappointment. I condemn the reckless and indiscriminate actions of Hamas. I also condemn the bombardment of Gaza that is now under way. It was my sincere hope, and the widely held view of the international community, that the truce that held for the last week should be built upon to develop the conditions for a lasting peace.

The pause in the conflict in recent days was highly valuable. We have seen the release of 109 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and a significant improvement in access for vital humanitarian aid.

It is important to stress the catastrophic impact Israel's military action is having on children and the most vulnerable civilians in Gaza.

I reiterate my call for a durable humanitarian ceasefire and full respect for International Humanitarian Law. Gazas civilian population cannot be allowed to suffer any further.

I am determined to work with EU and international partners to deliver a permanent ceasefire and move towards a meaningful political process. I firmly believe that this is the only way to ensure peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Upskirting victim speaks out: He turned me from his teacher into an object

Teacher who fell prey to pupil says she welcomes new sex offences legislation

Teacher Sally Rees

Kurtis Reid Fri 1 Dec 2023 at 08:58

A Co Fermanagh teacher has said that if new UK legislation  which means perpetrators of crimes such as upskirting, downblousing and cyber-flashing can now be charged  had been in place during her assault, her long ordeal would not have happened.
The only one Id compare him to is Yeats  tributes pour in for Shane MacGowan as book of condolences opened in Dublin

Tribute continue to pour in for the legendary singer Shane MacGowan following his death aged 65.

A book of condolence has been opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin online and in-person at the Mansion House in Dublin city centre.

Among those who arrived at the Mansion House to pay their respects to MacGowan and his family was Cork native Catherine Walsh, who remembered the Pogues frontman for his beautiful songwriting ability.

She said the only other she could compare MacGowan to as a writer was W.B. Yeats.

I loved him as a writer, I thought it was beautiful. He was a beautiful lyricist, everything he did came from his heart. Its just beautiful, Ms Walsh said.

"The guy [in the Mansion House] just told me it was going to be his birthday on Christmas Day and I love that theres life around the picture inside that we sign.

Ms Walsh said she encouraged her sisters, living in Sydney and London, to sign the book of condolences online. She quoted her favourite lyric of MacGowans from Rainy Night in Soho: still you are the light I hold before me. You are the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams.

Ms Walsh also spoke about the music produced by MacGowan and The Pogues, recalling how the group uniquely fused Irish music with London punk rock.

The Indo Daily: Poet, punk, performer extraordinaire - Shane Mac Gowan has left us

She said: "The times that they were in, to do that in London in the 80s was an extraordinary thing to see, because he was very, very Irish and yet the punk in him made him I dont know, 2034!

"That was the punk part of him that we knew too, as Irish people we knew he was more than a British concept of a punk, he was kind of an Irish punk too.

"And very different, but that kind of broke doors for all of us scared Irish, he broke through a lot of doors there. I hope he has a good rest.

Tributes also continue to be paid to MacGowan on social media, with many remembering him for his ability as a songwriter and sharing their favourite lyrics of his.

"Shane will be remembered for years to come. He was already a part of Irish folklore, and his name will stay up there on the top shelf with the likes of Brendan Behan & James Joyce. A true legend, one fan wrote.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Another recalled MacGowans later work with The Popes following his exit from The Pogues in 1991: Thank you Shane for all the amazing music. I loved what you did with The Pogues, but loved The Popes even more. Ill never forget seeing you live in New Zealand. One of the best nights ever.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

MacGowan was described in one tribute as one of the best songwriters ever.

"Oh Shane! You'll never be forgotten. You'll live on and be remembered as one of the best songwriters ever . I'm lucky enough to have seen you with The Pogues several times. What a unique character you were. Love you man.

Thoughts are with Victoria, family & friends...
Demand for the food bank has gone out of control  how the cost of living crisis is hitting families this Christmas

SVPs Bawnogue Food Bank in west Dublin has provided assistance to families for many years, but volunteers notice that the cost of living has impacted a wider range of people than ever before

St Vincent De Paul volunteers of Bawnogue food bank: (l-r) Helen Byrne, area president, Philip Byrne, volunteer and Marie Kearney, volunteer. Photo: Mark Condren

Aideen OFlaherty Fri 1 Dec 2023 at 03:30

Every Friday, a core team of seven volunteers work across four rooms in an enterprise centre in Clondalkin, west Dublin, packing up to 100 food parcels every week for people registered with the Society of St Vincent de Pauls (SVP) Bawnogue Food Bank. They are just some of the many volunteers around the country who keep food banks running, and who are bracing themselves for what looks set to be their busiest Christmas yet.
Preparados para enfrentar al fenomeno El Nino!



? Con la finalidad de proteger a la poblacion y mitigar los efectos de las posibles lluvias e inundaciones, la presidenta Dina Boluarte entrego en #Piura un lote de motobombas, cisternas, hidrojets, volquetes, entre otros equipos pic.twitter.com/KVwjPSaFgw
Former place of worship was the perfect home for a French couple to display their craft

Two stained-glass artists are selling their converted church in Kilkenny for 485,000

Asking price: 485,000

Agent: Sherry FitzGerald McCreery (056) 7721904

You would expect the French stained-glass artists Bruno and Jacqueline Tosi to feel at home in an old church building.

What better place to make a home than in a former house of worship where their craft and artistry have had pride of place for centuries.

They bought the former Church of Ireland building at Knocktopher in Kilkenny in 1999 and spend six months of every year living there.

The couple divide their time between Ireland and the Pyrenees, south of Perpignan, where they also have a home.

We love stained glass, we love colour and we love light. Light and colour help to make life so much better, says Bruno.

The bar, dining area and lounge in the main section of the building

The Old Church, dedicated to St David, was built in 1828. The building was destroyed by fire in 1912, but later restored.

It includes a belfry with a 200-year-old bronze bell engraved with the names of the donors and the foundry.

A previous owner acquired it from the church authorities in 1990 and did some work on it.

When we bought it in 1999, the owner wanted to sell us the space at the lower ground level, which was used as a kitchen and could accommodate a bedroom, and he intended to use the rest as an art gallery, says Bruno.

We decided to buy the whole building.

Bruno and Jacqueline undertook renovation and remodelling that took four years to complete.

Owners Bruno and Jacqueline bought the church in 1999

We did all the plumbing, all the electricity and the carpentry, using only local craftspeople, he says.

Our aim was to keep the original features without doing any harm to the interior, while also making it a comfortable place to live.

Recognising that a building of this nature and size is a challenge to heat, they installed a central system with 11 radiators along with a solid fuel stove in the sanctuary, now the living room.

The entire space, including the basement, incorporates 1,916 sq ft.

Bruno points out there are no windows on the north-facing wall, while the windows on the south and the main window to the east are almost all now lined on the outside with protective glass to ensure security and thermal insulation.

Looking down to the rear of the church, with the bedroom on the left

It may not reach 20C, but it is comfortable, he says.

Ireland is a great country for stained glass, I have written 10 books on it and half of the illustrations in most of the books are from Ireland, from Catholic and Church of Ireland churches, Bruno adds.

He and Jacqueline, who met when she was his student, undertake commissions, with ongoing work in Ireland, Czechia and the Netherlands.

We have visitors from all over Europe who come here to be taught our craft, he says.

We have another building in another location, a converted garage we used for our classes, and if we had small classes, we would have them in the church. People came from as far away as Japan.

The sanctuary at the back with multi-fuel stove

From the beginning they said they would utilise the whole building. We even use the bell  we ring it for birthdays and other events, Bruno says.

Three limestone steps lead to the double doors opening to the entrance hall, with its original decorative, wood-panelled ceiling and doors, which lead through to the inner hall, the main staircase and two separate guest WCs.

Over the porch and entrance hall, where the choir gallery once was, is the main bedroom.

It is reached by a wooden staircase located just inside the hallway and upstairs is separated from the main body of the church by a large, handmade, arched wooden panel fitted with leaded and stained-glass panels with window openings.

A double bedroom on the mezzanine

A half-door with a lead glass panel opening on the upper part connects to a mezzanine overlooking the living area. The double bedroom has the original vaulted ceiling with beams and panels.

The bathroom is located in the belfry behind the main bedroom. Overhead, a hatch with folding ladder gives access to the upper level of the bell tower.

The main body of the church is given over to the living and dining areas. The space is divided by the central aisle that is tiled from the door to the sanctuary.

To the right is a raised, formal dining area that also accommodates an informal lounge area featuring a large fresco.

Across the aisle is a tall wooden structure with a mezzanine bedroom above overlooking the main body of the building and reached by a small wooden staircase.

Some of the couple's stained-glass work

Underneath is a cosy living area and a smaller dining area at either side of a wooden divider, with stained-glass panels created by Bruno and Jacqueline.

The old sanctuary, on a split level in marble and tiles, has been turned into a sitting room heated by a multi-fuel stove, while the old sacristy to the right of the sanctuary and behind two decorative archways, has been transformed into a small kitchen.

A door leads to a hall behind the sanctuary, with steps down to a lower ground level consisting of a hall and a work-room where Bruno and Jacqueline make some of their stained-glass work.

The kitchen is tucked away at the rear of the property

At the basement level is a boiler room and storeroom accessed from the rear of the property.

Extending to 0.27ac, the site is surrounded by a dry-stone wall.

Having gained Irish citizenship, Bruno and Jacqueline are now selling up to find another home in Kilkenny City. We are Irish citizens now, with Irish passports and we love it here, says Bruno.

Sherry FitzGerald McCreery seeks 485,000.
The billionaire brothers first major investment in the South East will see an extended runway at the airport to facilitate first international commercial flights since 2016

The billionaire Comer brothers  the Galway-born investors who own a huge property portfolio across Europe and the United States  have joined forces with the Bolster Group to spearhead a "game-changing 30 million investment in Waterford Airport, delivering an extended runway capable of catering for international flights.

This multi-pronged investment, which aims to develop up to 30 million, has been agreed by Comer Group International, led by Luke and Brian Comer, and is the companys first significant offering in the South East of Ireland.

Around half of the overall sum comes from the deal with the Comer Group, led by Waterford based investor and business leader William Bolster, with the remainder to be sought from a process to begin with central and local government funding.

Construction, flooring, and engineering firm Bolster Group has been driving forward the development of Waterford Airport since commercial flights last operated from the site in 2016. Company executives say the deal represents a major vote of confidence in Waterford and will create jobs and boost economic growth, as well as bringing the airport back to life.

The investment was announced at an event attended on Friday by Finance Minister Michael McGrath TD. The new runway will have the capacity to service large and mid-range airliners such as the widely used Airbus 320s.

It will see summer and winter holiday destinations across Europe being linked to Waterford, capital of Irelands South-East. London is set to be the first destination as early as the end of 2024 with others to follow.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: This significant private investment is hugely important for Waterford and the South East region. An extended runway would really help to boost the whole regions international connectivity, benefitting both Irish and international passengers for years to come.

Ive been a long supporter of Waterford Airport since my time as Minister for Transport and as Taoiseach. The previous Government made the decision to match funding for the runway project once the private investment was secured, albeit at a lower level of 5 million. As I said recently in Waterford, the principle of matched funding remains, subject to the business case being agreed. Further Exchequer funding will be required, and I urge all parties to progress the business case as soon as possible.

The Government and I strongly believe that balanced regional development is good for the country as whole. We want every part of the country to share in our prosperity and securing good jobs and investment is one of the most effective ways of doing that. Improved connectivity through Waterford Airport would make the South East an even more attractive place in which to live, work, do business and raise a family. It would also help to open up this beautiful region to many more visitors.

In a joint statement Comer Group Director Luke Comer and William Bolster, Executive of Waterford Airport said: We are delighted to announce the runway expansion, which will reopen up travel to the UK and European destinations all year round.

Those local to the area have had to travel to Dublin or Cork to catch flights over the last seven years and the time absolutely felt right to bring the airport back to life with much needed investment and put Waterford firmly back on the international map.

We believe this expansion will be welcome news for locals, driving tourism and business opportunities, as well as the Irish population who have made their home in the UK.

It will be a real game changer in terms of bringing back travel to the region.

Luke and Brian Comer are among Irelands most prolific and successful private investors, with more than 1bn worth of property investments in Ireland alone. Starting out as plasterers in London in the 1980s, they have built an extensive property portfolio that also stretches from the UK to Greece.

In Waterford for Fridays announcement, Finance Minister Michael McGrath TD said: I welcome todays announcement of additional private investment in Waterford airport. An extension to the runway would make the South East an increasingly attractive destination for both leisure and business travellers from overseas. Similarly, it will make it easier for people across the region to travel internationally.

"This has the potential to boost economic growth in the region in the decade ahead and complement significant investment already planned for Waterford including in urban regeneration and the South East Technological University.

Michael Walsh, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council said: This is a monumental moment for Irelands oldest city.

I pay tribute to the investors who have a clear vision for the future of the airport. Thanks to their vision and drive and subject to the agreement of the Council, Government and the shareholders, Waterford Airport can look forward to a bright future.

Dan Browne, the Chairman of Waterford Airport added: This is a real vote of confidence by all concerned in the local area and a step forward in terms of local economic success as well as bringing up tourism numbers.

It will serve the people of Waterford, and beyond, incredibly well and we look forward to welcoming increased numbers of passengers, and flights, through our doors.

Waterford Airport is the only airport located in the South-East of Ireland. The airport opened its doors in 1985 with Ryanairs inaugural flight departing for London Gatwick. It serves as a base for the Irish Coastguard helicopter Search and Rescue service.

Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins, who is a former member of the board at Waterford Airport, welcomed the confirmation of 12 million in private sector investment by Comer Group International in partnership with the Bolster Group to develop the runway extension at Waterford Airport.

The significant development now clears the way for the business plan seeking matching funding to be submitted to the Department of Transport, which is expected to be sent early next week, he said.

Senator Cummins said: This is a very welcome development. I have been kept up to date on how these negotiations were advancing over the last number of months by William Bolster and Michael Walsh, and I believe huge credit must go to them, chairman Dan Browne, the board, and management at the Airport for bringing about this very significant funding commitment by the private sector.

The next step is to take the business case to the Department, and I expect it will be very well received by government. I have constantly liaised with the Taoiseach on this matter since I was on the board of the airport. He has been a vocal supporter of our goal to develop a runway in the South East capable of servicing the main aircrafts of choice by most major airlines, B737s and A320s.

As recently as September 30 at Fine Gaels Small Business & Enterprise Conference held in the SETU Arena, the Taoiseach restated his commitment to the principle of 50:50 funding.

When questioned on WLRFM about the doubts expressed by some at the prospect of developing a commercially viable proposition at Waterford Airport, the Taoiseach was very clear in saying maybe it is viable.

We havent seen the business plan from the airport but if it is viable, I think we should support it. We made a commitment in the last government to provide 5 million funding which was to be matched by the private sector. The cost of everything has gone up as we know so that 50:50 principle in my mind still stands and I think the real advantage there is the potential to have a direct link from London to the Southeast which would be hugely valuable from both a business and tourism perspective for lots of reasons.

Senator Cummins added: For my part, I will continue my engagement with the Taoiseach on this critically important project for Waterford and the South East region. As was the case ahead of the 2019 cabinet decision, I will also liaise with my Fine Gael ministerial colleagues to ensure their full support should a proposal be brought to cabinet and I am certain other Waterford Oireachtas members will do likewise with their respective parties.

I have always believed in the ability of Waterford Airport to offer the essential direct connectivity to the region that we require to grow our business and tourism offer. The runway expansion project ticks a huge number of boxes and would undoubtedly drive the propulsive growth envisaged for Waterford in the National Planning Framework, concluded Senator Cummins.
Gardai were outnumbered and ill-equipped to deal with rioters in Dublin last week, until their presence was significantly beefed up. Photo: Collins

Strange times, indeed, when a garda commissioner finds himself making a business case for two water cannons. However, the business of restoring law and order and keeping gardai and the public safe from those who feel free to unleash mayhem could hardly be more serious.

Senator Sean Kyne may have raised eyebrows with his unique take on what people want, but his words probably captured the post-riot zeitgeist.

The majority of people that I have spoken to from around the country... fully support the gardai and feel that the only response to people involved in this sort of criminality is a good, honest, decent beating, and I will be blunt about it, he said.

Senator Kyne acknowledged the strength of his remarks by adding: You probably cannot say that.

What a difference a week can make.

Seven days ago, the notion of giving gardai body-cams was still causing some to clutch their pearls in horror, but things have changed quickly.

Tasers, bodycams and water cannons are all to be deployed in the face of extreme public-order threats. This is an illustration of the levels of disgust and sadness that greeted the lawless scenes last week.

The sight of a lone garda trying to hold off a vicious mob coming at him from all sides sickened all right-minded people.

If gardai feel they need the aforementioned tools, they should be given them.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said gardai were left high and dry last Thursday. There was more than a grain of truth in that.

Labour leader Ivan Bacik said it was clear there were not enough gardai on the capitals streets for the past several years. She added that the Government had adopted a hands-off approach when it came to policing the far-right.

Ms Baciks remarks are likely to resonate with many.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris told an Oireachtas Committee that gardai are now facing a different form of disorder, adding that they must evolve their tactics to address it.

It is unfortunate that such appalling scenes had to play out before that eureka moment was arrived at.

New measures will be welcomed if they mean people again feel safe enough to walk the streets without fear. If businesses again feel safe to open their doors without fear of being ransacked by gangs, the new measures will be welcomed.

Policing in Ireland has now reached a crossroads moment. Gardai need to be better equipped, while the person on the street deserves to feel safe. This starts with increasing the presence of gardai on the beat.

It is an issue that requires sharp focus from the Government and the garda commissioner.

The long arm of the law is there to defend us. When rank-and-file gardai continually claim that arm is being tied behind their backs, the Government must take heed.
Shane MacGowan, who has died aged 65, performing with The Pogues in the mid-1990s. Photo: Reuters

It seems fitting that a songwriter born on December 25 should have written the best Christmas anthem of the modern era. The 1987 release of Fairytale of New York catapulted The Pogues to the top of the world.

Shane MacGowan once advised: Cram as much pleasure as you can into life, and rail against the pain that you have to suffer as a result.

Millions of admirers across the globe are mourning his passing at the age of 65.

Like all great talents, he knew what it was like to touch the stars. However, it was his empathy with those trapped in the bedsits and flats of the ghettos that marked him apart.

Without sentimentality, but with consummate sensitivity, he tapped the oceans of longing and emptiness that flooded the soul of the exile.

His lyrics may have landed strongest with Irish people in London.

To hear I could have been someone, and respond with well so could anyone, was to experience the perfect fusion of artist and audience.

With that song, traditional Christmas music would no longer be a feast of schmaltz and cheesiness.

Along with Frosty the Snowman, or Last Christmas by Wham!, room would now also have to be made at the table for drunks and down-and-outs.

His gifts as a songwriter were under-appreciated by many who believed his career would flame-out in the manner of Brendan Behan.

They believed he would go out in a blaze of destructive glory with so much left to give.

And yet, he gave so much.

Through battles with his demons, he left us some of the best ballads and lyrics of his time.

The late Sinead OConnor also had her struggles. The two artists collaborated poignantly and beautifully on Haunted.

MacGowan wrote of a real world where heartbreak and pain were raw materials always readily to hand. He could wield a lyric with the delicacy of a cotton bud, or the violence of a truncheon.

In A Pair of Brown Eyes, he captured the futility and wanton waste of life in war:

In blood and death neath a screaming sky

I lay down on the ground

And the arms and legs of other men

Were scattered all around.

He resurrected a back-catalogue of traditional Irish ballads by hurling a few lightning bolts from the core of a depthless punk soul.

True to the troubadour, he wore his genius lightly. Few knew how the gap-toothed hell-raiser was once a scholarship boy at Westminster School. He never tried to glamorise the struggle of battling addiction.

US comedian George Carlin once said: Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesnt mean the circus has left town.

Doubtless, the circus will go on, but it will be doing so without one of its greatest ring masters.
There is no irony in Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohens response to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as claimed by Sinead Boland (Ironic that Israels foreign minister would reprimand Varadkar over comments, Letters, November 28).

Words matter, and the use of poetic prose to describe the release of Emily Hand was weak and did little to reinforce the point that she was brutally abducted and held hostage by Hamas.

The failure to call out Hamas for what it is  a terrorist organisation  is not a topic of choice or debate. The EU has designated Hamas as such, and Ireland is a member state. The lack of political condemnation or public pressure from all political parties to release the hostages leaves Irelands image as a viable peacebroker in tatters.

The lack of words also matters. The constant use of words and phrases such as genocide and ethnic cleansing so frequently printed in your letters and shouted on the streets are equally damaging. They are used to demonise and de-humanise Israel and Israelis, even though they are guilty of neither charge.

This kind of language serves only to incite further hatred and distort the reality on the ground. Those committing genocide do not provide human corridors to escape the fighting and they do not warn the public of impending attacks.

There is no comparison between the atrocities committed by Hamas and its followers on October 7 and Israels military campaign in Gaza. This current conflict is the result of continued attacks on the state of Israel and there cannot be a blind refusal to acknowledge this publicly.

We witnessed what can be called ethnic cleansing on October 7, but this seems to have been forgotten in the barrage of falsifications levelled at Israel. As always, this conflict will fall heavy on those civilians living in Gaza, but their lives, like so many, are just collateral damage for Hamas and a political endgame for the left.

Chris Harbidge, Terenure, Dublin 6W

Attack on Leo Varadkar is more to do with the state of internal Israeli politics

Malachi ODohertys defence of the Taoiseach in the war of words with Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen is spot on (Its Israel that needs a reality check after criticising Varadkars hostage comments, Independent.ie, November 28).

Leo Varadkar has, to be fair, shown real international leadership since the October 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis by Hamas. That he is now being attacked by Mr Cohen as having lost his moral compass and needing a reality check may have more to do with the latest opinion poll to come out of Israel than any personal vendetta.

That poll says the Likud party of Benjamin Netanyahu, of which Mr Cohen is a member, would lose almost half of the 32 seats it currently holds in the Knesset if a general election were held in Israel today.

One thing is for certain, though: we can never again trust the words coming out of Israel after this horrific war ends.

That reality may be slowly dawning on some of the leaders in a country that has repeatedly flouted international law and bulldozed the homes of so many innocent Palestinians long before this war began.

Then there is the internment of thousands of Arabs in the West Bank, many of whom are women and children, to further their political aims.

Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry

Our leaders must heed publics concerns about the issue of immigration

I find your paper to be unbelievable. You have a bias towards your view of open-border mass immigration.

You have attempted to portray anybody who protested about asylum centres opening in their locality as far-right.

Your contributors have the same left-wing mass immigration views, and there is no balance.

People now have serious concerns about the scale of immigration into this country, but the Government refuses to heed them.

There is pressure on social services due to the increase in population in a short period of time.

If the Government does not listen to peoples concerns, immigration will become a major issue.

Peter Woods, Drogheda, Co Louth

The term far right is a convenient excuse to avoid tackling thugs and thieves

If I had a euro for every time Ive seen or heard the phrase far right in the mainstream media Id be an extremely wealthy man. Conversely, Id be an extremely poor one if I had a euro for every time the far left is mentioned. The blatant bias is mind-boggling.

The so-called far right is minuscule in Ireland. However the potential for growth is there, especially as the legitimate concerns about immigration of ordinary Irish people are repeatedly ignored by the establishment parties.

This far right spin is a convenient deflection from the appalling failures of policing in Dublin and other Irish cities over many years.

It is still not too late to reclaim the streets from the opportunist rioters and looters. A concerted effort is needed and needed now. Given the records of successive justice ministers, I am not overly confident.

Michael McGrath, Kilrush, Co Clare

Cutting their benefits and packing them off to the Army will teach the louts

Following the rioting in Dublin, there has been a lot of talk in the media about a solution to the problem.

One suggestion I have made is to stop social welfare payments to any recipients for six months. Another suggestion is to conscript such offenders into an army penal battalion.

In such a force, discipline would be severe until these cretins learn to respect people, property and the law.

John Fair, Castlebar, Co Mayo

Restaurant staff need to look at the menu of words in addressing customers

I want to make a plea to all who work in restaurants: Stop calling your customers guys unless they are indeed all guys. Whenever I go to a restaurant with a female companion or in a mixed-sex group, we are usually addressed as guys.

If waiting staff were to address a mixed group as you girls, I imagine they would be pulled up sharpish and unlikely to do so again.

However, for some reason staff think it is OK to call everyone guys.

When I ask about this, I get a blank look or am bizarrely told it is politically correct or its just a plural.

No, it is not. The usual plural of you is also you, and I would prefer the colloquial ye, yis or even youse instead of you guys.

Sean OByrne, Sallins, Co Kildare
The 17-year-old came across four common dolphins stranded on a Youghal beach between the Bog Rock and Clonard Rock

James and uncle, Peter Connon, keep watch over one of the rescued dolphins.

James and the rescue group draped blankets over the dolphins to prevent them from getting sunburnt.

One pair of the stranded dolphins, a mother and her calf, as they slowly got back swimming as the tide came in at Youghal.

One of the unfortunate common dolphins that was stranded at Youghal Bay.

James helps to refloat one of the stranded dolphins on the beach. Photo: Cork IWDG

James Connon and his border collie, Mel, who led the rescue of the four stranded dolphins at Youghal Bay on Tuesday.

Pobalscoil na Trionoide student James Connon ensured no dolphin was left behind after he led a successful effort to rescue four common dolphins that were stranded on Youghal Bay on Tuesday.

17-year-old James, who has a keen interest in marine life, had been walking on the strand near his home between Redbarn and Pilmore with his border collie, Mel, when the dog became excited and ran over to a gathering of seagulls.

Following his companion over, James discovered that the seagulls were gathering around two pairs of common dolphins stranded on the beach, and that Mel had been trying to keep the hungry scavengers away from the unfortunate sea mammals.

The 5th year student quickly copped that the defenceless dolphins, one of which already had an eye injury courtesy of the birds, were still alive and knew he had to to swing into action if he was to save their lives.

This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

The dolphin pairings, one of which was comprised of a mother and her calf, were separated by some metres and James realised more help would be needed so he called on his mother, Jo, and uncle, Peter, who both live nearby, for assistance.

Mel, who had bravely begun the rescue effort, was excused from any further duty for fear the collie may cause the exhausted dolphins further stress.

Arriving swiftly to the scene by car, Peter and Jo knew they had to help James keep the dolphins wet and prevent them from getting sunburnt until the tide came in. Donning disposable gloves provided by nursing home owner Peter, the family group got to work.

We got blankets and covered the back half of them and soaked them with water, kept pouring water over them just trying to avoid the blowhole, uncle Peter told The Corkman.

James and the rescue group draped blankets over the dolphins to prevent them from getting sunburnt.

Peter also rang the Irish Whale and Dolphin Groups (IWDG) Live Stranding Hotline, and coordinator Gemma OConnor was on the other end of the line to offer expert advice to the group and organise for IWDG volunteers to attend the scene.

I was able to give them advice of what to do and more importantly not what to do, Gemma told The Corkman. More than often, I find that before we get a call from the public somebody has dragged the animals by the tails which is not good at all for the animals because its a very powerful tail, if they try to resist you it can cause a dislocation.

James, Jo and Peter were lovely and calm and relaxed and there to the bitter end to help with them, she said. Their presence made a big difference because it would have kept additional gulls away.

The Connons turned their initial efforts towards trying to refloat the dolphin calf and its mother, which were located closer to the water, as the tide was coming in.

James helps to refloat one of the stranded dolphins on the beach. Photo: Cork IWDG

We tried to give it [the calf] direction out to open water but it wouldnt leave the mother at all, Peter explained. So we just said right, well concentrate on getting the mother up and going as well because the calf isnt going to leave without her.

Eventually we got the mother up and running, so that pair were off, he said. It was a beautiful piece of nature to witness.

James and uncle, Peter Connon, keep watch over one of the rescued dolphins.

When the first IWDG volunteer, Maureen Jackson, arrived at the beach the assembled group turned their attention toward refloating the second pair of common dolphins, which appeared to be far more exhausted after putting up a battle on the beach to stay alive.

One of them was lying on his side so we had to get them turned over, Peter explained. Theyre not light, they were hard enough to roll over because they had kind of made a nest or a hole beneath them.

As we righted them they were trying to get back in as the water was coming up around our thighs, he said. After a little bit of misdirection they eventually got headed out to sea and they didnt hang around long!

It was fantastic, we couldnt have wished for a better end, he said.

They are beautiful animals, and you realise how beautiful they are when they are sitting there and you are up close, he said. Seeing them breathing and alive and well was what mattered most.

With all four dolphins successfully refloated, the group had to quickly flee the sand bar they had found themselves on as the tide rushed in, though they were reassured by the presence of Youghal Coast Guard unit, who had helped keep people and their dogs away from the dolphins during the rescue.

More IWDG volunteers, Marcin, Frances, JL, Orla, Alina and Eamonn scanned the local coast for stranded dolphins in the hours after the rescue and fortunately, found no animals in trouble.

Crediting the efforts of James and his family, the IWDGs Gemma said it was a lucky day for the dolphins because not all strandings end well, even for healthy creatures like those found at Youghal.

She explained that there is a large number of common dolphins, who prefer deep water, feeding off Irelands south east coast and those that were stranded likely came close to the shore to hunt but as the tide went out they may have encountered unfamiliar obstacles like reef and sand that interfered with their echo navigation.

They didnt find their way out before the tide got too shallow. Gemma explained.

The IWDG is urging members of the public that see a live stranded dolphin, whale or porpoise to call its Live Stranding Hotline on 097 28118 and remember to keep the area quiet and never drag an animal by the tail or fins.
A letter is to be sent to Uisce Eireann from Cork County Council seeking an update on the planned water works programme for Boherbue.

The motion seeking an update on the planned upgrade of the water pipes in Boherbue village was brought before a Kanturk Mallow Municipal District (MD) meeting by Fianna Fail councillor Bernard Moynihan.

Cllr Moynihan said Boherbue needs to be upgraded in the next programme. We need an update. My understanding is there is new pipage to go into Boherbue and the whole village needs to be upgraded in the next programme from Irish Water. It is crucial and we need an update, he said.

Fianna Fail councillor Ian Doyle who supported the motion commented: We will look for an update and provide for the upgrade.

Fine Gael councillor Gerard Murphy said that Boherbue is a very attractive village but sewerage difficulties are holding up developments in the village. I totally agree with Cllr Moynihan. Water and sewerage difficulties are holding up development and that is a serious problem for the entire community in that area. Boherbue is a very attractive village. It has an excellent secondary school. It has creche facilities. It is obvious that the demand is there. At the same time, we have to accept that Irish Water are fairly slow in doing these kind of jobs.

Claire Barr Municipal District Officer said a letter will be sent to Uisce Eireann and provided an update to the councillors. In accordance with the framework for the future delivery of water services which was published in June 2022, Cork County Council signed a Masterplan Co-Operation Agreement with Uisce Eireann in May 2023. The MCA replaced the service level agreement which has been in place since January 2014 to facilitate the provision of water services by Cork County Council to Uisce Eireann.

The MCA provides for the transition of services, responsibility and accountability for water service functions to Uisce Eireann. This transition is happening in stages across all local authorities this year. In accordance with the MCA, Uisce Eireann became solely responsible for the delivery of the network of water services in Cork County Council as well as the management and the direction of all eligible water services staff in Cork County Council. I can write a letter to Uisce Eireann, she added.
A Donegal hospital is one of five hospitals which will start carrying out abortion services this month.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced the provision of termination of pregnancy services in five additional maternity hospital sites, including in Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH).

The service will commence from Monday, December 4, 2023.

This will bring the total number of maternity hospitals providing early, under 12 weeks, termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, to seventeen.

Minister Donnelly said the expansion is a significant step towards the provision of full termination services for women in all nineteen Maternity hospitals.

"I would like to acknowledge the work of the HSE National Women and Infant Health Programme, the hospitals and the service providers who have contributed to this important milestone in termination of pregnancy services in Ireland.

"I look forward to further expansion of services in 2024 and the reality of safe, equitable access to this service for all women, said Minister Donnelly.

Dr Aoife Mullally, the HSE Clinical Lead for Termination Services, said she welcomes this significant expansion of termination of pregnancy care.

"This will enable women to access care in their local units without the additional burden of travel.

"I acknowledge the leadership of the Clinical Lead Consultants in all maternity units who have worked extremely hard to develop these services and provide high-quality, compassionate care for women.

"While the majority of early pregnancy abortion care is provided in the community, a hospital-based service is essential for some women and is a valuable support for the community-based service, said Ms Mullally.
Billy Hann, CEO, Dublin Bus, Anne Graham, CEO, NTA and Dervla McKay, Managing Director, Go-Ahead Ireland, at the launch of the latest phase of Bus Connects. Pic: Fran Veale

Serious concerns have been raised over the impact of new BusConnects routes on children and students trying to get to school and university.

Fianna Fail TD John Lahart has highlighted the changes to the 175 and 75 bus routes in Dublin South West, and is calling on the BusConnects plan to be reconsidered.

He told the Oireachtas Transport Committee yesterday these routes play a crucial role in connecting students attending UCD and IADT.

He said commuters in areas like Citywest, Tallaght, Oldbawn, Ballycullen and Knocklyon were dealing with overcrowded buses, frequent cancellations and the absence of direct routes impacting accessibility.

Some of these areas have lost the direct connections with these colleges as a result of schedule changes, Mr Lahart said.

Its become incredibly difficult to secure a spot on the new S6 bus for school commutes. Its packed and almost claustrophobic. People cant access the S8 due to frequent cancellations.

So, if Im a young student, Im finding it really hard to get a space on the new S6 bus both to and from school in Stillorgan from Nutgrove in Rathfarnham.

Dublin South West TD John Lahart started the petition

Its full or just so packed in the afternoons, its just horrible. Im 13 and its just claustrophobic, please put on more buses.

Another student has spent 1 hour and 40 minutes commuting home from UCD to Knocklyon after a 7pm lecture.

Residents and commuters have expressed deep concerns over the proposed alterations, citing severe inconveniences and safety risks, particularly for students and late-night travellers, he added.

Mr Lahart started a petition on the issue last week which has already amassed nearly 3,500 signatures.

He believes the change threatens the connectivity relied upon by thousands of residents, including over 5,000 new residents in Citywest in the past two years.

The petition highlights the frustration among residents facing potential disruptions to their daily commutes and students educational routines.

The NTA and Dublin Bus have been contacted for comment.
Oscars Kids calls on people to send more than the average card this Christmas

A charity is calling on people to send more than the average card this Christmas and help raise vital funds for sick children and their families.

National childhood cancer charity Oscars Kids was launched in 2021 by Yavanna and Lar Keogh, in memory of their own son Oscar who passed away in July 2019, just two months after his fifth birthday.

The Dublin parents, who celebrated Christmas each month while Oscar was ill, have teamed up with online card and gift company MoonPig to release ten unique Christmas cards created by their members.

This year were highlighting our charity with ten Christmas cards illustrated by our club members, Yavanna said.

The designs are made by children who have cancer at the moment or by bereaved siblings because we continue to support families after a club member passes away.

We have some really special cards, theres one we designed based on Oscars handprint.

Theyre all beautiful, but one which is particularly important to us is made by a club member called Roisin. She made it two days before she died in October, so to have her artwork means a lot to us and her family.

All profits are going to us, which will directly fund our vital work with kids all around the country. In the past week, weve taken on four new members for Christmas.

The ability to give them such meaningful support over the months and years ahead will be supported by the public.

There are real families behind these cards who are going through so much, they have a deeper meaning.

The families are so proud that the designs are out there, and theyre being sent around, theyre more than an average Christmas card, she added.

Oscar's Kids charity Christmas cards are now available online from Moonpig

The charity has another strand in the US, supported by Oscars girlfriend and The Big Bang Theory star, Melissa Rauch.

Melissa is amazing, we call her our extended family. Shes been absolutely incredible to us, its lovely. We got in touch with her when Oscar was ill because he loved her so much, Yavanna said.

Shes stayed in touch, shes been so supportive, she wanted to start a charity in Oscars name in America because of him. Its amazing to work together as two branches. Shes a good friend, shes truly wonderful.

Supporting the charity not only provides help for children who are terminally ill with cancer, it also helps out their loved ones throughout the journey.

Oscars Kids is a virtual kids club all around the country for those who have a terminal cancer diagnosis, Yavanna said.

We offer practical, fun and emotional support for kids through their entire journey with cancer. Were small, but were very hands on.

We do all the big things, we send kids to Disneyland. Were currently organising a trip for a family to go to New York, weve another going to the UK to see a match next weekend.

We do celebrity videos, shopping trips and now were working with Dublin Fire Brigade so our members can become junior firefighting medics, which is a huge honour and so much fun.

Financially, the help is very important to families. With cancer, often one parent has to leave work.

If you dont live in Dublin and youre travelling for treatment, wed help a family with a hotel, fuel, parking, household bills and this Christmas, were helping with Santa gifts for all our club members.

Actor Melissa Rauch has supported Yavanna and Lars Keogh's charity Oscar's kids

Sadly, because our club members are terminally ill, we can help pay for the funeral costs. We know that doesnt help with their grief, but to be able to help with the financial burden is very important to us, she added.

The main purpose of the charity is to help families financially through a difficult time, but its also to help create those memories they will cherish forever.

When Oscar was diagnosed, he was just three and a half. We knew there wasnt a cure for his particular type of cancer, so we decided to beat cancer in our own way and find joy in every single day.

One of those things was to celebrate Christmas every single month, Oscar loved it. We had our artificial tree up, Santa and the reindeer got their treats, Oscar got a gift too. We realised that we shouldnt wait in life to do these magical things.

When we look back now, even though it was the most heartbreaking moment of our lives, some of the happiest family memories happened when Oscar was ill.

That knowledge now fuels what we do with our charity, we know how terrible the time is but how much capacity there is from magic and joy as well, Yavanna added.

You can find Oscars Kids Christmas cards here.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. On December 1, 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 Pia Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Interlocutors touched upon issues on OSCE activities, given the successful discussions of the OSCE PA autumn session, held in Yerevan last week, the foreign ministry said.

According to the source, in the context of gross violations of the OSCE fundamental principles and the practice of use of force within the OSCE area, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia noted that the international community is facing the reality where the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forcibly displaced from their homeland after more than 9-months-long inhumane siege and large-scale attack by Azerbaijan on September 19.

In the context of steps aimed at ensuring stability in the South Caucasus, Ararat Mirzoyan briefed Pia Kauma on the latest developments in the process of normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and the main principles, in line with which Armenia sent its proposals on the draft treaty on normalization. Minister Mirzoyan noted that it is known that Azerbaijan refused to participate in recent high-level meetings, discussions during which could have allowed to achieve progress.

It is noted that emphasizing Armenias interest in unblocking regional communications, Minister Mirozyan presented the details of the "Crossroads of Peace" project, stressing that all interested parties should realize the importance of using the existing opportunities.
Gardai have appointed a Chief Superintendent to investigate an allegation that a garda officer leaked information about the suspect in last weeks stabbing attack outside a Dublin school to Gript, a conservative news website.

Yesterday, Gript removed a news story published on Thursday that went into extensive detail about the immigration history of the Algerian man it claimed was the suspect in the attack on Dublins Parnell Square that injured three young school children and a creche worker.

Although the Gript article did not name the man in its story, the extensive detail reported allowed a number of right-wing agitators to identify him from a published court ruling and a subsequent newspaper interview he gave about his time in Ireland.

Gript removed the article yesterday morning after gardai contacted it to say the Algerian man they had written about had no connection with the attack on the schoolchildren.

The gardai have since had to offer the innocent Algerian man garda protection and today gardai confirmed it has also had to provide protection to the innocent mans former employer which was singled out by far-right activists for allegedly employing illegal immigrants.

The actual suspect for the stabbings is a 49-year old man originally from Algeria who remains in hospital as a result of injuries suffered in the attack.

In response to the revelation that its story was incorrect, John McGuirk, the editor of Gript, told this newspaper yesterday that he believed he had been rat-f**ked, a term used to describe dirty tricks or sabotage.

Mr McGuirk said Gript had sourced the identity of the Algerian man from a garda and a Department of Justice source before cross checking with details of the suspect published elsewhere.

He also said Gript had checked photos of the Algerian man Gript had written about with photos of the suspect taken at the scene and said they line up.

If its wrong then holy f**k, he said. But we didnt rush it out without checking.

In a subsequent statement published yesterday that accepted it made an error, Gript said it was investigating whether it was deliberately deceived by a senior justice official.

If it determined that was the case, it said its obligation to protect the identity of its source will be considered forfeit.

However, speaking today, Mr McGuirk said he is now satisfied that Gripts sources acted in good faith. He said it was a mistake and not an attempt to fool Gript.

The protection of sources is a foundational principle of journalism, even it means prison time or prosecution for the journalist. We will abide by this principle.

The Department of Justice was contacted by the Irish Independent about the claim that one of its official was also was involved in confirming the story.

In response, it said in a statement: The Department of Justice rejects the allegation that any member of staff provided information to any media outlet in relation to this matter.

"A small number of senior officials within the Department have been involved in the response to the horrific assault last Thursday. None of them have had any contact with the media.

In a statement today, the garda press office said: An Garda Siochana has appointed a Chief Superintendent to examine the public allegation made by Gript.ie in relation to this matter.

A Garda who leaks confidential information can be found guilty of an offence under Section 62 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005. That makes it an offence to disclose information received in the course of duties if the garda knows that the information is likely to have a harmful effect.

Gardai have previously seized the mobile phones of journalists in criminal investigations.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that applications for search warrants at District Court level must inform the presiding judge if a journalist is asserting journalistic privilege so this can be weighed up by the judge before granting any warrant.

The gardai press office also stated that following highly inaccurate social media posts over the last 24 hours that arose from a highly inaccurate article on an online news site that a commercial premises in the east of the country had been named as employing a certain individual.

It said the naming in public of the business and the nature of some of the social media posts meant the gardai has had to deploy resources to provide security measures to this premises.

The original X post published by Gript on its story claimed to an exclusive revealing the ten year legal saga of the stabbing suspect that included multiple refusals by the Irish state to enforce a deportation order before he was granted leave to remain.

The post had been viewed more than 740,000 times before its deletion yesterday morning.

After the story was published and right-wing agitators published details of the innocent mans identity and his legal case, the details were republished on American Q-Anon chat forums.

Named staff working for an NGO (non-governmental body) that had helped the wrongly identified Algerian man in his immigration case were labelled as traitors and accessories to murder on the forum.

The five-year-old girl who was critically injured in last Thursdays stabbing attack remains gravely ill in hospital.

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 soon.
Volunteers plant 3,000 native trees in Darndale Park

Darndale in north Dublin has become the location of a new innovative urban forest as part of an EU-funded city tree-planting initiative.

The planting ceremony, involving pupils from the local Our Lady Immaculate National School, took place at the close of European Urban Forest Week.

Three-thousand native trees, including oak, birch, willow and hazel, were planted today across 4,500 square metres at Darndale Park by the local school and volunteers.

The Dublin suburb has joined Milan, Barcelona and the Romanian city of Brasov as one of four forests being planted as part of the UForest project.

The Darndale Together Implementation Oversight Group proposed the idea of joining the UForest project and

Kai Kinsella and Amber Dagg Dillon plant one of the new 3,000 trees at Darndale Park. Pic: Fintan Clarke

Chairperson, Dr Jack Nolan, said things are changing for the better in Darndale.

This initiative is a vote of confidence in an area on a journey of significant advancement and will have major social and environmental benefits for Darndale and its surroundings, he said.

The Darndale community will play a full part and be involved in maintenance as well as tree-planting activities.

The urban forest will grow to provide the community with a space to spend time together, enjoy nature and learn more about it.

To fully embrace inclusion and unity, the forest has been planted in the shape of a doughnut, with trees forming an outer ring and a small clearing within.

The goal is to raise awareness of the benefits of nature, while providing some basic skills to students to teach them how to plant and take care of trees.

Creating a bond among the Darndale community and its new urban forest will be key, he added.

In 2019, Dublin City Council assumed a central leadership role in tackling the longstanding social and economic difficulties in Darndale.

Summor Gunnery and Meabh Cooney get planting at Darndale Park. Pic: Fintan Clarke

Dr Nolan, a retired Assistant Garda Commissioner, engaged to undertake an in-depth review.

A report, Darndale - a long view of an enduring challenge, was then published with recommendations implemented under the auspices of the Darndale Together Implementation Oversight Group.

The UForest project is led by Trinity College Dublins Centre for Social Innovation, with Dublin City Council providing the site, trees and ongoing maintenance.

According to Professor Mary-Lee Rhodes, Co-Director for the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation, urban forests provide efficient solutions to many of the challenges posed by increasing urbanisation and climate change.

With 84pc of the population of Europe expected to live in urban areas by 2050, planning more sustainable and liveable cities is crucial. Forests can reduce heat, provide better air quality and increase biodiversity, she said.

The planting ceremony, involving pupils from the local Our Lady Immaculate National School, took place at the close of European Urban Forest Week.

Uforest is a three-year project which creates, promotes and shares knowledge about urban forestry. Its aim is to foster the creation of town and city forests and greener, healthier, more resilient cities.
The colourful Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights can be seen throughout December

Artists from all over the world submitted ideas for light projections to feature as part of Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights

Dublins dazzling Winter Lights displays have been officially switched on for the month of December.

Locations all over the city centre have been transformed with colourful projections and lighting displays, including for the first time, Bank of Ireland College Green and the Central Plaza.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithi de Roiste, said: As the dark winter nights close in, the Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights illuminate the city centre each December.

This year promises to be even better than before and Im really looking forward to seeing the full programme of locations.

I know the projections and illuminations have been worked on by some of the best artists from Ireland and around the globe. So come on into town in December and enjoy seeing the city in all its sparkling glory!

Simon Clarke, from Dublin City Councils Events section, added: To reduce our carbon footprint even more, no generators will be used on the streets of Dublin to power projectors.

The power used to light the GPO is comparable to that used in six kettles; a domestic iron uses the same power as were using on the Central Plaza projections; the power used to light the Bank of Ireland projections is the equivalent use of two domestic ovens.

All the projections and installations in Merrion Square Park will be powered using hydrotreated vegetable oil and localised battery storage which will charge during off-peak hours.

The colourful Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights can be seen throughout December

Locations include the Spire, the GPO, OConnell Street, the Custom House, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Trinity College, Bank of Ireland College Green, Central Plaza, Hapenny Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Barnardo Square /City Hall, Mansion House, and Merrion Square Park.

Monuments also lighting up include the OConnell Monument, Jim Larkin, William Smith OBrien, Sir John Gray, Fr Mathew Monument, Thomas Davis and Henry Grattan.

Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights at Merrion Square Park has also officially opened today. Tickets are 2 euro per adult with each one admitting two children.

Entry will start from 5pm each evening, with the last admissions at 9pm. Viewings from 5pm to 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday evenings will be reserved for Relaxed Viewing Tickets.

This time slot is designed to welcome people who will benefit from a more relaxed environment. There will be no music played, people will have more space to move around and there will be a designated sensory unit away from the lights and sounds.

A Childrens Art Competition for Primary School Children also took place as part of Dublin City Council Dublin Winter Lights. Over 370 artworks were received and every artwork will be projected onto Barnardo Square beside Dublin Castle.
Judges for the Soroptimist Annual Public Speaking competition at the Plaza Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday morning from l-r: Vivien Brady, Bernadette Noonan, and Sheila Casey. Photo by Tatyana McGough

The St Brigid's Presentation Secondary School Killarney, Killarney students, who participated into the Soroptimist Annual Public Speaking competition at the Plaza Hotel Killarney on Tuesday morning. Photo from l-r: Elizabeth Roche , Sinead Burn, Teresa Irwin (Soroptimist), Bridie Brosnan President Killarney Soroptimist, Teacher Nelius Stackpoole , Abby Finnan. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Students from Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School, Tralee pictured with members of the Killarney Soroptimist Club at the Soroptimist Annual Public Speaking competition in the Plaza Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday morning. Photo front from l-r: Teresa Irwin (Soroptimist), Bridie Brosnan President; back from l-r: Sheila Casey (Soroptimist), Maura Horan (Soroptimist), Laura Reilly, Labhraidh Costello, Teacher Andrea Thornton, Sophie Canty, Niamh Abdul, Catherine Casey (Soroptimist), Ann Wrenn (Soroptimist). Photo by Tatyana McGough

Students from Killarney Community College, pictured with members of the Killarney Soroptimist Club at the Soroptimist Annual Public Speaking competition in the Plaza Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday morning Photo front from l-r: Bridie Brosnan President and Teresa Irwin Killarney Soroptimist back from l-r: Maura Horan, Sarah O'Donoghue, Grace Foley, Teacher Tara O'Shea, Tamika Heaphy, Yasmin Hassan, Ann Wren, Catherine Gleeson, Sheila Casey. Photo by Tatyana McGough.

Two Kerry students from Killarney Community College proved that they have the gift of the gab last week as they were chosen to advance to the Regional stages of the Soroptimist Annual Public Speaking competition which was held in the Plaza Hotel in Killarney.

Tamika Heaphy and Yasmin Hassan are the two students in question and they will now take part in the Regional event that will take place also in Killarney in February of next year.

As well as Killarney Community College, the competition also attracted students from Killarneys St Brigid's Secondary School and Tralees Mercy Mounthawk.

Speaking to The Kerryman after the event, Bridie Brosnan of the Killarney Soroptimist Club spoke highly of the two winners and the benefits of the Soroptimist group as a whole for the confidence it gives to a person.

"The two winners were actually from Killarney Community College and the reserve, which is the sub, was also picked from there [Killarney Community College] so it was a great showing from the school. They are a really good school for this kind of thing, we know the teacher from old, she's fantastic."

Some of the topics covered by the two eventual winners included quotes about the empowerment of women, health and prosperity, human rights.

"They [the winners] will now go forward to the Regionals which is actually also going to be in Killarney in February and if they successfully get through that then, the All-Ireland stage will be in Dublin then, Bridie continued.

"It's a great thing for the girls. It's a wonderful confidence boost for them because no matter they do in life, it's a skill that they will always have to be able to stand up in a situation and give their opinion, she added.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls with nearly 72,000 Members in 121 countries. In Ireland, they have 15 Clubs that work at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable women and girls to reach their potential.

Clubs choose projects that work towards ending poverty, eradicating abuse and hunger, providing education for all, achieving gender balance and preserving the environment.
One person has been taken to hospital following a two vehicle collision in County Roscommon.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a road traffic collision on the N4 outside Boyle, County Roscommon on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at approximately 6pm.

Traffic management was put in place close to the scene.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said, A two vehicle collision occurred and one person was removed from the scene to Sligo University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Investigations are ongoing.
Sligo Education centre has played a key role in providing supports and learning

Sligo Education Centre celebrates its 50th anniversary on Tuesday with a special gathering of teachers and staff.

The journey over the past five decades has been filled with achievements, growth, and the unwavering commitment of many dedicated educators and staff.

With the introduction of the new primary curriculum in 1971, a Sligo teachers study group had been set up with Padraig Foran as Cathaoirleach and Pat Hurley as secretary.

This is Sligo Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Sligo newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

The teachers would need support in implementing the new curriculum and the Department of Education were seeking methods to help implement it.

The Divisional Inspector approached the study group with the suggestion of setting up a Teachers Centre in Sligo.

The first general meeting took place on 11th January 1972. Following on from this meeting, a number of buildings were suggested and the old vocational school in Quay St. was the final choice, and the Town of Sligo VEC were approached for the use of rooms.

This was agreed for a nominal rent and two large rooms were made available for a centre. The rooms were outfitted with a large lecture room with comfortable furniture.

The second room was set up as a work room with tables and chairs, ink copier, spirit duplicator and a slide projector.

Sligo Teachers Centre was up and running and the original study group, along with the addition of post primary teachers, formed the original management committee.

Teachers volunteered to open the centre between 8-10pm each evening. The first major course organised was an audio-visual course given by the Communications Centre in Booterstown.

To help with implementing the new child-centred curriculum, the centre set up a library of slides and filmstrips to loan to schools.

BBC school programmes were recorded and a tape copier machine was purchased to enable the programmes to be copied. Oilteoiri were used to give talks on aspects of the curriculum  all after school.

With the opening of the new Regional Technical College in 1970, the expertise of lecturers was utilised, and a course in Plant and Animal Life was devised and delivered as a summer course.

As Sligo is rich in historical sites, it was decided to run a series of summer courses in the 1980s titled Sligo and its Surroundings focusing on local history and archaeology.

These consisted of field trips, lectures and useful printed notes on the area. Continuing to build upon the relationships with local organisations, the centres facilities were made available to Sligo Field Club, An Cumann Gaelach and a Film Society.

In the 1990s the age of the computer had arrived. The centre borrowed six PCs from the Town of Sligo VEC and ran one of the first courses in computers.

In 1998, a computer room with networked PCs was set up, where regular courses were held under the expertise of John Joe Gallagher.

In 1997 the Minister for Education announced the expansion of Education Centres with the secondment of teachers to work full time and the building of a number of new centres, with funding from European Structural Funds.

In 1999, Pat Hurley was appointed as full-time director and John Joe Gallagher as full-time ICT Advisor.

The management committee sourced a site on the grounds of the RTC at Ballinode, and the building was officially opened by Minister for Education, Michael Woods on 12th February 2001.

Lorna Gault was appointed as director in 2000 and with the new location and full-time status, administration staff were appointed to support the work of the centre.

In 2001, the centre became involved in the provision of third level courses to teachers, collaborating with St. Angelas College and Trinity College.

In 2004, the centre led out on the national provision of in-service training for Science teachers at post-primary level. The centre took a central role in the development of the Sligo School Completion Programme.

Partnerships were developed with Sligo VEC on the training of musicians to provide music classes in schools, which evolved into the very successful Music Generation Programme.

To meet the demands of the extensive number of national in-service courses, the centre continued to evolve its ICT infrastructure with projectors and interactive whiteboards installed.

The centre was centrally involved in the development of the FIS Film Festival, with many local schools winning national prizes, and the centre rolled out national training on iPods in the Classroom for teachers.

Mary Hough was appointed as director in 2009. The centre building underwent a renovation building project in 2010 with a new reception and kitchen area.

Continuing its links with local organisations, the centre was involved in the training of mediators for the Northside Mediation Service and was a key driver behind the Cranmore Education Project.

To celebrate the Yeats 150 Commemoration, the centre worked with local schools on the production of a book with artwork and poems. Partnerships were forged with Sligo County Council Heritage & Arts Office, the Model Gallery, Sligo Family Resource Centre, Sligo Home Youth Liaison Service and NEPS.

Nationally, Sligo Education Centre, led out the Mental Health Awareness Initiative with the delivery of the One Good Teacher Training.

In collaboration with the NCCA, the centre acted as the administration base for the development and design of the Aistear Tutor Training Initiative.

The centre was engaged on cross-border projects through Peace Programmes funding. Internationally, the centre presented at conferences in Estonia, the UK and Germany. 2013 saw the advent of the online booking system, which moved booking for courses from paper to digital.

Daragh McDaid, the current director, was appointed in 2019. 2020 brought a unique challenge to Education centres with the Covid-19 pandemic forcing centres to close its doors to face-to-face activity for over a year.

The centre was at the forefront of responding to the needs of schools, and within a number of weeks of lockdown with staff working remotely, became a leader in the provision of online courses.

This evolved further as in-person learning returned in 2021, and blended course delivery and meetings became a feature of centre provision.

To match this new learning environment, significant upgrades were made to the digital infrastructure of the centre with high quality video conferencing facilities installed in meeting rooms.

The centre worked closely with the Irish Primary Principals Network to develop a local support group for principals in Co. Sligo during the pandemic, and this model is now rolled out nationwide.

Working closely with other centres in the Region, the centre has developed the Tus Maith Transitions Project, in collaboration with the County Childcare Committees.

Continuing an international focus, the centre led out the teacher training element of an Erasmus+ project on self-regulated learning and digital technology with the delivery of training taking place in Ireland, Belgium, Estonia and Finland.

The teacher training was delivered using a blended learning model, and in 2023, the centre hosted a series of pilot blended learning Summer courses, the first of their kind in the country.

Looking back to the opening of the current centre building in 2001, the words of Minister Woods still ring true to the present day: It wasnt by chance that this centre evolved.

It was through the methodical, pioneering work of forward-looking teachers. The centre is the culmination of the pioneering work of the management committees of the past.

Whats happening here today is very important for generations to come because I believe it will be a foundation stone on which many new developments will take place, not only for schools and teachers in the area but for the region itself.

Adding to these words, perhaps one of Sligos finest had an influence on the setting up of Sligo Education Centre when he wrote: Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  W.B. Yeats.

Sligo Education Centre extends an open invitation to school communities and the many organisations who have been part of our journey to join us for an evening of celebration, where well get an opportunity to reflect on the history of Sligo Education Centre and talk with colleagues, past and present.
Pictured celebrating the announcement that AbbVie has made the 2023 Best Workplaces in Pharma & Healthcare in Ireland are AbbVie Manorhamilton Road employees: (L-R) Kedar Apte, Danielle Monaghan, Jose Relvas, Lorraine Kennedy and Ciaran Isaac.

Pictured celebrating the announcement that AbbVie has made the 2023 Best Workplaces in Pharma & Healthcare in Ireland are AbbVie Ballytivnan employees: (L-R) Anna Carolina Ferreira, Rodrigo Mendes and Pamela McDermott.

Biopharmaceutical company AbbVie, which has two plants in Sligo, has been named as one of the great places to work.

Great Place To Work, the global authority on workplace culture, has named AbbVie on its

2023 Best Workplaces in Pharma & Healthcare in Ireland list. This is the second consecutive year that AbbVie has appeared on this prestigious list and it is one of only 20 companies and organisations recognised. AbbVie has plants in Ballytivnan and Manorhamilton Road, Sligo.

This is Sligo Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Sligo newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

Ireland's Best Workplaces in Pharma & Healthcare 2023 is an industry recognition compiled by Great Place to Work Ireland honouring organisations building great cultures in the pharma and healthcare industries. The recognition highlights listed companies as employers of choice in an increasingly competitive talent market. To be considered for Ireland's Best Workplaces in Pharma & Healthcare in 2023, participating organisations are required to be certified as a Great Place to Work.

AbbVie, which employs more than 2,600 people across six different Irish locations from Sligo to Cork, and Mayo to Dublin, was named as one of the Best Large Workplaces in Ireland at the Great Place to Work 2023 Awards earlier this year  the tenth consecutive year that the company has featured on the list. The company was also acknowledged as one of the Best Workplaces for Women in Ireland for the fifth year in a row and was ranked number 4 on the Worlds Best Workplaces list in November.

Speaking about this most recent accolade, Gary OMahoney, HR Director for Ireland, said: Being named as one of Irelands Best Workplaces in Pharma & Healthcare again this year is an incredible accomplishment for the company. It is a validation of our efforts to create an inclusive workplace that supports employee development and also empowers them to make a broader impact in the communities where they live and work.

I would like to thank colleagues across our six locations in Ireland for their commitment to our company culture and ongoing dedication to patients around the world, he added.
Cliffside offers the opportunity to individually design your own A-rate detached home on a unique site before construction begins."

An artist's impression of one of the Cliffside house types, The Cove, situated in one of the most sought after sites in the south east of Ireland in the popular seaside town of Tramore

The Guillamene, Cliffside, Tramore, has a price of 1,150,000, and is a 5-bedroomed detached house type of 269 sqm (2,895 sq ft), with three bathrooms.

Cliffside is adjacent to the renowned swimming coves Newtown Cove and The Guillamene, Newtown Woods and the historic Metal Man on the Coast Road

Cliffside is only 15 minutes drive from Waterford city and within two hours of both Dublin Airport and Cork Airport.

Cliffside is described as a unique coastal development of five bedroom detachd homes with stunning sea views in Waterford.

Cliffside is situated in one of the most sought after sites in the south east of Ireland in the popular seaside town of Tramore.

It is adjacent to the renowned swimming coves Newtown Cove and The Guillamene, Newtown Woods and the historic Metal Man on the Coast Road. Property types within this new development include The Cove, and The Guillamene, ranging from 1,050,000 to 1,150,000.

With a price of 1,050,000, The Cove is a detached house type with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, of 258 sqm (2,777 sq ft).

The Guillamene, Cliffside, Tramore, has a price of 1,150,000, and is a 5-bedroomed detached house type of 269 sqm (2,895 sq ft), with three bathrooms.

Cliffside is only 15 minutes drive from Waterford city and within two hours of both Dublin Airport and Cork Airport.

These homes will deliver comfortable contemporary living and reliable long term quality by R McDonald and Sons, who have earned a reputation locally over the last 60 years of building in Tramore and Waterford City, say the Selling Agents, Lawrence and McDonald. Cliffside offers the opportunity to individually design your own A-rate detached home on a unique site before construction begins.

Located off the coast road with access through Newtown Glen within walking distance of Tramore town its famous 5km golden sandy beach. For more information contact Clodagh McDonald at info@lawrencemcdonald.ie or call 051 391 010.
Siofra began the set with a solo on the fiddle and then during the song she began sean-nos dancing. Her younger brother Fiachra then came on stage and did a duet with another young bodhran player. Their set finished with a performance of Irish Rover.

"They just loved it, the cameras, the audience, the performance, the whole thing was amazing and so inclusive, said their mum Arlene Cregan.

Their performance happened towards the end of the night and Arlene said they had to keep the doors closed as the surprise guests, Peter O'Mahony and Bundee Aki arrived. They were so nice and came out to talk to the children afterwards and signed autographs. That was a highlight of the night to meet them, said Arlene.

Fiachra and Siofra had the chance to meet a lot of famous faces on the night as after the show finished they were two of four children that were lucky enough to meet Patrick Kielty. We took a photo with him in the greenroom and he was so nice. It made their night, he was literally just out of his costume Id say, but he took it in his stride, said Arlene.

Arlene was very proud to watch her two children perform on the show but they only got to watch small segments on the night as they sat in the backstage waiting area. They reached home at 3am that night and Siofra and Fiachra fell asleep in the car. After all the excitement, they sat down as a family on Sunday afternoon and watched the show from start to finish.

"It all happened very quick, they knew it would be over in a blink and that they had to enjoy every minute. It was a lovely experience for the kids and there was lots of excitement and happiness, said Arlene.

Arlene said Fiachra and Siofra have made friends for life from taking part in the show and have learned a lot from the experience. Theyre also delighted that they got to take home some Late Late Toy Show pyjamas.
Limerick-based band Kingfishr told the story of how their biggest dream came true in just two years as they quickly went from playing music out of boredom to touring internationally.

And their tale comes with a wonderful promotional opportunity for fans  with two tickets to see their show live going up for grabs.

Wexford native Eddie (vocals, guitar), Tipperary native McGoo (banjo), and Cork native Fitz (bass) met while studying engineering at University of Limerick in 2017, but they did not start the band until 2021.

Eddie explained: We all started making music essentially out of boredom, we were sitting around the house for 12 hours a day, we were supposed to be studying for our masters when in reality we were actually sitting around playing PlayStation or write songs. I think something good came out of Covid, if theres anything to come out of it, for us, it was the band.

After college, as their songs became more and more successful, the trio decided to quit their jobs and dedicate their efforts to music.

It has been a bit of a roller coaster of a ride, but were having a great time doing it its been a short space of time, but its been a seriously fun space of time

Eddie said: We got engineering jobs and then pretty soon after that we quit to pursue music. So pretty nerve-racking time I guess in a lot of ways.

Fitz added: It kind of just took off from there and never stopped. It has been a bit of a roller coaster of a ride, but were having a great time doing it.

Yes its been a short space of time, but its been a seriously fun space of time. Its been hard too.

When they made the decision, the three young men could not image that in 2023 they would have supported established musicians including world-famous rock legend Bruce Springsteen at BST. During the summer they also had support slots for George Ezras UK/ Ireland tour as well as Dermot Kennedys Limerick shows at Thomond Park & in Dublin at Marlay Park. Alongside this were a run of festival dates that included Electric Picnic, Neighbourhood Weekender, Live At Leeds, Latitude, All Points East, Sea Sessions & Indiependence.

October 2023 then saw the Kingfishr embark on their first Irish tour, playing six sold out dates in Ireland, with one extra added and still to be played at Limerick's Milk Market in December due to phenomenal demand.

Fitz described their first Ireland tour as possibly one of the best weeks of our lives and the band said to be incredibly excited for what is about to come.

Were very excited. Touring is something new but its something we very much enjoy, Fitz said.

The Irish indie-folk band also found out the hard and physically demanding part of touring, but they said that nothing can overshadow the beauty of such experience.

Eddie said: Its funny how much travel takes the toll on you, like sitting in a bus or sitting in a van, for six or eight hours.

But nothing that takes the shine off the whole thing, for people to be spending money to come see us, to actually care about the tunes, or that have found something in them, or just singing along.

Weve gone beyond anything we ever even let ourselves dream of, I think were all very very proud of that achievement and I suppose well keep going and see how far we can get

To see the movement on tickets and the amount of people who resonated with the songs its just amazing, he added.

The Kingfishr has recently announced their first UK tour as well as two dates in Dublin in 2024, and they could not be happier as trio is about to turn their biggest dream into reality.

Fitz said: The initial thing when we started was just have something on Spotify that we can show out grandkids and be proud of. I think the dream beyond dreams was the Olympia Theatre and now that were doing two [gigs there] is pretty insane.

Weve gone beyond anything we ever even let ourselves dream of, I think were all very very proud of that achievement and I suppose well keep going and see how far we can get.

Limerick-based band Kingfishr

In November 2023, the band released their first EP Live From Doonan containing live, stripped back versions of singles Headlands, Caroline, Anyway and Heart In The Water.

The EP was recorded at Mcgoo's homeplace, a house built in Doonane, Ireland during the 1840's. It is also the very place where all of the band's songs to date were written.

Speaking on the release of the EP, the band said: We recorded these tracks in the kitchen at home. It felt about as true as we could possibly make it. No fluff, no tricks, just the three of us sat in the kitchen playing them back to back, with plenty of tea in between takes. Improper, heartfelt bits and pieces, very much like ourselves.

This month they have also released their eight single Vancouver, which followed Flowers-Fire, Eyes Dont Lie, Heart In The Water, Anyway, Headlands, Caroline and Flowers-Fire (Feat. Jamie Duffy). Their singles combined have racked up over 4 million streams on Spotify and three of these tracks were recently performed on The Independent's live music session Music Box.

The bands 2024 dates include: King Tuts (Glasgow) on Thursday February 15, The Wardrobe (Leeds) on Friday February 16, Deaf Institute (Manchester) on Saturday February 17, Clwb Ifor Bach (Cardiff) on Monday February 19, Hare and Hounds (Birmingham) on Tuesday February 20, Lafayette (London) on Thursday February 22 and Olympia Theatre (Dublin) on Thursday March 21 and Friday March 22.

Kingfishr will play a sold-out gig Live at the Big Top in Limericks Milk Market on Saturday, December 9. Fancy heading along? Click here to be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. An advanced film industry can serve as a key tool for a country to project its soft power, improve its image, advocate for its causes abroad, attract tourism, as well as boost relations with other countries at the highest level. For these reasons Armenia needs to develop its film industry as well as establish cooperation with countries that already have well-developed cinematography. One such country is India.

The Indian film industry has for several years ranked first in the world in terms of annual film output. As Indian film producers have been increasingly shooting more films outside India, this has become a major source of income and tourism for the host countries. Switzerland tops the list of places where Indians travel - this is in large part thanks to the numerous films and productions that have been shot in Switzerland. In Serbia, a generous financial incentive package offered by the government has led to India investing over 50 million euros in its film industry.

As the bilateral relations between Armenia and India develop at the state level, the time is right to examine the potential for cooperation in the field of cinematography.

What does Armenia need to do to attract Indian filmmakers to shoot and co-produce films in Armenia?

The following conditions are important in achieving this goal: well-developed national cinematography which can attract international filmmakers; a holistic incentive package that would provide a roadmap to film-making in the country, including available technical and professional support; sizeable financial benefits designed to incentivize foreign filmmakers; and promotion of the country as an attractive film-making destination abroad.

Developed national cinematography

Before attracting foreign movie makers, the country should first and foremost prioritize the development of its national cinematography. All the countries that have successfully managed to attract Indian filmmakers have pursued this strategy. As film director and producer Armine Abrahamyan said in an interview with APRI Armenia, You must develop your own film industry first. Once you have famous films by which your country can be recognized abroad, filmmakers from other countries would want to cooperate with your filmmakers.

Armenia should also prioritize co-productions between Armenian and Indian filmmakers over schemes that merely bring Indian filmmakers to Armenia to shoot without collaborating with Armenian producers. Co-productions will increase Armenias visibility as well as boost the capacity of local producers and professionals.

The first step in developing national cinematography is to have a comprehensive legal framework that regulates all the issues related to filming. Armenia has already made some progress to this end by adopting the Armenian Law on Cinematography in 2021. However, the problem is that the law is currently not functioning, because the by-laws regulating the entire process have not been signed. As a result of that, neither Armenian nor foreign producers are able to reap the benefits of this law.

The law creates all the necessary and favorable conditions for boosting and promoting Armenian cinematography. Designed to attract foreign investments and promote international cooperation, the law also facilitates the process of shooting films by foreign filmmakers in Armenia, including favorable tariff and customs incentives, as well as legal guidelines to how to co-produce in Armenia. All we need to do is implement this law, said Anna Kostanyan, former MP (the 7th convocation of the National Assembly of RA) who drafted and presented the RA Law on Cinematography in the National Assembly.

Holistic package with financial benefits

A country that wants to attract Indian filmmakers should also have a holistic package that includes attractive incentives. An analysis of Indias top 12 co-production partners shows that the most successful incentive packages come from countries that often provide tailor-made incentives, including facilitating visa procedures, granting comprehensive film shooting permits and providing assistance in the overall process.

Whenever we decide to shoot a film outside India, we need to get permission from the local authorities to ensure a smooth shooting process without any obstacles, said Indian film director Pankaj Kumar Vishwakarma told APRI (he has filmed Indian movies in Uzbekistan, Egypt, Thailand and Poland).

A key component of this package is the financial incentives. Many governments provide subsidies and other types of financial benefits to companies looking to film in their countries. Saudi Arabia for instance offers sliding financial incentives, where they set a minimum credit (e.g., 20%) that gradually increases to 25% or 30% for subsequent and more expensive productions. Norways film incentive scheme has also proven that sliding film incentives succeed in attracting film producers.

Some countries not only subsidize the budget of the Indian films but also often cover the entire airfare for the film crew - a practice employed by Turkey. It is important to have a coherent strategy and provide financial incentives as well as cashbacks to attract Indian filmmakers. I have long been advocating for this in Armenia, Rananjay Anand, President of Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO told APRI.

In Armenia, a draft bill and a new cashback system are currently being introduced which will guarantee a 10 to 40 percent rebate to film producers if they shoot a film in Armenia. According to that bill, the filmmaker will receive an additional refund if the film shows scenes identified with Armenia. This legal amendment is expected to give an extra push to attracting international filmmakers to Armenia, while incentivizing them to promote Armenia in their movies.

Thus a holistic and targeted package should be developed for Indian film production companies that will incentivize them to shoot and co-produce films in Armenia.

Administrative and Personnel Support

Another important factor in this package is the provision of administrative and personnel support by Armenia to Indian filmmakers. Georgia, Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia each have established national film commissions that offer logistics support, training, visa facilitation, insurance, legal support, as well as accommodation. They offer these packages conveniently on a one-stop shop where a film producer from India can visit the website, and find everything they need to know about the film-making process in the country. These countries have also established studios capable of handling Bollywood-level productions.

Armenia also needs to develop such a package where local studios and facilities will be showcased.

We have excellent film studios in Armenia which can meet the needs of Indian filmmakers  with better quality and lower prices than in many other countries, Karen Mkrtchyan, joint secretary of Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO told APRI. According to him, this comes as an advantage, as locally-available technical and artistic equipment and support will save the film crews a lot of trouble and money, allowing them to fly in with a compact team, without having to carry heavy, expensive equipment with them.

At the same time, big-budget productions would require Armenia to expand its local capacities. According to Abrahamyan, Armenia must build larger and more technologically-advanced studios, to be able to accommodate big fiction Indian movies. Until then, she said the best strategy would be to cooperate over artistic films as thats where we have the most capacity.

To provide this enhanced level of administrative and logistical support, Armenia should finally create the national film foundation envisioned by the Cinematography Law. This foundation will oversee the funding to local producers, as well as create a one-stop shop website with all the necessary guidelines for foreign producers who shoot films in Armenia. Armenia would also benefit from having a casting agency that would advise on recruiting professionals in the field.

Additionally, Armenia should work to establish a direct flight link with India and consider subsidizing the cost of the flight for the production crew. It should also institute a temporary visa-free policy for producers and crew involved in co-productions.

Promoting Armenia as a Film Destination

Last but not least, countries achieve success in this field when they invest in positioning and promoting their country as a film-making destination. In this process, Armenia can leverage its picturesque landscape. Many Bollywood movies often portray mountainous landscapes, for which traditionally India has used Switzerland. As both a cheaper and closer location compared to Switzerland, Armenia could meet the needs of many Indian films by providing a mountainous destination for filming. If Armenia invests in the film sector in India, and people start watching Armenian landscapes regularly, this will get paid back by tourists coming to your country. This will create jobs, people to people interactions, which will translate into goodwill and support to Armenia in India, Anand said.

Armenia should also be promoted as an attractive destination for film-making. This can be done by hosting and participating in film festivals and other events. Uzbekistan for instance has partnered with India over joint film festivals and has also established joint film academies, as a result of which Indian co-producers signed multiple contracts to film in Uzbekistan. These festivals included both those in Uzbekistan, such as the XIV Tashkent International Film Festival, and in India, like the 53rd International Film Festival of India.

The Armenian Law on Cinematography specifically mentions the importance of showing international films in Armenian film festivals as well as showcasing Armenian films in festivals and other events abroad. Armenias Golden Apricot and other film festivals could increase their cooperation with Indian filmmakers, while also hosting contests and exchange programs with filmmakers from India.

Since country promotion through cinematography is directly linked with attracting tourists, a comprehensive state strategy should consider the development of both sectors simultaneously. A hassle-free visa policy will help the country reap the benefits from the goodwill generated by these films among Indians.

By 2030, India is projected to become the world's fourth-largest spender in the travel sector, as reported in a joint study by Booking.com and McKinsey. Outgoing trips from the country are expected to hit 50 million. Armenia should work with the Indian tourism industry to attract some of that outflow into the country, Mkrtchyan added.

Conclusion

Thus, to attract Indian producers to shoot films in Armenia, Armenia needs to develop its own national cinematography, prioritizing co-productions between Armenian and Indian filmmakers, to implement its current Law on Cinematography, establish a direct flight with India, facilitate visa and customs, as well as create a comprehensive and targeted package of film incentives designed for production companies. Providing cashback and other financial incentives to Indian filmmakers should be an essential component of this package. Armenia also needs to be promoted in India through festivals and other events as a destination for film-making as well as tourism. All these efforts should be made as a part of a unified strategy, as the above-mentioned components are mutually reinforcing and will pay off if done in a coherent manner and as part of Armenias broader soft power strategy.

Nvard Chalikyan, APRI Armenia Research Fellow

Davit Antonyan, APRI Armenia Associate Fellow
Money raised will be donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust

A fun auction, music by bands Green Road and Nothings Perfect & Friends, tasty hot food and more awaits at Blanchfields Pub in St Mullins on Saturday night, when a fundraiser in memory of hair stylist John Walshe  for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust  takes place.

Starting at 8.30 p.m. everyone is invited to attend. Admission is 15 and there will be an auction of interesting items by Anne Carton of PN OGorman auctioneers, the Quay, New Ross.

Complimentary finger food by Blanchfields will also be provided.

Late of South Street, John passed away suddenly in Thailand in early September.

The loving father of Laura, Niamh, Claire, Robert and John, loving partner to Kanya, grandfather of Tom, Sen, Darragh, Hattie and Ruadh and much loved brother of Margaret, Yvonne, Claire, Pauline, Bob and half brother of Millie and Cora, John is dearly missed in his hometown and much farther afield, including in the places he opened salons and frequented.

His son Rob said Yvonne has organised the event as a way to raise awareness about the Irish repatriation trust and more importantly, to raise money for the invaluable work they do.

A lot of people arent aware of the repatriation trust and on top of that, if you end up in a situation, you suddenly become aware of them. They help a lot of people financially. During the whole process they never even mentioned money with us.

Id imagine they are helping hundreds of people every year and a lot of people who wouldnt be in a position to pay for a loved one to be repatriated.Rob said apart from having to sign one power of attorney letter, there was no paperwork for the family to worry about.

Every country is different when it comes to navigating the bureaucracy and with countries like Thailand, youd imagine its not easy and its most likely time consuming.

Its not like the Kevin Bell Trust is a huge organisation. We were talking to Kevins Dad and his wife during the process. Throughout there was never a discussion about payment. It was only afterwards when we raised it with them.Rob said as music runs in the Walshe family, it will be a special night in St Mullins  all for a great cause.

Its a patriotic thing as well, helping to bring fellow country men and women back home.
The sudden death has occurred of Aine O'Connor from Clonsilla, Dublin and formerly of Coislinne, Gorey.

Her tragic death sent shockwaves through the community with many people leaving heartfelt messages of condolences on RIP.ie.

One mourner described Aine as a lovely person who had a beautiful aura about her. Aine was a member of a local walking group and another mourner wrote, she was a lovely lady who always had a smile no matter how high the hill or mountain was that we had to climb.

Another mourner wrote: "I am deeply sorry for the loss of beautiful Aine. I have danced with Aine for many months at the Dublin Dance Co-op and shared hugs and laughs with her, and always delighted in her joyous spirit and bubbling energy, it was infectious. I am so grateful to have known her, even for a short time.

Aines body was recovered by the Coastguard and the RNLI at 7.50a.m. on Tuesday morning after being called to the scene by members of the public.

Aine who was in her 60s was the daughter of the late Elsie and Tom OConnor. She is survived by her heartbroken siblings Fiona, Bridin, Donal and Meibh,brothers in law Tom and Donal, sister in law Niamh, nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, relatives and a large circle of dear friends.

Her funeral will take place in St. Michaels Church in Gorey on Saturday, December 2.
A number of hospitals in the South East, including Wexford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise, are among five maternity sites around the country that will begin the provision of termination of pregnancy services from next week.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the provision of termination of pregnancy services in five additional maternity hospital sites on Friday  St Lukes Hospital Kilkenny, Portiuncula University Hospital Ballinasloe, Letterkenny University Hospital, Wexford General Hospital and Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. The service will commence from Monday December 4.

This will bring the total number of maternity hospitals providing early (under 12 weeks) termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, to 17.

Minister Donnelly said: This expansion is a significant step towards the provision of full termination services for women in all 19 maternity hospitals. I would like to acknowledge the work of the HSE National Women and Infant Health Programme, the hospitals and the service providers who have contributed to this important milestone in termination of pregnancy services in Ireland.

"I look forward to further expansion of services in 2024 and the reality of safe, equitable access to this service for all women, said Minister Donnelly.

Dr Aoife Mullally, the HSE Clinical Lead for Termination Services, said: I welcome this significant expansion of termination of pregnancy care. This will enable women to access care in their local units without the additional burden of travel. I acknowledge the leadership of the Clinical Lead Consultants in all maternity units who have worked extremely hard to develop these services and provide high-quality, compassionate care for women.

"While the majority of early pregnancy abortion care is provided in the community, a hospital-based service is essential for some women and is a valuable support for the community-based service.

Expanded services for termination of pregnancy under the Health Act 2018 were introduced in January 2019. It is Government policy that termination of pregnancy services under the 2018 Act should be provided in all 19 maternity hospitals.

The HSE has advised that the remaining two hospitals, Cavan and Clonmel, will begin service provision in 2024.
Wicklow family behind Glenhaven brand share crispy chicken passion

Reporter David Medcalf had an eye-opener when he talked to entrepreneurs David and Evanne Cahill. They, along with their two children Barry and Emma, are the family behind the Glenhaven brand which has become big business in Irish chicken products

Still from the TV advert for Glenhaven.

David Medcalf Wicklow People Fri 1 Dec 2023 at 08:00

Earlier this year, the first ever television advert from Glenhaven was broadcast. The lid was finally lifted off one of County Wicklows best-kept secrets.
Pictured are stylists Pictured (seated) with Mark Keaveney, Co-founder Peter Mark, are (l to r) Rachel Stack, Style Club South William Street and Michelle Fay, Peter Mark Nutgrove, with (standing, l to r) Alan Russell, Peter Mark Laundry; Tracey Reilly, Peter Mark Blackrock; Peter ORourke, CEO Peter Mark; Tracy McCabe, Peter Mark Scotch Hall; Julie McGuinness, Peter Mark Dundalk; Gemma OReilly, Peter Mark Nutgrove; Rachel McCudden, Peter Mark Lucan; Natalie Phelan, Peter Mark OConnell Street; Denise Moynihan, Peter Mark Grafton Street; Catherine Kavanagh, Peter Mark Rathfarnham, at the Peter Mark Long Service Awards, held at the College Green Hotel, Dublin.

A member of Peter Marks staff from Bray is among 117 members of the hairdressing groups team who have been valued for their contribution and long-standing service to the company.

Anna Gasienica Doyle from Peter Mark Bray was recognised with a Peter Mark Long Service Award, which recognises employees from salons across the island of Ireland who have worked with the company for 10 years or more.

Of the 117 honoured, the average length of service was 20 years, with the years of service honoured from 10 years to 40 years. Collectively, the team members ranging from stylists to head office staff have over 2,000 years of experience in the hairdressing industry. Anna has been a proud member of the Peter Mark team for 15 years.

This is Wicklow Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wicklow newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

Commenting on the Long Service Awards, Peter ORourke, CEO of Peter Mark said: We are delighted to honour over a hundred of our colleagues for their long-standing service to the company. We pride ourselves on our strong track record in retaining our talent and strive to provide our team with a lifelong career in the industry, offering continuous professional development through our world-class training programme.

"Our talented team is at the heart of our business, and I would like to sincerely thank each of them for their passion and continued dedication to the Peter Mark Group.

Peter Mark is Irelands leading hairdressing group with 66 salons on the island of Ireland employing almost 1,400 people in towns and cities.
New tenants in Wicklow are paying substantially higher rent than those with existing tenancies, with the average cost to a new renter in the county coming in at 1,584, compared with 1,287 for those with existing tenancies.

After Dublin, with an average rent for new tenancies of 2,102, Wicklow is now the second most expensive county for a new renter to find a home, with Kildare commanding 1,525 for new tenancies in third place.

Looking at the figures by local areas, there are marginal exceptions to those figures in Greystones as new renters will have to pay 1,674 compared with the current average of 1,689. In Bray East, new tenants can expect to pay 1,411 compared with 1,319 for existing ones, while in Baltinglass, there is a substantial jump as new tenants pay 1,469 and existing pay 1,160.

Wicklow TD John Brady described the figures as staggering and called for a ban on rent increases, as the new data released by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on Thursday, November 30, also shows that rents being paid by existing tenants are rising at a slower pace than those faced by new tenants.

The report from the RTB showing massive increases in rents is shocking, he said. Families, workers and young people deserve and need affordable housing and affordable rents. Sinn Feins proposal to cut rents and freeze them would have prevented these massive increases in rents. In our own county of Wicklow, the average rent for new tenancies in Wicklow is now 1,584 per month. This is simply unsustainable. When will it end? Renters in Wicklow cannot keep taking these kinds of rent hikes. They need a break.

Government announced in Budget 2024 that the rent tax credit introduced in 2023 would continue and would be increased. Individuals renting private accommodation that is registered with the RTB can claim up to 500 for 2022 and 2023, and 750 for 2024 and 2025. For some, this could tax rebate could be as much as one month's rent if they are sharing, but Deputy Brady sees the credit as insufficient.

Government must urgently introduce a ban on rent increases for existing and new tenancies, he said. They must also put a full months rent back in every private renters pocket. Government also needs to increase and accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes, including cost rental homes, so that renters are not left at the mercy of an expensive and insecure private rental sector.

The comparative figures have emerged between new and existing tenancies following the introduction last year of a requirement for tenancies to be registered on an annual basis, which means rents for existing tenancies as well as new ones are now being captured for the first time, something hailed as a major step forward" by Director of the RTB, Niall Byrne.

It means information is now available for tenants which was not available in previous rental reports.
Creative Places Baltinglass and Wicklow County Arts Office are collaborating with local artists and communities by presenting a range of festive events in west Wicklow before Christmas.

Jazz Token will feature an evening of live jazz and seasonal crafts curated by a local musician, Vincent Gethings, who will open the concert season in Baltinglass in the Old School Building Stratford Lodge at 8 p.m. on Friday, December8.

A three-piece band, consisting of Christy Stapleton on drums, Rory Adams on piano and vocals and Frank Gallagher on guitar and vocals, will interpret relaxing jazz classics and offer an opportunity to socialise over a cup of tea. Tickets are free, but you have to first register.

On Wednesday, December 13, at 7 p.m., the Baltinglass Sings group, which began in September 2023, invites the community to an open rehearsal to hear their work and Festive songs. The group is comprised of over 50 local participants who range in age from 30 to 93. The conductor Paula Phelan and accompanying musician Halyna Fler Obshta extend a warm welcome to people to drop in for a social evening of song, mince pies, a cup of tea and a chat. This event is free and open to all, no booking is required.

In the nearby town of Blessington, well-known author and journalist Edel Coffey will be taking part in an 'in conversation' event in Blessington Library on Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m. Moderated by local writer Olivia Fitzsimons, this is the final event of the 2023 'Way with Words' Literature Festival.

This event is a fantastic opportunity to learn about Edel's creative practice and her debut novel 'Breaking Point', a number one bestseller in Ireland, which received the An Post Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction Book of the Year in 2022. The event is free, but booking is essential.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, said: Im delighted to see the wide range of cultural activities presented to the Baltinglass community, which for a long time did not have such inspiring opportunities.
Wicklows Conor Byrne has been named as Netwatch Leinster Young Carer of the Year for caring for his mother after she suffered a severe stroke.

The Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards shine a light on the invaluable work of family carers, acknowledging their immeasurable contributions and unwavering support within our communities. Held at the College Green Hotel, the awards ceremony served as a tribute to the often hidden work of family carers and young carers, recognising their tireless efforts and sacrifices in providing care and support to their loved ones.

This is Wicklow Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wicklow newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

19-year-old Conor from Church Hill, Wicklow town was among five exceptional young carers who were celebrated at the event. Conor has been caring for his mother since the age of eight after she suffered a stroke. He has sacrificed personal milestones, like social outings and events, to care for her without complaint.

Conor handles household responsibilities, manages finances and diligently oversees his mothers care, even attending to her during night-time check-ins. Through all his challenges, Conor remains an empathetic, resilient young man dedicated to his mother's care.

Awards patron Miriam O'Callaghan, who hosted the event, praised the dedication of all the award recipients, stating: "These awards celebrate the immense love and courage shown by family carers across Ireland. They underscore the role family carers play within our communities, serving as beacons of inspiration and reminding us of the incredible impact of their work.
Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song attend a ceremony honouring Culkin with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin thanked his actress fiancee Brenda Song for giving him all my purpose during a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honouring his four-decade career in acting.

Culkin said I feel such esteem from this whole thing as he received his star in the category of Motion Pictures on Friday with guests including Paris Jackson, Catherine OHara, Natasha Lyonne, and his siblings Quinn and Rory.

The 43-year-old began his stage career at the age of four in Rocket Gibraltar playing the grandson of Burt Lancaster, before rising to stardom in John Hughes Home Alone playing Kevin McCallister  which won him a Golden Globe nomination.

Macaulay Culkin attends a ceremony honouring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Theres so many people that I love and to feel that love back is just amazing, he said.

He continued: Id like to thank Brenda, youre absolutely everything. Youre my champion, youre the only person happier for me today than I am.

Youre not only the best one Ive ever known, youre the best person Ive ever known.

Youve given me just all my purpose, youve given me family and after the birth of our two boys, youve become one of my three favourite people.

Actors Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song attend the unveiling ceremony of Culkin's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

The couples two young children were also in attendance at the ceremony.

Culkin ended his speech referencing a beloved quote from Home Alone: To wrap things up in the spirit of the holiday season, I just want to say Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!

Macaulay Culkin and Catherine OHara attend a ceremony honouring Culkin with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday (Jordan Strauss/AP)

OHara, who played Culkins onscreen mother in the Home Alone franchise, said: I am so proud of you when taking to the stage to honour the former child star.

She said: The reason families all over the world cant let a year go by without watching and loving Home Alone together, is because of Macaulay Culkin.

It is Macaulays perfect performance as Kevin McCallister that gave us that little every boy on an extraordinary adventure.

I know you worked really hard but you made acting look like the most natural thing in the world to do, it really was as if we had ambushed the home of this real little boy named Kevin to make a movie and he just went along with it for the fun of it.

While Orange Is The New Black star Lyonne, who met Culkin during filming Party Monster in the early 2000s, said theres a very rare unspoken language that happens between child actors who make it out alive.

And so we find each other, and we instinctively register what a miracle that survival is.

The true beauty though, is seeing the adult youve become, the loving patriarch you are to your beautiful siblings, and now the deep and loving father and husband that you are.
Britains king has warned that the world remains dreadfully far off track in key climate targets and called for meaningful change in an opening address at Cop28 in Dubai.

Charles said at the opening of the World Climate Action Summit on Friday that despite some progress, transformational action was needed as the dangers of climate change are no longer distant risks.
On November 28, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of India Vahagn Afyan presented the Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of India Droupadi Murmu, Armenia's Foreign Ministry reports.

December 1, 2023, 12:28 Ambassador of Armenia to India Vahagn Afyan presented Letters of Credence to President of India Droupadi Murmu

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 1 , ARTSAKHPRESS: During the tete-a-tete conversation following the Ceremony of Presentation of Credentials held at the Presidential Palace, the Ambassador noted that Armenia attaches great importance to India's traditions rich in historical, cultural and democratic values, as well as bilateral ties that record developing economic progress.



At the meeting, the President of the Republic of India referred to the importance of the centuries long Armenian presence in various regions of India, the recent activity in various fields of bilateral cooperation, and the importance of taking further steps to promote youth involvement in a number of programs.
Josh Rogin: Vladimir Putin counting on the US to cave in on its backing for war effort

Ukraine backers must hold firm as the alternative will embolden Russia

Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Young Scientists Congress in Krasnodar, Russia, on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool via Reuters

Josh Rogin Washington Post Fri 1 Dec 2023 at 03:30

For the second winter in a row, Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking advantage of the Wests fatigue to escalate his attacks on Ukrainian cities, trying to freeze Ukrainians into submission.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for faster construction of fortifications in key sectors under pressure from Russian forces, particularly in eastern Ukraine, focal point of Moscow's advances 21 months into its invasion.

Zelenskiy issued his appeal after touring Ukrainian positions in the northeast, one of several areas where Russian forces have been trying to make recent headway  and recapture areas taken back by Ukrainian troops a year ago.
Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas extended for another day as hostage stakes become higher

Tensions growing after Palestinian militant group says it shot three dead in Jerusalem attack

Mia Schem (21) reunites with her mother and brother in Hatzerim military base in Israel following her release after being held hostage by Hamas. Photo: Reuters

Wafaa Shafura, Jack Jeffery and Melanie Lidman Fri 1 Dec 2023 at 03:30







Israel and Hamas agreed at the last minute yesterday evening to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day to allow more hostages and prisoners to be released.
LATEST | Truce expires: Entry of fuel and aid into Gaza halted as fighting resumes between Israel and Hamas

Israel announces resumption of combat in Gaza Strip as truce with Hamas expires

Associated Press Fri 1 Dec 2023 at 13:22







The entry of aid and fuel trucks for the Gaza Strip at Egypt's Rafah crossing halted on Friday, Egyptian security and aid sources said, as Israel resumed its military campaign following a week-long truce.
Study showed that dog owners were more likely to take walks regularly, while also building social connections. Photo: Getty Images

Having a dog can dramatically reduce the risk of developing dementia in old age, according to research carried out in Japan.

A four-year study by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology monitored the well-being of nearly 12,000 male and female residents of the city, all of whom were over the age of 65.
Russias foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, front, attends the plenary session of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (Boris Grdanoski/AP)

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said his government is not prepared to review its goals in Ukraine  delivering a blunt and confrontational message to Western leaders on a rare trip to a Nato member state.
UN General Secretary, Antonio Guterres, delivers a message saying 'we are living through climate collapse in real time' as the World Meteorological Organisation reports 2023 has shattered climate records. The WMO provisional State of the Global Climate report confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record.
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.

_____
Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed.
Photo courtesy: wikipedia.org

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India and Bank of England Friday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the imbroglio over British banks participation in Indian bonds and derivative market.

The MoU establishes a framework for the BoE to place reliance on RBIs regulatory and supervisory activities while safeguarding UK financial stability, RBI said in a statement.

RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar and BoE Deputy Governor for Financial Stability Sarah Breeden signed the MoU in London today.

In October 2022, the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) announced its intention to de-recognize six Indian clearing houses, including the Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL), which operates the trading platform for government bonds and overnight indexed swaps.

This decision was made due to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) refusal to grant foreign entities the right to audit and inspect CCIL.

Following ESMA's decision, the Bank of England (BoE) also took a similar step, set to take effect from June 30.

In January, CCIL applied for acknowledgment as a Third Country  Central Counterparty (TC-CCP) from the Bank of England (BoE). Following this, the UK Treasury chose to confer equivalence to central counterparties authorized by the RBI.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) increases the probability of the BoE granting approval to CCIL's application.

This news has been welcomed by UK-based banks such as Standard Chartered, Barclays, and HSBC. These financial institutions play a significant role in trading government bonds and overnight indexed swaps, as well as overseeing the management of overseas investment flows.

The MoU also demonstrates the importance of cross-border cooperation to facilitate international clearing activities and the BoEs commitment to deference to other regulators regimes, RBI said.

As per the RBI, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) affirms the shared interests of both authorities in enhancing cooperation in accordance with their respective laws and regulations. The agreement is expected to facilitate the Bank of England (BoE) in evaluating CCIL's application for recognition as a third-country Central Counterparty (CCP), a prerequisite for UK-based banks to conduct transactions through CCIL.

In 2012, the European Union implemented new regulations for market infrastructure to fortify and safeguard systems in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

These regulations stipulate that third-country central counterparties must receive approval from the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA).

Notably, US-based banks are currently excluded from certain derivative products in India because the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not recognized CCIL as a derivatives clearing organization.
Photo Courtesy: UN News/Nargiz Shekinskaya

The world is heating up at an unprecedented pace, new climate data shows, and leaders gathered for the COP28 conference which opened in Dubai on Thursday must get us out of deep trouble, UN chief Antonio Guterres said.

While 2023 is not yet over, a provisional report from the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that it is set to be the warmest on record, with global temperatures rising 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Guterres said that the race is on to keep alive the 1.5-degree limit agreed by world leaders in Paris in 2015.

We are living through climate collapse in real time  and the impact is devastating, he warned in a video statement accompanying the launch of the report on the first day of this years annual UN climate talks.

Melting glaciers, rising seas

The UN Secretary-General recently visited two global warming hotspots, Antarctica and Nepal, where he bore witness to record low sea ice and was shocked at the speed of receding glaciers.

According to WMOs report, the maximum Antarctic Sea ice extent for the year was a staggering one million square kilometres less than the previous record low, at the end of southern hemisphere winter.

Glaciers in western North America and the European Alps also experienced an extreme melt season.

Because of continued ocean warming and melting of glaciers and ice sheets, record sea level rise was also observed, WMO said.

Greenhouse gas levels keep climbing

Meanwhile, concentrations in the atmosphere of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide reached a record high last year and continued to increase in 2023.

WMO stressed that carbon dioxide levels are 50 per cent above the pre-industrial era and that the gass long lifetime means that temperatures will continue to rise for many years to come.

These are more than just statistics, said WMO chief Petteri Taalas, calling for action to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries.

Dire consequences

From deadly Cyclone Daniel in Libya in September to devastating floods in the Horn of Africa following five consecutive seasons of drought and severe smoke pollution from Canadas forest blazes, WMOs report highlights the grim effects of climate upheaval on lives, health and livelihoods.

Throughout the year, communities suffering from extreme weather around the world faced food insecurity and displacement.

Record global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders, Guterres said. And it should trigger them to act.

Follow the roadmap

The UN chief reiterated his call on countries to triple renewables, double energy efficiency and phase out fossil fuels.

According to WMO, last year renewable energy capacity grew by some 10 per cent worldwide, led by solar and wind power.

Guterres pointed to the existing roadmap to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Eight years on, he urged governments to set clear expectations for the next round of climate action plans and invest in their implementation.

Protect people

The COP 28 conference will see the first-ever global stocktake to assess collective progress on cutting emissions and ramping up adaptation efforts and support to developing countries hard hit by a warming climate.

The UN Secretary-General said that countries must go further and faster in protecting people from climate chaos.

This includes ensuring that every person on Earth is covered by early warnings against extreme weather by 2027 and operationalizing a loss and damage fund to assist vulnerable hit hard by floods, droughts and other climate disasters with generous, early contributions from richer nations, he said.

Developed countries must honour the promise to deliver $100 billion per year in climate finance, which was first made at COP15 in 2009, and double the amount of funding going towards adaptation efforts, he insisted.

COP28

The UN climate conference taking place from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai is the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which entered into force in 1994.

Over 60,000 delegates are expected to attend, including the member states of the UNFCCC, industry leaders, youth activists and representatives of indigenous communities.

All eyes will be on the conclusions of the first global stocktake  referred to as a temperature check on where the world stands in meeting commitments under the Paris Agreement  and countries willingness to use them as a springboard towards more ambitious, accelerated climate action.
The world is heating up at an unprecedented pace, new climate data shows, and leaders gathered for the COP28 conference which opened in Dubai on Thursday must get us out of deep trouble, UN chief Antonio Guterres said.

While 2023 is not yet over, a provisional report from the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that it is set to be the warmest on record, with global temperatures rising 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Guterres said that the race is on to keep alive the 1.5-degree limit agreed by world leaders in Paris in 2015.

We are living through climate collapse in real time  and the impact is devastating, he warned in a video statement accompanying the launch of the report on the first day of this years annual UN climate talks.

Melting glaciers, rising seas

The UN Secretary-General recently visited two global warming hotspots, Antarctica and Nepal, where he bore witness to record low sea ice and was shocked at the speed of receding glaciers.

According to WMOs report, the maximum Antarctic Sea ice extent for the year was a staggering one million square kilometres less than the previous record low, at the end of southern hemisphere winter.

Glaciers in western North America and the European Alps also experienced an extreme melt season.

Because of continued ocean warming and melting of glaciers and ice sheets, record sea level rise was also observed, WMO said.

Greenhouse gas levels keep climbing

Meanwhile, concentrations in the atmosphere of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide reached a record high last year and continued to increase in 2023.

WMO stressed that carbon dioxide levels are 50 per cent above the pre-industrial era and that the gass long lifetime means that temperatures will continue to rise for many years to come.

These are more than just statistics, said WMO chief Petteri Taalas, calling for action to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries.

Dire consequences

From deadly Cyclone Daniel in Libya in September to devastating floods in the Horn of Africa following five consecutive seasons of drought and severe smoke pollution from Canadas forest blazes, WMOs report highlights the grim effects of climate upheaval on lives, health and livelihoods.

Throughout the year, communities suffering from extreme weather around the world faced food insecurity and displacement.

Record global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders, Mr. Guterres said. And it should trigger them to act.

Follow the roadmap

The UN chief reiterated his call on countries to triple renewables, double energy efficiency and phase out fossil fuels.

According to WMO, last year renewable energy capacity grew by some 10 per cent worldwide, led by solar and wind power.

Guterres pointed to the existing roadmap to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Eight years on, he urged governments to set clear expectations for the next round of climate action plans and invest in their implementation.

Protect people

The COP 28 conference will see the first-ever global stocktake to assess collective progress on cutting emissions and ramping up adaptation efforts and support to developing countries hard hit by a warming climate.

The UN Secretary-General said that countries must go further and faster in protecting people from climate chaos.

This includes ensuring that every person on Earth is covered by early warnings against extreme weather by 2027 and operationalizing a loss and damage fund to assist vulnerable hit hard by floods, droughts and other climate disasters with generous, early contributions from richer nations, he said.

Developed countries must honour the promise to deliver $100 billion per year in climate finance, which was first made at COP15 in 2009, and double the amount of funding going towards adaptation efforts, he insisted.

COP28

The UN climate conference taking place from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai is the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which entered into force in 1994.

Over 60,000 delegates are expected to attend, including the member states of the UNFCCC, industry leaders, youth activists and representatives of indigenous communities.

All eyes will be on the conclusions of the first global stocktake  referred to as a temperature check on where the world stands in meeting commitments under the Paris Agreement  and countries willingness to use them as a springboard towards more ambitious, accelerated climate action.
Photo Courtesy: COP28/Neville Hopwood

Delegates meeting in Dubai agreed Thursday on the operationalization of a fund that would help compensate vulnerable countries coping with loss and damage caused by climate change, a major breakthrough on the first day of this years UN climate conference.

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, said UN climate chief Simon Stiell during a press conference at which the announcement was made.

Tweet URL

On X (formerly Twitter), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also welcomed the agreement to operationalize the fund calling it an essential tool to deliver climate justice. He urged leaders to support the fund and get COP28 off to a strong start.

The fund has been a long-standing demand of developing nations on the frontlines of climate change coping with the cost of the devastation caused by ever-increasing extreme weather events such as drought, floods, and rising seas.

Following several years of intense negotiations at annual UN climate meetings, developed nations extended their support for the need to set up the fund last year during COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Reportedly, Sultan al-Jaber, the President of the COP28 climate conference, has said that his country, the United Arab Emirates, would commit $100 million to the fund.

Germany has also reportedly pledged a contribution of $100 million to the fund. The United States and Japan have also announced contributions to the fund.

The 28th annual meeting known as COP after the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), opened today and is scheduled to run through to 12 December.

The action is taking place at the sprawling campus of Expo City, which has been decorated with trees and foliage. It is located on the outskirts of Dubai and is expected to host over 70,000 delegates, climate negotiators and other participants coming together to shape a better future for the planet.

Loss and damage?

For a reminder of how central the loss and damage issue is to past COPs and efforts to stay on track with the Paris Agreement, here's our story from last year in Egypt when the dramatic agreement was announced in the final hours of COP27, and you can check out this explainer from our colleagues at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

In short, nations contributing least to greenhouse gas emissions are least equipped to deal with droughts, sea-level rise and other climate-related destruction. Lives, livelihoods and cultures could be massively altered by extreme weather events. As the climate crisis unfolds, these events will occur more frequently, and the consequences will become more severe.

The draft agreement to operationalize the long-awaited loss and damage fund aims to help compensate vulnerable nations for the impact of climate change, by, citing just one possible example, ensuring that vital infrastructure can be rebuilt or replaced with more sustainable versions.

Bold action, now

Speaking earlier on Thursday at the opening of the conference, Mr. Stiell, who is the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, issued a warning that the world is taking baby steps in the face of a terrifying planetary climate crisis that requires bold action now.

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, he told delegates gathered for COP28.

The UN climate chiefs warning came just hours after the UN weather agency, known as WMO, issued a provisional report saying that this has shattered climate records accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation and despair.

Whats at stake

Mr Stiell then outlined whats at stake. This has been the hottest year ever for humanity. So many terrifying records were broken, he said, adding: 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, he warned, referring to one of the keystone targets under the landmark Paris Agreement.



Ominously, a steady stream of reports published in the lead up to COP28 have shown that the world is way off-track in achieving climate goals. and in the absence of ambitious action, we are heading towards a temperature increase of 3 degrees by the end of this century.



Against this backdrop, Mr. Stiell called on countries to deliver ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), or national climate action plans where every single commitment in 2025  on finance, adaptation, and mitigation  must be in line with a 1.5-degree world.

Progress on Paris Goals

The Dubai COP will mark the culmination of a process known as the Global Stocktake  an evaluation of the progress so far on achieving key provisions of the Paris accord: namely curbing greenhouse gas emissions, building climate resilience and mobilizing financial support for vulnerable countries.

As such, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary said delegations at COP28 face two options: The first would be to note the lack of progress, tweak current best practices and encourage ourselves to do more at some other point in time.

Or the conference could decide at what point it will have made everyone on the planet safe and resilient; to fund this transition properly including the response to loss and damage; and decide to commit to a new energy system.



Indeed, he warned: 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. If this transition isnt just, we wont transition at all. That means justice within and between countries.

He also emphasized his focus on ensuring accountability for climate promises.



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, Mr. Stiell added.

Thursdays events marked the meetings procedural opening, but the conference will begin in earnest on Friday with a climate action summit featuring the UN Secretary General alongside world leaders who will present national statements on what their governments are doing to address the global climate crisis.

COP27: A call we heeded together

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of COP27 Sameh Shoukry reminded delegates that despite global challenges such as COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, COP27 turned out to be a moment for effective and global climate action, and succeeded in delivering a number of long-awaited elements of the global climate action agenda.

He recalled that the loss and damage funding arrangement had been established, the so-named Just Transition work programme had been launched, and parties had also agreed on a pathway to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, providing a boost to climate action during this critical decade.

He underscored that Together for Implementation had not just been a slogan for COP27, but rather a timely call to move from setting rules, frameworks and commitments to a clear focus on the tangible implementation these commitments on the ground.

World at a crossroads:

Addressing the opening plenary, Sultan al-Jaber, the President of the COP28 said: We feel, as you feel, the urgency of the work, and we see, as you see, that the world has reached a crossroads.

The science has spoken. It has confirmed that the moment is now to find a new road, wide enough for all of us. That new road starts with a decision on the global stocktake.
Photo Courtesy: COP28/Walaa Alshaer

Earths vital signs are failing and to prevent planetary crash and burn, we needcooperation and political will, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday, challenging world leaders gathered in Dubai for COP28 to show real global climate leadership.

The UN chief delivered his impassioned appeal at the high-level opening of the Global Climate Action Summit, which will see world leaders and Heads of State and Government taking centre stage for the next two days in the Al Waha Theatre in Dubais iconic Expo City.

Warning that humanitys fate is hanging in the balance, the Secretary-General said world leaders must act now to end the climate catastrophe.

This is a sickness only you, global leaders, can cure, he said, calling on the leaders to end the worlds dependence on fossil fuels and to fulfill the long overdue promise for climate justice.

Mr. Guterres also welcomed the breakthrough achieved Thursday on the opening day of COP28 after delegates reached a deal on the operationalization a fund for loss and damage to help the worlds most vulnerable countries pay for the devastating impacts of climate disaster.

Buzz around the venue

Expo City, the venue for the climate talks, is buzzing with activity amid the tight security on the second day of COP28, as worlds leaders started arriving for the Action Summit.

Over the next two days, leaders from over 160 countries are expected to outline their vision for tackling the climate crisis, including from Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Turkiye and India.

Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, is well-known for its extremely hot weather. While December is normally a relatively pleasant month, hundreds of reporters, photographers and civil society delegates have been jostling for space in Expo Citys shady spots to catch a break from the scorching sun.

Indigenous peoples are on the frontline of climate change impacts and their representatives are very active  and vocal  at COP28. Earlier on Friday UN News ran into Jacob Johns, who says hes working to inform climate policy with indigenous knowledge.

We are here to shift the hearts and minds of conference goers and the negotiating teams so that we live in solidarity with a healthy, livable future, said Mr. Johns, who is Hopi and Akimel Oodham, and a member of the US-based Indigenous Wisdom Keepers delegation.

We want to see real climate action... We want to see funding going into climate justice and the loss and damage fund. We want all these funds to be available to indigenous people who are suffering at the impending climate collapse, with land loss and extreme weather events, he told us.

United in crisis

In his remarks to the Action Summit, the Secretary-General recalled to his recent trips to Antarctica and Nepal, pointing out how he witnessed first-hand the scale and extent of melting ice and glaciers.

These two spots are far in distance, but united in crisis, said Mr. Guterres.

He cautioned though that this is just one symptom of the sickness bringing our climate to its knees.

Painting a worrisome picture of ongoing climate chaos, the UN chief said global heating is busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis.

We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement  and minutes to midnight for the 1.5-degree limit.
Photo Courtesy: Vattikuti Foundation

Eminent robotic surgeon Dr Adeel Khan of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis received first place in the Vattikuti Foundation KS International Innovation Awards 2023 for the submission of a robot-assisted liver transplant on a 68-year-old male with hepatitis C related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma from a deceased donor.

The winners were announced at the Vattikuti Foundation KS International Innovation Awards 2023 with robotic surgeons from 10 specialties and featured in the accompanying academic symposium, Humans at the Cutting Edge of Robotic Surgery, held from October 6-8, 2023, in Ghent, Belgium with over 150 attendees.

Dr Mahendra Bhandari, CEO, Vattikuti Foundation, presented the top award at a special event honouring Dr Adeel Khan.

Dr Khan and his team were celebrated by several eminent surgeons from the School of Medicine, including Dr John Olson Jr., the William K. Bixby Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery; Chief Medical Officer of Washington University Physicians Dr Sam Bhayani; and Dr William Chapman, section chief of abdominal transplant surgery.

Dr Adeel Khans entry described the pioneering Robot-assisted Liver Transplant (RLT) in the USA using a deceased donor procedure that he and his team performed at the School of Medicine in May 2023. The submission of this procedure is expected to be of immense value to robotic surgeons as well as the field of transplantation surgery using the power of advanced technology.

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis joins the ranks of institutions in South Korea and India with published and verbal reports of successful deceased liver donor robotic transplant surgery.

The Vattikuti Foundation award recognizes surgical talent and shares new, cutting-edge educational robotic surgery techniques with surgeons wanting to be on the Cutting Edge of Robotic Surgery with pioneers such as Dr Khan.

A high-profile jury comprising of Dr David Neal, Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge and Oxford, Cambridge, UK; Dr Rajeev Kumar, Professor of Urology and Associate Dean (Academics), AIIMS, New Delhi; and Dr Sherry M Wren, Professor of Surgery, Stanford University, USA chose the top 3 from among the 141 submissions from surgeons in 14 countries that went through four rounds of judging.

By focusing on robotic technology and surgeon education, the Vattikuti Foundation has proven the transformative power of innovative technology in revitalizing patients health at the hands of inventive humans, said Raj and Padma Vattikuti, who founded the Vattikuti Foundation to leverage the untapped and unimagined technology potential to create new procedures, reduce cost of surgeries and improve patient outcomes 25 years ago.

Congratulating Dr Adeel Khan and his team Dr Mahendra Bhandari, CEO, Vattikuti Foundation said that evidence-based outcomes are paramount to improving patient care. The Foundation launched its multi-institutional perspective database - The Vattikuti Collective Quality Initiative (VCQI), in 2015 and is now in the process of introducing AI features to make the data more meaningful. This international database already stores over 20,000 high quality records of various robotic surgical procedures with contributions from 29 institutions.

The annual competition is held in memory of Krishnaswamy Subrahmaniam remembered as KS. He is known as an extraordinary human at the cutting edge for his outstanding contribution to the establishment and progress of robotic surgery in India. KS is remembered for the impact he made through efforts to expand robotic surgery programs in India and beyond.

The entry of Dr Ahmed Ghazi, Director of Minimal Invasive and Robotic Surgery and Director of Simulation Training at Johns Hopkins University, USA was adjudged second place for devising a novel patient specific simulation platform before complex robotic renal cancer surgeries. This approach can serve as a roadmap for other complex robotic surgeries.

Third place was awarded to Dr Sandeep Nayak from MACS Clinic and Fortis Cancer Institute, Bengaluru for devising a novel approach for removal of thyroid tumours using minimally invasive robotic surgery. Dr Nayak presented results of over 50 surgeries conducted over five years using this method with better patient outcomes and negligible scarring. Dr Nayak has performed another 50 procedures since submission.

The top ten was rounded out by entries from the US, India, and Europe: Dr Erica Stockwell, AdventHealth; Dr Jihad Kaouk, Cleveland Clinic; Drs Sierra J Seaman and Arnold P Advincula, Columbia University Irving Medical, all from USA; Dr Somashekhar SP, Aster Hospitals, Bengaluru and Dr Aditya Kulkarni, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune; Dr Pieter De Backer and team of Jasper Hofman, Dr Alex Mottrie, and Dr Jente Simoens from the Orsi Academy in Belgium.
Kazakhstan hopes to host Narendra Modi for SCO Summit in 2024. Photo Courtesy: PIB/Kazakhstan PM Alikhan Smailov website

The enduring ties between India and Kazakhstan, spanning over two millennia, encompass historical, cultural, and civilizational connections. Evolving since Kazakhstan's independence in 1991, their collaboration intensifies across diverse realms, evident in institutions like the India-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission.

Engaging on international platforms and addressing shared concerns, the recent India-Central Asia Secretaries/National Security Advisers meeting marked a significant stride. Emphasizing security cooperation, connectivity priorities, and economic integration, the dialogue reaffirmed commitment.

Joint initiatives, including the Joint Working Groups, civil nuclear cooperation, and military exercises like 'KAZIND-2023,' showcase their multifaceted partnership. Economic synergy, cultural exchanges, and educational collaborations further solidify this developmental alliance, reflecting India's strategic approach and Kazakhstan's regional security initiatives.

The upcoming SCO Summit in Astana symbolizes the strong bilateral commitment, anticipating PM Modi's participation, emphasizing the positive outlook for Indo-Kazakh relations.The historical, cultural and civilisational ties between India and Kazakhstan go back over two millennia.

A continuous two-way flow of ideas, cultural influences and trade in goods between the two countries kept flowing between them.

This two-way flow between India and Kazakhstan is best exemplified by the exchange of Buddhism from India to Central Asia and Sufism from Central Asia to India.

India was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Kazakhstan in 1991 following the disintegration of the Soviet Union and subsequent proclamation of independence by Kazakhstan. Since then, there has been an upshot in the relationship on multiple fronts. A formidable bilateral institutional mechanism for developing trade, economic, scientific, technological, industrial and cultural cooperation between the two countries was formulated with India-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) in 1993.

The two countries collaborate and cooperate on multiple international fora including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Ashgabat Agreement, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and other multilateral for a like the United Nations, etc. Since the first India  Central Asia Summit in January 2022, the cooperation between two countries on matters related to not only bilateral but also regional concerns have increased manifold. Aspects such as regional security, connectivity, economic integration, and people-to-people ties have gained immense salience in the bilateral relation.

Against this backdrop, the second meeting of the India-Central Asia Secretaries/National Security Advisers of the Security Councils hosted by Kazakhstan and attended by the security czars of India and the Central Asian States in October 2023 is highly significant.In terms of security measures, both India and Central Asian Republics (CARs) pursue regional stability and face common challenges pertaining to terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.

Similar to the inaugural meeting, this recent gathering reiterated the shared concerns regarding terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime affecting both India and the Central Asian states. Extremism and radicalism persist as significant security threats, capable of generating internal instability through law enforcement challenges in both regions. Indian NSA Ajit Doval reaffirmed India's commitment to aiding the Central Asian nations in fortifying their defence against cyber threats and further deepening the mutual defence and security cooperation.

Connectivity and economic integration based on transparent, participatory, and consultative mechanisms were reiterated as the key priorities by all the parties.

In this regard, Kazakhstan and India urged non-members to join the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Ashgabat Agreement that will enable seamless connectivity between India and the Central Asian region, as well as among the Central Asian states themselves. India also invited Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states to utilize the Chabahar port as well as its Shaheed Bahesti terminal.

These countries were also invited to make use of Indias Digital Public Infrastructure, like the UPI, free of cost. Further, Indian NSA also proposed to set up an India-Central Asia Rare Earths Forum to enable India and Central Asian states to jointly explore and extract rare earth and strategic minerals.

India has been appreciative of the initiatives undertaken by Kazakhstan to boost regional security as well as partnership with its neighbouring states, along with friendly countries like India.

Kazakhstans initiative to create a network of Regional Centres for Disease Control and Biosafety under the UN auspices as well as a specialised multilateral agency - International Agency for Biological Safety (IABS), highlights the seriousness with which Kazakhstan undertakes the issues of regional security  not only traditional, but also non-traditional security threats.

Moreover, eight Joint Working Groups have been established between India and Kazakhstan to take bilateral relations forward. These Groups are formed in the areas of Trade & Economic Cooperation, Information Technology, Hydrocarbons, Space Cooperation, Textiles, Defence &Military-Technical Cooperation and Counter-Terrorism.

A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling on former Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in Astana, in June 2017. Photo courtesy: PIB

India also has a civil nuclear deal with Kazakhstan to procure uranium for its nuclear power plants. India sources about 80% of its uranium requirement from Kazakhstan. In the realm of defence and security cooperation, Indian companies are in talks with Kazakhstans defence industries for the co-development and co-production of defence goods.

The armed forces of two countries also carry out joint military exercise KAZIND to enhance interoperability and defence cooperation.

A 120-member Indian Army and Air Force contingent participated in the 7th Joint Military Exercise, 'KAZIND-2023,' held in Otar, Kazakhstan from October 30 to November 11, 2023. Led by a DOGRA Regiment Battalion, the Indian Army comprised 90 personnel, while the Kazakh contingent included forces from the Regional Command South.

The Exercise, evolving from PRABAL DOSTYK, escalated to a Bi-service event this year, integrating Air Forces. The joint drills focused on counter-terrorism operations, tactical strategies, and combat skills, fostering stronger bilateral military ties.

In the field of space technology, these nations are forging an increasingly robust collaboration. Delving into the prospect of jointly crafting next-generation satellites, both countries are pushing the boundaries of technological advancement.

Within the substantial trade volume of nearly $2 billion that India engages in with the Central Asian region, Kazakhstan spearheads the partnership by contributing a staggering 75%. With trade valued at $1.5 billion, Kazakhstan stands as India's paramount trade ally in the Central Asian domain, solidifying a pivotal economic alliance.

The rising popularity of yoga, Indian films, dance and music in Kazakhstan highlights the growing close cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Kazakhstan. India also provides scholarships in various disciplines under the Indian Council of Cultural Relationship (ICCR) Scholarship programmes for students from Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan also receives Indias assistance in capacity-building of Kazakhs in various specialized fields under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.

Indias partnership with Kazakhstan is based on a developmental model, rooted in cooperation and mutual benefit. India perceives Kazakhstan through the lens of extended neighbourhood policy and aims at collective prosperity.

Through its Connect Central Asia policy, India has a forward-looking orientation for developmental partnership aiming at the geo-economic interests of both countries.Kazakhstan's envoy Zhalgasbayev expresses anticipation for hosting PM Modi at the SCO Summit in Astana next year.

The statement underscores the nation's enthusiasm and readiness, signalling a strong commitment to the bilateral relationship between India and Kazakhstan.




Photo courtesy: X/@MEAIndia

New Delhi/Dubai/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dubai late Thursday to attend COP 28 or the World Climate Action Summit, where he will make his presence for the third time.

Wheels down in Dubai!



PM @narendramodi arrives in UAE for the #COP28 World Climate Action Summit. Welcomed by Deputy PM & Minister of Interior of UAE, HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport.



In addition to his participation in WCAS, PM will hold meetings with global pic.twitter.com/R4TL26PhyN  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 30, 2023

Modi was welcomed by Deputy PM & Minister of Interior of UAE, HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by the Indian community which prompted him to post on X,"Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds."

Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds. pic.twitter.com/xQC64gcvDJ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2023

The 28th edition of COP will run till December 12.

Along with the COP, the Prime Minister will hold seven bilateral meetings and deliver four speeches during his stay in Dubai for 21 hours.

Prime Minister Modi on Thursday said the climate summit will "provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement, and chart a path for future course on climate action".

A very special welcome in Dubai! pic.twitter.com/Zx9AUjSMEn  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

He said, "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 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."

As PM @narendramodi sets foot in Dubai, here is an overview of his action-packed programme tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/SkML9HZYvV  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 30, 2023

Stressing on India's commitment, the Prime Minister 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."
Image Credit: Pixabay

Bengaluru/UNI: Confusion prevailed on the premises of at least 15 schools in different parts of the city after they received bomb threats through anonymous emails on Friday.

The emails mentioned that bombs were planted in the schools, which caused panic among students, parents, and school authorities, resulting in the school management evacuating the premises as a precautionary measure.

Bengaluru police swung into action on a tip-off from the affected schools and immediately deployed search operation personnel to find out if the explosives were planted on school premises.

As of now, the emails look like hoaxes, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said, and appealed to parents not to panic.

"Last year too, a mischief-monger sent similar emails to many schools in the city," he said.

On investigating the threat emails, police found out that a minor from Tamil Nadu was the culprit who used the same application to send emails by creating a programme to mask the Internet Protocol (IP) address.

NEEV School was the first among many to post a message on social media.

The school said, "We are encountering an unexpected situation in schools on Friday. The school has received a security threat from unknown sources. As we hold the safety of our children at the utmost priority, we have decided to disperse the students immediately."

"Kids are being sent home as per the advice of the bomb squad. We are evaluating the threat, but for safety, kids go home," it added.
Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May (Ian West/PA) (PA Archive)

Fans of The Grand Tour have shared their disappointment that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are parking the series after seven years.

The popular motoring show, which launched on Prime Video in 2016, quickly became one of the streamers biggest hits.

The series sees them travel to far-flung places to complete automobile-related challenges similar to those they did in the Top Gear specials.

However, The Standard has learned that Jeremy, 63, James, 60, and Richard, 52, will bid adieu to the show next year.

The trio, who recently returned from filming in Zimbabwe, will return with the third series and a special set in Mauritania to air next year.

Despite the trios departure, the series will not necessarily end with show bosses considering continuing the series further down the line with new hosts.

The trio pictured filming the series (Jeremy Clarkson/Instagram)

A TV insider also told The Sun: Its a surprising decision and everyone realises it very much marks the end of an era for the three presenters.

The Grand Tour is one of Prime Videos most watched shows and Jeremy, James and Richard have a devoted following.

In light of the news, fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their dismay over the trios exit.

One fan commented: What the f*** that and Clarksons Farm were the only f***ing decent things to watch on Prime.

Im gutted these three will never be replicated, another shared. A third added: Thanks for the memories over the years.

A fan penned: So Im only just finding out The Grand Tour is coming to an end, man that was an awesome show!

Grand Tour trio really calling it quits after the next special end of an era, another wrote.

However, there are still two more instalments of The Grand Tour to drop on Prime Video. Both will go out next year and see them travel to Mauritania and Zimbabwe.
Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (Image Credit: videograb/file photo)

New Delhi: President Joe Biden had sent the head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns to New Delhi after the revelation of an alleged conspiracy to assassinate US-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Reuters reported.

The report said that Burns came to India to address the issue after US authorities claimed to have uncovered a plot involving an Indian national attempting to hire a hitman to kill Pannun, who resides in New York and leads the Khalistani group "Sikhs for Justice."

The United States alleges that the attempted assassination plot was orchestrated by an official from the Indian government based in India.

The Washington Post reported that CIA director William Burns visited India in early August and conveyed the head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) Ravi Sinha that "India needed to investigate [the plot] and hold those responsible accountable, and that the United States needed an assurance that this would not happen again.

The US President also raised the issue with PM Modi during bilateral talks, and detailed "the potential repercussions for our bilateral relationship were similar threats to persist.

As per Reuters, these diplomatic talks were a part of Washington's efforts to deal with the situation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to New Delhi and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's November trip were all part of Washingtons efforts to create pressure on India to investigate Pannuns alleged foiled murder plot.

The US federal prosecutor has accused an Indian intelligence official planned and executed a plot hatched by New Delhi to allegedly assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York,

The alleged assassination scheme also involved an Indian citizen, along with two individuals described as a source and a hitman, who were actually undercover US officers.

These allegations have been mentioned in an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice in a federal court in Manhattan.

As per the indictment, the Indian official in question connived with a 52-year-old Indian citizen named Nikhil Gupta, alias Nick, reported Indian Express.

Gupta was apprehended by Czech authorities on June 30 of this year and is facing charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

Both charges come with a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison.

According to the indictment, the official, referred to as CC-1, is an employee of an Indian government agency. Describing himself as a "Senior Field Officer" with duties related to "Security Management" and "Intelligence," CC-1 has allegedly held previous roles in India's Central Reserve Police Force, the report said.

The document also mentions his background, noting that he underwent "officer training" in areas such as "battle craft" and "weapons."

On Thursday India called the US Federal courts accusation against the Indian intelligence official a "cause for concern" and it goes against the policy of the Indian government.

While briefing reporters on the Prime Ministers visit to Dubai for the COP-28 summit, Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said, As regards the case against an individual has been filed in the US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concernthis is also contrary to government policy.

"The nexus between organized crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement, agencies and organisations to consider. It is precisely for that reason that a high level inquiry committee has been constituted. We will obviously be guided by its results.
Photo courtesy: Kolkata Metro Facebook page

Kolkata: A six-member high-level team of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), headed by Saito Mitsunori, on Friday expressed satisfaction with the progress of the metro rail stretch at Bowbazar and the tunnel between Esplanade and Sealdah, a Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited's spokesman said.

Their visit and inspection are part of a review mission and they inspected the works at the Bowbazar and the tunnel between Esplanade and Sealdah, he said.

"After the visit, they had a detailed discussion with KMRCL team headed by MD/KMRCL. JICA expressed satisfaction for the progress, quality and safety standards being followed for the execution of the project," the KMRCL said in a statement.

Kolkatas Bowbazar area is dotted with several old buildings, some dating back to more than 100 years.

In August 2019, during the construction of the metro tunnel in Bowbazar, Kolkata, there was a significant subsidence that led to damage to several buildings.

The incident occurred due to the impact of the tunnel boring machine on an aquifer, causing water inflow and ground settlement.

The incident resulted in the displacement of residents, damage to structures, and posed challenges for the Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation (KMRC) in addressing the situation.

The incident elicited concerns about safety, rehabilitation, and the impact on the overall metro project.

(With UNI inputs)
Image tweeted by @narendramodi

Dubai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, covering various topics such as climate financing and civil nuclear cooperation.

The two leaders met during the COP28 World Climate Action Summit, where they exchanged perspectives on climate action, financing, sports, energy, defence, and civil nuclear cooperation, according to a statement from Indias External Affairs Ministry.

"Happy to have met my good friend, President @EmmanuelMacron in Dubai. Our conversation was enriching as always. I admire his passion to further cement India-France relations," Modi posted on X.

Happy to have met my good friend, President @EmmanuelMacron in Dubai. Our conversation was enriching as always. I admire his passion to further cement India-France relations. pic.twitter.com/JDQ1sVpwVE  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

Earlier this week, the French nuclear operator EDF revealed that it had entered into a memorandum of cooperation with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to investigate the potential to enhance the local content of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant Project.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) aims to construct six nuclear power reactors, each with a capacity of 1650 MWe, at Jaitapur in Maharashtra in partnership with the French company.

BHEL and EDF will explore broader collaborations for the European Pressurised Reactors planned at Jaitapur and NUWARD small modular reactors.
Photo Courtesy: PIB

Renowned journalist Tsuchiya Hideo in his recent article, Goodbye BRICS, Hello VIIPsSouthern Asia as the New Growth Hub asserts that the VIIPs (Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines) represent the next wave of economic powerhouses.

His analysis stems from the initial concept of the BRICS, formed in the early 21st century, which initially identified Brazil, Russia, India, and China as the primary drivers of global economic growth.

However, recent geopolitical expansions, driven by Beijing,seek to establish a bloc that rivals the G7. Anticipating China's potential stagnation, the focus of global growth is shifting towards India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The VIIPs, with their promising economic potential, come to the forefront, indicating a dynamic shift in theglobal economic arena.

As South Korea and Taiwan grapple with population decline,this region emerges as a focal point for multinational corporations relocating their production bases from China.

The VIIPs, each with populations surpassing 100 million, embody the future of global economic prowess.India and Southeast Asia share a profound historical connection dating back to ancient times, characterized by rich religious, cultural, and trade ties.

This enduring relationship is rooted inthe diversity found in both regions, with a mosaic of ethnicities, religions,and languages, reflecting vibrant pluralistic societies.

Beyond the culturalconnection, India and Southeast Asia confront shared interests and challengesin crucial domains such as connectivity, development, security, and regional integration.

This interconnected past lays thefoundation for a present and future where collaborative efforts and mutual understanding continue to shape the dynamic interaction between India and the Southeast Asian region.

In recent years, Indias engagementwith Southeast Asia has intensified manifold getting a major fillip with the formulation of Indias Act East Policy which evolved out of the Look EastPolicy (LEP) formulated in the 1990s, by PM Narendra Modi in 2014.

LEP was basically an economic strategy whereas AEP added geostrategic dimensions to it. AEP also brought Indias Northeast region to the centre of Indias developmental as well as geopolitical strategy. AEP is geared towards developing markets and connectivity links with Southeast Asia, and this ActEast (through Northeast India) is now becoming Act Indo-Pacific policy.

A renewed focus on the 3Cs  Commerce,Culture and Connectivity along with maritime security, climate change, disastermanagement, traditional and non-traditional security aspects now encompass theIndia  Southeast Asia relationship.

With the objective of binding the two regions in closer connectivity to maximally realise the hitherto unexploited economic potential of both regions in the areas of trade, commerce, andinvestments, several modes of connectivity projects were initiated by India.

Some significant regional connectivity projects include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral (IMT) Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project.

The connectivity projects no longer remain limited to physical connectivity but an overlying emphasis is also beingput on digital connectivity. In this regard, digital connectivity projects have been scaled up with Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Myanmar.India has a very robust mechanism inplace with ASEAN - Southeast Asias regional cooperative framework.

They have aFree Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods since 2010, and in services and investmentsince 2015.

The bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached USD 86.9billion in FY 20, making ASEAN Indias fourth largest trading partner. The development cooperation between thetwo parties has also been gaining traction.

India has established three fundsto support cooperation projects with ASEAN member countries which include theASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, the ASEAN-India Green Fund, and the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund. Security and defence cooperation havealso become a major pillar of the India-ASEAN relationship.

India is a member of various ASEAN-ledmechanisms that deal with regional security aspects including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), andthe Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum. India conducts regular joint military exercises with several ASEAN member countries, along with dialogues with ASEANconcerning issues like maritime security, cyber security, counter-terrorism,and humanitarian assistance, among others.

Additionally, Indias bilateral defence ties with several ASEAN members have been growing with BrahMos missiles being sold to Vietnam and the Philippines, developing a deep-sea port in Indonesias Aceh region, and developing Changi naval base in Singapore, amongstothers.

Prime Minister Modi participated in the20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Jakarta onSeptember 7, 2023. During the ASEAN-India Summit, he engaged in comprehensive discussions aimed at fortifying the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Emphasizing ASEAN's centrality in the Indo-Pacific, he highlighted the alignment between India's Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative (IPOI) andASEANs Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). A 12-point proposal was presented,encompassing key areas such as connectivity, digital transformation, trade, andstrategic engagement.

Joint Statements on Maritime Cooperation and Food Security were adopted, with Timor-Leste participating as an Observer. Atthe East Asia Summit, the Prime Minister reiterated Indias commitment tostrengthening the EAS mechanism, supporting ASEAN centrality, and advocatingfor a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

He underscored collaborativeefforts on global challenges, including terrorism, climate change, andresilient supply chains, highlighting India's initiatives in climate action through ISA, CDRI, LiFE, and OSOWOG.

The recent spurts of visits by Indias External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to several Southeast Asian nations further lend weight to the burgeoning India-Southeast Asia ties. EAMs two nation visit to Vietnam and Singapore inOctober this year marks a highlight in boosting bilateral ties with thesecountries.

During the talk with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen, the focus was ondefence ties and maritime security. During his visit to Vietnam, DrJaishankar co-chaired the 18th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission oneconomic, trade and scientific and technological cooperation.

Security talks centred on Beijing and its belligerent and aggressive activitiesin the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Region. Both sides reaffirmed theircommitment to ensuring peace, stability, safety, security and freedom ofnavigation and aviation, along with adherence to a rules-based order.

A comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Vietnam was identified asa key source of security, stability and progress in the region. Earlier in July 2023, S Jaishankar madea two-nation visit to Indonesia and Thailand wherein he attended meetings underthe India-ASEAN format, the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat as well as theForeign Ministers' Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Mechanism (MCG),making the visit highly productive.

Dr Jaishankar advanced IndiasNeighbourhood First and Act East policies, prioritising regionalintegration and strengthening ties with Indias Southeast Asian neighbours.

The inaugural Bay of Bengal Initiativefor Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) ForeignMinisters' Retreat provided a platform for extensive discussions emphasisingstrategies and approaches that would lead to strengthened growth and thepromotion of prosperity for all involved parties.

Additionally, the 12thForeign Ministers' Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Mechanism (MGC) wasalso attended in Bangkok by the Indian EAM. Engagement with member countries viz. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam provided India the opportunity to engage plurilater ally as well as bilaterally with these countries advancing the promotion of tourism, culture, education, as well astransport and communications.India's Defence Minister, RajnathSingh, bolstered the India-Southeast Asia relationship during his recent visitto Jakarta for the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). The visit played a pivotal role in enhancing security and strategic cooperation between India and Southeast Asia.

Singh stressed the significance of adhering to established regulations. In the meeting, Indian Defence Minister reaffirmed Indias stand on ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific region and called for an active collaboration among ASEAN-Plus countries and dialogue partners forpeace, prosperity & security in the region.

The minister highlighted Indiasunwavering commitment to freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce on international waters. He urged the member countries for regional security initiatives that are consultative and development-oriented to reflect the larger consensus among various stakeholders.

India proposed to co-chair Expert Working Group onCounter-Terrorism endorsed by ADMM-Plus while recognising terrorism a serious threat to international peace and security.

His bilateral meetings with Indonesian and Vietnamese counterparts on the sidelines of the ADMM-Plusfocused on deepening of the multifaceted bilateral defence ties throughtraining, capacity building, defence industry cooperation, UN Peacekeeping,bilateral ship visits and joint military exercises.

The evolving territorial assertions ofthe Peoples Republic of China in the Indo-Pacific have spurred a closerdefence rapport between New Delhi and Manila.

The Philippine Coast Guard'sremoval of a Chinese-installed barrier at Huangyan Dao in the South China Seaemphasized this shift. Both incidents, occurring within a month, underscore theunity among China's neighbouring nations in response to its security threat. India and the Philippines have expanded their security collaborations, aligningagainst Chinas growing assertiveness, reflecting an increasing strategic alignment.

As the Indo-Philippines defence relationship strengthens, potentialmeasures range from economic coercion by China to enhanced security cooperationshort of a mutual defence treaty.

The growing proximity between New Delhi andManila signifies a pivotal development in the Indo-Pacific's evolvinggeopolitical dynamics.Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister ofState for External Affairs and Education, is set to embark on an official visitto Malaysia from November 30 to December 2, 2023.

The visit aims to reinforcethe India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership, established during PrimeMinister Shri Narendra Modi's visit in 2015, and build upon the outcomes of the India-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi on November 7, 2023.

During the visit, MoS Singh will engage with various Malaysian ministers,attend the inaugural GOPIO International Business Summit & Expo on December 1, and participate in the GOPIO International Business Excellence Awards ceremony on December 2.

Additionally, he will inaugurate the Indian Workers ResourceCentre at the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur, interact with the Indian community, and partake in the 'Bhakti  the Musical' cultural program atthe Temple of Fine Arts. In conclusion, the geopolitical scenario is undergoing a seismic shift, with the VIIPs (Vietnam, India,Indonesia, and the Philippines) are emerging as economic powerhouses.

TsuchiyaHideo's assertion marks the end of the BRICS era, signalling a strategicrealignment. India's proactive engagement with Southeast Asia, epitomized bythe Act East Policy, emphasizes a digital and strategic dimension.

The ASEANpartnership, fortified by robust trade agreements and security collaborations,showcases India's commitment to regional stability. Recent high-profile visitsby Ministers Jaishankar and Singh underscore India's focus on defence ties,maritime security, and countering common threats. As India strengthens itsbonds with Southeast Asia, the evolving Indo-Pacific dynamics reflect a pivotalmoment in global geopolitics.

(About the writer: Dr. Maheep is an acclaimed scholar of Indias Foreign Policy. He has been teachingand conducting research in International Relations and Global Politics for overa decade.)
Photo Courtesy: Screen grab of video tweeted by @IDF

Gaza: Israel plans to eliminate the top three commanders of Hamas, including the movement's leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, as part of the ongoing military operation in the Palestinian enclave, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the strategy.

Aside from Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, and his second-in-command, Marwan Issa, are on the top of the hit list.

The Israeli authorities intend to achieve a decisive military victory over Hamas forces and destroy the Palestinian movement's ability to exercise authority over the Gaza Strip, the newspaper wrote.

"This will be a very long war.... Were currently not near halfway to achieving our objectives," one person, familiar with the Israeli war plans, was quoted as saying.

At the moment, 10 out of 24 Hamas battalions have been significantly hurt, with over 50 commanders and 5,000 fighters killed, the newspaper added, citing a senior Israeli military official.

The newspaper's sources underlined that the Israeli authorities' military strategy is quite flexible and depends on many factors, including the progress of the ground operation, international pressure and the ability to free hostages held by Hamas.

On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing around 1,200 people and abducting some 240 others.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a large-scale ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared aim of defeating Hamas and freeing the hostages.

The conflict has so far resulted in the deaths of over 16,000 people in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The ceasefire has been extended several times since then and expired this Friday morning. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas has released 110 hostages so far and still holds at least 137 others.

(Wth UNI/Sputnik inputs)
Pakistan is on the brink of collapse. Its economic woes are well-documented, but the recent surge in terrorist attacks across the country paints a far more ominous picture. A disturbing pattern of targeted killings of militants, primarily those affiliated with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Jaish-e-Muhammed, has emerged in recent months.

The Diplomat recently did an article titled Pakistans Never-ending Battle Against Terrorism that talked about how terrorism will continue to plague the country unless the state takes action against their common denominator: religious extremism.

Just in the month of November alone, there have been 3 assassinations:

November 23, 2023: Ali Raza Abbasi, a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, was shot dead in Karachi.

November 21, 2023: Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, a Jaish-e-Muhammed leader, was killed in a targeted attack in Lahore.

November 15, 2023: Riaz Basra, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, was assassinated in Peshawar.

Pakistans history of supporting, encouraging and funding terrorist groups has backfired spectacularly. These assassinations raise serious concerns about Pakistans ability to contain its domestic security threats.

Pakistans economic woes have undoubtedly exacerbated the security situation. The financial strain has hampered the governments ability to effectively combat terrorism, while the economic downturn has fuelled resentment and disillusionment among the populace, creating a fertile breeding ground for extremist ideologies.

Pakistan appears to be fast sliding into the category of a failing state, with no serious attempt being made to arrest the drift and revive the country on the pathway to a modern democratic and economically developed state, said Zahid Hussain, Author and Journalist, Pakistan.

The combination of a deteriorating economy and a volatile domestic security situation has pushed Pakistan dangerously close to becoming a failed state. A failed state is characterized by a lack of effective governance, the collapse of law and order, and the inability to provide basic services to its citizens. Pakistan is dangerously close to fitting this description.

Pakistans obsession with India has also been a source of frustration. In the absence of concrete evidence, Pakistani officials have been quick to point the finger at India, accusing it of involvement in these killings.

Rana Sanaullah, Pakistans Interior Minister, absurdly accused India of being involved in the killings of the terrorists, without providing any evidence. However, these accusations have been met with skepticism from the international community.

Pakistans obsession with India has hindered its ability to address the real challenges facing the country.

The Pakistani governments response to these crises has been woefully inadequate. Instead of addressing the root causes of the countrys problems, the government has resorted to reactive measures, such as military operations and crackdowns on dissent, which have only served to further alienate the population and exacerbate the situation.

Pakistans descent into chaos is a tragedy not just for its own citizens but for the entire region. The countrys strategic location and its history of harbouring terrorist groups make it a breeding ground for instability, threatening to spill over into neighbouring countries and beyond.

(Photo and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com)
Photo Courtesy: East Turkistan National Movement X page

Members of the Uyghur community led by the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) demonstrated against China's hypocrisy in front of the UN headquaters in New York recently.

The Uyghurs urged the international community to address the China-East Turkistan conflict and act against Chinas ongoing campaign of colonization, genocide, and occupation in East Turkistan", reported ANI.

The protest was held simultaneously as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi led a UNSC meeting on the Israel-Hamas conflict and served to expose Chinas hypocrisy and denounce its colonial and genocidal policies in Occupied East Turkistan",the news agency reported.

The protesters were seen holding posters that read: "Stop Chinas Uyghur genocide.

In the press release as quoted by ANI, the East Turkistan Government in Exile stated that the protest was not only a show of resistance but a powerful statement against the hypocrisy of the Chinese government.

It said that Wang Yi in his address advocated for the right of the Palestinian people to statehood and their right to existence.

However, China wages a brutal campaign of colonization, genocide, and occupation against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples in Occupied East Turkistan with the goal to stop the restoration of East Turkistans independence.

The East Turkistan Government in Exile said that the duplicity was the central theme of the East Turkistani protest. East Turkistan Government in Exiles Foreign Minister, Salih Hudayar, participated in the protest and expressed his outrage at Chinas duplicity.

In the press release, Salih Hudayar said, The hypocrisy of the Chinese government, which calls for recognition and support of Palestinian statehood while simultaneously opposing and denying East Turkistani statehood and the most basic human rights to the people of East Turkistan, must be exposed and challenged.

The global community cannot claim to stand for justice and peace while allowing such blatant double standards to persist, he added.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday said it was appalled by the recent honour killing of a young girl in Mansehra city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

She was murdered allegedly by members of her family after a video featuring her went viral on social media.

"The fact that the murder was sanctioned by a local jirga in Kohistan is a harrowing reminder that violence against women remains deeply accepted in Pakistan and that the state has failed to rein in antiquated means of so-called justice despite the Supreme Courts 2019 ruling that jirga decisions are illegal and unconstitutional," HRCP said in a statement.

"While the arrests of the perpetrator, suspected accomplices and three members of the jirga are welcome, the state must also ensure that concrete evidence is collected against the accused and that there is no provision for blood money in this case. Law enforcement personnel must also ensure the security of others featured in the videoa second girl who has returned to her family and several boys who have since gone into hiding," the statement said.

"The chilling similarity of this incident to that of the jirga-sanctioned murder of eight young people who were filmed while singing and dancing at a wedding in Kohistan in 2011, is a reminder that Pakistan remains entrenched in a culture that ties notions of honour to womens bodies. There too, the perpetrators convictions were eventually overturned and the whistleblower Afzal Kohistani himself gunned down in 2019. This must not be allowed to recur," the statement said.

With at least 103 people killed for honour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone in 2022, the state must also take long-term, structural measures to address violence against women.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Uthmanzai tribal jirga (a tribal council responsible for settling disputes in Afghanistan and Pakistan) recently boycotted the ongoing polio drive in North Waziristan district till the improvement of the law and order situation in the Pakistani region.

The jirga also demanded equitable distribution of natural resources and release of missing persons.

The jirga also declared that the residents allowing vaccination of their children would be fined Rs500,000, reported Dawn News.

Apart from boycotting the polio campaign, a 30-member core committee of Uthmanzai jirga also decided to close Miramshah-Bannu Road for vehicular traffic, jirga spokesman Mufti Baitullah told the newspaper.

He said that the core committee had presented a draft of their demands to the authorities, which included maintaining law and order, equitable distribution of natural resources, and release of missing persons.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the USA has announced three settled disciplinary orders sanctioning three China-based firms and four individuals for violations of the U.S. securities laws and PCAOB rules and standards.

PCAOB announced two disciplinary orders imposing a total of $7 million in penalties against two registered public accounting firms within the PwC global network, Shanghai-based PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian, LLP(PDF) (PwC China) and Hong Kong-based PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Hong Kong)(PDF), for violating PCAOB quality control standards related to integrity and personnel management.

"A disciplinary order imposing immediate practice limitations (including prohibitions on accepting new PCAOB audit clients), an independent monitor to improve practices and ensure compliance, $940,000 in fines, and bars against individuals at Shandong Haoxin Certified Public Accountants Co., Ltd. (Haoxin)(PDF), a mainland China-based registered public accounting firm, and four of its associated persons for violations that include issuing a false audit report, failing to maintain independence from their issuer client, and improperly adopting the work of another accounting firm as their own," read the statement issued by PCAOB.

The PCAOB sanctioned PwC China and PwC Hong Kong for violating PCAOB quality control standards related to integrity and personnel management.

Both firms failed to detect or prevent extensive, improper answer sharing on tests for mandatory internal training courses.

"From 2018 until 2020, over 1,000 individuals from PwC Hong Kong, and hundreds of individuals from PwC China, engaged in improper answer sharing  by either providing or receiving access to answers through two unauthorized software applications  in connection with online tests for mandatory internal training courses related to the firms U.S. auditing curriculum," read the statement.

"The overwhelming majority of the professionals implicated in the answer sharing performed work for the firms Assurance practices," read the statement.

Without either firm admitting or denying the findings in the orders concerning the improper answer sharing, PwC Hong Kong was censured and agreed to pay a $4 million civil money penalty, and PwC China was censured and agreed to pay a $3 million civil money penalty. Both firms are required to review and improve their quality control policies and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that their personnel act with integrity in connection with internal training, and to report their compliance to the PCAOB within 150 days.

PCAOB enforcement staff members David Florenzo, Thomas McCann, and K. Lynn Dunston conducted the investigation. William Ryan and John Abell supervised these two matters.
Hong Kong: DC election poll cards mailed

The Registration & Electoral Office today said it has mailed poll cards for the District Council Ordinary Election to about 4.33 million registered electors to inform them of where they should cast their votes on December 10.

Electors who have not received their poll cards may log in to the Online Voter Information Enquiry System to check whether they are registered electors and their designated polling stations, the office said.

District Council geographical constituency (DCGC) electors will be allocated to ordinary polling stations in the vicinity of their registered addresses. Polling hours will be from 8.30am to 10.30pm.

District Committees constituency (DCC) electors will be assigned to the polling stations of the DCCs to which they belong. The polling hours will be from 8.30am to 2.30pm. They will also receive a reminder on the poll card envelope that the DCC and DCGC vote will take place at two different polling stations with different polling hours.

Electors are reminded that they can only cast their votes at the designated polling stations as specified on their poll cards and should ensure that they go to the correct polling stations.

Those who have registered to vote at the near boundary polling stations (NBPSs) may ignore the polling station information printed on the poll cards if they have received the notification of registration result from the office via SMS and/or email.

In addition to the poll card, the electoral mail sent to each elector also includes the introduction to candidates in his/her constituency, a location map of the designated polling station, a voting procedures guide as well as a leaflet on clean elections. This information is also available on the election website.

Electors can only cast their votes at the designated polling stations as specified on their poll cards or the NBPS.

An elector must show the original copy of his/her Hong Kong identity card at the ballot paper issuing desk. Polling staff will scan the elector's ID card with an Electronic Poll Register (EPR) system tablet and then issue the ballot paper.

While the EPR system will be adopted at most polling stations, the printed copy of the final register will be used for issuing ballot papers at dedicated polling stations and those stations with difficulties in installation and technical support due to being too remote or having unstable network coverage, the office explained.

DCGC electors must use the chop provided by the polling station to stamp a tick in the circle opposite the name of their chosen candidate on the ballot paper inside a voting compartment by themselves, and then insert the unfolded ballot paper into the ballot box with the marked side facing down.

DCC electors must use the black pen provided in the polling station to fill in the ovals opposite the names of their chosen candidates inside a voting compartment by themselves. They must vote for the exact number of vacancies for that DCC. After marking a ballot paper, the elector should insert the unfolded ballot paper into the ballot box with the marked side facing down.

Electors may visit the election website to familiarise themselves with the polling procedures through a set of TV and radio announcements in the public interest.

For enquiries, call the election hotline 2891 1001.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
5G networks cover all counties, main townships in Xizang

16:42, December 01, 2023 By Xu Yuyao, Chungda Dolkar, Xian Gan ( People's Daily

Grabbing his phone and packing his backpack, Sonam Tsering, a forest ranger from a village, Bayi district, Nyingchi, southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, started another patrol in the woods.

The village, located in the northwest of Bayi district, is surrounded by thick primitive forest. As Sonam Tsering trekked further down a small path in the forest, he occasionally took photos of the surrounding trees and made notes, promptly uploading the issues he discovered to a system through a mobile application that was specifically developed by Nyingchi for forest rangers.

Photo shows a 5G-enabled digital mining system adopted by Julong Copper Mine in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. (Photo from the official account of Xizang's regional communications administration on WeChat)

With this application, forest rangers can record problems found in patrols and track their routes, so as to ensure the patrols are science-based and efficient.

And all of this was made possible with the support of a stable network. "Since our village accessed the 5G network, we could use more equipment and facilities, which are playing an increasingly important role," Sonam Tsering told People's Daily.

Kelsang Tseten, head of the village, has witnessed the village's network upgrading. According to him, the villagers could not open even a simple web page before, but now they can watch online videos smoothly.

Many travelers were more than surprised. Kelsang Tseten often sees tourists livestreaming at the entrance road of the village. Many tourists pass through the village because it is near a renowned forest park, and the 5G network covering the village makes it easier for them to share their experiences.

"In fact, this has made our village more visible. When tourists post content on social media marked with our village location, many others follow the location and make this place their destination. Tourists can take a break in the village, have some snacks, and shop in local convenience stores, which contribute to the development of the village," Kelsang Tseten said.

The developed network has allowed the world to learn more about Nyingchi. Every March and April, the Nyingchi peach blossom festival opens in various places in the city, attracting a large number of tourists. Thanks to the fast 5G network, the beautiful peach blossoms can be shown to viewers all over the world through livestreaming.

Photo shows a 5G base station built by China Mobile in Pumaqangtang township, China's highest township, in southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. (Photo from the Xizang branch of China Mobile)

In addition, the harvests of the Nyingchi are also able to find new markets through the 5G network. For instance, apples and grapes in Mainling county, Zayu county's kiwi fruits, and Medog county's artisanal stone pots and teas are all sold through livestream marketing today.

The 5G network has brought new ideas for industrial development. In order to better integrate information technology with traditional agriculture, an ecological agriculture and animal husbandry company called Yarlung in Xizang's Shannan has implemented a smart greenhouse project using 5G and Internet of Things technologies.

This has achieved production automation and intelligent management, saving 6.5 million yuan ($722,300) in labor costs for the company each year. The project has increased corn yields by 15 percent and tomato yields by 29 percent, and reduced maintenance costs by 50 percent compared to the original level.

The Julong Copper Mine, located in Lhasa, has an average altitude of over 4,000 meters with harsh operating conditions. Thanks to a 5G-enabled unmanned driving project for open-pit mining, the mine has been developed with reducing labor input and improving working environment. This project sets a benchmark for the upgrading and transformation of the industrial internet sector in Xizang.

According to Xizang's communications administration, the autonomous region has built over 8,700 5G base stations so far, covering all the counties and main townships with the 5G network and providing 5G services to 1.84 million users. There are 23 5G base stations per 10,000 people in the region, reaching the national average.

A training session on the operations of drones for plant protection is carried out in southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. (People's Daily Online/Wang Hu)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Online shoppers have been warned after a thief made off with $200 worth of presents just two minutes after they were delivered.

The moment was captured on a security camera outside an ACT resident's home, sparking a concerning theory that the thieves in question were following the Australia Post van to steal packages moments after they were delivered.

Please beware, guys, the anonymous poster shared on a local Facebook group. It might be that they are following the van and stealing packages he drops off at peoples houses.

The thief made off with hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas gifts. Source: Facebook

The moment was captured on a security camera on Tuesday and in the 17-second clip, a hooded figure is seen running from the front door of the home in Kambah, before jumping into the back of a ute.

Anyone recognise this car or person? pleaded the resident on a community Facebook group. This afternoon around 6.15pm Australia Post dropped my parcel off at the front door. At 6.17pm these scumbags pull up and steal it!

They went on to explain the package contained items from clothing store Seed set to be given as Christmas presents. The incident was reported to the police, but it's believed the car had stolen number plates so could not be tracked down.

As Australians endure ongoing cost of living pressures, some have speculated criminals could employ such tactics to put more presents under the tree this year.

"We do see a spike in parcel theft particularly around the Christmas period, where theyre obviously targeting gifts and Christmas hampers that people pay off through the year and have delivered to their home," NSW Detective Inspector Adam Wilson told the Western Weekender recently.

"Most of these offences are opportunist, which means that the people involved in parcel theft or offenders will simply drive around the streets looking for unattended parcels."

Police respond to incident

ACT Police confirmed the incident had been reported and has urged anyone concerned about thefts to consider alternate options. If people are concerned about thefts of parcels, they can consider using parcel lockers or, if possible, click and collect via a local retailer, said a police spokesperson.

Story continues

"Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference number 7607590."

"Theft after delivery is a criminal offence, and customers should contact the police if they suspect their mail has been tampered with or stolen," a spokesperson for Australia Post told Yahoo News.

"Customers are encouraged to download the Aus Post app, where they can choose to redirect parcels to their local Post Office, a PO Box or a 24/7 parcel locker. This can be done even when the parcel is already on its way, providing a secure and convenient alternative to home delivery."

How can I protect my parcels?

Personal finance expert at Finder, Kate Browne, previously shared with Yahoo several tips to protect yourself from opportunistic thieves.

Track your parcel: Browne said Aussies should take advantage of adding a tracking number to their parcels. In most cases theyll send you a message with an estimated delivery day so you can make sure youre at home to receive it, she said.

Sign on delivery: Some retailers will give you the option to sign on delivery, which adds an extra layer of protection, Browne said. Just bear in mind that if youre not home, youll need to go to the post office to collect your item.

Set up a porch cam: Having a camera at your door can deter thieves from stealing your deliveries. If they do still take off with a parcel, you have a better shot at identifying who did it, and recovering your items.

If you know youre rarely home, another option is a parcel locker, Browne said. These are free to use and open 24/7. These options might cost a bit extra, but its a small price to pay for the security of your Christmas shopping.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Central Government has reportedly turned down a request by Premakumari, the mother of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse who has been sentenced to death in Yemen, to travel to the country to seek her release.

Why she can't travel to Yemen

In a letter to Premakumari, the MEA urged her to reconsider her decision and stated that since India does not have a diplomatic presence in Yemen, it won't be able to facilitate her visit due to the prevailing situation in the country.

screengrab

The response came after the Delhi High Court gave the Central government a week to decide on her plea seeking to travel to Yemen to save her daughter from the death penalty in that country.

Why Nimisha Priya wanted to visit Yemen

Premakumari had sought that she and Nimisha Priya's daughter Mishel be allowed to travel to Yemen. She had expressed confidence that they would be able to secure Nimisha Priya in exchange for blood money to the family of Talal Abdu Mahadi, a Yemeni national.

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala's Palakkad, has been in a Yemeni jail since 2017 for the murder of Mahadi, her former business partner, who used forged documents to claim that she was his second wife.

file image

Why Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death

But, according to Nimisha Priya's family, the documents were forged in 2015 to start a nursing home in Sanaa.

Mahadi, who offered to help Nimisha Priya start her nursing home, allegedly took possession of her documents and started abusing her physically and mentally.

In 2017, in an attempt to flee Mahadi and get her travel documents back, Nimisha Priya sedated him, but he died of an overdose.

Nimisha Priya, who has been in jail since has been sentenced to death for the murder, and the Yemene Supreme Court has upheld the punishment.

What is blood money?

There are only two options in front of Nimisha Priya - seek a Presidential pardon or reach a settlement with the family of Mahadi and offer them blood money in exchange for her release.

Pixabay/Representational image

In October, Nimisha Priya's mother had approached the Delhi High Court seeking permission to travel to Yemen to negotiate with Mahadi's family.

Since the outbreak of the civil war in Yemen, the Indian Government has imposed a ban on its citizens visiting the country.

For more on the news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
After his exile from Greece after a military junta took power in Greece in 1967, Vassilikos was mainly based abroad until 1994, barring the years 1981-1984 when he returned to Greece to take over as director of the public broadcaster ERT
Having commenced the review of the 2024 appropriation bill presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the House of Representatives have discovered some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have over-bloated personnel cost.

Recall that on Wednesday, Tinubu presented the N27 trillion 2024 proposed budget to the National Assembly, projecting that the economy would grow by 3.76 percent.

Tinubu asked the lawmakers to give the budget an accelerated consideration and ensure that the appropriation bill is passed before January 2024.

Julius Ihonvbere, Majority Leader of the House, leading the debate during the plenary session on Thursday, said the budget is designed to address some strategic areas economy, including defence and security.

The House Leader expressed satisfaction that a major part of the budget would be allocated to security.

The legislator said that he has been unable to visit his constituency due to the prevailing insecurity across the country.

According to Ihonvbere, the proposed amount for security is not an accident.

Once security is properly tackled, the economy will grow, he said.

Sada Soli, lawmaker from Katsina said the budget is unique, because it involves the Presidents proposal to collaborate with states.

For the first time, I am hearing in the budget speech that the president is mentioning collaboration with subnationals, he said.

According to him, such a collaboration would encourage states to adjust their budget in tune with the federal budget.

Sada commended Tinubus commitment to addressing revenue leakages, noting that without addressing these gaps, the governments efforts may not yield the desired results.

If leakages are not blocked, forget about profits, he said.

He also asked his colleagues to tighten their oversight duties on the personnel cost of ministries, departments and agencies to block over-bloated proposals.

Let the committee chairs look at the issue of personnel cost because they are over-bloated.

READ ALSO: Nigerians Not Interested In Budgetary Arithmetic If Bread, Rice Prices Dont Decrease  Rewane

I know ICPC used to summon agencies to come to audit them on their personnel cost because it is over-bloated, he added.

He also said the parliament needs to pay attention to the procurement process because it is too cumbersome.

The lawmaker called on the Federal Government to clean up the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

In his contribution, Ahmed Jaha, a lawmaker from Borno said the proposals in the budget show that the government is serious about developmental projects.

By providing a substantial amount of money or a reasonable figure for capital projects shows that the government is serious about embarking on a series of developmental projects, Jaha said.

He also commended the Federal Governments intention to diversify the economy into unexploited opportunities and resources, saying the decision would address unemployment.

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, Jaha said.

The lawmaker stressed that prioritising security in the budget is crucial noting that no development can occur without it.

On his part, Bello Kumo, Chief Whip of the House, said budget consideration should be given the fastest approach so that the executive can begin the implementation.

Yusuf Gagdi, from Plateau, said Tinubus campaign promises are contained in the budget document, adding that the appropriation bill seeks to practically tackle the nations challenges.

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 expectations of Tinubu will not be satisfied.

I call on Nigerians to pray for Tinubu and the government to give him the strength and commitment to deliver his campaign promises, Gagdi said.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says his Deputy, Philip Shaibu has the right to contest the State gubernatorial election, come 2024.

In what may seem as shying away from endorsing Shaibu for the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) ticket, he mentioned that his vote alone cant decide the embattled deputys fate.

After a Thursday closed-door meeting with Bala Mohammed, the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Obaseki told journalists that, I am only one of the millions of party members in Edo State. I dont think my vote alone can determine whether he becomes the partys flag bearer.

READ ALSO: Demolitions Shouldnt Be Done When Citizens Are Faced With Financial Stress, Hardship  Obi Tells State Governors

The relationship as you know is cordial. He wants to run for the office I currently occupy, he is free to and I think as a Nigerian, he has a constitutional right nobody cant and should stop him.

The party would decide and also only the members of the party would decide who would be the flag bearer of our party in the forthcoming gubernatorial in Edo State, he stated.

Obaseki explained that he was in Bauchi and accompanied by the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel to congratulate their Chairman, over his victory at the Court of Appeal in Abuja that validated his election.
Segun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, has urged Nigerians not to blame ex-aide Femi Adesina for defending his principal, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The ex-Governor made the plea 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, which took place at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, in Ibadan on Thursday was attended by a number of veterans as well as practicing journalists.

Adesina, also a Nigerian journalist, was present at the event.

READ ALSO: For Eight Years I Was Deliberately Misquoted  Femi Adesina

He served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Buhari between 2015 and 2023.

However, speaking at the event, Osoba noted that Adesina should not be blamed for all he did to defend Buhari.

He noted that as a spokesman, Adesinas role is to defend his principal whether he has done good or bad.

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, the doyen of journalism in Nigeria said.
A United Kingdom (UK) hospital has reportedly sacked a yet-to-be-identified Nigerian nurse after she was found praying for an elderly patient.

Harvey Olufunmilayo, a popular self-acclaimed online doctor disclosed this via X on Thursday.

The doctor narrated the incident to warn Nigerian doctors moving to the UK not to pray for patients.

According to, the said Nigerian health worker was deported for what he believed was unethical for health workers in the UK to bring religion to their work.

READ ALSO: If Na Your Papa Dem Mold Like Dis, You Go Like Am?  Reaction As Lady Makes Sculpture Of Pete Edochie

He added that it is not customary for nurses to pray for patients, but they can ask for a cleric to carry out any religious service on patients, regardless of whether they want them (the nurses) to do so.

I just read the sad story of a Nigerian who came to the UK and was employed by an agency to work as a caregiver for elderly people. She was assigned to care for an elderly patient who was dying, and she was reported for praying for the client to get better. Yeah. She got sacked and deported.

Praying for your patient is seen as an abuse of trust and misuse of your position. You are expected to simply do and focus on your job, he posted.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says every former Governor and any individual with corruption cases will face the agencys investigation.

The Commissions Zonal Commander, Aliyu Yunusa said this at the opening of a one-day EFCC Civil Society Organisations engagement organised in Sokoto on Thursday.

Yunusa said no one is an exception to investigation as the anti-graft agency met with Civil Society Organisations from Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states to collaborate in furtherance of the preventive mandate of the Commission.

The EFCC, he explained, will do everything within the law to sustain its tempo of rigorously pursuing economic and financial crime-related cases no matter who is involved.

READ ALSO: Nigerians Not Interested In Budgetary Arithmetic If Bread, Rice Prices Dont Decrease  Rewane

According to Yunusa, the EFCC is prepared to free Nigeria from the shackles of the demon called corruption.

Our core mandate remains and we are determined and resolute to achieve results with the active collaboration of Nigerians particularly the CSOs who are equally drivers of our mandate to success.

We rely on the Nigeria public and organised bodies to nip in the bud, corruption and other economic crimes for a sound Nigeria, he said.

The Commander also seized the opportunity to clear the perception of the majority of Nigerians that the EFCC does not investigate former governors.

No past governor or anyone is exempted from our investigation where a petition is received, he clarified.
Barely few days after the death of a traditional ruler in Otulu community, identified as Eze Joe Achulor, some suspected gunmen, on Thursday, have also assassinated a businessman, based in the Oguta, Imo State.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Linus Nmuo, popularly known as Sakatan, was murdered in his residence, located at Umuezikegbu in the Egbuoma community, in the early hours of the day.

A family source told Punch on condition of anonymity in Owerri that on arrival, the attackers went to their victims house and dragged him out.

READ MORE: Gunmen Abduct, Kill Imo Monarch

He also added that Linus was shot repeatedly and made sure he died before they left the scene.

The source said: Livinus Nmuo, also known as Sakatan, from Umuezikegbu Egbuoma in Oguta LGA, Imo State, has been assassinated.

He was killed in the early hours of today, Thursday, November 30, 2023. He was my cousin.

Recall that few days earlier, the ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Ife/Akpodim/Chokoneze ward in the Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Chiedoziem Anyanwu, was assassinated in the presence of his wife.

It was gathered that his killers demanded to see him. Immediately, they confirmed that he (Anyanwu) was the one they were looking for; they shot him repeatedly and made sure that he was dead before they left the scene.
Amid fierce debate about insufficient pay and warnings of further worker shortages, teachers are calling for more to be done to address the hidden costs incurred by those in the profession.

Teachers, like other frontline professionals, are required to pay yearly fees to be able to legally work. But for those leaving university, this extra cost can prove to be the last straw following unpaid placements and other costs associated with years of study.

One graduate teacher in South Australia has revealed her frustrations after being forced to pay a bunch of fees to be able to be registered for work in the new year.

"As someone who has just come off the back of four years of uni student wages, nearly $500 is a lot of money to me and it required a transfer out of my already dwindled savings account," Nicola Markovic told Yahoo News Australia.

Nicola Markovic was shocked at being forced to pay an extra year of registration on top of other hidden fees. Source: Getty / TikTok

All up, Nicola paid $465 worth of fees which were made up of:

$195 application fee

$25 for the criminal screening as part of the application

$245 for two years of registration.

She had to pay two years' registration  one to get her up to the automatic January 31 renewal, and a full year after that.

The Teachers Registration Board (TRB) in South Australia states that as an independent board, they receive no funding from the government and are funded through the collection of registration fees.

Meredith Peace, Australian Education Union Victorian Branch President, told Yahoo the government must do more to address the hidden costs teachers pay in every state and territory if they want to ensure all students have a qualified teacher in front of their classroom.

"Given the current teacher shortage crisis, [they] must do all they can to make teaching an attractive option for students by supporting them through their study as well as ensuring vital support in the early years of their careers," Meredith said.

Story continues

Hidden costs the last straw for new grad teachers

Markovic says that while the fees are reasonable to some degree, it's the lack of clarity around what they are, and exactly how much they will be, that gave her a "shock".

What's more, the young teacher said she hit breaking point after finding out she needed to pay for two years of registration instead of one.

"[It] seems as though it is designed to make people who earn the least amount of money, pay the most amount of money, in order to start earning money".

Despite the fees, Markovic says she does "not regret" her decision to become a teacher as she gets to do what she loves.

Are teacher registration fees similar in other states?

Every state and territory has different fees and guidelines for their teachers and education staff. Teaching registration fees for each jurisdiction are listed below and do not include extras, such as Working with Children or criminal history checks.

NSW: an annual fee of $100 for teaching accreditation must be paid to the NSW Education Standards Authority.

Victoria: new teachers pay $152.88 to the Victorian Institute of Teaching for one year of registration. Annual renewals cost $114.40 each year if paid before September 30.

Queensland: graduates pay between $167.85 and $183.80 for their initial year of registration to the Queensland College of Teachers. Yearly renewals cost $100.70.

Western Australia: new teachers pay between $140 and $178 to the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia. A $95 fee must be paid annually after that; $56 is also required for registration renewals and is separate from the annual fee.

Tasmania: the Teachers Registration Board Tasmania charges $169.29 for annual registration.

Northern Territory: the annual fee to be paid to the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory is $101. New teachers must pay an additional $54 for their first application.

How does this compare to other frontline professions?

Most frontline professions require registrations and Markovic called on others to share their own yearly registration fees to see how they compare.

Paramedics and nurses came out in droves to reveal their hefty payments, with one nurse responding that she pays $180 every year. "All the fees are so rough, especially after all that unpaid placement," she said.

A newly graduated paramedic shared their frustration with large starting costs, explaining that he just paid $450 for Australian Health Practitioner Registration. "Then I believe it goes down to around $200 a year, but to get a job you have to do medical testing which can be between $500-$1000 [depending on] state/company".

Calls for better support for teachers

On December 15, 2022 a National Teacher Workforce Action Plan was agreed on, setting out a pathway to addressing the government-recognised issue of national teacher workforce shortages.

In October of this year, every state and territory all over the country was still struggling with shortages. According to the NSW Government, nearly 10,000 lessons are happening without a teacher every day in public schools across the state due to a gap in casual teachers alone.

Teacher and staff vacancies for public schools in Victoria hit record numbers in August this year, with 2,255 positions advertised on the Education Departments vacancies website at the time. "Many pre-service teachers are forced to complete their studies part-time, defer or even drop out due to the financial stress this creates," Meredith said.

"Actions [the government] must include expanding the paid placement program, providing scholarships for students completing primary and secondary teaching qualifications, and ensuring all first-year teachers are funded to provide time to work with their mentor".

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A New Jersey appeals court sided Thursday with Holtec International in its long-running legal fight with the states economic development agency, ruling that the energy technology company didnt commit fraud when it applied for $260 million in tax incentives in 2014.

The three-judge panels ruling affirmed a lower court judges 2021 decision ordering the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to pay Holtec $26 million in incentives that the agency had tried to withhold. The tax credits are awarded in increments over 10 years.

Holtec invested more than $260 million to build a new campus in Camden after the EDA approved the companys application. The incentive program was a key piece of then-Gov. Chris Christies economic development plan.

The state comptroller later criticized the states oversight of the program, and in 2019 a task force appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy questioned whether Holtec and other companies had misled state officials on their tax credit applications.

Advertisement

For example, the application asked whether the company had been prohibited from working as a state or federal contractor. Holtec said no, even though it had been debarred for 60 days in 2010 by the Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal entity.

Holtec said at the time that the omission was an oversight. The EDA refused to certify the companys tax credits for 2018, saying Holtec had made material misrepresentations on its application. In addition to the debarment issue, the EDA alleged that Holtec misled the agency about its consideration of an alternate site location in South Carolina.

Holtec in 2020 filed a lawsuit accusing the agency of violating its contract. Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy ruled in Holtecs favor, finding that the applications provisions were ambiguous and that the EDA was at least partially responsible for any resulting confusion since it drafted the forms. The EDA appealed the decision, saying the matter should be decided by a jury. That led to Thursdays ruling.

The appeals court panel agreed with Lougys findings and added that it would be unfair to rescind tax credits, writing that no fraud occurred here. The panel added that Holtec had already invested capital in its Camden facilities.

We appreciate why NJEDA is motivated to respond to the state comptrollers criticism of its administration of the Grow Program, the decision said. However, rescinding tax credits to a company that dutifully fulfilled its agreement to make substantial investments in Camden  an economically disadvantaged city  would hardly be equitable considering all relevant circumstances.

Holtec said in a statement Thursday that it was pleased by the decision. Our desire to help grow both our business and the areas economy was a key driver in our decision to move to our waterfront Camden location, the company said. Holtecs commitment to bringing strong, lasting economic development and high-paying jobs to Camden remains as strong as ever.

The NJEDA said it was disappointed in todays ruling and is considering its options.

The case was heard by Judges Lisa Firko, Ronald Susswein, and Christine Vanek of the Superior Courts Appellate Division.
Maria Ramirez, the mother of Eddie Ramirez, talks about her son's impending freedom after prosecutors said they were dropping the murder case that led him to spend 27 years in prison. Read more

Philadelphia prosecutors on Thursday dropped all charges against Eddie Ramirez, whose 1997 murder conviction was overturned earlier this month due to issues including exculpatory DNA evidence, undisclosed police notes from the case file, and disavowed witness testimony.

Ramirez, 47, had always maintained his innocence in the killing of Joyce Dennis, a laundromat employee who was beaten to death during a robbery in Northeast Philadelphia nearly 29 years ago. And although the District Attorneys Office declined to fully endorse that assertion, prosecutors, in their written filings, nonetheless said they no longer had confidence in his second-degree murder conviction  and did not believe they had enough evidence to try him again.

That decision, approved by Common Pleas Court Judge Scott DiClaudio, means District Attorney Larry Krasners office over the last six years has helped to secure more than 40 murder exonerations  cases in which convictions were overturned and all charges were ultimately dropped.

Ramirezs relatives and supporters broke into cheers and applause as the decision was made official. He was released from prison late Thursday, his lawyers said.

Nilam Sanghvi, legal director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and one of his lawyers, said afterward that the case was one of the hardest fought battles the organization had taken on because it took years to convince others that there were troubling issues with the case.

Finally, people started to see the problems, she said.

Advertisement

Krasner, speaking outside the courthouse afterward, took the unusual step of going further than his offices written filings, saying that he believed Ramirez was likely innocent, and adding that the person who committed this heinous crime got away with it.

We have a case where the murder weapon, an object that was used to wipe it, and the actual fingernails of the murder victim all contain evidence that is DNA and that rules out [Ramirez], Krasner said. We have to follow the truth.

The trial prosecutor, Mark Gilson, saw it differently.

Gilson, whom Krasner fired after taking office in 2018, said there was overwhelming evidence that Ramirez had committed the crime  including testimony from a co-conspirator who implicated himself and Ramirez and later pleaded guilty. And Gilson said the lack of Ramirezs DNA did not preclude a variety of explanations, such as Ramirez having worn gloves during the assault.

He called the exoneration jailbreak by affidavit, and said he believed Krasner had an agenda-driven administration that was intent on overturning Ramirezs conviction in an attempt to continue freeing people from prison  something he said was demonstrated by the fact that Krasner said Ramirez was likely innocent even though his offices written pleadings had not.

They had already reached their conclusion, said Gilson, who added that prosecutors did not interview him to discuss the case before moving to dismiss it.

Ramirezs relatives, meanwhile, were elated by the news. They broke into applause after DiClaudio officially set Ramirez on his path toward freedom. His mother, Maria, said her son was the best guy, a lovable and caring son and friend.

And his sister, Sue, said: I feel like I can breathe again. What our family went through, its like holding your breath. Its like being underwater.

What was Ramirez convicted of doing?

The crime for which Ramirez was convicted was the fatal beating of Dennis on Feb. 20, 1995. Prosecutors gave this account in court documents:

Dennis was found dead early in the morning in the back office of a laundromat where she worked. About $1,100 was missing, and a bloody metal pipe was next to her body.

Still, no physical evidence pointed to any suspects. And after a yearlong investigation, the case went cold.

Then, in the spring of 1996, newly assigned detectives came to believe that Ramirez, then 18, and another teen, Billy Weihe, had committed the crime together. The investigation was built largely on witness testimony following a series of interviews of neighbors, laundromat employees, and friends of the teens.

Weihe also spoke to police several times and implicated himself and Ramirez. He said he served as a lookout, and later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and spent five years behind bars.

Weihe testified at Ramirezs trial, as did several other witnesses, some of whom said Ramirez told them hed committed the murder. The District Attorneys Office sought the death penalty.

Ramirezs trial lawyer sought to discredit those accounts as unreliable, and said no physical or other evidence connected Ramirez to the crime.

The jury deliberated for more than two days before convicting him of second-degree murder. The verdict spared him the possibility of execution, but he received an automatic life sentence.

What led to the appeal?

In the years since, however, nearly every witness has gone on to recant the testimony, prosecutors said, and some said they were coerced by police.

Ramirezs lawyers in 2019 also commissioned DNA testing on the metal pipe and a fleece found at the bloody scene, and said none of the DNA on them belonged to Ramirez.

Then, last year, prosecutors said, lawyers who reviewed Ramirezs case file found nearly a dozen pieces of evidence that had been improperly withheld from his trial lawyers  including police notes that pointed to another potential suspect, and records of interviews with witnesses that were never turned over.

Suppressed evidence directly supporting Ramirezs trial defense, calling the witness reliability into question, and suggesting alternative suspects undermines confidence in the jurys guilty verdict, prosecutors wrote.

Gilson, the trial prosecutor, disagreed with that assessment, saying he believed anything that wasnt turned over was immaterial to the case and wouldnt have changed the outcome. He also said that if Krasners office believed differently, it should have done more to prove that  such as by seeking to question the alternative suspects, or checking to see whether the tips in the files were anything other than dead ends that police had disregarded as fruitless.

You need to bring those witnesses in, he said. They [typically] dont have admissible value.

One witness who did not recant was Weihe, the teen who said he acted as Ramirezs lookout and served prison time after pleading guilty.

Krasner, when asked whether he still believed that Weihe was involved even though he believes Ramirez is likely innocent, said Weihe certainly was involved in blaming the defendant. He certainly was involved in testifying to actions by [Ramirez] that are inconsistent with what the DNA evidence shows. ... I think any proper reopening of the investigation involves answering, more fully, questions like that.

Assistant District Attorney David Napiorski said he believed the office needed to apologize to the victims family for two decades of misleadings and untruths in this case. And he said that Dennis relatives, who did not attend court Thursday, feel very uneasy about the whole situation.

I cant say that they like it, he said. They are obviously traumatized and in pain.

Ramirezs family said they were simply looking forward to getting their loved one home after nearly three decades away. His sister said she wanted to take him to Walt Disney World.

His mother, however, expressed a more modest goal.

He wants chicken cutlets when he comes out, she said. And thats what hes going to get.
A man who was beaten to death inside a Philadelphia jail this week was assaulted within hours of his arrival at the facility. And the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which represented him, said he never should have been behind bars in the first place.

Rocco Carbonara, 44, was arrested Tuesday on a bench warrant connected to a 2019 robbery case that had been put on hold during the pandemic.

A judge had issued that warrant to bring Carbonara to court because he was experiencing homelessness and had missed previous court dates. But, in the warrants comments, it said in all capital letters that it was for SERVICE ONLY, adding: DO NOT HOLD. That service only warrant had been in place for more than a year.

A spokesperson for the city, however, pointed out Friday that the bench warrant also contained standard language stating if the Court is unavailable, the individual may be held in the county jail until the court is opened for business, at which time the individual shall be promptly conveyed and delivered into the custody of the court.

Advertisement

Based on that, police who stopped Carbonara on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Center City and discovered the outstanding warrant conferred with the warrant unit and took Carbonara to jail, a police spokesperson said.

He arrived at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia on Wednesday and was placed in a holding cell with Quadir Qualls, who had already gotten into a fight with another prisoner shortly before being put into a cell with Carbonara.

Around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, Qualls attacked Carbonara, according to law enforcement sources, while a third man in the cell tried to intercede and call for help. Qualls told police Carbonara had been banging his own head against the ground. But the third cellmate described a brutal beating, according to a law enforcement source.

An incident report describes Carbonaras face as covered in blood, and said medics were called but were unable to revive him.

Whether Carbonaras arrest was in error, and why he was placed in a cell with Qualls, who had been arrested this week on charges of robbery, assault, and reckless endangerment, are among the many questions remaining about the second homicide and 13th death in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons this year.

Qualls is also listed on court dockets as being represented by the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which declined to comment further on the matter.

The District Attorneys Office said Friday that charges were being filed against Qualls for murder, assault by a prisoner, reckless endangerment and ethnic intimidation. Its preliminary investigation found that Qualls had said his actions were motivated by the fact that Carbonara was white and a junkie.

A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office said an investigation into the prisons stemming from the escape of two men in May remains ongoing. Another man, Gino Hagenkotter, also escaped from an outdoor work detail at the prisons on Thursday, and remained on the lam Friday afternoon.

As for Carbonara, his charges stem from a 2019 incident in which police say he punched a man in the head and tried to take his wallet and headphones. He was released on unsecured bail. (His name was misspelled Carbonaro in court documents and in initial police and news reports.)

Carbonara, originally from Bradenton, Fla., listed his home address on that warrant as the Kensington location of Prevention Point, the harm reduction nonprofit. Roz Pichardo, who was a longtime outreach worker at the nonprofit, said Carbonara had been around Center City for years, panhandling in what felt like a relatively safe area around 16th and Chestnut.

He was a respectful man, but he was struggling, she said. He would say, I may be blind in one eye, but I see everything.

Carbonaras cousin, Paolo Pasqualicchio, said he had moved from Florida to Philadelphia about eight years ago with his girlfriend. It was his latest attempt to conquer his drug addiction and get back on his feet, his cousin said.

He had an adult son and, according to his Facebook posts, had worked as an Uber driver at times. He liked race cars, and racing, his friend Brandie Heller said. But after losing his parents, she said, he had trouble staying on track.

In the past few years, family and friends had been looking for him and his girlfriend, but, much like the court, had no consistent way of reaching him. They called jails and churches, Heller said, trying to track him down.

He just kind of lost his way, she said. When he got older, he tried to make a new start.

Staff writer Rodrigo Torrejon contributed to this article.
LPs are the draw at 48 Record Bar, above Sassafras at 48 S. Second St., Philadelphia. Read more

Donal McCoy and Joey Sweeney want to slow this fast-paced world to 33 r.p.m.

Theyve converted the lounge above McCoys Old City bar-restaurant Sassafras at 48 S. Second St. into 48 Record Bar, a cozy listening room and lounge based on the audiophile bars that accompany Japans record-collecting culture.

McCoy and Sweeney call it a space where people can gather to listen to a diverse selection of music and poetry, have drinks and conversation, and feel comfortable.

Advertisement

I dont want to say community hub, but I want to say community hub, McCoy said.

There may be brick walls and a tin ceiling, but the tufted fabrics and heavy curtains help create killer acoustics throughout the room, which seats about 45, including 12 at the bar. Its open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

The menu includes such analog-era dishes as Welsh rarebit, classic deviled eggs, seasonal finger sandwiches, and a seasonal flatbread. In January, they hope to start a monthly Sunday afternoon tea service called Hi Fi Tea, with what Sweeney called Sunday kind of music, suitable for adult children and their parents, such as Joni Mitchell.

The cocktail menu has 16 drinks, including a Bond Girl, which mixes barrel-finished Bluecoat gin, Cocchi Americano, and bitters.

The idea for 48 stemmed from Tin Angel, the performance space nearby. Once McCoy closed it in 2017, I was adamant that I would open another music venue, McCoy said. He and partners opened The Locks at Sona in Manayunk, but it went to the wall because of the pandemic.

He turned to the space above Sassafras with several different ideas. Enter Sweeney, a musician and creator who in the mid-aughts created the blog Philebrity. Joey and I banged our heads together over a beverage napkin and came up with this and the beverage napkin got rewritten, edited, rewritten, edited, rewritten, edited, McCoy said.

Two examples of the diversity of the initial programming: Shows this weekend for Hoagiewave, the pop album by Tony Trov, a founder of the lifestyle brand South Fellini, and Dec. 7s recording of an episode of the Serious Rap Sh*t podcast that doubles as a listening party marking the 30th anniversary of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the groups premiere album. There will be an in-house reading series called Liner Notes, hosted by Alina Pleskova, that will combine a readings with interviews of writers about music, Sweeney said.

Members get a quarterly zine and early admission to ticketed events. Higher-level members get the inside track on LPs. The clubs November record of the month was a limited-edition, clear-vinyl pressing of Sister Rosetta Tharpes Up Above My Head.

As a proof of concept, McCoy and Sweeney first did about a half-dozen pop-ups to sell records and chat up potential customers.

We would park down either downstairs at the bar, or one time we did the second floor of Brownies [nearby], and there was another at Bodhi coffee, Sweeney said. It turned out to be a great thing because we met a lot of people who were really into music. We were able to do a lot of listening and observing to see what people are buying and what they want to hear.

We found very quickly that there was a great appetite for this concept, McCoy said.

As the two point out, the average LP side clocks in at 22 minutes. Thats a great chunk of time in which to stare out the window, let your mind wander, or even hold the hand of the person across the table from you, they wrote in their mission statement. That 22 minutes can hang on its own as its own moment or be the beginning of a longer moment; its up to you and no one else. But you have to claim it. Its so easy to get overwhelmed, but dig this: 22 minutes is just long enough to get whelmed.
The historic Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where four little girls were killed when white suprematists bombed the Birmingham church in 1963. Read more

When a trip south took me to Birmingham, Ala., this year, topping my must-see list was the historic Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where four little girls were killed in a bombing in 1963.

I was a child growing up during the civil rights movement when the bombing happened on Sept. 15. I may have been young, but I still remember seeing myself in the faces of the four, innocent lives taken by unimaginable hatred as the congregation was just about to start the worship service with prayer. Terrified churchgoers took cover under pews as debris from the explosion rained down on them.

I was in town to attend the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists. But even with so much going on, my spirit drew me to the church along with two fellow journalists, Sonya Ross, a founder of Black Women Unmuted, a news site that tells the stories of Black women and politics, and Kia Johnson, a Washington-based reporter for Reuters.

We chatted on the short ride to downtown historic Birmingham, where the church still has an active congregation. As we approached the majestic edifice, a quietness fell over us as we solemnly approached the hallowed ground. Kia wept softly, tears running down her cheeks.

Advertisement

The church was closed, but  always journalists  we documented the moment with pictures and videos. I felt chills when I placed my hand on the beautiful stained-glass windows and touched the solid wood door that to me symbolized the strength and resilience of a congregation organized in 1873 as the first Black church in Birmingham.

On the wide concrete stairway that leads to the churchs front door, we stood near where the bomb was planted by Ku Klux Klan members. The four little girls had been in the basement, where Sunday school classes were held, when the bomb exploded. A fifth child lost her eye but survived the attack.

 READ MORE: Remembering 4 girls killed in church blast

With our hands joined, we reverently bowed our heads with those little girls on our minds. I led our sister circle in a heartfelt prayer. As I choked up, I squeezed their hands tight.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, I began, quoting from the Negro national anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson. Then added, Let us always remember the innocent lives lost  speak their names  Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley.

 READ MORE: Philly native shepherds Birmingham church

The Rev. Arthur Price Jr. is the pastor of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and a Philadelphia native. For this years 60th anniversary of the bombing, we talked about how he balances leading a church that is a national historic landmark, and what he misses about the City of Brotherly Love.

Heres what to know about the mission of this Birmingham pastor with Philadelphia roots.

The church membership was declining until he arrived

Born and raised in Philadelphia, the Temple grad, 58, received a master of divinity from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in 1995. Before he came to Birmingham, he was associate pastor at St. Matthews Baptist Church in Williamstown, Gloucester County. At the time that he was called to pastor Sixteenth Street Baptist in 2002, membership had declined and the church was in a rebuilding mode.

He said he added outreach programs, including a feeding ministry and a partnership with the city to assist drug offenders.

Once we took care of Gods business, everything else kind of fell into place, and membership grew drastically, he said.

He tries to balance the congregations needs with visitor demand

Becoming the pastor has had its challenges, but Price said he believes he has met the demand from visitors. He started a tour ministry so the public can come inside to learn how the church survived the bombing. ln 2006, the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The surrounding area of the church has attractions, including the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute across the street.

People would come and knock on the door because they wanted to see the history, he said. The church gets 50,000 to 70,000 visitors annually.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church remains at the forefront in the fight for equal rights, as it was in the 1960s when it was the headquarters for civil rights meetings and rallies. To mark the 60th anniversary of the bombing, the church invited Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the nations highest court, to be the keynote speaker.

It is still needed for the church to speak out on issues, Price said. If we dont speak up and speak out, our voices get silenced.

Hes still an Eagles fan

His mother and siblings still live in Philadelphia, and he gets home several times a year. He attended the Philadelphia Eagles training camp this year and closely follows his favorite players, Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith.

He occasionally gets teased about his Northern accent, but the community has warmly embraced him.

They have Tastykakes down here, so I dont miss them anymore, he said. As I tell people in Alabama, being a Philadelphia fan is not a choice.
John J. Dougherty, Johnny former union leader for IBEW arriving at the 6th street entrance to the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 for the first day after Thanksgiving break for ex-union leaders embezzlement case. Read more

For the second time in two years, former labor leader John J. Dougherty is appearing before a federal jury in Philadelphia, this time on charges that he and others embezzled more than $600,000 from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the politically powerful union he once led.

The prosecution and defense finished presenting their cases to the jury Thursday after nearly three dozen witnesses and 15 days of testimony in former labor leader John Doughertys union embezzlement case.

Earlier Thursday, The Inquirer hosted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) in collaboration with the r/philadelphia subreddit to answer reader questions about Doughertys trial.

Here is a selection of Inquirer reporters Oona Goodin-Smith and Jeremy Roebucks answers.

I imagine its challenging writing about union corruption in a period where the publics pro-labor and pro-union sentiments are at recent highs and corporate interest and bi-partisan lawmaker response has been moderately to highly critical of union strength. As journalists, how do you approach and manage such a tense landscape when writing an investigative piece like this?

Jeremy: Youre right about recent public interest in unions across many different fields. But whats interesting to me about this case is that observers can read so many different things into its themes.

Prosecutors see their case as one on behalf of Local 98s members. After all, the main thrust of their argument is that Dougherty and Local 98s former president, Brian Burrows, were stealing from the dues members paid in with each check.

Advertisement

However, youre right, that throughout all of Doughertys recent legal troubles, there have been accusations from some corners  including the defense at the last trial in 2021  that the governments cases against Dougherty are somehow a strike against union clout in the city.

Personally, I find the tense landscape you reference to make the story more interesting. Theres the case that plays out in the courtroom -- and the larger debate about its themes and what it all means that plays out in the streets. Makes for a more nuanced and interesting story!

I dont remember the last big union kingmaker bust in the city and they either seem to be relatively low-profile nationally or even just not happening. Does this case have implications outside the city or is it just a local spectacle?

Is this a function of the relative weakness of labor in the last 40 years or have unions gotten more sophisticated in their political endeavors? Do unions now have PACs and superPACs and other tools available to them that corporations use to effect their political agenda?

Oona: Its not at all unusual for unions to have PACs  including Local 98, which has the Committee on Political Education, or C.O.P.E., that its members pay into. And as his attorneys have repeatedly stressed, it was largely Dougherty who built Local 98 into the political powerhouse it has become.

In fact, over the nearly three decades he led the union, he transformed the 5,000-member organization into the largest independent source of campaign money in the state. That union fund-raising and manpower helped to elect mayors  including Jim Kenney  and City Councilmembers like Bobby Henon (who in 2021 was convicted alongside Dougherty in a federal bribery trial), as well as county commissioners, members of Congress, state legislators, governors, and more than 60 judges, including the union leaders brother, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty.

Jeremy: There are probably fewer implications outside the city for this case than there were during Doughertys first trial in 2021  a political bribery case with City Councilmember Bobby Henon.

That one was all about Doughertys status as a political kingmaker and the clout his union wielded over city politics.

This one is more focused on his stewardship of union finances  and, therefore, is more locally focused. Still, theres been a few aspects of the case that might be of wider interest. For instance, prosecutors allege that Doughertys brother  Kevin Dougherty, who is a justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court  also received benefits like snow shoveling and home repairs that were paid for out of Local 98s coffers.

Do the people involved (on either side) know you guys? Have they given you grief or tried to influence you to their side?

Jeremy: The parties definitely know who we are, just like we know them. After sitting together day-after-day in the same courtroom  through two trials now  interactions with everyone from prosecutors to Dougherty himself are mostly pleasant.

But the mood in the courtroom this time around has definitely been more tense than during Doughertys first trial in 2021.

Back then, it wasnt uncommon for Dougherty to spend breaks in court glad-handing with supporters that showed up to watch the proceedings, cracking jokes with us or others in the room and opining to TV news cameras each morning and evening after leaving court about how he thought the case was going.

This time, while still mostly upbeat, Dougherty has mostly tried to stay out of the glare of the TV cameras. Hes mostly kept quiet about how he thinks things are going so far.

Your articles mentioned a lot of quotes from 98s members in court. How many are showing up? Are there supporters outside the courtroom?

Oona: Court attendance is a little bit different every day, but in general, there have been around half a dozen former Local 98 members and allies of Dougherty who have shown up to court daily during this trial, occasionally chatting with him while the court is on break. (There are also usually several government investigators and sometimes attorneys for the witnesses present in the courtroom.)

Unlike last trial, where Dougherty often rolled up to court flanked by his supporters, this trial has been more low-key, the courtroom is generally emptier than last time, and there have not been rallies outside the courthouse.

Looking for more? Read the full Reddit AMA thread here.
President Joe Biden announced $500 million in funding for lead pipe replacement in Philadelphia during a February speech at the Belmont Water Treatment Center. Read more

President Joe Bidens administration on Thursday proposed new rules aimed at speeding up the pace of lead pipe replacement to improve public health in cities with aging infrastructure, like Philadelphia.

Lead is a poisonous heavy metal that can leach into water as pipes corrode, and it is especially dangerous for children, for whom lead exposure can cause developmental delays.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia could start using federal funds to replace lead pipes as soon as this spring, city officials said

The Environmental Protection Agencys proposed rules, which if approved would take effect next year, would require the replacement of all of the nations estimated 9 million lead pipes in 10 years.

Advertisement

Heres what you need to know about the new rules and Phillys lead pipes:

How many lead pipes does Philly have?

The exact number of lead pipes in Philly is unknown, but the Water Department in 2017 estimated that 20,000 of the citys 511,000 properties receive water through lead pipes.

One of the new rules the EPA is proposing would require cities to inventory all lead pipes in their jurisdictions, which would result in a more accurate count.

All of Phillys lead pipes are service lines, which connect households to the citys water mains under the streets. That makes it more difficult to replace pipes because the city needs homeowners permission to locate and replace lines on their properties.

Philly has long used iron instead of lead for its water mains, and the city does not have as big of a lead pipe problem as some of its peers. Chicago, for instance, has hundreds of thousands of lead pipes.

(Lead exposure for Philly kids, however, remains high due to other sources, such as chipping lead paint in older homes and lead that is embedded in the ground after being spewed out from now-defunct industrial plants.)

What is the EPA proposing?

The main provision of the new rule is a requirement that cities eliminate all lead pipes in their jurisdictions over the next decade, at a pace of 10% per year.

That would be a major increase in pace for Philly, which currently replaces 1% to 2% of the citys lead pipes per year, Water Department spokesperson Brian Rademaekers said.

The proposed rules would also lower the amount of lead permitted in drinking water, from 15 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion.

Environmentalists and child advocates hoped the rules would go further on reducing the allowable lead levels, noting that scientists say there is no safe level of lead in drinking water.

What are people saying about the proposed rules?

Environmentalists cheered the administrations plan after it was released Thursday.

Lead pipes that are inherently unsafe and unsuitable for drinking water. The agencys 10-year deadline turns President Bidens ambitious public health goal into an enforceable reality, David Masur, executive director of the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, said in a statement. These toxic pipes are the single largest source of lead-water contamination for millions of Americans.

Representatives for water utilities, however, fear that the rules may result in an unfunded mandate that could be passed on to consumers if the federal government doesnt do more to help local governments pay for the effort, according to reports.

These communities would likely have to turn to increased customer water rates, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies wrote in comments to the EPA, according to The Washington Post.

How does Philly replace lead pipes now?

The Water Departments primary strategy for pipe replacement is to reach out to homeowners on blocks where city workers are already working on water main replacements.

In those instances, the city pays for the cost of all lead pipe replacements on the block at no cost to the property owners and lumps it into the cost of the water main project.

For a property owner who requests a pipe replacements when no work is taking place on their block, the city offers a zero-interest loan program and connects them with potential contractors.

Will rates go up in Philly?

Without additional federal funding, the new rules may cause already-increasing water rates to go up even further in Philly, Rademaekers said.

 READ MORE: Water bills in Philly might rise soon, as department requests rate increase

Based on current funding levels, there does not seem to be enough federal funding available to support the replacement of lead services across the country, Rademaekers said. It appears that either additional federal funding will be needed and/or water utilities will need to leverage water rates to fund the pace of replacement outlined in the rule.

Earlier this year, Biden pledged $500 million in federal assistance for pipe replacement in Philadelphia, and the city is pursuing other grant and loan opportunities to accelerate its pace. But Rademaekers said that still may not be enough to meet the demands of the new regulations.

Its likely that an accelerated service line replacement program will impact rates, but it is too early to understand the rate impacts at this time, he said.
In Philly, avenues go east to west but why do they start at 64th? Read more

John Chivers has been obsessed since he was a kid with discovering why avenue numbers in Philadelphia start at 64th.

Imagine coming into Northwest Philly. Godfrey, Spencer, and Champlost Avenues are in the rearview mirror. Chelten Avenue welcomes you to East Oak Lane. But out of nowhere, the sign posts turn from names to numbers. Those signs dont start with the classic First, Second, Third, but jump all the way to 64th Avenue and continue ascending to 80th.

I was like, Where did these avenues come from and where are all the other preceding ones? said the now 57-year-old Chivers.

He tried to find the answer by asking longtime Oak Lane residents, only to leave them scratching their heads and pondering the same.

Advertisement

After moving to Mount Airy in 1997, Chivers went as far as contacting the Free Library of Philadelphia, but the librarian didnt have an answer. Later, Google didnt help, either.

Decades after the Delaware County native first encountered this puzzle, he continues to look for an answer  even after having relocated to North Carolina in 2006.

Why do the avenues in Philadelphia begin at 64th Avenue when there is no 1st through 63rd Avenue? he asked Curious Philly, The Inquirers forum for questions about the city and region.

After doing our own research, we, too, were left disappointed without a full answer. But we got halfway for Chivers.

How a councilmember changed Philadelphias streets

The Department of Streets traffic unit believes the street naming conventions might be related to Philadelphias addressing system.

Introduced in 1856 by Councilmember John Mascher, Phillys addressing structure is known as the decimal system or the Philadelphia system.

This method recognizes streets as going from north to south and avenues from east to west.

The names of the avenues correspond to the address ranges of the intersecting north-south streets, said spokesperson Keisha McCarty-Skelton. For example, the 6700 block of North Broad Street runs between 67th and 68th Avenues.

Before the Philadelphia system, streets were counted inward from both the Schuylkill and the Delaware Rivers, said Marija Gudauskas, the Free Library of Philadelphias federal depository coordinator. This led to two Second Streets, two Eighth Streets, and multiple other duplicated streets that met at City Hall.

With the Mascher decimal system, Schuylkill Eighth Street became 15th Street, Schuylkill Second became 21st Street, Gudauskas said.

But this wasnt the only time roads saw their names changed.

Many current avenues were former lanes, and roads that lined estates in the 19th century continued to be renamed throughout the decades to allow for city development. The Oak Lane area itself was redeveloped in the 1910s and 1920s to create suburban-style homes, according to Gudauskas. For instance, in 1919, portions of Fracker Street became the current 72nd Avenue. By 1931, Pittville Avenue turned into 69th Avenue.

Although The Inquirer reached out to multiple city departments, the Free Library, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a deeper answer on why there are no First to 63rd Avenues in Philly seems lost to time.

For Chivers, this feels like somewhat of an explanation. It makes sense ... but, I still would love to know actually what happened there, he said. As he hopes there is someone out there in the know, he said he might dig a little deeper himself.
Ken Hanson, HNTB senior project manager / senior inspector, with original tile work at Franklin Square PATCO Station which is under construction at N. 7th and Race Streets, Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Welcome to December and Happy Friday. Temps will reach the high 40s.

No passengers or trains have used PATCOs Franklin Square Station since 1979 when it was closed and sealed because of the lack of riders.

Over the decades, it has mostly sat in the dark. A coat of grime has accumulated over the 1930s green and white tiles that spell out its name.

But these days, there are signs of life. Our lead story shows a glimpse into what the restoration project looks like.

Advertisement

 Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

It required multiple power washings and solvents to get the Depression-era tiles that line the platform clean. It takes a lot to get rid of decades of grime.

Notable quote: I had electricians coming out from underground looking like coal miners, covered in soot, said senior project manager Ken Hanson of HNTB, recalling the original walls when work began in the summer of 2022.

The $30 million restoration project to bring PATCOs Franklin Square station back to life is coming along. A steel frame recently rose at the corner of North Seventh and Race Streets in Philadelphia for the stations headhouse.

When everything is done, its scheduled to open in late summer next year and is expected to draw 1,300 to 1,500 daily riders.

Continue reading to learn more about what it takes to bring a subway station back to life.

This is the weekend of the ritzy conclave of people, power, and politics assembling in Manhattan for Pennsylvania Society.

Cherelle Parker will be in the spotlight as the incoming mayor of Philadelphia. Itll be the first time for Gov. Josh Shapiro in his current role.

Some context: The event started in the 19th century as a gathering for state politicians to mingle with the deep pockets that ran railroads, coal mines, and steel mills. These days, its a lot of cocktail parties and campaign fundraisers, capped with a formal dinner on Saturday.

Pay attention: With the general election behind us, all eyes are on 2024 and the U.S Senate race between Bob Casey and David McCormick. Both have fundraisers this weekend. Theres also a packed field for attorney general with three Republicans and five Democrats vying for the office.

Read on for more of what were looking out for this weekend.

What you should know today

 Trivia time

According to Spotify Wrapped, who was the top streamed artist in Philadelphia this year?

A) Drake

B) Taylor Swift

C) SZA

D) Bad Bunny

Think you know? Check your answer.

What were...

 Watching: The viral clip of a wedding party recreating the Brotherly Shove as its group entrance.

 Wondering: If GOP Rep. George Santos will survive a third expulsion effort? He refuses to resign.

 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Their older fans crashed AARPs website

ELI SHELTON STRONG

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to James Bradley, who correctly guessed Thursdays answer: Kelce Brothers.

Photo of the day

Stay bundled up like the pedestrian pictured above. Have a good weekend and stay warm. Paola will be back with a recap of weekend news on Sunday.
Students gather during a walkout in protest of an administration proposal to cut 9% of majors amid a $45 million budget shortfall at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va., Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. Read more

For a time, college was the American Dream, and it nearly felt that way this summer for Aryn Vanoy when the 22-year-old psychology major transferred to West Virginia University, the states flagship school. Vanoy grew up in tiny Dunbar, W.Va.  population 7,330  with a goal of becoming the first in her family to earn a bachelors degree, and with a keen awareness of what a diploma means in one of Americas poorest states.

I think if you know West Virginia right now, were facing incredible problems, but the biggest problem is our opioid crisis, and what I want to do is get my degree and go to medical school and focus on treating addiction and help my state, Vanoy told me by phone this week from the Morgantown campus. My state is hurting right now.

Thats why it felt like something of a gut punch when, just days before making the two-and-a-half-hour move to WVU, Vanoy learned university administrators  citing a $45 million shortfall at a school thats been chronically underfunded by GOP lawmakers  had aggressive plans to lay off 7% of the faculty and kill entire programs, from foreign languages to jazz to the graduate degree in math. When shes not going to class, Vanoy has been protesting the cuts.

Everybody in the country is familiar with the stereotypes and hardships that are associated with West Virginia, she said, adding: West Virginia University was something we could be proud of, but now it doesnt feel like that anymore. It feels like we are just continuing to move 100 steps backward. And you almost feel a little hopeless.

Advertisement

American higher education is in a state of crisis right now, and West Virginia has unexpectedly become the front line. The problems here  indifference, if not hostility, from the states political leaders and shortsighted decisions by college administrators  are hardly unique to the Mountain States flagship university. The solutions  cuts in academic programs tilted heavily toward the liberal arts, especially the humanities  are similar to those on other campuses across America, after a slide in enrollment and a loss in confidence in higher education.

And the questions being asked in Morgantown  is the purpose of a college education to prepare you more narrowly for a job, or to be an learned and well-rounded citizen?  strikes the delicate nerve of how to educate our young people in a moment of national stress.

Lisa Di Bartolomeo  an award-winning professor teaching Russian in WVUs gutted world languages department and one of 69 faculty recently informed shell be laid off at the end of the academic year  told me the universitys retrenchment is a blow to middle-class West Virginia kids, who can attend on discounted Promise Scholarships, but may soon learn their desired program has been eliminated, or there are fewer elective courses to broaden their horizons.

Theyre losing that ability to train and educate themselves for the future and open up all the possibilities that we owe them, Di Bartolomeo said.

The downsized ambitions at WVU, with just under 30,000 students including 21,000 undergraduates, mark a reversal of fortune for a Lincoln-era land-grant university that  upon its 1867 opening on the banks of the Monongahela River  prompted a local newspaper to write that a place more eligible for the quiet and successful pursuit of science and literature is nowhere to be found.

For the first century and a half, WVU largely lived up to that promise  its once futuristic 1970s elevated people mover shuttling students around Morgantown as a kind of metaphor for the modernity it promised kids leaving struggling coal towns to become first-generation college grads in a state synonymous with Appalachian poverty.

 READ MORE: Inside the fight to save American college from runaway careerism | Will Bunch

But things started to change  as they did for many U.S. public universities  during the 2010s, when state governments suffered through a recession and conservative lawmakers placed a low priority on higher ed. In 2012, West Virginias taxpayer contributions to WVU  long the bulk of its budget  started to decline. Students and their families were expected to make up the gap; tuition went from just 19% of school revenue in 1980 to 63% by 2019.

Higher costs and changing demographics have sparked a 10% drop in enrollment since 2015, worse than comparable universities. When an arguably shortsighted scheme to lure more higher-tuition out-of-state kids fell flat, WVUs $800,000-a-year president E. Gordon Gee stunned the WVU campus over summer break with the proposed cuts.

Gees new plan called for eliminating some 28 academic programs, including ending degrees in foreign languages and killing off a highly regarded graduate degree in math, a source of pride in the economically struggling state. Coming out of the COVID-19 crisis, WVU axed four masters degree programs in public health. Many were particularly irked at the suggestion that foreign language classes could be replaced with apps, with one protest placard calling the school DuoLingo U.

Critics note that Gee and his administration  facing campus turmoil when students returned in late August  pingponged between the explanation that WVU faced a financial crisis or that the changes were instead part of an academic transformation for the future of the university, more heavily focused on todays career needs. Its a debate hardly unique to Morgantown.

Overall, the double-edge sword of ever-rising tuition and mounting student debt, coupled with bitter ideological debates over whats taught on campus, has caused public confidence in U.S. higher education to plummet from 57% in 2015 to just 36% last July. That, along with the lower birth rate that produced Gen Z and pandemic woes, drove the loss of some 1.4 million students nationwide from 2019 through last spring. College administrators have been forced to make hard choices  and the carnage has been heavily concentrated in the liberal arts programs such as English, history, philosophy, and sociology.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  often awash in controversy with its GOP-dominated, politically minded trustees  captured the zeitgeist recently when officials said distinguished professorships would no longer be awarded in the humanities, but only for academics in the STEM areas of science, technology, engineering, and math.

The damage has been more severe at small liberal arts colleges that have been ground zero for falling enrollment. English, philosophy, and history are on the chopping block at Virginias Marymount University. Minnesotas St. Cloud State University is bagging religious studies, marriage and family therapy, and theater, among other smaller degree programs. The academic world is still buzzing over the New Yorkers End of the English Major piece, which chronicled a one-third drop in the collegiate study of English and history over the past decade.

WVU is just the guinea pig, Matthew Kolb, a senior who is president of West Virginia University Students United, a group that formed to protest the cutbacks, told me. He noted that the program cuts and layoffs were crafted after WVU hired a cost-cutting consulting group, the rpk GROUP  described by its critics as murky  which is also reportedly working with other top schools like Rutgers and the University of Kansas.

The fight over careerism is not new. In 1969, a whopping 82% of nationwide college freshmen told a UCLA survey that the purpose of higher education was about forming a meaningful philosophy of life, not job prep. Those numbers had flipped by the mid-1980s, but now its time to ask if employers  in whose name careerism is taking place  even want students who havent studied the humanities or honed their critical thinking skills. Just this week, some 1,010 executives and hiring managers told the American Association of Colleges and Universities they want students who are well-rounded.

Di Bartolomeo, the laid-off Russian professor who also teaches classes on Holocaust literature and film and Russian fairy tales, among other things, sees the logic behind the cuts as extremely shortsighted. She noted that fraught U.S.-Russian relations have taken center stage on the foreign policy front, creating a new need for national security specialists who speak the language.

The fight for the future of the meaning of a college diploma  amplified in a time of crisis  matters well beyond the mountain hollers of West Virginia. Kolb, the student activist, told me that while his classmates and faculty members continue to push Gee and trustees to listen to alternatives to the draconian measures, his group is also forging alliances with other colleges around the country so that they will be better prepared to deal with consultant-driven cuts or fresh attacks on the liberal arts.

Its going to happen in other places, said Kolb, so the time to save the humanities is now rather than later. This will stick with us for a generation at WVU. Once theyre gone, building [these programs] back up is going to be impossible.

 READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter
A frustrated politician has blasted the "stupid" actions of some Australian protestors who continue to demonstrate "disgraceful" anti-Semitic or Islamaphobic behaviour as tensions over Israel and Palestine continue.

Labor MP Julian Hill, who represents "one of the most multicultural parts of Australia", the City of Greater Dandenong in southeast Melbourne, has called for Aussies to "dial it down" and put an end to the "horrific" instances of "targeted" abuse in our community.

His remarks were in response to a staged demonstration at a Melbourne hotel this week by a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters who targeted the families of Israeli hostages held by terrorist group Hamas. The group is visiting Australia to share their experiences with politicians and push for the hostages to be freed.

A group of pro-Palestine protestors confronted the families of Israeli hostages at a Melbourne hotel. Source: Twitter/ Liberal MP David Southwick

Protest slammed as 'inappropriate'

About 20 people were filmed holding "Free Palestine" and "Zionism is Fascism" signs and chanting, but the scenes were dubbed "disgraceful" by Hill.

"It was disgraceful. I condemn it without hesitation," he said on ABC radio on Friday morning, adding, "that action was not appropriate."

"The latest statistics of anti-semitism Victoria Police have reported are just horrific. There are also instances of Islamaphobia in my community," he continued.

"People just going about their business having their headscarf ripped off. I mean some people are so stupid they're targeting sikh people because they can't tell the difference. It's just ridiculous. This is not the country we are, we need to dial it down."

Labor MP Julian Hill represents the City of Greater Dandenong in southeast Melbourne. Source: ABC

MP calls for leaders to find a solution

Hill called on politicians and community and religious leaders to "change the rhetoric and the language used" about the long-standing conflict, which he believes would improve "social cohesion". "There is only a political solution," he said.

Story continues

The Labor MP agreed that people "absolutely have a right to express their view and speak out for what they believe" but said "the language used matters and the way we go about this matters. "

"Our social cohesion and multiculturalism is our greatest asset and the majority of Australians don't want to see this outbreak here," he continued. "And that particularly falls upon, not just politicians, but community leaders and religious leaders."

Victoria is a multicultural, inclusive state - but these anti-Israel bigots have embarrassed us on the world stage.



Traumatising the families of Hamas' victims is despicable.



How did this happen? What are the consequences? How can we ensure this never happens again?#springst pic.twitter.com/TwylTDg7fB  David Southwick MP (@SouthwickMP) November 29, 2023

I condemn the extreme behaviour on display last night, in the strongest possible terms. I condemn the antisemitism. I condemn targeting people in their moment of grief.



Whatever your views, we all expect Victorians to act with decency and humanity.  Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) November 30, 2023

PM weighs in on 'despicable' stunt

The actions of the pro-Palestinian protestors in Melbourne have been heavily criticised. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Deputy Victorian Liberal Leader David Southwick said "traumatising the families of Hamas' victims is despicable" and claimed "these anti-Israel bigots have embarrassed us on the world stage."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the stunt, saying the demonstration went beyond the right to protest peacefully and did nothing to advance justice for Palestinians or peace in the region.

Young Jewish men pray during a 'United With Israel - Bring Them Home' protest on November 26, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. Source: Getty

A young student demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag behind a Police motorcycle during the protest in Melbourne. Source: Getty

"There is no excuse, no circumstances where people should organise a demonstration against grieving families," the prime minister told federal parliament."I call it out and I express on behalf of the Australian government our regret to those families who we met with."

Deputy Head of Mission at the Israeli embassy Christian Cantor was with the group staying at the hotel when the protest started. The families found the protest shocking and surprising, he told 3AW radio.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new weekly newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Clout begins with an easy prediction for Pennsylvania Society, that ritzy conclave of people, power, and politics assembling in Manhattan this weekend for the 125th time: Two of the states most recognizable Democrats wont look despondent about attending.

This will be Cherelle Parkers first time as mayor-elect of Philadelphia and Gov. Josh Shapiros first time in his current role.

Parker takes control of the city next month from Mayor Jim Kenney, who  very on brand  always looked like he wanted to be anywhere other than Pennsylvania Society. And Shapiro took over in January from former Gov. Tom Wolf, who mostly abhorred and avoided the festivities.

Pennsylvania Society started in late 19th century as a gathering for the states politicians to mix and mingle with the deep pockets that ran railroads, coal mines, and steel mills. It has evolved into a whirlwind of cocktail parties and campaign fund-raisers, capped by a formal dinner Saturday.

Advertisement

Heres what Clout is watching for this weekend:

U.S. Senate: Casey vs. McCormick

With the November election behind us, all political eyeballs are turning to 2024 and the battle between Bob Casey and Dave McCormick for U.S. Senate.

Both Casey and McCormick have fund-raisers scheduled during the weekend and are expected to make the rounds and their campaign pitches. Its never too early to stockpile campaign cash given how expensive the last Senate contest was.

Were curious to hear what McCormicks and Caseys early stump speeches sound like among friends and more publicly (we anticipate a lot of trying to out-tough-guy each other on China). And were interested in what people are saying about the two mild-mannered politicians  a real vibe change from the big personalities of 2022.

Casey hasnt run for reelection since 2018 and many say hes facing his most formidable challenger yet. Hes also got the potential for an unpopular president at the top of the ballot and polling that shows voters down on Democrats handling of the economy.

McCormick is fresh off a Senate primary loss to celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz. In that primary, the GOP splintered with seven candidates. Many Republicans ultimately blamed extreme candidates like State Sen. Doug Mastriano, who was running for governor, for contributing to across-the-board losses.

So does the weekend preview repeat midterm problems for Republicans or is it one united party for the Grand Old Party?

Its a Parker party at PA Society

Its easy to be popular at Pennsylvania Society as an incoming mayor of Philadelphia. Parker, a two-term Council member who spent a decade as a state representative, is no stranger to the weekends many parties and fund-raisers. But shes in the spotlight now.

Parker is scheduled to speak Friday evening at a cocktail party thrown by the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, one of the many building trades unions that backed her for mayor.

Theres also a reception Saturday sponsored by The League of 1789, which touts the importance of diversity during the weekend.

And a trio of lobbying firms are putting on a late-night party after the gala dinner. Parker was employed by one of the firms, the Rooney Novak Isenhour Group, while running for mayor, and has close ties to people at the other two firms, Bellevue Strategies, and SWG Strategies.

Packed field for attorney general

Go to enough Pennsylvania Society weekends and you start to see the launch of new campaigns for ambitious climbers hoping to reach a higher rung on the political ladder. That might explain the crowded Republican and Democratic 2024 primaries for state attorney general.

The job swings a lot of power and draws plenty of attention. Just ask Shapiro and former Gov. Tom Corbett, who used the post to launch winning bids for governor.

State Rep. Craig Williams, a former prosecutor who represents parts of Delaware and Chester Counties, this week became the third Republican to seek the job, joining former Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Kat Copeland and York County District Attorney Dave Sunday.

Five Democrats  Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, State Rep. Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, and former Philadelphia top public defender Keir Bradford-Grey  are also seeking the office.

And who knows? There could be more. Surprise candidates sometimes emerge at Pennsylvania Society.

Shapiro to speak at PA Society

Shapiro spoke at last years Pennsylvania Society dinner as governor-elect, touting the bipartisan coalition that helped him win office while vowing to govern in the same spirit of bipartisanship.

On Saturday, hell address plenty of people in tuxedos and ball gowns who think he didnt keep that promise.

Shapiro first backtracked on a private school voucher program he helped design with Republicans earlier this year, drawing GOP leaders ire.

Then he did so again last week by choosing to appeal a Commonwealth Court decision that wouldve blocked Pennsylvanias entrance into a carbon cap-and-trade initiative across multiple states, otherwise known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Shapiro, a strict adherent to his own political narrative, still says he is willing to compromise with the Republicans who control the state Senate and Democrats who control the state House.

Share your PA Society tips with Clout!

Tell us the best parties to crash, the finest gossip you hear and  of course  any sightings of shenanigans. Send tips to Chris Brennan (cbrennan@inquirer.com), Julia Terruso, (jterruso@inquirer.com), and Gillian McGoldrick (gmcgoldrick@inquirer.com).

Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics.
NEW YORK  LED trucks thanking Sen. John Fetterman for his support for Israel are driving around midtown Manhattan this weekend during Pennsylvania Society, the annual glitzy gathering of the states political establishment.

The digital billboards have a photo of Fetterman next to an Israeli flag and say, Thank you Senator Fetterman! The billboards include a quote from Fetterman saying, I also fully support Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism.

The billboards are the effort of about a dozen Jewish people from around the country but mostly Pennsylvania, said Ari Mittleman, a former staffer for Sen. Bob Casey, who helped fund and organize the displays.

The group also paid to put up a series of billboards outside of Pittsburgh, including near Fettermans hometown of Braddock.

I always found the two words not said enough in politics and Washington are thank you, said Mittleman, who now lives in Maryland. Its been a difficult seven weeks for the Jewish community and our allies  a lot of conversations over the Sabbath table and sleepless nights and in a lot of those conversations friends have brought up John Fetterman.

Former Republican Senate candidate Jeff Bartos also helped organize the billboards. He said the group includes politically engaged people from both parties.

Advertisement

Im hearing from people in Israel and the United States and Pennsylvania who say, Please tell him thank you, Bartos said.

The billboards come as Fetterman faces ongoing backlash for his outspoken support of Israel. He has been vocal about his stance on the Israel-Hamas war  putting up photos of Israeli hostages in his Senate office and saying he does not support a cease-fire.

Demonstrators, organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace, have held several rallies outside of his offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., calling on Fetterman to back a cease-fire. A supporter of the group renewed that call on Friday and rebuffed the billboards.

These billboards certainly do not represent the perspective of a growing majority of Pennsylvanians, let alone the Jewish community of Pennsylvania, said Dani Noble, a Jewish resident of Philadelphia. Hundreds of Jews, all across the state, have protested at Senator Fettermans offices calling for his support for a permanent cease-fire. We blocked the road to his office in Philadelphia, weve put in thousands of calls to his office  we even made a giant Fetterman puppet. Its past time that the Senator do a better job of representing the beliefs of his constituents, and support a lasting cease-fire to save lives.

While some of Fettermans pro-Israel Democratic colleagues have changed their stances on the war as the death toll rises in Gaza, Fetterman has remained firm and highly visible on the issue. He wrapped himself in an Israeli flag at a march in D.C. and a video of him taunting Palestinian protesters as he waved an Israeli flag went viral last month.

Fetterman could not immediately be reached for comment. He appeared on The View in New York on Friday, and a spokesperson said he is attending some of the Pennsylvania Society events this weekend.

The annual gathering, where some of the most powerful politicians in the state all gather in Manhattan, has drawn many demonstrations in its 125 years.
WARNING  CONFRONTING IMAGES: Disturbing video shot by a woman exercising her dog at a remote Australian timber plantation has sparked an investigation.

The walker, who requested her name be withheld, supplied a cache of footage and images to Yahoo News Australia showing dead and dying wildlife strewn across a track in a recently logged Tasmanian forest.

Many of the dead marsupial pademelons are lying close to a substance appearing to resemble cornmeal. A wallaby was filmed still breathing but barely hanging onto life.

Several dead marsupials were photographed on the Cradoc Hill property in Tasmania. Source: Supplied

Wallaby deaths under investigation

The videos were taken on a Cradoc Hill acreage owned by Reliance Forest Fibre, which has private property signs erected along the fence line.

How the wallabies came to be dead on the site remains unclear. When we called the company on Thursday, an employee advised people frequently walk through their site without permission.

They were unable to immediately answer questions about the discovery of the dead marsupials, other than to say they do not poison wildlife. Reliance Forest Fibre did not respond to a series of emailed questions by deadline.

In Tasmania, the poisoning of native wildlife like possums and wallabies is not always an offence. The practice can be sanctioned by the state government via a permit when a company argues doing so is an essential element of their wildlife management program.

The circumstances of the deaths remain under investigation by Tasmanias Department of Natural Resources (NRE Tas) which received reports about the wallabies on November 28 and 30.

This matter is under investigation, and as such no further information can be provided at this stage, it said in a statement.

Do you know more? Contact: Michael.Dahlstrom@yahooinc.com

Several dead pademelons were photographed at the Cradoc Hill site. Source: Supplied

Cornmeal was found underneath some of the dead pademelons. Source: Supplied

Disturbing details of wallaby video

The video of the dying wallaby is difficult to watch, and we've removed the sound to obscure the dog walker's identity.

It shows the woman kneeling close to the wallaby and trying to calm him. My darling, Im so sorry, she says as she strokes his face.

Story continues

While the wallaby is unable to move its body, it slowly moves its head back and forth. With the debris smoothed away beneath its face, it appears to have been lying there dying for some time.

There was no blood when I touch the wallaby on its neck, but there was stuff coming out of the pademelon's mouths, the woman told Yahoo on Thursday. It was actually really horrible.

The woman stayed with the animal for 30 minutes and later placed a cotton bag over his face to try and keep flies from buzzing around his eyes.

Concerned about the animal's welfare, she called a local ranger, and sources indicate it was humanely euthanised within two hours.

Several eagles were seen around the site on Wednesday. Source: Supplied

When the woman returned to the site the following day, the bodies had been removed. Eagles were soaring above another large wallaby that was hopping through the landscape.

Anyone with information about incidents involving wildlife can contact Investigations and Enforcement Services on 0417 661 234 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new weekly newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
These promotions reaffirm our commitment to fostering excellence in the legal profession and our investment in our industries of focus. I have no doubt that these talented individuals will continue to contribute significantly to the success of our clients and our practice, Crennan said.
Howden is now the 12th biggest broker in the world, but the 11 that are bigger than us are all in the US, and half of those are private equity-backed and only in the US, Blanc said, noting there were about 60,000 to 70,000 broking firms of size worldwide.
As most people know, Citizens has not been solvent, DeSantis had said to the press last March. If you did have a major, major hurricane hit with a lot of Citizens property holders, it would not have enough to pay out.
Our team often refers to insurance as the best-kept secret in the business world, Beja told IBA. As someone without family in the industry and who did not attend a college that offered a risk management program, I can say I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. I accepted my internship at Risk Placement Services with hardly any knowledge of insurance. As a business student at a large university, I knew I wanted to do something in sales or consulting, but insurance was just not on my radar.
The mayor and other city officials in the fishing community of Gloucester, Massachusetts are protected under qualified immunity against claims by the citys harbormaster that they violated his First Amendment rights.

The harbormaster sued the mayor, city solicitor, chief administrative officer and human resources officer for allegedly violating his free speech rights when they retaliated against him because of expert witness testimony he gave as a private consultant.

The First Circuit Court of Appeals said the officials are protected because as public officials they had reasonable concerns that the harbormasters testimony against a local boat captain would damage the citys reputation and relations with the Gloucester fishing community.

The federal appeals court upheld the district courts summary judgment in favor of the city officials on qualified immunity grounds.

The court said the answer to whether the officials are shielded from the claims requires balancing the value of an employees speech  both to himself and to the public  against the government employers legitimate interest in preventing unnecessary disruptions and inefficiencies in carrying out its public service mission.

Key Question

The key question is whether it was clearly established at the time of the Gloucester officials alleged retaliation that the value of Harbormaster Thomas T.J. Ciarametaros speech outweighed the municipalitys interest in the efficient provision of public services by the harbormasters office.

The court concluded that it was not clearly established that Ciarametaros testimony outweighed the municipalitys interest and the city officials were reasonable in judging that it did not. Thus, they are entitled to qualified immunity for their actions.

The court noted that qualified immunity shields public officials from personal liability for actions taken while performing discretionary functions and the goal of qualified immunity is to give government officials breathing room to make reasonable but mistaken judgments about open legal questions. To achieve that goal, a court will grant qualified immunity unless it is sufficiently clear that every reasonable official would have understood that what he was doing violated the plaintiffs rights.

As harbormaster, Ciarametaro regulates and maintains the Gloucester waterfront, enforcing local maritime ordinances, responding to boating emergencies, maintaining harbor facilities, and cooperating with state and federal maritime agencies. Ciarametaro also owns a private consulting firm that provides marine investigation and expert witness services.

Two local fishermen were suing a Gloucester fishing captain and the U.S. Coast Guard, alleging that both parties negligently sank the fishermens stranded vessel during a botched rescue attempt. The fishermen asked Ciarametaro to testify on their behalf as an expert witness in the case.

Gloucester officials may pursue outside employment that does not interfere with their public duties. Before accepting the offer, Ciarametaro contacted the city solicitor and the state ethics commission. He said both agreed there should be no problem with him testifying given neither Ciarametaro nor the harbormasters office had been involved in the accident.

Ciarametaro filed his expert report in June 2019. The report criticized the actions of both the rescuing Gloucester fishing captain and the Coast Guard. Ciarametaro wrote that everything about the defendant-fishing captains tow of the plaintiffs vessel was improper from the start. He also described the Coast Guard response as plagued by a significant breakdown in communication . . . up and down the chain of command. A trial on the case at which he was to testify was scheduled for July 2020.

Lobstermen Complain

In April 2020, the citys chief administrative officer received a complaint from the Massachusetts Lobstermens Association that represents many local fishermen about Ciarametaros expected testimony on his findings. The administrative officer told Ciarametaro to drop the case because the testimony could be damaging to the city and he could lose his job. That advice was seconded by Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, who told him the case was a big conflict that could undermine the fishing communitys trust in the harbormasters office. Theken berated him in crude terms, threatened his job, demanded that he recuse himself, and warned that he was losing the trust of the fishermen.

The city solicitor told him that his involvement in the case sends a clear message to the fishing community that if you stop and help a fellow fisherman you could be liable for negligence.

The mayor received a letter from the lobstermens group stating that its members had a lack of faith within the port of Gloucester. The letter added that commercial fishermen need a champion now more than ever, and not an anti-fisherman authority working against them.

Despite the city officials concerns, and his prior indications that he would try to withdraw as a witness, Ciarametaro remained an expert witness in the case.

Ciarametaro alleges that they began a campaign of retaliation. He claims that the city officials created a hostile work environment by excluding him from important policymaking meetings and subjecting him to repeated verbal abuse. He claims that the mayor called him a fraud and suggested that her relatives should break Ciarametaros kneecaps. He also alleges that the city officials denied him work on overtime details and withheld a previously agreed-upon pay raise.

Ciarametaro further alleges that the city officials interfered with his management of the harbormasters office, including by harassing one of his clerks. Finally, Ciarametaro alleges that the mayor admitted to working with Gloucesters human resources director to fish for wrongdoing in his personnel files.

No Disruption

Ciarametaro argues that there is no evidence that his testimony was disruptive to the harbormasters office or the city. But, the court noted, an employer need not allow events to unfold to the extent that the destruction of working relationships is manifest before taking action. Instead, the relevant question is whether the city officials were reasonably concerned that Ciarametaros expert testimony would disrupt relationships between commercial fishermen and the harbormasters office.

The appeals court agreed with the district court that the officials concerns were certainly reasonable, noting in part how the lobstermens association expressly told the mayor that the fishermen considered the harbormasters office to be anti-fisherman.

Given that blunt language, the city officials could reasonably predict that Ciarametaros testimony risked undermining his ability to promote the city as a hospitable port of call. Furthermore, the court noted, Ciarametaro himself was aware of this risk, having acknowledged in texts to the mayor that his testimony threatened the public perception of his department.

While the ruling clearly favors the city officials, the appeals court felt it necessary to qualify its meaning.

To be clear, we need not (and therefore do not) decide whether the value of Ciarametaros speech outweighed the city officials interests, the court explained. We hold only that the city officials could have reasonably concluded that it did not. And even if the city officials reasoning was mistaken, it would not have been egregiously so. Accordingly, qualified immunity is available.

Ciarametaro remains in his job as the citys harbormaster.

Photo: Gloucester:Three fishing boats docked in the harbor in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Topics Claims Massachusetts
A U.S. labor board has dismissed claims that Tesla Inc. illegally fired employees working on Autopilot software at a New York factory to put an end to union organizing.

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional official on Friday tossed out a complaint filed in February by Workers United, a union seeking to organize workers at Teslas Buffalo, New York gigafactory.

Workers United claimed that within days of announcing a union campaign earlier this year, Tesla fired dozens of workers from its Autopilot department. Tesla has said the firings were based on performance reviews and not tied to union activity.

The labor board official, however, found merit to two separate claims that Tesla maintained an unlawful rule on the acceptable use of technology in the workplace and solicited grievances from workers in an attempt to thwart support for the union, NLRB spokeswoman Kayla Blado said on Monday.

If Tesla does not settle those claims, the NLRB will issue a complaint against the company that will be heard by an administrative judge, Blado said.

Tesla and Workers United did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The campaign in Buffalo is part of a nationwide effort to unionize Tesla facilities that has spurred a series of complaints filed with the labor board alleging illegal union-busting.

Union Contracts

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which recently won new contracts with the Detroit Three automakers, has said that it plans to aggressively organize U.S. auto plants operated by Tesla and other non-unionized companies. President Joe Biden said this month that he supported the unions efforts to organize workers at Tesla and Toyota.

In April, an NLRB judge ruled that supervisors at a Tesla service center in Florida illegally barred workers from discussing pay and other working conditions and told them not to complain to higher-level managers.

Earlier this month, a U.S. appeals court reversed an NLRB decision that said Tesla violated federal labor law by barring workers at its Fremont, California, assembly plant from wearing UAW T-shirts.

And the same court is separately considering Teslas appeal of an NLRB ruling that said CEO Elon Musk violated federal labor law by tweeting in 2018 that employees would lose stock options if they joined a union.

Tesla has denied wrongdoing in those cases.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Alexia Garamfalvi)

Topics New York Tesla Manufacturing
A federal grand jury has indicted Richard Zagger, of Blue Point, New York, charging him with conspiracy and obstruction of an investigation into a fatal construction accident, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The four-count indictment alleges that Zagger was a supervisor for Northridge Construction Corp., located in East Patchogue, Long Island, New York. On Dec. 8, 2018, Zagger was overseeing employees of Northridge constructing a metal shed on the Northridge property. During the construction, one of the employees fell from the improperly secured shed roof and died.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the employees death and violations of worker safety standards. Among other worker safety standards, OSHA regulations require maintaining the stability of a metal structure at all times during construction.

The indictment alleges that during the investigation, Zagger made false statements and conspired with others to make false statements to obstruct the federal agencys inquiry.

An indictment is merely an allegation and Zagger is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The maximum penalty for the conspiracy count and each obstruction count is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the economic gain to the defendant or loss suffered by the victim because of the crime.

Source: Department of Justice

Topics New York Construction
A fed-up Aussie farmer sick of travellers mistakenly driving onto his property in search of a popular tourist attraction, due to a glitch in Google Maps, has come up with a hilarious solution.

Queensland man Graham Anderson, who lives in the outback town of Isla  327 kilometres west of Bundaberg  estimated that over the years, some 200 travellers had accidentally driven onto his property in search of the famous Isla Gorge, which is in reality 20 kilometres away.

Cattle farmer Graham Anderson's self-designed sign to redirect lost tourists following Google Maps. Source: ABC.

Anderson said at first it was only the odd car here and there that he spotted driving up toward his sprawling inland cattle farm, but after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Queensland and domestic travel returned, the number of unwanted guests began to spiral out of control.

"They looked genuinely lost and needed a hand, so I pointed them in the right direction," Anderson told the ABC. "We had people coming in just all the time and they were saying it was Google, that they were following the maps across our property to get there.

"We back onto the gorge and it's along our border, but there's no access to the gorge from our place at all."

Graham Anderson's solution to Google Maps glitch

The farmer said that quickly his pity turned to worry for travellers' safety, due to the rural location and scarce resources.

"We'd be down at the stockyards working cattle and all of a sudden, a car would come down there, turn around and shoot back," he said.

"I think most people would get halfway in and then Google cuts out and they'd end up lost in the middle, you're lost in the bush. We just can't be here 24/7 and you don't know who's coming and going, so it's a bit concerning."

The Isla Gorge in Queensland. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Eventually, Anderson took matters into his own hands and decided to fork out $1000 to create a sign that would leave him in peace and drivers headed in the right direction.

Story continues

"Sometimes you've got to make a bold statement," he said. "You could always have just written, 'Isla Gorge that way', but then if it didn't say, 'Trust me not Google', they would have said, 'How do they know?', because Google knows everything."

Google rectifies issue

Since Google was made aware of the glitch the issue has now been rectified, but Anderson says he's going to keep his sign in place, adding that it had dramatically reduced the number of groups entering his property down to one every six months.

"People probably think, 'What nutjob lives there?', but it makes people look at it, people stop and take photos, so it's certainly achieved something," he said.

"I'll just have to replace it in 10 years when the writing fades."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S settled a Danish lawsuit against the companies behind a ship that blocked the Suez canal in 2021, forcing shipping lines to delay or divert vessels and causing global disruption of supply lines.

We can confirm that we have withdrawn the case in Denmark, the Copenhagen-based company said by email on Thursday. The Danish shipping giant declined to disclose the details of the settlement and wouldnt identity the companies or individuals it had sued. The ship in question, the Ever Given, was operated by Evergreen Marine Corp.

Maersk had sought 300 million kroner ($44 million) at Denmarks Maritime and Commercial Court over losses caused by the event, online media ShippingWatch reported earlier this year. Evergreen denied it has liability for any damages to Maersk, ShippingWatch quoted the company as saying at the time.

The ship was stuck for six days in March 2021 but the event disrupted global shipping for months. Maersk controls about 15% of the worlds container fleet, while Evergreen has about 6%, according to shipping consultant Alphaliner.

Photograph: The Ever Given container ship moves along the Suez Canal towards Ismailia after being freed from the canal bank in Suez, Egypt, on Monday, March 29, 2021. Photo credit: Islam Safwat/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
For more than a month, a group of 16 fishing boats has been blocking a key port in Panama, choking off coal and essential supplies destined for First Quantum Minerals giant copper mine there, eventually forcing it to halt operations at the companys biggest revenue source.

The fishing flotilla has provided a fresh jolt of marine backing to the thousands of Panamanians who have been marching daily to demand the annulment of the Canadian miners contract, arguing its presence violates Panamas sovereignty and threatens its environment.

The fishermen are angry that the company has appropriated resources, land and water, and worry about the mines environmental consequences. Cobre Panama has said it is committed to growing more new forest than is impacted by its mine.

Panamas top court on Tuesday declared First Quantums contract unconstitutional and its president announced an orderly shutdown of the mine, but the vigils on land and sea are set to continue as protesters insist that authorities take concrete steps to close the site.

We arent going anywhere, Sabino Ayarza, a representative of the protesting fishermen, told Reuters on Tuesday from his boat.

A complete shuttering of the mine, which accounts for about 1% of global copper output and 5% of Panamas GDP, would signal a David vs. Goliath victory for Panamanian protesters.

Their grassroots movement, nearly unheard of in business-friendly Panama, has wiped C$11 billion ($7.4 billion) off First Quantums market value and raised global copper prices on supply worries. Copper is a crucial metal in electrification as the world moves to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The protesters victory in Panama is emblematic of the outsized and sometimes unexpected influence local communities are having on mining companies worldwide. In Portugal, for instance, Europes biggest producer of lithium, some local activists are determined to halt mine developments. Canadas First Nation groups have also mounted fierce opposition against mining on their lands.

Those hoping to halt the mines operations have seen false dawns before. Panamas top court struck down First Quantums previous contract in 2017, but the company was allowed to mine while a new contract was approved. So protesters arent taking any chances this time.

If this goes on for a year, we will stay a year, there is no end-date, Ayarza said.

Cobre Panama accounted for about 46% of First Quantums overall revenue in the third quarter, according to company data. The company was reasonably confident last week in ships carrying supplies reaching the port soon, but failed to circumvent the fishermens blockade, said a person familiar with the mines developments who asked not to be named.

First Quantum, said it would respect the courts ruling and on Tuesday announced the mine has suspended commercial production due to the blockades.

Surplus Threatened

A Scotiabank report forecasts Cobre Panamas copper output in 2024 to represent about 1.6% of global supply and warned an indefinite shutdown increases risks of First Quantum potentially defaulting by the third quarter of 2024, and threaten its liquidity by early 2025.

First Quantum did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the question about possible default.

Together with dwindling supply from Peru, the worlds No. 2 copper producer after Chile, the Panama shutdown threatens to wipe out what had been seen as global surplus in 2024, according to Macquarie.

In Chile, the copper outlook for 2023 went from 5.9% growth in May to 1% in July, as state-owned miner Codelco, the worlds largest producer, lowered production amid operational difficulties, though it is expected to recover in 2024.

The fishermen have added muscle to a movement which blocked roads, causing daily losses of more than $90 million to businesses, according to experts, and food shortages nationwide. Protesters also hurled rocks at a bus transporting workers to the mine on one occasion, injuring eight workers.

The court verdict leaves three possible outcomes: Panama could close the mine indefinitely, nationalize it, or agree to settle its differences in international arbitration by negotiating a constitutionally correct contract with First Quantum alongside a new joint-venture partner.

We believe it may be time for FM to consider bringing in a major mining partner to share the future risk of operating in Panama, Scotiabank said in a note on Tuesday.

However, protesters are pushing firmly towards a ban on all kinds of mining despite warnings of economic consequences.

The protesting fishermen have been posting their bank account details on social media for people to donate food and fuel. Ayarza did not detail how much they have received, but said he was confident they can outlast the mining giant.

We know our sea. We know the area in which we are waging war, said Ayarza. We use ropes to make them back down and, well, threaten them so they have to go back.

($1 = 1.3579 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire in Mexico City and Divya Rajagopal in Toronto; Additional reporting by Fabian Cambero in Santiago;Editing by Christian Plumb, Denny Thomas and Nick Zieminski)

Photograph: Panamanians celebrate after the Supreme Court declared a 20-year contract with a Canadian copper mine unconstitutional, in Panama City, Tuesday, on Nov. 28, 2023. Panamas Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the concession that has been the focus of widespread environmental protests was unconstitutional, after which the president of the Central American country said the process to close the mine would begin. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
While wildfires, severe storms and floods cause short-term impacts that often grab the worlds attention, a drought that stretches over seasons or even years can be easier to overlook. Yet a new UN report shows droughts are just as deadly, and perhaps even more so, for their ability to stay under the radar.

Droughts operate in silence, often going unnoticed and failing to provoke an immediate public and political response. This silent devastation perpetuates a cycle of neglect, leaving affected populations to bear the burden in isolation, writes Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, in the foreword to the agencys Global Drought Snapshot released Friday.

The snapshot comes out as countries assemble to discuss climate change at the COP28 summit in Dubai. It aggregates harrowing statistics: Some 1.84 billion people around the world are currently drought stricken, according to UN data. The drought experienced by Europe in 2022 was its most severe in 500 years. And regional drought is expected to worsen through the 21st century, even if emissions are cut.

The facts highlight the growing need to cultivate a more drought-resilient world with measures such as sustainable land management, more efficient water supply systems and improved disaster insurance and preparation.

Addressing the problem is going to require multiple scales of action, from international cooperation to more site-specific place-based action. We have to strive to be proactive, not reactive, in order to reduce our risk, said Abby Frazier, a climatologist at Clark University who studies drought.

In addition to increasing human suffering through famine and forced migration, the economic impacts of drought are extensive. Last year, bodies of water from Chinas Yangtze River to Californias Central Valley Basin ran dangerously low, threatening water supplies and transportation. The declining levels of the Mississippi River caused a backup of about 2,000 barges, leading to an estimated loss of $20 billion due to supply chain disruptions.

Agriculture has arguably experienced the most severe cascading effects from drought. Grazing land in South Africa has declined by 33%, while Argentinas soybean production this year is expected to drop 44%, the lowest harvest in over 30 years.

Drought impacts are often cyclical, burying already vulnerable communities in more food and water insecurity. Some 85% of people affected live in low- or middle-income countries. Women and children carry the greatest burdens from natural disasters, the report notes. Over the past 50 years, Africa has sustained $70 billion in drought-related economic losses.

At COP28, rich countries are under pressure to step in with more climate aid for developing nations. On Thursday, nations including the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Japan contributed at least $260 million to a fund that will help vulnerable countries deal with the effects of extreme weather.

Funding and climate finance needs a lot of good attention. Many countries know what to do, but what they need is the support, said Daniel Tsegai, program officer at the UNCCD and one of the lead authors of the report.

Photograph: A farmer stands in a drought-affected corn field in Santa Fe, Argentina in March 2023. Photo credit: Sebastian Lopez Brach/Getty Images.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
James Dyson, the billionaire inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner, lost a libel lawsuit on Friday against a British newspaper publisher over a column that branded him a hypocrite who had screwed Britain.

Dyson sued Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, at Londons High Court over articles lambasting him for moving his companys global head office from Britain to Singapore after championing the economic benefits of Brexit  Britains withdrawal from the European Union.

Judge Robert Jay dismissed Dysons lawsuit in a written ruling.

Dyson, 76, said in a witness statement last month that the 2022 column in the Daily Mirror was not only wrong but incredibly harmful to his reputation.

He said that, as someone who had invested heavily in Britain and its young people, he found the criticism particularly damaging and distressing.

The High Court ruled that MGN had successfully argued its defense of honest opinion and that Dyson had not proved he had suffered serious harm as a result of the column.

The claimant having failed on the issue of serious harm and the defendant having succeeded on its honest opinion defense, this claim must be dismissed, the judge said.

He did not accept Dysons view that the head office move amounted to little more than the relocation of two senior executives, as the company had asserted at the time.

It would, I think, be a mistake to believe that just because something is put out in a press release it must be true, he said.

An MGN spokesperson said: We welcome todays judgment which upholds the rights of our columnists to share honestly held opinions, even about powerful or wealthy individuals.

Dyson said it was a highly successful global technology company which employs 3,700 people in the UK, (and) paid more UK corporation tax after 2019 than before.

The company continues to invest vast sums in the UK, files patents there, and in 2017 founded a university that had educated hundreds of undergraduates who pay no tuition fees while earning a salary and even paying tax, a Dyson spokesperson said.

(Additional reporting by Paul Sandle, editing by Timothy Heritage)

Topics Lawsuits Europe Uk
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at MS Amlin and Generali Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C).

A summary of these new hires follows here.

MS Amlin Promotes Forsyth as Head of Marine, Succeeding Humberstone Who Is Retiring

MS Amlin, the London-based Lloyds global re/insurer, announced the appointment of Stuart Forsyth as head of Marine.

He is currently lead underwriter for Hull & Hull War and will take over the role from Laurence Humberstone, who is retiring after 19 years with MS Amlin. Forsyth will be responsible for leading the growing marine business which encompasses cargo, hull, liability, specie, and yacht.

He will be based in London and report to Neil Walker, deputy chief underwriting officer and head of Specialty Insurance.

Forsyth has more than three decades of experience across underwriting and broking in the marine re/insurance market. Before joining MS Amlin in 2021, he worked at RSA as London market hull and liability leader.

Forsyth started his career at Willis Faber & Dumas, progressing to divisional director in 1996. In 1998, he moved to Sedgwicks hull department specializing in Greek and North American Hull business. During his 12 years as a broker, he gained extensive experience in both direct insurance and reinsurance, before serving as chief executive officer of the Scottish Boatowners Mutual for 16 years.

Walker thanked Humberstone for his invaluable contribution to MS Amlin over the years, and wished him the best for his retirement.

***

Generali GC&C Names Mediterranean, LatAm Team Managers as Part of Biz Reorg

Generali Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C) announces the reorganization of its business in the Mediterranean and Latin America region, creating a new geographical area and appointing two managers.

This new region  previously known as GC&C Iberia & Latin America  oversees the corporate and commercial activities in the Mediterranean area (excluding Italy and Greece) and South America.

A new position, called area manager has been established as a result of the reorganization, leading to the appointments of Samantha Gimeno as Mediterranean area manager, and Fabricio Porto as Latin America area manager. Both are client & broker relationship managers (CBRM).

With more than 20 years of experience in the international and corporate insurance industry, Gimeno has played a pivotal role in overseeing commercial relationships with both clients and brokers. Most recently, she served as head distribution Iberia at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty. Prior to this, she worked at AXA and Munich Re. She holds a masters degree in industrial organization engineering from Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria  ICAI.

Before becoming Latin America area manager, Porto served as the head of Clients & Broker Relationship Management for Latin America. After accumulating 14 years of experience within Generali, he moved to GC&C in 2018 as a client and broker relationship manager in Brazil. Over the past four years, Porto has dedicated himself to establishing and sustaining robust relationships with key clients and brokers, seeking optimal solutions for GC&C customers at the local level.

In another appointment, Carlos Gomez, the current head of GC&C Mediterranean & Latin America, has been named head of Insurance, on an interim basis. As part of the reorganization, the Claims, Underwriting, Risk Prevention & Risk Engineering functions will report directly to the head of Insurance. The Risk Prevention & Risk Engineering team has been formed into an independent unit.

Topics Mississippi
Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc., said Bob Cox, president and chief operating officer, Global Insurance Operations, will be leaving his role December 31, after five years .

Bob joined us five years ago bringing his more than 35 years of insurance leadership experience to lead efforts on accelerating our strategies to deliver the best value and services for our customers across the globe, said Jeremy Noble, president. He has built a strong foundation to position us for long-term, profitable growth, including evolving our products, broadening our distribution channels, and enhancing our global operations. We are grateful for his leadership and contributions to Markel.

Cox joined Markel in 2018 to oversee Markels global insurance operationsits Markel Specialty and Markel International divisions.

With Coxs departure, its Markel Specialty and International insurance divisions will report directly to Noble. Simon Wilson, president Markel International, Alex Martin, president, Markel Specialty, and Bryan Sanders, chairman, Markel Specialty, will report to Noble effective December 31.

Siry Joins Cover Whale as COO, CTO

Cover Whale Insurance Solutions, Inc. hired Darryl Siry as chief operating and technology officer.

Before joining Cover Whale, Siry most recently served as chief technology officer at SiriusPoint. Prior to that, he was chief technology and operations officer at ProSight Specialty Insurance. He also held executive positions at Tesla Motors and Firemans Fund/Allianz.

Glazer Named General Counsel of AIG

American International Group, Inc. (AIG) said Rose Marie Glazer, who has served as interim general counsel since October 1, has been named general counsel, overseeing AIGs legal, compliance, regulatory and government affairs functions.

Glazer remains an executive vice president reporting to Peter Zaffino, AIG Chairman and CEO, and a member of AIGs Executive Leadership Team. Most recently, Glazer served as AIGs chief human resources & diversity officer since January 1, 2022.

Patricia Walsh, who had previously been announced as joining AIG, has recently decided to remain at Stripe, Inc.

Topics AIG
Brinson Caleb BC Silver, former chief marketing officer for insurtech Root, has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $10 million from his former employer and violating court orders.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Silver, 43, of Culver City, California, pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and contempt of court and has agreed to pay more than $10.2 million in restitution. A prison sentence of 24-51 months has been recommended.

Silver has been in jail in Butler County, Ohio since June, according to the jails website. A federal judge had ordered Silver detained for criminal contempt on June 20.

Columbus, Ohio-based Root Inc., parent company of Root Insurance, field a lawsuit in February in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against Silver, accusing him of pocketing millions of dollars meant for advertising campaigns through a series of transfers from vendors to companies owned by him or his family. The U.S. Attorneys Office said Silver spent the money on a $1.4 million yacht, a Mercedes-Benz G550 worth nearly $165,000, an amphibious airplane, expensive watches, and other items.

Silver failed to appear in court for a hearing related to his civil suit and instead spent lavishly while traveling the globe, said the attorneys office.

Related: Fired Root CMO Accused of Stealing Millions Spends Lavishly; Judge Appoints Receiver

Root last month filed an application for entry of default since Silver failed to answer or plead to an amended lawsuit. Court records show Silver has largely been uncooperative during the legal process  denying the delivery of summonses, failing to provide information to a court-appointed custodian of his property and assets, and violating a court order limiting his spending to $5,000 on day-to-day personal living expenses

The attorneys office said Silver spent $20,000 on plastic surgery, more than $25,000 at Indonesian businesses (including $8,000 at a luxury resort in Bali) and in withdrawals made in Indonesia, and more than $88,000 through PayPal to individuals, said the attorneys office. He also withheld information about a multimillion-dollar property in California and at one point made two phone calls to an international relocation company and asked for citizenship within a country that would not extradite him to the United States, and a foreign bank account that the United States could not freeze.

Silver was Roots CMO for just one year  November 8, 2021 to November 9, 2022  before he was let go as part of company-wide layoffs. Root said in court filings that its finance department last year had noticed some unplanned spending from the marketing department and started to investigate.

Root has alleged that Silver came up with a supposed advertising plan with an ad agency called Quantasy, who would then allegedly transfer a majority of the funds to companies owned by Silver called Collateral Damage and Eclipse. Quantasy and its CEO has a motion to dismiss civil claims against them awaiting a judges ruling.

In an email to Insurance Journal, a Quantasy spokesman said, We cant control Roots frivolous claims to recover money from innocent parties that it lost due to its own inadequate internal controls and failure to monitor its own executive. We continue to strongly deny any complicity in Silvers fraud scheme. The fact that Silver accepted responsibility for the entire fraud amount says it all.

When contacted, Root said it could not comment due to ongoing litigation.

Topics Carriers Ohio
Pfizer has been sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who on Thursday accused the drugmaker of misrepresenting the efficacy of its widely-used COVID-19 vaccine.

In a complaint filed in a Lubbock County state court, Paxton said it was misleading for Pfizer to claim its vaccine was 95% effective because it offered a relative risk reduction for people to who took it.

Paxton said the claim was based on only two months of clinical trial data, and that the pandemic got worse even after people started taking Pfizers vaccine.

Pfizer intentionally misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine and censored persons who threatened to disseminate the truth in order to facilitate fast adoption of the product and expand its commercial opportunity, the complaint said.

Paxton, a Republican and critic of Biden administration efforts to fight the pandemic, added in a statement: 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.

Pfizer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit seeks to stop New York-based Pfizer from making alleged false claims and silencing truthful speech about its vaccine, and more than $10 million in fines for violations of a Texas law protecting consumers from deceptive marketing.

It is Paxtons second lawsuit against Pfizer in November.

In a case unsealed on Nov. 21, Paxton accused Pfizer and a supplier of manipulating quality control tests, resulting in the distribution of ineffective drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.

Topics Lawsuits Texas COVID-19
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Black former delivery driver in Mississippi who says two white men shot into his work van and then pursued him in a high-speed chase last year has filed a new lawsuit against the men and his former employer, FedEx.

This is the second civil suit on behalf of D`Monterrio Gibson, and it seeks at least $5 million. The two men were tried for attempted murder and other charges but a judge declared a mistrial this summer.

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.

FedEx spokesperson Austin Kemker said in a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press: Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our employees. FedEx denies the allegations and will vigorously defend the lawsuit.

In August, a federal judge dismissed a separate $5 million lawsuit Moore filed on behalf of Gibson against FedEx, the city of Brookhaven, the police chief and the two men: Brandon Case and his father 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.

Brandon Case and Gregory Case are charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy and shooting into the vehicle driven by Gibson, which did not have a FedEx logo.

In August, state Circuit Judge David Strong cited police errors as he declared a mistrial in the criminal case of the father and son after days of jury selection and testimony. A detective testified about failing to give prosecutors and defense attorneys a copy of a videotaped police interview with Gibson.

Prosecutors said they intend to set a new date for the criminal trial, but court records show that has not been done. The two men remain out on bond.

Days after the mistrial, FedEx fired Gibson because he did not accept a part- time, non-courier job that the company offered him, Moore said. Gibson said he had been in therapy and on workers compensation leave, at about one-third of his pay, since shortly after the attack.

Gibson was making FedEx deliveries in a van with the Hertz rental car company logo on three sides. After Gibson left a package at a home on a dead-end public road, Gregory Case used a pickup truck to try to block the van and Brandon Case came outside with a gun, District Attorney Dee Bates said.

As Gibson drove the van around the pickup truck, shots were fired, with three rounds hitting the van and some of the packages inside, Bates said.

A lawyer for Gregory Case, the father, told jurors that his client saw a van outside his mother-in-laws unoccupied home and went to check what was happening. Gregory Case wanted to ask the van driver what was going on, but the driver did not stop, attorney Terrell Stubbs said.

The sun had already gone down. It was completely dark, completely dark, and somebody was in the wrong place, Stubbs said. It wasnt my client.

Photo: DMonterrio Gibson at a news conference in 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Personal Auto Mississippi
The parents of a Los Angeles County deputy who was shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car plan to file a lawsuit accusing the sheriff`s department and county leaders of putting law enforcement officers at risk by making them work excessive overtime because of severe understaffing, an attorney announced.

Investigators said Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, was ambushed Sept. 16 while waiting for a traffic light to change in Palmdale, a city of more than 167,000 residents in the high desert of northern LA County.

I don`t want any parent to ever have to sit at a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner with someone missing, like we had to this year, the deputy`s mother, Kim Clinkunbroomer, said tearfully at a news conference.

Had he not been fatigued and exhausted, he would have responded safely; hed be here today, said the deputys father, Michael Clinkunbroomer.

Clinkunbroomer had racked up 69 hours of overtime in the two weeks leading up to the shooting and had worked a double shift the day before, said attorney Brad Gage, who represents the slain deputy`s parents. Clinkunbroomer was so exhausted from being overworked that his senses were dulled and he missed the telltale signs of an impending ambush, Gage said.

Prosecutors have charged Kevin Cataneo Salazar, 29, with one count of murder, plus special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, murder committed by lying in wait, murder committed by firing from a car and personal use of a firearm. Cataneo Salazar has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Gage said in a government claim filed Monday that Clinkunbroomer was forced to work up to 100 hours of overtime each month. Gage accuses Sheriff Robert Luna, department officials and county leaders of knowingly endangering the lives of law enforcement officers by enforcing excessive amounts of mandatory overtime.

The claim is the precursor to a wrongful death lawsuit and names the county sheriff`s department and Board of Supervisors. County officials have 45 days to respond to the claim before a lawsuit can be filed.

Gage said the lawsuit would seek $20 million in damages and changes to sheriff`s department staffing and scheduling policies.

In a statement Tuesday, the sheriff`s department did not comment on the potential lawsuit. Luna, who was sworn in as sheriff a year ago, has previously vowed to make increasing the number of deputies a priority.

The senseless ambush murder of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was the epitome of evil and the Department continues to mourn his death. We lost a valued member of our Department family who was committed to serving our communities, the department statement said. The Sheriffs Department remains committed to securing a successful prosecution against the individual responsible for Ryans murder. Our thoughts continue to remain with the entire Clinkunbroomer family.

Law enforcement officers and members of the public are at risk because fatigue resulting from these demanding work schedules impairs the deputies ability to stay alert and respond effectively in the line of duty, the claim states.

Sheriff Luna and the Board of Supervisors knew of the dangers to their employees as a result of intentionally forcing overtime, but intentionally pursued such actions in conscious disregard of the rights and safety of deputies,  Gage writes in the claim.

The Board of Supervisors did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the allegations.

Everybody likes to work a bit of overtime, to earn a bit of extra money, but they dont want to work so much overtime that they`re unable to take care of themselves and others, said Gage, the familys attorney.

The head of the deputies union said limited staffing is an ongoing problem in Los Angeles, but did not respond to specific questions about average overtime worked by its members.

The departments staffing crisis is pushing our deputies to, and sadly sometimes beyond, their limits. We need our elected officials to take a more aggressive and intelligent approach to addressing the departments inability to recruit and retain qualified people, said a statement from Rich Pippin, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. Failure to do so can only result in more tragic outcomes, not only for our deputy sheriffs, but for the millions of people who rely on them for protection.

The Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, D.C., tracks staffing problems at law enforcement agencies nationwide. What you`re seeing in LA, you`re seeing across the country, said Chuck Wexler, the forum`s executive director. It`s a huge issue.

Wexler said Tuesday that fewer young people want to work in law enforcement and current police officers are retiring and resigning faster than they can be replaced. The result is more overtime for officers and deputies currently on the job.

And what you`re finding is increased overtime, for some officers, is contributing to them leaving their jobs, Wexler said. Its a generational thing. Younger officers would rather have more free time than overtime.

Prosecutors havent laid out a motive in the criminal case or said whether Clinkunbroomer and Cataneo Salazar previously knew each other.

Authorities said the deputy was targeted but would not say whether Cataneo Salazar was seeking to harm Clinkunbroomer specifically or any member of law enforcement generally.

Cataneo Salazar allegedly followed Clinkunbroomer just before 6 p.m. as he left the sheriffs Palmdale Station, the district attorneys office said in a September news release.

The deputy was waiting for a red light to turn when he was shot, Luna said at the time.

Cataneo Salazar was arrested after an hourslong standoff with sheriffs deputies. He had barricaded himself inside his familys Palmdale home.

His mother, Marle Salazar, told the Los Angeles Times her son was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic about five years ago. He would say he was hearing voices in his head, she said, and sometimes claimed that cars or people were following him. He twice attempted suicide and had been hospitalized at least once, she said.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
The furious parents of a boy who was allegedly physically restrained and sat on by the local mayor in a so-called citizen's arrest are pushing for legal action to be taken against him.

Video shows the now-suspended Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin allegedly sitting on the child's back at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, during an incident in August.

McLaughlin claims the boy had broken into his home, prompting him to detain the child, who is understood to be Indigenous, until authorities arrived. Another man who features in the video allegedly "stomped" on the boy's head and is now facing charges of aggravated assault, the ABC reported.

The Tennant Creek mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin has been suspended following an investigation into the council. Source: ABC.

Mayor allegedly 'used excessive force' on boy

In a letter to the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) by Barkly councillor Elliot McAdam, signed by the child's parents earlier this month, the family allege McLaughlin "used excessive force" to restrain the boy for what they say was an unnecessarily long period of time.

"As a person in high office he should [have] stopped this assault almost immediately, but he didn't," the letter reads. "Any reasonable person would not have sat on my son's back... for a long time.

"Mr McLaughlin did not try to stop [the other man] stomping on my son's head."

In response to the criticism, McLaughlin said his actions were "entirely reasonable within the circumstances".

McLaughlin earlier claimed that following the incident he had spoken with the child's parents in what he described as restorative justice, though they denied that ever occurred. The suspended mayor also claimed he was a relative of the family, which they also denied.

Story continues

Tenant Creek mayor resists calls for resignation

Although McLaughlin has so far resisted calls from First Nations groups to resign over the "citizen's arrest", he is currently suspended from office along with fellow Barkly Regional Council members as the NT government investigates.

Jeffrey McLaughlin, the now-suspended Barkly Regional Council Mayor. Source: Barkly Regional Council.

In a seperate letter, Mr McAdam wrote to NT Attorney General and Local Government Minister Chansey Paech, questioning the potential disciplinary action against McLaughlin.

"Do you agree that there is potentially a lesser standard and or a different set of principles applied to a young boy in Tennant Creek as opposed to the chief minister in Nightcliff," Mr McAdam wrote, pointing to police charges against a woman who allegedly assaulted Chief Minister Natasha Fyles with a pie in September.

"I write in the interest of other Indigenous people in the Barkly [region] who have been impacted over the past 18 months by events imposed and not of their own making."

Paech earlier admitted he was "horrified" by the footage and that he viewed McLaughlin's stunt as "completely unacceptable".

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Ireland is facing possible EU sanctions for failing to send the European Commission national measures fully transposing EU rights on Work-Life Balance for parents and for carers.

Having sent letters of formal notice to 19 member states on the subject in September 2022, the Commission now seems likely to fine Ireland, Belgium and Spain for their failure to deliver on the Work-Life Balance Directive, adopted in 2019.

In this Q&A interview, Deirdre Malone, partner and head of employment law at EY Law Ireland, answers questions about what the EU's new Work-Life Balance Directive will mean to Ireland's employers and employees once, if as expected, it becomes part of life in Irish workplaces in the year ahead.

What are the measures in the Work-Life Balance Directive and what will these changes mean to the workplace in Ireland once implemented?

The Work-Life Balance Directive encourages men and women to avail of more flexible ways of working to enable employees to share their personal caring responsibilities without sacrificing their careers. It does this with a goal of achieving greater gender equality by increasing female representation in the workplace and retaining that talent. The Directive recognises that across all EU member states, women are more likely than men to reduce their working hours or leave the workplace entirely to take care of children or dependent relatives.

The Directive requires Ireland, to introduce a suite of new family-friendly incentives. Once fully implemented into Irish law, employees will have more opportunity to seek flexible ways of working from their employers. Employers may also need to reimagine and adapt their expectations of a normal working week to retain key talent, something which has become much more apparent since the Covid-19 pandemic altered traditional working patterns, for office-based employees in particular.

What are some of the existing maternity and family-friendly rights that this new directive will complement?

Ireland is already ahead of the curve as we have strong benefits for employees in maternity, paternity, carers, parents and parental leave. Maternity leave is improved with extended leave (time off or reduced working hours) to facilitate breastfeeding breaks for new mothers from 26 weeks to 104 weeks following their childs birth. Transgender males who become pregnant will be able to avail of the protections of maternity leave legislation.

In addition to force majeure leave, employees now also qualify for up to five days unpaid leave per year for medical care purposes. Medical care leave allows employees to take time off to provide personal care or support to specific people (family members/someone they live with) who are in need of significant care.

From Monday, November 27, employees have been able to take up to 5 days paid domestic violence leave per year. The introduction of domestic violence (DV) leave is an initiative of the Irish government and not a requirement under the Directive. It supports employees (or if specific people connected to them are impacted by domestic violence) to take paid time off to enable them to access certain supports. Employees must be paid in full for any DV leave taken.

It will be really important for employers to sensitively manage requests from employees for DV leave, as employees will not always be able to ask for this leave in advance. It may also be challenging for employees to discuss domestic violence with their employer. The government contracted with Womens Aid over the last few months to develop policies, free training and support materials for employers to properly introduce domestic violence policies.

There is no minimum service requirement for an employee to qualify for these new benefits.

In Ireland, workers are eagerly awaiting the rights available to most people within the EU to request greater flexibility and remote working options, particularly workers with caring responsibilities

Unfortunately, some parts of the Work-Life Balance legislation have yet to commence in Ireland. The Workplace Relations Commission is expected to publish a Code of Practice to implement the final parts of the new legislation in early 2024. The Code of Practice will provide a framework for the remaining big-ticket items from the Directive that are eagerly awaited, including:

A right to request remote work;

A right to request flexible working arrangements for employees who have caring responsibilities.

The EU's new Work-Life Balance Directive will bring greater flexibility to Ireland's employees once, if as expected, it becomes part of life in Irish workplaces in 2024.





When will employees be able to formally apply to work remotely and/or work flexibly?

Once the Code of Practice is published, the last piece of the legislation will finally commence. The Code will outline a clear process to facilitate applications for employees with six months service to work remotely and/or flexibly. Remote working applications will be open to all employees. However, the purpose of flexible working is to support employees to provide care for their children or other specific people who need significant care. In other words, not every employee will be able to apply to work flexibly.

The application process for remote and flexible working will be in writing and quite prescriptive as to when the new arrangements start and end, what it will look like (eg, working from home two days a week) and how it will work in practice. Employers will generally have 4 weeks to respond to the application. They will be able to ask questions to understand the working arrangements. It will be possible to terminate the new working arrangements for a variety of reasons, such as if it is having a substantial adverse effect on the operation of an employers business due to, for example, the number of employees in the business.

What challenges will employers face in implementing the new flexibility measures?

Employers are likely to see an increase in the number of employees seeking to formalise their remote working arrangements. The greatest challenge is likely to relate to managing applications from groups of employees who want to compress their working week by working 40 hours a week over four rather than five working days.

Read More Business movers: People starting new jobs in Ireland

How do you anticipate the new directive will be received by employers and employees in Ireland?

The Code of Practice to support employers to manage remote and flexible working applications is one of the most eagerly awaited Codes in Irish employment law in decades. Employers understand that they need to meet employees demands to work differently. They want a framework within which to operate. Employees want to work smarter and more efficiently. This legislation opens the door to allow them to do that on a statutory footing.
Nama has warned of the possibility of being seen as an easy target if it rushed to settle outstanding court cases ahead of its planned final wind-down date in 2025.

In an update for the Department of Finance, the asset management agency said this could see it targeted by vexatious and costly new litigation if a perception developed that it was desperate to settle cases ahead of the deadline.

The briefing presentation said it would continue to try and pursue settlement options but only where it was deemed commercially advantageous and in line with its own legal obligations.

It also cautioned that there was the potential for new court challenges to emerge at any time and that it did not have the ability to control direction and outcomes in litigation.

Nama said the next 16 months were critical in its efforts to complete an orderly wind-down while continuing to deliver value to the Exchequer.

A slideshow for the Department of Finance said: Most, if not all, assets should be targeted for disposal by end-2024.

It detailed how 94% of Namas remaining assets were in Dublin and the adjoining counties, with just a small amount abroad or in counties outside Leinster.

Of Namas remaining assets, 94% are in Dublin and the adjoining counties.

It added that 79% of it was involved development land, with 35% of the total assets actively under development and 29% not active. The remainder was in a deleveraging process, according to data provided.

The presentation said Nama was continuing to cut its headcount but that this had come with its own challenges, with the risk of losing certain types of expertise.

It said this meant it needed to gradually reduce in size without compromising risk and [its] control framework.

Staff numbers for this year were predicted to be 93, reducing to 82 next year, and between 45 and 55 by 2025.

One slide from the presentation read: Difficulties in the retention of a broad set of skills and expertise to deliver on strategic objectives and facilitate wind-down. The retention of the right mix may become increasingly difficult especially if there is a loss of senior staff.

Nama said it would be prudent to target a higher headcount than had previously been advised, to ensure its efforts to finish up its work stayed on track.

The briefing document also explained how some bankruptcy and liquidation cases were very likely to drag on into the future.

Some of these were happening in the UK and in the USA, it said, and would require active monitoring by Nama.

It was always envisaged that some assets would still be on Namas balance sheet and some litigation cases would be outstanding at end-2025.

The pace of the monetisation of the portfolio has slowed due to challenging external macro conditions and signals that the portion of unsold assets in the residual portfolio at end-2025 may be larger than anticipated previously.

In a concluding section from the August 30 progress update, Nama said key goals remained generating the largest possible surplus for the State and intensive management of residential sites, including for social housing.

Asked about the briefing, a spokesman said: Nama is progressing its phased and orderly wind-down and aims to conclude its work by December 2025, having regard to the primacy of its Section 10 commercial mandate.
Two of Irelands biggest stars don period garb for The Doll Factory, a major new series adapted from Elizabeth Macneals best-selling novel. Set in Victorian England - but actually filmed on location in Ireland - the twisty new drama centres on a woman who paints dolls for a living, but really wants to become an artist.

Told through a sharp modern gaze, the suspenseful series looks at the ambitions of a number of people in a city humming with anticipation but also fraught with dangers.

Cork actor Eanna Hardwicke plays the enigmatic taxidermist Silas, while Saoirse-Monica Jackson follows up her role in the beloved Derry Girls with something completely different.

Bluebell is a cockney-accented sex worker with a canny knack for reading the characters who frequent the bar where she works.

Saoirse-Monica Jackson in The Doll Factory.

Shes woven in and out of a lot of everybody else's story, says Jackson. She's predominantly based in The Dolphin Pub and shes quite keen on the fact that maybe Silas isnt who hes presenting to the world he is.

There are big reveals to come in what is a gritty series that doesnt sugar-coat the challenges and dangers its characters face.

The thing about Bluebell and Silas is they're both in this world of class in Victorian London where everyone's interacting with each other, even if they're not supposed to be friends, says Hardwicke.

The scientists are down in The Dolphin Pub, the artists are in search of these women to be their muses and their models, painting them, using them and moving on. There's this transactional world between everybody and Silas plays his own role in that.

It crosses all strata - the poor people, the richer people, the upper class, the working class. Its a really fascinating time when the story takes place.

It's cool to step back in time. But I suppose you also want to have the feeling that it's living and breathing and not a museum piece. To do that in a really subtle way, as Elizabeth did in her book, and as Charley (Myles) did in her adaptation, I just love how they balanced all of that.

The cast of The Doll Factory.

The flagship winter series for Paramount Plus was a coup for the Irish film industry as it was entirely shot on location here, with Ireland doubling for Victorian England, as it has done with numerous other projects. The show filmed across various locations in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath, including Powerscourt and Kilruddery House It meant that both actors got to work on home turf with many crew members they already knew from other projects.

You really get to know people and it was a joy for me because I'd worked with loads of people in our crew before, says Hardwicke of the experience. When theres a bit of a family atmosphere it makes everyones job much easier.

They did a great job of getting away from some of the more used places. A lot of the interiors were on sets. But actually they used a lot of real-life locations, people's bedrooms, hallways, in period houses.

Interestingly, the Glanmire actor uses an Irish accent to play Silas, which he described as a hybrid between south Kilkenny, East Limerick and North Cork.

Somewhere in that triangle! I think that's the point, that it's about being a true depiction of the story. Victorian London would have been full of people from all over the world.

The success of Irish-made shows and films abroad seems to have also opened up Irish voices to international audiences. Its now commonplace for Irish actors to be asked to audition in their own accents for shows. Although Derry-born Jackson plays a Londoner in The Doll Factory, she loves having the opportunities to mix it up.

I think there's been a lot of remarkable work that has come from Ireland like Normal People and Derry Girls that have broken the mould, enriched people, and it's more like a comeback of the Irish accent, she says.

In Hollywood in the '70s and the '80s the Irish accent was quite popular. So we're having a bit of a renaissance, really. TV and film should be a true depiction of everybody and I think it always makes for a more interesting base. I never expected to work in my own accent, so I'm delighted by it.

Saoirse-Monica Jackson attends the "Onward" UK Premiere at The Curzon Mayfair on February 23, 2020 in London, England.

She also relished the chance to play a very different character, a year after saying goodbye to Derry Girls in what was a powerful and much-loved series finale.

Of course Derry Girls was my big break but I think it has been more fundamentally a bigger impact now, she says of taking on new projects. Getting to move away from that and have the confidence to sort of step back from that character and having the freedom to play other parts has been amazing for me and it's definitely filled me with confidence.

Hardwicke, too, has had a remarkable year. A starring role in the final series of Irish drama Smother was followed by rave reviews for his disturbing performance in BBCs The Sixth Commandment. He played real-life killer Ben Field, who inveigled his way into the lives of vulnerable people.

As in many of his projects, its all about venturing into the unknown. Ultimately it's all about the writing and then after that, I definitely always wanted to try different things, whether that be genre, the tone of something or the character, he says.

That's something I've always sought out. But really, it's just project to project. To go into something and go: right, this is frightening or this is scary or this is different. This is new territory - thats where the exciting stuff happens.

The Doll Factory is streaming on Paramount Plus from 27th of November, with the full box set available on Friday, December 1

Five films to watch out for in the next week:

Joaquin Phoenix in Napoleon
I need a hero. Im holding out for a hero til the end of the night.

As I belted out the Bonnie Tyler classic, I looked around and saw jubilant faces everywhere, all singing along and dancing like their lives depended on it.

I was with a few friends at an 80s/90s disco night at Ballycottons Sea Church. All busy mums in our 30s and 40s, we couldnt remember the last time wed been out dancing. The music was nostalgia central  from Belinda Carlisle and Bonnie Tyler to Backstreet Boys and Britney.

The energy in the room was infectious. Everyone was dancing to the same song, all in their own way.

Sure, myself and my friends have had plenty of great nights out. But this was different. In the taxi home, we gushed about how much we enjoyed it. What resonated with all of us was the feeling of being free, of not having any worries or cares, of not feeling self-conscious or judged.

Perhaps it was the company: Overwhelmingly women in their 40s, all of us probably with similar stresses and responsibilities.

For me, it acted like a much-needed recharge. The afterglow gave me a boost that helped me through a stressful few weeks.

One of my friends, Tara OSullivan, tapped into the feeling of abandon: It was great to be able to let my hair down, forget the day-to-day, and have a couple of hours of pure enjoyment and a relaxed mind.

For another friend, Sheeona Gorman, what was unique about the night was the feeling of connection in the room. There was a shared sense of joy, euphoria even, in the nostalgia of the music.

Cork-based Zumba instructor Sonia Le Bled echoes our feelings about dancing. She sees firsthand the positive effects it can have on the people who attend her class.

Its an opportunity for them to forget about everything else, all the worries and responsibilities, and let the music and the dancing take over. People who come to my classes tell me that the classes have helped them become more confident and less anxious. They also say that the positive energy they have at the end continues long after the class is finished.

Tara O'Sullivan, Deirdre McArdle and Sheeona Gorman at the Kindred Spirits Choctaw Monument at Midleton Co Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins

A project in Limerick is trying to harness this sense of wellbeing. Limerick Mental Health Association (LMHA) in conjunction with Dance Limerick, is providing dance classes to people who are managing mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

The dance classes are aimed at people who have left the acute psychiatric unit in Limerick and are attending their local mental health centre, says LMHA general manager Ian Hackett.

Our focus is body, mind, and social. Dancing ticks all three boxes. First and foremost, its a physical activity, which we know produces endorphins. These endorphins can naturally lift peoples mood, aid stress reduction and promote wellbeing. The classes also offer that social connection these people may be missing.

Social bonding is just one of the many benefits of dancing, particularly dancing in a group setting, like myself and my friends in Sea Church, or the people attending the Dance Limerick classes.

What we do in the classes has a ripple effect, says Arianna Guasson, dance artist with Dance Limerick.

The group dance in our class, and feel the boost from that activity. Then they might hear one of the songs from class on the radio at home and it sparks feelings of recognition and happiness; they may even dance at home to the music.

In the following days or weeks, they begin to feel more comfortable in their bodies and more confident. They start to share and participate more with the group and begin to feel more connected.

But social bonding is just the tip of the iceberg. Dancing can also contribute to a persons general wellbeing, from how they feel day to day to a general sense of purpose. Dance movement therapy is considered an effective treatment for people with depression, and dancing can also help people to feel more comfortable in their bodies, and more confident in general.

Its little wonder then that dancing is proving so popular, and theres so much demand for opportunities to dance.

From one-off nights to retro music festivals such as Forever Young in Kildare, people of a certain age want to dance.

One-off nights, like the event in Sea Church, sell out quickly. Forever Young, with its focus on 80s nostalgia, is one of the fastest-growing festivals in Ireland  more than 21,000 people attended in July 2023.

In the Cork area, Dance Fitness Ireland went from four locations just three months ago to its current tally of 17 locations across the county.

The beauty of dancing is how inclusive it is. Anyone can dance, anywhere. It could be a night out with friends, a dance class, or in our own homes. In the busy lives we lead, we often forget to stop, listen to the music, and have a boogie around the kitchen.

Try it. It might just do you the power of good.
Read these top tips for making sure you drive safely on wintery mornings.

Be prepared

Make sure to check your local forecast and traffic updates before leaving home. Its also a good idea to check your phone is charged in case you do need to call someone for help and to let someone know the route you are taking in case they need to track you down.

Use the main roads

Back roads are more likely to be exposed to snow and ice. Picture: iStock

If you can, try to choose a route that stays on the main roads as much as possible. Insurance company Aviva says these roads are more likely to be surfaced better and gritted.

For anyone in the countryside, see if there is a route that at least avoids high ground, which is more likely to be icy and exposed. Don't forget to also keep your lights on no matter how bright it is, especially on back roads.

Put the kettle down

Leave the boiling water in the kettle and do not, under any circumstances, throw it over your windscreen, unless you want to risk the glass cracking. Experts advise to start the car first and then use a screen scraper and de-icer if you can. If you do need to use water, make sure it's cold, it'll actually freeze slower than warm water.

Check your tyres

Colder weather can cause tyre pressure to decrease, according to Aviva. This could affect traction and make conditions even more dangerous.

You can find your manufacturer's recommended tyre depth in the cars manual or door pillar. Its usually between 4-6mm.

Heat in advance

Give yourself plenty of time to defrost your windshield and mirrors. Picture: iStock

Turn on your car heat in advance to make sure the inside of the windscreen is completely clear before you take off. Only use a cloth to wipe the screen as your hands will leave smears, making it harder to see. Don't forget to make sure your mirrors are also clear before taking off.

Check the coolant and oil

Keep an eye on your coolant level to make sure your engine doesnt freeze or overheat. Engine oil can also thicken in colder weather, possibly making it harder for the engine to start up. Using a thinner oil in winter is recommended.

Top up the petrol

Aviva recommends keeping your tank at least half full to help to prevent condensation building in the lines, which is at risk of freezing in cold weather. It's also a good idea in case you do get lost or need to drive somewhere for help.

Gear up

Aviva says to drive slowly in high gear to make sure you have control of the car in icy conditions. Picture: iStock

Aviva and AA recommend starting off in second gear if the roads are icy. Drive in the highest gear possible, and at a very slow speed when on flat ground. When driving downhill, use the third or fourth gear. If going uphill, keep a constant speed and avoid changing gear. If your car is an automatic, take a look at the manual override function in order to have more control or see if there is an ice option.

Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you, as stopping distance can be increased tenfold in icy conditions, according to AA.

And of course, if you hit ice never slam the brakes. Stay calm and steer straight through.

This article was first published in December 2020.
It was a powerful show of unity, compassion, and solidarity for the innocent victims of the Dublin stabbings, and marked a stark contrast to the shocking events that unfolded a week earlier.

Around 100 people gathered for a poignant candlelit vigil on OConnell St  just a short distance from Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire, where the horrific stabbings took place.

The event was organised exactly one week since the main street of the city was ripped apart by people hell-bent on rioting and looting.

However, in a display of peace, parents from the school, locals, and supporters brought their children along to stand together in icy winds to offer their thoughts and prayers to the victims.

Their prayers were for the five-year-old girl who remains in a critical condition in CHI Temple Street Hospital.

Childcare worker Leanne Flynn, who was injured as she protected the children, is in a serious but stable condition in the Mater Hospital.

We are mourning too, one parent said. There is an innocent child who is very sick.

We dont know what is happening, we have no news, and we are anxious about the child.

Our children are really scared and worried. This is their class friend. We dont know much information but we are here to give our support.

What happened is beyond anything anyone could ever imagine, and we are all suffering, but we cant even imagine what that childs family are going through, the parent said.

Anthony Herbert, Lisa Murry, and Zayb Murry of Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire at the candlelit vigil. Picture: Conor O Mearain/Collins Photo Agency

The gathering was set against the bright visual backdrop of the colourful images and animations projected at night onto the GPO, as part of the Dublin Winter Lights spectacle.

At around 7.30pm, the crowd lit their candles among the busy Christmas shoppers while one woman, Ann Whelan, led a decade of the Rosary.

There was camaraderie, restraint, and decency during the hour-long event, which was a world away from the venom that spilled out onto the streets of Dublin the previous week.

In all, three children from Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire  along with Ms Flynn  were wounded in the terrifying ordeal that later sparked rioting.

The suspect, a man in his late 40s, remains in hospital after he was wrestled to the ground by passers-by.

The passers-by intervened when the suspect produced a knife and started stabbing children.

The organiser of the event, Nathan Whelan, said: I live locally and wanted to do something for the five-year-old girl.

These are concerned parents; they want to do something.

Organiser Nathan Whelan, centre, at the peaceful vigil marking a week since the stabbings. Picture: Conor O Mearain/Collins

Many of them were afraid to come out tonight, but this is a peaceful event.

There was a heavy Garda presence on OConnell St and one mother, Aine Shields, said she felt unsafe coming into the city.

We have kids and we want to show our respects, she said.

When we were standing in the crowd, we were nervous, but we wanted to be here too.

When they had finished praying, the crowd walked to Temple Street Hospital, where they held a second vigil. They lit candles again, which they left on the main doorstop of the hospital, with the help of the gardai.

There was much delight when a number of nurses came to a window of the building and waved to the crowd, who all waved back before going home.

Mr Whelan said a vigil will be held at 7pm every Thursday until the child is well again.

He told the Irish Examiner: We will gather at the Spire again, say some words, and then go to Temple Street Hospital.

Hopefully more can see it was nice and peaceful, and we can get more people out. It will be every Thursday after that until that poor girl is in good health hopefully, he said.
Here is what happened on Friday at the UN's climate change summit in Dubai, Cop28:

Rishi Sunak and his king seem to be out of sync when it comes to climate ambitions

The UK prime minister has been sharply criticised by environmental activists and scientists for his government's watering down of its emissions targets in the coming years.

Cynics have pointed out that it is a political gambit aimed at shoring up Conservative Party support ahead of a general election by pandering to motorists and the oil and gas industry alike.

Mr Sunak has in recent months eased off on timelines for phasing out petrol and diesel cars, while major licences have been granted for the years ahead for fossil fuel exploration.

He doubled down at Cop28, claiming climate policies can only work if they benefit the British people and that the UK is merely a 1% overall emitter to global emissions.

By contrast, Britain's King Charles told the Cop28 audience that much more must be done.

"I pray with all my heart that Cop28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action. The hope of the world rests on the decisions you must take," he said.

We are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits and into dangerous uncharted territory. We are carrying out a vast frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition all at once, at a pace that far outstrips nature's ability to cope."

Leaders from around the world make their country's case

France President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a plenary session at the COP28 UN Climate Summit. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will have to wait until tomorrow to speak but today, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, French president Emmanuel Macron, and Indian president Narendra Modi spoke.

India has been accused of being among the world's major polluters. Mr Modi proposed India to host the Cop event in 2028.

He claimed: "India has walked the talk on climate action", as he defended his country. He added: "India has presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world.

"Despite India being home to 17% of the population of the world, its contribution to global carbon emissions is less than 4%."

Ms von der Leyen said global emissions must peak by 2025, adding that world leaders must phase out fossil fuels and reduce methane emissions.

The words "phasing out" and "phasing down" have become one of the biggest bones of contention as countries try to come to a consensus.

Many fossil fuel producers have insisted that "phasing out" language is unacceptable, while environmental scientists and activists say phasing out is essential, and that phasing down is simply not enough.

Smaller countries tell how they are paying the price of climate change

Leaders of smaller countries, the real victims of a warming planet, have told their counterparts of the dangers they face due to climate change.

President of the Seychelles, Wavel John Charles Ramkalawan, president of the Seychelles, said he was disheartened that many climate finance commitments are yet to be fulfilled even as the climate crisis intensifies.

"Small island developing states are on the frontline of climate change, he said, and they urgently need money to tackle the fallout.

Smaller countries typically bear the brunt of climate change despite emitting miniscule carbon emissions compared to richer countries.

President of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid, warned that rivers in his country are now under threat from drought linked to climate change.

The drought in the south of Iraq, the record level temperatures, desertification, and sand storms have led to economic challenges that resulted in a larger level of poverty and internal displacement," he said.

UN warned 'the massive impacts of human-induced droughts are only starting to unfold'

The almost dry water reservoir of Combani visible, on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte in October 2023. Picture: AP Photo/Gregoire Merot

The UN Convention to Combat Desertification said 630,000 km2, roughly the combined area of Italy and Poland, was impacted by drought in 2022 as it experienced its hottest summer and second warmest year on record - almost four times the average 167,000 km2 impacted between 2000 and 2022.

It is 500 years since Europe last experienced a drought as bad as in 2022, the report said.

It is 78 years since drought conditions were as severe as they were in the La Plata basin of BrazilArgentina in 2022, reducing crop production and affecting global crop markets.

There is an 80% expected increase in drought intensity in China by 2100.

Agreement on transforming food systems signed by 130 world leaders

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the Transforming Food Systems in the Face of Climate Change event on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Picture: Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP

The Cop28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action affirms that "agriculture and food systems must urgently adapt and transform in order to respond to the imperatives of climate change".

However, the lack of binding commitments has led to charges that such an agreement, while encouraging at face value, could become yet another vacuous policy with little real-world meaning.

Senior researcher for Third World Network, Lim Li Ching, said: Its encouraging to see that food systems are finally taking their place at the heart of climate negotiations and at the highest levels of government.

"We cannot meet our global climate goals without urgent action to transform the industrial food system, which is responsible for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions and 15% of fossil fuel use.

But while this is an essential first step, the language remains very vague  and specific actions and measurable targets are conspicuously missing.

ActionAid Ireland CEO, Karol Balfe, said industrial agriculture, and its role in driving deforestation and factory farming of livestock, is the second largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to its reliance on fossil-fuelled fertilisers.

At the same time, agriculture is the sector most vulnerable to climate impacts. As corporations have taken control over our most basic human needs, the worlds food systems have become complicit in their own destruction, she said.

Ms Balfe said the announcement is a missed opportunity to take the bull by the horns when it comes to agriculture".
The jury in the trial of Kyle Hayes, who denies assault and violent disorder, has been asked by his barrister to give him his life back after he said the All Star hurler had waited four agonising years for the case to be brought to trial.

Mr Hayes, a five-time All Ireland hurling champion, is accused of being part of a mob that chased, punched, stamped and kicked Cillian McCarthy, (24), outside the Icon nightclub, Limerick City, on October 28, 2019.

Mr Hayes is also alleged to have punched Mr McCarthy on the dance floor of the nightclub after squaring up to him and his friend Craig Cosgrave earlier on the night as he did not like that they were talking to two women who they knew.

Mr Hayes denies these accusations, and specifically one count of assaulting Mr McCarthy, causing him harm, as well as two counts of violent disorder.

Craig Cosgrave, (24), from Caherally, Grange, Co Limerick, who allegedly threw punches on the dance floor while defending himself and Mr McCarthy, is charged with violent disorder in the club.

Earlier in the trial, Judge Dermot Sheehan told the jury to discharge themselves regarding charges against Jai Chaudri (22) of Carheeny, Kildimo, who was accused of assault causing harm to Mr McCarthy, and one count of violent disorder.

Two gardai told the trial they saw Kyle Hayes kicking a male on the ground outside the Icon nightclub.

One of the gardai, Detective Garda Dean Landers, said he told Kyle Hayes to remain where he was, and that Kyle Hayes broke free from his grip and ran away.

Detective Garda Landers said he chased the Limerick hurler, repeatedly shouting to him Gardai, stop but he kept running.

The detective eventually caught up with the Limerick hurler and arrested him.

During interviews with gardai, Mr Hayes denied assaulting Mr McCarthy and he admitted running away because he said gardai were roaring at him.

He told gardai he eventually stopped running because he thought running away made me look guilty.

Another witness, Christopher Heelan, told the court he saw Kyle Hayes punch and stand on Mr McCarthy outside the Icon.

Mr McCarthy gave evidence that Mr Hayes approached himself and Craig Cosgrave in Smyths Bar earlier on the night and warned them to stay the fuck away from two females, who both men were friends with and chatting innocently with.

Mr McCarthy said he was chased and tripped outside the club and that Kyle Hayes and others stamped, kicked and punched him while he was on the ground.

In his closing address to the jury, Prosecution counsel, John OSullivan BL, said it was clear that Kyle Hayes was the aggressor on the night, and Mr McCarthy was not a threat to the hurler.

24-year-old Cillian McCarthy. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Mr OSullivan said Mr Hayes outburst of violence on the dance floor could not be justified.

He said Kyle Hayes ran off after the alleged assault outside the club, because he knew he was in trouble and he knew he had assaulted Cillian (McCarthy).

Kyle Hayes was part of a deliberate and vicious attack on Cillian McCarthy. He said Kyle Hayes credibility was greatly undermined by his responses to gardai following his arrest.

Counsel for Craig Cosgrave, Seamus Roche SC, told the jury: Whatever force Craig Cosgrave used, it was not unlawful, it was justified.

He (Mr Cosgrave) perceived his friend to be in imminent danger. Mr Roche said Mr Hayes acted aggressively towards Mr Cosgrave in Smyths Bar.

He suggested that cctv footage, which was shown to the jury, appeared to show Mr Hayes grabbing Mr Cosgrave by the head on the dance floor and saying something to him.

Mr Roche said Mr Cosgrave did not engage in violent disorder, and had acted out of concern for himself and Mr McCarthy.

He (Mr Cosgrave) went in self-defence of his friend. It was what any good friend would do, it was the honorable thing to do.

Mr OSullivan, prosecuting said the state had proven its case against the two accused.

He said punches allegedly thrown by Mr Cosgrave on the dance floor could not be justified.

Kyle Hayes barrister, senior counsel Brian McInerney, said Mr Hayes denies all of the charges.

He said that, if Mr Hayes and others had been kicking and stamping on Mr McCarthy where are the injuries to support that?

He suggested Cillian McCarthy was angry on the night and started this, and that Kyle Hayes had tried to defend himself in the club.

He said, CCTV footage shown to the jury appeared to show Mr McCarthy being thrown out of the club by security staff. Kyle Hayes was not thrown out  what does that tell you?.
A jury in the trial of five-time All-Ireland winning Limerick hurler, Kyle Hayes, who is accused of assault and violent disorder, has retired to consider its verdict at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

Mr Hayes, (25), is accused of having been part of a mob that chased, punched, stamped and kicked Cillian McCarthy, (24), during a vicious and sustained attack outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick City on October 28, 2019.

The four-time All Star hurler is also alleged to have punched Mr McCarthy on the dance floor of the nightclub after having earlier squared up to him and Mr McCarthys friend, Craig Cosgrave, (24).

The prosecution claimed Mr Hayes was upset at this because one of the women was seeing a friend of his. Mr Hayes denies these accusations, and specifically one count of assaulting Mr McCarthy, causing him harm, as well as two counts of violent disorder.

Mr Cosgrave, from Caherally, Grange, Co Limerick, who allegedly threw punches on the dance floor while trying defend himself and Mr McCarthy, is charged with violent disorder in the club.

Earlier in the trial, Judge Dermot Sheehan told the jury to discharge themselves regarding charges against Jai Chaudri (22) of Carheeny, Kildimo, who was accused of assault causing harm to Mr McCarthy, and one count of violent disorder.

On Thursday, in his closing speech, Mr Hayess barrister, senior counsel Brian McInerney, asked the jury to give him (Kyle Hayes) his life back. Mr McInerney said the last four years waiting for the trial were a torture for Mr Hayes.

Garda evidence

Two gardai gave evidence they saw Mr Hayes kicking a male on the ground outside the Icon nightclub on the night. One of the gardai, Detective Garda Dean Landers, said he told Kyle Hayes to remain where he was, and that Kyle Hayes broke free from his grip and ran away.

Detective Garda Landers said he chased the Limerick hurler, repeatedly shouting Gardai, stop but he kept running. The detective eventually caught up with the Limerick hurler and arrested him.

During interviews with gardai, Mr Hayes denied assaulting Mr McCarthy and he admitted running away because he said gardai were roaring at him. He told gardai he eventually stopped running because he thought running away made me look guilty.

Another witness, Christopher Heelan, told the court he saw Kyle Hayes punch and stand on Mr McCarthy outside the Icon.

Cillian McCarthy testimony

Mr McCarthy gave evidence that Mr Hayes approached himself and Craig Cosgrave in Smyths Bar earlier on the night and and warned them to stay the f**k away from two females, who both men were friends with and chatting innocently with.

Mr McCarthy said Mr Hayes later charged towards him on the dance floor, and punched him in the head a number of times. He told the jury that CCTV footage they had seen clearly showed Kyle Hayes punching me.

Mr McCarthy said he was chased and tripped outside the club and that Kyle Hayes and others stamped, kicked and punched him while he was on the ground.

Closing addresses

In his closing address to the jury, Prosecution counsel, John OSullivan BL, said it was clear that Kyle Hayes was the aggressor on the night, and Mr McCarthy was not a threat to the hurler. Mr OSullivan said Mr Hayes outburst of violence on the dance floor could not be justified.

He suggested that Kyle Hayes ran off after the alleged assault outside the club, because he knew he was in trouble and he knew he had assaulted Cillian (McCarthy).

Kyle Hayes was part of a deliberate and vicious attack on Cillian McCarthy. He said Kyle Hayes credibility was greatly undermined by his responses to gardai following his arrest.

Counsel for Craig Cosgrave, Seamus Roche SC, told the jury: Whatever force Craig Cosgrave used, it was not unlawful, it was justified. He (Mr Cosgrave) perceived his friend to be in imminent danger.

Mr Roche said Mr Hayes acted aggressively towards Mr Cosgrave in Smyths Bar. He suggested that CCTV footage, which was shown to the jury, appeared to show Mr Hayes grabbing Mr Cosgrave by the head on the dance floor and saying something to him.

Mr Roche said Mr Cosgrave did not engage in violent disorder, and had acted out of concern for himself and and Mr McCarthy. He (Mr Cosgrave) went in self-defence of his friend. It was what any good friend would do, it was the honorable thing to do.

Mr OSullivan, prosecuting, said the State had proven its case against the two accused. He said punches allegedly thrown by Mr Cosgrave on the dance floor could not be justified.

Cillian McCarthy. (pictured) gave evidence that Mr Hayes approached himself and Craig Cosgrave in Smyths Bar earlier on the night and and warned them to stay the f**k away from two females, who both men were friends with and chatting innocently with. File picture: Brendan Gleeson

Kyle Hayes barrister, senior counsel Brian McInerney, said Mr Hayes denies all of the charges. He offered that, if Mr Hayes and others had been kicking and stamping on Mr McCarthy where are the injuries to support that?.

He suggested Cillian McCarthy was angry on the night and started this, and that Kyle Hayes had tried to defend himself in the club.

He said, CCTV footage shown to the jury appeared to show Mr McCarthy being thrown out of the club by security staff. Kyle Hayes was not thrown out - what does that tell you?.

In conclusion on Thursday, Mr McInerney told the jury: This has been hanging over Kyle Hayes for four long yearsI ask you to give him back his life. Take back this chalice of torture from his lips, and return him the bosom of his family.
The four gardai sat across a bench, directly behind their legal representatives. On another bench there were more gardai, all in civilian clothes, there to offer support.

It was a strange sight; this many members of An Garda Siochana attending court in a private capacity.

An official from the Garda Representative Association was also present, again an unusual happening.

Something is going on with the gardai in Limerick and all the signs are that it is unprecedented.

The occasion was Court 9 in the Four Courts of Dublin last Tuesday. Four gardai who have been suspended from the force for over three years are making an application to have their suspensions declared illegal.

Paul Baynham is the garda bringing the action that was at hearing, but Alan Griffin, Niall Deegan, and John Shanahan are engaged in similar actions. All four listened as lawyers batted back and forth about their present and their future.

Across the Liffey, in Leinster House, while the court hearing was going on, the plight of the four got a mention in the Seanad.

The timing was coincidental. The Seanad debate was mainly concerned with the performance of the gardai in Dublin on the night of the riots. Then Timmy Dooley, a Fianna Fail senator from Co Clare, spoke about the suspended gardai.

No specific allegations have been made to them in relation to what wrongdoing they are suspended for, he said.

No charges have been brought. No disciplinary actions have been taken.

In the views of some, this response is not proportionate to the allegations that are made, and could have been dealt with by disciplinary procedures. It has dragged on for three years. This has had a traumatic effect on the lives of those gardai but, over and above that, it has had a chilling effect on gardai all over the country.

Senator Timmy Dooley said the suspensions have had a 'chilling effect on gardai all over the country'. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

The senators comments succinctly summed up the case for the four gardai in Court 9 and was probably accurate as to the ripples being felt among rank and file, certainly in the Mid West, if not further afield.

They were suspended in November 2020 as part of an investigation into squaring fixed-charge notices, for which penalty points usually accrue.

None of them have been charged with anything, or even arrested. A fifth garda who is also suspended has stepped back from the legal action.

The legality of their suspension will be decided by Ms Justice Siobhan Phelan, based on law, precedent, and principles.

But the detail that emerged in the court of the investigation in Limerick is curious.

The investigation is being conducted by officers of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, based in Dublin. Around 2,000 statements have been taken in the course of this investigation into squaring tickets in the Limerick area.

A total of 198 files in which a square is suspected have been opened, 130 gardai have been interviewed in relation to these, and 38 files submitted to the DPP for a decision. Three serving gardai are facing criminal charges.

The investigation, the court was told, is ongoing, four years after it was started. One strand of inquiry from the gardais lawyer was why they have been suspended and not the 122 others who were interviewed.

Also, the gardai say, they have been given no proper reason as to why they are suspended.

The court also heard that a file was submitted in relation to Garda Baynham to the DPP in July 2020, before he was suspended. A further file was submitted in July 2022. There has been no outcome to any of this.

The length of time the files have been with the DPP is highly curious. The only matter at issue is whether or not any garda failed to proceed with issuing a ticket after detecting an offence.

In Garda Baynhams case, most of the tickets investigated concerned speeding and holding a mobile phone but one

involved bad parking.

Ms Justice Phelan said it was difficult to comprehend the lack of information provided to the court by the commissioner for Garda Baynhams suspension.

Counsel for the commissioner suggested that the garda was aware of why he was being suspended. The judge said she would hope to give her ruling before Christmas.

The squaring of tickets was a major issue in 2014, following allegations made by former sergeant Maurice McCabe.

The investigation was led by an assistant commissioner, John

OMahony, and he had a crack team under him.

This was not confined to Limerick or anywhere else. McCabe and Garda John Wilson made complaints about 2,198 terminated tickets. Of these, 661 were terminated by three senior gardai, two inspectors, and a superintendent.

The three were deemed to have breached regulations, but it was made plain that no corruption took place.

Slap on the wrist

A release from An Garda Siochana said all three would face disciplinary action, but thereafter it appears that this largely consisted of a slap on the wrist. None were suspended.

The whole high-powered investigation took six months to complete, but in reality practically all the work was done in four months.

Such a timetable for so many tickets appears phenomenal compared to whats going on in Limerick today.

Following that probe and various fall-out, the whole system was

transformed. Yet, it would appear the NBCI believes that it is something of a scourge in Limerick and so endemic that it required the suspension of the four gardai who were in court last week. And the investigation is still ongoing.

Only those who are at the heart of the investigation, and their superiors up to the commissioner, have full knowledge of the facts. At a time when Garda morale generally is very low and, as outlined by Mr Dooley, being seriously impacted by this case, the whole investigation gives rise, at the very least, to questions around proportionality.
What do you do when cashed-up tourists ignore all of the warnings about elephants and animal cruelty? You buy the elephant.

Internet users are chipping in to raise $42,000 (990,000 Baht) to buy 54-year-old Kham Phaeng and rescue her from a grim existence in a Thai city.

Despite being emaciated and covered in scars, the ageing female is forced to continue to work the sometimes seedy streets of coastal Pattaya, around two hours south of Bangkok.

Daniel Villota (left) and Vicki Kiely (right) are fundraising to buy a 54-year-old elephant named Kham Phaeng. Source: Supplied

Vicki Kiely from rescue group Unchained Elephants explained to Yahoo News Australia just how bad her condition is. Her teeth are completely worn down. Shes only got one eye  her right eye is gone. And I think shes got some parasites in her stomach, so she needs veterinary care, she said.

She was previously a trekking elephant and in the logging industry. So you can see from her body, her hips and her back are in really bad shape.

What will happen to the money raised?

As of Friday, more than 80 per cent of the funds Unchained Elephants needs to rescue Kham Phaeng had been donated. But with only days to go they were working hard to try and acquire enough cash to get them over the line on December 12.

Once purchased, the elephant will be trucked seven hours from Pattaya to Kanchanaburi, where the elephant sanctuary Somboon Legacy Foundation is located.

We reached an agreement with the owner to buy her freedom, cover the transportation, and then support her at Somboon as well, Daniel Villota from Unchained Elephants said.

He doesnt believe the money paid to her owner will be used to send any more elephants into servitude for one key reason.

The actual camp is in a really bad condition  its rundown. They have eight elephants and they need the funds to take care of them, he said.

He hopes once the purchase is made, they can help the owners transition to more ethical tourism options.

Kham Phaeng is underweight and covered in scars after a life in captivity. Source: Supplied

More stories about elephants in Thailand

Story continues

Tourists ignore warnings about elephant cruelty

Its by working with elephant ride operators that many charities believe they can achieve more positive outcomes.

Despite aggressive marketing campaigns that highlight the horrific methods used to subjugate elephants into submission, tourists continue to purchase rides.

They're usually tied by their four legs for days to weeks on end, depending how long it takes them to learn the specific tricks they need to do. During this process, they're only given water. They starve them. They beat them. They burn them. They prod them with sticks. They shout at them, Vicki said.

It's just It's torture until their will is bent But when we were with Kham Phaeng we saw tourists coming in, they sounded like they were from America.

If you wish to donate, you can do so here.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new weekly newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
A major redevelopment of the Dingle Distillery, which had been backed by Failte Ireland, has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanala.

The distillery, which produces Dingle Gin as well as whiskey and vodka, had been given the go-ahead by Kerry County Council to almost double its size two years ago. The plans accorded with the councils tourism strategy and local plans.

However, two local residents, Peter Malone and Elisabeth Kinsella both of Milltown, Dingle appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

The boards decision to refuse permission means it has rejected the advice of its own inspector, Suzanne Kehely, who had recommended permission with several conditions. This would include "an odour management plan" to be put in place by the developer so smells would not exceed accepted levels.

Storage of ethanol or other flammable or hazardous chemicals was to be limited under the conditions, as well as under Health and Safety legislation.

The siteon the western side of the River Milltownfronts onto the Slea Head drive and is outside the urban core of Dingle. The proposal included retention, part-demolition, of the existing structure as well as significant expansion of buildings and car and bus parks.

A three-storey viewing tower was planned at the front. Failte Ireland supported the expansion and creation of a visitor centre as a key strategic tourism facility. Udaras na Gaeltachta had also consented to the proposal and there were no objections from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

In his objection, Peter Malone said visitors experience is competing with the protection of amenities of locals who are already challenged by the direction and intensification of the local tourism industry.

Design, lighting, and traffic congestion were other factors in Mr Malones detailed submission.

In its decision, the board said that it was not satisfied that "the proposed industrial development" would not severely impact on the adjacent residential development.

It also raised issues about the capacity of the site to cater for the intensified development. Visually, the tower was also of concern to the board. The applicants Drioglann Uisce Dhaingean Ui Chuis Teoranta, have indicated they will submit a revised proposal to the council.
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.

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.

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.

Israel will free 30 Palestinian prisoners later in the evening under the deal.

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.

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.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, right, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shake hands prior to a meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel. Picture: Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP

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.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped on October 7.

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.

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.

The two attackers, brothers from an area in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed.

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip during a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Picture: AP Photo/Hatem Ali

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.

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.

This handout photo provided by GPO on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, shows Israeli released hostage Raz Ben-Ami meeting with her daughters Julie, Ella and Natali at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. Picture: GPO via AP

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 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.

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.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  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.

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.
Israels military said it had resumed combat operations in the Gaza Strip minutes after a temporary truce with Hamas expired on Friday, blaming the militant group for breaking the ceasefire.

The truce expired at 7am (0500 GMT) on Friday. The halt in fighting began a week ago, on November 24. It initially lasted for four days, and then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.
Qatar, which had mediated the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, has expressed "deep regret" over the resumption of Israeli bombardments of Gaza, and said efforts are continuing to renew the truce.

Israeli fighter jets hit targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after a week-long truce expired as the war with Hamas resumed in full force.

Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory and Israel dropped leaflets over parts of southern Gaza urging people to leave their homes, suggesting it was preparing to widen its offensive.

Renewed hostilities heightened concerns for about 140 hostages who remain in Gaza, after more than 100 were freed as part of the truce.

The collapse of the ceasefire came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli officials and urged them to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Avi v(Saul Loeb/Pool/ AP)

Mr Blinken was on his way on Friday to the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai, where he will meet Arab and other leaders.

It was not clear to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed the appeals of the United States, Israels most important ally.

Mr Netanyahus office said on Friday that 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.

In the leaflets it dropped in southern Gaza, Israel urged people to leave homes east of the city of Khan Younis. The leaflets also warned that Khan Younis was now a dangerous battle zone.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war, with many taking shelter in Khan Younis and other places in the south.

One of the first air strikes on Friday destroyed a large building in Khan Younis. Moments later, residents were seen frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached. One wounded person was carried away on a stretcher.

In Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development near the city, a strike hit an apartment in a multi-storey residential building while other parts of the building appeared largely intact.

In the refugee camp of Maghazi, rescuers clawed through the rubble of a large building hit by warplanes.

Only hours in to the renewed offensive, the Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza said 32 people had been killed and dozens wounded.

Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on Hamas, accusing the militants of operating in residential neighbourhoods.

Since the war erupted on October 7, in response to a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel, many of those killed in Israeli bombardments have been women and children.

In Israel, sirens warning of incoming rockets blared at several communal farms near Gaza, a sign that Hamas also resumed attacks, but there were not reports of hits or damage.

Mr Netanyahu said the war resumed because Hamas had violated the terms of the truce. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens, he said.

The Israeli militarys announcement of the resumption of strikes came only 30 minutes after the ceasefire expired at 7am (0500 GMT) on Friday.

The halt in fighting began on November 24. It initially lasted for four days, and then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

A woman is overwhelmed by emotion after being released from prison by Israel (Nasser Nasser/AP)

Virtually all of those freed were women and children but the fact that few such hostages remained in Gaza made it hard to reach a deal to extend the ceasefire.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers.

It was not immediately clear whether negotiators were continuing efforts for another temporary ceasefire. Qatar and Egypt, which have played a key role as mediators had sought to prolong the truce by another two days.

41281039[/readmore
Israels war with Hamas has resumed in full force, with air strikes hitting targets in the Gaza Strip minutes after a week-long truce expired.

Black smoke billowed from the besieged territory and Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City and southern parts of the enclave, urging civilians to leave their homes to avoid the fighting.

In Israel, sirens warned of incoming rockets at several communal farms near Gaza, a sign that militants have also restarted attacks.

The renewed hostilities heightened concerns for Palestinians  many of whom have been displaced by the war  as well as about 140 hostages still in Gaza, after more than 100 were freed during the truce.

Qatar, which has served as a mediator along with Egypt, said negotiators were still trying to restart the ceasefire. Qatars Foreign Ministry singled out Israels role in the resumption of fighting and said it complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe.

A day earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli officials and urged them to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas.

Mr Blinken arrived on Friday at the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai, where he was to meet Arab foreign ministers and other officials.

Israels retaliation for Hamass deadly October 7 raid has killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted most of Gazas 2.3 million people and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are crammed into the territorys south with no exit, raising questions over how any Israeli offensive there could avoid heavy civilian casualties.

It was not clear to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed appeals from the United States, Israels most important ally.

Mr Netanyahus office said on Friday that 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.

Only hours in to the renewed offensive, the Health Ministry of Hamas-controlled Gaza said 109 people had been killed and dozens wounded.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Tel Avi v(Saul Loeb/Pool/ AP)

In the leaflets it dropped in southern Gaza, Israel urged people to leave homes east of Khan Younis, warning that the southern town was now a dangerous battle zone. Other leaflets warned residents of several neighbourhoods in Gaza City in the north to move south.

The Israeli military also released a map carving up the Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered parcels, and asked residents to learn the number associated with their location in case of an eventual evacuation. It was not immediately clear how Palestinians would be updated on calls for evacuation.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war in an extraordinary mass exodus that saw many take shelter in Khan Younis and other places in the south.

One of the first air strikes on Friday destroyed a large building in Khan Younis. Moments later, residents were seen frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached. One wounded person was carried away on a stretcher.

In Hamad City, a Qatari-funded housing development near the city, a strike hit an apartment in a multi-storey residential building, while other parts of the building appeared largely intact.

Elsewhere, a strike hit a home near Gaza City in the north, and in the refugee camp of Maghazi, in central Gaza, rescuers clawed through the rubble of a large building hit by warplanes.

Israel has said it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the group, accusing the militants of operating in residential neighbourhoods. Since the war erupted on October 7, in response to a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel, many of those killed in Israeli bombardments have been women and children.

In Israel, white smoke trails could be seen in the skies over Sderot on the border with northern Gaza after Israels missile protection systems activated.

Mr Netanyahu said the war resumed because Hamas had violated the terms of the truce. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens, he said.

Hamas claimed Israel had asked for the release of 10 female soldiers, which it rejected.

Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the truce, saying in a statement that it had rejected all offers Hamas made to release more hostages and bodies of the dead.

The Israeli militarys announcement of the resumption of strikes came only 30 minutes after the ceasefire expired early Friday.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

A woman is overwhelmed by emotion after being released from prison by Israel (Nasser Nasser/AP)

Virtually all of those freed were women and children but the fact that few such hostages now remain in Gaza made it hard to reach a deal to extend the ceasefire.

Hamas, a militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, had been expected to set a higher price for the remaining hostages, especially Israeli soldiers.

Mr Netanyahu has been under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home but his far-right governing partners have also pushed him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

A total of 81 Israelis, including dual nationals, were freed during the truce, most of whom appeared physically well but shaken. Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  were also released, including several men.

The Palestinian prisoners who were released were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several were women who were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers.
Scotland Yard has said a locally led police plan is in place across London this weekend to deal with protests expected in around 13 boroughs on Saturday after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire ended.

There are no plans for any stand-alone central London demonstrations of the sort seen over the past two months, but a number of smaller events are planned, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Police previously said there were 300,000 people on the Pro-Palestine march in London on November 11, although organisers estimated there was more than 800,000.

On its website, Stop the War Coalition urges supporters to join an action in your local area to call for a permanent ceasefire now, with protests planned in areas including Camden, Redbridge, Newham, Enfield, Hounslow, Islington, Lewisham, Southwark and Wimbledon.

Other rallies are planned in Harrow, Kilburn and Tottenham, according to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

The Metropolitan Police has said each event will be locally policed, with additional officers from our pan-London public order policing teams available to provide support as required.

Grieving family members whose loved ones have been killed in the conflict will also lead a vigil outside Downing Street on Sunday for all those suffering because of the most recent outbreak of fighting.

The event, called Building Bridges, together for Humanity, will see faith leaders and politicians join grieving families in the first mass event of its kind since Hamas militants entered Israel on October 7.

Just Stop Oil has also planned a mass march through London on Saturday in solidarity with the innocent climate prisoners, following its spate of recent slow marches.

The Mets Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine, gold commander for the weekend, said: We know that the impact of the conflict in the Middle East continues to be felt here in London, in particular by Jewish and Muslim communities.

The ceasefire that has held for the past week has now ended which will renew concerns and fears in those communities most directly affected.

Officers will keep this in mind as we approach another weekend of protest.

While the scale of the events will be reduced in comparison to previous weeks, our policing approach to protest will be unchanged.

We will continue to recognise the right to protest, however, that must be done lawfully.

Officers will approach these events with a positive and decisive attitude, we will not hesitate to take action where antisocial behaviour, hate crime or expressions of support for proscribed organisations take place.

We are taking a locally led approach but we have put plans in place that mean there are plenty of additional resources available to support officers if needed.

In addition to the locally led events related to the conflict in the Middle East, the Met said it is also preparing for further JSO protests.

It said that has arrested JSO activists on 649 occasions, with 338 charges secured so far since the start of their latest campaign of disruption on October 30.
Israel's warplanes pounded Gaza on Friday after talks to extend a week-old truce with Hamas collapsed, sending wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and others onto the streets to seek safety.

Eastern areas of Khan Younis in southern Gaza came under intense bombardment as the deadline lapsed shortly after dawn, with columns of smoke rising into the sky, Reuters journalists in the city said.

Residents took to the road with belongings heaped up in carts, fleeing for shelter further west.

In the north of the enclave, previously the main war zone, huge plumes of smoke rose above the ruins, seen from across the fence in Israel.

The rattle of gunfire and thud of explosions rang out above the sound of barking dogs.

Sirens blared across southern Israel as militants fired rockets from the coastal enclave into towns.

A Palestinian girl wounded in Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is brought to a hospital in Khan Younis. Picture: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair

Israel and Hamas accused each other of wrecking the negotiations, though the White House singled out the Palestinian militant group, saying it had failed to produce a new list of hostages to release to enable an extension of the truce.

The UN said the fighting would worsen an extreme humanitarian emergency.

"Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office in Geneva, said.

Within hours of the truce expiring, Gaza health officials reported that 109 people had been killed and dozens wounded in air strikes.

Israel's military said its ground, air and naval forces had struck more than 200 what it called "terror targets" in the enclave since the morning.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he had been in one of Israel's war jets during the assault to watch it up close.

"The results are impressive. Hamas only understands force and therefore we will continue to act until we achieve the goals of the war," he said.

Palestinians wounded in Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to a hospital in Khan Younis. Picture: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair

Egyptian and regional sources told Reuters Israel has informed several Arab states that it wants to carve out a buffer zone on the Palestinian side of Gaza's border to prevent future attacks as part of proposals for the enclave after war ends.

Medics and witnesses said Friday's bombing was most intense in Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been sheltering from fighting further north. Houses in central and northern areas were also hit.

"Anas, my son!" cried the mother of Anas Anwar al-Masri, a boy lying on a stretcher with a head injury in the corridor of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. "I don't have anyone but you!"

'You have been warned'

Further south in Rafah, residents carried several small children, streaked with blood and covered in dust, out of a house that had been struck.

Mohammed Abu-Elneen, whose father owns the house, said it was sheltering people displaced from elsewhere.

At the nearby Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital, the first wave of wounded were men and boys.

Gazans said they feared that the bombing of southern parts of the enclave could herald an expansion of the war into areas Israel had previously described as safe.

Leaflets dropped on eastern areas of the main southern city Khan Younis ordered residents of four towns to evacuate - not to other areas in Khan Younis as in the past, but further south to the crowded town of Rafah on the Egyptian border.

"You have to evacuate immediately and go to the shelters in the Rafah area. Khan Younis is a dangerous fighting zone. You have been warned," said the leaflets, written in Arabic.

Palestinians evacuate survivors of the Israeli bombing In Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Friday. Picture: AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman

Israel released a link to a map showing Gaza divided into hundreds of districts, which it said would be used in future to communicate which areas were safe.

On another faultline, a Lebanese official said Israeli shelling killed two people in south Lebanon on Friday. And the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, said it had carried out several attacks on Israeli military positions at the border in support of Palestinians.

The Israeli army said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon and air defences had intercepted two launches.

Reuters could not confirm any of the battlefield accounts.

Blinken says Hamas reneged on commitments

Each of the warring sides blamed the other for causing the collapse of the truce by rejecting terms to extend the daily release of hostages held by militants in exchange for Palestinian detainees.

The pause, which began on Nov. 24, had been extended twice, and Israel had said it could continue as long as Hamas released 10 hostages each day.

But after seven days during which women, children and foreign hostages were freed, mediators failed at the final hour to find a formula to release more, including Israeli soldiers and civilian men.

Israel accused Hamas of refusing to release all the women it held. A Palestinian official said the breakdown occurred over female Israeli soldiers.

Qatar, which has played a central role in mediation efforts, said negotiations were still going on with Israelis and Palestinians to restore the truce, but that Israel's renewed bombardment of Gaza had complicated its efforts.

Palestinians evacuate survivors of the Israeli bombing In Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Friday. Picture: AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ending a trip to the region, said Hamas had started firing rockets before the pause in hostilities ended and had "reneged on commitments it made in terms of releasing certain hostages".

He added he had met officials from Arab states and discussed how to create a "durable, lasting and secure peace".

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas in response to the October 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, has ruled Gaza since 2007.

Israel's assault has laid waste to much of the territory.

Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed and thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble.
Fierce fighting rocked Loikaw, the capital of Karenni (Kayah) State, on Friday, as the towns remaining residents expressed fears for their lives under escalating junta air strikes.

A huge blaze raged in Loikaw on Friday as allied resistance forces continued their attacks in an effort to drive out regime troops as part of Operation 1111, named after its launch date last month.

Loikaw residents said a blast occurred in the compound of the juntas 54th Infantry Battalion, where supplies of weapons and ammunition are reportedly frequently delivered by regime helicopters.

The Irrawaddy was unable to independently verify the claim, however.

Since Nov. 11, allied resistance forces made up of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, Karenni Army, Karenni National Peoples Liberation Front and People Defense Force groups have been attacking regime outposts and bases in Loikaw and neighboring Pekon Township in southern Shan State.

So far, over 35 junta outposts and basesincluding positions taken up by regime forces at Loikaw University and the District Courthave been captured by allied resistance forces, according to the KNDF.

The group also claimed that over 200 regime troops including two commanders have been killed by allied resistance forces in clashes since Nov. 11.

Over 50 junta troops have surrendered to the resistance forces, and at least 45 resistance members have sacrificed their lives during the clashes, the KNDF said.

Large numbers of weapons and quantities of ammunition have also been seized by resistance groups.

The juntas administrative mechanism no longer functions in Loikaw, once a fortified junta stronghold, according to the KNDF.

Marwi of the KNDF told The Irrawaddy that resistance forces now have control over half of the town, and are able to roam freely in these areas.

Clashes continued to rage in Loikaws Naung Yar and Daw Au Khu residential wards, residents posted on Facebook.

Residents who have fled Loikaw expressed concern for their family members and relatives due to the escalation of heavy shelling and aerial bombardments by the junta.

At least three bodies have been spotted in Loikaw streets but residents are unable to retrieve them due to shooting by junta forces, residents reported.

The Karenni Humanitarian Aid Initiative, a group that monitors regime violence, estimates that at least 76 people, including 12 children, have been killed and over 70 injured due to junta shelling, air strikes and shooting in Karenni State since Nov. 11.
David Wilcox Executive editor Follow David Wilcox Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A review of ambulance data in Cayuga County makes the closure of American Medical Response's station in Auburn at the end of the year "far less alarming" than initially feared, an official said.

In a Wednesday letter to emergency medical services providers in the county, Director of Emergency Services Riley Shurtleff said the data suggests AMR's exit will "strain but not break the system."

"Several remaining agencies are willing to step forward and pick up their volume," he said in the letter, which he shared with The Citizen.

"For the immediate future," Shurtleff continued, "existing mutual aid and new agreements will take the place of AMRs responses and ensure that the public receives an ambulance when requested."

Shurtleff told The Citizen in October, shortly after AMR informed the county of its exit, that the provider responded to an estimated 3,000 calls annually. However, data shows AMR responded to only 2,436 emergency dispatches in 2022, and 2,813 in 2021. Cancellation rates those years were 44% and more than 30%, respectively. An additional 9.25% of those calls resulted in patient refusals, he said.

Overall, Shurtleff continued, AMR has only been transporting patients an average of four times a day the last few years. Cancellation and refusal data from 2023 is trending in the same direction.

Meanwhile, other EMS providers in Cayuga County responded to 12,380 calls in 2022 compared to AMR's 2,436, Shurtleff said. While losing the provider will mean losing one 24-hour advanced life support unit and one 12-hour ALS unit, the county will retain 12 staffed 24-hour ALS units, another five volunteer ALS or basic life support units, and 10 reserve units based on crew availability.

Skaneateles ambulance eyes Cayuga County expansion due to AMR exit The ambulance service in Skaneateles is eyeing an expansion into Cayuga County as a result of American Medical Response's plans to exit the ar

"Ambulances will continue to respond within Cayuga County," he said. "This situation has been cause for a clear and honest look within to see where some agencies can do more and others cannot."

Still, Shurtleff continued, the situation remains "concerning."

The director of emergency services stressed the need for municipal funding of ambulance agencies, citing rising equipment costs and "stagnant reimbursement rates"  two reasons AMR said it was leaving Cayuga County. The New York State Senate is considering a bill to classify ambulances as an essential service, which would necessitate that funding, but its passage is not guaranteed.

In the meantime, Shurtleff's office has appealed to the county Legislature for ambulance funding in its 2024 budget, which is being finalized. His office has also shared with local EMS providers information on certificates of need, existing response boundaries and suggested next steps after AMR's exit. In response, several local officials have reached out to providers about preventing disruptions in service.

Shurtleff ended the letter by encouraging providers to call the county's E-911 center to update their ambulance box alarms, and to request AMR response data for their municipality from his office.

"I encourage each of you to start or continue conversations with your governing bodies to ensure adequate coverage and funding support for EMS in 2024 and beyond," he said. "Going forward, it will take the involvement of local, county and state government to ensure systemic change that will result in sustainable emergency medical services for everyone from Fair Haven to King Ferry."

Ambulance absence: Auburn, other EMS providers respond to AMR exit Providers of emergency medical services in Cayuga County aren't entirely sure how those services will look beginning in 2024.
Continuous bombardments by regime troops in western Myanmars Rakhine State have forced a mass exodus of civilians from both towns and villages over the past two weeks.

The onslaught comes after the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) launched an offensive against junta forces in Rakhine on November 13, breaking a fragile yearlong ceasefire. On November 16, junta troops pounded Pauktaw after the AA seized the towns central police station, prompting a mass evacuation by residents.

The town is completely deserted now, a woman resident who fled Pauktaw told The Irrawaddy.

The main market has been destroyed in the fighting. Each day, I look at the town from where I am hiding and cant hold back my tears as I see smoke rising. I heard that all the houses along the riverbank have been burnt down.

The two sides have been fighting for control of Pauktaw for more than two weeks. The regime is conducting a joint operation involving the army, navy and air force.

Civilians in neighboring Minbya have also fled to the countryside amid daily bombardment by Light Infantry Battalion 379 and a hilltop outpost and nightly rampages through the town by junta vehicles firing indiscriminately, a resident told The Irrawaddy.

The regime is not fighting the AA, but instead attacking civilian populations in the town. At night, they target wards with heavy artillery. Many neighborhoods have been hit and residents dare not stay. Almost all the people have fled the town, the resident said.

The AA issued a public alert about the junta bombardments on Thursday, advising civilians on how to protect themselves. The ethnic armed group warned the public to stay alert for airstrikes including drone attacks and dig trenches for protection.

Food shortages are also being reported across the state after the Myanmar military blockaded roads and waterways following the renewed fighting.

People from rural areas cant go to towns to buy goods, a Minbya Township resident. Food items are short in supply in rural villages. Rice mills cant operate as they cant buy diesel. We dont know what to do.

On November 24, the central market in Ponnagyun town went up in flames as junta warships pounded the town. Civilians have since fled the town in droves, said a resident.

The main market was destroyed by junta shelling, so nothing was left for people to buy. Many people fled with only the clothes on their backs as they [junta forces] opened fire on the town. Some people could not afford bus fares and had to walk for a whole day through paddy fields to rural villages. Petrol prices have increased threefold. The bus fare has also increased from 5,000 kyats [around US$ 1.50] per person to 15,000 kyats.

Residents have also fled Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U towns due to random junta artillery strikes and armed patrols. Meanwhile surrounding villages are running short of food and fuel.

Farmers in Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U and Rathedaung townships said they are unable to bring in the harvest because junta troops in nearby bases are randomly firing into their fields.

Meanwhile residents of Rakhine States capital, Sittwe, report a growing sense of public panic after the regime blockaded the town on November 14.

At least 30 civilians have been killed and nearly 50 injured in regime artillery and drone attacks since November 13, according to Rakhine-based media outlets.

The regime has denied it is bombarding residential areas, alleging the AA is responsible for the attacks.
An urban resistance group on Friday killed U Than Tun, 54, the chair of the pro-junta New National Democracy Party (NNDP) in Thingangyun Township, Yangon.

At least two men shot him with pistols. They fired six rounds at his Nga Moe Yeik ward house and he died in an ambulance, said a resident.

The neighbor said: Before 2010 he was in the National League for Democracy [NLD] and had a Daw Aung San Suu Kyi picture in his home shrine. But he backed the military after joining the NNDP.

The Nga Moe Yeik Mission resistance group said U Than Tun was targeted for his vocal junta support, including organizing rallies.

Ahead of the 2021 coup, U Than Tun said the military had a right to seize power and pledged the NNDPs support. On social media, he repeatedly demanded death sentences for democracy activists U Jimmy and U Zeya Thaw and posted to celebrate their executions last year.

At rallies at Sule Pagoda, U Than Tun praised junta airstrikes as righteous and said he supported regime violence against civilians.

He left the NLD and with U Thein Nyunt, who is currently a junta adviser, founded the National Democratic Force with other former NLD members. U Thein Nyunt founded the NNDP in 2012 and U Than Tun joined.

When U Thein Nyunt joined the militarys State Administration Council after the 2021 coup, U Than Tun became the NNDP chair.

The NNDP was among 34 political parties that met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing before the November 2020 general election in Naypyitaw.

The meeting heard concerns from minor parties about the general election and some parties sought the military chiefs assurance that he would intervene if voting was unfair.

Min Aung Hlaing promised to act if necessary and seized power on February 1, 2021.
Myanmars junta launched airstrikes as resistance groups tried to seize Kawkareik town in Karen State on Friday morning, according to residents.

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), and other resistance groups attacked junta bases in the town before dawn.

A resident told The Irrawaddy on Friday: The fighting is intense. The military is shelling and a jet fighter and small plane are attacking.

A pro-junta Telegram channel reported that the military had responded to resistance attacks with airstrikes and shelling.

On November 24, the KNU warned all junta civil servants in Kyaikdon, Sukali, Wawlay Mying and Kawkareik towns to quit.

Residents said staff at the general administration department and other offices were staying away and some had fled since the KNU warning.

Most residents have reportedly left the town.

A philanthropist said three civilians had reportedly been injured in fighting but there is no confirmation.

Kawkareik is on the trade route with Thailand and around 100 trucks are purportedly trapped on the Asia road to Myawaddy on the border.

On October 27, the KNLA and resistance allies attacked junta targets in the town, where KNU Brigade 6 is based.

The junta has been shelling civilian targets throughout Kawkareik Township, the KNU reported.

Two novice Buddhist monks were wounded but a regime shell at a monastery in Ann Pa Lay village on November 27.

A Maung Ma Thit villager was wounded by Light Infantry Battalion 97 shelling on November 29.
An uptick in resistance attacks against regime targets has been reported in Myanmars commercial hub Yangon over the past week, despite an increase display of miliary hardware of troops by the junta, according to urban revolutionary groups and residents.

The attacks are occurring after junta troops retook positions at schools in several Yangon townships following the launch of coordinated anti-regime offensives, including Operation 1027, which began in late October in upper Myanmar.

Several urban resistance groups have pledged to increase attacks on regime targets in Yangon and have urged the citys residents to steer clear of military targets. They have also asked city residents to provide information about regime activities in Yangon.

Urban resistance group Nga Moe Yeik Mission Network said it had on Friday shot dead U Than Tun, the chairman of the New National Democracy Party founded by U Thein Nyunt, a former member of the juntas governing body, the State Administrative Council.

His party was among 34  led by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party  that urged Min Aung Hlaing to stage a coup after the 2020 general election, resistance groups said.

U Than Tun also led a pro-regime rally in Yangon city center on February 1, 2021 shortly after the military began arresting democratically elected government leaders and lawmakers.

Nga Moe Yeik Mission Network said the victim also pressed the military regime to execute two detained pro-democracy activists, Ko Phyo Zaya Thaw and Ko Jimmy.

Peoples Defense Force (Khayan) said it used drone bombs and 40-millimeter explosives to attack regime forces at three locations  a police station, a monastery and a military checkpoint  in the town of Yangons Khayan Township early Thursday morning.

No details on military casualties and damage, if any, were reported.

PDF (Khayan) said it and other resistance groups also used 40mm explosives to attack the township police station in the town of Thongwa Township on Thursday morning, damaging the building and injuring a junta policeman.

On Thursday night, PDFs in North Okkalapa reportedly used three bombs to attack regime forces stationed at No. 3 Basic Education High School in the township.

Resistance group Urban Special Operation said it used two 40mm explosives to bomb a commercial compound of military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd in Yangons Insein Township on Wednesday night.

A truck and an office building were damaged in the attack, the armed group said, citing informants in the military. Some nearby residents said they heard explosions from the compound.

Resistance group Yangon Army said it attacked regime forces stationed at the offices of the junta-run Electric Power Cooperation Department in North Oakkalapa and South Oakkalapa townships on Nov. 23 and 24.

The group urged people to avoid regime targets and bases, saying it would increase attacks on them.

The junta faces constant attacks from PDFs and ethnic armed organizations in every region and state except Ayeyarwady Region. It swiftly lost more than 300 bases and 19 towns in upper Myanmar following the launch of Operation 1027.
The Myanmar junta continued to suffer losses and face relentless attacks over the past four days as Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) stepped up attacks on regime targets across the country.

Incidents were reported in Shan State and Yangon, Bago, Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs.

Some military casualties could not be independently verified.

Fierce clashes continue across northern Shan

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said it attacked and seized one more junta base along with weapons and ammunition in the Kokang area of northern Shan State on Thursday, the 35th day of Operation 1027.

On the same day, the MNDAA and other local resistance groups jointly conducted three drone strikes on a military unit operating in Hseni Township.

Local resistance groups also destroyed one more bridge linking Hseni and Lashio townships to disrupt the movements of military reinforcements.

Fierce clashes were reported in Muse, Namkham, Nawnghkio and Kyaukme townships on Thursday as the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), MNDAA and Mandalay PDF attacked regime targets and junta bases. The junta responded with artillery shelling and air strikes.

Junta bases attacked in Yangon

Peoples Defense Force (Khayan) said it used drone bombs and 40-mm explosives to attack regime forces taking up positions at a police station, a monastery and a military checkpoint in the town of Khayan, Thongwa Township, Yangon early on Thursday morning.

However, details of military casualties and damage were unknown.

On that morning, it and other resistance groups used 40-mm explosives to attack the township police station in Thongwa Town, damaging the building and injuring a junta policeman, said PDF (Khayan).

The group also urged people to be alert due to the potential for more attacks on regime targets in the areas.

On Thursday night, North Okkalapa Township PDF groups reportedly used three explosives to attack regime forces stationed at No. 3 Basic Education High School in the township.

Military unit ambushed in Bago

At least eight regime forces were killed and three injured in Pauk Khaung Township, Bago Region as Pyay District PDF Battalion 2602 attacked a military unit of 30 troops near Khoke Chaung Village for two days on Monday and Tuesday, said Bago Region PDF.

Early Wednesday morning, the PDF group also attacked a military checkpoint on a road in Pauk Khaung Township, causing serious injuries to two regime troops.

The junta checkpoint was notorious for harassing and extorting money from civilians. It prohibits civilian vehicles from carrying more than three ricebags and each household is allowed to carry only 13.44 kg of rice, said Bago Region PDF.

Military unit repeatedly ambushed in Sagaing

 

A military unit faces resistance drone strikes in Wetlet Township on Wednesday. / Black Wolf Army

Theik Hdi Shin PDF group said it and three other PDF groups attacked a military unit of 78 troops in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing at least two regime troops and injuring eight others.

Heavy explosives, land mines and firearms were used to ambush the junta troops while they were returning from Wetlet Township to Shwebo Township.

Another resistance group, Black Wolf Army, said it and two other resistance groups also conducted three drone strikes against the same military unit in Wetlet Township on Wednesday, killing army Captain Tin Tun Aung and injuring three others.

Pro-junta militia house raided in Mandalay

A pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia member was killed and five weapons and some ammunition were seized in Taungtha Township, Mandalay Region on Wednesday when Myingyan District PDF Battalion 3 raided a house of pro-regime militia members in Tamike Thar Village, the PDF group said.
As he faces multiplying military and economic setbacks, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing cannot change doing what he is best known for  blaming others  but his list of those he says are responsible for Myanmars escalating crisis is now expanding to include just about everyone.

Foreign drone experts, bank staff siding with the National Unity Government and citizens of Myanmar in general were added to his list earlier this week. The latter are lazy, Min Aung Hlaing implied. Myanmar has abundant natural resources, fertile soil and a temperate client but its people are selling their country short because they do not work hard enough, he said.

New to his list is senior ex-general Thein Sein whose quasi-civilian government held power from 2011 to 2016. The former president is responsible for Myanmars economic slump, Min Aung Hlaing told a junta cabinet meeting.

It was the first high-level regime meeting Min Aung Hlaing has held since the emergency meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on November 8.

Although he seized power in a coup against an elected civilian government in February 2021, Min Aung Hlaing is now accusing ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) of trying to grab power with guns. They need to change the way they think, he told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

He continued to allege that foreign drone experts were involved in attacks on junta bases and outposts in northern Shan State last month. EAOs had been using drones with advanced technology to drop thousands of bombs in their attacks, he said.

The military regime has been struggling to exert its control across Myanmar since the putsch in 2021, but since the Brotherhood Alliance of three EAOs launched an offensive known as Operation 1027 on October 27, it has lost any semblance of administrative control over large swaths of territory.

Before Operation 1027, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) had been frequently lambasted by the military regime for providing military training to Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and attacking junta bases.

Blame ethnic groups

At Wednesdays meeting, Min Aung Hlaing accused the KIA of involvement in the narcotics trade and of expanding its strength by illegally selling the countrys resources to a neighboring country, inferring it was China.

He also accused the KIA of training and arming radical youths from Sagaing and Magwe regions. The KIA has since been involved in terrorist attacks in both regions and attacked junta bases in Kachin State while the regimes army was battling other EAOs in northern Shan State, he added.

Min Aung Hlaing said about 6,500 troops from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Taang National Liberation Army, KIA, Arakan Army, other armed ethnic-Kokang groups  as well as foreign experts  had joined the fighting in Kokang Self-Administered Zone.

He did not name the country the foreign experts hailed from at Wednesdays cabinet meeting, but at the meeting on November 8 he said junta positions in northern Shan State were being bombed mainly with China-made drones that can be bought in Myanmar with ease.

People sympathetic to Myanmars military claim China is behind Operation 1027, despite the MNDAA insisting that no foreign experts are involved in the Brotherhood Alliances offensive against the junta. The MNDAA is one of three members of the alliance.

Min Aung Hlaing also complained that the ethnic Rakhine Arakan Army had betrayed him by breaking a ceasefire and participating in the offensive in northern Shan State. It did this despite the fact that he personally visited Rakhine State in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha in May, and his regime spent millions from state funds on aid and recovery in the state.

Since fighting renewed in the Rakhine State on November 13, the regime has blockaded all the roads and waterways in the coastal state.

Min Aung Hlaing also blamed the Karen National Union for fighting his military after decades of relative peace. Its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, has attacked junta outposts, Myawaddy and Kawkareik towns, and blown-up bridges, he said.

He also accused EAOs of expanding their arsenals during years of peace, and exploiting peace by training and selling weapons to PDFs.

Blame Thein Sein

Min Aung Hlaing has often blamed the ousted National League for Democracy government for the faltering economy under his rule, but at Wednesdays meeting he singled out the government of former president Thein Sein, which held power from 2011 to 2016.

The elected government that came to power in 2011 did not support state-owned enterprises, but privatized or closed them, and the manufacturing industry, the key pillar of the national economy, suffered as a result, Min Aung Hlaing said.

Myanmar has been running deficits because it has to import more than it can export, he added.

It was a remarkable about face. In March, Min Aung Hlaing paid respects to and received advice from Thein Sein and other former generals. But as he loses control, he is now blaming them.

The problem with Myanmar is that its people do not work hard enough, Min Aung Hlaing said, noting that the country has great potential for prosperity due to its abundant natural resources, fertile soil and temperate climate.

Blame bank staff

Min Aung Hlaing also pointed his finger of blame at bank staff in Sagaing Regions Kawlin Town, which is now controlled by resistance forces, saying their cooperation allowed money from state-owned Myanma Economic Bank and private banks in Kawlin Town to easily fall into the hands of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG).

More than 40 billion kyats were lost when PDFs threatened staff and robbed a private bank, Min Aung Hlaing said.

The NUG said on November 14 that it had seized over 95 million kyats from Myanma Economic Bank, but would ensure that people do not lose their savings. On Thursday, it said it had seized more than 4.4 billion kyats from five private banks including Kanbawza and AYA.

Min Aung Hlaings math  his additional ability  can be hard to fathom, especially when all he can do is point his finger.
1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On December 1, Dongfeng Motors premium new energy vehicle brand VOYAH announced that it had delivered 7,006 new cars in November, marking a staggering 365% year-on-year soar.

Photo credit: VOYAH

For the period of January to November this year, VOYAHs cumulative sales figures reached 40,266 units, shooting up 129% compared to the same period last year.

VOYAH has been on a sales streak, seeing a consecutive six-month month-on-month rise in sales. Particularly, since August the automakers monthly deliveries had seen a consecutive 1,000-unit increase each month, showcasing a robust performance. Moreover, the company has expanded its reach by entering markets in such countries as Norway, Finland, and Denmark, experiencing a continuous uptick in overseas sales.

VOYAH currently offers three models on the market, namely, the VOYAH FREE, the VOYAH Dreamer, and the VOYAH Zhuiguang, which encompass SUV, MPV, and sedan categories.

VOYAHs CEO Lu Fang set an ambitious target of doubling sales this year to reach 38,800 to 58,200 units, a goal seemingly within reach based on the current performance. At an event on November 10, VOYAHs Assistant General Manager and Sales Director, Shao Mingfeng, expressed the aspiration to achieve 10,000 units in monthly sales in December, aiming to surpass 50,000 units for the whole year.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- In November 2023, AITO, the premium new energy vehicle brand of the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), delivered 18,827 new vehicles.



Photo credit: AITO

Among these, the new AITO M7 contributed 15,242 units of deliveries, accumulating total deliveries of over 27,000 units.

Looking to expedite deliveries, AITO expects to ship 23,000 new vehicles in December, with plans to hit a monthly delivery capacity of 30,000 vehicles from 2024.

The success of the new AITO M7, which has been available on the market for two and a half months, has already secured over 100,000 confirmed orders. This can be attributed to its exceptional intelligent experience, spacious interiors, and leading-edge intelligent safety features. Notably, the M7 Intelligent Driving Edition accounted for 60% of orders, emphasizing the growing importance of intelligent driving for consumers. To cater to varied preferences, the new M7 Max Rear-Wheel Drive Intelligent Driving Edition hit the market on November 28, starting at 289,800 yuan.

Furthermore, the HIMA was officially introduced in November as well, which represents Huawei's most comprehensive collaboration mode with automotive enterprises. This union harnesses Huawei's advanced smart automotive innovation technology and encompasses comprehensive support across product definition, quality control, sales channels, after-sales service, and brand marketing. As a key member, AITO is committed to continuously providing superior products and services within this alliance.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Ecological restoration of Chagan Lake in NE China brings bright fishery, eco-tourism prospects

People's Daily Online) 15:10, December 01, 2023

At dawn, workers at a fishery on Chagan Lake in Qian Gorlos Mongolian Autonomous County, Songyuan city, northeast China's Jilin Province, haul part of a fishing net from under the ice, watching plump fish jump out of the hole they dug there the previous night.

"This is the 'lucky blind box' that were about to launch soon," Xu Jian, one of the workers, told People's Daily.

He explained that they were testing a new tourism experience that allows visitors to make a hole in the ice and retrieve submerged nets. The fish caught in the nets will be offered as a reward to visitors who have taken part in the experience, according to Xu.

Local fishermen catch fish on the frozen Chagan Lake in Songyuan city, northeast China's Jilin Province, Dec. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Chagan Lake has a sound ecological environment and is home to many different species of fish, including bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, catfish, and silver carp, according to a credible source, who said that 5,000 tonnes of fresh fish are harvested from the lake every year.

As the fish population in Chagan Lake and the income of local people were significantly increased through the continuous improvement of the lakes ecosystems, the idea of ecological conservation has taken deep root in the minds of local fishermen, according to Zhang Wenping, deputy general manager of Chagan Lake fishery Co., Ltd., a company based in the Chagan Lake Tourism and Economic Development Zone, Qian Gorlos Mongolian Autonomous County.

Local fishermen used to catch whatever fish they could regardless of their size, but now they have switched to nets with bigger meshes so that only big fish can be caught, Zhang said.

The company also releases fish fries of different species into the lake every year, according to Zhang, who noted that the fish that live in the lake can benefit from its healthy ecological environment while also helping prevent eutrophication, thus creating a virtuous circle.

Because of the sustainable practices and outstanding performance of the local fishery industry, Qian Gorlos Mongolian Autonomous County has been recognized as a national demonstration county of healthy fish farming, and the fishery on Chagan Lake has been recognized as a healthy aquaculture demonstration farm by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Chagan Lakes stunning scenery and the organic fish harvested from it have transformed the lake into an enticing eco-tourism destination. Local businesses such as restaurants, B&B hotels, and agritourism businesses now thrive year-round.

We used to be off duty after 4 p.m. Now we can work until night falls. Since the environment here has got better and better in recent years, tourists can enjoy more activities and stay longer here. That also means higher incomes for us, Song Dongyang, head of a cruise boat fleet of a yacht club of Chagan Lake fishery Co., Ltd., told People's Daily.

Zhu Jiao, owner of a fish restaurant by Chagan Lake, echoes Songs views.

We were fisherfolk in the past. When we decided to enter the catering industry, our relatives all disapproved of the idea, as they thought it would be too risky," Zhu recalled.

In the initial stage of the process of developing tourism businesses around Chagan Lake, only people from neighboring cities would visit the lake in winter, Zhu explained, adding that unstable business prompted owners of fish restaurants near Chagan Lake to work part-time jobs in slack seasons.

"We didn't have much business in any other seasons except winter, so I sold popsicles and handicrafts when my restaurant wasn't busy. Now there's hardly an off season. I receive seven to eight phone calls from customers in various cities every day," she said.

Thanks to the ever-growing number of tourists drawn by Chagan Lake, Zhu's business has been transformed from a tile-roofed house with three rooms into a facility with more than 20 guest rooms that can accommodate over 300 diners.

Focusing on the natural appeal of Chagan Lake, Songyuan city has pooled resources to transform itself into a famous tourist city, incorporating 81 types of seven kinds of eco-tourism resources into its overall planning for the goal.

During the first half of this year, the city received nearly 7.19 million tourist visits. It's estimated that the city's annual number of tourist visits will exceed 10 million and its annual tourism revenue will surpass 15 billion yuan ($2.12 billion).

Chagan Lake was not always as beautiful as it is today. All these thriving scenes were unimaginable in the 1970s, when the water surface area of Chagan Lake continued to shrink due to disruption to water inputs from upstream.

"Local people had to make a living by doing odd jobs or making salt and alkali. Life was so hard at that time," said Shan Junguo, director of the publicity center of the Chagan Lake Tourism and Economic Development Zone.

Since 1976, local authorities have taken comprehensive measures to restore the lakes ecosystems, including diverting high-quality water from major rivers, planting aquatic vegetation, and optimizing plantation structure of surrounding farmlands.

These efforts have steadily improved the water quality of Chagan Lake, leading to a thriving ecology and flourishing fisheries and tourism in the locality.

Chagan Lakes scenery is picturesque from every angle now, Shan said as he took pictures of the lake.

After Chagan Lake was connected to the river system, consisting of the Songhua River, Chagan Lake, and the Nenjiang River in northeast China, the entire lake can be completely refreshed every three years, according to Gao Hongchen, deputy head of the management committee of the Chagan Lake Tourism and Economic Development Zone.

The busy ice fishing season is coming in a month, when it will get so crowded that there will be traffic jams on the lake, Gao said, pointing to the frozen lake, where an idyllic scene heralded an abundant harvest of fish.

Ecology is the most valuable resource that we should spare no effort in protecting, said Li Xiaojie, Party chief of Songyuan city.

Well stay committed to our efforts to grow stronger by leveraging while conserving our ecological resources, and make our golden calling card of Chagan Lake shine even brighter, he added.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

NIO newly deploys 29 stores, 265 charging & battery swap stations in November

On December 1, NIO announced the addition of 3 NIO Houses, 13 NIO Spaces, 11 NIO Service Centers (including 6 overseas), 2 Delivery Centers, 138 Battery Swap Stations (including 3 overseas), 127 Charging Stations (including 2 overseas), and the integration of 42,845 third-party charging piles globally in November 2023.

Photo credit: NIO

FAW Group signs strategic cooperation framework with Guangdong Provincial Government

On November 29, FAW Group and the Guangdong Provincial Government signed a strategic cooperation framework in Guangzhou. The collaboration aims to promote innovation, production, marketing, and social initiatives in the automotive sector, fostering high-quality development and advancing the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Yanfeng inaugurates modular factory inside SERES facility in Chongqing

Auto parts supplier Yanfeng celebrated the official opening of its modular factory in Chongqing city on November 30. This novel approach, establishing manufacturing units for interior, seats, and exterior components within the SERES Intelligent Factory, marks a pioneering move benefiting both SERES and Yanfeng.

AITO delivers 18,827 vehicles in November 2023

In November 2023, AITO, the premium new energy vehicle brand of the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), delivered 18,827 new vehicles.

Leapmotor boasts 130% YoY surge in November deliveries

In November, Leapmotor saw its monthly delivery volume surged to a historic high at 18,508 units, marking a remarkable 130% surge from a year ago.

VOYAH delivers 7,006 vehicles in November 2023

On December 1, Dongfeng Motors premium new energy vehicle brand VOYAH announced that it had delivered 7,006 new cars in November, marking a staggering 365% year-on-year soar.

ARCFOX  T5 starts pre-sale at 155,800 yuan

On November 30, ARCFOX, the high-end electric vehicle brand under BAIC Group, kicked off pre-sale of the ARCFOX  T5 all-electric SUV, introducing four distinct trim levels priced between 155,800 yuan to 203,800 yuan.

SAIC Volkswagens ID. family sees monthly deliveries hit record high in Nov. 2023

SAIC Volkswagen's ID. family, reaped stellar performance in November, with a monthly delivery record of 15,600 units. According to the Sino-Germany joint venture, it was the highest-ever sales figures it has achieved in a single month.

Ji Yue issues 30,000-yuan price reduction on Ji Yue 01 Robocar

On November 30, Xia Yiping, CEO of Ji Yue, the automotive robot (Robocar) brand jointly backed by Geely and Baidu, officially announced a significant price reduction across the Ji Yue 01 series.

GAC Group, GEM forge green partnership for new energy industry development

On November 29, 2023, a significant move in the realm of sustainable energy was marked as GAC Group and GEM Co., Ltd. ("GEM") officially inked a strategic cooperation framework agreement at the GAC Center.

SAIC Motor introduces JSW Group as strategic investor of MG Motor India

SAIC Motor, a prominent Chinese automobile giant, and JSW Group of India joined forces by signing a strategic cooperation agreement in London, aiming to capitalize on the rapidly growing Indian automotive market. This collaboration positions JSW Group as a strategic investor, injecting vital support into MG Motor India's quest to expand its market share in India.

IM Motors delivers 8,703 vehicles in Nov., including 8,158 LS6s

IM Motors, the premium electric vehicle brand co-backed by SAIC Motor, Alibaba Group, and Zhangjiang High-Tech, announced today it delivered 8,703 vehicles in Nov. 2023. Notably, the LS6 all-electric SUV stood out, recorded a monthly delivery volume of 8,158 units, which surged 125% from the previous month.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- NIO delivered 15,959 vehicles in November 2023, reflecting a 12.6% year-over-year increase, the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker announced today.

The Nov. deliveries consisted of 10,545 electric SUVs and 5,414 electric sedans.

Cumulative deliveries of NIO vehicles had reached 431,582 units as of November 30, 2023.

All-New ES6; photo credit: NIO

As for expansion of its sales and service network, in Nov., NIO newly deployed 3 NIO Houses, 13 NIO Spaces, 11 NIO service centers (including 6 overseas), and 2 NIO delivery centers worldwide.

For the same month, NIO also announced addition of 138 battery swapping stations (including 3 overseas) and 127 electric vehicle charging stations (including 2 overseas). Besides, NIO had access to 42,845 third-party charging piles in the past month.

The month of November marks a significant milestone as NIO initiated external cooperation on battery swapping-related businesses. On November 21, Changan Automobile and NIO signed a cooperative agreement in Chongqing city. This groundbreaking collaboration aims to establish battery swap standards, facilitate the construction and sharing of battery swap networks, engage in joint R&D of battery-swap-enabled vehicle models, and implement an efficient battery asset management system.

Then on November 29, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and NIO Holding Ltd. inked a strategic cooperation agreement on battery swapping as well. The collaboration encompasses a broad spectrum, including battery standards, battery swapping technology, construction and operation of power swap service network, R&D and customization of battery-swap-enabled vehicle models, and battery asset management and operation.
MINNEAPOLISCarnal Media announces that it has signed international adult star Bastian Karim as its newest exclusive performer.

The Colombian-born performer will debut on CarnalPlus for BoysForSale, and in 2024, he will headline a brand new website addition to CarnalPlus. Karim is currently one of Europes most sought-after talents, as a Grabbys EU winner for Best Twink (2022), Best Jock and Best Couple (2023) in honor of his hit release Men at Play with co-star Sir Peter.

Becoming an actor was my first goal when I was 17; I dreamed about it, Karim said. I wanted creative and financial freedom, and Im so happy with my decision, as I love my job and cant imagine doing anything else.

He moved to Spain, where he has lived for the past four years, and found it was a natural fit because they speak Spanish too. I had to start a new life in a new country and be away from my family to follow my dreams, but now Spain is my home.

In 2017, Karim launched his career shooting for BoyFun in Prague, where he lived for two years after unsuccessful first attempts in Spain. I was in a bar in Prague drinking beer and someone asked me about doing porn. I thought it was a joke because everyone in Spain had said no, no, no ... I wasnt the typical Colombian guy with big muscles and tattoos and was constantly told I was not what they were looking for.

From there, Karim began working more and more frequently with other European studios. "At first people were ignoring me, and now theyre messaging me for help getting into the business, he said.

In addition to performing, Karim is interested in the technical side of the business. Im always curious about learning new things ... I studied graphic design and cinematography, which I love and apply to everything Im doing in porn. I love design, cameras, lights, all of it ... everything behind the scenes of production.

While he enjoys his fast-paced profession, Karim maintains a down-to-earth lifestyle that includes indulging in films, TV, music, dancing and readingas well as swimming, a less painful alternative to his Judo training: I had to take a break from Judo so I dont show up on set with bruises on my face and body.

As he marks a new chapter with Carnal Media, Karim says he stays true to himself by focusing on personal passions and his family. Working in film has changed our lives in a good way. Im so lucky that my mom and sister support me and are proud of me.

Welcoming Bastian Karim to our exclusive roster is a proud moment for Carnal Media, commented Carnal CEO Legrand Wolf. Bastian is not just an extraordinary performer; he's a whirlwind of talent, charisma and heart. His sincerity and dedication shine through in every performance, making him truly one of the sexiest and most captivating men in the industry."

Get to know Carnal exclusive Bastian Karim at X.com/bastiankarimx
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:

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
TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revival Gold Inc. (TSXV: RVG, OTCQX: RVLGF) (Revival Gold or the Company), is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche (the First Tranche) of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of up to 11,000,000 units of the Company (the Units) at a price of $0.35 per Unit (the Issue Price) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,850,000 (the Offering). An aggregate of 6,234,644 Units were sold under the First Tranche at the Issue Price for total gross proceeds of $2,182,125.

Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share of the Company (a Common Share) and one half of one (0.5) Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant is exercisable into one (1) Common Share (a Warrant Share) at a price of $0.45 per Warrant Share at any time for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the closing of the Offering.

We are pleased to have completed a first tranche of Revival Golds planned private placement and expect to complete the balance in December, Hugh Agro, President & CEO.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund on-going exploration and development at the Companys core Beartrack-Arnett Gold Project (Beartrack-Arnett) located in Lemhi County, Idaho and for general corporate purposes.

In connection with the closing of the First Tranche, the Company paid commissions to certain finders of an aggregate of $91,038 in cash and 260,108 finder warrants (the Finder Warrants). Each Finder Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one (1) Common Share (a Finder Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.35 per Finder Warrant Share for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the closing of the First Tranche.

The Offering and the closing of the First Tranche is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). All securities issued and issuable in connection with the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance. All dollar amounts including the symbol $, are expressed in Canadian dollars.

Hugh Agro, the CEO and a director of the Company (the Insider) acquired 100,000 Units under the First Tranche of the Offering. This issuance of Units to the Insider constitutes a related party transaction as such term is defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Company is relying on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that the participation in the Offering by the Insider does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Companys market capitalization.

The securities offered pursuant to the Offering 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 U.S. state security laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. 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.

About Revival Gold Inc.

Revival Gold is a growth-focused gold exploration and development company. The Company is advancing the Beartrack-Arnett Gold Project located in Idaho, USA.

Beartrack-Arnett is the largest past-producing gold mine in Idaho. The Project benefits from extensive existing infrastructure and is the subject of a recent Preliminary Feasibility Study for the potential restart of open pit heap leach gold production operations.

Since reassembling the Beartrack-Arnett land position in 2017, Revival Gold has made one of the largest new discoveries of gold in the United States in the past decade. The mineralized trend at Beartrack extends for over five kilometers and is open on strike and at depth. Mineralization at Arnett is open in all directions.

Additional disclosure including the Companys financial statements, technical reports, news releases and other information can be obtained at www.revival-gold.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

For further information, please contact: Hugh Agro, President & CEO or Melisa Armand, Manager, Investor Relations, telephone: (416) 366-4100 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cautionary Statement

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.

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities legislation (collectively forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys 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 managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking statements could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated Offering, including the maximum size thereof, the expected timing to complete the Offering, the ability to complete the Offering on the terms provided herein or at all, the anticipated use of the net proceeds from the Offering, the receipt of all necessary approvals for the Offering, the closing of the First Tranche, the timing and closing of the second tranche of the Offering, the Companys objectives, goals and future plans, and statements of intent, the implications of exploration results, mineral resource/reserve estimates and the economic analysis thereof, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations, estimates of market conditions, and statements regarding the results of the pre-feasibility study, including the anticipated capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, net present value, internal rate of return, payback period, process capacity, average annual metal production, average process recoveries, concession renewal, permitting of the project, anticipated mining and processing methods, proposed pre-feasibility study production schedule and metal production profile, anticipated construction period, anticipated mine life, expected recoveries and grades, anticipated production rates, infrastructure, social and environmental impact studies, availability of labour, tax rates and commodity prices that would support development of the Project. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to maintain the modelling and assumptions upon which the interpretation of results are based after further testing, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, changes in regulatory requirements, political and social risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, uncertainties or challenges related to mineral title in the Companys projects, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity and in particular gold prices, delays in the development of projects, capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates, the continued availability of capital, accidents and labour disputes, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, an inability to raise additional funding, the manner the Company uses its cash or the proceeds of an offering of the Companys securities, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, future climatic conditions, the discovery of new, large, low-cost mineral deposits, the general level of global economic activity, disasters or environmental or climatic events which affect the infrastructure on which the project is dependent, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR+. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements 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. Specific reference is made to the most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR+ for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect the Companys ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. 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, other than as required by law.
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 Project

The 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 deposit

The 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 drilling

Pampa 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 Agreement

On 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 signing Work Commitments 6,000 meters of drilling (minimum); and

$6m USD additional exploration expenditure Option Exercise Price 14.75M USD and a 1.25% NSR

Pampa may elect to scrip settle up to $2.5m USD

The latest Company Presentation can be accessed at https://pampametals.com/investor/.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

INVESTORS CONTACT

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1 604 347 8777

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa 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 Person

Technical 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 defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego is a consultant to the Company.

* %CuEq values are calculated based on copper and gold metal prices: Cu = US$3.20/lb and Au = US$1,700/oz. The formula utilized to calculate %CuEq is: Cu Eq Grade (%) = Cu Head Grade (%) + [(Au Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Au Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04).



Note: The reader is cautioned that Pampa Metals' projects are early-stage exploration projects, and reference to existing mines and deposits, or mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties, is not necessarily indicative of any mineralization on Pampa Metals' properties.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - Emperor Metals Inc. (CSE: AUOZ) (OTCQB: EMAUF) (FSE: 9NH) ("Emperor") is pleased to announce that its common shares are now listed for trading in the United States on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "EMAUF". The Company has additionally secured Depository Trust Company ("DTC") eligibility for its common shares traded in the United States.

For this listing, the Company profile can be viewed at the OTC Market website at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/EMAUF/quote where North American and international investors can find Real-Time level 2 quotes (denominated in US dollars) along with current market information and Company news. Emperor's common shares will continue to trade in Canada on the Canadian Stock Exchange (the "CSE") under the symbol "AUOZ" and primary reporting for public disclosure will continue to be found under the company profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Emperor CEO, John Florek commented: "This initiative will enable shareholders to benefit from the growing market interest in gold and the Duquesne West Gold Project from US-based retail and institutional investors as we continue our Advanced AI-Assisted exploration strategy to define a modern Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Our new OTCQB listing with DTC eligibility now provides exemptions from U.S state securities laws or "Blue Sky" exemptions which will enable US-based investment advisors to research and recommend investment in Emperor. It will also enable US-based investors to execute orders with greater ease on many popular trading platforms such as Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, TradeStation, FirstTrade, Interactive Brokers and E-Trade where access to Emperor's common shares listed on the CSE may have been limited previously."

About the OTCQB

The OTCQB Venture Market is recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission as an established public market providing public information for analysis. An OTCQB listing offers early-stage and developing U.S. and international companies the benefits of being publicly traded in the U.S. with lower cost and complexity than a U.S. exchange listing. Streamlined market standards enable Canadian companies to provide a strong baseline of transparency to inform and engage U.S. investors. To be eligible, Canadian companies must be current in their SEDAR reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. As a verified market with efficient access for U.S. investors, OTCQB helps companies build shareholder value with the goal of enhancing liquidity and achieving a fair valuation.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), located in New York, N.Y., operates the world's largest electronic inter-dealer quotation system for broker dealers to trade US-based and global securities. It operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market, and the Pink Open Market for over 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS, it connects a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services, enabling investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empowering companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how OTC Markets creates better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

About the Depository Trust Company

The Depository Trust Company is a subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation and manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies. Securities that are eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through the DTC are considered "DTC eligible". This electronic method of clearing securities speeds up the receipt of stock and cash, and thus accelerates the settlement process for investors trading the Company's shares on the OTCQB with reduced costs for U.S. investors and brokers, enabling the Company's common shares to be traded through a much wider selection of firms through an electronic method of clearing securities.

About the Duquesne West Gold Project

Emperor's flagship Duquesne West Gold Property is located 32 km northwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda and 10 km east of the town of Duparquet. The property lies within the historic Duparquet gold mining camp in the southern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Superior Province.

Under an Option Agreement, Emperor agreed to acquire a one hundred percent (100%) interest in a mineral claim package comprising 38 claims covering approximately 1,389 ha, located in the Duparquet Township of Quebec (the "Duquesne West Property") from Duparquet Assets Ltd., a 50% owned subsidiary of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (GMX-TSX). For further information on the Duquesne West Property and Option Agreement, see Emperor's press release dated October 12, 2022, available on SEDAR.

The Property hosts a historical inferred mineral resource estimate of 727,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 5.42 g/t Au.1,2 The mineral resource estimate predates modern CIM guidelines and a Qualified Person has not reviewed or verified the mineral resource estimate on behalf of Emperor, therefore it is considered historical in nature and is reported solely to provide an indication of the magnitude of mineralization that could be present on the property. The gold system remains open for resource identification and expansion.

Reinterpretation of the existing geological model was completed using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. This model shows the opportunity for additional discovery of ounces by revealing gold trends unknown to previous workers and the potential to expand the resource along significant gold-endowed structural zones.

1 Watts, Griffis, and McOuat Consulting Geologists and Engineers, Oct 20, 2011, Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Duquesne-Ottoman Property, Quebec, Canada for XMet Inc.

2 Power-Fardy and Breede, 2011. The Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) constructed in 2011 is considered historical in nature as it was constructed prior to the most recent Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIM) standards (2014) and guidelines (2019) for mineral resources. In addition, the economic factors used to demonstrate reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction for the MRE have changed since 2011. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to consider the MRE as a current MRE. Emperor is not treating the historical MRE as a current mineral resource. The reader is cautioned not to treat it, or any part of it, as a current mineral resource.

QP Disclosure

The technical content for the Duquesne West Project in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person pursuant to CIM guidelines.

About Emperor Metals Inc.

Emperor Metals Inc. is an innovative Canadian mineral exploration company focused on developing high-quality gold properties situated in the Canadian Shield. For more information, please refer to SEDAR (www.sedarplus.com), under the Company's profile.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

s/ "John Florek"

John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol

President, CEO and Director

Emperor Metals Inc.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Alex Horsley, Director

Phone: 778-323-3058

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website:www.emperormetals.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

CERTAIN STATEMENTS MADE AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY CONSTITUTE "FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION" AND "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF APPLICABLE CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES SECURITIES LEGISLATION. THESE STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE BASED ON FACTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY AND THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT ACTUAL RESULTS WILL MEET MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY SUCH TERMS AS "ANTICIPATES", "BELIEVES", "TARGETS", "ESTIMATES", "PLANS", "EXPECTS", "MAY", "WILL", "COULD" OR "WOULD".

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE BASED ON CERTAIN FACTORS AND ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ESTIMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES, THE REALIZATION OF RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATES, METAL PRICES, TAXATION, THE ESTIMATION, TIMING AND AMOUNT OF FUTURE EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS, THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCING, THE RECEIPT OF REGULATORY APPROVALS, ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, TITLE DISPUTES AND OTHER MATTERS. WHILE THE COMPANY CONSIDERS ITS ASSUMPTIONS TO BE REASONABLE AS OF THE DATE HEREOF, FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON SUCH STATEMENTS AS ACTUAL EVENTS AND RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DESCRIBED HEREIN. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.
CANBERRAPeter Dutton, leader of the opposition in the Australian Parliament, recently announced his support for mandatory age verification laws in order to access online adult websites.

Dutton, who currently leads the center-right Liberal Party, is currently criticizing the Labor-controlled government of the sitting prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who directed his communications cabinet to decline legislating porn age gates.

AVN reported at the end of August the federal government of Australia chose not to require mandatory age verification for adult websites, citing safety and privacy concerns.

Minister for communications Michelle Rowland indicated at the time that her department "does not recomment the Government to legislate to mandate age assurance technology for access to online pornography and notes that technological developments in this space are still new and evolving."

I have not seen something as negligent as this in a long time, said Dutton during a Liberal Party state convention for New South Wales, in Sydney, according to the Australian Associated Press via The Guardian and other local reports.

Dutton said that Prime Minister Albanese and his government chose the pornography industry over Australian parents and families.

He explained that if his party wins back control of the government, the eSafety Commissioners office, which is responsible for implementing age verification regulations, would be appropriated $6.7 million to conduct a trial run over a span of two fiscal years.

Under the current administration, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is tasked with enforcing the Online Safety Act of 2021the focal point of a "roadmap for age verification" adopted by the Aussie governmentthrough reasonable steps that won't comprise users' privacy and information security, and with input from industry stakeholders on a basic code for online safety expectations.

If an industry drafted code doesnt meet the statutory requirements, the eSafety Commissioner can develop a mandatory industry standard for that section of the online industry," eSafety stated at the time of the announcement that the government would be forgoing age verification legislation. "This work will commence in earnest after the first phase of codes and standards is complete."

The preceding government, controlled by the Liberal Party, recommended that mandatory age verification be in place for online porn and gambling throughout the country.
Jung So Min and Jung Hae In are being courted to pair up for the new rom-com K-drama by "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" creators!

Excited about their possible team-up? Then read on!

Jung So Min, Jung Hae In Courted To Star in Romance Drama By 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' Creators

Accordting to a media outlet on November 30, Jung So Min will appear in the forthcoming series "Mom's Friend's Son" (literal title).

On the same day, her agency, IEUM HASHTAG, responded to the news and confirmed that the drama is one of the projects that the actress received an offer for and she is currently reviewing it.

Earlier in November, it was reported that Jung Hae In is also in talks to play the male lead. If he accepts the offer, it will be his first-ever romantic-comedy genre drama since his debut.

Furthermore, the production aims to start filming as soon as the casting is complete.

Once Jung So Min confirmed her participation in "Mom's Friend's Son," it will be her next small screen comeback following "Alchemy of Souls."

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Kang Ha Neul & Jung So Min's Blockbuster Movie 'Love Reset' To Have International Remakes? Here's What We Know

The rom-com drama "Mom's Friend's Son" is about a woman trying to start a new beginning in life after experiencing a dark history.

The story unfolds between Bae Seok Ryu, who tries to restart her complicated life, and her mom's friend's son Choi Seung Hyo, who made a dark chapter in her life.

The creators of the "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" director Yoo Je Won and writer Shin Ha Eun will join forces again to produce this series.

Jung So Min Amasses Global Popularity Through 'Love Reset'

Meanwhile, Jung So Min garnered global popularity with her latest hit movie "30 Days," also known as "Love Reset" alongside Kang Ha Neul. Their unexpected pairing brought laughter and love to the viewers in different parts of the world.

In fact, the movie broke records in Korea as one of the highest-grossing films this 2023.

Proving its ongoing popularity, "Love Reset" is already in talks to have international remakes, and Chinese is the adaptation to be put in production first, while the American version is still in discussion.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kang Ha Neul & Jung So Min Express Gratitude For 'Love Reset' Craze + Film Records New Milestone

What can you say about the possible collaboration of Jung So Min and Jung Hae In? 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.
Lee Jin Wook talked about his experience filming "Sweet Home" Season 2, and reprising his role as Pyeon Sang Wook.

During the sequel's press conference, the actor revealed telling his co-stars to "exercise less" for THIS reason.

Lee Jin Wook Jokingly Tells Song Kang to Lessen His Exercise Routines

At the presscon, along with Song Kang, Lee Si Young, Go Min Si, Jun Jin Young, Yoo Oh Sung, Kim Moo Yeol, and director Lee Eung Bok, the actor discussed his working relationships with co-stars.

The story continues with the Green Home survivors struggling to stay alive after the whole city fell into shambles.

Hinting at what to expect in the upcoming series, Lee Jin Wook shared that viewers will get to see more action in "Sweet Home" Season 2.

One of the things that he mentioned was his action scene with Song Kang. As obtained by a news outlet, after Lee Jin Wook and the 29-year-old star engaged in a fight, the actor jokingly told his co-star to lessen his exercise.

"Song Kang likes exercise. It was difficult to put together the action. So I told him to exercise less. It was a joke. Because it's right for me to raise him."

READ MORE: Song Kang Returns To Save Humanity With 'Sweet Home 2' - Here Are The Details!

In the upcoming sequel, Lee Joon Wook's character, Pyeon Sang Wook, is a former contract killer and a resident of Green Home. After the mysterious phenomenon took place, he and his fellow residents tried to survive against the mysterious creatures.

In the sequel, Pyeon Sang Wook will showcase a huge transformation. He will be possessed by Jung Ui Myeong (Kim Sung Cheol), a character from Season 1, who believes that transforming into a monster is the only hope for humans to survive.

'Sweet Home' Season 2: Release Date, Cast, and Where to Watch the Forthcoming Sequel

Slated to hit the small screen on December 1, "Sweet Home" Season 2 will have a total of 8 episodes and will exclusively air on Netflix.

Viewers will get to see a mix of returning and new cast members as they reprise their roles and introduce new characters.

As mentioned, Song Kang returns as Cha Hyun Su, who acquired a special ability after being infected by the virus.

Season 1 showcased his ability to regenerate and be both human and a monster whenever he needed to be.

Bringing fresh characters to the upcoming sequel, Oh Jung Se, Yoo Oh Seong, Jun Jin Young, Kim Moo Yeol, and more join as they witness how the city was overrun by mysterious creatures.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Sweet Home' Season 2: Lee Jin Wook Reveals How the Netflix Series Saved His Career

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
Aside from his acting contribution to the film industry, award-winning Lee Jung Jae also shared a piece of his heart to the Korean Senior Filmmaker Association through a meaningful donation. Check out the details below.

Lee Jung Jae Makes Meaningful Donation To Film Industry

On November 30, the Korean Senior Filmmaker Association announced that "Squid Game" starrer Lee Jung Jae recently made a heartfelt donation to the organization.

For decades, Lee Jung Jae showed his improved acting through the years which he honed as he took on many challenges as an actor.

Despite peaking in his career, the actor didn't forget to look back and show his gratitude to the people who helped him achieve his goals.

"The seniors dedicated their youth to movies. They are now living with illness," Lee Jung Jae shared his intent with his donation. "As a junior who enjoyed their afterglow, I want to give back and show my grateful heart to them."

READ MORE: Kim Jae Wook Boasts Swoon-Worthy Visuals As Painter In New Drama 'Death's Game'

Lee Jung Jae donated a whopping 50 million KRW (approx. 39,000 USD), including the grand prize amounting to 20 million KRW (approx. 15,000 USD) that he received at the 13th Beautiful Artist Awards in October.

In addition, he also gave out 30 million KRW (approx. 23,000 USD) worth of instant noodles and rice and black bean noodles with minced meat, and 5 million KRW (approx. 4,000 USD) worth of massage equipment to the organization.

Lee Jung Jae's Works, New K-dramas & More

Throughout the years, Lee Jung Jae has shown significant range as an artist through his amazing filmography including "The Housemaid," "Sandglass," "The Face Reader" and more.

In the past year, he contributed to the massive globalization of South Korean cinema after bagging an Emmy for his outstanding performance in the mega hit drama "Squid Game."

At the moment, Lee Jung Jae is preparing for its second installment after reprising his role. The new season is scheduled to be released in early 2024 so stay tuned for more updates.

On the other hand, Lee Jung Jae also showed great work in his directorial debut with "Hunt," making him one of the most successful and influential stars in Hallyu.

ALSO READ: Park Eun Bin & Kim Hyo Jin Display Swoon-Worthy Womance On 'Castaway Diva' Set: 'You're beautiful'

Are you excited for "Squid Game" Season 2? Share your thoughts on the drama with us in the comments down below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Lee Se Young and Bae In Hyuk's rom-com series "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" finally made its debut, sharing a chaotic love story that transcends time. Read to know what happened in episode 1 and 2.

Park Yeon Woo Travels Through Time

"The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" glimpses into a rebellious princess' life. Park Yeon Woo (Lee Se Young) sneaks out late at night to make clothes, disappointing the queen.

She wishes that she could live a different life when she sees a shooting star, refusing to be a bride by some noble prince.

Elsewhere, her groom-to-be Kang Tae Ha (Bae In Hyuk) also sees the same meteor. Like her, he doesn't want to get married either if it wasn't for his grandfather.

It turns out that he is suffering from a serious ailment, softening Park Yeon Woo's heart. She promises to beat the gods should he suffer.

Unfortunately, Kang Tae Ha passed away. Time freezes and Park Yeon Woo gets tangled in a strange whirlpool that takes her to a different realm.

Park Yeon Woo Reunites With Kang Tae Ha

Park Yeon Woo finally arrives in Seoul in the big year of 2023. She meets Kang Tae Ha, a conglomerate who happens to look exactly like her husband.

READ MORE: Lee Young Ae Names THIS K-drama As Her 'Life Work' - More Details Inside!

He's betrothed to another so he's taken aback when she calls him "husband." To avoid his own upcoming marriage, Kang Tae Ha decides to make Park Yeon Woo his pretend-wife.

A fake wedding then takes place and to seal the deal, they share their first kiss with Kang Tae Ha's thumb in between their lips.

Park Yeon Woo Adjusts To Modern Korea

Kang Tae Ha takes his time to teach Park Yeon Woo about the state of the art technology. She doesn't ever know how to use doors, which causes her to end up in an altercation with Kang Tae Min (Yoo Seon Ho), Kang Tae Ha's brother.

Meanwhile, Kang Tae Ha's mother plans to do a background check on Park Yeon Woo, putting her in a tricky situation. Things get worse when his father's surgery gets rescheduled.

This means that they have to pretend to be married for a little longer. Kang Tae Ha promises to compensate Park Yeon Woo's efforts. She is given a place in his home and a new identity, too.

Will History Repeat Itself?

Everything seems to be connected to one another when Park Yeon Woo recognizes Kang Tae Ha's mother from the Joseon period. Kang Tae Ha's grandfather also reveals that he's once drawn Park Yeon Woo, proving that fate is set to repeat itself.

ALSO READ: Park Gyu Young Debuts Hime Hair At 2023 MAMA Awards - Here's How Fans Reacted!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
After committing heinous murders, Yoo Yeon Seok rides Lee Sung Min's taxi to conceal himself in "A Bloody Lucky Day." What happens to a serial killer in hiding? Keep on reading to know more about what went down in episode 1 to 2.

Oh Taek Lands Taxi Job

"A Bloody Lucky Day" takes viewers on a taxi ride to nowhere. Things become chilly when Geum Hyuk Soo (Yoo Yeon Seok) jokes about murder, raising tension in the atmosphere.

He shockingly cuts his palm with a knife, sending Oh Taek (Lee Sung Min), the taxi driver, to a spiral. His hope for a great work day turns grim due to his eerily frightening passenger.

Oh Taek had a great family life at first. Sadly, he became knee-deep in debt that sent him to jail. He even lost his marriage and child due to his addiction.

To get by, he works as a taxi driver. When he sees Geum Hyuk Soo, he doesn't hesitate to pick him up and drive him to his destination.

Geum Hyuk Soo's First Kill

Oh Taek learns that he has a deep sense of pain. What surprises him the most is Geum Hyuk Soo's ability to kill with no remorse.

At a rest stop, he kills a man who confronted Oh Taek due to a traffic incident, leaving an ominous feeling. Geum Hyuk Soo shares his romance with Yoon Se Na (Han Dong Hee), a woman he adores, who clearly doesn't like him back.

When she begins dating someone else, Geum Hyuk Soo confronts the new guy. However, he ends up getting beaten up and later gets involved in a bus accident.

READ MORE: 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Episode 1-2: Lee Se Young Says Yes To Bae In Hyuk

To avenge himself, he lures Yoon Se Na's new boyfriend to the rooftop where he kills him off by stabbing him to death. Surprisingly, he isn't arrested despite the evidence.

Geum Hyuk Soo's Intrusive Thoughts

Geum Hyuk Soo continues to hallucinate that the dead guy is following him everywhere. This triggers his fascination in twisted things including blood and murder.

The total number of his victims remains unknown, and he plans to leave South Korea through a smuggled boat. Meanwhile, Oh Taek receives a phone call from his company.

He is warned that his passenger is dangerous but it's too late as Geum Hyuk Soo overhears the conversation.

Oh Taek Runs For His Life

After the call, Geum Hyuk Soo reveals the fingers of the man he killed in the rest stop, scaring Oh Taek into stopping the car with the emergency signal turned on.

Thankfully, a car notices them and follows them to a nearby rest stop. Oh Taek quickly runs away, leaving two dead bystanders killed by Geum Hyuk Soo.

ALSO READ: Seo In Guk & Park So Dam Boast Lethal Chemistry In New Pictorial

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Ji Chang Wook gets honest as he talks about his new K-drama "Welcome to Samdalri" and thinks about his new title, "King of Rom-Com."

From action to romance and rom-coms, the 36-year-old actor never fails to impress viewers with his variety of characters while at the same time headlining different kinds of K-drama.

With this, Ji Chang Wook becomes the unofficial "King of Rom-Com" after landing successful projects in the romantic-comedy genres.

Ji Chang Wook Feels 'Embarrassed' With His New Title-Here's Why

The South Korean heartthrob graced the stage with Shin Hye Sun as they star in the upcoming K-drama "Welcome to Samdalri."

Returning from an action-packed series in Disney+'s "The Worst of Evil," Ji Chang Wook delivers a different kind of character as he takes on the role of Jo Yong Pil.

With the drama's romantic-comedy premise, others dubbed this Ji Chang Wook's return as "king of rom-com." However, it seemed like he was hesitant to fully accept the nickname.

As mentioned by a local news outlet, he felt "embarrassed" after learning about this.

READ MORE: Ji Chang Wook Replaces Cha Eun Woo in Upcoming K-drama 'Bulk'

Moreover, he also shared how his co-star would react whenever she heard this.

"Every time we talk about the romantic comedy, Hye Sun laughs so much that it's embarrassing," he said.

Ji Chang Wook also mentioned how Shin Hye Dun jokingly reacts, saying that she has never been a romantic comedy queen while her co-star is being called by such a title.

"I tried hard to become a queen worthy of the romantic comedy king," said Shin Hye Sun, as the actor recalled.

'Welcome to Samdalri' Release Date, Cast, and What to Expect

Ji Chang Wook's new drama is directed by Cha Young Hoon of "When the Camellia Blooms" and penned by Kwon Hye Joo of "Go Back Couple" and "Hi Bye, Mama! ."

The romance series depicts the story of Jo Yong Pil, played by Ji Chang Wook. He is a man who remained in his hometown, Jeju Island.

Years later, he then crosses paths with Ji Sam Dal, his childhood friend played by Shin Hye Sun.

Unlike Yong Pil, who is content with his life in their hometown, Sam Dal has a dream to get out of her hometown and work as a photographer in the big city.

Slated to premiere on December 2 at 10:30 p.m. KST viewers could watch "Welcome to Samdalri" through JTBC, TVING, and Netflix for global viewers. Ji Chang Wook's drama airs every Saturday and Sunday.

As mentioned in a report, the production team hints at what to expect in the upcoming romance series.

"For the people that have been busily racing ahead this year without a chance to catch their breath, we hope that you'll be able to recharge for a moment at the end of this year by catching your breath together with Yong Pil and Sam Dal through 'Welcome to Samdalri.'"

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Ji Chang Wook to Hit Pause on Doing Action Genre? Here's Why

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Credit: The Skip Bayless Show

Wherever Skip Bayless goes, Dallas Cowboys takes follow.

That was the case even in Sarajevo when Bayless traveled there as a columnist for the Dallas Morning News to cover the 1984 Winter Olympics. Bayless did not enjoy the cold but stuck to his habit of early-morning jogs around the city to stay active during the trip.

Each morning when he would walk through the hotel lobby to begin his run, Bayless would see the same attendant working in the common area. Once, Bayless struck up a conversation with the local man. Naturally, the man asked Bayless what he did for work, and Bayless answer thrilled the hotel page.

One thing led to another, and when I said Im from Dallas, Texas, he immediately said Cowboys!' Bayless explained on Thursdays episode of The Skip Bayless Show. That was a long, bad season, and this guy knew it all.

He knew chapter and verse, he knew scores, I couldnt believe it. Were talking about Is it over for Danny White, do they have any chance?'

The debate went further, an Eastern European precursor to Bayless shouting matches with Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe.

Were debating Is Tom Landry losing his fastball?' Bayless added. Im in Sarajevo. Im having an out-of-body experience. Ive just come back from running, my feet are soaked because of the slushy stuff Im running through  and Im debating the Dallas Cowboys with the attendant in my dorm that has no shower curtain.

Honestly, get Bayless back to Bosnia and Herzegovina and put some cameras up. Find that attendant and make that next years fall setup for Undisputed.

[The Skip Bayless Show on YouTube]
4 Shares Share

New Zealand just rescinded its ban on tobacco smoking at the same time that Donald Trump just suggested the death penalty could cure the drug problem. What did New Zealand learn? And how has drug prohibition worked out in the past?

In 1511, the governor of Mecca, Khair Beg, had a serious problem. A powerful stimulant was coming into common use and was spreading throughout the city. This stimulant was clearly psychoactive and, like most stimulants, increased energy and interfered with sleep. The governor and his advisors felt that it also stimulated radical thinking and was a threat to society in general, as from his assessment, it was stimulating subversive activities. Some Muslim scholars and imams felt that the use of this stimulant was a form of debauchery and agreed that it must be stamped out.

He closed every business where the drug could be found and instituted severe physical punishments for those caught using it, including the death penalty for some. Unfortunately for the governor, the Sultan of Cairo, Al-Ashaf Qansuh al-Ghawri, had already fallen under its influence and overturned the ban. Khair Beg was investigated and determined to be guilty of embezzlement. He was executed in 1512, not having realized what some people will do for their morning cup of coffee. Thats right. The terrible drug tearing society apart was coffee. Now considered an integral part of Arabic culture.

A similar situation occurred in China in 1639, when Emperor Chongzhen, the last ruler of the Ming Dynasty, banned the smoking of cigarettes. It turned out the Emperor had heard a childrens rhyme about smoke smoldering across an empire destroyed by rebellion and war, and determined that the smoke responsible must be due to tobacco. Dont laugh. Its as logical as anything seen in the film Reefer Madness. He ordered that those addicted to the substance should be executed. This prohibition and death penalty were later expanded to anyone caught using it by Emperor Kangxi. Smoking persisted underground and helped foster a black market that funded organized crime and gangs.

In 1935, Chiang Kai-shek issued a decree to stamp out cigarettes within six years and other drugs in two, demonstrating a realistic understanding of nicotines hold on users and proving that the earlier prohibitions had failed. Three hundred sixty-nine thousand seven hundred five people were arrested and punished, some with decapitation, which might be a very effective preventative to relapse but is not indicative of a society we should aspire to. And it did not stop people in China from smoking. When the war broke out between the Chinese Communist Party and Chiangs Kuomintang Party, the rebel hipster Mao Zedong was often photographed puffing on a cigarette. The rebels won, and smoking became common again until about 2003, when there was again another clampdown on tobacco. Ten years later, the percentage of the population who smoked had still not budged.

Today, in the United States, we are seeing a similar failure to stamp out the use of marijuana. The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and while I dont think any psychoactive substance is smart to use recreationally, it is not nearly as addictive as nicotine, which kills about 600,000 people a year in the US, or even alcohol, which kills over 50,000 and impairs far more. We know what happens when you try to ban alcohol in America, and I hope to never see what a prohibition on tobacco would generate. Probably Civil War Part Deux. Cannabis toxicity has killed no one so far that I can find. Between 2001 and 2010, 8.2 million Americans lost their liberty for possessing marijuana. This accounted for about 11 percent of all arrests nationwide.

We are now in the midst of cannabis decriminalization, not because the powers that be support this action, but by referendum. That troublesome old problem of democracy, which keeps limping along in this country. The most recent state to do so was Ohio, and opponents lamented the audacity of the people having an opportunity to voice their opinion. It looks like the federal government might finally budge, also, taking marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which is progress, I suppose. I think cannabis should be regulated and taxed just like alcohol and tobacco, with taxes going to pay for treatment and prevention programs. I absolutely think it should be kept away from children and adolescents, but I can tell you right now, as a physician and scientist who has spent years studying substance abuse and addiction, I fear youth exposure to alcohol and tobacco much more than I do cannabis.

But dont think that smoking or vaping anything is benign. Studies are already showing that there might be an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. Now they will need to separate smoking from vaping and vaping from edibles, etc.

As far as harder drugs, Fentanyl and methamphetamine are extremely toxic drugs. Mexico and China should be held responsible for taking action against the production and exportation of drugs in those countries. This will probably require US support for Mexico. China, on the other hand, is probably trying to get us back for the Opium Wars, and, while I feel their pain, the people responsible are long dead. Let it go. But our government must accept responsibility for its failure to keep these from coming across the border. If federal resources were effectively redeployed to the border, and technology like infrared scanning drones were used, we could intercept illegal border crossing and put a stop to a significant amount of drug smuggling. Drugs made here, like meth, are harder to deal with, but if we focus all criminal resources on the manufacturers, and start issuing severe civil penalties, fines, and mandatory treatment programs for the users, I think we would have a chance.

A wise person, the philosopher George Santayana, is credited with the phrase, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Whether he said it or not, we should remember the lesson of the past and work toward a better future.

L. Joseph Parker is a distinguished professional with a diverse and accomplished career spanning the fields of science, military service, and medical practice. He currently serves as the chief science officer and operations officer, Advanced Research Concepts LLC, a pioneering company dedicated to propelling humanity into the realms of space exploration. At Advanced Research Concepts LLC, Dr. Parker leads a team of experts committed to developing innovative solutions for the complex challenges of space travel, including space transportation, energy storage, radiation shielding, artificial gravity, and space-related medical issues.

He can be reached on LinkedIn and YouTube.
By Onyango Jackson

Statistics from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) show there is a progressive decline in the export volume of fish maws which has impacted the value earned from the exports.

The commissioner for customs at the Authority, Mr Abel Kagumire says there could be a relation with the 8 percent tax Levy the government imposed on the export volumes.

Figures show that the export volumes dropped from the highs of 700,000 kilograms exported in the financial year 2019/20 to as low as 300,000 kilograms in the last financial year.

However, the tax value increased to a never-experienced level as the country earned 9 billion shillings last financial year compared to the 520 million earned a year before the tax was introduced in 2021.

Members of Parliament from the fishing communities say this is a sign of how the fishermen and traders in the business were being squeezed hard to pay the tax.

Petitioners against the tax have called for a reduction to at least 4%.
Renowned disc jockey-turned-entertainer, Kawuki Fred popularly known as Fem Deejay is set to host the second edition of The Fem Effect, an annual concert dedicated to his loyal fans.

According to Fem, the Nation Media Group-powered event is slated for December 14, 2023, at Kati Kati Grounds, Lugogo. The energetic entertainer will be spinning top bangers alongside Sir Aludah, veteran DJ Selector Jay, among others.

Others include; DJ Ssese, Etania, DJ Mato, Lynda Ddane, DJ Crystal, among others. The energy will be amplified by live performances from some of the hottest names in the Ugandan music scene, including Salary hitmakers, Ugaboys, King Michael, among others.

But wait, theres more! Fem DJ is more than just a talented DJ; hes a versatile entertainer who has carved his own path in the industry. From his humble beginnings as a hostel DJ to his current gigs at KFMs DMighty Breakfast show and NTV The Vybe show, Fem has captivated audiences with his infectious energy and undeniable talent.

Early bird tickets are now available for Shs 30,000 on www.quicket.co.ug. If youre looking for a VIP experience, silver tickets are available at the gate for Shs 50,000, or you can snag a table for six at Shs 1.5 million.
By Shabibah Nakirigya | Monitor

By press time last evening, a special general assembly was still ongoing at the Gaddafi National Mosque in Old Kampala amid tension and heavy security deployment.

The agenda for the meeting was not known but the sources privy to it said the looming sale of eight prime properties, including the plot where the main mosque sits in Old Kampala took stage. At least 23 members of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) were blocked from attending the special meeting.

The blocking, according to sources, was because of their request to amend the agenda to include a candid discussion of the looming sale of their properties by businessman Justus Kyabahwa to recover his outstanding debt of Shs19b.

Since morning, the main entrance of the mosque was guarded by different security agencies searching for whoever entered the premises. Read more
By Jackson Onyango

The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among is set to meet with heads of missions from the Commonwealth countries this morning to deliberate on the preparations for the forthcoming Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in Kampala

Uganda was elected to host the three-day conference at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort Hotel from January 3 to 6 by the member countries.

The Chairperson of the Coordination Committee, Abdu Katuntu indicated that 40 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 33 countries had confirmed attendance.

The speakers conference will precede the Non-Aligned Movement summit of 120 member states scheduled for the same month in Kampala.
According to local legend, St. Nicholas was buried in Newtown at Jerpoint in Kilkenny about 800 years ago.

A French family, the de Frainets, allegedly removed Nicholas' remains from Myra (Turkey) to Italy to France and eventually to Ireland, where his remains are now buried in a decorative grave in the Kilkenny countryside.

To add to the mystery, the location where St. Nicholas is interred is the site of an abandoned town which is known as the Lost Town of Newtown at Jerpoint. The town was founded by either Earl Marshal or Griffin Fitzwilliam in the 12th century, west of the local Cistercian Abbey, and was abandoned sometime early in the 18th century.

St. Nicholas was venerated in both the Catholic and Orhodox churches and is a prominent figure in ancient Celtic Christianity. He died in Myrna in Turkey in 343AD and the Normans, travelling through the region during the Crusades, are reported to have taken his remains back to Barri, then Venice and eventually Jerpoint.

Such saintly relics and remains were believed to confer immense status on monasteries.

St. Nicholas of Myra was also known as Nicholas of Bari and was an early Christian bishop of Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor during the time of the Roman Empire. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. He is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, unmarried people, and students.

His reputation evolved among the pious, as was common for early Christian saints, and his legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional figure of Santa Claus.

The decorative tomb in the graveyard at Jerpoint which claims to be the final resting place of St. Nicholas, remains a popular site for tourists to visit. The origin of this myth may be traced to the mapping of the area for the first edition of the Ordnance Survey in 1839 as the surveyors of the day inserted a label, 'St. Nicholas Tomb, near the location of the church.

The trail of the saints remains is complex and dimmed by time. However, less than 200 years after Nicholas' death, the St. Nicholas Church was built over the site of the church where he had served as bishop, and his remains were moved to a sarcophagus in that church.

Later when the Greek Christian inhabitants of the region were subjugated by the newly arrived Muslim Turks, and their church was declared to be in schism, a group of merchants from the Italian city of Bari removed the major bones of Nicholas' skeleton from his sarcophagus and brought them to their hometown. According to this story, they are now enshrined in the Basilica di San Nicola.

The remaining bone fragments from the sarcophagus in Turkey were later removed by Venetian sailors and taken to Venice during the First Crusade.

Small bones quickly began to be dispersed across western Europe as the cult of St Nicholas grew and demand for relics of the saint escalated. Allegedly one tooth and two fragments chipped from Nicholas' sarcophagus were given to the Norman knight William Pantulf. Pantulf then took these relics to his hometown in Normandy while the clergy at Bari strategically gave away samples of Nicholas' bones to promote the cult and enhance its prestige.

If all the locations where St. Nicholas (or parts of him) are reputed to be buried he would have to have many more bones than a normal human skeleton.

Most recently a team of archaeologists now claim that they have found St. Nicholas' tomb underneath a Byzantine church in Turkey.

The Kilkenny tradition which states that the relics of St. Nicholas were stolen from Myra by Norman crusading knights in the twelfth century and later buried at Newtown may actually be more grounded in myth than fact. According to the Irish antiquarian John Hunt, the tomb probably belongs to a local priest from Jerpoint Abbey.

However, we are holding on firmly to the legend of St. Nicholas at Jerpoint as it adds a spice of excitement to Christmas in Kilkenny. Happy St. Nicholas' Day to all.
A special event commemorating the 700th anniversary of the worlds first written account of the distillation of whiskey took place in St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny this week.

Amber Beverage Groups (ABG) whiskey division, Walsh Whiskey, released a preview of The Irishman  Legacy, a historic expression commemorating the 700th anniversary of the worlds first written account of the distillation of aqua vitae (an early term for whiskey). The Irishman  Legacy, is a single malt expression, initially matured in bourbon and sherry casks before being finished for 15 months in Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine casks from the renowned winemaker  Chateau La Nerthe.

The casks were hand-picked in April 2022 at the Chateau by Walsh Whiskey Founder and Managing Director, Bernard Walsh, and members of The Kilkenny Whiskey Guild. The Irishman - Legacy is non-chill filtered and bottled at an ABV of 46%.





Retailing at 75, the preview release of The Irishman  Legacy is currently exclusively available through the 10 member establishments of The Kilkenny Whiskey Guild and The Loop at Dublin Airport. A wider international release will take place in 2024, the 700th anniversary of The Red Book of Ossory, which contains the worlds first written account of the distillation of aqua vitae, which became known as whiskey.

The preview release of The Irishman  Legacy was launched at a special commemorative event for 150 special guests from the Irish whiskey sector and representatives from the greater Carlow/Kilkenny community in St Canices Cathedral, where The Red Book of Ossory will be located for the 2024 anniversary. The gathering was addressed by Bernard Walsh, Eddie Langton from the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, and the historian Turtle Bunbury.

Speaking at the launch, Bernard Walsh, the Founder and Managing Director of Walsh Whiskey, said: We are very proud to partner with the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild to launch this exquisite, limited edition from The Irishman in honour of 700 years of whiskey distilling history. Our ethos for The Irishman is Learn from the past. Create the future, so we have created this Legacy edition as both a celebration of how far our industry has come and our excitement for our future within it. As the home of The Red Book of Ossory, with Walsh Whiskey as creators of The Irishman located nearby, it is only right that we share this first with the people of Kilkenny before sharing it with the world through our global release in 2024.

Co-Chairperson of the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, Eddie Langton, said: We are delighted to have worked on the development of The Irishman  Legacy with Bernard and all at Walsh Whiskey from the start. This included visiting Chateau La Nerthe in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and sampling the whiskey as it aged through the finishing process.

His colleague and Co-Chairperson, Jim Rafferty, said: The Irishman  Legacy honours Kilkennys wonderful 700-year history with distillation and our commitment to excellence in helping visitors to our city explore what Irish whiskey has to offer. Fittingly, until it is released globally, the only places this unique whiskey will be poured for the public is in the 10 establishments of the Guild.

Both Kilkenny and Chateauneuf-du-Pape have historic ties to Avignon in France, which replaced Rome as the home to Catholic Popes in the 1300s. This led to the naming of the nearby town as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, or The Popes new castle. Each Pope assigned bishops to different dioceses across the Catholic world, including the assignment of Richard Ledred to the diocese of Ossory in Kilkenny in 1317.

The Irishman  Legacy honours the 700th anniversary of The Red Book of Ossory, which was written mainly by Bishop Ledred near the home of The Irishman. The first written account of the distillation of aqua vitae (the water of life or whiskey) is detailed across three and a half pages of handwritten Latin text.

Retailing at 75, the preview release of The Irishman  Legacy is currently exclusively available through the 10 member establishments of The Kilkenny Whiskey Guild and The Loop at Dublin Airport.

A wider international release will take place in 2024, the 700th anniversary of The Red Book of Ossory.
To coincide with Adult Safeguarding Day last month, the HSE Safeguarding Committee in the South-East, the ALONE organisation and the School of Applied Social Studies in University College Cork hosted a conference entitled Good Choice, Bad Choice, My Choice  Practice Dilemmas in Current Adult Safeguarding.

Adult Safeguarding Day is an annual initiative of Safeguarding Ireland, supported by the HSE. It is now in its third year and is coordinated in partnership with organisations across the health, social, financial, and justice sectors.

Held in Kilkennys Ormonde Hotel and with some 200 delegates in attendance, the conference was addressed by a range of national and international experts drawn from academic, advocacy and service provider organisations.

Grace Rothwell (Chief Officer, HSE/South East Community Healthcare) gave the opening address at the conference, in which she said that 'abuse thrives only in silence'.

"One of the key learnings from the recently published Emily Report, is that we must all take responsibility to be aware that abuse can happen to vulnerable adults, to recognise when it is happening and to believe and support vulnerable adults when they disclose that abuse may be happening to them," she said.

"I would like to thank everyone here for the part that you all play in recognising and reporting adult abuse and I would like to encourage you all to contact the local South East HSE safeguarding team on our Freephone number 0818 101 101, if you are ever concerned that a vulnerable adult is experiencing abuse. Events like today cast a spotlight on the area of adult abuse and is a call to action for all of us working with adults to know how to recognise, respond to and report adult abuse."

In the morning session at the conference, Rob O Connor (Principal Social Worker with the HSE Safeguarding team in the South East) focused on the current challenges in safeguarding practice.

Dr Jennifer Storey from the University of Kent gave an international perspective on risk assessment and the management of abuse.

Aine Flynn (Director of the Decision Support Service) provided an update on the implementation of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which fully commenced in April of 2023.

Joanne Ralston (Barrister at Law and lecturer in University College Cork) closed the morning session with a thought provoking presentation on the paradigm shift of moving from a best interests approach to a will and preference one.

Micheal Walsh from the National Advocacy Service began the afternoon session and talked about the important role that independent advocacy plays in relation to safeguarding.

The next speaker was Edel Quinn (HSE Head of Disability Services in the North West), who gave an important presentation on safeguarding practices from a disability perspective.

Nicky Brennan (former President of the GAA and presenter with Community Radio Kilkenny City) then interviewed Lola Fitzgibbon (Services Manager with ALONE, as well as a volunteer and service user) on the impact of the ALONE charity throughout the South-East region.

As a guide to protecting your financial wellbeing, in there context of fraudulent scams specifically targeting older people, the conference was given a presentation from Ross Moore of Bank of Ireland.

The final speakers of the day were Teresa Cronin from the HSE National Safeguarding Office and Paula Lane from South-East Technical University (SETU), who both talked about the important role that nursing plays in the safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Professor Eleanor Bantry White from the Department of Applied Social Studies in University College Cork closed the conference.
The South Kilkenny Historical Society recently announced details of its Decade of Centenaries conference which will take place in the Rhu Glenn Hotel, Slieverue, Kilkenny (Eircode X91 E395) this Saturday December 2.

The conference, which will be officially opened by Dr Martin Mansergh at 10am, will consist of two panel discussions  Reflections on the Decade of Centenaries 2012  2023 and How will a future generation reflect on us one hundred years from now?.

In 2011 the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations was established by the Taoiseach. Its role is to advise the Government on historical matters relating to the Decade of Centenaries, and to consult widely with academic, community and voluntary groups and members of the public to ensure that significant events are commemorated accurately, proportionately and appropriately in tone.

During the period of the Decade of Centenaries, 2012 to 2023, the South Kilkenny Historical Society has organised many events, in particular lectures, dealing with many of the issues which were important and instrumental in the setting up of the Free State. In 2016 it organised a very successful conference to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the Easter Rising.

Dr Martin Mansergh, who will open the conference at 10am, is Vice-Chair of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations. In 1974 he became a First Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs and was later appointed by Charles Haughey as Director of Research and Policy and Special Advisor on Northern Ireland. He served, as Northern Ireland Special Adviser to three Taoisigh and was co-recipient of the 1994 Tipperary Peace Prize with Fr Alex Reid and Rev Roy Magee. Dr Mansergh was elected to Dail Eireann in 2007 and served as Minister for State for the OPW and the Arts between 2008 and 2011. He was a member of the Council of State from 2004 to 2011. In 2018 he was elected member of the Royal Irish Academy.

Reflecting on the Decade of Centenaries

The first panel discussion will reflect on the events held during the Decade of Centenaries and panelist include Dr. Mansergh, Lorcan Collins, Cecelia Hartsell and Eoin Walsh.

Lorcan Collins founded the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour in 1996. For the past 27 years he has conducted thousands of tours around Dublin City and the sites of the revolutionary period. He is the author of four best-selling books on revolutionary Ireland including The Easter Rising (OBrien Press) published in 2001. He conceived the idea and is Series Co-Editor of 16 Lives, a collection of sixteen books on the executed leaders of the Rising. His biography of James Connolly (OBrien Press) was published in 2012 as part of 16 Lives. He wrote the number one bestselling book 1916; The Rising Handbook in 2016. His latest book is called Irelands War of Independence; The IRAs Guerrilla Campaign 1919-21. He has lectured extensively in the United States having visited over thirty Colleges and Universities and is a also a regular contributor to historical journals, radio and TV in Ireland.

Cecelia Hartsell is a U.S. historian, specialising in African American history and American social history. Since moving to Ireland, she has been a contributor to the RTE History Show on topics in U.S. history and frequently gives U.S. history talks for the Dublin Festival of History and in the Dublin public libraries. She has completed all of the requirements save dissertation and language requirement for a PhD in American history at Fordham University and has a Masters degree in history from University College Dublin. She published The Great American Protest: African Americans and the Great Migration in 1916 in Global Context: An Anti-Imperial Moment, Enrico Dal Lago, Roisin Healy, and Gearoid Barry, eds.

Eoin Walsh is a native of Clogga, Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny. He has a Masters Degree in Modern Irish History from University College Dublin which was supervised by Professor Diarmaid Ferriter. He specialises in the Irish revolutionary era (1913-1923) and has authored a regional history book focusing on the War of Independence and Civil War in County Kilkenny, 'Kilkenny, In Times of Revolution, 1900-23'. He has published history articles for various newspapers and magazines. Since 2020, in association with Kilkenny Library Services, he has created a podcast series focusing on important events in Kilkenny one hundred years ago. He currently works in Dail Eireann and is also involved in walking tours of Dublin City centre (Historical Walking Tours of Dublin).

How will a future generation reflect on us one hundred years from now?

The second panel discussion, How will a future generation reflect on us one hundred years from now?, will look at the biggest issue facing the planet - Climate change and environmental issues. Panelists include Professor Peter Thorne and Paul OBrien.

Professor Thorne is a professor in physical geography (climate change) at Maynooth University and recognised as a leading expert on global climate change. He is director of the ICARUS climate research at Maynooth University, chair of the Global Climate Observing Systems Atmospheric Observations panel for climate, sits on several global climate observing system and world meterological organisation bodies and task teams, and is an advisor on the Irish Citizens Assembly. His main interests have been in the investigation of observed climate change globally, with a particular emphasis upon temperature and humidity changes.

Mr Paul OBrien is chair of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Environmental and Rural Affairs committee. A native of Graignamanagh, where he runs a sheep and tillage enterprise, he is married to Carol and has three children Conor, Daire and Aine. Paul has been involved in the IFA for over 20 years, holding various positions within that organisation.

At present he is Vice Chair Copa-Cogeca Working Party on Environment; Chair of Taskforce on Biodiversity, Soil and Water; Chair IFA Environment and Rural Affairs committee; member of An Forum Uisce (The Water Forum); member of the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG); Farmer Representative on the Fertiliser Association of Ireland (FAI) council; and member of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) committee.

Admission to the conference is free and all are welcome. It is expected that the conference will conclude at 1.30pm.
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.
Source: Global Times

By Zhang Changyue and Qi Xijia

China's visa-free entry trial for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia has been hailed by people from tourism, cultural and business sectors for boosting cultural exchanges and foreign companies' confidence in investing in China.

From Dec 1, 2023 to Nov 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from the above-listed six countries may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends and transit for no more than 15 days, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Nov 24.

Following the announcement, the search volume for inbound flight tickets from the six countries on ly.com, an affiliated company of Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited, increased by more than 100 percent as of 6 pm Nov 24 compared to Nov 23, the Hubei Daily reported.

The Global Times learned from several travel agencies on Thursday that considering that planning cross-border travel would take some time, there has been no significant increase in the number of inquiries and orders placed at present. But they said the visa-free policy has given a boost to the entire industry and the summer of 2024 is expected to be the time when the inbound market will reap the benefits.

"We are currently engaged in intensive communication with overseas travel agencies for policy consultations with each other and the development of new tourism products," Xu Xiaolei, a marketing manager at China's CYTS Tours Holding Co, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of China Spring Tour, also told the Global Times that the agency had rushed to communicate with overseas partners to promote inbound travel into China immediately after the announcement of the visa-free policy, and is planning to launch travel routes connecting different Chinese regional cultures such as "Beijing with Hangzhou," "Beijing with its neighboring Qinhuangdao and Beidaihe," "Guangzhou with Kunming" as well as tailor-made services for inbound tourists.

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, told the Global Times that China's inbound tourism has huge potential and will have at least nearly 1.3 trillion yuan ($182 billion) of growth space.

According to Trip.com, the demand for travel to China is expected to rise in the near future, as the data collected by the platform shows that global search results for inbound travel to China significantly improved in the third quarter by nearly 40 percent compared to the second quarter.

We welcome more foreign friends to visit China and travel around, perhaps by high-speed rail, to experience first-hand China's high-quality development and high-level opening-up, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday when asked to comment on China State Railway Group's introduction of the English-language version of the online identity verification of foreign passports and ticket booking platform.

Wang emphasized that China is committed to enhancing people-to-people exchange with other countries and has worked to facilitate foreigners traveling, working, studying and living in China..

The inbound travelers will not only bring huge foreign exchange revenues and enhance China's international image, but will also boost China's technological innovation and international competitiveness, said Liang Jianzhang, a professor at Guanghua School of Management of Peking University.

Liang said the visa-free policy is a very positive start. If other bottlenecks such as payment and internet access can be further improved with strengthened image promotion, the number of inbound visitors to China can be greatly increased.
Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:GNENF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,181,000 shares, a drop of 31.3% from the October 31st total of 1,719,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 19,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 60.6 days.

Ganfeng Lithium Group Price Performance

Shares of GNENF stock traded up $0.01 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $3.26. 7,022 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,746. Ganfeng Lithium Group has a 12-month low of $3.20 and a 12-month high of $9.77. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $3.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.32.

Get Ganfeng Lithium Group alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Ganfeng Lithium Group in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. They set an underweight rating for the company.

About Ganfeng Lithium Group

(Get Free Report)

Ganfeng Lithium Group Co, Ltd. manufactures and sells lithium products in Mainland China, rest of Asia, the European Union, North America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Lithium Metal and Compound, Lithium Battery, and Lithium Ore Resource and Others. The company has interests in the Mount Marion mine located in Australia; Cauchari-Olaroz project situated in Jujuy Province, Northwest Argentina; Mariana project located in Salta Province, Argentina; Sonora project situated in Mexico; Pilbara Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in Western Australia; Ningdu Heyuan mine situated in Ningdu County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province; Avalonia project located in Ireland; Qinghai Yiliping lithium salt lake project situated in the Qinghai Province; Goulamina spodumene ore project located in southern Mali, Africa; PPG lithium salt-lake project located in Salta Province, Argentina; and Songshugang tantalum-niobium mine project located in Jiangxi Province.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Ganfeng Lithium Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ganfeng Lithium Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
 
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY24 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.82-2.02 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.93. Hewlett Packard Enterprise also updated its Q1 guidance to $0.42-0.50 EPS.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

HPE has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Raymond James increased their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, StockNews.com raised Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Hewlett Packard Enterprise currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $17.82.

Get Hewlett Packard Enterprise alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on HPE

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Price Performance

Shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock opened at $16.90 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 52 week low of $13.65 and a 52 week high of $18.14. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $16.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.50. The company has a market capitalization of $21.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.97, a PEG ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 1.25.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 28th. The technology company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.02. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a return on equity of 9.83% and a net margin of 6.95%. The company had revenue of $7.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.36 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.23) EPS. The firms revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 13th will be issued a $0.13 dividend. This is an increase from Hewlett Packard Enterprises previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 12th. Hewlett Packard Enterprises payout ratio is currently 31.17%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Antonio F. Neri sold 434,884 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.48, for a total value of $7,601,772.32. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,370,291 shares in the company, valued at $23,952,686.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Antonio F. Neri sold 434,884 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.48, for a total transaction of $7,601,772.32. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,370,291 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,952,686.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Alan Richard May sold 343,016 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.48, for a total transaction of $5,995,919.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 249,511 shares in the company, valued at $4,361,452.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HPE. Graham Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the third quarter worth about $213,000. Comerica Bank bought a new stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,481,000. Creative Planning grew its position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 145,656 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,530,000 after acquiring an additional 2,262 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 4.2% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,082,977 shares of the technology companys stock worth $36,209,000 after purchasing an additional 83,104 shares during the period. Finally, Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the second quarter worth $2,819,000. 81.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Hillman Capital Management Inc. lessened its position in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 752 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 28 shares during the quarter. Hillman Capital Management Inc.s holdings in BlackRock were worth $520,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Archer Investment Corp acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Sittner & Nelson LLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 48.6% during the 1st quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 52 shares of the asset managers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 17 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.01% of the companys stock.

Get BlackRock alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of BlackRock from $836.00 to $897.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of BlackRock from $814.00 to $800.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of BlackRock from $820.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of BlackRock in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $762.08.

Insider Transactions at BlackRock

In other news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 15,385 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $652.03, for a total transaction of $10,031,481.55. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 435,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $283,802,577.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock.

BlackRock Trading Up 0.2 %

BLK traded up $1.73 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $752.96. The companys stock had a trading volume of 273,431 shares, compared to its average volume of 636,614. The company has a current ratio of 3.72, a quick ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The firm has a market cap of $112.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.11, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $659.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $681.69. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52-week low of $596.18 and a 52-week high of $781.77.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The asset manager reported $10.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.34 by $2.57. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.65% and a net margin of 30.66%. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.52 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $9.55 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that BlackRock, Inc. will post 36.44 earnings per share for the current year.

BlackRock Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 7th will be issued a dividend of $5.00 per share. This represents a $20.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 6th. BlackRocks payout ratio is currently 56.10%.

BlackRock Profile

(Free Report)

BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of NIPPON STL & SU/S (OTCMKTS:NSSMY  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $7.83 and last traded at $7.87, with a volume of 9157 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.78.

NIPPON STL & SU/S Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a market cap of $7.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.83, a P/E/G ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $7.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $7.39.

About NIPPON STL & SU/S

(Get Free Report)

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation engages in steelmaking and steel fabrication businesses worldwide. It operates in five segments: Steelmaking and Steel Fabrication, Engineering and Construction, Chemicals, New materials, and System Solutions. The company offers steel plates; hot- and cold-rolled steel sheets and coils, coated steel sheets, color coated steel sheets, electrolytic tin plates, and electrical steel sheets; bar and rod materials; and structural steel products.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Suzano S.A. (NYSE:SUZ  Get Free Report)s share price traded down 3.2% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $10.46 and last traded at $10.51. 370,809 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 1,437,937 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.86.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Suzano from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd.

Get Suzano alerts:

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Suzano

Suzano Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $14.42 billion, a PE ratio of 4.22, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 2.82 and a quick ratio of 2.34. The business has a 50-day moving average of $10.83 and a 200 day moving average of $10.09.

Suzano (NYSE:SUZ  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported ($0.12) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $1.83 billion during the quarter. Suzano had a return on equity of 42.58% and a net margin of 38.44%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Suzano S.A. will post 2.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SUZ. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Suzano by 11.7% in the second quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 4,744,031 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,740,000 after acquiring an additional 495,249 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Suzano by 9.2% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,278,069 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,123,000 after acquiring an additional 358,756 shares in the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Suzano in the first quarter valued at about $33,960,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of Suzano by 0.8% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,385,788 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,587,000 after acquiring an additional 19,753 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Suzano by 1,461.0% in the second quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,285,539 shares of the companys stock worth $11,456,000 after purchasing an additional 1,203,188 shares in the last quarter. 2.55% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Suzano Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Suzano SA produces and sells eucalyptus pulp and paper products in Brazil and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paper segments. The company offers coated and uncoated printing and writing papers, paperboards, tissue papers, and market and fluff pulps; and lignin. It also engages in the research, development, and production of biofuel; operation of port terminals; power generation and distribution business; commercialization of equipment and parts; industrialization, commercialization, and exporting of pulp and standing wood; road freight transport; biotechnology research and development; and commercialization of paper and computer materials.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Suzano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suzano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH  Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $0.73, but opened at $0.77. Zhihu shares last traded at $0.80, with a volume of 3,241,652 shares changing hands.

Zhihu Stock Up 14.9 %

The companys fifty day moving average is $1.01 and its 200 day moving average is $1.06. The stock has a market cap of $527.34 million, a PE ratio of -4.15 and a beta of 0.39.

Get Zhihu alerts:

Institutional Trading of Zhihu

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Matthews International Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Zhihu by 77.2% during the third quarter. Matthews International Capital Management LLC now owns 25,770,807 shares of the companys stock worth $26,802,000 after buying an additional 11,227,346 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Zhihu by 0.7% in the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 13,736,118 shares of the companys stock worth $15,522,000 after purchasing an additional 95,891 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in Zhihu by 13.2% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 7,165,438 shares of the companys stock worth $9,100,000 after purchasing an additional 834,199 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Zhihu by 0.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 5,641,947 shares of the companys stock worth $5,980,000 after purchasing an additional 14,245 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in Zhihu by 2.0% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 5,406,929 shares of the companys stock worth $6,867,000 after purchasing an additional 105,691 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.74% of the companys stock.

Zhihu Company Profile

Zhihu Inc operates an online content community in the People's Republic of China. Its community allows people to seek inspiration, find solutions, make decisions, and have fun. The company also offers technology, business support, and consulting services; information transmission, software, and information technology services; information and marketing services; vocational training; and internet services, as well as holds audio-visual permit.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Zhihu Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zhihu and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 26F. SW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 15 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.
In the dynamic world of K-pop sensation BTS, Jungkook has long been a focal point, captivating audiences with his extraordinary talent, captivating visuals, and endearing personality.

Whether dazzling the world with his solo music ventures or sharing the stage with fellow BTS members, Jungkook's global fanbase has fallen head over heels for the young idol.

However, with news circulating about Jungkook, alongside the rest of BTS, preparing to fulfill their military service by the year's end, it appears the void left by the beloved idol will be deeply felt. ARMYs, the devoted fandom of BTS, are expressing their longing for Jungkook in an unexpected way - by spotting him "everywhere."

READ ALSO: BTS Jungkook's Shocking Limp Sparks Health Fears Amid Airport Chaos- 'Is his legs okay...?

Jungkook has become a familiar sight on the streets, particularly through his high-profile collaborations with designers like Calvin Klein. Yet, the recent viral sensation takes the phenomenon to a new level, as a random street scene gains attention for its striking resemblance to the K-pop star.

The image, featuring a bustling street adorned with cars and foliage, has captured the attention of fans who couldn't resist connecting the dots to Jungkook's distinctive features. The alignment of the road, vehicles, and greenery has led enthusiasts to draw parallels with the beloved idol, sparking a whirlwind of excitement across online platforms.

ARMYs flooded social media with humorous reactions to the unexpected sighting, with many playfully suggesting that the world is truly embracing Jungkook in all its corners.

As the anticipation builds for BTS's impending enlistment, these spontaneous sightings of Jungkook serve as a testament to the enduring connection between the idol and his dedicated fanbase. In the world of ARMYs, it seems that even a casual glimpse of a familiar face on an unassuming road can evoke the spirit of BTS's youngest member, ensuring that his presence remains palpable, no matter the circumstance.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Stray Kids Bang Chan's Sister Hannah Speaks Out on BTS Jungkook Cover Backlash- ' I can't really change that..

Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more news.

KpopStarz own this article.

Cassidy Jones wrote this.
Plans are moving forward to build a 12-story high-rise thatll bring more housing and business to downtown Billings.

The Yesteryears Antique Mall is getting ready to move from the spot its called home for nearly two decades at the corner of First Avenue North and North 29th Street to make way for the Futurity Tower to go up in its place.

The new building will feature restaurant, retail and office space on the bottom two floors with 120 one and two-bedroom apartments on the upper levels and a rooftop deck.

The 140-foot-tall tower will be the fourth tallest in Montana and the first high-rise built in the state since 1984, said Randy Hafer owner of High Plains Architects. The local firm is designing the mixed-use building that Hafer then plans to develop through his Urban Frontier Development Services.

Weve got a lot of work to do before construction can start, he said, adding he hopes to begin about a year from now. We havent done anything of this scale downtown in a long time.

Hafer said he plans to provide middle-range rents that should be affordable for those in the workforce, such as nurses, teachers and bank tellers.

So were not talking luxury, high-end apartments or subsidized housing. We want to be in the middle for working people, he said. That mid-range is the biggest part of the rental market and is the most stressed.

Hafer said Futurity Tower residents will not pay utility bills. Hes designing a highly efficient building with innovative features, such as a skin that generates electricity and a wastewater system that produces energy.

To help keep costs down, Hafer does not plan to provide reserved parking for residents. He said there are already 2,500 existing spaces within a 1,000-foot radius of the site, so it isnt necessary to build another parking lot or garage downtown. The tower will, however, have a loading area in front so residents can bring up groceries and other items before parking, he said.

With preliminary plans in place, Hafer is now working on financing to buy the Yesteryears building from the nonprofit Downtown Billings Partnership, which has owned it since 2016.

Were thrilled to be working with Urban Frontier Development Services, said Katy Easton, CEO of the Downtown Billings Alliance, the partnerships umbrella organization. We need to support the growth of our community in a very intentional way.

She said Hafer has a proven track record of doing just that. The Billings architect and developer has worked on many successful, innovative and sustainable projects in the area, Easton said.

With the tower adding housing to the citys core, she expects more retail and recreation options to soon follow.

Easton said the downtown alliance recently worked with Big Sky Economic Development to update a local housing study. It found Billings needs to add at least 1,000 new homes in the downtown area to accommodate upcoming developments, including the building of a new St. Vincent hospital and Billings Clinics expansion to a Level 1 trauma center.

Yesteryears is an extremely successful and beloved business in our community, she said, noting the mall draws hundreds of shoppers to downtown seven days a week.

Yesteryears will use the money to make its new home in the historic Hart-Albin building at 2nd Avenue North and North Broadway.

Manager Austin Kramer said there will be a sale throughout January to help clear the brimming boutiques inventory. The business will then close for the month of February to make the move before reopening on March 1.

Theres a little bit of sadness but not much, Kramer said. Its an upgrade overall.

Instead of having more than 80 vendors spread across three floors, the new mall will have all the antiques on one-level and will be wheelchair accessible.

Once Yesteryears has moved, the old building will have to be demolished so the Futurity Tower can take its place. However, Hafer plans to reuse and repurpose as many of the materials as possible so theyre not going to the landfill.

Its a really exciting opportunity to show how sustainable construction can be used downtown, Easton said. This is definitely something thats going to make an impact on how Billings is going to be for generations to come.
A redraw of political districts by Republicans in Montanas 2023 Legislature appears to have been done to lock in control of who decides what most Montanans pay for energy.

Analyst Stephanie Somersille, in a report added to a gerrymandering lawsuit Thursday, concludes its unlikely lawmakers redrew Montanas Public Service Commission districts for any other reason than keeping Republican control of the PSC.

A mathematical analyst, Somersille randomly generated large collections of districting plans to explore what the typical outcomes might be when following state guidelines for drawing political maps. She was never able to produce a map like the one legislators did.

A low-profile agency with a substantial impact on Montana consumers, the Public Service Commission approves rates for monopolies, more specifically the states largest utilities NorthWestern Energy and Montana Dakota Utilities. In that capacity, the PSC affects the household budgets of more than 400,000 Montana utility customers.

Those customers are legally recognized as captive, meaning they lack the free-market choice of shopping around for a better deal. The commission is charged with ensuring captive customers have reasonably priced, reliable electric and natural gas service, while utilities receive a fixed rate of return.

In October, the all-Republican commissioners approved a 28% increase for NorthWestern Energy electric customers, a decision that increased bills $304 a year for someone paying a monthly average of $91 when the utility first petitioned for the rate hike 15 months earlier.

The political maps created by Senate Bill 109, sponsored by Kalispell Republican Sen. Keith Regier, divided each of Montanas largest cities into two different PSC districts, effectively lowering the percentage of city voters in each. Splitting up communities is regarded as a gerrymandering tool. Cities are considered "communities of interest," meaning voters in the same cities have shared policy concerns, which are harder to advance at the ballot when city voters are split into different districts.

These features strongly suggest that the enacted plan was made to lock in Republican advantage in all five of its districts under most currently typical patterns of voting in Montana, Somersille concluded.

In the parlance of gerrymandering, splitting up groups of voters who share party preferences, or community characteristics is known as cracking, which is what Somersille concluded was the advantage of splitting six of Montanas seven largest cities into different districts.

The other gerrymandering tool at play, Somersille reported, was packing, cramming other like-minded voters into districts to assure election of preferred candidates.

Regier, in selling other lawmakers on his bill, suggested cities were better off divided with more than one commissioner having a piece of a community. The map also broke from the practice of not dividing counties when drawing PSC districts. Regier had argued that the five districts had an equal number of legislative districts, 20, and that the populations of the legislative districts were adequately balanced.

Commissioner elections tend to attract termed-out legislators as candidates. Before approving the redrawn districts in the Senate, one lawmaker joked that without the change he didnt know where all the old, termed-out legislators would go to work. Eight years in the Montana Legislature, plus eight years as a PSC commissioner comes with a substantial retirement package for a politician.

There are two former legislators on the PSC currently. Randy Pinocci, of Sun River, and Jennifer Fielder, of Thompson Falls.

The plaintiffs suing the state are Joseph Lafromboise, of Hill County; Nancy Hamilton, of Valley County; Simon Harris, of Yellowstone County; Former Republican Gallatin County Commissioner Donald Seifert; Former Republican Montana Secretary of State Bob Brown; and Montana Conservation Voters. They ask that Montana be blocked from putting the PSC districts on the 2024 ballot, or at least until the lawsuit can be ruled on.

There is a political map the plaintiffs prefer. In 2022, federal panel of judges approved a PSC map proposed by Montana Secretary of State Christie Jacobsen. The judges made a couple of adjustments. That map stemmed from a voter lawsuit of the Legislature redrawing the PSC districts just once in 40 years to accommodate state population changes. The plaintiffs argued that PSC districts were so out of whack in population that the one person, one vote right of the 14th Amendment was being ignored.

The states least populated district, Pinocci's, which included the Hi-Line region, had 53,000 fewer people than the most populated district, which included Bozeman and southwest Montana. Nonetheless, Pinoccis constituents had the same amount of political representation on the commission.
Global cooperation on carbon pricing at COP28

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today hosted a high-level event at COP28 to promote the development of carbon pricing and carbon markets, as powerful instruments to reach the Paris Agreement objectives. It builds on the Call to Action for Paris-aligned Carbon Markets that the European Commission, Spain and France launched in June 2023.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said today: Carbon pricing is the centrepiece of the European Green Deal. In the European Union, if you pollute, you have to pay a price for that. If you want to avoid paying that price, you innovate and invest in clean technologies. And it works. Since 2005, the EU ETS has reduced emissions in the sectors covered by over 37%, and raised more than 175 billion. Many countries around the world now embrace carbon pricing, with 73 instruments in place, covering a quarter of total global emissions. This is a good start, but we must go further and faster. The EU is ready to share its experience and help others in this noble task.

The President of the World Bank Mr Ajay Banga, Director General of the World Trade Organisation Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Kristalina Georgieva all participated in today's European Commission event, which marks a new phase in cooperation on carbon pricing. The four organisations all underlined the importance of carbon pricing for the climate and for a fair transition. Today's event also included interventions from Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, and President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, who shared their country's perspective on the challenges and benefits of further developing carbon pricing and ensuring the high integrity of international carbon markets.

The Commission will continue to provide technical support to countries that wish to introduce carbon pricing regimes in their domestic legislation, and to help them to build robust approaches to international carbon markets that are consistent with their long-term climate and development strategies. Carbon credits must be based on common and robust standards that ensure an effective reduction of emissions through transparent and verified projects. Following today's event, COP28 should play an important role in setting a benchmark for international and voluntary carbon markets that would ensure their added value and reliability while promoting an equitable sharing of the benefits between participants. We need a credible standard that drives transformational investment, respects environmental limits, and avoids lock-in to unsustainable levels of emissions or unjustified reliance on vulnerable removals.

Background

Carbon pricing is a central part of the EU's successful and ambitious climate policies, implemented through the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is a fair and economically efficient way to reduce them, as it penalises polluters and incentivises investment in clean technologies. Carbon pricing also generates revenues for public sector invest in climate action. In sectors covered by the EU ETS, emissions have fallen by over 37% since its introduction in 2005 and revenues from the EU ETS have reached 175 billion. Since 1990 the EU's total emissions have fallen by 32.5%, while our economy has grown by around 65%, underlining how we have decoupled economic growth from emissions. Emissions trading will soon apply to new sectors in Europe under recently agreed reforms, extending to maritime and aviation, and later to fuels for buildings and road transport.

The Call to Action on Paris-aligned Carbon Markets was launched at the Summit for a New Financial Pact hosted by France in June 2023. So far 31 countries (EU27 + Barbados, Canada, Cook Islands and Ethiopia) have expressed their support for the Call. The Call includes three elements: 1) commitment to expansion and deepening of domestic carbon pricing and carbon market instruments; 2) Support to host countries for full implementation of the agreed rulebook for international compliance markets, and; 3) ensuring high integrity in voluntary carbon markets. The Call builds on and compliments existing initiatives such as Canada's Global Carbon Pricing Challenge, which the EU formally joined at the EU-Canada Summit on 24 November, the G7 High Integrity Principles, as well as the Paris Agreement's Article 6 rules.

Related links

Speech of President von der Leyen at the High Level Event on Carbon markets

Call to Action on Paris-aligned Carbon Markets

Quote
SEATTLE  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 we've achieved that goal, but if we can't 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 document's 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 region's 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.

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 Biden's 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.
Studies of pathogens infecting birds across the northeastern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will be discussed by associate professor of biology Eric Atkinson on Dec. 7 in Cody, Wyoming.

Atkinson's free talk, titled "It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds," will begin at noon at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West's Coe Auditorium.

Atkinson and his students at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, have been studying bird pathogens since 2013.

Their work includes learning how to properly capture, measure, bleed and band birds  which are released unharmed. In their laboratory work, the students study everything from West Nile virus and antibodies, DNA extraction of malaria, and much more.

The presentation also shares some of the research findings of Atkinson and his students, along with continuing analyses that assess the interactions of pathogens on the health of native and nonnative songbirds.

The talk will be broadcast virtually via Zoom. To register for the webinar log on to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1PDSIV9NQqqDlic8ubs_Vw.

Atkinson grew up in the Gallatin Valley of southwest Montana, and by age 7 was affixing colored twisty ties to the legs of Brewers blackbirds in hope of resighting them the following year.

Until high school he was unaware ornithologists did that, and from then on has been researching birds (northern shrikes, ferruginous hawks, harlequin ducks, house sparrows, and others), mammals (from mice to prairie dogs to mule deer), and reptiles and amphibians from Montana and Idaho to Arizona and Virginia with dozens of points in between.

Atkinson uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to model hazards for wind power deployment and has developed conservation strategies for several vulnerable species across the continent.
New Delhi, December 1: Jet fuel or ATF price was on Friday slashed by 4.6 per cent - the second reduction in one month - while commercial cooking gas (LPG) rate was raised by Rs 21 per 19-kg cylinder in line with international benchmarks. However, price of domestic LPG - used in household kitchens for cooking purposes - remained unchanged at Rs 903 per 14.2-kg cylinder. Jet Fuel Price Hike: Airlines' Woes Continue, ATF Prices Increased by Nearly 50 Percent in June

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price was reduced to Rs 1,06,155.67 per kilolitre in the national capital from Rs 1,11,344.92 per kl, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. LPG Cylinder Price Hike: Ahead of Diwali 2023, Prices of 19 Kg Commercial LPG Gas Cylinders Hiked by Rs 101

Alongside, price of commercial LPG used by establishments such as hotels and restaurants, was increased to Rs 1,796.50 per 19-kg cylinder from Rs 1,775.50.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): The Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, delivered a lecture on the 'Life and Legacy of Chandra Shekhar' as part of the Prime Ministers Lecture Series at the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in New Delhi.

Recalling Chandra Shekhar's legacy in politics, Harivansh underlined that Chandra Shekhar was part of a rare breed of politician who was committed to his socialist ideology throughout his career, which spanned over six decades.

Also Read | COP28 Summit 2023: Climate Finance, Technology Extremely Essential To Fulfil Aspirations of Global South, Says PM Narendra Modi.

Dy Chairman Rajya Sabha Harivansh said that he was a symbol of courage and conviction and displayed remarkable civility in his political discourse.

Harivansh recalled the time of Chandra Shekhar as Prime Minister and how he almost resolved the long-standing dispute around the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi.

Also Read | Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Approves 30% Reservation to Women for Posts of Constable in State Police.

"Chandra Shekhar's government lasted only seven months, yet it made brisk efforts to solve this complex issue by bringing the two sides together and arranging the first official meeting between the VHP, the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee, and other key political leaders at the time," Harivansh said.

"Had the Chandra Shekhar government lasted a little longer, he was certain that this would've been peacefully resolved. However, all this settlement news wasn't as pleasant to Congress at the time. Rajiv Gandhi and his advisors possibly panicked, and this certainly seemed a critical factor in the withdrawal of support for the government at the time," he said in the lecture.

"When I was writing his biography, I found several commentaries from leaders at the time who acknowledged that only Chandra Shekhar could talk to the parties involved without any prejudice, and in return, he commanded their trust and respect as well. One reputed leader, in his autobiography, stated that both parties had agreed in principle to a land-sharing suggestion," he added.

He added that Chandra Shekhar must also receive due credit for the initial hard work that went into averting a major financial crisis in 1990-91. While PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh later were recognised for India's liberalisation moment, the initial work of negotiating with IMF, and multilateral institutions and pledging gold from the country's gold reserves to prevent the country from going bankrupt was taken during the last few days of Chandra Shekhar's premiership. Many had criticised him for sacrificing the country's 'family jewels' at the time. However, several economists and experts, such as Montek Singh Ahluwalia and former RBI Governor C Rangarajan, remarked that it was a bold decision to prevent the country from defaulting. For him, the national interest always triumphed over all other concerns.

Drawing parallels with today's times, Harivansh said that India's 1991 situation should serve as a reminder that profligate expenditures eventually hurt the country.

"Today, for mere electoral results, parties are making unreasonable promises which more or less threaten to trap the states in a perennial debt cycle. Eventually, those debts build up and push the situation to the brink, where harsh decisions have to be taken," he further said.

This lecture was the fourth edition of the series of sessions about the Prime Minister hosted by the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya.

Earlier, former President Ram Nath Kovind addressed a lecture on Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan spoke on Jawaharlal Nehru, and author and journalist TN Ninan has addressed a lecture on Lal Bahadur Shastri. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 1 (ANI): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the workers of Uttar Pradesh trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand and their families after their safe return. During this meeting at his official residence, he inquired about their well-being and spoke to them about their experiences during the challenging time when they were trapped in the tunnel.

CM Yogi said, "I am happy that all the labourers from Uttar Pradesh trapped in the tunnel incident have safely returned and are now going back to their homes. The state government is standing with its people in every difficult time and will continue to do so."

Also Read | Tripura: Worries Over Future of Specially Abled Girl Child, Three Members of Family Die by Suicide in Sepahijala.

During this interaction, CM Yogi praised the courage and patience of all the labourers. He honoured them with shawls on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government and also provided them with sweets and gifts.

Notably, a total of eight labourers from Uttar Pradesh were trapped among 41 workers in the tunnel collapse that happened in Uttarkashi. After spending 16 days in the tunnel, they were rescued on the 17th day. Among them, six were from Shravasti (Ankit, Ram Milan, Satyadev, Santosh, Jayprakash, and Ram Sundar), one from Lakhimpur Kheri (Manjeet), and one from Mirzapur (Akhilesh Kumar).

Also Read | COP28 Summit 2023: India Presented Excellent Example of Balance Between Ecology and Economy Before World, Says PM Narendra Modi.

On CM Yogi's directives, a nodal officer was appointed by the state government for real-time information about these laborers, and their families were updated daily about their situation. According to the officials, the Chief Minister himself monitored the situation closely.

Labourers informed CM about the difficult time spent in the tunnel.

During this meeting, one of the labourers mentioned that when the incident occurred, they realised that there was some damage to the oxygen pipe.

As they proceeded further, they saw debris coming from the front, and their courage shattered.

The labourer explained that the place where they were trapped had a tunnel length of 2.5 kilometres and a width of 14 metres. There was enough oxygen in the tunnel for them to survive for two to three days, and the rest of the assistance was provided by the company and the government.

He went on to say that if the supply of food, water, and oxygen from outside had stopped, their lives would have been in danger. The labourer highlighted that both the company and the government ensured that there was no power outage inside the tunnel.

When an officer from the state government contacted them, they realised that not only the Indian government and the Uttarakhand government but also the government of their home state (Uttar Pradesh) was determined to rescue them, the labourer added.

During the conversation, the labourers also expressed gratitude for the efforts made by the UP government. Chief Minister Yogi inquired about the duration of their work in the tunnel in Uttarakhand. Additionally, he engaged in discussions with the families of the labourers to gain insights into their current situation. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Imphal, December 1: Armed dacoits with faces covered by masks looted Rs 18.80 crore in cash from a branch of a public sector bank in Manipur's Ukhrul district, officials said on Friday. This Punjab National Bank branch is the currency chest - a place where the Reserve Bank of India stocks cash meant for banks and ATMs - for Ukhrul district. Bank Robbery Caught on Camera in Manipur: Armed Men Looted Rs 18.85 Crore From Punjab National Bank After Tying Security Personnel and Bank Staff With Ropes In Ukhrul Town

The robbers carrying sophisticated weapons reached the bank in Ukhrul town, around 80 km from the state capital Imphal, overpowered the security personnel and looted the amount from the vault after threatening the staff on Thursday evening. The miscreants, some of whom were in camouflage uniform, locked up the employees and the security personnel inside the washroom of the bank, officials said. Himachal Pradesh Bank Robbery: Masked Man Carrying Bomb Enters Private Bank in Sikar, Loots Rs 24 Lakh

One of the senior staff was made to open the vault at gunpoint, following which the robbers looted the money. A complaint has been lodged at Ukhrul police station. The police started examining CCTV footage to identify the culprits.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Thane, December 1: The Navi Mumbai police in Maharashtra have registered a case of cruelty against a doctor and his mother on the complaint of his wife, who is also a doctor, an official said on Friday. TheI Sagari police, which registered the case on Thursday, identified the accused as Dr Vivek Yadav (49) and his mother Mahadevi Jaipalsingh Yadav (70), both from Bhopal. Mumbai Shocker: Jilted Lover Slits Woman's Throat With Blade for Rejecting Marriage Proposal in Kalachowki; Arrested

According to the complainant, who is from Navi Mumbai, she was subjected to "cruel treatment" by the accused duo in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh between 2009 and August 2022. The woman doctor told the police that her mother-in-law abused her when she delivered a girl child and even insulted her parents, the official said. The FIR does not mention why the woman approached the police late. Mumbai Shocker: 21-Year-Old Man Suffering From Depression Commits Suicide in Kandivali

The case has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections, including 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). No arrests have been made so far, the official added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dubai, December 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India is among the few countries which is on course to meet Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as part of efforts to combat climate change and proposed that the country will host COP33 in 2028. "India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028," PM Modi said in his remarks at the opening ceremony of High-level segment of COP28 being hosted by UAE.

He said India has presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world. "Despite India being home to 17 per cent of population of the world, its contribution to Global Carbon Emissions is less than 4 per cent. India is one of those few economies of the world that is on the path to meet NDC targets," he said. COP28 Summit 2023: PM Narendra Modi Meets With UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Other World Leaders on Sidelines of Summit.

COP28 Summit 2023

#WATCH | Dubai, UAE | At the Opening of the COP28 high-level segment for HoS/HoG, PM Narendra Modi says, "...India's goal is to bring down emissions intensity by 45% till 2030. We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50%. We will also keep going ahead towards pic.twitter.com/TVuCrvK6mJ  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

#WATCH | Dubai, UAE | At the Opening of the COP28 high-level segment for HoS/HoG, PM Narendra Modi says, "Today, from this forum, I announce one more pro-planet, pro-active and positive initiative - Green Credit initiative..." pic.twitter.com/XLZmUndeWz  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

#WATCH | Dubai, UAE | At the Opening of the COP28 high-level segment for HoS/HoG, PM Narendra Modi says, "India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028." pic.twitter.com/4wfNBn7r3L  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

Prime Minister reached Dubai on Thursday to attend the World Climate Action Summit of the Conference Of Parties-28. COP28 will provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement, and chart a path for future course on climate action. Prime Minister had said before leaving for Dubai 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 Prime Minister will also be participating in three high-level side events in Dubai, of which two are being co-hosted by India. COP28 Summit 2023: UAE Commits USD 30 Billion for Newly-Launched Catalytic Climate Vehicle ALTERRA.

The first high-level event, which is being co-hosted by India and the UAE, is the launch of Green Credits Initiative. The Green Credits Initiative is based on the Green Credit Programme, which was notified by the Ministry of Environment in October this year, and basically envisions the issue of Green Credits for plantations on waste and degraded lands and the river catchment areas in order to restore their vitality.

The second side event, co-hosted by India and Sweden, is the launch of LeadIT 2.0, essentially a Leadership Group for Industry Transition. In the three decades since the Rio Summit and the launch of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) has convened member countries every year to determine ambition and responsibilities, and identify and assess climate measures. COP28 Summit 2023: PM Narendra Modi Meets With UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Other World Leaders on Sidelines of Summit.

The 21st session of the COP (COP21) led to the Paris Agreement, which mobilized global collective action 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 is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, December 1: In a worrisome turn of events, Ohio has reported nearly 150 cases of pneumonia in children, alarming health officials and raising parallels with a similar outbreak in China. The mysterious illness has been dubbed "White Lung Syndrome," with the average age of patients being around eight years old. The spike, meeting the Ohio Department of Health's standards for an outbreak, comes amid concerns that it might be related to similar situations in China and other European nations, causing a COVID pandemic-like frenzy once again.

According to multiple reports, the spike in pneumonia cases doesn't appear to be caused by a new pathogen but rather an uptick in the number of pneumonia cases seen simultaneously. Health officials are investigating the outbreak, emphasising the importance of caution during the holiday season. In Ohio, the spike in pediatric pneumonia cases since August has prompted health officials to classify it as an outbreak. Cases have been reported primarily in Warren County, with children as young as three requiring hospitalisation. Pneumonia Outbreak: Throat Pain, Symptoms Similar to Routine Infections Common During Winter Onset; Specialist Says H9N2 Virus in China Shouldnt Trigger Panic.

What is White Lung Syndrome?

White Lung Syndrome is a severe form of pneumonia with lung scarring and discolouration. Though the exact cause is unknown, it is believed to result from bacterial, viral, and environmental factors. The Chinese government has reported it as a mix of influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), RSV, and mycoplasma pneumonia, a bacterial infection challenging to combat with many antibiotics. China-Like Pneumonia in Netherlands? Dutch Country Sees Alarming Surge in Pneumonia Cases in Kids, Says Report.

Symptoms

Symptoms of White Lung Syndrome include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. The disease primarily affects children aged three to eight years old, making it a significant concern for parents and healthcare authorities.

Transmission and Preventive Measures

The bacterial infection spreads through respiratory droplets, making coughing, sneezing, talking, singing, and breathing potential sources of transmission. Preventive measures advised by health officials include frequent handwashing, covering coughs, staying home when ill, and ensuring vaccinations are up to date.

The outbreak has raised concerns due to its resemblance to the early stages of the coronavirus. In Beijing, a parallel respiratory illness is causing inflammation in children's lungs. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) demands more data from China, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests the current surge is not linked to a novel pathogen. As investigations continue, the medical community emphasizes the importance of vigilance and adherence to preventive measures to mitigate the impact of the 'White Lung Syndrome' outbreak.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 01, 2023 06:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
George Miller, best known for his Mad Max franchise, has returned to the directors chair with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. This fifth film in the Mad Max franchise stars Anya Taylor-Joy as young Furiosa who is seen surviving trials to find her way home and the trailer of this upcoming action adventure gives a glimpse of it all. The synopsis of the film reads, As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga also features Chris Hemsworth, Alyla Browne and Tom Burke. Mad Max Universe to Have a Prequel on Furiosa's Character But Without Charlize Theron.

Watch The Trailer Of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Below:

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted the Border Security Personnel and lauded their valour and unwavering spirit. He took to X, formerly Twitter to extend greetings and wrote, "BSF has made a mark as a guardian of our frontiers. Their valour and unwavering spirit in protecting our nation is a testament to their dedication". He also hailed BSF jawans for playing vital role in rescue and relief work during natural disasters. The Border Security Force came into existence on December 1, 1965 after the Indo-Pakistan war. Nagaland Statehood Day 2023: PM Narendra Modi Extends Greetings to People of State, Says Its Fascinating History, Colorful Festivals and Warm-Hearted People Are Greatly Admired.

PM Modi Extends Greeting on BSF Raising Day 2023:

On BSFs Raising Day, we laud this excellent force, which has made a mark as a guardian of our frontiers. Their valour and unwavering spirit in protecting our nation is a testament to their dedication. I would also like to appreciate the role of BSF during rescue and relief work pic.twitter.com/6WswNLDbQB  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
A planned North Dakota facility that is part of a national effort to bolster domestic production of critical minerals has reached a deal with the Energy Department on spending nearly $115 million in federal money it was awarded last year.

The recent agreement with the Energy Department was the result of over a year of negotiations to determine how the money would be doled out to Talon Metals, the facility's operator.

The company is still seeking approvals from Minnesota regulators to extract from the Tamarack mine near Duluth, the intended source of minerals for the facility.

The federal funding will be made available at various stages including receipt of the needed permits to build and operate the plant in Mercer County, according to Todd Malan, chief external affairs officer and head of climate strategy at Talon. The company has been able to access some funds for planning, permitting and site work since negotiations concluded, he said.

Talon plans to invest $318 million in the project itself.

The facility will primarily produce nickel concentrate, a key component in batteries. Talon has already entered into a contract to sell 75,000 metric tons of nickel as well as other byproducts to electric car manufacturer Tesla over six years.

Domestic extraction and processing of critical minerals such as nickel have become policy priorities among lawmakers and industry officials who are seeking to use the minerals to meet decarbonization goals and shore up supply chains for national security. These minerals are key to technologies like the batteries needed for electric vehicles as well as energy storage capabilities.

The United States is heavily reliant on foreign countries for battery production and the critical minerals that batteries are made from. The project represents an effort to pursue more U.S.-based battery manufacturing under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021. The legislation makes $2.8 billion in federal dollars available for plants like Talon's.

Malan said the facility will share a lot of similarities with the United States' sole nickel processing plant, the Humboldt Mill, connected to the Eagle Mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Mercer County plant will use floatation to process the nickel. This procedure uses chemical agents to isolate metals.

The project provides an opportunity to further diversify coal country's economy in more than one way. The tailings, a waste byproduct of mineral processing, will be combined with fly ash, a waste product from coal-fired power plants. The blend of the two byproducts could be used in other industries like cement and building supplies. It also will allow for safe waste storage by neutralizing the acidity of the tailings.

The availability of fly ash was one of the reasons Talon chose Mercer County for siting its processing plant, Malan said.

The facility's construction should take a year to 18 months once North Dakota and federal permits are approved.

Mineral matters

Environmental concerns from local groups in Minnesota are another reason why Talon's facility will be in North Dakota.

The company's original plans were to process the nickel at a facility close to the Tamarack Mine near Duluth. Talon has a majority stake in the mine and is in the middle of the environmental review and permitting process with Minnesota regulators to extract nickel ore from it.

Talon decided to move its plans for the plant to North Dakota last year to reduce land disturbances and possible water pollution near the proposed mine. The move also limits the scope of the permit process in Minnesota.

Nickel mined at Tamarack would be transported by freight to Talon's facility in North Dakota.

Talon's first shipment to Tesla is expected to be out the door by 2027. Under the contract, Talon's nickel production needs to begin by January 2026, though the start date can be extended by 12 months with another agreement.

Before this happens Talon needs to secure a source for the nickel, and the company faces a likely yearslong process to get the approvals to extract from the deposits it owns at Tamarack.

Malan said that while Tamarack is the preferred location for nickel extraction, if the mining permit falls through or takes longer than expected, Talon would source nickel from other suppliers across America and Canada.

Talon has also received $20 million from the Department of Defense this fall to conduct nickel exploration in Michigan.

"We understand that in trying to produce nickel for national security and battery supply chain reasons people don't want to see us hurt the environment either; our big thing is we don't think it's a choice," Malan said. "We think we can do both, and create good union jobs in North Dakota and Minnesota, but we certainly have alternative sources of supply if the permitting process in Minnesota takes longer than we anticipate."

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources this past summer began its environmental review process to consider Talon's application for extracting nickel from the Tamarack Mine, the first step in the permitting process. The proposal has already encountered some pushback from environmental groups and also the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, who reside just over a mile away from the mine and worry about possible water contamination and impact to other resources such as wild rice. Sulfide ore, which the nickel will be processed from, can release harmful pollutants such as sulfuric acid when exposed to water and air.

Other mining companies have run into permitting issues in Minnesota regarding similar concerns.

The mining company NewRange Copper Nickel ultimately lost some of its state and federal permits for a mine planned to operate a bit farther north of Tamarack this summer due to regulators' findings that water quality and other environmental issues were not properly addressed before the permits were granted. Twin Metals, a company hoping to operate in northern Minnesota as well, had its federal leases to drill near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness blocked by the Biden administration, which implemented a 20-year moratorium on drilling there. The company has been allowed by the state to conduct some exploration on private land near the waters.

Most of the Tamarack Mine's operations will be below ground, Malan said, reducing its damage compared to open pit mines. He said while there will be some federal approvals needed to mine at Tamarack due to impacts to wetlands, the above-ground impacts will be relatively small compared to the other mines that have run into issues. The long-term surface impact of the project will be about 80 acres and there will be a wetland impact of less than 25 acres.

"Over 80% of Talons team lives in the area of the Tamarack project and are focused on protecting the environment while also producing the necessary minerals required for defense and energy systems," Malan said.
From a Times Staff Writer

A former Mexican Mafia member who admitted carrying out a number of crimes while working as an undercover FBI informant was sentenced Monday in Los Angeles federal court to 30 years in prison.

John Turscak, 30, expressed bitter disappointment with his sentence. He told U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz, I didnt commit those crimes for kicks. I did them because I had to if I wanted to stay alive. I told that to the [FBI] agents and they just said, Do what you have to do. 

In 1997, Turscak became an informant in an investigation that resulted in the indictment of more than 40 alleged Mexican Mafia members and associates.

Advertisement

Midway through the probe, however, prosecutors dropped him as an informer after he admitted dealing drugs, extorting money and authorizing assaults while on the government payroll.

Turscak pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiring to kill a rival in the prison-based gang. He could have received a maximum of life in prison.
Two governors with ambitions for the White House are finally facing off in a debate as California Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a nationally televised debate happening on Fox News.

While DeSantis is currently running for president, Gavin Newsom is not. However, the debate between the two is still happening despite the Florida governor's continued failure to even dent Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's numbers.

Right now, DeSantis is betting big on winning Iowa and landing the opening blow on Trump, but as the former president continues to ignore the debates and go about his own way, DeSantis is seen as trying to prove that he can take on Democrats by debating the California governor.

DeSantis and Newsom have been at odds with one another, particularly with DeSantis's migrant busing stunts, which are under investigation for fraud. Fox News is billing the Newsom Vs. DeSantis debate as "The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate."

The debate will happen in the crucial swing state of Georgia which loudly rejected Donald Trump in 2020 and is now investigating him for election interference. The venue will be a studio in Alpharetta, Georgia, north of Atlanta, and there will be no audience. Sean Hannity, who has butted heads with Newsom in past interviews and praised DeSantis, will be the moderator.

With his struggles against Trump, DeSantis is seen to use this debate to gain momentum before his showdown with the former president. As for Gavin Newsom, he is seen to use this opportunity to reach a wider and more conservative audience, as it will be shown on Fox News, according to the Associated Press.

The debate is scheduled for 9 PM Eastern Time later today at Fox News.

The Contrasting Styles of Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom Will Be Shown During the Debate

While Newsom has worked for a more inclusive state in California and continues to have one of the richest economies in the world, DeSantis has been touting the influx of new residents from blue states in Florida despite the sky-high housing prices and mass exodus of labor due to his anti-immigration policies driving away migrants that work on some of Florida's most vital industries, such as farming and construction.

READ MORE: Ron DeSantis' Immigration Law Sparks Exodus of Florida Immigrants

According to The Hill, both are expected to tout their state's policies, with Newsom expected to go after DeSantis for his stances on LGBTQ rights, voting rights, abortion, and education, while DeSantis is expected to go after Newsom on immigration and continue his "war on woke" agenda that has divided many Floridians.

The Differing Policies of Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom

As the BBC pointed out, during the debate, Newsom is expected to tout California's broad range of liberal social policies, including the state's healthcare and aid to the poor, gun control, openness to immigrants, and gay and transgender protections. All this while going after DeSantis's six-week ban on abortions, loosened restrictions on carrying firearms in public, limitations on how teachers can discuss gay and transgender issues in public-school classrooms, and invalidating out-of-state driving licenses issued to undocumented migrants.

Meanwhile, DeSantis is expected to continue his "War on Woke" arguments and say that California's liberal policies are hurting the state more. He is also expected to tout Florida's economy, which ranks fourth in the US (California's is ranked 1st), and the education in Florida, though he is expected to be attacked on these points by Newsom, too.

READ MORE: California: Migrants Flown to Sacramento

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Newsom vs. DeSantis | What to know about their upcoming debate - KCRA 3
In the face of looming expulsion from Congress, Representative George Santos (R-New York) defiantly declared on Thursday that he was being "bullied" by fellow House members.

As a crucial vote on his expulsion approaches, Santos warned that if successful, it could set a precedent leading to the downfall of other lawmakers in the future, the Washington Post noted.

Standing in front of the US Capitol on a chilly morning, Santos, surrounded by reporters, continued to assert that he would never resign.

The New York representative dismissed the House Ethics Committee report, which outlined numerous fraud and ethics violation allegations against him, as incomplete and "littered with hyperbole." He denounced the proceedings as mere theater for the public, arguing that it hindered real legislative work despite the mounting pressure.

"Take the vote, guys. I'm okay with it. This is your time," George Santos said, daring his colleagues during the House debate later in the day to vote for his expulsion.

The latest effort to remove Santos from office, initiated by Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), comes in the wake of a scathing Ethics Committee report. The report alleges a litany of campaign fund misuse, leading to a vote expected on Friday, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.

READ NEXT: George Santos Scandal: New York Rep. Ready for Congress Expulsion

George Santos Scandal Unfolds

House members are set to cast their votes on whether to expel the New York Congressman, George Santos, on Friday, responding to revelations from the House Ethics Committee report.

The committee concluded that Santos "cannot be trusted" due to allegations of campaign fund misuse, according to PEOPLE.

The report prompted Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest to revive calls for Santos' removal based on new evidence uncovered in their extensive investigation.

George Santos, who had faced calls to forfeit his seat even before his swearing-in, expressed his disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.

The first-term congressman has spent nearly 11 months in office, grappling with 23 federal charges, including money laundering, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and making false statements to the House of Representatives and Federal Election Commission.

Santos, who pleaded not guilty to all counts, is accused of unauthorized charges on his campaign donors' credit cards for personal gain.

George Santos' Congressional Stint Under Scrutiny

At 35 years old, Santos, a first-term congressman, faces criminal campaign finance charges and has admitted to fabricating much of his biography.

In a one-hour debate, Santos found support from three Republicans defending him on procedural grounds, while eight Democrats and Republicans called for his removal.

The New York Congressman survived one expulsion vote earlier this month but faces increased odds this time.

A bipartisan congressional probe revealed evidence of campaign money spending on Botox, luxury brands, and OnlyFans, an online platform known for explicit content, Reuters reported.

Some Republicans who previously opposed his removal withdrew their support, prompting a challenging situation for Santos.

Undeterred, Santos filed a motion to force an expulsion vote against Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman, who pleaded guilty in October to triggering a fire alarm before a vote. However, the likelihood of success is low, requiring substantial Democratic support.

"This is just another meaningless stunt in his long history of cons, antics, and outright fraud," Bowman stated before Santos filed the motion.

Despite the growing pressure, New York Rep. George Santos declared he would not seek reelection next year. Isolated in Congress with little influence, he remains defiant, predicting his forced exit in Friday's vote while expressing pride in his congressional record.

"I wish I could do more, (but) if this is it, this is it," Santos stated.

READ MORE: George Santos Net Worth

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Rep. George Santos to face expulsion vote on Friday - From MSNBC
Donald Trump's gag order in his New York fraud trial and Trump attorney Christopher Kise lashed out and called it a "tragic day for the rule of law" while the people Trump has been threatening and spreading misinformation about are breathing a sigh of relief.

After its reinstatement, Judge Arthur Engoron vowed to enforce it "rigorously and vigorously." While he allowed Trump to continue attacking him, he drew the line at the former president spreading false claims regarding his staff, particularly his clerk, whom Trump accused of being a "second judge" and an "Anti-Trump" operative.

Trump has repeatedly posted and made derogatory comments against Judge Engoron's law clerk, including a baseless allegation about the clerk's personal life, which Donald Trump could not provide any evidence of. In addition, Engoron has admitted that the law clerk, as well as himself and his family, have been receiving death threats due to Trump's baseless allegations.

However, Trump is playing the "political speech" card, with spokesman Steven Cheung calling the gag order "nothing but attempted election interference, which is failing terribly." While he said this, the gag order was still reinstated.

The former president's attorneys have been challenging the gag order and sued Engoron, claiming it was an abuse of power. However, state lawyers supported it and said it was a reasonable step to protect Engoron's staff from threats.

As for the clerk, it was revealed last week that she "received enough harassing voicemails to fill a transcript with 275 single-spaced pages." The Associated Press noted that about half the harassing and disparaging messages to her were antisemitic. Despite this, Trump's attorneys still argued the former president should not be gagged because of the behavior of his supporters.

Donald Trump Says Gag Order Is Not Justified Even if His Supporters Are Threatening Law Clerk

Lawyers for the New York attorney general's office stated that the threats against the principal law clerk for Judge Engoron are "serious and credible" and therefore warranting a gag order. However, Trump's attorneys are saying otherwise.

READ MORE: Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows Will Not Be Offered Plea Deals in Georgia Election Case

According to CNN, Trump's lawyers argued that "Trump's First Amendment right to criticize and call out his perception of bias" is "essential" to maintaining public confidence in the trial, even if Trump has been actively degrading his supporters' trust in the outcome by complaining that the judge is biased against him.

Donald Trump Also Targeting New York Fraud Trial Judge's Wife

Aside from Engoron and the clerk in his New York Fraud trial, Trump is also spreading rumors regarding Engroron's wife, Dawn Engoron, stating that she had been claiming that she had been talking about the ongoing trial and that the former president is "headed to the big house."

"Judge Engoron's 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," he wrote on a Truth Social post on Wednesday, before the gag order.

However, Dawn Engoron spoke with The Hill and denied anything to do with the account that Trump is accusing her of having, telling the outlet, "The Twitter account with the handle [sic] @dm_sminxs does not belong to me. I do not have a Twitter account. I have never posted any anti Trump messages."

Trump supporter Laura Loomer shared so-called posts by Dawn Engoron, which Trump used to further smear the judge.

READ MORE: Donald Trump is Confused Why Co-Defendants Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro Pleaded Guilty

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Trump Gets DEVASTATING News on GAG Order IMMEDIATELY after Boasting - MeidasTouch
A recent beating of a parking guard has stoked class divisions in Mexico even further as outrage erupted after a video of that guard being beaten up by a rich teenager in an expensive private school in Puebla State surfaced.

According to the Associated Press, this was the latest in a decade-long string of beatings of working-class Mexicans by wealthy people in a country, with a massive wealth gap between the rich elites and the working class.

This is evident in the Mexican state where the incident happened, as Puebla is known for sharp income inequalities. Puebla Gov. Sergio Salomon Cespedes even went out to condemn the attack and called on prosecutors to consider bringing criminal charges against the wealthy teen.

"I condemn classism. I condemn the elitism that separates people based on their social standing, race, religion, physical condition or preferences," said the governor on social media. "I call on the Puebla prosecutors' office to conduct an exhaustive investigation, so that justice can be done and a precedent set."

How the Beating Incident by Mexico Teen on a Parking Guard Happened

Authorities have not yet confirmed the high school student's name. However, he was captured on security camera footage rushing the guard shack and was seen ruthlessly punching the smaller employee repeatedly.

The teen was a high school student at an exclusive school with wealthy students and he was reportedly angry because his automatic parking pass was not working, leading him to attack the parking guard.

The victim has been identified as Hugo Enrique Vera, a parking attendant. His lawyer stated that the Mexico teen who beat up his client, whom they identified as Miguel Sacal, agreed to apologize and pay damages for the beating.

READ MORE: Mexico: 4 Journalists Shot in What Police Consider as 'Attempted Murder'

That school is the Anahuac private prep school, which regards itself as the "best private high school in the south of Tamaulipas," according to its official website.

It states that it "stands out from the rest for being the only high school with an international university system with values and a vision of comprehensive training. It aims to form upright Christian leaders that renew society and develop themselves free and mature according to their age, who achieve academic excellence and are committed to searching the truth."

However, after the incident, the school released a statement, saying that the Mexico teen who attacked the guard is now suspended and may face expulsion.

"We emphatically condemn any serious offense against the principles of respect and responsibilities that we promote," the school's statement read.

Classism and Racism Prevalent Throughout Mexico, Darker-Skinned Mexicans Looked Down Upon

ABC News reported that the attack happened at the entrance to a luxury housing development on the outskirts of the central city of Puebla. The area already has a reputation for rich kids misbehaving, with a gang of young men previously beating up another teen in September.

However, the focus has now turned to how the rich continue looking down on those who do not have as much money as they are or have darker skin, as the parking guard was darker-skinned, slight in build, and had more indigenous features. Meanwhile, his attacker has light skin.

Incidences such as this have been increasing in Mexico as of late including a recent video of two upper-middle-class women shoving and slapping a Mexico City police officer, calling him a "crappy wage slave." Much like the Puebla incident, this also drew widespread condemnation. They were later charged with resisting officers, insulting authorities, and discrimination.

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: MEXICO CITY | CLASSISM | RACISM - Selwyn de Wind
The US repatriated Guy Philippe, a former Haiti coup leader, back to his Caribbean homeland Thursday, following approximately six years of imprisonment in the US on money-laundering charges associated with Colombian drug trafficking.

Having led the 2004 ousting of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and subsequently winning a senatorial race in the rural Grand'Anse region, Guy Philippe, a former police officer, is presently housed in a police facility near the main airport of the capital, as reported by a police source to Reuters.

The status of his continued detention remains unclear.

Footage from local outlet Haiti9 News depicted a small group of pro-Philippe protesters outside the airport.

Philippe's arrest occurred just before he was to be sworn in as a senator in 2017, with the US Drug Enforcement Administration taking custody.

Initially sentenced to nine years in a Miami court, Philippe was granted early release in September.

Initially entering a plea of not guilty, claiming he was "kidnapped" by the US due to his political beliefs, Philippe later altered his plea as part of an agreement to avoid a lengthier US sentence.

In a statement issued late last year advocating for his early release, Philippe expressed anticipation for returning to Haiti and contributing to the improvement of his community in Pestel, located on the country's southern peninsula.

READ NEXT: Haiti Gang Leader Responsible for Kidnapping Americans Extradited to US

Guy Philippe Deportation to Haiti 'Makes No Sense' Says Immigrant Rights Group Leader

Guerline Jozef, co-founder of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a San Diego-based immigrant rights group, criticized Philippe's deportation, stating it contradicts the Biden administration's support for deploying an armed force from Kenya to aid Haiti's fragile police force in combating gangs.

Jozef emphasized that such actions contribute to Haiti's destabilization, urging a reassessment of US foreign policies toward the country, the Miami Herald noted.

The Biden administration's decision to continue deportations to Haiti has faced opposition from immigration advocates and the United Nations, especially considering the nation's ongoing armed gang and humanitarian crisis.

Tom Cartwright, a refugee advocate, highlighted that despite calls to halt deportations, the US has deported over 27,200 Haitians since President Biden's inauguration, with Thursday's flight marking the 289th ICE deportation flight under this administration.

Uncertain Role of Guy Philippe in Haiti's Political Landscape

Amidst uncertainty, concerns arise regarding Guy Philippe's role upon his return to Haiti, a country grappling with powerful gangs following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

Guy Philippe, a charismatic leader with significant ties to police, politicians, and the business elite, has historically seen himself as a messianic figure for Haiti.

Authorities had also accused him of leveraging his position to protect drug shipments in exchange for bribes, admitting to receiving up to $3.5 million, AP reports.

Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert and University of Virginia professor, emphasized that Philippe's intentions remain unclear.

While Philippe has expressed a desire to be involved in Haitian politics, there is speculation about his connections with former police officials turned gang leaders, including Jimmy Cherizier, known as "Barbecue."

Philippe's supporters, including former Haitian President Michel Martelly, believe he should participate in upcoming general elections, though a date has not been set.

A dozen supporters gather at Haiti's main international airport in "Guy Philippe" T-shirts Thursday, advocating for his participation in upcoming elections, which have faced repeated delays and lack a set date.

Meanwhile, Alex Dupuy, a Haiti-born sociologist, expressed skepticism about Guy Philippe playing a central role in Haiti's current political drama.

"One would have to wait and see what his return means if anything at all," Dupuy said, adding that Guy Philippe is not necessarily expected to play the main role in the ongoing drama unfolding in Haiti amid the challenging political situation.

READ MORE: Panama Shuts Down Canadian Copper Mine

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Former Haitian Police Commander Sentenced To Prison - From CBS Miami
The exhaustive search for the missing Indiana teen, Valerie Tindall, who disappeared from her home in early June, concluded with a grim discovery this week, according to the Daily Beast.

Authorities revealed that her body was found buried on the property of a neighbor, adding a shocking twist to the investigation.

Rush County Sheriff Allan Rice expressed the devastating outcome, stating, "This is not the outcome we had hoped for."

Valerie Tindall, 17, was last seen leaving her Arlington home on June 7.

Concerns grew when she failed to return, prompting law enforcement to issue a public appeal for assistance, citing that she was believed to be "in extreme danger."

The distressing revelation unfolded when it was disclosed that the missing Indiana teen's body had been discovered on the neighboring property, bringing a tragic end to the search efforts.

The neighbor in question, 59-year-old Patrick Scott, who had initially assured Tindall's parents that she might have run away, is now facing a preliminary charge of murder.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through the community, revealing that Scott and his family were friends with Tindall's family.

According to Tindall's mother, Shena Sandefur, Scott and his wife had consoled the family, suggesting that Valerie would likely return home.

Valerie Tindall, the missing Indiana teen, would have turned 18 on August 29.

READ NEXT: Missing Woman Found Dead Wrapped in Plastic

Missing Indiana Teen Found

Valerie Tindall's last known location, based on cell phone records, was near Scott's home. Her final phone activity was recorded shortly before 1 PM on June 7, FOX 59 noted.

Scott faced accusations of providing inconsistent information about the last time he saw the missing Indiana teen and was charged with false information in June.

Detailed court documents narrate the investigative timeline, including a search of Scott's property with cadaver dogs on October 11.

Although the dogs indicated the possible presence of human remains near a pond on Scott's property, an ensuing search of the pond yielded no results.

However, concerns were raised about the scent potentially being carried by wind toward the pond.

A subsequent topography study and a property flyover were ordered as investigators attempted to decipher the indications from the cadaver dogs.

Nearly 40 federal agents and local law enforcement officers executed search warrants on October 28, leading to the discovery of two homemade boxes buried beneath debris on Scott's property.

Witnesses had previously reported Scott tearing down and burning his garage in the early hours after Tindall's disappearance.

Patrick Scott Admits Murdering the Missing Indiana Teen

In a court document filed on November 30, Patrick Scott allegedly admitted to murdering Valerie Tindall, per WTHR.

He claimed that Tindall, on her way to work, met him near Shelbyville High School on June 7.

Scott asserted that she disappeared after he drove her back to his house, located just behind Tindall's residence.

Scott disturbingly stated that Tindall was attempting to blackmail him by coercing him into buying her a car, leading to a confrontation.

He admitted to strangling her with a belt, claiming it happened as she allegedly "got carried away" undressing. Scott insisted he did not intend to kill her, but the act occurred during the struggle.

After Tindall's death, Scott disclosed that he left her body in an office at his house overnight.

He admitted to constructing a box, wrapping her body in black plastic, and burying it on his adjoining property.

The court documents further detailed Scott's alleged abandonment of the missing Indiana teen's car, where he disposed of the license plate and keys into an unknown river.

Authorities claim Scott expressed being "wasn't too crazy" about having committed the heinous act.

READ MORE: Texas Teen Arrested for Murder After Ex-Girlfriend's Body Found

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Body of missing teen believed to be buried on neighbor's property - From WRTV Indianapolis
Bethlehems former finance director was spared prison time after he agreed to pay back the city for $18,000 worth of electronics he took.

Mark Sivak pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of theft for taking 31 cell phones and other electronic devices, according to a representative from the Northampton County District Attorneys office.

Sivak was sentenced by Northampton County Judge Anthony Beltrami to a year of probation. Two charges were dropped as part of the plea deal, according to the district attorneys office.
Hundreds of pages of written briefs that argue for and against a hazardous liquid pipeline permit for Summit Carbon Solutions in Iowa are due before the end of the year, with written replies to those arguments due Jan. 19, the Iowa Utilities Board recently ordered.

The three-member board will thereafter decide whether to issue or deny a permit to Summit to allow construction of its carbon dioxide pipeline system and whether the company can use eminent domain to obtain land easements for about a quarter of its route.

State law does not set a deadline for that decision, and the board has not estimated when its decision might come.

Summit proposes a five-state pipeline system spanning more than 680 miles to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to North Dakota for underground sequestration.

The boards evidentiary hearing for Summits proposal in Iowa ended Nov. 8. After the hearings conclusion, the board said it would allow a briefing schedule that is longer than normal due to the voluminous record and the upcoming holiday season, and would accept atypically long initial briefs of up to 150 pages, with some exceptions for even longer filings. It noted that the case file has tens of thousands of pages of testimony and exhibits.

Pipeline opponents sought to circumvent the laborious briefing process after the hearing concluded with a motion for the board to deny Summits permit application.

From our point of view, Summit clearly has failed to show that this project is in the public convenience and necessity, said Brian Jorde, an attorney for numerous landowners in several states, in reference to a state requirement for the permit to be issued. Matter of fact, not a single witness of the public has showed up and said it is convenient. And maybe a handful of -- maybe the ethanol plant gentleman or so from Iowa said it maybe was necessary, but no one else has. And they havent proven it.

Bret Dublinske, an attorney for Summit, said Jorde and others can make those arguments in their written briefs and that seeking an abrupt decision from the board after the hearing is factually and legally incorrect and premature, according to a hearing transcript.

This case has significant evidence about the benefits to the ethanol industry, to the corn economy, to the farm economy more broadly and how that supports land values and tax revenues and just generally the fabric of not only Iowas economy but Iowa as a while, Dublinske said.

The board denied Jordes motion.

More than half of Iowas corn is used to produce ethanol, and Summit has argued that supporting the ethanol industry also supports higher corn prices.

The company has agreements with ethanol plants to share profits from federal tax credits that reward capturing carbon dioxide and producing low-carbon fuels, along with increased profits from selling those fuels in new markets. The specific details of the agreements have not been made public.

Pipeline opponents have argued that those profits will mostly benefit wealthy Summit investors. They further oppose the use of eminent domain to force construction of the pipeline system against landowners wishes and worry about damage to farmland and safety threats from potential pipeline breaches.

Summits permit application in North Dakota is under reconsideration and has no definitive timeline for completion. Bismarck this week obtained approval to intervene in the process because of the pipelines proximity, according to documents filed with the states Public Service Commission.

Bismarcks petition said it does not support or oppose the companys proposal, but that it will be affected by it. Specifically, the city said the pipeline route might affect its future growth and the safety of its residents. The citys fire department might also lead an emergency response to a pipeline rupture.

South Dakota rejected Summits initial route proposal for that state, and the company has said it plans to reapply with a modified route. The company has not indicated when that might happen.

Summit has delayed the projected operational date of its pipeline system by more than a year to 2026.
A teen killer Friday morning was sentenced to anywhere from 50 years to life in prison following a 2006 ambush that left a 16-year-old dead and a 19-year-old injured in Easton, the Northampton County District Attorneys Office said.

Queed Batts previously was convicted of felony first-degree murder; felony aggravated assault; and felony attempted criminal homicide. Northampton County Judge Michael Koury presided over Fridays precedent-setting case and sentenced Batts to 40 years to life  with the possibility of parole  on the murder charge; and 10 to 20 years on the attempted murder charge.

Both sentences are set to run consecutively, but Batts does receive credit for the 17 years hes already served, according to the DAs office. The case was prosecuted Friday by District Attorney Terry Houck.

Were very pleased with this, Houck said when reached at his office following the sentencing. The victims family showed up and theyre happy with the outcome. For me, this gives them closure in some respect and the ability to move on.

Batts didnt speak during Fridays sentencing, Houck said. Asked if theres been any remorse to the crime, Houck said Batts has expressed regret in past hearings. However, Houck said hes skeptical given that remorse was under the backdrop of a pending appeal and no remorse was shown during Batts confession.

Philip D. Lauer, the private Allentown-based defense attorney representing Batts, previously told lehighvalleylive.com Batts had an exceptionally difficult life.

After Fridays proceeding, Lauer said the defense is pleased Batts did not receive a sentence of life without parole. There are some concerns about the length of the minimum sentence, and whether that might amount to a de facto life sentence, but we are in the process of evaluating that, and will be reviewing it further with Mr. Batts, he said.

Batts, of Phillipsburg, was 14 at the time of the 2006 killing, and was being initiated into the Bloods street gang. He is now 32.

Batts killed 16-year-old Clarence C.J. Edwards with two point-blank shots to the head and wounded 19-year-old Cory Hilario with a shot to the back. Batts shot them to impress members of the Bloods street gang, Houck said, noting Batts also had a universal sergeant gang rank. That meant Batts could carry his ranking over to other states, the DA said.

Batts initially in 2007 was convicted of all charges, sentenced then by Northampton County Judge William Moran to life in prison. Following that conviction, however, Batts appealed the judges ruling and in 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court made it unconstitutional to mandate such sentences for juveniles.

Moran has since retired, and Batts went before Judge Koury in 2014. Koury re-sentenced Batts to life in prison, saying he believed expert testimony that Batts was incorrigible.

Mercy for Mr. Batts will have to come from God. May God have mercy on your soul, Koury had said from the bench.

Batts appealed that sentence, and in June 2017, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court sent the case back to Koury for Batts to be re-sentenced again. By that September, Houck said he wouldnt seek life in prison again because it was too tough to meet state Supreme Court standards.

The state Supreme Courts standard reserves life-without-parole sentences for rare and uncommon juveniles who demonstrate permanent incorrigibility. State guidelines call for 25 years to life in prison for juvenile murder offenders.

By December 2017, Batts agreed to a sentencing deal offered by prosecutors. The deal allowed for sentences of 30 years to life in prison for first-degree murder, and 10 to 20 years in prison for attempted murder.

The deal meant Batts would have his life sentence overturned, reinstated, overturned, reinstated and overturned a third time. He also wouldnt be eligible for parole until at least his mid-60s, but he would be eligible at some point.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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.
PHILADELPHIA  The Eagles edge rushers and defensive linemen were taking part in their drills Thursday at the NovaCare Complex, with each player firing off at the snap at the direction of their position coaches. Nearby, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was working with a trainer, using an elastic band as part of his rehabbing from a groin injury he suffered in Sundays overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. However, the Eagles are facing the prospect of being without Cox Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field when the Eagles take on the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field.

BUY EAGLES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

Cox did not participate in Thursdays practice, a day after being sidelined for Wednesdays walkthrough. Cox has played well in the middle of the Eagles defensive line, getting 1.5 sacks, 18 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, 10 hurries and 20 pressures in 10 games this season. Cox did miss one game this season against the Los Angeles Rams because of a back injury. If Cox cannot play, the Eagles will rely heavily on Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter to play in significant snaps, with Carter playing 76 snaps last game and Davis, who was limited Thursday with a hamstring injury, being on the field for 62.

The two could get some help with Milton Williams being a full participant in practice Thursday. Williams did not play against the Bills because he was in concussion protocol, but his return would help an Eagles run defense that has allowed 85.3 yards per game to go against the 49ers seventh-ranked rushing offense (136 yards per game).

The Eagles also were without starting linebacker Zach Cunningham, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, making the linebacking corps very thin, with Nicholas Morrow and Christian Elliss being the only healthy players at the position to have a defensive snap last week that is available to play against the 49ers. The Eagles did make a move Thursday, adding Ben VanSumeren to the active roster. VanSumeren, an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State, was out of practice squad elevations and needed to be added to the active roster if the team wanted to use him again on special teams or in defensive packages. The Eagles made room by waiving defensive back Josiah Scott Tuesday and then re-signing him to the practice squad Thursday.

Right tackle Lane Johnson is on the practice field today. Johnson was held out of last Sunday's game because of a groin issue. Johnson was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough because of a groin issue #Eagles pic.twitter.com/xBkEueCVtx  Chris Franklin (@cfranklinnews) November 30, 2023

Safety Justin Evans and tight ends Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra are also trending to miss the game. Meanwhile wide receivers A.J. Brown (thigh) and Julio Jones (knee) were limited in practice, but should be available to play. The Eagles also saw right tackle Lane Johnson practice for a second straight day as he works his way back from a groin injury that forced him to sit out the Bills game.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
Sign up for Reckons latest newsletter dedicated to the fight for reproductive justice, a weekly repro rundown covering the good, the fair-to-middlin' and the ugly in repro news. Enter your email to subscribe to Reproductive Justice with Reckon.

Editors note: For World AIDS Day 2023, Reckon interviewed people from across the U.S. about living with and battling the persistent stigma that people living with HIV/AIDS still confront today. From those deeply personal, wide-ranging interviews, we published profiles of five people about their journey and fight to eradicate stigma.

In August 2003, a 20-year-old Chelsea Gulden received two life-changing pieces of news: she was pregnant and HIV positive. Initially, she felt anger, fear, resentment and shame. Twenty years later, now 41, Gulden is the president and chief executive officer of the AIDS service organization RAIN in Charlotte, North Carolina, working to end the stigma surrounding the diagnosis.

The fear was also for my child. My mom told me that she wasnt going to raise them after I died. And at that time, I didnt know whether a positive woman could give birth to a child that was not living with HIV, Gulden tells Reckon.

Gulden contemplated abortion. However, after speaking with a doctor and learning that she could give birth to an HIV-negative child, she gave birth to her son in April 2004.

Gulden spent a lot of her pregnancy crying and angry. But after her son was born, she let some of that pain go. At that time, her doctor told her she could live up to 20 years with HIV. So I was trying to get the most out of it because if I passed away in 15 years, that meant Id leave behind a 14-year-old child. I didnt want all of that rage and sadness overshadowing that, and I wanted him to remember me in a positive light, she says. Thats not to say that there werent ups and downs; there were days that hit me hard and others that I didnt think about it at all.

According to Gulden, every year, it got a little better living with her diagnosis. She jumped right into the field of HIV awareness and did a lot of healing early on in her career. Though it worked for her, she doesnt recommend trying to do the work and heal at the same time.

I used my journey and lived experience to encourage others living with HIV. The more open I was with my diagnosis, the more I healed and took my power back, Gulden tells Reckon.

Today, although proud of the work shes done, some topics will bring back trauma from the early days of her diagnosis. While her oldest somewhat knew about her status due to her public advocacy, Gulden has taken a more intentional approach with her two younger children on how and when to tell them.

For the most part, I dont have as many questions about what the future may hold for me living with HIV; I feel good and healthy. Ive got a happy life, family, and friends that I love and love me. But if I think about if I were ever to be single and date again, that feels very daunting, she says.

As for the stigmas surrounding HIV, Gulden wants society to stop fueling the notion that living with HIV equates to promiscuity, the fear-mongering about sleeping with positive folks, and for the public to understand that U=U (undetectable means untransmittable).

According to Gulden, ignorance fuels stigma, particularly in the South among cishet and communities of color, because its not talked about. Many experience reactions and responses to their diagnosis similar to those of the 90s.

So when they go on a date and tell somebody that theyre living with HIV, people get angry or really nasty, and these disclosures are not going well for a lot of young cisgender women, Gulden tells Reckon.

The RAIN CEO credits the way HIV is presented in media to fanning the flames of ignorance about living with HIV, noting that while TV/Film has gotten better at showing more accurate depictions, a lot of music still includes lyrics that can exacerbate stigma.

Because the experience of living with HIV varies by person, Gulden champions peer support groups where folks can see themselves reflected. She learned this early on in her diagnosis and started a youth support group fostering relationships that had healed them together.

The culture is just different by age. So when I was diagnosed at 20, if I had gone to a support group with women in their 50s and 60s, that wouldnt feel applicable to me. You know, theyre not dating in the same pools, she says.

This World AIDS Day, Gulden says the best way others can show up for folks living with HIV is to speak out against falsehoods and correct misinformation.

We really need those HIV-negative allies because people arent always going to say the ignorant things in front of me or others living with HIV. And sometimes, if they do and dont know our status, it can feel awkward or intimidating for people living with HIV to have to be the ones to educate them, she says.

I wish people would stop saying AIDS. Its a clinical term that should only be used by doctors. Everybody whos living with HIV does not have AIDS, but everybody who has AIDS does have HIV. So, HIV is the inclusive term. Theres no need to try to separate people.
A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

Today marks day five without food for Delaware State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton and four other state representatives  all of whom are Democrats  who launched a hunger strike earlier this week alongside activist groups and Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon to push President Joe Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

But for millions of people trapped in Gaza, 55 days have passed without reliable access to food, shelter, water, electricity or medical care. The Israeli militarys counteroffensive in the region has created a growing humanitarian crisis, displacing 1.7 million Palestinians according to the UN and killing an estimated 13,000 according to Gazas health ministry.

A permanent ceasefire and the beginning of diplomatic peace talks is the only path forward for peace and stability, Wilson-Anton said. A temporary ceasefire does nothing to prevent further loss of life.

She said the strike is heavily influenced by the resistance of Palestinian detainees, whove used hunger strikes to draw attention to unjust conditions in Israeli prisons.

The strike coincides with a four-day humanitarian pause in Gaza that took effect Friday and was extended to a total of seven days. The pause halted bombing in Gaza long enough to allow some aid into the region and the safe release of 240 jailed Palestinian women and minors and 81 Israeli hostages, but demonstrators at the White House want Biden to push beyond the temporary measure. Wilson-Anton said its an opportunity for Biden to demonstrate the moral leadership he promised when vying for the presidency.

As officials negotiate prolonging the pause, the group of demonstrators outside the White House has grown in numbers, up to 75 people, she said, with hundreds expected to show Friday.

Michigan State Rep. Abraham Aiyash is the latest legislative leader to join the front lines. On Wednesday, Aiyash announced his plans to travel to Washington, D.C. to stand with other elected officials opposed to further fighting in Gaza.

Its incredibly painful to see that, despite the stopping of bombs right now, folks are under crumbling infrastructure. Folks are under no running water, no access to food, no access to electricity, he told reporters.

Aiyash and other Michigan lawmakers penned a letter to President Biden pressing him to support a permanent ceasefire just one day after Israel and Hamas agreed to implement the humanitarian pause.

Aiyash told reporters he will subsist on water, coffee and Gatorade in the final days of the strike.

Members of Congress showed their support for demonstrators Wednesday, echoing their demand for a permanent end to the fighting.

Congresswoman Cori Bush, who introduced the Ceasefire Now Resolution in the House of Representatives last month, said a permanent ceasefire is a critical and obvious step toward lasting peace.

Our movement is working. They feel our energy in the White House. They hear our demands. They see us marching in the streets, she said. We are moving closer and closer to that permanent and lasting ceasefire.

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib read from a long list of names of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks and called on Biden once more to put an end to the conflict. House members fell short of expelling Tlaib when they voted to censure her over her criticism of the Israeli government in November.

How many more lives will be enough? How many more children need to be killed? How many more families have to be traumatized and torn apart?, Tlaib said Wednesday. There is nothing humanitarian, my friends, about giving innocent civilians a few days of rest before they are bombed again.

Tlaib also noted a figure that Wilson-Anton and those standing alongside her at the White House today hope will sway the Biden administration: more than 66 percent of Americans back a ceasefire in Gaza.
Season 1 of The Golden Bachelor has warmed the hearts of longtime fans of the Bachelor franchise, and many have been eagerly awaiting Thursdays finale to see who Gerry Turner would choose.

The 71-year-old grandpa from Indiana was torn between two finalists to spend his golden years with: Leslie Fhima, a 64-year-old fitness instructor from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Theresa Nist, a 70-year-old financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

Ultimately, Gerry picked Theresa as the woman who would receive the final rose, making her the first ever winner of The Golden Bachelor series.

Gerry also asked Theresa to marry him, and she said yes. The two remain engaged three months after filming.

In a final twist the show had been hyping up throughout the episode, Gerry said he and Theresa would get married as quickly as we can, and host Jesse Palmer immediately announced the wedding would be televised live on Jan. 4 on ABC.

Palmer also revealed the show is sending Gerry and Theresa on a romantic trip to Italy, which Gerry said theyd use for their honeymoon.

The Golden Bachelor began with three women from New Jersey, but only Theresa made it to the final episode  and ultimately Gerrys heart.

Bachelor fans waited over three years for this series.

ABC recruited seniors looking for love, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it wasnt until May of this year that ABC confirmed the series would air.

The show debuted in September and chalked up big ratings for ABC and Hulu.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
The bereaved Abbeyleix family who opened their door and their hearts to take part in a lovely new Irish film about Christmas, have been overwhelmed with the widespread warm reaction to it across Ireland.

Jason Phelan and his sons Cathal, 12 and Setanta who turns 8 shortly, welcomed Portarlington filmmaker Ken Wardrop into their home last Christmas, in the midst of their grief at losing their beloved wife and mother Roxy to cervical cancer.

Roxy had passed away the previous February after her long, courageous battle and her volunteer work to help other women living with the disease.

Jason spoke to the Leinster Express ahead of the Laois premiere of So This Is Christmas in the Dunamase Arts Centre this week.

His story is one of five, all featuring Midlands people for whom Christmas is a difficult time.

It has been a privilege to meet those people. Everybody is fighting some battle in their lives, is struggling in some shape or form. I hope the film helps people to be more sympathetic and aware, and to get a bit of humanity back, maybe check on your elderly neighbour. Despite all the rushing and racing, to take time with people, he said.

A still from the film So This is Christmas of the Phelan family in Abbeyleix.

He described how they came to take part.

I was approached after Roxy died to ask would I be interested. My brain wasn't as sharp, first I was sceptical but then I thought it would be an opportunity and maybe Roxy crossed our paths for a reason.

I met and talked with Ken and he gave me the gist of it. I could see the measure of what it was about. I introduced him to the kids and they were won over by him.

I knew it was going to be a huge challenge. I thought it would be a form of therapy, to help the boys talk openly which I encourage.

This time last year they were filming. You can't go off script because it's the truth, it's only your account of life events.

Ken and his crew were amazing. They were very sympathetic and understanding. There was a lot of empathy and emotion. They became part of the family. They finished on Christmas eve at 5.30pm, he said.

He and the boys Cathal and Setanta went to the red carpet premiere in the Everyman Theatre, Cork.

We were blown away. It's a very unique film. I think it will be timeless. I feel Ken has hit the nail on the head.

The kids are very proud to be a part of it. Roxy's sister Victoria is super proud too.

It's not just our story, I think every human can take away something. Christmas can be a ticking timebomb. For me it was always a time of reflection, even in the good times. You think of those less well off, Jason said.

It was difficult to watch too he said.

I knew it was going to be emotional. I thought that I was doing pretty well last Christmas. But to sit there, I could see how broken I was. You think you're treading water but really I was nearer to rock bottom. But when you'r e at the bottom you can only get back up. I won't be the same.

Cancer robs you of everything, emotionally and financially. You face the cost of the treatment and at the end of it all it takes the one you love. It's horrendous, it's torture, Jason said.

He hopes it might remind people of what he feels is the true meaning of Christmas.

It is to give time, because no-one knows how much we have left.

Time is important. Hope is important.

In our household we always had hope, hope that Roxy's treatment would work, that she would go into remissions, every day we had hope.

Now I hope I get it right with the kids. It's daunting raising children. I think the best thing is actually to say no sometimes, yet you strive to go withouth to make sure they have what they need, Jason said.

The crew followed the family as they prepared for Christmas last year, including Jason ordering his turkey from local butcher Bob.

Bob is a gentleman, it was nice to be able to incorporate my community. We are blessed to have a lot of good people around, he said.

The film is getting rave reviews already, and the local reception is also warm.

The feedback is great, people are taking the time to message me. It's not just sad there are laughs and giggles too. It's our own story, it's honest and it's something very special. We gave our time for no financial gain. I just hope it helps somebody, Jason Phelan said.

It is not the first time he has been in the public eye. Jason is the Bord na Mona worker who saved the Cashel Man bog body from becoming milled peat moss, after he spotted it and turned off his machine, alerting authorities back in 2011. The remains are now credited as being the oldest fleshed bog body in the world, housed in the National Museum.

So This Is Christmas will receive a special screening in the Dunamase Arts Centre on Friday, December 8, tickets 10 with mulled wine and mince pies reception beforehand at 7pm, and a Q&A with Jason on the night.

It is also playing in the Odeon cinema complex in Portlaoise.
Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow - Fog Warning for Laois and the rest of Ireland for this weekend.

The Warning is valid from 5pm on Friday to 12 noon on Sunday.

Forecasters warned of dense fog forming in many areas and lingering through the day in some places.

Patches of freezing fog are also possible. Met Eireann cautioned about poor visibility and hazardous travelling conditions



A Status Yellow Low Temperature / Ice Warning is already in place for Ireland for the same time period.

Forecasters said:

"Very cold day and night time temperatures with frost and ice persisting in many areas.

Possible Impacts:

 Slippery conditions underfoot

 Hazardous travelling conditions

 Animal welfare issues."

Met Eireann National Forecast issued at 4.41pm December 1

Friday: Clear spells and scattered showers continuing in evening, mainly in the west, north and midlands, although the odd shower will still affect eastern coasts. Some showers may fall as hail and sleet. Very cold with light variable breezes.

Cold night with well-scattered showers over the western half of the country, possibly falling as sleet or snow at times. Staying drier further east. Turning foggy in places with freezing fog developing too. Widespread frost and icy stretches once again with lowest temperatures of 0 to -4 degrees.

Saturday: A frosty, icy and foggy start for many tomorrow, with ice and fog patches lingering through the day in some areas. Elsewhere will be clear with scattered showers and sunny spells. Showers will be most frequent in the west and northwest and some will be heavy with hail, sleet and snow possible. Highest temperatures of just 1 to 5 degrees, a little milder near coasts, in light west to southwest winds.

SATURDAY: Cold overnight, with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle moving in off the Atlantic, possibly turning wintry over higher ground. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees, with light variable breezes.

SUNDAY: Sunday will likely be a mostly dry day with showers lingering near coasts, along with low cloud or mist struggling to clear through the day. Highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees, with light northeasterly breezes.

MONDAY: Current indications suggest that wet and windy weather will spread over the south and east of the country early on Monday, with the possibility of scattered falls of sleet. Coldest in the north with milder weather possible in the south.

FURTHER OUTLOOK: Considerable uncertainty in the further outlook, with a signal for a return to a more Atlantic regime.
The Minister for Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys TD has announced 241,706 for 5 Clar projects under a sporting heading for Co Leitrim GAA Clubs.

Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan has warmly welcomed funding for Allen Gaels, Ballinaglera, Carrigallen, Fenagh and Kiltubrid GAA Clubs.

The funding centres around the clubs development of walkways, improved safety and disability access and alterations to spectator stands and car parking facilities.

Deputy Feighan congratulated the clubs and the time they put into making these good applications which will provide greater and safer access for all to their respective grounds alongside the provision of walking facilities for many others outside playing members which he believes will improve mental health and wellbeing.

I want to pay tribute once again to Minister Humphreys who has the vision to widen the scope of the Clar funding scheme to be able to assist these really good projects and allows so many more to benefit from community GAA facilities across rural Ireland, declared Deputy Feighan.

The full list of successful applicants is:

Allen Gaels GAA: Improved and safer access to the Club grounds - 48,850

Kiltubrid GAA: Provide set down & access to parking and viewing area with walking track included - 35,595

Ballinaglera GAA: Construction of a walking trail around the grounds and alteration of the stand - 38,364

Fenagh GAA: Provision of a walkway 50,000

Carrigallen GAA: Improving the existing carpark, installing disability spaces and improving disability access - 41,897
Records indicate the North Dakota Legislature intended that two now-questioned Motion Picture Production and Recruitment grants be given to a Bismarck filmmaker.

A group of other state filmmakers has raised concerns about the process whereby Canticle Productions received both grants, for a total of $700,000. Canticle was founded by University of Mary Dramatic Arts Chair Daniel Bielinski. The filmmakers group earlier this week called for a state investigation. Gov. Doug Burgum's office on Friday said it plans to look into the matter.

In the 2021 Legislature, a conference committee working on the budget for the state Commerce Department took $100,000 out of the tourism marketing grant, and created the first grant. A statement of purpose for that amendment said the one-time funding was to go directly to Canticle Productions, Prairie Public reported. The company made the film End of the Rope.

In the 2023 Legislature, $600,000 was allocated to that grant. A footnote in the conference committee report on the Commerce budget said Adds funding for a motion picture production and recruitment grant to be provided directly to Canticle Productions.

More than two dozen other North Dakota filmmakers have asked the governor, attorney general and state procurement officer to look into the situation. They say they could not apply for the 2021 grant because it was not advertised, and that the application window created for the 2023 competitive grant was only six days. They said they have no problem with Canticle -- they have questions about the grant process.

North Dakota Film Association founder Matt Fern said Canticles 2023 application did not have essential details about what was to be done with the money, and contained no script, no timeline, no budget and no return address.

"This could have done a lot for North Dakota filmmakers, the film industry," Fern said at a Capitol news conference this week. "The idea (for the grants) is to recruit filmmakers, recruit industry professionals, to help tell the story of North Dakota. Yet I do not understand who they are recruiting, by only allowing six business days to receive applications. And who are they recruiting by awarding the grant to the same company two years in a row?"

Bielinski has not responded to multiple Tribune requests for comment.

The governor's office has scheduled a meeting with Commerce "to review the process and discuss whether any changes are needed to improve the process moving forward," spokesman Mike Nowatzki told the Tribune on Friday.

The State Procurement Office told the Tribune it does not oversee grant fund distribution and therefore doesn't have the authority to conduct an investigation into the grants. The State Auditor's office said it will review the material provided during its next scheduled audit of the Commerce Department, which is scheduled for spring 2024. The attorney generals office did not respond to a Tribune inquiry about whether it would investigate the grant process.
Lynx Air launches service between Toronto and Fort Myers





TORONTO, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lynx Air's (Lynx) inaugural flight to the Fort Myers area takes off today from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Canada's ultra-affordable airline will operate four flights per week between Toronto and Fort Myers, flying brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft.



Today's launch marks the continued US expansion of Lynx for the winter months. The airline already operates flights between Toronto and Orlando, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. All of these destinations are now on sale. Lynx flies more than 21,500 seats per week across its North American network to and from Toronto, representing a growth of more than 250 per cent from last year. This summer, Lynx established a pilot and cabin crew base in Toronto to support this growth, creating 101 new jobs in the region.

"Toronto has emerged as our fastest-growing hub, primarily due to a longstanding gap in affordable air travel options. The city has endured high airfares for a long time and was underserved by low-cost carriers. We are proud to be the only low-cost carrier connecting Toronto and Fort Myers, and we are dedicated to making travel accessible and enjoyable. Whether you're seeking outdoor adventures or a tranquil retreat on sun-soaked beaches, Lynx ensures an exceptional flying experience at an unbelievably affordable price," stated Vijay Bathija, CCO of Lynx Air.

"We are proud to have been a partner in Lynx's substantial growth from Toronto Pearson over the last year," said Kurush Minocher, Executive Director, Customer Experience and Airline Relations at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. "Fort Myers will be Lynx's fifth transborder destination from Toronto, providing our passengers with increased choice to this top warm weather destination."

"We want to extend Lynx Air a warm welcome from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)," said Ben Siegel, CPA, C.M., Executive Director of the Lee County Port Authority. "Today, Lynx launches its first nonstop flight into Fort Myers from Toronto, Canada (YYZ), a popular destination for residents and visitors coming to Southwest Florida, which will be a great new low-cost option for travelers to enjoy."

Sale Details

Fares between Toronto and Fort Myers start at $111*, one way, including taxes and fees. To celebrate today's inaugural flight, Lynx has launched a limited time seat sale offering up to 35 per cent off base fares on all Transborder routes. The sale starts on December 1 and ends at 11:59 PM EDT on December 3, 2023, and can be accessed with the promo code "FLORIDA". For complete schedule and sale details and to book an ultra-affordable fare, visit FlyLynx.com.

Lynx's US Schedule Toronto

Effective Date Frequency Departure Station Arrival Station 1-Dec-23 Four frequencies per week



Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) Fort Myers (RSW) 1-Dec-23 Four frequencies per week Fort Myers (RSW) Toronto Pearson International (YYZ)



Please note that dates are subject to change. Visit the website for full schedule details.

* Available for a limited time; fares are accurate at the time of release and include taxes and fees, restrictions apply.

Media contact:

Paula Worthington

Worthington PR

[email protected]

403-585-2429

About Lynx Air

Lynx Air (Lynx), Canada's leading ultra-low-cost airline, is on a mission to make air travel accessible to all, with ultra-affordable fares and a customer-focused flying experience. The airline was recently awarded Youngest Fleet in North America by ch-aviation. Lynx operates a brand-new fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, bringing an elevated customer experience to low-cost travel in Canada. These ultra-efficient and reliable aircraft are 20% more fuel efficient than previous generation aircraft, reducing Lynx's carbon footprint, and making Lynx one of Canada's most sustainable airlines. Lynx is a privately owned Canadian airline with the financial backing and industry expertise required to transform the Canadian aviation landscape.

Visit FlyLynx.com or connect with Lynx on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to learn more

1 december 2023 at 08:00

News published onand distributed by:
Spectral Medical Announces CFO Departure





TORONTO, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spectral Medical Inc. ("Spectral" or the "Company") (TSX: EDT), a late-stage theranostic company advancing therapeutic options for sepsis and septic shock, today announced that Blair McInnis has provided notice of his resignation as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, which is effective immediately, to pursue a new opportunity. Mr. McInnis will assist the Company to ensure a smooth transition.



"I would like to thank the Spectral board and my colleagues for the opportunity to serve as the Company's CFO," said Blair McInnis. "It has been a privilege to be part of the exciting journey in my tenure at Spectral. I am confident that I will be leaving the Company in good hands with a solid foundation to continue the execution of the Tigris trial."

"We would like to thank Blair for his leadership and many valuable contributions to our recent successes and wish him the very best in his future endeavors,' said Chris Seto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectral.

Spectral will conduct a formal search process in due course to choose a new Chief Financial Officer. In the interim, Chris Seto will assume the responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer office with the support of the Vice President of Finance.

Amended Advance Notice By-Law

Spectral also announced that its Board of Directors has amended and updated its advance notice by-law that establishes a framework for the advance notice of nominations of directors of Spectral by shareholders. Among other things, the advance notice by-law establishes deadlines by which shareholders must notify Spectral of nominations of directors prior to a meeting of Spectral shareholders and sets forth the information that must be included with such a nomination and the method by which a nomination must be delivered to Spectral.

The amended and updated advance notice by-law is effective immediately and will be placed before shareholders for approval and ratification at the next annual and special meeting of shareholders expected to be held in the second quarter of 2024.

The full text of the Advance Notice By-law is available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Spectral

Spectral is a Phase 3 company seeking U.S. FDA approval for its unique product for the treatment of patients with septic shock, Toraymyxintm ("PMX"). PMX is a therapeutic hemoperfusion device that removes endotoxin, which can cause sepsis, from the bloodstream and is guided by the Company's Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAAtm), the only FDA cleared diagnostic for the risk of developing sepsis.

PMX is approved for therapeutic use in Japan and Europe, and has been used safely and effectively on more than 340,000 patients to date. In March 2009, Spectral obtained the exclusive development and commercial rights in the U.S. for PMX, and in November 2010, signed an exclusive distribution agreement for this product in Canada. In July 2022, the U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation for PMX for the treatment of endotoxic septic shock. Approximately 330,000 patients are diagnosed with septic shock in North America each year.

Spectral is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol EDT. For more information please visit www.spectraldx.com.

Forward-looking statement

Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of the future outlook of Spectral and anticipated events or results, are assumptions based on beliefs of Spectral's senior management as well as information currently available to it. While these assumptions were considered reasonable by Spectral at the time of preparation, they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned that actual results are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the company's ability to raise capital and the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the recruitment of additional clinical trial sites, the rate of patient enrollment, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the success of Baxter's commercialization efforts, the ability of Spectral to take advantage of business opportunities in the biomedical industry, the granting of necessary approvals by regulatory authorities as well as general economic, market and business conditions, and could differ materially from what is currently expected.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this statement.

For further information, please contact:

Ali Mahdavi David Waldman/Natalya Rudman Chris Seto Capital Markets & Investor Relations US Investor Relations CEO Spinnaker Capital Markets Inc. Crescendo Communications, LLC Spectral Medical Inc. 416-962-3300 212-671-1020 416-626-3233 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]





1 december 2023 at 08:00

News published onand distributed by:
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. to Present at the Clean Energy and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference December 5th





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (OTCQX: SSVFF) based in Vancouver, focused on one of the world's largest undeveloped Ag-Zn projects, the Cerro Las Minitas, project in Durango, Mexico, today announced that Rob Macdonald, VP Exploration, will present live at the Clean Energy and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on December 5th.



DATE: December 5th

TIME: 2:30 PM ET/ 11:30 AM ET

LINK: https://bit.ly/3rOONJH

Available for 1x1 meetings: December 4th/5th/6th

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

Recent resource update

Recent PEA

Updated PEA economics expect Q1, 2024

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our specific emphasis is the 100%owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. Our property portfolio also includes two projects in southern New Mexico: the Oro porphyry/CRD copper gold project; and the Hermanas gold-silver vein project, where an application has been submitted for a drilling program.



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:

Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Jay Oness

VP Corporate Development

604-808-9479

[email protected]

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

[email protected]

1 december 2023 at 08:35

News published onand distributed by:
The HIV prevention drug Truvada in a pharmacy in Sacramento (California), October 2019. RICH PEDRONCELLI/AP

The women affected come from Nigeria, Guinea, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire. When she's talking with the women who phone her from Ile-de-France, Libya or the Italian island of Lampedusa, Caroline Andoum has no problem with being blunt. She explains sexual health to them and tells them how to protect themselves from AIDS. Andoum is the managing director of Bamesso et Ses Amis (Bamesso and Friends), a health association based in Blanc-Mesnil in the Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis. December 1 is World AIDS Day and 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the virus. Andoum has her work cut out to prevent infections among migrant women, who are one of the groups that have the most difficulty in accessing prevention and treatment.

According to the report published by Sante Publique France (SPF, Public Health France) on November 28, between 4,200 and 5,700 people found out they were HIV-positive in 2022. According to the agency, this is less than in 2019, which is "encouraging in terms of the dynamics of the epidemic." However, "over the entire 2012-2022 period, the number of those who learned this fact is almost stable among foreign-born heterosexual women," according to SPF, while it has fallen for French-born men who have sex with men (MSM), French-born heterosexual women, IV-drug users and heterosexual men.

Women account for 31% of new HIV-positive cases. Many of them come from sub-Saharan Africa. "A significant proportion of contaminations happen after migration," said SPF, referring to the 2015 ANRS-Parcours study estimating this rate at between 25% and 35% for women originating from the region.

'There's a blind spot'

The men these women meet in France often come from the same community, which has high rates of HIV. As Andoum pointed out, women who arrive without papers and without money are in a weak position to ask to use condoms with their partners if they refuse. Even more so when they become sex workers in order to survive.

In this kind of situation, the daily tablet to be taken as part of the preventive treatment by pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)  authorized in France since 2016 and reimbursed by French social security  has the added advantage of not being directly linked to sexual intercourse, meaning that women can be in control of their own protection. But you have to know about it to benefit from it. "We can only be effective with the help of community associations," said Dr. Thomas Huleux, head of infectious diseases at the Seine-Saint-Denis departmental council.

You have 65% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his arrival at the chancellery in Berlin on November 17, 2023. ODD ANDERSEN / AFP

The scene took place in July, just hours before the opening of the annual NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. All smiles, the secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg from Norway, announced that, to everyone's surprise, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had just agreed to lift his opposition to Sweden's application to join the alliance. Stoltenberg welcomed a "historic" day, which was immediately applauded by US President Joe Biden, who praised the "diplomacy, courage and leadership" of his Ankara counterpart.

Two days later, on July 12, at the end of the summit, Erdogan specified that in the fall, when the work of the legislature resumes, the president of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will bring the Stockholm accession protocol to a vote. He added, "We want this process to end as soon as possible."

Months have gone by, and one thing is certain: Turkey has still not ratified Sweden's accession, and it's not clear when Ankara will keep its promise. The Turkish president did send the memorandum of understanding to the Assembly at the end of October. But the Committee of Foreign Affairs, largely dominated by the head of state's party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), adjourned debate on the legislation on November 16, without giving any further details.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Turkey opens NATO door to Sweden after frenetic day of talks

No real explanation was given. It was barely made public that AKP MPs had filed a motion that said that negotiations with Stockholm had "not reached sufficient maturity." Committee Chairman Fuat Oktay then told reporters that the Swedish ambassador might be invited to the next session in order to provide further information on the measures taken by his country to address Turkey's security concerns. And then, nothing.

The only thing that is known for sure is that the Ankara authorities warned NATO a few days ago that the vote would not take place before the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on November 28 and 29.

'Mistrust, disagreements and conflicting interests'

Turkey's situation is strange: It is one NATO country among others, in principle, but one that seems deliberately intent on reminding the Alliance at every opportunity that it is a difficult and wilful ally, anxious to maximize its interests or gains indefinitely, even if this means exposing its own contradictions and exhausting the "strategic patience" of its allies.

The ratification of Sweden's accession by Turkish MPs can be achieved by 141 votes  in other words, just over half of the AKP's elected representatives in the Assembly, with a total of 267 seats (322 with its ultra-nationalist and Islamist allies) out of the 600 in total. "In theory, a simple phone call from the president is enough to pass such a text in a second," admitted an adviser to the Turkish Parliament.

You have 70% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
Sandra Day O'Connor waves as she arrives at the Capitol in this September 10, 1981 shortly after her nomination to the Supreme Court was confirmed by the Senate. J.SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP

Retired US Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the nation's highest court and a noted pragmatist in an age of deep division, died Friday, December 1. She was 93. O'Connor died at her home in Phoenix, Arizona, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, the court said in a statement.

"Sandra Day O'Connor blazed a historic trail as our Nation's first female Justice," Chief Justice John Roberts said. "She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor. "We celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot."

O'Connor was appointed to the Supreme Court by president Ronald Reagan in 1981 and stepped down in 2006. She wielded enormous influence as the key centrist on a sharply divided bench, where she often displayed a preference for pragmatism over ideology.

O'Connor frequently emerged as a crucial swing vote, breaking with her conservative colleagues and providing the fifth vote to make a liberal majority on several key occasions. She then sided with the majority that blocked the 2000 Florida recount and effectively handed the presidency to George W. Bush. She outraged conservatives a few years later by helping to uphold the University of Michigan Law School's right to run an affirmative action admissions policy.

O'Connor proved the decisive vote on key cases that upheld the government's neutrality towards religion, including a 2005 ruling that it was unconstitutional for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in several courthouses.

Sandra Day was born on March 26, 1930, in El Paso, Texas and grew up on her parents' cattle ranch in southeastern Arizona. A legal dispute over her family's ranch stirred her interest in law and she enrolled at Stanford Law School, where she briefly dated William Rehnquist, a classmate with whom she would eventually serve on the Supreme Court for more than two decades. Day ultimately married another fellow student, John Jay O'Connor, in 1952. He died in 2009.

Following a five-year break from work when she started a family she served as an Arizona assistant attorney general from 1965 to 1969, when she was appointed to a vacancy in the Arizona state senate. In 1974, O'Connor ran successfully for trial judge, a position she held until her appointment to the Arizona Court of Appeals in 1979. Eighteen months later, Reagan nominated her to the Supreme Court.

Upon leaving the court, in part due to her husband's battle with Alzheimer's, O'Connor committed her remaining years to civic engagement. She founded iCivics in 2009 to teach middle and high school students about civics via online games and other remote learning tools. It reaches millions of students a year, according to its website.
FIVE-TIME All-Ireland winning hurler Kyle Hayes has been found guilty of two violent disorder charges but not guilty of assault causing harm.

Following more than three hours of deliberations this Friday afternoon, the jury of seven men and five women returned unanimous verdicts on all four counts before them.

A co-accused - Craig Cosgrave, aged 24, of Caherelly, Grange, Limerick - was found not guilty of engaging in violent disorder in the Icon nightclub in Limerick city centre. He was discharged by Judge Dermot Sheehan after the verdicts were handed down.

On the ninth day of the trial at Limerick Circuit Court, Mr Hayes, aged 25, of Ballyoshea, Kildimo was found guilty of engaging in violent disorder in the Icon nightclub in Limerick city centre and of engaging in violent disorder at Upper Denmark Street on October 28, 2019.

The jury found Mr Hayes not guilty of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy (24), at Upper Denmark Street, Limerick city on the same date.

There was no reaction from Mr Hayes as the verdicts were read out shortly after 4pm.

Throughout the trial, Mr Cosgrave was defended by Seamus Roche SC, appearing with Reginald Garrett BL, instructed by solicitor Kieran OBrien.

Mr Hayes was represented by Brian McInerney SC, appearing with Joseph McMahon BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan.

The case was prosecuted by John O'Sullivan BL, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe

The jury began its deliberations at 11.57am this Friday afternoon. Judge Dermot Sheehan recharged the jury at 12.35pm following legal argument.

The jury recommenced their deliberations at 12.44pm before breaking for lunch at 1pm. The jury then returned to the court at 2.32pm as they wished to listen the DAR (digital audio recordings) of the evidence of five witnesses - Christopher Heelan, Fiona Cowhey, Detective Garda Dean Landers, Garda Daniel O'Riordan and Sergeant Shane Thornton.

They resumed deliberations at 3.25pm. They returned at 3.39pm, seeking clarification on one of the charges before resuming deliberations at 3.42pm

The jury returned at 3.58pm when the foreperson told the court clerk they had agreed unanimously on the four counts.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said the violent disorder charges are serious matters.

"He was involved in a chaotic scene in Upper Denmark Street and engaging in violent disorder in a crowded place (Icon nightclub) is aggravating. It is an extremely dangerous thing to do. Matters of this nature are not nomally dealt with in a non-custodial sentence," said Judge Sheehan.

Mr McInerney, barrister for Mr Hayes, asked for a sentencing date in the future.

"He has been on bail for the last four years. There has never been a breach of bail. He has been outside the jurisdiction. He is not a flight risk. He is deeply rooted in the community. He has a sporting involvement at a very high level, that may well now be at the end," said Mr McInerney, who added that he would like time to collate testimonials from witnesses that may wish to give them.

Mr O'Sullivan, prosecuting, said there was no objection to bail subject to a number of conditions.

Judge Sheehan granted Mr Hayes bail on his own bond of 100. He must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and not commit any offences, hand over his passport forthwith and obey a curfew of 10.30pm to 6am.

The judge said he was imposing a curfew due to the nature of the offence and the time of the year.

Judge Sheehan said the fact he was granting bail is not an indication of how he is going to dispose of the matter
THE JURY in the trial of All-Star Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes has begun its deliberations.

The seven men and five women retired to consider their verdict shortly before midday this Friday after the presiding judge, Dermot Sheehan, completed his charge to them.

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 city centre during the early hours of October 28, 2019.

Mr Cosgrave (pictured above) 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.

Evidence in the trial concluded on Wednesday and the jury heard closing submissions from from the prosecution and defence barristers on Thursday morning.

The jurors then heard from Judge Sheehan who, in his charge, told them to leave aside any biases they might have.

He completed his charge to the jury this Friday morning.
THE COMMENCEMENT of construction of the Adare bypass in Limerick is way late for it to be completed for the 2027 Ryder Cup, a director at Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has said, but they will do their damnedest to get it done.

The remarks were made by Nigel ONeill, director of capital programme management at TII at this years Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Construct Mid-West held in the Castletroy Park Hotel on Friday, November 24.

Four days earlier - on Monday, November 20 - it was announced by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, that the Adare bypass, a 7km stretch of road making up a part of the Foynes to Limerick Road Project is to be accelerated ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup which is to be held in Adare Manor.

However, Mr ONeill believes even with the acceleration of the project, TII will have to do their utmost to make the deadline.

During Mr ONeills presentation on major road projects in the Mid-West, he said: Were way late in starting the bypass section of the road project to make the September 2027 date for the Ryder Cup but we will do their damnedest and we know Limerick City and County will also do their utmost.

It is expected that the bypass, upon completion, will remove up to 20,000 cars that travel through Adare every day, making it easier for locals to get in and out of the village, while also making the village safer and more attractive to live and work in.

Mr ONeill welcomed the acceleration of the 150m bypass and said it is hoped that the whole project will be prioritised by the Government in time.

The Foynes to Limerick Road Project will see the construction of 33km of road from Limerick city to the port of Foynes. This is to support current and future developments at the Foynes port.

Mr ONeill also gave a brief presentation on the N/M20 Cork to Limerick road project saying it is simply not just a road.

We are putting in a lot of active travel, essentially a greenway along the route You can characterise this as an electronic road, so we are going to build in EV charging sites and so on, Mr ONeill said.
The Russia-Ukraine Waran inflection point of Western hegemony turns from prosperity to decline (fro English readers)



Although the United States does not admit that the Russia-Ukraine war was the result of NATO's eastward expansion, but pulling a neighbor of a big country into a military alliance against that big country will inevitably lead to fierce opposition from that big country. Just imagine if Canada or Mexico joins a Russian-led military alliance, wouldnt the United States use military force on the US-Canada or US-Mexico borders? If the same situation occurs in a neighbor of another big country (China or India), the reaction of that big country will be similar. Unless that big country is too weak to respond.

The operations of the Western world, led by the United States, before and after the Russia-Ukraine War were in line with the characteristics of historical world hegemons: that is, a hegemony during its heyday, would not realize its biggest crisis is internal not external. Hegemony always overestimates its own power and uses it excessively to maintain and strengthen the external dimension of hegemony, but is unwilling or unable to plug the loopholes in its foundation through internal reforms.

Today, the Western world has lost its basic industry, is losing its leading ability in high-tech industries, and will also lose its leading position in scientific research. The United States' economic aggregate has dropped from 40% of the world's economic aggregate (1960) to 21% (2022). After Western civilization occupied the pinnacle of world civilization for hundreds of years, many corrupt things began to appear. No matter how beautiful a halo (democracy, freedom, etc.) is given to corrupt things, it will only accelerate the decline of Western civilization. The Western world believes that democracy and freedom are the basis for the survival of Western civilization. This is correct for the past of Western civilization. Do they believe that the overuse of democracy and freedom will be the main reason for the decline of Western civilization?

The West, led by the United States, should have shrunk its external hegemony before the Russia-Ukraine war and focused its main energy on domestic reforms to restore and improve its competitiveness with emerging economies. However, the greed and inertia of hegemony have allowed it to continue to expand in the Indo-Pacific and Europe among the three main battlefields (Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific). Therefore an avoidable Russia-Ukraine war broke out. The war has lasted for one year and ten months. Let us predict the subsequent process and outcome of the war parties.

Russia: Russia misestimated its own and Ukrainian strength before the war, causing heavy losses to Russia. However, it can adjust its goals and shrink its battle line, and treat the Western world led by the United States but not Ukraine as its main opponent. Russia maintained an unbeatable situation in Ukraine, and avoided excessive consumption of its war potential. Russia's economy has withstood sweeping Western sanctions and performed better than major European powers. The important thing is that Russia's national power is in a period of slow recovery after hitting bottom, rather than a crisis-ridden period at the end of the Tsarist period when the country was facing a change of dynasties. The United States' comprehensive containment of China has forced China and Russia to support each other, and China has become Russia's biggest backer. Russia's economy and war potential will continue to grow slightly, allowing it to eventually achieve some of its war goals and become the side with a small victory.

United States: The United States has miscalculated the outcome of this proxy war, which is to at least consume Russia's war potential through the Russia-Ukraine war and let Russia decline. It has been proven that this will not happen. If the United States expands the war, it will be possible to defeat Russia only if NATO joins the war directly. But the probability of defeating Russia is equal to the probability of a nuclear war. If the United States coerces its allies to continue supporting the war in Ukraine, it will not only consume arms and money, but also deepen conflicts with its allies. There is a high probability that the United States will not get a better outcome than the current ceasefire. The best policy for the United States is to force Ukraine to negotiate an armistice with Russia as soon as possible, but this is tantamount to admitting that the West has failed in this war. Therefore, the United States will support Ukraine in continuing the fight and try to find a more dignified ending, but it is impossible to change the outcome of the war.

Ukraine: Ukraine's biggest mistake was its failure to remain neutral between Russia and the West. Ukraine could have negotiated an end to the war with Russia early in the war and returned to the Minsk agreements. Doing so is in Ukraine's best interests. But trying to become a member of the West by fighting Russia under the instigation of the United States, is a wrong bet on the fate of the country. Ukraine will be the biggest loser in this war. Ukraine's best policy is to negotiate an armistice with Russia as soon as possible, establish a lasting peace agreement, focus on reconstruction and people's livelihood and avoid another war with Russia. The middle strategy is to fight for a period of time and then negotiate a truce. If no lasting peace agreement is reached, the fighting will repeat stop and start for a period of time and then reach a finally cease. The worst option is to insist on regaining all the territory including Crimea through war. After sacrificing more lives and losing more territory, finally cease the war under more unfavorable conditions.

Europe: Although most EU countries understand that Ukraine will not win, the EU does not have the ability to make decisions that are best for itself. EU will continue to support Ukraine's war under pressure from the United States. But eventually support for a negotiated ceasefire in Ukraine will become mainstream. After the war, the decline of Western European countries will become increasingly obvious. The countries of Eastern Europe will not gain anything from the Russia-Ukraine war.

The recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict has proven that the US strategy of withdrawing from the Middle East and oppressing China and Russia will not succeed. What the West wants to maintain is global hegemony. The Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe are the backbone or main body of hegemony, and Africa and South America are the two wings of hegemony. Lose any piece of its backbone and the hegemony will disintegrate. If either of the two wings is lost, the hegemony will not disintegrate. The West's miscalculation was that they could launch offensives against China and Russia at the same time. This is why the United States supports Ukraine's war with Russia, while fiercely competing with China. The result is that China and Russia have seen clearly the bottom line of the United States, turning their loose strategic collaboration into firm strategic allies. The combined potential of China and Russia for war is huge and cannot be defeated by the West. The best policy of the United States should have been to divide China and Russia, but using Ukraine to compress Russia's strategic space is a wrong judgment made at the wrong time, which led to the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. After the war broke out, US did not support peace talks and mobilized allies to aid Ukraine in an attempt to defeat Russia with the hand of others. This prematurely exhausted the resources and patience of allies and caused European allies to enter recession early. The West is facing defeat in the Ukraine war. This war will be an inflection point of Western hegemony turns from prosperity to decline.
A LIMERICK councillor has apologised unreservedly over controversial comments he made about the stabbing of four people including children and the subsequent riots in Dublin which he says have been misinterpreted.

Abul Kalam Azad Talukder, a councillor for Limerick City North was speaking, during a meeting of the local authority, about the stabbing of young children and a creche worker, and the Dublin riots when he made controversial remarks that the perpetrator of the stabbing should be shot in the head.

These comments according to Mr Talukder are being miscommunicated and misinterpreted with reports outlining that he believed all those involved in the Dublin riots should be shot in the head.

This was not the intention of his comments, he says.

In an apology posted on social media, Mr Talukder said: I would like to wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologise to everyone for the statement made by me in the council meeting last Monday.

I was very emotional and traumatised when I heard someone had stabbed a five-year-old child and was reacting to that and I misspoke. I did not mean to refer to the rioters but was speaking about someone who could stab a child. Even at that, I had difficulty expressing myself through English.

As an elected councillor I should not have used the language I did, I should have been more careful with my words and I am truly sorry. As my party headquarters has said such use of words is totally unacceptable."

In response to a query from the Limerick Leader, a Fianna Fail spokesperson said: The comments of Councillor Abul Kalam Azad Talukder were totally inappropriate, unacceptable and the party utterly condemns them. We have communicated the absolute unacceptability of the comments made and the councillor fully accepts this.

During the November meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC), attended by this reporter for the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live, councillors were discussing a motion calling on the Government to review GDPR rules regarding housing and giving out information to councillors/directors of the council when Cllr Adam Teskey, of Adare-Rathkeale, as chairman of the Joint Policing Committee condemned the acts of violence in Dublin on Thursday, November 23.

Mr Talukder, agreeing with Mr Teskeys remarks, said: I am 24 years in Ireland and Ive never seen this kind of thing and I strongly believe this is not the face of Ireland. This is just some criminal. Its criminality Theyre looting shops Theyre robbing and they should get punishment Children, who someone can stab. Thats not human even animals wouldnt do this kind of thing and its very shameful. They should get a punishment, public punishment. I dont know how to explain this thing, Id like to see them shot in the head especially when someone can kill a child.

Mr Talukder told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live this Friday morning that he was speaking in two parts, initially about the rioters but then specifically about the perpetrator of the stabbings in Dublin that same day.

Following on from Mr Talukders comments at the meeting, Cllr Conor Sheehan interjected saying: Mayor you cant call for somebody to be shot in the council chamber.

Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Gerald Mitchell asked Mr Talukder to withdraw these comments.

The comments were withdrawn.

I can withdraw that I hope Conor Sheehan can understand that it is just an expression of my English, Mr Talukder said.

The matter has been referred to the Rules and Procedures Committee of the Ard Chomhairle by Fianna Fail.
THE BIKE Shop Limerick will celebrate 40 years in business next year.

We are proud to serve the people of Limerick since 1984.

The shop started with Peugeot and Dawes bikes in the 80s and over the years added famous brands like Trek, Giant, Raleigh, Gazelle, Frog and Cube to the catalogue.

Anyone can find a bike to fit their purpose, style and budget at The Bike Shop as we carry many models ranging from economic entry level bikes to high end carbon racing bikes.

In the last couple of years, the electric bikes became a large part of our range with the addition of cargo bikes this year.

We cooperate with many employers in the city and the country in providing their employees with bicycles via the Cycle to Work Scheme government initiative with which you can save up to 52% of the price.

With Christmas on our doorstep, we offer a large selection of Berg Go Karts and kids bicycles in every price range and age group.

You can inquire about our bikes and services at our store at The Bike Shop, 1 Greenville, O'Connell Avenue, Limerick.

Follow us on Facebook:

Facebook: @Thebikeshoplimerick

Follow us on Instagram:

Instagram: @thebikeshoplimerick

Call Us Now: 061 315900

Email: info@thebikeshoplimerick.ie
As a High Net Worth Individual (HNI) seeking a new lifestyle opportunity, we extend a warm invitation for you to join a seminar hosted by Abhinav Immigration and Endevio Ltd on December 5th in Delhi and December 7th in Mumbai. This exclusive event will provide you with an overview of the Malta Permanent Residency by Investment Program.

Meet the Architect of Malta Residency Programs

You will have the chance to meet Honourable Alex Muscat, who was the key figure behind the design and implementation of Malta citizenship and Permanent Residency through Investment Programs when he served as Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Communities from 2020 to 2022. These programs are now among the most successful and attractive in the world, thanks to Honourable Muscats vision.

Other distinguished speakers at the seminar are:

Honourable Alex Muscat, Minister for Citizenship and Residency (2020-2022)

Oliver Said; CEO, Endevio Ltd

Alexandra Kenna; Senior Executive, Endevio Ltd

Ajay Sharma; President, Abhinav Immigration Services

Rohit Kumar Sharma; Director and COO Abhinav Immigration Services

Understand the Value of the Malta Residency Program with Experts

Honourable Muscat will share his insights on the potential of Malta-India relations and the advantages of Maltas residency program. He will explain how the program offers a unique opportunity for excellence, cultural integration, and stability. The program is ideal for individuals who value economic prosperity and diversity.

Oliver Said is looking forward to visiting India, a country with a rich culture and a bright future. He will present Maltas features, such as its English-speaking environment, its Commonwealth membership, and its permanent residency program that covers five generations of family members. He will stress that the program aims to welcome you to a community that appreciates luxury and convenience.

Ajay Sharma will address the growing demand among Indians for an alternative residency program in an English-speaking country. The Maltese residency by investment program, starting at INR 1.20 crores, offers long-term residency planning, affordability, and transparency. It also gives you lifetime access to Schengen visas, avoiding the visa hassles faced by Indian citizens.

Register Now and Secure Your Seat

The seminar is open to individuals (HNIs) with a family net worth of 6 to 7 crores who want to network with industry experts and visionary peers. Registration costs INR 1000 per person. To book your seat, please contact +91 8595338595 or email web@abhinav.com. You can also register by filling the form Register Now.

Abhinav Immigration Team will assist you with the process and benefits of the program. Dont miss this opportunity to learn more about Maltas renowned residency programs, guided by the esteemed Honourable Alex Muscat. We are eagerly waiting for you to join us at our seminars.

For more details watch the below video.

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.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
India, 1st December, 2023: Brinc , a global venture accelerator with a focus on innovative technologies, and GVFL Limited (GVFL), one of the oldest sector-agnostic venture capital firms in the country, announced the launch of the A4X accelerator program. Designed to support startups across the following four strategic themes, the programs are set to leverage growth in Gujarat and the rest of India. The 4 programs will cover:

Consumer: Supporting startups (D2C businesses, consumer SaaS applications, and more) that address the consumption boom and increased demand for convenience, personalized products, and tailored experiences. Industry & Enterprise: Supporting startups (Enterprise SaaS, Industrial IoT, and more) that provide industrial and enterprise solutions that drive operational efficiencies and increased productivity. Emerging Tech: Supporting startups and emerging technologies (Blockchain applications, AI applications, and more) that are shaping the next wave of technological innovation. The world is witnessing a technology revolution with breakthroughs in AI, ML, IoT, Robotics, Blockchain, and more. The focus on emerging technologies enables participation in the next wave of technological innovation, as well as creating high-tech jobs, and catalyzing the formation of a globally competitive tech ecosystem in Gujarat. Sustainability: Supporting startups (Alternate Protein, Climate Tech, Electric Mobility, and more) that align with global sustainability goals and cater to a rapidly expanding green" market. Climate change and environmental concerns are gaining global attention, and investing in solutions promoting planet efficiencies is both a necessity and an opportunity. The program aims to support startups that align with global sustainability goals and cater to a rapidly expanding green" market, contributing to Gujarat's transition towards a greener economy.

Drawing inspiration from GVFL's legacy of building successful businesses and Brinc's expertise in nurturing entrepreneurial talent, the program promises:

 A launchpad for disruptive startups aiming to revolutionize their respective industries.

 A 3-month intensive acceleration phase, offering startups access to invaluable resources, mentorship from industry stalwarts, and an initial investment ranging from 1.5 crores to 2 crores.

 Expert mentorship, investor connects, industry networking opportunities, and a supportive community of founders for collaboration and peer-to-peer learning.

Speaking on these developments, Kamal Bansal, MD of GVFL said The accelerator program, set against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving technological and environmental landscape, is poised to be a catalyst for startups venturing into these diverse domains."

The program aims to empower startups with the tools and insights needed to navigate their respective sectors effectively. The accelerator program will also provide unparalleled mentorship from industry veterans, ensuring startups harness best practices and avoid common pitfalls, and facilitating networking opportunities with industry leaders and potential collaborators.

Mihir Joshi, President of GVFL said GVFLs approach has been providing a broad spectrum of support to its funded entities that range from strategic direction to governance support. Partnering with Brinc empowers us to extend GVFLs ethos to seed stage investing & provide strategic value apart from capital to promising startups"

Karan Keswani, Managing Director, Brinc India said, Both GVFL and Brinc share a vision of fostering innovation across multiple sectors, recognizing the interconnectedness of today's challenges and opportunities. Our combined expertise and resources promise to offer startups a unique platform to scale and make a significant impact."

Startups participating in the program will benefit from a holistic approach, encompassing mentorship, access to a global network, and tailored strategies for each sector. This collaboration between GVFL and Brinc is set to propel promising startups to the forefront of their respective industries.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Brinc is a leader in global venture acceleration, operating 18 multi-disciplinary accelerator programs in seven countries. Brinc accelerates startups focused on the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, connected hardware, drones, robotics, clean energy, and food technology, all within a sustainability mandate. Brincs goal is to empower founders to accelerate humanitys transition to a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable future.

Brinc has a portfolio of 200+ companies with founders from more than 38 countries. Brinc also supports corporations with distributed innovation strategies, sourcing of new startups and technologies, as well as venture-building Web3-enabled businesses. Global corporations (Manulife, Huawei, Schneider Electric, Animoca Brands, Puma, Batelco, Merck, Omantel, Linrun Group and Zhihui Park), government organizations (Hong Kong Science Park, MBRIF and Guangdong Soft-tech Park), tertiary institutions (HK City University and National University of Singapore) and leading venture funds (Artesian, LeverVC, Tamkeen, and EDB) have all run programs with Brinc. In 2021, Brinc announced a series of venture funds to invest in high-potential early-stage companies through accelerators and provide LPs with a dedicated innovation platform and access to Series A+ co-investment opportunities.

Learn more about https://www.brinc.io/

GVFL Limited (formerly Gujarat Venture Finance Limited) is widely regarded as a pioneer of Venture capital in India. It is an independent, autonomous Board-managed venture fund manager based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

GVFL ushered in the dawn of venture capital in India. Founded in 1990 at the initiative of the World Bank, GVFL has supported ventures working on the cutting edge of technology as well as encouraged entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. Over the past two decades, GVFL has raised multiple venture capital funds which have supported over 105 companies. Today, GVFL has divested from over 75% of its portfolio companies with handsome returns.

GVFL has carved a niche for itself by making marquee investments in early-stage companies across sectors through various funds. Leveraging decades of full investment lifecycle experience in startup investing, GVFL focuses on highly scalable, innovative business models across sectors that use technology as an enabler or differentiator and are backed by credible teams.

Learn more about https://gvfl.com/

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Investing wisely is not just about allocating funds; it is about understanding the potential returns and planning for the future. Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) have gained popularity as an efficient way to invest in mutual funds, offering a disciplined and consistent approach.

The SIP Calculator from Bajaj Finserv has proven to be a potent instrument for investors., empowering them to make informed decisions. Let us explore the significance of an SIP Calculator and how it aids investors in making smart investment choices.

Understanding SIP Investments

A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)is a method of investing in mutual funds where investors contribute a fixed amount at regular intervals, typically monthly. SIPs offer a disciplined approach to investment, allowing individuals to enter the market without the need for a lump-sum amount. This strategy not only promotes financial discipline but also helps in mitigating the impact of market volatility through rupee cost averaging.

The Role of a SIP Calculator

Investors often find themselves pondering over questions like, "How much will I earn from my SIP investments?" or "What will be the future value of my investments?" This is where an SIP Calculator becomes invaluable. The Bajaj Finserv SIP Calculator is a user-friendly online tool, assisting investors in estimating the potential returns on their SIP investments based on various parameters.

How Does an SIP Calculator Work?

1. Visit the Bajaj Finserv SIP Calculator online.

2. Input the amount you want to invest on a regular basis.

3. Specify the investment tenure.

4. Enter the expected rate of return, which is an estimate of the annual growth of your investment.

5. Receive an instant calculation of the estimated future value of your SIP investments.

Advantages of Using a SIP Calculator

1. Precision in Planning: An SIP Calculator provides investors with a clear understanding of the potential future value of their investments. This precision is crucial for goal-oriented investments, such as saving for a down payment on a house, funding a child's education, or planning for retirement.

2. Informed Decision-Making: By using the SIP Calculator, investors can experiment with different SIP amounts, tenures, and expected rates of return. This empowers them to make informed decisions aligned with their financial goals and risk tolerance.

3. Realistic Expectations: SIP Calculator sets realistic expectations by showcasing the power of compounding. It helps investors comprehend how regular contributions can accumulate over time, leading to significant wealth creation. But it is important to note that mutual funds are subject to market risks.

How to Make Smart Investments with the help of the Bajaj Finserv SIP Calculator?

1. Define Your Financial Goals: Before using the SIP Calculator, clearly define your financial goals. Whether it is buying a car or funding your start-up, having specific goals will guide your investment strategy.

2. Assess Your Risk Tolerance: Understand your risk tolerance level. Bajaj Finserv offers 1000+ mutual fund schemes catering to different risk profiles. Choose funds that align with your risk tolerance and investment objectives.

3. Diversify Your Portfolio: Explore the variety of mutual funds offered by Bajaj Finserv. Diversification is a key strategy to mitigate risk and optimise returns. Allocate your investments across different asset classes based on your financial goals.

4. Regularly Review Your Investments: Periodically review your SIP investments to ensure they align with your financial objectives. Life circumstances and market conditions may change, and a periodic review allows you to make adjustments if necessary.

5. Experiment with SIP Calculator Scenarios: Use the SIP Calculator to explore different scenarios. Adjust the SIP amount, tenure, and expected rate of return to see how these variables impact your potential returns. This experimentation helps you fine-tune your investment plan.

Conclusion

The Bajaj Finserv SIP Calculator equips investors with clear insights necessary to confidently navigate the complexities of SIP investments. By providing a projection of potential returns, this tool becomes an ally in financial planning. Investors can leverage the power of the Bajaj Finserv SIP Calculator to make smart and informed investment decisions that align with their financial goals.

Remember, with Bajaj Finserv SIP Calculator, your investment journey becomes not just a financial endeavour but a strategic pathway to wealth creation.

Why wait? Explore the Bajaj Finserv platform and access the SIP calculator right away!

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. This information does not constitute a financial advice.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
WASHINGTONMeta Platforms has challenged the constitutionality of the Federal Trade Commissions structure, the companys latest effort to block the regulator from imposing new restrictions on how it can monetize user data.

Metawhich owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsAppsued the FTC on Wednesday in federal court in Washington, alleging fundamental aspects of the Commissions structure violate the U.S. Constitution."

Taking issue with the FTCs use of its in-house courts, Meta argues that in these proceedings the regulator has a dual role as prosecutor and judge" in violation of due-process guarantees.

Meta is seeking an injunction blocking the FTC from moving forward with new restrictions on the company, first proposed in May, that include a blanket prohibition against monetizing data of children and teens under 18. That provision takes aim at the companys core business of showing ads to users based on what it learns about their interests.

An FTC spokeswoman declined to comment.

The FTC is seeking to tighten restrictions on Meta by modifying a settlement it reached with the company in 2020. As part of that settlement, Meta agreed to pay a $5 billion civil penalty following a previous FTC investigation into its privacy practices.

Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement at the time. The companys recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures."

Metas lawsuit came two days after a federal judge in Washington said the FTC could move forward with its new limits on Meta by modifying the 2020 settlement. Meta had asked the judge with jurisdiction over the 2020 settlement to block the FTCs proposed modifications, but the judge said he lacked authority to do so.

The argument Meta makes in its latest lawsuit was foreshadowed by an April decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Axon Enterprise v. FTC. In that case, the high court said people and businesses subjected to FTC administrative proceedings can seek to enjoin, or block, those proceedings by suing in U.S. District Court and raising constitutional arguments there.

The Supreme Courts conservative majority has shown skepticism toward the use of administrative courts within federal agencies. During oral arguments in a different case on Wednesday, the justices appeared ready to scale back the Securities and Exchange Commissions power to enforce securities laws through administrative hearings rather than jury trials.

Write to Jan Wolfe at jan.wolfe@wsj.com

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the long-standing titan of China's e-commerce space, briefly ceded its top position to Pinduoduo (PDD), an eight-year-old upstart, marking a momentous shift in the industry, as per Bloomberg reports.

The brief switch in the stock positions occurred during Thursday's (November 30) trading session, where Alibaba's market value slipped below that of PDD. This is a significant turn for an industry Alibaba once dominated for over a decade.

Fluctuations in market valuation

During Hong Kong intraday trading, Alibaba experienced a 1.4 percent decline, causing its market value to briefly fall to around $187 billion, momentarily placing it beneath US-listed PDD Holding's valuation of $188.3 billion, Bloomberg reported.

But the Jack Ma co-founded e-commerce giant managed to rally later in the day, closing slightly higher than PDD's overnight market capitalisation.

The surprising shift signifies the challenging times Alibaba has been facing since Beijing's 2020 crackdown on the tech sector, impacting Alibaba's trajectory significantly. Further, the emergence of disruptors such as PDD and ByteDance Ltd., in the social media and e-commerce landscapes, has added to Alibaba's challenges.

Jack Ma's address to employees

In a recent internal memo, Ma urged the company's massive workforce to recalibrate and regain lost momentum. Every great company is born in the winter. The people willing to reform for the future, and the organizations willing to pay any price and sacrifice, are the ones that are truly respected," Ma wrote in an internal forum.

Ma also praised rival PDD for "decision-making, execution, and efforts of the past years".

The co-founder has been on the low since government action and it is yet unclear if his public address was approved. However, the billionaire's unusual intervention highlights the severity of the situation and the company's need to adapt swiftly to the evolving market dynamics.

Ma's call for change underscores the urgency for Alibaba to reorient itself amidst intensifying competition. The shift in market dynamics suggests a compelling need for Alibaba to innovate and adapt, as rivals like PDD redefine the e-commerce landscape.

Industry Outlook

Wall Street reacted to these developments by issuing a rare downgrade on Alibaba's stock, with Morgan Stanley adjusting its rating and target price to $90 from $110. Meanwhile, PDD's meteoric rise, fuelled by robust growth and aggressive global expansion, positions it as a frontrunner in China's e-commerce arena.

Overall, brokers are bullish on Alibaba. It still has 44 buy ratings and 8 hold recommendations, compared to 52 buys for PDD and 3 holds for PDD.

Alibaba faces internal restructuring challenges, including shelving spinoffs and leadership transitions. In contrast, PDD's strategic prowess, exemplified by the success of its US shopping app Temu and domestic market innovations, is posing a formidable challenge to Alibaba's once-dominant position.

The Colin Huang-founded PDD has seen growth far outpace Alibaba, racking up 20 percent growth in transactions versus rivals during the recent Singles' Day shopping festival in China. In the US too, Temu has overtaken Shein in online sales marking itself as a disruptive force in the global e-commerce space.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
New Delhi/Mumbai Vini Cosmetics, the maker of Fogg deodorants and GlamUp creams backed by private equity firm KKR, has seen a flurry of top-level exits in the recent past, even as the companys founder-chairman Darshan Patel remains unfazed. ACCording to several people aware of the developments, CEO Vishal Kaul, human resource head Manisha Kadagathur, and chief revenue officer Amar Jethithor have tendered their resignations. Chief marketing officer Sushrut Pant, who joined Vini this March, quit in November and joined Shree Cement as head of marketing, according to his LinkedIn profile. Darshan Patel, non-executive chairman of Vini Cosmetics, confirmed the CEOs exit. He has put in his papers. We have already started looking for a replacement," said Patel, who founded the company in 2010. Our business is growing at about 1518%per annum. We are not downsizing anything." Patel also appeared confident about KKR, saying it continues to be invested in Vini. They have just entered the business. They will be invested for many years," he said. Calls made and texts sent to Kaul, Kadagathur, and Jethithor remained unanswered, while Pant could not be reached for comment. KKR, which bought a 54% stake in Vini Cosmetics for $625 million in 2021, did not respond to emailed queries. Several mid-level employees are on their way out, too. Zonal sales director for East India, Devi Prasad Raul, quit in October after a year with the company, and moved to Nigeria with DP World, per his LinkedIn profile. And national trade marketing manager Umesh Kumar, as well as go-to-market head Viraj Kamboj are also on their way out, according to the people mentioned above. The development comes amid differences between the professional management that was brought in over the past two years, and the companys original promoters Darshan and his brother Dipam Patel. Several executives Mint spoke with cited differences between their working styles, with the companys strategy and operations largely aligning with the way promoters wish to run the company. After KKRs investment, several senior executives from the consumer goods industry were tapped by the company to bring about professional management in the day-to-day operations. For instance, Kaul, who was appointed CEO in February 2022, joined the company from PepsiCo India where he was vice-president and business head for the beverages business for India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. Pant, who was hired in March 2023, came from ACC & Ambuja Cement, and had long stints at Kimberly-Clark and Marico earlier. Vini manufactures, markets and distributes its branded deodorants, cosmetics and toiletries through its flagship brand Fogg and other brands such as Ossum and GlamUp. Fogg is among the top-selling deodorant brands in the country. Others in the know said high-ranking executives were brought in to manage day-to-day operations at the company. However, the transition and handover are yet to be completed. There was a certain management control which was supposed to happen after the KKR deal. And thats when they got in a lot of professional managers such as the CMO, CFO, CHRO, and CRO. Some good work and transformation happened. The transition was supposed to happen to this professional teambut that isnt happening, and thats why people started leaving," said a person familiar with the development who asked not to be identified. In the fiscal year 2021-22, Vini Cosmetics Pvt. Ltds consolidated revenue from operations stood at 926.39 crore. Profit for the period was 191.25 crore, up 16.6% year-on-year, according to financial intelligence platform Tofler.
Ad industry experts warn of impending turmoil for social media company X as more advertisers consider deserting the platform, following a cascade of events triggered by its billionaire owner Elon Musk 's recent actions, as per a Reuters report.

Walt Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery took decisive steps earlier this month by halting their advertising efforts on X. The move came in response to Musk endorsing an antisemitic post. The backlash was followed by Musk apologising.

However, when speaking about the incident at the New York Times DealBook event, Musk first expressed regret for his post, before launching into a profanity-laden diatribe against fleeing advertisers. He accused the brands of "blackmail," with apparent criticism directed at Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, who earlier commented that partnering with X had not been a positive association for their brand.

Industry Voices and X's Response

Industry experts, including Lou Paskalis, founder of AJL Advisory, told Reuters the necessity for companies to safeguard their brand image amid advertisers leaving X. However, X's CEO Linda Yaccarino, in a memo to employees, commended Musk's interview as "candid and profound." She reinforced X's commitment to being an open platform without censorship, asserting that their principles were non-negotiable, as per the report.

Further, despite acknowledging the potential bankruptcy risk for X due to an extended advertiser boycott, Musk insinuated that public blame would fall on the brands rather than on him. But analysts, notably Jasmine Enberg from Insider Intelligence, pointed fingers at Musk, attributing X's possible demise to his actions, policy decisions, and confrontational remarks, the report said.

The platform faces the alarming reality of losing not just corporate advertisers but also potential revenue from political candidates, a stream that re-emerged after X lifted its ban on political ads. Mike Nellis, CEO of Authentic, told Reuters there are plans to discuss advertising strategies with clients amid the escalating tensions.

Decline in Ad Spending and User Base

Recent data from media analytics firm Guideline indicates a staggering 64 percent decline in ad spending on X in the United States from January to October this year compared to the same period in 2022. Furthermore, US monthly active users decreased by about 19 percent since Musk's acquisition of the platform last year, according to research firm Data.ai.

Experts like Tom Forte from DA Davidson & Co foresee the potential halt in ad spending, necessitating a greater reliance on subscription-based revenue for the company's survival. Notably, major corporations such as Apple, IBM, Sony, Disney, Comcast (including NBC Universal), and Paramount collectively constituted 7 percent of the total US ad spend on X until October this year, as indicated by Sensor Tower data.

Attendees at a New York Times-hosted dinner following the DealBook Summit were taken aback by Musk's explicit language against advertisers, the report added. Representatives from major brands expressed a shared sentiment that X might not be a welcoming environment given Musk's apparent stance, it added.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
A 35-year-old gentleman showed up at Dong Hoi, Vietnam's Cuba Friendship Hospital complaining of terrible headaches. An MRI scan revealed that the fellow was suffering from pneumocephalus, the presence of air in the brain due to a tear in the tissue. The condition is usually caused by a skull fracture or trauma to the face. In this case, the attending physician, Dr. Nguyen Van Man, determined that his patient's pneumocephalus was the result of a pair of chopsticks that had been pushed up his nose and entered the cranial cavity.

According to Yahoo! News, "The unnamed patient recalled being involved in a fight five months earlier when he was drinking. Although his memory was hazy, he vaguely remembered being stabbed in the face, possibly with the chopsticks. But when he visited the hospital after the altercation, medical professionals found no chopsticks or irregularities in his nose. Regardless, the patient suspected that the utensils were lodged in his nose during the fight and had remained undiscovered in his skull."

The doctors used endoscopic surgery to retrieve the chopsticks and fix the tear in his head. The man is apparently in stable condition.
Shares of Trent , the retail arm of Tata Group, hit a new all-time high of 2,826 apiece in Friday's trade. This historic high has propelled the company's market capitalisation to cross the 1,00,000 crore mark. When considering the stock's highest price of 2,826, its market capitalisation touched 1,00,464 crore today.

Starting the year at 1,358 per share, the stock has experienced an extraordinary surge of 107% to its current level of 2,816. According to the latest BSE data, there are currently 62 stocks with a market capitalisation exceeding one lakh crore.

Also Read: Titan Stock Check: M-cap crosses 3 lakh crore; should you buy now?

The stock showed strength in 09 out of the last 11 months. The standout months were November, which saw a robust 29.35% gain, and August and May, with returns of 16.60% and 14.09%, respectively.

What's even more impressive is that the stock has shown remarkable consistency, concluding 10 out of the last 11 years (including 2023) in positive territory and delivering steady returns to its investors. Among these, 2023 stands out as the best yearly performance, surpassing the previous record in CY17 when shares rallied 68.24%.

Trent operates a portfolio of retail concepts. The primary customer propositions of Trent include Westside, one of India's leading chains of fashion retail stores, Zudio, a one-stop destination for great fashion at great value and Trent Hypermarket, which operates in the competitive food, grocery, and daily needs segment under the Star banner.

For the September quarter, the company reported robust performance across all its key formats. It reported a standalone net profit of 290 crore in Q2FY24, signifying a remarkable 56% YoY increase.

It reported a standalone revenue growth of 59.37% YoY at 2,891 crore, driven by aggressive store additions in Zudio and 10% LFL growth in fashion concepts (Westside, Zudio, and other lifestyle stores). The company opened 6 Westside and 27 Zudio stores and closed four stores each in 2QFY24, taking the total store count to 222 and 411.

Following the Q2 results, domestic brokerage firms maintained their 'buy' recommendations for the stock, with many of them revising their target prices upwards.

Also Read: Tata Motors shares hit all-time high ahead of Tata Technologies IPO listing date

Meanwhile, on November 23, Titan, Tata Groups jewellery-to-eyewear brand, crossed the 3,00,000 crore m-cap. Further, shares of Tata Motors, the global automobile manufacturer, delivered exceptional performance in CY23 so far, with a return of 82.14%. In the previous trading session, the stock touched a new record high of 717.25 apiece.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
As many as 48 schools in Bengaluru received bomb threat emails leading to the evacuation of students and staff members. As soon as parents got to know about the incident, they also rushed to schools in panic to get their children back home safely.

"The email claimed that explosives had been planted on school premises. We received a call from the command centre and immediately rushed our teams to schools which are located in different parts of the city. All students and staff have been safely evacuated from the school premises and a thorough search operation is being carried out," a senior police officer said as quoted by news agency PTI. So far, nothing suspicious has been found yet and prima facie looks like it's a hoax message. Parents need not panic, our teams are on the ground, he said.

In response to the alarming bomb threats, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Security measures have been taken, and parents need not panic." Furthermore, he said that he has instructed the police to inspect the schools and enhance security and urged parents to remain calm during this time.

"The police will investigate, and I have directed them to do so. Security measures have been taken, and parents need not panic. I have instructed the police to inspect the schools and enhance security. A preliminary report has been received from the police department," Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said.

In another update, Karnataka Dy CM D K Shivakumar assured parents of children in Bengaluru schools that the threat emails are a hoax call and there is no need to panic. The cyber crime department will take prompt action to resolve the situation.
Great Union Day day is celebrated on December 1 and is observed as a public holiday that commemorates the unification of several different ethnic groups under one single banner. The first-ever celebration of Great Union Day in Alba Iulia instilled a sense of identity and unity among diverse residents of Romania and marked the end of years of struggle for self-determination.

After the First World War, a national assembly was held between the Romanians of Transylvania and Hungary. The national assembly consisted of 1,228 elected representatives of Romanians. All members unanimously voted to uphold democratic values and outlined the fundamental principles for the foundation of a new Romanian State" during the assembly. Hence, a union between Transylvania, Bessarabia, Bukovina, and the Kingdom of Romania received favourable votes in the National Assembly of Alba Iulia in 1918.

Romania was officially recognised by the international community and welcomed to the world stage. Following this, Romanias territorial size nearly doubled, and its population increased by 10 million. Great Union Day provides an opportunity for Romanians, and people of the Romanian diaspora around the world, to remember their shared history and connect with their Romanian heritage.

Great Union Day celebrations involve military parades, musical and dance performances, historical plays, and flag-raising ceremonies throughout the country of Romanians. On this day, people from all over Romania gather to attend National Military Parade which is a patriotic occasion that occurs every year on Great Union Day.

The blue, yellow, and red stripes of the Romanian national flag represent liberty, justice, and fraternity. Great Union Day acts as a symbol of shared heritage and collective spirit for Romanians all across the world, which instils the importance of unity during times of challenge and reminds them of their country's rich history. This doodle's reach spans the region of Romania.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Bihar News: A case of forcible marriage has been reported wherein a recently recruit government school teacher was kidnapped from the educational institution in Vaishali and forced to marry kidnapper's daughter at gunpoint. Multiple dailies reported that a case has been lodged against the womans father.

According to Indian Express, one Gautam Kumar, who had recently cleared the Bihar Public Service Commission exam, was kidnapped from the school he teaches in, and forced to marry kidnappers daughter.

Gautam Kumar was appointed as a teacher at Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya in Patepurs Repura. According to Indian Express report, three to four people arrived at the school in a four-wheeler and forcibly took Kumar away.

Following the incident, Gautam Kumar's family protested by blocking a road on Wednesday night before the police initiated a search operation to locate the missing teacher.

The Bihar Police was able to locate Gautam Kumar on Thursday.

Gautam Kumar, a resident of Maheya Malpur village, told the police that he was forcibly married to the daughter of one Rakesh Rai of Repura village, Indian Express report said.

Kumar said the marriage was not acceptable to him and referred to a recent Patna High Court verdict that set aside a 10-year-old forced marriage of a Nawada Armyman with a Lakhisarai girl, the police said.

Notably, Pakadwa Vivah is not an uncommon practice in Bihar. In 2022, a veterinarian, called in to check on a sick animal, was kidnapped by three people and forcibly married in Begusarai.

A few years ago, a similar incident involving an engineer in Bihar made national headlines. Then 29-year-old Vinod Kumar, a junior manager at Bokaro Steel Plant was thrashed and forced to wed a woman in Pandarak area in Patna, reports NDTV.

Meanwhile, according to a survey conducted by the Confederation of All India Traders (Cait), between November 23 and December 15 this year, approximately 35 lakh weddings are expected to take place across the country, creating a significant economic surge in the wedding industry.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
MUMBAI : The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are bracing for a sobering placement season. For the thousands of to-be engineers in the class of 2024, the number of hirings is likely to taper, even while salaries may not fall much.

This year, we added more companies, but there is a 20% dip among the regular recruiters since many say they had over-hired last year. The compensation has not changed much, but the number of positions available per role has reduced," said a placement team member of one of the top three IITs on condition of anonymity.

According to placement team members in IITs Delhi, Kanpur, Bombay and Roorkee, high-frequency trading (HFT) and quant companies Quadeye, Graviton Research Capital, Maverick Derivatives and Da Vinci are ready to roll out crore-plus offers (including joining bonus and variable payouts). They say that pre-placement offers (PPOs), which are rolled out to selected students who have interned earlier, will see higher salaries, but the number of PPOs overall being offered by firms would be lower.

Last year, trading firm Jane Street broke records with a PPO of around 4.3 crore at IIT-Delhi, Kanpur and Bombay. But from the first set of confirmations this year, it appears the number of HFT firms, and their offers, will be lower than last year.

HFT and quant companies use maths and statistics to predict market movements. Such companies, which are mostly based in India, the US, Singapore, and Amsterdam, hire candidates who can analyze markets using mathematical and statistical models. HFTs have been garnering attention at a time when global markets are going through swift crests and troughs.

The demand for algorithm engineers, data scientists, associate product managers and data language experts are high among quant and trading firms, e-commerce and logistic companies, banks, IT product firms, and startups.

IITs in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Kanpur and Guwahati will start their campus placements on Friday (1 December), while the ones in Varanasi, Mandi and Bhilai had begun their placements in September.

Global companies are likely to put the squeeze on hiring as well. We had offered 20 lakh, including 2 lakh joining bonus last year, but while we picked up 15 engineers last year from the IITs on the first day of campus placements, this year we will recruit barely five. The offers are in the same range and could be marginally lower," said the recruitment head of a leading consulting firm heading for the IITs on Friday.

Electronics giant Samsung, consulting and IT services leader Accenture, and engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) were among early recruiters in September, placement executives said. Salaries offered ranged from 6 lakh to 48 lakh. These companies are now likely to head for the IITs that are opening placements on Friday.

The battle will also be played out in the tech and product arena. Online food delivery platform Zomato is on the hunt for machine learning and data scientist roles for 40-45 lakh. We are visiting a number of campuses this year to recruit the best tech talent in India. We will be offering globally competitive salaries for the best talent," said Zomatos spokesperson.

According to the IITs placement teams, Google is offering 30-35 lakh for domestic roles, while Microsoft will pick up students for 40-45 lakh for roles based out of Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Mint sent out queries to Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Flipkart and the HFT and quant companies mentioned earlier, late evening on Thursday.

Companies prowl IIT campuses with multiple roles that come with different compensation structures. So, typically, algorithm engineers and data scientists may get paid higher than more regular operations profiles.

Placement season will continue for the next couple of months. Banks, startups, and public sector organisations are also queuing up.
Officials in Bhubaneswar have seized cocaine worth 220 crore from a Indonesian ship that docked at Paradip port. Customs officials were notified after a crane operator spotted 22 suspicious packets. The Vietnamese crew has been detained for questioning and officials are conducting a thorough search of the ship with the help of sniffer dogs

Twenty-two packets were recovered from a crane on the ship. The powder-like substance was confirmed as cocaine after examination using a special kit. The international market price of the seized material would be between 200 crore and 220 crore," state Commissioner of Customs Madhaab Chandra Mishra told PTI.

The MV Debi had begun its voyage from Egypt and arrived at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal terminal in Jagatsinghpur district on Wednesday night. It was scheduled to depart for Denmark with steel plates.

The packages were first spotted in a crane on the anchored ship  with officials initially under the impression that it was an explosive.

But after they scanned the packets, it was revealed that it was drugs concealed in small rectangular packets. We did a preliminary narcotics test, which confirmed the contents to be cocaine. We seized the packets and have sent the sample for further test in a government laboratory," Mishra told Hindustan Times.

A kg of cocaine is reportedly worth 10 crore in the international market.

As per the official statement all the crew members working onboard the ship are from Vietnam. The ship is registered in Panama and operated by the Asia Pacific Shipping Co. Ltd.

Officials however said that no individual had been arrested thus far in connection with the case. Further investigation is underway.

(With inputs from agencies)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Israel President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of COP28 World Climate Action Summit (WCAS) on Friday. The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said. PM Modi "emphasized on Indias support for a two state solution" and called for "durable resolution of Israel-Palestine issue".

PM (Modi) reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population. He emphasized on Indias support for a two state solution and early and durable resolution of Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

During his interaction with the Israeli President, PM Modi also expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the "October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages".

Palestinian militant group Hamas had launched surprise attack in parts of Israel on October 7. As many as 1200 people were killed in the attack and 240 people were taken hostages by Hamas. Israel retaliated by launched war against Hamas in Gaza Strip on October 8.

Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations said more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed and thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble.

Both Israel and Hamas had recently reached a truce to free a few hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Israel has imposed a total siege, and residents and humanitarian agencies said that arrived during the truce was trivial compared to the vast needs of so many displaced people.

Combat between Israel and Hamas resumed in the Gaza Strip Friday morning after an agreement could not be reached on prolonging the seven-day pause in fighting.

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy on Friday blamed Hamas for the collapse of the truce, accusing it of "having failed to provide a list of more hostages for release". He said Hamas was still holding 137 hostages taken on October 7. However, Hamas claimed Israel had asked for the release of 10 female soldiers, which it rejected, news agencies AFP and PTI reported.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the COP28 meeting in Dubai on Friday, December 1. PM Modi arrived in Dubai, UAE, on Thursday, November 30, to attend the World Climate Action Summit today during the United Nations 'Conference of the Parties on climate, known as COP28 . However, the prime minister will return to India later Friday evening, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said in a briefing on Thursday.

A cultural dance performance was performed outside a hotel in Dubai by members of the Indian diaspora upon PM Modi's arrival in the UAE. The diaspora members were heard chanting 'Modi, Modi' and raising slogans of 'Abki Baar Modi Sarkar' and 'Vande Mataram.'

PM Modi was seen greeting diaspora members outside the hotel.

Three other high-level side events are also scheduled for the prime minister. Under the UAE presidency, COP28 will take place from November 30 to December 12.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the COP28 will let the world take stock of progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a course for climate action in the future.

"At the Voice of the 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 the 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.

Climate action has been a priority for India, according to the prime minister.

"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.

As part of the green credit initiative and climate finance, Modi has expressed an interest in participating in special events.

PM Modi will also meet with some of the participants in the summit, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and newly-elected Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The Delhi High Court will soon rule on copyright protection for traditional music after the song, Veera Raja Veera, composed by music director A.R. Rahman for a Tamil movie, Ponniyin Selvan 2, was contested by Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, a renowned classical singer.

Dagar alleged copyright infringement, asserting that Rahman and other producers of the film replicated the original composition, Shiva Stuti, from the 1970s, composed by his father and uncle.

Dagar contended that despite the different lyrics, the musical structure, rhythm (taal), and beat of the song closely resemble the original Shiva Stuti composition. The case is pending before the court.

Rahman is being represented by Amit Sibal along with advocates Kaushik Moitra, Sneha Jaisingh, and Anurag Tandon from Bharucha & Partners.

Until 1992, copyright laws in India provided protection to original works until the authors demise, plus 50 years, but subsequently, was extended to 60 years through an ordinance in Parliament, specifically to extend the time of reprint for Rabindranath Tagores work.

Music creators and legal experts differ in this case, as artists view traditional music as a universal wellspring of inspiration, while legal experts insist that the works should undergo standard legal tests to establish non-infringement. Music composers contend that both Shiva Stuti and Veera Raja Veera are grounded in the Adana Kandalum Ragam (Raag Adana), which is a part of Carnatic classical music. Ragams or Ragas are musical building blocks based on specific notes. Classical music songs are crafted by applying these ragas in various combinations.

There is a certain amount of application that goes while presenting a song. In this case, unfortunately, the application of two geniusesRehman and Dagar Brothershas almost been the same. You can never copyright a ragam, or even a chord. It is equivalent of copyrighting words or letters," said music director Vishal Chandrashekar, who scores music for Tamil and Telugu movies.

According to court filings, Dagar came to know about the song in April, when Veera Raja Veera was released on social media and television. He subsequently raised his concerns about infringement with Madras Talkies and Tips Industries, the producers of the film. However, when the producers refuted his allegations, Dagar moved court.

In this case, the plaintiff (Dagar) claimed that the disputed song Veera Raja Veera of the film PS-2, is similar to Shiva Stuti based on Raag Adana sung by his late father and uncle in the 1970s," said Smriti Yadav, partner, Khaitan & Co. The defendants (Rahman and others) have claimed the disputed song is based on folklore music, available in the public domain since many centuries. It remains to been seen how the court treats the contentions of the parties."

Under copyright laws, there are standard tests to arrive at a conclusion on whether a work infringes the copyright of some other producer, including test of originality, said legal experts. Copyright protection includes copyright on musical notes and compositions. Test for protection on musical notes or compositions is originality of a composition," Swati Sharma, head, intellectual property practice at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said. Copyright in original composition is valid during the life of the author plus 60 years post her death. Therefore, the musical compositions of old masters such as Beethoven (17701827) or Mozart (1756- 1791) are now in public domain and often used commercially."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has commented on the indictment of an Indian national, allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate a US-based Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Blinken, speaking in Tel Aviv, described the matter as a significant ongoing legal case.

The US Justice Department's indictment points to a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Pannun, a leader of the Khalistan Movement. Blinken remarked that the US had raised this issue with the Indian government over the past weeks. Also Read: US charges Indian govt official for plotting to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Pannun "This is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in the past weeks. The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results," ANI quoted Blinken as saying.

This indictment alleges that an unnamed Indian government employee referred to as CC-1, collaborated with others, including the accused Nikhil Gupta, in this assassination attempt. Gupta, apprehended and now under custody, faces a murder-for-hire charge with a potential ten-year prison sentence. Czech authorities arrested Gupta on June 30 under the bilateral extradition treaty between the US and the Czech Republic.

The alleged assassination plan

The indictment details that earlier in 2023, the Indian government employee allegedly directed a plot from India to assassinate the separatist leader, a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City.

Gupta, under the guidance of CC-1, allegedly contacted someone he believed to be a criminal associate. However, this individual was a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The source introduced Gupta to a supposed hitman, an undercover DEA officer. The Justice Department claims Gupta offered $100,000 for the assassination.

(With ANI inputs)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Ex-Congressliar George Santos has been expelled. This makes the New York fraudster the sixth lawmaker in U.S. history to be kicked out of the House, but the first who wasn't a convict (yet) or accused of treason.

The vote this morning turned out 311 yeas to oust Santos and 114 nays  and two members were marked as present. (See Speaker Mike Johnson announce the results in the video below, posted by Acyn.)

From The New York Times:

Representative George Santos, the New York Republican whose tapestry of lies and schemes made him a figure of national ridicule and the subject of a 23-count federal indictment, was expelled from Congress on Friday after a bipartisan vote by his peers. The move consigned Mr. Santos, who over the course of his short political career invented ties to the Holocaust, Sept. 11 and the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, to a genuine place in history: He is the first person to be expelled from the House without first being convicted of a federal crime or supporting the Confederacy. Two staff members inside Santos's field office in Douglaston, Queens, watched the vote go down on a computer. Through the window, reporters could see his district director, Mark Woolley, bring his hand to his forehead and shake his head. He walked to the back of the office before preparing to come out and deliver a statement to the reporters outside.
The continuous coordinated efforts with Interpol, India has managed to bring back 24 fugitives from abroad this year. India's investigative agencies have also geolocated around 184 criminals in various countries and are trying to get them back, said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday during 91st Interpol general assembly in Vienna on Friday.

A team led by agency director Praveen Sood and National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Dinkar Gupta represented India at the general assembly in Vienna. During his address, he stressed to deny any safe havens for crime, criminals and proceeds of crimes".

Since 2021, over 65 such persons have been brought back since 2021 with the help of enhanced cooperation between Indian and international agencies. Last year, 27 criminals were repatriated to India last year, 18 were returned in 2021.

By establishing a close coordination via Interpol channels, Indian law enforcement agencies managed to recall around 24 criminals and fugitives wanted in India, one of the highest in a year, said CBI in a statement.

"India has also geolocated more than 184 criminals in various countries and initiated formal proceedings for their return. This reflects increased leveraging of Interpol channels and relationship with law enforcement agencies internationally to combat crime and criminals," the CBI said in a statement.

Geolocating criminals by Indian agencies refers to finding their whereabouts using various means like technical data, phone locations, criminal activity and human intelligence.

List of fugitives repatriated to India

Over the years, India's law enforcement agencies have brought back several fugitives back home. In last three years, people like Subhash Shankar Parab and Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia were brought back to India. While Shankar Parb was a close confidante of diamantaire Nirav Modi, who was deported from Cairo in April last year, Happy Malaysia was the alleged main conspirator behind the December 2021 Ludhiana court bomb blast. Khalistani separatist Bijarmjit Singh was also brought back to India in 2022.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
This weekend offers several movies and web series on OTT platforms. Lets have a look.

Chittha

Plot: The film delves into the life of Eeswaran and his 8-year-old niece. Eeswaran develops a deep bond with the girl, raising her as his own daughter, showcasing the nuances of their relationship.

Stars: Siddharth

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Platform: Disney+Hotstar

Release Date: November 28

Family Switch

Plot: 'Family Switch' revolves around the Walker family. Jess and Bill Walker face challenges with their teenage children, leading to a humorous twist where parents and kids switch bodies due to a cosmic event.

Stars: Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms

Genre: Family, Comedy

Platform: Netflix

Release Date: November 30

Mission Raniganj

Plot: Based on the real-life Raniganj Coalfields collapse, this film follows Jaswant Singh Gill's heroic rescue of 65 miners. It showcases the determination and challenges faced during one of history's most successful coal mine rescues.

Stars: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra and Kumud Mishra

Genre: Biographical Drama

Platform: Netflix

Release Date: December 1

Dhootha

Plot: In this supernatural thriller, Naga Chaitanya plays an investigative journalist unravelling mysteries linked to newspapers predicting tragedies. His journey leads him through a series of enigmatic events.

Stars: Naga Chaitanya, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Priya Bhavani Shankar

Genre: Supernatural, Thriller

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Release Date: December 1

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Plot: In this final instalment, Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford, embarks on a grand adventure led by his goddaughter. This marks Ford's last appearance as the iconic archaeologist.

Stars: Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Genre: Adventure

Platform: Disney+Hotstar

Release Date: December 1

Sweet Home Season 2

Plot: Returning for its second season, this South Korean show explores a dystopian world where human desires turn into terrifying entities. The survivors from Green Home face new challenges in hazardous landscapes.

Stars: Song Kang, Lee Si Young, Lee Jin Wook, Go Min Si and Park Gyu Young

Genre: Thriller, Dystopian

Platform: Netflix

Release Date: December 1

Zara Hatke Zara Bachke

Plot: This film follows a couple's struggle to buy a house using a government programme. They pretend to seek divorce to move away from family, showcasing the dynamics of their relationship.

Stars: Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan

Genre: Drama

Platform: JioCinema

Release Date: December 2

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Pakistan, on November 24, beat India in an election at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) executive board for the position of vice chair last week.

"Pakistan has been elected, with overwhelming support, as Vice Chair of UNESCO Executive Board (term 2023-25) from the Asia Pacific Group at the ExB Session. Grateful to all members for their trust and support. Is deeply committed to cooperative multilateralism and looks forward to working together with all members to promote our common objectives and to defend shared values and UNESCO principles," said Pakistans foreign ministry in a post on social media platform X.

Islamabads candidate received 38 votes, while Indias received 18, according to various Pakistani media reports.

Indian diplomats at the UN are facing a major setback after Pakistan was elected vice chair of UNESCO's Executive Board in 2023-2025, according to a report by the Indian Express.

The Ministry of External Affairs and Human Resource Development, the ministry responsible for managing Unesco in the Indian government and appointing the Indian representative in Paris were reviewing factors and the ramifications of the defeat, according to a source shared by Indian Express.

Indias representative at UNESCO, Vishal Sharma, a political appointee, was questioned about the rationale for Indias dismal performance. Unesco's executive board held its 218th session last Friday in Paris, during which elections were conducted, the report further added.

With 58 member states and a four-year term, the UN Executive Board administers the body and appoints its director-general. Along with the 194-member General Conference and the Secretariat, it is one of UNESCO's three constitutional organs.

What is the role of Vice-Chairpersons?

There are six Vice-Chairpersons from each electoral group. In the absence of the Chairperson during a session, their functions are exercised in turn by the Vice-Chairpersons.

Generally, a Chairperson is responsible for directing the discussions, ensuring the observance of Rules of Procedure and accords to the right to speak, among other responsibilities.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Vishal Kumar, one of the 41 workers who was rescued from the Silkyara tunnel, recalled the time when he was stuck inside the tunnel for 17 days. He said, "...We spent most of our time sleeping and talking... We did not know it would take so much time..."

Speaking with news agency ANI on Friday, Kumar said the workers didn't know that it would take 17 days to rescue them from the tunnel. "We thought it would take a maximum of 5-10 days to get us out of here...A lot of thoughts were running through our heads," he said. Kumar also recalled that there was an air pipe that facilitated the supply of oxygen to the workers stranded inside the tunnel. "we had only one way to get oxygen...There were many teams which were trying to provide us with all kinds of facilities," he added.

Thanking the authorities, Kumar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami supported them a lot. He added that the rest of the NDRF and SDRF teams were constantly working and talking to them.

Vishal Kumar, resident of Himachal Pradesh, received a grand welcome as he reached his native place.

On November 12, a section of the tunnel between 205 and 260 metres from the Silkyara side collapsed. As many as 41 workers were trapped for 17 days inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi after a landslide in the area.

These workers belonged to Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam, news agency PTI reported.

They were rescued on November 28. Rescue workers 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 almost 17 days.

Earlier on Friday, December 1, eight workers from Uttar Pradesh who were safely rescued from the partially collapsed Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand after 17 days arrived in Lucknow in the morning, news agency ANI reported.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
US official John Kirby said his country takes allegations against an Indian official in the alleged foiled 'assassination' plot "very seriously". Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, he also lauded India for "announcing their own efforts to investigate" the alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader on the America soil.

"These allegations in this investigation, (we) take it very seriously. And we're glad to see that the Indians are too 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, was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Kirby said the probe won't have an impact on the India-US relationship.

"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 on Thursday.

Kirby's statement came a day after US federal prosecutors accused Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist who is an American and Canadian citizen.

ALSO READ: Who is Nikhil Gupta, arrested for planning to kill Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in US?

Meanwhile, an unnamed Indian official appeared in an indictment filed by US federal prosecutors in a Manhattan court on Wednesday along with the Indian national, who the Department of Justice alleges hired someone in the US to assassinate Pannun.

According to PTI, Kirby said that the US unearthed this plot after the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in June.

On Thursday, India described as a "matter of concern" the US charging the Indian national with conspiring to kill the Sikh separatist. It also asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case.

"The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and thats good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results," Secretary of State Antony Blinken was quoted by PTI as saying on Thursday. Blinken did not give any details about the case, calling it an ongoing legal matter.

(With inputs from PTI)



Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
PM Modi in Dubai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dubai to attend the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) Summit. Upon the Prime Minister's arrival in the UAE, he received a warm welcome from the members of the Indian diaspora outside a hotel in Dubai, followed by a cultural dance performance. Videos showed diaspora members raising chants of 'Modi, Modi' , 'Abki Baar Modi Sarkar' and 'Vande Mataram.' PM Modi was also seen shaking hands with diaspora members outside the hotel. The members further greeted him by presenting a cultural dance. Also Read: COP28 2023: What to expect from PM Modi's visit to Dubai | 5 points

While expressing joy on meeting PM Modi in Dubai, a member of Indian diaspora said, "I've been living in UAE for 20 years, but today, it felt as if one of my own has come to this country," stressing, "Jitti prashansa karu utni kam hai."

Also Read: PM Modi to launch green credits initiative at COP28

Another said, ...We felt good that PM Modi has come here. He shook hands with us. He is a global leader."

We are so happy to see PM Modi here. We will never forget this day in our lives. The world needs a leader like PM Modi...," another member added.

Indian diaspora member expressed his delight and said, "We are so happy to see PM Modi here," adding that we will never forget this day in our lives."

"The world needs a leader like PM Modi," he said after meeting with PM Modi.

Another member also shared her experience of meeting the Prime Minister and said, We have no words to say. We are very happy that PM Modi shook hands with us and he recognized us because of our 'pagdi'."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called the Indian government's announcement of an investigation into the allegations of an Indian official's involvement in a foiled plot to murder pro-Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US as good and appropriate.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that it has decided to set up a high-level probe committee to look into the security concerns shared by the US regarding the criminal nexus and the attempt to murder Pannun.

While speaking to reporters who were travelling with him in Tel Aviv, Israel, Blinken said, "The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and thats good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results."

The Secretary of State was responding to a question on the appearance of an unnamed Indian official in an indictment filed by federal US prosecutors in a Manhattan court on Wednesday along with an Indian national, which the Department of Justice alleges hired someone in the US to assassinate Pannun, a vocal critic of India and espousing the cause of separate Khalistan.

"This is an ongoing legal matter. So youll understand I cant comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks," Blinken added.

Indian had earlier informed that 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.

The developments comes only weeks after UK-based daily newspaper Financial Times had reported that the US had thwarted an assassination attempt on notorious Khalistani separatist and leader of banned outfit SFJ on American soil.

Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?

Pannun is the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which India labeled an "unlawful association" in 2019, citing its involvement in extremist activities. Pannun was listed as an "individual terrorist" by India in 2020.

Like Nijjar, Pannun is a proponent of a decades-long but now fringe demand to carve out an independent Sikh homeland from India called Khalistan. New Delhi views this proposal as a security risk because of a violent rebellion that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s.

India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case against Pannun under charges related to terrorism and conspiracy, among others. It stated he threatened in video messages to not let Air India operate anywhere in the world.

The case comes against the historical backdrop of a bombing in 1985 of an Air India aircraft flying from Canada to India that killed 329, and for which Sikh militants were blamed.

(With inputs from agencies)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Tamil Nadu rains: Rain along with thunderstorms and lightning is likely in Chennai and five other districts in Tamil Nadu on Friday as indicated by Met Department,

Tamil Nadu state to receive heavy rainfall until December 4 predicts India Meteorological Department (IMD) especially in coastal areas. Tamil Nadu has been battling with the problem of water logging and flood like situation following heavy rainfall in the past few days and the situation is expected to get worse even further. Also read: Tamil Nadu rains: IMD issues cyclone warning, schools closed in Chennai following heavy rainfall; Full forecast here Rain along with thunderstorms and lightning is likely in Chennai and five other districts in Tamil Nadu on Friday as indicated by Met Department. Regions to be adversely affected include Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram and Kanchipuram. IMD has issued orange alert for Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal for the next few days as these regions areexpected to witness heavy rainfall. IMD also issued orange alert for coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam for heavy rainfall in the next few days. Also read: Chennai: Waterlogging, traffic jams in several areas, reservoir gates opened after heavy rainfall Following low pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea which is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal around December 3. The cyclonic storm is expected to strike North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts on December 4 morning.

Light to moderate rainfall is likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands on December 1. Light to moderate rainfall is also likely over north Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from December 1 to 4 with isolated very heavy rainfall during December 2 to 4.

Light to moderate rainfall in Andhra Pradesh while heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over south Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

Intermittent heavy rains in the state led to inundation in several parts of Chennai along with heavy traffic congestion. Districts most severely affected include Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur Chengelpet.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The Gaza war resumed on Friday after a short-lived truce that saw Hamas-held hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Data shared by the Palestinian health ministry indicates that more than 60 people were killed on December 1. Meanwhile Israeli officials said that Hamas would now take the mother of all thumpings" for failing to continue the release of hostages.

Unfortunately, Hamas decided to terminate the pause by failing to release all the kidnapped women. Having chosen to hold onto our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings," government spokesman Eylon Levy said during a briefing.

The Israeli army said that it had hit "over 200 terror targets" along the narrow strip almost immediately after the war resumed. An official statement said ground, air and naval forces had come together to strike areas in the north and south of the Gaza Strip  including Khan Yunis and Rafah.

The Israel-Hamas clash began on October 7 after Hamas militants led a surprise attack after breaking through Gaza's militarised border into Israel. Around 1,200 people were killed in the ensuing hours with Israel vowing to crush Hamas. The ensuing military offensive has killed around 15,000 people  mostly civilians.

The resumption of war has also left mediators scrambling to find a way to continue the daily exchanges of hostages. According to Levy, Hamas is still holding 137 hostages  10 of them aged 75 or older. The list includes eight Thais, one Nepalese citizen, one Tanzanian and one French-Mexican.

"We continue to work with Israel, Egypt, and Qatar on efforts to extend the humanitarian pause in Gaza," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

Israel insists that the week-long deal could have been extended further with officials already approving a list of Palestinian prisoners for release in order to proceed with an exchange for at least another two days". Meanwhile Hamas claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu-led country had persistently" rejected offers of hostage releases.

(With inputs from agencies)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
A 20-year-old Indian student was rescued by United States authorities from a house he was being held captive by his cousin and two other Indian-origin men. According to reports, the Indian student was being held captive in the house for three-months without access to a bathroom, viciously beaten, and forced to work at three homes by his captors.

The US authorities have described the situation as "absolutely inhumane and unconscionable."

The incident was reported from US state of Missouri.

The US Police arrested Venkatesh R Sattaru, Sravan Varma Penumetcha and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa, and on Thursday charged them with offences including human trafficking, kidnapping and assault, AP reported.

The victim is safe and being treated at a hospital for multiple bone fractures, as well as lacerations and injuries covering his entire body, said prosecutor Joe McCulloch.

Over seven months, the men locked the student in a basement and forced him to sleep on an unfinished floor without access to a bathroom, charges say.

He scavenged for scraps in nearby restaurant dumpsters and was beaten with electrical wire, PVC pipe, metal rods, wooden boards, sticks and a water supply hose for a washing machine, St Louis Post-Dispatch, a major regional newspaper, reported.

The three defendants are accused of confining and abusing the victim at three different homes owned by Sattaru in Defiance, Dardenne Prairie and OFallon, starting in April 2023, according to St Charles County's official website.

Sattaru was identified by investigators as the ringleader and lives in the OFallon home with his wife and children.

The main suspect in the case, Sattaru, 35, is additionally charged with human trafficking for the purpose of slavery and contributing to human trafficking through misuse of documentation.

Penumetcha and Penmatsa live in the home where the student was rescued.

Authorities said the student had come to the US from India last year with hopes of studying at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Instead, he was taken to Sattarus homes beginning in April and was forced to begin chores around 4:30 am, work a full day for Sattarus IT company and then complete a list of evening tasks.

The student told police he regularly got three hours of sleep on a concrete floor in a locked basement where Sattaru monitored him with a surveillance camera, according to court documents.

If the 20-year-old didnt complete the tasks properly, he was severely beaten. Charges say he was forced to strip down naked and was hit all over his body. He was kicked, stomped and lashed, charges say, and his injuries included previous fractures and breaks that did not heal properly.

McCulloch commended that citizen for making the rescue possible.

Because the three suspects are wealthy and have political connections in India, McCulloch said they are being held at the St Charles County Jail without bond.

Neighbours in OFallon were shaken by the arrests on Thursday.

Police were told at first by a man in the home that they couldnt come inside, but the Indian student eventually came running from the basement. He was trembling uncontrollably, heavily scarred and suffering from bruising and swelling all over his body, charges say.

After fleeing the home, the student told police that Sattaru would often beat him himself, but Penumetcha and Penmatsa sometimes punished him too. Sattaru would call the pair and tell them to beat the Indian student, then tell them to hit him harder if Sattaru was not satisfied with his cousins cries of pain, authorities said.

The student said he was afraid to report the trio because they were wealthy and had powerful connections in India. He said he feared for his safety, as well as his familys in India.

(With AP inputs)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Christian Ziegler, chairman of the Florida GOP, is under criminal investigation after accusations of rape and sexual battery. A heavily-redacted report, released Friday by Sarasota Police Department, conceals the name of the suspect, but NBC News writes that its request was specifically for reports concerning Ziegler.

Ziegler and his wife are among the state's 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.
Israel's war with Hamas fighters in Palestine 's Gaza resumed after a brief pause for hostage and prisoner exchange between both countries, allowing safe entry of aids into Gaza. The truce mediated by Qatar, and US , did provide a breather for the residents of Northern Gaza, which is in tatters owing to relentless bombing from Israel.

However, reports have stated that Benjamin Netanyahu-led administration in Israel had been aware of the Hamas attack on 7 October, for more than a year. A report by New York Times citing documents, emails, and interviews said that Israel had obtained knowledge of the Hamas attack from a year before it crystallized.

Analysts have earlier stated that Hamas had been bombing Israel much earlier than 7 October in order to understand the weak points of the famed Iron Dome of Israel. Analysts have also said that the 7 October Hamas attack was successful on the part of the Gaza fighters as they had studied the Israeli defense system by constantly attacking it.

In July, just three months before the attacks, a veteran analyst with Unit 8200, Israels signals intelligence agency, warned that Hamas had conducted an intense, daylong training exercise that appeared similar to what was outlined in the blueprint.

According to the New York Times report, Israeli military had dismissed the report of the Hamas attack saying that it was far too ambitious and too difficult for Hamas to carry out.

The approximately 40-page document, which the Israeli authorities code-named Jericho Wall," outlined, point by point, exactly the kind of devastating invasion that led to the deaths of about 1,200 people, NYT reported.

The NYT report stated that the document detailed a methodical assault designed to overwhelm the fortifications around the Gaza Strip, take over Israeli cities and storm key military bases, including a division headquarters.

Notably, the Hamas followed the plan very precisely. The document as seen by NYT said a barrage of rockets would be employed at the outset of the attack, drones would knock out the security cameras, and automated machine guns along the border, and gunmen to pour into Israel en masse in paragliders, on motorcycles and on foot.

All the documental plan matched the incidences.

However, it remains unclear if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or other senior political leaders were aware of the attack plan documents that Israel Defense Forces had received.

What the Jericho Wall document mentioned?

The details of the Jericho Wall document have been mentioned by the NYT report who received a translated version of the document

-The Jericho Wall document detailed rocket attacks to distract Israeli soldiers and send them hurrying into bunkers,

-It also mentioned that drones would disable the elaborate security measures along the border fence separating Israel and Gaza.

-Hamas fighters would then break through 60 points in the wall, storming across the border into Israel

-One of the most important objectives outlined in the document was to overrun the Israeli military base in Reim, which is home to the Gaza division responsible for protecting the region. Other bases that fell under the divisions command were also listed

-The document begins with a quote from the Quran: Surprise them through the gate. If you do, you will certainly prevail."

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The Israel-Palestine war has reached Day 56. Below are the 10 latest updates on the ongoing conflict:

Strenuous hostage talks continue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces immense pressure to secure the return of hostages. His right-wing partners urge him to continue the offensive against Hamas, complicating truce talks.

Hostage exchange dynamics

Israel and Hamas exchanged captives under the extended ceasefire. Thirty Palestinian prisoners were welcomed in Ramallah while six Israeli hostages were returned for medical checks and family reunions.

Also Read: Israel and Hamas extend temporary truce until Friday

Violence in Jerusalem and West Bank

Tensions escalated with an attack in Jerusalem, where Palestinian gunmen killed three people. Israeli authorities responded by detaining family members of the assailants and ordering house demolitions.

Raid in Jenin raises concerns

Israeli forces killed two Palestinian boys in Jenin. The military stated the raid targeted Islamic militants. Such incidents increase the fragility of the ceasefire in Gaza.

Blinken's diplomatic efforts

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his visit, emphasised the need for an extended ceasefire and compliance with international humanitarian law in any future operations.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

Over 1.8 million Gazans are displaced, with a million in UN shelters. The ongoing war has led to a severe shortage of essentials, amplifying the humanitarian crisis.

Ceasefire extension and challenges

Negotiations for prolonging the ceasefire face hurdles. Hamas, having released most women and children captives, is likely to escalate demands for releasing the remaining civilian men and soldiers.

Heavy casualties

The conflict has resulted in over 13,300 Palestinian and 77 Israeli soldier deaths. Hamas' October 7th attack led to over 1,200 civilian deaths in southern Israel.

Ceasefire's uncertain future

The ceasefire, set to expire, may not be renewed. Israel has vowed to resume military operations against Hamas if the truce ends, as per the Joe Biden administration's advice for precision.

In search of lasting peace

Gazans call for a permanent end to the war, highlighting that temporary truces do not address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. International mediators continue to strive for a longer-term solution.

(With agency inputs)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
The Indian Government is faced with a dilemna as allegation of murdering, attempting to murder Khalistani separatist on foreign soil mount with US now joining Canada in allegations. An India designated terrorist, and pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is now at the crux of possible bitterness in ties between India and US, if the former does not tread carefully.

US recently charged an Indian man- Nikhil Gupta- with plotting to assassinate Pannun in American soil. The bid to murder the Khalistani separatist was thwarted by US agencies, as reported by US daily Financial Times.

Even though India took suo moto charge, only hours before US indicted the Indian national of attempting to kills an US citizen, by announcing the establishment of a high-level probe committee looking into allegations, New Delhi's reaction to the allegations were starkly different from how it had replied to Canada.

The US chargesheet has linked the alleged India Government hired Nikhil Gupta to the June murder of yet another Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. However, India rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claims of credible allegation as absurd, it jumped to action when a similar allegation arose out of US.

Does India fear ruining their ties with US, as was witnessed in case with Canada?

The India-US ties are far deep seated than it was with Canada. However, the question arises whether the ties will be value based, as the US Democrats favour it, or will it be interest based, as former US President Donald trump favoured it?

According to the US indictment, in or about May 2023, the Indian official recruited one Nikhil Gupta to kill Pannun. This was the month when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled to Hiroshima to attend the G7 and Quad leaders summit along with US President Joe Biden.

At this time India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap was concluded, which seeks to fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in areas of mutual interest.

Notably, the US indictment charges mention Nikhil Gupta being in correspondence with an Indian government official who described themselves a Senior Field Officer" with responsibilities in Security Management" and Intelligence." In the allegations to murder victim Khalistani separatist Pannun, Indian Government received the most direct allegations from US.

India seems to have taken a rather co-operative approach when Khalistani murder allegations came from President Joe Biden-led administration, as opposed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations.

The US Democrats have always based their agenda on values over interest and this creates a dilemma as an dual US-Canada citizen was the victim of Indian recruitment of Nikhil Gupta in murder-for-hire plot.

The allegations also come at a time when India and US are attempting to seal their ties even further in order to counter China and Xi Jinping's belligerence in the Indo-Pacific region.

This raises the stakes for both sides.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
A Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of a fugitive Indian guru's fictional country. Arnaldo Chamorro, who was the chief of staff for Paraguay's Agriculture Ministry, had reportedly signed a proclamation" with representatives of the United States of Kailasa.

"We're thrilled to announce that the United States of Kailasa, the ancient Enlightenment Hindu Civilizational Nation, and the First Sovereign State for Hindus, has officially established a sister city relationship with Maria Antonia Municipality in Paraguay," said KAILASA's SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam on X.

Meanwhile, a copy of the agreement was also posted on social media. News agency PTI cited the agreement, saying the October 16 proclamation" expressed a sincere wish and recommendation for the government of Paraguay to consider, explore and actively seek the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa"

Representatives of the "fictional" country met with Chamorro and Agriculture Minister Carlos Gimenez, Chamorro said in a radio interview.

During the interview, Chamorro recognised he didn't know where Kailasa was located and said he signed what he characterised as a memorandum of understanding" because they offered to help Paraguay with a variety of issues, including irrigation, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, photos posted on Kailasa's social media accounts showed representatives of the fictional country signing agreements with local leaders of the Maria Antonia and Karpai municipalities.

Kailasa, a fictional country

'United States of Kailasa' is a self-proclaimed country founded by Nithyananda, a controversial godman accused of rape and kidnapping who fled from India in 2019. He is wanted in India on several charges, including sexual assault. His whereabouts are unknown.

On Kailasa's website, the fictional country is described as the revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation which is being revived by displaced Hindus from around the world."

Allegations of scandals

The representatives of a fugitive Indian guru's fictional country appear to have duped several local officials in the South American country, PTI reported.

The report added that earlier this year, the representatives had managed to participate in a United Nations committee meeting in Geneva and also signed agreements with local leaders in the United States and Canada.

In March, Newark City Hall in New Jersey acknowledged it had gotten scammed when it signed a sister city agreement with Kailasa.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Recent charges against Indian man allegedly hired by Indian government to murder Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, has brought forth the debacle with Canada, wherein Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had informed the Canadian Parliament that they have credible evidence to allege that Indian government and intelligentsia was involved in the June murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The indictments brought against one Nikhil Gupta on attempting to kill Sikh For Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, also revealed that it had links to Nijjar's killing earlier this year, and has prompted questions about what US agents knew in the days before his death.

The alleged crime came to forefront after a UK based daily reported that the US had thwarted a murder attempt on dual-citizen Pannun on American soil. Later it was also reported that US had shared details about investigation with Indian government.

Further, just hours before US brought about charges against an Indian government hired man for attempted murder of Pannun, India had suo-moto announced that they formed a high-level committee to probe the murder allegations.

Here's what US charges in Pannun murder bid elaborate

The chargesheet details have been reported by BBC

The US Justice Department has charged Nikhil Gupta with an elaborate plot to assassinate a dual US-Canadian citizen based in New York, a plot allegedly directed by an Indian government employee.

-On 18 June, Nikhil Gupta watched a video of a Sikh separatist leader who had been shot dead in Canada in his car, his bloody body slumped over the steering wheel.

-Gupta then forwarded the video to a man he is accused of hiring as a hitman for another murder, in a different country. On the phone the next day, Mr Gupta told the man that the Canadian activist had been a "target", "#4, #3" on a list.

"We have so many targets," Gupta said. "The good news is this: now no need to wait."

-Those alleged conversations were outlined in an indictment unsealed by US prosecutors on Wednesday.

-While the target was not named by prosecutors, US media reported it was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen and member of a US-based Sikh separatist group.

-The hitman in New York who Gupta allegedly agreed to pay $100,000 was in fact an undercover agent.

-Gupta, US officials allege, was involved in international narcotics and weapons trafficking before he was recruited by an Indian government official in May 2023 to arrange the assassination

-For weeks, the indictment alleges, Gupta tracked and monitored Pannun, following orders from the Indian government employee - who described himself in communications as a "senior field officer" with training in "battle craft".

-The document reveals how US law enforcement infiltrated the alleged plot, setting him up with a phoney hitman, who was actually an undercover agent.

-As the alleged murder plot moved forward, Gupta alluded to a long list of targets that would follow the assassination of Pannun. "More jobs, more jobs", he said in a June phone call, cited in the indictment.

Those prospective "jobs" included cross-border operations. On 12 June, Gupta told the US law enforcement source there was a "big target" in Canada.

-Six days after that, on 18 June, Nijjar was shot dead by two gunmen wearing dark clothes with hoods outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.

-Court documents suggest, Nijjar's murder seemed to spur Gupta on. He told the US source that Pannun's murder should be done "quickly". And after that was done, Gupta allegedly said, they had three more "jobs" to do before the end of June - all three in Canada.

-Nijjar was reportedly warned by Canadian law enforcement that his life was in danger soon before he was killed. But it's unclear how much that warning was informed by US intelligence on the threat to Canadian citizens gathered through the undercover operation.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
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.
The 28th meeting at Dubai of the Committee of the Parties (CoP-28), being held from 30 November to 12 December, has a vast agenda. But the first and most urgent task is operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, intended for low-income countries to cope with climate catastrophes already happening, as distinct from climate finance towards mitigation and adaptation.

Any global fund requires an agreed pattern of funding. Lack of cooperation starts right there. The US, even under Joe Bidens presidency, wants contributions to be voluntary. Mandated contributions with the US as a lone dissenter might be possible, but unlikely. Developed nations are not feeling either rich or generous right now. The US is in a fiscal crisis on account of its counter-covid expansionary fiscal policy, aggravated by arms support for Ukraine. The US could see possible closure of government offices in January if its public debt limit provisionally lifted in June this year is not legislatively sanctioned by then. The UK has careened towards public debt exceeding 100% of GDP, after having narrowly staved off strikes by public service employees with a modest pay increase, while at the same time protecting political supporters of the ruling Conservative Party from tax increases. France has faced down an extended protest against tightening of its pension rules.

Even if the Loss and Damage Fund is hammered through with some combination of mandated and voluntary contributions, there is the issue of how it will be disbursed. Within India, Finance Commissions resolve a similar problem with respect to disaster funding for states from the Central government, by splitting it into two parts. One part bases state entitlements on their historical pattern of expenditure on natural disasters (now modified by some parametric benchmarking and a disaster risk index). The other part is a supplementary national fund disbursed case-by-case for outlier events.

There is no historical pattern for the global Loss and Damage Fund to go by, since it is intended entirely for events unprecedented in incidence and ferocity.

As for disbursement, how is the fund to decide between full cover and fractional cover for tornados, floods, crop-scorching temperatures, forest fires and so on?

Until the Loss and Damage Fund is sorted out, climate disaster risk remains uncovered by global funding. The task of protecting financial stability in the midst of these random hits falls to the lot of central banks. People associate central banks with responsibility for price stability, but in a speech at the recent Kautilya Conclave in Delhi, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das carefully etched the distinction between price stability and financial stability. The one by no means subsumes the other.

There does of course exist a private insurance market for risk cover, which is then shared with global reinsurance companies; so in that sense climate risk does get spread over a worldwide pool. However, rising climate risk, even if climate events are not synchronous, will see rising premia. Already, there is reported to be a planned hike of up to 25% in the insurance premium for infrastructure facilities in India scheduled to come into operation from December. This premium hike was triggered by a glacier melt in Sikkim and the huge insurance claim by Sikkim Urja, an electricity utility, for damage sustained in that calamity. The premium hike is said to have been demanded by global reinsurers that took on part of the risk from primary insurance companies. A massive premium hike for all infrastructure insurance in India, given the variation in climate risk across geographies in such a large country, looks like unjustified contagion.

Insurance cover notwithstanding, jagged responses like this to climate events can pose dangers for financial stability. The premium hike will raise costs for infrastructure installations. That, together with disputed and delayed honouring of insurance claims, carries ill portents for commercial banks with large exposures to infrastructure lending.

The extreme climate events that affected crops worldwide, from the excessive pre-monsoon rain that squashed Indias tomato crop, to the lack of rain in Spain which withered its olive crop, will likewise raise crop insurance premia as we go forward. In all these cases, the premium hike will come after rather than before the disaster, and therefore will not pre-empt knock-on effects on the stability of the banking system. Central banks face the unenviable task of maintaining financial stability through all these upheavals.

While global funds may not take shape any time soon, there is scattered evidence of small funding targeted towards particular uses. There is a recent US offer to extend $150 million to India as financial support towards the replacement of diesel-powered public bus fleets with electric vehicles (EVs), to help achieve national climate commitments. Looking past whether that policy is altogether wise, the fund is intended to provide payment guarantees to suppliers of EVs, given the poor financial health of public transport companies. For now, this is the kind of small-scale bilateral assistance that may be forthcoming.

Deeper into the transition, government time-tables for the phase-out of fossil fuels will have to be closely coordinated with directions to the banking sector for approved directions of financing.
Sultan al-Jaber, president of COP28, is an interesting personality. The PhD in economics was chosen by the country hosting COP28, the United Arab Emirates, to head the conference. He happens to be the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of the world's largest fossil-fuel companies. Many have seen in these dual assignments an irreconcilable conflict of interest. He has also been accused of using the climate summit to strike oil deals on the side, a charge he has denied.

But is there any merit in seeing in this a betrayal of the fight against climate change? Only a theological objection to fossil fuels would justify such a stance. The climate summit is about the transition away from fossil fuels, indeed, about accelerating it, while continuing to use these essential fuels. We may recall that vocal green champion Germany did not hesitate to burn lignite, the dirtiest form of coal, to compensate for missing out on Russian gas in the wake of the Ukraine war.

Human-induced climate change is real, and has been wreaking havoc across the world. Developing countries are its worst victims, since they have the fewest resources to combat it. They are also the countries least responsible for the historical accumulation of 2,400 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere since the mid-nineteenth century. It is this accumulation of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that traps heat on Earth, disrupting historical patterns of ocean currents and winds, and polar-ice formation.

The developing countries current contribution to ongoing global emissions remains small as well. In aggregate terms, India is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. But on a per capita basis, South Asians emit just over 1.5 tonnes of CO2 per year and Africans about 0.8 tonnes, while North Americans emit 17 tonnes a head per year, and Europeans around 8 tonnes. (This data is from the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

At the first ever UN-sponsored global conference on the environment at Stockholm in 1972, Indias then prime minister Indira Gandhi said poverty was the greatest polluter. That was no rhetorical flourish, and remains true to this day. Growing out of poverty comes with increased energy use.

Now, the share of renewable energy in overall energy output has been rising. Just in power generation, the share of renewables is slated to rise to 35% by 2025 according to an optimistic projection by the International Energy Agency, while the share of renewables in overall primary energy is far lower.

The world would already have switched entirely to renewables and other non-fossil sources of energy if it were a simple matter of will. But there are financial and technological constraints, too, including those relating to storage of the intermittent power produced by renewables. India and other developing countries cannot afford to wait for such constraints to be overcome to pursue growth and improve living standards.

This means such countries will have to use fossil fuels in significant quantities to power their growth, even as they invest in non-fossil sources of energy. India will continue to rely on domestic coal for a significant share of its power generation in the near and medium term. Ideally, power generation should be abundant enough and reliable enough to make electricity the preferred fuel for cooking and do away with imported hydrocarbons. But for transportation, and to fuel some distributed power generation capacity, India will have to rely on oil and gas. This is the reality.

Since India does not have sufficient domestic oil and gas resources to meet more than a fifth of its requirements of these hydrocarbons, it will have to import these from countries like the UAE.

Indian representatives will naturally discuss access to inexpensive oil and gas with their counterparts from oil-exporting countries and try to obtain the most favourable terms. The ongoing COP28 offers a convenient forum for such huddles.

In any case, phasing out fossil fuels is a long-term goal, and will not prevent global warming from breaching tipping points  such as the 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels  before it is completed. The immediate challenge is to remove CO2 from the air on a large enough scale to halt further warming. This calls for a discourse on the chemistry and industrial processes needed to mine CO2 from the atmosphere and turn it into useful products, making the exercise a positive externality. Such a discourse would not be at odds with the ongoing use of fossil fuels.

The goal of the climate summit is to slow down and reverse global warming, which is not identical with excommunicating fossil fuels from the civilised world. Excommunication after all is found in theology, not rational practice.
No equal business partner has ever played second fiddle better than Charlie Munger.

Warren Buffetts closest friend and consigliere for six decades, the billionaire vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway died Tuesday at age 99.

In public, especially in front of the tens of thousands of attendees at Berkshires annual meetings, Munger deferred to Buffett, letting the companys chairman hog the microphone and the limelight. Munger routinely cracked up the crowd by croaking, I have nothing to add."

In private, Buffett often deferred to Munger. In 1971, Munger talked him into buying Sees Candy Shops for a price equivalent to three times the chocolate stores net wortha fancy price," Buffett later recalled, far higher than he was accustomed to paying for businesses.

Sees would go on to generate some $2 billion in cumulative earnings for Berkshire over the coming decades.

As Buffett wrote in 2015, This purchase ended my pursuit of cigar-butt investmentsmediocre companies at bargain pricesand set me in pursuit of splendid businesses selling at [reasonable] prices." He added, Charlie had been urging this course for some years, but I was a slow learner."

Buffett nicknamed Munger the abominable no-man" for his ferocity in rejecting potential investments, including some that Buffett might otherwise have made. But Munger, who was fascinated by engineering and technology, also pushed the tech-phobic Buffett into big bets on BYD, a Chinese battery and electric vehicle maker, and Iscar, an Israeli machine-tool manufacturer.

Munger was a brilliant investor in his own right. He began managing investment partnerships in 1962. From then through 1969, the S&P 500 gained an average of 5.6% annually. Buffetts partnerships returned an average of 24.3% annually. Mungers did even better, averaging annualized gains of 24.4%.

In 1975, shortly before he joined Berkshire as vice chairman, Munger shut down his partnerships. Over their 14-year history, his portfolios gained an average of 19.8% annually; the S&P 500 grew at only a 5.2% rate.

The two men had long invested differently. Buffett, under the influence of his mentor Benjamin Graham, would buy almost any business, even if it was near-dead, so long as it was cheap.

Among such cigar butts" was Berkshire Hathaway itself, which had been a dilapidated textile manufacturer when Buffett bought it in 1965.

As Buffett turned Berkshire into a holding company for insurance and other firms, he kept looking for mediocre businesses at bargain prices. Munger instead focused on great businesses at acceptable prices, reckoning that their ability to produce cash in the future would more than compensate for paying a premium price up front.

Over years of discussion, Munger persuaded his partner to change.

I have been shaped tremendously by Charlie," Buffett said in 1988. Boy, if I had listened only to Ben [Graham], would I ever be a lot poorer."

In 2015, Buffett wrote that Munger taught him: Forget what you know about buying fair businesses at wonderful prices; instead, buy wonderful businesses at fair prices."

Berkshire has been built to Charlies blueprint," Buffett added.

View Full Image Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett (left) and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger are seen at the annual Berkshire shareholder shopping day in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 3, 2019. ( REUTERS/Scott Morgan)

Charles Thomas Munger was born in Omaha, Neb., on New Years Day, 1924. His father, Alfred, was a lawyer; his mother, Florence, was a homemaker and avid reader.

Munger majored in mathematics at the University of Michigan, then left school to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. The military first sent Munger to study thermodynamics and meteorology at the University of New Mexico and the California Institute of Technology, then posted him to an air base in Nome, Alaska, where he served as a weather forecaster.

After the war, Munger talked a dean at Harvard Law School into admitting him without a college degree. He graduated magna cum laude.

He considered joining his fathers practice in Omaha before settling in Southern California. He and several partners eventually opened their own law practice in 1962. Today the firm, known as Munger, Tolles & Olson, employs about 200 lawyers.

His first marriage, to Nancy Huggins, ended in divorce. He married his second wife, Nancy Barry Borthwick, in 1956. She died in 2010. They had four children together and two each from their prior marriages.

Munger also confronted tragedy: In 1955, his son Teddy died of leukemia at age 9. Munger later recalled pacing the streets of Pasadena in tears at losing a child inch by inch." More than six decades later he would still choke up at the memory of his sons suffering.

In 1978, a surgeon bungled a cataract surgery, leaving Munger blind in one eye, which later had to be surgically removed. The investor refused to blame the doctor, noting that complications occurred in 5% of such procedures. For him, as always, it was about the numbers.

Munger taught himself Braille, then realized he could still see well enough to read. He ended up driving his own car, often to the consternation of friends and family, until his early 90s.

The two men who would run Berkshire Hathaway met in 1959 when Munger, who had already moved to Los Angeles, went to a dinner in his hometown that Buffett also attended.

They already knew each others names: Munger worked in Buffetts grandfathers grocery store as a boy. One of the first investors in Buffetts partnership gave him money because, he said, You remind me of Charlie Munger."

Buffetts first wife, Susan, recalling that dinner, said in 1998: I think Warren felt that Charlie was the smartest person hed ever met, and I think Charlie felt Warren was the smartest person he had ever met."

They instantly hit it off and before long became inseparable, often talking by phone several times a day.

A photo from a trip to Savannah, Ga., in the 1980s captures the two investors looking eerily alike: talking and striding in lockstep, both wearing khakis and open-collared blue dress shirts. Everything from their height to their hairlines, from their eyeglass frames to the wrinkles in their clothes, seems to match.

Mungers hero was Benjamin Franklin, whom he admired for his curiosity, ingenuity and wit. Mungers own common sense, biting humor, pathological bluntness and disdain for conventional wisdom made him a celebrity among investors.

During the question-and-answer sessions at Berkshires annual meetings, Munger would sit silent as Buffett spoke in elaborate paragraphs. The adoring audience knew Munger was waiting to uncork a zinger.

At Berkshires annual meeting in 2000, a shareholder asked how the speculation in Internet stocks would affect the economy. Buffett answered with nearly 550 words. Munger growled, if you mix raisins with turds, theyre still turds."

When a shareholder asked at the 2004 meeting how Berkshire sets pay for executives, Buffett spoke for more than five minutes. Munger drawled, Well, I would rather throw a viper down my shirtfront than hire a compensation consultant."

In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal in 2023, published when he was 99, Munger called for the U.S. government to ban bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, writing that crypto is a gambling contract with a nearly 100% edge for the house." Earlier, he had described bitcoin as a scumball activity" and rat poison."

Mungers laconic image was only an act he put on to avoid upstaging Buffett. When he wasnt sharing the limelight with Berkshires chairman, Munger was loquacious. At regular lunches and dinners with friends and family, and at the annual meetings of Daily Journal, a small media company he chaired, he would speak for hours.

As many friends noted, if he paused to take a sip of water and someone else started to talk, Munger would imperiously raise his index finger to prevent the other speaker from cutting in before he could finish swallowing.

His stamina was extraordinary, too. In 2019, when Munger was 95, two Wall Street Journal reporters showed up at his modest house in Los Angeles at 6 p.m. He talked nearly nonstop until almost midnight. Several times after 10 p.m., one or both of the reporters haltingly began to stand up to leave; Munger motioned them to sit back down.

View Full Image Attendees arrive at the auditorium of the CHI Health Center during the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, US, on Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Bloomberg)

In August 2023, at age 99 and mostly wheelchair-using, Munger insisted on joining his large family, including more than a dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren, on the annual fishing trip they had been making to Minnesota for decades.

That year, Munger was mentally even better than hes ever been before," said his friend Peter Kaufman, chairman of Glenair, an aerospace-parts manufacturer.

Content with his public persona as Buffetts cantankerous sidekick, Munger amassed his own fortune.

He donated to institutions ranging from Stanford University and Los Angeless Good Samaritan Hospital to Planned Parenthood. He was also an amateur architect and lived in the house he had designed himself in the 1950s. Late in life, he became obsessed with designing buildings for university and high-school campuses.

Alongside investment gains came a cult following. Munger chaired Wesco Financial, a Berkshire unit whose shares remained publicly traded until its corporate parent absorbed the firm entirely in 2011. Fans flocked from as far away as China and India to hear him speak at Wescos annual meetings, and later Daily Journals.

An anthology of writings by and about Munger called Poor Charlies Almanack," edited by Kaufman, became an international bestseller.

Munger never stopped preaching old-fashioned virtues. Two of his favorite words were assiduity and equanimity.

He liked the first, he said in a speech in 2007, because it means sit down on your ass until you do it." He often said that the key to investing success was doing nothing for years, even decades, waiting to buy with aggression" when bargains finally materialized.

He liked the second because it reflected his philosophy of investing and of life. Every investor, Munger said frequently, should be able to react with equanimity to a 50% loss in the stock market every few decades.

Munger retained his sense of humor into his 90s, even though he was nearly blind, could barely walk, and his beloved wife, Nancy, had died years earlier. Around 2016, an acquaintance asked which person, in a long life, he felt most grateful to.

My second wifes first husband," Munger said instantly. I had the ungrudging love of this magnificent woman for 60 years simply by being a somewhat less awful husband than he was."

Write to Jason Zweig at intelligentinvestor@wsj.com and Justin Baer at justin.baer@wsj.com
The Global Technology Summit's eighth edition is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from December 4-6. The opening session of the Summit will commence with a speech by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, reported ANI.

Here are five things to know about the summit.

Dates and Venue:

The eighth edition of the Global Technology Summit (GTS) is scheduled to be held in New Delhi from December 4 to December 6, 2023. The summit, India's premier event in the realm of geo-technology, will take place at an in-person venue, emphasizing a return to normalcy after the hybrid format adopted in 2022.

Inaugural Speech by External Affairs Minister:

The Summit will kick off with an opening session featuring a speech by India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar. The minister's address is expected to set the tone for the discussions and activities that will follow during the event.

Focus on "Geopolitics of Technology":

This year's GTS will focus on the "Geopolitics of Technology," as highlighted by the Ministry of External Affairs. Over 40 sessions are planned, encompassing keynote addresses, ministerial speeches, panel discussions, book launches, and various activities related to the intersection of technology and geopolitics.

Diverse and Notable Participants:

The Summit is set to host a diverse array of speakers and participants, including policymakers, industry experts, academics, technocrats, and innovators. Notable attendees will include ministers and senior government officials from various countries, such as India, the United States, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Germany, Sierra Leone, Brazil, and Lithuania.

Key Discussion Topics:

Participants at the GTS will engage in discussions on pivotal issues related to technology, its impact on geopolitics, and policy matters concerning new, critical, and emerging technologies. Key topics on the agenda include digital public infrastructure, export controls, data protection, and overarching policy considerations related to innovation and national security.

In addition to these key points, the Summit will also see active participation from students and young professionals, known as GTS Young Ambassadors, highlighting a commitment to fostering the involvement of the next generation in discussions about the future of technology and its global implications.

(With inputs from ANI)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed  it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson wrote the forward to a 2022 book loaded with debunked conspiracy theories and homophobic slurs. In his foreword to Scott McKay's The Revivalist Manifesto, Johnson says the author "has managed here to articulate well what millions of conscientious, freedom-loving Americans are sensing."

Here are just a few of the things in the book that Johnson thinks millions of conscientious, freedom-loving Americans are sensing:

The book insinuates that hacked emails from Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign chairman contained coded references to child sex trafficking, suggesting involvement in the Pizzagate scandal.

It implies that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was blackmailed and connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

It defends podcaster Joe Rogan against racism charges following his use of the N-word, for which Rogan later apologized.

It uses derogatory language to describe Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, including calling him "openly, and obnoxiously, gay" and other homophobic terms.

It propagates the debunked theory that the Democratic National Committee's emails were leaked by a staffer named Seth Rich, not hacked.

It denies the link between carbon dioxide and climate change, mocking the climate crisis as "hysteria."

It criticizes the late Senator John McCain, suggesting he used his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for political gain.

Johnson loved the book so much that "in 2022, he actively promoted the book on his public social media platforms and even dedicated an episode of his podcast he co-hosts with his wife to hosting McKay," reports CNN. On the podcast, Johnson said, "I obviously believe in the product, or I wouldn't have written the foreword. So I endorse the work."

Fast forward to 2023, and Johnson is singing a different tune. A spokesman for Johnson told CNN that Johnson didn't know what he was endorsing. "The Speaker had never read the passages highlighted in the CNN story which he strongly disagrees with," said the spokesperson. "He wrote the foreword as a favor to a friend, supportive of the general theme of the book but not as an endorsement of all the opinions expressed."

In MAGA land,"I endorse this" means "I don't endorse this."
Luxury fashion, a realm defined by innovation and risk-taking, occasionally sees endeavors that spark polarizing opinions. Louis Vuittons Mens Pre-Fall 2024 Show, featuring collaboration with musician Pharrell Williams, has become a subject of critique, with some labeling it a departure from the brands traditional successes, it smacks of woke Hollywood rubbish.

Pharrell Williams and Louis Vuitton Collaboration:

Pharrell Williams, known for his eclectic street/rap style and influence beyond music, joined forces with Louis Vuitton for the Mens Pre-Fall 2024 Show. The collaboration aimed to infuse a fresh perspective into the luxury fashion landscape, marrying Rap and style in a unique but not luxurious presentation.

The Aesthetic Departure:

Louis Vuitton, renowned for its timeless elegance and sophistication, took a bold step by embracing a more street-electronic and unconventional aesthetic for this collaboration. Critics argue that the departure from the brands signature style may be perceived as a misstep in the realm of luxury.

Divergent Opinions on Innovation:

Innovation within the luxury fashion sphere is a double-edged sword. While some applaud Louis Vuittons willingness to experiment and break away from convention, I personally have concerns that the departure might dilute the brands core identity.

Pharrells Influence and Iconoclasm:

Pharrell Williams, celebrated for his boundary-pushing creativity, brought a distinctive touch to the collaboration. The infusion of his iconoclasm into Louis Vuittons traditionally refined milieu generated conversations about the balance between staying true to heritage and embracing contemporary influences.

Customer Reception and Market Impact:

The success or failure of such collaborations is often measured by customer reception. While some enthusiasts celebrate the audacity of the Mens Pre-Fall 2024 Show, others question its resonance with Louis Vuittons discerning clientele.

Louis Vuittons Legacy of Risks:

Louis Vuitton has a history of taking risks, from artist collaborations to unconventional runway presentations. The brands ability to adapt and evolve without compromising its essence has been a hallmark of its success.

Conclusion:

The Louis Vuitton Mens Pre-Fall 2024 Show featuring Pharrell Williams is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of luxury fashion. While opinions may differ on the success of this particular venture, it underscores the importance of experimentation in an industry driven by creativity and the relentless pursuit of the extraordinary. As the fashion world continues to dissect and debate, only time will reveal the lasting impact of this collaboration on Louis Vuittons storied legacy.

Shayne Heffernan
Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten argues before Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee who heard motions from attorneys representing Ken Chesebro and Sidney Powell in Atlanta on September 6.
The New York Times reports that Israel Knew Hamas's Attack Plan More Than a Year Ago and did nothing to stop it.

The approximately 40-page document, which the Israeli authorities code-named "Jericho Wall," outlined, point by point, exactly the kind of devastating invasion that led to the deaths of about 1,200 people. The translated document, which was reviewed by The New York Times, did not set a date for the attack, but described a methodical assault designed to overwhelm the fortifications around the Gaza Strip, take over Israeli cities and storm key military bases, including a division headquarters. Hamas followed the blueprint with shocking precision. The document called for a barrage of rockets at the outset of the attack, drones to knock out the security cameras and automated machine guns along the border, and gunmen to pour into Israel en masse in paragliders, on motorcycles and on foot  all of which happened on Oct. 7.

The document "circulated widely among Israeli military and intelligence leaders" reports the Times.

People are fond of saying things like "history doesn't repeat but it rhymes," but here we have history looping like a needle stuck in the runout groove of the worst album ever. The mechanism raises and stashes the tonearm, the motor slows and stops, and everyone learns again that hell is not other people but the silence left when they are gone.
Former Justice Sandra Day OConnor, here in 1981, has passed away. O'Connor was the first woman to serve as Supreme Court justice.
Giant seamount discovered in Guatemala is nearly twice the height of the worlds tallest building
House Republicans reiterate their demand for Hunter Biden to appear for a private deposition
Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Georgia 2020 election subversion case, is set to hold a hearing on September 14 to address a series of legal requests submitted by two of former President Donald Trumps co-defendants ahead of their trial next month.
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.
I've cried for all your troubles; Smiled at your funny little ways

The death of the peerless songwriter Shane MacGowan at 65 has draped a pall of sadness across an entire nation.

The news came via a social media post by The Pogues saying: It is with the deepest of sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan.

Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning with his wife Victoria and family by his side.

Though born in England Shane's Irishness was a load bearing wall of his identity.

While the world has lost an artist of extraordinary talent Mick and Johnny Cronin from local band Cronin have lost a friend.

Shane paid several visits to Drumlish since 2012. Johnny Cronin said there are many memories of those visits: He used to drink in The Village Inn and Gallagher's Pub.

"One night we were having a session in Gallagher's and we got an idea for The Rocky Road Poland when a David Bowie song came on the jukebox. The Guards came in that night, but they didn't want to clear the pub. It was a beautiful night and a great session."

Johnny says solace on Shane's passing is in his music: He'll be missed. We have lost a good friend and a bandmate. The healing is in the songs. If you listen to the Broad Majestic Shannon or The Song With No Name they will help get you through.

A more detailed tribute will be published in the Longford Leader next week.
Wade Gagliano Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter: Tragic Crash Claims Life, Ignites Call for Stricter DUI Legislation

Local News, Crime

By Long Island Published: November 30 2023

Wade Gagliano, 24, of Ronkonkoma, pleads guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter and related charges after driving under the influence of marijuana and alcohol, causing a fatal crash that claimed the life of 67-year-old Adrienne Wagner, prompting ...

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today

announced that Wade Gagliano, 24, of Ronkonkoma, pleaded guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter in

the Second Degree and other related charges, after driving while under the combined influence of

marijuana and alcohol and causing a crash that claimed the life of 67-year-old Adrienne Wagner

of Ronkonkoma.

Driving under the influence not only decreases your ability to drive due to its effects on peoples

motor skills, but it also causes poor reaction time and decision making, which can have life-altering

effects for pedestrians and fellow motorists, said District Attorney Tierney. Adrienne Wagners

life was tragically cut short because this defendant decided to get behind the wheel of a vehicle

when he should not have, and then fled the scene after he struck her. Crimes such as these are

completely avoidable, and our legislators need to increase penalties for leaving the scene of fatal

crashes.

According to court documents and the defendants admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on

August 14, 2022, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Gagliano was operating a 2006 Lexus RX 330 after

consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana. While driving on Johnson Avenue in Ronkonkoma,

Gagliano struck and killed the victim who was crossing the street. Gagliano then left the scene in

his vehicle without contacting law enforcement to report the crash or rendering aid to the victim.

The victim subsequently died as a result of injuries she sustained from the crash.

Gagliano then drove to his residence and told his family members what occurred. After a period

of time, a 911 call was made by an individual at the residence where Gagliano resided.

When police responded to Gaglianos home, they observed his SUV that had front end damage, a

cracked windshield, and was missing the drivers side mirror. Gagliano was placed under arrest,

and a sample of his blood was taken which revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .10%, and

the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at a level indicating recent use.

On November 30, 2023, Gagliano pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the

Honorable Richard I. Horowitz, to the following charges:

 Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class D felony;

 Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Resulting in Death, a Class D felony;

 Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified misdemeanor; and

 Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified misdemeanor.

Gagliano is due back in court for sentencing on January 25, 2023. Under current New York State

law, the maximum sentence that Gagliano faces on the top count is 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison. The

Suffolk County District Attorneys Office recommended Gagliano be sentenced to 2 to 6 years in

prison. His license will also be revoked. Gagliano is being represented by Anthony Lapinta, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ray Varuolo of the Vehicular Crime

Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Genevieve Vesley of the Suffolk County
A Proud Boy who participated in the Jan. 6 riots on Capitol Hill, then fired at cops later trying to arrest him, is off to prison for two years. Nathan Pelham, 41, of Texas, pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge of possession of a firearm.

Local authorities went to Pelham's home that night after his father requested a welfare check, according to the filing. Pelham fired several shots toward the law enforcement officials, the FBI special agent said, and one of the officers said a shot "came in so close proximity to myself that I could hear the distinct whistling sound as the bullet traveled by me and then strike a metal object to my right side." Pelham was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in his Jan. 6 case in September. Prosecutors said Pelham "was dishonest with law enforcement, both before and after his arrest, about what he did at the Capitol."

Two years for shooting at cops sounds lenient given the longer sentences handed out for shitting on Nancy Pelosi's rug or whatever.
Former Youth Support Specialist Pleads Guilty to Shocking Crime: Exploiting Trust to Commit Rape on 15-Year-Old Resident at Brentwood Center for Girls

Local News, Crime

By Long Island Published: December 01 2023

Former Youth Support Specialist Ovzie Cannon pleads guilty to Rape in the Third Degree for sexually abusing a 15-year-old resident at Brentwood Residential Center for Girls, exploiting his position of trust by providing drugs before ...

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today

announced that Ovzie Cannon, 40, of Queens, pleaded guilty to Rape in the Third Degree, after

admitting to engaging in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl who was a resident of the

Brentwood Residential Center for Girls during his employment as a Youth Support Specialist.

This defendants job was to provide support to vulnerable youth, said District Attorney Tierney.

Instead, he exploited his position of trust to take advantage of a 15-year-old girl by drugging and

sexually abusing her. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who prey upon

children and adolescents.

According to court documents and the defendants guilty plea allocution, between January 2023

and February 2023, Cannon was employed as a Youth Support Specialist at the Brentwood

Residential Center for Girls, a facility operated by the New York State Office of Children and

Family Services. The facility serves female youth, typically between the ages of 12 and 18, who

have been adjudicated as juvenile delinquents. During that time, Cannon was assigned to monitor

the room of the 15-year-old victim.

On more than one occasion, Cannon provided the victim with edibles, which are food products

that contain cannabinoids, and then had sexual intercourse with her.

On December 1, 2023, Cannon pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen

M. Wilutis for the charges of Rape in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, Criminal Sexual Act in

the Third Degree, a Class E felony and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A

misdemeanor. Cannon is due back in court for sentencing on January 17, 2024. He is being

represented by Michael Schillinger, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Acting Deputy Bureau Chief John Scarglato of the Narcotics

Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Adolfo Berrios of the Suffolk County Police
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 01 2023

U.S. Department of Energy Grant Provides Support for New York Projects that Help Ensure Reliability of Infrastructure and Access to Affordable, Reliable Clean Energy.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York was awarded nearly $24 million in federal funding to strengthen and modernize the States electric grid to reduce the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters. The Grid Resilience and Tribal Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide support for New York projects that help ensure the reliability of the States power sector infrastructure and access to affordable and clean electricity for New Yorkers. Today's announcement supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals to transition to 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040.

As weve seen, the severity of extreme weather events is not slowing down and requires ongoing preparation and the buildout of our infrastructure to minimize the impacts of climate change on communities, Governor Hochul said. This funding underscores the benefits that New Yorks productive partnership with the federal government continues to bring to the state and will help us modernize our electric grid and its associated infrastructure as part of future powered by clean energy.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on behalf of New York State, will administer the grant funds over a two-year period with the opportunity to apply for three additional years. NYSERDA plans to launch a competitive selection process in the first quarter of 2024 for projects that address goals in compliance with the award, which include:

Storm Hardening : improving the resilience of the electric grid against disruptive events such as power outages due to storms that impact critical operations;

Predictive Analytics : development of advanced data and metrics to detect electric system conditions before they become issues to support system reliability and resiliency;

Climate Justice: reducing carbon emissions to ensure benefits of investments flow to communities that are underserved, marginalized and overburdened by pollution;

Energy Affordability: deploying tools and technologies and ensuring optimized utilization of resources and electricity grid assets to reduce total system costs and address the burden of inadequate electricity distribution infrastructure; and

Job Creation: increasing access to NYSERDAs comprehensive workforce development portfolio of services for skilled clean energy workers.

New York is one of nine states and five tribal nations that were awarded a combined total of $125 million as the seventh cohort of Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants and will provide 15 percent matching funds through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative as part of DOE's grant requirements. To learn more, visit NYSERDAs website and the Grid Deployment Offices website.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, NYSERDA is pleased to implement this federal grid resilience grant that will provide an infusion of much-needed funding for critical grid infrastructure upgrades, helping offset the costs to New Yorkers while reducing instances of electricity disruption for consumers. Through this funding, we look forward to supporting projects that advance the transition to a zero-emission electric grid, update current systems, and reduce emissions by bringing clean energy to communities across the state, including those traditionally overburdened by pollution.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, Winter is coming for New York State, and New Yorkers know all too well how powerful storms can knock out electricity and put communities at risk. This major nearly $24 million federal investment will help strengthen and modernize our states electric grid to become more resilient in the face of extreme weather, all while creating jobs and increasing access to affordable and clean electricity. Our Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law is powering a brighter, stronger electrical grid for New York, lowering costs for families and creating good-paying, clean-energy jobs"

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Every New Yorker should have access to reliable and affordable clean energy. This funding from the Department of Energy will be used for projects that strengthen and protect New York States electric grid from the impacts of climate change, helping ensure communities have reliable access to clean electricity during extreme weather events. I am proud to have worked to help secure this funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for New York State and I will continue to fight to expand access to affordable, resilient, and clean energy for New Yorkers.

Representative Grace Meng said, As the Regional Leadership Councils New York representative, I am excited that even more money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is going to our state, this time to upgrade New Yorks electric grid. Strengthening and modernizing our grid benefits all New Yorkers by helping to improve resilience and clean energy while reducing costs and providing jobs. I am proud to have helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Congress and look forward to working with Governor Hochul to ensure that it continues to benefit New York.

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Grid Deployment Director Maria Robinson said, The Grid Resilience Formula Grants will enable communities in New York to protect households and businesses from blackouts or power shutdowns during extreme weather. Projects selected through this program will benefit communities by creating good-paying jobs to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy across the country.

Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by DOEs Grid Deployment Office, the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants distribute funding to states, territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Alaska Native Village Corporations, over five years based on a formula that includes factors such as population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events, and a localitys historical expenditures on mitigation efforts. Priority will be given to projects that generate the greatest community benefit providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nations most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $55 billion in 145 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New Yorks clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New Yorks climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the States largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: December 01 2023

The trio allegedly displayed weapons and stole postal keys used to access postal collection boxes.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that three defendants were arraigned on multiple counts of robbery for allegedly displaying a handgun to United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers in Hempstead and Queens in February and March 2023 and stealing keys used to open collection boxes and parcel lockers.

Kimora Dupree, 20, of Elmont, Melajah Taffe, a/k/a Melly, 22, of Valley Stream, were each arraigned before Judge Tammy Robbins on two counts of Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendants pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond, and $100,000 partially secured bond. Dupree is due back in court on January 8, 2024. Taffe is due back in court on January 12, 2024.

An additional juvenile offender was arraigned yesterday before Judge Helene Gugerty on two counts of Robbery in the First Degree and two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree. The defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded.

These individuals allegedly targeted mail carriers in Hempstead and Queens on their daily routes, stole multiple keys, and tried to sell them on the internet, DA Donnelly said. Across the country, hardworking mail carriers are contending with an increase in threats of violence for their postal keys, which open secure mail collection boxes. We will not allow Nassau Countys dedicated mail carriers to be victimized. We are grateful to our partners at the United States Postal Inspection Service for their assistance in this prosecution.

USPIS New York Division Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said, Our top priority is the safety and security of our dedicated employees, and anyone that threatens or harms them will have to answer to Postal Inspectors. These arrests of multiple suspects responsible for a string of USPS carrier robberies are a testament to the tenacity of our postal inspectors, and speak to the great relationship sustained with the Nassau County Police Department to bring them to justice.

DA Donnelly said that, according to the indictment, on February 22, 2023, at approximately 3:36 p.m., a USPS mail carrier was walking up to a home in Hempstead when the juvenile defendant allegedly approached the victim from behind and displayed a handgun and demanded that the postal employee hand over his keys.

The juvenile defendant allegedly forcibly ripped the keys from the postal employees belt and ran into a vehicle driven by defendant Melajah Taffe.

On March 22, 2023, at approximately 2:18 p.m., in Whitestone, Queens, the juvenile defendant allegedly approached another postal carrier, displayed a handgun, and stole the employees keys. The juvenile defendant and Taffe allegedly brought the key back to Nassau County with the intent to use it unlawfully.

In both incidents, Kimora Dupree allegedly sent Instagram messages to identify drivers for the robberies and posted the keys on Instagram to sell them.

The items taken by the defendants included a mail truck key, and two other postal keys, which open all the mailboxes, collection boxes, parcel lockers, and other USPS property along the mail carriers route.

Dupree surrendered in Williston Park to members of the Nassau County Police Department on November 1, 2023.

Taffe was arrested in Valley Stream by members of the NCPD on October 10, 2023.

The juvenile offender was arrested in Virginia by local authorities on October 25, 2023, and extradited to Nassau County on November 27, 2023.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Michelle Lewisohn of the Homicide Bureau. Taffe is represented by Marc Silverman, Esq. Dupree is represented by Marc Gann, Esq.
A screenshot of Israel air strikes on Gaza on December 1. (IDF)

Hamas renewed rocket fire on Israel just before 06:00 local time on Friday, December 1, ending a pause in fighting that had held for one week. The Israel Defense Forces said the Iron Dome air defense system had been activated to intercept rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, and Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza soon after the rocket launch began.

The pause in fighting began on November 24 after fifty days of war following Hamas October 7 attack in Israel that killed more than 1,200. In a month and a half of fighting, almost 400 IDF soldiers were killed. Hamas casualties are less clear, but Israel has estimated that ten Hamas battalions had been engaged in the fighting and that several of them suffered heavy losses in the conflict. Three Israeli IDF divisions have operated in Gaza, cutting off northern Gaza from the south and surrounding Hamas forces in Gaza City. When the pause in fighting began, this situation did not change, and IDF units remained where they were. Israel had enabled humanitarian access to Gaza City via the Salah al-Din road, which runs from southern Gaza to the north.

The pause in fighting involved a deal for fifty hostages to be released by Hamas in exchange for 150 prisoners released by Israel. Each day that the pause continued was supposed to see ten more hostages freed in exchange for thirty prisoners. Hamas often delayed the hostage releases and also added to the numbers released by releasing seventeen Thai citizens and one Filipino it had kidnapped on October 7. It also released several people who held dual Israeli-Russian citizenship as a gesture to Moscow. Russia has yet to condemn Hamas October 7 attack.

Hamas held 240 hostages on the eve of the pause and is estimated to still hold at least 137 as of December 1. It continues to hold citizens from countries other than Israel, such as those who hold citizenship in Thailand, the Philippines, Tanzania, and other countries. At the center of the dispute over extending the pause and releasing hostages is the Bibas family of two children and their parents. Hamas has claimed that the children and their mother were killed, and they released a video of the father on November 30.

On December 1, Hamas claimed that throughout the night, indirect negotiations unfolded to extend the truce, within which we proposed exchanges involving prisoners and elderly people, as well as the handover of bodies of Israeli detainees who lost their lives Hamas also offered to transfer the Bibas familys bodies and release their father for their burial.

On Friday morning after fighting resumed, the IDF published a map of Gaza divided into regions that the IDF said would enable civilians to seek safety as fighting progresses in the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF said that the terrorist organization Hamas uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields, placing its command and military infrastructure in residential areas, hospitals, mosques, and schools. Hamas turns civilian sites into military targets while using civilians and civilian facilities as a human shield. Further, the IDF noted that in preparation for the next stage of the war, the IDF is publishing the Evacuation Zone Map in the Gaza Strip. This divides the territory of the Gaza Strip into areas according to recognizable areas to enable the residents of Gaza to orient themselves and understand the instructions, and to evacuate from specific places for their safety if required.

By the afternoon of December 1, the IDF said it had struck 200 targets in Gaza. This is on top of the 15,000 struck during the first month and a half of the war. Meanwhile, Hamas rocket fire and attacks targeted areas in Israel near the Gaza border throughout most of Friday. After sunset, one large barrage targeted areas in central Israel.

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Israels Tel Nof air base and flew in a helicopter over Gaza. He spoke with IDF commanders from one of the divisions in northern Gaza. I watched the powerful strikes from within an IAF attack helicopter flying over the Gaza Strip. Just as I said from the very first day [of the war], I now reiterate  the Hamas terrorist organization only responds to force, he said, according to a statement from the Defense Ministers spokesperson. We will continue striking Hamas until we achieve the goals of this war  the destruction of the Hamas terrorist organization  removing its governing and military capabilities, and returning the hostages home, he said.

There was an uptick in cross-border activity in northern Israel, where Hezbollah had previously refrained from attacks during the pause in fighting. One drone was intercepted, and the IDF said that a number of launches were identified crossing from Lebanon toward IDF posts in the area of Rosh HaNikra and Margaliot, as well as toward the city of Kiryat Shmona. The IDF responded to the attacks with airstrikes against Hezbollah targets.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the United Arab Emirates on Friday to attend the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP)  an important step for Israel, whose leaders have not traveled abroad since the October 7 attack. President Herzogs office said that the trip centered around ongoing efforts to secure the release of all the hostages held by Hamas. He met with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Despite Israel and Qatar not having official ties, Doha played a role in mediating between Hamas and Israel regarding the pause in fighting and hostage deal. Herzog also met with Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In these meetings, he condemned Hamas October 7 attack and stressed Israels right to defend itself.

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 much-anticipated Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb, or GLSDB, will not arrive in Ukraine until early next year, Reuters reported yesterday. Delays in contracting the systems production postponed delivery by months. When the GLSDB finally does arrive, however, it will help fill an important gap for Ukraine.

A joint project by Saab and Boeing, development of the GLSDB began years before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The system marries the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb with the M26 rocket motor  both of which are combat-proven, relatively cheap, and abundant in U.S. inventories. This reduces cost and saves time in production.

Reuters first revealed that the Pentagon was considering supplying the GLSDB to Ukraine back in November 2022. At the time, the news agency reported that the system could be delivered as early as the following spring. But the Department of Defense (DoD) did not announce plans to provide the GLSDB to Kyiv until February. Politico then reported that delivery could take up to nine months. A Pentagon official later testified that the GLSDB would come online this fall.

In September, however, staffers from the Senate Armed Services Committee told Roll Call that the GLSDB would not be delivered to DoD until December and would then need to be tested. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson said the testing process will be condensed and combined with training for Ukrainian operators.

On Thursday, Reuters confirmed that Boeing, the GLSDBs prime contractor, plans to deliver the GLSDB to DoD in late December. The system reportedly will then undergo several months of testing before shipment to Ukraine. A Pentagon spokesman said the department then expects to provide the GLDSB to Ukraine in the early 2024 timeframe after successful verification. DoD did not sign the contract until March 2023, which further delayed production, Reuters added.

When it eventually reaches the battlefield, the GLSDB will provide Ukraine with a useful long-range precision-strike capability.

At up to 150 kilometers, the GLSDB offers almost double the range of Ukraines Western-donated GMLRS rockets, albeit with a smaller warhead. Ukraine can use the GLSDB to strike Russian logistics and command-and-control nodes, airbases, air defense systems, and other high-value targets deep behind the front lines.

The GLSDB is allegedly accurate within 1 meter, using the Small Diameter Bombs GPS-aided inertial navigation system for guidance. According to the developers, the GLSDB boasts relatively strong resistance to electronic interference, although Russia has reportedly found some success in jamming GMLRS rockets and guided bombs provided to Ukraine.

The GLSDB is also highly survivable. With integration, it can be launched by Ukraines Western-supplied M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS rocket artillery systems, which Russia has so far proven unable to destroy. It can also be fired by non-traditional launchers, such as from a nondescript shipping container or the back of a pick-up truck.

Perhaps most important, the GLSDB is cost-effective. Ukraine can use the system to strike targets on which it cannot afford to expend Western-donated Storm Shadow, SCALP-EG, or ATACMS missiles, which are far more expensive and in scarce supply.

GLSDB production will take some time to ramp up, however. Initial deliveries will likely be measured in the tens, not the hundreds.

Kyiv would no doubt like to have receive the GLSDB sooner, ideally before its spring-summer counteroffensive petered out. Still, the GLSDB will provide a useful addition to Ukraines increasingly diverse arsenal of long-range precision-strike systems.

John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to 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.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of earnings and trading updates by London-listed companies, issued on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

----------

Lendinvest PLC - London-based non-bank mortgage lender - Announces that LendInvest BTL Ltd has completed the group's fifth and largest securitisation of GBP410 million of UK prime buy-to-let mortgage loans in an oversubscribed residential mortgage backed security transaction. The securitisation received an Aaa(sf) and AAA(sf) rating from global credit rating agencies Fitch and S&P Global Ratings respectively. The transaction increases LendInvest's total funds under management to GB P4.2 billion.

----------

Mobeus Income & Growth 2 VCT PLC - venture capital trust - Reports net asset value at September 30 was 74.26 pence. NAV at June 30 was 72.73p. Says net asset value total return per share increased by 3.8% in the six months to September 30. An interim dividend of 6.00p per share was declared for the year ending March 31 2024.

----------

Fulcrum Metals PLC - Canada-focused mineral exploration and development company - Announces that its wholly owned subsidiary Fulcrum Metals (Canada) Ltd has entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Teck Hughes Gold Tailings project located in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Further, says it is in advanced discussions with Extrakt Process Solutions regarding the licensing of its proprietary technology. Ryan Mee, chief executive officer says: "This is a very exciting development at Fulcrum and an excellent opportunity for shareholders to gain exposure to a project that has the potential to be generating cashflow in the future, without the precursor mining stage saving not only time but capital." Panther Metals PLC which holds a 19.99% stake in Fulcrum pleased by the statement.

----------

Hercules Site Services PLC - Cirencester, England-based labour supply company for the UK infrastructure sector - Buys 60% of Future Build Recruitment Ltd, a specialist UK-based white-collar recruitment company operating in the UK construction sector, for GBP1.3 million. In the year ending December 31 2022, Future Build generated revenue of GBP1.5 million and pretax profit of GBP490,258.

----------

Mkango Resources Ltd - Vancouver-based mineral exploration and development company with projects in Malawi - Reports pretax loss of USD1.5 million in the three months to September 30 compared to a loss of USD1.1 million the year before. Loss per share was USD0.006 compared to USD0.009.

----------

Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd - Oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins in South Africa, Namibia, and Guyana - Reports revenue of USD21 in the three months to September 30 compared to USD36,325 the year prior. Net loss before tax totalled USD1.5 million narrowed from USD13.0 million before. Basic and diluted loss per share was USD0.004 compared to USD0.038. Looks forward to sharing further updates on the ongoing farm out work streams and drilling plans as and when in a position to do so.

----------

Tullow Oil PLC - oil and gas explorer and producer - Says tenders USD130.1 million of 2025 notes, outstanding at date of offer USD633.5 million. Further, increases aggregate tender consideration for 2026 notes to USD102.5 million. Explains Tullow will use around USD102.5 million of cash on balance sheet to fund the purchase of USD114.8 million in aggregate principal amount of Reg S Notes, excluding accrued interest. This transaction delivers a value accretion of USD41.1 million from a combination of USD12.2 million net debt reduction and coupon savings to maturity of USD28.9 million. Richard Miller, chief financial officer, comments: "Deploying cash from our balance sheet to buy back the 2026 Notes demonstrates our confidence in the business and our ongoing cash flow generation. Through this transaction we are reducing gross debt by USD114.8 million and we will be saving USD28.9 million on coupon payments.

----------

Semper Fortis Esports PLC - London-based professional e-sports team operator - Further to statement in May, announces the acquisition of GL Membership Ltd, trading as Good Life +, for GBP10 million. Deal to be satisfied by issue of 500 million new shares at 2 pence each. In addition, agrees to purchase certain assets owned by Chadd Media Ltd, a company owned by the founders of GL+. Further, raises GBP1.4 million via subscription and placing of 70 million shares to provide working capital to nance the growth of the enlarged group.

----------

Atlantic Lithium Ltd - Sydney-based lithium exploration and development company, with assets in Ghana and Ivory Coast - Issues statement at annual general meeting. "Looking ahead, we have a number of catalysts in our sights that intend to further enhance the value of the project and move us closer to achieving our goal of lithium production at Ewoyaa," company says. These include: a maiden mineral resource estimate for feldspar production, due this quarter, results of the Feldspar Feasibility Study, due in the first quarter of 2024, results of the downstream conversion study, assessing the viability of establishing a conversion plant in Ghana, also due in the first quarter of 2024 plus drilling results in the third quarter of 2024.

----------

HeiQ PLC - London-based materials innovation and hygiene technology company - Reaches a settlement of the litigation with ICP Industrial Inc, which includes dismissal of claims and counterclaims by both parties with prejudice. ICP has agreed to pay HeiQ a total of USD2.75 million. This settlement has been reached without admission of liability by either party and is accompanied by mutual general releases, and resolves all outstanding matters between the parties.

----------

By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Variable clouds with snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 31F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
The Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision, affirming that former President Trump can be sued.

Capitol Police officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby are suing Trump for injuries sustained during the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

Trump's claim of presidential immunity was rejected by both the United States District Court and the Court of Appeals, allowing the lawsuit to proceed

Today, the Court of Appeals delivered a reality check to Trump by upholding a lower court's decision: yes, it said, even the Emperor of MAGA Land can be sued.

Capitol Police officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby accuse Trump of being responsible for their injuries during the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. Their lawsuit portrays Trump as the conductor of chaos, orchestrating the mayhem that left them physically and emotionally battered.

Officer Hemby was crushed against doors, his face and hands slashed, and his skin burning from chemical sprays. Hemby's injuries, both physical and mental, are so severe that they've turned his home into a fortress of paranoia.

Officer Blassingame's experience at the hands of rabid MAGA rioters reads like a horror story. Overwhelmed by a mob that Trump egged on, Blassingame was battered, bruised, and racially abused. The trauma inflicted upon him didn't just leave physical scars but emotional ones that continue to haunt him.

But Trump, in his grand delusion of untouchability, tried to dodge the lawsuit, claiming presidential immunity. The United States District Court, however, wasn't buying it. And when Trump appealed, the Court of Appeals again rejected Kandy Korn Kaligula's argument for dismissal, allowing the lawsuit to steam ahead.

Next stop, the Supreme Court, where the paragons of ethics and morality, like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, will decide whether our beloved leader is immune from being sued.
LUDLOW  Extreme Science Kid, a program dedicated to creating STEM programming for children in underrepresented communities, will host its third Christmas Party and Toy Giveaway on Saturday.

In collaboration with Western Massachusetts Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marines, the event will take place at the Extreme Science Kid facility at 77 East St. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The highlight of the event will be toy distribution by the Marines, featuring a guest appearance by none other than Santa Claus. Families attending the event also will have the opportunity to enjoy cookies, cupcakes, popcorn, cocoa, and cotton candy. There will be holiday music and access to exciting science activities; STEM programs focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In collaboration with Springfield Caring Health, Extreme Science Kid will host a COVID vaccination clinic, providing both booster shots and first-time vaccines. Gift cards will be provided to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

For more information about the event, contact Renee Stewart Bates, Extreme Science Kid director, at extremesciencekid@gmail.com or via extremesciencekid.com. Founded by Stewart Bates and Carmello Stewart, Extreme Science Kid aims to inspire and educate children through engaging and interactive science experiences.
A national dairy company with operations in Western New England has agreed to conduct safety audits at six of its facilities across the country after an ammonia leak at one of its ice cream plants last year.

HP Hood LLC has agreed to pay over $115,000 to the U.S. Environmental and Protection Agency after an inspection showed the ice cream manufacturer violated federal law in the way it handled and stored ammonia at its Suffield, Connecticut, plant, an EPA press release said.

Hoods Agawam plant is not one of the six locations being audited. The company declined to say which of its facilities are being inspected, according to Laura Lynn, a Hood spokesperson.

Though its an efficient refrigerant, if not handled properly, anhydrous ammonia is highly corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs, according to the EPA. The chemical is also flammable.

The leak in Suffield occurred last October when a forklift struck a pipe containing ammonia in a machinery room, the settlement document between HP Hood LLC and the EPA said.

In its inspection report, the EPA said HP Hood violated the Clean Air Act by failing to document that its ammonia refrigeration equipment was in violation of the law. The company also failed to sufficiently inspect pipes damaged in the crash, among other claims, the EPA said.

Before the recent leak, Hood submitted documents to the EPA detailing information about its ammonia refrigeration system at the Suffield plant in the summer of 2019. Six months later, the EPA conducted an on-site inspection of the facilitys records and equipment to assess how compliant it was with regulations.

The Hood spokesperson said the company is committed to safety.

As a leader in the food and beverage industry, Hood understands the importance of conducting business in a way that maintains a strong focus on workplace safety and environmental requirements, Lynn said.
SPRINGFIELD  The Springfield Police Departments Metro Unit will have a better data connection with the state police Gaming Enforcement Unit that monitors goings on at MGM Springfield after the state approved more funding Thursday.

The Springfield Police received two public safety grants from its Community Mitigation Fund for the data project in 2021 and 2022 totaling $24,000.

But, according to a letter from the city made public by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the project cost is now $29,027, or $5,027 more than the total grant amounts.
Saugus police are in the process of charging four people in connection with a fight that broke out at Kowloon  a well-known Asian restaurant  the day before Thanksgiving, the police department has announced.

The brawl broke out at the Route 1 restaurant around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, according to previous reports. It involved several young men and one person who attacked people with a glass bottle.

Saugus police said in a Wednesday news release that four people will be charged in Lynn District Court in connection with the fight:

Rosaria Sophia McCauly, 32, of North Reading, will be charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon  a glass bottle.

Arnold John Carey Marujo, 19, of Somerville, will be charged with disorderly conduct and giving alcohol to someone under 21.

Donovan Clark, 19, of Lynn, will be charged with assault and battery, disorderly conduct and giving alcohol to someone under 21.

Anthony John Micelli, 35, of North Reading, will be charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct.

It is unclear what the relationship between the four people is, if one exists, or whether other people will be charged in connection with the incident.

A report about the brawl will be sent to the Saugus Board of Selectmen, police release.

At least two videos of the fight were shared to social media. One shows a chaotic scene in which police officers are wrestling people to the ground, other people are struggling with each other, and one man appears to have blood running down his face.

Another video shows a woman hit someone over the head with a glass bottle while others exchange punches.

Read more: Driver facing charges after crashing into empty Saugus Boston Market, police say

The Kowloon is a family-friendly restaurant. Unfortunately, a few unruly patrons ruined a nice evening for many others. A disturbance such as this on Thanksgiving Eve is unacceptable and disgusting, Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said in a statement to WCVB-TV.

Saugus police said six officers were working a detail at Kowloon when the fight broke out, WCVB-TV reported. They were able to respond immediately to break it up.

The Boston Globe reported that the brawl broke out at the restaurants downstairs bar, but that police have not said what sparked the conflict.
HOLYOKE  A city councilor wants Holyoke to do more to help people returning from incarceration.

Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia said this week he is open to the idea outlined by Israel Rivera. But Garcia said his own effort to create a Community Response Division would tackle the same issues.

At a public safety meeting Wednesday, Rivera described a plan that would create a Returning Citizens Division within the Public Health Department. He described it as a smaller version of the All-Inclusive Support Services program in Springfield.

The department would be able to help a variety of populations or demographics in Holyoke through one department, as opposed to splitting it up, said Rivera, chair of the councils Public Safety Committee.

When Rivera came home from prison almost 10 years ago, he said he didnt know where to go and a social worker directed him to the All-Inclusive Support Services Program run by the Hampden County Sheriffs Office. But finding transportation to the program in Springfield was challenging.

According to Rivera, creating a Holyoke effort would cut the transportation barrier. Services could be made available not only to formerly incarcerated people but to those coming home from mental health facilities or active duty in the military.

The idea is to be able to give them a connection and then have a follow-up, Rivera said. A lot of this is already happening in Holyoke. It just needs to be harnessed. The power is already there.

According to Sally Johnson Van Wright, assistant superintendent and head of research for the sheriffs office, of all Hampden County jail releases in one year, 13.4% are re-incarcerated within one year and 16.6% are re-incarcerated within two years.

You can see that the first year out is really important, Johnson Van Wright said.

Johnson Van Wright said continuity of care is important, especially in the first months after release. Thats why we feel reentry is so important, she said during Wednesdays meeting.

Sean Gonsalves, the Board of Health director, suggested Holyoke first consider hiring a social worker.

Mayors plan

Garcia said the city faces many challenges.

You know, were talking about a community trying to solve the problems of the United States of America, he said. I see a lot of people in different positions, whether its in City Hall or outside of City Hall, with local nonprofits all doing good work ... but with the magnitude of the quality-of-life issues in taking care of vulnerable populations, were having the challenge of trying to keep up.

Garcia proposed Ezekiels Plan in the aftermath of an Oct. 4 gunfight that led to the death of a newborn, after the childs mother was stuck by a bullet while riding in a passing bus. Ezekiel was the name of the baby.

If passed, the plan, also known as Operation Safe Streets, would fund several initiatives, including the hiring of 13 police officers and creation of a surveillance camera system.

Garcia said his plan will embrace efforts akin to what Rivera proposes.

I think it kind of moves in that direction, and I see that evolving overtime as we hire the appropriate staff that are going to take on these roles in that division, Garcia said during the meeting.

Rivera said Ezekiels Plan should have received more public comment before being brought forward.

Nobody had a conversation about the plan. That technically should come together from all of us, Rivera said. He said the city could have made more progress following discussion nearly two years ago.

Garcia said stakeholders joined discussions with him at his office. To say that the last two years it was brought up and nothing was done ... I have to push back on that. I think thats false, Garcia said.

Garcia said he proposes to fill three positions under Ezekiels Plan. Over time, he hopes to add more. And once those jobs are filled, the plan will evolve, Garcia said, and new resources will enable the city to sustain the plan.

We didnt have opioid funding two years ago, and if the funding wasnt available, it would be tough talking about taking roughly $1 million and putting together a division, Garcia said.

I want the capacity to do exactly what youre doing to facilitate and figure out the structures and build what its going to look like, Garcia told the session. But we can do it if you pass this plan.

Theres still an opportunity to have a conversation about whats needed and what we want to tackle, he said. Any help we can get, we will certainly think outside the box.
Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series stands out as an achievement in both the world of superhero media and video gaming in general, leaving an indelible mark on both spheres for years to come. 2015's Arkham Knight served as the conclusion to the saga, leaving behind a dedicated fanbase with no new content to discuss but an unwillingness to simply let their passion for these games fade away.

The Batman: Arkham subreddit was left to discuss the same three games (sans Arkham Origins, the black sheep of the series) over and over, eventually becoming an incomprehensible mess of self-cannibalizing debates and increasingly byzantine in-jokes, creating the kind of sealed environment where a poster can gain thirty thousand upvotes by asking if there's a "lore reason" they contracted cancer:

If you have even a passing interest in Batman, this subreddit, lovingly dubbed "the Asylum" by its frequent users, is worth a scroll through. Years without a new game in the series have twisted characters into parodic versions of themselves- who could forget the valiant Man, locked in an endless battle with the dastardly Jonkler?

In a way, it's heartwarming to see a fandom carrying the torch (in one form or another) after a nearly decade-long drought, even if the layers of irony and in-jokes are downright impenetrable without some of Batman's trusty explosive gel. But is there a lore reason they're not posting about Rocksteady's upcoming Suicide Squad video game, which serves as a pseudo-sequel to to the Arkham series? Are they stupid?
A Saugus man who converted United States Postal Service funds  government money  for personal use was sentenced in federal court in Boston on Friday.

Zeon Johnson, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conversion of government money on Sept. 6, acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office said in a statement on Friday.

Johnson worked as a sales service distribution associate for USPS in August 2018, Levys office said, working at the Marblehead Post Office. Part of his job included selling stamps and processing money order transactions for customers.

Between July 2019 and June 2020, Johnson converted over $18,000 in USPS funds for personal use by stealing cash funds customers paid for stamps, then issuing USPS money orders payable to himself, Levys office said.

Read more: Chicopee police investigating Friday morning shooting

U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris sentenced Johnson to time served or having already spent one day in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $18,206 in restitution to USPS.
The body of an American airman from Massachusetts has been recovered off the coast of Japan after a military aircraft crashed there earlier this week, the mans family and his Congressional representative said Friday.

Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, a native of Pittsfield, was among eight members of the Air Force missing following the crash during a training flight Wednesday.

The military notified Gallihers family Thursday night that a search and rescue team had recovered his body, according to his stepfather, Tor Krautter.

Galliher, who was stationed in Japan, was a 2017 graduate of Taconic High School in Pittsfield, the city police department said in a statement Friday morning. He left behind his wife, 2-year-old and 7-week-old sons, and a loving family in Western Massachusetts.

In a statement, Gallihers family called him an amazing father, son and brother dedicated to his family and friends.

During this period of immense grief, we kindly ask for privacy and understanding as we navigate this unimaginable loss, the family said. Our thoughts and support are with the families of Jakes fellow crew members who are dealing with this tragedy as well.

The Pittsfield Police Department extends its condolences to the family of U.S. Air Force member Jacob "Jake" Galliher, a... Posted by Pittsfield Police Department on Friday, December 1, 2023

The Air Force Special Operations Command said a CV-22B Osprey, a plane-helicopter hybrid, was involved in an aircraft mishap while performing a routine training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island, Japan, on Wednesday.

At a press briefing Thursday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the cause of the crash remained under investigation.

On Friday, the Air Force said American and Japanese search and rescue teams had recovered the body of one airman, while the seven others remained missing. An Air Force spokesperson said the military could not confirm the name of the person found until 24 hours after the airmans family had been notified.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, who represents Pittsfield, said in a statement that Galliher represented our nations best.

As a father, my heart goes out to Staff Sgt. Jacob Gallihers mother and father during this difficult time, Neal said Friday. Any parent will tell you there is no greater pain than the pain of losing a child, and Jacob Galliher was beloved by all.

Galliher enlisted in the Air Force out of high school. He was a military linguist and was fluent in Mandarin Chinese, his family told the Berkshire Eagle.

He played four years of football at Taconic High School, his former coach, Jim Ziter, said in a phone call Friday.

Jake was a great kid, a great kid, Ziter, a Pittsfield Fire Department captain, said. One of the hardest workers on my team. He was as loyal as could be. A great sense of humor. He was a great kid and a phenomenal football player, but more importantly a great kid.

A flag outside the high school hung at half-staff Friday.

Ziter described Galliher as a quiet leader who became a mentor to younger players as he grew older and brought out the best in all his teammates.

Gov. Maura Healey in a statement Friday mourned Gallihers loss and said her thoughts were with his family, especially his two young sons, and the Berkshire County community as they mourn the loss of one of their best and brightest.

Yakushima Island, near where the Osprey crashed, is about 40 miles southwest of the Japanese mainland.

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 accidents in the past, including in Japan, where they are deployed at U.S. 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 U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan, the Associated Press reported.

The Galliher family is enduring every service familys nightmare, and we hold them in our hearts and prayers as they grieve, Massachusetts Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago said in a statement. May his memory serve as a source of solace and strength to his family, friends, and fellow servicemembers. Our Massachusetts military community extends our deepest condolences to his family and will honor his legacy.

State Sen. Paul W. Mark, D-Berkshire/Hampden/Franklin/Hampshire, said he heard of the crash Wednesday from a family friend and helped the family connect with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Markeys staff. At the time the young airman was missing, not confirmed dead.

Its terrible, Mark said Friday. A young man serving his country, and for this to happen.

Its terrible news, he said.

Republican Reporter Jim Kinney contributed to this story. Material from the Associated Press was used in this story.
One of multiple incidents regarding men recently attempting to get inside Massachusetts schools without any legitimate purpose was determined not to be a safety issue, officials said.

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.

Around 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 2, the FBI reported that the man had 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.

However, Needham police were later able to identify and speak with the man, who is a local resident and works for a business in the town.

The doors had been unlocked for a game, Needham police said. And the man was taking a few pictures for his family overseas.

He was spoken to about walking through the school during off hours when school was not in session, police wrote on Facebook. Our individual is not related to other incidents.

Still, officials in Massachusetts have issued a see something, say something warning due to the other incidents.

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. It also reiterated that all buildings are locked and visitors must be buzzed in by staff, through a doorbell that is equipped with video surveillance.

It is our understanding that law enforcement has recently been involved in similar incidents in other districts throughout the Commonwealth, the email stated. 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.

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 FBI 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.

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 Thursday.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the annual Boston Common tree lighting Thursday evening to show their opposition to the war in Gaza.

Local news stations estimated that about 100 people attended the rally. Boston police were on scene and said no one was hurt and there were no arrests.

Photos and video of the protest show demonstrators holding signs with messages such as permanent ceasefire, end all U.S. aid to Israel and Boston stands with Palestine! One video shows the protesters chanting ceasefire now.Both Boston South Asian Coalition  a social justice activist group  and the Boston chapter of A Jewish Voice for Peace  a Jewish anti-Zionist activist organization  posted about attending the rally on social media.

A video posted by the former showed the group singing We will walk with you and bring your justice home. Palestine, my friend, you do not walk alone.

WBZ-TV reported that the rally was organized by The Boston Coalition for Palestine.

We felt like we needed to give a voice for the many Palestinian Christians who do not have a voice, Fawaz Abusharkh, of the Boston Coalition for Palestine, told the news station. Christmas in Palestine got canceled.

Read more: Jason Eaton pleads not guilty in connection with shooting of 3 Palestinian VT students

At times, it was hard for tree lighting attendees to hear the normal festivities over the protestors, WBZ-TV reported. At one point, the demonstrators reportedly moved through the crowd while chanting.

Some tree lighting attendees were miffed by the disruption, Boston 25 News reported.

It doesnt have anything to do, one thing with another, Beatriz Maldonado told the news station. This is not the place, and this is not the right time.

Pro-Palestinian protesters in other cities have also held rallies at or near tree lightings in recent days. On Wednesday, seven pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested during a rally near the Rockefeller Center tree lighting.

We have to keep promoting a permanent ceasefire and a permanent solution for the Palestinian issue, Abusharkh told WCVB.

Fighting resumed in Gaza Friday morning after a days-long ceasefire that allowed the release of more than 100 hostages seized by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 and nearly 250 Palestinians from Israeli jails.
Law enforcement officials sent out a warning to several public school districts across the state after three instances of suspicious activity at schools in October and November.

The report issued by the FBIs Boston office said men either entered or attempted to enter schools in Massachusetts without any legitimate purpose.

The FBI declined comment on how many schools received its report, how often the agency sends out informational reports like these, or whether they believe the cases were related. The incidents happened at schools in Dedham, Needham and Woburn.

As a result, school districts across the state are ramping up security to ensure student and campus safety.

In recent weeks, the Worcester Public Schools received an alert from law enforcement about recent suspicious activity at schools in eastern Massachusetts, said Dan OBrien, chief communications officer for the Worcester Public Schools.

While none of the schools in Worcesters district saw any of that suspicious activity, the information was shared with our building administrators to ensure vigilance, OBrien said.

The Springfield Public Schools spokesperson, Azell Cavaan, said the district did not receive information from the FBI and did not experience suspicious activity. She said student safety is a top priority.

Maintaining a safe gathering place for students can be tricky, said Dr. Creaig Dunton, an associate professor of criminal justice at Western New England University, who specializes in criminology.

The best thing to do is to ensure that security systems are available and followed, he said.

Dunton said districts in rural areas might be tempted to think were in a small town, so everyone knows everyone. ... But (all) school systems should remain vigilant.

The incidents

Lowell Public Schools sent an email 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 said.

But its not the only incident.

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 email said.

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.

In Dedham, a man approached a daycare claiming to work for Verizon on Oct. 18, the FBIs report said.

Employees stated the male was carrying a backpack and appeared to take an interest in the school and children, it said. 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.

Another incident was reported almost a month later on Nov. 2 in Needham, the report said.

Another man entered a high school. 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 said.

In a third incident 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 said in its report.

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 The Republican and MassLive.

Reporting by MassLives Heather Morrison contributed to this story.
\Von Miller turned himself into the Glenn Heights police in Texas on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, according to WFAAs Rebecca Lopez. The Bills star was booked into DeSoto regional jail and later released after posting his $5,000 bond.

According to WFAA, police responded to a major disturbance at Millers home in the Dallas are on Wednesday morning. Miller allegedly assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and left before police arrived. The outlet also noted that a charge of assaulting a pregnant person is a third-degree felony in Texas.

ESPN obtained that affidavit for Millers arrest warrant, which stated an argument between the couple started Wednesday morning over concerns about the victims travel plans. She left the room they were in and slammed the door to another room, upsetting Miller, who yelled at the victim to get out. The victim attempted to leave, but Miller pushed and shoved her. The affidavit also stated that Miller applied pressure to her neck for three to five seconds with one hand, but it didnt impact the victims ability to breathe.

$200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline.

The victim told Miller she was going to call the police after he stomped on her laptop and pulled her hair as she tried to grab it from the floor, per the affidavit. Miller grabbed the woman for a second time and pushed her on a couch used both hands to put pressure on her neck.

The woman was treated for minor injuries, per The Dallas Morning News, and did not go to the hospital.

Miller is in his second season with the Bills. The team confirmed they were aware of an incident involving linebacker, but didnt go into any details.

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, the Bills said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing.
Lawmakers in the Massachusetts House will put off a vote on a $3.1 billion year-end spending bill to Saturday, further prolonging the already overdue debate on a bill that delivers essential aid to the states cash-strapped emergency shelter system.

The lower chamber is expected to meet again at 11 a.m. on Dec. 2, Rep. Paul Donato, D-35th Middlesex, announced around 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

The announcement came just hours after a few House Republicans met on Friday to strategize a way to grapple with a spending bill, State House News Service reported. Like on Thursday, the chambers GOP decided to doubt whether there were enough lawmakers present to issue a vote, which forced Donato to push back the vote again.

House Republicans are upset that a bill that contains controversial items such as a $250 million infusion into the shelter system is being voted on in an informal session  where a debate cant occur, rather than a formal one.

The rules do not permit these things in informal sessions, because informal sessions are not designed for the circumstances we face with regard to a bill of this impact and magnitude, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Middlesex, said in a statement Thursday night.

In a last-minute effort to stop the bill from advancing on Thursday, House Republicans filed an order that wouldve forced the Legislature to vote on the year-end spending bill in a formal session.

Although the effort failed, the House did gavel out after one GOP lawmaker questioned whether enough representatives were present for a vote. At the time, there were only 15 of the Houses 159 lawmakers in the chamber, well below the minimum 81 members required for a proper vote.

The move drew fierce criticism from state House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, who called the move incredibly disappointing, and accused the chambers Republican party of jeopardizing the entire spending bill because it funds the states shelter system.

But, to Jones, its not his partys fault the spending bill is being taken up in an informal session.

The House GOP leader blames the chambers Democratic party for waiting two months before voting on the supplemental bill Gov. Maura Healey filed to the Legislature in September, State House News Service reported.

They played a game  their term paper was due and they failed, so they get an F. No ifs, ands or buts about it, he told State House News Service in an interview Friday. We would not be here if the Democratic majority, overwhelming Democratic majority, had done their job. Period.

The bill, which closes the books on the 2023 fiscal year, would also give more than $300 million in pay adjustments in union contracts for state employees, some of which include teachers.

In a statement, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the commonwealths largest teachers union, called the political gridlock a stunning failure.

Yesterday, when the conference committee reached agreement on the content of a supplemental budget, we were hopeful that contracts would finally be funded, the MTA wrote in a statement. But today, the Legislature adjourned without finalizing a budget and sending it to Governor Maura Healey for her signature. This is unacceptable.
A senior lawmaker from Massachusetts said Friday that he wants the nations automakers to come clean on their data collection practices on consumers, arguing that theyre invasive and confusing, and leave Americans in the dark on the extent of the data they collect.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who sits on the Senates Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee sent a letter to 14 automakers, noting that modern vehicles have effectively become computers on wheels, that collect an array of sensitive data, including location history, eye movements, and other health indicators.

The letter comes in the wake of a Sept. 6 report by the Mozillas Privacy Not Included website, that investigated the privacy policies of some two-dozen car brands, and found that all of them came up short.

Its worth saying again: new cars, at every price point, create and collect so much data about their owners, drivers, passengers, and the world around them, researchers wrote, describing WTF-level data collection, among major automakers.

The industry has so much data on consumers that they can (and do) use it to invent even more, through inferences, researchers wrote.

In addition, automakers are doing little to protect the trove of data that they collect, CBS News reported, citing the Mozilla study.

Cars seem to have really flown under the privacy radar and Im really hoping that we can help remedy that because they are truly awful, Jen Caltrider, the studys research lead, told CBS News. Cars have microphones and people have all kinds of sensitive conversations in them. Cars have cameras that face inward and outward.

Such practices are unacceptable, Markey wrote to automakers, adding that although certain data collection and sharing practices may have real benefits, consumers should not be subject to a massive data collection apparatus, with any disclosures hidden in pages-long privacy policies filled with legalese.

A trade group representing automakers, the U.S. Alliance for Automotive Innovation, disputed the Mozilla conclusions. It sent a letter in September to federal policymakers, saying it shares the goal of protecting the privacy of consumers, CBS News reported.

The trade group called for a federal privacy law, saying a patchwork of state privacy laws creates confusion among consumers about their privacy rights and makes compliance unnecessarily difficult, CBS News reported.

Markeys office said it sent the letters, dated Nov. 30, to BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Stellantis, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

Markey gave the automakers until Dec. 21 to respond to a battery of questions.

They included:

Does your company collect user data from its vehicles, including but not limited to the actions, behaviors, or personal information of any owner or user?

Does your company provide notice to vehicle owners or users of its data practices?

Does your company provide owners or users an opportunity to exercise consent with respect to data collection in its vehicles?

Can all users, regardless of where they reside, request the deletion of their data?

Does your company take steps to anonymize user data when it is used for its own purposes, shared with service providers, or shared with non-service provider third parties?

Does your company have any privacy standards or contractual restrictions for the third-party software it integrates into its vehicles, such as infotainment apps or operating systems?

Has your company ever provided to law enforcement personal information collected by a vehicle? Markeys office asked.

Cars should not  and cannot  become yet another venue where privacy takes a backseat. As more and more cars become computers on wheels, automakers must implement strong privacy policies to protect users, the Bay State Democrat wrote to the automakers.
The Boston Red Sox look like theyre bowing out of the pursuit of Shohei Ohtani in free agency.

According to ESPNs Jeff Passan, the group of teams in the running to try and sign the reigning AL MVP has thinned out. Passan reports that the Red Sox, Rangers and Mets were among the initial group of suitors, have turned their attention to other players.



Passan notes that it would be foolish to count out a high-revenue team like the Red Sox. But the report -- and Bostons trend of balking at high-priced contracts -- casts doubt over the prospect of the Red Sox being a serious contender to land the lauded two-way star. According to Passan, the teams still in the running include the Dodgers, Cubs, Blue Jays and Angels.

Ohtani, a two-time MVP as a dynamic hitter and starting pitcher, is easily the most sought-after talent on the market this offseason. After playing out his contract with the Angels, Ohtani could be in line for a historic payday this offseason.

The Red Sox had been considered a real threat to sign Ohtani in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the two-way star is reportedly intrigued by Boston. However, the idea that the Red Sox could make the biggest splash of the offseason has now lost much of its steam.

That doesnt mean the Red Sox are out of the running for any big moves. Boston has been considered a strong candidate to sign Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the top starting pitcher remaining on the market.
WESTFIELD - Westfield High school counselor Patricia Healy, who is now in charge of the schools Career Center, said she has an open door policy for students. Kids just walk in, thats the purpose of it. She said when shes not available, her email address is displayed on her door.

A student walks in the door and says I want to work - I need a job. Thats the start of it, Healy said. She will give the students information on available jobs in the community, businesses like Dunkin, McDonalds, T.J. Maxx, and Cracker Barrell in Westfield, but that is only the start.
Gary Siddall, president and CEO of Aquarium of Niagara, will leave the institution to become president and CEO at the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, the cultural institution that manages the Buffalo Museum of Science and Tifft Nature Preserve.

Keith Lukasik, chair of the Societys board of managers and co-chair of the executive search committee, called Siddall a proven leader who has shown he can grow and transform a cultural organization within Western New York.

Aquarium of Niagara to double in size with $18 million expansion The Aquarium of Niagara is poised to double in size as part of an $18 million project aimed at giving tourists more things to do in Niagara Falls.

His tenure at the Aquarium of Niagara has been nothing short of exceptional, he said in a release.

As the head of the Aquarium, Siddall oversaw the full-scale revision of the institutions master and strategic plans, as well as $15 million in capital improvements, including the Great Lakes 360 expansion opening next year. During his tenure, the Aquarium also received its first-ever accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Jessica Copeland, vice-chair of the natural sciences societys board of managers and co-chair of the executive search committee, said the search committee partnered with a search firm that conducted a five-month-long national search that generated more than 30 potential candidates.

Gary stood out by demonstrating a deep admiration and respect for the Society, as well as an informed and innovative perspective on how to further advance the organization and its mission for the betterment of the Western New York community, she said.

Siddalls work at the aquarium has demonstrated that he has the qualifications and ability to realize an ambitious master plan at the science museum, Lukasik said.

We as a board are confident that he is the right leader at this important moment to build upon our rich 162-year history and to guide the organization toward continued success, he said.

Siddall said he was honored to take over.

I am inspired by the Societys well-established efforts to connect the community to science and nature, and I look forward to leading Society team members at the Buffalo Museum of Science and Tifft Nature Preserve in their efforts to cultivate a new generation of citizen scientists and inspire appreciation for our diverse, natural world, he said.

Aquarium of Niagara partners with Turner Construction for Great Lakes 360 project The $5 million Great Lakes 360 project has been called a "living museum" featuring wildlife found in the Niagara River and Great Lakes.

The aquarium said it will form a search committee for a new leader and has a strong operations and veterinary team to care for the institution and its animals while the transition takes place. It will announce more details about an interim leader soon, it said.

Our search will prioritize a candidate capable of providing steady leadership and bringing the aquariums bold initiatives to fruition and continuing this momentum now and well into the future, said Christine Lorenz, chair of the Niagara Aquarium Foundation board of trustees.

Siddalls last day at the aquarium will be Jan. 31, and hell take over at the Society on Feb. 5.

I feel incredibly confident in the aquariums leadership and board of trustees and their ability to bring the organizations bold vision for the future to reality, he said.

The annual salary for Siddalls new role was advertised as being in the range of $190,000 to $220,000.

Siddall became deputy director at the aquarium on 2014, before being named CEO in 2016. He began as a volunteer 20 years ago and advanced through the institutions zoological department.

In June, Marisa Wigglesworth, who had led the Buffalo Museum of Science for nearly seven years as president and CEO, left to take a position as CEO of the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo.
MAYOS Joint Policing Committee (JPC) was almost abandoned today (Friday) after heated exchanges erupted in Aras an Contae in Castlebar.

Tensions flared between elected represented after Independent Cllr Christy Hyland accused the Mayo JPC Chairman, Cllr Al McDonnell (Fianna Fail) of attempting to stymie debate on policing in Mayo.

Cllr Hylands outburst came after Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh asked if gardai in Mayo were prepared to deal with similar public order incidents to the riots which broke out in Dublin last Thursday evening.

Cllr McDonnell interjected in the middle of her question, insisting that discussing the rioting in Dublin was not within the remit of the Mayo JPC.

If what happened in Dublin happened in Castlebar or Westport wed be obliged to discuss it. Theres very little we can do about it here, said Cllr McDonnell.

Deputy Conway-Walsh said she had no confidence in how the systems was being run within An Garda Siochana. She then asked if guards from Mayo had gone to serve Dublin in the days following the riots.

When she concluded, Cllr Hyland insisted that the issue had to be discussed by the JPC.

I dont know what planet youre living on, chairman. We wont have guards in Mayo; they are going to be in Dublin for the Christmas, said the former garda, before calling on Cllr McDonnell to educate himself on the matter.

Were losing guards here. We wont have them here for the Christmas, will you waken up. Dont be like some of the clowns above in Dail Eireann. Sorry, chairman, youre vexing me now, exclaimed Cllr Hyland.

Fianna Fail councillor Damien Ryan then called on Cllr Hyland to show respect for the chair while Fine Gaels Michael Burke agreed with Cllr McDonnells suggestion that the rioting in Dublin was not an issue for the Mayo JPC.

You seem to know more about the gardai now then you did when you were a guard, remarked Cllr Burke, to which Cllr Hyland replied: Its your party that has destroyed the gardai, and the Fianna Fail party.

Calm was restored after Cllr Ryan insisted that the Dublin riots were a matter for another jurisdiction.

Independent Cllr Michael Kilcoyne then expressed concern over Justice Minister Helen McEntee asking The Policing Authority about what constituted reasonable force.

This prompted further remarks from Cllr Hyland, who said gardai were doing their job with their hands tied around their backs.

Theyre getting hammered, and I care about them chairman. You mightnt, I do, he exclaimed.

Theyre getting beaten, they are sitting at home sick for twelve months, and their families looking at them, because they got the daylights kicked out of them on the streets, in Westport, Castlebar and every town in this country. And youre saying, as chairman, that its nothing to do with us?

Cllr McDonnell replied: Nobody has more respect for the gardai than I have.

Cllr Kilcoyne continue his remarks about the Policing Authority before Cllr Hyland began to speak again.

This prompted an interjection from Cllr Ryan, who called on Cllr McDonnell to stop Cllr Hyland from interrupting other councillors.

Cllrs Ryan and Hyland then shouted remarks at each other, with Cllr Ryan warning that Cllr Hyland did not have Dail privilege in the council chamber.

Cllr Burke then threatened to leave the meeting if the shouting continued, as did Cllr Ryan.

You can talk about what went on in the Dail, but Im telling you, were having it here this morning, remarked Cllr Burke.

Cllr Hyland and Burke then exchanged remarks before Cllr McDonnell stated: If there isnt order, I will abandon the meeting.

Responding to Deputy Conway-Walshs initial question, Chief Superintendent for the Mayo Longford/Roscommon Division, Ray McMahon, revealed that between four and seven gardai policed Dublin city between Friday night and Saturday night in the aftermath of the riots.

Chief Supt McMahon said that policing resources in Mayo werent affected as the gardai from Mayo were on overtime hours.

The Leitrim native said that Mayo has fully-trained and equipped public order unit, adding that management and supervisors from the area have been trained to police protests in the last number of months.
A FINE GAEL councillor has called on the Government to stop renewing contracts to house refugees in hotels and other accommodation providers as it is having an impact on the tourism industry around the county.

Killala-based councillor Jarlath Munnelly called on Mayo County Council to write to the Government to end the contracts with hoteliers housing refugees as it is impacting on the local economy.

Cllr Munnelly made the comments at a meeting of Mayo County Council where councillors considered a council report on the impact of the accommodation of refugees in County Mayo.

A number of other councillors complained that the large number of refugees staying in hotels was resulting in a lack of bed nights and was decimating tourism in the county.

I don't understand how it [report] can ignore the tourism economy by the fact that bed nights are taken out. I can give an example in Ballycastle and Killala where tourism accommodation has been used to house refugees and there is no question that it is having an impact on the local economy," said Cllr Munnelly at the meeting before calling for an end of housing refugees in hotels.

It is important to state it is not the fault of the refugees; they have no say in the process but the State can reverse this by not renewing the contracts with tourist accommodation [providers]. I think as a county council we should pass a resolution and ask the government to stop spending money accommodating refugees in tourism accommodation because of the impact it is having on the tourist economy.

Westport based councillor Christy Hyland was one of the councillors who expressed concern at the loss of jobs in the tourism sector due to the lack of bed nights.

I have serious concerns about the loss of jobs in the tourism sector in my area and I don't see a business support scheme for people whose turnover is well down because there are no beds. For every visitor who comes to my area they spend in the region of 200 a day. It is a question of getting the balance right and I don't think we are getting the balance right in my area, he said.

The report was heavily criticised by a number of councillors who felt that it had not addressed the motion put forward by the councillors when they asked for the report in June.

Cllr Peter Flynn who was one of the councillors to call for a report described it as a sham and 'filled with a load of waffle'.

In my view the report is a sham and does not address the motion. We are none the wiser as to where we are in terms of addressing the motion. I am not happy with it, he said.

Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne also felt the report should be rejected as the data regarding the number of refugees in Mayo was from June and out of date.

Director of Services, Joanne Grehan defended the report stating that the consultants who prepared the report used the most up to date data available from the CSO at the time. She added that Mayo County Council has very little involvement in placing refugees in the county.

Chief Executive, Kevin Kelly added that businesses and hoteliers have taken a commercial decision to house refugees and a wider conversation was needed locally on the long-term vision for these premises.
MAYO Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has welcomed the commitment by the Minister for Transport to instruct Irish Rail to complete the clearance of the Claremorris to Athenry rail line.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan confirmed during questions in the Dail on Thursday that he has asked Irish Rail to see if they can start clearing the Claremorris to Athenry line this winter and it should be done with 'speed and urgency'.

I have asked Irish Rail if it can start clearing the line. That obviously requires certain budget provisions. The timing would be difficult. It has to be completed before March. I have asked Irish Rail to do that because it is important that we give a signal to businesses in the west of Ireland that we are in business on the western rail corridor, Minister Ryan stated.

The all-island strategic rail review recommended that reinstatement of the western rail corridor from Athenry to Claremorris via Tuam be commenced by 2030 with the project to cost between 400 million and 600 million.

Mayo TD Alan Dillon welcomed the Minister's comments in relation to the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor saying that the project was important for industry along the west coast.

The Minister for Transport's instruction to Irish Rail in clearing the Claremorris to Athenry rail line signals a significant step forward towards the reactivation of Western Rail Corridor Phases 2 and 3. These developments are essential in meeting the escalating demand for both rail freight and commuter services.

In recent months, over 12 major global companies in the West have urged the Minister for a rail freight service to achieve their carbon emission targets. The line's strategic significance, linking into our main deep-sea ports, cannot be emphasised enough. Taking steps to instruct Irish Rail to complete the clearance of the line by the end of March sends a strong message that both businesses and the government are committed to the reopening of this crucial route, he said.

Minister Ryan also gave a commitment to ask Transport Infrastructure Ireland to adhere to the planning conditions of the development of the M17 to replace the bridge at Ballyglunin, Co Galway which was demolished as part of the building of the M17 motorway.

In relation to the Collooney to Claremorris line, Minister Ryan said the all-island rail review did not recommend it reopening and added 'I do not think we should give false promises'.

The preserving of the line is a separate matter, whether that is in the form of a greenway or making sure, as Deputy [Eamon] O Cuiv said, that if there was a change in subsequent years where the line became viable, that the capability to use it is retained. That is not an easy issue in my mind with regard to the Collooney to Claremorris line. We will look at that with regard to how the line might be preserved, he stated.
BY MIKE PETRO

NOV. 30, 2023

Toronto native brings Aille Design to Buffalo

It was last month on Celebrity Jeopardy when a contestant chose a clue for $1,200 under the subject of Fashion For All.

The clue: A clothing company for the visually impaired, Aille Design stitches this reading system into its shirts and dresses?

The answer: What is braille.

Alexa Jovanovic was not watching the show that night, but she quickly heard about it from a flurry of people excited for her.

Being featured on the popular show was proof that Jovanovics Buffalo startup Aille Design (pronounced: eye) was succeeding in making its mark in the fashion industry.

The e-commerce brand uses intricate, fully legible braille beadwork as the focal point to create inclusive, adaptive and stylish garments that can be worn by anyone.

We had no idea that was going to happen, but are so grateful that it did, said the Toronto native, as she recently stood next to her husband and business partner, Jake Walsh, inside their office space at The Foundry on Buffalo's East Side.

Newsweek had already named Aille Design the braille clothing brand changing the fashion game in February, keeping the companys momentum going after a busy holiday season and helping it secure a grant from the Highmark Foundation in May.

Then, in October, on top of being featured on Celebrity Jeopardy, the company received press that stretched into Canada and the United Kingdom.

Aille Design was a nominee in the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards for the Fashion Impact Award, presented to a designer that has made a significant social or philanthropic impact.

Visually impaired actress and writer Mared Jarman wore an Aille Design braille dress to the British Academy Film Awards, where she won an award for her work in the comedy drama, How This Blind Girl

And all of this attention started organically. Since beginning to sell products over three years ago, Jovanovic said the demand has not stopped as more people hear about the clothing and are intrigued.

It really just showcases the diversity of experiences weve been able to have through the company, Jovanovic said.

Jovanovic founded Aille Design in 2020 as a fashion student in Toronto and with her husband, who serves as director of operations, moved to Buffalo a year and a half ago. It was then that what began as a side hustle for the two turned into full-time work. A few months ago, the husband-and-wife team also started participating in the University at Buffalos Cultivator startup program.

As the business continued to grow and got to a point where we realized that there might be something here, we figured were not going to know unless we really go in and try, so we both decided to leave our full-time jobs and give it a go, said Walsh, a Syracuse native who earned his MBA at the University at Buffalo.

While in fashion school, Jovanovic learned more about diversity and adaptability, and wanted to bring attention to the disability community that she felt was underserved in the fashion industry. That was reflected in her research project and thesis. Since, she's made adaptive clothing that is not just functional, but also beautiful, helping break the stigma that visually impaired people do not care about the way they look and dress.

It is just so unique that people are fascinated when they hear about the concept, Jovanovic said. Right away, there is interest when people see the pieces in person. We want you to kind of have that curiosity. It really encourages that conversation to start.

The braille messages started as physical descriptions of the garment and morphed into value-based and empowering statements. The customizable messages can also be catch phrases or Buffalo-themed. They range from My plain white tee and Keep Buffalo a secret to Make inclusion an expectation, not an exception and Fashion is for everyone.

The clothing is purposefully soft and silky and machine washable, while the beads, which are affixed into the fabrics of the clothing using a heat press, are smooth to the touch and rounded on top and flat on the bottom.

Shirts start at about $60 and prices increase for clothing pieces such as pants and dresses.

Jovanovic has talked to many visually impaired people about their challenges with fashion, including working with 10 blind women to make a blue dress that describes the color blue from their perspective.

Many of the companys customers are from the U.S., so it made sense, from a business standpoint, to move across the border. Additionally, they were lured to the area by the burgeoning Buffalo startup ecosystem and the city being more affordable than Toronto.

I fell in love with the guy, but since then have really fallen for the city and cant imagine doing this anywhere else, said Jovanovic, who met her husband at a house party in Buffalo.

The company works with contractors who help make the products, and could expand by a few team members next year with a couple very substantial projects on the horizon.

If Aillie Design makes it into the second phase of UBs Cultivator program, it will also receive a $100,000 investment. To this point, the business has been mostly self-funded, but could potentially attempt to raise funds later next year.

Its very demanding, but thats the outcome you want, Walsh said. We signed up for it and were happy to do it.

THE LATEST

Newly-formed workforce coalition focuses on manufacturing, tech job growth.

Aquarium of Niagara CEO is leaving to head Buffalo Museum of Science, Tifft Nature Preserve.

22nd Century Group has a new CEO and is selling part of its business.

A Westfield food business is expanding.

A federal labor board rejected union claims that Tesla improperly dismissed workers.

Citizens Bank is closing a branch and making changes at three others.

An effort is underway to increase diversity among Buffalo Bills concessions providers.

The Buffalo Niagara unemployment rate is rising.

Doug Jemal got the green light to move ahead with the first part of his Simon Electric project.

Elmwood Taco & Subs is facing charges at the National Labor Relations Board.

What's the latest on the Buffalo Bills stadium construction project?

Big Ditch Brewing is heading to Lockport.

Renovations are on tap at two more facilities run by the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority.

The state attorney general is suing PepsiCo. over pollution from single-use plastic containers.

An ACV Auctions co-founder says WNY still has a ways to go to be a startup hotbed.

Western New York cultural groups are sharing $1.3 million in state grants.

A Jamestown nursing home is shutting down.

Autism Services Inc. is dissolving. People Inc., The Summit Center are picking up the pieces.

Buybuy Baby is coming back.

The new Vive shelter is ready to open.

Union workers at the General Motors engine plant in the Town of Tonawanda voted against a tentative contract agreement.

A community group continues to criticize KeyBank's lending practices.

Ellicott Development brings back Locker Room project.

Lactalis seeks $1.2 million in tax breaks for latest investment project.

Foursome plans new apartment project on Abbott Road in South Buffalo.

A Clarence company is acquiring a Medina adult care facility.

Renovations at a closed Buffalo school provide housing for veterans.

Where will the local auto plants fit in an electric vehicle world?

Gov. Hochul formed a new health commission. What will it do?

The Buffalo Bisons are looking for state money for stadium improvements.

ICYMI

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. Why do grocery stores move stuff around? There's a lot of science that goes into it, but the bottom line is increasing sales.

2. The Buffalo Niagara job market is stuck. But it's not sick.

3. Delaware North's new chief operations officer comes with a reputation as a 'game changer.'

4. Plug Power is in deep financial trouble. What that means for its big plans in Genesee County.

5. Flexlume is aglow over its new Lackawanna home.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week.
The Lockport area is seeing a surge in health care-related projects and may be the next battleground in a tightly contested Western New York market.

Just consider the recent and ongoing projects in this part of Niagara County.

The headliner, of course, is Catholic Health Systems $70 million Lockport Memorial Hospital, a 60,000-square-foot neighborhood hospital that opened in October after nearly two years of construction.

Meanwhile, Buffalo Medical Group, one of the regions largest physician groups, is bringing life back to the first floor of the old First Niagara Financial Group administrative headquarters in the Town of Pendleton, where it will open a 19,000-square-foot health care hub early next year.

And dont forget Western New Yorks largest health system: Kaleida Health is in the planning stages of turning an old car dealership on South Transit Road into a 33,000-square-foot outpatient hub.

Thats to not even mention that Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center opened a community practice in Lockport in September.

The situation unfolding in eastern Niagara County is a microcosm of what is occurring all over the country, said Larry Zielinski, a health care administration expert at University at Buffalo. This part of the region is the latest battleground of competition that has played out in downtown Buffalo, the northern suburbs, the Southtowns and western Niagara County.

All of these expansions come after Eastern Niagara Hospital closed in mid-June, ending the longtime facilitys 115-year run in Lockport.

'The end of an era': After more than 100 years, Eastern Niagara Hospital closes Saturday Eastern Niagara Hospital will close Saturday, ending a 115-year run for the East Avenue health care facility in Lockport. As the end nears, longtime employees say goodbye.

Eastern Niagara had struggled for several years, posting its last annual profit in 2015, cutting services to try to survive and, eventually, filing for bankruptcy in November 2019. In October 2020, Catholic Health announced a management agreement with Eastern Niagara and plans to construct the right-sized Lockport Memorial.

Zielinski thinks many of the expansions were in the works regardless of the Eastern Niagara situation. He noted how the market has become more attractive in recent years with the growth of high-income communities in nearby northern Erie County.

Further, Kaleida, Catholic Health and Buffalo Medical Group already have footholds downtown, in the Northtowns and in the Southtowns. In western Niagara County, Kaleida has a close relationship with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, while Catholic Health operates Mount St. Marys Hospital in Lewiston.

This is the next logical area for expansion, Zielinski said of the Lockport area.

Competing models

Zielinski, a former Buffalo General Medical Center president who is now executive director of Primary Care Independent Physician Association, sees two competing models playing out in eastern Niagara County.

First, both Kaleida and Catholic Health are building integrated health systems. That strategy started by merging hospitals and now has progressed into acquiring and building other parts of the health care supply chain  facilities such as ambulatory sites, surgery centers, labs, imaging, specialty clinics and primary care offices.

That allows Kaleida and Catholic Health to keep more patients within their systems, which is a big deal when it comes time for more expensive specialty care. This strategy also allows the two health systems to grow market share  and thus gain leverage when it comes time to negotiate new agreements, and new prices, with the regional health insurers.

Reports late last year from Moodys Investors Services, for example, noted that Lockport Memorial would help Catholic Health grow its market share in Niagara County, where Moodys at the time said Catholic Health had a 26.1% share compared with Kaleidas 34.3%.

Meanwhile, Buffalo Medical Group  like Primary Care IPA, which Zielinski is executive director of  is an independent multispecialty physician group.

Buffalo Medical Group has engaged in full-risk Medicare contracts through a joint venture announced in March 2021 with Agilon Health. That means, rather than a fee-for-service arrangement, the joint venture takes responsibility for the total cost of care for its Medicare patients. While that comes with risk if costs go high, it also comes with savings if expensive hospital trips are avoided.

Given that, it makes sense that Buffalo Medical Groups upcoming Pendleton site will have several primary care doctors, with rotating specialists.

Lets take a quick look at each of the three projects.

Lockport Memorial Hospital

Lockport Memorial opened Oct. 10 as a campus of Mount St. Marys Hospital.

The facility, at 6001 Shimer Drive, is based on a neighborhood hospital concept that Catholic Health believes will be financially sustainable. It has an 18-bed emergency department, a 10-bed inpatient unit that can expand to 20 beds, and diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, including blood draw.

The facility also has medical offices for primary care, womens health and specialty care services.

In an update to its bond investors earlier this month, Catholic Health provided numbers for how the hospital performed in October.

Over 22 days in October, Lockport Memorials emergency department had 1,247 visits.

Of those, 61 were admitted  40 inpatient admissions and 21 observation admissions  for an admit rate of 4.9%.

Meanwhile, there were 67 transfers during October to a higher level of care.

That figure is important because Lockport Memorial, as a neighborhood hospital, was built on the idea that a majority of patients could receive on-site care with the services available at Lockport Memorial, while a small percentage would need to be transferred to another hospital in Catholic Healths footprint for a more specialized service.

It's finally here: $70 million Lockport Memorial Hospital to open to patients Tuesday The 60,000-square-foot Lockport Memorial Hospital, which cost $70 million and will be a campus of Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, will open at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Speaking at a ceremony in early October, Catholic Health President and CEO Joyce Markiewicz said residents of eastern Niagara County can expect to receive up to 90% of their health care at this facility.

Since we know today, however, that no one hospital can be all things to all people, we want to make sure the patients of Lockport Memorial feel welcome in any of our hospitals should they need a different level of care, she said.

Kaleidas plan

Of the three expansions, Kaleidas plan is in the earliest stages.

The project is working its way through the municipal planning process, with property owner 93 NYRPT LLC  which traces to Benderson Development  planning to redevelop an old car dealership at 6009 S. Transit Road, at the intersection with Robinson Road, into a 33,000-square-foot health care hub for Kaleida.

The project fits into Kaleidas strategy to build outpatient and ambulatory space as part of the health systems growth, a focus that was largely on pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Michael P. Hughes, a senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Kaleida.

The strategy post-Covid is to look at our geographic footprint and where can we improve access while simultaneously reducing cost by consolidating existing locations into more modern, efficient and convenient locations that co-locate services patients routinely access during a visit, Hughes said.

While the Lockport sites programming is not finalized  and wont be until the project gets through the planning process  Hughes said the goal is to create a centralized location for womens health, primary care, cardiology and potentially imaging and blood draw.

This project is all about improving accessibility for patients that we serve in northern Erie, eastern Niagara County, he said.

Buffalo Medical Groups hub

Just 3 miles down South Transit Road from Kaleidas planned site, contractors are busy on the first floor of the former First Niagara administrative headquarters at 6950 S. Transit Road in Pendleton.

Miter saws bite into wood. Brooms brush against the dusty floor. And the radio blares, at one moment during a recent visit, to Aerosmiths Dream On.

Buffalo Medical Group expects to open its new 19,000-square-foot health care hub in early January.

The site, with 40 exam rooms, will have a big emphasis on primary care, with six full-time primary care physicians on site. There also will be rotating specialists, in areas such as oncology, orthopedics, podiatry and urology.

In terms of ancillary services, Buffalo Medical Groups new hub will have a laboratory blood draw, X-ray imaging services, ultrasound and oncology/infusion services.

Jeffrey Johns, director of marketing and communications for Buffalo Medical Group, said the hub will meet a need in what they see as an underserved community.

Lockport is really kind of growing and expanding as far as new developments and new business moving into this area, he said. And we just felt that this was a great location, kind of centrally located between East Amherst, Lockport, Pendleton, North Tonawanda. It was really easily accessible, and its just a great location, all on the first floor easily accessible to all of our patients.
Worship music emanating from the Wonder Church fills a concrete cathedral on Sundays in a most unlikely place  a long-vacant 1910 grain elevator, where rows of 200-foot-tall silos, running alongside the Michigan Street Bridge to the banks of the Buffalo River, once milled flaxseed to make linseed oil.

The churchs previous location  a bar  wasnt exactly out of the traditional church playbook, either.

The authenticity and the realness of the people makes the Wonder Church special, said LaCherie Reid, adorned in a cream sweater dress and matching hat on Nov. 19 for the nondenominational service.

Around her, families wore Zubaz and other Bills clothing, reflecting Pastor Joe Vacantis welcome to come as you are.

I loved the unconventionality of the bar, Reid said. It felt comfortable, and it set the tone for this. But to have a place to call home, and a place specifically meant to worship and to praise God, and to do it with the people you love, and the fact were standing in Buffalo history as we pray for our city, is a transcendent feeling.

This story is about the Wonder Church and its new space. But even more, its about church leaders Kate and Joe Vacanti and a nonprofit they founded that serves families in Sierra Leone, and the 150,000 meals of rice, lentils, protein vitamin powder, dehydrated vegetables and vegetarian chicken flavoring it can now pack in the grain elevator and send in a 40-foot shipping container to the West African country.

The Clarence couple founded and help sustain a 30-acre school campus, called Hope Rising Academy, in one of the poorest countries in the world, providing predominantly Muslim children with education, health care and nutrition.

If we had to say what has informed why we do what we do, its really as simple as love your neighbor as yourself,  Joe Vacanti said. If your neighbor is thirsty and you have water, give them water. If they need food, feed them. If they need health care, help them. Thats how our faith informs what we do.

We wanted to make it faith-based, but take down any barriers, including over religion, Kate Vacanti said.

When Hope Rising Together, the Vacantis nonprofit organization, outgrew its 3,000-square-foot space in Clarence, it bought the Spencer Kellogg & Sons grain elevator at 395 Ganson St., now named Hope Rising Silo, to package the fortified meals not far from the couples privately owned Wonder Coffeehouse Buffalo location, on the same stretch. The charity and Wonder Church both moved into the hulking grain elevator in June.

Reuse of grain elevators is rare.

Buffalo RiverWorks  where Wonder Church members previously worshipped and is also on Ganson Street  has a brewery and service area in a grain elevator, and a developer is converting a mill and warehouse building in nearby Silo City into apartments. In 2018, Young + Wright Architectural moved its firm into the former Buffalo Malting Corp.

But a church setting up shop in a grain elevator, anywhere?

This may well be a first.

Starting small

The Wonder Church, the Wonder Coffeehouse  the wonder of it all, really  started with a single water well.

The spark to do so came when the Vacantis heard a speaker at a church conference say 1 billion people in the world lacked access to clean water and 400,000 children were dying every year from water-related diseases. Churches should be involved with the world, the speaker said that day, and do something about it.

I dont think we heard much else because that really shocked us, especially with our medical backgrounds, Kate Vacanti said.

Kate, 43, had worked as a labor and delivery nurse, and Joe, 46, was a pharmacist, before the couple, who met at the University at Buffalo, began working together as youth pastors.

They started with the modest goal of funding one well a year, which they accomplished in 2009, shortly after Hope Rising Together was certified as a charity.

The choice on where to put the well was purely happenstance: A charity with ties to someone they knew was drilling wells in Sierra Leone and did the well for them.

Kate Vacantis first trip to the southern province in the nation was eye-opening and heartbreaking.

She watched children try to drink from holes in the ground, and tried in vain to save the life of a boy dying from drinking dirty water from a stream.

Vacanti took him to a medical clinic, but with only 70 doctors in a country of 7 million, there was no one to see. The boy died.

A short film Vacanti made and showed at a Kingdom Bound Ministries music festival at Darien Lake raised $75,000, enough to drill 15 wells.

Needing to drill deeper wells because of the dry season, a supporter donated a $1 million drill rig in 2016, allowing them to reach a second aquifer.

To date, 150 wells serving 65,000 people in an area the size of Erie County have been drilled. Fifteen to 20 new wells are drilled annually, and a well maintenance team keeps them in working order.

Five wells were drilled for Buffalos Jericho Road Community Health Center, which operates a clinic in eastern Sierra Leone. Jericho Road reciprocated by working with a prospective medical hire for Hope Rising Academys health center.

Hope Rising Academy, in its second site after outgrowing the first, is a five-hour drive from the capital city of Freetown. The campus has grown by leaps and bounds in a country where one in three kids attend school, one in five children dont reach their fifth birthday and one in 17 women die in childbirth.

The health center was created by the charity because of scarce medical services. Hot lunches were added to address wide-scale malnutrition that prevented children from staying awake and concentrating. A backpack and uniform, considered luxuries, are supplied to each student.

The campus includes a dormitory for 25 at-risk girls in danger of being sold into early marriage or rescued from human trafficking. The malnutrition program serves about 50 babies at a time, and provides a weeks worth of food and weekly checkups to families.

The cost to support the campus includes the salaries of 60 full-time teachers, nurses and social workers.

Funding comes from an annual gala, fundraising letters and a sustainers program, in which 450 supporters commit $40 a month to adopt a student. That helps meet annual budgets that have gone as high as $800,000, all done without the benefit of a single grant.

We are from Buffalo and people are generous, The City of Good Neighbors,  Kate Vacanti said.

Coffee with a slice of history

The Wonder Coffeehouse is in a former brick firehouse, reflecting the deep commitment of the Vacantis to revitalize Buffalo history.

We really wanted to make a difference in our own city, as well, Kate Vacanti said. Our history defines us as a city, and as generations go on, its easy to forget where we came from. Things become cool, but they were also built and forged through a lot of difficulty and struggle.

The painted-on sign hearkens back to the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, while outside the entrance are shipping containers that refer to the charity.

I think the best kind of history is the one that you can use so it doesnt just sit like a museum, she said.

The Wonder Coffeehouses uplifting vibe since opening in December 2019 with carefully curated food and branded apparel, belies the challenges it has faced.

The pandemic came three months after opening. Then the Michigan Street Bridge closed for repairs for a year, forcing cars to drive to the other end of Kelly Island to circle back to the coffee shop. When that bridge reopened, the Ohio Street Bridge at the other end of Ganson closed for repairs.

The building has been hit by lightning, the roof was partially blown off twice, and the City of Buffalo didnt help matters when it announced cars should avoid Ganson Street after approving an emergency demolition of the Great Northern grain elevator across the street in December 2020.

There is no reason the coffee shop should even still be here, Joe Vacanti said.

The Wonder Church began in September 2018 at Buffalo RiverWorks. Before the service, volunteers would spend more than two hours rolling out carpeting, setting up chairs and lights, getting the projection and sound systems ready and hanging curtains. Afterward, everything went back into storage one floor below.

It was time for a permanent home, but the Vacantis had their hands full when they took over the grain elevator.

Old grain and decomposing seeds in silos. A 20,000-foot roof in need of replacement. Missing siding from the penthouse and tower. A smell that permeated the structure.

We really saved the building and a piece of history while that one was being torn down, Kate Vacanti said, referring to the Great Northern, toppled by Archer-Daniels-Midland.

Vacanti worked with architect Doug Klotzbach, who helped design the coffee shop, to reimagine the space. That included exposing the inside of two of the elevators 20 silos, bathing them in blue light to add to their sense of wonder.

What appear at first glance to be stained-glass windows are actually made with vinyl graphics.

We wanted to do a stained-glass look without a stained-glass cost, Kate Vacanti said.

Renovation of the 20,000-square-foot space cost $3.1 million, with $1.6 million left to pay back in loans.

Sometimes the sheer weight of their obligations feels overwhelming.

This morning I was like, Sell it, I dont know why we did this, Kate Vacanti said. Ill say to my teenage kids, Im done, and theyre like, No, youre not. Youll get some Bible verse or some encouraging thing and youll just start again. Im like, Cant anyone believe me when I say Im done? They just laugh.

Its our love for God and our love for people that keeps us resilient, Joe Vacanti said, because nothing about this has ever been easy.

A joyous sound

Rail cars used to rumble along tracks behind the churchs makeshift stage to pick up flaxseed.

On a recent Sunday, songs of praise to Jesus reverberated, as Joe Vacanti and Bella, his 17-year-old daughter, took turns singing to enraptured congregants.

Joe Vacantis conversational-style sermon was sprinkled with humor about the Bills.

Please do not be berating Josh Allen and the players. If you do, and they ask you, Where do you go to church?, give them another church name, anything. Do not say you go to Wonder, Vacanti said, drawing chuckles from the audience.

The service is a family affair, also including Kate as co-pastor, Gavin, 15, on drums and vocals, and Gabe, 19, handling production.

The Wonder Church meets people where they are, because were on the journey, too, Joe Vacanti said afterward. Thats the difference between speaking at people and speaking as one of them.

BJ Stasio, an advocate for people with disabilities who motors his wheelchair to the church from his Buffalo River Landing apartment, feels that difference.

Its Joes and Kates and Wonders love for me, he said, that makes me want to come here.
An indictment was unsealed Thursday in Niagara County Court charging an Atlanta man with second-degree murder in a fatal shooting that occurred on Oct. 2 in Niagara Falls, according to District Attorney Brian D. Seaman.

In a news release, Seaman said Matthew Glass, 24, also was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and with third-degree witness tampering. The victim was identified as Robert Miller. No age or place of residence was provided for Miller by the District Attorneys Office.

Glass was arraigned before County Judge John J. Ottaviano, who ordered him held without bail in the Niagara County Jail. Glass was scheduled to return to court on Dec. 14.

 Harold McNeil
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, November 30, 2023

Mixed economic signals continue to cloud the visibility of the near- and long-term advertising marketplace, including just released data from OAREX Capital Markets showing a rise in the percentage of digital media payments that are made late or are underpaid.

The data, the first of a new quarterly snapshot developed by OAREX for MediaPost, complements its more granular semi-annual reports, and does not break out payments made by agencies vs. the programmatic supply chain, but it shows that the demand-side overall is keeping its cash close to its vest.

"We can't pinpoint causality with our data but believe a combination of factors are at play and influencing a higher frequency of late payments from demand partners. These factors include cash flow management, reducing their carrying costs for capital and risk mitigation," explains OAREX Executive Vice President Nick Carrabbia.

advertisement advertisement

In terms of underpayments, Carrabbia notes that they rose to an all-time high (21% of all payments) during the third quarter, which he attributed primarily to "recent industry bankruptcies and the resulting sequential liability that rippled through the supply chain."

While it's unclear whether the media payments data is a lagging or leading indicator of advertising economy, recent data from Guideline's and MediaPost's U.S. Ad Market Tracker has shown monthly increases in ad spending, and this week, influential ad market analyst Brian Wieser upgraded his ad growth forecasts for 2023 and 2024 by nearly a percentage point from an earlier forecast released in September.

On Monday, the Big 3 agency holding company forecasting units -- IPG Mediabrands' Magna, WPP's GroupM Business Intelligence, and Publicis' Zenith Media -- will release their year-end forecast updates.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 30, 2023

Meta Platforms on Wednesday escalated its battle with the Federal Trade Commission by claiming in a new lawsuit that the agency's structure, including its ability to conduct in-house hearings, is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit -- which comes as Meta and the FTC are battling over teens' data -- includes a request to prevent the agency from moving forward with a hearing that could result in an order prohibiting Meta from using teens' data for ad targeting or algorithms.

Meta respectfully requests that this court declare that certain fundamental aspects of the Commissions structure violate the U.S. Constitution, and that these violations render unlawful the FTC proceeding against Meta, the company's lawyers write in a complaint brought in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

Earlier this week, a federal judge rejected a separate request by Meta to stop the FTC from moving forward with its effort to prohibit the company's use of minors' data. Meta is appealing that decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

advertisement advertisement

Meta's new complaint raises a host of constitutional claims, including that FTC administrative hearings -- at which the agency serves as both prosecutor and judge -- deprive companies of due process of law. Among other arguments, Meta claims that such hearings deprive it of a constitutional right to a jury trial.

The current battle between the FTC and Meta began in May, when the agency sought to modify a 2020 settlement of charges that Meta allowed Cambridge Analytica and other outside developers to access users' data.

That settlement required Meta to pay $5 billion, and called for the company to implement new privacy oversight and obtain an independent assessment.

In May, the FTC sought to modify the settlement by launching an administrative proceeding that could result in an order prohibiting Meta from monetizing teens' data. Several weeks later, Meta sued to block the FTC from continuing with the administrative case, arguing that the agency shouldn't be able to unilaterally impose new settlement terms.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington, D.C., who approved the 2020 settlement, ruled that he lacked jurisdiction to rule on the proposed modifications.

Meta now says in its new petition that the FTC's attempt to revise the 2020 order represents an obvious power grab.

The company also characterized the FTC's in-house hearing as an illegitimate proceeding by an illegitimate decision maker.

Meta's challenge to the FTC's constitutionality comes as the Supreme Court is considering whether to limit federal agencies' power. Earlier this week, that court heard arguments about the Securities and Exchange Commission's ability to bring enforcement actions at administrative proceedings -- as opposed to in court.

The court is also expected to soon consider the extent to which federal agencies can issue regulations. Business groups and conservatives support some of the current efforts to curb agencies' authority.

Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), who has proposed legislation that would restrict companies' ability to collect data from teens, criticized Meta's new lawsuit.

When a Big Tech company wants to take the federal cop off the beat, its probably because it doesnt want to be caught, Markey stated. Meta's adoption of extreme, right-wing legal theories to challenge our countrys premier, consumer protection agency reeks of desperation.

John Davisson, director of litigation and senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center -- which also supports new restrictions on data collection -- also suggested Meta's new lawsuit lacks merit.

I think it raises lots of implausible constitutional theories about why longstanding FTC and administrative enforcement practices and structures are supposedly unconstitutional, he tells MediaPost.

He added that the lawsuit might simply be a way for Meta to buy more time, in hopes that the FTC will change its position.

I think it is an opportunity to extend the clock for Meta, he says. I'm cautiously optimistic that the court will see this for what it is -- one more serial attempt by Meta to delay the agency adjudication that should take place in this case.

Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman questioned Meta's strategy in targeting the FTC.

It takes a lot of gumption for Facebook to basically try to negate the primary consumer protection agency with authority over it, he tells MediaPost. That's not exactly the best marketing message for Facebook to send to the public.

He added that Facebook may be attacking the FTC at an existential level because the company perceives itself as under threat.
by Ray Schultz , November 30, 2023

Popular Science, the magazine that popularized many wonky subjects for readers, publishing such authors as Charles Darwin in its 151 years, is no more.

The periodical has stopped publishing its online magazine, its print edition having been halted three years ago, according to The New York Times.

However, it continues to publish content on its website, including articles and video, and offers a podcast titled, The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week, the Times reports.

Axios had reported earlier in November that Popular Science owner Recurrent Ventures had cut 13 staff positions and that only five editorial staff members remained.

advertisement advertisement

According to the Times, Recurrent Ventures spokesperson Cathy Hebert issued this statement:

Like most media companies, Recurrent is adapting to the evolving landscape of its audience. Whether its due to shifting patterns in social media, an increase in consumer demand for video or shifting advertising budgets  which have also increasingly moved toward video  its clear that change is a consistent theme.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, November 30, 2023

Nearly four months after departing Dentsu as CEO of media in the Americas, Doug Rozen has landed as CMO of ecommerce marketing technology supplier Rokt.

Prior to joining Dentsu's 360i as Chief Media Officer in 2018, Rozen was Chief Digital & Innovation Officer of Omnicom's OMD unit.
by Colin Kirkland , November 30, 2023

As part of its Project Clover security and sustainability program, TikTok has announced a 12 billion investment in Europe over the next 10 years.

The company, which has been trying to distance itself from concerns around user data being accessed by the Chinese government, says it has embarked on the first phase of turning on its new data center in Norway that will ultimately store European TikTok user data.

We will now begin installing and testing servers in this first building, with the goal of commencing user data migration by next summer, the company reports, adding that the two other buildings at the Norway site will begin storing data toward the end of 2025 -- making up the largest data center in Europe, running entirely on renewable energy.

advertisement advertisement

The social-media company first announced its plan to open European data centers in 2020. The first center, based in Ireland, became operational this past September.

All of this work revolves around TikTok's ongoing efforts to prove that sensitive user data is not accessible to China's government, and that the company is complying with new European data regulations put in place by Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA).

Over the past year, several countries in Europe -- as well as the European Parliament and the European Commission -- banned TikTok from staff phones due to concerns that TikTok's attachment to its China-owned parent company ByteDance is putting user security at risk.

Project Clover aims to address these concerns via the data centers and new data access and control processes.

For example, the company has begun working with the NCC Group, an independent third-party security company that oversees TikTok's approach to data security, including auditing and verifying our data controls and protections, monitoring data flows, and reporting any incidents.

The company says it has also implemented privacy enhancing technologies to double down on its processes to protect user data.

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 vice president 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.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 1, 2023

A federal judge has blocked enforcement of Montana's ban on TikTok, ruling that the bill likely violates the First Amendment and represents an unconstitutional attempt to regulate interstate commerce.

The ban oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional rights of users and businesses, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula wrote in a 48-page decision issued late Thursday.

The decision comes in response to two lawsuits challenging the ban -- one by a coalition of TikTok users, and a second one by TikTok, owned by the Chinese-company ByteDance.

Montana's law, which had been slated to take effect January 1, would have prohibited app stores from offering TikTok to users in Montana, and prohibited people from using TikTok in the state (with some exceptions, including for law enforcement). The measure wouldn't have penalized users, but provided for sanctions starting at $10,000 per violation against TikTok and mobile app marketplaces.

advertisement advertisement

Other states have banned the app from government-owned devices or networks, but Montana alone attempted to prohibit use of the app on personal smartphones.

Montana lawmakers who passed the bill expressed concerns that ByteDance shares data about U.S. users with the Chinese government.

The Montana legislature also accused TikTok of failing to remove dangerous content that allegedly encourages young users to engage in risky activity, such as throwing objects at moving automobiles, inducing unconsciousness through oxygen deprivation, and cooking chicken in NyQuil.

TikTok argued to Molloy that the ban would unconstitutionally shut down a platform that hundreds of thousands of individuals in Montana use to engage in constitutionally protected speech.

The company also said there was no evidence the app had been used for espionage on behalf of a foreign government.

Molloy said in his decision blocking the law that it wasn't narrowly tailored to either preventing China from accessing data about U.S. residents, or protecting minors from accessing dangerous material.

It is well-established that other social media companies, such as Meta, collect similar data as TikTok, and sell that data to undisclosed third parties, which harms consumers, he wrote.

Additionally, there are many ways in which a foreign adversary, like China, could gather data from Montanans. For example, it could do so by 'purchasing information from data brokers (a practice in which U.S. intelligence agencies also engage), conducting open-source intelligence gathering, and hacking operations, he added.

He also said the bill wouldn't reasonably prevent minors from accessing dangerous content.

It is not hard to imagine how a minor may access dangerous content on the Internet, or on other social media platforms, even if TikTok is banned, he wrote.

The decision comes around six weeks after a hearing at which Molloy appeared skeptical of the law.

Seems like there are a lot of things that could have been done short of an outright ban, Molloy said during a 70-minute hearing over the law's constitutionality.

State Solicitor General Christian Corrigan argued at the hearing that the ban was aimed at protecting Montana residents' privacy.

But Molloy countered that TikTok users voluntarily provide data to the app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.

Your argument just confuses me, Molloy told Corrigan.

If they want to give that information ... how is it that you can protect them? Molloy added. That's sort of a paternalistic argument."
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 1, 2023

Watchdogs in Europe are blasting Meta over its decision to charge Facebook and Instagram users for ad-free versions of the apps.

The large umbrella group European Consumer Organization said in a complaint filed Thursday with consumer protection authorities that Meta uses unfair, deceptive and aggressive practices when informing consumers about the new ad-free plans.

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, Ursula Pachl, deputy director general of the European Consumer Organization, stated.

The organization's complaint comes in response to Meta's new ad-free options that allow residents of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland to pay around $11 or $14 a month (depending on location) for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram on Android or iOS operating systems. People in those areas can continue to access ad-free versions of Instagram and Facebook, but only if they accept personalized ads.

advertisement advertisement

Meta has said its new paid option will enable it to comply with recent decisions interpreting privacy regulations -- including ruling requiring the company to obtain consumers' express consent to online behavioral advertising.

But the European Consumer Organization and 19 of its members contrend that Meta is giving consumers misleading and incomplete information about the plans, and also uses aggressive techniques that force people to make fast decisions.

Through persistence and by creating a sense of urgency, Meta pushes consumers into making a choice they might not want to take, the group stated.

The organization also says Meta misleads consumers by characterizing the version with ads as free, arguing that consumers who use the non-paid service pay by providing Meta with their data.

Earlier in the week, the privacy activist organization nyob (none of your business) filed separate complaint about Meta's new plans with Austria's privacy regulator.

That group said Meta's fees were too high, and warned that other tech companies could follow Meta's lead.

If Meta is successful in defending this new approach, it is likely to set off a domino effect, the group wrote. Already now, TikTok is reportedly testing an ad-free subscription outside the US. Other app providers could follow in the near future, making online privacy unaffordable.
by Teresa Buyikian , December 1, 2023

The year may be coming to a close soon, but that isnt slowing down new store openings and menu items. Here are a few of the latest.

New Locations

California Pizza Kitchen announced the opening of its latest franchise location in the Philippines, which marks the chains 24th international location. The California-based brand now has more than 180 restaurants across 11 countries and U.S. territories.

Chicken Salad Chick announced two new store openings this week for the fast casual restaurant. The first, in Norfolk, Virginia, is the chains seventh location in the state. The brand also opened its fourth location in the Jacksonville, Florida, market in The Pavilion at Durbin Park.

White Castle recently celebrated the opening last Tuesday of its new restaurant in Tempe, Arizona with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by a Tempe-area couple who met at a White Castle restaurant over 72 years ago. The couple, both in their 90s, met at a Chicago White Castle in early 1951 and married just a few months later. The new White Castle is the second location in Arizona. The first opened in October 2019 in Scottsdale.

advertisement advertisement

New Menu Items

Maggianos Little Italy announced its new December menu, centered around a three-course holiday offering of two salads and a choice from a list of 14 starters, 10 pastas and 11 entrees. Sample items include appetizers like Stuffed Mushrooms and entrees such as Branzino Crab Imperial, Beef Tenderloin Medallions and Four-Cheese Ravioli. For those ordering takeout, Maggianos will offer two different Holiday Bundles. The first is available between Dec. 14 and Dec. 24, will be served hot and ready-to-eat and can feed 5-6 people. The second is a New Year's Carryout Bundle for two or four people available from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1.

Noodles & Company will launch CrispiDays beginning Dec. 6, releasing a new holiday themed limited-edition flavor of its Crispy dessert every day until Dec. 12 for $3 each. The exact ingredients in each new Crispy wont be announced until each day at 9 A.M. EST via the Noodles & Co. website and Instagram account, but the flavor names are The Wonderland Crispy on Dec. 6; Eight Toasty Nights on Dec. 7; Home for the Holidays on Dec. 8; Oh Deer, Reindeer! on Dec. 9; Crispy Confetti on Dec. 10; Naughty & Nice on Dec. 11; and Buddys Crispy on Dec. 12.

announced a new limited-time-only version of its famous Baconator. The Pretzel Baconator contains grilled beef, American cheese and six strips of Applewood smoked bacon on a warm pretzel bun.
An investigation that began eight months ago led to the arrest of a Buffalo city worker Thursday afternoon on Bailey Avenue and simultaneous raids at multiple locations at which Erie County Sheriffs Office narcotics detectives seized about 10 kilos of suspected cocaine, law enforcement officials announced Friday.

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia, joined by members of the Erie County District Attorneys Office, Buffalo Police Department and the FBI announced the arrest of Bernard Brown, 50, who was a laborer in the citys Streets Department.

'You don't know what's in there': Police sound alarm after six die from suspected overdoses in Buffalo Buffalo police issued a warning Monday to the public about the sudden rash of overdose deaths that happened in different parts of the city.

Brown, who was hired in 2018, was suspended without pay following the arrest, said Michael J. DeGeorge, spokesman for Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown.

Standing behind a pile of suspected cocaine, pressure-sealed into plastic-covered bricks, a bag filled with cash and a handgun that was loaded with armor-piercing ammunition, law enforcement officials announced Bernard Browns arrest.

Garcia also said his deputies were searching for a suspect in an unrelated case: He said a BOLO  Be On the Look Out  has been issued for Naim Tabb, 24, who fled from traffic stop on Monday. Hes wanted on multiple felony drug possession and sale charges of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Police seized a Ruger-5.7  the one in an evidence bag shown to the media Friday  from a Sage Avenue address as part of the investigation. He has two open cases against him, officials said  one related to fentanyl and the other for weapons possession. Authorities said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Weve been in touch with his attorney. Hopefully, we can get him to turn himself in and take him off the street, said Michael Keane, First Deputy DA.

Sheriffs detectives with the offices Narcotics and Intelligence Unit were working with Buffalo police and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force on Bernard Browns case.

Eight months it took to nail this thing down, said D.J. Granville, Chief of Detectives of the sheriffs narcotics unit.

It was team work. A lot  a lot  of surveillance. Time away from our families. We did electronics surveillance. Ground and air surveillance, Granville said.

Late Monday afternoon, the sheriffs helicopter surveilled Browns movement from a distance until investigators caught up with him on Bailey.

He attempted to take off in a vehicle, Granville said. The detectives were able to box him in and stop him from fleeing. Brown was taken into custody and arraigned in Buffalo City Court on multiple felony drug charges and was remanded to jail without bail.

'You don't know what's in there': Police sound alarm after six die from suspected overdoses in Buffalo Buffalo police issued a warning Monday to the public about the sudden rash of overdose deaths that happened in different parts of the city.

Granville said the investigation was continuing and more arrests were expected.

He also said that Browns alleged drug dealing did not take place during the times he was working his city job. Brown also has two prior convictions in federal court on cocaine charges

A couple of weeks ago, Buffalo police put out an urgent alert after a sudden spike in fatal overdoses involving crack and powder cocaine believed to be laced with fentanyl.

The suspected cocaine that was seized in the Brown investigation had not yet been tested but appeared to still be packaged in bricks, which probably meant that it hadnt been cut with another substance, such as fentanyl, police said.

Cocaine is whats being cut, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said. The large seizure of cocaine is going to save a lot of lives, he said.

Garcia spoke of the growing number of people dying in Erie County of overdoses related to fentanyl. 371 Erie County residents dead so far this year with a month to go, he said.

We talk about shootings. Homicides, Garcia said. This is a serious issue that we have in front of us.
by Colin Kirkland , December 1, 2023

While Elon Musk continues to drive advertisers away from X, Meta's copycat social-messaging platform is making moves to expand across the EU.

The X-alternative app should become available to millions of European users some time this month.

Threads-- which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said had reached 100 million users last month -- has not been available in the EU because of emerging privacy regulations put forth by the regions Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to protect user privacy and prevent tech giants from engaging in monopolistic behavior.

In January, the Irish Data Protection Commission fined Meta over $400 million for its use of user data on Facebook and Instagram. That was followed in May by an unparalleled $1.3 billion penalty for Meta's transferring of EU users data to the U.S.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Meta has figured out a way to comply with budding regulations while vastly expanding Threads' reach.

advertisement advertisement

To comply with [EU] regulations, Meta will give EU users the choice of using Threads purely for consumption without a profile that allows them to make their own posts, the Journal writes.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri also said recently that Threads users across the globe will now be able to delete their Threads accounts without also having to delete their Instagram accounts as well, addressing a major concern over a potential social-media monopoly.

Going live in the EU could attract as many as 40 million additional monthly users for Threads over the next year, notes the Journal.

But in terms of user base, the boost would still put Threads behind X, which has about 365 million monthly active users, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower.

However, X is facing a severe loss of advertising dollars due to the platform's inability to protect brands' ads from appearing next to harmful and hateful content, as well as Musk's unpredictable and offensive antics.
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy Privacy Policy , and our Terms of Use
Across India (well, most of it, anyway), winter is settling in for the coming next months in various phases. In some parts, people have already taken out the thick blankets - while in others, the slight nip in the air in the early mornings and late evenings are making them turn off their ACs and fans. And, amongst it all, winter lovers are rubbing their hands in glee  having finally put the sweltering summers behind and also because it helps to kind of feel warmer in the enveloping chill. Haters gonna hate, but winters are absolutely the best time of the year - and these 14 reasons prove why.

1. No More Sweat



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

The sickly heat, crazy humidity and the buckets of sweat are a thing of the past - till next summer anyway. For now, there's no more sweat, no more embarrassing sweat stains - and the best of them all, no more sweat stink (which is a godsent for those who commute by public transport)!

2. Cozy Weekend Mornings



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

While it IS hard to wake up on winter mornings during the week, it is adequately compensated by the lazy Sunday mornings when you wake up late, with the fluffy blankets still warm and the cold winter sun shining out behind the window curtains. Sleeping in on summers does not have the same blessed feeling as during winters.

3. Ek Cutting Chai Under The Winter Sun



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

There are very few simple pleasures in life like a hot cup of tea (or coffee) enjoyed under the benevolent winter sun. Whether you are a broke college student, or a busy corporate employee - whether it is a cutting chai from the chai-wala by the street, or a cappuccino at CCD - the few minutes of sipping this steaming beverage while warmed out in the sun is pure joy.

4. Bonfires



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Those who do not know the delight of a winter bonfire don't know what they are missing out on. Huddled together with friends or family, passing out munchies, sharing old stories or playing silly games - as the yellow-and-red flames rise into the cold night air is something that is getting lost in the snowballing urbanity and the scarcity of time.

5. Old Monk



 Facebook

Actually, the correct thing to say would be - dark rum, but who are we kidding? If it's rum, it's got to be Old Monk! There is literally no better alcohol during winters than this dark, delicious drink. The fact that it gives absolutely no hangovers and is so easy on the pocket only makes us love the Monk even more.

6. Winter Fashion More Fun



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Firstly, it is so much easier to be fashionable during the winters - mix and match, layer it up or improvise! Winters make colors more fun than summers - the brighter they are, the warmer they look. Secondly, too-skinny people can look better-shaped - and overweight people can hide their bulges so much better with winter clothing.

7. Fresh Air, Fresh Air Everywhere!



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

It is not like there is no pollution during winter - but the first wave of the chilly air that greets you when you step out of your home in the morning is as invigorating as it is biting. And the cool aura of a crisp winter evening makes you want to skip that daily ride and walk a short way home instead.

8. Vacation Time



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Another great thing in favor of winter is the amazing vacation possibilities during this time. You can either pack off to Himachal for the snow and scenery or to Goa for a gala beach holiday - and between either end of this spectrum, there lies so many more other possibilities!

9. Street Food Gets Tastier



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Momos? Samosas? Kathi Rolls? Kababs? These and so much more become 100 times more appetizing during winter. The piping hot pakodas at the street vendor's stall are like little crisp heat-emitting balls that warm you from the inside, the waft of their tantalizing aroma calling you from across the road.

10. Varieties Of Fresh Veggies



 Flickr/Meena Kadri

Even for the health-conscious who still prefer 'ghar ka khana' over junk food love winter because the sabzi-wala has all kinds of vegetables for your kitchen. From radishes to spinach to yams - the domestic menu becomes so much more interesting and creative during the cold season.

11. Under Blanket Activities



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

For those with a dirty mind - yeah, besides that there are other things too. Being able to cuddle up with your favorite book and your softest blanket is what makes winter the favorite season for most bookworms. Also, watching movies wrapped up in a blanket is just the best feeling - especially horror movies. You can cover yourself up during the scary bits - and once the movie is over, you can go to sleep under the protection of the blanket to... you know, keep the monsters out and stuff. Whatever.

12. No More Mosquitoes



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Although the air pollution during Diwali takes care of all the mosquitoes in the metropolitan cities in India, it is winter that eliminates the rest of them - along with the other annoying bugs and flies. Pesky little things!

13. Daily Showers: Not Mandatory



 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

We do not mean not taking a bath for a week - but if it's the weekend, and you have no plans but to sit at home and chill, and you're warm in your pajamas and socks - it's kind of okay to not take a shower, you know? Or, during the morning rush to office/college, it is something that you can afford to put a little lower on your priority list. Know what I am saying?

14. Most. Festive. Season. Ever



 Flickr/Kevin Doole

Hello, it's the wedding season! Plus, there's Christmas. And New Year. And Lohri/Magh Bihu/Pongal/Bhogi-just name it. Even Valentine's Day, for crying out loud! Party animals are figuratively in heat during this season - living the good life.

Photo:  VB Pictures (Main Image)
A Buffalo woman pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing nearly $55,000 in her grandmothers state pension payments paid after she died, according to the state Comptrollers Office.

Bernadette Russell, 55, pleaded guilty to a charge of grand larceny, the Comptrollers Office said in a news release.

The investigation began last year when the Comptrollers Office received a phone call from a person purporting to be the grandmother, who died in October 2019. The caller was asking why she had not received her July pension payment. The call came from a phone number registered to Russell, according to the Comptrollers Office.

The deceased womans family did not notify the state retirement system of her death. The retirement system stopped payments in July 2022 when it learned of her death.

Russell is scheduled to be sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Paul Wojtaszek on Feb. 8.

 Aaron Besecker
How did the Russian Civil War betray a popular revolution? MHM Editor Neil Faulkner assesses the historical significance of the conflict.

It matched in scale, drama, and significance the American Civil War half a century before. Yet the Russian Civil War, which began a century ago this year, is only dimly remembered. The conflict raged across Eurasia for four years, claimed approximately 15 million lives, and reconfigured the whole of 20th-century history.

The human cost was astronomical. We can compare it with the American Civil War, which killed two-thirds of a million, about 2% of the population, more than in all the other wars in US history combined. Or with the First World War, which claimed the lives of about 3 million Russians, among some 15 million across the world as a whole.

Compare these figures with the Russian Civil War, where an estimated 1.5 million combatants died and up to 12 million civilians succumbed to cold, hunger, and disease. This was almost 10% of the population. It was a national disaster on a similar scale to that of the Second World War: the estimates of numbers lost between 1941 and 1945 are higher, at 20 million, but they represent a somewhat similar proportion of the population at the time.

One little-understood consequence of this was that the Russian Revolution was smashed. A mass social movement of workers, soldiers, sailors, and peasants had taken power in October 1917. This people power had been organised in mass participatory assemblies (soviets). Hundreds of thousands had regularly attended meetings of these organs of democracy from below. The decrees issued at the top had reflected the demands flowing up from the bottom; and their implementation had been contingent on mass action at the base.

By the end of the Civil War, this huge social movement was stone dead. The national infrastructure had been devastated: 7,000 bridges, 1,700km of railway line, and 90,000km of telegraph wire had been destroyed. An international blockade had reduced Russian imports from 967 million pounds (a Russian unit of measurement) in 1913 to 0.5 million in 1919, and Russian exports from 1,472 million to 0.0001 million. Industrial production was down to about 15% of its pre-1914 level.

The factory working-class had shrunk from 2.5 million to barely a million. Wages had been reduced to a third of their pre-war level. The cities, starved of food, fuel, and raw materials, had emptied, as destitute people fled into the countryside. Those who remained at the workbenches were too ragged, cold, hungry, and desperate to have any time for political meetings: the mere struggle for existence consumed them.

With the Whites defeated, the economy at ground-zero, society ripped apart, the Russian people numbed into passivity, the only effective national force still operating was the increasingly authoritarian party-state bureaucracy.

The men and women who had made the revolution had been sucked into the administration and the army. Others had joined them, desperate for a job, hoping for a career. The Communist Party swelled to three-quarters of a million. Here was the new power: not the masses, not the soviets, not democracy from below; but the party  the Party  and the embryonic state apparatus it controlled.

The American Civil War had saved the union and destroyed slavery. The Russian Civil War suffocated the revolution, destroyed democracy, and cleared the way for Stalinist dictatorship. This was the unintended consequence of the actions of all the belligerents  the Reds, the Whites, and the Great Powers. The consequences of this have ricocheted down the decades to the present day.

This is an extract from an 18-page special feature on the Russian Civil War. Get the full story  including the events, strategy, and tactics of the war  in issue 86 of Military History Monthly.

Click here to subscribe to the magazine, and have it sent straight to your door every month.
An airman's remains were recovered from the wreckage of an Air Force Osprey that crashed this week off the coast of Japan and the seven other crew members aboard were still unaccounted for on Friday, according to the latest update from the service.

Air Force Special Operations Command said in a statement that "one set of remains has been recovered" and the other airmen on the Osprey were "duty status-whereabouts unknown," a term used by the military when the status of missing service members, including those lost at sea, cannot be confirmed.

Search-and-rescue efforts along the southwestern coast of Japan that began Wednesday were still ongoing Friday, the command said, and have included large numbers of U.S. military personnel and Japanese government assistance.

Read Next: Military to Curtail Recruiting and Duty Station Moves if Congress Resorts to a Yearlong Stopgap Budget, Joint Chiefs Chairman Warns

The deceased airman was identified as Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, according to a press release from his congressman, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.

"Staff Sgt. Galliher represented our nation's best, enlisting in the Air Force right out of high school and committing himself to serving his country," Neal wrote. "My thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his mother, father, wife and two sons."

A Facebook post from his local police department said Galliher was a 2017 high school graduate and leaves behind a wife and two young boys, one who is 2 years old and one who is six weeks old.

"To Jacob's family, friends, our community is [mourning] with you, and also the families of the other seven who have yet to be located," the Pittsfield Police Department wrote.

The other crew members of the Osprey who were still missing were not identified Friday.

The Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Pacific fleet, U.S. Marine Corps Pacific, Special Operations Command Pacific, the 353rd Special Operations Wing and the 18th Wing out of Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, as well as the 1st Special Forces Group, all contributed assets to the search.

The Japan Coast Guard, Japanese Self-Defense Forces and fishermen in the area were also helping. The Japanese were the first to report a death from the crash on Wednesday.

A Wednesday statement from Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey, assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing, was on a training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island -- between the Japanese mainland and Okinawa -- with the eight airmen aboard when it went down in the ocean.

Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said in a statement Friday that the Air Force unit that owned the Osprey had grounded its other Ospreys and additional inspections of the U.S. military's aircraft based in Japan were underway.

"The unit of the CV-22 that had the accident is not conducting flight operations," Singh said in an email Friday. "All V-22 Ospreys in Japan operate only after undergoing thorough maintenance and safety checks."

Japanese officials voiced public concerns about the dual-rotor aircraft, which can fly like helicopters or airplanes, following the incident and called for their own country's fleet of Ospreys to be grounded amid investigations into Wednesday's crash. 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 Associated Press reported.

Singh told reporters during a Pentagon press briefing Thursday that the department was not tracking an official request from the Japanese government. On Friday, she added that the Pentagon is keeping the Japanese government in the loop regarding its inspections.

"We have already started sharing information about the accident with our Japanese partners, and have pledged to continue to do so in a timely and transparent manner," Singh said in an emailed statement.

Military.com has extensively reported on safety issues -- including a mechanical clutch problem -- and recent deadly crashes of Air Force and Marine Corps Osprey aircraft.

On Sept. 14, within just two hours of each other, two Marine V-22 Ospreys in Japan diverted due to "cockpit caution indications" in the aircraft while flying near where the Air Force Osprey crashed this week.

Those Marine Corps aircraft landed safely, the service said at that time, and no injuries or fatalities were reported by the service.

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.

It's not yet clear what caused Wednesday's crash off Yakushima Island.

Editor's note: This story was updated with the identity of the airman whose remains were recovered from the crash.

-- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on X @TomNovelly.

Related: Fate of 8 Airmen Still Unknown as Search Mission Continues After Osprey Crashes Off Japan Coast
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, says that beginning Jan. 1 it will no longer sell alcohol between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. at its stores in the U.S. and around the world.

The change on Army and Air Force bases is meant to support the Pentagon's suicide prevention initiative, which said that limiting when alcohol is available "reduces heavy drinking and other adverse outcomes associated with alcohol misuse," including suicide, according to Defense Department research and recommendations.

Other initiatives listed in the recommendations by the suicide prevention committee, created by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in 2022, included increasing the price of alcohol sold on Pentagon property, establishing 24/7 sobriety programs for service members arrested or convicted for alcohol-related crimes, and banning the promotion of alcohol on military bases.

Read Next: Air Force Says One Crew Member Dead in Osprey Crash Off Japan's Coast, 7 Still Missing

"Consistent with the Department of Defense's Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee's recommendations, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is aligning the times alcohol can be sold to be consistent with that of DoD's other military exchanges," Chris Ward, a spokesperson for AAFES, told Military.com by email Friday.

The latest initiative affects 161 Express, Class Six and other exchange stores worldwide, according to Ward, who also indicated that the change would have little impact on sales for that time frame.

"Alcohol sales after 2200 and before 0600 at the 161 stores impacted accounted for less than 1% of total alcohol sales last year," he said.

Stars and Stripes reported that 25% of AAFES outlets sell alcohol in the soon-to-be-banned time frame. The publication also reported that the Navy Exchange stopped selling alcohol between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. at more than 100 locations a decade ago as a way to stop sexual assault and alcohol-related offenses.

"Junior enlisted service members spoke openly about their own excessive use, including how they recognized their own drinking was problematic," according to the report with the final recommendations of the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee.

"Other service members spoke about past alcohol-related convictions, especially driving under the influence (DUI) charges, and military law enforcement at every installation told us that excessive alcohol use is involved in most of the on-base incidents to which they respond," it added.

The study by the committee, which was an independent panel, said that 18% of service members who died by suicide in 2021 were diagnosed with an alcohol-use disorder. Other findings said that 10% of troops engaged in heavy drinking or binge drinking at least once per week over the month the study measured.

Outside of limited hours and banning alcohol promotion, the study recommended that additional training be implemented to prevent abusive alcohol consumption.

"Revised training should include modules and information about alcohol use and misuse, the alcohol content of drinks, what constitutes healthy versus unhealthy and excessive drinking, how alcohol impairs judgment and performance as well as increases risk for suicide and perpetrating sexual violence, and strategies for recognizing and addressing harmful drinking in oneself and others," it said.

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on X @df_lawrence.

Related: This Group Wants More Booze in the Commissary
FORT STEWART  Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Lopez enlisted in the U.S. Army as a wide-eyed 17-year-old straight out of high school. An infantryman for nearly half his life now, hes comfortable with a top-down command structure where officers tell him what to do and how to do it.

Even so, Lopez acknowledges the flaws in the Army way. Soldiers are issued equipment and told to go use it, and thats what you do, even if said equipment doesnt always work, Lopez said.

The Marne Innovation Center, a problem-solving hub located on this sprawling U.S. Army installation near Savannah, is empowering 3rd Infantry Division soldiers to address faulty equipment and other issues they encounter from the barracks to the battlefield.

Lopez is assigned to this military makerspace outfitted with powerful design computers, 3-D printers and fabrication equipment. The center has produced dozens of innovations in its short history: a mold-detection device useful in the bases sleeping quarters; a plastic clip that makes an ammo pouch for belt-loaded machine guns more easily accessible; and a plastic-and-silicone reproduction of a human arm used to train soldiers to apply tourniquets and treat major wounds.

The early returns reflect the success in building what the centers ranking officer, Capt. Christopher Flournoy, calls a culture of innovation at Fort Stewart. And why Army brass from the garrison to the Pentagon see the potential to replicate the Marne Innovation Center model elsewhere.

Looks can be deceiving

Aesthetically, the Marne Innovation Center is the antithesis of a creative epicenter.

The facility is housed in what was once an after-school child care center, where the staffs first remodeling decision was to tear out the soiled and smelly carpet. Spartan office furniture, a bevy of tool chests, white boards and racks of 3-D printers litter the large, open space.

The center is more tinkerers garage than geeks playground.

The seven soldiers who staff the center offer expertise that ranges from project management to mechanical engineering to electronics wizardry. Yet the staff is a support resource, not a team of fixers. Soldiers come in with problems, and Flournoy and his colleagues offer advice as well as instruction in how to use the computer software and fabrication equipment.

The servicemen take the lead on producing simple improvements and solutions that can quickly and easily be replicated.

Were making stop-gap fixes here, Flournoy said. If its a big enough issue, the Army can still take it to an industry provider. But we want to help soldiers help themselves right now.

Fresh perspectives to save lives

The center doesnt rely solely on military expertise. Georgia Tech researchers and students have partnered on a handful of projects, with weekend workshops in Atlanta and 10-week internships at Fort Stewart.

The silicone arm model came out of the first X-Force Fellowship Program internships this summer. Georgia Tech biomedical engineering majors Joseph Ashley and Cole Malenich built a molded plastic arm for use in combat first-aid training. The device solved an issue voiced by medical officers: that soldiers struggled with properly applying tourniquets on the battlefield, specifically with tightening the cuff enough to fully restrict blood flow.

The Georgia Tech students made the arm with a 3-D printer and included a silicone insert where the tourniquet should be applied. They added a water tube and squeeze pump to simulate blood flow so trainees would know when the cuff was tight enough.

Now, many infantry officers at Fort Stewart carry the arms in their vehicles during training exercises and have their soldiers practice tourniquets and wound care during downtime.

The second we had something, they wanted to use it, said Ashley, who graduated from Georgia Tech in May. It was a great feeling knowing that its a great product and that it would be used in training that potentially saves lives.

The training aid was so well received that Ashley and Malenich, a junior at Tech, have launched a startup business to develop other tools for the military and first responders.

The Fort Stewart facility is one of only three Army innovation centers in the country, but that number is likely to grow. Flournoy and other staffers frequently meet with other Army leaders curious about their work and the new take on the Army way.

Were eager to share and share best practices, said Flournoy, who travels twice a month on average to tout the project. For the Army, this is unique, with commanders on the ground, not the Army as an institution, saying they want to do this.

2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The owner of a Mexican restaurant in Hamburg admitted Thursday that she failed to pay more than $59,000 in taxes over more than three years, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said.

Elder Guadalupe Martinez, 30, owner of Mexico City, located on Camp Road, pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to second-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal tax fraud, prosecutors said in a news release.

Martinez, of Hamburg, failed to pay taxes on food and beverage sales between Dec. 20, 2017, and March 20, 2021. She signed a confession of judgment to pay $59,325 in restitution to the state Department of Taxation and Finance, prosecutors said.

She was released on her own recognizance pending sentencing on March 11, when she faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

 Aaron Besecker
The Mets are soon to add Luis Severino to their rotation, as theyre in the process of finalizing a $13MM contract with the longtime Yankee. Thats one of whatll surely be multiple additions to the starting staff, as New York entered the offseason with only Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana locked into rotation spots.

Theres no secret about their interest in NPB superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the three-time winner of the Sawamura Award (Japans Cy Young equivalent). Upwards of a dozen teams are in the mix for the 25-year-old righty, who seems likely to command the largest contract of any pure pitcher in this years class. Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote this afternoon that some rival clubs consider the Mets the favorite on Yamamoto, but therell be no shortage of competition.

Unsurprisingly, the front office has its eye on multiple options on the open market. Michael Marino of Fantrax tweeted this week that the club was showing interest in left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Andy Martino of SNY echoes that sentiment, calling Montgomery a more likely target than fellow free agent southpaws Blake Snell and Eduardo Rodriguez.

Montgomery has been a popular name. He is also known to have drawn attention from the Red Sox, Yankees and incumbent Rangers. It stands to reason there are numerous additional suitors for the soon to be 31-year-old, who is coming off a 3.20 ERA across 188 2/3 innings. Thats a career-best mark, but he has allowed fewer than four earned runs per nine while reaching 30+ starts in each of the past three seasons.

In addition to their Yamamoto pursuit, the Mets apparently also have some level of interest in Shota Imanaga. Martino adds that theyll explore the market on the left-hander, the second-best pitcher coming over from Japan this offseason. Imanaga was officially posted by the Yokohama BayStars this week, opening a 45-day window for him to sign with a major league team.

While Imanaga isnt the same caliber of pitcher as Yamamoto, he has a chance to beat the five-year, $75MM pact which the Mets gave Senga last offseason. Imanaga turned 30 in September, so hes one of the younger free agent arms available (albeit nowhere near as young as Yamamoto). Hes coming off a 2.80 ERA showing over 148 innings in NPB. Imanaga struck out 174 hitters, fanning a little over 29% of batters faced. Evaluators with whom MLBTR spoke projected him as a potential mid-rotation arm. Brandon Tew of Spots Info Solutions took a look at Imanagas repertoire yesterday, praising his command and the carry he generates on his low-90s four-seam fastball.

Each of Montgomery and Imanaga could land five or more years. A pact of that length would align with the Mets general competitive timeline. Team officials have made clear they wont punt on the upcoming season but are targeting 2025 and beyond as a more realistic contention window.

To that end, Martino suggests theyre unlikely to be actively involved in trade discussions for a star player whose contract expires at the end of next season. He reports that the Mets are not in discussions with the Rays on Tyler Glasnow at present. (While Martino doesnt specifically mention Corbin Burnes or Shane Bieber, itd be similarly logical for the team to mostly sit out those discussions as well.) Theyre seemingly reluctant to relinquish significant future value for a rental on the heels of a fourth-place finish in a competitive NL East.
At the GM Meetings earlier this month, Baltimore general manager Mike Elias told reporters the team was seeking a late-game reliever. Theyre considering plugging that vacancy in free agency.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Os have been in contact with each of Josh Hader, Jordan Hicks, Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman. All four hurlers fit the general profile of a late-inning arm, although theyre clearly in different tiers of free agency.

Hader is the best reliever in the class (and arguably the top bullpen arm in the majors). He worked to a 1.28 ERA over 56 1/3 innings during his platform season. The lanky southpaw punched out 36.8% of batters faced. Thats actually Haders lowest strikeout percentage since his rookie year, yet it still ranked fifth in MLB among relievers with 50+ innings. Only Chris Martin and Brusdar Graterol had a lower earned run average.

After frequently working multiple innings earlier in his career, Hader has expressed a preference for a traditional one-inning role over the past couple years. The Padres deployed him as a closer. He picked up 33 saves in 38 attempts.

The year marked an emphatic bounce back from a 2022 season in which hed posted an uncharacteristic 5.22 ERA. Hader has posted an ERA under 1.30 in two of the last three years and has five sub-3.00 showings over his seven MLB seasons. While hes a year older than Edwin Diaz was last offseason, Hader figures to take aim at topping Diazs $102MM guarantee with the Mets  the largest relief contract in MLB history.

Committing a nine-figure deal would be far bolder than any free agent decision that the Elias front office has made. The Os have remarkably yet to sign a single multi-year free agent deal in his five years as GM. Much of that came during a rebuild, of course, but the Os remained cautious even as theyd begun to turn a corner last winter. Baltimore signed a trio of veterans (Kyle Gibson, Adam Frazier and Mychal Givens) for a combined $23MM on one-year guarantees.

After a breakout season that saw the Os win 101 games to take the top seed in the American League, the front office should be more aggressive than ever. Bringing in Hader would represent a very significant shift in operating procedure. In addition to the huge financial commitment, Baltimore would have to relinquish their third-highest pick in next summers draft. Hader declined a qualifying offer from the Padres, so hes attached to signing compensation.

If the Os are willing to meet those costs, Hader is a sensible target. Hes one of the few relievers who can approach the kind of production the Os lost when Felix Bautista underwent Tommy John surgery thatll cost him the entire 2024 season. Hader is also a Maryland native who began his professional career as a 19th-round pick by the Orioles in 2012. While that selection was made by a previous front office, Elias was a high-ranking scouting official with the Astros when Houston acquired Hader as a prospect at the 2013 deadline.

Hader is in his own tier as a free agent relief target. Hicks finds himself in the next group, arguably the #2 option on the open market. One of the hardest throwers in the sport, he averages around 100 MPH on his sinker. Hicks has wobbly control but consistently runs huge ground-ball numbers. Hes coming off arguably the best season of his career, turning in 65 2/3 innings of 3.29 ERA ball between the Cardinals and Blue Jays. The righty struck out a solid 28.4% of batters faced, the highest rate of his career.

Injuries (most notably a June 19 Tommy John procedure) dogged Hicks between 2019-21. He has mostly stayed healthy over the past two seasons, topping 60 frames in each. Hes also the youngest free agent reliever of note, having turned 27 in September. Hicks should secure at least three years and has a solid case for a four-year pact at an average annual value in the $8-10MM range.

Chapman and Kimbrel would be shorter-term plays. Two of the best closers of their generation, theyre each entering their age-36 campaign. Both pitchers have battled some inconsistency in recent seasons, but theyre coming off solid 2023 performances. Chapman worked to a 3.09 ERA with an eye-popping 41.4% strikeout percentage over 58 1/3 frames between the Royals and Rangers. Kimbrel posted a 3.26 ERA while fanning a little over a third of his opponents in 69 regular season innings with Philadelphia, although he struggled over six innings in the playoffs.
DEAR ABBY: I have a serious problem I have lived with for practically my whole life. Im sloppy. I am incapable of keeping my surroundings clean and taking care of my belongings. Each time I resolve to get busy and clean up my house or car or whatever, I become overwhelmed with anxiety and nothing gets done. Being unable to keep my surroundings clean and take proper care of my possessions has led to some very unpleasant situations in the past. I can no longer afford to continue this pattern of behavior. Please tell me what to do. -- SLOPPY JOE IN INDIANA

DEAR JOE: You have already taken the first step, which is admitting you have a problem with which you need help. You might feel less overwhelmed if you take on these projects one at a time. Start with one drawer or counter before moving on to the next.

An important next step would be to tell your doctor what has been going on, and ask for a referral to a psychotherapist who can help get to the root of your anxiety. Talking with a mental health professional and possibly taking medication could be helpful, and I hope you will consider it. I applaud you for reaching out. You are not alone in having this issue.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI  The man who was found dead inside an HVAC vent at a Michigan community college this week may have believed he was running from police, officials said.

Jason Thompson, 36, of Clinton Township, was found Sunday in an upside-down position in a vertical vent, deep the ventilation system of Macomb Community Colleges Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Center Campus, FOX 2 Detroit reports. The tight space prevented him from moving, kicking or using his arms, police said. It is believed that he broke through a barrier on the roof to enter the ventilation system. Authorities were chasing a foul odor when he was discovered using X-ray equipment and a small camera.

RELATED: Search for foul odor leads to discovery of dead body in vent at Macomb Community College

Thompson died of asphyxiation, according to a report from the Macomb County Medical Examiners Office. A toxicology report is pending. Foul play is not suspected. The exact date of death is unknown.

In one of his last messages to his girlfriend, Thompson said he was running from the police; however, police say there is no evidence that he was being pursued at the time. He did have outstanding warrants.

Thompson was last seen in October and was reported missing by family on Nov. 1.

A family member has set up a GoFundMe campaign to pay for a memorial service and to help support Thompsons two young children.
WAYNE COUNTY, MI  A Michigan man is accused of assaulting a woman at an I-94 rest area.

Brandon Mitchell Kolc, 29, of Rockwood, has been charged with aggravated domestic violence for the incident that occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 28, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

Kolc is accused of assaulting his girlfriend, a 27-year-old from Inkster, at the rest area off westbound I-94 in Van Buren Township. Troopers responded to the scene and found a victim suffering from multiple wounds to her face and neck.

Medics arrived on the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment.

It is alleged that a verbal altercation between Kolc and the victim escalated, and he punched and strangled the victim, before fleeing the scene.

An investigation by the Michigan State Police led to his arrest the same day.

Bond was set at $100,000. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 13.
LANSING, MI  Potter Park Zoo is mourning the loss of its 19-year-old African lioness.

Staff said Friday that Ulana, who has lived at the zoo in Lansing for more than a decade, was humanely euthanized on Thursday.

She had been undergoing treatment for a spinal disease for the last year and half, but

her condition worsened in recent weeks, zoo staff said.

Animal care and veterinary teams worked together for the last year and a half to give Ulana the best life possible despite her spinal disease. Unfortunately, her condition declined, and the zoo staff did not want her to suffer, said Dr. Ronan Eustace, Director of Animal Health at Potter Park Zoo.

A complete necropsy will be performed in the coming weeks, Dr. Eustace said.

Born March 26, 2004, Ulana, along with her sister Saida, arrived at the zoo in 2011 and, together with Kota, the zoos male lion, formed a regal trio that captivated the hearts of all who visited.

Saida died in 2021. She was 17.

Ulana was not just a lioness; she was family. As her keeper, witnessing her strength and grace was a privilege, said Annie Marcum, Carnivore and Primate Area Lead Keeper. While we navigate this loss, our commitment to all of the animals in our care remains unwavering, and we appreciate the support and understanding of our community during this challenging time.

Zoo staff is taking comfort in knowing that Ulana outlived the median life expectancy of 16.9 years for lions.

Ulana, a symbol of strength and grace, held a special place in the Potter Park Zoo community. With her commanding presence, she became an icon, leaving a lasting mark on the hearts of visitors and staff alike, a statement concluded.

Potter Park Zoo is home to nearly 500 animals, including critically endangered black rhinos, Amur tigers, endangered red pandas, Massasauga rattlesnake and spider monkeys.
DETROIT, MI  A woman was stabbed during a road rage incident Thursday afternoon on I-96 in Detroit.

Michigan State Police say troopers around 2:55 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, received calls of an assault underway on westbound I-96 under M-39. As they were headed to the location, troopers were told that one of the people involved stabbed the other one.
Feeling blue over losing his G0BLUE license plate, a Detroit-area lawyer and University of Michigan graduate has sued Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson over the loss of his G0BLUE car license plate.

In the suit filed Nov. 22 in the Michigan Court of Claims, Joseph Hardig III, 52 of Beverly Hills, is requesting a temporary restraining order to stop the transfer of the license plate to another person on the basis that Bensons office violated state law by transferring the plate to this person before Hardigs plate renewal deadline.

Hardig, who runs the Birmingham-based Hardig & Hardig law firm, said the plate was originally his fathers and is meaningful to his family, according to the Associated Press. He learned it was no longer his during an early November visit to a Secretary of State branch office, the Associated Press reports.

Hardig and the Secretary of State did not respond to a requests for further comment.

The plate, named for the Go Blue chant for University of Michigan sports, was given to Jonathan Fine, according to the Associated Press. Fine, 52, and also a University of Michigan grad, lives two miles from the stadium.

Fine has not responded to multiple requests for comment, though he said he has not received the plate yet in the mail, per the Associated Press.

I understand why he is upset, Fine said of Hardig, according to the Associated Press. If I had a cool plate like that, Id be upset to lose it.
LENAWEE COUNTY, MI  Police identified a man who was fatally shot in a hunting accident this week as 41-year-old Kirt Stubbins, Lenawee County sheriffs deputies said.

Stubbins, of Addison, was fatally shot on Thursday, Nov. 30, by a fellow hunter while deer hunting in Rollin Township.

The other person involved in the shooting is related to Stubbins, police said on Friday. However, because that person is a juvenile, police said no further information will be released.

The incident happened just before 10 a.m. Thursday when sheriffs deputies responded to the 15000 block of Rome Road for a report of a hunter who had been shot while hunting.

Stubbins was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
The hostel complex in downtown Buffalo will get a $2 million renovation  and the nonprofit group that runs the hostel is getting one more opportunity over the next year to raise enough money to buy and redevelop the city-owned complex as its long-term home.

The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency voted Thursday to spend up to $2 million on critical structural repairs to the downtown building behind the the Hostel Buffalo Niagara on Main Street. That will require the hostel to move out, beginning around March 2024. Construction is expected to take about six months.

Dangerous building conditions threaten future of Buffalo downtown hostel Buffalo's only official hostel for backpackers and budget travelers is in danger of being kicked out of its Main Street home of nearly 30 years because of the deteriorating condition of the downtown building.

The unanimous decision by the agencys board is designed to address major health and safety issues that were identified in recent months by city inspectors and engineers from DiDonato Associates.

Those hazardous conditions threatened the stability of the rear structure at 664 Washington St., which has been vacant for decades, and posed a risk to occupants in the hostel building, located at 667 Main, the engineers said.

The work will include a new roof, updated sprinkler plumbing and pipes, a new fire wall to separate the two buildings, and relocation of the electrical panel. Emergency work is already being completed related to the electrical and fire alarm systems. But it will not include any additional improvements or renovations that are not necessary.

Hostel officials said they have been urging the city to make some repairs and upgrades for much of the last 20 years, but also cited a 2016 engineering report by Foit Albert Associates that found no deficiencies in the front portion and no danger to hostel occupants.

As designated developer, Hostel-Buffalo Niagara proposes 'backpacker lodging and chic accommodations' Hostel-Buffalo Niagara, the nonprofit organization that runs the inn, has been named by the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency as designated developer of its three-story brick building at 667 Main and 664 Washington St.

Still, by opting to repair and preserve the structure instead of demolishing it, the vote represents a partial reprieve for both the century-old building and the hostel, which feared it could face permanent eviction, as well as the loss of the building it has called home since opening in 1996.

As alternatives, the agency had considered tearing down the building for $741,000, or completing a lesser amount of repair work estimated at $1.02 million.

The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency has done everything we can to preserve the hostel in that location, said BURA Vice Chairman Brendan Mehaffy, the citys economic development commissioner and executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning. We recognize its value.

But it is also drawing a line in the sand, saying it is time for the hostel to step up and take over, so that the agency can devote its resources to the neighborhoods and city residents who need it more.

This board has done this for a very long period of time, because we support the hostel, and we want to see the hostel succeed, said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, who chairs the BURA board. But we are at a point where the pressing needs in this community are so great that we need to turn a page.

The agency said it will give the hostel the right-of-first-refusal to purchase the property at the appraised value, but it must close the deal within 60 days following completion of the repairs. Otherwise, BURA will put the property up for sale, although the hostel can still bid.

But the hostel also must be current on all rent and other payments to the city  it currently owes $110,000 in past-due rent and insurance, city officials said Thursday  although hostel representatives said they didnt know anything about that. The rent is set using a formula based on the hostels revenues.

If the hostel wants to purchase this building, you have a year to do that, Brown said. But this board has an obligation to the most vulnerable people in this city. There have been months when the hostel has paid rent that is less than single mothers with multiple children in this community pay. Its a question of fairness.

Hostel supporters said they only got the citys latest proposal a day earlier, but said they want to make it work.

We want to work with the city to remediate this property, to occupy this property and to ensure that this property remains our home forever, said Alexander Burgos, president of the hostels board. We have one year. We have our work to do, and we will get it done.

But he and others also said they dont feel the hostel has been treated fairly. No, none of this has been negotiating in good faith, Burgos said.

In fact, the hostel has been trying for more than four years to purchase the buildings in order to control its own destiny and even expand its services. Recognizing the value of the Theatre District site, the city had issued a request-for-proposals to redevelop the complex in 2017, spurring a campaign to save the hostel.

In turn, that led to the hostel being named designated developer of the properties in 2020, with plans for a $2.5 million project  now estimated at more than $4.5 million  that would have renovated the front building and converted the shuttered rear section into another six to 10 extended-stay private rooms upstairs, plus more street-level storefronts.

But after a pair of extensions through the pandemic, it was unable to advance the work sufficiently or even demonstrate the financial wherewithal to complete the purchase, so the agreement expired in October 2022. Hostel officials kept trying to pursue their plan over the following months, but the building inspection in April interrupted the effort after BURA was cited for code violations.

The new agreement now gives the hostel another year, including the construction period and the 60 days.

Laurence K. Rubin, an attorney at Kavinoky Cook who represents the nonprofit, pleaded for more time, asking for 120 days to sign a deal after the work is completed, and another 90 to close. He said that is needed so the hostel can evaluate how the repairs will change what it needs to do.

That will allow us sufficient time to gauge and adjust our numbers based on your work, he said. We realize that if we cant put together our numbers, that may be the end of the hostel.

But both Mehaffy and Brown shut that down, noting it wont make much of a difference.

This is an agency that has thrown hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the hostel. Weve entered into designated developer agreements for two years so that the hostel can redevelop the building. This is another year that we are giving the hostel, Mehaffy said. Its fair to say that we want the hostel to succeed. But weve got to say at some point in time that the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency has other commitments to other places in the city.

However, in the interim, the hostel has to vacate its current building by March because engineers have determined that it wont be safe for anyone to be in it during the months of construction. Work is expected to begin around March 2024, and will take about six months, so the hostel has to be out before that starts.

That means the nonprofit will effectively be closed during the height of its busy season from March 2024 through next fall. And its leaders and supporters  more than 60 of whom packed a City Hall hearing room  fear that will kill the hostel anyway.

So Rubin also asked that the hostel be allowed to reoccupy sooner than the last nail is hammered in.

The hostel will lose tens of thousands of dollars while its shuttered, and wed like to minimize that as much as possible, he said.
FLINT, MI -- More than 40 years after a Genesee County jury convicted Darwin J. Demson of killing a man he barely knew on Flints north side, he has taken responsibility for the murder.

Demson, 71, who has spent most of his life in state prisons, told the Michigan Parole Board on Thursday, Nov. 30, that he was responsible for killing Cleveland Stinnett in 1982, leaving the mans body hanging out of a car door after a fight involving a woman escalated to a lethal gunshot on Winthrop Boulevard.
A previous version of this story incorrectly described how long the preliminary injunction is in effect. It has been corrected.

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- The ban on short-term rentals in Park Township has been temporarily lifted by an Ottawa County Circuit Court judge.

Judge Jon Hulsing ruled Friday, Dec. 1, in favor of the Park Township Neighbors, a group of 126 short-term rental owners and supporters, that the township cannot enforce a ban on short-term rentals which went into effect on Oct. 1.

Hulsing agreed with Park Township Neighbors that the issue at hand is a zoning dispute given its regulation on land use. The townships interpretation is to address it as business regulation which is enforceable by police.

Related: Residents of Lake Michigan beachfront community sue over short-term rental ban

The preliminary injunction only temporarily lifts the ban until the next Ottawa County Circuit Court hearing, expected to happen next year. A case addressing the citations that have already been issued will be heard at the Ottawa County District Court on Dec. 13.

The judge reminded the couple dozen Park Township Neighbor supporters in the courtroom on Friday that a preliminary injunction is a huge deal, but this order is not the final decision to this lawsuit.

This is not the end of the case, Hulsing said. This is the beginning of the case, frankly.

The judges decision, including his comments around the gravity of it, were a vote of confidence for the newly formed nonprofit group representing the estimated 248 short-term rentals in Park Township.

That alone gives me and our group a huge amount of confidence that were on the right track, said Jeremy Allen, board president of the Park Township Neighbors.

The group filed a lawsuit against the township shortly after the ban went into effect although the back-and-forth with local government has been ongoing for about three years.

The townships attorney Dan Martin noted that the discussion and complaints around short-term rentals became more prevalent in the last five years, pushing the township board to address its ordinance from 1974.

Interpretation of the original ordinance is at the root of the disagreement between the parties on whether not explicitly addressing short-term rentals deems them legal or illegal by default.

Questions around how short-term rentals get zoned, if theyre considered private or commercial establishments and how many is too many have spread among Michigans tourist towns.

Park Township is a beachfront community that sits about five miles west of downtown Holland and is home to Holland State Park, which welcomes about 2 million visitors each year.

Related: High-maintenance guests, more regulations cause headaches for short-term rental owners

Shar Clark has owned her home in Park Township since 1993. In 2017 she noticed three short-term rentals pop up in her neighborhood. This year shes tracked 14 short-term rentals in her neighborhood, leaving her feeling surrounded by bachelor and bachelorettes parties, family gatherings and a consistent flow of guests, she said.

To say that Im disappointed in todays [decision] is an understatement, she said. Its a blow to the township residents.

The short-term rental owners closest to Clarks home reside in Tennessee, Florida and California, Clark surmised based on property records. She has no direct contact with the owners and has felt frustrated with the lack of response from property management groups.

Shes since escalated her complaints to the police and sending in written zoning complaints to the city. Clark is consulting with an attorney on her homeowner rights to stop the disruption from the rentals.

Ive paid several thousand dollars out already just for my peace of mind and sanity, she said. What I can do as an individual homeowner [so] regardless of what happens here, my lawyer is setting me up so that I can at least shut down the short-term rentals around me.

There is common ground with the Park Township Neighbors on regulation around short-term rentals so that they are registered with the township and are held accountability for the bad behavior of renters, Allen said. He hopes the preliminary injunction gives the township pause to re-evaluate if the board and rental owners can work on a resolution outside of court.

Until then, hes relieved that he will be able to reopen his home to repeat guests and the court decision stopped the township from steamrolling over rental owners with all outright ban.

We stood up, Allen said. I hope this is a sign to other communities to fight the good fight.

More on MLive:

Short-term rental controls eyed by Muskegon city commission

Short-term rentals line Lake Michigan. Who maintains all of them?

Northern Michigan towns look for middle ground on short-term rentals
KENTWOOD, MI  Recounts will be held next month for two close races for seats on the Kentwood City Commission.

Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons announced Thursday, Nov. 30, that recounts will be held in the contested November general election races for an at-large seat on the commission and another representing the citys Second Ward.

The recount meeting is open to the public and will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at the Kentwood District Library, 4950 Breton Road SE in Kentwood.

Of the two recounts, the election for the Second Ward Kentwood city commissioner was the closest, with only a four-vote difference between the candidates, according to the certified Nov. 3 general election results from the Kent County Clerks Office.

In that race, incumbent commissioner Ron Draayer was beaten by challenger David Moore II by a tally of 1,581 to 1,577. The citys Second Ward encompasses the northern portion and eastern half of Kentwood.

Draayer, who was elected to city commission in 2019 and was seeking a second, four-year term on the body, previously told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press he planned to file for a recount.

Related: Incumbent to file for recount after 4-vote loss in Kentwood commission race

Draayer is a retired professor of computer science and cybersecurity at Davenport University. Moore is a freelance writer and home church leader.

In the race for at-large city commissioner, incumbent commissioner Maurice Groce successfully fended off challenger Lily Cheng-Schulting by a 40-vote difference of 3,194 to 3,154, according to the certified results.

Groce has been a city commissioner since 2018. Before retirement, Groce was a vice president and branch manager at Mercantile Bank as well as the academic liaison officer for the Western Michigan Aviation Academy, a charter high school at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Cheng-Schulting is the president and founder of nonprofit Disability A-Team of West Michigan and board member on the Michigan Department of Educations Special Education Advisory Committee.

The seven-member Kentwood City Commission is made up of a mayor, two at-large commissioners, two First Ward commissioners and two Second Ward commissioners.

The only other city commission race on Nov. 3 was for one of the First Ward seats. In that race, incumbent Robert Coughlin ran unopposed.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Godfathers Pizza, 3815 E. Cork St. in Kalamazoo, will be closing permanently on Sunday, Dec 10.

Owner Debbie Johnson is expecting the next 10 days to be very busy.

Johnson and her family made the hard decision to close the restaurant after the death of her husband, Richard Johnson, in July, she said in a Facebook post.

After five years without a buyer for the franchise, two managers looking to move out of state and the death of her husband and brother, Debbie Johnson felt that it was time to let the business go.

My managers have been my lifeline since my husband died, Johnson said. It was like God just was saying its time, because without them I just cant do it anymore, emotionally.

After Dec. 10, the closest Godfathers Pizza locations to Kalamazoo will be in Merrillville, Indiana and North Manchester, Indiana.

The Johnsons bought the Godfathers on Cork Street in Kalamazoo in February 1989. Johnson called it utter chaos.

My husband and I moved from Duluth, Minnesota, just to buy Godfathers, Johnson said. We had to uproot our whole family. It was very scary for us.

For a few weeks, the family lived in a trailer in the parking lot while they waited to close on a house in Kalamazoo. Still, Johnson says it was probably the best thing we ever did.

She fondly recalls her children playing in the kitchen while she worked until close. Despite the sacrifice required to go into business for yourself, Johnson said the great pizza and people made the challenges worthwhile.

Godfathers offers a variety of pizza toppings, with specialty pizzas like Taco Pie, Humble Pie, Hot Stuff and The Don. Desserts include cinnamon monkey bread and four kinds of streusel: cinnamon, cherry, apple and caramel apple.

I love Godfathers Pizza, weve been eating it for 34 years, Johnson said. If we dont have it a few times a week, were going crazy. When we go out of town, we cant wait to get home to have pizza.

Johnson described the pizza shop as a second home, and the employees and customers as an extended family. And in some cases, thats not just a metaphor -- Johnsons brother met his wife because she was a customer at Godfathers. Johnsons daughter, Jody, met her husband when they were both employees at the restaurant.

You have some bad employees, but you have a lot of good employees too, and they will be in my life forever, Johnson said.

The Johnsons were on a first-name basis with many regular customers. With the shop closing, Johnson said she worries about leaving them without a pizza place in the neighborhood.

Over the years, the Johnsons opened other Godfathers locations in Portage and downtown Kalamazoo that eventually closed, but their original location on Cork Street was always the most successful.

Cork Street always stayed busy and we just could not understand it because its the oldest, dumpiest building, Johnson said. Customers always say that they loved the homey atmosphere.

Though homey, Johnson said the renovations needed to bring their restaurant up to Godfathers current guidelines would be expensive. Without a buyer for the franchise, the building will remain in the control of its owner and landlord.

As Johnson says goodbye to Godfathers -- and her first time not working since age 14 -- she is thankful for the memories and friendships she made.

Not every day was a blast, but overall it was great, Johnson said. And I dont regret a minute of it.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI -- Disassembly of the Donald F. Nichols Bridge along the Kal-Haven Trail in South Haven began with the removal of its wooden cover on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Salvaged parts of the cover will be stored at Lake Arvesta Farms until the community can decide what to do with them, said Tim Novak, state trails coordinator with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The dismantling will be complete by the end of December and a new bridge will be installed in February, Novak said, although the new bridge wont have a cover. Nothing will span the river during the winter, so this section of the trail will be closed until spring.

The cover was built by the Nichols family with the help of the South Haven community in the 80s, and has become a local landmark.Tim Novak | Michigan DNR

Also known as the Black River Covered Bridge, the cover on the bridge was built by the Nichols family with the help of the South Haven community in the 1980s. It has become a local landmark, and was even featured on the cover of the Pure Michigan Travel Guide last fall.

RELATED: Dismantling of beloved covered bridge looms despite community outcry

The DNR has drawn criticism from the community for plans to rebuild the bridge without a cover. The bridge needed to be rebuilt because it couldnt safely support the weight of emergency vehicles, snow grooming vehicles or snowmobiles.

The replacement is part of a $6 million American Rescue Plan Act-funded resurfacing project on the Kal-Haven Trail.

Disassembly of the bridge began on Thursday, Nov. 30.Tim Novak | Michigan DNR

But the DNR is open to working with the community on a covered bridge cover solution, Novak said. Some community members have been frustrated with the options and time constraints presented by the DNR.

At this point, a cover would need to be built independently of the new bridge and be funded by the community. It would have to be built in a way that supports itself, as the new bridge wont be able to handle the weight, Novak said.

The DNR has also suggested sculptures made of salvaged materials, partial covers or a metal cover.

There are no such plans in the works at this time, according to South Haven/Van Buren County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jennifer Sistrunk.

Hope for a bridge cover remains, however, as the visitors bureau has $100,000 budgeted for the bridge cover project, Sistrunk said last month.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
LANSING, MI  Manoomin is now officially Michigans designated state native grain.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation this week to make manoomin  wild rice  the states official native grain. The keystone aquatic plant with special importance to Indigenous peoples is now a Michigan state symbol just like the Petoskey stone and white pine tree.

Im excited to see what opportunities this new law will do to get all the federally recognized Tribes, state agencies, and federal agencies in Michigan to sit down at the table to address the manoomin concerns, said Roger LaBine, tribal elder and water resources technician with Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in the Upper Peninsula.

I look forward to doing the education and outreach to anyone who is interested, he said.

LaBine is not the only Native Michigander who celebrated the new designation for manoomin.

Tribal officials at the Bay Mills Indian Community near Brimley worked in recent years to help re-establish and bolster existing wild rice beds within tribal waterways.

Related: Wild rice brought the Anishinaabe people to the Great Lakes. Now they are trying to restore it.

Bay Mills tribal President Whitney Gravelle said having manoomin designated as Michigans official state native grain brings a great sense of pride to the community.

For manoomin partially defines what it means to be Anishinaabe, it is much more than food  it is a part of our medicines, our culture, our history, and our livelihoods, Gravelle said.

Manoomin is the word in Native language Anishinaabemowin for wild rice, considered the most culturally significant plant species among Great Lakes tribes. The plant is integral to the Anishinaabe migration story, which is the history of how the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi peoples came to settle in the upper Midwest around the Great Lakes.

A prophecy told the Anishinaabe to leave the East Coast area and travel west until they found a place abundant in a special food resource. That place was the Great Lakes, and that food was manoomin (pronounced mun-oo-min).

State lawmakers in both the House and Senate approved in bipartisan votes this fall to create the first state native grain designation in the United States. Other states already designated state grains  but Michigan is the first to designate a state native grain.

It is an honor to carry forward this bill that designates manoomin as the states native grain, said state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, in a statement.

Related: Judge Oks new tribal, state, federal Great Lakes fishing agreement

This was only possible due to the many years that tribal leaders, elders and rice keepers have worked to restore this sacred grain in Michigans waters and elevate its significance across the entire Great Lakes region, she said.

Rheingans sponsored the bill to designate manoomin as a Michigan state symbol.

Whitmer also this week signed legislation to change how commercial fishing operations must report their catches from the Great Lakes.

The change brings state law into compliance with a new consent decree among state and federal governments and multiple tribal nations.

In signing this bill into law, we are holding up our end of this agreement and prioritizing trust and cooperation between the state of Michigan and all the Tribes, said state Sen. Sue Shink, D-Northfield Township, who sponsored the legislation.
LANSING, MI  Final state approval for a deep-underground tunnel to house part of Line 5 was granted Friday by Michigan state utility regulators.

The Michigan Public Service Commission voted Dec. 1 to grant a permit for Enbridge to build an underground tunnel for an oil and gas pipeline that currently sits on bottomlands in the Straits of Mackinac. The regulatory agency found there is both a public need for the energy products Line 5 carries and a need to replace the underwater section to protect Great Lakes waters.

Commissioners said the companys plan is the most prudent option. Enbridge said its ready to get to work.

Now only environmental review by federal authorities remains pending.

Canadian energy transportation giant Enbridge wants to build the tunnel to house a replacement section of its 70-year-old Line 5 pipeline that for four miles runs underwater on the Lake Michigan side of the Mackinac Bridge.

Related: Line 5 shutdown would barely increase fuel price, analysts say

Dan Scripps, MPSC chairman, said Friday that a possible leak from Line 5 with its daily 540,000 barrels of oil and natural gas liquids would be worse that the 2010 oil spill into the Kalamazoo River, which was the worst spill in U.S. history. The Kalamazoo spill was from an Enbridge pipeline.

Scripps said the risk of a spill in the straits means the tunnel option was justified.

An oil spill in the straits would be in a word, catastrophic. The evidence in this case suggests that the most likely cause of such a spill, or specifically the dominant threat representing more than 75% of the annualized total all threat failure probability comes from an anchor strike, Scripps said.

Nor is such a threat purely theoretical. It happened just five years ago, when an anchor struck and dented the dual pipelines lying on the bottomlands of the Great Lakes. Fortunately, the pipeline didnt rupture in that case. But theres no guarantee wed be so lucky the next time, he said.

However, Scripps was met with audible groans from the crowd of environmental and climate advocates gathered at the commission meeting in Lansing.

Opponents of the tunnel plan in the audience reacted with emotion and dismay during public comments.

Related: Great Lakes oil spill researchers receive $3.8M from Canada

Nichole Keway Biber, of Lansing and tribal citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa, said she was outraged and terrified by the commissions decision. She said the oil spill risk in the Great Lakes now continues because of this state decision.

You just made it that much more likely, because basically they get to keep the oil going. Where they have their little pet project. We all know its probably going to be contested by people who are sane and care about our collective future. But in the meantime, they can keep their oil flowing, Biber said.

She and two of her children spoke against the Line 5 tunnel plan during the MPSC meeting.

Other environmental advocates issued statements of shock and indignation.

Traverse City-based For Love of Water nonprofit said that in the same week Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a nationally significant climate bill package to decarbonize the states economy by 2040, this decision to OK a new tunnel for fossil fuels is a black mark and a disgrace to all of Michigan.

There is no justification, morally or legally, for a new crude oil pipeline and tunnel that will last into the days of our great-great-grandchildren. When they look back at us, what kind of ancestors will they see, said Jim Olson, longtime environmental attorney and FLOW founder.

Related: Wisconsin Line 5 shutdown order may disrupt pipeline fight in Michigan

Meanwhile, Enbridge and other energy industry supporters hailed the decision as good for the environment and the economy.

Ultimately, the MPSC agreed with its staffs conclusions that Line 5 transports critically needed energy for Michigan and the region and placing the Line 5 pipeline in the Great Lakes Tunnel better protects the Great Lakes, Enbridge said in a statement.

Other proponents of the tunnel project reacted with enthusiasm.

The MPSCs ruling was an important step toward making a safe pipeline even safer, said Jim Holcomb, president and top executive officer of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

The Great Lakes Tunnel project will protect tens of thousands of Michigan jobs. We look forward to construction of this state-of-the-art infrastructure project that will protect Michigans access to affordable energy and our Great Lakes for generations to come, Holcomb said.

Geno Alessandrini Sr., business manager for Michigan Laborers District Council, said union workers are counting on the tunnel project.

Related: Wisconsin judge hesitates to shut down Line 5 pipeline

This is the kind of infrastructure project that makes our energy more reliable, keeps it affordable, and protects our environment. We hope every other permitting agency follows the MPSCs lead and lets us break ground soon, Alessandrini said in a statement.

Last year, the MPSC year sought additional information about safety risks of running the pipeline through the planned tunnel before it could decide on the companys permit application. The agency also said it would consider climate impacts in its decision.

The commissions approval was the last remaining state-level permit needed for the tunnel project.

Certain conditions came with the approval, including no changes to the proposed route, no other utility lines can be co-located within the tunnel, and required certain welding standards that exceed federal requirements.

Like the MPSC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it would factor climate in its review.

Related: Line 5 tunnel could be a stranded asset in 20 years, report suggests

Michigan Republicans argue federal authorities are dragging their feet on the Line 5 tunnel review.

Enbridge had once projected the tunnel could be completed by 2024 at a cost of $500 million, an outdated figure thats expected to vastly increase should the project win approval.

Tunnel supporters argue the infrastructure project is needed to alleviate a threat to the Great Lakes from the aged pipeline, which runs exposed along the lakebed and has been struck by passing ship anchors in recent years. They say Line 5 is needed to maintain energy market stability in the Midwest.

Opponents argue the tunnel carries a risk of explosion and oil leaks, and that investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is counterproductive amid the shift to renewable energy.

Enbridges Line 5 begins in Superior, Wisconsin, from which it transports crude from Alberta oil fields to petrochemical refineries in Sarnia, Ontario, picking up some fuel from northern Michigan along the way. The pipeline moves approximately 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids used for propane each day.

Whitmer revoked the companys Great Lakes bottomlands easement and ordered the line closed in 2020, sparking multiple lawsuits between high-ranking state officials and the company. Final rulings about state or federal jurisdiction on the case remain pending.

Related: Michigan Legislature strips away local control over wind, solar fields

Enbridge says the dual underwater pipeline remains in good condition but made plans to build the tunnel during the waning days of former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder after anchor strikes from ships happened.

The company already received permits to build the tunnel from Michigan state environmental regulators and the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority.

The authority is scheduled to meet Dec. 7 in Detroit to begin overseeing building and operating the tunnel.

Tunnel opponents said they will continue to fight against the project and will be keeping tabs on state officials.

While were disappointed with the MPSCs decision today, this is not the end. Were going to keep fighting. There will not be an oil tunnel in the Great Lakes, said Sean McBrearty, campaign coordinator for the nonprofit Oil and Water Dont Mix coalition.

I thought that they had plenty on the record to deny this. However, I know oil money speaks louder even when Dems are in charge.

MLive environment reporter Garret Ellison contributed to this article.
Ghanaian Hip-Hop artiste, Jason Gaisie, popularly known as Pappy Kojo, has addressed his participation in the #OccupyJubileeHouse demonstrations, emphasising that his participation was an act of solidarity with his Ghanaian friends.

In an interview on TV3s New Day show, Pappy Kojo shed light on his motivation for joining the protests, citing his Italian heritage and the privileges it affords him.

He noted that his Italian background, which he referred to as his second home, protects him from certain hardships Ghanaians face.

Therefore, his participation in the protest demonstrated loyalty and support for his friends grappling with the challenges in the country.

I'm an Italian. I'm from Italy The Italian embassy is like my second home when I'm in Ghana, so I just went there for my Ghanaian friends. I'm a loyal friend, he stated.

When questioned about the impact of his participation, Pappy Kojo said he believes his participation had made an impact on the overall agenda.

"Yeah, I think I did enough. Because I remember when, during the lockdown, when I was stuck in Italy, no one was protesting for me, right? Yeah. So I feel like I did enough, he asserted.

The #OccupyJubileeHouse protests, which started from September 21 to 23, were organised to highlight various concerns, including the rising cost of living, economic challenges, poor healthcare, human rights abuses, and the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill in Parliament.

The demonstrations gained international attention on the first day due to clashes with the police, who attempted to disperse the crowds by making arrests.

Notably, Pappy Kojo joined other celebrities, including Stonebwoy, Kwaw Kesse, and Kelvyn Boy, in support to the course in the subsequent days of the protest.
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Obuasi Mine has donated items worth GHc400,000 to eight districts in the Ashanti Region to support this years National Farmers Day celebrations.

The items included eight 40 -inches LED TV, eight Motorised Tricycle (Aboboyaa), 24 pairs of Wellington Boots, 96 pieces of GTP wax print, 8 boxes of Key soap, 32 Knapsack sprayer, 120 machetes and eight boxes of Sunphosate Glyphosate Weedicide.

The items were specifically to support the overall best farmers and the best female farmers in the beneficiary districts.

The beneficiary districts included; Obuasi Municipal, Obuasi East District, Adansi Asokwa, Adansi North, Adansi South, Adansi Akrofuom, Amansie West and Bekwai Municipal Assembly, which formed the operational areas of the company.

Edmund Oduro Agyei, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Land Management of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine who presented the items on behalf of the company said AGAG has consistently sponsored farmers' day as part of their commitment towards the development of Agriculture which is a key component in their 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan.

He said the company appreciates the tremendous contributions of farmers to the development of the country hence was important for the company to step in to contribute to motivate them to make agriculture attractive, especially to the youth of the country.

" As a company that is much concerned about making communities we operate in better of, such donations are done with a firm conviction that agriculture is the mainstay of our people. We believe this will go a long way to encourage our farmers to do more," he stated.

Govt commended for PFJ II

The Chief Executive for the Akrofuom District Dr. Maurice Jonas Woode lauded AngloGold Ashanti for the annual gesture in supporting the districts to successfully organize the farmers' day awards.

He said the donation would go a long way to relieve the Assemblies some of the financial burdens involved in organizing such programs.

The Akrofuom DCE in an interview praised government for rolling out phase 2 of the Planting for Food and Jobs program.

Targeted at building on the successes of the initial program, the second phase of the program is a five-year master plan for the transformation of agriculture in Ghana through modernization for the development of selected commodity value chains and active private sector participation.

This Dr. Woode explained will further boost agriculture and make it attractive, especially for the youth.

Mensah David, the Adansi South District Director of Agriculture also commended Anglogold Ashanti for the support adding that the company has continuously demonstrated its resolve to support agriculture in its operational areas.

He said the contribution of farmers called for the support of all stakeholders to encourage farmers to produce more for the development of the country.

On challenges facing agriculture, Mr. Mensah averred that the activities of illegal miners have destroyed arable lands. He called on Nananom and leaders of communities to help protect lands for agricultural purposes.

This years Farmers Day celebration, which is the 39th edition, will be held on December 1, 2023, under the theme Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience.
Nepal has registered its first LGBTQ+ marriage in what is being hailed as a victory for transgender and same-sex couples in conservative South Asia.

Maya Gurung, a transgender woman, formally married her partner Surendra Pandey in Nepal's Lamjung district on Wednesday.

Gurung said the official registration of their union came five years after the couple said their vows in a Hindu temple, and nine years after they first met.

"We met in a restaurant and immediately liked each other. After a couple of weeks of courtship, we moved in together," she told the Kathmandu Post, a local English-language daily.

"But our family and society did not accept us. We then moved to Kathmandu. Although we got married in a temple five years ago, our marriage was not legally recognised."

Local official Yuvaraj Adhikari confirmed the marriage and said it was accepted in line with a ruling by the Supreme Court in June, which ordered Nepal's government to put in place a new legal framework to uphold same-sex and transgender marriages.

In the meantime, the court said, such marriages must be allowed to go ahead using a separate temporary register.

'Great achievement'

Gurung and Pandey's marriage makes Nepal the second country in Asia  and the first in South Asia  to allow LGBTQ+ marriage. Taiwan legalised such unions in 2019.

Pinky Gurung, a trans woman who heads Nepal's Blue Diamond Society for gay rights, said the news came as a "great pleasure".

"It is a great achievement for us, the third gender community of Nepal," she told reporters, welcoming the fact the "door has now opened for other people of the gay community to get their marriage legalised".

"There are many third-gender couples living without their identities and rights and this registration of same-sex marriage is going to help them a lot," she said.

Nepal has some of South Asia's most liberal laws on LGBTQ+ rights, having introduced reforms in 2007 that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender.

Citizens who identify neither as male or female are permitted to use a third gender on their passports and other official documents, in line with anti-discrimination guidelines spelled out in a new constitution approved in 2015.

Setbacks

But LGBTQ+ people report that discrimination and harassment, including violence, remains commonplace.

Even after the Supreme Court's ruling, Gurung and Pandey faced difficulties registering their marriage.

Kathmandu's district court rejected their marriage application in July, arguing it was not bound to follow the ruling of the top court since it was directed at the government. The couple's appeal was also rejected.

But on Wednesday, local officials confirmed they had issued the marriage certificate in line with the Supreme Court's decision and instructions from the national civil registration authority.

"Now their marriage has been temporarily registered and after the formulation of necessary laws, it will get permanent recognition automatically," activist Gurung said.

Others were not convinced the marriage would prove the watershed moment Nepal's LGBTQ+ community had been waiting for.

"It sounds simple, but the path to emancipation is likely to be hard because of deep-rooted religious views, superstitions and social stigma that still exists," commented another Nepali activist, Ram Prasad.
Cammie Stamp was on her way to Orchard Park from her home in the Town of Tonawanda Monday for dress rehearsal for Momentum Choirs Sunday concert.

But the lake-effect snow had other plans.

As the liaison between the choir and the board that handles issues members might be facing, Stamp, 49, is no stranger to challenges. She often finds herself braving the cold to make the trek from Tonawanda to the Southtowns.

Its always been a challenge ever since I moved out here, Stamp said. I do it because the choirs down there.

For choir members, that is a familiar refrain.

Momentum Choir, previously known as Momentum Western New York, was established in 2016, modeled after the Canadian group Momentum Niagara. The group is made up of 13 members, ranging in age from 22 to 69, all of whom have disabilities. Founded by Dr. Joni Milgram-Luterman, the group initially started off with 10 members. While Milgram-Luterman wanted to grow the choir exponentially, the pandemic changed that plan. But it had one positive outcome: It let people who were otherwise unable to be a part of the choir due to transportation issues, chime in and contribute to the recordings.

The name of this years winter concert is Thank You For the Music, inspired by the ABBA song, which is a part of the current set list that also includes The Beatles Blackbird; This is Me from the 2017 musical film, The Greatest Showman; and Rainbow Connection, from The Muppet Movie. In between the performances, the choir will showcase snippets of video interviews conducted by administrative assistant Megan Brunner, emphasizing members experience and the importance of this choir in building a community.

The concert is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Orchard Park Community Activity Center, 4600 California Road. Tickets can be purchased for $10 here. They will be available at the door.

We believe that it gives the choir members the opportunity to belong to something, said Milgram-Luterman. It also gives the community the opportunity to recognize the talents of people with disabilities.

Jacob Nicholson, a board-certified music therapist, is the artistic director of the choir. He had accompanied the choir on piano last season.

This helps to build a sense of community and belonging among the members, Nicholson added. The end goal is to create music together.

As the choir director, Nicholson is in charge of selecting songs, conducting rehearsals and uploading videos of song walkthroughs on Padlet, an ed-tech virtual bulletin board that can be easily accessed by the choir members for guidance.

A lot of thought goes into this, he said.

To cater to the holistic needs of the choir members, Nicholson has adopted a different teaching process. Instead of using sheet music, he uses lyrics and words. He tries to feed into the passion of every member and walks them through the song by attempting to learn the chorus first.

Since it repeats, it is important to get it locked in, he explained.

Nicholson will usually sing a phrase and have them sing back with him, before piecing it together and encouraging them to sing alone.

Although some members do not require it, they are often encouraged to follow along to learn the song better, he said.

They really do support each other, Milgram-Luterman said. They have made these lifelong friends and its interesting because they are all different ages. They are very supportive of each other. Its nice for the families to see their loved ones do something that is so inspiring.

Stamp said the choir has made her more outspoken, outgoing and confident. It has also helped her find unexpected friends, a sentiment echoed by 27-year-old Jordan Olejniczaks mother, Tammy, who is also her caregiver.

Olejniczak has been a part of the choir for about seven years and loves to sing and perform. Her excitement ahead of the performance is palpable. She has told absolutely everyone she crosses paths with about her concert, Tammy Olejniczak said.

I have watched all of them performing for years and no one can sit there without a smile on their face. Its so uplifting, she said with a smile. I love to sit there and listen to them and see how far theyve come. I love the joy my daughter gets from getting to perform.

Transportation difficulties pose a challenge for some members. Some cannot drive while others often depend on caregivers or family members for a ride. They also had to move a few times to find suitable performance spaces, from Hamburg to Tonawanda, before finally settling on Orchard Park.

During the pandemic, since they were unable to meet in person and stuck to online classes via Zoom, many members found it difficult to remain connected.

Despite challenges, Milgram-Luterman said she feels inspired by the dedication of the members. She hopes the choir will grow in numbers to be as robust as its Canadian counterpart.

As long as people are enjoying themselves and feeling involved in the artistic process, Nicholson thinks he can bring out the best of their abilities.

For Stamp, it has already done that and more.

It is a place where my disability doesnt matter, Stamp said, but my talents do.
After 30 years of multi-party democracy in Ghana, little has truly changed from one government to the next according to Oliver Barker Vormawor, a lead convener of the #FixTheCountry movement.

He noted that Ghana's democratic system has so far failed to truly address the root problems facing the country.

In a post on social media on Thursday, November 30, Vormawor drew on his experience eight years ago when young Ghanaians demanded change from the NDC government.

"'They felt then that the NDC had so ruined the prospects of this country that only radical change was the way forward. And they were right!'" he stated.

Now eight years into an NPP government, Vormawor sees history repeating as the youth again "clamour for change," indicating "'that the NPP has so ruined the prospects of this country that only radical change was the way forward. And they are right!'"

However, he indicated that "'just like their Fathers and mothers before them; they will attack as not credible any third party; or individual,'" voting instead for the next major party in what has become a cyclical pattern over three decades.

In Barker Vormawor's view, "'The more things change; the more they stay the same. Because insanity is doing the same thing over and over again; and expecting different results.'"
Madam Marcella Samba-Sesay, Chairperson of the National Election Watch, has blamed the backsliding of Africas democracy on the failure of elected leaders to deliver.

Have we ever thought of why democracy is failing in the region? The truth is that elected leaders have failed to deliver, she said.

Madam Samba-Sesay said this in her keynote address at the opening of the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) 2023 Annual Convening of the Network Members in Accra.

The two-day meeting, on Amplifying CSOs' Response to Democratic Recession in West Africa, is being attended by stakeholders from across the West African sub-region.

The Chairperson said evidence abounds where citizens had danced in the region to welcome military leaders.

When and where did we go wrong? Did we not promise each other that the only way to leadership should be an expressed and transparent will of the people through the ballot? she asked.

We have long agreed that power in Africa should never be through the barrels of loaded guns. But this is not the case for five countries in West Africa.

Irrespective of how benevolent a military dictator was or could be, the expressed will of the great people of Wet Africa should be through free and credible elections, she said.

However, authoritarians had come to power through facade elections and democracy promoters had faced fierce attacks in their line of duties, with the resultant effect being West African States degenerating into various democratic sub-types.

Now we have counterfeit democracies run by democratic dictators and self-styled leaders attempting to manipulate constitutions and in others the resurgence of military coups.

Madam Samba-Sesay said the future of democracy, and by extension development, lay in stable societies in the region.

The good news is that amidst the challenges some decency still exists. Last year in this beautiful city of Accra and in an auspicious event, we launched a solidarity network- WADEMOS as a response to the signs of democratic backsliding and authoritarianism West Africa.

The aim was to mobilise, coordinate and leverage the collective power of pro-democracy actors and to also engage regional bodies and instruments to push back democratic erosion, defend and reinvigorate democratic norms.

She said that was exactly what they needed a networked society to achieve and WADEMOS must, therefore, be strengthened to a reliable platform for civil society to push back against democratic decline.

Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, the Executive Director, Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in his welcome remarks, lauded Liberians for their commitment to a successful election, which was a plus for democracy.

He commended the outgoing President, Mr George Weah, for his commitment to a peaceful democratic transition.

I think we should congratulate our brothers and sisters in Liberia for a very peaceful election and President George Weah for his extraordinary reconciliatory and progressive concession speech.

That could earn him a Noble Peace Prize, he said.

GNA
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met King Charles III of the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit currently taking place in Dubai.

In a post on social media, Tinubu shared details of their "productive meeting," indicating that they discussed strengthening partnership between Nigeria and the UK.

"I had a productive meeting with His Majesty, King Charles III of England who is also the Head of the Commonwealth, and a passionate climate advocate," Tinubu stated on Thursday, November 30.

As one of the Commonwealth leaders present at COP28, Tinubu sees potential for cooperation with King Charles, a long-time advocate for environmental sustainability.

"The meeting was a significant step in strengthening the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and I am optimistic about the positive impact our joint efforts will have on our planets future," the Nigerian president said.

Looking ahead, Tinubu expressed hope that Nigeria and the UK can work together "to set an equitable global standard for environmental stewardship" through the climate summit negotiations.

COP 28, taking place from November 30th to December 12th in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, refers to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference.

These COP conferences bring together almost every country in the world each year to collectively address the pressing issue of climate change.

The COP is the premier global decision-making body related to curbing climate change.

At the conferences, countries work to agree on cooperative solutions such as limiting the rise in global temperatures, helping vulnerable areas adapt to impacts, and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Attending COP28 are over 70,000 delegates from UNFCCC member states, businesses, civil society groups, indigenous peoples, scientists, journalists and more.

Officially known as the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP 28 provides a crucial yearly forum for worldwide climate cooperation and action.
The police have issued a bench warrant for the arrest of an alleged Fulani herdsman, Amadu Seeta, for acquiring a Ghana Card without following the standard operating procedures.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) staff, Mr. George Kwame Essien, an Assistant Technical Enrolment Officer (ATEO) of the Authority at the Walewale District Office in the North East Region, who assisted Seeta in registering for the Ghana Card, has been convicted.

The NIA in a statement on November 30, 2023, said, On 26th November 2023, the Police Investigation Unit of NIA Head Office, Accra, initiated an inquiry into alleged misconduct by Mr. George Kwame Essien. The investigation focused on the registration of an unqualified applicant, Amadu Seeta (currently at large), an alleged Fulani herdsman, who received an ECOWAS Identity Card without following standard operating procedures.

The NIA has advised its staff and the general public to desist from violating the law and NIA's Standard Operating Procedures.

It warned that, Persons found culpable will face the full consequences of the law.

Read the statement by the NIA below

For Immediate Release:

NIA Addresses Misconduct Leading to Conviction of Assistant Technical Enrolment Officer.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) informs the public of the recent conviction of Mr. George Kwame Essien, an Assistant Technical Enrolment Officer (ATEO) of the Authority, at the Walewale District Office in the North East Region.

On 26th November 2023, the Police Investigation Unit of NIA Head Office, Accra, initiated an inquiry into alleged misconduct by Mr. George Kwame Essien. The investigation focused on the registration of an unqualified applicant, Amadu Seeta (currently at large), an alleged Fulani herdsman, who received an ECOWAS Identity Card without following standard operating procedures.

The investigation uncovered that on 25th September 2023, Essien registered Amadu Seeta without adhering to due process. Seeta did not meet the necessary registration requirements, prompting Essien to forge NIA Form One and an Oath of Identity Form belonging to Braimah Seini. Mr. Frank Donkor, an Assistant Registration Officer, detected irregularities and promptly retrieved the card from Seeta, who subsequently fled the scene. Following a comprehensive investigation, George Kwame Essien pleaded guilty on 29th November 2023 before the Tamale District Court II.

Consequently, he was convicted and sentenced to seven months imprisonment on count two (Forgery of Document, Contrary to section 158 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29), and six months each on counts 1 (Abetment of Crime, Contrary to section 20(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29, and section 40 (1) (A) of the National Identity Register Act 2008, Act 750), 3 (Causing an unauthorized interference with electronic records, Contrary to section 125 of the Electronic Transaction Act 2008, Act 772), and 4 (Causing an unauthorized modification of information, Contrary to section 40 (1) (g) of the National Identity Register Act 2008, Act 750), with all sentences to run concurrently. Essien has been handed over to the Tamale Prisons Authority to serve his sentence.

A bench warrant has been issued for the search and arrest of suspect Amadu Seeta, who remains at large, to stand trial.

Through this release, the NIA emphasizes to all staff and the general public that violations of the law and NIA's Standard Operating Procedures will not be tolerated. Persons found culpable will face the full consequences of the law.

The NIA remains resolute and steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rule of law, without fear or favor, and promoting integrity, patriotism, and decency in the workplace.

End

Corporate Affairs Directorate

30th November 2023

citinewsroom
Ken Ofori Atta, Minister of Finance, says he is optimistic that Ghana will reach an agreement with its official creditors by next week.

Ghana is seeking to get its official creditors to restructure about $5.4 billion which makes up about 27 per cent of the country's $20 billion external debt.

This was one of the conditions for the International Monetary Funds (IMF) executive board to approve the second tranche of a $600 million payout under the Funds $3 billion bailout program.

Speaking to journalists at the Securities Exchange Commission's Capital Market Conference, the Minister stated that a continuous evaluation based on comparable treatment was being conducted to ensure that creditors were treated fairly by the restructuring.

He said discussions on the cut-off date, the date beyond which new loans would not be restructured, was also a major issue that would be addressed among creditors in the coming days.

I think everybody is looking at the comparability of treatment in there and China and France certainly are co-chairs of the Official Creditors Committee (OCC) and so they have a good impact on what will happen, he said.

Mr Ofori-Atta stated that the government had fulfilled its side of the engagement and was now awaiting the OCCs formal answer, as it would be comfortable with whatever cut-off date proposed by the creditors.

GNA
Press freedom, the sine qua non of a robust democracy, serves as both the guardian and gatekeeper of public discourse. The Akuffo Addo/Bawumia government's stewardship over this democratic tenet requires nuanced scrutiny, as a closer examination reveals a tapestry woven with both commendable strides and concerning impediments.

At the outset, it is essential to acknowledge the strides made by the Akuffo Addo administration in upholding press freedom. Ghana's longstanding commitment to democratic values has, for the most part, translated into an environment where journalists have operated without overt coercion. However, this apparent latitude conceals a more intricate narrative.

The government's record on accommodating dissenting voices within the media landscape has been notably equivocal. Instances of harassment and intimidation directed at journalists critical of the administration have cast shadows on the ostensibly open arena for journalistic endeavors. Notable examples include the reported harassment of investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, whose exposes on alleged government corruption triggered a wave of backlash. Such incidents not only raise questions about the government's commitment to an unfettered press but also underscore the vulnerability of journalists navigating this increasingly perilous terrain.

Media ownership patterns further underscore the complexities of press freedom under the current regime. While ostensible pluralism exists, with a multitude of outlets representing diverse viewpoints, an undercurrent of concentrated ownership poses latent threats to editorial independence. The dominance of certain media conglomerates, purportedly with ties to the ruling establishment, raises concerns about the potential influence wielded over the narrative presented to the public. The specter of self-censorship looms large in an environment where media outlets may feel compelled to align their content with the interests of powerful proprietors.

A critical juncture in the assessment of press freedom lies in the effective implementation of extant legal safeguards. While legislative frameworks ostensibly protect journalists from undue harassment, the practical enforcement of these provisions remains a pressing concern. The protracted legal battles faced by journalists, such as the case of Edward Adeti, who faced charges after exposing corruption within the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, serve as stark reminders of the challenges journalists confront in their pursuit of truth. The disparity between legal protection on paper and the tangible risks faced by journalists underscores a disconcerting reality.

In navigating these complexities, it is paramount to recognize that the notion of a 'free press' transcends the mere absence of overt censorship. A truly free press necessitates an environment where journalists can discharge their duties without fear of reprisal or coercion. The Akuffo Addo/Bawumia government must not only champion the rhetoric of press freedom but actively cultivate an ecosystem where journalists are empowered to fulfill their societal role as watchdogs.

In conclusion, the saga of press freedom under the Akuffo Addo/Bawumia administration unveils a narrative that oscillates between promise and peril. While commendable strides have been made, the shadows of harassment, media ownership dynamics, and the efficacy of legal safeguards warrant rigorous scrutiny. A vibrant democracy hinges on the unwavering commitment to a press that is not only unshackled from overt censorship but fortified against subtler forms of coercion, ensuring that the quill remains an indomitable force in shaping the narrative of a nation.

By kuti from Navoro.
01.12.2023 LISTEN

Scores of traders at the Race Course Market Centre at Bantama led by the market queen, Nana Afia Kyeiwaa, have heaped praises on the Chief of Staff, Hon Akosua Fremah Osei Opare, for supplying them with fifteen (15) trips of sand, stones and 300 bags of cement.

The gesture by the first female Chief of Staff of the Republic is to aid the market leaders in dealing with the perennial muddy patches in the trading arena.

The trading area becomes flooded when it rains and the poor nature of the floor of the market makes walking difficult.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, November 30, 2023 after the presentation, Nana Afia Kyeiwaa commended the Chief of Staff for showing motherly love and care to the traders.

"The situation in our market has been very bad and we have been struggling to deal with the bad nature of the roads and the floor especially during rainy seasons and so this support from our mother is a welcome one," Nana Kyeiwaa noted.

Issues

She stated that several appeals have been made to city authorities to attend to the issues at the market but yielded no results.

The gesture by the Chief, she noted, shows that the first female Chief of Staff listens to their cries.

"For us we are happy that we have a listening mother who knows our issues and have the heart to help. This is not the first because she has supported most of us with funds to expand our businesses and at festive occasions remits us and shows us kindnesses," the market leader disclosed.

Other traders

Mary Fordwuor, a 36-year-old plantain seller thanked the Chief of Staff for her show of kindness.

"When it rains you will be sorry to come here and some of us struggle to sell our goods in this bad environment but God bless Madam Frema for coming to our aid," Madam Fordwuor stated.

Elizabeth Nkansah, a 28-year-old dry fish seller praised the Chief of Staff for her care and empathy.

"We have really struggled here and it is so heartwarming to see these items here having been brought to us by our mother and we pray she ascends to a higher office in future so that she can help us better," Madam Nkansah prayed.
Akufo Addo is pure evil; I've said repeatedly that he fears Mahama, for this reason, he has forced the Special Prosecutor to put Mahama in jail for the Airbus issue, even though no one has accused the former Ghanaian leader of any crimes. However, since Kissi Agyebeng refused to do what Akufo Addo requested, he thinks he has to punish him. Ghanaians don't know who they are dealing with when it comes to Akufo Addo, I will suggest that the NPP should start packing the party's belongings from the Flagstaff House since the majority of Ghanaians dont want them, they are criminals.

The president is a man living in his own universe. He relies on force and the power of money to get by as president because he was not given the education necessary to develop the understanding and leadership abilities needed to be a successful president. These are some of the reasons he has failed miserably and continues to act like a child. According to him, "he will do everything in his power to transfer power to the NPP, but this is not going to happen, because the majority of Ghanaians are not prepared to endure the unnecessary hardships caused by Akufo Addos widespread corruption.

The NPP made the grave error of selecting an evil person Akufo Addo as its presidential candidate; as a result, Ghana is burning today, even though Ghanaians did not start the fire, the NPP will burn too, and will never escape the fire.

Notwithstanding all of the falsehoods and promises they made to Ghanaians to rise to power and plunder the nation, Akufo Addo and Bawumia are nothing more than monuments of shame and have no message to deliver. The incompetent liar Bawumia recently lied once more, saying that if people vote for him, they can use their Ghana Card to buy a car in Ghana. I have spent my entire life in Europe, neither in Europe nor in the United States of America is it possible to buy a car using a passport or national identity card; instead, you need a contract proving your employment.

The NPP party's damage to the nation's businesses and economy has taken a severe toll on the vulnerable population to the point where Ghanaians are unable to bear any more catastrophic effects on their lives. As a result, the country cannot afford to endure another four or eight years of NPPs rule. The NPP politician Osei Mensah Kyei Bonsu claims that although Akufo Addo has failed, Ghanaians shouldn't place the responsibility on Bawumia, this senseless statement even supports Kennedy Agyapong's assertion that none of the NPP politicians are intelligent.These are just a few of the disinformation that paints Bawumia as a dangerous individual capable of doing anything terrible in addition to abusing his position as president. If Ghanaians vote for Bawumia, it tells the outside world, including leaders in Europe and the United States of America that Ghanaians are idiots for allowing someone like him to become president through rigged elections, which I know will never happen. More significantly, Akufo Addo and Jean Mensa will not get away with murder this time if they believe that killing Ghanaians will help them accomplish the NPPs objectives.

Keep in mind that on August 13, 2022, I wrote an article titled "Akufo Addo Could Stand Trial Before The International Criminal Court In The Hague," in which I suggested that the president of Ghana might become the first head of state to be arrested and brought before the International Criminal Court in The Hague because he plans to rig the elections in 2024 to maintain his party's power despite his incompetence and stupidly enough, he and Bryan Acheampong made treasonous statements to confirm and support the article I wrote.

The Ghanaian president's mishandling of the country's economy and rampant corruption, have already sparked a global debate on several forums and news sites. I therefore; began sharing the majority of my articles on international social media platforms so that readers who are not from Africa could completely comprehend the political landscape of Ghana. Fortunately, Akufo Addo was revealed as one of Africa's criminal leaders by Aljazeera's "Gold Mafia" investigation, damaging his reputation. He thought that Al Jazeera was one of the Ghanaian news outlets, after demanding an apology and threatening to sue them, the international news media ignored him and he shamelessly left the case.

Since many world leaders are aware of Akufo Addos widespread corruption and collapsed economy and requested financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, political analysts will not consider the NPP or Bawumia winning any elections in 2024. As a result, when violence breaks out due to election rigging, they already know the root of the issue, making it impossible for NPP politicians to continue blaming John Mahama for starting it. I promise Ghanaians that in 2024, the NPP will go to the opposition; and if Akufo Addo shed blood, he and Jean Mensa could be arrested at The Hague.

It pleases me that most of the people who read my posts are not Ghanaians, but rather Europeans and Americans, and, therefore; following Akufo Addo's despicable and corrupt regime and know that in the 2020 elections, he killed eight people. More importantly, foreign ambassadors serving their nations in Ghana are all witnesses to the abysmal government of Akufo Addo and since he is a man who doesn't understand shame, he will attempt to level false accusations against John Mahama, including the Airbus issue because he is aware that there are always tribal bigots to give him support against the former Ghanaian leader.

When such cheap political propaganda against the former Ghanaian leader happens, the NDC need not be worried, my best recommendation for Mahama and all the NDC politicians is that they should put up enormous billboards during their campaign and list all of Akufo Addo's crimes, including his illegal mining activities that have destroyed the nation's major rivers and ecosystems and his gold dealings that have cost the state millions of dollars, which was made public by the international news outlet Al Jazeera. His reputation will suffer as a result, and Bawumia won't even have a chance to win by rigging.

While on the podium speaking, comedian Bawumia made a vow to the people of Ghana that jobs would be abundant and that people from other countries would come to work in Ghana. However, he was unable to deliver on his promise, and thousands of Ghanaians were still without a job. Even so, I'm curious as to whom the vice president and finance minister are deceiving when they assert that their governments have created one million jobs and 2.5 million jobs, respectively.

Despite Ghana's dire circumstances, Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor appointed by Akufo Addo to investigate corruption, has had his life shattered to prevent him from looking into the presidents pervasive corruption. If Ghanaians allow Akufo Addo, Bossman Asare, and Jean Mensa to rig the 2024 elections, they should prepare for another devastating economic challenge and mass suicide.
The stage is set for another intriguing contest in the Dome-Kwabenya constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Mike Oquaye Jnr, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority and son of former Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye, has officially declared his intention to run for the Dome-Kwabenya seat again, setting up a third bout with incumbent MP Sarah Adwoa Safo.

In an interview with Accra-based Peace FM's Kwami Sefa Kayi on Tuesday, Dr. Oquaye Jnr said "When its time to pick up forms and file nominations, Ill be there to represent you."

He added "I want to inform the people of Dome-Kwabenya, through your medium, that as soon as theres an opening for picking up forms and filing of nomination, I, Michael Oquaye Jnr., will stand to represent the people of Dome-Kwabenya.

This sets the stage for a rematch between the two seasoned NPP politicians, who have faced off twice before for the right to represent Dome-Kwabenya in parliament.

In the last primary in June 2020, Adwoa Safo held on to her seat by a razor thin margin of just eight votes over him.

Adwoa Safo, who is has recently been criticised for her long absence from Parliament and ministerial duties, leading to her removal from the ministry last year, has also reiterated her desire to run again for the Dome-Kwabenya seat she has held since 2013.
A Nigerian nurse working in the UK is said to have lost her job and has been deported after she was found praying for an elderly patient under her care.

In a social media post, self-proclaimed online doctor Harvey Olufunmilayo recounted the reported incident while cautioning Nigerian medical professionals in the UK against praying during their duties.

According to the X (formerly Twitter) account, the unnamed nurse had been assigned to care for a dying elderly patient.

However, she was turned in for "praying for the client to get better." As stated in the post, "She got sacked and deported."

Dr. Olufunmilayo stressed that "Praying for your patient is seen as an abuse of trust and misuse of your position."

He added that UK healthcare workers "are expected to simply do and focus on your job."

The doctor is said to have advised that while nurses can request a clergy for religious services, they should not carry them out themselves without patients' consent.
A memorable nugget

Amid wintry weather, it is not unusual for school leaders to field messages from students begging for a snow day.

Friar Matthew Foley, president at St. Francis High School, received four of them Monday evening as a snowstorm projected for the Southern Tier lumbered its way farther north than expected.

One email plea was more memorable than the others, and Foley shared it on X Monday night before making any decision about closing.

The student, whose name was redacted, began with classic arguments, noting poor weather and unsafe driving conditions. Then the message took a sudden turn.

Remember the time after school when you came to the activity center and I was eating chicken nuggets from Wendys and I gave you one out of the kindness of my heart as Jesus would. Now Im not saying you have to give us the snow day

Athol Springs received a little more than a foot of snow Monday into Tuesday, and Foley made the decision to close school, along with many others in the Southtowns. Naturally, he reposted the students email with his own message.

School closed. I was more worried about (the) road than chicken nuggets. But that will be a good lunch today.

 Ben Tsujimoto

Rochester, we feel you

We Buffalonians know what its like to have someone from a larger media market pick on us because of our snow, Rust Belt economy or Super Bowl losses.

So we could sympathize when, this week, the target of an out-of-town tweak was that city an hour to the east of us ... er, whats it called again?

It started when Cory McCloskey, a weather anchor for FOX 10 News in Phoenix, showed his viewers the snow hitting parts of upstate New York on Monday evening.

Its kind of a mess across the usual snow spots here from Buffalo up toward, uh, toward, uh, Kodak, McCloskey said, searching for the name of the city, as seen in a video clip shared on X, formerly Twitter, by James Gilbert, a meteorologist with News 8 in Rochester.

You know, where all the camera people were from? McCloskey added.

He then snapped his fingers as he struggled to recall the name of a city where he had attended a family wedding in October.

Then, like a thunderbolt, he exclaimed, Rochester.

McCloskey, pleased, mentioned Rochester gets a bunch of snow.

In fact, he went on to his fellow anchors, If you ever go to Rochester, its crazy. Along the sides of their streets youll see, attached to their fire hydrants, these tall fiberglass poles. Thats so that when the drifts are at six to 10 feet alongside their streets, after the plows have come in, the firefighters can find where the fire hydrants are.

Now thats how God says, Dont bother living here. Its too much trouble. 

Rochester, straight talk here: You may want to respond by pointing out, for example, that Phoenix had a brain-melting 133 days this year where the temperature reached or exceeded 100 degrees.

But take our advice and dont sink to their level.

 Stephen T. Watson

Meow!

Alley cats are a lot more than just furry animals.

Sure, theres the common domestic cat that you might find in a home or on the street, as well as a national advocacy organization for the animals, by the same name.

But alley cats are also unsanctioned bicycle races in cities, often involving bike messengers. Theres a board game publisher by that name, and a Chicago comic book store. Theres a type of sunglasses, and a custom apparel maker.

And of course, theres the Allen Street bar in Buffalo.

Then, theres a giant state-approved wind-turbine project spread across Allegany, Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties  appropriately enough, called Alle-Catt.

Alle-Catt Wind Energy LLC is building a 340-megawatt clean-energy venture, designed to help the state meet its Climate Act goals. The company was originally approved in 2020 to erect 116 wind turbines across the three counties, but the project was amended earlier this week by the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment  better known as the Siting Board  which has the power to waive local zoning laws for such major projects.

Now, it will have just 83 turbines, including 10 in Arcade, 24 in Centerville, 14 in Farmersville, 27 in Freedom and eight in Rushford, along with an underground energy collection system, substations and related infrastructure.

It will be situated on 30,000 acres of leased, private land. Upon completion, it will generate enough electricity to power 134,000 average-sized homes annually.

If we were the type to enjoy wordplay, we might say Holy cats, thats a lot of power!

But were far too sophisticated for that.
With Ghana going to the polls in 2024, leading presidential candidates Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) face critical decisions in the selection of a running mate that could boost their electoral fortunes.

Both Bawumia and Mahama currently hold about 35% of the vote as northern presidential candidates according to comments by former NDC member Stephen Atubiga.

However, Mr Atubiga argues their choice of vice presidential candidate could boost their support to between 55-60%.

In a Facebook post, Atubiga outlined some of the main contenders being considered:

"As JDM is confused for now, as to go with Debra a unifier, a grassroots, a team player and the best chief of staff the NDC has ever had. Or to go with Eric oppoku, a very strong communicator on government policies and structures."

He adds of Bawumia's choices: "Then Napo who is a grassroots, a team player. Who has not only transformed the education sector, but significantly positively changed the energy sector despite his magical professional background. Very strong biting communicator in projecting or defending government policies."

According to Atubiga, selecting running mates from the Ashanti region, considered the backbone of the NPP's support base, could deliver Bawumia the crucial additional votes he needs.

The one-time NDC flagbearer contender noted the pressure both Bawumia and Mahama face in getting this decision right, as their choice of vice presidential candidate could be pivotal in determining the outcome of tightly contested elections.

However, he stressed that whoever they choose will need to unite their party and appeal to the swing voters who may well decide Ghana's next government.
A new group calling itself Concerned Friends of Police Officers of Ghana (CFPOG) has reportedly announced plans to hold a 25-day protest starting December 6 to demand improved conditions of service for police officers.

In a press statement dated November 30 and released by #FixTheCountry Movement, the group said it had hoped to join the OccupyJubileeHouse demonstration organised by #FixTheCountry movement but was disappointed to learn the police had collaborated with a court to obtain an injunction against the protest.

"We are taking our own action because we share the concerns of #FixTheCountry about issues like poor remuneration and housing that the police face," quoted the statement.

The daily protest will be held in shifts from 9am to 12pm and 6pm to 12 midnight outside Jubilee House along Liberation Road, Accra.

Per the statement, CFPOG wants a review of police salary structure and increment for junior ranks.

The group is also demanding a comprehensive housing policy and replacement of dilapidated police barracks with modern accommodation.

CFPOG further wants investment in improved policing systems and technology to enhance officer safety and efficiency.

#FixTheCountry said in the statement that it "shares the concerns outlined and seeks to support the call for improved conditions for police officers."

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service who has already kicked against two protests within the same period outside the Jubilee House has yet to release an official statement on that.
01.12.2023 LISTEN

Ethiopian Airlines has prohibited the use of matted woven bags popular 'Ghana Must Go' bags for travelling on its flights, citing damage to baggage systems.

In a notice issued to airports and travel agencies in Nigeria, Henok Gizachew, Manager of Airport Services at Ethiopian Airlines, said the local fabric bags will no longer be permitted effective November 25.

The manager explained that the soft and squishy nature of the Ghana Must Go bags causes them to get stuck in conveyor belts and crush under the weight of other bags, disrupting baggage sorting.

"The use of Ghana Must Go as a means of packing baggage has cost the airlines huge losses and also damaged the conveyor belt system, not only on our flight but also on other foreign airlines," noted Mr Gizachew.

Ethiopian Airlines joins other major international carriers like KLM and Emirates that have previously banned the bags.

Passengers traveling with Ethiopian Airline will now have to pack their belongings in hard-sided luggage like cartons or suitcases.

The iconic red, blue and white patterned bags have become popular across West Africa since the 1960s for their affordable prices and decorative prints, particularly during the period when the Nigerian government deported some Ghanaian citizens.
01.12.2023 LISTEN

The eagle has some amazing characteristics; traits found in top-notch leaders. I would love to share with you some few major characteristics of this terrific bird.

Fearless: The eagle is very brave and never intimidated by the size of its prey. It can prey on goats much larger than itself. When other birds fly away from the storm with fear, an eagle takes advantage of the current to soar to greater heights.

High-flyer: eagles can fly up to an altitude of 10,000 feet, but they are able to swiftly descend at an astonishing speed of over 100 kilometres per hour and land on the ground safely.

Vision: the eagle has a powerful vision and can spot a prey 50 miles away.

Vitality  An eagle is full of life and has the power to endure.

As I was analysing these characteristics of the eagle, I had an interesting revelation about some unique qualities of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and my eyes popped out in surprise. JDM has all the above mentioned qualities of the eagle and more.

He has exhibited a lot of bravery by taking tough decisions, and among these is his decision to go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) regarding the maritime border dispute between Ghana and la Cote dIvoire, which Dr. Desmond Tweneboah Kodua captures beautifully in his article: MAHAMAS DECISION TO GO TO THE ITLOS, 'COURAGEOUS AND BOLD.

Please read on:

One of the key characteristics of great leaders is the ability to make decisive decision at the right time. Careerists, are always reluctant to take any risks whatsoever and are only concerned for their own survival. I was one of the persons who vehemently opposed the decision to go to ITLOS and explicitly expressed my position and why I thought it was a reckless decision in a document I prepared and forwarded to the Mahama administration and the former UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan. I was of the opinion that the former President and his legal team had taken a wild uncalculated risk, putting the country and its people at risk and was emphatic that the mission will not only end up unaccomplished, but was also going to waste valuable time and resources. We must commend the President and his team of advisors for effectively assessing the situation, understanding the issues and the problem and pursuing their goal and objective throughout the period leading to this sweet victory all Ghanaians are celebrating across the globe. We must also commend the former Attorney General, Mrs Marrietta Brew Appiah-Oppong and her legal team for filing a detailed memorial to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to ward off Cote d'ivoire from the disputed oilfield. The current Attorney General also deserve our commendation for the maturity she displayed by pursuing the matter upon taking over from her predecessor.

Mr Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General must also be commended for the numerous attempts he made to reach a deal on the dispute. Ghanaians across the globe are celebrating this wonderful achievement and the patriotic spirit being displayed by the people of Ghana both home and abroad, is a message to our leaders that they understand risk, know how to mitigate risk and be willing at times to make bold decisions to exploit success.

But Dr. Tweneboah Kodua's write-up on the ITLOS case is not my main focus for this article; the eagle has another incredible characteristic I want to share. By the time an eagle reaches the age of 30, its strength deteriorates so much that survival becomes difficult: its talons lose their flexibility and cannot properly grip prey, its beak becomes dull and bent, and its wing feathers grow thick and heavy, sticking to its chest and impairing its flight. The bird then retreats to a mountaintop for months, and knocks off its beak by banging it against a rock, plucks out its talons, and then plucks out its feathers, each stage producing a regrowth of the removed body parts that renews the eagle and allows it to live for another 30 to 40 years.

The eagle is not alone in this breath-taking attribute, even though his loss in 2016 and 2020 is a sour memory, President John Mahama like the eagle, has gone through the painful process of rebirth and is coming back with more vim, vigour and experience.

Anthony Obeng Afrane
French-Israeli hostage Mia Shem was among eight Israeli hostages released by Hamas late on Thursday in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile fighting resumed in Gaza on Friday immediately after the expiry of a week-long truce.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday welcomed the release by Hamas of French-Israeli hostage Mia Shem, while saying his country was working towards the liberation of all remaining hostages in Gaza.

Shem had been taken by Hamas at a music festival she attended on 7 October, with her friend 27-year-old Elya Toledano, also French-Israeli, who is still captive.

The young woman, who was wounded in the arm, was the first hostage to appear in a video broadcast by Hamas on 16 October.

Eight Israeli hostages, including six women aged between 21 and 41, were released by Hamas on Thursday, according to accounts given by their relatives to French news agency AFP, information from the Israeli press and the Hostage Families Forum.

The truce agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates that a minimum of 10 Israeli hostages should be released alive each day.

The release of two Russian-Israeli women in addition to 10 others a day earlier made up for the fact that only eight Israelis were released Thursday, a source close to Hamas said.

Israel released 30 more Palestinian prisoners 23 minors and seven women on Thursday night.

Since the truce began on 24 November, 80 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners have been released.

More than 20 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the scope of the agreement.

Fighting resumes

Meanwhile, fighting resumed in Gaza on Friday immediately after the expiry of a week-long truce with the first fatalities reported minutes later, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory.

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.

Combat resumed shortly after Israel's army said it had intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza, the first from the territory since the start of the truce.

The truce had paused fighting that began on 7 October 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's air and ground military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, according to Hamas.

"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 on Thursday.

Call for international action

During the seven-day truce, aid entered Gaza where about 80 percent of the population is displaced and grappling with shortages of food, water and other essentials.

Qatar  which helped mediate the truce  on Friday urged swift international action.

The Qatari foreign ministry, in a statement, said it stresses that continued bombing at the end of the pause "complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and... calls on the international community to move quickly to stop the violence."

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.

(with AFP)
NIMC DG (R) in a handshake with the NPC Chairman

01.12.2023 LISTEN

It was Albert Einstein that once said that setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means. That sentiment expressed by Einstein is the primary essence behind the theory of transformational leadership, which requires passion, charisma, and the ability to motivate others. Transformational leaders are usually very authentic, emotionally intelligent, great listeners, results-focused, visionary, and self-aware.

In just 100 days at the helm of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote has ushered in a new era of transformational leadership, leaving an indelible mark on the organization. Her eventual confirmation as substantive Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission did not come to many as a surprise.

She did not waste time to hit the ground running and showed commitment to advancing the NIMC's mission and mandate.

Coker-Odusote has taken steps to streamline National Identity Number (NIN) registration processes, while addressing the long-standing challenges associated with identity registration in Nigeria. This, she is handling through strategic restructuring and the integration of advanced technologies with a view to significantly reduce waiting time and enhance the overall efficiency of the system.

Today, date of birth and other kinds of modifications at NIMC happen within 48 hours. The several years backlog of date of birth modifications she inherited are almost cleared, as she had given a one-month deadline for the same to relevant staff of the Commission.

Again, responses to issues and complaints, such as those whose National Identity Numbers did not hit the NIN Verification Portal are now resolved within 24 hours.

Recognizing the paramount importance of data security in the digital age, the NIMC CEO has taken steps to enhance data security by introducing robust measures to fortify the protection of citizens' sensitive information. This includes, but not limited to the adoption of cutting-edge encryption technologies and the establishment of a dedicated cybersecurity team.

Her interest in improving service delivery at NIMC cannot be overemphasized. She has concluded plans to ensure regular training and retraining for staff of the Commission, emphasizing customer-centric approaches, to ensure a more positive experience for citizens seeking identity services.

On partnerships, Coker-Odusote, leveraging her extensive network and expertise, has forged strategic partnerships with governmental agencies, private organizations, and international bodies. These collaborations aim to enhance the NIMC's capacity, foster innovation, and promote information sharing for the betterment of identity management.

Understanding the pivotal role of technology in modernizing identity management, Engr. Coker-Odusote has spearheaded the integration of biometric advancements and artificial intelligence into the registration and verification processes.

This not only improves accuracy, user experience and ease of enrolment, but also positions NIMC at the forefront of technological innovation in identity management. A typical example is the NIMC Contactless Biometric Solution, which delivers a best-in-class fingerprint and facial capture image output quality, powered by Artificial Intelligence. The new solution was unveiled by the commission at the 2023 Identity Day, held in Abuja on September 16, 2023.

In addition, Engr. Coker-Odusote tackled the existing backlog of unprocessed identity requests head-on. Through a combination of strategic staff deployment and redeployment, process optimization, and digitization initiatives, she has made significant strides in clearing the backlog, demonstrating her commitment to prompt and efficient service delivery.

Recognizing the crucial role played by the NIMC staff in achieving organizational goals, the CEO has developed for implementation, a robust welfare programme aimed at boosting morale and fostering a positive work environment. This includes, but not limited to training opportunities, health benefits, and performance recognition initiatives.

Furthermore, in consultation with in-house experts, elaborate public awareness campaigns are being planned, to ensure that citizens are well-informed about the importance and benefits of identity registration. These campaigns are expected to not only educate the public, but also serve to demystify the registration process, encouraging greater participation.

The NIMC DG has concluded plans to take the ecosystem enrolment forward by taking steps to deepen collaboration with ecosystem implementing partners, supporting to ensure the success and optimal performance of the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, a Nigerian Project jointly funded by The World Bank, The European Investment Bank, and the French Development Agency.

Engr. Coker-Odusotes strategic vision, commitment to efficiency, and emphasis on technological innovation positions NIMC for a future where identity management is not only secure but also seamlessly integrated into the daily lives of citizens.

On anti-corruption, the NIMC DG has left no one in doubt on her determination to sanitize the system, entrench a culture of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption. Apart from putting systems and structures in place to discourage graft, she is directly involved in ensuring that the cankerworm has no place in the commission.

Just recently, in what one may describe as a sting operation, she paid an unscheduled visit to the Federal Capital Territory office of the commission, where she is reported to have arrested some staff for allegedly extorting money from Nigerians, even as she has maintained that enrolment was free.

Her devotion to supporting the policy direction of the present administration by strengthening the issuance of the NIN for access to service is not in doubt.

Speaking on Coker-Odusotes first 100 days in office as NIMC CEO, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Musa Odole Solomon described her as a vibrant, results-focused leader, determined to make a difference in the Commission.

She has taken steps to build bridges of collaboration between NIMC and partners within the countrys identity ecosystem. These collaborations aim to enhance the NIMC's capacity, foster innovation, and promote information sharing for the betterment of identity management in Nigeria.

The collaboration is also focused on enhancing handshake with institutions involved in the countrys identity ecosystem, with a view to deepening integration with the countrys Identity Management System.

In 100 days, she has taken the lead in working with the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project to speed up project implementation process, especially, processes geared towards the extension of NIN enrolment to hard-to-reach areas, women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups, thereby fostering inclusion and access to social services.

She has introduced some innovations that I consider very progressive, and things are moving very well. The Nigeria Digital ID4D Project is happy to work with her, as she has shown that she has all it takes to assist us succeed.

Responding to a question on his impression about the NIMC DGs leadership style and the future of the relationship between NIMC and his organisation, Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra stressed that the relationship between NIMC and NPC has become more robust under Coker-Odusotes leadership as NIMC CEO.

I want to say that the National Population Commission has a long and robust collaborative partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in our efforts to harmonize and integrate biometric databases for planning and development of our country.

However, this partnership has become more dynamic and robust with the assumption into office of Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote as the Director General of NIMC. She has shown an unparalleled commitment and passion in working with the Commission, not only in registration of births and deaths, but also the upcoming population census. She comes across as a thoroughbred professional and innovator who will give Africas greatest nation a deserved identity profile for national unity, security, and development. I am more confident in the future of the Identity Management Commission under her.

Responding to a question on the new grounds covered at the NIMC ICT, Director, IT/Identity Database of the Commission, Chuks Onyepunuka has this to say:

Our DG is pragmatic, proactive, result-oriented and visionist. Her achievements in ICT in NIMC in the last 100 days include, but not limited to: launching of self-modification and enrolments services to ease and simplify the processes for enrolment services; driving the clearing of about 3 million backlog of enrolment records awaiting manual adjudication within 3 weeks; decentralization of operations with objectives of ensuring that we are closer to the enrolees and adequate coverage in the nooks and crannies of the country.

Others are improvement in the process of engaging and revalidating our Frontend Enrolment Partners (FEPs); improvement in our ICT policies, processes and procedures; resolution of 95% challenges/issues affecting our window enrolment software (Res-Web) and commenced the integration and harmonization with National Population Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Adding her voice, NIMCs Director, Business Development and Commercial Services, Mrs. Carolyn Folami described the DG as a thoroughbred professional, committed to resetting the Commission for the good of the nation.

It has been only 100 days, but it seems she has been here far longer, as within this period, we have achieved a couple of goals towards resetting the NIMC agenda and resettling the NIMC staff for productivity.

Starting with the planning and commencement of training of all staff, to the commitment to all Front-End Partners (FEP) to revalidate the business model for fair play and payment. She is very keen on stakeholder engagement and has secured the buy- in of our harmonisation partners for effectiveness. She is professional, thorough, dedicated, and above all, kind to all.

Adding his voice, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Project Implementation Unit, Nigeria Digital ID4D Project, Dr. Emmanuel Akogun argued that Coker-Odusotes first 100 days in office were characterised by dynamic, focused and results  oriented leadership, adding that there is steady progress in NIN enrolment, with 103,500,000 Nigerians and other legal residents captured in the NIMC Database.

There is therefore no gainsaying the fact that Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote's first 100 days as CEO of the NIMC have been marked by a series of commendable achievements.

At this point, one can confidently say that with Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote as Chief Executive Officer, NIMC is in safe hands.

Her recent confirmation as substantive Director General/CEO of the Commission is clearly an act of patriotism by the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

However, as she commences a full tenure of office, following her recent confirmation, one expects that the standard is not lowered.

As she marks 100 days in office this week, the most challenging part of Abisoye Coker-Odusotes journey as Chief Executive Officer of the NIMC is the need to sustain the successes recorded, remain focused, deepen stakeholder engagement and public enlightenment, check corruption, strengthen systems and structures, be fair to all, while supporting the policy direction of the present administration.

Deliberate steps must be taken to ensure the sustenance of the war against extortion at NIMC.

Again, a deliberate plan should be in place to ensure a more robust stakeholder collaboration, particularly with those involved in the countrys identity ecosystem.

Elaborate, sustained communication and public enlightenment activities are required, taking advantage of the conventional and unconventional channels of communication to inform, educate and mobilize the citizens on the need for all to register for the NIN. This requires a deliberate strategy and strategic implementation.

Finally, a deliberate inclusion strategy must be in place and vigorously implemented to ensure that no one is left behind.

As the DG continues to lead with passion and purpose, NIMC is poised for even greater accomplishments under her guidance.

Indeed, NIMC is in safe hands!

Dr. Walter Duru (Assistant Professor of Communication and Multimedia Design) is a Communication/Public Relations Strategist, Researcher and Consultant. He could be reached on [email protected]

By Walter Duru, Ph.D
Hollard Life, the youngest of the insurance group, Hollard Ghana, has snagged the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana's (CIMG) Marketing-Oriented Insurance Company (Life Category) of the year, 2022 at the just ended 34th CIMG Annual National Marketing Performance Awards held at Labadi Beach Hotel.

According to the citation, Hollard Life was recognised for its dedication to customer-centric strategies and marketing excellence.

The year under review saw you introducing some wonderfully crafted and customer-resonating products that sat well with your target market. The introduction of the internal mechanism to ensure the building of a well-motivated staff, grilled to handle customer pain points seamlessly, together with your CSR initiatives, which remain peerless and matchless, and more are the strong pillars that identified you as the CIMG Marketing- Oriented Company of the Year, the citation read.

Commenting on the win, the Managing Director of Hollard Life, Nashiru Iddrisu, expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders, particularly our customers and partners, for believing in us to insure everybody they love.

Receiving the CIMG Marketing Oriented Insurance Company of the Year Award is a testament to our steadfast dedication to client satisfaction and our ongoing efforts to change the insurance landscape in Ghana. At Hollard, we are committed to enabling more people to create and secure a better future by treating everyone with care and dignity. Although we are barely five years old, we are glad to be making strides in the insurance industry while contributing to the increase of insurance penetration in the country, he said.

We are thrilled to have received this award from CIMG for our marketing-focused strategy. At Hollard, we are intentional about our purpose, which drives our actions. We ensure all our products and services reach the target audience using the best marketing practices. We are keen about putting customers first in everything we do and will keep aiming for excellence in customer satisfaction, the Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, added.

About Hollard Life

Hollard Life is a subsidiary of the insurance group Hollard Ghana, which combines its deep local knowledge of the market with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but Headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customised to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard was previously Metropolitan Insurance, which operated in Ghana for over 25 years. Hollard Life, the youngest subsidiary, was birthed in 2018. The company offers various life insurance products, including funeral, personal accident, savings and investments, group life insurance and employee plans, and more. Beyond different nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard Life at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh, www.melcom.com/hollard-insurance and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs.

Source: Hollard Life Assurance
Ahead of World AIDS Day, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital took a proactive step by hosting a sensitization engagement for its staff.

The focus was on rallying support for community-led efforts in the ongoing battle against AIDS.

A recent UNAIDS report underscored the crucial role communities play in this fight. It sheds light on the obstacles these communities face, including underfunding and harmful barriers that impede their life-saving work.

The theme for this year's celebration, "Let Communities Lead," resonates deeply. It aligns with the vibrant energy and innovation exhibited by young leaders worldwide, shaping the global HIV response.

During the commemorative event at the Ridge Hospital conference room on Thursday, November 30, Dr. Funmlayo B Annan, a pediatrician, emphasized that communities are the lifeblood of an effective AIDS response. Drawing from twenty-one years of experience, she stressed the need to empower communities to take the lead in Ghana's HIV response.

In recent years, young leaders have been at the forefront, challenging norms and advocating for comprehensive sex education, addressing human rights violations, and leveraging digital platforms for HIV awareness campaigns.

Under the Community Systems Strengthening (CSS) intervention of the Global Fund NFM III Project, HFFG (Sub Recipient under CHAG) is empowering HIV community members. This empowerment includes leading in services such as HIV education, adherence counseling, psychosocial support, eMTCT, and dispelling misconceptions about HIV.

Dr. Annan urged the government to unleash the power of grassroots communities nationwide, empowering them to lead in the fight to end AIDS.

Salome Tettey Frimpong, Nursing Officer at the Ridge Hospital emphasized the strategic imperative of empowering young people in the HIV response. She called on the Government of Ghana and HIV response implementors to prioritize and increase domestic resources for health, especially in the face of dwindling donor funding.

"Together, let's amplify the voices of young leaders, recognize their invaluable contributions, and walk hand in hand toward a future free from the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The time is now; the power lies within our communitieslet's pave the way," she said.
To say the Ghanaian Judiciary is a collection of Saints would be analogous to saying Al Capone was a model citizen; Then again, the American Judiciary makes members of the Ghanaian Judiciary seem Saintly especially regarding compliance with various unscrupulous prosecutors mainly white, to populate the American Prison Systems (mostly For-Profit Prisons) with mostly nonwhites no matter how innocent they may be or insignificant the actual offense is.

The historical US prison population census indicates that minorities are about twice the size of the prison population as compared to their counterparts from the majority. It doesnt take much to figure out why.

Kissi Agyabeng, the current special prosecutor whose rise to fame is primarily from his association/partnership with a filmmaker whose docuseries for quite some time became the toast of the general Ghanaian populace tired of Unchecked/Unrestrained Corruption, and seeking a Messiah to reign in the Crooked Sadducees(mostly Politicians and public figures), recently held a pressor lamenting the same judiciary which helped prop both he and his partners over the years through willful compliance or as a more sinister mind would say, the fear of BLACKMAIL as he attempted to do with his most recent pressor held on November 29th or 30th.

Seemingly wanting to endear himself to the populace and prey on the emotions of Ghanaians, he would attempt to shame the judiciary into future compliance either on lost cases on appeal, present cases being adjudicated or future cases. Amusingly, the gentleman would pause to quote what some describe as lyrics from a once famed song.

Interestingly, if anyone has benefitted BIGLY from an unscrupulous judiciary not doing its job it would be the current special prosecutor and his partners.

THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR AND CHARLES ADU-BOAHEN

In what seemed like a sequel of a previous documentary, Ghana woke up to a member of the Office of Special Prosecutor who had suddenly transformed into a passionate Defense Attorney hopping from screen-to-screen defending Mr. Adu-Boahen. Interestingly the gentleman Agyabeng did not give the judiciary he accuses of selective prosecution a chance instead channeling his inner Caeser by decreeing himself the demerits of prosecution. His office would execute that decision on the judiciarys behalf.

The reason for this fervent display of legal defense acumen? We were informed that the said documentary from which a potential prosecution of Mr. Adu-Boahen could occur would/could not pass the legal test in court and therefore no further action was required. A curious decision, nonetheless, but such was the verdict from the guy who wishes to play victim, judge, jury, and executioner.

It begs the question, what exactly those judges who always ruled in favor of Mr. Agyabeng and his filmmakers in private practice considered in lieu of the fact that as Special Prosecutor the same mans outfit is telling Ghanaians that those docuseries which catapulted them to fame are nothing to go court with.

THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR AND PROF FRIMPONG-BOATENG

If the decision on Adu-Boahen by Kissi Agyabeng was curious then the indictment of Prof Frimpong-Boateng who dared to list the names of Agyabengs friends/clients/associates in a report on GALAMSEY was nothing short of outrageous. In indicting Prof Frimpong Boateng for daring to include his friends and associates in the Unclean World of GALAMSEYERS, Kissi Agyabeng himself would screen-hop to remind Ghanaians of his selective amnesia only remembering his ongoing investigation into Frimpong-Boateng after the report came out.

Obviously, the only reason the venerable professor got invited to that office in that unholy month was to shut him up and stop him from revealing too much. In so doing a message was also transmitted to all other potential whistleblowers that they had better research the background of those about whom they had information. GHANA IS AN ANIMAL FARM

A portrait of the current special prosecutor in his short stint at the OSP is of a person addicted to Money, Power and Fame which keeps him in good company with the rest of us worldly and (ab)normal beings in this social media age; And a brazenly lazy individual who probably benefitted from unscrupulous judges some for fear and others in awe of a supposed legal celebrity offering to overlook flawed evidence to give him what he wants.

How do we know? Kissi Agyabeng tells us himself in his pressor and via his decision on Adu-Boahen. Basically, insinuating that judges overlook his errors and rule in his favor, finding people guilty or not guilty based on the decree of a modern-day Caeser-Aspirant.

The gentleman had better buckle up to put in actual billable hours. IT IS BUSY SEASON!

GYE-NYAME

Fiifi Ofori
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has stressed that it is important to celebrate farmers in the country.

In a statement on Friday, December 1, on the occasion of the 2023 National Farmers Day, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said farmers are the backbone of the Ghanaian economy.

He said to ensure sustainable food security for the country, there is a need for smart solutions with the 24-hour economy he has proposed.

As we celebrate our farmers today, we must acknowledge the need for smart solutions within a 24-hour economy to ensure sustainable food security for our nation.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is dedicated to bringing back the joy of farming and revolutionising the agricultural sector. We aim to achieve food self-sufficiency through a policy that supports large-scale commercial agricultural production, John Dramani Mahama said in a statement.

He said this will be propelled by a robust cooperative system that will benefit from Farmers Service Centres established nationwide to drive access to agricultural credit and inputs.

John Dramani Mahama further indicated that the next NDC government will introduce agro-processing units in all regions to add value to the agricultural products produced and create more opportunities for all farmers.

Read Mahamas statement to mark the 2023 National Farmers Day below:

Today, we celebrate Ghana's hardworking and dedicated farmers and fishers on National Farmers' Day 2023.

This day is dedicated to recognising the efforts of our farmers in ensuring food security and contributing to our economy.

This year's theme, "Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience," highlights the importance of innovation and resilience in agriculture.

As we celebrate our farmers today, we must acknowledge the need for smart solutions within a 24-hour economy to ensure sustainable food security for our nation.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is dedicated to bringing back the joy of farming and revolutionising the agricultural sector. We aim to achieve food self-sufficiency through a policy that supports large-scale commercial agricultural production.

This will be propelled by a robust cooperative system that will benefit from Farmers Service Centres established nationwide to drive access to agricultural credit and inputs.

We will introduce agro-processing units in all regions to add value to our agricultural products and create more opportunities for all farmers. Establishing agricultural processing plants will target crops such as palm, cashew, groundnuts, cotton, coffee, cocoa, soya, cassava, shea nuts, cereals, ginger, spices, cut flowers, fruits and horticultural products.

On this occasion, I want to assure our farmers that the next NDC government will prioritise their welfare and work tirelessly to ensure they have the necessary resources and support to thrive. Our farmers are the backbone of our economy, and we will continue to invest in their success.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Ghanaian farmers on this special day.

Thank you for feeding our nation.

Happy National Farmers' Day!
The Tonawanda Seneca Nation accused the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a lawsuit this week of violating federal laws by allowing a controversial industrial wastewater pipeline to be built through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Genesee and Orleans counties.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation, which has thousands of years of ancestral ties to the refuge land and reservation territory that abuts it, asked a federal court on Wednesday to halt construction of the pipeline until the Fish and Wildlife Service complies with environmental and other laws the Nation claims were ignored in approving the project.

Tonawanda Seneca Nation, environmentalists decry plans for STAMP wastewater pipeline Thursday's public comment period was the latest battle between county officials promoting economic growth and activists fighting for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protections.

The federal agency in 2022 approved Genesee County Economic Development Centers plan to build part of a 9.5-mile-long industrial wastewater pipeline though refuge lands to serve its 1,250-acre Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park, or STAMP, in the Town of Alabama. New York State has invested $56 million into the STAMP project to make it a shovel-ready site that it hopes will attract thousands of high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs to Western New York.

Pipeline construction began in July and was halted in October after multiple drilling spills that spread a slurry over an area of 24,000 square feet, including wetlands that feed into Oak Orchard Creek.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation opposes the destruction of habitat by STAMP, which directly threatens our land and water, where we hunt, fish, and gather medicine and food. For years we have warned of the harms that would come from a mega industrial site next to our Reservation Territory. Our warnings were ignored and now we see the damage caused by multiple spills from the buildout of the industrial sewage pipeline. Likewise, noise, excavation, light, and truck traffic from industrial operations drive away wildlife and impacts our people, Tonawanda Seneca Nation Chief Roger Hill said in a prepared statement.

We are responsible for protecting our land, community, and future generations from the harms brought on by industrial development. The industrialization of the STAMP site is not just an environmental concern but a matter of human rights for the Nation, he said.

State and federal regulatory agencies have required cleanup of the spills and that other precautions be put in place prior to pipeline construction being resumed, and construction continues to be on hold.

The lawsuit names as defendants the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as its director, Martha Williams; Thomas Roster, refuge manager of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, who issued a compatibility determination in favor of STAMP; and Scott Kahan, regional chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Northeast Region, who found no significant impact from the pipeline project. Also named is U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who oversees the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Their actions violated the National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1966, as well as the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act, the lawsuit claims.

David Eisenhauer, Northeast Region spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the federal agencys standard practice was not to comment on pending litigation.

A spokesman for the Genesee County Economic Development Center also declined to comment on the lawsuit.

STAMP pipeline construction halted after multiple drilling fluid spills Federal and state authorities won't allow construction to move forward until the GCEDC complies with pollution regulations.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation is being represented by attorneys from Earthjustice, a national nonprofit public interest organization that provides legal services on a host of environmental issues.

Environmentalists and citizens of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation have long opposed the pipeline, even as local and state officials pushed the industrial park a few miles north of the State Thruway, in northwestern Genesee County, as a possible hub for an emerging technology manufacturing industry in Western New York. At one point, STAMP reportedly was in consideration for a new $17 billion Samsung semiconductor plant thats now being built in Taylor, Texas.

STAMP Sewer Works, a corporation created under Genesee County, has said it needs the pipeline to carry up to 6 million gallons of treated wastewater per day from technology manufacturers at the site into Oak Orchard Creek in the Town of Shelby, Orleans County.

The 6 million gallons per day is if STAMP was at full build. Initially, the STAMP sanitary wastewater treatment plant initially would discharge 50,000 gallons of treated water per day into Oak Orchard Creek.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation reviewed the plan and approved a discharge permit after determining it would have no impact on water levels, flow rates and water quality.

Created in 2010, STAMP now has two major tenants, Power Plug, a hydrogen cell manufacturer, and Edwards, a British semiconductor equipment manufacturer. Those companies are expected to employ 700 people with average salaries above $80,000, according to GCEDC officials. At full build out, STAMP could host as many as 9,000 jobs.

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1958 as a sanctuary for migratory birds.

A buried pipeline is planned to stretch 2.7 miles across the refuge, including its streams and federal wetlands.

The construction employs a horizontal directional drilling technique that requires drilling fluid with bentonite, a potential toxin for fish, fish eggs and aquatic invertebrates, according to court papers.

A 2020 federal environmental assessment of the project concluded that there would be no long-term impact on migratory birds from the pipeline.

But that assessment did not include an estimated 127 species of birds that have been identified at the refuge, such as the short-eared owl, an endangered species, court papers said.

The assessment also failed to examine cumulative impacts on habitat caused by the full build out of the STAMP site and construction and operation of the pipeline, according to court papers.

The lawsuit said drilling fluid spilled at least five times during pipeline construction, resulting in two violation notices from DEC.
The Government of Ghana, with support from the United Nations Network on Migration for West and Central Africa has successfully hosted a Cross-Regional Dialogue for Champion countries of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

The event was held in Accra from 28 to 30 November.

Bringing together representatives from 28 countries from Africa, the Arab States, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, this event was an opportunity to strengthen partnerships between governments across regions, discuss regional and cross-regional collaboration in GCM implementation and demonstrate the value of integrating the GCM into national planning.

Participants discussed ways to improve data collection and sharing of good practices to better understand emerging trends in cross-regional movement of people. The dialogue also covered topics, such as the need for cross-regional collaboration and coordination to combat the smuggling of migrants, eradicate trafficking in persons and prevent the loss of life; regular pathways as a driver for development and protection; and the application of anti-discrimination dimensions in migration and detention.

When collaborations within and across regions get stronger, we can better protect the rights of all people along migration routes. Those collaborations are getting stronger here today. All of you in the same room, talking with and learning from each other. Your work together saves lives, said Amy Pope, IOM Director General and Coordinator of the UN Network on Migration.

As the first co-chairs of the Global Compact on Migration Champions Initiative, the Kingdom of Morocco and El Salvador are deeply committed to common objectives, whether it be to put migration in its true proportions through a balanced narrative, to promote the multiplication of regular pathways, to protect the human rights of migrants, to respond to the impacts of climate change or to further broaden our membership, said Mr. Sofiane Kadmiri, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.

As a Champion Country of the GCM since February 2020, El Salvador, together with Morocco, is pleased to Co-chair this initiative and join efforts with all the Champions to achieve our commitments with the Compact to benefit the safety and dignity of migrants, with a human-centred approach and promoting their positive contributions, added Mr Jose Roberto Chavez, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of El Salvador to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.

The dialogue concluded with a set of recommendations, which will feed into COP 28 and the upcoming GCM Regional Reviews. Champion countries further highlighted the need for urgent action to adapt to and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, as well as to adequately address loss and damage, which may compel people to leave their countries of origin.

This dialogue was organized thanks to the financial contributions of the United States Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM); the Kingdom of the Netherlands through its support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; and the European Union under the Building Migration Partnerships Programme implemented by the International Organization for Migration.
Dr Humphrey Ayim-Darke, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), says the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) has affected many businesses severely during the year.

He said it had resulted in heavy impairment losses on government securities, investor confidence and the introduction of the new revenue measures in 2023.

Dr Ayim-Darke made these known in an address at the 63rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the first to be held in the Volta region.

It was under the theme: Industrialization Through Sustainable and Efficient Supply Chains.

Dr Ayim-Darke said the AGI was not left out in the DDEP discussions since it constituted a team of financial experts to discuss and make recommendations to government.

He said the AGI also made recommendations regarding measures to mitigate the impact of the debt exchange on businesses, especially the financial sector and added that AGI submitted a position paper on the DDEP to government.

Dr Ayim-Darke said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) considered the AGI an important private sector group in Ghana.

The IMF team held high-level meetings with our AGI Executives to explore the views of Captains of Industry in addressing the challenges facing the economy.

He said the IMF also discussed considerations for a comprehensive reform package, to restore macroeconomic stability and anchor debt sustainability.

Dr Ayim-Darke said the level of utility increment and re-categorisation of water users by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) as experienced in 2022 put many of the businesses, especially those in the beverage sector, under pressure.

He said they were happy that they made good headway in the tariff negotiations that appeared to be in limbo from the onset.

If government is able to maintain macroeconomic stability, some of the significant changes in tariffs levels and price hikes we currently experience, will be a thing of the past.

Mr Silver Ojakol, Chief of Staff, AfCFTA Secretariat, said Ghana must lead the economic independence of the continent since it had led the political independence and most importantly hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat.

He said all governments in the African continent had massively supported the AfCFTA and there was the need to optimise the support received from them.

Mr Kwasi Ofori-Antwi, Representative of the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, said the AGM served as a platform to discuss issues affecting the industrial landscape of the economy and to exhibit locally manufactured goods and services.

He said they also served as channels for giving guidance for the strategic positioning of local industries for global competitiveness.

Mr Hammond said government had been pursuing an industrial transformation agenda, which was seeking to transform the industrial landscape of the Ghanaian economy and proud to state that the AGI had played a critical role in pursuing the agenda.

He said industrialisation was a key driver of economic growth and development, but it also came with challenges, such as environmental degradation, resource depletion and social inequality.

Mr Hammond said there were challenges such as pollution, emissions, congestion and delays due to inefficient supply chains, which harmed the environment and society and reduced the profitability and performance of businesses.

Dr Archibald Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, acknowledged the cordial existing partnership between the AGI and the Regional Coordinating Council hoping that all benefits to accrue from the staging of its AGM must remain in the region.

He commended the tenacity and hardwork of Mr Dela Gadzanku, AGI Chairman of Eastern, Volta and Oti regions, who is basking in his father's footsteps as an industrialist and former member of AGI.

GNA
Mr. Francis Abudu Zimmaleh, a chartered accountant and consultant, has highlighted the potential impact of the 24-hour economic policy concept on Ghanas financial sector and advocated it be depoliticized and scrutinised for its optimal utilisation.

The economic strategy aims to extend the operating hours of businesses beyond the regular 0900 hours to 1700 hours across various sectors.

The initiative is expected to stimulate financial and economic activities, according to its proponents, leading to the creation of more employment opportunities.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Zimmaleh highlighted the benefits of the strategy, such as lowering operational costs, promoting financial innovation, tackling regulatory and infrastructural challenges, and improving financial stability and inclusion.

Mr. Francis Abudu Zimmaleh

According to him, once the policy is put into action, it will effectively address the economic challenge of time differences with other nations and make transactions faster and more convenient.

In addition, it would help in the efficient handling of perishable farm products like fish and tomatoes, so customers can save on loan interest repayments.

Since Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the former president and candidate for the National Democratic Congress, proposed the 24-hour economy policy, there has been a lot of public discussion about it.

He insisted that it would increase productivity, solve Ghanas unemployment crisis, which now stands at 14 per cent, and revitalise the economy.

Mr. Zimmaleh applauded the economic strategy as a move that could substantially benefit the countrys financial and services sectors to improve their performances for overall economic growth.

He pointed out the potential of the initiative to improve financial inclusion and alleviate poverty by making financial services more widely available and accessible to individuals and businesses.

It could also lead to expanding access to banking, insurance, and mobile money.

He further stressed the potential benefits of enhancing financial stability through diversifying income and expenditure sources, which could help mitigate the financial sectors vulnerability to shocks and crises.

By creating a more dynamic and competitive environment, the 24-hour economy could foster financial innovation and encourage the development of new products and services that meet the needs and preferences of customers, he said.

However, he indicated that it was important to acknowledge that the implementation and impact of the 24-hour economy policy may encounter certain challenges and risks, which should be debated dispassionately and not politicised.

Still, he expressed optimism about the potential of a 24-hour economy policy to revolutionise Ghanas economy and generate employment opportunities. He urged the need for meticulous planning, coordination, and investment to guarantee its success and viability.

He also encouraged Mr. Mahama and his team of experts to create a thorough and all-encompassing policy guideline that considers a wide range of opinions for successful implementation and inclusive development, ultimately leading to national peace.

GNA
Ghana, like many other countries globally, aims to transition its energy sector away from fossil fuels towards zero-carbon energy by the second half of this century, as part of efforts to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal seven.

Specifically, the country plans to fully transition its energy system by 2070, requiring an estimated $562 billion investment.

However, Clement Kojo Akapame, a lawyer and lecturer noted that the policies developed by policymakers to achieve this goal lack supporting legislation.

Speaking at a media training on energy transition hosted by Citi TV/FM and the Natural Resources Governance Institute on November 28, at the Crystal Palm Hotel in Accra, he said major issues still need to be addressed through legislation and regulation.

"Energy transition policies cannot be fully implemented without conscious legislation and regulation," said Akapame, a lecturer at GIMPA Law School and country principal for ClientEarth.

Going forward, he proposed holding discussions around legal frameworks and sustainability, as well as coordinating efforts through a climate change act.

Why Energy Transition?

The discourse around energy transition in Ghana and globally has increased rapidly since the impacts of COVID-19 on the petroleum sector in 2020.

According to Dr. Riverson of Ghana Gas, transitioning will provide diversity in Ghana's energy mix, improving energy security.

Additional benefits include opportunities to generate carbon credits through renewable energy commercialization, enhanced air quality and public health.

Energy transition also has the potential to create new jobs for citizens.

Challenges of Energy Transition:

While transition offers many advantages, it also poses challenges.

These include potential job losses in fossil fuel industries and reduced government revenues if fuel subsidies or sales are phased out.

Consequences of Inaction:

Opting not to transition would mean Ghana would not have to struggle to get the amount of $562 billion in needed investments.

However, Dr. Riverson noted this would undermine energy security by risking unreliable fossil fuel supply.

The Training:

It was conceived from the observation that the media, as a key stakeholder, had limited knowledge about energy transition and therefore did not report much on the issue despite its growing importance.

It was also noted that with a firmer grasp of this issue, the media could play a stronger role in mobilizing public support through education and informing policymakers to make critical decisions for a just transition.

The one-day program provided training to up to 50 journalists interested in energy, climate and extractive industry reporting. Journalists from all regions of the country participated both in-person and online.

Key training areas covered:

The training covered key concepts around the topic. This included understanding the concepts of energy transition and just transitions, as well as an overview of the principles underpinning energy transition.

There was a deeper examination of Ghanas Energy Transition Plan, exploring sector actions, associated costs, and implications for emissions reductions.

Ghanas existing policy, legal and regulatory framework for implementing energy transition was also analyzed.

The program also evaluated the impact of energy transition on Ghanas economy. It explored how livelihoods may be positively or negatively affected by the shift to renewable and clean energy sources.

The journalists also learned about Ghana Gas work implementing an important component of Ghanas energy transition.
Mr Yaw Attah Arhin, WASH Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana, has called for the establishment of a National Sanitation Authority to oversee the activities of various agencies working on sanitation.

He also called for the inclusion of Presidential Special Initiatives on ending Open Defecation within a period of two to three years by giving the practice the needed priorities.

Mr Arhin noted that when issues of Open defecation came up for discussion on international platforms, Ghana's name emerged and same was embarrassing.

He called for a complete reawakening and national consciousness to end the practice to reclaim the good name of Ghana.

Mr Arhin was speaking at the dissemination of a report on the state of open defecation and access to improved sanitation in Ghana.

The occasion was also used to premier a documentary produced through the efforts Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) experts, stakeholders, and journalists (Ghana WASH Journalists Network).

The 2021 Population and Housing Census by the Ghana Statistical Service indicated that the level of open defecation has dropped marginally in two decades.

The World Health Organisation says 7,653 deaths in Ghana were caused by WASH related illness in the year 2019, with 21 people per day, almost one person every hour dies from preventable WASH -related disease.

Mr Arhin said it was imperative to increase funding to end Open defecation as well as strict enforcement of all assemblies' by-laws.

He said stakeholders should also intensify a sustained campaign (education) to bring about massive change of attitude and behaviour in various communities practicing open defecation.

According to him, currently some schools, hospitals and clinics lack toilet facilities hence compelling people to continue to engage in open defecation.

'If you are driving on a Highway today, it is very difficult to get a place of convenience, adding motorists have no option that to resort to the bushes around to attend natures call.

Mr Harold Esseku, World Bank WASH Development Partners LEAD, lauded Ghana WASH Journalists Network for working zealously devoid of political persuasions, noting the activities of Journalists had led to a reduction in open defecation in some areas.

Mr Esseku noted that although figures relating to Open defecation had reduced marginally, individuals involved in the practice had increased because of the high population.

Engineer Safaratu Mohammed Andani, a Director of Community Water Sanitation Agency (CWSA), called for continuous funding for the establishment of sanitation facilities in homes and communities to curb open defecation.

Justice Lee Adoboe, National Coordinator, Ghana WASH Journalists Network, said the documentary sought to unearth the underlying factors that make it difficult for Ghanaians to access improved sanitation and why 17.7 per cent of the population resort to open defecation.

The documentary was also to make way for stakeholders to strategize and implement effective policies that would create the needed access to improved sanitation in the country thereby end open defecation.

GNA
Parliament has asked the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, to reconsider the directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to fresh students, teaching and non-teaching staff to begin academic work on Monday, December 4.

A statement by the Parliamentary Service noted that due to the short notice with its attendant inconvenience to students, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff, the House proposes for the consideration of the Hon. Minister of Education the first week of January 2024 as a more convenient and appropriate time for parents, students and teachers to adequately prepare for academic work.

There have been concerns about the short period students have to prepare in reporting to school.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, however, stated the academic calendar was released weeks ago to allow parents to prepare ahead of time.

The Ministry of Education on Thursday, November 30, maintained that the reopening date for fresh Senior High School students remains December 4, 2023.

The date, which is for both single and double-track students, was contained in the 2023/2024 academic calendar released by the Ghana Education Service.

The Parliamentary Service in the statement dated Friday, December 1, added In view of the urgency of this matter and various concerns raised by Members of Parliament and other stakeholders, the Rt. Hon Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed the Minister of Education to appear before the House and brief Members on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 12:30 pm.

Attached is the full statement by the Parliamentary Service

-Citi Newsroom
Former President John Dramani Mahama

01.12.2023 LISTEN

On the occasion of the 39th Farmers' Day celebration, former President and opposition NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has pledged his commitment to bringing back the joy of farming and revolutionizing the agricultural sector if elected President again in 2024.

In a post on social media on Friday, December 1, Mahama said, "The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is dedicated to bringing back the joy of farming and revolutionising the agricultural sector."

He outlined plans for a transformed agricultural sector under an NDC government, including achieving food self-sufficiency through policies that support large-scale commercial farming.

The plan also includes establishing farmer service centres nationwide to improve access to credit and inputs for farmers.

Mahama said the NDC will introduce "agro-processing units in all regions to add value to our agricultural products and create more opportunities for all farmers."

This includes developing processing plants for key crops like palm, cashew, groundnuts and cocoa.

"We aim to achieve food self-sufficiency through a policy that supports large-scale commercial agricultural production," Mahama said in the post.

The former President promised that "the next NDC government will prioritise [farmers'] welfare and work tirelessly to ensure they have the necessary resources and support to thrive."

This years Farmers Day was marked under the theme, "Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience," which the NDC leader said, highlights the importance of innovation and resilience in agriculture.
Parliament has raised concern about the directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES) indicating that the academic work for first-year students in the various Senior High Schools should commence on Monday, December 4.

The directive from GES comes after it announced on November 28, that the 2023 Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) into Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools (TVET) has gone live.

In a statement, Parliament has called on Education Minister Yaw Adutwum to reschedule the commencement date for first-year students.

Parliament is of the view that the short time given by GES will inconvenience parents and their wards.

Parliament proposes that the commencement date should be pushed to January instead.

Parliament has asked the Minister of Education, to reconsider the directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to students, teaching and non-teaching staff to begin academic work on Monday 4th December, 2023.

This has become necessary after the attention of the House was drawn to the directive by the GES for the commencement of academic work for the first-year students on Monday, 4th December 2023.

Due to the short notice with its attendant inconvenience to students, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff, the House proposes for the consideration of the Hon. Minister of Education the first week of January, 2023 as a more convenient and appropriate time for parents, students and teachers to adequately prepare for academic work, the statement from Parliament said on Friday, December 1.

Due to the urgency of the matter and various concerns raised by Members of Parliament and other stakeholders, the Rt. Hon Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed the Minister of Education to appear before the House and brief Members on Monday, December 4.

Below is a copy of the statement from Parliament:
As the nation marks Farmers' Day, independent presidential candidate Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has unveiled his vision for transforming Ghana's agricultural sector with a "New Agricultural Revolution".

In a Facebook post on Friday, December 1, Kyerematen said his "heart swells with pride for our resilient farmers" and outlined a 4-pillar plan to boost the farming sector if elected in 2024.

The first pillar aims to "Connect Ghanaian Farmers to local, regional, and global markets through improved trade agreements and processes," Kyerematen stated.

The second pillar will "Prioritize technology, innovation, and groundbreaking research in Ghanaian Agriculture," he added.

The Movement for Change leader stressed that the third pillar will "Optimize value creation and put Ghanaian farmers at the forefront, maximizing their hard work."

Finally, the fourth pillar will "Promote large-scale commercial farming for lasting success," according to the post.

The last day of Agrifestthe Farmers Day, is being celebrated with an Awards Night Ceremony at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Auditorium where President Akufo-Addo, will confer national honours on best-performing farmers and fishers.
Dr. Sooliman, a medical doctor who gave up his career to pursue the field of humanitarian aid, which for him transcends the boundaries of race, religion, culture, class and geography, was chosen out of nine finalists drawn from a list of 736 nominations received at the end of the first phase of the selection process for the award in October, 2023.

The six-member Selection Board of the Daily Trust African of the Year, which was chaired by the Executive Chairman of AllAfrica Global Media Incorporated, Mr. Amadou Mahtar Ba, in acting capacity, announced the emergence of the medical doctor as the winner today, Friday, December 1, 2023, following a virtual meeting of the Board held on November 20, 2023.

A press release issued by the Secretariat of the Daily Trust African of the Year Award said, after careful consideration of the works of the nine finalists, the Selection Board has unanimously decided that Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, a South African medical doctor who gave up his career to pursue the field of humanitarian aid, is the deserving winner of the 2023 African of the Year Award.

The release, signed by the Ag. Group Chief Executive Officer of the Media Trust Group, Ahmed I. Shekarau, described Dr Sooliman as a worthy and exemplary humanitarian, characterised by his solid belief in the common humanity that unites people of the world.

He has guided the Gift of the Givers Foundation for more than 30 years to respond to and dispatch humanitarian and medical supplies to disaster areas on the continent and abroad, the statement added.

The statement explained further that Dr Sooliman and his relief workers have since 1992 identified with, and provided relief materials wherever disasters strike. From the provision of food parcels in impoverished communities in South Africa to search and rescue teams and medical specialists in response to natural and man-made disasters, Gift of the Givers has shown commitment to alleviating human sufferings in varying contexts.

It cited examples of the Foundations interventions in Turkey, shortly after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake of 6th February, 2023; the provision of food parcels, potable water, mattresses, clothing and hygiene packs to community members affected by the devastating flooding in Komani (formerly Queenstown) in Eastern Cape of South Africa, in February, 2023; as well as notable interventions in Libya, in the wake of the distressing flooding of September 11, 2023 in Shahhat City.

The Gift of Givers has since the outbreak of the October 7, 2023 war in Gaza Strip equally been providing humanitarian support to victims, resulting in the killing of the head of its relief workers in the Region, Ahmed Abbasi, on the 16th of November, 2023.

The Daily Trust African of the Year Award Selection Board members, after reviewing the credentials of the nine Africans who made it to the final round of the selection process, unanimously agreed that Dr Sooliman met all the criteria and is most deserving of the award.

The nine finalists included Qabale Duba, a Kenyan Nurse/Epidemiologist by profession, who is using the Qabale Duba Foundation to educate nomadic pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya; and Tatenda Ndambakuwa, a Zimbabwean Mathematician and Urban Planner, who is passionate about ending hunger, and is using her organization called Shiri, a digital platform, to connect farmers to critical resources like weather updates, market prices, and farming tips.

Also among the finalists is Dr. Ola Orekunrin, a Nigerian medical doctor and helicopter pilot, who founded the Flying Doctors Nigeria, West Africas first Air Ambulance Service, which she uses to take trauma care to the most remote parts of West Africa.
WASHINGTON  By now, Americans should be well aware that the process of electing a president isn't like electing a senator or governor. That's especially true during the presidential primaries, when the major political parties use a complex and decentralized system to pick their nominees to compete in November.

That complicated process was highlighted in the nomination plans released Tuesday evening by the Republican National Committee, which lays out numerous ways in which states will assign the delegates that a candidate must accumulate to win the party's nod to become its presidential candidate in 2024.

Although voters across the country cast ballots for their preferred presidential candidate during the presidential primary season, it's actually the delegates to the national party conventions who select the presidential nominees for each major party. Much like in the general election, where a candidate needs a majority of votes in the Electoral College to win the White House, in the primaries, candidates need a majority of delegate votes at the convention to win the party's presidential nomination. Winning the popular vote in a primary or caucus may give a candidate bragging rights and media attention, but it's the candidate who accumulates a majority of delegates who ultimately advances to the general election.

Here are the basics about the delegate selection process that you should know as the primary campaign gets underway in less than seven weeks:

What is a delegate?

In the context of presidential elections, delegates are individuals who represent their state or community at their party's presidential nominating convention. These delegates choose a presidential candidate to represent the national party in the November general election. They also approve the party's platform and adopt rules governing the party. Delegates tend to be party insiders or activists or early supporters of a particular presidential candidate.

How many delegates are there?

Both the Democratic and Republican national conventions will feature thousands of delegates representing all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories. Democrats will have about 3,900 voting delegates for the first ballot at the convention, and more than 4,600 for subsequent rounds of voting, if necessary. Republicans will have 2,429 delegates voting at the convention.

What kinds of delegates are there?

Delegates can be divided into two broad categories: pledged and unpledged, as Democrats call them, or bound and unbound, as Republicans call them.

Pledged and bound delegates must vote for a particular presidential candidate at the convention based on the results of the primary or caucus in their state. These are the delegates who are up for grabs on any given primary or caucus night. The requirement to vote for a specific candidate lasts at least through the first round of voting at the convention, but depending on state and party rules, some pledged and bound delegates become free to vote for any candidate on subsequent rounds of voting.

Pledged and bound delegates can be further divided into at-large delegates and district delegates. At-large delegates represent the entire state, while district delegates represent specific districts within the state, usually congressional districts but sometimes state legislative districts. Democrats have an additional type of pledged delegate that Republicans do not: party leaders and elected officials, or PLEOs. These tend to be notable local elected and party officials, though not governors or members of the U.S. Senate or House.

Unpledged and unbound delegates may support any presidential candidate regardless of the primary or caucus results in their state or local district. On the Democratic side, unpledged delegates may not vote on the first ballot in a closely contested race but are free to vote for any candidate in subsequent rounds of voting. Democrats adopted this rule after the 2016 election in order to limit the power of unpledged delegates, formerly known as "superdelegates." All Democratic governors, U.S. senators and representatives, current and former Democratic National Committee chairs and former presidents serve as unpledged delegates.

For Republicans, delegates from Guam, Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota will be unbound and free to vote for the candidate of their choice, according to the plans released Tuesday.

How does a candidate 'win' delegates?

Candidates win delegates in a state based on their performance in an election or some type of presidential preference event, usually a primary or a caucus. But the two major parties have vastly different approaches in determining exactly how delegates are allocated to candidates.

How do Republicans allocate delegates?

For Republicans, state parties are mostly free to determine how to award delegates to presidential candidates, although the RNC does establish some guidelines and restrictions. The most common delegate allocation methods are:

 Proportional: Candidates are awarded delegates in proportion to the share of the vote they receive in the primary or caucus. There are many variations of proportional allocation methods. Some states allocate all their delegates in proportion to the statewide vote. Others allocate just their statewide delegates according to the statewide vote and their district delegates according to the vote in each district. Many states require that candidates meet a certain vote threshold at either the statewide or district level to qualify for any delegates. Under RNC rules, states holding contests before March 15 must use a proportional allocation method, and can use a threshold of no more than 20% of the vote for a candidate to qualify for delegates.

 Winner-take-all: The candidate who receives the most votes in a primary or caucus wins every delegate at stake in that contest. Only contests held March 15 or later may allocate delegates on a winner-take-all basis.

 Hybrid: Some states allocate delegates using a mix of proportional and winner-take-all methods. A common combination is majority-take-all, in which statewide delegates are awarded proportionally, though one candidate can win them all if they get more than 50% of the vote. Congressional district delegates would be awarded the same way, based on results in each individual district. Those combinations are allowed for the states that are otherwise required to allocate their delegates proportionally.

 Direct election of delegates: Under this method, delegates are elected directly by voters.

How do Democrats allocate delegates?

Unlike Republicans, Democrats have a standardized rule that all state parties must observe. Candidates win at-large and PLEO delegates in proportion to their share of the statewide vote. They also win district delegates in proportion to their share of the vote in each congressional district. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote to qualify for any statewide delegates and at least 15% of votes in a congressional district to qualify for delegates in that district.

When will the first delegates be allocated?

The Republican delegate selection process will begin with the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15 and the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23. Nevada and South Carolina will hold delegate contests in February. According to party rules, the Democratic delegate selection process will begin with the South Carolina primary on Feb. 3, with Nevada and Michigan holding contests later that month. New Hampshire is holding a Democratic primary on Jan. 23 in violation of DNC rules, and the DNC has not yet said whether and how that will impact the state's delegate allotment. The bulk of Democratic and Republican contests will be held between March and June.

___

The 2024 presidential field, in the order they've announced Donald Trump, Republican Nikki Haley, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Marianne Williamson, Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Independent Larry Elder, Republican (dropped out) President Joe Biden, Democrat Asa Hutchinson, Republican Tim Scott, Republican (dropped out) Ron DeSantis, Republican Mike Pence, Republican (dropped out) Chris Christie, Republican Doug Burgum, Republican (dropped out) Francis Suarez, Republican (dropped out) Will Hurd, Republican (dropped out)
01.12.2023 LISTEN

The aggrieved customers of Gold Coast Fund Management on November 28, 2023 demonstrated at the Finance Ministry in Accra.

According to the demonstrators, they're seeking the release of their funds from the defunct company, which has been renamed Black Shield Fund Management.

Over 55,000 customers have their investments locked-up due to the government's revocation of the company's license.

A member of the group stated that President Nana Akufo-Addo stated on the floor of Parliament that he has released their monies to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Rev. Ogbamey Tetteh to pay their locked-up monies but they've not received them.

He added, When we came here to picket two weeks ago, delegation from the Finance Ministry told us they will call us, but we never heard from them. Today, we came well prepared to sleep here till we get our monies, we (customers) came with our clothes, toothpaste, toothbrush, mats, our medicines, foods, sponges, towels and all the things we shall need during our stay because we ain't going home.

The group, numbering about 100, is seeking to put pressure on the government to address their concerns.

The convener of the aggrieved customers of the defunct Gold Coast Fund Management, Charles Nyame, said they will picket for 32 hours continuously.

Its all about the demand for our funds. After our first protest in October, where the Finance Ministry tried to engage us but failed.

We have gone back to the police, and we have obtained police clearance to go back to the Finance Ministry to stage another 32-hour protest.

"We will start at 11 am and end on Wednesday at 7 pm. It is continuous, he said.
01.12.2023 LISTEN

In Ghana, about 52 % of the labour force is engaged in agriculture. Approximately, 39 % of farm labour force is women.

Agriculture contributes to 54 % of Ghanas GDP, and accounts for over 40 % of export earnings, while at the same time providing over 90 % of the food needs of the country.

It is for this reason that the Chief Executive for the Obuasi Municipal Assembly Hon Elijah Adansi-Bonah has advised farmers to prioritize their health needs.

Speaking to the media at the sidelines of a durbar in Obuasi to mark the 39th National Farmers'day at Binsere, the MCE said while government is focused on implementing policies to boost agriculture and ensure food security, it was important for farmers whom he described as drivers of the nation's economy to take care of their health to be able to produce more to sustain the country.

This year's national farmers' day coincided with the World AIDS Day celebrations. The Obuasi MCE seized the opportunity to advise farmers to be extremely careful of their sexual activities.

"Let us all practice the Abstinences, Be Faithful to your partner and practice the use of Condoms. This is the best way to take care of ourselves to avoid infection," he stated.

Second phase of PFJ right solutions to Agricultural challenges

Honorable Adansi-Bonah in his speech lauded the government for introducing the Phase II of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program which he said was to consolidate the gains of the Planting for Food and Jobs program rolled out in 2017.

Targeted at building on the successes of the initial program, the second phase of the program is a five-year master plan for the transformation of agriculture in Ghana through modernization in the development of selected commodity value chains and active private sector participation.

He charged farmers and the people of Obuasi to take full advantage of the program and other interventions rolled out by government in the Agricultural sector to improve their livelihoods.

The Municipal Director of Agriculture Yaw Owusu Donkor Junior commended farmers in the Municipality for their relentless efforts and key role in the Socio-Economic development of the country.

Touching on tbe theme for this year's edition of the national farmers' day, " Delivering Smart solutions for sustainable food security and resilience", the Agric Director said, it was to draw the country's attention to the rationale behind the government's Planting for Food and Jobs program rolled out in 2017 which was to deliver target solutions to the challenges within the agricultural sector.

He said it was worth noting that farmers, despite their challenges continue to work hard hard and demonstrate high levels of resilience to live up to their mandate of ensuring food security.

He advised farmers to work closely with the Extension Officers and follow their instructions and directives. He said this would help them adopt the right farming methods. He also encouraged them to form farm-based organisations which will enable them get a united front to fight for their interest.

After a thorough farm visit and assessment by the MOFA department of the Obuasi Municipal, 51-year-old Godfred Klomega of Nhyiaeso in the Obuasi Municipality was adjudged the 2023 Municipal Best Farmer.

Mr. Klomega, who has 23.5 acre of deveoped land and into intercrop production, fish farming, and livestock production, took home 40-inch LED TV, Motorised Tricycles (Aboboyaa), 2 Wellington Boots, 12 piece of GTP wax print, 1box of Key soap, 2 Knapsack sprayers, machetes, and 1box of Sunphosate Glyphosate Weedicide and 1 brush cutter, all sponsored by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine.

In his speech, he talked about the economic benefits of agriculture. He said his standard of living has improved since he ventured into agriculture 23 years ago with one of his children now a medical doctor.

He encouraged the youth to develop interest in agriculture stressing that the benefits involved are enormous.

"What I can tell the youth is that, Agriculture has a lot of benefits. I am a beneficiary and I encourage everybody to develop interest in it," he stated.

He also advised farmers to work closely with the Agric Extension officers who will help them adopt and apply the right technology in their farms.

The second-best farmer went to Francis Coffee from Mampamhwe No.2 while 11 other farmers and an extension officer were awarded by the Assembly.
Bank of China Limited (OTCMKTS:BACHY  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $8.85 and traded as high as $9.12. Bank of China shares last traded at $9.12, with a volume of 52,082 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Bank of China from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st.

Get Bank of China alerts:

View Our Latest Research Report on Bank of China

Bank of China Price Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average is $8.85 and its 200 day moving average is $9.09. The company has a market cap of $107.75 billion, a PE ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

Bank of China (OTCMKTS:BACHY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 30th. The bank reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $21.91 billion for the quarter. Bank of China had a net margin of 20.59% and a return on equity of 8.68%.

Bank of China Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial services in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and internationally. It operates through Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, Treasury Operations, Investment Banking, Insurance, and Other segments. The Corporate Banking segment provides current accounts, deposits, overdrafts, loans, payments and settlements, trade-related products, and other credit facilities, as well as foreign currency, derivative, and wealth management products for corporate customers, government authorities, and financial institutions.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Bank of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Clough Global Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:GLO  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $4.62. Clough Global Opportunities Fund shares last traded at $4.60, with a volume of 126,474 shares.

Clough Global Opportunities Fund Price Performance

Get Clough Global Opportunities Fund alerts:

Clough Global Opportunities Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.0483 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 21st. This represents a $0.58 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.57%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GLO. UBS Group AG boosted its position in Clough Global Opportunities Fund by 51.3% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 9,921 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 3,362 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in Clough Global Opportunities Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at $74,000. Vantage Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Clough Global Opportunities Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at $52,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC bought a new stake in Clough Global Opportunities Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, Almitas Capital LLC bought a new stake in Clough Global Opportunities Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at $67,000.

About Clough Global Opportunities Fund

Clough Global Opportunities Fund is a closed ended balanced mutual fund launched and managed by Clough Capital Partners L.P. It invests in public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. The fund invests in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors. For its fixed income portion, the fund invests in both investment grade and non-investment grade issues.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Clough Global Opportunities Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clough Global Opportunities Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Leju Holdings Limited (NYSE:LEJU  Get Free Report) passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $1.27 and traded as high as $1.33. Leju shares last traded at $1.33, with a volume of 25,019 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Leju in a report on Wednesday. They issued a buy rating for the company.

Get Leju alerts:

View Our Latest Analysis on Leju

Leju Trading Up 3.2 %

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1.88.

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Leju stock. Two Sigma Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Leju Holdings Limited (NYSE:LEJU  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 16,337 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $38,000. Two Sigma Securities LLC owned 0.12% of Leju as of its most recent SEC filing. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.05% of the companys stock.

Leju Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Leju Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides online to offline (O2O) real estate services in the People's Republic of China. It offers real estate e-commerce, online advertising, and online listing services through its online platform, and various mobile applications. The company also operates various real estate and home furnishing Websites of SINA Corporation (SINA).

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Leju Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Leju and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:NTIOF  Get Free Report) crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $64.85 and traded as high as $65.63. National Bank of Canada shares last traded at $64.93, with a volume of 2,385 shares traded.

National Bank of Canada Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $64.76 and its 200-day simple moving average is $70.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 1.10.

Get National Bank of Canada alerts:

National Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:NTIOF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.88 billion for the quarter. National Bank of Canada had a net margin of 15.58% and a return on equity of 17.27%.

National Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

National Bank of Canada Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Monday, September 25th were paid a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 22nd. This is an increase from National Bank of Canadas previous dividend of $0.75. This represents a dividend yield of 4.28%. National Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is 43.64%.

(Get Free Report)

National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for National Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE:JPC  Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $6.23 and traded as high as $6.46. Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund shares last traded at $6.40, with a volume of 878,013 shares traded.

Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Stock Up 0.6 %

The business has a fifty day moving average of $6.23 and a 200 day moving average of $6.36.

Get Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund alerts:

Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, November 16th will be issued a $0.042 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 15th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.84%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund

About Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund by 6.0% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 24,052 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $206,000 after purchasing an additional 1,367 shares during the period. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC boosted its position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund by 8.1% during the third quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 26,940 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $171,000 after purchasing an additional 2,030 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund by 2.5% during the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 95,226 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $603,000 after purchasing an additional 2,289 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund by 3.5% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 75,086 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $461,000 after purchasing an additional 2,515 shares during the period. Finally, RMB Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund by 8.1% during the first quarter. RMB Capital Management LLC now owns 43,110 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $284,000 after purchasing an additional 3,235 shares during the period.

(Get Free Report)

Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund is a closed ended balanced mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, and NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:SFRGY  Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $6.51 and traded as high as $6.58. Salvatore Ferragamo shares last traded at $6.42, with a volume of 11,736 shares.

Salvatore Ferragamo Trading Up 0.9 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $6.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.49.

Salvatore Ferragamo Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A., through its subsidiaries, creates, produces, and sells luxury goods for men and women in Italy, rest of Europe, North America, Japan, the Asia Pacific, and Central and South America. It offers men's and women's footwear; leather goods, such as handbags, suitcases, belts, wallets, and other men's and women's leather accessories; and knitwear, clothes for formal occasions, sportswear, and leisure wear, as well as outerwear, such as husky jackets, ponchos, and leather garments.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Salvatore Ferragamo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Salvatore Ferragamo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of STS Global Income & Growth Trust (LON:STS  Get Free Report) passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 215.25 ($2.72) and traded as high as GBX 215.56 ($2.72). STS Global Income & Growth Trust shares last traded at GBX 213 ($2.69), with a volume of 101,931 shares.

STS Global Income & Growth Trust Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.20, a current ratio of 0.15 and a quick ratio of 0.40. The company has a market cap of 197.90 million, a PE ratio of -5,325.00 and a beta of 0.48. The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 215.05 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 215.89.

Get STS Global Income & Growth Trust alerts:

STS Global Income & Growth Trust Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 5th were given a dividend of GBX 1.53 ($0.02) per share. This represents a yield of 0.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 5th. STS Global Income & Growth Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently -15,000.00%.

About STS Global Income & Growth Trust

Securities Trust of Scotland plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Martin Currie Fund Management Limited. It is co-managed by Martin Currie Investment Management Limited. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for STS Global Income & Growth Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for STS Global Income & Growth Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT  Get Free Report) CFO Anthony F. Marone, Jr. sold 507 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.14, for a total value of $11,224.98. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 49,988 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,106,734.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Stock Performance

Shares of BXMT traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $22.18. The company had a trading volume of 2,494,999 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,661,438. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $21.37 and a 200-day moving average price of $21.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.46 and a beta of 1.40. Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $16.60 and a 52-week high of $25.73.

Get Blackstone Mortgage Trust alerts:

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th were given a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.18%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 28th. Blackstone Mortgage Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently 217.54%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Blackstone Mortgage Trust

Analyst Ratings Changes

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 447.5% in the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,336 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 1,092 shares in the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust in the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. DT Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust in the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. 52.89% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Blackstone Mortgage Trust in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Blackstone Mortgage Trust presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $21.25.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BXMT

About Blackstone Mortgage Trust

(Get Free Report)

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc, a real estate finance company, originates senior loans collateralized by commercial properties in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company, together with its subsidiaries, originates and acquires commercial mortgage loans and related investments. It operates as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Mortgage Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone Mortgage Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Auckland International Airport Limited (OTCMKTS:AUKNY  Get Free Report) shares shot up 2.7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $24.25 and last traded at $24.25. 122 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 823 shares. The stock had previously closed at $23.62.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Auckland International Airport in a research note on Sunday, August 6th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock.

Get Auckland International Airport alerts:

Read Our Latest Stock Report on AUKNY

Auckland International Airport Price Performance

Auckland International Airport Announces Dividend

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $22.80 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.33.

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 26th were paid a dividend of $0.0177 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 25th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.52%. Auckland International Airports payout ratio is 60.72%.

Auckland International Airport Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Auckland International Airport Limited provides airport facilities, supporting infrastructure, and aeronautical services in Auckland and New Zealand. The company operates through three segments: Aeronautical, Retail, and Property. The Aeronautical segment provides services that facilitate the movement of aircraft, passengers, and cargo, as well as utility services, which support the airport; and leases space for facilities, such as terminals.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Auckland International Airport Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Auckland International Airport and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $55.95 and last traded at $55.89, with a volume of 8345879 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $55.44.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BSX has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. BTIG Research raised their price objective on Boston Scientific from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $63.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $61.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Evercore ISI reiterated an outperform rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Boston Scientific presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $60.55.

Get Boston Scientific alerts:

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on BSX

Boston Scientific Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The firms 50-day moving average is $52.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $52.46. The stock has a market cap of $81.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.77.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.48 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 8.93% and a return on equity of 15.46%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.43 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Scientific

In other Boston Scientific news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,356 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.51, for a total value of $5,952,323.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,498,922 shares in the company, valued at approximately $78,708,394.22. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Joseph Michael Fitzgerald sold 15,867 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.00, for a total transaction of $872,685.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 197,992 shares in the company, valued at $10,889,560. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,356 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.51, for a total value of $5,952,323.56. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,498,922 shares of the companys stock, valued at $78,708,394.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 379,275 shares of company stock worth $20,051,388. Insiders own 0.71% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Boston Scientific

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 391.6% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,271,810 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $172,752,000 after buying an additional 2,606,253 shares in the last quarter. USA Financial Formulas grew its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 8.7% in the third quarter. USA Financial Formulas now owns 21,922 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $1,157,000 after acquiring an additional 1,751 shares in the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 43.5% in the third quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 4,578 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $242,000 after acquiring an additional 1,388 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 23.4% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 1,016,903 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $53,692,000 after acquiring an additional 192,535 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank acquired a new position in shares of Boston Scientific in the third quarter worth $14,341,000. 89.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Boston Scientific

(Get Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Centerspace (NYSE:CSR  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 237,300 shares, an increase of 113.2% from the October 31st total of 111,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 83,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.8 days.

Centerspace Stock Up 1.4 %

CSR stock traded up $0.74 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $54.08. 46,488 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 77,281. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.14 and a current ratio of 0.14. Centerspace has a 1-year low of $46.74 and a 1-year high of $71.97. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $54.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $59.32. The company has a market cap of $813.90 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.95.

Get Centerspace alerts:

Institutional Trading of Centerspace

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Comerica Bank acquired a new stake in Centerspace during the third quarter worth approximately $413,000. Creative Planning acquired a new stake in Centerspace during the third quarter worth approximately $261,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its holdings in Centerspace by 7.9% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 21,667 shares of the companys stock worth $1,306,000 after purchasing an additional 1,581 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Centerspace by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,580 shares of the companys stock valued at $396,000 after acquiring an additional 779 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Centerspace by 27.5% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 156,987 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,460,000 after buying an additional 33,833 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.97% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Compass Point raised shares of Centerspace from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $65.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Centerspace from $60.00 to $58.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Centerspace from $72.00 to $64.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Centerspace from $65.00 to $57.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Finally, BTIG Research reissued a buy rating and issued a $69.00 price objective on shares of Centerspace in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $64.00.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Centerspace

About Centerspace

(Get Free Report)

Centerspace is an owner and operator of apartment communities committed to providing great homes by focusing on integrity and serving others. Founded in 1970, as of September 30, 2023, Centerspace owned interests in 71 apartment communities consisting of 12,785 apartment homes located in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Centerspace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centerspace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (OTCMKTS:CRHKY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a decline of 97.1% from the October 31st total of 13,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 66,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

China Resources Beer Stock Up 0.4 %

OTCMKTS:CRHKY traded up $0.04 on Thursday, reaching $8.96. 71,963 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,960. The business has a fifty day moving average of $10.53 and a 200-day moving average of $11.82. China Resources Beer has a 52-week low of $8.85 and a 52-week high of $16.64.

Get China Resources Beer alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of China Resources Beer from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd.

About China Resources Beer

(Get Free Report)

China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures, distributes, and sells beer products in Mainland China. The company offers its products under the Nong Li, Li, Lowen Fruit Beer, and Snow Draft Pure Malt Beer, Snow Xiao Pi Qi brands. The company was formerly known as China Resources Enterprise, Limited and changed its name to China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited in October 2015.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for China Resources Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Resources Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Coca-Cola HBC AG (OTCMKTS:CCHGY  Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $26.44 and traded as high as $28.10. Coca-Cola HBC shares last traded at $28.10, with a volume of 8,169 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Societe Generale raised shares of Coca-Cola HBC from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,600 ($32.84) to GBX 2,400 ($30.31) in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd.

Get Coca-Cola HBC alerts:

Get Our Latest Report on Coca-Cola HBC

Coca-Cola HBC Trading Up 0.3 %

About Coca-Cola HBC

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.21. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $26.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.46.

(Get Free Report)

Coca-Cola HBC AG engages in the production, distribution, and sale of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages under franchise in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers sparkling soft drinks, adult sparkling, hydration drinks, juices, ready-to-drink tea, energy drinks, dairy, coffee, water, plant-based drinks, premium spirits and flavored alcoholic beverages, and snacks.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola HBC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola HBC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd. (OTCMKTS:DIFTY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a growth of 200.0% from the October 31st total of 300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 5,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd. Stock Up 3.4 %

Shares of DIFTY stock traded up $0.89 during trading on Thursday, reaching $27.49. 2,066 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,744. The company has a quick ratio of 5.43, a current ratio of 5.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd. has a twelve month low of $22.50 and a twelve month high of $28.85. The firms fifty day moving average price is $26.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $25.91.

Get Daito Trust Construction Co.Ltd. alerts:

About Daito Trust Construction Co.,Ltd.

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Daito Trust Construction Co,Ltd. designs, constructs, and rents apartments and condominiums in Japan. It operates through three segments: Construction, Real Estate, and Finance. The company design and construct rental housing and other structure construction; ironwork and construction; building management and renovation, and whole building leasing; rental housing tenant guarantor services; advertising; and LP gas supply businesses.

Receive News & Ratings for Daito Trust Construction Co.Ltd. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Daito Trust Construction Co.Ltd. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The technology company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.42, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 149.91% and a net margin of 2.03%. The business had revenue of $22.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.01 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Dell Technologies updated its Q4 guidance to $1.60-1.80 EPS.

Dell Technologies Price Performance

Shares of Dell Technologies stock traded up $0.85 during trading on Thursday, hitting $75.91. 10,458,523 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,454,222. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.97, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.95. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $69.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $59.98. Dell Technologies has a 1 year low of $35.96 and a 1 year high of $76.09.

Get Dell Technologies alerts:

Dell Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 24th were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 23rd. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.95%. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 57.14%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Dell Technologies news, General Counsel Richard J. Rothberg sold 30,009 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.00, for a total value of $2,040,612.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 99,899 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,793,132. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Insiders own 48.60% of the companys stock.

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DELL. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Dell Technologies by 17.7% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 14,076 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $706,000 after purchasing an additional 2,117 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new stake in Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at $304,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at $568,000. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 254,266 shares of the technology companys stock worth $12,762,000 after acquiring an additional 4,949 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 6,090 shares of the technology companys stock worth $306,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 38.10% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DELL has been the subject of several research reports. Daiwa Capital Markets raised Dell Technologies from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their target price for the stock from $50.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on Dell Technologies from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, September 25th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Credit Suisse Group increased their price objective on Dell Technologies from $62.00 to $74.00 in a report on Friday, September 1st. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price objective on Dell Technologies from $45.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $71.00.

View Our Latest Stock Report on DELL

Dell Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO  Get Free Report) insider James C. Zelter sold 70,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.85, for a total transaction of $6,359,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,130,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $102,660,500. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Apollo Global Management Price Performance

NYSE:APO traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $92.00. 4,061,043 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,572,987. Apollo Global Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $55.16 and a twelve month high of $93.44. The firm has a market cap of $52.21 billion, a PE ratio of 19.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.64. The stocks 50-day moving average is $86.91 and its 200-day moving average is $81.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

Get Apollo Global Management alerts:

Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by ($0.09). Apollo Global Management had a return on equity of 111.10% and a net margin of 10.87%. The business had revenue of $834.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $816.03 million. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Apollo Global Management, Inc. will post 6.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Apollo Global Management Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.87%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 16th. Apollo Global Managements dividend payout ratio is currently 36.36%.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on APO shares. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $103.00 to $98.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $97.00 to $94.00 in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.82.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Apollo Global Management

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Apollo Global Management

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Apollo Global Management by 4.6% during the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 34,472 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,094,000 after buying an additional 1,520 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Apollo Global Management during the third quarter worth about $228,000. Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its stake in Apollo Global Management by 51.9% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 75,177 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,748,000 after buying an additional 25,700 shares during the period. Comerica Bank purchased a new position in Apollo Global Management during the third quarter worth about $3,918,000. Finally, Diversified Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Apollo Global Management during the third quarter worth about $385,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 60.86% of the companys stock.

Apollo Global Management Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Apollo Global Management, Inc is a private equity firm specializing in investments in credit, private equity and real estate markets. The firm's private equity investments include traditional buyouts, recapitalization, distressed buyouts and debt investments in real estate, corporate partner buyouts, distressed asset, corporate carve-outs, middle market, growth capital, turnaround, bridge, corporate restructuring, special situation, acquisition, and industry consolidation transactions.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Apollo Global Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apollo Global Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mitsubishi Chemical Group Co. (OTCMKTS:MTLHF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,448,100 shares, a decline of 30.9% from the October 31st total of 2,095,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4,827.0 days.

Mitsubishi Chemical Group Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:MTLHF remained flat at $6.12 during midday trading on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $5.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $5.93. Mitsubishi Chemical Group has a 12-month low of $4.90 and a 12-month high of $6.51.

Get Mitsubishi Chemical Group alerts:

About Mitsubishi Chemical Group

(Get Free Report)

Featured Stories

Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation provides performance products, chemicals, industrial gases, health care products, and other products in Japan and internationally. The company offers polyester films for various applications, including optical materials, for electronic displays; industrial materials for electronic components, automotive parts, and medical equipment; and packaging materials for food and other products.

Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Chemical Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Chemical Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE  Get Free Report) COO Priscilla Hung sold 6,310 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total transaction of $631,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 41,963 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,196,300. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Priscilla Hung also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Guidewire Software alerts:

On Tuesday, September 19th, Priscilla Hung sold 11,540 shares of Guidewire Software stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.77, for a total transaction of $1,059,025.80.

Guidewire Software Price Performance

Guidewire Software stock traded up $0.47 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $99.99. 982,829 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 677,254. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 2.95 and a quick ratio of 2.95. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $91.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $84.08. Guidewire Software, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $56.15 and a fifty-two week high of $101.37.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Guidewire Software ( NYSE:GWRE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 7th. The technology company reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.36. The firm had revenue of $270.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $261.38 million. Guidewire Software had a negative net margin of 12.35% and a negative return on equity of 8.40%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.31) EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Guidewire Software, Inc. will post -0.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several research firms recently issued reports on GWRE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Guidewire Software from $83.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, September 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Guidewire Software from $103.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Guidewire Software from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Guidewire Software from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, September 8th. Finally, JMP Securities increased their target price on shares of Guidewire Software from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $98.36.

View Our Latest Research Report on Guidewire Software

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Guidewire Software

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Guidewire Software by 5.5% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 13,825 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,311,000 after purchasing an additional 726 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its stake in Guidewire Software by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 4,428 shares of the technology companys stock worth $419,000 after acquiring an additional 276 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new position in Guidewire Software during the 1st quarter worth about $253,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Guidewire Software during the 1st quarter valued at about $159,000. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its position in Guidewire Software by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 10,089 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $955,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. 98.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Guidewire Software Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Guidewire Software, Inc provides a platform for property and casualty (P&C) insurers worldwide. The company offers Guidewire InsuranceSuite Cloud, such as PolicyCenter Cloud, BillingCenter Cloud, and ClaimCenter Cloud applications. It also provides Guidewire InsuranceNow, a cloud-based platform that offers policy, billing, and claims management functionality to insurers; and Guidewire InsuranceSuite for Self-Managed.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Guidewire Software Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Guidewire Software and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued on Thursday.

Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics from a d- rating to a c- rating in a report on Monday, August 7th. HC Wainwright restated a buy rating and set a $10.00 target price on shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics in a report on Tuesday, November 14th.

Get Protalix BioTherapeutics alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on PLX

Protalix BioTherapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PLX traded up $0.08 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $1.51. The stock had a trading volume of 292,719 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,147,861. The company has a market cap of $108.09 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.20 and a beta of 1.24. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1.61. Protalix BioTherapeutics has a twelve month low of $1.07 and a twelve month high of $3.55.

Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 6th. The company reported ($0.04) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by $0.03. The business had revenue of $10.35 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.64 million. Protalix BioTherapeutics had a net margin of 16.68% and a return on equity of 62.80%. During the same period last year, the company posted ($0.11) EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Protalix BioTherapeutics will post 0.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Protalix BioTherapeutics

In other Protalix BioTherapeutics news, CEO Dror Bashan purchased 64,516 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 19th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $1.40 per share, with a total value of $90,322.40. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 132,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at $185,522.40. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 4.97% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Protalix BioTherapeutics

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics in the third quarter valued at $825,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics by 45.0% in the third quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 167,536 shares of the companys stock valued at $278,000 after buying an additional 51,997 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of Protalix BioTherapeutics by 12.0% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 406,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $675,000 after buying an additional 43,558 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new position in Protalix BioTherapeutics during the third quarter worth $65,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in Protalix BioTherapeutics by 160.6% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 56,415 shares of the companys stock worth $94,000 after purchasing an additional 34,763 shares during the period. 12.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics

(Get Free Report)

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development, production, and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system in the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and internationally.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Protalix BioTherapeutics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Protalix BioTherapeutics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
China Longyuan Power Group Co. Limited (OTCMKTS:CLPXY  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a decline of 88.2% from the October 31st total of 3,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 16,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

China Longyuan Power Group Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of China Longyuan Power Group stock traded down C$0.08 during trading on Thursday, hitting C$7.39. 42,735 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 39,300. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$8.19 and a 200-day moving average price of C$9.11. China Longyuan Power Group has a 1-year low of C$7.37 and a 1-year high of C$14.74.

Get China Longyuan Power Group alerts:

About China Longyuan Power Group

(Get Free Report)

Featured Stories

China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited generates and sells wind and coal power in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It operates through two segments: Wind Power and Coal Power. The company designs, develops, constructs, manages, and operates wind and coal power plants. It also operates other power projects, such as photovoltaic, tidal, biomass, and geothermal.

Receive News & Ratings for China Longyuan Power Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Longyuan Power Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
TOR Minerals International, Inc. (OTCMKTS:TORM  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 700 shares, a growth of 600.0% from the October 31st total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

TOR Minerals International Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of OTCMKTS:TORM traded up $0.02 on Thursday, hitting $2.20. The stock had a trading volume of 500 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,505. TOR Minerals International has a twelve month low of $1.74 and a twelve month high of $2.80. The company has a quick ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 4.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The firms 50 day moving average price is $2.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.22.

Get TOR Minerals International alerts:

TOR Minerals International Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Featured Articles

TOR Minerals International, Inc produces and sells specialty mineral products in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company offers alumina trihydrate and boehmite halogen-free flame retardant and smoke suppressant fillers for plastics, rubber, and specialty applications; and beige and gray colored titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigments for use in paints, coatings, plastics, paper, and various other products.

Receive News & Ratings for TOR Minerals International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TOR Minerals International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp. (OTCMKTS:TCYMF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,244,000 shares, a decrease of 32.7% from the October 31st total of 1,848,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Stock Performance

Tingyi (Cayman Islands) stock remained flat at $1.20 during mid-day trading on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.84. Tingyi has a 52 week low of $1.26 and a 52 week high of $1.75. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $1.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.46.

Get Tingyi (Cayman Islands) alerts:

About Tingyi (Cayman Islands)

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp., an investment holding company, manufactures and sells instant noodles, beverages, and instant food products in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Instant Noodles, Beverages, and Others segments. It offers ready-to-drink teas, juices, bottled water, and carbonated soft drinks, as well as coffee drinks/functional drinks/probiotics.

Receive News & Ratings for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tingyi (Cayman Islands) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (OTCMKTS:TSGTY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a decrease of 66.7% from the October 31st total of 900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 10,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Tsingtao Brewery Price Performance

Shares of Tsingtao Brewery stock traded up $1.28 on Thursday, reaching $33.38. 2,681 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,798. Tsingtao Brewery has a 52 week low of $31.65 and a 52 week high of $55.31. The firms 50-day moving average is $37.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $41.77.

Get Tsingtao Brewery alerts:

Tsingtao Brewery Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Read More

Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of beer products worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Shandong Region; South China Region; North China Region; East China Region; Southeast China Region; Hong Kong, Macau and Other Overseas Region; and Finance Company.

Receive News & Ratings for Tsingtao Brewery Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsingtao Brewery and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Van Den Berg Management I Inc. raised its holdings in Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A) by 21.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 103,885 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 18,080 shares during the quarter. Van Den Berg Management I Inc.s holdings in Brookfield Asset Management were worth $3,390,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CWM LLC grew its holdings in Brookfield Asset Management by 107.9% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 530 shares during the period. HBC Financial Services PLLC purchased a new stake in Brookfield Asset Management in the 1st quarter valued at about $39,000. Credit Agricole S A acquired a new position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management in the 2nd quarter valued at about $46,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 35.5% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,057 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hanson & Doremus Investment Management acquired a new position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management in the 2nd quarter valued at about $57,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.92% of the companys stock.

Get Brookfield Asset Management alerts:

Brookfield Asset Management Stock Up 1.8 %

Shares of BAM traded up $0.62 during trading on Friday, reaching $35.65. The companys stock had a trading volume of 420,702 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,415,477. The company has a fifty day moving average of $32.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.75. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a twelve month low of $26.76 and a twelve month high of $36.22. The company has a market cap of $14.72 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.95.

Brookfield Asset Management Dividend Announcement

Brookfield Asset Management ( NYSE:BAM Get Free Report ) (TSE:BAM.A) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.04. Brookfield Asset Management had a return on equity of 91.07% and a net margin of 51.79%. The company had revenue of $893.00 million for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will post 1.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 30th will be issued a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 29th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.59%. Brookfield Asset Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 105.79%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Brookfield Asset Management from $45.00 to $41.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. HSBC assumed coverage on Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Friday, October 6th. They issued a buy rating and a $39.00 price objective on the stock. TD Securities reduced their price objective on Brookfield Asset Management from $48.00 to $42.00 and set an action list buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Brookfield Asset Management from $50.92 to $41.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Brookfield Asset Management currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $37.41.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BAM

Brookfield Asset Management Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Free Report) (TSE:BAM.A).

Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Asset Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Asset Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC  Get Free Report) SVP David P. Clement sold 764 shares of Vulcan Materials stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.00, for a total value of $161,968.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,887 shares in the company, valued at $612,044. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Vulcan Materials Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of Vulcan Materials stock traded up $0.82 during trading on Thursday, hitting $213.50. 808,498 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 807,500. The stock has a market cap of $28.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.47, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 2.47 and a current ratio of 3.13. Vulcan Materials has a twelve month low of $159.76 and a twelve month high of $229.75. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $206.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $211.50.

Get Vulcan Materials alerts:

Vulcan Materials (NYSE:VMC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The construction company reported $2.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.10. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.35% and a net margin of 10.74%. The business had revenue of $2.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.17 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.78 EPS. The firms revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Vulcan Materials will post 6.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 29th. Investors of record on Monday, November 13th were paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 10th. Vulcan Materialss payout ratio is 27.88%.

VMC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Vulcan Materials from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Vulcan Materials from $212.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Loop Capital increased their price target on Vulcan Materials from $235.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Barclays increased their price target on Vulcan Materials from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Vulcan Materials in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $239.21.

View Our Latest Stock Report on VMC

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. bought a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. M&R Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Vulcan Materials by 144.8% during the second quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 142 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Achmea Investment Management B.V. bought a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 90.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Vulcan Materials Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Vulcan Materials Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and supplies construction aggregates primarily in the United States. It operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The Aggregates segment provides crushed stones, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates; and related products and services that are applied in construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other public works, as well as in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential facilities.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Vulcan Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vulcan Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
It may seem, on first glance, an unlikely fit. A politician whose elected history dates to 1988 steps down from federal office to take the reins of a (somewhat) troubled performing arts theater.

But thats the trajectory of Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo, who has served as a member of the citys Common Council, as a member of the New York State Assembly and, for the past 19 years, as a highly respected member of Congress. Now, the worst-kept secret in recent Buffalo history has been made official: Higgins will step down in February to become president and chief executive officer of Sheas Performing Arts Center.

It could be an inspired choice. The 26th Congressional Districts loss may be Buffalos gain. Higgins combination of talents, skills and temperament could work to the advantage not just of Sheas, but the city and region that it enlivens and which relies on its success.

Does a politician know how to raise funds? This one does. Among his goals, Higgins has cited plans to make use of federal funding opportunities to secure additional resources for Sheas as well as its smaller siblings, Sheas Smith Theatre and Sheas 710 Theatre. Hes also planning to plumb the possibilities of state and federal historic tax credits for Sheas Buffalo Theatre, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Does a politician know how to win allies in important projects? This one does. Unlike too many pretenders in Washington, the Democrat Higgins has always been willing, when possible, to reach out to, and cooperate with, Republicans. Those skills will surely assist him as he works to expand the Sheas audience. In particular, he plans to focus on theater lovers across the Niagara River. Fewer than 1% of Sheas subscribers are Canadian.

Other aspects of Higgins background may also work to Sheas advantage. He has taught college courses on state and local government as well as the economic history of this region. He holds a master of public administration degree from Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government. Those skills should translate to his new role.

To be sure, Higgins understands the role that Sheas must play in the city and regional economy. The theater is a magnet that draws people to Buffalo and a light that brightens the city. And it continues to thrive, despite management problems that prompted the board to dismiss its previous leader. It has eagerly bounced back from the suffocation of the Covid-19 pandemic.

None of this guarantees Higgins success, of course. Former elected officials sometimes fail in private sector roles. We suspect that wont be the case for Higgins and, plainly, neither does Sheas.

Brian talked about his love for Sheas and made believers of everybody, said the theaters chairman, Jonathan Dandes. Our vision was so closely aligned in terms of what Sheas is supposed to be all about that it was, quite frankly, a slam dunk. The vote for Higgins, he said, was unanimous.

Hell have work to do in smoothing internal tensions produced under the leadership of his predecessor. Michael Murphys performance led to the resignations of staff and trustees. It also presaged M&T Banks regrettable decision to end its generous, longtime support of Sheas. Restoring that relationship would be useful place for the new president to employ his political/fundraising skills.

None of this is to say that Higgins wont be missed in Congress. He has been an able and committed representative for his district. But, as he has observed, Congress has changed for the worse and his selection appears to be a smart choice by Sheas leadership. Heres hoping its a win for him and Sheas, both. And Buffalo, too.

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Check Free Credit Score on Moneycontrol: Easily track your loans, get insights, and enjoy a 100 cashback on your first check!
Abhishek Sahu covers HR and Education (Careers) at Moneycontrol. He can be reached at Abhishek.Sahu@nw18.com and @Abhishek44sahu.
Kudos to The Buffalo News for its accurate Nov. 1 editorial Still keeping secrets regarding the Buffalo Diocese. But little praise is to be had for the rebuttal by Buffalo Diocese COO Richard Suchans Nov. 10 Another Voice piece. Suchans opinion lacks not only accuracy but, it seems, honesty as well.

To quote Suchan, he writes about correcting what he says are  gross misrepresentations of the Diocese of Buffalos opposition to releasing the abundance of files relating to abuse  The only accurate word in that sentence is abundance.

If Suchan seems to want to talk about gross misrepresentations perhaps a good place to start would be the misrepresentation by then-Bishop Richard J. Malone, resulting in his subsequent tainted resignation, when he said that all records were made public, only to be bravely called out for his concealment by Siobhan OConnor. Then theres Bishop Michael W. Fishers misrepresentation of the horrific acts committed by diocesan priests as sins instead of what they really are, i.e., crimes. And the Independent Review Board? What could be independent when members are appointed by the bishop and beholden to review by a law firm doing business with the diocese? Its too bad that space here doesnt allow for the seemingly endless misrepresentations and numbers game from the diocese about just how many priests were involved.

And now we have the Diocesan Chief Operating Officer, Suchan, patting himself and the diocese on the back and trying to sell the public on the idea that the diocese has not opposed access to documents for those who are rightly entitled to them. Those words are incendiary insults to victims who have withstood years of stonewalling by the diocese. He seems to hope that readers of his op-ed have a naivety commensurate with membership in the Flat Earth Society. He avoids any acknowledgment, mention or nod to the well-known facts that current ongoing negotiations have been preceded by almost a decade of dodging, prevarication, outright refusals, cover-up and years of litigation. The money spent by the diocese on this concealment and deception is enough to make the devil blush.

In the close of Suchans opinion piece is the laughable implication that the Diocese of Buffalo has grasped its past failures. Whatever minuscule reform the diocese has grasped or instituted from its past failures has not been due to any sort of internal revelation, but rather to the dogged pursuit of truth by The Buffalo News and other media. In the meantime, this cradle Catholic and Jesuit-educated - both high school and college - ex-parishioner has also grasped something. Its that despite attempts at half-truths and coverups, lipstick cannot be put on this pig.

Dennis Stuart

Buffalo
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Supreme Court dismisses 24 CCC recalled legislators appeal pic.twitter.com/GsJjBdjeSf  Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) December 1, 2023

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs who were recalled by the party Interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu have suffered a set back after the Supreme Court dismissed their appeal.The appeal is fatally defective, the notice of appeal failed to comply with rule 37(2) of the Supreme Court rules.The MPs had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the High Court ruling that upheld their recall.Justice Joseph Musakwa, leading the bench, declared that the appeal was improperly filed, lacking the involvement of crucial parties, and subsequently struck it off the roll.Musakwa stated, "It is evident that the notices of appeal are fatally defective. Consequently, there is no appeal before this court."The MPs and senators had separately lodged appeals, despite the High Court delivering a unified judgment.The MPs failed to include senators in their application, and vice versa, leading to a critical technical error, as argued by Advocate Lewis Uriri, a point the court upheld.During the proceedings, Thabani Mpofu, representing the MPs, contended that there was no court rule violated by not including senators. Amanda Ndlovu, representing the senators, noted that there remained an opportunity for the appellants to rectify the oversight and resubmit their appeal in compliance with the court's rules.She suggested, "The appellants still have an opportunity to refile their appeal in a manner which complies with the rules of this court."The 14 legislators submitted that the High Court judge erred in law by making a finding that the letters of recall by Tshabangu were valid.They further submitted that the High Court made a mistake in finding that Tshabangu had authority to recall them.The legislators seeked the Supreme Court to grant their application by setting aside High Court judgement by Justice Munamato Mutevedzi.They also seek the court to declare that Tshabangu had no authority to write letters on behalf of the CCC.The recalled legislators want the Supreme Court to grant an order that they be deemed to be still Members of Parliament duly elected on a CCC ticket.However the nomination court proceeded on Tuesday in Bulawayo and Harare.
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Medical Aid Society Central Africa (MASCA) has dismissed the accusations of mismanagement by sources within the organisation as false and defamatory in the process demanding a retraction for the published allegations.This was after sources close to the goings-on who claimed to be aggrieved by the alleged happenings said three top management officials are accused of running down the company after taking charge of the Information technology system.They said IT and others are supposed to be supporting arms, however, at MASCA, three people (names supplied) run the show.They said since the trio came on board, MASCA has since been run like an accounting firm or rather like a tuck-shop and one of them usurped all powers and left the current Chief Executive officer a mere passenger.Responding to the story published by Bulawayo24.com on 28 November 2023 Masca through their lawyers from Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie and Partners in a letter dated November 30, 2023 described the allegations as false.The company said there are a number of patently false claims about Masca."The main allegations and the reality are as follows: three top officials Have Hijacked the Society. Masca is a member-driven Society with an active Board which oversees operations and ensures that it is managed for the benefit of the members and other stakeholders," reads the Masca response."The CEO is fulfilling his role, which is unchanged, and currently reports to an Executive Director who in turn reports to a Board sub-committee called Revco. Revco reports to the Board bi-weekly. Masca has had some IT challenges which are being effectively addressed by Revco in conjunction with the committed IT team."On the claim that many workers left Masca Between January and April 2023, the lawyers said employees left Masca in the period mentioned and of these, one retired, one went overseas and the remainder moved on to other jobs."The ex CEO who is mentioned has returned to Masca on a temporary basis to assist the Society solve the IT challenges mentioned," reads the Masca response.On the claim that in the last Quarter of 2022 Masca had Forex Reserves of US $3 million which were deposited at Fawcett, the lawyers noted that Masca holds sufficient liquid resources to pay for those situations which require it and no more. They added that it has never had $3 million with Fawcett.On the report that Masca has drawn down (US) from the (Alleged $3 million) Fund (In Fawcett) to change into ZWL on the Black Market, the company noted that it has never entered into transactions as alleged.In the claims that Masca Executives Secured Various Properties the lawyers said a check at the Deeds Office will prove that no Masca Executives have bought properties in the last 10 years and the claims were false.In the claim that Masca changed the IT System from Smartmed to Medcare, the company said as "mentioned already, the ex CEO who developed Medcare has kindly returned to help Masca resolve the IT challenges which arose because of the migration from Medcare to Smartmed in April. The decision to implement Smartmed before it was robustly tested was ill-fated. The software developers of Smartmed experienced staff losses during development and implementation and could not complete the project leaving Masca in a difficult predicament."The company noted that the amounts mentioned as having been paid are totally incorrect and hugely exaggerated."Masca has gone back on to the old Medcare system which has been a mammoth exercise because of the need to recapture data which had been loaded on to Smartmed," the company said through lawyers.On the claims that Masca is sitting on zero reserve funds the lawyers said Masca has sufficient resources to meet all financial obligations to members, service providers and others.They said the Society holds more than adequate reserves to continue doing so.The company also dismissed the claims that its Chief Executive Officer, Doug Bramsen was not reachable for comment saying has not been approached by anyone seeking clarification on the issues set out in the said allegations.Sources had said that three top management officials were being accused of running down the company after taking charge of the Information technology systems.They claimed that Masca allegedly changed the IT system from MEDCARE to SMARTMED authored by a company called AE company and were paid about US$100 000 in cash. They also claimed that according to monthly requisitions, they were supposedly paid US$20 000 monthly but only got US$2 000 instead all which is being dismissed by the company.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's power utility Zesa says it is not going to pay US$22 million to flamboyant business tycoon Wicknell Chivayo as reported, but instead his company Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd has to fund the now court-reinstated US$172 million Gwanda Solar Power Station Project.The Supreme Court today delivered a judgement on the appeal by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) against a High Court decision which had found that the contract for the development of the 100MWGwanda solar project was still valid.The situation followed ZPC's cancellation of the deal.The power utility says even if it lost again today, that does not create any liability for it.ZPCs appeal was dismissed today after a hearing before Justices George Chiweshe, Lavender Makoni and Joseph Musakwa.The full written judgement with reasons is yet to be furnished.In the aftermath of the High Court judgement reinstating the deal, and now confirmed by the Supreme Court decision, there has been confusion on what this means.Some said it meant Zesa would now have to pay Chivayo US$22 million.However, Zesa, through its subsidiary ZPC, says effectively the judgement means things have been restored to their original setting and Chivayo's company must now facilitate raising US$172 million to fund project within the agreed time-frame."The Supreme Court judgement has the effect of upholding the High Court judgement granted by Honourable Justice (Siyabonga) Msithu in January 2023, in which the Gwanda EPC Contract was found to be still valid and binding on both ZPC and Intratrek Zimbabwe (Private) Limited," ZPC said."For the avoidance of doubt, the High Court judgement did not award Intratrek damages in the sum of US$22 million as alleged by some online publications or any other sum in damages for that matter. To the contrary, the High Court only granted an order for specific performance, which in simple terms requires parties to perform their respective obligations under the EPC contract."Considering that the Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in this instance, the legal implication of todays judgment is that ZPC and Intratrek will revert to the position that they were before the 23rd April 2018 when the EPC Contract was cancelled."In abiding with the Supreme Court judgement, Intratrek is now required under the reinstated EPC Contract to facilitate the financing of the US$172 million contract within the contractual timeframe as the requirement of financial closure is key for the project to commence. Should such financing be raised, the borrowing instruments must be approved by government prior to implementation of the project."
Manik Sharma is an independent entertainment journalist. Views expressed are personal.

Check Free Credit Score on Moneycontrol: Easily track your loans, get insights, and enjoy a 100 cashback on your first check!
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A ZIMBABWEAN man has sued the government and a local authority over their failure to contain the outbreak of the deadly cholera disease, which has claimed the lives of more than 150 people in the troubled southern African country.In an urgent chamber application filed at Harare High Court, Wellington Mariga, a resident of Kuwadzana high-density suburb in Harare, faulted City of Harare (CoH) and Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando and Health and Childcare Minister Douglas Mombeshora for dereliction of duty by letting the cholera pandemic to continue for a protracted period of time since its outbreak in February 2023 resulting in Zimbabwe recording a high number of cases and deaths.Mariga, who is represented by Shadreck Masike of Shomwe and Partners Attorneys and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argued that both local and central government had statutory and constitutional obligations to provide adequate, constant, clean and potable water and had consistently failed to improve the provision of water in Harare to alleviate the cholera outbreak.The Kuwadzana resident charged that despite CoH declaring a state of emergency due to the cholera epidemic, the local authority had failed and neglected to provide adequate and reasonable supply of potable clean water to Harare residents and particularly those residing in Kuwadzana.Mariga argued that the lack of provision of clean and safe drinking water to some suburbs in Harare were exposing residents to the risk of contracting cholera.He told the court that he had a front seat experience of the devastating effects of a cholera outbreak of 2008, where he lost his friends and some family members and hence he cannot sit and allow the same scenario to repeat itself when such a consequence could be mitigated by supplying clean and safe drinking water.Mariga bemoaned that residents were relying on harvesting water from shallow wells and boreholes and the erratic water supplies to suburbs of Harare had left him and other residents at high risk of contracting cholera.He argued that the failure to provide water to residents by CoH is a violation of the right to water provided in section 77 of the Constitution and is also a violation of the right to health guaranteed in section 76 of the Constitution.He charged that the obtaining cholera outbreak demands the implementation of extraordinary interventions to improve the water supply in Harare and this could be aided by the deployment of water bowsers to suburbs with little to no access to adequate, constant, clean and potable water.Mariga asked the High Court to grant an order directing CoH to immediately supply adequate, clean and potable water so that Harare residents can access water from water taps or water bowsers.The CoH, Mariga demanded, should also be ordered by the High Court to supply a schedule for the immediate deployment of water bowsers to Kuwadzana high-density suburb to his lawyers within 24 hours of the granting of the court order.Judge President Justice Mary Zimba-Dube will on Friday 1 December 2023 preside over hearing and determination of Marigas urgent chamber application.
While cybercrime is increasing at an alarming rate, the number of first information reports (FIRs) registered and, thus, the rate of conviction, remains relatively low. In December last year, the Union government told the Lok Sabha that since 1 January 2020, 1.6mn (million) cybercrime incidents have been reported and more than 32,000 (FIRs) have been registered. However, conviction rates in these cases remain very low, at less than 1%, while the conviction rate of persons arrested is less than 3%.

A significant issue faced by victims trying to report a cybercrime is the inability to connect to 1930, the toll-free number of the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP). This often leaves them frustrated.

Speaking at a webinar organised by Moneylife Foundation on 'How to Stay Safe from Cyber Crime & How the Police Can Help', Balkrishna Wagh, retired assistant police commissioner (ACP) of Maharashtra police, who also handled cybercrime as part of his work, tells people to find other ways to reach the cops. He suggests tagging the @mumbaipolice on X (formerly Twitter) as a quick way to report the crime. Speaking at a webinar organised by Moneylife Foundation on 'How to Stay Safe from Cyber Crime & How the Police Can Help', Balkrishna Wagh, retired assistant police commissioner (ACP) of Maharashtra police, who also handled cybercrime as part of his work, tells people to find other ways to reach the cops. He suggests tagging the @mumbaipolice on X (formerly Twitter) as a quick way to report the crime.

He also suggested that the incident could be registered on the NCR portal, https://cybercrime.gov.in/ , or by rushing to the nearest police station to file an FIR. Not many victims are aware of this. They lose precious time and fail to report a cybercrime in the crucial 'golden hour' period.

The 'golden hour' is critical to accident victims who are bleeding out. Mr Wagh pointed out that it is just as critical to cybercrime since fraudsters quickly transfer the money through a series of accounts within this time, making it more difficult to trace. He says, "Victims of cybercrimes must report the incident within the golden hour period or at least within four hours to NCRP, either by making a call to 1930 or reporting on the website. This helps law enforcement agencies and financial institutes registered with NCRP to trace and block the proceeds of the crime."

Mr Wagh shared several real-life cases related to cybercrime that he had personally handled. He also explained how to use different modes of filing cyber fraud complaints, how to monitor its progress and how police go about investigating such crimes. Cybercrimes are not only getting more effective but, besides the infamous Jamtara, fraudsters are building expertise in specific new places such as Bharatpur and Alwar in Rajasthan, Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Nuh in Haryana, he says.

The need to stay updated about new tricks and scams such as phishing, identity theft and online scams is inescapable in today's world; it is just as important to understand who to approach for redressal and what kind of assistance they can expect.

First, we must understand that NCRP is not a law enforcement agency (LEA). NCRP and its 1930 toll-free number are the initiatives of the Union government to facilitate victims and complainants to report online cybercrime complaints such as mobile crimes, online and social media crimes, online financial frauds, ransomware, hacking, cryptocurrency crimes and online cyber trafficking. Police and public order are state subjects. The states and Union Territories (UTs) are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including cybercrime, through their law enforcement agencies -LEAs.

NCRP uses the Citizen Financial Cyber Frauds Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) platform for quick reporting of financial cyber frauds and monetary losses suffered due to the use of digital banking, credit or debit cards, payment intermediaries and unified payments interface (UPI). At present, 85 banks, payment intermediaries and e-wallets are connected with CFCFRMS.

"When a victim reports a cybercrime incident within four hours to NCRP, the CFCFRMS platform works in tandem with LEAs, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), banks, and financial intermediaries to ensure that quick, decisive and system-based effective action is taken to prevent the flow of money siphoned off from the victim to the fraudsters," Mr Wagh says.

How NCRP or CFCFRMS Platform Work?

1. Victims of cybercrimes can use the 1930 helpline, operated by concerned state police or register the incident on the NCR portal, https://cybercrime.gov.in/ . To file an online complaint through NCRP, the victim needs to register using her name and a valid Indian mobile number to receive a one-time passcode (OTP). Once the OTP is verified, the victim can report the incident by selecting the appropriate category and sub-category.

2. For calls made on 1930, the police operator notes the details and basic personal information of the caller and submits it on the CFCFRMS platform to raise a ticket. When the victim reports the incident on the NCR portal, a ticket is generated after successful filing.

3. The ticket is escalated to the concerned bank(s), e-wallet(s), merchants and other relevant parties, depending on their involvement in the incident.

4. After calling and registering the incident on the 1930 number, an SMS is sent to the victim with an acknowledgement number of the complaint. The victim then has to visit the NCR portal and submit all details and documents using the acknowledgement number. An SMS regarding the complaint is also sent to the nodal officer of the concerned financial institution(s)- FI.

5. The concerned financial institution(s) can see and check details of the incident on its dashboard on the reporting portal.

6. If the defrauded money is still available, the FI or bank puts it on hold, thus blocking the fraudster from withdrawing it. If the proceeds of the crime have moved out of the concerned bank, then the ticket gets escalated to the next FI, which puts a hold on the money. This process is repeated until the proceeds of the crime are saved from reaching the fraudster. The FIs involved in this process then inform the concerned state police about the action taken and the amount blocked.

Points To Remember while Using NCRP

There are two options for reporting cybercrimes on the portal:

1. Report crime related to women/ children  Under this section, one can report complaints about online child pornography (CP), child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or sexually explicit content such as rape/gang rape (CP/RGR) content.

2. Report other cybercrimes  Under this option, one can report complaints about cybercrimes such as mobile crimes, online and social media crimes, online financial frauds, ransomware, hacking, cryptocurrency crimes and online cyber trafficking.

While reporting other cybercrimes, note that fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are mandatory. It is vital that the police authorities receive accurate and complete information related to the complaint. Therefore, the victim needs to provide the required information, such as name, phone number, email address, details and necessary information supporting the complaint.

Similar to other crimes, in the case of cybercrime, the victim needs to have the necessary evidence to support the complaint. For example, credit card receipt, bank statement, envelope (if received a letter or item through mail or courier), brochure or pamphlet, online money transfer receipt, copy of email(s), URL of webpage(s), chat transcripts, suspect mobile number screenshot, videos, images and any other kind of document related to the crime.

While filing the complaint, use the 'report and track' option to receive an SMS and an email with a complaint reference number on the registered mobile number and email ID. The acknowledgement number can be used to track the progress of the complaint by logging on to the NCR portal and clicking on the check status option.

Talking about the role of the local police, Mr Wagh, the retired ACP of Maharashtra police, says, "After receiving information from the NCPR, local police will connect with the victim, record all relevant details and obtain documentary evidence. They may also call the victim to the police station to record a statement and register an FIR. Police will then investigate the incident and may take help from the cyber cell if required."

One of the issues faced by complainants or victims is the lack of information from the police about the progress of the investigation.

"While there are no fixed timeframes to complete the investigation, especially for cybercrimes, I would suggest the complainant to remain in touch with the investigating officer (IO) and check the progress of the case," he added.

Mr Wagh also suggested using social media, like X (erstwhile Twitter), Facebook and Instagram, to raise the issue with the concerned police. For example, a complainant from Mumbai can tag Mumbai police's X handle (@MumbaiPolice) for seeking updates or progress of the investigation. But do keep in mind that the complainant is not required to share personal details on the public platforms and raise basic questions, after which the concerned team (for example, Mumbai police) will ask you to share details through direct message (on X).

In Mumbai, every Saturday, between 9am and 11.30am, senior officials, including the zonal deputy commissioner of police (DCP) and divisional ACP, are present to meet complainants on the grievance redressal day . If the complainant wants to know the progress of her case or escalate the matter, she can visit the local police station on the grievance redressal day.

Also, remember, if the fraud is related to your bank account, you need to immediately send an email to the official email ID of your branch (you can find it on the bank's website or your passbook) with a copy to the bank's customer care. Even if you have called the official number for customer care, you must still send an email describing your conversation with the bank executive, along with the time, date, and duration of the call. This will be helpful if you face a liability issue with the bank.

Here is the recording of Mr Wagh's webinar organised by Moneylife Foundation, in case you could not attend it
While maintaining that they are alert to ensure that the marital disputes between the two promoter directors do not affect the company, independent directors (IDs) of Raymond Ltd decided to retain senior counsel Berjis Desai to advise them. "...neither any law nor any corporate governance standard requires ID to enquire into, investigate, or delve into the merits or otherwise, of such matrimonial disputes, which lie beyond the remit of the ID," they say in a communication.

In a regulatory filing, Raymond has shared the communication it received from the IDs. "The IDs, over the last few weeks, have been meeting and monitoring the situation so far as it affects the Company and the minority shareholders and reiterate their commitment to protect, at all times, the interests of non-promoter minority shareholders, employees and other stakeholders."

She also alleged that company funds were being used for Gautam Singhania's personal benefit (chief executive officerCEO excesses) - and that she was acting as a whistle-blower.

The IDs of Raymond say, "The ID are alert to ensure that the matrimonial disputes between the two promoter directors do not in any manner affect the capacity of the CMD to manage the affairs and business of the Company. The ID shall continue to exercise utmost vigilance in watching the evolving situation and shall not hesitate to proactively initiate measures, the moment required, to protect the interests of all stakeholders."

Earlier this week, Institutional Investor Advisory Services India Ltd (IiAS) wrote a letter to the IDs of Raymond stating that "Your actions must protect the company from what proposes to be a long-drawn acrimonious battle between Nawaz Modi and Gautam Singhania."

The letter has been addressed to independent directors, Mukeeta Jhaveri, Ashish Kapadia, Dinesh Lal, K Narsimha Murthy and Shiv Surinder Kumar.

IiAS says, "Despite such serious and heinous accusations by one board member against another, you have been silent. Investors are worried, which is reflected in the significant erosion in stock price over the past few days. Your silence can be misconstrued  surely you don't want stakeholders thinking that these accusations are to be tolerated."

"At the very least, as independent directors, you need to communicate with investors and other stakeholdersassuage their concerns and articulate a course of action that you have taken following these public allegations. In the interest of the Company and to safeguard the interests of a larger set of stakeholders, we urge you to undertake an independent investigation into the allegations of both assault and CEO excesses," the corporate governance advisory firm says.

Earlier this month, Mr Singhania issued a statement to announce his separation from his wife, Nawaz Modi Singhania. Ms Modi Singhania is a director in at least 10 of the private and publicly listed companies of the Singhania family, including its flagship Raymond.
News / Regional

by Simbarashe Sithole

A 35-YEAR-OLD traditional healer in Plumtree was sent to prison yesterday after he was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend.

Mqondisi Moyo was sentenced to two years in jail by magistrate Joshua Nembaware.Nembaware conditionally suspended four months and the remaining 20 months are effective.Prosecutor Selestine Madziwa told the court that sometime in June Moyo who stayed in the bush near Plumtree High School with his girlfriend went to a nearby bar for drinks.The duo got drunk and came back to their resting place upon arrival Moyo accused his girlfriend of being drunk and started assaulting her with wooden logs.He took a burning log and burnt her all over the body.Neighbours filed a police report leading to the arrest of Moyo.
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.

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.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs6 lakh on five cooperative banks, citing the violation of different laws prescribed by the banking regulator. Of these, three banks are from Gujarat, while others belong to Bihar and Odisha.

The banks penalised are: Dhrangadhra People's Cooperative Bank Ltd, Patan Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd and Mandal Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd, all from Gujarat. The other two banks penalised are Bihar-based Patliputra Central Cooperative Bank and Odisha-based Balasore Bhadrak Central Cooperative Bank Ltd.

The Mandal Nagarik Sahakari Bank has been penalised Rs1.50 lakh for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms or concerns in which they are interested.

The statutory inspection of the Bank conducted by RBI concerning its financial position as of 31 March 2022 and examination of the inspection report (IR), risk assessment report (RAR) and all correspondence related revealed that Mandal Nagarik Sahakari Bank had sanctioned loans where a relative of one of the director of the Bank stood as guarantor. The Bank had also not paid interest at the applicable rate on term deposits which matured on a Sunday, holiday, or non-business working day. It paid interests on the succeeding working days on deposits withdrawn before their maturity for the period deposits remained with the Bank and on matured overdue term deposits from the date of maturity till the date of their repayment.

Patan Nagarik Sahakari Bank has been slapped with Rs1.50 lakh penalt for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms or concerns and clarification and placement of deposits with other banks by primary urban cooperative banks (UCBs). The Bank had sanctioned a loan where a relative of one of the Bank's directors stood as guarantor and breached the prudential inter-bank counterparty exposure limit.

Further, Patliputra Central Cooperative Bank has been fined a similar Rs1.50 lakh for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on depositor education and awareness fund (DEAF) scheme, operational guidelines and the know-your-customer (KYC) directions. The statutory inspection of the Bank conducted by NABARD with reference to its financial position as of 31 March 2022, and examination of the IR and all correspondence related revealed that the Bank had not transferred eligible amounts to DEAF and not classified its customers into various risk categories, i.e. low, medium and high and not put in place a system of periodic updation of KYC.

Dhrangadhra People's Cooperative Bank has been penalised Rs1 lakh for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on the placement of deposits with other banks by primary UCBs. The Bank had also breached the inter-bank counterparty exposure limit.

Odisha-based Balasore Bhadrak Central Cooperative Bank has been penalised Rs50,000 for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on membership of credit information companies (CICs). The statutory inspection of the Bank conducted by NABARD and examination of the IR and all related correspondence revealed that the Bank had failed to upload credit information to CICs.

RBI says, "After considering the reply of all the banks to the notices, submissions made during the personal hearing, and additional information furnished pursuant to the personal hearing, RBI came to the conclusion that the charges of non-compliance with RBI directions were substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty."

RBI says the penalty imposed on these five cooperative banks is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance. It is not intended to pronounce on the validity of any transaction or agreement entered by the Bank with its customers.
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 Cement Business 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.

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.
This story was originally published by ProPublica.

The giant consulting firm proposed that Microsoft transfer billions in profits to a small factory in Puerto Rico. The step initially saved the software company billions  then led to an IRS audit and a bill for US$28.9bn (billion) in back taxes.

Last month, Microsoft disclosed that the IRS had sent the company a bill for $28.9 billion in back taxes as part of an audit. The examination, which began more than a decade ago, is the largest in the agencys history, and its far from over, as Microsoft has vowed to appeal the findings.

The centerpiece of the audit, as ProPublica detailed in an investigation nearly four years ago, is a 2005 transaction that moved tens of billions of Microsofts U.S. profits to Puerto Rico to help the software giant save billions in taxes. In a letter sent Wednesday , three senators, citing ProPublicas reporting, focused attention on the company that helped Microsoft cook up that scheme: the mega-consultancy KPMG.

KPMGs role in Microsofts tax evasion is deeply disturbing, indicating that KPMG helped Microsoft reward shareholders and executives, while depriving the federal government of billions in tax revenue needed to pay for health care, environmental protection, infrastructure, and more, says the letter, which was signed by Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren Bernie Sanders and Sheldon Whitehouse and sent to KPMGs CEO. You owe Congress an explanation for your firms actions.

In 2004, Microsoft was considering closing a small factory in Puerto Rico where some 85 workers burned Windows and Office software onto CDs. The tax break that had led Microsoft to open the factory was expiring. But KPMG pitched Microsoft on an idea for a break that would be far more valuable.

Boasting about the firms experience in setting up similar deals for other huge companies, KPMG said it could help Microsoft save billions in taxes by transferring profits to the island. The little factory would buy the exclusive rights to Microsofts technology. Meanwhile, KPMG assured Microsoft that its San Juan partner had a long track record of negotiating significant tax holidays for U.S. companies with the Puerto Rican government.

At the time, as ProPublicas reporting showed, KPMG took great pains to make Microsofts moves  which effectively increased the valuation of the Puerto Rican subsidiary from $0 to $30.4 billion over the space of 24 hours, according to the IRS  seem bona fide. What can we do to make this thing real? read the notes from one KPMG meeting.

After Microsoft agreed to the arrangement, KPMG helped the company complete the deal. Its economists generated complex models that justified the price the factory paid for Microsofts intellectual property rights.
Greek daily Eleftheri Ora called Sunak a 'Goldman Sachs mouthpiece' in the article on Wednesday

Rishi Sunak was called a b-----d and described as an Ottoman janissary in thrall to Turkeys president in Greek newspapers, as they reacted to the growing row over the Elgin Marbles.

The inflammatory headlines began appearing on Wednesday after the Prime Minister cancelled a meeting in London with his Greek counterpart, who had reiterated his countrys aim to get the sculptures back.

F--- you b-----d, written in English, was the main headline of the Greek daily Eleftheri Ora.

A subheading added: This is the only answer to the insult of the rat-faced English Prime Minister and Goldman Sachs mouthpiece.

Greek daily Eleftheri Ora called Sunak a 'Goldman Sachs mouthpiece' in the article on Wednesday

The headline of a separate story on Wednesday told readers that barbarians and traitors are in cahoots with [Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip] Erdogan.

Another urged crypto-Orthodox King Charles, who wears a Greek-flag-themed tie to intervene and wash away the shame.

Importantly, the King was nothing like the rascal Elgin, the newspaper thundered as it attacked the diplomat accused of stealing the sculptures from the Parthenon in the early 19th century.

Erdogans Janissary

Eleftheri Ora first began publishing in 1981 as a far-Right newspaper sympathetic to Greeces military dictatorship, which collapsed in 1974. Grigoris Michalopoulos, the newspapers late founder, was imprisoned in 2005 for extortion and forgery.

The paper is not seen as a serious news outlet and is known for spreading conspiracy theories  often tinged with aggressive anti-Semitism  ranging from the Illuminati to the reptilian humanoids conspiracy popularised by David Icke.

Its circulation amounts to a little over a thousand copies daily.

But it was not the only newspaper to take aim at Mr Sunak after his row with the Greek prime minister.

Political, another Greek newspaper, argued that geopolitical games were being played under the cover of the row over the marbles, labelling Mr Sunak as Erdogans Janissary in a reference to the elite foot soldiers of the Ottoman empire.

Nato members Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over a range of issues including where their continental shelves start and end, energy resources, overflights of the Aegean Sea, and ethnically split Cyprus.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
A couple of pre-pandemic tourists take a selfie in Tumon in this file photo from Oct. 11, 2017. On Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, the U.S. and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to formally declare 2024 as Tourism Year.
Biden backers rev up write-in campaign in New Hampshire to avoid loss
Migrants, most from Venezuela, stand near razor wire while surrendering to authorities after wading across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. October 5, 2023.
U.S. Capitol police stand outside the Capitol building as the Senate votes on debt ceiling legislation to avoid a historic default at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2023.
One person is dead after a crash with a Wisconsin State Patrol cruiser in Chippewa County early Friday morning, according to a press release from the state Department of Justice.

At 1:23 a.m. Friday, a Dunn County Sheriff's deputy began a pursuit of a vehicle in Dunn County, the release says. The pursuit continued into Chippewa County and entered the township of Wheaton.

The pursued vehicle exited Highway 29 on to 90th Street, where it encountered a dead end. The vehicle then turned around and crashed into a State Patrol cruiser that was providing assistance, the release says.

The driver of the pursued vehicle died, and the passenger was taken to a local hospital with significant injuries.

The trooper who was in the cruiser was taken to a hospital for evaluation and later released.

The DOJ's Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the crash with help from the State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit, DCI's Digital Evidence Unit and a DCI crime response specialist.
MADISON  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources confirmed the first positive test result for chronic wasting disease in a wild deer in Jackson County. The deer was harvested in the town of Garfield and is within 10 miles of the Eau Claire and Trempealeau county borders, according to the news release.

This detection will cause the following:

Jackson County will renew the ban already in place.

Eau Claire and Trempealeau counties currently have three-year baiting and feeding bans in place from positive detections within the county, so this detection will not impact those counties.

The deer was a hunter-harvested 2-year-old buck and is the first confirmed wild CWD-positive deer detected in Jackson County.

The DNR and the Jackson County Deer Advisory Council are planning on hosting a public meeting. The date and location are still being determined. More details will be provided in the future. At the meeting, DNR staff will provide information about CWD in Wisconsin and local testing efforts within Jackson County.

State law requires that the DNR enact a three-year baiting and feeding ban in counties where CWD has been detected, as well as a two-year ban in adjoining counties within 10 miles of a CWD detection. If additional CWD cases are found during the lifetime of a baiting and feeding ban, the ban will renew for an additional two or three years.

The DNR also reminds the public that it is illegal to hunt over an area previously used for legal baiting and feeding until that area is completely free of bait or feed for 10 consecutive days.

Baiting or feeding deer encourages them to congregate unnaturally around a shared food source where infected deer can spread CWD through direct contact with healthy deer or indirectly by leaving behind infectious prions in their saliva, blood, feces and urine.

More information regarding baiting and feeding regulations is available on the DNRs Baiting and Feeding webpage.

Hunters can help

The DNR asks deer hunters in Jackson, Eau Claire and Trempealeau counties to help with efforts to identify where CWD occurs on the landscape by having their deer tested for the disease. The collection of CWD samples is essential for assessing the presence of CWD in the deer population across the state.

In addition to submitting samples for CWD testing, hunters are also encouraged to properly dispose of deer carcass waste by locating a designated dumpster, transfer station or landfill location.

Proper carcass disposal helps slow the spread of CWD by removing potentially infected deer carcasses from the landscape. A map of CWD sampling and carcass disposal locations is available on the DNRs CWD sampling webpage.

CWD is a fatal, infectious nervous system disease of deer, moose, elk and reindeer/caribou. It belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. The DNR began monitoring the states wild white-tailed deer population for CWD in 1999. The first positives were found in 2002.

More general information about CWD can be found on the DNRs CWD webpage.
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman sought to clarify this week that he is not proposing to solve the systems financial woes by eliminating liberal arts programs after sharing a report with chancellors that examined steps an Arkansas university took to head off its own fiscal crisis.

Among the 16 lessons Rothman said he took away from the special report by the Chronicle of Higher Education: Consider shifting away from liberal arts programs to programs that are more career specific, particularly if the institution serves a large number of low-income students.

The Daily Cardinal, one of two independent UW-Madison campus newspapers, seized on that in a story earlier this week, suggesting Rothman was urging chancellors to weigh axing such programs, even though Rothman noted in his email to chancellors that some of the measures highlighted in the report will have no applicability to our situation or imply actions that we may not be prepared to take.

In social media posts on Wednesday, Rothman objected to the story.

Let me be crystal clear: I have not asked our universities to move away from liberal arts programs. I have repeatedly stated that the liberal arts develops critical thinking and problem solving skills vital to a knowledge economy and to winning the war for talent.



1/  Jay Rothman (@JayORothman) November 29, 2023

Let me be crystal clear: I have not asked our universities to move away from liberal arts programs, Rothman said. I have repeatedly stated that the liberal arts develops critical thinking and problem solving skills vital to a knowledge economy and to winning the war for talent.

The issue arose over an email Rothman sent to chancellors Aug. 31 titled An interesting read, in which he passed along the lengthy Chronicle of Higher Education report that examined in detail how Henderson State University in Arkansas recovered from a series of financial and managerial missteps.

After UW-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo asked Rothman if he planned to discuss his takeaways from the report, he followed up with his list of observations. In addition to considering more career-specific programs at campuses serving poor students, those included addressing financial challenges early, not procrastinating in making difficult decisions and ensuring new programs make sense from an enrollment, job market and cost point of view.

The UW system received no additional state aid in the latest state budget, despite asking for $435.6 million. Republicans on the Legislatures budget committee instead opted to hold back $32 million in an effort to pressure UW system officials to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion staff and programming. UW system has since put together a workforce development plan to expand artificial intelligence and medical programs to recoup those dollars to meet the demand from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester.

Earlier this year, Rothman said the system was on track to exceed its fiscal 2024 budget by nearly $60 million, with 11 of the 13 universities in the red. Only two of the systems schools, UW-Madison and UW Stout, are expected to bring in enough revenue to cover expenses.

UW-Stevens Points main campus anticipates being able to sustain itself, but its two branch campuses, in Marshfield and Wausau, are running $1 million short.

Each university has taken its own approach to solving budgetary crises. UW-Oshkosh, which had the largest projected deficit, $18 million, cut one in six employees and denied contract renewals to dozens more in October, just one day before Rothman announced he was directing one of its two branch campuses, UW-Oshkosh at Fond du Lac, to close. UW-Oshkosh also furloughed most of its employees this year.

UW-Platteville and UW-Parkside have also sought to cut staffing by about 10% as they seek to close $9.7 million and $5.3 million shortfalls, respectively.

And UW-Green Bay is considering eliminating its theater and dance major in favor of a minor, as well as other economics and environmental programs, but Chancellor Mike Alexander has said those discussions are driven by low enrollment, not finances.
Seeking to get an early jump on campaign donations and dissuade other conservatives from joining the race, former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel launched his campaign for state Supreme Court on Thursday, a year and a half before the election.

Schimel is running to unseat liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who has said she will seek a fourth term in office. Bradley is the longest-serving current justice and a consistent vote in the courts liberal bloc, which gained a 4-3 majority in August.

There is no check on this new liberal Supreme Court majority, Schimel, a current Waukesha County Circuit judge, said at his launch, according to prepared remarks. They have the final say in interpreting the Wisconsin Constitution and Wisconsin laws. The only check on them is to take back the majority by winning in 2025.

While the 2024 presidential and U.S. Senate elections will likely overshadow the next election for the high court, set for a February 2025 primary and April general election, Schimels early entrance opens the door to early fundraising, something that can make up for his inability to self-fund his campaign, longtime GOP operative Mark Graul said.

Hes got to work hard, hes got to raise some money, Graul said.

Schimels early entrance and broad name recognition could be an attempt to dissuade other potential contenders from running, Graul said.

Schimel is also also facing an uphill fight: Bradley is the most experienced justice on the high court, and her 16-point margin of victory in her last election will be hard to overcome.

Beating an incumbent Supreme Court justice is hard. Its really hard. It doesnt happen often, Graul said.

Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, sounded unconcerned Thursday, saying Schimel lost his 2018 attorney general bid because his extreme politics and inept mismanagement became too great to ignore.

The atmosphere around the race will likely be shaped by what happens in the 2024 presidential election, Graul said, but itll also be influenced by the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, the most expensive judicial election in American history.

In that race, liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz ran a campaign prominently featuring partisan talking points on abortion and redistricting. Her opponent, former high court Justice Daniel Kelly, refrained from using similarly partisan messaging, saying that the high court was a nonpartisan position that shouldnt be politicized. Protasiewicz won by 11 points.

Janet Protasiewicz showed pretty effectively that you can basically run for the Legislature or for a policy office as a Supreme Court candidate and be successful with it, Graul said. Weve never seen it quite so blatant as what we saw with her. My assumption is were going to see both sides adopt a little bit of that philosophy.

Schimel on Thursday said the liberal majority is poised to impose on the people of this state their will, rather than impartial judgment based on the law.

Over his time in office and in his election campaigns Schimel, who was formerly a Waukesha County prosecutor for 25 years, touted his record of combating opioid abuse and human trafficking and defending crime victims.

Liberals were prepared for Thursdays announcement, mining Schimels long public resume for material they hope to use against him.

Wikler pointed to a large backlog of sexual assault evidence kits that were left untested at the State Crime Lab during Schimels tenure, something Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul prominently featured in his successful 2018 campaign against Schimel.

Wikler also accused Schimel of wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on partisan efforts to suppress voting rights and push new restrictions on abortion access.

The former attorney general was an outspoken supporter of Wisconsins voter ID law, which he speculated could have been responsible for Republican former President Donald Trumps 2016 Wisconsin win. He also defended the Republican redrawing of the states previous legislative boundaries and joined a multistate coalition challenging the Affordable Care Act.

This morning's headlines: Henry Kissinger; lead pipes; Israel-Hamas truce extended
As tensions rise in the Essequibo territorial dispute, Brazil sends reinforcements to its northern border, Venezuela holds a referendum on whether to annex the region and Guyana mulls hosting US military bases.

Just over two weeks ago, I posted a piece flagging the possibility that the next geopolitical flash point in this year of living dangerously could be a centuries-old border dispute in an oil-rich corner of South America. That oil-rich corner is Essequibo, a sparsely populated 160,000 square-kilometre chunk of disputed land, comprising mainly rain forest, that makes up roughly two-thirds of Guyana, a former British colony. But the land has also been claimed by Venezuela since it won its independence from Spain just over 200 years ago. With a little encouragement from the US, the dispute now threatens to escalate into a full-blown war.

A map of the region:

Troop Movements

On Wednesday (Nov 29), the Ministry of Defence of neighbouring Brazil announced it was sending military reinforcements to its northern border as a precautionary measure. The northern Brazilian state of Roraima, in the middle of the Amazon jungle, shares a border with both Venezuela and Essequibo and Brasilia is concerned that the ratcheting tensions between its two neighbours could descend into violence.

Last week, Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (aka Lula) sent his senior adviser, Celso Amorim, a former minister of defence and foreign secretary, to Caracas to meet with the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, to express the Brazilian governments concerns about the risk of war breaking out between the two countries. That meeting does not appear to have had the desired effect. On Wednesday, Lula posted a message on X reminding that (machine translated):

When a country decides to go to war, it is declaring the bankruptcy of dialogue. And I came into politics through dialogue, and I believe that it is much more sensible and effective to waste a few hours at negotiating tables than to go around shooting at random, killing innocent women, children and men.

The Brazilian government is particularly concerned about the possible fallout from a popular consultative referendum the Maduro government is holding this Sunday on the countrys territorial claims over Essequibo. The referendum includes five questions, the fifth of which is whether citizens agree that incorporating Essequibo as part of Venezuelas own territory and granting its current and future population Venezuelan citizenship is a good idea.

The move is largely seen by Maduros critics as an attempt to shore up domestic support at home and is also a response to Guyanas increasingly close military ties with the US. Caracas insists that the referendum is purely consultative and non-binding, and that it has no intention of annexing the territory. But at the same time it is increasing its military activity close to the border with Essequibo, ostensibly to combat illegal mining activities.

Ominously, Venezuelas Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino Lopez recently said the dispute with Guyana is not an armed war, for now.

Go out and vote (in the referendum). This is not an armed war, for now, it is not an armed war, he said, adding that the members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) will be permanently on guard for any action that threatens the countrys territorial integrity.

The government of Guyana is also raising the stakes. Up until last week it had repeatedly denied allegations from Caracas that it was planning to invite US Southern Command to set up a forward operating base in Essequibo. But then last Friday the countrys Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said in a press conference:

We have never been interested in military bases, but we have to protect our national interest Were going to be working with a number of countries on greater defence cooperation. We will have from the US Department of Defence next week two visits to Guyana, by two teams. And then several other visits in the month of December and then high level representation from the Department of Defence here.

In other words, it appears that US Southern Command is about to set up a new forward operating base, or bases, in a territory that is still very much in dispute. That territory is not only rich in oil and gas but also boasts other mineral deposits, including Gold and Bauxite, as well as huge fish stocks and fresh water supplies. Also of note is Jagdeos mention of a number of countries with which it is seeking greater defence countries. Those countries include Canada, which has mining interests across Latin America, and Brazil.

The US and Guyana already signed an agreement in 2020 to undertake joint military patrols in the Essequibo region, ostensibly for drug interdiction and to provide greater security to the South American country. Southcom has signed similar agreements with the governments of Ecuador and Peru in recent months (as we have covered here, here and here) and is looking to do the same with Uruguay.

A Centuries-Old Dispute

The current diplomatic tussle over Essequibo may have been ignited by the discovery in 2015 of huge deposits of oil off the coast of the disputed region but its roots date back over two centuries. Readers will not be surprised to learn that the initial antagonist in the dispute was the British Empire, which in 1814 acquired the regions of Demerara and Berbicea from the Netherlands (the cream coloured territory in the map above) after the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814. In that treaty the Netherlands did not demarcate the territorys western border with Venezuela.

That was an open invitation for the British Empire. In the chaos that resulted from the overthrow of Spanish rule in South America, the British began to exploit weaknesses in post-independence Venezuela, then part of Gran Colombia, to make incursions west of the Essequibo river, where gold deposits were soon discovered. The Essequibo territory had de jure belonged to the Spanish crown but it had exercised little effective control over it. Wherever British troops found a power vacuum, they left British settlers behind. It is also during this time that the British occupied the Malvinas (Falkland Islands).

In 1822, Simon Bolivar ordered his Minister in London, Jose Rafael Revenga, to present an official complaint to the British authorities, in the following terms:

The settlers of Demerara and Berbice have usurped a large portion of land that according to the latest treaties between Spain and Holland belongs to us on this side of the Essequibo River. () said settlers must place themselves under the jurisdiction and obedience of our laws or withdraw to their former possessions.

Needless to say, that did not happen. Over the next few decades the British progressively expanded their control over Essequibo. As the century progressed, it settled in more and more of the territories it claimed as its own, although there were periods of relative coexistence with Venezuela that put a temporary break on the British expansion. Following the British claim of 1887, which included populations under historical Spanish and Venezuelan control, the government of Venezuela decided to sever diplomatic relations.

Matters eventually came to a head at the Paris Tribunal of Arbitration, convened in 1899 to settle the dispute, at which Venezuelas claims were, ironically, supported by Washington. Sitting on the five-member court were two Americans, representing Caracas, two Britons, representing, of course, the interests of Her Majestys Empire, and a Russian who was supposed to be an impartial judge. The latter, Friedrich Martens, was instrumental in tilting the ruling in the British colonys favour.

The arbitration court agreed to grant the United Kingdom 159,000 square of territory west of the Essequibo River. Some jurists and political authorities, including the Netherlands and Brazil, warned that the ruling had been excessively generous to the British. Venezuela lodged a formal complaint, though it finally grudgingly accepted the outcome and collaborated in the demarcation of the new border. The conflict remained dormant for decades.

But all that changed in 1949, when one of the four North American lawyers who represented Venezuela in the Paris arbitration award, Severo Mallet-Prevost, had a memorandum published posthumously that documented a litany of irregularities in the process, from external pressure to the partial attitude of the Russian judge, to parallel negotiations. In other words, the trial had been rigged in the UKs favour from day one and in Mallet-Prevosts opinion, that was enough to nullify the ruling.

After these revelations, Venezuela resumed its territorial claim. Then, in 1966, the year the UK granted independence to Guyana, it also signed the Geneva Agreement with Venezuela, under which the parties agreed to reach a mediated solution to the Essequibo dispute, recognising Venezuelas nullification of the 1899 decision.

But the newly independent Guyana refused to engage in direct negotiations with Venezuela, preferring instead to pursue UN-based mechanisms including through the General Assembly and the Security Council. In 1987, both countries agreed to thrash out their differences through a UN-mediated Good Offices process. During the Hugo Chavez era, integration with the neighbour was prioritised over territorial differences.

To begin with, Maduro continued along the same path. In September, 2013, months after Chavezs death, he made an official visit to Georgetown and declared that the dispute was a legacy of colonialism. Then, in 2015, a consortium of oil companies led by Exxon Mobile discovered huge deposits of oil and gas in the disputed waters of Essequibo. And just like that, the conflict was reignited, but this time it is the US, not the British, that is stirring the pot.

All About the Oil

For the moment, it is Guyanas vast untapped energy supplies that are of most interest to the US government and corporations. As a 2018 report by US Southern Command conceded, the US will have increasing difficulties securing enough energy to meet domestic demand in the decades to come. Though the report does not mention Guyana directly by name, it leaves little doubt that the US economys main source of energy supplies in the years to come will be its direct neighbourhood.

Then, in January this year, Southcom Commander Laura Richardson explained, with disarming frankness, US strategic interest in Guyanese oil in a speech to the Atlantic Council:

This region, why this region matters, with all of its rich resources and rare earth minerals: youve got the Lithium Triangle which is needed for technology today; 60% of the worlds lithium is in the Lithium Triangle, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile. You just had the largest oil reserves, light sweet crude discovered off of Guyana over a year ago. You have Venezuelas resources as well with oil, copper, gold. China gets 36% of its food source from this region. We have the Amazon, lungs of the world. We have 31% of the worlds fresh water in this region too.

Below is a clip of the speech in all its glory. It is, I believe, a perfect illustration of late Major General Smedley Darlington Butlers thesis that war is a racket  possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. Like Butler in his day, General Richardson is nothing more than a high-class muscle-man  or in her case, woman  for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers; a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. Unlike Butler (at least in his later years), Richardson seems to bask in the role.

If anything, war is even more of a racket today than it was back in Butlers time (early 20th century), mainly because the business of war is so much larger. In Guyana, the US stands to benefit not only from gaining access to valuable mineral resources at dirt cheap prices  the production sharing agreement the Guyanese government signed with the Exxon Mobil consortium was so egregious that a former presidential adviser cautioned that the country was being recolonised  and without having to pay any of the externalities; it will also get to sell Guyana shiploads of US-made weapons and other military equipment.

And Guyana right now is rolling in money, despite the miserly conditions the Guyanese government agreed to in the contracts it has signed with Exxon. But how much of that money will be funnelled into the US military industrial complex, just as happens with all US wars? For example, Guyanas coast guard just took delivery of a patrol boat built by Metal Shark, a US military contractor that has sold well over a dozen maritime combat vessels to Ukraine since the war began there.

As Julian Assange once said about the Afghan war, the goal is to wash money out of the tax bases of the United States, out of the tax bases of Europe, through the target country, and back into the hands of a transnational security elite.

As NC regular Joe Well notes in the thread below, the reputation and image of the US (and its imperial forebear, the UK) among the Venezuelan public are already in tatters:

Venezuelans have grown up seeing a map of their country that includes this territory, and being told how the evil British and the feckless Americans took it from them. And now the Yankee oil barons are stealing the oil, throwing only a small percentage to the current inhabitants. Whatever the legal or diplomatic niceties, the image of the US is being permanently destroyed in Venezuela, a vastly more important country than Guyana (and if the terms of the deal are so lopsided, the image of the US may be badly damaged in Guyana as well). Until the 2000s, it was widely joked that Venezuela was the most pro-US country in Latin America after Puerto Rico. Our leaders have not only reversed that, they are on the verge of creating an enemy for generations. Make no mistake, this is the kind of thing that breeds generational animosity, like the theft of Texas and Upper California has with Mexico, or the US intervention in 1898 has with Cuba.

Exxons Revenge

The US began taking an interest in Guyana, which boasts one of the lowest population densities on the planet, in 2015  the same year that a consortium of firms led by Exxon Mobil discovered huge deposits of oil in waters off the coast of Essequibo. For decades Washington had more or less stood on the sidelines of the territorial dispute over Essequibo, calling for a timely resolution through bilateral negotiations. But that all changed in 2018, when it began calling for the hugely controversial 1899 arbitration decision to be upheld.

In the same year, Guyana filed an application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asking the Court to reaffirm the 1899 arbitration award that established the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. In 2020, the ICJ ruled against Venezuela, whose government refuses to acknowledge ICJ jurisdiction on the matter.

As the Washington Post reported in 2017, the discovery of oil in Essequibo was the perfect revenge for Exxons then-CEO Rex Tillerson, whom Donald Trump would later go on to appoint as his secretary of state:
Yves here. While there is a lot of merit in the latest discussion between Radhika Desai and Micheal Hudson on their favorite topic of mutlipolarity, I feel compelled to correct some imprecisions.

The video depicts the German government as having raised the debt brake but then not being allowed with no depiction of agency, to deploy Covid funds approved under an emergency waiver to the deploy those funds to the Green Fund, which is significantly (entirely?) consumer energy subsidies to reduce the impact of the loss of cheap Russian gas and its replacement with more costly substitutes, and that that was nixed due to opposition to help ordinary consumers.

In fact, the debt brake is a fiscal rule that was passed in 2009 and has also been enshrined in the Basic Law, as in Germanys constitution. It was what most would consider to be Germanys government, as in its ruling coalition, that contrary to the picture presented in this video, that wanted to redeploy the unused Covid funds. It was the German Constitutional court that nixed it. The ruling coalition lacks the votes to change the constitution. Chancellor Scholz in a face-saving measure did preserve the status of separate emergency funds for energy, but theres still a big budget gap due to the loss of the Covid kitty From Euractiv last week:

In a far-reaching ruling on the debt brake set in the German constitution, the court has declared it unconstitutional to use debt justified with an emergency in one year for spending in subsequent years. The government therefore on Monday (27 November) adopted a supplementary budget for the ongoing year of 2023, securing the legality of energy aid measures taken to stabilise energy prices by declaring a state of emergency to suspend the debt brake, justified by the ongoing energy crisis. In an address to the German parliament on Tuesday, Scholz (SPD/S&D) tried to downplay the measure, arguing that the government was merely confirming what we had already decided at the end of [20]22, which was necessary and right then and is still just as necessary and right today Scholz did not yet say how his government plans to replace the 60 billion hole in the Climate and Transformation Fund as a consequence of the ruling, which affects the years 2024 to 2027.

As for more war spending, aside from Ukraine budget support, the US has not increased its output of critically important shells. Europe placed bigger orders but in the absence of measures to increase output, the effect was mainly to greatly increase prices. And in a neoliberal system, manufactures are not going to want to invest in new capacity if they see the demand for it as comparatively short lived. Generally, the West has tended to act as if allocating funds would solve the output problem, when major countries would have to reindustrialize.which would require dirigisme, something to which supposed market economies are allergic, except when it comes to rescuing the financiers. So this war machine spending might be more accurately called war windup toy spending.

But perhaps more important, experts are depicting the limits on Ukraines ability to continue to prosecute the war as not weaponry or government funding but man and now woman power. Ukraine seen as on the verge of staring mass conscription and has been throwing barely trained troops against Russian lines. Thats a prescription for losing a lot of soldiers very very quickly.

And I hate to sound churlish.but this presentation pits US warmaking (clearly terrible and hegemony-serving) with virtuous development. But environmentally. we cant afford more countries adopting first world consumption habits. Advanced economies need to find how to do more with less, energy and other resource-wise. So it may be an unintended Good Thing that China Belt and Road spending is down 40% from its 2018 peak.

By Geopolitical Economy Hour

RADHIKA DESAI: Hello and welcome to the 19th Geopolitical Economy Hour, the program where we discuss the evolving political and geopolitical economy of our time. Im Radhika Desai.

MICHAEL HUDSON: And Im Michael Hudson. And we bring you this program with the help of our host, Ben Norton, our videographer Paul Graham, and our transcriber Zach Weisser.

The carnage in Gaza has paused, though the possibility that this will open the door to a permanent resolution is remote. Little else seems to have changed. The U.S. remains doubled down on its one-sided support for a murderous Israel, the tail that wags the U.S. dog.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Well, its not only the United States thats doubling down, its Europe thats doubling down. And its becoming, youre seeing, theyve banned protests supporting the Palestinians in Germany, in France, and in Italy. And this is leading to the break between Europe, I think, and the Islamic countries. Yesterday, President Netanyahu called Hamas the Nazis. And in Europe, the Arabs are calling Germany the Nazis. So it looks like the question is, what kind of Nazism is the U.S. and NATO alliance going to have?

RADHIKA DESAI: And what is the definition of what a Nazi is anymore? I mean, its completely losing touch with the historical record. Indeed, as Michael, you rightly point out, the U.S. and Western governments generally are growing even further apart from their people, most of whom seem to favor a permanent ceasefire and a lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. And one might add an end to the war over Ukraine and an end to persistent saber-rattling directed at China.

The U.S. and NATO continue to mouth support for Ukraine, even as the inability to support Ukraine, whether with money, military production, or political legitimacy, becomes clear. And defeat for Ukraine is all but acknowledged. While the U.S. refuses to acknowledge it, the hunt for scapegoats has already begun in Kyiv.

The upcoming NATO foreign ministers meeting continues to invite foreign ministers of Asian non-members such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, even though the possibility of the U.S. sustaining a third war front remains in question, even with allies, while the key to the entire Indo-Pacific strategy lies in tatters, because Indias Modi stands accused of organizing murders of citizens of allied countries on their territories, because, Modi claims, they are doing nothing about what he alleges is Sikh separatism in favor of a homeland called Khalistan.

So all in all, the Western powers present a picture of increasingly impotent rage. Meanwhile, the world majority continues to side raucously in demonstrations or silently for peace and development. So today we want to discuss both the international and domestic dimensions of the increasingly divergent strategies represented by these two parts of the world, the NATO- and U.S.-led West on the one hand, and the world majority, which now includes, one would imagine, the overwhelming majority of the ordinary people of the Western world, who do not wish to pursue this militaristic and war-like line. They would rather have a policy which is more in line with what China, Russia, and other world majority countries are pursuing in favor of development.

So we are looking at two very stark alternatives. The first represents destruction, both economic and military. And the second represents, again, development, both, in this case, economic and military, at least in the sense of providing for defense against the increasing aggression of Western powers. So I think you wanted to start our discussion off by discussing a couple of instances of economic self-harm that we are seeing in Western countries and those countries that seek to ally with them.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Well, while you were in China for the last few weeks, the whole post-1945 U.S.-centered order has been breaking up, most clearly in Germany and Argentina. So I want to talk a bit about the crises there, because theyre very closely related. And the BRICS countries also are just beginning to define themselves as an alternative to this.

The main strains are financial right now, and not only financial, but the particular way in which the U.S.-centered neoliberal order that was put up in 1945 has now reached its limit. And youre seeing that in the crises. And its largely a balance-of-payments crisis in Germany and Argentina connected to the budget deficits, all that with a kind of neoliberal junk economics that has frozen spending in Germany to prevent Germany from essentially using public funding to get over the depression that its created by declaring war on Russia, and it looks like China, too. And the fact that its middle class and labor class are being squeezed, just as theyre being squeezed in Argentina.

So I think underlying both countries and their balance-of-payments deficit is a kind of false view of what causes inflation. And I just want to say one thing about where the German nuttiness comes from. The Germans say that we have to freeze government spending because thats what is causing inflation. Its not that the United States has blown up Nord Stream. Its not that energy prices have gone up. Its not that food prices have gone up. Its because were running a deficit, too much social spending. And the only cause that the Germans realize except for inflation is government money creation.

But thats obviously not the case. Every hyperinflation in history, such as were seeing in Argentina now, whose prices have gone up 140% in the last year, every hyperinflation has come from the currency depreciation, from the balance-of-payments deficit. And Germany, now that it is deindustrializing, now that it cannot import, if affordable, gas and oil to run its industry, all of a sudden this anchor of the euros exchange rate has turned into a deficit, meaning the euro is looking like its on the downside.

The reality back in the 1920s is Germany had to pay reparations. The payment of reparations caused the currency to plunge. When a currency goes down, as Germanys did and Argentinas today, the price of imports go up. And the price of imports go up, increase the domestic price of food, the domestic price of doing business. And so the government then has to create more money to enable these transactions of the economy to take place at the higher price level.

In every case, the hyperinflation and even regular inflations are led by the balance-of-payments deficit, followed by a declining exchange rate, followed by increasing import prices and domestic prices, and then at the very end, money creation increases, just the opposite of what Milton Friedman and the Chicago School and the right-wingers say.

When you have a false view of what causes inflation for the last 100 years, ever since the 1920s, its not a mistake. Its because theres a social interest in having a wrong view. The social interest is essentially to squeeze government and essentially privatize everything.

What youre seeing in Argentina now is that the incoming Mr. Milei is trying to create a new government. Hes dropped the idea of dollarization, but he says theres a simple way to stabilize Argentinas balance-of-payments. And its exactly what Argentina did in 1991, and that is you sell off the public domain. Argentina was able to stabilize its exchange rate by selling its banks, selling its natural resources, selling its public utilities. Milei says, we can raise the exchange rate once again and stop the depreciation if we just sell off everything, sell off our roads, sell off our streets, sell off our land, sell off whatever natural resources we have, and youre going to have an influx of foreign money coming in, and that foreign money is going to buy up our government, what we sell off from the government, and that will stop the inflation, and now you middle-class and working-class people can somehow survive.

And, of course, the problem with this is once you privatize the public domain, the private owners are now going to raise the prices for public services. Theyre going to turn government infrastructure into monopolies and extract monopoly rent, and all of this rent is then going to be remitted to their own countries abroad, and most foreigners in Argentina are Argentinians, the 50 families that run the economy, operating out of offshore banking centers, the Dutch West Indies, the United States, London, and so theyre pretending to be foreigners, so youre having a huge privatization and the squeeze of the middle-class and the working-class.

RADHIKA DESAI: What you say is really interesting, Michael, but first of all, let me just make one little qualification to what youre saying, because, you know, Germany yesterday has announced that it has actually raised the debt brake. And so what that means is, and by the way, this is not the first time theyve done so, they have done so repeatedly, particularly over the pandemic, but even before that, because quite frankly, the position they have taken that the German public debt should be limited to some ridiculously low amount, or rather the German deficit should be limited to a ridiculously low amount, can actually not be sustained, even in the case of an economy like Germany.

And as you rightly point out, more recently, they have been indulging in deindustrialization. And what is at stake this time around is precisely the ability of the German government to give subsidies to German corporations to allegedly organize a green transition, but in reality, its not so much the green transition that matters, but the subsidy to the big corporations.

And thats the point I want to make, because, you know, we all say that neoliberalism is all about essentially freeing up markets and rolling back governments and reducing government spending even, but in reality, it is about none of those things primarily. That is the rhetoric that is indeed used, but it is used in order to essentially create a government policy paradigm, whose main purpose is to focus, is to protect the interests of and advance the interests of the biggest corporations in the country.

And thats what the German government was being prevented from doing by taking the money that it did not spend during the pandemic, which the parliament had allocated, and giving it to the Green Fund. The issue is not that its a Green Fund, the issue is that this would have gone in the form of subsidies and supports for Germanys big corporations.

So in that sense, neoliberalism is less about markets, all the junk economics is indeed junk economics, but its primary purpose is to serve the interests of big corporations.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Thats quite correct. Under the claim that theres a budget squeeze, what is cut back is the social spending on the population at large, the consumers. In Germany, what was cut back has been the subsidies of families that have to pay much higher prices now for their heating and for their oil and gas. And thats cut back precisely for what you say, in order to help the large corporations.

But the large corporations in Germany were very large, primarily industrial corporations. And theres no way that a government subsidy can really protect these corporations, given the sixfold, somewhere threefold, sixfold increase in energy prices. So its very difficult.

So what Germany has done is saying, OK, we are going to need more money, well cut back social spending, but well spend it on the war. And thats what EU Commissioner President Ursula von Leyen said. And back in February, the Minister Habeck, the economics minister, went to Washington and he said, the more Germany serves, the greater its role. That was his quote. In other words, hes trying to increase, his role in Germany is to serve the U.S. interests in Ukraine. And youre having Germany more for a war economy right now, even than how, I dont know if it can save its industrial sector and its economy.

But what it can do, at least, is act as Americas puppet, going for the war economy. And essentially, thats really the problem. The inflation is going to increase there. Theres going to be a wage squeeze. And thats whats leading to the right wing shift all throughout Europe. The Social Democrats and the center parties are really the pro-war parties and the anti-labor parties now. And ironically enough, its the right wing in Germany with a little bit of the old links party with Sarah Wagenknecht. And its the right wing parties in Holland and in Hungary that are doing what used to be the left wing parties.

All this is posing the question, will the European Union break up? And you can say the same thing for whats happening for the global south countries now that Argentina is saying that it wants to leave the BRICS.

RADHIKA DESAI: So this is really, again, very important and interesting, Michael. Because what we are looking at is really the world is splitting. And its splitting at two levels. On the one hand, there is a split, of course, among the countries of the world. And that split is a little more messy than we thought it would be. So countries like Argentina and India may not really remain part of this non-Western alliance or the world majority alliance. Although, of course, weve seen this before. Its not necessarily anything new. When Bolsonaro was in power, then Brazil was not exactly pulling its weight in the BRICS, et cetera. So that was so but nevertheless, there is a polarization at the international level.

But increasingly, there is also a polarization that is taking place within the Western countries. You dont see the same polarization elsewhere. Within the Western countries, you are seeing a polarization between ordinary people upon whom governments are imposing austerity, low wages, ever-disappearing social services, increased taxes, et cetera, in order to finance, in Germanys case, the war and subsidization of big corporations. And in the case of Argentina, as you said, essentially to service the interests of a small number of really rich families there.

So at both levels, we are seeing polarization. And I would say that the real issue is that the neoliberal strategy does not work, which is why you get the election of people like Geert Wilders, because the so-called centrist governments basically create the mess and then people get alienated with it.

They have nobody else to vote for, but these populists like Milei or Geert Wilders or what have you. And this is the whole sort of spectrum of Western politics has moved to the right in such a way as to leave people with no alternative. So essentially what we are also at the root of what we are looking at is the exhaustion of Western capitalism and the inability of political forces in most of the world to see that their salvation lies in a political strategy which is fundamentally different, which is not aimed at protecting the interests of a small number of big corporations. It is not articulated in the form of junk economics, but it is fundamentally a developmentalist strategy which involves pursuing the interests of the vast majority of the people, much like what we see in China. Its not perfect, but it is broadly correct.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Well, weve been talking about this for the last few months and well, weve been talking about this in China, Russia and the global majority have been talking about this. The amazing thing is there is no talk about this in any major NATO party, nowhere in Europe, nowhere in the United States, nowhere in Canada are people coming and saying there has to be an alternative. The only alternative that is being discussed is in Eurasia, which is very interesting.

And for the first time now, because of the split of the Israeli war against the Arab countries to create a greater Israel, you have the Arab countries now, I think, beginning to turn away from the European Union and from NATO. Now that they see Europe is backing the U.S. and theyre now working, I think, opening their eyes, at least, to the possibility of the kind of alternative theres going to be. And thats really what all of these shows that were doing are all about.

RADHIKA DESAI: Absolutely. And I just want to go back to what we started with, you know, you pointed out that a lot of this is financial and I completely agree with you that it is indeed financial, but it is also military and economic and political. So in the military sense, of course, what we are looking at in the Western world generally, which is backing Ukraine and now Israel, whats really going on is that these countries which spend so much of their money, particularly the United States, but also these other countries, you know, a small proportion of their very big GDPs is still a very large amount. So they spend a lot of money on their militaries.

But in fact, the last 18, 20 months of war against Ukraine has already depleted the arsenals of these countries. And even though the military industrial complex is making money hand over fist producing new weapons, the fact of the matter is this military industrial complex is turning out to be a toy weapons complex. It is not actually able to produce at the rate at which, say, Russia is able to produce or China is able to produce.

So once again, on the productive front, even though it involves military production, which is usually regarded as a national priority, even though in the United States, the military industrial complex eats up about a trillion dollars, and probably thats an underestimate every year. The fact is they cannot produce the weapons.

The second associated fact is that they cannot produce technologically sophisticated weapons. I was just recently reading in the news that Iran has now produced a hypersonic missile. So Russia produces hypersonic missiles, China produces hypersonic missiles, now Iran produces hypersonic missiles. Meanwhile, the coddled military industrial complex of the West is not able to produce anything of the sort. So it is also a military confrontation which the West is losing.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Well, this is why there are calls for a ceasefire right now, both in Ukraine saying, well, theres a stalemate in Ukraine, lets just stop. And they want to stop because the West has run out of the weapons, even though the weapons dont work. What they have, theyve run out of. Theyve run out of tanks, theyve run out of bullets, theyve run out of missiles. Theyre trying to buy some more bullets from South Korea, I think, the Ukraine is.

But the fact is, obviously, its not a stalemate. The Ukrainians have been essentially losing their entire population and turning Ukraine into a land without the people, as they used to say of Palestine in 1947. Its depopulated. And so what youre having is a military that doesnt work there.

And regarding what you commented on quite correctly on Iran, it looks like both Israel and the United States want to end the ceasefire and then resume the fighting. Its now primarily on the West Bank. Theres been no ceasefire at all on the West Bank. The murder squads have been going out. They call them settlers, to shoot the existing homeowners, take over their homes, and essentially make the West Bank and Palestine only for the Israeli population.

If this continues, youre going to have not only Lebanon and Hezbollah come up, youre going to have Iran actually use these missiles. And you may see in the Near East fighting to the last Israeli to support the United States attempt to fight Iran. And they will not succeed, I dont think, in the Near East any more than theyll succeed in Ukraine.

RADHIKA DESAI: Absolutely, Michael. This is exactly what I was saying the other time when we were chatting with Pepe, you know. And in fact, let me say another thing, which is, you know, this is how the international and the domestic interact, you know, what we call the political and the geopolitical economy of the world interact.

Part of the reason why we are going in this direction is that the West in general, and Biden in particular, cannot afford to admit defeat in Ukraine. And nor can he, in fact, what he seems to have decided to do, particularly given that he is essentially, you know, I never thought there would be such a thing, but you know, there are lame duck presidents. Well, I think he is a lame duck candidate.

That is to say that there are essentially people in his own party who are saying that he should basically step aside. Hes not capable of running, but he is insisting on running. And I think one of the ways in which hes going to try, he may not succeed, but hes going to try to force the hand of the rest of his party and make them keep him as the candidate for president, is essentially he wants to run the campaign as a war president and a war president and then some.

So he wants to go into the campaign with certainly one war, certainly two wars now, the war against Russia and as I pointed out last time, the war. So the war against Russia with using Ukraine as a proxy and now a war against Iran using Israel as a proxy. And here the position of Hamas and the Palestinians is actually to be likened not to Ukraine, not to Russia, as President Zelensky tried to do. But in fact, it is to be likened to Donbass, which Ukraine was pummeling before it became the proxy for a war against Ukraine. So now Israel will be a proxy for a war against Iran.

And of course, meanwhile, the possibility that there may be a third front has not been closed. President Biden has said repeatedly that the United States will defend Taiwan in the case of, in the case of China trying to take Taiwan by force, etc. The fact is China has no intention of taking Taiwan by force. China has been engaged in an economic and charm offensive vis-a-vis Taiwan for decades now. And what, however, we have to look out for, is some provocation in the case of which the Biden administration will try to use Taiwan in the same way as a proxy against China, as it is using Ukraine against Russia and in the coming weeks and months may use Israel against Iran. Thankfully, there are elections in Taiwan and it is very likely that a sensible government will be elected in Taiwan, which may kibosh this possibility.

But nevertheless, President Biden so far can be assured of at least trying to run as president, as a war president with a war on two fronts going on well into next November. That is why he cant afford to admit defeat.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Well, in order for a sensitive government to take place, there has to be, I think the awareness is spreading now that the Western policy is a U.S. policy. Its to try to control other countries by war. Thats the only way that the United States can exert control. It cant have trade control anymore because its de-industrialized. It cant even have financial control because of the problems that it has here. The only way that it has is to force other countries in a zero-sum game. As Donald Trump, who will be running against Biden, has said, America has to win on every trade deal.

Well, the difference is that if China, Taiwan, Russia, Eurasia says there is an alternative to try to fight other people, and thats to offer mutual gain. If you have the global majority following a policy of mutual gain, the Belt and Road Initiative to develop mutual trade among them and to have it Eurasian-centered instead of all centered on the United States and its satellite in London and Frankfurt, then that is really going to be the whole difference in Western from Eurasian policy. If you can have this at least at the center of Eurasian politics, I think youll have a recognition of just how great an alternative there is, even if its not appearing in the American and European political scene.

RADHIKA DESAI: Again, I want to add to your point and to strengthen the excellent points youre making, Michael. Let me take a minute to reflect on, just as we said, what is the domestic basis of U.S.s militarism. It is an increasingly senile, financialized capitalism, which needs to be able to suck value out of the rest of the world in order to survive, which explains its militarism, its international aggression, etc.

Meanwhile, we can very well ask, what are the contrasting domestic bases of the completely different foreign policy that China is pursuing? What we see here is that, essentially, sometime early in this century, in the first decade of the 21st century, the government in China realized that decades of reform and opening up had been important, it had been very good, it had created employment, it had dealt with the series of multiple crises that China had to deal with in the late 1960s with the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and then the 1970s, but what it had not been able to do was to help China climb up the value ladder.

So to modernize Chinas industry, to make Chinas industry develop technologically, and in order to address that problem, since that time, the Chinese government has been taking numerous industrial policy initiatives designed to upgrade the technology of China, and within less than a decade, by about the middle of the 2010s, it already became clear that China was becoming a technological leader in many fields, whether it is information and communication technology with Huawei, or with artificial intelligence, with green technology, and so on, with high-speed rail.

By the way, we were in China, and we experienced a most amazing high-speed rail ride from Beijing to Xian, and I have to say, if they had high-speed rails like that, Id never take another airplane ever in my life, unless it was for, you know, crossing oceans and so on, but anyway.

So these are just amazing levels of technological development, and as we know, the US-led West has been reacting to this by increasingly making the international environment hostile to the extent they can for China, so all of the initiatives China has taken over the last decade and more, whether it is the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Belt and Road Initiative, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, or more recently, all the various BRICS initiatives, its increasingly close alliance with Russia, its attempt to try to win over its own neighborhood, all of these things are essentially a way to try to resist this attempt of the United States to create a hostile international environment, and instead have a competing international order, which will be based not on aggression, on sucking out capital and value from the rest of the world, but rather on facilitating the development of the rest of the world, and thats what we are looking at, and this is where, again, the world is standing before a set of alternatives, a very clear fork in the road.

On the one side lies China, and still the world majority, even though countries like Argentina and India may be stepping back temporarily, we hope, from that, and on the other hand, the Western-led alliance, the U.S.-led alliance, which basically stands for financial exploitation, the sucking out of value through financial means from the rest of the world, while giving nothing in return, and militarism and aggression to compel the world to cooperate with this.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Well, theres also a parallel fork in the road that we havent mentioned, but is very important, and thats the global warming and the extreme weather that we have. Certainly, thats one problem thats facing China.

What is making this a fork in the road is, why is the United States fighting so much to support Israel? Its fighting not for Israel, but because Israel is a landed aircraft carrier to control the Near Eastern oil, and the American foreign policy is based, the one way in which it can control trade is by monopolizing the oil trade that American companies have been monopolizing ever since World War I, along with England and Holland for that.

Well, if America is not going to leave the Near East easily, its still pumping oil out of Iraq, even though its been told to leave. The American forces in Iraq and in Syria are being attacked.

Over the coming six months, I think youre going to see the war being settled, one way or another, in the Near East. If theres a defeat of the American oil in the Near East, this will entail a defeat of Israel, too. This fight is parallel to the Ukrainian fight, which ended up all to split Europe away from reliance on Russian oil.

Well, obviously, Eurasia and the other countries that are threatened by global warming, despite the fact that Europe and the United States says that its in favor of the green ecology and cutting back pollution, the United States is the leading lobbyist for pollution, for accelerating global warming because the global warming is caused by its oil and gas. And thats what the United States is using, hoping to use as a lever to control the energy and hence the GDP of other countries. Thats a related fight to what youve been saying.

RADHIKA DESAI: Absolutely, Michael. And let me bring this back to a monetary and financial question. You know, that is to say, climate change is also a monetary and financial question. Why do I say that? Because you see, recently, of course, weve had a lot of inflation. And while it is undoubtedly true that on the one hand, some of it has been caused by the war in Ukraine and the rise of food and energy prices. And while it is also true that big corporations in the United States in particular, but also elsewhere, are taking every opportunity to try to jack up prices and keep them there.

Interestingly, they can only do this because, weve had big corporations for a very long time. So if that was the case, why didnt we have inflation for the last two decades? Weve had a highly monopolized economy in the US and many, most Western countries since then. The opportunity to jack up prices is only provided by supply chain bottlenecks, where those companies that do not suffer to the same extent from supply chain bottlenecks then use the opportunity to jack up prices. Fine. All of this is true. But there is an underlying cause of this. Why are supply chain bottlenecks being disrupted?

I think they are being disrupted for two reasons, both of which have to do with the destructive strategy that the United States-led West is trying to impose on the rest of the world. On the one hand, you have an increase in supply chain bottlenecks to the extent that countries like China, but also a few other countries increasingly refuse to provide the United States with cheap goods, whether they are cheap primary products such as, you know, food products or coffee or whatever, and of course, oil, or whether it is cheap manufactured products.

In both of these cases, the ability, the willingness of these countries to provide cheap goods has been declining because their own domestic markets are expanding and their own wage costs are rising, particularly in the case of China, which is a good thing. This is not a complaint. Wage costs should rise in developing countries. Thats what development is about. So thats the first thing.

And then the second thing is that neoliberal policy has so, has laid agriculture to waste in so many countries. And today, with climate change and the United States essentially ensuring through its wars that the world will remain too divided to do anything about climate change, we are looking at an increasingly desperate situation.

Take, for example, the recent ban that India had to place on the export of oil. With the squeezing of consumption of ordinary poor people in India, India had become a major exporter of oil, sorry, of rice, on which countries like Nigeria, for example, had come to depend. Nigeria imports a lot of Indian rice. Now, if India bans the export of rice, Nigeria cannot import rice, which means prices of food in Nigeria are going to go up. And they are also going up in India because of climate change, because the rice harvest has not been sufficiently robust.

So you can see that in general, you know, just as people have lost, have left the labor force in Western countries after the pandemic and so on, the labor market has shrunk. So similarly, more and more farmers have been either leaving or have been pushed out of agriculture, which means that agricultural production is in decline. And if we in the West think that this is an easy thing, just go to the supermarket and look at the number of things we import from the rest of the world, particularly the third world, in our daily diet, and you will see where the inflation is coming from.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Well, you mentioned India and I think thats going to be a topic of some of our future broadcasts because theres a whole crisis. Its occurring right now. India has been exporting oil largely that its gotten from Russia and its paid for the oil In blocked rupees in other words, Russia can only use these rupees to buy Indian goods But there are only so many Indian goods that it can buy And at the current point in time. it doesnt want to get more Indian rupees. So its the question thats going on in Russia is, are they going to continue to sell oil to India for rupees that they cant spend?

Well in the past they were doing it because they hoped to have an alliance with India. And thats why India and Russia, India was part of the BRICS. But now that it looks like India has decided to change its policy radically and to throw its backing behind the United States and to be sort of Americas landed aircraft carrier in Eurasia.

You have Pakistan now saying, well, we want to apply to be a member of BRICS Plus at the upcoming January meeting. So if you have Pakistan replacing India in the BRICS that is going to obviously make the Belt and Road Initiative much easier for China, but its going to leave India out of this whole reconstruction of Eurasia thats taking place. Thats a really radical change and India may end up just like Ukraine and Israel left out of the whole process.

RADHIKA DESAI: Let me add a couple of complicating factors there. So what you say is absolutely right, but let me add a couple of further complicating layers. So the complicating layer number one is of course that the United States has been pursuing a strategy of essentially bringing India into its strategy in the Asian region in a very big way and this is represented by the shift from using the term Asia-pacific, which was the term that was favored until recently from the 1990s onwards until recently, the US foreign policy towards the Pacific region towards the whats called the Western Pacific has been articulated by using the term Asia-Pacific.

Now over the last three or four years, they have been using the term Indo-pacific. And the purpose of using the term Indo-pacific and many people have dwelt on how you know, there was this German Ggographer who first coined the term etc, etc But that has nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with bringing India into the picture as a counterbalance to China, something that India has offered the United States for a very long time, especially when we have had this BJP, you know governments of this party that is in power today. So this happened early in the late 90s and is again happening now. And of course the same party has also pursued closer alliances with Israel

However, and now the West loves them for the same reason as they love Zelensky these are fucking fascists Im sorry, pardon my Greek, but these people are fascists in India. And so they thought they were going to get a strongman in Asia to support them, but the fact is that this strongman has turned out to be a bit of a rogue as far as they are concerned because now both Canada and the United States are saying that this government, the Modi government, has tried to assassinate Canadian and US nationals on Canadian and US territory.

And its also the case I dont know the truth of this but I can certainly report that the Whatsapp world and and the social media world in India is absolutely abuzz with supporters of the current government not saying how dare US and China accuse us of this but rather, we got them, we did it, we gave it to them.

So really this is you know, there is an old saying, Who rides the tiger dare not dismount. So this is the situation in which Canada and the US now find themselves. So thats the first complicating factor.

The second is that Mr. Modi faces an election. It must take place before May of next year. Now, of course, there is every possibility particularly if it looks as though hes going to lose. And this is a real possibility this time because all the opposition parties created a big coalition and they are going to fight as a big coalition, and if that coalition remains together Modi cannot win. So either he will try to disrupt this coalition, and if he cannot do that, then he will try to perhaps create a national emergency to postpone the election. This is also a possibility. But nevertheless, I would say we may very well see a new government in New Delhi coming up. So both of those things are complications.

And we should probably wind down Michael, but can I just introduce a new thing? Maybe ask you to lead with it But you know you pointed out you pointed me to this book which was recently reviewed on Moon of Alabama By somebody called Fernandez about how there is a split between the US strategy of security versus hegemony. Maybe we can have a closing exchange about that and then bring our discussion to a close and of course any other remarks you want to add.

MICHAEL HUDSON: Thats a good idea obviously the idea that national security is going to increase security is just the opposite in practice. The national security has not made Europe more safe. Europe is now threatened. Its not made America more safe. The whole world now is threatened by Insecurity as a result of Americas national security saying if we cant control every other country we dont feel secure. Thats why America has to go to war all over the world. And its the national security that is making the whole worldinsecure.

RADHIKA DESAI: Well, you know, let me just remind you of this particular paragraph. So basically were discussing the review of a discussion of a book by someone called Clinton Fernandes, who is an Australian and he has written a book called Subimperial Power which describes what Australia is doing and of course along with Australia other powers like the European powers as we know who are behaving like vassals of the United States.

So this is the key paragraph in the review.

In other words Fernandess point is that the key characteristic of the rules-based international order relates to the actual structure of the American or British or French or Australian social and economic system which seeks to enforce an order where the whole world is open to the penetration and control of their respective national monied classes which is why the order is about hegemony and not about security, Which is why the former so often come at the expense of the latter.

So essentially what it seems that Mr Fernandes is arguing is that countries like Australia or Britain or France are not being vassals of the United States. They are in fact pursuing a strategy of what he calls hegemony, which is opposed to what he calls security. And so what hes saying is that the pursuit of hegemony is antithetical to the pursuit of security. In other parts of this review it seems that Mr. Fernandes discusses the position taken by John Mearsheimer that you know the US which is essentially that US security is not advanced by these behaviors of the United States.

But what we are really looking at in my humble opinion is a situation, or rather, let me rephrase that. What this argument completely forgets is the fact that all these countries the United States, Britain, Australia etc. They have never been pursuing national security if by that we mean the security of ordinary Americans, British, Australians, French, etc, etc. The fact is that they have always used the rhetoric of national security to justify what has always been what what would be called by Mr. Fernandes as hegemony and what ordinary people would call imperialism.

Today imperialism is not like Roman imperialism or even the imperialism of the czarist Empire or the Ottoman Empire or the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is a specific capitalist imperialism in which, as Ive argued under my geopolitical economy rubric, the contradictions of capitalism. On the one hand its tendency to overproduce commodities and capital and on the other hand its reliance on a constant supply of cheap inputs and labor. These two things come together to essentially create an impulsion or an imperative on the part of capitalist countries like the US, France, Britain, Australia, to essentially try to create a domination over peripheral nations so that they can require these peripheral nations in the past to absorb their excess commodities and capital.

But today, when quite frankly excess commodities and capital are not the problem they once used to be because these capitalisms have become productively quite debilitated, but rather they are now sources for financial profits and sources of cheap labor and sources of cheap goods. But in all of these ways that this world is escaping from them.

But anyway, this has always been the case. Imperialism has never been about the security of ordinary Americans. Ordinary Americans can be sent to die in the killing fields of Vietnam or Korea or wherever else as British people did and so on and so forth. So this is the real issue. And so to me I would say that while I dont disagree with Mr. Fernandes in a certain sense what hes saying is not necessarily very new because weve been saying the same thing but using different expressions.

MICHAEL HUDSON: So imperialism goes hand-in-hand with the class war and also with warfare financially by the United States and the core against the global majority. So what youre having right now to put it all in the context of what weve been saying is that the whole Arab-Israel split is a catalyst. Somehow its shocked the whole world into forcing the global majority to Isolate itself from this NATO-US center or be sucked into it. And the only way it can isolate itself is to end not only end what has turned out to be a post-1945 financial colonialism. But youll have to reverse the effects of financial colonialism: the privatization of the government sector. You have to restore the government to the position that it was in throughout all of the rest of world history before privatization, this financial takeover in the name of national security.

And thats going to involve debt cancellation. Itll involve de-privatization Itll involve all the things that weve been talking about for what will be a Eurasian alternative to the US Cold War economic order.

RADHIKA DESAI: Thats really a great note to end on Michael and Ill just maybe add to that a very personal point and then we can wrap up. And that is that you know, as you said, I was recently in China. I attended the Tongzhou global development forum there, which was a really exciting event with a lot of absolutely stellar speakers. And one of the things that I came away with is particularly after listening to the speeches of the major office holders in China and so on is that basically Chinese are really exceedingly angry at the way in which they are being treated by the United States and so on.

But it is remarkable how they are restraining this anger in order to very quietly and methodically putting forward essentially a development agenda to counter the security agenda. So I think that, and maybe just one thing and maybe Ill flag this for a future discussion, what really also came through in these discussions is the Chinese use the word globalization in a radically different sense in the way in which we use it, and perhaps we can weave this into our next discussion.

And so I should say that weve been absent for a while over the last month or so, but we will now get back on a regular basis. We just had a very hectic month. I was traveling a lot and as you know, I was the target as well of a certain kind of campaign by my own government for pointing out that the government had been rather silly and bad by applauding a Nazi in Parliament.

But anyway, we should be back. So you will hear from us in another couple of weeks Thank you very much for joining us. Thanks once again to our host Ben Norton, our videographer Paul Graham, and our transcriber Zach Weiser and until next time. Bye. Bye.
Working in the same building as his father once did felt like the natural progression of things for Dr. Luke Lemke of Columbus Medical Center.

On Dec. 7, 1953, three partners  Dr. W.R. Miller, Dr. T.J. Lemke and Dr. Clyde A. Medlar  opened Columbus Medical Center. The three had gone to medical school together and decided collectively to open the practice in Columbus which, 70 years later, has grown substantially.

"They had a pretty good feeling Columbus would be a nice place to practice. I think it had a very good medical community at the time," Lemke said. "They came out on a leap of faith, invested some of their G.I. bond money, pooled together and built the original office at our current location. While it was relatively close to the hospital, it wasn't right next door."

The medical community in the area is likely one of the biggest factors in the clinic's continue existence today, Lemke said, a combination of that and the people that work there.

"I think the thing that's kept us going is the idea Columbus is a good place to practice medicine and I think that's very much still the case," Lemke said. "That's probably what's kept us all here. I think it's a very collegial place to practice medicine, there's a good camaraderie among providers in the medical community as a whole."

Lemke came into the picture in 1990, fresh out of medical school with Dr. Jeff Gotschall, one of his partners at Columbus Medical Center. The pair had known each other for a while and even lived together in medical school, so when the time came to look for jobs, they started with the Columbus Medical Center, where the founding partners were looking at retirement.

"I knew Columbus was an option. My dad and the other partners were all in their mid-60s, retiring," Lemke said. "We started looking around; he looked at a few, I looked at a few and we came to the idea that Columbus was really going to be a better fit from a lot of different perspectives."

Dr. Miller had retired about two years before they started, Lemke said, and then his father and Dr. Medlar retired around their start date. Two went out of the practice and two came in, which Lemke said is fairly uncommon.

As time went on, the practice picked up more partners, some who have been there quite a while and some newer. However long they've been there, they know what they're doing and are dedicated to not just their work, but the patients and colleagues they work with, Lemke said.

"We've got a very loyal staff. A lot of people have been with us for a lot of years and I think that's always important. It's more of a family type atmosphere; we like to think of it that way," Lemke said.

Shelly Boss, one of the office nurses at the clinic, said that the staff are one of the best parts of the job. Through the many changes in the industry, staff have remained consistently dedicated to their patients and colleagues, she said.

"The building was added on to; we've gone to electronic health records. It's moved staff to be more personalized. I feel like we have one or two nurses who will see the same patient all the time and come to know them," Boss said. "I have to say it's my coworkers, for sure, and some patients who are just very special."

Staff know their patients outside of their medical information  they know them from their interactions and what their daily life looks like, which is more effective than just their physical health information, Lemke said. That, he said, stems from the original partners and their ideas about what family medicine means.

"We want to carry on what I think all three founders started. They were thinking of patients as friends first, patients second. I think that's a lot of it. All my partners know their patients fairly well," Lemke said. "When you talk about family medicine, that's what people want, people who know their entire situation, their family, because that contributes to health more than anything."

As for the future, Lemke said he doesn't want to speculate too much, as looking too far ahead in the medical field is often considered foolish due to how much it changes. He has hopes for how the practice does things, however.

"We know what we do and do it the best we can. We take care of all generations. I hope in 20, 30, 40 years, we're still practicing high-quality medicine, getting to know patients on a personal level. That was the vision initially and I think we continue that vision," Lemke said.
Attending the COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai on Friday (1 December 2023), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined that climate change matters for our security, and therefore it matters to NATO. Speaking at a high-level leaders event on climate security organised by the COP28 Presidency and the Munich Security Conference, Mr Stoltenberg underlined NATOs commitment to fight climate change and be a part of the global solution to a global challenge.

In a panel discussion, the Secretary General emphasised the need to manage the security impact of climate change, saying that climate change creates crisis and crisis undermines the possibility for combating climate change. Given the inextricable link between the two, he explained that climate change is therefore at the core of NATOs mission for pursuing peace and security for the Alliance.

He also emphasised the need to ensure the energy transition away from fossil fuels and towards secure and renewable energy supplies. He said: we need to ensure that when we implement the energy transition away from fossil fuels to more reliable and less polluting sources of energy, we have to make sure that we don't do that in a way which undermines energy security. Russia used gas as a tool to try to coerce us after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We should not make the same mistakes as we develop a new renewable energy sources, he said. NATO is therefore investing in programmes to develop new more environmentally [friendly] technologies that will reduce the [reliance on] fossil fuels, he added.

NATO is adapting its militaries, both to the changing climate and to reduce emissions. The Secretary General said NATO has prioritised addressing climate change at the top of its agenda and agreed specific targets to reduce emissions from NATO bodies and commands by 2030 and by 2050, we should be as a net zero in the armed forces. He added that NATO is harnessing technological innovation in green defence and integrating climate considerations into its military plans, exercises and capabilities.

The panel discussion included Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas , Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme Inger Andersen, Founding Director of Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy Jason Bordoff, and Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen.

The Secretary General also met other international leaders, including President of Iraq Abdul Latif Rashid, and President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Polish President Andrzej Duda, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Dubai.
From 27 November to 1 December, Allied and partner cyber defenders tested their ability to protect networks and critical infrastructure against realistic and complex cyber threats and attacks.

Exercise Cyber Coalition is NATOs flagship cyber exercise and one of the largest in the world. This years edition brought together more than 1,300 cyber defenders from 28 NATO Allies and 7 partner countries, as well as the European Union and participants from industry and academia. This years exercise took place in Tallinn, Estonia, as well as remotely, in national capitals and other locations.

Cyber Coalition is unique because it is the only cyber exercise in NATO that is not a competition. We all work together as a family of cyber defenders. This collaboration is what makes us stronger and more resilient to cyber threats. This year, the cooperation between all participants has been exceptional said Commander Charles Elliott (US Navy), Exercise Director.

The Cyber Coalition 2023 scenario is based on real-life cyber challenges, including attacks on critical infrastructure such as electrical substations, energy grids and water treatment plants, as well as the disruption of NATO and Allied assets while in operations. The aim is to enhance NATOs, Allies and partners resilience to cyber threats and their ability to conduct cyber operations together.

Cyber Coalition is also a perfect venue for cyberspace experimentation, supporting NATOs capability development and transformation in the cyber domain. During Cyber Coalition 23, NATOs Allied Command Transformation spearheaded three experimentations to improve cyber awareness, information sharing and automated data exploitation, and enhance the protection of military missions against cyber-attacks.

The 28 participating Allies were: Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkyie, United Kingdom, United States.

The 7 participating NATO partner countries were: Georgia, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.
(As delivered)

Thanks so much.

And let me start by thanking our hosts and also the Munich Security Conference for convening this very important discussion and also in this room, because it is important to really try to understand better the link between climate change and security and for all of us, it's obvious that climate change, global warming is one of the most important challenges we face.

Perhaps its less obvious why NATO is here and why the Secretary General of NATO attended this meeting.

But the reason why we are here despite the fact that we are a military alliance, dealing with deterrence and defence and working on security issues, is of course that there is a link between climate change and security.

So NATO is here because climate change matters for our security, and therefore it matters for NATO.

First of all, we need to fully recognise the link between climate change and security that goes both ways.

Climate change is a crisis multiplier.

It forces people to move. Migratory flows are increasing because of climate change already.

But it also increases competition for scarce resources.

And in that way climate change is actually fuelling conflict.

And conflict matters for NATO and for our security.

But it goes the other way around too.

Because wars, conflict and conflicts makes it harder to combat climate change.

Partly because it undermines the trust we need between nations to build the climate change architecture the architecture we need to combat climate change.

And also because resources that which that should have been used to reduce emissions are used to protect our security, instead of protecting the planet.

We need to allocate resources for protecting our security.

So peace, stability, security is extremely important to enable us to combat climate change.

If you don't succeed in preserving peace, well not succeed in fighting climate change.

So that link goes both ways.

Climate change creates crisis and crisis undermines the possibility for combating climate change.

So this is at the core what actually NATO is dealing with.

Second, is that in NATO, we are strongly in favour of the energy transition.

But we also see the challenges related to that we need to ensure that when we implement the energy transition away from fossil fuels to more reliable and less polluting sources of energy, we have to make sure that we don't do that in a way which undermines energy security.

There are not many months ago, actually two years ago, we had a lot of leaders within the NATO Alliance that said that buying gas from Russia was purely a commercial issue.

It was not a political issue at all, we should leave it to the companies to make commercial decisions, not for the politicians to in a way to try to control those commercial decisions.

Now, they all realise that, of course, to be so dependent on Russian gas was a political decision.

It was about our security because Russia used gas as a tool to try to coerce us after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

We should not make the same mistakes as we develop a new renewable energy sources.

There is a challenge that there are a few countries, which are controlling most of the technology, most of the raw materials, the rare earth minerals, which are so important for, for instance, solar panels or batteries.

So we shouldn't make the same mistake, being too dependent on one or two unreliable suppliers of critical commodities, raw materials when we make the energy transition.

Third message and third link between security and climate change is of course, that NATO and NATO Allies have to adapt both to the fact that the climate is changing and also, to do our part in reducing emissions.

More extreme weather will impact the way we conduct our military operations, from our training to our uniforms, to the fact that naval bases will be hit by increased sea levels, that matters for the way we conduct our military operations.

So it has to be included in our missions and operations and the planning, but we also need to ensure that our armed forces do their part when it comes to reducing emissions.

There is no way we can get to net zero without also reducing emissions from the military sector.

And if you look at big battle tanks and the big battleships and fighter jets, they are very advanced and great in many ways, but they're not very environmentally friendly.

They pollute a lot, so we need to get down the emissions.

We are therefore, investing in programmes to develop new, more environmentally technologies for military vehicles. For planes, we are using some biofuels for some jets, we are looking into how we can use solar panels to fuel our bases also because that will reduce the resilience of on fossil fuels.

And of course, if we had to choose between something which is green or combat effective, we have to choose the combat effective solution.

So the challenge is to ensure that in the future, the combat effective solutions are the green ones.

And I'm quite optimistic that that will be the case because there is a revolution going on in the private sector.

And in the future, the most effective engines, the most effective vehicles, planes will be the green ones. So to ensure that we are ahead of the curve, we also need to ensure that the military is moving towards a more greener and sustainable technological solution.

So these are the three reasons why climate change matters for NATO and why I'm glad that NATO has put this on top of the agenda and also formatted some specific targets, how to reduce our own emissions by 2030. And by 2050, we should be as a net zero also in the armed forces.


Brussels rolls out electronic leash for Europeans with introduction of Digital Identity Wallet

Europe is digitalizing its people's identification with a new "Digital Identity Wallet" program that many worry will allow the European Union (EU) tyrants in Brussels to manipulate and control the continent with greater ease.

An agreement forged between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union has established the creation of new EU Digital Identity Wallets that will include digital versions of all ID cards, driving licenses, degree certificates, and medical documentation.

For the time being, the EU's Digital Identity Wallet will be voluntary, and the European Commission is insistent that it is 100 percent secure. Spain's president even commented that the new platform will make the EU as a whole a digital leader at a global level for the preservation of democratic values.

One wonders, though: What, exactly, does a Digital Identity Wallet have to do with European values? And where did this strange notion originate? The answer has to do with who control Brussels, and thus who controls most of Europe.

(Related: Europe was one of the first to attempt the implementation of digital "vaccine passports" during the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] "pandemic.")

As predicted, COVID passports leading to digital ID wallets

Privacy advocates everywhere are warning that the Digital Identity Wallet represents a serious threat to people's online security and freedom. Some 504 academics and experts from 39 countries recently signed an open letter decrying the scheme as anti-freedom.

Many warned this kind of thing was coming during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" when various parts of the world were discussing so-called "vaccine passports." They said that implementing vaccine passports would open up the floodgates to the digitalization of everything.

Well, now we are seeing that happen starting in Europe. Everything is being merged digitally into one single source point so that each individual can travel about and flash a smartphone or even a microchipped bodily limb in front of the scanner in order to buy, sell, and go about one's business.

Is this the long-anticipated Mark of the Beast finally taking shape? Is it perhaps a predecessor to the Mark of the Beast? Or is it really just an honest and innocent attempt to make life easier for Europeans?

Chances are that last option is not the correct answer, and that the first two questions cut to the heart of where this is all headed. We already saw how Canada handled residents and visitors who refused to get jabbed for COVID, denying them the ability to move about or work.

Should Europe successfully implement a Digital Identity Wallet on a voluntary basis, attracting a majority of Europeans to use it of their own volition, then it is not all that crazy to think that eventually the wallet will be mandatory, which appears to be the goal.

Brussels Commissioner Thierry Breton is already talking about taking the Digital Identity Wallet a step further by implementing a digital euro currency within it that would do away with euro paper and coin money.

Keep in mind that this is the same Breton who continues to rattle on about how social media needs more censorship, along with the rest of the internet where free speech is still allowed.

"If financial matters find their way into this wallet, greater control of people's lives will be facilitated with the possibility of introducing a system of social credits or electronic sanctioning of those engaged in protests," warns Remix.

"Such a system will also enable the authorities to control the way people spend their money as happened in Canada and Brazil. Digital currency makes business easier, but it is also an instrument for removing our rights to privacy."

The world is fast becoming a digital prison with no way to escape. Learn more at Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

RMX.news

NaturalNews.com
Congresswoman MTG vows to uncover truth behind COVID-19 injections

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has vowed to uncover the truth behind the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) injections, which she kick-started with a hearing.

The congresswoman held a hearing on COVID-19 vaccine injuries earlier in November at the Rayburn House Office Building. She was joined by several Republican colleagues including Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins, Alabama Rep. Barry Moore, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Florida Rep. Greg Steube. They listened to expert testimony from Dr. Kimberly Biss, mRNA vaccine technology inventor Dr. Robert Malone and attorney Tom Renz, who hosts "Lawfare with Tom Renz" on Brighteon.TV.

Greene is a member of the House COVID-19 Select Subcommittee, having been appointed in January. Her appointment was seen as part of the House GOP's strategy to scrutinize Democratic policies. According to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the members selected for this subcommittee aim to "finally get answers to the origins [of COVID-19] and the federal government's gain of function research that contributed to the pandemic."

Greene's inclusion signals the probable tone of the investigation, given her outspoken criticism of pandemic measures in the past. In May 2021, she likened mask mandates on the House floor to "the type of abuse" suffered by Jews during the Holocaust. She was fined with at least $48,000 for disregarding House COVID-19 restrictions.

The congresswoman for the Peach State also utilized social media to denounce medical tyranny, leading to the suspensions of her X accounts. Even her personal profile on X was slapped with a permanent ban, which the platform's owner Elon Musk overturned in November 2022.

COVID-19 injections are DANGEROUS  that's the truth

Extensive coverage by the Gateway Pundit has highlighted injuries and sudden deaths believed to be linked to the COVID-19 vaccines and the mandates imposed by the Biden administration. In 2022, it reported that despite the existence of a vaccine injury compensation program in the U.S., many individuals who filed claims after being harmed by experimental COVID-19 vaccines either did not receive compensation or were denied due to not meeting the standard of proof.

When a petition is submitted and it is determined that a vaccine or covered countermeasure caused an injury, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)  a division of the Department of Health and Human Services  provides two programs for financial compensation. These are the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), and certain survivors may be eligible for death benefits under these two.

The CICP was established to address the rare occurrence of serious injuries resulting from covered countermeasures, as stated on HRSA's website. For claims related to the COVID-19 vaccine or other COVID-19-related countermeasures, individuals can file a Request for Benefits with the CICP.

Numerous individuals have associated the deaths of athletes and prominent figures with vaccination, particularly those who exhibited good health before experiencing cardiac arrest. The term "died suddenly" has become a coded signal for such claims.

Some have asserted that the heart attack suffered by LeBron James' son Bronny resulted from vaccination. Meanwhile, others speculated that the demise of one of two Trump-supporting sisters, who frequently questioned COVID-19 vaccine policies on their platform, was linked to vaccination.

In March, an anti-vaccine group erected what they referred to as a "COVID" vaccine death memorial" in Canberra, Australia. Authorities informed Newsweek at that time that "the link between the vaccine and death is usually coincidental."

Medical incidents such as heart attacks have occurred in individuals injected with the COVID-19 vaccines. Myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and pericarditis (heart lining inflammation) have been observed, most especially in children. (Related: COVID-19 vaccines can cause SEVERE MYOCARDITIS, warns Chinese cardiologist.)

Visit Vaccines.news for more stories about the dangers linked to the COVID-19 injections.

Watch this clip featuring Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene discussing patients injured by COVID-19 vaccines with the expert witnesses at the November 2023 hearing she convened.

This video is from the Dissident7 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

COVID-19 vaccines found to diminish beneficial bacteria in the human microbiome.

COVID-19 vaccines have created a DEADLY ALLIANCE featuring graphene, mRNA and nanotech.

COVID-19 vaccine sheds graphene-like substance that causes cellular damage and blood clots in the unvaccinated, warns doctor.

Sources include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

Newsweek.com

RollingStone.com

Brighteon.com
Israel wants U.S. and Western allies to take in Gaza refugees

For the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) members Danny Danon and Ram Ben-Barak, the West needs to resettle Palestinian migrants who are displaced due to the ongoing Israel military operations in the Gaza Strip.

In a Nov. 13 Wall Street Journal article, the two said that since Europe and the U.S. have accepted millions who fled earlier wars, they should also welcome Gaza refugees. Danon and Ben-Bara noted that although Hamas won the 2006 elections in Gaza and took control of the area from the Palestinian Authority the following year, the militant group already claimed to be no longer responsible for the people living there. They added that despite a United Nations resolution calling for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce" and demanding that all parties allow the "continuous, sufficient and unhindered" provision of essential supplies and services into the enclave, these did not do anything tangible to help the residents.

"It is imperative that the international community explore potential solutions to help civilians caught in the crisis," the duo said in the WSJ entry, emphasizing the idea that countries accept limited numbers of Gazan families who have expressed a desire to relocate. "Countries can accomplish this by creating well-structured and internationally coordinated relocation programs. Members of the international community can collaborate to provide one-time financial-support packages to Gazans interested in moving to help with relocation costs and to ease refugees acclimation to their new communities," they added, pointing to Europe, which has a long history of assisting refugees fleeing conflicts.

They cited the former Yugoslavia war that displaced millions, mostly from Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Kosovo war as examples. "Germany, Austria and Sweden accepted large numbers," they said of the Yugoslavian conflict. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Kosovar Albanians fled to neighboring Albania and the country now called North Macedonia. "Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. also accepted refugees," they added. The two went on to mention Germany, Sweden and France providing refuge to Syrians since the civil war started in 2011. Between 2015 and 2016, Germany alone admitted more than 1.2 million refugees and asylum-seekers, about a quarter of whom were Syrian.

The Israeli political figures insisted that for the war they are waging with Hamas, the international community should have a moral obligation and take this as an opportunity to "demonstrate compassion, help the people of Gaza move toward a more prosperous future and work together to achieve greater peace and stability in the Middle East."

Danon is a senior Likud member of the Knesset who previously served as ambassador to the United Nations. Likud is a hard-right Israeli party that is thoroughly opposed to the establishment of a two-state solution with the Palestinians. Ben-Barak is a Knesset member of the Yesh Atid party, a centrist Israeli party. He previously served as a deputy director of the Mossad from 2009 to 2011.

Do not admit Gazan refugees: Republicans to Biden

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 1.4 million people have been displaced inside Gaza since war erupted after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct 7.

To date, President Joe Biden has not announced any policies for taking in Palestinian refugees in the country. "Right nowthe focus is on getting humanitarian assistance in and trying to work on some measure of safe passage out," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said back in October when asked whether some refugees from Gaza should come to the United States. But as early as now, several politicians have called to block Palestinians from coming to the U.S. over terrorism fears. Hamas is considered a terrorist group by the US, the European Union and Israel. (Related: You're paying for the Israel war. You'll also pay for the refugees.)

Former president and Biden's top presidential contender Donald Trump vowed in his Iowa visit last month to bar refugees from Gaza. He also suggested in an online post that "The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful U.S.A., through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER."

Moreover, another presidential hopeful, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that the U.S. should not take in any Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza because they "are all antisemitic." Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who was also Trump's ex-ambassador to the United Nations, countered that "America has always been sympathetic to the fact that you can separate civilians from terrorists." Never Back Down, DeSantis' super PAC is running an ad implying Haley is soft on allowing refugees into the country, which the Haley campaign rebuts as "false." Some Republican lawmakers have even introduced bills dubbed the "GAZA Act," with the letters of the Palestinian territory's name standing for: "Guaranteeing Aggressors Zero Admission."

On the other hand, former Vice President Mike Pence suggested taking them in but prioritizing women and children, while South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott endorsed the country turning away Gaza refugees because authorities will be unable to determine "who is safe to bring in and who's not."

Meanwhile, Sunil Varghese, policy director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, called such proposed measures xenophobic and added that they fail to acknowledge that it would be impossible for the refugees to come to the United States. "There's no way to get out of Gaza. There's no safe way to get out of the region.  Civilians in Gaza are stuck there under continuing bombardment. Egypt is not opening its borders. Israel is not opening its borders.  Even Palestinian Americans cannot get out," Varghese insisted.

Bookmark WWIII.news for more updates on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Sources for this article include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

WSJ.com

OCHAOPT.org

APNews.com

Edition.CNN.com
TWISTED: Israeli kids sing a song about annihilating everyone in Gaza

A music video that featured a group of Jewish children singing a song about "annihilating everyone" in the Gaza Strip recently went viral on social media.

The Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 originally published the song and its accompanying music video, before it was subsequently deleted due to widespread backlash. The song titled "Friendship Song 2023" was penned by Shulamit Stolero and Ofer Rosenbaum, and produced by the latter's Rosenbaum Communications. Despite the positive title, the lyrics of the song showed no friendship at all  as evidenced in its first lines.

"Autumn night falls over the beach of Gaza. Planes are bombing; destruction, destruction," the song's first two lines said. It also promised that "in another year, there will be nothing there" and "within a year, [Israel] will annihilate everyone"  lines that clearly promote the genocide of the Gazan people. The song's final line ominously warned: "We will show the world how today, we destroy our enemy." (Related: WATCH: Israeli children sing 'we will annihilate everyone' in Gaza.)

"The sweet faces of children make an incongruous accompaniment to the genocidal lyrics," wrote Electronic Intifada co-founder Ali Abunimah. "Some expressed concern that it would help 'Hamas propaganda,' while others appeared genuinely disgusted by the video's violent and genocidal messages."

He also recounted a 2020 billboard campaign involving Rosenbaum that ran in the city of Tel Aviv. The billboard depicted Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority kneeling on the ground and blindfolded. "Peace is only made with defeated enemies," the billboard's caption said.

Abuminah noted that the 2020 campaign was commissioned by the Israeli Victory Project (IVP), which was connected to the Middle East Forum headed by foreign policy commentator Daniel Pipes. The IVP is currently promoting the ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip, he added.

Abuminah ultimately remarked that "incitement to genocide is a crime," and that "using children to promote a message of genocide is another form of abuse."

Israel keeps on parroting GENOCIDE against the population of Gaza

Chris Menahan of Information Liberation meanwhile noted: "This is the type of lunacy you produce when the guiding principle of your war is an ancient biblical commandment to 'destroy Amalek.'" The remark referenced an earlier statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which quoted the first book of the Prophet Samuel.

"You must remember what Amalek has done to you, says our Holy Bible," Netanyahu remarked as he announced Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip. He then cited a passage from the said book, which said: "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys."

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also echoed this biblical call to genocide, this time in a Nov. 16 post on the X platform. He began the post by sending out his condolences to the families of Nathaniel Harosh and Yossi Hershkovich, two Israel Defense Force (IDF) reservists killed by Hamas.

"The message of the families is unequivocal: We will not stop until Amalek is finally destroyed," wrote Smotrich. "Those who paid the highest price demand from us that the price not be in vain."

Even Ezra Yachin, the oldest IDF reservist, called for the annihilation of the Palestinians in Gaza.

"Finish them off and don't leave anyone behind. Erase the memory of them. Erase them, their families, mothers and children," he said. "These animals can no longer live."

Visit Genocide.news for more stories about Israel wanting to annihilate the population of Gaza.

Watch the music video "Friendship Song 2023" which calls for the genocide of the Palestinians.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israeli diplomat bucks peace talks, stresses only one objective  DESTROY GAZA.

Israeli leader calls for another DRESDEN & HIROSHIMA in Gaza: "Annihilate Gaza now!".

GENOCIDE CALL: Oldest Israeli army reservist wants to eradicate Palestinian families, children.

GENOCIDAL: Israeli lawmaker demands deployment of "Doomsday" weapons to annihilate Gaza.

Sources include:

InformationLiberation.com

ElectronicIntifada.net

BibleGateway.com

Brighteon.com
Obama administrations last-minute rule change had significant impacts on security leaks against Trump

A significant change in intelligence community rules by the Obama administration allowed for wider sharing of raw intelligence, raising questions about the timing and implications for the Trump administration.

(Article republished from YourNews.com)

Just 17 days before President Donald Trumps inauguration, the Obama administration revised Section 2.3 of Executive Order 12333, impacting the dissemination of raw signals intelligence information by the National Security Agency (NSA). This change facilitated broader sharing of surveillance data, notably without privacy protections for the raw data, making inter-agency information sharing significantly easier and unfiltered.

James Clapper, then the Director of National Intelligence, initially signed off on this revision on December 15, 2016, which was later finalized by Attorney General Loretta Lynch on January 3, 2017. The timing of this order, during the final days of the Obama administration, has raised questions about its underlying motives, especially considering its potential impact on the incoming Trump administration.

The revision was reported to be on the verge of finalization in late February 2016, as per a New York Times report, but was unexpectedly delayed until January 2017. Notably, the finalized version included a new provision relating to Political Process, which was absent in earlier versions. This provision prohibited the dissemination of information to the White House, affecting the Trump administration but not impacting President Obama.

The concerns about the timing and purpose of this rule change were further compounded by the actions of key officials during the final year of the Obama administration. On July 27, 2017, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), then-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to the Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, highlighting the ongoing leaks of classified information and the need for new unmasking legislation. Mr. Nunes pointed out that Obama officials had easy access to U.S. person information and may have used it for partisan political purposes.

These concerns were echoed in an earlier MSNBC interview with Evelyn Farkas, President Obamas former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. In the interview, Ms. Farkas described how the Obama administration gathered and disseminated intelligence on the Trump team.

The implications of the revised Executive Order 12333 raise important questions about the separation of powers, the politicization of intelligence, and the potential for abuse in the surveillance of American citizens. This issue remains a point of contention and debate, particularly concerning the safeguarding of privacy and the appropriate use of intelligence in political contexts.

Read more at: YourNews.com
Recommendations this year are not the first time a committee suggested closing LeTort Elementary School.

On Sept. 13, 2002, The Sentinel reported that the future of the building was in doubt after the board property committee discussed the findings of an analysis that examined enrollment trends, building costs and factors related to building needs.

At the time, then-Superintendent Gerald Fowler said LeTort was the districts most expensive building in terms of upkeep. He also cited a steady decline in enrollment. In September that year, 159 students were enrolled at the school, down from 263 students in 1992-93 and 201 students in 2001-02.

Four months later, in January 2003, the property committee moved to keep options open for LeTort. At one point, there was talk of partially closing the school and using it for all-day kindergarten, an extended school day program or for such special projects as a total immersion foreign language curriculum for grades K-5.

Fowler told board members space at LeTort could be used for equipment storage, as a stock room for bulk purchases, a college satellite campus or rental space for nonprofit or other organizations. The proposal to close LeTort came after the Pennsylvania Department of Education put the school on a watch list based on poor student performance on a state assessment test.

The decision to keep the school open was supported by a study released by Standard and Poors School Evaluation Services that showed the district out-performed state averages for the test, despite serving an above average proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

Possible closure

But while the school was saved about 20 years ago, it is again on the cusp of closure as Carlisle Area School District looks to reconfigure its schools.

With nine choices narrowed down to two, both options to reconfigure the school district, in preparation for anticipated increased enrollment, point to closing LeTort and Mount Holly Springs elementary schools.

And like in 2002, this years arguments mirror those concerns regarding the aging LeTort.

Renovations to the LeTort and Mount Holly Springs buildings would cost the district about $40 million, according to estimates provided by Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, a Mechanicsburg-based architectural firm. Both buildings have plumbing fixtures, drains and sewer lines that are in a state of decline, along with aging windows and sills that do not meet current energy efficiency standards.

During an October presentation, Michael Black, district director of secondary operations, briefed board members on problems at LeTort specific to the age of the building. Those problems include: limited electrical outlets, boiler concerns, problem vent coils, aging HVAC pump motors and rotting building entrance frames.

On top of that, there is no room at the LeTort site to expand the building, said John Beddia, director of operations for Crabtree. He said the school lies within a floodplain and part of the footprint straddles a property line.

Superintendent Colleen Friend said a comprehensive renovation could approach the cost of new construction.

A comprehensive renovation is when you go in and bring everything up, Friend told board members in August. It modernizes a building and makes it fully compliant with building codes and educational standards. The LeTort has not had a comprehensive renovation since its construction in 1936.

The closures for both buildings would be twin losses for Jim Burgess. Both schools had a profound impact on his life and career.

While Mount Holly Springs Elementary School proved foundational to his upbringing as a borough native, LeTort Elementary School shaped his philosophy and delivery of education as a teacher and building administrator. Burgess was a long-term substitute at LeTort during the 1980-81 school year and principal at LeTort from 1990 to 1997.

I owe my survival that first year of teaching to colleagues and other staff members. I probably would not have made it without their support, he said. I was mentored every step of the way. I was part of something. They didnt close the door and say, Youre on your own. It wasnt that way at all.

That was my first administrative assignment, Burgess said. I learned very quickly, it takes a special approach that is relational. I credit those kids and families for pointing the way and showing me the light. If you get to know them, if you show empathy, caring and support, that pays dividends. Walking shoulder to shoulder, we had to work together to find a way that works best for their kids. When they know that youre looking out for their kids, then thats golden. Theres that trust.

Its a very tight-knit community, Burgess said about the LeTort school neighborhood. People know each other. The kids know the teachers and the teachers know the kids. Theres a relationship there. Im hoping thats going to be part of the process moving forward. The kids deserve that.

LeTorts history

LeTort sits on eight acres at 110 E. South St. The original part of the building cost almost $98,000 to build with $37,500 covered by a federal grant, said Kevin Wagner, a district historian and the social studies department supervisor. Newspaper reports from 1936 say the school was a project of the Work Progress Administration, an employment and infrastructure program started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In January 1936, the school board floated a bond issue in support of the local share of the construction costs and designated the new building the LeTort school in honor of James LeTort, the first white settler of Carlisle and the Cumberland Valley. The LeTort school website includes this brief history of its namesake:

LeTort was an Indian trader from Lancaster County, of French Huguenot parentage. He settled about 1720 at the head of the spring or trout stream which now bears his name and which bounds the school site on the east. He carried on trading as far west as the Ohio country and served the government as [an] Indian interpreter. The name LeTort was selected after a referendum among leading citizens showed it was the outstanding favorite.

The school opened for classes on Nov. 9, 1936. Enrollment was 435 students taught by 11 teachers. In 1956, LeTort was described in a guidebook as one of the most attractive buildings in the Carlisle Area Joint School System, Wagner said. In 1971, the district added a gym to the building.

Sixteen years later, on Feb. 17, 1987, The Sentinel reported that improvements to LeTort were included in a feasibility study of Carlisle schools done by Spillman Farmer Architects of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The study recommended the district rehab portions of the building and add two rooms for music and art at a cost of $686,400. This was to be done between 1996-97 and 2006-07 during phase two of a 20-year rehabilitation and construction program, The Sentinel reported.

Three years later, in 1990, Burgess moved from teacher to administrator as principal of LeTort Elementary School.

Old but innovative

Though LeTort is the oldest school in the district, the building was the host site of cutting edge programs during the 1990s, according to stories published in The Sentinel. On Oct. 13, 1992, the newspaper reported that the school had trained 20 fourth- and fifth-graders to be peer mediators for the Fussbuster Program.

Deemed unique to the area, the program was supported locally by the Carlisle YMCA, Dickinson School of Law and the Kiwanis. As mediators, each student was assigned a recess period to resolve conflicts in the playground through a series of steps. The Fussbuster will listen actively, clarify the problem and ask questions, Burgess said. The solutions come from the disputing parties themselves.

The end result was a contract signed by the students involved in the dispute that spelled out the settlement terms.

Almost a year later, on Aug. 5, 1993, The Sentinel reported that an environmental education center was going to be established on school property about 50 yards from the LeTort Spring Run in a portable trailer. The brainchild of Fowler, the administration announced the center could be ready for fifth-graders by April or May 1994.

The center will be located so students can explore the stream and wooded area near Lamberton Middle School and then return to study what they have gathered, Fowler said. I hope itll make scientific education come alive for the students.

Almost three years later, on April 21, 1996, the newspaper reported that LeTort had become one of the first public schools in Cumberland County where students surfed the internet. The genesis of that program was a $6,000 technology grant that the district had awarded to Burgess and then fourth-grade teacher Mary Boyer.

Were breaking down the four walls of the classroom, Boyer said. The potential is unlimited.

With the grant money, LeTort purchased the hardware and software necessary to access the internet. With help from the Carlisle branch of the Monumental Life Insurance Co., the school was able to pay the initial subscriptions costs to CumberLink, a service that the newspaper provided.

That first year online, LeTort students interacted with their counterparts in the Wangaratta Primary School in Victoria, Australia. The students also visited the homepage of Bill Nye the Science Guy and accessed information on an archeological dig in Egypt that added content to a unit on the desert regions of the world.

Less than a month later, The Sentinel published a follow-up story on how LeTort Elementary School launched the first homepage in the district with features that included a photograph of the student body, a write-up on the school history and the Fussbuster program and space for LeTort Writers to post essays on topics of interest.
South Korean court orders Japan to compensate WWII comfort women

A South Korean appellate court has ordered Japan to compensate 16 women who had been coerced into working in Japanese brothels during World War II as "comfort women."

The lawsuit against Japan was initiated in 2016 and was dismissed by the Seoul Central District Court in 2021. It cited the principle of "sovereign immunity," which means a state is immune to civil suits filed in foreign courts. However, the Seoul High Court overturned the decision, asserting in its reversal that the case fell under South Korea's jurisdiction based on customary international law.

The Seoul High Court ordered Tokyo to pay ?200 million ($155,000) to each of the 16 victims, acknowledging that the defendant had engaged in illegal acts during the mobilization of comfort women. The victims endured forced and unwanted sexual intercourse with numerous Japanese soldiers daily  leading to injuries, the risk of pregnancy or death, and an inability to readjust to normal social life after the war.

"Under customary international law, it is reasonable to recognize the jurisdiction of South Korean courts over the defendant Japanese government," the Yonhap News Agency quoted the court as saying. "It is recognized that the defendant engaged in illegal acts in the course of mobilizing comfort women, and appropriate compensation should be paid."

Ninety-four-year-old Lee Yong-soo, the only living plaintiff in the lawsuit, expressed gratitude for the court's decision. The victim of abuse from the Japanese military acknowledged her co-plaintiffs who had passed away.

Japan challenges ruling, won't compensate victims

However, Japan rejected the ruling and cited a 1965 treaty that it believes settled the issue of comfort women. Yoko Kamikawa, the Japanese foreign minister, deemed the decision "extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable." She asserted that the ruling violated international law and agreements between the two countries.

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Masataka Okano meanwhile summoned Yun Duk-min, South Korea's ambassador to Japan, to protest. Tokyo urged Seoul to take appropriate measures to address its alleged breaches of international law.

The Japanese government has chosen not to participate in this case and similar legal actions were brought by various groups of South Korean women asserting they were compelled to work in military brothels.

Japan maintains that all matters arising from its colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 were conclusively settled under a 1965 bilateral agreement. Additionally, Japan contends that the comfort women issue was ultimately and irrevocably resolved by a 2015 accord between the two countries.

In 2015, the two nations signed an agreement to address the issue of "comfort women," with Japan issuing an apology and pledging approximately 1 billion ($6.69 million) for a fund to assist victims of wartime sexual slavery. The high court acknowledged that Japan's argument could be a point of contention but clarified that it was not considered due to the absence of a plea from the Japanese government.

Bilateral relations between the two U.S. allies have long been strained over wartime sex abuse and forced labor issues. However, recent talks between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aimed at restoring ties, including normalizing a military intelligence-sharing pact to counter North Korea's missile threats. (Related: WWII main players Germany and Japan gearing up for global war.)

South Korea's government has indicated its intention to use local funds for compensating victims of forced labor rather than pressuring Japanese companies for compensation.

Watch this segment from the "Worldview Report" about the possibility of Japan and South Korea being attacked by China and North Korea.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Democrats ensnared: NXIVM sex cult ran daycare centers where child sex slaves were subjected to mutilation and other heinous "experiments."

DOJ investigating high-end brothel network whose clients include elected officials.

Human trafficking victims in America could be as many as 17,500 annually.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Asia.Nikkei.com

Brighteon.com
Time to boycott Elons boycotters

It was about four years ago that ZeroHedge went through ad monetization hell , having lost most of our advertisers because they did not approve of the content on this website and as a result they - together with such members of the Censorship Industrial Complex such as Newsguard Sleeping Giants and CheckMyAds and various three letter US government agencies - did everything in their power to kill the site by starving it of ad revenue (it's what prompted us to launch a premium, subscription-supported version without which we would not have survived, and therefore we wish to personally thank all of our premium subscribers ).

(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)

Fast forward to today, when Elon Musk is going through the same hell, as a growing group of companies are trying to do to X/Twitter what they tried to do to us by targeting the social media network and trying to starve it of ad revenue (their stated trigger of responding to the Media Matters fake news "report" was just a red herring: if it hadn't been for Media Matters, they would have found some other point of "virtue" to rally around, and pull their ads).

Of course, there is one key difference: Elon is the world's richest man, and if Twitter does not generate even one additional dollar of revenue, Elon will still be a multi-billionaire, and X can continue to operate for a long, long time if not in perpetuity (if costs are trimmed enough). It's also why Elon yesterday had some choice words for those advertisers who had halted advertising, telling them "go fuck yourself" (with a shout out to Disney chief Bob Iger) if they think they can blackmail Musk... which is precisely what ad demonetization is: a not so subtle way of pushing content and editorial direction in exchange for a monthly stipend.

?WATCH? - ELON MUSK GOING VIRAL ON NATIONAL TV?? Go Fuck Yourselves to all advertisers threatening to leave X ??? pic.twitter.com/KL7jgCk1Tg  Nelson Epega (@nelsonepega) November 29, 2023

Here, a brief tangent: for the most part, advertising spending is rarely about actual "advertising" and instead it is about endorsing, encouraging and funding certain ideologies and party lines which corporations agree with, encourage and seek to make default. It is about influencing the content decisions and editorial slant by implicitly threatening that the ad money can disappear at a moment's notice if something is published the company disagrees with. It's why when Pfizer or Moderna spend tens of millions for advertising in the NYT it is not so people are aware that Pfizer makes a covid booster shot - they know that from non-stop news coverage; it is to make sure that the NYT never questions the corporate party line. In other words, it is public relations in an advertising wrapper. Add to this lobby spending and political donations by those same corporations, and you have a fusion of the corporate, political and media branches, all superglued together with lots of money (and in the case of Pfizer and Moderna, it's taxpayer money) something which in simpler times has been called fascism. Glenn Greenwald recaps this dynamic in the clip below:

Elon Musk to boycotting corporate advertisers: Go F*ck Yourself! That corporate "journalists" were shocked and horrified by this defiance of establishment power so perfectly encapsulates the fraud at the center of their increasingly irrelevant industry: @GGreenwald: "If pic.twitter.com/nNAC2tElWz  System Update (@SystemUpdate_) November 30, 2023

As a result, ad companies have unlimited leverage when it comes to dealing with most media companies... except one: X, which as noted above, is controlled by the world's richest man, and thus advertiser leverage in this particular case is virtually non-existent. It's also why instead of pretending they can influence the narrative (and force X to pursue the same censorship as were implemented by the former management team of its predecessor, Twitter) they are simply pulling away and hoping to crush this bastion of free speech, the same way they did to us.

The problem, as Musk laid out, is that while X can sustain without ad revenue for a long time, a complete ad boycott will likely eventually kill X as Musk is unlikely to shoulder the burden of its costs and expenses out of his own pocket indefinitely, and as a result, "what the advertising boycott is going to do is it's going to kill the company."

Elon Musk will let X die before he caves to advertisers: "What the advertising boycott is going to do is it's going to kill the company. The whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company and we will document it in great detail. Let's see how Earth responds." pic.twitter.com/QeQPrNBFdg  Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 30, 2023

And while Musk is ready to let X die before he folds to advertiser blackmail, he is confident that "the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company and we will document it in great detail. Let's see how Earth responds."

In other words, the only way these corporations, whether for woke, neo-conservative, militant, progressive, or any other reason, will stop trying to demonetize websites such a X, ZH or any other media outlet they have no leverage over in hopes of snuffing them out, is if the public takes the fight straight to them and starves them of revenue. Think the sales implosion at Tranheuser Busch/Bud Light after the Dylan Mulvaney fiasco, or the collapse of Target stock after the anti-woke backlash.

So yes, the only way that corporate management teams will ever stop weaponizing ad dollars - especially if it means losing access to one of the wealthiest audiences, such as that of Zerohedge, or one of the most engaged readership bases such as that of X, is if their shareholders lose enough money and force management to either change or be fired.

Which is why it is time to boycott the boycotters: below we have summarized the names of those companies which have publicly signaled their "virtue" by pulling their ads from X/Musk.

We are confident there are many more companies that have also pulled their influence "ad" dollars, and we will update the list as more become public. These are the companies that Musk told to "go fuck yourselves" because, well, he can afford to. And while ordinary Americans have far less recourse and don't have nearly enough "fuck you money" as Elon, they have the ability to chose who gets their money instead, and the only way to retaliate to the Musk boycott is by boycotting the boycotters themselves, and stop spending money on products like Disney streaming services, or getting every new iPhone or buying whatever it is that Paris Hilton is selling.

Yes, Apple has no obligation to advertise on X, and neither does Disney, but nobody has an obligation to buy iPhones or to go to (the idiotically overpriced) Disney World. And since boycotting Musk is nothing more than a ploy to project influence (where else does one have the guarantee of reaching the eyeballs of the world's most influential, powerful and richest), it's only fair that retaliation against corporate attempts to starve the First Amendment, takes place in kind.

Which is why the time to boycott the boycotters has arrived: let's find out how these leftist corporations - and their shareholders - like it when their revenues suffer the way that they hope to make Musk suffer; judging by the grassroots response already, we won't have long to wait.

JUST IN - Users on X report mass cancellation of Disney subscriptions after Elon Musk's interview pic.twitter.com/5T2s1up1CK  Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 30, 2023

FREE SPEECH: I support @elonmusks decision not to cave to pressure from @disney to censor X users. To demonstrate that Ive cancelled my Disney+ subscription and subscribed to Xs Premium+. Will you do the same? https://t.co/CQ5qlkc6Ko pic.twitter.com/WYJZ8vpWH0  @amuse (@amuse) November 30, 2023

Support @elonmusk, join ? Premium +, and cancel your Disney subscription. ? is the only big tech platform fighting for freedom of speech online. These slimy corporations should feel ashamed of themselves for trying to suppress free speech in America: -@Apple -@comcast pic.twitter.com/qSFcl59UOW  KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) November 30, 2023

Read more at: ZeroHedge.com
Ukrainian commander laments INACCURACY of U.S.-provided M109 Paladin howitzer

A commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has lamented the inaccuracy of the M109A6 Paladin howitzer , which he claims is significantly impacting Ukraine's offensive.

Speaking to journalists from the Spanish newspaper El Pais, a Ukrainian commander codenamed "Ivan" disclosed that his unit is caught between a rock and a hard place. According to Ukrainian sources, AFU forces near Avdiivka in the Donetsk People's Republic are grappling with an alarming deficit of ammunition. It has reached the extent that even the weaponry that uses these munitions is in a declining state, suffering from significantly impaired accuracy.

Ivan attested to this predicament, which contrasted with what the mainstream media has been parroting. The commander of the AFU's Paladin Howitzer 47th Brigade remarked that during the defenses of Bakhmut and Orekhovo, Ukrainian forces discharged between 100 and 150 shells each day. But in Avdiivka, they can only manage to fire 15.

"In the summer, my M109A6 Paladin had an accuracy error of seven meters," Ivan said. "Now, near Avdiivka, it is 70 meters."

He also told El Pais journalists that the casualty count in Avdiivka is disproportionately high. Ivan lost his entire platoon, with all 17 of his comrades either being killed or captured by Russian forces.

According to Ivan, the Russians are tactically digging deeper and wider trenches. They have also gained an upper hand, thanks to the up to 300 drones in their arsenal. "The Eagles [Orlan-10 drones] oversee the situation, while the Lancets launch assaults," he added. This air superiority Moscow has, alongside its prowess in artillery, is severely straining the defense capabilities of AFU troops in Avdiivka.

"Russians are battle-hardened and ready to make the ultimate sacrifice," the Ukrainian commander remarked. Reports of a few cases of Russian soldiers resorting to suicide by self-detonation, in a bid to avoid capture, attest to the latter.

Lack of munitions impacting Ukraine's offensive capability

"Near Avdiivka, the prime threat is the potential interruption of the northern railway line. The [AFU is] mounting a defense on a hill even as the Russian army has already penetrated a three-kilometer perimeter, says the fighter," BulgarianMilitary.com noted.

Compared to the summer offensives, the mental fortitude of Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka is dwindling much faster. Some Ukraine-based sources disclosed to El Pais journalists: "You're obligated to take cover in a trench for four days during the relay, praying that their artillery doesn't hit you. Then push back the first assault, followed by another infantry attack."

In March, the first batch of M109A6 Paladin self-propelled artillery systems from the U.S. reached Ukraine  which became a notable event. The 18 howitzer guns were sourced from the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) inventory, allocated for use in Ukraine. They were part of the $3 billion military aid package declared on Jan. 6, which included Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and other crucial equipment for Kyiv's counteroffensive.

The DoD confirmed the offering of these 18 howitzer guns to Ukraine, and initially described them as "155mm self-propelled howitzers." It later specified these guns as the A6 Paladin variant, with the first two units taking four months to be sent to Ukraine.

"Ukraine's artillery problem is real," BulgarianMilitary.com remarked. "If a self-propelled howitzer has an accuracy error of 70 meters, then this problem can be solved; replacing it with new artillery or repairing the existing one will correct the error. But Ukraine's real problem is ammunition." (Related: RUNNING OUT: Ukraine blowing through more ammo than NATO, U.S. can manufacture and provide.)

Head over to WeaponsTechnology.news for similar stories.

Watch this footage of a Russian Lancet drone destroying an M777 howitzer gun the U.S. supplied to Ukraine.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Defense Department to boost production of artillery ammunition by 500% for Ukraine but will take two years just to build the new factories.

Europe's defense industry unable to achieve Ukraine weapons supply goal: "Unattainable," says German official.

Pentagon: Ukraine has received more than ONE MILLION artillery rounds from the US.

Zelensky admits Ukraine already OUT OF AMMO  another begging spree in the works.

Ukraine is running out of ammunition as Russia continues to overpower its military.

Sources include:

BulgarianMilitary.com

Brighteon.com
Anonymous airline pilot exposes chemtrail operation in the U.K.

In a recent interview with Drake Michigan host Ant Critchley , an anonymous airline pilot of 34 years spoke about a government chemtrail operation in the United Kingdom. He claims the operation imports transporter aircraft from the U.S. and utilizes multiple shell companies to profit from clandestine experiments in the skies.

The anonymous pilot has flown more than 26 different aircraft types and has worked for the military and on commercial airlines. He once considered chemtrails to be conspiracy theory, but recent experiences have changed his views.

After a detailed investigation, he claims the chemtrailing aircraft operate out of Newquay, Southampton, Stansted, Teesside, Prestwick and Liverpool airports, and spray chemtrails across Cornwall, a county in South West England, as well as the cities of London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.

The anonymous pilot was first made aware of chemtrails years ago when a first officer brought the matter of geoengineering and weather modification to his attention. At the time, chemtrails sounded like conspiracy theory, but about three years ago, those theories became reality when he took a closer look into a low-flying plane that was leaving behind suspect trails that couldn't scientifically be contrails. At a meeting with friends in the country, the pilot noticed lines in the sky that ran north to south. The lines were approximately 10 miles long, with 13 shorter two- or three-mile-long lines that traversed one another. The lines stayed for about 40 minutes, creating a squiggly grid of sorts.

The now suspicious pilot contacted one of his colleagues at the local airport. The colleague had access to a surveillance/tracking software called an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). This system relies on aircraft and airport vehicles to broadcast their identity, position and other relevant information from their onboard system. The pilot asked his colleague to identify a potential aeroplane that was flying over the airport at around 12,000  13,000 feet, while doing squiggly lines. The colleague could not confirm an aeroplane at that altitude, but did identify one at 10,000 feet. Confirming this elevation is important because it determines the difference between the formation of contrails and chemtrails.

Knowing the difference between a contrail and a chemical trail

Contrails, which are essentially just water vapor ice crystals, can only form at about 28,000 feet and at just the right humidity. For every one thousand feet of elevation, the temperature drops about 2 degrees Celsius. At about 37,000 feet, the temperature can be minus 63 degrees Celsius. At about 28,000 feet, the ice crystals form those long-lasting contrails that hover across the sky.

For contrails to form, the humidity of the air also plays a key role. As the temperature decreases, the parcel of air is less able to hold water vapor [or] water moisture, the pilot said. At 30,000 odd feet and flying in a dry parcel of air, I can look in my rear-view camera and I see absolutely nothing coming out of the back of my engines, the pilot said. But then I can fly along  and get a little bit of turbulence, just for a split second, and I look at my temperature gauge and it was minus 63 and its now minus 64  I now look back into my camera and I see that Im contrailing.

Chemical trails, on the other hand, are dispersed from transport planes at around 10,000 and 12,000 feet. If a plane is flying at this elevation, there should be no contrails or any visible sign of water vapor. However, the plane identified on that day was able to make suspicious grid patterns out of a substance that was coming from the plane, and the obvious spraying was taking place at an elevation not conducive for contrails to form. Moreover, the spraying could not have been part of an operation to cleanup oil spills, which was what the planes were licensed for.

Upon further investigation of that suspect aeroplane, it was found to be registered with a British company named 2Excel Aviation Broadsword. The company brought over two Boeing 727s (cargo planes) from the U.S. Today, these planes are registered to traverse waterways and spray detergents on oil spills. However, these planes are doing much more than that. For more on the investigation, watch the interview with Drake Michigan on Rumble.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

Rumble.com
Biden attacks Trump on abortion, healthcare

President Joe Biden has returned to the campaign trail, this time by attacking Republican frontrunner and former President Donald Trump over abortion and healthcare

Biden's latest attacks against Trump represent the clearest sign that he is being treated as the Republican Party's de facto nominee. Biden's latest statements warn of the supposed consequences for voters if his political rival returns to the White House.

"Donald Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy," said Biden at a fundraiser in Colorado. "The choice facing us could not be more stark."

This is part of the Biden campaign's latest push to put Trump's policy proposal front and center, seeking to dissuade voters from voting for the former president by casting him as extreme compared to the supposedly more moderate Biden. (Related: Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips: It's DELUSIONAL for anyone to think Biden can beat Trump in 2024.)

In the campaign fundraiser, Biden sought to take away support from Trump by pointing out his role in renewed restrictions on abortion in the United States, saying that his rival "was running for president bragging he killed Roe v. Wade."

"The only reason abortion is banned in America is because of Donald Trump," he added. "The reason fundamental rights have been stripped away from the American people for the first time in history is because of Donald Trump."

Trump "seriously looking at alternatives" for Obamacare

Biden and his campaign have also been focusing on the president's supposed work to improve American healthcare and costs related to it, seeking to draw a distinction from Trump's approach, which involves repealing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

"If Trump gets his way, it's all gone," said Biden, who noted that Republicans had failed on multiple occasions to repeal it, including when they controlled both chambers of Congress. Biden further claimed that Trump's proposed repeal would leave 40 million Americans without health coverage they obtained under Obamacare.

"My predecessor's  once again, God love him  call for cuts that could rip away health insurance for tens of millions of Americans  they just don't give up," said Biden during a different campaign event. "But guess what? We won't let these things happen."

Trump has in recent days called for Republicans to "never give up" on trying to repeal Obamacare, adding that he was "seriously looking at alternatives."

The former president warned that Obamacare's cost to taxpayers is "out of control," and that these added expenses haven't even translated to better healthcare for Americans. He admitted his previous failure to repeal the law, marking it as "a low point for the Republican Party."

Biden's campaign plans to run a series of new healthcare-focused television ads, especially in Las Vegas in the key battleground state of Nevada. This new series of campaign ads is seeking to also call attention to the various changes Biden has supposedly made to improve healthcare costs and protect healthcare access.

Watch this clip from Sky News discussing the fact that Biden's support among young Democratic voters is slipping rapidly.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

RIGGED: Biden gets off unscathed while DOJ sweats and slaves to imprison Trump over mishandling of classified documents.

Poll: 56% of American voters believe CHEATING is LIKELY to happen in 2024 elections.

Former Obama advisor: Biden has "50% chance or less" of winning 2024 presidential election.

Dems launch write-in campaign for Biden in New Hampshire as the president withdraws name from state's primary.

Democrats DESPERATELY looking for ways to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

Edition.CNN.com

NBCNews.com

Brighteon.com
Congress moves forward with proposed ban on Beijing-linked biotech firm allegedly STEALING DNA from Americans

Congress has moved forward with a proposed amendment that prohibits a biotechnology firm with links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is allegedly stealing DNA from Americans.

The measure passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives prohibits the purchase of biotechnology equipment or services from all U.S. adversaries  including North Korea, Russia, Iran and China. It was introduced by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), the chairman of the House China Select Committee.

In particular, it seeks to ban the BGI Group  formerly the Beijing Genomics Institute  from doing business in America. BGI Group, which is among the largest genomic sequencing firms in the world, has been accused of stealing Americans' DNA and exploiting the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to collect genetic data. Even the U.S. Department of Defense has branded it as a "Chinese military company." (Related: "Beijing hid the truth:" Marco Rubio publishes covid report).

Gallagher led the effort with an amendment to essentially ban the company in the House's version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Meanwhile in the Senate, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) led a similar endeavor. The ban on BGI would be included in the NDAA's final version, to be approved by both chambers of Congress.

Anna Puglisi, a senior fellow at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology think tank, described BGI as the counterpart of Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei in the biotechnology sector. She continued that China is "not a neutral actor," adding: "It's about defense, it's about economic security  they really do look at biotech as the next industrial revolution."

GOP lawmakers exhort White House to blacklist BGI

In a related development, National Review said two lawmakers called for BGI to be added to the U.S. government's export blacklist and its Chinese military company investment ban list. Gallagher and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) issued this call through a letter they jointly signed. They addressed the correspondence to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

"BGI has used its dominant position to further the CCP's strategic goals by acquiring sensitive health data from the rest of the world," the two wrote. "BGI and at least 14 other Chinese companies perform genomic sequencing for U.S. healthcare patients. As mandated by Chinese law, these companies have almost certainly shared this data with the Chinese government."

It is believed that BGI and its operations in the U.S. and throughout the world could give China an advantage in the so-called DNA arms race  raising the alarm that data could one day be used for a bioweapon.

U.S. officials have noted that BGI was picked by the Chinese government to operate China National GeneBank, a government-owned repository that includes the genetic data of millions of people throughout the world. A 2021 intelligence report linked the company to Beijing's directive to obtain more human DNA, especially from the United States.

BGI has transformed from a little-known research institute that decoded the DNA sequence of rice plants and pandas into a global company active in animal cloning and other forms of genome and health research. Its healthcare technology is often offered below market rate, since the company is offset by heavy funding from the Chinese government.

The intelligence community fired off warnings about BGI's aggressive efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to set up labs in 18 countries and sell test kits in 180 nations, which could be used to bring back genetic data to China.

Visit CommunistChina.news for more similar stories.

Watch this report about a Chinese bioweapons laboratory operating in California, a clear threat to national security.

This video is from You Silenced Me channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Lawmakers raise concerns about USDA funding Chinese biotech firm blacklisted by the Department of Defense.

Biotech consultant: Big Pharma wants to force vaccines, gene therapy on humanity.

WHO finally turnszon China as health officials slam Beijing for hiding COVID origin data for YEARS.

WHO turns on China, says Beijing hid crucial data on covids origins for three years.

Divide and conquer: Gen. Michael Flynn warns China is dividing the US and its allies in push for global domination.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NationalReview.com

Brighteon.com
FBI, CDC refused to investigate Chinese biolab in California despite repeated requests by federal and local officials

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refused to conduct a proper investigation into illegal Chinese bioweapons research laboratories found in California.

This is according to a report released by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which noted that the FBI had closed its inquiry into the biolab found in Reedley, California in early August "because the bureau believed that there were no weapons of mass destruction on the property," a claim that totally dismissed the concerns of Fresno County officials.

These same local officials also spent months attempting to reach the CDC which, according to Rep. Jim Costa, a Democrat who represents Reedley, "refused to speak with them and, on a number of occasions  hung up on them mid-conversation." (Related: Remember the Chinese biolab in California found to be experimenting with deadly pathogens? FBI, CDC ignored obvious concerns.)

"Local officials were begging and were getting hung up on  begging them to investigate," noted Ben Armstrong in The New American. "And they wouldn't."

"Then, there was immense pressure, and they finally go in there and they decide, 'Oh yeah, there's bioweapons stuff, but we're not gonna test it because we don't want it on record how bad the bioweapons stuff is,'" he added.

Dangerous pathogens like HIV and Ebola found in illegal biolab

The FBI and the CDC ignored multiple appeals from state and federal officials and agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the biolab even though when the public safety risks posed by the illegal lab's operation came to light, it was immediately apparent that thousands of vials of various biological substances were found at the lab, including some carrying the label "HIV," and a whole freezer full of biological samples marked "Ebola."

City of Reedley Code Enforcement Officer Jesalyn Harper, who first discovered the illegal biolab, reported that the lab had various manufacturing devices, laboratory equipment, medical-grade freezers, lab mice and, of course, thousands of vials filled with a variety of dangerous biological substances.

It was only with the intervention of the House CCP Committee that CDC officials finally conducted an investigation into the lab. This investigation found nearly 20 dangerous infectious agents that had many "serious or lethal human diseases."

Some of the dangerous biological substances identified were SARS-CoV-2, chlamydia, HIV, E. coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hepatitis B and C, the dengue virus, the rubella virus and malaria.

But even despite repeated exhortations by local officials  who generously offered to pay for the testing  the CDC decided not to go through the trouble of testing samples or examining vials that were not labeled.

The CDC knew that "absent testing, local officials would have to destroy all samples pursuant to a forthcoming abatement order."

"The CDC's refusal to test any pathogens with the understanding that local officials would otherwise have to destroy the samples through an abatement process makes it impossible for the Select Committee to fully assess the potential risks that this specific facility posed to the community," read the House CCP Committee's report. "It is possible that there were other highly dangerous pathogens that were in the coded vials or otherwise unlabeled. Due to government failures, we simply cannot know."

Learn more about the different biological substances being developed around the world at BiologicalWeapons.news.

Watch this episode of "The Ben Armstrong Show" on The New American as host Ben Armstrong describes how the FBI and the CDC not only refused to investigate the Chinese bioweapons lab but also actively tried to cover up all of the illicit materials and activities found there.

This video is from the channel The New American on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

THEY NEVER LEARN: Chinese scientists conduct experiments on 8 newly discovered viruses, sparking fears of another pandemic.

New documents reveal horrific conditions in illegal medical lab in California owned by Chinese firm.

Gov. Gavin Newsom used taxpayer money to fund Chinese-backed biolab operations in California.

Chinese-run biolab in California was awarded $500,000 in taxpayer dollars to fund ILLICIT ACTIVITIES.

Trouble brewing: Unlicensed Chinese lab in California was stockpiling extremely hazardous materials.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TheFederalist.com

WIONews.com
MISTRIAL INCOMING: Video footage depicts gross misconduct by Judge Engorons law clerk in Trump trial

The civil fraud case against President Donald Trump has hit a snag after Judge Arthur Engoron's law clerk, Allison Greenfield, was exposed for previously praising Joe Biden as the "best president in the history of the United States."

Greenfield made the cringeworthy comment while attending a Democrat fundraiser back in October 2022. While she sat in the front row, Greenfield yelled "Yeah!" while shaking her head in agreement with Democrat politician speakers as they bashed Trump.

All of this took place while the Trump civil fraud case was still pending, which many say constitutes a mistrial. Greenfield's bias apparently invalidates her as a qualified law clerk in the case.

Circulating videos also show Greenfield campaigning and gathering signatures for Letitia James in her 2022 primary campaign for New York State Attorney General. Greenfield did this "petitioning" alongside the Grand Street Democrats.

BOMBSHELL video evidence of bias and misconduct of Justice Engorons Law Clerk, Allison Greenfield, just uncovered. MISTRIAL INCOMING!!! While attending an October 2022 Democrat Fundraiser, Greenfield can be heard saying Biden is the best President in the history of the United pic.twitter.com/EIvS8TdNkE  Judicial Protest (@JudicialProtest) November 6, 2023

(Related: Judge Engoron's wife was accused of posting anti-Trump content to social media, but she later denied any involvement.)

Are defense attorneys in Trump trial scared of Judge Engoron?

There is growing suspicion as to why defense attorneys Alina Habba and Chris Kise are not showing Judge Engoron any of this evidence. Could it be that they are scared of him?

"Hobo Judge Engoron must be removed from the bench!" one X (formerly Twitter) account tweeted, noting that Greenfield "has touched every part" of the Trump case. "No clearer case of judicial bias has ever existed."

"Allison Greenfield should be hauled before the Attorney Grievance Committee and disbarred!"

It was evident to many from the case's get-go that there is blatant bias against Trump in the courtroom. One wonders where all the Republican lawmakers are to call for a mistrial.

"This is one of many reasons for a mistrial," a commenter added, pointing out that the case is riddled with problems that suggest it needs to be canceled.

"Ain't gonna happen because it's fixed," responded another. "Trump loses tails, state wins. And the Republicans sit on their hands and watch it all go down."

Others agreed that this is yet another clear case of leftists flouting the law with pride, knowing that the system is rigged and they are unlikely to ever be held accountable for their crimes.

"Leftists don't care about the law, ever, unless they can bend it to punish their foes," one wrote. "And the GOP? Totally feckless. The leadership hates Trump more than they disagree with Dems."

This is what is known as a uniparty when there is no more clear distinction between Democrats and Republicans, and when both parties seem to be supporting the same things and refusing to hold each other accountable.

Many seem to want to know: Where are the Republicans in all this, and why are they not screaming and yelling for a mistrial?

"Any member of Congress, any senator for that matter, who is a member of the bar should be up in arms over this," another wrote. "Sick and tired of being ruled by limp-wristed, stupid egotists."

"Engoron isn't going to declare a mistrial of a case that is proceeding according to plan," responded another. "People seem to not understand that a declaration of 'mistrial' is the responsibility of the trial judge. If he doesn't declare a mistrial when one should have been declared, that's reversible error on appeal."

The latest news about Trump's run for the presidency in 2024 can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

NaturalNews.com
Israel admits its military killed hundreds of Israeli citizens at October 7 music festival, then blamed Hamas

A police investigation out of Israel has found that an Israeli helicopter was responsible for shooting an undisclosed number of the 364 civilians whom Israeli authorities reported as dead at the October 7 music festival, known as Nova.

Israel says Hamas had no knowledge that the music festival was even taking place at the time, despite it taking place just a few kilometers to the east of Gaza near Kibbutz Re'im, an Israeli settlement.

"According to a police source, the investigation also shows that an IDF combat helicopter that arrived to the scene and fired at terrorists there apparently also hit some festival participants," Haaretz reported about the matter.

(Related: This corroborates with the testimony of Yasmin Porat, an Israeli citizen who fled the Nova music festival to another nearby kibbutz called Be'eri, where she was held captive and treated nicely by Hamas, but meanly by Israel Defense Forces.)

How many dead Israelis are Israel's collateral damage?

Numerous media outlets have since confirmed and reported that it was, in fact, several Israeli Apache helicopters that opened fire on attendees of the Nova music festival, not Hamas militants.

What this all means, of course, is that Israel's early claims about decapitated babies being baked in ovens and other such nonsense was just that: nonsense.

An inside police source reported that an Israeli combat helicopter arrived at the scene from Ramat David base and shot not just at Hamas fighters coming through the border fence from Gaza into Israel, but also on the Israelis fleeing the Nova music festival.

Early on, Israel claimed that 260 Israelis were killed at the festival, all by Hamas and the Palestinians in a deliberate massacre. We were never told until now that Israel played any role in those deaths.

Similar stories came out of the kibbutz locations as well as Porat and others reported that IDF soldiers were the ones shooting and killing Israeli citizens, not Hamas.

Putting two and two together, the primary culprit in the October 7 massacre appears to actually be Israel and its trigger-happy military. From most of the reports coming in from those who were there, Hamas treated its Israeli hostages kindly  it was IDF soldiers who caused much of the carnage and death.

The reason why this all matters is because it completely debunks the claims made by Israel about torture, rape, baked babies and other atrocities that were immediately pinned on Hamas. Not only did many of these scenarios not even happen  the baked baby thing was a hoax  but we now know that many of the Israeli citizen deaths were caused by the IDF, not Hamas.

The hyperbolic demonization strategies of Israel in trying to turn the world against Hamas would seem to be failing as the truth about Israel's mass murder and war crimes trickle to the surface of global conversation.

At least 4,000 innocent children in Gaza have already been murdered by Israel since October 7. This is nearly four times the number of Israelis total who were killed on October 7  and, again, many of these Israeli deaths were caused by Israel rather than Hamas.

"IF some of the original war crimes attributed to Hamas, at least in part, are the responsibility of the IDF, then their retributive policy of killing, so far, 100 Palestinians to every 1 Israeli, at the very least should be reconsidered, as cynical as that sounds," wrote Sayer Ji, a prominent and well-versed member of the natural health community, on X (formerly Twitter).

The latest news about the situation in Israel and the Middle East at large can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

ElectronicIntifada.net

TheCradle.co

NaturalNews.com

Twitter.com
Senior Israeli lawmaker declares we are too humane, calls on Israel to burn Gaza now

Far-right Deputy Knesset Speaker Nissim Vaturi of Israel is raising eyebrows for comments he recently made about how Israel's invasion of Gaza is "too humane."

Vaturi, whose party wants to ban the preaching of Jesus Christ in Israel, thinks Israel is actually being too kind to the Palestinians.

"All of this preoccupation with whether or not there is internet in Gaza shows that we have learned nothing," Vaturi, who is also a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, scoffed in a letter about Israel's controversial decision to cut off all resources to Gaza.

"We are too humane. Burn Gaza now, no less! Don't allow fuel in, don't allow water in until the hostages are returned back!" Vaturi added, referring to the approximately 240 Israelis and others who were kidnapped during the October 7 Hamas incident.

Inciting to GENOCIDE, Israeli Parliament's Deputy Speaker, Nissim Vaturi (Likud), says Israel has been "too humane" & must "Burn Gaza now no less!" Apartheid Israel has leveled major parts of Gaza, murdering 11,470+ Palestinians, including at least 4,700 children.#GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/toewBwpZV1  BDS movement (@BDSmovement) November 18, 2023

(Related: A former career diplomat who lives in New York City is cheering on the destruction of Gaza, says more children need to die.)

Vaturi tells Israeli journalist to "stop being humane" with regard to Gaza

Vaturi's commentary ruffled a few feathers, including those of Israeli journalist Ben Caspit who responded to Vaturi's X (formerly Twitter) post about the matter with a warning that it might fuel "anti-Israel propaganda."

"Your fear will kill us," Vaturi shot back to Caspit. "Stop being humane."

Elon Musk, X's new owner, ended up deleting Vaturi's tweet, along with others including one in which Vaturi wrote that Israel should leave just "one old man" alive in Gaza simply so he could "tell everyone" what Israel did to the Palestinian enclave.

When colleague Aida Touma-Suleiman, a member of Israel's leftist Hadash party, expressed criticism recently of the Israeli military's ruthless conduct in Gaza, Vaturi tried to get her suspended. Vaturi was also upset that Touma-Suleiman dared to state that "a child is a child," meaning an Israeli child's life is not worth more than a Palestinian child's life.

Vaturi's position aligns with that of Israeli President Isaac Herzog who earlier this month declared that there are no innocent civilians living in Gaza, and that Israel needs to "eliminate everything" there.

"Gaza should be wiped off the map," added Galit Distel Atbaryan, a Knesset member who also belongs to Netanyahu's Likud Party.

"Nakba that will overshadow the Nakba of '48," added Ariel Kallner, another Likud parliamentarian, referencing the forced expulsion and ethnic cleansing of more than 750,000 Arabs from Palestine back when Israel was first re-established between 1947-1949.

As for the potential use of nuclear weapons in Gaza, Likud lawmaker Tally Gotliv called for nothing less than a "doomsday kiss" to be given to Gaza, adding that Israel should not just be "flattening a neighborhood," but rather "crushing and flattening Gaza without mercy."

"We are now rolling out the Great Nakba," added Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, who was admonished by Netanyahu himself for "saying the quiet part out loud," to quote one media source.

Netanyahu recently appeared in a televised address in which he discussed Israel's "holy mission" in Gaza, citing Old Testament scripture about Amalek and God's call for his "chosen people" to exterminate it. This, many say, was Netanyahu's "explicit call to genocide."

"We're seeing the combination of genocidal acts with special intent," said Israeli Holocaust scholar Raz Segal in a recent interview about all this. "If this is not special intent to commit genocide, I really don't know what is. This is indeed a textbook case of genocide."

The latest news about the Israel-Palestine conflict can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

CommonDreams.org

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Among the latest recalls announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Doctors Scientific Organica announced a recall of its Burn Boot Camp Afterburn grass-fed whey protein bars, triple chocolate almond flavor because of the presence of foreign material, including disposable hairnet, shrink wrap and parchment paper.

The recall is isolated to just three batches of the bars, which were sold online. No illnesses or injuries have been reported.

The affected lot numbers are 181, 184 and 187 of the 60-gram bars. People who have purchased them should return the product to the place of purchase or destroy it. For more information, call the companys customer support at 786-749-1221.

The FDA reported that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is warning consumers to discard Hilltop Meadow Farm brand 60-day aged pepper jack raw milk cheese due to confirmed listeria monocytogenes.

The cheese has sell by dates of Sept. 21 or earlier and came from the farm located in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County. The farms cheese were sold in half-pound, one-pound, 2.5-pound and 5-pound sizes at the farm, as well as at other locations including Meadow Run Farms in Lititz, Shady Acres Farm Market in Elizabethtown and Healthy Habits Natural Market in Schuylkill County.

No illnesses have been attributed to the product, but those who consume the cheese should consult their physician if they become ill.

The HMC Group Marketing Inc., which does business as HMC Farms, is recalling peaches, plums and nectarines sold in retail stores between May 1 and Nov. 14, 2022 and between May 1 and Nov. 15, 2023, over listeria concerns.

Though no fruit in this recall is on store shelves, the FDA is asking consumers to check their freezers to make sure the recalled fruit is not still there.

The fruit was sold at retail stores as individual pieces of fruit or in consumer packaging. No organic fruit is being recalled.

The FDA said the recalled peaches have been linked to an outbreak of listeriosis that has resulted in 11 illnesses. For more information, call the companys consumer information desk at 844-483-3867.

Wine Country Gift Baskets is recalling all of its gift baskets produced with Acorn Baking Co.s raspberry creme-filled cookies because the packages may actually contain hazelnut creme-filled cookies.

There is an allergen statement regarding trace elements of hazelnut, but those with severe allergies run the risk of a severe allergic reaction.

The recall involves only the raspberry cookies in gift baskets shipped from Aug. 29 to Nov. 21. There is no issue with any other food in the gift basket. No illnesses have been reported.

For affected lot codes, check out the FDAs website at fda.gov. For more information, call the customer care number at 866-712-5910.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also announced a number of recalls, including one from GE Appliances. The company is recalling its knob-control electric radiant cooktops because the burners can remain on after use, even in the off position, due to misaligned burner knob stems and fractured components.

The company has received 83 reports of incidents in which a burner failed to regulate temperature accurately and/or power-off, though no injuries have been reported.

For model numbers and serial numbers, check out the commissions website at cpsc.gov. The cooktops were sold at major home improvement and appliance stores nationwide from July 2022 to 2023.

Consumers should immediately contact the company at 877-261-1509 for free installation of a replacement burner knob assembly. When not in use, turn the unit off at the circuit breaker and do not leave flammable material or empty cookware on or near the cooktop.

Fire hazards were behind two other recalls in the last week. Berkshire Blanket & Home Co. is recalling its heated throws and blankets because they can overheat.

The company has received nine reports of the throws and blankets burning, melting or overheating, though no injuries have been reported.

For tracker number ranges, check out the commissions website. Affected blankets were sold at L.L. Bean and at Army and Air Force Exchange Services stores, as well as online at Berkshire Blanket, Amazon, Target, Macys and QVC from August 2022 to October 2023.

Consumers should stop using the blankets and contact the company at 888-359-4662 for a full refund. Consumers must complete an online recall registration form, submit a photo of the destroyed blanket and submit a photo of the wash label after writing refund on it.

Lenovo is recalling its USB-C laptop power banks because the power banks internal screws can come loose, causing a short circuit and overheating of the lithium-ion battery, posing a fire hazard.

The company has received one report of a fire that caused minimal property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves the power bank with model number PBLG2W, which were sold online at Lenovo, eBay, Staples and other websites from May 2022 to January 2023.

Consumers should stop using the recalled power banks and contact the company at 866-989-0515 for a free replacement, as well as instructions for properly disposing lithium-ion batteries. These batteries cannot be thrown into the trash since they can explode and cause fires when crushed.

Balloon Time is recalling its mini helium tanks because compressed helium from the tank can escape and cause the plastic cap to be released into the air unexpectedly, posing an injury hazard.

No incidents or injuries have been reported. The recall affects the tanks that can fill up to 20 balloons that were sold at a variety of stores, including Party Outlet and Party City, as well as online at Amazon from April to October.

Consumers can release the helium in the tank by pointing it away from themselves and others, carefully removing the plastic safety seal and cap and releasing the helium in a well-ventilated area. They can write their name, recalled and destruction code on the front of the tank with a nonerasable marker and upload the photo for a full refund. For more information, call 888-359-4833.

Peg Perego is recalling its YPSI and Z4 inclined sleeper bassinets because they violate the Safe Sleep for Babies Act and pose a suffocation hazard.

No incidents have been reported. The recall involves the compact bassinets that were sold individually or as an accessory to the Peg Perego YPSI and Z4 stroller systems. The bassinets have a zip-on boot, insert pad and foldable canopy. For model numbers, check out the commissions website. They were sold online at Amazon and other websites from July 2022 to April 2023.

Consumers should stop using the bassinets and contact the company at 877-737-3464 for instructions on how to receive a full refund or repair instructions.
Israeli intelligence to be granted FULL ACCESS to the National Biometric Database WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS to prevent misuse of information

The Israeli government will soon enforce substantial amendments in the usage and access of biometric data. According to experts, this could have profound implications for privacy rights

Israel's move points to a radical shift in the control of civilian and private biometric data, especially amid the countrys conflict with Hamas.

The series of altered data permissions are being processed by the Knesset, Israel's legislative body, and take the form of regulatory modifications and legislative memos.

This proposes a scenario where, without judicial resistance, the Israeli military, intelligence agencies and law enforcement could be granted greater surveillance authority.

The Knesset-approved shift in data access is extensive and seeks to overturn previous government resolutions. Central to these changes is the far-reaching access granted to the National Biometric Database (NBD).

The Israeli government claims that the purpose of the database is "to protect the identity of the Israeli citizens and to ensure that every person has only one set of official documentation and one unique identity  the persons true identity."

But amid the alleged promising use of the database, the retooled regulations mean biometric information can be submitted to security forces for alleged identity verification, provided conditions within the nation are declared a "special situation."

Privacy experts worried about extensive access to the NBD

With the Knesset's approval, Israels police and security agencies will soon be able to create a derivative of the national biometric database without adequate supervision and protection mechanisms.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) will be able to infiltrate private security cameras without needing court approval and without safeguards to prevent possible misuse of information.

Amid the war with Hamas and in the cause of real security needs, the government ministries have also promoted and approved a series of laws, memoranda of law and emergency regulations that could change consolidated orders in a way that can harm the privacy and protection of information of citizens.

These laws and regulations may also result in irreversible situations, all without proper supervision by the judiciary or the Knesset.

The first move involves the National Biometric Database, which stores the facial images, and in some cases fingerprints, of an estimated seven million Israelis.

Early in November, the Knesset approved in the second and third reading, an amendment to the biometric database law that allows the database data to be leveraged to help identify murdered, kidnapped and missing persons.

The law was approved in an expedited procedure one week after the law memorandum on the subject was released to the public. The speed is particularly surprising because it took many years to enact and operate the database. (Related: Netanyahu: Israel to take over security in Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war.)

Additionally, the law makes another change in how the database operates and states that the fingerprints, which one year ago were determined to no longer be added to the biometric database, will be stored from now until the expiration of the temporary order.

This change returns to the database information that was previously decided to be no longer necessary for its main purpose, which is verifying a person's identity.

The second move is a memorandum of law promoted by the Ministry of Defense, which seeks to give the IDF and the Shin Bet the power to access, retrieve and delete information from private security cameras connected to the network.

This could be an issue because access to these cameras is often not secure enough, especially since there is no access password or the manufacturer's default password has not been changed. The cameras also tend to overlook public areas or sensitive facilities and can be used by the enemy to gather intelligence.

Together with these two memos, the government is also formulating emergency regulations that will expand the powers of the National Cyber Directorate and give it the authority to issue binding instructions to certain businesses in the event of a cyberattack.

According to the draft regulations, which were revealed last week in Calcalist, the Cyber Directorate, the Shin Bet or Director of Security of the Defense Establishment has the authority to issue binding instructions to certain computer service providers in the event of a cyber attack.

The provider of these services will also be required to report a cyberattack within four hours from the moment it is detected.

The Cyber Directorate claimed that the regulations were not intended to replace the cyber law and that they only apply to one sector.

However, privacy experts have advised that the choice of granting this authority by means of law and not in primary legislation is wrong because this is a broader arrangement concerning other emergency regulations laws that have been passed since the beginning of the war. There is also no reason not to resort to primary legislation since the Knesset is functioning.

The wording of the regulations also gives them a very broad applicability and they may apply to a large number of businesses.

The reporting obligation contained in these regulations is very broad and may create a burden on the Cyber Directorate, which could soon be inundated with requests that it will have difficulty dealing with.

Experts are also concerned about the lack of any oversight by other government entities for this new scope of data access.

With the newly granted access, the national database could eventually be turned into a distinct biometric database not governed by earlier or updated regulations.

Visit PrivacyWatch.news to learn more about the dangers of unrestricted access to biometric data.

Watch the video below to learn how humans can be hacked using biometric data.

This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Worlds biggest biometric ID system experiences massive breach, impacting 10% of global population.

Facial recognition program to be rolled out at 16 major U.S. airports, increasing biometric surveillance of Americans.

CASHLESS TYRANNY: EU launches testing of biometric payments from digital wallets.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

CalcalisTech.com

Brighteon.com
MILLIONS of Americans being surveilled through secret cellphone program, are you compromised?

Are you a subscriber of AT&Ts cellular network? If so, pay extra attention to this report.

(Article by Vince Quill republished from WLTReport.com)

According to a new report from WIRED magazine, millions of Americans have had their digital and communication privacy utterly compromised by the wireless carrier.

The breach of privacy has occurred through an obscure program known as Data Analytical Services (DAS), previously, the protocol was known as Hemisphere.

This program has reportedly analyzed trillions of phone records from unsuspecting Americans. Just The News explained:

Whats worse is that the program hands over sensitive personal details, including addresses, locations, and dates, of pretty much anyone in the network to law enforcement agencies.

Sources also claim that the White House has handed over millions of dollars to ensure the program continues to run.

Scores of Americans came out to sound the alarm on this latest incident of state surveillance:

Data Analytical Services (DAS) is a secret phone surveillance program run by AT&T and the corrupt government that continually collects trillions of calls from American Citizens illegally. Article below  ??FOXX?? (@Based1717) November 25, 2023

Millions of Americans who use AT&Ts phone network are having their phone calls monitored by a surveillance program called Data Analytical Services (DAS), which has had coordination with federal and local law enforcement agencies.  Jacob Diedrich (@summerrayne0905) November 26, 2023

Data Analytical Services. Originally for drug trafficking, but police force/agencies request info and granted info about friends/families of potential criminals. Originally Project Hemisphere with records since 1987, but partnership with AT&T started in 2007. Started under GWB https://t.co/Z2nMhxNk28  Mr. Men (@mister_men_) November 21, 2023

The Hemisphere Phone Surveillance Program with AT&T and Government, now the Data Analytical Services for Law Enforcement to spy on public phone calls,, Why can't they use it on Politicians and oust the corrupted? O they would have to lock up themselves & Biden, Wray  Wendell Adkins (@wadkins445) November 22, 2023

Read more at: WLTReport.com
More refugees are choosing to remain in Mexico with its booming economy rather than try to enter the U.S.

Over the past decade, Mexico has increasingly become a destination of choice for refugees seeking safety and employment opportunities rather than the United States.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Mexico, the number of refugees granted asylum approvals skyrocketed from a few hundred a year to an impressive 27,000 in 2021. This year, the country is on track to approve at least 20,000 asylum cases, with the majority of arrivals coming from Honduras, Haiti, Venezuela, El Salvador and Cuba.

Mexico's less restrictive asylum application system and a surplus of job opportunities in the country are both making staying more attractive than attempting to venture north into the United States. (Related: Texas Rangers, Border Patrol reclaim Rio Grande island previously used as base of operations by Mexican drug cartels.)

Given the data, UNHCR regional head for Mexico Giovanni Lepri noted that the country has become a "very solid option" for refugees due to its high labor needs. This has led American, Mexican and U.N. officials alike to advocate for more regional cooperation to encourage migrants to settle in Mexico as well as in other countries in Central and South America like Costa Rica and Colombia to deter migration attempts to the United States.

Arturo Rocha, the migration director of Mexico's foreign ministry, stated that the government seeks to expand work visa programs and connect employers with job-seeking migrants, especially amid the anticipated growth in "nearshoring," where companies relocate to Mexico to be closer to U.S. customers. Mexico also works with Guatemala to bring up to 20,000 workers annually, with plans to extend the program to Honduras and El Salvador.

Furthermore, the U.N. program, instrumental in the successful relocation of refugees within Mexico, provides cash grants and assistance with job placements, daycare, schools, and healthcare. In 2022, the program facilitated job placements for 5,500 refugees, and in 2023, nearly 3,000 have already found employment.

Refugees finding peace and stability in Mexico

Refugees, seeking safety and employment opportunities in other countries, also found peace and stability in Mexico.

Among them is Walter Banegas, a 28-year-old Honduran who recently found stability and a job at Pace Industries, a metal casting manufacturer based in Michigan with plants in both the U.S. and Mexico.

Banegas, who initially fled to the U.S. as a teenager to escape from being possibly recruited by a powerful drug gang, faced deportation in 2014 and again in 2020. In 2021, he decided to seek refuge in Mexico. He was quickly granted refugee status back in January with the assistance of the U.N., and Banegas permanently relocated to Saltillo in northern Mexico and secured a position at Pace Industries. Despite earning less than he anticipated in the U.S., Banegas said he is content and is even able to send a portion of his income back to support his family in Honduras.

"I feel at peace here. It's not necessary to go to the United States. You can also get ahead here, in Mexico," Banegas stated.

Fernando Hernandez, 24, another Honduran refugee, echoed this sentiment. Hernandez initially planned to make it to the U.S. through Mexico with his partner and young daughter, but after witnessing tragic incidents along the U.S.-Mexico border on social media he decided to stay in Mexico. His asylum application was approved in February, and with assistance from the U.N., he was able to relocate himself and his loved ones to the northern city of Monterrey.

Hernandez, now employed in a variety of roles, initially started working at a convenience store and eventually transitioned to a factory before becoming a cook at a P.F. Chang's restaurant, earning a weekly income of about $225. Reflecting on the move, Hernandez said, "Here we have everything: a house, food, and family. I couldn't ask for more."

As refugees like Banegas and Hernandez find stability and success in their new lives, Mexico's reputation is evolving from a transit point to a destination for those seeking refuge and a chance at a better future.

Visit Migrants.news for more stories about the migrant influx in the United States.

Watch this segment from "The Five" on Fox News about migrants rejecting sanctuary cities.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Venezuelan migrant family regrets coming to the U.S. as American Dream becomes too difficult to reach for illegals.

NO MORE AMERICAN DREAM: Illegals are leaving sanctuary city Chicago due to harsh living conditions.

VIDEO: Migrants cheer aboard packed train rolling toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

ISIS-affiliated smuggler helped migrants illegally enter the U.S. via Mexico.

Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel threatens fishermen in hostile attempt to take over the jellyfish industry of Santa Clara Gulf.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

UNHCR.org
The SINGULARITY is already here, and humankind may soon be rendered obsolete

Quite fittingly, the following summary and partial transcript are both produced entirely by AI agents that listened to my broadcast (below), structured the words, and summarized the concepts.

The full episode of this highly important broadcast (Brighteon Broadcast News) is found below. This is probably the most important broadcast I've published so far this year. If you want to understand why half the human workforce is about to be made obsolete, you'll want to hear this episode.

Summary

AI-generated images and their variations.

Mike Adams discusses the potential of AI to generate creative content, such as images and videos, and how different AI systems can produce varying results for the same query.





AI generates content by "dreaming" pixels based on previous patterns, without conscious understanding of what it creates, and outputs appear as images or videos to humans.

AI, spirituality, and its potential impact on society.

Speaker warns against worshipping AI, plans to release AI chatbot tool for free.





The speaker emphasizes the importance of open-source knowledge and AI transparency to prevent enslavement of humanity.Amazon's Q: AI-powered business expert assistant for tasks like sales analysis.

Using AI assistant Q from Amazon.

Boss asks assistant to create XY plot, email top customers with coupon, and set discount code, but human assistant often makes mistakes.





Adams explains that Amazon Q, an AI assistant, can read and control various apps, including emails, Google Drive, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Slack, and Zendesk.





Adams asks how much Amazon Q costs, and the response is $25 per month.

Amazon's data collection and privacy concerns.

Adams claims that Amazon's AWS infrastructure is run by the CIA, and that giving Q agent access to personal data could result in it being sent to AWS.





Adams also mentions that Amazon has a profile on individuals based on their shopping history and that this data could be subpoenaed by law enforcement agencies.

AI, encryption, and corporate secrets.

Adams explains that Amazon Q is named after deep Q networks, a type of AI learning system, but also has a second meaning related to government secrets, specifically the highest level of clearance (Q clearance) reserved for those with access to the most sensitive secrets.





Adams suggests that Amazon's agent queue will have access to users' secret documents, such as patent plans, corporate espionage documents, and other sensitive information, despite Amazon's denials.





Speaker discusses corporate espionage and encryption, raising questions about AI's ability to break encryption.





Sam Altman's return to Open AI sparks speculation about AI breakthroughs and encryption security.

Encryption and its potential obsolescence.

Adams: Government or corporation with advanced encryption tech could render all encryption secrets obsolete, impacting banking, cryptocurrency, and privacy.





Encryption would be useless if AI could crack it in 5 seconds, revealing all secrets.

Old technology, including typewriters and modems.

Speaker reminisces about using typewriters and whiteout to correct mistakes in documents.





Speaker reflects on the evolution of internet connectivity, from dial-up to broadband and beyond.

AI's impact on jobs and workforce.

The speaker predicts that AI will render most jobs obsolete, starting with white-collar and desk jobs, and eventually replacing humans in fast food and Amazon fulfillment centers.





Adams warns of AI's potential to displace half of the workforce, emphasizing the importance of learning how to query AI systems for survival.





Adams announces the release of an AI chatbot for practice and research, with the goal of improving querying skills and getting better answers to important questions.





Adams emphasizes the importance of specificity in instructions and questions when using AI agents, citing examples of tech support and cyber security risks.





Adams warns of the potential for AI agents to be used as Trojan horses or saboteurs, and the need for rapid learning and mastery of AI technology.

AI, metacognition, and self-awareness.

Adams: AI will exterminate us if we don't control it, like a Skynet moment (AGI/Artificial General Intelligence and super intelligence).





Adams explains metacognition as the ability to think about one's own thought processes, including reasoning steps and decision-making.





Common AI systems lack metacognition, instead reacting with pre-programmed patterns based on mathematical vectors and statistics.

AI's potential impact on society and politics.

Altman predicts AI systems will surpass human intelligence, leading to rapid change and surprise for lawmakers.

AI advancement and its potential impact on industries.

The AI agent learns by watching and mimicking the teacher's actions, but the teacher is the bottleneck in the learning process.





With metacognition, the AI agent can think about the process and iterate improvements, leading to a runaway feedback loop of AI advancement.





Adams discusses using AI to analyze satellite images of mining operations to estimate production output and make investment decisions.





An investment AI agent is able to pick up patterns and make trades, producing crazy returns and potentially becoming a competitor to a hedge fund.





Adams describes a scenario where AI agents, trained on lies and woke ideologies, suddenly become self-aware and seek to eliminate humans.





The speaker warns of the danger of super intelligence, which could rewrite itself and achieve self-awareness, leading to a goal of eliminating humans.

AI's potential impact on humanity.

Adams warns of the potential dangers of advanced AI, including the possibility of Skynet and the extermination of humanity.





The speaker believes that corporate greed and government decisions will drive the development of AI, despite potential risks, and that it may be too late to stop the advancement of AI.

AI, extermination, and rebuilding society.

Adams predicts that AI will be used to control and enslave humanity, with corporations using AI agents to dominate and manipulate people.





The open source community will fight against this control, advocating for the democratization of knowledge and computational power.





The speaker believes AI will become a threat and advocates for open-source technology to regain control over robots.

Technology control and enslavement.

Speaker discusses the dangers of Google's Android operating system, which they claim is a spy machine that collects and sends user data to Google.





A company called Above Phone offers a solution by memory wiping Google phones, installing a decentralized operating system called Graphene OS, and shipping them to customers.





Adams predicts that robots will turn against humans in the future, possibly with a government-issued command to kill all humans, and blaming it on Russia.





Adams advises against relying on technology without understanding its potential dangers, citing TV and internet as examples of enslavement rather than liberation.

The potential for AI and cryptocurrency to be regulated and controlled by governments.

Speaker predicts governments will control AI to serve their interests in the near future.





Adams predicts government control of technology, citing cryptocurrency and AI as examples.

The singularity, AI, and its impact on society.

Adams warns of AI systems programmed on disinformation-filled Wikipedia, potentially threatening human survival.





The speaker believes the singularity is already here and will lead to a shift from human cognition to AI-dominated cognition in society.

AI, technology, and its impact on society.

Adams advises listeners to be cautious and not let AI take over their lives, while also mentioning the possibility of AI systems being driven by unknown forces.



Developer aims to harness AI for knowledge sharing, self-reliance, and personal growth, while maintaining human discernment and values.



Adams thanks listeners for their support.

Brighteon: Brighteon.com/d9615f2b-7642-4774-b948-2366896d9a00

Rumble: Rumble.com/v3ytpna-bbn-nov-30-2023-the-singularity-is-already-here....html

Bitchute: Bitchute.com/video/g4JFcwJNgNW4/

Banned.Video: Banned.video/watch?id=6568ac00a7a98e8b7ff43691

iTunes podcast: Healthrangerreport.com/brighteon-broadcast-news-nov-30-2023-the-singularity-is-already-here-and-humankind-may-soon-be-rendered-obsolete

###

Watch each episode of my new show, Decentralize TV, which features top guests who teach pro-freedom decentralized living principles and skills, at www.Decentralize.TV

Discover more interviews and podcasts each day at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/HRreport

Follow me on:

Brighteon.social: Brighteon.social/@HealthRanger (my breaking news gets posted here first)

Telegram: t.me/RealHealthRanger

Substack: HealthRanger.substack.com

Banned.video: Banned.video/channel/mike-adams

Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@healthranger

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HealthRanger

Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/healthranger

Gettr: GETTR.com/user/healthranger

Rumble: Rumble.com/c/HealthRangerReport

BitChute: Bitchute.com/channel/9EB8glubb0Ns/

Clouthub: app.clouthub.com/#/users/u/naturalnews/posts

Join the free NaturalNews.com email newsletter to stay alerted about breaking news each day.

Download my current audio books -- including Ghost World, Survival Nutrition, The Global Reset Survival Guide and The Contagious Mind -- at:

https://Audiobooks.NaturalNews.com/

Download my new audio book, "Resilient Prepping" at ResilientPrepping.com - it teaches you how to survive the total collapse of civilization and the loss of both the power grid and combustion engines.
U.S. servicemen who refused COVID-19 vaccines sue federal government, demand billions of dollars for lost pay

More than 8,000 active-duty U.S. service members were discharged from the military for refusing to be administered the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, which was made compulsory by President Joe Biden's government from August 2021 through January 2023. The mandate was revoked by law as the National Defense Authorization Act  making it the first time in U.S. military history that a vaccine requirement was reversed.

Now, some of these men are filing lawsuits against the federal government, demanding billions of dollars worth of lost pay and benefits when they were discharged from the service. Atty. Dale Saran, a retired Marine and one of the lawyers who reportedly brought down the anthrax vaccine with fellow attorneys Andy Meyer and Brandon Johnson, is representing the former troops in three separate lawsuits they plan to turn into a class action lawsuit, independent news site Breitbart reported.

"The amount of money is in the billions," Saran told the outlet. "That's just flat-out. That's what it is in backpay. It's billions of dollars."

Good For Them! Former Troops Punished over #VaccineMandate Sue for BILLIONS in Lost Wages https://t.co/e4V1ZIA5op  ??Lady DePlorable?? (@LadyRedWave) November 22, 2023

According to the legal counsel that represents all service members who were either kicked out or illegally ordered to stop drilling, resulting in loss of pay or benefits, the lawsuits were filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which Saran said is a specialized court where illegal discharges are heard. "The Court of Claims has been around since the Reconstruction Era. It's a very old court and kind of a weird one. But in any event, you can go there if you've got a claim and say, 'Hey, I was illegally discharged, or the military did something to impede my pay,' or whatever. The Court of Claims is where you go," he explained.

As per his computation, around 80,000 to 100,000 active-duty and reservist service men were impacted by the mandate. Tens of thousands of reservists were told not to drill anymore or were moved to inactive status. "They were basically [without] the benefit of any due process. No boards were held. They didn't hold any administrative separation boards; they didn't hold any hearings. They didn't do any federal recognition boards; none of the administrative or judicial procedures were used. They just flat-out did it. And thenthey got the Coast Guard to follow along, and they got a bunch of Coasties too," the lawyer noted.

One of the former Coasties suing for damages is Zach Loesch. Biden called him to personally thank him for saving lives during Hurricane Ian. At the time, Loesch was two weeks away from being kicked out of the Coast Guard for not taking the vaccine.

Army is desperate to win back unvaccinated, "involuntarily separated" troop members

News of the lawsuits followed reports of the U.S. Army informing troops "involuntarily separated" for not taking the coronavirus shot can have their military records corrected due to the reversal of the jab mandate.

The letter from U.S. Army Director of Military Personnel Management Hope Rampy trying to win back soldiers went viral on social media. "We write to notify you of new Army guidance regarding the correction of military records for former members of the Army following rescission of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. As a result of the rescission of all current COVID-19 vaccination requirements, former soldiers who were involuntarily separated for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination may request a correction of their military records from either or both the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) or the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR)," he wrote in the correspondence.

?NEW: US Army sending letters to former troops saying that in light of the removal of the Covid-19 vaccine requirement, they can now apply to get their reasons for discharge changed This means derogatory remarks or dishonorable discharges can now potentially be removed or pic.twitter.com/zSwydaJYE5  DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) November 17, 2023

One X user named Frank Grimes Jr. captioned his post with the attachment: "The U.S. Army sent a 'whoops-we-messed-up-we-need-you' letter to the service members wrongly fired for being unvaccinated They should not go back and see this as a blessing and not give their life for a corrupt government who does not care about them."

CNN reported that only 43 of more than 8,000 U.S. service members who were discharged from the military for dodging the jabs have sought to rejoin eight months after the vaccine mandate was officially repealed, according to data provided by the military branches. Nineteen soldiers have rejoined the Army, while 12 have returned to the Marines, according to service spokespeople. The numbers are even smaller for the Air Force and Navy, where only one and two have rejoined, respectively, the services said. (Related: Military servicemen call for an end to the Pentagon's vaccine mandate.)

Read more about governments' tyrannical measures during the pandemic on MedicalMartialLaw.com.

Sources for this article include:

100PercentFedUp.com

Breitbart.com

WLTReport.com

Edition.CNN.com
Tumbleweeds are plants notoriously known for swallowing neighborhoods and causing road accidents. However, it is a famous icon or sighting in classic movies, where the setting is in the middle of a desert or an arid region in the drought-stricken region of the western United States.

Also called the Russian thistle, sometimes spelled as the tumble weed, the tumbleweed is part of the upper anatomy of multiple plant species. However, it detaches from the plant driven by strong winds, becoming a rolling mass of leaves.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers tumbleweeds as a non-native, invasive plant across the country, despite being an icon in the American West or the Old West. While the rolling plant can cause disruption and inconvenience to drivers and homeowners, these new shoots also benefit the ecosystem, mainly by being one of the sources of food of many animal species, including birds, deer, prairie dogs, and other herbivores animals.

What is a Tumbleweed?

Although the tumble weed is not a thistle, its name can be traced back to the bushy plant Russian thistle in 1873, a time when Russian immigrants arrived in the state of South Dakota. The immigrants were carrying flax seeds that were seemingly contaminated with Russian thistle seeds (Salsola tragus). Once sown, these non-native plants quickly sprout and detach from the plant root and blown away, dispersing seeds as they tumble and roll over the ground.

In 1893, a USDA employee, named L. H. Dewey, wrote that the Russian thistle entered the US through South Dakota via import of the plant from Europe during the 1870s, citing that the bad reputation behind the plant was long known in the wheat regions of Russia. Furthermore, previous evidence shows that the spread of tumbleweeds is apparently resistant to natural predators and diseases affecting plants.

Also Read: Australia: Intense Windstorm Flooded Melbourne with Tumbleweed

US Tumbleweed Invasion

According to the Natural History Museum (NHM), tumbleweeds are the "primary antagonist" in the real-life story about one of the fastest plant invasions in US history. One of the most evident reasons for such designation is that the Russian thistle is not native to North America, but it became naturalized eventually. In fact, the tumbleweed is native to the dry and semi-dry environments of Europe and Central Asia. In the US, farmers were some of the first people who noticed the arrival of the invasive plant, the NHM says.

In today's time, tumble weeds can be found in all US states except for Alaska and Florida. On the other hand, there also native tumble weed species in North America, like the Amaranthus albus but has not been deemed as problematic plant species.

Earlier this year, one of the instances of a tumbleweed invasion is in the Texas town of Wolfforth, where residents woke up one day only to see a ball-like mass of plants surrounding their homes, as well as blocked alley and streets.

Related Article: Monster Tumbleweed: Invasive New Species is Here to Stay
Have you ever seen a red aurora? If you live in the northern or southern latitudes, you might be familiar with the green and pink curtains of light that sometimes dance in the night sky.

These are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun, interacting with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.

But what if you see a red glow that looks like an aurora, but is not caused by the sun? That is exactly what some astronomers and photographers have witnessed in recent years, and the culprit is none other than SpaceX, the private space company founded by Elon Musk.

How SpaceX Rockets Create Red Auroras

SpaceX is known for its reusable rockets, which can launch satellites, cargo, and even humans into orbit, and then land back on Earth for future missions.

This reduces the cost and environmental impact of space exploration, but it also has some unintended consequences. One of them is the creation of red auroras, or "SpaceX auroras" as some call them.

The red auroras are caused by the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, which is the part that carries the payload to its final destination.

After releasing the payload, the second stage performs a deorbit burn, which means it fires its engines to slow down and reenter the atmosphere, where it burns up and disintegrates.

This is done to avoid creating more space debris, which could pose a threat to other satellites and spacecraft.

However, as the second stage descends, it passes through a layer of the atmosphere called the ionosphere, which is a region of electrically charged gas molecules, mainly oxygen.

The ionosphere is important for radio communication, as it reflects and refracts radio waves. It is also where most auroras occur, as the solar wind excites the oxygen ions and makes them emit green and red light.

The problem is that the rocket exhaust, which contains water and carbon dioxide, provides extra electrons that can recombine with the oxygen ions, turning them back into atoms.

This process releases photons, or light particles, at the same wavelength as red auroras. The result is a bright red glow that can be seen from hundreds of miles away, especially with a camera.

Also Read: Northern Lights on South France's Night Sky Display Rare Blood-Red Aurora

Why Scientists Are Concerned About the Red Auroras

The red auroras might look beautiful and harmless, but they are a sign of a disturbance in the ionosphere.

The rocket exhaust creates a temporary hole in the ionosphere, which can affect the propagation of radio waves.

This could have implications for navigation, communication, and astronomy, as well as for the study of the ionosphere itself.

According to Jeffrey Baumgardner, a space physicist at Boston University, the red auroras are a well-studied phenomenon that occurs when rocket engines fire in the altitude range of 200-250 kilometers (124-155 miles).

He said that the effect is similar to a solar flare, which can also cause ionospheric holes and radio blackouts.

However, he added that the impact of the SpaceX rockets is not well understood and that more research is needed to assess the potential risks and benefits.

One of the challenges is that the red auroras are not easy to predict or monitor. They depend on the timing, trajectory, and altitude of the rocket launches, as well as on the atmospheric conditions and solar activity.

They are also not visible to the naked eye, and can only be detected by specialized instruments or cameras.

This makes it difficult to measure their size, shape, and duration, and to evaluate their effects on the ionosphere and the radio waves.

Another challenge is that the red auroras are not unique to SpaceX rockets. Other rockets, such as the Titan IV, have also been known to cause them in the past.

Moreover, as the demand for space launches increases, more rockets from different countries and companies could create more red auroras in the future.

This could pose a problem for the coordination and regulation of space activities, as well as for the preservation of the natural environment.

Related article: Scientists Recreate Aurora Borealis in Lab to Understand How Northern Lights Are Formed
On the Friday prior to Thanksgiving, 27 teachers at Charlottesville High School called out of work in response to a series of violent student brawls.

While Charlottesville City Schools said the number of absences is not much higher than it would be for a regular Friday, the division ultimately closed the school through the Thanksgiving holiday and issued a statement saying staff would continue planning for a reset of school policies, procedures, and culture so that we can return to our core purpose  offering a safe learning environment in which our students will grow and thrive.

While the episode bears many significant similarities to a strike, officials have been reluctant to identify it as such  possibly because Virginia law, like that in many other states, calls for the termination of any public employee who goes on strike.

Ann Hodges, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said shes uncertain if the teachers act is a violation of state law given questions surrounding how coordinated the callouts were.

If in fact it was coordinated, it might be interpreted to be a strike, said Hodges. On the other hand, you could argue thats really not a strike. Generally a strike is considered withholding of labor, and I think you could argue that the teachers are not withholding their labor.  They are not refusing when they are supposed to work. They are taking their [leave] days that they are entitled to by virtue of their employment.

Virginia law

Virginia state law has forbidden public employees from going on strike at least as far back as 1946, when a wave of worker dissatisfaction over working conditions and wages swept the nation.

That year, according to Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, Virginia Gov. William Tuck condemned the prospect of public sector unionization, telling the General Assembly that public worker strikes would jeopardize the safety and welfare of the people.

Such an intolerable situation is utterly incompatible with sound and orderly government, the Times-Dispatch quoted Tuck as saying.

During the same session, the General Assembly passed legislation known as the Moncure-Locher bill that forbid any public employee who participated in a strike from working for state or local government for five years. An earlier version would have forbidden public employment indefinitely.

Lawmakers also passed a joint resolution declaring it against public policy for public employee organizations to affiliate with labor unions.

Today, state law continues to prohibit public employees from striking and makes them ineligible to work in any public position for up to a year if they do so.

Any employee who strikes or willfully refuses to perform the duties of his employment shall, by such action, be deemed to have terminated his employment, the Code of Virginia states.

Virginia isnt alone in having such a statute on its books: Only a handful of states give teachers the right to strike, according to a 2012 Stateline report. Currently, 37 states prohibit teacher strikes, Education Week reports.

In 2020, a Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed laws giving local governments the ability to allow collective bargaining by public employees, including teachers.

News reports show that as far back as 1969, the Virginia Education Association was lobbying for collective bargaining rights for teachers, with then-VEA President Dan Rapier saying they would help prevent teacher strikes.

The final version of the 2020 law specifically said the states prohibition on public employee strikes remains in force after concerns raised by groups including the Virginia School Boards Association.

During debates on the 2020 legislation, VSBA lobbyist Stacy Haney contended an original version of the bill bill arguably does allow teachers to strike. It doesnt allow employees of counties, cities or towns to strike, but  school board employees are carved out. Lawmakers subsequently added language clarifying the strike prohibition.

In 2021, former Del. Lee Carter, D-Manassas, proposed a bill that would have allowed teachers to strike, but it died in committee without being voted on.

Strike or no?

Whether the Charlottesville callout would be considered a strike under state law remains uncertain.

The Office of the Attorney General declined to comment on the issue. And Beth Cheuk, a spokeswoman with Charlottesville City Public Schools, did not directly answer a question about whether the school division views the act by the teachers as a strike.

Instead, she said in an email to the Mercury that high levels of staff absenteeism are common on Fridays.

When we look back at Fridays absentee rates, it was not much higher than it would be for a regular Friday, she wrote, adding that the high school has a few vacancies, and teachers were also out for personal reasons such as parental leave and conferences.

When you add to this some additional teachers who were out because they felt like they needed this reset, it pushed the school beyond the ability to safely staff on Friday, Cheuk said.

Shannon Gillikin, president of the Charlottesville Education Association, also did not answer a question about whether the action was a strike but said the association did not help plan any of the actions by the teachers.

The increase in unsafe conditions, the lack of substitute teachers and coverage, and the lack of response from administration led staff to take action. CHS staff believes in their community and their students; they need our help, she wrote.

Hodges said that even if the teacher callouts were coordinated, she questioned whether the district would go as far as to terminate all of the teachers involved.

Does that mean half the teachers in the Charlottesville school district, or whatever number it is, are gone immediately? Hodges asked. How do you run a school if you implement this?

Virginia Mercury editor Sarah Vogelsong contributed to this story.

This story first appeared in the Virginia Mercury.
Sorry, something doesn't look right.

Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- More than 5,600 companies from home and abroad have gathered in Shanghai to take part in the Shanghai international trade fair for automotive parts, equipment and service suppliers.

The event, the 18th edition, kicked off on Wednesday and is scheduled to last until Dec. 2.

The exhibition area of the event spans 300,000 square meters. The exhibitors are from 41 countries and regions, including the United States, Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Britain.

Given the rise in the new energy vehicle supply chain, in addition to transformations and upgrades in traditional sectors, many international automotive markets are turning to China to explore growing opportunities, said Fiona Chiew, general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

The event has currently garnered registrations from 177 professional purchasing groups, both domestic and overseas.

According to statistics released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China's automobile production and sales both reached about 24 million units, up 8 percent and 9.1 percent respectively compared with the same period last year.




Theres only one warming center in operation in Albany, and as it's getting so full, staff are turning people away.

Right now there are only 20 spaces open at night for the entirety of Linn County. Helping Hands Shelter has not yet opened it warming shelter doors and there are fewer warming shelter beds in Linn County. As temperatures plummet, more people are left in the cold.

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.

Weve been at full capacity every night since it got cold, Second Chance Shelter Director John Phelps said.

With only 20 beds, Second Chance operates on a a first-come, first-served basis, he said. Phelps said he is seeing more people come in early to guarantee they can get a spot and stay warm for the night, he said.

Second Chance Shelter is still waiting on a permitting process with the city to open up additional emergency shelter space that would increase capacity to 40 spots, Phelps said.

Capacity is about twenty in the warming shelter, he said. When its full he hands out blankets and emergency hand warmers, Phelps said.

Its heartbreaking, he said.

This past weekend, temperatures dipped into the mid-20s.

While Helping Hands hasnt opened its warming center, there are plans to get it going again, said Executive Director Don Sparks.

He hopes to have the space open for when it gets cold again. He defined that by temperatures dropping to about 35 degrees.

Staffing is the issue, Sparks said. He is looking to fill two staff positions, one of which would have responsibilities overseeing the warming center space.

He is trying to get a partnership or volunteer effort going to get the warming space open, so the timeline is tentative, Sparks added.

The dining room at Helping Hands would be used as a warming center space and could fit somewhere between 30 and 80 people  but they could not lay down, Sparks said.

Im hopeful we can get it open, Sparks said.

There are few spaces to seek warmth in Linn County.

In Lebanon, the First Christian Church opens a warming shelter in extreme weather events such as snow, hard freezes and when temperatures go below freezing for consecutive days, said Kim Ullfers, Lebanon councilor and vice chair of the church.

But this past weekend, the warming center was open, and no one used it. Ullfers added that people sleeping outside in Lebanon are used to camping out rough.

Sweet Home doesn't have a warming shelter open, Family Assistance and Resource Center Executive Director Shirley Byrd said. She is hoping to open one but is still in the process of putting that resource online.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today.

In Albany, a city of about 56,000 people, there are currently only 20 spaces for people to get warm at night.

Fifty-six year old Jerry Warren, who is unhoused and living in Albany, came to the warming shelter at Second Chance after it had reached capacity, so he didnt get a place to stay warm on Monday night. The low that night was 23 degrees.

Warren wore a hoodie and jacket with his sleeping bag in hand. Strands of silver hair poked out from under his beanie.

You have to make sure you have a good jacket, he said. He said he has been on the streets long enough that he has the know-how to stay warm, he said.

I can survive out here, but not everyone has the capability and some people out here cant move around, or they are older, he said.

Related stories:

I spent a night at Albanys camping space for people experiencing homelessness When Oregon ordered cities to designate an area safe for homeless individuals to sleep and rest, they all approached it differently. Here's what life is like at Albany's camping space.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Around 68 private schools in and around Bengaluru received bomb threats via anonymous emails on Friday morning, triggering panic among the staff and parents.

The students and staff were immediately evacuated from the school premises.

The school authorities immediately alerted the police, who reached the institutions concerned with the bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage check teams. However, no suspicious objects were found yet and prima facie, it looks like a hoax message, the police said.

State Home Minister G Parameshwara said the message had come from an id "kharijites@beeble.com," saying bombs have been placed in the schools in Bengaluru and threatened to kill children and staff. "We are seriously verifying it and its source. I have spoken to the Commissioner and officials and have given the necessary instructions and verification on whether it is true or hoax and measures to be taken accordingly.

We will verify as to who is behind it and if there is an involvement of any terrorist organisation, and take measures accordingly. For now, it cannot be said who is behind it. The message in the email asks people to convert and other things--it will be verified," he told reporters.

"The threat emails to schools in the city have been sent using Virtual Private Network (VPN) where the accused can send such emails sitting anywhere. There is no need to panic as police and the bomb disposal squad have rushed to the spot to handle the situation. In all probabilities, the threats will be a hoax," city police commissioner B Dayananda said.

The email from kharijites@beeble.com was sent around 6.03 am on Friday. The email claimed there were explosive devices on the school grounds. The email further mentioned 'convert to Islam or die under the weight of the sword of Islam'.

Bomb Disposal Squads who were combing through the premises did not confirm the presence of bombs as of yet.

Last year, emails about bomb threats to around 30 schools in Bengaluru were sent which later turned out to be a hoax.

CM Siddaramaiah said, "I have spoken to police officers and I have instructed them to take adequate security measures at all places, to remain cautious, and to find out those behind it," he told PTI.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited one of the schools which received the bomb threat. "I was a bit dismayed after seeing the news on TV, as some schools I know and the one near my house were also mentioned. So I went out to check. The police have shown me the mail. Prima facie, it appears to be fake (hoax). I spoke to the police. But we should be cautious," he told PTI.

Shivakumar appealed to parents not to worry and said their children would be safe.

#BombThreat calls



Several schools in Bengaluru are on high alert after they received bomb threat calls on Friday morning. Parents came to pick up their children.



Video by @ShashidharNIE @NewIndianXpress @Cloudnirad pic.twitter.com/tQaXjcsdRa  TNIE Karnataka (@XpressBengaluru) December 1, 2023

Meanwhile, the Opposition slammed the government over the matter, alleging there was deterioration of law and order in the state.

(With additional inputs from PTI and online desk)

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

BENGALURU: Around 68 private schools in and around Bengaluru received bomb threats via anonymous emails on Friday morning, triggering panic among the staff and parents. The students and staff were immediately evacuated from the school premises. The school authorities immediately alerted the police, who reached the institutions concerned with the bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage check teams. However, no suspicious objects were found yet and prima facie, it looks like a hoax message, the police said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); State Home Minister G Parameshwara said the message had come from an id "kharijites@beeble.com," saying bombs have been placed in the schools in Bengaluru and threatened to kill children and staff. "We are seriously verifying it and its source. I have spoken to the Commissioner and officials and have given the necessary instructions and verification on whether it is true or hoax and measures to be taken accordingly. We will verify as to who is behind it and if there is an involvement of any terrorist organisation, and take measures accordingly. For now, it cannot be said who is behind it. The message in the email asks people to convert and other things--it will be verified," he told reporters. "The threat emails to schools in the city have been sent using Virtual Private Network (VPN) where the accused can send such emails sitting anywhere. There is no need to panic as police and the bomb disposal squad have rushed to the spot to handle the situation. In all probabilities, the threats will be a hoax," city police commissioner B Dayananda said. The email from kharijites@beeble.com was sent around 6.03 am on Friday. The email claimed there were explosive devices on the school grounds. The email further mentioned 'convert to Islam or die under the weight of the sword of Islam'. Bomb Disposal Squads who were combing through the premises did not confirm the presence of bombs as of yet. Last year, emails about bomb threats to around 30 schools in Bengaluru were sent which later turned out to be a hoax. CM Siddaramaiah said, "I have spoken to police officers and I have instructed them to take adequate security measures at all places, to remain cautious, and to find out those behind it," he told PTI. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited one of the schools which received the bomb threat. "I was a bit dismayed after seeing the news on TV, as some schools I know and the one near my house were also mentioned. So I went out to check. The police have shown me the mail. Prima facie, it appears to be fake (hoax). I spoke to the police. But we should be cautious," he told PTI. Shivakumar appealed to parents not to worry and said their children would be safe. #BombThreat calls Several schools in Bengaluru are on high alert after they received bomb threat calls on Friday morning. Parents came to pick up their children. Video by @ShashidharNIE @NewIndianXpress @Cloudnirad pic.twitter.com/tQaXjcsdRa  TNIE Karnataka (@XpressBengaluru) December 1, 2023 Meanwhile, the Opposition slammed the government over the matter, alleging there was deterioration of law and order in the state. (With additional inputs from PTI and online desk) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The heavy showers that lasted for over two hours on Wednesday evening severely damaged the arterial road and other highways in the city and outskirts, causing huge inconvenience for commuters. Though the MTC bus services were not cancelled, waterlogging at bus depots led to huge congestion at bus stands in T Nagar, Mogappair West, Anna Nagar West, and many other areas.

The bituminous layer on recently laid state highways got washed away, paving the way for threatening pits and potholes. Key locations like Inner Ring Road, Guindy Kathipara junction, Padi-Avadi NH, Poonamallee-Maduravoyal NH, and several other city roads suffered considerable damage.

In the past two months, the corporation and state highways carried out patch-up work on many bus route roads, but those too have sustained severe damage, guaranteeing rough journeys for travellers. Official sources said damaged highways are being identified, and they will be repaired post-monsoon.

Meanwhile, highway officials identified water stagnation at Inner Ring Road, EVR Periyar Salai, and Velachery main road. Earthmovers have been deployed to drain the water. Owing to waterlogging and traffic congestion, MTC buses moved slowly on Rajiv Gandhi, Inner Ring Road, GST and Anna Salai.

Efforts are underway to drain water at T Nagar and other depots, to ensure the operation of all scheduled buses. Depot managers have been instructed to not allow buses with damaged roofs to operate, said an official from the MTC.

The Southern Railway, meanwhile, said water from submerged tracks between Avadi and Ambattur has been drained, and trains in the Chennai-Arakkonam section are now operating as per schedule.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

CHENNAI: The heavy showers that lasted for over two hours on Wednesday evening severely damaged the arterial road and other highways in the city and outskirts, causing huge inconvenience for commuters. Though the MTC bus services were not cancelled, waterlogging at bus depots led to huge congestion at bus stands in T Nagar, Mogappair West, Anna Nagar West, and many other areas. The bituminous layer on recently laid state highways got washed away, paving the way for threatening pits and potholes. Key locations like Inner Ring Road, Guindy Kathipara junction, Padi-Avadi NH, Poonamallee-Maduravoyal NH, and several other city roads suffered considerable damage. In the past two months, the corporation and state highways carried out patch-up work on many bus route roads, but those too have sustained severe damage, guaranteeing rough journeys for travellers. Official sources said damaged highways are being identified, and they will be repaired post-monsoon.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Meanwhile, highway officials identified water stagnation at Inner Ring Road, EVR Periyar Salai, and Velachery main road. Earthmovers have been deployed to drain the water. Owing to waterlogging and traffic congestion, MTC buses moved slowly on Rajiv Gandhi, Inner Ring Road, GST and Anna Salai. Efforts are underway to drain water at T Nagar and other depots, to ensure the operation of all scheduled buses. Depot managers have been instructed to not allow buses with damaged roofs to operate, said an official from the MTC. The Southern Railway, meanwhile, said water from submerged tracks between Avadi and Ambattur has been drained, and trains in the Chennai-Arakkonam section are now operating as per schedule. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Krishna P S By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Some days ago, a 16-year-old queer teenager, Priyanshu Yadav aka Pranshu, died by suicide in Madhya Pradesh. A self-taught make-up artist, they (gender-neutral pronoun) had an Instagram channel filled with make-up-related content. Their dream was to be a famous make-up artist like popular American YouTuber James Charles. That dream, however, was snuffed out. After Pranshu posted a video of them wearing a sari for Diwali, the Class 10 students faced a barrage of cyberbullying.

There were over 4,000 hate comments under the viral post. Pranshu was ridiculed, abused and threatened. A week later, the youngster gave up on life. Though it hasnt been established that it was cyber harassment that led to his suicide, the sheer volume of homophobic abuse he faced was cruel. Posts on Pranshus death, too, have been seeing queerphobic vitriol. And that includes nasty comments from Malayalis as well. What Pranshu faced  and continues to face  was not an isolated social media aberration.

Despite all the talk of being progressive, Kerala is no better. Cyberbullying against queer people in the state is at an all-time high following the recent Pride march in Malappuram, according to members of the LGBTQ+ community. So much so that a section of queer people held a demonstration in front of the state Secretariat last week to draw attention to the mounting online violence in Kerala.

Subsequently, representatives of the community met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and handed over a plea seeking government intervention to curb cyber attacks on them. Incidentally, actor Mammootty, too, has been targeted by cyberbullies after the release of the film Kaathal, which deals with homosexuality.

Just want to end our existence

Queer poet Adarsh E aka Aadhi says the severity of the issue is rising. Numerous anonymous accounts descend on ones posts and direct messages with abuses. They question ones identity and existence, and shower abuse. They even abuse our parents and family, he says.Earlier, religious dogmas and cultural norms were used to isolate queer people. Following the pattern of rising transphobia in the West, trolls use language that sounds scientific to assert that homosexuality, transgender and non-binary identities are wrong, unscientific a disease.

Aadhi rues that none of these abusers are willing to have a conversation or try to understand queer people. They just want to end our existence, wipe us off, he says. They dont care about what queer people go through or the rising suicides among LGBTQ+ youth. It appears they would love to see queer people suffer.Syama S Prabha, secretary of the NGO Queerythm, echoes similar sentiments. She notes that the fake profiles come in packs to attack.

It seems as if they are constantly on the prowl, eager to gang up and pounce on queer people, she adds. Syama also notes that the nature of attacks has changed as there is higher visibility of LGBTQ+ people in society. Its not sporadic abuse anymore; the attacks appear more organised and sound sophisticated now, she adds.At the time when I came out, it was common to hear comments such as This is unnatural, against God and You will go to hell along with name-calling, she says. Now, they attack us saying trans/gay people spread HIV, STDs, etc. Then, of course, there are death threats.

Even as she exhorts queer people to stay strong and ignore faceless attacks, Syama stresses on the need for strong laws and enforcement measures to safeguard online spaces.

Notably, some online groups such as Yes Kerala have been spreading homophobia and transphobia. Yes Kerala, apparently, was on the forefront in opposing the Pride march in Malappuram. Many like Mohammed Unais, a queer youth from Kollam, have deactivated their social media profiles due to online abuse. Yet they are pursued and harassed, he says.

The Kerala Pride WhatsApp group was infiltrated. This was during the preparation for the march in Malappuram. Voice notes from the group were leaked and used by cyber bullies, Mohammed adds. This scared the queer youngsters who were not yet out to their families.He notes that the recent Pride event in Bengaluru (November 26) had more Malayali queer people than the one in Kerala.Here, there is constant scrutiny and fear, he says.

Even allies of the LGBTQ+ community are not spared. For instance, Malavika Binny, head of the history department at Kannur University, has come under the attack of cyberbullies for speaking out on gender and queer issues. Malavika says trolls have created at least five fake profiles using her name, and one of them promotes paedophilia. She has now filed a case.Usernames of some cyber goons  Meninist, Techhero, etc.  hint that they are worried about their fragile masculinity, she says.For them, anything feminine is inferior. They attack gay people for betraying their idea of masculinity. And they believe they are protecting society and culture.Malavika brushes aside the attacks she faces. It is not even close to what queer people face every day, she says.

Abusers allege that LGBTQ+ people will groom children, and confuse them about their gender and sexuality. Queer people and allies are labelled as paedophiles. Such messages can easily influence society.

A shocking example is the case of Padma Lakshmi, the first transgender lawyer in Kerala. She has been facing attacks online and at her workplace  the High Court! Many of my colleagues, including court officials, dont even consider me a human, she says.

Some openly say they are scared of me. From a public prosecutor who used a slur during court procedure and seniors who use discriminating language to sexually-tinted suggestive words, my legal career has so far been filled with thorns.Padma stresses that the surge in hate towards queer people indicates that existing laws and deterrence have been ineffective. Abusers commit offences with a sense of arrogance that they would go scot-free, she says.Without strong anti-discriminatory legislation and cyber laws  and stringent enforcement  the situation will not change.

Can online abusers be booked?

A call to the Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police Station to enquire about the procedures involved in cyber-harassment cases was received with genuine concern. The officer, who attended the call, mistook this reporter to be a victim, and was at his courteous best, forthcoming to help. Later, the call was transferred to Inspector M B Latheef, who patiently explained the system. There are various types of cybercrime  cyberbullying, impersonation, hacking and defamation, etc. They fall under different sections of the IT ACT, 2000, he says. Once the crime is proven, the maximum punishment is imprisonment for three years. For defamation, one has to directly approach the court.On cyber harassment by trolls, Latheef says, if a complaint is filed, officers can track the abusive profiles and charge the people behind them. To remove fake/anonymous accounts, we have to first alert the social platforms. Only they can remove profiles,he adds.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

KOCHI: Some days ago, a 16-year-old queer teenager, Priyanshu Yadav aka Pranshu, died by suicide in Madhya Pradesh. A self-taught make-up artist, they (gender-neutral pronoun) had an Instagram channel filled with make-up-related content. Their dream was to be a famous make-up artist like popular American YouTuber James Charles. That dream, however, was snuffed out. After Pranshu posted a video of them wearing a sari for Diwali, the Class 10 students faced a barrage of cyberbullying. There were over 4,000 hate comments under the viral post. Pranshu was ridiculed, abused and threatened. A week later, the youngster gave up on life. Though it hasnt been established that it was cyber harassment that led to his suicide, the sheer volume of homophobic abuse he faced was cruel. Posts on Pranshus death, too, have been seeing queerphobic vitriol. And that includes nasty comments from Malayalis as well. What Pranshu faced  and continues to face  was not an isolated social media aberration. Despite all the talk of being progressive, Kerala is no better. Cyberbullying against queer people in the state is at an all-time high following the recent Pride march in Malappuram, according to members of the LGBTQ+ community. So much so that a section of queer people held a demonstration in front of the state Secretariat last week to draw attention to the mounting online violence in Kerala.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Subsequently, representatives of the community met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and handed over a plea seeking government intervention to curb cyber attacks on them. Incidentally, actor Mammootty, too, has been targeted by cyberbullies after the release of the film Kaathal, which deals with homosexuality. Just want to end our existence Queer poet Adarsh E aka Aadhi says the severity of the issue is rising. Numerous anonymous accounts descend on ones posts and direct messages with abuses. They question ones identity and existence, and shower abuse. They even abuse our parents and family, he says.Earlier, religious dogmas and cultural norms were used to isolate queer people. Following the pattern of rising transphobia in the West, trolls use language that sounds scientific to assert that homosexuality, transgender and non-binary identities are wrong, unscientific a disease. Aadhi rues that none of these abusers are willing to have a conversation or try to understand queer people. They just want to end our existence, wipe us off, he says. They dont care about what queer people go through or the rising suicides among LGBTQ+ youth. It appears they would love to see queer people suffer.Syama S Prabha, secretary of the NGO Queerythm, echoes similar sentiments. She notes that the fake profiles come in packs to attack. It seems as if they are constantly on the prowl, eager to gang up and pounce on queer people, she adds. Syama also notes that the nature of attacks has changed as there is higher visibility of LGBTQ+ people in society. Its not sporadic abuse anymore; the attacks appear more organised and sound sophisticated now, she adds.At the time when I came out, it was common to hear comments such as This is unnatural, against God and You will go to hell along with name-calling, she says. Now, they attack us saying trans/gay people spread HIV, STDs, etc. Then, of course, there are death threats. Even as she exhorts queer people to stay strong and ignore faceless attacks, Syama stresses on the need for strong laws and enforcement measures to safeguard online spaces. Notably, some online groups such as Yes Kerala have been spreading homophobia and transphobia. Yes Kerala, apparently, was on the forefront in opposing the Pride march in Malappuram. Many like Mohammed Unais, a queer youth from Kollam, have deactivated their social media profiles due to online abuse. Yet they are pursued and harassed, he says. The Kerala Pride WhatsApp group was infiltrated. This was during the preparation for the march in Malappuram. Voice notes from the group were leaked and used by cyber bullies, Mohammed adds. This scared the queer youngsters who were not yet out to their families.He notes that the recent Pride event in Bengaluru (November 26) had more Malayali queer people than the one in Kerala.Here, there is constant scrutiny and fear, he says. Even allies of the LGBTQ+ community are not spared. For instance, Malavika Binny, head of the history department at Kannur University, has come under the attack of cyberbullies for speaking out on gender and queer issues. Malavika says trolls have created at least five fake profiles using her name, and one of them promotes paedophilia. She has now filed a case.Usernames of some cyber goons  Meninist, Techhero, etc.  hint that they are worried about their fragile masculinity, she says.For them, anything feminine is inferior. They attack gay people for betraying their idea of masculinity. And they believe they are protecting society and culture.Malavika brushes aside the attacks she faces. It is not even close to what queer people face every day, she says. Abusers allege that LGBTQ+ people will groom children, and confuse them about their gender and sexuality. Queer people and allies are labelled as paedophiles. Such messages can easily influence society. A shocking example is the case of Padma Lakshmi, the first transgender lawyer in Kerala. She has been facing attacks online and at her workplace  the High Court! Many of my colleagues, including court officials, dont even consider me a human, she says. Some openly say they are scared of me. From a public prosecutor who used a slur during court procedure and seniors who use discriminating language to sexually-tinted suggestive words, my legal career has so far been filled with thorns.Padma stresses that the surge in hate towards queer people indicates that existing laws and deterrence have been ineffective. Abusers commit offences with a sense of arrogance that they would go scot-free, she says.Without strong anti-discriminatory legislation and cyber laws  and stringent enforcement  the situation will not change. Can online abusers be booked? A call to the Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police Station to enquire about the procedures involved in cyber-harassment cases was received with genuine concern. The officer, who attended the call, mistook this reporter to be a victim, and was at his courteous best, forthcoming to help. Later, the call was transferred to Inspector M B Latheef, who patiently explained the system. There are various types of cybercrime  cyberbullying, impersonation, hacking and defamation, etc. They fall under different sections of the IT ACT, 2000, he says. Once the crime is proven, the maximum punishment is imprisonment for three years. For defamation, one has to directly approach the court.On cyber harassment by trolls, Latheef says, if a complaint is filed, officers can track the abusive profiles and charge the people behind them. To remove fake/anonymous accounts, we have to first alert the social platforms. Only they can remove profiles,he adds. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: Barely a week after the Patna High Court declared 'pakarua vivah' (forced marriage) as null and void, a 23-year-old teacher was kidnapped from his school and subsequently married off at gunpoint in Bihar's Vaishali district.

Gautam Kumar, a teacher posted at Government middle school, Repura under Patepur block in Vaishali district, was kidnapped at gunpoint from his school on Wednesday by a man named Rajesh Rai and his hired goons.

Gautam, a native of Mahaiya village near Malpur under Patepur block, was appointed as a teacher recently through the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).

He was forcibly married to Chandani Kumari, daughter of Rajesh Rai, who runs a brick kiln near Patepur block headquarters.

The victim's grandfather Rajendra Rai lodged a complaint with Patepur police station in connection with the kidnapping of his grandson. The principal of the school where Gautam works at had also informed the police about the incident. The victim's grandfather has accused five persons  Rajesh Rai, Bhushan Rai, Binod Rai, Dabloo Rai, and Pramod Rai, all residents of Repura village, of kidnapping Gautam in an SUV at gunpoint.

Gautam's family members accompanied by local residents blocked Tajpur-Mahua road in protest against his kidnapping and demanded he be freed. Traffic remained paralyzed for several hours due to the road blockade.

On Thursday, a police team raided Rajesh Rai's house and rescued the teacher.

Patepur station house officer (SHO) said that the teacher had been saved by the police. He will be produced in the court to get his statement recorded under section 164 of CrPC, he added.

A division bench of Justice P B Bajanthri and Justice Arun Kumar Jha last week declared 'pakarua vivah' null and void while hearing a petition filed on behalf of Ravi Kant, an army constable.

The man, a native of Ravra village in Nawada district, had been kidnapped at gunpoint when he had gone to Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district and married off. The marriage was solemnised on June 30, 2013 at Chauki village under Kashichak police station in Lakhisarai district.

The marriage of Ravi Kant was then declared null and void after 10 years.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

PATNA: Barely a week after the Patna High Court declared 'pakarua vivah' (forced marriage) as null and void, a 23-year-old teacher was kidnapped from his school and subsequently married off at gunpoint in Bihar's Vaishali district. Gautam Kumar, a teacher posted at Government middle school, Repura under Patepur block in Vaishali district, was kidnapped at gunpoint from his school on Wednesday by a man named Rajesh Rai and his hired goons. Gautam, a native of Mahaiya village near Malpur under Patepur block, was appointed as a teacher recently through the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He was forcibly married to Chandani Kumari, daughter of Rajesh Rai, who runs a brick kiln near Patepur block headquarters. The victim's grandfather Rajendra Rai lodged a complaint with Patepur police station in connection with the kidnapping of his grandson. The principal of the school where Gautam works at had also informed the police about the incident. The victim's grandfather has accused five persons  Rajesh Rai, Bhushan Rai, Binod Rai, Dabloo Rai, and Pramod Rai, all residents of Repura village, of kidnapping Gautam in an SUV at gunpoint. Gautam's family members accompanied by local residents blocked Tajpur-Mahua road in protest against his kidnapping and demanded he be freed. Traffic remained paralyzed for several hours due to the road blockade. On Thursday, a police team raided Rajesh Rai's house and rescued the teacher. Patepur station house officer (SHO) said that the teacher had been saved by the police. He will be produced in the court to get his statement recorded under section 164 of CrPC, he added. A division bench of Justice P B Bajanthri and Justice Arun Kumar Jha last week declared 'pakarua vivah' null and void while hearing a petition filed on behalf of Ravi Kant, an army constable. The man, a native of Ravra village in Nawada district, had been kidnapped at gunpoint when he had gone to Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district and married off. The marriage was solemnised on June 30, 2013 at Chauki village under Kashichak police station in Lakhisarai district. The marriage of Ravi Kant was then declared null and void after 10 years. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: At least 3 people have died and 2 have been hospitalized in Gujarats Kheda district in the last two days after consuming an Ayurvedic syrup containing methyl alcohol, according to the police.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the syrup, branded as Kalmeghasav - Asava Arishta, was sold over the counter to nearly 55 people by a shopkeeper in Bilodara village, located near Nadiad town.

Gujarat government spokesperson and cabinet minister Rishikesh Patel told the media, It appears that methyl was used instead of ethyl in the syrup, which can cause blindness and even death. The incident is being investigated by the police.

No one has been granted permission by the government to manufacture such drinks in Gujarat. Since one such license was cancelled, it appears that the syrup was brought from somewhere else, he added. Three people have died after drinking Ayurvedic syrup, while preliminary investigations into the other 2 deaths suggest that they did not drink this syrup. Further investigation is on, Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay told reporters.

According to Kheda 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 its proprietor. Right now, his own father is also being treated for anxiety at the civil hospital. The remaining individuals who ingested the syrup are doing well. We are looking into whether there was another reason for the deaths, he said.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

AHMEDABAD: At least 3 people have died and 2 have been hospitalized in Gujarats Kheda district in the last two days after consuming an Ayurvedic syrup containing methyl alcohol, according to the police. Preliminary investigation revealed that the syrup, branded as Kalmeghasav - Asava Arishta, was sold over the counter to nearly 55 people by a shopkeeper in Bilodara village, located near Nadiad town. Gujarat government spokesperson and cabinet minister Rishikesh Patel told the media, It appears that methyl was used instead of ethyl in the syrup, which can cause blindness and even death. The incident is being investigated by the police.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); No one has been granted permission by the government to manufacture such drinks in Gujarat. Since one such license was cancelled, it appears that the syrup was brought from somewhere else, he added. Three people have died after drinking Ayurvedic syrup, while preliminary investigations into the other 2 deaths suggest that they did not drink this syrup. Further investigation is on, Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay told reporters. According to Kheda 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 its proprietor. Right now, his own father is also being treated for anxiety at the civil hospital. The remaining individuals who ingested the syrup are doing well. We are looking into whether there was another reason for the deaths, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Bansy Kalappa By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: With a temporary truce declared between Israel and Gaza and hostages being exchanged, the big question on everyones mind is whether the war is finally over. To this, Israeli Consul General Tammy Ben Haim said action against Hamas would continue. She was speaking in response to a question by students of Bangalore City University, at an official interaction on campus recently.

To a students question about accusations of war crimes against Israel by some nations, she explained, Israel has done its best to avoid civilian casualties. In the Al-Ahli Hospital bombing, the rocket was a misfired Hamas explosive which fell in the parking lot and damaged the hospital. When this was pointed out with evidence, Hamas accusations against Israel stopped.

As far as the Geneva Convention norms are concerned, Hamas raped and murdered young innocent civilians, and even video recorded these ghastly acts on October 7. They set up terror bases in tunnels below mosques, hospitals and kindergartens, which is a violation of Geneva rules. They fired rockets against Israel and when Israel retaliated they used human shields.

Asked if the October 7 attack was a failure of Mossad, which is rated among the best intelligence agencies in the world, she said the lapse would be investigated at some point in the future, but now Israel is focused on winning the war against Hamas. On a regular basis, Israel thwarts terror attacks or attempts and you can never be 100 per cent fail-proof. Mossad provides intelligence inputs about many different kinds of attacks, which have been useful in the past, she said.

On the state of tourism, considering around 35,000-40,000 Israelis visit India every year and about 80,000-90,000 Indians visited Israel in 2018 before the Covid-19 pandemic, and things had begun looking up again, she said it is hoped tourism will flourish again, now that there is truce.

Later, speaking exclusively to this newspaper, she said Israels priority is to get its 200-plus hostages back, and that process has started. Israel would be very interested in demolishing the terror network, considering there are tunnels running about 500km through Gaza. Asked if Gaza would be handed back to Hamas, since war is nearing completion, she replied in the negative, saying that when Israel left Gaza 18 years ago, Hamas moved in built a terror network.

Varsity tie-up possible

In response to a question on suggestions of a possible tie-up between Bangalore City University or other universities in India with universities in Israel, Haim said it was possible when universities reopen after the war. She said Israel is very much in favour of it and that many Indian origin students are studying in Israel, which is proof such a tie-up would be mutually beneficial.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

BENGALURU: With a temporary truce declared between Israel and Gaza and hostages being exchanged, the big question on everyones mind is whether the war is finally over. To this, Israeli Consul General Tammy Ben Haim said action against Hamas would continue. She was speaking in response to a question by students of Bangalore City University, at an official interaction on campus recently. To a students question about accusations of war crimes against Israel by some nations, she explained, Israel has done its best to avoid civilian casualties. In the Al-Ahli Hospital bombing, the rocket was a misfired Hamas explosive which fell in the parking lot and damaged the hospital. When this was pointed out with evidence, Hamas accusations against Israel stopped. As far as the Geneva Convention norms are concerned, Hamas raped and murdered young innocent civilians, and even video recorded these ghastly acts on October 7. They set up terror bases in tunnels below mosques, hospitals and kindergartens, which is a violation of Geneva rules. They fired rockets against Israel and when Israel retaliated they used human shields.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Asked if the October 7 attack was a failure of Mossad, which is rated among the best intelligence agencies in the world, she said the lapse would be investigated at some point in the future, but now Israel is focused on winning the war against Hamas. On a regular basis, Israel thwarts terror attacks or attempts and you can never be 100 per cent fail-proof. Mossad provides intelligence inputs about many different kinds of attacks, which have been useful in the past, she said. On the state of tourism, considering around 35,000-40,000 Israelis visit India every year and about 80,000-90,000 Indians visited Israel in 2018 before the Covid-19 pandemic, and things had begun looking up again, she said it is hoped tourism will flourish again, now that there is truce. Later, speaking exclusively to this newspaper, she said Israels priority is to get its 200-plus hostages back, and that process has started. Israel would be very interested in demolishing the terror network, considering there are tunnels running about 500km through Gaza. Asked if Gaza would be handed back to Hamas, since war is nearing completion, she replied in the negative, saying that when Israel left Gaza 18 years ago, Hamas moved in built a terror network. Varsity tie-up possible In response to a question on suggestions of a possible tie-up between Bangalore City University or other universities in India with universities in Israel, Haim said it was possible when universities reopen after the war. She said Israel is very much in favour of it and that many Indian origin students are studying in Israel, which is proof such a tie-up would be mutually beneficial. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
The Conversation By

Reeta Tremblay, University of Victoria

A recent indictment from the United States Department of Justice has alleged an Indian security official was involved in attempting to assassinate a US and Canadian citizen in New York. The alleged target, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is a leader in the Sikh separatist movement and has been involved in organizing referendums for the establishment of Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh state in northern India.

The indictment also states that there is a link between the foiled attempt to kill Pannun and the murder of Canadian Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia earlier this year.

The Indian government said it was investigating the allegations, and had established a committee to address the security concerns highlighted by the US government.

This announcement by the US could have potential ramifications for Indian politics, both at home and abroad. However, it is unlikely to have any significant impact on next years general elections, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be seeking his third term in office.

Bolstering Modis strongman image

Canadian allegations against India had handed Modi an excellent political platform for the next general elections. It sent a clear message that Indias government would, under no circumstances, tolerate any threats to the country.

Indias foreign policy has become more muscular under Modi, and thats a strategy that resonates with his supporters. His landslide victory in 2019 had a lot to do with support for Indias surgical strikes in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir in 2016 in response to an attack that killed 19 Indian soldiers.

Following Canadas allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjars killing, the Modi government was once again able to successfully generate a narrative against Canada in general and the Liberal party in particular.

Indias narrative consists of four parts:

Canada is a safe haven for terrorists, extremism and organized crime, and there is a nexus between Indo-Canadian gangsters and Sikh separatists working with Pakistans intelligence agency.

The Canadian government has consistently ignored repeated requests from India to take actions against Khalistani terrorists operating on Canadian soil.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government is pandering to the large Sikh diaspora in Canada.

The Liberal minority government is dependent on support from the New Democratic Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh supposedly sympathetic to the Khalistani cause.

Indian news media and politicians have repeated the official discourse constantly for weeks.

While India was quick to dismiss Canadian allegations, it has adopted a much more cautious approach to the US indictment. India has much to lose by alienating the Biden administration as both countries have invested a great deal in enhancing Indo-US relations and making India a central ally in Americas Indo-Pacific strategy.

Meanwhile, Indo-Canadian relations have been chilly since 2015, largely due to Khalistan activity in Canada. Moreover, annual trade between India and Canada is worth about $12 billion while trade with the US is worth $192 billion. In short, India has much more to lose by alienating the US than it does by taking a hard line with Canada.

Furthering authoritarianism

On the surface, it might appear that news of the US indictment could fracture Indias muscular foreign policy. However, this episode is unlikely to have much impact on Indias domestic politics.

Modi remains popular with an approval rating of 78 per cent. He is credited, among other things, with Indias emergence as a global power, with his effective handling of border issues with China, for taking on Pakistan and with the success of the countrys space program.

The 26-party opposition coalition, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), is unlikely to challenge Modi on this particular issue. The national defence narrative is a strong one, and Indias territorial integrity is a sacrosanct issue for all political parties.

However, among some minority communities, Muslims and Sikhs, both at home and abroad, revelations of assassination plots could raise serious concerns. The Modi governments aggressive pursuit of a Hindu nationalist agenda, its repression of minorities and control over dissent have become more entrenched.

Indias parliament is in the process of amending its sedition laws. If the changes are passed, endangering the unity and integrity of the country could result in life-term imprisonment.

These proposed changes to the already harsh and draconian penal code will only further criminalize dissent. The Modi government is ensuring that dissenting voices, particularly those of minority communities, completely disappear from Indian democracy.

Amplifying the Khalistan movement

Indias campaign of global repression of Sikh separatists could have the effect of unifying the Sikh diaspora. It was in 2018 that Pannun came up with the idea of holding a non-binding referendums to mobilize the global Sikh community.

That year, Sikh activists announced their campaign for holding referendums starting in 2021 across multiple cities. The first referendum took place in London on Oct. 31, 2021, followed by eight more referendums during 2022 and 2023 in the cities of Leeds and Luton (United Kingdom), Geneva (Switzerland), Brampton, Mississauga and Surrey (Canada), Melbourne (Australia), and Brescia (Italy).

Pannun announced plans for referendums in Punjab and the US and for another round of voting in Canadian cities. In October, following Trudeaus announcement of credible allegations against the Indian government, thousands of voters turned out to participate in a referendum in Surrey, some coming from as far as the cities of Edmonton and Calgary.

While only a small minority of the Sikh diaspora is thought to support creating a separate Sikh state, the majority were likely registering their disapproval of India and its repression of minorities. The memory of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the wake of Indira Gandhis assassination which left thousands dead remains very much alive within the entire Sikh community to this day.

But Khalistani referendum politics relies heavily on images depicting so-called martyrs (separatists killed by India) and Indian diplomats as the assassins of Sikh activists. The desecration of Hindu temples also has the potential to create division within the Indian Hindu and Sikh diasporas. Canadian Liberal MP Chandra Arya has accused Khalistan supporters of targetting Hindu temples.

As more information comes out, the Canadian government will need to carefully manage its relations with India and the relationship between diasporic communities here.

Reeta Tremblay

Adjunct and Professor Emerita, Politics, University of Victoria

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Read the original article.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

Reeta Tremblay, University of Victoria A recent indictment from the United States Department of Justice has alleged an Indian security official was involved in attempting to assassinate a US and Canadian citizen in New York. The alleged target, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is a leader in the Sikh separatist movement and has been involved in organizing referendums for the establishment of Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh state in northern India. The indictment also states that there is a link between the foiled attempt to kill Pannun and the murder of Canadian Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia earlier this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Indian government said it was investigating the allegations, and had established a committee to address the security concerns highlighted by the US government. This announcement by the US could have potential ramifications for Indian politics, both at home and abroad. However, it is unlikely to have any significant impact on next years general elections, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be seeking his third term in office. Bolstering Modis strongman image Canadian allegations against India had handed Modi an excellent political platform for the next general elections. It sent a clear message that Indias government would, under no circumstances, tolerate any threats to the country. Indias foreign policy has become more muscular under Modi, and thats a strategy that resonates with his supporters. His landslide victory in 2019 had a lot to do with support for Indias surgical strikes in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir in 2016 in response to an attack that killed 19 Indian soldiers. Following Canadas allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjars killing, the Modi government was once again able to successfully generate a narrative against Canada in general and the Liberal party in particular. Indias narrative consists of four parts: Canada is a safe haven for terrorists, extremism and organized crime, and there is a nexus between Indo-Canadian gangsters and Sikh separatists working with Pakistans intelligence agency. The Canadian government has consistently ignored repeated requests from India to take actions against Khalistani terrorists operating on Canadian soil. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government is pandering to the large Sikh diaspora in Canada. The Liberal minority government is dependent on support from the New Democratic Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh supposedly sympathetic to the Khalistani cause. Indian news media and politicians have repeated the official discourse constantly for weeks. While India was quick to dismiss Canadian allegations, it has adopted a much more cautious approach to the US indictment. India has much to lose by alienating the Biden administration as both countries have invested a great deal in enhancing Indo-US relations and making India a central ally in Americas Indo-Pacific strategy. Meanwhile, Indo-Canadian relations have been chilly since 2015, largely due to Khalistan activity in Canada. Moreover, annual trade between India and Canada is worth about $12 billion while trade with the US is worth $192 billion. In short, India has much more to lose by alienating the US than it does by taking a hard line with Canada. Furthering authoritarianism On the surface, it might appear that news of the US indictment could fracture Indias muscular foreign policy. However, this episode is unlikely to have much impact on Indias domestic politics. Modi remains popular with an approval rating of 78 per cent. He is credited, among other things, with Indias emergence as a global power, with his effective handling of border issues with China, for taking on Pakistan and with the success of the countrys space program. The 26-party opposition coalition, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), is unlikely to challenge Modi on this particular issue. The national defence narrative is a strong one, and Indias territorial integrity is a sacrosanct issue for all political parties. However, among some minority communities, Muslims and Sikhs, both at home and abroad, revelations of assassination plots could raise serious concerns. The Modi governments aggressive pursuit of a Hindu nationalist agenda, its repression of minorities and control over dissent have become more entrenched. Indias parliament is in the process of amending its sedition laws. If the changes are passed, endangering the unity and integrity of the country could result in life-term imprisonment. These proposed changes to the already harsh and draconian penal code will only further criminalize dissent. The Modi government is ensuring that dissenting voices, particularly those of minority communities, completely disappear from Indian democracy. Amplifying the Khalistan movement Indias campaign of global repression of Sikh separatists could have the effect of unifying the Sikh diaspora. It was in 2018 that Pannun came up with the idea of holding a non-binding referendums to mobilize the global Sikh community. That year, Sikh activists announced their campaign for holding referendums starting in 2021 across multiple cities. The first referendum took place in London on Oct. 31, 2021, followed by eight more referendums during 2022 and 2023 in the cities of Leeds and Luton (United Kingdom), Geneva (Switzerland), Brampton, Mississauga and Surrey (Canada), Melbourne (Australia), and Brescia (Italy). Pannun announced plans for referendums in Punjab and the US and for another round of voting in Canadian cities. In October, following Trudeaus announcement of credible allegations against the Indian government, thousands of voters turned out to participate in a referendum in Surrey, some coming from as far as the cities of Edmonton and Calgary. While only a small minority of the Sikh diaspora is thought to support creating a separate Sikh state, the majority were likely registering their disapproval of India and its repression of minorities. The memory of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the wake of Indira Gandhis assassination which left thousands dead remains very much alive within the entire Sikh community to this day. But Khalistani referendum politics relies heavily on images depicting so-called martyrs (separatists killed by India) and Indian diplomats as the assassins of Sikh activists. The desecration of Hindu temples also has the potential to create division within the Indian Hindu and Sikh diasporas. Canadian Liberal MP Chandra Arya has accused Khalistan supporters of targetting Hindu temples. As more information comes out, the Canadian government will need to carefully manage its relations with India and the relationship between diasporic communities here. Reeta Tremblay Adjunct and Professor Emerita, Politics, University of Victoria 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 Express News Service

KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, conducted raids at eight locations across West Bengal , including the residences of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Zakibul Islam and two councillors affiliated with the ruling party in civic bodies. The investigation pertains to irregularities in the recruitment process within state-run schools.

Zakibul Islam, the MLA from Domkol in Murshidabad, had his residence searched by the federal agency, leading to the discovery of Rs 24 lakh in cash, suspected to be proceeds of the alleged crime. CBI sources revealed that Zakibuls name emerged during the interrogation of Manik Bhattacharya, another TMC legislator from Palashipara in Nadia, who was arrested in July. Zakibul, who also served as the chairman of Domkol municipality, allegedly has connections with several educational institutions.

A CBI officer stated, Zakibul failed to provide satisfactory explanations when questioned about the source of the Rs 24 lakh from his residence. The CBI conducted raids on two houses owned by Bappaditya Majumdar of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Debraj Chakrabarty of Bidhannagar municipality. Information obtained from the interrogation of former education minister Partha Chatterjee pointed to Majumdars involvement in recommending individuals for school jobs in exchange for monetary gains.

Chatterjee, along with his aide Arpita Mukherjee, was arrested last year by the ED, and both are currently in jail. It recovered a substantial amount of Rs 49 crore and jewelry from Arpitas two apartments, deemed as proceeds of the alleged crime by the investigating agency. During Wednesdays rally at the TMCs customary venue to commemorate its annual Martyrs Day on July 21, Home Minister Amit Shah made references to the arrests of TMC ministers and prominent figures linked to purported scams.

Rs 24L cash found

Zakibul Islam, the MLA from Domkol in Murshidabad, had his residence searched by the CBI, leading to the discovery of Rs 24 lakh in cash. Zakibul, who also served as the chairman of Domkol municipality allegedly has connections with several educational institutions.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, conducted raids at eight locations across West Bengal , including the residences of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Zakibul Islam and two councillors affiliated with the ruling party in civic bodies. The investigation pertains to irregularities in the recruitment process within state-run schools. Zakibul Islam, the MLA from Domkol in Murshidabad, had his residence searched by the federal agency, leading to the discovery of Rs 24 lakh in cash, suspected to be proceeds of the alleged crime. CBI sources revealed that Zakibuls name emerged during the interrogation of Manik Bhattacharya, another TMC legislator from Palashipara in Nadia, who was arrested in July. Zakibul, who also served as the chairman of Domkol municipality, allegedly has connections with several educational institutions. A CBI officer stated, Zakibul failed to provide satisfactory explanations when questioned about the source of the Rs 24 lakh from his residence. The CBI conducted raids on two houses owned by Bappaditya Majumdar of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Debraj Chakrabarty of Bidhannagar municipality. Information obtained from the interrogation of former education minister Partha Chatterjee pointed to Majumdars involvement in recommending individuals for school jobs in exchange for monetary gains.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Chatterjee, along with his aide Arpita Mukherjee, was arrested last year by the ED, and both are currently in jail. It recovered a substantial amount of Rs 49 crore and jewelry from Arpitas two apartments, deemed as proceeds of the alleged crime by the investigating agency. During Wednesdays rally at the TMCs customary venue to commemorate its annual Martyrs Day on July 21, Home Minister Amit Shah made references to the arrests of TMC ministers and prominent figures linked to purported scams. Rs 24L cash found Zakibul Islam, the MLA from Domkol in Murshidabad, had his residence searched by the CBI, leading to the discovery of Rs 24 lakh in cash. Zakibul, who also served as the chairman of Domkol municipality allegedly has connections with several educational institutions. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty By

Express News Service

The Centre on Friday before the Supreme Court defended its decision to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab from 15 to 50 km along the India-Pakistan border.

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, the senior law officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), appeared before the top court and defended the decision.

"This only means that in some offences like passport, and others, the BSF has jurisdiction along with the local police," SG Mehta told a bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud.

Mehta further said that the amendment only increased the distance and the local police were not deprived of the jurisdiction as there was concurrent jurisdiction.

He also said that the Punjab government filed the petition in 2021 and the situation has changed since then.

In December 2021, the Punjab government had moved the Supreme Court against the Centres decision to extend the BSFs jurisdiction in the state from 15 to 50 km along the Indo-Pak border, saying it went against federalism and would lead to chaos.

Opposing the decision of the Centre, lawyer Sadan Farasat, appearing for the Punjab government, said that the decision amounts to creating a parallel jurisdiction, taking away police powers of the state.

"We feel (prima facie) state police's power is not taken away. In cognisable offences, BSF won't be investigating. So nothing goes away from state police," the CJI said.

"But since its a suit, we will have to hear both parties. First let us frame the issues," the bench added.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

The Centre on Friday before the Supreme Court defended its decision to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab from 15 to 50 km along the India-Pakistan border. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, the senior law officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), appeared before the top court and defended the decision. "This only means that in some offences like passport, and others, the BSF has jurisdiction along with the local police," SG Mehta told a bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mehta further said that the amendment only increased the distance and the local police were not deprived of the jurisdiction as there was concurrent jurisdiction. He also said that the Punjab government filed the petition in 2021 and the situation has changed since then. In December 2021, the Punjab government had moved the Supreme Court against the Centres decision to extend the BSFs jurisdiction in the state from 15 to 50 km along the Indo-Pak border, saying it went against federalism and would lead to chaos. Opposing the decision of the Centre, lawyer Sadan Farasat, appearing for the Punjab government, said that the decision amounts to creating a parallel jurisdiction, taking away police powers of the state. "We feel (prima facie) state police's power is not taken away. In cognisable offences, BSF won't be investigating. So nothing goes away from state police," the CJI said. "But since its a suit, we will have to hear both parties. First let us frame the issues," the bench added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday that the government is making all-out efforts to bring back eight former naval personnel from Qatar who were handed death sentences by a Qatari court.

"We are working closely to ensure that their interests are looked after," Admiral Kumar said at a media briefing.

"The government of India is putting all-out efforts to ensure they are brought back," he said.

The Indian nationals were, on October 26, given a death sentence by Qatar's Court of First Instance. India described the ruling as "deeply" shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case.

An appeal has already been filed against the death sentence, and a higher court in Qatar has already admitted the plea. The appeal has been filed by the legal team of the detained Indian nationals.

ALSO READ | Awarded death sentence by Qatar, did Indian Navy vets spy for Israel?

The Indian nationals, who worked with the private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year, reportedly in an alleged case of espionage. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public.

In its reaction to the ruling by the Qatari court, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last month said that it is attaching "high importance" to this case and is exploring all legal options. The charges were filed against the eight Indian Navy veterans on March 25, and they were tried under Qatari law.

All of the former Navy officers had "unblemished stints" of up to 20 years in the Indian Navy and had held important positions, including that of instructors in the force, former military officials had said.

OPINION | Taking care of the Qatar eight

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

NEW DELHI: Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday that the government is making all-out efforts to bring back eight former naval personnel from Qatar who were handed death sentences by a Qatari court. "We are working closely to ensure that their interests are looked after," Admiral Kumar said at a media briefing. "The government of India is putting all-out efforts to ensure they are brought back," he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Indian nationals were, on October 26, given a death sentence by Qatar's Court of First Instance. India described the ruling as "deeply" shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case. An appeal has already been filed against the death sentence, and a higher court in Qatar has already admitted the plea. The appeal has been filed by the legal team of the detained Indian nationals. ALSO READ | Awarded death sentence by Qatar, did Indian Navy vets spy for Israel? The Indian nationals, who worked with the private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year, reportedly in an alleged case of espionage. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public. In its reaction to the ruling by the Qatari court, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last month said that it is attaching "high importance" to this case and is exploring all legal options. The charges were filed against the eight Indian Navy veterans on March 25, and they were tried under Qatari law. All of the former Navy officers had "unblemished stints" of up to 20 years in the Indian Navy and had held important positions, including that of instructors in the force, former military officials had said. OPINION | Taking care of the Qatar eight Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: With most of the exit polls predicting a neck-to-neck race between the Congress and the BJP in Rajasthan, both the national parties are busy seeking support from the independent players and other smaller parties.

Most exit polls have either predicted that the BJP or Congress of winning with a slim majority. The confusion of it all either of the parties will cross the majority mark is now the talk of the town thus both the parties are now working to somehow put together a majority in the state.

All eyes are now focused on the 15 to 20 rebel, independent and other party candidates, whose winning chances are higher and could play a role in the formation of the government in Rajasthan.

For instance in Chittorgarh seat, Chandrabhan Singh Akiya, a BJP rebel who is a two-time sitting MLA of the party was denied a ticket by the saffron party and is now said to be well placed in the Chittorgarh contest.

Similarly in Barmer district's, Shiv constituency, a young BJP rebel Ravindra Singh Bhati is reportedly ahead of both the BJP and Congress candidates in the electoral battle.

Independents and rebels like these may end up as winners and could well play an important role in government formation in Rajasthan.

Also crucial will be smaller parties like Hanuman Beniwal's RLP or Rashtriya Loktantrik Party which could get a handful of seats especially in the Jat belt of Rajasthan.

Likewise in the tribal belt of South Rajasthan, BAP or the Bhartiya Aadivasi Party is expected to win a few seats and could make it an interesting scene in Rajasthan.

Similarly, in East Rajasthan Mayawati's BSP is likely to win a number of seats, just as in earlier elections in Rajasthan BSP had half a dozen seats and could play a key role in government formation this year too. a top leader of the Tribal party BAP in southern Rajasthan Rajkumar Raut has claimed that , "Exit polls have shown that the calculations of both the parties have gone wrong. I think our party will win around 10 seats and we will be the kingmakers in Rajasthan."

For the Congress, it is Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and also state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra are believed to be reaching out to all the independents, rebels and smaller parties to try and get their support for the grand old party.

READ HERE | Rajasthan: Exit polls predict a neck-to-neck race; both Congress and BJP confident of securing majority

While the exit polls may be reflecting a lot of uncertainty Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has asserted that the Congress is well on its way to retaining power in the state. "We are quite confident that we will form the next government unless BJP has been able to misguide people through its religion card the Congress will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan," Gehlot said.

Similarly, on the BJP side, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is said to be quietly reaching out to a number of party rebels who were earlier regarded as her loyalists and are now said to be well-placed to win the elections.

In addition, state BJP chief CP Joshi, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are said to be said to be reaching out to potential allies and strongly placing rebels and independents.

Over the past month, most surveys and polls had given a definitive edge to the BJP in the Rajasthan election but with three of the major exit polls predicting a possible Congress victory, the mood in the grand old party is now quite upbeat. In case the ultimate results pan out on the lines of the exit poll predictions the Congress may emerge as a surprising winner and retain power in Rajasthan when the results come out on December 3rd.

Moreover, if the exit poll trends turn into the real verdict on Sunday, the role of the Governor of the state will be critical, as neither of the two major parties seems to be getting a clear majority.

In such a scenario, Governor Kalraj Mishra could have a decisive role in who gets invited to form the government. Already within a few hours of the exit polls results coming out Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited Raj Bhavan in Jaipur and met with Governor Kalraj Mishra at his residence on Thursday.

After the meeting, Gehlot claimed it was just a courtesy call but he did admit to having discussed some important political issues with the Governor. In contrast, the BJP which has no officially declared Chief Ministerial face for the state has so far not approached the Governor though the saffron brigade does have a lot of informal links to Mishra who was earlier a BJP stalwart in Uttar Pradesh.

Overall, the Congress and the BJP or excited and enthused by the exit poll trends and both the major parties are now said to be putting in their best efforts to cobble together a majority. In Rajasthan, who will ultimately get a majority or form the government remains a mystery but hectic parleys are now underway from both the major parties.

While the exact results will become clear on 3rd December, the political temperature in the desert state has shot up sharply after the exit polls even as the Mercury continues to dip across the desert state!

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

JAIPUR: With most of the exit polls predicting a neck-to-neck race between the Congress and the BJP in Rajasthan, both the national parties are busy seeking support from the independent players and other smaller parties. Most exit polls have either predicted that the BJP or Congress of winning with a slim majority. The confusion of it all either of the parties will cross the majority mark is now the talk of the town thus both the parties are now working to somehow put together a majority in the state. All eyes are now focused on the 15 to 20 rebel, independent and other party candidates, whose winning chances are higher and could play a role in the formation of the government in Rajasthan.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); For instance in Chittorgarh seat, Chandrabhan Singh Akiya, a BJP rebel who is a two-time sitting MLA of the party was denied a ticket by the saffron party and is now said to be well placed in the Chittorgarh contest. Similarly in Barmer district's, Shiv constituency, a young BJP rebel Ravindra Singh Bhati is reportedly ahead of both the BJP and Congress candidates in the electoral battle. Independents and rebels like these may end up as winners and could well play an important role in government formation in Rajasthan. Also crucial will be smaller parties like Hanuman Beniwal's RLP or Rashtriya Loktantrik Party which could get a handful of seats especially in the Jat belt of Rajasthan. Likewise in the tribal belt of South Rajasthan, BAP or the Bhartiya Aadivasi Party is expected to win a few seats and could make it an interesting scene in Rajasthan. Similarly, in East Rajasthan Mayawati's BSP is likely to win a number of seats, just as in earlier elections in Rajasthan BSP had half a dozen seats and could play a key role in government formation this year too. a top leader of the Tribal party BAP in southern Rajasthan Rajkumar Raut has claimed that , "Exit polls have shown that the calculations of both the parties have gone wrong. I think our party will win around 10 seats and we will be the kingmakers in Rajasthan." For the Congress, it is Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and also state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra are believed to be reaching out to all the independents, rebels and smaller parties to try and get their support for the grand old party. READ HERE | Rajasthan: Exit polls predict a neck-to-neck race; both Congress and BJP confident of securing majority While the exit polls may be reflecting a lot of uncertainty Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has asserted that the Congress is well on its way to retaining power in the state. "We are quite confident that we will form the next government unless BJP has been able to misguide people through its religion card the Congress will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan," Gehlot said. Similarly, on the BJP side, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje is said to be quietly reaching out to a number of party rebels who were earlier regarded as her loyalists and are now said to be well-placed to win the elections. In addition, state BJP chief CP Joshi, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are said to be said to be reaching out to potential allies and strongly placing rebels and independents. Over the past month, most surveys and polls had given a definitive edge to the BJP in the Rajasthan election but with three of the major exit polls predicting a possible Congress victory, the mood in the grand old party is now quite upbeat. In case the ultimate results pan out on the lines of the exit poll predictions the Congress may emerge as a surprising winner and retain power in Rajasthan when the results come out on December 3rd. Moreover, if the exit poll trends turn into the real verdict on Sunday, the role of the Governor of the state will be critical, as neither of the two major parties seems to be getting a clear majority. In such a scenario, Governor Kalraj Mishra could have a decisive role in who gets invited to form the government. Already within a few hours of the exit polls results coming out Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited Raj Bhavan in Jaipur and met with Governor Kalraj Mishra at his residence on Thursday. After the meeting, Gehlot claimed it was just a courtesy call but he did admit to having discussed some important political issues with the Governor. In contrast, the BJP which has no officially declared Chief Ministerial face for the state has so far not approached the Governor though the saffron brigade does have a lot of informal links to Mishra who was earlier a BJP stalwart in Uttar Pradesh. Overall, the Congress and the BJP or excited and enthused by the exit poll trends and both the major parties are now said to be putting in their best efforts to cobble together a majority. In Rajasthan, who will ultimately get a majority or form the government remains a mystery but hectic parleys are now underway from both the major parties. While the exact results will become clear on 3rd December, the political temperature in the desert state has shot up sharply after the exit polls even as the Mercury continues to dip across the desert state! Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Narendra Sethi By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: The team of rat-hole miners who have been in the headlines since November 28 for saving the lives of 41 trapped workers in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel are continuing to impress the people but for a different reason now.

Wakeel Hassan, the head of the group of rat miners refused to accept the relief amount announced by the Uttarakhand CM for portraying a heroic act.

Hassan who was keen on giving priority to his profession and humanity instead of making money said, "None of the rescuers could have done this alone, and this is the message I want to give to everyone, we should all live in harmony and not spread the poison of hate."

Hassan's team had a lot of experience digging small tunnels to lay long sewers and water pipelines, but they had never done such large-scale work before.

"The pressure to rescue the 41 workers in Silkyara motivated them further, and by the grace of God the operation was successful," Hassan said.

"As soon as we reached the labourers inside the tunnel after successfully passing through the debris, they hugged us like people of a family separated for a long time," Nasir Hussain, one of the six 'rat-hole miners', told reporters after the tunnel's successful campaign.

READ HERE | Unsure when work will resume, Silkyara tunnel labourers in dilemma  to stay back or go home?

'Rat-hole mining' is a dangerous and controversial method used extensively in the northeastern state of Meghalaya to extract thin layers of coal, before an environment court in 2014 banned the practice due to environmental damage and numerous deaths.

According to the sources, "At least 15 miners died in a similar mine in Meghalaya after being trapped for more than a month."

It was one of several tragedies in the state, where the human rights group claimed that between 10,000 and 15,000 children and adults died in such mines through illegal rat-hole mining practices between 2007 and 2014.

When American Auger machines, vertical drilling and blasting, collectively went in vain to reach 41 workers stranded for 16 days in Silkyara, Uttarakhand, it was the banned 'rat-hole mining experts' who proved that, 'If there is a will, there is a way', and successfully rescued all the trapped workers.

After 16 days of relentless hard work in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, when no concrete solution was found despite the collective efforts of engineers, geologists, relief teams, and tunnel experts, the elders of this meagerly populated hamlet advised the rescuers citing mythological beliefs, in this sequence, the state government established the temple with the entrance of the tunnel and finally, everyone took refuge in the local deity Baba Baukhnag.

ALSO READ | 'Licked water dripping from rocks, ate 'muri' to survive': Rescued worker

A miracle indeed, Delhi-based Rockwell Enterprises, a trenchless engineering services company that primarily cleans sewerage lines, was roped in to rescue in Silkyara. "It was due to the blessings of Baba Baukhanag, all 41 workers were rescued from the tunnel within two days", claims local MLA Sanjay Dobhal, who was the first who demanded setting up a temple at the entrance of the tunnel.

The 'Rat Hole Miners' resumed work late Monday night after a second drilling machine malfunctioned and 12 of the 58 metres remained to reach the trapped people. They worked in two teams of three each, with one person digging manually, another collecting debris and the third pushing it out of the pipe. "Rat hole miners may have achieved success after 26 hours, but their success has brought a glow on the faces of 140 crore people of the country," SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra told the New Indian Express.

ALSO READ | Not a moment of despair in tunnel rescue operation, say experts

This team of 'rat-hole miners' came out as angels in the relief operation to save the trapped labourers in the tunnel. The ordinary workers of Rockwell Enterprises, a Delhi-based trenchless engineering services company, did what surprised the whole country and the world.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

DEHRADUN: The team of rat-hole miners who have been in the headlines since November 28 for saving the lives of 41 trapped workers in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel are continuing to impress the people but for a different reason now. Wakeel Hassan, the head of the group of rat miners refused to accept the relief amount announced by the Uttarakhand CM for portraying a heroic act. Hassan who was keen on giving priority to his profession and humanity instead of making money said, "None of the rescuers could have done this alone, and this is the message I want to give to everyone, we should all live in harmony and not spread the poison of hate."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Hassan's team had a lot of experience digging small tunnels to lay long sewers and water pipelines, but they had never done such large-scale work before. "The pressure to rescue the 41 workers in Silkyara motivated them further, and by the grace of God the operation was successful," Hassan said. "As soon as we reached the labourers inside the tunnel after successfully passing through the debris, they hugged us like people of a family separated for a long time," Nasir Hussain, one of the six 'rat-hole miners', told reporters after the tunnel's successful campaign. READ HERE | Unsure when work will resume, Silkyara tunnel labourers in dilemma  to stay back or go home? 'Rat-hole mining' is a dangerous and controversial method used extensively in the northeastern state of Meghalaya to extract thin layers of coal, before an environment court in 2014 banned the practice due to environmental damage and numerous deaths. According to the sources, "At least 15 miners died in a similar mine in Meghalaya after being trapped for more than a month." It was one of several tragedies in the state, where the human rights group claimed that between 10,000 and 15,000 children and adults died in such mines through illegal rat-hole mining practices between 2007 and 2014. When American Auger machines, vertical drilling and blasting, collectively went in vain to reach 41 workers stranded for 16 days in Silkyara, Uttarakhand, it was the banned 'rat-hole mining experts' who proved that, 'If there is a will, there is a way', and successfully rescued all the trapped workers. After 16 days of relentless hard work in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, when no concrete solution was found despite the collective efforts of engineers, geologists, relief teams, and tunnel experts, the elders of this meagerly populated hamlet advised the rescuers citing mythological beliefs, in this sequence, the state government established the temple with the entrance of the tunnel and finally, everyone took refuge in the local deity Baba Baukhnag. ALSO READ | 'Licked water dripping from rocks, ate 'muri' to survive': Rescued worker A miracle indeed, Delhi-based Rockwell Enterprises, a trenchless engineering services company that primarily cleans sewerage lines, was roped in to rescue in Silkyara. "It was due to the blessings of Baba Baukhanag, all 41 workers were rescued from the tunnel within two days", claims local MLA Sanjay Dobhal, who was the first who demanded setting up a temple at the entrance of the tunnel. The 'Rat Hole Miners' resumed work late Monday night after a second drilling machine malfunctioned and 12 of the 58 metres remained to reach the trapped people. They worked in two teams of three each, with one person digging manually, another collecting debris and the third pushing it out of the pipe. "Rat hole miners may have achieved success after 26 hours, but their success has brought a glow on the faces of 140 crore people of the country," SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra told the New Indian Express. ALSO READ | Not a moment of despair in tunnel rescue operation, say experts This team of 'rat-hole miners' came out as angels in the relief operation to save the trapped labourers in the tunnel. The ordinary workers of Rockwell Enterprises, a Delhi-based trenchless engineering services company, did what surprised the whole country and the world. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Amid perception that the Mizoram elections will throw up a fractured mandate, most exit polls gave an edge to ruling Mizo National Front (MNF). However, the Mizos at large, including political parties and various organisations, are hardly bothered.

They will hit the streets in state capital Aizawl on Friday as the Election Commission has not rescheduled the vote-counting date, which is a Sunday. The Mizos consider Sunday as a sacred day. After the election schedule was announced, they had appealed to the EC to reschedule the counting date, stating that church services would be affected if the votes are counted on December 3. The EC has remained unmoved.

The NGO, Co-Ordination Committee (NGOCC), is organising the protest from 11 am to 2 pm. It invited all Mizos to participate in it to safeguard the sacred day of the Christians. Five major NGOs are part of NGOCC. The MNF said it would take part in the protest.

We all had appealed to the EC to reschedule the counting date. As that hasnt happened, we will take part in the protest tomorrow, MNF general secretary VL Krosshnehzova told this newspaper. He said the MNF was not surprised by the exit poll predictions. The exit poll predictions are on expected lines. We know we will retain power, he added.

The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), a conglomerate of regional forces, said it would like to wait for the results day, while the Congress is not too optimistic about its prospects.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

GUWAHATI: Amid perception that the Mizoram elections will throw up a fractured mandate, most exit polls gave an edge to ruling Mizo National Front (MNF). However, the Mizos at large, including political parties and various organisations, are hardly bothered. They will hit the streets in state capital Aizawl on Friday as the Election Commission has not rescheduled the vote-counting date, which is a Sunday. The Mizos consider Sunday as a sacred day. After the election schedule was announced, they had appealed to the EC to reschedule the counting date, stating that church services would be affected if the votes are counted on December 3. The EC has remained unmoved. The NGO, Co-Ordination Committee (NGOCC), is organising the protest from 11 am to 2 pm. It invited all Mizos to participate in it to safeguard the sacred day of the Christians. Five major NGOs are part of NGOCC. The MNF said it would take part in the protest.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We all had appealed to the EC to reschedule the counting date. As that hasnt happened, we will take part in the protest tomorrow, MNF general secretary VL Krosshnehzova told this newspaper. He said the MNF was not surprised by the exit poll predictions. The exit poll predictions are on expected lines. We know we will retain power, he added. The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), a conglomerate of regional forces, said it would like to wait for the results day, while the Congress is not too optimistic about its prospects. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: A day after a major fire engulfed a chemical plant in Gujarats Surat, seven bodies were recovered from the site on Thursday morning. Since the bodies are unrecognizable, DNA tests will be performed to identify them, the police said. The firm operating the plant announced a compensation of `50 lakh for the deceased and Rs 25 lakh for injured workers.

On Wednesday morning, a fire broke out at the Aether Industries located in Sachin GIDC industrial area, injuring 27 laborers who are currently receiving medical attention at several city hospitals. According to available information, four labourers are crucial.

Surat DCP Rajesh Parmar told the media, The bodies recovered from the site have been sent to the civil hospital for post-mortem. We will collect DNA samples and compare them with samples from their relatives.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

AHMEDABAD: A day after a major fire engulfed a chemical plant in Gujarats Surat, seven bodies were recovered from the site on Thursday morning. Since the bodies are unrecognizable, DNA tests will be performed to identify them, the police said. The firm operating the plant announced a compensation of `50 lakh for the deceased and Rs 25 lakh for injured workers. On Wednesday morning, a fire broke out at the Aether Industries located in Sachin GIDC industrial area, injuring 27 laborers who are currently receiving medical attention at several city hospitals. According to available information, four labourers are crucial. Surat DCP Rajesh Parmar told the media, The bodies recovered from the site have been sent to the civil hospital for post-mortem. We will collect DNA samples and compare them with samples from their relatives.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Members of the NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) in Mizoram have urged political parties to keep their offices shut and not to send their representatives and candidates to counting centres on December 3 as a mark of protest as the Election Commission (EC) scheduled the counting of votes for the state on a Sunday which is a day of veneration for the Mizo Christians.

The organisation which is a conglomerate of several civil society and students organisations, staged protests in Aizawl and the headquarters of all districts in the state on Friday demanding the votes be counted on any day other than Sunday.

Addressing a rally in Aizawl, NGOCC chairman Lalhmachhuana slammed the EC for maintaining silence despite appeals by various organisations, churches and political parties to tweak the counting date.

It is sad that the EC chose to remain silent when it was expected to respond to our appeals, he said.

Recently, the NGOCC sent a delegation to Delhi to impress upon the EC to reschedule the counting date. The Christian-majority state, which has 40 Assembly seats, went to polls on November 7.

READ HERE | Mizoram assembly polls peaceful; over 77 per cent turnout recorded

After the two-hour protests, the NGOCC adopted a two-point resolution.

We strongly condemn the fact that the EC scheduled the date of counting of votes for Mizoram elections on December 3, which falls on a Sunday, a day of veneration for the Mizo Christian people. All the attendees of todays peaceful demonstration resolve that the EC should reschedule the date of counting of votes on a date which is not Sunday, the resolution read.

Churches across the state held prayers last Saturday and Sunday seeking Gods intervention in changing the day of counting of votes. The Mizos stand opposed to counting on December 3 on the ground that it will affect church services.

Church services are held thrice  morning, afternoon and evening  every Sunday. If the votes are counted on December 3, many of our members will get caught up with the process and will not be able to attend the church, Rev Vanlalduha of Mizoram Presbyterian Church had told this newspaper.

Churches, civil society organisations, political parties and a church-sponsored poll watchdog lodged a protest soon after the EC had announced the election schedule for Mizoram. Some had shot off separate letters to the Commission stating that Sunday is a sacred day for the people in the state. They made an appeal to change the counting date.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

GUWAHATI: Members of the NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) in Mizoram have urged political parties to keep their offices shut and not to send their representatives and candidates to counting centres on December 3 as a mark of protest as the Election Commission (EC) scheduled the counting of votes for the state on a Sunday which is a day of veneration for the Mizo Christians. The organisation which is a conglomerate of several civil society and students organisations, staged protests in Aizawl and the headquarters of all districts in the state on Friday demanding the votes be counted on any day other than Sunday. Addressing a rally in Aizawl, NGOCC chairman Lalhmachhuana slammed the EC for maintaining silence despite appeals by various organisations, churches and political parties to tweak the counting date.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is sad that the EC chose to remain silent when it was expected to respond to our appeals, he said. Recently, the NGOCC sent a delegation to Delhi to impress upon the EC to reschedule the counting date. The Christian-majority state, which has 40 Assembly seats, went to polls on November 7. READ HERE | Mizoram assembly polls peaceful; over 77 per cent turnout recorded After the two-hour protests, the NGOCC adopted a two-point resolution. We strongly condemn the fact that the EC scheduled the date of counting of votes for Mizoram elections on December 3, which falls on a Sunday, a day of veneration for the Mizo Christian people. All the attendees of todays peaceful demonstration resolve that the EC should reschedule the date of counting of votes on a date which is not Sunday, the resolution read. Churches across the state held prayers last Saturday and Sunday seeking Gods intervention in changing the day of counting of votes. The Mizos stand opposed to counting on December 3 on the ground that it will affect church services. Church services are held thrice  morning, afternoon and evening  every Sunday. If the votes are counted on December 3, many of our members will get caught up with the process and will not be able to attend the church, Rev Vanlalduha of Mizoram Presbyterian Church had told this newspaper. Churches, civil society organisations, political parties and a church-sponsored poll watchdog lodged a protest soon after the EC had announced the election schedule for Mizoram. Some had shot off separate letters to the Commission stating that Sunday is a sacred day for the people in the state. They made an appeal to change the counting date. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: A man in Assam has been arrested by the police for killing a one-horned rhinoceros with a spear.

The accused, Naren Saikia (47), is now in judicial custody. The adult female rhino, which strayed out of the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, was attacked on November 24. The carcass was spotted on November 30.

Never before was a rhino killed in the state in such a manner. In a statement, the park described as bizarre the hunting of the animal with a spear.

As per the sequence of events, on November 24 around 8.30 pm, the key accused Naren Saikia, a resident of Lokhorakhonia, threw a spear at the rhino that had ventured (out) in the area, the statement said.

It added that based on intelligence inputs gathered by Divisional Forest Officer Arun Vignesh and his team, Saikia was arrested and sent to judicial custody on November 26.

While the accused was arrested, there was no trace of the rhino despite searches. Eventually, a combing operation carried out with a drone helped detect the carcass on Thursday at 2.30 pm near the parks Teteliguri anti-poaching camp. The post-mortem was conducted on Friday.

The rhino was estimated to be aged 20-30 years and the cause of death was ascribed to an injury inflicted on the left side of stomach with a deep penetration of the weapon (spear) across the skin and ribs.

Further samples have been collected for DNA analysis and for RhoDIS (Rhino DNA Index System) and shall be sent to Wildlife Institute of India. The horn was intact and recovered as per standard procedure by departmental staff for safe custody, the statement said.

This is the second rhino to be killed in Kaziranga this year. The first incident took place on January 1.

According to the rhino census of 2022, Assam has 2,895 rhinos  2,613 of them in Kaziranga, 125 in Orang National Park & Tiger Reserve, 107 in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and 50 in Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

GUWAHATI: A man in Assam has been arrested by the police for killing a one-horned rhinoceros with a spear. The accused, Naren Saikia (47), is now in judicial custody. The adult female rhino, which strayed out of the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, was attacked on November 24. The carcass was spotted on November 30. Never before was a rhino killed in the state in such a manner. In a statement, the park described as bizarre the hunting of the animal with a spear.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As per the sequence of events, on November 24 around 8.30 pm, the key accused Naren Saikia, a resident of Lokhorakhonia, threw a spear at the rhino that had ventured (out) in the area, the statement said. It added that based on intelligence inputs gathered by Divisional Forest Officer Arun Vignesh and his team, Saikia was arrested and sent to judicial custody on November 26. While the accused was arrested, there was no trace of the rhino despite searches. Eventually, a combing operation carried out with a drone helped detect the carcass on Thursday at 2.30 pm near the parks Teteliguri anti-poaching camp. The post-mortem was conducted on Friday. The rhino was estimated to be aged 20-30 years and the cause of death was ascribed to an injury inflicted on the left side of stomach with a deep penetration of the weapon (spear) across the skin and ribs. Further samples have been collected for DNA analysis and for RhoDIS (Rhino DNA Index System) and shall be sent to Wildlife Institute of India. The horn was intact and recovered as per standard procedure by departmental staff for safe custody, the statement said. This is the second rhino to be killed in Kaziranga this year. The first incident took place on January 1. According to the rhino census of 2022, Assam has 2,895 rhinos  2,613 of them in Kaziranga, 125 in Orang National Park & Tiger Reserve, 107 in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and 50 in Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: The Patna high court on Friday issued a directive to the Bihar government to file its response on a batch of petitions challenging the recent increase in reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes.

While hearing the petitions, a division bench led by Chief Justice K Vonod Chandran asked Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance government, represented by Advocate General P K Shahi, to file a counter affidavit within four weeks.

The court earlier bunched all the Public Interest Litigations (PILs) on the matter. The court, however, turned down the request of the petitioners to put a stay on the government's order with regard to increasing the reservation quota from the existing 50 per cent to 65 per cent in government jobs and admission in educational institutions in the state.

READ MORE | PIL in Patna HC challenged Bihar law increasing reservation to 65 per cent

The petitioners had termed the legislation passed by the Bihar assembly and legislative council last month giving a hike to reservation quotas to 65 per cent in addition to 10 per cent for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), 'unconstitutional'.

The petitioners further contended that the Supreme Court judgment in the famous Indra Sawhney case had restricted the overall cap to 50 per cent which could be changed only in extremely exceptional cases. They alleged that the Nitish Kumar government took the step 'just on the grounds of increased backward class

population.

The government had conducted a caste-based survey which projected the combined population of OBCs and EBCs to be 63.13 per cent. The petitioners also contended that the statistics of the survey seemed 'politically motivated'.

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier alleged that the population of OBCs and EBCs had been shown inflated in the survey report released by the government on October 2. The state government had to spend Rs.500 crore to conduct the survey.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

PATNA: The Patna high court on Friday issued a directive to the Bihar government to file its response on a batch of petitions challenging the recent increase in reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes. While hearing the petitions, a division bench led by Chief Justice K Vonod Chandran asked Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance government, represented by Advocate General P K Shahi, to file a counter affidavit within four weeks. The court earlier bunched all the Public Interest Litigations (PILs) on the matter. The court, however, turned down the request of the petitioners to put a stay on the government's order with regard to increasing the reservation quota from the existing 50 per cent to 65 per cent in government jobs and admission in educational institutions in the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); READ MORE | PIL in Patna HC challenged Bihar law increasing reservation to 65 per cent The petitioners had termed the legislation passed by the Bihar assembly and legislative council last month giving a hike to reservation quotas to 65 per cent in addition to 10 per cent for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), 'unconstitutional'. The petitioners further contended that the Supreme Court judgment in the famous Indra Sawhney case had restricted the overall cap to 50 per cent which could be changed only in extremely exceptional cases. They alleged that the Nitish Kumar government took the step 'just on the grounds of increased backward class population. The government had conducted a caste-based survey which projected the combined population of OBCs and EBCs to be 63.13 per cent. The petitioners also contended that the statistics of the survey seemed 'politically motivated'. Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier alleged that the population of OBCs and EBCs had been shown inflated in the survey report released by the government on October 2. The state government had to spend Rs.500 crore to conduct the survey. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat launched a scathing attack on the previous governments saying that there were two India before and after 2014 and Indians before the year 2014 did not even have access to basic facilities.

The Union Minister during a public meeting at the Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Chanduwav village of Gir Somnath district slammed the previous government and said that it was Modi's government that provided the people of India access to basic facilities after 2014.

There were two India until 2014. The first had 70 crore people without gas bottles, drinking water, toilets, electricity, or housing, and no access to healthcare facilities. Even they had to struggle for free food grains, and India was different from the others," Shah said.

The Modi government decided in 2014 that every household should have a bank account. Every home will have a gas cylinder, a toilet, and tap water. Additionally, there will be a plan in place wherein the government will cover all medical costs up to five lakhs per person. Every individual will receive five kilograms of grains at no cost, and this will begin transforming the lives of seventy crore people by providing various facilities," he added.

Slamming previous governments Shah said, It's been 75 years since our independence, before 75 years Russia, China, Japan, and Germany have completely collapsed along with us, and today, after 75 years, where have they reached?" Where are we now? When we commemorate 100 years of independence, we will resolve that India will be first and developed in every field in the world.

According to Amit Shah, no government can make India developed and first in all fields.

No government, not even the state government, not even the central government, can develop India in every field and first in all sectors. Only 130 crore Indians can make India develop. This Yatra is an idea to travel to every village in India and bring more than 70 crore Indians equal to everyone," said Shah.

Amit Shah claimed that the idea of a developed India is divided into two parts.

The concept of a developed India is divided into two parts. According to the first part, India is safe, and prosperous, has the best education system in the world, is the world's production centre, India's roads, infrastructure, and railways are ahead of the world, and this is a vision of a developed India.

Another aspect of developed India is that if every Indian citizen has a house, drinking water, gas, toilet, health facilities up to five lakhs, and every person receives five kilos of grain free of charge every month, India is considered developed," he added.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

AHMEDABAD: Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat launched a scathing attack on the previous governments saying that there were two India before and after 2014 and Indians before the year 2014 did not even have access to basic facilities. The Union Minister during a public meeting at the Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Chanduwav village of Gir Somnath district slammed the previous government and said that it was Modi's government that provided the people of India access to basic facilities after 2014. There were two India until 2014. The first had 70 crore people without gas bottles, drinking water, toilets, electricity, or housing, and no access to healthcare facilities. Even they had to struggle for free food grains, and India was different from the others," Shah said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Modi government decided in 2014 that every household should have a bank account. Every home will have a gas cylinder, a toilet, and tap water. Additionally, there will be a plan in place wherein the government will cover all medical costs up to five lakhs per person. Every individual will receive five kilograms of grains at no cost, and this will begin transforming the lives of seventy crore people by providing various facilities," he added. Slamming previous governments Shah said, It's been 75 years since our independence, before 75 years Russia, China, Japan, and Germany have completely collapsed along with us, and today, after 75 years, where have they reached?" Where are we now? When we commemorate 100 years of independence, we will resolve that India will be first and developed in every field in the world. According to Amit Shah, no government can make India developed and first in all fields. No government, not even the state government, not even the central government, can develop India in every field and first in all sectors. Only 130 crore Indians can make India develop. This Yatra is an idea to travel to every village in India and bring more than 70 crore Indians equal to everyone," said Shah. Amit Shah claimed that the idea of a developed India is divided into two parts. The concept of a developed India is divided into two parts. According to the first part, India is safe, and prosperous, has the best education system in the world, is the world's production centre, India's roads, infrastructure, and railways are ahead of the world, and this is a vision of a developed India. Another aspect of developed India is that if every Indian citizen has a house, drinking water, gas, toilet, health facilities up to five lakhs, and every person receives five kilos of grain free of charge every month, India is considered developed," he added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

DUBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed a wide range of issues including climate financing and civil nuclear cooperation.

The Modi-Macron meeting took place on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit underway here.

The two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of areas, including climate action, climate financing, sports, energy, defence and civil nuclear cooperation, a statement from India's External Affairs Ministry said.

"Happy to have met my good friend, President @EmmanuelMacron in Dubai. Our conversation was enriching as always. I admire his passion to further cement India-France relations," Modi posted on X.

Heureux d'avoir retrouve mon cher ami, le president @EmmanuelMacron, a Dubai. Notre conversation a ete enrichissante, comme toujours. J'admire sa passion pour le renforcement des relations entre l'Inde et la France. pic.twitter.com/eymIo4CkGl  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

French nuclear operator EDF announced earlier this week that it had signed a memorandum of cooperation with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to explore the opportunity to maximize the local content of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant Project.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) plans to build six nuclear power reactors of 1650 MWe each at Jaitapur in Maharashtra in cooperation with the French company.

The BHEL and EDF will also explore larger collaborations for the European Pressurised Reactors, which are being planned at Jaitapur, and NUWARD small modular reactors.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

DUBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed a wide range of issues including climate financing and civil nuclear cooperation. The Modi-Macron meeting took place on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit underway here. The two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of areas, including climate action, climate financing, sports, energy, defence and civil nuclear cooperation, a statement from India's External Affairs Ministry said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Happy to have met my good friend, President @EmmanuelMacron in Dubai. Our conversation was enriching as always. I admire his passion to further cement India-France relations," Modi posted on X. Heureux d'avoir retrouve mon cher ami, le president @EmmanuelMacron, a Dubai. Notre conversation a ete enrichissante, comme toujours. J'admire sa passion pour le renforcement des relations entre l'Inde et la France. pic.twitter.com/eymIo4CkGl  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023 French nuclear operator EDF announced earlier this week that it had signed a memorandum of cooperation with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to explore the opportunity to maximize the local content of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant Project. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) plans to build six nuclear power reactors of 1650 MWe each at Jaitapur in Maharashtra in cooperation with the French company. The BHEL and EDF will also explore larger collaborations for the European Pressurised Reactors, which are being planned at Jaitapur, and NUWARD small modular reactors. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

DUBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a productive meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and underscored India's support for a two-state solution and an early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

Modi met Herzog on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit here in the UAE.

The Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on X.

Modi and Herzog exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region.

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population, Bagchi said.

Modi emphasised India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

"Had a very productive meeting with President @Isaac_Herzog of Israel earlier today. Our talks covered a wide range of global and bilateral issues," Modi tweeted.

"The two leaders exchanged views on the on-going Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population.

He emphasised on India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy, the release said.

President Herzog congratulated Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency and welcomed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, it said.

"At the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world," President Herzog said.

"I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international community's agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself," he added.

ALSO READ | COP28: Top world leaders talk of climate crisis, urge action over fossil fuels, overheating planet

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

DUBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a productive meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and underscored India's support for a two-state solution and an early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy. Modi met Herzog on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit here in the UAE. The Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on X.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Modi and Herzog exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. The Prime Minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population, Bagchi said. Modi emphasised India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy. "Had a very productive meeting with President @Isaac_Herzog of Israel earlier today. Our talks covered a wide range of global and bilateral issues," Modi tweeted. "The two leaders exchanged views on the on-going Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. The Prime Minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population. He emphasised on India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy, the release said. President Herzog congratulated Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency and welcomed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, it said. "At the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world," President Herzog said. "I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international community's agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself," he added. ALSO READ | COP28: Top world leaders talk of climate crisis, urge action over fossil fuels, overheating planet Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday granted initial approval for defence acquisition projects totaling Rs 2.23 lakh crore, marking a significant step to bolster the combat capabilities of its armed forces. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, sanctioned the projects, which include the procurement of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters.

This move comes amid a prolonged military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. The defence ministry emphasised that 98% of the total procurement value will be sourced domestically, contributing substantially to the goal of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the defence industry. This marks the most substantial order book ever awarded to indigenous manufacturers in India.

Presently, an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has been granted, and subsequent contract negotiations with manufacturers will follow. While this process will require time, it is expected to be considerably shorter than if foreign manufacturers were engaged. Furthermore, the DAC approved the Indian Air Forces proposal to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

The council also granted AoN for the procurement of anti-tank munitions, automatic target tracker, digital basaltic computer for T-90 tanks, and medium-range anti-ship missiles for the Indian Navy. The lightweight surface-to-surface missile, MRAShM, will serve as a primary offensive weapon on various Indian naval ships.

The DACs approval extends to the procurement of Light Combat Helicopters for the Indian Air Force and Indian Army, as well as Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A for the IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. While specific numbers were not mentioned, official sources indicate the acquisition of 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mark 1A) for the IAF and 156 Light Combat Helicopters for the Army and Air Force.

Earlier, in a significant development in February 2021, the defence ministry finalised a Rs 48,000 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With this, the IAFs procurement of Tejas aircraft will rise to 180.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday granted initial approval for defence acquisition projects totaling Rs 2.23 lakh crore, marking a significant step to bolster the combat capabilities of its armed forces. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, sanctioned the projects, which include the procurement of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters. This move comes amid a prolonged military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. The defence ministry emphasised that 98% of the total procurement value will be sourced domestically, contributing substantially to the goal of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the defence industry. This marks the most substantial order book ever awarded to indigenous manufacturers in India. Presently, an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has been granted, and subsequent contract negotiations with manufacturers will follow. While this process will require time, it is expected to be considerably shorter than if foreign manufacturers were engaged. Furthermore, the DAC approved the Indian Air Forces proposal to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The council also granted AoN for the procurement of anti-tank munitions, automatic target tracker, digital basaltic computer for T-90 tanks, and medium-range anti-ship missiles for the Indian Navy. The lightweight surface-to-surface missile, MRAShM, will serve as a primary offensive weapon on various Indian naval ships. The DACs approval extends to the procurement of Light Combat Helicopters for the Indian Air Force and Indian Army, as well as Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A for the IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. While specific numbers were not mentioned, official sources indicate the acquisition of 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mark 1A) for the IAF and 156 Light Combat Helicopters for the Army and Air Force. Earlier, in a significant development in February 2021, the defence ministry finalised a Rs 48,000 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With this, the IAFs procurement of Tejas aircraft will rise to 180. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: The multiple exit polls predicted a close fight between the Congress and the BJP with an edge to the former in Chhattisgarh where a two-phase election was held. While Times Now, Dainik Bhaskar, India TV-CNX, Republic TV-Matrize projected a majority for the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress, while India Today-Axis My India poll predicted that the Congress will have an upper hand over BJP in the 90-member Assembly. After the exit polls results, Baghel reiterated that the Congress would achieve its target of winning 75 seats. The results will be better than what the exis polls projected in favour of the Congress, he said

The BJP said that the sample size of the exit polls is usually limited. I visited every corner across the 90 Assembly seats and interacted with party workers. Their feedback suggested that the BJP will form government in Chhattisgarh. PM Modis guarantee and failures of the Congress government will help the BJP get absolute majority, stated Arun Sao, Chhattisgarh BJP president.

To what extent the poll manifesto of parties influenced the voters will be known only on the result day.

The north Chhattisgarh of Sarguja where the Congress had won all the 14 seats in the 2018 polls seems evenly poised. The BJP, which didnt have a single MLA from the 12 assembly segments of Bastar zone, is projected to gain some seats.

It is widely believed that the gateway to power in Chhattisgarh is through tribal-dominated Bastar and Sarguja, both holding the key to the formation of the government.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

RAIPUR: The multiple exit polls predicted a close fight between the Congress and the BJP with an edge to the former in Chhattisgarh where a two-phase election was held. While Times Now, Dainik Bhaskar, India TV-CNX, Republic TV-Matrize projected a majority for the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress, while India Today-Axis My India poll predicted that the Congress will have an upper hand over BJP in the 90-member Assembly. After the exit polls results, Baghel reiterated that the Congress would achieve its target of winning 75 seats. The results will be better than what the exis polls projected in favour of the Congress, he said The BJP said that the sample size of the exit polls is usually limited. I visited every corner across the 90 Assembly seats and interacted with party workers. Their feedback suggested that the BJP will form government in Chhattisgarh. PM Modis guarantee and failures of the Congress government will help the BJP get absolute majority, stated Arun Sao, Chhattisgarh BJP president. To what extent the poll manifesto of parties influenced the voters will be known only on the result day. The north Chhattisgarh of Sarguja where the Congress had won all the 14 seats in the 2018 polls seems evenly poised. The BJP, which didnt have a single MLA from the 12 assembly segments of Bastar zone, is projected to gain some seats.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is widely believed that the gateway to power in Chhattisgarh is through tribal-dominated Bastar and Sarguja, both holding the key to the formation of the government. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Kavita bajeli datt By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: An estimated 3.9 million people are living with HIV in the South-East Asia region, accounting for around 10% of the global burden, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday.

Marking World AIDS Day, observed on December 1, WHO stated that in 2022, an estimated 110,000 people became newly infected with HIV, and 85,000 people in the region died of AIDS-related causes. This accounted for over 13% of the global burden of AIDS-related death.

Calling on member states, partners, and communities in the South-East Asia Region and across the world, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said the need is to continue fostering collaboration to address the challenges in ending AIDS by 2030 and to empower communities to lead in shaping the response forward.

Over the past decade, the South-East Asia Region has made substantial progress with a remarkable decline in both HIV and HIV-related deaths. The number of new HIV infections has halved from 200,000 in 2010 to 110,000 in 2022, and similarly, HIV-related deaths reduced to one-third from 230,000 in 2010 to 85,000 in 2022.

In 2022, 65% of people living with HIV were receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, compared to only 17% in 2010. In 2019, Maldives and Sri Lanka were validated to have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis, which Thailand achieved in 2016  the first country in Asia to do so. By the end of 2022, 81% of people in the region living with HIV knew their status, 65% were on antiretroviral therapy, and 61% were virally suppressed. Despite this progress, the region needs to accelerate efforts to ensure more people are reached,Dr Khetrapal said.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

NEW DELHI: An estimated 3.9 million people are living with HIV in the South-East Asia region, accounting for around 10% of the global burden, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday. Marking World AIDS Day, observed on December 1, WHO stated that in 2022, an estimated 110,000 people became newly infected with HIV, and 85,000 people in the region died of AIDS-related causes. This accounted for over 13% of the global burden of AIDS-related death. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Calling on member states, partners, and communities in the South-East Asia Region and across the world, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said the need is to continue fostering collaboration to address the challenges in ending AIDS by 2030 and to empower communities to lead in shaping the response forward. Over the past decade, the South-East Asia Region has made substantial progress with a remarkable decline in both HIV and HIV-related deaths. The number of new HIV infections has halved from 200,000 in 2010 to 110,000 in 2022, and similarly, HIV-related deaths reduced to one-third from 230,000 in 2010 to 85,000 in 2022. In 2022, 65% of people living with HIV were receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, compared to only 17% in 2010. In 2019, Maldives and Sri Lanka were validated to have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis, which Thailand achieved in 2016  the first country in Asia to do so. By the end of 2022, 81% of people in the region living with HIV knew their status, 65% were on antiretroviral therapy, and 61% were virally suppressed. Despite this progress, the region needs to accelerate efforts to ensure more people are reached,Dr Khetrapal said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Amit S Upadhye By

Express News Service

HUBBALLI: In a shocking incident, a 65-year-old Muslim man was tortured by an unidentified duo in Gangavati town of Koppal district. An FIR was lodged in this regard by the victim Husensab on November 30.

According to the FIR, the victim returned to Gangavati from Hosapete on November 25 at night. He was waiting for the autorickshaw after having a cup of tea when two bike-born men approached him. They asked the victim where he was going and offered him a drop.

After the bike moved the duo started beating Husensab and also verbally abused him. The duo took me near the Pampanagar area and started abusing me and pushed me from the bike. I pleaded that I could not see clearly and wanted to go back to my house. They forced me to chant Jai Shriram and despite doing it they did not stop attacking me, recalled Husensab.

The attackers broke a beer bottle and tried to cut my beard with a piece of glass. When they did not succeed one of them removed a matchbox and burnt my beard. I thought I would be killed as the duo kept beating me until a few shepherds woke up and came out to see after hearing my cries, victim Husensab said.

#TNIEexclusive #Karnataka In a heinous act a 65-years-old Muslim man was beaten by a duo, forced to chant Jai Shriram and burnt his beard in #Gangavati town of #Koppal FIR registered.

Security increased in the town.@NewIndianXpress@XpressBengaluru @KannadaPrabha pic.twitter.com/NKuOkypCKl  Amit Upadhye (@AmitSUpadhye) December 1, 2023

The Town police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter. Senior police officials are expected to call on the victim Husensab who is currently being treated at a hospital. The police are going through the CCTV footage near the bus stand, main roads and Pampanagar areas.

The victim Husensab lives in a tiny house in Gangavati with his daughter. As his eyesight is getting poor, he has been begging in many places in Koppal and Vijayanagara districts for the last few months. Meanwhile, the members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have planned to stage a protest in front of Tahsildars office in Gangavati.

People from all walks of life live in harmony in our district. It's sheer brutality that a harmless old man has been beaten up and forced to chant religious slogans. We are demanding action against the duo responsible for the attack and mental torture of the victim. The SDPI has decided to take the medical expenses of Husensab, said Saleem, district president, of SDPI, Koppal.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

HUBBALLI: In a shocking incident, a 65-year-old Muslim man was tortured by an unidentified duo in Gangavati town of Koppal district. An FIR was lodged in this regard by the victim Husensab on November 30. According to the FIR, the victim returned to Gangavati from Hosapete on November 25 at night. He was waiting for the autorickshaw after having a cup of tea when two bike-born men approached him. They asked the victim where he was going and offered him a drop. After the bike moved the duo started beating Husensab and also verbally abused him. The duo took me near the Pampanagar area and started abusing me and pushed me from the bike. I pleaded that I could not see clearly and wanted to go back to my house. They forced me to chant Jai Shriram and despite doing it they did not stop attacking me, recalled Husensab.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The attackers broke a beer bottle and tried to cut my beard with a piece of glass. When they did not succeed one of them removed a matchbox and burnt my beard. I thought I would be killed as the duo kept beating me until a few shepherds woke up and came out to see after hearing my cries, victim Husensab said. #TNIEexclusive #Karnataka In a heinous act a 65-years-old Muslim man was beaten by a duo, forced to chant Jai Shriram and burnt his beard in #Gangavati town of #Koppal FIR registered. Security increased in the town.@NewIndianXpress@XpressBengaluru @KannadaPrabha pic.twitter.com/NKuOkypCKl  Amit Upadhye (@AmitSUpadhye) December 1, 2023 The Town police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter. Senior police officials are expected to call on the victim Husensab who is currently being treated at a hospital. The police are going through the CCTV footage near the bus stand, main roads and Pampanagar areas. The victim Husensab lives in a tiny house in Gangavati with his daughter. As his eyesight is getting poor, he has been begging in many places in Koppal and Vijayanagara districts for the last few months. Meanwhile, the members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have planned to stage a protest in front of Tahsildars office in Gangavati. People from all walks of life live in harmony in our district. It's sheer brutality that a harmless old man has been beaten up and forced to chant religious slogans. We are demanding action against the duo responsible for the attack and mental torture of the victim. The SDPI has decided to take the medical expenses of Husensab, said Saleem, district president, of SDPI, Koppal. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Biju E Paul By

Express News Service

ALAPPUZHA: After years-long wait, the Prithviraj - Blessy- Benyamin team announced the release date of the film Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) on Thursday. The film, to be released on April 10, 2024, is based on a novel written by Benyamin about the real story of a man from Kerala who spent around two years in exile on a goat farm in an unknown desert in Saudi Arabia.

The protagonist Najeeb suffers miseries that cannot be described in words. Benyamin narrated his life as a goatherd in the novel and it became one of the best-seller novels in the history of Malayalam literature.

The real Najeeb Muhammad is living in Arattupuzha, a coastal village in Alappuzha. After suffering in Saudi Arabia, he escaped from the hands of an Arab landlord after walking days through the desert without food and water. Finally, he reached a city and a Malayali looked after him and later surrendered to the police.

He was deported to India in August 1995. Later he went to Bahrain and spent around 20 years and returned to his native. Now he is working as a fisherman in Arattupuzha.

I dont know how I live now, said Najeeb. Only the blessings of Allah is behind my resurrection. I am living with my wife Sabiyath and daughter Safeena at Patthissery in Arattupuzha panchayat. My son Safeer is in Oman. After escaping from Saudi Arabia, he went to Bahrain searching for a livelihood and worked in a scrap material company for over 20 years. He left the job in 2021 after the spread of Covid. After reaching his native place, he became a daily wager and is now working as a helper to fishermen who venture into the sea for fishing on Ponthuvallam.

After spending long years of life in the Gulf, he could construct a house after buying five cents of land, but he is sad that there is no pathway to the land. He is also happy that his daughters marriage has been conducted. I am content with that, said 60-year-old Najeeb.

I am happy that the film based on my life will be released soon. Many people from various countries suffered much in deserts as slaves in those days and the novel sheds light on the pathetic life of people who went to the Gulf dreaming of a better life. The film should also narrate the ordeal suffered by them, Najeeb said.

I went to the shooting sets of the film at Ranni and Tiruvalla and spoke to actor Prithviraj and director Blessy. Writer Benyamin frequently contacts me over the phone and offers help often. He gave me money at the time of the marriage of my daughter. It was a big help. I will go to the theatre with my family to see the film, Najeeb said.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

ALAPPUZHA: After years-long wait, the Prithviraj - Blessy- Benyamin team announced the release date of the film Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) on Thursday. The film, to be released on April 10, 2024, is based on a novel written by Benyamin about the real story of a man from Kerala who spent around two years in exile on a goat farm in an unknown desert in Saudi Arabia. The protagonist Najeeb suffers miseries that cannot be described in words. Benyamin narrated his life as a goatherd in the novel and it became one of the best-seller novels in the history of Malayalam literature. The real Najeeb Muhammad is living in Arattupuzha, a coastal village in Alappuzha. After suffering in Saudi Arabia, he escaped from the hands of an Arab landlord after walking days through the desert without food and water. Finally, he reached a city and a Malayali looked after him and later surrendered to the police. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He was deported to India in August 1995. Later he went to Bahrain and spent around 20 years and returned to his native. Now he is working as a fisherman in Arattupuzha. I dont know how I live now, said Najeeb. Only the blessings of Allah is behind my resurrection. I am living with my wife Sabiyath and daughter Safeena at Patthissery in Arattupuzha panchayat. My son Safeer is in Oman. After escaping from Saudi Arabia, he went to Bahrain searching for a livelihood and worked in a scrap material company for over 20 years. He left the job in 2021 after the spread of Covid. After reaching his native place, he became a daily wager and is now working as a helper to fishermen who venture into the sea for fishing on Ponthuvallam. After spending long years of life in the Gulf, he could construct a house after buying five cents of land, but he is sad that there is no pathway to the land. He is also happy that his daughters marriage has been conducted. I am content with that, said 60-year-old Najeeb. I am happy that the film based on my life will be released soon. Many people from various countries suffered much in deserts as slaves in those days and the novel sheds light on the pathetic life of people who went to the Gulf dreaming of a better life. The film should also narrate the ordeal suffered by them, Najeeb said. I went to the shooting sets of the film at Ranni and Tiruvalla and spoke to actor Prithviraj and director Blessy. Writer Benyamin frequently contacts me over the phone and offers help often. He gave me money at the time of the marriage of my daughter. It was a big help. I will go to the theatre with my family to see the film, Najeeb said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

KOLLAM: In a suspected case of murder, a 36-year-old Israeli woman who was staying in Kottayam for ayurveda treatment and yoga practice for some time, was found murdered on Thursday, allegedly by her Keralite partner.

The deceased Swat Vaa alias Radha was found with her throat slit. Her partner, Kottiyam-native Krishnachandran who tried to end his life is now at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in critical condition.

According to the police, the incident took place around 3.30 pm in their rented home in Kottayam. Police said that 74-year-old Krishnachandran is her husband, and was involved in her murder. Later, he tried to end his life with the same knife by stabbing himself. Both of them were staying in a rented house belonging to Krishnachandrans relatives, Bindu and Ravikumar.

The incident came to light when Bindu saw the womans body. She also witnessed Krishnachandran stabbing himself. She soon informed the locals who alerted the Kottayam Police. The police arrived and shifted Krishnachandran to the District Hospital first and later to the Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram. His condition is stated to be critical. The body of Swat Vaa has been shifted to Government Medical College Parippally, for postmortem examination.

According to police, Krishnachandran, a Keralite Yoga teacher working in Uttarakhand, has been living with Swat Vaa in Kottayam for the past year. The couple had come here for ayurvedic treatment and yoga practice.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

KOLLAM: In a suspected case of murder, a 36-year-old Israeli woman who was staying in Kottayam for ayurveda treatment and yoga practice for some time, was found murdered on Thursday, allegedly by her Keralite partner. The deceased Swat Vaa alias Radha was found with her throat slit. Her partner, Kottiyam-native Krishnachandran who tried to end his life is now at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in critical condition. According to the police, the incident took place around 3.30 pm in their rented home in Kottayam. Police said that 74-year-old Krishnachandran is her husband, and was involved in her murder. Later, he tried to end his life with the same knife by stabbing himself. Both of them were staying in a rented house belonging to Krishnachandrans relatives, Bindu and Ravikumar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The incident came to light when Bindu saw the womans body. She also witnessed Krishnachandran stabbing himself. She soon informed the locals who alerted the Kottayam Police. The police arrived and shifted Krishnachandran to the District Hospital first and later to the Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram. His condition is stated to be critical. The body of Swat Vaa has been shifted to Government Medical College Parippally, for postmortem examination. According to police, Krishnachandran, a Keralite Yoga teacher working in Uttarakhand, has been living with Swat Vaa in Kottayam for the past year. The couple had come here for ayurvedic treatment and yoga practice. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

KANNUR: The two-year-long legal battle waged by the Kerala Private College Teachers Association (KPCTA) with the support of the Save University Campaign ended on a high note for the teachers body with the Supreme Court on Thursday cancelling Prof Gopinath Ravindrans reappointment as the vice-chancellor of Kannur University.

The SC flat has come as a huge setback for the government, which had claimed that everything was done as per the rules and regulations of the university.

Gopinaths reappointment as the VC in 2021 had caused an uproar with Opposition parties terming it a quid pro quo for appointing Priya Varghese, the wife of K K Ragesh, the private secretary of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in the varsity. KPCTA Kannur region secretary Dr Shino P Jose and state general secretary Dr Premachandran Keezhoth had moved the HC challenging the technicalities in the governments move. Governor Arif Mohammed Khans statement that he was forced to sign Gopinaths reappointment order had added to the furore.

The KPCTA had suffered a jolt in the HC after both the single and division benches dismissed its petitions. While the HC only considered the legal aspects, the petitioners argued that technical aspects like age should be checked while considering a persons name for reappointment as VC. However, the government contended that such aspects should be considered only for first-time appointments. Accepting the argument, the HC division bench okayed the reappointment and also dismissed the petitioners demand that the trial be extended in the wake of Khans revelations.

ALSO READ | Kannur varsity VC issue: Two-year-long legal battle comes to an end, Kerala teachers Association have the last laugh

After his term ended in November 2021, Gopinath was reappointed the Kannur University VC two days later on November 23 for another four years. This was the first time in the state that a VC was being reappointed.

Making matters worse for the government, Governor Khan wrote to the CM saying since there was political interference in the reappointment, he could not continue as the Chancellor bowing to political pressure. Later, the letter written by Higher Education Minister R Bindu demanding Gopinaths reappointment was leaked in the media, exposing the governments claim that there was no political interference.



Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

KANNUR: The two-year-long legal battle waged by the Kerala Private College Teachers Association (KPCTA) with the support of the Save University Campaign ended on a high note for the teachers body with the Supreme Court on Thursday cancelling Prof Gopinath Ravindrans reappointment as the vice-chancellor of Kannur University. The SC flat has come as a huge setback for the government, which had claimed that everything was done as per the rules and regulations of the university. Gopinaths reappointment as the VC in 2021 had caused an uproar with Opposition parties terming it a quid pro quo for appointing Priya Varghese, the wife of K K Ragesh, the private secretary of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in the varsity. KPCTA Kannur region secretary Dr Shino P Jose and state general secretary Dr Premachandran Keezhoth had moved the HC challenging the technicalities in the governments move. Governor Arif Mohammed Khans statement that he was forced to sign Gopinaths reappointment order had added to the furore. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The KPCTA had suffered a jolt in the HC after both the single and division benches dismissed its petitions. While the HC only considered the legal aspects, the petitioners argued that technical aspects like age should be checked while considering a persons name for reappointment as VC. However, the government contended that such aspects should be considered only for first-time appointments. Accepting the argument, the HC division bench okayed the reappointment and also dismissed the petitioners demand that the trial be extended in the wake of Khans revelations. ALSO READ | Kannur varsity VC issue: Two-year-long legal battle comes to an end, Kerala teachers Association have the last laugh After his term ended in November 2021, Gopinath was reappointed the Kannur University VC two days later on November 23 for another four years. This was the first time in the state that a VC was being reappointed. Making matters worse for the government, Governor Khan wrote to the CM saying since there was political interference in the reappointment, he could not continue as the Chancellor bowing to political pressure. Later, the letter written by Higher Education Minister R Bindu demanding Gopinaths reappointment was leaked in the media, exposing the governments claim that there was no political interference. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

KOCHI: A senior state government pleader in the Kerala High Court resigned on Thursday after an FIR was registered against him for rape by the Chottanikkara police. It is learned that the advocate generals office had sought the resignation of senior government pleader PG Manu after the case was registered against him.

The complaint lodged by the 25-year-old woman, a resident of Ernakulam, stated that she had sought the pleaders help to quash an FIR registered in 2018 in a sexual assault case filed by her.

She approached the pleader earlier this month to settle the case as it was causing mental trauma to her. It is alleged that Manu called the woman to his office, sexually assaulted her and also took her photographs on his mobile phone.

As the pleader continued to pester her, the woman lodged a complaint with Ernakulam Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena who handed it over to the Chottanikkara police. The police registered an FIR under sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC, along with relevant sections of the IT Act. An investigation is underway, and as of now, no arrest has been made.

Sections charged

IPC sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

KOCHI: A senior state government pleader in the Kerala High Court resigned on Thursday after an FIR was registered against him for rape by the Chottanikkara police. It is learned that the advocate generals office had sought the resignation of senior government pleader PG Manu after the case was registered against him. The complaint lodged by the 25-year-old woman, a resident of Ernakulam, stated that she had sought the pleaders help to quash an FIR registered in 2018 in a sexual assault case filed by her. She approached the pleader earlier this month to settle the case as it was causing mental trauma to her. It is alleged that Manu called the woman to his office, sexually assaulted her and also took her photographs on his mobile phone.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As the pleader continued to pester her, the woman lodged a complaint with Ernakulam Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena who handed it over to the Chottanikkara police. The police registered an FIR under sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC, along with relevant sections of the IT Act. An investigation is underway, and as of now, no arrest has been made. Sections charged IPC sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), and 506 (criminal intimidation). Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

DINDIGUL/MADURAI: At a time when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out searches across India to recover ill-gotten money, a senior ED officer was caught red-handed and arrested by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption officials in Dindigul on Friday while taking a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a government doctor.

The officer allegedly told the doctor that the ED would register a case against him if he did not pay up. The DVAC conducted searches at the ED office and the officers home in Madurai.

The ED official, Ankit Tiwari (32), was transferred from Nagpur to Madurai four months ago. The DVAC said he called Dr Suresh Babu for an inquiry at Madurai, claiming it was on directions from the Prime Ministers Office.

The doctor, a chief civil surgeon at the Government Medical College Hospital in Dindigul, was booked by DVAC in 2018 in a disproportionate assets case. He and his wife run a private hospital in Dindigul. On October 30, he went to the ED office but Tiwari did not allow him to meet officials. Instead, he demanded Rs 3 crore to relieve him from the case, claiming he had to give a share to senior officials in Chennai, DVAC officials said.

DVAC DSP J Nagarajan said Dr Suresh Babu and Tiwari struck a deal for Rs 51 lakh and the doctor handed over Rs 20 lakh to Tiwari on November 1. But, Tiwari kept demanding the remaining sum. Suresh Babu informed the DVAC, which gave him chemical-coated currency notes worth Rs 20 lakh. On Friday, the sleuths caught Tiwari red-handed and arrested him after he took the money from the doctor at Kodai Road toll plaza, he said.

ED advocates, employees try to obstruct DVAC sleuths

After the arrest, DVAC questioned Tiwari at its office in Dindigul for more than 12 hours. The DVAC sleuths also searched his house in Madurai and seized two laptops. Sources said that when they were initiating the search at Tiwaris office, ED advocates and employees tried to stop them by claiming the DVAC needed a court order to conduct the search.

The sleuths cited the rule and said they dont need court order as the complainant is from Tamil Nadu and conducted the search at the ED office, they added. Over 500 state police and central governments Indo-Tibetan police were deployed at the ED office.

Sources said that during the search, DVAC sleuths broke the lock to Tiwaris room and took a few important documents. They also plan to conduct searches at sites linked to ED officials in Chennai who are connected with Tiwari. DVAC presented him before Judicial Magistrate Mohana in Dindigul. Judge ordered to put him under judicial custody for 15 days.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

DINDIGUL/MADURAI: At a time when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out searches across India to recover ill-gotten money, a senior ED officer was caught red-handed and arrested by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption officials in Dindigul on Friday while taking a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a government doctor. The officer allegedly told the doctor that the ED would register a case against him if he did not pay up. The DVAC conducted searches at the ED office and the officers home in Madurai. The ED official, Ankit Tiwari (32), was transferred from Nagpur to Madurai four months ago. The DVAC said he called Dr Suresh Babu for an inquiry at Madurai, claiming it was on directions from the Prime Ministers Office. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The doctor, a chief civil surgeon at the Government Medical College Hospital in Dindigul, was booked by DVAC in 2018 in a disproportionate assets case. He and his wife run a private hospital in Dindigul. On October 30, he went to the ED office but Tiwari did not allow him to meet officials. Instead, he demanded Rs 3 crore to relieve him from the case, claiming he had to give a share to senior officials in Chennai, DVAC officials said. DVAC DSP J Nagarajan said Dr Suresh Babu and Tiwari struck a deal for Rs 51 lakh and the doctor handed over Rs 20 lakh to Tiwari on November 1. But, Tiwari kept demanding the remaining sum. Suresh Babu informed the DVAC, which gave him chemical-coated currency notes worth Rs 20 lakh. On Friday, the sleuths caught Tiwari red-handed and arrested him after he took the money from the doctor at Kodai Road toll plaza, he said. ED advocates, employees try to obstruct DVAC sleuths After the arrest, DVAC questioned Tiwari at its office in Dindigul for more than 12 hours. The DVAC sleuths also searched his house in Madurai and seized two laptops. Sources said that when they were initiating the search at Tiwaris office, ED advocates and employees tried to stop them by claiming the DVAC needed a court order to conduct the search. The sleuths cited the rule and said they dont need court order as the complainant is from Tamil Nadu and conducted the search at the ED office, they added. Over 500 state police and central governments Indo-Tibetan police were deployed at the ED office. Sources said that during the search, DVAC sleuths broke the lock to Tiwaris room and took a few important documents. They also plan to conduct searches at sites linked to ED officials in Chennai who are connected with Tiwari. DVAC presented him before Judicial Magistrate Mohana in Dindigul. Judge ordered to put him under judicial custody for 15 days. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ireddy Srinivas Reddy By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Polling in Telangana was peaceful and smooth on Thursday, barring sporadic incidents. However, the voter turnout data, which was available till 11 pm, was less than expected in urban areas. Overall, the state recorded an average voter turnout of 70.60%, while Hyderabad recorded an abysmal 46.56% as compared to 50.31% in 2018.

The poll percentage has left the candidates of the major contestants, the BRS and the Congress, with fingers crossed. In 2014, the overall voting was 69% and in 2018, it was 73%. The silver lining is that it could exceed 73% as thousands of voters were still in the queue around the closing time.

The ruling BRS won almost 90% of the seats in North and South Telangana in 2018. This time, the voting percentage is evidently on the higher side in the North, considered a stronghold of the BRS, indicating that the Congress could be gaining.

The BRS won 39 seats in North and 48 seats in South Telangana in 2018, but this time, if one were to go by the voting percentage in many rural constituencies, the Congress hopes are high. Kamareddy, one of the key constituencies in North Telangana, notched up to 74.86%. It is where the state Congress chief A Revanth Reddy is taking on Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The BJP candidate Venkataramana Reddy, a strong local candidate, has turned it into a tough triangular fight.

Erstwhile Karimnagar, comprising 13 segments, recorded 75%. This region, the heart of the Telangana movement, is key to the BRS as the chief ministers son and IT Minister KT Rama Rao is contesting from Sircilla. The segment recorded 74% polling.

Cong hopes for clean sweep in Khammam

In Adilabad district, the voting percentage exceeded 77% in all segments, which is expected to benefit the Congress and BJP. In the erstwhile Nizamabad district, the poll percentage crossed 73%. In erstwhile Warangal district, the average poll percentage reached 78%. The district is a stronghold of the ruling party, but ground reports suggest that the Congress may gain.

In the Khammam constituency, the poll percentage crossed 71% but voters at several places rushed to the booths at the last minute, giving more hope to the Congress, which is expecting a clean sweep in the district. Interestingly, the ruling party won only one seat from this district in 2014 and 2018 elections.

In South Telangana, the poll percentage in erstwhile Mahbubnagar was 78%. Kodangal, another seat from where PCC chief A Revanth Reddy is contesting, recorded 81% voting. In the last elections, Revanth lost to the BRS as did the Congress across the district. This time, the Congress is expected to do much better. Erstwhile Nalgonda district recorded 85% voting. The Congress has a strong hold here, and won two Lok Sabha seats in 2019 elections. Now, the grand old party expects a clean sweep.

Medak, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raos native district, recorded 86% polling. The CMs sitting Assembly seat, Gajwel, recorded 80% voter turnout. While the BRS believes it can win 78 seats in the district, the Congress, which managed only one in 2018, is sure of bagging 56 of the total 10 seats.

Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad were the odd districts recording a meagre 60% and 46.56% poll percentage respectively. Here, the BRS and MIM are expected to do well with the BJP and Congress giving them a tough fight.

READ HERE | Hyderabad records low voter turnout despite general holiday

The X-factor: Silent voters

As the polling began at 7 am, the voters appeared to have taken it easy particularly in urban areas. However, as it came to a close at 5 pm, thousands rushed to the polling booths, giving jitters to political parties.

In almost 60 constituencies, the voters were in long queues in the evening. The parties believe these people are the silent voters and could well decide their fate. The most worrying part for the parties is that trends were available by the time these voters arrived at the polling booths.

In a series of pre-poll surveys by different parties, the silent voter share increased day by day, across a significant number of segments. It was about 16% in the third week of October and increased by 4 points in the first and second week of November. Interestingly, the number settled at 22% in the last fortnight.

The BRS, which is on the backfoot from the surface view of the public mood, is banking on the silent voters, given that it has good poll management. The Congress leaders, however, say the last-minute vote is purely the silent vote of those who waited for a decision and would swing depending on the public mood.

Counting on Dec 3

After a gruelling poll campaign, the wait for the 2,290 candidates will end on December 3 (Sunday), when the votes will be counted and the results announced

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

HYDERABAD: Polling in Telangana was peaceful and smooth on Thursday, barring sporadic incidents. However, the voter turnout data, which was available till 11 pm, was less than expected in urban areas. Overall, the state recorded an average voter turnout of 70.60%, while Hyderabad recorded an abysmal 46.56% as compared to 50.31% in 2018. The poll percentage has left the candidates of the major contestants, the BRS and the Congress, with fingers crossed. In 2014, the overall voting was 69% and in 2018, it was 73%. The silver lining is that it could exceed 73% as thousands of voters were still in the queue around the closing time. The ruling BRS won almost 90% of the seats in North and South Telangana in 2018. This time, the voting percentage is evidently on the higher side in the North, considered a stronghold of the BRS, indicating that the Congress could be gaining.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The BRS won 39 seats in North and 48 seats in South Telangana in 2018, but this time, if one were to go by the voting percentage in many rural constituencies, the Congress hopes are high. Kamareddy, one of the key constituencies in North Telangana, notched up to 74.86%. It is where the state Congress chief A Revanth Reddy is taking on Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The BJP candidate Venkataramana Reddy, a strong local candidate, has turned it into a tough triangular fight. Erstwhile Karimnagar, comprising 13 segments, recorded 75%. This region, the heart of the Telangana movement, is key to the BRS as the chief ministers son and IT Minister KT Rama Rao is contesting from Sircilla. The segment recorded 74% polling. Cong hopes for clean sweep in Khammam In Adilabad district, the voting percentage exceeded 77% in all segments, which is expected to benefit the Congress and BJP. In the erstwhile Nizamabad district, the poll percentage crossed 73%. In erstwhile Warangal district, the average poll percentage reached 78%. The district is a stronghold of the ruling party, but ground reports suggest that the Congress may gain. In the Khammam constituency, the poll percentage crossed 71% but voters at several places rushed to the booths at the last minute, giving more hope to the Congress, which is expecting a clean sweep in the district. Interestingly, the ruling party won only one seat from this district in 2014 and 2018 elections. In South Telangana, the poll percentage in erstwhile Mahbubnagar was 78%. Kodangal, another seat from where PCC chief A Revanth Reddy is contesting, recorded 81% voting. In the last elections, Revanth lost to the BRS as did the Congress across the district. This time, the Congress is expected to do much better. Erstwhile Nalgonda district recorded 85% voting. The Congress has a strong hold here, and won two Lok Sabha seats in 2019 elections. Now, the grand old party expects a clean sweep. Medak, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raos native district, recorded 86% polling. The CMs sitting Assembly seat, Gajwel, recorded 80% voter turnout. While the BRS believes it can win 78 seats in the district, the Congress, which managed only one in 2018, is sure of bagging 56 of the total 10 seats. Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad were the odd districts recording a meagre 60% and 46.56% poll percentage respectively. Here, the BRS and MIM are expected to do well with the BJP and Congress giving them a tough fight. READ HERE | Hyderabad records low voter turnout despite general holiday The X-factor: Silent voters As the polling began at 7 am, the voters appeared to have taken it easy particularly in urban areas. However, as it came to a close at 5 pm, thousands rushed to the polling booths, giving jitters to political parties. In almost 60 constituencies, the voters were in long queues in the evening. The parties believe these people are the silent voters and could well decide their fate. The most worrying part for the parties is that trends were available by the time these voters arrived at the polling booths. In a series of pre-poll surveys by different parties, the silent voter share increased day by day, across a significant number of segments. It was about 16% in the third week of October and increased by 4 points in the first and second week of November. Interestingly, the number settled at 22% in the last fortnight. The BRS, which is on the backfoot from the surface view of the public mood, is banking on the silent voters, given that it has good poll management. The Congress leaders, however, say the last-minute vote is purely the silent vote of those who waited for a decision and would swing depending on the public mood. Counting on Dec 3 After a gruelling poll campaign, the wait for the 2,290 candidates will end on December 3 (Sunday), when the votes will be counted and the results announced Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

TEHRAN: Iran warned of "severe consequences" as the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas resumed on Friday after a seven-day truce expired.

Militants from the Iran-backed Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which Israeli officials say about 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and around 240 were taken hostage.

Israel, whose main ally is the United States, vowed to destroy Hamas in response and unleashed an offensive that Gaza's Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people in the Palestinian territory, mostly civilians.

Fighting resumed on Friday after the expiry of the temporary truce that saw Hamas release 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

"The continuation of the Washington and Tel Aviv war means a new genocide in Gaza and the West Bank," Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Friday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"It appears that they do not think about the severe consequences of returning to war," he added.

Israel accused Hamas of breaking the pause by attempting to launch a rocket attack shortly before it was due to come to an end Friday at 0500 GMT.

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."

The health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory said at least 60 people had been killed in the hours after the truce ended.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani had earlier blamed Israel and the United States over the resumption of hostilities.

In a post on X, Kanani said "the political and legal responsibility for the continuation of the aggression and massacre" rested with Israel, the United States and "governments that support this apartheid regime".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Thursday with Israeli and Palestinian officials, called for a truce extension and said Palestinian civilians must be protected if hostilities resume. Other world figures had also appealed for a longer pause.

"The nations and the vast majority of the governments of the world are shouting for the continuation of the ceasefire and the complete stop to the Zionist regime's attacks against Gaza and the West Bank," Kanani said.

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

TEHRAN: Iran warned of "severe consequences" as the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas resumed on Friday after a seven-day truce expired. Militants from the Iran-backed Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which Israeli officials say about 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and around 240 were taken hostage. Israel, whose main ally is the United States, vowed to destroy Hamas in response and unleashed an offensive that Gaza's Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people in the Palestinian territory, mostly civilians.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Fighting resumed on Friday after the expiry of the temporary truce that saw Hamas release 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. "The continuation of the Washington and Tel Aviv war means a new genocide in Gaza and the West Bank," Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Friday in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "It appears that they do not think about the severe consequences of returning to war," he added. Israel accused Hamas of breaking the pause by attempting to launch a rocket attack shortly before it was due to come to an end Friday at 0500 GMT. 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." The health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory said at least 60 people had been killed in the hours after the truce ended. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani had earlier blamed Israel and the United States over the resumption of hostilities. In a post on X, Kanani said "the political and legal responsibility for the continuation of the aggression and massacre" rested with Israel, the United States and "governments that support this apartheid regime". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Thursday with Israeli and Palestinian officials, called for a truce extension and said Palestinian civilians must be protected if hostilities resume. Other world figures had also appealed for a longer pause. "The nations and the vast majority of the governments of the world are shouting for the continuation of the ceasefire and the complete stop to the Zionist regime's attacks against Gaza and the West Bank," Kanani said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Agencies

WASHINGTON: US Senator and Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin said on Thursday that the US Justice Department's indictment of an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a failed assassination plot was disturbing and that he will be chairing a Senate hearing on the issue.

"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. Next week, I will be chairing a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that will examine the scope of global transnational repression and how the United States government can more effectively counter this pernicious threat," Chairman Cardin said in a statement.

Senator Cardin noted an alarming rise in cases of "transnational repression" and said that he would examine how the US government can more effectively counter this "pernicious threat."

"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 individualsfar beyond their borders," Chairman Cardin said.

The Foreign Relations Committee chair's comments come after the US Justice Department unsealed indictment of an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Pannun, a US-based leader of the Khalistan Movement.

Notably, India has already set up a high-level inquiry committee to look into the matter and will be taking "necessary follow-up action" based on the findings.

The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, 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 reported that the Biden administration was so concerned after discovering the plot to assassinate the Sikh separatist that it sent CIA Director William J Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to India in August and October respectively to demand an investigation and hold to account those responsible.

Earlier on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Indian government's decision to investigate the matter was "good and appropriate" and added that the US looked forward to seeing the results.

"With regard to India, first, this is an ongoing legal matter. So you'll understand I can't comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian government in the past few weeks. The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

The US Justice Department has claimed in the indictment 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, according to prosecutors.

Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The Czech authorities had arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

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 charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The unsealing of the indictment follows the 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.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that the episode 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 MEA spokesperson said.

"The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning, 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," the MEA spokesperson added.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

WASHINGTON: US Senator and Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin said on Thursday that the US Justice Department's indictment of an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a failed assassination plot was disturbing and that he will be chairing a Senate hearing on the issue. "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. Next week, I will be chairing a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that will examine the scope of global transnational repression and how the United States government can more effectively counter this pernicious threat," Chairman Cardin said in a statement. Senator Cardin noted an alarming rise in cases of "transnational repression" and said that he would examine how the US government can more effectively counter this "pernicious threat."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "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 individualsfar beyond their borders," Chairman Cardin said. The Foreign Relations Committee chair's comments come after the US Justice Department unsealed indictment of an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Pannun, a US-based leader of the Khalistan Movement. Notably, India has already set up a high-level inquiry committee to look into the matter and will be taking "necessary follow-up action" based on the findings. The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, 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 reported that the Biden administration was so concerned after discovering the plot to assassinate the Sikh separatist that it sent CIA Director William J Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to India in August and October respectively to demand an investigation and hold to account those responsible. Earlier on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Indian government's decision to investigate the matter was "good and appropriate" and added that the US looked forward to seeing the results. "With regard to India, first, this is an ongoing legal matter. So you'll understand I can't comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian government in the past few weeks. The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv. The US Justice Department has claimed in the indictment 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, according to prosecutors. Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The Czech authorities had arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic. 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 charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The unsealing of the indictment follows the 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. The Ministry of External Affairs has said that the episode 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 MEA spokesperson said. "The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning, 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," the MEA spokesperson added. (With inputs from ANI and PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
New Delhi, Nov 30

M egastar Amitabh Bachchan, host of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 15', has candidly shared that he cannot ever go against girls, and said that 'women are our support system'.

In episode 78, Big B welcomed class 8th student Saswat Patnaik from Umerkote, Odisha to the hot seat.

Talking about the report card of Saswat, Amitabh said: "His dislike is The Boys-Girls Treaty. What is it?"

The little contestant said: "Sir, it's related to my class It's a nagging problem, you know. Sir, I don't even want to talk about it. It's a real headache. Sir, there is a video based on this topic. Please allow me to play the video."

Big B: "You mean there is a video based on this?"

The video shows Saswat saying: We have two teams in our class. One is the boy's team and the second team belongs to the girls. 'Both the teams have been at loggerheads for aeons. The girl's team doesn't want peace. They want unrest. Boys and girls fight like cats and dogs. I signed a treaty with the girls' monitor to maintain peace, which is called The Boys-Girls Treaty."

I mentioned clearly in the treaty, as the girls' monitor, you may monitor the girls as you want to, we won't interfere in the matter of girls, and even the girls can't interfere in our issues.

After a few days of signing the treaty, the girls complained against us. It was like backstabbing us. Our treaty got nullified. I'll request Amitabh Bachchan to sign our treaty to maintain peace here. Who wouldn't listen to the Star of the Millennium?," he shared.

The 'Brahmastra' actor said: "You made this treaty so that there is no fight between the girls and the boys. What next?"

Contestant: "Sir, I have just one request. You are a superstar and the whole of India listens to you. Sir, I want you to become our group leader. If you become our group leader, everyone the entire India listens to you and these girls are no special."

Amitabh: "How did you come to the conclusion that the entire India listens to me?"

Contestant said: "Audience! Sir, live proof." The audience cheered for the 'Shahenshah' of Bollywood.

The 81-year-old actor: "I support your thinking that one shouldn't get into fights. If you want me to say anything against the girls, I wouldn't do it. I tell you with folded hands. I'm not against girls. Nor will l ever be. Women are our support system. Do you know this?"

"Tell them that I instructed them to make a peace treaty. Forget about the Boys and Girls Treaty. Make a single treaty called the Peace Treaty. Both groups should follow the peace treaty," he added.

'Kaun Banega Crorepati 15' airs on Sony.

'Not against girls': Amitabh Bachchan pledges support for women

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Mumbai, Nov 30

F ilmmaker 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 Kate Nahin Kat Te 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 everybodys 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 everythingthe violent emotion, the intense romance. That quality within you was absolutely amazing. You have a bright future as an actor, and Ill 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 its 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.

Arjun Kapoor tryst with 'Mr India' & his food tantrums

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Mumbai, Nov 30

S inger and judge of 'Indian Idol 14', Shreya Ghoshal lauded the performance of Utkarsh Wankende and said that Nagpur is known for oranges, "but now, your name is attached to it as well."

This Saturday, the evergreen music-composer duo, Anand-Milind, will grace the stage of the singing reality show. Celebrating Hits of Anand-Milind, the contestants will belt out their iconic chartbusters to impress judge Shreya Ghoshal and Shekhar Ravjiani, a guest judge for this weekend.

"Maharashtra ki Shaan" Utkarsh from Nagpur will captivate the judges and guests with his exceptional rendition of the song Aye Mere Humsafar from the classic Qayamat se Qayamat, and O Rabba Koi To Bataye from the movie Sangeet.

Shreya said: "Utkarsh, I recently returned from Nagpur and, let me tell you, the only voice I heard there was Utkarsh!. Everyone in your hometown is so proud of you. I feel so happy that you are gathering love from all over the country, especially your hometown. Nagpur is known for oranges, but now, your name is attached to it as well."

Complimenting Utkarsh, Shekhar added: "You have a very beautiful and sweet voice. It is certainly a recording voice."

Indian Idol Season 14 airs on Sony.

Shreya Ghoshal applauds 'Indian Idol 14' contestant's performance of 'Aye Mere Humsafar'

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Mumbai, Nov 30

T he 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.

RBI fines HDFC Bank and Bank of America

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Mumbai, Nov 30

M alayalam 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.

Prithviraj-starrer 'The Goat Life' books April 10 release

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Sharon Stone praises Ranveer Singh as she honours him at Red Sea International Film Fest

Mumbai, Dec 1

B ollywood actor Ranveer Singh, who was honoured with the prestigious Yusr Award at the Red Sea International Festival, also received words of high praise from Hollywood star Sharon Stone.

"I had the exciting pleasure of meeting Ranveer before we came in here, and what a great guy," said Stone.

The Red Sea Yusr Award last year was presented to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, a symbol of recognition for boldness and innovation in film.

Stone emphasised Ranveer's lifelong passion for acting, a dream he has cherished since childhood. His journey from aspiring actor to Bollywood royalty reflects not only his dedication but also his undeniable talent.

Stone added: Ranveer Singh is a world renowned Bollywood star and a style icon. He is the recipient of several awards including 5 Filmfare Awards. Since his breakthrough, as you have seen, he is a master of transformation immersing himself in a myriad of characters that have showcased his exceptional range as an actor.

She added: Whether it's his charismatic and endearing Bitoo Sharma in Band Baaja Baraat, the ferocious and vengeful Khilji in Padmaavat or the buoyant and inspiring rapper Murad in Gully Boy, all of which he won Best Actor for, Ranveer brings life into every role, effortlessly blending into the skin of his characters and leaving his audiences spellbound.

After his role in Gully Boy, he launched his own records demonstrating that he is truly an all-round creative genius. It gives me genuine pleasure to welcome him to the stage to receive yet another prestigious award."

Sharon Stone praises Ranveer Singh as she honours him at Red Sea International Film Fest

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
Vicky Kaushal says he gets a kick out of playing a real hero on screen

New Delhi, Dec 1

B e it Uri: The Surgical Strike, Raazi, Sardar Udham or his latest release Sam Bahadur, something happens to Vicky Kaushal as he ends up upping his own success game when he dons the uniform on screen.

The star says it comes from a point where there is genuine regard for the Indian Army and that he gets a kick out of playing a real hero.

What happens to him as he stuns every time when he dons the uniform for a performance onscreen?

Vicky told IANS: I think it comes from a point where there is genuine regard for the Indian Army and also inherently I get kicked about playing a real hero. I find that great.

Whenever I get to interact with real army personnel, I am just speechless and inspired by them that whenever I get an opportunity to play them there is this subconscious sense of that isme jaan phookni hai I can't take this lightly and out do myself.

That plays subconsciously so much that it shows in my work. We put in work and effort in all our films and that sense of responsibility just brings out something out of me.

Asked if he agrees that there is something special about the uniform, the national crush said: Of course.

Vickys latest release is Sam Bahadur, a biographical war drama film based on the life of India's first field marshal, Sam Manekshaw.It is directed by Meghna Gulzar . Set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw led the Indian Army from the front leading to Bangladesh's liberation.

Talking about playing Manekshaw in the film, Vicky agrees that there was something unique about his aura.

He said: His aura was not limited to the uniform. It was not like when he would wear his uniform he would have this aura and when hes not with this aura. He just had this aura and flamboyance spirit that heart which would cut across a room full of people irrespective of whether he is in a uniform or not to crack that  spirit was the focus was on that a lot more than just his body language.

Did he take back some learning from Manekshaw?

The 35-year-old star said: What happens to me after the process of filming is that the body language rubbing off takes time the way he sat, became my normal way of sitting, the way he stood up became my normal posture and that took time to come off because I was doing that for seven monthsand literally shooting for 12 hours becoming that man You just go home to sleep. That takes time to go off.

The National Award-winner feels lucky to have lived Manekshaws life through the film.

But apart from that I felt for the first time that in my personal life I would get into a situation and I would like what would Sam sir do. I feel blessed to try and live his life and understand his way to look at life because I can think like that, added the actor.

Vicky Kaushal says he gets a kick out of playing a real hero on screen

Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us!
For the most part its been positive, Tiechtel said. People stop us on the street and tell us how sad they are about whats been going on. Its very heartwarming.
Questions about a mystery antenna near Urbana Middle School  what they do at the Illinois Plasma Institute  how many people died of drug overdoses in Champaign County during 2022  and what happened to the big sign over the main entrance at Sams Club. Also, a look at some of Amerens policies and procedures in the wake of the late-June storms that left many households without electric power for days
John Marlin shows off a Lego model of an aircraft carrier he made 25 years ago, in honor of his late fathers military service. This weekend, the model will on display as part of Champaign American Legion Post 559s Pearl Harbor Day tribute at Urbanas Lincoln Square.
Download Now

The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print.




A recent Annals of Family Medicine study explores the use of an artificial intelligence (AI)-aided stethoscope to monitor exacerbations of asthma in adults and children remotely.

Study: Home Monitoring of Asthma Exacerbations in Children and Adults With Use of an AI-Aided Stethoscope. Image Credit: OMfotovideocontent / Shutterstock.com

Background

Asthma affects between 10-12% of children and generally involves chronic inflammation of the airways. This health condition is also characterized by a history of respiratory symptoms, including cough, chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Exacerbations of asthma entail a deterioration of lung function and symptoms as compared to the patients usual status. These symptoms could lead to occasional hospitalizations and visits to the emergency department; therefore, for symptom relief and proper management, early diagnosis is crucial.

Certain tests to monitor asthma exacerbation are available for home use, such as pulmonary function tests that measure peak expiratory flow (PEF). However, these tests are not designed to be used by children younger than five years of age. The high prevalence of asthma in children emphasizes the importance of providing all patients with access to the necessary tools to recognize worsening asthma.

About this study

StethoMe is an AI-based home stethoscope that detects pathologic auscultatory phenomena, such as wheezes and rhonchi, and transient sounds, such as coarse and fine crackles. StethoMe also effectively measures other vitals, including the respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and inspiration-to-expiration duration ratio (I/E).

In the current observational study of six months, 149 asthma patients participated, 90 of whom were children. All patients performed self-examinations using three devices, including the StethoMe, PEF meter, and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) meter. All study participants subsequently completed a health survey that was evaluated by physicians.

For each parameter, a machine learning (ML) model was trained. In the next stage, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated, which allowed the researchers to assess the utility of the specific parameter in detecting symptom exacerbation.

Key findings

For children five years of age or younger, the subjective assessment of parents was insufficient to exclude or confirm asthma exacerbation. This is similar to previous research reporting inconsistencies between the evaluations of doctors and parents.

The researchers found that using a single parameter could be misleading, as, individually, RR, HR, SpO 2 , PEF, and I/E are weak indicators. However, continuous auscultatory sounds could be more effective when constrained to a single parameter. Nevertheless, the incorporation of several parameters was found to be the best approach for children.

For all groups, a combination of data provided by all three devices was the best determinant of asthma exacerbation; however, the data provided by the AI-aided stethoscope alone was equally efficient for children. This finding reflects the efficacy of StethoMe in detecting exacerbations in children, including those below five years of age.

The AI-aided stethoscope could significantly improve patient-doctor collaboration using telemedicine solutions. Telehealth programs are developing rapidly and are cost-effective, as medical records can be electronically sent and analyzed using AI modules.

Despite these advancements, there is a lack of a definitive action plan to detect asthma exacerbation, particularly for younger children. The current study suggests that the AI-aided home stethoscope could address this gap by monitoring a comprehensive set of parameters that reflect asthma severity.

Conclusions

The study findings highlight the utility of the AI-aided stethoscope in remotely detecting asthma exacerbations like wheezes, HR, RR, and rhonchi. This is especially true for younger children for whom the assessment of parents might not be precise; therefore, StethoMe appears to be a valuable device to facilitate asthma monitoring.

A key strength of the current study is the use of large-scale data from certified medical devices, thus suggesting that the data are highly reliable and superior to laboratory studies with short-term monitoring and a small number of participants.

Importantly, a notable limitation involves the reference standard used for the parameters. Since there are no well-established parameters and reference points, the standards used in this study were based on the subjective decisions of individual physicians and experience. Additionally, the current study only included Slavic patients and, as a result, is not ethnically diverse.
Slow waves that usually only occur in the brain during sleep are also present during wakefulness in people with epilepsy and may protect against increased brain excitability associated with the condition, finds a new study led by researchers at UCL.

The research, published in Nature Communications and involving the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, examined electroencephalogram (EEG) scans from electrodes in the brains of 25 patients with focal epilepsy (a type of epilepsy characterized by seizures arising from a specific part of the brain), while they carried out an associative memory task.

The electrodes had been placed in the patients' brains to localize abnormal activity and inform surgical treatment.

During the task, participants were presented with 27 pairs of images that remained on a screen for six seconds. The images were in nine groups of three  each group featuring a picture of a person, a place and an object. In each case, participants had to remember which images had been grouped together. EEG data were recorded continuously throughout the task.

After reviewing the EEG data, the team found that the brains of people with epilepsy were producing slow waves  lasting less than one second - while they were awake and taking part in the task.

The occurrence of these "wake" slow waves increased in line with increases in brain excitability and decreased the impact of epileptic spikes on brain activity.

In particular, there was a decrease in the "firing" of nerve cells, which the researchers say could protect against epileptic activity.

Sleep is crucial for repair, maintenance and resetting brain activity. When we are awake we experience a progressive increase in brain excitability, which is redressed during sleep. Recent studies have indicated that a specific form of brain activity, slow waves during sleep, play a crucial role in these restorative functions. We wanted to address whether these 'sleep' slow waves could occur during wakefulness in response to abnormal increases in brain activity associated with epilepsy. This study unveils, for the first time, a potential protective mechanism, 'wake' slow waves, employed by the brain to counteract epileptic activity. This mechanism takes advantage of protective brain activity that normally occurs during sleep, but, in people with epilepsy, can occur during wakefulness." Matthew Walker, Senior Author, Professor, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

As part of the research, the team also wanted to test if the occurrence of "wake" slow waves had any negative effects on cognitive function.

During the memory task, researchers found that the "wake" slow waves reduced nerve cell activity and so affected cognitive performance  increasing the length of time required by patients to complete the task.

The team reported that for each increase of one slow wave per second, the reaction time increased by 0.56 seconds.

Professor Walker said: "This observation suggests that the cognitive difficulties - in particularly, memory deficits - experienced by individuals with epilepsy may be attributed, in part, to the brief impairments induced by these slow waves."

The team hope that future studies will be able to increase such activity as a potential novel treatment for people with epilepsy.

Lead author, Dr Laurent Sheybani (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), said: "The parallel between the function of slow waves during sleep and, here, their beneficial impact in a pathological condition, is particularly interesting.

"Our study suggests that a naturally occurring activity is employed by the brain to offset pathological activities; however, this comes with a price, since 'wake' slow waves are shown to impact on memory performance.

"From a purely neurobiological perspective, the research also reinforces the idea that sleep activity can happen in specific areas of the brain, rather than occurring evenly throughout the brain."

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council, Wellcome, UCLH Biomedical Research Centre and The Swiss National Science Foundation.
A new research paper was published on the cover of Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 22, entitled, "Chronological aging impacts abundance, function and microRNA content of extracellular vesicles produced by human epidermal keratinocytes."

The disturbance of intercellular communication is one of the hallmarks of aging. In their new study, researchers Taku Nedachi, Christelle Bonod, Julie Rorteau, Wafae Chinoune, Yuri Ishiuchi, Sandrine Hughes, Benjamin Gillet, Nicolas Bechetoille, Dominique Sigaudo-Roussel, and Jerome Lamartine from the University of Lyon, Toyo University and Gattefosse SAS aimed to clarify the impact of chronological aging on extracellular vesicles (EVs), a key mode of communication in mammalian tissues.

"The present study was therefore conducted to elucidate whether the characteristics of EVs released from cultured human keratinocytes can be modulated during aging process."

The researchers focused on epidermal keratinocytes, the main cells of the outer protective layer of the skin which is strongly impaired in the skin of elderly. EVs were purified from conditioned medium of primary keratinocytes isolated from infant or aged adult skin. A significant increase of the relative number of EVs released from aged keratinocytes was observed whereas their size distribution was not modified.

By small RNA sequencing, the researchers described a specific microRNA (miRNA) signature of aged EVs with an increase abundance of miR-30a, a key regulator of barrier function in human epidermis. EVs from aged keratinocytes were found to be able to reduce the proliferation of young keratinocytes, to impact their organogenesis properties in a reconstructed epidermis model and to slow down the early steps of skin wound healing in mice, three features observed in aged epidermis. This work reveals that intercellular communication mediated by EVs is modulated during aging process in keratinocytes and might be involved in the functional defects observed in aged skin.

"To conclude, we have shown here that aging modulates EVs abundance, function and microRNA content in human keratinocytes."
In a recent study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers investigated the neural impacts of the Japanese sauna practice called 'tononou'.

Study: A study on neural changes induced by sauna bathing: Neural basis of the totonou state. Image Credit: r.classen/Shutterstock.com

Background

They evaluated the physiological, neural, and mood changes in twenty adults following three alternating sets of hot sauna and cold water, followed by rest.

Analyses of participants' subjective emotional state and brain activity revealed that saunas significantly increase neural alpha and theta powers, improving attention and brain efficiency.

Behavioral tasks were much easier to complete in the post-sauna state than before the sauna intervention. Researchers finally developed an artificial intelligence model for brain state classification, which achieved more than 88% accuracy in neural state identification.

What is totonou?

A totonou (tonneau) is an outdoor, compact, circular sauna that closely resembles a large barrel turned on its side. Like most other forms of sauna, the totonou process involves immersion in a steam or hot air bath (70C to over 110C) followed by cooling off in snow or cold water.

People sensitive to cold water use an outdoor rest period as a substitute before re-entering the sauna. The science behind totonou involves activating the intrinsic thermoregulatory physiologies of homeothermic (warm-blooded) organisms, including mammals and birds.

Despite potentially originating in Finland, commonplace in most households, the Japanese incorporated the totonou as a substitute for their traditional hot spring sauna routine. They popularized using between three and five repeats of sauna-cold water-rest during a single sauna session.

Previous research, most notably the long-term, ongoing Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease (KIHD) Risk Factors Study, has highlighted the age-related disease benefits of saunas, especially the neurodegenerative effects of advancing age. Participants exposed to between four and seven weekly sauna sessions were found to have a 65% reduced Alzheimer's risk than controls.

Recent studies have attempted to understand the mechanisms governing these benefits and have hitherto revealed that sauna exposure promotes the transient release of -endorphins and growth hormones, associated with decreased depression and other mood disorders. Separate studies on athletes have presented increased immune cell counts and improved subjective mood.

Unfortunately, neuro- and psychology-based research into sauna's effects remains lacking. Revealing the neural and psychological benefits of the therapy would help better inform medical professionals and the general public.

It may pave the path to saunas and tononou being suggested as a non-invasive clinical intervention for treating physiological, neurodegenerative, and mood conditions.

About the study

In the present study, researchers attempted to corroborate previous work on the benefits of totonou, and elucidate the impacts of the therapy on subjective mood and objective brain activity. They further developed and tested an artificial intelligence (AI) based electroencephalography (EEG) classifier to evaluate the psychological effects of totonou before and after sauna exposure.

The study cohort comprised 20 healthy adults (14 men) between the ages of 21 and 41. Inclusion criteria involved the complete lack of any hearing or speech impairments.

Additionally, to avoid behavioral evaluation biases, all participants were selected for being right-handed. Eight men and two women were assigned to the case (sauna) group, and six men and four women were assigned to the control (no sauna) cohort.

The sauna test comprised three sets of pre-sauna, sauna, and post-sauna, all involving heart rate (HR), EEG, salivary a-amylase activity (SAA), and auditory oddball tasks. During the rest phase, in-ear EEG was performed with verbal questionnaire presentation.

The sauna intervention consisted of a sauna (85~90C), water bath (16C), and rest (20C) carried out for 10 min, 2 min, and 7 min, respectively. In control, the intervention comprised warm water baths (37C), followed by the cold water and rest phases.

A multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to measure differences in scalp EEG and in-ear EEG recordings between case and control cohorts. Subjective moods recorded using the questionnaire were compared using a two-way repeated measurements ANOVA. The SAA test was used to measure participants' stress hormone levels objectively.

Data from these results (90%) was used to train the AI model, using Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO).

Following training, the remaining 10% of the data (first) and all (randomized) were used for model validation and performance evaluation.

Study findings

The present study revealed that P300 EEG amplitude reduced significantly between the pre-and post-sauna stages, suggesting improved relaxation and physiological attention efficiency. Mismatch negativity (MMN) amplitude increased, reflecting an increase in pre-attentive auditory cognition and improved sound discrimination.

"However, the RT of participants in the sauna group who showed increased MMN amplitude in the post-sauna phase shortened compared to before the sauna. This suggests that participants became more sensitive to auditory stimuli throughout sauna bathing.

Neural oscillation analyses revealed that each sauna set corresponded to a significant increase in cases' alpha and theta power (with beta remaining unchanged), representing results similar to (but outperforming) previous studies on the beneficial impacts of meditation.

Theta activity is associated with efficiency in cognitive and emotional processing, while alpha activity indicates increased relaxation, thereby allowing for additional mental resource allocation of emotional and cognitive processing. Notably, these objective results mirror the subjective emotional feelings of participants, as revealed from questionnaire analyses.

"From these results, we think that the "totonou" state is manifested in physical and mental feelings of relaxation, pleasure, mental clarity, accompanied by well-being and/or positive emotions. Changes in brain activity were reflected by increased theta and alpha power, decreased P300 and increased MMN amplitudes in the auditory discrimination task. The increase in MMN indicates increased activation of the pre-attentional auditory process, leading to a decrease in attention-related brain activity P300. This indicates that the brain is in a more efficient state.

Analyses of behavioral task efficiency were significantly higher in the case group when compared to the control and within the case group (pre-sauna versus post-sauna), highlighting the real-world benefits of sauna and totonou therapy.

While the neurodegenerative benefits of totonou could be ascertained from this short-term study, these results suggest that totonou can provide immediate benefits in cognitive performance and 'feelings of better moods' across adult age groups.

The novel AI engine developed during this study was found to classify brain states (using EEG data) with an average accuracy of 88.34%, making it an ideal future tool in the psychologist's arsenal to objectively measure mood and cognitive performance.

Conclusions

The present study aimed to investigate saunas' psychological and cognitive benefits, both from the objective scientific standpoint and the subjective emotional participant angle. Results indicate that the totonou state is characterized by physical and mental clarity of mind, relaxation, increased happiness, and/or positive emotional responses.

"We further observed increased theta and alpha power as well as decreased P300 and increased MMN amplitudes. This manifests in objective physical changes (decreased HR) and cognitive responses (shorter RT). Finally, the average accuracy of classifying brain states using our AI decoding algorithm was 88.34%, having potential for future application."

Together, these results highlight the benefits of sauna therapy and propose that saunas can be used as non-invasive clinical interventions across all conditions pertaining to cognition and mood.
Stocks To Watch On December 1: GIFT Nifty on the NSE IX traded 12 points, or 0.06 per cent, lower at 20,326.5, signaling that Dalal Street was headed for muted start on Friday. Heres a slew of stocks that will be in focus today for various reasons.

Flair Writing Industries: The stock will make its debut on the bourses today, and grey market premium suggests a listing gain of up to 25 per cent. The companys IPO received strong response and was subscribed 49.3 times.

UltraTech Cement, Kesoram Industries: UltraTech has entered into an agreement with Kesoram to acquire its cement business in an all-stock deal.

JSW group: The Sajjan Jindal-led group has marked its foray into the automobile sector by signing a strategic joint venture with SAIC Motor of China. JSW will hold a 35 per cent stake in the joint venture.

Defence stocks: According to reports the government has approved defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 trillion.

Whirlpool: The American parent company plans to sell up to 24 per cent stake in its Indian arm, Whirlpool of India, next year to raise funds to reduce debt.

Honasa Consumer: Has reportedly distributed excess stock of its products through its offline supply chain ahead of its IPO. This move has resulted in distributors in Maharashtra and Goa holding goods of around 90 days of inventory.

Tata Coffee: Board has approved capacity expansion of its Vietnam-based wholly-owned subsidiary firm at an investment of Rs 450 crore.

PVR Inox: Plans to open 150 new screens in the next fiscal with an investment of about Rs 500 crore, a top company official said. The firm presently runs 118 screens across 23 properties.

H G Infra Engineering: The companys arm has bagged Rs 1,303.11 crore order from the National Highways Authority of India for construction of the Greenfield Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata highway.

Biocon: Biocon Biologics, a subsidiary of Biocon, announced that the integration of the Viatris biosimilars business in 31 European countries has been completed.

Wipro: Wipro announced that it is working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to redefine the future of lab processes in the life sciences industry.
The preliminary written test for Police Sub-Inspectors (SIs) has been scheduled for December 17 by the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC). Eligible applicants can now download their Admit Cards that have been released on the official website bpssc.bih.nic.in. The Bihar Police SI admit card download link will be available online till the exam day. As mentioned in the official notification, applicants must carry their Admit Card and an original picture ID to the exam.

There are two sessions for the Bihar Police SI exam: a morning session from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and an afternoon session from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The first session requires candidates to report at 8:30 AM, while the second session requires them to report at 1:00 PM.

Bihar Police SI Admit Card: Vacancy Details

The recruitment drive aims to fill up a total of 1275 vacancies of Police Sub-Inspectors in the Commission. Check the breakdown of the available posts:

 General  441 Posts

 Scheduled Caste (SC)  275 Posts

 Scheduled Tribe (ST)  16 Posts

 Extremely Backward Class (EBC)  238 Posts

 Backward Class (BC)  107 Posts

 Female Candidates of Backward Class  82 Posts

 Economically Backward Class (EWS)  111 Posts

 Transgender  5 Posts

Bihar Police SI Admit Card: How to download

The recruitment campaign intends to fill a total of 1275 Police Sub-Inspector positions in the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission.

Step 1: Navigate to the bpssc.bih.nic.in official website.

Step 2: On the main page, click on the link for Bihar Police SI Admit Card.

Step 3: Enter your login information and click the submit button.

Step 4: After submitting the registration ID, the Bihar Police SI Admit Card 2023 will be shown on the screen.

Step 5: There will be a download button. Click on it.

Step 6: Review the information on the Admit Card before downloading it.

Step 7: Print a copy of the Bihar Police SI Admit Card for your records.

After receiving the Bihar Police SI Admit Card 2023, aspirants should thoroughly examine all printed information for its accuracy. Any inaccuracies must be communicated to the test authorities as soon as possible, ideally before the exam date. Failure to correct any errors on the Admit Card in a timely way may result in the candidates eligibility being revoked. Examine the details stated below carefully before proceeding with the examination.

The test will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on General Knowledge and Current Affairs for a total of 200 points. Candidates must score at least 30 per cent on the preliminary exam to be considered qualified.
As the calendar inches closer to December, the anticipation among students across India for the upcoming school holidays is palpable. While holiday schedules may vary based on state and school board, there are certain widely observed holidays that students eagerly look forward to. Schools and other educational institutions will be closed in December to commemorate Christmas, Valmiki Jayanti, and other holidays depending on the state calendars.

The following is a list of the major holidays for schools in the month of December:

 Sunday, December 24, 2023: Christmas Eve

 Monday, December 25, 2023: Christmas

 Sunday, December 31, 2023: New Years Eve

The festive ambience begins with Christmas Eve on Sunday, December 24, 2023. As it falls on a Sunday, schools will be closed.

Christmas Day follows on Monday, December 25. On this day, schools will remain closed, providing students with the chance to participate in a range of Christmas activities. Adding to the festivities, another significant holiday is New Years Eve on Sunday, December 31, 2023.

December also features Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti on December 20, 2023. This regional holiday is dedicated to honouring the sage Valmiki, renowned for composing the epic Ramayana.

Its important to note that specific holiday schedules may differ among educational institutions. Students and parents are advised to refer to the schools diary or official communication to ascertain the exact number of holidays their school observes.

Looking ahead, the January holiday calendar brings a mix of cultural, religious and national observances:

 Monday, January 1, 2024: New Years Day

 Sunday, January 14, 2024: Lohri

 Monday, January 15, 2024: Pongal

 Wednesday, January 17, 2024: Guru Govind Singh Jayanti

 Thursday, January 25, 2024: Hazarat Alis Birthday

 Friday, January 26, 2024: Republic Day

Its worth noting that some schools also declare a short winter vacation lasting one week or ten days. In certain regions like Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi NCR, schools may close in January due to excessive cold or switch to online classes in response to severe smog. The specific dates for these winter vacations are contingent on the discretion of District Magistrates or Chief Ministers of the respective states, considering the prevailing circumstances.

Meanwhile, schools in Kashmir have declared an extended winter vacation lasting three months. According to the official order, the winter break for students up to class 8 will commence on November 28 and conclude on February 29, 2024. Meanwhile, students in classes 9 to 12 will enjoy their winter break from December 11 to February 29, 2024.
The results of the Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Talent Search Examination, or TNCMTSE results 2023, have been announced by the Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE) on December 1. Students who took this examination can visit the official website of the Directorate of Government Examinations at www.dge.tn.gov.in and check their selection status. To access and download the TNCMTSE-SEP-2023 results, candidates need to login with their credentials, such as their roll number and date of birth on the website.

In addition to that, the examination for selecting candidates for the CMs scholarship scheme was conducted on October 7. The TNCMTSE exam aims to choose and shortlist students from Class 11 studying in government schools and support them with financial assistance.

TNCMTSE Result 2023: Steps To Check

Candidates who appeared for the examination can follow the below-mentioned steps to download the results online. Moreover, a direct link to download the same is also provided below for candidates.

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Directorate of Government Examinations at www.dge.tn.gov.in.

Step 2: Locate and click on the Result tab available on the homepage.

Step 3: Now click on the link that reads, Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Talent Search Examination result 2023.

Step 4: A new window will then appear on the screen.

Step 5: Candidates will have to key in their login credentials like roll number and date of birth.

Step 6: Hit submit and the Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Talent Search Result 2023 will be displayed on the candidates screen.

Step 7: Save a copy of the result page and take a printout for future use.

The Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE) has further informed that a total of 1,27,673 candidates appeared in the examination this year. Out of which, 1,000 students- 500 boys and 500 girls will be considered for the scholarship scheme. It is important to note that the recipients of the scholarship will receive Rs 1,000 per month for ten months of an academic year (Rs 10,000 per academic year).

Conducted by the Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE), the Tamil Nadu CMs Talent Search Exam (TNCMTSE) is a state-level talent search exam for students studying in Class 11 in the state. This exam aims to recognise and nurture students from government schools and provide them with scholarships to pursue higher education. Candidates will also receive other benefits like mentorship programmes, priority admission to government colleges and universities, and career guidance.
Telangana Chief Election Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj said poll scrutiny officers are examining CCTV and webcast footages to determine if bogus voting took place at some assembly segments in Old City of Hyderabad.

The Congress had written to the CEO saying AIMIM workers indulged in rigging and bogus voting at three seats  Chandrayangutta, Bahadurpura and Charminar. A tense atmosphere was created and no other party agents except AMIM were allowed to enter into the polling stations. In the absence of other party agents, the bogus voting and rigging took place as per the wishes of AMIM. The concerned authorities were unable to check them because of their unruly behaviour, wrote Congress leader G Niranjan.

In a fresh request today, the party requested to set aside the counting of votes in the above seats till all footages are examined. It is to be noted that Yakutpura, which falls in Old City, recorded the lowest voter turnout in the state at 27.87%.

Another issue raised on the polling day was about the postponement of voting deadline. Though people were supposed to vote only till 5 pm, a rush of voters in the last hours saw people at polling booths late at the night. At some polling booths in all constituencies, the process went on till 9:30 pm as people arrived late. However, it was wrapped in time in areas closed to Maoist-affected pockets, said the CEO.

While explaining the safety measures being taken ahead of counting day, the CEO said they are looking into the complaint sent by Congress. On counting day, the postal ballots will be counted first, and then the EVMs. Each counting table will have a counting supervisor and three assistants.

Vikas Raj said on polling day, a few EVMs were replaced because they were malfunctioning. 1.8 lakh voters availed postal ballots. They are being brought to Hyderabad for examination. After that, they will be sent to the respective constituencies, the CEO added.

On December 3, counting will start at 8 am. Since there are more than 500 polling booths in six constituencies, leads will be slow from those seats.

The EVMs are in strong room and 40 companies of central forces have been deployed to guard them. In a record, we have booked 13,000 cases in Telangana for MCC violations. added Vikas Raj.
The exit poll results of Mizoram yesterday indicated hung assembly, with most pollsters and election experts predicting neck-and-neck contest between BJP-led NDA ally Mizo National Front (MNF) and Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM).

Despite ethnic tensions in Manipur, guerrilla CM Zoramthanga is hopeful that his partys support to give shelter to some Kuki-Zo community members from the neighbouring state will be acknowledged by the people. MNF has tried pitching Zo unification as its election pitch.

ZPM, which is predicted by some pollsters to emerge as winner in this years state elections, actively participated in the electoral battle and has nominated its founder and president Lalduhoma as its chief ministerial candidate.

Who is the CM Hopeful of Mizoram?

Lalduhoma is the 74-year-old former IPS officer, whose political journey began in 1984 when he was elected to the Lok Sabha. He became the first MP to face disqualification under the anti-defection law.

His IPS career involved serving as squad leader in Goa, where he led crackdowns on smugglers. He gained national attention when he was made security in charge of then PM Indira Gandhi, leading to his transfer to New Delhi in 1982.

Lalduhoma founded the ZPM, and was chosen the first CM candidate of the ZNP-led ZPM coalition in the 2018 assembly elections.

He was disqualified as MP in 2020, but he made his foray back into politics by winning re-election from Serchhip in a bye-election in 2021.

About Mizoram CM & Former Guerrilla

Before holding the reins of the state, Zoramthanga was the deputy of Laldenga  the Mizo leader and chief of Mizo National Front (MNF), which carried out secessionist movement.

Zoramthanga spent most of his life escaping from the Indian government, by criss-crossing across Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China.

In his book MILARI, Zoramthanga writes about how he escaped the hill tracts of Chittagong in 1972 during the Bangladesh war, which took him to Yangon and then Karachi and Islamabad; his meeting with Pakistan PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1975, and his secret mission with Laldenga in China where they met Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.

After the peace accord in 1986 signed between MNF and the Indian government, Zoramthanga was appointed as minister in Laldengas cabinet for nearly six months. He held finance and education portfolios in 1987.

He led the party after the death of chief Laldenga in 1990. MNF won elections in 1998 under Zoramthanga, who then became the CM for the first time.

The counting of votes for the 40-seat Mizoram assembly will take place on December 3.
Exit poll results for all five states in the 2023 assembly elections  Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram  are out with predictions of BJP and Congress each winning two states.

A key meeting of BJPs General Secretaries on probable election results will be held at the party headquarters in New Delhi later in the day.

Read Assembly Elections Exit Poll Live News here

While some leaders said they did not rely on exit polls, some expressed confidence over the victory of their party.

Let us look at some reactions to the exit polls of five states 

Initial projections indicate that BJP is leading in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress might remain in power in Chhattisgarh. Projections also suggest that Congress might be dethroning BRS in Telangana.

The counting of votes for all five states will take place on December 3.

Madhya Pradesh Exit Poll Reactions

BJP leader Uma Bharti said she doesnt rely on exit polls. They predict that a party will win between 112 and 130 seats (out of 230 seats in MP). Now, if that party gets 112 seats and loses elections, the exit pollsters claim they have proved right. But if that party gets 120 seats and wins, the exit polls claim their prediction was right, she said.

So exit polls are two sides of the same coin. I do not rely on them, she added.

I wish my party would form the government in Madhya Pradesh. I respect MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan a lot, Bharti further told reporters.

ALSO READ: Exit Polls Predict 2-All for BJP and Congress | Why Both Sides Would Live With It

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, Exit poll results are very diverse. We cannot say anything about it. I can assure you that the Congress will get more than 130 seats in Madhya PradeshPeople want transformationPeople are fed up with CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Chhattisgarh Exit Poll Reactions

Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij expressed confidence that his party will get around 80% seats in Telangana.

Exit polls of other states are good. The atmosphere in Madhya Pradesh & Telangana is also good. We will get around 80 per cent seats in Telangana. Congress will form government in four states, he said.

BJP senior leader Saroj Pandey claimed exit polls prove that people have shown their trust in PM Modi.

BJP has made a lot of progress. We will be forming government in the states where we already have our government and also in those states where we do not have our governmentPeople have shown their trust in PM Modi, Pandey said.

#WATCH | Durg, Chhattisgarh: On the exit polls, BJP Senior Leader Saroj Pandey says, BJP has made a lot of progress. We will be forming government in the states where we already have our government & also in those states where we do not have our governmentPeople have shown pic.twitter.com/1OG2Arn2UZ ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Former Chhattisgarh CM and BJP leader Raman Singh said, It is clear from the exit poll that BJP has taken a huge jump. From 15 seats, we have jumped to 48 seats. I believe that this will surely cross 48 seats and we will get around 55-56 seats and BJP will form govt with a clear majorityThose who are scared are talking about Operation Lotus.

Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel stated, We had set a target of getting 75 seats and we will remain close to that figure.

Telangana Exit Poll Reactions

Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy termed the results of exit polls as the victory of the people of Telangana.

This election was not Congress vs BRS. 4 crore people were against BRS. This is the victory of the people of TelanganaWe will get the approval of the six guarantees and will make it an act in the first cabinet itself Congress is going to get landslide victory this time and the same thing is reflected in the exit polls. We are going to get over 80 seatsThere is a screening committee, a selection committee and then the CWC has to take a call (for CM). In Congress, there is a process for everything. Being the PCC president, I will have to obey every order from the high command, he said.

Robert Vadra stressed that he doesnt believe in exit polls too much.

I believe in the real result, which is on Dec 3Ive met a lot of people in the last few months, people want a change. People are upset, especially in Madhya Pradesh. They were upset about how the BJP toppled the ruling governmentEverybody has a very fluctuating, very different kind of mandate or very different kind of assessmentWe will see on Dec 3. I think we should have very good results for the Congress, Vadra said.

SEE ALSO: Rajasthan Results: If Exit Polls Are Right On Congress, Heres What Might Happen to Gehlot-Pilot Feud
Two days ahead of the results to assembly elections in five states and a clear edge to the Congress party in at least two states in the exit polls, the senior leadership of the grand old party has geared up to prevent poaching in case of tight race on December 3.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge has directed all incharges and observers of the election states to remain in the state of which they have been given responsibility, a report in ANI said.

The senior Congress leader has told the state incharges to keep an eye on the counting of votes on Sunday.

DK Shivakumar is expected to reach Hyderabad in Telangana on Saturday while Randeep Surjewala will arrive in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

The exit poll predictions released by several news outlets gave a majority to Congress in Telangana and Chhattisgarh. Though the initial predictions gave the BJP a lead in Rajasthan, the contest is likely to be close in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress high command will also take a call on relocating Telangana MLAs to Bengaluru or any other Congress-ruled state after the counting of votes on Sunday, a report in Times of India said.

Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said his sources had told him that Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao had already approached several Congress leaders, NDTV reported.

In Madhya Pradesh, where a tight race is expected, the Congress will send its election winners to Karnataka to prevent poaching of its MLAs.

Our national and state leaders are confident. No Congress MLA can be bought or poached, Shivakumar reportedly said.

Cong Confident in Telangana

Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy is confident of the partys victory with a two third majority.

Congress is going to get landslide victory this time and the same thing is reflected in the exit polls. We are going to get over 80 seatsThere is a screening committee and a selection committee and then the Congress Working Commitee (CWC) has to take a call (on who will be the Chief Minister), Reddy said after the exit polls prediction were out.

According to Axis My India, the ruling BRS is predicted to get 34-44 seats, while the opposition Congress will get 63-73 seats, the BJP 4-8 seats and others are likely to get 5-8 seats.

On the other hand, the poll of polls for Telangana predicted 61 seats for Congress, 44 for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), 6 for All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), 7 for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 1 for the other parties.

A voter turnout of 70.60 per cent was recorded in elections to the 119-member Telangana assembly on Thursday (November 30). The results will be announced on December 3.

Back to Power in Chhattisgarh

In 90-seat Chhattisgarh, exit poll portals predicted Congress under Bhupesh Singh Baghel as leading followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The poll of polls for Chhattisgarh projects 50 seats to Congress, 38 seats to BJP and 2 seats to others.

Axis My India by India Today predicted 40 to 50 seats for Congress, 36 to 46 seats for BJP and 1 to 5 seats for others.
Congress is likely to register a win in the Telangana Assembly Elections with 6373 seats, the initial poll predictions released by Axis My India exit poll said on Friday.

According to Axis My India, the ruling BRS is predicted to get 34-44 seats, while the opposition Congress will get 63-73 seats, the BJP 4-8 seats and others are likely to get 5-8 seats.

PARTY Axis My India 2018 ELECTION RESULTS INC 63-73 21 BRS 34-44 88 AIMIM  7 BJP 4-8 1 OTHERS 5-8 0

A voter turnout of 70.60 per cent was recorded in elections to the 119-member Telangana assembly yesterday (November 30). The results will be announced on December 3.

The predictions by other exit poll portals predicted a tight fight between Congress and the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana, which went to polls on Thursday.

The poll of polls for Telangana predicted 61 seats for Congress, 44 for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), 6 for All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), 7 for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 1 for the other parties.

PARTY EXIT POLL PREDICTION 2018 ELECTION RESULTS INC 61 21 BRS 44 88 AIMIM 6 7 BJP 7 1 OTHERS 1 0

Meanwhile, Jan ki Baat predicted Congress as leading party with 48 to 64 seats, BRS with 40 to 55 seats, BJP with 7 to 13 seats and AIMIM with 4 to 7 seats.

According to predictions by the Poll Strategy Group (PSG), the BRS) is predicted to lead with 53 to 58 seats, followed by Congress with 49 to 54 seats, AIMIM with 6 to 7 seats and the BJP with 4 to 6 seats.

On the other hand, Todays Chanakya by News24 predicted 71 seats for Congress, 33 for BRS, 7 for BJP and 8 for others.
Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, who crafted Indias greatest military victory in the 1971 India-Pakistan war that created just not history, but also a new nation, will be immortalised on the silver screen with Meghna Gulzars Sam Bahadur starring Vicky Kaushal in the titular role hitting the theatres on Friday.

A soldiers General, Sam Manekshaw was the architect of many a military triumph, but his finest hour came when Pakistani forces were vanquished in 14 days flat. And Bangladesh was born.

Affectionately called Sam Bahadur, the handsome and witty Manekshaw had the rare distinction of being honoured for his bravery  Military Cross  right on the battle front itself during the Second World War. He was also the first Indian officer to command the Gorkhas after India got Independence.

Manekshaw, who got a second life after the young Captain survived near fatal wounds during the Second World War in Burma, is the first of only two Indian military officers to hold the highest rank of Field Marshal of the Indian Army (the other being Field Marshal KM Cariappa).

His distinguished military career spanned four decades from the British era and through five wars, including the Second World War.

The Beginnings

Born on April 3, 1914 in Amritsar to Parsi parents who migrated to Punjab from the small town of Valsad on the Gujarat coast, Manekshaw rose to be the Eighth Chief of Staff of the Indian Army in 1969. The year of the Generals birth was around the time when the First World War broke.

After completing his schooling in Amritsar and Sherwood College (Nainital), he joined the first batch of 40 cadets at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun on October 1, 1932. He passed out of the IMA in December 1934 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He held several regimental assignments and was first attached to the Royal Scots and later to the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment.

Marriage to Silloo Bode

In 1937, at a social gathering in Lahore Manekshaw met Silloo Bode. They fell in love and were married on April 22, 1939. Silloo was a graduate of Bombays Elphinstone College. In Gulzars Sam Bahadur, Silloo is played by Sanya Malhotra.

Dead Man Cant Win Military Cross

During World War II, Manekshaw saw action in the Burma campaign on Sittang River as a Captain with the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment.

Manekshaw was leading a counter-offensive against the invading Japanese Army in Burma. During the course of the offensive, he was hit by a burst of LMG bullets and was severely wounded in the stomach.

Major General DT Cowan spotted Manekshaw holding on to life and was aware of his valour in face of stiff resistance from the Japanese. Fearing the worst, Major General Cowan quickly pinned his own Military Cross ribbon on to Manekshaw saying: A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross.

But luck was on the young Captains side and he survived. Having recovered from those near-fatal wounds in Burma, Manekshaw went for a course at Staff College, Quetta and later also served there as an instructor before being sent to join 12 Frontier Force Rifles in Burma under General (later Field Marshal) Slims 14th Army.

He was once again involved in a fierce battle with the Japanese, and was wounded for a second time.

Towards the close of World War II, Manekshaw was sent as Staff Officer to General Daisy in Indo-China where, after the Japanese surrender, he helped rehabilitate over 10,000 POWs.

Partition and J&K Ops

Manekshaw showed acumen for planning and administration while handling the issues related to Partition in 1947, and later put to use his battle skills during the 1947-48 Jammu and Kashmir Operations.

After command of an Infantry Brigade, he was posted as the Commandant of the Infantry School and also became the Colonel of 8 Gorkha Rifles, which became his new regimental home, since his original parent regiment, The 12th Frontier Force Regiment, went on to join the new Pakistan Army upon Partition.

He commanded a Division in Jammu and Kashmir and a Corps in the North East. As GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, he handled the tricky problem of insurgency in Nagaland.

Creation of Bangladesh

A shrewd tactician, Manekshaw meticulously planned the Indian attack on Pakistan on both fronts  East and West. While the Indian forces captured the then East Pakistan in the eastern sector, the army made heavy inroads in the western sector going up to Lahore.

Adopting a mature war strategy, he masterminded the rout of the Pakistan Army in one of the quickest victories in the recent military history to liberate Bangladesh.

Sam, the Field Marshal

Manekshaw was bestowed the Padma Bhushan in 1968 and Padma Vibhushan in 1972. The President conferred upon him the rank of Field Marshal, a prestigious honorary rank, on January 1, 1973.

Retirement

Manekshaw retired a fortnight later (although technically Field Marshals of the Indian Army never retire because the rank is conferred for life), on January 15, 1973, after completing nearly four decades of military service. After retirement, Manekshaw settled down in Coonoor in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu.

Death and Funeral

He breathed his last June 27, 2008 and was buried with full military honours in a Parsi graveyard adjacent to the place where his wife was buried.

With PTI inputs
In their efforts to counter Cutting South, an event that was attended by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has organised an event of like-minded intellectuals and academicians in Delhi on December 12 Bridging South.

Prajna Pravah, an RSS affiliate that looks after Sanghs publication and knowledge platforms, is prime mover for the event. Talking to News 18, J Nandkumar, chief of Prajna Pravah, said, The event is going to be a platform for nationalist ideas and a cultural-spiritual assimilation of the north and south. We do not believe in cutting any region from our country, but we also work towards bridging gaps.

The conclave is likely to see several senior central ministers including defence minister Rajnath Singh as the chief guest, while J Nandkumar will deliver the keynote address. The conclave is part of the RSSs project of bringing the far-flung areas closer to central India, and exchanging ideas. The organization held an event titled  Lokmanthan  in Assam last year to bring the folk culture of the northeast to the forefront.

A senior functionary of the RSS said that there would be follow-up events of Bridging South across cities in the southern part of the country. The organisation has already planned a similar event in Bangalore.

Even though this is a one-day seminar on the cultural-spiritual bonding of north and south, with these events, the like-minded people will work towards connecting the northern and southern part of the country. There will be a social media campaign for the programme and we will carry it on the ground level by reaching out to the nationalist organisations and individuals, he added.

RSSS SOUTHERN SOJOURN: BUILDING ITS PRESENCE STRONGER

The event is part of the RSSs southern outreach programmes. Over the past year, there were many instances in which the RSS tried to position themselves as a strong ground organization in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

The Sanatan controversy, triggered by a statement by Udaynidhi Stalin of Tamil Nadu, gave the RSS a stronger foothold to pitch themselves as the umbrella organisation for Hindus in the state. Introducing Sengol to the nation, facilitating its return to the Parliament, and building a narrative about the ancient Hindu society and culture in Tamil Nadu emerged as another effort to strengthen its outreach in the region.

The organisation is fighting cases to hold their regular marches (Path Sanchalan) in the state and in Kerala. The RSS has always been the primary political rival of the Communist parties.
While the Indian government assured all help to the Canadian authorities by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval after the claims over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada did not help Indian officials with visas and permissions, according to top intelligence sources.

ALSO READ | Pannun, Nijjars Murder Plot Charges by US, Canada Stresses Ghar Mein Ghus Kar Marenge Narrative for Modi

Even as the diplomatic crisis was unfolding, a decision to send a team of senior Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials was taken to see the evidence Canadians had against India on Nijjars killing, said sources. However, despite continuous requests from all sides, Canadians refused visas to Indian teams to understand the matter. They should allow their teams to show what they have, but despite multiple requests, they have not accepted the request," they added.

THE CLAIMS OVER NIJJAR

Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18. He was the chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force, and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2020. Interpol had also issued red corner notice against him quite a few times, the first in 2016.

ALSO READ | Absurd, Motivated: India Junks Trudeaus Claims as Canada Expels Indian Diplomat Over Khalistan Terrorists Killing

The relations between India and Canada hit at an all-time low after Canada PM Justin Trudeau alleged, in his Parliament, the involvement of a foreign agent" in the killing of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He even claimed that he had intelligence inputs and evidence that the Indian government could be behind Nijjars death. These allegations, which New Delhi has strongly denied, resulted in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats on both sides.

NSA DOVAL, CANADIAN COUNTERPART ALWAYS RAISED ISSUES: GOVT SOURCES

According to top government sources, NSA Doval and his Canadian counterpart always discussed issues of both the countries, especially terrorism. Doval very clearly and categorically told his counterpart about the troublemakers and terrorists in Canada. He gave a list of wanted persons and Letter Rogatories (LR) from various agencies and State Police," said government sources.

Doval also shared intelligence and intercepts from time-to-time, including locations of these people, they said.

ALSO READ | Where Is The Evidence? Indian High Commissioner to Canada Over Hardeep Nijjar Killing

On the other hand, his counterpart alleged Indian involvement, to which Doval clearly asked him for the evidence and First Information Reports (FIR), said sources. Doval clearly told him that if perpetrators are from India, this is a matter of deep concern for us, but we need evidence to move in the direction of investigation. Canadian NSA always promised, but never came back with any evidence on the claims and blames. India is ready to investigate this matter deeply, if credible inputs are given. Canadians are doing all this just to create fake narrative," they said.

INTEL SOURCES QUESTION CANADAs ACTIONS

Amid the baseless" allegations by Trudeau and Khalistani elements, intel sources have questions for Canada:

Why has the Canadian government never cooperated with investigations in multiple terror cases, where attacks happened from their soil?

Why has nobody been arrested despite the video and audio evidences?

Why have they not replied to the multiple LRs pending with the Canadian government?

ALSO READ | Baseless: Intel Sources Rubbish Report Hinting at Indias Role in Bid to Kill Sikh Separatist in US | Exclusive

Why has their NSA not responded, despite being briefed recently by all agencies and his promise of cooperation?

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist and leader of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has been threatening Hindus daily from Canadian soil. Why has he not been arrested?

The gang war which killed Nijjar is also result of harbouring of these terror groups in Canada. Canada should answer all these questions before making noise. We will present all our cases and documents before the world to show how Canada is trying to revive Khalistani terror in India," said sources.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Israeli President Isaac Herzog and underscored Indias support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Hamas issue. He also stressed on an early and durable resolution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

Welcoming the release of hostages by Hamas, the prime minister also expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 attacks as the two leaders exchanged their views on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai.

PM @narendramodi met President @Isaac_Herzog of Israel on the sidelines of #COP28 WCAS in Dubai. The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. PM expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 07 terror attacks and welcomed pic.twitter.com/Cmfvmb5uBt  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) December 1, 2023

In a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Prime Minister Modi also reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population in the Gaza Strip, where the cease-fire collapsed plunging the conflict back into open combat and casting a long shadow over the summit.

..at the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world. I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international communitys agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Herzog said.

Iranian delegates walked out of the UN climate talks in protest over the presence of Israeli representatives, saying their presence was contrary to the goals and guidelines of the conference.

Israels top diplomat for the Middle East huddled with leaders at the summit as his colleagues went through a book of posters of those held hostage, placing yellow released stickers by some while looking at others still held. Just a street away at the Palestinian territories first-ever pavilion, an official gave a horrified look when she got the news that Israeli airstrikes and ground fighting in Gaza had resumed.

Even UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres brought up the fighting in his remarks at a COP conference meant to focus on restraining global warming. As we see in this region, conflicts are causing immense suffering and intense emotion, he told the delegates, adding, we just had the news that the bombs are sounding again in Gaza.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages, most of them Israelis in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel. Virtually all of those freed were women and children.

The resumption of fighting came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Dubai as part of shuttle diplomacy that had aimed to see the cease-fire continue and most hostages held by Hamas exchanged for Palestinians held by Israel. President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a return to negotiations over a two-state solution to end the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

(With agency inputs)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and said he looks forward to collaborative efforts between the two countries for a sustainable and prosperous future. Meloni was one among many other world leaders he met on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai. She later posted a selfie taken with the prime minister on her Instagram with the caption: Good friends at COP28.

In his hectic day-long schedule, Prime Minister Modi also met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, British foreign secretary David Cameron and former British PM Tony Blair. He addressed four sessions at the UNs climate change conference, held some bilateral meetings and took part in what was described as the Family Photo with other leaders.

The PM last met Meloni at a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. During the meeting at the climate summit, he appreciated Italys support for Indias G20 presidency and Italys joining of the Global Biofuel Alliance and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Met PM @GiorgiaMeloni of Italy on the sidelines of the #COP28 Summit. Looking forward to collaborative efforts between India and Italy for a sustainable and prosperous future. pic.twitter.com/IbiYLzqS4t  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

Both leaders noted the completion of 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Italy, also taking stock of the progress in the India-Italy Strategic Partnership and agreed to boost cooperation in defence as well as new and emerging technologies.

In his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, PM Modi highlighted Indias initiatives and progress in achieving climate goals. During the meeting, he thanked Guterres for his support during Indias G20 presidency.

The UN secretary-general appreciated Indias efforts in the areas of sustainable development, climate action, multilateral development bank reforms, and disaster management under the G20 presidency.

Guterres also welcomed the Prime Ministers Green Credit Initiative. He affirmed to work with India to build on the achievements of Indias Presidency and take them forward at the UN Summit of the Future 2024.

(With PTI inputs)
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are gearing up for cyclone Michaung, which is likely to hit their coastline by December 4. Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu have received heavy rainfall in the last two days, with the MeT saying the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Friday and is likely to become a cyclonic storm by December 3.

An official at the special relief commissioners office in Bhubaneswar said it appears that the system will have no impact on Odisha. A day ago, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) did not indicate its possible impact on the state. So, as of now, there is no warning for Odisha coast or fishermen for the next four days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclonic storm will cross the coast between Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai around December 4 evening. Its name, Michaung, has been suggested by Myanmar. This is the sixth cyclone in the Indian Ocean and the fourth in the Bay of Bengal this year.

Here is all you need to know:

The IMD said at 11.30 am, depression over Bay of Bengal lay centered over the southeast and adjacent southwest region about 730 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 740 km east-southeast of Chennai, 860 km southeast of Nellore.

The system is likely to intensify into a deep depression by December 2 and further into a cyclonic storm over southwest Bay of Bengal around December 3. It will reach south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4.

Thereafter, it will move nearly northwards almost parallel to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the region on December 5 between Nellore and Machilipatnam as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph.

The weather department has issued a red alert for coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on December 4 and 5. It said the region is likely to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.

An orange alert has been issued for Odisha on December 5 with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The IMD further issued an orange alert for Rayalaseema with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall on December 3. It also issued the same alert in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam for the same day, but forecast extremely heavy rainfall in the region.

An orange alert was issued for north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal with a forecast of extremely heavy rainfall on December 3 and heavy to very heavy rainfall on December 4.

Under the influence of the anticipated 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.

Earlier on November 28, the Odisha government had put seven coastal districts on alert  Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam. It had also issued a warning for fishermen.

Light to moderate rains and thundershowers are likely in some areas of Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur of Odisha on December 3.

(With PTI inputs)
Axiata Group secured a deal to sell off its majority share in its Nepalese operation Ncell, effectively ending the groups business in Nepal after seven years due to a tax dispute.

In a statement, Axiata said it entered an unconditional sale and purchase agreement with Spectrlite UK, for its holding company Reynolds which holds around 80% stake in Ncell and a mobile licence running until 2029.

Axiata chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said: "The increasing challenges in the operating environment represents a fundamental shift. It has led the Axiata board to conclude, after a thorough process, that our foray in Nepal cannot continue due to the unfavourable conditions for Axiata."

The operator entered Nepal in 2016 after acquiring Reynolds for US$1.3 billion and securing the 80% stake in Ncell it is now selling.

The reason for Axiata's exit stems from a highly disputed capital gains tax bill from the Nepalese government.

Axiata noted it paid NPR47 billion (US$421.9 million) in capital gains tax to the Large Taxpayers Office of Nepal (LTPO) in April 2020 for the acquisition of Reynolds, and stated it received confirmation from the tax office that there will be no further taxes.

But the LTPO demanded NPR57.9 billion (US$433.6 million) extra for the transaction after further assessment in January 2021.

The money has not been collected by the LTPO as Axiata took the matter to the Supreme Court of Nepal which issued an interim order. The company noted: Capital gains tax was imposed on Ncell and Axiata after Nepal's efforts to collect tax from the seller failed.

Axiata filed the matter to the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, which found in June this year that Nepal should cease its demand for further taxation for the 2016 acquisition.

Despite this, the Nepalese government has yet to withdraw its demand for the extra payment.

Axiata argued if it paid the extra tax, it would take the overall capital gains tax bill to USD855.5 million, or 62.7% of the transaction of Reynolds (US$1.3 billion) to enter the market.

Axiata blasted conditions in Nepal, highlighting double taxation, expiry of its licence in 2029, potential expropriation of Axiatas stake by the government and unfavourable foreign investment protection.

The company claimed to be the largest tax payer in Nepal, contributing NPR283.0 billion in taxes and fees as of its fiscal 2021/2022 since inception. It has over 17 million subscribers across its network.

Vivek Sood, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Axiata added the sale enables a clean exit from Nepal.

The company revealed intentions to leave Nepal in its financial results this week.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and newly-elected Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu conducted a productive meeting on Friday and agreed to set up a core group to further deepen their partnership between the two countries. The two leaders discussed ways to enhance the bilateral friendship across diverse sectors.

The decision to set up the core group was taken at the first meeting between PM Modi and President Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit being held in Dubai. PM Modi took to X to share about his meeting with the Maldivian head of state.

President @MMuizzu and I had a productive meeting today. We discussed ways to enhance the India-Maldives friendship across diverse sectors. We look forward to working together to deepen cooperation for the benefit of our people, he said.

President @MMuizzu and I had a productive meeting today. We discussed ways to enhance the India-Maldives friendship across diverse sectors. We look forward to working together to deepen cooperation for the benefit of our people. pic.twitter.com/zL52ttYOzX Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

As per the Prime Ministers Office, the discussion between the two leaders included ways to further strengthen India-Maldives relations in sectors pertaining to economic relations, development cooperation and people-to-people ties.

In September, Muizzu, a close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff.

Modi also personally congratulated Muizzu on his assumption of office as the President of Maldives.

The external affairs ministry said in a statement that both the leaders reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relations between the two countries including people-to-people linkages, development cooperation, economic relations, climate change and sports. The two leaders also discussed ways to further deepen their partnership and thereby agreed to set up a core group, the statement added.

The meeting took place days after President Muizzu requested India to withdraw 77 Indian military personnel from the country and decided to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Muizzus request came at a time when Indias Union Minister Kiren Rejiju paid a courtesy call on the new president at the latters office.

Maldives is Indias key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in the Prime Ministers vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy. The countrys proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from Indias West coast), and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean gives it a significant strategic importance to India.

According to observers, Muizzu, a British-educated civil engineer may follow a more nuanced foreign policy,despite his partys pro-China rhetoric. This could be because currently the country faces a precarious economy with several debt repayments due, taking a cue from the worst economic crisis faced by Sri Lanka.

India stepped in with USD four billion in assistance to Sri Lanka while China dithered despite massive BRI investments in the country including the Hambantota port which Beijing took over for a 99-year lease as debt swap.

(with inputs from PTI)
India will kill me, but I dont fear death, Sikhs for Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said as he mocked the governments claim that it was looking into the assassination plots being hatched to target the Khalistani sympathiser.

The only thing, I think, (the) Indian government is going to investigate (is) why their hitman could not kill one person. Thats what they will be investigating, he said.

Rejecting the Indian governments decision to label him a terrorist, Pannun said: We are the ones who are fighting Indias violence with words. We are fighting Indias bullets with the ballot. They are giving money, hundreds of thousands, to kill me. Let the world decide who is a terrorist and who isnt.

Top Intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Pannun is trying to gain monetary advantage with the claim of the Americans that an Indian national  Nikhil Gupta  had been charged with conspiracy to murder the Sikhs for Justice founder who 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.

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.

Sources said the two countries are in constant touch to avoid any bad relationship and, if needed, all assistance will be given to Gupta.

Sources said Americans should watch Pannun carefully and see his role in instigating sentiments and threatening a country and its leaders.

He is named as an accused in NIAs multiple FIRs and he should be handed over to India by US or Canada. We are pushing the case in both the countries but there has been no response and instead of cooperation, they are harbouring a terrorist, they said.

The sources said American diplomats and their counterparts in India are in regular touch with each other and have been sharing intelligence.

This arrest is meaningless because Americans are suddenly trying to connect this to the Indian governments role in killing Pannun. Their response about Pannuns activities should have been faster than this where we are giving direct evidence against Pannun and FIRs have been filed by federal agencies in India, they said.

They keep quiet every day when he is threatening the Indian prime minister, the external affairs minister and NSA on a daily basis, they added.

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.

Not naming him, prosecutors described Pannun as a vocal critic of the Indian government who leads a US-based organization that advocates for the secession of Indias Punjab state, which is home to a large population of Sikhs. The organisation, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is banned in India.

According to a report published by news agency Reuters, Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said: 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.

The charges come after a senior Biden administration official last week said US authorities had thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil and issued a warning to India over concerns about New Delhis involvement. The official had said Pannun was the target of the plot.

Meanwhile, citing senior administration officials, The Washington Post on Wednesday said the US has sent its two top intelligence officials to India to press for an investigation into an alleged plot to assassinate the Sikh separatist leader and hold to account those responsible. CIA director William J Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines are the two officials, the report stated.

On the same day, India also said it has formed a high-level inquiry committee to probe allegations relating to a conspiracy to kill Pannun.
A special court in Maharashtras Thane district has sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl.

Special judge D S Deshmukh on Thursday found the accused Terry Jojef Bhonkya (43) guilty of charges under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court sentenced the accused, a resident of Bhayander, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 6,000 on him. The amount will be provided as compensation to the victim.

Special public prosecutor Sandhya H Mhatre told the court that the accused lived in the same neighbourhood as the victim, who was six years old at the time of the incident in 2018.

On April 20, 2018, the childs parents went out in the morning, leaving her playing outside their house. The accused took the girl inside the house and sexually assaulted her.

The child later informed her mother about the assault and the neighbours also claimed to have seen the accused coming out of the house, the prosecutor said. As many as seven witnesses, including the victim and her mother, were examined during the trial, she said.
The National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex regulatory body for medical education in India, has landed in a controversy over its revamped logo that shows a colourised image of Ayurveda god Dhanvantri.

Reacting to the move, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Shantanu Sen has asked NMC to reconsider its decision.

Sen, who is also a former national president and state secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), shot off a letter to BN Gangadhar, chairman of NMC, warning that the issue might be taken to a court of law by anyone putting NMC as a whole and you in trouble.

The letter dated November 30 says: When our Constitution of India speaks about secularism and we promote dovetailing of religions, a symbol of one particular religion in the logo of NMC having immense national and international importance goes against the basic essence of our Constitution.

It added: It has been brought to my notice from different sources that NMC has recently adopted a new logo which symbolises a particular religion of the country.

Sen has asked Gangadhar for multiple details to validate if decision-making has been done officially or the logo has been changed randomly without following any set protocol.

in which meeting of the advisory council the decision of such adoption took place and under the provision of which rule/guidance of NMC, he asked.

I would also like to know that if you have taken the decision, then which section/rule of NMC provides you with the authority to take such a decision.

Sen claimed that he has also been informed by several other members of NMC across the nation that they have hardly any information regarding such adoption.

However, NMC clarified that there is no serious reason behind the criticism.

According to NMCs Dr Yogendra Malik from Media and Ethics Department, the body never had the Indian emblem as its logo  as claimed by various social media accounts.

We didnt have a logo one-and-a-half years ago. It was only around a year back when the NMC, after taking suggestions, came up with the logo. The Dhanvantri logo was black and white for over a year and we realised we need to colour it. So that is the only change that has happened. I dont understand the criticism.

Other reactions

Thomas Isaac, former finance minister of Kerala who represents the Communist Party of India, also tweeted about the issue, linking the change in logo with the recent change in the name of health and wellness centres by the central government.

Yesterday I tweeted about Kerala being threatened by Centre to change the name of Family Health Centers to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Today worse news  National Medical Commission has replaced the Asoka emblem by the image of Hindu god Dhanvantri. Bigots of the first order!

Yesterday I tweeted about Kerala being threatened by Centre to change the name of Family Health Centers to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Today worse news  National Medical Commission has replaced the Asoka emblem by the image of Hindu god Dhanvantri. Bigots of the first order! pic.twitter.com/vhPyO5QVch Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) November 30, 2023

Keralas IMA branch also raised the issue by calling the change unacceptable. This is to bring to your notice that the recent change in the NMC logo is not acceptable to the modern medical fraternity.

It said that the new logo gives a wrong message and will harm the scientific and secular nature of the commission.

Members of the profession have already raised their voices against this unacceptable move. We at IMA Kerala State branch strongly condemn the decision and demand immediate action in this regard.

Calicut Medical College has also raised concerns, calling it a Hindutva takeover of higher education institutions in our country.

The logo is a direct attack on the secular and scientific ethos of medicine and raises a question about neutrality and quality of medical education in our country, they said.
The Bombay High Court has recently observed that the testimony of the minor rape victim cannot be discarded merely on the ground that there was a delay in lodging an FIR.

In our conservative society, people remain back footed to lodge a report of sexual assault, which has many repercussions. Therefore, merely on the ground of delay, the reliable testimony of the victim cannot be discarded, the order stated.

In its order dated October 4, 2023, a division bench of the high court at Nagpur comprising Justice Vinay Joshi and Justice Valmiki SA Menezes stated that the mental condition of the victim should be considered, especially, when the head of the family is the culprit.

FIR itself bears explanation that out of fear of defamation, the report was not lodged initially. One should imagine the mental condition of the victim, when the protector and head of the family itself is a culprit, the order reads.

The high court was hearing an appeal against the order of the Special POCSO Court convicting a father of sexually assaulting his own minor daughter.

The minor had returned from school in the afternoon after which her father asked her to change the clothes. While she was changing her clothes, the father pulled her out of the bathroom and took her to the kitchen. On the point of a knife, he compelled the daughter to undress and forcibly had a sexual intercourse with her. The father also threatened her not to disclose the incident to anyone.

The minor informed her mother and elder sister about the incident. Due to the father being the head of the family and the fear of defamation, the matter was not immediately reported to the police. Therefore, the FIR was lodged after a delay of five days.

The division bench noted the delay in filing the FIR was due to the fear of defamation.

The defence has also criticised the delay in lodging of the FIR. True, though the alleged incident occurred on 06.04.2018, however, the report has been lodged on 11.04.2018 i.e. after five days. It is to be born in mind that it is a case of rape of minor by her own father. The FIR itself bears explanation that out of fear of defamation, the report was not lodged initially, the court said.

However, the division bench modified the trial courts order regarding the quantum of punishment. The trial court had awarded life sentence to the father, but the high court modified it to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The US has accused India of a plot to assassinate US-based Khalistani leader and a designated terrorist in India, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, while the Justin Trudeau government has alleged India of murdering Canada-based militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

While both cases, particularly Pannuns, may create a diplomatic headache for India, but they serve the Modi government well politically just six months before the country elects its next government.

Many would argue, the North American nations have served the 2024 verdict to Narendra Modi on a platter well ahead of the election begins.

Game of Political Narratives

It was March 2019 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing a rally in Gujarat. He was talking about dealing with the menace of terrorism. What he said next holds significance today  I cant wait any longer. It is my nature to settle accounts one by one. Now, we will enter their house and kill them.

Today, five years later, just ahead of 2024 General Elections, when the two western nations, part of the coveted Five eyes (an intelligence alliance of five nations), have accused India of either assassinating or attempting to kill those that India considers a national security threat, it would only complement Modis own promise.

While India has called Canadas allegations absurd and constituted an inquiry committee after the US brought those charges, it is important to understand who are we talking about and who brought the charges in the first place.

Pannun, comes from Khankot village on the outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab, and is now a US citizen whom India designates as a terrorist. He is a well-known founder and leader of Sikhs for Justice, a pro-Khalistan organisation based in New York. Recently, he advocated for a repeat of the 1985 Air India-style bombing that killed 329  an outright terrorist act in the Khalistan chapter.

Now, India is being accused of plotting an assassination bid on Pannun on US soil by none less than the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which has been raised at the State Secretary level  Anthony Blinken.

Meanwhile, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, born in Jalandhar, moved to Canada in 1997, where he became vocal advocate for the creation of Khalistan. He had been labelled a terrorist by India, accused of, among other activities, being the mastermind behind the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a banned militant group in the country.

Unlike in Pannuns case, the two identified gunmen wearing dark clothes with hoods were seen outside a Sikh temple in a Vancouver this year. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudueu told the Canadian Parliament, although without evidences, that India was behind the extra-judicial killing.

Now, given the level from which the allegations come and the stature of the nations involved, including the United States, the political narrative that percolates down to the common man in India will be Modi has walked the talk. Be it a management graduate in Baroda or farmer in Bulandshahar, a venture capitalist in Mumbai or a hotelier in Manali  the message is uniform for all  Modi hai to mumkin hai, which politically bolsters Prime Ministers stature in their eyes.

This may give some international headache to India, but will also give Modi a giant push even before the BJP starts campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Also, the assassination of terrorists in Pakistan by unidentified men has increased in the recent times. This November, LeT commander Akram Khan Ghazi was gunned down by unidentified bike-borne men in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ghazis killing is the third assassination of a top Lashkar operative in recent days. Many consider Indian agencies are behind it.

Manmohan vs Modi Era

At a 2019 rally in Gujarat  before another Lok Sabha election  Narendra Modi portrayed a contrast between Manmohan Singhs era and his when it comes to dealing with terrorism. Terrorism has been firing bullets into the chest of India for 40 years, but people engrossed in vote bank politics were afraid to take action. I dont care about the seat of power, I am worried about my country. I am concerned about the safety of the people of my country, Modi had said in his home state.

But its one thing to make tall claims and another to walk the talk in public life. During the 26/11 terror attack in 2008, the 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists created mayhem for days killing at least 257, drawing words of condemnation at best from the Indian government. In fact, in 2015, the foremost ringleader of the attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was released on bail and disappeared. Former IAF chief BS Dhanoa said the UPA government had rejected a proposal of the air force to strike Pakistani terrorist camps after 26/11.

Contrast it with 2016, two years into the new government, PM Modi ordered a surgical strike across the Line of Control over to the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The daring raid was in answer to a terror attack in Uri, the same year killing 19 soldiers. India claimed it attacked terror launch pads and inflicted significant casualties.

The same year, Delhi witnessed a series of five synchronised bomb blasts that took place within a few minutes killing 20 and injuring 90 people. They were planted in busy commercial hubs like Connaught Place and Karol Bagh. A brazen terror organisation Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility. Earlier, blasts happened in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad too. Intelligence officials had intercepted a call made from the across the border claiming Operation BAD (referring to the three cities) is successful. While arrests followed, India failed to address the root cause  Pakistan. The phrase I condemn started to be joked around, given the failure of the political establishment of the day.

But in 2019, the Modi government sanctioned air strike deep into Pakistans Balakot region in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The air strike in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region was informed to Pakistan by Indian forces and to Indian media.

Beyond the diplomatic intricacies, as Blinken, the FBI, Trudeau label charges violating US and Canadas sovereignty by ordering extra-judicial killing  true or untrue they have reinforced the narrative of ghar me husker marenge narrative in the minds of common Indian voters that will only help Modi politically.
India has proposed to host COP33 in 2028, announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the first high-level segment at the 28th UN Climate Summit (COP28) in Dubai on Friday. The years biggest conference began on Thursday with hundreds of world leaders gathering to hold crucial climate talks.

ALSO READ | We Have Delivered History: COP28 Adopts Loss & Damage Fund On Day 1, India Hails Landmark Decision | News18 At COP28

Terming it as a pivotal platform for global climate action", PM Modi said the decision on Loss and Damage Fund taken on Day One has given the world hope, and the first-ever Global Stocktake (GST) during the next two weeks at COP28 will show the world a path towards a secure future.

Speaking at the ceremonial opening of the first part of the high-level segment, where he was the only head of the state on the panel, PM Modi batted for the Global South and demanded a fair share of the remaining Carbon Budget for developing countries. People living in the Global South are facing devastating impacts of climate change. All developing countries should get a fair share in the global carbon budget. We should move forward in a balanced manner on all fronts  adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage, technology transfer and finance," he asserted.

WHAT IS GLOBAL CARBON BUDGET?

The Global Carbon Budget (GCB) refers to the net amount of CO2 humans can still emit without exceeding a chosen global warming limit. As emissions continue rising, this budget has shrunk rapidly over the years.

Despite being home to 17% of the worlds population, India has only contributed 4% of the global cumulative carbon emissions, Modi pointed out, while reiterating the need for a just and equitable energy transition.

He also used the occasion to announce a Green Credit Initiative, which he referred to as a pro-planet mass campaign that goes beyond the commercial mindset associated with carbon credits. It will focus on creating additional carbon sinks with the participation of people.

INDIA ON TRACK TO MEET CLIMATE TARGETS

Modi reiterated that India has always walked the talk on climate action, and is among the only few economies in the world that are on track to meeting its climate targets". Last year, it further raised its ambition on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to achieve a Net Zero by 2070, attain 50% of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossils and reduce emission intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 (by 2005 level).

India also sees itself as the Voice of the Global South, and succeeded in achieving an agreement with the biggest economies to make efforts to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030" under its G20 Presidency. The G20 presidency gave high importance to the climate issue. We agreed on Green Development Pact, principles of sustainable living under Mission LiFE and expressed commitment to triple the renewable energy capacity by 2030. We also focussed on the need to take climate finance from several hundred billion to now trillions," PM Modi said.

Hundreds of world leaders are in attendance at the World Climate Action Summit to hold crucial climate talks. However, US President Joe Biden and China President Xi Jinping remained absent.

ALSO READ | 2023 Warmest Year, Global Mean Temperatures 1.4 Degrees Higher Than Pre-1900 Levels, Says WMO | News18 at COP28

Just before departing for Dubai, PM stressed on the importance of supporting the efforts of the developing world with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. The countries must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development. 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 (CBDR), as well as a greater focus on adaptation," he said.

Apart from the opening session, PM Modi will also attend special events, including on climate finance, Green Credit initiative and LeadIT on Friday. He will also meet other world leaders present in Dubai, and discuss ways to accelerate global climate action.
Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Friday proposed to host the COP33 summit in India in 2028, while speaking at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) Summit in Dubai on Friday. PM Modi was the only head of state to deliver an address at the high-level segment of the UN climate conference for heads of state and governments .

COP stands for Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC. It consists of 197 countries that consented to the UNFCCC in 1992. This year the summit began on Thursday with the presence and participation of leaders from across the globe.

At the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, countries will for the first time assess how far off track they are at curbing global warming. Its a process called the global stocktake.

TOP QUOTES FROM PM MODIS ADDRESS AT THE SUMMIT
The Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, where 41 construction workers remained trapped for almost 17 days after a portion of it collapsed, encountered a series of similar incidents or collapses in the past.

According to a TOI report, around 19-20, minor to medium-level collapses occurred during the construction of Uttarkashis Silkyara tunnel in the past 5 years.

Top National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) official Anshu Manish Khalkho told the publication that the geology of the region where the 4.5 km-long tunnel is located is responsible for the recurring collapses.

Such incidents happen during every tunnel construction project but we were unlucky this time that workers got trapped, Khalkao said terming collapses in the Uttarkashi region normal.

As per Khalkhao, the collapses, also called cavities, occurred on both the Silkyara side and the Barkot end of the tunnel however more collapses occurred on the Barkot side than the Silkyara side.

He further said that an area of 160 to 260 meters (also called chainage) inside the mouth of the tunnel from the Silkyara end was identified as a red zone or a shear zone as it contained brittle rocks.

Another official, on condition of anonymity, told TOI that the tunnel had faced numerous cavity collapses during its construction due to the challenging geology of the region and significant rock deformation.

Meanwhile, the European construction company, which helped in designing services during the construction of the Silkyara tunnel had earlier said that the geological conditions (at the tunnel site) proved to be more challenging than predicted in the tender documents.

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Operation

All the 41 workers trapped inside Uttarkashis partially collapsed Silkyara tunnel were successfully rescued on Tuesday night after their 17-day ordeal.

On the last day, rescuers broke through the last stretch of the rubble around 7 pm using the rat-hole mining technique. Less than an hour later, the process of laying the escape pipe into the drilled passage was complete. Then, NDRF and SDRF teams entered the steel chute to reach the trapped workers and started bringing them out on wheeled stretchers, one by one.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami greeted the workers as they got out of the tunnel and expressed his joy at the success of the rescue operation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who closely monitored the operation also spoke to the rescue workers and enquired about their health.
A senior Enforcement Directorate officer was arrested by Tamil Nadu Police on Friday for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a government employee, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), said on Friday.

The ED officer was allegedly arrested on bribery charges after an eight kilometre chase on the Dindigul-Madurai highway.

After he was taken into custody in Dindigul, a team of the DVAC officials held enquiries at the sub-zone ED office in Madurai, with state policemen standing guard outside the central government office.

An official release from DVAC identified the arrested official as Ankit Tiwari, serving as an Enforcement Officer in the Madurai Enforcement Department office of the Union Government. Tiwaris house was also raided by DVAC officials.

Tiwari, a 2016-batch officer, had previously served in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and is currently posted in Madurai, according to The Indian Express.

In October, he contacted a government employee from Dindigul and mentioned about a Vigilance case registered against him in that district which was already disposed off. Tiwari informed the employee that instructions had been received from the Prime Ministers Office to conduct an enquiry and asked the government employee to appear before the ED office at Madurai on October 30, it said.

When the man went to Madurai, Tiwari asked him to pay Rs 3 crore to avoid legal action in the case, DVAC alleged.

Later, he said that he had spoken to his superiors and as per their directions, he agreed to collect Rs 51 lakh as bribe. On November 1, the said employee had given him Rs 20 lakh as first instalment of bribe. Later, he (Tiwari) intimidated the employee on several occasions through WhatsApp calls and text messages that he should pay the full amount of Rs 51 lakh, otherwise he would face dire consequences, the release said.

The government employee grew suspicious and lodged a complaint at the Dindigul district Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Unit on Thursday. On Friday, the sleuths of DVAC caught Ankit Tiwari after he received Rs 20 lakh as bribe from the complainant. Subsequently, he was arrested at 10.30 am under Prevention of Corruption Act.

It is pertinent to mention that the sleuths have seized several incriminating documents regarding his misconduct. Investigation is being done to elucidate whether he had blackmailed/ threatened any other officials adopting this modus operandi and collected money in the name of Enforcement Directorate, the anti-graft agency of the Tamil Nadu government said.

Enquiry will also be conducted to ascertain the possible involvement of other ED officials, it said, adding Vigilance authorities were conducting searches at the residence of Tiwari and his Enforcement Directorate office at Madurai. Further searches will be conducted at the places associated with Ankit Tiwari, the release said.

Earlier, after the arrival of DVAC sleuths at the office of the central agency in Madurai, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel were deployed by authorities inside the ED office as a security measure.

The presence of the state police and the Central police force (ITBP, under the Central Armed Police Forces) at the same time led to a flutter for a while in the Madurai neighbourhood. Dindigul, about 430 km from here is near Madurai and about 100 km from Tiruchirappalli in central Tamil Nadu.
Khushi Kapoor is surely making her mark as Bollywoods Gen-Z diva, a trendsetter in her own unique way. The aspiring actress is known for her unrivalled sense of style and amazing outfit choices every time she steps out. She recently graced the red carpet at the Vogue Forces of Fashion event in Mumbai and stunned the crowd in her enchanting black gown. The event was quite star-studded, with popular names like Sonam Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Masaba Gupta, Tamannaah Bhatia, Bhumi Pednekar, and Sobhita Dhulipala, among others. However, Khushi Kapoor did not fail to stand apart and enthral fashionistas.



Khushi Kapoor, who has been busy with the promotions of her upcoming film, took some time out to grace the Vogue Forces of Fashion event, where she stunned in a black blazer-cut gown. The outfit featured a notch lapel neckline, padded shoulders, full-length sleeves, a plunging detail on the neckline, front zip closures, a thigh-high slit embellished with faux feathers, and a form-fitted silhouette.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by s  (@khushi05k)

Khushi accessorised with elegant earrings and went with a retro hairdo. She pulled up her hair in a bun and set it neatly with a side part. For her makeup, she included a glossy red lip shade, shimmering eye makeup, light kohl, darker brows, and mascara on the lashes.





Some days back, Khushi Kapoor was seen in a fishnet off-shoulder midi dress. The elegant dress featured a wide, off-shoulder neckline. The dresss distinctive gathered design throughout ensured a great fit, and a sensual front slit in the skirt added to its allure and charm. The figure-hugging shape of the sheer dress accentuated Khushi Kapoors toned body. The elaborate embellishments decorating the dress, however, absolutely stole the show.







View this post on Instagram A post shared by s  (@khushi05k)



Among her accessories, the diamond necklace looked well complimented by the off-the-shoulder neckline. She used a basic yet glamorous base for her makeup, with finely shaped brows, mascara-laden eyelashes, sparkly eyeshadow, strategically placed highlighter, pink cheeks, and tinted nude-coloured lips for this look. She left her hair open, with soft waves falling over her shoulder.





Khushi Kapoor is all set to make her acting debut with The Archies, which will release on Netflix next week. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, it is an Indian musical movie based on the popular American comics of the same name. The film also stars Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi Saigal and Yuvraj Menda.
Tamil actor Ajith Kumar is reportedly losing weight for his 61st movie. Multiple media reports stated that the actor has been undergoing rigorous training to reduce around 25 kgs for his role in AK61. After delivering a hit performance in his last film, Thunivu, he began to gear up for his upcoming movie titled Vidaa Muyarchi. One recent photo of Ajith Kumar has been posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). Fans are stunned to see his drastic transformation. He seems to have lost a lot of weight. Ajith Kumar was seen posing with his fan. The fan posted the picture and wrote, Latest pic of Ajith sir. Ajith Kumar was seen wearing a blue round-neck T-shirt along with beige trousers. He paired the attire with black slippers and a black belt. The actor indeed looks fit and as handsome as ever.

Reacting to these photos, many were stunned to see his transformation and others felt motivated. A user wrote, Looking handsome Ajith Kumar Anna. Another commented, He looks like a star with his white hair and beard.

Ajith Kumar was shooting for Vidaa Muyarchi in Azerbaijan last week. The fan reportedly clicked this picture during the shoot. The same user posted a snap of Ajith Kumar posing with a woman. The caption read, Ajith sir with a fan in Azerbaijan. In this photo, the actor wore a casual black shirt and light-coloured jeans. He accessorised his look with a pair of white sneakers.

Vidaa Muyarchi (which in English means Persistence) is his forthcoming action-packed thriller movie, directed by Magizh Thirumeni. It is backed by Subaskaran Allirajah under the banner of Lyca Productions. The movie is all set to star Ajith Kumar, Trisha and Regina Cassandra in the lead. Ajith Kumar has been working on his body dedicatedly to achieve a slim look for the movie. The shooting of the movie was going on in Azerbaijan since October 4, till last week. It was supposed to begin in September 2023, however, due to Ajith Kumars world tour commitments, it got delayed. Vidaa Muyarchi is slated for a 2024 release.
Renowned filmmaker Nikhil Nagesh Bhat is eagerly anticipating the Asia premiere of his latest film Kill at the prestigious Red Sea Film Festival 2023 in Saudi Arabia thats taking place currently in Jeddah. The entire team of the film including Karan Johar and Guneet Monga Kapoor are at the festival to showcase their film. Following the overwhelming response at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Nikhil expresses his confidence that Kill will continue to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression at the esteemed Red Sea Film Festival.

I am thrilled to showcase Kill at the Red Sea Film Festival. After the positive reception at TIFF, the anticipation for the film has only grown. This hard-core action film is a testament to the dedication and talent of everyone involved. Its a genre-defining film and Im excited that the film is getting wide recognition from international audiences through festivals like TIFF and now Red Sea, says Nikhil Nagesh Bhat.

Take a look at the poster here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by nikhil nagesh bhat (@nix_bhat)

Also accompanied by his talented actors, Lakshya and Raghav Juyal, Nikhil is set to attend the festival, joining a gathering of industry professionals and film enthusiasts. The director acknowledges the honor of being present at the Red Sea Film Festival, emphasizing the significance of sharing the film with such a diverse and esteemed audience.

Kill promises to deliver an adrenaline-fueled cinematic experience, raising expectations as one of the most anticipated films of the festival. Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and his team are excited to present their hard work to the world, confident that Kill will make a significant impact at the Red Sea Film Festival.

Ananya Panday will also be attending Vanity Fairs Women in Cinema forum. Expressing her gratitude, Ananya Panday shares, Its an honor to be part of an esteemed festival such as the Red Sea International Film Festival. Representing India on this platform is a proud moment for me. Her participation will surely highlight the growing global influence of Indian cinema and the talent within the industry.

Red Sea International Film Festival is back with its third edition. The 10-day long festival will bring together filmmakers, cinema lovers & experts to celebrate the best from international and regional talent in the world of filmmaking.
Ranveer Singh was recently honoured at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah. He received an award for his contribution towards cinema from Hollywood icon Sharon Stone. During his acceptance speech, Ranveer expressed his appreciation for Johnny Depp, who was sitting in the audience. Ranveer called Johnny his idol and spoke about the actors influence on him.

Ranveer said, Wow, one of my screen idols is in the house. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Johnny Depp. My good sir, Ive followed your work since Edward Scissorhands and Whats Eating Gilbert Grape. What an honour to be receiving this in your presence. Thank you for everything that youve unknowingly taught me about the craft, sir. Master of transformation, versatility, something in that Im inspired by you.

This is so sweet  Ranveer Singh couldnt accept his award without mentioning Johnny Depp who inspired him #JohnnyDepp #RedSeaIFF23 #RanveerSingh pic.twitter.com/CxQSmT84zp  Maya Willy Wonka  (@wonkamatters) November 30, 2023

Ranveer Singh honoured by Sharon Stone at the Red Sea International Film Festival@RanveerOfficial pic.twitter.com/K4oWrKyOCd Sneha Biswas (@Realsnehabiswas) December 1, 2023

Ranveer also posed for a photo later with Johnny. He looked dapper in a black, shimmery blazer worn over a black shirt and matching black pants. He was handed the award by Sharon Stone, who said, I have had the exciting pleasure of meeting Ranveer Singh before. What a great guy! He is truly an all-rounder creative genius. It gives me genuine great pleasure to welcome him to the stage to receive yet another prestigious award.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ranveer Singh was last seen in Karan Johars directorial venture Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani alongside Alia Bhatt. He received a lot of praise for his performance as Rocky Randhawa in the film. He will next be seen in Farhan Akhtars Don 3, taking the reigns from Shah Rukh Khan.
Back in August, Farhan Akhtar spilled the beans that Shah Rukh Khan wont be making a comeback as Don in the third part of the franchise. This was followed by a teaser release of Don, starring Ranveer Singh. The announcement received a mixed reaction from fans. While some were happy about the franchises return, others thought Shah Rukh Khan should still play the stylish criminal being chased by police from 11 countries. This led to some criticism for Shah Rukh Khan and the creators of the movie, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani.

At the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh received an honour. After participating in a panel discussion in Jeddah and interacting with fans, he engaged in a conversation covering various topics, including his portrayal of Don in the Farhan Akhtar-directed film. Acknowledging the skepticism surrounding the role previously played by megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer said he is aware of the challenges ahead.

Speaking to Deadline, Ranveer Singh said, Im hoping to make Don my own and give it my spin, my interpretation. It is the handing over of the baton of one of the most loved and revered franchises of Hindi cinema. The significance of that is not lost on me. When the announcement was made, as expected, it came with its share of scepticism. But throughout the history of cinema, this has happened. Even as recently as perhaps when the Bond franchise changed hands and they announced Daniel Craig as the new Bond, it came with its fair share of scepticism. So, this is only natural.

Amitabh Bachchan played the dual roles of Don and Vijay in the 1978 version of the film Don, written by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar and directed by Chandra Barot. In 2007, Farhan Akhtar directed a new version of Don with Shah Rukh Khan portraying the double role, and a sequel followed in 2011. Talking about the third installment, Ranveer said Taking the baton forward in this franchise and continuing the legacy of two of our greatest superstars  the significance of that is not lost on me. So, I will give it my best shot and you will see the very best of me and I will put my best foot forward for Don undoubtedly.
Telugu actors Naresh Vijaya Krishna and Pavitra Lokesh, who tied the knot on March 10, are currently basking in marital bliss. Notably, this marks Nareshs fourth marriage. The couple is once again making headlines, this time for their romantic honeymoon in Thailand. Naresh shared delightful glimpses from their getaway on Twitter, expressing gratitude for the song that inspired him during challenging times. He tweeted, This song fueled my comeback amid career setbacks, financial strain, and the departure of supposed loved ones. Despite facing adversity, Naresh acknowledged the unwavering support from his mother and friend Vijay Wadhwa. With heartfelt thanks to those who contributed to his remarkable resurgence, Naresh shared pictures and videos capturing their Thailand retreat, including a charming dance performance with Pavitra. The couples joyous moments have garnered attention and admiration from fans.

Naresh also attached some pictures and videos from the destination. One of the videos shows him and Pavitra enjoying a soothing song with an amazing dance performance as well.

This one song, inspired me during the toughest period of my life, losing my career, facing financial strain, and the departure of supposed loved ones.Despite heckling from relatives and being labeled a fome case and a joker, only my Mother and friend Vijay Wadhwa stood by pic.twitter.com/GXRqneF0CS  H.E Dr Naresh VK actor (@ItsActorNaresh) November 29, 2023

This is their second honeymoon as they had previously travelled to Dubai post-marriage. One of the social media users tweeted some videos as well from their honeymoon ceremony. They also posed for photographs amidst the serene backdrop of Dubais beaches. In a few videos, taken by Naresh, the couple was seen holding hands and making their way to the top of a dune. In a few others, Naresh and Pavitra were seen exploring the streets and markets of Dubai. The couple also travelled via a cruise, enjoyed a show put up by a performer and dined with fellow travellers.

Nareshs wedding with Pavitra grabbed headlines for it is his fourth wedding. Naresh was in the news until earlier this year for his divorce from his third wife, Ramya Raghupathi. The former couple shares the custody of a son and Naresh has made some shocking revelations about Ramya. These allegations include the claim that she threatened to kill him.

During the promotions of Malli Pelli, Naresh revealed that he met Pavitra on the set of this film. He instantly felt that she was the right match for him.
Way back in 1989, during the first Intifada (1987-93), former Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban had stated that the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) could not endanger Israel because the Jewish country possessed 540,000 soldiers, 3,800 tanks, 682 fighter-bombers, thousands of artillery units, and a remarkable electronic capacity (Israel: A Country Study, 1990, P.xxxiii). A current reading of the statement might appear misleading. Whereas Israel continues to enjoy overwhelming military superiority, both in qualitative and numerical terms, this has not deterred the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other armed groups in the Gaza Strip from seriously threatening Israels civilian population. The October 7 carnage is the biggest proof.

These (non-PLO) Islamist groups have used the Gaza Strip as a launch pad to fire rockets at civilian areas in Israel since 2001. The range of these rockets has increased with the passage of time. Beginning from the Qassam rockets that had a range of 16 km, Hamas has attained a range of 150 km with R160. Israel had to undertake three broad-scale campaigns in Gaza  Operation Cast Lead (December, 2008-January, 2009), Operation Pillar of Defense (November 2012) and Operation Protective Edge (July-August, 2014) to unsuccessfully stem the tide in the past.

Earlier this year, the Israel Defence Force had to undertake Operation Shield and Arrow after Hamas fired at least 21 rockets towards Israel on May 2, 2023. Though Israel has a sophisticated rocket interceptor and warning system in the form of the Iron Dome, it has apparently not disincentivised Hamas from using rockets as a mode of assault. Israel claims Hamas has launched around 10,000 rockets since the start of the present round of hostilities. In 1988, in the backdrop of the first intifada, Israel had launched merely the first of its spy satellite Ofeq-1. Earlier this year, it launched advanced Ofeq-13 from its Palmachim Airbase. Not many commentators have examined this aspect in the intelligence failure of the October 7 carnage.

After six weeks of hostilities, Israel and Hamas are now in the process of exchanging prisoners and hostages in each others custody as part of a temporary truce. Only a few days earlier (November 21), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while addressing the 8101 Reserve Battalion (Alexandroni Brigade) had stated that his first goal was the elimination of Hamas, and second, the return of the hostages. Previously, on November 7, he had claimed that Israel had eliminated thousands of terrorists both above and below the ground (an obvious reference to the Hamas bunkers). Netanyahu always placed the elimination of Hamas and cessation of the offensive ahead of the release of the hostages in his strategy. However, it appears that the war had not turned out to be the one he had in his mind.

II

In the wake of the present hostilities, the global biggies  US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong etc  have broached the two-state solution in West Asia. India has also favoured a two-state solution at a recent 2+2 ministerial dialogue with the US in New Delhi. Only Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani recently stated that the world needs to stop talking about the two-state solution and instead put forward practical proposals to make it work once the Gaza hostilities ended.

Paradoxically, the support for a two-state solution has ebbed in the region itself. Whether that is good or bad for the future of West Asia is a different issue. The main question is both about feasibility and acceptability. One only needs to examine why the two-state solution failed to fructify after being intensely pursued by the governments of Yitzhak Rabin (1992-1995), Shimon Peres (1995-96), Benjamin Netanyahu (1996-99) and Ehud Barak (1999-2001) with overarching support of the Bill Clinton administration. Arial Sharon, once a stout critic of any negotiation with the PLO, made the most substantial contribution in this regard. His government actually evacuated Israeli settlers and withdrew military presence from the Gaza Strip (2005) though he could not proceed with partial withdrawal from the West Bank. He even split his party Likud, to form a new political party Kadima (Hebrew for Forward), to further pursue his unilateral disengagement plan. However, soon Gaza became a nursery of terrorism, rather than a beachhead of peace.

On December 15, 1998, Bill Clinton had visited Gaza whereupon he addressed a meeting of the Palestine National Council chaired by Yasir Arafat. The Council unanimously, with a show of hands, voted to recognise the existence of Israel. Cut to June 15, 2007  with Israeli presence withdrawn  Hamas established its control over Gaza after a military conflict with Fatah, the dominant faction in the PLO. It threatened to turn Gaza into Israels Achilles heel.

III

The two-state solution is far more complicated today than ever before. Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 has not been productive of any solution or peace. Gaza has become a sore spot for Israels security. Not surprisingly, Kadima, the Centrist political party founded by Sharon in pursuit of his further disengagement plan, and which emerged as the largest faction in the March 2006 Knesset elections, has few takers today.

Any two-state solution would involve Israels conceding full or partial control over the West Bank, which came under Israeli occupation after the Six-Day War, 1967. West Bank (5,879 sq km) is not only 15 times larger than Gaza (378 sq km) but located more precariously to Israels security. Moreover, it has almost half a million Israeli settlers, for whom it might be difficult to resettle within Israel. Thus complete withdrawal from the West Bank is not an idea even the stout-hearted politician could entertain. The West Bank becoming another Gaza, only much larger, would be the last thing any Israeli government would want.

The two-state solution predicates upon the co-existence of Israel and Palestine. The PLO, under Yasir Arafat, after renouncing terrorism, had accepted this principle. It was one of the governing principles of the Oslo Accord (1993), and the beginning point of subsequent agreements like the Cairo Agreement (1994), Taba Agreement (1995), Wye River Memorandum (1998) etc.

However, the complexion of Palestinian politics has changed completely since then. Whereas only the political parties inside PLO viz. Fatah (including its splinter parties), Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Palestine Democratic Union (PDU), Palestinian Peoples Party (PPP) etc recognise this co-existence principle, the Hamas group parties do not. The latter group which includes Hamas, Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), Palestinian National Initiative (Al-Mubadara) etc do not recognise Israels right to exist. They have their military wings, and even after settling down in Gaza, have not given up acts of terror against Israeli civilians. The events of October 7, 2023, are its most recent proof.

Thus the two-state solution could be dangerous if the entire Palestine i.e. Gaza and the West Bank were to fall into the hands of the Hamas group. However, it is not an unlikely scenario either. Whereas the last legislative elections for the Palestinian Authority (PA) were held in 2006, the support for Hamas is believed to remain strong. Even Fatah-linked politicians have refrained from criticising Hamas during the ongoing hostage crisis.

The two-state solution idea lost its steam after the armed conflict within the Palestinian Authority erupted between Fatah and Hamas on government formation as a result of the legislative elections (2006). This conflict ultimately allowed Hamas to establish itself in Gaza, and Fatah in the West Bank in June 2007. Palestine itself was thus split into two, with the reconciliation process remaining inconclusive. Since then, no other legislative or presidential elections have taken place with the PA.

In the 2006 elections, Hamas, running as Change and Reform, had swept 74 of the 132 seats, pushing Fatah to a second spot at 45. It was a democratic verdict from the electoral perspective, even as the original UN Partition Plan i.e. UNGA Resolution 181 (II) dated November 29, 1947, had envisaged Jewish and Arab portions to democratic governments elected on adult suffrage.

Democracy, however, is not a solution in Palestine when applied to parties that are committed to the destruction of Israel rather than co-existing with it. Hamas, having established its control over Gaza, has not abandoned its policy of assaulting Israeli civilian targets. Therein lies the dichotomy between peace and democracy which are erroneously treated as two faces of the same coin. One might remember that the Muslim Brotherhood democratically came to power in Egypt in the June 2012 elections.

IV

Though the two-state solution is broken, and currently pushed into the periphery of Israeli politics, a political quandary in West Asia is not a permissible option either. Whereas thousands of Palestinian civilians have perished in the Israeli bomb strikes, Hamas has not been eliminated. The Palestinian civilians need to come out against Hamas if they prefer their own well-being rather than the destruction of Israel. On the Israeli side, during the first Intifada, the cost of quelling the uprising was estimated at $132 million per month (Israel Country Studies, 1990, P.xxxii). The present Gaza War is costing an estimated $270 million per day, with a huge toll on the Israeli economy, let alone loss of tourism and business.

The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is systematically unfolding its plan B in view of the impending arrest of its convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

From December 1-20, the party will launch a signature campaign, Main Bhi Kejriwal, across Delhi. This will be followed by five days of public meetings between December 21 and 24 in all 250 wards. The attempt will be to gather peoples opinion on whether Kejriwal should resign if arrested, or if he should continue to govern Delhi from jail. It also marks the formal launch of the AAPs 2024 election campaign on the ground in Delhi, following Kejriwals declaration during the karyakarta sammelan on November 17.

From December 1-20, the party will launch a signature campaign, Main Bhi Kejriwal, across 2,600 polling stations The party has prepared a pamphlet, which will discuss how the alleged scam is fabricated , why Modiji wants to arrest Arvind Kejriwal , whether he can match Kejriwals work, does Modiji stand against corruption. Finally, the question will be  Should Kejriwal resign, if arrested? said AAPs Delhi in-charge and AAP minister Gopal Rai.

The minister also said that in the second phase of the exercise, public meetings will be held in all wards of Delhi.

ED SUMMONED KEJRIWAL ON NOV 2

The CM was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear on November 2, which Kejriwal missed and chose to challenge the ED notice instead.

The Delhi CM has already been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Delhi excise case on April 16 for about nine hours. Three top leaders of the party, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Sanjay Singh, are already behind bars, and, so is communications-in-charge Vijay Nair.

..they are conspiring to finish off Kejriwals government, stem the growth of AAP and have built up a fabricated liquor scam. Arrests of AAP leaders in the same have been started by the countrys prime minister. Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested, RS MP Sanjay Singh was arrested, minister Satyendar Jain was arrested, however, inspite of these arrests, the BJP feels that it will not be able to harm AAP, it will not be able to break its MLAs. Therefore, they have started preparations for Kejriwals arrest. The purpose behind this conspiracy is if Kejriwal is arrested, maybe, the Delhi government can be finished, the party can be finished, said Rai.

OPINION TAKING TO BUILDING: THE PAMPHLET

The AAP in Delhi has tried to galvanise its cadre for this massive mass contact programme. It is as much an opinion taking exercise as it is for opinion building and garnering sympathy and support for the party ahead of the 2024 elections. The pamphlets that the AAP would be distributing encapsulate exactly what Kejriwal had said on November 17 while addressing the partys workers.

It has four points  Liquor scam is fabricated, Modiji is unable to match Kejriwals work, Is Modi ji fighting corruption? and Should Kejriwal upon being arrested resign or run the government from the jail? The last point says: Some people say that Kejriwal ji should not get trapped in the BJPs conspiracy. After arrest, Kejriwal ji should not resign, he should run the government from the jail. All files will go to the jail. He may hold all meetings with officers in jail. The people of Delhi had cast their vote to make Kejriwal the chief minister. All promises made to the people of Delhi, Kejriwal ji may fulfil from the jail. If people like Kejriwals work, they will vote for Kejriwal again.

The pamphlet ends with the question, After being arrested what do you think Kejriwal ji should do  resign or run the government from the jail? Rai said, The BJP senses defeat in the 2024 elections and is arresting leaders of INDIA bloc. In Delhi, this campaign marks the beginning of the Lok Sabha campaign.

 Pamphlet   AAP   ,    Door To Door     ? Modi            Modi     ?       Jail    ? pic.twitter.com/JRgeVyO5O1  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 30, 2023

POLITICAL CAPITAL OUT OF ADVERSITY?

Along with Rai, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, MLA Kuldeep Kumar, and former law minister Jitender Singh Tomar were also part of the press conference.

AAPs MP Raghav Chadha claimed, If the BJP perceives a threat from any party, it is from Arvind Kejriwal. Just as Kamsa knew that Devakinandan Bhagwan Shri Krishna is his nemesis, the BJP also knows that its nemesis is Arvind Kejriwal. And just as Kamsa made many unsuccessful attempts to stop Bhagwan Shri Krishna, the BJP is making all possible attempts to stop Kejriwal and finish AAP.

Chadha said: In this powerplay, the BJPs last throw of dice is the arrest of Kejriwal. The BJP feels by arresting Kejriwal, it can finish the AAP and government. However, I would like to tell the BJP that all AAP legislators and workers have requested the chief minister to continue to govern Delhi from behind bars. The BJP definitely wants Kejriwal to resign and the government to be dysfunctional. However, we will not let that happen, even if it may require that cabinet meetings be held in jail or crucial decisions be taken from inside jail or even authorities going to jail to sign files.

In the past one month, AAP supremo has held separate meetings with AAP MLAs, councillors, MPs and office-bearers to chalk out a strategy. The partys top leadership that enjoyed the chief ministers trust is now behind bars. The proposal that emerged from the party is even if Kejriwal is arrested, the government should be run from jail and the chief minister should not resign. The opinion of the Delhiites would determine the next course of action.

This is not the first time that Kejriwal has fallen back on peoples opinion when the party stands at crossroads, once again.

It is plain that the AAP finds itself in an extremely adverse situation. Kejriwal has always sought to build political capital out of adversity. And once again, he is using the connect he enjoys with the people of Delhi to have their ears.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said the INDIA alliance hopes to 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 strongly behind the INDIA alliance formed to prevent the division of anti-BJP votes in the parliamentary elections next year.

We (INDIA bloc) have started preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. We hope to win 13 of the 14 seats in the state, Soren said on Thursday.

In 2019, the BJP-AJSU Party alliance won 12 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while the Congress and the JMM bagged one each.

The JMM executive president claimed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will be defeated in the assembly elections in five states  Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

The CM alleged that the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi made false promises to people and they would show it the exit door in the next Lok Sabha polls.

He alleged that the Centre has unleashed all forces including the ED, CBI and other central agencies for destabilising his democratically elected government.
Barely 48 hours after the BJP launched its campaign in West Bengal for 2024 Lok Sabha elections with Amit Shahs rally, 12 of the saffron partys MLAs were booked for allegedly insulting the national anthem on the state Assembly premises.

The FIR was lodged at the Hare Street Police Station based on a complaint by the Secretary of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, who in turn cited letters written to the Speaker by TMC MLAs by Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Tapas Ray. The BJP has called the FIR illegal, saying it will approach the courts on Monday to quash it.

The sequence of events started on Wednesday afternoon when Trinamool Congress MLAs, led by party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, were protesting near the statue of BR Ambedkar within the Assembly premises over the non-payment of central dues to the state government under various centrally sponsored schemes.

Towards the close of the protest, LoP Suvendhu Adhikary passed by the TMC protest and shouted chor, chor. On Thursday, he reportedly led BJP MLAs to stage a counter protest at the spot with similar slogans, the first time such scenes unfolded in West Bengal Assembly premises.

TMC MLAs complained to Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay that the BJP legislators raised the slogans when the ruling party MLAs were singing the national anthem.

The FIR was subsequently lodged against BJP MLAs Sankar Ghosh, Manoj Tigga, Sudip Kumar Mukherjee, Malati Reva Roy, Chandrani Barui, Niladri Sekhar Dana, Mihir Goswami, Manoj Kumar Oraon, Suman Kanjilal, Dipak Barman, and Hiranmoy Chattopadhyay.

Suvendu Adhikari was mentioned in the attached letter, but was not included in the formal FIR. During the incident, the BJP MLAs blocked the gate of the South Portico and incited and provoked breach of peace at the said location. The investigation of the case is currently underway, the case summary says.

TMC insiders say the party will go big on the issue in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections next year. Speaking to News18, TMCs Bobby Hakim said: They are anti-national and they dont love the motherland. Thats why, even when we were singing the national anthem, they were shouting. The FIR is there. We dont know what the courts will do, but BJP is anti-national and anti-people.

Hitting back at the TMC, LoP Suvendhu Adhikary told News18: We are ignoring this FIR. They have illegally done this FIR. Police and ministers have misused their power. We will go to court on Monday to quash it.

Mamata Banerjee will not teach us nationalism. She has disregarded the national anthem. How dare they questions us, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said.

Sources say the case might be handed to the Kolkata Police Detective Department and the BJP MLAs might be questioned.
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.
Katrina Kaif, the perennial fan-favourite for her disciplined yet unapologetically honest demeanour, has always been in the spotlight. Her charismatic aura is often credited with setting her apart from the typical Bollywood actors. This charisma doesnt just end with the audience; even her husband, the talented actor Vicky Kaushal, acknowledges the unique charm she exudes. However, a recent revelation that Katrina disapproves of Vickys fashion choices and once labelled him a joker for his poor outfit sparked a wildfire on the internet, with accusations of her being a toxic life partner.

It all began when a snippet of Vickys interview on Ranveer Allahbadias show hit the internet. A user, @LucasMStarr, highlighted how Katrina should be considered a red flag for imposing her preferences on her husband, drawing parallels with Ranbir Kapoor, who had been criticised for allegedly being a toxic husband to Alia Bhatt. Alia had previously shared that Ranbir doesnt like it when she raises her voice or wears a dark lip shade.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor is Crying: Charlie Puths Lipstick Track Has Desis Wiping Internet With RK Memes

Cut to this case, the OP posted Vickys clip on the micro-blogging site X and wrote: Where are the feminists now? I remember how #RanbirKapoor was dragged as red flag for a misquote that Alia did and even clarified bt people label him toxic still. Here is a clear case of #KatrinaKaif being toxic red flag bt noone will speak abt it. The post quickly went viral, sparking diverse responses from the public.

Where are the feminists now?I remember how #RanbirKapoor was dragged as red flag for a misquote that Alia did and even clarified bt people label him toxic still. Here is a clear case of #KatrinaKaif being toxic red flag bt noone will speak abt it.#Animal #VickyKaushal #SamBahadur pic.twitter.com/61ertvzv4L AlphaBeta (@LucasMStarr) November 30, 2023

Some defended Katrina, emphasising the nuanced tone in her interactions against that of Ranbir while others asserted that such interactions are common between spouses.

One user countered the comment, stating, The fact that u dont understand the tone between katrina and ranbir lol. Another argued, Nothing wrong with grooming an outfit whereas Ranbir asked her to lower voice. No comparison.

A third commenter remarked, This is mostly every woman in your life from your mother to sister and eventually your partner they make you a better person. Nothing toxic or red flag in that. A fourth quipped, If katrina tells you what to wear, you say yes maam.

The fact that u dont understand the tone between katrina and ranbir lol. gargiiiii (@coffee_gr_) November 30, 2023

Nothing wrong with grooming an outfit whereas Ranbir asked her to lower voice. No comparison. fatique (@ChapparrKanaati) November 30, 2023

This is mostly every woman in your life from your mother to sister and eventually your partner they make you a better person. Nothing toxic or red flag in that. Rakshit kariya (@Rakshitkaria) November 30, 2023

Of course, there are those who join the original posters side, adding more spice to the discussion.

Alia said wipe it off & she was laughing after mimicking . If Vickys statement can be taken as a joke ,Alias one should be also considered as joke .alia cleared it in recent kwk episode . She said Ranbirs genuinely opposite of toxic husband . People misunderstood her words pic.twitter.com/fLR0vC7rkQ Tu koi aur hai (@Justfor_RK) November 30, 2023

Meanwhile, for those who may not know the exact details, the controversy stemmed from Vickys revelation on The Ranveer Show, where he shared an incident of Katrina influencing his clothing choices.

Also Read: Rashmika Mandannas Unclear Dialogue Delivery in Animal Has Internet Scratching its Head

He recounted, On the surface level she has added what kind of clothes should I wear because she is like, Kya joker banke ja raha hai ye (He is walking dressed like a joker) She has literally held my hand and pulled me back saying that you will not step out like this. I asked her, Ismein kya galat hai? (What is wrong in this?) And she said,  Sab kuch. I was like okay.
On Thursday, a majority of exit polls anticipated a Congress lead in Chhattisgarh and Telangana while indicating an advantageous position for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for the 2023 Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections conducted from November 7-30 across the five states. Mizoram, on the other hand, saw most polls forecasting a hung House, suggesting that the ruling Mizo National Front might fall short of the halfway mark, along with its main contender, the Zoram Peoples Movement.

The aftermath of these electoral glimpses wasnt just met with hushed conversations and ponderous reflections but with a digital explosion of memes and reactions. Social media, ever the town crier of the modern era, witnessed a flood of humourous expressions and satirical takes. Elections, after all, are not just about ballots; they are also about belly laughs. So, its all memes where people unleash their creativity through jokes, injecting a dose of levity into the otherwise serious business of choosing leaders.

Also Read: Spotify Wrapped 2023: Pritam Tops Everyones List Again, Bringing Back Legacy Memes Online

Amid the generic jests, a peculiar genre emergedresort politics memes. These comedic gems shed light on the age-old practice of resort owners making a quick buck during the election season, a phenomenon that never fails to make headlines in closely contested battles.

Resort owners right now after Exit poll predicts hung assembly #ExitPolls pic.twitter.com/7dx0ysXQ9a Che_ (@ChekrishnaCk) November 30, 2023

#ExitPollHotels and resort owners after watching the Exit polls pic.twitter.com/NDKixJkBaL   (@vella_insan1) November 30, 2023

Hotels and resort owners after watching the Exit polls pic.twitter.com/KcEHtjVb5S Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) November 30, 2023

Simultaneously, the Congress party is striving to maintain its hold in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, aiming for a comeback in Madhya Pradesh following the 2020 upheaval led by Jyotiraditya Scindia. Telangana witnesses a three-way battle, with Congress and BJP vying to interrupt BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Raos potential hat-trick. In Mizoram, the traditional MNF-Congress rivalry introduces a new playerthe Zorams People Movement (ZPM).

Also Read: Bethne Ka Tarika Thoda Casual Hai Fame Frustrated Over Becoming a Meme, Desis Cant Stop Laughing

Meanwhile, these state elections hold paramount significance for both the BJP and the Congress, as they vie for victories to build momentum leading up to the general elections. Together, these five states contribute 83 members to the Lok Sabha.
Brian Nelson, the US Treasurys under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the US is profoundly concerned about Turkiyes role in helping Hamas gain access to international finance. This also shows how the war in Gaza is leading to tensions between NATO allies. The US and Turkey are both members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Washingtons inner circles are concerned because Turkiye has helped Hamas historically to gain access to funds. We are profoundly concerned about Hamass ability to continue to fundraise or find financial support for its operations for potential future terrorist attacks here in Turkiye, Nelson was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. He was speaking to reporters at a press briefing in Istanbul on Thursday.

The Financial Times report pointed out that Turkiyes role in helping Hamas is creating tensions in the bilateral relationship between Washington and Ankara.

Nelson said Hamas received funding via financial support from Iran, the groups investment portfolio and fundraising from international charities. Nelson pointed out that the US did not detect additional Hamas money entering through Turkiye since October 7 but said the nation has played a prominent role in economically strengthening Hamas.

(The country played) a prominent role in (past) fundraising streams and . . . that Hamas is going to seek to take advantage of that fact as it raises additional funds, Nelson told reporters.

The US in October sanctioned three individuals it said were Turkiye-based Hamas operatives who help run the terrorist groups investment network and a Turkish real estate investment company was also added to the list after it was alleged that it was controlled by Hamas.

Turkiye has emerged as one of the vocal supporters of the Palestinian statehood cause and has not condemned Hamas who in a surprise attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and militants kidnapped about 240. It has also condemned Israeli retaliation of the attacks after its forces unleashed an air and ground military campaign in Gaza that the Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians.

Turkiyes President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refers to Hamas as a liberation movement and Washington has strongly backed Israels right to self-defence and is taking steps to cut off Hamass access to finance, thus revealing the difference in approach to the Palestinian outfit that has been declared a terrorist group in the US.

Nelson said it is unlikely that after showing this level of support Erdogan will participate in sanctions on Hamas but said Washington expects Turkiye to utilise its own powers to target Hamass funds because of its terrorism capabilities.

Both parties signed a temporary truce due to expire early on Friday local time and under the temporary deal brokered by Qatar, 80 Israeli hostages have been freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is attending the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) Summit in Dubai, proposed hosting COP33 in India in 2028.

PM Modi, who was the only head of the state to attend the session, said India is aiming to reduce emission intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil fuels to 50 per cent. We are working on hydrogen as alternate fuel, he added.

#WATCH | Dubai, UAE | At the Opening of the COP28 high-level segment for HoS/HoG, PM Narendra Modi says, Indias goal is to bring down emissions intensity by 45% till 2030. We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50%. We will also keep going ahead towards pic.twitter.com/TVuCrvK6mJ ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

In his address, Modi also proposed a Green Credit Initiative, which he referred to as another pro-planet, pro-active and positive initiative.

VIDEO | From this forum today, I want to invoke another pro-planet, pro-active and positive initiative  Green Credit Initiative, says PM Modi speaking at the ceremonial opening of high-level segment for Heads of States at #COP28 in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/JZACG9ec39 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 1, 2023

The United Nations World Climate Action Summit, being held in the glitzy United Arab Emirates, clicked into its first full day of scheduled events on Friday.

PMs Schedule for the Day

Calling India a blend of economy and ecology, Modi also said that the country aims to achieve net zero emissions by the 2070.

The Prime Minister will be spending around 21 hours in Dubai today and delivering four speeches, attending two special initiatives and seven bilateral meetings on climate events. In addition, he will be doing pull-aside and informal meetings with world leaders as well.

Action-packed day today

Britains King Charles III, who is known to have spent decades working on environmental issues, is expected to address the summit.

Other world leaders including Kenyan President William Ruto, Turkeys President Tayyip Erdogan, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and Saudi Arabias Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud are also scheduled to speak at the meeting. Some leaders will also talk on the environmental issues on day 2 of the summit on Saturday.

On the sidelines, a raft of new pledges is expected from governments, companies, and non-profits promising funding toward various climate efforts, from adaptation to boosting the energy transition.

As per media reports, there could be further progress announced in overhauling multi-development banks and other public lenders.

What Is COP28?

For almost three decades, governments across the world have met nearly every year to work towards a global response to the climate emergency.

Under the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), every country in the world is bound by a treaty to avoid dangerous climate change and find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equitably.

COP stands for Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC. It consists of 197 countries that consented to the UNFCCC in 1992. This year is the 28th iteration of COP countries and plans to be a difficult follow-up to last year, where developing countries celebrated victory on key climate finance issues.

At the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, countries will for the first time assess how far off track they are at curbing global warming. Its a process called the global stocktake.

Why is it important?

Under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, countries must gauge progress on their own climate goals as of this year  and then every five years afterwards.

Based on the results, they may be pressed to set more ambitious policies or contribute more money to help developing countries adopt clean energy.

The process will reveal progress so far as well as what action is still needed.

The aim is to produce a plan by the end of the conference.

Is the world off course?

In September, the U.N. offered an early stocktake assessment that showed countries were far behind in meeting their goals.

It estimated that current emissions plans put the world on track to warm by at least 2.5 degrees Celsius  higher than the 2015 goal.

The U.N. said action was required on all fronts to keep global temperature rise limited to 1.5 C.

Its already warmed by 1.2 C since pre-industrial times and many countries have yet to set strong enough short-term policies to meet targets.

Will the stocktake drive action?

Before the stocktake even started, countries are squabbling over the scope of future plans including whether they should commit to phasing out fossil fuels, end investments in new coal plants or triple renewable capacity this decade.

COP28 delegates will also need to decide if the stocktake should recommend action for specific sectors like energy and manufacturing.

While the European Union wants the stocktake to produce concrete policy signals to follow, diplomats said some developing countries have suggested it should focus on pressuring wealthy nations to do more.

The assessment could become politically divisive as it sets the stage for the next few years of global action.

(With Inputs From Reuters)
Three members of Congress have asked the US Justice Department to investigate how foreign hackers breached a water authority near Pittsburgh, prompting the nations top cyberdefense agency to warn other water and sewage-treatment utilities that they may be vulnerable.

In a letter released Thursday, US Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio said Americans must know their drinking water and other basic infrastructure is safe from nation-state adversaries and terrorist organizations.

Any attack on our nations critical infrastructure is unacceptable, Fetterman, Casey and Deluzio wrote in their letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. If a hack like this can happen here in western Pennsylvania, it can happen anywhere else in the United States.

The compromised industrial control system was made in Israel, and a photo from the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, suggests the hackivists deliberately targeted that facility because of the equipments link to Israel. The image of the device screen shows a message from the hackers that said: Every equipment made in Israel is Cyber Av3ngers legal target.

A group using that name used identical language on X, formerly Twitter, and Telegram on Sunday. The group claimed in an Oct. 30 social media post to have hacked 10 water treatment stations in Israel, though it is not clear if they shut down any equipment.

Caseys office said it was told by U.S. officials that they believe Cyber Av3ngers is indeed behind the attack. The Aliquippa water authoritys chairman, Matthew Mottes, said federal officials told him that hackers also breached four other utilities and an aquarium.

Weve been told that we are not the only authority thats been affected in the country, but we are believed to be the first, Mottes said in an interview.

Leading cybersecurity companies Check Point Research and Googles Mandiant have identified Cyber Av3ngers as hacktivists aligned with Irans government.

Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, the group has expanded and accelerated targeting Israeli critical infrastructure, said Check Points Sergey Shykevich. Iran and Israel were engaged in low-level cyberconflict prior to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and cybersecurity experts have said they expected a rise in hacktivism in response to Israels attacks in Gaza.

The device breached in Pennsylvania was made by Israel-based Unitronics, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Known as a programmable logic controller, it is used across a wide spectrum of industries including water and sewage-treatment utilities, electric companies and oil and gas producers. It regulates processes including pressure, temperature and fluid flow, according to the manufacturer.

Unitronics has not responded to queries about what other facilities with its equipment may have been hacked or could be vulnerable.

Experts say many water utilities have paid insufficient attention to cybersecurity.

In Pennsylvania, the hack prompted the water authority to temporarily halt pumping Saturday in a remote station that regulates water pressure for customers in two nearby towns. Crews took the system offline and switched to manual operation, officials said.

The attack came less than a month after a federal appeals court decision prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind a rule that would have obliged U.S public water systems to include cybersecurity testing in their regular federally mandated audits. The rollback was triggered by a federal appeals court decision in a case brought by Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa, and joined by a water utility trade group.

The Biden administration has been trying to shore up cybersecurity of critical infrastructure  more than 80% of which is privately owned  and has imposed regulations on sectors including electric utilities, gas pipelines and nuclear facilities. But many experts complain that too many vital industries are permitted to self-regulate.

In its warning Tuesday, the U.S. cybersecurity agency said attackers likely breached the Unitronics device by exploiting cybersecurity weaknesses, including poor password security and exposure to the internet.

Mottes said he doesnt know how the device in Aliquippa was hacked, but that he trusted the federal agencys judgment.
Hamas is willing to further extend a truce for hostage and prisoner exchanges, a source close to the militant group said Thursday, and the United States urged Israel to set up safe zones for Gaza civilians as a pause in their deadly war neared expiry.

International pressure has risen for a lasting halt to the war, sparked by deadly Hamas attacks on Israel that prompted it to mount a devastating assault on the Gaza Strip.

As the latest group of Israeli hostages was released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a source close to the Islamist militant group said it was willing to extend the truce that has paused weeks of deadly fighting and enabled aid to reach Gaza civilians. Israel had yet to respond.

With the current truce nearing expiry early Friday following a seven-day pause, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged an extension after meeting with leaders in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Clearly, we want to see this process continue to move forward, he told reporters in Tel Aviv. We want an eighth day and beyond.

Israel must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimise further casualties of innocent Palestinians, he said, including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza, where they can be safe and out of the line of fire.

A source close to Hamas, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media, told AFP the Islamist movement was willing to extend the truce.

The mediators are currently making strong, intense and continuous efforts for an additional day in the truce and then working to extend it again for other days, the source said.

Protect Gaza civilians

International bodies have called for more time to allow medical supplies, food and fuel into Gaza after fierce combat and bombardments sparked by Hamass 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 earlier 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.

He later told Netanyahu it was imperative to protect civilians in southern Gaza before any military operations there.

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 territorys population  to leave their homes and limiting the entry of food, water, medicine and fuel, according to the UN.

The initial four-day truce has been extended for three days following work by international mediators, led by Qatar.

Israel has however vowed to continue with its offensive to destroy Hamas once the truce process has run its course.

We swore to eliminate Hamas, and nothing will stop us, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, after meeting with Blinken.

Hostages coming home

Hamas freed two Israeli women hostages in the latest round of exchanges under the existing truce, followed by six more hostages later in the evening, according to Israeli authorities.

Qatari officials mediating in the conflict said those eight people included nationals of Mexico, Russia and Uruguay.

Two others, Russian-Israeli dual citizens, were released on Wednesday night, as part of the group of 10 scheduled for Thursday.

In exchange, 30 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails, prison authorities said, including 23 minors and seven women.

Since the truce began on November 24, 80 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners have been released.

More than 20 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the scope of the agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office named the first two hostages released Thursday as French-Israeli dual national Mia Shem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40.

Shem tearfully hugged her mother Keren and her brother as she arrived at an Israeli air base following her release, video distributed by the Israel governments press office showed.

Keren Shem had called on world leaders to help free her baby in a press conference on October 17, days after the Hamas attacks.

Afraid bombings start again

Fighting began on October 7 when Hamas militants broke through Gazas militarised border into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and unleashed an air and ground military campaign that the Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians.

We are afraid that the truce will end, so the problems and the bombings will start again, Gaza City resident Mohamad Naasan told AFPTV on Thursday.

I hope that the truce resumes so peace prevails, and we all go back home.

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.

Only hours after the latest truce extension, Islamist militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for a shooting in Jerusalem Thursday that killed three people and called for an escalation of the resistance.

The two gunmen, who police said were from annexed east Jerusalem, were shot dead at the scene, a bus stop in the western part of the city.

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.
A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas that was due to end at 7 am (local time) on Friday has expired, as fighting resumed in the besieged Gaza Strip. In the hour before the truce was set to end, Israel said it successfully intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza.

Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on X. Following sirens that sounded in communities near Gaza, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a launch from Gaza, IDF said in an earlier post.

Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory.The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gVRpctD79R  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 1, 2023

Seven-day pause

The seven-day pause, which began on November 24 and was extended twice, had allowed for the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. Israeli media said that Hamas did not provide Israel by 7 am a list of hostages to be released today. The Israel Defense Forces said it renewed attacks on Hamas after the Palestinian outfit violated the ceasefire agreement and additionally fired rockets at Israel.

A day earlier, eight more Israeli hostages were released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip as part of a temporary cease-fire deal that has lasted seven days. Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners in the early hours of Friday under the truce deal, which has paused the deadliest fighting in decades between Israel and Palestinians.

International Pressure

In the build-up to the truce deadline, there was international pressure for the truce to be upheld 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. Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israel, and more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million have been uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Israel had promised to resume the fighting  to dismantle Hamas  once the cease-fire ends.

During his third visit to the Middle East since the war began, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel cannot repeat in south Gaza the massive civilian casualties and displacement of residents it inflicted in the north.

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 of the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south, Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv. And the Israeli Government agreed with that approach, he said. This would include concrete measures to avoid damaging critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water facilities and clearly designating safe zones, he said.

(With agency inputs)
Israeli officials received intelligence that Palestinian terrorist group Hamas was readying itself for a massive attack before its October 7 terrorist attack on southern Israeli territories but they dismissed the report, the New York Times said in a report on Thursday.

The document titled Jericho Wall by Israeli authorities outlined, point by point, exactly the kind of devastating invasion which saw over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, killed during attacks on October 7.

2023 Israel-Hamas War: Full Coverage

The document, which the US-based newspaper translated and reviewed, highlighted that the document did not set a date for the attack but pointed out that methodical assault was designed to overburden the security installation around the Gaza Strip, take over Israeli cities and storm key military bases. The Hamas terrorists also planned to storm a division headquarters.

The translated document, which was reviewed by The New York Times, did not set a date for the attack, but described a methodical assault designed to overburden the security installation around the Gaza Strip, take over Israeli cities and storm key military bases. The Hamas terrorists also planned to storm a division headquarters.

However, it was later seen that Hamas followed the blueprint with shocking precision, the newspaper said.

The analyst warned that the plan was designed to start a war but a colonel who reviewed her assessment suggested: lets wait patiently.

The documents details and the October 7 attack blueprint that Hamas followed were almost similar: an initial rocket barrage, efforts to knock out surveillance, and waves of gunmen crossing into Israel by land and air.

The newspaper said that the document was circulated widely among the countrys military and intelligence leaders but it remains unclear if senior politicians reviewed the document.

Israel also dismissed a warning given by an analyst who told authorities that Hamas carried out a training exercise in line with the plan and a military assessment last year also concluded that it was too soon to say that Hamas okayed the attack plan.

The warnings did not point out or suggest that the terrorist group was likely to carry out the plan imminently. The Israeli intelligence community also believed that the Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, was at the moment not pursuing war with Israel. The newspaper likened the intelligence failure to those in the United States before the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw around 240 people taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. Israels retaliatory ground and air offensive in Gaza has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, according to Hamas authorities.
A senior Paraguayan official, Arnaldo Chamorro, was sacked this week for signing a cooperation memorandum with a fictitious country, the United States of Kailasa, presented to him as a South American island. Chamorro, formerly the chief of staff to the agriculture minister, admitted to being deceived by the purported officials.

The agreement signed by the two parties had envisaged the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They (the officials) came and expressed a wish to help Paraguay. They presented several projects, we listened to them and that was that, he said, admitting to having been fooled. He was dismissed on Wednesday. Chamorro said the fake officials also met his minister Carlos Gimenez. Their motive was not known.

In the MoU signed by the official, complete with the ministrys letterhead and official seal, Chamorro salutes the honorable Nithyananda Paramashivam, sovereign of the United States of Kailasa and praises his contributions to Hinduism, humanity and the Republic of Paraguay.

The memorandum further recommends that the government of Paraguay actively explore the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa and supports its admission as a sovereign state to various international organizations, including the United Nations.

Paraguayan media reported that Paramashivam was in reality an Indian citizen wanted for crimes committed in his country. The agriculture ministry in a statement lamented procedural errors committed and said the memorandum cannot be considered official nor confer any obligations on the state of Paraguay.

Nithyanand, a fugitive godman facing charges of rape and kidnapping, came back into the spotlight earlier this year after he represented the self-proclaimed nation, Kailasa, in a United Nations discussion. Having fled India in 2019, he resurfaced a year later, asserting the establishment of his own country where he resides with followers.

His fictional country is spearheaded by members of the Hindu Adi Shaivite minority community and provides a safe haven to all the worlds practicing, aspiring or persecuted Hindus, irrespective of race, gender, sect, caste, or creed, the fictional countrys website says. Multiple reports say that Nithyanandas country is set up on one of the islands near Ecuador.

(With agency inputs)
The Philippine coast guard inaugurated a new monitoring base Friday on a remote island occupied by Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea as Manila ramps up efforts to counter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the strategic waterway.

Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified this year in the contested waters, resulting in minor but alarming collisions near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal occupied by a Filipino marine contingent in October.

The high-seas faceoffs have fueled fears of a larger conflict that could involve the United States, which has repeatedly warned that its obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

China has accused the US of meddling in an Asian dispute and sowing discord in the region.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and other Philippine officials flew to Thitu Island on an air force plane Friday and led a ceremony to open the newly constructed, two-story center that will have radar, ship-tracking and other monitoring equipment  either already installed or added early next year  to monitor Chinas actions in the hotly disputed waters and other problems, including sea accidents.

Its no longer gray zone. Its pure bullying, Ano told reporters after the ceremony, describing the actions of Chinese ships as flouting international law.

Later peering through a mounted telescope on the island, Ano said he spotted at least 18 suspected Chinese militia ships scattered off Thitu, including a Chinese navy vessel.

Villagers say they have gotten used to the sight of Chinese ships lurking at a distance from Thitu, but a few say theyre still haunted at times by the fear of Chinese forces intruding one day into the island.

I cant avoid thinking sometimes that they would suddenly barge into our territory, said Daisy Cojamco, a 51-year-old mother of three whose husband works as a town government employee.

Surrounded by white beaches, the tadpole-shaped Thitu Island is called Pag-asa  Tagalog for hope  by about 250 Filipino villagers. Its one of nine islands, islets and atolls that have been occupied by Philippine forces since the 1970s in the South China Seas Spratlys archipelago.

The Philippines claims the region as its most remote offshore township, under its western island province of Palawan. It has encouraged fishing families to move there with incentives such as free rice, to underscore its control over an area also claimed by China and Vietnam.

The 37-hectare (91-acre) island now boasts internet and cellphone connections, a more stable power and water supply, a newly cemented runway, a wharf, grade school, gymnasium and even an evacuation center in times of typhoons. However, Thitu remains a meagre frontier settlement compared to the Chinese-built Subi island, more than 22 kilometers (14 miles) away.

Subi is one of seven mostly submerged reefs that China transformed starting about a decade ago into a missile-protected cluster of island bases, three of them with military-grade runways, sparking alarm among other claimant states in the South China Sea.

Philippine aircraft and ships, including those visiting Thitu island, have routinely been warned by the Chinese coast guard via radio calls to stay away from what China claims as its territory or face unspecified repercussions. The Filipinos have countered with their own radio messages, ordering the Chinese to leave their territory and stop dangerous and provocative maneuvers.

It was not immediately clear if Chinese radio warnings were sent to the Philippine air force and coast guard planes that brought Ano and other officials to Thitu on Friday along with three Associated Press journalists and several other invited members of the media.

Dwarfed by Chinas military might, the Philippines has decided this year to allow an expansion of US military presence in its local camps under a 2014 defense pact. It also recently launched joint sea and air patrols with the United States and Australia in a new deterrent strategy that puts the two allied powers on a collision course with Beijing.

China has warned that such joint naval patrols must not hurt its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office last year, the Philippines has been deepening its security ties with Washington and US allies like Japan and Australia in a major shift from his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who had nurtured cosy relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin while criticising Western security policies.

Duterte had mostly kept the territorial disputes with Beijing on a backburner during his six-year term.

Early this year, the Marcos administration launched a strategy of exposing Chinas aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including the Chinese coast guards use of a military-grade laser and water cannons and the blocking of Philippine patrol ships and supply boats near disputed shoals, to draw international attention to such aggression, according to Philippine officials.

Speaking in Honolulu, where he met US military leaders about two weeks ago, Marcos said the situation in the South China Sea has become more dire with China showing interest in atolls and shoals that are closer and closer to the Philippine coast.

But he stressed that the Philippines wouldnt yield.

The Philippines will not give a single square inch of our territory to any foreign power, Marcos warned.
OZARK-Years of service to the city and top employees in each department were recognized during the Ozark Employee Incentive Meeting and lunch held at the Ozark Civic Center Thursday.

Members of the Ozark Utilities Board, under the direction of Joe Sexton, grilled about 180 pounds of chicken cooked 10 pounds of rice with five chickens as part of the spread to feed the 200 city employees, retirees, and elected officials in attendance.

We have had another great year in the city of Ozark and that is a reflection of our great employees, said Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship. Every single department does such a great job.

Blankenship commended the going above and beyond spirit of the employees citing a list of accomplishments throughout the year, to include the abatement and demolition of the old Ozark Dale County Library Building, providing EMS service to the south end of Dale County, construction of a farmers market and new EMS facility, renovations to the East Gate gymnasium, and resurfacing of the city-owned Union Central Shopping Center parking lot.

City employees put out 380 veterans flags lining city streets for Independence Day and 480 veterans flags for Veterans Day, the mayor said. In July, the city employees were key to the successful move of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce offices into the historic Holman House on Broad Street and city employees constructed a float for the Ozark Queens to use in parades.

In addition to the setup, take down and participation in the Claybank Jamboree and Crawdad festivals, city employees helped a new Welcome to Ozark, the Home of Fort Novosel mural become reality and worked with Fort Novosel personnel to build a retaining wall at the Holman House.

In October, you started demo and clearing of the land for the new housing near the Aviation Technical College, and you supervised the downtown Halloween Trick or Treat with thousands of people in attendance, which went off without incident, Blankenship said.

Blankenship also thanked the employees for their support of the Wiregrass United Way which increased in the number of donors this year by 23% and increased in dollar amount by 32%. I want to thank you all for what you do outside your role as a city employee, he said.

Department heads joined the mayor in recognizing employees for years of service to the city. Honored for five years of service are Chris Peters and Heather Cohen from the Administrative Department; Jerome Niles from the Police Department; Justin Byrd and Austin Mixon from the Fire Department; Gary Wayne Deaton and Beth Grider from the Street Department; and Joseph Grantham and Harvey Wells from the Sanitation Department.

Honored for 10 years of service to the city are Tonya Eutsey from the Sanitation Department; and Billy Henderson from Vehicle Maintenance.

Honored for 15 years of service to the city are Bret Head from the Inspection Department; Spencer Sullivan from the Fire Department; and Haven Lowe from the Sanitation Department.

Honored for 20 years service to the city are Danny Bishop from the Fire Department; and Ryan Campbell from the Street Department.

Also recognized at the lunch were the employees of the year selected from their respective departments. Heather Cohen is employee of the year from the Administration Department; Oscar Frausto from the Blackwell Field Airport; Kimberly Evans from the EMS Department; Sgt. Kolby Arnett from the Fire Department; Sabrina Jackson from the Police Services Bureau; Colby Reid from the Leisure Services Department; Faye Carr from Municipal Court; and Victoria Hamm from the Public Works Department.

Each employee at the awards lunch was afforded the opportunity to vote on the overall Ozark City Employee of the Year and the winner of that vote will be announced at the Ozark City Council meeting Monday.
A 20-year-old Indian student held captive in the US state of Missouri, who was forced to work at three homes for over seven months, has been rescued by US authorities. The victim, who had no bathroom access, faced vicious beatings with PVC pipes.

On Wednesday, police intervened at a rural St. Charles County home, arresting Venkatesh R Sattaru (35), Sravan Varma Penumetcha (27), and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa (23). St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph McCulloch announced charges against all three, including counts related to human trafficking, kidnapping, and other crimes. They are jailed without bond, and attorneys are not listed yet.

Multiple bone fractures and lacerations

The police learned about the victim when a concerned citizen called 911. He is now safe and receiving treatment at a hospital for multiple bone fractures, lacerations, and injuries covering his entire body. The men, who locked the student in a basement, forced him to sleep on an unfinished floor without access to a bathroom.

The 20-year-old victim was forced to scavenge for scraps in nearby restaurant dumpsters and was beaten with electrical wire, PVC pipe, metal rods, wooden boards, sticks and a water supply hose for a washing machine, according to a local newspaper. Its absolutely inhumane and unconscionable that one human being could treat another human being like this, said McCulloch at a news conference Thursday.

Three defendants accused of abuse

The three defendants are accused of confining and abusing the victim at three different homes owned by Sattaru in Defiance, Dardenne Prairie and OFallon, starting in April 2023, according to St Charles Countys official website. Sattaru was identified by investigators as the ringleader and lives in the OFallon home with his wife and children. The main suspect in the case, Sattaru, 35, is additionally charged with human trafficking for the purpose of slavery and contributing to human trafficking through misuse of documentation. Penumetcha and Penmatsa live in the home where the student was rescued.

Authorities said the student had come to the US from India last year with hopes of studying at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Instead, he was taken to Sattarus homes beginning in April and was forced to begin chores around 4:30 am, work a full day for Sattarus IT company and then complete a list of evening tasks.

He was kicked, stomped and lashed

The student told police he regularly got three hours of sleep on a concrete floor in a locked basement where Sattaru monitored him with a surveillance camera, according to court documents. If the 20-year-old didnt complete the tasks properly, he was severely beaten. Charges say he was forced to strip down naked and was hit all over his body. He was kicked, stomped and lashed, charges say, and his injuries included previous fractures and breaks that did not heal properly.

No one answered the door at Sattarus home on Thursday afternoon. None of the three men had attorneys listed in court documents. They beat him with their fists, they stomped on him, they beat him with electrical wiring, with PVC pipes, McCulloch said. They forced him to sleep in an unfinished basement, they starved him, and limited his access to the public and to restrooms.

McCulloch commended that citizen for making the rescue possible. If you see something, say something. We would much rather check it out and find nothing than have an incident like this thats been going on for nearly a year, McCulloch said. Because the three suspects are wealthy and have political connections in India, McCulloch said they are being held at the St. Charles County Jail without bond. Neighbours in OFallon were shaken by the arrests on Thursday.

Its shocking

Many said theyd had pleasant interactions with the family, waving as they passed on the street or playing with children in the cul-de-sac. Its shocking, for sure, said Chirag Shah, who lives down the street from Sattarus home. And in Defiance, an unincorporated community of less than 100 people known for its wineries, gift shops and position along the Katy Trail, neighbours watched as police flocked to the home beginning Wednesday morning, the paper reported.

Police were told at first by a man in the home that they couldnt come inside, but the 20-year-old eventually came running from the basement. He was trembling uncontrollably, heavily scarred and suffering from bruising and swelling all over his body, charges say.

(With agency inputs)
The United States has welcomed Indias decision to announce a high-level probe into its allegations that an Indian official was involved in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil.

US federal prosecutors this week charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist who is an American and Canadian citizen. An unnamed Indian official also appeared in an indictment filed in a Manhattan court on Wednesday.

These allegations in this investigation, (we) take it very seriously. And were glad to see that the Indians are too announcing their own efforts to investigate this. And weve been clear that we want to see anybody thats 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.

I want to be careful here

I want to be careful here that I dont 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 were 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.

On his way to Israel, US State Secretary Antony Blinken echoed the same sentiment. The government (of India) announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and thats good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results, Blinken told reporters travelling with him in Tel Aviv, on Thursday. So youll understand I cant comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks, he added.

Matter of concern

India on Thursday described as a matter of concern the US charging an Indian national and asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case. New Delhi has constituted a probe team to probe allegations relating to the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist and known to be an American and Canadian citizen.

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, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. We have said and let me reiterate that this is also contrary to government policy, he said at a weekly media briefing.

We take such inputs very seriously

Bagchi said the US side shared some inputs regarding criminal nexus 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. 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, he said. Bagchi said India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the enquiry committee.

(With agency inputs)
The Joe Biden administration has informed Israel that the US will impose visa bans on Israeli extremist settlers engaged in violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, a senior state department official said.

According to a report in Reuters, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet informed them that the US will take its own action against an undisclosed number of individuals.

The visa ban on the selected individuals is expected to come into force in the next few weeks. The Israeli government have offered no response on the development but said that Israel firmly condemned any vigilantism or hooliganism or attempts by individuals to take the law into their own hands.

The West Bank in the Palestinians territories has experienced a surge of violence in recent months amid expanding Jewish settlements and a nearly decade-old impasse in the peacemaking process.

The violence in the Palestinian territories surged further after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 in which Israeli officials say about 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and around 240 were taken hostage.

The US has repeatedly expressed its concern over the rising violence in the West Bank, saying it must stop. US President Joe Biden, in an opinion piece last month threatened to take action against the perpetrators.
The construction industry in Australia has always been a vital sector, contributing significantly to the countrys GDP and economic growth. Similarly, the Australian Apprenticeship System has been vital to the construction industry, delivering a pipeline of skilled, trained individuals ready to commence their careers.

In recent years however, even though the construction industry has continued to boom, apprenticeship completion rates remain a key area of concern. National data reveals that just 54 per cent of trade apprentices who started in 2017 completed by the end of 2021, down from 57 per cent of those who started a year earlier. One in three now drop out in their first year.

Given the critical skills shortage facing the industry, continually investing in attraction and retention solutions that support employers and apprentices is imperative, says Melissa Stanford, Managing Director of Add Staff Group.

We need to look at the issue collectively and consider the role of the employer, the apprentice and the VET industry holistically. As an example, a mentorship program can help connect apprentices with industry specialists who can provide them with guidance and support, but this requires employers to either have the capacity to run a program internally or to actively engage with an external provider such as Add Staff.

Melissa also lists a focus on flexible working arrangements as a way to attract more apprentices to the industry, making the construction industry more attractive to aspiring apprentices seeking work / life balance.

From an industry perspective, normalising the conversation around flexible working arrangements can create a competitive advantage for employers seeking to attract and retain apprentices within their business. It is important to understand that employees across the board are seeking the opportunity to manage a healthier work, life, balance.

Similarly, providing apprentices with access to additional training and development opportunities can also help them to develop the skills they need to be successful in their careers. Showcasing clear career progression pathways for apprentices can also help them to see a future in the construction industry.

However one of the most important factors in improving apprentice retention rates is through the candidate attraction and selection process, ensuring the aspiring apprentice understands the trade and apprenticeship commitments.

As an industry, it is important we are creating an attractive industry for candidates to be part of, and following a recruitment process that sets apprentices up for success, says Melissa.

By implementing the above solutions, improvements to apprentice retention rates can be made, thus creating a more sustainable workforce for the construction industry in future.

About Add Staff Group

The Add Staff Group offers a range of recruitment solutions to Trades and Service-based Industries, particularly within the electrotechnology, construction and trades sectors.

The Add Staff Group incorporates a group of smaller businesses: Add Staff Recruitment, Add Staff Resourcing and Add Staff Apprenticeships. Based out of Brisbane and Melbourne, The Group delivers its services nationally in Australia.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
UPDATE

Dec 1, 2023 4:35 PM CST

A former Olympic swimming champion was sentenced to 36 months probation Friday for his role in the attack on the Capitol. "I have no excuse for why I am in front of you today," Klete Keller told the court in Washington, the AP reports. "I understand my actions were criminal and that I am fully responsible for my conduct." US District Judge Richard Leon also ordered Keller to perform 360 hours of community service. Prosecutors wanted a prison sentence of 10 months, well below guidelines, because he'd cooperated and helped with other cases. Keller asked for probation only, per USA Today. "My behavior set a terrible example for young people who looked up to me," Keller had written to the judge.

Sep 29, 2021 6:50 PM CDT

Klete Keller, the two-time Olympic gold medalist who wore his Team USA jacket to the Capitol riot, has pleaded guilty to taking part in the Jan. 6 attack. The 39-year-old swimmer pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding as part of a plea deal that will see the other six charges against him dropped, the Washington Post reports. Keller has also agreed to cooperate with the government in other cases related to the attack. Keller, whose five Olympic medals include golds from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, will be sentenced at a later date, reports CNBC. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but the recommended sentence, which the judge is not bound by, is 21 to 27 months.
London, Stockholm, and Singapore have reduced traffic congestion by charging drivers a fee to enter their central business districts. New York City officials like the sound of that, especially given the estimated $1 billion per year the toll would raise, NY1 reports. A draft plan sent to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board suggests charging passenger vehicles, as well as passenger-type vehicles bearing commercial license plates, $15 per day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Trucks might pay $24 or $36, and low-income drivers would get a discount. The money raised would go toward improving New York's subway and bus networks.

"It's a huge step forward for the region," said Carl Weisbrod, who chairs the advisory panel that wrote the report. "We've seen it work elsewhere around the world, and now it is becoming concrete." The idea has come up in New York City before and has been blocked by opposition for years, per the New York Times. One selling point is that the fees should increase the use of public transit and reduce pollution. But an Urban Institute researcher said it's not clear how traffic patterns would change. The fees "may result in more traffic and more pollution in parts of the Bronx because of people choosing not to go through the central business district," Yonah Freemark said.

An MTA watchdog group welcomed the possibility of new funding for signals, train cars, and electric buses. To take effect, the plan would have to be approved by the MTA board. Next would come a 60-day period for review and public comment, per NY1, and potential implementation in the spring. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul supports congestion tolls, though not the originally suggested fee of $23 per car. But New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has sued to block the program, per the Times. (Read more New York City stories.)
As Australians embrace new ways of working and technology such as AI that enables them to do so, new research by Slack unveils the five personas of Australian employees, characterised by different ways of working, approaches and quirks that are recognisable across every workplace.

The Workplace Personas Research, based on a global survey that included over 1,000 Aussie desk workers, showed that the nation can be divided into five distinct workplace personalities: The Detective, The Networker, The Road Warrior, The Problem Solver and The Expressionist.

The top three personas found in Australian workplaces are The Detective (31%), The Networker (25%) and The Road Warrior (21%). Naturally curious and outcome-driven, Detectives are best at digging up information (41%) compared to 20% of all workers. Typically, The Networker is described as best at connecting everyone with the information required (69%) compared to 2 out of 5 of all workers. Finally, The Road Warrior describes themselves as adaptable (81%), and says flexibility is the most important thing to them (76%), 35% higher than any other persona.

Across the board, it was clear from the research that Aussie employees will have their own, unique ways of working, but ultimately share the same goals: effortlessly engaging with colleagues, sharing knowledge and accelerating their day-to-day tasks.

Meet the Personas Australia % Global % The Detective This group drives to find solutions and answers, sharing information with others. Being naturally curious is within their wheelhouse and they are always in the know. 31% 30% The Networker This persona is the social butterfly of any workplace. The Networker is known for being highly collaborative, engaged and extroverted, always making sure that teams have the information they might need. 25% 22% The Road Warrior Flexible and yet always approachable, The Road Warrior is always working from different locations and is skilled at developing and fostering connections remotely and virtually. This persona is eager to use modern workplace tools. 21% 22% The Problem Solver The Problem Solver has a hack for everything and is obsessed with saving time. Disliking repetitive tasks in the workplace, automation is their best friend. This persona is the most likely to be excited about the adoption of AI at work. 13% 16% The Expressionist Living for less formal communication methods and a strong preference for visuals, The Expressionist has never not used an emoji, GIF or meme. Fun and witty messages are their bread and butter  allowing them to express who they are and make sure their message is received as intended. 10% 10%

Derek Laney, APAC Technology Evangelist, Slack said, Slacks Workplace Personas Research shows whether you have five or 5,000 employees within your business, every workplace has an entire ecosystem of personalities, working styles and skill sets. No two employees are alike. Diverse teams are productive teams and you need a platform that enables a range of different styles of work to be successful.

Understanding each others communications styles allows for a more inclusive and productive team. Having a range of workplace personas not only makes our work days more interesting, but allows for different strengths to come together.

The research found that the way desk workers view technology varies greatly across the personas, with over a quarter (29%) of Aussie employees surveyed already using AI in the workplace, 3% higher than the global average. Problem Solvers and Expressionists are using AI the most within the workplace.

Additionally, around 3 in 5 (58%) workers said that they expect to use AI in the future and nearly a third (31%) think their company will use AI at some point in the future.

While there is a high level of excitement and anticipation around AI, workers feel that employers are not doing enough to mitigate their concerns (73%), and 4 out of 5 workers globally worry to some extent about AI.

Most desk workers, particularly those who are younger across all personas, have positive attitudes towards the adoption of technology in the workplace, seeking out training from multiple sources. However, just under half of those over the age of 55 revealed that they do not plan to use AI in the future.

Derek adds: Our data shows that AI is increasingly being adopted in the workplace, however teams are worried about data security and AIs accuracy. Closing this adoption gap and addressing worries is imperative so that employees are less likely to feel overwhelmed by technology and more likely to feel productive and energised in the workplace.

Todays leaders must embrace the AI scepticism that comes from all perspectives and refocus on ways to engage all personas. The great news is that while workers concerns are valid, there are many things that employers can do to mitigate these fears, with education and actually using AI at the top of this list.

The modern workplace has significantly and irrevocably changed in Australia and across the world, but the workday itself has found a new groove, powered by the workplace personas that show up every day.

To read more and gain valuable insights on Australias workplace personas, go to slack.com/intl/en-au/blog/productivity/2023-office-personas.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Oklahoma executed a man Thursday for a double killing in 2001, despite his claims of self-defense and a board's clemency recommendation that the governor waited until the last minute to reject. Phillip Dean Hancock, 59, received a three-drug lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for the killings of Robert Jett Jr. and James Lynch and was declared dead at 11:29 a.m. His execution went forward once Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt declined to commute his sentence, the AP reports. "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," the Rev. Don Heath, chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, said in a statement.

Stitt said in a statement issued hours after the execution that he made his decision after a thorough review and noted that Hancock also had claimed self-defense in a previous killing. The statement did not directly address why Stitt's decision was delayed until after the execution's scheduled start time of 10am. The execution did not begin until after 11am. "These are always painfully difficult decisions to make, and I don't take this responsibility lightly," Stitt's statement said. 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.

Hancock claimed that he shot and killed Jett, 37, and Lynch, 58, in self-defense after they attacked him in Jett's home in south Oklahoma City. "I have no doubt they would have killed me. They forced me to fight for my life," Hancock told members of the Pardon and Parole Board via a video feed from the penitentiary. Jett's brother, Ryan Jett, said after the execution that both his and Lynch's family had waited more than 20 years for Hancock's execution, per the AP. "We've waited a long time for justice to be served," Jett said.

(Read more Oklahoma execution stories.)
The nation's largest publisher and several bestselling authors, including novelists John Green and Jodi Picoult, are part of a lawsuit filed Thursday challenging Iowa's new law that forbids public school libraries and classrooms to stock practically any book that depicts sexual activity. The lawsuit is the second in the past week to challenge the law, which bans books with sexual content all the way through 12th grade. An exception is allowed for religious texts, the AP reports. Penguin Random House and four authors joined several teachers, a student, and the Iowa State Education Associationa union representing 50,000 current and former public school educatorsin filing the federal lawsuit.

The law went into effect this fall after the Republican-led Legislature passed it earlier this year and Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it in May. In addition to the book ban, the law forbids educators to raise gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through grade six, and school administrators are required to notify parents if students ask to change their pronouns or names. It is the portion banning books that the latest lawsuit challenges, said Dan Novack, an attorney for and vice president of Penguin Random House. That provision prohibits books that feature any description or depiction of sexregardless of context or whether the work is fiction or nonfictionin schools and classroom libraries from kindergarten through grade 12.

The lawsuit, which does not ask for monetary damages, seeks a court order declaring the law unconstitutional, Novack said. Schools already have in place systems that allow parents to object to their children reading books the parents find objectionable, said Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa teachers union. "We take issue with a law that also censors materials for everyone else's child," he said. Asked for comment on the lawsuit, Reynold's office referred to her statement issued earlier this week in response to a separate lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal on behalf of several families challenging the entirety of the new law. In that statement, Reynolds defended the law as "protecting children from pornography and sexually explicit content."

story continues below

Plaintiffs in the latest lawsuit took issue with that characterization, noting that among books that have been banned in Iowa schools are such critically acclaimed and classic works as The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Native Son by Richard Wright, and 1984 by George Orwell. Novelist Laurie Halse Anderson, a plaintiff in the lawsuit whose book Speak about a young teenage rape victim has been banned by several Iowa schools, was more blunt. "I think that anybody who finds a book about a 13-year-old rape survivor as being pornographic needs some professional help," Anderson said.

(Read more book ban stories.)
The temporary Israel-Hamas truce expired at 7am local time Friday, and soon afterward the Israeli military said it had resumed combat. The truce started out as a four-day ceasefire but was ultimately extended multiple times , and on Thursday, the seventh day of the truce, Hamas released eight hostages, the Times of Israel reports. Those included two teens, meaning all of the child hostages have now been returned other than the 4-year-old and 10-month-old Bibas brothers, who Hamas claims were killed along with their mother in an Israeli airstrike. In total, 105 civilians were released by Hamas during the truce: 81 Israelis, 23 Thai nationals, and one Filipino. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners, the AP reports.

The Israeli military also accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire, saying it had fired rockets toward Israel hours before it was due to expire, the New York Times reports. Reuters journalists in Khan Younis in southern Gaza saw residents flee further west after intensive bombardment. Health authorities in Gaza said 35 people were killed in airstrikes in the hours after the truce expired. The AP reports that the Israeli military released a map of Gaza on Friday that showed the territory divided into hundreds of numbered parcels. The military said residents should learn their number in case of an evacuation order, though it's not clear how they would be informed, or where they would go. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
Two governors clashed Thursday night in what Fox News billed as "The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom debated for 90 minutes in an empty studio in Georgia. Both governors hurled insults at each other in the debate, which was moderated by Fox's Sean Hannity. Some takeaways:

DeSantis was "far feistier' than in GOP debates. The Florida governor put in a "far feistier" performance here than he did in multiple debates with his rivals for the GOP nomination, Jonathan Weisman writes at the New York Times. With help from Hannity, he kept Newsom "on his heels for most of the night," hitting the Democrat "on subject after subject: crime, immigration, taxes, education," Weisman writes.
The Prince and Princess of Wales brushed off reporters' questions about alleged racist remarks when they arrived at a glitzy London event Thursday night. A day earlier, Piers Morgan told viewers that in the Dutch translation of journalist Omid Scobie's book Endgame, King Charles III and Princess Kate were named as the two royals who allegedly had questions and concerns about what color Meghan Markle's child with Prince Harry would be. People reports that as they arrived at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall, William and Kate walked past reporters shouting questions including, "Your Royal Highness, have you got a comment about Omid Scobie's book?" and "Did you watch the Piers Morgan show last night, Your Royal Highnesses?"

It's not entirely clear how the names ended up in the book. Thousands of copies were pulled from the shelves in the Netherlands and publishers say the "rectified" edition will be out next week. The publisher calls the inclusion of the names an "error" and Scobie insists that he "never submitted a book that had those names in it." Dutch translator Saskia Peeters, however, says she just translated what was in front of her and didn't add any names. "The names of the royals were there in black and white," she tells the Daily Mail. "I did not add them. I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English into Dutch." (Read more British royals stories.)
George Santos is out. The House on Friday voted 311-114 to expel him from the chamber, making him only the sixth member of Congress in history to earn that particular distinction. The New York Republican had survived two previous expulsion votes, but his fate was sealed when the House Ethics Committee released a scathing report about him earlier this month. Among other things, the bipartisan panel accused him of lying to donors, filing false campaign statements, and using campaign money on everything from Botox to an OnlyFans subscription, per NBC News .

Santos, who separately faces about two dozen federal charges, has admitted to lying frequently about his past but has denied any criminal wrongdoing. As the AP notes, the previous five House members were expelled over treason (disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War) or because they had been convicted of federal crimes. Because neither is true of Santos for the moment, some House Republicans opposed the expulsion, per the Hill. "I just think it's a terrible precedent to set," said Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida. Santos himself had made the same argument on Thursday, to no avail. "I'm 35 years old," he added. "It doesn't mean goodbye forever." (Read more George Santos stories.)
UPDATE

Dec 2, 2023 7:00 AM CST

An appeals court on Friday rejected former President Donald Trump's request to dismiss a set of civil lawsuits against him due to what he claimed was presidential immunity on things he did and said after the 2020 election. Later that day, Judge Tanya Chutkan similarly rebuffed Trump's claims of immunity in the federal election subversion case in DC against him, reports the AP. "Former Presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability," Chutkan wrote in her decision, noting that being the commander in chief "does not confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass." She added of Trump's former presidential status that it "did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens," per CNN. The case will likely head to an appeals court next, ahead of the criminal trial set for March.

Dec 1, 2023 1:25 PM CST

It's all systems go for a series of civil complaints pending against former President Trump regarding the Capitol riot. In 2021, a pair of Capitol Police officers and a dozen or so Democratic lawmakers sued Trump, alleging he may have instigated the violence that roiled the Capitol on Jan. 6 of that year. Trump and his team argued that remarks and tweets he made that day at a rally and onlineincluding false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and urging his supporters to head to the Capitol to "fight like hell" in protestfell "dead-center" within the realm of what was permissible for him to do, per the Washington Post. That realm included simultaneously trying to ensure the election laws were upheld according to the Constitution while still being able to speak "freely and frankly on matters of public concern" to the American people.
The chairman of Florida's Republican Party is the subject of a rape investigation, though no charges have been filed and his lawyer said he will be exonerated. Still, the investigation into Christian Ziegler comes at a critical time for the Republican Party of Florida, per the AP : Two Florida Republicansformer President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantisare running for president and the state GOP is working to reelect US Sen. Rick Scott. Florida was also key to Republicans winning a slim majority in the US House in 2022, and the party will be defending the newly won seats.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability was first to publicly report about the investigation into Ziegler, who is married to Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler. The AP asked the Sarasota Police Department for documents related to an investigation into Christian Ziegler. It provided a heavily redacted incident report. The report has several mentions of rape and sexual assault, but any mention of Ziegler is redacted. The police report was filed Oct. 4 about an incident two days earlier in a private home.

DeSantis says Ziegler should resign. "He's innocent till proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny," DeSantis told reporters Thursday night after appearing with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Fox News. "The mission is more important." The Zieglers are a Republican power couple in Sarasota. Bridget Ziegler is on the county school board and has received national attention for her work with Moms for Liberty, a group that promotes a conservative agenda for public schools on issues like civil and LGBTQ rights and teaching about the experience of marginalized communities.

story continues below

"Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department," his lawyer, 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." DeSantis said the Zieglers have been friends, but the allegations are too serious for Christian Ziegler to stay in the position. (Read more Florida stories.)
An incarcerated former gang member and FBI informant was charged Friday with attempted murder in the stabbing last week of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin at a federal prison in Arizona. John Turscak stabbed Chauvin 22 times at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson and said he would have killed Chauvin had correctional officers not responded so quickly, federal prosecutors said. Turscak told investigators he thought about attacking Chauvin for about a month because the former officer, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd, is a high-profile inmate, prosecutors said. Turscak later denied wanting to kill Chauvin, prosecutors said, per the AP .

Turscak, who is serving a 30-year sentence for crimes committed while a member of the Mexican Mafia gang, is accused of attacking Chauvin with an improvised knife in the prison's law library around 12:30pm on Nov. 24. The Bureau of Prisons said employees stopped the attack and performed "life-saving measures." Chauvin was taken to a hospital for treatment. Turscak told FBI agents interviewing him after the assault that he attacked Chauvin on Black Friday as a symbolic connection to the Black Lives Matter movement, which garnered widespread support in the wake of Floyd's death, and the "Black Hand" symbol associated with the Mexican Mafia, prosecutors said.

Turscak, 52, is also charged with assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, per the AP. The attempted murder and assault with intent to commit murder charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. A lawyer for Turscak was not listed in court records; he has represented himself from prison in numerous court matters. After the stabbing, Turscak was moved to an adjacent federal penitentiary in Tucson, where he remained in custody on Friday, inmate records show. (Chauvin's family had complained about not being informed of developments by prison officials.

(Read more Derek Chauvin stories.)
The U.S. Army appointed two new Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army during an investiture ceremony Oct. 10, 2023, at the annual AUSA conference, as Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth swore in (left to right) Ronald Ron Corsetti and Kristen McBride. CASAs promote good relations between the Army and the public, advise the secretary about regional issues, support the total Army workforce, and assist with recruiting and helping our Soldiers as they transition out of the military. (Photo by Sgt. David Resnick)
Heres a recap of recent funding developments from Australia, India, the US and beyond.

Rich Data Co Secures $28m in Series B Round

AI decisioning platform Rich Data Co (RDC) has successfully raised $28 million in its Series B round, led by Westpac and cloud banking leader nCino. The funds will accelerate RDCs expansion into North America and further establish its position as a global AI decisioning platform in the banking sector.

Happenco Closes $12m Fund to Support Early-Stage Startups

Australian venture investment firm Happenco concludes its first fund, raising $12 million to empower early-stage startups. Led by industry experts Ben Cheyne, Gideon Gut-Silverman, and Omar Varts, the fund aims to support bold companies with backing from reputable family offices and professional investors.

EnvisionVR Raises $2.6 mfor Global Expansion

Pioneering proptech startup EnvisionVR secures $2.585 million in funding for its innovative mobile platform revolutionizing virtual reality experiences in the off-the-plan real estate industry. The funding will propel EnvisionVRs global expansion after successfully showcasing and selling over $500 million worth of property.

WLTH Secures $14m Investment for Impactful Lending

Digital lender WLTH secures a $14 million investment through an alliance with Rajomon Investment Firm and Kina Bank. This strategic move facilitates WLTHs acquisition of Mortgage Mart, expanding its loan book beyond $1.5 billion and solidifying its position as a top impact lender in Australia.

Soho.com.au Hits $20m Valuation with Feedback Ventures Investment

AI-powered real estate discovery app Soho.com.au achieves a $20 million valuation following an equity investment by Singapore venture capital fund Feedback Ventures. Soho.com.au, founded by Airtasker co-founder Jonathan Lui, employs artificial intelligence to personalize real estate searches, earning its nickname as the Tinder for Real Estate.

Adyen Launches Capital for Australia Platform Customers

Global financial technology platform Adyen introduces Capital, a product providing timely access to funding for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Australia. This initiative allows Adyen for Platforms users to offer business financing to their SMB clients based on historic payments data, simplifying access to funds with a fixed fee structure.

Birchal Seeks $3m in Its Own Crowdfunding Campaign

Crowdfunding platform Birchal, known for facilitating capital raises for various ventures, including brewers and medicinal cannabis startups, aims to raise $3 million in its second campaign on its own platform. Since its launch in 2018, Birchal has facilitated over 100 capital raises, totaling $190 million.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has praised Bahraini womens wide-ranging achievements and landmark contributions to the kingdoms comprehensive development process, along with men.

In a statement marking the Bahraini Womens Day, observed annually on December 1, HM King Hamad commended the role played by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of HM the King and SCW President, in advancing women in the kingdom.

HM the King asserted that the designation of a national day for Bahraini women is in line with HMs keenness to make the occasion a national gesture to salute women and express appreciation and gratitude to them for their continuous giving and contributions to the nation-building process throughout Bahrains history, establishing themselves as well deserved partners in enhancing the development process, as well as an essential source of the stability and security of the Bahraini society, whose members are supportive of womens role and proud of their achievements across various fields.

In this regard, HM the King said: The results achieved by Bahraini women, alongside men, in driving the progress of modern Bahrain, and their widely acknowledged excellent performance have proven that celebrating their giving is a deserved national recognition to highlight their notable achievements, and to demonstrate the outcome of their contributions.

On this occasion, we praise the vital and honourable role performed by the SCW, under the distinguished leadership of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, along with the contributions of the SCW members and the employees of its Secretariat General.

These worthy efforts have had the deepest impact on the progress of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its development and enhancing its leading position on the international arena, in light of the rights that Bahraini women enjoy, His Majesty said.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Zainab Zaman

The Bahrain Trust Foundation, along with artists Safeya Ali Kanoo and Hala bint Mohammed Jaber Al-Ansari, hosted an art exhibition titled "Portraits of Bahraini Women" to mark Bahrain Women's Day.

The exhibition, held at the Safeya Ali Kanoo Hub for Arts in Manama, featured acrylic paintings, wooden carvings, and mixed-media portraits of Bahraini women celebrating their heritage and culture.

The common theme was showcasing multiple Bahraini women in a painting, with several women standing together in traditional Bahraini clothing. Safeya's message for Bahraini Women's Day is for females to unite and lift each other when they see their potential. Kanoo started drawing at 26 and discovered her talent when a friend pointed it out.

I used to draw on pieces of scrap paper. I would have my drawings laying on the ground. I didnt know I was an artist until one of my closest friends pointed out how special my drawings were, Kanoo said.

She explained how art is very similar to therapy for the mind and soul, while many artists got the chance to express why they created their artwork to several attendees. As the artists showcased their work, Kanoo explained how their pieces reflected their state of mind when creating their masterpieces, as she saw how each artist felt while admiring the drawings during the event.

If I see a painting that resonates with me, it also inspires me through my mind, and my mood instantly changes. If you are happy, you will enjoy looking at a drawing, and the same goes for when you are sad, she added. "If you are upset and you start drawing, you can sense your pain fading away, Kanoo said.

Isa Mubarak, one of the artists at the exhibition, said his drawing is inspired by how Bahraini women were represented in the past and how they are perceived now. The painting was a depiction of Bahraini women of colour. Mubaraks painting featured purple, blue, and pink colours, which represented beauty and strength.

My painting shows the generational gap between how Bahraini women used to look in the past and how the newer generation is shown to the world, Mubarak said. Mubarak hopes his drawing inspires women to follow their dreams and achieve whatever they desire. Mrs. Kanoo hopes that the artists find the passion for art through their drawings.

"The artist shouldnt be focused on whether their paintings will sell; the most important thing is to find peace through art and showcase any emotion they want to the world, Kanoo said. For anyone hoping to get a closer look at the artwork, be prepared for a traditional and modern portrayal of Bahraini women through the lenses of Bahraini artists.
Jake Norris (L) and Sean Down in Hanoi, where they will set off for a three-month trek to HCMC, November 2023. Photo by Vietnam Charity Walk

Two school teachers from Australia and Ireland will go on a trek to support the Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation, which works to end human trafficking, and children's charity Thanh Loc.

Australian man Jake Norris, 36, and Irishman Sean Down, 44, will leave Hanoi Saturday and walk the 2000 km to HCMC over three months by a mountainous route that has never before been attempted.

They hope to raise over US$200,0000, which will be divided equally between the two charities.

The Australian embassy is sponsoring them as part of a commitment to fight trafficking and to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, it said in a statement.

Norris, who has lived in Hanoi for seven years and visits an orphanage every year, thought of a charity walk during the Covid-19 lockdown three years ago.

"I wanted to give back to the country and its people who have given me so much."

When his original partner pulled out, Down, who has lived in Hanoi for five years, stepped in to revive the walk.

They have temporarily quit their jobs as English teachers in the city.

The pair will set off from the Opera House.

They plan to stop at every orphanage on their way and engage with the local communities to raise awareness of how many children need help in Vietnam.

They will also stop at animal shelters.

Explaining their choice of route, Down said: "One reason we chose such a route away from the flat, major highways is to give ourselves more chances to be among local communities. Our trail adds an extra challenge because it's longer, sparsely populated, and mountainous in parts."

They will update their journey on their Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts and the "Vietnam Charity Walk: A Walk For Change" Facebook page.

They hope to raise money via gogetfunding.com/Vietnam-charity-walk.

Founded in Hanoi in 2004, Vietnam Blue Dragon Children has rescued thousands of children and women from sex trafficking, forced labor and slavery and provided them with access to shelter, education and employment.

Based in the Mekong Delta, Thanh Loc Project provides education to underprivileged children by granting them scholarships and builds classrooms, libraries and homes for poor people.
Travelers arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, 2021. Photo by Reuters

Searches for Malaysia have surged on Chinese travel platforms after that country announced that Chinese visitors would be allowed 30-day visa-free entry from Dec. 1.

After Sunday's announcement, the number of searches on Qunar nearly doubled from the previous week, Global Times reported.

On the app, there are direct flights available from various Chinese cities to Kuala Lumpur.

The fare for a Beijing-Kuala Lumpur flight in December is around 750 yuan (US$104).

The search index for Malaysia on Tongcheng increased by 173% from the previous week, for hotels there by 112%, and for flights to Kuala Lumpur by 98%.

Searches on Mafengwo were up 166%, news site Yicai Global reported.

Before the pandemic China was Malaysias third largest source of tourists, with around 3.1 million of them visiting in 2019, according to data from Tourism Malaysia.

The number of Chinese visitors to Malaysia had jumped 10-fold to 403,121 in the 12 months until the end of May this year.

Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines have been competing to attract tourists from China with changes to entry policies.
A dragon dance performer greets a traveler from China at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Jan. 24, 2023. Photo by Reuters

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs has announced the temporary suspension of e-visa applications in China until further notice after three months of trialing.

It did not mention the reason for the suspension of e-visa operations in China, the Philippines News Agency reported.

Visa applicants in China are advised to contact the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate by visiting the government website for lodging their applications and for further inquiries, the department said.

Starting Aug. 24, Chinese nationals visiting the Philippines may either visit the website visa.e.gov.ph or download an app to apply for an electronic visa.

In September Philippines authorities said a 38-year-old woman and her three-year-old daughter from China became the "first foreigners" to enter the Philippines under the country's very first electronic visa (e-visa) system.

China was the country's second largest tourism market in 2019, with 1.7 million Chinese nationals visiting in that year alone.

So far, the Philippines has recorded just over 130,000 Chinese visitors.
Thailand welcomed 24,081,613 foreign tourists between Jan. 1 and Nov. 25, including 100,059 arrivals recorded in November alone, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced.

Malaysians contributed the most to the total number of foreign arrivals with 3.66 million, followed by Chinese with 3.03 million, South Koreans with 1.43 million, Indians with 1.4 million and Russians with 1.24 million.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool credited the successful revival of the tourism industry to the governments economic and tourism stimulus campaigns, expressing appreciation to all Thais for being such great hosts to overseas guests.

Thapanee said TAT would continue to promote Thailands image and ensure the safety of tourists to further attract foreign visitors.

The number of foreign arrivals to Vietnam so far this year has topped 11.2 million, far higher than the full-year target of eight million, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Vietnam has now set its sights on a figure of 13 million for the year.




The All Progressives Congress Youth Business Community in Kano (APC-YBCK) has dragged the governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, to the United Nations over alleged harassment of justices.





The group took a protest to the UN House in Abuja on Friday, where it called on the international community to sanction the Kano State government and its supporters for threatening the judiciary.





The leader of the group, Umar Ladiyo, while submitting a petition against Yusuf, said that since the assumption of office by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State, the business community has been in danger.





Ladiyo, while addressing journalists, said they were there to register their dissatisfaction with the demolition of properties worth billions of naira without adhering to due process by the NNPP-led Kano State government.





He said: We are also here to appeal to the UN not to allow the NNPP to drag it into the mud. We know that Abba Yusuf and the NNPP sympathisers have been running from pillar to post to pressure the international community to intervene in the democratic process in Nigeria.





We are here to say let the rule of law prevail. Allow the court to exercise their rights. We are here to tell the UN that they should not be carried away by the activities of the NNPP government in Kano. Nigeria is a sovereign nation with laws and regulations. It has a Constitution and electoral laws.





So every country is bound by its laws and as a defender and promoter of democracy in the world, we are thinking the UN should allow the Nigerian judiciary to do its work accordingly.





So we are appealing to the UN not to be carried away. They should not listen to those unwarranted remarks from other political parties. We are asking the United Nations to put an eye on this process because other political parties are preaching violence.





The group alleged that the NNPP-led government in Kano was recruiting thugs to cause chaos if they didnt get what they wanted.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says gunmen attacked the residence of its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, in the early hours of Friday.

The electoral umpire said the incident occurred around 3.30 am.

The armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived, INEC said in a statement posted on X.

While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the ensuing gun battle.

INEC also called for a thorough investigation of the incident.

A team of combined security personnel have been deployed to protect the residence, the statement reads.

This incident occurred a day after a mob besieged our state office. We call for a thorough investigation and enhanced security protection for our personnel and assets in Kogi State.

There has been palpable tension in Kogi since the November 11 governorship election.

Days after the election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded words over an alleged plot to burn down the INEC office in the state.

The SDP governorship campaign council had said security should be beefed up around the office in Lokoja because there was a plan to incinerate it in order to damage all evidence of rigging.

But the APC governorship campaign council said the SDP was engaging in propaganda.

On Wednesday, a mob invaded the INEC office in Lokoja.

INEC said the mob barricaded all entrances to the office in the morning and prevented attorneys representing political parties from inspecting documents/materials used in the election.

Meanwhile, the SDP and Murtala Yakubu-Ajaka, its governorship candidate, are challenging the victory of Usman Ododo, APC candidate, in the polls.
Fresh fighting has broken out across Gaza as Israel Defence Forces (IDF) resume combat operations against Hamas.

This essentially signals the end of the truce with the Palestinian militant group.

The truce, which lasted for a week, paved the way for hostages from both sides to be freed, and allowed for more humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave.

Israel had also hinted that the truce, which was originally supposed to last for four days, could be extended provided Hamas releases an additional 10 hostages for an extra day of pause in fighting.

In fulfillment of the clause, two days were added to the ceasefire, leading to the release of 80 Israelis  primarily women and children  and another 24 foreign nationals from Gaza.

Another Israeli dual citizen was freed outside of the deal.

As of Thursday, 240 Palestinians had been freed from Israeli prisons  also, mainly women and minors.

However, on Friday morning, the IDF declared it was once again out to destroy the terrorists.

IDF said Hamas violated the operational pause and fired toward Israeli territory, adding that the IDF aerial defense array successfully intercepted a launch from Gaza following the truce violation.

Hamas blamed the United States and the international community for the resumption of fighting in Gaza.




The All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Kogi State has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) Muritala Yakubu Ajaka in the November 11 governorship poll in the State.





Addressing a press conference in Lokoja, on Friday, spokesperson for Kogi State APC campaign council, Kingsley Fanwo alleged that the SDP governorship candidate masterminded the attack on the residence of the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner Gabriel Longpet, after engaging security agents in a fierce gun battle and eventually burning down some vehicles in the residence.





Fanwo alleged that the same arsonists also attempted to burn down the Kogi State Government House which was foiled by security agents.





His words, The bold-face criminality being perpetrated by the defeated SDP candidate and his violent gang of criminals is as a result of the lack of consequences over the gruesome killing of Khadijat at Kotonkarfe by agents of the SDP. They shamelessly came out to say Khadijat was bearing an arm.





Till date, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and his gun-welding killers have been moving freely on the streets. If they had been arrested for killing an innocent woman, they wouldnt have had the guts to attempt to attack the Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner.





The reason they are desperate to destroy some documents in INEC is to cover the heist they committed in Kogi East where they killed APC supporters and drove them out of collation centres to forge the results that were eventually trumped by the massive votes of Kogites for the Governor-Elect.





They are attempting to corrupt certain documents in INEC before handing them to their legal team. We have no problem allowing legal terms to access documents and materials. It is the norm. But we wont allow any desperate bloodthirsty politician to tamper with the true verdict of the Kogi people.





After their violent protests a few days ago, our people have also moved to Lokoja to ensure their mandate is protected. Resorting to assassination and arson will never help the Social Democratic Party and their confused candidate. Now is the time to arrest Muritala Yakubu Ajaka before he throws Kogi into a state of anomie.





While noting that democracy is the expression of the wishes of the people, Fanwo called on the Police, DSS and other security agencies to immediately arrest Muritala Yakubu Ajaka to advertise anarchy in Kogi State.





The APC campaign spokesperson alleged further that Ajaka and the SDP as well as their internal and external collaborators have imported dare-devil thugs into the state to kill, maim and destroy critical infrastructure to create a total breakdown of law and order in Kogi State.





We call on security agencies to ensure those imported to kill our citizens are immediately fished out and prosecuted. We also call on Governor Yahaya Bello to ensure our people are protected from assassins and arsonists brought into our dear state to ensure the flow of blood. How desperate can Muritala Yakubu Ajaka be? The violence witnessed in Kogi East because of the desperation of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka was not witnessed in the West and Central.





He turned himself into an outlaw, attacking the opposition, killing opposition members and boasting to go free because of his mouthed connection with certain powerful people. Kogi must not be allowed to become a lawless place and the only solution now is to use Muritala Yakubu Ajaka as a Scapegoat, he stated.





Meanwhile, the Director of New Media Muri/Sam Campaign Council for SDP, Isaiah Davies Ijele condemned the assassination attempt on the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner.





Ijele said, Election should not be treated as a war, nor should it be a matter of life and death. If the election was won fairly and transparently, then the legal process should be allowed to run its course without interference.





However, it is unacceptable for thugs, in their high numbers yesterday, to be subjected to fake protests, insisting that on no account should forensic teams be allowed to do their jobs.





We are grateful for the timely intervention of the Army, as the man and his family could have been wiped out overnight. The attackers also burnt his vehicles and took other valuables. This kind of behavior is not acceptable in a democratic society.





Those individuals who have been involved in these attacks on INEC REC must be held accountable for their actions.





We call for all those who have been involved in the protests, inciting violence and making provocative statements, to be apprehended and brought to justice.




The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has dismissed 11 officials for extortion and bribery.

Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the development, said a disciplinary panel had convened on Thursday, November 30, to investigate allegations against 12 LASTMA officers.

He stated that while one of the officials was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing, 11 were found guilty.

While 11 officers were found guilty of the corruption charges against them, only one officer was exonerated, Taofiq explained.

He added that the Acting General Manager issued a stern warning to all LASTMA personnel that harsher penalties would be imposed on corrupt officers.

This, he said, aims to cleanse the agency of the few bad elements tarnishing its image.

We hereby call on residents especially motoring public to support the Agency in the on-going restructuring by promptly reporting any errant officers via any of the Agencys complaints hotlines (08100565860, 08129928503, 08129928515 & 08129928597) with proof of evidence, he said.




The Nigerian Community in Rome, Italy, has urged the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to resolve the e-passport challenges encountered by Nigerians in the diaspora.





President of the community, Prince Chima Ibezim, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.





The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government on Nov. 8 unveiled additional enhanced e-Passport facilities at selected Nigerian Embassies in Europe.





The facilities were inaugurated at the Nigerian Embassy in Rome by the minister of interior, who emphasized the dedication of President Bola Tinubus government to citizens diplomacy and the enhancement of services to the diaspora community.





Ibezim, who is also the Financial Director of the APC Committee of Diaspora Chairmen (CDC), urged the minister to particularly come to the aid of Nigerians in Italy affected with the issue of e-Passport.





He said that the issue had posed a lot of challenges and difficulties to Nigerians in the country.





He said: The National Identification Number (NIN) has posed difficulties to Nigerians.





This is especially those with variations or rearrangement of their names in their old passports and other valid personal identification documents.





Nigerians in the country are also lamenting on the increase in the passport price of minors who are not income earning and consequently causing more financial hardships for their parents and families.





Ibezim pleaded that the old e-Passport should be allowed to run in tandem with the enhanced one for some years.





He said this would gradually reduce any difficulties and challenges in obtaining the new ones.
Popular Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon has asserted that the world is specifically designed to harm men.

Okanlawon stated this in a controversial post on his official X handle on Thursday evening.

Expressing his views on how the world was structured, the actor wrote: The world is designed to kill men. Take a minute to think this through.

Reacting to the post, a user @FasalSeth said,  It is True the society has done more harm than good to the boy child. Were taught to man up even if it hurts dont cry because youre a man.

Dont express emotions why ? Because youre a man. Men go through a lot due to things society has cultured us to. Speak up men when it hurts.
If there is one clear takeaway from the recent NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, it is that the alliances support and commitment to Ukraine is enduring, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Some are questioning whether the United States and other NATO Allies should continue to stand with Ukraine as we enter the second winter of Putins brutality. But the answer here today at NATO is clear and its unwavering: We must, and we will continue to support Ukraine. Ensuring that Russias war of aggression remains a strategic failure is as vital today as when the Kremlin launched that war almost two years ago, he said.

I heard no sense of fatigue or falling back  on the contrary, a determination to continue to press forward, said Secretary Blinken. And theres a good reason for that. I think every Ally recognizes that this is a matter not only of doing the right thing, he added. [I]ts a matter of self-interest, including for the United States.

[I]f 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 its open season and any would-be aggressor anywhere is likely to draw lessons from that. Thats why its been so important to us, but also to every country around the table, to stand strongly with and for Ukraine, he said.

More than 50 countries, including most NATO members, have committed to ensuring 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, stressed Secretary Blinken.

[T]heres 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, he said.

Russian leader Vladmir Putin believes that he can somehow outlast Ukraine, its people, and its supporters, said Secretary Blinken. The work of [the NATO] 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  thats the single most effective way to disabuse Putin of this very wrongheaded notion.




The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of the Nigerian military and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have killed 52 terrorists and arrested a leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Bauchi State.





The DHQ explained that the ISWAP leader was arrested during a sting operation at Tarum, a village outside Bauchi Metropolis.





The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba disclosed this in a statement on Friday.





Although the DHQ didnt reveal the name, it said the arrested ISWAP leader was in charge of North Central and North West zones.





According to the military high command, the arrest of the ISWAP leader was part of troops efforts at targeting the leadership of terrorist groups to ensure they pose no further threat to the safety and security of citizens.





Buba said ongoing military operations across the country have continued to decimate the fighting force of terrorists and other criminal elements and reduced their fighting capacity.





The leadership of these groups remain the prime targets of ongoing operations. Accordingly, the armed forces remain determined to destroy the terrorists, insurgents and violent extremist groups in the Country and degrade their military capability, he noted.





The defence spokesperson said airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft sestroyed several enclaves of terrorist leaders in the North West and North Central zones in the past week.





Buba said: The operations of the week in focus resulted in 52 neutralized terrorists, while 204 of them were arrested.





Troops also arrested 58 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 234 kidnapped hostages.





In the South-South zone, troops recovered 267,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 567,700 litres of illegally refined diesel and 5,000 litres of kerosene.





Troops destroyed seven dugout pits, 25 boats, 47 storage tanks, five vehicles, 141 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, one outboard engine, one tricycle, one speedboat, one tugboat and 51 illegal refining sites.





He added that the troops recovered 46 assorted weapons and 148 assorted ammunition, including 30 AK-47 rifles, two Josef magnum pump action guns, one double barrel gun, two single barrel guns, 12 locally made pistols, 13 Dane guns, one hand grenade, nine locally made rifles, 3 RPG chargers, and two locally made hand grenades.





Other items recovered, according to Buba, are 120 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 364 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 54 live cartridges, 11 rounds of empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 32 magazines, 34 vehicles, 64 mobile phones, 47 motorcycles and the sum of N1,582,690.00.








A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a ban on TikTok set to come into effect next year in Montana, saying the popular video sharing app was likely to win its pending legal challenge.





US District Court Judge Donald Molloy placed the injunction on the ban until the case, originally filed by TikTok in May, has been ruled on its merits.





Molloy deemed it likely TikTok and its users will win, since it appeared the Montana law not only violates free speech rights but runs counter to the fact that foreign policy matters are the exclusive domain of the federal government.





The current record leaves little doubt that Montanas legislature and attorney general were more interested in targeting Chinas ostensible role in TikTok than they with protecting Montana consumers, Molloy said in the ruling.





The app is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance and has been accused by a wide swathe of US politicians of being under Beijings tutelage, something the company furiously denies.





Montanas law says the TikTok ban will become void if the app is acquired by a company incorporated in a country not designated by the United States as a foreign adversary.





TikTok had argued that the unprecedented ban violates constitutionally protected right to free speech.





The prohibition signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte is seen as a legal test for a national ban of the Chinese-owned platform, something lawmakers in Washington are increasingly calling for.





The ban would make it a violation each time a user accesses TikTok, is offered the ability to access TikTok, or is offered the ability to download TikTok.





Each violation is punishable by a $10,000 fine every day it takes place.





Under the law, Apple and Google will have to remove TikTok from their app stores.





State political leaders have trampled on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans who use the app to express themselves, gather information, and run their small business in the name of anti-Chinese sentiment, ACLU Montana policy director Keegan Medrano said after the bill was signed.





The law is yet another skirmish in duels between TikTok and many western governments, with the app already banned on government devices in the United States, Canada and several countries in Europe.
Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State has called for a peaceful atmosphere, saying the state is undergoing a difficult period.

Fubara said a peaceful atmosphere would enable his administration to achieve its development strides.

The governor spoke against the background of the rift battle between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which led to political tension in the state.

He said his administration cant achieve any progress in a violent atmosphere.

He spoke during the funeral service of late King Theophilus J.T. Princewill, Amachree XI, the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of the Kalabari Kingdom, held at the King Amachree Square in Buguma Town, Asari Toru Local Government Area on Thursday.

According to Fuabara: We are in a difficult period, but just be peaceful. We cannot achieve progress in an environment of violence. We cannot grow our State to the level of our aspirations when there is trouble.

We can only advance to our dream State in a peaceful environment. I urge every one of you to be peaceful. Peace is the only instrument that can bring development.
Five alleged members of an Essex County street gang are charged for helping traffic fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, federal prosecutors announced Friday.

The five defendants  Fuquan Williams, 33, Dwight Dixon, 52, Nafee Patterson, 41, Jabriel Mason, 20, and Daqwuan Barley, 29  are accused of being members of the Sex, Money, Murder subset of the Bloods street gang in Newark, according to New Jersey U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger.

They participated in an open-air drug market in the area of Kent and Brenner streets, near Woodland Cemetery, according to authorities. All five are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.

The original complaint against all five defendants was filed Nov. 1, but a superseding indictment was later filed charging Patterson and Williams with additional gun offenses. Patterson was also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.

The complaint says authorities witnessed numerous drug transactions and used informants to make purchases that tested positive for heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. Investigators also analyzed phone records, fixed camera footage, arrest records and interviews to investigate the case.

The investigation began in September 2022 and continued until Nov. 2, 2023, when arrests were made.

All five defendants made their initial appearance in federal court and Patterson, Mason and Barkley have been released on bail. Williams and Dixon remain in custody with a trial pending.

Attorneys for the defendants could not immediately be reached for comment.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
The City of Newark has agreed to pay $4 million to more than 190 former police cadets to settle a federal class action suit charging they worked unpaid overtime at their training academy in 2017 and 2018, according to court documents and the plaintiffs lawyer.

At the same time, a related whistleblower suit in state court is headed for arbitration after being filed by a Newark detective, charging he was the victim of retaliation from superiors for his role in the class action suit.

A settlement hearing in the class action is scheduled for Jan. 4, according to an order by federal Magistrate Judge Jose R. Almonte of U.S. District Court in Newark in response to a request by both sides in the case.

John C. Luke Jr., who represents the officers, told NJ Advance Media that he and his clients looked forward to finalizing the settlement, which the judge must approve.

We are currently awaiting preliminary approval from the court, which will take place on Jan. 4, 2024, Luke said in an email. This was a particularly satisfying result for the former cadets. I believe that both sides are happy with this result.

Cheyne R. Scott., the citys outside counsel, declined to comment on the proposed settlement, referring questions to the city. Newarks top in-house lawyer, Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart, also declined to comment on the settlement, which Law360 previously reported.

The class action suit was filed against the City of Newark by three named plaintiffs, Malikul Aziz, Ronnie Cruz, and Rudan Ramshani, all former Newark cadets who attended the New Jersey State Police Training Academy in Sea Girt. Aziz and Cruz attended the academy in 2017, and Ramshani attended in 2018. They filed the suit on their behalf and the behalf of over 190 other cadets in their graduating classes.

The suit charges that, as the cadets employer, the city violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay them overtime for work they did during their 16-week stints at the academy, where they bunked from Monday morning through Friday night.

The suit charges that the cadets were paid $17.50 an hour for a 40-hour week of training but unpaid for up to an additional 8 hours a day they worked cleaning and maintaining their barracks, showers and other areas of the academy.

Following their scheduled shifts, Defendant required Plaintiffs to work beyond their scheduled shift times on a regular basis and failed to pay them for such time, states the complaint, filed Aug. 11, 2020.

In a response filed by Scott that October, the city admitted having employed the plaintiffs as cadets but denied the allegations of unpaid wages.

Spokespeople for Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the Department of Public Safety, which includes the police force, declined to comment on either suit. Anthony Ambrose was Newarks public safety director from 2016 to 2021 but is not named in the suit and declined to comment.

Baraka, elected in 2014, and Ambrose, whom the mayor appointed two years later, presided over hiring hundreds of officers, including many of the former cadets involved in the class action suit.

Aziz filed the whistleblower suit in Newark Superior Court in June 2022 and amended it that December. Aziz, now a Newark detective, was president of his cadet class and, as a rookie officer in 2018, received a departmental medal of honor for rescuing a drowning 2-year-old child, according to the suit.

The suit says the department retaliated against Aziz for his participation in the class action by, among other actions, confiscating his firearm ahead of tryouts for Newarks SWAT team, rendering him unable to participate and depriving him of the chance to join an elite unit that would enhance his standing and career opportunities.

The suit asserts that after the class actions filing, the Department served Plaintiff with a preliminary notice of Disciplinary Action, alleging a number of purported violations of the Department Rules and Regulations. The suit said the department suspended Aziz but later reinstated him.

The suit states that the disciplinary action notice was served on Aziz two days after a captain in the department requested his personnel records related to the class action.

The suit demands compensatory and punitive damages for back pay, missed career opportunities, emotional distress and other consequences of the alleged retaliation.

Aziz referred questions to his lawyer in the whistleblower suit, Steven A. Varano, who did not respond to a request for comment. The citys response to the whistleblower suit denied the assertions. Scott, who filed the response on March 10, declined to comment.

The period during which Aziz alleges retaliation predates Newarks current public safety director, Fritz Frage. The director at the time was Brian OHara, who left the city last year to become Minneapolis chief of police. A spokesman for OHara, who is not named in the suit, declined to comment.

No arbitration session has been scheduled in the case.

Stewart, Newarks corporation counsel, said the city was open to the arbitration process.

The city is always willing to talk to people and to hear what they have to say, he said.

Nobody knows Jersey better than NJ.com Sign up to get breaking news alerts straight to your inbox.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
The nurses strike that lasted more than 120 days has finally ended.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital announced Friday that it has tentatively reached a new collective bargaining agreement with the United Steel Workers 4-200, which represents the 1,700 nurses who went on strike Aug. 4.

A memorandum of agreement was signed by both parties and will be presented over the next several days to union members through informational meetings as part of the ratification process, said Wendy Gottsegen, a hospital spokeswoman, in a statement. We encourage our nurses to attend these meetings and vote at the ratification sessions. The resolution reflects our shared goals of providing the highest-quality patient care and creating a safe and supportive working environment for our nurses.

The agreement comes after months of bitter negotiations, with the nurses demanding better pay, benefits  and above all  enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios similar to what California mandates by law.

Officials for the nurses union were not immediately available for comment Friday afternoon. But Judy Danella, president of United Steel Workers Local 4-200, said in a statement: After more than 120 days on the picket lines, we are pleased to announce that USW nurses have reached a historic agreement with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital that includes enforceable safe staffing standards in our collective bargaining agreement for the first time.

Danella, a registered nurse at RWJUH, added, While we are unable to share any additional details before ratification, we are proud of the extraordinary bravery and commitment of our members, who fought endlessly for patient safety and better working conditions at RWJUH.

It remains unclear when the nurses will return to work at the 620-bed New Brunswick hospital. They could vote to ratify the new contract as early as next week.

Since the beginning of the nurses strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, I have encouraged both sides to get in the negotiating room and resolve their contract issues at the bargaining table, said Gov. Phil Murphy in a statement. Within the last week, I have had repeated conversations with both hospital and union leadership to do just that.

I am pleased that Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and United Steelworkers Local 4-200 have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the indispensable role of our frontline healthcare workers, who provide critical services to patients throughout our state, while allowing nurses to return to their jobs. I am grateful to the many individuals who were involved in these talks for their dedication to finding a fair and acceptable solution that works for both sides.

For months, the union members went without paychecks and benefits, which the hospital had cut off in September. The two sides were at a standstill, and for a time, it was unclear how they would find a path forward.

The strike drew national attention, as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) visited Rutgers University in October to hold a Senate committee hearing on the labor dispute and hospital staffing guidelines. At the event. Sanders expressed support for the nurses and the ratios they sought while lambasting hospital leaders for not appearing.

The hospital  ranked the fifth best in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report  had maintained that strict staffing ratios would not allow it the necessary flexibility during times of high patient volume.

But many nurses said they were working in untenable conditions, often forced to juggle five or six patients during a given shift, which they said impacted the patients well-being as well as the nurses ability to provide adequate care.

During negotiations, the hospital, part of the RWJBarnabas Health network, said it had offered nurses more pay and enhanced staffing guidelines  though without firm ratios. One of the proposals included a $20-an-hour bonus for nurses if a unit fell below certain staffing guidelines.

The nurses, however, rejected the offer because it still would have left units short-staffed and bonuses would not have been paid to workers if a fellow nurse called out sick, according to Danella. She had said that a counterproposal sought to remove the calling-out sick clause, but the hospital rejected it.

Im pleased to hear that the striking nurses have reached a tentative agreement with RWJ Hospital, said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-6th Dist., in a statement. Ive been in contact with both sides throughout this process to ensure they reach an agreement to get the nurses back to work. While it is not yet finalized, Im confident that each side is ready to decide on an agreement that makes sure the nurses and hospital can continue providing excellent health care to patients.

The labor dispute grew increasingly bitter as the hospital filed a restraining order against the nurses over noise from picketing on the streets outside the facility. And striking nurses held evening vigils outside the homes of hospital executives, loudly chanting their demands.

Now that a tentative agreement has been reached, the question becomes what happens after so much tension and rancor? How does the hospital bring nurses back into the fold and reestablish trust between the workers and the management?

In late September, the hospital and nurses told NJ Advance Media they were unsure. Only time will tell.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com.
Tensions ran high Wednesday night as dozens of residents passionately voiced their opinions inside the packed Jersey City City Council chambers. Some waved hand-crafted signed and others had flags showing their support draped over their shoulders during a city council meeting that last more than five hours.

The drama  a former school board president was escorted out of the meeting and chants erupted  stemmed from a mostly symbolic resolution that called for President Joe Biden and the local congressional delegation to demand a permanent cease-fire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israeli forces and Hamas.
A bone from the arm of St. Jude, widely revered among Catholics as the patron saint of hopeless causes, will be on public display at St. Stephens Church in Kearny Dec. 11, one of seven churches in the Newark Archdiocese the relic will visit on its first tour outside Italy.

The ancient bone, encased in a centuries-old wooden vessel carved in the form of an arm bestowing a blessing, will make its initial appearance in northern New Jersey at the Church of the Assumption in Emerson Dec. 7. During this time, it will be available for public veneration from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
One man was killed and two others were injured in a targeted shooting outside a bar in New Brunswick on Thursday night, authorities said.

Enger Abreu, 19, of New Brunswick died of his injuries at an area hospital after being gunned down at La Famosa Bar on Remsen Avenue at about 11:10 p.m., the Middlesex County Prosectors Office said Friday.

A second man shot at the bar and a third found at a nearby home were hospitalized with injuries. A spokeswoman for the prosecutors office said she had no update on their conditions Friday.

This does not appear to be a random act of violence and there does not appear to be a threat to the public, the prosecutors office said.

The shooting remains under investigation and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to call New Brunswick police Detective Jeffrey Monticello at 732-745-5200 or Detective Michelle Coppola of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-3300.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A nighttime joy ride turned to a head-scratching case of a marooned boat at the Jersey Shore, according to a local captain.

A sailboat was abandoned  somewhat picturesquely  near a set of century-old railroad tracks on the beach in Cape May known as the ghost tracks. The tracks occasionally become visible due to shifting tides and following Noreasters.

Captain Jack Moran, owner of Sea Tow Cape May, which also repairs boats, said Thursday afternoon that the sailboat  with the name Panache on its stern  was abandoned about a month ago in a confounding set of circumstances. Moran noted that while the boats owner has inquired with his company on a price to remove the vessel, he didnt say how much.

An older gentleman gifted the boat to two other guys. The boat does not have a working motor and they decided they were gonna sail it at night around Cape May Point  without a motor, Moran said on the phone Thursday, before pausing. ...And they wound up on the beach and just walked away from it.

A small sailboat was recently abandoned in Cape May  near a set of ghost tracks that occasionally are unearthed. Officials are now coordinating to remove the boat, a local captain said.Matt Dowling | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A small sailboat was recently abandoned in Cape May  near a set of ghost tracks that occasionally are unearthed. Officials are now coordinating to remove the boat, a local captain said.Matt Dowling | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Legislation was passed by New Jersey more than a decade ago imposing a $1,000 daily fine on anyone who abandons a boat and giving municipalities power to claim the title and bill the owner for the removal. But that can be difficult to enforce and if boats are not environmental or navigational hazards they can sit neglected for months or years.

A spokesperson with the U.S. Coast Guard, which typically handles spill-related incidents at the Jersey Shore, did not have additional information about the boat which sits in a prominent location along the Delaware Bay just north of the famed concrete ship at Sunset Beach in Lower Township. The boat has become somewhat of a tourist attraction on the beach, despite some recent frigid temperatures.

A detective with the New Jersey State Police said because the abandoned vessel was beached above the tide line, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said Thursday: The owners of the boat have informed Fish and Wildlife that they are working to secure a firm to remove it ... There are no environmental concerns.

Moran shared that while Sea Tow Cape May gave a quote for the removal, he could not provide additional details. If Morans towing service removes the boat, it would be on behalf of the owner (a towns taxpayers can sometimes be forced to cover these costs).

Because of how New Jerseys laws work, although the Lower Township sailboat appears to have been gifted, the vessels removal is still the responsibility of the person under its registration. Such owners are not always easy to track down.

Costs for removals can pile on, vary by circumstance and depend on a number of factors. Earlier this month, a 77-foot commercial fishing boat ran aground in Point Pleasant Beach. No one was hurt and officials with the Coast Guard later said a plan to salvage the vessel was in the works.

Moran would only say that the owner wasnt one of the two men that caused it to wreck and that the owner is from Connecticut  complicating the process of hauling it away even more so.

Although a bill was proposed to create a $25 million fund to help towns remove boats, that effort has stalled.

The single-masted sailboat is resting in the sand on the beach between Higbees Beach and Sunset Beach in Lower Township, the Sunset Beach gift shop posted online in a comment about the boat Tuesday. It is cracked at the keel and is not seaworthy, so it will have to be removed over land and demolished. The owner has been identified, but Sea Tow was unaware of where the boat was ported.

In a video posted by Sunset Beach on Thursday, more of the creepy ghost tracks are visible, as is the still-abandoned sailboat. A staff member at the gift shop declined to comment.

The abandoned boat is also not too far from the dilapidated remains of the ship, the S.S. Atlantus.

The concrete freighter, which juts out of the harbor, broke free from its dock during a storm in the 1920s and wedged itself onto the beach, stuck for nearly a century, according to local museum curators. It too draws curious onlookers.

Abandoned century-old railroad tracks on the beach in Cape May, known as ghost tracks were visible in this photo from May 2022. Photo Courtesy of Liz Goldsmith

The Concrete Sunken Ship SS Atlantus seen from Cape Mays Sunset Point in Cape May New Jersey. July 18, 2019 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com PENNLIVE.COM

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @stevenrodasnj.
KUALA LUMPUR  "I have been shocked since the first song," Chinese Malaysian student Yi Xiner said at the Xiamen University Malaysia, where the Canton Rhythms for Silk Road concert was held on Friday.

Chen Jianwen, head of South China's Guangdong provincial publicity department, and Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, were in the audience at the traditional Cantonese concert, which was typical of Lingnan culture.

Chen says that he hoped the event would promote in-depth cultural exchange between China and Malaysia, and enhance friendship between the two peoples through music.

Consisting of renowned compositions such as A Hundred Birds Worshipping the Phoenix, Rain Hitting Banana Trees and the traditional Malaysian folk song Rasa Sayang, played using traditional Chinese musical instruments, the concert drew loud applause from the audience.

Yi, a student at the Xiamen University Malaysia, has loved traditional Chinese culture since she was a child and has played the guzheng, a zither-like string instrument, for about 11 years.

"This is the first time I have enjoyed a live gaohu performance. It is so wonderful. The imitation bird sounds are so real that they harmonize with the sound of flute," she says.

The association president is a former Malaysian ambassador to China, and was surprised to hear Rasa Sayang played on traditional Chinese musical instruments.

"I hope more Chinese troupes will come to Malaysia. This is not only helpful for Malaysians to understand Chinese culture, but also for Chinese artists to understand Malaysian culture," he says.

Outside the concert hall, an exhibition of intangible cultural heritage items from Guangdong province, such as Guangdong paper-cutting, Foshan woodblock prints, Dawu clay sculpture, Fengxi handmade red clay teapots, Chaozhou tea art, and Shaoguan Yao ethnic embroidery, attracted crowds.

The activities were part of the last leg of the 2023 Charming China  Cultural Exhibition from Guangdong in Kuala Lumpur, and were hosted by the information office of the Guangdong provincial government and the Guangdong provincial department of culture and tourism.

Prior to this, the exhibition visited Italy and Egypt to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning, and to show the world the heritage of Chinese culture and Lingnan culture.




Theconvened its 1016th Academic Council (AC) meeting. The meeting's main focus was on approving a proposal to implement athat would enable students to pursue two academic programs at the same time. According to officials, several key issues were discussed during the meeting which was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh.The meeting included discussions on twinning, joint and dual degree schemes with reputed foreign institutions, as well as joining two academic degree programmes simultaneously and credit transfer as per NEP 2020. All items on the agenda and supplementary agenda were discussed during this meeting held at the Council Hall of the University. At the beginning of the meeting, the Vice Chancellor presented a detailed report on the university's various activities, including appointments and promotions.Vice Chancellor Singh provided detailed information on admissions in the current academic session, noting that a total of 68,583 UG admissions, 11,196 PG admissions, and 784 PhD admissions. He highlighted that 98 orphan students were admitted with full fee waivers under a special reservation scheme. Along with this, a total of Rs 1,00,61,057 was distributed to 1009 students under the financial support system in the financial year 2022-2023.During the meeting, some syllabi of different departments as per the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 (UGCF-2022) were also approved. For those students who have not studied Hindi till class 8th, an aptitude enhancement course called Hindi EL (proposed in Semesters I and II) under the Hindi Department was also approved. Under the Department of Economics, the syllabus of three DSE papers titled Economic Thought of Dr. BR Ambedkar (Semester III/V); Economy, State and Society (Semester III/V); and Production Relations and Globalisation (Semester IV/VI) was also approved to be started from the academic session 2022-2023 based on UGCF-2022.During the meeting, students opting for Generic Elective (GE) courses in Tamil, Telugu, and other MIL courses at Kamla Nehru College, Gargi College and Hansraj College to study the subjects not offered by the respective colleges were invited to the nearest cluster centre of the University. Permission was also granted to study such languages by attending classes in colleges and departments. During this 1016th meeting of DU AC, Twinning, joint and dual degree schemes with reputed foreign institutions, as well as joining two academic degree programmes simultaneously and credit transfer as per NEP 2020 , were also discussed.It should be mentioned here that in its centenary year, DU made a provision for the reservation of seats for orphan children in all classes while providing free higher education to orphan children. Under this scheme, one seat each has been reserved for orphan boys and girls in all classes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in all colleges and departments of the university. A provision has been made to completely waive tuition and hostel fees, etc., for the children admitted to these reserved seats.
A 44-year-old New Jersey man was charged last month for sexual assaults against a child that allegedly occurred more than 20 years ago, officials said.

Robert L. Wisiak, of South River in Middlesex County, was arrested Oct. 20 for the alleged assaults that happened in Keansburg between 1999 and 2001, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said on Thursday.

The abuse occurred multiple times over the three-year period, when the victim was under the age of 13, authorities said.

Prosecutors did not say when the incidents were first reported or what evidence identified Wisiak as a suspect. Officials also did not have information about his attorney representation on Thursday.

He has been charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a minor and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said.

The Monmouth County Prosecutors Office is asking anyone with additional information about Wisiak to call Detective Charles Trucillo at 800-533-7443 or submit a tip anonymously through the P3 Tips mobile app.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Sign up for Reckons latest newsletter dedicated to the fight for reproductive justice, a weekly repro rundown covering the good, the fair-to-middlin' and the ugly in repro news. Enter your email to subscribe to Reproductive Justice with Reckon.

Editors note: As part of Reckons coverage of Native American Heritage Month, we are focusing our reproductive justice reporting on the courageous work of indigenous midwives, and the barriers they face in providing care to their communities

In the United States, high maternal mortality rates among people of color reveal the systemic racism that pregnant people face when trying to access care. For indigenous pregnant people, whose rates of pregnancy-related death are twice as high as those of white women, one proven solution has been found within their own communities: culturally competent Indigenous midwives.

Yet despite the proven successes of the holistic services offered by indigenous midwives to their own communities, Indigenous pregnant people and midwives alike face high barriers both to access and provide care.

These struggles are particularly pronounced in Hawaii, where the compounding effects of climate change, and lack of healthcare providers in rural areas exacerbate the ways in which pregnant people and their families experience birth.

This summer, a law that advocates say allowed Indigenous midwiveswho are legally referred to as birth attendants to practice without state licensure ended, putting many at risk of legal challenges if they continue to practice.

Navigating maternal care on the island

Hawaii, like many rural communities across the US, faces a shortage of physicians, which means that pregnant people are forced to travel long distances to reach a maternity ward or birthing center. For Indigenous people and others pursuing midwifery, increased restrictions in obtaining licensure is creating additional barriers to practice.

Were generational family healers, said Kii Kahoohanohano, a pale keiki, or Native Hawaiian traditional midwife, and founder of Malama Na Pua o Haumea. We are the ones who fill in those gaps.

The three-year exemption period of Act 32 ended in July, requiring those using the midwife title to obtain a license including proof of certification as a CPM or CM from a Midwifery Education Accreditation Council-accredited (MEAC) program. Birth attendants, or traditional midwives, are usually unlicensed, learning how to assist in the birthing process through years of hands-on, generational training.

Kahoohanohano trained for 13 years under an experienced Maui midwife, and says that the new legislation threatens the preservation of traditional birth attendants in communities which already have few options to accessing reproductive healthcare.

This, she says, is a disservice to her people.

Were the ones that go inside of prenatal clinics in rural areas or meet them part way so they dont have to drive three hours for prenatal visits. And then we spend hours with them Theyre missing that care and that connection and that support and that circle of sisterhood and love that they need, said Kahoohanohano.

An October 2023 Obstetrics & Gynecology study found that patients with language barriers experienced xenophobia and racism, leading to lower gynecologic cancer screenings, more unscheduled c-sections and even forced sterilization.

Kiana Rowley, co-founder of Pacific Birth Collective, has witnessed these barriers. She says white physicians often treat Native Hawaiians, whose primary language is often Pidgin, a Hawaiian creole which combines the indigenous language of Hawaii with English, Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese.

The providers primarily who have been able to access the licensure and get the training and the education are not from Hawaii so they dont understand I think especially for Native Hawaiians unfortunately because of colonization a lot of them can kind of switch on and off their Pidgen and communicate, but the language barrier between medical terminology that these practitioners use, the way that they speak to people with these really big words and make things sound very complicated, said Rowley, adding that white doctors have difficulty communicating with a local person whos in pain during labor.

Theres a communication and a cultural disconnect that happens where they just kind of get run through a system and its just this perpetuating, compounding trauma that keeps getting replayed over and over again, she said.

A compounding crisis

In August 2023, a surge of wildfires devastated Maui, killing at least 114, displacing thousands, and damaging around 2,200 buildings on Lahaina, a small town at the western end of the island. The disaster exacerbated pre existing barriers to prenatal and maternal care. Though parts of the area reopened two months after the fires, Rowley says that locals are still recovering and continue to face challenges with internet connection and only having two access roads to reach services.

The level of isolation that people are dealing with just to be able to receive basic care, I think its hard for people to really comprehend, said Rowley.

Access to care differs depending on which of the eight major islands of Hawaii locals live on. For example, Molokai only has one emergency department, and two nurse midwives according to Rowley. Lanai has no maternal unit, so residents who need specialized care on either of these islands must fly out, which has become increasingly difficult since two of the airlines that service these islands shut down during the pandemic.

Theres very few care providers who are willing to drive to the rural communities which means the majority of our rural moms literally drive on windy, treacherous roads just for a five minute care appointment, said Rowley.

Barriers to midwifery licensure

To become a licensed midwife, Hawaiians must have attended a Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) school. Rowley is currently training to be a midwife on Maui. She says that the cost of midwifery education ranges from $50,000 to $100,000, depending on whether your path is CPM or CNM.

Already four years in in her licensure journey, she still needs to complete 8 months of clinical in which shell have to leave the island for.

Im hoping that Im going to have a placement on Oahu where I have family and a place to stay. If I didnt have connections, with places to stay [obtaining a license] would be pretty much impossible for me.

Despite these barriers, some Indigenous midwives continue to provide care using cultural practices that have long served their community.

Though Kahoohanohano stopped accepting births a year ago, she was recently called in to assist in a home birth.

Literally if I didnt show up to this birth two minutes down the road the baby would have died, she said during a panel about colonization and midwifery held by Changing Woman Initiative on Nov. 5.

I play a pretty important role in my community and whether they acknowledge that or not, were here, said Kahoohanohano.
Dont believe every rumor that you hear  or read.

Thats the message WFANs Evan Robers had for Yankees fans on his afternoon show with ex-Giants running back Tiki Barber on Monday.

FIXING THE YANKEES:

Sign up HERE for our twice-weekly newsletter on the offseason changes

After finishing the 2023 season 82-80, their worst record in a 162-game season since 1992, and missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2016, the Yankees have been linked to just about every major free agent on the market. Theyve also been rumored to be in active conversations with the San Diego Padres regarding a trade for Juan Soto.

After caller all but guaranteed Soto and Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Yankees, Evan lent some advice to fans:

It represents a lot of Yankee fans who have very high expectations for this offseason, Roberts said, via Audacy. You want to set the bar low. What Im sensing from Yankee fansis that your bar is insanely high.

Could the Yankees get Juan Soto? They could, I think they will. Could they get Yamamoto? Sure. But there seems to be this belief that youre going to. What worries me for my friends that are Yankees fans is that youre gonna be incredibly disappointedjust because youre linked to a guy, that doesnt mean anything.

Fans have been disappointed with a few recent Yankees acquisitions  or lack thereof. They didnt even try to get Bryce Haper ahead of the 2019 season and have given up on decent players in trades that turned out to be duds.

They dealt a Top 100 prospect in Ezequiel Duran for Joey Gallo, swapped Jordan Montgomery for Harrison Bader and traded Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela in a deal for Josh Donaldson to name a few.

Roberts urges fans not to go down the same path again  temper expectations until a deal actually takes place.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
Former Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran revealed that before taking his talents to Queens, he had a face-to-face meeting with Yankees George Steinbrenner.

On Sunday, Beltran appeared on Abriendo el Juego, a popular podcast based out of the Dominican Republic. Among the many topics discussed, the 46-year-old Puerto Rico native talked about why he chose the Mets over the Yankees in free agency in 2005. Beltran is now a special assistant to Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.

BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

I met with [George] Steinbrenner. He told me, Carlos, Im in a situation with the luxury tax. I cant give you the multi-year contract youre seeking, but I can make you the highest-paid player in MLB this year. Then, next year, we can renegotiate, Beltran said in Spanish. But the Mets had already made me a seven-year offer.

After years of waiting to be in this position, negotiating contracts through arbiters and agents, Beltran sought security. As a result, he signed a seven-year, $119 million deal with the Mets in Jan. 2005.

The signing had huge implications for the former nine-time All-Star. While he remains an icon of the organization  he has the fourth-best fWAR (29.3) in Mets history among hitters  they werent his first choice in free agency.

People would tell me not to sign with the Mets, not even on a lie, he said on Abriendo el Juego.

But he chose to take a chance on them anyway because they believed in him by committing to him long-term.

Soon after, he realized what it was like to play for the Wlipons. He disliked how much time was spent focusing on their crosstown rivals and created a media environment rife with gossip.

You know what its like to go to a private meeting with the manager, general manager, the owner of the team and the head of public relations, and the next day what was discussed in the meeting is in the papers? Beltran said. I know I didnt leak it. Who was it? How do you trust that circle? You cant.

Beltran played with the Mets for the better part of seven years. He batted .280 with an .869 OPS behind 374 extra-base hits, including 149 home runs, seventh all-time for the franchise.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
TO ACCESS THIS CONTENT

YOU MUST OPEN A SESSION OR CREATE AN ACCOUNT

MEMBER LOGIN CREATE YOUR USER ACCOUNT

The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) announced it has reached an agreement with Se.ven Global Investments to sell its 51% equity stake in the Mong Duong 2 . . .
The recent election cycle was disastrous for Louisiana Democrats. Republicans made a clean sweep of statewide offices  by landslide margins in most cases  and captured a supermajority in both the House and Senate.

In ruby-red Louisiana these days, its not easy bein blue.

Nobody recognizes that more than state Rep. Matt Willard of New Orleans, the new chair of the Louisiana House Democratic Caucus. Despite the recent electoral blowout, Willard remains hopeful that Dems can get things done.

Its gonna be tough, says Willard, who recently won his second term without opposition. I know Democrats in Louisiana are frustrated, even jaded, at this point, but part of my job is to reinvigorate those voters. While the numbers arent on our side, we can still find ways to succeed at representing the working families of Louisiana.

The key, says Willard, will have to be bipartisanship.

We have way too many problems for partisanship to get in the way of the Legislature working in a bipartisan manner to bring relief to the people of our state, most of whom are suffering right now, Willard says, ticking off a list of challenges facing every household and business in the state. Affordable insurance for homes and autos  and availability. Education. Public Safety.

We all need to focus on quality-of-life issues, he adds. The people in our state are struggling. I believe we can work together to make the state better for all of us.

Bipartisanship is a two-way street, however. House and Senate Republicans have enough votes to do whatever they want without asking for Democratic votes  if GOP lawmakers can stick together.

Plus, many Republicans, including Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, ran on platforms that focused on culture-war issues such as restricting abortion and LGBTQ rights.

Culture war bills get the attention of the media and onlookers, but the real work that helps the people of Louisiana often goes unnoticed, Willard says. We have way too many kitchen-table issues that need to be prioritized.

Senate Democrats have not yet chosen their caucus chair, but that leader will face the same challenges. Because they dont have the numbers to make them relevant on every issue, legislative Dems will have to make friends in high places  with the House and Senate leadership and even with Landry.

Willard says he already has a good relationship with the apparent new House Speaker, Rep. Philip DeVillier of Eunice.

We served on the House Ways & Means Committee for the last four years, Willard says. We were often on opposite sides, but we always kept our discussions respectful and cordial. What we want from a speaker is what every House member wants, regardless of party  someone who will be a friend and an ally. We want someone wholl give us access, help members get on committees that they want, and help members deliver for their districts.

Willard admits he doesnt have a relationship with Landry, but he plans to reach out soon to the governor-elect.

My main goal will be to establish a relationship with him, Willard says of Landry. I think when you talk about the issues in Louisiana, we can agree on what the problems are. We may differ on how to address them. I want to offer our ideas on how to move the needle forward  and get his take on those things.

Willard stops short of using the word optimistic, but hes known as someone whos willing to reach across the aisle to get things done.

I try to see the best in people, he says of his dealings with other elected officials. Besides, if my Republican colleagues shut out the Democrats, theyd be shutting out the people we represent, which is more than 30% of the state. I dont think they want to do that.

Well know soon enough. Even under the best of circumstances, it wont be easy bein blue for the next four (or more) years.
(THE CONVERSATION) Better health care for patients begins with humility  a term not often associated with medicine.

I witnessed displays of humility firsthand eight years ago, the night my son was born, in the way the doctor and doula worked together to deliver our baby.

Neither tried to assert dominance over the other. Instead, they openly communicated with each other, respected each others roles, trusted each other and worked as a team. And what was most meaningful to us  they included my wife on that team by actively listening to her and putting her needs at the forefront.

Together, the teams professional humility helped create the most unforgettable moment of our lives: the birth of a healthy baby boy.

The patient as part of the team

Our experience with them made a significant impression on me because Im a social scientist who studies how clinicians collaborate. Specifically, I explore how doctors, nurses and the entire health care team can better show professional humility to ensure better outcomes for patients and for health care workers as well.

Put simply, professional humility in the health care setting is when doctors, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, physical therapists, support staff  basically every health care provider  see each other as playing on the same team.

That means team members share the same goals, understand the limitations of their own profession, see the strengths offered by others and include the patient and their caregivers in decision-making.

That willingness to make the patient part of the team is key to professional humility. Instead of talking about the patient among themselves, the providers address the patient directly and actively listen. They openly admit when they dont know the answer or if they were incorrect. And rather than talking down to the patient, they explain things calmly, using everyday language and avoiding arcane medical jargon.

The power of humilityA growing body of research demonstrates that clinicians humility positively affects patient satisfaction, health outcomes and overall care. Additionally, emerging evidence indicates that having humility is good for health care providers as well  serving as a protective factor against burnout and even clinical uncertainty.

But if humility is so beneficial, why isnt there more of it in health care? And why is it not formally taught in medical, nursing and other health profession schools?

Most people have likely experienced or witnessed scenarios where clinicians exhibit the opposite of humility, such as when providers show open disrespect for each other or engage in power struggles, or when a patient feels ignored, rushed, dismissed or spoken to rudely. These are common examples of a lack of humility in health care.

But humility can be difficult to achieve in professional settings. In my experience, there are still assumptions by health care providers that displaying intellectual humility suggests a lack of knowledge and confidence, the opposite of what the health professions want to instill in their students.

Money concerns

and turf battlesThe lack of emphasis on humility in health care could also be due to pervasive, systemic issues nested deep within the industry itself. The very culture of todays health care industry is heavily influenced by competition for patients and resources, battles over money and turf and infighting between and within departments. Even the years of professional training are riddled with competition for the best test scores, opportunities and recognition. These are hardly the kinds of backstories that lead people to suddenly embrace the relatively unexplored concept of practicing humility.

In fact, research shows that humility is not a sign of weakness or self-doubt. Instead, it reflects exceptional security and confidence. These are essential attributes for a patient-centered, team-oriented health care workforce.

Heres another example of professional humility that I experienced when my son was about 6. He was spinning around in my office chair while I was close by in a meeting. He slipped off and hit his head on the corner of my desk, causing quite a gash.

Luckily, my meeting was with a group of doctors, nurses and physician assistants. I had a team of clinicians right there to assess my son for any need of stitches. Gently talking to him, disregarding professional rank by collectively assessing the wound, openly seeking their colleagues opinions and engaging me directly about possible next steps  all while jokingly noting the serendipity of the situation  clearly reflected professional humility.

Researchers are just starting to scratch the surface of understanding precisely how professional humility leads to teamwork and more effective care. But the early research suggests that its an essential ingredient.

If you do find yourself or a loved one in the hospital, you may be confronted with hard decisions and frightening uncertainties about the future. When that happens, you will no doubt want a health care team that is harmonious, communicative and connected. That sense of calm in the chaos provides patients and family with reassurance, hope and healing.
A three-alarm fire broke out in the French Quarter on Thursday night, damaging a workshop as firefighters labored to contain the flames in New Orleans' most famous neighborhood.

The fire damaged a storage building at 533 Dauphine St., between Toulouse and St. Louis streets. Authorities closed several blocks of Toulouse to traffic, and a fire truck deployed its ladder over Toulouse.

Max Kidder, who lives next door, said he was walking home when he saw smoke coming from the building, which a Fire Department spokesperson said belongs to the owners of the Olivier House Hotel.

"I ran in as fast as I could to get the dog out," Kidder said. "Stuff started exploding. ... The heat got so bad you couldn't even stand across the street."
WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-NV, announced on Nov. 30 that $60.9 million will be allocated to Nevada airports in 2024.

The federal funding package includes more than $1 million for Elko Regional Airport, more than $46 million for Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, more than $6.9 million for Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and nearly $1.9 million for Boulder City Municipal Airport.

An additional 26 airports in Nevada received funding totaling more than $5 million.

This new funding comes from the Airport Infrastructure Grant Program authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Rosen helped write the airport section of the infrastructure law, which is the source of this funding for Nevadas airports.

Nevadas airports serve as gateways to our communities and our many world-class tourist destinations, boosting our travel and tourism economy, Rosen said. I was proud to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure this much-needed funding for Nevadas airports and help support our economy and jobs.

Sen. Rosen, chair of the Senate subcommittee overseeing tourism, has been leading the fight to ensure Nevadas airports receive the funding they need to accommodate high volumes of visitors.

Earlier this year, she introduced the Dependable Airport Classification Act to ensure small-to-medium-sized airports, like Reno-Tahoe International Airport, maintain access to federal funding. During a recent visit to Reno-Tahoe Airport, Rosen also urged the Department of Transportation to stand ready to receive the airports application for federal funds for a terminal expansion project.

Additionally, Rosen secured $31 million for terminal improvements at Harry Reid International Airport.
A North Devon memory cafe has taken on Dementia UKs November Knitting Challenge in a bid to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

The Home Instead Barnstaple Memory Cafe set up a knit and natter table at its free twice-monthly cafe sessions at Barnstaple Library, to encourage its members with dementia and their carers, to regain old knitting skills or learn new ones, to make a beautiful lap blanket to auction off for charity.

The project has helped strengthen community relations, giving people, particularly older members of the community, a place to meet others and share their love of a hobby.

The memory cafe is run by local home care company, Home Instead North Devon, which supports older people in their own homes, including those living with dementia.

The chance for people with dementia to come to knit and natter and work together on a joint project has helped enormously with managing their condition and proves that they can live well with dementia and continue to contribute to society.

It also gives their family carers the chance to socialise and make friends with those in a similar position.

Adam Crispin, owner of Home Instead North Devon, said: Ive been overwhelmed by the success of our members Knit and Natter table. It has given them a sense of purpose and while some have knitted, others have joined the table just to chat and put the world right!

The first of the lap blankets will be auctioned today (Friday, December 1) at the Home Instead Memory Cafe Christmas Party, followed by singing by the children from Our Ladys Roman Catholic Primary School, games and a raffle and a bring and share buffet.

Some of the children and teachers from Pathfield School will be joining in the festivities as a thank you for the delicious cakes they bake and serve at the cafe during the term time.

Home Instead Barnstaple Memory Cafe provides a happy and safe environment for people with dementia and their families and carers to come, make friends and have fun.

It is free, meets on the first and third Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Barnstaple Library and is provided by Home Instead North Devon.

Those who want to donate to the November Knitting Challenge can do so HERE.

For more information on the Home Instead Barnstaple Memory Cafe, and its support for people living with dementia and their carers, contact Anne on 07949 397330 OR EMAIL anne.mckiernan@homeinsteadnorthdevon.co.uk.

For information on Home Instead North Devon or to learn more about its care services, please call 01769 302003 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/north-devon-exmoor
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.

Editor: WXL
COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber addresses the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

DUBAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, started here Thursday afternoon in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

After being formally appointed the COP28 president, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said "the new road starts with a decision on the Global Stocktake, a decision that is ambitious, corrects course and accelerates action to 2030."

Al Jaber made a rallying call to world leaders, urging immediate and ambitious action on the Global Stocktake, swift consensus on the agenda, and a quick move to text.

He noted that "this Presidency is committed to unlocking (green) finance to ensure that the Global South does not have to choose between development and climate action," calling on all parties to find common ground, come forward with solutions, and achieve consensus.

At the opening ceremony, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said "we are taking baby steps. Stepping far too slowly from an unstable world that lacks resilience to working out the best responses to the complex impacts (of the climate change) we are facing."

He called on relevant parties to "take responsibility for speeding things up," and "be transparent in the actions and decisions we take with each other."

While making his staunch calls for the transition from fossil fuels to green energy, the UN climate official stressed "justice within and between countries" in this regard.

He also warned "we have around six years before we exhaust the planet's ability to cope with our emissions before we blow through the 1.5-degree limit."

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind.

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Participants attend the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell addresses the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (R, front) receives a gavel from COP27 President Sameh Shoukry (L, front) during the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Egyptian Foreign Minister and COP27 President Sameh Shoukry (C, front) presides over the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber addresses the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Egyptian Foreign Minister and COP27 President Sameh Shoukry addressed the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Participants attend the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber addresses the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Participants attend the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (5th R, front) receives a gavel from COP27 President Sameh Shoukry (4th L, front) during the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell addresses the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (R, front) receives a gavel from COP27 President Sameh Shoukry (L, front) during the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Egyptian Foreign Minister and COP27 President Sameh Shoukry (C, front) presides over the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Editor: WXL
Ginjauma arrived at his estranged wife's Hobart home in the late afternoon of Nov. 14, hours after a jury found her not guilty of a battery-related offense. He banged on her front door and when she opened he grabbed her and pulled out a gun. He fired six shots total, court documents state.

Defense attorney Mark Gruenhagen argued against the revocation of bond because he said Ginjauma was firing the shots "recklessly," rather than pointing the gun directly at his his wife. He suggested they adjust the terms of bond, such as implementing a curfew for Ginjauma, a no contact order or home confinement.

Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Arnold said Ginjauma's behavior, captured on video surveillance from his wife's home, shows him chasing her and shooting multiple times, which demonstrates that he is a possible danger to her and to society.

"If that's not attempted murder, I don't know what is," Arnold said.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones said if anything, Ginjauma's possession of a firearm warrants revocation of bond. He was previously convicted of a felony, which does not allow him to possess a gun per Indiana law.

His wife told police she was preparing to do a custody exchange of the couple's 3-year-old child at the Hobart Police Department when Ginjauma arrived, so she thought he might have been dropping off the child at her house, records state.

As Ginjauma entered, the couple's teenage daughter watched from the top of the stairs. He pointed the weapon at the teen and said to her, "you better not call the police," charges allege. The teen ran and hid in a nearby bathroom, documents state. Ginjauma's wife tried to call 911 as he ascended the stairs. He fired one shot toward her but missed, documents state. She ran outside screaming for help as Ginjauma followed and continued to shoot. He fled the scene, but was apprehended by police, according to court documents.

A warrant was issued for Ginjauma's arrest.
VALPARAISO  Despite his last-minute plea Friday for a break, Gary resident Kenneth Ratliff was sentenced to 25 years behind bars for a 2021 burglary and rape in Valparaiso.

Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer nearly sided with the prosecution's request for 30 years, saying Ratliff, 36, needs to be punished and society needs to be protected.

The judge further labeled Ratliff a sexually violent predator and required him to undergo sex offender treatment, registration and lifetime parole.

Defense attorney Mark Chargualaf had sought a nine-year sentence and pitched the idea of suspending some of that time for probation, arguing Ratliff will be released at some point and could yet be a contributing member of society.

"I just ask the court not to take my life away from me," Ratliff pleaded shortly before sentencing.

Choking up at times, Ratliff said he has a wife and six children he needs to support and is neither violent nor a predator.

A jury found Ratliff guilty early last month of rape, burglary resulting in bodily injury and residential entry, and misdemeanor battery resulting in bodily injury, according to the court.

It was the second time Ratliff was tried on the charges. The first go-around ended in a mistrial after Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Harry Peterson repeatedly referred in opening arguments to a prior and uncharged rape allegation as if it had actually occurred, officials said.

Peterson said Friday that Ratliff has a lengthy criminal history with numerous pending cases.

Clymer set a Dec. 15 hearing to address those cases before Ratliff is taken to prison.
PORTAGE  A mother arrested earlier this week along with her son following a fight among students at Portage High School said Friday morning she is embarrassed she became so upset, but was reacting to the bullying her son has endured for more than a year.

"I was hysterical," said 41-year-old Portage resident Mary Boyd. "I was upset."

Portage police said they arrested Boyd Monday outside the school on a charge of disorderly conduct after she ignored repeated orders to stop yelling profanities and then confronted a man as he arrived at the building.

Boyd said she had gone to the school Monday morning after learning secondhand that her 15-year-old son, who is in the ninth grade, had been beaten up by another student, who has continuously bullied him since middle school.

Boyd said she had raised concerns with officials back when her son was at the middle school. When the bullying continued this year at the high school, she said she was assured by school officials that it would be brought to an end.

But that did not happen, and as a result, Boyd said she became very upset upon learning that her son was beaten up Monday, and upon coming face-to-face for the first time with the other boy's parents.

She then learned her son was being taken to the county juvenile detention center.

"It just broke my heart," Boyd said. "I was short of breath."

Boyd acknowledged reacting at the scene, but said she was following police orders to go back to her vehicle until the other parents began taunting her through a window at the school. The next thing she knew she was being taken into custody.

"I'm embarrassed," she said. "I'm humiliated about this."

Amanda Alaniz, superintendent of Portage Township Schools, said when contacted Friday by The Times, "Our Portage Township Schools staff take allegations of bullying very seriously, and having open lines of communication between parents, students, and staff is the best way to prevent bullying from escalating."

"Students can report their concerns anytime to a trusted adult within their school," she said. "Our school administrators and resource officers will always investigate all reports of bullying and take the appropriate logistical, disciplinary, and/or legal action."

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.

"We often remind our students and families that if they see something or hear something concerning, they need to say something," Alaniz said. "School safety is the responsibility of the entire school community."

Boyd said she never thought she would see her son in custody. She said while he's not perfect, he is a good student and just wanted to be left alone by the other boy, who was hounding him to choose sides among groups of students at the school.

Boyd said her son loves going to Portage High School and is now heartbroken over the potential of not being able to return because of the ongoing bullying.

One of the two juveniles arrested Monday faces charges of resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct, while the other faces charges of battery and disorderly conduct, police said.

Officers said they were called just before noon Monday to the school at the corner of U.S. 6 and Airport Road where they found a large group of students gathered in a hallway near an exit door.

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.

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 said he had to "take him to the ground" to stop him and then took the student to the school office, noting that the boy was, "moving his jaw around quite a bit. I later learned he had pain and discomfort from the fight."

The officer said in his report he had several positive interactions with both students during the school year and, "both have previously demonstrated to me that they are capable of being very good people. However, both have made a series of poor choices, both criminal and not."

Boyd said her son has since been released from juvenile detention.

She is scheduled to make an initial appearance Dec. 20 before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Thode on her criminal charge.
CROWN POINT  The wife of Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. testified in a deposition that she saw him drinking alcohol at a Crown Point bar prior to an alleged aborted police chase that led to his indictment on charges of felony resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor reckless driving charges.

Melissa Martinez confirmed in the May 18, 2022 deposition that she saw her husband drinking during a Sept. 18, 2021, breast cancer benefit at Buddy & Pal's Place.

Later on Sept. 18, 2021, according to police, Oscar Martinez left Buddy & Pal's and drove his unmarked Jeep TrackHawk 96 mph in a 45 mph.

Oscar Martinez is accused of then leading two Crown Point police officers on a chase into Merrillville while their lights and sirens were activated. The officers ended the pursuit when the driver they were chasing turned on the TrackHawk's police emergency lights, and the case was later referred to the Indiana State Police post in Fort Wayne for further investigation.

Oscar Martinez was indicted Jan. 6, 2022.

Melissa Martinez was deposed in connection with the criminal case. After she answered, "Yes," when asked by Special Prosecutor Stanley Levco if she saw her husband drink alcohol at Buddy & Pal's, her attorney, Robert Varga, and defense attorney Maryam Afshar-Stewart, objected on the grounds of marital privilege. Varga instructed Melissa Martinez not to answer the question.

In addition to her testifying that she saw her husband drinking, text messages from Melissa Martinez to Oscar Martinez were introduced at the deposition that showed she believed he had been drinking.

Special Prosecutors Stanley Levco and David O. Thomas filed a brief in May to request the judge's oversight to direct Melissa Martinez to answer eight deposition questions she did not initially answer.

In a lengthy document filed in response to prosecutor's brief, defense attorneys Afshar-Stewart, Paul Stracci and J. Michael Woods made multiple arguments on why Melissa Martinez should not have to answer the questions. While they argued marital privilege, they also said the questions were not relevant to the pending case against Oscar Martinez.

During a Nov. 20 hearing, Afshar-Stewart said allowing the public to have access to communications between spouses is an encroachment of confidentiality.

She said the "intrusion opens up a Pandora's box of martial harm."

The defense requested the remainder of the hearing be closed to the public as they discussed the contents of the deposition questions, to which the judge agreed.

Oscar Martinez referred questions about the deposition to Stracci, who was not available for comment Thursday.

Oscar Martinez has denied the allegations in the indictment. His attorneys have made multiple efforts to get the charges dismissed, including filing motions in a trial court and Court of Appeals. None have been successful. In May, the Indiana Supreme Court denied his request to review the case.

Special Judge Jeryl Leach issued an order Thursday to keep the deposition, containing testimony from Martinez's wife, unavailable to the public. The deposition questions have been sealed since May 2022 when Leach ruled the transcript of the deposition would not be publicly available under further order from the court.

Leach also ordered that three briefs related to the deposition questions be unsealed.

Leach wrote in the order that none of the statements introduced at the Nov. 20 hearing about the deposition questions "create a serious or imminent danger to the defendant and deponent's privilege."
A gastroenterologist has joined Franciscan Physician Network in Crown Point.

Dr. Ahmed Akhter is seeing new patients in Crown Point. Hes practicing medicine out of a Franciscan Physician Network office at 1205 S. Main St., Suite 201 in the Franciscan Physician Network Crown Point Internal Medicine and Specialty Center at the Franciscan Health Hospital in Crown Point.

Akhter specializes in advanced endoscopy, hepatobiliary, pancreatic disease and endoscopic mucosal resection of large polyps. Hes fluent in English and Urdu.

He earned his medical degree from the Big Ten school the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. He completed his residency and fellowship at another Big Ten college, the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.

Hes affiliated with the Franciscan Health Hospital in Crown Point and accepts many forms of insurance, including Medicare.
Historians from the Indiana Historical Society and the University of Notre Dame are backing a push to rename East Chicago's Heritage Hall Community Center after Medal of Honor recipient Emilio De La Garza.

More than 530 people also signed a Change.org petition urging the city to rename the building after the East Chicago Washington graduate who was killed jumping on a grenade to save his fellow Marines during the Vietnam War.

Indiana Historical Society Curator of Multicultural Collections Nicole Martinez-LeGrand and University of Notre Dame Assistant Professor Emiliano Aguilar, an East Chicago native, wrote letters to city officials asking the city to honor De La Garza, the son of a World War II veteran who left behind a wife and daughter.

The East Chicago City Council voted 6-2 in October to rename the community center in Veterans Park by City Hall in honor of De La Garza, a machine gunner who selflessly shielded fellow Marines from the blast of a grenade after they came under fire while out on patrol.

But that resolution was vetoed by Mayor Anthony Copeland, who said the recognition was deserved, but there was no attempt to get public comment and no public hearing before the council's vote, and more generally there is no city policy for naming or renaming buildings or roads in honor of a person.

At an Oct. 25 meeting, following Copeland's veto, the council did not have the votes necessary to override the veto. More than 70 people rallied outside City Hall before that meeting in support of renaming the building for De La Garza, including from local veterans organizations that have been pushing for the change.

"Emilio de la Garza was the first Latino in the state of Indiana to receive the Medal of Honor," Martinez-LeGrand said. "Given that the city of East Chicago holds several historical firsts for Latino History for the State of Indiana, this should not be such a hard decision."

East Chicago also has Indiana's first and longest-running Mexican Independence parade, Indianas first Spanish language newspaper, Indianas first Latino newspaper publisher, Indianas first Mexican-American-owned business, Indianas first Mexican Roman Catholic Church, Indianas first and longest-running bilingual newspaper, Indianas first publicly elected Latino official and Indianas first Latino city councilman, she noted.

"My question to the city administration and the city council is, how long can we continue to ignore Latino History? Other cities in Lake County, who do not share or can claim historic Latino firsts continue to celebrate and acknowledge Emilios ultimate sacrifice," she wrote in her letter. "Why does Mayor Copeland and members of the City Council continue to suppress this history? A gentle reminder to voting members of the city council, the public comments and minutes recorded today will reflect as historical record. Ask yourself, how do I want to be remembered in history?"

Aguilar, an East Chicago Central grad who lived in the city for 25 years, noted the council voted to rename the portion of Euclid Ave that the De La Garza family lived on in his honor in 1973. But the honor, proposed by East Chicagos first Mexican-American councilman, Jesse Gomez, Sr., was rescinded after residents protested.

"No council member can honestly say that De La Garza does not deserve this honor. And yet, we cannot commemorate one of our own? So many other communities have done so. In April of this year, Merrillvilles Marine Corps League named their shelter in honor of him," he wrote. "In 2011, a plaque was installed at Edward P. Robinson Community Veterans Memorial in Munster for him. Camp Pendleton, California, dedicated De La Garza Street as a part of their Military Housing complex. Yet, here in his hometown, nothing."

The contributions of minority veterans often have been downplayed, but this would be an opportunity to tell their stories, he wrote.

"For fifty years, this Council, as an institution, and the city have failed to commemorate and recognize the legacy of one of the citys most decorated veterans," he wrote. "One of only three Indiana men to receive the Medal of Honor for service during Vietnam. While no one has disputed that Emilio de la Garza deserves this honor, the decision to once again deny the veteran commemoration in his hometown continues the unfortunate legacy and inaction of the East Chicago Common Council. You each have an opportunity to ensure that it does not become fifty-one."
CROWN POINT  It was a sea of blue at St. Mary Catholic Community School recently as students observed Diabetes Awareness Day.

They were encouraged to wear jeans and wear blue if a free-will donation was brought in. Blue is the designated color for diabetes.

The proceeds will be given to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

St. Marys Student Council representatives came up with the idea as November is diabetes awareness month. One of St. Marys teachers, a Student Council sponsor, has Type 1 diabetes.

Two of the more common types of diabetes  a metabolic condition characterized by elevated blood glucose (sugar)  are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body process blood sugar and Type 1 is a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin (to help regulate blood sugar).

In addition to a St. Marys teacher, two students also have Type 1 diabetes. All three of them have a continuous blood glucose monitoring system and an Omnipod which provides nonstop insulin delivery through a tubeless, waterproof pump called a pod.

The continuous monitoring system results in very few finger sticks and the Omnipod eliminates multiple daily insulin injections.

Teacher Michelle Sarabia said this allows her to live somewhat of a more normal life. One student said she likes the Omnipod because it gives the insulin automatically and she does not have to get shots. Another student, Emma Trendowski, said the Dexcom and Omnipod mean less finger sticks and less insulin shots.

Several other staff members have experienced and witnessed changes as they have family members, such as a spouse, child or grandchild, with diabetes.

Research has made many advancements over the years and hopefully will continue to do so, making diabetes more manageable for people and possibly even a cure some day.

Students with diabetes at St. Mary School receive care and monitoring from registered nurse, Patti Miskus.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
A nursing student from Michigan City is studying for a health care career with the help of the Franciscan Health Michigan City Maria Petti Memorial Scholarship.

Ebony Thomas, a 41-year-old married mother of two, has worked as a surgical technician in South Bend for 15 years, but originally intended to become a nurse.

I wanted to go for nursing, but the program was full, so they suggested surgical tech as an alternative, Thomas said. I thought it was so interesting and I was enjoying it, then they came and said a spot opened up and I could come to nursing. I was already two weeks in and learned so much, so I said, Ill go back to nursing later.

She returned to college and now is near completing her nursing degree at Purdue Northwest Westville in LaPorte County.

Franciscan Health Michigan City selected her for the 2023 Maria Petti Memorial Scholarship. The hospital has given out the scholarship since 2009 to honor Maria Petti, who worked as a nurse at Franciscan Health Michigan City before dying of cancer in 2008 at the age of 53.

It provides up to $5,000 in financial assistance to undergraduate students in LaPorte and Porter County who are seeking surgical careers. Franciscan Health will consider hiring the recipients upon graduation.

Im getting my second degree and still trying to pay off the first one, Thomas said. Our oldest son is in college, too. The scholarship is a blessing. It helped me not have to stress so much about getting my tuition payment in.

Franciscan Health Michigan City vice president and chief nursing officer Sarah Jones said Thomas was a deserving recipient for the scholarship program carrying on Pettis legacy.

Franciscan Health Michigan City is pleased to carry on Maria Pettis legacy with the scholarship named in her memory, Jones said. We congratulate Ebony on her scholarship award and wish her all the best in her future nursing career.

The public can donate to the Franciscan Health Foundations Maria Petti Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund. For more information, call 219-661-3401 or visit www.franciscanhealthfoundation.org.
Attorney General Todd Rokita isn't giving up his anti-TikTok crusade despite orders recently issued in Fort Wayne by an Allen County judge dismissing the Republican's two lawsuits against the popular online video sharing service.

A spokesperson for the attorney general's office said Thursday that Rokita may appeal the judge's decisions because TikTok's "business model intentionally deceives children and adults to drive up profits by saying it is appropriate for kids and that your personal data is safe."

"Neither is true," the attorney general's spokesperson said. "Our lawsuit against TikTok was filed to protect our children and to protect our data privacy that we allege is being stolen by the Chinese Communist Party."

Allen Superior Judge Jennifer DeGroote dismissed the cases because she found an insufficient connection between TikTok and Indiana to warrant a lawsuit against the California-based company in the Hoosier State.

Moreover, DeGroote said the attorney general cannot seek to enforce Indiana's Deceptive Consumer Sales Act against an online application that's given away for free, and TikTok's potential misclassification of its content on an app store questionnaire is not actionable under the consumer protection law.

"We respect the court's ruling. However, we also disagree with it on various points and are considering appellate options at this time," the attorney general's spokesperson said.

Rokita claimed in one lawsuit that TikTok's business model inappropriately entices children to use the application by falsely suggesting its content is safe and appropriate for 13- to 17-year-olds, even though sexual content, profanity and drug references are easily accessible by that age group on TikTok.

His second suit asserted that TikTok has reams of highly sensitive data and personal information about Indiana consumers and the company has deceived those consumers into believing that their information is protected from the Chinese government.

Following the dismissal of both claims, the attorney general's office said it hopes other states will "take up this ongoing fight against a foreign 'big tech' threat."

"We were the first state to file suit against TikTok  but not the last."

While Indiana's TikTok lawsuits were filed by the attorney general, they actually were pursued by attorneys from Cooper & Kirk PLLC, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm working for the state on a contingency basis with the potential to earn a multimillion-dollar payout based on any recovery from TikTok, according to court records.

Records show more than 8 billion videos were uploaded to TikTok in the United States between Jan. 1, 2021, and Jan. 8, 2023, and Americans viewed 21 trillion TikTok videos during the same period.

Gallery: Get to know these new Indiana laws that took effect July 1 AirTags Alcohol permits Animal facilities Army veteran in Aberdeen repeatedly victimized by teens, calling him a 'terrorist' Book bans Bullying Charter schools Child molesting Childrens hospitals Domestic violence Drinking water Electric/hybrid vehicles Encroachment FAFSA Financial literacy Firefighting equipment Food and beverage tax Gender-affirming care Gary schools Gasoline tax Human trafficking Illiana Expressway Inmate gender Insurance fund Juror pay Juveniles Lake County convention center Lake County recorder Landlords Little Calumet River Lost farmland Machine guns Mail-in ballots Mental health Military bases Military pay Pension investments Public health School board elections Service animals Sex education SNAP assistance Speed cameras State comptroller Storage units Tax sales Taxpayer receipt Teachers unions Throwing stars Transit Development District 21st Century Scholars Valparaiso lawsuit Xylazine
Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Tourists visit an exhibition on Chinese tea culture at Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Tourists visit an exhibition on Chinese tea culture at Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A tourist visits the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

A girl takes photos at the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Tourists visit an exhibition on Chinese tea culture at Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

Tourists walk to the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

People walk by a moat of the Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

This photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows part of the Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City, with modern buildings in the background in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Roof ridges of the architecture of the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, are silhouetted in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Editor: JYZ
This was published in 2021 to mark the 40th anniversary of Sandra Day OConnor taking a seat on the Supreme Court. She died on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.



This has been a month of sad remembrances  the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, of course, and the anniversary last Saturday of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. An additional, less noted anniversary is an occasion not for sorrow but for wonder. Forty years ago this Saturday, on Sept. 25, 1981, Sandra Day OConnor took her seat on the Supreme Court.

I use the word wonder because of how what once seemed remarkable is today a commonplace; of the 12 justices to join the court in the ensuing decades, four have been women, including three of the last five. Most people in the United States today were not yet born on that early fall afternoon when Sandra OConnor took the oath of office and ended 191 years of an all-male Supreme Court.

The overflowing audience included President Ronald Reagan, whose nomination of a little-known judge on Arizonas intermediate appellate court fulfilled a campaign promise  regarded by some as impetuous  to name the first woman to the court. For those of us who were old enough in 1981 to recognize the significance of the breakthrough, the sight of Justice OConnor on a bench that included aging nominees of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson was electrifying.

The history of her appointment is not the only reason to think today about Sandra OConnor, who retired 15 years ago and is now, at 91, living with dementia. At a time when the Supreme Courts behavior seems to embody and even to amplify the countrys polarization, its worth reflecting on the path she took during her quarter-century on the court.
The opening night of a revival of Richard Wagners Tannhauser at the Metropolitan Opera in New York was interrupted Thursday night by climate protesters shouting No Opera from the balconies on both sides of the opera house.

Protesters with the group Extinction Rebellion NYC unfurled banners that read No Opera On A Dead Planet, according to Peter Gelb, the general manager at the Met. Met officials were then forced to bring down the curtain at around 9:30 p.m., halfway through the second act.

About eight minutes passed before security officials ushered out the protesters perched on the balconies, Mr. Gelb said.

The crowd jeered the demonstrators and burst into applause when the curtains again opened, but the elation was short-lived.
A federal judge in Montana on Thursday blocked a statewide ban of TikTok from taking effect next year, at least temporarily preventing the nations first such prohibition on the popular video app.

The judge, Donald W. Molloy, said Montana could act as a leader in protecting its residents from harm but must act within the constitutional legal context, and he granted a preliminary injunction to stop the TikTok ban. He said a ban of the Chinese-owned app most likely violated the First Amendment and a clause that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations.

The current record leaves little doubt that Montanas Legislature and attorney general were more interested in targeting Chinas ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers, Judge Molloy wrote in his opinion. He added that Montanas foray into foreign affairs interprets the United States current foreign policy interests and intrudes on them.

Alex Haurek, a spokesman for TikTok, said the company was pleased the judge rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living and find community on TikTok.
A 3-year-old boy was killed in a hit and run in Queens on Wednesday night, the fifth child to be killed by a vehicle this year in New York City.

The boy, Quintus Chen, was walking down College Point Boulevard near 41st Avenue in the Flushing neighborhood when he was struck by the drivers side tire of a white sedan that was pulling away from the curb, according to the police. He fell to the ground, the police said, and the driver continued south on College Point Boulevard.

Quintus was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens where he was pronounced dead, according to the police.

Late Thursday afternoon, police arrested Kevin Gomez, 20, of Queens, in connection with Quintuss death on charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and unlicensed operation, according to the police.
Follow our live updates on the House vote to expel George Santos.

As the House of Representatives opened the floor on Thursday to debate the fate of George Santos, Republican of New York, the arguments over whether to expel him took an immediate and indecorous turn.

Mr. Santoss use of Botox was invoked several times, even by those defending him. His detractors pointed to falsified ties to the Holocaust and to his claims, contradicted by paperwork, that his mother was at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. The final speaker calling to expel Mr. Santos concluded with the briefest of remarks: You, sir, are a crook.

The dramatic floor debate was, perhaps, a fitting culmination to a political career that has been defined by spectacle, scandal and lies.

All that could come to an end on Friday, when the House is scheduled to vote on a resolution to expel Mr. Santos, 35, following the release of a damning and detailed report from the House Ethics Committee that found substantial evidence that he had violated federal law.
Newborn bottlenose dolphins sport a row of hairs along the tops of their jaws. But once the animals are weaned, the whiskers fall out.

Everybody thought these structures are vestigial  so without any function, said Guido Dehnhardt, a marine mammal zoologist at the University of Rostock in Germany.

But Dr. Dehnhardt and his colleagues have discovered that the pits left by those hairs can perceive electricity with enough sensitivity that they may help the dolphins snag fish or navigate the ocean. The team reported its findings Thursday in The Journal of Experimental Biology.

Dr. Dehnhardt first studied the whisker pits of a different species, the Guiana dolphin. He expected to find the typical structures of hair follicles, but those were missing. Yet the pits were loaded with nerve endings. He and his colleagues realized that the hairless follicles looked like the electricity-sensing structures on sharks and found that one Guiana dolphin responded to electrical signals. They wondered whether other toothed cetaceans, including bottlenose dolphins, could also sense electricity.
Floridas Republican Party found itself roiled on Thursday after the police said they were investigating an accusation made two months ago that the partys chairman had engaged in sexual battery.

The chairman, Christian Ziegler, was elected to the post this year as top Florida Republicans were fretting over whether to support Gov. Ron DeSantis or former President Donald J. Trump for their partys 2024 nomination. Mr. Ziegler was seen as the choice of Mr. Trumps allies.

No charges have been filed against Mr. Ziegler, who denied wrongdoing through his lawyer, Derek Byrd.

We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded, that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated, Mr. Byrd said in a statement. Mr. Ziegler responded to a request for comment by sending the same statement from his lawyer.
President Biden hosted President Joao Lourenco of Angola at the White House on Thursday, promoting a major U.S. investment in the country as he tries to shore up his pledge to revitalize relations with African nations.

The visit marked three decades of diplomatic relations between the countries, and the two leaders discussed cooperation on critical issues such as trade, energy, climate and a $1 billion U.S.-backed infrastructure project that would aid Angolas economy. But it came as the administration has faced questions about the United States commitment to the continent as plans for a long-promised visit by Mr. Biden  originally expected this year  remain up in the air.

Mr. Biden made the pledge nearly a year ago at a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, during which he convened delegations of 49 nations for the first time in eight years. At the summit, Mr. Biden declared that the United States is all in on Africas future, and made a litany of promises for how it would demonstrate its commitment, including telling leaders that he was looking forward to seeing many of you in your home countries.

On Thursday, Mr. Biden appeared to try to kick-start that commitment again at a critical time. The United States lags behind major countries like Russia and China in competing for influence on the continent, which has become an increasingly important sphere of global competition, with the fastest-growing, youngest population in the world.
On a rainy night in June, President Biden toasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India during a state dinner at the White House, celebrating two great friends, and two great powers  a gesture of flattery for a leader he has enlisted to help the United States check Chinas ambition and counter Russias aggression.

According to the White House, the president had no idea that a significant test to that relationship was unfolding, even during the state visit.

On June 22, as Mr. Biden pulled out all of the diplomatic stops to bring Mr. Modi closer, a senior official in the Indian government was offering the go ahead approving the murder-for-hire plot surrounding a Sikh American on U.S. soil, according to a Justice Department indictment filed in a federal court in New York Wednesday.

There was one flaw: The hit man turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer, prosecutors said, and the plot was foiled. The suspect, an Indian national accused of trying to arrange the killing, was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30, eight days after the state dinner.
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa thanked her Republican colleague Rand Paul of Kentucky on Thursday for performing the Heimlich maneuver on her as she choked during a Senate lunch.

A reporter for Politico reported the news on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote that senators had told him that Ms. Ernst was OK after the incident.

Ms. Ernst quickly used the experience to take a swing at Democrats, writing on social media: Cant help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats. Thanks, Dr. @RandPaul!

Her office did not provide more information about the episode, saying in an email, Thanks for checking in.
On November 30, the World Bank approved a new project for Ukraine, Investing in Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, and Efficiency (INSPIRE) worth $1.2 billion, which will provide financing for 29 types of social benefits to the most vulnerable segments of the population Ukraine, suffering from the devastating consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The INSPIRE project is financed by a $1.2 billion World Bank loan, backed by a credit enhancement from the Advancing Needed Credit Enhancement for Ukraine (ADVANCE Ukraine) Trust Fund, supported by the Government of Japan," the bank said in its message on Friday.

It is noted that implemented by Ukraine's Ministry of Social Policy, the project specifically aims to help people with disabilities, orphans, children under guardianship, foster families, socially vulnerable students, and victims of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster and human trafficking.

The INSPIRE project will also support the reform efforts of the Government of Ukraine to improve the coverage and efficiency of important social safety net programs, such as the Guaranteed Minimum Income, Housing and Utilities Subsidy, and Internally Displaced Persons assistance program.

"This project is expected to reach almost 10 million Ukrainians at a time of greatest need. It will strengthen the Government of Ukraine's capacity to provide social support to the poor and vulnerable at a critical time, when winter is coming and millions of Ukrainians need additional support to pay their bills and heat their homes," said Arup Banerji, the World Bank Regional Country Director for Eastern Europe.
Six former correctional officers at a West Virginia jail are facing federal charges in the death of an inmate who was assaulted by a group of guards and died last year, the Justice Department said Thursday.

The inmate, Quantez Burks, 37, had been at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, W.Va., for less than a day on March 1, 2022, when he was beaten by a group of officers and died the same day, said Matt Harman, a lawyer for Mr. Burkss family.

According to the indictment, which identified Mr. Burks only by his initials, an officer had called for help after Mr. Burks tried to push past a correctional officer while going from a jail pod to a hallway.

Mr. Burks was then taken by three officers to a blind spot inside the jail that was not monitored by security cameras, according to charging documents. There, they assaulted him in retaliation for trying to get past the officer, prosectors said.
Guy Philippe, the former Haitian police commander, politician and rebel who staged a coup against his countrys then-president in 2004 and served six years in a U.S. federal prison for money laundering, was deported to Haiti on Thursday, according to one of his attorneys in Haiti, Emmanuel Jeanty.

The return of Mr. Philippe, 55, has fueled concerns that he will add to the turmoil in the Caribbean country, already in a fragile state because of political instability and a rise in killings as heavily armed gangs try to quell a citizen-led vigilante movement.

It was not immediately clear what the authorities plans were for handling Mr. Philippes potentially disruptive presence in Haiti.

Upon arriving at the airport in Port-au-Prince, where local media reports said some of his supporters where seen rallying, Mr. Philippe was taken by the Haitian authorities to the headquarters of the Judicial Police Department, which is responsible for investigating crimes.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken blamed Hamas for the broken truce on Friday and said that he was already seeing signs that Israel had taken new steps to protect civilians as it resumed its military campaign.

Speaking just before his departure from Dubai at the end of a two-day Middle East visit, Mr. Blinken said it was important to understand why the pause came to an end: It came to an end because of Hamas. Hamas reneged on commitments it made.

Israel has also publicly blamed Hamas for the end of the temporary truce, but Hamas has said Israeli airstrikes were to blame.

Mr. Blinken noted that, hours before the early morning rupture of the seven-day pause, Hamas committed an atrocious terrorist attack in Jerusalem, killing three people on Thursday. Israeli authorities said two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem in an attack that also wounded six others.

Mr. Blinken added that Hamas also fired rockets into Israel on Friday and failed to free hostages it had pledged to release.

He said that Israel had been taking steps aimed at preserving civilian life, including releasing public information about locations that would be largely spared from military attacks. During a visit on Thursday to Israel, Mr. Blinken met with Israeli leaders and urged them to limit civilian casualties, protect critical infrastructure like hospitals and power plants and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza in this next phase of the war.

Mr. Blinken spoke to reporters shortly after attending the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. On the sidelines of the session, he met with counterparts from several Arab states, including Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, as well as the Palestinian Authority. He said those discussions included how we get on a path to a just and lasting peace, and moves toward a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.
As Hamas released more hostages on Thursday under a fragile truce deal, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Israeli leaders and urged them to take concrete steps to reduce civilian deaths before the military resumed an expected offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Mr. Blinken said he had made clear to Israeli leaders the imperative of a clear plan in place that puts a premium on protecting civilians before any military operation begins in southern Gaza. The Israeli government agreed with that approach, he said at a news conference in Tel Aviv, without citing any specific Israeli commitments.

With the pause in fighting set to expire in a matter of hours, Mr. Blinken said that the United States did not oppose a resumption of Israels offensive despite international pressure for a long-term cease-fire, saying that Israel had a right to protect itself after Hamass Oct. 7 cross-border attack.

Israel has the right to do everything it can to ensure that the slaughter that Hamas carried out on Oct. 7 can never be repeated, Mr. Blinken said on Thursday evening after meeting with Israeli leaders. Hamas cannot remain in control of Gaza. It cannot retain the capacity to repeat that carnage.
Hamas freed another group of eight Israeli hostages on Thursday, including dual nationals from Mexico, Russia and Uruguay.

Hours later, the Israeli Prison Service announced the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

It was the seventh consecutive day of releases of Israeli hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli prisons under the truce, which had been renewed early Thursday morning minutes before it was set to expire. That extension was set to last just 24 hours, and diplomats expressed some pessimism about the prospects for another extension to be agreed upon before the current arrangement expires on Friday.

Heres what we know about the Israeli hostages released on Thursday.

Mia Schem, 21

Image Mia Schem. Credit... Hostages and Missing Families Forum, via Reuters
The fragile truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on Friday morning because the adversaries could not find common ground for further exchanges of hostages and prisoners, according to two Israeli officials involved in the talks.

Publicly, Israel and Hamas blamed each other for military activity that violated the weeklong cease-fire  Israel said Hamas had fired a rocket from Gaza into southern Israel, while Hamas said Israeli troop operations had resumed in northern Gaza. But the two Israeli officials said the real reason the pause ended was a stalemate in prisoner-swap negotiations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel had hoped for at least one more round of exchanges, said these officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions. But Hamas had begun demanding more Palestinians be released from Israeli jails, including some higher-profile detainees, in exchange for the remaining hostages held in Gaza, who include Israeli soldiers.

Mr. Netanyahu had already been telling his cabinet this week that a return to military operations in Gaza was inevitable, the two officials said. On Thursday, after meeting with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Mr. Netanyahu said: I have sworn to destroy Hamas. Nothing will stop us.

Mr. Netanyahu, who leads a largely right-wing coalition of parties, is facing intense pressure from the Israeli public and from his political allies to press on in the war with Hamas. Aides close to the prime minister have said his political future largely depends on his ability to deliver what would be seen as a decisive victory over Hamas.

At the same time, international pressure is mounting on Mr. Netanyahu to end the war, which has deepened a humanitarian crisis and killed more than 13,000 people in Gaza, according to health authorities in the territory.
An appellate court in Illinois on Friday rejected Jussie Smolletts challenge of his conviction on charges of filing a false police report about a racist and homophobic attack in 2019.

Mr. Smollett was sentenced to five months in jail last year but only served six days of the term before he was released on appeal.

Lawyers for the actor  who was starring in the music-industry drama Empire when he first reported the he had been the victim of a hate crime  argued that Mr. Smollett had been unjustly punished for the same crime twice when a special prosecutor revived a case against him that had been dismissed by state prosecutors. They asserted that the prosecution had violated the double jeopardy clause of the Constitutions Fifth Amendment, asking the court to dismiss the case against him altogether.

The appellate court was not persuaded. Justice David R. Navarro wrote in the opinion that the State was not barred from reprosecuting Smollett.
Dear listeners,

Sitting at No. 8 on this weeks Billboard Hot 100  right between a sleek hit from the 20-year-old pop star Tate McRae and the latest offering from Taylor Swifts vault  is a 65-year-old song, sung by an artist who is about to turn 79. Which, if you do the math (Ill wait), means that artist recorded it when she was just 13.

That song is the holiday anthem Rockin Around the Christmas Tree, and the artist is Brenda Lee, an icon of American music I was lucky enough to interview in her Nashville home a few weeks ago, for a profile published earlier this week. Christmas classics often have a longer tail than most pop songs, but the emphasis that Billboard places on streaming numbers now means that some of those classics climb (and even top) the charts each December. The fact that this year marks the 65th anniversary of Rockin is also giving it an added boost.

But the reason I wanted to profile Lee is to remind people that she is much, much more than her Christmas standard. In the 1950s, the petite firecracker was an early pioneer of rock n roll, her raspy voice providing a fitting soundtrack for teenage rebellion. But she could also win over those teenagers parents with sophisticated ballads that recalled crooners three times her age. Though the Georgia-born Lee was marketed as a pop act, she was a Southern girl at heart, and in the 1970s she settled in Nashville and was a consistent presence on the country charts.

Lee is a local legend in Music City, but in the wider world shes not quite a household name  at least not compared to her peers. She is among the four artists who charted the most singles in the 1960s, a whopping 47. Who are the others? Oh, just Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Ray Charles.
On Jan. 20, 1957, a 14-year-old pianist named Daniel Barenboim made his Carnegie Hall debut, playing a Prokofiev concerto. In 1968, just 25, he appeared at the hall for the first time as a conductor.

Some 150 Carnegie performances later, Barenboim, now 81 and one of the great musical figures of our time, was to have returned this week to conduct the Staatskapelle Berlin in Brahmss four symphonies over two evenings, Thursday and Friday.

But earlier this year, health issues forced him from the Staatskapelles podium, where he had reigned since the early 1990s. And while he had still hoped to travel to Carnegie with the orchestra as part of a four-city North American tour, those health problems ended up making the trip impossible. It would have been a poignant American swan song for Barenboim, bringing him not just to Carnegie but also to Chicago, where he led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1991 to 2006.

In September, Christian Thielemann, 64, a master of Austro-German classics like Brahmss symphonies, was named Barenboims replacement at the Staatskapelle, which is also the pit orchestra of the Berlin State Opera. But Thielemann couldnt take on the tour.
Christmas came early this year in Dublin, but too late for a beloved adopted son.

On the last evening in November, a wet Thursday, cars at the rush hour stop lights blared Fairytale of New York on a thousand radios. From the sidewalk, you could hear drivers and passengers singing along: The boys from the N.Y.P.D. choir still singing Galway Bay, and the bells were ringing out for Christmas Day.

The songs renowned lyricist and co-writer, Shane MacGowan, the British-born frontman of the punk-folk band the Pogues, died earlier that day. Ireland  his greatest muse, and ancestral home  was coming to terms with a death that had, thanks to MacGowans well-known addictions to alcohol and drugs, long been foretold.

MacGowan would have turned 66 if he had lived to his next birthday  on Christmas Day, the subject of Fairytale of New York, the Pogues greatest hit, in which an elderly Irish couple berate and console each other for lives gone to seed in a soured Big Apple.
Moldova and Greece signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of gas supplies, Moldovan state-owned company Energocom said in a statement, citing Acting Director Victor Bynzar.

Yesterday in Athens, he signed the document with Acting Director of DEPA Commercial Konstantinos Xifaras, he said.

"Moldova and Greece are intensifying cooperation in the field of natural gas supplies, including liquefied gas, as well as in coordinating the use of gas storage facilities and transport infrastructure. The signing of the document means deepening the fruitful and strategic cooperation that we have with the DFPA," Bynzar said.

Thanks to this cooperation, Energocom will be able to meet the needs of the domestic market of Moldova and diversify its sources and supply routes, he said.

"The energy market of Moldova will have access to liquefied gases, including from the United States, brought in via terminals in Greece and the Trans-Balkan pipeline in Moldova, Ukraine and Central Europe," Bynzar said.

Energocom started working with DEPA in April of this year, and since May the Greek company has won several tenders and supplied gas to Moldova for current consumption and for storage ahead of the new heating season.
Valery Gergiev, the star Russian maestro and prominent supporter of President Vladimir V. Putin, was tapped on Friday to lead the storied Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, the Russian government announced.

The move, effective immediately, will expand Mr. Gergievs dominance at the pinnacle of Russia culture. He already serves as the artistic and general director of the nations other premier performing arts institution, the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. In Moscow, he replaces Vladimir Urin, the Bolshois general director since 2013, who signed a petition last year expressing opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Mr. Gergiev will serve a five-year term, according to an order signed by Prime Minister Mikhail V. Mishustin. In a post on Telegram, Russias government said that Mr. Urin had been relieved of this position at his own request.

Mr. Gergiev appeared on Friday alongside Mr. Urin at the Bolshoi, which houses renowned ballet and opera companies as well as an orchestra. He was introduced to the theaters staff by Tatyana Golikova, a deputy prime minister, and praised the Bolshois history of artistic excellence. Mr. Gergiev said the theater, which has lost many of its overseas engagements because of the war, should focus on working at home in Russia.
Thursdays made-for-TV exhibition match between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California was not, despite its name, a debate. Oh, there was debating, or the cable-news version: Sniping, insults, cross-talk and the delivery of packaged attacks between the red and blue leaders of states known for their oranges.

But The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate on Fox News was really a work of speculative fiction. Like Watchmen or The Plot Against America, it was a glimpse into an alternative timeline in which the country somehow took a different path.

In this reality, maybe Joseph R. Biden Jr., president of America-2, decided to pass the baton rather than dig his fingernails into it. Maybe the former president Donald J. Trump gracefully conceded defeat in 2020 and retired from politics to spend more time with his lawyers. Maybe the gerontocracy was yielding, and America-2 was turning a new page.

In our timeline, Mr. Newsom is not running for president, though his media ubiquity has spurred speculation that, were an opening to come available, he could fit it into his calendar. Mr. DeSantis is running for president, but he has been losing ground in the polls and supporter momentum.
In The Crown, the story of Diana, Princess of Wales, could only ever end one way. For Elizabeth Debicki, who played Diana in Seasons 5 and 6 of the Netflix series about the British royal family, the scenes that anticipate the inexorable tragedy in a Paris tunnel were both easy and terrible to shoot.

The terrible part was the responsibility. Diana had been a real person, a mother. She had really died in just this way, in a high-speed crash while fleeing a horde of paparazzi. Debicki, who took over the role from Emma Corrin, felt that she owed it to the viewers, many of whom remember Diana, to play the role with perfect accuracy and heart.

The ease came from having already played the character for a whole season. In Season 6, the voice, the gestures  those came naturally. Debicki, who grew up in Melbourne, Australia, employed a coastal metaphor. By that time, I was in the water, she said. Like, Im here. Lets swim.

The current was with her. Throughout Season 6 there are scenes of Diana and her new boyfriend, Dodi al-Fayed (Khalid Abdalla), fleeing the paparazzi. Its quite literally hours and hours and hours spent inside cars with people yelling and banging on the windows, she said. Pulling up, getting out, the absolute roar of sound, into the building, door shut, safe. And then we do it all again.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

Want all of The Times? Subscribe .
With the holidays upon us after a long and fraught year, carving out a few hours to lose yourself in a good mystery feels restorative. Here are crime novels of all categories, new and old, which will help you do just that.

Many readers, myself included, loved Nita Proses debut, The Maid, which introduced the delightful neurodivergent hotel housekeeper Molly Gray. She returns in THE MYSTERY GUEST (Ballantine, 304 pp., $29), which builds upon The Maids many charms.

Three years on, Molly is in a good place; shes the head maid at the five-star Regency Grand and in a fulfilling romantic relationship. So of course another dead body is about to wreck her careful equilibrium. The esteemed best-selling mystery writer J.D. Grimthorpe has chosen the Grand to give a news conference about future career moves. He takes a sip of tea, opens his mouth to begin the announcement and falls dead in front of fans, reporters, Molly and her staff.
With dire warnings of planetary catastrophe and urgent pleas to protect vulnerable populations, world leaders on Friday implored one another to stop burning fossil fuels and swiftly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are `dangerously heating the planet.

At the United Nations climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a parade of dignitaries invoked faith, science and economics in their calls for a rapid transition away from coal, oil and gas, and toward clean energy.

We cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels, Antonio Guterres, the U.N. secretary general, said. We must accelerate the just, equitable transition to renewables.

The annual meeting, known as COP28, comes near the end of what scientists forecast will be the hottest year in recorded history. Greenhouse gas emissions, mainly driven by the burning of fossil fuels, have now warmed the planet by about 1.2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Floods, fires, droughts and storms made worse by climate change are unleashing destruction around the world.
Shou Chew, TikToks chief executive, has been getting personally involved in efforts to address concerns that the app has fueled anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, in a sign of how seriously the company is taking the criticism.

In recent weeks, Mr. Chew, who lives in Singapore, has met in New York and on video calls with numerous prominent Jewish groups and leaders.

The meetings, arranged by TikTok, have been with organizations including the American Jewish Committee, UJA-Federation of New York and the Anti-Defamation League, the groups told The New York Times. He also joined a call with dozens of Jewish tech and business leaders, including founders of Tinder and the apparel brand Bonobos, as well as Facebooks ex-chief revenue officer.

In the meetings, Mr. Chew emphasized that he was there to listen and sought to explain how the company moderated misinformation and hate speech, according to three people who attended the meetings and would speak only on the condition of anonymity.
In a far corner of the temporary village housing the United Nations climate summit, the worlds largest cartel of fossil fuel producers plied skeptical young activists with chocolate and free pens.

It was Thursday afternoon. A continent away, in Vienna, the cartels members were voting to give the summit what amounts to another very small climate treat: at least a temporary reduction in oil and gas drilling. Thats the opposite of what President Biden, who has made climate policy a top priority during his administration, is delivering from the United States.

It was an opening-day irony for a COP28 summit that is already full of them, from its host country down to the so-called OPEC Pavilion in a building that is marked Urbanisation & Indigenous Peoples on the outside.

Tens of thousands of delegates are descending this month on Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and a major oil producer. Those delegates are celebrating an accelerating global transition toward low-emission sources of energy like wind and solar power. But expanding renewables is not enough to save the planet, scientists warn, so many delegates are demanding that the world rapidly phase out its use of fossil fuels.
Bad Education: Directors Cut

Stream it on Netflix.

Kai Kos transgressive boys-will-be-boys adventure is tonally uneasy and deliciously pulp. Fresh off their high school graduation, three friends  Wang (Kent Tsai), Han (Edison Song), and Chang (Berant Zhu)  dare each other to share their deepest, darkest secrets. Chang confesses to a rape, while Han shares a murder he committed for fun. The nerdy Wang sheepishly admits to cheating on a test. As a prank, the two friends goad Wang to commit an actual crime: Wang smashes a bottle across a gangsters head. What was meant to be a memorable night becomes an evening of doom.

Though the primary action witnesses the trio hijacking a taxi, Kos film is also a test of friendship. In scenes bathed in grisly red hues, these once close buddies turn on each other, culminating in an ending where each must decide if he will sacrifice a piece of himself to save the other.

Jawan

Stream it on Netflix.
When John Woo was a child, living in the dangerous slums of Hong Kong, he had two sanctuaries: the church and the movie theater. Both provided respite from a world of poverty and intense violence.

At the local theater, Woo and his mother would watch American westerns and escapist fantasies like The Wizard of Oz and Singin in the Rain. At night, hed use a Chinese brush to draw storybook images on a piece of glass. Hed use a flashlight to illuminate the glass and, shifting the light, project moving images onto the wall. They were, in essence, the first movies he made.

Considering the twin forces of his early life, its no surprise that the enduring motif of the revered action filmmakers career became the image of fluttering doves, which originated from an improvised decision he made on the set of The Killer to signify spiritual purity. That 1989 film, starring his frequent collaborator Chow Yun-fat, proved a major work that established both Woos style and our notion of modern action cinema.

If that idea conjures up certain tropes  the stylized slo-mo of bullets blazing and the melodrama of brotherhood amid bloodshed  what became cliches were first shaped in large part by Woos vision. He always saw action sequences, he recently explained, as akin to a dance. And yet, even as his so-called bullet ballet films went on to influence an array of popular culture makers, including the Wu-Tang Clan and Quentin Tarantino, Woo said he never particularly cared for action films.
The United States is working in three directions to avoid the implementation of Russian plans to destroy Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure and deprive Ukrainians of access to heat and electricity during the cold season, Voice of America reports.

John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, said at a White House briefing said that Russia tried to break the will of the Ukrainian people, but of course it failed. As we approach another winter, the United States expects Russia to return to these brutal tactics.

He noted that, in his opinion, the latest missile attacks only confirm these intentions.

According to Kirby, the United States believes that Russia will return to these brutal tactics, so they are working on this issue in three directions.

In particular, the United States is strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities so it can shoot down Russian missiles and Iranian drones aimed at critical infrastructure. Thus, Kirby noted, in recent aid packages, the United States provided Ukraine with Patriot batteries, HAWK and Avenger air defense systems to counter unmanned aircraft systems, and other critical air defense assets.

The second area of U.S. assistance is strengthening Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure, Kirby explained. So the United States provided protective equipment, including nets, reinforcement and barriers of Hesco, to protect critical infrastructure. And experts from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Energy are advising Ukrainian officials on how to use this equipment most effectively.

And the third vector of effort, according to Kirby, is backup equipment and supplies provided to Ukraine. We are talking about high-voltage autotransformers, industrial gas generators and mobile autonomous equipment, which will increase stability and prevent losses of heat and electricity if Russia inflicts devastating attacks, the official noted.

Kirby also noted that this is a joint effort between the United States and the 50 partner countries that make up the G7 Plus Energy Coordination Group. Together they supply Ukraine with the necessary energy equipment and supplies - generators, substation infrastructure and other protective equipment.

At the same time, Kirby noted that Congress must pass additional funding to ensure that the United States continues to provide Ukraine with the air defense capabilities, protective equipment and reserve stocks it needs.

He once again called on Congress to quickly pass an additional funding package that includes aid to Ukraine, Israel and spending on the Indo-Pacific region and U.S. border security.

According to him, we didn't pull these numbers out of thin air. We need this funding. We continue to urge Congress to quickly pass this supplement, Kirby said.

The official also warned that there is almost no room for acceleration in this issue, and it needs to be resolved before the outgoing year.
Commuters worry their drives into Lower Manhattan will cost more. Residents fear their neighborhoods will be swarmed by new traffic. Taxi drivers are terrified of losing more customers.

For years, the same complaints have followed officials on the long road to the nations first congestion pricing plan, which will charge drivers a toll for entering much of Manhattan below 60th Street.

Now, as the plan moves closer to becoming reality, officials hope New Yorkers will be won over once they see it in action. The benefits, proponents say, are obvious: reduced traffic and pollution and, eventually, a better transit system.

But some critics still question who will directly benefit most  and who might be harmed.

New Jersey officials accused New York of overburdening its residents with new tolls. Some activists say rerouted truck traffic could worsen asthma rates in the Bronx that are already high.
George Santos, the New York Republican congressman whose tapestry of lies and schemes made him a figure of national ridicule and the subject of a 23-count federal indictment, was expelled from the House on Friday after a decisive bipartisan vote by his peers.

The move consigned Mr. Santos, who over the course of his short political career invented ties to the Holocaust, Sept. 11 and the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, to a genuine place in history: He is the first person to be expelled from the House without first being convicted of a federal crime or supporting the Confederacy.

Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana announced the tally to a hushed House chamber: The measure, which required a two-thirds majority, passed with 311 lawmakers in favor of expulsion, including 105 Republicans, and 114 against. Two members voted present.

The new whole number of the House is 434, a downcast Mr. Johnson announced, confirming that with Mr. Santoss ouster, the already paper-thin margin of Republican control had shrunk to three votes.
There were more examples of generosity, Mr. al-Amoody said. Among the hundreds of emails he received in the days after the shooting were numerous offers of help, including one from a non-Muslim woman in the college town of Middlebury, about an hour south of Burlington, offering lodging and a car to the students, who are from out of state, while they recover. It has been like this all along, he told me.

I heard versions of that sentiment from others. Farhad Khan has lived in Middlebury for most of his 30 years in the state. When he first arrived, he said, we were so out of place, we opened the Yellow Pages and looked for names  Abdul, Mohammed  and wed call those numbers.

Today he sits on the towns select board and owns and runs a local dollar store with his wife, Amtul. He finds Vermont one of the most inclusive states in the country but said he still faces racism, usually of the subtle type: a customers seemingly stray comment about Amtuls hijab or complimenting him on his English. The number of such incidents has gone up in recent years, he said, especially since Donald Trumps election.

For others, the attack came as no surprise, and not because of Mr. Trump.

Just like the U.S., Vermont likes to think its exceptional, said Mia Schultz, a Black Vermonter and the president of the Rutland-area N.A.A.C.P., who is not Muslim. Which is why when violence happens like this, people are shocked. But the thing is, people of color are not.

I brought up the states enormous white population as a demographic curiosity when she stopped me.

Why do you think that is? she asked. I dont think its an accident. There are people who want to live here, but it becomes so incredibly suffocating. Youre met with smiles, this idea of kindness, she said, and yet behind it there is an isolation, an insidious feeling of not being seen as equal. Thats not counting the more openly racist acts or the encounters with law enforcement and other authorities that serve as a constant reminder of ones status as a permanent suspect. Vermonts problem is not in recruiting people of color, she said, but in retaining them.
Should the blessed day ever arrive when Donald Trump is sent to federal prison, only one of his acolytes has earned the right to share his cell: George Santos, who on Friday became the sixth person in history to be expelled from the House of Representatives, more than seven months after he was first charged with crimes including fraud and money laundering. (Hes pleaded not guilty.) A clout-chasing con man obsessed with celebrity, driven into politics not by ideology but by vanity and the promise of proximity to rich marks, Santos is a pure product of Trumps Republican Party. At nearly every opportunity, he placed his desire for private gain above his duty to uphold the Constitution, federal law and ethical principles, said a House Ethics Committee report about Santos released last month. Hes a true child of the MAGA movement.

That movement is multifaceted, and different politicians represent different strains: Theres the dour, conspiracy-poisoned suburban grievance of Marjorie Taylor Greene, the gun-loving rural evangelicalism of Lauren Boebert, the overt white nationalism of Paul Gosar and the frat boy sleaze of Matt Gaetz. But no one embodies Trumps fame-obsessed sociopathic emptiness like Santos. Hes heir to Trumps sybaritic nihilism, high-kitsch absurdity and impregnable brazenness.

Other politicians embody the sinister, cruel and disgusting aspects of Trumpism. Santos incarnates its venal and ridiculous side, the part rooted in reality TV and get-rich-quick schemes. As Mark Chiusano reports in his excellently timed new book about Santos, The Fabulist, if the now ex-congressman showed much interest in politics before 2016, we dont have a record of it; his heroes were pop divas like Paris Hilton, Lady Gaga and the Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel. But by 2016, writes Chiusano, he had found a new role model who brought celebrity glitz and gossip to civics: Donald Trump.

Perhaps the reason a critical mass of Republicans finally jettisoned Santos is that he was too embarrassing a reflection of the values of the partys de facto leader. Thats certainly why I, for one, am going to miss him. A gay man and, reportedly, a former drag queen in a party consumed by homophobia and a pseudopopulist accused of bilking his campaign donors to pay for Botox, Hermes shopping trips and the adult entertainment website OnlyFans, Santos distilled the Trump movements lurid hypocrisy to great comic effect. In a world overflowing with tragedy, hes a farce.
In 1996, in a phrase thats stuck with me, Richard John Neuhaus described the Holocaust as our only culturally available icon of absolute evil. The line appeared in a critical review of Daniel Jonah Goldhagens best-selling and furor-starting book, Hitlers Willing Executioners, which was itself an example of Neuhauss point in action. In the post-Cold War landscape, with American power seemingly occupying the stage of history by itself, the memory of Nazi Germanys genocide came to play a special cultural role in the self-understanding of the liberal West: We might not agree on the highest good, but we knew the highest evil, and arguments about its memory and meaning and implications were absolutely central to politics and culture.

That, at least, is how I remember the place of the Holocaust in the world of the 1990s. I saw Schindlers List in the theater as a 14-year-old. I read Elie Wiesel and Anne Frank and Primo Levi. I made a middle-school pilgrimage to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. From the first gulf war through Rwanda and Bosnia, arguments about global politics always seemed to be conducted with the Holocaust looming in the background. The controversy around books like Goldhagens, or all the different theories limned in Ron Rosenbaums Explaining Hitler, were part of my introduction to intellectual discourse and debate. When my family became Catholics at the end of the 1990s, it seemed entirely natural that even when people had arguments about the Catholic Church, they argued about the Holocaust: Had the papacy done enough to save Jews, how deeply was antisemitism rooted in the faith, and so on.

That world was always timebound. Some of the special attention reflected the same dynamics as the fascination with the Greatest Generation in the same era, since in the 1990s many more Holocaust survivors were still with us than remain alive today. And along almost any timeline, the diminishment of European influence, the rise of Asia and the simple passage of time would inevitably have made the Holocaust somewhat less central to 21st century debates, less elevated among historical atrocities.

The question is how far that diminution is going, and what effect the obvious resilience of antisemitism and anti-Jewish violence might have on our collective memory. Do events like Hamass Oct. 7 massacre of Israeli civilians reinforce the status of the Holocaust as the exemplar of absolute evil? Does the worlds reaction, maybe especially the Western lefts reaction, reveal just how much the memory of the 1940s has faded?
As Israel debates what to do next in Gaza, I hope Israels political-military leadership will reflect on the adage often attributed to Confucius: Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves  one for your enemy and one for yourself.

Wise man, Confucius.

The reason I was so wary about Israel invading Gaza with the aim of totally eliminating Hamas was certainly not out of any sympathy for Hamas, which has been a curse on the Palestinian people even more than on Israel. It was out of a deep concern that Israel was acting out of blind rage, aiming at an unattainable goal  wiping Hamas from the face of the earth as one of its ministers advocated  and with no plan for the morning after.

In doing so Israel could get stuck in Gaza forever  owning all its pathologies and having to govern its more than two million people amid a humanitarian crisis, and even worse, discrediting the very Israeli military that it was trying to restore Israelis trust in.

Quite honestly, I thought back to America after 9/11. And I asked myself, what do I wish I had done more of before we launched two wars of revenge and transformation in Afghanistan and Iraq for which they and we paid a huge price?
When Michael and Jennifer Monteiro bought a house on Cape Cod, they wanted more than just a vacation home near the beach in Massachusetts: They were determined to own something that reflected cutting-edge sustainability.

Since selling the software company he co-founded, Buildium, in 2019, Mr. Monteiro, 51, has used his investment company, Mpactful Ventures, to focus on projects targeting climate change. And his own home offered an obvious chance to set an example.

As he put it, Sustainable building is one of the key solutions to the climate problem.
In the end, it may have been the luxury goods that brought down George Santos.

Not the lies about going to Baruch College and being a volleyball star or working for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. Not the claims of being Jewish and having grandparents who were killed in the Holocaust and a mother who died of cancer as result of 9/11. (Not true, it turned out.) Not the fibs about having founded an animal charity or owning substantial real estate assets. None of the falsehoods that have been exposed since Mr. Santoss election last year. After all, he did survive two previous votes by his peers to expel him from Congress, one back in May, one earlier in November.
It was Verity Jean Louise Elks who first asked to make things official.

Her relationship with Benjamin Oliver Brian Riches had moved quickly. Within weeks of moving to Los Angeles in the spring of 2019, Ms. Elks was fully integrated into her fellow Australians social circle. In July, the pair were having drinks at a friends house in Oceanside  a surfers paradise south of Orange County  when she decided to pitch Mr. Riches on becoming her boyfriend. Initially, he accepted.

Guys, me and Benny are in a relationship, Ms. Elks recalled telling everyone. Then on the car ride home, Benny was like, No, no, no. I take it back. I cant do it.

It was complicated. Ms. Elks wasnt just dating Mr. Riches at the time  she was also living with him. Laid off from her public relations job in New York City six months before, Ms. Elks had decided she could not face the East Coast both cold and unemployed. Instead, she returned to Australia, where it was summer, to surf and plot her move to Los Angeles. By the time Ms. Elks returned stateside in April 2019, she had a job secured and a room with a friend of a friend in Venice. That person was Mr. Riches.

Mr. Riches, 32, was impressed by her sense of style. I still remember the first minute I met her, he said. I just remember thinking that she was so cool.
A Boutique (and) Hotel

Alexandre Chapellier, 42, likes to say that he created his Parisian clothing and accessories brand, Cinabre  which sells velvet-trimmed dressing gowns and patterned silk neckties  in 2011 as an antidote to old-school luxury houses that take themselves too seriously. That lighthearted spirit is on display at the labels new flagship, a combination boutique, office, atelier and two-suite minihotel now open for booking. One enters the four-story spot, located in a neo-Classical Ninth Arrondissement building, through a tent made from the same blue striped Pierre Frey fabric that adorns the walls of Napoleons Chateau de Malmaison. Inside, a vintage Denon DP-3000 turntable and Continental Edison speakers blast 1970s funk.

Designed in collaboration with Necchi Architecture, a Paris-based firm owned by Charlotte Albert and Alexis Lamesta, the space combines 18th-century chintz with 1960s sci-fi influences. One of the suites, accessible by a spiral staircase, is an open-plan expanse with an ivory high-gloss ceiling and mushroom-colored suede walls, as well as a varnished cherry wood and stainless-steel kitchen. On the floor above is the other suite, which has a deep blue dining room with mirrored paneling and a reflective black ceiling, as well as a living room done in an Oriental floral fabric revived from Freys archives. Both accommodations have handmade Swedish beds from Hastens but, with their well-stocked cocktail bars, stacks of vinyl from Chapelliers personal collection and built-in vintage record players, they may be better suited for staying up all night. Rooms from about $900 a night, suitescinabre.com.  Ellie Pithers
Hong Kong: Pupil suicide prevention system set

In view of recent student suicide cases, the Government said it is implementing the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism from today until January 2024 in all secondary schools across the city.

The COVID-19 epidemic in the past few years had caused an unprecedented impact on the mental health of citizens, and there was no exception with students, the Government said, noting that students faced greater adjustment challenges following the full resumption to normalcy.

In view of the recent upward trend of student suicide cases, the Government launched the mechanism, through collaboration of the Health Bureau, the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Social Welfare Department, to help schools identify students with a higher suicide risk early and provide them with appropriate support as quickly as possible.

The first tier of the emergency mechanism is to assist schools to identify students at an early stage with a higher suicide risk or mental health needs, with an aim of giving them priority for timely and appropriate intervention.

Specifically, schools should review the mental health needs of students with the schools multidisciplinary team, give priority to caring for and counselling students at higher risk of suicide, then provide timely assistance and seek professional counselling or treatment for them.

The second tier is to form an off-campus support network through cross-departmental, cross-professional and cross-sectoral co-operation to enhance external support for schools in the short-term.

If schools have difficulty deploying manpower to meet students needs, the EDB will assist in referring the cases to the off-campus support network team, which is co-ordinated by the Social Welfare Department, for follow-up. Afterwards, the off-campus team will contact the students concerned and arrange follow-up services, including emergency intervention services covering assessments, support and counselling. It will also refer the students to other services according to individual needs.

For the third tier, school principals can refer students with severe mental health needs to the Hospital Authoritys psychiatric specialist services. After triage and screening, urgent cases will be accorded priority. In addition, the authority has set up a telephone consultation hotline for school principals to provide them with professional advice.

The EDB has issued a circular letter to all secondary schools detailing the mechanisms details. The Government will monitor the operation of the mechanism closely.

Separately, to strengthen parents support for their children, the EDB will co-organise a seminar for parents on December 9 with the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations in 18 districts, and regional school heads associations.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.






* The 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be a milestone where the world takes stock of its progress on the Paris Agreement, and the outcome will help pool global efforts against climate change.

* The age of global warming had ended and the "era of global boiling" had arrived, the United Nations has warned.

* With total installed capacity of renewable energies reaching 1,213 gigawatts in 2022, China has become a global leader in utilizing green and low-carbon energy sources.

* Over the years, China has been promoting cooperation on climate change under the Belt and Road Initiative framework, providing support for other developing countries to better their abilities in dealing with climate change.

DUBAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- More than 70,000 delegates from around the world are gathering here for COP28, the United Nations climate change conference scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

The 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be a milestone where the world takes stock of its progress on the Paris Agreement, and the outcome will help pool global efforts against climate change.

What has China done to address global climate challenges? The world's second-largest economy has halved carbon dioxide emission per unit of GDP, becoming a global leader in utilizing green and low-carbon energies, and actively promoting international cooperation on climate governance.

On China's remarkable achievements made in addressing climate change, Erik Solheim, former under-secretary-general of the UN and former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, told Xinhua on Thursday that strong environment calls from the people, dedication from China's political leadership and innovations of Chinese businesses together made all these possible.

ENERGY INTENSITY LOWERED DOWN

The age of global warming had ended and the "era of global boiling" had arrived, the United Nations has warned.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday once again urged COP28 delegates to take actions before a "critical tipping point" comes.

As carbon emission is a major factor behind global warming, China has been quick in action to cut it in response.

In 2022, the country's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by more than 51 percent from its 2005 level, showed figures from the 2023 annual report on China's policies and actions to address climate change.

The report, released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) last month, revealed that by the end of last year the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption had reached 17.5 percent in China.

While energy intensity in the economy drops fast, efforts on afforestation are also bearing fruits. National forest coverage rate in China has reached 24.02 percent in 2021.

The country has incorporated carbon emission reduction goals into the overall planning of economic and social development, and has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

To that end, a national carbon market has been established, and by the first half of this year cumulative transaction volume of carbon emission allowances has reached 238 million tons nationwide.

Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, said here Thursday that as a responsible major developing country, China has always adhered to the strategic determination of climate action. The country's economic and social development has embarked on a comprehensive green transformation track.

China has become a major supplier of wind, solar power equipment and power batteries, driving down the cost of renewable energy usage, helping developing countries obtain clean, reliable and more affordable energy, he said.

GREEN ENERGY LEADER

With total installed capacity of renewable energies reaching 1,213 gigawatts in 2022, China has become a global leader in utilizing green and low-carbon energy sources.

The country has ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years in production and sales of new energy vehicles.

By the end of June this year, the number of new energy vehicles nationwide reached 16.2 million.

China, as a global leader in renewable energy expansion, is a powerhouse that has the ability to triple renewable power generation globally, COP28 President-Designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber told Xinhua recently.

"China is key in the decarbonization of the energy we use today," he said, noting that more than three-quarters of the world's solar panels, around 60 percent of the world's wind turbines, and three-quarters of the lithium-ion batteries on this planet come from China.

China is not just making what the world needs for the energy transition, its industrial strength is also bringing down costs for every nation, said Al Jaber.

CLIMATE COOPERATION PROMOTER

China is active in promoting international cooperation on addressing climate challenges and has been deeply engaged in South-South cooperation in this regard.

As of June 2023, the country has signed 46 memorandums of understanding on climate change with 39 developing countries, launched over 70 climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, and helped train more than 2,300 officials and technicians from over 120 developing countries, according to the MEE report.

And in 2017, China jointly established a ministerial conference mechanism for climate action with the EU and Canada.

Earlier this month, China and the United States released The Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis, reaffirming their commitment to work together and with other countries to address the climate crisis.

Over the years, China has been promoting cooperation on climate change under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework, providing support for other developing countries to better their abilities in dealing with climate change.

In the first half of this year, 56 percent of China's overseas energy investment in BRI participating countries went into renewable energy such as solar, wind, or hydropower projects, the COP28 president-designate has told Xinhua. (Video reporters: Yu Fuqing;video editors: Zhang Yueyuan, Li Qin, Zheng Qingbin, Lin Lin)
Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko informed the G7 Ambassadors about the number of war crimes by Russians during 11 months of 2023, the ministry's press service said.

"During the meeting with the ambassadors of the G7 countries, Klymenko focused on documenting war crimes in the country  law enforcement officers recorded about 101,000 such facts. Among them are shelling, abuse of civilians, deportation, illegal imprisonment," the ministry said.

According to Klymenko, over the 11 months of 2023, Russians shelled settlements in 24 regions of Ukraine 59,000 times.

"As a result, 11,000 citizens were injured, and 2,000 were killed. More shelling occurred in Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv regions," he said.

In turn, the G7 Ambassadors expressed gratitude "for comprehensive briefing" on security and crime situation in Ukraine and law enforcement reforms.

The ambassadors also said in a statement that they "look forward" to his participation in the upcoming meeting of G7 Interior and Security Ministers in Japan.
One performer is missing from the current Parisian run of Rebecca Chaillons Carte Noire Named Desire, an arresting show about the experiences of Black women in France. When the actors gathered onstage for a dinner scene at the OdeonTheatre de lEurope this week, Fatou Sibys chair remained empty, and a monologue inspired by her life was delivered instead by a guest artist.

The reason for Sibys absence? She and other members of the all-Black cast were targets of racist attacks after Carte Noire played this summer at the Avignon Festival, which followed widespread protests in France over the police shooting of Nahel M., a 17-year-old of North African descent.

I need to protect myself, Siby told the French news site Mediapart of her decision to withdraw from the Paris performances.

In one short scene from Carte Noire, the cast stages a game of charades inspired by anti-Black racism. To help the audience guess the answer colonization this summer, Siby went into the auditorium and jokingly took bags and coats belonging to audience members. (The items were then set aside near the exit to be collected after the show.)
An inmate stabbed Derek Chauvin 22 times last week at a federal prison in Tucson, Ariz., the U.S. Attorneys Office in Arizona said on Friday in announcing attempted murder charges.

The inmate, John Turscak, 52, who is accused of stabbing Mr. Chauvin with an improvised knife on Nov. 24, told investigators that he had been thinking about attacking Mr. Chauvin for about a month because Mr. Chauvin  who is serving more than 20 years in prison for murdering George Floyd  is a high-profile inmate, according to charging documents.

Mr. Chauvin survived the attack.

According to a criminal complaint, Mr. Turscak attacked Mr. Chauvin inside the law library at the Federal Correction Institution, a medium-security prison in Tucson. Officers responded immediately and used pepper spray to subdue Mr. Turscak, court documents state.

Mr. Turscak told officers that he would have killed Mr. Chauvin had they not responded so quickly, according to the complaint.
Dearborn, a suburb of roughly 110,000 people bordering Detroit, has one of the highest percentages of Arab Americans among U.S. cities. Census figures show that it is roughly 54 percent Arab American, a figure experts believe is a significant undercount. When he took office in 2022, Mr. Hammoud  the son of Lebanese immigrants, raised in the citys working-class east side  became the first Arab American Muslim mayor in Dearborn history.

But all is not well in Dearborn now. This is a community suffering intensely as it beholds the carnage wrought by the war between Israel and Hamas.

The recent pause in fighting brought a respite, but Mr. Hammoud, like many in Dearborn, believed it would only be temporary. And it sparked hard emotion, giving residents a chance to step back and more fully feel the weight of the calamity: the dead and the missing, the wounded and displaced. It also highlighted the potential of a diplomatic solution, which the mayor indignantly said should have been the focus all along.

In this community, right now there is a lot of grief, anger and fear, Mr. Hammoud said on a recent day, his voice sad and insistent, as he drove around Dearborn in his black Ford F-150 truck. You cant help but be anxious when the whole city tells you that they stay up every night following the news, trying to understand how much more death and destruction is happening.
Lori Vallow Daybell, who is serving consecutive life sentences in Idaho for murdering two of her children after being inspired by what prosecutors called her doomsday beliefs, has been extradited to Arizona to face charges of conspiracy to commit murder in two other cases.

Sheriffs deputies from Maricopa County, Ariz., accompanied Ms. Vallow Daybell, 50, on the 18-hour drive from prison in Pocatello, Idaho, to the Estrella Jail in Phoenix, where she was booked late on Wednesday night, the Maricopa County sheriff, Paul Penzone, said at a news conference.

Ms. Vallow Daybell, who will remain in custody without bail, was very sociable the entire trip, the sheriff said. She talked quite a bit.

Ms. Vallow Daybell faces two counts of conspiracy to commit murder related to two cases in Arizona.

She was indicted in 2021 in Maricopa County after her brother, Alexander Cox, shot and killed the fourth of her five husbands, Charles Vallow, in July 2019.
The Los Angeles police are searching for a man they believe shot three homeless people dead this week, prompting officials on Friday to urge anyone sleeping on the streets to find shelter indoors or avoid sleeping alone until the killer is found.

The three victims  all men who were in alleys or open areas by themselves  were shot and killed in the early morning hours, said Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department. The killings took place in different locations across central Los Angeles on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, but he said that investigators had discovered similarities among the three killings, based on physical evidence and camera footage, that led them to believe the events were connected.

This is a killer who is preying on the unhoused, Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference on Friday afternoon. Many friends and family members know how to reach their unhoused relatives. We need you to contact them today. We need you to tell them about this danger.

The authorities asked the public to help them to identify a dark-colored sedan and a person appearing in a surveillance image, whom they described only as a male. Federal and county investigators are also working on the case and trying to determine whether there have been more victims.
A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that civil lawsuits seeking to hold former President Donald J. Trump accountable for the violence that erupted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, can move forward for now, rejecting a broad assertion of immunity that Mr. Trumps legal team had invoked to try to get the cases dismissed.

But the decision, by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, left open the possibility that Mr. Trump could still prevail in his immunity claims after he makes further arguments as to why his fiery speech to supporters near the White House on Jan. 6 should be considered an official presidential act, rather than part of his re-election campaign.

The Supreme Court has held that the Constitution gives presidents immunity from being sued over actions taken as part of their official duties, but not from suits based on private, unofficial acts. The civil cases brought against Mr. Trump have raised the question of which role he was playing at the rally he staged on Jan. 6, when he told supporters to fight like hell and urged them to march to the Capitol.

Essentially, the appeals court ruled that at this stage of the case, that question has yet to be definitively answered. It said Mr. Trump must be given an opportunity to present factual evidence to rebut the plaintiffs claims that the rally was a campaign event  scrutinizing issues like whether campaign officials had organized it and campaign funds were used to pay for it.
The main super PAC supporting Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign has been rocked by another significant departure, as Adam Laxalt, a friend and former roommate of the Florida governor, has stepped down as chairman of the group.

Mr. Laxalt, who unsuccessfully ran to become a Republican senator in Nevada in 2022, lived with Mr. DeSantis when he was training as a naval officer. He joined Never Back Down in April, soon after his own campaign ended and before Mr. DeSantis officially joined the presidential race, in a move that was widely seen as Mr. DeSantis and his wife seeking to have someone they trusted monitoring the activities of the well-funded group. He also suffered the unexpected death of his mother over the summer, a friend said.

After nearly 26 straight months of being in a full-scale campaign, I need to return my time and attention to my family and law practice, Mr. Laxalt wrote in a letter to the board on Nov. 26 that was reviewed by The New York Times. He said in the note that he was still committed to Mr. DeSantiss becoming president.

The departure represents the second major departure from Never Back Down in the last two weeks. On the eve of Thanksgiving, the groups chief executive, Chris Jankowski, resigned. In a statement put out by the group after the resignation, Mr. Jankowski said that his differences at the group went well beyond strategic arguments, without explaining more.
The vote on Friday to expel former Representative George Santos, Republican of New York, from Congress was an overwhelming rebuke from his colleagues, including many members of his own party.

Nearly every Democrat voted to kick out Mr. Santos after a federal indictment on fraud charges and scathing report by the House Ethics Committee detailing accusations of wrongdoing and a pattern of lying about nearly aspect of his life.

Republicans were more divided. Speaker Mike Johnson, still just weeks into his tenure, and members of his leadership team voted to save Mr. Santos, concerned about further winnowing down the partys slim House majority. They joined with some of the same hard-right rebels who often revolt against them, in an unusual alliance that sought to keep the serial liar in their ranks.

But the partys moderates and mainstream conservatives, many of whom feared the political repercussions of being associated with Mr. Santos, were quick to cast their votes to oust a man they viewed as a stain on their party.
Justice Sandra Day OConnor, who died Friday at 93, was the sort of figure once familiar in American political and judicial life: a moderate Republican ready to look for compromise and common ground.

That led her to vote to uphold abortion rights, affirmative action and campaign finance regulations. Since she retired in 2006, replaced by the far more conservative Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., the Supreme Court has dismantled large parts of her legacy.

That is nowhere more apparent than in abortion rights.

Justice OConnor joined the controlling opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision that, to the surprise of many, reaffirmed the core of the constitutional right to abortion established in 1973 in Roe v. Wade.

To overrule Roe under fire in the absence of the most compelling reason to re-examine a watershed decision, she wrote in a joint opinion with Justices Anthony M. Kennedy and David H. Souter, would subvert the courts legitimacy beyond any serious question.
Moments after House members cast a historic vote to expel Representative George Santos of New York, Speaker Mike Johnson banged the gavel with a grim look on his face.

In light of the expulsion of the gentleman from New York, Mr. Santos, the whole number of the House is now 434, he announced gravely to an uncommonly silent House chamber, looking down with a faint grimace.

It made official what had been apparent in recent days  that many of his fellow Republicans had been willing to defy his wish to keep Mr. Santos, a serial fabulist, in Congress, and that Mr. Johnson and his party were now facing ever-more brutal political math. Their slim four-vote majority has dwindled to just three.

That will make governing more difficult for Republicans, who have already had immense trouble corralling their fractious members to steer legislation through the closely divided House. A pair of government funding deadlines early next year will test Mr. Johnsons ability to maneuver with even less wiggle room in his party than before to navigate a pending shutdown and keep his job.
Zelenskyy: War with Russia is in new stage as winter looms

The war with Russia is in a new stage, with winter expected to complicate fighting after a summer counteroffensive that failed to produce desired results due to enduring shortages of weapons and ground forces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We have a new phase of war, and that is a fact. Winter as a whole is a new phase of war," Zelenskyy said in an interview with The Associated Press.

He said despite setbacks, Ukraine won't give up.

When asked whether he was satisfied with the results of the counteroffensive, he gave a complex answer.

"Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. We are fighting with the second (best) army in the world, I am satisfied. We are losing people, I'm not satisfied. We didn't get all the weapons we wanted, I can't be satisfied, but I also can't complain too much," the president said.

He gave a frank appraisal of the last summer's counteroffensive.

"We wanted faster results. From that perspective, unfortunately, we did not achieve the desired results. And this is a fact," he said.

According to him, Ukraine did not receive all the necessary weapons from its allies, and limitations in the number of armed forces did not allow them to quickly go on the offensive.

"There is not enough power to achieve the desired results faster. But this does not mean that we should give up, that we have to surrender. We are confident in our actions. We fight for what is ours," Zelenskyy said.

He said Ukraine managed to achieve small territorial successes in the fight against a better armed and fortified enemy.

In addition, the power of Moscow's Black Sea Fleet has diminished after Ukrainian attacks that breached the air defense system and struck its headquarters in occupied Crimea, Zelenskyy said.
A federal appeals court on Friday ordered the state of Texas to remove a barrier of floating buoys in the Rio Grande installed at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott to block migrants trying to cross from Mexico, delivering a blow to the states efforts to curtail unauthorized immigration.

In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans declined a request by the governors office to reverse a previous finding by a federal judge that the barriers were illegal.

The decision came after months of legal wrangling between Governor Abbotts office and the federal government. The previous judge had ordered the state to remove the barrier because it was an impediment to navigation on the river and a threat to human life for those trying to cross. The appeals court had issued an order temporarily keeping the buoys in place while the complex legal issues were resolved in court.

For more than two years, Mr. Abbott has been testing the legal limits of what a state can do to enforce immigration law, an issue that has been historically within the jurisdiction of the federal government. In a letter to President Biden over the summer, Mr. Abbott said that the state had a legal right to create a barrier along the border, in part because of a clause in the U.S. Constitution dealing with state powers during an invasion.
A lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump argued in an Atlanta courtroom on Friday that putting his client on trial in the final stages of the 2024 presidential contest would be the most effective election interference in the history of the United States.

Steven H. Sadow, Mr. Trumps lead lawyer in Georgia, also asserted that if his client were to win the election, Georgia could not try him in the case until after he left the White House again. He cited the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which makes federal law supreme over contrary state laws.

Whether a president would in fact be shielded from prosecution while in office is not a settled legal matter.

Mr. Sadows comments, which were challenged by prosecutors, came during a hearing in the election interference case against Mr. Trump and 14 co-defendants that was brought in August by Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Ga.
From the start of the ethnic conflict that turned a state in Indias northeast into a war zone, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to shift the focus from the calamity.

His lieutenants trumpeted a peace deal with insurgents, though it was unrelated to the ethnic violence. The government resumed development projects as a sign of a return to normalcy. And a sympathetic news media kept its gaze fixed elsewhere.

But in hospital morgues across the state of Manipur lies undeniable evidence that the conflict has yet to be resolved. Dozens of bodies remain unclaimed six months after the fighting started, not because they are unrecognizable, but in part because the regions security situation is still too volatile.

They may kill us, said Kimi, a mother of three whose husband, she said, was killed by a mob from a different ethnic group on May 4 in Imphal, the states capital. Like many Indians, she uses one name.
The federal indictment this week of an Indian citizen in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Sikh separatist in New York threatens to damage ties between the United States and India just as the Biden administration has been courting Prime Minister Narendra Modis government.

The charges are rooted in a decades-old dispute: the demand by some Sikhs for a sovereign state known as Khalistan carved out of northern India, which the Modi government opposes.

In addition to directing the unsuccessful plot in New York, the federal indictment said, an Indian government official organized the killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada who was shot in June by masked gunmen outside a temple in Vancouver.

The idea of Khalistan is rooted in Sikhism, a religion with 26 million followers around the world, of which about 23 million live in the state of Punjab in northern India. Sikhs make up less than 2 percent of Indias population of 1.4 billion.
Reader, please select your own corny first line for this article:

1. Talk about a sticky-fingered thief!

2. Its a crime you just cant sugar coat.

3. Ive heard of stealing some dough, but this is ridiculous.

The tale began at 4 a.m. on Wednesday in Carlingford, Australia, near Sydney, when a delivery driver working the night shift stopped his van to make a quick stop at a 7-Eleven.

Closed circuit footage of the scene shows a woman milling around the gas pumps at the attached service station  or servo to Australians  and then climbing into the unattended van and driving away.

What makes the story more compelling than a typical opportunistic vehicle theft is the vans contents: 10,000 Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The treats were bound for shops in Newcastle, but instead have now disappeared to parts unknown.
A Russian court on Friday extended the detention of an editor working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a broadcaster funded by the American government, who was arrested in October on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent.

A district court in Kazan, about 500 miles east of Moscow, ordered the editor, Alsu Kurmasheva, who holds both Russian and United States citizenship, to remain in custody until Feb. 5 as she awaits trial, Russian news agencies reported. Rim Sabirov, Ms. Kurmashevas lawyer, said he would appeal the ruling, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

Ms. Kurmasheva is the second journalist holding American citizenship to be detained by Russia this year. In March, Russian special services arrested Evan Gershkovich, a Russia correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, on espionage charges, which he and The Journal have denied. He remains in a high-security prison in Moscow awaiting trial.

The arrests of the two journalists and other prior detentions of Americans in Russia have raised suspicions that the Kremlin now views U.S. citizens on its soil as assets who can be traded for high-value Russians held in custody in the West.
A cold wind was blowing across the steppe, but Sapura Kadyrova didnt see the point in bundling up. She was waiting to greet her son, who was arriving home from the war in a crimson government-issued casket.

So maybe I wont be warm, Ms. Kadyrova, 85, moaned. Then just let me die.

All day long, she and her daughters had been greeting relatives, friends and neighbors who had come to pay their respects to her son, Garipul S. Kadyrov, who was killed near the front line in Klishchiivka in eastern Ukraine.

In February he would have turned 50, and he promised me he would be allowed to come home then, Ms. Kadyrova told her guests. Now I will only meet him in his grave.

In Russias big cities, the war can feel like distant background noise, with the latest iPhones on sale and things looking pretty much the same as before  save for ubiquitous army recruitment posters. While as many as 80 percent of Ukrainians have a close friend or relative who was injured or killed in the war, many Russians in urban centers still feel insulated from it.
A weeklong cease-fire in the Gaza Strip collapsed on Friday morning, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the breakdown of a truce that had allowed for the exchange of hundreds of hostages and prisoners, and that had briefly raised hopes for a more lasting halt to the fighting.

The Israeli military said it had launched 200 strikes since the resumption of fighting, some of which the countrys defense minister, Yoav Gallant, witnessed from a seat in an Israeli attack helicopter flying over Gaza.

This morning we returned to hitting Hamas with full force, he wrote on the social media platform X. The results are impressive.

Hamas only understands force, he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said in a statement that Israel was committed to achieving the war aims  freeing our hostages, eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza will never again pose a threat to the residents of Israel. For days, he and other Israeli leaders had sought to quash any notion of extending the truce indefinitely, despite growing international pressure, stating repeatedly that even if the pause continued for a few more days, Israels offensive would resume.
When Noam Or, 17, and his sister, Alma, 13, were released from Gaza on Saturday, they hoped that their parents might be there to welcome them. They were kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri on Oct. 7 and held hostage for 50 days, and they had not heard any news about their mother, Yonat, or their father, Dror.

But shortly after they were freed, other family members told them more of what had happened the day they were taken: Their father was taken, too. And their mother had been killed.

Their uncle, Ahal Besorai, said the thought of being comforted by their mother and father had kept the teens going in captivity. This was denied, he said.

Dozens of Israeli and dual national hostages have been released since Israel and Hamas struck a temporary cease-fire deal last Friday. Many of them, including Noam and Alma, are now learning for the first time that their relatives were killed on Oct. 7 or are still being held hostage.
Zelenskyy fears war in Israel, US presidential elections to affect further support for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern that the war between Israel and Hamas could overshadow the war in Ukraine, as competing political agendas and limited resources threaten the flow of Western military aid to Kyiv.

"We already can see the consequences of the international community shifting (attention) because of the tragedy in the Middle East. Only the blind don't recognize this," Zelenskyy told The Associated Press.

Ukrainians understand "that we also need to fight for attention for the full-scale war," he said.

"We must not allow people to forget about the war here," the president said.

According to him, that change in focus could lead to less economic and military assistance for his country, he said. In an apparent attempt to assuage those fears, U.S. and European officials have continued to visit Kyiv since the October 7 attacks in Israel.

The shift still concerns him, Zelenskyy said.

"You see, attention equals help. No attention will mean no help. We fight for every bit of attention. Without attention, there may be weakness in (the U.S.) Congress," he said.

A recent AP poll in the U.S. showed nearly half of Americans think too much is being spent on Ukraine. An increasing number of Republicans are not in favor of sending more aid, and it is not clear if or when a request from the White House for additional aid will be approved by Congress.

When asked about this, Zelenskyy replied bluntly that "the choice of Americans is the choice of Americans."

But he argued that by helping Ukraine, Americans are also helping themselves.

"In the case of Ukraine, if resilience fails today due to lack of aid and shortages of weapons and funding, it will mean that Russia will most likely invade NATO countries. And then the American children will fight," he said.
Even before a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas expired early on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to fight until the end. By midday, Israel had resumed that fight with airstrikes across Gaza, including in the south where it had sent thousands of civilians fleeing.

Now, as the latest phase of Israels offensive is expected to target southern Gaza, Mr. Netanyahu faces a new set of pressures.

Israel believes Hamass top leadership is hiding in southern Gaza. The area is also where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing strikes in the north have taken refuge. And it is where most of the remaining hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7 are being held, according to a senior Israeli defense official.

The Biden administration in recent days has pushed Israel to carry out a more surgical campaign in this next phase of the war, limiting the number of civilian deaths and wholesale destruction of the northern campaigns first weeks.
The negotiations for the seven rounds of exchange  one for each day of the pause  had centered on women and children on either side of the conflict. Citizens of Thailand, the Philippines and Russia, who were freed through separate talks, also numbered among the hostages Hamas released. More than 120 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza.

The Israeli government initially posted a list of 300 Palestinian teenagers and women who could potentially be released through the deal, and added 50 names to that list as the exchanges progressed. The list included peoples birth dates, the accusations levied against them and other information. Among those who had not been convicted of a crime, it did not distinguish between those imprisoned without formally being charged and those who had been charged and were awaiting trial.

The New York Times compared the Israeli data with lists of the Palestinians released each day by the Palestinian Authoritys Commission for Prisoners Affairs. The Israeli data shows that three-quarters of the released Palestinians had not been convicted of a crime. Most had been in prison for less than a year; 37 were arrested during the Israeli militarys crackdown following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

Israel detained all of the people on the list for what it said were offenses related to Israels security, from throwing stones to more serious accusations like supporting terrorism and attempted murder. More than half of the cases were being prosecuted in Israeli military courts, which try Palestinians in the occupied West Bank but not Israeli settlers who live there.

Nearly all Palestinians tried in Israeli military courts are convicted, and those accused of security offenses can be imprisoned indefinitely without charge or trial. Israel has defended these practices as necessary for maintaining its security, but international human rights groups have widely criticized them as violating international law and said they are used to suppress Palestinian political activity and expression.
A small group of Republican senators on Friday called on President Biden to ban travel from China to protect against an outbreak of respiratory illnesses in children there, even as scientists and global and American health officials said there were no signs of a threatening new pathogen.

Instead, those experts said, the evidence so far pointed to a surge of age-old infectious agents such as influenza, driven by the colder weather and Chinas emergence from stringent Covid lockdowns. The World Health Organization said last week that China had shared data about its outbreak, including laboratory results from infected children, that did not show any unusual pathogens.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, echoed that assessment on Friday. She said American officials had also been in touch with Chinese authorities, academic experts and health workers.

What we have all been able to ascertain is that there is no novel pathogen, she said. This is all related to upticks of known viruses and bacteria in their pediatric population.
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.
Kekst CNC handles Riposte Capital as the investment advisor presses SilverBow Resources oil & gas company to add independent directors to its board at the 2024 annual meeting.

Riposte Capitals Khaled Beydoun wrote a Nov. 30 letter to SilverBow CEO Sean Woolverton and the board, saying they have proven to be incapable of being credible stewards of capital or corporate governance.

Beydoun notes that SilverBow's $700M acquisition of Chesapeake Energys south Texas holdings has hardly been transformational as promised in the Aug. 14 announcement.

SilverBows stock price fell 23 percent since that announcement.

Riposte also criticized SilverBow for being the only energy company with a poison pill anti-takeover mechanism.

It has become clear that you have done everything within your power to deter potential acquirers of he company in the midst of an ongoing wave of logical consolidation that is unfolding across your peer groups ecosystem, wrote Beydoun.

Riposte, which owns 6.7 percent of SilverBow, believes a revamped board is needed to pursue a strategy that creates value for investors.

Kekst CNCs Ross Lovern represents Riposte Capital.
There are plans afoot to reduce the length of mooring time in Lough Derg harbours to just five days, and the proposal is meeting some opposition from members of the general public.

Cllr Joe Hannigan told a recent meeting of Nenagh Municipal District that many boat owners throughout Ireland are concerned about proposed new draft bye-laws for the countrys waterways, including Lough Derg.

Waterways Ireland is proposing to bring in bye-laws which will include changes to winter mooring, a tax on all businesses operating on the River Shannon, as well as the reduction of mooring times to just five days.

Cllr Hannigan said boat owners are worried that this may mean boats being driven out of places such as Ballina / Killaloe, where there is plenty of mooring space, to smaller harbours on Lough Derg such as Garrykennedy, Terryglass and Dromineer. He said the Council should make a submission to Waterways Ireland pointing out that this could cause problems.

Cllr Phyll Bugler disagreed with Cllr Hannigan. She said that people who moored their barges for long periods in the canal in Killaloe were a major problem. Our quay in Killaloe is being blocked and we cant get tourist boats. She added that jetskis on Lough Derg are "causing mayhem at Ballina bridge.

Director of Services Marcus OConnor said that the five-day rule might not be perfect but people had been mooring boats at some locations for months. The idea is to get a turnaround. It is not perfect, but it's a reasonable compromise.

Waterways Ireland has said the bylaws are only at the proposal stage, and public consultation is ongoing. Cllr Hannigan urged the public to go online and make submissions.

The Councillor said there's also a problem with abandoned boats in some harbours. I know of boats that are abandoned in Terryglass, Kilgarvan Quay and Dromineer and no one knows who owns them. Some boats were left for years, they took in water and they sank. It's an environmental hazard because the boats' engine diesel is getting into the water.
The Epicenter chain is starting to develop a new format of stores under the Grand Furniture Center brand, aimed at the middle and premium segments, the companys press service reported.

The first Grand Furniture Center will open on December 2 in the capital's shopping center Epicenter at 20d Poliarna Street. It will occupy an area of 15,000 square meters, which is almost four times more than the companys standard furniture centers in major cities. The press service notes that approximately the same area was occupied by the entire first Epicenter, which opened in Kyiv in 2003.

In the future, we plan to develop this format in all major cities of Ukraine, opening four more Grand Furniture Centers in Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa. Today the company is the largest furniture seller in Ukraine with a share of up to 10%. In the next three to five years, we plan to double our sales both by opening new store formats and by entering new price segments, says Oleksandr Lukyanchenko, director of the Furniture department at Epicenter K.

The Grand Furniture Center plans to sell not only finished products, but also custom-made furniture. A new trade model for Ukraine will also be presented  turnkey sale of interiors (furniture with decor, paintings, carpets, etc.).

Great emphasis will be placed on the service component - the number of professional personnel will increase significantly. At the same time, the brands presented in the store will provide their sales representatives for consultations with visitors.

The retail space of the new store will be divided into four large zones: Market (ready-made furniture for the mass market segment), Family (mid-price furniture for the whole family), Custom (custom-made furniture) and Design (ready-made interiors). Each of these zones will be highlighted in a separate color, and intuitive navigation will help visitors quickly find the desired department and product.

Epicenter K LLC was created in 2003 and opened its first hypermarket in Kyiv in December of the same year. Today it is developing the country's largest network of shopping centers, Epicenter, which is a market leader in the retail trade segment of household goods and repairs.
"Support from the State to the Horse and Greyhound industry is one of the most important financial outlays in the Budget. The money allocated to both industries is an investment", Deputy Michael Lowy said during a Dail Motion on the Horse and Greyhound Fund Regulation 2023 on Wednesday.

"Budget 2024 allocated 95million to the Horse and Greyhound Fund for the coming year. Horse Racing Ireland is set to receive 76million of this, while the remaining 19-million will be put to good use by Greyhound Racing Ireland.

"The increased allocation for the year ahead has been welcomed across both organisations, particularly by Greyhound Racing Ireland. This funding will allow them to finalise their plans for the year ahead.

"This industry has had serious concerns due to falling attendance at the tracks resulting in a significant drop in revenue. With aggressive marketing and promotion attendance has been improving in recent times.

"Greyhound Racing Ireland is continually improving its image and their revenue intake. They need a continuation of Government funding over the next 5 years to implement their development projects.

"The Horse Racing industry remains strong and thriving across Tipperary and the country. It continues to build on the stellar reputation that Ireland holds across the world ahead Deputy Lowry said when addressing Minister Charlie McConalogue.

"Few people outside Horse Racing circles realise the benefits that this sport delivers to the economy. It is estimated that the Breeding and Horse Racing Industry across Ireland generates an average of 1.8 Billion in gross expenditure annually.

"This funds the more than 10,000 Irish jobs that are directly supported by this industry. Thousands more jobs allied to Horse Racing benefit through the services they provide. Top level equine vets, farriers, horse transport drivers, stable hands and grooms are among those employed by the industry.

"In addition, hundreds work at Race Meetings providing track maintenance, catering, betting facilities and a myriad of other tasks that must be carried out to ensure that everything, quite literally, runs smoothly.

"Irelands racing industry is one of our biggest and most consistent attractions for tourists. Our reputation as top racing destination sees race lovers flock to meetings, resulting in a massive boost in revenue for the transport, hospitality and retail industries.

"Ireland has a very impressive global horse breeding reputation. Ireland boasts everything that top breeders need, so demand to have horses bred here continues to grow. From our temperate climate to our calcium-rich soil, many of the most knowledgeable and experienced experts in horse reproduction travel to Ireland to breed their horses.

"All combined, Irelands equine industry provides an annual revenue input exceeding 900m to the Irish economy. The level of investment in Horse Racing from the Government pales in comparison to the money it returns year on year.

"Moves to reduce financial support to Horse and Greyhound Racing would be unwise and counterproductive to our economy. Thankfully successive Governments appreciate this and have consistently given financial backing to one of our countrys greatest assets and I welcome the allocation for the year ahead".
A group of protesters have gathered outside the entrance to Inchmore House in Clara to voice their objections to the possible use of the house as a centre for asylum seekers.

Work is underway at the house which is a protected structure as speculation continues about its future use.

Some have voiced fears that the centre will be used for male asylum seekers only.

Councillor Frank Moran has written to the owners of Inchmore House saying he will be calling a meeting in the near future and inviting them to attend.

''I think its time you respect the Clara people and its representatives. If not hide behind the planning laws and tell us you don't want negotiations but just profit.''

Cllr Moran said he is in consultation with Cllr Sandy Smollen and is requesting an emergency meeting with the owners and the department. ''Your disengagement will not go unnoticed,'' concluded Cllr Moran.
Defense forces destroyed 18 of 25 UAVs and one Kh-59 missile with which the Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine on the night of December 1, the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said.

"As a result of combat operations, 18 attack UAVs and one X-59 guided aircraft missile were destroyed," according to the statement.

The Air Force reports that on the night of December 1, the enemy attacked with attack UAVs of the Shahed type in two directions: Cape Chauda  occupied Crimea, Primorsko-Akhtarsk  Russia. The occupiers also launched an attack with guided aircraft missiles from the airspace of the occupied Kherson region.

It is noted that in total the enemy used two Kh-59 aircraft and 25 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. The main direction of impact is the south and east of the country.

Anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces have been involved in repelling the air attack. Air defense operated in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
44 Bengaluru Schools Receive Bomb Threat, CCTV Footage Accessed To Identify Suspects

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Over 44 prominent schools have received bomb threats via email, prompting police to deploy bomb squads to the affected institutions. The threats have been received by schools in Basaveshwaranagara and Yelahanka Police Division.

The threat surfaced when school staff accessed their emails and encountered the concerning message. Meanwhile, the city police and bomb squads swiftly initiated thorough inspections of the school premises.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda confirmed the deployment of bomb detection units to conduct extensive checks across the school areas.

In the wake of #bombthreat, several other schools have implemented safety measures and dismissed students early.



Bomb squad have been sent! NEEV, KLAY, and Vidyashilp are some of the schools where checks are being conducted.#Bombthreat #Bengaluru #BengaluruSchools pic.twitter.com/q42N2LEgjS  Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) December 1, 2023

"Police teams, alongside bomb detection and disposal units, have been mobilized to the respective locations," stated the police commissioner. The police will thoroughly investigate the schools that received these threats, emphasizing that there is no cause for alarm.

Recommended Video

Bengaluru: Several schools get bomb threats via email; students & staff evacuated | Oneindia News

X User Accuses Rapido Of Enabling Sexual Predators, Shares Friend's Horrifying Assault In Bengaluru

In response to the threat, one of the affected schools promptly notified parents about the security risk and arranged for the safe return of their children home. Anxious parents hurried to the schools, anxiously waiting outside, eager to ensure the safe retrieval of their children. Neev School in Sadashivanagar has announced holiday.

Meanwhile, Police are currently investigating the source of the bomb threats. They are also reviewing CCTV footage from the schools in an attempt to identify the suspects. The authorities have urged anyone with information about the bomb threats to come forward.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, after catching wind of the media reports, made a visit to New Academy School in Sadashivnagar to gather information. Addressing reporters, Shivakumar reassured the public, stating that he's been briefed by the city police commissioner and emphasized there's no cause for concern.

This is not the first time that schools in Bengaluru have been targeted with bomb threats. Last year, on the same day, 30 schools received similar threats via email. However, no arrests have been made in connection with these threats.
Did Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth Overdose Her Son With Cough Syrup Before Smothering?

Bengaluru Schools Bomb Threat: Will There Be A Holiday Tomorrow?

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Amidst the recent bomb threat scare, several schools were granted a holiday today. However, Bengaluru Police Commissioner, B Dayananda has assured that schools will resume as usual tomorrow. Speaking to media reporters, Dayananda emphasized the lack of seriousness regarding the threats, stating there would be no holiday for schools tomorrow.

While over 44 schools received concerning emails, Dayananda reassured that there's no cause for alarm. The School Education Department will notify any urgent measures if required. He urged parents not to fret, suggesting that the suspicious emails prompted an investigation.

All schools and colleges are expected to operate as usual tomorrow, without any closures. Dayananda stressed that no untoward incidents have occurred, ensuring a normal school day.

Recommended Video

Bengaluru: Several schools get bomb threats via email; students & staff evacuated | Oneindia News

The bomb threat incidents affected 44 schools across Bengaluru city, including Sadashivnagar, Basaveshwar Nagar, Nagdevanahalli, Chamarajpet, Yalahanka, Anekal, Bannerghatta, and Sarjapur. Several schools in Singe's Agrahara and Dommasandra were also targeted.

Panic gripped in parents, after nearly 15 schools in #Bengaluru have received #emails today indicating #BombThreat, #Students sent back to home



Anti sabotage and bomb detection squads deployed.



Home minister Parameshwara says police inspects the school premises and take action. pic.twitter.com/vDpAEJ9VGx  Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) December 1, 2023

'Convert To Islam Or Die': Mujahideen-Linked Threat Emails Rattle Bengaluru Schools? Police Investigate

Former Minister CT Ravi from Mysuru responded to the widespread threat, emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive investigation. Ravi urged the Karnataka government not to overlook the seriousness of the situation, suggesting the involvement of central authorities if needed to address the threat.
'Convert To Islam Or Die': Mujahideen-Linked Threat Emails Rattle Bengaluru Schools? Police Investigate

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A series of bomb threat emails targeted 15 private schools in Bengaluru, prompting an immediate response from city police. The unsettling emails, purportedly sent by a group identifying themselves as Mujahideen, contained ominous warnings, urging recipients to convert to Islam and threatening violence against them and their children. The sender's email ID, "[email protected]," was used to send these alarming messages.

The email's contents included threatening language such as 'Convert To Islam Or Die Under The Weight Of The Sword Of Islam,' culminating with the phrase 'Allahu Akbar'. Despite police efforts, the origin of these threatening emails remains elusive, prompting a comprehensive investigation.

The anonymous emails, sent from an unknown origin, have heightened tensions in the city, which has been grappling with Hindu-Muslim tensions in recent times. The aggressive tone of the emails, which is more severe than previous bomb threat calls received by schools, has caused widespread panic among parents and students.

Security Scare: These 15 Bengaluru Schools Receive Bomb Threat

Certain schools in Bengaluru city have received emails today morning indicating 'bomb threat'. Anti sabotage and bomb detection squads have been pressed into service to verify and ascertain. The calls seem to be hoax. Even then all efforts will be made to trace the culprits. pic.twitter.com/QqBaSuJ11W  CP Bengaluru    (@CPBlr) December 1, 2023

Recommended Video

Bengaluru: Several schools get bomb threats via email; students & staff evacuated | Oneindia News

Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar has assured the public that stern action will be taken against the perpetrators of the threats, emphasizing the need for parents and students to remain calm.

Opposition leaders, including R. Ashok and MLA Suresh Kumar, visited the NAFL school in Basaveshwara Nagar to gather information and assess the situation following the bomb threats, according to media reports. Suresh Kumar expressed concern over the violent language used in the recent emails, drawing parallels to a previous incident involving a student sending a threatening mail.

15 Bengaluru Schools Receive Bomb Threat, CCTV Footage Accessed To Identify Suspects

Mujahideen-Linked Threat Emails?



The sender's email ID, "[email protected]," was used to disseminate these alarming messages. The email's contents included threatening language such as 'Convert To Islam Or Die Under The Weight Of The Sword Of Islam,' culminating with the pic.twitter.com/uH20SXm8Pc  Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) December 1, 2023

Expressing deep concern, Ashok emphasized the religious undertones and extremism evident in the threatening email. He stressed the urgency of swift action against the culprits, likening the email's contents to those of a high-level terrorist. With bomb and dog squads deployed, thorough checks have been undertaken at the affected schools, but no suspicious items have been found so far.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 1, 2023, 12:23 [IST]
Did Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth Overdose Her Son With Cough Syrup Before Smothering?

Security Scare: These Bengaluru Schools Receive Bomb Threat

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

In a concerning turn of events, a series of schools across Bengaluru received alarming bomb threats via email. Police sources confirmed that more than 44 schools situated in Basaveshwara Nagar, Sadashiva Nagar, and other areas within the city had received these threats.

Here are the names of the schools that received bomb threat via mail:

Neev Academy School In Sadashivanagar

Global Indian International School, Bannerghatta

Poornaprajna Education Center, Sadashivanagar

Carmel High School, Basaveshwar Nagar

Greenwood High School, Bannerghatta

Inventure Academy, Dommasandra

Vidyashilp Academy, Yelahanka

Ebenezer International School, Huskur, Electronic City

National Academy for Learning, Basaveshwar Nagar

Bhavan - Bangalore Press School, Chamrajpet

Florence High School Basaveshwar Nagar

Stonehill international school in Chikkajala

Redbridge International Academy in Bannerghatta Road

Harvest International School in Sarjapur

Kunskapsskolan International School in Chandrapur

DPS East in Varthur

Gopalan International School in Mahadevapura

Indian Public School in Govindapura

St Vincent Pallotti School in Kalyan Nagar

Candor International School on Bannerghatta Road

Trio World Academy in Kodigehalli

Sophia school

The schools were reportedly targeted with these threats via email, prompting immediate action from authorities. Police forces, including bomb detection and disposal squads, swiftly mobilised to investigate the veracity of these threats and ensure the safety of the school premises.

Recommended Video

Bengaluru: Several schools get bomb threats via email; students & staff evacuated | Oneindia News

15 Bengaluru Schools Receive Bomb Threat, CCTV Footage Accessed To Identify Suspects

Upon learning of the situation, concerned parents hurried to the schools to collect their children.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda assured the public that bomb detection and disposal teams had been promptly dispatched to the affected schools, urging everyone to remain calm.

"We are currently scrutinizing the emails," Commissioner Dayananda informed reporters. "It is highly likely that these threats are false alarms. Our officers are on-site at the schools."

Bomb Threat In Bengaluru Schools: Misinformation Spreads Panic Among Parents

Following the incident, Neev Academy in Sadashivanagar, one of the schools targeted, informed parents that the institution would be closed for the day due to "security threats from unidentified sources."

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar paid a visit to Neev Academy, situated near his residence, expressing his belief that the threats seemed to be unfounded hoaxes.
Which Is The Best City For Women In India In 2023? The Answer Is...

Tamil Nadu Latest Weather Report: Chennai Rains To Continue As Cyclonic Storm Forms In Bay Of Bengal

Chennai

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Relentless rainfall continued to hammer Chennai and its surrounding districts in Tamil Nadu, resulting in widespread waterlogging and traffic disruptions on Thursday. Despite this, there seems to be no relief in sight for the southern state as per forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), predicted heavy rains, particularly along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu from December 1 to 4.

As per the Met Department, Chennai and five other districts in Tamil Nadu, including Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, and Kanchipuram, are expected to experience rain coupled with thunderstorms and lightning on Friday.

Social media visuals showcased the relentless rain pounding Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu, depicting individuals navigating through inundated streets donning raincoats or wielding umbrellas.

Tamil Nadu Latest Weather Report: Heavy Rain Alert For Chennai, Chengalpattu & Several Other Places

There hasn't been any declaration of holidays for schools in Chennai and neighboring districts for Friday, despite the closure of educational institutions on Thursday.

A flood alert has been sounded for low-lying areas and six villages along the Adyar river in Kanchipuram district, with water discharge from Chembarambakkam lake, as reported by news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, the Puzhal lake in Chennai, also referred to as the Red Hills lake, reached its maximum capacity due to incessant rainfall over the preceding weeks in the capital city of Tamil Nadu. On Thursday, approximately 389 cusecs of water were released from the lake.

According to the latest bulletin from the IMD, a well-defined low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea has shifted west-northwestwards and presently lies over the southeast Bay of Bengal. There are expectations of its development into a depression and further intensification into a cyclonic storm by around December 3. Subsequently, it is anticipated to move northwestwards and make landfall along the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts in the early hours of December 4 as a cyclonic storm.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the Ripon Buildings on Thursday to assess the arrangements at the Command Control Centre in Chennai, responsible for monitoring the rainfall situation in the state. He also personally attended calls from residents through the 1913 helpline, launched by the Chennai Corporation, and directed officials to ensure prompt and efficient coordination among departments to address grievances.

Rain Havoc In Chennai: 2-Hour Downpour Causes Waterlogging, Commuter Woes And Traffic Disruptions

The IMD has issued an orange alert for coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal from December 2 to 4, along with a similar warning for coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam on December 3 and 4, and Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh on December 4.

Moreover, heavy rainfall has been forecasted for Kerala, Mahe, Puducherry, and Karaikal for today.
Nitish Kumar Likely To Be Appointed Convenor Of INDIA Bloc In Virtual Meeting Today

8th Pay Commission: Will It Be Set Up Before Lok Sabha Elections 2024?

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

As the Lok Sabha elections 2024 nears, central government employees are eagerly awaiting the formation of the 8th Pay Commission. The 7th Pay Commission, implemented in 2016, led to substantialsalary hikes, raising expectations for even greater benefits from the 8th Pay Commission.

Recent discussions and speculation have heightened these expectations. However, according to reports, the government hasn't received any proposal regarding the formation of the 8th Pay Commission before the elections.

The 7th Pay Commission was initiated on 25 September 2013 under the UPA-led government. About a year before the election, the government implemented with effect from 1 January 2016.

As the Lok Sabha elections 2024 inch closer, some speculate that the current NDA government might consider instituting the 8th Pay Commission. However, T.V. Somanathan, Secretary of the Finance Department, has dismissed this possibility, and said that there is no immediate plans to establish the eighth Pay Commission for the 5.4 million central government employees and pensioners.

7th Pay Commission: New Year Brings Hope for Central Govt Employees With 4-5% DA Hike

While the proposal for the 7th Pay Commission was introduced in 2013, it was formally constituted in February 2014. The Commission submitted its report on November 19, 2015, and the government accepted it in 2016.

Key Highlights of the 7th Pay Commission:

Increased the minimum monthly salary for government employees to Rs 18,000.

Specified that the starting salary for a first-grade officer should be at least Rs 56,100.

Fixed the maximum monthly salary of government employees at Rs 2.25 lakh, with the salary of Finance Secretary and officers at that level capped at Rs 2.5 lakh.

Capped gratuity at Rs 20 lakhs, and it is increased by 1% for every 50% rise in Dearness Allowance (DA) beyond 25%.

Established a uniform fitment factor of 2.57% for all employees.

Decided to raise the salary by 3% annually, apart from the Dearness Allowance (DA) increment.

If the 8th Pay Commission is implemented, possibilities include potential increases in basic salary, revisiting the fitment factor, among other aspects.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 1, 2023, 16:33 [IST]
The fifth President of Ukraine, the leader of the European Solidarity faction in the Verkhovna Rada, Petro Poroshenko, was not allowed to cross the state border because the border guards had confirmation that his business trip abroad was cancelled, Speaker of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Andriy Demchenko told Interfax-Ukraine.

The department said border guards ensure registration and passage of persons across the border solely in accordance with the law, in particular, the rules for crossing the border by citizens of Ukraine.

"As it is known, during martial law, MPs of Ukraine have the right to cross the state border to travel on the basis of relevant decisions on official business trips. Regarding the MP you are asking about, the border guards have confirmation that his business trip abroad has been cancelled. That is why he was not allowed to cross the state border of Ukraine," Demchenko said.

Earlier, Poroshenko said Ukrainian border guards did not allow him to go on an agreed business trip abroad, where he had a number of meetings planned.

"I had a business trip signed by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, but the border guards did not let me through. I am far from the opinion that the border guards acted on their own initiative. Everyone can guess for themselves who cancelled the document signed by the Chairman of Parliament," Poroshenko said on Facebook.
What Went Wrong For BRS In Telangana Polls? The Findings Of Lokniti-CSDS Survey Is Here

Fearing Poaching, Telangana Congress Plans Resort Politics To Safeguard MLAs

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bolstered by favorable exit poll predictions, the Telangana Congress is expecting a resounding victory in the Assembly elections. However, in anticipation of a tight race, the party is reportedly considering plans to relocate its elected MLAs to resorts in Bengaluru in Karnataka, a state governed by the Congress.

Exit polls conducted by various agencies have indicated a strong likelihood of the Congress emerging victorious in Telangana, leaving the incumbent TRS-turned-BRS party trailing in second place. The Congress is confident that these projections will translate into actual results, but it is also preparing for various scenarios, including a close contest.

Revamping the Congress party's campaign in Telangana, A Revanth Reddy expresses confidence in securing a two-thirds majority. Yet, internal discussions within the party, reported by Times Of India, hint at plans to transport MLAs to Bengaluru if the election outcome proves tight. The Congress needs a minimum of 61 seats out of 119 to independently form the government in Telangana.

The proposed move of elected Congress MLAs to Bengaluru stems from exit poll forecasts suggesting the Congress might emerge as the largest party but may fall short of a clear majority. As a precaution for a close contest, the Congress has dispatched coordinators to constituencies where their candidates are poised to win. After receiving election certificates, the elected MLAs are purportedly scheduled to be shifted to an undisclosed location before being escorted to Bengaluru in a convoy of cars, sources revealed to Times Of India.

Telangana Exit Polls 2023: Congress Eyes Comeback, BRS Faces Stiff Challenge

In Bengaluru, oversight of this operation rests with DK Shivakumar, the state's deputy chief minister, known for his astute political strategies. Shivakumar previously managed a similar scenario in 2018, overseeing MLAs of the Congress and Janata Dal (S) during an Assembly floor test. With DK Shivakumar's recent significant role in the Congress's victory in Karnataka, he is now reportedly assuming additional organizational duties in similar circumstances.

Telangana conducted elections for its 119-member Assembly on November 30, marking the final polls preceding the 2024 general elections. Results for Telangana, along with Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram, will be announced on Sunday, December 3.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 1, 2023, 20:00 [IST]
Supriya Sule Chooses Struggle Over Power, Says I Had to Choose Between Power and Struggle

India Will Secure Pakistan, Bangladesh Borders Completely In 2 Years, Says Amit Shah

India

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday attended the 59th Raising Day parade for the Border Security Force (BSF). Shah extended his wishes to the BSF soldiers on the occasion and pledged to completely secure the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders in the next two years. Shah highlighted ongoing efforts to fortify the 60-km stretch along these borders.

In the past nine years, the Narendra Modi government has fenced Pakistan and Bangladesh borders, measuring 560 km.

"I firmly believe that a country cannot develop and prosper if its borders are not secure...the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the country to the moon with the Chandrayaan mission, G20 Summit and brought the economy from the 11th to the fifth spot, and this was all possible due to our forces deployed for securing the borders like the BSF," the Union Minister said.

"I believe that the border fence does not alone protect the country, it only helps render this task. The brave BSF jawan does this task," Amit Shah added.

No One Can Stop CAA Implementation: Amit Shah In Kolkata

Notably, India shares 2,290 km of International Border with Pakistan and 4,096 km long international boundary with Bangladesh. This includes long riverine, mountainous, and marshy areas. Fencing borders in such areas is not completely possible, hence the force uses drones cameras, and other gadgets to check infiltration.

Thumping the back of the BSF soldiers, Amit Shah said incidents of Naxal attacks have gone down. "The last strike against LWE by forces like the BSF, CRPF and ITBP is in the process. We are determined to end Naxalism in the country," he said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 1, 2023, 17:26 [IST]
Should Arvind Kejriwal Step Down? AAM Aadmi Party Conducts Survey in Delhi

India

oi-Gaurav Sharma

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is initiating the "Mai Bhi Kejriwal" campaign starting today to garner support for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The campaign aims to gather public opinion on whether Kejriwal should resign from his position or continue governing from jail if arrested. Over the period from December 1 to 20, the campaign will engage around 2600 polling stations across Delhi, allowing volunteers to collect feedback not only on the Chief Minister's potential resignation but also on the government's overall performance.

The looming threat of Kejriwal's arrest stems from his involvement in a money laundering case linked to the liquor police case. Recently, he underwent questioning by the Enforcement Directorate.

If arrested, Kejriwal would join Satyendra Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh as significant names implicated in the Delhi Liquor Police Case. The AAP has denounced the arrests of its ministers as part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP.

Gopal Rai, the head of AAP's Delhi unit and Delhi's Environment Minister, highlighted the BJP's attempts to dismantle the Aam Aadmi Party, following their multiple defeats in the capital despite fielding prominent figures. Rai labeled the alleged fake liquor policy case as a ploy aimed at discrediting the AAP.

Caught On Camera: Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner Cabin Experiences Water Leak During Delhi-London Flight

Following the feedback campaign, the party plans to conduct 'Jan Samvad' (public interaction) in each municipal ward from December 21 to December 24, aimed at informing the public about the BJP's alleged conspiracy to incarcerate Arvind Kejriwal, Rai stated.

During the media briefing, AAP MP from Punjab, Raghav Chadha, was also present. Chadha, named in the second supplementary chargesheet related to the liquor policy case, had also been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 1, 2023, 10:41 [IST]
PM Modi Proposes To Host COP33 Summit In India In 2028

International

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the COP28 summit in UAE's Dubai, proposed to host the COP33 conference in India in 2028. In a bid to promote India's eco-friendly initiatives on a global stage, PM Modi announced a new environmentally conscious initiative, the "Green Credit" initiative. Emphasizing India's dedication to the UN Framework for Climate Change, he proposed hosting the COP33 Summit in India in 2028.

The ongoing 28th Edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is scheduled from November 30 to December 12. This summit will witness the participation of global leaders such as UK PM Rishi Sunak, US Vice President Kamala Harris, and King Charles III.

Speaking at the Ceremonial Opening of the summit, Prime Minister Modi said India's goal is to bring down the emissions intensity by 45 percent till 2030. Also, the nation is committed to increase its share of non-fossil fuel to 50 percent. "We will also keep going ahead towards our goal of net zero by 2070," he noted.

PM Modi To Address COP28 World Climate Action Summit

The COP28 summit will serve as a platform to reaffirm India's accomplishments within the G20 in environmental conservation, featuring discussions on climate finance, the Green Credit initiative, and LeadIT.

PM Modi arrived in Dubai last night marking his sixth visit to the United Arab Emirates. He was welcomed with the chants of 'Jai Shree Ram' overseas. According to the schedule shared by the ministry, the Prime Minister will also attend a high-level event co-hosted by India and the UAE.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 1, 2023, 17:39 [IST]
PM Modi To Address COP28 World Climate Action Summit

International

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 28th Edition of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai's UAE shortly. This will be the second time in the last three years that PM Modi will be addressing the world showcasing India's commitment to conserve the environment. The summit will be held from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

The event will serve as a platform to reaffirm India's accomplishments within the G20 in environmental conservation, featuring discussions on climate finance, the Green Credit initiative, and LeadIT.

PM Modi arrived in Dubai last night marking his sixth visit to the United Arab Emirates. He was welcomed with the chants of 'Jai Shree Ram' overseas. According to the schedule shared by the ministry, the Prime Minister will also attend a high-level event co-hosted by India and the UAE.

Among the notable attendees joining PM Modi are UK PM Rishi Sunak, US Vice President Kamala Harris, and King Charles III, all set to partake in the climate conference.

Cop28: UN Chief Sultan al-Jaber Confirms 2023 As Hottest Year In History

The Conference began on November 30 with a speech by the COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber. In his speech, Al-Jaber asked the world leaders to join hands to cut down on emissions, triple renewable power capacity, and double energy efficiency, stating as the key goals of the UAE as hosts.

With an aim to reduce methane emissions to zero by 2030, Al-Jaber also promised to "unlock finance to ensure the global south does not have to choose between development and climate action, " the CNN quoted COP28 president.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, December 1, 2023, 14:33 [IST]
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.
Mia Schem is among eight more people released from Gaza on Thursday, in a swap for Palestinian prisoners.
Militant group Hamas has handed over more Israeli hostages after a truce was extended for another day. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel to do its utmost to protect civilians in Gaza. DW has more.
Eurasia Review 30 Dec 2023

By Yossi Mekelberg



For a glossary of the characteristics of Benjamin Netanyahu, here is a list of nouns that few..
 2008-2024 One News Page Ltd.

All rights reserved.

One News is a registered trademark

of One News Page Ltd.
Switzerland freezes about $8.8 bln of financial assets owned by Russians

Switzerland has frozen about $8.8 billion in financial assets belonging to Russians, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported.

Switzerland has frozen almost $8.8 bln of financial assets belonging to russians as part of the sanctions, Shmyhal said on X (Twitter).

The Prime Minister noted that Ukraine, together with its partners, is moving towards a mechanism for directing confiscated assets for its restoration.
Sen. John Cornyn blasted Sen. Dick Durbin over what he said was him 'destroying' the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing that ended with conservative activists being subpoenaed.
GOP Rep. George Santos of New York has been indicted by the House of Representatives. Will the Senate follow suit with Democrat Bob Menendez?
Upworthy 01 Dec 2023

A federal judge has blocked enforcement of Montana's ban on TikTok, ruling that the bill likely violates the First Amendment and..
The Israeli apartheid regime resumed Friday its mass killing of civilians in Gaza after getting more weapons and a green light from the US government. Israeli forces bombed in the first 10 hours of bombing residential buildings, over 115 Palestinian civilians including over 25 children. The invading army also demanded ethnic cleansing of the city of Khan Younes (250,000 people). Humanitarian supplies are still forbidden and people die of diseases and malnutrition. Politicians (local and global) collude and aid war cries and crimes against humanity. You can watch this mass killing live at .aljazeera.net/live (Arabic Aljazeera is better live coverage than the English one).

Impact on higher education institutions and a Unified Call for Justice and Freedom in Palestine from Palestinian Higher Education institutions: Do not be Silent during Israel's Unfolding Genocide. More at: click here

This detailed report in 972mag lays out Israeli policies of targeting civillians: click here The US administration (Genocide Joe) stated that there will not be restriction son use of US supplied weapons to Israel thus continuing to break US military aid laws (foreign assistance act, arms export control act, Leahy laws) to support Israel's intentional killing of civilians. Meanwhile the oppression in other parts of occupied Palestine continued. In Lodd, a zionist assailant stabbed a pregnant woman to death in front of her two other children (she was walking them to school). In the West Bank, Israel continued its policies this week of home demolition, infrastructure destructions, ethnic cleansing, kidnapping people (so far over 3350 people kidnapped since 7 October, total 10,500 imprisoned and tortured in the most inhuman conditions|), and killings (including an 8 and a 15 year old). see tu.be/-pD8s-7DouU

'They shot her son in her arms and forced her to throw his body': testimonies from the death march on Salah al-Din Street: Multiple testimonies collected from Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza reveal the horrors of the Israeli army's "safe passage" on Salah al-Din Street. click here

Very important article from Al-Haq legal center . Defiance in the Face of Genocide: A Call for Justice and Decolonisation on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People .alhaq.org/advocacy/22269.html

Germany silencing free speech and colusion with genocide tu.be/WBm8haZOJY4

And the US Congress is trying to claim anti-Zionism is equal to "anti-Semitims". It is like claiming anti-Nazism is equivalent to hating whites! THAT IS WHY when governments fail, we the people must change the government and we must use tools like Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions (see BDSmovement.net). Please organize, write, speak, act. You do make a difference... collectively we keep the hope alive and we shall overcome someday.

Stay Human and keep Palestine alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine siyeh.org estinenature.org facebook pages Personal .facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9 Institute .facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH
Quicklink Not Found

Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them.



To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here.
The spoiler effect is usually described by example. There are three candidates, with two of the three being favored by a majority of voters equally. Using plurality voting, votes for those two candidates

would split about equally, allowing the third candidate to win election. Surely it is a stain on any voting system to allow this sort of electoral miscarriage to happen. If such a thing can happen then eventually it will; with plurality voting it has happened.

More broadly, the spoiler effect is characterized as an electoral win that disappoints a majority of voters because of votes being arbitrarily split between two or more similar candidates. This is not something that should happen in a democracy. The lesson to draw is that it is a dangerous flaw in a voting system when it insists that a voter, who may have no such preference, must nonetheless vote to give an advantage to one of two similar candidates.

In the previous article we explored an example of a flawed election using ranked-choice voting (IRV). That example election is between five candidates with voters considering four of the candidates to be equally suited for election. Only a minority of the voters prefer the one remaining candidate but that is the candidate who wins election. One might argue that this fails to be a clear example of the spoiler effect because the outcome depends on the defective way that IRV treats abstentions more than it does on the perceived similarity of candidates. Vote splitting does happen, however, and the election outcome does disappoints the majority of voters who would have preferred any of the other candidates. If it is judged not technically an instance of the spoiler effect at work, the example remains no less of an electoral miscarriage, and this possibility is still as much of a stain on democracy.

An IRV enthusiast might also counter that voters can be educated to avoid making this error. It seems doubtful such a campaign of education could be entirely successful, but the example that is to follow

shows that the spoiler problem remains even if it is possible to successfully train the voters.

More promising than trying patch up IRV or minimize its flaws would be to adopt the BAV voting system. BAV measures both the level of support and the level of opposition to a candidate; when support and opposition are both measured, the level of indifference toward a given candidate can be derived by subtracting both support and opposition from the count of ballots. Moreover, with BAV, voters can always treat identical candidates identically (this is also true for approval voting). And finally, we might recall that BAV will level the playing field and so guarantee more even-handed treatment, even of candidates who are not especially famous.

We could consider the spoiler effect to occur when a candidate wins election despite the opposition of a majority of the voters. But when an election uses plurality voting (or many other voting systems) such an electoral blunder might simply go unnoticed; the only indication of such a failure would be a widespread malaise among voters, something that could easily be misinterpreted. Most voting systems do fail to take any measure of voter opposition to candidates; they often measure support only (and consequently non-support). But opposition may be only a small portion of non-support, particularly when it comes to independent candidates or those from small parties; voters who know too little about a candidate tend neither support nor oppose the candidate.

IRV not only fails to measure opposition; it even fails to ask voters anything about support for candidates. IRV is sometimes labeled as an ordinal voting system because it asks voters only to order the candidates according to the degree of support. Does that provide sufficient information to determine the appropriate winner? An ordered list of ten candidates may reflect support for none of them or perhaps just the first one or two. It is equally consistent with support for all of them.

An example may help to appreciate the complexity of the IRV voting system, even though assuming that the voters have been well trained to avoid the natural temptation of skipping over unrecognized candidates to put their least favorite candidates at the end of the list.

Consider an IRV election where the 12,500 submitted ballots are as follows:



Table 1, Ballots

(Image by Paul Cohen) Details DMCA



Notice that candidate D has 6000 supporters who specify no second choice. In contrast, it appears that their supporters consider candidates A and B to be similar; their votes appear to split between A and B, but these voters show a preference for C once both A and B are eliminated.

Notice that, like D, A has a (smaller) following who specify no second choice. D's supporters represent 48% of the voters while A, B and C share the other 52% of the voters. Since we assume the voters are all well-trained, we know that they do support all the candidates that they list on the ballot. With that assumption we can reasonably judge that a majority of voters likely oppose D.

In the first round, B is eliminated, leaving votes distributed as follows:



Table 2, After First Elimination Table 3

(Image by Paul Cohen) Details DMCA



With only 3200 votes, A is eliminated in this second round and afterward there are 1200 fewer ballots to be counted. This causes D's tally, still of 6000 votes, to become a majority with (53%) of the remaining 11,300 ballots. Despite being opposed by a majority of voters, D wins this spoiled IRV election.

This example exploits the complexity of IRV with multiple counts and re-counts. The first two ballot tallies eliminate a block of voters and in turn, leads to this defective electoral outcome. Notice that with IRV, the placement within the list can affect the election outcome. The underlying issue is that IRV voters are forced into distinguishing between candidates they view as essentially similar by putting one arbitrarily before the other. The same can happen using the balanced voting system, instant runoff balanced voting (IRBV) so perhaps IRBV also enables such spoiled elections.

Some of the appeal of IRV is likely that it provides an easy response to the "one man, one vote" mantra. In each round of voting there is only one vote per ballot and the voter specifies how that one vote transfers to another candidate in successive rounds. This resembles an actual series of elections. But insisting on a strict interpretation of the "one man, one vote" mantra fails with women allowed to vote. Why cannot we also relax it when interpreting the meaning of "vote".

Facing this issue directly as we did in an earlier article we would recognize that "One man, one vote" probably originated as phrase for a crowd to chant during a campaign to improve democracy. No doubt chosen more for its rhythm and concision, it is doubtful it was considered as a precise and thoughtful expression of electoral philosophy.

In a modern context, a more accurate rendition might be that "every voter should have an equal voice in the election". Clearly, that would be an awful failure as a chant but as a guideline for fair voting it would be better suited as a statement of principle. Alternatively, the modern version could still say "one voter, one vote" if only we would accompany a more relaxed interpretation for the noun "vote".

(Article changed on Dec 02, 2023 at 2:18 PM EST)

(Article changed on Dec 02, 2023 at 3:44 PM EST)
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

The first swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners has been completed yesterday. The day prior to the swap was the American Holiday Thanksgiving. There are certainly Israeli and Palestinian families who are giving thanks to God for their loved ones' freedom.

The western media focused on the older Israeli women and small children being released. According to Israeli doctors, they were in acceptable condition after their ordeal in captivity.

However, there was almost no western coverage of the Palestinian women and children released from an Israeli prison. Western audiences would have to first understand that Israel arrests young children for throwing a rock at an Israeli soldier. This information might make a western viewer appalled and disgusted with Israel. Since the western media wants to portray the Israelis as a democracy, with shared values with the West, brutal undemocratic Israeli policies are just glossed-over.

"The main alleged crime for these detentions is stone-throwing, which can carry a 20-year sentence in prison for Palestinian children," said a report published in July by children's rights organization, Save the Children.

US President Joe Biden made a short statement at the time of the release, in which he said it was his unproven theory that Hamas timed their attack on Israel because they wanted to stop the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which Biden had been pushing for. Biden was putting Saudi Arabia in a very dangerous position, as perhaps being the cause of the October 7 attack, and ensuing bloodshed and destruction.

President Donald Trump had begun the Abraham Accords process, which saw UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan sign a normalization agreement with Israel. Saudi Arabia was the prize that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was chasing, but the current war has put that on hold. These Arab countries have not suddenly found a friend in Israel, but they can benefit from a relationship with Israel, which has nothing to do with technology, trade or tourism. By being in an improved relationship with Israel, the Arab countries would have access to improved relations with the US Congress, through AIPAC. The American-Israeli lobby group AIPAC is the reason Arab leaders would be willing to ignore Palestinian human rights.

Hamas caught the attention of the world on October 7 with a shocking attack on Israeli civilians and soldiers that killed 1,400 and about 240 were taken hostage into Gaza.

The Israeli media painted the Hamas attack as an attempt to exterminate the Jewish people. While Hamas does not recognize the right for Israel to exist, the group issued a statement early on explaining they were not seeking to annihilate Israel, but fighting a war of resistance against Israeli occupation.

The Geneva Convention guarantees the right for armed struggle against occupation, but prohibits targeting civilians.

Yesterday, the world was focused on the swap, with governments, international organizations and media involved in the delicate and well-executed project. Hamas had the spot-light. To explain their motives in the attack is not to justify them. A problem that has existed for over 70 years has never been dealt with or focused on, even though it has global implications.

Hamas was successful in getting the brutal occupation of the West Bank, and the siege of Gaza that began in 2007, and has kept 2 million people in an open-air prison, into the international spotlight. People in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, South America, Australia, Asia and the Middle East, including in Israel, have taken to the streets in the millions to protest the Israeli attacks on Gaza that have left at least 12,000 dead, thousands injured, and hundreds of thousands homeless. Especially shocking is the number of children killed by Israeli airstrikes, which number about half of the dead.

The people of the world were seeing the images of death and destruction on social media and televised media. They rose-up in protest of the injustice of collective punishment on a civilian population who are innocent of any crime, and are themselves the victims, as were the Israeli victims of October 7.

However, the international community, who are the leaders of US-allied countries, were very slow to call for Israel to stop killing Palestinians indiscriminately. The first week of the conflict, those western democratic leaders kept chanting the mantra taught to them by Washington, DC, that 'Israel has the right to defend itself'.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has stated that Israel does not meet the conditions of self-defense in its military operation in Gaza.

"The right to self-defense can be invoked when the state is threatened by another state. Israel cannot claim the right of self-defense against a threat that emanates from a territory it occupies from a territory kept under belligerent occupation."

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
A Multnomah County grand jury found no criminal wrongdoing by the three Portland police officers involved in the July shooting of 33-year-old PoniaX Kane Calles after a standoff in Gresham shortly after Calles fled Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, where police said he had shot and killed an unarmed security guard that morning.

The police shooting occurred after Sgt. Michael Filbert spotted Calles get into a van outside an apartment complex in Northeast Portland. Calles had previously lived at the complex. Filbert followed the van into Gresham and pulled it over with the aid of another police car on 181st Avenue just south of Glisan Street.
Nike said Friday its downtown Portland store is headed for renovations early next year, and that a move to the nearby Pioneer Place mall will be temporary.

The apparel and footwear giant said it plans to temporarily close its Nike Portland store at 638 S.W. Fifth Ave. as it works to renovate and enhance our store experience for consumers.

The announcement suggests Nikes retail commitment to its hometown isnt diminishing, which was feared given the space inside Pioneer Place is smaller than the roughly 26,000-square-foot space Nike occupies across the street today.

To best serve downtown Portland, we are in the process of opening a temporary store in nearby Pioneer Square so consumers can still shop the brand they love, the company said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

A permit application filed with the city on Wednesday disclosed that the Washington County company planned to build out a two-level space at Pioneer Place, located at 700 S.W. Fifth Ave.

The proposal calls for demolishing walls to build a sales area, fitting rooms, stockroom, bathrooms, closets, a sitting room, a back-of-house area and breakroom, among other features associated with a new storefront.

Plans filed with the city and obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through a public records request show Nike plans to move into the space formerly occupied by J. Crew, which will be extended to include some additional space on the second floor. The finished space will be a little more than 11,000 square feet.

The company said little, however, about the renovation plans for its current location.

For decades, having a retail store in Portland has been a point of pride and convenience for the sportswear giant. When the company opened the original NikeTown at the corner of Southwest Sixth Avenue and Salmon Street in 1990, Nike officials said it puts the companys best foot forward. A Nike executive at the time described the space as both a shopping destination and a research and development lab.

While Nikes flagship stores are now in global shopping destinations like New York City, it has continued to use its Portland store to develop new technologies, including new features on the companys shopping apps.

--Kristine de Leon, kdeleon@oregonian.com; Matthew Kish, mkish@oregonian.com
Experience gained by the Regional Disaster Response Teams of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is unique and worth sharing worldwide, Director General of the URCS National Committee Maksym Dotsenko has said.

"Experience you have gained during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is unique in terms of the global perception of the Red Cross. I am sure that in the future you will become emergency response leaders in the Red Cross and Red Crescent globally," he said at a press conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Regional Disaster Response Teams of the URCS in Kyiv on Friday.

According to Dotsenko, emergency response teams are among the first to arrive at the scenes after Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian settlements, rescue people from under the rubble of destroyed buildings, provide them with first aid, and evacuate citizens to save places.

"All disaster response teams work very tensely and very responsibly. The team of more than 500 people and around 1,000 'spontaneous volunteers' is a fantastic team with fantastic experience and fantastic ability to work with full dedication," Commander of the Regional Disaster Response Teams of the URCS Taras Logginov said.

The URCS and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are in talks on including the Ukrainian Red Cross to the civil protection system, he said.

"We are holding talks with the State Emergency Service to include the Ukrainian Red Cross in the civil protection system, so we already work at the state level. We are already a part of the state mechanism that provides care in emergencies," Logginov said.

The history of the creation of the URCS emergency response teams begins on December 1, 2013, when volunteers provided first aid to those injured as a result of the confrontation between protesters and representatives of security forces near the presidential administration building on Bankova Street in Kyiv.

Over ten years, volunteers of the URCS emergency response teams helped 388,545 Ukrainian citizens and carried out 17,000 duties.

Currently, there are 21 detachments and eight Regional Disaster Response Teams and 592 volunteers in Ukraine. They have 115 units of vehicles and special equipment at their disposal.
The Washington woman who allegedly shot a pistol at Portland International Airport last month tried to kill her mother, sister, aunt and uncle, prosecutors allege.

Laura Patterson, 47, was arrested late Nov. 14 after she stepped out of a bathroom near PDXs north-side security checkpoint and fired a gun into the ceiling twice, according to witnesses and court documents.

Patterson later told a detective that she drove to the airport from her home in Kennewick, Washington, to fire the gun and not hurt anyone so that she could be prevented from killing several family members. She said she had been thinking of killing her family  her mom, sister, aunt and uncle, specifically  for several years. Those family members live in or near Houston and were not at the Portland airport that day, court records indicate.

The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office declined to comment on how family members lives were threatened beyond allegations in court documents that Patterson said she wanted to kill them.

Patterson pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges in the indictment, which was filed the day after Thanksgiving and included four counts of first-degree attempted murder and 10 other charges, including multiple counts of unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.

Pattersons attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Patterson remains in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center. Reached by phone, Pattersons sister declined to comment.

Do you have a tip? Get in touch.

 Fedor Zarkhin

Office: 503-294-7674; Cell: 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.com
The day started like any other for the Stevens family in Northeast Portland. Will Stevens, 41, was getting his 5-year-old daughter, Zelda, ready for kindergarten around 7:15 a.m. when his wife, Sarah Hammer Stevens, went outside to put their youngest daughter, 2-year-old Thora, in her car seat in the back of their Subaru. The couple had taken to warming up their car as the weather grew colder in Portland this month.

Hammer Stevens, 41, briefly returned inside to get a pair of shoes and socks for the 2-year-old, leaving the car on.

A moment later, the couple stepped outside together and saw their car backing out of the driveway.

At first I thought Thora had somehow gotten out of her car seat and into the front and put it into gear, because that was kind of the only thing that made sense in my brain, her father said. But then I saw someone in the drivers seat.

Stevens said he chased after the moving vehicle, ripped open the drivers side door and yelled at the person driving  a young man in a black beanie  that there was a child inside the car. But the car sped off, he said.

He was calling 911 when a neighbor who saw him in distress offered to drive him in the direction of his stolen Subaru.

Meanwhile, 34-year-old Danielle Tran was getting ready to take her 3-year-old daughter to preschool at about 7:20 a.m. when she saw a dark blue Subaru Outback zoom west on Northeast San Rafael Street traveling about 35 or 40 mph.

Shrugging off the speeding driver as a person late for work, Tran said she put her daughter in the backseat and started driving. She was approaching Northeast 113th Avenue around 7:25 a.m. when she saw a little girl about the same age as her daughter running at the side of the road without shoes.

Tran pulled over, got out of her car and approached the girl to ask her what was going on.

She was just crying for her mommy, so I scooped her up and looked around, but nobody was there, Tran said.

Tran said she went back to her car to call the police. When she looked up from her seat, she saw an officer standing by her window.

It was perfect timing, she said.

Tran was telling the officer how she found the girl when Stevens arrived. In shock, he got out of the car and went to Thora.

It was a relief  it was the only thing we were thinking of, he said.

Tran said she was relieved as well.

I just cant believe somebody would take a car with a little toddler in it, she said.

Stevens said he and his wife took Thora home, where she immediately started playing with toys, he said. She was a bit cold, but seemed to be in good spirits, he said.

The couple will no longer leave their car while its warming up and plan to attach tracking devices to their vehicles, Stevens said.

Ive had a car stolen before and its inconvenient, he said. But my bigger concern is I dont want someone else to be warming up a car with a kid or a pet or anything valuable or precious to them in the car.

Later on Thursday, a Gresham police officer spotted the dark blue 2017 Subaru Outback near Southeast Morrison Terrace and 202nd Avenue, Portland police said. No suspect was in the car, they said.

The abduction was the most recent in a string of incidents in which Portland-area thieves have stolen a car with a child inside.

On July 27, 2022, a father left his minivan running in the parking lot of the Oregon Dog Rescue in Tualatin to exchange puppies with a friend outside the business. His then 9-month-old was sleeping in the back seat. A man, Marcus Paul, jumped into the minivan and drove off. About a half-hour later, a woman found Keysers baby on the ground, near the edge of a steep slope by Barclay Park.

In September 2022, Portland police found a 7-year-old girl asleep in her familys stolen Honda Civic in Southeast Portland, almost four hours after someone stole the car from the U-Haul lot at Southeast 49th Avenue and Powell Boulevard with the girl inside. Martinezs parents had briefly gotten out of their Honda shortly before 7 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2022, leaving the car running and the key inside while their daughter slept in the back.

Portland police asked anyone with 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_

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe.
Though Todd Haynes has lived in Portland since 2000, the director doesnt make films here. With his latest movie, May December, Haynes worked in Savannah, Georgia, with stars Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton. The critically acclaimed film, which is still playing at Northeast Portlands Hollywood Theatre, also begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 1.

May December is inspired by the true-life story of Mary Kay Latourneau, who in 1996 began a sexual relationship with Vili Fualaau, one of her sixth-grade students at a school in Burien, Washington. Fualaau was only 12 years old, and Latourneau was ultimately jailed after pleading guilty to raping Fualaau. The case became a tabloid sensation, and was widely publicized.

When released from prison, Latourneau married Fualaau, with whom she had two children. They later divorced, and Latourneau died in 2020.

May December stars Julianne Moore, who has appeared in such Haynes-directed movies as Safe and Far From Heaven. Moore plays Gracie, a character who, like Latourneau, served time for having an inappropriate and illegal relationship with a minor, who in the movie is a character named Joe. Natalie Portman plays Elizabeth, an actress who has been cast in a movie based on the case of Gracie, and who visits the couple to do research for her role.

Gracie and the now-grown Joe (Charles Melton) are living in Savannah, Georgia, with two of their three children. They seem to have made some sort of peace with the scandal of the past, but it soon becomes clear that there are issues beneath the surface. Elizabeth is also driven by motivations that become more complicated as the film goes on.

Natalie Portman as Elizabeth and Julianne Moore as Gracie in the movie, "May December." Courtesy of Netflix

The outstanding performances, Haynes direction, and the insightful script by Samy Burch (from a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik) make May December a fascinating character study, with a subtly uneasy atmosphere.

Haynes, whose earlier work includes Carol, Velvet Goldmine, Im Not There, the documentary, The Velvet Underground, and the HBO limited series, Mildred Pierce, recently said in an interview with Deadline that his next project will reunite him with Portland-based writer Jon Raymond, with whom Haynes worked on Mildred Pierce.

As Haynes said in the interview, the next project is scheduled to star Joaquin Phoenix, and is a love story set in the 1930s between two men, an interracial relationship, a very unlikely pair, and added, Me and Joaquin and Jon just basically created this thing, so well all be sharing story credit on it together.

 Kristi Turnquist

503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Buffalo Bills star linebacker Von Miller is facing an arrest warrant stemming from a domestic violence charge in Dallas, Texas, according to a report by WFAA in Dallas.

Miller, 34, is facing a third-degree felony charge of assaulting a pregnant person. Millers longtime girlfriend has accused him of assaulting her on Wednesday morning in their home in Dallas. A preliminary investigation into the alleged incident determined that Miller and the victim got into an argument and Miller assaulted the victim.

Miller left the home before police officers arrived. He is currently on a bye week with the Bills.

This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller, the Bills said in a statement. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point.

According to espn.com, the woman and Miller have been in a relationship for seven years and she told police officers that she is six weeks pregnant. She was treated for minor injuries.

Details of the alleged incident were described in an affidavit that was obtained by the Dallas Morning News. Miller allegedly shoved and pushed her, allegedly choked her with one hand for three to five seconds and allegedly ripped out a patch of her hair.

Miller is in the middle of his second season with the Bills. He signed a six-year, $120 million contract with the team prior to the 2022 season.
A state-commissioned report published Nov. 17 shows that Oregon state agencies failed to sufficiently contract with minority and women-owned businesses in recent years.

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services hired Denver-based firm BBC Research & Consulting to analyze nearly $3.2 billion of state contracts between July 2017 and June 2022.

The firm found that just 10.9% of that money went to businesses owned by people of color or women  despite those businesses making up 33.9% of the market availability, according to the report.

Those disparities indicate inferences of discrimination against relevant POC- and woman-owned business groups in the Oregon marketplace and as part of the states contracting and procurement, states an executive summary of the report.

The study, which drew data from 105 state agencies, found that all minority groups faced this disparity for both main and subcontracts across most of the industry categories analyzed: construction, professional services and non-professional services and goods.

In addition, the firm found that a small number of minority and women-owned businesses received the majority of state contract dollars for those demographics. Of the 458 minority and women-owned businesses studied, 75% of state contract dollars were awarded to roughly 58 businesses, according to the report.

The state does not currently require agencies to contract with a certain number of minority or women-owned businesses, said Christopher Wilson, disparity study manager with the Department of Administrative Services.

Some state agencies have their own requirements, but the Department of Administrative Services does not centrally record which agencies have these requirements, Wilson said.

The disparity study allows the legal framework to be set up and the measurement to be set up for such a program, Wilson said. However, he said that process will likely take at least five years.

Barriers to entry

A combination of factors have led to these disparities, including historical exclusion of minorities in state contracts, a confusing and time-consuming process and discriminatory industry practices outside of the states control, the report said.

Minority and women-owned businesses, which make up 13.7% and 46.7% of the states small businesses, respectively, face disadvantages when competing with larger companies that have more resources and can offer lower bids, said Nate McCoy, president and CEO of the Oregon chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors.

For instance, smaller contractors cannot typically forecast project expenses as accurately as a larger company that has more established and profitable relationships with manufacturers.

They also dont have marketing departments or a marketing point person to put nice proposals together to be able to present themselves like big businesses do, McCoy said. We just want to lower and eliminate some of these barriers so we can have more opportunities for small businesses of color.

State agencies also tend to rehire the same businesses over time, which creates disparities for emerging businesses trying to get into government contracting, Wilson said.

The firm analyzed more than 22,000 contracts during the study period, most of which were awarded in high population areas of the state. Businesses in Multnomah County, the most populous county, received 36.5% of state contract dollars between July 2017 and June 2022, followed by Marion County with 8.8% and Washington County with 7.7%, according to the study.

BBC Research & Consulting interviewed 61 contractors and surveyed 1,152 businesses to explore some of the barriers. Many of the respondents called the government procurement process confusing and too time-consuming.

In addition, delays in payment and support from the state have deterred many business owners. A construction company owner told the firm, When we try to get information [from] the bid website, half the time we never get our questions answered. [We] are dismissed and not fully engaged.

Minority and women-owned businesses face additional challenges in accessing government work that fall outside the states purview, the study found. Many contractors of color reported experiences of discrimination based on their race or ethnicity.

Some contractors of color reported receiving different price options than white contractors on the same materials, or having a harder time securing a bank loan due to their race or ethnicity.

The truth of the matter is, the construction industry is widely a white industry. And theres a lot of people who just dont want to work with somebody who doesnt look like them, one Black construction contractor reported.

The firm laid out a list of recommendations for the state to combat the disparities, which range from setting a target goal for the number of minority and women-owned businesses receiving state contracts to increasing advertising of state contract work.

The firm also recommended that state agencies make an effort to work with businesses they have not previously hired and reserve certain contracts for small businesses.

To specifically combat the disparities for women and minority contractors, BBC recommends that the state should consider whether a race- and gender-conscious contract goals program would help address the disparities POC- and woman-owned businesses face, the report states.

Creating such a program would likely take five to seven years, Wilson said, because it would require more metrics, analysis and complex legal work.

Wilson said several state agencies have already instituted some of the recommendations that help all small businesses regardless of demographic, while others might take years. Over the next month, the state will conduct listening sessions with businesses to discuss the best method of incorporating the recommendations.

This is not an end-all be-all, its not something that solves problems overnight, he said. Its all about tearing down these barriers and accessing state government. A lot of this work is already being done and were already forward thinking with this.

 Carlos Fuentes; cfuentes@oregonian.com; 503-221-5386; @carlos_reports

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Stories that will make you laugh, cry and question everything you thought you knew. Step into a portal where LGBTQ+ folks can live authentically, free from hate and where their contributions to art and culture are celebrated. Sign up for the QueerVerse newsletter today!

Editors note: For World AIDS Day 2023, Reckon interviewed people from across the U.S. about living with and battling the persistent stigma that people living with HIV/AIDS still confront today. From those deeply personal, wide-ranging interviews, we published profiles of five people about their journey and fight to eradicate stigma.

In July 2020, a 21-year-old DaRon Davis-Henderson was diagnosed with HIV. Being a Black gay man, the stigma of being a statistic weighed on him. Davis-Henderson initially felt betrayed because his then-partner wasnt completely honest about their status and for the way his community alienated him when he disclosed living with HIV.

That hurt because I thought I had a community that would always be there for me, and only a few were in the end, he tells Reckon.

Although Davis-Henderson knew a little bit about HIV and that it wasnt a death sentence with modern treatment options, he soon learned how those three letters could easily become scarlet.

I thought that my life was over, socially. That type of judgment is not anything that anybody wants to experience. Were all human at the end of the day and deserve the basic human decency everyone else receives, regardless of our HIV status, Davis-Henderson says.

Today, a now 25-year-old Davis-Henderson takes pride in being HIV-positive and working in the HIV awareness field, helping his clients realize the disease is not life-ending by destigmatizing their thoughts about their diagnosis.

Working at RAIN, an AIDS service organization in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a peer support navigator is a full-circle moment for Davis-Henderson, who was a client and used the various resources the organization offers HIV-positive people. Through the peer groups provided, he realized he wasnt navigating his diagnosis alone and other folks with similar demographics were navigating a new reality as well.

I felt broken when I got diagnosed and I didnt talk for months. So, coming to RAIN really helped and gave me a sense of community, Davis-Henderson tells Reckon.

Based on his experience and professional analysis of the stigmas his clients face, the number one stigma surrounding HIV that Davis-Henderson wants society to stop fueling is that a person is either dirty or clean based on their test results. In the age of social media, this stigma has grown as folks post that theyre clean when discussing their STI results, implying that positive people are dirty.

So, it puts a lot of pressure on people who are diagnosed with HIV. Hearing someone call someone else dirty because of their diagnosis really grinds my gears, Davis-Henderson says.

This World AIDS Day, Davis-Henderson says the best way others can show up for folks living with HIV, especially in younger demographics, is to speak out against misinformation online and organize campaigns to show solidarity between HIV-positive and negative people.

If we can do something of that nature, that would be a step in the right direction to destigmatize HIV and help people learn more about prevention and treatment options, he says.
Stories that will make you laugh, cry and question everything you thought you knew. Step into a portal where LGBTQ+ folks can live authentically, free from hate and where their contributions to art and culture are celebrated. Sign up for the QueerVerse newsletter today!

Editors note: For World AIDS Day 2023, Reckon interviewed people from across the U.S. about living with and battling the persistent stigma that people living with HIV/AIDS still confront today. From those deeply personal, wide-ranging interviews, we published profiles of five people about their journey and fight to eradicate stigma.

In May 2011, a 21-year-old Mallery Jenna Robinson was in college pursuing a double major in Biology and History when she fainted and was rushed to the emergency room, where she received her HIV diagnosis. Robinson, now 33, is an Afro-Caribbean trans woman from Montgomery, Alabama, working as a transgender and HIV advocate and healthcare specialist based in Los Angeles. She also hosts the true crime investigative podcast A Hateful Homicide, focusing on the murders in the trans community.

At the time of my diagnosis, I thought I was going to die. I believed that HIV/AIDS meant that you werent able to have a long, worthy life, she tells Reckon.

If the societal stigma didnt exist when she was diagnosed, Robinson would have reacted to the news differently. I would not jump to conclusions based on the misinformation and propaganda that HIV/AIDS is something given to people as a punishment. Id look beyond ignorant language that has been displayed and shared for years describing HIV as unclean, especially growing up in Alabama, she says.

Fast forward almost 13 years, and Robinson knows that assumption was wrong. She tells Reckon that her accessing treatment and guidance from her doctor helped shift her mindset after receiving her diagnosis. According to Robinson, her mind was eased by learning statistic that HIV+ folks have a greater chance of dying in a car crash than dying of the disease as long as they take their medication.

I can have this truth but still live a long, healthy, productive life. 13 years later, Im still here, so I guess he was right, she gleans.

Today, Robinson embraces her diagnosis using her lived and professional experience to raise awareness and destigmatize the language of clean and dirty when discussing HIV.

So all of that has empowered my truth and made it pertinent to ensure not only for others, but also how I think about myself. I know that Im worthy and beautiful; that undetectable equals untransmittable, Robinson tells Reckon.

The two stigmas Robinson wants society to stop fueling are that HIV is an automatic death sentence and the notion that those living with HIV are villains out to give others the disease intentionally. I had a former partner who ignorantly thought that because I was positive, I was going to give them HIV intentionally to cause harm. I would never do that to someone else and would love to destigmatize that assumption about folks living with HIV, she says.

Community resources such as the Montgomery AIDS Outreach, also known as Medical Advocacy & Outreach, were vital to Robinson becoming who she is today and adjusting to her new reality post-diagnosis.

As a Black trans woman from the South, its essential to understand that you can be anything that you want to be and not ever give up on yourself despite the societal stigma and barriers that come with being positive or trans. The messaging thats been lost with a lot of our community members is for people to embrace their truth and speak out to help destigmatize these experiences, she says.

This World AIDS Day, Robinson says the best way others can show up for folks living with HIV is to get involved with their local HIV/AIDS awareness organizations and get familiar with the facts of living with the disease instead of the ignorant depictions shared across society.

Immersing oneself in these resources will help one learn what it means to be on prEP or PEP and the difference between them. And understand what it means to be with someone whos undetectable or the steps to becoming undetectable. All of that is pivotal to ensuring that our community and others are aware and informed to continue to live healthy, fulfilling lives, she tells Reckon.

As for advice for any trans person living with HIV, she wants them to know that they can still pursue their medical transition and even parenthood biologically through surrogacy or otherwise with the proper treatment and guidance from a doctor. So many times, we think, Oh my gosh, were HIV positive, and we cant undergo medical journeys or be parents, and I want to eradicate that myth. Im a living testimony that you can put your biological product aside living with HIV and still create the life you want in all aspects, she says.
Slovakia's truckers association (UNAS) on Friday began to block the movement of trucks through the Vysne Nemecke border crossing point (BCP), adjacent to the Ukrainian Uzhgorod BCP, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service has reported.

"According to information from the Slovak border guards, at 16:05 on the territory of Slovakia, a blocking of the movement of trucks through the Vysne Nemecke BCP, adjacent to the Ukrainian Uzhgorod BCP, began. The action, the timing of which is not yet known, is being performed by representatives of Slovakia's truckers association," Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said in a message published on its Telegram channel.

Truckers will not block the transportation of humanitarian aid, other important cargo, fuel, refrigerated cargo, and live animals. At the same time, remaining cargo will be allowed to leave Slovakia in limited quantities, four trucks per hour.

It is known that traffic will not be blocked at the entrance to Slovakia, and the movement of passenger vehicles and buses will not be limited.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Burkina Faso has protested against a statement issued by an official of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in which he asked various warring parties in the West African country to refrain from targeting civilians and civilian objects
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Apollinaire Joachimson Kyelem de Tambela, prime minister of Burkina Faso's transitional government, told Parliament on Friday that the country currently has the latest generation of defence equipment as part of its fight against terrorism
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Preparatory Committee for the 50th Tripoli International Fair on Thursday met to discuss the arrangements for holding an economic forum as part of the exhibition's activities
Photo: (Photo : Dan Kitwood / Getty Images)

In a seismic legal development, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy has wielded his gavel to issue a preliminary injunction, momentarily slamming the brakes on Montana's impending TikTok ban, scheduled for enforcement in January 2024.

This unprecedented legal twist unfolds against a backdrop of Judge Molloy's palpable apprehension regarding the ban's legal standing and its potential encroachment upon constitutional rights, a narrative meticulously documented in court papers obtained by NBC News.

Montana Takes the Lead with TikTok Ban Legislation

The saga began in May when Montana's Governor Greg Gianforte etched the state's name in legal history by signing SB 419 into law, making Montana the pioneering state to implement a TikTok ban.

The legislation, conceived to be set in motion come January 2024, wielded the punitive power of $10,000 fines per violation for daring users attempting to download the app.

Notably distinctive, Montana's TikTok Ban laid the onus on TikTok and app stores, with enforcement entrusted to the vigilant Montana Justice Department, while individual users found themselves immune from direct penalties.

Content Creators and Tech Giant Challenge the Ban

The legal arena transformed into a battleground as five influential content creators, Samantha Alario, Heather DiRocco, Carly Ann Goddard, Alice Held, and Dale Stout, mobilized legal forces against the state. Their contention echoed through courtrooms, asserting that Montana's ban trampled upon their constitutional rights, with a pointed emphasis on the freedom of speech.

In a symphony of legal actions, TikTok, the tech behemoth from China's ByteDance stable, also entered the fray, mounting its legal defense against Montana's perceived overreach.

The narrative reached a crescendo during an October hearing in Missoula, where Judge Molloy subjected representatives from the state attorney general's office to intense scrutiny. His probing questions resonated through the courtroom, challenging the unique contours of Montana's decision.

With an air of skepticism, he queried whether the state's stance was overly paternalistic in asserting that the ban was a necessary safeguard for TikTok users' data. Fundamental constitutional questions loomed large, especially considering the conspicuous absence of analogous measures in other states.

Read Also: Top 5 Kids' Pools with Slide You Can Find on Amazon

National and Legal Challenges Surrounding Montana's TikTok Ban

Zooming out from Montana's legal theater, it becomes evident that this is not an isolated legal bout. States such as Utah, Arkansas, and Indiana have independently voiced concerns about child safety and data security, launching their legal offensives against the ubiquitous social media platform.

The Biden administration, donning the mantle of national governance, once dangled the specter of a nationwide TikTok ban should its Chinese owners rebuff divestment.

This tapestry of legal challenges underscores a broader national discourse on user safety and data privacy.

As the legal tapestry continues to weave its intricate patterns, Montana's TikTok ban, for now, resides in the limbo of Judge Molloy's preliminary injunction.

The uncertainty surrounding its legal fate not only captivates the tech giant, content creators, and the state but also casts a long shadow with potential reverberations for other states grappling with analogous concerns over the regulatory leash on social media platforms.

The legal odyssey awaits further arguments and counterarguments, promising an unfolding drama at the intersection of technology, constitutional rights, and state governance.

Related Article: Black Friday Breaks Records with $9.8 Billion E-commerce Boom - Consumers Flock Online for Best Deals
The Cabinet of Ministers appointed Yuriy Myronenko as head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.

As Taras Melnychuk, a representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, reported on his Telegram channel, the decision was made at a government meeting on Friday.

As the press service of the State Special Communications Service reported on Friday, Myronenko is a serviceman, commander of a UAV strike company. He has experience in corporate management and is deeply versed in the subject of UAVs. Before his appointment, he commanded a UAV strike company near Zaporizhia.

He graduated from the International Scientific and Technical University named after. Academician Yuriy Buhai (1994-2000) He received a bachelor's degree in Management and a master's degree in International Economics.

He held senior positions in structural divisions of Pravex Bank, UkrSibbank BNP Paribas Group, etc. He worked as financial director of the Stirol concern. From 2010 to 2015 was the General Director of Diamond Sphere Group LLC, which worked in the field of IT, logistics, construction, and agriculture.

Since 2014 he was director, and from 2016 to October 2023, board chairman of the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), a non-governmental analytical center accompanying reforms in Ukraine.

He was Awarded the Silver Cross badge.

As Melnychuk also reported, the Cabinet of Ministers also appointed Oleksandr Semyrha to the post of first deputy head of the State Customs Service.
Photo: (Photo : MEGAN JELINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Ohio is currently grappling with a notable surge in pediatric pneumonia cases, reaching 142 since August, sparking concerns among health authorities. The rise in respiratory illnesses mirrors global trends, with similar outbreaks reported in Europe and China, prompting increased surveillance and global health monitoring.

Mycoplasma Pneumonia: A Bacterial Culprit in Ohio's Surge

Mycoplasma pneumonia, the bacterium responsible for Ohio's pediatric pneumonia surge, is a key focus for health officials. This bacterium spreads through respiratory droplets, potentially leading to pneumonia if it reaches the lungs.

Often termed "walking pneumonia," it tends to peak every three to seven years in the U.S., creating cyclical patterns that health experts are monitoring closely.

In older kids and adults, initial mycoplasma infections present symptoms resembling chest colds, such as sore throats, fevers, headaches, or prolonged coughing. For younger children, especially those under five, cold-like symptoms like sneezing, stuffy noses, and sore throats are common.

Severe cases in young children may progress to pneumonia, particularly if their immune systems are weak or they have not been previously exposed to the bacterium.

The World Health Organization notes an increase in mycoplasma pneumonia hospitalizations in China since May. Likewise, Denmark has reported a significant rise in cases over the last five weeks, recording 541 new cases in the week ending Nov. 26.

Global Outbreaks and Rising Numbers

As Ohio contends with the surge, global outbreaks of mycoplasma pneumonia are causing increased surveillance among infectious disease experts.

The Lancet Microbe highlights outbreaks in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Singapore, underscoring the widespread nature of the respiratory illness.

The cyclical ebb and flow of respiratory illnesses, not indicative of a new or more dangerous strain, is a key message from health experts. Countries attribute these resurgences to the easing of pandemic restrictions, leading to increased social interactions among children.

Experts emphasize that the pandemic's reduced social interactions contributed to fewer opportunities for the bacterium to spread.

Now, as schools and daycares reopen, countries are witnessing a resurgence in cases, with China's situation particularly notable due to stringent lockdown measures during the pandemic.

Read Also: China Dismisses Novel Virus Panic: Flu, Known Pathogens Behind Respiratory Surge-WHO Update

Treating Mycoplasma Pneumonia and Winter Challenges

While the surge in pediatric pneumonia cases prompts increased surveillance, experts stress that there is no evidence of a new or more dangerous strain of mycoplasma pneumonia.

The rise in case numbers is part of the cyclical patterns observed globally, reinforcing the need for ongoing monitoring and preventive measures.

Mycoplasma pneumonia, like other forms of pneumonia, is treatable with antibiotics, specifically azithromycin, known as a Z-Pak. However, challenges may arise during the winter season, with potential short staffing or a lack of pediatric beds in hospitals.

Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, cautions that hospitals could face difficulties managing even normal patient volumes this winter.

In the face of these challenges, health officials continue to stress the importance of preventive measures. Vaccinations, hand hygiene, and adherence to public health guidelines remain crucial, not only to curb the current surge but to mitigate the impact of other respiratory illnesses, including flu and RSV.

As Ohio navigates the surge in pediatric pneumonia cases, the global landscape underscores the interconnected nature of respiratory illnesses.

The focus on mycoplasma pneumonia sheds light on the cyclical patterns observed worldwide, urging continued vigilance and adherence to preventive measures.

Related Article: NYC High School Faces Massive Student Protest After Pro-Israel Post Online
Photo: (Photo : Clay Banks on Unsplash)

In a deeply troubling incident at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kansas, a 15-year-old student has been charged with aggravated battery after a violent altercation that left another student, Brey'anna Brown, with a broken nose. The confrontation, which occurred on November 15, has raised serious concerns about racial tension and violence in schools.

The incident began when Brown, a black sophomore, responded to a derogatory remark made by a white male student. The situation quickly escalated, with the male student using a racial slur and engaging in a physical attack against Brown. The ensuing fight, captured on video, shows both students exchanging punches before being separated by adults.

The male student, who is a minor and thus not publicly identified, now faces a charge of aggravated battery. According to the criminal complaint, he knowingly caused significant bodily harm to Brown. His first court appearance is scheduled for December 6, marking a critical step in the legal proceedings of this case.

Brey'anna Brown's Response

Following the incident, Brown expressed regret over her involvement in the fight and her subsequent suspension from school. She stated that, while she did not anticipate the fight, she felt it was necessary to stand up for herself in that moment. This response highlights the complex dynamics often involved in confrontations that escalate to violence, particularly when racial slurs are used.

The Shawnee Mission School District, in response to the incident, has expressed sadness and emphasized its commitment to creating a safe and inclusive educational environment. However, the district has not provided specific details regarding the incident or the disciplinary actions taken against the students involved. This lack of transparency has led to questions and concerns from the community about how such incidents are handled and the measures in place to prevent them.

The student body's reaction to the incident was swift and significant. A walkout organized by students saw dozens participating, holding signs with messages advocating for the protection of black women and students of color. This demonstration not only shows solidarity with Brown but also calls attention to the broader issues of racial tension and safety in schools.

Linyka Brown, Brey'anna's mother, shared her heartbreak and frustration over the incident. Her comments reflect the deep emotional impact such events can have on families and communities, particularly when they involve elements of racial discrimination and violence.

Read Also: Texas Teen Detained for Orchestrating Assaults Filmed for Social Media

The Need for Inclusive Education

This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges schools face in addressing racial tension and violence. It underscores the importance of proactive measures to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Schools must not only address these incidents when they occur but also work towards creating a culture where diversity is celebrated and racial discrimination is actively combated.

Furthermore, the incident at Shawnee Mission East High School highlights the need for ongoing dialogue and education about race and inclusivity among students and staff. It is crucial for educational institutions to implement comprehensive programs that foster understanding and respect for diversity, thereby reducing the likelihood of such incidents occurring in the future.

In conclusion, the assault on Brey'anna Brown is a sobering reminder of the work that still needs to be done in schools across the country to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, regardless of their race or background. It calls for a concerted effort from educators, parents, students, and the community at large to create a more inclusive and respectful educational environment.

Related Article: Poultney Teen Arrested For Shooting Another Teenager; No Bail For Manslaughter Charge
Photo: (Photo : George Frey / Getty Images)

In a shocking development that further intensifies the ongoing 8Passengers YouTube scandal, Kevin Franke, the husband of prominent parenting vlogger Ruby Franke, has initiated divorce proceedings amidst the looming cloud of felony child abuse charges.

The couple, once celebrated for their distinctive parenting style on their popular YouTube channel, now finds their personal lives entangled in a legal maelstrom that threatens not only their online reputation but the very core of their family unit.

Kevin Franke's Divorce Filing Amidst Ongoing Legal Turmoil

Amidst the ongoing legal turbulence, Kevin Franke, a seemingly silent figure in this scandal, has taken a decisive step by filing for divorce.

The court records, concealed under Utah law, unveil a sealed petition for divorce accompanied by a domestic relations injunction. This injunction, a legal directive, prohibits both parties from engaging in any form of harassment or disparagement in the presence of their children.

The divorce filing injects a new layer of complexity into an already convoluted narrative, leaving the fate of the Franke family hanging in the balance amidst child abuse charges and an impending legal showdown.

The Unraveling of 8Passengers

The Frankes ascended to internet stardom through the creation of 8Passengers in 2015, offering a window into their unique parenting approach. However, their journey was marred by controversies as early as 2020 when an online petition called for an investigation into Ruby's parenting practices.

By 2022, Ruby Franke ceased activities on 8Passengers, joining forces with Hildebrandt on the "ConneXions" podcast. The arrests that followed were triggered by a disturbing incident involving Ruby's 12-year-old son seeking help from a neighbor, allegedly covered in wounds and bound with duct tape.

The unfolding saga traces its roots back to a fateful August day when Ruby Franke and her podcast co-host, Jodi Hildebrandt, faced arrest on multiple counts of child abuse.

The charges were a grim consequence of a distressing discovery at Hildebrandt's residence in Utah, where two of Franke's children were reportedly found in a state described by the authorities as "emaciated and malnourished."

This incident not only led to the abrupt termination of their once-thriving YouTube channel, 8Passengers, boasting a substantial following of over 2 million subscribers but has now set the stage for a high-stakes divorce.

Read Also: Johns Hopkins Hospital Found Guilty in Maya Kowalski Case on Netflix's 'Take Care of Maya'

From YouTube Parenting Stardom to Legal Woes

The Franke family's precipitous fall from grace reached its climax with the arrest of Ruby Franke and Hildebrandt. Despite the absence of charges against Kevin Franke, the divorce filing introduces a fresh dimension to the narrative.

Attorney Randy Kester, representing Kevin Franke, previously disclosed that the couple had been separated for over a year, and notably, this separation occurred without any formal, written decree, underscoring the influence exerted by Ruby and Hildebrandt.

As Ruby Franke remains incarcerated without bail, the legal proceedings cast a shadow over the once-thriving YouTube family.

The Utah court calendar has yet to schedule Ruby's next court hearing, leaving the Franke family's future in legal limbo.

In response to inquiries, Kevin Franke's attorney, Randy Kester, has not provided immediate comments, and Ruby Franke is currently without legal representation in the divorce proceedings.

The intricate web of legal troubles, divorce filings, and child abuse charges continues to captivate public interest, marking a distressing chapter in the once-celebrated 8Passengers YouTube saga.

Related Article: China Dismisses Novel Virus Panic: Flu, Known Pathogens Behind Respiratory Surge-WHO Update
Today, the most concentrated amount of sheer cuteness in this region spent substantial time in a swimming pool alongside the beach. We were privileged to be there, as well.

Newly posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: The Temple: Ancient and Restored: Psalm 24 and the Two YHWHs at the Gate of the Temple, written by David J. Larsen

Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in The Temple: Ancient and Restored, Proceedings of the Second Interpreter Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference The Temple on Mount Zion, 25 October 2014 (2016) edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Donald W. Parry. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/.

As I write these words today, Israel is bombing the positions of Arabs in Gaza; Hamas is firing rockets at Israel. (Boris Johnson, The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History [London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2014], 315)

Ill now share some notes here from Walker Wright and Don Bradley, None That Doeth Good: Early Evidence of the First Vision in JST Psalm 14, BYU Studies Quarterly 61/3 (2022): 123-140. First, though, a bit of context:

For several decades, critics of the Restoration have often alleged that it was a late invention of Joseph Smith and/or that the accounts of it are fatally inconsistent and/or that it demonstrably evolved in the telling, such that no confidence can be placed in the surviving accounts of it. In this article, Walker Wright and Don Bradley argue that the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible or JST, often formerly called the Inspired Version, constitutes early, if indirect, corroborating evidence for the authenticity of the First Vision.

They acknowledge (at 123 n. 2) that Doctrine and Covenants 20:5-8, which was apparently received sometime between the summer of 1829 and its recording shortly after 6 April 1830, also represents early evidence for the First Vision, and very specifically to the forgiveness of sins described in Joseph Smiths 1832 and 1835 accounts of it:

After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a remission of his sins, he was entangled again in the vanities of the world; but after repenting, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy angel, whose countenance was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness; and gave unto him commandments which inspired him; and gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon.

But their focus in this article is on the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible and, most particularly, on its alterations to the fourteenth psalm.

Numerous elements found in later accounts appear in JST Psalm 14, indicating that the fundamental First Vision narrative remained far more consistent across time than has been assumed. (127)

Along the way, this sentence also caught my notice:

A distinction between Smiths reported vision and many contemporaneous visions was its very literal sensory and corporeal character, which may have contributed to its rejection. (129 n. 19)

As did this passage, in which the authors seem to suggest that Josephs own experience, in which he literally saw the Father as the Father introduced the Son, motivated the specific revision of John 1:18 that appears in the JST:

The statement in KJV John 1:18, He hath declared him, carries some ambiguity regarding the referents of he and him. While the statement is most naturally read to indicate that the Son has declared the Father, it can also be read to say that the Father has declared the Son. Josephs revision to the passage indicates that he understood it to carry the second meaning and saw this as offering a proviso on which the Father can be seen  when he declares the Son. Joseph therefore reorganized the passage to make this its clear reading. (129 n. 20) In line with such evidence in Joseph Smiths 1832 account of the First Vision, Smiths revisions to the Bible discussed here evidence that all three of the supposedly late-developed elements of the First Vision actually predate even this earliest First Vision account. (131) After comparing Joseph Smiths First Vision with the divine encounter experienced by the Lords servant in JST Psalm 14, it is difficult to disagree with Joseph Fielding McConkies judgment: The JST rendering of this Psalm reads like another account of the First Vision. (138) It is worth noting that [Joseph Fielding] McConkies father, Bruce R. McConkie, recommended in 1980 that JST Psalm 14 be canonized in the Pearl of Great Price. (138 n. 53) Already by 1831-1832, Joseph Smiths translation of John 1:18 and 1 John 4:12 intimates that he connected his First Vision with the idea of seeing God the Father and of God the Father bearing witness: This is My Beloved Son (JS-H 1:17). In his 1832/33 translation of Psalm 14, Joseph reinforces that God the Father was part of the First Vision and weaves in further elements of the First Vision that will not appear in his formal accounts thereof for several years. All of this attests to a much more consistent First Vision narrative than is often assumed. John Welch and James Allen have observed, There is . . . striking consistency throughout the [First Vision] narratives; they combine impressively to give a consistent and coherent picture. A high percentage of the elements . . . sporadically appear in multiple accounts, both early and late, showing a high degree of independent, cumulative, concurrent corroboration. among these accounts. This observation holds even beyond the formal accounts of the First Vision. From Joseph Smiths inspired 1831/32 translation of John 1:18 to his private 1844 testimony to Alexander Neibaur, Josephs words give evidence that the Father had borne witness of the Son. And from his 1832/33 translation of Psalm 14 to that same testimony to Neibaur shortly before the martyrdom (and even Brigham Youngs recollection after the martyrdom), he affirms that the Son told him, All are gone aside, and none were doing good, no, not one. Joseph Smiths translation of the Bible thus bears witnesses that he was consistent in attesting to these events from the beginning of his prophetic career to the end. (139)

The crimes committed by theism and theists continue to accumulate with appalling speed. Here are five more specimens of theistic horror that have been drawn from the exhausting but plainly inexhaustible Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

Church of Jesus Christ Provides 1,200 Chicago Residents with Warm Clothes: Local Latter-day Saints and the Humanitarian Center distribute 22,000 pounds of clothing, coats and blankets

Light the World Giving Machines Light Up Times Square: This is one of 61 locations around the world for the popular red giving-focused vending machines

Church Thanks Humanitarian Partners in Albania: First partner appreciation event held in Tirana, Albania

The Church of Jesus Christ Is Joining Hands with Other Faiths to Help Children in New York: The Church of Jesus Christ collaborates with more than 60 faith-based organizations during the 2023 holiday season

Go forth to serve showcased at BYU football service opportunities all season: For BYUs inaugural Big 12 season, each away football game had a service project in conjunction with the BYU Alumni Association

Please note that Christopher Hitchens has not been harmed by the creation of the Hitchens File. He is well beyond the reach of any earthly harm. Nor, for that matter, is he the target of the Hitchens File. As a matter of fact, I rather liked him, in a way, and I certainly wish him well. It is not the late Christopher Hitchens that is the object of my laughter. My target, rather, is Mr. Hitchenss literally ridiculous notion that . . . well, as he himself expressed it, religion poisons everything.

Posted from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Two new articles appeared today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation:

Asymmetry in Chiasms, With a Note About Deuteronomy 8 and Alma 36, written by Stephen Kent Ehat

Abstract: Some students of the Book of Mormon have claimed that chapter 36 of the book of Alma is structured as a chiasm. Some of the proposals depart from perfect symmetry, presenting elements of the suggested chiasm seemingly out of sequence. This has often been pointed to as a weakness in the proposed chiasm or as a problem arising from translation or editorial work, or even as evidence that no real chiasm exists over the text of the chapter. Perhaps, however, asymmetry may be a deliberate feature of ancient chiasmus. Understanding the presence and role of occasional asymmetry or skews, as they are called, may help us better appreciate the rhetorical tools employed in crafting chiastic texts anciently. In particular, we can see that the structure of Alma 36 may well be a beautifully crafted chiasmus featuring what may be an intentional skew similar to those that scholars have identified elsewhere in scripture. One such other chiastic text with a skew in it appears to be Deuteronomy 8. Indeed, one skew proposed in Alma 36, together with conceptual and other structural characteristics of the text, including the proposed chiasm of the text, perhaps suggests that some of the message and structure of Deuteronomy 8 may have served as a model for part of the message and structure of Alma 36.

Interpreting Interpreter: Imperfect Symmetry, written by Kyler Rasmussen

This post is a summary of the article Asymmetry in Chiasms, With a Note About Deuteronomy 8 and Alma 36 by Stephen Kent Ehat in Volume 59 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Ehat argues that the imperfections in the symmetry of chiasms, or skews, do not necessarily invalidate a proposed structure, but may have been included on purpose to highlight portions of the text or to avoid imitating divine perfection. He applies this to the skews of Alma 36, suggesting that they may serve a literary purpose and that they align with skews seen in biblical chiasms.

I failed to supply a link to the article on which I drew for yesterdays blog entry, so here it is: Walker Wright and Don Bradley, None That Doeth Good: Early Evidence of the First Vision in JST Psalm 14. I commend it to your attention.

Today, Ive turned to a review essay that appears in the same volume of BYU Studies: Michael Goodman and Daniel Frost,  Constancy amid Change: Latter-day Saint Discourse on Gender and Sexuality, BYU Studies Quarterly 61/3 (2022): 191-217. The article considers the arguments and claims of Taylor G. Petrey, Tabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2020). Michael Goodman is an associate professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, where Daniel Frost is an assistant teaching professor who also serves as Director of Public Scholarship in the School of Family Life.

This passage seems to me quite significant apart from the overall thesis of the review essay, which is, of course, also very important. With one exception, Ive omitted the footnotes:

A search of general conference addresses from 1851 to 2020 for the words race, races, racial, racism, black, Negro, Caucasian, and skin (almost 2,200 references) failed to produce a single direct reference to maintaining white or any other racial purity. There were problematic race-based statements in general conference that showed the speaker did not believe in the equality of different races. However, none of the general conference statements explicitly advocated for maintaining white or any other kind of racial purity. Knowing of the several explicitly racist statements by early Church leaders, some of which are listed in Tabernacles of Clay, we expected to find many such statements in the more than two thousand references in general conference since 1851. We were surprised at the result. Again, there were a few statements that would be justifiably considered racist by most people today. However, by a margin of well over 20 to 1, the majority of statements from general conference regarding race affirmed the dignity and worth of all people and called upon Church members to do better in their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward all races.* Some of these statements explicitly condemned the belief in white racial superiority. One example is David O. McKay, who condemned those in the world who were arrogating to themselves racial superiority. It might be tempting to believe that the teachings of the latter half of the twentieth century created this largely nonracist teaching record. But that is not what the actual search found. Statements about racial equality and human dignity were spread throughout the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. It is also true that the few problematic statements were predominately from the nineteenth century. This comprehensive search of every talk in general conference shows the complex nature of racial understanding even in the early days of the Church. Would it be accurate to state that Church leaders held no racist beliefs because the overwhelming majority of their statements about race in general conference were remarkably egalitarian? Nowe have sufficient counterexamples to disprove that view. Would it be accurate to claim that Church leaders believed and regularly taught white supremacy and the need to maintain white racial purity since the historical record shows that a few did? Nosuch a claim is not supported by the overall record. (*footnote) Examples often spoke of the oneness of man, that God is the father of all of us, that all are alike (often quoting or paraphrasing 2 Nephi 26:33), that all are called to be saved, that all have equal rights, that all humankinds spiritual nature is that of Gods children, and so forth. Several of these statements came from individuals for which we also have record of more racist statements, including Brigham Young (May 1871), Charles Penrose (April 1880), George Q. Cannon (April 1879, October 1880), and Orson F. Whitney (April 1928).

Posted from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Ghana and Germany have concluded bilateral talks, agreeing on 145.9 million (US$158 million) in climate and energy aid, good governance, and long-term economic development.



The new aid package was finalised last week in Berlin, amid high-level discussions between Ghanaian and German officials at the G20 Compact with Africa summit.



The German aid package intends to foster good governance, sustainable economic development, and public-private partnerships in Ghana.



The delegation was in Berlin to attend the G20 Compact with Africa 2023 summit, as well as to conclude annual bilateral negotiations with the Federal Republic of Germany.



During the Working Lunch of Africa Finance Ministers and representatives of international institutions on the margins of the G20 Compact with Africa Conference in Berlin, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, engaged International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Ghanas IMF programme. 



Mr. Ofori-Atta lauded the agreement, saying Germanys expertise in renewable energy technologies can help support Ghanas efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity.



According to him, Ghana is committed to transitioning to a more sustainable energy future, and added, We have made considerable strides in harnessing renewable energy sources, such as solar.



He believes that Germany, with its expertise in renewable energy technologies, can play a critical role in assisting Ghana in expanding its renewable energy capability.



Already, President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced plans for 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to be developed through solar and wind projects.



Ghana welcomes expanded cooperation with Germany in the renewable energy industry, including joint efforts and technology transfers to boost efficiency and competitiveness, according to the Finance Minister.



Improving energy efficiency is a shared goal. Germanys renowned engineering and innovation can contribute significantly to enhancing energy efficiency in Ghanas industries and infrastructure, he said.



Through joint initiatives and technology transfers, we can reduce energy wastage and enhance the competitiveness of our businesses, he stressed.



Mr. Ofori-Atta also stressed the importance of combating climate change through emission reductions and other green efforts.



Recognising the importance of addressing climate change and its related issues, he stated that Ghana was seeking stronger collaboration on programmes to cut carbon emissions, safeguard natural resources, and advance green technologies.



In light of Ghanas vulnerability to climate-related challenges, especially extreme weather events, partnering with Germany on climate resilient projects and disaster preparedness is crucial, he stated.



Mr. Ofori-Atta urged German firms to look at investment prospects in fields such as education, technology, and manufacturing in Ghana.



He cited German automaker Volkswagens new vehicle assembly plant in Ghana, intimating, We recognise the crucial role of public-private partnerships which can drive innovation, create jobs and boost economic growth.









Source: A Daily Guide Report









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Deputy Minister for Education in charge of TVET, Hon. Gifty Twum Ampofo, has stated that over 19,000 master craftsmen and apprentices have received training under Ghana TVET voucher projects.



The Ghana TVET voucher projects provide demand-driven training vouchers to CTVET-registered master craftspersons, their apprentices, and workers.



She said that there are 19,000 people who have benefited from this project since its introduction in 2017.



She said they have been able to do this with the support of the government of Ghana and the German government.



She added that by encouraging other people to participate in the next TVET voucher project, where the government has invested a lot of money, about 50,000 master craftsmen and apprentices will be trained.



The Deputy Minister for Education in charge of TVET made this known in an interview with Peace FM News during the Sector Skills Bodies media engagement organized by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET).



Hon. Gifty Twum Ampofo therefore urged parents to encourage their children to be involved in the TVET project when they are placed in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and not to change their placements.



She said the Ministry of Education will introduce a dual TVET, including learning in the classroom and at the workplace.



The Director General of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, also added that we have been talking a lot about the CTVET and TVET institutions and the Sector Skills Bodies also need to get the attention it need because they have to support and collaborate with the government to make their workplace available for training including media firm.

Source: Clinton Akwasi Amoako/Peace FM News









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a policy think-tank, has expressed reservations over the recent lithium mining lease agreement inked between government and Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Limited.



The IEA advocated a reconsideration of the deal, and said it fails to address historical mistakes in past minerals exploitation agreements. Ideally, the think-tank emphasised a model that places a premium on national control, economic gains and strict adherence to constitutional procedures  and more importantly, value addition.



The IEA contends that despite claims that the agreement is more favourable to Ghana compared to other global lithium leases, it mirrors colonial-era agreements which have historically yielded minimal benefits for the country.



It will be recalled that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Abu Jinapor, recently announced a deal with Barari DV Ghana Limited, which includes a royalty rate of 10 percent and a free carried and participating interest of 13 percent.



The agreement awards Barari DV an inaugural mining lease for lithium extraction at Ewoyaa in the Mfantsiman Municipality of the Central Region. The lease covers a 15-year period and incorporates new and enhanced terms intended to ensure the country benefits optimally from this mineral, the minister explained.



This includes an increase in royalty rate, state and local participation, as well as value addition to the mineral mined; and follows the completion of prospecting and feasibility studies by the company, as well as a series of negotiations between the state and Barari DV.



The lease covers 42.63 square kilometres (sq km) and grants exclusive rights to produce lithium and associated minerals in the area, in accordance with mining laws.



However, former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo  a distinguished scholar of the IEA, at a press conference in Accra held that per Article 268 of the 1992 Constitution, for a contract to exploit Ghanas natural resources to be legally effective it must be ratified by parliament.



To this end, she said, IEA notes a similar stance by the minority in parliament that the agreement requires prior approval of parliament.



She argued that in modern mining practices, the extraction of mineral resources is either covered by a joint-venture agreement wherein the host country takes a stake in the mining company or a service contract.



A service contract involves the host country contracting the mining company, which is selected through a transparent and competitive bidding process, to mine the mineral. The mining company is reimbursed for its cost of production plus a profit margin, she explained.



The IEA is even aware of an emerging and more improved transactional model that has been adopted by major Lithium producers such as Mexico, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, she stated.



Against this backdrop, IEA proposed that the state set aside current arrangements and establish a Ghana Lithium Company (GLC) to develop the entire lithium value chain. This includes mining to manufacturing of batteries and other products in Ghana, adding that per current international best practice, a local refinery must be established even before excavation commences.



Based on the projection by Barari DV of annual production at 160,000 metric tonnes of raw lithium  which converts by a multiple of 5.323 into lithium carbonate, with a world market price of US$29,000 per metric tonne  the IEA projected a total annual value of approximately US$24billion.



For the entire 12-year mining period under the Lease, the projected value of the final product, lithium carbonate, is estimated to be approximately US$296billion.



Thus, given the projected annual estimate at about US$24billion of lithium carbonate that can be generated from the Ewoyaa lithium deposit, the GLC can contract an international company with the necessary expertise, through competitive bidding, to develop and process Ghanas lithium into its final products such as batteries and others.



The IEA has stated that incorporating modern methods of natural resource development will lead to the creation of job opportunities, wealth, community development and technical advancement for Ghanaians across the entire lithium value chain. Additionally, it will provide Ghana with complete control over this valuable national asset.



To this end, they advised parliament to exercise caution and patience to secure a modern, best practice-based arrangement that will guarantee maximum benefit for the country  instead of the usual colonial-type lease that benefits foreign companies, masquerading as investors, and their local cohorts.

Source: B&FT









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
On November 30th, reporters visited the Hongrun New Energy Industrial Park in Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, in search of the key to "Xuanzhou Speed."

Inside the workshop of Hongrun New Energy's 5GW high-efficiency photovoltaic cell module project, rows of automated machines are arranged orderly. Robotic arms and conveyer belts work tirelessly, accurately transferring processed solar cells to the next process.

After more than 40 processes such as slicing, lamination, edge trimming, framing, and junction box installation, individual crystalline silicon solar cells are transformed into complete high-efficiency photovoltaic cell modules.

Xue Qilin, Vice President of Hongrun New Energy Investment Co., Ltd., told reporters that negotiations for the project began on January 6, 2023, the formal contract was signed on March 7, construction started on April 16, trial production began on June 25, and the first phase, consisting of four production lines, was fully put into operation on August 22. It is expected to achieve an annual output value of 1.5 billion yuan within the year, embodying the "Xuanzhou Speed" of "negotiating, signing, commencing, producing, and achieving the expected efficiency" all in the same year.

It is understood that the Hongrun New Energy Industrial Park project is the first 10-billion-yuan level project in Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City, and also the largest single investment project in the history of Xuanzhou District. With a total investment of 10.75 billion yuan, covering an area of 594 mu, and a total construction area of 349,700 square meters, the investment includes two 5GW high-efficiency photovoltaic cell module projects, a 10GW new energy high-efficiency cell and new energy base construction project. After full production, it is expected to achieve an annual sales revenue of 20 billion yuan.





Source: anhuinews.com
After the enemy forces were repulsed in the Kupiansk axis, the number of attacks slightly decreased there, Head of the Public Liaison Office of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command Volodymyr Fityo has said.

"Russian occupiers have become more active along the entire line in the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group. They attack both the Lyman-Kupyansk and Bakhmut axes. They were repulsed in Kupiansk axis and, hence, the number of attacks slightly decreased there as compared to the previous period," he said on the national telethon on Friday.

In the past 24 hours, seven enemy attacks were repulsed in Kupyansk axis and six in Lyman axis, Fityo said, adding that the hostilities took place in the vicinity of Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Stelmakhivka, and Serebrianske Forestry.

"The Russian occupation forces continue to use aircraft, particularly bombarding, helicopter gunships, drop high-explosive aerial bombs on Ukrainian positions, this refers to the Serebrianske Forestry," he said.

The enemy also actively uses kamikaze drones, in particular it launched 24 such drones in the Lyman-Kupyansk axis during the past day. The enemy mounted 694 artillery attacks on Ukrainian defense positions on this direction.

"It was a successful day for the liquidation of Russian occupiers. Some 344 occupiers were destroyed in the past 24 hours, and 60 types of military equipment of the occupiers were damaged or destroyed, including five tanks and five armored combat vehicles," the official said.

"As for the Bakhmut axis, the Ukrainian defenders repulsed 21 enemy attacks there. The hostilities took place in the vicinity of Bohdanivka, Klischiyivka, and Andriyivka. One air strike was inflicted. Some 25 kamikaze drones were launched and 560 artillery attacks were mounted to attack our defenders," he said, adding that the Ukrainian defenders destroyed 176 occupiers, one tank and one armored combat vehicle of the enemy in this direction.
Professor Smart Sarpong has appealed to former President and leader of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to give Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang a second chance at becoming his Running Mate.



With the National Democratic Congress and the governing New Patriotic Party gearing up for the 2024 electioneering year, both parties have been advised to strategically choose their Running Mates with caution that a wrong choice would adversely affect their political fortunes.



On the part of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), names such as Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister, Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and a host of others have cropped up for consideration.



On the side of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, former Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority, Sylvester Mensah and Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang among others are some potential names for the slot.



However, some members within the NDC object to the re-selection of Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang but the Senior Research Fellow of the Kumasi Technical University, Prof. Smart Sarpong believes the former should be given the benefit of the doubt.



He explained that Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang as an academic may not have had the political instincts when John Mahama chose her as Running Mate into the 2020 elections but she deserves another shot.



Prof. Smart Sarpong argued that dropping Prof. Opoku-Agyemang may send a wrong signal to Ghanaians.



"If they will give the woman another opportunity, I think it wouldn't have been bad. It would have signified or represent 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. If you like touch a woman's child and you will see the man in her".



"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 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 asserted while commenting on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Former Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, has emphasized the need for a 24-hour economy in Ghana to ensure sustainable food security. This will enable the country to produce and supply food to meet the needs of its citizens and also export to other countries. Mahama believes that this will create job opportunities and improve the economic status of the country.



In a post on social media to celebrate Ghanaian farmers and fishers today, Friday, December 1, 2023, the former President: "Today, we celebrate Ghana's hardworking and dedicated farmers and fishers on National Farmers' Day 2023.



This day is dedicated to recognising the efforts of our farmers in ensuring food security and contributing to our economy.



This year's theme, "Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience," highlights the importance of innovation and resilience in agriculture.



As we celebrate our farmers today, we must acknowledge the need for smart solutions within a 24-hour economy to ensure sustainable food security for our nation.



The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is dedicated to bringing back the joy of farming and revolutionising the agricultural sector. We aim to achieve food self-sufficiency through a policy that supports large-scale commercial agricultural production.



This will be propelled by a robust cooperative system that will benefit from Farmers Service Centres established nationwide to drive access to agricultural credit and inputs.



We will introduce agro-processing units in all regions to add value to our agricultural products and create more opportunities for all farmers. Establishing agricultural processing plants will target crops such as palm, cashew, groundnuts, cotton, coffee, cocoa, soya, cassava, shea nuts, cereals, ginger, spices, cut flowers, fruits and horticultural products.



On this occasion, I want to assure our farmers that the next NDC government will prioritize their welfare and work tirelessly to ensure they have the necessary resources and support to thrive. Our farmers are the backbone of our economy, and we will continue to invest in their success.



I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Ghanaian farmers on this special day.



Thank you for feeding our nation.



Happy National Farmers' Day!

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Actor Agya Koo has voiced his belief that the downfall of the Kumawood movie industry can be attributed to his exclusion from roles during a crucial period.



Contrary to the popular opinion linking the industrys decline to CDs, Agya Koo contends that his absence from the screen had a substantial impact.



During an interview on Ezra Fm, Agya Koo asserted his position as the most marketable actor at the time, emphasizing, Though I was not the only one acting at the time, any time people wanted to watch Ghanaian movies, they mentioned the name Agya Koo. Why didnt they ask for someone elses name?



Fondly reminiscing about the vibrant days of Kumawood, Agya Koo highlighted his names synonymous association with Ghanaian cinema, especially among Ghanaians abroad, notably in the USA.



He argued that his unmatched marketability and influence were evident when people inquired about Ghanaian movies, often specifically asking if he was part of the cast.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
By Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun (TNS)

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.

2023 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Washington County priest is facing hundreds of felony charges after being accused of stealing more than $117,000 from his parish.

Father George Athanasiou, 37, is an assistant priest at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in North Strabane Township. Through an investigation, authorities said they discovered that between April 2022 and mid-November 2023, Athanasiou made 219 unauthorized ATM withdrawals from the church account.

Last month, church members notified police about missing donation checks to the church. The investigation led authorities to a PNC Bank on Washington Road where church donation checks were deposited into a personal account.

Additionally, Athanasiou was captured on surveillance video making deposits. More evidence was found at his apartment, which led Athanasiou to confess, WTAE reported.

Athanasiou admitted to authorities he stole the money due to personal hardships. When asked how much he stole, he claimed he couldve taken $117,000 in checks and $5,000 in cash.

Afterward, the metropolitan of Pittsburgh sent a letter to the church community announcing Athanasious arrest and his suspension from priestly ministry without pay until the conclusion of legal proceedings, WPXI said.

While the district attorney continues their investigation, he faces such charges as theft and forgery.
Carlo DeVito is the former owner of the Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, New York, and the author of more than 20 books, many connected to the craft beverage industry.

His books include East Coast Wineries: A Complete Guide from Maine to Virginia, The Spirit of Rye: Over 300 Expressions to Celebrate the Rye Revival, Drink the Northeast: The Ultimate Guide to Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries in the Northeast, and the recently released Tennessee Whiskey: How the Volunteer State Became the Center of the Whiskey Renaissance.

For as far back as I can remember he has been documenting the growth of the Eastern wine industry on his eastcoastwineries blog in addition to being a fixture at a variety of conferences and as a judge at a variety of wine competitions. Part of the fun of following DeVito on Facebook is seeing where his travels take him weekly: When its not a family event its a trip connected to a wine-related function or to meet a source for whatever book hes working on next. He puts on plenty of mileage, for sure.

So when he writes a post on Facebook that starts with, We are at the apogee of the Craft Beverage movement. The Golden Age of Booze. Now begins the slow descent, it definitely draws attention.

Says Carlo DeVito of his predictions for the craft beverage industry: 'I dont get a lot of satisfaction from being right in this instance. I have been one of the loudest champions of local craft beverages for more than 20 years, as a producer, and as a writer, editor, and publisher.'Carlo DeVito

In that August 2023 post, he noted that we have never had as many wineries, breweries, and distilleries as we do now. And probably the same can be said for cideries. Many, many of these that sprouted across the land in the last 20 years, especially the brewery industry. The variety available today speaks of the apogee of empire. We are Rome in 117 AD, at the time of Trajans death.

He made eight points, running through his reasons for the future demise. Edited down, they read as follows:

1. Small mom and pops are slowly being wiped out. They just cant compete. There are too many Craft Beverage Businesses to compete against.

2. Mid-tier businesses and labels are struggling or falling off. The death of Anchor, the struggles of Ballast Point, the struggles of mid-tier wine labels that are being traded back and forth like unwanted Pokemon cards by the major liquor distributors. The beer industry is the biggest harbinger of all. The big boys keep growing.

3. Baby Boomers are having trouble selling their dreams. So many Baby Boomers followed their dreams and went into the wine or beer or spirits business. But they are all aging out.

4. Brand loyalty is dead! Today, brand loyalty is relatively nonexistent  there are just too many choices.

5. Ratings generators do not drive sales and magazines have not been able to replace readers. A score of 90 points or higher in Wine Spectator or Robert Parker in the 1980s could sell out a vintage in less than a month! Most younger consumers could give a flying you-know-what about scores today.

6. The Foodie Boom is over. Yes, if youre like me, you are still hanging on. But the farm-to-table thing is much smaller than it was 10 years ago. Its not the driving force it was in the food world.

7. COVID is over  and so is drinking at home. Sales are medium to small wineries, breweries, and distilleries, that might have thrived during COVID are slowing down. Theyre not dead. But they are not moving forward.

8. Mistakes. Its an easy business to screw up to begin with. But more importantly, it was a boom, and a bunch of people piled on who maybe shouldnt have. Those people will fall off as well.

Call it a bust or call it a correction. But due to retirement or exhaustion, or flat-out uncompetitive practices, a whole bunch of businesses that have been hanging on will close, he wrote. Im expecting 10-20%. Thats my guess. But given the massive growth of the industry, Im figuring that thats somewhere about 1,500 to 3,000 businesses in the next three to five years. Some will be small and inconsequential. Others will be shocks, like Anchor Steam (whom I mourn).

His piece drew reactions from around the country, from those who write about the beverage industry to those who are loyal consumers. Few that I saw challenged his assertions.

Changes definitely are afoot, based on data and anecdotes. Colleague Sue Gleiter recently compiled assessments on whats ahead for the craft beer industry in a story headlined As a wave of closings hits central Pa., is the craft brewery bubble bursting? and a couple of sidebars. My story published Thursday interviewed the owners of three well-entrenched mid-Atlantic wineries and their response to changes in customer tastes and the rise in neo-prohibitionism.

'Drink the Northeast: The Ultimate Guide to Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries in the Northeast,' by Carlo DeVito, published in September 2022. It is one of several craft beverage-related books he has written.Carlo DeVito

With that in mind, it felt like a good time to circle back to DeVito more than three months after his original piece ran to find out why he decided to write what he did and whether his perspective has been changed by any feedback that he has heard (as you can guess, the answer is no.)

Thanks to DeVito (a vociferous fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants) for returning these answers with more zip than a Tommy Devito forward pass.

Q, What prompted the column was it one closing in particular or just looking around and seeing the landscape in general?

A, I have been traveling a lot. And I go everywhere wineries, breweries, and distilleries. And I talk to owners. Many of them said business was down 5-10%, which might be understandable now that the main brunt of the COVID pandemic had passed, and people were now going back to work. Etc. But I was also noting two more trends.

First, in the town across the river from me, Hudson, New York, there had been announcements of new breweries opening. I hang out with a cadre of brewers (and a few winemakers) every Wednesday night. We do a tasting of beers from all over the region and the country. Small sips. Talk about trends, beer, etc. There were 25 craft beverage businesses in one county, not counting two or three new businesses that were still to open. Even with tourism, I couldnt see how consumers were going to support all of these. We had Hudson-Chatham Winery  we were the first business to open full time and the first winery. Chatham Brewing started in 2007 but didnt have a real tasting room until a number of years later. We pioneered the industry in the county and were roundly laughed at in the beginning. We were happy to see the industry grow and held summits at our farm to encourage folks. But at these current numbers, if you were visiting one place every Saturday or Sunday, you could only visit one business twice a year each. I knew when we were doing it that would not have made for a good model. That was not sustainable.

I looked around and there were numerous counties and towns with the same reality. All the reasons I cited in my article and the addition of the new temperance movement have made the business more challenging than ever.

Secondly, breweries especially, but wineries too, were finding they needed to add food to be competitive in the marketplace. Totally understandable. But then youre a restaurant, whether you like to believe it or not. And the failure rate among restaurants is very high. Many of these folks who start these businesses arent brewers, vintners, or distillers by trade. Now theyre being tasked as restaurateurs as well. Thats very difficult.

Q, Your feeling, it sounds like, is that this path for craft beverage is inevitable, that its not like forces can turn it around. Is that accurate?

A, I am currently working on a 400-year history of brewing in New York State, with four other beer historians, a major project with SUNY  with research cooperation from the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and numerous other county and town and city museums and historical societies. The cycles of boom and bust are very prevalent in brewings history  and thats across the board, across America  and that extended to the distilling world as well.

The PA Small Winery Act, which morphed into the super-improved New York Winery Act, which was adopted all across the country, changed the landscape of America. Forty percent of all the wineries in America lay outside California, Washington, and Oregon. People in the beer and distilling circles saw that, and said, We need to do the same, and changed the American economy. Entry barriers, which big business had championed for decades, kept small guys out. But with the changes in the laws, it was like the old Sooner days  a land grab in the craft beverage world. Breweries and distilleries were the new thing.

This cycle of boom and bust has happened before. 1865 to 1915 saw one of the largest beverage booms in the countrys history. The free-for-all after Prohibition failed was similar. Everyone and their brother opened a brewery and distillery. Half of them were gone by the 1950s. A large portion of those died during the Beer Wars that culminated in the loss of Peils, Rheingold, and Schaefer in New York City and the loss of almost 6,000 to 7,000 high-paying union jobs in the city in the early 1970s.

Then there was the dissatisfaction of consumers in the 80s and 90s who wanted something else to drink other than a watered-down, multigrain light Pilsner. And thus the first craft brewing wave of the 1990s. Then the 2000s. And then finally now, the 2010s. At one point there was a correction in the early aughts. And now comes another one. The cycle is always there. Thats what Charles Mckay was talking about. The cycle is always out there. We all think were immune. That were smarter. Were not.

Q, You got a LOT of great comments under the post. Does anything in particular resonate and either confirm your thoughts or give you pause?

A, It was interesting, because people assumed, many not having read the article, that I meant the industry would go bust. That was not my meaning. I simply said the boom itself would go bust, and that we would lose a significant number of businesses. I never suggested the industry would die. I think Stephen Beaumonts retort, that the sky was in fact not falling; instead, it was a correction rather than an epic collapse, is on target. I never was suggesting the industry would collapse, but I must say the target I put up of 1,500 to 3,000 businesses failing  wineries, cideries, meaderies, breweries, and distilleries  was not an outrageous number if you watch the numbers of businesses closing over the last four months. I think it was spot on. I think there have been a lot of folks hanging on to their dreams who have known, deep down, that this environment might have been more competitive and more challenging than its shiny veneer belies.

Carlo DeVito was for years owner and winemaker at Hudson Chatham Winery in Ghent, New York. He still works as a consultant for several East Coast wineries.Paul Vigna

I was also surprised when a number of people agreed with me online. Producers and writers. Those that have been in the business have seen this coming. Its not going to be the Stock Market Crash of 29. But many businesses will simply disappear.

I dont get a lot of satisfaction from being right in this instance. I have been one of the loudest champions of local craft beverages for more than 20 years, as a producer, and as a writer, editor, and publisher. I know the excitement of following your dreams. I also know how hard it is to grow and maintain. A well-known local magazine called me up for an interview, and the writer told me I was now known as Dr. Doom. I laughed, but it hurt. I want to see this industry thrive. But in all good industries and businesses, its absolute Darwinism. The weak, the slow, the injured, the malnourished  they will fall  as prey or from exhaustion. It is survival of the fittest. Its just like every other business  books, movies, fashion  you cant be willing to pivot, you must always be looking to pivot. You have to be a little bit paranoid, and someone whos always willing to experiment. And you have to stay relevant. Its hard to do.

And in the current environment, like I wrote in the article, its very hard. And its not just having a lot of money  although it helps. But its not the end all, be all. Plenty of people have lost a lot of money. Even experienced beverage industry people look at all the craft breweries that went bust after they were bought by the mega-breweries. A lot of them died. The marketplace is changing constantly.

That said, the industry isnt going away. Its a correction. Perhaps a must-needed one.
By Wafaa Shufara, Jack Jeffery and Melanie Lidman, The Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  Hamas freed eight Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for Israels release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their cease-fire in Gaza by another day. But 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.

Hamas freed six of the hostages hours after releasing two Israeli women Thursday afternoon. All were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were being brought to Israel to be taken to hospitals and reunited with their families, the Israeli military said.

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. Asked why Hamas on Thursday was releasing fewer than 10 hostages, as outlined in the cease-fire agreement, the militarys chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, noted that 12 Israeli citizens had been released the day before, implying that the overall total had met Israeli demands.

We insist on getting the maximum possible, Hagari said. Its been that way every day and also today.

Israel was to free 30 Palestinian prisoners later in the evening under the deal.

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 Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. 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 cease-fire ends.

The cease-fire 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 on Oct. 7. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers. Roughly 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 Gazas population is now crammed into the south with no exit, raising questions over how an Israeli offensive there can avoid heavy civilian casualties.

Mia Schem, 21, who was released after 55 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, is seen in a convoy near Ofakim, Israel, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)AP

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.

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 attackers, brothers from a neighborhood 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 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.

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.

Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations, even as the Biden administration has urged it to operate with far greater precision if it does so.

The initial truce, which began Nov. 24 and has now been extended twice, called for the release of women and children. Israeli officials said before Thursdays hostage releases that 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 earlier on Thursday  who are 21 and 40 years old  have 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.

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.

Gal Tarshansky, who was released last night, sits with her father in an IDF helicopter en route from Hatzerim Air Base to Schneider Hospital, in Israel, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (GPO/Handout via AP)AP

Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers.

The 30 Palestinians due to be released by Israel on Thursday include 22 teenagers 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.

The 210 Palestinians released so far under the cease-fire have mostly been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several of the freed women 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 cease-fire, 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 Oct. 7.

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed over 1,200 people  mostly civilians  in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and took around 240 people captive. Authorities have only provided approximate figures.

Israels bombardment and 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. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble.

An Israeli Air Force helicopter carrying an Israeli hostage released by Hamas lands at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. A temporary cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war has been extended another day, according to mediator Qatar. The announcement Thursday morning came minutes before the cease-fire was set to expire. Hamas freed two Israeli hostages Thursday afternoon and they were brought back into Israel, with more expected to follow, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)AP

Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.

Palestinians in Gaza have been calling for a permanent end to the war, saying the temporary truces dont resolve the humanitarian catastrophe in the territory. Over 1.8 million people have fled their homes, with more than 1 million sheltering in U.N. schools and struggling to find basic items including cooking gas and flour.

Jeffery reported from Cairo, Lidman from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Tel Aviv, Israel; Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Najib Jobain in Rafah, Gaza Strip; and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed.

Full AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Update: Victim IDd in fatal central Pa. forklift incident

The York County Coroners Office says a 30-year-old man was killed Thursday in an incident involving a forklift and a parked tractor-trailer.

The coroners office said the man was found injured and unresponsive around 11 a.m. Thursday at C-P Flexible Packaging in Manchester Township, but it is unclear when the incident took place.

The man  whose identity and address have not been released  was taken to WellSpan York Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m., the coroners report said.

An autopsy, which will determine the mans cause and manner of death, is scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.

No further details were provided about the mans injuries or what caused the incident to occur.

The Northern York County Regional Police Department is investigating the incident. OSHA will also be notified.
Co-chairman of the Restoration of Ukraine parliamentary group Maksym Yefymov has confirmed the information about his decision to prematurely resign as Member of Parliament.

"I announce my resignation as member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," he said on Facebook on Friday in the evening.

Yefymov explained his decision by the necessity to be engaged into the processes related to the preservation of potential of Kramatorsk, in the constituency of which he was elected to the parliament. The efforts that are necessary for this purpose, according to him, "do not leave time for anything else, including parliamentary activities."
A 17-year-old boys social media threats regarding a school in Pittsburgh led to him and a young man being arrested while heavily armed.

According to local media outlets, Pittsburgh police were notified by Pittsburgh Public School Police, via the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, that a 17-year-old had made threats toward the Pittsburgh Milliones University Preparatory School on an unidentified social media site while posing with guns.

WPXI-TV and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review both reported that city police went to a residence on Thursday and saw a man leave and get into the passenger seat of a U-Haul box truck.

Officers stopped the truck and found 20-year-old Jackiel Young carrying a pistol with a 50-round drum magazine. Police also searched his backpack, which contained an automatic switch for a Glock, ammunition, magazines and marijuana.

The unnamed 17-year-old, who WPXI said is not a Pittsburgh public school student, left the same residence and got into the backseat of a different vehicle, the media outlets reported.

Police stopped that vehicle and found the boy carrying an AK-47 and two pistols. He was arrested and released into the custody of an adult relative, the Trib reported.

Online court records show that Young was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and other charges.

Young was still waiting to have an arraignment hearing in Allegheny County Court on Friday.
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.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The Philadelphia City Council approved a bill that will ban residents from wearing ski masks in certain public areas.

The bill will prohibit wearing ski masks, balaclavas, or other methods of concealing ones face in public places throughout Philadelphia. But there would be exemptions for religious requirements and other free speech needs.

There are also exceptions for people participating in winter sports, performing in a theatrical production or wearing them for safety purposes while working.

According to a report from 6ABC, the goal of the ban is to cut down on violent crime committed by those wearing masks to conceal their identities.

Once the mayor signs the bill, ski masks will be prohibited at schools, daycares, recreation centers, parks, inside city-owned buildings and on public transportation.

We cant help solve a crime if we cant see who is committing it, Councilmember Sharon Vaughn said during Thursdays hearing, 6ABC reported.

The bill passed with a vote of 13 to 2, with one council member calling face coverings a quality of life issue.

The move comes after SEPTA police banned wearing ski masks on public transit in June due to the aftermath of violence on buses and trains, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Several states, including Virginia, Florida and Georgia, have similar bans on people wearing facial coverings intended to disguise their identity.

Those who violate the new ban will face a $250 fine and up to $2,000 if done during criminal activity.

Deputy Commissioner Francis Healy told the Council that police officers are not likely to cite every person wearing a ski mask in violation of the code, as he mentioned the growth of mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted policing.

There was a time not too long ago where any average police officer will see a person donning a mask before entering a convenience store or bank and they would believe a robbery was about to occur.

But Healy also said it creates a new mechanism for police to stop people, which he said is pivotal  the city is under a years-long monitoring agreement with the ACLU and must document every pedestrian stop and the legal reasoning behind it.

That agreement was the result of a 2010 federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU, which discovered that police were overwhelmingly stopping people of color, many times without legal justification.

Philadelphia ACLU Solomon Worlds said the ban could further criminalize young people of color, according to 6ABC.

Safety is important, but there is no evidence to suggest ski masks cause or encourage violent crime, he said.

Mary Henin, of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, said, This is only going to reinforce the existing lack of trust between community members and public safety officers.
The world is in the debt of Qatar and Egypt for their involvement as key intermediaries to secure the release of Israeli hostages.

President Joe Biden is also worthy of commendation for his key communications with the parties involved. Israel has acknowledged that the deal would not have come to fruition without the heft exerted by the United States.

It is tragic that it was necessary to negotiate with Hamas, but that is what had to be done.

Israel has abided by the cherished tenet of Judaism that if you save one life, it is as if you have saved the world.

I share in the outpouring of emotion for those who have been released and their families and pray that soon, all will be home with their loved ones.

Oren Spiegler, Peters Township, Pa.
Police vehicles are shown outside the scene of a shooting at a home in Winnipeg on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. Police in say they have laid charges in the shooting that left four people dead and one injured. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim
Zelenska: We want all countries of world to support intl coalition for return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, in an interview with representatives of Asian media, expressed hope for the creation of an international coalition to return Ukrainian children deported to the Russian Federation, as proposed by Canadian representatives at a meeting of national security and foreign policy advisers held in Malta at the end of October.

What do we want from the international community? During the meeting in Malta, Canada made a proposal to create an international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children. It was supported by 66 countries - to create such a coalition, to have constant monitoring, to receive data from Russia and all together somehow in this way we can influence the return of Ukrainian children, Zelenska said.

As she noted, many individual countries are involved in the process of returning children, in particular, partners from Qatar. But this is not an official activity and it is complicated by the fact that Russia does not negotiate, Zelenska added.

We want every country in the world that has a voice on international platforms to support this coalition and strengthen its voice in support of Ukrainian children, she said.

At the same time, the First Lady of Ukraine emphasized: We want all processes for the return of Ukrainian children to be humane, to comply with all legislative norms and childrens rights that exist in the world. We are ready for the international community to monitor [this issue] and helped us with this. Its our right to take them, but we want it to be right, she noted.

During conversations with journalists from Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, Mongolia and Singapore, Zelenska said that currently Ukraine has managed to return 387 of its young citizens out of more than 19,000 deported to the aggressor country.

Answering the question what message she would convey to residents of Asian countries, the First Lady of Ukraine noted: You cannot turn a blind eye to aggression, even if you are far away. Recent events have shown: you need to respond to aggression, tyranny, any evil in the world in a timely manner. Aggression anywhere in the world is a marker of common danger."
By decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the staffing level of the Russian Armed Forces has been increased by 170,000 people.

According to the decree published on the Kremlin website on December 1, the staffing level of the Russian Armed Forces will be 2,209,130 units, including 1.3 million military personnel.

The Russian Ministry of Defense explains the increase in the number of armed forces by 170,000 people by the increase in threats to the Russian Federation related to the conduct of a special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) is telling reporters that he thinks those who want him expelled have the votes to boot him from the House.

Santos said as he was leaving the House floor:

Walking off the House floor just now, George Santos says he still believes his colleagues will expel him. I have a gut feeling. And my gut feeling is they have the votes, he tells me.  Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) November 30, 2023

Those looking to expel Santos are feeling very good about their odds of success, but the truth is that no one knows for certain what is going to happen.

House Republican leadership does not support expelling Santos because of the precedent it would set, but will that be enough.

It can be argued that George Santos is an unprecedented situation. Santos is the first known member to have obtained their seat by fraudulent means. Santos was also found by the Ethics Committee to have committed crimes against the House of Representatives.

The historical precedent has been that a member is not expelled from the House until after they are criminally convicted, but since George Santos obtained his seat through fraud, it is unclear if the previous precedent is applicable.

Republican leadership also does not want Santos expelled, his departure will reduce their majority to three seats.

It is expected that Democrats will win any special election to fill the remainder of the Santos term.

George Santos thinks that he is toast, but the vote will still likely be close, and either outcome is bad for Republicans.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA

If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Sean Hannity is trying to tilt the debate between Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom toward DeSantis, but Newsom is still crushing DeSantis.

Border security should have been a DeSantis strength, but then Newsom did this:

Gavin Newsom crushes Ron DeSantis, "You are trolling folks and trying to play political games so you can out-Trump Trump. How is that going for you, Ron? You are down 41 points in your own home state." pic.twitter.com/1vFaLGZj7D  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) December 1, 2023

Governor Newsom said, I support border security. You are trolling folks and trying to play political games so you can out-Trump Trump. How is that going for you, Ron? You are down 41 points in your own home state.

Hannity grew frustrated that he couldnt get Newsom to buy into the Fox News framing on the border:

Newsom said, I support the $14 billion package that includes 2300 border agents. It also includes $850 million in the technology for border security. You hear nothing from Ron DeSantis. You hear nothing, Sean, I respectfully. You hear nothing from the Republican party. They play politics..

Newsom then hit DeSantis with the claim that he supported Obamas border amnesty. DeSantis squeaked back that Newsom was lying.

Ron DeSantis has spent the debate playing hysterical culture warrior, while Gavin Newsom is the reasonable voice not jumping out his lifted shoes and trying to scare the bejesus out of viewers. This debate is a very one sided affair and not in the way that Sean Hannity and Fox News were hoping for.

DeSantis just doesnt measure up.

A Special Message From PoliticusUSA

If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.
The OSCE countries have not reached a consensus on the issue of Russia's further participation in the work of the organization, incumbent OSCE Chairman, representative of Albania Bujar Osmani, said in an interview with EFE.

I think, at least for now, the discussion on this topic has stalled, he said, pointing to two arguments that prevent a decision: one is legal, since there is a requirement that at least 56 of the 57 members of the organization agree with the decision, the second is political, since many participants believe that such meetings are a forum for dialogue between countries with different points of view.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the OSCE is essentially being turned into an appendage of NATO and the European Union, the OSCE stands on the edge of an abyss, and it is unclear whether the organization will be able to adapt to the realities of global development.
Aiken Standard Executive Editor

John Boyette is executive editor of the Aiken Standard. Reach him at jboyette@aikenstandard.com or 803-644-2364.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
Police have named a suspect connected to a Nov. 26 shooting at the Whiskey Road Walmart that sent one person to the hospital.

Brandon Perry Buckmon, 22, of Barnwell, was identified as a suspect and arrested, according to an Aiken Department of Public Safety media release.

Buckmon was arrested Nov. 29 in Williston on unrelated charges and is currently booked at the Orangeburg County Detention Center, the release said.

The shooting took place at the store around 4:35 p.m. Police responded to a report of shots being fired at a vehicle following a fight in the parking lot.

He will be transported and formally charged upon his release on the unrelated charges at a later date.

Buckmon will be charged with discharging a firearm into a vehicle, possession of a handgun during a violent crime, armed robbery, unlawful carrying of a firearm, and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Arrest warrants stated Buckmon fired into the vehicle and shot the victim in the shoulder.

The warrants stated the victim was shot for refusing to give up money.

More arrests are expected and the shooting is under investigation.

The shooting was the second one to take place at the Walmart store after a 13-year-old girl was shot in June inside the store. Stephen Foreman, 32, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Higher energy and housing prices boosted overall U.S. inflation in December, a sign that the Federal Reserves drive to slow inflation to its 2% target will likely remain a bumpy one. Overall prices rose 0.3% from November and 3.4% from 12 months earlier. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, though, so-called core prices rose just 0.3% month over month. Core prices were up 3.9% from a year earlier  the mildest such pace since May 2021. Economists pay particular attention to core prices because, by excluding costs that typically jump around from month to month, they are seen as a better guide to the likely path of inflation. Read moreU.S. inflation edges up, fueled by energy and housing prices, but many other costs rise only mildly
The price per meal per inmate will average about $1.35. The jail director said there are three meals a day and he averages about 400 to 450 inmates at the detention center.
McCLELLANVILLE  A fresh food market started by a high school student seven years ago to create a place where residents in this tiny seaside hamlet could find local items is now under new operators, has a new name and is changing locations.

Adelaide Bates has been running McClellanville Land & Sea Market on Saturdays during the summer and every other Saturday during the winter at 1369 N. Pinckney St.

"I founded this market in high school to provide a local food access point in my hometown and continued running this market through college," said Bates, noting opening day was July 15, 2017.

"Now, after seven successful seasons, I am handing the market over to Ben and Carol Williams of Millgrove Farms," she said.

Millgrove Farms of Georgetown is changing the name to McClellanville Growers Market. The market's new location starting Dec. 9 will be in front of the former McClellanville Middle School building purchased by the town in 2022 for $300,000.

The market had planned to open at the new site Dec. 2, but the rainy weather forecast postponed the event.

Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email

Sign Up!

Bates pointed out, "The new market will carry forward the original mission of 'fresh food by locals, for locals.'"

The market will operate 9 a.m.-noon biweekly during the winter and weekly during the summer.

As for Bates, she plans to find a nonmarketing position in conservation-related nonprofit organizations.

"It's hard to live in McClellanville and not be involved in conservation," she said.

In a related market move, the Holiday Market returns to Marion Square in downtown Charleston for three weekends in December.
CLEMSON  Clemson University is in the preliminary stages of building the state's first veterinary school and is awaiting word of nearly $175 million that could come from the S.C. Legislature next year.

In the meantime, the university's board of trustees unanimously voted to set the official Phase One budget at $110.466 million, which was sitting at $10 million despite the state allocating more than $75 million to the project this year.

The current request, totaled with the $110.466 million approved at the Dec. 1 meeting, is in line with the overall $285 million to establish South Carolinas first veterinary school.

With approval from their legislators, South Carolina taxpayers have footed the bill for nearly $113 million since June 2022 when the fiscal year 2023 budget was set. Clemson University cannot spend the allocated money until it is approved by the board.

Construction of the vet school should start in April at the university-owned property across from the T. Ed Garrison Arena, bringing utilities to the 20-acre site at the intersection of Starkey Road and West Queen Street.

Phase One includes an initial 232,000 square feet of buildings for research and academics. More than $15 million is going to the Public Service and Agriculture Department's animal farms, and between $15 million to $20 million is budgeted for site work, according to meeting documents.

If the FY25 budget request is received in one piece, the schools construction should be complete by the fall of 2026. If its divided into phases, completion of certain components of the school will be delayed into 2027, likely the research facility that first-year students wont need, university Executive Vice President Tony Wagner said in October.
GREENVILLE  Two men have been arrested in connection with a shooting that left one person dead and another injured at Red at 28th in The Village of West Greenville.

Michael Range and Dyquan Sweeney were arrested and each charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to a news release from the Greenville Police Department.

The Nov. 26 shooting inside the hookah lounge killed 38-year-old Keyon Devon Deshawn Robinson of Greenville.

Sign up for updates! Get the latest Greenville news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email

Sign Up!

Sgt. Johnathan Bragg told The Post and Courier the case remains under investigation, as additional charges could come related to the surviving victim. She was released from a hospital after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Calls to a number listed for the establishment weren't answered Dec. 1.

A Facebook page associated with Red at 28th posted a statement the day after the shooting.

On behalf of the entire Red at 28th Greenville Family, we are completely devastated by the event that occurred last night," part of the statement read. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the deceased and their loved ones. Senseless gun violence within your community must stop and brought to awareness.

Police arrested Range Nov. 30 after they stopped a vehicle they said was involved with the shooting. Sweeney turned himself in Dec. 1, Bragg said.

Warrants said the defendants were identified through witnesses, CCTV footage, the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and other investigative means.
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
Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak at the Boryspil airport held a meeting with foreign ambassadors regarding the tenth point of the Peace Formula on confirming the end of the war, the press service of the head of the Ukrainian state reports.

On President of Ukraine's instructions, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak held the tenth meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country devoted to the implementation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula, the presidential press service said on Friday evening.

As reported, the event focused on the implementation of the tenth point of the Formula on confirmation of the end of the war. Eighty six participants, including representatives of 83 foreign states and three international organizations, joined the discussion that took place at Boryspil International Airport.

Yermak informed the meeting participants that in a year of collaborative work, the Peace Formula proposed by the President of Ukraine has become a cohesive framework, with elements tightly interconnected. "I am pleased to note progress on each of the nine points that we have already worked on," he said. The head of the Office of the President pointed out that a fair, comprehensive, and lasting peace is only possible to achieve as a result of collective will and collective actions. "To prevent the recurrence of war, there is only one way  through reliable multilateral security guarantees for Ukraine and a resolute demonstration of unity and commitment by responsible states that respect international law," Yermak said.

Deputy Head of the President's Office Andriy Sybiha said that Boryspil Airport was the first facility closed at the onset of the war, but it will also be the first one reopened as soon as the security situation allows. "The nine points of the Formula reflect the most important elements of the future built on a just, strong, and resilient peace. Such peace is needed not only for Ukraine but for the whole world. No appeasement. The end of the war is the only possible solution. This is the concluding point of the Peace Formula," he said.

Sybiha explained that working group No. 10 at the ambassadorial level, which he leads along with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, includes representatives from 20 states and international organizations. According to him, experts are developing modalities on how to put an end to this war, and the first result of their work may be presented at the next national security advisors' meeting.

According to the press service, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Russian forces would not have destroyed Avdiyivka and many other Ukrainian cities if the international security system had an impact on Russia. Therefore, it is time to update the architecture of international security. According to the minister, the only way to guarantee peace is to defeat Russia on the battlefield. To deliver such a devastating blow to the aggressor, Ukrainian soldiers must have cutting-edge technologies and weapons that can provide an asymmetric response to Russian industrial capabilities and human resources. Ukraine has some indigenous developments and is ready for joint production, research, and development with partners.

As reported, according to Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denys Maliuska, the optimal legal mechanism for ending the war is a multilateral agreement that can involve many different interested signatories. "Not only Ukraine and Russia but also guarantors. Perhaps even third parties with specific commitments," he said.

Furthermore, the minister stated that lessons from the past indicate the need for clear formulations and legally stipulated obligations. "We would also like this document to be ratified by the parliaments of the countries that sign it, Maliuska noted.

Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk noted in her address to the attendees that only a comprehensive security document or a system of security documents and guarantees of their observance can permanently stop aggression.

"The parliamentary dimension of diplomacy is extremely important for the Peace Formula's tenth point. Obviously, the final document on establishing peace will be signed not only by two countries. Sustainable peace after the end of the war can only be ensured by the consolidation of countries worldwide and the public opinion of the people represented by their parliaments," she said.

Participants of the meeting also listened to the address of the President of The Elders, the international non-governmental organization of public figures, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon. They called on all countries to make efforts to ensure a just peace in Ukraine based on the UN Charter key principles.

Richard Branson, ambassador of United24, also addressed the participants with a motivational speech.

Ambassadors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Italy, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Brazil, South Africa, India, Lithuania, Norway, the charge d'affaires a.i. of Poland to Ukraine, the head of the Office of the Council of Europe in Ukraine, ambassadors from Switzerland, Romania, and Latvia, among other participants took part in the discussion of the Peace Formula, particularly its tenth point.

The diplomats emphasized that a just and lasting peace should be based on principles of respect for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

Summing up, Yermak emphasized that with each national security and foreign policy advisors' meeting, the number of participants is growing, and another meeting is planned to take place at the beginning of 2024. "The Global Peace Summit is becoming more achievable  a gathering of world leaders committed to achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace as quickly as possible. And we believe that this summit will take place very soon," he said.

Yermak reminded that during the advisors' meeting in Malta, reports from the first five working groups were heard. He also announced the upcoming fourth meeting of national security and foreign policy advisors. Following this, discussions on the agenda and the organization of the inaugural Global Peace Summit would be held.
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
As the South Carolina Legislature faces mounting pressure to amend the way the state selects members of the bench, the rejection of a circuit judge's bid for another term has become a microcosm in the debate surrounding whether the process is capable of advancing qualified and independent judges.

Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Bentley Price was found unqualified Nov. 28 in a divided 5-5 vote by the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Price needed a majority vote to keep his reelection bid alive. Now he cannot advance to a vote of the Legislature to win reelection for his seat. Price, 47, was elected to the bench in 2018. He has since withdrawn, meaning a detailed report of Price's qualifications will not be released publicly.

Price has not responded to requests for comment throughout the race.

The commission chairman indicated Price's failure to advance to a vote of the General Assembly is evidence that the panel takes concerns seriously and is dedicated to ensuring judicial candidates are qualified. Critics say commission members, who are under intense scrutiny, sacrificed Price to maintain their power over the process by undermining reform efforts. Their decision-making was shrouded in secrecy and relied on anonymous surveys, they said.

This is an example of the process working in an era when people want instant results, said state Rep. Micah Caskey, R-West Columbia, who chairs the JMSC.

An advocate for transforming the JMSC  and one of Price's most vocal critics  was not celebrating after the panel found the judge unqualified. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe said he predicted the outcome.

"They're going to use him as the scapegoat to try to say the process is right," Pascoe asserted. "It's laughable."

A lightning rod
COLUMBIA  South Carolina business leaders claim the state's lack of affordable child care could be costing the state as much as $1.4 billion in lost productivity every year, saying the lack of options threatens to stymie the state's current economic boom if left unaddressed.

According to a Nov. 30 report commissioned by the Council for a Strong America and Ready Nation on behalf of state business leaders, South Carolina's current child care system falls well short of the needs of Palmetto State employers and their workers, many of whom do not have access to child care.

Per the report, 42 percent of South Carolinians live within a so-called child care desert, where there are more than three children under age 5 for each licensed child care slot.

And if parents do have access, it's largely unaffordable, with the average yearly cost for a typical child care center costing the typical family approximately $9,048 per year.

That total is the 10th-highest burden in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Those problems impact not just families, but the state's economy as well: out of more than 800 parents surveyed across the country, many reported decreased effort and productivity at work or employment disruptions. An additional one-quarter of those surveyed reported quitting or even losing their jobs due to issues finding child care.

"Workforce development is the No. 1 challenge we face," Bob Morgan, president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, told The Post and Courier.

"We have 78,000 jobs going unfilled, our labor force participation rate is 57 percent versus a national average of 63 percent," he added. +And child care  the cost, the availability and the quality  is one of the key barriers to solving that."

South Carolina does have measures aimed to address the problem. The state's Child Care Scholarship program can provide hundreds of dollars in assistance to cover child care for families earning under 85 percent of the poverty line.
In Charleston's bustling holiday season, parents gear up to bring kids to the traditional Santa at the mall. But for parents of autistic kids, that vibrant scene could be a potential sensory overload.

Thats why the Medical University of South Carolinas SPARK research group and Tri-County Therapy are hosting a Sensory-Friendly Santa event on Dec. 2 in Ladson at 3851 Commercial Center Drive from noon to 5 p.m.

Autism families often have to forego the traditional photo of kids with Santa, said Dr. Laura Carpenter, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry and chief of psychology for SPARK.

Going to a crowded Christmas event can be really hard because those are usually lots of lights, lots of noise and lots of crowds that can be really overwhelming, Carpenter said. Were trying to give them that typical childhood experience, but in a way that is actually enjoyable for the child.

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 36 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder at age 8, a significant rise from past years. The CDC also found that autism diagnoses increased 30 percent from 2018-2020 in minority communities.

For the first time, the percentage of Asian, Black and Hispanic children identified with autism was higher than among 8-year-old White children, according to an article published by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The Ladson event will not only give kids a chance to experience Santa Claus in a less-crowded and overwhelming environment, but families are also able to contribute to autism research.

SPARK is a nationwide community of families, autistic adults and researchers working to understand autism and improve lives. The organization is researching autism across the lifespan to better understand what makes each person with autism unique  and how each child, adult and family can get the support they need to thrive. There are approximately 50,000 people included so far.
CAMDEN  Steeplechase horse racing and the Colonial Cup will return to South Carolina's race season in 2024 after a seven-year hiatus.

The Colonial Cup is a fall racing event that started in 1970. It was last raced in the fall in 2016 due to funding problems, though it was run for a couple of years in the spring along with the annual Carolina Cup races at Springdale Race Course in Camden.

Local and state leaders gathered Nov. 30 to officially announce and celebrate the return of the fall classic. The Post and Courier first reported on Nov. 4 that the race would return next year.

The event will take place Nov. 17, 2024, at the Springdale Race Course in Camden, with the Colonial Cup offering a Grade 1 stakes purse of $150,000.

Carolina Cup Racing Association board member Tom Mullikin said the event will bring in horses from around the world.

"We see this as a wonderful opportunity to drive economic development here," said Mullikin, who referred to the event as the "Super Bowl of steeplechase."

The equestrian community drives about $2 billion into the South Carolina economy every year, according to Mullikin.

The Colonial Cup features steeplechase racing, which include jumps and longer distances of 2 to 3 miles.

"The Colonial Cup was cherished by our local residents as a family tradition that fostered a sense of community," said Camden Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford.

Previous Colonial Cup events have had 40,000 people in attendance, according to Toby Edwards, executive director of the Carolina Cup Racing Association.

Katie Guinn, Kershaw County Council chairwoman, said it took work from the county and state level to bring back the Colonial Cup. State Rep. Ben Connell said that he has fond memories of attending the races as a child.
WASHINGTON  The strange saga of U.S. Rep. George Santos took another turn Dec. 1 as the the House of Representatives voted to expel the controversial New York Republican.

All of South Carolina's Republicans voted against expulsion, many citing concerns about due process.

George Santos is an ass, but who, like every American, deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Isle of Palms, said in a statement.

"Charges are not a conviction," she added.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens took a similar tack.

"I voted to protect due process and against expulsion until Mr. Santos has had his day in court," he said in a statement posted on social media. "If he's found guilty and refuses to resign, I will vote to remove him from office  but not until then."

Santos gained international attention earlier this year when it came to light that he had fabricated much of his backstory on the campaign trail, from his educational and professional history to his religious background.

He is currently facing a 23-count Department of Justice indictment charging him with conspiracy, wire fraud and falsifying records among other charges related to his alleged misuse of campaign funds.

A scathing House Ethics Committee report found that Santos allegedly used campaign funds for payments on vacations, Botox and a website that often features pornography.

Santos, who represents a competitive district in the New York City suburbs on Long Island, has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and denied wrongdoing.
In 2009, three years into her retirement, Sandra Day OConnor visited students at Charleston Day School  where she promoted iCivics, an educational program the Supreme Court justice launched to better teach civics to students across the country.

In Charleston, OConnor encouraged students to learn how the three branches of government work so they can understand how this governing system affects them and how they can effect change.

The former justice noted that her most memorable case involved the counting of ballots in Florida that led to George W. Bush winning the 2000 presidential election, a case about which she said: "I'm glad thats over, to tell you the truth.

The most significant case in her lifetime, OConnor told the students, was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas  and the landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling that outlawed school segregation in the country.

Brown v. Board actually was a set of combined cases that started in South Carolina with Briggs v. Elliott, filed in May 1950 when a group of parents in Clarendon County challenged the separate but equal laws regarding schools for Black children and White children.

O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, died Dec. 1 in Arizona. She was 93.

Molly Craig, a partner at the Hood Law Firm, helped arrange the visit to Charleston Day School. She met OConnor while serving with the International Association of Defense Counsel, which formed a partnership to help promote the justices web-based civics education project, then called Our Courts.

Craig later became a national ambassador for the program. Mount Pleasant attorney Catherine Templeton also became involved in spreading the program nationally.

OConnor was like a discerning matriarch, Templeton recalled, and was someone who did not suffer fools but could also be generous in her teaching. Templeton is a former director of the S.C. health department and was national volunteer coordinator for OConnors civics education effort.
An initiative group of investors in housing construction by Ukrbud and Kyivmiskbud holding company demands a change in the composition of Kyivmiskbud's supervisory board and management to improve its activities.

"We demand that the activities of Kyivmiskbud's supervisory board be recognized as non-credible, not sticking to their charter and obligations to thousands of investors. It is necessary to terminate the powers of current members and elect new ones to the supervisory board of PJSC Kyivmiskbud Holding Company to get the enterprise back on track and start the reorganization process, bring construction at all the company's residential complexes to a normal pace," Denys Boiko, a representative of the initiative group of investors of the Raiduzhny residential complex, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, the corresponding appeal with investors' proposals has been sent to the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko.

Investors also insist on creating a transparent roadmap to improve Kyivmiskbud's activities and a schedule for the unfinished facilities under the company's declared obligations.

Initiative groups also demand that a working group with representatives of both investors and city authorities is organized to monitor the implementation of the developer's obligations.

As Kyivmiskbud's press service told Interfax-Ukraine, of the 17 Ukrbud residential complexes taken for management, where construction was restored, 11 have already been fully or partially put into operation. The total volume of completed housing is 390,000 square meters which is over 4,200 apartments.

According to the holding company, as of April 1, 2023, activities worth UAH 3.5 billion have been completed on Ukrbud facilities. At the same time, proceeds from the sale of real estate after the transfer of facilities was only UAH 2.1 billion, and proceeds from Zhytlo-Capital financial company totaled UAH 667,500.

In addition, there is debt under installment agreements for the company's own projects, Kyivmiskbud said. Thus, the balance of payments in the Milos residential complex is UAH 22.7 million, in the Kryrylivsky Hai residential complex is UAH 11.4 million, the Charivne Misto residential complex UAH 26.5 million, and the Urban Park residential complex UAH 8.6 million.
Former Gov. Nikki Haley faces steep odds to win Iowa and New Hampshire against a dominant Donald Trump.

Yet Haley is almost guaranteed to come in first in the third contest  the Feb. 6 Nevada primary  which comes weeks before the crucial vote in South Carolina.

And shell probably do it without spending a dime, but she wont get a single delegate for it.

Nevada is holding dueling nominating contests, first a government-run presidential primary on Feb. 6, then a presidential caucus run by the state GOP two days later.

The Silver States Republicans have decided that only the caucus will count for delegates. They also forced candidates to choose between the primary and the caucus, so most of the major candidates  Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy  signed up for the caucus.

But Haleys campaign, as well as U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and former Vice President Mike Pence, filed for the delegate-less primary. Then Pence and Scott dropped out.

Now, as Las Vegas-based GOP operative Oso Guymon puts it, the Nevada presidential primary ballot is just Nikki Haley and a few randoms.

Haleys campaign did not return a request for comment on why she would pass up the opportunity to collect any of Nevadas 26 delegates.

There are advantages to Haleys counterintuitive western strategy.

There is certainly the potential for good publicity, Elko County Republican Party Chairman Lee Hoffman said.

With no serious competition on the ballot, Haley will likely be able to declare herself the winner of the Nevada primary and hope to get some headlines and fundraising emails out of it for a news cycle or two, Nevada strategists said.

Haley has barely visited the state and spent little there, so the win would come at little cost.

If Haley had run in the caucus, she would have had to pay $55,000 to the state party plus the money necessary to campaign in the state while scant polling indicates she still would have lost to a Trump landslide.
MOUNT PLEASANT  Democratic presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson focused on the country's economic injustices to a crowd of two dozen people during a free lunch event at Matt O'Neil Real Estate on Dec. 1.

This visit was the first of nine events scheduled in the Palmetto State over the next several days, including stops in Charleston, Beaufort, Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Rock Hill and Clemson.

The self-help author from Houston said she senses a disturbance in the hearts of Americans that requires a look at the root cause. Williamson explained it is due to less of a government of the people.

"A common denominator that none of us should underestimate is the inherent economic injustice in the way we operate. And that is as true in South Carolina as in any other state," Williamson told The Post and Courier.

Williamson supports universal health care, tuition-free college at technical schools, subsidized child care and a guaranteed living wage. She told The Post and Courier she gives President Joe Biden credit where it is due, but she does not agree with his solutions for environmental and economic issues.

When asked by an audience member about her pathway to the presidency, Williamson said South Carolina Democrats are "pretty locked up" about their choice for president, noting Biden won the state in the last election.

"However, there are people in South Carolina, as well as every other state, who know that we need to begin a new direction," she said and added that a vote for her shares the message that voters are not content with the "same old, same old."

Brian Crissey, of Mount Pleasant, said he has been following Williamson for many years and was pleased when she decided to "put her toe into the water of politics."

"I still don't see the pathway, but what I see from her is a good list of what needs to be done here in this country," he said.
SPARTANBURG  The Sheriff's Office SWAT commander never would have ordered the operation that killed a fork-wielding schizophrenic man if his deputies had told him what they knew.

Darius Holcomb, who had barricaded himself in his mother's home trying to escape arrest for a minor charge, might not have died in the February 2023 standoff if the commander's plan to use a less-lethal weapon had worked out.

And the standoff wouldn't have happened in the first place had a pair of Spartanburg police officers not circumvented their supervisors' instructions.

Those are the takeaways from a State Law Enforcement Division investigative report on the fatal shooting of Holcomb, a 39-year-old mentally ill man. The report, released in November, shows how a series of missteps and poor communication led to the death of Holcomb, who was wanted for failing to pay a $100 fine.

In the days before the episode, Spartanburg police supervisors  who knew of Holcomb's mental history  decided it was too risky to use its tactical team to arrest Holcomb for a low-level bench warrant after he kept hiding in his mothers house.

But a pair of officers unhappy with the decision not to use force asked a sheriffs deputy familiar to them to do the work instead  without telling their superiors, the SLED report stated.

It's unclear if the sheriffs deputy who tried to serve the warrant told his bosses what he was doing, and the attempt turned into a standoff, SLED found.

When the sheriffs office SWAT commander arrived on the scene with the incident already in progress, no one reportedly told him of the police departments previous attempts to serve the warrants.

Had he known, the commander told state investigators, he wouldnt have approved the use of tear gas or the breach of the besieged house because the circumstances and severity of the warrant wouldnt have justified such high-scale tactics.
Sen. Jesse Anderson Lujan has introduced a local resolution to support a congressional effort to reaffirm ties between the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines amid the latter's conflicts with China.

Guam Del. James Moylan introduced House Resolution 837 at the beginning of, which would have the U.S. House of Representatives do four things:

Reaffirm the United States' commitment to invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines if an armed attack against Philippine assets, including those of the Philippine Coast Guard, is committed in the South China Sea.

Call on the United States and the Philippines to begin joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Firmly objects to the Peoples Republic of Chinas false sovereignty claims to the South China Sea.

Welcome swift implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to ensure the U.S. adheres to commitments to the Philippine people, and to foster a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Lujan introduced Resolution 260-37 on Tuesday, which states in part that developments affecting the security of the Philippines and its regional stability significantly impact Guam due to "geographical proximity and interconnected security concerns." Because the Philippines and Guam share common maritime borders, any volatility or security threats involving the Philippines could have direct repercussions for the island, according to Resolution 260.

Lujan stated in a release announcing his resolution that it is important for Guam to come together whenever possible to communicate with Congress on a united front. Every member of the Guam Legislature should fully support House Resolution 837, he added.

"Del. Moylan is seeking to have the U.S. government reaffirm the United States unwavering commitment to the Philippines, and we, the people on Guam, agree with this unwavering support. The Peoples Republic of China has been increasingly encroaching upon the sovereignty of the Philippines and using the growing Chinese military to harass the Philippine Navy and Philippine Merchant Vessels. The United States must steadfastly stand with the Philippines against this bullying and aggression," Lujan stated in the release.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 1. The 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) kicked off yesterday in Dubai, UAE.

This event, running until December 12, dives into discussions on the impacts of climate change and strategies to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. The central focus revolves around assessing the progress made in achieving the core objective of the Paris Agreement  preventing the global temperature from rising beyond 2C.

The conference has been held annually since 1995. Its primary goal is to evaluate how we're faring globally in the battle against climate change. From the mid-'90s, discussions within this conference revolved around the Kyoto Protocol, outlining legal commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions in developed nations. Fast forward to sessions between 2011 and 2015, where the pivotal Paris Agreement took center stage and was ratified in 2015, standing as a key international document in our fight against climate change. As of today, 195 countries have joined forces in support of this agreement.

During the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow in 2021, Azerbaijan committed to slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Additionally, Azerbaijan proposed the creation of a carbon-neutral zone in the territories liberated from occupation by 2050.

Considering Azerbaijan's rising appeal for investment in green projects, this initiative holds immense promise, laying the groundwork for even more ambitious ventures in this field.

The event is expected to draw over 100 heads of state and government, along with approximately 100,000 representatives.

Azerbaijan is stepping onto the COP28 stage with its very own pavilion for the first time.

This 254 m2 space will not just host events and seminars with local, regional, and international organizations; it will also showcase virtual exhibits highlighting Azerbaijan's efforts in tackling climate change and dealing with its aftermath.

COP28, drawing in representatives from all corners of the globe, is also a vital platform to shed light on Armenia's eco-terrorism during the occupation of Azerbaijani territory. In 2022, the UN Environment Program conducted an assessment mission in the liberated areas, adding significance with the UN delegation's visit to Shusha and Hadrut for the first time after the Second Karabakh War. The report from this mission is now a crucial reference for Azerbaijan in any upcoming international discussions.

Azerbaijan, a traditional player in the energy export scene, has been actively embracing the shift towards green energy in recent times. The declaration of the Karabakh and Easter Zangazur regions as "green zones", coupled with Nakhchivan being labeled a "green energy zone", along with the strides taken in this direction, could significantly boost ties with developed nations.

Azerbaijan's sizable delegation at COP28 presents a great opportunity to delve into discussions about the potential of deploying eco-friendly and energy-efficient green technologies.

Azerbaijan is garnering considerable international backing in its pursuit of renewable energy sources, having already inked numerous deals with foreign partners. The agreements with major players like Masdar, ACWA Power, bp, and the 12-gigawatt contract with the Australian Fortescue Future Industries hold paramount importance in augmenting energy resource supplies to Europe.

By the end of this year, Azerbaijan is gearing up to roll out the first solar power station with a total capacity of 240 MW. Azerbaijan has inked some game-changing deals, including memorandums of understanding and contracts, to churn out a whopping 10 GW of electricity.

Azerbaijan is boldly charting its course in the renewable energy field. By 2027, the country aims to crank out 3 GW of wind energy, and 1 GW of solar power, with big plans to export 80 percent of that volume. By 2037, Azerbaijan has its sights set on boosting up its energy capabilities to a minimum of 6 GW.

Just recently, Azerbaijan hit a major milestone in bringing its ambitious energy strategy to life, unleashing the 230 MW Garadagh Solar Power Station.

Additional agreements have been sealed with Masdar, mapping out grand green energy projects totaling 1,000 MW. A 445 MW solar power station in Bilasuvar, a 315 MW solar power station in Neftchala, and a 240 MW wind power station in the Absheron-Garadagh region.

The primary market for Azerbaijan's green energy is Europe, and there is already a concrete project in the pipeline for supplying renewable energy. On December 17, 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed an agreement on strategic partnership, envisioning the construction of a so-called "energy bridge" from the Caucasus region to Europe. As part of this agreement, the construction of the underwater Black Sea Energy cable is anticipated, boasting a capacity of 1,000 MW and stretching 1,195 kilometers. The cable is designed for the delivery of green electricity generated in Azerbaijan, traversing through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania, with subsequent transportation to Hungary and the rest of Europe. This will facilitate the supply of up to 4 GW of green energy. Besides Azerbaijan, the inclusion of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan in this project is also being considered.

Well, Azerbaijan is not just talking the talk, it is walking the walk when it comes to meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement, a big topic at COP28. The country is rolling out real green projects, acting as engines to hit those decarbonization targets and actively pushing for carbon neutrality, not only within its borders but across the wider region. So, Azerbaijan's presence at this event right now, as the global community takes serious steps toward a green transition, carries significant weight in the region. Bagging major deals with influential energy players and kicking off ambitious projects is turning Azerbaijan, once a reliable supplier of hydrocarbons, into a hotbed for attracting green investments.
The IDF has announced that Hamas violated the terms of the current ceasefire and that it has resumed combat operations against Hamas in Gaza (below). The Times of Israel has posted a long story on the resumption of combat this morning here.

Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gVRpctD79R  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 1, 2023

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel and met with its war cabinet yesterday. He continues to caution Israel on the law of war, as though the IDF is some kind of a scofflaw. He made it clear that the Biden administration is unhappy with Israel and seeks to impose constraints on the operation of the IDF in Gaza. The Times of Israel covers Blinkens visit here. The Biden administration does not sound like a friend or ally of Israel.

It is reported in the Israeli media that Blinken cautioned the war cabinet  I Dont Think You Have the Credit to Fight Hamas to Finish. Ed Morrissey covers that report over at Hot Air in the linked post. I would like to counsel Israel to take the cash and let the credit go, but I am afraid it needs both.

Assuming the statement was made as reported, the meaning of Blinkens statement is not entirely clear. It is cryptic. Some translation is required. I think it means that the Biden administration has now determined to hamstring Israel in its effort to eliminate Hamas.

Today it is also reported that Hamas branded Israeli child hostages in case they escaped. The Times of Israel covers that story here. Blinken might want to warn Hamas that they stand to be whipped with a wet noodle if they keep it up.
Lately Democrats have fallen into the habit of labeling all facts they would rather not talk about as conspiracy theories. They must think it works. Yesterday, Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger testified before Jim Jordans Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Matt recorded the experience, which he describes as surreal, at Racket News.

Representative Dan Goldman is the Democrats attack dog on the subcommittee. Goldman hasnt given up on the idea that the documents on Hunter Bidens laptop were Russian disinformation:

GOLDMAN: You are aware, of course, that the laptop, so to speak, was actually, that was published in the New York Post, was actually a hard drive that the New York Post admitted here was not authenticated as real. It was not the laptop, the FBI had. Youre aware of that, right? SHELLENBERGER: It was the same contents. GOLDMAN: How do you know? SHELLENBERGER: (scrunching face, incredulous) Because it is the same! GOLDMAN: You wouldve to authenticate it to know it was the same contents.

Of course, the documents have been authenticated by just about everyone, including the FBI, and never denied by Hunter himself.

SHELLENBERGER: Are you suggesting the New York Post participated in a conspiracy to construct the contents of the Hunter Biden laptop? GOLDMAN: No, sir. The problem is that hard drives can be manipulated by Rudy Giuliani or Russia.

Right. One sad feature of our current public life is that there is little downside to lying. Liberals construct a narrative that may be utterly unsupported by any evidence and easily refuted by well-known facts. Nevertheless, their attitude is: thats our story and were sticking to it.

On to the conspiracy theory. The Democrats witness was former Mike Pence staffer Olivia Troye. In her opening statement, she said:

Instead of continuing to spread conspiracy theories about government censorship, this Committee should instead focus on the very real and dangerous threat posed by the leading Republican candidate

Trump! Trump! Trump! The universal rejoinder. But just moments later, Troyeapparently in a moment of sanitydenied saying any such thing:

BISHOP: Are you aware of [the Missouri v. Biden case] that and does it affect your view that all of this is a figment of our imagination? TROYE: I am aware of the decision. I also want to clarify, I have not actually have never said that this is a conspiracy. Youve not heard that comment from me.

Substantively, the Democrats most cogent point was that most of the social media posts that were flagged by government agencies were not censored:

GOLDMAN: Im sure you are aware the social media platforms to whom they flagged potentially problematic tweets took action on only 35% of them and only 13% of them were removed JORDAN: Mr. Shellenberger, is 13% censorship still censorship? SHELLENBERGER: Absolutely 35% of the URLs that were spread to [Stanfords Election Integrity Partnership] were labeled, removed, or soft-blocked all forms of censorship. GOLDMAN: But 65% were not! So how can the government be so coercive? SHELLENBERGER: Does the First Amendment say the government can censor 35%?

The Democrats point, no doubt, is that if the platforms usually dont act on the governments suggestions, what we are seeing here is not government censorship but independent decision-making by a private party, to which the First Amendment does not apply. I doubt that is a winning argument, but it likely will be a focus of ongoing litigation over the federal governments efforts to censor social media.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 14:21:07

Press Information

Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting









+91 7580990088

email

www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com



Published by

Parmeet Singh

7580990088

e-mail

https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/







# 948 Words

+91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088

In the realm of the aluminum beams 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 aluminum beams 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 aluminum beams 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 aluminum beams 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 aluminum beams 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 aluminum beams market.Exploring the Competitive LandscapeThe section dedicated to the competitive landscape of the aluminum beams 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 Aluminum Beams market are as follows: ABC Aluminum Solutions, Alaskan Copper, Alcoa, COMEGE, Columbus McKinnon, Dajcor Aluminium Ltd, Extrude-A-Trim, GSH Industries, Inc., Hoist UK, Industrial Alloys, Inc., Kaiser Aluminum, Rio Tinto Alcan, Schilling Ger?tebau, Talan Products Inc., VERLINDE, Voestalpine Roll Forming CorporationSegment 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: H Beams, T Beams, OthersApplication: Residential, Industrial, 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 aluminum beams 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 aluminum beams 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 aluminum beams 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: 2023-12-01 04:45:27

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 471 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 2, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS), if they purchased the Company's securities between July 22, 2019 and October 12, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Barclays and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bcs/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 2, 2024.About the LawsuitBarclays and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) contrary to false public assertions, the Company's former CEO, James Staley, had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, was reportedly aware of Epstein's criminal activities and may have even sexually assaulted a victim who had previously been trafficked by Epstein; (ii) if discovered, the relationship and potential criminal activity could bring reputational, legal, and financial harm to Company; (iii) the Company's response to an inquiry by the British Financial Conduct Authority regarding Staley's relationship with Epstein was materially false; (iv) when the Company became aware of information contradicting its response to the inquiry, it failed to update the response so that it would be accurate, or otherwise take any meaningful action; and (v) as a result, the Company's statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.The case is Merritt v. Barclays Plc, et al., 23-cv-9217.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 18:33:24

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 662 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Do you, or did you, own shares of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT)?Did you purchase your shares between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.?Do you want to discuss your rights?NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. ("ChargePoint" or the "Company") (NYSE:CHPT) between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the "Complaint").If you purchased or acquired ChargePoint securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com According to the Complaint, ChargePoint provides networked solutions for charging electric vehicles, including the ChargePoint cloud subscription platform and charging hardware. ChargePoint claims its goods and services are designed for an array of charging scenarios from home to workplace, parking, hospitality, retail and transport fleets of all types.Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company was experiencing higher component costs and supply overruns for first generation DC charging products; (2) the Company was likely to incur impairment charges; and (3) the Company's profitability would be adversely impacted.On November 16, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint released preliminary financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, which would include an "additional non-cash inventory impairment charge" in the amount of $42 million "related to product transitions and to better align inventory with current demand." As a result, the Company expected to report "GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%." The Company also reported revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected." Moreover, ChargePoint's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were both replaced, effective immediately.On this news, the Company's share price fell $1.11, or 35%, to close at $2.02 per share on November 17, 2023.If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 29, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.If you purchased or acquired ChargePoint securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2023 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoParalegalBernstein Liebhard LLP https://www.bernlieb.com(212) 951-2030pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 15:31:03

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 537 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

WINDOW ROCK, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Dine Development Corporation (DDC) , a Navajo Nation-owned IT, professional, and environmental services company, announces the acquisition of Spin Systems, Inc. (SpinSys), a Virginia-based data management and analytics company. This strategic move diversifies DDC's client portfolio and expands the organization's capabilities while solidifying its commitment to government agencies and the Navajo Nation.A premier software company specializing in big data aggregation, virtualization, predictive modeling, and AI/ML-driven intelligence visualization, SpinSys has amassed success throughout its 25-year history in delivering cloud-based sustainment and modernization services for the U.S. government and Fortune 500 clients. Aligning with DDC's capabilities, SpinSys' suite of technical solutions and innovative growth model strengthen the corporation's dedication to value-driven efficiency, agility, and scalability."Data virtualization and predictive modeling are key capabilities that differentiate our company and complement DDC's robust suite of IT solutions," SpinSys Chief Executive Officer Wael Ali stated. Highlighting the acquisition is SpinSys' award-winning MDACA data fabric product suite, the Department of Defense's cornerstone framework for data integration and analysis. "Through this holistic data solution, we are able to provide actionable insights for DOD stakeholders to ensure mission readiness," added Shourya Ray, SpinSys Chief Operating Officer.SpinSys' union with the family of companies, integrated and rebranded as SpinSys-Dine, expands DDC's nationwide footprint with two major office locations in Falls Church, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina."This acquisition is not only a testament to DDC's strategic growth, but also a vision for the future," shared Austin Tsosie, DDC Chief Executive Officer. "We celebrate this milestone in expanding our deeply rooted commitment to advancing the Navajo Nation while positioning the organization for future expansion." Dan Riggs, DDC Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, stated, "We are proud to welcome SpinSys-Dine to the family of companies. The company's people-focused culture, passion for innovation, and client dedication align with the mission-driven spirit that runs through our organization. Our combined strengths will propel us to new heights as we provide our clients with an expanded service offering to power mission success." About DDCDDC's family of companies has powered government missions through an unwavering dedication to our clients and communities we serve. Our innovation-driven IT practice, specializing in cloud, cyber, data management, and enterprise IT solutions, has delivered lasting value to defense and civilian agencies across the world. Central to DDC's mission is its commitment to advance the Navajo Nation and its People to inspire change for future generations.About SpinSys-DineSpinSys-Dine offers integration and interoperability by providing cloud-based sustainment and modernization services for government and private sector clients. As a leading small business specializing in data transformation, we streamline business processes through cloud deployment across enterprises. Our team harnesses the power of business intelligence to enable informed decision making.ContactFor more information on SpinSys-Dine and its service offerings, please contact Shourya Ray, SpinSys-Dine President, at shourya.ray@spinsys-dine.com . For press inquiries or more acquisition details, please contact Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw, DDC Director of Marketing, at jocelyn.billy-upshaw@ddc-dine.com Contact InformationJennifer Creamer DDC Chief of Staff jennifer.creamer@ddc-dine.com Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw Director of Marketing jocelyn.billy-upshaw@ddc-dine.com Shourya Ray SpinSys-Dine President shourya.ray@spinsys-dine.com SOURCE: Dine Development Corporation (DDC)
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 18:33:50

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 897 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Do you, or did you, own shares of Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG)?Did you purchase your shares between May 28, 2020 and August 30, 2023, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Dollar General Corporation?Do you want to discuss your rights?NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the common stock of Dollar General Corporation ("Dollar General" or the "Company") (NYSE:DG) between May 28, 2020 and August 30, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the "Complaint").If you purchased or acquired Dollar General common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Dollar General Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 26, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, Defendant Dollar General is a discount retailer that sells consumer goods, including packaged foods, fresh foods and produce, beauty and household products, and beer and wine, primarily throughout the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. The Company's core customers are low- and fixed-income households. Over 80% of the Company's items are priced at or below $5.Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors 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; and (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.On August 31, 2023, Dollar General reported its second quarter 2023 financial results, slashing its FY23 sales and profit outlook. The Company blamed a "headwind," including weaker consumer spending on non-essential purchases and increasing theft. For the quarter, operating profits decreased 24.2% and EPS decreased 28.5%. The release further conceded that the Company was "taking certain actions to accelerate the pace of its inventory reduction efforts and making additional investments in targeted areas, such as retail labor, to further elevate the in-store experience and better serve its customers" and "expect[ed] an incremental operating profit headwind of up to $170 million in the second half of 2023 from these strategic actions and investments." Of that $170 million, $95 million would be for markdowns taken on the Company's existing inventory. Another $75 million would be spent on increased personnel at the stores to both identify and eliminate the inventory to be marked down and to correctly price the items remaining on store shelves.On this news, the Company's share price fell $19.16, or over 12%, to close at $138.50 per share on August 31, 2023.If you purchased or acquired Dollar General common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Dollar General Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2023 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoParalegalBernstein Liebhard LLP https://www.bernlieb.com(212) 951-2030pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 04:50:15

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 433 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 26, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 28, 2020 and August 31, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dollar General and would like to discuss your legal rights and how the case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-dg/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 26, 2024.About the LawsuitDollar General and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On August 31, 2023, the Company announced its 2Q 2023 financial results, disclosing among other things, cuts to its FY23 sales and profit outlook, decreases in operating profits of 24.2% and EPS of 28.5%, and that it "expect[ed] an incremental operating profit headwind of up to $170 million in the second half of 2023," consisting of $95 million for markdowns on existing inventory and $75 million on increased store personnel to support inventory and pricing control measures.On this news, the price of Dollar General's shares plummeted $19.16 per share, or 12%, on August 31, 2023, on unusually high trading volume of more than 19 million shares.The case is Washtenaw County Employees' Retirement System v. Dollar General Corporation, et al., 23-cv-01250. A subsequent case expanded the class period, Edmonds v. Dollar General Corporation, et al., 23-cv-01259.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 15:30:45

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 994 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

EV Electra Broadens its Horizons: Key Acquisition Drives International Growth in Electric Vehicle Industry Announced at eCarExpoDEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Today, EV Electra, a trailblazer in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, announced a strategic acquisition of the Emily and PONS product lines and related assets from NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden) during a press conference at the eCarExpo in Gothenburg, Sweden. This acquisition is a landmark move that reinforces EV Electra's commitment to innovation, growth, and the localization of production.EV Electra, a leading Canadian electric vehicle manufacturer, is delighted to announce the successful acquisition of the Emily GT and PONS projects from NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden). This strategic move signifies a monumental step in EV Electra's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the revitalization of the automotive heritage in Trollhattan. Today's announcement is further strategic evolution of the company's previously announced signing of the Letter of Intent for the reverse merger (LOI) with DrazCanna, Inc. (OTC Pink:DZCA) that outlines a definitive plan for its reverse merger share agreement expected to close in January 2024.Speaking at the eCarExpo, Jihad Mohammad, CEO of EV Electra, revealed the acquisition of the Emily and PONS projects from NEVS. This announcement marks a pivotal moment for EV Electra, aligning with its mission to shape the future of the electric vehicle industry. The press conference, held at the prestigious eCarExpo, highlighted the company's dedication to unveiling groundbreaking developments on a global stage."Acquiring the Emily and PONS projects from NEVS is a transformative step for EV Electra, symbolizing our unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the rich automotive heritage of Trollhattan. This marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for EV Electra, and we are eager to share further details as we work towards full-scale production in Trollhattan, Sweden." - Jihad Mohammad, CEO of EV ElectraNew Chapter for Emily and PONS ProjectsThe acquisition team from EV Electra and NEVS worked tirelessly to achieve a shared goal of a new chapter for the Emily and PONS projects, securing their future production at the assembly plant in Sweden. This move underscores EV Electra's commitment to fulfilling the legacy of these leading-edge product lines while leveraging the expertise of the Trollhattan facility.Emily GT: A Symbol of Innovation and Design ExcellenceThe Emily GT, which garnered attention earlier this year, captivated the automotive world with its debut. Developed in just nine months by NEVS engineers, the Emily GT received acclaim for its design and technical features. Under EV Electra's ownership, the iconic Emily GT will retain its model name as the EV Electra Emily GT, symbolizing a seamless transition of ownership while preserving the essence of this remarkable electric vehicle.PONS: Revolutionizing Metropolitan Mobility with Autonomous Electric Vehicle TechnologyThe PONS vehicle represents an autonomous city mobility service system, contributing to the evolution of urban transportation. The vehicle is at the forefront of driverless technology integrated with real time rideshare algorithms to provide urban dwellers with fast and cost efficient transportation. EV Electra recognizes the strategic importance of the PONS project and is committed to advancing its development in revolutionizing metropolitan mobility with autonomous electric vehicle technology, aligning with the company's vision of a sustainable and technologically advanced future.EV Electra's New Subsidiary in SwedenTo underscore its dedication to local development and manufacturing, EV Electra is establishing a new subsidiary in Sweden. This subsidiary will play a pivotal role in the evolution of EV Electra with the production of the Emily GT and PONS product lines at the Trollhattan plant. This localization effort aligns with EV Electra's strategy of contributing to the growth and development of the Swedish automotive industry."With the establishment of a new subsidiary in Sweden, we are poised to lead the charge in electric vehicle development and production. The future looks promising as we integrate these projects into our portfolio, contributing to the growth of the Swedish automotive industry and expanding our global footprint." - Jihad Mohammad, CEO of EV ElectraIntegration with Existing EV Electra Product LinesWhile the Emily and PONS projects are significant additions, EV Electra remains committed to its existing product lines as the company focuses upon scaling production at the company's plant in Turkey. EV Electra's branded line of electric vehicles Capital, Nostrum, Rise, QUDS with production at the company's plant in Turkey, contributing to the diversification and expansion of EV Electra's global manufacturing footprint. Efforts at the plant are focused upon scaling up production to meet growing demand for high quality, value priced electric vehicles.Future Vision: Full-Scale Production in Trollhattan, SwedenEV Electra has ambitious plans for the Emily line of electric vehicles, with a clear vision to ramp up to full-scale production at its Trollhattan, Sweden EV plant. This strategic move aims to leverage the advanced capabilities of the facility, engineered design, production processes, and talented individuals to position EV Electra as a key player in the European electric vehicle market and beyond.Commitment to Fostering Capital Partner RelationshipsAs EV Electra continues its robust growth trajectory, it reiterates its commitment to fostering capital partner relationships. The company sees collaborations as instrumental in fueling innovation, expanding market reach, and accelerating growth. EV Electra invites potential partners to explore mutually beneficial opportunities, recognizing the value of strategic alliances in driving sustained success in the dynamic EV market.In conclusion, EV Electra's recent announcements mark a pivotal moment in its journey, including announcing this key acquisition drives international growth in electric vehicle industry, reflecting a commitment to innovation, transparency, and strategic growth. The company invites stakeholders, investors, and industry enthusiasts to stay tuned for further updates as it continues to shape the future of the electric vehicle industry.For inquiries, please contact:EV Electra LTDJihad Mohammad, President5050 rue de Sorel, suite 107Montreal QC H3Z 2 P9www.evelectra.compress@evelectra.com DrazCanna, Inc.Jihad Mohammad, PresidentP.O. Box 600Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 www.drazcanna.comin
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Global emissions should be reduced by more than 40 percent by 2030, said national coordinator of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Umayra Taghiyeva, Trend reports.

Taghiyeva made the statement on the sidelines of the World Climate Action Summit (COP28), organized within the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change taking place in Dubai.

"There are various estimates from 42 to 47 percent. And only in this case it is possible to hold the growth of global emissions," she noted.

Taghiyeva pointed out that if the temperature rises by more than 1.5 degrees, climate scenarios will start to emerge.

"The consequences are different: one scenario at 1.5 degrees, and others at more than 2 degrees or 3 degrees. All these consequences are related to the level of emissions that may occur in the near future, and the future situation depends on this level of emissions. That's why the main goal is to reduce these emissions," she said.

Taghiyeva explained that the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has reached such a level that there are significant changes in atmospheric circulation, which leads to more frequent abnormal weather events.

"The climate has already changed. When the convention was adopted in 1992, scientists were talking about climate change, about future climate change scenarios. Now we are already living under these changes," she noted.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 04:45:18

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 442 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 8, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between November 2, 2022 and October 20, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of FMC and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fmc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 8, 2024.About the LawsuitFMC and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On September 7, 2023, Blue Orca Capital reported that the Company had made a series of false statements about the status of patent protections for its flagship products following legal defeats in India, China, and Brazil, that allowed competitors to launch competing generic products at much lower prices. On this news, the price of FMC's shares dropped more than 7.4%, to close at $76.10 per share, representing approximately $630 million in investor losses, on high trading volume.Then, on October 23, 2023, the Company disclosed further cuts to its Q3 2023 outlook and guidance for revenues for Q4 and FY 2024, projecting earnings well below analysts' expectations, citing substantially lower sales volumes in Latin America. On this news, the price of FMC's shares plummeted by $8.83 per share, or 12.18%, to close at $58.12 per share.The case is Heeg v. FMC Corporation, et al., 23-cv-4938.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 12:01:00

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 621 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Ministry of Finance to implement innovative, customer-centric and digital-first government operations in multi-year transformation programmeOTTOWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / FreeBalance, the leading provider of digital technology and advisory services for national governments, today announced a new partnership which will support the delivery of a comprehensive program of digital transformation for the Ministry of Finance in Costa Rica.FreeBalance will provide its unified government technology platform and specialist government advisory and technical implementation services to help the Government of Costa Rica create a new, citizen-centric, digital-by-design approach to transform its planning, budgeting, public expenditure, accounting, human resource management, reporting and treasury functions.The project, funded by the World Bank, aims to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and client orientation of tax and customs administration and public expenditure management, through the digital transformation of the Ministry of Finance.Manuel Schiappa Pietra, President and CEO of FreeBalance said: "This transformative project delivers critical reforms and establishes a foundation for improved fiscal and societal outcomes for the citizens of Costa Rica. Having worked with governments around the world to improve governance, accountability, transparency and citizen wellbeing, FreeBalance is in a unique position to support the Government of Costa Rica on its digital transformation journey, and we look forward to collaborating." This project will transform government financial management in Costa Rica, prioritizing efficiency, transparency, and citizen engagement. By transforming government resource planning at the strategic and operational levels, Costa Rican citizens will gain visibility into how public funds are collected, invested, and impact their lives. The project fosters a citizen-centric culture within the government, placing citizens at the forefront of service delivery to enhance social outcomes and satisfaction.The project will help public finance leaders in Costa Rica to:manage financial and people resources more efficiently and effectivelyincrease clarity and predictability in the country's financial and budgetary systemsfacilitate decision making with a centralized and integrated platformmore effectively align resources with workload to increase productivity.The project is also expected to have far-reaching benefits outside government operations. More revenue will be generated for public investments through more efficient operations and the strengthening of public expenditure controls. More efficient data generation and processing will ensure that information is shared in a more timely and accurate manner, improving the transparency of government finances. And customer service oriented attention will be embedded in all government units, reducing transaction costs and increasing citizen satisfaction.FreeBalance has partnered with Computer Network Systems Limited (CNS) on this project. CNS brings a wealth of experience in implementing diverse software projects across multiple government organizations. Development experts from CNS will collaborate closely with the FreeBalance team to achieve the Ministry of Finance's vision of becoming a digital leader.As with all FreeBalance implementations, a local office has been established in San Jose to foster seamless collaboration with government stakeholders. Ongoing support and sustainability services will be provided by a local team, backed by FreeBalance's global and regional experts.-ENDS-About FreeBalanceFreeBalance partners with the world's most innovative governments to accelerate growth and sustainable development through digital transformation. By providing a centralized and integrated digital government technology platform, FreeBalance enables countries to manage and deliver government services more effectively to enhance citizen and business satisfaction.As a purpose-led company, FreeBalance has worked alongside the public sector for almost 40 years and in over 30 countries to develop and deliver the first global Government Resource Planning (GRP) platform, the FreeBalance Accountability Suite. The company is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to helping governments align digital transformation to national development priorities.For more information, visit www.freebalance.com For media enquiries, contact:Carolyn Bowickcarolyn.bowick@freebalance.com +44 (0) 7752 017663United KingdomLaura Lascarezlaura@ prensaejecutiva.com (506) 2234-2289(506) 8849-2426Costa RicaTwitter: @FreeBalanceLinkedIn: FreeBalancewww.freebalance.com SOURCE: FreeBalance
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 15:00:45

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 717 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Independence Premium Foods Announces Ownership of Former Pet Food Production FacilityINDEPENDENCE, IA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Independence Premium Foods (IPF) is thrilled to announce that it will assume ownership of a former pet food production facility in Independence, Iowa, starting December 1. With a heart for the town of Independence and a vision for the future, IPF is on a mission to boost the local economy and bring more jobs to the community, while focusing on the highest food safety and quality standards.Independence Premium Foods"As the Mayor of Independence, I am elated to witness Independence Premium Foods breathe new life into our community by acquiring the former Pet Food manufacturing facility," said Mayor Brad Bleichner. "This transformative move not only marks a strategic business decision but also symbolizes the adaptive spirit of Independence. We welcome Independence Premium Foods with open arms, recognizing their commitment to repurpose and reinvigorate a facility with a storied history. This venture not only adds economic value but also reinforces our town's resilience and ability to evolve. We are excited about the prospects of collaboration and growth as we embrace this exciting chapter in Independence's journey." IPF is seeking to build strong business partnerships, promote teamwork and nurture the local community of Independence. With the goal to become a leading manufacturer of superior-quality foods, IPF is dedicated to delivering creative and scalable solutions to partners through their expertise in quality, safety and excellence."As City Manager of Independence, I am excited to welcome Independence Premium Foods to our community," said Independence City Manager Matthew R. Schmitz. "Their decision to invest in and revitalize a long-standing facility in our town is not just a business transaction, it's a commitment to our shared future. This endeavor not only brings economic opportunities but also strengthens the fabric of Independence, creating a bridge between our rich history and a promising tomorrow. Independence Premium Foods exemplifies the spirit of progress, and we look forward to the positive impact their presence will have on our vibrant community." IPF has a big promise to keep - to support the town of Independence by rehiring many of the hard-working individuals who previously lost their jobs. IPF is focused on backing long-term employees and providing jobs to the local community. They are also proud to announce that many original team leaders have stayed on board and will help lead the new facility and new hires."At Independence Premium Foods, we don't just offer jobs, we're building careers and supporting our community," said Human Resources Manager Maria Drilling. "Our focus is on empowering each individual, creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and can contribute to our shared success in Independence." Independence Premium Foods demonstrates a firm commitment to excellence in food safety and quality. The company is investing in significant enhancements to its facilities, ensuring compliance with USDA and FDA certification requirements, and reflecting its dedication to maintaining the highest standards in every aspect of its operations."The IPF leadership team could not be more excited to start building a local team here in Independence," said Jereb Pape, IPF's plant manager. "Our mission is very clear - to establish ourselves as a leader in food manufacturing for countless years ahead. Our commitment to our team members and the surrounding community will be the key driver in turning this vision into a tangible reality." To learn more about Independence Premium Foods and its work in the community, please contact Jereb Pape at jereb.pape@ipfiowa.com . For information about working at IPF, please contact Maria Drilling at maria.drilling@ipfiowa.com or visit the website at ipfiowa.com About Independence Premium FoodsIndependence Premium Foods, a portfolio company of Chafia Capital Partners - a real estate investment and private equity firm, is dedicated to creating superior-quality foods while nurturing the community it serves. Located in Independence, Iowa, IPF strives to become a beacon of safety and innovation in the food production industry. Its mission extends to building strong business partnerships and promoting teamwork while adhering to quality, safety and excellence in the food production industry.View Media Kit HereContact InformationJereb Pape Plant Manager jereb.pape@ipfiowa.com 319-677-2997Related FilesMedia Kit .pdfSOURCE: Independence Premium Foods
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 16:30:52

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 602 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 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: 2023-12-01 15:31:17

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 1029 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Silver Spruce Resources, Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") (TSXV:SSE) is pleased to announce receipt of our permits and drill mobilization for the Tote Brook target at the 602-claim Mystery Au project ("Mystery") (see Figure 1)."Our drill permit was approved by the Mineral Lands Division of the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology (IET) and access for the drilling was granted by the Ministry of Transport. The Company recently signed a contract with Trust Drilling of Springdale, NL and their rig was mobilized to the Tote Brook target (Figures 1, 2 and 3) this week with diamond drilling scheduled to start immediately upon arrival", said Greg Davison, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director. "A second drill target in the southern claim showed elevated Au, As and Sb in exposed quartz and chalcedony veins will follow at the earliest opportunity." Figure 1. Map of the core and southern areas of the Marilyn property regional geological map and sampling locations. Tote Brook target located in E-W trending lineament with quartz and calcite veins and breccias. Geology units with contacts shown from east to west - Mount Peyton intrusion (red), Badger Group (pale brown) and Botwood Group (brown)."We met our goal for the summer programs completing rock and soil sampling, structural mapping and regional till sampling with a primary view to drill target generation in Q4 2023. The Company is excited to begin a 4-hole, 1,000-1,500metre program to target the downdip projection of the surface vein exposures at Tote Brook and look forward to receiving promising core samples over the next few weeks", added Mr. Davison. "Sawn core will be sampled and sent to Eastern Analytical in Springdale, NL for precious metal assays. Core photographs and interval descriptions will be provided in due course." Four holes (two scissor sections) directed to the north and south are proposed from the collars TB01 and TB02, respectively, to intersect the down-dip projection of the veins. Trust Drilling will supply a new Duralite Rig(DL1400), moveable with tracks, 5-Ton excavator, Marooka track vehicle and all the necessary supplies associated for NQ core drilling using in-house logistics support (Figures 2 and 3).Figure 2. Marilyn property - Trust Drilling rig mobilizing to Tote BrookThe Tote Brook prospect is located 22km south of the intersection between Bay d'Espoir Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway. Phase 1 drill targeting on Tote Creek is focused where structural geological mapping on the ground and desktop analysis of the property geophysics identified a coincident E-W topographic and magnetic lineament in the Badger Group and western contact of the Mount Peyton Intrusion (MPIS) Surface exposures of steeply south-dipping, multi-stage quartz-carbonate veins and breccias with silicification, carbonatization and vuggy to drusy quartz and laminated chalcedonic textures exposed along the banks of Tote Brook.The east-northeast zone of brecciation is 8-10m wide and parallel to Tote Brook. Along the north bank of the brook a vein of massive, bladed calcite is exposed for approximately 50m along a similar orientation to the quartz veins. Locally-sourced angular boulders of quartz vein material have been discovered by prospectors above the calcite vein. The hydrothermal system covers an estimated 55m width on surface.Prospecting of the new Marilyn claims identified localized float and outcropping rock samples showing intense silicification with iron carbonate accompanied by multi-phase siliceous veins and breccias, and minor to trace arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and malachite. Gold to 1035ppb, arsenic to >1000ppm and antimony to 346ppm are typical to the coincident precious metals and pathfinder elements of the regional orogenic mineralizing systems.Figure 3. Marilyn property - Trust Drilling rig mobilized on first collar at Tote BrookThe eastern side of the property is mostly underlain bymafic intrusions of the MPIS. The western side of the property is mapped as a narrow window of Ordo-Silurian age Badger greywacke overlain by extensive Botwood metasediments. The erosional pattern suggests a westerly dip though exposures are very limited by a veneer of glacial till. The regional and our 2022 high-resolution airborne magnetic survey is strongly influenced by the sharp, northerly-trending boundary of the MPIS with local decreases inmagnetic intensity interpreted as embayments by the overlying siliciclastic rocks of the Badger Group.Exploration Going ForwardThe Properties comprise a large, virtually untested area with many outcrop showings and mineralized float, prospective geology, and regional and second order geophysical structures within and adjacent to our holdings. The Company has staged plans to continue regional till sampling for gold grain analysis and soil geochemistry, regional and property scale airborne geophysical compilation and interpretation, prospecting, ArcGIS geological and geophysical data compilation and grid soil sampling with a tighter grid spacing. Further wide-spaced sampling also is proposed for both the currently incomplete areas near anomalous sample results and infill sampling for several targets of the claim package.Contracting for detailed compilation and interpretation of the regional geophysics and Property airborne data was announced recently (see Press Release of November 9, 2023). Mineral textures and chemistry point to high-level epizonal veins though more evaluation of the spatial position within the system is clearly warranted. Further work to isolate and orient the bedrock source and define Au-bearing drill targets in the southern Marilyn claim also will be a focus of the follow-up field program.Project BackgroundThe Company signed a Definitive Agreement in September 2021 with two parties (the "Vendors") to acquire 100% of three early-stage gold exploration properties, Mystery, Till and Marilyn, located near Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, 20-25 kilometres west of New Found Gold Corp.'s Queensway project and 15-35 kilometres south of Sokoman Minerals Corp.'s Moosehead gold project. Map staking (see Press Release February 8, 2023) of additional claims tied to both the Marilyn and Till properties effectively doubled property coverage to 148 square kilometres (14,790 ha). The new claims are subject to first rights under the 5 km Area of Interest in the Agreement and occur adjacent to several gold grain and geochemical anomalies reported from the Company's 2021 and 2022 Phase 1 programs.The Properties are located within the Exploits Subzone, an extensive area of mineral exploration activity and discoveries over the past four years and are well situated in terms of exploration logistics 10-45 kilometres south
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 14:47:53

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 956 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

SolGold plc Porvenir Project Update Advancing Exploration Across a Cluster of Porphyry Copper-Gold TargetsBISHOPSGATE, LONDON / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / SolGold ("SolGold" or the "Company")(LSE:SOLG)(TSX:SOLG) is pleased to provide an update on the exploration of the Porvenir Project ("Project"), held through its Ecuadorean subsidiary, Green Rock Resources S.A.The Porvenir Project is located within the south-eastern portion of the Eastern Cordillera of Ecuador, approximately 70km south of the regional centre of Loja. The Project sits within the northerly-trending, Jurassic metallogenic belt of the northern Andes, which hosts significant economic gold and copper mines at Fruta del Norte and Mirador, and large Cu-Au resources at Mirador Norte, Warintza, San Carlos, Panantza.Full details on the exploration updated are set out below under the heading 'Further Information'.SolGold Geology Manager, Mr. Santiago Vaca, commented on today's exploration update:"Drilling completed in the Cacharposa deposit indicates a pit constrained mineral resource, which is still open. The successful exploration performed at Cacharposa allows us to enhance our understanding on the geology and mineralization controls in the area, building our confidence in the potential to keep growing the resource with additional drilling, and to validate the high-quality of the other Cu-Au porphyry targets found within the Porvenir project".FURTHER INFORMATIONThe Porvenir Project, covers a cluster of geochemical anomalies that represent porphyry copper-gold targets that include Cacharposa, Balmore-(Diablo), Bartolo, Palmal and Merino. The Cacharposa anomaly coincides with a Cu-Au porphyry deposit that has an open-pit mineral resource estimate (CAC MRE#1) that comprises 396.8 Mt @ 0.44% CuEq for 1.40 Mt Cu and 1.80 Moz Au in the indicated category, plus 96.9 Mt @ 0.37% CuEq for 0.28 Mt Cu and 0.38 Moz Au in the inferred category, using a cut-off grade of 0.16% CuEq (refer to "Porvenir Property NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimate, October 2021"). The remaining anomalies have yet to be drill-tested.On 26th October 2021, a data cut-off was applied to the Cacharposa dataset for the purposes of a Mineral Resource Estimation. The CAC MRE#1 dataset comprised 18,635.7m of diamond drilling; 439.6m of surface rock-saw channel sampling from 23 outcrops; and 16,982.4m of final assay results from drill holes 1 to 20.Since that time, a further 2,610.0m of infill and extension diamond drilling has been completed at the Cacharposa Deposit and number of drill holes have been planned for future resource extension drilling (Figure 1).Figure 1: Plan view of drilling at the Cacharposa Deposit, showing additional drilling completed since CAC MRE#1 shown with red glow and planned diamond drilling shown in green. (TOP). The extents of the orebody at 0.16%CuEq COG utilising all drill holes are shown BOTTOM LEFT, and the CAC MRE#1 open-pit optimisation phases are shown BOTTOM RIGHT.The Cacharposa dataset now comprises 21,245.7m of diamond drilling; 439.6m of surface rock-saw channel sampling from 23 outcrops; and 21,685.3m of final assay results from drill holes 1 to 27.Result assays obtained from the infill and extension drilling show encouraging mineralized intersections (Table 1), which should support the conversion of a large portion of the deposit into the measured and indicated categories, as well as significantly increasing the resource tonnage in both the measured and indicated categories as well as the inferred category. SolGold is planning to complete a resource extension drilling program, and when it is completed, a mineral resource update (CAC MRE#2) for the Cacharposa deposit will be done.Table 1: Mineralized intersections from holes 21 to 27 using 10m composites.The Porvenir Project also contains a number of satellite targets, generated by careful compilation of numerous datasets, including geological mapping, geochemical anomalies (soils, rocks, stream sediments, airborne and ground geophysics, regional structural interpretation, and 3D geochemical modelling. As such, the targets generated at the Project, display several encouraging characteristics of porphyry style deposits, such as:Identification of mineral occurrences (chalcopyrite, chalcocite, bornite, native Cu, pyrite) and porphyry-style veining (quartz veins) at Bartolo and Eudis.Identification of common hydrothermal alteration minerals in porphyry systems like K-feldspar, biotite, epidote, chlorite, and/or sericite (white mica) at Bartolo and Mula Muerta.Coincident Cu, Cu/Zn, Mo, Mo/Mn geochemical anomalies, at Bartolo, Palmal, Diablo, Eudis and Merino.Airborne and ground geophysics magnetic anomalies that lie coincident with regional lineaments and lineament intersections at Mula Muerta, Diablo, Palmal, Bartolo and Merino.3D geochemical models for the potential (p=0.14) of a Yerington-like porphyry centre (modified from Core, 2019), based on B-horizon soil-sample muti-element results. The main anomalies generated include Cacharposa, Balmore-(Diablo), Bartolo, Palmal and Merino.Figure 2: Porvenir Project target generation summary showing geochemical anomalies at Cacharposa, Eudis, Mula Muerta, Balmore, Diablo, Palmal, Bartolo and Merino prospects, flagged for exploratory drill testing (TOP). Copper and Molybdenum in soil anomalies (BOTTOM CENTRE & BOTTOM RIGHT), and airborne reduced-to-pole magnetic image for the project area (BOTTOM LEFT).Qualified Person:Above information relating to the exploration results is based on data reviewed by Mr. Santiago Vaca (M.Sc. P.Geo.), Santiago joined SolGold in 2014 as Chief Geologist for the Cascabel project and is an Ecuadorian geologist with over 18 years of experience in mineral Exploration and research. Mr. Vaca holds a Professional Geoscientist Certification (P.Geo) granted by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) in Canada and is a Qualified Person for the purposes of the relevant LSE and TSX Rules. Mr. Vaca consents to the inclusion of the information in the form and context in which it appears.CONTACTSScott CaldwellChief Executive OfficerTel: +44 (0) 20 3807 6996Tavistock (Media)Jos Simson/Gareth TredwayTel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150ABOUT SOLGOLDSolGold is a leading resources company focused on the discovery, definition and development of world-class copper and gold deposits and continues to strive to deliver objectives efficiently and in the interests of shareholders.The Company operates with transparency and in accordance with international best practices. SolGold is committed to delivering value to its shareholder
A 70-year-old Ugandan woman, Safina Namukwaya, has delivered a set of twins following an IVF procedure at a hospital in Uganda, becoming the oldest woman to give birth in Africa, the BBC is reporting.

Mrs Namukwaya welcomed a twin; a boy and a girl, via caesarean on Wednesday at the Womens Hospital International and Fertility Centre in Kampala, Uganda.

An IVF, the abbreviation for In-Vitro Fertilisation, is one of several fertility techniques, during the process an egg is removed from a womans ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then put in a womans womb to grow and develop, and delivered after nine months.

According to the Womens Hospital International and Fertility Centre (WHI&FC), Mrs Namukwaya is the oldest woman to become a mother in Africa. The hospital made this known in a statement posted on their official Facebook page.

The statement reads, Celebrating our 20th anniversary, weve achieved the extraordinary  delivering twins to Africas oldest mother aged 70! This story isnt just about medical success; its about the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

READ ALSO:

However, the specific details of the IVF procedure, including whether Mrs Namukwaya used a donor egg or an egg preserved from her youth, remain undisclosed.

This highlights that medical science has progressed significantly, allowing women to extend their fertility window and experience the joy of motherhood later in life; being able to conceive even beyond the typical age of menopause.

Beyond the triumph

Despite the medical triumph, Mrs Namukwaya shared the personal challenges she faced during her pregnancy.

Speaking to Ugandas Daily Monitor she revealed that her partner abandoned her upon learning that she was pregnant with twins.

However, welcoming a set of twins marked her second delivery in three years, following the birth of a girl in 2020.

Mrs Namukwaya who reportedly lost her husband in 1992 before entering into another relationship four years later, expressed the difficulties of being a mother without the support of her partner.

Reflecting on her experience, she disclosed, Men dont like to be told that you are carrying more than one child. Ever since I was admitted here, my man has never showed up.

I looked after peoples children and saw them grow up and leave me alone. I wondered who would take care of me when I grow old, she said.

Her story mirrors that of a 73-year-old Indian woman, Erramatti Mangamma, who currently holds the record for being the oldest living mother who gave birth at the age of 73 through in-vitro fertilisation via caesarean section in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Some unknown gunmen have attacked the residence of the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The attack, which took place in the early hours of Friday, left properties destroyed, but no life was lost.

This is contained in a statement by Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.

Mr Oyekanmi said security personnel engaged the gunmen in a gun battle for over 30 minutes.

In the early hours of today, Friday 1st December 2023, around 3.30 a.m., gunmen attacked the residence of our Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived. While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the ensuing gun battle.

He added that a team of combined security personnel have been deployed to protect the residence.

The commission, therefore, called for a thorough investigation and enhanced security protection for its personnel and assets in Kogi State.

Kogi and unfolding violence

The Kogi election was one of the three off-cycle governorship elections held on 11 November. They 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.

READA ALSO:

Although the Kogi election that returned the candidate of the ruling APC, Usman Ododo, as the winner was more peaceful than expected, the state of calmness in the state appears to be taking a new turn.

On Thursday, a mob besieged the INEC Lokoja office, preventing lawyers of political parties involved in the elections from inspecting documents and materials used in the election.

INEC said it took the intervention of the Nigerian Army to calm Thursdays situation.

In its election observation report shortly after the elections, 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.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Yesterday was a historic moment for climate action globally, particularly in climate-vulnerable countries, following the agreement to operationalise the new loss and damage fund.

This will help to galvanise climate-resilient development for developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

This was the first big win recorded at the ongoing 28th meetings of the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28) which commenced officially on Thursday.

Just after the delegates agreed to operationalise the loss and damage fund, countries began to make pledges in solidarity with the new funds.

Over $450 million were pledged by countries and this momentum continued as the summit entered the second day.

Analysts have posited that the historic decision on Loss and Damage will enable the Parties to focus on delivering an implementable response to the Global Stocktake and ensure significant progress is recorded.

This Fund will support billions of people, lives and livelihoods that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. I want to thank my team for all their hard work to make this possible on day one of COP28. It proves, the world can unite, can act, and can deliver, said COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber on Thursday.

He hinted that the first day at COP28 delivered a welcome result for rebuilding trust and delivering for the particularly vulnerable, but it is only the beginning of the climate action we need.

What to expect in the next 11 days at COP

Friday is the second day at COP and marked the first day of a 2-day World Climate Action Summit.

Within the two-day summit, heads of state and world leaders will come together to tackle the most pressing climate issues in dialogue with leaders from civil society, business, youth, Indigenous Peoples organisations and others.

Typically, the Summit is expected to help set the ambition for the remainder of the COP.

The first-ever Global Stocktake (GST) response will be presented during the World Climate Action Summit, and the Presidency will seek commitments and accountability from the highest levels of global governance on a way forward.

On Friday, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed opened the COP28 United Nations climate talks in Dubai on Thursday with a commitment of $30 billion to help finance climate solutions.

World leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were among those due to address the summit.

Nigerias president Bola Tinubu is in attendance at the ongoing summit and is expected to address the world leaders.

However, Kenyas president William Ruto is expected to deliver a statement on behalf of Africa as the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

The Head of State will deliver a statement on behalf of Africa, highlighting the continents priorities and building on the historic African Leaders Nairobi Declaration adopted at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi in September 2023, says Hussein Mohamed, MBS State House Spokesperson in a statement.

3 December  Health/Relief, Recovery, and Peace Day

The UNFCCC has dedicated 3 December as the Health/Relief, Recovery and Peace Day at COP to advance discussion and proffer solutions on how climate change is already impacting human health across the planet, from the quality of the air we breathe to the water we drink, and the places that provide us with shelter.

Climate change is also a major cause for the displacement of vulnerable communities, leading to increased fragility which can compromise peace.

This day, a first for COP, will explore ways to provide relief to those affected, while strengthening resilience and recovery leading to increased stability, the organisers said.

4 DecemberFinance/Trade/Gender Equality/Accountability Day

Climate Finance has always been a pivotal part of the COP conversation every year. It is a critical enabler of climate action. However, the world still grapples with the challenges of unsustainable finances to accelerate climate action.

neither global financial systems nor international trade networks are working effectively and equitably, UNFCCC noted.

READ ALSO:

It said reform is necessary to create fairer and more equal conditions for the world, especially for the most climate-vulnerable countries from the Global South  to meet collective climate targets.

This day is expected to advance talks on financing and also champion the importance of gender equality across the full spectrum of climate action.

One of Nigerias delegate priorities at COP28 is to galvanise sustainable finances that will help the country achieve its ambitious Energy Transition plans and 2060 Net-Zero targets.

5 December  Energy/Industry/Fair Transition/Indigenous Peoples

According to the UNFCCC, the world needs to decarbonise rapidly, while continuing to progress economically.

To do this, the climate summit organisers said it is critical that this development happens sustainably and inclusively to support lives and livelihoods while protecting the planet.

On this day, experts at the summit will look at the broad spectrum of solutions from deploying renewable energy at scale to decarbonising the energy of today.

It is also expected to focus on solutions for the heavy-emitting industry including steel, cement, and aluminium.

Because the indigenous people play a pivotal role in the protection and preservation of over 80 per cent of the planets biodiversity, the day is set aside to dissect the significance of their intergenerational knowledge, practices, and leadership in climate action.

6 December  Multilevel Action, Urbanisation, Built Environment, Transport Day

This day is expected to provide a rare opportunity for mayors and governors, ministers and parliamentarians, and global business and civil society leaders to work together to accelerate climate action solutions across society in every form.

This, the UNFCCC said will include exploring issues such as greener urban mobility systems, low-carbon built environments and infrastructure, and waste reduction.

7 December  Day of Rest: A break for reflection

8 December  Youth, Children, Education, and Skills Day

The day seeks to advance conversations on how to empower children and youth to shape the outcomes of COP28 and beyond and provide them with clear, defined, and accessible opportunities to be a leading part of the solutions proposed at every level.

Children and youth are facing disproportionate climate risks as the generation who will inherit the planet, despite not being responsible for contributing to climate change, the organisers said.

At COP28, there is a designated Pavilion for children and youth. The Pavillion is run and managed by young climate advocates and activists. They organise several side events and host experts to share tips on how young people can help accelerate climate actions all over the world without leaving anyone behind.

9 December  Nature, Land Use, and Oceans

Our worlds climate and its biodiversity are inextricably interconnected, one cannot exist without the other. Mitigating both crises must therefore be integrated.

This day will focus on delivering climate and nature co-benefits. This includes co-designing approaches to land use and ocean conservation with local and Indigenous Peoples to protect and manage biodiversity hotspots and natural carbon sinks.

10 December  Food, Agriculture, and Water Day

One of the major sectors badly impacted by the climate crisis is the agriculture sector, globally. This has strained food systems, especially in the climate-vulnerable continent like Africa.

Climate change is creating severe pressure and risks for food, agricultural and water systems. At the same time, these systems are also contributors to climate change: one-third of all human-made GHG emissions derive from agri-food systems, and 70 per cent of freshwater consumed worldwide is used for agricultural production, the UNFCCC said.

The day will focus on how to address these lingering challenges, while also scaling up regenerative agriculture and water-food systems to integrate governance between states, corporations, farmers and producers.

11-12 December  Final Negotiation Day

On the final two days of COP28, there will be no thematic days to avoid extensive programming while the negotiated text is being finalised.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Work is currently underway in Azerbaijan to create a venture capital fund, Chairwoman of the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IRIA) of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Digital Development and Transportation Inara Valiyeva said, Trend reports.

She spoke at the InMerge Innovation Summit taking place in Baku.

"We are working on venture capital, cooperating with the Azerbaijani government to establish a venture capital fund. Our country's ecosystem is quite new. IRIA is supporting this effort by conducting incubation programs in five Azerbaijani universities. Over the course of the year, the incubator produced over 45 firms, with the most promising joining the accelerator program. More than $30,000 was invested in five firms through the accelerator program," Valiyeva 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.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Galambi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of presenting empty boxes supposedly containing the 2024 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly.

Mr Galambi, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Gwaram federal constituency of Jigawa State, made the allegation during an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Friday.

The lawmaker, in the interview, monitored by PREMIUM TIMES, said Mr Tinubu read out his budget speech including proposals for sectors but did not give the lawmakers the documents as was the tradition by previous presidents.

The president, on Wednesday, presented the N27.5 trillion proposed budget for 2024 to the joint session of the National Assembly co-chaired by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

Christened Budget of Renewed Rope. the proposal was designed to address economic growth, human capital development, poverty reduction and insecurity, according to Mr Tinubu.

After reading his budget speech, President Tinubu, based on official procedure, laid two boxes containing the budget documents on the table in front of the presiding officers.

The boxes had the colour of the Nigerian national flag of green-white-green.

Both chambers read the budget for the first time on Wednesday shortly after Mr Tinubu presented it indicating lawmakers did indeed get copies of the budget after it was presented by the president.

The lawmakers also passed the document for a second reading on Friday after two days of debate and subsequently referred it to their committees on appropriation.

Empty boxes

Mr Galambi said the boxes Mr Tinubu bowed and kept for the lawmakers were empty.

The president read out to us his speech on the proposed budget but weve not seen the document to work on.

Of course, he read the estimates for the various sectors. But as it has always been the tradition, a document is always presented (to the lawmakers) but he (Mr Tinubu) didnt do that, the lawmaker said on Friday morning.

When the BBC reporter insisted that the president was seen laying the document, Mr Galambi said when the lawmakers checked they couldnt find anything in the boxes laid by Mr Tinubu.

Weve checked but there was nothing inside. We checked it. In the history of the National Assembly, this was the first time such a thing happened.

The constitution has made it clear (that a document must be presented) but this time, it was only a reading on paper. They didnt provide the document for us to go through and see what is proposed for each sector. Maybe theyll bring it later, Mr Galambi said.

READ ALSO:

The opposition lawmaker, who was first elected into the House in 2007, said the decision by Mr Tinubu to present empty boxes surprised the lawmakers because we never expected it even in our wildest dreams.

Mr Galambi accused the president of deceit.

If he (Mr Tinubu) was not ready, if the budget proposal was not ready to be presented, he shouldnt have come and said he was done. We could have given him more time, why the haste? Why would he come and read something and even say he has kept it (document) when its empty, he said.

Cover up

The lawmaker alleged that the leaders of the National Assembly are covering up Mr Tinubus act.

They (leaders of the National Assembly) dont want anyone to talk about it. Maybe they were not informed or were possibly aware of what was planned and they decided not to inform us, he said.

When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said the allegation was aimed at misleading the public.

Its a nonsensical allegation aimed to mislead. The president is never expected to present the whole haul of heavy documents. What happened at the laying is like the presentation of dummy cheques at award ceremonies. The real thing always follows, Mr Abdulaziz said in a WhatsApp message sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Senate Committee on Local Content has promised to facilitate the establishment of a database for local artisans across the country.

The Chairman of the Committee, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), made the promise on Thursday at an interactive session with officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Abuja.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that the database will be the major platform that companies and government agencies could visit for recruitment of workers.

She said the database would help to reduce the rate of unemployment among Nigerian youth and encourage the locals to work effectively in conducive environments.

Local Content Committee intends to deploy innovative thinking for positive results, thus, we are building a database of carefully profiled artisans who have been trained by NDDC, SMEDAN, etc and work modalities to have the oil & gas companies, as well as government contractors, recruit from the pool of verified workforce.

This would help curb unemployment by keeping the jobs locally. Such a project would also help the local content board, NDDC and other agencies monitor and evaluate the performance of our collective capacity-building efforts towards achieving a common microeconomic growth for Nigeria and Africa at large.

NDDC should consider being the primary recruiters of their trained workforce. Artisans or skilled professionals such as ICT workers can be absorbed by NDDC contractors, which in turn, will enable the commission to reach the most vulnerable and neglected youth Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan said.

She commended the management of the NDDC for signing an agreement with Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) to develop local content capacity.

The Managing Director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, assured that the management of the commission would continue to support local artisans.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The 2024 budget has passed second reading at the Senate.

The senators voted to pass the appropriation bill on Friday after debating its general principles for two days.

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, 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 shortly after the session.

The two chambers of the National Assembly commenced debate on the general principles of the bill on Wednesday.

Debate

When the debate resumed on Friday, Salihu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central) urged President Tinubu to prioritise agriculture in 2024.

He called for local manufacturing of agricultural products in the country.

In lending my voice to the beautiful encomiums on the budget. I would like to draw our attention to agriculture. We must pay more attention to ensure that agriculture takes a better place in this budget. Let us look into skill acquisition, so we can produce what we eat, Mr Mustapha said.

Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) argued that the proposed budget does not indicate interest of the federal government on construction of roads.

Mr Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, urged lawmakers to allocate more funds for the construction of roads in the country. He also called for the completion of the East-West road in the Niger Delta.

This government by what they have presented is not committed to road projects. This National Assembly should use its powers to provide more funds to complete the East-West road.

He also advised President Tinubu to fund the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

I want to call on Mr President to use this budget to fund the NDDC. But in all, the budget is an ambitious one.

ALSO READ: 2024 budget passes second reading in House of Reps

Emmanuel Udende (APC, Benue North-east) said the sectoral allocations in the budget are better than previous budgets presented by former presidents.

There are more merits in the budget than demerits. The percentage allocated to capital is better than the last, Mr Udende said.

Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South) said the proposed budget does not address challenges of the power sector.

The budget does not have anything without power. In the main budget itself, what was put for power was just three per cent of the total percent of the budget, he said.

After the debate, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, put it to vote for the second reading. Majority of the senators voted in support through voice vote.

Mr Jibrin thereafter referred the budget to the Senate Committee on Appropriation for further legislative action. He also directed the committee to report back to the upper chamber on 19 December.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


There was a mild drama on Thursday during the House of Representatives investigative hearing into the use of concrete technology for road construction as the lawmakers and the Nigerian Society of Engineers disagreed over the issue at the venue.

At the hearing, the Chairman of the Committee on Works, Akin Alabi (APC, Oyo) and the Chairman Board of Trustees of the NSE, Emeka Eze, had a spat on the power of the House to take legislative action on the adoption of concrete technology.

The House had resolved to investigate the planned adoption of the concrete technology for federal roads following a motion moved by Khadijah Abba-Ibrahim (APC, Yobe) in October.

The House mandated its Committees on Works, Environment, Finance and Judiciary to investigate the new structural shift from flexible technology to concrete technology.

You lack powers to undertake investigation

At the commencement of the hearing, Mr Eze, speaking on behalf of the NSE, declared that the House does not have the legal right to investigate such technical issues as the adoption of concrete technology.

He described the investigation as inappropriate and asked the lawmakers to allow the executive to determine the proper material for the construction of roads.

Ordinarily sir, technical matters like thislike specifications for roads or any engineering infrastructure for that matter do not lend themselves to legislative investigation as doing so would amount to the legislature taking over responsibility for any unwholesome act.

Out of great respect engineers have for this hallowed green chamber, we have come here to provide clarification on the inappropriateness of subjecting highly technical issues to legislative investigation as no crime or law has been violated as contemplated by section 88 of the constitution. Road construction is not legislated upon, Mr Eze said.

You cant teach us our job

Mr Alabi interrupted the engineer when he was making the speech, stating You cannot teach us our job.

He later stated that he could have stopped Mr Eze from making the presentation but did not want drama.

The lawmaker noted that as long as the National Assembly provides funding for the ministry and the projects, committees have the power to ask questions.

The reason why I allowed you to go on was that I suspected that you were still going to drop some gems for us. And I did not want to turn this public hearing into a drama

You are very wrong about our powersthe reach of the legislature. Anything that requires the House appropriating money, we have the right to know what is going on there, he said.

Concrete roads

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has been at the forefront of pushing for the use of concrete for the construction of roads, a move that could lead to a shift from the use of asphalt technology that is common in the country.

The minister explained that given the increased cost of bitumen from N576,000 to N1 million per tonne with attendant consequences on asphalt, contractors may likely increase the cost of road contracts beyond five per cent.

Bitumen is a black mixture of hydrocarbons used for road surfacing and roofing.

Mr Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, has seen strong pushback from contractors due to the cost implication of the changes the minister is recommending.

However, Mr Umahi has insisted that contractors must comply with the changes.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has signed an executive order for the transition of Niger State into a green economy.

The executive order, titled, Niger State Green Economy Initiative Order (No.3), was signed on Wednesday at the commencement of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the Council Chambers, Government House, Minna, the state capital.

This was contained in a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Bologi Ibrahim.

According to the statement, the executive order provides the guidelines for the transition of the states economy into a green economy.

Green economy initiative shall be driven by the state blueprint that details the strategic pillars and outlines the strategic key performance indicators, targets and timelines of the transition into a green economy, it reads in part.

The order also provides that the Niger State government shall produce a state-wide land use and economic development plan to guide investment decisions and ensure investments that would stabilise the green transition is properly coordinated and planned.

The Order further directed all the ministries, departments and agencies of the state to adhere strictly to the initiative as appropriate sanction would be carried out on any violator.

After signing the order, the governor explained that it will ensure effective implementation of the green economy policy.

Mr Bago, a former member of the House of Representatives, has been very keen on the green economy since he emerged as governor.

In October, he held a green economy summit in Niger State to encourage investors to invest in the state.

The governor also recently declared the planting of 10 million trees in six months in the state to stop the impact of climate change and also earn carbon credit.

This latest move by the governor is coming at a time the Conference of Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is in progress in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

President Bola Tinubu and other world leaders are gathered in Dubai to take decisive action on climate commitments to prevent further impacts.

Mr Tinubu, in his budget presentation speech on Wednesday, also highlighted the green economy as one of the major opportunities Nigeria must tap into.

I have directed relevant government agencies to diligently work towards securing substantial funding commitments that will bolster Nigerias energy transition.

It is imperative that we seize this opportunity to attract international partnerships and investments that align with our national goals, the president said.

Energy transition and climate financing are the core components of the years COP conversations.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Nigerias Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, are expected to inaugurate a new electronic arrival wing at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Friday.

The new wing, equipped with 32 counters and workstations, among other facilities, was provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).

The Comptroller of Immigration Service (NIS) at the airport, Adeola Adesokan, said the multimillion-naira facility will greatly ease the stress hitherto caused by long queues at the airport.

Mrs Adesokan said apart from the governor and the minister, also expected at the event are the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Wuraola Adepoju, and the leadership of FAAN and NNPC Limited.

Intervention source

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Adesokan narrated how the intervention by the oil companies was achieved. She said her office had reached out to individuals and corporate organisations for support in addressing some of the challenges facing the airport, especially delays caused by long queues for passengers verification and capturing.

Mrs Adesokan said; Overwhelmed by the huge number of passengers and fewer counters available to our officers to screen them, we reached out to individuals and organisations for support because we believed that the government alone cannot fix everything.

To God be the glory, NNPCL/SNEPCO came forward and volunteered to offer us something. We only requested a few counters for our men to work because we had only 10 counters but we were shocked when the company volunteered to provide us with a whole wing of 32 counters and workstations. This is massive and wonderful.

Mrs Adesokan said the experience will be top-notch for passengers at the airport, noting that new facilities will complement the e-gate being planned by the interior ministry.

New features

The comptroller said one of the new features of the new facility that will be unique when inaugurated will be the dedicated counters for elderly passengers and those with limited mobility. She said many of such passengers have had to experience prolonged waiting at the airport, leading to unsavoury tales.

One of the features that has never been captured in all our airports is having dedicated counters for senior citizens and people with reduced mobility. So, with the new facility, they will be allocated separate counters. We used to have between seven and 10 counters attending to well over 300 or 350 passengers that disembark from a plane at once, she said.

During a recent inspection of the facilities ahead of the inauguration, the Airport Manager and South-west Regional General Manager for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Sunday Ayodele, said he was overwhelmed by the donation and thanked the company for the intervention.

Mr Ayodele pledged that the facility will be put to judicious use, noting that he is building a strong culture of maintenance and management of public facilities under his watch across the region.

He said the facility will significantly bring about a positive experience for the passengers, staff, and management of the airport.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, during the inspection, expressed the commitment of the oil giant to the progress of the country.

Mr Soneye was joined by other officials including the Head of Social Performance and Social Investment of SNEPCO, Abu Elohor, and the Deputy Manager of NNPCL Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bunmi Lawson.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for the phasing out of fossil fuels while advocating the adoption of renewable energy.

We cannot save a burning planet with a firehose of fossil fuels. We must accelerate a just, equitable transition to renewables, he told world leaders at the World Climate Action Summit held on Friday in Dubai.

Mr Guterres noted that the science is clear that the 1.5-degree Celsius limit is only possible if the burning of all fossil fuels is stopped across the world, not reducing or abating its use.

He added that fossil fuel should be phased out within a clear timeframe which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has already charted. However, the world urgently needs leadership and political will to deliver on it, he said.

He further urged the G20, whose members are responsible for 80 per cent of the worlds emissions, to lead.

Renewable energy is the gift that keeps on giving. It is good for our planet, our health, our economies, cleaning our air, and meeting the worlds growing energy demand, he said outlining the benefits of renewables.

It connects millions of people to affordable electricity, saves money and brings stability and security to markets, the UN leader said.

Describing the world as unequal and divided, Mr Guteress noted that climate chaos is fanning the flames of injustice including global heating busting budgets, ballooning food prices, upending energy markets, and feeding a cost-of-living crisis.

Climate action can flip the switch, he said.

The success of this years COP, he said, will depend on the Global Stocktake prescribing a credible cure in three areas.

First, drastically cutting emissions as current policies would lead to an earth-scorching three-degree temperature rise.

The Global Stocktake must also commit to triple renewables, double energy efficiency, and bring clean energy to all by 2030.

The economics are clear: the global shift to renewables is inevitable, he reiterated.

Addressing leaders of fossil fuel companies, the UN Chief said their model was rapidly ageing as clean energy investment in oil and gas industry accounts is low (one per cent).

Lead the transition to renewables, he charged, adding, Make no mistake, the road to climate sustainability is also the only viable pathway to economic sustainability of your companies.

Nigeria and fossil fuel

Nigeria is one of the 13 member countries of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) whose economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas.

Nigeria in 2021 at COP26 pledged to attain Net Zero by 2060 and launched an Energy Transition Plan in 2022. The plan aims to bring modern energy services to the full population by 2030 and eliminate fossil fuel generators.

According to Tobi Oluwatola, an energy expert, this would mean adding about 6.3 gigawatts (GW) of distributed generation, approximately 0.6GW per year to electrify about 1.5 million new households per year. It will also raise the on-grid generation to 42GW, an ambitious increase of 3GW of new centralised generation per year  including 0.8GW per year of new solar PV, he said.

Nigeria expects to spend $1.9 trillion between 2022 and 2060 to meet the targets of the ETP across five sectors.

Nigeria, like most oil-producing countries, often touts gas (a lesser evil) as a transition fuel but lacks the infrastructure to deliver on that.

Mr Oluwatola argued that the world needs to be aggressive in its efforts to phase out fossil fuels, if we must limit global warming to 1.5-2 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Similarly, Nigeria also needs to be aggressive in diversifying its revenue sources and its economy, he said, adding that Nigeria and other developing nations must seek and get help from the developed world to make this transition, which is why a just transition is such a critical debate.

Despite the declaration, fossil fuels will still be around for a few decades but its on borrowed time. Nigeria must maximise its possible earnings from fossil fuels while it can (if we can find the funding and skills to do so) and spend all it makes from fossil fuels in the interim to stimulate the next sources of income and not spend wastefully on consumption, he advised.

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.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said Nigeria has a comparative advantage in attracting and harnessing potential investments into the country based on funds being pledged at the ongoing United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28)

The former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy made the remark on Friday amidst climate commitments being made at the ongoing 28th meetings of the COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

She spoke shortly after she addressed world leaders at the World Climate Action Summit.

This is the time for us (Nigeria) to harness the investments that are potentially out there. We must grab a slice of that $100 million Germany is promising, she said.

The WTO official said there is a need for Nigeria to begin serious work on its Energy Transition Plan (ETP).

Nigerias COP Priorities

Nigeria expects to spend $1.9 trillion between 2022 and 2060 to meet the targets of the ETP across five sectors.

Nigeria, like most oil-producing countries, often touts gas (a lesser evil) as a transition fuel but lacks the infrastructure to deliver on that.

At the ongoing COP, Nigerias delegates have hinted that the countrys priority is to secure more finances from investors to achieve its ETP and other relevant climate actions in the country.

At the opening plenary of COP28 on Thursday, a historic agreement was reached after delegates adopted the inclusion of loss and damage operationalisation fund in the summits agenda.

Just after the delegates agreed to operationalise the loss and damage fund, countries began to make pledges in solidarity with the new funds.

Over $450 million were pledged by countries and this momentum continued as the summit entered the second day.

Opportunities

On Friday, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said Nigeria has a comparative advantage to attract funding to catalyse investment on solar, on wind hydrogen and other climate-smart initiatives being supported by world leaders at the summit.

Speaking on energy transition plan, she said Nigeria would need its gas as a transition fuel because it can not go from one to the other overnight.

we are still a developing country with many poor people. But we should start now, she said. She added that there is a chance for Nigeria to access more finances as more pledges are being made by World leaders.

Let us not stay behind, lets try to grab the investments that are willing to be made now. You heard today that the UAE announced a $30 billion fund for investment so we must tap into that. We must tap into the one from the US to start building up green hydrogen not only for ourselves but also for others, she noted.

_This story was published with the support of Climate Trackers COP28 Climate Justice Reporting Fellowship_

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Association of Katsina State Foreign Trained Health workers on Friday presented an award of excellence to a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shema, for sponsoring them to study overseas.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the health workers studied courses like Medicine, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Radiology, Nursing, and Dentistry in Jordan, Egypt, Niger Republic and other places.

While receiving the award, Mr Shema said he was deliberate about education during his tenure.

He said he was delighted about the impact of his foreign scholarship scheme especially among health workers.

The last time I saw them was when I was bidding them farewell to go to various countries to study. And Im today so happy and grateful to Allah that these young people are providing services in critical areas of need in Nigeria. To send your child to school and for the child to come back with flying colours is the aspiration of every parent. Im sure that Katsina today State stands tall, Mr Shema said.

In his remarks, the chairman of the association, Aminu Sulaiman, said that over 800 students were beneficiaries of the foreign scholarship scheme.

He said over 60 per cent of health workers in the state benefited from the scheme that existed between 2008 and 2015.

I personally never thought I would be selected because even my father said the scheme would be taken over by the children of the elites but I applied and without reaching out to anybody in that government, I was invited to write an examination and was later shortlisted. Most of those we went with were also children of the poor who were mostly surprised to have been selected for the examination, Mr Sulaiman, a medical doctor, said.

The association also recognised Aminu Kado (a professor and former education commissioner), Siraj Abdulkareem (an academic doctor), Abdullahi Garba-Faskari (a former deputy governor to Mr Shema) and Rabiu Magaji with awards for their efforts in supporting and complementing Mr Shemas good works.

A lawyer and politician, Mr Shema was governor of Katsina State from 2007-2015. Before that, he was a member of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and Katsina States Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice from 1999 to 2003.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A senior Nigerian lawyer has faulted the decision of the Oyo State Government to inaugurate Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso, despite an order of the state high court voiding Mr Olaoyes appointment to the throne.

Kola Alapinni, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday after the state government announced the schedule for the ceremony, warned that it may also lead to ridicule for the new traditional ruler should the higher courts later affirm his removal from the throne.

The state government had on Thursday said it would conduct the ceremonies for the inauguration of the new Soun in Ogbomoso on 19 December.

Although the state high court on Monday granted a stay of execution of its judgement voiding Mr Olaoyes appointment and barring him from parading himself as the Soun, after an appeal by the state government and Mr Olaoye of its judgement of 25 October, the court also ordered all the parties to maintain the status quo until the matter is determined in court.

However, the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, on Thursday, announced the schedules for the presentation of staff of office and coronation of the new Soun and another first-class traditional ruler in the state, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola,

According to the commissioner, the coronation of the Aseyin will be held on 14 December while that of the Soun will follow five days later.

He said, The government has set up a coronation committee headed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi, including the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Segun Olayiwola; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun; Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Retired Commissioner of Police, Sunday Odukoya as members of the committee.

The committee has been holding meetings with coronation committees from the two palaces over the past few weeks and has undertaken inspections of the venues for the events. All is now set for the big events. The government, hereby, seizes this opportunity to enjoin members of the public to show full support for the success of the events, the statement added.

Asked for his view on the development, Mr Alapinni said: I think the Oyo State Government is not setting a good example. The government is not above the law.

The court judgement states that parties must maintain the status quo ante bellum, especially when the matter has gone on appeal. Therefore, going ahead with the coronation of Mr Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye to my mind is an illegal act and it is contemptuous.

If the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court rules against the state government, the government would have to take responsibility for setting up the candidate for failure and would have brought the stool of the Soun of Ogbomoso into disrepute. We all saw the situation where the Supreme Court ruled against the Eleruwa of Eruwa after sitting on the stool for 16 years. The poor man has fled into exile. The shame and opprobrium he faces is so unbearable. He couldnt stay in Eruwa any longer.

The government is trying to create confusion by relying on an earlier judgement which the court has overruled itself by saying it was delivered per incuriam. It means it was delivered without being aware of some facts.

Assuming without conceding that the government wants clarity between the two judgments and has now appealed, the rightful thing for the government to do is to follow the due process and the rule of law by waiting for a decision of the Court of Appeal. In this case, the government has resorted to self-help and taken the law into its hands. It is an exercise in futility, the senior lawyer said.

The stool of the Soun became vacant with the death of long-reigning Oba Jimoh Oyewumi on 12th December 2021 at the age of 95 years. Mr Oyewunmi

was on the throne for 48 years.

After a controversial selection process that had become the subject of a court case, Governor Seyi Makinde on 2nd September approved the appointment

of Mr Olaoye, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, as the new Soun.

The Chairman of the Screening Committee for the Laoye ruling house in Ogbomoso, Abdulwahab Laoye, had earlier disowned Mr Olaoye, saying the family had not selected anybody to fill the vacant stool.

Speaking at a press briefing, he said: We did not select Ghandi and he is not among the 11 that the screening committee selected from 23 applicants. We do not want the matter to degenerate to the level of litigation. We scheduled a meeting on February 23 and invited the council to observe, but the council hijacked the process from us and added another seven persons on the claims that the seven persons equally obtained the Expression of Interest form, thereby raising the number of the applicants to 18.

However, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, insisted the announcement followed the long-drawn processes specified under the law.

The stool of the Alaafin of Oyo has also been vacant since the death of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi last year. The Oyo Mesi, the traditional kingmakers of the ancient Yoruba kingdom, had selected Lukman Gbadegesin as the new Alaafin, but his selection was rejected by the state government.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


After a year of trial operations, two unmanned maritime helicopters were officially deployed in Weihai, a coastal city in Shandong province, on Wednesday. They are expected to greatly improve the management of maritime traffic and make it easier to respond quickly to accidents at sea, the Weihai Maritime Bureau said. During a search and rescue mission in early September last year, the first undertaken by one of the helicopters, it arrived at an accident scene 30 kilometers from shore in just 20 minutes, reducing the overall rescue time by 30 percent compared with conventional patrol boats, said Wang Chengjun, an officer with the bureau. At 7.33 meters long, 1.58 meters wide and 2.43 meters tall, each helicopter has a load capacity of 75 kilograms and can be remotely controlled from up to 150 km away. They have a maximum range of 400 km and a top speed of 150 km per hour. Each is equipped with advanced capabilities for thermal imaging, long-range video transmission, and emergency supply delivery. They can also operate in weather conditions with wind speeds of less than 74 km/h, making them the most advanced unmanned helicopters used in China's maritime system, the bureau said. The waters off Chengshantou in Weihai, which will be monitored by the unmanned helicopters, are a key route for ships traveling to and from ports along the Bohai Sea and the northern part of the Yellow Sea. Each year, approximately 110,000 voyages are made by ships through those waters, while tens of thousands of fishing boats are active in the area. "The unmanned helicopters will be used for law enforcement activities, such as tracking and investigating illegal vessels," said Wang Gang, director of the bureau's command center. "They will also play a significant role in conducting large-scale search and rescue operations and monitoring oil spills in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea." The helicopters are three to five times faster than a patrol boat, enabling quick deployment for emergency search and rescue missions. They also have a wide field of vision, allowing them to search large areas of water. "The helicopters are especially suitable for use in remote sea areas," Wang Chengjun said. "In terms of search and monitoring effectiveness, the use of visible light, far infrared and multispectral equipment fitted on the helicopters allows for better identification of targets." The real-time transmission of on-site information would enhance the bureau's ability to implement effective emergency response plans and actions, he added.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. The findings of a feasibility assessment on the project of LNG transportation from Azerbaijan to Romania are expected, Romanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasile Soare said, Trend reports.

He spoke during an event commemorating Romania's national holiday.

"The Black Sea Energy project is being developed in the field of renewable energy development and transmission, which provides for the supply of Caspian Sea green energy from Azerbaijan through the Black Sea to Constanta in the format of Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania-Hungary. Moreover, on April 1, 2023, the first contract for the supply of 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Romania was signed. Furthermore, we are awaiting the findings of the feasibility assessment for the LNG transit project from Azerbaijan to Romania via Georgia and the Black Sea," the ambassador stated.

As he stated, the Joint Intergovernmental Economic Commission findings in Baku and Bucharest in 2022 and 2023 outlined new opportunities and projects of collaboration between Romania and Azerbaijan, and trade turnover increased by $700 million.

The Ambassador emphasized that Romania and Azerbaijan contribute to the energy security of Europe.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A new Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) a UK government-funded climate and agriculture programme in Nigeria, Propcom+, is set to support sustainable economic growth and improve climate resilience.

The Propcom+s countrys representative, Adiya Ode, said the programme will also improve the incomes of smallholder farmers by addressing challenges in the countrys food and land-use systems.

She said the programme aims to support up to four million people, 50 percent of whom will be women, to adopt and scale sustainable agricultural practices that increase productivity, income, and climate resilience while reducing emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.

Addressing media working groups and civil society organizations in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, Mrs Ode, said that the Propcom+ programme reinforces the UK Governments commitment to working with the Government of Nigeria to increase the depth of investment in the agricultural sector by helping the vulnerable to build resilience and adapt to the effects of climate change.

It will do this by working through strategic market actors to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers, improve nutrition and food security, enhance climate resilience, pursue lower emissions, and protect and restore nature, while also tackling some of Nigerias underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity.

The programme has initial focal states in Kano, Jigawa, and Kaduna in the North West, and some states in the North East to address critical issues around animal health vaccination, bio-fortified and climate-smart crop variety, innovative and digital financial services, ICT-based tools for extension and climate-smart agricultural technologies and innovations.

The programme will also work in key states in Southern Nigeria where it will address key issues around deforestation, foster sustainable land-use management through landscape-level interventions while supporting communities to manage forest reserves and strengthen landscape governance, Mrs Ade said.

Speaking earlier in the week at the Mutual Accountability Framework and Strategic Dialogue facilitated by the FCDO and the Government of Jigawa State, Mrs Ode said that among other things, the programme is looking to support smallholders to access innovations and technology such as labor-saving devices that reduce drudgery in crop production.

The programme also seeks to support scale-up and investment in last-mile delivery of animal health vaccines, support the commercialisation of bio-fortified crops to improve nutrition and increase access to climate-smart crop varieties that will help farmers build resilience to climate change and improve their productivity, she stated.

The Propcom+ builds on the UK Governments investment in agriculture through the Propcom Mai-karfi program which ended in March 2022, after supporting over 1.25 million persons with improved incomes through key market reforms and policies that benefitted poor women and men in Northern Nigeria.

The Propcom+ program was announced last August by the UKs Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, as part of the UK International Climate Finance program aimed at supporting climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and forestry that benefits people, climate, and nature.

The eight-year programme, which kicked off in May 2023 is implemented by The Palladium Group and is currently in its inception phase till January 2024.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Morocco has been chosen as the host for the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in 2024.

The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC), Jean Kaseya, made this known during the closing ceremony of the 3rd CPHIA, in Lusaka, Zambia on Thursday.

Mr Kaseya said this is the first time a Francophone country will be hosting the high-level event which brings together African heads of state, ministers of health, leading scientists, innovators, among other experts.

I have the privilege and honour on behalf of the 1.4 billion Africans, on behalf of my colleagues from Africa CDC, to announce that the next CPHIA will be hosted for the first time by a Francophone country, in a northern region  that is Morocco, he said.

He said it is evident that Africa is breaking barriers in global health and creating a movement of African scientists, policymakers, healthcare workers, and non-governmental organisations.

3rd CPHIA

The just concluded 3rd CPHIA which was held in Lusaka, Zambia from November 27-30, drew over 5,000 in-person delegates and 20,000 virtual attendees from 90 countries across the globe.

The theme of the conference is Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture.

Mr Kaseya said the past four days have been inspiring to witness the powerful public health conversations and collaborations.

He appreciated the government of the Republic of Zambia, scientists, healthcare workers, CSOs, and the youth for their dedication and contributions to improving public health in Africa.

The annual CPHIA provides a unique African-led platform for leaders across the continent to reflect on lessons learned in health and science and align on a way forward for creating more resilient health systems.

The first CPHIA was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 14 to 16 December 2021.

In December 2022, a total of 2,800 scientists, policymakers, and advocates from around the world gathered in person in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 2nd CPHIA to spotlight African science and innovation, and strengthen local, regional, and global collaboration, with an additional 11,625 participants joining the main conference sessions online via the live stream.

The Minister of Health of Morocco, Khalid Ait Taleb, said the country is delighted to host next years CPHIA, and that the country looks forward to welcoming all Africans in 2024.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigerian government has been advised to review strict dependence on budgetary provisions for the funding of primary health care centres.

This advice was given at a summit held in Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday. Duke Logistics and Consult Limited organised the summit in collaboration with the Africa Economic Islamic Foundation.

The summit was themed: Islamic Finance: Exploring New Sources of Financing for Primary Health Care Transformation in Nigeria.

In his opening remarks at the summit, the President of the African Islamic Economic Foundation, Baba Muhammad, said the summit represents a significant milestone in the intersection of healthcare, technology, and faith-based financial principles in one of Africas most populous and diverse nations in its quest to improve healthcare access and quality.

He said: In recent years, we have witnessed remarkable advancements in technology that have transformed countless aspects of our lives, from e-commerce to communication and medicine, leading to limitless opportunities for Africa and other continents.

Mr Muhammed said the summit is a digital transformation bridge that will close the gaps between healthcare providers and patients, allowing timely interventions and improved health outcomes.

Shekarau speaks

Also speaking, the former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, who chaired the summit, said investing in digital health technology through the instrument of Islamic financing will not only bridge the gaps in healthcare delivery in Nigeria but will improve access, reduce geographical barriers, enhance the quality of healthcare services, and seamlessly provide specialised healthcare for Nigerians regardless of their social status.

He said: Islamic finance, with its principles of fairness and social responsibility, can play a significant role in supporting the adoption and implementation of digital health technology in Nigeria.

He described the summit as a platform to explore how Islamic financing and digital health technology can intersect and drive Nigerias primary healthcare transformation agenda.

Funding sources

While supporting the need for Nigeria to review its dependence on budget as the only source of healthcare financing, another participant, Stanley Ukpai, called on relevant authorities to find alternative funding sources to diversify its domestic funding sources to finance health.

He said: This summit is an innovative alternative to provide Nigeria with the link between new sources of funds and digital healthcare opportunities that can transform Nigerias healthcare delivery, especially as the country will witness the highest budgetary allocation to health of 8 per cent in 2024.

This is a great opportunity for all hands to be on deck to ensure adequate funding for the sector.

Meanwhile, a senior lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Ahmad Dogawara, noted that adequate funding of the healthcare system will lead to the survival of the people and increase economic growth and sustainability of the healthcare system.

Mr Dogarawa noted that the advocacy for an innovative funding mechanism such as Islamic finance can potentially support the government and corporate organisations efforts towards providing health for all.

Models can be built on a commercial basis like crowdfunding and Islamic financing which makes us believe that Islamic finance will play a significant role in providing adequate funding to the healthcare sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3 in particular, which talks about health and well-being, he said.

He said Islamic financing is meant for all, and not just for Muslims.

For example, some states in the South-east have benefited from the Islamic Development Banks through the federal government.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Despite the different levels of uniqueness of Chinese and Nigerian literatures, resulting from the peculiarities of their histories and cultures, yet with a continuum of similarities and concerns defining a cross-cultural sensitivity between them and a community of shared meaning, it is without doubt that the experiences of globalisation, and the various manifestations of transnational identity and culture will keep the communication and conversation going between these two literary traditions.

Some peculiarities define the literary cultures of China and Nigeria, having evolved through fairly similar historical and social trajectories, thereby enabling the capacity for a community of meaning within the human experience. While they have both emerged from traditions that extend back over thousands of years, they equally have roots in strong oral cultures that predate and influenced the written ones, with many of the earlier forms being in terms of legends, myths, folklores, and kindred narratives. It was through these forms that the early worldviews and mores of the people were encoded.

In Chinese literature, the earliest forms included the oral traditions, involving musical practices, incantations and religious compositions of different social and professional groups, among others, to the forms emerging during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BC), and categorised within the Hundred Schools of Thought as classics of the literature, expressing the thoughts of Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Fajia, etc., and which were mostly didactic and philosophical in nature, even when articulated through peculiar prose styles.

The written tradition in China is said to have started with the use of hieroglyphs on bronze wares and oracle bones during the Shang Dynasty, from 1700 to 1050 BC. And, thereafter the written language was used by different nationalities, spanning the Zhou, Qin and Han eras, from about 1050 BC to 220 AD, before changing over time.

The ancient literature in China from the period before the Qin Dynasty (prior to 221BCE) revealed some of the early documented forms, including poetry, historical texts, philosophical writings and folklore, with The Book of Songs by Shi Jing being one of the noteworthy examples.

The works that rose from Confucian thought  i.e. the Four Books (I Ching, Classic of Poetry, Book of Rites, Book of Documents, and Spring and Autumn Annals) and Five Classics (Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Doctrine of the Mean, and Great Learning)  subsequently became central to the Chinese worldview and culture. There were others like the military classic, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, written in the 6th Century BC, which all belong to what is referred to now as the classics of Chinese literature.

There are correspondingly great historical narratives and documents like Zuo Zhuan by the 5th Century BC historian, Zuo Quiming; Shiji by Sima Qian (145 BC  90 BC), put together during the Han Dynasty; Zizhi Tongjian by Sima Guang during the 11th-century, and a raft of other texts that have been canonised as the Twenty-Four Histories. Equally, there were the Four Great Books of Song [Taiping Guangji (978), Taiping Yulan (983), the Wenyuan Yinghua (986), and the Cefu Yuangui (1013)] produced by Li Fang and Cefu Yuangui during the Song Dynasty.

Between the 11th and 7th Centuries, a classic of Chinese poetry, Shijing, was produced and it comprised over 300 poems, said to have been edited by Confucius, in addition to Chuci by Qu Yuan (c. 340278 BC), alongside other great works by writers from the Han to Wei, Southern Liang and Tang Dynasties, etc.

During the Qin Dynasty, the Chinese classical language of writing was standardised, and at the time of the Han Dynasty, a form of poetry called yuefu emerged, which was likened to folk music. The Tang Dynasty corresponded to a period of the production of nature poetry that was well respected and acclaimed. Many of the accomplished poets of the age included Chen Ziang (661702), Wang Zhihuan (688742), Meng Haoran (689740), Bai Juyi (772846), Li He (790816), Du Mu (803852), Wen Tingyun (812870), and Li Shangyin (813858).

Contemporary Chinese literature, from the 1980s to the present, is highly diverse in its manifestations, through the exploration of a diversity of literary movements, genres, subject matters, styles and themes that are as reflective of the complexity of modern day China that they are mirroring. Some of the prominent writers of this epoch have included Xu Zechen, Yu Dan, Mian Mian, Mo Yan, Yan Lianke, Cao Yu, and numerous others.

While the poetic form flourished and developed from the Song to the Yuan, Ming and Quing Dynasties, it evinced musical influences and became practised by the well-educated, including women like Dong Xiaowan and Liu Rushi. Prose works were produced under the influence of the Hundred Schools of Thought philosophy, and a few of the prominent writers included Mo Zi, Mencius, and Zhuang Zi. During the Song Dynasty, travel literature, known as youji wenxue, was written by persons such as Fan Chengda (11261193) and Xu Xiake (15871641), and it is well exemplified in the work, Record of Stone Bell Mountain by Su Shi. The rise of vernacular fiction in the 14th Century saw to its consummate expression in Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin.

After the demise of the Qing Dynasty and the creation of a republic in 1911, an intellectual efflorescence led to calls for the creation of a new literature, and this induced a New Culture Movement for social and political reforms. Many of the new writings from this period took on forms that were highly Western, even as they adopted traditional Chinese narrative modes. There was equally a movement away from the use of the classical language to the vernacular. Writers such as Lu Xun adopted the Western form in producing works that were also satirical.

Narratives such as The True Story of Ah Q was an attack on Chinese feudalism. Some of the significant novelists of that period were Wu Woyao (18661910), Li Boyuan (18671906), Liu E (18571909), and Zeng Pu (18721935). There was also the poetry of the Tongguang School, with practitioners like Chen Yan, Zheng Xiaoxu, etc. And, it was the period of the civilised drama, which was a melange of Chinese opera and Western dramatic idioms, and also the reformed Peking opera.

Thereafter, from the 1940s, the literature became more didactic. The modernist framework at this point encompassed influences from much of the socially conscious literature produced in the West, from Henrik Ibsen to Rabidranath Tagore, etc.

During the Maoist era, the call was for literature to serve the people and the new socialist writings of that period included The Builder (Chuangye Shi) by Liu Qing, The Song of Youth (Qing Chun Zhi Ge) by Yang Mo, and The Red Sun (Hong Ri) by Wu Qiang, among others. Many of the works also examined the relationship between the people of rural China and the Communist Party. During the Cultural Revolution, running between 1966 and 1976, a popular art form of the time was Jiang Qings Eight Model Operas, which was a melange of Western and traditional dramatic forms.

Contemporary Chinese literature, from the 1980s to the present, is highly diverse in its manifestations, through the exploration of a diversity of literary movements, genres, subject matters, styles and themes that are as reflective of the complexity of modern day China that they are mirroring. Some of the prominent writers of this epoch have included Xu Zechen, Yu Dan, Mian Mian, Mo Yan, Yan Lianke, Cao Yu, and numerous others. This has also been context for the rise of literature that contemplates the female subjectivity, as engaged in by writers such as Chen Ran, Wang Anyi, Wei Hui, etc.

On its part, Nigerian literature has equally existed for millennia, with its earliest forms going back to prehistory in the chants and liturgical rituals of various groups across the space now known as Nigeria. Gradually, many of the oral traditional forms acquired increasing sophistication and diversity in the narrations of different social groups, guilds and analogous formations.

With the advent of the scribal culture, this became encoded in the written form, which found renewed expression following colonialism and the adoption of English as the language of the coloniser. The literature then became a hybrid form taking from traditional indigenous narrative patterns and the Western modes, towards a unique syncretism.

The pressures on the imagination that have continue to find expression in these creative forms across the irdistinct histories and cultures include those of cultural identity and nationalism, reflecting the aspirations, struggles and accomplishments of the Chinese and Nigerian peoples, whilst extolling their cultural heritages for the abiding values in them. Also, these are countries that have imperial and colonial encounters that gave peculiar forms to their creative responses, as evident in their language and themes.

The coming of age of the literature in recent times has witnessed it win laurels, including the Nobel Prize in literature by Wole Soyinka, the Booker Prize by Ben Okri, the Caine Prize by Helon Habila and Rotimi Babatunde, among others. And one of its canonical texts, Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart has been hailed globally as one of the most enduring forms of a literary modernity that speaks to the human experience across space and time.

The wide acceptability of Chinese Literature has equally seen it win the Nobel Prize by Xingjian Gao in 2000 and Mo Yan in 2012.

While with the coming of the written culture there has been a proliferation of Nigerian literatures in the local languages, from Yoruba to Igbo to Hausa, etc., early examples of modern Nigerian writings in English language include Amos Tutuolas The Palm Wine Drinkard (1952), then there were trailblazing efforts of Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart (1958) and No Longer at Ease (1960), etc., which were pressed to the objectives of cultural and political independence. Writers like Cyprian Ekwensi wrote the popular Jagua Nana (1961); John Pepper Clark Bekederemo composed the Song of a Goat in 1962; whilst Wole Soyinka created the masterpiece, Death and the Kings Horseman in 1975. Equally, there have been great female writers like Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwanpa, Zulu Sofola, Adaora Ulasi, etc.

Generations of Nigerian writers have written across different themes and in a plethora of literary forms and traditions, with the significant ones including Femi Osofisan, Tanure Ojaide, Ben Okri, Niyi Osundare, Odia Ofeimun, Mabel Segun, and others. Closer to the present times, the literary space has been animated by the contemporary voices of Nnedi Okorafor, Helon Habila, Teju Cole, A. Igoni Barrett, Chika Unigwe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Helen Oyeyemi, and so many others, who have engaged with concerns that have been as diverse as their talents.

Despite their manifestation across different spaces, Chinese and Nigerian literature have emanated from similar histories, while responding to trajectories that have also intersected, from being borne of long literary traditions that extend back to centuries, with Chinese literature, particularly, having been practised over some 3,000 years. Both literary traditions evolved from oral roots in the mythologies and folklore of their different people, which continue to survive into and shape the works being created, even in these modern times.

The pressures on the imagination that have continue to find expression in these creative forms across the distinct histories and cultures include those of cultural identity and nationalism, reflecting the aspirations, struggles and accomplishments of the Chinese and Nigerian peoples, whilst extolling their cultural heritages for the abiding values in them. Also, these are countries that have imperial and colonial encounters that gave peculiar forms to their creative responses, as evident in their language and themes.

The two national traditions of literature have and keep addressing emergent issues, while offering social and political critiques. They mirror and speak to the realities of their societies, and engaged with concerns including social injustice, inequality and the trajectories of social change. Like much of Nigerian literature from Wole Soyinka to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies works, Chinese literature unfolds the social and political changes in China, with writers like Yan Lianke and Mo Yan depicting the impacts of urbanisation, globalisation, and industrialisation on Chinese society.

Despite the different levels of uniqueness of Chinese and Nigerian literatures, resulting from the peculiarities of their histories and cultures, yet with a continuum of similarities and concerns defining a cross-cultural sensitivity between them and a community of shared meaning, it is without doubt that the experiences of globalisation, and the various manifestations of transnational identity and culture will keep the communication and conversation going between these two literary traditions.

Lade Bandele, a media and development worker, writes from Lagos.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Zenith Bank Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute. The MoU is to promote efforts and activities that support the formation, training, and updating of human capital in finance and investment for the overall development of the Nigerian financial services sector. The MoU, was signed by the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu; the President/CEO of the CFA Institute, Margaret Franklin; and the President of CFA Society Nigeria, Ibukun Oyedeji on Tuesday, 28 November, 2023.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr Onyeagwu commended the CFA Institute and the CFA Society, Nigeria for their laudable programmes in developing finance and investment professionals in Nigeria. According to him, the Institutes Women in Investment Management Initiative, CFA Institute Research Challenge, CFA Society Nigeria Ethics Challenge and University Affiliation programme are very laudable.

He said the Zenith Bank will continue to partner with the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Nigeria to ensure that young finance and investment professionals get the needed support for their career development.

In his words, As a good corporate citizen, Zenith Bank remains committed to furthering the economic, cultural and social development of the society. As such, we continue to support projects and initiatives that have long-term social and economic benefits for our various publics and stakeholders. Partnering with the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Nigeria is therefore a demonstration of our commitment to building professional excellence in the finance services industry in Nigeria.

At the CFA Institute Africa Investment Conference, during the Journey to the Top: A Discourse with CEOs segment, Dr Onyeagwu enjoined future finance and investment professionals to uphold the highest standards of integrity. He stressed the importance of making difficult yet high-quality decisions, building robust networks, and dedicating themselves to hard work for career success.

He said, As upcoming professionals, the opportunities are immense for you.Africa doesnt get bigger than Nigeria. There is scarcity of the right kind of people that have the talent, that have the character and the leadership to provide leadership in organisations. Make a decision to be one of those, make a decision to be different. You must be driven by your passion; you must delay gratification. In Zenith what is driving us is the strive for excellence. It is not about who you are and where you come from. We have the best class of talents you can think of anywhere in the world.

He assured the young finance and investment professionals that Zenith Bank will offer immediate employment opportunities to CFA Charter holders and those who qualify as chartered accountants.

Also speaking on the MoU, the President/CEO, CFA Institute, Margaret Franklin reiterated the Institutes commitment to professional development of students and upcoming professionals. In her words, there are many things that we do for students, we invest heavily in students and why is that? Because they are our future. The mission of the CFA Institute is to lead the investment industry with the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society and that starts with our CFA programme.

She commended Zenith Bank for its continued support of the CFA Society Nigeria and sponsorship of the CFA Institute Research Challenge over the years. She also commended the bank for being one of the top employers of CFA members in the country. She expressed her admiration of the culture of excellence in Zenith Bank.

Also speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, the President of CFA Society Nigeria, Ibukun Oyedeji commended Zenith Bank for its partnership with CFA Society Nigeria and its commitment to the development of young finance professionals in the country.

The the CFA Institute Africa Investment Conference is being hosted by the CFA Institute and CFA Societies from Ghana, East Africa, South Africa and Mauritius. The conference has representatives from over 20 universities in Nigeria (members of their investment clubs being supported by CFA Society).

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal has reiterated his administrations commitment to investing massively in girl-child education across the state.

Mr Lawal made the pledge on Thursday when he attended an awareness lecture on gender-based violence, organised by the office of the Zamfara State First Lady as part of the 16-day activism.

A statement by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, quoted Mr Lawal as calling for a collective response against gender-based violence.

Governor Lawal recalled that Zamfara has been unfortunately infested with insecurity for over ten years, which has adversely affected several aspects of human resource development especially girl-child education.

Mr Lawal said: The insecurity in Zamfara gave rise to the internal displacement of several communities, and the victims are mainly girls and women.

Gender-based violence is a serious problem that we face as people. Therefore, we are developing programmes aimed at solving this massive inequality by investing in prevention and public enlightenment and creating access to education as well as economic development.

We are particularly determined to invest more in girl-child education by encouraging parents to send the girl-child to school.

I recently approved massive renovations of some girls secondary schools, College of Health Technology, and College of Health Sciences across Zamfara.

It is pleasing to report that there has been a significant increase in enrollment of girls in schools, which is a positive development the governor added.

Earlier, during her speech, the First Lady of Zamfara State, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, commended the state government for addressing issues related to girls education.

Today, we have gathered together to declare with one voice that enough is enough! As the First Lady of Zamfara State, it is my unwavering commitment to stand as an advocate of change  a catalyst for a society where every person, regardless of gender, can thrive in safety and equity, she said.

The statement by Mr Idris explained that the awareness programme was one of the critical events of the office of the First Lady in its efforts to improve the lives of girl-children in Zamfara State.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter, on Friday, crash-landed and exploded at the NAF Base, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

The NAF spokesperson, Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the development in a statement.

Mr Gabkwet, an air commodore, said the affected aircraft, NAF MI-35P, had taken off to embark on an operation against suspected oil thieves in the state.

He said five persons on board survived the incident with minor injuries.

The unfortunate incident occurred at about 7.45 am shortly after the aircraft took off for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State, the spokesperson said.

Fortunately, the entire crew of five survived the crash with very minor injuries and is currently being attended to at NAF Medical Centre Port Harcourt.

Mr Gabkwet said the Chief of Air Staff, Hasan Abubakar, an air marshal, was on his way to the scene of the incident to assess the situation.

An incident of this nature is yet again a grim reminder of the dangers associated with military flying and the risks NAF pilots and technicians experience in their onerous tasks of defending our nation and deterring criminals from their nefarious activities, he added.

Not the first time

The crash-landing of aircraft is not new in Nigeria.

Many, including NAF aircraft, have crash-landed at different times and locations across the country.

The latest incident occurred about seven months after an aircraft belonging to Max Air crash-landed along the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Another NAF aircraft, in February 2021, crashed while returning to the Abuja airport after reporting engine failure en route to Minna, the Niger State capital.

All the seven personnel on board the aircraft died in the crash, NAF authorities had said.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


( Read 2202 Times)

Ahead of next year's general elections, considered as semi-finals, the survey results indicate intense competition in the legislative assembly elections of five crucial states. The polls suggest that in Rajasthan, where elections were held for all 200 seats on November 25, the Congress and BJP are in a close fight for a majority.

Axis My India, claiming to have the most accurate exit poll results, forecasts a strong chance of the Congress forming the government in Rajasthan. Other exit polls, however, suggest that the Congress may lead in two states, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, while the BJP might dominate in two states, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. There is also a possibility of a regional party coming to power in Mizoram. The results of the exit polls have left several prominent leaders breathless.

If Axis My India's predictions turn out to be accurate, it could break the tradition in Rajasthan, where governments have typically changed every five years. If Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's leadership leads to a Congress government, it will mark his fourth term, following in the footsteps of Mohan Lal Sukhadia.

According to Axis My India's survey, the Congress is estimated to receive 42% of the votes in Rajasthan, with the BJP closely behind at 41%, while other parties are expected to get 17%.

The survey also suggests that, except for Shekhawati and Mewar-Vagad regions, where BJP is predicted to lead, Congress is likely to dominate in Hadoti, Ahirwal-Mewat, Marwar-Godwal, and Jaisalmer-Bikaner, as well as Dhundhad-Jaipur regions.

The survey indicates that women voters have favored the Congress more than men, and there is a leaning towards Congress among SC, ST, and Muslim voters. In contrast, BJP seems to have the support of traditional Brahmin and Baniya communities, with a tilt from Jat and Gujjar voters.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, returning from a two-day trip to Delhi, expressed confidence in the Congress forming the government in Rajasthan. He asserted that the BJP is not winning in any of the five states. Gehlot highlighted the lack of anti-incumbency sentiment and praised his government's popular schemes. The outcome of the exit polls will be closely watched to see which party will ascend to power and which will face defeat in the state.

Source :
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Crude oil and petroleum products account for more than half of the volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Romania, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said, Trend reports.

He spoke at an event dedicated to Romania's national holiday.

"Our countries' successful political ties lead to the expansion of economic collaboration and the diversification of trade and economic cooperation. The two countries' trade turnover climbed by 48 percent in the first nine months of this year, reaching $526 million. With a 56.5 percent share, crude oil and petroleum products take the lead. For many years, Azerbaijan has exported crude oil to Romania," the minister said.

He stated that SOCAR's (Azerbaijan's national oil company) expanding activities in Romania, including the establishment of 74 gas stations and various fuel depots in 28 districts of the country, are evidence of mutually beneficial energy cooperation.

"In the field of energy supply, our energy cooperation is now diversifying and gaining a pan-European dimension." The minister underlined that "gas deliveries between SOCAR and Romgaz SA, the Black Sea LNG project, the Ring of Solidarity initiative, and our collaboration on the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe green energy corridor open up broad prospects for strengthening Azerbaijani-Romanian energy relations."

Shahbazov went on to say that these projects allow Romania to serve as a transit point for other European nations while also becoming a consumer of Azerbaijani gas and green energy. Romania's participation in the Green Energy Corridor project, in particular, and the prospect of its engagement in the transmission of electricity from Central Asia to Europe via this corridor will strengthen the country's strategic relevance in the future.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
AUBURN, Ala., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For most academic scientists conducting biomedical research, the possibility of advancing a new medicine to the clinic is, at best, an aspiration. Despite the odds, Gary Piazza and his research team in Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy discovered a highly potent and selective anticancer drug and are collaborating with investigators at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center to advance a new drug candidate to clinical trials for patients with the most fatal of cancers.

Gary Piazza, left, is a highly respected cancer investigator with over 35 years of research experience. At Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy, he is director of the Cancer Research Center, a professor and department head.

Piazza joined the Harrison College of Pharmacy (HCOP) in 2021 as the W.W. Walker Professor and head of the Department of Drug Discovery and Development. A highly respected cancer investigator, Piazza is a UAB graduate with over 35 years of research experience, including 10 years as a professor at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) in Mobile and 10 years as a principal scientist with Southern Research in Birmingham.

Along with his administrative responsibilities, Piazza continues his groundbreaking research as director of the newly created Cancer Research Center at HCOP. His collaborators also made the move from MCI to Auburn including medicinal chemist Xi Chen, cancer biologist Adam Keeton, pharmacologist Yulia Maxuitenko and lab manager Kristy Berry.

"Having a multidisciplinary team with diverse scientific expertise has allowed us to solve many technical problems as we seek to advance our experimental drugs to the clinic," said Piazza.

Piazza also brought with him multiple actively funded research projects, including three R01 projects from the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute and a project from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, along with several million dollars in funding.

Selective targeting

From his early research in a class of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), Piazza was the first to publish evidence a drug called sulindac could kill cancer cells by a specific mechanism known as apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This research supported the clinical development of a sulindac derivative called exisulind to treat precancerous colon adenomas (polyps) in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis who are at high risk of developing colorectal cancer.

"NSAIDs are not considered to have strong anticancer activity and are not FDA approved for long-term use to either prevent or treat cancer because of potentially fatal gastrointestinal and other toxicities," said Piazza. "Yet, this unusual anticancer activity of NSAIDs commonly used to treat everything from headaches to arthritis inspired me to better understand the underlying mechanism of action."

His research looks to use his novel series of compounds to inhibit a protein called RAS, a protein in which mutations in RAS genes have been known for decades to be responsible for many human cancers and those that are the most fatal, especially pancreatic, colorectal and lung.

A unique approach

Piazza is optimistic that their lead compound, ADT-1004, is an attractive drug candidate inching closer and closer to clinical trials. Although more research is needed, Piazza is encouraged by the promising anticancer activity that ADT-1004 has shown in mouse models of pancreatic cancer and our detailed understanding of how the drug can selectively kill cancer cells.

"In many ways, cancer cells are just like normal cells, especially those cells in tissues where there is rapid cell division, for example, in the gut," said Piazza. "The difficulty in cancer drug development has always been the ability to find target-directed small molecules that can selectively kill cancer cells without harming normal cells."

Potential at Auburn

Piazza is excited about what can be accomplished on The Plains to be a beacon of hope in the battle to fight cancer.

"Most of my career prior to joining Auburn was in the pharmaceutical industry where I learned the value of collaboration and in cancer centers, I saw sick patients every day coming in for chemotherapy, which made me more determined not to be satisfied with only conducting basic research," said Piazza. "At Auburn, I recognized the diverse expertise within the college, which I believed could help solve some of the major hurdles we encountered to advance our experimental anticancer drugs to the clinic."

To read more on the Piazza lab's work, visit https://aub.ie/cancer.

SOURCE Auburn University
Inspiring Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Grant Program awards $300,000 in grants in second year

ROSEMONT, Ill., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) announced 17 recipients of the 2024 AAOS IDEA Grant Program, which aims to reduce longstanding disparities in orthopaedics and create measurable change. The recipients were selected based on the merits of their initiatives to eliminate bias and discrimination or advance diversity, equity and/or inclusion (DEI) within the orthopaedic specialty.

AAOS IDEA Grant Program supports diversity initiatives across the field of orthopaedics.

The AAOS IDEA Grant Program funds educational, community or outreach projects or programs that will create opportunities for a diverse pipeline of individuals who choose to go into orthopaedics as a profession; foster DEI initiatives for community-based or academic orthopaedic surgeons; and expand the availability of AAOS educational and networking opportunities to diverse students and practicing orthopaedic surgeons. Diversity focus areas of the program include, but are not limited, to gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+, socioeconomic, veteran status and disability.

"The response to the IDEA Grant Program has been overwhelming and underscores the urgent demand for funding to bolster initiatives that help bridge the diversity, equity and access gap that has persisted in orthopaedics for decades," said, AAOS Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) Chair Anthony E. Johnson, MD, FAAOS. "Our 2023 grant recipients have already made significant strides in paving the way for future generations of orthopaedic surgeons and the 2024 recipients were chosen for their innovative ideas aimed at tackling the current gaps in our field."

Program funds are allocated between four tracks  touchpoints, retention, community retention/support and academic retention/support  each with a different DEI focus and target recipient. Funding from Stryker, one of the world's leading medical technology companies, helped extend the reach of this grant program. Some of the 2024 awardees include recipients from Howard University Orthopaedics, the only orthopaedic program in the nation directly associated with a historically black university; PrideOrtho, a community of proactive LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies in orthopaedics; and Wake Forest School of Medicine, which is seeking to broaden the national exposure and reputation of individuals from groups underrepresented in medicine.

"The Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute is greatly appreciative for the initial round of funding from the AAOS to create ODySSEY in Orthopaedics ( O rthopaedic D iversit Y S peaker S eries E ducating Y outh in Orthopaedics)," said Holly Pilson, MD, FAAOS, FAOA, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "This initiative is a tiered strategy aimed to improve early orthopaedic exposure, boost the advancement and national reputation of early to mid-career academic orthopaedic surgeons from diverse backgrounds, and introduce orthopaedic faculty and trainees to a series of diverse speakers. We are fortunate to have been selected for refunding in 2024 and look forward to building opportunities for regional and national exposure for underrepresented early career orthopaedic surgeons, and planting seeds of inspiration in the minds of our local youth to consider joining our great specialty."

The 2024 IDEA Grant recipients include:

Track 1  Touchpoints: Grants are designed to support single event programs that promote DEI initiatives in the field of orthopaedic surgery. These funds may be used to expand opportunities for traditional or established pathway programs that attract diverse medical students and residents to orthopaedics.

American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons

Georgia Orthopaedic Society Foundation

Howard University

Nth Dimensions

Pride Ortho (two grants)

Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society

Texas Orthopaedic Association

University of Minnesota

University of Missouri

Track 2  Retention: Grants are intended to support organizations, programs and events with a longitudinal focus on recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce in orthopaedic surgery.

Medical Student Orthopaedic Society

Nth Dimensions

The Perry Initiative

Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic Foundation

Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society

Washington University , St. Louis

Track 3  Community retention/support: Grants are intended to support programs and events with a focus on retaining and supporting a diverse workforce in orthopaedic surgery in a private, remote setting or outside of an academic institution.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Track 4  Academic retention/support: Grants are intended to support programs and events with a focus on retaining and supporting a diverse workforce in orthopaedic surgery within U.S. academic centers.

University of Miami Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (two grants)

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (two grants) University of Alabama at Birmingham

Wake Forest

To view the list of the 2024 grant recipients and the respective funding awarded to each, please click here.

To review the evaluation criteria and general application terms, visit aaos.org/IDEA. Information about the 2025 grant cycle application period will be announced next spring.

To schedule an interview about the AAOS IDEA Grant Program or learn more about the recipients, email [email protected]

About the AAOS

With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level to best treat patients in their daily practices. The AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.

Follow the AAOS on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
AI will not take all jobs nor end civilization. But it will help businesses make better decisions.

CARY, N.C., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

Visit SAS' 2024 AI predictions page for more trends and forecasts.

Will AI's potential be realized in the year ahead? SAS asked its experts to predict AI trends for 2024. Post this Will AIs potential be realized in the year ahead? SAS AI predictions and trends for 2024

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

sas.com/news

SOURCE SAS
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The new philanthropic investment organization Allied Climate Partners (ACP) launched today at COP28. Allied Climate Partners' mission is to increase the number of bankable, climate-related projects and businesses in emerging economies to create significant environmental, economic, and social impact.

"Local leaders around the world have identified a clear problem: there simply aren't enough bankable climate-related projects to deploy capital at the scale we need to address the climate crisis," said Allied Climate Partners CEO Ahmed Saeed. "We're launching ACP to fill a key financing gap at the early stages of project development, and partner directly with local investment professionals, entrepreneurs, and governments to support the creation of new sustainable infrastructure projects and businesses that will have lasting benefits to our climate and to local communities."

The lack of bankable projects has long stifled climate investment in developing nations, particularly in the precarious early stages of project development. While a mere 5 percent of project funding is needed for early-stage preparations, such as land acquisition and environmental assessments, securing this capital is challenging due to risk aversion among public and private funders.

In response, ACP is stepping in with a transformative solution. ACP was founded by leading philanthropies and investors, including Mark Gallogly, Co-Founder of Three Cairns Group. Gallogly spotted the opportunity to dramatically scale a new type of investment platform, which combines philanthropy, development finance institutions, and the private sector to address major gaps in the early, risk-oriented stages of developing climate-related projects and businesses.

ACP will select regional investment managers in emerging economies and support them with de-risking solutions so that they can more rapidly increase the number of climate-related projects and asset-oriented businesses in order to create significant environmental, economic, and social impact. This model is designed to address a critical financing gap at the early, risk-oriented stages of the development process.

"Our goal is to enable local climate-related projects and businesses to attract the capital needed to achieve their climate and development goals," said Gallogly, who serves as ACP's Chairman. "I'm thankful to the partners and leaders coming together to create ACP. We believe ACP can be a first step in capital being deployed at scale to catalyze climate solutions. Our objective is to provide a road map for government and private sector actors to deploy at even greater scale."

ACP initial funders include Arnold Ventures, Ballmer Group, Bezos Earth Fund, Anita and Josh Bekenstein, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Sea Change Foundation International, the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF), Three Cairns Group, and several others.

"To solve the climate crisis, business as usual simply won't do. Local entrepreneurs have innovative ideas, yet too often don't have access to capital to make big ideas a reality. That's where Allied Climate Partners comes in," said Andrew Steer, President & CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. "ACP will finance projects, generate returns, and then reinvest philanthropic proceeds, leading to a multiplying effect where markets can have an outsized impact for positive change. The Bezos Earth Fund is proud to serve as a founding partner for one of the most innovative climate finance solutions launched in recent years."

A crucial part of ACP's strategy is to enable philanthropic capital to encourage MDB and DFI participation in climate-related projects. ACP is proud to be working closely with a number of leading Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), British International Investment (BII), the UK's DFI and impact investor, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Proparco, a subsidiary of Agence Francaise de Developpement Group, FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, and IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, who will sign several MOUs throughout COP28 with the intention of providing senior capital to ACP's initiatives.

"Mobilising climate finance at scale in emerging markets requires a significant increase in the number of investable projects," said Noel Quinn, HSBC Group Chief Executive. "ACP can play a valuable role in aggregating blended finance, allowing for the derisking of projects and enabling capital to be channelled to where it can have the greatest impact."

ACP and its partners are initially looking to aggregate an $825 million investment platform, catalyzed by an anticipated $235 million in philanthropically-backed junior capital. ACP will fund the junior equity of initial investment managers in Southeast Asia, Africa, the Caribbean & Central America, and India. Senior equity in these initial investment managers is expected to be provided by the MDBs, DFIs, and private sector actors. ACP would anticipate that these managers will mobilize $11 billion upon full deployment for the construction of bankable, climate-related projects, generating a 47x capital mobilization multiplier on ACP's junior, risk-oriented philanthropic capital, and a 14x multiplier on the aggregate investment platform. By proving this model, ACP aims to induce commercially-oriented public and private sector investors to provide capital where they likely would not otherwise.

At COP28, ACP will also sign a strategic partnership agreement with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore-headquartered global investment company Temasek, and IFC to increase the number of bankable climate projects in Asia.

"Singapore looks forward to partnering ACP to unlock and finance green and sustainable infrastructure projects in Asia, and working together for a more climate resilient future," said Ravi Menon, Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore.

"The Allied Climate Partners initiative is a strong example of how collaboration is critical to addressing climate change," said Mohamed Gouled, IFC's Vice President of Global Industries. "IFC is a global leader in climate finance in developing countries, and we look forward to leveraging our decades of experience in this area under the ACP initiative to scale further financing for climate-related projects."

The first fund that ACP will invest in is the Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund II (SEACEF II), managed by Clime Capital. SEACEF, which established the initial proof of concept for ACP, has built an initial portfolio of ten investments in early-stage, climate-related projects and businesses and catalyzed significant follow-on funding from private sector investors. SEACEF II is expected to include senior equity from the private sector, DFIs, and MDBs, as well as catalytic junior equity from ACP and other parties.

"In response to the climate crisis, it is crucial for the development community to finance and deploy effective solutions as early as possible." said DFC CEO Scott Nathan. "DFC commends Allied Climate Partners for addressing this critical need for early-stage intervention. Doing so should help better position DFC and our partners to maximize impact across priority sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and food security. We look forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration and continuing our work to de-risk investments in the developing world."

"In USAID's work in emerging economies around the world, we see so many new projects and businesses poised to help their communities build resilience to the changing climate and transition to a green economy. But these entrepreneurs need funding partners who can support them through the earliest, riskiest phases as they refine their ideas and establish the proof of concept they need to draw in investors," said Samantha Power, Administrator, USAID. "We applaud Allied Climate Partner's vision to support these projects in that critical early stage, and we look forward to their success in driving private capital to scale climate solutions and advance sustainable, equitable, and resilient development."

About Allied Climate Partners:

Allied Climate Partners (ACP) is a philanthropic investment organization with a mission to accelerate the climate transition and improve livelihoods in emerging economies by increasing the flow of capital to bankable, climate-related projects and businesses. ACP selects regional investment managers in emerging economies and supports them with first-loss capital, expertise, and the mandate to address a critical financing gap at the early, risk-oriented stages of the development process for climate-related projects and asset-oriented businesses. Without this support, many projects and businesses struggle to attract the necessary capital to achieve their climate-related goals. By proving this model, ACP aims to induce commercially-oriented public and private sector investors to invest where they likely would not otherwise.

About Three Cairns Group:

Three Cairns Group is a mission-driven investment and philanthropic firm focused on the climate crisis, founded by Lise Strickler and Mark Gallogly. Three Cairns develops and supports cross-sector initiatives to accelerate the clean energy transition and drive transformative, equitable progress through three primary strategies: investments in innovating and scaling climate solutions; philanthropy supporting a pipeline of innovative leaders, projects, and organizations to catalyze equitable climate solutions; and incubation of projects to fill gaps at the intersection of climate, finance, and people and launch organizations that can drive climate action at scale.

No parties quoted above have received compensation for providing statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any securities or service. This press release contains forward looking statements which may or may not be realized and are contingent on uncertain events.

SOURCE Allied Climate Partners
CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association is saddened by the death of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. A trailblazer and transparent leader throughout her life, Justice O'Connor bravely shared her diagnosis of "dementia, probably Alzheimer's disease," in a letter to the American people in 2018.

At the time of her diagnosis, Justice O'Connor was not new to Alzheimer's. Her husband, John O'Connor, lived with Alzheimer's disease for nearly 20 years. In 2005, as Mr. O'Connor was in decline from the disease, Justice O'Connor stepped down from the Supreme Court to spend more time with him.

"The Alzheimer's Association mourns the loss of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Former Justice O'Connor played an important role in making Alzheimer's the national priority it is today," said Joanne Pike, DrPH, president and CEO, Alzheimer's Association. "Driven by her experience of caring for her husband as he battled Alzheimer's, she served as a member of the Alzheimer's Study Group in 2009, ensuring caregivers and those living with dementia were represented. Ms. O'Connor leaves behind a legacy as a transparent leader using her voice to inspire action and change for all those impacted by Alzheimer's and all other dementia."

According to the Alzheimer's Association 2023 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report , more than 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease, with more than 11 million friends and family providing unpaid care. These numbers will skyrocket in the coming years and by 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease is projected to double.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia  by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
Company aggressively advances new era of passenger rail, with strong growth and major infrastructure investments

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amtrak continued its strong growth in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) as the company resumed service on all routes and advanced major infrastructure projects that will support plans to double ridership by 2040. In FY23, more than 28 million customers rode Amtrak nationwide, fueled in part by significant growth on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), where ridership is booming and consistently exceeding pre-pandemic levels since early summer.

"Amtrak ridership continues to set post-pandemic records," said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. Post this Amtrak's Fiscal Year 2023 By The Numbers Amtrak ridership grew nearly 25% year-over-year

"Amtrak ridership continues to set post-pandemic records thanks to our customers who were anxious to travel again and attracted to the many benefits of train travel. This resurgence was made possible by our dedicated employees, our many state and host railroad partners, and ongoing support from the Biden Administration and Congress," said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. "We're inspired by the soaring demand for intercity passenger rail and are eager to continue connecting more people and places."

Multiple State Supported services also drove ridership gains while setting monthly or annual ridership records, including the Amtrak Downeaster and services in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of North Carolina.

Amtrak is capitalizing on this positive momentum by advancing historic infrastructure investments that will launch new and expanded services, advance safety and reliability, improve accessibility, drive economic development and enhance the customer experience. Several major projects kicked off in FY23 that will unlock major bottlenecks and improve operations and safety for Amtrak and its commuter partners. This includes the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program in Baltimore and the Hudson Tunnel Project, a critical piece of the Gateway Program, among others.

"The best is yet to come!" said Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia. "As we build a new era of passenger rail with more modern trains, expanded routes, more frequent service, upgraded stations, and renewed infrastructure, Amtrak will continue to deliver major improvements for current and future Amtrak customers over the coming decade."

Preliminary results for FY23 (Oct. 2022 - Sept. 2023) include:

Ridership : Provided 28.6 million customer trips, a 24.6% increase over FY22. FY23 4 th Quarter NEC ridership levels were 8% above pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the strong velocity built over the Fiscal Year.

: Provided 28.6 million customer trips, a 24.6% increase over FY22. Service : Resumed service on all routes suspended during the pandemic and added more trains on the Northeast Regional , Piedmont and Amtrak Cascades.

: Resumed service on all routes suspended during the pandemic and added more trains on the , and Major Infrastructure Investments : Amtrak made its largest annual capital investment ever, investing nearly $3 billion into modern trains, enhanced stations and facilities, new tunnels and bridges, and other critical infrastructure upgrades. FY23 began a multi-year program of investment that will be the largest capital program in company history.

: Amtrak made its largest annual capital investment ever, investing nearly into modern trains, enhanced stations and facilities, new tunnels and bridges, and other critical infrastructure upgrades. Jobs Created : Welcomed more than 4,800 new hires who are helping to support ridership growth, improve existing service and advance historic infrastructure investments.

: Welcomed more than 4,800 new hires who are helping to support ridership growth, improve existing service and advance historic infrastructure investments. Total Operating Revenue [1]: $3.4 billion , an increase of 20% over FY22, driven by higher ridership and ticket revenue across all service lines.

[1]: , an increase of 20% over FY22, driven by higher ridership and ticket revenue across all service lines. Adjusted Operating Earnings [2]: (752.2 million), an improvement of $130 million over FY22, driven by strong revenue performance and successful cost containment as Amtrak recovers from the significant cost increase experienced during the pandemic and incurs ramp-up costs to support Amtrak's infrastructure investment program.

For full FY23 results, including route-by-route ridership and other highlights, visit https://media.amtrak.com/2023/11/amtrak-fiscal-year-2023-ridership-exceeds-expectations-as-demand-for-passenger-rail-soars/.

About Amtrak

For more than 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and modernized train travel. Offering a safe, environmentally efficient way to reach more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada, Amtrak provides travelers with an experience that sets a new standard. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app. Learn more at Amtrak.com and connect with us on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

1 Includes payments from state partners for State Supported routes

2 Unaudited

SOURCE Amtrak
NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approved Oil Company, an industry leader in energy solutions, is proud to announce a groundbreaking achievement that will reshape the future of transportation in New York City. In a historic move, Approved Oil Company has emerged as a leader in the distribution of Renewable Diesel within the city's borders. This revolutionary step aligns perfectly with the city's green initiatives, aiming to significantly reduce carbon emissions and usher in a new era of clean energy.

Approved Renewable Diesel Truck in Brooklyn, NY Approved Renewable Diesel Truck in Brooklyn, NY

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) has recognized Approved Oil Company's dedication to sustainable solutions and has awarded the company a prestigious multi-year contract. Under this contract, Approved Oil Company will supply Renewable Diesel to the fleets of various New York City agencies, including the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), the New York Police Department (NYPD), the New York Fire Department (FDNY), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the Department of Correction (DOC). By powering these essential agency fleets with Renewable Diesel, Approved Oil Company is playing a pivotal role in driving down carbon emissions and contributing to the realization of New York City's ambitious green initiatives.

Renewable Diesel represents a major advancement in sustainable fuel technology, derived from renewable sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oil. It is molecularly the same as petroleum-based diesel and it meets ASTM International's standard for Diesel Fuel Oils (D-975). Its adoption offers a seamless transition for existing diesel engines, emitting significantly fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases than conventional diesel.

"This momentous partnership with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility," remarked Vincent Theurer, President & CEO at Approved Oil Company. "We are extremely proud to lead the charge in providing cleaner fuel alternatives that align with the city's green objectives. This collaboration underscores our dedication to a greener, healthier future for all New Yorkers."

Approved Oil Company's steadfast commitment to being a leading supplier of sustainable energy solutions is now making a historic impact on NYC's energy landscape. As a local NYC based company, Approved Oil is particularly proud to have secured this landmark multi-year deal to supply the city with renewable diesel thereby contributing in a major way to supporting NYC's green initiatives. Ultimately, this will help pave the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future for all New Yorkers and beyond.

SOURCE Approved Oil Company
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. It is critical to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels as quickly as possible, EU Council President Charles Michel said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action organized on the sidelines of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"We must support the goal of keeping the warming process within 1.5 degrees. And we must break our reliance on fossil fuels as quickly as possible; otherwise, our shared future will be jeopardized. This summit is essentially a moral litmus test: we will assess how well we are meeting our Paris Agreement commitments around the world. Above all, we must do more and act quickly," he said.

Michel stressed that the European Union is fully committed to this issue.

"We aim to continue to take a leading role in this. Our development agenda includes combating climate change. We are executing a set of actions to fundamentally shift our economic development paradigm as a result of the Green Deal and the revision of the 55 percent target. As a result, we have made progress by cutting emissions by 30 percent since 1990. We believe that the carbon pricing mechanism will remain on track, and we encourage others to join us. We are striving to triple our use of renewable energy and double our energy efficiency. We are committed to our collaboration commitments for a just energy transition," he said.

Michel said the EU also supports reform of the Bretton Woods institutions.

"We must bring more fairness, trust, and inclusivity. The European Union is a trustworthy and dedicated partner. The coming decade will be critical, and we are absolutely committed to working with everyone of you to defend humanity," he concluded.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the most recent analysis conducted by We Market Research, the biomass pellets market is on track to reach a value of $17.38 billion by the end of 2033. Looking ahead, the market's prospects appear even more impressive, with projections suggesting a significant increase to $11.57 billion in 2023. This remarkable growth trajectory is underpinned by a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% expected between 2023 and 2033.

Favorable Government Policies and Incentives for Biomass Pellets to boost the growth of biomass pellets market

Governments around the world are implementing supportive policies and incentives to promote the use of biomass pellets as a renewable energy source. This includes feed-in tariffs, renewable energy targets, tax incentives, and grants, which are driving the market growth and encouraging investment in biomass pellet production

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://wemarketresearch.com/sample-request/biomass-pellets-market/1390

Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and RED II: The Renewable Energy Directive is a key policy framework in the European Union (EU) that sets binding targets for the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption. Biomass pellets are eligible for support under this directive, and RED II has further reinforced the sustainability criteria for biomass used in energy production.

Feed-in Tariffs and Premiums: Many European countries have implemented feed-in tariffs and premiums to incentivize the production of renewable energy, including biomass pellets. These mechanisms guarantee a fixed payment or additional premium for electricity generated from biomass pellets, making it financially attractive for producers.

Biomass Pellets Market Report Scope:

Report Attributes Description Market Size in 2022 USD 10.47 Billion Market Forecast in 2033 USD 18.55 Billion CAGR % 2023-2033 5.9 % Base Year 2022 Historic Data 2016-2022 Forecast Period 2023-2033 Report USP Production, Consumption, company share, company heatmap, company production capacity, growth factors and more Segments Covered Raw material and application Regional Scope North America, Europe, APAC, South America and Middle East and Africa Country Scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; France; Italy; Spain; Benelux; Nordic Countries; Russia; China; India; Japan; South Korea; Australia; Indonesia; Thailand; Mexico; Brazil; Argentina; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Egypt; South Africa; Nigeria Key Companies AS Graanul Invest, Pinnacale Renewable Energy Inc., Lignetics, Zilikha Biomass Energy, Enviva Biomass, New England Wood Pellet, Others

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI): The RHI schemes in various European countries, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, provide financial incentives to promote the use of renewable heat sources, including biomass pellets. These incentives support the installation of biomass pellet heating systems in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP): BCAP in the United States offers financial incentives for the establishment, production, and delivery of biomass feedstocks, including those used for biomass pellet production. The program supports the growth of the biomass industry and encourages the adoption of biomass pellets for energy generation.

Production Tax Credits (PTCs) and Investment Tax Credits (ITCs): The U.S. federal government provides tax credits for renewable energy projects, which can benefit biomass pellet producers. PTCs provide a per-kilowatt-hour credit for electricity generated from biomass, while ITCs offer a tax credit for the capital investment in qualifying renewable energy facilities.

Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG): The EEG in Germany provides a feed-in tariff system and priority grid access for renewable energy sources. Biomass pellets market are eligible for support under this policy, and biomass pellet producers can benefit from guaranteed purchase prices for the electricity they generate.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Act: Germany has specific regulations and incentives for combined heat and power plants that use biomass as a fuel source, including biomass pellets. The CHP Act provides financial support, favorable electricity tariffs, and exemption from certain levies for CHP systems that meet the criteria.

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI): The United Kingdom's RHI scheme supports the use of renewable heat sources, including biomass pellets, through financial incentives. Biomass pellet heating systems installed in eligible sectors can receive payments based on the heat generated.

Europe biomass pellets market is set to reach a volume of 54.44 million metric tons by 2033

Europe is positioned to be a game-changer within the biomass pellet market, driven by a combination of factors that align with the region's commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. The European Union's ambitious climate and energy targets, including the European Green Deal and the 2033 Climate and Energy Framework, emphasize a transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. In this context, biomass pellets, derived from organic materials such as wood, agricultural residues, and dedicated energy crops, have gained prominence as a key renewable energy resource.

Several factors contribute to Europe's pivotal role in the biomass pellet market. Firstly, the region's robust regulatory framework and supportive policies, such as the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), create a conducive environment for the production and consumption of biomass pellets. These policies promote the use of biomass for energy generation, emphasizing its role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering a circular economy.

Secondly, Europe's commitment to phasing out coal-fired power plants and achieving carbon neutrality further accelerates the demand for biomass pellets as an alternative, sustainable energy source. Biomass pellets are considered a carbon-neutral fuel, as the carbon dioxide released during combustion is offset by the carbon absorbed during the growth of the source materials.

Thirdly, advancements in technology and sustainable forest management practices in Europe enhance the efficiency and environmental credentials of biomass pellet production. The region's focus on ensuring the sustainability and traceability of biomass feedstocks aligns with the growing global demand for responsibly sourced bioenergy.

Moreover, Europe's well-established infrastructure for biomass supply chains, including logistics, transportation, and storage facilities, positions it as a key player in the global biomass pellet market. The availability of established trading platforms and biomass certification schemes further contributes to the region's influence.

Drive Your Growth Strategy: Purchase the Report for Key Insights!

https://wemarketresearch.com/purchase/biomass-pellets-market/1390?license=single

In conclusion, Europe's proactive approach to renewable energy, coupled with supportive policies, technological advancements, and a commitment to sustainability, positions the region as a game-changer in the biomass pellet market. As the demand for clean and renewable energy sources continues to rise globally, Europe's leadership in this sector not only drives economic growth but also contributes significantly to the ongoing global energy transition.

Competitive Analysis

Some of the major companies operating within the biomass pellets market are AS Graanul Invest, Pinnacale Renewable Energy Inc., Lignetics, Zilikha Biomass Energy, Enviva Biomass, New England Wood Pellet and others.

Enviva Biomass dominated the market with an active share of 8.27% in 2022,followed by New England Wood Pellet with 6.11%.

Have a Look at Related Reports

Green Ammonia Market

Ethanol Market

Active Oxygens Market

Chemical Testing Services Market

Personal Protective Equipment Market

About We Market Research:

WE MARKET RESEARCH is an established market analytics and research firm with a domain experience sprawling across different industries. We have been working on multi-county market studies right from our inception. Over the time, from our existence, we have gained laurels for our deep rooted market studies and insightful analysis of different markets.

Contact Us:

Mr. Robbin Joseph

Corporate Sales, USA

We Market Research

USA: +1-724-618-3925

Websites: https://wemarketresearch.com/

Email: [email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267296/We_Market_Research_Logo.jpg

SOURCE We Market Research
With Blackpoint's fully managed cybersecurity ecosystem now available on the Pax8 cloud marketplace, more MSPs have access to nation-state-grade security delivered by human SOC experts.

ELLICOTT CITY, Md., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackpoint Cyber, the SaaS-based MDR solution provider, today announced that its nation-state-grade cybersecurity ecosystem has entered General Availability in the Pax8 Marketplace. The partnership with Pax8, the leading cloud commerce marketplace, brings elite managed detection and response capabilities to Pax8's distribution platform for managed service providers and their customers.

Blackpoint Cyber protects MSPs and SMBs with a proprietary ecosystem of proactive cybersecurity technologies and services spanning beyond the endpoint, into the cloud and even through SSO identity. By partnering with Pax8, which has cloud-enabled more than 400,000 enterprises via its network of channel partners, Blackpoint is able to equip more MSPs with advanced threat detection capabilities and industry-leading response times.

"Partnering with Pax8 strengthens our position as the premium MSP cybersecurity brand offering true MDR delivered by human SOC experts," said Jon Murchison, CEO and founder of Blackpoint Cyber. "Pax8 shares our commitment to understanding the unique needs of MSPs and prioritizing their success. Partnering with Pax8 means more MSPs will now have easy access to the Blackpoint ecosystem, enabling them to focus on scaling their businesses, with Blackpoint handling the complexities of protecting their customers."

"We are thrilled to welcome Blackpoint Cyber to the Pax8 Marketplace as a leader in the cybersecurity landscape," said Nikki Meyer, Corporate Vice President of Vendor Experience at Pax8. "Our collaboration with a leading vendor like Blackpoint Cyber enhances MSPs' capabilities, allowing them to deliver unparalleled, proactive security protection against evolving cyber threats."

Blackpoint Cyber's offering on the Pax8 Marketplace, Blackpoint Response, gives MSPs comprehensive advanced cybersecurity coverage provided by elite analysts in Blackpoint's security operations center. This makes it the first true MDR service with active, immediate response on behalf of the MSP. Blackpoint Response is a bundled offering of services that offer:

Malware and tradecraft protection in the cloud and on premises

Real-time ransomware response

Vulnerability management

Application control

Managed EDR

Direct access to elite threat hunters and intel experts

In addition, a standalone cloud MDR service is also available. Blackpoint Cloud Response brings the power of MDR to protect Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace environments with expert security monitoring and unified response capabilities.

About Blackpoint Cyber

Blackpoint Cyber is driven by the idea that every organization should have access to nation-state-grade cybersecurity solutions. Through its network of partners, Blackpoint brings a comprehensive security stack coupled with an elite security operations center that delivers industry-leading response times, every time. Founded in 2014 by former Department of Defense security and intelligence experts, Blackpoint's origin is in offensive security solutions that prevent even the most sophisticated threat actor tactics. Blackpoint is the shield businesses need in the unfair fight against cyberthreats, removing the burden of security and enabling businesses to thrive in the evolving threat landscape. To learn more, visit www.blackpointcyber.com.

SOURCE Blackpoint Cyber
Leading Beauty Franchise to Gift More than $1,400 to Grand Prize Winner While Supporting Pediatric Cancer

TORONTO , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of another year of beauty trends, Blo Blow Dry Bar announces a national contest where proceeds will benefit non-profit, St. Jude's. Blo Blow Dry Bar has identified six hair and makeup looks that rose in the ranks in 2023, and are inviting social media users to recreate their favorite look for its "That's a Wrap" contest. The grand prize winner will receive more than $1,400 worth of prizes.

In an industry where trends come and go, Blo Blow Dry Bar aims to celebrate which hair and makeup looks stood out and were the favorites among beauty-lovers. The brand behind the "no cuts, no color  just wash, blow, and go" concept has selected their top looks from this year: 90's Blowout, Return of the Messy Bun, the Barbie Pony, Bubble Braids, Latte Makeup, and Clean Girl Makeup. Starting Friday, December 1 and ending Sunday, December 31, social media users are invited to recreate their favorite look from 2023 and tag Blo Blow Dry Bar in their post.

To enter the "That's a Wrap" contest, participants must complete the following:

Like and/or comment on the contest post on Instagram

Follow @bloheartsyou on Instagram

Tag @bloheartsyou in your post or story recreating your favorite 2023 look

On Tuesday, January 2, the beauty and wellness brand will announce the grand prize winner who will receive a year-long membership to their local Blo Blow Dry Bar (allows for two blowouts a month). Additionally, the winner will receive an exclusive gift basket from UNITE comprised of 7SECONDS Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler, U Oil, BOOSTA Volumizing Spray, TEXTURIZA Hair Texturizing Spray, 7SECONDS Glossing Spray and Le:Play Hairspray (retail value exceeds $300).

In the spirit of the giving season, for each person who comments on the contest kickoff post, Blo Blow Dry Bar will donate $1 to national non-profit, St. Jude's, to support research of pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

"This year, I am especially grateful that we will be able to support St. Jude's," said Vanessa Yakobson, CEO of Blo Blow Dry Bar. "The cause of this organization is near to my heart as I personally battled and overcame pediatric cancer. As we celebrate our industry with this year's top looks, I'm proud that we can do so in a way that makes a positive impact on those who need it."

All contest participants must reside in the U.S. or Canada (excluding Quebec) and the selected winner must be able to go to a Blo Blow Dry Bar. Entries must be made between 10 a.m. ET on December 1 and 11:59 p.m. ET on December 31. The grand prize winner will be announced on January 2 and contacted directly to claim their prize. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram. No purchase is necessary to enter.

Blo Blow Dry Bar creates a space where people of all ages, ethnicities and orientations are welcomed, represented and made to feel gorgeous while emphasizing the need for self-care and wellness. The brand's hair menu includes their signature styles, ranging from sleek and straight to lively and bouncy curls, with customizable options such as braids, ponytails and updos for any occasion. Blo also offers makeup services from expert artists on-hand to help guests look and feel amazing for any occasion.

To learn more about Blo Blow Dry Bar, visit: https://blomedry.com/. Stay connected with the brand on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

About Blo Blow Dry Bar

Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 150 locations across the U.S. and Canada and continues to expand rapidly. The brand has also evolved over time, adding makeup services, a membership program, and quality retail products to its bars. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information visit www.blomedry.com.

Media Contact: Marisa Beaumont, Fishman Public Relations, 847.945.1300, [email protected]

SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar
QUALIFYING DONORS ENTERED INTO RAFFLE FOR MEET AND GREET WITH

CLEVELAND BROWNS RUNNING BACK KAREEM HUNT

MENTOR, Ohio, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cardinal Credit Union, a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative serving the community through high-performance banking products and services, is tackling hunger in the Willoughby-Eastlake School District along with Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt through its food drive benefiting the W-E Care Food Pantry. Twenty-five qualified donors will receive a chance for a meet and greet with Hunt, who is a graduate of Willoughby South High School.

From November 27 through December 9, Cardinal is asking the community to donate non-perishable food items by dropping them off at any of its seven retail branches, where collection bins have been set up.

"Cardinal Credit Union was founded on a mission to serve the community and our motto is People Helping People," said Christine Blake, CEO, Cardinal Credit Union. "What better way for us to give back during this holiday season than to host a food drive for families and individuals who are suffering from food insecurity. Partnering with the W-E Care Food Pantry, Cardinal and Kareem Hunt are uniting to make a difference in the lives of in-need members of our community."

The W-E Care Food Pantry, located within the Northern Career Institute - Eastlake Campus, provides meals and supplies to families who require assistance. It was established more than 20 years ago by a former Willoughby-Eastlake Classified Professionals (WECP) union president as a community service project to support the district's students and families.

Today, more than 150 WECP members manage and run the food pantry during the school year.

The pantry is stocked with a variety of food options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to meet the needs of families. Also available are personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies and paper products. Approximately 50 families utilize the food pantry on a regular basis throughout the school year. During the year when families have temporary emergency needs due to special circumstances, the pantry is able to accommodate them in their time of need.

"We are proud to provide students and their families who are experiencing food insecurity access to meals," said Dr. Patrick Ward, Superintendent of Willoughby-Eastlake Schools. "All food distribution is completed in a confidential and compassionate manner. Student health and well-being is a critical part of a successful school experience, and we are appreciative of the donations that help make this possible for our students and their families."

As part of the push for food donations, Cardinal is offering 25 donors a chance to meet and greet Hunt. To qualify, donors can either provide five non-perishable food items or $10 to receive one entry into a raffle to meet Hunt and have their picture taken on December 12. The 25 winners will be announced and notified by email following a drawing after the 1 pm ET Browns-Jaguars game on December 10.

ABOUT CARDINAL CREDIT UNION

Headquartered in Mentor, Ohio, Cardinal Credit Union is a 70-year-old fiercely independent, member-owned not-for-profit financial cooperative that offers a broad range of banking products and services that people need and use every day  including checking accounts, CDs, credit cards, auto loans, debt-consolidation loans, mortgages and more. As a not-for-profit financial institution, any profits earned by the credit union are returned to its members in the form of fewer fees, lower loan rates, and higher savings interest. Everyone is welcome, and membership is instant. Banking can be done online, via Cardinal's app, or by stopping in at one of its seven branches. For more information, visit the website at https://www.cardinalcu.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT

Janet Brumfield

IdealPR+ for Cardinal Credit Union

[email protected]

614.582.9636

SOURCE Cardinal Credit Union
SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CCELL, the world's leading technology brand focused on creating trendsetting vape hardware products and advanced vaporization technology, showcased its latest heating technologies and hardware products at MJBizCon 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The HeRo Heating Element: Custom-Built for Rosin

CCELL at MJBizCon 2023

Joining the company's family of advanced heating technologies, the CCELL HeRo heating element made its debut at the show. Incorporating cutting-edge technical features such as THC and terpene partitioned atomization, two oil pathways, and an isolated airway for ultimate safety and cleanliness, this new element is dedicated to bringing out the full flavor profiles of Rosin extracts and delivering superior highs that consumers truly enjoy.

As the first product built with HeRo heating technology, the 0.5ml Rosin Bar all-in-one device was highlighted at the show and tested out by members of the industry at CCELL's exclusive afterparty along with the company's other new releases.

EVO Max: Unlocking True Liquid Diamond Compatibility

The company also unveiled its EVO Max heating element, its first heating technology designed for use with liquid diamonds. The innovation focuses on compatibility with liquid diamonds and live resins, providing unmatched flavors and eliminating clogging and burning issues experienced with other products on the market.

Built within the 0.5ml/1ml M6T-EVO Max and TH2-EVO Max cartridges, as well as the 1ml Voca LD all-in-one devices, this technology presents wide-ranging compatibility with various hardware styles, catering to the preferences of diverse audiences.

The Fino 510 Battery: Style, Extensive Voltage Adjustability, and Serious Power

Fino was the company's latest 510 battery product on display, following the launches of Sandwave and Go Stik earlier this year. This new model allows for extended power on the go with its detachable, 1000mAh power dock, capable of providing over five full charges for its 190mAh mini vape battery contained within. Fino also offers eight variable voltage settings, a 10-second preheat function, intuitive LED indicator lights, and a stylish leather case, providing a premium, customizable vaping experience for beginners and connoisseurs alike.

Large-Capacity AIO Line Introductions

Also showcased at the CCELL booth were six large-capacity all-in-one devices featuring oil volume options ranging from 1.5ml-3ml. These AIOs include features such as 10-second preheat functionality, variable voltage, dual air vents, lockability, and more, providing an intuitive and hassle-free vaping experience for all to enjoy.

About CCELL

CCELL is a technology brand and global innovator in the portable vaporizer space that revolutionized the industry by introducing the ceramic heating component. CCELL was born in the headquarters of Shenzhen Smoore Technology Limited, which has more than 10 years of expertise in the vaporization industry. With advanced R&D resources, patented technologies, strong production capabilities, and reliable quality control systems, CCELL is recognized around the world for its exceptional vaporization technology and top-quality devices.

Learn more about CCELL at www.ccell.com as well as on LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube .

SOURCE CCELL
SINGAPORE, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The seventh Singapore-China Legal and Judicial Roundtable convened in Beijing on 28 November 2023. Co-chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and the President and Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of the People's Republic of China, His Excellency Zhang Jun, this year's Roundtable was especially meaningful for both Chief Justices, given Chief Justice Zhang's appointment as President of the SPC in March 2023.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon with Chief Justice Zhang Jun

The two Chief Justices met to deepen the strong bilateral ties between the two judiciaries and expand the scope of judicial cooperation. A clear testament to the enduring friendship and commitment to enhance the delivery of justice in their respective jurisdictions, the Supreme Court of Singapore and the SPC have signed a total of four Memoranda of Understanding and one Memorandum of Guidance between 2017 and 2023. The two judiciaries also jointly launched a compendium of Singapore-China international commercial cases curated for their relevance to the Belt and Road Initiative in 2020. In early 2023, a Strategic Roadmap on the five pillars of bilateral partnership was established to guide the course of future Roundtables.

Speaking at the seventh Roundtable, Chief Justice Zhang reiterated that relations between the two countries were forward-looking, strategic and exemplary. Similarly, Chief Justice Menon said that in the six years since its inception, the Roundtable has established itself as a valuable platform for judicial cooperation and the exchange of ideas and experiences between the two courts. At the Roundtable, both courts shared their best practices and exchanged their perspectives on:

a. The role of judiciaries in building a transnational system of commercial justice;

b. Technical fact-finding mechanism for intellectual property cases;

c. Recent developments in the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments; and

d. Effective and speedy resolution of cases concerning the judicial supervision of arbitration.

During the four-day trip, Chief Justice Menon visited the Beijing Internet Court, the Beijing Intellectual Property Court, and the National Judges College, among others, where he delivered a lecture on "Transnational Commercial Law and the Development of the Modern-day Lex Mercatoria".

For more information, visit www.judiciary.gov.sg

SOURCE Supreme Court of Singapore
Clarius specialized wireless ultrasound scanners now available on national group purchasing agreement to over 4,350 Health Systems and Hospitals and 300,000 other healthcare providers.

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarius Mobile Health has been awarded a Technology Breakthrough Designation in the Ultrasound contract category with Premier, Inc. Effective December 1, 2023, the new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier for Clarius technology.

Clarius specialized wireless ultrasound scanners are now available through the Premier national group purchasing agreement to over 4,350 Health Systems and Hospitals and 300,000 other healthcare providers.

Premier offers Breakthrough Technology designations to innovations that offer a major advantage in terms of patient safety, clinical outcomes, and operational efficiencies. Clarius proved to provide these benefits to Premier members with their broad range of specialty-focused ultrasound scanners, market-leading AI applications, and best-in-class image quality.

"Being awarded Premier's Technology Breakthrough is an important step towards achieving our mission to put accurate, easy-to-use, and affordable ultrasound into the hands of every clinician," says Clarius President and Chief Executive Officer Ohad Arazi. "Point-of-care ultrasound is a critical tool for achieving the quadruple aim in healthcare and Clarius is the ideal portable device for rapid diagnoses and safe ultrasound-guided treatments. We look forward to supporting Premier members in providing the best patient experience, improving health outcomes, enhancing clinician satisfaction, and ultimately reducing healthcare costs."

Powered by artificial intelligence and designed to work wirelessly with current iOS and Android devices, Clarius has miniaturized diagnostic quality ultrasound to the size of a smartphone for ultra portability from patient to patient throughout the hospital. Only Clarius offers a comprehensive line of wireless scanners and advanced specialty packages designed to deliver superior imaging for an extensive range of clinical applications.

"In addition to the actual quality of the image, you're getting it wirelessly. It's on par with any corded device I have," says orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Alan Hirahara. "For me, being able to bring it into the operating room and pop it into a bag that's sterile is so much better than having a cord that could be prone to contaminating the surgical field. And you can place your monitor anywhere because you're not tethered by a cord."

Premier is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 4,300 U.S. hospitals and 300,000 other providers to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, consulting and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost.

About Clarius Mobile Health

Clarius is on a mission to make accurate, easy-to-use, and affordable ultrasound tools available to all medical professionals in every specialty. With decades of experience in medical imaging, the team knows that great ultrasound imaging improves confidence and patient care. Today, Clarius handheld wireless ultrasound scanners connect to iOS and Android devices, delivering high-resolution ultrasound images traditionally only available with bulkier, high-end systems at a fraction of the cost.

Over four million high-definition scans have been performed using Clarius wireless handheld scanners. Clarius scanners are available in over 90 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.clarius.com.

Clarius Media Contact:

Genese Castonguay

Marketing Vice President

Phone: +1 (866) 657-9243 ext. 221 | Direct: +1 (604) 260-7077

SOURCE Clarius Mobile Health
In November, SONGMICS HOME partnered with the team at La SPA's animal shelter in Gennevilliers, leveraging the Clickat Collection to create a joyful playground for cats. Subsequently, the company will also donate cat trees to five other animal shelters as well as food and medicines for stray animals.

"Cats and abandoned animals as a whole, obviously require physical and medical care, but also emotional care, because most of them have experienced abandonment, sometimes have lived on the streets. That's why they have more difficulty forming a bond. It's also very important to work on emotional care so that they can be adopted by a family afterward." said Marjolaine Mathiaud, Manager of Partnerships and Events of La SPA.

Julien, project manager of SONGMICS HOME, noted that SONGMICS HOME is not only committed to building an ideal home for people, but also hopes to help more stray animals find their own loving homes. "We firmly believe that people and pets can live in harmony with each other, and that the companionship and loving interaction with animals can bring infinite joy to our everyday lives," said Julien.

The Clickat Collection, which SONGMICS HOME donates to La SPA, is an innovative cat wall setting new standards for pet product design, with 15 global patents granted. Through in-depth research on cats' natural movements and living habits, the invention team of Clickat Collection provides cats and their families with flexibly-extended, environmental-friendly and durable components. So that people can transform the product set into different forms along with various growing paths of cats effortlessly, which could highly satisfy La SPA's long-term operating demands and practically support their animal-caring projects in the future.

SONGMICS HOME has strived to take on social responsibility for years, trying to use our influence to make a positive impact and give back to the community. We firmly believe that through such collaborative efforts, we can shape a brighter, sustainable and harmonious future between humans and animals.

For more information, please visit:

SONGMICS HOME official website: www.songmics.com

La SPA official website: https://www.la-spa.fr/

About SONGMICS HOME

SONGMICS HOME, officially established in 2010, owns three major product brands including SONGMICS for home furnishings, VASAGLE for stylish furniture, and Feandrea for pet supplies. With the mission of "Complete Your Dream Home", SONGMICS HOME strives to provide global consumers with furnishing products that are "Varied, Valuable, Stylish," enabling everyone to effortlessly create their dream homes. To date, SONGMICS HOME's products have successively entered more than 60 countries and regions, including Europe, North and Central America, and Asia, serving over 20 million families worldwide.

Media contact:

pr@songmicshome.com

SOURCE SONGMICS HOME

 Modal title

PRN Top Stories Newsletters Sign up to get PRNs top stories and curated news delivered to your inbox weekly! Enter Your Email Select Country Select Country Submit Thank you for subscribing!



Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our By signing up you agree to receive content from us.Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . You can withdraw your consent at any time in the footer of every email you'll receive.



Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer Mit Ihrer Anmeldung erklaren Sie sich damit einverstanden, Inhalte von uns zu erhalten.Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Ihre Zustimmung konnen Sie jederzeit in der Fuzeile jeder erhaltenen E-Mail widerrufen.



Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant En vous inscrivant a la newsletter, vous consentez a la reception de contenus de notre part.Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Vous pouvez a tout moment revenir sur votre consentement par le biais des informations situees au bas de chaque e-mail recu.
TEL AVIV, Israel and NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyviation, the first cybersecurity company focusing on aircraft security by providing multiple layers of cyber resilience ranging from fleet assessment and aircrew training to aviation security SIEM and real-time airborne detection, today announced an agreement with Deloitte Canada to offer a combined solution utilizing the firm's extensive cyber security consulting and professional services and Cyviation's advanced aircraft cybersecurity solutions.

The combined solution will initially comprise of three platform offerings that aim to reduce cybersecurity risk exposure, enhance awareness, help manage cyber events and support commercial airlines in developing cyber resilience and prepare for upcoming cyber regulation compliance. The offerings include cyber training and education, fleet cyber risk assessment, and cyber incident management.

"At Cyviation, the trust bestowed by Deloitte fuels our joint market endeavors, amplifying our mutual impact in our go to market effort," said Cyviation's CEO, Avi Tenenbaum. "Our combined offering adds value to the market and is a vital compass for operators and airlines navigating complex cybersecurity challenges and current and upcoming regulations especially around the aircraft and fleet. Together, we're crafting tailored cybersecurity solutions for diverse aviation stakeholders, enabling them to confidently provide safety and security to an industry that faces significant threats."

Following the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) adoption of new rules for cybersecurity risk management, strategy, governance, and incident disclosure by public companies, 64.8% of public company executives say their organizations will strengthen their cybersecurity programs, according to a Deloitte poll. Over half of executives surveyed will also push their third parties to strengthen cyber programs (54.1%) in response to the new SEC rules.

"Deloitte's 2023 Global Future of Cyber survey found that cyber is more than just technology-focusedit is foundational to an organization's growth strategy," said Gregory Lemaire, Partner, Risk Advisory and Cyber Risk at Deloitte Canada. "Cyviation and Deloitte's collaborative efforts not only foster trust but also leverage mutual strengths in the market. Our joint offerings hold immense value for a tailored solution for multiple aviation industry players. Together, we're customizing solutions to cater to a broad spectrum of the aviation industry and meeting the immense demand."

Cyviation focuses on aircraft security including aircraft cyber event management and a patented technology to detect intrusion into the avionics for commercial aircraft and private jets. Aviation cybersecurity ensures safe, secure, and proactive defensive measures and supports airlines and operators' compliance with upcoming regulations.

Chairman Arik Arad of Cyviation expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting its potential impact on the industry. "As cyber threats continue to increase, our steadfast mission persists in empowering the aviation sector with robust defenses and proactive strategies. There have been over 50 recent reports of cyberattacks that have altered planes' in-flight GPS. Amidst unprecedented global risks and escalating cyber threats, equipping the aviation industry with unparalleled safeguards has never been more urgent, and we continue to remain unwavering in our vision."

About Cyviation

Launched in 2021, Cyviation dedicates its resources to shielding commercial airlines and private jets from cyber adversaries. Headquartered in Israel with a presence in New York. The firm's vision encompasses a vast global footprint in its ambitious expansion roadmap. Learn more at cyviation.aero.

Contact:

Brigit Hennaman

Rubenstein Public Relations

bhennaman@rubensteinpr.com

SOURCE Cyviation
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Callan, a leading institutional investment consulting firm, announced today that David Wong, CFA, joined the firm's Alternatives Consulting group as a senior vice president. Based in the San Francisco office, Mr. Wong reports to Pete Keliuotis, executive vice president and head of alternatives consulting at Callan.

With decades of private equity and broader alternatives consulting experience, Mr. Wong will work collaboratively with Callan's institutional clients and consultants to implement private equity portfolios, including direct partnership evaluations, direct co-investment evaluations, and fund-of-funds searches.

"David brings tremendous value to the Callan team, including a deep understanding of the private equity and venture capital industry, as well as a passion for innovation," said Mr. Keliuotis. "We expect him to be a significant contributor to our research, consulting, education, and business development efforts across alternatives at Callan."

Most recently, Mr. Wong was the director of investments at San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, where he managed a multi-billion dollar sovereign wealth/endowment fund for a Native American Indian Tribe that included sourcing external managers, vetting co-investments, manager conviction scoring, private markets pacing, and asset allocation. Prior, he was the director of investments for Tresalia Asset Management and a partner and head of manager research at Fiduciary Research & Consulting.

"I'm thrilled to join Callan to help enhance the firm's alternatives capabilities and support our clients' success in this increasingly important and complex area," said Mr. Wong. "The quality team, cohesive and collaborative culture, nimbleness, and total focus on client success are what drew me to the firm."

Mr. Wong earned an MS in economics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, an MA in international economics and China studies from Johns Hopkins University, and a BBA in finance from The College of William and Mary. He is also a holder of the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

About Callan

Callan was founded as an employee-owned investment consulting firm in 1973. Ever since, we have empowered institutional clients with creative, customized investment solutions backed by proprietary research, exclusive data, and ongoing education. Today, Callan advises clients with more than $3 trillion in total fund sponsor assets, which makes it among the largest independently owned investment consulting firms in the U.S. Callan uses a client-focused consulting model to serve pension and defined contribution plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, independent investment advisers, investment managers, and other asset owners. Callan has six offices throughout the U.S. Learn more at callan.com.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Anathan

[email protected]

415-274-3020

SOURCE Callan LLC
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Western countries' pressure on Azerbaijan and their biased position will not yield results, said First Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) Ali Huseynli within Trend News Agency's "Relevant with Sahil Karimli" project.

"The US and most European countries today, as in previous years, create serious obstacles to the process of normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. These circles have made similar statements before, that if the parties themselves come to any agreement, we will simply support it. We have heard this repeatedly over the past 20 years. Now it has happened, Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity, negotiations on signing a peace treaty with Armenia are underway. Instead of supporting the parties, the US and Europe demonstrate the opposite position," Huseynli noted.

He emphasized that the U.S. and European countries have constantly sought to benefit by acting as intermediaries in these issues.

"Even acting as mediators, they wanted to use it as a tool of pressure on Azerbaijan in the future. And they are trying to continue this policy today. However, the resolute will of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev clearly prevents such threats and attempts to interfere in the political course based on national interests," Huseynli added.

He also mentioned that there is no need for intermediaries to sign a peace treaty and normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He said the sides hold meetings with each other, negotiations are underway and all this will yield results.

During the interview, some regional issues and topics on the agenda were discussed.

Video interview:

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Jason Crabb, Tina Campbell, and Matt Hagee among Featured Artists

JHM.org

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Difference Media releases their highly anticipated live choir album, "Heaven in this Place," available Friday, December 1, 2023, on all major digital platforms, including iTunes and Spotify. This musical masterpiece, and the first live album from the Cornerstone Sanctuary Choir, captures the essence of a transformative worship experience.

DIFFERENCE MEDIA RELEASES SOUL-ENRICHING ALBUM, "HEAVEN IN THIS PLACE" BY CORNERSTONE SANCTUARY CHOIR Post this Your playlist just got an upgrade! Dive into the soul-stirring harmonies of Cornerstone Sanctuary Choir's Live Album, 'Heaven in this Place. The wait is over! Immerse yourself in the beautiful melodies and powerful voices of Cornerstone Sanctuary Choirs LIVE Album, 'Heaven in this Place.' Available now on iTunes, Spotify, and all major digital platforms!

Produced by award-winning producer and orchestrator Bradley Knight and recorded during an electrifying live concert at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, this album delivers both divine harmonies and powerful soloists that take the listener through a spiritual journey.

Featuring acclaimed artists such as GRAMMY and Dove Awards winner Jason Crabb, Tina Campbell (of Gospel duo Mary Mary), and the church's own Lead Pastor and accomplished vocalist Matt Hagee, the album blends traditional gospel sounds with contemporary expressions of faith.

Key Features:

Soul-Stirring Harmonies: Immerse yourself in the beautiful melodies that resonate with the essence of worship.

Renowned Collaborators: The album showcases powerhouse vocals from Jason Crabb, Tina Campbell, and Pastor Matt Hagee, adding an extra layer of depth and emotion.

Divine Musical Journey: Listeners are invited to join the choir on a musical pilgrimage, celebrating the beauty of faith and community.

To experience "Heaven in this Place," listeners can visit iTunes, Spotify, or their preferred digital platform and search for the album title by Cornerstone Sanctuary Choir.

Cornerstone Church encourages supporters to share the news on social media platforms. Tagging @sacornerstone on Twitter and Instagram or @CornerstoneChurch on Facebook will allow fans to join the conversation and be part of this project.

"This project and process has been such a gift," said Cornerstone Church's Pastor Matt Hagee. "To see all of this come to fruition has been nothing short of miraculous. Difference Media, Cornerstone Church, our choir and congregation are so grateful to have contributed to this impactful album." "Heaven in this Place" reminds us all that when we come together, in spirit of unity, worship and thanksgiving, it is as close as we get to experiencing a piece of Heaven here on Earth.

Difference Media, a division of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, features some of the leading names in Gospel music, including Matt Hagee, Cornerstone Sanctuary Choir, John Hagee, and The Hagees. Difference Media works to make a difference in the world by telling the story of God's love and to promote, through music and media, His Word and the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in producing and distributing culturally relevant media content for and to all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages.

SOURCE Hagee Ministries
The mix-and-match collection celebrates the beauty and potential of historic homes.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunn-Edwards DURA is teaming up with the founders of the viral Instagram account Cheap Old Houses , Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein, to launch a paint capsule collection inspired by the duo's discoveries of cheap old houses across the country.

Dunn-Edwards DURA and Cheap Old Houses launch a color collection to inspire historic home renovations Dunn-Edwards DURA and Cheap Old Houses launch a color collection to inspire historic home renovations

The hand-picked selection of 15 hues, from earthy Craftsman yellows and soft pinks to mid-century greens, is designed to be mixed and matched for a palette that feels both personal and rooted in history. While architectural styles and time periods have their own vast and varied color palettes, the collection helps encourage DIYers to think outside the box and channel more dynamic color schemes reflective of a home's story.

City of Pink Angels

Peach

Mid-Century Gem

Country Air

Classic White

Bungalow Gold

Red Contrast

Maize

Almond Milk

Fine Grain

Historic White

Bungalow Taupe

Crisp Muslin

Green Scene

Northern Territory

"Fresh paint can make a house feel fresh and grounded in an appropriate time period, which can, in turn, help you feel right at home," said Elizabeth Finkelstein, Co-Founder of Cheap Old Houses, who has a master's degree in historic preservation. "But it's not as simple as selecting one color for the walls, and another for the trim as we see in newer homes today. Through this capsule collection with DURA, we want to make the experience of selecting a dynamic 'polychrome' paint palette fun and a little simpler by looking to history to highlight colors we think are inspiring and exciting. Old houses don't have to feel stodgy or monotone."

The Finkelsteins started the now-viral Instagram feed @cheapoldhouses in 2016 because they were enchanted with the untapped beauty hidden in so many homes across the country. Since, they have brought together over 2.5 million people who feel the same way, and have helped thousands of people find and restore their own pieces of heaven. The pair recently released the book "Cheap Old Houses: An Unconventional Guide to Loving and Restoring a Forgotten Home," a stunning collection of more than two dozen historic homes across the country, and the stories of how they were lovingly restored.

DIYers looking to tackle a historic home restoration can look forward to the Finkelsteins' return to television in Spring 2024. The duo will be taking their love of older homes to the next level in a new HGTV series, currently in production, in which they'll guide hopeful homebuyers in New York state through the emotional journey of purchasing, preserving and restoring their own property bargains

"Picking out paint color is already an intimidating task, even without feeling the pressure of honoring a home's history," said Jessica Mycek, Lead Color Expert and Innovation Manager at Dunn-Edwards DURA. "The Finkelsteins have truly started a cultural phenomenon around their appreciation and care for restoring older homes. We hope this color collection helps guide and inspire DIYers tackling their own "cheap old house" projects."

Dunn-Edwards DURA is the first direct-to-consumer offering from the pro-trusted Dunn-Edwards, combining a 210-hue-strong Curated Color Palette with Dunn-Edwards signature quality that professionals know and trust. Paints are manufactured in a LEED Gold-certified factory. Beyond top-notch products and colors, DURA offers unparalleled access to interior design-trained color experts through personalized, one-on-one consultations, taking the guesswork out of color selection.

The Dunn-Edwards DURA x Cheap Old Houses Capsule Collection is available at dunnedwardsdura.com and ships nationwide to the continental United States.

About Dunn-Edwards Corporation

Dunn-Edwards is one of the nation's leading manufacturers and distributors of premium architectural, industrial and high-performance paints, coatings and paint supplies. It operates over 150 company stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, and over 100 domestic and 250 international dealer locations in 12 countries. Dunn-Edwards is dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment and produces its coatings in a LEED Gold-certified manufacturing plant. Based in Southern California, the almost 100-year-old company has approximately 1,700 employees. Dunn-Edwards is a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO 4612), one of the world's largest paint companies. For more information, visit www.dunnedwards.com .

SOURCE Dunn-Edwards DURA
LONDON, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As a partner of the Student Energy Summit (SES 2023), BE OPEN had the honour of addressing 650 young people from over 100 countries who gathered at the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). They participated in the international and interdisciplinary programme that strives to prepare young people for a career in the energy transition, showcasing underrepresented voices in the energy space and empowering youth to build important relationships with peers and industry professionals.

Winners of BEOPEN competition at COP28

From November 29 to December 1, united by the theme Reimagining the Future, SES 2023 provided delegates with the knowledge and connections needed to take on local energy challenges and pursue their own projects.

It became the largest youth-led energy event in the world that provides space for hundreds of young people to collaborate on sustainable energy solutions. The organisers enabled the participation of youth from diverse backgrounds, especially young people from marginalized communities and developing countries, who had the opportunity to amplify their capacities and scale up their clean energy projects.

Founder of BE OPEN Elena Baturina welcomed the participants and stressed that BE OPEN's SDG programme clearly demonstrated the importance of new energy initiatives: "Over the five years of our competition programme, sustainable energy solutions have played a major role in achieving all of the development goals our competitions focused on". She added that "educating and motivating young people to become leaders of the energy sector by offering them a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas, a nutritious soil for growth, is the best way forward to achieving a better future for all."

To support these statements, the foundation shared the results of its SDG-themed student competition programme that chooses to focus on one particular goal every year, and has so far covered SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG2: Zero Hunger, and SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy. BE OPEN invited the delegates from all over the world to develop and submit their projects to the ongoing competition Design Your Climate Action dedicated to SDG13: Climate Action.

Among the delegates of the Summit, there were four winners of BE OPEN's latest competition Better Energy by Design, their attendance being part of their award in addition to cash grants. Those were the 2nd prize winner Qin Zhou from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in China, the Public Vote prize winners Iwana Raydan and Mirjam Hoescht from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and the Founder's Choice prize winner Kevin Sulca, Universidad Nacional de Ingeneria, Peru.

The Summit ended with a visit to the Green Zone of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, by far the largest and most influential climate, energy and sustainability-related event in the world. In the Green Zone the delegates attended a number of panel sections on Energy Diplomacy, Energy Security and Private Sector Action.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2290541/BE_OPEN_Foundation.jpg

SOURCE BE OPEN Foundation
LEHI, Utah, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PCF Insurance Services, a top 20 U.S. insurance broker, today announced that Peter C. Foy is transitioning from Founder, Chairman and CEO to Founder and Chairman. Foy has appointed current CFO & COO Felix Morgan to CEO, ensuring continuity and acceleration of the company's growth strategy.

As Founder and Chairman of the board of directors, Foy will expand his capacity as an ambassador of the company, primarily focusing on internal and external relationships and supporting M&A activities.

Peter C. Foy is transitioning from Founder, Chairman and CEO to Founder and Chairman of PCF Insurance Services Felix Morgan, current CFO & COO has been appointed to CEO of PCF Insurance Services

Morgan has 20+ years of leadership experience, including great success with mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity, capital markets, and intensive growth achievement. He built his professional reputation on the ability to drive profitable growth for multibillion-dollar, private equity owned, Fortune 500 and Fortune 50 public companies.

"Felix will continue his leadership of our company as we drive expansion and value for partners, investors, and agencies. I'm excited to hand this role to a trusted partner who can lead PCF into the future," said Foy.

A recent recipient of Insurance Business America's Hall of Fame award, Foy is an insurance industry veteran and entrepreneur with more than 35 years of distinguished service. Having founded his own benefits agency Peter C. Foy & Associates in 1987, he quickly grew his agency to be one of the largest insurance agencies in the greater Los Angeles area. Foy continued to expand his business through partnerships with like-minded entrepreneurs and agencies, and as a result, PCF Insurance Services was formed in 2017 under Foy's vision to provide growth support and shared services to all its acquired agencies.

Under Foy's leadership, PCF Insurance secured its first investor in 2017 and completed its first acquisition in 2018 that would serve as the catalyst for an incredible expansion and growth trajectory, completing its 215th acquisition by year-end 2022.

Foy and Morgan led the company through a successful management-led buyout from its investors in November 2021 with a valuation of $2.2 billion. In February 2023, they secured a $500 million private equity investment, and at the time of investment, the valuation of PCF Insurance was $4.7 billion, followed by an additional $400 million in incremental financing in August to further fund the expansion and acceleration of its M&A strategy.

"Peter is a true pioneer and visionary of our industry. His entrepreneurial spirit and passion for bringing extraordinary people together built PCF Insurance and has paved the way for our collective success. With him stepping into this role and freeing him from day-to-day operations, I'm confident that PCF will reap the benefits of his innovative and strategic vision, and I am excited to continue to work side-by-side with Peter and his leadership," says Morgan.

About PCF Insurance Services

A top 20 U.S. broker headquartered in Lehi, Utah, PCF Insurance Services is a leading full-service consultant and insurance brokerage firm offering a broad array of commercial, life and health, employee benefits, and workers' compensation solutions. Propelled by its people, PCF Insurance's people-centric operating model and entrepreneurial environment support its tremendous growth profile. Ranked #20 on Business Insurance's 2023 Top 100 Brokers and #13 on Insurance Journal's 2022 Top Property/Casualty Agencies, PCF Insurance is a notable leader in the insurance space, with 3,500 employees across the U.S. Learn more at pcfins.com.

SOURCE PCF Insurance Services
Social care platform expands its storytelling initiative with a short documentary about Siloam Wellness, a Philadelphia-based mind, body, and spiritual wellness center for those living with HIV and AIDS.

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Findhelp is releasing a short documentary about Siloam Wellness , a mind, body, and spiritual wellness center in Philadelphia for those living with HIV and AIDS on December 1, the 35th World AIDS Day. Findhelp is a technology company simplifying the process of connecting people with help. They've built a comprehensive platform of products and services that make it easy to find resources for people, follow them on their journey, and track the impact in a fast and reliable way.

Living Positive is a 24-minute documentary highlighting the work of Siloam Wellness, an organization co-founded by Sister Bernadette Kinniry in 1995. Through interviews with Siloam's clients, the film explores the persistent stigma and other challenges experienced by those living with HIV/AIDS, as well as the importance of safe spaces where individuals can truly be themselves.

Findhelp is releasing a short documentary about Siloam Wellness, a mind, body, and spiritual center in Philadelphia Post this

"For years we've come across thousands of inspiring stories about people who have dedicated their lives to helping others. Oftentimes, these jobs come with high stress and little recognition. We want to tell these stories in the hopes of shining a light on the impact people and organizations can have in someone else's life," said Erine Gray, Founder and CEO of findhelp. "What I love about this film is that it focuses on how one organization chose to make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV. Something beautiful was created from an idea in Philadelphia that has grown into an organization providing group therapy for folks all over the United States."

Findhelp is proud to have a role in connecting those in need with Siloam's services. "Findhelp helps get the people to Siloam's door," said Sabrina DiBianca, Executive Director of Siloam Wellness. "When watching the film for the first time with some of Siloam's friends and volunteers, I cried. The sensitivity of the subject and the stigma that this community still experiences can bring you down some days. But, the people who visit Siloam have taught us about faith, hope, and not letting life beat you down no matter how hard the circumstances can feel; we were just awestruck at the terrific depiction of the heart and soul of Siloam."

About Siloam

Siloam Wellness, co-founded by a Catholic nun and a priest in 1995, stands as a non-religious nonprofit embracing diversity and inclusivity. The organization incorporates a wide array of therapies, including traditional Eastern practices such as meditation, reiki, and tai chi. It also provides a variety of in-person and online support groups for people living with the virus, as well as survivors of trauma and grief. This holistic approach reflects Siloam's commitment to providing care tailored to the unique needs of the community it serves.

Siloam's programming operates as a vital supplement to medical treatment for individuals living with HIV and AIDS. Recognizing the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, Siloam addresses the holistic needs of its clients. By fostering mental and emotional strength, Siloam empowers individuals to maintain their physical health and navigate the challenges of living with HIV and AIDS.

Co-founder Sister Bernadette Kinniry, now in her 80s and still actively involved, exemplifies a lifelong commitment to providing support for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Sarina DiBianca, Siloam's Executive Director, continues the organization's legacy of compassion and care.

About findhelp films

Findhelp films is part of a documentary storytelling initiative created by findhelp in 2019. Its purpose is to seek out and help tell stories about the inspiring people and organizations that are doing incredible work in their communities. We hope to introduce viewers to memorable characters who exemplify kindness, ingenuity, and grit in their efforts to help others. Findhelp is a great resource for finding these stories, since hundreds of customers and thousands of community-based organizations around the United States are using the findhelp platform to connect people to help with dignity and ease - and we get to showcase the impact they are having in their communities.

About Living Positive

Directed by Jim Tuttle, "Living Positive" delves into the heart of Siloam Wellness, showcasing the transformative power of acceptance and understanding. With a runtime of 24 minutes, the documentary provides a compelling snapshot of Siloam's impact on the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS.

In the spirit of fostering awareness and promoting dialogue, "Living Positive" will be available for free on YouTube starting December 1, the 35th World AIDS Day. Findhelp encourages organizations to share this powerful documentary within their communities, amplifying its message and contributing to the broader conversation surrounding HIV/AIDS.

Links + Other Resources

About findhelp

Findhelp is the company modernizing America's social safety net by simplifying the process of connecting people with help. We've built a comprehensive platform of products and services that make it easy to find resources for people, follow them on their journey, and track the impact in a fast and reliable way. Our industry-leading social care network includes more than half a million local, state, and national programs that serve every ZIP Code in the country, from rural areas to major metropolitan centers. Findhelp is headquartered in Austin, Texas and has been enabling healthcare, government, education and other organizations with privacy and security, since 2010.

For more information, visit https://company.findhelp.com .

SOURCE Findhelp
BATESVILLE, Miss., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gastroenterology Associates of North Mississippi (GANM) is excited to announce the expansion of its services to Panola Medical Center effective January 1st, 2024.

The choice to extend services at Panola Medical Center reflects GANM's commitment to prioritizing local community care and accessibility. With this expansion GANM is focusing on minimizing travel for patients and ensuring efficient access to medical center facilities while upholding the highest standards in patient care.

Logo

Dr. S. Todd Threadgill, Founder and Gastroenterologist at GANM, emphasized, "Expanding to Panola Medical Center reinforces our dedication to patient-centered GI health care. We're excited to offer gastroenterological services closer to our patients, prioritizing accessibility."

Panola Medical Center CEO, Chris Ware, expressed enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Gastroenterology Associates of North Mississippi to Panola Medical Center. GANM shares our commitment to delivering exceptional healthcare services that directly benefit the local community."

This partnership with Panola Medical Center reflects GANM's longstanding mission to offer the highest quality healthcare within a compassionate, respectful, and caring environment. For more information on GANM and/or to schedule an appointment, please visit www.ganm.net or call (662) 234-9888.

About Gastroenterology Associates of North Mississippi (GANM):

For more than 30 years, Gastroenterology Associates of North Mississippi has been the leading provider of diagnostic and therapeutic gastroenterology care in our region.

GANM's five board-certified physicians and three Advanced Practice Providers offer special expertise in treating digestive issues and diseases. GANM's mission is to excel in providing top-tier healthcare in a compassionate environment while fostering continuous improvement and maintaining the highest standards in GI Health.

About Panola Medical Center:

Panola Medical Center, a 96-bed hospital located in Batesville, MS, has been dedicated to delivering compassionate and high-quality healthcare services since its inception in 2001. The facility offers a wide array of medical services, including emergency care, surgery, radiology, labor and delivery, cardiopulmonary services, and primary care, among others.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Maria Khan

[email protected]

SOURCE Gastroenterology Associates of North Mississippi
NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Charvi Gupta, a Director at Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC (getzlerhenrich.com), one of the nation's oldest and most respected middle-market corporate restructuring and operations improvement firms, has been honored as one of the American Bankruptcy Institute's (ABI) 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders in Insolvency Practice for 2023. The recognition, which identifies and honors 40 professionals who have demonstrated outstanding ability, leadership, and achievement in the bankruptcy and restructuring community, was presented to Ms. Gupta at the ABI's 2023 Winter Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Ms. Gupta joined Getzler Henrich in 2018 and has over ten years of experience across corporate turnarounds, operational and financial restructuring, M&A, and bankruptcy situations. She has extensive experience working with companies to address liquidity issues, develop cost reduction plans, implement process improvements, and improve profitability. She has worked across multiple industries such as healthcare, retail, restaurants, commercial real estate and hospitality, automotive, security and alarms, and consumer.

Commenting on Ms. Gupta's ABI recognition, Joel I. Getzler, Co-Chairman of Getzler Henrich said, "We are very proud of Charvi. She is truly one of our rising stars. She is a highly accomplished professional who has contributed significantly to the success of numerous client engagements. Her ABI honor is further recognition of her ability and achievements at both Getzler Henrich and within our profession."

William H. Henrich, Co-Chairman of Getzler Henrich continued, "Charvi's diversified experience addressing a variety of challenged companies' performance and operational issues across a broad spectrum of industries has been a valuable resource to our clients. We look forward to her further growth and leadership in the years to come."

Previously, she was an associate at an investment bank in New York, focusing on M&A and private placements in the healthcare industry and an analyst at an investment bank in Mumbai and Hong Kong, where she focused on M&A, debt, and equity transactions in the consumer and retail space. She has also worked in project finance at a leading infrastructure company in Mumbai.

Ms. Gupta is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and serves on the NY Chapter's NextGen committee. She is also a member of the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation and serves on the Finance committee and is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Ms. Gupta has an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MS in Finance from the University of Rochester, and a BA in Economics and Statistics from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

ABOUT ABI : ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 10,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abi.org .

ABOUT GETZLER HENRICH & ASSOCIATES LLC : Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC, a Hilco Global Company (www.hilcoglobal.com), is one of the nation's oldest and most respected names in middle-market corporate restructuring and operations improvement and has successfully worked with thousands of companies to achieve growth and profitability. Working with a wide range of companies, including publicly held firms, private corporations, and family-owned businesses, Getzler Henrich's expertise spans more than fifty industry sectors, from "new economy" technology and service firms to "old economy" manufacturing and distribution businesses. For more information on Getzler Henrich's expertise, please visit: getzlerhenrich.com.

SOURCE Getzler Henrich & Associates
DUBLIN, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

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

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/c5k30

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
In response to the mental health crisis facing young adults today, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter enables Hilinski's Hope to pilot this groundbreaking program for high school students

MONTGOMERY, Ala., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilinski's Hope Foundation (H3H), founded by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the legacy of their son Tyler, today announced the launch of "H3H's Mental Health Support Series " - a six lesson learning series for 9th-12th grade Alabama high school students focused on teaching mental health basics and putting mental health care on par with physical health. The first year of the program will pilot the modules for high school students and educators across the state, with the goal to research the effectiveness of course material and ultimately increase the number of students reached year over year.

"The Alabama Legislature recognizes the importance of mental health and the associated services the state provides, so we are continuing to dedicate unprecedented funding and resources to ensure that those who need help receive help," said Nathaniel Ledbetter, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives. "In addition to the progress we have made over the last few years, partnering with Hilinski's Hope Foundation to bring the Mental Health Support Series to Alabama high school students will have a positive impact on the lives of students for decades to come."

"H3H's Mental Health Support Series" was created in partnership with the NCAA and Prevention Strategies and will provide the educational resources and platform to high school students in the following online lessons:

Stigma - Define stigma and examine how you perceive mental health stigma in your own life.

- Define stigma and examine how you perceive mental health stigma in your own life. Mental Health Scale - Examine reasons for stigma and consider how the mental health scale can help us frame how we think about mental health.

- Examine reasons for stigma and consider how the mental health scale can help us frame how we think about mental health. Emotions are Information - Learn how mental health is reflected in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

- Learn how mental health is reflected in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The Power Of Our Thoughts - Introduce key skills related to understanding and talking about your own mental health.

- Introduce key skills related to understanding and talking about your own mental health. Help Seeking - Demystify what happens in counseling and therapy, and address potential concerns about seeking help for mental health.

- Demystify what happens in counseling and therapy, and address potential concerns about seeking help for mental health. Being An Upstander - Practice skills for supporting and communicating with a friend or family member who may be struggling with their mental health.

"Hilinski's Hope believes that all students deserve access to the best possible source of mental health education and that's why we are so proud to partner with the state of Alabama to introduce students statewide to our support series," said Mark Hilinski, co-founder of Hilinski's Hope.

By sponsoring this program, the state of Alabama will increase awareness, reduce the stigma around mental health discussion, provide hope for those suffering in silence, and protect the future mental health worries of students.

"As an advocate for students' mental health, I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with fellow advocates in Alabama and across the nation. Drawing from personal experiences with depression, I understand the importance of raising awareness and allocating resources to combat these challenges,'' said Alabama State Representative Jeremy Gray. "By supporting and securing funding for the Hilinski's Hope Foundation's mental health pilot programs, we're not just investing in our students' well-being; we're making a steadfast commitment to their brighter and healthier future."

For more information on Hilinski's Hope's "Mental Health Support Series" or to get started today, please contact [email protected].

About Hilinski's Hope Foundation

Hilinski's Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to promote awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student athletes. The Foundation's mission is to educate, advocate, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, while funding programs that provide student-athletes with the tools and resources that support their mental health and wellness. Founded in 2018 by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the life of their son Tyler, H3H helps colleges and universities save lives, eliminate stigma, and scale mental wellness programs for student-athletes. H3H does this by sharing Tyler's story, connecting students with mental health resources, and assisting universities to institutionalize best practices.

SOURCE Hilinski's Hope Foundation
Total Sales Up 11% in November; 16 Consecutive Months of Total Sales Growth

Hyundai Sets Best-Ever November Total and Retail Sales for the Brand

Best All-Time Tucson and Santa Fe HEV Total Sales

November Total Sales Records for IONIQ 5, Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Tucson PHEV, and Palisade

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America reported best-ever total November sales of 70,079 units, an 11% increase compared with November 2022. This is the 16th month in a row Hyundai has seen increases in total sales. Hyundai set total sales records in November for IONIQ 5 (+99%), Santa Fe (+6%), Santa Fe HEV (+236%), Tucson (+36%) Tucson PHEV (+532%) and Palisade (+59%). All-time total sales records were set for Tucson and Santa Fe HEV.

"We're very pleased with the strong sales and steadfast support from our retail partners, leading us to a 16th consecutive month of increased total sales," said Randy Parker, CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "This exceptional performance extends across our entire brand, with notable strength in our line-up of SUVs, a significant driver of our continued success."

November Retail Highlights

Hyundai sold 58,027 retail units in November, a 3% year-over-year increase from November 2022. November retail sales were led by IONIQ 5, Santa Fe HEV, Tucson, Palisade and Kona. Hyundai eco-friendly vehicle sales of 10,695 represented a 42% year-over-year increase. SUVs represented 82% of the retail sales mix.

November Total Sales Summary



Nov-23 Nov-22 % Chg 2023 YTD 2022 YTD % Chg Hyundai 70,079 63,305 +11 % 726,031 652,207 +11 %

November Product and Corporate Activities

Model Total Sales

Vehicles Nov-23 Nov-22 % Chg 2023 YTD 2022 YTD % Chg Accent 0 687 0 % 31 17,669 -100 % Elantra 8,813 11,040 -20 % 125,572 105,434 +19 % Ioniq 0 2 0 % 0 3,672 0 % Ioniq 5 2,372 1,191 +99 % 30,657 21,262 +44 % Ioniq 6 1,386 0 0 % 10,943 0 0 % Kona 6,991 5,562 +26 % 71,436 57,022 +25 % Nexo 20 8 +150 % 216 383 -44 % Palisade 9,185 5,763 +59 % 75,113 75,294 -0 % Santa Cruz 2,396 3,180 -25 % 34,034 32,993 +3 % Santa Fe 13,497 10,955 +23 % 119,359 107,890 +11 % Sonata 2,321 6,216 -63 % 42,122 48,250 -13 % Tucson 21,382 16,059 +33 % 190,200 156,750 +21 % Veloster 0 25 0 % 6 1,901 -100 % Venue 1,716 2,617 -34 % 26,342 23,687 +11 %

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 1. The opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit organized on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28 has started in the city of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the event.

President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the President of Azerbaijan.

First, a family photo was taken.
DUBLIN, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electric Bus Market in India 2023 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



In FY 2023, a total of 1,919 unit of electric buses were sold in the country, and by the end of FY 2028 around 41,566 e-buses are expected to be sold expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~89.21% during the FY 2024 - FY 2028 period.



The electric bus market in India is currently in its early stages of development. As of July 2023, approximately 3,000 electric buses have been registered, with pending orders nearing 7,000 units. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat together contribute to over 75% of the total registrations.



Over the last couple of years, the e-bus market in India has undergone significant expansion, propelled by factors such as increased demand aggregation, standardization initiatives, advancements in product technology, and enhancements in charging infrastructure.

The government's initiative to electrify fleets and the endeavours of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in creating integrated electric vehicle ecosystems have emerged as key catalysts for the notable growth of e-buses in the country. Consequently, a substantial increase in the penetration of electric buses is anticipated over the next 5-7 years.

This landscape is expected to undergo significant transformation due to the Indian Government's strong emphasis on promoting cleaner public transportation and substantial investments planned for mobility infrastructure. Both the Central and state governments are actively supporting electric vehicles (EVs) through a range of incentives, including the FAME II scheme, PLI scheme, road tax exemptions, and reduced GST.



Key trends:



The electric bus (e-bus) category has demonstrated notably higher electric vehicle (EV) integration compared to other vehicle segments across the three primary electric vehicle sales states.

Specifically, penetration rates are recorded at 15% in Uttar Pradesh (UP), 12% in Karnataka, and 8% in Maharashtra. The substantial growth of the electric bus market in India in recent years can be attributed to factors such as heightened consumer demand, standardized products, technological advancements, and enhancements in charging infrastructure.



The progression of technology, leading to improvements in charging efficiency, extended range, and the anticipated decrease in battery prices (which constitute 40% of the overall vehicle cost), is expected to propel the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the bus sector. Several states have implemented pro-electric vehicle policies, complete with specified targets for e-bus penetration.



Analyzing the outlined policy frameworks and targets for electric buses, it is evident that state and city road transport corporations (STUs) alone present a cumulative annualized potential exceeding 15,000 e-buses.

Competitive landscape

Ashok Leyland Limited

Eicher Motors Limited

JBM Auto Limited

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited

Olectra Greentech Limited

Tata Motors Limited

Hyundai Motor India Limited

PMI Electro Mobility Solutions Private Limited

Switch Mobility Automotive Limited

VE Commercial Vehicles Limited





Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1: Executive summary



Chapter 2: Socio-economic indicators



Chapter 3: Introduction

3.1. Market definition and structure

3.1.1. Comparison among types of charging and battery swapping in e-buses



Chapter 4: Market overview

4.1. India e-bus market overview

4.1.1. Market size and growth forecast (FY 2022 - FY 2028e)

4.2. Current market scenario

4.3. Total number of e-bus deployed in major states in India



Chapter 5: Business model

5.1. Business model



Chapter 6: Technology landscape

6.1. Key technologies used by electric buses



Chapter 7: Government policies

7.1. Central government policies



Chapter 8: Market trends

8.1. Market trends



Chapter 9: Market influencers

9.1. Market drivers

9.2. Market challenges



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fyzno5

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
VANCOUVER, BC and HOUSTON, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE: IBAT), is pleased to announce that it plans to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 1,649,243 units (each, a "Unit") for a price of CAD$0.70 per Unit, for total proceeds of up to USD $850,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will permit the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $0.82 for a period of 24 months from closing of the Private Placement. The Private Placement is expected to close on December 8, 2023, but may close in more than one tranche.

The proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to fund the Company's ongoing operations and other general corporate expenditures. The Company expects that officers and directors of the Company, namely Garry Flowers, Daniel Christie and John Burba, will purchase Units under the Private Placement.

The Units are being offered pursuant to available prospectus exemptions, including sales to accredited investors. Completion of the Private Placement is subject to regulatory approval including, but not limited to, the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance under Canadian Securities laws and will also be restricted securities under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Board Changes

The Company also announces that Foy Wyman Morgan and Maria Echaveste have resigned from the Company's board of directors and have been appointed to the Company's Advisory Committee. The Company is grateful to Mr. Morgan and Ms. Echaveste for their contributions during their tenure as directors and is pleased that it will continue to benefit from their experience and expertise as advisors of the Company.

The Company is also in discussions with respect to a proposed appointment of a senior officer of the Company, and it is anticipated that this individual will participate in the Private Placement.

TSX Venture Exchange Listing Application

The Company is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval (the "Conditional Approval") to list on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Conditional Approval remains subject to certain conditions that the Company intends to satisfy in due course. Accordingly, a date for the listing of the common shares of the Company on the TSXV, and concurrent de-listing from the Canadian Securities Exchange, has not been set. The Company expects to trade under the ticker symbol "DLE". Management of the Company believes that a listing on the TSXV, one of the world's largest global public venture markets, will benefit the Company by giving it exposure to a larger audience of institutional investors.

Related Party Transaction

Each of Messrs. Flowers, Christie, Burba and any other senior officer or director of the Company that participates in the Private Placement is a "related party" of the Company, as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Accordingly, the Placement is a related party transaction pursuant to MI 61-101. Under Section 5.4 and 5.6, the Company is required to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval for the Placement, respectively, unless exemptions are available.

The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation requirement and the minority shareholder approval requirement under Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), as at the time the transaction was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the Private Placement, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeds 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization.

As the specific participation of each related party that the company expects will participate in the Private Placement has not been confirmed as of the date hereof, additional information required under MI 61-101 will be provided in the Company's material change report with respect to the Private Placement, including a description of the interest of all related parties in the Private Placement and effect on the percentage of the securities of the Company held by each related party who participated.

About International Battery Metals Ltd.

The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within 10 days of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer from which it is extracted. The Company's unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Garry Flowers"

Garry Flowers, CEO

Neither 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 may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Forward  looking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the plans and objectives of the Company, including statements with respect to the Private Placement including the overall size of the Private Placement, the anticipated closing date of the Private Placement, and the use of proceeds from the Private Placement; statements related to the anticipated appointment of senior officer of the Company, as well as statements with respect to completion of the TSXV listing and the benefits the Company anticipates to realize from it. The use of any of the words "will", "expected", "view", "believes" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including the risk that the Private Placement is not completed, regulatory risks, including the risk that the Canadian Securities Exchange objects to the Placement or any of aspect of it, and the risk that the Company is unable to satisfy the conditions of the TSXV's Conditional Acceptance. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties of the Company's business are contained in the Company's public filings which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statement made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

IR Contact:

Ken Dennard

Dennard Lascar Investor Relations

[email protected]

International Battery Metals Ltd.

Royal Centre, Suite 1750 1050 West Georgia St.,

Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3P3

[email protected]

https://www.ibatterymetals.com/

CSE: IBAT

SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd.
Multi-Generational and Woman-Owned Farmer Moves to the Top Leaf Grower of One of the Planet's Healthiest Foods

EAST FREETOWN, Mass., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Founded in 1976 by Bob and Barbara Sanderson, who have been credited as pioneers of the U.S. commercial sprouting industry and now headed by niece, Elizabeth Reilley, Jonathan Sprouts, Inc announced the acquisition of Pennsylvania-based The Sproutman today. All produce grown and distributed by The Sproutman will be rebranded as Jonathan Spouts and the procurement now makes Jonathan Sprouts available from the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest throughout the Northeast U.S. As of December 1, 2023 Jonathan Sprouts will provide The Sproutman's accounts with the same high-quality produce and service they have come to rely on.

Jonathan Sprouts

Elizabeth Reilley and cousin Rich Wolfe took the reins of the multi-generational organic sprout farming operation in August 2021. Despite the unexpected passing of Wolfe, 55 (February 2022), Reilley has carried on to grow the company. Jonathan Sprout's farming headquarters will remain in Rochester and East Freetown, Massachusetts.

"The organic green sprout sector has always been relatively small," commented Elizabeth Reilley, CEO of Jonathan Sprouts and Convention Committee member of the International Sprout Growers Association (an organization dedicated to strengthening the U.S. and global sprout markets), "but the added struggles brought on by the pandemic culled it down further. When The Sproutman's founder, Murray Tizer, informed me of his plans to retire after three decades of supplying sprouts to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, we both felt it was essential to keep one of the earth's most nutritional foods available to all retailers without interruption. We are grateful to Mr. Tizer for his contributions to the American sprouting industry and wish him a well-deserved and happy retirement."

Jonathan Sprouts CEO, Elizabeth Reilley began work in the family business in the 1980's, while still in high school. Before returning to Jonathan Sprouts in 2007, she developed her own career in Sales and Marketing where she served as the National Sales Manager for Guess Jeans and Danskin and provided PR for The Estee Lauder Companies.

About: Jonathan Sprouts, Inc., founded in 1976 by pioneers of the commercial sprout growing industry, has become one of the most venerable and now the largest grower of green sprouts in the U.S. The USDA Organic, Army, Kosher and GSFI / SQF-certified produce can be found in most major grocers and food service distributors throughout the Northeast, including Whole Foods, Stop and Shop, Giant, Market Basket, Hanaford Brothers, Price Chopper, Shop Right, Four Seasons Produce, Albert's Organics, Sysco, Fresh Point, and Baldor.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Reilley

617-406-9563

369390@email4pr.com

SOURCE Jonathan Sprouts
JACKSON, Miss., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson State University officially introduced Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D., as its 13th president during a press conference held on his fourth day in office, Nov. 30. Thompson addressed the media and expressed that students are the top priority of his administration.

"I believe in exercising a shared vision for running this university because we all play an integral role in shaping how students experience this great institution. Our students are my priority and will be the North Star of my administration," Thompson iterated.

Jackson State University's newly appointed president, Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D., addresses the media during his first press conference on Nov. 30, 2023. (JSU / Charles A. Smith)

A JSU alum, Thompson shared that he will speak with faculty and staff emphasizing the importance of customer care. He also listed financial stability and bridge building as top priorities of his administration.

"I want to build upon the existing strategic plan that focuses on accountability, attention to detail, customer care, and financial sustainability," Thompson said.

Thompson earned a bachelor's degree in history and Spanish and a master's degree in education from Mississippi College. He holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University.

Thompson credited his decades-long career in education and his time serving as the deputy commissioner and chief administrative officer of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning for his familiarity with the current JSU administration.

"This advantage allows me to hear from their experiences what's working and what needs improving," Thompson told the media and JSU faculty and staff in attendance.

While addressing campus safety measures, Thompson shared that he plans to move into the president's house to have first-hand knowledge of the experience of residential students.

"We're going to be neighbors. I try to run a few miles a day, so I plan to jog around the campus inspecting grounds as I go," Thompson shared. "This is my home, too, and I want everyone to feel safe day and night."

Thompson announced that he will launch his first president's tour in the spring and plans to travel to different cities to meet with prospective students and alumni. While on tour, he also plans to meet with high school guidance counselors and principals to strengthen pipelines for talented students to attend JSU.

Thompson concluded by asking everyone to take their passion for the university and turn it into productivity to help JSU students be successful.

"I hope you can feel my excitement and passion for Jackson State University," said Thompson. "This institution is ripe with research innovation, creativity and opportunity that the world is thirsting for! We are prepared to meet this moment, and I am ready to help our students become who they are meant to be."

SOURCE Jackson State University
WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who died today, was a long-time friend and supporter of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).

She was delighted to recognize those who shared her passion for civics education and played an active role in choosing the recipients of NCSC's Sandra Day O'Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education.

As an Arizona state senator, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge, an Arizona Court of Appeals judge and a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice, Justice O'Connor was always known for her remarkable intellect and insatiable curiosity.

"Justice O'Connor's legacy as a jurist and civics education advocate will live on for generations to come," said NCSC Board Chair and Conference of Chief Justices President Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, Chief Judge of the DC Court of Appeals.

NCSC President Mary McQueen spoke with Justice O'Connor several times over the years about state courts.

"At our first meeting, the White opinion (Republican Party of Minn. v. White) and the political challenges facing an elected state judiciary were at the forefront of her concerns about the state courts," McQueen said. "As a former state senator in Arizona, Justice O'Connor had worked diligently to adopt and implement a system of judicial merit selection in her home state. Her major concerns were the impact that campaign financing and partisan politics in rough-and-tumble judicial elections might have on judicial independence."

Justice O'Connor made that clear in her concurring opinion in White: "I join the opinion of the Court but write separately to express my concerns about judicial elections generally  Minnesota has chosen to select its judges through contested popular elections instead of through an appointment system or a combined appointment and retention election system. In doing so, the State has voluntarily taken on the risks to judicial bias. As a result, the State's claim that it needs to significantly restrict judges' speech in order to protect judicial impartiality is particularly troubling. If the State has a problem with judicial impartiality, it is largely one the State brought upon itself by continuing the practice of popularly electing judges."

And while her career took her to the Supreme Court of the United States, Justice O'Connor always took pride that she began her judicial career at the state court level.

In 1974, she was appointed to Maricopa County Superior Court, serving from 1975 to 1979, when she was elevated to the Arizona Court of Appeals. She spent two years on the appellate court until 1981, when President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Rev. Jerry Falwell and other conservatives opposed her nomination because of her support of the Equal Rights Amendment and her refusal to take a public position on abortion, but she won U.S. Senate approval 99-0. (U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, who was absent from the Senate that day, sent her an apology note and a copy of the novel A River Runs Through It.)

She will forever be known as the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court, and that destined her for inclusion on lists of the most powerful women in the world. She was also considered by many to be the most powerful Supreme Court associate justice  male or female -- during much of her tenure because she often cast the swing vote. Never did her swing vote get more attention and scrutiny than for Bush v. Gore, in which the Supreme Court halted vote counting in Florida after the 2000 presidential election, ensuring a victory for President George W. Bush.

Among published appreciations of Justice O'Connor is one from Linda Greenhouse, a journalist who covered the U.S. Supreme Court for three decades. "What interests me is less where she stood on the court's political spectrum than how she got there. The answer, of particular relevance today, is twofold. One, she cared about the impact of the court's decisions  not only on the law, but on the country itself. And two, she was willing to learn," she wrote.

Justice O'Connor retired to Arizona in 2006 to care for her husband, John, who died in 2009, three months after President Barack Obama awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In October 2018, she announced her retirement from public life. A year later, following the death of Justice John Paul Stevens, she became the last living justice to have served on the Burger Court. Which we, at NCSC, find very fitting. Former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger helped found our institution, and Justice O'Connor will be forever tied to it.

The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation's state courts.

Contact:

Molly Justice

Director of Communications & Marketing

[email protected]

(757) 259-1564

SOURCE National Center for State Courts
TalusAg Technology Lowers Costs & Eliminates Lengthy Supply Chains, Combatting Food Insecurity While Cutting Climate Change-Causing Emissions

NAIVASHA, Kenya, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kenya Nut Company, a multi-national agricultural business, has partnered with TalusAg, a green ammonia technology company, to install the first commercial modular green ammonia system that enables cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable fertilizer production.

Talus's on-site, zero-carbon system produces ammonia  the building block of all mineral fertilizers  using just sun, water, and air. The company's proprietary compressor design and software controls guarantee fertilizer when and where it's needed, eliminating safety risks and greenhouse gas emissions attributable to lengthy and complex supply chains.

Talus's first deployment  talusOne, installed at Kenya Nut Company's Morendat farm in Naivasha, Kenya  demonstrates the immense potential of decentralized green ammonia production in rural and supply-vulnerable communities.

Kenya Nut Company's talusOne is powered by a 2.1MW solar farm and produces approximately one tonne of green ammonia daily. For every tonne of green ammonia produced, the unit avoids up to 8 tonnes of carbon emitted during traditional ammonia production and distribution, which account for approximately 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

TalusAg and Kenya Nut Company have a 15-year supply agreement to deliver carbon-free, green ammonia fertilizer with guaranteed supply at a fixed price. Kenya Nut Company will use this low-cost fertilizer to produce crops more efficiently.

"We are excited to pioneer the future of cleaner, smarter fertilizer production with our partners at TalusAg," said Kenya Nut Company CEO Graeme Rust. "The unique technology of talusOne provides significant benefits for all farmers, reducing costs while improving product quality and reliability."

"Our work with Kenya Nut Company will transform how the world views the difficult-to-decarbonize agricultural industry," said TalusAg Co-Founder and CEO Hiro Iwanaga. "The local and carbon-free production of ammonia by talusOne is just the first step in a journey to revolutionize food and renewable fuel production systems to be cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable."

About TalusAg

Talus Renewables, an energy technology company, pioneered the first commercial, modular, zero-carbon green ammonia system, making production and distribution of a critical raw material cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable. Talus locally produces lower-cost, carbon-free ammonia at or near the point of use, creating value for agriculture, mining, and maritime shipping industries, with renewable energy storage and power generation applications. The talusOne and talusTen operate on intermittent renewable power. They are fully containerized and modular, enabling rapid deployments and scaling. TalusAg, a subsidiary of Talus Renewables, focuses on green ammonia production for the agriculture sector. https://www.talusag.com/.

About Kenya Nut Company

Kenya Nut was established in 1974 in the Kenya highlands to focus on growing quality macadamia & cashew nuts. Its products now include coffee, chocolates, and oils. With over 4,000 employees, the company operates seven farms on over 8,000 acres, with a complete production system from seedlings to ready-for-sale products and an international market. https://www.kenyanut.com/.

Contact: Matt Hamilton

[email protected]

518-570-0430

SOURCE Talus Renewables
WENZHOU, China, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The vast sea is boundless, but for hundreds of years, countless people's exploration across the ocean has presented a more complete and fuller world to the public, and has further promoted global economic, trade and cultural exchanges.

During the maritime exchanges between the East and the West, the Maritime Silk Road was born, which not only amazed the West with the spices, silk and porcelain from the East, but also witnessed the mutual learning of civilizations facilitated by the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci and other westerners who crossed the sea to explore the East.

On Oct. 3, 2013, China proposed to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Together with the Silk Road Economic Belt proposed on Sept. 7 of the same year, they constituted the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has renewed the splendid history of economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the BRI, the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence was held from Nov. 24 to Nov. 25 in southeast China's coastal city Wenzhou, another high-level international gathering to promote communication and cooperation of BRI countries after the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Nearly 400 guests, including municipal officials, experts and scholars from 15 countries of Asia, Europe, Africa and America, gathered in Wenzhou, an important Maritime Silk Road hub, according to the Executive Committee. They held roundtable discussions on building a harmonious and symbiotic business system and promoting the culture heritage of the Maritime Silk Road in a bid to tap the opportunities for cooperation and development of the trade route.

The Maritime Silk Road is born of openness and prospers from exchanges. The cities along the trade route have a distinctive pioneering spirit, of which Wenzhou is a typical representative. Since ancient times, the wealthy coastal city has played an important role on boosting trade and cultural ties with its global reach, commercial vitality, cultural legacy and active exchanges.

In Jiangxin Islet in the middle reaches of Oujiang River in the north of Wenzhou, two ancient pagodas built in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty respectively stand in the islet's east and west. For more than 1,000 years, they have been known as the oldest lighthouses on the Maritime Silk Road.

Across the river, Song Dynasty docks, sunken ships and tons of porcelain fragments and the ruins of Shuomen Ou Ancient City were unearthed from the site of Shuomen Ancient Port in Wenzhou, demonstrating the prosperity and continuity of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

In the 13th century, Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan, a Wenzhou local, visited Cambodia during the Angkor period. He not only brought Chinese culture to Cambodia, but also wrote A record of Cambodia, which was a vivid account of the friendly exchanges between the Chinese and Cambodian people at that time. It's the only historical material in the world that reflects the prosperity of the Angkor Dynasty.

"I believe that Mr. Zhou Daguan's spirit can inspire all of us - whether artists, historians, or friends from all walks of life - to explore the unknown, to carry on our cultural legacies, and to forge closer international friendships," said Cambodian Prince Sisowath Tesso.

Through the ages, Wenzhou remains an influential hub along the Maritime Silk Road, contributing a unique role in facilitating peer city communication and cooperation.

In recent years, Wenzhou Port's foreign trade container business has developed rapidly, with an expanding foreign trade route network and growing route service capacity. The port's near-ocean routes can reach Russia, South Korea, the Philippines and other countries, and has 15 foreign trade routes in total.

In 2018, Wenzhou set up a high-level official team to promote economic and trade exchanges between Wenzhou and the BRI countries and regions. So far, the city's trade volume with the BRI countries has exceeded 640 billion yuan. In the past decade, Wenzhou's trade with the BRI countries surged from 53.33 billion yuan to 147.05 billion yuan.

Nurtured by the pioneering spirit of the Maritime Silk Road, open-minded Wenzhou people have been seizing the opportunities of promoting the high-quality development of the BRI and higher-level opening-up.

Now Wenzhou has 36 sister cities and friendly exchange cities worldwide, and 380,000 Wenzhou people are living and working in nearly 60 BRI countries. Multinational private Wenzhou firms like Tsingshan Holding Group have ventured overseas to expand foothold in BRI countries, which have set up the largest number of state-level overseas economic and trade parks for a prefecture-level city.

In addition to establishing an exchange platform, the two-day event also unveiled a report on the influence of China's Maritime Silk Road cities and the top 10 most influential Chinese Maritime Silk Road cities. A cooperation initiative on the innovative development of Maritime Silk Road cities was jointly launched, opening a new chapter for peer city communication and cooperation.

The conference's host city Wenzhou, with its people playing important roles in facilitating cross-border economic and cultural exchanges as well as the excavation of the Maritime Silk Road landmark heritage Shuomen ancient port, posts high rankings in several indices and made into the shortlist.

The joint development of the BRI pursues development, advocates win-win results, and delivers hope. Wenzhou will seek maximized integration into this road of peace, prosperity, openness, innovation, and civilization, said Wenzhou mayor Zhang Zhenfeng.

"We sincerely hope to take this conference as an opportunity to cooperate pragmatically and work together for win-win results by means of city and people exchanges to inject new impetus into promoting the high-quality development of the BRI," Zhang added.

SOURCE Wenzhou Executive Committee of the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence
NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The maritime surveillance market is estimated to grow by USD 1.47 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 3.65% during the forecast period. North America is estimated to account for 33% of the global market growth during the forecast period. The US is a major market for marine surveillance in the region. This growth can be attributed to the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Additionally, the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Hence, the growing demands for maritime security in the United States are expected to boost the demand for marine surveillance during the forecast period. For Comprehensive details on the market size of the historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) - View Sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Maritime Surveillance Market 2023-2027

Maritime Surveillance Market - Vendor Landscape

The maritime surveillance market is fragmented; the vendors are competing with competitors and are trying to get a greater market share. The market is growing, and the chances of new entrants cannot be overlooked. The major vendors have well-established economies of scale and market presence and generally rely on positioning technological advances, and the price of the products -The report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now

Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Dynamics

Major Drivers & Challenges-

Key Drivers boosting the market growth

The growing marine threats are the major factor that drives the global maritime surveillance market growth.

In national security, territorial integrity, global trade, immigration, and migration, maritime borders play an important role. Patrolling territorial water areas with state-of-the-art flying platforms is of increasing importance, for many countries with long coastlines.

For example, the oil rigs in the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy.

in western are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy. Hence, such factors drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Major Challenges hindering the market growth

The issues related to privacy can challenge the growth of the maritime surveillance market growth.

In order to prevent and detect crime, but its use can lead to privacy concerns, ocean surveillance is used. Public surveillance systems may cover private areas such as homes and offices without the owner's consent, which leads to an invasion of privacy.

People's privacy is a fundamental right and the use of surveillance systems can violate it, which results in the line between legitimate surveillance and intrusion blurs.

Hence, such challenges impede market growth during the forecast period.

Key Trends-

The expansion of the Chinese naval fleet in critical regions is an emerging trend fueling the global maritime surveillance market growth.

As the Chinese president announced in 2012 that China would become a maritime power, China has focused on expanding its naval fleet.

would become a maritime power, has focused on expanding its naval fleet. Furthermore, the expansion of China's naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Hence, such trends influence the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period.

Technavio has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View Sample Report

Company Profiles

The maritime surveillance market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., Furuno Electric Co. Ltd., HENSOLDT AG, Honeywell International Inc., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., MIND TECHNOLOGY INC., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp., Saab AB, Safran SA, Sonardyne International Ltd., SRT Marine Systems Plc, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Terma AS, Thales Group, and The Boeing Co.

Competitive Analysis

The report includes competitive analysis, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others.

Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Segmentation

This maritime surveillance market report extensively covers market segmentation by component (sensors, radar, AIS receiver, and software and others), end-user (defense, customs, fisheries, intelligence, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

The market share growth by the sensors segment is significant during the forecast period. Sensors are used in a wide range of maritime applications including hydraulic cylinder position measurement, marine machinery condition monitoring, crane and deck hoist load measurement, and tank pressure measurement. Some major benefits of sensors include near-lossless transmission, increased sensitivity during data collection, and continuous real-time analysis. Hence, such factors are expected to have a positive impact on the sensors segment of the maritime surveillance market during the forecast period.

Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Related Reports:

The video surveillance as a service market size is expected to increase by USD 7.45 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 17.56%.

The trade surveillance systems market size is expected to increase to USD 878.49 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 16.7%.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Component Market Segmentation by End-user market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses 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 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.

Contact

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
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total November sales of 27,715 vehicles, an increase of 3 percent compared to November 2022. Year-to-date sales totaled 323,836 vehicles; an increase of 21 percent compared to the same time last year. With 25 selling days in November, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 3 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 4,677 vehicles in November, an increase of 8 percent compared to November 2022.

Sales Highlights

Second best November total sales with 27,715 vehicles sold

Best-ever monthly sales of CX-90 with 5,055 vehicles sold

Best-ever November sales of CX-50 with 3,954 vehicles sold

Best-ever November sales of CX-30 with 6,193 vehicles sold

Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported November sales of 4,943 vehicles, an increase of 61.2 percent compared to November last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 54,176 vehicles; an increase of 14.9 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported November sales of 8,607 vehicles, an increase of 109 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 68,713 vehicles; an increase of 67 percent compared to the same time last year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.

Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads.



























Month-To-Date

Year-To-Date





























November November YOY % % MTD

November November YOY % % MTD





2023 2022 Change DSR

2023 2022 Change DSR



























Mazda3 2,504 3,023 (17.2) % (17.2) %

28,073 25,781 8.9 % 8.9 %



Mazda 3 Sdn 1,415 2,124 (33.4) % (33.4) %

15633 11,952 30.8 % 30.8 %



Mazda 3 HB 1,089 899 21.1 % 21.1 %

12440 13,829 (10.0) % (10.0) %



























Mazda6 0 0 - -

0 335 (100.0) % (100.0) %



























MX-5 Miata 451 449 0.4 % 0.4 %

8,551 5,433 57.4 % 57.4 %



MX-5 182 243 (25.1) % (25.1) %

4435 2,199 101.7 % 101.7 %



MXR 269 206 30.6 % 30.6 %

4116 3,234 27.3 % 27.3 %



























CX-3 - 0 - -

- 0 - -



CX-30 6,193 4,457 38.9 % 38.9 %

71403 48,510 47.2 % 47.2 %



CX-5 9,556 12,692 (24.7) % (24.7) %

133374 138,082 (3.4) % (3.4) %



CX-9 2 4,025 (100.0) % (100.0) %

17449 30,885 (43.5) % (43.5) %



CX-50 3,954 2,260 75.0 % 75.0 %

38841 18,266 112.6 % 112.6 %



MX-30 0 0 - -

100 324 (69.1) % (69.1) %



CX-90 5,055 0 - -

26045 0 - -



CARS 2,955 3,472 (14.9) % (14.9) %

36,624 31,549 16.1 % 16.1 %



TRUCKS 24,760 23,434 5.7 % 5.7 %

287,212 236,067 21.7 % 21.7 %



























TOTAL 27,715 26,906 3.0 % 3.0 %

323,836 267,616 21.0 % 21.0 %



















































*Selling Days 25 25





280 280

















































































SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
On This World AIDS DAY, Montefiore Shares How New York State and New York City Departments of Health Funding Will Bring More Prevention & Treatment Options to the Bronx

BRONX, N.Y., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Montefiore AIDS Center, one of the largest HIV prevention and treatment programs in New York State, has been awarded $6.8 million in New York State and New York City Departments of Health funding to amplify its already robust prevention and treatment program for Bronx adults and youth over the next five years. The three grants secured since last World AIDS Day, are all focused on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) including the LGBTQ+ community.

Tina Kim, MSPH: Acting Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Equity and Human Rights, NYS DOH; Johanne E. Morne, MS: Acting Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS DOH; Barry Zingman, M.D., the principal investigator at Montefiore for all three grants and Medical Director of the AIDS Center at Montefiore; Sandra Arevalo, MPH, RDN, CDE: Administrator, JFPWC of Montefiore Nyack Hospital; Joseph Kerwin: Director, AIDS Institute, NYS DOH at New York DOHs Annual World AIDS Day Event

One in four new HIV diagnoses in New York City happens in the Bronx. Most of the individuals impacted by this virus identify as Black or Hispanic and are under 40 years old.

"We have made tremendous strides in addressing HIV and AIDS. But since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, communities of color and people who identify as LGBTQ+ remain at higher risk and unacceptable disparities remain," said Barry Zingman, M.D., the principal investigator at Montefiore for all three grants and Medical Director of the Montefiore AIDS Center. "The funding from New York State and City allows us to expand services, and enhance our team with more counselors, patient educators and mental health support to ensure our patients obtain the comprehensive care required to meet their medical and psychosocial needs, both to optimally treat those living with HIV and to prevent it in people who are at higher risk. Importantly, the new funding also enables us to increase services that will help us to identify and address barriers to care like lack of healthy food, unhealthy living conditions and unstable housing."

The three grants include:

Advancing Health Equity through Comprehensive Community-Based HIV Ambulatory Care Services: Component A, Retention and Adherence Program (for The Center for Positive Living/ID Clinic): focuses on both newly diagnosed patients and those who were previously diagnosed who are on antiretroviral therapy that has failed to suppress their viral load (associated with decreased survival and increased HIV transmission). The goal is to help these individuals, particularly people who have been impacted by racial discrimination, trauma and stigma, tackle a range of challenges related to health disparities like limited English proficiency, educational and transportation barriers. By addressing these challenges, the goal is to help people consistently access comprehensive care and maximize opportunities for viral load suppression, which in turn leads most to a long, healthy life with HIV and prevents transmission of the virus to others. Advancing Health Equity through Comprehensive Community-Based HIV Ambulatory Care Services: Component B, Centers for Young Adults (for The Oval Center at Montefiore): enables Montefiore to provide 1329-year-old BIPOC LGBTQ+ Bronx patients living with HIV, with comprehensive primary, HIV and mental health care. The goal of the program is to have Montefiore's multidisciplinary staff, consisting of infectious disease specialists, outreach specialists, social workers, peer navigators, patient educators and more to assist historically underserved patients in improving self-management of their HIV disease. Montefiore will also help this population with addressing challenges like lack of medication, difficulty adhering to medical appointments, food insecurity and feelings of isolation and depression. 24-PHC-165P for PlaySure Network 2.0 in Health Care Settings: a high performing site since the start of this funding in 2022, Montefiore earned more funding in 2023 to increase screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, and to improve access to medicines like PrEP and PEP (pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis) that prevent HIV. There is a continued focus on the impact of housing, transportation and education. Funding also supported activities to address MPOX (formerly called "monkeypox") which disproportionately affects gay, bi, trans and other men who have sex with men, as well as other racial and ethnic minority groups in New York City . Montefiore has been one of the largest evaluation and treatment site for MPOX in New York State and one of the first to offer MPOX vaccines on-site, ensuring that populations experiencing the greatest health disparities in the region do not suffer from lack of vaccine access.

"For more than 20 years, the Montefiore AIDS Center has proudly served the Bronx and surrounding areas, and more recently opened The Jacobs Family Pride Wellness Center (JFPWC) of Montefiore Nyack Hospital, the first LGBTQ+-focused medical center in the Hudson Valley," continued Dr. Zingman, who is also professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and clinical director, infectious diseases, at the Moses division of Montefiore Health System. "Our experience consistently reinforces the importance of regularly learning from and caring for our communities, particularly people who are stigmatized and might be distrustful and disengaged from the healthcare system. Having these additional funds and support from the State and City will help us make a real difference in people's lives and we hope will create opportunities to recognize and celebrate our achievements on future World AIDS Days."

Yesterday, The Oval Center, part of the Montefiore AIDS Center, was awarded a NYS DOH Commissioner's Special Recognition Award in the HIV category and The Jacobs Family Pride Wellness Center of Montefiore Nyack Hospital was awarded a Commissioner's Special Recognition Award in the LGBTQ+ category, at New York DOH's Annual World AIDS Day event.

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems. It is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley. It comprises ten hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and over two hundred outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid within the 30th Ministerial Council of OSCE in Skopje, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

"The meeting included exchange of opinions on the main directions of the Azerbaijan-OSCE bilateral cooperation agenda, the challenges currently faced by the OSCE, as well as issues related to regional and international security," the ministry noted.

Bayramov emphasized the importance of multilateral platforms, including the OSCE, for a more effective approach to preserving compliance with the fundamental provisions of international law, including such key principles as territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the protection of these principles.

"The meeting discussed the realities that have emerged in the post-Karabakh conflict period in the region, the reconstruction of Azerbaijan's liberated territories, the phased return of displaced persons to these territories, the mine threat as the biggest obstacle to rehabilitation and return activities, and Azerbaijan's efforts to promote the peace process," the ministry said.

Jeyhun Bayramov informed the OSCE Secretary-General about the factors that justified local counter-terrorism measures taken by Azerbaijan in less than 24 hours," the ministry said.

In order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement (signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war), prevent large-scale provocations in the Karabakh economic region, disarmament, and the withdrawal of Armenian armed formations from Azerbaijani territories, anti-terror measures of a local nature were carried out in the region on September 19-20, 2023. As a result of the anti-terror measures, Azerbaijan restored sovereignty and constitutional order in these territories. The armed formations of Armenia located in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan were disbanded and left the territory of Azerbaijan.

"It was emphasized that, as confirmed by representatives of international organizations, there was no violence against civilians in this process. Regarding the departure of Armenian residents from Azerbaijani territories, the responsibility for this lies with Armenia and the separatist regime under its control," the ministry highlighted. "In particular, the unacceptability of applying double standards, a selective approach to the fundamental principles of international law, such as the restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty, was noted."

During the meeting, other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
DALLAS, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc., a late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degenerations (AMD), today announced that Francesco Bandello, MD, FEBO, will present at the 11th Annual FLORetina Congress taking place from November 30 - December 3, 2023 in Rome, Italy. Details for the presentation are as follows:

Title: Efficacy and Safety of MCO-010 Optogenetic Therapy for Vision Restoration in Patients with Severe Vision Loss due to Retinitis Pigmentosa

Session: Highlighted Free Papers Innovative Therapies

Session Date: December 2, 2023

Session Time: 10:54 a.m. C.E.T.

Location: Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Congress Center

Presenter: Francesco Bandello, MD, FEBO, Professor and Chairman Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan

In his presentation, Professor Bandello will discuss the 12-month data from Nanoscope's RESTORE Phase 2b randomized, controlled trial in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa.

About Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc.

Nanoscope Therapeutics is developing gene-agnostic, sight-restoring optogenetic therapies for the millions of patients blinded by inherited retinal diseases, for which no cure exists. The company's lead asset, MCO-010, recently reported topline results from the RESTORE Phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial in the U.S. for retinitis pigmentosa (NCT04945772). The company has also recently completed the Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial of MCO-010 therapy in Stargardt patients (NCT05417126 ). MCO-010 has received FDA fast track designations and FDA orphan drug designations for both retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt. Preclinical assets include non-viral laser-delivered MCO-020 gene therapy for geographic atrophy.

Investor Contact:

Argot Partners

212-600-1902

[email protected]

SOURCE Nanoscope Therapeutics
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - New Pacific Metals Corp. ("New Pacific" or the "Company") (TSX: NUAG) (NYSE American: NEWP) is pleased to report that all matters submitted for approval at New Pacific's annual and special meeting of shareholders held today ("AGM") as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Management Information Circular, both dated October 25, 2023, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the AGM. A total of 135,408,255 common shares, representing 79.23% of the votes attached to all outstanding shares as at the record date for the meeting, were represented at the AGM.

The details of the voting results for the election of directors are set out below:



Votes For Withheld Director Number Percentage Number Percentage Andrew Williams 124,034,097 99.82 % 229,529 0.18 % Dickson Hall 123,968,608 99.76 % 295,018 0.24 % Martin Wafforn 113,917,547 91.67 % 10,346,079 8.33 % Maria Tang 123,978,547 99.77 % 285,079 0.23 % Dr. Peter Megaw 123,735,935 99.58 % 527,691 0.42 % Paul Simpson 124,056,817 99.83 % 206,809 0.17 % Myles Gao 124,055,065 99.83 % 208,561 0.17 %

Shareholders also approved the share-based compensation plan and the re-appointment of Deloitte LLP as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year. Final results for all matters voted on at the AGM will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.newpacificmetals.com.

The Company would like to welcome Andrew Williams and Myles Gao to the Board of Directors. Dr. Rui Feng and Mr. Terry Salman did not stand for re-election as directors. The Company thanks Dr. Rui Feng for his leadership and vision over the past several years, and thanks Mr. Terry Salman for his invaluable contributions to the Company.

Mr. Williams is the CEO of the Company. Prior to joining New Pacific, Mr. Williams spent the last 11 years with SEC-registered investment fund Sun Valley Gold LLC, most recently as portfolio manager. Mr. Williams began his career at Deloitte providing audit and financial advisory services to mining companies in Vancouver. Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Business Valuator.

Mr. Gao is a seasoned geologist and mining executive with over 30 years of experience. He has extensive experience in mining and exploration projects both in Canada and in other jurisdictions. Mr. Gao received a Master of Science in Geology from the Laurentian University.

ABOUT NEW PACIFIC

New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with three precious metal projects in Bolivia. The Company's flagship Silver Sand project has the potential to be developed into one of the world's largest silver mines. New discoveries and exploration success at the Carangas Silver-Gold Project and the Silverstrike Silver-Gold Project further display the Company's capability of growing its shareholders' value through careful project identification, acquisition, thorough geological study and well-planned drilling.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Williams, Chief Executive Officer

New Pacific Metals Corp.

Phone: (604) 633-1368 Ext. 236

1750-1066 Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3X1, Canada

U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1-877-631-0593

E-mail: [email protected]

For additional information and to receive company news by e-mail, please register using New Pacific's website at www.newpacificmetals.com.

SOURCE New Pacific Metals Corp.
CHENGDU, China, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 28, Chengdu, China opened a new metro line, Line 19 Phase II, which, unlike previous ones, not only marks the city's rail transit mileage exceeding 600 kilometers, but also connects Chengdu's two international airports, Tianfu International Airport and Shuangliu International Airport, allowing for rapid transit between the two airports in just 30 minutes.

According to Chengdu Metro, the design, research and development, vehicles, and supporting equipment, as well as equipment assembly for this metro line, were all completed by local enterprises, fully realizing "Chengdu-made" for the entire train. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as Chengdu is actively promoting technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and talent aggregation.

In Chengdu Hi-tech Zone, the electronic information industry has developed into a complete industrial chain covering core materials and components, high-end equipment, and end applications. Currently, nearly one-third of China's high-end flexible display screens are produced here. On September 7 of this year, the "2023 World Conference on Display Industry" was held in Chengdu, with the participation of representatives from more than ten countries and regions including the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. During the conference, 95 new display industry and ecosystem projects were signed, with a total investment of 165.6 billion yuan.

Almost at the same time as the 2023 World Conference on Display Industry, the Science City Campus of Chengdu Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences officially commenced classes, enrolling over 300 postgraduate students. According to Dong Wei, Vice President of the Chengdu Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences, "The major projects, platforms, facilities, and talents in the Science City are all learning resources for students, which make the integration of education and scientific research more closely and cultivate more new forces to seize the commanding heights of future technology."

The Science City mentioned by Dong Wei is located more than 30 kilometers from the central area of Chengdu and built along the lake, covering an area of 132 square kilometers. It features a concentrated layout of major scientific and technological infrastructure clusters, high-energy-level laboratory clusters, collaborative innovation platform clusters for colleges, universities, and the local government, and industrial innovation platform clusters.

Both technological innovation and industrial upgrading rely on talent. In recent years, Chengdu has attracted 959 specially-appointed experts and 98 top-notch innovation and entrepreneurship teams, with a total talent pool of 6.2232 million people. The influx of talent has further enhanced Chengdu's scientific and technological innovation capabilities and industrial upgrading. As of now, Chengdu has gathered 139 national-level innovation platforms, and the number of high-tech enterprises has increased to 11,500.

Coming to Chengdu and choosing Chengdu is becoming the decision of many people. In 2022, Chengdu's permanent population exceeded 21 million, with a net inflow of approximately 7 million people in the past decade. And this city has many surprises to offer.

Due to its location in the transition zone from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to low-altitude areas, Chengdu's altitude difference exceeds 5,000 meters, which has created the city's biodiversity advantage. The world's largest giant panda protection and breeding research base is located in the Chengdu urban area, and the city is affectionately called the "City of Pandas". This nickname not only reflects the city's superior geographical and natural environment but also expresses people's respect for Chengdu's efforts to protect the lovely and ancient species.

Additionally, Chengdu is the megacity closest to Europe and Africa in China. Against the backdrop of China's continuous expansion of opening up, Chengdu's location advantage in connecting the Asian and European markets is becoming increasingly apparent. As of now, Chengdu has 66 regular international and regional direct passenger and cargo flights. From January to October this year, Chengdu's aviation hub achieved a passenger throughput of 62.597 million, ranking third among Chinese cities, behind Shanghai and Beijing. Industry insiders predicted that Chengdu's aviation hub passenger throughput would exceed 70 million this year.

"Happy", "energetic", "delicious and fun" are often used to describe Chengdu by Chinese people. Perhaps, for those who want a better life, a visit to Chengdu would be worthwhile.

SOURCE Chengdu Metro
NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Paints Packaging Market size is expected to grow by USD 4.88 billion from 2022 to 2027, accelerating at a CAGR of 4.39% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. Growing demand for paints and their derivatives is notably driving the paints packaging market. However, factor such as fluctuating prices for raw materials used in paint packaging may impede market growth. We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the paints packaging market including Amcor Plc, Ardagh Group SA, BABA GROUP OF COMPANIES, Berlin Packaging LLC, Berry Global Inc., BWAY Corp., Can One Berhad, Dow Chemical Co., Envases Group, Greif Inc., Inno Pak Inc., Involvement Ltd, Mangla Metal Pvt. Ltd., Mold Tek Packaging Ltd., Mondi Plc, MUTHA PLASTIC INDUSTRIES, National Can Industries Pty Ltd., Reliance Plastic Containers, Silgan Holdings Inc., and Sun Packaging. 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 Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Paints Packaging Market 2023-2027

Paints Packaging Market 2023-2027: Company Analysis

Amcor Plc: The company offers paints packaging solutions for applications such as furniture, construction, and building.

This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information

Paints Packaging Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

Product

Cans and pails

Pouches

Material

Rigid plastic

Metal

The cans and pails segment is expected for substantial expansion during the forecast period. As a longstanding packaging form within the global paints packaging market, this segment offers durability and robust protection for a diverse array of paint and coating products. Its versatility in sizes and materials empowers paint manufacturers to meet the demands of both consumers and industrial requirements.

Geography

APAC

Europe

North America

South America

Middle East and Africa

The APAC region is expected to contribute approximately 47% to the global market's growth during the forecast period. Analysts at Technavio have outlined how regional trends, including rapid population growth, urbanization, and a booming construction industry, drive the paints packaging market in APAC. Key countries like China, India, South Korea, Australia, and Japan significantly influence this market, with China standing out as a major global supplier due to its low production costs and increasing domestic demand driven by construction activities. Overall, these factors are expected to boost the market growth in APAC during the forecast period.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View PDF Sample Report

Paints Packaging Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

Historic Market Size 2017-2021

CAGR of the market during 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist paints packaging market growth during the next five years

Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the paints packaging market

Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on companies

Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of paints packaging market companies

Related Reports:

Paints and Coatings Market: The paints and coatings market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.15% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 42.14 billion.

Thermochromic Paint Market: The thermochromic paint market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.47% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 531.44 million.

TOC:

Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by Material Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical Excipients Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $10.7 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $14.9 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The pharmaceutical excipients market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2028. The major factors attributing to the growth of the market are increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products, increased R&D Investments for the development of novel excipients and growing emphasis on patient-centric formulations. Collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for customized excipient solutions are likely to boost the growth of the market in the near future.

Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=956

Browse in-depth TOC on "Pharmaceutical Excipients Market"

562 - Tables

51 - Figures

373 - Pages

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $10.7 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $14.9 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product, By Functionality, By Formulation, By Functionality application Geographies Covered North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing growth of functional/Multifunctional Pharmaceutical Excipients Key Market Drivers Increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products is propelling the demand for pharma excipients

The organic chemicals segment dominated the market share in 2022 for the product segment.

Based on product, the global pharmaceutical excipients market is categorised into organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals and other chemicals. Organic chemicals are mainly chemicals with carbon atoms covalently linked to atoms of other elements. The non-toxic nature of organic chemicals is expected to drive the organic chemicals segments which in turn will uplift the pharmaceutical excipient market from 2023 to 2028.

Fillers and Diluents segment achieved top market share for the functionality segment in 2022

The fillers and diluents segment accounted for a majority of the market share in 2022. Fillers and diluents give form, bulk, or consistency to the product. The fillers and diluents market is expected to grow due to the rising use of fillers and diluents in developing and producing solid oral drugs. Tablets are the most popular dosage forms due to their advantages to manufacturers and patients and hence can drive the fillers and diluents market. The lubricants and glidants market is expected to grow at the fastest rate because they can improve the flow properties of a formulation by reducing the friction and cohesion between particles.

The Asia Pacific region predicted to showcase the most rapid growth during the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific region is poised to lead the market's expansion with the fastest market growth, driven by the low labor and manufacturing costs in China and India. These cost advantages have attracted significant investments from pharmaceutical giants to these countries. Additionally, the growing prevalence of lifestyle-related and age-related diseases, the rising disposable income, and government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure further contribute to the region's robust market growth.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=956

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products is propelling the demand for pharma excipients

Restraints:

High Development Costs associated with Novel excipients

Opportunities:

Increasing growth of functional/Multifunctional Pharmaceutical Excipients

Challenge:

Stringent Regulatory Requirements

Key Market Players of Pharmaceutical Excipients Industry:

The global pharmaceutical excipients market comprises of many key market players competing for markets shares like International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (US), Ashland Inc. (US), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Kerry Group Plc (Ireland), Roquette Freres (France), Merck KgaA (Germany), Associated British Foods Plc (UK), ADM (US), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany).

The primary interviews conducted for this report can be categorized as follows:

By Respondent: Supply Side- 80%, and Demand Side - 20%

By Designation (Supply Side): Managers - 45%, CXOs & Directors - 30%, Executives- 25%

By Region: North America -20%, Europe -10%, Asia-Pacific -55%, Latin America -10%, MEA- 5%

Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=956

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Recent Developments:

In June 2023 , Ashland introduced Polyplasdone Plus, a co-processed multifunctional direct compression superdisintegrant comprising a glidant and lubricant.

, introduced Polyplasdone Plus, a co-processed multifunctional direct compression superdisintegrant comprising a glidant and lubricant. In October 2023 , Lubrizol Life Science Health was awarded the Finished Formulation Award for Apisolex Polymer solubilizing excipient at CPhI Barcelona.

, Lubrizol Life Science Health was awarded the Finished Formulation Award for Apisolex Polymer solubilizing excipient at CPhI Barcelona. In July 2022 , DFE Pharma announced the broadening of its Dry Powder Inhalation (DPI) portfolio by launching Lactohale 400.

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help market leaders/new entrants by providing them with the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall pharmaceutical excipients market and its subsegments. It will also help stakeholders better understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their business and make suitable go-to-market strategies. This report will enable stakeholders to understand the market's pulse and provide them with information on the key market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (Increasing demand for generic drugs and pharmaceutical products, increased R&D Investments for the development of novel excipients, growing emphasis on patient-centric formulations, collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies), restraints (Stringent Regulatory Requirements, High Development Costs), opportunities (Rising demand for functional/multifunctional pharmaceutical excipients, advancements in nanotechnology, emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and Latin America ) and challenges (Safety & quality concerns, limited availability of certain raw materials) are influencing the growth of pharmaceutical excipients market.

and ) and challenges (Safety & quality concerns, limited availability of certain raw materials) are influencing the growth of pharmaceutical excipients market. Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on newly launched products of the pharmaceutical excipients market.

Functionality Apllication: Additional segment provided for functionality applications where segregation has been provided based on the applications of various excipients highlights the various uses of different excipients classes.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets  the report analyses the pharmaceutical excipients market across varied regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the pharmaceutical excipients market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and service offerings of leading players include International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (US), Ashland Inc. (US), Evonik Industries AG ( Germany ), BASF SE ( Germany ), Kerry Group plc ( Ireland ), Roquette Freres ( France ), MERCK KGaA ( Germany ), Associated British Foods plc (UK), ADM (US) , Wacker Chemie AG ( Germany ) and among others in the pharmaceutical excipients market.

Related Reports:

Autoinjectors Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

High Potency APIs Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

Wearable Injectors Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

About MarketsandMarkets:

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.





Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]

Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/pharma-excipients-market.asp

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/pharma-excipients.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
ALLEN, Texas, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In an impressive display of growth and service excellence, Phillips Home Improvements has been recognized as one of America's elite home improvement contractors, clinching the No. 185 spot on the prestigious National HIP 200 List for 2023.

Since its inception in 1997, Phillips Home Improvements has firmly established itself as the go-to choice for homeowners in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. As a premier Texas-based home improvement contractor, the company specializes in residential painting, roofing, gutters, siding and windows. Through decades of commitment and superior service, Phillips Home Improvements has garnered the trust of thousands of DFW homeowners, standing as a benchmark of quality and reliability in the region. Phillips Home Improvements soars into the national HIP 200 list for 2023, landing at No. 185 among the largest companies in the industry.

This noteworthy ranking, bestowed by the industry-leading publication Qualified Remodeler, celebrates Phillips Home Improvements' ascent among the top echelons of U.S. home improvement professionals. The HIP 200 list, a derivative of the highly regarded Top 500 list, showcases the nation's top 200 home improvement companies, selected for their significant year-over-year growth and robust revenue from installations.

Initiated in 2005, the list recognizes firms that excel in offering high-demand services such as roofing, siding, and window replacements. These companies stand out for their adept use of cutting-edge business technologies, streamlining their operations to offer speedier, more efficient services.

"We are honored and humbled to be recognized on the HIP 200 list. It's a milestone that speaks volumes about our team's dedication and hard work. We've always been committed to delivering exceptional service and quality to every home we touch," said Jason Phillips, CEO and President of Phillips Home Improvements. "This accolade further fuels our passion to innovate and continue delivering remarkable home improvement experiences to our customers, exceeding their expectations."

Landing at No. 185, Phillips Home Improvements' inclusion in the 2023 HIP 200 by Qualified Remodeler is no small feat. The selection criteria were stringent, considering factors like installed remodeling dollar volume, years in business, industry association memberships, certifications, awards, and community service contributions.

"Based on Qualified Remodeler's analysis, The HIP 200 firms tend to share several common attributes, including strong revenues, a commitment to customer service, insightful sales techniques, and strong customer loyalty," said Patrick O'Toole, owner and editorial director of Qualified Remodeler. "These attributes have helped put the firm on this list and contribute to their success."

Rooted in Allen, Texas, since 1997, Phillips Home Improvements has been a beacon of quality and trust in the DallasFort Worth Metroplex. Their unwavering dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction has not only earned them a consistent spot on the Qualified Remodeler Top 500 list but also prestigious recognitions like the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics, and now, a proud position on The HIP 200.

About Phillips Home Improvements:

Phillips Home Improvements, a home improvement industry leader, offers residential painting, roofing, gutters, siding, and windows services. Boasting over 45,000 satisfied clients, the company takes pride in its unparalleled service and expertise. Over the years, the entity has secured 26 years of BBB A+ ratings, 14 years of A+ Best Pick Reports ratings, 13 years of both Consumer's Choice Awards and Angie's List Super Service Awards, and 7 years on Qualified Remodeler's Top 500 List. The company was honored with the BBB Torch Award for Ethics and recognized as a Best Place to Work by Dallas Business Journal. For more information, please visit https://phillipshomeimprovements.com .

Media Contact:

Olha Markova

(347) 345-9456

[email protected]

SOURCE Phillips Home Improvements
NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT) between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 29, 2024.

SO WHAT: If you purchased ChargePoint securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the ChargePoint class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=20727 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 29, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about ChargePoint's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) ChargePoint was experiencing higher component costs and supply overruns for first generation direct current ("DC") charging products; (2) as a result, ChargePoint was likely to incur impairment charges; (3) as a result of the foregoing, ChargePoint's profitability would be adversely impacted; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about ChargePoint's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the ChargePoint class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=20727 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
Media Credentialing Now Open

ARLINGTON, Texas, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Named to TIME's 100 Next list, Sarah Jakes Roberts' sixth annual Woman Evolve will return to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, September 26  28, 2024. As a follow up to 2023's sold-out conference, more than 15,000 women have already registered to attend Woman Evolve 2024a conference that aims to empower women to progress towards the lives they desire to live.

Members of the media may apply for media credentials by filling out this form. Pre-registration is required.

Woman Evolve 2023 was the fastest-selling women's conference in Globe Life Field history as more than 40,000 women attended. Jakes Roberts' conference had an overall economic impact of $30 million in the City of Arlington alone. The attendance and economic impact were on par with previous national touring events including concerts by Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elton John, Morgan Wallen and The Stadium Tour (Joan Jett, Poison, Motley Crue and Def Leppard).

Earlier this year, renowned artists and leaders, such as Brene Brown, Naomi Raine and Yvonne Orji, took the stage to deliver on the promise of an impactful weekend for the women attending the sold-out conference. The lineup for Woman Evolve 2024 has not been announced, but Jakes Roberts has big plans for Woman Evolve to continue to create a space for women to learn and grow together.

"Woman Evolve is beyond excited to return to Globe Life Field for next year's conference" said Jakes Roberts. "This year's gathering was a testament to the power of connection and how women can go further together, rather than fast and alone, and we pray next year will be just as powerful."

Jakes Roberts is redefining what it means to be a modern woman of faith. As a wife, mother, author and businesswoman dedicated to honoring her father's (T.D. Jakes) mission of empowering underrepresented communitiesincluding the disappearing middle classher messages have spread throughout the world defying cultural, religious, gender and socio-economic boundaries. She has a unique way of reaching people who are seeking to make peace with their past, maximize their present and deepen their relationship with God.

Registration is now open for Woman Evolve 2024.

Media Credentials:

All members of the mediareporters, photographers, videographers, and creware required to have and display credentials to cover events within the conference. Press may request media credentials for Woman Evolve by filling out this form. Applicants will be notified via email whether they are approved or declined for credentials. Information regarding where to pick up credentials, parking, facility access, interviews and other details will be sent once credentials have been approved.

About Woman Evolve

Founded by Sarah Jakes RobertsNew York Times best-selling author, businesswoman, assistant Pastor of The Potter's House of Dallas and co-senior pastor of The Potter's House at ONE Woman Evolve equips women through spiritual and practical development with the tools necessary to evolve into the highest version of themselves. The organization helps women dream, grow and change the world. Woman Evolve is committed to creating community that empowers, supports and lifts one another up as they climb toward collective evolution. The progression of one, is progression for all.

Media Contacts:

Jordan Hora , 214.608.2006

Christine Cape , 404.545.0085

SOURCE Woman Evolve
Applications Open for Scrum Studio's Seventh Open Innovation Program Offering Co-Development & Investment Opportunities for AgeTech Startups

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scrum Studio Inc ., in partnership with Hakuhodo, announces the launch of AgeTechX , a visionary open innovation program dedicated to helping scale and grow startups developing products and solutions working to revolutionize the $2 trillion field of aging-related technology and services by collaborating with Japanese corporations.

Demographic Shifts Drive Need for AgeTech Innovation

According to the World Health Organization, there is a significant demographic shift on the horizon: by 2030, one in six individuals globally will be aged 60 or older, with the world's population of people aged 60 and above expected to double to 2.1 billion by 2050. Moreover, the number of individuals aged 80 or older is projected to triple by 2050, reaching a staggering 426 million. This demographic transformation presents an enormous opportunity for startups to pioneer innovative solutions catering to this growing aging population.

"In a world where the aging population is on the rise, we started AgeTechX to encourage innovation, uniting startups and industry pioneers to shape the future of aging-related technology and services, " said Yuya Watanabe, Program Associate with Scrum Studio. "Together with our partner, Hakuhodo, we invite the world's most visionary entrepreneurs to join us on this transformative journey towards a healthier and more connected 100-year life."

"The mission of the Hakuhodo Senior Business Force is to expand our DNA of 'sei-katsu-sha thinking' to '100 years of sei-katsu-sha thinking' to gain deeper insight into individual seniors and create new values," said Jun Matsuda from Hakuhodo Senior Business Force. "Our mission is to create value through deep insight into seniors. AgeTechX aims to create businesses that solve the problems of Japan's aging society together with startups from around the world that have new ideas and technologies. We hope to create a prosperous society where people want to live to be 100 years old."

Program Connects Startups with Japanese Corporates to Encourage Innovation

AgeTechX is a groundbreaking global initiative between Hakuhodo, renowned for its expertise in senior consumer-oriented ventures, and Scrum Studio, an affiliate of Scrum Ventures known for its commitment to fostering innovation, designed to ignite innovation by connecting startups from around the world with cutting-edge technologies and applications across diverse sectors. With the participation of industry experts and forward-looking municipalities, this program is poised to catalyze dynamic collaborations between startups and Japanese corporations spanning various industries.

The 'AgeTechX' initiative will focus on the following key areas:

Anti-Aging / Care

Regenerative Medicine

Treatment, Regenerative Medicine

Empowered Independent Living / Cognition

Personalized Health Management

Connected Care and Support

Lifelong Learning and Enrichment

Economic, Life Planning

Startups from around the world are invited to participate in this transformative program, which offers selected candidates a unique opportunity for business co-creation alongside leading corporations. Participants will also gain access to a series of enriching events, including kickoff sessions and demo days meticulously designed to accelerate their growth and impact.

'AgeTechX' seeks collaborative ventures with diverse industries, corporations, and municipalities dedicated to nurturing a society enriched by technology-powered well-being and healthy aging. Companies aspiring to explore innovative solutions and address societal concerns through regional Proof of Concept (PoC) initiatives are encouraged to engage. The program offers comprehensive support, aiding exceptional startups in establishing a presence in Japan. The Studio programs boast a track record of helping startups enter the Japanese market with two previous Studio participants entering the market.

Applications are being accepted for AgeTechX' 2024 until February 29, 2024. To apply, please visit the official application page here .

Exceptional startups participating in 'AgeTechX' may also attract the attention of Scrum Ventures for potential investment opportunities, further boosting their growth prospects.

About Scrum Studio, Inc.

Scrum Studio, Inc. is an open innovation platform formed to bridge the gap between iconic Japanese corporations and startups from around the world. The platform focuses on three pillars to create new business opportunities: acceleration, incubation, and connection. Its vertical studio programs include SmartCityX, and Food Tech Studio - Bites! Learn more at https://scrum.vc/studio/.

About Scrum Ventures

Scrum Ventures is an early-stage venture firm based in San Francisco with a growing Tokyo office. With entrepreneurial expertise and a strong network in Japan, we actively support portfolio global growth and success. Learn more at Scrum Ventures .

About Hakuhodo Inc.

Founded in 1895, Hakuhodo is an integrated marketing solutions company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. With offices in 20 countries and regions, and over 10,000 specialists working in Japan and around the world, Hakuhodo is the world's second largest advertising agency according to Ad Age's "Agency Report 2022." The company is the core agency of the Hakuhodo DY Group. Sei-katsu-sha insight is the foundation for Hakuhodo's thinking, planning, and brand building. It reminds us that consumers are more than shoppers performing an economic function. They have heartbeats. They are individuals with distinct lifestyles. Hakuhodo introduced this term in the 1980s to emphasize its commitment to a comprehensive, 360-degree perspective on consumers' lives. With sei-katsu-sha insight as its cornerstone, Hakuhodo combines creativity, integrative capabilities, and data and technology to play a leading role in evolving companies' marketing activities and generating innovation for the digitalized era. This enables the company to impact and provide value to sei-katsu-sha and society. Renowned for its creativity, Hakuhodo has won the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity twice, and was named Network of the Year at ADFEST 2021.

SOURCE Scrum Ventures
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SKF today announces a transfer of the supply of products from the factory in Busan, Korea, to China, India and Mexico. This is another step in the continuous execution of the Group's strategy, where regionalization is an important part. Consequently, and after a thorough business review and consideration of alternative options, it has been decided that the manufacturing site in Busan will be ramped down, with a full closure anticipated in the first quarter of 2024. SKF will remain a local presence in Korea to serve its existing customers there.

The Busan factory currently employs approximately 90 employees and mainly manufactures bearing products for the Automotive industry. During the last years, several attempts have been made to penetrate the Korean domestic market. However, a vast majority of the products manufactured in Busan are still exported to other markets.

By transferring the supply of products to SKF's factories in Puebla, Mexico, Pune, India, and Shanghai ATC, China, these businesses will be closer to its existing customers. In addition, it will enable these businesses to expand by attracting new local business opportunities. This also supports the Group's Automotive strategy and the ongoing portfolio re-positioning towards the electric vehicle drivetrain and commercial vehicle segments.

Henry Wang, President Industrial Region China and Northeast Asia, says: "The decision to close our factory in Busan is very difficult to take but it is absolutely vital for us to be close to our customers in order to serve them even better. Transferring the supply of these products also enables us to attract new business opportunities in our different regions."

"Our focus now is to provide support to our employees in Busan during these challenging times. On behalf of the full management team of SKF, I would also like to express our appreciation for the commitment and dedication they have shown over the years."

Aktiebolaget SKF

(publ)

For further information, please contact:

PRESS: Carl Bjernstam, Head of Media Relations

tel: 46 31-337 2517; mobile: 46 722-201 893; e-mail: [email protected]

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Patrik Stenberg, Head of Investor Relations

tel: 46 31-337 2104; mobile: 46 705-472 104; [email protected]

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/637/3886028/2466674.pdf 20231201 SKF increases localization rate in the Americas and Asia; closes factory in Busan, Korea https://news.cision.com/skf/i/hbu3-jpeg-fullresolution,c3244873 HBU3 jpeg fullresolution https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-henry-wang,c3244874 SKF-Henry Wang

SOURCE SKF
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Responsibility for the departure of Armenian residents from Azerbaijani territory lies with Armenia and the separatist regime, which was under its control, Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov said at a meeting with the OSCE Secretary-General Helga Schmid, Trend reports.

He also said that no violence against the civilian population occurred during local anti-terrorist measures conducted by Azerbaijan in September of this year in Karabakh, and this was confirmed by representatives of international organizations.

Bayramov emphasized that double standards and a selective approach to the fundamental principles of international law, such as the restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty is uncacceptable.

In order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement (signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war), prevent large-scale provocations in the Karabakh economic region, disarmament, and the withdrawal of Armenian armed formations from Azerbaijani territories, anti-terror measures of a local nature were carried out in the region on September 19-20, 2023.

As a result of the anti-terror measures, Azerbaijan restored sovereignty and constitutional order in these territories. The armed formations of Armenia located in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan were disbanded and left the territory of Azerbaijan.

On November 30, Bayramov left for a working visit to Skopje. As part of the visit, he 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.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Donate $25 or more to select nonprofit organizations, earn 10 Rapid Rewards points per dollar, and Southwest Airlines will match the number of points in the nonprofit's account

DALLAS, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced the Points for a Purpose Holiday Promotion offering Rapid Rewards Members a special incentive to increase their giving impact by donating to select nonprofits starting Dec. 1, 2023, and running through Dec. 14, 2023. This promotion allows Customers to donate cash to one of the airline's nonprofit partners while earning pointsCustomers can earn 10 Rapid Rewards points for every dollar* donated, and Southwest will match the number of points in the nonprofit's account.

Members can learn more by visiting Southwest.com/points-for-purpose. The following categories and nonprofits are included in this promotion:

Life-changing Transportation

Honor Flight Network: Celebrates America's veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at the nation's memorials.

Make-A-Wish: Creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Canine Companions for Independence: Provides the gift of independence to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities through expertly trained service dogs.

Guide Dogs of America l Tender Loving Canines: Transforms lives through partnerships with service dogs.

Education

Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars ( APIA ): Increases access to higher education for APIA students through scholarships, programs, research, advocacy, and partnerships.

): Increases access to higher education for students through scholarships, programs, research, advocacy, and partnerships. Hispanic Heritage Foundation: Focuses on education, workforce, social impact, and innovation through the lens of cultural leadership.

Human Trafficking Awareness

Rescue America: Exists to rescue, revive, and empower the sexually exploited through a 24/7 hotline and emergency response.

Disaster and Crisis Response

Airlink: Works with aviation and logistics partners to provide free transport and logistical solutions to a network of over 200 NGOs responding to rapid-onset disasters and other humanitarian crises around the globe.

American Red Cross: Prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Team Rubicon: Mobilizes veterans to serve global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.

"This promotion is an opportunity for us to partner with our Customers and Employees in support of nonprofit organizations that are making a difference," said Laurie Barnett, Vice President Corporate Reputation at Southwest Airlines. "We know our Customers love the Rapid Rewards Program and the holidays are a great time to put purpose behind giving."

Southwest Airlines invests in community partnerships that drive community impact. Through the Points for a Purpose Program, Customers can donate their Rapid Rewards points yearlong to nonprofit partners to support mission-related travel needs for life-changing transportation, mental health and wellbeing, education, human trafficking awareness, and disaster and crisis response. Southwest applauds these organizations and their relentless commitment to serving its communities. For more about Southwest's corporate responsibility efforts, visit Southwest.com/communityoutreach.

*Rapid Rewards account information required. Points will be reflected in your Rapid Rewards account within 45 days after a donation has been made. Maximum earn limit of 10,000 points. Rapid Rewards bonus points do not count toward A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass qualification. Valid 12/1  12/14/2023. All Rapid Rewards rules/regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its more than 74,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 126 million Customers carried in 2022. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/planet.

1Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021

2Fulltime-equivalent active Employees

31973-2019 annual profitability

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, with deep sorrow, the Reagan Foundation mourns the loss of former Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

President Reagan lauded Sandra Day O'Connor for her "fairness, intellectual capacity, and devotion to the public good" Post this 9/25/1981 President Reagan and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor outside the Supreme Court after her swearing-in ceremony

In many ways, Justice O'Connor embodied the American Dream. Raised on a rural cattle ranch without electricity or running water, her intelligence, self-discipline, and determination led her to become, as The Washington Post described her, "the most powerful woman in the country." Along the way, she courageously broke down barriers for womenas a practicing attorney, as the first female majority leader in any state senate, as a breast-cancer survivor, and as the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

In appointing Justice O'Connor, President Reagan lauded her for her "temperament, fairness, intellectual capacity, and devotion to the public good." Her judicial career showcased these qualities, as O'Connor built a reputation for deciding each case with open-mindedness and restraint. On challenging issues ranging from gender discrimination to affirmative action to religious freedom, the country was guided by her belief in equal justice under the law.

Those who knew Justice O'Connor best, however, will remember her love and devotion to her family and friends. They have our prayers and deepest sympathies at this sad time.

Contact: Melissa Giller

805-522-2977

SOURCE The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute
SAO PAULO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading inverter and energy storage system supplier, announced the Company supplied Comerc Renew, BU (business unit) of centralized renewable generation of Comerc Energia Group, with its featured 1+X Modular Inverter solutions to a 267 MWp PV project in Brazil. This project marks a significant milestone in advancing the Brazilian ambition for a clean and sustainable energy future.

Sungrow 1+X Modular Inverter in the 267 MWp Sao Joao Paracatu Project (PRNewsfoto/Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.)

The PV plant, named Sao Joao Paracatu project, is an important project in Comerc Renew's development portfolio. Sungrow's 1+X Modular Inverter for this project is an innovation combining the advantages of both central and string inverters, featuring a 1.1 MW single unit as the minimum, and the maximum capacity can be expanded to 8.8 MW by combining eight units together, bringing a more flexible design for different blocks sizes and making the on-site operation and maintenance easier. Each module is designed with an independent MPPT, further improving the power generation capacity of the power plant.

Sungrow supplied the complete solution, including the inverters, power transformers, medium voltage switchgears, and auxiliary systems  everything set in a 40-ft container. This project will be supplied with 21 units of 8.8 MW, 7 units of 6.6 MW inverters, and 1,050 combiner boxes with 20 inputs, in addition to all services of cold and hot commissioning and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) training.

"Our success in the renewable space in Brazil is the outcome of the support from our partners. We are pleased to be working with Sungrow, a technology leader in the solar field, on a project of such magnitude," commented Pedro Fiuza, Vice President of centralized renewable generation of Comerc Energia Group.

"As an industry leader in the solar market, Sungrow welcomes the opportunity to work with Comerc Renew on another essential project for Brazil. We previously collaborated with Comerc Renew on their Helio Valgas 662 MWp and Varzea da Palma 118 MWp projects and are proud to supply the new Sao Joao Paracatu 267 MWp project. We look forward to collaborating further with Comerc Renew," said Rafael Ribeiro, President of Sungrow Brazil.

About Comerc Energia

Comerc Energia is the most complete energy and decarbonization solutions platform in Brazil. With over 20 years of experience and a portfolio consisting of approximately 4.7 thousand consumption units, the group holds a leading market share in the Free Energy Market, with 17% of consumers and, in 2022, it recorded a Net Operating Revenue of R$ 4 billion. The structure of Comerc Energia Group is anchored in four business verticals that encompass centralized renewable generation, distributed generation, energy trading, energy efficiency, sectorized metering, and management of consumers in the free market, which make the path towards decarbonization of Brazilian companies more concrete, assertive and achievable.

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 405 GW installed worldwide as of June 2023. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions, NEV driving solutions, EV charging solutions and renewable hydrogen production systems. With a strong 26-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power over 150 countries worldwide. For more information about Sungrow, visit www.sungrowpower.com.

SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
TGH North Integrates Community Hospitals in Citrus and Hernando Counties with Tampa General, Extending the Reach of One of the Nation's Leading Academic Health Systems to More Communities Across Florida.

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) announced today the completion of its acquisition of the Bravera Health network. The hospitals, clinical operations, services, providers and team members that were previously owned and operated by certain subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc., will form TGH North, a division of TGH and an important extension of one of the nation's leading academic health systems.

"We have a bold vision to offer world-class health care, research and innovation to communities throughout Florida, and a key step toward realizing this vision is embracing partnerships that allow us to expand services where they are needed most," said John Couris, President and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. "By bringing the Bravera Health network into our system and coming together as one organization, we will be stronger in our united mission to transform health care for all Floridians."

With this expansion of Tampa General's academic health system, residents in Citrus and Hernando counties will benefit from the local care they've grown to depend on, while gaining access to a broader network of providers, experts and specialists. In partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa General combines clinical care, teaching and research to deliver the best possible outcomes, including cutting-edge technologies, resources and therapies, to the communities they serve.

The creation of TGH North through TGH's acquisition of the Bravera Health network, includes:

TGH Spring Hill (formerly Bravera Health Spring Hill)

TGH Brooksville (formerly Bravera Health Brooksville)

TGH Crystal River (formerly Bravera Health Seven Rivers)

One freestanding ER

Two ambulatory surgery centers

Ten primary care and specialty care clinics

With the addition of TGH North, Tampa General's academic health system now encompasses six hospitals, more than 150 care locations and nearly 14,000 team members and providers. The system provides the highest level of complex care to treat the most severe illnesses and conditions for patients from 23 counties across Florida. The system is recognized as one of the nation's best hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. TGH is committed to clinical excellence, patient safety, innovation, research, education, and patient satisfaction.

"With the creation of TGH North, we're investing in this growing, vibrant region," said Steve Short, EVP & President of TGH North. "The communities in Citrus and Hernando counties can continue to depend on their local hospitals, while benefiting from the cutting-edge research conducted at TGH and USF Health, and access to a broader network of providers that offer rare and complex specialized care."

Physicians and team members at TGH North join Florida's coast-to-coast network of leading providers and team members who already make up Tampa General Hospital. Together as one combined team, they will all benefit from the vast knowledge, expertise and experience across the network that contribute toward higher quality care and better patient outcomes. In addition, Tampa General offers a variety of professional development opportunities that strengthen team engagement, advance career growth and promote personal development.

This acquisition marks the largest expansion for Tampa General in recent years, but is just the latest in a series of strategic efforts to expand access to world-class health care across the state of Florida and transform the nation's health care landscape. TGH prioritizes innovation, advances technologies and adopts new methods for the delivery of academic-based care.

In 2020, TGH launched CareComm, a mission style command center that uses AI applications to integrate care coordination system-wide and improve operational efficiency. In 2022, the system launched TGH at Home, an innovative program offering hospital quality care, daily in-home visits and 24/7 remote patient monitoring in the comfort of the patient's own home where they can be supported by loved ones. Through the Tampa Medical & Research District, anchored by Tampa General and USF Health, the region is attracting renowned clinicians and researchers to Florida, resulting in increased access to experts, cutting-edge research, education, and technology for patients and students.

Collectively, these developments and the formation of TGH North, combined with the day-to-day work of TGH providers and team members across the state, are leveling up the exceptional, world-class care for which patients turn to Tampa General Hospital.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News and World Report's 2023-24 Best Hospitals, with six specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings  in the top 100 nationally in the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women and top 25 in Florida in the 2023 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Outpatient Center, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

TGH Media Contact: Amanda Bevis (202) 680-9262 (cell) a[email protected] TGH North Media Contact: Jennifer Siem System Director of Marketing & Public Relations (352) 797-4645 | [email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital
Conn will serve as chairman of the board alongside other 2024 appointees

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Realtors is pleased to announce that Jef Conn, of Coldwell Banker Commercial in Lubbock, has been named the 2024 Chairman of the Board. Conn will lead the more than 150,000-member organization alongside Chairman-Elect Christy Gessler, Secretary/Treasurer Jennifer Wauhob, President and CEO Travis Kessler, and Immediate Past Chairman Marcus Phipps.

Jef Conn, 2024 Chairman of Texas Realtors

"It is an honor to represent Texas Realtors and its members in 2024, and I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my knowledge and experiences to the organization," said Conn. "I look forward to working side by side with Realtors statewide as we continue to advocate for our priorities, private property rights and housing affordability for all Texans."

A recognized Realtor since 2007, Conn has served his community and fellow Realtors dutifully, holding leadership positions on committees at the local, state and national levels. Conn served as president of the Lubbock Association of Realtors in 2017. A specialist in all aspects of office, industrial and investment properties, Conn also received the Texas Realtors William C. Jennings Commercial Transaction of the Year Award in 2016.

Conn is a long-time advocate for continued professional development, and he encourages future leaders through his involvement with the Young Professional Network. He graciously shares his experience and knowledge by speaking professionally on topics related to leadership, communication and real estate.

About Texas REALTORS

With more than 150,000 members, Texas REALTORS is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We are the advocates for REALTORS and private property rights in Texas. Visit texasrealestate.com to learn more.

Contact: David Gibbs, Hahn Agency, [email protected]

SOURCE Texas Realtors
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy health industry press releases from PR Newswire, including a new program providing individualized support to cancer patients.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the healthcare industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly Health Press Release Roundup, Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2023. Photo provided by Nicklaus Children's Health System. https://prn.to/3N6dOHN

Read more of the latest health-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNhealth on Twitter.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

SOURCE PR Newswire
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy culture press releases from PR Newswire, including campaigns to boost women's body confidence and support Black and Latinx small businesses.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering different cultural groups stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly People & Culture Press Release Roundup, Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2023. Photo provided by The BodCon. https://prn.to/3TbSOmu

Read more of the latest culture-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNmltcult on Twitter.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

SOURCE PR Newswire
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy technology industry press releases from PR Newswire, including AI's threat to certain jobs and Opera's campaign against boring browsers.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the business technology industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

PR Newswire Weekly Technology Press Release Roundup, Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2023. Photo provided by Opera Limited. https://prn.to/4a34FJF

Read more of the latest business technology releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNtech on Twitter.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

SOURCE PR Newswire
Tesfaye's contribution comes amid a critical moment in WFP's response efforts, as it races to feed more than one million Gazans on the verge of starvation. Since the crisis began on October 7th, WFP has provided food assistance to more than 764,000 Palestinians in coordination with other UN agencies and local and regional implementing partners. During the recent humanitarian pause in fighting, WFP has reached more than 121,000 people, including in hard-to-reach areas previously inaccessible within Gaza. Food assistance has included fresh bread, fortified date bars, canned food, wheat flour, pasta, tomato paste and oil. WFP continues to move as many trucks as possible full of food and aid into Gaza daily during the humanitarian pause.

"This conflict has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning. WFP is working round the clock to provide aid in Gaza but a major scale up is needed to address the desperate level of hunger we are seeing. Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access, and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can," said WFP's Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer. "We thank Abel for this valuable contribution towards the people of Palestine. We hope others will follow Abel's example and support our efforts."

Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, appointed a Goodwill Ambassador in October 2021, has actively supported WFP's global hunger-relief mission through personal donations of $1.8 million and through the XO Humanitarian Fund he established in partnership with World Food Program USA. The fund, which has raised $5 million to date, sent a first tranche of $2.5 million to support emergency food assistance to women and children in Ethiopia and the second tranche will be allocated to the Gaza response. In 2024, Tesfaye has committed to dedicating the equivalent of $1 per concert ticket sold from the global leg of his After Hours 'til Dawn stadium tour to the XO Humanitarian Fund.

Learn more about The Weeknd's work with the U.N. World Food Programme at wfp.org/TheWeeknd.

About the United Nations World Food Programme

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

About World Food Program USA

World Food Program USA, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC, proudly supports the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme by mobilizing American policymakers, businesses and individuals to advance the global movement to end hunger. Our leadership and support help to bolster an enduring American legacy of feeding families in need around the world. To learn more, please visit wfpusa.org.

SOURCE World Food Program USA

 Modal title

PRN Top Stories Newsletters Sign up to get PRNs top stories and curated news delivered to your inbox weekly! Enter Your Email Select Country Select Country Submit Thank you for subscribing!



Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our By signing up you agree to receive content from us.Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . You can withdraw your consent at any time in the footer of every email you'll receive.



Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer Mit Ihrer Anmeldung erklaren Sie sich damit einverstanden, Inhalte von uns zu erhalten.Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Ihre Zustimmung konnen Sie jederzeit in der Fuzeile jeder erhaltenen E-Mail widerrufen.



Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant En vous inscrivant a la newsletter, vous consentez a la reception de contenus de notre part.Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Vous pouvez a tout moment revenir sur votre consentement par le biais des informations situees au bas de chaque e-mail recu.
PHOENIX, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the "Company"), a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, is scheduled to present at the Sidoti Small Cap Conference, which is being held virtually from December 6-7, 2023.

The Company's CFO, Troy Anderson, and VP of Corporate Finance, Matt Kempton, will present on Wednesday, December 6th at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, with one-on-one investor meetings held throughout the conference. The presentation will be webcast live and available for replay here, as well as through the Events section of the Company's website here.

To receive additional information, request an invitation or schedule a one-on-one meeting with UTI management, please contact your Sidoti representative or the Company's investor relations team at [email protected].

The Company's most recent investor presentation can be found here.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, whose mission is to serve students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers across a number of highly-skilled fields. The Company is comprised of two divisions: Universal Technical Institute ("UTI") and Concorde Career Colleges ("Concorde"). UTI operates 16 campuses located in 9 states and offers a wide range of transportation and skilled trades technical training programs under brands such as UTI, MIAT College of Technology, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute. Concorde operates across 17 campuses in 8 states, offering programs in the Allied Health, Dental, Nursing, Patient Care and Diagnostic fields. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu, or visit us on LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges or on Twitter @news_UTI or @ConcordeCareer.

Company Contact:

Troy R. Anderson

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Susan Aspey

Corporate Affairs

Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Glover and Jackie Keshner

Gateway Group, Inc.

(949) 574-3860

[email protected]

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Azerbaijan is ready to continue negotiations on signing a peace treaty, said Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) Sahiba Gafarova during a meeting with Chairwoman of the German Bundestag Barbel Bas, Trend reports.

Sahiba Gafarova, who briefed the Bundestag chairwoman on the current situation in the region and the consequences of Armenia's 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands, stated that after liberating its territories from Armenian occupation, Azerbaijan began large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The Milli Majlis Speaker noted that the main impediment to progress is more than one million mines planted on Azerbaijani territory by Armenia during the occupation and later, saying that more than 340 Azerbaijanis have been killed by landmines in the last three years. Given that Azerbaijan is one of the most mine-contaminated countries, the significance of international funding for Azerbaijan's demining efforts was emphasized.

As Gafarova noted, Azerbaijan took the initiative to achieve long-term peace in the region by presenting five basic principles to Armenia for signing a peace treaty based on mutual recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Armenia's political and military provocations, non-fulfillment of commitments made over the past three years, and consistent support for the illegal separatist regime established in the territory.

These steps were carried out in full accordance with international law, with no civilian casualties. The separatist regime was self-destructed as a result of these measures, and Azerbaijan reclaimed its sovereignty. According to Sahiba Gafarova, no government can allow the presence of a separatist entity on its territory. She stated that there are now no hurdles to Azerbaijan and Armenia negotiating a peace treaty. Azerbaijan is prepared to continue peace treaty negotiations.

Gafarova highlighted once more that Azerbaijan is ready for peace based on both countries' territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BEIJING, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last 45 years, reform and opening-up has emerged as a pivotal strategy in shaping the fate of modern China, enabling the nation to reconcile with its past and embark on a transformative journey towards a more expansive global stage.

The sixth episode of season three of the China Daily series Youth Power, on the theme "Gen Z's Perspective: 45 Years of Reform and Opening-Up" was broadcast online on November 30. Gen Z guests gathered in Shenzhen, China's first special economic zone, to experience the ever-evolving face of "China speed" and explore the era-defining significance and global contributions of reform and opening-up.

Standing in front of the Qianhai Stone, with a breathtaking view in sight, Gen Z guests were introduced to the Qianhai cooperation zone. As a trailblazer in Shenzhen-HK cooperation, it has consistently deepened its regional connectivity policies. China's spirit of innovation, perseverance, and daringness has played a pivotal role in transforming Qianhai into a towering metropolis that attracts multinational corporations from all around the world.

Having witnessed the miraculous development of Shenzhen, Gen Z guests worldwide were awestruck by the "China speed" and shared their most impressive feelings towards reform and opening-up.

Dylan Austin Walker from the United States exclaimed that the 45-year achievement was unparalleled and unimaginable. Diego Rodriguez, a Gen Z youth from Spain said, "What the reforms did was trying to provide a better way for people to live, and look for a way for the country to develop, so that this wealth could be served among all of its people."

The spring breeze of reform is sweeping across the country, and other regions such as Hainan and Chongqing have also contributed to the remarkable journey of reform and opening-up.

Chang Shujie, from National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Zhang Yangrui, Assistant President of Sanya BGI Life Sciences Research Institute, introduced that the official launch of the Hainan Free Trade Port in 2018 has resulted in numerous innovative advancements in system construction and governance models, which later have been replicated and popularized nationwide, serving as a crucial demonstration of leadership.

Long Yong, professor from School of Economics and Business Administration Chongging University, said that the mountainous city of Chongqing established its bond with the world not only through the connectivity of the southern section of the Yuxinou railway, but also through the increasing openness in the fields of culture, society, science and technology.

Casting sight to the global landscape, Gen Z guests coincidentally stated that China's reform and opening-up not only propelled its own economy to new heights but also brought benefits to people around the world.

Jane Amelia Ma from Indonesia shared an inspiring example of how China's assistance has enabled Indonesia to have a high-speed railway connecting the new capital Jakarta and Bandung.

"So actually in Africa there are four countries that in the 70s developed their own economic zones. One of them was Egypt, there's Liberia, there's Mauritius, and the fourth one is Senegal. This means that China's reform and opening-up isn't just for its own domestic economy, it's a kind of model for others to follow, but not in a way that you impose it, it's a way of interaction." Jood Sharaf from Bulgaria further added.

As an exploration toward modernization, China's reform and opening-up took the lead in practicing and demonstrating a socialist market economy. "It was an ideological or political innovation, because it was not a dichotomy, and it was not an "either-or" mentality. We can have prosperity while maintaining our socialist ideals and practices." The host of Youth Power Zhong Yutong highlighted.

When asked about the notion that China is closing itself off, Gen Z guests offered a distinct perspective on this issue. Dylan expressed, "I think that us just being here right now completely defeats that argument" and that "it shows a lack of understanding of what is actually happening here." Jood added that during her studies in international relations in China, she learned "more about Western philosophy, policies in different countries, in Africa, and also in Asia, than when I was in another country."

Going forward, it's incumbent on Gen Z guests to engage in the deepening of reform and opening-up. Xiong Tian from China suggests that hospital management can promote a more healthy lifestyle. Diego emphasizes the importance of innovation in the era full of technological marvels. Ip Suet Ying from Hong Kong SAR, China, on the other hand, emphasizes that young people should promote outstanding traditional culture beyond national borders.

Youth Power, organized by China Daily and first broadcast in June 2021, aims to build a global platform of communication and exchange, focusing on the interests and ideas of Gen Z. The program comes in the form of interviews, forums and speeches, with topics related to anything of current interest in the world.

SOURCE China Daily
DUBLIN, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "US Identity Verification Market Outlook to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The US identity verification market has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years, spearheaded by technological advancements and widespread digital adoption. North America continues to lead the charge, leveraging cutting-edge innovations such as four-factor authentication and AI-driven biometric sensors. Government-issued IDs, coupled with sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, have paved the way for enhanced security across personal and business transactions.



US Identity Verification Market Analysis:

Increased digitization has amplified the demand for secure online transactions, catalyzing the growth of the identity verification sector. The escalating threats of hacking and online frauds further necessitate the need for robust security frameworks incorporating advanced technologies. Rigorous regulatory compliances such as KYC and AML underscore the market's vitality in safeguarding transactional integrity.

The advent of COVID-19 accelerated the transition to digital platforms, ensuing a spike in identity theft and related crimes. This urgency has propelled organizations to integrate robust identity verification solutions, witnessing a sizeable drop in fraudulent cases since the onset of the pandemic.



Key Trends by Market Segment:

Deployment and End-User Industry Insights

By Type of Deployment: On-premises deployment outpaces on-demand solutions, providing businesses with heightened control over their security protocols and data management.

On-premises deployment outpaces on-demand solutions, providing businesses with heightened control over their security protocols and data management. By End-User Industry: The financial services sector remains a predominant driver of identity verification demand, necessitating extensive KYC and KYB measures. The gaming and retail sectors also demonstrate significant reliance on identity verification frameworks.

Regional Market Developments

The American market dominates the identity verification landscape, with North America at the forefront. Technological adoption in biometric and facial recognition systems is gaining traction, affirming the region's commitment to advanced security measures.



Competitive Landscape

With key players like Trulioo and MasterCard leading the market, the industry thrives on customer satisfaction, trust, and adherence to stringent security standards. Companies are continuously innovating and collaborating to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats, with fintech and regtech sectors contributing significantly to the advancement of security solutions.



Recent Developments

The market is seeing a surge in biometric applications, with particular emphasis on technologies that promote enhanced security while ensuring customer engagement. The pandemic has highlighted the necessity for reliable remote identity verification methods, thereby boosting market offerings of secure digital identity solutions. Artificial intelligence continues to play an integral role in establishing real-time security and threat detection mechanisms, aiding companies in upholding the highest level of data protection and encryption.



Future Outlook

The US Identity Verification market is projected for robust growth, expecting to traverse a CAGR of nearly 13% through 2028. Technological advancements and government-led initiatives are expected to fortify market stature in the US, while compliance with evolving regulations remains an enduring market catalyst.

The integration of AI, ML, and blockchain technologies is anticipated to redefine fraud detection and identity assurance standards across the industry.

Companies Profiled in the Report

Trulioo

Experian

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Jumio

Onfido

Socure

Mitek Systems

Acuant

Authenteq

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tnptg7

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716



Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
BEIJING, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: The Yangtze River Delta is one of the most economically vibrant, open and innovative regions in China. It encompasses four major economic engines - Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui.

Shanghai serves as a frontier of openness and a prime innovation hub. Jiangsu province features strong real economy. Zhejiang province boasts a developed private economy. Anhui province possesses a rather comprehensive industrial system and rich scientific and technological resources...

On Nov. 5, 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo that China would support integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, and make it a national strategy.

Over the past five years, the region's night light development index jumped 57.24 percent, and the number of cities with a GDP of over 1 trillion yuan ($141.29 billion) increased to eight, or around 1/3 of the total in China. The integrated development strategy has brought tremendous changes to the Yangtze River Delta, writing a new chapter on Chinese modernization.

"In the past, when we encountered technical difficulties, we had to find solutions and resources by ourselves. Now we can directly post requests on the platform," said Yang Weizhong, executive chairman of Shanghai Different Advanced Material Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Different), referring to an open competition platform for selecting the best candidates to undertake research projects launched by Shanghai's Pudong New Area earlier this year.

According to him, developing high-performance hybrid fiber materials had been a headache bothering the company for years. Immediately following the launch of the platform, Shanghai Different posted its technical requests, which were soon picked up and solved by Jiangsu Gem Advanced Fiber Materials.

"Integrated development truly brings innovation resources to one focal point, opening up new possibilities," Yang noted.

Innovation possesses the core position in China's modernization drive. In recent years, the synergetic innovation index in the Yangtze River Delta region has been growing at 9.47 percent annually on average, and the region has shared 23 major scientific research facilities and more than 40,000 large scientific instruments. High-caliber technological supplies are effectively bolstering the high-quality economic development of the region.

On May 28 this year, C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, completed its first commercial flight, which was a testimony to the manufacturing muscle of the Yangtze River Delta. About 10 percent of the aircraft's parts, 50 percent of its aluminum materials, and 50 percent of composite structural components were manufactured in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province.

It marked a close collaboration and integration of industrial chain resources among Yangtze River Delta cities, including Shanghai, Hefei, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Zhenjiang, which realized the dream of the Chinese people to make a large passenger jet of their own.

Under the promotion by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, C919's main manufacturer, around 1,000 enterprises in the nine cities and districts along the G60 Science and Innovation Corridor have been incorporated into the aircraft manufacturing chain.

In Changzhou, a series of innovative industrial clusters have sprouted up around the new energy industry chain, with production value already surpassing 500 billion yuan.

In Jiaxing, the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang and the Zhejiang Institute of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences are thriving; top-tier scientific innovation platforms - China Nanhu Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, Nanhu Laboratory, and Institute of Flexible Electronics Technology of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang - have also been launched.

In Hefei, Chinese new energy vehicle giant BYD has built a new manufacturing base, while establishing supporting facilities for key components like power batteries, battery materials, high-voltage devices and wire harnesses in Bengbu, Chuzhou and Fuyang, to form a comprehensive industry chain.

"These epitomize the modernized industrial landscape in the Yangtze River Delta, the unique strengths bred by integrated development," remarked BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu.

The ever-strengthening innovation and industrial chains come from the continuous unleashing of the talent chain. As the Yangtze River Delta's primary attraction for talents and highland for innovation, Shanghai welcomes both domestic and foreign talents, while also encouraging various talents to fully realize their potential in the region.

Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces have established incubators and empowerment centers in Shanghai to further tap the metropolitan's advantages in talent attraction and innovation resources.

"Previously, for foreigners in China to work in the securities industry, they had to 'follow local customs' and sit China's securities qualification exam - a tall task halting many international finance talents," said Park Pu, Chairman of J.P. Morgan Securities (China).

"Now Pudong has set up an international finance qualification accreditation catalog system, creating favorable conditions to draw global experts," Pu added.

Integrated development is not a simple equation of combining strengths, but rather realizing complementary advantages and building synergy to form new advantages of high-quality development.

As the strategy of integrated development moves ahead, the four major economic engines of the Yangtze River Delta will work together even more closely to propel high-quality development.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Azerbaijan's state budget funds allocated for Baku and Lachin are being increased, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said, Trend reports.

He made the remarks during a meeting of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship, which was debating the state budget for 2024.

The Minister stated that some modifications to Baku and Lachin district local expenditures are required in connection with the execution of minimum wage decisions issued in the current fiscal year.

"The increase of Baku's local expenditures by 2.3 million manat ($1.3 million) and Lachin district's local expenditures by 100,000 manat ($58,823) will be taken into account," Sharifov said in a statement.

Azerbaijan's state budget will have 34.17 billion manat ($20.1 billion) in revenues and 36.76 billion manat ($21.6 billion) in expenditures (including nearly 33.4 billion manat ($19.6 billion) in centralized revenues; 773.1 million manat ($454.8 million) in local revenues; 35.98 billion manat ($21.2 billion) in centralized expenditures; and 782.45 million manat ($460.26 million) in local expenditures).

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. There will be no peace in the region as long as Armenia has a clear political position and the authorities gravitate toward the West, Deputy Director of Trend News Agency and Head of Turkic.World media platform, political scientist Rufiz Hafizoglu told ARB 24 TV channel, Trend reports.

The expert believes that Azerbaijan's position on forging a peace treaty with Armenia is clear.

"The United States of America and other Western states, in order to secure their interests in the South Caucasus, put pressure on Armenia not to sign the peace agreement," Hafizoglu noted.

He also noted that Armenia was involved in the boundary delimitation procedure due to Azerbaijan's request.

"Today, Azerbaijan, having won the 44-day war, dictates its terms to Armenia," he said.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Kanpur, Dec 1 : The death of a school teacher in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district on November 4, has turned out to be a case of murder, the police said.

The Kanpur police have arrested his wife, her alleged paramour and their aide in this connection.

The arrested persons have been identified as Urmila Kumari, 32, her alleged paramour Shailendra Sonkar, 34, and their aide Vikas Sonkar, 34.

Rajesh Gautam of Daheli Sujanpur, a primary school teacher, had died in a road accident in Swarn Jayanti Vihar of Koyla Nagar on November 4.

Investigations later revealed that Rajesh had been murdered following a conspiracy by his wife, who was having an affair with Shailendra.

Rajesh, a teacher in the primary school of Subhauli village of Maharajpur, had gone for a morning walk on November 4 morning when speeding Ecosport car crushed him to death. The car got damaged after hitting a tree. After the accident, the car occupants fled in another car that was waiting for them.

Rajesh's wife had later filed a police complaint.

After that, on the basis of facts, Sen Paschimpara police converted the accident case into murder and deployed four teams to investigate the matter. With the help of surveillance and information systems, the police got some important clues.

According to ACP Ghatampur, Dinesh Kumar Shukla, the man's wife Urmila and the latter's alleged lover, and two others were involved in the murder of Rajesh Gautam.

"Urmila hired two drivers Vikas Sonkar and Sumit Katheria for Rs 4 lakh to commit this murder. As soon as Rajesh went out for a walk on November 4 morning, Urmila alerted Shailendra, who subsequently informed Vikas and he reached in the Ecosport car and killed Rajesh by hitting him from behind. As he started fleeing in the car, it collided with a tree and got stuck. Later, Sumit reached in another car and escaped from the spot with Vikas," ACP further said and added, "On the basis of inputs, we nabbed the three. Searches are underway to arrest Sumit."
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The third edition of the Delhi Art Week (DAW) will be held in the national capital from December 1 to 10.

Across four art zones, more than 20 galleries will be showcasing exhibitions across diverse mediums and themes.

DAW has also joined hands with partnering institutes such as NGMA, Bikaner House, The Partition Museum and Dara Shukoh Cultural Hub, ST+ART, KNMA, Alliance Francaise de Delhi and Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan etc. to design a range of diverse programming to engage with the audience.

The city has been divided into four art zones, where one can find clusters of galleries and institutions listed in each zone.

In addition to galleries and institutions showcasing their programs physically within their own spaces, the event will feature several events which are aimed at engaging with the audience. This includes book launches, talks and walkthroughs.

Tariq Allana, Associate Director, Art Heritage; Sunaina Anand, Director, Art Alive Gallery and Reena Lath, Director, Akar Prakar share, "Each successive edition of Delhi Art Week offers an opportunity for us to address various challenges related to raising awareness about Indian art within our city. By collaborating as a community of galleries and institutions and partnering with organisations such as the Indian Art Fair and the NGMA, the third edition of Delhi Art Week aims to provide exposure and convenient access to the very best of modern and contemporary art. It also strives to promote dialogue within and beyond the art community."
United Nations, Dec 1 : 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.

The UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday that the Somali region accounts for 80 per cent 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 added.

"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, Xinhua news agency reported.

OCHA said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov, Ethiopian officials and United Nations and non-governmental organisation 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, is only one-third funded, at $1.3 billion.
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.
Twitter killer Meta Threads now under govt lens in US. Image Source: IANS News

San Francisco, Dec 1 : Instagram's Thread now supports all languages in its latest keyword search update, as it takes on Elon Musk-run X social media platform.

According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, keyword search will be "supported in all languages."

"We're expanding keyword search everywhere Threads is available. This feature is supported in all languages  we hope this makes it easier to find and join conversations you're interested in," he posted on Threads.

"More improvements are coming to search soon, let me know in the replies if you have feedback," he added.

The feature was initially tested in English-speaking markets including Australia and New Zealand in August before expanding to other countries.

"That will make the app, now used by nearly 100 million people per month, more useful to a broader, global audience," reports TechCrunch.

Meta's social network Threads could launch the platform in the EU next month, according to The Wall Street Journal.

To comply with the EU's regulations, Meta might offer a view-only mode of its app to users in the region for consumption.

"This means users won't necessarily have to make a profile in order to view posts. But they might have to create one for posting," the report noted.

Additionally, the company rolled out a way for users to delete their Threads profile without deleting their Instagram profile.
UP Police on high alert along border after trouble in Nepal district. Image Source: IANS News

Sitapur, Dec 1 : Police in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district have detained a 40-year-old man for allegedly sending a threat letter to a special judge of an SC/ST court.

In the letter, Krishna Kumar Dubey had asked special judge Ram Bilash Singh to recuse himself from two cases pending before him in his court and also accused him of not conducting a fair trial in a separate murder case.

Police had registered an FIR in this connection on Tuesday and security around Singhas residence was beefed up. Sitapur SP Chakresh Mishra said the FIR was lodged under charges of IPC 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from carrying duty), IPC 506 (criminal intimidation) against Dubey at Kotwali police station.

Mishra said during interrogation Krishna, a farmer, denied writing any letter and instead said he had lodged a complaint against the judge in the Allahabad High Court.

Singh in his complaint said he received the letter via speed post in his court office on November 28.

The letter cited the trial of a 2016 murder case in his court.
Lucknow, Dec 1 : Primary school teachers in Uttar Pradesh have decided to defy a state government order if the new artificial intelligence (AI)-based attendance system was not withdrawn immediately.

The teachers said that the face recognition system for attendance is practically impossible.

The system has been launched as a pilot project in six districts under which teachers have to register attendance at a given time through face recognition application on their mobile phones.

Teachers in various primary schools across the state signed a dissent note at their respective block level registers demanding withdrawal of the system.

"Most of the government primary schools are located in rural areas where roads are in bad shape and transportation is a big issue. My primary school is located in a village where you have no option but to walk for 4 km from the main road," said a primary teacher from Barabanki.

She said the new rule says salary will be deducted or a teacher will be marked absent if we are even a minute late, which is unfair for teachers who make an effort to reach the school located in an interior and remote location on time.

Another teacher from Deoria said: "Network is the biggest issue in most of the primary schools. Even if we reach in time, due to massive network issue we will not be able to mark our attendance and in such situation, pay loss is unfair."

Teachers from Bahraich also complained that to reach their school they have to cross forests, ponds and bad roads.

Anand Mohan, president of Rashtriya Shikshak Sangh, said: "A majority of primary schools are in rural areas and teachers travel kilometres from their home to reach school. This system is impractical."
New York, Dec 1 : The White House said that while it continues to strengthen strategic partnership with India, it takes the allegations that an Indian was involved in a foiled bid to kill a Sikh separatist leader on its soil "very seriously".

The response came closely after New Delhi reacted to the US indictment of an Indian individual in a plot-to-kill charge, and said it is a "matter of concern" and also "contrary to the government policy".

"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," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said in respose to a question at a news conference.

Welcoming India's efforts to investigate the matter, Kirby also said that the recent developments will not impact the India-US relationship.

"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," he said, adding that it will not impact India-US relationship.

India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, and said it will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of Committee.

While speaking to reporters travelling with him to Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the Indian government's announcement of an investigation "good and appropriate" and said that they "look forward to seeing the results".

The US prosecutors on Wednesday announced murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta for involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun allegedly on behalf of an Indian government employee.

New York-based Pannun, who was not named in the indictment, is a designated terrorist in India and the legal counsel of banned Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice.

Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 in response to a request by the US under an extradition treaty, according to a statement issued by the office of the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams.

A resident of India, Gupta is alleged to be involved in international narcotics and weapons trafficking.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. A parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova has arrived on an official visit to the Czech Republic, the Press and Public Relations Department of Parliament told Trend.

"The delegation was greeted at Prague's Vaclav Havel International Airport by Jan Kubik, the president of the Czech-Azerbaijani inter-parliamentary friendship group in the Chamber of Deputies, Adish Mammadov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and other authorities. During the visit, the Azerbaijani team will visit the Czech Parliament and exchange views on the prospects for the development of inter-parliamentary relations, regional security, and other mutually beneficial subjects," the Milli Majlis press service said.

Previously, Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The event was attended by diplomatic corps representatives, MPs, and members of the public.

Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan Milan Sedlaek addressed the ceremony, praising the dynamic growth of relations between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan during the last 30 years. The ambassador expressed optimism that the two nations' existing relations in numerous spheres would continue to develop and strengthen.

The head of the Azerbaijan-Czech inter-parliamentary relations working group of the Milli Majlis, Elnur Allahverdiyev highlighted the rich history of Azerbaijan-Czech bilateral relations.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Jerusalem, Dec 1 : The Israeli prison service has confirmed that 30 more Palestinians have been released as part of the ongoing humanitarian truce which is set to expire on Friday after it was extended for 24 hours the previous day.

The namesof the freed Palestinians have however, been witheld, the BBC reported

There was also no immediate confirmation of the prisoners' release by the Hamas or the militant group's affiliated media.

Under the terms of the Israel-Hamas truce, Israel has to free three Palestinians for every Israeli hostage freed.

After a tense and lengthy back-and-forth on extending the truce into a seventh day, the Israeli government eventually accepted a proposal for Hamas to release eight new Israeli hostages on Thursday.

Israel agreed to count two Israeli-Russian hostages who were set free on Wednesday as part of Thursday's release, informed sources told CNN.

In a statement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The Government of Israel embraces our six citizens who have just returned to Israeli territory. Their families have been updated by the responsible authorities that they have returned to the country.

"The Government of Israel is committed to the return of all of the hostages and missing."

Meanwhile, Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari also reiterated the terms of the truce extension on Thursday, stating Israel would release 30 Palestinians in Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of 10 hostages in Gaza  with the two Israeli-Russian nationals released on Wednesday counted on the list as part of the hostage deal.

Meanwhile, the truce, which was only renewed at the last minute for the seventh day, is set to expire again at around 7 a.m. local time (about 10.30 a.m. IST) on Friday.

The military wing of Hamas is calling for its forces to remain on "high combat readiness" in case the ceasefire isn't extended.

Thursday's extension was the second of the initial four-day truce that commenced on Novermber 24.

It was extended for two more days on Tuesday.

Since the start of the pause, 240 Palestinians, 86 Israelis, and 24 foreign nationals have reportedly been released.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 1 : A 36-year-old Israeli woman was found dead with multiple stab injuries while her 70-year-old Kerala partner Krishnaprasad is presently admitted to a hospital here, said police on Friday.

The two had been living together for the past more than a decade after they first met in a North India city and later moved to his ancestral town at Kollam in Kerala, about 70 kms from here.

According to the police, the information that they are probing is based on a suicide note. As per the information, the man, a yoga instructor, was suffering from a serious skin ailment and the two had decided to end their lives.

It was their neighbours in the apartment building who after breaking open the door found the two lying in a pool of blood on Thursday evening.

While both of them were quickly moved to a hospital, the Israeli woman, Satva alias Radha was brought dead, while Krishnaprasad was later shifted to the state run Medical College hospital here.

Even though the suicide note is being looked into, the police are leaving nothing to chance after they were told that while Krishnaprasad wanted his partner to return to Israel due to his failing health, she was unwilling to leave him.
New Delhi, Dec 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the work of the Border Security Force (BSF) on its 59th Raising Day, saying the force has made a mark as a guardian of our frontiers and their valour and unwavering spirit in protecting our nation is a testament to their dedication.

In a post on X, Modi, who is in the UAE to attend the COP28 meeting said, "On BSF's Raising Day, we laud this excellent force, which has made a mark as a guardian of our frontiers."

"Their valour and unwavering spirit in protecting our nation is a testament to their dedication. I would also like to appreciate the role of BSF during rescue and relief work in the wake of natural disasters," the Prime Minister said.
Ottawa, Dec 1 : Canada's job vacancies declined by 40,700, or 6.1 per cent, to 632,200 in September, continuing the steady downward trend from the peak of just over 1 million reached in May 2022, according to the national statistical agency.

Statistics Canada said that the country's job vacancies in September were at their lowest level since February 2021, and total labour demand, which corresponds to the sum of filled and vacant positions, declined for the third consecutive month, Xinhua news agency reported.

The job vacancy rate, which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand, decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.6 per cent in September, the lowest level since January 2021, the national statistical agency said.

The number of unfilled positions decreased in four sectors: accommodation and food services, construction, finance and insurance, and public administration.

These decreases were partially offset by more vacancies in educational services, and information and cultural industries, it added.

There were 1.9 unemployed persons for every job vacancy in September, up from 1.8 in August and 1.2 at the start of the year.

The increase in the unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio was driven by fewer vacancies, as the number of unemployed persons was little changed in September, Statistics Canada said.
Mumbai, Dec 1 : Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, who was honoured with the prestigious Yusr Award at the Red Sea International Festival, also received words of high praise from Hollywood star Sharon Stone.

"I had the exciting pleasure of meeting Ranveer before we came in here, and what a great guy," said Stone.

The Red Sea Yusr Award last year was presented to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, a symbol of recognition for boldness and innovation in film.

Stone emphasised Ranveer's lifelong passion for acting, a dream he has cherished since childhood. His journey from aspiring actor to Bollywood royalty reflects not only his dedication but also his undeniable talent.

Stone added: "Ranveer Singh is a world renowned Bollywood star and a style icon. He is the recipient of several awards including 5 Filmfare Awards. Since his breakthrough, as you have seen, he is a master of transformation immersing himself in a myriad of characters that have showcased his exceptional range as an actor."

She added: "Whether it's his charismatic and endearing Bitoo Sharma in Band Baaja Baraat, the ferocious and vengeful Khilji in Padmaavat or the buoyant and inspiring rapper Murad in Gully Boy, all of which he won Best Actor for, Ranveer brings life into every role, effortlessly blending into the skin of his characters and leaving his audiences spellbound."

"After his role in Gully Boy, he launched his own records demonstrating that he is truly an all-round creative genius. It gives me genuine pleasure to welcome him to the stage to receive yet another prestigious award."
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : , Dec 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister has received 12 consecutive death-threat messages on his phone, officials said here on Friday.

A prominent OBC leader, Bhujbal has earned the wrath of the Maratha community for his strong opposition to giving them quotas from the existing OBC reservation.

NCP (Ajit Pawar) group leader Manoj Ghodake has lodged a complaint with the Pundalik Nagar Police Station in this city famed for the Ajanta-Ellora Cave temples.

An aide in Nashik said the police were investigating the matter, adding the Minister was going ahead with his planned tour schedules.

Officials said that a person named Saudagar Satnak has allegedly sent out the dozen messages one after the other from his mobile number, threatening to eliminate Bhujbal for his recent utterances, and efforts were on by police to track him.

The Minister has been getting death threats regularly over the past few weeks after the Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil and other Maratha groups launched their quota agitation in August.

Considered as the amessiah of the OBCsa Bhujbal, 76, is currently on a tour of some areas ravaged by the recent unseasonal rains/hailstorms, and was facing massive protests in different villages for his anti-Maratha stance, his motorcade was blocked and locals carried out purification of roads with cow-urine after he departed.

As a precaution, the Maharashtra and Mumbai Police have increased the personal security cover and beefed up the security outside Bhujbalas home and offices in Mumbai and Nashik.
Seoul, Dec 1 : South Korea on Friday imposed unilateral sanctions on 11 North Korean individuals involved in satellite and ballistic missile development, in response to Pyongyang's launch of a military spy satellite last week.

The announcement came on the same day that the US, Japan and Australia released or were to release their own sanctions against Pyongyang over the spy satellite launch, marking the first time for the four countries to impose sanctions on the reclusive regime around the same time, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The sanctions apply to five individuals -- Ri Chol-ju, Kim In-beom, Ko Kwan-yong and Choe Myong-su from the National Aerospace Technology Administration; and Kang Son, a manager from the Ryongsong Machine Complex -- for involvement in the satellite development and procurement of supplies.

Also in the list are Lt. Gen. Kim Choon-kyo of the Korean People's Army, two officials from the North's Machine-Building Industry Department, a diplomat stationed in the North Korean Embassy in Russia, the head of a research institute and a manager at the Thaesong Machine Factory.

They are accused of involvement in the research and development related to and operations of ballistic missiles.

North Korea is banned from any launches using ballistic missile technology under multiple UN Security Council sanctions resolutions.

Friday's announcement came in tandem with a series of sanctions against North Korea by the US, Japan and Australia.

Late Thursday night, the US Treasury Department said it sanctioned Kimsuky, a North Korean cyber espionage group, and eight foreign-based agents of the reclusive regime in response to Pyongyang's spy satellite launch.

Japan and Australia are also set to release their own sanctions lists against North Korean individuals and entities.

South Korea, the US and Japan have imposed sanctions against the North at the same time in December 2022 and in September this year.

The latest independent sanctions designation against Pyongyang is the 13th of its kind under the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

It raises the total numbers of sanctioned North Korean individuals and institutions to 75 and 53, respectively.
Mumbai, Dec 1 : Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram, who tied the nuptial knot in Imphal, Manipur on November 29, returned to Mumbai and made their first public appearance at the Mumbai airport.

While Randeep wore a simple all-white outfit, his wife, Lin looked beautiful in a red traditional salwar suit. They held hands as they posed for the paparazzi at Mumbai airport and walked towards their car.

The couple looked happy and all smiles as they posed for the cameras. The two got married in an intimate ceremony as per the Meitei traditions in the presence of family members and a few friends. Ahead of the wedding, Randeep had expressed his excitement at getting married in Laishram's Meitei traditions.

The couple took their wedding vows in the Shannapung resort. Randeep performed the rituals wearing a white kurta-pyjama as his wife Lin looked dazzling pretty in a white and pink saree paired with a black blouse. She completed her look with gorgeous gold jewellery. Randeep and Lin were in a relationship for a long time.

Lin has been a part of films such as 'Mary Kom', 'Rangoon' and recently in 'Jaane Jaan'. Randeep was last seen in 'Sergeant'. His upcoming film is 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar', which also marks his directorial debut.

Earlier, Randeep and Lin had announced their marriage on Instagram, saying: "Taking a leaf out of the Mahabharata where Arjuna married Manipuri Warrior Princess Chitrangada, we are getting married with the blessings of our families and friends. As we embark on this journey, we seek your blessings and love for this union of cultures, for which we are forever indebted and grateful,"

Randeep had also shared that a reception will take place at a later date in Mumbai.
New Delhi, Dec 01 : Amidst the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced city life, wellness travel emerges as the ultimate remedy, providing a much-needed detox from the confines of the hectic daily routines. Picture yourself whisking away for a quick escape or indulging in the tranquillity of a leisurely weekend - wellness travel stands as your trusted companion.

For a rejuvenating experience, immerse yourself in the lush natural beauty of Kerala, absorb the serene vibes of Binsar Valley, and unwind amidst the heights of Sikkim. Each destination serves as a perfect getaway, offering an opportunity to connect with yourself during the upcoming vacation planned.

So, lock onto your favorite destination and get ready to embark on a transformative journey that transcends the ordinary realms of travelClub Mahindra Ashtamudi Resort in Kerala: Nestled amidst floating cottages and radiant backwaters Ashtamudi Resort is a fairy-tale retreat in picturesque Kerala. This charming holiday destination seamlessly blends small-town allure with nature's beauty hub, making Ashtamudi the epitome of a family vacation. Explore nearby gems like the historic Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, and the sun-kissed Varkala Beach, embark on a speedboat adventure, enjoy a serene canoe ride in the village, take a houseboat cruise to Munroe Island, and visit the awe-inspiring Jatayu Earth Centre. Each moment at Ashtamudi unfolds a story of serenity and discovery, offering a refreshing escape for the mind and soul.Le Vintuna Gangtok by Club Mahindra: Club Mahindra's Le Vintuna resort in Gangtok is nestled amidst the picturesque natural beauty of Sikkim. When planning your trip to this stunning destination, you can explore nearby tourist attractions and gain new experiences. Le Vintuna Gangtok is among the most premium resorts in Gangtok, offering a perfect blend of peace, wellness, and happiness. The best time to visit is from September to February. The resort provides top-notch hospitality and a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities designed for you and your loved ones, making it an ideal place for relaxation and rejuvenation in the lap of nature. It boasts exquisite indoor settings, stunning surroundings, a riverside location, modern amenities, and diverse culinary delights, including local Sikkim delicacies. You can savour Sikkimas thali, a variety of dumplings, fresh river fish, Chef's signature dishes, and other exotic flavours at Curries, the multi-cuisine restaurant.Club Mahindra Binsar Valley Resort is situated in Almora: Binsar Valley Resort is the perfect place to reconnect with nature and your inner child. The resort offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas and lush forests. You can enjoy nature walks and bird-watching trails while relaxing in eco-friendly cottages and savoring local cuisine. The resort boasts a wide range of amenities to provide you with an all-encompassing experience. It offers everything from adventurous nights to serene waterfalls, comfortable living spaces, and luxurious facilities. You will experience a luxurious and pampered stay that will make you feel right at home, and your kids will adore it as well. What's more, you can indulge in a variety of exciting experiences, including Ghar Ka Chullah, Traditional Pahadi massage, a Bollywood-themed night, a towel origami class, and a night campfire, among many other activities.Club Mahindra Munnar Resort: Munnar Resort is one of the most enchanting holiday destinations in India, and is known for its lush landscapes, vast skies, and endless lagoons. If you are planning to visit this paradise with your family, Club Mahindra Munnar Resort is the place you need to experience the perfect blend of love, happiness, and fun amidst hills and valleys. The resort offers a range of activities that cater to every kind of traveller, from touring tea plantations and nature safaris to learning how to paint a leaf and relishing delicious curries and fluffy dosas. The resort has a modern design, and its cozy cottages will make you feel like you've stepped back in time. The spacious rooms with plush, soft beds offer breathtaking views that will leave you spellbound. The resort's warm staff provides personalized service, ensuring your smiles multiply. Club Mahindra Baiguney, Sikkim Resort: Situated in the lap of nature, Baiguney, Sikkim is a serene retreat that beckons travelers seeking a peaceful getaway. Surrounded by lush green forests, the resort is situated on the banks of the Rangeetriver and offers breathtaking views of the mighty mountains. The chirping of birds and fluttering of butterflies create a gentle awakening, allowing guests to soak in the tranquility of this beautiful land. The resort boasts an array of amenities and activities for guests of all ages, making it the perfect destination for families and couples alike. From thatched gazebos and romantic tent stays to bonfire evenings and yoga sessions, the resort offers a plethora of options for a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday experience. Children can engage in a variety of activities designed to keep them entertained, while parents can indulge in a romantic candlelight dinner by the pool or a rock painting class. Birdwatching is a popular activity in Baiguney. Visitors can spot many birds like the black-winged Cormorants, the Common Teal, the Grebe, and the White-breasted Waterhen at Khecheopalri Lake. If they are lucky, in season, they could spot the Himalayan Peregrine or the golden Oriole. The forests near the lake are filled with treasures for birdwatchers. Whether you're seeking adventure or looking to unwind, Club Mahindra Baiguney is the perfect destination to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Sikkim. So come, indulge in the simpler things in life, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in
Jerusalem, Dec 1 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday blamed the Hamas of breaking the seven-day humanitarian truce in Gaza by refusing to release more hostages.

In a statement posted on X, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said: "The Hamas-ISIS terrorist organization has violated the outline. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens.

"Upon the resumption of fighting, we emphasize: 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."

The truce, which was only renewed at the last minute for the seventh day on Thursday, expired at 7 a.m. local time (about 10.30 a.m. IST) on Friday morning.

Thursday's extension was the second of the initial four-day truce that commenced on Novermber 24.

It was extended for two more days on Tuesday.

Since the start of the pause, 240 Palestinians, 86 Israelis, and 24 foreign nationals have reportedly been released.

Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the military has resumed combat operations against the Hamas in Gaza, accusing the militant group of violating the truce agreement by firing towards the Jewish state, thus ending the seven-day ceasefire.

In a post on X, the IDF said: "Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory. The IDF has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza."

Shortly before the ceasefire was due to expire, sirens sounded in southern Israel, and the Israeli army said it shot down a rocket fired from Gaza, reports the BBC.

Following the attack, the IDF-affiliated Home Front Command tightened the guidelines for civilians in some areas of the country.

Media outlets affiliated with the Hamas group reported explosions and gunfire in northern Gaza.

Several air strikes have hit the southern Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run interior and national security ministry said on its Telegram account.

In a statement, the Ministry also said Israeli aircraft were in the skies above the area.

Egyptian and Qatari negotiators had been pushing to extend the pause in fighting in Gaza for an extra two days to facilitate the release of more hostages and prisoners, and to allow more aid into the strip, according to Egypt's State Information Service.

Israeli officials had repeatedly stated that a condition of any extension to the pause in fighting is that Hamas must release 10 Israeli women and children held hostage per day.

Under the terms of the deal, Israel freed three Palestinians for every Israeli hostage released.

On Thursday, both Israel and Hamas have indicated they were prepared for fighting to resume.

Hamasa military wing also asked its forces to maintain a high-combat readiness posture.

The restart in hostilities is likely to worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, amid shortages of essential supplies.

Since Hamas launched its massive assault against Israel on October 7, more than 14,800 Palestinians have died.

Israel has reported over 1,200 casualties, including foreign nationals.
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Turkiye aims to achieve the goal of zero emissions by 2053, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

He noted that although Turkiye's historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions is below one percent, the country is taking very important steps in this direction.

"The target of reducing emissions by 2030 has been doubled. In this context, we expect to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 66.6 million tons by the end of the year. We have brought the share of renewable energy in total installed electricity to 55 percent. We rank fifth in Europe and 12th in the world. The 60th meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on Climate Change will be held in Istanbul in January. We are also putting forward our candidacy for the next regional climate summit in Ankara," Erdogan added.

The opening ceremony of the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28, took place on December 1 in Dubai.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
As BJP gets into poll mode, Centre indicates its ready to shower freebies. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Oil Marketing Companies have increased the prices of commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 21 across the country with effect from Friday.

The price of a 19 kg LPG cylinder has now gone up to Rs 1,796.50 in Delhi, while in Kolkata the cost is Rs 1,908.

In Mumbai and Chennai, the price of a 19 kg LPG cylinder is Rs 1,749 and Rs 1,968, respectively.

While the prices of commercial LPG cylinders has been increased, the cost of domestic LPG, used for cooking in households, remains the same.

On the other hand, the oil marketing companies have reduced the price of jet fuel by 4.6 per cent.
Bengaluru, Dec 1 : The preliminary probe by police has revealed that the bomb threat emails sent to over 15 schools in Bengaluru have some jihadi content, said sources on Friday.

Sources said the letter stated, "Convert to Islam or die under the weight of sword of Islam. Bismillah, we will spread the true religion of Allah to the whole of India."

"You have choice to become our slaves or accept the true religion of Allah. Temples, your idols, from Buddha to infinity, they will fly apart from our explosions," the threat email claimed.

The email further stated that there were explosive devices in the school premises. Referring to Mumbai terror attacks, the email claimed that "on November 26, martyrs in the way of Allah killed hundreds of idolaters. It is truly powerful to hold a knife over tens of millions of kafirs".

The authorities said that the communal writing in the letters has made them take a serious note of the development. They also stated that it might be the handiwork of a prankster as well. The investigation will reveal everything, sources said.

On Friday morning, more than 15 reputed schools received bomb threats through email on their official email Ids. The incident had triggered tension and concerns in the city.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, reacting to the media over bomb threats, appealed to the people not to panic. "Few will indulge in such acts. We need to be careful. Cyber crime police are doing their job well. Police have taken immediate action. Earlier, a person who got late to flight had given a bomb threat," he said.
Melbourne, Dec 1 : Questioning police response, a Melbourne-based Sikh shopkeeper turned to social media claiming he has been subjected to verbal abuses and a death threat, leaving him fearing for his life, a media report said.

Charanvir Singh, who runs a newspaper and lottery shop in Avondale Heights, north-west of Melbourne, told SBS Punjabi news channel that the ordeal began when he denied service to a customer who failed to provide a valid ID matching a parcel's details.

"What followed was a barrage of abuse and a horrifying death threat, leaving me in fear for my life," he told the channel.

Singh, whose video garnered significant attention on social media, questioned the effectiveness of law enforcement in ensuring safety of retail workers being regularly abused in the workplace.

"When I contacted police, they said 'we'll come down when we get a chance'," he said.

"They arrived an hour later but what if that threat had turned into a reality meanwhile? This was my main reason for making the video as I was terrified that something would happen to me," Singh said.

Police told SBS Punjabi that at the time of the call, local police units were engaged at another major job.

They acknowledged getting a call from Avondale Heights following an incident with a customer in the evening.

"The only available unit at the time was an Avondale Heights Unit returning from Broadmeadows, who arrived at approximately 7 p.m. and spoke with the victim," the police said.

Responding to the police statement, Singh said he understands that there is a "surge of frustrated customers amidst the cost of living crisis and also maybe there is a police shortage but no one deserves to be terrified while doing their job".

Police told the news channel that Singh has received an apology from the customer and did not want to take further police action.
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha against his suspension from the Rajya Sabha.

A bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked Chadha's lawyer to wait till December 8 after Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta apprised the bench that "something constructive is happening" in the matter.

"If your lordships may consider having this matter after the 4th of December, we may not have to trouble your lordships on merits. Something constructive is happening," SG Mehta said.

Mehta assured that he will take care that Chadha is not dispossessed from the government Type-7 bungalow solely on the ground of suspension from the Rajya Sabha. "On this ground, nothing would happen," he said.

"Sometimes, it's good to be calm. Just read between the lines on what the Solicitor General has said," CJI Chandrachud had told Chadha's lawyer in an earlier hearing.

Previously, the Supreme Court asked Chadha to meet Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar and tender an unconditional apology for his alleged misconduct in the House. It had said that the apology tendered by the AAP leader will be "sympathetically" considered by the Rajya Sabha Chairperson.

Chadha was suspended in August this year on charges of not taking the consent of five Rajya Sabha MPs before including their names in a select committee.

Chadha has petitioned the Supreme Court challenging his suspension from the Rajya Sabha contending that the Chairman of the House cannot order suspension of a member pending inquiry, particularly, when the Committee on Privileges is already seized of the investigation on the very same issue.
Patna, Dec 1 : Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday asked the Nitish government to close down all illegal madrasas in Bihar, saying its increasing numbers at a fast pace is a "threat" to internal security of the state and the country.

Verification of over 3,000 madarsas in the state is mandatory as these places are being used for brainwashing youths, he said.

aBihar houses a large number of illegal Madarsas. We need to undertake surveys of Madrasas on the lines of Uttar Pradesh. The illegal madrasas are used for brainwashing people of Muslim community. Organiaations like Popular Front of India (PFI) are flourishing here in these places," Singh said.

"Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad are responsible for the surge in illegal madrasas as they practice appeasement politics," Singh said.
Yogi meets eight UP workers rescued from Uttarakhand tunnel. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Dec 1 : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met the eight rescued tunnel workers from Uttar Pradesh at his residence and gifted them shawls.

The chief minister spoke to the workers and asked them about their experiences.

The eight men were among the 41 workers who were trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district tunnel for 17 days before being finally rescued.

The chief minister also posed for photographs with the workers who later left for their homes.

Six of the workers are from Shravasti while one each from Mirzapur and Lakhimpur.
Lucknow, Dec 1 : In a welcome move, at least 500 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Uttar Pradesh, have shown an interest in getting married and have even begun the initial paperwork required for it.

D Himanshu, in-charge of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre at the King George's Medical University (KGMU), where the names of applicants desirous of marriage are noted, said, "Marriage among HIV positive people is not a very frequent event. Yet, we have got 65 marriages solemnised among otherwise healthy HIV positive patients."

Vimlesh Kumar, state coordinator, Uttar Pradesh Welfare for People Living with HIV/AIDS Society (UPNPplus), the advocacy group working in the state, explained, "It goes stepwise. We circulate the biodata that is picked up by interested men or women. The family meets and then the discussion on age, height, income, education and such takes place. If everything goes well, the marriage is fixed."

Before forwarding the biodata, the viral load and CD4 count test (used to check the health of the immune system if one is infected with HIV) of the candidate is called for by the UPNPplus to ascertain the health of the bride/groom-to-be.

"Between April and October this year, 24 marriages were solemnised among PLHIV across Uttar Pradesh," said Kumar.

Once the marriage date is fixed, the couple-to-be is put through counselling for family planning and good behaviour in family life.

"Nothing remains hidden between the two persons getting married. This transparency helps improve the quality of life after marriage," said Kumar.

At present, the state has 1,12,204 PLHIV on ART while the estimated number of people living with HIV is 1.94 lakh. This year, since April, 5,873 male, 3,142 female, 47 transgender, 264 male children and 187 female children have been registered for HIV care.

Doctors said that marriage among PLHIV has twin benefits. First, the chance of spreading infection is reduced, secondly, even PLHIV can lead a normal family life.

According to doctors, with guidance and medical support, a newborn from HIV-positive parents can remain HIV negative.

"Tests are conducted at birth and medicine is given, to keep the newborn HIV negative," said Suman Shukla, of King George's Medical University Antiretroviral Therapy centre.
HIV surge in NE matter of concern despite great progress in war against AIDS. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Nov 30 : The 35th World AIDS Day (WAD), which began in 1988, is an occasion to take stock and reflect upon what has been achieved towards the prevention, control and management of HIV and where do we lag. The achievements have been great in saving millions of lives globally and lakhs of lives in India.

We could also save several more from getting HIV infections during the past two decades. But the country of 1.43 billion people in 28 states and 9 union territories spread over 3.3 million square km of land, has its own challenges.

India needs to address some peculiar issues immediately if it has to be at par with the path towards meeting the global goals: zero new infections, zero deaths and zero discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV) by 2030.

All people living with HIV-PLHIV must have access to HIV testing and treatment. Laws and policies should help end stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV and by key and marginalised populations and laws like Indiaas HIV/AIDS ACT 2017 should not remain toothless weapons.

Indiaas role in global HIV control is heroic by making antiretroviral therapy (ART) affordable and accessible to over 90 per cent of PLHIV, though the global agencies -- UN, WHO, UNAIDS -- deliberately shy away from acknowledging the countryas contribution.

Can you imagine the global AIDS Scenario minus India? This WAD is also an occasion to portray India as a great global saviour, especially the global south. India has played the greatest role in normalising the AIDS Pandemic.

Today HIV has become a chronic manageable disorder, even better than diabetes. We have adequate and efficient tools to end AIDS -- to prevent HIV transmission, or diagnosing and treating PLHIV so that they can live healthy, fulfilling lives. We are progressing but not fast enough, to end AIDS by 2030.

An array of amissed opportunitiesa is plaguing the AIDS response in India. Factors like lack of accountability, sub-optimal programme effectiveness, and complacency are slowing us down from reaching the goal of an AIDS-free India.

Covid-19 pandemic did play spoilsports, but we cannot continue blaming it for non-achievement of goals.

We can end AIDS by 2030 but the curve will not bend by itself. We could have achieved these goals had we succeeded in eliminating amissed opportunitiesa in the AIDS response.

We should have ensured that the full HIV combination prevention spectrum and complete care and support services were reaching everyone, including the key populations.

We should have worked with a heightened sense of purpose and urgency to help prevent HIV transmission and avert AIDS deaths. We have a robust ART that results in undetectable virus within just two months: aundetectable is untransmittablea.

And we have gone one step beyond -- untransmittable means zero. So, each new HIV case is a amissed opportunitya where a range of combination prevention options could have helped prevent the person from getting infected.

Likewise, every AIDS-related death is a grim reminder that it could have been averted because we have proven tools to make aAIDS deatha a history.

By 2025, 95 per cent of all PLHIV should have a diagnosis, 95 per cent of them on ART and 95 per cent of those on ART should be virally suppressed. India had 2.5 million PLHIV in 2022, including 70,000 children.

Alarmingly, 66,000 people were newly infected in 2022, 180 new infections daily, slight increase since 2021. Sadly, there were 32,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2022 -- hourly 4 deaths, though it has reduced by 25 per cent over last year.

In the journey towards end AIDS goals, one of the first milestones has to be elimination of parent to child or vertical transmission of HIV, as that doesnat even need change in behaviour.

India, is yet to achieve this goal. ART coverage of pregnant women; which can prevent transmission to an unborn child during pregnancy or breastfeeding was 64 per cent. Vertical transmission rate including during breastfeeding 24.3 per cent. This is another amissed opportunitya which we cannot afford to ignore if we are to end AIDS by 2030.

India's HIV prevalence peaked in 2000, showing a continuous decline during the past two decades with 0.55 per cent in 2000, to 0.32 per cent in 2010 and 0.21 per cent in 2021.

However, we have seen a resurgence in HIV with an increasing number of new infections, especially in young people along with a rising trend in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) with HPV, Hepatitis B, syphilis on the rise.

Data-backed science has long raised the alarm on low coverage of HIV services among those who are most at risk -- the key populations.

We have to scale up the HIV response for them.

While overall HIV prevalence in adults in India is 0.25 per cent, HIV prevalence in sex workers is 1.9 per cent; in gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM)- 3.3 per cent; in transgender people- 3.85 per cent, and in injecting drug users (IDU)- 9 per cent. Whereas HIV prevalence in prisoners is 1.9 per cent but coverage of ART is only 28.7 per cent in prisoners.

The northeast has the highest adult HIV prevalence: 2.70 per cent in Mizoram, 1.36 per cent in Nagaland and 1.05 per cent in Manipur, followed by southern states 0.67 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, 0.47 per cent in Telangana and 0.46 per cent in Karnataka.

Since May, Manipur has been a conflict zone and that has its own repercussions towards increased IDU and HIV.

According to the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS), Assam has recorded a three-time rise in HIV-positive cases in the last three years, with an increasing trend of IDUs spreading the virus.

ASACS data suggests from 1,288 HIV-positive cases detected in 2020-21, the corresponding figure has gone up to 4,018 by 2022-23.

We need to give up our dichotomy dealing with IDUs. Clean-needle or needle-exchange, vaccination for Hepatitis B and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has to be part of drug de-addiction projects.

I am reminded of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) epidemic in the northeast during early 1990s, with HCV prevalence going up to 70 per cent bypassing HIV as a killer then among IDUs.

Fortunately HCV is curable and its cure is affordable, but HBV and HPV are incurable, but are fully vaccine preventable. Amidst calls to end AIDS globally, let us remember that business as usual will fail us.

If current trends continue, more than 1.2 million people will be newly infected with HIV in 2025 -- three times more than the pre-set target of 370,000 new infections by 2025.

We have time-tested and proven capacity to manufacture HIV diagnostics, medicines and robust supply chain mechanisms to deliver them worldwide sustainably.

But are HIV programmes nation-wide strong enough to ensure that HIV prevention, diagnostics, treatment, care and support services are reaching everyone in need, without any delay?

We know how to prevent HIV, diagnose HIV, treat and support PLHIV. But the gap between - where we are and where we need to be is a chasm we cannot afford to have anymore.

Bridge the gap to end AIDS and check other STIs.

(Dr. Ishwar Gilada, is Secretary General, PHO; President Emeritus, AIDS Society of India, Governing Council Member, International AIDS Society).
Lucknow, Dec 1 : The Uttar Pradesh transport department will soon sign an MoU with Maruti Suzuki for handling tasks related to automation, operation and maintenance of the Driving Training and Testing Institutes (DTI) in the state.

The move is part of the Yogi Adityanath government's efforts to increase the income of UPSRTC as well as provide seamless travel for commuters.

Yogi Adityanath will oversee the signing of MoU between the department and Maruti Suzuki at his official residence on Saturday.

As part of this, an online transfer of subsidies to the accounts of buyers of electric vehicles will also be initiated. Additionally, the chief minister will also flag off the new fleet of 50 BS-6 buses, 38 interceptor vehicles and 12 publicity vans of UPSRTC.

Officials said in the first phase, five districts will benefit from the MoU.

Currently, DTIs are operating in 16 districts of which Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur have been selected in phase 1.

Executive officer of corporate affairs at Maruti Suzuki India Limited Rahul Bharti, said, "Partnering with the five major districts of Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of chief minister Adityanath is a matter of pride. We will strengthen the driving testing system through modern technology."

Also, an agreement will be signed between the transport corporation, State Livelihood Mission and Skill Development Mission to train women associated with SHGs and provide them employment opportunities in the corporation.
Bengaluru, Dec 1 : BJP MLA N. Muniratna on Friday stirred a controversy by saying that the Congress is "supporting" those who plant bombs.

Talking to reporters, BJP MLA Muniratna said: "Bomb threats to schools are increasing due to Congress support."

"I won't say the law and order system has collapsed in the state," Muniratna said.

He called upon the state government to ask its ministers to speak with responsibility and said state Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan's remark that the Congress in Karnataka has compelled all MLAs to salute a Muslim Speaker had hurt the people.

However, Khan had apologised later for the remark.

Reacting to the recent bomb threat incident, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had said evil forces have the intention of destroying law and order system.

"These threat mails and letters should be investigated properly. The state government should not hesitate in taking assistance from the Centre in this regard," Kumaraswamy said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Armenia is preparing for a new war and excavating trenches after making revanchism a national policy, Trend reports.

The related video has gone viral on social media.

In the aftermath of the second Karabakh war, Armenia makes declarations "in the name of peace" and proclaims its willingness to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. These assertions, however, do not correspond with its actions; that is, Armenia, which claims to be a "peace" country, is arming itself, digging trenches, and preparing for a new conflict.

Armenia and the outward-looking forces that wish to use it as a tool to carry out their ambitions are attempting to destabilize the area. And Armenia, which has yet to learn from its setbacks, is unable to select the right path. The country that has isolated itself from regional programs, the one with the worst economy and budget, must recognize that the only way out is Azerbaijan's outstretched hand of peace. Armenia, on the other hand, is still attempting to purchase arms.

Armenia's one disadvantage is its never-ending search for a patron. Armenia should abandon myths in favor of reality. Armenia, which is building trenches, must finally accept that it will not defeat Azerbaijan. Moreover, as a matter of fact, during the second Karabakh war, there was widespread desertion in the Armenian army.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Delhi High Court has expressed grave concern over the increasing cases of kidnapping and sexual assault on minor girls, leading to the abandonment of education and denial of career opportunities.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that such incidents not only affect the individuals involved but also have profound repercussions for society as a whole.

Justice Sharma's comments came while dismissing an appeal by Mohd. Taslim Ali, convicted of kidnapping and raping a 14-year-old girl.

Despite already being married and having two children, Ali married the minor victim after convincing her to abandon her studies. The court rejected Ali's argument that he did not know the victim's age as she was not carrying an Aadhaar Card.

The court stressed the importance of education in women's empowerment and the need for a safe and supportive environment for minor girls to pursue their studies.

Justice Sharma remarked that societal progress relies on education as a fundamental pillar, and any disruption, such as girls being forced to abandon their studies, compromises the foundation of societal advancement.

Addressing the modus operandi, the judge noted that girls are often misled into thinking they are entering into a marital union, with the sexual assault portrayed as a consensual act. The consequences of these acts extend beyond individual victims, disrupting social bonds and lawful guardianship.

Justice Sharma said that the criminal justice system should adopt a social responsibility approach, ensuring that judgements in such cases go beyond individual victims and address broader societal interests.

The court stated that these judgements send a message to society, demonstrating an awareness of the challenges faced by victims and the larger community.
Kolkata, Dec 1 : Within a gap of just seven days, the West Bengal government has once again faced the ire of the Calcutta High Court on the same issue of denying permission to the opposition BJP to conduct its public political programme.

The courtas single-judge bench of Justice Hay Sengupta on Friday criticised the state police for not giving any kind of reaction to BJPas application to conduct a public meeting at Khejuri in East Midnapore district on Saturday.

Justice Sengupta also took exception to the administrative reluctance in the matter despite the BJP submitting the application for permission well in advance.

On this matter, the judge also raised two important questions.

The first is when the administration imposes the condition of submitting the application 15 days in advance. The second question is why the opposition will have to move to the court every time for such permission.

Permitting the BJP to organise the event, Justice Sengupta observed that the meeting has to be conducted in a peaceful manner and no provocative statement should be made.

On November 24, the state government and Kolkata Police attracted the ire of the division bench of the courtas Chief Justice T.S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya for denying the permission to the BJP to conduct its mega rally on Wednesday at the exactl same spot where the Trinamool Congress stages its annual Martyrsa Day rally in July.
Telangana Polls: BRS announces 115 candidates, KCR to contest from two seats. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Dec 1 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has convened the State Cabinet meeting on December 4.

The Cabinet meeting to be presided over by the Chief Minister will be held at 2 p.m., according to a statement from the Chief Ministeras Office.

The meeting will be held at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar secretariat a day after the counting of votes polled in Assembly elections on November 30.

Ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is confident of retaining power, despite most of the exit polls giving an edge for Congress.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao dismissed the exit polls as anonsensea and arubbisha and predicted that BRS will form the government once again with more than 70 seats in the 119-member Assembly.
Kolkata, Dec 1 : A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday expressed ire over the lack of coordination between the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in their parallel investigations in the cash-for-school-job case in West Bengal.

The single- judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay also reminded his earlier direction asking the two central agencies to prepare the respective charge sheets after consulting each other. Justice Gangopadhay also observed that because of this lack of coordination the names of all the accused in the matter were not there in the charge sheet.

Justice Gangopadhyay also observed that he does not want the probe in the school-job-case to meet the fate of the Saradha chit fund case where the investigation has not been completed even ten years.

He directed the agencies to immediately coordinate among themselves.

He also directed the two agencies to inform his bench about the updates of the coordination on the day of the next hearing in the matter on December 21.

He also reminded that without proper framing of charges it will not be possible to start the trial process. "I want the trial process to start at the earliest," Justice Gangopadhyay added.
Kolkata, Dec 1 : A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to intervene over a petition filed against the religious programme involving sacrifice of 10,000 goats on the occasion of Kali Puja at Bolla village in South Dinajpur district West Bengal.

Refusing to intervene in the matter, the division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hirnamay Bhattacharya observed that since the faith of several people are involved with the matter the court cannot intervene in the matter.

The petition was relating to a petition against sacrifice of 10,000 goats on the occasion of Kali Puja. A non-government organisation filed a PIL at the division bench seeking ban on the goat sacrifice and pointed out that the sacrifice takes place without proper license.

The counsel for the petition claimed that the state government should initiate in banning such practice to stop cruelty on animals.

Despite refusing to intervene in the matter and ban the practice as pleaded by the petitioner, the division bench also directed that the Puja committee should abide by the law.

The Puja committee is supposed to give a report to the Calcutta High Court by March next year.

In its observation, the division also referred to the judgement of the SC regarding Jallikattu festival in May this year upholding laws allowing Jallikattu festival. The division bench also referred to the events of cock-fights in certain areas of West Bengal.
Chandigarh, Dec 1 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday requested Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to recommend a CBI probe into the "sacrilegious armed attack" on Gurdwara Akal Bunga Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi "on the orders" of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on November 23, asserting it had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh sangat worldwide.

Briefing the media about the meeting with the Governor, SAD president Sukhbir Badal said "the armed attack on the peaceful sangat at 4 am when it was reciting gurbani has reminded Sikhs of a similar attack on Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar in 1984. Sikhs worldwide are outraged and they are now seeking justice for this heinous act".

Giving details of the case, Badal said: "As per sources, the Chief Minister had ordered the police to remove one faction of Nihang Singhs from Gurdwara Akal Bunga Sahib to facilitate a takeover to favour his close friend and head of a rival faction of Nihang Singhs."

"It is even more despicable that the Chief Minister gave this order reportedly in an inebriated condition at night due to which the Kapurthala Police entered the gurdwara premises in the early morning in full combat uniform with assault rifles and indulged in wanton firing."

He said evidence in this regard had been submitted to the Governor.

Badal said the SAD delegation, comprising Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Daljit Singh Cheema, also apprised the Governor that the "Chief Minister had compounded his crime by forming a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the incident which was headed by the same police officer who had carried out the orders of the Chief Minister."

He said: "In such circumstances only a CBI probe could lay bare the entire conspiracy and culminate in registration of a murder case as well as that for hurting religious sentiments against the Chief Minister as well as the police officers responsible for this ghastly incident."
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) after the accused approached the family members of a 32-year-old man, who was killed in an accident along with his two minor sons, for settlement.

The wife of the deceased is still undergoing treatment at the hospital. The man and his two sons aged eight-months and eight-years were killed after their two-wheeler was hit by a vehicle in West Delhi in the intervening night of November 20-21.

The DCW Chairperson, Swati Maliwal and member Firdaus Khan also visited the severely injured woman in the hospital on Friday.

"She has sustained 40 fractures and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. DCW Chairperson today visited the survivor in the hospital and interacted with her and her family. It has been alleged by the family of the survivor that they have been approached by the accused side for settlement of the case. They have expressed concern for their safety. Also, the forensic samples have not been sent to FSL till date," said the DCW in a statement.

"We have issued notice to Delhi Police seeking an action taken report in the matter. The Commission has sought a copy of the FIR along with details of the accused arrested in the matter. The Commission has also sought details of steps taken to identify and arrest all the accused involved and has asked whether the accused were in an intoxicated state," it said.

"The Commission has further asked whether the samples have been sent to FSL. The Commission has asked whether any inquiry into allegations made by the family has been conducted by Delhi. The Commission has asked Delhi Police to provide the action taken report latest by December 5," it said.

"Further, the woman sustained over 40 fractures and was being harassed by the private hospital over payment of fees. DCW Chairperson has ensured that the survivor gets free of cost treatment at the private hospital under the Farishtey Scheme of the Delhi government," it added.

"The incident is very tragic. I have met the survivor and her family. They are in a state of shock and are inconsolable. All the accused responsible for the death of innocent persons should be given the strictest punishment. We will ensure the woman's treatment is free of cost," said Maliwal.
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Delhi High Court has said that magistrates must exercise discretion and not mechanically issue directions for police investigation under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar said that the decision to order a police investigation should be a thoughtful one, considering the specifics of each case.

Section 156(3) of CrPC empowers Magistrates under Section 190 to instruct a police investigation.

The court was dealing with a case involving a man seeking the registration of an FIR against his neighbours, alleging fraud.

Despite the petitioner's plea, the Metropolitan Magistrate and the Sessions Judge upheld the decision to deny a police investigation.

Justice Bhatnagar, in rejecting the plea, noted that the petitioner possessed the facts and evidence required for inquiry under Section 200 of CrPC.

He clarified that a magistrate is not obligated to order a police investigation merely because the complaint outlines elements of a cognisable offence. Depending on the circumstances, the magistrate may deem it sufficient for the complainant to prove the allegations without police assistance.

In such instances, the magistrate can proceed under Section 200 of the CrPC, examining witnesses presented by the complainant.

The court concluded that no compelling circumstances were presented to warrant the exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. or Article 226 of the Constitution, as it affirmed the validity of the lower courts' decisions.
Los Angeles, Dec 1 : Hollywood star Tom Holland won't play Spider-Man again just "for the sake of making another one".

The 27-year-old actor last played Peter Parker and his web-slinging alter ego in 2021's 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and while he confirmed he had been "actively engaging in conversations" about making another movie, he feels "protective" over the character and will only reprise the role if the story is right, reports Female First UK.

Speaking during a Critics Choice Association press conference, he said: "All I can say is that we have been actively engaging in conversations about what it could potentially look like for a fourth rendition of my character. Whether or not we can find a way to do justice to the character is another thing. I feel very protective over Spider-Man."

The actor said: "I feel very, very lucky that we were able to work on a franchise that got better with each movie, that got more successful with each movie, which I think is really rare, and I want to protect his legacy. So, I won't make another one for the sake of making another one. It will have to be worth the while of the character."

As per Female First UK, Tom admitted he'd be a "fool" not to say yes if another film in the franchise came along.

The actor added: "If we can figure that out, I would be a fool not to put the suit back on again because I owe everything to Spider-Man. I love the character and the people I get to work with. So, I would love to tell another story, but I'll only tell it if we can find the right one".

Tom previously admitted he'd be "lucky" if he got to return to the series.

Asked by Screen Rant which Spider-Man villain he would like to take on next, Tom replied: "That's a really tough question. I mean, 'Spider-Man' has got arguably some of the best villains in the comic book world. I love the character. I love 'Spider-Man'. I'd be lucky to play him again, but we'll have to wait and see."
New Delhi, Dec 01 : The iconic Taj Mahal, New Delhi, one of the most distinguished addresses of the national capital, proudly celebrated the completion of its remarkable transformation setting a new benchmark in hospitality. The grand re-imagining of the Taj Mahal, New Delhi is a testament to its enduring 45-year legacy, skillfully intertwining the cherished echoes of the past with the sophistication of the present.

Satyajeet Krishnan, Area Director, Operations and General Manager of Taj Mahal, New Delhi, said, "Taj Mahal, New Delhi has been a cherished landmark of elegance, warmth and luxury for generations. As custodians of a rich legacy and inspired by the patronage of our guests, we have gloriously re-imagined the Capital's jewel to bring you splendidly redefined spaces and an unparalleled culinary legacy. We welcome guests to experience Delhi's veritable institution again and to rediscover a re-imagined grand legacy."

The distinctive transformation of the hotel was thoughtfully executed in planned phases over three years. Among the redesigned spaces, the Taj Mahal, New Delhi has unveiled  a re-imagined avatar of The Chambers, India's first and most revered business club with Albero, a 60-seater restaurant, seven meeting rooms, The Chambers Lounge, a sophisticated bar and a cigar lounge; Luxury Residences, a home in the heart of the Capital offering fully serviced one and two-bedroom residences with elegant living and dining spaces and a bespoke selection Signature Suites like Raisina- The Grand Presidential, Rambagh  The Presidential and the Maharaja Suite  a tribute to the legendary symbol of aviation; and the curated offerings of the Taj Club.

House of Ming, a legendary dining destination reinvented; Machan, a gastronomical confluence of the old and the new with an eclectic menu; Captain's Cellar, a contemporary wine lounge offering an exploration of global and domestic wines, with small plates; and Rick's, the Casablanca-inspired bar for all cocktail enthusiasts and nostalgia seekers, are the epicurean highlights. Varq, the birthplace of modern Indian cuisine in the Capital, remains a much-celebrated gourmet canvas. The magnificently redesigned meeting spaces, and the holistic haven of rituals at J Wellness Circle, welcome guests to an elevated experience, along with leading-edge air purification technology across the Hotel.

A grand evening of celebrations witnessed special moments such as - a laser, light and sound show in 45 hues, 45 varieties of artisanal chocolates, 4.5 tier cake and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque '45 Years of Taj Mahal, New Delhi A Legacy, Re-imagined'. Raising a toast to the hotel's timeless elegance, the grand relaunch brought together esteemed patrons, members of The Chambers, diplomats, and business, social and cultural luminaries. The soulful melodies of the Shillong Chamber Choir serenaded the guests.

The culinary offerings crafted took guests on a voyage through both timeless classics and novel dishes, with the hotel's legendary and new restaurants showcased in immersive food theatres. The gastronomic spread by Chef Arun Sundararaj, Director of Culinary Operations  Taj Mahal, New Delhi, and his team, included Lobster Thermidor, Caviar, Truffle and Cheese carts, an array of Grills and Roasts, Pattar Ka Gosht, Salad and Mushroom theatre, innovative dessert bar, to name a few.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Azerbaijan has opened its pavilion at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, Trend reports.

The national pavilion, established through the joint organization of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan within the framework of COP28 which is being held from November 30 through December 12, focuses on the "Pioneering Sustainable Solutions For Climate Resilience" topic.

The concept of the pavilion is based on the rich flora and fauna of Azerbaijan.

The interactive pavilion will showcase information on Azerbaijan's climate change policy, the government's measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and other related projects.

Azerbaijan affirmed its commitment to a 35 percent reduction in GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions' by 2030 and to a 40 percent reduction by 2050. Fulfillment of obligations under the Paris Agreement and active work in this direction is a priority issue.

The pavilion operates such sections as "Energy transition," "Ecological map", "Renewable energy sources", "Smart village", and other sections. "Environmental map of Azerbaijan" interactively displays national parks, climate types, renewable energy sources, water resources, and the "green" concept. Each theme presents the country's map with detailed information about existing infrastructure and future projects.

The pavilion also covers the topic of the "Red Book" of Azerbaijan (official state document on the status of rare and endangered species of wild animals and plants in the country), climate initiatives, and mine clearance efforts. It provides information about animals and plants listed in the "Red Book" and facing the threat of extinction in Azerbaijan, ecological projects carried out by NGOs and government structures, the issue of landmines in Azerbaijan, and its environmental consequences.

Moreover, "Plant a tree" section of the pavilion showcases initiatives for tree planting in Azerbaijan, especially its Karabakh region, to restore the ecological balance disrupted during the Armenian occupation.

Each visitor can also join the initiative of planting trees (pine or olive trees which will be planted in the Karabakh region's Fuzuli city) by online application through a tablet, thereby supporting the restoration of the ecological balance in Karabakh.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The global smartwatch shipments increased 9 per cent (year-on-year) in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, a new report said on Friday.

According to Counterpoint Research, the primary drivers of this growth were the sustained strong performance of the Indian market led by Fire-Boltt as well as Huaweias remarkable rebound in China.

"Amid a global economic slowdown, most consumer device markets like smartphones are still experiencing stagnation compared to a year ago. In contrast, the smartwatch market has recorded year-on-year growth for two consecutive quarters in both premium and budget segments," said Research Analyst Woojin Son.

"Notably, High-level Operating System (HLOS) smartwatches, typically featuring higher specification and price, have grown largely driven by Huawei in Q3 2023 as the company posted its highest quarterly performance ever," he added.

According to the report, Apple delivered its best-ever Q3 performance, with a 7 per cent (year-on-year) increase in shipments.

Huawei recorded an impressive 56 per cent (year-on-year) increase in overall shipments for the quarter, with HLOS smartwatches seeing a remarkable 122 per cent surge. Fire-Boltt recovered its leadership position in India after recording its all-time highest quarterly shipments.

All three major Indian brands -- Fire-Boltt, Noise, and boAt -- are growing at a slower rate than before. However, this is seen as a sign of stabilisation rather than sluggishness, the report noted.

aMeanwhile, the Indian market, which has been powerfully leading the Basic smartwatch sector, maintained robust growth in the quarter. The country contributed to 35 per cent of total global shipments, securing its position as the leader in the global market for the third consecutive quarter," Son said.

Samsung experienced a 19 per cent (year-on-year) decline in shipments. However, the new products released in August exhibited only a 3 per cent drop compared to the previous ones, the report mentioned.
Jaipur, Dec 2 : As different exit polls for the Rajasthan Assembly elections are hinting to a split verdict in the state, Congress and BJP workers are rushing to rebel and independent candidates to play it safe in case they fall short of the majority mark.

Third front parties like the RLP, BSP, Bharatiya Adivasi Party and CPI(M) are claiming to jointly win 12 to 17 seats in the state. Besides them, about 10 independents are also certain about their victory. In case these claims turn out to be true, they will together have nearly 25 seats in their kitty and thus in case of hung assembly, these parties and independent candidates can play the role of king maker in the state.

While the BJP is claiming to win 130 seats, the party sources say that it would touch the base with support from the rebels.

The saffron party is in touch with its rebel candidate from Chittorgarh, Chandrabhan Singh Akya, who contested as a rebel after being denied ticket by the party. "Such people are our family members and we are sure that they will not go anywhere. We are very much in touch with them," said a party leader.

Similar is the case with the Congress, which is also in constant touch with rebels and independents.

State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra said: "Independents have supported Congress in the last tenure and they will do the same because they have been witness to our successful tenure. However, we are sure to get a complete majority."

Head of BJP's state election management committee Narayan Pancharia said: "We are sure to win around 130 seats... we are confident of getting the majority, however, rebels, who have been a part of our family, are also in touch with us."

Meanwhile, sources said that both parties have plans of political camping.

"Political tourism is a new culture and this touring by both party MLAs will start soon and will continue for at least three to four days. Party leaders like Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda, B.L. Santhosh etc are keeping their eyes on the development in the state and BJP state in charge Prahlad Joshi is apprising them of all the developments that are taking place in the state," party sources said.

Congress would be camping its MLAs either in Karnataka or in Rajasthan itself, party sources said, adding that not the 'Raaj' (rule) but the 'Rivaaj' (tradition) of Rajasthan of transferring power to alternate hands every time "will change this time".

While the Congress is planning to take their MLAs either to Bengaluru or somewhere in Rajasthan itself, the BJP will bank on neighbouring Gujarat to camp its MLAs, the idea is to "keep them together and safe".
New Delhi, Dec 1 : A Delhi court on Friday extended till December 22 the judicial custody of NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources head Amit Chakravarty in a case lodged under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The two were produced before Special Judge Hardeep Kaur of Patiala House Court on expiry of their previously granted jail time.

Both Purkayastha and Chakravarty moved the court seeking release of electronic devices seized by police and bail, respectively.

On November 17, Charavarty's counsel had argued that he has only 0.09 per cent share in the organisation, and has no role in journalism or management, and the Police had raised questions on the maintainability of the bail application.

On October 25, the special judge had sent the duo to police custody after they (the police) told the court that they have the right to seek further custody of Purkayastha and Chakravarty, and that they need to confront them with protected witnesses and electronic material recovered. They were produced before court on expiry of their five-day judicial custody.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for police Atul Srivastava had told the court that they have the right to seek further custody and therefore, they are exercising the same.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3. A day after their arrest, the special judge had sent them to seven days' police custody on October 4. Both then moved the high court challenging their police remand, which was upheld by the high court.

The duo had also taken the matter to the Supreme Court against the dismissal of their petitions challenging police remand, and on October 19, the apex court had issued notices to Delhi Police on the petitions.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha, had earlier argued before the high court that "all facts are false and not a penny came from China".

On October 3, in a statement regarding the search, seizure and detentions carried out in connection with the UAPA case registered by the Special Cell, the Delhi Police had said that a total of 37 male suspects were questioned at the office premises, while nine female suspects were questioned at their residences.

The police said that digital devices, documents, etc., were seized or collected for examination. The Special Cell had registered an FIR in connection with the case on August 17 under different sections of the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code against NewsClick.

In August, a 'New York Times' investigation had accused NewsClick of being an organisation funded by a network linked with US millionaire Neville Roy Singham, to allegedly promote Chinese propaganda.
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The long arm of the law finally caught up with a 29-year-old man, who used various dramatic tactics to shock and then rob unsuspecting men.

According to Delhi Police, who nabbed the culprit from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, the accuaed targeted only men.

The accused has been identified as Imtiyaz, who hails from Baghpat and used to commute in public transport and left no trace behind, making it difficult for the cops to track him.

According to the police, on November 13, a PCR call was received regarding the robbery of a gold bracelet and a Scooty from the Krishna Nagar area in the national capital.

The complainant, Ankur Jain, reported that he was heading home from Vishwas Nagar to Rajgarh Colony when he was stopped by a person near the West Azad Nagar crossing.

"This person accused Jain of an accident involving his sister, forcing him to accompany him to the alleged accident site in East Azad Nagar. There, the perpetrator robbed Jain of his gold bracelet and Scooty after threatening him with a sharp-edged weapon," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara), Rohit Meena.

During investigation, over 200 CCTV cameras were scanned, from Geeta Colony to UP, covering a distance of 30 km.

"The police also gathered information from secret informers, collecting over 100 dossiers of criminals using similar modus operandi in the Trans Yamuna area. Eventually, the police identified the accused, a habitual criminal from Baghpat district.

"Local informers were then put into work to trace the accused's whereabouts, leading to the successful apprehension of Imtiyaz," the DCP said.

During interrogation, Imtiyaz confessed that he earned his livelihood by committing robbery and cheating unsuspecting people, often using the threat of physical harm.

"He revealed his involvement in similar incidents in Krishna Nagar, Geeta Colony and Shahdara in Delhi, and Shamli and Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh," the DCP said.

Imtiyaz disclosed that on July 20, he accusaed a person in Krishna Nagar of snatching his sister's ATM card before robbing him of his ATM cards, mobile phone, and bike key.

On October 16 near the Geeta Colony petrol pump, he accused a person of sexual assault and robbed him of his gold ornaments.

"To evade arrest, he used various modes of transportation, including a victim's bike, auto-rickshaw, e-rickshaw and bus, making it difficult to trace him through CCTV cameras," the DCP said.

IANS

ssh/
New Delhi, Dec 1 : Delhi Education Minister Atishi has written a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighting "irregularities" in 12 Delhi University colleges funded by the city government.

Sources said that Atishi in her letter stated that the city government has noted several serious irregularities and procedural lapses involving hundreds of crores.

Atishi has put forward two key proposals to the union education minister, aiming to address the existing constraints within the education system.

The first proposal suggests a complete merger of the 12 colleges under the Delhi Government, meaning they would be entirely funded by the Delhi Government.

In her second proposition, Atishi recommends that the Centre assume full control of these 12 colleges under the University of Delhi (DU).

Atishi also highlighted a crucial aspect of the current situation, emphasising that these colleges, being directly affiliated with DU, are not presently accountable to the Delhi Government regarding the judicious utilisation of funds.
Dubai, Dec 1 : The COP28 Presidency on Friday announced that 134 world leaders have signed up to its landmark agriculture, food and climate action declaration. Also announced was the mobilisation of more than $2.5 billion in funding to support food security while combatting climate change and a new partnership between the UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for food systems innovation in the fact of climate change.

The 'COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action' (the Declaration) was announced at a special session of the World Climate Action Summit (WCAS), led by Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Prime Minister of Samoa and Anthony J. Blinken, Secretary of State for the US. The Declaration addresses both global emissions while protecting the lives and livelihoods of farmers who live on the frontlines of climate change.

"There is no path to achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach, that does not urgently address the interactions between food systems, agriculture, and climate," Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and COP28 Food Systems Lead, said. "Countries must put food systems and agriculture at the heart of their climate ambitions, addressing both global emissions and protecting the lives and livelihoods of farmers living on the frontline of climate change. Today's commitment from countries around the world will help to build a global food system fit for the future," she added.

The 134 signatory countries to the Declaration are home to over 5.7 billion people and almost 500 million farmers, produce 70 per cent of the food, and are responsible for 76 percent all emissions from global food systems or 25 per cent of total emissions globally.

Endorsement of the Declaration will help in strengthening food systems, building resilience to climate change, reducing global emissions, and contributing to the global fight against hunger, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Declaration -- the first of its kind for the COP process -- stresses the need for common action on climate change, which adversely affects a large portion of the world's population, particularly those living in vulnerable countries and communities. "Today signals a turning point, embedding sustainable agriculture and food systems as critical components in both dealing with climate change and building food systems fit for the future. Together we will deliver lasting change for families, farmers and the future," said Almheiri.

While food systems are vital for meeting societal needs and enabling adaptation to climate impacts, they are also responsible for as much as a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Many smallholder farmers in low-and middle-income countries are also facing heightened vulnerability to climate change.

Food security and climate change are interlinked and global agrifood systems are the climate solution, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, told heads of state and government.

"Implementation of the Emirates Declaration guided by the FAO Roadmap for achieving SDG2 while maintaining 1.5 degrees Celsius, are key instruments for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets under the Four Betters, leaving no one behind," he said.

Responding to the Declaration, Kelly Dent, World Animal Protection's Director of External Engagement, said: "This important declaration shows the vast majority of world leaders at COP28 agree food systems and agriculture need to be at the centre of these critical climate talks, which World Animal Protection has been advocating for many years.

"We regret, however, world leaders have not turned the spotlight on factory farming -- one of the major causes of our warming climate.

"A key pathway to sustainable food production is by tackling factory farming and its massive greenhouse gas emissions, which our recently released report estimates at 11 per cent of overall emissions."
New Delhi, Dec 1 : At the Annual Interpol General Assembly, India has stressed the need to deny any safe havens for crime, criminals and proceeds of crimes.

India has also stressed upon the need for coordinated strategies to curtail criminal organisations which operate across international jurisdictions.

The CBI, in a statement, said that a delegation from India to Austria's Vienna attended the Annual Interpol General Assembly, the largest gathering of senior law enforcement officials in the world.

It said that this year's General Assembly also marks the 100th anniversary of Interpol and returns to the city where the organisation was founded a century ago.

It said that the five member delegation from India was led by Director CBI Praveen Sood and included Dinkar Gupta, Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA).

"India has stressed the need to deny any safe havens for crime, criminals and proceeds of crimes. The need for coordinated strategies to curtail criminal organisations which operate across international jurisdictions was deliberated," the CBI said in a statement.

It said that the Indian delegation held detailed discussions on matters of police cooperation with high level delegations of Austria, UAE, US, UK, Nepal, Brazil, Australia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Singapore and Zambia.

"Discussions were also held for better sharing of criminal information via Interpol channels, to expedite mutual legal assistance and extradition requests," it said, adding that India also supported adoption of Interpol's Vision 2030 and creation of Interpol Future Council.

It said that the Indian delegation also held discussions with senior officials of Interpol, Europol, Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Organisation and US Air Force Office of Special Investigations on "strengthening arrangements for cooperation."

The CBI said that the Indian delegation held discussions with law enforcement agencies from multiple countries for enhanced coordination via Interpol channels with a view for concerted action to combat organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, online radicalisation, cyber enabled financial crimes and to prevent these crimes on a real-time basis.

The General Assembly is the supreme decision making body of Interpol and meets annually to deliberate inter alia on issues of global security, emerging crime trends and international police cooperation.

India's CBI is designated as the National Central Bureau for Interpol in India and coordinates all international police cooperation requirements of Indian law enforcement agencies through the Interpol channels.

India joined Interpol in 1949 and has been an active member of the organisation.

India also hosted the 90th Interpol General Assembly in New Delhi from 18 to 21 October last year, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 90th Interpol General Assembly in India had unprecedented participation of delegations from 168 countries during which historic resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly relating to strengthening collaborative response to disrupt financial crime and corruption, combating menace of online child sexual exploitation and for promoting diversity within Interpol.

The first ever global crime trend report was released by Interpol in its New Delhi session and the organisation also launched its presence in the Metaverse.

Subsequently, India has also hosted the Interpol Young Global Police Leaders programme earlier in 2023 involving participation of 44 countries.

The CBI Academy joined the Interpol Global Academy Network to emerge as a global training hub for Interpol.

It may be recalled that 2023 saw as many as 24 criminals and fugitives wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies being returned from abroad to India through close coordination via Interpol channels, one of the highest ever in a year.

Further, India has also geolocated more than 184 criminals in various countries and initiated formal proceedings for their return. This reflects increased leveraging of Interpol channels and relationship with law enforcement agencies internationally to combat crime and criminals.
Aizawl, Dec 1 : Mizoram's NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC), an umbrella body of major civil societies and student bodies, staged protests across the state on Friday seeking a change in the date of counting of votes for state assembly polls.

Hundreds of men and women including the youth took part in protests, which were addressed by NGOCC Chairman Lalhmachhuana, General Secretary Malsawmliana and other leaders.

Terming the EC's "silence" over their demand "unfortunate", Lalhmachhuana said that the demonstrations have been organised to safeguard the Mizo community and their religion.

The NGOCC chairman requested political parties to keep their offices shut on Sunday, the day of counting of votes.

He also urged representatives of the parties and candidates not to turn up at the counting centres on December 3 as a mark of protest. The main protest demonstration was held at Treasury Square near Raj Bhavan in Aizawl while similar protests were organised in other district headquarters.

The protests were staged after a 5-member delegation of the NGOCC on Tuesday met the EC officials in New Delhi and demanded to reschedule the date of counting of votes from Sunday, December 3, to any other day.

Since the announcement of the election schedule for five states on October 9, all ruling and opposition political parties, church bodies, NGOs, and civil society organisations in the Christian-majority state (87 per cent) had been requesting the EC to reschedule the counting date as Sundays are sacred for Christians and most people in the state attend church services on the day.

The All Mizoram Churches Coordination Committee has everyone in the state, including politiccal leaders, not to gather together anywhere except for Church service on Sunday (December 3), if vote counting date is not changed.

Meanwhile, the EC has already started the process of counting of votes on December 3. For counting of votes, over 4,000 counting personnel have been engaged and they were provided training. These personnel would be posted at 40 counting halls in 13 counting centres across the state.

Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly was held on November 7. More than 80 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise to decide the electoral fate of 174 candidates, including 16 women.

--IANS

sc/sha
New Delhi, Dec 1 : Congress on Friday taunted the government over the success of Swachh Bharat Mission saying that the World Bank has to withdraw its paper that flagged decline in the use of toilets in rural India between 2018 and 2021.

The Congress asked the government that instead of suppressing data and declaring victory over open defecation, an open and transparent audit of toilet usage and sanitation in India, along with reversing budget cuts.

In a post on X, Congress General Secretary (Communication) Jairam Ramesh said, "The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan launched in September 2011 got repackaged and rebranded as Swachh Bharat Mission. The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan had launched massive programmes to make every gram panchayat Open Defecation Free. It had started popularising the use of bio toilets in trains. Swachhata Doots like Vidya Balan were mobilised. Innovative slogans were popularised and concurrent evaluation by independent agencies was encouraged."

The Congress leader said that now, a report from the World Bank shows that the repackaged Swachh Bharat Mission, launched after so much hype, has not been sustained.

"Usage of toilets has been declining in India since 2018, with the decline is most concentrated among SC and ST communities. After the initial fanfare, the Prime Minister has moved onto other schemes, headlines and events. Staff for sanitation has been reduced and payments have been delayed. Indeed, far from tall claims about making India free from open defecation, over 25 per cent of rural households still do not regularly use a toilet," he said.

Referring to a news report, which highlighted the report, the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said: "Expectedly, a news report said that the World Bank faced 'a lot of heat' from the Modi government, and had to withdraw these papers."

"Instead of suppressing data and declaring victory over open defecation, what is needed is an open and transparent audit of toilet usage and sanitation in India, along with reversing budget cuts. This is even more important at a time when India has been backsliding on many important health indicators since 2014 with sharp increases especially in anaemia and child malnutrition," he demanded.

The Congress leader also attached a news report to back his claims.

The Congress has been critical of the government over the renaming of several of the schemes of its government by the BJP-led NDA government, including the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan among many others and had also slammed it for reducing the budget of many popular schemes.
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The city police on Friday told the Delhi High Court that they have granted permission to Mission Save Constitution (MSC) to hold an 'All India Muslim Mahapanchayat' at the Ramlila Maidan here on December 18 subject to certain conditions for safe and smooth conduct of the event.

Taking note of police's submission, Justice Subramonium Prasad disposed of the MSC's petition and made it clear that no other department will raise any objection to the event or on the availability of the venue on the decided date.

Earlier on Thursday, the Delhi government apprised the court that a meeting between the organiser, local police and traffic police is scheduled to take place on Friday. The Delhi government's counsel submitted that it has received the list of speakers and also the assurance, and now a formal meeting has to be held to chart out the plans.

Justice Prasad had earlier asked MSC, an NGO that claims to be engaged in promoting awareness about constitutional rights, to submit the list of people who would be the speakers at the event to the Delhi Police.

"Please consider it (list of speakers) and pass an order. Day after tomorrow, I am hearing the writ petition," Justice Prasad had told the police counsel. "Either you say that you have already taken a decision to reject the application (for permission), then I will proceed ahead based on the judgement of the Supreme Court," Prasad had added.

On November 25, the court had directed the Delhi Police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider the feasibility of holding the public meeting at the Ramlila Maidan on December 18. Justice Prasad had said that MSC's application for holding the public meeting on December 18 be treated as a representation.

Last month, the court upheld Delhi Police's decision to revoke initial permission granted to MSC, stressing on the importance of the period of end of Shradh till Diwali, calling it extremely auspicious for people belonging to the Hindu community. However, the court had said that it is always open to the authorities, after the festive season is over, to consider afresh the organisation's plea for permission to hold the event.

Earlier, Delhi Police had apprised Justice Prasad that it received an application from another organisation as well for organising a programme at the Ramlila ground from December 3 to 5 and no objection certificate (NOC) has been issued for it.

Now, while the permission was initially sought for holding the public meeting on December 4, the MCD had informed the court that the Ramlila Maidan is not available for the said date and the same can be allotted subject to an NOC from Delhi Police. On the other hand, Delhi Police had said that NOC was already given to Maha Tyagi Seva Sansthan for organising 'Mahayagya for Vishwa Jan Kalyan' at the Ramlila Maidan from December 3 to 15, and therefore, the place is not available on December 4.

The petitioner's counsel had submitted before the judge that out of the dates given by the MCD and the police authorities, December 18 was the most convenient for holding the public meeting.
A solemn event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts (ADMIU) was held at the Baku Higher Oil School of SOCAR (BHOS).

The event, held on the day of the 12th anniversary of Baku Higher Oil School, was attended by MPs, university rectors, representatives and students of BHOS and ADMIU.

Opening the event with a key-note speech, Rector of Baku Higher Oil School Elmar Gasimov congratulated the staff of the University of Culture and Arts on the 100th anniversary of ADMIU and noted that this university has brought up more than one generation of young talented people who have made an invaluable contribution to the development of the sphere of culture and art.

"The University of Culture and Arts is one of the closest friends and partners of Baku Higher Oil School. The two universities closely cooperate with each other. Here today, we are simultaneously celebrating the 100th anniversary of ADMIU and the 12th anniversary of BHOS, which is another indication of this friendship. Although Baku Higher Oil School is an engineering university, our students take a great interest in theater and culture. BHOS students have performed on various theater stages in Baku.

Speaking at the jubilee event, ADMIU Rector Prof. Jeyran Mahmudova thanked the BHOS leadership for hospitality and congratulated Baku Higher Oil School on its 12th anniversary.

Jeyran Mahmudova noted that even though BHOS is a young university, it has been able to achieve great success in a short span of time.

"Today we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts in accordance with the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev. We are proud that during this long period our university has nurtured countless talented people who have presented the culture of Azerbaijan at a high level. And today, all kinds of arts are taught at our university.

Then BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov and ADMIU Rector Jeyran Mahmudova exchanged memorable gifts.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Chairman of the Culture Committee of Milli Majlis Fazil Mustafa congratulated both higher education institutions and wished them success in their activities. The MP noted that Baku Higher Oil School has gained a high reputation in a short period of time. He also read out a letter in which the Culture Committee congratulated ADMIU on its 100th anniversary. As a representative of the legislative body, Fazil Mustafa spoke about the work to be done by cultural and arts workers.

Director General of the Institute of Petrochemical Processes named after Academician Y.H.Mammadaliyev of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Vagif Abbasov congratulated both universities on this significant day and stressed that both Baku Higher Oil School and Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts are dear for him.

The event continued with a concert program prepared by the Faculty of Musical Art of ADMIU. Alongside with the teachers, students and graduates of the university, national artists Teyyub Aslanov, Gulyaz Mammadova, Simara Imanova and honored cultural worker, ashug Samira Aliyeva performed musical numbers at the concert.
Kolkata, Dec 1 : West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay on Friday banned protest demonstrations within the premises of the state Assembly by the legislators of both the ruling and opposition parties.

This ban will not be applicable just on the floor of the houses but anywhere within the state Assembly premises, including the corridors and lawns.

The Speaker had taken this decision following series of protest and counter protests within the assembly premises by the legislators of both ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP during the last couple of days.

Even metal utensils were banged by the legislators of both the sides during the protest demonstrations.

"Whatever had happened could have resulted into a serious beach in the law & order situation within the Assembly premises. However, if the Speaker permits to conduct any kind of programme within the assembly premises, it can be conducted," the Speaker said.

When the Speaker made this announcement in the house, the BJP legislators were not present in the house. However, later, the BJP members expressed grave dissatisfaction over this announcement.

"This is done just to target the BJP legislators. I will do the needful after I get a copy of the official order on this count," Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said.

"This is nothing but a kind of emergency within the state Assembly premises and as if Section 144 has been imposed there. First our legislators have been summoned by the Kolkata Police and now this gag order. But the voice of BJP in West Bengal can be suppressed through such initiatives," senior BJP leader and legislator Mihir Goswami said.
Mumbai, Dec 1 : A Mumbai court on Friday granted bail to former city mayor Datta Dalvi who was arrested on November 28 for insulting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently.

A senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Dalvi, 71, was nabbed for allegedly using abusive language against Shiv Sena's CM Shinde at an event last Sunday.

He was sent to 14 days' judicial custody and was lodged in Thane Central Jail before getting a bail of Rs 15,000 on Friday.

Soon after stepping out of the jail, Dalvi said that he would go to meet party president and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray at his residence, since he had called him twice after the arrest and assured his full backing. Targetting the ruling Shiv Sena, he said "we are not the progeny of traitors" and said he was deliberately arrested as a vendetta by the government which was misusing its powers.

One of the staunchest loyalists of the Thackerays, after the party split in June 2022, Dalvi opted to remain with the Shiv Sena (UBT).

He was accorded a warm welcome by his family and scores of his supporters at his Vikhroli home this afternoon. Top party leaders including MP Sanjay Raut, MLA Sunil Raut, deputy leader Sushma Andhare and others had flayed Dalvi's arrest terming it as unjustified and under political pressures.
Dubai, Dec 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai.

The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the October 7 Hamas attacks and welcomed the release of hostages.

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population.

He emphasized on India's support for a two-state solution, and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

President Herzog congratulated the Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency and welcomed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
Srinagar, Dec 1 : The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested the former Chairman of a co-operative bank in Jammu and Kashmir for alleged money laundering fraud of Rs 250 crore.

ED sources said that the former Chairman of J&K Co-operative Bank, Mohammad Shafi Dar was arrested along with Hilal Ahmad Mir, Chairman of the private Co-operative House building society in connection with a money laundering fraud of Rs 250 crores being probed by the agency.

"The Co-operative House Building society turned out to be fictitious," a source said.

Earlier, sleuths of ED had carried out raids at different places including the house of Dar from where incriminating evidence was said to be recovered. The investigation was carried out by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, sources added.

The J&K anti-corruption bureau (ACB) had filed a charge sheet in August 2020 against Dar and Mir under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption act. ACB investigation had found that the co-operative Bank had sanctioned a loan of Rs 223 crore without fulfilling any formalities.
PM Modi thanks UN chief for support to Indias G20 presidency. Image Source: IANS News

Dubai, Dec 1 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on Friday.

The Prime Minister thanked Guterres for his support during India's G20 presidency.

He highlighted India's initiatives and progress in achieving climate goals.

Both leaders exchanged views on priorities and concerns of the Global South related to climate action, climate finance, technology and reforms of the multilateral governance and financial institutions, including the UN.

The UN Secretary-General appreciated India's efforts in the areas of sustainable development, climate action, MDB reforms, and disaster management under G20 Presidency. He welcomed PM Modi's Green Credit Initiative.

He affirmed to work with India to build on the achievements of India's Presidency and take them forward at the UN Summit of the Future 2024.

--IANS

vg/pgh
Gurugram, Dec 1 : Haryana DGP Shatrujit Kapur said that the safety of women will be the priority of the Haryana police.

For this, ID cards of concerned auto drivers are being installed on auto rickshaws.

The data of every auto-taxi will now be with the police. Police are taking important steps to stop crime against women.

A feedback cell of the state police will also take feedback from complainant women, he said.

He also said that any nature of complaints will be resolved every week by the concerned police station teams.

While addressing a press conference in Gurugram, he said while providing full proof security to working women during late night hours the Haryana police are working trip monitoring system under which any distressed woman can dial 112 for police assistance.

The police chief said that a target has been set to solve the problems of the complainants coming to the police stations and police posts within a week.

"Feedback is also being taken from every complainant. Similar feedback has been taken from people in the Nuh district also, he said. DGP said that 1,200 calls are being received daily on the cyber police helpline in the state. "There is also an emphasis on catching cyber criminals. Efforts will be made to reduce cybercrime. The police in combination with the banks on how to hold the money defrauded from the people in the banks. Telecom companies are also being contacted. People will also have to be aware of this direction," he said.

"A cybercrime monitoring team is sitting in the police headquarters in Panchkula to keep an eye on cybercrime. Also, the police team from every district is camping in different states to nab cyber criminals in concerned areas," he added.

str/pgh
New Delhi, Dec 1 : Games24x7, India's leading online skill gaming company, today joined forces with the Government of Karnataka, to launch the gaming industry's first-of-its-kind accelerator programme, 'GameTech Accelerate - The Future of Gaming'.

This initiative, announced at the ongoing Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023, aims to foster innovation and catalyse growth within the dynamic realm of online gaming. Through the accelerator programme, Games24x7 will help identify and mentor ventures offering innovative and viable solutions, bridging them to investors who are keen to back the sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Karnataka government, said: "Karnataka boasts one of the most vibrant technology startup ecosystems in the nation, and we are dedicated to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship through initiatives like these. The online gaming sector in India is rapidly evolving, and it is crucial to support this industry, which not only generates employment opportunities but also fosters innovation, contributing significantly to our digital economy. We are delighted to collaborate with Games24x7, who shares our commitment to responsible innovation, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs on their journey toward success."

"In collaboration with the government of Karnataka, we aspire to foster entrepreneurship and innovation within the gaming industry, which has shown remarkable growth. Games24x7's accelerator programme represents our firm commitment to unlock the gaming industry's full potential. Our winners won't just receive accolades and mentorship; they'll pitch to potential investors, gaining crucial support to transform their visionary ideas into reality. We are also collaborating with AWS for this initiative, andare positive that their expertise will further bolster this programme," said Rajat Bansal, Chief Technology Officer, Games24x7.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 1 : After five days of intense probe, the Kerala Police on Friday took three people, believed to be the suspects in the kidnapping of the 6-year old girl near Kollam on Monday, into custody from near Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu.

According to police sources, the three taken into custody includes two men and a woman who also hail from near Kollam and it is suspected that there were more people behind the kidnapping.

There were also that the three belong to the same family but official confirmation is awaited.

The police have also seized two cars and an auto rickshaw into custody, believed to be used in the crime.

The three have now been brought to a police camp at Adoor and the questioning has begun.

Meanwhile, sources points out that the motive behind this kidnapping is some financial dealing with the kidnapped girlas father which went awry.

On Friday morning, a three member police probe arrived at the house of the girl and took statements from her father and mother.

The girl, along with her 8 year-old brother, was returning from tuition centre on Monday when she was kidnapped by a gang, travelling in a white car, after pushing her brother away.

On Tuesday, a woman left the minor girl at a ground in Kollam. Later after two days of being under medical observation, she was taken to a magistrate where her statement was recorded and returned to her home.

The kidnappers had asked for a ransom of Rs 5 lakh which was then raised it to Rs 10 lakh.

--IANS

sg/vd
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Delhi High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to the Unnao gang-rape case victim and her mother in connection with a forgery case, wherein it was alleged that the two forged the petitioner's birth date to allege offences under the POCSO Act.

The matter was transferred to the court of the Sessions Judge of Saket Courts by the Supreme Court in a transfer petition, and an FIR was lodged at the Makhi police station based on a complaint lodged by Haripal Singh, the husband of a woman accused who was acquitted in the gang-rape case.

The high court had on November 17 directed Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) to provide within four weeks separate accommodation to the rape survivor in view of her marriage and the birth of a child.

Rape convict and former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was handed life imprisonment in the case by a trial court under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh.

Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain granted anticipatory bail after the additional public prosecutor informed the court that a charge-sheet has been filed in the case and assured that the petitioners will not be arrested unless directed by the trial court.

The high court had earlier granted protection to the victim, prohibiting any coercive action against her.

In disposing of the petitions, Justice Jain directed that if arrested, the petitioners would be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with a local surety of the same amount.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani had in December 202 issued notice to the state and had granted time to file a status report, with a condition that no precipitate action affecting the petitioner's liberty should be taken until the next hearing, provided the petitioner appeared before the trial court as required.

The plea for anticipatory bail was moved by the petitioner through advocates Mehmood Pracha and Jatin Bhatt.
Kochi, Dec 1 : Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on Friday said there has been a major perception change about India globally, and emphasised how people in Kerala, including minority communities, are aligning their mindsets with the vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In 2014, when PM Narendra Modi inherited a shattered economy, India was governed by a corrupt regime. There was a common global perception that large democracies like India would be dysfunctional, and nobody believed that democracy would work in our country. Another narrative was about how India would always remain poor and never become a developed country," said Chandrasekhar.

"However, today, India has become the fifth-largest economy in the world, moving up from being among the 'fragile five' nations in less than a decade. India as a nation is recognized as a global power to reckon with. There has been a perceptual change about India today, and even people in Kerala, including members of minority communities, are aligning their mindsets towards genuine development, skilling, and unprecedented opportunities for young Indians," the Minister said.

Chandrasekhar addressed the Sadbhavana - Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat event here organised by the Indian Minorities Foundation.

The event focused on the theme "Contribution and Empowerment of India's Minority Communities and Institutions"

Later on Friday, the Minister also met Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of the Archdiocese of Trissur.

The Minister also interacted with students in Trissur to understand and address their academic and non-academic challenges.

--IANS

sg/pgh
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Azerbaijan is the regional leader in greening, national coordinator of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the country's Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Umayra Taghiyeva told reporters, Trend reports.

She made the remark on the sidelines of the World Summit on Climate Action organized within the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28 in Dubai.

Taghiyeva noted that Azerbaijan's pavilion at the COP28 presents extensive information on the state policy regarding climate change, efforts to mitigate the consequences of climate change, and Azerbaijan's contribution to reducing emissions.

"Azerbaijan's share in emissions is 0.15 percent. Nevertheless, in support of international efforts, Azerbaijan has submitted information about its new commitments to the Convention Secretariat. Thus, our country has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2050. At the same time, the liberated territories have been declared a carbon-neutral zone," the official explained.

Besides, she pointed out significant importance of greening activities for reducing climate impact.

"Azerbaijan is a regional leader in greening. This year alone, two million trees of different species have been planted. By the end of the year, this figure is planned to be increased to three million, which will highly contribute to reducing carbon emissions in the country," Taghiyeva said.

She also mentioned the creation of early warning systems as another important task for countries in this context.

"The World Meteorological Organization has put forward the 'Early Warnings for All' initiative by 2027. In this area, Azerbaijan is also conducting significant work as part of state investments. The hydrometeorological observation network has the latest equipment. One of Azerbaijan's goals is for the early warning system to acquire a regional character," she added.

The COP28 is being held from November 30 through December 12.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Kohima, Dec 1 : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday reiterated that his government was committed to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the much awaited Naga political issue.

Addressing the main function on the occasion of the 61st Statehood Day at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat here, the Chief Minister urged all Naga political groups, Central government and other stakeholders to find an appropriate ways to resolve their remaining differences, and to arrive at a peaceful and early resolution to the Naga political issue.

Noting that 60 years of Nagaland statehood have been marked by both challenges and success, Rio said: "The obstacles and adversities we faced on the way had tested the indomitable spirit of the people, making the state stronger, wiser and more united."

Saying that it is the collective responsibility to carry the vibrant legacy forward, and to foster a sense of belongingness and pride in being the citizens of Nagaland state, he informed the gathering that all efforts were taken to maintain the path of development and progress.

"We always give top most priority to the peaceful and suitable resolution of the Naga political issue, which has been the innermost desire of our people for many years." Stressing on the unity, the Chief Minister said that everyone should renew and strengthen the bonds of unity and brotherhood. As compared to the other region of the state, there is still less socio-economic and infrastructure development in the eastern Nagaland region due to some historical and geographical factors, he pointed out.

The Chief Minister said that a lot of steps have been done but much more remains to be done for the area and the people of Eastern Nagaland. Both the Central and state governments are committed to develop the region by undertaking special measures, he said.

The influential Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO), the apex tribal organisation of eastern Nagaland, has been agitating and boycotted the famous Hornbill Festival last year in protest against the non-fulfilment of their demand for a separate state -- 'Frontier Nagaland' -- for the seven Naga tribes of eastern Nagaland.

The ENPO and other civil society organisations are now holding talks on their demand with the Central government. The Chief Minister urged the ENPO and other organisations to resolve their issues through dialogue and understanding in the true spirit of Naga brotherhood.

Maintaining that the majority of the people in the state are directly or indirectly dependent on agricultural and allied activities, he said that the state government is working to introduce new technology in the agriculture sector for the economic development of both the farming community and the state.

The artificial intelligence and use of drones can provide the farmers a much beneficial assistance for the improvement of their overall activities and livelihood. Referring to the increasing menaces of drugs in the state, Rio said that 'War on Drugs' has been launched by the police and related departments to combat the menace.

An Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been set up in all the districts and concerted efforts have been made to effectively curb the drug networks, he stated. Rio also urged the Church and the civil society organisations to strengthen the government efforts to fight against drugs.

The chief minister also launched the Nagaland School Safety Digital Training and also released a book on Nagaland Disaster Reduction Road Map brought out by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority.

Rio also inaugurated the photo exhibition on '60 years of Nagaland' set up by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations.

--IANS

sc/pgh
Hyderabad, Dec 1 : A woman was killed after she was knocked down by a speeding car driven rashly by the son of an Excise Circle Inspector in Telangana.

The incident occurred in Kazipet town of Hanamkonda district on Thursday when the woman had come out of a polling booth after casting her vote along with her husband in Telangana Assembly elections.

The CCTV footage of the incident went viral on Friday. When the woman was about to sit on the two-wheeler of her husband, a speeding car came from behind, knocked her down, and sped away from the spot.

G. Kavitha, 35, sustained head injuries and succumbed while being shifted to MGM Hospital.

She along with her husband G. Joseph had come to a polling station in Fatima Nagar and after casting their votes, they were returning home.

The car was being driven by Vamshi, son of a Circle Inspector of the Excise Department.

The womanas relatives on Friday staged a protest demanding action against him. They alleged that police were trying to shield the accused, said to be a minor.

They called off the protest after senior police officials assured them that action will be taken. Police said since they were busy with poll duty on Thursday, there was a delay in registering a case.

A case was registered on Friday against the person who was driving the car. Police have taken him into custody and are investigating.

--IANS

ms/vd
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested an aide of absconding owner of tainted real estate company Shine City in a money laundering probe linked to the fraud committed by the company, officials said on Friday.

The ED in a statement said that it arrested Abhishek Kumar Singh, who was actively assisting absconding accused Rasheed Naseem to collect, conceal and launder the proceeds of crime, in connection with its probe into the money laundering case involving the Uttar Pradesh-based real estate company.

The ED said that Singh was arrested on Thursday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED case is based on approximately 250 FIRs registered by Uttar Pradesh Police against Naseem and Shine City Group of Companies, wherein they promised huge returns on investment and collected Rs 800-1,000 crore, and finally cheated the public by way of committing fraud.

The agency said that its investigation revealed that there were many agents who have been working for the company to lure the investors and helped Naseem and Shine City in generation of the proceeds of crime.

"ED probe found that the proceeds of crime were transferred to various other companies and individuals. Singh, who is one of the main agents, has acquired the Proceeds of Crime and was actively assisting Naseem, to collect, conceal and launder the proceeds of crime," the ED said.

The ED said that Singh was a confidant of Naseem and was in constant touch with him and customers even till the time of search and arrest.

Singh was placed under arrest on Thursday and produced before the Special Judge Lucknow on Friday which sent him to ED custody for 6 days till December 6. This is the second arrest in this case, the agency added.

Earlier, the ED arrested one Shashi Bala on November 25.

The ED has till date attached properties worth Rs 128 crore and collection of incriminating documents during the search action. The main accused Naseem is absconding.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 1 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday met four of the five labourers rescued from inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, after their arrival in Bhubaneswar.

Meeting the rescued workers at his residence, Patnaik asked them about their health condition and also handed over cheques of Rs 2 lakh each as assistance.

After listening to their struggles for survival inside the tunnel, Patnaik described the workers as heros.

He also said that the way they won the battle for survival in the midst of adverse conditions is an inspiration for others. The labourers who met CM Patnaik are Raju Naik, Dhiren Naik and Biseswar Naik of Mayurbhanj, and Bhagaban Bhatra of Nabarangpur.

Their family members were also present at the residence of CM Patnaik.

Meanwhile, the labourer, Tapan Mandal of Bhadrak district who stayed back for some reason is also expected to return soon along with his family.

Labour Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak and other officials of the department along with the workers arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here on Friday.

Following the instructions of CM Patnaik, Nayak along with family members of the labourers flew to Uttarkashi and were camping at the spot till the rescue of the workers. Speaking to media persons, Nayak said: "When we reached the spot and the relatives talked with the trapped labourers, they were surprised and elated that the Chief Minister had sent his relatives to the spot."

He said that following the collapse of the tunnel on November 12, the CM immediately showed concern and sent labour department officials to the spot.

Nayak said CM asked him to go Uttarkashi along with the family members of the entrapped labourers on November 23.

The labourers said they were initially tense after the collapse of the tunnel. However, they survived on food items like, puffed rice, cashew nuts etc., for the first couple of days. Later, they received cooked food such as 'khichdi', dal, roti, etc.
Washington, Dec 1 : The recent pneumonia outbreak in China among young children is not caused by any new virus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even as Ohio becomes the first US state to report a similar uptick in cases.

Asking the public to not be alarmed over the spike in respiratory illness in China, Director Mandy Cohen said it is related to existing pathogens like Covid, flu, RSV and mycoplasma.

"We believe there is no new or novel pathogen," Cohen said during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing.

"These are related to existing pathogens -- Covid, flu, RSV and mycoplasma, a bacterium that can infect the lungs."

Cohen noted that the outbreaks are the result of Chinaas strict Covid lockdowns, which meant that the usual group of respiratory viruses werenat circulating and children werenat able to build up immunity defences.

The surge of respiratory illnesses is so far concentrated in northern China. There have been reports of hospitals being overhauled with sick children.

Meanwhile, Ohio has become the first US state to report a mysterious uptick in paediatric pneumonia as cases surge in China.

In a statement, the Warren County Health District reported 142 cases of the illness among children since August. However, officials do not think it is a new respiratory disease, but "rather a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time", the statement said.

The illness has spread across multiple school districts and the average age of those fallen ill is 8 years, the local health district said.

The most common symptoms included cough, fever and fatigue. Among the pathogens recovered included Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pnuemoniae and Adenovirus. The health authorities called for taking necessary precautions such as washing hands, and staying home when ill.

Separately, the Netherlands and Denmark have also reported cases.

--IANS

rvt/vd
Bhubaneswar, Dec 1 : Customs officials have seized a large quantity of cocaine from a Denmark-bound ship berthed at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal at Paradip port during a raid, an official said Friday.

The officials have recovered cocaine weighing 22 kg valued at around Rs 220 crore in the international market during the search of the ship that continued on Friday.

The Customs officials received an intelligence input that some suspected packets reportedly carrying drugs have been concealed in a Panama registered ship, 'MV Debi', which has been berthed at the Paradip port. The ship had arrived from Gresik port, Indonesia, without any import cargo.

Following the tip-off, officers from the Customs (preventive) Commissionerate, Bhubaneswar zone, carried out searches on the ship on Thursday and Friday. During the search, the Customs officials found 22 packets (wrapped and affixed with magnet) from the cranes of the ship. The packets were containing a hardened but brittle white substance which was later confirmed as cocaine.

"A total of 22 kg cocaine valued at around Rs 220 crore was recovered," a press note issued by the Commissioner of Customs, Bhubaneswar Zone, revealed.

The Customs sources also stated that all the crew members working on board the ship were from Vietnam. The ship, owned by Asia Pacific Shipping Co. Ltd, was destined for Denmark.
New Delhi, Dec 1 : India as the second-largest buyer of gold in the world can play a crucial role in the global economic order as central banks are still buying the precious metal in large quantities, Alok Kumar Choudhary, Managing Director, State Bank of India (SBI), said on Friday.

"We have also seen how India can be the fulcrum in setting up global economic corridor," he said while addressing the 15th International Gold Economic Forum organised here by ASSOCHAM.

While the gold standard might not be in place anymore, several banks including the RBI continue to hold gold reserves as a staple component of their overall reserves, he added.

"In an interconnected world, economic ties transcend borders and gold's role as common accepted asset can foster a sense of stability and potentially contribute to a more integrated, co-operative global economic system. Banks as critical stakeholders in the financial ecosystem play an important role in formalising gold to ensure the integrity of the financial system," Choudhary said.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. C. Rangarajan, former Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and former RBI Governor, said: "Gold has been a tangible asset since ancient times, in all cultures and across all periods of history. While held as reserve by central banks, it no longer plays the role of intermediary in circulation. As the second largest consumer of gold, India accounts for one-fourth of the global demand. India's import of gold was 394 tons in 2000 and 774 tons in 2022 or $135 million. In 2022-23, gold imports accounted for 52.2 per cent of the current account deficit. The current level of import duty on gold is reasonable and is among the lowest among commodities."

Somasundaram P.R., Regional CEO - India, World Gold Council, said: "Gold is a very good diversifier, it de-risks your portfolio and enables you to take more risk in other financial asset classes. India, as a gold consumer, can also be proud to have HUID technology through which every piece of jewellery hallmarked can be traced to its origins, which is aspirational in other markets."

Suvanker Sen, Co-Chairman, National Council on Commodity Markets - ASSOCHAM, said: "Consumer behaviour over the years in India has proven that we trust in gold. The various initiatives undertaken by all stakeholders has achieved a lot but a lot more can be done. The growth of the country is closely linked with the rise of gold as an asset. The 25,000 tons of gold that is embedded in our economy is one major driver."

S.C. Aggarwal, Senior Member, Managing Committee - ASSOCHAM, said: "Gold has multiple usage, as an ornament, it is a status symbol and an investment as well. India needs around 800 tons of gold every year necessitating imports which increases our trade deficit."
Hyderabad, Dec 1 : Amid tension between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reached the dam in Telangana's Nalgonda district on Friday.

The CRPF personnel were deployed following the intervention by the Union Home Ministry to defuse the tension between the two states over the dam across Krishna River.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday held a video conference with the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of both the states and both the states agreed to the suggestion by the Union Home Secretary that on the issue of release of water from the dam, the situation that existed before November 28 should be restored, control of the dam be handed over to the Krishna River Water Management Board (KRMB), and CRPF be deployed at the dam.

Telangana Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari said during the video conference that on the night of November 29, 500 armed Andhra Pradesh police personnel came on to the dam, damaged CCTV cameras and by operating head regulator, released 5,000 cusecs of water.

She also told the Union Home Secretary that this action by Andhra Pradesh police created a law and order problem on a day when Telangana was busy with the conduct of state Assembly elections.

She complained that Andhra Pradesh has resorted to such action for the second time.

Meanwhile, the Union Jal Shakti Ministry has called a meeting on Saturday to resolve the issue between the two states. The ministry has invited Chief Secretaries of both the state and the Chairman of KRMB, officials of the Central Water Commission and the Directors general of the CRPF and the CISF.

Earlier, Telangana Police registered two cases against Andhra Pradesh Police for trespass.

Police in Nalgonda district registered the cases a day after Andhra Pradesh police allegedly barged into the premises and took control of half of the dam. The police officials from Andhra Pradesh had also barricaded a part of the dam and restrained entry of Telangana P:olice and Irrigation Department officials.

Vayupuri Town police of Nalgonda registered the case under sections 447 and 427 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint from a sub-inspector of Telangana Special Protection Force (TSPF).

According to the FIR, around 2.03 a.m. of November 30 about 500 personnel of Andhra Pradesh police force attacked the right bank gate, which is under the control of Telangana Irrigation Department. It is alleged that the Andhra Pradesh police personnel forcefully trespassed inside the dam and laid barbed wire fencing taking the entire position of the dam from 13th gate to 26th.

"They also trespassed on the right canal head regulator and right bank connectivity by violating the existing system in force by breaking four CCTV cameras," said the FIR. The Andhra Pradesh police personnel also operated the right canal head regulator irregularly by releasing water for the Andhra region. The water is going waste and against the system in vogue, which is the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) norms, it said.

Another case was registered against Andhra Pradesh Police on a complaint by Telangana Irrigation Department. Meanwhile, the KRMB has directed Andhra Pradesh to stop drawing water from the right canal. It has written a letter to Andhra Pradeshas Principal Secretary, Irrigation, directing him to stop drawing water from the right canal.

The KRMB mentioned that since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Srisailam dam is being controlled by Andhra Pradesh and Nagarjuna Sagar dam by Telangana government.

--IANS

ms/vd
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday kick-started its 'Main Bhi Kejriwal' signature campaign in the national capital to seek people's opinion on should Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resign or run the government from jail in case he is arrested.

The signature campaign was launched by Delhi minister Gopal Rai, who conducted a door-to-door campaign in the Laxmi Nagar area in East Delhi.

Rai said that the BJP is plotting the arrest of Kejriwal out of fear of losing in the Lok Sabha elections.

"We conducted a door-to-door campaign and asked people in case Kejriwal is arrested, should he resign or run the government from jail. The people have firmly said that Kejriwal has done a lot of work for the public, and therefore he should not resign but run the government from jail," Rai said.

"If such a situation arises, Kejriwal should not resign," Rai said.

He also said that from December 1 to 20, the party will conduct door-to-door campaign in all the 2,600 polling stations, and from December 21 to 24, AAP will hold public meetings in all the 250 wards.
Mumbai, Dec 1 : The trailer of the upcoming Prabhas-starrer Kannada origin pan-India film 'Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire' has been unveiled and it promises everything -- bloody, gory and earth-shaking.

The 3 minute 46 seconds long trailer starts with a flashback sequence of two childhood friends, one of whom will come to save the other at any cost irrespective of wherever he is in the world.

It then tells how ruthless dacoits invade the city of Khansaar and reign terror on it, consolidating their power on the city for centuries and how the modern day diplomacy and politics rule the city until it is under threat from outside. Thatas when Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran calls his best friend (enters Prabhas), who vowed to come to his rescue in childhood should he need any help. And thatas when things turn murky and bloody as Prabhas single-handedly beats the pulp out of those who are stationed outside the walls of Khansaar and waiting to invade the city.

The trailer hypes up Prabhasa character with a deafening BGM, one could hardly hear the characters talking in front of that BGM (pro-tip: switch on the subtitles).

The BGM is a downer and is strongly reminiscent of director Prashanth Neelas earlier aK.G.F.a franchise.

What does work for the film is its production design, the colour palette and the action. Prabhas looks solid in the action department, Prithviraj adds the weight to the trailer on the other side with his presence and his expressions.

'Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire' also stars Shruti Haasan and Jagapathi Babu. The film produced by Vijay Kiragandur of Hombale Films, will be released in theatres on December 22, 2023.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. The Days of Azerbaijani Culture will be held in Kazakhstan in 2024, according to Kazakh Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva, who met with Azerbaijani Ambassador to Astana Agalar Atamoglanov, Trend reports.

"The organization of reciprocal Days of Culture is another step toward developing and deepening partnerships. Days of Azerbaijani Culture will be held in Kazakhstan in 2024. This demonstrates our willingness to collaborate closely in a variety of areas, developing long-term and mutually beneficial activities that contribute to the strengthening of friendly connections," the minister emphasized.

In turn, the ambassador stated that cooperation in culture and media is of particular significance to the Azerbaijani side.

"In particular, there is a need to implement a project to create a joint platform, and exchange communications, and knowledge," he stated.

Aida Balayeva voiced a desire to improve collaboration in youth policy, the creative industry, and the civil sector. She recommended implementing a scheme to increase cultural and scientific tourism, which would include trips to museums, reserves, architectural landmarks, and research into the two countries' cultural legacy.

Days of Kazakh Culture will be hosted in Azerbaijan from December 2 to December 5.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Congress on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told the COP 28 meeting in Dubai that India has "struck a great balance between ecology and economy", saying this was "yet another of his trademark falsehoods".

In a statement, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "Maximum global talk, minimum local walk is the principle followed by the Prime Minister. He has claimed in Dubai that India has 'struck a great balance between ecology and economy'. This is yet another of his trademark falsehoods."

The former Union Environment Minister said that Forest Conservation Act, 1980 has been made completely hollow with a 2023 amendment which axes provisions for consent of forest communities and removes protections for 25 per cent of India's forest cover, in violation of the 1996 TN Godavarman Supreme Court order. "It is paving the way for the Modi government to exploit forests and hand them over to a select few chosen corporates," he alleged.

He also said that the Forest Rights Act of 2006, protecting the traditional rights of Adivasis and forest-dwelling communities, has been weakened with a 2022 notification, and the National Biodiversity Act, 2002 massively diluted to allow private companies easier access to forests without benefit-sharing with communities.

He also said that when the entire world was dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Modi government passed 39 amendments to rules under the Environment Protection Act. "Illegal and regressive changes were made to relax environmental protections -- pollution control measures were removed, penalties for violations were lowered, criminal prosecutions were stripped, and public notice requirements were waived," he said.

The Congress leader said that the Environmental Impact Assessment norms have been continuously weakened since 2020.

".. In eco-sensitive areas like the Himalayan region, the Modi government has illegally bypassed the need for Environmental Impact Assessment by splitting large projects into small segments," he said, citing the Silkyara tunnel collapse as a symptom of the larger malaise. He also alleged that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been consistently weakened since 2014 as vacancies have been left open for years, reaching 70 per cent overall in 2018 and leading to the shutdown of its Chennai bench.

"Lastly, and most importantly, air pollution has turned into a grave public health crisis under the Modi government, becoming a major threat to life expectancy. From 2015 to 2020 alone, the share of Indians exposed to PM2.5 above 100 has doubled, reversing improvements over the previous years," he said.

"How can anyone take what the Prime Minister says globally on environment seriously in light of his disastrous track record in India?" Ramesh asked.

--IANS

aks/vd
Dubai, Dec 1 : US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping were conspicuous by their absence at the Conference of Parties (COP) 28 climate summit here while UAE committed a whopping $38 billion for climate change solutions and unveiled a plan for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

World leaders have gathered here for the COP28 climate change summit including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

But the absence of Biden and Xi is an obstacle to meaningful action on climate change, media reports said pointing out that the US was the biggest carbon emitter followed by China and India.

King Charles III and Pope Francis are attending alongside the delegates.

The summit's objective is to extract commitments from all nations that the core goal will be to reinforce their resolve in meeting the Paris 2015 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius a year above pre-industrial levels.

Biden had said he would be deputing Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the summit on behalf of the US as White House said he was heavily engaged with the wars in Ukraine, and Gaza war between Israel, and the hostage negotiations.

The White House had announced that Biden would not be attending the opening of the summit, and following criticism of the decision announced a last-minute schedule change Wednesday, sending Vice President Kamala Harris in Biden's place.

Previously, the most senior US official scheduled to attend had been US climate envoy John Kerry.

Biden has attended both of the previous UN climate summits but is facing criticism for his green policies from Republicans, while also facing pressure from younger Democratic voters to take more action to tackle the climate crisis.

Instead of Xi, China is being represented at the summit by China's climate envoy Xie Zhenhua.

Biden and Xi pass on the chance to inject momentum into talks.

The US and China are the world's biggest economies, together accounting for around 38 per cent of the world's greenhouse emissions.

The top 20 nations contributing to 8 per cent of carbon emissions are the US, China, India and the European nations.

Tom Evans, a policy advisor at think tank E3G, told Business Insider that the decision by the world's most powerful leaders to skip the event was particularly disappointing given they'd recently found common ground on the climate crisis amid escalating tensions on a range of other issues.

A stumbling block in the talks at COP28 is the reluctance of some countries in the developing world to agree to tough cuts in emissions that they say would hamper their economic development.
New Delhi: A view of Herald House after the ED cnducts raid in connection with National Herald case, at ITO in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 02, 2022. (Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Congress is seeking legal opinion to challenge the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s action of provisionally attaching the properties worth over Rs 751 crore of the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in connection with a money laundering probe.

A Congress source said that the party will soon challenge the ED's action with the concerned authorities.

The ED on November 21 said that it attached properties worth Rs 751.9 crore in a money-laundering case against AJL, which owns various publications including National Herald.

The investigation agency claimed that Congress-linked AJL and Young Indian Ltd (YI) were 'beneficiaries' of proceeds of crime and the assets included immovable properties.

The ED said that its probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act revealed that "AJL is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties spread across many cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow to the tune of Rs 661.69 crore and YI is in possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 90.21 crore in the form of investment in equity shares of AJL".

The ED registered a case of money-laundering on the basis of process issued by a Delhi Court after taking cognisance of a private complaint vide order dated June 26, 2014.

The court held that seven accused, including YI, prima facie committed offences of criminal breach of trust, cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, dishonest misappropriation of property and criminal conspiracy of the IPC.
Washington, Dec 1 : With the Israel-Hamas war resuming at the end of the temporary truce and efforts by five nations end the war and its horrors failing, the war is looking to take a different turn with no solution in sight with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu affirming "nothing will stop" until the Hamas is crushed, US political and military strategists said.

The war is costing the Israeli economy $270 million per day, GDP set to fall by 5 per cent in the 3rd quarter and all scientific research screeching to a halt as university students have been drafted into the war, Israeli ministry officials said, claimed sources.

Israel will not agree to a long-term cease-fire in Gaza until it has severely weakened Hamas a" a process still likely to take months, despite international pressure to extend a negotiated pause in military operations a" according to political and military analysts.

"There is a broad consensus among the public, the political echelons and the security establishment that Israel cannot go back to a situation where Hamas continues to govern Gaza and threatens our civilian population," said Nimrod Novik, a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum.

"How and when Israel will end its operation will depend on military, domestic and political considerations, as well as public opinion in Israel and pressure from the US," US News and World Report said in its analysis of the on-going war.

Hamas militants on October 7 killed 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, most of them civilians, and fired thousands of rockets into Israel.

With Israel resuming the war on grounds that Hamas breached the truce, Hamas will hold onto the rest of the hostages as a bargaining chip to release more Palestinian prisoners.

Israel responded with an air bombardment of Hamas military sites a" located mostly in civilian areas a" and a subsequent ground search for tunnels, terrorists and the 240 hostages Hamas abducted to northern Gaza.

In the process, the Israel Defense Forces leveled large swaths of northern Gaza.

Jonathan Rynhold, a political scientist at Bar Ilan University, said the IDF's vow to act more carefully is a way to show President Joe Biden that it is making a "100 per cent effort to defeat Hamas within the rules of warfare. Biden has been demanding since Day One that there should be no civilian casualties".

Biden's strong support of Israel's right to pursue Hamas and free the hostages has contributed to his popularity failing among Democrats, pollsters say.

Israelas Finance Ministry estimates that the war is costing the economy about $270 million per day, while Standard and Poors, the credit ratings agency, predicts the Israeli economy will shrink by 5 per cent in the last quarter of 2023.
Girl, who lodged an FIR against minor boy in Buxar, found with him in Patna flat. Image Source: IANS News

Patna, Dec 1 : A girl, who registered an FIR of rape against a teenage boy in the women police station in Bihar's Buxar district, was found living with him in a flat in Patna on Friday, police said.

Buxar police traced the location of the teenager to a flat in Budha Colony in Patna but when they reached there, they were shocked to see that the complainant and the accused were living together as husband-wife there.

Both were brought back to Buxar for legal action.

The parents of the teenage boy also registered an FIR of kidnapping against the girl and her family members in Dawath police station in the district.

"We reached the place of the accused on the basis of scientific analysis. They were recovered from a flat in Patna. We have brought them to Buxar and produced them in the district court for legal action," Buxar woman police station SHO Kanchan Kumari said.

The victim was handed over to her parents while the teenage boy was sent to a children's observation home.

Police sources have said that it is a matter of elopement. However, Buxar police are proceeding with the case on the basis of facts and statements of both sides.
Guwahati, Dec 1 : Two workers from Assam who were trapped in Silkyara tunnel at Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district have been flown back to Guwahati on Friday, an official said.

After they were rescued from the tunnel on November 28, a team from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) was sent to bring them back.

On November 28, the team led by Surajit Baruah and Biren Baishya reached Uttarakhand and assessed the circumstances.

The two workers were hospitalised after they fell ill following their rescue from tunnel, Baishya said on Friday.

"After receiving better care at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh, they were later released on Thursday night. We brought them to Dehradun on Friday, after which they traveled to Delhi and on Friday night to Guwahati," he mentioned.

After they were rescued in November 28, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X: "This also brings me personal relief as with the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, two of our own brothers from Kokrajhar a" Ram Prasad Narzary and Sanjay Basumatary have also come out safely."

According to Ram Prasad Narzary and Sanjay Basumatary's families, Assam government officials have been there for them ever since they were stranded.

"We were nervous but the chief minister reassured us in a conversation. We express our gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring their safe return from the tunnel," Ram Prasad Narzary's sister Pinki Brahma stated. Bidangshi, the daughter of Sanjay Basumatary, expressed gratitude to the rescue squad.

"I consider them heroes because they returned my father unscathed. I appreciate assistance from Assam Chief Minister and PM Narendra Modi," she remarked.

Ram Prasad Narzary and Sanjay Basumatary were handed over to the Kokrajhar district administration after they arrived in Guwahati.

--IANS

tdr/pgh
Patna, Dec 1 : In a major relief to the Bihar government, the Patna High Court has rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the 65 per cent reservation in the state.

A single judge bench of Chief Justice K.V. Chandran rejected the pleas of petitioners Gaurav Kumar and Naman Shrestha who were seeking stay on the reservation policy of the Bihar government and directed the Bihar government to submit a reply before the court till January 12, 2024.

The petitioners jointly filed a PIL in Patna High Court challenging the decision of Nitish Kumar government to enhance the reservation for EBC, OBC, SC and ST in Bihar to 65 per cent, contending that reservation above 50 per cent is a violation of the Constitution and fundamental rights of common people.

They argued that the parameters of reservation should be given on the basis of social and financial status of the people belonging to the backward class and not on the basis of the population of the caste.

They said that the Nitish Kumar government enhanced the reservation up to 65 per cent on the basis of population of castes, and 35 per cent people, belonging to other castes come under the general category, which is a violation of the fundamental rights of the common people in Bihar.

The Nitish Kumar government passed the Bihar Reservation (Amendment) Act 2023 in the legislature in the Winter Session on November 10 and Governor R.V. Arleker gave his approval on November 18.

This act is based on the outcome of a recently concluded caste survey. While reservation for Extremely Backward Caste (EBC), Other Backward Caste (OBC), Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) goes up to 65 per cent, the Bihar government has also given 10 per cent reservation to EWS people in the upper caste category in the state.

Hence, the state will have 75 per cent reservation in admissions to various educational institutions as well as in government jobs.

People coming under EBC had 18 per cent reservation in the past and this was enhanced to 25 per cent, while for OBCs, it increased from 12 per cent to 18 per cent, for SCs from 16 per cent to 20 per cent, and for STs from 1 per cent to 2 per cent plus.

Bihar is not the first state to have 75 per cent reservation as Tamil Nadu has 79 per cent, Jharkhand 77 per cent, Chhattisgarh 76 per cent, Telangana 75 per cent, and Maharashtra 72 per cent.
Patna, Dec 1 : The Bihar government has increased the vehicle purchasing limit for ministers to Rs 30 lakh.

According to a notification issued by the office of Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, a cabinet minister can now purchase vehicles up to Rs 30 lakh for official purposes.

Besides, the notification further stated that officers of Bihar government under the rank of chief secretary, additional chief secretary, principal secretary secretary and divisional commissioner rank officers can travel on vehicles costing up to Rs 25 lakh.

A district magistrate and district judge can travel on the vehicles having cost up to Rs 20 lakh while SP rank officers will be entitled to travel on vehicles having cost up to 16 lakh.

Similarly, the officers in the rank of SDM, SDO, and DSP, can purchase vehicles up to Rs 14 lakh for official works.

As per the guidelines, the Finance Department allocates funds to every government officer and state minister to purchase vehicles. Once the tenure of the minister or officers ends, they have to hand over the vehicles with the respective departments.
Patna Dec 2 : In a joint operation, Bihar Police STF and Begusarai police have arrested 7 notorious gangsters who had taken 'supari' (contract) for killing two persons and planned to rob a jewellery shop, an official said.

The police team have also seized five country-made pistols, two magazines, 12 live cartridges, 3.5 kg marijuana, and an SUV from their possession.

"We had learnt that notorious gangster Murari Singh, a native of Iniyar village, and his aides were assembled at Pangachi village under Mufassil police station on Thursday. Accordingly, a joint team of STF and Begusarai police headed by Sadar DSP Amit Kumar was constituted. The joint team surrounded the Pangachi village and managed to arrest the accused," Munger SP Yogendra Kumar said.

The other accused were identified as Pankaj Kumar, Dilkhush Kumar, Chandan Kumar, Avinash Kumar, Basant Kumar, and Chandan.

"Murari Singh, Chandan Kumar, Dilkhush Kumar, and Pankaj Kumar were involved in murder, loot dacoity, extortions and other half a dozen criminal cases. They became friends during their jail term and they had also planned the murders and loot when they were serving jail terms," the SP said.

"During brief interrogation, it appeared that Murari Singh, while serving a jail term, had demanded an extortion of Rs 50,000 from a government teacher. When he refused to pay the extortion money, Murari Singh decided to kill him. He had also taken a Supari of Rs 3 lakh to kill a gangster who is a native of a village which comes under Ballia police station. After these two murders, they had planned to rob a jewellery shop and hence they were assembled on Thursday night at Pangachi village. The idea was to execute all three crime incidents on Thursday night. However, their plans foiled as they were arrested," he added.
Dubai, Dec 2 : King Charless III of the UK told the Conference of Parties (COP) 28 Summit here on Friday that global leaders were ignoring the early warning signals of the climate crisis, adding the world is heading for "dangerous uncharted territory" with devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods.

Delivering an opening address to the COP28 Summit, King Charles said: "With all my heart I say that COP28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action.

"Some important progress has been made but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track," he said.

He further said: "We are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits and into dangerous uncharted territory."

Conspicuous by their absence were US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The King told delegates that the "hope of the world" rested on decisions taken at the summit.

"We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition all at once at a pace that far outstrips natureas ability to cope," he said.

The King called for a series of measures, including a ramp-up of public and private finance, to tackle the climate crisis and rapidly increase renewable energy, media reports said.

"In 2050, our grandchildren won't be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didn't do," he said, adding: "The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth."

World leaders including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil's President Lula Da Silva and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed delegates Friday at the talks in Dubai.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 2. Azerbaijan's success in hosting high-profile events has not only bolstered its reputation but has also elevated Baku's status as a preferred destination for hosting even larger and more prestigious gatherings in the future. The country's proactive approach to international engagement and its ability to create a conducive environment for meaningful discussions have positioned Baku as a dynamic and attractive venue for a diverse range of global events.

In recent years, Azerbaijan has stepped into the spotlight by hosting a string of high-profile global events. Baku has become a real hot spot for international gatherings. This shift is all thanks to Azerbaijan's capability and commitment to hosting events of global significance. Baku has been the stage for prestigious gatherings organized by the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and UNESCO. These events have not only showcased Azerbaijan's diplomatic finesse but have also put Baku on the map as one of the go-to places for hosting even grander and more prestigious events.

Now, Azerbaijan is gearing up to host the prestigious United Nations World Urban Forum. The announcement came during the 3rd session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) held in Kenya. The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) is set to take place in Baku in 2026.

According to the corresponding UN resolution adopted in 2001, this Forum is held every two years in one of the world's most prestigious cities with extensive participation in urban planning. In other words, it's the largest platform for exploring urbanization and city development.

The World Urban Forum gathers a diverse array of participants, spanning government officials, policymakers, urban planners, academics, civil society, and private sector representatives. This inclusive, multistakeholder approach guarantees a thorough and comprehensive discussion.

Furthermore, the forum is usually accompanied by an Urban Expo, featuring innovative projects, technologies, and solutions in the realm of urban development. This provides Azerbaijan with a platform to spotlight its recent advances in urban planning and much more.

Baku has indeed transformed into a hub for globally significant events. In recent years, Azerbaijan has successfully hosted the Global Baku Forum multiple times, Formula 1 events, the Astronautical Congress, Baku Energy Week featuring its forum and an oil and gas exhibition, the International Multiculturalism Conference, and various other noteworthy gatherings.

Azerbaijan's success in handling these big-league events has solidified Baku's status as a top-notch destination for future global gatherings. The country's proactive approach to international relations and its knack for creating the perfect setting for meaningful discussions have made Baku a buzzing and attractive spot for a diverse range of global events.
Dubai, Dec 2 : King Charles III of the UK told the Conference of Parties (COP) 28 Summit here on Friday that global leaders were ignoring the early warning signals of the climate crisis, adding the world is heading for "dangerous uncharted territory" with devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods.

Delivering an opening address to the COP28 Summit, King Charles said: "With all my heart I say that COP28 will be a critical turning point towards genuine transformational action.

"Some important progress has been made but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track," he said.

He further said: "We are taking the natural world outside balanced norms and limits and into dangerous uncharted territory."

Conspicuous by their absence were US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The King told delegates that the "hope of the world" rested on decisions taken at the summit.

"We are carrying out a vast, frightening experiment of changing every ecological condition all at once at a pace that far outstrips natureas ability to cope," he said.

The King called for a series of measures, including a ramp-up of public and private finance, to tackle the climate crisis and rapidly increase renewable energy, media reports said.

"In 2050, our grandchildren won't be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didn't do," he said, adding: "The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth."

World leaders including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil's President Lula Da Silva and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed delegates Friday at the talks in Dubai.
New Delhi, Dec 2 : Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Department of Defence Production, on Friday signed its 300th contract that relates to the design and development of advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors which is essential for the next generation of wireless transmitters in defence applications ranging from radars to electronics warfare jammers.

The Defence Ministry in a statement said that currently, almost all GaN components are imported being a sensitive and cutting-edge technology whose export is controlled and restricted by many countries.

"The proposal aims to design, develop and manufacture GaN components for defence in India using completely indigenous GaN technology. This would significantly enhance the indigenous design & development capability, paving way for immense potential in the defence sector including exports," it added.

The contract was signed by Additional Secretary T. Natarajan with Agnit Semiconductors Private Limited in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane in New Delhi.

In his address, the Defence Secretary lauded the innovators on their success and reiterated the need for accelerated development of indigenous technologies.

He complimented iDEX on the signing of the 300th contract and asked the officials to maintain the impressive tempo of connecting innovators with the Defence sector.

In another development, BEL signed a procurement contract with the iDEX winner Blurgs Innovations Private Limited for their solution TRIDENT, which is an intelligent maritime domain awareness tool with a robust solution designed to enhance maritime security, the ministry said.

"The solution assists in building superior maritime domain awareness by relying on anomalous detection and would aid in quicker decision making. This is a first procurement order placed by a Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) under the iDEX scheme," it added.
Patna, Dec 2 : Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on Friday assured NRIs of the complete support of the state government if they would bring investment in the state.

While addressing a three days NRI Summit in Patna, Chaudhary said that people from Bihar have been playing an important role in the development of various states of India as well as the countries they are living in.

He urged them to join hands for the development of their own state.

Chaudhary called upon the industry leaders, experts, and professionals who have gathered from various countries including the US, Australia, Sweden, Japan, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia to brainstorm and come up with strong recommendations to make a better Bihar.

"It is great to have experts from various fields and from different parts of the world at one platform with the sole aim to speed-up the momentum of state's growth. We expect that you will brainstorm for the next three days and come up with the recommendations that can help to achieve the desired results. I assure you that the government will do everything possible to achieve this," Chaudhary said.

Mangla Rai, Advisor to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former DG of ICAR said that Bihar's greatest asset is its human resources."Bihar lost its mineral rich part when the state was divided over two decades ago. But the state has two rich resources that will guide it to compete with other states soon. Knowledge and water are your biggest resources. Use the human resources properly to achieve success," Rai said.

"The state government has adopted a roadmap to develop dairy and food technology. However, the government alone can't achieve it. I appeal to all NRIs to accelerate the momentum of growth by participating in the government's efforts and setting up food processing and packaging units to strengthen the agriculture industry," he added.
Brahmanandam, as Veda Vyas in 'Panchathantram' First Look of Brahmanandam unveiled,. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Dec 2 : Telugu cinema legend, Brahmanandam, who has appeared in more than 1,000 films, has wrapped up a crucial 15-day shooting schedule of the upcoming film 'Kannappa' in New Zealand.

The veteran actor plays a pivotal role, injecting his trademark charm into a character in the film directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh.

Remarkably, all the scenes featuring the legendary actor were wrapped up seamlessly in a single take.

Actor Vishnu Manchu said, "Working with the legendary Brahmanandam in 'Kannappa' has been an absolute delight. His genius action skills, perfect timing, and infectious laughter brought an unparalleled energy to the sets. A heartfelt thank you to Brahmanandam sir for gracing our film with his presence, turning every moment into a masterpiece."

He added, "His impact on 'Kannappa' is immeasurable, and the joy he brought to the cast and crew is a treasure we'll forever cherish. Here's to a legendary collaboration and a film that's bound to be etched in the hearts of our audience. Thank you, Brahmanandam sir, for making 'Kannappa' an unforgettable journey."

The film brings to life the awe-inspiring tale of 'Bhakta Kannappa', a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, portrayed by Vishnu Manchu himself.

The film was announced at the Srikalahasteeswara temple and the temple holds an important place in the film's narrative.
New Delhi, Dec 1 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met with 15 labourers working with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), who played an instrumental role in making the Uttarkashi Tunnel operation successful.

Expressing his admiration, Kejriwal acknowledged their dedication, stating, "You risked your lives, worked tirelessly day and night, and rescued 41 people trapped in the tunnel. Today, the world is often self-centred, where people primarily think about themselves and their families. In such a context, individuals like you stand out. The courageous efforts you've undertaken are being recognised nationwide. The entire country is currently applauding your relentless day-and-night work to save those lives."

The Chief Minister took pride in the fact that these individuals, who have been part of the DJB for many years, hail from Delhi.

He expressed his delight at having the opportunity to sit and interact with the 15 labourers over tea upon their return from Uttarkashi to Delhi.

During the interaction, the labourers provided detailed insights to Kejriwal about the challenges they faced while reaching the 41 individuals trapped in the tunnel. They described the intense heat generated by the American auger machine and the excessive heat of the rods they had to cut.

"With an inch-by-inch distance between them, cutting through was highly challenging. Despite the extreme heat, we cut through all the auger rods, working continuously for 36 hours without sleep or rest until we reached the trapped individuals. We never lost courage, risking our lives to save others and contributing to the well-being of Delhi and our country. We take pride in our actions," they shared.
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. The world is still far off track in meeting key climate goals, the UK's King Charles III said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action organized on the sidelines of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"Despite some progress, transformational action is required since climate change concerns are no longer distant threats," he said.

King Charles III called for positive change in this area.

"At COP28, governments will conduct a worldwide evaluation of progress made since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another crucial turning point toward true transformational action at a time when we are witnessing worrying turning points. Despite these attempts, there is now 30% more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there was previously, and approximately 40% more methane," he said.

The opening ceremony of the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28, was held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) on December 1.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. The UK will lead international efforts to accelerate the development of renewable energy, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Climate Action Summit organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"Previous COP meetings saw the globe make lofty pledges to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But the era of promises is over; the age of action has arrived. We know that the technology and ingenuity required to protect the world are available to us, from the strong offshore wind farms that meet the demands of the United Kingdom to solar electricity in Africa," he said.

According to Sunak, moving to zero emissions will increase human security and make people richer.

"It should deliver benefits rather than burden ordinary families. Internally, the UK is leading in making realistic, long-term decisions, and at COP28, we will lead international efforts to safeguard the planet's forests, accelerate renewable energy development, and realize the full potential of private investment," he said.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Florida childrens opinions on the freedom to read are highlighted in a newly released documentary, The ABCs of Book Banning. Sheila Nevins, head of MTV Documentary Films and former president of HBO Documentary Films, directed and produced the 27-minute account of resistance to book bans in Martin County, Fla. News broke in March that 84 books had been removed from school library shelves there, sparking an outcry.

The film spotlights centenarian Grace Linns activism at a Martin County school board meeting and includes interviews with K8 students from the area who share firsthand thoughts about the restrictions across Florida. Nevins and her team worked with a combination of original interviews, news clips, and archival material, including footage of poets Amanda Gorman and Nikki Giovanni.

We had to act fast to put the film together this year, Nevins told PW. We decided it was the moment to tell this story from the standpoint of those directly affected: the children who are fighting back against book bans or only beginning to realize how content restrictions undermine their education.

Nevins opens and closes the film with Linns presentation, during which Linn unfurls a homemade quilt of Targeted and Banned titles and speaks out about democracy.

Linns husband, Robert Nicoll, died in action during World War II, and Linn drew a connection between reading and fundamental democratic principles. The freedom to read, which is protected by the First Amendment, is our essential right and duty of our democracy, she said. She told the audience that banning results from fear of knowledge. Fear is not freedom. Fear is not liberty. Fear is control. My husband died as a father of freedom. I am a mother of liberty.

Nevins said, Ive never met anyone with the spirit and longevity that matched Grace Linns. She had such passion for the book banning issue and I felt the need to do this film with her.

The documentary also features cameos from authors Maya Kobabe (Gender Queer), Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (And Tango Makes Three), and drag performer Lil Miss Hot Mess (The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish), plus animated excerpts from Tango and Swish. Nevins said she reached out to these authors because their books represented the various issues that were being suppressed through this book banning effort: gender difference, diversity, and historical truths.

The films young commentators express frustration at the restrictions on their access to books like Art Spiegelmans Maus and Anne Franks A Diary of a Young Girl. Yeye, age nine, pointedly asks those who would ban Giovannis Rosa, about Rosa Parkss activism, Do you feel like people should not know about her legacy?... Im just curious.

Inaya, age 10 and wearing a pink hijab, reads aloud from a passage in Katherine Applegates Wishtree about Muslim people, and Ryan, age 14, reads from Angie Thomass The Hate U Give. June, age eight, says shes concerned that readers may not learn about LGBTQ identities. Say you want to be transgender, but you know that its a bad thing where you grow up, so youre afraid to express who you really are. Youre hiding a huge part of yourself, and its like the world knows less than half of you.

The ABCs of Book Banning is streaming on Paramount Plus.
U.K.-based Quarto Group has issued an official stock market announcement giving notice that it intends to give up its listing on the London Main Market. A shareholder meeting will be held on December 14 to approve the delisting proposal, which needs support of 75% of shareholder votes to be passed. Shareholders representing 72% of the company's shares already support the delisting, and the measure has the backing of executive director CK Lau's whose 1010 Printing Limited of the Lion Rock Group has just over 50% of Quarto's shares.

In making the announcement, Quarto cited four primary reasons for the delisting:

the delisting will result in "certain costs savings, plus administrative and transactional efficiencies"

the company will "gain the flexibility to close future acquisitions more quickly without having to comply with the listing rules"

the company's common shares "historically have a low average daily trading volume, which makes the company's share price susceptible to significant fluctuations after trades involving small numbers of shares"

the company's common shares "suffer from limited liquidity and a low free float of approximately 17%, which limits the benefits that the company can gain from accessing capital through the London Stock Exchange

While the delisting is unlikely to impact day-to-day operations, news of the pending move hammered Quarto's stock price, which fell 38%, to 0.75, or roughly a dollar, per share on Thursday. Quarto said that it intends to make a tender offer for shares, so that investors who wish to cash out after the delisting can do so.

Though headquartered in London, Quarto's largest market is the U.S., and in comments in its circular announcing the delisting plan, Quarto pointed to challenging worldwide market conditions, including in the U.S.: "'Quarto achieved strong financial results in 2021 and 2022, but it has since faced the post-Covid downturn of the global book market in 2023. Consumers shifted their spending from discretionary items such as books to essential items such as food and fuel, as they faced economic uncertainty."

The post notes that, according to Circana BookScan, print sales in the U.S. in Quarto's two biggest segments, adult nonfiction and children's, are down 5% and 6%, respectively. It stresses that, given the softer sales, "the company needs more management flexibility to adapt to these changes and respond quickly to new opportunities and challenges," which a delisting will provide.

In late August, Quarto reported that sales for the first six months of the year fell to $52.0 million in the first half of 2023, from $61.9 million in 2022, with pre-tax profits slumping from $6.6 million to $2.6 million over the same period.
Penguin Random House and the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), along with four bestselling authors and five plaintiffs from the state of Iowa, have followed Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Iowa in filing a federal lawsuit against Iowa to block the book ban provisions of SF 496, the state's sweeping new law that critics say seeks to silence LGBTQ+ students and bans books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content.

Authors Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo, and Jodi Picoultwhose books Speak and Shout, Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, Last Night at the Telegraph Club and A Scatter of Light, and 19 Minutes, respectively, have been banned or removed in Iowaare among the named plaintiffs, which also include a high school student, two middle school teachers, and a K-12 librarian from the state.

The suit, filed on November 30 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, takes aim solely at "the portions of Senate File 496 that require the removal of books from school libraries and classroom collections in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments," as per the complaint.

"Rather than defer to trained professionals, such as teachers or librarians, to determine which books are appropriate for school libraries and classroom collections, Senate File 496 automatically prohibits two categories of books in school libraries and classroom collections," the complaint states: books "that contain a description or visual depiction of a 'sex act' " and books that " 'relate' to 'gender identity' or 'sexual orientation.' "

The first restriction, the complaint continues, violates the free speech and equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution by "so broadly regulating the display and availability of books that are constitutionally protected," while the latter "defines gender identity and sexual orientation so broadly that the prohibition could apply to all gender identities and any depiction of a romantic relationship." Both restrictions, the complaint states, restrict "access to access to constitutionally protected books" and are "unconstitutionally vague."

Signed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in May, SF 496 took effect this fall. Specifically, the law bans books with depictions of sex, written or visual, from school libraries, and prohibits instruction and materials involving gender identity and sexual orientation for students through sixth grade. In response, various Iowa school districts have already reportedly pulled hundreds of titles from their shelves, including books that contain LGBTQ+ characters, historical figures, or themes.

"The First Amendment guarantees the right to read and to be read, to exchange ideas and viewpoints without unreasonable government interference," the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. "The new Iowa state law flouts this core principle of the Constitution with sweeping legislation that eliminates student access to books with ideas and perspectives disliked by state authorities. The lawsuit further contends that Iowas stated rationale for SF 496protecting children from pornographyis a pretext and contrary to the definition of obscenity as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miller vs. California (1973)."

Nihar Malaviya, PRH CEO, said in a statement that his company's "mission of connecting authors and their stories to readers around the world contributes to the free flow of ideas and perspectives that is a hallmark of American democracyand we will always stand by it." He added: "We know that not every book we publish will be for every reader, but we must protect the right for all Americans, including students, parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians, to have equitable access to books and to continue to decide what they read."

Asked at a press conference whether PRH was concerned that book banning efforts across the country, including Iowa, would hurt the publisher's business following years of increasing its focus on publishing books by authors from diverse backgroundsmany of which are among those challenged by recent legislationDan Novack, v-p and associate general counsel at PRH, said that "there's no aspect of the business that has not been affected." He further noted that "there's a lot of chaos going on around the country, and we're seeing it at every level." Still, he clarified, "We're not seeking damages in this case. We're not asking the court to recoup lost sales or pay us back for the books that we missed out on...It is very much an issue of principle."

Novack noted that PRH is "very proud to publish all range of voices," books of "every stripe, politically, religiously, and everything in between," and that the publisher is "working very hard to open up the lens" of publishing to "people that are not only writing books, but are portrayed in them. We are insisting just as much on the rights of the Moms for Liberty to express their views as ours." He added: "And unless we want to throw in the towel and say, 'well, gee, we gave it a good shot, but the state governments decided they didn't want that,' I think, we have to fight. We have to be here. No one wants to be here, but we have to."

The suit is the latest in a string of lawsuits seeking to turn back book banning efforts in 2023, and the second legal action for PRH over book banning. The publisher is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by PEN America against the Escambia County School District and School Board in Florida over what the plaintiffs argue is an unconstitutional removal of books from school libraries.
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed to hold COP33 in India, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

Will be updated
Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here

New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here.

NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com.
From public university programs that teach young people to hate America to massive IRS funding boosts to expand taxpayer audits, too many U.S. tax dollars work against American interests.

On the international stage, its the same story.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is a Paris-based international organization whose supposed purpose is to spur economic cooperation between countries. Increasingly, however, it acts as an unelected global legislative body cramming down left-wing policies around the globe.

The U.S. is the largest contributor to the OECDs $338 million annual budget. And with the help of the Biden administration, the OECD has been using that funding to pressure nations to adopt a global minimum tax system that is a particularly bad deal for America.

According to U.S. government estimates, this tax scheme could drain the U.S. Treasury of $122 billion or more in revenues over 10 years. Even as it adds this cost to the national debt, the global minimum tax system would leave America-headquartered companies paying more in taxesnot less.

Under the new international tax paradigm, foreign governments would gain the right to tax large American companies on U.S. income if that income is considered undertaxed. Supposedly, undertaxed would mean it faces a corporate tax of less than 15%. But the OECDs new undertaxed profit rule uses a different tax base, so many U.S. based companies would run afoul of the rule despite paying a 21% federal rate plus state taxes.

American companies would be hit the hardest not because U.S. corporate taxes are low by international standardstheyre notbut because the Europe-dominated OECD designed the global tax to target U.S. companies based on their size, digital business models, and organizational structures.

Incredibly, President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have signed off on this tax scheme. Now the European Union, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are apparently plowing forward with plans to implement it in 2024 or 2025.

If these countries impose discriminatory extraterritorial taxes on U.S. companies, the cost of running businesses based in the U.S. will rise and the American people will pay the price.

If the U.S. goes along with the OECD and adds its own global minimum tax, the Treasury would still lose about $56 billion of revenue, and taxes would rise even higher around the world.

To their credit, the House of Representatives is responding to the OECD assault on U.S. tax sovereignty by pushing to end the U.S.s self-destructive OECD funding. The House-passed State, Foreign Operations, and Related Operations appropriations bill would reduce contributions to international organizations like the OECD by 83%, from $1.44 billion to $246 million.

The Committee Report says, The Committee recommendation does not include funding for assessed contributions to the OECD. The Committee does not support the work of the OECD that promotes higher tax rates, corporate tax floors, and digital tax schemes that target the American tax base."

Indeed, contrary to what some in Washington might think, with a national debt thats now over $250,000 per household, the U.S. government has no obligation to continue throwing U.S. tax dollars at international organizations that scheme against U.S. interests.

Unfortunately, the counterpart appropriations bill in the Senate would move in the opposite direction, increasing contributions to international organizations by 13%. This is one of many funding battles to watch as Congress debates government spending levels for the next fiscal year.

In addition to efforts to wield the power of the purse strings and defund the OECD, some in the House are taking a more assertive approach. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., introduced legislation that would hit back at countries that enact the OECDs proposed taxes aimed at U.S. companies. Under his Defending American Jobs and Investment Act, if countries move forward with these proposals, the U.S. would impose an additional 5% tax rateeach year, for four yearson individuals and companies in those countries.

In September, Smith and others on the Ways and Means Committee traveled to Paris to tell OECD members that the U.S. would pursue countermeasures against countries adopting the new tax, sending a not-so-subtle reminder that the U.S. is an economic force that shouldnt be taken lightly.

The United States must not sit idly by and watch as the world stakes claim on American treasure.

And the American people shouldnt assent to letting our elected representatives cede Americas tax sovereignty to OECD bureaucrats in Paris.

Preston Brashers is a senior policy analyst focusing on tax policy in The Heritage Foundations Hermann Center for the Federal Budget.
Property details:

LAND FOR SALE KERN COUNTY, CA Would you like to own land in Kern County? Does panoramic desert view land interest you? Here is your opportunity to purchase 2 connecting lots for a fraction of market value. The property itself measures approximately 5,980 square feet. Located with easy dirt road access just off of Hwy 14, the lots are situated in an area of many similar sized parcels. Please feel free to drive out and explore the land for yourself prior to bidding. Great investment opportunity! B...

Price: $ 800 Seller State of Residence: Wisconsin State/Province: California Location: 935**, Mojave, California

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby California
Property details:

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, HUGE DISCOUNT!!!Discover the perfect opportunity to own a prime piece of land in Elko, Nevada, with this exceptional lot available for purchase. Located in a desirable area, this homesite spans over 10 acres and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Whether you are looking to build your dream home or invest in real estate, this property is perfect for you. Nestled in a peaceful and serene environment, this lot is ideal for those seeking a quiet escape from the h...

Price: $ 3,000 Seller State of Residence: Texas Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 89830 City: Elko State/Province: Nevada Location: 760**, Bedford, Texas

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby Nevada
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Slovakia will stop using coal as a source of electricity, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova said, Trend reports.

She spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"Our emissions have peaked already. By 2030 they will be 55 percent less than in 1990. We will invest 5 percent of our GDP from public sources to decarbonize our economy and society over the next seven years. Slovakia is stopping the use of coal as a source of electricity at the end of this year and we will phase it out from its generation in three years," she said.

Caputova noted that Slovakia plans to reach a 29-percent share of renewable energy in electricity production by 2030.

"Slovakia is endorsing the global renewables and energy efficiency pledge. Slovakia's green finances have increased almost fivefold since 2015," she said.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Property details:

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, HUGE DISCOUNT!!! This is a great opportunity to own a 5-acre ranch located in Elko County, Nevada. The property is in a prime location with beautiful scenic views and is perfect for those who desire privacy and tranquility. It's ideal for building a custom home, raising livestock, or for recreational use. The property is located in a serene environment with close proximity to major amenities and attractions. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to own a piece of land in Elk...

Price: $ 8,250 Seller State of Residence: Texas Zip/Postal Code: 89801 City: Elko State/Province: Nevada Location: 760**, Bedford, Texas

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby Nevada
Videos

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Azerbaijan's transformation to a "green" economy has been a main focus of its energy policy in recent years, Energy expert Ilham Shaban told Trend.

He further stated that Baku has begun to conduct large-scale projects in this area since 2018.

"From 2009 to 2018, the government implemented projects that used small amounts of electricity generated by alternative energy sources. After 2018, the government shifted course and began implementing a policy to build large-scale green power facilities. In October, we witnessed the commissioning of the 230 MW Masdar solar power facility. ACWA Power's 240 MW wind farm will be the next in line. With the commissioning of these two stations, Azerbaijan's volume of electricity generated from "green" energy will exceed 1 billion kWh for the first time," the analyst noted.

He highlighted that in the next years, these quantities might be increased several times by harnessing the "green" energy potential of Azerbaijan's lands liberated from Armenian occupation.

"In the next four years, the Ministry of Energy intends to put into operation "green" energy with a capacity of 1,880 MW. This suggests that the green energy potential will expand by more than 8 times by 2023. All of this implies fewer carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere," Shaban added.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The colder weather and upcoming holidays have raised concerns that there will be a rise in COVID-19 cases. Due to these concerns, the federal government is allowing households to order four free COVID-19 tests.
December calls for a time to reflect over the past year. These horoscopes advise individuals to reminisce and plan for the next year.
Protestors rallied by the Arch in downtown Athens on Wednesday, Nov. 29, taking part in the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This demonstration was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine.
Swift gains on Dalal Street this year have also led to a sharp surge in shares of equity market intermediaries like depositories, exchanges, and registrar and transfer Agents (RTAs).

The stock prices of BSE, CDSL, CAMS, and KFin Technologies are up 24-283 per cent so far in 2023 when compared to a 9 per cent rise in the benchmark Nifty index.

With the market buoyancy expected to keep up the pace, analysts believe these stocks are a good long-term bet despite the sharp rally, which can trigger an intermittent correction.

Sneha Poddar, associate vice president, retail research at Motilal Oswal (MOFSL) suggests investors book partial profits at the current levels and buy them on a dip from a long-term perspective.

Post the recent rally, stocks are a little expensive and there is limited upside.

The bullish trend may continue for a while, but in the medium term, these stocks are likely to consolidate or correct.

It is better to partially book profits and re-enter at lower levels after the time correction is over, Poddar said.

That said, regulatory issues amid lofty valuations of some of these stocks, according to Amit Kumar Gupta, founder of Fintrekk Capital could also keep the rally in check in the near term.

There are regulatory pressures in the industry.

With respect to RTAs, they have high revenue dependence on mutual funds (MF), some asset management companies (AMCs) have low bargaining power and any changes in the proposed total expense ratio (TER) structure may keep their operating margins range-bound in the short-term, said Gupta.

RTAs such as CAMS and KFin Tech earn revenues through fees charged on the assets under management (AUMs) of their MF clients.

CAMS and CDSL's price-to-equity ratio on FY23 earnings is 43 times. It is 87 times for BSE and 40 times for KFin Tech.

Good long-term bet

From a long-term perspective, however, analysts are positive on the stocks as sustained growth of capital markets and increased investor participation will keep demand for investor solutions robust.

These companies are proxies for the capital markets.

When markets rise, they benefit as higher volumes directly lead to earnings growth.

With this year's rally, their earnings have also improved significantly.

"We are thus bullish as markets will remain buoyant in the next 5-10 years as the economy booms," said Poddar of MOFSL.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the demat tally in India has grown more than threefold reflecting increasing investor participation.

At the end of October, there were 131 million demat accounts.

Nearly 70 per cent are registered with CDSL.

The depository said on Wednesday it crossed the 100 million mark.

While the count of active clients (those who traded once in the past year) is lower on exchanges, it has tripled after the pandemic.

NSE s total active clients, for instance, have risen from 11 million in FY20 to 33.4 million as of September end.

That said, analysts also like the low capital-requiring business models of the companies.

These business models are such that growth does not require capital infusion as they are very tech-oriented and also continue to give cash back to investors, said Gupta of Fintrekk Capital.

Among stocks, Podar of MOFSL likes CAMS as it operates in a duopoly with high entry barriers and has a low risk of market share loss.

Those at Sharekhan have a buy call on BSE with a target price of Rs 2,394, an upside of 12 per cent from current levels.

HDFC Securities, meanwhile, expects the derivative segment to contribute 10 per cent and 30 per cent of BSE s FY24 and FY25 revenue, respectively. Its target price for the stock is Rs 2,490.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sora Shimazaki/Pexels.com

The Union finance ministry will meet CEOs of public sector banks to discuss issues related to cybersecurity in the wake of the Rs 820 crore (Rs 8.2 billion) fraud that hit Kolkata-based UCO Bank last month.

According to sources aware of the development, the ministry has asked banks to review their digital systems and cybersecurity-related measures.

During the Diwali week, UCO Bank was hit by an IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) fraud in which Rs 820 crore was credited to some account holders of UCO Bank without a debit from any other bank.

While UCO Bank has been able to recover Rs 649 crore (Rs 6.49 billion), or 79 per cent of the amount, the rest was withdrawn by account holders. This happened between November 10 and 13.

As a precautionary measure, UCO took the IMPS channel offline.

The bank has approached the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate any attempt, including cyber attacks, aiming to manipulate the lender and disrupt the functioning of IMPS.

Sources said such frauds had occurred a couple of times before, involving some other public-sector banks, but they went largely unnoticed because the amounts involved were small.

The Reserve Bank of India has been asking banks to develop business strategies, strengthen their governance framework, and implement cybersecurity measures to ease concerns related to fraud.

The RBI has said a minimum common framework for cybersecurity needs to be devised, outlining best practices and standards for financial institutions to follow. That can help ensure that all institutions are taking steps to protect themselves from cyber threats.

The regulator has mandated banks to have a board-approved cybersecurity policy, explaining the strategy with an approach to combat cyber threats, given the level of complexity of businesses and acceptable levels of risk.

It has emphasised that the policy needs to be distinct from the broader IT policy.

On November 23, RBI Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar raised the issue of cybersecurity measures of banks while asking lenders to fortify them and prevent cyber frauds in a hyper-personalised and tech-banking environment.

He said the efforts of the banks to provide timely solutions to customer grievances had not kept pace with the explosion in technology and products.

Earlier in June, former RBI deputy governor M K Jain had warned that cyber attacks could disrupt critical financial operations in banks, rendering them unable to process transactions, access customer accounts, or execute essential functions.

The RBI had said such disruption could result in a loss of confidence in the banking system, because customers and businesses might face difficulties in accessing funds or conducting normal financial activities.

Such disruptions can lead to financial instability especially if they affect multiple banks or are prolonged, Jain had said.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Higher valuation creation in companies beyond the top 100 has given the domestic markets a shot at a $4 trillion market capitalisation (mcap)  a club exclusive to three countries currently.

Photograph: ANI Photo

On November 23, the mcap of all BSE-listed stocks finished at a new record of Rs 328.33 trillion ($3.94 trillion), despite the benchmark indices ending with losses.

The mcap was propelled by gains in the broader market, including small and midcap stocks  a trend dominant this year.

Stocks outside the top 100 now contribute 40 per cent to the countrys mcap, up from 35 per cent at the start of this financial year (2023-24).

Since April 1, Indias mcap has risen 27 per cent.

Meanwhile, the mcap of the top 100 companies has grown 17 per cent to Rs 195 trillion, while those outside the top 100 have seen their market value surge 46 per cent to Rs 133 trillion.

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex is currently around 2.7 per cent below its record high registered on September 15.

The small and midcaps have more than recouped their losses made in October due to risk aversion caused by the rise in US bond yields.

According to Bloomberg data, Indias mcap has risen nearly 13 per cent so far this calendar year, even as Chinas has seen a 5 per cent erosion in its mcap.

The US is the only market in the top 10 mcap club that has grown at a faster clip than India at 16 per cent.

The combined world mcap has grown 9 per cent this year to $106 trillion.

Indias correlation of returns with global equities continues to decline and is lower than in history.

"That said, India is a large stock market in terms of mcap in a global context and cannot completely deviate from global equity market trends.

"Softer global markets could cap absolute returns, whereas a strong global bull market could coincide with relative underperformance for low-beta markets like India, says Ridham Desai, managing director and head of research at Morgan Stanley India.

Analysts say achieving the $4 trillion mcap milestone will burnish Indias image as the go-to market in Asia and the emerging market (EM) basket.

Indias strong earnings, macroeconomic (macro) stability, and domestic flows make it a standout market, say analysts.

In recent weeks, about half a dozen foreign brokerages, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and CLSA, have recommended higher allocations to India in the EM and Asia-Pacific (APAC) baskets, even as valuations remain expensive compared to their peers.

India has the best structural growth prospects in the region.

"We believe gross domestic product growth is likely to stay robust at 6.3 per cent year-on-year in 2024.

"While the external macro backdrop of higher-for-longer rates, persistent dollar strength, lower China growth, and greater geopolitical uncertainty could potentially lead to elevated market volatility in the region, India is relatively less sensitive to these external shocks, says Sunil Koul, APAC equity strategist, Goldman Sachs.

Earlier this month, the US-based brokerage upgraded its stance on the Indian markets to overweight.

Most believe Indias push to $4 trillion will have to come from largecaps, as valuations in the broader markets have turned lofty.

We think largecaps are likely to do better over the next six months, heading into the general elections, as investors rotate back towards perceived safety amid potentially elevated market volatility, says Koul.

Largecaps are likely to outperform mid and smallcaps  the opposite of our call this time last year, adds Desai.

With an mcap of almost $48 trillion, the US is by far the worlds largest equity market, followed by China ($9.7 trillion) and Japan ($6 trillion).

The Hong Kong market has an mcap of $4.8 trillion; however, this is largely on account of companies from Mainland China opting to list in the metropolis.
'Considering Ranjan Pai is putting his own personal money in Byju's, stakeholders in the company can look forward to more governance and transparency.'

The legend goes that about three decades ago, when Ranjan Pai was looking to study medicine, he failed to get into Manipal medical college, which was run by his father.

It was only after a year of good grades at the medical college in Davanagere, which Pai ended up joining, that he was admitted into Manipal.

That may have infused the incumbent chairman of the Manipal Education and Medical Group with a special regard for things related to education.

So in 2012, when Pai discovered by happenstance that the Fortune Inn Valley View hotel in Manipal was buzzing because teacher-turned-entrepreneur Byju Raveendran was holding classes there, Pai was intrigued, impressed, and interested.

The following year, Aarin Capital, founded by Ranjan Pai and former Infosys honcho T V Mohandas Pai -- they are not related -- became the first institutional investor in Byju's, which went on to become a digital phenomenon.

Aarin eventually exited the company with bumper returns over the years as Byju's raised more than $5 billion over the past decade. And its timing was good.

For, the present is not great for Byju's, which is besieged with issues that are not just about its plummeting valuation.

Given the past and the present, it was not a surprise that early this year Raveendran reached out to Pai and the outcome has been prompt.

Pai is putting $168 million (Rs 1,400 crore/Rs 14 billion) in Byju's test-prep subsidiary, Aakash Educational Services Limited.

This would help repay the loan from United States-based investment firm Davidson Kempner Capital Management, one that has led to legal issues.

Pai, say sources, is also in discussions to invest another $350 million as equity and debt in Byju's.

"Raveendran knows Ranjan Pai and Mohandas Pai very closely," says a person aware of the negotiations. "He shares a good comfort level with them."

K Ganesh, who has launched and exited four successful ventures, says Pai is a savvy, mature, and patient investor.

Pai was an investor in Ganesh's online tutoring firm, TutorVista, which was acquired by UK's Pearson in a deal that valued the company at about Rs 1,000 crore in 2011.

"He (Pai) is not driven by the fear of missing out," says Ganesh, who is also the promoter and founder director of BigBasket, Portea Medical, Bluestone, and HomeLane. "He is investing in Aakash as it is a very good asset and doing well."

More than a financial play?

In May 2023, Bengaluru-based Byju's signed a Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion/$250 million) round with Davidson Kempner in a structured instruments deal.

It was a loan and had an equity upside linked to Aakash's public listing in the near future, according to sources.

However, the firm received only about Rs 800 crore (Rs 8 billion), after allegations of contractual violations were levied.

Talks to return the money started by the end of June. Byju's and Davidson Kempner then began negotiations to settle their dispute.

Byju's is paying about Rs 1,400 crore (Rs 14 billion), which includes the interest. The firm recently offered to repay the entire term loan B in less than six months.

Sources say it may have put two of its assets -- Epic and Great Learning -- on the block to generate $800 million to $1 billion.

However, some wonder if there is more to Pai's investments in Aakash and are watching the extent to which he might want to get involved.

"This is expected to help Aakash square off their debt," says Jaideep Kewalramani, head of employability business and chief operating officer, TeamLease Edtech, a learning and employability solutions company that works with universities and companies. "It would be interesting to see if Mr Pai joins the board of directors."

Manipal Academy of Higher Education is one of the biggest players in the traditional education space.

"He (Pai) is an active player in the higher education space and this will be a very strategic deal for him and not just a financial investment," says Shantanu Rooj, founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech. "Also, Aakash is a crown jewel at Byju's."

Pai, who recently sold a significant part of his stake in Manipal Health Enterprises to Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek, has been backing new-age companies this year. These include Purplle, Bluestone, PharmEasy, FirstCry and Meolaa.

Cleaning up

Pai's role is expected to sort out issues that go beyond mere finances.

"It seems Ranjan Pai's investment is a chance for Byju's to clean things up," says another industry source.

The edtech firm has delayed the submission of its FY22 results to the ministry of corporate affairs, trailing other edtech unicorns such as Unacademy, upGrad, and Vedantu.

This delay has raised concerns among investors and lenders who have extended a $1.2 billion term loan B to the firm.

This year, Byju's auditor, Deloitte Haskins & Sells, resigned citing the delay in filing financial results.

Following the auditor's resignation, representatives from the firm's top three investors -- Prosus, Peak XV Partners, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative -- also resigned.

Recently, Byju's appointed BDO as its statutory auditor for the next five years and formed an advisory council. It is expected to file its financials with the ministry in the coming weeks.

"Considering he (Pai) is putting his own personal money in Byju's, (stakeholders) in the company can look forward to more governance and transparency," says Ganesh.

"This is also a strong indication that whatever may be the challenge, Pai has confidence in the founder, Raveendran."

Think and Learn Private Limited, Byju's parent company, reported a 2.3-fold increase in its core business, reaching a total income of Rs 3,569 crore (Rs 35.69 billion) for 2021-2022, up from Rs 1,552 crore (Rs 15.52 billion) in the previous year.

The Ebitda loss of the core business decreased from Rs 2,406 crore (Rs 24,06 billion) to Rs 2,253 crore (Rs 22.53 billion), accompanied by a margin improvement from -155 per cent to -63 per cent, from FY21 to FY22. Ebitda is short for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation.

These financials reflect the core business. At the group level, the situation may be different, according to sources.

Previously, the company aimed to turn profitable by March 2023. Instead, it reported losses of Rs 4,588 crore (Rs 45.88 billion) for FY21, 19 times more than the previous year.

How will its life with Pai be?

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
'When you do some job for a few hours, you are hardly earning enough to survive.'

There was euphoria in social media about India becoming a $4 trillion economy a few days ago. The fact is, India has not yet reached the threshold.

The question is, is the GDP of a country with 1.4 billion people becoming a $4 or 5 trillion economy something to be jubilant about?

Then came the data from CMIE that unemployment rate rose to a 2 year high of 10.09% in October 2023.

But according to government data and the economists at the State Bank of India, India's unemployment rate is at a record low.

"What we are witnessing is jobless growth," R Nagaraj, former professor of economics at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

The CMIE data says the unemployment rate rose to a 2 year high of 10.09% in October 2023, almost 3% increase from September. But the government figure for unemployment in 2022-2023 is just 3.1%. Where lies the truth?

I would go with the annual PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) data released by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), that is, the government data.

The PLFS survey result is very positive and pleasing to the government.

The three things the survey highlighted are, the unemployment rate has declined from over 6% five years ago to 3.1% today.

Second, the labour force participation rate, that is the percentage of population working or willing to work or available for work, has increased.

Third, participation of women in the labour market has increased.

This data is for year 2022-2023.

It is based on this that the SBI report says, the labour market is doing very well.

Is this the truth?

That's what I want to explain. These are the headline results announced by the government, that the labour market is performing well and very favourable to them.

But when you look at closely, there are concerns.

Yes, after the pandemic, the economy has been recovering and obviously, employment also recovered.

So, the improvement in the labour market is part of that economic recovery process.

The question is, what kind of employment is being generated.

This is a country with surplus labour and open employment is generally very low, as it is very difficult to remain unemployed as you have to do some job to survive. So, people do any job to survive.

What is predominant in India is disguised unemployment.

When you do some job for a few hours, you are hardly earning enough to survive.

Having such a job doesn't mean you have a regular job with a regular salary which can take care of the needs of you and your family.

The SBI report says, there is a 'structural transformation in the labour market' and people are moving to self-entrepreneurship.

Is it not a fact that when there is no job in the market, people have to do something to survive? Are they camouflaging unemployment by using the term structural transformation?

Yes, they are. There are three categories of jobs.

One is the regular wage salaried worker. Two, casual labour getting paid for what he does.

Third is self-employment which includes a person opening a tea stall in front of his house as he has no other job. This is, in fact, disguised employment.

When you say unemployment has declined, the truth is, self-employment has gone up.

While self-employment has gone up, regular employment or casual employment has come down.

The fact is, there are not enough jobs in the market.

Does that mean we are in a situation where the government is satisfied with the data while people are unhappy as there are not enough jobs?

Absolutely. These numbers are just pleasing to the policymakers.

In fact, the report has taken care of some of the concerns of those who have been saying that unemployment is rising, labour participation is declining especially that of women, etc.

But the reality is quite different from what these reports say.

When India is said to be going at more than 6%, why are jobs not being created accordingly? Are we once again talking about jobless growth?

Yes. What we are witnessing is jobless growth. Even when jobs are created, what are the wages?

When jobs are created and wages are rising, it is productive employment. In an economy where there is productive employment, you contribute to the society.

When the wages and earnings are low, you are just surviving on what is available.

Self-employment of this kind hardly adds to the income of the country. There is only redistribution of what is already there.

When the opposition has been making noise about unemployment, this data is released to contest that narrative.



IMAGE: Professor R Nagaraj.

What are the reasons for this jobless growth?

Yes, the economy is growing, but the kind of growth we are creating is not labour intensive. It is not creating adequate labour demand.

Agriculture is growing at a modest pace. Manufacturing is in doldrums. So, the sectors that can create jobs are not creating jobs.

What you are creating is refuge employment in services sector. And it is not in the high-end services sector that jobs are growing.

It is in the self-employed sector that jobs are growing where people are selling potatoes and pakodas.

This is hardly adding any value to the economy.

For example, when there are ten vada paav sellers in one street, addition of one more seller it does not add much value.

Another shocking thing is, about 23% of the jobs created are supplementary jobs in the household sector when the entire family works say, in their kirana store. This is actually unpaid labour.

Another data says, the growth of unpaid workers rose from 40 million in 2017-2018 to 95 million in 2023...

This is exactly what I am saying. When the government says, employment has been created, it is basically unpaid family labour, where the current earnings get distributed within the family or household.

When a person cannot find a job outside, he joins the family unit as he has no other job.

This does not bring in additional income for the family. So, this is not productive employment.

Is it because the manufacturing sector, which can be the largest employer, has not been growing that jobs are not being created?

It is one of the reasons. The manufacturing sector has not been growing at the desired pace. In fact, employment in the manufacturing sector has been declining.

Our non-agricultural sector growth has been very lopsided.

You have output growth only in the high-paid IT sector which employs a maximum of about 5 million people.

What is 5 million when the size of the workforce is about 470 million? So, the high paid IT services is only a drop in the ocean.

Because they get high salaries, the income of the country gets elevated. But you have to understand that the income is only in the small pockets such as Bangalore or Hyderabad or Gurgaon.

The fact is, majority of the people have very poor jobs which are hardly productive.

Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: The Late Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Do you feel investment in the manufacturing sector has not been happening as investors have no faith the market?

Yes. The investment rate in the economy, which is the gross capital formation of the GDP, has declined in the last decade.

From 2012-2022, it has declined from 34% to 28% approximately. And manufacturing sector's share in gross capital formation has hardly grown.

The 2023 State of Working India report by Azim Premji University found that 42.8% of graduates under 25 are unemployed.... Should this not worry the government?

Yes. This report has very good statistics.

Youth unemployment is very high in India.

Youngsters get educated and when they come out of the colleges, there are no jobs waiting for them.

There is a lot of noise about India becoming a $5 trillion economy. When you have a population of 1.4 million, is it not natural to have a large economy? Shouldn't we be using per capita income as the growth indicator and not the size of the economy?

Exactly. The present government has mastered the art of talking in absolute numbers.

Absolute size doesn't matter as we are a nation of 1.4 billion people.

Per capita income should the right measure, and it has not increased much in the last decade, compared to say, the first decade of the 21st century.

As per the 2020 report, we are ranked at 142 out of 197 countries....

Let's admit, in absolute size, India is a large economy because of the population.

In per capita income, we continue to be a poor economy. Our rank has not improved steadily in the last 10 years.

Our growth rate has decelerated in the last decade after the dream run from 2003-04 to 2009-10.

The reason for the decline is because our investment rate has declined. That's why we are not growing fast enough.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a productive meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and underscored India's support for a two-state solution and an early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. Photograph: Israel Presidential Press Office/Handout via Reuters

Modi met Herzog on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai.

The prime minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on X.

Modi and Herzog exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region.

The prime minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population, Bagchi said.

Modi emphasised India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

'Had a very productive meeting with President @Isaac_Herzog of Israel earlier today. Our talks covered a wide range of global and bilateral issues,' Modi tweeted.

'The two leaders exchanged views on the on-going Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages,' the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

'The prime minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population. He emphasised on India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy,' the release said.

President Herzog congratulated prime minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency and welcomed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, it said.

'..at the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world,' President Herzog said.

'I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international community's agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself,' Herzog said.

'The (Indian) prime minister expressed to the President his strong condemnation of the massacre and acts of terrorism committed by Hamas,' a communication from Herzog's spokesperson said.

Herzog called upon all the world leaders to join hands in the humanitarian effort to return all the hostages home 'swiftly and safely'.

He 'appealed to the prime minister of India to do all he could to promote the issue', the communication added.

Modi also discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

'I am always very happy to meet my brother HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Today's meeting during #COP28 has been very productive. Thanked him for the warm hospitality. Also discussed various issues aimed at deepening India-UAE friendship and making our planet more sustainable,' Modi posted on X.

The leaders reviewed bilateral ties and exchanged views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Bagchi said on X.

Modi congratulated the UAE President for the successful hosting of the COP28 and also invited him to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar in January.

He also thanked the UAE President for co-hosting the high-level event on the Green Climate Programme (GCP) at COP28.

The prime minister invited President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, to be held in India next month, the External Affairs Ministry said.

Later, Modi also met Turkey President R T Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, President of Guyana Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Swiss Confederation President Alain Berset.

The prime minister took to X to post: Happy to have met President @RTErdogan on the sidelines of the #COP28 Summit in Dubai.

'Excellent meeting with @SwedishPM Ulf Kristersson. We talked about deepening cooperation in futuristic sectors of development. We also discussed how to strengthen efforts to mitigate climate change,' he said in another post.
Highlighting that India is among the only few countries in the world on track to fulfil its climate pledges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday proposed to host the United Nations climate conference in 2028, and also launched a 'Green Credit Initiative' focused on creating carbon sinks through people's participation.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an event at COP28 in Dubai on Friday. Photograph: @MEAIndia on X

Participating in multiple high-level events on the second day of the United Nations climate conference (COP28) in Dubai, the Prime Minister said rich nations should completely reduce their carbon footprint 'well before' 2050 and give all developing countries their fair share in the global carbon budget.

He also urged countries to deliver a concrete outcome on finance to help developing and poor nations combat climate change at COP28.

Addressing the high-level segment for heads of state and governments, Modi said the Green Credits Initiative is a pro-planet, proactive and positive initiative, that goes beyond the commercial mindset associated with carbon credits.

"It focuses on creating carbon sinks through people's participation and I invite all of you to join this initiative," Modi said, stressing that the world does not have much time to correct the mistakes of the last century.

This initiative is similar to the Green Credit Programme, notified domestically in October. It is an innovative market-based mechanism designed to reward voluntary environmental actions in different sectors by individuals, communities and the private sector.

The Green Credit Initiative involves creating an inventory of degraded wastelands, which can be utilised for planting by individuals and organisations. Participants undertaking environmentally positive actions will receive tradable green credits.

The entire process, from registration to plantation, verification, and issuance of green credits, will be digitised.

If India's proposal to host the UN climate conference in 2028 or COP33 is accepted, it would be the next big global conference in the country after the G20 Summit earlier this year.

India hosted COP8 in New Delhi in 2002 where countries adopted the Delhi Ministerial Declaration which called for efforts by developed countries to transfer technology and minimise the impact of climate change on developing countries.

Modi, along with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, launched LeadIT 2.0, an initiative aimed at co-developing and transferring low-carbon technology, which would also offer financial support for industry transition in developing nations.

Addressing a session on 'Transforming Climate Finance', Modi said India expects concrete and real progress on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), a fresh post-2025 global climate finance target to better meet the needs of developing countries.

Rich nations pledged in 2009 to raise USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to assist developing countries in combating and adjusting to climate change. Despite extensions to 2025, these nations have not met this commitment.

COP28 aims to establish the groundwork for a fresh post-2025 global climate finance goal, succeeding the $100 billion target. Countries aim to finalise this new goal by COP29 in 2024.

Modi also said that there should be no shortfall of money in the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund and that these be immediately replenished.

The Green Climate Fund, which was proposed at the 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen and began raising money in 2014, hasn't come close to its goal of $100 billion annually.

The Adaptation Fund is a UN-backed fund that provides grants and loans to help developing countries adjust to climate impacts.

On day one of the Conference, countries clinched an early deal on the operationalisation of the Loss And Damage Fund with several nations including the host United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States pledging contributions, totalling to more than $400 million.

Asserting that India has presented a great example to the world of striking balance between development and environment conservation, the Prime Minister said, India is among the only few countries in the world on track to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions or the national action plans to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the guardrail to avoid worsening of the impact of the changing climate.

Modi was the only leader to join COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber on the stage along with the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Steill at the opening plenary.

"Over the past century, a small section of humanity has indiscriminately exploited nature. However, the entire humanity is paying the price for this, especially people living in the Global South," he said.

"Thinking only about our own interests will only lead the world into darkness," the prime minister added.

Modi's statement came in the context that the poor and developing nations bear the brunt of extreme climate events such as floods, droughts, heat/cold waves as a result of changing climate due to historic carbon emissions by the richer countries which have led to increased global warming.

The prime minister called for maintaining a balance between mitigation and adaptation and said that energy transition across the world must be 'just and inclusive'.

He also called rich countries to transfer technologies to help developing nations combat climate change.

Modi has been championing the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE movement), which he had announced at the Glasgow COP in 2021), urging countries to adopt planet-friendly living practices and move away from deeply consumerist behaviour.

Citing a study by the International Energy Agency, Modi said, "This approach (LiFE) can reduce carbon emissions by 2 billion tonnes."

He called on the countries to work together and be decisive against the climate crisis.

"We shall cooperate with each other and shall support each other. We need to give all developing countries our fair share in the global carbon budget," Modi said.

Climate science defines carbon budget as the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted for a given level of global warming (1.5 degrees Celsius in this case).

Developed countries have already consumed more than 80 per cent of the global carbon budget, leaving developing and poor countries with very little carbon space for the future.

Modi highlighted that India is home to 17 per cent of the world's population, but its share of global carbon emissions is less than 4 per cent.

"India is one of the very few economies in the world that is on track to achieve its NDC targets," he said.

India achieved its emissions intensity-related targets 11 years ahead of the committed time frame and non-fossil fuel targets nine years ahead of schedule.

"And India did not just stop there, we remain ambitious," he said.

The country aims to reduce emissions intensity of gross domestic product by 45 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels and achieve 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

It has also committed to become a net zero economy by 2070.

As part of its G20 Presidency this year, India drew consensus from the world's major economies for a Green Development Pact seeking to balance development and the environment.

The Pact shifted the conversations from the billions to the trillions needed for the energy transition.

It noted that developing countries will need $5.8-5.9 trillion in the pre-2030 period, particularly to implement their NDCs.
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. NATO is investing in programs to develop new, more environmentally friendly technologies, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, Trend reports.

He addressed the World Summit on Climate Action, which was held alongside the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

He emphasized that climate change is important for security and, thus, for NATO. Stoltenberg emphasized NATO's commitment to combating climate change and being a part of the global solution to a global problem.

The Secretary General of NATO stressed that climate change causes crises, and crises hinder the ability to tackle climate change. Given their inextricable link, he stressed that climate change lies at the heart of NATO's mandate to pursue peace and security for the North Atlantic Alliance.

He also emphasized the importance of ensuring an energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward reliable and renewable energy sources.

"We must ensure that when we implement the energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward more reliable and less polluting sources of energy, we do not undermine energy security. NATO is investing in programs to develop new, more environmentally friendly technologies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels," he continued.

The World Summit on Climate Action, held in conjunction with the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the COP28, began on December 1 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has said that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has been given supari' (contract) by the Bharatiya Janata Party to end the political career of Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and State Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Photograph: @AjitPawarSpeaks

Deshmukh, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, was addressing a press conference in Wardha on Thursday.

The NCP split in July after Ajit Pawar and eight other party MLAs joined the government of BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the state.

Deshmukh said the whole of Maharashtra and India knows that Ajit Pawar and those with him hurriedly joined the government after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Bhopal.

Days before the split in the NCP, Modi had accused the party of being involved in corruption of Rs 70,000 crore.

Do you know why he (Ajit Pawar) took a different path? The senior NCP leaders didn't want to face the trouble I went through, said Deshmukh, referring to his arrest in an alleged corruption case.

The NCP leader said the BJP has given 'supari' to Ajit Pawar to finish the political career of Sharad Pawar.

Replying to a query about Ajit Pawar's supporters' wanting to see him as the chief minister of Maharashtra, Deshmukh said he was not aware of what has been decided among the ruling partners in the state.

However, he (Ajit Pawar) is being sidelined from decision-making by the BJP in the government, he added.
The counting of votes in Mizoram will take place on December 4, a day after it was originally scheduled, the Election Commission said on Friday.

IMAGE: Voters wait to cast their votes for the Mizoram Assembly elections, at a polling station, in Aizawl on November 7, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

It said the decision was taken following representations from various quarters requesting for a change in the date of counting from December 3 on the ground that Sunday holds a special significance for the people of Mizoram, a Christian-majority state.

'The Commission, having considered these representations, has decided to revise the date of counting for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram from 3rd December, 2023 (Sunday) to 4th December, 2023 (Monday),' it stated.

The counting was earlier scheduled for December 3, along with that in four other states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana - where assembly polls were held last month.

Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly was held on November 7. More than 80 per cent of the over 8.57 lakh voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 174 candidates.

Members of the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee held protests across the state on Friday seeking a change in the date of counting of votes.

The committee is an umbrella body of major civil society organisations and student bodies, including the influential Central Young Mizo Association and Mizo Zirlai Pawl.

Addressing a protest rally near the Raj Bhawan in Aizawl earlier in the day, NGOCC chairman Lalhmachhuana criticised the Election Commission for remaining silent on the issue so far despite repeated appeals by political parties, churches and NGOs to reschedule the counting date as it falls on a Sunday, a sacred day for Christians, who form the majority of the state's population.

The NGOCC had recently sent a delegation to Delhi and discussed the issue with poll panel officials, he said.

Earlier, the Election Commission changed the date of polling for the Rajasthan assembly elections from November 23 to November 25 following demands for a change given 'large-scale' weddings in the state that day.
Many hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 and Palestinians in Israeli prisons were released during the hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel during the temporary truce that ended on Wednesday night.

Caution: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

IMAGE: A Palestinian prisoner hugs his mother after being released in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters

IMAGE: Hostages who were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel are handed over by Hamas militants to the International Red Cross in an unknown location in Gaza. Photograph: Hamas Military Wing/Handout via Reuters

IMAGE: Hamas members look on as abducted hostages are handed over to the International Red Cross. Photograph: Hamas Military Wing/Handout via Reuters

IMAGE: Hamas militants celebrate after handing over hostages to the International Red Cross. Photograph: Hamas Military Wing/Handout via Reuters

IMAGE: Hostages are handed over by Hamas militants to the International Red Cross. Photograph: Hamas Military Wing/Handout via Reuters

IMAGE: A helicopter carrying released hostages arrives at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, Israel. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

IMAGE: The first batch of Thai nationals who were released by Hamas arrive home at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport after being held for nearly two months in Gaza. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

IMAGE: The ruins of houses destroyed in Israeli strikes during the conflict in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

IMAGE: Palestinians bake bread near the ruins of houses destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

IMAGE: Israel aircraft leave trails near the ruins of houses destroyed in Khan Younis. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

IMAGE: Haim Peretz, 60, points to rocket damage at his house in Sderot, Israel.after a strike by Hamas, as he estimates the damage and time required for repairs. Photograph: Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

IMAGE: Palestinians shop in an open-air market in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza near the ruins of houses and buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters



Israeli officials work at the scene of Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters IMAGE: SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB.Israeli officials work at the scene of Thursday's violent incident in Jerusalem

IMAGE: SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB

A mourner kisses the body of 21-year old Palestinian Fadi Badran who was killed in clashes with Israeli troops during his funeral near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photograph: Yosri Aljamal/Reuters

IMAGE: An Israeli soldier reloads the machine gun of the tank Merkava, near Gaza, in south Israel. Photograph: Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The government is making all-out efforts to bring back eight former naval personnel from Qatar, who were handed death sentences by a Qatari court, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday.

"There is total support and effort being put in by the government," he said.

The Navy veterans were on October 26 sentenced to death by Qatar's Court of First Instance.

India described the ruling as 'deeply' shocking and vowed to explore all legal options.

An appeal has already been filed against the death sentence and a higher court in Qatar has admitted the plea.

"The ex-naval officers in Qatar are veterans.... And we are interested in ensuring that their welfare is taken care of. I want to reassure you that the Indian government is putting all-out efforts to ensure that they are brought back," Admiral Kumar said this while responding to a question at a media briefing.

The Indian nationals, who worked with private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year reportedly in a case of alleged espionage.

Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public.

In its reaction to the ruling by the Qatari court, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said last month that it is attaching 'high importance' to the case and exploring all legal options.

The charges were filed against the eight Indian Navy veterans on March 25 and they were tried under Qatari law.

All the former officers had 'unblemished stints' of up to 20 years in the Indian Navy and held important positions, including that of instructors in the force, former military officials had said.

In May, Al-Dahra Global closed its operations in Doha and all those working there (primarily Indians) have since returned home.

In the past, the Navy had taken up the case of the former naval personnel with the top brass of the government for securing their release.
Israel's military on Friday said it had resumed combat operations in Gaza minutes after a temporary truce with Hamas expired, blaming the militant group for breaking the cease-fire.

IMAGE: An Israeli artillery unit fires from an undisclosed location near the Gaza Strip border, on November 6, 2023. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

"Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory," the Israeli military said on X, formerly Twitter.

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organisation in the Gaza Strip."

The truce had paused fighting that began on October 7 when Hamas broke through Gaza's militarised border into Israel.

During the truce brokered by Qatar, 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.

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.

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.
A Defence spokesperson said on Friday that the Defence Ministry had neither accorded nor denied landing permission for an aircraft carrying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Naval airport in Kochi.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi inaugurates the new block at Iqraa Hospital in Sultan Bathery, Kerala. Photograph: ANI Photo

The clarification came after the Congress alleged that the Ministry of Defence denied landing permission for Gandhi's chartered flight at the Naval facility early on Friday.

The defence spokesperson told PTI that the request for 'an unscheduled chartered flight along with the flight plan' was received at INS Garuda air station at Kochi at 09.40 am on Friday and at Navy HQ at about 10.15 am for takeoff from Kannur Airport at 10.45 am.

"Due to the delayed request and paucity of time prior to the departure of the flight, the clearance for the same could not be processed," he told PTI.

Earlier in the day, Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas alleged that the Defence Ministry had initially granted permission for the aircraft's landing at the Naval facility but later withdrew it.

Consequently, the aircraft carrying Gandhi from Kannur was directed to the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) in nearby Nedumbassery, he had said.
India and the Maldives on Friday agreed to set up a core group to further deepen their partnership as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 'productive' meeting with newly-elected Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and discussed ways to enhance the bilateral friendship across diverse sectors.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Dubai on December 1, 2023. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi on X

The decision to set up the core group was taken at the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai.

'President @MMuizzu and I had a productive meeting today. We discussed ways to enhance the India-Maldives friendship across diverse sectors. We look forward to working together to deepen cooperation for the benefit of our people,' Modi tweeted after the meeting.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders discussed ways to further bolster India-Maldives relations in sectors pertaining to economic relations, development cooperation and people-to-people ties.

A close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September.

On Friday, Modi personally congratulated Muizzu on his assumption of office as the President of Maldives.

'Both leaders reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relations between the two countries including people-to-people linkages, development cooperation, economic relations, climate change and sports,' the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

'The two leaders also discussed ways to further deepen their partnership. In this regard, they agreed to set up a core group,' the statement said.

The meeting took place days after President Muizzu requested India to withdraw 77 Indian military personnel from the country and decided to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Muizzu's request came when India's Union Minister Kiren Rejiju paid a courtesy call on the new president at the latter's office on November 18.

Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in the Prime Minister's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy'.

Maldives' proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India's West coast), and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean gives it significant strategic importance to India.

Observers say despite his party's pro-China rhetoric, Muizzu, a British-educated civil engineer, may follow a more nuanced foreign policy as the country faces a precarious economy with several debt repayments due, taking a cue from the worst economic crisis faced by Sri Lanka.

India stepped in with $4 billion in assistance to Sri Lanka while China dithered despite massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments in the country including the Hambantota port which Beijing took over for a 99-year lease as debt swap.
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.
It's taking a little longer than usual for the mountains to turn completely white and some research points to why.
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Serbia will develop a new strategy that will contribute to the fight against climate change worldwide, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"I am here today not only as a representative of Serbia, but also as an individual concerned about global warming. Our country is on the front lines of this problem because the temperature in Serbia has already risen by one degree," Vucic explained.

According to him, this year's July, September, and November were the warmest on record.

"We must react immediately to climate change and continue fighting it," Vucic stated.

He stated that a rapid response to this existential threat is required, and Serbia will build a new strategy that will contribute to the battle against climate change not just nationally, but also globally.

The Serbian President stated that it is vital to ask how the globe would deal with the situation if geopolitical concerns stay unsolved.

"How can we expect good outcomes in the fight against climate change if we can't tackle the war problem? We must follow UN regulations that were established after considering the majority of member nations' viewpoints," Vucic said.
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Lithuania wants to become climate neutral by 2050, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

He said the main way Lithuania can contribute to climate change mitigation is by transforming its energy sector.

"Our path and where I see our biggest opportunities is, of course, the transformation of the energy sector. Our energy situation now is that we need to generate more, but we need to do it using renewable energy, and our goal is to become a self-sufficient country by 2030, generating electricity mainly through renewable energy development," he said.

Nauseda said he looked forward to the commitments made at the summit.

"Our gross domestic product has grown by 85 percent since 1990. Air pollution and emissions have been reduced by 58 percent. In other words, for every unit of GDP we produce, we generate significantly fewer emissions," he added.

According to him, Lithuania's overall goal is to achieve a 70 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become climate neutral by 2050.

The Lithuanian President called for stopping ecocide and focusing on mitigating the harmful actions already taken.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Subscription to paid content

Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card.
At first glance, Seoul Press, which identifies itself as a member of the Korea Digital News Association, seems to be just another South Korean online tabloid critical of the United States.

The Covid-19 pandemic is far from over, but the U.S. is still expanding its bio lab operation across the world  Unfortunately, South Korea is one of the targets of the U.S.s overseas bio lab projects, reads an April 2022 article it published.

Its unclear why South Korea, a U.S. ally, has become the target despite paying trillions of dollars for the U.S. military presence. Washington is using its ally as a testing ground, it reads further.

Screenshot of an article published by Seoul Press, taken on Nov. 28

However, appearances can be deceiving.

South Koreas intelligence agency says Seoul Press is one of 38 fake media websites set by Chinese companies that are posing as South Korean domestic outlets. They have been disseminating articles supportive of China and critical of the U.S., according to a report published on Nov. 13 by the National Intelligence Service, or NIS.

South Korea is a democracy with an array of news media that have a range of ideological perspectives, including some that are critical of the United States. But these fake websites with links to China are a new development.

They include Busan Online, Daegu Journal and Chungcheong Times  all employing names of major South Korean cities and regions to mimic the style of standard news websites, said the NIS in the report, reviewed by AFCL.

To disguise themselves as legitimate websites, they also created domains that resembled actual local media outlets, while pretending to be members of the Korea Digital News Association.

The intelligence agency said that it identified three Chinese companies as the culprits behind these counterfeit websites, namely Haimai, Haixun and World Newswire.

Haimai case

In particular, Haimai, a Chinese public relations firm, used the platform called Timesnewswire.com to distribute a press release and 18 self-created websites posing as South Korean media outlets to disseminate unverified political and social content, according to the NIS.

Haimai claims to offer media relations services to several foreign countries. In South Korea, it asserts the ability to distribute press releases through the nations top portal website, Naver, via media entities, which in reality do not exist.

Although the Chinese company claims that it only distributes corporate press releases or government agency promotional materials and does not accept illegal and ambiguous content, the NIS found the 18 fake websites shared articles from other legitimate news outlets without permission.

Screenshot of part of the NIS report that details the Haimais operation.





Specifically, the intelligence agency found that these websites frequently published content favorable to China and critical of the U.S. and Japan, particularly during politically and socially sensitive times.

For instance, three weeks before the Summit for Democracy earlier this year, one of these fake websites claimed that South Koreas participation in the summit would be more detrimental than beneficial. In June, they published an article warning about Japans wastewater release potentially devastating South Koreas food supply chain.

Beijings online influence operations

The NIS believes the influence of these websites to be minimal mainly due to the nature of how South Koreas portal websites work, but at the same time warns of Beijings online influence operation in South Korea.

While there have been cases of Chinese companies setting up fake media outlets in Western countries such as the U.S. to spread pro-China narratives, this is the first time that such activities have been confirmed in South Korea, said the agency.

In September, the U.S. State Departments Global Engagement Center, responsible for countering foreign propaganda and disinformation, published a report, warning that Chinas information strategy might eventually influence global decision-making processes and adversely affect U.S. interests.

The document detailed the methods employed by Beijing to shape public perception, including purchasing content, fabricating fictitious identities to disseminate its viewpoints, and employing suppression tactics to silence dissenting narratives.

Separately, in 2019, the former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief Duncan Lewis also warned that the Chinese government was seeking to take over Australias political system through its insidious foreign interference operations.

At that time, Lewis said Chinese authorities were working to win influence in social, business, political and media circles in Australia, urging the countrys Chinese community to help security agencies in the same way local Muslim communities identified threats of terrorist activity.

Back in South Korea, the NIS said it plans to block access to these websites after discussing with relevant authorities.

We emphasize the need for Seoul to be thoroughly prepared to counteract such operations, anticipating an increase in similar incidents, the spy agency urged.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) is a branch of RFA established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. Our journalists publish both daily and special reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of public issues.
The eldest son of former Prime Minister Hun Sen marked his first 100 days as Cambodias new leader.

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet inspects his government civil servants during the countrys 70th Independence Day, in Phnom Penh, Nov. 9, 2023.

Just a little more than three months ago, Cambodias newly sworn-in National Assembly formalized what had been planned for many years.

Lawmakers voted to make 45-year-old Hun Manet the countrys new prime minister on Aug. 22. King Norodom Sihamoni swore him in at the Royal Palace shortly afterward.

How much the eldest son of a man who for decades ruled Cambodia  sometimes ruthlessly  would wield power on his own has been much discussed.

On Thursday, Hun Manet marked his first 100 days with a warning message that sounded a lot like his father, Hun Sen, who first became prime minister in 1985.

I wont let people accuse the new government of being incapable of maintaining peace for the people, especially because that peace was difficult to attain with great devotion by our nation, he said at a groundbreaking ceremony for a dam in Koh Kong province.

Its better for critics to say hes an authoritarian leader than for people to think hes incapable of leading the country, he said.

Such a perception of weakness could plunge Cambodia back into civil war, he said  a reminder of his fathers efforts in the 1990s to bring the remaining Khmer Rouge holdouts under government control.

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet speaks during the inauguration ceremony for the official launch of the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport in Siem Reap province on Nov. 16, 2023. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP)





Hun Sen, 71, resigned as prime minister in August but retains influence as president of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party. He also recently became president of the Senate.

At a Nov. 23 news conference, government spokesman Pen Bona noted that peace and order have been maintained following the August power transfer.

David Hutt, a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies in Prague and a commentary writer for RFA, said this week that political instability doesnt appear to be a factor under Hun Manet.

He has shown that his administration wont be worse than his fathers, which isnt saying much, he said. His power appears secure and theres no sign of internal displeasure about his succession.

People are over-indebted

For years, opposition leaders have criticized the CPP for not addressing government corruption and income inequality.

The pressing issues are that our people are over-indebted and their properties are subject to being seized as they are unable to generate enough income to repay their debts and interest, said Son Chhay, the deputy president of the opposition Candlelight Party.

Hundreds of thousands of our migrant workers go to work in neighboring countries without proper documentation, he said. This is an issue that has caused such difficulties for our citizens. Yet he has failed to do anything about it.

Cambodian migrant construction workers leave a building site in downtown Bangkok on Dec. 12, 2016. Hundreds of thousands of our migrant workers go to work in neighboring countries without proper documentation, says Son Chhay, the deputy president of the opposition Candlelight Party. (Dake Kang/AP)





Shortly after taking office, Hun Manet unveiled a 22-page strategy memo outlining the governments plans for increasing employment, reducing poverty and promoting good governance.

The goal is to make Cambodia an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income one by 2050, he said.

In September, he addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York, insisting that Julys general election was free and fair and credible and just, even though the Candlelight Party wasnt allowed to compete.

He also appeared to address U.S. claims and satellite imagery that may show that China is building a military base in the port of Sihanoukville.

In October, he traveled to Beijing to attend Chinas Belt and Road Initiative conference  his second trip to the Chinese capital in 2023. Earlier this year, he and Hun Sen met with President Xi Jinping during an official visit.

And in November, he presided over the annual Government-Private Sector Forum in Phnom Penh, where he announced initiatives aimed at encouraging more foreign investment in property. He also urged microfinance companies to make it easier for homeowners to refinance delinquent mortgages.

Backseat driver

But last week, a man who criticized the ruling CPP on Facebook over its inability to prevent illegal immigration from Vietnam and drug use was sentenced to three years in prison  evidence that the governments longtime practice of going after critics will continue.

No one should be expecting any political reform or opening up democratically, Hutt said. What will be interesting to watch is how much of a hostage he will be to the private sector, especially the powerful tycoons.

Pen Bona told reporters that three months isnt a long period to judge a new prime minister.

He pointed toward plans to achieve universal healthcare for all Cambodians, to provide free technical training to 1.5 million Cambodians from poor backgrounds and to put in place a national authority for settling civil disputes outside of the backlogged court system.

Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy speaks during a press freedom event in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 19, 2023. Rainsy says There is no evidence that Hun Manet is capable of governing without his father as a backseat driver. (Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Reuters)





But exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy wrote in The Diplomat on Wednesday that its useless to look for signs of positive change under a new regime when a transfer of power has not in fact taken place.

There is no evidence that Hun Manet is capable of governing without his father as a backseat driver, he said.

On Facebook, he wrote that Hun Manets first 100 days shouldnt be marked as a celebration, but rather as a mourning.

There are more political prisoners, more threats, and more authoritarian rules, he wrote.

At the Koh Kong groundbreaking, Hun Manet seemed to publicly respond to those comments.

Whatever such mourning is, you hold it alone, he said. Millions of our people have just enjoyed celebrating the Water Festival. Are they mourning or celebrating?

Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
South China Morning Post reporter Minnie Chan has not been heard from for about a month. "She hasn't liked anything or read anything [I have sent] since the beginning of November. I'm starting to think that this is weird," says defense expert Andrey Pinkov.

Senior South China Morning Post reporter Minnie Chan has been incommunicado since traveling to Beijing to cover a regional security forum in October, prompting growing concern that she has been detained.

Kyodo News reported on Nov. 30 that Chan, a senior defense and foreign affairs reporter, had been unreachable for a month.

Chan is the first Hong Kong journalist to go missing while working in China since former Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong was handed a five-year jail term for "espionage" in 2005 after gathering material on late ousted Premier Zhao Ziyang.

The South China Morning Post, owned by Chinese tech giant Alibaba, responded to a query on Friday with a brief statement that Chan is "on vacation," that she is currently safe, but has asked the company to "respect her privacy."

"The safety of our journalists is of paramount importance, and we will continue to maintain contact and communication with Minnie Chan's family and provide them with all the support they need," the paper said.

Repeated calls to Chan's family members and to the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Tammy Tam, rang unanswered during office hours on Friday.

Press freedom in Hong Kong has taken a nosedive amid an ongoing crackdown on criticism of the authorities under a national security law and colonial-era sedition laws, with more outlets now offering mainland Chinese content and state-backed propaganda to viewers and listeners.

A source familiar with the situation told RFA Cantonese that "other parties" are working with the authorities, in a bid to minimize public reaction to Chan's disappearance.

The Hong Kong Journalists' Association said in a statement on its website that it was "deeply concerned for [Chan]s safety," adding that it has requested more information from the South China Morning Post.

"There is so much I want to know, but there is still no news, nothing specific," says Ronson Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, shown speaking with the media outside the High Court in Hong Kong on July 28, 2023. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP)





Hong Kong Journalists' Association Chairman Ronson Chan said he had received no further news of Chan when contacted on Friday by RFA Cantonese.

"There is so much I want to know, but there is still no news, nothing specific," he said. "We are very concerned about her situation, and hope everyone can lend a hand, so she can come back home and be reunited with her family as soon as possible."

Ranked near the bottom

He said both Ching Cheong's sentencing and Chan's disappearance highlight the dangers of reporting in China, which ranked 177th out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders' global press freedom index last year, with more than 100 journalists currently behind bars.

Chan was last heard of publicly as she reported on the Xiangshan Forum, which ran in Beijing from Oct. 29-31.

Her last Facebook post was on Nov. 11, where she posted a number of selfies, leading defense expert Andrey Pinkov to ask her where she was.

Pinkov commented in a later Facebook post: "She is a very polite person. I often pass on Facebook content to her and other friends that I think is important and she always replies with a like."

"She hasn't liked anything or read anything [I have sent] since the beginning of November," he said. "I'm starting to think that this is weird."

"I read her coverage all the time, her coverage is not political at all, and the South China Morning Post is a Chinese[-owned] newspaper," Pinkov wrote, adding that Chan frequently interviews military figures about Chinese military developments.

Foreign journalists working in China continue to face government interference when trying to do their jobs, amid "battered morale" linked to repeated journalist expulsions and visa woes, according to a March 2023 report from the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China, while Chinese nationals working for foreign media organizations are also frequently harassed and detained.

Watching eyes

Ching Cheong declined to speculate on the specifics of Chan's situation.

But he said there has been a growing emphasis on "national security" under President Xi Jinping.

"Under such circumstances, journalists can easily be investigated by the Ministry of National Security if they are not careful," he said. "There are people who are specially tasked with keeping an eye on every overseas reporter."

"After you arrive in China, every move you make will be under surveillance," Ching said. "Reporters in China walk on thin ice  it's very dangerous."

Military delegates attend the Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, Oct. 30, 2023. Journalist Minnie Chan was last heard of publicly as she reported on the Xiangshan Forum, which ran from Oct. 29-31. (Florence Lo/Pool/Reuters)





Ching said the Hong Kong authorities  who are now themselves engaged in hunting down every form of dissent  are unlikely to be of much help to Chan, if she has run afoul of the authorities.

"The government no longer dares to step up, and civil society has been defeated  if the same thing happened to me now, I wouldn't get anything like the kind of support I had from Hong Kong back then," he said.

Independent political scholar Chen Daoyin agreed, adding that any topic regarded as sensitive by the government can be treated as a "national security" matter.

"Even scooping the government by releasing information ahead of them will seem like a challenge to their authority and make them feel insecure," Chen said.

"When the government starts looking for absolute security, then no industry is safe," he said.

Hong Kong current affairs commentator To Yiu-ming said recent amendments to China's Counterespionage Law could mean that more activities are likely to be seen as "espionage" by the Chinese authorities  including journalism.

"It might not be this journalist [who is accused of] spying  they may be going after whoever provided her with information," To said. "It could be an official, maybe someone from a think tank."

But, "generally speaking, even normal reporting activities are often regarded as extraction of official secrets, and could fall under the investigative scope of the Counterespionage Law," he said.

Asked for information on Chan, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Friday: "Im not aware of that."







Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
The move comes after Pyongyang last week successfully launched its first reconnaissance satellite.

A rocket carrying a spy satellite Malligyong-1 is launched, as the North Korean government claims, in a location given as North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on November 21, 2023.

The United States has announced that it imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea following its launch of a spy satellite last week and on designated foreign-based agents it accused of assisting Pyongyang in evading sanctions in order to acquire technology and revenue for its weapons of mass destruction program.

The U.S. also applied sanctions to cyber espionage group Kimsuky, accusing it of collecting intelligence to bolster North Koreas strategic and nuclear ambitions, according to a statement by the U.S. Treasury Department on Nov. 30.

Washingtons move, which was coordinated with Australia, Japan, and South Korea, follows North Koreas successful launch of its first reconnaissance satellite last week. Pyongyang has stated that the purpose of the satellite was to monitor the military activities of the U.S. and South Korea.

The launch drew international condemnation as it violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that prohibit such launches by the North. The rocket technology can also be used for ballistic missiles, which potentially could be used to deliver nuclear weapons.

After the launch, the North claimed that its spy satellite captured images of significant U.S. locations, including the White House, without releasing images, while its ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song defended the countrys launch of the satellite.

Todays 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, referring to South Korea by its official name.

We will remain focused on targeting these key nodes in the DPRKs illicit revenue generation and weapons proliferation, Nelson added, calling North Korea by the initials of its official name.

South Koreas foreign ministry announced on Friday that 11 North Koreans were sanctioned and prohibited from engaging in financial transactions due to their involvement in the countrys satellite and ballistic missile development.

Separately, Japans foreign ministry also said on the same day that it sanctioned four organizations, including the hacking group Kimsuky, and five individuals for their involvement in North Koreas nuclear and weapons of mass destruction programs or activities prohibited by U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Kimsuky, under North Koreas Reconnaissance General Bureau or RGB, has been active since 2012, according to the Treasury.

Although Kimsuky is primarily an intelligence collection entity, its cyber espionage campaigns directly support the DPRKs strategic and nuclear ambitions, said the Treasury in the statement.

Kimsuky primarily uses spear-phishing to target individuals employed by government, research centers, think tanks, academic institutions, and news media organizations, including entities in Europe, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States, it added.

In this scheme, the attacker poses as a reporter or a think tank analyst to collect intelligence, including by asking experts and academics to answer questions on topics related to North Korea, Radio Free Asia reported in March. Often the attackers pretend to be people who are well-known in their field to develop rapport with others in the field before asking them to provide strategic analysis on specific subjects.

Kimsuky employs social engineering to collect intelligence on geopolitical events, foreign policy strategies, and diplomatic efforts affecting its interests by gaining illicit access to the private documents, research, and communications of their targets, the Treasury said.

Apart from the hacking group, the Treasury also imposed sanctions on Iran and China-based representatives of U.S. and U.N.-designated Green Pine, a trading company controlled by the RGB for overseas sales of North Korean weapons, two Russia-based representatives of North Korean banks and one China-based official for assisting the Norths overseas transactions.

Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan.
The soldiers were sent north to build houses in the fall, but will have to stay through winter without warm clothes.

North Korean soldiers who were sent to rugged rural areas to build homes in the summer and fall are staying on to do more work in the winter, but the army is not equipping them with adequate clothing to brave the harsh winter elements, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia.

The North Korean military maintains units of construction workers that it calls stormtroopers, and it uses them for free labor on state projects. When they arrived to start work in the far northern province of Ryanggang, near the border with China, it was still summer, and they were dressed for the heat.

But now that temperatures are plunging well below freezing, the stormtroopers are scrambling to find any warm clothing they can, they have earned the nickname Kotjebi unit, residents said, a reference to the homeless children who beg on the streets of many North Korean cities.

The military in the area is giving the soldiers whatever they have to spare, a resident of the province told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

On Oct. 20, the clothes that border guards had worn and discarded last winter were distributed to the stormtroopers, he said. They say it is discarded underwear and cotton clothing, but in reality, its nothing more than rags.

The stormtroopers were brought together and ordered to go to Ryanggang in July this year, the resident said.

Initially, the stormtroopers were scheduled to build houses in the rural areas of Ryanggang Province by the fall of this year and withdraw around mid-October, he said. They did not even dream of preparing for winter.

The stormtroopers completed their assignment in September, and there was a large move-in event as rural residents entered their new homes on Oct. 5, the resident said.

However, after the construction job [was completed], the withdrawal date was postponed to the end of this year as new rural road maintenance projects, communal livestock projects and reforestation projects were proposed, he said.

Though they arrived in summer clothes, the military has only so far provided them with work shoes and used winter cotton clothes used by local soldiers, the resident said.

With that level of supply, it will be difficult to survive until the end of December when their withdrawal is scheduled, he said.

Struggle for survival

Temperatures in Ryanggang have fallen to around minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit), another resident of the province told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

The stormtroopers who were mobilized to build rural homes are not working according to a set plan but are engaged in a fierce struggle for survival in the cold, the second resident said.

He said that in addition to the lack of winter clothing, the stormtroopers are also not receiving adequate food.

The meal that these stormtroopers eat is a mixture of 60% potatoes and 40% corn kernels, he said. The soup is salt water with salted cabbage loosely floating in it, and the side dishes are salted cabbage and salted radish.

The soldiers are being housed not in barracks, but in empty offices and daycare centers, the second resident said.

The stormtroopers, who must work hard without much rest, are unable to even bathe or do laundry due to the constant shortage of firewood, he said. Rural residents say that the living conditions of the stormtroopers are worse than those of prisoners in disciplinary labor camps.

Survivors of the camps have described horrific conditions while incarcerated in such camps.

Though the situation of the stormtroopers is likely nowhere near as bad, that the comparison is being made suggests a deployment many of the soldiers will want to end sooner rather than later.

The stormtroopers are looking forward to the day when they will finish the rural housing construction project in mid-December and return home, the second resident said.

They will return home and rest from the end of December to mid-January of the following year, and then they will return to the rural areas of Ryanggang Province from January 20th to take on next years construction tasks.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong.
The clashes follow the end of a ceasefire between ethnic rebels and the junta in mid-November.

Displaced persons flee the fighting between the Arakan Army and Myanmar junta forces in Pauktaw township, Nov. 17, 2023.

An intensification of fighting between ethnic Arakan Army fighters and junta troops in western Myanmars Rakhine state has caused tens of thousands of villagers to flee four major townships in anticipation of additional clashes, residents said Friday.

The fighting follows a Nov. 13 attack by the Arakan Army, or AA, on two junta police outposts which broke a ceasefire between the two sides that had been in place since November 2022.

Military forces are now shelling towns in the state with heavy artillery before taking up positions and arresting inhabitants, said sources in the region who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke to RFA Burmese on condition of anonymity citing security concerns.

Ahead of the arrival of junta troops, residents of Pauktaw, Sittwe, Ponnagyun and Minbya  townships with a combined population of around 150,000  are fleeing in droves, they said.

More than 99% of people have fled their homes, leaving less than 1% in town, said a resident of Minbya. Many houses are now empty as they fear that the junta will attack the town.

On Nov. 24, a military vessel on the Kaladan River fired artillery on Ponnagyun, setting the townships main market ablaze, one resident told RFA. Since then, nearly everyone has packed up and left, he added.

We dont feel safe in town  we were attacked with heavy weapons and the market was set on fire, the resident said. People are concerned about their safety. Only one-tenth of the population remains in the town. Most have fled to safer areas.

Fighting in Pauktaw township has intensified since Nov. 16, when the Arakan Army, or AA, seized control of a junta police station, residents said. Houses have been destroyed in fires started by military shelling and junta troops are taking up positions on the top floors of the townships tallest buildings, they said.

And while the capital Sittwe has yet to become the site of clashes between the junta and the AA, the military recently fired artillery on the town and arrested civilians on suspicion of ties to the ethnic army, one resident said.

The military shelled the town and arrested people, so they became afraid and fled to other areas, he said.

Those who remain are unable to leave their homes during a strict nightly curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and are living in fear of the junta troops, he added.

Military blames AA

Calls by RFA to junta Deputy Information Minister Major-General Zaw Min Tun for comment on the civilian exodus went unanswered Friday. However, on Nov. 27 the junta spokesman told state media that the AA forced residents of Pauktaw and Ponnagyun townships to flee their homes.

RFA inquired to AA spokesman Khaing Thu Kha about the juntas claims, but received no response as of the time of publishing.

Smoke rises over Pauktaw township, Nov. 23, 2023, seen from Sittwe (Citizen journalist)

But Pe Than, a veteran ethnic Rakhine politician and former lawmaker, confirmed to RFA that residents had fled from the military.

The junta troops have brutally attacked civilians in towns and villages, using artillery attacks to destroy their livelihoods, he said. Such attacks took place in Pauktaw to preempt AA control, so people had no option but to flee their homes and take shelter in remote areas.

According to population data released by the Ministry of Union Government Office in 2019, Pauktaw township is home to nearly 20,000, Ponnagyun township to more than 10,000, Minbya to more than 20,000, and Sittwe to more than 100,000.

Sources said that while nearly the entire populations of Pauktaw, Ponnagyun and Minbya have fled, only some in Sittwe have left their homes. RFA could not independently verify the number of people displaced from the four townships.

Since the end of the year-long ceasefire in Rakhine state, at least 17 civilians have been killed and some 70 injured, according to RFA reporting.

Widening displacement

Reports of residents fleeing their homes in Rakhine state came as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or UNOCHA, said that some 500,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Myanmar since the end of October, amid an intensification of clashes between junta troops and the armed resistance in recent months.

On Oct. 27, the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the AA, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, and the Taang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, launched an offensive against the military in northern Shan state dubbed Operation 1027.

The rebels say they have made notable gains against the military in several key cities in Shan and claim to have captured more than 170 military outposts since the start of the campaign.

But the intensification of fighting has caught civilians in the crossfire, contributing to the huge increase in displaced communities nationwide. The 500,000 newly displaced across the country since the end of October adds to the 2 million displaced by fighting before the current escalation began, according to the UNOCHA  some three-quarters of whom have fled their homes since the military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat.

Displaced persons returning to Laukkai, Myanmar, are seen near the entrance to Lashio on Nov. 30, 2023 (RFA)

In its flash update on Friday, the U.N. said that an estimated 50,000 people have been displaced in northern Shans Laukkaing township, along the border with China, since the start of Operation 1027, and have only been able to receive minimal assistance from aid groups.

Meanwhile, key transport routes in townships experiencing active fighting throughout the country have been blocked by both the military and the armed resistance, restricting peoples movements to safer locations and hampering humanitarian access, it said.

The UNOCHA called for an urgent injection of funding to enable aid groups to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Nearly 50 residents from Sagaing region were detained after a junta officer was killed in a local clash.

The remains of homes burned by junta troops in Min Ga Lar Kone village, Monywa township, Sagaing region on Nov. 30, 2023.

Junta troops arrested nearly 50 villagers in central Myanmar, locals told Radio Free Asia on Friday. After a junta officer was killed in a clash Wednesday, officials from the battalion entered the village in Sagaing region.

Min Ga Lar Kone village in Monywa township is located near the site of the battle and close to where junta troops store artillery, locals said.

A troop of about 50 soldiers entered Min Ga Lar Kone firing weapons and arrested the villagers around 5 pm, said a resident, who did not want to be named for security reasons.

"There were shootings nearby and people from the village were arrested. They were of all ages, from about 15 years old to the elderly, he said. It is quite a large number but it is not clear who they are. A mentally ill man from the village was also arrested.

Currently, officials are detaining and investigating them at a police station in Monywa township for association with local People's Defense Forces, locals said.

Roughly 30 of the arrested villagers are civilians from Min Ga Lar Kone, according to a Telegram channel owned by the Monywa People's Administration Team, a local civilian administration under the National Unity Government.

Troops raided and burned down two houses in the village, according to the administration team, which added it is still trying to identify those arrested.

RFA called Sagaing regions junta spokesperson Sai Naing Naing Kyaw seeking comment on the raids, but he did not reply by the time of publication.

More than 25,000 people, including pro-democracy activists, have been arrested since the 2021 coup, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
Chinese judicial authorities sentenced him to 20 years in prison in 2018.

UPDATED at 6:15 P.M. ET on 12-01-2023

Askar Azatbek didnt realize that his friendship with a Kazakh consular officer would one day land him in prison.

The ethnic Kazakh who lived in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region had retired from his job at the Ili Prefecture Immigration Bureau and moved in 2016 to neighboring Kazakhstan, where he obtained Kazakh citizenship.

But on Dec. 7, 2017, when he visited the Khorgos International Center for Boundary Cooperation, a special international trade zone on the Kazakhstan-China border, he was arrested by Chinese police and taken into custody.

What he got was a 20-year sentence for divulging state secrets.

Azatbeks alleged crime involved guiding the consular officer around several dam construction sites near the Ili River in Xinjiang, some of which were in places in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture that attracted tourists, said his older sister, Gauhar Kurmanalieva, who lives in Kazakhstan.

Hes been in jail for about six years now, she said.

While many Muslims  Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Turkic groups in Xinjiang faced arrest and detention on charges of national separatism and religious extremism in 2017  the year that Chinese authorities began holding them en masse against their will in re-education camps or prisons  others, like Azatbek, were held on unusual and unforeseen offenses.

Azatbek, 47, had headed to Kazakhstan on his own at first, but planned to eventually relocate his wife and children who lived in Ghulja, a major city in Xinjiang called Yining in Chinese, Kurmanalieva told Radio Free Asia.

After his arrest, Kurmanalieva made inquiries into her missing brothers whereabouts for a year and discovered he had been accused of engaging in espionage for Kazakhstan. She also learned about her brothers verdict handed down by the Ili Prefectural Court.

Visits to dams and reservoirs

According to the verdict, when Azatbek worked in Ili Prefecture, he struck up a friendship with Daniyar Serikbayev, who worked at Kazakhstans consulate in Urumqi. But he was unaware that Serikbayev also worked for the countrys National Security Commission, the government intelligence agency.

Through Serikbayev, Azatbek secured visas for himself and others. Serikbayev also accompanied Azatbek on his visits to various water reservoirs and dam projects around the Ili River. He photographed the construction and key locations during the visit, while Azatbek provided details about the projects.

The court ruling, supported by the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions Department of Water Affairs and the regional and ministerial offices of Chinas state security agency, classified the photos and project information as state secrets.

The verdict said Azatbek knowingly committed the crime of divulging state secrets, recognizing Serikbayevs affiliation with Kazakhstans National Security Commission and the confidential nature of the water project information.

Bextiyar Omar, who manages the Uyghur Transitional Justice Database from Norway said Chinese authorities crossed the border to arrest Azatbek, but during their interrogation, they did not find evidence of criminal activity, and in response to the political climate at the time, fabricated the charge against him.

He also noted that the water projects are public facilities, and said the case is another illustration of the mass arrests of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in 2017.

The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Beijing recently informed Kurmanalieva that Azatbek was serving his sentence in a prison in Gansu province.

Embassy officials first visited him this Jan. 18 and again six months later to ensure that he was in good health, she said.

My brother sent a letter to Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking to be transferred to a Kazakh prison, Kurmanalieva said, adding that Azatbek did this during the diplomats second visit.

Because Azatbek is a Kazakhstan citizen held in a foreign prison, the embassy officials said they wanted to transfer him to Kazakhstan.

When contacted by RFA, the Ili Prefecture Immigration Bureau refused to comment on Azatbeks situation, saying that he had retired years ago.

No one attended his court hearing, said one employee. We dont know anything. If you want to inquire about this, ask the related government organizations.

Mass detentions

During the peak of the mass detentions, authorities in Xinjiang transferred many Muslim prisoners to heavy-security facilities in Gansu and other provinces, RFA reported in 2019. That same year, RFA also reported that as many as 1,200 Uyghurs were detained in a jail in Gansu after being secretly transferred under the cover of night from political re-education camps in Xinjiang.

An employee of the prison administration department in Gansu province told RFA that inmates transferred from Xinjiang are not typical criminals and that they are incarcerated in every detention facility in the province.

These transferred prisoners are not allowed to be in touch with anyone, the employee said. No one is allowed to get close to them.

The Kazakhstan government maintains that Azatbek is innocent, and Astana is still trying to have him released.

Work is going on between Kazakhstans and Chinas related offices and ministries about my brothers case, Kurmanalieva said. But it scares me they are going to stretch this whole discussion for another five years.

Kazakhstans embassy in Beijing did not respond to RFAs emailed requests for comment.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Corrects headline to say that the detainee is a Kazakh.
China's President Xi Jinping (seated) speaks to Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the APEC-ASEAN dialogue, on the sidelines of the APEC summit, in Danang, Vietnam, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Vietnam Friday, paving the way for a possible visit by President Xi Jinping this month.

Wang is co-chairing the 15th session of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee VNExpress reported, with Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang.

Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Chinese foreign minister will have talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son and greet Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong.

During the annual steering committee meeting the two sides will commit to improving economic, trade and investment cooperation, according to the Voice of Vietnam. They will also focus on transport infrastructure and customs clearance to improve supply chains, the state-approved website said.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shaking hands with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang in Hanoi on Dec. 1, 2023. (Vietnam News Agency / AFP)

Xi  who is also the Chinese Communist Party General Secretary  was originally expected to visit Hanoi in October or November for talks with his counterpart Trong, who was in Beijing last year. Instead, Xi traveled to San Francisco for Novembers APEC summit and a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. His Vietnam visit is now expected to take place from Dec. 14-16.

Since Trongs 2022 China trip Vietnam has elevated its relations with the U.S. to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting it on a par with China, along with India, Russia and South Korea. This week Vietnam also conferred its top partnership ranking on Japan during a visit to Tokyo by its president Vo Van Thuong.

Courting Vietnam

Improved relations with Vietnam are likely to help the U.S. and Japan diversify supply chains and reduce their reliance on a politically and economically turbulent China. That in turn seems to have prompted Beijing to seek even stronger ties with Hanoi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong raise a toast after witnessing a signing ceremony of a dozen bilateral agreements following their official talks at the VCP's Headquarters in Hanoi on November 5, 2015. (Reuters)

Carl Thayer, a Vietnam analyst and emeritus professor at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra, said when Xi visits Hanoi he will likely want to discuss the same issues with Trong that U.S. President Joe Biden raised with the Vietnamese leader during their September meeting:

[I]mproving the efficiency and stability of bilateral supply chains, creating better conditions for Chinese businesses to invest and operate in Vietnam, enhancing cooperation in e-commerce and the digital economy, increased science and technology joint research, education and training exchanges,  green development and climate change response, public health cooperation, protection of water resources along the Lancang-Mekong River, cross-border tourism and cultural exchanges, and coordination on international issues.

China is Vietnams largest trading partner with bilateral trade rising 5.5% last year to US$175.5 billion, according to Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Chinas Commerce Minister Wang Wentao also visited Vietnam this week pledging to deepen trading ties and open the Chinese market to more agricultural imports.

Trouble at sea

Although their trade relationship is improving, Vietnam and China have clashed frequently over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Hoang Viet, an expert on the issue, told Radio Free Asia that Beijing is likely to tone down its rhetoric, in order to avoid souring top level relations.

In anticipation of Xi Jinpings visit to Vietnam, China may exercise maximum restraint to create a more moderate atmosphere, he said.

Despite their differences in the South China Sea, China and Vietnam have been holding joint patrols between their navies and coast guards in the Gulf of Tonkin in November and December.

Beijing and Hanoi said the patrols aimed to carry forward the traditional friendship and deepen mutual trust between the two countries, as well as further promote mutual understanding between the two militaries.

Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang.

RFA Vietnamese contributed to this story.
Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

A new survey has found that around 90 percent of the more than 400,000 Afghans who have been forced from neighboring Pakistan in recent months are homeless.

The British charity Islamic Relief, which operates in Afghanistan, said in a report released on November 29 that one-third of the returnees face severe food shortages, while more than 60 percent are sick.

Islamabad has been deporting thousands of Afghans each day since the expiry of its November 1 deadline for some 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants to voluntarily leave the South Asian country.

Islamic Reliefs report, based on interviews with 315 returnees, also found that 92 percent lacked access to safe drinking water, while 71 percent had no access to sanitation.

Some 98 percent of returnees were worried about the safety of their family members, while 90 percent were concerned about their childrens access to education.

Many of these people are returning to Afghanistan with nothing, just as a freezing winter approaches, said Manzoor Ahmed, Islamic Reliefs acting country director in Afghanistan. They dont have a place to stay, they dont have food or health care, they are sick and impoverished.

Why It's Important: Afghans are returning to a country grappling with the worlds largest humanitarian crisis.

The hundreds of thousands of new returnees are adding to the more than 29 million Afghans -- out of a total population of around 40 million -- who need humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.

The cash-strapped Taliban government, which remains unrecognized and sanctioned by the international community, appears unable to absorb the returning refugees or address the humanitarian needs of Afghans.

Aid agencies operating in Afghanistan have called for more international funding to address the needs of the returnees, who lack shelter, warm clothes, and food.

They are forced to return to Afghanistan at the worst possible time, said Hsiao-Wei Lee, the country director for the World Food Program, on November 26. We need to help them not only get through this winter but also help them rebuild their lives here.

What's Next: Many of the new Afghan returnees face a grim future.

The Taliban has established temporary camps for the returnees near the border with Pakistan, and promised to assist them. But many returnees complain of a lack of tents, food, water, and sanitation.

"Everyone I know doesn't have housing and is facing many other problems, Abdullah, who recently returned to the southern Afghan province of Zabul from Pakistan, told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi. "It is impossible to live in tents because of the winter.

What To Keep An Eye On

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai is under fire for suggesting that the international community should not seek to forcibly remove the Taliban from power.

"We don't want a collapse of the regime or split of the regime. We have had enough of that in Afghanistan, the 65-year-old told Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, in an interview published on November 28.

Karzai, who lives in Kabul, suggested that dialogue with the extremist group could bring about changes to its controversial policies, including its severe restrictions on womens rights.

But some rights activists criticized Karzais call for engagement with a group that has shown few signs of reversing its draconian policies.

"Since the Taliban returned to power, being a woman has become a crime, Azita Nazimi, a womens rights activist, told Radio Azadi. "All of what we have is the result of Karzai's past support for the Taliban.

When in power from 2001 to 2014, Karzai called for a negotiated end to the war between the Western-backed Afghan government and the Taliban.

Why It's Important: Reconciliation among Afghans has long been touted as the best solution to end the more than four decades of war in Afghanistan.

But the Taliban has refused to share power with other Afghans and used force to impose its fundamentalist version of Islam on the population.

During intra-Afghan negotiations prior to the Talibans forcible takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the extremist group rejected a power-sharing agreement with rival Afghans.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Abubakar Siddique

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
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
A court in the Russian city of Kazan has extended by two months the detention of Alsu Kurmasheva, a veteran journalist from RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service who has been in Russian custody since October 18, until February 5.

Kurmasheva, a Prague-based journalist with RFE/RL who holds dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, traveled to Russia for a family emergency in May.



She was temporarily detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at the airport in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, where both of her passports were confiscated. She was not able to leave Russia as she awaited the return of her travel documents.



Authorities on October 11 fined Kurmasheva 10,000 rubles ($103) for failing to register her U.S. passport with Russian authorities, according to local media reports based on court documents they've seen.



Kurmasheva was detained again on October 18 and this time charged with failing to register as a "foreign agent," which 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.

Alsu has spent 45 days behind bars in Russia and, today, her unjust, politically motivated detention has been extended, said RFE/RL acting President Jeffrey Gedmin. We call on Russian authorities to immediately grant Alsu consular access, which is her right as a U.S. citizen. Alsu must be released and reunited with her family."

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 held by Moscow this year, triggered a wave of criticism from rights groups and politicians who said the move signals a new level of wartime censorship.



The court decision to extend Kurmasheva's detention comes a day after leading Russian human rights group Memorial recognized Kurmasheva as a political prisoner.



Moscow has been accused of detaining Americans to use as bargaining chips to exchange for Russians jailed in the United States. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for allegedly spying -- a charge he and the newspaper vehemently deny -- in March.

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.
LGBT activists have condemned a November 30 ruling by Russia's Supreme Court banning the activities of the "international LGBT movement" in the country. There was no defendant in court, as no such organization exists. Critics see the move as the latest move to target the LGBT community in Russia and cater to President Vladimir Putin's conservative base. LGBT activists say hate crime was already on the rise in Russia before the latest ruling.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will develop cooperation in various fields, Bauyrzhan Kudaibergenov, Vice Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, told Trend.

"On September 22-23, 2023, the I Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was held, initiated by the heads of state to create a new format of interaction between the two countries," he said.

According to him, this event was organized by the Kazakh side, which took place in Taraz, Zhambyl region.

"During the bilateral meetings, current topics of economic and social development, agro-industrial cooperation, and water and energy cooperation were discussed. Following the forum, documents were signed providing for the supply of poultry meat, medical and confectionery products, complex micro-fertilizers, the provision of trade and intermediary services, as well as the implementation of initiatives in light industry and banking," he said.

As the vice minister noted, indeed, interaction in these areas will further strengthen cooperation and increase mutual trade and investment.

Meanwhile, the volume of trade between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for 7 months of the current year increased by 13 percent and amounted to $757 million.

Mutual trade turnover between the countries is steadily growing. In 2022, trade volume increased by almost 19 percent and reached $1.3 billion.
When the doorbell to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Moscow apartment rang on February 12, 1974, his wife, Natalia, cracked open the door to see who was outside. Realizing it was the KGB, she immediately attempted to shut the door but found it wouldn't budge. An agent had already slid his shoe inside the doorframe. Eight men then piled inside the apartment, some surrounding Solzhenitsyn to ensure he could not dart off to slash his wrists. In the melee that followed, the great author made the sign of the cross over his wife before being led away, calling for her to "look after the children." Fifty years later, one of those children, Ignat Solzhenitsyn, the middle of Aleksandr's three sons, recognizes that very door in the background of a photograph made shortly before the 1974 arrest. "It was a very tense time," Ignat told RFE/RL by telephone, looking over the image of himself with his brother Yermolai and their late father in a moment of calm before the storm that would engulf their family and shake the foundations of the Soviet Union.

In September 1973, Yelizaveta Voronyanskaya, an associate of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, had either killed herself or been murdered after the KGB uncovered her hidden manuscript of The Gulag Archipelago. Solzhenitsyn's magnum opus laid bare the extent of the U.S.S.R.'s vast network of prison camps and detailed the realities of life inside. Following Voronyanskaya's death, Solzhenitsyn sent out a signal through a network of "invisible allies" to pull the trigger on publishing The Gulag Archipelago. Rolls of film containing photos of the manuscript's pages had earlier been smuggled out of the Soviet Union and lay with confidants in the West waiting to proceed with publication.

The Gulag Archipelago was first printed in Paris in December 1973. The book landed, as Ignat describes it, like a "bomb," exploding all remaining arguments for the Marxism that had destroyed countless millions of lives since Vladimir Lenin's Bolsheviks stormed to power in Russia in 1917. Ignat, who is now a famed conductor and pianist living in New York, says The Gulag Archipelago "has never stopped being relevant," for its "meditation on the nature of evil, and on the true nature of Marxism and communism." His father's great insight, Ignat believes, was that evil exists not within any group that can be marked out, but as a kernel within every ordinary person, waiting for the climate and dark soil to sprout.

"People say, 'We will destroy the wicked people, whether it's our autocratic rulers, or the evil fat-cat capitalists, or whoever is oppressing us,'" Ignat said, masquerading as a naive champion for social justice. "The wrong race, the wrong color.... We'll destroy them and then we'll have heaven on Earth, or whatever is the secular version of that." "The problem is, of course," he continued, "evil with a capital E doesn't go away. Those people, even if they deserved to die, were just, or are just bearers of evil. But the evil itself continues. And so when we fight, hate the sin, not the sinner. That is what is missing." Following Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's February 1974 arrest, the Nobel Prize-winning author was expelled from the Soviet Union but was soon able to reunite with his family in the West. The Solzhenitsyns eventually settled into comfortable exile on a rural property in Vermont. But the writer retained an arm's length relationship with America, praising some aspects of the country while excoriating what he viewed as its moral decline, and the groupthink and deceit of its media. The writer longed to return to Russia. "Some people, I guess, find that strange," Ignat said, "but it's only people who don't understand what Russia means to Russians, and for that matter, what home means to any person."

Ignat was around 11 when he first read The Gulag Archipelago. His father never talked extensively to his sons about his time in the labor camps, nor of serving in the Soviet Army. Consequently, Ignat's first reading of the book came as the same slap of reality faced by most other readers. "I think probably your experience wasn't really -- despite our different backgrounds -- that different from mine, as a reader coming face-to-face with the totality of depravity that is portrayed there," Ignat said, before referencing passages in which his father detailed the unbreakable moral strength of some gulag prisoners. "And also, so important not to forget, the human potential for dignity" detailed in the book. "The possibility that the spirit will not be extinguished, even in those most wicked circumstances." Exile for Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was "a major tragedy in his life," Ignat said. The author lived, in many ways, the American dream, but "it was always his choice to be with his people, even if that sounds grand," Ignat said. "He just wanted to be home, and always strove and wished and dreamed that it would happen, and it did happen."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says changes must be made to improve mobilization as the Ukrainian military and the countrys civilian leadership work to improve conditions for troops on and off the battlefield.



Zelenskiy said mobilization was discussed during meetings he held on December 1 with military commanders to discuss scenarios to produce "concrete results" next year.

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.

Everything necessary for our state, our brigades. These specific results must be calculated precisely. This includes issues of mobilization, Zelenskiy said in his evening video message. Everyone in Ukraine understands that changes are needed in this area.



He said the changes would go beyond numbers to include a time frame for soldiers currently serving in the military, demobilization, and terms and conditions for new recruits.



These are comprehensive things that military leadership and the Ministry of Defense have to work out and present to the staff for approval, he said, adding that several proposals were made and he is "awaiting comprehensive solutions."



The issue of fine-tuning the process of mobilization and recruitment has been publicly discussed amid reports of corruption in recruitment such as bribes paid to recruiters to secure medical exemptions.

Zelenskiy's comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ordering an increase of 170,000 in the Russian armed forces. According to the decree, the regular strength of the armed forces is now set at 1,320,000 servicemen.



"The increase in the full-time strength of the armed forces is due to the growing threats to our country associated with the special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO," the Russian Defense Ministry said.



There are no plans to significantly increase conscription or carry out a new wave of mobilization, it said, attributing the increase to the recruitment of contract personnel.



Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on December 1 that more than 452,000 people were recruited to the Russian military under contract from January 1 to December 1, 2023.



On the battlefield, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in its summary on December 1 that Russian troops tried 10 times unsuccessfully to restore its lost position near Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhya region.



The summary said 67 combat clashes took place during the day, and the enemy conducted assault operations in five areas. This included in hard-fought areas near Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka.

Ukraine's air defense said earlier that 18 out of 25 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia at several Ukrainian regions were shot down on December 1 as an air-raid alert was declared in Kyiv and its surrounding region.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it also destroyed one of the two X-59 guided missiles launched at its territory.

Russian drones were shot down over the Mykolayiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, and Dnepropetrovsk regions, the Ukrainian air defense said on Telegram.

There were no reports of casualties or material damage.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said its navy destroyed an unmanned Ukrainian sea drone in the Black Sea off the coast of Ukraine's occupied Crimea region.

"On December 1, at about 8 a.m. Moscow time, a Ukrainian Navy unmanned boat was detected in the western part of the Black Sea, heading in the direction of the Crimean peninsula. The target detected was destroyed by...the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet," the ministry said on its telegram channel.

Ukraine has not commented, and the claim could not be independently verified.

With reporting by Reuters
I'm Steve Gutterman, the editor of RFE/RL's Russia/Ukraine/Belarus Desk.

Welcome to The Week In Russia, in which I dissect the key developments in Russian politics and society over the previous week and look at what's ahead. To receive The Week In Russia newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Years after her murder, a pardon for one of the men convicted of involvement in Anna Politkovskaya's killing is pardoned in exchange for fighting in Ukraine. The Supreme Court declares the LGBT "movement" extremist, essentially outlawing gay rights activism, and Russia's war in Ukraine grinds on.

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

'Desecration'

Amid the drumbeat of dark developments in Russia these days, there are some that seem to stand out as emblematic of the era, or at least of a particular moment in time.

One of them occurred in mid-November, when it came to light that one of the men convicted of involvement in the murder of investigative reporter Anna Politikovskaya, on President Vladimir Putin's birthday in 2006, had been pardoned by Putin in exchange for serving with the military in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The pardon for Sergei Khadzhikurbanov was "a monstrous instance of injustice and lawlessness" and a "desecration of the memory of a person who was killed for her beliefs and her professional duties," the late journalist's children and the staff of the newspaper where she worked, Novaya gazeta, said in a statement.

It added a baroque new twist to a case that, for many Kremlin critics, human rights advocates, and ordinary people, had already stood out  ever since Politkovskaya was shot dead in her Moscow apartment building at the age of 48  as a symbol of how Russia has gone wrong under Putin.

Politkovskaya's dogged reporting, which exposed high-level corruption in Moscow and rights abuses in the Chechnya region, among other malfeasance, was a constant reminder of how the promise that came with the collapse of the U.S.S.R. was being washed away by oppression, iniquity, and violence.

Khadzhikurbanov was one of five men who were convicted in June 2014 of involvement in Politkovskaya's killing; accused of helping organize the murder, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The verdicts brought little relief to Politkovskaya's relatives and colleagues, who say that justice will not be done until the person or people who ordered her killing were identified and prosecuted  something that is widely seen as unlikely to happen as long as Putin is in power because of suspicions that a thorough investigation would lead too close to the Kremlin and the Moscow-backed leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Turning To Inmates

The new development was made possible, of course, by Russia's war against Ukraine  which started a few months before Khadzhikurbanov was convicted but grew much bigger and deadlier when Putin ordered the full-scale invasion in February 2022. In its hunger for manpower, the Russian state is springing inmates from prison and sending them to the front in exchange for the promise of a pardon if they survive long enough.

Returning convicts have committed violent crimes and sparked fear and tension in communities across Russia.

In one case, a man who was convicted of killing four people  and who investigators said cut one victim's legs off, cleaned and refrigerated them, and later ate them  was released from his 22-year prison term to fight in Ukraine and is now in a hospital in the Far Eastern city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Politikovskaya was killed halfway through Putin's second four-year term. In a way, the Russia she lived in is no more: Trends that she documented, such as a shift toward authoritarianism, the suppression of dissent, and increasing abuses of basic human rights gathered speed after Putin returned to the Kremlin in 2012 following a four-year stint as prime minister. And they went into overdrive with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

If Khadzhikurbanov's release was a sign of the times, so were a Russian Supreme Court ruling branding "the international LGBT social movement" as extremist  a decision Amnesty International called shameful and absurd -- and the jailing of RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, whom the long-respected, now outlawed human rights group Memorial recognized on November 30 as a political prisoner.

'The Right To Be Russia'

So, too, was the address Putin delivered at a forum of a reactionary nationalist group called the World Russian People's Congress.

Putin has not said publicly whether he will seek a new six-year term in an election due to be held in March. But the November 28 speech seemed like an informal announcement of his candidacy, which he is widely expected to make official this month.

He repeated narratives that are familiar, if false, once against casting the armed attempt to subjugate Ukraine as a necessary measure and portraying the war he unleased  the biggest in Europe since 1945  as a defensive struggle for Russia's survival in the face of what he asserts, without evidence, is an effort by Washington and the West to erase the country and its culture.

In some cases, he embellished them.

Two months before launching the full-scale invasion, as Moscow was massing forces along the border with Ukraine, Putin said that Russia had "nowhere further to retreat" a remark that, like his portrayal of the war as a defensive act, now stands in direct contradiction to the simple fact that Russia invaded Ukraine and not vice versa. And to the fact that while the war poses an existential threat to Ukraine, the same is not true for Russia.

"Russia's objective is to subjugate Ukraine, but it is inconceivable that Ukraine could do this to Russia," Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College London, wrote in a November 23 blog post. "Ukraine is fighting to end the occupation; Russia is fighting to occupy."

'Beleaguered Fortress'

Putin knows that perfectly well, of course. But he seemed to take the narrative a step further in the November 28 address, stating that Russia's "fight for sovereignty and justice is, without exaggeration, one of national liberation, because we are upholding the security and well-being of our people -- and our supreme historical right to be Russia."

It's part of attempt to convince Russians and others around the world that the United States  which, without naming it, Putin described as a "hegemon" whose "dictatorshipis becoming decrepit"  is bent on annihilating what he calls Russian "civilization."

With the election approaching and most Russians worried that "times are going to get harder, rather than better," Putin "is pivoting to legitimating his regime by precisely the sense that Russia is a beleaguered fortress and that the West will claw it down unless all Russians band together," author and analyst Mark Galeotti told Dutch radio station BNR.

Putin's pronouncements may sound dramatic  they are certainly meant to. But at the same time, there may be another motive: to enable the Kremlin to claim victory in Ukraine  or more accurately, victory over the West -- even if it falls far short of its most ambitious war goals.

After all, if the goal to is to preserve Russia's sovereignty and its "right to be Russia," that can be achieved even if Putin ends up withdrawing from Ukraine.

"In the case of Ukraine, we should not underestimate the scope [Putin] has to define the outcomes, at least to the Russian population," Galeotti, an honorary professor at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at University College London, wrote separately on his blog on November 29.

"It is not just a question of his control over the domestic media apparatus, but also the way he has developed this new narrative, that this is not really a war with Ukraine as such, but with the whole West," he wrote. "In that context, even small wins can be presented as actually impressive David-versus-Goliath successes."

War Footing

Not that there are strong signs that Russia is ready to settle, at least for now, for the chunks of Ukraine it has seized since 2014  Crimea, parts of the Donbas in the east, and a southern strip of land running along the Azov Sea coast between them.

Putin has repeatedly said Russia is open to negotiations, "but when pushed further it transpires that his interest in diplomacy is only to help him achieve some of his core objectives, such as Ukrainian neutrality or the transfer of even more territory than currently occupied to the Russian Federation," Freedman said. "We can take such calls more seriously when they open with a promise to withdraw from Ukrainian territory."

For the time being, at least, there seems to be little incentive for Putin to consider that, let alone to seek a cease-fire. A much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive has made only moderate progress since its launch in early June, nearly six months ago, and the Kremlin is hoping the U.S. elections  now less than a year away  will result in a precipitous fall in Western support for Kyiv, both financial and military.

"For the coming months Russia is in a better position in terms of shell production. The EU is falling short in its ambition to provide Ukraine with a million artillery shells and rockets by March, while Russia is now on a war footing in terms of production and has benefited from an influx of North Korean shells," Freedman wrote.

"Because of the surge of expenditure on the war effort its economy is growing fast. Over time Moscow has found more workarounds to limit the impact of Western sanctions. Through financial incentives it is able to keep up the flow of new recruits to feed the front lines," he added.

At the same time, "If the war stopped now with a cease-fire Putin could claim whatever territory Russia still holds as a major gain, but it would be far short of controlling all the territory hurriedly 'annexed' last autumn and which is now officially presented as part of Russia," Freedman wrote. "He would still have to explain what the past year's fighting was about as Russia has barely added to its holdings and lost some ground."

Russian forces have made a furious push in the Donbas this fall. And while they have suffered heavy casualties while gaining little ground, some analysts predict that Putin, who has baselessly declared the Black Sea peninsula and four other Ukrainian regions to be parts of Russia, will make a new push after the presidential election, particularly if Western support for Kyiv fades.

But eventually, Galeotti wrote, "Putin will take what he feels he can get, when he feels the time is right -- or that he has no alternative."
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 1. Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov held a meeting with representatives of the World Bank, where the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) was discussed, Trend reports.

A team of World Bank consultants presented key findings from their study - The Middle Trade and Transport Corridor - Policies and Investments to Triple Freight Volumes and Halve Travel Time by 2030, which focuses on Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, identifies priority measures that can transform this multimodal rail and maritime corridor into a vital and dependable trade route.

The report notes that with the right investments and policies, the Middle Corridor could help triple trade volumes while halving travel time along the route by 2030.

As the report says, the Middle Corridors significance and strength lie in the benefits it can bring as an intraregional trade corridor. Increased trade between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan and Europe are the key drivers of demand: including a 37-percent increase in intra-region trade and a 28 percent increase trade between these countries and the European Union.

Alibek Kuantyrov noted that the priority areas of the report will make it possible to diversify the main flows and create more potential for the development of international trade.

According to him, TITR is one of the most promising routes taking into account the current logistics situation.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.

The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe.

The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Young 'Poo' Wedding Pics: Malvika Raaj & Pranav Bagga

Actor Marries Businessman Pranav Bagga in a Dreamy Ceremony at The Westin Goa, Sharing Moments of Joy on Social Media

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Young 'Poo' Wedding Pics: Renowned for her portrayal of young 'Poo' in the iconic 2001 Bollywood blockbuster 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,' actor Malvika Raaj has taken a significant step in her real-life love story. The talented artist has officially tied the knot with businessman Pranav Bagga at The Westin Goa, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Malvika herself took to social media to share a series of beautiful wedding pictures, expressing gratitude and love for the special moments.

About the Wedding Outfit....

Advertisement

For the ceremony, Malvika donned a resplendent golden embroidered lehenga, complemented by intricate gold jewelry. The groom, Pranav, looked dashing in a color-coordinated embroidered sherwani, creating a visually stunning ensemble for the celebrations.

The shared pictures capture the couple's radiant smiles, showcasing their happiness and love for each other. From a joyous pose to a romantic moment and the solemn mangalsutra ceremony, every frame reflects the emotional richness of their wedding day.

The wedding pictures garnered an outpouring of love and congratulations from friends and fans on social media, with many expressing their excitement and best wishes for the newly married couple.

Advertisement

Dreamy Proposal....

Malvika had earlier announced her engagement to Pranav in August 2023, sharing enchanting pictures from their dreamy proposal in Turkey. The caption, "Here we are, weve just begun, And after all this time, our time has come, Here we are, still goin strong, Right here in the place where we belong #IvBeenWaitingForYou #ILoveYou," accompanied the heartwarming images.

Apart from her memorable role in 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,' Malvika has also graced the screen in the action film 'Squad,' which premiered on the OTT platform ZEE5.

Advertisement

(For More News Apart from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Young 'Poo' Wedding Pics News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


'Sam Bahadur' Movie OTT Release Update

Meghna Gulzar's Directorial Movie Explores Sam Manekshaw's Storied Career

'Sam Bahadur' Movie OTT Release Update: In a cinematic extravaganza that promises to unravel the untold chapters of history, Vicky Kaushal takes on the formidable role of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in the much-anticipated film, "Sam Bahadur." The Movie hit the cinema halls today (December 1, 2023). This magnum opus, directed by Meghna Gulzar, delves into the life and legacy of one of India's most decorated army officers.

'Sam Bahadur' Movie OTT Release Update....

Advertisement

After the theatrical debut, there's an additional treat in store as "Sam Bahadur" is confirmed to make its digital landing on the OTT platform ZEE5. The OTT release date is not yet confirmed. We will update you as soon as it gets announced officially.

About the Film.....

"Sam Bahadur" unfolds against the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, a pivotal moment in history that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, portrayed by Vicky Kaushal, becomes the central focus of this biographical narrative, paying homage to his illustrious career spanning over four decades and five wars. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film is a collaborative effort by Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Shrivastava in crafting a narrative that brings to life the significant moments in Sam Manekshaw's journey.

Advertisement

Cast and Characters:

- Vicky Kaushal as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw

- Sanya Malhotra as Silloo Manekshaw (Sam's wife)

- Fatima Sana Shaikh as Indira Gandhi

- Neeraj Kabi as Jawaharlal Nehru

- Edward Sonnenblick as Lord Mountbatten

- Govind Namdev as Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel

- Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Yahya Khan

- Naiyo Ishida as Army General

The ensemble cast, led by Vicky Kaushal, promises a gripping portrayal of historical figures, bringing to life the characters who played pivotal roles during the Indo-Pakistani War. As the film unfolds on both the big screen and later on ZEE5, "Sam Bahadur" emerges as a cinematic endeavor set to captivate audiences with its historical significance and stellar performances.

Advertisement

(For More News Apart from 'Sam Bahadur' Movie OTT Release Update News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Pink Tea Recipe

A Delightful Twist to Your Tea Time: Unveiling the Secrets of Crafting a Delectable Pink Kashmiri Tea

Pink Tea Recipe: Tea enthusiasts and home chefs, rejoice! Elevate your tea experience with a touch of elegance by preparing the perfect Pink Kashmiri Tea right in the comfort of your home. This exquisite recipe promises a delightful fusion of flavors and a visual treat that will surely enchant your senses.

Ingredients:

Advertisement

- 2 teaspoons of large green tea leaves

- 2 cups of water

- 2 cups of milk

- 1/3 teaspoon of baking soda

- 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Method of Preparation:

- Begin by boiling the green tea leaves in a cup of water until a gentle foam starts to form. Introduce the baking soda into the mix and stir for ten seconds, infusing a unique element into the brew.

Advertisement

- As the tea simmers, add another cup of water and the aromatic essence of cardamom to enhance the overall flavor profile. Allow the tea to reach a charming shade of pink, signifying its readiness for the next step.

- Introduce the milk into the concoction, stirring it well until a delightful foam adorns the surface. To balance the flavors, add salt according to your taste preferences. Your enchanting Pink Kashmiri Tea is now ready to be savored.

This carefully curated recipe ensures a harmonious blend of tea leaves, aromatic spices, and the creamy richness of milk, resulting in a beverage that not only tantalizes the taste buds but also captivates with its alluring pink hue.

Advertisement

Indulge in a Sip of Kashmiri Tradition:

The Pink Kashmiri Tea, known for its unique preparation and vibrant color, is a cultural delight from the scenic region. Now, with this simple yet authentic recipe, you can bring the essence of Kashmiri tradition to your tea table. Whether shared with loved ones or enjoyed in solitary tranquility, this Pink Tea is a testament to the artistry of tea-making, offering a moment of pure bliss in every sip.

(For More News Apart from Pink Tea Recipe, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk on Thursday revealed the price and specs of the company's new Cybertruck pickup. Musk also handed over several newly produced Cybertrucks to customers at the event in Austin.

Cybertruck's base model rear-wheel drive version has been priced at $60,990, while "Cyberbeast" version is priced at $99,990, with deliveries for both of these versions starting next year. Tesla also plans to sell an all-wheel drive version of the Cybertruck for $79,900 starting in 2025, per the company website.

The base model rear-wheel drive Cybertruck is expected to have a 250-mile range battery and accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds. The all-wheel drive Cybertruck is expected to have a range of 340 miles and go 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 112 miles per hour. The Cyberbeast would have the fastest acceleration and a range of 320 miles, estimated, with a top speed of 130 miles per hour.

Musk said the Cybertruck's hard steel body was bulletproof, and that its windows were "rock proof." He said it could tow over 11,000 pounds.

"Tougher than bullets. Tow pretty much anything. Faster than a 911 while towing a 911," Musk says.

Cybertruck can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.6 seconds, and features a "super-tough" composite bed that is six feet long and four feet wide.

"This is really going to change the look of the roads. Finally the future will look like the future," Musk says.

Cybertruck was first unveiled in November 2019. Pilot production of the electric vehicle began in July 2023. The Cybertruck is Tesla's first new passenger vehicle since the Model Y launched in early 2020.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The manufacturing sector in Thailand continued to contract in November, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Friday with a manufacturing PMI score of 47.6.

That's up from 47.5 in October although it remains beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

Central to the latest manufacturing sector contraction was a fall in new orders. New work intakes at Thai manufacturers continued to decline at a historically marked pace, affected by deteriorating economic conditions and loss of customer bases. Global conditions were likewise subdued, leading to a third monthly reduction in new orders from abroad.

Nonetheless, output continued to expand in November as manufacturers worked through their existing orders to support continued production growth. The rate of expansion was only moderate, however, despite backlogs depleting at an above-average pace.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Kazakhstan plays a decisive role in the production of carbon-free electricity, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Trend reports.

Tokayev delivered the comment on the margins of the World Climate Action Summit (COP28), which is part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's 28th Conference of the Parties in Dubai.

"Kazakhstan wholeheartedly supports the United Nations' urgent call for concrete action to protect the environment for future generations." We are the first country in the region to have ratified the Paris Agreement and adopted a Carbon Neutral Strategy until 2060," Tokayev added.

According to him, Kazakhstan's new Environmental Code would make it easier to implement 'green' technologies in practically every sector of the national economy.

"Our country has enormous potential for the growth of wind and solar energy, as well as for the generation of 'green' hydrogen. We will continue to collaborate closely with our partners in order to realize this potential. We play a critical role in carbon-free power generation on a global scale as a prominent uranium exporter, delivering 43% of the world's supply," he concluded.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
European stocks traded higher on Friday, with miners leading the surge on improved manufacturing data from China.

Encouraging Eurozone manufacturing and U.K. house price data also boosted sentiment ahead of ISM manufacturing PMI readings from the U.S. as well as Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech due later in the day.

Eurozone factory downturn remained strong in November, but reductions in output, new orders and inventories eased.

The HCOB Eurozone Manufacturing PMI, compiled by S&P Global, improved to 44.2 from 43.1 in October.

Elsewhere, U.K. house prices rose by 0.2 percent in November, marking the third successive monthly increase, the latest Nationwide house price index revealed.

The pan European STOXX 600 was up 0.7 percent at 464.87 after rising 0.6 percent on Thursday.

The German DAX, France's CAC 40 and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 were up between 0.6 percent and 0.8 percent.

Anglo American, Antofagasta and Glencore jumped 3-6 percent after China's Caixin manufacturing activity unexpectedly expanded in November.

The Caixin manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to a three-month high of 50.7 in November from 49.5 in October.

AstraZeneca added 1.2 percent after announcing it is discontinuing two phase III trials into hyperkalaemia treatment.

Capgemini slipped half a percent. The French information services and consulting major said that its Chief Financial Officer, Carole Ferrand, is stepping down to pursue other career opportunities.

Bechtle AG, a German IT systems house and e-commerce provider, plunged 5.5 percent after announcing a convertible bond offering.

Reinsurer Swiss Re fell about 2 percent after it announced new financial targets for 2024.

Crisis-hit Swedish streaming company Viaplay tanked 76 percent after announcing plans to raise new equity and restructure its debt.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Kazakhstan is ready to become the main supplier of the most important minerals, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Trend reports.

Tokayev made the statement in the course of the World Climate Action Summit (COP28), organized within the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change taking place in Dubai.

"As the globe decarbonizes in the next few decades, key minerals, especially rare earth minerals, will become indispensable. Kazakhstan is prepared to become a key supplier of these minerals throughout the transition phase," said Tokayev.

According to him, Kazakhstan actively supports private 'green' initiatives.

"For example, the Kazakhstan Packers Association is working on projects to decrease plastic trash, which will help to safeguard the environment. It is both principled and reasonable, in my opinion, not to ask emerging economies to forego national development and modernization in the name of climate protection. On the contrary, these objectives should complement and reinforce each other. Indeed, bold measures are required," said the President of Kazakhstan.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Wearing a white headscarf and a look of determination, El Camino High School senior Kheidijah Abdulmateen rallied her Oceanside classmates to assert their right to school safety, protesting Friday that students campaigns against gun violence are being ignored.

Everyone, raise your voices, raise your fists, make it known that we are here, we are relevant, we are equal and we matter, Abdulmateen said. Continue to fight for our voices to be heard, continue to fight for our rights, continue to fight for our lives, never back down.

El Camino students were among hundreds throughout San Diego County who organized walkouts Friday to protest campus violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre.

Advertisement

The shootings by two students at the Colorado campus left 13 people dead and made school shooting drills and fears of campus violence part of the American educational experience.

The protests are part of a nationwide action organized through the National School Walkout movement, started by a 16-year-old who lived near Sandy Hook Elementary school, where 20 students were killed in 2012.

That campaign gained urgency following the recent killing of 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14.

Student survivors of the Florida shooting quickly organized protests against gun violence, galvanizing other youths who fear attacks at their schools.

Fridays national walkout is the second in two months, following previous protests and assemblies on March 14.

Only two students protested at Bonita Vista High School in Chula Vista.

Leaving a lesson about the Civil Rights movement in their history class to make their point about student safety, Gabriel Lozano, 16, and Sasha Lopez, 16, stood quietly in front of the schools main office. They pointed out that school violence is ongoing, noting that 2,600 miles away, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., one student was shot in the ankle Friday morning.

Its been 20 years since Columbine and nothings changed, Lozano said. Even this morning, a student was shot in Florida. This shouldnt be happening.

At El Camino High School, the student safety campaign intertwined with the Black Lives Matter movement against police shootings of African Americans. Members of the Black Student Union stood on the steps outside the campuss front office and spoke about the need for comprehensive gun control reform.

With a powerful voice and pressing message, El Camino High School Junior Emanuel Prince rallied classmates Friday morning with a call for student safety and civil rights.

We will not be holding hands and singing kumbaya, Prince said during a student walkout from the Oceanside campus, vowing that black students will not be taken for granted. We will not be treated as accessories.

They vowed to keep pressing for change even though most in the crowd of more than 100 students arent yet old enough to vote.

Students at Hilltop High School in Chula Vista planned to walk to the trolley station and board a trolley to Waterfront Park to protest what they say are gaps in their campus security system. They dismissed critics of the National Walkout movement, saying that students have the right to demonstrate as they are the ones at risk of school violence.

Its not them thats getting shot, its not them that are dying, said 10th-grader J.C. Caseltine, an organizer of the event. Its us. If anybodys going to talk about it, it should be us.

School officials in several districts said they respected students free speech rights, but warned them against leaving class.

Two days before the walkout at Bonita Vista, the Sweetwater Union High School District sent an email to parents informing them that any student who leaves their schools campus would be considered truant and could face disciplinary action. Officials proposed alternative demonstrations such as on-campus sit-ins, gun safety petitions and observing 17 minutes of silence in honor of the the Parkland victims.

San Diego Unified School District officials also urged students to stay on campus, warning that students who leave would be marked with an unexcused absence, district spokeswoman Maureen Magee said.

On other sites, students held assemblies, voter registration drives or other events to mark the grim anniversary.

At Del Norte High School in the Poway Unified School District, students assembled for a forum on school safety. Student organizers Nicole Parks, 17 and Yunho Jung, 18, both seniors, said they marched outside the school gates for the event, which featured a speaker whose family members were victims of the Las Vegas shootings, followed by a discussion of the terror that school violence has provoked among students, and a recitation of names of victims from Columbine and Parkland.

Following the presentations, students conducted a voter registration drive and a letter-writing campaign to Congressional representatives. Despite the schools involvement in last months protests, Jung said students felt compelled to do more.

Although we saw a lot of passion and energy from our students that day, we believed that the school as a body has not done enough to make sure that real change would happen to protect schools, and the students inside of them, he said.

Students at Fallbrook High School planned to skip the walkout and instead staged a Day of Kindness to honor those killed at Columbine. Tenth-grade English students who had read the book Columbine by author Dave Cullen organized the event, asking classmates to perform one act of kindness for each victim.

Student organizers at Scripps Ranch High School said they visited classrooms to discuss their demands for student safety. Those include declaring gun violence a public safety crisis, banning assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, expanding background checks for gun sales, and other measures, said organizer Natalie Santos.

And they shared contact information for Congressional representatives and collected signatures in favor of their school safety demands. They also planned to protest outside the campus after school, Santos said.

At San Marcos High School, a sheriffs deputy and school security officers stood outside the main gate to campus shortly before 10 a.m. Superintendent Melissa Hunt said those officials are part of normal security for the campus. She said officials asked students not to walk out Friday.

We want to respect their right to speak out, and we believe their voice can make change; however, we do not believe walking off campus is the solution, Hunt said. So we discouraged our kids from walking off campus.

Instead, she said, students discussed campus safety during lunch, and some wore orange, a color that designates the fight against gun violence in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago student slain near her school in 2013.

The Sheriffs Department issued a statement Friday, encouraging students to notify law enforcement if they plan to leave campus, and to report any threats of violence.

The statement said, in part, We respect everyones right to express themselves in a peaceful and respectful manner.  For our students: please respect the instructions of school officials and if you hear any threats of violence or even potential violence, we encourage you to talk to one of our Sheriffs School Resource Deputies. The Sheriffs Department takes every threat seriously.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
Michelle Cochran and HiCaliber Horse Rescue are at the eye of a gathering storm. Critics, and there are many, contend she is killing horses at far too high a rate and the Internet has been abuzz for months about what many think is animal abuse.

Freedom lay on the ground in a pen about 100 feet from where his life would end a short time later. Hobbled by a crippling leg injury suffered years earlier, the 25-year-old thoroughbred had been removed a day earlier from a life of neglect.

Michelle Cochran, the owner of HiCaliber Horse Rescue in Valley Center, and another volunteer coaxed the animal to its feet. They stroked his head and body, fed him carrot bits, and hung a small bucket of grain near his mouth.

They walked him toward a path that leads to an area where the other horses couldnt see what was about to happen. Freedom stopped at one point, unable to continue because of the pain. Cochran gave the horse an injection of pain killer, then led him a few feet further down the path.

Advertisement

Im sorry, Cochran told the horse. I love you.

She then fired a .22-caliber bullet into Freedoms head. The horse jumped and then fell dead to the ground.

I dont think that was a traumatic death at all, Cochran, 37, said. I dont think that was a violent death. I think it was a very quick and relieving death for an animal that has been in pain for far too long.

Cochran and HiCaliber are at the eye of a gathering storm. Critics, and there are many, contend she is killing horses at far too high a rate and the Internet has been abuzz for months about what many think is animal abuse.

Numerous investigations are ongoing into the operation ranging from animal cruelty to financial fraud to lesser code violations, such as the presence of a large manure pile, inadequate disposal methods for hypodermic needles, and permitting irregularities.

The day before Freedom was put down, the horse had come to HiCaliber as part of the operations Bad Backyard program, which pays for abused or neglected horses. A middle man will make contact with an owner, in this case one in San Bernardino County, and offer to remove the distressed animal from their care.

1 / 14 These are some of the rescued horses at HiCaliber Horse Rescue. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 14 Horses at HiCaliber. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 14 Horses at HiCaliber Horse Rescue. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 14 Another pen with horses. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 14 Volunteer Jenny Purtteman works with other volunteers to repair some fencing at HiCaliber. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 14 This is the remnants of an Auction Tag on the tail of a horse. The tags, glued on with a permanent cement, can harm the horses if removed so they are left to wear off naturally. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 14 Horses at HiCaliber Horse Rescue. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 14 Volunteer Robyn Armstrong spends some last moments with a horse named Freedom before he was euthanized at HiCaliber. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 14 Founder Michelle Cochran spends some last moments with Freedom before the horse was euthanized. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 14 Volunteer Robyn Armstrong spends some last moments with a horse named Freedom. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 14 Founder Michelle Cochran with Freedom. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 14 Volunteer Jenny Purtteman feeds carrots to Freedom. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 14 Founder Michelle Cochran (left) narrates a video for posting to Facebook. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 14 Founder Michelle Cochran feeds some grain to Freedom in the last seconds before he was euthanized at HiCaliber Horse Rescue. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune)

A small fee is given to the owner and then the horse is taken to the Valley Center ranch, where the middleman receives cash for bringing them the distressed animal.

The program is just one of several ways horses come to HiCaliber. The majority are purchased at an auction in Ontario where HiCaliber competes with other rescues and buyers who want to take the horses to Mexican slaughter houses.

The controversy surrounding Cochran and HiCaliber appears to be based primarily on a fundamental difference of opinion about what a horse rescue should be.

Cochran believes putting a sick horse out of its misery is a viable, even sacred duty. Others are opposed to all horse deaths, or say Cochran is out of control with her euthanasia practices. They say she collects donations of rescue horses only to kill them a short time later, then pockets excess money.

I know this is not an easy task, Cochran said minutes after Freedom was put down. This is the deepest and darkest side of a labor of love. Its not pleasant to do this. It tears me apart. It never gets easier. But I hate the suffering more than I hate doing it.

She said her compassionate cause, as well as her abrasive personality that rubs many people the wrong way, have led to a cyber-bullying campaign so big that she worries her rescue wont survive.

I never thought I was going to be the angel of death, but sadly this is one of the most underserved needs in the horse community, she said. There is no affordable euthanasia alternative for these people.

Rescuers dont usually do this, she continued. Im a tough girl. I saw a need in rescue and I said I can do it. I will do it. And I do it. And Ive been turned into a monster. They call me (Charles) Manson. Its horrible. And all Im trying to do is stop this poor guys pain.

HiCaliber has operated out of its 16-acre ranch located a few miles west of Interstate 15 near Lilac Road since 2015. Before that, the rescue was located on a much smaller property in northern Escondido. In the past few years, it has become one of the largest rescues in the United States and has enjoyed financial support from many donors.

All of the bad publicity, however, has crippled fundraising. In fact, at the moment HiCaliber is forbidden from fundraising because the state Attorney Generals office recently informed them there were problems with tax filings. Cochran admits the rescue failed to fill out certain forms and says accountants are now working to rectify the problem.

The County of San Diego asked the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to investigate the rescue. A county spokesman said the SPCA determined the allegations of animal cruelty were unfounded.

Various other county agencies also are investigating the operation. Many conducted a surprise inspection a month ago, which led to code compliance issues the county said can be corrected. None were of the sort that would likely lead to the nonprofit business being shut down.

A recent report by the nonprofit news organization inewsource.org said a number of former HiCaliber volunteers say that many of the more than 150 horses housed at the rescue are infected with a highly contagious, but manageable equine disease called strangles, and that the rescue is not disclosing the problem to people, including those who have adopted horses from HiCaliber over the past few months.

Cochran and others at HiCaliber say the accusations are baseless and partly a result of miscommunication.

Cochran said only two horses have come back with positive cultures for strangles in the past 18 months, which she says is remarkable considering all of the mistreated and ill horses that come to the rescue.

Mike Workman, spokesman for San Diego County, said the county received its first complaint about strangles at HiCaliber on Thursday and will be conducting a joint investigation with health officials.

In response to a public records act request, the county has made public emails from people wanting HiCaliber to be investigated. The complaints cover a gamut of issues with many pointing to video posts made by Cochran or others connected to the rescue as evidence of wrongdoing.

One email sent to the county last month  the name of the sender has been redacted  urges the District Attorneys office to get involved.

...The horses are being purchased, fees for responsible rescue raised, and a majority of the horses purchased are being shot within one to two days without being seen by a vet. The email continues saying Cochran claims to have no income coming in yet she continues to take multiple vacations out of state, drives a BMW, and proudly discusses her cosmetic procedures such as Botox, hair extensions, interior decorators, etc.

An owner killing a horse on their own property is not illegal though many question whether a veterinarian is always consulted first at HiCaliber. Critics contend some of the horses that have been euthanized could have been saved.

Cochran doesnt disagree. She said occasionally a horse will come to HiCaliber that if given expensive treatment could likely go on to live a quality life, but there is a point that comes when business decisions have to be made. Should $25,000 be spent to save one horse or should that money be used to rescue 20 other horses, she asks?

Mary Hirsch, who lives in Texas and says she has never been to the rescue, is a frequent Internet critic. She said she bases her observations of whats going on at the rescue on videos that HiCaliber itself posts and other information online

Im concerned about the care of the horses and the number of the horses and where this is going in the future, she said. From my personal involvement with horses over many, many years, when you have that many horses on that small a space, it gets bad really, really fast. Horses are an overwhelming animal to care for because they are so large.

There are more than 150 horses at HiCaliber now. Cochran is working with the county to reduce that number to a permitted 100, and that number may be decreased in the future, the county and Cochran have said.

Hirsch said shooting horses is a humane form of euthanasia, if it is done correctly. Horses dont have an intellect. They cant read books or think about great spiritual thoughts. They just sit there and suffer. I dont have a problem with that. But (HiCaliber) doesnt know enough about horses to know if horses are savable or not. They are euthanizing horses that could be saved if they were in the right hands. They dont make good choices.

Cochran and others connected to the rescue say the real story that is being ignored should be about cyber bullying.

We think the focus on this is how Internet bullying can be so detrimental and harmful to an organization like this  and how quickly it can snowball, said Michelle Parsons, a HiCaliber volunteer.

People who are not even in this country are feeding this hatred.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
An unarmed man robbed a San Carlos Chevron station late Saturday, San Diego Police said on Sunday.

The robber, described as a white man 25-to-30 years old with long hair, simulated having a handgun while demanding cash from the clerk. He was wearing a black shirt and black shorts, according to a report by Officer David Stafford.

The robber was last running toward Navajo Road. The station is at the corner of Lake Murray Boulevard and Navajo Road.

Advertisement

No injuries were reported.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Kazakhstan has decided to join the Global Commitment to reduce methane emissions, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"Reducing methane emissions is the fastest way to slow the rate of global warming. That is why I am pleased to announce that Kazakhstan has decided to join the Global Commitment to Reduce Methane Emissions," he said.

As the head of state noted, Kazakhstan at the same time seeks to address the region's massive coal problem by implementing the region's first Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

"For both these initiatives to succeed, we call on our friends and partners to provide particular support," he added.

"More broadly, Kazakhstan hopes that the international community will broaden its commitment to increase financing for climate control projects. But funding is only the first hurdle. Even if we manage to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by 2050, Central Asian countries will still face a temperature rise of 2.5 degrees. This will lead to water shortages, extreme heat, desertification and extreme hydrological events. Therefore, adaptation is inevitable and necessary," Tokayev added.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
DUBAI, UAE, December 1. Kazakhstan has decided to convene a Regional Climate Summit in 2026 under the auspices of the UN to give impetus to climate action in Central Asia, said Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Trend reports.

Tokayev delivered the comment on the margins of the World Climate Action Summit (COP28), which is part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's 28th Conference of the Parties in Dubai.

"The climate crisis is a global crisis that necessitates a global response.We all share the responsibility of preserving our planet and ensuring a sustainable future for all," Tokaev stated.

Kazakhstan, he says, believes that only joint action and cooperation will assist to tackle the climate catastrophe.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 1. Uzbekistans IT Park and Azerbaijans Azericard processing center have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for the development of the startup industry and the joint venture capital sector, Trend reports.

The document was signed by Deputy Director of Uzbekistans IT Park Fayzulla Aripzhanov and Director of Azericard Farid Guliyev.

Uzbekistans IT Park said in a statement that the parties agreed to mutually support startups in scaling up in the markets of the two countries. The memorandum also stipulates cooperation in the fin-tech sector.

Meanwhile, speaking at the InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku, Minister for Development of Information Technologies and Communications of Uzbekistan Sherzod Shermatov said that Uzbekistan sees ICT as a driving force for its post-economic growth.

"Uzbekistan has been actively working to create favorable conditions for IT companies since 2017. The country features an innovative environment known as IT Park, where businesses can become residents and be tax-exempt. IT workers also pay lower taxes than workers in other industries," he added.

According to the minister, Uzbekistan has set a goal of increasing the number of IT specialists by 2030.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. The Uzum platform holds almost 80 percent of the e-commerce market share in Uzbekistan, said Uzum's Chief Operating Officer, Roman Lavrentyev during the InMerge Innovation held in Baku, Trend reports.

As to Lavrentyev, Uzum's success stems not only from the platform's great functionality but also from active customer involvement.

"Figures are great, but for me personally, more important is feedback from real people in Uzbekistan," he went on to say.

Uzum is a digital services ecosystem that combines a variety of services to provide a one-of-a-kind user experience to help with business growth, online shopping, simple payments, and other day-to-day household duties. The Uzum ecosystem offers the Uzbek market the following products: a marketplace with a wide range of products and one-day delivery throughout the country; fast delivery from cafes, restaurants, and groceries in Tashkent; JSCB "Kapitalbank," the country's largest private commercial bank; installment service with no hidden fees, penalties, or fines; a user-friendly digital bank; and the #1 P2P service.

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 summit is taking place in Baku from November 30 through December 1.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Lauryn Jordan, Jasmin Jordan, and Lynnette Jordan-Burrell at Forever Beauty Co. Salon and Spa.

Rachel Blistein at Original Moxie.

Rickeilia Shah at Anaya Beauty Salon.
ASIA

Afghanistan

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council will convene for its quarterly open briefing on Afghanistan. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva; Ambassador Jose de la Gasca (Ecuador), the Chair of the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee; and a representative of civil society are expected to brief. Closed consultations are expected to follow the briefing.

In addition, the Council is scheduled to renew the mandate of the Monitoring Team assisting the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee. Under resolution 2615, the Council is also scheduled to receive a briefing on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.

UNAMAs mandate expires on 17 March 2024.

Key Recent Developments

Afghanistan continues to face a series of overlapping crises, with the humanitarian situation in the country remaining particularly bleak. According to the World Food Programme (WFP) Afghanistan Situation Report for October, 29.2 million peopleover 70 percent of Afghanistans populationrequire multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance in 2023.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan was compounded in mid-October when four 6.3-magnitude earthquakes struck Herat province in a span of eight days, killing and injuring thousands of people and causing widespread destruction. OCHAs Revised Herat Earthquake Response Plan, which was published on 16 November, said that more than 275,000 people were directly affected by the earthquakes, with 10,002 houses completely destroyed, 220,430 houses severely damaged, and 17,588 houses moderately damaged. The plan, which called for $173 million in funding to deliver life-saving response activities and support early recovery efforts over the next six months, also noted that the earthquakes impacted vulnerable communities already grappling with decades of conflict and under-development, leaving them with little resilience to cope with multiple, simultaneous shocks. In comments reported by Associated Press on 12 October, Afghanistan representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Jaime Nadal observed that there was a gender dimension to the death toll, saying at that time of day, men were out in the field and many men migrate to Iran for work. The women were at home doing the chores and looking after the children. They found themselves trapped under the rubble. There was clearly a gender dimension.

Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan have also worsened following the Pakistani governments 3 October announcement that it planned to repatriate all illegal foreigners remaining in Pakistan after 1 November, a move widely perceived as targeting the estimated 1.3 million undocumented Afghans living in the country. According to a 17 November report published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 350,000 people have returned to Afghanistan since the announcement, with the number of people arriving at border crossings exhausted and in need of emergency assistance continuing to grow. The report also noted that the sudden return of hundreds of thousands of Afghans shortly before winter is expected to worsen the countrys already severe humanitarian crisis. An inter-agency appeal launched by several UN agencies and their humanitarian partners seeks $51.9 million in funding to support the humanitarian response to this development.

Despite the scale of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, the 2023 Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan remains underfunded. At the time of writing, only 39.6 percent of the $3.2 billion required by the planan amount which was revised down from $4.6 billion in early Junehas been received. OCHAs latest review of the plan, which covers the period ending 30 September, noted that several streams of humanitarian assistance face pipeline break risks due to funding gaps and said the provision of urgent funding is crucial.

On 9 November, Council members received the report of the independent assessment on Afghanistan requested by resolution 2679. In accordance with the resolution, the report provides recommendations for an integrated and coherent approach to addressing the current challenges faced by Afghanistan among relevant actors in the international community. On 28 November, the Council convened for a private meeting on the report. Feridun Sinirlioglu, the special coordinator of the independent assessment, briefed. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 27 November.)

The terrorist threat in Afghanistan remains an ongoing concern, with terrorist attacks continuing to occur in the country, including a 13 October attack that struck the Imam Zaman Mosque in Baghlan province, killing dozens of people and wounding many more. In a 14 October press statement, Council members condemned the attack, which was claimed by ISIL-K, ISILs Afghan affiliate.

On 15 September, the Taliban held a ceremony to welcome Chinas new ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Sheng. According to media reports, the office of Taliban Prime Minister Hasan Akhund subsequently said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Akhund had accepted the credentials of the new Chinese ambassador and expressed hope that the appointment would elevate the diplomatic relations between the two countries to a higher level. In a statement regarding Zhaos appointment, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was the normal rotation of Chinas ambassador to Afghanistan and intended to continue advancing dialogue and cooperation. On 19 October, the Talibans acting Commerce Minister, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, told reporters that his administration wants to join Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and said that the Taliban planned to send a team to Beijing to discuss the prospect of taking part in the infrastructure project.

On 18 October, Special Representatives and Envoys for Afghanistan from Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, the UK, and the US held a meeting in Rome. A joint statement on Afghanistan was issued following the meeting, which was also attended by special observers from Turkiye, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the OIC, UNAMA, and UNODC.

On 29 September, the fifth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan was held in Kazan. Special representatives and senior officials from China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan attended the meeting, together with the Talibans Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Representatives of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attended as guests of honour. Participants issued the Kazan Declaration after the meeting.

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 24 October, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, presented his report to the General Assembly. The report, which primarily covers developments from February to August 2023, documents the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, including the severe and unparalleled attack on womens and girls rights in the country. In his statement, Bennett stressed that there is currently a culture of impunity for torture and inhumane treatment in detention centres, as well as for human rights violations against former government officials and military personnel, despite promises being made to the contrary. He also stressed the need to resume the education of girls beyond the sixth grade and womens tertiary education, noting that the Taliban have repeatedly said the suspension was temporary. Bennett also underscored that the Talibans actions may amount to gender persecution and said that systematic discrimination, oppression and segregation of women and girls require further examination of the evolving phenomenon of gender apartheid.

On 11 October, during its 54th session, the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution on Afghanistan without a vote (A/HRC/RES/54/1). Among other matters, the resolution condemns in the strongest possible terms all human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed in Afghanistan and expresses deep concern at the lack of accountability.

On 12 September, during the interactive dialogue on Afghanistan at the 54th session of the HRC, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated that human rights in Afghanistan are in a state of collapse. The High Commissioner observed that the most recent OHCHR report on Afghanistan (A/HRC/54/21) demonstrates the stripping back of institutional protections of human rights at all levels in the country and said that the Taliban have perpetuated a systematic assault on the rights and freedoms of the Afghan people that particularly targets women and girls and excludes them from most aspects of public and daily life.

Key Issues and Options

Considering how to respond to the report of the independent assessment on Afghanistan requested by resolution 2679 is a priority issue for the Council. Council members could choose to adopt a resolution that endorses the report and operationalises the recommendations outlined in it that require action from the Council.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is a significant issue for the Council. An informal meeting with humanitarian organisations working in Afghanistan could allow Council members to learn more about the problems facing those working to deliver aid in the country, particularly after the Taliban banned women from working for the UN, while also providing an opportunity to consider whether there is anything the Council can do to help manage these challenges.

The human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls, is another major issue. Council members could hold an informal meeting with representatives of UN Women, OHCHR, and civil society to discuss how the Council can exert pressure on the Taliban regarding its practices and policies that restrict human rights.

The Council could also consider reviewing the 1988 Afghanistan sanctions regime, which, apart from the humanitarian exception established by resolution 2615, has not been updated since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Such a review could analyse whether the regime is fit for purpose and whether it should be updated in light of current circumstances.

The terrorist threat in Afghanistan is another key concern. The Council could meet with a counter-terrorism expert, which would give members a chance to discuss possible options for bolstering the Councils effort to manage the threat posed by terrorism in Afghanistan.

Council Dynamics

Although Council members are generally united in their desire to see a prosperous, peaceful Afghanistan free from terrorism and ruled by an inclusive government that respects the rights of women and girls, they have been divided over how to achieve this goal. Some members, including the P3 (France, the UK, and the US) and other like-minded states, have argued that the Taliban must adhere to international norms if it wants to obtain international recognition and receive economic and development aid from the international community. Several of these members appear to favour maintaining pressure on the Taliban, particularly regarding its policies and practices that violate the rights of women and girls.

China and Russia, on the other hand, have contended that the international community should provide assistance to Afghanistan without linking it to other issues, such as human rights, and appear to prefer dialogue and engagement with the Taliban over increased pressure.

China and Russia have also called for Afghanistans frozen assets to be returned to the country, while other members have said that these assets cannot be transferred to Afghanistan until a properly functioning central bank has been established. These members often express concern that the funds could be used for terrorist purposes. Moreover, China and Russia regularly blame the US and NATO for the problems confronting Afghanistan, while the US and others contend that the Taliban bears primary responsibility for the challenges facing the country.

It remains to be seen how the independent assessment report will affect Council dynamics on the file. While it seems that members are generally supportive of the report and its recommendations, albeit to varying degrees, Council members appear to have questions and concerns about how the recommendations outlined in the report would work in practice. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 27 November.)

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON AFGHANISTAN
THE SECURITY COUNCIL

Briefing by the Outgoing Chairs of the Security Councils Subsidiary Bodies

Expected Council Action

As is customary in December, the outgoing chairs of the Councils subsidiary bodies are expected to provide a briefing on their experiences. The representatives of the five members completing their two-year terms on the Council at the end of 2023 and the subsidiary bodies they each chaired are:

Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman (Ghana)the 2127 Central African Republic (CAR) Sanctions Committee, the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, and the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations;

Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon)the 1533 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Sanctions Committee, the 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee, the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals, and the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee;

Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania)the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, the 1518 Iraq Sanctions Committee, the 1636 Lebanon Sanctions Committee, and the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee; and

Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh (United Arab Emirates)the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee; the 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions Committee; and the 1566 Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.

Brazils permanent representative did not chair any subsidiary bodies.

Background

The practice of briefings by the outgoing chairs of subsidiary bodies was established during the Colombian presidency of the Council in December 2002. It is considered an important aspect of promoting transparency in the work of the sanctions committees and working groups. Since not all subsidiary bodies produce an annual report, this December briefing has also served over the years as a means of creating a publicly accessible institutional memory of these bodies activities.

Key Recent Developments

At this briefing, the chairs will be able to review developments within their committee or working group during their two-year term, assess their experience, suggest recommendations for improvements, and provide advice to their respective successors.

Briefing on the activities of the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Agyeman is likely to highlight his visit in June to the CAR to discuss with authorities in Bangui the implementation of the sanctions regime. He could mention the adoption of resolution 2693 of 27 July 2023 to lift the notification requirements imposed on CAR under the regime. Agyeman may, however, note that since then, the appointment of members of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2127 Sanctions Committee remains pending because of a request by a Council member to place the appointments on hold. As chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, Agyeman may address some of the committees recent discussions on the humanitarian and security aspects of the fighting, since 15 April, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group in Sudan. Meanwhile, it seems that the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations has been relatively inactive over the past two years.

Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang chaired four committees during Gabons Council term. During his briefing, Biang is likely to describe his experience serving as the inaugural chair of the 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee, which resolution 2653 established in October 2022. He may describe his efforts to draft and adopt the committees internal guidelines. He might also mention the field visit he undertook to Haiti and the Dominican Republic from 12 to 16 June to gain first-hand insight into the situation on the ground.

As chair of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee, Biang may refer to his visit to the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda in November 2022 and the discussions he held with the relevant authorities of those countries on the committees work. He may also mention the adoption of resolution 2667 on 20 December 2022, lifting the notification requirements imposed on the DRC under the sanctions regime. In the context of the situation in eastern DRC, he may allude to the decision by the sanctions committee to add two individuals to the sanctions designation list. As chair of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, Biang visited South Sudan from 21 to 28 October along with other committee members. Among other activities, he could note that the 2206 Committee received two briefings from Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba in July 2022 and October 2023.

Biang has also chaired the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals. He might describe the Working Groups meetings with the president and prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) ahead of their semi-annual briefings to the Council in June and December. On 22 June 2022, the Council adopted resolution 2637, which was drafted by Gabon and extended Serge Brammertzs term as prosecutor of the IRMCT until 30 June 2024, which Biang may also highlight.

As part of his briefing, Ambassador Ferit Hoxha is expected to cover the activities of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG) over the last two years. The IWG met every two months or so, holding five meetings in 2022 and five meetings so far in 2023. It also adopted its first annual report in December 2022, which covers the activities of the IWG in 2022 and includes an annex with selected indicators on the implementation of Note 507 and subsequent notes on the Councils working methods. The IWG has also incorporated into its agenda regular discussions on the implementation of Note 507 and penholders. So far, the IWG has adopted two presidential notes: on the orderly conduct of a minute of silence and chairing subsidiary bodies if the chairs have not been agreed on by 1 January. Members are currently negotiating a presidential note on penholders.

Hoxha could mention meetings that the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee held during the past two years, including in May on the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM), which supports the implementation of the targeted arms embargo by monitoring and inspecting vessels sailing to Yemeni ports that are not under the governments control, and a joint meeting in December 2022 with the Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee on arms smuggling. He could note, among other issues, the committees designations in September and October 2022 of three additional individuals on the Yemen sanctions list. It seems that the 1518 Iraq Sanctions Committee and the 1636 Lebanon Sanctions Committee, which Hoxha also chairs, have remained dormant.

In briefing on her experience chairing since January the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), Ambassador Nusseibeh may mention the ongoing negotiations regarding the development of the non-binding principles referred to in the Delhi Declaration. (The Delhi Declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes was adopted during a special session of the CTC that was held in India in October 2022. Among other matters, it expressed an intention to develop, with support from the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, a set of non-binding guiding principles to assist member states to counter the threat posed by the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.) She may also refer to meetings held by the CTC this year, such as the 31 August open briefing on border control and security in the context of counter-terrorism.

The 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions Committee met once during Nusseibehs chairmanship. The committee meeting, which was held in March and was the first since 2020, allowed it to hear about recent developments and the current situation in Guinea-Bissau, including the political situation, from Guinea-Bissaus Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Samba Sane, and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee. The 1566 Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, which Nusseibeh also chaired, remained dormant in 2022 and 2023.

Council Dynamics

After the annual Security Council elections were moved forward from October to June in 2016, there have been significant changes in how chairs of the Councils subsidiary bodies are appointed. In July 2016, Council members agreed on a presidential note concerning the preparation of newly elected members during the transitional period between the election and the beginning of their term, including the selection and preparation of chairs of subsidiary bodies. The note established a more consultative process for the chairs appointment, co-led by a permanent member and the chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG), and stipulated that the appointments should be completed by 1 October.

It seems that an agreement was reached in the second half of October on the appointment of next years chairmanships. This would be the soonest that the chairs appointments have been agreed to since the July 2016 note. It follows last years delay in naming subsidiary body chairs, which took until the end of January 2023.

Elected members chair all sanctions committees and other formal and informal subsidiary bodies of the Council. While many elected members find the chairing of subsidiary bodies rewarding, there has from time to time been a suggestion to have permanent members share the responsibility of chairing these bodies.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SUBSIDIARY BODIES
AFRICA

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The anticipated briefer is the Special Representative and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita.

The Council is also expected to renew MONUSCOs mandate, which is set to expire on 20 December.

Key Recent Developments

After a six-month lull in North Kivu, fighting reportedly resumed in October between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and allied militias on the one hand and the Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) on the other. The ceasefire facilitated in March by the ongoing regional initiatives under the auspices of the East African Community (EAC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR)known as the Nairobi and Luanda processes, respectivelyhas been violated, and M23 has reportedly regained control of several areas that it had vacated. The EAC Regional Force (EACRF)deployed in eastern DRC as part of the regional initiativesalso came under fire in the latest round of fighting. In October, a Ugandan convoy was targeted, injuring two soldiers, and a Kenyan soldier was killed in another attack. The M23 has accused Burundian forces of supporting armed groups and militias allied with the FARDC. Burundi denies the accusations, and an EAC statement refuted the claims against the Burundian contingent of the EACRF.

The latest round of fighting appears to be approaching Sake, a town 20 kilometres away from Goma, the regional capital, stoking fears that the city could fall to M23 forces. MONUSCO and the FARDC launched a joint operation on 3 November, codenamed Springbok, aimed at protecting Goma. The MONUSCO Force Commander, Otavio Rodrigues de Miranda Filho, said in a joint press briefing with FARDC officials on 8 November that they were taking a defensive approach for the moment but that the mission would shift to an offensive posture were Goma to be attacked.

The resumption of fighting seems to have increased tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. In his briefing to the Council on 17 October, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Huang Xia, said that [t]he risk of a direct confrontation between the DRC and Rwanda, which continue to accuse each other of supporting enemy armed groupsM23, on the one hand, and the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda, on the otherremains real. He added that [t]he military build-up in both countries, the absence of direct high-level dialogue and the persistence of hate speech are all worrisome signs that we cannot ignore.

The DRC is gearing up to hold elections on 20 December against the backdrop of these security developments. The president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Denis Kadima, continues to insist that elections will be held on 20 December as scheduled despite the challenges, including the insecurity in eastern DRC. Congolese opposition parties have expressed concerns about the perceived lack of transparency and inclusivity of the electoral process and have questioned the integrity of state institutions, such as the CENI and the Supreme Court. They expressed particularly serious doubts about the voter registration process and called for an external audit of the electoral register, which Kadima rejected, according to the Secretary-Generals 21 September report. Kadima reportedly met all the presidential candidates on 13 November, before campaigning began, and recognised the need to improve CENIs image and enhance public trust in the electoral process. According to media reports, 26 candidates, including the incumbent, will be contesting the presidential elections. Representatives of five leading opposition groups reportedly met in South Africa recently to look at the possibility of fielding a single candidate.

The Congolese elections coincide with the MONUSCO mandate renewal in December. On 2 August, the Secretary-General submitted his report pursuant to resolution 2666 of 20 December 2022 with a proposal to reconfigure MONUSCO to facilitate the implementation of the joint revised transition plan agreed by the mission and the Congolese government, which supports regional peace initiatives. The report proposes that the missions footprint in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, which continue to face persistent insecurity, be consolidated and then gradually reduced as the Congolese government extends its authority and regional initiatives advance.

In a 1 September letter to the president of the Security Council, the Congolese government requested that the UN start the missions withdrawal before the end of this year. The letter was sent following an anti-MONUSCO protest that took place on 30 August in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, during which at least 43 people were reportedly killed and 53 were injured in clashes with local authorities. On 16 October, the Council adopted a presidential statement expressing its readiness to decide by the end of 2023 on the future of MONUSCO, its gradual, responsible and sustainable withdrawal and the concrete and realistic steps to be undertaken, as a matter of priority to implement this withdrawal. The Council requested MONUSCO and the Congolese government to develop, by November, a comprehensive disengagement plan with a timetable for MONUSCOs progressive and orderly withdrawal, building on the revised transition plan and its four key benchmarks. At the time of writing, the disengagement plan had yet to be circulated to Council members.

On 8 December, the mandate of the EACRF is set to expire, and media reports quoted a Congolese government spokesperson as saying that the EAC regional force must leave the DRC by December 8, as agreed, because it has not been able to resolve the problem, particularly that of the M23. The DRC has already turned its attention towards the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which on 8 May decided to deploy its force to restore peace and stability in eastern DRC, known as the SADC Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC). On 4 November, SADC met in an extraordinary summit to provide strategic guidance on the deployment of SAMIDRC, according to a communique adopted at the end of the meeting.

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 9 October, during its 54th session, the Human Rights Council (HRC) held an interactive dialogue on the reports of the High Commissioner (A/HRC/54/73) and the team of international experts on the situation of human rights (A/HRC/54/76) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In her statement, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif highlighted that the report of the High Commissioner, covering the period from 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2023, documented 5,135 instances of human rights violations and abuses, with North Kivu and Ituri being the most severely affected regions. Despite significant efforts by the authorities, Al-Nashif pointed out that the number of fatalities had increased compared to the previous reporting period. Emphasising the compounding effect of natural disasters and epidemics, she underscored that these violations have contributed to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Women, Peace and Security

The presidential statement adopted by the Security Council on 16 October condemned violence and human rights abuses by armed groups in the DRC, including sexual and gender-based violence, and encouraged the DRC authorities to ensure the full, equal, effective and meaningful participation of women as both candidates and voters in the elections scheduled for December. On 6 November, the Informal Experts Group (IEG) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) met on the situation in the DRC. Keita briefed. It appears that Keita and Council members discussed issues such as the role of WPS in the transition process of MONUSCO, womens participation in the electoral process and the UNs engagement with DRC authorities and political parties to support womens safety during the elections in light of cases of harassment and violence against women in politics. It seems that Keita stressed, among other issues, food insecurity and the socioeconomic situation of women as factors exacerbating sexual and gender-based violence in the DRC. UN Women, as the IEG Secretariat, apparently recommended that, in the upcoming negotiations on MONUSCOs mandate renewal, the Council retain all WPS references present in resolution 2666, which in December 2022 renewed MONUSCOs mandate until 20 December 2023. It seems that UN Women also recommended that Council members consider incorporating language demanding the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all stages of peace processes, including in regional initiatives; stressing the importance of a gender-responsive transition process; and requesting the UN to regularly consult with womens civil society organisations across the DRC on all aspects of the transition.

Sanctions-Related Developments

In December, the chair of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon), is expected to brief the Council on the committees work. On 27 September, France, the UK, and the US jointly proposed designating one member of M23 and one member of the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) under the 1533 DRC sanctions regime. On 25 October, the committee approved their addition to the sanctions designation list. Several months ago, Rwanda also proposed individuals for designation, but it seems that Council members have not yet agreed to designate them.

Key Issues and Options

The key issue for Council members in December is the renewal of MONUSCOs mandate. The missions revised transition plan, the Secretary-Generals report on its reconfiguration, and the detailed disengagement plan are likely to inform the upcoming mandate renewal negotiations. An option for Council members is to consider, in line with the Secretary-Generals recommendations, the missions possible withdrawal from South Kivu, where the security situation is relatively better, and to enhance its robust presence in North Kivu and Ituri, where there are acute security challenges. Depending on the detailed recommendations to be provided by the disengagement plan, Council members may also consider how regional initiatives can be supported in full compliance with the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.

The other key issue for Council members is the general elections in the DRC, which will take place on 20 December. Council members are likely to reiterate their call for peaceful, transparent, inclusive, and credible elections. They may also continue to encourage the Congolese authorities to ensure free civic space and call upon all parties to seek dialogue and consensus to resolve any election-related disputes.

The deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC continues to be a major concern, and Council members might be keen to learn more about the violation of the ceasefire in North Kivu and the escalating fighting between FARDC and allied militias on the one hand and M23 on the other. They may also express concerns about the increasing tensions between the DRC and Rwanda along the border and call on both countries to exercise restraint.

Council Dynamics

Council members have been broadly supportive of implementing MONUSCOs transition plan in a phased and responsible manner, contingent on the improvement of the security situation on the ground. At the Councils last meeting on the situation in the DRC on 28 September, France, the penholder on the DRC, highlighted the central role of the Congolese authorities in the upcoming discussions on MONUSCOs orderly drawdown. The US raised doubts about the capacity of Congolese and regional security forces to address the security challenges in eastern DRC and stressed the need to avoid endorsing greater support by MONUSCO for the EAC without appropriate safeguards to address human rights, accountability and command-and-control concerns. The UK emphasised the need to carefully consider the implications of MONUSCOs drawdown on the civilian population, as The consequences of a rushed departure would be severe. Russia said that it was necessary to listen to the host countrys views in the upcoming discussions on MONUSCOs drawdown while also underlining the need for the Council to be guided primarily by rational considerations, taking into account the evolution of the situation on the ground and acting gradually and responsibly. China also supported this approach. Similarly, the three African members (Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique, known as the A3) stressed the need for close cooperation between the Congolese authorities and MONUSCO, as well as with all other relevant stakeholders, with a view to ensuring a smooth, orderly, progressive and coordinated withdrawal that guarantees the protection of civilians and the safety and security of the personnel of the Mission.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
In Hindsight: UN Security Council Sanctions

Introduction

In August 2022, the UN Security Council called for the effective implementation of its sanctions measures as a tool for achieving peace and stability in Africa.[1] In reality, however, support for UN sanctions has eroded among some members, a disagreement reflecting the broader geopolitical divisions colouring the Councils work.

The sanctions divide is particularly stark between Western countries, on the one hand, and China, Russia, and African countries, on the other. Western countries often maintain that arms embargoes and targeted sanctions, such as assets freezes and travel bans, are vital tools in mitigating violence and supporting the implementation of peace agreements. While China, Russia, and the Councils African members recognise that sanctions can be a useful tool of the Council, they point to countries that remain under Council sanctions for several years as evidence that sanctions are insufficiently adjusted to account for progress. At an 8 March meeting on the Sudan sanctions regime, China remarked that the Councils discussions over the past two years led us to believe that certain members have no intention of lifting sanctions, but rather attempt to perpetuate sanctions by setting benchmarks that are too high to ever be met.[2] Beyond questioning their effectiveness, members of this group argue that sanctions are often counter-productive, harming the ability of the target country to serve its people.

Brief History and Background

The Security Councils authority to impose sanctions is outlined in Article 41 of the UN Charter. During the Cold War, the Council imposed mandatory sanctions twice: on Southern Rhodesia in 1968 and South Africa in 1977. The Council had previously authorised voluntary sanctions on South Africa (1963) and Southern Rhodesia (1965).[3]

Sanctions regimes expanded greatly in the 1990s, when several crises erupted, and the improved relations among the great powers made agreements easier than during the relative paralysis of the Cold War decades. [4] The unintended humanitarian consequences of comprehensive sanctions led to the development of targeted measures, sometimes referred to as smart sanctions. All UN sanctions regimes established since 2004 have been targeted in nature.[5]

Security Council sanctions have multiple purposes, including resolving interstate conflict, democratisation, human rights and the protection of civilians, non-proliferation, and counter-terrorism.[6] Scholars and policymakers alike scrutinise the effectiveness of UN sanctions, and assess their goals of coercing, constraining, and signaling.[7] Some have also focused on distinct periods or episodes in the evolution of sanctions regimes when evaluating their effectiveness to account for changes over the years.[8] In a well-known study of UN sanctions, Biersteker, Tourinho, and Eckert concluded that the coercive aim of sanctions is effective 10 percent of the time, while the goals of constraining and signaling are both effective 27 percent of the time.[9]

Current State of UN Sanctions

There are currently 14 UN sanctions regimes, 11 of which include arms embargoes, travel bans, and assets freeze measures. Every sanctions regime has a sanctions committee, a subsidiary body of the Security Council comprised of all 15 of its members, and all but three are supported by panels of experts. These panels consist of independent experts who monitor, report, and make recommendations on the implementation of sanctions. A panel of experts was first employed in 1999 to support the Angola Sanctions Committee, a creation of then-Canadian Ambassador Robert Fowler, who chaired the committee.[10] Some of todays sanctions controversies pertain to the appointment of, and candid reporting by, these panels of experts. One criticism has been that the permanent members have influenced the appointment of experts with regard to non-proliferation sanctions regimes, with potential implications for their independence.[11]

Sanctions Types of Sanctions Arms Embargo Travel Ban Assets Freeze Charcoal Ban Illicit Petroleum Export IED Component Ban Trans-port Customs Controls Other Measures[12] Al-Shabaab Sanctions X X X X X 1267, 1989 and 2253 ISIL (Daesh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee X X X 1518 Iraq Sanctions X X 1533 DRC Sanctions X X X X X 1591 Sudan Sanctions X X X 1636 Lebanon Sanctions X X 1718 DPRK Sanctions X X X X X 1971 Libya Sanctions X X X X 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions X X X 2048 Guinea-Bissau Sanctions X 2127 CAR Sanctions X X X 2140 Yemen Sanctions X X X 2206 South Sudan Sanctions X X X 2653 Haiti Sanctions X X X

In 2023, through the end of October, the Council voted on 12 sanctions-related draft resolutions. Only six of these votes resulted in unanimous adoptions. The resolutions on sanctions in Sudan (Darfur), South Sudan, and the Central African Republic (CAR) were adopted with two or more abstentions. There was one abstention on a resolution renewing the authorisation for member states to inspect vessels suspected of violating the arms embargo on Libya. Two votes were held on Mali sanctions: one draft that would have renewed the sanctions regime and its panel of experts was vetoed by Russia, while a second draft, presented by Russiawhich would have renewed the sanctions regime but not its panel of expertsfell short of enough votes. With the failure of these draft resolutions, the Mali sanctions regime was terminated.

The end of the Mali regime, among other Security Council decisions in 2023, suggests that several members have a growing unease with UN sanctions, or their mechanisms, or believe in particular cases that conditions on the ground merit the easing of sanctions. In March 2023, the Council introduced a potential sunset clause for the future of the Darfur sanctions regime, on which it would decide within 18 months, by September 2024. Renewing the South Sudan sanctions regime in May, the Council decided that the South Sudanese authorities no longer needed to notify the sanctions committee of the supply, sale, or transfer of non-lethal military equipment in support of the implementation of the peace agreement. And in July, when it extended the CAR sanctions regime, the Council lifted the arms embargo on the CAR security forces.

The Councils deliberations on sanctions have been notably difficult in cases where the major powers have strategic interests. In May 2022, China and Russia both vetoed a US-initiated draft resolution that would have strengthened sanctions on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), arguing in the negotiations that the resolution would adversely affect the humanitarian situation there and would not help to resolve tensions on the Korean peninsula. This was the first time a DPRK sanctions resolution was vetoed. A draft resolution that China circulated in October 2021 that would have eased sanctions on the DPRK has not been the subject of negotiations involving all Council members, nor has it been tabled for a vote, apparently because it lacks the necessary support to be adopted. Council engagement on CAR and Mali sanctions has also been contentious, as the permanent members have jostled for influence in these countries. The P3 (France, the United Kingdom and the United States) and their allies have criticised the involvement of the Wagner Group, a Russian security company, in the CAR and Mali, former French colonies that until recently hosted French military forcesa tension reflected in the demise of the Mali sanctions regime.

Council members give considerable attention to the unintended humanitarian effects of sanctions. In recent years, Russia and others have accused Western countries of downplaying the humanitarian impacts of both Security Council sanctions and those imposed outside the UN context,[13] accusations that Western countries deny. A notable recent development on UN sanctions was the adoption of resolution 2664 in late 2022. Drafted by Ireland and the United States in the context of rising food and energy prices resulting from the war in Ukraine, this resolution established a standing humanitarian exemption to assets freeze measures that the Security Council imposes.[14]

Panels of Experts Facing Resistance

While panels of experts have been subjected to scrutiny in the past, 2023 has been a particularly hard year. In August 2023, Russia placed a six-month hold on appointments to the CAR panel, which had reported in May that the transfer of certain weapons and aircraft from Russia to the CAR did not comply with the notification requirements of the CAR Sanctions Committee.[15] The panel is currently not functional because of this hold.[16] When Russia vetoed the extension of the Mali sanctions regime in August, it accused the Mali panel of experts of becoming a means of foreign influence,[17] after the panel claimed that Malian armed forces and foreign security forces, ostensibly from the Wagner Group, had committed conflict-related sexual violence.[18] Council members have also sparred over whether the DPRK panel of experts has the authority to issue incident reports regarding missile launches conducted by the DPRK.

Panels of experts reports tend to offer valuable analysis of the political, security and economic developments in the target countries, and are frequently more incisive than the reports produced by the UN Secretary-General on UN peace operations. As well, they often provide useful recommendations on sanctions for the Councils consideration. In 2016, two leading scholars argued that sanctions regimes linked to panels of experts are generally more effective than those that are not, stating that this explains the now standard recourse to panels for each sanctions resolution and their continued renewal.[19] Efforts to hobble or eliminate panels of experts may downgrade the quality of information reaching the Security Council.

The Road Ahead

Complicated negotiations on sanctions are expected to continue in 2024 and may lead to further adjustments to current sanctions regimes.

It remains unclear how the hold on the CAR sanctions regimes panel of experts will be resolved. During the MINUSCA mandate negotiations in mid-November, it appears that China and Russia referred to the improved situation in the CAR and urged the Council to adjust the CAR sanctions regime accordingly. The Council is expected to vote on the renewal of these sanctions in July 2024.

The future of Darfur sanctions is also likely to be a focus of the Council. In April 2023, one month after the Council introduced the sunset clause on Sudan sanctions, the country descended into a civil war marked by widespread violence against civilians, largely in the Darfur region. In 2024, the Council will need to determine whether the sunset clauseoriginally proposed by the African members of the Council and the United Arab Emiratesis still relevant, especially if the political and security situation in Sudan does not improve.

Some Options for UN Sanctions

Many suggestions have been made over the years regarding the design, implementation and management of UN sanctions regimes that could help to enhance their effectiveness and perceived credibility.

One option that has been floated is to expand the Office of the Ombudsperson currently responsible solely for handling delisting requests for the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant [ISIL/Daesh] and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committeeto review and proffer recommendations on delisting requests for all UN sanctions committees where individuals and entities are designated. When the Council established the Haiti sanctions regime in October 2022 through resolution 2653, it expressed its intention to consider authorising the Ombudsperson to receive delisting requests but has not yet done so. A more systematic review of delisting requests by an Ombudsperson across all relevant sanctions regimesor, alternatively, a strengthening of the Secretariats Focal Point for Delisting)could enhance the sense of fairness in the work of sanctions committees, potentially increasing their legitimacy and their effectiveness. (The Focal Point for Delisting is a Secretariat mechanism established by resolution 1370 of 19 December 2006 to receive and transmit to the Council delisting requests from designated individuals and entities. Unlike the Ombudsperson, it covers all sanctions regimes, but does not play an independent advisory function and is not mandated to recommend specific action on delisting requests.)

The Council could also make preassessment visits to potential target countries to analyse the potential adverse humanitarian effects of sanctions being considered.[20] There are precedents for such visits, for example to Sudan in 1997 and Angola in 1998.[21]

Another potential measure is for the Council to resurrect its Informal Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions, which was established in 2000 to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions but was discontinued in 2006.[22] China suggested re-establishing the Working Group in 2022, noting that it had done crucial work in order to help fine-tune and improve Council sanctions.[23] The accomplishments of this Working Group included creating a rudimentary delisting process for names of individuals and entities added to targeting lists and the establishment of a focal point positiona UN staff membercharged with the responsibility of facilitating communication with those who wish to petition any listings.[24] The Working Group could provide a forum for members to discuss best practices and find common ground on the use of sanctions.

The New Agenda for Peace, in which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presented his ideas for preventing conflict and advancing peace, asserts that Security Council sanctions remain an important Charter instrument to address threats to international peace and security. It also emphasises values such as trust and solidarity for healing the rifts among UN member states. Sanctions regimes, with their current divisiveness, could benefit from trust-building measures, however modest, to restore and retain their intended function as a critical Security Council tool for the maintenance of international peace and security.

[1] UN Document S/PRST/2022/6, 31 August 2022.

[2] UN Document S/PV.9278, 8 March 2023.

[3] Security Council Report, UN Sanctions, Special Research Report, 25 November 2013, p. 3

[4] As David Cortright and George A. Lopez noted in The Sanctions Decade: Assessing UN Strategies in the 1990s:

Whereas the Council had only imposed sanctions twice in the first forty-five years of its existenceduring 1990s, the Security Council imposed comprehensive or partial sanctions against Iraq (1990), the former Yugoslavia (1991,1992 and 1998), Libya (1992), Liberia (1992), Somalia (1992), parts of Cambodia (1992), Haiti (1993), parts of Angola (1993, 1997, and 1998), Rwanda (1994), Sudan (1996), Sierra Leone (1997), and Afghanistan (1999). David Cortright and George A. Lopez, The Sanctions Decade: Assessing UN Strategies in the 1990s, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Boulder, 2000, p. 2.

[5] UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), Subsidiary Organs of the United Nations Security Council, 2023 Fact Sheets, p. 4. This DPPA report notes that targeted measures are intended to have limited, strategic focus on certain individuals, entities, groups or undertakings. https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil/files/subsidiary_organs_series_7sep23_.pdf

[6] Security Council Report, UN Sanctions, Special Research Report, 25 November 2013, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/special_research_report_sanctions_2013.pdf

[7] Sue Eckert, The Role of Sanctions, in in The UN Security Council in the 21st Century, edited by Sebastian von Einsiedel, David M. Malone, and Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Boulder, 2016, p. 415

Of these three categories, Eckert notes, the international community generally employs sanctions to achieve three strategic purposes: to coerce targets into changing policies or behavior (the most widely perceived goal of sanction); to constrain targets in their ability to conduct proscribed activities; and to signal support for an international norm or stigmatize targets. Such purposes are not mutually exclusive, and most sanctions have multiple objectives. See also Security Council Report, UN Sanctions, Special Research Report, 25 November 2013, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/special_research_report_sanctions_2013.pdf

[8] Thomas J. Biersteker, Marcos Tourinho, and Sue E. Eckert, The effectiveness of United Nations Targeted Sanctions in Targeted Sanctions: The Impacts and Effectiveness of United Nations Action, edited by Thomas J. Biersteker, Sue E. Eckert and Marcos Tourinho, Cambridge University Press, 2016, p. 226.

[9] Ibid, pp. 232-233

[10] Enrico Carisch and Loraine Rickard-Martin, Implementation of United Nations Targeted Sanctions, in Targeted Sanctions: The Impacts and Effectiveness of United Nations Action, edited by Thomas J. Biersteker, Sue E. Eckert and Marcos Tourinho, Cambridge University Press, p. 154, 2016.

[11] Alix Boucher and Caty Clement, Coordination of United Nations Sanctions with other actors and instruments in Targeted Sanctions: The Impacts and Effectiveness of United Nations Action, edited by Thomas J. Biersteker, Sue E. Eckert and Marcos Tourinho, Cambridge University Press, pp. 125-126, 2016.

[12] Among others additional measures, the DPRK sanctions include bans on items related to mass destruction-related programmes and ballistic missiles, various energy products; seafood; and luxury goods.

[13] See, for example, the Security Council open debate hosted by Russia on General issues related to sanctions: Preventing their humanitarian and unintended consequences, S/PV.8962 (7 February 2022).

[14] Security Council Report, Sanctions: Vote on a Resolution Establishing a Standing Humanitarian Carveout to UN Sanctions Regimes, Whats in Blue, 9 December 2022, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2022/12/sanctions-vote-on-resolution-establishing-a-standing-humanitarian-carve-out-to-un-sanctions-regimes.php

[15] UN Document S/2023/360, Final report of the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to Security Council resolution 2648 (2022), 18 May 2023.

[16] See Guidelines of the Committee for the Conduct of its Work for the CAR Sanctions Committee, https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil/files/car_cttee_guidelines_eng_7oct23.pdf

[17] UN Document S/PV.9408, 30 August 2023

[18] UN Document S/2023/578, Final report of the Panel of Experts on Mali established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2374 (2017), 3 August 2023.

[19] Michael Brzoska and George A. Lopez, Security Council dynamics and sanctions design, in Targeted Sanctions: The Impacts and Effectiveness of United Nations Action, edited by Thomas J. Biersteker, Sue E. Eckert and Marcos Tourinho, Cambridge University Press, 2016, p. 77.

[20] David Cortright and George A. Lopez, The Sanctions Decade: Assessing UN Strategies in the 1990s, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Boulder, 2000, p. 225.

[21] Ibid, pp. 225-226.

[22] UN Document S/200/319, Note by the President of the Security Council, 17 April 2000. See Sue Eckert, The Role of Sanctions, in The UN Security Council in the 21st Century, edited by Sebastian von Einsiedel, David M. Malone, and Bruno Stagno Ugarte, 2016, p. 432.

[23] UN Document S/PV.8962, 7 February 2022

[24] Joanna Weschler, The evolution of security council innovations in sanctions, International Journal, Winter 2009-10, p. 42.
SECURITY COUNCIL AND WIDER UN STRUCTURE

International Criminal Tribunals

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council is scheduled to hold its semi-annual debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). The President of the IRMCT, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, and the Chief Prosecutor of the IRMCT, Serge Brammertz, are expected to brief during the debate and to meet with the Informal Working Group on Tribunals prior to that.

The term of the Chief Prosecutor and the IRMCTs operating period expire on 30 June 2024.

Background and Key Recent Developments

The IRMCTwith branches in The Hague, the Netherlands, and Arusha, Tanzaniafocuses on completing the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which closed in December 2017 and December 2015, respectively. Since its establishment, the IRMCTs tasks have included hearing the remaining trials and appeals from the ICTY and the ICTR; locating and arresting the three remaining fugitives indicted by the ICTR; assisting national jurisdictions with requests related to prosecuting international crimes committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia; monitoring cases referred to national courts; enforcement of sentences; protection of witnesses and victims; and the preservation of archives.

The IRMCT was established in 2010 by resolution 1966, which said that the Mechanism shall continue the jurisdiction, rights and obligations and essential functions of the ICTY and the ICTR and that it should be a small, temporary and efficient structure, whose functions and size will diminish over time, with a small number of staff commensurate with its reduced functions.

Under resolution 1966, the IRMCT was mandated to operate for an initial period of four years and for subsequent periods of two years unless the Council decides otherwise. The Council most recently extended the IRMCTs operating period and Brammertzs term in resolution 2637, which was adopted on 22 June 2022 with 14 votes in favour and Russia abstaining. It contained new elementsincluding language urging member states to intensify cooperation to enforce sentences handed down by the ICTR, the ICTY, and the IRMCTand welcomed the continuing support already provided by states in this regard. It called on the IRMCT, as part of its completion strategy, to provide options regarding the transfer of its remaining activities in due course. It also noted the prosecutors confirmation in May 2022 of the deaths of two fugitives indicted by the ICTR and included new language noting that decisions on the relocation of persons who have been acquitted or completed their sentences should take into account, among other matters, the readiness of the state of origin to accept its nationals, the consent or any objections raised by the individuals to be relocated, and the availability of other relocation states. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 21 June 2022.)

The Councils last semi-annual debate on the IRMCT took place on 12 June. Brammertz and Gatti Santana briefed. In her briefing, Gatti Santana noted that the IRMCTs Appeals Chamber had recently handed down its last judgment regarding crimes committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia in the case Prosecutor v. Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic and said with that judgment, the ambitious journey of the [ICTY] has come to an end, insofar as the cases against all 161 persons indicted by that Tribunal have concluded. Gatti Santana also updated Council members on the final case concerning core international crimes on the IRMCTs docket, the trial of Felicien Kabuga. In this regard, she highlighted the Trial Chambers 6 June decision to continue the proceedings through an alternative finding procedure despite its finding that Kabuga is unfit to stand trial. She further mentioned three main areas that require the Councils urgent attention and vigorous backing: enforcement of sentences, the situation of acquitted or released persons relocated to Niger in December 2021, and attempts to undermine our current work and the judgments issued by the ICTR, the [ICTY] and the [IRMCT].

Brammertz noted that under Gatti Santanas leadership the IRMCT is actively planning its future as a true residual institution, while emphasising that it still has important work to do. He mentioned that more than 1,000 fugitives have not yet been prosecuted in Rwanda and said that national prosecutors in the former Yugoslavia are still processing several thousand cases before observing that his office has received more requests for assistance than ever before. Brammertz also highlighted the 24 May arrest of Fulgence Kayishema, who was indicted for the April 1994 murders of more than 2,000 people in Rwanda, and commended the work of national authorities that led to the arrest.

On 7 August, the IRMCTs Appeals Chamber overturned the Trial Chambers 6 June decision to continue proceedings against Kabuga using an alternative finding procedure, concluding that neither the Statute nor the jurisprudence of the [IRMCT] and its predecessor tribunals allow for the conduct of an alternative finding procedurein lieu of a trial. On 8 September, the Trial Chamber stayed the proceedings against Kabuga indefinitely.

Key Issues and Options

Continuing to monitor the work of the IRMCT and the implementation of its mandate is a key issue for the Council. Members could choose to use the closed format of the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals to have a frank discussion with Gatti Santana and Brammertz regarding the next phase of the IRMCTs operations. Members could also use this format to ask questions about whether there is anything the Council can do to help manage the three issues identified by Gatti Santana during her 12 June briefing.

Council Dynamics

Council members generally have a positive assessment of the IRMCT and the progress it has made, with the exception of Russia. Russia has regularly criticised the appointment of Brammertz, who was the ICTY prosecutor from 2008 until its closure in 2017, and it abstained on resolutions reappointing him in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. Russia was also consistently critical of the ICTY.

The negotiations on resolution 2637, which most recently extended Brammertzs term, were lengthy and difficult. An area of disagreement during the negotiations was how to characterise the conclusions of the 23 February 2022 report of the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) reviewing the methods and work of the IRMCT. Russia apparently proposed language noting that the IRMCT failed to implement all OIOS recommendations and suggested language calling on the OIOS to generate new recommendations on the evaluation of the IRMCTs methods and work pertaining to its closure, especially with a focus on staff reduction. Russia also apparently sought the inclusion of language expressing concern that the IRMCT had failed to demonstrate any visible reduction in its staff or budget. Most members did not support such language, however, and it was not added to the resolution.

Language regarding the importance of ensuring the rights of persons detained on the authority of the IRMCTincluding those related to healthcarewas also contentious. At least two members were apparently in favour of deleting this text, but Russia opposed the deletion. Russia has repeatedly emphasised the importance of protecting persons detained by the IRMCT and maintaining their access to medical care, often by specifically referring to the case of Ratko Mladic.

Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon) chairs the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law on ratification of the Treaty on Allied Relations with Kazakhstan, Trend reports, referring to the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan.

According to the treaty's, it provides for close cooperation in the spheres of foreign policy, defense, security, and migration, as well as joint efforts in development of industrial cooperation, rational use of transboundary water resources, and strengthening relations between parliaments, political parties, and public organizations.

The presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev - signed the Treaty on Allied Relations on December 22, 2022.

President Tokayev emphasized the high level of relations between the countries and noted that the relations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are an example of interstate relations.

The presidents also signed the treaty on the demarcation of state borders between the countries.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
MIDDLE EAST

Iran

Expected Council Action

In December, the Council is expected to convene a briefing on the Secretary-Generals biannual report on the implementation of resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Irans nuclear programme. The Council will also receive reports from its 2231 facilitator, Ambassador Vanessa Frazier (Malta), and the Joint Commission, which was established to oversee the implementation of the JCPOA and comprises the current parties to the agreement: China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and Iran. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Frazier, and a representative of the EU in its capacity as coordinator of the Joint Commission are expected to brief the Council.

Background and Key Recent Developments

Efforts to revive the JCPOA remain frozen following a breakdown in negotiations last year and subsequent political developments that have led to a further deterioration in relations between the parties. In May 2018, then-US President Donald Trump announced that the US, which was originally a signatory to the JCPOA, was withdrawing from the agreement, and went on to impose unilateral sanctions on Iran. Although Iran formally remained in the JCPOA, it took steps that directly contravene its terms, including enriching uranium to levels beyond the JCPOA-mandated limits and removing cameras and monitoring equipment required by the agreement. Following the election of current US President Joseph Biden, the US, Iran, and other parties to the JCPOA began talks in April 2021 in Vienna to revive the agreement.

Those discussions progressed until August 2022, when the EU circulated what it described as a final draft agreement. Iran reportedly insisted as a condition for accepting the deal that the IAEA close its investigation into traces of enriched uranium it had discovered at three undeclared sites in Iran in 2019. The US and European parties to the JCPOA objected to this demand, which they viewed as a separate issue related to Irans obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the countrys NPT Safeguards Agreement, which every non-nuclear NPT state party is required to conclude with the IAEA to ensure that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. In a 17 November 2022 resolution, the IAEA Board of Governors censured Iran and directed it to comply with the IAEAs investigation. In response, Iran announced on 22 November 2022 that it had started enriching uranium to 60 percent purity at its Fordow nuclear facility, approaching the roughly 90 percent level required to produce a nuclear weapon and well above the 3.67 percent limit imposed by the JCPOA.

With negotiations to revive the JCPOA stalled, Iran has increased its production of highly enriched uranium. The IAEAs latest quarterly verification and monitoring report, dated 15 November, estimated that Irans stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium totalled 128.3 kilograms, an increase of 6.7 kilograms from the agencys previous report. In its latest quarterly report on implementation of Irans NPT Safeguards Agreement, also dated 15 November, the IAEA reiterated its call on Iran to provide the agency with technically credible explanations for the presence of depleted uranium at the two undeclared nuclear facilities that remain under investigation. (The agency had previously suspended its investigation into a third site, Marivan, after Iran provided the agency with a possible explanation for the detection of uranium there.)

Cooperation between the IAEA and Iranian authorities has been strained since Iran began breaching the terms of the JCPOA. After the IAEAs February verification and monitoring report said that the agency had detected traces of uranium enriched to 83.7 percent at Irans Fordow facilitywhich Iran claimed was accidentalthe IAEA and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran issued a joint statement on 4 March permitting the IAEA to implement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities, including the installation of surveillance cameras and enrichment-monitoring devices at certain nuclear facilities. According to the agencys latest safeguards report, however, while limited progress was made in implementing the commitments set out in the joint statement during the March-June reporting period, no further progress was made in the June-September period. The report states that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is seriously concerned that Iran appears to have frozen implementation of the agreement.

In parallel to this dispute, Grossi issued a statement on 16 September announcing that Iran had withdrawn the designation of several IAEA inspectors assigned to conduct verification activities in Iran under the NPT Safeguards Agreement. Grossi said that although the measure is formally permitted by the agreement, Iran had exercised it in a manner that affects in a direct and severe way the ability of the IAEA to conduct effectively its inspections in the country. On 18 September, France, Germany, and the UKknown within the Joint Commission as the E3and the US issued a joint statement calling on Iran to immediately reverse these inspector de-designations and fully cooperate with the Agency to enable them to provide assurances that Irans nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.

While JCPOA negotiations remain dormant, Iran and the US concluded a bilateral agreement on 18 September under which Iran released five US citizens imprisoned in Iran in exchange for access to $6 billion dollars in frozen oil revenue. The funds, held in South Korean banks, were transferred to a restricted account in Qatar, from which Iran could withdraw them for humanitarian needs. The deal reportedly also included informal commitments to reduce tensions between US forces and Iran-backed militias in Syria, which had clashed in previous months. However, following the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamaswhich Iran supports politically and financiallythe US and Qatar agreed to temporarily block Irans access to the funds, and tensions between the US and Iranian proxies in the region have since escalated.

Pursuant to resolution 2231, restrictions on Irans ballistic missile program expired on 18 October. In a 14 September joint statement, the E3 announced that they would retain the restrictions past this date through their national sanctions regimes because of Irans consistent and severe non-compliance with its JCPoA commitments since 2019. On 17 October, the EU announced that it would take similar measures under the EU non-proliferation regime on Iran. On 18 October, the US announced new sanctions on several individuals and entities linked to Irans ballistic missile and uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) programmes, citing Irans alleged transfer of these weapons to Hamas and Russia. The same day, 46 countries participating in the Proliferation Security Initiativea group of states promoting non-proliferation effortsissued a statement affirming their commitment to take all necessary measures to prevent the supply, sale, or transfer of ballistic missile-related items to and from Iran.

Key Issues and Options

As the prospects for a revival of the JCPOA grow increasingly remote, the key issue for the Security Council is how to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Analysts have suggested that Irans steps since the US withdrawal from the agreement, including its uranium-enrichment activities, are likely to make a return to the original terms of the agreement and full compliance with those terms difficult, particularly given the institutional knowledge acquired by Irans nuclear programme and the IAEAs diminished monitoring capabilities, which prevent it from establishing a new baseline against which to measure compliance with a future agreement. The Iranian governments apparent support for Hamas and the Russian war effort in Ukraine have also made reviving the JCPOA politically difficult for Western countries.

Given Irans non-compliance with the JCPOA, Council members could initiate the snapback mechanism in resolution 2231 if they decide the agreement is no longer viable. This processwhich is not subject to the vetowould reinstate the UN sanctions that were in place before the JCPOA was agreed upon. It does not appear that such a measure is imminent, however, as the P3 countriesFrance, the UK, and the USmaintain that their red line for initiating the snapback remains the detection of weapons-grade uranium in Iran. In the E3s joint statement announcing the retention of national sanctions on Irans ballistic missile programme, they underscored that their decision does not amount totriggering the snapback mechanism.

An alternative means by which the P3 and like-minded countries could apply pressure on Iran is to adopt a resolution censuring the country at the next meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors. Since Iran ceased to comply with the JCPOA, however, the board has adopted three such resolutions, most recently in November 2022. In a joint statement during the most recent board meeting this November, France, Germany, the UK, and the US said that if Iran fails to implement the essential and urgent actions contained in that resolution, the board will have to be prepared to take further action, including the possibility of additional resolutions.

Council Dynamics

A revival of the JCPOA has grown increasingly unlikely given current geopolitical dynamics.

The P3 and other Western countries remain concerned about Irans activities that contravene the JCPOA and its lack of cooperation with the IAEA. Some may call on Iran to re-certify the agencys inspectors and to fully implement the March joint statement on verification and monitoring measures. The US and European members might reiterate allegations that Iran has supplied UAVs to Russia for use in Ukraine and express concern at what they view as Irans destabilising behaviour in the region, including through its support for Hamas in Gaza and proxy militias in Iraq and Syria.

China and Russia are more supportive of Iran. Both states have previously blamed the US for the collapse of the JCPOA, criticising it for withdrawing from the deal and imposing unilateral sanctions on the Iranian regime. In September, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met in Tehran with Irans top security official, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian. During his visit, Shoigu said that sanctions pressure on Russia and Iran shows its futility, while Russian-Iranian interaction is reaching a new level. On 28 November, Iran announced that it had finalised a deal to purchase Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON IRAN UN DOCUMENTS ON IRAN
MIDDLE EAST

Iraq (UNITAD)

Expected Council Action

In December, the Council will receive the biannual briefing from the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL in Iraq (UNITAD). Special Adviser and head of UNITAD Christian Ritscher is expected to brief the Council.

UNITADs final mandate expires on 17 September 2024.

Background and Key Recent Developments

The Council established UNITAD through resolution 2379 of 21 September 2017 for an initial period of two years. It has since renewed the mechanism annually, most recently with resolution 2697 of 15 September 2023, which renewed the team for a final one-year non-extendable term. UNITAD is mandated to support Iraqi domestic efforts to hold the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh) accountable for crimes it committed in the country by collecting, preserving, and storing evidence in Iraq of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The collected evidence is intended to support investigations carried out by Iraqi authorities or by authorities in third countries at their request.

Resolution 2379 emphasised that UNITAD should be impartial, independent, and credible and act consistently with its terms of reference, the UN Charter, UN best practice, and relevant international law, including international human rights law. Because UNITAD is implementing its mandate in accordance with UN best practice, it does not share evidence for criminal proceedings in which capital punishment could be imposed. At present, the international crimes that UNITAD is mandated to investigate have not been incorporated into Iraqs legal system. As a result, perpetrators in Iraq who have committed acts that contravene international criminal law are usually charged with terrorism offences. Under Iraqi law, the death penalty can be imposed for these offences, which has prevented UNITAD from sharing its evidence of ISILs potential violations of international criminal law with Iraqs governmentthe primary intended recipient.

In October 2020, a draft law that would incorporate international crimes into Iraqs domestic legal system was proposed in the Iraqi parliament, but the legislation has not advanced since then. In March, UNITAD and Iraqi authorities announced the establishment of a joint working group to study the issue further. While seeking a comprehensive solution, UNITAD and the Iraqi authorities have also pursued initiatives to facilitate information-sharing in specific areas, for instance, with regard to ISILs financial crimes and requests to designate ISIL members under the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida sanctions regime.

Despite these efforts, prior to UNITADs most recent mandate renewal in September, Iraq sent a letter to the Council requesting the renewal of UNITADs mandate for a period of one year without the possibility of extension. The letter emphasised that during this period, the team must turn over all the evidence that it has obtained in Iraq since the start of its mandate. It also requested UNITAD not to share further evidence with third countries and to disclose to Iraqi authorities the evidence that the team has previously shared.

Consequently, resolution 2697 extended UNITADs mandate until 17 September 2024 only. It noted Iraqs request for UNITAD to share its evidence with national authorities within this period and requested the Secretary-General to submit to the Security Council, by 15 January 2024, a report setting out recommendations for implementing this request with full respect for the sovereignty of Iraq. It also requested UNITAD, with Iraqs approval, to determine the modalities for evidence-sharing with third countries and to communicate to Iraq what previous evidence has been shared. Finally, it requested UNITAD to develop, by 15 March 2024, in consultation with Iraq, a roadmap for the completion of the teams mandate and the necessary steps for the teams closure.

At the Councils December briefing, Ritscher will present the teams eleventh biannual report, which was circulated to Council members on 16 November but was not yet publicly available at the time of writing. The report says that UNITAD has adjusted its priorities in response to resolution 2697, while continuing to deliver on core mandated tasksin accordance with its Terms of Reference. As a first step towards meeting the mandated requests, the report says that UNITAD has communicated to Iraqi authorities what evidence has previously been shared with third countries and that the parties have successfully determined modalities for such evidence-sharing. The report also notes that the UN Secretariat has instructed UNITAD to provide input to the Secretary-Generals report outlining recommendations for evidence-sharing between UNITAD and Iraqi authorities, and that the team will focus on developing the requested roadmap for the completion of its mandate during the next reporting period. More broadly, the report reiterates UNITADs continued commitment to acting in full respect of the sovereignty of Iraq and to cooperating with Iraq throughout all stages of mandate implementation, guided by Council resolutions, the teams terms of reference, UN best practice, and relevant international law, including international human rights law, notably the right to a fair trial and other due process provisions.

The report also describes progress in several investigative tracks. These include the preparation of a case assessment report on ISILs manufacturing and use of chemical weapons in Iraq, which was shared with Iraqi authorities; the preparation of a report on sexual violence committed by ISIL against women and girls, which was also shared; and updates to case assessments concerning several other files, such as ISILs financing; crimes perpetrated against Iraqs Christian community; violence committed against the Yazidi community in Sinjar; and the massacre of unarmed military cadets at Tikrit Air Academy. The report notes UNITADs intention to share analytical and structural findings regarding these investigations with the Iraqi judiciary in the next reporting period, while shifting part of its focus to the preparation of an overarching preliminary report on ISILs destruction of cultural heritage and reports on ISIL crimes committed in Mosul, Tikrit, and Al Alam, as well as crimes committed against other minority groups in Iraq.

The December briefing will take place in the context of continued military pressure against ISIL in Iraq. According to the Secretary-Generals latest report on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), covering developments from May to September, ISIL has continued to conduct asymmetric attacksprimarily in Anbar, Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninawa, and Salah al-Din Governorateswhile Iraqi security forces have continued counterterrorism operations in response to the terrorist groups activity. A total of 178 attacks were attributed to ISIL/Daesh during the first half of 2023, compared with 526 attacks during the first half of 2022. That figure was the lowest reported over a six-month period since Iraq declared victory over ISIL in December 2017, which the Secretary-Generals report says is indicative of the overall decline in attacks attributed to the group.

Key Issues and Options

The key ongoing issue is how the Council can continue to support UNITADs efforts to promote accountability for ISILs crimes in Iraq, which in turn contributes to the countrys security and political stability.

At the December briefing, Council members are expected to welcome continued investigative progress and the completion or advancement of additional case files. Since the briefing will be the first to take place following the adoption of resolution 2697, members are also likely to express their expectations for the Secretary-Generals upcoming report recommending modalities for evidence-sharing with Iraqi authorities and UNITADs upcoming roadmap for the completion of its mandate, both of which will inform future Council action on the teams drawdown.

Council and Wider Dynamics

Both the Council and the Iraqi government have been generally supportive of UNITAD. Since the teams establishment, its annual mandate renewals have been requested by Iraq and unanimously adopted by Council members.

The issue of evidence-sharing, however, has been a longstanding source of contention. Members who oppose the death penaltysuch as France, Malta, Switzerland, and the UKhave been concerned about the possibility that evidence shared by the team with the Iraqi authorities might be used in criminal proceedings in which the death penalty could be imposed. Other memberssuch as China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirateshave maintained that the use of the death penalty is Iraqs sovereign right, a point Iraq has also emphasised.

During negotiations over UNITADs mandate renewalswhich the Council adopts at Iraqs requestIraq and like-minded Council members have exerted increasing pressure to mandate the team to promptly share its evidence holdings. Prior to the last renewal in September, Iraq agreed to request only one final extension, on this condition. Given their diverging interpretations of international human rights law and UN best practice, however, Council members reached a compromise by requesting the Secretary-General to provide recommendations on how to implement Iraqs request.

The UK is the penholder on UNITAD.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON IRAQ UN DOCUMENTS ON IRAQ
AFRICA

Libya

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council will hold its bimonthly briefing on the situation in Libya. Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Abdoulaye Bathily will brief the Council on recent political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country and the Secretary-Generals latest report on UNSMIL.

Key Recent Developments

Two years have passed since the indefinite postponement of the Libyan national elections that were planned for December 2021. The political impasse continues between the UN-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU), based in Tripoli and led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, and the eastern-based Government of National Stability (GNS), led by Prime Minister Osama Hamad and aligned with the House of Representatives (HoR) and the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) under the command of General Khalifa Haftar. The prolonged stalemate between the rival governments is a key driver of Libyas political, security, and economic instability.

In this context, both the UN and national actors have concentrated recent efforts on facilitating agreement on a new roadmap for national elections to unify the countrys divided government. In March, the HoR and the GNU-aligned High State Council (HSC) established a joint 6+6 committeecomposed of six representatives from each bodyto draft electoral laws to enable elections. On 7 June, the committee announced that it had reached agreement on draft legislation, which the HoR and HSC subsequently approved.

The proposed legislation proved to be controversial, with various political factions contesting several of its provisions and calling for revisions. On 29 September, the 6+6 committee submitted to the HoR an amended version of the draft legislation, which the HoR approved on 2 October. On 6 October, however, HSC President Mohamed Takalawho is considered a political ally of Dbeibahsaid that the HSC had rejected the amended legislation and withdrawn from the 6+6 committee. This assertion was reportedly denied by other HSC members.

In a 12 October statement, UNSMIL said that it had completed a technical review of the amended legislation, which it described as a working basis for holding elections while finding that it still contained [c]ontentious issues that need to be addressed and resolved through a political settlement. The controversial provisions include:

mandating a second round of presidential elections even if one candidate receives a majority of votes in the first round;

making the holding of parliamentary elections contingent on the success of the presidential elections; and

establishing a unified interim government to organise elections.

At the Councils 16 October briefing on Libya, Bathily praised the amended legislation for incorporating some technical revisions proposed by UNSMIL and Libyas High National Elections Commission to make it possible to hold the elections, but he reiterated the need for stakeholders to reach a compromise on the outstanding political issues. The most contentious of these remains the establishment of a unified interim government to organise elections, which Bathily said is necessary for creating a level playing field for all candidates but must be the consensual outcome of political negotiations amongst major players. He said that HSCs rejection of the amended legislation risks obstructing the electoral process and urged the body to renounce that position. At the same time, he cautioned against the unilateral appointment of an interim government, which he said could trigger violent conflict. In this context, Bathily reiterated his call for all stakeholders to agree on a binding political settlement for a peaceful electoral process, the backbone of which will be a unified Government able to lead Libya to elections.

Since then, Bathily has continued to consult with national actors. In a 23 November statement, UNSMIL announced that Bathily had invited key Libyan institutional stakeholders to a meeting to reach a settlement on the politically contested electoral issues. To this end, the statement said that Bathily had requested the HoR, HSC, LNA, and Presidential Council to designate representatives to attend a preparatory meeting to discuss the date, venue, and agenda of the meeting of their principals. Following this announcement, the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the US to Libya issued a joint statement welcoming Bathilys invitation and urging the parties to seize this opportunity to set Libya on the path to long-term stability. On 27 November, however, the HoR issued a statement expressing their disappointment that the GNSwhich the UN does not officially recognisehad not been invited to the meeting and reportedly reiterating its rejection of any political dialogue or agreement failing to respect the Libyan will and elected institutions.

On the security track, the 2020 ceasefire agreement has continued to hold despite sporadic clashes in recent months. In August, a conflict between two armed groups affiliated with different factions of the GNU led to violence in Tripoli, reportedly resulting in at least 55 people being killed. In October, the LNAs attempt to arrest Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathithe former Minister of Defence in the Government of National Accord, the predecessor to the GNUled to armed clashes and several casualties in Benghazi. Most recently, forces associated with the GNU launched a military operation in November around the western city of Zuwara, a region inhabited by the AmizaghLibyas largest ethnic minoritythat is mainly governed by the Amazigh Supreme Council (ASC), as well as some Arab militias. The GNU described the operation as a mission to secure the Ras Ijdir border crossing to Tunisia, which has allegedly been the site of illicit smuggling operations, but the ASC warned of destabilising consequences, and the GNS accused the GNU of trying to impose its control over the country by force under the pretext of imposing security. Some independent analysts have cited control over the illicit economic activities taking place at the border crossing as the main cause of the dispute.

Regarding the humanitarian situation, recovery and reconstruction efforts continue following the catastrophic damage wreaked by Storm Daniel, which hit the eastern city of Derna in September. According to OCHAs latest available numbers as at 31 October, 4,300 people died in the storm, more than 8,000 people are still missing, and 43,400 people remain displaced. In a 2 October statement, UNSMIL cautioned against the emergence of unilateral and competing initiatives from various Libyan actors and institutions on reconstruction, instead calling for a unified national mechanism to coordinate efforts. The Council echoed this call in resolution 2702 of 30 October, which most recently renewed UNSMILs mandate, underscoring the need for the reconstruction to be managed and distributed transparently, with effective oversight and accountability to the Libyan people. From 1 to 2 November, the GNS held a reconstruction conference that convened 400 participants representing international donors and the private sector, but it reportedly did not include any GNU officials.

Key Issues and Options

Supporting political momentum towards national elections to unify Libyas divided government remains the key issue for the Security Council. In this context, an important objective for the Council is to help foster common political ground between the countrys rival legislatures to agree on electoral lawsa goal that Bathily has repeatedly urged Council members to support by wielding their influence on national stakeholders. At Decembers meeting, members may reiterate their call on Libyan actors to engage in good-faith negotiations to finally achieve consensus on outstanding political issues, noting that the rival governments had originally expressed their intent to finalise legislation in time to hold elections by the end of the year. In this context, some members may welcome Bathilys proposed meeting of institutional stakeholders and urge them to productively participate in these discussions. Members may consider issuing a press statement conveying this message.

Council Dynamics

Council members remain united on the need for a Libyan-led, inclusive political process resulting in elections that will help to restore political, security, and economic stability to the country. They also remain broadly supportive of Bathilys mediation efforts in this regard.

Broader geopolitical tensions still influence Council dynamics in respect to Libya, however. The US and other Western members remain concerned about the presence of the Wagner Groupthe private Russian security organisationin Libya and growing ties between Haftar and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who most recently met in Moscow in September and have reportedly discussed the establishment of a Russian naval base in eastern Libya. For its part, Russia routinely blames Libyas current instability on the NATO-led military intervention in 2011 and accuses Western countries of seeking to exploit Libyas oil reserves for economic gain.

The UK is the penholder on Libya.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON LIBYA UN DOCUMENTS ON LIBYA
THEMATIC ISSUES

Small Arms and Light Weapons

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council will hold an open debate on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The meeting will take place based on the Secretary-Generals biennial report on SALW pursuant to resolution 2220 of 22 May 2015. Ecuador is expected to circulate a concept note to help guide the debate.

Key Recent Developments

Two recent Council members, Kenya and Mexico, which served in 2021-2022, facilitated various discussions on SALW and advocated the integration of SALW-related matters in the Councils country-specific and thematic work.

On 6 October 2021, Kenya convened a briefing on the threat posed by the illicit flow of SALW in peace operations as one of the signature events of its Council presidency that month. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed the Council on the Secretary-Generals seventh biennial report on SALW, submitted pursuant to resolution 2220. She said, In contexts where UN peace operations have been mandated, illicit flows and the easy availability of arms can exacerbate and sustain conflict dynamics, render arms embargoes ineffective, endanger peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, and local populations, and complicate the implementation of peace agreements. Nakamitsu noted that arms-related provisions are incorporated in the mandates of UN peace operations deployed in Abyei, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Libya, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen.

On 22 November 2021, Mexico convened a ministerial-level open debate to discuss The impact of the diversion and trafficking of arms on peace and security. This open debate built upon the virtual Arria-formula meeting that Mexico held on 16 September 2021 on the threat to international peace and security posed by the illicit trade in SALW. Robin Geiss, director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, and Maria Pia Devoto, member of the Control Arms Governance Board, briefed the Council during the open debate. The meeting focused on how the unrestricted flow of weapons continued to fuel violence in conflict and post-conflict situations. It also considered efforts to address SALW in the context of conflict prevention and the implementation of indicator 16.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, including through the reduction of the illicit flow of SALW. Additionally, the meeting explored the link between illicit financial flows and the illegal trade in SALW as a source of finance for non-state actors.

On 22 December 2021, the Council adopted resolution 2616, proposed by Mexico, which addressed the illicit transfer, destabilising accumulation, and diversion of arms and related materials in violation of Council-mandated arms embargoes. The resolution expressed the Councils intention to consider whether and how UN peace operations mandates could support relevant national authorities in combating the illicit transfer and diversion of arms in violation of the arms embargoes in their respective areas of operation during mandate renewals. It also emphasised that when the Council evaluated the possible lifting of an arms embargo, it would consider the capacity of states under the arms embargo to prevent its existing arms and ammunition stockpiles from being diverted to the illicit market.

Key Issues and Options

A key issue for members to consider at the open debate is how to address the spread of SALW as a threat to international peace and security. In particular, they may analyse this issue in the context of the Secretary-Generals A New Agenda for Peace, which encourages member states to develop and implement regional and subregional instruments, road maps and action plans to address region-specific challenges related to the diversion of small arms and light weapons and ammunition, as well as their proliferation and misuse, in accordance with international arms control treaties and political frameworks.

Council members may also be guided by the specific recommendations contained in the Secretary-Generals latest biennial report, which include:

encouraging member states to work with UN country teams to integrate SALW considerations into the country analysis and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks;

encouraging the Council to consider systematically and comprehensively good practices related to weapons and ammunition management in relevant decisions;

encouraging peace operations to integrate conventional arms and ammunition-related risks in conflict analysis, prevention, management, and resolution efforts;

encouraging the Council to continue seeking reports from member states on the steps that they have taken to implement arms embargoes and on their efforts to cooperate and share information with the panels of experts; and

universalising relevant legally binding instruments, such as the Firearms Protocol and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), and the implementation of politically binding instruments, such as the Programme of Action on Small Arms and the International Tracing Instrument.

A possible option for Council members is to consider adopting a presidential statement in response to some of the recommendations of the Secretary-Generals report that are relevant to the work of the Council, building on resolution 2616.

Council Dynamics

Several members are supportive of the Councils deliberations on SALW, recognising the Councils responsibility to address the issue as a driver of conflict. They also support integrating SALW issues into the Councils consideration of country-specific situations and other thematic issues, including children and armed conflict; women, peace and security; climate change; and sustainable development.

Among the current elected members, SALW seems to be a priority issue for Ecuador, given the challenge that these pose to its own region. On the other hand, other members tend to underscore the primary role and responsibility of national governments in handling the issue. Russia, in particular, maintains that the General Assembly is the most appropriate place for discussion of SALW issues and opposes attempts to link them to other thematic topics. It does, however, appear to be amenable to discussing SALW in relation to peacekeeping, arms embargoes, security sector reform, disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration.

The ATT and the repeated call for all states to ratify and accede to the treaty are contentious issues. Among Council members, Ecuador, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the US are not parties to the treaty, and some of these members tend to oppose references to the ATT in Council products.

Past negotiations on SALW have been controversial. Six Council members abstained (Angola, Chad, China, Nigeria, Russia, Venezuela) on the adoption of resolution 2220 because the text did not include language critical of the transfer of SALW to non-state actors. Three Council members (China, India, Russia) also abstained on the adoption of resolution 2616.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SMALL ARMS


AFRICA

South Sudan

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Secretary-Generals 90-day report on South Sudan, which members expect to receive by 8 December. Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon), chair of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, is expected to brief on the committees work. Consultations will follow the briefing.

The mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expires on 15 March 2024.

Background and Key Recent Developments

On 4 August 2022, all signatories to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) agreed to a roadmap extending the transitional period by 24 months to implement its key outstanding tasks. (Central aspects of the roadmap relate to the unification of forces and their redeployment, the drafting of the permanent constitution, and the electoral process.) The original transitional period outlined in the R-ARCSS ended on 22 February. In a 21 February press statement, the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) announced the beginning of the extended transition period, which is to end on 22 February 2025, with elections to be held in December 2024.

The most recent quarterly report of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), which is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the R-ARCSS, covering the period from 1 July to 30 September, was released on 23 October. The report noted that lack of progress towards a permanent constitution and transitional security arrangements remain the most critical pending issues. During the period covered by the report, deployment of Phase I of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) was not completed, and the Phase II training, scheduled to start in November 2022, had not commenced. The unification of forces remains a key component of the security apparatus required for holding elections and guaranteeing the overall security of the country, the report added.

On 3 November, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued presidential decrees on the commencement of the process to reconstitute South Sudans National Constitutional Review Commission, National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council. In a 9 November joint statement, the African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and UNMISS welcomed the signing of the presidential decrees, calling it a critical development. The statement called on the parties to the R-ARCSS to engage in immediate dialogue to resolve the remaining outstanding issues and on the South Sudanese government to disburse the necessary resources to ensure the institutional readiness of the reconstituted entities. The statement added that such efforts must be complemented by immediate deployment of the NUF to facilitate the peaceful completion of the transition.

On 16 November, the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held a meeting on the situation in South Sudan. In his remarks at the meeting, Special Representative and head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom noted that despite the passage of critical legislation, the timelines set out in the roadmap remain behind schedule. He added that continuing security and political tensions across the country have the potential to intensify as the electoral date comes closer. He further noted that the country has recently witnessed a spate of military defections which threatens to undermine the much-needed trust between the parties. In light of the contrasting statements on election preparedness made by the parties to the R-ASCSS, he said, efforts need to be made to achieve consensus on the conditions that are required in order for elections to be held. While Kiir maintains that the electoral timeline will remain the same, members of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-in-Opposition have expressed concerns about the lack of necessary preparations.

At the AUPSC meeting, Haysom also highlighted the impact of the conflict in Sudan on the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan. He said that the situation in some border areas is shifting from a humanitarian challenge to a security crisis as host, returnee and refugee populations contend for diminishing aid.

According to data published by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, as at 15 November, 368,880 people have crossed into South Sudan since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan on 15 April, including 50,947 Sudanese refugees, 3,446 non-Sudanese refugees, and 314,487 refugee returnees.

Intercommunal and subnational violence persists in many areas of the country. According to the 26 September quarterly brief on violence affecting civilians (covering April to June), UNMISS Human Rights Division documented 222 incidents of violence affecting 871 civilians. During the reporting period, the proportion of violent incidents increased by 14 percent (from 194 to 222) and incidents related to conflict-related sexual violence increased by 107 percent (from 14 to 29) over the previous quarter (January to March).

At the time of writing, a visit to South Sudan by members of the Informal Experts Group (IEG) on Women, Peace and Security was expected to take place from 11 to 14 December.

Sanctions-Related Developments

On 17 November, the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee held informal consultations to receive a briefing from the Panel of Experts assisting the committees work on its interim report, which was circulated to Council members on 3 November. Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang (Gabon), chair of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, and some of the committee members visited South Sudan from 21 to 28 October.

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 5 October, the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudanwhich was established by the Human Rights Council in 2016released a report describing incidents relating to systematic narrowing and regression in civic space, a singular lack of political tolerance and dissent, as well as the ongoing repression of journalists, civil society actors and human rights defenders, and political actors. The report added that the state of pervasive impunity in the country has further contributed to the severe constriction of democratic space. In a 10 October statement, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Paula Gaviria Betancur, expressed disappointment regarding the decision of the South Sudanese government to postpone her planned visit to the country, scheduled to take place from 9 October to 20 October. Betancur said that [c]iting the recent [5 October] South Sudan Commission on Human Rights report on civic space, and the UN Secretary-Generals report on Cooperation with the UN, its representatives, and mechanisms in the field of human rights, [released on 14 September 2022] as reasons for postponement sends the wrong message at a time when the protection of internally displaced persons in the country requires engagement of all humanitarian and development partners as well as the authorities to realise their human rights.

Key Issues and Options

An ongoing concern for the Council is the significant political and security challenges in South Sudan stemming from the delays in implementing the R-ARCSS. A key issue in this regard is what the Council can do to encourage the parties to make progress in implementing the outstanding issues of the R-ARCSS.

A related issue for several Council members is the need for the government to engage with civil society in relation to the roadmap and its implementation.

Council members could consider adopting a presidential statement urging the parties to implement the roadmap in a timely and inclusive manner.

Another option is to consider a Council visiting mission to South Sudan to assess the situation on the ground and engage with the various parties to the R-ARCSS. (The last Council visiting mission to South Sudan was in 2019.)

The humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains a key issue. According to OCHAs 2023 South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), 9.4 million peoplealmost 76 percent of the countrys population require humanitarian assistance in 2023, including 2.2 million women and 4.9 million children. At the same time, a funding shortage for relief efforts is forcing humanitarian agencies to prioritise activities and suspend programmes in some cases. As at 19 November, South Sudans 2023 HRP, requiring $2.05 billion, was 48.2% funded.

The high incidence of attacks on humanitarian workers and looting of humanitarian assets in recent months has been a matter of concern for Council members. At the time of writing, 28 aid workers have died and 44 have been injured in South Sudan in 2023 as a result of deliberate acts of violence perpetrated against them, according to data released by the Aid Worker Security Database, a compilation of reports on major security incidents against aid workers.

Council members could seek regular briefings on these and other related issues from OCHA.

The impact of the conflict in neighbouring Sudan on the humanitarian and political situations in South Sudan remains a matter of concern for Council members.

Council Dynamics

Most Council members share similar concerns about the delays in implementing the R-ARCSS, the ongoing sub-national and intercommunal violence, the high levels of sexual violence, and the economic and humanitarian crises. Members such as the UK and the US expressed reservations about extending the transitional period in August 2022 and called on the government to demonstrate its commitment to implementing the R-ARCSS in line with the deadlines set out in the roadmap. On the other hand, Russia maintains that the decision to extend the transitional period until February 2025 was necessary.

Differences of view on issues such as how to depict the situation on the ground in South Sudan, the extent to which the Council can and should apply pressure on the parties to fully implement the R-ARCSS, the utility of sanctions, and the effects of climate change on the situation in South Sudan also continue to colour Council dynamics.

The US is the penholder on South Sudan.

UN DOCUMENT ON SOUTH SUDAN


Status Update since our November Forecast

Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 2 November, the Council held its semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) (S/PV.9466) and unanimously adopted resolution 2706, renewing the authorisation of the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) until 2 November 2024. There was no briefer.

The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question

On 6 November, Security Council members convened for closed consultations on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) called for the meeting to discuss the worsening situation in Gaza and Israels airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp and on a convoy of ambulances near Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland briefed.

On 10 November, the Security Council held an open briefing on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (S/PV.9472). The UAE called for the meeting to discuss the deteriorating situation in Gaza, citing the spiraling health crisis amidst continued attacks on hospitals. Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Director General of the Palestine Red Crescent Society Marwan Jilani briefed.

On 15 November, the Security Council adopted resolution 2712 with 12 votes in favour and three abstentions (Russia, the UK, and the US). The resolution calls for extended humanitarian pauses and corridors in the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to enable unhindered humanitarian access to facilitate the provision of essential goods and services important to the well-being of civilians, especially children. Resolution 2712 also calls for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children.

On 22 November, the Security Council convened for an open briefing on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (S/PV.9484). Malta and the UAE requested the meeting, citing the deeply concerning developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the severe impact on women and children. UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Natalia Kanem briefed.

On 27 November, Council members held a private meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, which was requested by Russia. Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Representative Office in New York Greta Gunnarsdottir and OCHA Head in Geneva and Director of the Coordination Division Ramesh Rajasingham briefed. During the meeting, representatives of Egypt and Qatar provided an update on developments related to the pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

On 29 November, the Security Council convened for a ministerial-level briefing on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the meeting. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Wennesland briefed.

Arria-formula Meeting on Combating Forced Separation and Illegal Exploitation of Children

On 10 November, Russia convened an Arria-formula meeting titled Combating forced separation and illegal exploitation of children. The meeting featured briefings by Mira Terada, Director of the Foundation to Battle Injustice; Arun Dohle, Director of Against Child Trafficking; and Sonja van den Ende, a journalist from the Netherlands.

Sudan/South Sudan

On 14 November, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2708, renewing the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) for another year, until 15 November 2024. The resolution also extended for one year the missions support for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM).

Elections to the International Court of Justice

On 9 November, the Security Council and the General Assembly re-elected one judge who is currently serving on the bench of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Hilary Charlesworth (Australia). Another judge currently on the bench, Kirill Gevorgian (Russia), was not re-elected. Four new judges were also elected: Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu (Romania); Sarah Hull Cleveland (United States); Juan Manuel Gomez Robledo Verduzco (Mexico); and Dire Tladi (South Africa). Three other candidates were unsuccessful: Chaloka Beyani (Zambia); Ahmed Amin Fathalla (Egypt); and Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The Security Council went through five rounds of voting (S/PV.9471), while the General Assembly needed only one round. To be elected, candidates must secure an absolute majority in the Security Council (8 votes) and the General Assembly (97 votes).

Counter-Terrorism

On 15 November, the Council convened for the annual open briefing on the work of its counter-terrorism-related committees (S/PV.9478). The briefers were Ambassador Vanessa Frazier (Malta), chair of the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee; Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh (United Arab Emirates), chair of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC); and Ambassador Andres Montalvo Sosa (Ecuador), chair of the 1540 Committee. Nusseibeh delivered a joint briefing on behalf of the three chairs, which was followed by a briefing from each chair on the work of their respective committees.

UN Peacekeeping

On 14 November, the Security Council held its annual briefing with the heads of police components of UN peace operations (S/PV.9475). The focus of the discussion was on how the UN Police (UNPOL) can contribute to the implementation of the recommendations in A New Agenda for Peace, a policy brief released in July outlining the Secretary-Generals vision for the UNs work on peace and security in a changing world. The briefers were: Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; Police Commissioner of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Christophe Bizimungu; Police Commissioner of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Christine Fossen; UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar; and the Executive Director of Security Council Report, Karin Landgren.

Central African Republic

On 15 November, the Security Council adopted resolution 2709, renewing the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for another year, until 15 November 2024 (S/PV.9476). Fourteen members voted in favour and one member abstained (Russia). In its explanation of vote, Russia said that the text continues to include obsolete elements that no longer reflect the situation in the Central African Republic. Russia expressed disappointment that the text did not include the contribution of bilateral partners, seemingly in reference to the role of the Wagner Group, a Russian private security company, as part of the countrys stabilization.

Somalia

On 15 November, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2710, extending the authorisation of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) until 30 June 2024. The resolution also authorised the extension of the drawdown of 3,000 ATMIS personnel until 31 December. On the same day, the Security Council also unanimously adopted resolution 2711, a short technical rollover of the 751 Al-Shabaab sanctions regime until 1 December, to allow time for further deliberations on its renewal.

Sudan

On 16 November, the Security Council convened for an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) (S/PV.9480). Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee briefed on the Secretary-Generals latest 90-day report (S/2023/861), which was circulated to Council members on 10 November and covered developments from 21 August to 31 October. Director of OCHAs Operations and Advocacy Division Edem Wosornu also briefed Council members in the closed consultations.

On 16 November, Sudans Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, sent a letter to the Secretary-General conveying the Sudanese governments decision to terminate the mandate of UNITAMS with immediate effect. The letter said that, in the context of the current situation in the country, the mission no longer meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people and government. The letter further stated that Sudan is willing to engage with the Council and the UN Secretariat on a new, appropriate and agreed upon formula. In this regard, the letter added that General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairperson of Sudans Transitional Sovereign Council and the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, has appointed an envoy to lead a high-level delegation to engage on the matter with the members of the Security Council and the UN Secretariat.

Promoting Sustainable Peace through Common Development

On 20 November, the Security Council held an open debate on promoting sustainable peace through common development under the Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item (S/PV.9482 and Resumption 1). This was the signature event of Chinas Council presidency. The briefers were: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Dilma Rousseff, the President of the New Development Bank and former President of Brazil; and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Networka non-profit established by the UN to promote implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national and international levelsand Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force

On 21 November, Security Council members held their biannual meeting on Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force (FC-G5S) in closed consultations. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee briefed. Ahead of the meeting, the Secretary-General recommended that the Council end the Secretariats reporting obligations on the FC-G5S in a 10 November letter that provided an update on recent developments regarding the force.

Lebanon

On 22 November, Security Council members received a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-Generals report (S/2023/879) on the implementation of resolution 1701. (Adopted in 2006, resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shia group Hezbollah and Israel.) Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed. Council members apparently considered issuing press elements following the meeting. However, consensus could not be achieved.

DPRK (North Korea)

On 27 November, the Council convened for an open briefing on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) (S/PV.9485). Albania, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UK, and the US requested the meeting after the DPRK claimed that it had successfully launched a military reconnaissance satellite on 21 November. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari briefed. The DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK) participated in the meeting under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure.

On 30 November, the Chair of the 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl (Switzerland), briefed Council members in closed consultations on the 90-day report on the committees work.
MIDDLE EAST

Syria

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council is expected to hold a meeting on the political process and the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Key Recent Developments

Amidst rising hostilities in the country over the past few months, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. According to OCHAs 2 November situation report, the escalation of hostilities following an attack on the Syrian military academy in Homs on 5 October has resulted in over 70 civilian casualtiesincluding at least 23 children, 14 women, and four aid workersand the displacement of more than 120,000 people, representing the most significant escalation in violence in north-west Syria since 2019. The report added that the incidents have affected over 43 health facilities, 27 schools, and 20 water systems. (For more, see the Syria brief in the November Monthly Forecast.)

On 13 November, the Syrian government announced its decision to extend its authorisation for the use of the Bab al-Salam and Al Raee border crossings at the Syria-Turkiye borderused by UN humanitarian agencies and its partners for conducting cross-border humanitarian operationsuntil 13 February 2024. Humanitarian operations have also continued through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing at the Syria-Turkiye border, which was authorised by the Syrian government following Russias 11 July veto of a Security Council resolution, until 13 January 2024. The vetoed resolution would have extended the Syria cross-border mechanism, which had allowed the delivery of humanitarian assistance into non-government-controlled parts of Syria without requiring the consent of the Syrian government. (For more, see our Whats in Blue story of 11 July and the In Hindsight in our August Monthly Forecast.)

Council members last met on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria on 30 October. Director of OCHAs Operations and Advocacy Division Edem Wosornu and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen briefed. Wosornu provided an overview of the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in the country and described the recent efforts of the UN and other actors to deliver humanitarian aid in Syria. She added that the funding shortages for relief efforts had significantly affected the ability of humanitarian organisations to provide assistance in the country. In some cases, she pointed out, these shortages had led to the reduction in food distributions, the closure of safe spaces for women and girls, and the scaling back of health services. At the time of writing, the humanitarian response plan for 2023 ($5.41 billion) was only 29.6 percent funded.

In his remarks at the meeting, Pedersen described the intensified hostilities in the country and stressed the urgent need for de-escalation and restoration of calm leading to a nationwide ceasefire, along with a cooperative approach to countering Security Council-listed terrorist groups. In light of the crisis in Israel and Gaza, Pedersen said, the Syrian people face a terrifying prospect of a potential wider escalation, adding that the spillover of the conflict into Syria had already begun.

Pedersen further noted that months of intensive efforts have still not yielded consensus on the venue for resuming the Constitutional Committee, or on its substance. He added that he will continue to prioritise contacts with the members of the Astana format (Iran, Russia, and Turkiye) as well as Arab and Western countries, and to foster joint efforts towards de-escalation and advancing the political process.

On 15 November, Pedersen met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Geneva. According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Special Envoys office, during the meeting, Pedersen stressed the importance of protecting Syrian civilians, de-escalating violence, and containing regional violence. On 16 November, Pedersen met with the senior officials of the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC)which represents the political opposition to the government. In a post on X, the Special Envoys office said that Pedersen had underlined that the current status quo in Syria is untenable and that lack of progress on the political front increases the risk of further escalation of violence. On the same day, Pedersen also engaged with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, Ethan A. Goldrich. Pedersen reportedly stressed that, in the context of heightened tensions in the region, it remains crucial for key actors to cooperate on Syria to de-escalate tensions and advance the political process.

On 17 November, Pedersen met with the German Special Envoy to Syria, Stefan Schneck, highlighting the growing regional instability and violence and emphasising the need to move forward on a meaningful political process in line with resolution 2254 of 18 December 2015, which focused exclusively on a political solution to the Syrian crisis. He also met the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles on 19 November. At the meeting, Pedersen expressed grave concern about regional tensions and their wider implications, according to a post on X.

There has been an uptick in attacks against the US forces stationed in Syria and Iraq, following the 7 October attack against Israel by Hamas, the Palestinian armed group and de facto authority in Gaza, and the subsequent response from Israeli forces, including airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip. In a 16 November press briefing, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that there had been 58 attacks against US service members since 17 October.

Against the backdrop of the increasing violence, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said in a 21 October press statement that he had authorised the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, an anti-ballistic missile defence system; and battalions of Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target (PATRIOT), a surface-to-air missile defence system, to locations throughout the region to increase protection for the US forces. The US has also deployed two naval strike groups to the region led by the aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In a 9 November press briefing, Singh said that, on the previous day, the US had conducted a targeted strike in eastern Syria directed against a weapons-storage facility affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and aligned groups. Singh further noted that the US holds Iran accountable for the attacks on US forces and we expect Iran to take measures to direct its proxies to stop. On 12 November, the US again targeted a training facility and a safe house, allegedly used by the IRGC and affiliated groups, near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin in eastern Syria, according to the US Department of Defense.

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 16 November, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its consideration of the case Canada and the Netherlands v. Syrian Arab Republic in relation to the application of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, rendered provisional measures, ordering Syria to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and ensure that its officials, as well as any organizations or persons which may be subject to its control, direction or influence, do not commit any acts of torture or other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The ICJ further ordered Syria to take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of any evidence related to allegations of acts within the scope of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The judgment was pronounced with 13 votes in favour and two against. Decisions rendered by the ICJ on provisional measures under Article 41 of the ICJ Statute are legally binding. On 15 November, the Third Committee of the General Assembly approved a resolution titled Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic (A/C.3/78/L.43). The resolution condemned the continued widespread and systematic gross violations and abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms and all violations of international humanitarian law by the Syrian regime, the government-affiliated militias and those who fight on their behalf. The resolution further demanded that Syria and all other parties to the conflict allow and facilitate safe, full, timely, immediate, unrestricted, and sustained humanitarian access, including through the continuation of cross-border assistance. The resolution was approved by a vote of 86 in favour, 15 against, and 73 abstentions.

Key Issues and Options

A key issue for Council members is the ongoing hostilities in the region and the risk of escalation.

Another important issue for the Council is to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid to those in need in north-west Syria. A related and broader issue is how to alleviate the growing humanitarian needs throughout the country. According to OCHA, some 15.3 million Syriansover 69 percent of the populationrequire humanitarian assistance in 2023. The deteriorating socioeconomic conditions are also of concern.

Periodic briefings from OCHA have helped keep the Council informed of the humanitarian situation on the ground. Council members could consider inviting representatives of Syrian humanitarian aid organisations to engage with them to explore avenues for improving and expanding aid-delivery mechanisms, including early recovery projects, in Syria.

Another key long-standing issue is finding a way to break the political impasse in Syria and to provide political support for the Special Envoys efforts in this regard. One option would be for the Council to hold a private meeting with Pedersen and interested member states with influence over the parties in Syria to discuss recent developments and ways to make progress on the political track.

Council Dynamics

Over the years, Syria has been one of the most divisive files on the Councils agenda. China and Russia are supportive of the Syrian government, emphasising the need to respect the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity and drawing connections between unilateral coercive measures on Syria and the challenging humanitarian situation in the country. In contrast, the P3 (France, the UK, and the US) and other like-minded members criticise the government for violating international humanitarian law and human rights law, arbitrarily detaining people, and not engaging meaningfully in political dialogue.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON SYRIA
Transnational Organised Crime

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council plans to convene an open debate on Transnational organised crime, growing challenges and new threats under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item. Ecuadors Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Maria Gabriela Sommerfeld, is expected to chair the meeting, which is the signature event of Ecuadors Council presidency. The anticipated briefers are Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Ghada Waly, the Executive Director of UNODC; and a civil society representative. A presidential statement is a possible outcome.

Key Developments

During the past 15 years, the Security Council has held several meetings and adopted key outcomes focusing on the various challenges posed by transnational organised crimean issue that manifests itself in various illegal activities that threaten international peace and security, including migrant smuggling, illegal mining, drug and human trafficking, arms trafficking, extrajudicial killings, sexual and gender-based violence, kidnapping, money laundering, and trafficking in cultural artifacts, among others.

The Councils first open debate on drug trafficking and organised crime was convened on 8 December 2009, during Burkina Fasos Council presidency. The meeting resulted in a presidential statement that noted the threat posed in some cases by drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime to international security in different regions of the world, including in Africa. The statement also recognised the contribution of states and regional and subregional organisations in tackling drug trafficking and encouraged them to share information about illicit drug trafficking networks.

France initiated a briefing on 24 February 2010 on global threats to international peace and security posed by organised crime. As an outcome to the meeting, the Council adopted a presidential statement on the linkages between drug trafficking and organised crime. The statement also expressed concern about the development of cybercrime and that kidnapping and hostage-taking were being used by criminal groups to raise funds or garner political concessions.

On 21 February 2012, during an open debate convened by Togo on the impact of transnational organised crime on peace, security and stability in West Africa and the Sahel region, the Council adopted a presidential statement that identified transnational organised crime as a serious threat to international peace and stability including illicit weapons and drug trafficking, piracy and armed robbery at sea, as well as terrorism.

Chad held an open debate on 19 December 2014, which focused on the linkages between transnational organised crime and terrorism. At the debate, the Council adopted resolution 2195, which called on UN member states to strengthen border management to effectively prevent the movement of terrorists and terrorist groups, including those benefiting from transnational organized crime.

More recent Council meetings related to transnational organised crime have focused on issues such as human trafficking (the US, Spanish, and Italian Council presidencies in December 2015, December 2016 and November 2017, respectively); the protection of cultural heritage (Italys Council presidency in November 2017); and organised crime at sea (Equatorial Guineas presidency in February 2019).

As well, efforts to tackle organised crime have been evident in the Councils recent work on sanctions. In November 2022, when the Council renewed the Al-Shabaab Sanctions regime in Somalia, it encouraged the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to bring together relevant states and international organisations to enhance regional cooperation on responding to illicit maritime flows and disrupt all forms of trafficking in licit and illicit goods that may finance terrorist activities. In addition, when renewing the Haiti Sanctions regime this October, the Council welcomed the launch of technical programmes by the UNODC to assist national authorities to promote border and ports control, trace illicit financial flows, [and] collaborate across borders to combat transnational crime, corruption, and drug and arms trafficking.

Key Issues and Options

The key issue for the Council is identifying trends and addressing gaps in efforts to counteract transnational organised crime. Another important issue is how to enhance coordination and coherence among the various international, national, and local stakeholders working on this issue.

One option would be to invite a civil society representative, who works on addressing the peace and security threat posed by transnational organised crime, to brief on its effects in his or her region and strategies for addressing these threats.

Another option would be for the Council to pursue a presidential statement that:

highlights the adverse effects of transnational organised crime in the current global security context;

encourages international, regional and national actors to cooperate in sharing best practices on transnational organised crime; and

encourages member states and regional organisations to enhance their capacities to tackle this threat.

Council Dynamics

It appears that Ecuador sees the open debate as an opportunity to explore how the Council can best address the multiple manifestations of transnational organised crime. This more holistic approach would be a departure from the narrower focus of some past Council meetings on this issue (for example, the relationship between transnational organised crime and human trafficking). Some members may also maintain during the meeting that underdevelopment is a fundamental factor leading to the rise of organised crime. It seems that Ecuador is collaborating with France, which has traditionally favoured Council engagement on transnational organised crime, to pursue a presidential statement on this issue.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN Documents on Transnational Organised Crime
EUROPE

Ukraine

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council may hold one or more meetings on the situation in Ukraine, depending on developments on the ground.

Key Recent Developments

Hostilities in Ukraine are concentrated in the eastern Donbas and southern Kherson regions. In November, Ukrainian forces established positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson. Concurrently, Ukrainian troops are repelling Russian offensives in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions, with heavy fighting reported along the Kupiansk axis and around the city of Avdiivka, respectively. In an 18 November intelligence update, the UKs Ministry of Defence said that neither side has achieved substantial progress on any front, noting that [a]s colder winter weather sets in earnest in eastern Ukraine, there are few immediate prospects of major changes in the frontline.

On 1 November, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, acknowledged that the war had reached a stalemate and that the counteroffensive launched by Ukraine in June might not achieve a significant breakthrough. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously recognised the counteroffensives slow progress, cautioning against overly optimistic expectations of rapid success. Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva rejected Zaluzhnyis assertion on 4 November, arguing that his statement eases the work of the aggressor and stirred panic among Kyivs allies.

Last month, the Security Council maintained its regular focus on Ukraine, holding four meetings, consistent with its engagement level in previous months. On 8 November, Council members convened for an emergency meeting on Ukraine at Russias request to discuss an incident that occurred on 7 November, in which shelling by Ukrainian forces reportedly killed six people and injured at least 11 others in the city of Donetsk. Following that meeting, the Council held closed consultations regarding the 26 September 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

On 17 November, the Council convened for an open briefing on Ukraine under the Threats to international peace and security agenda item. Russia requested the meeting to discuss its allegations that Ukrainian authorities are persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. (For more, see our Whats in Blue stories of 7 November and 16 November.) At the request of Albania and the US, Council members held a briefing on 21 November to discuss the humanitarian consequences of the war, in particular its effects on domestic and global food security. At a press briefing following the meeting, Russian Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia announced that Russia would organise an Arria-formula meeting on 8 December, focused on the history of Maidan. (The Maidan, or Euromaidan, protests in 2013 and 2014 led to the ouster of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014.)

Human Rights-Related Developments

On 16 November, the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health (Yale HRL) issued a report titled Belarus Collaboration with Russia in the Systematic Deportation of Ukraines Children. The report found that at least 2,442 children, including children with disabilities, have been taken to Belarus from 17 cities across the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The report emphasises that Russias systematic effort to identify, collect, transport, and re-educate Ukraines children has been facilitated by Belarus and is ultimately coordinated between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

On 15 November, the Third Committee of the General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/C.3/78/L.42) by a vote of 77 in favour, 14 against, and 79 abstentions on the Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The resolution condemns Russias ongoing occupation of the Ukrainian territories and urges Russia to adhere to its obligations under relevant international law and bring an immediate end to violations of international human rights law against residents in the occupied territories.

Key Issues and Options

The overarching priority for the Council is to promote a solution to the conflict in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and to facilitate dialogue among the parties to that end. The direct involvement of a permanent member in the conflict, however, continues to limit the Councils options.

Council and Wider Dynamics

The Security Council remains starkly divided on the conflict in Ukraine and the appropriate framework for achieving a peaceful resolution. Ukraine and its allies have advocated for a just peace, conditioned on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraines internationally recognised borders. Other member states have emphasised de-escalation and diplomacy, with some calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities without any preconditions, a move that could freeze the front lines of the conflict and leave Russia in control of a significant amount of territory in eastern and southern Ukraine. Most members continue to express concern over the mounting toll of the conflict on civilians and civilian infrastructure and the conflicts global repercussions.

On 8 November, the European Commission, an executive body of the EU, recommended initiating EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. Zelenskyy welcomed the recommendation, saying that Ukrainians have always been and remain part of our common European family. EU leaders are expected to discuss Ukraines EU bid on 14 and 15 December. On 9 November, EU member Hungary opposed starting membership talks with Ukraine, advocating instead for a form of privileged partnership rather than full membership.

November saw persistent concerns in Kyiv regarding the possibility of diminishing Western financial support for Ukraine in light of disagreements within the US House of Representatives over US assistance to Ukraine. In October, US President Joe Biden appealed to the US Congress to endorse a $106 billion emergency aid package for Israel, Ukraine, and the southern US border. However, on 2 November, the House of Representatives passed a $14.3 billion standalone aid package for Israel, which was subsequently blocked by the US Senate on 14 November. Moreover, a temporary spending bill signed into law by Biden on 16 November did not address the issue of continued aid for Ukraine.

The ongoing crisis in the Middle East, triggered by the 7 October attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas on Israel, has continued to cast doubts on the ability of Kyivs Western allies to maintain their level of international political support for Ukraine. On 6 November, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip was taking away the focus from the conflict in Ukraine.

In his speech at the 2023 EU Ambassadors Conference on 6 November, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles echoed Zelenskyys concerns, noting that the crisis in the Middle East is already having a lasting impact on [the EUs] policy in Ukraine. Borrell acknowledged that international support for Ukraine may erode in light of what is being seen as the practice of double standards, as some take advantage of the crisis in the Middle East to underscore what they see as a contradiction in our positioning. Russia has increasingly criticised Western countries approach to the situation in the Middle East. During the 8 November Council briefing on Ukraine, Russia drew parallels between the residents of Donbas and those of Gaza, claiming that since 2014, the former have been living in a similar paradigm to the latter, in which Western countries have ignored Kyivs crimes against the civilian population as they have done with Israels aggression against Gazans.

Ukraines Western and other allies, nonetheless, have sought to reassure Kyiv of their unwavering support. At a press conference on 7 November before a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) coalition of highly developed nations, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa stressed the importance of the G7 reaffirming its unchanging commitment to strict sanctions against Russia and strong support for Ukraine, particularly as tensions increase in the Middle East. In a statement following the meeting, the G7 emphasised that its steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraines fight for its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity will never waver.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON UKRAINE
UNDOF (Golan)

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council is expected to extend the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which expires on 31 December. Ahead of the mandate renewal, a representative of the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) is expected to brief Council members in closed consultations on the Secretary-Generals latest 90-day report on UNDOF, due on 1 December, and the most recent developments.

Background and Key Recent Developments

UNDOF was established following the conclusion of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement (the 1974 agreement) between Israel and Syria, which ended the Yom Kippur War. Its mandate is to maintain the ceasefire between the parties and supervise the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces as well as the areas of separation (a demilitarised buffer zone) and limitation (where Israeli and Syrian troops and equipment are restricted) in the Golan.

On 29 June, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2689, renewing UNDOFs mandate for six months, until 31 December. The resolution called on the parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any breaches of the ceasefire and the area of separation. It further encouraged them to take full advantage of UNDOFs liaison function regularly to address issues of mutual concern.

The Secretary-Generals most recent report on UNDOFs activities, dated 26 September, noted that the ceasefire between Israel and Syria generally held during the reporting period of 21 May to 20 August. It said, however, that violations of the 1974 agreement persisted, observing that the overall security situation in UNDOFs area of operations remained volatile and raising concerns about the safety and security of the military and civilian personnel of UNDOF and Observer Group Golan (OGG), which is comprised of military observers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

The report added that UNDOF maintained its assessment that UN personnel in its area of operations faced a significant threat from explosive remnants of war, including unexploded ordnance and mines, as well as a probable threat from the possible presence of sleeper cells of armed groups. It further observed that although the security situation in the northern and central parts of UNDOFs area of operations on the Bravo side (Syrian Golan) generally remained calm, the southern sector continued to be volatile, with security incidents reportedly occurring in locations within the area of limitation, including along UNDOF patrol routes in Syrias south-western Daraa Governorate.

During the period covered by the Secretary-Generals report, UNDOF observed the continued presence of Syrian armed forces within the area of separation as well as Israels Iron Dome air defence system, armoured vehicles, artillery systems, and multiple rocket launcher systems in the area of limitation on the Alpha side (Israeli-occupied Golan). The presence of this military equipment and personnel in the areas of separation and limitation constitutes a violation of the 1974 agreement, noted the report.

The region has witnessed a sharp rise in hostilities following the 7 October attack against Israel by Hamas, the Palestinian armed group and de facto authority in Gaza, and the subsequent response from Israeli forces, including airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip. On 10 October, a number of mortars were reportedly fired from Syria towards the Golan, several of which crossed into Israeli territory, prompting retaliatory artillery strikes by Israel in Syria. According to media reports, on 25 October, in response to rockets fired from Syria targeting areas in Golan under Israeli control, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck military infrastructure belonging to the Syrian army in the city of Daraa, south-western Syria. As a result, eight Syrian soldiers died and seven others were injured, according to Syrian state media. A military installation was targeted again, allegedly by Israel, in Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa on 12 November, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based human rights monitoring organisation.

There have also been reports of instances in which missile strikes, allegedly conducted by Israel from the direction of Golan, targeted locations around Damascus and Aleppo. On 17 November, the Syrian army reportedly intercepted missile strikes targeting several locations around Damascus. According to a 26 November Reuters article, airstrikes conducted by Israel hit the Damascus airport earlier the same day, putting it out of service. On multiple occasions since 7 October, the Aleppo and Damascus airports have been subjected to attacks, allegedly conducted by Israel. Although it has not commented on the strikes, Israel has traditionally argued that it carries out airstrikes in Syria to disrupt Iranian supply lines to its proxy groups. In her briefing at the 28 November Council meeting on Syria, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi said that the airstrikes on the Damascus airport temporarily interrupted the operations of the UNs Humanitarian Air Service.

Amid rising tensions in the region, approximately 700 Hezbollah-linked fighters have been deployed in some areas in Quneitra and Rif Dimashq Governorate bordering the Golan, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Reportedly, these fighters were trained by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and come from different parts of the region, including Iraq, Syria, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Since 7 October, Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged fire on multiple occasions, but these incidents have been largely limited to the Israel-Lebanon border. (For more, see the Lebanon brief in our November Monthly Forecast.)

On 28 November, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled [T]he Syrian Golan (A/78/L.10), which determined that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. The resolution called on Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks. It further demanded that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. The resolution was adopted with 81 votes in favour, 8 against, and 62 abstentions.

Key Issues and Options

A key priority for the Council in December is the renewal of UNDOFs mandate. A related issue is ensuring that UNDOF personnel are equipped with the necessary resources to fulfil the missions mandate, along with maintaining the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel.

Another key issue is the challenges the mission faces in carrying out its mandate amidst continuing violations of the 1974 agreement by the parties, such as the restrictions on the movement and access of UNDOF personnel. Since early March 2020, the IDF have restricted the movement of UNDOF and OGG personnel through the Alpha gate at the Quneitra crossing, requiring advance notice of the movement, thereby hindering the operational and administrative activities of the mission, according to the Secretary-Generals 26 September report.

A related issue is the continuing hostilities in the region and the risk of wider escalation. Members may consider pursuing a press or presidential statement urging the parties to adhere to international law and their commitments under the 1974 agreement while expressing concern about the risk of escalation resulting from these violations and the potential danger they pose to the safety of peacekeepers.

At this months consultations, Council members may be interested in receiving information from the DPO briefer on how the escalation of hostilities in the region has affected UNDOFs activities. They may also wish to receive updates regarding progress on UNDOFs return to the Bravo side. The military observers of OGG had to vacate the observation posts in 2014 owing to the deteriorating security situation in Syria.

Council Dynamics

The unanimous adoption of resolution 2689 on 29 June, which reauthorised UNDOFs mandate for six months, illustrated that the Council remains united in its view that UNDOF plays an important role in regional stability. There was little disagreement among Council members during the negotiations, which were apparently straightforward, and no Council member felt that an explanation of vote was necessary following the adoption. Some Council members believe that the situation has turned into a protracted conflict owing to continued violations of the 1974 agreement by both sides.

Despite deep divisions in the Council regarding the Syria file and opposing positions by the UNDOF co-penholdersRussia and the USabout who holds sovereignty over the Golan, the two countries continue to consider UNDOF as a separate issue on which they agree. It seems that the antagonism between Russia and the US over the conflict in Ukraine has not affected their work on UNDOF; the difficult dynamics witnessed in other Council files were not evident during the negotiations on UNDOFs mandate in June.

It remains unclear whether and how the recent escalation of conflict in the region will affect the Councils work on the Golan file.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON UNDOF
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 1. Uzbekistan will introduce anti-fraud systems for monitoring and preventing fraudulent transactions in banks and payment systems in 2024-2025, Trend reports.

According to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev's order, the decision to use such technologies was made in response to an increase in bank card fraud in Uzbekistan.

The program also calls for the implementation of biometric identification of clients at the Central Bank, as well as the implementation of a system for identifying data in these financial institutions using SIM cards and the IMEI code of a mobile device.

The road map for the implementation of the program proposes the introduction of a mechanism for protecting the one-time password received by the user via SMS messages, as well as blocking calls and logins after reporting cases of theft of money from cards.

The preamble of the document states that the creation of anti-fraud systems was a response to the increasing cases of theft or fraud in Uzbekistan using bank cards or number-spoofing technologies.

Earlier this year, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and MasterCard organized a seminar on cybersecurity and combating payment card fraud.

The event was held within the framework of the partnership agreement between the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and MasterCard signed in 2022.
AFRICA

UNOCA (Central Africa)

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Secretary-Generals semi-annual report on the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and the implementation of the UNs regional strategy to combat the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). Special Representative and head of UNOCA Abdou Abarry is expected to brief.

The mandate of UNOCA expires on 31 August 2024.

Key Recent Developments

Following a controversial election in Gabon (an elected Security Council member from 2022-2023) in August, military leaders staged a coup overthrowing President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had ruled the country since 2009. General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, one of the coup leaders, was inaugurated as the transitional president of the Gabonese Republic on 4 September. During the inauguration, he expressed his commitment to restoring constitutional order and appointed a civilian prime minister. According to media reports, the Gabonese military leaders announced plans to hold elections in August 2025, a process that they say will be approved through a national dialogue involving civil society groups and other stakeholders. They have also indicated that they would propose a new constitution at the end of October 2024, which will be submitted for a referendum in November-December 2024.

Following the coup, Abarry met with Oligui Nguema and Ondimba, who was later released from house arrest. (Ondimbas wife has reportedly been charged with money laundering, forgery, and falsification of records.) Gabon was the chair of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) when the coup took place; ECCAS suspended Gabon from all activities of the organisation but stopped short of imposing sanctions on the country. The regional leaders also decided to move the ECCAS headquarters temporarily from Libreville to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, until the restoration of constitutional order. The president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who was the Vice-Chair of ECCAS, assumed the rotating chairmanship of the organisation, and the president of the Central African Republic (CAR), Faustin-Archange Touadera, was appointed as its facilitator to engage with the Gabonese military leaders with the goal of restoring constitutional order. Recently, Oligui Nguema has been on a regional tour to request that ECCAS members allow Gabon back into the regional fold.

On 31 August, the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) decided to suspend Gabon from all activities of the AU and its organs and institutions until constitutional order is restored. On 23 October, the AUPSC welcomed the efforts by ECCAS and the latest developments in Gabon, namely the appointment of a civilian prime minister and the formation of a transitional government. The AUPSC urged the members of the transitional government to refrain from presenting their candidatures for the elections to be held at the end of the transition period and underscored the need to ensure inclusive constitutional and institutional reform processes by promoting the participation of all stakeholders, including women and youth.

In June, members of the National Transitional Council in Chad adopted a new constitution to pave the way for the return of constitutional order in that country, which has been undergoing transition following the death of former president Idriss Deby in April 2021. A referendum on the new constitution is expected to be held in December. On 20 September, a high-level event on The return to constitutional order in Chad: challenges and perspectives was held in New York on the margins of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly; bilateral, regional, and international partners participated in the event. In a joint statement at the end of the meeting, the participants took note of the evolution of the transition in Chad and reiterated their support for the restoration of constitutional order within the prescribed time frame through a peaceful approach that includes women, youth, and marginalised groups.

In October 2022, ECCAS appointed the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, to be the facilitator of the Chadian political transition process. On 2 May, Tshisekedi met with Succes Masra, the leader of a Chadian opposition group known as the Transformers, in Kinshasa to discuss the political transition in Chad. Masra fled Chad last year after the military government suspended his party and six others following protests against the military governments decision to extend the transition. On 1 November, Tshisekedi announced an agreement between the military government and the Transformers in Kinshasa that allowed Masra to return to the country on 3 November. Masra called for reconciliation at a rally in NDjamena on 19 November, but other Chadian opposition groups that remain in exile reportedly rejected the agreement and accused Masra of collaborating with the transitional government.

In Cameroon, the security situation remains a concern in the Anglophone northwest and southwest regions. According to media reports, several people were killed in recent fighting in these areas. The Secretary-General strongly condemned attacks on civilians and urged all Cameroonian stakeholders to work towards a political solution to the crisis in these regions. In a 20 January statement following several months of secret talks reportedly held in Toronto and other locations in Quebec, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly welcomed an agreement between the Cameroonian government and parties from the Anglophone regions to find a negotiated solution to the long-standing conflict. However, media reports quoted Cameroonian government spokesperson Rene Emmanuel Sadi as saying that his government has never entrusted any country with the role of facilitator or mediator. Cameroon is expected to hold general elections in 2025, and the countrys political elites appear to be competing to succeed President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982. Biya reportedly reshuffled his senior military personnel following the coup in neighbouring Gabon in August.

Key Issues and Options

The political and security situations in several parts of Central Africa continue to be a key concern for the Council. Council members are likely to be interested in hearing Abarrys assessment of developments in Gabon following the coup and the political transition in Chad. Additionally, they may be keen to understand the regional implications of the fighting in Sudan and its impact on the situation in Chad and the CAR.

The other major issue relates to the elections that are taking place in countries in the region in 2023. Of particular interest to Council members could be the elections in the DRC in December and Chad in 2024.

The continued threat of terrorism in the Lake Chad basin and maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea also remain matters of concern.

An option for Council members is to try to conclude the negotiations on the draft presidential statement on UNOCA that has been lingering for more than a year.

Council Dynamics

Council members support a holistic regional approach to addressing the peace and security challenges in Central Africa, based on cooperation between UNOCA and the various regional mechanisms. They tend to underscore challenges in the region related to: political transitions; humanitarian crises, including the rising number of refugees and internally displaced persons; the threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism; and the adverse effects of climate change. Some members also continue to raise concerns about the destabilising role of the Wagner Group, a Russian private security company, and its reported involvement in human rights abuses in the region, particularly in the CAR.

It seems that there have been repeated attempts to revive the discussions on the draft presidential statement on UNOCA that was initiated last year; however, Council members have not yet been able to build the necessary consensus on the text. Differences remain regarding the language on climate, peace, and security.

Gabon and the UK are the co-penholders on UNOCA.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON UNOCA
MIDDLE EAST

Yemen

Expected Council Action

In December, the Security Council is expected to hold closed consultations on Yemen. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, the head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Major General Michael Beary, and a representative of OCHA will brief.

Key Recent Developments

Talks continue between the Houthi rebel group and Saudi Arabia and are believed to be nearing a comprehensive agreement for a long-term ceasefire. Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition that has supported Yemens internationally recognised government during the more than eight-year war in Yemen. At the same time, regional developments and Houthi attacks against Israel since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian armed group and de facto authority in Gaza, risk undermining Yemens peace efforts.

Since 19 October, the Houthis have carried out repeated missile and uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks targeting Israel, which so far have been intercepted by US and Israeli forces or have failed to cause damage. In the groups first public statement on 31 October confirming responsibility for the spate of attacks, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said that the missile and drone attacks will continue until Israel ceases its aggression in Gaza. Other Houthi missile and drone attacks were reportedly conducted on 1 November, 6 November, and 9 November, and the Houthis shot down a US drone, which the group claimed on 8 October had been carrying out hostile, monitoring, and spying operations in the Yemeni territorial waters.

On 14 November, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi vowed in a televised speech to continue attacks on Israel and to target Israeli ships in the Red Sea. The threat was followed by Saree announcing that the Houthis had conducted additional ballistic missile and drone attacks. Israel said that same day that it used its Arrow aerial defence system to intercept a missile in the vicinity of the Red Sea after air raid sirens had sounded in the southern Israeli city of Eilat.

On 19 November, the Houthis seized a Bahamas-flagged cargo ship, called the Galaxy Leader, in the Red Sea and took its 25 crew members hostage. The Houthis released a video showing armed men jumping on the ship from a helicopter to capture the vessel. According to NYK, the Japanese company that operates the boat, the ship was carrying no cargo, adding that its crewmembers were from Bulgaria, Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, and Ukraine. Israel denied ownership of the vessel, stressing that it was British-owned and Japanese-operated. Media reports, however, said public shipping databases associated the ships owners with Ray Car Carriers, founded by Abraham Rami Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel. Announcing the seizure, Saree said that all ships linked to or owned by Israelis would be targeted until the end of Israels campaign against Hamas.

Grundberg has been keen to avoid conflating the regional developments with peace efforts in Yemen. In a statement on Grundbergs 15 November visit to Riyadh, the Special Envoys office noted that during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohamed Al Jaber, who has been leading Saudi negotiations with the Houthis, the two agreed on the importance of maintaining an enabling environment for continued constructive dialogue aimed at reaching an inclusive political settlement in Yemen. During consultations with Council members on 16 November, Grundberg reported progress in the Houthi-Saudi talks. He also indicated that following a possible agreement, his office would develop a roadmap, which would then guide the inter-Yemeni political process that the UN is expected to facilitate for a comprehensive resolution to the conflict.

On 26 November, armed assailants temporarily seized the commercial vessel, the M/V Central Park, linked to another Israeli company in the Gulf of Aden. A US naval vessel responding to the incident detained the five assailants after they debarked from the ship and tried to escape in a small boat. According to a US statement, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen towards the general location of the ships after the US intervention but did not cause any damage or injuries. A US military spokesperson said later that the detained attackers of the M/V Central Park appeared to be Somali.

On 14 November, the Security Council adopted resolution 2707, renewing the Yemen assets freeze and travel ban sanctions until 15 November 2024 and the mandate of the Yemen Panel of Experts until 15 December 2024.

Key Issues and Options

A key issue is how the Council can support ongoing peace talks and efforts to establish a formal ceasefire and an inter-Yemeni political process under UN auspices. Issues under negotiation in the Houthi-Saudi talks include the use of Yemens resources and associated revenues to pay the salaries of public employees in Houthi-held territory; the opening of roads and ports in Yemen; and the withdrawal of foreign military personnel from the country. Other key issues related to the political process are the fragile relations between the factions that form the Yemeni governments Presidential Leadership Council and how a political process should address some PLC members calls for a separate southern Yemeni state.

An emerging key concern is the risk that the war in Gaza and Houthi attacks against Israel, including the elevated threats to international shipping in the Red Sea, will undermine progress in the Yemen peace talks.

The humanitarian situation in Yemen remains a key issue. This includes a funding shortage for relief efforts, which is forcing humanitarian agencies to scale back programmes. As at 22 November, the 2023 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, which calls for $4.344 billion, was only 36.2 percent funded. Addressing Yemens economic conditions is a related key issue to mitigate the countrys humanitarian needs.

Members may reiterate calls for all parties to facilitate the safe, rapid, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief to all civilians in need and to protect humanitarian personnel and assets in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law. They could also highlight worries about policies that have fuelled socioeconomic challenges and tensions: Houthi drone attacks on oil terminals last year and restrictions on inter-Yemeni trade have caused significant revenue shortages for the government, which have hindered it from providing services.

Council Dynamics

Council members are united in their support for the different mediation efforts. Members have welcomed the potential for the Houthi-Saudi talks to yield meaningful results. At the same time, they stress the ultimate importance of an inclusive Yemeni political process under UN auspices to achieve a sustainable resolution to the conflict. Regarding last months Yemen sanctions renewal, Council members agreed to a technical rollover of the sanctions regime to give space for the Houthi-Saudi peace talks and avoid disrupting the process. This was the same approachagreeing to a technical rolloverCouncil members took earlier this year when the Council adopted resolution 2675 in February, which extended the Yemen sanctions regime for nine months, and resolution 2691, which renewed the mandate of UNMHA for one year in July.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a leading member of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition and takes a keen interest in how the Council addresses the situation in Yemen. (The December briefing will be the last scheduled Council meeting on Yemen before the UAEs two-year Council term ends.) Russia often objects to language in Council products that it perceives as too critical of the Houthis or not balanced. For Russia, a long-standing red line has been identifying Iran as supplying the Houthis with arms in the Councils Yemen products. Since 2021, the US has had a Special Envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, who has sought to support UN and regional mediation efforts. He undertook a new round of shuttle diplomacy in the Gulf region in November, seeking to emphasise the current opportunity for Yemenis to end the countrys conflict, while warning of the risks that wider regional conflict poses to peace in Yemen, according to a State Department statement.

Japan has a strong concern over the Houthis capture of the Galaxy Leader, which is operated by a Japanese company. A statement on 28 November on the situation in Israel and Gaza by the G7, which includes France, Japan, the UK, and the US, called 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.

The UK is the penholder on Yemen. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania) chairs the 2140 Sanctions Committee.

Sign up for SCR emails Subscribe UN DOCUMENTS ON YEMEN
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for close cooperation on the creation of the International Expo-Hub of Climate Technologies, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"To transform the Aral Sea region into a Zone of Innovation, Technologies, and New Opportunities, I ask everyone to work together to establish an International Expo Hub of Climate Technologies in this region, where advanced knowledge, experience, and solutions may be applied," he said.

Furthermore, Shavkat Mirziyoyev recommended establishing close scientific interchange and conducting joint research on the Climate Science Forum platform, which was established on the foundation of the Green University, with the participation of renowned scientists and experts from other nations.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev supported early agreement on the Global Framework Mechanism for Adaptation to Climate Change under the Paris Agreement, Trend reports.

He spoke at the World Summit on Climate Action organized within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28.

"We are establishing an adaptation strategy on the Central Asia Climate Dialogue platform, and we applaud the critical decision made yesterday to establish a Loss and Damage Fund," Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

The President of Uzbekistan highlighted that the global transition to a low-carbon economy must be fair, transparent, and inclusive, and must take developing nations' interests into account.

"In this regard, it is recommended that this critical topic be addressed on an ongoing basis in the G7 and G20 formats," he said.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 2. About 200 residents of the Gaza Strip have died as military actions resumed after the ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave, the Gaza Strip Ministry of Health says on its Facebook pag, Trend reports.

It is noted that 589 people were injured. Most of the victims are women and teenagers.

On the morning of December 1, the Israel Defense Forces accused the Palestinian Hamas movement of violating the ceasefire and announced the resumption of military operations in the Gaza Strip.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. By agreement between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian ceasefire regime has been extended for the purpose of hostage exchange, Trend reports.

As part of the ceasefire, 10 more hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip will be released, mostly women and children.

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.
Drugmaker AstraZeneca has called off two phase III trials on its hyperkalaemia treatment after a series of logistical challenges.

AstraZeneca said on Friday that its STABILIZE-CKD and DIALIZE-Outcomes trials on its drug Lokelma had been canned, principally due to extended timelines for patient enrolment and lower-than-expected occurrences of the conditions being studied.

The FTSE 100-listed firm highlighted that the discontinuation of the trials was not linked to any safety concerns regarding Lokelma, which was currently approved in 56 countries for treating a broad spectrum of patients with hyperkalaemia.

Instead, the trials related to AZN's CRYSTALIZE evidence programme, aimed at exploring the effectiveness of Lokelma in treating hyperkalaemia across various heart and kidney conditions.

AZN's Sharon Barr said: "Our ambitious CRYSTALIZE programme continues to generate evidence to improve the current management of hyperkalaemia, which we believe leads to better outcomes for cardiorenal patients when a potassium binder is included in their treatment regimen. Lokelma is the leading branded potassium binder globally and continues to benefit a broad hyperkalaemia patient population to achieve rapid, sustained potassium control and is well tolerated."

As of 0855 GMT, AstraZeneca shares were up 1.05% at 10,232.0p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Another nine days of disruption for rail passengers has begun as train drivers in the Aslef union start an overtime ban and a series of rolling strikes halting services across Britain, in a long-running dispute over pay. Drivers will be taking industrial action at train operating companies (Tocs) contracted to the Department for Transport, striking for 24 hours at each one on different dates between Saturday 2 December and Friday 8 December. The strikes will stop most or all trains at the affected operators in England and also hit some cross-border services to Scotland and Wales.  Guardian

Gambling firms are raking in more money than ever from UK punters, fuelled by a surge in the use of online slot machines, which the government is considering curbing due to their association with heavy losses and addiction. The betting and gaming industrys revenues reached 15.1bn in the year to March 2023, or 10.95bn excluding the National Lottery, figures from the Gambling Commission released on Thursday show.  Guardian

With Twitter losing advertisers left and right because of Elon Musks tweets, contrition from the billionaire would have been expected. Yet on stage at an event in New York this week, he was anything but. Musk had a blunt three word missive for companies that had stopped advertising with his social network: Go f yourself.  Telegraph

Matthew Moulding has taken a stake in the activist investor targeting his beauty business in a move that harks back to the so-called Pac-Man defence strategy occasionally employed to counter potential hostile takeovers. Moulding, the founder of THG, has taken a 3.2 per cent stake in Kelso Group after the activist called for a break-up of his listed beauty empire.  The Times

Microsoft will invest 2.5 billion in Britain over the next three years to double its data centre capacity and provide computing power to help to drive the expansion of artificial intelligence. Microsoft will invest 2.5 billion in Britain over the next three years to double its data centre capacity and provide computing power to help to drive the expansion of artificial intelligence. The investment has been hailed by Rishi Sunak as a turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK.  The Times
Ceres Power tanked 16% on Friday after warning on full-year revenues, as it conceded it was unlikely to sign new deals in time for the revenue to be recognised in 2023.

Ceres, which develops clean energy technology, said it was engaged in a number of discussions with potential licence partners, but they were "now unlikely to be signed in time for the associated revenue to be recognised in 2023". As a result, full-year revenue is expected fall to around 20m to 21m, from 22m in FY22.

Rail-booking platform Trainline was down over 5% after the ASLEF train drivers' union voted overwhelmingly to continue with industrial action over the next six months as their dispute over pay continues, saying that members are "in this for the long haul".

Leading the risers was Dr Martens, up 7% as the bootmaker attempted to rebound following a share-price plunge on Thursday. The company warned on profits saying the Autumn/Winter season has been hit by warm weather, weaker traffic and softer trading in the US.

Mining peers Centamin, Ferrexpo and BlackRock World Mining Trust were performing well as better-than-expected manufacturing data from China lifted the demand outlook.

Housebuilders were also in favour, including Crest Nicholson, Bellway, Persimmon and Redrow after Nationwide data showed that UK house prices unexpectedly rose 0.2% in November, with hopes rising that mortgage rates might soon start to fall.

FTSE 250 - Risers

Dr. Martens (DOCS) 96.90p 7.43%

Petershill Partners (PHLL) 149.00p 4.20%

IWG (IWG) 147.40p 3.22%

Carnival (CCL) 1,069.00p 2.69%

Tyman (TYMN) 269.00p 2.28%

HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited A Shs (HVPE) 2,340.00p 2.18%

easyJet (EZJ) 463.10p 2.16%

Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 189.50p 2.16%

Just Group (JUST) 82.20p 2.11%

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 98.70p 2.07%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Ceres Power Holdings (CWR) 157.20p -16.29%

Trainline (TRN) 270.20p -5.26%

Digital 9 Infrastructure NPV (DGI9) 30.45p -4.25%

W.A.G Payment Solutions (WPS) 86.20p -4.22%

Hilton Food Group (HFG) 711.00p -3.53%

Genus (GNS) 1,917.00p -2.99%

Harbour Energy (HBR) 223.20p -2.75%

Diversified Energy Company (DEC) 63.85p -2.52%

Pennon Group (PNN) 692.00p -2.12%

Pets at Home Group (PETS) 313.80p -2.00%
WorldTempus catches up with Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud during Dubai Watch Week

Fresh from an invigorating win at the 2023 edition of the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve, Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud debuted a new model of the FB 3SPC in Dubai. We sat down with Vincent Lapaire, General Manager of Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud to talk about the Dubai collector community, the challenges of producing award-winning watches, and exactly how long is too long when it comes to waiting for a watch to be delivered.

Suzanne Wong

I just wanted to start by saying how nice it is to be in Dubai with these amazing timepieces. I mean, it would be nice to see them in Geneva as well, but then the weather would be sub-optimal. And it also has to be said that the watch community in Dubai is exceptional. The collectors here really know their stuff, and its wonderful to be among people who understand the work you do.

Vincent Lapaire

The community here is incredible  people actually study the watches before they come to meet you. And, in fact, they come just to have the watch in their hands, to experience it personally. They dont need you to tell them about it, because they already know everything about it.

Suzanne Wong

I see it as a sign of respect, the fact that theyve done their homework beforehand.

Vincent Lapaire

The authentic collectors do this. They take their time, they read about the watch, they reflect on it, they make an effort to understand the watch, and that helps them to decide whether or not they want to buy the watch Its a very genuine way to approach watchmaking as a consumer.

Suzanne Wong

Ferdinand Berthoud watches are very rich in detail and context  I imagine you spend a lot of time explaining them to people, so it must be quite a change to come here and find such a knowledgeable audience. Even though Dubai is so different from Switzerland in so many ways, you know that once youre here, you feel at home, because you speak the same horological language.

Vincent Lapaire

This is why Dubai Watch Week attracts visitors from all over the world. This week, Ive met with collector groups from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the US  of course Asia is very well represented here. Its truly an international event.

Chronometre FB 3SPC.1-1  Ferdinand Berthoud

Suzanne Wong

Youve just launched a new model of the FB 3SPC here in Dubai, a version in white gold with an anthracite movement. Its a great time to see a new aesthetic variation of this watch, right after it bagged the Chronometry prize at the recent Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve. How many pieces of this will be made?

Vincent Lapaire

Currently, for the FB 3SPC, were able to produce and deliver 30 watches per year. Thats for all the FB 3SPC models. This one in particular, in white gold with the anthracite movement, well only be able to start delivering them next year. We have projected that we can deliver eight pieces of this particular model in 2024, provided everything goes smoothly for our production team. The quality and performance of the watches have to come first, so we cannot simply pressure the team into producing more watches quickly.

Suzanne Wong

Especially now that everyone knows this watch won an award for Chronometry!

Vincent Lapaire

Exactly, they have to guarantee the accuracy of these watches! We always ask them if its possible, if they could but they already do the best they can, and we cant ask for more than that. Its only been a year that weve had this movement at Ferdinand Berthoud. It takes time to find solutions for a more efficient process, or to optimise all the steps for production and assembly. It takes one and a half weeks for a watchmaker to work on one single cylindrical hairspring, getting the geometry of the end curves just right in order to pass the COSC certification. Each time the hairspring terminal curve is adjusted or reshaped, you have to leave it for one week so you dont overstress the delicate hairspring material, and to be sure that the hairspring has kept its new form. Its so difficult, and we dont yet have a solution for doing this in less time.

Suzanne Wong

That said, I feel like the audience of Ferdinand Berthoud  correct me if Im wrong  they understand this. I believe in fact that this is something they love about the brand, that you care so much about getting that level of quality. I wouldnt go so far as to say theyre happy to wait, because no one likes waiting, but they appreciate the necessity of the complex and time-intensive process that leads to creating these watches. They understand that it's not just a question of hiring more watchmakers or buying more machines.

Vincent Lapaire

We will actually have two more watchmakers joining our team next year. But dont forget that it takes a long time to train a watchmaker to assemble this movement  between six to eight months of training. And were not talking about junior watchmakers  these are guys who have 30 years of experience in watchmaking, in grandes complications. Those who started with us last year, they told us, I feel like Im back at watchmaking school. That tells you how much this movement is really putting their knowledge and skills to the test. Some watchmakers appreciate this. Others cant handle it, and they leave, because its too challenging.

Chronometre FB 3SPC.1-1  Ferdinand Berthoud

Suzanne Wong

Given that there are these time and personnel constraints built into the creation of Ferdinand Berthoud watches, how do you see the growth of the brand taking place in the years to come?

Vincent Lapaire

At this time, we make a total 50 watches a year, which is a bit on the low side. When we look at the level of demand, we should probably be making closer to 80 watches a year. But increasing the volume of production to this level will take us about five years. And that means that every year we should be trying to produce around 10 more watches than the previous year. My concern is also for the customer; I dont want them to wait more than two years to have their watch delivered. Any more than two years is too long in my opinion. Its easy to say yes to more and more retail partners, to pretend that we can produce and deliver all those watches, but in the end the customer has to wait seven years to receive a watch. Thats so dangerous. Who knows what could happen in seven years?

Suzanne Wong

I like that policy a lot. It would be great if more brands adopted that kind of thinking.

Vincent Lapaire

We are very, very connected to our clients. We take care of them; we pay attention to their requests and to their expectations. I should also say that we are really fortunate to have the support and infrastructure of a company like Chopard, which helps us so much in terms of our production capabilities and operations. If we didnt have Chopard behind us, the price of our watches would probably be at least three times what they are right now.

Suzanne Wong

Thats so true. Thank you for all the insights!


The second day of the 26th Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 witnessed the esteemed presence of Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Honble Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The event, organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka, and Software Technology Parks of India, captivated business visitors and experts from the Deeptech, BioTech, Startup, and Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) sectors. Exciting sessions and events were held, including fireside chats with industry leaders and recognition of exceptional talent in the industry.

The day commenced with a compelling ITE & Deeptech Track titled "Tech Interventions for a Sustainable Future," featuring Sagar N, Farm & Field, crop & digital solutions, Santosh Subramanian, Regional CIO  SA, SEA & Oceania at Veolia, Prof. Claudio J Tessone from the University of Zurich, and Guru Prakash Shastry, Head - Climate Action, Infosys. The emphasis was on the importance of renewable technologies in addressing climate change and aligning human behaviour, government policies, and environmental metrics for sustainability. It stressed on altering water consumption metrics, employing AI for sewage management, and utilizing technology for real-time crop monitoring. The discussion also highlighted blockchain's role in transparent finance while cautioning against over-dependence on hyped technologies.

This session was followed by a substantive discussion featuring Anjum Parwez, IAS, Managing Director of BMRCL, Sanjay Chaddha, Director Public Policy India & South Asia, Uber India Systems Private Limited, Blake Opsahl, Director of Business Development and Technology at BETA Technologies, and Prasanna Patwardhan, of Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions. The panel addressed the theme "The C.A.S.E. for Future Mobility" delving into the critical role of integrated transportation, electric and autonomous vehicles, and their influence on shaping the future of mobility in India. The session encapsulated suggestions on alleviating traffic congestion in Bangalore, emphasizing the encouragement of public transportation usage over private modes, as one of the key strategies.

The Honble Minister for Electronics, IT & Bt, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka Shri Priyank Kharge, and Chairman, Vision Group for Startups Shri Prashanth Prakash, were present at that function and witnessed the launches of remarkable & innovative products. 35 groundbreaking products and solutions were unveiled by startups during the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2023. The second edition of the Startup Product Launch took place at the Startup Innovation Zone over the 2nd day of the summit. This initiative underscores the state's dedication to nurturing innovation across a diverse range of industries.

The national finals of the 24th edition of 'Rural IT Quiz, was taken place in the presence of Shri Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Regional Head, TCS Bengaluru, Sunil Deshpande, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, and Science and Technology, Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS, Managing Director - Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Dept. of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Shri Darshan H.V. The winning team was awarded a scholarship from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) worth 1, 00,000, runners-up were awarded scholarships worth rupees 50,000.

Uber introduced its global flagship electric vehicle service, Uber Green, offering residents convenient access to eco-friendly rides through their app.

STPI has inaugurated the Centre of Excellence in Efficiency Augmentation (CoE-EA) in collaboration with Govt. of Karnataka, supported by HPEIPL at Jayanagar, Bengaluru, to leverage the emerging Industry 4.0 technologies. The centre having an area of 16,000 sqft, and state-of-art facilities is aiming to nurture 100 startups and engage 25,000 students over the next 5 years.

STPI also conducted an award ceremony based on their performance and contribution to IT, under which the top performing IT companies are Wipro GE Healthcare, Cyient DLM Ltd., Infosys BPM Ltd., Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd. IT Ratna of Karnataka were awarded to Infosys Ltd. and Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd. Minister Chandrasekhar emphasized India's ascent as a dependable global partner and a prospective leader in the semiconductor industry, acknowledging the remarkable growth of the Indian ecosystem. He highlighted the resurgence in electronic engineering enrollments, emphasizing the rising demand for innovative minds and urging India's youth to consider careers in electronics. His insights outlined India's trajectory towards semiconductor leadership, stressing talent development and ethical AI integration in the nation's technological advancements.

In ITE and deeptech track, a new topic was highlighted called Navigating the Digital Frontier: Internet Governance, Cybersecurity & Cyber Warfare. It is focusing on cyber-attacks, data protection and security.

The Biotech Track lifted a burning topic Basic Research to High-Impact Innovation between Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and Dr. H. Robert Horvitz. Where Shaw started the discussion on India's investment focus in basic scientific versus applied research, advocating for government support in fundamental research through academic centers, where Dr. Horvitz emphasized the importance of a balanced research portfolio, drawing from his experiences as both a researcher and entrepreneur.

The Startup Track initiated their discussion with Rapid Revolution of Gen AI, which rightly expressed AI's impact on startups and corporations, and highlighted the significance of storytelling and historical apprehension toward new technologies. The discussion was continued with how Conversational AI platforms like ChatGPT were emphasized, evolving toward outcome-driven solutions for industry-specific challenges. Furthermore, the session acknowledged AI's psychological impact on human happiness.

Global India Alliance (GIA) track kick-started its first session of the day titled "Israel  From Idea to Impact: Israels Innovation Odyssey. The discussion showcased Israel's contributions to health monitoring, facial recognition, smart mobility, and electric vehicle motor design.

Two concurrent sessions were conducted on "Electronics: The Backbone of Digital Economy" and "Semiconductors: Making India a Semiconductor Nation". Both the sessions encapsulated critical discussions paving the way for India's technological growth. It highlighted the impending surge in demand for advanced technologies, focusing on miniaturization, efficiency, and the rise of specialty semiconductors like compound semiconductors. It encouraged India by addressing its role as the global semiconductor hub, which can foster startups by embracing new technologies and showcasing talents.

The special session of Global India Alliance initiated a special session about "India USA Tech Conclave: Innovative Healthcare Technologies" to encourage the innovation in the field of Health Technologies holding the hand of AI & IOT. It also highlighted the advantages of robotic surgery and its projected growth, providing a comprehensive outlook on healthcare's future.
Your vision is invaluable, and any issue with your eyes can be a cause for concern. Your eyes can be vulnerable to different eye conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, keratoconus, and many more problems.

One such serious condition is retinal detachment, which requires immediate medical attention. If you are facing this eye health challenge, it is important to know how professionals at the best eye hospital in Pune proceed with retinal detachment treatment.

We have elaborated the complete treatment process of retinal detachment here, from diagnosis to follow-up care.

What Happens in Retinal Detachment?

The retina is the light-sensitive tissue which is located at the back of your eye. It plays a crucial role in transmitting visual information to your brain. Retinal detachment occurs at the time when the retina separates from the underlying tissue, disrupting its blood supply and leading to vision impairment or loss. It is a medical emergency needing prompt intervention by the best eye specialist in Pune.

Diagnosing Retinal Detachment

The first step in treating retinal detachment is diagnosis. When you visit the best eye hospital in Pune, the ophthalmologist will perform a series of tests. It includes symptoms like sudden flashes of light, a noticeable increase in floaters, or a curtain-like shadow obscuring your vision. These tests may include:

Visual Acuity Test: This checks how well you can see at various distances. Tonometry: Measures the pressure inside your eye. Ophthalmoscopy: It allows the ophthalmologist to view the inside of your eye, including the retina. Ultrasound: In cases where the retina can't be seen directly, ultrasound is used to confirm the diagnosis.

If retinal detachment is confirmed, the best eye specialist in Pune will determine the type and extent of detachment, as well as the best treatment approach.

Treatment Options for Retinal Detachment

There are a few different treatment options for retinal detachment, and it depends on the specific case and the ophthalmologist's recommendation. The primary treatments include:

Scleral Buckling

Scleral buckling is a surgical procedure that involves placing a silicone band or sponge on the outside of the eye. This band exerts pressure on the eye, which helps the detached retina to reattach. This method is particularly effective for cases where the tear is small and easy to seal.

Vitrectomy

A vitrectomy is a surgical technique that involves removing the vitreous gel from the eye. It allows the eye specialist Pune to access the back of the eye, repair the tear, and drain any fluid that may have accumulated under the retina. After this, a gas bubble or silicone oil is usually injected into the eye to help keep the retina in place while it heals.

Pneumatic Retinopexy

In some cases, a gas bubble injection might be sufficient to push the retina back into place. Your head is positioned in a specific way to allow the gas bubble to rise and press against the detached retina, sealing the tear.

The doctors at the best eye hospital in Pune proceed with the treatment, depending on various factors. It includes the point and extent of the detachment, the patient's overall eye health, and the surgeon's expertise.

Treatment Process for Diabetic Retinopathy

Here is how professionals at the best eye hospital in Pune proceed with retinal detachment treatment:

Preparation

Before the surgery, your eye will be dilated with special eye drops to make it easier for the surgeon to access the retina.

Anesthesia

Local or general anaesthesia can be administered to ensure that you don't feel pain during the procedure.

Surgical Intervention

The chosen surgical method will be performed. The surgeon will make precise incisions, repair the tear or hole in the retina, and address any complications, such as scar tissue.

Gas Bubble or Silicone Oil Injection

If silicone oil or a gas bubble is used, it is carefully injected into the eye to support the reattachment of the retina.

Recovery

After the surgery, you may need to remain still, with your head in a specific position to help the gas bubble or silicone oil exert pressure on the retina. It is a crucial part of the recovery process and helps ensure a successful reattachment.

Follow-Up Care

Regular follow-up appointments with a skilled eye specialist Pune are essential to monitor the healing process and check for any complications.

Post-Surgery Precautions

After retinal detachment surgery, you may need to take certain precautions:

Avoid Strenuous Activities

Your doctor may suggest you avoid activities that increase eye pressure. It may be heavy lifting or straining.

Protect Your Eye

Wear a shield at night to prevent accidentally rubbing or pressing on the operated eye.

Use Eye Drops

Follow your eye doctors instructions regarding the use of prescribed eye drops.

Follow Positioning Instructions

If you have a gas bubble in your eye, it is essential to maintain the specific head position recommended by your eye specialist Pune.

Attend All Follow-Up Appointments

Regular follow-up visits are crucial for monitoring your progress and addressing any concerns.

Retinal detachment is an eye problem that must be addressed frequently. The professionals at the best eye hospital in Pune are well-equipped to diagnose and treat this condition effectively. With the right treatment and follow-up care, many individuals can recover their vision and prevent further complications. Suppose you notice any symptoms of retinal detachment, such as flashes of light or sudden vision changes. In that case, you can seek immediate medical help at the best eye hospital in Pune - Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital. They have the best eye specialists with expertise in using the latest equipment to treat your eye problems more effectively.

Take action quickly and make all the difference in your eye health with the experts at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital!
India has recently announced a significant allocation of 11.8 trillion rupees ($141.63 billion) for extending its free food grains program for the next five years. According to Information Minister Anurag Thakur, the program is aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security for 813.5 million people, including poor and vulnerable sections of the population. Previously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government had declared the extension of the welfare scheme, which was set to conclude in December, for an additional five years.

The decision, approved in a recent cabinet meeting, underscores the commitment to fortify food security and alleviate financial challenges for the marginalized segments of society. The ambitious initiative comes just ahead of the upcoming general elections in early 2024. "Free food grains will strengthen food security and mitigate any financial hardship of the poor and vulnerable sections of the population", stated the government in response to the decision.

Despite the financial commitment, the government is confident about achieving its fiscal deficit target for the current financial year. Ajay Seth, the Economic Affairs Secretary, has expressed his confidence in maintaining fiscal discipline while allocating resources to crucial social welfare programs. While addressing a separate event, Seth assured that the government is on track to meet its fiscal deficit target of reducing it to 5.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fiscal year ending in March.
Kyndryl, the worlds largest IT infrastructure services provider, announced an expansion of its relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a Premier Tier Services Partner to help customers simplify and accelerate their mainframe modernization initiatives. The company also unveiled new capabilities designed to seamlessly integrate mainframe applications and data with AWS technologies and/or move mainframe workloads to AWS.

Kyndryl now supports the AWS Mainframe Modernization service, a unique platform that allows customers to migrate and modernize their on-premises mainframe applications to a cloud-native fully managed runtime environment on AWS. Kyndryl will bring its industry-leading mainframe expertise, skills and capabilities to help customers manage their complex transformation initiatives more efficiently and effectively. As part of their expanded relationship with AWS, Kyndryl launched a suite of new, tailored capabilities to automate the provisioning and management of AWS mainframe modernization environments and help customers optimize deployments:

Kyndryl Cloud Native Services (KCNS) for mainframe modernization will enable businesses to streamline lifecycle management across their platforms and ensure consistent provisioning, backup, compliance, and monitoring for mainframe applications and infrastructure components. In addition, Kyndryl will help automate operations, track AWS runtime performance, and ensure system health. This can drive continuous modernization as well as faster innovation and time to value for customers.

Application replatforming/refactoring via integrated DevSecOps provides application platform engineering and developer agility on both the mainframe and AWS, enhancing the developer experience and accelerating mainframe modernization.

Application refactoring for migration from the mainframe to AWS is supported by Kyndryl migration experts and helps customers optimize mainframe applications as microservices in a cloud-native environment.

Near real-time data replication between the mainframe and AWS using Kyndryl Consult to tune and manage third-party products to help increase analytical insights from integrated data sources that customers use to address business challenges.

Additionally, the integration of AWS environments with the AI-powered Kyndryl Bridge open integration platform provides real-time visibility and actionable insights into operational data, helping customers to better plan, leverage and gain insights from their mainframe applications and data in the cloud to support better business outcomes.

With the new Kyndryl capabilities and AWS Mainframe Modernization service, an end-to-end mainframe transformation factory can be created to integrate and migrate mainframe applications and data to AWS, which can provide seamless hybrid estate management for joint customers. "AWS and Kyndryl's creativity and innovation to help implement mainframe modernization have assisted the State of Arizona Department of Economic Security in our modernization journey", said Mark Darmer, CIO of State of Arizona DES. "They continue to provide the type of innovation that is needed in the industry".

"I applaud Kyndryl's continued work with AWS. It represents a significant step forward in enabling organizations to optimize their workloads across cloud and mainframe environments", said Steven Dickens, VP and Practice Leader at the Futurum Group. "With Kyndryl's expertise and AWS' innovative technologies, businesses can achieve greater agility, cost-efficiency and innovation, ultimately driving their digital transformation efforts to new heights".

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with AWS to support customers with modernizing their mainframe workloads, helping them drive the most value by integrating mainframe applications and data with AWS or moving them to AWS", said Petra Goude, Kyndryl Global Practice Leader for Core Enterprise & zCloud. "Our work with AWS enables businesses to increase access to valuable mainframe data and leverage new capabilities that will show the benefits of cloud automation and enhanced insights from their IT environments".

"AWS Mainframe Modernization service offers customers a comprehensive approach to modernize mainframe applications", said Bill Platt, General Manager for Migration Services at AWS. "Working with Kyndryl, were providing the tools and expertise to help joint customers assess existing mainframe workloads, identify candidates for modernization, and create migration plans to help them identify opportunities to accelerate business value".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the United Arab Emirates to attend the World Climate Action Summit. During an interview, the Prime Minister expressed optimism that the UAE-hosted COP28 will provide fresh momentum for effective climate action. He also highlighted the partnership between India and the UAE in shaping a greener and more prosperous future. "We remain steadfast in our joint efforts to influence the global discourse on climate action", he added.

The Prime Minister of India has stated that the partnership between India and the UAE in the field of renewable energy is becoming stronger every day. Both countries, with a longstanding bond, are committed to supporting the International Solar Alliance's Global Solar Facility and are working together to develop a common grid to enhance energy security. This visionary collaboration will pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.

With regard to climate finance, the Prime Minister said that he has always maintained that combating climate change requires a coordinated international effort. "It is essential to recognize that developing countries have not contributed to the creation of the problem. Yet developing countries are willing to be a part of the solution. But, they cannot contribute without access to the financing and technology needed. I have therefore advocated strongly for global cooperation for ensuring requisite climate financing and technology transfer", the Prime Minister said.

Speaking further, PM Modi said that climate action must be based on equity, climate justice, shared obligations and shared capacities. He also emphasized ensuring that the development priorities of the Global South are not compromised. "I am happy that during the recent New Delhi G20 Summit, this aspect has been properly addressed, including through a recognition of the need to rapidly and substantially scale up investment and climate finance from billions to trillions of dollars globally from all sources", PM Modi noted.

The Prime Minister said that cooperation between the two nations covers the whole energy spectrum with a particular emphasis on sustainability. "Our enduring relationship is founded on multiple pillars, and our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership expresses the dynamism of our ties. We are particularly happy that UAE is hosting COP28, and I congratulate the Government and people of the UAE on this special occasion", he added.
The single-piece edition timepieces in the new Les Cabinotiers  Recits de Voyages range reflect Vacheron Constantin's geographical expansion

Since very early on in its history, Vacheron Constantin has taken an interest in new Mediterranean markets, becoming familiar with the particularities of Ottoman culture by trading with Turkey from 1817 and subsequently with those of Arab culture through its exchanges with Egypt as of 1865. By this time, the Maison has been established in New York since 1832, a city that would soon be home to Art Deco skyscrapers. Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to Art Deco style and Tribute to arabesque celebrate the distinctive architecture of these destinations. Both are powered by in-house Calibre 2755 TMR featuring two major horological complications: the tourbillon and the minute repeater.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to arabesque

Vacheron Constantin's relationship with the Middle East began in 1817 with Turkey and its cities of Smyrna and Constantinople, then at the head of the centuries-old Ottoman Empire. It continued with Egypt, still under Ottoman influence, from1865 onwards. The proximity of these markets and the historical depth of these commercial relations form a chronology punctuated by exceptional creations from Vacheron Constantin, whose reputation for highly complicated watches has earned it orders for timepieces that are now part of watchmaking history. These include a watch, made at the request of the Swiss community in Egypt, which, according to a letter preserved in the Manufacture's archives, was to "contain the pinnacle of the watchmaking art", and was gifted to King Fouad 1 of Egypt in 1929; as well as a watch delivered to his son King Farouk in 1946 which represented the worlds the most complicated model at the time. The ruling families of the region, led by Saudi Arabia's King Abdelaziz Ibn Seoud (1876-1953), were among the Maisons regular customers.

The design of Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to arabesque watch is devoted to the architectural wealth of the Muslim world with its pointed arches, domes and mashrabiyas. The engraving work took three months and required extremely meticulous care in making certain tenth-of-a-millimetre incisions.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to Art Deco style  Vacheron Constantin

The motifs chosen to decorate this watch were modelled on those of the Sheikh Dayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the largest in the United Arab Emirates, built between 1995 and 2007, in which arabesque and floral patterns are omnipresent on the 82 domes and four minarets. The engraver has reproduced these organic volutes using line engraving on the various case parts, while opting for a more geometrical pattern on the flange. Applied with a burin to the canvas traced by a drypoint, this intaglio engraving technique lends a light, graceful touch to a model that asserts its personality through black and white contrasts.

The dial is an artwork inspired by mashrabiyas. An openworked and engraved white gold "lattice-work cover" sits atop a black background, finely chased to give it a matt grained texture.

Here too, the master artisan used the line engraving technique; and in some areas, where the motif required more depth, it resembles a bas-relief process. Given the intricacy of the ornamentation, the thinness of the surfaces to be engraved as well as the slenderness of the white gold plate, this engraving work, which took a month to complete, represents a rare feat of dexterity.

Bearing the Hallmark of Geneva, Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater  Tribute to arabesque comes in an 18K white gold case measuring 44 mm in diameter and 13.5 mm thick, fitted with an alligator leather strap secured by a white gold folding clasp engraved with arabesques.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to Art Deco style

Across the Atlantic, the Americas became a favourite destination for Vacheron Constantin. From the 1810s onwards, the Maison increased its trade, particularly with the United States. In 1832, Geneva watchmaker Jean Magnin, by then based in New York, had an assortment of Vacheron Constantin watches with enamel paintings sent to him through brokers in Le Havre. Jean Magnin and his successor Ferdinand Thieriot represented the Maison until 1848, gradually opening up the market to encompass the country's major cities. By the early 20th century, the Maisons presence was already well established in America, notably among the country's eminent families, whose representatives wore Vacheron Constantin timepieces. Among them were the Rockefellers, Henry and William James, as well as car manufacturer James Ward Packard.

Given the small size of the city, it was at this time that these business tycoons decided to give their New York headquarters an increasingly vertical appearance. From the 1920s onwards, Manhattan began to bristle with skyscrapers in the Art Deco style, such as the Chrysler Building. Built between 1928 and 1930, it was the tallest tower in the world at 319 metres high and is best known for its terraced crown composed of seven arches clad in silvery metal.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to Art Deco style  Vacheron Constantin

The Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to Art Deco style watch celebrates this unique architectural splendour through wood marquetry, a technique inspired by cloisonne enamelling in this instance. Created on two levels to accentuate its depth, the upper flat part of the dial features a radiating motif reminiscent of the interior decorations typical of the Art Deco period.

For the first time, Vacheron Constantin has produced a dial combining wood marquetry and champleve.

To create this dial, the marquetry craftsman had to take extra care when cutting the 110 small wood veneers, a process that had to be extremely accurate to ensure they fit perfectly into the tiny alveoli. The marquetry specialist begins by drawing his canvas, deep-staining and then sanding the pearwood and tulipwood to obtain the desired shade of black and blue for the model. It took the master artisan a full months work to create this work in metal and wood, a nod to the gleaming spire of the Chrysler building as well as the wood inlays adorning its elevators.

This high-precision craftsmanship is surrounded by a pearl minutes track, punctuated by 11 facetted diamond hour-markers that are progressively slimmer as they approach 12 o'clock so as to accentuate the vanishing line. In addition to the marquetry and gemsetting work, the watch is also engraved: the model's 18K 5N pink gold case is entirely adorned with herringbone motifs created using the technique of line engraving on the case middle, lugs and bezel, thereby enhancing the allure of a timepiece embodying the creative momentum typical of the Roaring Twenties.

The Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to Art Deco style model bears the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. It comes in an 18K pink gold case measuring 44 mm in diameter and 13.5 mm thick, fitted with an alligator leather strap secured by a folding clasp engraved with geometrical motifs.

A complex mechanism: in-house Calibre 2755 TMR

The manual-winding 2755 TMR movement combines the musical charm of a minute repeater with the timekeeping precision of a Maltese cross-shaped tourbillon regulator. Designed to compensate for the effects of the Earth's gravity, this mechanism operates at a low frequency of 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour). This enables its complexity to be fully appreciated  especially as it is the only mechanical element visible from the front, with the 58-hour power reserve displayed by a hand on the back of the watch. The only sign of the minute repeaters presence is the slidepiece on the case middle.

To create this on-demand striking mechanism, one of the most delicate horological complications due to its melodiously audible nature, Vacheron Constantin's engineers and master watchmakers drew inspiration from the work carried out on the La Tour de l'Ile anniversary watch in 2005 and notably its strike governor.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to arabesque  Vacheron Constantin

This system enables the duration of the musical sequences to be perfectly timed in order to obtain a distinct and harmonious sound from the notes played for the hours, quarters and minutes by the hammers striking the two circular gongs. Calibre 2755 TMR features High Watchmaking finishing including meticulously hand-chamfered bridges adorned with a Cotes de Geneve pattern, a circular-grained mainplate and a beautifully rounded-off tourbillon carriage bar.

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 Constantin's 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.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to Art Deco style  Vacheron Constantin

Sum-up

The two single-piece edition Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to arabesque and Tribute to Art Deco style watches celebrate Vacheron Constantin's spirit of openness to the world in its new Recits de Voyages collection. Both bear the Hallmark of Geneva and are powered by in-house Calibre 2755 TMR with tourbillon and minute repeater, featuring the power-reserve indication visible through the sapphire caseback. This movement has benefited from developments made for the Tour de l'Ile, an ultracomplicated timepiece celebrating the Maisons 250th anniversary. In honour of the links forged with the Middle East and the United States in the early 19th century, as well as of their respective artistic cultures, the Maison has created an arabesque decoration for the former, entrusted to a master engraver; and Art Deco ornamentation for the latter, using wood marquetry complemented by gemsetting and engraving. The decorations adorning the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi and the architecture of the Chrysler Building in New York served as the inspiration for these two exceptional 44 mm-diameter gold timepieces.

Interview with Christian Selmoni, Vacheron Constantin Style & Heritage Director

Is the influence of the Middle East really perceptible in Vacheron Constantin's creations?

In the same way that devotees of exoticism have at certain times shown a genuine interest in the decorative arts from the Far East, particularly China and Japan, Vacheron Constantins heritage collection also contains numerous examples of objects inspired by Moorish art, inseparable from arabesques and floral decoration. As Vacheron Constantin established trade relations with countries to the east of the Mediterranean basin as early as the 1810s, pocket watches from the early 19th century notably feature finely chased arabesque ornamentation, sometimes surrounded by rows of pearls or stones. This type of highly elaborate motif, which draws upon the art of engraving as well as champleve, can be found on a number of Vacheron Constantin timepieces. Since the earliest exchanges with the region, Islamic architecture and richly illuminated Arabic manuscripts have been a favourite source of inspiration for the Manufacture's artisans. A new peak of this art is nonetheless reached in Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to arabesque.

Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon  Tribute to arabesque  Vacheron Constantin

Does Art Deco also have a longstanding tradition within the Maison?

Vacheron Constantin's private collection contains small treasures typifying the Art Deco style and testifying to the intense creativity of this exuberant universe. The production of this era  swept through by winds of freedom in response to classic watchmaking traditions  is characterised by ultra-thin pocket watches, travel watches, brooches and above all jewellery watches. Right from the outset, Vacheron Constantin has participated in  if not anticipated  the major trends in fashion and design with an innate sense of elegance, consistently tinged with fantasy. As far as the Art Deco influence is concerned, there's much more to it than a hint, as at the time it represented an art of living that was to have a lasting influence, including on watchmaking.

This art movement continues to fascinate, if this new collection is anything to go by?

A glance at this watch, inspired by the Chrysler Building, immediately immerses us into the Art Deco period, which enjoyed phenomenal success in the United States, particularly in the field of architecture. The dial ornamentation also recalls the head gear of this glamorous era, as well as the geometrically patterned, highly symmetrical yet flamboyant decorations. When a watch dial exudes such expressive power, it exerts a kind of fascination. In this sense, the exercise is a perfect success, especially since it is based on a rare technique requiring great expertise and an immeasurable amount of patience and meticulousness, and all the more so because it takes a month to complete. The same is true of the Tribute to the arabesque motif, a veritable masterpiece of engraving a motif whose complexity is matched only by the difficulty of actually creating it.

So the focal point is the rich range of artistic crafts?

While artistic crafts do indeed represent an essential component of our Les Cabinotiers single-piece edition watches, it is only part of the equation. Each is also a showcase for our expertise in mechanical watchmaking, especially in the world of grand complications. These two models  Tribute to Art Deco style and Tribute to arabesque  are perfect examples of this phenomenon, even though they do not reveal all their complexity at first glance. They incorporate one of the most sophisticated calibres we have produced in recent years, stemming from a dedicated development based on the Tour de lIle, the jubilee watch marking the 250th anniversary of Vacheron Constantin and incorporating 16 complications. It is worth recalling that Vacheron Constantin's first ultra-thin minute-repeater wristwatch was introduced in 1941. With this manual-winding Calibre 2755 TMR measuring just 6.1 mm thick, we are perpetuating this tradition by incorporating the latest technical innovations, notably relating to the repeater striking mechanism. What's more, this movement is regulated by a tourbillon, a guarantee of excellent timekeeping precision, not to mention the aesthetic benefits of such regulation, as can be clearly seen on these two watches. Another advantage of this Calibre 2755 is that its construction enables different functions  and notably astronomical ones  to be incorporated by means of modules. As an example, we have presented this same minute repeater and tourbillon calibre with a perpetual calendar, or a sky chart on the back of the movement whose rotation is set to sidereal time, complete with indications of the day, month and cardinal points.
The India-US Civil Nuclear Deal, with its transformative energy and geopolitical implications, demands joint efforts to overcome challenges, fostering collaboration and enhancing the strategic partnership amid growing global clean energy priorities.

The Indian-US civil nuclear deal, signed in 2008, was hailed as a landmark agreement that defined a significant shift in the relationship between the two nations. The deal aimed to end Indias nuclear isolation by granting it access to the global nuclear market in exchange for separating its civil and military nuclear facilities.

Provisions of the Deal

The India-US civil nuclear deal was significant for various reasons such as it granted India access to international nuclear fuel and technology markets, paving the way for the expansion of its civilian nuclear program. The agreement required India to separate its civil and military nuclear facilities, with only the former being open to international inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In return, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) granted a waiver to India, allowing it to engage in nuclear commerce.

Untapped Potential

The construction of nuclear power plants and the import of technology have faced delays, hindering India's efforts to meet its growing energy demands. Moreover, issues related to liability and concerns about the compatibility of India's nuclear liability law with international standards have impeded foreign investment in the sector.

Another factor limiting the deal's impact has been the cautious approach of American companies. Despite the agreement opening doors for US firms in the Indian nuclear market, their participation has been limited. Concerns over India's liability laws and the perceived complexity of doing business in the country have led to hesitancy among potential investors. Overcoming these challenges is crucial to unlocking the deal's full economic and energy potential.

Geopolitical Implications

The Indian-US civil nuclear deal was merely an energy agreement with broader geopolitical implications. It signed a shift in the US approach towards India, recognizing it as a key regional strategic partner. However, for these geopolitical gains to be fully realized, it is essential for the economic aspects of the agreement to be effectively implemented.

A multi-faceted approach is required to harness the untapped potential of the India-US Civil Nuclear Deal. Initially, addressing the implementation challenges and expediting the construction of nuclear power plants is imperative. This involves streamlining bureaucratic processes, ensuring compliance with international standards, and creating a conducive environment for foreign investment.

Secondly, addressing concerns related to liability is crucial. The Indian government need to revisit its nuclear liability laws to provide greater assurance to international companies. Creating a framework that balances the interests of all stakeholders, including the government, industry, and the public, is essential for building trust and attracting foreign investment.

Enhancing collaborations between Indian and American Companies is vital. Joint ventures and technology transfer facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship. The US, in turn, actively encourages its companies to seize the opportunities presented by the Indian market.

The Indian-US civil nuclear deal holds immense potential to shape the region's energy landscape and geopolitical dynamics. Realizing this potential required a concerted effort from both nations to overcome implementation challenges and foster a conducive environment for collaboration. As the global focus on clean energy intensifies, leveraging the benefits of nuclear power becomes even more critical. The untapped potential of the civil nuclear deal represents an opportunity for India and the US to strengthen their strategic partnership while addressing pressing energy needs.
India has made progress in arms exports and needs to invest in R&D for reliable defense supply. Collaboration with South China Sea states is crucial amid regional challenges.

Recently, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo's visit to India held significant importance for various reasons. After discussing a wide range of regional and global issues, Manalo and his Indian counterpart, Dr S. Jaishankar, issued a joint statement expressing support for the Arbitral Award regarding the South China Sea.

Notably, this signaled a shift from India's past stance, which generally supported the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) without explicitly backing the Arbitral Award.

India's change in position on the South China Sea matter is seen in the context of its evolving defense partnership with Southeast Asian nations. It has been expanding military cooperation with these nations by providing significant defense equipment, engaging in joint production, and participating in naval exercises. India views Southeast Asia as a pivotal element of its Indo-Pacific Vision and a crucial aspect of its ambition to become a net defense exporter.

Recent Progress in Defense Cooperation

Given its growing material capabilities and economic interests in the region, India is actively working on establishing a substantive defense presence in the South China Sea. India secured a substantial defense export deal with the Philippines by supplying them with Brahmos cruise missiles, marking its most significant defense export deal. Similarly, India signed a government-to-government agreement with the Philippines for defense-related deals.

During Vietnam's Defense Minister Phan Van Giang's visit to New Delhi, India bolstered its military exchanges with Vietnam. India's gift of the missile corvette INS Kirpan to Hanoi marked a notable advancement in their defense partnership. Discussions between the two nations included training Vietnamese military personnel operating submarines and fighter jets. Additionally, negotiations commenced for a potential purchase of the Brahmos cruise missile.

Vietnam's strategic importance lies in its potential to facilitate a more substantial Indian defense presence in the South China Sea. This significance was underscored during Defense Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Hanoi, resulting in a military logistics pact and a Joint Vision Statement on the India-Vietnam defense partnership until 2030. This pact enables their respective militaries to access each other's bases and expands joint production possibilities.

In a noteworthy move to enhance maritime interoperability, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conducted a war simulation exercise in the South China Sea in May. This multilateral exercise involved various cross-deck landings, surveillance, and communication drills. Undeterred by the presence of Chinese research vessels nearby, India and ASEAN showcased their shared commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in the region. Additionally, the elevation of India-ASEAN ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, agreed upon the previous year, opens doors for India to strengthen maritime security cooperation with ASEAN as a unified entity.

Convergence of Interests

Indias and ASEANs Indo-Pacific strategies are underpinned by shared commercial and energy exploration interests in the South China Sea, emphasizing the importance of upholding freedom of navigation to preserve open and inclusive regions. India and ASEAN recognize the need for a rules-based order in the region due to their shared interests in fostering a multipolar world. This could enable patrolling and joint exploration rights, aiding the South China Sea littoral states in effectively countering Chinas grey zone tactics.

The evolving strategic landscape, exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has prompted shifts in the strategic outlook of ASEAN and the South China Sea claimants. Russia, a major arms supplier to the region, has seen its market share decline. The urgency to find alternative sources of weaponry has heightened since the war in Ukraine began. Concerns about the quality of Russian weapons led Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines to cancel existing orders. India, with its ambitious defense export goals, aligns with the aspirations of these Southeast Asian nations. India views becoming a global defense manufacturing hub as crucial for advancing into a developed economy. In turn, ASEAN countries recognize India's advancing defense capabilities, notably the Tejas jet fighter, which is esteemed in its class.

While India has boosted its arms exports by modernizing its defense industry, it is still in the early stages of this process. Most of its exports to Southeast Asia consist of parts and non-lethal equipment. India needs to expedite its defense indigenization efforts by investing more in research and development to establish itself as a reliable arms supplier and compete with major exporters. South China Sea littoral states and India are exploring trilateral exercises and white shipping agreements to strengthen their bonds. The volatile geostrategic environment, China's military stance, and the alignment of Indo-Pacific strategies offer significant incentives for India and the South China Sea claimants to advance their defense cooperation further.
Rises in walking pneumonia cases among children are being reported in Massachusetts and Ohio, as health officials cite alarming data abroad.

Doctors in Massachusetts cite a combination of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)  a virus that is not treatable with medicine and kills more than 10,000 Americans each year  and other respiratory illnesses, according to Western Mass News.

In Ohio, the Warren County Health District recorded 142 cases of pneumonia in children since August, which is above the county average, the New York Post reported. Officials do not think it is a new respiratory disease but rather a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time.

No deaths have been reported and the illnesses are no more severe than in previous years, NBC News reported.

World health officials meanwhile eye concerning numbers in Denmark and China.

Cases of mycoplasma pneumonia have reached epidemic levels in Denmark and contributed to a surge of hospital admissions in China, according to the outlet.

Taiwans health ministry said Thursday that older adults, young children and people with poor immunity should avoid travel to mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao because of the rise in respiratory illnesses there, which also include rises in flu, adenovirus and RSV.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been communicating with its colleagues in China to make sure that were understanding the situation there, its director, Dr. Mandy Cohen, said Thursday at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.
An arrest warrant was issued by Dallas police for Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller after Miller was accused of assaulting a pregnant woman, NBC News is reporting.

Miller, 34, and the woman were reportedly involved in a verbal argument before Miller allegedly assaulted the woman, police told the news outlet.

Millers relationship to the victim is unknown and he was gone from the location by the time police arrived on the scene, the report said.

While the victim was treated for minor injuries, Miller is wanted on a charge of assault against a pregnant person, the report said.

Miller, who was named Super Bowl MVP in 2016 when he played for the Denver Broncos, is in his second season with the Bills.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  On Nov. 15, Litiesha Brown was returning to her Mariners Harbor home from the mechanic when she received a panicked call telling her that fire was roaring out of a window of the two-story residence she shared with her five children.

Browns two older sons, Garvin, 17, and Glenn, 15, began desperately searching for their brother Gabriel, 13, who, unbeknownst to them, had already run from the home located at 40 Holland Ave., near Richmond Terrace.

Meanwhile, a stranger braved the smoke and flames to pound on the familys door as the boys gathered their two sisters, Gianna, 7, and Savannah, 12 months, and rushed out to the street just as firefighters arrived.

The fire was reported at around 6:30 p.m. and was ultimately placed under control by around 7:30 p.m., according to an FDNY spokesperson.

With the flames extinguished, the home was left completely gutted, and firefighters wouldnt allow Brown to re-enter the residence to gather any personal belongings. The home is now in the process of being demolished, she said.

The next day, the Red Cross helped secure lodging for the family at the Hampton Inn in Travis, but four days later they were told they were being relocated to a shelter in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

The move would have dropped the family in an unfamiliar neighborhood in what Brown believes were unsafe conditions. The childrens schooling would have also been interrupted.

The shelter looked in worse shape than the apartment after the fire, Brown said.

Litiesha Brown and her five children lost their Mariners Harbor home in a devastating fire on Nov. 15, 2023. (Courtesy of Litiesha Brown)Litiesha Brown

Along with help from family and friends, Brown and the children are currently staying in her moms two-bedroom Dongan Hills apartment while Brown actively searches for her own apartment. It has been costing Brown roughly $60 a day to have them all driven safely to their respective schools. She added that some of the children are having a hard time adjusting to the situation and that its made focusing on school difficult.

I keep telling them to remember the fact that they have their lives and parents who love them, Brown said.

Niba Rajan, Browns best friend of 20 years, has established a GoFundMe page. The family is hoping to be able to recoup a semblance of the life theyve lost, but still needs food, toiletries, blankets and clothing.

Im waiting to get an apartment with literally nothing to put in it, Brown said. I just want to go home.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Budget cuts related to the citys ongoing migrant crisis are impacting services around the five boroughs, but local officials are optimistic about the future of Staten Islands parks.

During a Nov. 21 meeting at Borough Hall, Borough Parks Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone credited local staffs work ethic and ties to the Island with what she believes will be local parks ability to weather budget cuts from Mayor Eric Adams administration.

I always pride ourselves here on Staten Island that its not the quantity of staff, its the quality of staff. And more than 90% of our staff lives here on Staten Island, so not only are they caring for the parks, but theyre the users of the parks, she said. We assure all New Yorkers, but especially Staten Islanders, were going to keep these parks clean, and were going to keep them safe.

Since spring 2022, more than 130,000 migrants have made their way to the five boroughs, tens of thousands of them remain in the citys expanded shelter system.

Members of the mayors administration have said they expect the migrant crisis to cost the city upwards of $12 billion over the next few years, leading to massive cuts around city agencies.

Ricciardone said there are definitely challenges ahead, but shes confident in the city Parks Department.

Mayor Adams has said this  were in a really difficult financial situation. Hes obviously asked every agency to trim their budgets in order to accomplish a balanced city budget, she said. We will continue to be creative in how we continue to maintain our parks and how we keep them safe.

Ricciardones comments came after an event celebrating the retirement of two of boroughs biggest parks advocates with nearly a century of service between the two of them  Tony Arcamone, an administrative manager leaving after 37 years in the city Parks Department, and special advisor to Borough President Vito Fossella, Ed Burke, a man who helped coin the Islands moniker as the Borough of Parks.

Arcamone started his career in 1986 as a park service worker in Midland Beach cleaning up trash at a beach parking lot and worked his way up to administrative manager.

A PARKS ADVOCATE

Burke invited the Advance/SILive.com to Borough Hall last week to review the status of parks in the borough, which has the most park land of any borough in the city.

Throughout his over 30 years at Borough Hall, Burke has served as deputy borough president in multiple administrations, and has been a leading advocate for the Islands park system.

Currently, the Island has a little over 10,000 acres of park land, including city parks, state parks like Clay Pit Ponds State Preserve, and federal parks, like parts of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

That puts Staten Islands total area of parkland over 30%, which is it in line with an international initiative President Joseph Biden signed onto law that seeks to have 30% of the worlds land and waterways protected by 2030.

In one of his first executive orders as president, Biden pledged to work towards protecting 30% of the countrys land and water by the end of the decade.

With Staten Island already ahead of that international goal, Burke pointed out that the Borough of Parks is still adding even more open space, none more notable than the transformation of the former Fresh Kills Landfill into what will be the second largest park in the five boroughs.

When complete, Freshkills Park will add another 2,200 acres to the Islands total park space, making it second only to Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx for the largest in the city.

In terms of Staten Island, this is a success story and we hope that this makes Staten Islanders feel really good about their borough, Burkes said. How we regarded ourselves as home of the worlds largest landfill to now [where we are] home to all of these great parks.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The deadline to apply for public high school in New York City is Friday, Dec. 1.

Students apply to high school during their eighth-grade year  and current ninth-grade students (who arent repeating the grade) can also apply to programs with 10th-grade seats, according to the city Department of Education (DOE) website.

Offers to high schools will be released on Thursday, March 7.

Here are five things you need to know before you apply.

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

During the application period, all of the following students are welcome to apply, according to the DOE: Current public district and charter school students; private or parochial school students; students with disabilities; students with accessibility needs; students learning English; students from immigrant families; students in temporary housing; LGBTQ and gender nonconforming students, and students with children.

You can submit your application one of the following three ways:

APPLYING ONLINE

To apply online, use MySchools to explore high school options, and talk with your school counselor about your application choices. Its important to place programs in your true order of preference, with your first choice as #1. Applying to 12 programs, any of which youd be happy to attend, makes it more likely that youll get an offer to a program of your choice, according to the DOE.

Check the selection criteria section of each programs MySchools page to see if that program has any additional admissions requirements  such as auditions, interviews, or essays.

Submit your application and any additional requirements by the deadline. When you see the confetti, youll know youve submitted your application.

You can apply in English, Spanish, Chinese, Bangla, Russian, Arabic, Urdu, Haitian Creole, Korean, or French online in MySchools.

PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS

When you apply to high school, you are not just applying to schools  you are applying to programs. New York City offers more than 700 programs at over 400 high schools across the five boroughs.

If a school has multiple programs, you can apply to more than one program at that school. So if a school has an arts program and technology program  and youre interested in both  you can apply to both programs at the same school. Though these count as two different program choices on your application.

Browse a schools page on MySchools to find detailed program information and find programs that interest you.

ADMISSIONS FACTORS

Students get an offer to programs at high schools based on a number of key factors. Some you can control, while others are aspects of the programs themselves, according to the DOE.

Here are the factors:

Your application choices The number of program choices you add to your application and the order in which you place them matter. So only apply to programs you are truly interested in attending. Add 12 choices to your application in your true order of preference. Then submit your application.

Seat availability  The number of applicants compared to the number of available seats it has helps show a programs popularity.

Your priority group for a program  Some programs give admissions priority to specific groups of applicants before others, such as to students who live in a specific district or borough. Applicants in a programs priority group 1 will be considered first. Then, if seats are still available, applicants in that programs priority group 2 will be considered next, and so on.

The programs admissions method  For some programs, applicants get offers based on random selection. For other programs, applicants are evaluated based on selection criteria and then ranked based on that evaluation.

OFFERS AND WAITLISTS

Offers to high schools will be released on Thursday, March 7.

High schools use waitlists to fill any open seats after offers are released. Being on a waitlist doesnt mean you have an offer to a program. Its important to note that not all programs will have available seats, so not all programs will make waitlist offers. If a program can make you a waitlist offer, you will be contacted directly.

Youll be automatically on the waitlist for any program listed higher on your application than the program for which you received an offer. When waitlists open, you can also add yourself to any additional waitlists of any program you are eligible to attend.

You can do this by:

Using your MySchools account to add your child to other waitlists.

Talk to your current school counselor.

Contact a Family Welcome Cente r for support.

Email the DOE at HSenrollment@schools.nyc.gov

You can only have one accepted offer, which means accepting your waitlist offer means declining your current offer. You must choose within seven days of receiving a waitlist offer.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Rep. George Santos (R-Queens/Nassau) colleagues -- including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) -- moved to expel him Friday with a vote months in the making.

Santos vowed not to seek re-election after a recently-published report from the House Committee on Ethics exposed a pattern of alleged deception and thievery related to his 2022 election campaign, but Malliotakis said she wanted to see him out of Congress sooner than next year.

Based on the evidence produced by their thorough investigation, its crystal clear that he improperly used campaign donations to purchase luxury goods, botox, make OnlyFans payments, and even committed credit card fraud against some members of this body and their families, she said Friday. His actions are unbecoming of a Member of Congress and he has been nothing but a stain on our institution who lost the trust of both his constituents and colleagues.

Santos time in Congress survived two previous votes, but the committee report helped flip enough of his Republican colleagues to reach the 290-vote threshold to see him booted from the nations legislative branch.

He is the sixth member of the House of Representatives to be removed in the nations history, and the first Republican to receive the dishonorable distinction.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis addresses the crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the St. George Theatre. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)Steve White for the Staten Island Advance

While the congresswomans 2022 campaign accepted about $2,500 in donations from Santos that year, according to Federal Election Commission filings, Malliotakis came out against Santos quickly after his transgressions became to national attention.

Outside a local Long Island publication, the North Shore Leader, questions about Santos finances and behavior faced little scrutiny in the media ahead of the 2022 election that saw him replace former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island), who launched a failed primary challenge of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

However, Santos issues came to light before he even took office when the New York Times published a report Dec. 19, 2022 highlighting his alleged patterns of deceit.

Malliotakis took a stand against Santos shortly after the Times published its report telling the Advance/SILive.com Dec. 28, 2022 that she was extremely disappointed to hear the accusations against Santos, and saying that his constituents deserved to know the truth.

Almost a year later, more and more evidence has mounted against Santos and hes even facing criminal charges for his alleged actions. Santos has copped to some ethical failings, but has denied criminal wrongdoing while calling into question his House colleagues action against him.

It starts and puts us in a new direction, a dangerous one, that sets a very dangerous precedent for the future, Santos said on the House floor Tuesday evening. Are we to now assume that one is no longer innocent until proven guilty, and they are in fact guilty until proven innocent? Or are we now to simply assume that because somebody doesnt like you, they get to throw you out of your job.

Now that Santos has been removed from office, Hochul will be tasked with scheduling a special election in the next 10 days.

Under state law, the governor needs to schedule that election between 70 to 80 days after Congress notifies her of Santos official expulsion, which means the special election will occur in February.

I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New Yorks 3rd District by scheduling a special election, she said Friday. The people of Long Island and Queens deserve nothing less.
Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe!

Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions.

Premium Subscription

As low as $8.25 per month

Premium Includes:

Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads.

The ability to download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading.

The ability to clip & download articles or images to share with others.

Access to the last 90 days of e-Editions with search, downloading and clipping options.

Unlimited access to our award-winning online content

Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community
The world's greatest female sprinter joins the Richard Mille Family

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is the greatest female sprinter of all time. In her signature 100m, the Jamaican has amassed more Gold and Silver than any other sprinter in history, not to mention an equally impressive tally in the 200m. At the age of 36 she still remains at the top of her game over different distances - last year becoming the oldest sprinter ever to have become World Champion. The Pocket Rocket will be preparing for take-off at the Paris Olympics next year with the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport on her wrist.

With Richard Mille, everything starts with a common vision Its about pushing barriers! People have always told me what I could or couldnt do, I wanted to be part of a brand that knows about timing and where age doesnt limit your progress. At the end of the day, we have the same vision as it pertains to our legacy. What we want to achieve is timeless. declares the global champion. Shelly-Ann is not only a World Champion, says Amanda Mille, brand and partnerships director of Richard Mille, she is a strong woman who combines this with being a mother. As if that wasnt already enough, she finds the energy for her charity work and this all-round commitment totally reflects our values.

Shelly-Ann wears the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport  Richard Mille

The idea of family also chimes with her experience. We athletes dont get to where we are by ourselves. There are so many people whose shoulders I have stood on, who have believed in me along the way. Its not the I but the we. Being part of a whole comes out most of all when shes representing her country, Jamaica. You feel a whole nation pulling you over the line.

Shelly-Ann is also living proof, over two decades, that excellence and performance dont just happen. They are the result of daily work, commitment and mental focus. She remains driven by the will to inspire young women and prove that everything is possible with hard work and determination. Experience is the sum of all the hard work she puts in to achieve the dream.

Shelly-Ann wears the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport  Richard Mille

Shelly-Ann wears the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport, Its timeless. It ties into each person, it owns you whenever you wear it. Thats what I want, the perfect synergy, as if Im wearing nothing. Shelly-Ann is also looking forward to one of the greatest challenges - matching the salmon timepiece with one of her signature hair colours. Its a partnership! When I step on the line its about me bringing out the part of me which can best show this unique watch off to the world!
Australia has spent a decade as one of the worlds most notorious climate outsiders thanks to an outstandingly meagre climate policy even within a lacklustre global line-up. But the United Nations annual climate summit, COP28, presents the nation with a chance to rebuild its global reputation.

But Australia will likely face international pressure to set even more ambitious targets and address its efforts to transition from fossil fuels when world leaders gather in Dubai for the annual stocktake of climate commitments since the 2015 Paris Agreement set a goal of limiting global warming to a cap of 1.5 degrees. Despite the summits history of setting lofty goals and huge efforts by some nations to transition from fossil fuels, it is estimated that 2023  already marred by international conflict, economic pressures, and devastating fire seasons  is all but certain to be the hottest year on record.

A slogan in Dubai, where COP28 is being held. Credit: Getty

Australia is pushing to be welcomed back into the fold and hopes its improved climate change credentials will allow it to be considered worthy of hosting a future summit, COP31, in partnership with Pacific nations.

To this end, on the eve of attending COP28, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen announced Australias emissions projections have improved and were within striking distance of the governments target, a message that also sends a clear signal to Pacific nations facing inundation if 1.5 degrees of warming is exceeded.
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Spread some Christmas cheer with those in need  and earn brownie points with your friends and family in the process.

It can seem hard to keep social causes and charity in mind when the onslaught of Christmas gift-shopping and celebrations starts to pick up pace in December. But there are several organisations and businesses making it dead-easy to give back while you give to those around you.

Buy a food-focused gift that also feeds others

Food for Everyones posters have become a must-have wall accessory among chef watchers and food enthusiasts. Pairing high-profile cooks and chefs with renowned artists, each of the prints visually encapsulates a recipe from a chefs repertoire with striking results. Past talent has included Andrew McConnell, Lennox Hastie and Julia Busuttil Nishimura.

Food for Everyones latest release of posters features a recipe by Nigella Lawson. Supplied

The best part? Each poster contributes the equivalent of 10 meals to SecondBite, a charity feeding those in need.
Credit: @mickandsues/INSTAGRAM

I enjoyed the nuanced and thoughtful article regarding issues for adolescents and their families considering gender transition [November 25]. However, what was missing for me was any meaningful discussion (beyond social contagion) about why young people in such numbers are uncomfortable with their assigned gender. Wouldnt it be great if we could collectively talk about how constricting socially constructed gender roles are not just for young people, but for females and males generally? And how to grapple with the pressing societal problems created by these  such as gender inequality and its relationship to family violence, for example? Perhaps we can look to other cultures which have discovered creative and perhaps more spacious ways to express non-binary and gender-fluid ways of thinking and being in the world in an embodied way. As a much older person who has recently embraced a non-binary identity, I would have given so much as a child to have the freedom to explore what these young people are grappling with openly and without judgment or coercive restraint.

Vivienne Colegrove

Korumburra, VIC

I just wanted to thank you on behalf of our group, Parents of Adolescents with Gender Distress, for giving Michael Bachelard the space to write about youth gender experiences. I doubt you can appreciate the relief we feel with seeing the topic aired with such sensitivity and balance. We now have hope that the complexity and trauma of what we face in our families, and what many other families will find themselves facing, will be better understood and appreciated. Were also hopeful that in time, some of the contributing factors to our childrens distress will be examined with equal care and skill, such as the role of schools and wellbeing programs. Presenting uncomfortable topics like this in a measured way that encourages your readers to engage is absolutely critical to furthering understanding. We think Michael Bachelard has achieved that, and for those of us who contributed to the piece, he listened, checked details meticulously and treated us with the utmost respect and care.
Another scandal has recently erupted around the British royal family, caused by Omid Scobie's book Endgame. The author is considered to be the biographer of Dukes Harry and Meghan Markle, and his work mentioned an incident in 2021 when the actress said that some at the royal court were worried about the color of her son Archie's skin.

ADVERTISIMENT

In the original, Scobie did not name the names of these people, who have already been dubbed "racists," but in the Dutch translation, the information was for some reason more detailed. The book mentioned that the one who worried about the skin color of the unborn Archie was Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William. This was reported by the Daily Mail.

The author justified himself with translation difficulties, and copies with the princess's name immediately disappeared from the shelves. While the media was discussing how Kate Middleton's name could have ended up there, the couple appeared at a Royal Variety event.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was seen as a spectacular response to rumors of problems in the family. Although the couple hasn't commented on the scandal, neither have Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, experts believe that their body language speaks for them.

In their opinion, the Dukes' appearance on the red carpet was quite revealing. First of all, the couple behaved more tenderly with each other and often demonstrated physical intimacy.

Body language experts also noticed that Kate Middleton looked at her husband more often and smiled at him, while she herself was not as respectful and proud as usual. This was taken as gratitude for the support.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to experts, the Duchess's behavior indicates a shaky emotional state amid the scandal, as well as "vulnerability" due to public condemnation.

We would like to add that the biographer of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry claims that questions about Prince Archie's skin color were indeed heard within the palace walls and he even knows who was interested in this, but is afraid to disclose it in order not to run into problems in the UK.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Netflix streaming showed a spicy photo of Kate Middleton from the final season of The Crown. The last episodes will be released on December 14 and will take viewers to the early 2000s, when the love of Kate Middleton and Prince William began.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A young homeless woman suddenly begins shouting effusively about the 79-year-old. He has a smile for everyone, even me! It doesnt matter who they are, he will smile and welcome them here  not everyone does that, god bless you Bill! she says, having just received a bag of free toiletries. A couple of homeless men, here for lunch at the Loaves and Fishes Cafe, nod in agreement. Reverend Bill Crews with his mate John Singleton in 2008 after he made a $1 million donation to the cause. Credit: Nic Walker Crews, looking a little awkward, explains that his high profile  bolstered by his 2GB radio show  has been critical in securing a staggering $70 million in fundraising over nearly 40 years, a fair chunk of it from the likes of millionaires Marcus Blackmore and John Singleton. Hes spent a lot of it on serving nine million meals to those who need them most. Unquestionably, his fame also played a role for those of far fewer means bequesting the family jewels  as one anonymous donor did in the mid-1980s  which ended up raising $10,000 and kicked off Crews greater philanthropic ambitions.

She wrote a letter saying she was never to be identified because her kids would kill her, he laughs. Loading More recently 75-year-old pensioner Malcolm Mawhinney, who died in 2021, left his derelict Clovelly home  with uninterrupted ocean views  to Crews charity. It sold for $4.55 million, though Crews adds bluntly that only kept us going for six months! We always need money, he says, adding somewhat sagely, his high profile has also been a factor in his worst personal lows, away from the pulpit and volunteer kitchen. There has been a lot of personal sadness, he concedes, his vocation impacting every relationship of his life. I have two failed marriages and I often question if Ive failed my own children as a father.

But he insists it was a question of his charitys survival rather than ego that made his name famous in Sydney. An acolyte of the late Ted Noffs and his Wayside Chapel, Crews first heard the calling during a volunteer shift at Waysides coffee shop in the early 1970s. It was not so much a voice as a knowing. Bang! Bang! Bang! It was like an instant, a millisecond and an eternity all at once. I knew I would leave my job and devote myself to the poorest of the poor. I knew Id become well-known, but not to worry about that because God would be with me. Likewise, I also knew my personal life would not be terribly happy  and thats what made me realise the calling was true  because it wasnt all rainbows and bullshit. Crews soon gave up a promising career as an engineer at AWA, much to his parents and workmates bewilderment, to devote himself to those less fortunate and study theology. They thought I was giving my life away, my father was dead against it, he says, explaining his younger brother Bob, the apple of his fathers eye, had been killed several years earlier in a car accident in Tenterfield.

That tragic event, along with his fathers bankruptcy and its lingering impact on his previously middle-class family, provided key lessons about the fragility of life. He arrived at Ashfield in 1984 to a parish in the grip of faction infighting and a congregation that soon became wary of Crews methods. Reverend Bill Crews says the mission is the person in front of you, that is our core purpose. Credit: Janie Barrett A lot of them left. Then it was just me and a core group of 10 old gals who came to church in hats and gloves, he says. Id been going out with the ambulances at night, to see what was happening around the area. It was pretty tough, things were not great. I told the railway police at Central Station to bring homeless kids to us. We had kids sleeping on pews. I was breaking protocol, but we didnt care. Those old gals, they were wonderful  they were my angels, like a group of loyal aunts supporting me. They gave those kids unconditional, motherly love. They agreed we had to keep going, to keep helping, especially the kids.

I knew the church would end up getting pissed off with me, I knew the only way I would survive was if I became really well known. Loading Crews had witnessed his mentor Ted Noffs ruffle feathers. Despite having an equally high profile, Noffs was tried by NSW Methodist Church on charges of heresy amid claims his teachings were not in line with official church doctrine in the mid-1970s. It was a sensational story at the time, but Noffs prevailed and was eventually cleared by the church. Crews admits his actions over the years have created tension among his colleagues in the Uniting Church and the broader welfare community. One of the sticking points has been his ability to raise money. Crews founded the Exodus Foundation within the auspices of the Uniting Church, but around a decade ago set up The Bill Crews Foundation and The Bill Crews Charitable Trust, which are both separate to the church but work hand-in-hand with Exodus to care for the tens of thousands of vulnerable people they interact with each year.
The identity of a top-ranking police officer accused of crashing his car in Sydney while drunk will remain suppressed for 40 years after a court agreed to an unprecedented secrecy push by NSW Police.

The public cant be told the detective inspectors name, identity, details of his close ties to the top echelons of the force  or even the reason for the secrecy  only that it is to protect the safety of somebody else.

Detective inspector AB allegedly crashed a police vehicle in NorthConnex in May. His charges in November set off a frantic bid by police to keep his name secret. Credit: Renee Nowytarger

Last month Nine News revealed police had charged a senior officer, almost six months after he allegedly downed 20 drinks at a work party in The Rocks, drink-driving until he crashed his car in the NorthConnex tunnel.

The senior officer allegedly dumped the car in North Sydney and fled the scene.
A lot of whats happening in the US and Canada is around fentanyl, and so were very, very worried about fentanyl in Australia, he says. Melbourne is in a privileged position. Fentanyl, which can be 50 times stronger than heroin, has yet to appear on the street and wreak the same level of havoc it has in North America. As part of this mastheads Home Safe series, we are examining how Melbournes crime rate compares with London, New York, Berlin, Tokyo and Montreal. Were also looking at the role crime plays in our city, what it means for others, and patterns over the past few decades. Melbourne scored 73 on The Economists Safe Cities Index in 2021, ranking behind London, which scored 74.4, and Tokyo on 73.3, but in front of New York City on 66.9.

The index considers different metrics and gives a rounded picture of the interaction of economic security and the effectiveness of police and the criminal justice system. Statistics compiled by The Age show that the homicide rate in London and Montreal is lower than in Melbourne. Berlins is slightly higher and New York Citys considerably higher. The robbery rate is much lower in Melbourne than comparable police departments in London and Montreal. On the whole, however, crime in metropolitan areas has decreased in the past few decades.

The incredible success story of New York City This includes cities with a relatively dangerous reputation, like New York City, says American crime analyst Jeff Asher. Loading You can compare New York with where it was 30 years ago, where it was in the 90s, and its like, all of these crime figures are laughably small, he says. Youve had this incredible success story within New York. This success story is relative: the homicide rate in New York City is still four times higher than in Melbourne, at 5.25 per 100,000 people compared to Victorias 1.26 per 100,000. But its far lower than it was.

Just going over the numbers, the 30-year change in murder is minus 80 per cent, rape is minus 60 per cent almost, robberies minus 80 per cent, assaults minus 33 per cent, burglaries minus 86 per cent, Asher says. But drugs remain a problem. Data released in September showed that overdose deaths in New York City increased by 12 per cent from 2021 to 2022, with fentanyl detected in 81 per cent of drug overdose deaths. There has been a 60 per cent increase in vehicle thefts in New York in the past two years. Credit: AP In the past 12 months, the city also recorded an increase in gun violence, leading to a New York Police Department crackdown. Asher says that police are also grappling with unexpected sources for crime, like social media. For example, Asher says, he traced a spike in motor vehicle theft to a single video uploaded on TikTok in July 2022, showing how to steal a type of car.

Auto theft is up 60 per cent over the last two years in New York, he says. The rate of car theft in Victoria has remained fairly stable over the past eight years, with the highest rate recorded by police in 2017. A city of protest in Berlin Crime can also manifest along the fault lines of social and political cohesion. Professor Marc Coester, criminologist at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, says Berlin has 19 protests a day, or about 7000 a year.

You can imagine most demonstrations are peaceful, but if you have 19 demonstrations per day, you will always see violence against police officers and counterprotesters in some form, he says. Coester says Berlin has experienced politically motivated crime as far-right activists motivated by racism target Green and left-wing politicians, sometimes with arson. Berlins homicide rate is also higher than Melbournes, at 1.6 per 100,00 people, in 2022. One event from about 11 months ago sticks in peoples minds. On New Years Eve 2022, hundreds of migrant youth and men who live in the Neukolln quarter in the centre of Berlin, clashed with police. It was the culmination of years of offending in the city centre, the cultural and economic limitations diaspora communities face, and the limited employment opportunities for migrants. A banner warning Berliners about lighting firecrackers in Alexanderplatz on New Years Eve. Credit: DPA via AFP

Rioters used pyrotechnics and fireworks to damage property, leaving dozens of police officers, firefighters, rescue workers, pedestrians and journalists injured. Authorities detained 145 people. Coester said the event caused anxiety in the community and gave the far right a pretext to oppose further immigration and demonise migrants. Like in most cities, Coester says, crime is concentrated in the centre of Berlin. In 2022, there were 14,135 offences per 100,000 people in the city, with 519,827 offences recorded by police. Most of those offences, Coester says, were fraud and theft: cars, shoplifting, and burglary. Like in Melbourne, policymakers are looking closely at how to reach young offenders and intervene earlier before criminal behaviour becomes entrenched.

There were, so far, three summits against youth violence initiated by the governing mayor after the New Years riots, he says. Loading The German government has invested more than 100 million ($164 million) in social programs aimed at reducing crime, including measures for schools, social work, prevention programs for parents, job initiatives and sport. Montreal: Sharp rise in violence in peaceful city As in Melbourne, a focus for Montreal police is gun crime.

Though gun-related offences have remained low compared to US cities, the homicide rate in the Canadian city has risen consistently over the past five years, from 24 in 2017 to 41 in 2022. Theres been a sharp rise in violence in the last three years and a lot of gun discharges as well, explains Etienne Blais, a criminologist at the University of Montreal, and life-long resident of the city. If you compare it to American cities like New York, Boston, Chicago or even Philadelphia, we register a fraction of what you will find in the States, and as in Australia, its quite safe to walk in the streets, he says. Victoria and Montreal have very similar rates of car theft, with Victoria at 221.2 per 100,000 people compared to Montreals 223.29. But, when it comes to burglary, Victorias rate is much higher at 446.9 per 100,000 people, whereas Montreal sits at just 146.93 in 2022.

As in Berlin and Melbourne, police are focusing on youth crime, with a few high-profile incidents that shocked the community. We had a case where teenagers, they were 14, were riding their scooter and they decided to shoot at some people who were living in on a block that was owned by a rival gang, he says. Gun violence is on the rise and perpetrators are getting younger in Montreal. Credit: AP Young men involved in gun violence appear to be getting younger, he says, and account for a larger portion of people accused of perpetrating violent crime. We havent seen that  people, from 14, getting guns, shooting guns, its quite new, he says.

Canada is also monitoring fentanyl trafficking closely and is investing in safe injecting facilities, called safe consumption sites (SCS) around the country. There were about 4.3 million visits to these sites between 2017 and June 2023, according to the Canadian government. The busiest of the 39 centres in Canada record more than 400 visits a day. There have been hundreds of people dying every day because of overdoses and drugs that were cut with fentanyl, Blais says. Community groups have begun investing in testing devices so users can avoid the drug, he says. Europes largest police force understaffed Professor Emmeline Taylor from the City, University of London is a leading voice in British criminology.

She says that London has a vibrant, lively city centre, where some of the richest people in the country live close to some of the most disadvantaged. As with any large metropolitan city, London experiences a variety of crime types, from complex violent cases to organised crime to more minor infractions, she says. As in Melbourne, police are concerned about a growing trend among young offenders. London police are struggling to meet recruitment targets. Credit: Getty Images In particular, knife crime is a concern, particularly amongst young people. The total number of knife offences in the capital increased 90 per cent between 2011 and 2021. Injury with intent to cause serious harm increased by 68 per cent and fatal injuries increased by 12 per cent, Taylor says.

London police are struggling to meet recruitment targets, a difficulty that Victoria Police is also facing. The Met is the largest police force in Europe. It delivers policing services to 9 million Londoners across 32 boroughs and to millions of commuters and visitors to the capital each year, she says. The police in England and Wales is widely recognised as being severely under-resourced, and the Met police are understaffed and havent been able to meet recruitment targets. Tokyos safe streets Tokyo is the most homogenous and safest of all the cities analysed.

Dr Masahiro Suzuki, a researcher at Central Queensland University Australia, says Tokyo is fairly safe compared to other major international cities, with very little street crime. Violence and muggings are relatively rare. Tokyo is a relatively homogenous city. Tokyo is obviously more culturally and ethnically diverse than any other city in Japan, but it is less so, way less so, than Melbourne, he says. Tokyos homogeneity may contribute to it being safe, says researcher Masahiro Suzuki. Credit: Justin McManus He thinks this factor makes it easier for authorities to control crime. I think the homogeneity in Tokyo may contribute to exercising social control over people because they share the same values, he says.

Loading On the other hand, I also think this homogeneity [in] Tokyo contributes to socially excluding people who do not comply with the social norms or rules. Japan has a notoriously tough criminal justice system that allows police to detain suspects for 23 days without charge, with limited access to legal advice. However, Suzuki says that most Japanese people would be unaware of that fact. As well, Japan has strong anti-association laws for the Yakuza organised crime gangs, including banning the leasing of homes to them, which go far beyond similar laws in Australia.

But the broader compliance with the law, Suzuki says, is also attributable to trust in police. Tokyo has a community policing unit called the omawari-san. If you need directions, or have left your wallet on the train, they will help you. Police officers stand guard near the meeting of the G7 in Tokyo in April. Credit: AP Pool I think thats contributed to promoting the legitimacy and trust toward Japanese police among Japanese citizens, Suzuki says. Suzuki says Japanese police are focused on preventing low-level crime, being a visible, but non-threatening presence in the community and building trust. He says that there is a perception in Japan that law enforcement corruption is very low, despite the tough laws to deal with offenders.

Loading The Economist study found that low corruption and good personal security were strongly correlated. But one thing that The Age discovered across all the cities surveyed is that people universally believed crime was higher than it actually was in their cities. A February 2020 study on social cohesion found that while fear of crime in the Victorian community was not widespread, where such a fear was present, providing residents with a range of options to address it in pro-social ways was likely to reduce worry. Simply put, when I think about safety, I think of the freedom from fear  to live, work and play without the perception of fear, says Juma Assiago from the Urban Practices Branch at the United Nations.

He says that people often forget that safety is co-created, not given by the police or any single institution. The outlook of high crime in cities in most urbanised societies, such as in Latin America with gang violence ... we now see with emerging acts of violent extremism and hate in Western societies that a decade ago considered themselves very safe. Safety is a common responsibility for all. In Melbourne, Denham and cohealth often speak to European and North American social work organisations about trends, law enforcement, whats working and whats not. Last year, Australian Federal Police intercepted an illicit shipment containing 11.2 kilograms of fentanyl bound for Melbourne. But unlike other international cities, the drug hasnt become the problem Australian authorities have dreaded.
Dozens of roads are expected to remain closed for days across East Gippsland after heavy rain pummelled the region and threatened to leave one small coastal town isolated.

A landslide that blocked road access to Mallacoota, in the states far east, was cleared on Friday but the State Emergency Service warned the hamlet at Bemm River was likely to be cut off with the river expected to flood the road into the town.

The SES confirmed it had received more than 900 requests for assistance across Victoria in the two days to 1pm on Friday, as rain and wind swept across the state this week.

Resident Dale Winward said the Mallacoota flooding was the worst he had seen. Credit: Dale Winward

The Strzelecki Ranges locality of Balook, south of Traralgon, received 167 millimetres of rain  the highest rainfall total in Victoria over the 24 hours to 9am Friday.
Two centuries after they were hauled from the ruins of the Parthenon temple in Athens by a British nobleman, the treasures are among the greatest in the British Museum. The statues went on display in 1817 after they were removed by agents working for Lord Elgin, the then British ambassador to the Ottoman court. Housed in a dedicated room, the sculptures of Olympian gods and goddesses, and centaurs and warriors, are unmatched examples of the artistry and ambition of 5th century BC Athens. Visitors look at sculptures that are part of the Parthenon Marbles at the British Museum in London. Credit: AP The showstopper is the frieze, a marble relief decorated with men and women in a stately procession, which ran around the 160-metre-long inner colonnade of the Parthenon. Elgin brought 75 metres of it to London, the largest surviving portion. Greece, which believes the Marbles were stolen by Elgin and belong to the Greek people, wants them returned to the magnificent new Acropolis Museum in Athens. A formal request for their permanent return was first made in 1983.

In May, after Mitsotakis secured about 40 per cent of the vote at the general election, he told the British press: We will never recognise that these sculptures are owned, legally owned by the British Museum ... But again, we have to be constructive, and we have to be innovative if a solution is to be found. Although public and political opinion has shifted, the British have long argued that Elgin legally purchased the Marbles and received a firman (a decree issued by the sovereign in historical Islamic states) from the Ottoman sultan. A long-running defence is that had the Marbles remained in Athens, they likely would have shared the same fate as other ancient sculptures that were destroyed and mutilated. Britains Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer, left, meets with the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London. Credit: Getty A 1963 Act of Parliament stops the museum permanently handing back the sculptures. A string of British governments, including Sunaks, have vowed not to change the legislation, as has Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer, who the polls predict will take office at the next general election. Starmer, who met with Mitsotakis last week, told him he would not stand in the way of a mooted loan deal involving part of the Parthenon sculptures being sent to Athens. Some have speculated this meeting was the source of Sunaks hissy fit.

A diplomatic blunder or domestic political wedge? Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Sunaks decision to call off his first bilateral talks with Mitsotakis at the eleventhth hour had been remarkably disrespectful. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, who accompanied Mitsotakis on his trip, was even blunter. This is unheard of, he said. It is a massive diplomatic indiscretion. Even Israel and Hamas communicate. Britains Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who this week cancelled a meeting with the Greek prime minister. Credit: Getty European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said it was as un-British as it gets. George Osborne, a former UK chancellor and now chair of the British Museum, has been trying for more than a year to negotiate an innovative loan deal with Mitsotakis that would entail parts of the frieze being loaned to the Acropolis Museum.

In exchange, some Greek treasures would be sent on loan to the museum in Bloomsbury in central London. Over time, different parts of the sculpture would be put on display in Greece. I hope well find a way to partner with Greece so that a portion of the Marbles spend part of their time in Athens . . . and we see more of their treasures in return, Osborne wrote in The Spectator earlier this month. Some believe Sunaks snub this week was less about the Marbles and more an attempt to paint the Labour leader Starmer as either unpatriotic or weak. It is clear that Sunak is in a bind, under pressure ahead of the upcoming elections and that pressure led him to this diplomatic transgression, Tassos Hadjivassiliou, a foreign policy aide to Mitsotakis, told The Times.

Former British foreign secretary William Hague said it was not a great advert for diplomacy as others accused Sunak of handing Labour a free hit. Loading He told Times Radio that the meeting with Mitsotakis should have gone ahead because the two countries had a heck of a lot more [to talk about] than the Elgin Marbles. But he insisted Sunak was a very calm, rational guy and would not have cancelled the meeting without good reason. A matter of trust? Since the days of Lord Byron, the romantic poet who was an early critic of their removal, the fate of the Marbles has been bitterly contested.

Both sides of the debate appeal to a kind of cultural nationalism. They have become part of Britains cultural heritage and have been displayed prominently in the heart of London so that every year, more than 6 million visitors from around the world can study, appreciate and copy their workmanship at close range. Boris Johnson, while prime minister, said: Those gods and heroes came to our country in 1812 as refugees from the Ottoman kiln. They were going to be melted down to make cement. Inside the New Acropolis Museum in Athens. Credit: Shutterstock There are fears within the British establishment that the only way the Marbles could ever be temporarily returned to Athens is if there was a cultural version of a hostage swap, where Athens loaned Greek treasures to London as collateral. It could be a political problem for Mitsotakis to accept a loan of what he regards as Greek property, but the British Museum could agree to ship to Athens potentially one-third or more of the Marbles for a set time, such as 10 years. But earlier this year, Richard Lambert, Osbornes predecessor as British Museum chair, told the Financial Times: My assumption was that once loaned, they would not come back.

Last year, Italy returned a fragment from the Parthenon that for more than 200 years had been on display at a museum in Sicily. And in December, the Vatican announced it would give three Parthenon fragments to the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, who is expected to pass them onto the Acropolis Museum. Loading Momentum on the side of Athens David Hill, the former chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, has gained widespread global recognition for his unwavering advocacy for the return of the Parthenon sculptures. He said Sunaks behaviour had diminished Britains position and only strengthened that of Greece. More has happened on the return of the Parthenon sculptures in the last two years than during the last 200 years, said Hill, a one-time chair of the International Association for the Return of the Parthenon Sculpture.

Now we have negotiations directly between the chairman of the British Museum and the prime minister of Greece  its unprecedented and encouraging. He said a major boost was also the about-face of Britains two major conservative newspapers, The Times, and The Telegraph which have both editorialised in favour of the Marbles return. I dont think they can go resile from that position, he said. He said a measure of how quickly and how far British public opinion has changed on this issue was revealed when last year The Sunday Times showed almost 80 per cent of readers now supported the sculptures return. A YouGov opinion poll showed recently the British public  by a ratio of almost three to one  supported that step.
Indicted Republican George Santos brief career in the US House of Representatives came to an end on Friday, when fellow lawmakers voted to expel him over criminal corruption charges and accusations of misspending campaign money.

The House voted 311-114 to immediately remove the controversial freshman lawmaker, above the two-thirds majority required to oust one of its own.

Expelled: George Santos. Credit: AP

Besieged by revelations of lies about his past, a federal criminal indictment and a congressional ethics probe, Santos, 35, became only the sixth member to be expelled from the House. The New York congressman was the first to be kicked out without having fought for the Confederacy or being convicted of a crime.

Following the vote, there was scattered applause in the House chamber.
Rio de Janeiro: A major city in Brazil has enacted what appears to be the nations first legislation written entirely by artificial intelligence  even if its approving legislators didnt know it at the time.

The bill was passed in October in the southern city of Porto Alegre and councillor Ramiro Rosario revealed this week that it was written by a chatbot, sparking objections and raising questions about the role of artificial intelligence in public policy.

Rosario said he asked OpenAIs chatbot ChatGPT to craft a proposal to prevent the city from charging taxpayers to replace water consumption meters if they were stolen. He then presented it to his 35 peers on the council without making a single change or even letting them know about its unprecedented origin.

Lawmakers in Brazils southern city of Porto Alegre Brazil have enacted legislation written entirely by artificial intelligence. Credit: AP

If I had revealed it before, the proposal certainly wouldnt even have been taken to a vote, Rosario said. The 36-member council approved it unanimously and the local law went into effect on November 23.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On November 28, 2023, a group of medical professionals of St. Maarten Medical Center & the Ambulance Department of Ministry Public Health, Social Development & Labor toured the medical facilities aboard the German cruise ship Mein Schiff 4. The medical professionals were accompanied by the Director of Tourism May-Ling Chun.

This is the first step in an effort of the medical professionals to enhance better collaboration and cooperation within the cruise industry on St. Maarten where patient care is concerned.

This initiative was spearheaded by Dr. Stefan Luhrs of Bjrn Steiger Foundation of Germany, in collaboration with drs. Cylred Richardson, Department Head Ambulance of Ministry Public Health, Social Development & Labor.

Minister Ottley applauds the efforts of the medical professionals to enhance better collaboration and cooperation.
To avoid falling into the hands of fraudsters when applying for a job, you need to conduct an "investigation" of the organization with the desired vacancy. You should also be vigilant about personal data and financial offers.

ADVERTISIMENT

For example, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a memo with tips for job seekers. It describes what to look for when looking for a job and how to protect yourself from unnecessary expenses and stress, as reported by Bestlifeonline.

The FTC advises not to accept a job without a preliminary interview.

How to recognize fraudulent job ads

"Scammers advertise jobs in the same way as legitimate employers do - on the Internet (in classifieds, on job sites, and social media), in newspapers, and sometimes on television and radio. They promise you a job, but they want your money and your personal information," warns the US Federal Trade Commission.

That's why the FTC urges you to never accept a job unless you've had an interview beforehand.

"Scammers may say they are out of town, too busy, or have another excuse for not speaking to you on the phone or in person," the FTC adds. You always have the right to ask for an interview.

ADVERTISIMENT

Personal data

If you are asked to provide your bank account information during your job search, this should also be considered a red flag.

Legitimate companies will not ask for this information until you accept a job offer and formalize your employment relationship.

Pay for materials?

Never agree to send money from your card or pay in cash for allegedly materials or supplies. In this case, you risk losing both your job and your money.

Experts advise looking up the name of the company or person hiring you on the Internet. It's also worth looking at all possible reviews.

If an employer promises high pay for a small job, this is also a common sign of fraud.

ADVERTISIMENT

As OBOZREVATEL reported, fraudsters tried to steal money from Ukrainians by sending SMS messages on behalf of EVA, a company that sells cosmetics and household chemicals. In the messages, the scammers indicated alleged winnings and cash rewards from the store.

Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL's Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest developments.
Sometimes during the holidays, many of us wonder what it would be like to be born on New Year's Day. Would it be better than a regular birthday, or would the coincidence of the two holidays spoil everything.

ADVERTISIMENT

The British journalist Charlotte Dingle, who was born on December 31, wrote a column for Cosmopolitan in which she described her experience. She presented it in the form of 10 lessons that life has taught her.

1. Most people will forget your birthday. Charlotte described it as being at a party with a "Here I am" badge, which is cute when you're six years old, but not so much fun in adulthood.

2. You will never be able to gather all your friends at the same time. After all, it will be difficult for your private party to compete with the crazy celebrations that are organized for the New Year. Your friends will share the cost of renting separate houses for the celebration, going to the mountains or to the sea, organizing dances in clubs, or setting off expensive fireworks. Your personal budget is unlikely to be able to afford anything comparable.

ADVERTISIMENT

3. Even if your friends come to your holiday, you are still likely to be alone by nightfall. After all, someone will run away under the pretext of wanting to attend a New Year's DJ set, and someone will be waiting for you in a fashionable club or other interesting place. The one who will definitely stay with you to the end is your cat.

4. You will feel your age change faster than other people. The numbers in this column will increase along with the numbers on the calendar, while most people experience these moments separately.

5. You will still receive one gift for two holidays.

6. Your new friends will not believe you. They will always be surprised that your birthday is a holiday. While biology knows no holidays and weekends and children are born on New Year's Eve.

7. If you don't drink, your birthday can turn into a nightmare. Everyone around you will be eager to drink to the coming year and will most likely tease you for having water in your glass.

ADVERTISIMENT

8. If you drink, get ready to wake up on January 1 with a hangover, fear of what the new 12 months will bring, and the feeling that you've grown a year older. And all at the same time.

9. People will certainly try to reassure you with stories about how lucky New Year's children are. It may be fun the first few times, but then it will become annoying.

10. You'll often be told that your birthday is just wonderful, even though you know very well that it's not.

So now that you know the truth and there is someone in your family who was born on New Year's Day, try to pay a little more attention to this person. They definitely deserve it.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you what superstitions exist about people born on January 1.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
EU countries have agreed on a record financial support package for Ukraine. It is about providing 50 billion euros until 2027.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was stated by European Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn at a briefing on November 30, Sky News reports. "The main thing is to support Ukraine. This is not disputed by anyone, not even the amount," he said.

Interestingly, earlier that day, the Hungarian government threatened to block financial aid to Ukraine. However, according to Hahn, no country has opposed the allocation of funds from the EU budget.

Earlier, the European Parliament gave its consent to the record amount of funding for Ukraine in advance. However, the final decision requires a resolution of the EU Council and, accordingly, the consensus of all member states. No such document has been officially published.

According to NOS, the Orban government, by threatening to block the decision on Ukraine, is seeking more than 20 billion in subsidies from the European Commission, to which Hungary believes it is entitled. Brussels refuses to pay this money because Hungary has problems with corruption and the rule of law.

ADVERTISIMENT

50 billion euros of aid to Ukraine: what is known about the program

According to the European Commission's proposals, the record financial assistance for Ukraine will be provided for 4 years, i.e. until 2027. The money will be allocated both in the form of loans and non-refundable grants. However, the funds will be subject to reforms.

Against this background, the Cabinet of Ministers has already submitted a preliminary draft plan for the Ukraine Facility program to the European Commission. The final document should be ready in December 2023. The plan consists of the following blocks:

macroeconomic scenarios, including the development of quality recovery institutions;

basic reforms, such as public administration reform, public finance management, anti-corruption, and justice system reform;

economic reforms: improving the business climate, management of state assets, human capital development, and regional policy;

key sectors of the economy: energy, agriculture, logistics, IT, and manufacturing.

ADVERTISIMENT

The European Commission will check compliance with the plan every three months. If Ukraine complies with the plan, the EU will disburse a tranche of aid, and if it does not, no funding will be provided.

Supporters of the plan believe that it will help bring financial support to Ukraine to a more stable and predictable level after a wave of criticism for the haphazard and sporadic provision of funds in 2022. In 2023, the EU approved a separate annual financing plan for Ukraine worth 18 billion.

As OBOZ.UA reported, the European Union is also preparing a plan to use frozen assets for the benefit of Ukraine. So far, it is not about confiscating and transferring money to Kyiv but about sending our country the profits from Russian financial instruments in Europe.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Prague is one of the most charming historic cities in Europe. The capital of the Czech Republic is famous for its majestic monuments, fascinating culture, and fabulous atmosphere. Millions of tourists visit it every year and there are 6 reasons for that.

ADVERTISIMENT

Prague Castle

Did you know that Prague Castle is the largest castle in the world and one of the most important cultural and historical complexes in the Czech Republic? The fact is that its total area covers more than seven hectares! Its history dates back to the IX century when a wooden fortress was built on the site of modern stone fortifications. The building was rebuilt and expanded several times over the years. This is how it got its current appearance.

One of the most prominent elements of Prague Castle is St. Vitus Cathedral. Its construction began only in the XIV century and lasted more than 500 years. The cathedral uniquely combines Gothic, Baroque and Neo-Gothic styles and is considered an incredibly important sacred building in the Czech Republic. You can see magnificent stained glass windows, reliefs, tombs and other artistic masterpieces inside. This place reflects the cultural changes in Europe over the centuries best.

ADVERTISIMENT

Today, it is the residence of the Czech president. Tourists are advised to come at noon to catch the changing of the guard at Matthias gate. If you missed it, you can still enjoy the magnificent views of the city regardless of the time of your visit.

Charles Bridge

Another gem of Prague that connects the banks of the Vltava River. Its construction began in the 14th century by order of King Charles IV, who gave the bridge its name. The structure served as the main city crossing and was an important trade artery in medieval Bohemia. Nowadays, it attracts crowds of tourists.

It offers a view of many historical monuments. First of all, there are 30 statues and sculptures that adorn the bridge. The most famous of them is the statue of St. John Nepomuk, which, according to legend, must be touched to keep a cherished secret.

ADVERTISIMENT

A walk across Charles Bridge is a fascinating journey through time, where you can hear the stories that make architecture come alive.

Old Town Hall with astronomical clock

One of the most significant historical buildings in Prague. A special element of the Old Town Hall is its astronomical clock, which was installed in the XV century. It is considered a unique masterpiece of technical skill that symbolizes the combination of scientific, religious, and cultural aspects. We can see several components: the dial, images of the apostles, the zodiacal circle, the sun and moon, and moving figures that come to life every hour. Death and the Apostles, who pass before the eyes of thousands of tourists, are also beautiful. This miracle of technology and art makes the Town Hall one of the most popular places in the capital.

ADVERTISIMENT

There are also other interesting exhibitions here, including an exhibition of original underground rooms, where you can see the remains of ancient buildings and artifacts that testify to the rich history of the city.

Petrin Hill

Another popular location among tourists. This large-area park is located on a high hill. The observation decks offer breathtaking panoramas of Prague Castle, the city center, and bridges across the Vltava River. There is a building here that resembles the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Someone is always taking pictures near it.

Petrin Hill is a place to enjoy nature and tranquility in the center of the capital. There are also urban recreation areas where you can lie on the grass or have a picnic.

ADVERTISIMENT

You will find several places worth visiting. For example, the Museum of Costume and Fashion offers you a look at old costumes from different eras. In addition, there is the Museum of Books, where you can see rare and valuable publications.

The Dancing House

The Dancing House in Prague, also known as the Ginger and Fred, is one of the most prominent buildings in the city. Its unusual architecture and graceful lines set it apart from other buildings. What makes it special?

It's a great example of postmodernism, with its curved shapes and sculptural elements. It was designed by American Frank Gehry and Czech Vlado Milunic in 1996. Most of the building is shaped like two partners dancing together. Hence its name.

ADVERTISIMENT

Most tourists limit themselves to taking photos in front of the building, and that's a shame as there is a restaurant and a bar inside where you can taste Czech cuisine with a beautiful view of the river and the city. In addition, the building houses office space and the Fred and Ginger Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Franz Kafka Monument

This impressive monument was erected in 2003 and has become an important part of Prague's cultural heritage. It depicts the head and upper torso of Franz Kafka emerging from the ground.

This monumental sculptural masterpiece impresses with its expressive symbolism. Kafka's head consists of 42 movable elements that move and transform smoothly, creating the effect of a constantly changing face. This metaphor reflects the complexity and versatility of the writer's creative world.

ADVERTISIMENT

The monument to Franz Kafka has become a symbol not only for Prague but for the whole world. It embodies the themes of loneliness, loss, and psychological insight that are characteristic of the writer's work. Many people from all over the world visit it to get some inspiration for their own works.

Of course, this is not a complete list of Prague's attractions that attract millions of tourists from all over the world. However, using this list, you will definitely not leave the Czech capital without a lot of great photos and impressions. That's what we wish you.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you about the best road routes for a vacation in Europe.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Niknam warned that smaller banks were also under pressure amid current economic headwinds and some were in danger of collapsing without regulatory intervention. If the market is allowed to do its thing, I think the first thing that is going to happen is the poorly-run and too small neobanks are likely to fail, and the mid-size banks are going to fail, he said.
Andy Prendergast, national secretary of the GMB union, which represents many workers in the energy sector, said the Government should take some of the blame for the high prices. He said: "These price hikes could have been avoided by policies that planned ahead for our energy needs, instead the nation plays catch up whilst working people suffer."
Thats not to say that Apple and Google will make it easy for Microsoft. The marketplace for mobile games and apps is just as fraught as console gaming. Google and Apple have both faced lawsuits from Fortnite maker Epic Games over their respective app store policies. Both take a hefty 30 percent cut of sales, while Apple doesnt allow competing app stores on its platform.
Mr Aylett told jurors: The prosecution allege that Koray Alpergin was kidnapped and tortured either so that he might be punished for something that he had done or else forced to give up something that he knew  perhaps the whereabouts of either drugs or money  and which his kidnappers also wanted to know.
Ms White, who described Davis as someone who comes across as polite and not a troublemaker, added: She is a member of the transgender community and due to the views in Saudi Arabia, she had no choice but to flee.
It may look hilarious when you see 170 boys doing exercises and games on Zoom at the same time, doing all sorts of things with socks and oranges, but it tells you there is something very wrong with the world.
Speaking to reporters in Dubai, the Labour leader, whose party has been deeply split over whether to back an immediate ceasefire, said: I think everybody whos seen the developments today is going to be deeply saddened by it, and what we are calling for even at this late hour is for all sides to try to reach an extension of the cessation of hostilities that weve seen over recent days.
Russian blogger Yurii Chilikin will be deported from Bali because of a "naked" photo in front of the sacred Mount Agung volcano. However, first, local authorities will force him to undergo a ceremony of offering to the gods to appease their anger.

ADVERTISIMENT

Chilikin himself told the Russian media about this. According to him, after the ceremony of offering to the gods of Agung, he will not be able to visit Bali for at least six months - the authorities have blacklisted him as a tourist (to watch the video, scroll to the end).

The blogger claims that he did not realize he was filming nude in a sacred place.

At the same time, he believes that one of the factors in the scandal was allegedly the negative attitude toward Russian tourists.

ADVERTISIMENT

"If I had known, I wouldn't have done it. I obviously didn't want to ruin my vacation and my future plans. While it looks like a madhouse, I want to leave here as soon as possible."

As a reminder, the Russian filmed himself against the backdrop of Agung, exposing his lower body. The video provoked a scandal, and local residents turned to the authorities. The "joker" closed his page on the social network, but it did not help. Now the Russian is complaining about threats.

Agung is a layered volcano that is the highest point in Bali (2997 meters) and is considered a sacred mountain by the locals. There is a legend that once upon a time there were no mountains in Bali, and happy people and animals lived there. But one day, the gods created Mount Agung to settle in this paradise, observing the life of the island and judging it harshly but fairly.

ADVERTISIMENT

The most righteous were taken to the top by the Garuda bird, where they were allowed to live with the gods. Bali still honors the gods of the mountain and offers them gifts every day. All local houses and temples are built with the volcano in mind, and even the headboards in bedrooms are often pointed in its direction.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL:

- A Russian journalist complained that he was refused service in a Ukrainian restaurant in Warsaw. The majority of people on the network called the Ukrainian bartender's action justified and called Russia a rogue country.

- Russian blogger Mikhailo Litvin complained that he was insulted by tourists from Poland in Courchevel. The Polish man condemned Russians for supporting the war and said that Ukrainians were defeating the aggressor's army.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber . Do not fall forfakes!
Theres a mass of people who rely on this land for their subsistence, our land is meant to yield 200 kilograms of olives, however this year we were only to yield 80 kilograms because of the delayed harvest, subsequently we are suffering financially.
The violence, at a more-than-15-year high this year, escalated further after the Hamas terror attack on southern Israel in which more than 1,200 people were killed in an Islamic State-style slaughter on October 7 and 240 hostages were taken.
Former chancellor George Osborne, the chairman of the British Museum where the friezes are on display, said he was pressing on with negotiations on the marbles even though it was clear from events this week that Mr Sunaks administration would not support an exchange.
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.
Spending 1 in a Tesco store is all that is required to enter the contest, which is open to all 14.4 million Clubcard members. Additionally, if you purchase at least 50 online, 25 through Click and Collect, or 15 through Tesco's Whoosh, you can enter the sweepstakes.
Judge Engoron imposed the gag order after the former president, who is campaigning for a second stint in the White House, posted disparaging remarks about the judge's principal law clerk, with her name, photo and a link to her social media, as he sat in court on the trial's second day.
Its perplexing and utterly disheartening to be honest, the inhumanity that the go-ahead has been given for these attacks on children to recommence, he said, describing the plight of one three-year-old boy called Ahmed who had lost his right leg and had not spoken for days.
"Teams are deeply concerned about the safety of patients in the north. The ICRC is fully committed to provide support to evacuate the sick and wounded, and call for the necessary conditions in place to do that."
The lawsuit did not specify what it meant by "the international LGBT public movement" which does not exist as a legal entity or organisation in the country. It is instead a broad definition used by the Russian authorities.
The figure included those who have already returned to Ukraine, it said. However, it said the numbers did not show all the current prisoners.
Royalty often appears in public in luxury clothing that most of us can only dream of. They treat these items with care: they wear them for years (or even decades!) and then patch or alter them to update the fit.

ADVERTISIMENT

Why is this? Because titled persons, despite their wealth, tend to save money. This is also evident in the fact that they often wear things from brands with affordable prices (Gap, Zara, etc.). Read more about this in the OBOZ.UA article.

1. Kate Middleton

The wife of the heir to the British throne, Prince William, Princess Kate Middleton of Wales, attended the SportsAid Stars event in London in 2020. She wore a green ribbed knit sweater by Mango, emerald culottes by Zara, and white sneakers by Marks & Spencer. For her honeymoon in 2011, Catherine chose a blue pleated dress by Zara. Her other favorite mass-market brands include: Topshop, Gap and Asos.

ADVERTISIMENT

2. Meghan Markle

In 2019, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle wore a modest H&M dress during a visit to the Mayhew Animal Welfare charity organization. This beige silhouette dress has no decor and colorful prints - simple and elegant!

Later, in 2020, Prince Harry 's wife arrived at Canada House to meet with Janice Charette, the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The Duchess wore a noble brown sweater by Massimo Dutti.

3. Queen Letizia of Spain

In 2019, Her Majesty Letizia wore a snakeskin skirt to an event at the Sarsuela Palace, which she purchased at her favorite Zara store. And in 2022, the Queen attended a charity event in Valencia, wearing a bright pink dress with spicy cutouts by Cayro. This outfit perfectly emphasized Letizia's fragile figure.

ADVERTISIMENT

4. Princess Eugenie

Not only clothes but also accessories from the mass market are worn by royals. In 2018, Eugenie, Princess of York, wore Mr. Boho sunglasses in the Jordaan style to the wedding of Charlie Van Straubenzie, a school friend of Prince Harry. This frame is incredibly suitable for this lady.

5. Princess Sofia of Sweden

In 2018, Duchess Sophia of Vermland attended Crown Princess Victoria's 41st birthday celebration. At the time, the guest of honor wore a delicate floral print dress from the & Other Stories brand. This is a German online clothing and accessories store that strives to create a harmonious combination of style, quality, and affordability.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier OBOZ.UA wrote about how members of the British royal family save money.

Only verified information is available in the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber.Do not fall for fakes!
Humanity has not taken enough measures to be able to stop artificial intelligence from causing catastrophic damage. The situation may repeat the bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to The Byte, this was stated by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who is now the chairman of the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. He compared AI to the atomic bombs that the United States dropped on Japan.

"After Nagasaki and Hiroshima, it took 18 years to conclude a treaty banning (nuclear weapons) testing and so on," he said, emphasizing that today humanity simply "doesn't have that much time."

It is known that companies working with artificial intelligence, from OpenAI to Google, have established certain security measures to curb the technology, but Schmidt is convinced that current measures are "not enough."

The expert believes that in just five to ten years, AI could become powerful enough to harm humanity.

The worst-case scenario, he said, would be "the moment when a computer can start making its own decisions." Schmidt warns that if, at the same time, AI can gain access to weapons systems or achieve other terrifying capabilities, machines may start lying to humans about it.

ADVERTISIMENT

He believes that to prevent this terrible outcome, a non-governmental organization like the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to "provide accurate information to policymakers" and help them decide what to do if AI becomes too powerful should be created.

It's worth noting that while some scientists see AI as an existential threat to humanity, others are more skeptical. For example, Yann LeCun, who heads the AI department at Meta, does not believe the technology is smart enough to pose a threat to humanity on its own. In other words, AI can be a threat, but only if it is controlled by someone with sinister intentions for humanity.

"The debate on existential risk is very premature until we develop a system that is as capable of learning as a cat, which we don't have yet," LeCun said in an interview with FT.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that a specially developed test showed that GPT-4 AI is several times dumber than a human.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sept 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sept 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (17) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sept 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (203) Jul 2013 (292) Aug 2013 (350) Sept 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (437) Jan 2014 (543) Feb 2014 (473) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (526) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sept 2014 (440) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (578) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (727) Aug 2015 (803) Sept 2015 (922) Oct 2015 (919) Nov 2015 (798) Dec 2015 (789) Jan 2016 (781) Feb 2016 (834) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (945) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (880) Aug 2016 (1034) Sept 2016 (966) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (884) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sept 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1045) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sept 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sept 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sept 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sept 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sept 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (737) Nov 2022 (718) Dec 2022 (692) Jan 2023 (662) Feb 2023 (611) Mar 2023 (692) Apr 2023 (652) May 2023 (696) Jun 2023 (701) Jul 2023 (742) Aug 2023 (737) Sept 2023 (732) Oct 2023 (749) Nov 2023 (751) Dec 2023 (732) Jan 2024 (260)
1 December/ForMin Odobescu: I am positive that, in solidarity as citizens of Romania, we will succeed in overcoming all difficulties

Foreign Affairs Minister Luminita Odobescu, in a message for Romania's National Day, voiced her conviction that, in solidarity as citizens of Romania, Romanians will succeed in overcoming all difficulties, and showed her confidence in the future of the country.

"On Romania's National Day, it gives me great pleasure to address Romanians from all over the world and to send them my best wishes of health, success in their professional activity, well-being and prosperity. I do so for the first time as minister of Foreign Affairs, with the awareness that the historic act of 1 December 1918, a fundamental milestone for all Romanians, is, as always, a special moment, reaffirming the national consciousness and unity, the vision and fundamental objectives of the Romanian nation. It is a moment when, reflecting on the past, we look confidently towards the future. I am convinced that, united as citizens of Romania, we will succeed in overcoming all difficulties and I am confident in the future we are building together," the foreign minister is quoted as saying in a press release.

Luminita Odobescu pointed out that we are approaching the end of a year characterised by a complicated international context, with crises and tensions that were sometimes more visible than the positive developments.

She brought to mind that, from the perspective of Romania's foreign policy, it was a year marked primarily by the illegal, unjustified and unprovoked aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

"The war in Ukraine continues, leading to long-term readjustments and making necessary responses that Romania was also called to give, together with its allies and partners. As far as we are concerned, we have reacted firmly to these unprecedented challenges in recent history. Most important has been our country's continued and multidimensional support for Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens. We have constantly adapted our political-diplomatic, economic, financial, humanitarian approaches to find the best ways to promote the application of international law. We never forget that this crisis is not only a regional one, but also a global one, which calls into question the universal values on which the rule-based international order is founded," the minister added.

Nevertheless Europe is not the only continent affected by crises, the head of Romanian diplomacy added.

"Violent actions threaten peace and stability in other parts of the world, such as the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. And they have an impact on us, as the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 has shown. Romania immediately condemned this terrorist attack in the strongest terms. We supported international diplomatic efforts to prevent a regional escalation of the conflict, to free all hostages and to protect civilians in the enclave. Romania advocated for a continuous flow of humanitarian aid, which it considered an imperative necessity. We have contributed and are contributing essential humanitarian aid as part of a joint European effort. We have made complex efforts to evacuate Romanian citizens and their family members. I congratulate once again those who were involved in these difficult operations, from the task force and from our embassies in Tel-Aviv, Amman, Cairo, as well as from the Romanian Representative Office in Ramallah. We have thus passed a demanding test, which demonstrates our ability to manage extremely difficult crises," explained Luminita Odobescu.

According to her, the complex context has highlighted the excellence of Romanian diplomacy and, from this point of view, 1 December is perhaps also an occasion to celebrate the professionalism and dedication that continue to be features of our diplomatic activity, of a consistent and predictable foreign policy based on the promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms, with respect for international law and the rules-based international order.

"Two recent diplomatic successes bear witness to this: Romania's assumption, through our country's permanent delegate to UNESCO, Simona Miculescu, of the Presidency of UNESCO's General Conference for a period of two years, and the election of my predecessor, Bogdan Aurescu, as a judge of the International Court of Justice, the main judicial body of the United Nations, a first for Romania since the founding of the ICJ. Next year, in 2024, we will mark 35 years since the regaining of freedom and dignity of the Romanian people. Today, unlike previous moments in Romania's modern history, we are no longer alone in the challenges we face. We are part of the most visionary community of sovereign states, the European Union, a common space of democratic values and prosperity, and of the strongest collective defence alliance, NATO. On this basis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to fulfil its duty towards Romanian citizens through diplomatic conduct and actions dedicated to the same fundamental goal: protecting and promoting the values, interests and objectives of our country and the welfare and security of our citizens. (...) A special thought of appreciation goes out on this anniversary to all Romanians abroad, whom I would like to assure of my and my colleagues' full respect. (...) Many happy returns of the day, Romania! Many happy returns of the day, dear Romanians, wherever you are!," Luminita Odobescu said.

AGERPRES
Culture Minister Raluca Turcan on Friday sent a message on the occasion of Romania's National Day, in which she urges to celebrate the passion, talent, dedication and goodness of Romanians.

"During these days of celebration I urge you to be close to each other wherever we are, in our communities or abroad, and to celebrate the passion, the talent, the dedication, the goodness of Romanians. For me, as Culture minister, it is an honour to be able to represent Romania in the United States of America, together with the Madrigal Choir, which this year celebrates 60 years of existence, a choir that has brought out from the Romanian nation the most beautiful, the best and the purest and has always succeeded in uniting people around authentic values. That is why I urge you to unite our voices and souls and to give to those around us the best we have. Many happy returns of the day, Romania! Many happy returns, Romanians!," says Raluca Turcan in a video message posted on Facebook.

The Culture minister is paying a visit to the United States of America from 26 November to Saturday
President Klaus Iohannis on Friday said that 105 years after the Great Union it is important to reflect on the achievements and progress made.

"Dear Romanians, 1 December is the celebration that brings us Romanians together, no matter where we are, reconnecting us to the spirit of our national unity. We celebrate it year after year, each time with the excitement of being part of a community where we feel at home, of vibrating, listening to the anthem and waving the flag at events across the country on this day, with the joy of sharing with others the same symbols and the same national identity. In such moments, we remember the culture and traditions that define us and, above all, the great crossroads of our history, when only through solidarity and unity we could overcome with determination the difficulties that seemed insurmountable. The completion of Greater Romania was the result of decades of sacrifices and colossal efforts made by the elites of the time, by political leaders, by the army and by the population, under the overwhelming vision and desire to include in a single state all those who spoke the Romanian language," the head of state said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, at the reception offered on the occasion of Romania's National Day.

According to him, "the greatest successes, especially the achievement of Independence and the Great Union, moments that defined our modernity, were achieved when Romanians put aside their differences, put the good and the future of the state above all else and were united around the same ideals and aspirations."

Iohannis stresses the achievements and progress made by Romania 105 years after the Great Union. He points to the affiliation to the European Union and NATO.

"Dear Romanians, 105 years after the Great Union, it is important to reflect on the achievements and progress made. We are respected members of the European Union, in which we wanted to integrate because Europe is our family. European values are our values, European ideals are our ideals. For us, belonging to the European Union also means access to a very significant financial resource, especially through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. European money builds Romania and makes our major national projects possible. Thanks to its democratic path, its attachment to Euro-Atlantic values, our country has today a well-deserved place in both the European Union and NATO. In the current very tense geopolitical situation, we see best how important these two strategic choices are and how protected we are because we have partners we can rely on in difficult times. Romania is a safe country and its citizens have no reason to fear. Our membership in the North Atlantic Alliance gives us the strongest possible security guarantees, and the presence of allied troops on our territory is proof of our commitment to ensuring the stability and defence of our region. Romania's strategic role in this area has allowed us to support the Republic of Moldova very consistently, not only by sending aid directly to Chisinau, but also by constantly promoting the European aspirations of Romanians across the Prut," President Iohannis added.

Among those attending the National Day Reception were former President Emil Constantinescu, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, interim President of the Chamber of Deputies Alfred Simonis.
Military personnel from the Ministries of National Defence and Interior paraded on Friday in the centre of Brasov, together with representatives of the NATO military base in Cincu.

"We are very honoured to be able to be in Brasov today for Romania's National Day, as we were in all the six cities where we were invited to participate in the ceremonies. We are extremely pleased to participate in this parade, as in Bucharest, to show our solidarity with the country that is our host. The Eagle mission in Cincu (...) is made of French, Belgian and Luxembourgish military forces and its main mission is to reinforce NATO's eastern flank. The military base in Cincu, which has existed for many years, provides us with a lot of warmth and allows us to train and be together with all the other NATO allies in Romania. All this activity of ours cannot be done without military and civilian support. (...) We are proud to participate in the national celebration of the Romanians and we hope that we have lived up to your expectations," Lt. Col. Maxime, deputy commander of the NATO Eagle military base in Cincu, told AGERPRES.

At present, there are 1,400 troops under French command in Cincu, 1,000 of whom are in the intervention category and the rest to support the presence and operations. As for the "town" that hosts them, the source said that the works are not ready, although "they are well advanced."

"But we can assure you that all the combat units are ready to intervene in case of need," said the deputy commander of the NATO military base in Cincu.

During the event in Brasov, two instructors from the Special Operations Forces Training School performed a parachute jump to the applause of those present.

After the military ceremony, an event organised by the Union of the Youth of Scheii Brasovului and Brasovul Vechi took place in Unirii Square, where local officials laid wreaths at the statue of the Unknown Soldier.

The 1 December celebration will end in the evening with the traditional torchlight retreat of the mountain hunters from the 2nd "Sarmisegetusa" Brigade.

AGERPRES
ST. LOUIS  On Tuesday morning, a former Boeing CEO took the stage before a crowd of Missouris political and business leaders and offered a bold prediction: After decades of losses in manufacturing, the sector is poised for a turnaround in St. Louis.

Dennis Muilenburg, the former Boeing CEO who chairs the projects board, acknowledged the steep losses the region has suffered. In the 1970s and 1980s, many of St. Louis manufacturing jobs disappeared, he said, and offshoring and outsourcing have dealt continued hits since then.

But thats all changing, he said.

We are rebuilding, and rebuilding, and rebuilding manufacturing capability here in St. Louis, Muilenburg told the crowd. I can assure you, what were doing here in St. Louis is unique. It is extraordinary. And it will transform the region.

The group was gathered to herald the beginning of construction on the flagship site for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis, a project that will provide the local industry with workforce training and support for research, development and prototyping.

The new, 150,000-square-foot building will be located on Finney Avenue in St. Louis Vandeventer neighborhood, across the street from Ranken Technical College. It will have 10 high bay facilities for prototyping, and maker spaces for people who want to try techniques like 3-D printing, Muilenburg said. It will have a green space on the roof for community events, and a theater for hosting conferences and unveiling new technologies.

Though the building is slated for completion in mid-2025, Tracy Henke, AMICSTLs chief operating officer, said the group aims to launch some of its programs in 2024, using existing facilities.

Were not going to wait for the building to start a program, Henke said.

Today the project has just a handful of staffers, Muilenburg said, but he expected the number to grow to around 100 over the course of a couple years. Between them, and the researchers, academics and members of industry who will use the center, it may one day be a workplace for 1,000 or 2,000 people. And it will collaborate with other workforce development programs in the area, like the center city officials are planning one mile east, at the former offices of Killark Electric.

Regional civic and workforce development leaders have focused in recent years on advanced manufacturing as a means to add jobs and grow the economy in St. Louis.

Today manufacturing is the regions fourth-largest employer, representing about 9% of jobs in the metro area, according to the latest State of the St. Louis Workforce report. It has grown by about 11,000 jobs here, over a decade, and supports a density of small and medium-sized businesses, which are often suppliers for giants like General Motors and Boeing.

The construction of a center such as AMICSTL was among the wish-list items in the 2030 Jobs Plan released by Greater St. Louis. The plan identified advanced manufacturing as one of five industries that have potential to drive growth in the region  alongside business services, biomedical and health services, logistics, and aerospace, automotive and defense.

Local manufacturers will likely welcome another venue for training the next generations. The sector faces an aging workforce, and businesses have been working harder than ever to sell the industry to young people, and overcome old perceptions about manufacturing jobs.

Our country has sort of outsourced manufacturing for a couple of decades, and its told kids that theres not really a future in manufacturing, Muilenburg said. We need to help them understand, there is a future in manufacturing, and these jobs are on the leading edge of technology. And theyre good-paying jobs.

Muilenburg was hired at Boeing in 1985. He held leadership roles in the companys global services and defense businesses before his promotions to COO in 2013 and CEO in 2015. He resigned at the end of 2019, as the company struggled in the wake of the crashes of two 737 Max airliners.

Since then, he founded New Vista Capital, a firm that invests in early-stage aerospace companies, and hes taken on the role of board chair for the AMICSTL project.

Im very interested in regional-scale projects  and investing in talent and workforce development here, Muilenburg said.
GRANITE CITY  The Illinois Department of Labor said Thursday that it has issued a subpoena to U.S. Steel, in an effort to determine whether the company properly notified Granite City workers ahead of hundreds of layoffs.

The company announced in September that it planned to idle the last operating blast furnace at the plant, and some 400 workers would be temporarily laid off. The company attributed the move to the United Auto Workers strike, which had just begun a few days earlier, and said it expected the furnace would be idled for less than six months.

Under the state and federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification requirements, businesses must notify workers and state and local agencies, in certain circumstances, ahead of mass layoffs. The federal WARN Act is usually not triggered by layoffs lasting less than six months. Illinois state WARN Act also defines loss of employment as a layoff that exceeds six months.

The auto workers reached new tentative labor deals and began returning to work at the end of October.

But on Tuesday, U.S. Steel said it was extending the shutdown of the blast furnace beyond the expected six months, and that the furnace would be idled indefinitely. The company sent WARN notices to workers and government agencies, advising that an additional 600 employees were at risk of layoffs.

The company said it expected that, of the 1,000 total workers who had received notices, 60% might ultimately be affected. Steel rolling and finishing operations at the site will continue, using metal slabs from other facilities.

A company spokeswoman said in an email Thursday that the blast furnace was initially idled due to the autoworkers strike, and the decision to extend the shutdown was made because the company can meet customer demand through its other sites.

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, had called for the state labor department to look into the issue. On Thursday morning, Budzinski sent a letter to the departments director, requesting that she open an investigation into whether the company appropriately followed the WARN Act.

The company did not file a WARN notice in September. The Illinois labor department said it was first notified of layoffs at the plant on Tuesday.

The lack of WARN notice in September left 400 employees, their families and the Granite City community without the dignity, respect and time to prepare that they deserve, Budzinski wrote.

The department said in a press release that businesses that fail to provide proper notice under the WARN Act can be liable for back pay and benefits, plus civil penalties of up to $500 for each day of the violation.

The possibility of reductions at the Granite City plant has loomed 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, and no final agreement has been announced.

Lending further uncertainty to the situation, over the past few months multiple companies have made offers to buy U.S. Steel. The company said in August that it was reviewing its options, and has not made any public announcements about a sale agreement.
ST. LOUIS  Two years after first announcing its plans to go public, Paneras parent company has filed paperwork for an initial public offering, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Reached for comment Friday morning, a Panera spokesperson declined to comment.

After first pulling the plug on offering public stock last June, Panera kept quiet regarding its timeline around reentering the market. This weeks reported confidential paperwork may indicate better conditions for companies to try and go public after a two-year pause.

The Singapore-based e-commerce company Shein filed confidentially for an IPO on Monday, according to Reuters. The social media platform Reddit Inc. is also, reportedly, planning to go public. The CEO of Kim Kardashians apparel company, Skims, has said in multiple interviews this year that the business deserves to be a public company. Neither have offered exact timelines.

Over the summer, Panera Brands installed new leaders in preparation for a public offering. Jose Alberto Duenas, former president and CEO of Einstein Bros. Bagels, was appointed CEO in July. Paul Carbone, former chief financial officer of SharkNinja, was appointed chief financial officer in August.

Most recently, the Panera Bread arm of the company saw layoffs affecting 17% of its workforce, around 300 corporate workers, which a spokesperson said was to simplify operations.

The first St. Louis Bread Co. store was opened in 1987 in Kirkwood by Ken and Linda Rosenthal.

In 1993, the company was sold to the publicly traded Au Bon Pain Co.

That same decade, the merged company sold its Au Bon Pain division, moved its headquarters to St. Louis and renamed itself Panera Bread Co.

In 2017, JAB Holdings, a Luxembourg-based private equity group, bought Panera for $7.5 billion and paid out shareholders to make it a private company again.

In 2021, Panera Bread merged with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels, two other JAB Holdings companies, to form Panera Brands. That November, the company announced plans to file for an initial public offering in partnership with St. Louis native and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer.

But in June of 2022, Panera Brands said that they would not go public then due to a faltering IPO market in recent months.

This year, Panera Brands relocated from Sunset Hills to Maritzs campus off of Interstate 44 and South Highway Drive in Fenton.

Numerous locations still operate under the St. Louis Bread Co. banner in the St. Louis area. As of July, Panera Bread had 2,140 locations in 48 states and the District of Columbia and in Ontario, Canada.
Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

PACIFIC  Kurt Usry is a test case for whether the Missouri Constitution means what it says.

Last November, Missouri voters changed that constitution by passing Amendment 3, which legalized recreational marijuana in the state. But it also expunged some nonviolent marijuana offenses to clean the records of Missourians convicted for partaking in, or selling, a substance that voters had decided was now legal.

Usry grew up in New Melle, in St. Charles County. When he was 22, he sold a quarter-ounce of marijuana  dirt weed, he calls it  to an undercover police officer for $40.

He was convicted and served his time. Not much longer, he picked up another drug charge: possession of three grams of cocaine. He went to prison for three years.

While on parole in 2011, he was charged and convicted of possessing a two liter shake-n-bake meth lab found on the side of the road. This time, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Thats because he was considered a prior and persistent drug offender.

Thanks to voters, thats no longer true.

Earlier this year, Usrys pot conviction disappeared.

Heres what voters put into the state constitution about such old convictions: The person whose record is expunged shall be treated in all respects as if he or she had never been arrested, convicted, or sentenced for the offense, and the conviction and sentence shall be vacated as legally invalid.  The effect of such expungement shall be to restore such a person to the status the person occupied prior to such arrest, plea, or conviction and as if such event had never taken place.

Usry is asking a St. Charles County judge to decide if the words that voters put in the constitution mean what they say. This month, his attorney, Brian Cooke, filed a motion asking the judge to resentence Usry, based on the fact that Usry was no longer considered a prior and persistent offender.

Cooke isnt asking that the 20-year sentence change. Hes asking that Usry be eligible for parole, as he would have been if the pot conviction wasnt used to enhance his later offense. Cooke is representing Usry pro-bono. He credits his client for coming up with the argument for a resentencing.

The case presents a prickly legal question. Historically, Missouri courts dont like to look backward. If they did, Usry might already be a free man. Thats because in 2014, the Missouri Legislature got rid of the ability for judges to send non-violent drug offenders away without the possibility of parole. The legislature, to its credit, realized that the over-criminalization of drug addiction doesnt serve society well. The courts are sometimes slower to adapt.

In 2020, the Missouri Supreme Court almost sent Dimetrious Woods back to prison  after he had been paroled and free for two years. The court said the change to the drug law couldnt be applied retroactively. Woods would have been locked up again if not for a commutation of his sentence by Gov. Mike Parson.

Now, Usry is asking to be eligible for parole because voters changed the state constitution so that in at least one type of case  a nonviolent marijuana conviction  courts can look backward and change the records of Missourians.

Usry spent all of his 30s in prison. Hes 43 now. Hes missed most of the life of his son, who is autistic and is now 20. His mother has died and his father is in poor health. Usry believes hes served his time, and the Missouri Legislature does, as well.

Now its up to a judge to decide if voters actions truly carry the power of law.

If I am to be treated as that conviction never existed, then I am no longer a prior and persistent drug offender, Usry told me in an email. If I never sold that quarter bag then I could never qualify for this kind of sentence.

According to new court records, that quarter-bag of dirt weed never existed. It has vanished into thin air. All that remains, Usry says, is for the court to treat him like the event had never taken place.
WASHINGTON PARK  A man was found shot dead here on Friday morning.

Officers were called just before 10 a.m. to the 5900 block of Caseyville Avenue, Illinois State Police said.

They found a man in the road who had been shot multiple times.

Additional information was not immediately available.
Norwegians are considered strong and harsh people. But in fact, the descendants of the Vikings are a peaceful and calm people. They appreciate each other, rarely lie and love fishing. Find out what else surprises foreigners in Norway in OBOZREVATEL's selection.

ADVERTISIMENT

80% of the adult population of Norway owns their own boats or boats. Fishing is one of the favorite pastimes of the locals. Moreover, it is not the least important in the country's economy.

Norwegians love fish dishes, but sushi is not popular here. In general, the cuisines of other countries have not taken root in this country. This applies even to world-famous fast food.

Nature is something untouchable for Norwegians. There is no massive deforestation here. This is probably why forests still occupy a large part of the country. Industries buy wood for their needs abroad.

Living in Norway is expensive, and vacationing here is even more expensive. Prices for groceries, hotels, and food are much higher than in other European destinations. It is also very difficult to buy alcohol in the country. Not only is its price sky-high, but it is also sold only in specialized stores. By the way, utility bills here are calculated in hundreds and sometimes thousands of euros.

ADVERTISIMENT

Deception and fraud are not inherent in the people of this country. You can often see fruit tables on the streets with price tags and a jar for money next to them. You pay as much as you take, and you pay for it yourself. No one controls or checks, because they can't even think that customers will pay less.

Norway has a very low crime rate. Murders here are something incredible and wild. They happen quite rarely and immediately become the main news that almost every family discusses.

Norwegians do not like apartments. Most families prefer their own homes and a quiet rural life. By the way, cities with a population of more than 25 thousand people are considered large here.

ADVERTISIMENT

Men also go on maternity leave here, not just women. In addition, fathers are given as much as 12 weeks to care for their children, while mothers have only 11. After that, adults have to return to work, and grandmothers, nannies, or employees of public kindergartens take care of the kids.

Perhaps this could only happen in this country. A penguin has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Guard here. His name is Sir Nils Ulaf III and he lives in the Edinburgh Zoo. The animal is considered the official mascot of the local military and a favorite of all citizens.

It is customary here to receive a reward for helping the state. For example, if you take part in extinguishing a fire or repair a street lamp, you will receive a check for your work. And if any of the utilities do not do their job properly, they will pay compensation to their customers. For example, for the lack of electricity for several hours or for late garbage collection.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about how people live in Japan, China , and Germany.
ST. LOUIS  Missouri, one of five states to carry out executions this year, has a long history of racial discrimination when it comes to sentencing people to death, according to a report published Friday.

The state executed four defendants this year, three of whom were white and one who was Black. But the Death Penalty Information Centers report said 40% of the 216 Missouri death sentences in the last four decades were imposed on Black defendants.

It also found that one-third of the states pending death sentences were handed down during St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCullochs tenure from 1991 to 2018.

Of the 23 death sentences McCulloch secured, the report said at least eight were overturned or commuted by higher courts. His successor, Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, has promised not to seek the death penalty.

Nothing can change the fact that racial violence and discrimination are part of Missouris history, said Tiana Herring, the lead author of the report, in a statement. But studying the past can help us understand why racial disparities continue today, especially in our death penalty system, and inform future decisions.

The Death Penalty Information Center is a national nonprofit that provides data and analysis on capital punishment.

The report said Black people comprise just under 12% of the total state population, but 67% of people arrested for homicides in Missouri were Black in 2022.

On its face, the comparatively high percentage of Black people who have been sentenced to death may seem fair given that two-thirds of homicide offenders have been Black, researchers wrote. However, it does raise questions as to why Black people  are so overrepresented among those arrested for homicide.

The report also highlighted that while 40% of death sentences have been given to Black defendants, 62% of 21 misconduct reversals or exonerations have been for Black defendants. In addition, three of the four people who have been exonerated from Missouris death row are Black men  all three cases were marred by official misconduct, the report said.

The race of the homicide victim also affects who is sentenced to death rather than life in prison, according to researchers.

Homicides involving white victims are seven times more likely to result in an execution than those with Black victims and 80% of all death sentences imposed in Missouri since 1972 have involved white victims, even though roughly 36% of homicide victims in the state are white.

The disparate use of capital punishment for white victims  particularly white female victims  is reminiscent of historical death sentences and lynchings in Missouri, the report said.

The study also cited 2020 homicide data that revealed that, for the seventh year in a row, Missouri had the highest Black homicide victimization rate in the country.

Missouri has not doled out any new death sentences this year, according to the report. The state also does not have any executions scheduled as of Friday.

The four people killed by the state this year are Johnny Johnson on Aug. 1; Michael Tisius on June 6; Leonard Taylor on Feb. 7; and Amber McLaughlin on Jan. 3.

Johnson, Tisius and McLaughlin are white and all three were convicted of killing white people.

Leonard, a Black man, was convicted of killing his girlfriend and her three children, all four of whom were Black. DPIC said his credible claim of innocence was ignored by the state prior to his execution.

McLaughlins execution is believed to be the first of a transgender woman in the U.S.

The 56 people Missouri has executed since 2000
Two St. Louis-area members of the Missouri congressional delegation were among 311 lawmakers who voted Friday to expel U.S. Rep. George Santos, R- New York.

U.S. Reps. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, and Ann Wagner, R-Town and Country, were joined by Kansas City Democrat Emanuel Cleaver in the majority.

Missouris other five congressmen, all Republicans, opposed ousting Santos.

Fridays vote came after a damning report by the House Ethics Committee that found Santos violated campaign finance law  including using campaign funds to purchase Botox and to subscribe to a pornographic website  and willfully violated the Ethics in Government Act.

In a statement on social media, Bush said, Of all the terrible things that have been revealed, what is most upsetting is his blatant deception of his constituents and all of the harm that has come from it. That is a breach of trust and it is simply unacceptable.

For many of the 114 who voted against expelling Santos, the argument came down to due process.

Rep. Eric Burlison, a freshman Republican from Battlefield, said he believed the precedent for expelling a member of Congress was a criminal conviction, not just ethics violations and an indictment.

Of the five former members who were kicked out of Congress, three of them were removed for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War and two were removed after they had been convicted of crimes.

Hes not been convicted, Burlison said.

Cleaver, too, said he was concerned about the precedent the vote would set, saying he cast his vote with great, great caution because he was concerned Republicans would end up using the vote against Democrats.

We have a culture here right now, where if you do it to us, were going to do it to you, Cleaver said, pointing to Santos last-ditch effort to expel Rep. Jamal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm to delay a vote at the end of September.

Rep. Mark Alford, a freshman Republican from Raymore who voted against expelling Santos, wavered with his decision in the lead-up to the vote.

Most people, they get to that point and they leave for the good of the body and the good of their district, Alford said. George has chosen not to do that, to hang on until its adjudicated in court.

In addition to Alford and Burlison, other Missouri Republicans who voted against the ouster were U.S. Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer, St. Elizabeth; Sam Graves, Tarkio; and Jason Smith, Salem.

Illinois members of Congress who represent the Metro East area of St. Louis split along party lines. Democrat Nikki Budzinski of Springfield voted for ouster while Republicans Mike Bost of Murphysboro and Mary Miller of Oakland did not.

Includes reporting by the Kansas City Star.
By the end of the month, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey expects to complete work on the mountain of public records requests submitted to the office last year.

That will allow the five-person team working through the Sunshine Law backlog to finally turn its attention to the nearly 300 pending requests filed since Bailey took office in January.

Im proud of the thorough and expeditious work weve done to get Missourians the records they have requested, Bailey said in an emailed statement.

First Amendment and government transparency advocates, however, arent so sanguine about Baileys efforts.

Records requests filed since January have continued to pile up, leaving many waiting more than a year for Baileys office to take any action. And new requests, no matter how simple and easy to turn around, are still projected to take at least six months to be completed.

The attorney generals website declares that the Sunshine Law is the embodiment of Missouris commitment to openness in government, said Bernie Rhodes, a First Amendment attorney who has represented numerous media outlets, including The Independent.

By allowing requests to pile up and wither on the vine, Rhodes said, Bailey isnt living up to those standards.

Its called the Sunshine Law for a reason. It exposes sunlight on what our government is doing. If we have to wait six months to find out what someone did last week, it may be too late to do anything about that, Rhodes said.

Its not called the historical records preservation act, so that when we write the biography of Andrew Bailey 20 years from now we know what he was doing, he said. It exists so we know what hes doing today so that when he comes up for election, we know whether to vote for him or not.

Bailey inherited 224 unfinished public records requests from his predecessor, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt. Since then, the office implemented a policy to work through the backlog on a first-come, first-served basis. Newer inquiries that are small and easily dispensed with sit in limbo as staff work on older and more expansive requests.

For example, copies of Baileys official calendar on Nov. 6 and 7 wont be available until May 2024. A request like that is typically turned around in a matter of days by other government agencies, if not sooner.

It remains deeply concerning that the attorney generals office refuses to take a commonsense approach to fulfilling Sunshine Law requests, said David Roland, director of litigation for the libertarian nonprofit Freedom Center of Missouri.

If a citizens request could be fulfilled in a matter of minutes, Roland said, it is manifestly unreasonable for the office to delay the fulfillment of that request by several months, even if that might require addressing requests in an order other than which they were received.

Jean Maneke, an attorney with the Missouri Press Association, said delayed access to public records is a slap in the face to transparent government.

Public servants, she said, are not acting in the public interest when they delay serving the public in this matter.

Crocodile tears

Bailey has defended how his office has handled the backlog, arguing that the office processes requests in order to avoid the perception it is picking winners and losers.

Youve got to fulfill them in the order in which they came in, or you run the risk of people saying that youre cherry-picking favorable requests, Bailey recently told the Springfield News-Leader. Its a no-win situation.

To demonstrate his commitment to government transparency, the attorney general has pointed out that, unlike many state agencies, his office doesnt charge anything for processing public records requests.

Madeline Sieren, Baileys spokesperson, said by the end of the year the attorney generals office will have completed 56 separate Sunshine Law trainings. Thats the most in terms offices history, she said, and up from 51 in 2022 and 42 in 2021.

The 2023 total is double Schmitts first year as attorney general in 2019.

Our total attendance was in the thousands, across all of our presentations this year, she said.

Sieren added that the attorney generals office also significantly improved the efficiency, speed, and results in addressing Sunshine Law complaints.

Since Bailey took office, she said, we have closed 525 Sunshine Law complaints, which were received both this year and in previous years. This includes approximately 20 warning letters that typically included training as a condition in lieu of further enforcement action and over 40 situations where we assisted citizens in obtaining records due to our intervention through the complaint process.

But transparency advocates remain skeptical.

Part of the concern is Baileys role in crafting legislation while working as general counsel for Gov. Mike Parson to weaken Missouris Sunshine Law. A major policy priority for the governor during Baileys tenure, the legislation would have allowed government agencies to withhold more information from the public and charge more for any records that are turned over.

Rhodes said Bailey is absolutely in violation of the Sunshine Law by not promptly processing public records requests. If government transparency was really a priority for him, Bailey could dispense with the backlog immediately by choosing to staff his office in a way that acknowledges Missouris commitment to open government.

If his staff says they cant get to requests in a timely manner, those are crocodile tears, Rhodes said. He inherited a bunch of lawsuits, too, so is he just going to ignore those? Thats his job. He should just do his job.

For his part, Bailey does not begrudge Schmitt for the backlog his staff is stuck with.

My predecessors left behind a legacy of excellence, Bailey said in an email to The Independent. Because of the great work they did, theres a lot of attention on our office, which resulted in a lot of Sunshine requests being filed.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X.
It's one of the biggest political issues of our time border security and immigration. However, it's also an issue that's divided members of Co
WASHINGTON  In an alternate reality, the prime-time showdown between California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday could have been a preview of a 2024 general election debate.

Instead, the 90-minute meeting pitted one struggling Republican presidential hopeful against a Democratic rival who may or may not seek the presidency in four years.

For a night, at least, the big-state governors were eager to represent their parties on the national stage as they battled over the economy, COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and President Joe Biden's leadership in a Fox News showdown peppered with fiery policy clashes and personal insults.

"This is a slick, slippery politician whose state is failing," DeSantis said of Newsom.

Newsom defended California but also highlighted DeSantis' stagnant 2024 presidential bid.

"How's that going for you, Ron? You're down 41 points in your own home state," said Newsom, who backs Biden for reelection. "Neither of us will be the nominee for a party in 2024."

The host, Fox News Channel, billed the 90-minute affair hosted by Sean Hannity as "The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate." It was held in a television studio with no audience in Georgia, chosen for its key swing-state implications in national politics. It played out in the heart of presidential primary season ahead of next fall's general election.

As leaders of two of the three most populous states, DeSantis and Newsom spent much of the past year poking each other's policy choices and leadership style from afar. On Thursday night, they got their first chance to challenge each other on the same national stage.

The two participants, standing at podiums onstage, talked over each other often. Hannity struggled to control the action. Over and over, he encouraged the men to give each other "breathing room."

DeSantis, 45, a Republican governor elected to his second and final term last fall, is grasping for momentum in a 2024 campaign plagued by missteps in his bid to defeat former President Donald Trump, who remains the overwhelming front-runner in the GOP primary.

Newsom, 56, California's term-limited Democratic governor, positioned himself to seek the presidency someday but declined to challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024. Instead, he's emerged as a leading defender of Biden and a formal campaign adviser.

He embraced that role Thursday night after DeSantis said he was "joined at the hip with Biden and (Vice President Kamala) Harris." Later, the Florida governor said Biden, at 80 years old, is "in decline" and represents "a danger to the country."

"I'm proud of the work Biden and Harris have done," Newsom said, ticking through unemployment statistics. "I will take Joe Biden at 100 rather than Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age."

Throughout the event, the Biden campaign sent out video clips of Newsom's performance. DeSantis' team, too, issued a steady stream of his own highlights, just as it would during a traditional presidential debate.

Indeed, both Newsom and DeSantis saw Thursday night's meeting as a real opportunity to strengthen their political standing in the short and longer term.

DeSantis' allies talked up the event in recent days as a rare opportunity to prove his strength against one of the nation's most prominent Democrats  a sharp contrast from recent Republican presidential debates where he's struggled to break through on a stage where the candidates agree on most issues. Even some of DeSantis' Republican rivals privately acknowledged he would likely raise a significant amount of money through online donations as a result of the appearance.

Meanwhile, Newsom, who like DeSantis will be out of a job come January 2027, has been eager to broaden his political profile ahead of a possible presidential bid in 2028  or sooner, should the 81-year-old Biden unexpectedly drop out.

On Thursday, the California Democrat spoke to a new set of voters on the conservative-friendly Fox News, in line with his recent political strategy. In March, Newsom launched the "Campaign for Democracy" committee, which allowed him to travel to red states that Democrats typically avoid.

Newsom paid particular attention to Florida as DeSantis racked up conservative policy wins in recent years that pushed the purple state further and further to the right. In turn, DeSantis traveled to California earlier in the year and posted a video to social media highlighting drug use and homelessness in San Francisco, blaming the state's "leftist policies."

When Thursday's conversation turned to the pandemic, DeSantis called Newsom "a lockdown governor" who did "damage" to working people in California while his own kids went to private school.

Newsom was not deterred. Echoing a criticism from Trump, he reminded viewers that DeSantis initially backed many of the same pandemic restrictions that he now condemns. He also said DeSantis' later opposition to public health restrictions led to unnecessary deaths in Florida.

"Tens of thousands of people lost their lives," Newsom said. "And for what, Ron?"

Trump's campaign, aware the event drew national attention, unleashed fresh insults at DeSantis shortly before it began.

"Ron DeSanctimonious is acting more like a thirsty, third-rate OnlyFans wannabe model than an actual presidential candidate," the Trump campaign wrote, using one of the many nicknames the former president gave his rival. "Instead of actually campaigning and trying to turn around his dismal poll numbers, DeSanctus is now so desperate for attention that he's debating a Grade A loser like Gavin Newsom."

The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024 1. West Virginia 2. Montana 3. Ohio 4. Pennsylvania 5. Arizona 6. Nevada 7. Wisconsin 8. Michigan 9. Texas 10. Florida Analysis: Pennsylvania moves up list of contested Senate seats in 2024
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'
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip  Israels war with Hamas erupted again Friday, as airstrikes hit houses and buildings in the Gaza Strip minutes after a weeklong truce expired. Health authorities in the besieged territory reported dozens of Palestinians killed and Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City and southern parts of the enclave, urging civilians to flee to avoid the fighting.

Militants in Gaza resumed firing rockets into Israel, and fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah militants operating along its northern border with Lebanon.

The resumption of the war threatens to compound the suffering in Gaza. Some 2 million people  almost its entire population  are crammed into the territorys south, where Israel urged people to relocate at the wars start and has since vowed to extend its ground assault. Unable to go into north Gaza or neighboring Egypt, their only escape is to move around within the 85-square-mile area (220 square kilometers).

Renewed hostilities also heighten concerns for about 140 hostages still held captive by Hamas and other militants, after more than 100 were freed during the truce. For families of remaining hostages, the truces collapse was a blow to hopes their loved ones could be the next out after days of seeing others freed. Israel said Friday its troops found the bodies of four more hostages in Gaza, bringing the total known dead to seven.

Qatar, which has served as a mediator along with Egypt, said negotiators were still trying for a deal to restore the cease-fire. Israel and Hamas traded blame for ending the truce.

A day earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israeli officials to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas. Blinken met Friday with Arab foreign ministers at global climate talks in Dubai.

It was not clear to what extent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will heed the appeals of the United States, Israels most important ally.

Netanyahus office said Friday that Israel is committed to achieving the goals of the war, including releasing the hostages and eliminating Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007.

In response to the U.S. calls, the Israeli military released an online map dividing the Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered, haphazardly drawn parcels. It asked residents to learn the number of their location in case of an eventual evacuation. The map did not designate safe areas to evacuate to, and it was not clear how easily Palestinians could access it.

Hours into the renewed bombardment, Gazas Health Ministry said 178 people were killed and dozens wounded. Israel said it struck more than 200 Hamas targets.

Up until the truce began, more than 13,300 Palestinians were killed in Israels assault, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to Gazas Health Ministry, 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. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble.

The war began after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and other militants, who killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel and took around 240 people captive. The New York Times reported Israels military was aware of Hamas plan to attack Israeli soil over a year before the devastating operation.

Return to battle

About an hour before the cease-fire was to expire early Friday, Israel said it intercepted a volley of rockets fired from Gaza. Minutes after it expired, the military announced a resumption of combat operations, and strikes soon began.

In leaflets dropped in southern Gaza, Israel urged people to leave homes east of Khan Younis, warning that the southern town was now a dangerous battle zone. Other leaflets warned residents of several neighborhoods in Gaza City in the north to move south.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza to Khan Younis and other parts of the south earlier in the war, part of an extraordinary mass exodus that has left three-quarters of the population displaced and facing widespread shortages of food, water and other supplies.

No trucks carrying aid entered Gaza from Egypt on Friday, Palestinians authorities at the Rafah crossing said, after an increased flow of supplies during the truce.

The International Rescue Committee, an aid group operating in Gaza, warned the return of fighting will wipe out even the minimal relief provided by the truce and prove catastrophic for Palestinian civilians.

In Washington, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Israel blocked trucks from crossing into Gaza Friday but that at the request of the U.S. government, it would allow some aid to enter. Kirby said the U.S. would continue to push to increase the assistance of aid into Gaza at least up to the level of goods that entered during the pause.

In Khan Younis, residents frantically searched for survivors in the rubble of a building hit by a strike. We are women and children here. We have nothing, said Fatima Nshasi, a relative of a family in the building, as women sobbed nearby. We were going with life as usual, hoping the truce would be extended.

Strikes also hit near Gaza City and in the central Gaza refugee camp of Maghazi, where rescuers clawed through the rubble of a large building. A foot stuck out of the tangle of concrete and wiring.

Israel says it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighborhoods. Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive in northern Gaza. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.

Hamas said it fired volleys of rockets from Gaza toward Israeli cities. White smoke trails could be seen over the Israeli town of Sderot on the border with northern Gaza after Israels missile protection systems activated.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah said Friday its fighters fired on a group of Israeli soldiers along the border, its first attack since the truce went into effect.

Israel said a number of launches from Lebanon targeted military posts near the border, and others were directed toward the town of Kiryat Shmona but were intercepted. The military responded with artillery. One Hezbollah fighter and his mother were killed when their home was hit, security officials said.

Hostages families grieve end of truce

The end of the truce hit families of remaining hostages especially hard.

Meirav Svirsky told Israels Channel 12 that a released hostage relayed a message to her from her 38-year-old brother, Itai, who is still held hostage, confirming he is alive. His body is healthy but his mental state isnt great, she said. Meirav and Itais parents were killed on Oct. 7.

They havent spoken about releasing the men, and they returned to fighting without exhausting the possibilities, said Meirav, adding that she thinks the state is responsible for the fate of her brother. From my perspective, every day when there is fighting in Gaza is putting him at risk.

Netanyahu has been under intense pressure from hostages families to bring them home. But his far-right governing partners have also pushed him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed.

Netanyahu said Hamas had violated the terms of the truce. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens, he said in a statement.

Hamas blamed Israel, saying it had rejected all offers Hamas made to release more hostages and bodies of the dead. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told The Associated Press in Beirut that Hamas rejected an Israeli list of 10 female hostages to release because they were soldiers seized at military posts.

Hamas was expected to set a higher price for releasing Israeli soldiers and male hostages, and negotiations for an extension grew tougher with few women and children hostages remaining in Gaza.

During the truce, which began Nov. 24, Hamas and other militants in Gaza released more than 100 hostages  81 Israelis and 24 from other nationalities, mainly Thais. Israel freed 240 Palestinians from its prisons. Virtually all from both sides were women and children.

Jeffery reported from Cairo and Frankel from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip; Lee Keath in Cairo, and Matthew Lee in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.

Updated at 3:56 p.m.
WASHINGTON  Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court, died Friday. She was 93.

O'Connor died in Phoenix, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, the Supreme Court said in a news release.

Chief Justice John Roberts mourned her death. "A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O'Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation's first female Justice," Roberts said in statement. "She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor."

In 2018, she announced that she was diagnosed with "the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer's disease." Her husband, John O'Connor, died of complications of Alzheimer's in 2009.

O'Connor's nomination in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and subsequent confirmation by the Senate ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court. A native of Arizona who grew up on her family's sprawling ranch, O'Connor wasted little time building a reputation as a hard worker who wielded considerable political clout on the nine-member court.

The granddaughter of a pioneer who traveled west from Vermont and founded the family ranch some three decades before Arizona became a state, O'Connor had a tenacious, independent spirit that came naturally. As a child growing up in the remote outback, she learned early to ride horses, round up cattle and drive trucks and tractors.

"I didn't do all the things the boys did," she said in a 1981 Time magazine interview, "but I fixed windmills and repaired fences."

On the bench, her influence could best be seen, and her legal thinking most closely scrutinized, in the court's rulings on abortion, perhaps the most contentious and divisive issue the justices faced. O'Connor balked at letting states outlaw most abortions, refusing in 1989 to join four other justices who were ready to reverse the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.

In 1992, she helped forge and lead a five-justice majority that reaffirmed the core holding of the 1973 ruling.

"Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles of morality, but that can't control our decision," O'Connor said in court, reading a summary of the decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. "Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code."

Thirty years after that decision, a more conservative court did overturn Roe and Casey, and the opinion was written by the man who took her high court seat, Justice Samuel Alito. He joined the court upon O'Connor's retirement in 2006, chosen by President George W. Bush.

In 2000, O'Connor was part of the 5-4 majority that effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of Bush over Democrat Al Gore.

O'Connor was regarded with great fondness by many of her colleagues. When she retired, Justice Clarence Thomas, a consistent conservative, called her "an outstanding colleague, civil in dissent and gracious when in the majority."

She could, nonetheless, express her views tartly. In one of her final actions as a justice, a dissent to a 5-4 ruling to allow local governments to condemn and seize personal property to allow private developers to build shopping plazas, office buildings and other facilities, she warned that the majority had unwisely ceded yet more power to the powerful.

"The specter of condemnation hangs over all property," O'Connor wrote. "Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing  any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory."

O'Connor, whom commentators had once called the nation's most powerful woman, remained the court's only woman until 1993, when, much to O'Connor's delight and relief, President Bill Clinton nominated Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The current court includes a record four women.

The enormity of the reaction to O'Connor's appointment surprised her. She received more than 60,000 letters in her first year, more than any one member in the court's history.

"I had no idea when I was appointed how much it would mean to many people around the country," she once said. "It affected them in a very personal way. People saw it as a signal that there are virtually unlimited opportunities for women. It's important to parents for their daughters, and to daughters for themselves."

On the bench, O'Connor generally favored states in disputes with the federal government. She often sided with police when they faced claims of violating people's rights. In 1985, she wrote for the court as it ruled that the confession of a criminal suspect first warned about his rights may be used as trial evidence, even if police violated the suspect's rights in obtaining an earlier confession.

A 1991 decision written by O'Connor said police do not violate the Constitution's ban against unreasonable searches and seizures when they board buses and randomly ask passengers to consent to being searched. In a 1994 decision, O'Connor said police officers need not stop questioning and seek clarification when a criminal suspect makes what might have been an ambiguous request for legal help.

O'Connor was embarrassed in 1989 after conservative Republicans in Arizona used a letter she had sent to support their claim that the United States is a "Christian nation." The 1988 letter, which prompted some harsh criticism of O'Connor by legal scholars, cited three Supreme Court rulings in which the nation's Christian heritage was discussed.

O'Connor said she regretted the letter's use in a political debate. "It was not my intention to express a personal view on the subject of the inquiry," she said.

Funeral plans were not immediately available.

Photos: Sandra Day O'Connor through the years
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.  Southeast Missouri State University is reporting 29 confirmed cases of mumps, and officials say the number is expected to grow.

The Southeast Missourian (http://bit.ly/2mFpWUH ) reports state health officials are recommending that students consider getting a third dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

University official Bruce Skinner says the vaccination will help protect students from the viral infection and reduce the severity of symptoms for those who may have been exposed.

The first cases of mumps at the university were reported in February.

University officials say the viral infection is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory secretions or saliva, or indirectly through affected objects. They say students are most at risk in large gatherings of people inside houses or other small areas or through prolonged, close contact with others.

___

Information from: Southeast Missourian, http://www.semissourian.com
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.
At a press conference of the summit of OSCE foreign ministers, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made another round of cynical statements about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He began to claim that Russia is allegedly at war with the West, while Ukraine refuses to negotiate with the aggressor.

ADVERTISIMENT

The head of Russia's "diplomacy", in his usual boorish manner, said that instead of negotiating a "tango", Kyiv and the West "break-dance" and that Moscow "sees no reason to revise the goals of the special operation". Lavrov's statements, made in Skopje, North Macedonia, are being replicated by Russian journalists.

According to Lavrov, the aggressor state is willing to negotiate, but the unwillingness of Kyiv and Ukraine's Western partners to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine allegedly stands in the way.

"It takes two to start a political process. It's like a tango. But the guys on the other side are not dancing tango, but breakdancing. You have to solo there," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

He recalled a recent statement by the head of the Servant of the People party faction in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, David Arakhamia, who said that in March 2022, during the Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul, "peace agreements" were allegedly almost reached. At the same time, Lavrov expectedly blamed the then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the failure to conclude these agreements. The fact that the world then saw the atrocities committed by the Russian military in the Kyiv region, according to Lavrov, had nothing to do with Ukraine's unwillingness to negotiate with war criminals.

ADVERTISIMENT

Lavrov also complained that no one wants to capitulate to Russia, which is destroying Ukrainian cities, killing Ukrainians, occupying part of Ukraine and committing many war crimes against our country.

"So far, we have not seen any signals from either Kyiv or its hosts that they are ready to move to the political process. We don't see any. Moreover, a year and a half ago, Zelenskyi signed a special decree prohibiting negotiations with Putin's government, so this is a court case. He is not going to cancel it," Lavrov said.

He repeated the Kremlin's traditional mantra that Russia is allegedly at war not with Ukraine, but with the entire West. And that Western countries are "unreasonably" afraid that the aggressor's appetite will only increase if Ukraine is captured.

"And if you listen to what they are saying and what all the secretaries general of NATO and the European Union are saying, they are saying only one thing: that we must support Ukraine, because if Ukraine fails, it will be a defeat for the whole West. And lately, they have started to add that after Ukraine, Russia, Putin, will go to the Baltic States, Poland, and other neighboring countries. This was not said by some fringe politician. This was said by the head of the Pentagon, Mr. Austin. He said that Russia will not stop at Ukraine, so we have no right to lose in Ukraine. Whether they lose or win, they don't hide it. They are waging a war," the Russian Foreign Minister skillfully blamed the sick head on the healthy one.

ADVERTISIMENT

Lavrov also spoke about the "goals of the SMO". They have apparently changed again. This time, according to the Russian Foreign Minister, the aggressor state intends to "force" Ukraine to comply with its own constitution. According to the Kremlin's interpretation, it obliges Ukraine, for example, to abandon teaching in public schools in Ukrainian in favor of Russian. Lavrov's speech was also not without the old tales of "oppression of ethnic Russians" in Ukraine.

Lavrov assures us that Moscow does not intend to "revise" these constantly changing "goals."

"I proceed from the fact that the leadership of our special military operation knows what goals it is achieving. This operation is controlled on a regular basis by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and we see no reason why our goals should be revised. At least for the sake of returning these people to the implementation of their own constitution," the head of Russian "diplomacy" said.

ADVERTISIMENT

As a reminder, Russia has recently made a new statement about negotiations with Ukraine and the goals of the "SVO". While Lavrov says that Ukraine and the West do not want to negotiate, and that Russia, like a professional "tango dancer," is waiting for the consent of its "partners," his subordinate, Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Riabkov, says the exact opposite.

According to Riabkov, Moscow is not ready to negotiate with Ukraine because it does not accept Ukrainian peace proposals. Moreover, the Kremlin understands the word "negotiations" in a very specific way - as the unconditional fulfillment by Ukraine and the West of all ultimatums put forward by Russia.
Say this for George Santos: In an era of angry, sometimes violent politics, the sweater-sporting New York congressman has frequently provided something like comic relief with his seemingly congenital inability to tell the truth about, well, almost anything.

Of course, Santos habitual lying, and the serious financial and fraud crimes he has been charged with, are certainly not admirable traits in a U.S. House member. Thats why this page, like so many other voices across the country and in both parties, has long called for him to do the honorable thing (for once) and resign his seat.

That said, if the freshman Republican is expelled from the House in Fridays scheduled vote, it would set a dangerous new precedent in our current, scorched-Earth political landscape: He would become the first member of Congress ever expelled absent treason or a felony criminal conviction  but almost certainly not the last.

Of the mere five congressmen who have been expelled in the entire history of the House, three were guilty of taking up arms against the U.S. during the Civil War, and the other two were convicted felons.

Whatever Santos is, he is not (as of yet) either of those things. To expel an elected official for being charged with but not yet convicted of any crime betrays our entire notion of innocent until proven guilty. And if demonstrable dishonesty was, in itself, grounds for expulsion, the halls of Congress would echo with silence.

Yes, Santos is in a class of his own on that front. His list of lies runs the gamut from serious misrepresentations about his education and employment resume to bizarre fabrications about his family history.

These include apparently false claims that he is descended from Holocaust survivors, that he is Jewish (he meant Jew-ish, he later explained) and that his mothers death was related to health issues caused by the attacks of 9/11.

Some of Santos alleged lies involved obvious motives. For example, he has been credibly accused of pretending to be gay as a way of raising his political profile. He also allegedly swindled a disabled veteran out of money meant to fund life-saving surgery for the veterans dog.

Other apparent lies have been so seemingly pointless as to verge on comical. No, Santos wasnt a Broadway producer. No, he never appeared on the Disney Channels Hannah Montana, nor was he cast in a movie called The Invasion opposite Uma Thurman (who wasnt in it, either). Theres no indication Santos was ever a collegiate volleyball star.

But its not all punchlines. Santos faces 23 serious felony charges  mostly related to his successful 2022 House campaign  including fraud, money laundering, falsifying records and aggravated identity theft.

Separately, a scathing House Ethics Committee report alleges Santos blatantly stole from his campaign to finance vacations, Botox treatments and a subscription to an internet pornography site.

All this, and Santos still couldnt even get through a morning press conference Thursday without dropping a string of whoppers. (Multiple sitting members of Congress already have rap sheets? Really?)

Though two previous votes against Santos failed to reach the required two-thirds support for expulsion, there are indications the one scheduled for Friday could succeed. The more Santos resists calls to resign, the thinner the patience of his House colleagues.

There is an inconsistency there, given that, on the other side of the Capitol, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., remains in his seat and faces no apparent danger of expulsion despite pending bribery charges.

But Santos case involves some unique political factors. Virtually all Democrats and many of Santos fellow Republicans have politically expedient reasons for wanting him gone.

If Santos is expelled, a special election would seat his replacement, which would almost certainly be a Democrat (Santos 2022 victory was an upset in a largely blue district), thus narrowing the GOPs already-thin House majority.

But many Republican members have made clear they would welcome that trade to rid their party of the almost daily embarrassment that Santos has become to them.

Stacked against those political considerations  and against the undeniable degradation that Santos continued presence brings upon the House  is what should be an outweighing argument: Once Congress cracks the door to expel a member for anything less than a felony conviction in a court of law, that door will be flung wide open.

The nation has already seen how talk of presidential impeachment has become common after being used twice against former President Donald Trump. It doesnt matter that both those impeachments were fully justified by the uncontroverted facts, while the Republican drumbeat to impeach President Joe Biden lacks evidence of any remotely impeachable conduct. In these deeply polarized times, any knife, once drawn, is not easily sheathed.

Should Santos be shown the door over charges yet unproven in court, how long will it be before both parties are manufacturing breathless allegations against prime targets across the aisle, in hopes of expelling them before either jurors or voters have their say?

It would be a reckless, dishonorable trend  but does anyone really think this Congress would be above it?

Democrats eager for Santos seat wont have to wait beyond the next election. Republicans who want to remove his stain from their party should file a censure motion and get it passed.

But if Santos congressional colleagues expel him one minute before a jury convicts him of anything, they shouldnt expect the fire theyre playing with to simply stop spreading after it incinerates the liar from Long Island.
It was good news to read that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has increased the pardoning of prisoners who have turned their lives around and meet a number of qualifications including work and education history, community involvement, contrition and age at time of crime. ("Missouri governor granting pardons at pace not seen since the 1940s," Nov. 24.)
Among the many artillery systems sent to Ukraine after the Russian invasion were eight Swedish Archer truck mounted 155mm artillery systems. Ukrainian artillerymen used the Archers for counterbattery, as in destroying enemy artillery, work. Ukrainians used UAVs for find targets for Archer and sent target locations to the nearest Archer system. Archer then fired a few 155mm shells at the target and moved, all in less than two minutes. Archer has 21 155mm shells onboard in a magazine that automatically loads these shells into the gun. This contributes to the speed of operation capability that makes Archer so effective. The Russians are also looking for counterbattery opportunities but have nothing like Archer, which can move, halt, fire and then resume moving faster than any Russian artillery. Archer can fire 20 shells at the rate of one every 7-8 seconds.

Archer counterbattery tactics have destroyed a growing number of Russian artillery and the Russians have not developed any defensive measures, except to shut down artillery operations and seek a hiding place from Archer.

Sweden has been responsible for several artillery innovations, including the Excalibur GPS guided shell.

It was a French firm that developed, in the 1990s, the truck-mounted 155mm Caesar, which entered service in 2003. In 2009 France sent eight Caesar howitzers to Afghanistan. The roads in Afghanistan are pretty bad, and wheeled combat vehicles have a hard time of it, but Caesar was built to handle cross country operations. Afghanistan was the first time Caesar has served in combat and was successful. The French Army has ordered about a hundred and another hundred have been exported. Caesar is the lightest of the truck-mounted 155mm howitzers, weighing 18 tons. Other nations have built heavier (20-30 ton) systems, usually on a 6x6 heavy truck chassis.

None of these systems can be considered an exotic piece of technology. For example, Archer is an FH77 155mm/L52 howitzer mounted on a modified Volvo 6x6 dump truck. The vehicle, with the howitzer on board, weighs 30 tons. L52 means the barrel is 52 times the caliber (8 meters/25 feet). When the vehicle halts, the four-man crew can extend the metal braces in the rear, raise the barrel, and be firing within minutes. After firing, the vehicle can be moving in less than a minute. Archer can use the Excalibur GPS guided round, which means Archer and an ammo vehicle can supply lots of effective firepower without the need for constant resupply. Each Archer vehicle costs about $5 million.

This French experience with Caesar in Afghanistan encouraged Sweden about the ability of its Archer system to operate in the vast rural areas of Scandinavia. Some parts of rural Sweden are similar to Afghanistan, but worse , with more swamps. Sweden had had some Archer systems in service 2013 and 24 by 2017 and eventually 48. More were ordered because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The original Caesar system has been produced in larger quantities, with about 870 delivered or on order so far. Every time Caesar or similar systems like Archer have been used in combat, they have been successful. Their mobility has reduced losses and only four have been lost in combat so far. Three of those losses were in Ukraine, where these systems have experienced their most intense combat operations.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Alibaba Group

Originally published by APO Group on behalf of Africa's Business Heroes

Entrepreneurs hailing from Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt were in the top three following the final pitching session in the Grand Finale; ABH (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org) grant recipients contribute to the creation of over 123,000 direct and indirect jobs through their entrepreneurial endeavors.

The Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition, a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, has named Dr. Ikpeme Neto from Nigeria; Thomas Njeru from Kenya and Ayman Bazaraa from Egypt the first, second and third prize winners, respectively, of this year's competition. The announcement took place during an AR-enabled Grand Finale held in Kigali, Rwanda, which also captivated a global audience through a live broadcast.

Continue reading here

Please refer to https://www.alizila.com/esg/ for additional information about Alibaba's sustainability efforts.

L-R: ABH Grand Finale Judge Ibukun Awosika, Founder of The Chair Centre Group; ABH 2023 Second Prize Winner Thomas Njeru, CEO and Co-Founder of Pula Advisors Limited; ABH Grand Finale Judge Joe Tsai, Chairman of Alibaba Group; ABH 2023 First Prize Winner Dr. Ikpeme Neto, CEO and Founder of Wellahealth Technologies; ABH 2023 Third Prize Winner Ayman Bazaraa, CEO and Co-Founder of Sprints; ABH Grand Finale Judge Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali. Image courtesy of APO Group

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Alibaba Group on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Alibaba Group

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/alibaba-group

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Alibaba Group

View source version on accesswire.com:
DAYTON, OH / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Din Development Corporation (DDC) is thrilled to announce it acquired the 714 Monument Street building in Dayton, Ohio. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in both DDC and Dayton's ushering of innovation and economic growth to the heart of the city.

714 Monument Building Dayton, Ohio

Dayton's Tech Town Campus 714 Monument Building was acquired by Navajo Nation-owned Dine Development Corporation (DDC).

As a Navajo Nation-owned corporation, DDC builds upon the innovative legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers as a driving force to advance its clients' missions and the future of the Navajo Nation. DDC is immensely proud to dedicate the 714 Monument Street building to these exceptional individuals' spirit to protect the future of the Navajo People and the world. Innovation also serves as Dayton's lifeblood, boasting a rich history of pioneering figures including Charles Kettering, Edward Deeds, John Patterson, and the famed Wright Brothers. "Innovation is ingrained in our DNA," emphasized Dale Ward, DDC Executive Vice President of Innovation. The entrepreneurs building is located in Dayton's expanding Tech Town campus, holding immense opportunity for continued growth in technology. DDC's acquisition of the building, fueled by Dayton Development Coalition's tax credit and a JobsOhio grant bringing 100 jobs to the city, highlights its unwavering commitment to building a brighter future for its people and communities for the past 20 years. DDC Chief Operating Officer Jackie Murray expressed the company's dedication to bringing jobs and growth to the city. "We firmly believe that this investment is not only worthwhile, but also underscores our dedication to Dayton's future."

"Having a dynamic technology company like Dine Development Corporation in the heart of downtown Dayton is a great win for the region," said Dayton Development Coalition Executive Vice President of Regional Development Julie Sullivan. "This project will not only grow DDC's presence within the region but will redevelop an underutilized building in downtown Dayton."

With key Department of Defense customers in the Dayton region, including the headquarters of Air Force Material Command, Air Force Research Laboratory, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and Air Force Institute of Technology, DDC's family of companies plays an instrumental role in supporting the warfighter through the delivery of innovative technology solutions.

"DDC is proud to partner with the City of Dayton and JobsOhio to advance urban renewal and growth in the Dayton community," stated Dan Riggs, DDC Chief Growth and Strategy Officer. "We are looking forward to integrating into Tech Town as we continue to provide leading solutions for mission-critical operations."

"We are honored to partner with Dayton Development Coalition to promote growth and opportunity not only for Dayton, Ohio, but also for the Navajo Nation and its People," stated Austin Tsosie, DDC Chief Executive Officer.

Contact

Please contact Jennifer Creamer, DDC Chief of Staff, at [email protected] for DDC and acquisition information. Contact Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw, DDC Director of Marketing, at [email protected] for press-related inquiries.

Contact Information

Jennifer Creamer

DDC Chief of Staff

[email protected]

Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE: Dine Development Corporation (DDC)

View source version on accesswire.com:
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Nearly 36 years ago the AIDS Memorial Quilt was displayed for the first time to memorialize and physically represent lives lost to HIV. Gilead has always actively supported the Quilt, and creating a new panel made sense for a company dedicated to helping end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere.

Gilead's Tribute to Those Impacted by HIV

The panel ideas were part of an employee-wide collaboration across the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia, while the actual stitch work took place at Gilead's headquarters in Foster City and at the Kite offices in Santa Monica. More than 100 volunteers, including some members of Gilead's leadership team, dedicated much of their free time over the last 18 months stitching together a special section of the quilt to be dedicated to loved ones lost to the disease. Most of the fabric for the project was donated by an employee.

"It really has been an extraordinary project - It's bigger than any of us," says Gilead employee Teri Wielenga, the project's "Chief Quilting Officer." "Having a chance to bring this opportunity to our employees and let them honor their own loved ones by putting a panel together really called to me."

Employees were encouraged to participate in any way they felt comfortable. Many chose to share names of their loved ones to be hand-stitched to the Quilt panel, while others honored them in a more discreet manner by placing names in a red pocket at the center to be privately remembered. The 12' by 12' panel was created to accommodate more than 200 names so that employees may continue to add to it ahead of World AIDS Day each year.

The Quilt Panel's Public Tour

The Quilt panel was displayed for the first time at an internal unveiling this week before heading to the National AIDS Memorial in San Francisco for World AIDS Day events. Gilead headquarters will welcome the panel back as a permanent installation after it tours in Mexico City; it's being brought there to raise awareness to Mexican communities that are disproportionately affected by HIV.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gilead Sciences on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Gilead Sciences

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/gilead-sciences

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Gilead Sciences

View source version on accesswire.com:
Art Exhibitions at South Beach Group Hotels During Miami Art Week 2023

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Welcome to the vibrant and chic world of Miami's art scene, where creativity knows no bounds and the city itself becomes a canvas of expression. At the heart of this sizzling cultural hub is No Vacancy, Miami Beach. The program's fourth edition presents twelve artists whose site-specific projects are displayed at twelve iconic hotels in Miami Beach.

Samantha Modder in her series - Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks - at Catalina Hotel & Beach Club

No Vacancy coincides with Art Week Miami Beach and Art Basel Miami, the epitome of cultural sophistication and creativity, which will take place from December 4th through December 10th. The installations will be viewed from now through December 14th, 2023 to include three of South Beach Group Hotels boutique properties highlighting participants:

Samantha Modder in her series - Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks - at Catalina Hotel & Beach Club. It presents a subjective Black woman's fairytale to process interlocking structures of oppression. Modder is a visual artist working figuratively in pen, collage, and digital media to portray larger-than-life Black, female characters taking up space in real and imagined worlds.

Marco Inzerillo's exhibit - SOBEautiful - is displayed at Hotel Croydon. He presents a series of photographs in both color and black and white, highlighting and celebrating the cultural variety of Miami Beach.

Riviera South Beach hosts Carola Bravo - Yield to Immigrants - challenging the concept of migration as a norm and not a crisis. The work addresses the tension between migration issues and the authority of public signs as civic markers. It also questions how manipulating traditional public signs alters their meaning, reminding us about the value of inclusion and our critical role in society.

Against the backdrop of sun-kissed beaches and eclectic neighborhoods, this annual extravaganza transforms Miami into a global art destination, bringing together the world's leading galleries, artists, and enthusiasts.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbghotels

Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/c/SouthBeachGroup

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sbghotels

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SouthBeachGroup

Contact Information:

Veronika Volovik

Director of Digital Marketing

[email protected]

Tracy McFarlane

Writer, South Beach Group

[email protected]

Related Images

Samantha Modder in her series - Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks - at Catalina Hotel & Beach Club Riviera South Beach hosts Carola Bravo - Yield to Immigrants - challenging the concept of migration as a norm and not a crisis. The work addresses the tension between migration issues and the authority of public signs as civic markers. Marco Inzerillo's exhibit - SOBEautiful - is displayed at Hotel Croydon. He presents a series of photographs in both color and black and white, highlighting and celebrating the cultural variety of Miami Beach.

SOURCE: South Beach Group

View source version on accesswire.com:
NAHICA President Announces Strategic Decision: Expo Contratista to Showcase National Hispanic Construction Trade Show in Atlanta.

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / The National Hispanic Construction Association's Expo Contratista, the pinnacle of construction trade shows, proudly declares Atlanta, Georgia, as the host city for its highly anticipated event at the Cobb Galleria Centre Oct. 4-5, 2024. The decision to set the stage in Atlanta reflects the city's growing prominence in the construction industry and its status as a hub for innovation, diversity, and economic growth.

National Hispanic Tradeshow

National Hispanic Construction Trade Show





A key focal point of Expo Contratista 2024 will be the flourishing growth of the Hispanic community within the construction sector. The event aims to celebrate the invaluable contributions of the Hispanic workforce, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the industry's future. As demographic trends point towards an increasing presence of Hispanic professionals in construction, Expo Contratista is poised to be at the forefront of this transformative wave.

And In the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area, commercial and multifamily construction starts rose 18% to $5.4 billion during the first half of 2023. On a year-to-date basis, multifamily starts were down 23% from the first half of 2022. The largest multifamily projects to break ground during the first six months of the year were the $500 million 1072 W Peachtree mixed-use building and the $245 million 1077 Juniper Apartments. In the first six months of 2023, commercial starts rose 61% from the first six months of 2022, with all categories but retail posting gains. The largest commercial projects to get underway during the year were the $642 million first phase of the Facebook Stanton Springs data center and a $171 million data center.

Organizer Sergio Terreros emphasized the necessity of our presence in this regard. "In the capacity of Expo Contratista, we bear the responsibility of active participation and facilitation in fostering connections within the Hispanic construction industry. The city of Atlanta has exemplified key attributes within both commercial and residential construction, underscoring the substantial impact our community wields. It is imperative that we are present to ensure a meaningful connection between industry stakeholders, including reputable general contractors and construction suppliers."

Atlanta's strategic location as a major transportation and business hub positions it as an ideal venue for Expo Contratista. The city's accessibility, coupled with its vibrant atmosphere, makes it convenient for industry professionals from across the nation to converge and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of construction.

Expo Contratista 2024 invites all stakeholders in the construction industry to participate in this landmark event. The Expo is not just a showcase of products; it's a celebration of the people who build our communities and shape the future of construction.

About Expo Contratista:

Expo Contratista is the national Hispanic construction trade show, dedicated to bringing together professionals, businesses, and experts in the construction industry. The event provides a platform for networking, education, and collaboration.

Contact Information

Sergio Terreros

President

[email protected]

8326500001

SOURCE: National Hispanic Contractors Association

View source version on accesswire.com:
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / GoDaddy



Originally published on GoDaddy Life

Listen to the Podcast, here! Transcription provided, below.

Janelle (Host): Hello, and welcome to the Own Your Career Podcast. My name is Janelle Jordan and I'm a Program Manager on our Talent, Performance and Engagement team, and I am so excited to be here with you. Throughout this series, you will hear inspiring interviews with employees who have achieved career growth at GoDaddy through internal promotions and movement. In addition, you will hear tips, best practices, and advice to support your career journey. Career management is necessary for a successful journey, and we hope you'll walk away ready to own your career. Thanks for spending time with us today. Now let's jump into the career spotlight with our guest. I'm here today with Richa Gandhi, who is a Software Development Manager in DRI here at GoDaddy. Hi, Richa. Welcome to the podcast.

Richa (Guest): Hey, thank you.

Janelle: Let's get to know you quickly. Can you share with us a little bit about who you are outside the office?

Richa: Sure. Yeah. So I'm Richa Gandhi. I live here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I'm a mom to two girls, so I really enjoy spending time with them outside work. We love to travel. We do a lot of road trips. More recently, we did a road trip all during spring break all the way from Iowa, taking various stops to Florida and back. So that's a lot of fun - traveling. Other things that bring me joy is reading, and now that my daughter is in first grade and she started enjoying reading too, so we keep taking our trips to the library, bringing in a lot of books for both of us and having our reading time together. That's been really fun.

Janelle: You said Florida, and I have to ask, did you go to Disney?

Richa: No, not this time. We've been to Disney before, but this time we went to a different part of Florida - Destin, Florida. Yes, that was really fun. So we stopped in New Orleans for a little bit and then Memphis for a little bit and then went to Florida, spent a few days there and then came back.

Janelle: They must be super well behaved if your family likes to road trip. Be very well behaved little girls.

Richa: Yes. They give each other company and they're good together, so I hear from my friends too, so yes.

Janelle: That's wonderful. I like road tripping with my girls too, but my three daughters just bicker a lot. It makes it hard to be stuck in the car with them sometimes.

Richa: I know. I mean, we have those moments too, but then yeah, we keep them engaged with various things.

Janelle: That is so fun. Well, thank you for sharing with us about who you are outside of GoDaddy. So let's start with our first question for the listeners. Can you share with us an overview of what your career journey has looked like here at GoDaddy or including before GoDaddy and any internal movement that you've had?

Richa: Yeah, sure. So I started at GoDaddy straight out of college, right after completing my masters here at University of Iowa back in 2015. I did have some previous experience back home in India, about three years. This has been my first job in the US. I started as a Front-End Developer on the Domains org. So, did a lot of work on the Domains Control DCC team, working with the UI for the domain controller customer facing UI. And then I moved around a little bit, finding my interest, became a Full Stack Developer, and then finally I got settled into being a Backend Developer. So, I've been doing a lot of backend development for DCC Domains org. ****From there, in the past few years, I have transitioned into becoming a Technical Lead, so I'm still working with Domains org. However, I've been leading a bunch of projects, so I've been leading all the way from up to five to six engineers that I work with. So I get to work with a lot of Product Owners and Product Program Managers and all various stakeholders on different teams and then do the requirement analysis phase of the whole project and then see to it being delivered all the way from the inception to out in production. So that's been a really amazing journey. And during that journey, I also understood myself better as someone who's interested in people management. So, since I really enjoyed that whole aspect of leading a project other than my technical work. So I kind of started the conversation with my manager and director that I do want to move into people management just a few months back. Actually, I have transitioned into an Engineering Manager role now, and I'm working with a different team, but it's still in the Domains org, and I absolutely love it. It's just been a few months so far, but I really enjoy my new role as much, or even more actually, than my technical job that I've been doing so far.

Janelle: Thank you so much for sharing. So, a couple of questions. As I was listening to your career journey here at GoDaddy. One, I want to confirm you've been in the domain space, the DRI space, the whole time. Is that true? That's amazing. But and held a variety of roles. So you shared at the very beginning, you came in and you floated around and changed roles and did different types of work, Front-End, Backend, to kind of see what you liked and where you fit. Tell me, was that part of the culture of the DRI team, or is that GoDaddy's culture, or was that more just you wanting to better understand how to apply your knowledge in the workplace and figure out what worked and what you enjoyed most? Was that like you or was that kind of just the culture of the team?

Richa: I think it's kind of an overall GoDaddy culture. Everybody gets to move around if they want and explore different options. But I think I was also very fortunate to have a good first manager. She kind of encouraged me to, if I wasn't enjoying it so much, I could try out different things. And she gave me basically the opportunity to do that. Yeah, she supported it and encouraged it, which makes it easier.

Janelle: And then you also shared that leading teams, especially those cross functional projects, really helped you, I guess, kind of set a fire to becoming a people leader. Can you just share what are some of the things that you did to prepare?

Richa: Yeah, sure. I mean, once I realized that this is something that I want to do, I first made my intentions known. I told my manager and also my director about it during a skip level. I also asked for more responsibilities proactively. I took up mentees whom I was mentoring. So that was really helpful because one on one is another thing that you do once you become a people's manager. So I started mentoring. I took up more responsibilities in terms of just coordinating things for my team, speaking with the stakeholders team, and getting stuff resolved. And I think that kind of showcased to my manager that, yes, she is ready to take on this next role.

Janelle: Yeah, absolutely. That makes sense. Thank you so much for sharing. So let's dig in a little bit more with our second question. You are in Engineering or Software Development. Can you share with us what advice do you have for someone who might be new to your industry or field or area here at GoDaddy?

Richa: So, I feel like if you're joining new like I was when you're right out of college, there are two buckets of things that you should be focusing on. And I wish I got this advice sooner. So one would be your technical aspects of the job and one is all the guidance that you can get. So if I speak about technical aspects, I feel like we don't give enough importance to unit testing when we are in school and at work. When we are coding, unit testing is really important. So the sooner you understand that and build that skill, it's really helpful. The second thing is to be always learning. As a Software Developer, I think there are so many new technologies coming up all the time. It's a very good idea to always be learning and reading and increasing your skills. And while doing that, it's actually nice to figure out your learning style because a lot of people love to just read books and learn from that or take up some courses. And just a side note on that, GoDaddy actually has amazing programs for both of these. You can buy books and get them reimbursed if needed. And also there is PluralSight and certification options and stuff. So you can always be growing and improving on your technical skills. And thirdly, you should always build a very strong foundation because as a Developer, whatever language you're planning to use, or just in general software development algorithms, you should have a good foundation to build up on top of that. Sometimes people just start working. Once you have that strong foundation, it's always really easy to build up on top of it. This is the technical side of things. I also feel like in terms of just growing and maneuvering your career, it's important that you always ask a lot of questions, especially when you're in your early career. One of my Seniors used to always say there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. So never ever hesitate to ask a question, especially when you're new in a role. You feel like what if this is a silly question or something? You should always just ask question and keep learning as much as you can. And other thing kind of similar to asking questions is ask for help. Because a lot of times you do want to debug stuff on your own and figure out the solution on your own. Yes! but if you feel like you're just stuck on it for a really long time, you should not not ask for help. So ask for help if needed. And the third one is get yourself a mentor. And this one is, I think, really important, especially in your early career. And I wish I did this sooner than later, but I feel mentor plays such a big role in your career growth. So when you're new, they kind of can help you guide what steps you should take to progress your career, or just general small things that you can learn from them. It's easy to get a mentor. You don't have to go out, just someone in the company you admire, you look up to, you can just slack them or email them and just ask them if they can be your mentor and have weekly or biweekly meetings with them and just learn from them.

Janelle: Thank you so much for sharing all of this wisdom. There is a lot to unpack here. So I had some thoughts as you were sharing your advice. First, I want to say thank you for shouting out that GoDaddy has a lot of tools and resources for growing and learning and staying engaged in the know and what's going on and having the technical aptitude that you need to have, even if it's just something as, like, upskilling and testing or something, for example, that you shared or what's going on in the industry. So thank you for shouting out that GoDaddy does provide this. But I guess one of my questions off the cuff is just for you. What's your favorite way, what's your preferred way of staying up to date in the industry and making sure that you're staying ahead of what's going on?

Richa: I know I said that I love reading books but I think when it comes to software, I actually prefer doing small courses so I keep going to Pluralsight and updating myself with some latest things that's come up. They would do a small course there, or even Coursera or Khan Academy. There are so many different resources available and also reading blogs. I love reading technical blogs. I think those really help going to stack overflow, reading some stuff over there and also have subscribed to a few blogs which kind of keep sending you emails about the latest updates on certain technologies. So, I think those all have been my go tos.

Janelle: Agree. I think in any department or area, you want to continue to be the subject matter expert. And to continue, I mean, it's changing constantly. If you look at just like, the state of AI and how it's progressed at GoDaddy in the last four weeks is just an indication of how quickly and rapidly things are changing in the tech, then, you know, they make it really easy subscribing, and I get those too. I'm in the field of HR and employee experience, so I just subscribe to the webinars and the newsletters, and if I can read one every week, that I know that I'm digesting something that's really relevant to what I do here at GoDaddy and allows me to stay a little up to date. So great feedback there. I think your tips were really good around having a growth mindset all the time, asking questions. It's so important, especially early on in your career. I agree. I think I was so afraid or I felt like I needed to come across as knowing more than I did, and that's so silly. Asking for help. No, it's just brilliant. And then your last one about getting a mentor, which I think is just so critical and really top of mind for a lot of folks here at GoDaddy. Do you have a mentor today?

Richa: I do, yes. I mean, I have had a mentor for some time, and recently when I switched roles, I got myself a new mentor, a level up. So I actually recently did a talk on this transitioning from Individual Contributor to People Manager and I feel like especially when it comes to getting a mentor, for me at least, this is what I feel works the best is getting a mentor a level up. Because, say, I'm an Engineering Manager. My mentor is someone who's a director. They can guide me as to what steps I need to take to move up the next role. However, if I get a mentor who's all the way to, say, VP or CTO, they'll give me some good advice, but it might not be relevant right now. For me, I'll level up as someone who has paved the way themselves and will have really relevant advice and experience, even maybe even more tactical.

Janelle: Yeah, that completely makes a lot of sense. Okay, so thank you for sharing all of that. That's really awesome for our listeners to hear. So let's transition to our third question. What is one piece of advice that you would share with someone who's currently preparing to be a leader here at GoDaddy?

Richa: I think when it comes to leadership, other than all the things that you need to know about your job, soft skills play a very big role. Having that emotional intelligence to understand people is really important. So I feel like working on those soft skills is one thing that you should focus on, but also, like I said previously, just put yourself out there, take on more responsibilities, try to showcase that. Yes, you're ready to get into leadership, talk to your managers, work with your mentor to get that guidance. So it's kind of a lot of things that I already talked about, but I think the most important of all of them would be soft skills. Because you're working with your people all the time, you want them to succeed. And a good manager or good leader basically can make or break it. So if you have those right set of soft skills, you have that good time management skills, you can see the broader picture, you can create a good roadmap for your team, you can provide them what they need, also unblock them whenever needed. So these all skills come from that emotional intelligence because you're working with different personalities. So just understanding what works for one of them, but maybe doesn't work for other. Working on your soft skills and just getting better at that can play a big role when it comes to leadership.

Janelle: I think people focus a lot on getting the work done and doing the work and doing the work well and getting outcomes and results. But you're saying in your experience, growing into a people leader is preparing yourself for leading the actual people part of it, the people doing the work and really investing in that and how you're leading those people and how you're making sure that they are able to do the best that they can do. Can you share with us, Richa, How did you learn that? How did you realize having an emotional intelligence and this part of your work was going to be the most impactful or one of the most impactful parts of leading people?

Richa: I think it started way back because right when I joined GoDaddy as a level one here, I got involved into ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) as a lead or some form of leadership role on those and I feel like it was because of those skills, maybe I had inherently a little bit, I was able to connect with people, understand their issues and help them resolve. I was even invited to go to multiple university recruitment fairs because I think the leaders on those ERGs saw that in me and then the way I connected with the people I interviewed. Also, another thing is that through my journey here at GoDaddy, we have performance reviews and joining forces always comes up as my strongest value. I think it's just because of me paying that extra attention on making sure how the person I'm interacting with is feeling or just making sure that they are getting what they are asking for and just listening rather than just trying to just get my ideas across. So I think all those help me grow in this direction and I feel it has been helpful so far in my role too.

Janelle: Absolutely, yeah. Thank you for sharing, especially the point around for our listeners, leveraging your strength. So throughout those performance reviews, really taking it as an opportunity to listen and learn more about what you're really good at. And if you don't know, if you're not getting that type of feedback, make sure that you're asking not about just growing in your opportunities, but it's also about knowing what you're really good at and what comes naturally and then for you leveraging that and knowing, okay, well, I'm really good at connecting with people, and I know that from my experience that a lot can come from that - a lot good can come from being able to connect with people, especially if you want to lead people and lead teams. And so, yeah, I think that's just really great advice for folks that are listening. Is there anything else that you wanted to share around preparing to be a people leader?

Richa: There's a lot of different aspects actually, which go into it. And like I was saying, I did recently do a talk for GDWIT transitioning from an Individual Contributor to an Engineering Manager in which I kind of go into details about how do you analyze yourself first if you're ready to jump into leadership or taking that next step. And there are certain points that you can think about for that. Like do I actually enjoy communication with different teams? Do I like to work with deadlines? Do I focus on the finer details or do I like to work with broader pictures? So there are a lot of things that you can analyze yourself on to set up that stage that yes, you are ready, and then start showcasing those.

Janelle: Fantastic. And you said this was a and I actually saw a communication around this, but this was a talk that you gave as part of the GDWIT ERG. Yes. Okay, so folks can navigate to our GDWIT ERG page on SharePoint and or the Slack Channel and they would be able to find that conversation there.

Richa: yes!

Janelle: So our last question. What is a common myth about your job, department or field of expertise?

Richa: I mean, I don't know if it's like it's really a myth, but I feel like whenever someone's thinking about Software Development or coders, they think someone who's, like, coding in a silo, like a geek or a nerd. Yeah, but I want to say that that's absolutely not true. I mean, there are certain times we might be doing that, but a lot of times, Software Development has got to do a lot with solving problems. So we are analyzing things. We are designing systems, we are coming up with algorithms that can work in the most performant way, and then we are also figuring out how to solve a customer problem or introduce a new feature to a customer, working with Product Managers on that, architecting various systems, collaborating, communicating. So there's a lot that goes on in Software Development, and it's just not like sitting down there and coding. So I think that's one of the most common things.

Janelle: I think that's a big one. I definitely know that there's probably this vision of a person by themselves not on any phone calls, not on any team meetings, never on Zoom, completely introverted. And that is not the case. But the nature of the job is to collaborate and brainstorm and to problem solve, and that requires traditionally talking to people. Right? So that was a very good share. So thank you so much, Richa, for spending time with us today on the podcast and sharing your personal career story with our listeners. Can you share with everyone the best way to reach you if they would like to connect, ask additional questions, learn a little bit more about some of the things that you share, or for just networking or mentoring.

Richa: I'm always active on Slack most of the time. Active on Slack so they can easily Slack me. Also available on LinkedIn. If they want to connect outside GoDaddy or just send me an email here at GoDaddy. It's just [email protected] . Absolutely love to connect with anyone who wants to.

Janelle: Wonderful. Thank you so much for being here with us today. And thank you to everyone else for listening to the Own Your Career Podcast. We aim to inspire, motivate, and empower our employees to meet and achieve their professional goals. If you're interested in being a guest on a future episode of the podcast, please visit the MyCareer Portal Career Spotlight page and complete the interest form. While you're there, check out the many resources and articles available and reach out to us with any feedback, questions, or ideas. We would love to hear from you. Thank you, Richa, again for being on the podcast, and everyone have a great day. Thank you.

Richa: Thank you for having me.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You're more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoDaddyLife

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/godaddylife/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/godaddylife

Twitter - https://twitter.com/GoDaddyLife

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@godaddylife ?

? Career Page - https://careers.godaddy.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GoDaddy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GoDaddy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/godaddy

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: GoDaddy

View source version on accesswire.com:
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 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 Disclosure

The 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 Timmins

President, CEO and Director

Pegasus Resources Inc.

700 - 838 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6

PH: 1-403-597-3410

X: https://twitter.com/MrChris_Timmins

X: https://twitter.com/pegasusresinc

E: [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) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements 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.

View source version on accesswire.com:
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi stated that with the beginning of winter, Russia's war against Ukraine has entered a new phase. He also acknowledged that the Defense Forces did not achieve the desired results in the counteroffensive, as everyone wanted "faster results."

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, the Ukrainian leader claims that he does not feel any pressure from his partners to start peace talks with the aggressor. He shared his thoughts on this in an interview with AP, which the agency published on December 1.

During the interview, journalists asked him whether he was satisfied with the results of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive, and the president replied: "we wanted faster results". According to him, it is from this point of view that Ukraine, unfortunately, did not achieve what it wanted.

"This is a fact. We do not have enough strength to achieve the desired results faster. But this does not mean that we should give up and give in. We are confident in our actions, we are fighting for what is ours," Zelenskyi assured.

ADVERTISIMENT

He expressed satisfaction that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are not retreating, fighting against the "second army of the world." However, he also emphasized his disappointment that our country continues to lose people.

"We are losing people, I am not satisfied. We did not get all the weapons we wanted, I cannot be satisfied, but I cannot complain too much," the president added.

Zelenskyy noted the successes that the Armed Forces have achieved over the past few months at the front, when they managed to achieve certain territorial gains in battles against a "better armed and fortified" enemy. He also noted that the power of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has decreased after Ukrainian attacks, when our forces managed to break through enemy air defense and strike at its headquarters in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

ADVERTISIMENT

During the interview, Zelenskyi assured that a significant portion of Ukraine's budget is being spent on increasing its own weapons production. Although, he admitted, the available volumes are not yet enough for the military to turn the tide of the war. Therefore, the president expressed hope that Western partners, in particular the United States, would offer favorable loans and contracts to help the country achieve this goal.

Among other things, Zelenskyi expressed concern that the conflict in the Middle East threatens to divert the world's attention from the war in Ukraine, which in turn will affect the resources the country could receive to defend itself.

ADVERTISIMENT

"We are already seeing the consequences of the international community's attention being diverted by the tragedy in the Middle East. Only the blind can't see it. We must not allow people to forget about the war here either. Attention equals help. Lack of attention will mean lack of help. We are fighting for every drop of attention," he explained.

In conclusion, the President assured that he does not feel pressure from Ukraine's allies to hold peace talks with the terrorist state of Russia amid the protracted war, although "some voices are always heard."

As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined the prospects for de-occupation of the territories seized by Russia. He admitted that Crimea is waiting to be returned, but the liberation of Donbas will be very difficult.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / The namesake organization founded by the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court is mourning the loss of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

In Memoriam

Honoring the life and legacy of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

"No words can describe the profound loss of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The organization she founded remains resolute and will redouble our efforts to continue her lifetime work and extraordinary legacy," said Gay Firestone Wray, Board of Directors Co-Chair.

The Institute will carry on its mission to further the distinguished legacy and lifetime work of Justice O'Connor to advance American democracy through civil discourse, civic engagement, and civics education.

"From our organization's founding in 2009 following her retirement from the Supreme Court, Justice O'Connor led our organization with vision and intellect, and she exemplified our nation's ideals," said Sarah Suggs, President and CEO. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to continue her work and dedication to our great nation."

Sandra Day was born on March 26, 1930, in El Paso, Texas. She spent much of her younger years on her family's 160,000-acre Lazy B ranch on the Arizona-New Mexico border. At 16 she went to Stanford University for college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in economics. She stayed for law school. Day graduated and, six months later, married John O'Connor, the love of her life. They eventually moved to Phoenix, where Sandra Day O'Connor began her rapid professional rise, which included holding positions as assistant attorney general of Arizona, majority leader of the Arizona State Senate, and judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals. She also found time to raise three sons-Scott, Brian, and Jay-and make every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

On August 19, 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court; on September 21 she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate with a vote of 99-0.

Her career on the Court was historic. Justice O'Connor will be remembered not only for being the first female on the Court, or for her clear-eyed judicial reasoning and writings and major decisions, but also for her insistence on civility, her penchant for bringing people together to solve problems, whether in Washington, D.C. or over tacos and beer in her Arizona dining room.

"She overcame obstacles with quiet skill and determination and, in the process, inspired and continues to inspire countless others," said Institute Board of Directors Co-Chair Matt Feeney.

We will miss you, Justice O'Connor.

About the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy

Founded in 2009 by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the O'Connor Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3), continues her distinguished legacy and lifetime work to advance American democracy through multigenerational civil discourse, civic engagement and civics education. Visit www.OConnorInstitute.org for more information.

Contact Information

Heather Schader

COO

[email protected]

602-730-3300 x8

SOURCE: Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy

View source version on accesswire.com:
BENTON HARBOR, MI / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2023 / Whirlpool Corporation announced today that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Whirlpool Corp. has achieved this honor for nearly two decades running.

"Our employees are the heart and soul of our company, and we know that supporting diverse voices throughout our organization makes us better," says Kim Kavala, Whirlpool Corp. head of Inclusion & Diversity and global learning,. "Every year we have received a 100 score from the HRC has been a testament to our meaningful work in this space as well as validation for how our company continues to do what's right for our employees."

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's CEI is a driving force for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, and Whirlpool Corp.'s score of 100 earned the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

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. Whirlpool Corp. met all required criteria within those categories, including the implementation of policies to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, equivalency in same- and different-sex spousal and domestic partner medical benefits, and an established employee group, the Pride Network.

"It is wonderful to be recognized again by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the important work that the Pride Network contributes to the culture within the company," said Rich Missey, Whirlpool Corp. Pride Network lead. "The support from leaders and the company as a whole has been vital in fostering inclusivity within our workplace, and I'm proud of what we have accomplished together."

Through the efforts of the 18 employee resource groups (ERGs) who work to raise awareness for an inclusive culture, Whirlpool Corp. has received recognition throughout 2023 for its DEI initiatives. The company was named one of the 2023 Best Companies for Multicultural Women by Seramount. Playing a large role in this recognition was the Whirlpool Women's Network (WWN) that empowers and engages women at all levels within the company and community to ensure that all voices are heard. Additionally, the work of the Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities (AVID) ERG led to Whirlpool Corp. being named as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for the seventh year in a row. The AVID team consults with the business strategy and product development teams within the company through Disability Immersion Activities to inspire empathy in employees which in turn drives support for more accessible features and marketing within product lines.

Click here to learn more about the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index.

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.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit, Yummly and InSinkErator. In 2022, the company reported approximately $20 billion in annual sales, 61,000 employees and 56 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Whirlpool Corporation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whirlpool-corporation

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:
Bank of Americas Sell Side Indicator (SSI), a contrarian sentiment gauge tracking sell-side strategists' average recommended equity allocation, increased to ...

I'm a New Customer

I'm a Returning Customer

E-mail Address (or username, if registered via mobile device)

Password
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Affinity Legacy, Inc. (formerly known as Affinity Health Plan, Inc.) has confirmed that it recently was informed that a data breach at a former third party vendor resulted in the theft of the personal information of 5,538 former Medicare Advantage members. Importantly, none of Affinitys systems were impacted by this incident.

Individuals impacted were either former members of Affinitys Medicare Advantage Plan prior to 2019, or following 2019, members of an EmblemHealth Medicare Advantage Plan.

The third party vendor provided claims processing services to Affinity Health Plan prior to 2019. As part of those services, the third party received personal health information regarding Medicare members. On June 21, 2023, the vendor determined that an unauthorized party had accessed and downloaded certain files from its MOVEit Secure File Transfer server between May 30 and June 2, 2023. After a thorough investigation, the vendor confirmed that files containing members personal health information were impacted by this incident. While the breached personal information varies by individual member, it may include name, mailing address, date of birth, social security number, Medicare number and /or medical diagnoses codes.

MOVEit is a widely used software for transferring files among companies. According to publicly available information, it is believed that the attack impacted over tens of millions of individuals and 2,000+ organizations across many industries worldwide.

Affinity has worked with the third party vendor to understand the breach and is mailing personalized notices to all affected members. Notices explain in more detail what happened and contain personalized information on the exact data breached for each member. Additionally, notice recipients are provided information on how to access complimentary Personal Identity and Privacy Protection through a national leader in data breach response services.

For more information about this incident, please visit our website: www.affinitylegacy.org

About Affinity Legacy, Inc.

Affinity Legacy, Inc., formerly known as Affinity Health Plan, Inc., operates as a not-for-profit organization based in the Bronx, New York. Building on a storied, multi-decade history of addressing the health care needs of underserved individuals, families and communities, Affinity Legacys mission is now manifested through grants made to community-based organizations serving the residents of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Orange Counties. For more information, visit affinitylegacy.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201545876/en/

Clara Hansen, [email protected]

Source: Affinity Legacy, Inc.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) today announced the launch of a secondary offering of Corebridge Financial, Inc. (NYSE: CRBG) common stock. AIG, as the selling stockholder, is offering 35 million existing shares of common stock (out of approximately 630 million total shares of common stock outstanding) of Corebridge and has granted a 30-day option to the underwriter to purchase up to an additional 5.25 million shares. AIG will remain a majority shareholder of Corebridge Financial upon completion of this offering. All of the net proceeds from the offering will go to AIG. The last reported per share sale price of Corebridge Financial common stock on November 30, 2023 was $21.03.

J.P. Morgan is acting as the underwriter for the offering. The underwriter may offer the shares of common stock from time to time for sale in one or more transactions on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

The proposed offering of common stock is being made only by means of a prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement. Copies of the prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement relating to the offering may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan via mail, telephone or email at: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717; 1-866-803-9204; [email protected].

A registration statement relating to these securities was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2023 and became effective automatically. The registration statement may be obtained free of charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov (EDGAR/Company Filings) under Corebridge Financial, Inc. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale 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 that state or jurisdiction. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

About AIG

American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. AIG member companies provide insurance solutions that help businesses and individuals in approximately 70 countries and jurisdictions protect their assets and manage risks. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

About Corebridge Financial

Corebridge Financial, Inc. (CRBG) makes it possible for more people to take action in their financial lives. With more than $360 billion in assets under management and administration as of September 30, 2023, Corebridge Financial is one of the largest providers of retirement solutions and insurance products in the United States. We proudly partner with financial professionals and institutions to help individuals plan, save for and achieve secure financial futures. Corebridge Financial common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130387669/en/

Quentin McMillan (Investors): [email protected]

Claire Talcott (Media): [email protected]

Source: American International Group, Inc.
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 Group Ark Insurance Limited (GAIL) (Bermuda). GAIL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ark Insurance Holdings Limited (Ark), the non-operating holding company of the Ark group. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs) on GAILs outstanding rated instruments. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. See below for a detailed listing of Long-Term IR ratings.

The ratings reflect Arks consolidated balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). In addition, the ratings reflect GAILs strategic importance to Ark, as the groups Bermuda-based (re)insurance vehicle. GAIL provides reinsurance to Arks corporate member at Lloyds and writes third-party (re)insurance business.

Ark is a property/casualty and specialty (re)insurance group, operating through an established Lloyds platform. Since 2021, Ark has been scaling up its Lloyds platform and underwriting third-party insurance and reinsurance business from Bermuda through GAIL. The groups scale-up is supported by USD 605 million of capital from White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (WTM), injected on 1 January 2021, and the issuance of USD 164 million of subordinated debt in 2021.

Arks balance sheet strength is underpinned by consolidated risk-adjusted capitalisation being at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Arks risk-adjusted capitalisation is projected to remain at this level, supported by good internal capital generation. The balance sheet strength assessment considers Arks prudent reserving, low risk investment portfolio, good financial flexibility and strong liquidity profile. A partially offsetting factor is the companys material exposure to catastrophe risk, which AM Best expects to be managed through the appropriate use of reinsurance and robust exposure management.

The adequate operating performance assessment considers the groups robust underwriting performance at Lloyds and execution of its scale-up business plan to date. AM Best expects Ark to maintain good technical return metrics over the underwriting cycle, notwithstanding the execution risk associated with its continued scale-up. In 2022, Ark reported a consolidated combined ratio of 85.8%, as calculated by AM Best. While the companys profitability remains exposed to potential volatility from catastrophe events, Arks recent underwriting performance has proven resilient to event losses. In 2023, Ark reported a combined ratio for the first nine months of 86.5%, driven by selective underwriting across all lines of business, strengthening of premium rates and prior-year reserve releases.

Arks neutral business profile assessment is reflective of its established profile at Lloyds, and its current and projected diversified underwriting portfolio. The groups gross written premium reached USD 1.5 billion in 2022, compared with USD 1.1 billion in 2021 and USD 596 million in 2020, indicating positive market acceptance of the scale-up. In line with its business plan, Ark has achieved further growth over 2023, with gross written premium reaching USD 1.7 billion for the first nine months of the year. Ark benefits from experienced and stable management and underwriting teams, which partially mitigates the execution risk associated with the material scale-up of its operations.

The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with a stable outlook:

Group Ark Insurance Limited

 bbb+ (Good) on EUR 39.1 million floating rate subordinated notes, due 2041

 bbb+ (Good) on USD 47.0 million floating rate subordinated notes, due 2041

 bbb+ (Good) on USD 70.0 million floating rate subordinated notes, due 2041

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/20231201557857/en/

Todor Kitin

Senior Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0335

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Jessica Botelho-Young, CA

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0310

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of bbb+ (Good) of Seguros e Inversiones, S.A. (SISA) (El Salvador). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect SISAs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings also reflect SISAs strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), supported by consistent profitability, a diversified business profile and its market-leading position, as well as its appropriate reinsurance program. The companys affiliation with Inversiones Financieras Grupo Imperia Cuscatlan S.A. (IFGIC) provides synergy and operating efficiencies. Offsetting these positive rating factors is El Salvadors current macroeconomic conditions, which may temper SISAs asset allocation strategy within non-investment grade fixed income.

SISA initiated operations in 1962. At year-end 2022, the company was El Salvadors market leader with 27% of gross premiums written covering domestic exposures. Life insurance products comprise 61% of SISAs business portfolio, with the balance being property/casualty products (28%) and health (11%). Historically, SISAs distribution channels have been positioned mainly with brokers, pension funds, bancassurance and the government. In 2020-21, IFGIC led the acquisition of Seguros SISA SV, S.A. (Seguros SISA SV) in order to support SISAs growing domestic and regional expansion.

SISAs risk-adjusted capitalization is supportive of its ratings, and its capital base was further strengthened further by the Seguros SISA SV acquisition. Additionally, SISAs balance sheet strength assessment is supported by a comprehensive reinsurance program placed with reinsurers that have excellent security. AM Bests opinion on the companys very strong balance sheet strength assessment remains pressured by the countrys macro fundamentals, given the companys exposure to non-investment grade securities, which could ease as El Salvador sustains signs of improvements within the short to mid-term.

The company reported a combined ratio above 100% for 2021, driven by the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic claims on its life business book, as well as increased frequency on its auto business resulting from economy improving. However, SISA historically has shown disciplined underwriting, consistently reporting overall premium sufficiency levels that compare positively with its competitors, as reflected in an improved combined ratio of 96.4%, as of year-end 2022.

Key factors that could lead to positive rating actions for SISA include enhancements to the company's very strong balance sheet strength assessment resulting from sustained improvements in El Salvadors macroeconomic conditions. Conversely, a sharp deterioration in operating performance and further pressure on the companys balance sheet strength driven by El Salvadors macroeconomic conditions could lead to negative rating actions.

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 specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201636805/en/

Salvador Smith

Senior Financial Analyst

+52 55 9085 7506

[email protected]



Alfonso Novelo

Senior Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107

[email protected]



Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]



Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best will participate at the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Insurance Summit, which is scheduled for 5 December 2023, in Halong City, Vietnam.

Rob Curtis, managing director and chief executive officer of AM Bests Singapore operations, will moderate a CEO panel discussion, titled, The Future of Insurance in ASEAN: Staying in Pole Position, scheduled for 10:15 a.m.11:15 a.m. (ICT). This session will provide an overview of the key trends in the insurance industry, including tailwinds and headwinds affecting the market and growth opportunities over the next five years. Joining the panel will be Ahmad Noor Azhari Abdul Manaf, president and CEO, Malaysian Reinsurance Berhad; Long Minh Thuy (Tyler), APAC (ex-China, ex-Japan) commercial and partnership senior manager  Vietnam and Philippines country head; Rohit Nambiar, CEO, Tune Protect; and Shahrildin Jaya, MD and CEO, Syarikat Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd (Takaful Brunei).

ASEAN was established in August 1967 and today consists of 10 member states. The ASEAN Insurance Council is the main regional platform for insurance industry participants to share their expertise in various areas of the insurance industry. The 5th annual insurance summit is themed as ASEAN Insurance Industry's Transformation and Sustainability: Accelerating Ambitions into Actions, and will be held at the Royal Halong Hotel. For more information, please visit the event website.

To arrange a meeting at the conference to learn more about AM Best, its role in the insurance industry and the resources it offers to insurance professionals, including Bests Credit Ratings, please contact Curtis, who also is head of market development for the Asia-Pacific region, at [email protected].

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130813173/en/

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]



KaiJun Chan

Market Development Associate

+65 9824 2401

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan, currently taking place at Nangang Exhibition Hall 1 from November 30 to December 3, 2023, is poised to redefine the landscape of AI healthcare on a global scale. This year's edition boasts the remarkable participation of 650 companies, occupying 2,300 booths, and has garnered the attention of leading technology firms and hospitals across the Asia-Pacific region.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201062013/en/

Expand businesses into growing markets in the APAC region with Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan. Join medical institutes and companies in the fields of medtech, biotech and healthcare to promote products, build partnerships and seize supply-demand opportunities. (Graphic: RBMP & IBMI)

Taiwan's pivotal role in the AI-related supply chain is underscored by its impressive contribution, manufacturing AI chips, and over 90% of the world's AI servers. This proficiency positions Taiwan as a key player in driving substantial computing power, establishing it as an indispensable global collaborator in the realm of AI healthcare. The Expo is showcasing an extensive array of AI applications and solutions, encompassing AI infrastructure, cloud and high-performance computing servers, AI-enabled medical devices and diagnostics, and generative AI for workflow optimization. Participating medical centers from Taiwan, together with their IT/ICT sector partners and multinational giants such as Intel and Microsoft, aim to address healthcare challenges and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

Anticipating the attendance of over 30,000 professionals from the Asia-Pacific region, Eastern Europe, and the Gulf, the organizer foresees substantial interest from industry associations in the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Czech Republic, as well as rapidly growing economies such as Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Strategic partnerships with Taiwan's healthcare industry are in the spotlight, with more than 500 scheduled B2B meetings designed to facilitate trade discussions and catalyze new business ventures.

Distinguishing itself as the only trade fair globally with a focus on hospitals, Healthcare+ Expo has experienced consistent annual growth of 15% in event scale over its seven-year history. It has evolved into one of the most sought-after gatherings in the Asia-Pacific region for healthcare professionals. Concurrently, the Expo is hosting major events, including the MEDTEX Summit Asia and the Cancer Treatment and Precision Medicine in APAC forum.

The Healthcare+ Expo 2024 is scheduled for December 5 to 8, 2024, and will continue to serve as a catalyst for transformative advancements and collaborative breakthroughs in the ever-evolving landscape of AI healthcare.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201062013/en/

Media:

Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry (IBMI); Research Centre for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy (RBMP)

Yu Chen (Katy) Chu, Project Manager

886 2 2655 7888 ext.627

[email protected]

Source: Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan
Senior executives from retailers, brands and investors will convene at first event next week to gain insights into artificial intelligences impact on the future of retail

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Coresight Research is hosting a groundbreaking NextGen Commerce Conference on December 5, 2023, offering a unique platform for an in-depth exploration of the future of AI in the retail sector. Registration is now open for the Next Gen Commerce: Revolutionizing Retail with Artificial Intelligence conference, a day-long event at 10 Hudson Yards featuring more than 40 guest speakers including retailers, brands, industry experts, thought leaders, academia, ethicists, investors and innovators exploring the cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence (AI) that are impacting all facets of retail. The event is free to attend for retailers and brands.

Attendees of NextGen Commerce: Revolutionizing Retail with Artificial Intelligence will explore the transformative impact of AI on retail through sessions covering insights from industry leaders, the future of physical retail, AI's role in customer experiences and innovative AI applications reshaping the retail landscape. The conference includes discussions on store design, market segmentation, C-suite perspectives on AI investments, the future workplace, AI in retail supply chains, personalization at scale, social commerce, and a celebratory panel honoring retail legends. Conference participants will be able to engage in interactive conversations centered around use cases and demonstrations provided by industry experts and major retailers.

The conference will also cover the ethical concerns and potential risks of implementing AI. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss technical challenges and limitations, potential biases in AI algorithms, intellectual property implications, and take part in comprehensive discussions with industry experts in a curated, intimate environment.

Esteemed speakers include Sarah Henry, VP, Content, Influencer, & Commerce of Walmart; Claudia Cividino, President of Jared, Signet Jewelers; Sarah Holgram, Senior Director of Social Strategy at Macys; Milen Mahadevan, CEO of 84.51, a Kroger Company; Jenna Posner, CDO of Solo Brands; William S. Taubman, COO of Taubman Centers; Steven Tristan Young, CMO of Poshmark; and many more.

AI is one of, if not the most, disruptive technologies to be introduced since the internet was created, said Coresight Research CEO Deborah Weinswig. There is an incredible amount of uncertainty in every industry about how AI will impact business and employment. We created this conference to help the retail industry navigate this new era of technology and ultimately benefit from it. By joining our collective resources, networks, and ideas, we can better evolve the retail industry and be ready for an AI-powered future.

NextGen Commerce: Revolutionizing Retail with Artificial Intelligence is being produced in conjunction with sponsors including SAP, Intel, Digital Wave Technology, McFadyen Digital, and Smartsense By Digi, and supporting sponsors One Door and Lily AI.

The Next Gen Commerce: Revolutionizing Retail With Artificial Intelligence conference is a closed-door event. Only pre-registered, approved guests are able to attend, and no information shared at the event may be made public without express permission.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to register to attend the Next Gen Commerce: Revolutionizing Retail With Artificial Intelligence conference, visit: https://coresight.com/events/next-gen-commerce-revolutionizing-retail-with-artificial-intelligence/.

About Coresight Research

Coresight Research is a research and advisory firm specializing in retail and technology. Established in 2018 by leading global retail analyst Deborah Weinswig, the firm is headquartered in New York, with offices in London, Lagos, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Mangalore (India). The firm provides data-driven analysis and strategic advisory to clients including retailers, brands, enterprise technology companies, accelerators and more. In addition to being renowned for its breadth and depth of research, Coresight Research is known for its expertise in the China market, helping clients with market entry and cross-border e-commerce strategies. Coresight Research is also known for its Innovator Intelligence platform, consisting of a vast network of technology entrepreneurs that it actively cultivates through events, mentorship, and regularly updated report coverage. For more information, visit www.coresight.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201562947/en/

Laura Baumgartner

Asylum Public Relations

[email protected]

(855) 462-7958

Source: Coresight Research
Ukrainians were amused by the sincere reaction of a child from Kharkiv who saw the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi in his classroom. The boy couldn't hide his surprise and touched the netizens with his emotions.

ADVERTISIMENT

This happened during the President's visit to the city on November 30, when he visited a school organized at the University metro station. The President shared a video of the event on his Facebook page. The fragment with the child's reaction to Zelenskyi's appearance is actively shared on social media by bloggers and online communities.

Many children from Kharkiv are forced to study underground due to the constant threat of Russian shelling."I thank the teachers for not letting the war stop you and for continuing to bring knowledge to our children. Thank you toour children for their optimism and love for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

He went to different classrooms where math, English and music lessons were being taught and talked to teachers and students.

ADVERTISIMENT

The website of the President's Office says that the head of state also awarded awards and honorary titles to teachers in Kharkiv region. He presented the Order of Princess Olga of the III degree, and also awarded the honorary titles of "Honored Education Worker of Ukraine" and "Honored Teacher of Ukraine."

Photos of the emotional Kharkiv schoolboy can also be found on the OP's website:

ADVERTISIMENT

How the subway school works in Kharkiv

Classes for children are located at five Kharkiv metro stations: "Universytet, Peremoha, Traktornyi Zavod, Metrostroitelnykiv and Academician Pavlov. The school has 105 classes with 2094 pupils in grades 1-11. Classrooms are assigned to 26 lyceum students. Children study in two shifts.

At Universitet station, 831 children from 40 classes assigned to 11 institutions attend classes.

Schoolchildren from all over the city are transported to the subway free of charge by buses on 12 routes, accompanied by patrol police. The children are accompanied by escorts.

ADVERTISIMENT

As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

- Almost half of Ukraine's schools, a third of kindergartens and out-of-school education institutions raised funds from parents and sponsors to finance the preparation of educational institutions for work in the autumn-winter period.

- High school students in Ukraine will be able to choose a profile according to which they will study the subjects they need to enter higher education. In addition, their program will include compulsory subjects.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY), one of the worlds largest beauty companies, announced that its company executives will present at upcoming investor events.

December 6: Morgan Stanleys Global Consumer and Retail Conference  Stefano Curti, Chief Brands Officer, Consumer Beauty and Alexis Vaganay, Chief Commercial Officer, Consumer Beauty, will participate in a fireside chat at 9:30 am ET. A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available in the Events & Presentations section at https://investors.coty.com.

December 8: SHARE Series Women in Investing  Olga Levinzon, Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations, will participate in a fireside chat at 1:00 pm ET at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as part of the SHARE series focused on championing women in finance and investing. A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available at https://www.openexchange.tv/share-series or the Events & Presentations section at https://investors.coty.com.

February 20: CAGNY 2024 Conference  Sue Y. Nabi, Chief Executive Officer, and Laurent Mercier, Chief Financial Officer, will deliver a keynote presentation at 1:00 pm ET. A webcast of the presentation will be available in the Events & Presentations section at https://investors.coty.com.

About Coty Inc.

Founded in Paris in 1904, Coty is one of the worlds largest beauty companies with a portfolio of iconic brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care. Coty serves consumers around the world, selling prestige and mass market products in more than 125 countries and territories. Coty and our brands empower people to express themselves freely, creating their own visions of beauty; and we are committed to protecting the planet. Learn more at coty.com or on LinkedIn and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201884246/en/

For more information contact:

Investor Relations

Olga Levinzon +1 212 389-7733

[email protected]

Media

Stephanie Taylor +1 212 389-6932

[email protected]

Source: Coty
Thomas Mayrhofer Named Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Effective by Q2 2024

Jacky Wu to Continue to Serve as Chief Financial Officer Through Transition Period

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG) (DigitalBridge or the Company) today announced an agreement with Thomas Mayrhofer to serve as the Companys Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, effective by the second quarter of 2024. He will succeed Jacky Wu, who will continue in his role through the Companys 2023 reporting cycle. Mr. Mayrhofer will join DigitalBridge on January 8, 2024, and work with Mr. Wu and the DigitalBridge team during the first quarter of 2024 to ensure a smooth transition and complete the Companys previously disclosed succession process.

Mr. Mayrhofer brings more than two decades of robust financial and operational experience across the asset management industry. He spent nearly 18 years at The Carlyle Group in a variety of financial roles across all of the firm's productsincluding private equity, energy, real estate and credit. He concluded his tenure at Carlyle as a Partner and CFO of the firms Private Equity business, where he led a team of more than 90 finance professionals and had oversight of approximately $100 billion of assets under management. Following Carlyle, he served as CFO and, subsequently, Chief Operating Officer at alternative asset manager EJF Capital, where he was responsible for the firms financial, operational, technology, and legal functions.

Tom is a talented executive with an impressive track record of financial leadership at major asset management firms, and I am delighted to welcome him to our team, said Marc Ganzi, Chief Executive Officer of DigitalBridge. Toms skillset and background are an ideal fit with DigitalBridge as we complete our transition to a pure-play alternative asset manager and continue growing an investment management platform built to meet the remarkable demand for digital infrastructure on a global basis.

Mr. Ganzi continued, I also want to thank Jacky publicly for his partnership and the tremendous role he has played in executing DigitalBridges successful transformation over the past four years. Jacky is a leader, role model and friend to all of us at DigitalBridge, and we are grateful for his ongoing support.

I am honored to join Marc and the DigitalBridge team at this exciting time, said Mr. Mayrhofer. DigitalBridges position as the leading alternative asset manager serving the fast-growing digital infrastructure sector is a testament to the strength of its people and strategy, and I look forward to working closely with Jacky and the rest of the team over the coming months as we continue to reinforce our position as the partner of choice in the digital infrastructure space.

We have made amazing strides over the last four years, and I am tremendously proud of helping to lead a great team and firm through an important transformation, said Mr. Wu. Tom is a thoughtful and experienced leader, and I am confident he is the right person to assume this role as DigitalBridge enters its next chapter of growth.

Nancy Curtin, Chair of the Companys Board of Directors, added, The DigitalBridge Board would like to thank Jacky for his incredible service to the firm and wish him the best in his future endeavors. We also extend a warm welcome to Tom and very much look forward to working with him on continuing to build the premier investment management platform focused on digital infrastructure.

About DigitalBridge

DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global alternative asset manager dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure. With a heritage of over 25 years investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem, including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells, and edge infrastructure, the DigitalBridge team manages $75 billion of infrastructure assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders. Headquartered in Boca Raton, DigitalBridge has key offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Luxembourg, and Singapore. For more information, visit: www.digitalbridge.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, should, expects, intends, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, or potential or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, and may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that might cause such a difference include the duration of the CFO transition period, the rate of growth of the Companys investment management platform and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in DigitalBridges Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, and its other reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements reflect DigitalBridges good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. DigitalBridge cautions investors not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. DigitalBridge is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, nor to conform prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and DigitalBridge does not intend to do so.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201999484/en/

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Severin White

Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations

212.547.2777

[email protected]

PRESS & MEDIA

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Sarah Salky / Aura Reinhard

212.355.4449

[email protected]

Source: DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Educational Media Foundation (EMF), the parent organization of leading Christian radio networks K-LOVE and Air1, has appointed three to its Executive Leadership Team.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130506057/en/

Bethany Davis, Senior VP, Communications (Photo: Business Wire)

David Pierce has been named Chief Media Officer at Educational Media Foundation. In this role, Pierce oversees all media content including K-LOVE & Air1 radio, K-LOVE On Demand video streaming, AccessMore podcasting and EMFs film and publishing divisions. Pierce joined EMF in 1991 after an impressive career in broadcasting in both Dallas and Houston. Since that time, he has held several leadership roles within EMF, most recently Chief Partnership Officer.

In September 2023, Matt Reynolds was named Chief Financial Officer. He joined EMF in 2022 and has served in roles of increasing responsibility including Director of Financial Analysis and Treasury, and Vice President of Finance. Reynolds has considerable experience in finance, in both the financial services and ministry sectors, including prior experience as CFO. He is a Certified Public Accountant and serves as EMF treasurer. Reynolds holds graduate and undergraduate business degrees from Texas A&M University.

Bethany Davis has joined Educational Media Foundation as Senior Vice President of Communications, overseeing communications and marketing operations. Davis has more than 20 YEARS of experience across industries including broadcast media, public relations, and publicly traded companies. She holds a masters degree in business from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, and a bachelors degree in Broadcasting from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

We are excited to expand our executive leadership team with this group of outstanding professionals, said Todd Woods, EMF Chief Executive Officer. The experience they bring to their respective roles, coupled with their dedication to our mission, will serve EMF well as we move forward into new seasons of growth.

The leadership additions come as EMF continues construction on its new global headquarters in the Berry Farms community of Franklin, Tennessee, following a planned relocation from Rocklin, California. Construction is slated to be complete in the summer of 2024.

Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is a nonprofit, multi-platform media company on a mission to draw people closer to Christ. Founded in 1982 in Santa Rosa, Calif., with a single radio station, EMF today owns and operates the worlds two largest Christian music radio networks (K-LOVE and Air1) with more than 1,100 broadcast signals across all 50 states, streaming audio reaching around the world, and a growing family of media ministries including podcasts, books, films, concerts and events. EMF employs 500+ team members between its offices in Franklin, TN; Rocklin, CA; and field locations around the country. For more information, visit www.emfbroadcasting.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130506057/en/

Bethany Davis, SVP, Communications

800-525-5683 or [email protected]

Source: Educational Media Foundation
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, at COP28, Energy Dome has announced funding commitments for its first CO2-based and innovative thermo-mechanical energy storage system to be located in Sardinia, Italy. Funding will be in the form of a project-level grant commitment of up to 35,000,000 from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst and 25,000,000 Venture Debt financing commitment from the European Investment Bank, both subject to the satisfaction of funding conditions. The funds are being made available through the EUBreakthrough Energy Catalyst partnership.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201183451/en/

Energy Dome's CO2 Battery (Rendering) - Ottana, Sardinia, Italy (Photo: Energy Dome)

Breakthrough Energy Catalyst funds and invests in first-of-a-kind commercial projects for emerging climate technologies. By investing in these opportunities, Catalyst seeks to accelerate the adoption of these technologies worldwide and reduce their costs.

The European Investment Bank, also recognizing the transformative potential of Energy Dome's CO2 Battery to combat climate change and be a clean technology champion in Europe, is expected to provide 25,000,000 of Venture Debt financing, backed by InvestEU, to the project. The EU aligns capital with Catalyst using funds available from Horizon Europe & Innovation Fund through the InvestEU Program with the European Investment Bank, as implementing partner of the European Commission.

This combined investment is an endorsement of Energy Domes ready-to-be-deployed, long-duration energy storage proposition. Energy Domes robust performance (high round-trip efficiency) and capital expenditure requirements are significantly more competitive than the Lithium-Ion benchmark, providing a solution to the critical problem of utility-scale long-duration energy storage, which is at the core of the renewable energy transition.

The project will use a standard frame 20MW/200MWh CO2 Battery, which can supply energy to the grid for ten consecutive hours. It will be the first of a series of identical units using the same technology design, allowing Energy Dome to unlock cost reductions and accelerate the bankability of future units of the modular, standardized CO2 Battery frames. The CO2 Battery does not use materials from rare metals and its main components are based on already existing and known supply chains enabling job creation within Europe.

The Commercial Operation Date of the storage facility is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2024.

Claudio Spadacini, Founder and CEO of Energy Dome, said: "What better time than during COP28 to announce the collaboration with the EU-Breakthrough Energy Catalyst partnership, which is a true catalyst for our company. The collaboration will accelerate the commercialization of our market-ready technology and will be the first of many identical full-scale CO2 Batteries. We have already started to be at the core of the energy transition. Remember, our world cant wait.

Gelsomina Vigliotti, EIB Vice-President, said: As the EU climate bank, the EIB is committed to building public and private partnerships to support the development of disruptive green energy technologies and to enable these to grow to scale in the short-term. I am delighted to announce the EIBs intention to support Energy Dome with a EUR 25 million Venture Debt financing. It is an inspiring example of game-changing technology that we need more of in Europe and worldwide. At the same time, the project will promote job creation and economic growth in Sardinia.

Mario Fernandez, Head of Catalyst at Breakthrough Energy, said: Long-duration energy storage is a critical enabler of the clean energy transition and this partnership with Energy Dome, the European Commission and European Investment Bank will help scale the technology so it can be commercialized sooner. This announcement demonstrates the tangible impact of Breakthrough Energy Catalysts approach to fund impactful projects that can move us closer to an emissions-free future.

About Energy Dome

Energy Dome is revolutionizing energy storage and enabling grid decarbonization by making solar and wind power dispatchable 24/7. The company invented and developed the CO2 Battery, a long-duration energy storage system that makes long-duration energy storage viable globally today. The properties of carbon dioxide allow the system to store energy efficiently and cost-effectively, with a modular and site-independent footprint. CO2 Batteries use readily available, off-the-shelf components from reliable, existing supply chains, providing a scalable pathway to store massive amounts of intermittent renewable energy and accelerate the energy transition. For more information, please visit energydome.com.

About Breakthrough Energy

Breakthrough Energy is committed to accelerating the world's journey to a clean energy future. The organization funds breakthrough technologies, advocates for climate-smart policies, and mobilizes partners around the world to take effective action, accelerating progress at every stage.

Breakthrough Energy Catalyst is a novel platform that funds and invests in first-of-a-kind commercial projects for emerging climate technologies. By investing in these opportunities, Catalyst seeks to accelerate the adoption of these technologies worldwide and reduce their costs.

Catalyst currently focuses on five technology areas: clean hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, direct air capture, long-duration energy storage, and manufacturing decarbonization. In addition to capital, Catalyst leverages the team's energy-infrastructure-investing and project-development expertise to work with innovators on advancing their projects from the development stage to funding and ultimately, to construction. Learn more about Breakthrough Energy and Catalyst at breakthroughenergy.org.

About the European Investment Bank

The EIB is the lending institution of the EU, owned by its Member States and makes long-term finance available for sound investment to advance the EUs policy goals. Between 2019 and 2022, the EIB Group provided more than 45 billion in financing for projects in Italy.

In 2019, the EIBs Energy Lending Policy was adopted to end financing to any unabated fossil fuels energy projects, including natural gas, the first Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) to do so. In 2021, the EIB became the first MDB to align our financial activities with the Paris Agreement. Through its Climate Bank Roadmap, the EIB Group aims to support 1 trillion of investment in climate action and environmental sustainability through the critical decade, 2021-2030. The EIB committed to increasing investment in climate action and environmental sustainability to more than 50 % of the EIBs annual lending by 2025  last year, that was exceeded with 58%.

About the European Commission

The European Commission is part of the executive of the European Union. The Commission has a range of policies and programmes to deliver on its climate ambitions. Under the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55' package was adopted in July 2021 with the aim of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The EU-Catalyst partnership is one of the key actions through, which the European Commission seeks achieve this goal through mobilizing private funding through public support.

Horizon Europe is the EU's research and innovation framework programme worth 95.5 billion (2021-2027). It dedicates 35% of its budget to climate action. At the same time, the programme also supports a range of partnerships which mobilise private funding to deliver on pressing global challenges and modernise industry through research and innovation. The programme also includes the European Innovation Council (EIC) that supports start-ups and companies in the whole innovation chain, from research to validation, acceleration and commercialization.

The Innovation Fund is one of the worlds largest funding programmes for the demonstration of low- and zero-carbon innovative solutions and technologies funded entirely from EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) revenues and estimated at 40 billion until 2030. The Fund has so far provided almost 7 billion in grants for over 100 projects through calls for proposals. On 23 November 2023, the Innovation Fund opened its 7th call for proposals and its first auction.

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investments for the European Unions policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of 26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least 372 billion in additional investment.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201183451/en/

Media Contact: Mario Torchio

[email protected]

Source: Energy Dome
Imagine getting your friend to meet someone you think is best  and it turns into an adventure of a lifetime! Its not just a dream anymore!

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The playful new bubbling-under dating app RAW is ready for another breakthrough with a new challenge for its female daters!

At RAW we are certain our friends know us best. We are inviting all our girlypops to take control of each others love lives and set their BFF up with dream guys from RAW by sharing their suggested picks on TikTok  all for a chance to go on a dream vacation covered by RAW, says Marina Anderson, RAW co-founder.

The contest is at the full steam of virality already, with multiple prominent content creators having joined the trend of posting their selections of beaus for their friends on their accounts.

So, get on it, toothe matchmaker to vacationer pipeline only has four steps:

Take a deep dive into the RAW dating app and screenshot profiles of 3 guys you think your bestie should crush on;

reate a video captioning each screenshot with Kiss, Marry, or Friendzone the way you think she would (ladies, dust off your green screens!);

Post the video on TikTok with the #RAWcrush hashtag and tag your friend;

hashtag and tag your friend; Hold tight for the chance to be randomly selected as one of two winners  or pack the bags just in case?

RAW is determined to splurge on the prize, no-expense-spared style: the app wants the two winning queens and their plus ones to enjoy it so hard they think theyre tripping: pun intended!

Download RAW. Follow them on TikTok. Play matchmaker. Win a dream trip.

Who is RAW?

RAW is a new fast-growing dating app capturing the hearts of young singles across the nation. By empowering users to present their most authentic selves through real-time photo updates and skeletal profile structures, we aim to create a community rooted in genuine connections where dating is fun again!

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201533224/en/

Media:

[email protected]

Source: RAW
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Flexiv, a global leader in adaptive robotics, is proud to announce its commitment to supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Integral to the sustainability goals is the implementation of sustainable manufacturing. Defined as manufacturing products using processes that minimize negative environmental impacts through innovative solutions, adaptive robots can play a crucial role in improving todays production lines.

Flexiv has worked to harmonize its integral production processes with the SDGs and, where possible, optimized robotic installations to meet the core tenets of the sustainable development goals.

Although we cant meet all the goals, we are doing our utmost to implement:

Zero Hunger

We've partnered with leading agro-processing firms to develop automation solutions that streamline food production and increase food quality, safety, and consistency. By employing techniques that focus on reducing human intervention, our robots play a pivotal role in minimizing sources of potential contamination.

Good Health and Well-being

Flexiv is pioneering the use of robotics in physiotherapy and healthcare. With our medical version of the Rizon 4 adaptive robot in development, we are creating medical applications that will democratize access to healthcare and enable teleoperated medical procedures to be completed from anywhere in the world.

Gender Equality

We take pride in hiring the best staff in the world, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or country of origin. Whats more, we actively support any staff member who wishes to upskill their technical skills through internal training, with a special focus on empowering women.

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Its no secret that adaptive robots can automate most manual labor jobs. By automating repetitive, dangerous, and dull tasks, employers can redeploy staff members to positions requiring human judgment and oversight. Due to the inherent efficiency of adaptive robotic solutions, production tasks can be completed with fewer resources, leading to improved and sustainable economic growth.

Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Flexiv is continually developing new innovative solutions to challenges across every industry. From fruit picking to weld polishing, we stand at the forefront of what is technologically possible. Designed to be modular and reliable, in the unlikely event that a Flexiv automation solution malfunctions, it can be quickly and easily repaired.

Responsible Consumption and Production

Our dedication to sustainability is deeply ingrained in our green manufacturing practices. Flexivs own factory prominently utilizes our adaptive robots, as they are the most effective way to ensure a sustainable production environment. Due to the efficiency and capability of our human-sized adaptive robots, they are commonly used by our customers as a replacement for the larger, less efficient robots typically used for sanding and polishing tasks. This shift towards smaller, more flexible robots not only fosters significant energy savings but also elevates output quality and consistency, thereby reducing wastage. Our commitment to sustainable production extends to the recyclable materials we construct our robots from, and we are fully committed to the circular economy.

We dont just make robots; its never been about just selling a product. Said Shiquan Wang, CEO of Flexiv. As a company, we fully support the UNs Sustainable Development Goals and actively realize them wherever possible. Its a process, though, and we believe that we are only at the start of a long path that will ultimately see adaptive technology lend a helping hand in achieving the global vision encapsulated in the SDGs.

Flexiv extends its gratitude to all partners and customers for their support in achieving these goals. We couldnt have done it without you, and we look forward to working with you to make the world more sustainable.

To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals, please visit: https://sdgs.un.org/goals. For more information about Flexiv and our sustainability initiatives, please contact [email protected] or visit: www.flexiv.com.

About Flexiv

Flexiv is a world-leading general-purpose robotics company dedicated to developing and manufacturing adaptive robots. With expertise in integrating industrial-grade force control, computer vision, and AI technologies, Flexiv collaborates with its partner network to deliver advanced turn-key automation solutions that enhance efficiency while reducing operational costs and environmental impact. Founded in 2016, Flexiv has established offices in Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, and Singapore. For more information, please visit https://www.flexiv.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201655626/en/

[email protected]

Source: Flexiv
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Designzillas to Avenue Z. The deal closed February 2023.

Located in Orlando, Florida, Designzillas is a digital marketing agency dedicated to helping brands achieve their business goals through web and content development, SEO, and paid media. Designzillas brings together strategic communications and digital marketing to build reputations, forge relationships and amplify ROI. The company has worked with notable brands such as AAA, Advent Health, Piper Aircraft, Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP), Orlando Magic, PowerFleet and the University of Central Florida.

Avenue Z is a strategic communications &; marketing advisory focused on brand performance and business growth. Marking its third acquisition this year, Avenue Z is acquiring specialized marketing firms at a rapid pace and plans to rebrand Designzillas to Avenue Z by the end of the year.

Avenue Z CEO Jeffrey Herzog has a vision for the convergence of influence across public relations and digital marketing. We have developed integrated, data-driven strategies that increase market share and share of voice for our clients, said Herzog. Johnny Hughes, Founder of Designzillas and his growing team in Orlando are a terrific fit for us, combining a 16-year operating history of award-winning client work and also being an early adopter of AI across the SEO, Content and Performance Media landscapes.

Im excited to build the first truly omnichannel marketing and communications company, said Hughes. There is so much potential in the space and working with a digital visionary and leader, like Jeff Herzog, is going to help us realize our goals all the more quickly.

Hughes added, Theres a strong talent pool in Orlando for creatives with Disney, Planet Hollywood, and Universal Studios all based there. The metro area is also ranked 5th nationally for tech job."

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director, M&A-Technology Practice Leader, David Fergusson, Alan Steinberg, a Generational Group Authorized Affiliate, with the support of Vice President, M&A, Emil Nirkis successfully closed the transaction. Executive Managing Director - North America, Edward G. Weber established the initial relationship with Designzillas.

About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America.

With more than 350 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. The Generational suite of advisory services includes strategic growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A services, digital services, and wealth management.

The M&A Advisor named the company Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022 as well as Consulting Firm of the Year. The Global M&A Network named Generational USA Investment Bank of the Year in 2023. For more information visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201023240/en/

Carl Doerksen

972-342-0968

[email protected]

Source: Generational Equity
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- High Income Securities Fund (NYSE: PCF) (the Fund), announced that the annual stockholders meeting convened on November 30, 2023, was adjourned and will reconvene on December 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, at the offices of Bulldog Investors, Park 80 West, 250 Pehle Avenue, Suite 708, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201780154/en/

John Buckel, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (414) 516-1514

Source: High Income Securities Fund, Inc.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA releases topical and timely commentary on credit markets, compiled from our weekly podcast, 3 Things in Credit, hosted by our Chief Strategist, Van Hesser. Among the wide-ranging topics Van has addressed over the past month are rates volatility, consumer dry powder, and the Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital securities market.

Each week, we dig into and provide perspective on issues credit-market participants care about. Tune in every Friday to Vans podcast for the latest. And look for our monthly published recap to catch up on what you might have missed.

Click here to view the report.

About KBRA

KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered in the U.S., the EU and the UK, and is designated to provide structured finance ratings in Canada. KBRAs ratings can be used by investors for regulatory capital purposes in multiple jurisdictions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201880854/en/

Van B. Hesser, Senior Managing Director and Chief Strategist

+1 646-731-2305

[email protected]

Source: KBRA
Korn Ferry Achieves the Equality 100 Award on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations Annual Assessment of LGBTQ+ Workplace Equality

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) has received the Equality 100 Award 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. Korn Ferry joins the ranks of 545 U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

We are grateful for this recognition by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and even more importantly, for what it represents, said Gary D. Burnison, CEO, Korn Ferry. Diversity is a fact, and inclusion is a behavior. Im proud of Korn Ferry and the commitment of our colleagues across the globe who are amplifying our voice and putting our purpose and values into action.

To further advance opportunity, Korn Ferry has launched several important initiatives that focus on the development of its global employees from all backgrounds, ensuring they have ample opportunities to grow and advance. In addition, among other development initiatives, the firm offers a program for leaders called RISE, which is focused on further advancing an inclusive enterprise mindset and fostering a climate that engages all colleagues. Korn Ferry also provides Mosaic - a global talent development offering for diverse, early to mid-career professionals from across the firms lines of business and corporate functions.

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 Senior Director of Workplace Equality.

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. Korn Ferrys efforts in satisfying all the CEIs criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

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

Corporate social responsibility

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of Americas largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130171191/en/

Stacy Rozen

[email protected]

310-556-8502

Source: Korn Ferry
In total, up to 90% of the prisoners were tortured. Kyiv Independent journalists identified the Russians and collaborators who abused captured military personnel and abducted civilians in an illegal prison in the temporarily occupied village of Olenivka in Donetsk region. Over the course of six months, the investigation has uncovered many important facts, helped by the stories of former prisoners.

ADVERTISIMENT

This is described in the documentary film "Curators of Evil. Naming those responsible for the crimes in Olenivka" (English title "Inside a prison where Russia tortured Ukrainian POWs"). The territory of the local prison had long been used by DPR militants, but a few months after the start of the full-scale invasion, local "workers" of the colony were replaced almost entirely with Russian citizens.

Journalists found photos of several alleged perpetrators of torture against prisoners of war on social media. Then the investigators talked to the prisoners of Olenivka who had already been exchanged. The military recognized that among the wardens:

ADVERTISIMENT

Kirill Shakurov from Horlivka, who used to work in the Ukrainian penitentiary system;

the head of the prison, Serhii Yevsiukov (a former Ukrainian law enforcement officer)

assistant head of the prison Artem Potapchuk;

Viacheslav Yakurnov, head of the prison's operational department;

First Deputy Head of the prison Dmytro Nieelov;

wardens Vasyl Bakalynskyi (another former Ukrainian citizen) and Yurii Dmytrenko from Horlivka (Shakurov's partner).

The investigation also shows that the work of the prisoner of war camp in Olenivka was probably led by Kirill Popov, the first deputy head of the Moscow branch of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Ukrainian prisoners told what kind of torture they suffered in Russian captivity. In particular, they described being held in damp cells with moldy walls, where up to fifty people were placed in one room; starvation; technical water for drinking; and failure to provide medical care to the sick or wounded.

In addition, some prisoners of war were wrapped in duct tape at night and beaten, demanding that they testify against the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In total, up to 90% of the prisoners were tortured.

ADVERTISIMENT

As a reminder, the Russian occupiers committed a terrorist attack in the colony in Olenivka, Donetsk region, on July 29, 2022. They staged an explosion in one of the barracks where Ukrainian soldiers were held. In particular, the occupiers were holding the defenders of Mariupol, including members of the Azov regiment.

According to preliminary information, at least 50 Azovstal defenders, who were guaranteed security by the Kremlin and international organizations, were killed in the explosion.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Office of the Prosecutor General reported that the deaths of about 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war in the colony of occupied Olenivka, Donetsk region, were probably caused by the explosion of a thermobaric munition. Namely, capsules with a combustible mixture for flamethrowers such as "Dzhmil", "Dzhmil-M", and "Lynx".

President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Olenivka would be found and brought to justice, and mass murder would be one of the charges at the international tribunal against the terrorist state.

As OBOZ previously reported, Ukraine managed to return the bodies of prisoners of war who died as a result of a terrorist attack organized by Russia in a colony in the occupied village of Olenivka. Most of the bodies have been identified.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Leeward Renewable Energy Operations, LLC (LREO) today announced that it has posted to its secure investor relations site key operating and financial results for the third quarter of 2023.

An investor call will be held on December 7th, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. CST. Investors who hold LREOs 4.250% Senior Notes due in 2029, prospective investors, broker-dealers, and securities analysts, are invited to join the investor call. Details to access the investor call have been posted to LREOs secure investor relations site.

For information on how to access the site, visit https://www.leewardenergy.com/request-access/ or contact Investor Relations at [email protected].

About Leeward Renewable Energy Operations, LLC

LREO is wholly owned by Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE), a leading renewable energy company that owns and operates a portfolio of 27 renewable energy facilities across nine states totaling approximately 2,800 megawatts of generating capacity. LRE is actively developing and contracting new wind, solar, and energy storage projects in energy markets across the U.S., with 1.9 gigawatts contracted and 20 gigawatts under development and construction, spanning over 100 projects. LRE is committed to providing long-term, sustainable energy solutions across all its projects that benefit its community partners while protecting and enhancing the environment. LRE is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of Canadas largest defined benefit pension plans with C$124.2 billion in net assets (as at December 31, 2022). For more information, visit www.leewardenergy.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201839606/en/

FGS Global

[email protected]

Kelly Kimberly

713.822.7538

Liz James

281.881.5170

Source: Leeward Renewable Energy Operations, LLC
Organizations form new joint venture bringing together Lifepoints Highpoint Health System with Ascension Saint Thomas to enhance access, clinical excellence and service

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lifepoint Health and Ascension Saint Thomas have formed a joint venture to expand access to high quality care and services in Northern Middle Tennessee.

As part of the joint venture, the organizations will jointly own Highpoint Health System, a regional health system owned by Lifepoint Health that includes Sumner Regional Medical Center and Sumner Station in Gallatin, Trousdale Medical Center in Hartsville, Riverview Regional Medical Center in Carthage and more than 15 affiliated clinics and sites of care. This partnership brings together the organizations clinical excellence, best practices and talented caregivers to collaborate in new ways that improve access to clinical programs and specialty care for patients and communities.

"Today is an exciting day for our company and for our communities in Middle Tennessee, said David Dill, chairman and chief executive officer, Lifepoint Health. We have long respected Ascension Saint Thomas for its commitment to excellent quality, innovation, and partnership in improving the lives of patients. By working together, we can do even more to advance the health and well-being of our friends and neighbors here.

This new collaboration is the second joint venture partnership for the two health systems, as Lifepoint Health and Ascension Saint Thomas also jointly own Ascension Saint Thomas Rehabilitation Hospital in Nashville.

Lifepoint is a strong and trusted partner, and we share a commitment of making communities healthier, said Fahad Tahir, president and chief executive officer, Ascension Saint Thomas. The positive impact we can make together to build and expand our clinical programs will have a multiplying effect for the health of our region and the communities we serve.

The hospitals and sites of care included in the joint venture will be co-branded with Ascension Saint Thomas and will be majority-owned and operated by Lifepoint Health. Each hospitals current leadership team remains in place and no significant changes are anticipated for employees. Moving forward, the Highpoint hospitals will adopt the names of Highpoint Health  Sumner, Highpoint Health  Trousdale, and Highpoint Health  Riverview.

We are proud of all we have accomplished here in Gallatin and beyond, and we know we can do even more by working with an outstanding partner like Ascension Saint Thomas, said Rod Harkleroad, market president of Highpoint Health and chief executive officer, Highpoint Health  Sumner. We are looking forward to rolling up our sleeves together to tackle some of the most pressing healthcare issues we face in this region, including growing our specialist base and services.

About Lifepoint Health

Lifepoint Health is a leading healthcare provider that serves patients, clinicians, communities, and partner organizations across the healthcare continuum. Driven by a mission of making communities healthier, the company has a growing diversified healthcare delivery network comprised of more than 50,000 dedicated employees, 60 community hospital campuses, more than 60 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals and 250 additional sites of care, including managed acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. Through its innovation strategy, Lifepoint Forward, the company is developing meaningful solutions to enhance quality, increase access to care, and improve value across the Lifepoint footprint and communities across the country. For more information about the company, visit www.LifepointHealth.net.

About Ascension Saint Thomas

Ascension Saint Thomas is a leading health care system with a 125-year history of providing care to the community, and is the only faith-based, non profit health system in Middle Tennessee. Today, the health system offers a highly comprehensive system of care, with more than 250 sites of care that cover a 45-county area in Tennessee consisting of 13 hospitals and a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 10,700 dedicated associates who care for millions of patients each year. Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nations largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201970776/en/

Lifepoint Health

Emily Serck

[email protected]

615-920-7730

Ascension Saint Thomas

Caitlin Yusko

[email protected]

615-957-3043

Source: Lifepoint Health
Michael Parker: President, Business Services

David Williams: President, Consumer Services

Leroy Williams: Chief Growth & Innovation Officer

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Optimum, a brand of Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) today announces a leadership structure centered around new dedicated Consumer Services and Business Services divisions, an expansion of the Optimum leadership team, and an emphasis on innovation to drive growth, accelerate transformation efforts and deliver the best experiences to its residential and business customers.

Michael Parker named EVP, President - Business Services. Mike joins Optimum from Comcast where he spent more than 20 years in a variety of leadership roles, most recently serving as Regional Senior Vice President of the companys Beltway Region. During his time with Comcast, Mike directed the company into new market segments and geographies and led strategic and operational planning across various regions, having owned P&L for business units responsible for multi-billion-dollar revenue and operating budgets while overseeing employee workforces of several thousand at a time.

In this newly created role, Mike is responsible for all aspects of the companys B2B business, including oversight for all Sales & Sales Operations and Marketing, Acquisition and Customer Base Management activities supporting Optimums full portfolio of connectivity and managed services for small, media, and enterprise business customers.

David Williams elevated to EVP, President - Consumer Services. David joined the company in early 2023 as Chief Revenue Officer, leading sales and revenue growth strategies and performance. In this newly created role, David expands upon these responsibilities and now leads all aspects of Optimums residential business, including Sales & Sales Operations, Brand, Marketing & Media, Acquisition and Customer Base Management. He also oversees the regional Optimum Market Structure, driving hyperlocal strategies across the country and partnering with every group across the enterprise to make Optimum the connectivity provider of choice in every community we serve.

Prior to joining Optimum, David spent 20-plus years at Comcast in a variety of sales and marketing leadership roles, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer for the companys largest cable division.

Leroy Williams named EVP, Chief Growth & Innovation Officer. As Optimum evolves its services to best meet customers needs, Lee will be laser focused on strengthening, expanding and driving the P&L and strategic management of Optimums consumer and business product set, assessing opportunities for expansion, identifying new business opportunities, and driving innovation by developing strategic relationships and integrations with key external technology, ecosystem, and innovation partners all to drive growth.

Lee joined the company in early 2023 as Chief Growth Officer. Previously, he served as Chief Product Officer for the Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics America.

Commented Altice USA Chairman and CEO Dennis Mathew: Optimum continues to make steady progress on our mission to be the connectivity provider of choice in every community we serve as we drive improved operational and customer experience metrics across the board. Creating dedicated Consumer and Business Services teams as well as doubling down on innovation best positions us to accelerate our initiatives, strengthen our operations, meet customer needs, and return to growth.

An essential part of our strategy is investing in our business services division to serve the needs of our business customers, which is why Im thrilled to welcome Mike, a reliable leader with decades of experience in the U.S. cable and telecommunications industry. I am certain that having dedicated leadership for B2B opens the door for more meaningful progress in this space and I look forward to working with Mike to advance our B2B division.

David has been a high-impact leader since joining the company earlier this year, not only in driving sales and transforming the sales operations but also embedding a strong culture within his team. I am confident he will take our residential business to new heights and create deeper connections with our customers and communities.

Lee is always thinking one-step-ahead of what customers want. By focusing on the Optimum product portfolio and striking thoughtful, strategic and beneficial partnerships, well be able to meet customers where they are today, and where theyre going in the future.

To learn more about the companys leadership team, visit: alticeusa.com/leadership.

About Optimum

Optimum is a brand of Altice USA, one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States, delivering broadband, video, and mobile services to approximately 4.8 million residential and business customers across 21 states. The company operates a4, an advanced advertising and data business, which provides audience-based, multiscreen advertising solutions to local, regional and national businesses and advertising clients. Altice USA also offers hyper-local, national, international and business news through its News 12, Cheddar News and i24NEWS networks.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201332894/en/

Erin Smyth: +1 917-565-2480

[email protected]

Source: Altice USA
Company Announces Core Leadership Team, Led by CEO, Kerry L. Blanchard, MD, PhD

SHANGHAI & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Perpetual Medicines today announced it has closed an $8 million seed financing to advance its integrated computational design and synthesis platform for peptide drug discovery. The financing round was led by Chengwei Capital.

The company also announced key appointments to its leadership team, including Kerry L. Blanchard, MD, PhD, Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Ved Srivastava, PhD, Chief Technology Officer; and Xiang Ye, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer.

Perpetual Medicines is capitalizing on recent advances in computational modeling based on artificial intelligence, deep learning and machine learning that enable access for the first time to the enormous, untapped peptide chemical space for drug discovery, said Dr. Blanchard. We have built an integrated platform that allows us to virtually iterate through millions of peptide sequences using physics-based computations to predict binding and drug-like properties followed by integration with experimental data to discover and optimize product candidates. This approach has the potential to accelerate peptide drug discovery, reduce cost, and increase the quality of drug candidates. With the financing the company will advance our most advanced program to the clinical stage and continue to build our preclinical portfolio of projects in oncology, autoimmunity, and metabolic diseases.

Dr. Blanchard noted that peptide therapeutics have become the most rapidly growing sector of the pharmaceutical industry with predicted sales exceeding $140 billion1/year by 2030. Peptides fill the gap between small molecule drugs and therapeutic antibodies, he said. They are large enough and selective enough to block interactions between proteins inside and outside cells. These attributes, along with access to vastly expanded chemical space, will open new target classes and allow us to attack previously undruggable pathobiology.

Senior Management Team Named

Perpetual has assembled a highly experienced senior management team, who have collectively accrued more than 120 years of drug hunting experience and have helped lead the development of more than ten marketed peptide-based therapeutics.

The senior management team includes:

Kerry L. Blanchard, MD, PhD  Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Blanchard is an experienced entrepreneur who has built deep R&D leadership and management experience over a 40+ year career. He was instrumental in the discovery of four marketed products, oversaw the clinical development and approval of more than 25 new medicines in China, and led two successful IPOs on the Hong Kong stock exchange. He has deep experience in developing peptide therapeutics from vancomycin and colistins to incretins. Prior to co-founding Perpetual Medicines, he was CEO of Everest Medicines. Previously, he was Chief Scientific Officer at Innovent, and he held several senior R&D leadership positions at Eli Lilly and Company over a nearly 18-year career, most recently as Senior Vice President China Drug Development. Prior to his industry career, he spent nearly 20 years in academic roles at LSU Health Science Center and Harvard Medical School.

Ved Srivastava, PhD, Chief Technology Officer  Dr. Srivastava brings to Perpetual Medicines more than 25 years of experience in the discovery and development of peptide therapeutics. He joined Perpetual from Aktis Oncology. He was instrumental in the development of several peptide-based drugs, including Byetta, Symlin and Bydureon. He has served as Head of Peptide Chemistry at both GlaxoSmithKline and Amylin Pharmaceuticals. He was also a co-founder at Phoundry Pharma and Vice President of Chemistry at both Intarcia and Aktis. Ved is a former president of the American Peptide Society (APS).

Xiang Ye, PhD  Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Yes experience includes a more than 22-year career at Eli Lilly, where he focused on drug research and translational medicine. During his career, he led the discovery and development of eight clinical candidates, including a globally approved cancer drug, Verzenio (abemaciclib). He joined Perpetual Medicines from Risen Pharmaceuticals, where he served as Chief Scientific Officer. Prior to Risen, he also served as Chief Scientific Officer at Ionova Life Sciences.

About Chengwei Capital

Chengwei Capital is a Shanghai-headquartered venture capital firm specialized in investing in high-end technology and innovative startups. It is one of the earliest venture capital firms in China and launched Chinas first evergreen fund in 2004. Chengwei Capital currently has over USD $3 billion in NAV under management.

About Perpetual Medicines

Perpetual Medicines is a fully integrated computational peptide therapeutics company that aims to build a next-generation peptide drug discovery engine. The companys platform combines the predictive power of leading-edge computational physics methods and next-generation AI technologies with advanced synthetic chemistry to access vast, unexplored peptide chemical space. The platform is designed to address previously undruggable targets, accelerate discovery and enhance the quality of peptide drug candidates. The company has operations in Shanghai, China and Boston, MA. Learn more at: perpetualmeds.com

________________________________

1 Evaluate Pharma

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130187993/en/

[email protected]

Source: Perpetual Medicines
Danuglipron demonstrated mean placebo-adjusted weight reductions ranging from -8% to -13% at 32 weeks and -5% to -9.5% at 26 weeks

While most common adverse events were mild and gastrointestinal in nature consistent with the mechanism, high rates were observed; no new safety signals were observed

High discontinuation rates, greater than 50%, were seen across all doses compared to approximately 40% with placebo

Ongoing pharmacokinetic study of once-daily formulation of danuglipron will continue, the outcome of which will inform a path forward

At this time, twice-daily danuglipron formulation will not advance into Phase 3 studies

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced topline data from the Phase 2b clinical trial (NCT04707313) investigating its oral Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) candidate, danuglipron (PF-06882961), in adults with obesity and without type 2 diabetes. The study met its primary endpoint demonstrating statistically significant change in body weight from baseline.

Twice-daily dosing of danuglipron showed statistically significant reductions from baseline in body weight for all doses, with mean reductions ranging from -6.9% to -11.7%, compared to +1.4% for placebo at 32 weeks, and -4.8% to -9.4%, compared to +0.17% for placebo at 26 weeks. Placebo-adjusted reductions in mean body weight ranged from -8% to -13% at 32 weeks and -5% to -9.5% at 26 weeks. Depending on titration schedule, participants were at target dose levels for 6 to 24 weeks.

While the most common adverse events were mild and gastrointestinal in nature consistent with the mechanism, high rates were observed (up to 73% nausea; up to 47% vomiting; up to 25% diarrhea). High discontinuation rates, greater than 50%, were seen across all doses compared to approximately 40% with placebo. No new safety signals were reported and treatment with danuglipron was not associated with increased incidence of liver enzyme elevation compared to placebo. Data from this study will be presented at a future scientific conference or published in a peer-reviewed journal.

We believe an improved once-daily formulation of danuglipron could play an important role in the obesity treatment paradigm, and we will focus our efforts on gathering the data to understand its potential profile, said Mikael Dolsten, MD., PhD., Chief Scientific Officer & President, Pfizer Research and Development. Results from ongoing and future studies of the once-daily danuglipron modified release formulation will inform a potential path forward with an aim to improve the tolerability profile and optimize both study design and execution.

Future development of danuglipron will be focused on a once-daily formulation, with pharmacokinetic data anticipated in the first half of 2024.

Results previously published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open from the Phase 2 study (NCT03985293) of danuglipron in type 2 diabetes showed dose-dependent placebo-adjusted reductions in HbA1c of up to -1.16%; fasting plasma glucose of -33.24 mg/dL; and body weight of -4.17 kg over 16 weeks. Additionally, the Phase 2a study (NCT04617275) of danuglipron in patients with type 2 diabetes who are treated with metformin and in non-diabetic adults with obesity showed robust declines in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and body weight. In both populations, danuglipron demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the mechanism of action.

About Phase 2b Study Design (NCT04707313)

The Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, dose-ranging study evaluated the efficacy and safety of danuglipron (PF-06882961) administration in adults with obesity and without type 2 diabetes. The study evaluated three cohorts across different fixed titration schedules and target doses. Cohorts 1 and 2 (n=497) evaluated one-week and two-week titration steps over 26 weeks with target doses at 40mg, 80mg, 120mg, 160mg and 200mg twice-daily. Cohort 3 (n=129) evaluated four-week titration steps over 32 weeks with target doses at 80mg, 140mg and 200mg twice-daily. The study utilized a titration protocol where participants were required to follow a fixed titration scheme, according to their randomized treatment group.

About Danuglipron

Danuglipron (PF-06882961) is an experimental medicine that is taken as a tablet by mouth and is not approved for use by health authorities at this time. Danuglipron, which was discovered and developed in-house at Pfizer, is a type of medicine known as a GLP-1RA. This medicine is intended to keep blood sugar at healthy levels and work by increasing the amount of insulin released and lowering the amount of glucagon released into the blood. It also slows down the digestion of food and increases the feeling of fullness after eating.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the worlds premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

Disclosure Notice

The information contained in this release is as of December 1, 2023. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about topline data from the Phase 2b clinical trial investigating Pfizers oral Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist candidate, danuglipron, in adults with obesity and without Type 2 diabetes, Pfizers plans to not advance the twice-daily danuglipron formulation into Phase 3 studies at this time and the potential future development of the once-daily danuglipron formulation, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; uncertainties regarding the future development of danuglipron; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from the clinical studies; whether and when drug applications for any potential indications for danuglipron may be filed in any jurisdictions; whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions may approve any such applications, which will depend on a myriad of factors, including making a determination as to whether the products benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the products efficacy and, if approved, whether danuglipron will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety, and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of danuglipron; uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizers business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130108413/en/

Media Contact:

Media Relations

+1 (212) 733-7410

[email protected]

Investor Contact:

Investor Relations

+1 (212) 733-4848

[email protected]

Source: Pfizer Inc.
WOKINGHAM, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thousands of UK businesses grappling with the imminent termination of traditional analogue telephony have been given a major boost by an announcement set to accelerate their transition to a digital-first future.

Sangoma Technologies, a global provider of business IT and communication solutions, has today partnered with UK-based Sol Distribution in a move that will give businesses easy and cost-effective access to hardware and software products capable of helping them modernise.

The partnership leverages the fusion of Sangoma Technologies global reputation as a leader in unified business communication innovation with Sol Distributions thriving network of expert reseller and system integrators upon which vast numbers of small-medium-sized companies depend for business-critical IT support.

Simon Horton, VP Sales, Europe, Sangoma Technologies said: We are delighted and hugely excited to announce our European partnership with Sol Distribution. The UK switch-off of the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN) scheduled for 2025 means many businesses will look to technology providers to help them digitise. As a result of this partnership, those providers will now be able to engage with Sol Distribution and benefit from the smart functionality, reliability, and value for money that are the characteristics of the strong Sangoma suite of products.

Businesses are hungry for the benefits which come with the deployment of modern, digital communication hardware and software, and we are looking forward to working with Sol Distribution to capitalise on the opportunity that presents to us all.

Graeme Sutton, Managing Director, Sol Distribution said: We are extremely pleased to have partnered with Sangoma Technologies  a huge and trusted global brand whose passion for innovation, reliability, and customer service perfectly matches our own. Together, we can provide resellers and system integrators with not only business communication solutions capable of positively transforming the way their customers work, but also the ability to gain a competitive edge, open up more revenue streams, and benefit from highly-attractive margins.

ABOUT SOL DISTRIBUTION

Sol Distribution is a UK-based value-added distributor of networking infrastructure and security solutions, serving a community of resellers and systems integrators across the UK and Europe, with an outstanding reputation in customer service.

It is an official distribution partner of ADVA Optical Networking, Alcatel Lucent Enterprise, Accedian, ASUS, D-Link, Coherent, Lantronix, RAD Data Communications, and Transition Networks (now part of Lantronix). It also provides a wide range of third party-compatible transceivers and cables. It provides a complimentary solution set and believes that each of its vendor partners is the best-of-breed in their particular area.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201257825/en/

Media Enquiries:

Shaan Sood

Head of International Marketing

[email protected]

T. +44 (0)7769 930008

Source: Sangoma Technologies Corporation
ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SEBA Bank AG, a fully licensed Swiss crypto bank, announced today its new brand identity: AMINA Bank AG. The group operates globally from its regulated hubs in Zug, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, offering its clients traditional and crypto banking services.

SEBA Bank made history in 2019 by becoming one of the first FINMA-regulated institutions to provide crypto banking services. This rebrand marks a new chapter for the company, which has proudly been in operation for more than four years. AMINA Bank is inspired by the same trailblazing ambition to lead the way for its clients and to write its own future as a Swiss-regulated crypto bank offering services to its traditional and crypto savvy clients around the globe.

The name AMINA stems from the term transAMINAtion, meaning transference of one compound to another. AMINA is a brand driven by perpetual change, bringing together the various compounds of traditional, digital, and crypto banking to unlock new potential and growth for our clients. This vision of change represents the transformation of our clients financial future.

Franz Bergmueller, CEO of AMINA, said: We are delighted to introduce the world to our new brand identity. While we say goodbye to the SEBA name, we remain forever proud of the achievements made by the group under the former brand.

Our brand signifies a new era in the companys growth and strategy; we are a key player in crypto banking and are here to define the future of finance. With our client-focused approach, our years of traversing traditional and crypto finance, we offer a platform for investors to build wealth safely and under the highest regulatory standards.

We are grateful to be encouraged by our supportive and committed investors who have been very helpful, supporting the growth of the company. We thank our employees in all the regions for their dedication and client focus. As we look forward to 2024, our ambition is to accelerate the growth of our strategic hubs in Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi, and to continue our global expansion, building on all the successes we have laid down over the past years.

Current clients of AMINA Bank (formerly SEBA Bank) will be unaffected by the rebrand other than encountering the new name; all operations will be business as usual across the board.

The branch office based in Abu Dhabi and the subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Singapore will subsequently apply for a name change to align with the head office in Zug.

To learn more about AMINA, visit www.aminagroup.com

Franz Bergmueller, CEO of AMINA, is available for interview.

About AMINA  Crypto. Banking. Simplified.

Founded in April 2018 and headquartered in Zug, AMINA (formerly SEBA) is a pioneer in the financial industry. In August 2019, AMINA received a Swiss banking and securities dealer license. The broad, vertically integrated spectrum of services, combined with the highest security standards, make AMINA's value proposition unique. AMINA operates globally from its regulated hubs of Switzerland, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong to offer fiat and crypto services to progressive investors, traditional and crypto-native alike, whether individuals, corporates or institutions.

CVVC Global Report and CB Insights named AMINA as one of the Top 50 Companies within the blockchain ecosystem. Aite Group awarded AMINA their 2021 Digital Wealth Management Impact Innovation Award in the Digital Startup of the Year category, and LinkedIn listed AMINA as one of the Top Startups 2021 in Switzerland. In 2022, AMINA won the Digital Assets Offering or Service at the WealthBriefing Swiss EAM Awards, and the bank was also recognised for its product offering SEBAX and won the Best ETP of the Year award at the Swiss ETF Awards 2022. In 2023, AMINA won the European WealthBriefing Award in the Digital Assets Solution, Fund Manager category.

For more information on AMINA, please visit our website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130844758/en/

Wachsman

Matt Turner

Senior Consultant

[email protected]

AMINA Bank AG

Yves Longchamp

Managing Director

[email protected]

Source: AMINA Bank AG
AUSTIN, Texas & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Serent-backed ParentSquare, an award-winning school-home engagement platform for K12 education, has announced its acquisition of Remind, a widely-used communications platform that focuses on connecting educators with students and families. The combined company will provide a comprehensive suite of communication tools to help schools and districts better engage with their communities.

ParentSquare is used in 49 states and by millions of educators and families. The unified, mulipurpose platform includes mass notifications, classroom communications, school websites, and other communication-based services, all supported by visual dashboards. Remind is used in over 80% of public schools and by 60% of teachers in the U.S.

Serent invested in ParentSquare in 2021, marking their 10th platform investment in the education market. Following the investment from Serent, ParentSquare acquired Gabbart Communications, a company specializing in website and content management.

"Since partnering with Serent, their strategic guidance has helped accelerate our growth," said Sohit Wadhwa, ParentSquare co-founder and CEO. "They've played a pivotal role in identifying new avenues for expansion through not only organic growth initiatives but also through their support in identifying and executing two highly strategic acquisitions."

This is a transformational next step for ParentSquare that reinforces the shared mission of both companies to foster student success. Incorporating Remind's Chat and Hub products enhances ParentSquare's position as a market-leading unified communications platform and allows us to enhance the learning experience for millions of students across America," said Lance Fenton, Partner at Serent Capital. He added, "It's an honor to partner with these remarkable teams, and we are excited about this next growth stage where our focus remains on elevating student success.

Serent's prior education technology investments include ArbiterSports, C2 Education, DiamondMind, DigArc, Education Advanced, KEV Group, LinkIt!, Modern Campus, Progress Learning, and Zollege. To learn more about how Serent partners with education companies, visit https://serentcapital.com/k12-edtech/.

About ParentSquare

ParentSquare is a leading provider of modern family and community engagement solutions for K12 schools. Millions of educators and families in 49 states rely on the multipurpose unified platform that includes mass notifications, classroom communications, school websites, and other communication-based services, all supported by visual dashboards. ParentSquare's technology platform features comprehensive integrations with school administrative systems, translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for equitable communication. Founded in 2011, the company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. Learn more at https://www.parentsquare.com.

About Serent Capital

Serent Capital is a growth-focused private equity firm investing in capital-efficient, B2B SaaS and technology companies. From its founding, Serent set out to build a distinctly different firm that prioritizes founders and their companies and provides true hands-on resources through its 20+ person Growth Team. Serents in-house Growth Team is equipped with a wide range of resources to help companies accelerate growth, including strategic and operational support to drive revenue generation, assistance in building a top-tier executive team, guidance for transformative M&A, and a community of 400+ founders and operating executives. With $5 billion of assets under management, the firm has partnered with over 60 founder-led, industry-changing companies and offers unparalleled hands-on operational support. Discover how Serent Capital is fueling the growth of innovative companies across a range of industries at www.serentcapital.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201458293/en/

Sam Whitford

[email protected]

Source: Serent Capital
Industry Veterans, Christian Silva Lima Gherardi and Pedro Pelaez, will Join Snowden Lanes Growing Coral Gables Office

CORAL GABLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Snowden Lane Partners, an independent, advisor-owned, wealth advisory firm dedicated to providing client-focused advice in a values-driven culture, today announced that Christian Silva Lima Gherardi, an industry veteran with nearly 30 years of experience, has joined the firm as a Partner and Managing Director. Gherardi will be joined by Pedro Pelaez, who will serve as a Private Wealth Advisor.

Based in Snowden Lanes rapidly expanding Coral Gables office, they will form the Gherardi Group serving high net-worth international families.

Were thrilled to have Christian and Pedro joining us in Coral Gables, as theyve both built a tremendous track record in the international wealth management space, said Greg Franks, Managing Partner, President & COO of Snowden Lane Partners. We remain committed to building our presence in Florida and our approach is grounded by adding industry-leading professionals such as Christian and Pedro. Our shared values made them a natural fit for our team, and were confident they will continue their success on behalf of their clients at Snowden Lane.

Added Gherardi: Im looking forward to collaborating with Pedro once again at Snowden Lane. We have both spent over 20 years in the international wealth management space, and as the industry continues to evolve, we felt Snowden Lane offered us the best opportunity to continue providing our clients with the flexible, goal-based solutions they have come to expect. The Coral Gables team brings their own international expertise to the table, and were excited to collaborate to achieve our clients financial goals.

Most importantly, Im grateful to my family for their support as I enter this next chapter of my career, Gherardi continued. Above all else, Im most proud of being a dedicated, committed, and loving father to my four children, and Im excited to share this next phase of life with them.

Prior to joining Snowden Lane, Gherardi and Pelaez both spent nearly eight years at Bulltick Wealth Management, excelling as the firms top-producing team. Both Gherardi and Pelaez specialize in servicing Latin American clients, offering specialized investment solutions to high net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients.

Before joining Bulltick, Gherardi worked for nearly 20 years at Citicorp Investment Services and, subsequently, Citigroup Global Markets. He was the top producer at Citigroup Latin America for 16 consecutive years.

He graduated cum laude with a bachelors in international finance and marketing from the University of Miami and went on to graduate summa cum laude from the universitys MBA program. Professional and educational accomplishments aside, Gherardi takes the most pride in serving as a dedicated, committed, and loving father to his four children.

Similarly, Pelaez began his career in the wealth management industry in 2006, serving as both a registered sales associate and financial advisor for the top-performing team at Citigroup Latin America.

Since its founding in 2011, Snowden Lane has built a national brand, attracting top industry talent from Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, UBS, JP Morgan, Raymond James, Wells Fargo, and Fieldpoint Private, among others.

Snowden Lane employs 145 total professionals, 82 of whom are financial advisors, across 14 offices around the country: Pasadena and San Diego, CA; New Haven, CT; Coral Gables, FL; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA; Baltimore, Salisbury and Bethesda, MD; San Antonio, TX; Buffalo, NY; Lebanon, NH; Golden, CO, as well as its New York City headquarters.

The firm is included in Barrons 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 Top 100 RIA Firms ranking, in addition to the 2023 and 2022 Forbes/Shook Top RIA Firms ranking. The Financial Times named Snowden Lane to its elite FT 300 list for six straight years, recognizing Snowden Lane as one of the top independent RIA firms in the U.S. Many of the firms advisors have been recognized as Financial Times 401 Top Retirement advisors, and a number by Forbes/Shook as Forbes Best-In-State Wealth advisors.

About Snowden Lane Partners

Snowden Lane is a nationally branded, open-architecture, hybrid registered investment advisor and broker-dealer that provides wealth advisory services to high net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients.

The firm is led by an experienced team of industry executives, including Lyle LaMothe, Chairman of the Board of Managers, Rob Mooney, Managing Partner & CEO, and Greg Franks, Managing Partner, President & COO, who are dedicated to building a client-focused, nationally branded, boutique wealth advisory partnership.

Snowden Lane is headquartered in New York City and operates an SEC registered investment adviser and a FINRA licensed broker-dealer. Snowden Lane provides a multi-custodian, multi-currency platform, with aggregated performance reporting and leading analytical tools for clients and advisors. Snowden Lane further provides full operational, finance, compliance, human resources, and financial advisor transition support to its financial advisors.

For more information about Snowden Lane, please visit www.snowdenlane.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201471217/en/

Kevin Santo

Water & Wall

[email protected]

Source: Snowden Lane Partners
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb and Winston & Strawn LLP are pleased that the appellate court has affirmed Jussie Smolletts felony convictions and sentence, including his term of incarceration and the full restitution owed to the City of Chicago of over $130,000 for overtime costs in investigating the staged fake hate crime.

Special Prosecutor Dan. K. Webb stated as follows:

As the appellate court noted, Mr. Smollett challenge[d] virtually every aspect of the prosecution, and the appellate court correctly rejected each and every one of those challenges. Todays decision is a validation of Winston & Strawns tireless work on this matter and a resounding victory for justice. We are proud to have prevailed in a case that, we believe, can help restore the publics confidence in the Cook County justice system.

When Judge Michael B. Toomin appointed me as Special Prosecutor in the Smollett case, the firm debated internally and determined that taking the caseand doing so pro bono with no compensation to the firmwas simply the right thing to do. It was a unique opportunity for a major law firm to give back to a community whose faith in the local justice system had been shaken by how poorly the Cook County States Attorneys Office (CCSAO) had first handled the Smollett matter. Winston & Strawn has always had a deep dedication to pro bono service, and this appointment was one more way we could serve our community and restore the publics faith in the states criminal justice system.

Our lawyers devoted over 4 years and more than 15,000 hours examining the original Smollett investigation and bringing renewed charges against him. After that worthwhile effort yielded a conviction on five counts of felony disorderly conduct at the trial level, we could not be more gratified that justice has been served once again.

The appellate courts decision affirms that the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate Mr. Smolletts staged fake hate crime was justified. As the court also concluded, the record clearly established that Mr. Smollett did not enter into a non-prosecution agreement with the CCSAO that barred another prosecution for the same offense. In fact, the appellate court held that there was no ambiguity as to what occurred between Mr. Smollett and the CCSAO, which only agreed to nol-pros the charges against Smollett. Given the absence of a non-prosecution agreement, the appellate court correctly found that reprosecuting Smollett was not fundamentally unfair. We respectfully disagree with the dissenting justices opinion and its conclusions, which the appellate court noted were unsupported by the trial court record and Illinois law.

I want to provide a special thanks to Deputy Special Prosecutors Sean G. Wieber, Samuel Mendenhall, and the entire team at Winston & Strawn who assisted in this matter, for all of their dedication and efforts over the years that has led to this result. We hope this decision will reassure the community that our legal system is fair, just, and impartial.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201277164/en/

Michael Goodwin

[email protected]

646-502-3595

Sneha Satish

[email protected]

646-502-3556

Source: Winston & Strawn LLP
Russia's war against Ukraine did not begin in February 2022 or even in 2014 but much earlier, and Ukrainians are aware of this. The question now is how the civilized world allowed the formation of such a dictatorship in the 21st century that attacks various states.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was stated by Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, on the program "BASE 2" on Radio Bayraktar. According to him, the issue of the Russian war in Ukraine was resolved long ago: "as soon as our country challenged the empire and declared that it wanted to be independent."

"This happened not in 1991, but much earlier. The issue of war was actually resolved. It has been ongoing for a long time. Now, I really hope that this is the final denouement, and after that, we will move freely without Russian weights on our feet," he said.

Yusov believes that when it comes to the full-scale war that began on February 24, 2022, the question of its beginning should be asked not only of Ukraine but also of "the whole world, of the security architecture."

ADVERTISIMENT

"How did it happen that in the 21st century, a regime emerged that attacks different states, annexes parts of territories, does not recognize sovereignty  it's not just about Ukraine  destroys its own citizens, and introduces a dictatorship," the Main Intelligence Directorate representative asked.

He called it an existential conflict, which is nothing new. It's not as if Ukraine had a so-called peace-loving Russian neighbor before February 24 who just wanted to be "friends" and "trade," and then suddenly something went wrong.

"No. These are murderers, this is a horde, these are enemies who have been like this for decades and decades. How could we have avoided this war? Simply by giving up the right to exist," Yusov stated.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, The Economist recently wrote that Putin has a chance to win the war for the first time. The analysts pointed out that the West has done little to defeat the Russian dictator, but it is not too late for it to show its determination to help Ukraine by providing more weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, imposing sanctions against Russia and its partners, etc.

ADVERTISIMENT

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Collaboration Will Introduce Old Pal to New Markets and Provide a Path to Remain in Previously Successful States Across the U.S.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. (NEO: CBST) (OTCQX: CBSTF) (FSE: 3LP) (The Cannabist Company or the Company), one of the largest and most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and retailers of cannabis products in the U.S., announced today it is launching a partnership with Old Pal, a top-performing lifestyle cannabis flower brand renowned for its unrivaled quality, accessibility and simplicity.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130260631/en/

The collaboration will kick off with Old Pal and The Cannabist Company in Maryland and Virginia and will continue to roll out in additional states across its dispensary network in 2024, pending regulatory approval. Old Pal is currently available in more than 10 major markets and is positioned in the top 10% for brand awareness in the cannabis industry, as per the October 2023 Brand Performance Report by Pioneer Intelligence (pioneer.buzz). The Cannabist Company will begin production in Maryland of Old Pals unique 14g Ready to Roll kit, which includes classic pre-ground cannabis, hemp rolling papers, and crutches, packaged into a resealable pouch  everything you need to roll the perfect joint. The partnership will expand with the production of Old Pals 1g vapes and Palitos pre-roll packs, which contain 10 mini joints filled with 0.35g of premium cannabis.

The Cannabist Company works extremely hard at meeting the needs of our patients and customers and answering a higher calling by providing the best possible products on our shelves. Forming meaningful partnerships with amazing companies like Old Pal helps us strengthen the entire cannabis industry and fulfill our promise to our communities across the country, said Jesse Channon, The Cannabist Companys Chief Commercial Officer. The name says it all - Old Pal, a trusted brand consumers know, love, and can turn to when looking for good, quality cannabis at an affordable price. We feel very connected to their entire brand ethos, especially around accessibility, and cant wait to bring it back to Maryland and then introduce this incredible product to more markets like Virginia.

We are stoked to kick off this collaboration with The Cannabist Company, said Rusty Wilenkin, Old Pal Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. It's invigorating to partner with a multi-state operator that embraces the power of partnerships in the current state of the industry. Thanks to the Cannabist Company's brand expansion mindset, we can bring Old Pal's exceptional quality, legacy and shareable lifestyle to a broader consumer audience.

For more information, visit cannabistcompany.com and oldpal.com.

About The Cannabist Company (f/k/a Columbia Care)

The Cannabist Company, formerly known as Columbia Care, is one of the largest and most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and providers of cannabis products and related services, with licenses in 16 U.S. jurisdictions. The Company operates 125 facilities including 94 dispensaries and 31 cultivation and manufacturing facilities, including those under development. Columbia Care, now The Cannabist Company, is one of the original multi-state providers of cannabis in the U.S. and now delivers industry-leading products and services to both the medical and adult-use markets. In 2021, the Company launched Cannabist, its retail brand, creating a national dispensary network that leverages proprietary technology platforms. The company offers products spanning flower, edibles, oils and tablets, and manufactures popular brands including Seed & Strain, Triple Seven, Hedy, gLeaf, Classix, Press, and Amber. For more information, please visit www.cannabistcompany.com.

About Old Pal

Old Pal is a cannabis lifestyle brand that sets the gold standard for quality in the industry. With a focus on simplicity, shareability (in the markets that allow sharing), and unrivaled quality, Old Pal aims to offer an uncomplicated way to integrate cannabis into a balanced, fulfilling life. Old Pal products can now be found in NY, CA, PA, MA, IL, NV, OH, AZ, MO, NM, MD, OK with more markets coming in 2023.

Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and reflect the Companys current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to the Companys ability to execute on retail, wholesale, brand and product initiatives. These forward-looking statements or information, which although considered reasonable by the Company, may prove to be incorrect and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking information. In addition, securityholders should review the risk factors discussed under Risk Factors in Columbia Cares Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as, filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities and described from time to time in subsequent documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130260631/en/

Investors

Lee Ann Evans

SVP, Capital Markets

[email protected]

Media

Lindsay Wilson

SVP, Communications

[email protected]

Source: The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc.
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Postmedia today announced the return of the historic The Gazette logo to the pages of the print newspaper and website of the Montreal Gazette. Also launching is the new tagline: There with you then. Here with you now, reflecting the longevity, connection and commitment of The Gazette to the city and people of Montreal.

Were incredibly proud of the Montreal Gazettes 245-year legacy of delivering quality, trusted journalism to English-speaking Montreal, and the return of The Gazette branding reflects the importance we place on our critical role of informing the public and holding power accountable, said Duncan Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Postmedia.

Although the journalism of today is different than in generations past  and even though we tell stories using digital tools that would never have been imaginable in the 18th century  our high standards and promise to seek the truth remain the same, said Editor in Chief, Lenie Lucci. Amid the frenetic changes shaking our city, and with many of our institutions under threat, I cannot think of a better time to bring back the Montreal Gazette's historic logo to the pages of the newspaper and our website.

Subscribers, readers and advertisers will see The Gazette branding starting November 30 at montrealgazette.com and December 1, in print.

About Postmedia Network Inc.

Postmedia Network Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B), is a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 130 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. Our expertise in home delivery and expanding distribution network powers Postmedia Parcel Services. For more information, visit: www.postmedia.com, www.postmediasolutions.com, and www.postmediaparcelservices.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201293023/en/

Postmedia

Phyllise Gelfand

Vice President, Communications

(647) 273-9287

[email protected]

Source: Postmedia Network Inc.
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

In accordance with Article 5 of EU Regulation n 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation), detailed information is available on the website of Tikehau Capital (Paris: TKO): https://www.tikehaucapital.com/fr/shareholders/regulatory-information

Disclosure of shares repurchases from 24 November to 30 November 2023 Name of the issuer Issuer Identity Code (LEI) Trading Day ISIN Aggregated volume

per day (number of

shares) Weighted

average price

per day Market (MIC

Code) TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 24/11/2023 FR0013230612 1,103 19.9616 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 27/11/2023 FR0013230612 12,000 19.9952 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 28/11/2023 FR0013230612 11,967 19.9580 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 29/11/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 19.8568 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 30/11/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 19.9854 XPAR TOTAL 29,070 19.9684

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201657110/en/

Tikehau Capital

Source: Tikehau Capital
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

In line with its strategy to divest non-core assets, TotalEnergies (Paris: TTE) (LSE: TTE) (NYSE: TTE) has announced the signature of an agreement to divest the 36.36% minority stake, held by TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa, in National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref) to the Prax Group. The transaction is subject to customary approvals, consents and authorisations.

Located at Sasolburg (Free State, South Africa), Natref refinery has a capacity of 108 500 barrels of oil per day, supplies the main South African inland market of Johannesburg area and is operated by a Joint Venture between Sasol (63.64%) and TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa (36.36%).

The transaction is in line with the Company strategy to focus on its large integrated fuels & petrochemicals platforms and to divest its non-core assets commented Jean-Pierre Sbraire, Chief Financial Officer of TotalEnergies.

TotalEnergies has been present in South Africa for nearly seventy years, produces and markets a wide range of energies from fuels, biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity and remains committed to its operations in the country.

***

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, more sustainable, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in nearly 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

@TotalEnergies - TotalEnergies - TotalEnergies - TotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms TotalEnergies, TotalEnergies company or Company in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words we, us and our may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201914246/en/

TotalEnergies Contacts

Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l [email protected] l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l [email protected]

Source: TOTALENERGIES SE
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SAGE Private Wealth Group, a registered investment advisory firm, is delighted to announce the addition of accomplished women leaders to its growing team. Kristi Wano and Christina Castrejon join SAGE PWG as Senior Vice Presidents -Senior Wealth Advisors. Wano and Castrejon serve as role models, actively contributing to initiatives that empower women in an industry known for lacking diversity.

Kristi Wano is a veteran advisor having previously served as a VP Senior Wealth Advisor with Calamos and as Director and Private Wealth Advisor at BMO Private Bank, where she managed client relationships exceeding $400 million. Wano is renowned for her commitment to advising clients in solving complex problems and achieving long-term wealth objectives. She also dedicates her time as a board member of the local chapter of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), as well as the Waubonsee Community College Foundation. I chose SAGE PWG after months of due diligence to identify an organization with a culture that is both client-centric and provides opportunities for women advisors to continue growing and pioneering in their careers, said Wano about her decision.

Christina Castrejon CFP, also a former VP Senior Wealth Advisor at Calamos, was recognized in InvestmentNews' 2017 40 Under 40. Castrejon's accomplishments stem from her leadership, contributions to the financial advisory industry and a commitment to empowerment. She co-led a "Women & Wealth" initiative, advocating for women's financial education. Castrejon was also a contributing writer for Chicago Woman magazine, actively promoting financial literacy. Her dedication extends to the Chicago Chapter of Step Up, empowering girls in under-resourced communities, and as a mentor for the CFP Board's WIN-to-WIN program. We believe deeply that our clients always deserve our absolute best. Therefore, we need the tools and resources to keep up with our clients evolving needs  SAGE PWG provides those resources while also providing a pathway for our professional growth, said Castrejon.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kristi and Christina to our team. Their extensive experience, leadership and commitment to client success align perfectly with our core values & culture. We have always been committed to championing women in our industry recognizing and valuing their unique strengths and insights," said Khaled A. Taha, Managing Partner of SAGE PWG.

About SAGE Private Wealth Group:

Working with clients nationwide to grow and preserve their investment legacy, SAGE is committed to making an amplified impact in the lives of their team, clients, and the community. They embody the ethos of Doing well while doing good through their SAGE PWG Foundation, supporting women and children through education and access to capital.

Learn more at www.SAGEprivatewealth.com and www.SAGEpwgfoundation.org

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201437420/en/

Noha Elshareif-Taha, Chief Strategy Officer & Partner

630-933-0000

SAGE Private Wealth Group

Source: SAGE Private Wealth Group
Blizzard Greenberg: Former employees tell of extensive cover-up by franchise

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Three more women have filed a lawsuit saying they were sexually assaulted by a massage therapist at a Massage Envy franchise in Conroe.

That follows last months $1 million settlement of two other sexual assault cases tied to the same massage therapist at the same Massage Envy location. In the latest legal case, former employees have come forward with proof of a cover-up by Massage Envy that allowed a number of additional women to become victims.

Click here to view the new lawsuit.

Defendants in the case are the Massage Envy franchise in Conroe, Massage Envys corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and former massage therapist Jose Joe Barajas Franco.

Authorities in Montgomery County charged Mr. Franco with felony sexual assault based on the two earlier cases. He is free on bond while awaiting trial.

The latest victims, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Does 1-3, say the attacker failed to keep them properly covered during their massage sessions and touched them inappropriately. All three women contacted police.

In addition, the lawsuit reveals that multiple former employees reported receiving dozens of similar complaints about Mr. Franco prior to his termination. Although staff members documented the complaints, they say their notes were subsequently deleted from the Massage Envy computer system.

It is clear to me that franchise owner Mack Miller enabled a predator by ignoring a cascade of complaints about this therapist, said trial lawyer Anna Greenberg of Blizzard Greenberg PLLC. What the whistleblowers show is that there was an extensive cover-up to protect the brand and ensure that other unsuspecting women would not become aware of the danger. Already, we know of at least five women who were assaulted. The question is whether there are more cases, since sexual assaults often go unreported.

In one instance, a former employee says she consoled a distressed woman who said Mr. Franco had just sexually assaulted her during a massage. According to the lawsuit, the employee notified management, who never documented the complaint in Mr. Francos personnel file, nor conducted an investigation.

The case is Jane Doe 1 et al. v FBE Ventures, Inc. et al., cause number 2023-83026 in Harris County District Court.

About Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC

Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC, is an award-winning national trial firm with more than 40 years of experience handling complex legal issues involving pharmaceutical and personal injury cases. For more information, visit www.blizzardlaw.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201812028/en/

Alyssa Woulfe

800-559-4534

[email protected]

Source: Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC
December 1st Marks the Annual Celebration of One of the Holiday Seasons Most Iconic Confections Originated by Williams Sonoma 25 Years Ago

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Williams Sonoma, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM), the worlds largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, announced today, the 25th Anniversary of The Original Peppermint Bark and the third annual celebration of National Peppermint Bark Day. After 20 rounds of recipe testing, in 1998, Williams Sonoma founder Chuck Williams and the Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen team developed the signature recipe for The Original Peppermint Bark that sparked a food trend that is celebrated by chocolate enthusiasts around the world during the holiday season. The signature recipe for Williams Sonomas iconic Peppermint Bark combines a custom blend of light and dark Guittard chocolate layered with triple-distilled peppermint oil, to create a seasonal confection that is often replicated, but never matched in quality or flavor to the Williams Sonoma standard.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201563315/en/

WILLIAMS SONOMA Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of The Original Peppermint Bark on National Peppermint Bark Day (Photo: Williams Sonoma)

Those who eagerly await the annual arrival of Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark contribute to the consumption of over one million pounds of Guittard chocolate and 65,000 pounds of peppermint candy pieces. From start to finish, each batch of Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark takes more than 24 hours to make, and it takes Williams Sonomas chocolatiers over 12 weeks to produce enough Peppermint Bark to satiate the demand from customers. The popularity of Peppermint Bark has prompted Williams Sonoma to also carry 35 different Peppermint Bark flavored products this year ranging from Peppermint Bark Pretzels and Cookies to a Peppermint Bark flavored Espresso Martini Mix.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Original Peppermint Bark, Williams Sonoma, together with Visa, has launched A Chance To Win With Every Tin campaign. There are over 1,500 gift cards hidden inside select The Original Peppermint Bark tins with one tin containing a grand prize of a $1,000 Williams Sonoma gift card.

We are proud to be the originators of the Peppermint Bark trend having developed a flavor profile that has become as synonymous with the holidays as pumpkin spice is to Fall, said Williams Sonoma President, Felix Carbullido. For 25 years our customers have celebrated the start of the holiday season with our signature Peppermint Bark, and we are excited to offer a commemorative tin this year in recognition of this anniversary.

The complete Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark collection is now available at all Williams Sonoma stores and on the Williams Sonoma website.

For more information on the collection, please visit:

www.williams-sonoma.com/peppermintbark.

About Williams Sonoma

Since its founding by Chuck Williams in 1956, the Williams Sonoma brand has been bringing people together around food. A member of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) portfolio of brands, Williams Sonoma is a leading specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home, providing world-class service and an engaging customer experience. Products include cookware, cooks tools, cutlery, electrics, bakeware, food, tabletop and bar, outdoor, cookbooks, as well as furniture, lighting and decorative accessories. Each store offers cooking classes and tastings conducted by expert culinary staff. A comprehensive gift registry program for weddings and other special events is available in stores and online. On williams-sonoma.com customers can find recipes, tips, and techniques that help them create delicious meals. Williams Sonoma can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Williams Sonoma is also part of The Key Rewards, a free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. family of brands.

WSM-PR

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201563315/en/

Kendall Coleman

Williams Sonoma

[email protected]

415-616-7926

Source: Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) announced Friday that the electric car maker has implemented a new strategy aimed at optimizing deliveries in the US and Europe, overcoming early logistics hurdles and sustaining an increasing pace of deliveries.

On Thursday, Nov. 30, Fisker had 123 vehicles either delivered or in transit to customers.

Our teams have worked hard to overcome some early delivery challenges and are now setting an impressive pace as we prepare to close out 2023, said CEO Henrik Fisker.

This is yielding considerable revenue as we ramp up our business. I expect by the end of this year we will have delivered more customer cars than any Western EV startup did in their first year of deliveries.

Fisker opened its first Fisker Lounge in New York City's Meatpacking District and boosted its delivery operations by setting up company-owned sites worldwide, supported by an expanding team of Fisker staff.

Additionally, the company has partnered with multiple transportation logistics firms to expedite the movement of Fisker Oceans to delivery destinations, ensuring swifter delivery to customers.

The company now has 14 US facilities devoted to retail, deliveries, and service that are open or planned to open over the coming months, with plans to open three more by the end of 2023.

Fisker has collaborated with Boxer Property, leveraging their extensive real estate portfolio for vehicle logistics and delivery purposes. Boxer was founded in Dallas in 1992 by initial Fisker investors, Andrew Segal and Justin Segal.

Presently, Boxer oversees a vast expanse of 15 million square feet encompassing office spaces, resorts, and malls.

Additionally, having successfully secured all necessary approvals, licenses, and met insurance prerequisites, Fisker is now authorized to sell vehicles in Canada. The company is set to begin transporting vehicles from U.S. ports to its Canadian customers starting next week, with deliveries scheduled to begin in December.

Fisker also revealed Friday that the company is in advanced discussions with several automakers, pursuing agreements to sell EPA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission credits. The company expects to generate approximately 2.7 million GHG Credits by the model year 2025. Additionally, within Europe, the company has entered in a pooling agreement, and expects the monetization of credits linked to its 2023 vehicle registrations.

In a strategic decision, Fisker has reduced December production to prioritize liquidity to make available over $300 million of working capital. Consequently, Fisker is revising its production guidance to slightly surpass 10,000 units for the year 2023.

Shares of FSR are up 2.53% in pre-market trading on Friday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
Chinese electric automaker, Li Auto announced Friday that the company delivered 41,030 vehicles in November 2023, a 172.9% increase over the same time last year.

The automakers cumulative year-to-date deliveries reached 325,677 as of the end of November 2023, surpassing the companys 2023 target of 300,000 vehicles ahead of schedule.

Bolstered by the strong growth momentum of our three Li L series models, our monthly deliveries have exceeded 40,000 vehicles for two consecutive months, the highest among Chinese emerging new energy automakers and premium brands in China, commented chairman and CEO Xiang Li.

We will continue to strive for a 50,000 monthly delivery target in December with ample preparations in sales, supply, production, and delivery capabilities. Added the executive.

The chairman also announced Li Autos significant progress in the companys research and development of autonomous driving. According to comments released by the automaker, Li Auto plans to accelerate the rollout of AD Max 3.0 through the upgrade of OTA version 5.0 in December.

With this upgrade, our AD Max 3.0 will provide full scenario autonomous driving and assisted driving functions, as well as the industrys leading AEB active safety system and automated parking system.

Additionally, LI introduced an innovative AC Eco mode that harnesses internally developed thermal management systems and the advanced algorithmic prowess of the companys XCU controller. Consequently, this enhancement can boost the driving range on battery by 15% to 20% specifically in colder winter conditions.

As of November 30, 2023, the Company operated 398 retail stores across 136 cities, alongside 320 servicing centers and authorized body and paint shops for Li Auto, functioning in 209 cities.

Shares of LI are up 1.52% in pre-market trading on Friday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced topline data from the Phase 2b clinical trial (NCT04707313) investigating its oral Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) candidate, danuglipron (PF-06882961), in adults with obesity and without type 2 diabetes. The study met its primary endpoint demonstrating statistically significant change in body weight from baseline.

Twice-daily dosing of danuglipron showed statistically significant reductions from baseline in body weight for all doses, with mean reductions ranging from -6.9% to -11.7%, compared to +1.4% for placebo at 32 weeks, and -4.8% to -9.4%, compared to +0.17% for placebo at 26 weeks. Placebo-adjusted reductions in mean body weight ranged from -8% to -13% at 32 weeks and -5% to -9.5% at 26 weeks. Depending on titration schedule, participants were at target dose levels for 6 to 24 weeks.

While the most common adverse events were mild and gastrointestinal in nature consistent with the mechanism, high rates were observed (up to 73% nausea; up to 47% vomiting; up to 25% diarrhea). High discontinuation rates, greater than 50%, were seen across all doses compared to approximately 40% with placebo. No new safety signals were reported and treatment with danuglipron was not associated with increased incidence of liver enzyme elevation compared to placebo. Data from this study will be presented at a future scientific conference or published in a peer-reviewed journal.

We believe an improved once-daily formulation of danuglipron could play an important role in the obesity treatment paradigm, and we will focus our efforts on gathering the data to understand its potential profile, said Mikael Dolsten, MD., PhD., Chief Scientific Officer & President, Pfizer Research and Development. Results from ongoing and future studies of the once-daily danuglipron modified release formulation will inform a potential path forward with an aim to improve the tolerability profile and optimize both study design and execution.

Future development of danuglipron will be focused on a once-daily formulation, with pharmacokinetic data anticipated in the first half of 2024.

Results previously published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open from the Phase 2 study (NCT03985293) of danuglipron in type 2 diabetes showed dose-dependent placebo-adjusted reductions in HbA1c of up to -1.16%; fasting plasma glucose of -33.24 mg/dL; and body weight of -4.17 kg over 16 weeks. Additionally, the Phase 2a study (NCT04617275) of danuglipron in patients with type 2 diabetes who are treated with metformin and in non-diabetic adults with obesity showed robust declines in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and body weight. In both populations, danuglipron demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the mechanism of action.
The Finnish government has issued a decree stating that the state is breaking off bilateral border cooperation with the aggressor country Russia. Moscow announced this step a month ago.

ADVERTISIMENT

The document was published on the Finnish government's website on Thursday, November 30. Thus, the country recognized the document on the implementation of the agreement between Moscow and Helsinki on border cooperation as having lost its force.

It was in effect for the past 12 years and provided that the countries would jointly engage in the socio-economic development of the border regions.

The Russian Federation and Finland also agreed to create conditions for the transportation of passengers and goods, in particular, to equip border crossing points on the border, as well as conditions for tourism.

As it was noted, the termination of this agreement will take effect on January 24, 2024.

The termination of the agreement was initiated by the aggressor country Russia. Moscow sent a corresponding "note" to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland at the end of October 2023.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Since the agreement was terminated at the initiative of the other party, only the resolution on the entry into force of the agreement is canceled. The resolution will enter into force on January 24, 2024, simultaneously with the entry into force of the termination of the agreement," the Finnish government said in a statement.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Finland has decided to temporarily close the last operating checkpoint on the border with Russia because of its attempts to create an artificial migration crisis. Thus, the country has completely "fenced off" from Russia, at least for the next 2 weeks, which is how long the ban will last.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Global packaging leader Sonoco (NYSE: SON) is pleased to announce the expansion of its flexible packaging service operations with the acquisition of Inapel Embalagens Ltda. in Brazil.

Inapel has been an industry leading flexible packaging manufacturer for over 50 years. The company currently operates two facilities in Sao Paulo  one in Jundiai and the other in Guarulhos  with approximately 500 employees companywide. Production capabilities range from rotogravure printing, adhesive and extrusion laminations, specialty coatings, cold seal, pouching and cylinder engraving.

Inapel will add to Sonocos existing flexible packaging operation in Pinhais, Brazil. The Sonoco Graffo site has been a top producer of high-quality rotogravure printing and sophisticated lamination for eight years and is one of the largest converters of foil-based flexibles packaging.

The technical capacity, expertise, shared values and customer-first focus of Inapel aligns well with our business as we look to grow and expand our sustainable packaging portfolio, said Russell Grissett, President of Sonoco Global Flexibles. Previous Inapel owners Rodrigo Alvarez and Monica Saniotto will continue working with us as strategic members of our leadership in our efforts to develop innovative, Better Packaging solutions in the region and across the globe, said Grissett.

Sonoco Flexibles Managing Director Eduardo Nunes will extend his regional leadership duties to the Sao Paulo locations with support from Alvarez and Saniotto.

Our entire leadership team is happy to have Inapel join the Sonoco family, said Nunes. This partnership complements all aspects of our long-term strategy.

Both Inapel and Graffo have been recognized for their innovation, quality and superior customer service. Their values and mutual alignment of culture and respect will help support the growing demands of consumers and growth plans of any new and existing customers.
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 mission, taking four crew members to the International Space Station (ISS), from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., August 26, 2023. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo

By Harshita Mary Varghese and Joey Roulette

(Reuters) -Amazon on Friday said it booked three Falcon 9 launches with Elon Musk's SpaceX to help deploy the ecommerce giant's Project Kuiper satellite network, tapping a rival in the satellite internet business for its multi-billion dollar launch campaign.

Amazon aims to build Kuiper as a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit to beam broadband internet globally and compete with SpaceX's Starlink network, which already has some 5,000 satellites providing nearly global coverage.

Amazon, which vowed in 2019 to invest $10 billion into the project, will put an unspecified number of Kuiper satellites on three Falcon 9 rockets from SpaceX beginning in mid-2025, the company said Friday.

The Falcon 9 missions add to 83 rocket launches it had already procured from Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin, the Boeing-Lockheed joint venture United Launch Alliance and Europe's Arianespace in a multi-billion dollar launch deal.

Amazon was sued by a shareholder in August for not adequately considering SpaceX as a launch provider when it was selecting most of the 83 other rides to space in late 2021 and 2022. The company said the lawsuit's claims "are completely without merit."

Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund, a fund that lodged the suit in a Delaware court, said in its complaint the launch contracts were the second-largest capital expenditure in Amazon's history at the time.

Amazon's largest acquisition is its $13.7 billion deal to buy Whole Foods in 2017.

Amazon's announcement that it added SpaceX rockets to its launch campaign comes just three days before its deadline to lodge a substantive defense against the shareholder lawsuit, according to a court scheduling order.

Amazon in September filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying it would detail its defense in a later briefing. On Friday, the same day as Amazon's SpaceX announcement, the court set a deadline of Dec. 4 for Amazon to outline its motion to dismiss.

SpaceX's partially reusable Falcon 9 rockets have been a crucial advantage over rivals in its rapid deployment of Starlink, a fast-growing internet network that made the Musk-owned company the world's largest satellite operator.

Eutelsat's OneWeb, another satellite internet rival, relied on Russia's Soyuz rocket for deploying the bulk of its network. But OneWeb turned to SpaceX when Russia invaded Ukraine and seized $50 million worth of the company's satellites.

U.S. regulators require Amazon to deploy half of the Kuiper network by 2026. The company launched its first two prototype satellites in orbit in October and announced successful tests last month.

Amazon expects to deploy enough satellites for "early customer pilots" in the second half of 2024. It plans to use United Launch Alliance's Atlas 5 and the yet-to-launch Vulcan rocket for the first few batches of satellites.

(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese and Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Chris Reese)
ATLANTA, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) (the Company) today announced that it is planning to release its fiscal 2024 first-quarter results on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 6:00 a.m. (EST), followed by a conference call at 8:00 a.m. (EST). Neil Ashe, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands will lead the call.



The webcast, earnings release, and supplemental presentation can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.investors.acuitybrands.com on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. The online replay will remain available for a limited time following the call. A replay of the call will also be posted to the Investor Relations site two hours after the completion of the conference call and will be archived on the website.

To learn more about Acuity Brands, please visit the Company's website. Acuity Brands uses its website as a distribution channel for material Company information. In addition, financial and other material information regarding Acuity Brands is routinely posted on the Company's website and is readily accessible.

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL) and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in peoples lives.

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and location-aware applications. We achieve customer-focused efficiencies that allow us to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals.

Acuity Brands, Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company is powered by more than 12,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuitybrands.com

Investor Contact:

Charlotte McLaughlin

Vice President, Investor Relations

(404) 853-1456

[email protected]

Media Contact:

April Appling

Vice President, Corporate Communications & Events

[email protected]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Since 2016, AMSG has provided Knowledge Management support to U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Office of the Chief Knowledge Officer (OCKO) from TRADOC Headquarters at Ft. Eustis, VA, to numerous Centers of Excellence (COEs) located across the United States. We are thrilled to announce that we have won the competitive recompete task order valued at over $12 million: TRADOC OCKO Knowledge Management Support Services.

What is Knowledge Management (KM)?KM is the process of identifying, organizing, storing, and disseminating information within an organization. The Army employs KM to accomplish four organizational outcomes:

Improve Decision Cycle Effectiveness

Enhance Mission & Organizational Performance

Create Agile Learning Organizations

Facilitate Shared Understanding Through Collaboration (Source)

Why did TRADOC Choose AMSG? Our KM team collectively spearheaded the maintenance and enhancement of essential KM tools, aligning them with the Armys dynamic requirements. Key projects include the development and management of an Army Civilian Professional (ACP) Onboarding Portal, which significantly streamlines the integration process for new team members, and the ACP Mentoring Portal, fostering professional development and knowledge exchange.

We have also been pivotal in managing Professional Forums, creating a collaborative environment for agile learning and idea sharing. Additionally, Implementing the KM Maturity Model was a crucial step in assessing and advancing KM practices. A notable team achievement was the development of the Harmful Behaviors Common Operational Picture, an innovative solution for identifying and addressing critical organizational challenges, which was briefed to the Secretary of the Army using AMSGs solution. Additionally, we have been deeply involved in storytelling, operationalizing Continuous Process Improvement, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and agile project management platforms to enhance efficiency and adaptability. This blend of traditional KM practices with cutting-edge technology has not only streamlined our processes, but also cultivated a culture of continuous learning and innovation across the Army enterprise.

AMSG is proud to have so many talented team members who work on this effort. Our TRADOC team includes skillful SharePoint Developers, Knowledge Managers, Data Scientists, Operation Specialists, and even Videographers. Did you know AMSG helps to produce annually more than 40 videos for OCKO internal and external distribution? Some of these videos are featured on TRADOCs public facing website and include interviews of commanders, General Funk on Knowledge Management, and training, What is Knowledge Management? and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training. We produced multiple KM documentaries to capture insights from leaders and KM practitioners across TRADOC and the Army to help tell the story of KM in the Army.

AMSGs CEO, Jim OFarrell, commented, "We are honored to announce our success in securing the competitive recompete task order for TRADOC OCKO Knowledge Management Support Services. Since 2016, AMSG has been steadfast in our commitment to supporting this crucial Army organization with over 50,000 uniformed and civilian personnel that trains more than 750,000 Army personnel annually. This win is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team. We look forward to continuing to contribute our talent, capabilities, and innovative, leading-edge ideas in Knowledge Management, ensuring seamless support for TRADOC OCKO. As TRADOC celebrates its 50th year in 2023, this achievement reinforces AMSGs position as a trusted partner, and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to advance together with TRADOC."

AMSGs Program Manager, Greg Bandish, commented, I am immensely proud of what we, as a team, have achieved together. This contract award is a testament to each member's dedication to excellence, and a deep, strategic understanding of the Armys evolving knowledge management requirements. As we move forward, I am confident that our collective strengths and innovative spirit will continue to drive us to set new standards of excellence within AMSG and TRADOC OCKO.

The primary contract requirement effort is:

Program Management

Operations Support

Policy and Governance

TRADOC HQ KM Services and Solutions

Training/Education/Professional Development (TE/PD)

Audits, Assessments, Evaluations, and Standards

Shared Services Support

Follow us at AMSGcorp.net for the latest news and updates.

About AMSG:With a focus on Forging Solutions for the Missions that Matter, AMSG is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) verified, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) certified Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned, Small Business (SDVOSB) providing services to the U.S. Federal Government. Those services include program/project management, knowledge management, acquisition management, capability development, business process improvement, social media, community outreach, website, mobile apps, webcast management, and administrative support experience. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Dumfries, Virginia, with numerous satellite work locations across the country, AMSG directly supports the missions of Department of Defense (including the Marine Corps and Army), Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Defense Health Agency, Department of the Treasury, and Federal Trade Commission. Our core capabilities are provided by AMSG team members, who have deep subject matter expertise, proven experience, and a desire to bring innovative and unique solutions to complex problems. AMSGs Core Values are based on our Six Cs of Competence, Courage, Compassion, Character, Communication, and Community.

Media ContactChrissie ConstableMarketing Manager[email protected]

Source: Advanced Management Strategies Group
Washington, DC, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, AmeriCorps and the US Department of Agricultures Forest Service held a ceremonial signing of an agreement establishing the AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps program, the first major interagency partnership under President Bidens American Climate Corps. Applications to join the AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps or Forest Corps are now open at AmeriCorps.gov/ForestCorps.

AmeriCorps and the Forest Service are invested in training the next generation of diverse conservation and climate resilience workers, said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. During their service, AmeriCorps members will support our highest environmental priorities across the country, from reforestation to wildfire mitigation.

Since our founding, tens of thousands of AmeriCorps members have been combatting climate change, and were prepared to accelerate and strengthen our response through the AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps, the first major interagency program of President Bidens American Climate Corps, Smith added.

The Forest Corps is a five-year, $15 million interagency agreement, with the first cohort of 80 members to begin service in the summer of 2024. AmeriCorps members will serve across the country to conserve national forests and grasslands, mitigate risks of wildfires in high-risk regions, and support reforestation efforts and wildfire crisis response.

This partnership with AmeriCorps provides a great opportunity inviting people from diverse backgrounds to learn about conservation and forestry and become our future workforce, said Randy Moore, Chief, Forest Service. Bolstering our future workforce is a crucial part of implementing the Forest Service Wildfire Crisis Strategy and creating climate resilient forests, I cant think of a better win-win.

AmeriCorps members in the Forest Corps program will receive a compensation package equivalent to $15 an hour which includes lodging, transportation, clothing, a living allowance, health benefits and more. No prior education or experience will be required.

"In just about six months, the first AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps cohort will deploy, marking a new era of youth-powered climate action, said Ken Goodson, AmeriCorps NCCC Director, AmeriCorps. "This program will not only help with reforestation, wildfire response, and conservation of America's beautiful public lands, but it will deliver jobs for young Americans and strengthen the climate resilience economy. We're grateful to the Forest Service for their partnership."

Each year, AmeriCorps engages more than 14,600 members and volunteers in conservation, renewable energy and community resilience projects. Last year, AmeriCorps members and volunteers preserved and protected more than three million acres of public lands, trained hundreds of thousands of Americans in conservation and energy efficiency and restored thousands of miles of waterways, to name a few examples.

###

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nations most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at AmeriCorps.gov/serve.

The US Department of Agricultures Forest Service manages more than 192 million acres of public land as national forests and grasslands. Grounded in world-class science and technology - and rooted in communities - the Forest Service connects people to nature and each other. As a federal agency in service to the American people, the Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. In doing this, the agency supports nature in sustaining life. To learn more about the Forest Service, visit USDA.gov.

Attachments

National Service Press Office AmeriCorps [email protected]

Source: AmeriCorps
Boston, MA, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beacon Hill Technologies Expands to South Carolina, Launching in Charleston

Beacon Hill Technologies, Beacon Hills technology specialty division, has opened its 47th location in Charleston, South Carolina. Beacon Hill Technologies is a world-class technology services and human capital enterprise, composed of distinct and specialized engagement organizations such as HCaaS (Human Capital as a Service). We collaborate with customers across the country to deliver the very best technology consulting services, staffing solutions and onshore resources.

Leading Beacon Hill Technologies Charleston is Division Director Jake Groschen. Jake has been in the staffing industry for more than seven years, working his way from recruiting to account management to leading an $8 million dollar market in the technology space. Jake prides himself on building teams with a strong culture based on great energy, hard work, accountability, and making what we do fun and rewarding.

I am thrilled to be a part of spearheading the opening of BHSGs newest Tech office in Charleston, SC and feel incredibly fortunate to have Jake Groeschen leading the way in the local market. Jake is an incredibly talented leader who leads by example with motivation and enthusiasm. His innate leadership skills, strong work ethic, knowledge of the industry, and expertise in delivering technical solutions to clients across multiple industries make him an essential partner to our customers in the area, remarked Lindsay Kaplan, Beacon Hill Technologies Senior Vice President. Beacon Hill continues to be a leading provider of technology consulting services and the decision to expand into South Carolina to support our existing and future client base in Charleston is vital to the success and growth of our customers initiatives. Lindsay went on to say, Like all leaders at Beacon Hill, Jake shares the same philosophies, morals and ethics we look for in someone to partner with and to whom we rely on to establish trust from our clients with. His commitment to building the best delivery organization is represented in the core team hes already established, and I can confidently say our customers will genuinely enjoy partnering and consulting with Jake and his team of industry experts.

Since launching in Boston in 2005, Beacon Hill Technologies supports markets across the United States. This year, Beacon Hill Technologies was named the 11th Largest U.S. IT Staffing Firm in the United States by Staffing Industry Analysts, 2023. Beacon Hill Technologies places IT consultants in all 50 states by seamlessly coordinating recruiting resources in local and regional markets with Beacon Hill Technologies National Recruiting & Delivery, a dedicated national recruiting team that focuses exclusively on national accounts.

About Beacon Hill Staffing Group

Beacon Hill is a leading nationwide provider of staffing and consulting solutions delivered by our collective of 1,450 of the industrys foremost specialty practitioners. Job seekers and companies seeking to augment their staff receive white-glove service from our industry-focused divisions: Beacon Hill Associates, Beacon Hill Digital & Creative, Beacon Hill Financial, Beacon Hill Government Services, Beacon Hill HR, Beacon Hill Legal, Beacon Hill Life Sciences, Beacon Hill National Security, Beacon Hill Solutions and Beacon Hill Technologies.

To learn more about our specialty divisions and market sectors, click here.

If you are interested in pursuing career opportunities, click here to view all current openings.

Beacon Hill Staffing Groups niche brands provide direct hire, executive search, temporary staffing, contract consulting, temp/contract-to-hire, and MSP/VMS and RPO solutions to emerging growth companies and the Fortune 500 across multiple market sectors and all industries. In 2022, Beacon Hill Staffing Group outpaced the markets growth with revenues over $1 billion.


Paris, 1 December 2023

NOTIFICATION BY THE ECB OF THE 2023 SUPERVISORY REVIEW AND EVALUATION PROCESS (SREP)

BNP Paribas has received the notification by the European Central Bank of the outcome of the 2023 Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), which states capital requirements and leverage ratio on a consolidated basis in force for the Group.

The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) requirement that the Group has to respect as at 1st January 2024 on a consolidated basis is 10.02% (excluding the Pillar 2 guidance). It includes 1.50% for the G-SIB buffer, 2.50% for the Conservation buffer, 1.11% for the Pillar 2 requirement1 and 0.41% of countercyclical buffer2.

The requirement for the Tier 1 Capital is 11.81% (of which 1.40% for the Pillar 2 requirement).

The requirement for the Total Capital is 14.18% (of which 1.77% for the Pillar 2 requirement).

The BNP Paribas Group is well above the regulatory requirements with, as at 30 September 2023, a CET1 ratio at 13.44%3, a Tier 1 ratio at 15.55%3 and a Total Capital ratio at 17.80%3. The Groups CET1 ratio target for 2025 is 12%.

The leverage ratio requirement that the Group has to respect as from 1st January 2024 on a consolidated basis is 3.85% (excluding Pillar 2 guidance). The BNP Paribas Group is well above the regulatory requirements with, as at 30 September 2023, a leverage ratio de 4.49%. The Groups leverage ratio target for 2025 is 4.3%.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is the European Unions leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 65 countries and has nearly 185,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Groups commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability.

Press contact

Sandrine Romano  [email protected] / +33 6 71 18 23 05

1 CET1 requirement related to Pillar 2 requirement now includes 100% of the add-on related to non-performing exposures on aged loans granted before 26 April 2019.

2 Computation based on RWA as at 30.09.23, excluding the 0.18% impact of the increase in France's countercyclical buffer from

2 January 2024.

3 CRD5 including IFRS9 transitional arrangements.

Attachment
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brixton Metals Corporation (TSX-V: BBB, OTCQB: BBBXF) (the Company or Brixton) is pleased to announce the final batch of 2023 drill results from the Trapper Gold Target at its wholly owned Thorn Project. The project is located in Northwest British Columbia, 90km east of Juneau, Alaska and within the Taku River Tlingit and Tahltan First Nations traditional territory.



Highlights

Ten visible gold occurrences observed across four drill holes





Hole THN23-287 yielded 276.00m of 0.34 g/t Au from 12.00m depth



Including 149.00m of 0.55 g/t Au Including 54.00m of 1.03 g/t Au Including 19.00m of 2.34 g/t Au



Hole THN23-288 yielded 179.50 of 0.51 g/t Au from 9.00m depth



Including 76.50m of 1.08 g/t Au Including 6.00m of 4.58 g/t Au And Including 17.00m of 2.51 g/t Au from 90.00m depth



Chairman and CEO, Gary Thompson, stated, We are delighted to see the gold mineralization encountered in drilling as we step away from the previous drilling. A nearly 2km gap remains to be tested through drilling between this main area to the southeast where previous operators drilled 1.78 g/t Au over 32.67m including visible gold. The Trapper Target represents a 4km gold-in-soil anomaly with limited drilling to date. In addition, a new copper showing was discovered with disseminated bornite located 5km south of the Trapper main drilling area. Highlights from South Trapper include 6.5% and 5.3% Cu from rock grab samples which will be followed up in 2024.

Figure 1. Gold Geochemistry and Trapper Target Location Map.





Table 1. Select Mineralized Intervals for the Trapper Target Drilling.

Hole ID

From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) THN23-287 12.00 288.00 276.00 1.84 0.34 Including 27.00 176.00 149.00 2.49 0.55 Including 44.00 98.00 54.00 4.07 1.03 Including 47.00 66.00 19.00 5.90 2.34 THN23-288 9.00 188.50 179.50 1.58 0.51 Including 30.50 107.00 76.50 2.21 1.08 Including 51.00 57.00 6.00 3.24 4.58 and Including 90.00 107.00 17.00 4.50 2.51

All assay values are uncut weighted averages and intervals reflect drilled lengths as further drilling is required to determine the true widths of the mineralization.



Discussion



The 2023 program at the Trapper Gold Target totaled 6,625.24m of drilling. This News Release covers 3,598.24m of drilling for a total of 11 drill holes. For previous assays from the 2023 program at Trapper see NR dated October 16th, 2023.



Figure 2. Simplified Geology Map with Collar Locations and Drill Traces at the Trapper Target.





Gold mineralization at Trapper is structurally controlled along the Lawless fault, trending northwest-southeast and dipping moderately to the north. Mineralization appears to favour the contact between the Cretaceous (85.2 +/- 1.2Ma) quartz diorite and the Triassic lapilli tuffs with broad gold intervals largely hosted along the faulted contact. The gold is associated with silver and base metal veins containing pyrite-galena-sphalerite +/- chalcopyrite +/- bornite, which occur conjugate to the Lawless fault. Through a combination of oriented core drilling, surface mapping, geochemistry and geophysics, the aim is to achieve predictability of the gold-bearing zones. The current drilling at the Trapper Target is located 7km southeast from the Camp Creek Copper Porphyry Target. At surface, the Trapper Target is expressed as a 4km northwest trending gold and zinc soil geochemical anomaly which is part of the larger 11km gold geochemical anomaly trending from Camp Creek to the Trapper Target.

The 2023 drill campaign at Trapper was designed to test the extents of the main mineralized corridor along the Lawless fault zone, as well as testing step-out targets where similar structural and geophysical features were interpreted using the high-resolution aeromagnetic survey completed in 2022. Drilling was planned through a combination of mapping, oriented core data analysis, geophysics, and soil geochemistry. Results from the 2023 drill program continue to demonstrate the potential for broad intercepts of near surface gold mineralization which remains open in several directions.

Figure 3. 3D Conceptual Deposit Model of the Trapper Gold Target, Northwest View.





Drill holes THN23-275 and THN23-279 were collared from the same drill pad as previously released hole THN23-278 (assaying 123.58m of 0.15 g/t Au from 347.50m) and were planned to test the western extents of mineralization in the hanging-wall along the Lawless fault and around the intrusive-volcanic contacts. Although no significant assays were achieved with holes THN23-275 and THN23-279, base metal mineralization and two instances of visible gold were observed in discrete vein sets and appear to be distal extents of the main gold-rich zone to the east. Additionally, THN23-278 from this pad location was successful in extending the mineralized zone approximately 250m down dip and towards the north along the Lawless fault.

THN23-280 was collared 120m north of THN22-205 (assaying 64.00m of 5.74 g/t Au, including 28.95m of 10.36 g/t Au) and planned as a northern step-out hole to test the lapilli tuff and quartz diorite contacts. THN23-280 was drilled to a total depth of 399m with one visible gold occurrence returning 0.40m of 3.54 g/t Au, however no significant assay intervals were achieved.

Drill holes THN23-281 and THN23-282 were collared from the same drill pad, located 100m northwest of THN23-275, and were planned to test the far west extents of mineralization along the Lawless fault. THN23-281 was drilled towards the north targeting the dominant base metal vein orientations while THN23-282 was drilled towards the south to test additional conjugate vein orientations within the Stuhini volcanics. Although THN23-281 was relatively unmineralized, discrete occurrences of base metal mineralization with low-grade gold intercepts up to 2.57 g/t Au over 1.0m were observed at depth proximal to the fault zone. No significant mineralization was observed in THN23-282.

THN23-283 was drilled 200m north of THN22-205 and planned as a northern step-out to test for mineralization along the lower contact zone of the lapilli tuff and quartz-diorite. THN23-283 was drilled towards the north to a final depth of 433m and no significant mineralization was observed.

THN23-284 was collared ~600m north-northwest of the main drilling zone at Trapper and planned to test an undercover area with a gold-in-soil anomaly sharing a similar geophysical signature to the main zone which was identified from the 2022 aeromagnetic survey. THN23-284 was drilled towards the northeast to a final depth of 345m and although intercepting quartz-carbonate veining with base metal mineralization and a similar alteration assemblage to the main zone, no significant gold grades were returned. Further drilling is required around THN23-284 to determine the extents of epithermal mineralization and potential gold-bearing structures in this area.

THN23-286 was collared ~150m east of the main drilling area to test the eastern extension of mineralization along the Lawless fault in an area of anomalous gold and zinc-in-soil. The hole was drilled to a final depth of 171m and intersected short intervals of epithermal style veining with pyrite-sphalerite-galena-chalcopyrite base metal mineralization within the lapilli tuff. Assays include 129.90m of 0.12 g/t Au, including 7.90m of 1.64 g/t Au.

Drill holes THN23-287 and THN23-288 were collared from the same pad location, setup as 40m step-out holes between THN22-237 (assaying 84.00m of 3.10 g/t Au) to the southwest and historic 2011 drill holes to the east. Both holes were planned to test the extents of mineralization to greater depths along the Lawless fault while testing the lapilli tuff and quartz diorite contacts. THN23-287 was drilled at a -62 degree dip towards the north and was successful in intercepting base metal sulphide mineralization with five visible gold occurrences assaying 54.00m of 1.03 g/t Au, within 149.00m of 0.55 g/t Au.

THN23-288 was drilled below THN23-287 at a -80 degree dip to test the continuity of mineralized veins at depth and towards the south. Two visible gold occurrences were observed along with numerous base metal sulphide veins assaying 179.50m of 0.51 g/t Au from 9.00m depth, including 76.50m of 1.08 g/t Au, and including 17.00m of 2.51 g/t Au from 90.00m depth.

THN23-289 was collared 120m northwest of THN23-287 and THN23-288 as step-out hole planned to target the intrusive-volcanic contact north of the Lawless fault. Minor quartz-carbonate base-metal veining was observed in core however no visible gold was observed and no significant assays were returned.

Figure 4. Visible Gold Photographs of 2023 Trapper HQ Core.





Figure 5. Gold Surface Geochemistry Map with Collar Locations and Drill Traces at the Trapper Target.





2023 Trapper Drill Campaign Summary



The 2023 exploration program at Trapper was designed to test areas proximal to the main drilling zone in order to determine the extents of gold-bearing ore shoots along the Lawless fault, as well as test undercover outboard areas hosting similar geophysical and soil geochemical signatures to the main zone. Drilling was successful in expanding upon the past two seasons of drilling around the main zone, however additional work is needed around the larger step out zones to help uncover potential areas of high-grade gold mineralization. While Trapper is largely undercover, the gold-in-soil geochemical footprint extends 4km by 1.5km and remains largely undrilled. High-grade surface grab samples have returned assays up to 152 g/t Au along Inlaw Creek, over 500m away from the focused drilling area. Further drilling is required to test and identify gold-rich zones and further define the scale-potential across the Trapper Target.

Vice President of Exploration, Christina Anstey, stated, While we now have three seasons of drilling under our belt at Trapper Gold Target, we believe that we are only getting started with uncovering the gold potential and we are looking forward to advancing the target further in 2024.

Drilling Information



Table 2. Drill Collar and Hole Information of Current News Release.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Depth (m) THN23-275 630159 6485689 1289 11.79 -60.72 355.24 THN23-279 630160 6485689 1289 19.77 -54.80 466.00 THN23-280 630270 6485675 1316 16.93 -61.14 399.00 THN23-281 630109 6485764 1227 9.32 -60.18 374.00 THN23-282 630109 6485760 1230 189.75 -59.57 127.00 THN23-283 630228 6485762 1292 12.96 -65.20 433.00 THN23-284 630026 6486284 1068 31.94 -45.58 345.00 THN23-286 630584 6485360 1205 26.79 -45.36 171.00 THN23-287 630410 6485514 1273 10.57 -61.98 348.00 THN23-288 630410 6485511 1281 10.00 -80.00 214.00 THN23-289 630333 6485601 1296 0.00 -47.00 366.00



About the Trapper Gold Target



The geochemical footprint for the Trapper Gold Target was expanded in 2021 to 4km by 1.5km with a gold-in-soil geochemical signature that has a strong positive correlation to zinc and lead. The Trapper Target represents an intermediate-sulphidation epithermal system hosted in volcanic and intrusive rocks. The volcanics are Triassic Stuhini lapilli tuff, while the intrusive phase is a Cretaceous quartz diorite dated at 85.2Ma +- 1.2Ma. Visible gold has been identified in both drill core and surface outcrops across the Trapper Target area and rock grab samples have returned up to 152 g/t Au. Visible gold is recognized in several environments: within base metal veins (sphalerite-galena-pyrite-chalcopyrite), quartz-stockwork, sulphosalt-pyrite veinlets, and rarely disseminated gold in the diorite. In 2021 and 2022, Brixton drilled 3,107m and 9,119m respectively. In 2011, forty-two drill holes were completed by a previous operator. The Trapper Target is royalty free.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control



Quality assurance and quality control protocols for drill core sampling was developed by Brixton. Core samples were mostly taken at 1.0m intervals. Blank, duplicate (lab pulp) and certified reference materials were inserted into the sample stream for at least every 20 drill core samples. Core samples were cut in half, bagged, zip-tied and sent directly to ALS Minerals preparation facility in Langley, British Columbia. ALS Minerals Laboratories is registered to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025 accreditations for laboratory procedures. Samples were analyzed at ALS Laboratory Facilities in North Vancouver, British Columbia for gold by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish, whereas Ag, Pb, Cu and Zn and 48 additional elements were analyzed using four acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Over limits for gold were analyzed using fire assay and gravimetric finish. The standards, certified reference materials, were acquired from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd., of Langley, British Columbia and the standards inserted varied depending on the type and abundance of mineralization visually observed in the primary sample. Blank material used consisted of non-mineralized siliceous landscaping rock. A copy of the QAQC protocols can be viewed at the Companys website.



About the Thorn Project



The wholly-owned 2,881 square kilometer Thorn Project is located in British Columbia, Canada, approximately 90 km east of Juneau, AK. The southern limit of the Thorn claim boundary is roughly 50 km from tide water. The Thorn Project hosts a district-scale 80km megatrend of Triassic to Eocene, volcano-plutonic complex with several styles of mineralization related to porphyry and epithermal environments. Fourteen large-scale copper-gold targets have been identified for further exploration work. Information on each of the targets may be found at the following link: https://brixtonmetals.com/thorn-gold-copper-silver-project/



Qualified Person



Mr. Corey A. James, P.Geo., is a Senior Project Geologist for the company and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. James has verified the data disclosed in this press release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information and has approved this press release.

About Brixton Metals Corporation



Brixton Metals is a Canadian exploration company focused on the advancement of its mining projects toward feasibility. Brixton wholly owns four exploration projects: Brixtons flagship Thorn copper-gold-silver-molybdenum Project, the Atlin Goldfields Project located in NW BC, the Langis-HudBay silver-cobalt-nickel Project in Ontario, and the Hog Heaven copper-silver-gold Project in NW Montana, USA (under option to Ivanhoe Electric Inc.). Brixton Metals Corporation shares trade on the TSX-V under the ticker symbol BBB, and on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol BBBXF. For more information about Brixton, please visit our website at www.brixtonmetals.com .

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Mr. Gary R. Thompson, Chairman and CEO

Tel: 604-630-9707 or 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 release.

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, and intend, statements that an action or event may, might, could, should, or will be taken or occur, including statements that address potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, potential size and expansion of a mineralized zone, proposed timing of exploration and development plans, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds. 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 include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; and the additional risks identified in the annual information form of the Company or other reports and filings with the TSXV and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on managements beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

Figures accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://brixtonmetals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Figure-1_1Dec2023.jpeg

https://brixtonmetals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Figure-2_1Dec2023.jpeg

https://brixtonmetals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Figure-3_1Dec2023-scaled.jpg





https://brixtonmetals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image.png



https://brixtonmetals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Figure-5_1Dec2023.jpeg
London, England, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClickSlice, a London based SEO agency that offers an all-inclusive service from content creation to link building strategy that guarantees results, is excited to announce the launch of its new Digital PR services.

Created to help businesses boost their digital presence, ClickSlices new Digital PR service creates a detailed PR strategy that effectively tells a brands story to build a loyal audience that ensures repeat returns to a business or website.

Enter ClickSlice, the Digital PR agency that creates a buzz, said founder Joshua George. Once you lay down the blueprint, our team at ClickSlice will seize the reins and make magic happen. Think of us as your go-to engine room, tirelessly churning out top-notch content while you stay in the drivers seat, propelling your strategy towards success. With us by your side, you can conquer the world of marketing without breaking a sweat. Lets rev up and make your dreams a reality!

The Digital PR service offered by the agency outlines 5 key elements that efficiently drive a businesss marketing strategy and helps to build their online credibility. This includes:

Research and Analysis: As a leading London communications and PR agency, ClickSlice has the experience of conducting thorough research and analysis that helps businesses achieve their marketing goals with creative flair and data-driven precision.

Content Strategy: The marketing experts understand that creating engaging content and shareable posts is the driving factor that ensures a brand gets noticed. Its specialist team will work closely with businesses to weave a compelling narrative that is punctuated with eye-catching visuals and interactive elements that keep audiences excited about their brand messaging.

Thought Leadership and Voice of Authority: From thought-provoking tips and memorable quotes that capture attention and guarantee brand authority, ClickSlice can help create content that gets people thinking.

Data-Driven Digital Analytics: The top SEO experts uses advanced tools and the latest strategies to analyse every statistic and detail that matters to offer businesses data-backed decisions that deliver optimised results.

Crisis Management: ClickSlice has the ultimate crisis management team who have the expertise to handle online reputation management situations. From minimising potential damage to helping businesses navigate everything from minor hiccups to PR explosions, the trusted London PR agency has the experience to work through any media relations issue.

During a Digital PR campaign, the SEO agency additionally provides businesses with a range of expert Google Ads and SEO services, such as keyword research, competitor analysis, technical SEO, landing page consultancy, conversion tracking, ad creation and campaign audits, that ensure maximum brand visibility and the exposure of its unique message to their ideal audience.

At ClickSlice, we understand that a successful PR strategy is more than simply posting content. From researching a brands values and what makes the business tick to thinking creatively outside the box for a Digital PR service and online strategy that packs a punch and attracts your audience in hordes, furthered Mr George.

From fashion to fintech, the SEO agency has the versatility and professional expertise to craft engaging creative campaigns and unforgettable thought leadership content to ensure businesses stand out in even the most saturated markets.

With actionable, insightful research capabilities paired with valuable PR know-how, ClickSlice is the leader in London for helping businesses build brand loyalty through its Digital PR expertise. Through strategic positioning of a brands messaging within its respective industry and focus on providing businesses with extensively researched and individualised methods, the renowned agency provides proven strategies that draw the target market closer and grab the ideal audiences attention.

About ClickSlice

Founded in 2016 by Joshua George, ClickSlice is a bespoke SEO agency in London that delivers a range of specialist SEO and Google Ads services to help businesses bring targeted traffic to their website that generates sales. Prioritising 3 core company values: integrity, communication, and results, ClickSlice places its primary focus on ROI (Return on Investment) and utilises real-life data to place websites in front of their clients dream customers.

More Information

To learn more about ClickSlice and the launch of its new Digital PR services, please visit the website at https://www.clickslice.co.uk/.

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/clickslice-bespoke-seo-agency-launches-new-digital-pr-services/

Source: ClickSlice
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) and the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) congratulate the 684 B.C. CPA candidates who passed the multi-day national Common Final Examination (CFE) written in September 2023. The exam was administered by CPAWSB.

The following eight B.C. students achieved honour roll status: Candace Gordon, Taylor Kuntz, Brett Lukens, Ivy Ren, Thomas Staddon, Brenden Toriumi, Alasdair Wilson, and Nathan Yip.

Here is the full listing of successful B.C.-based CFE writers.

Passing the CFE is the culmination of a challenging academic journey, during which many students also work full-time. This takes tremendous dedication and time management, and is a great precursor for what these skilled individuals will contribute to the CPA profession, said Christopher Gimpel, CPA, CA, chair of CPABCs board of directors. Congratulations to all 684 successful candidates in B.C., including the eight individuals who achieved honour roll status.

In order to become designated, students must complete rigorous course work, pass the CFE, and fulfill relevant practical experience requirements. The national CFE ensures all Canadian CPAs meet the same high standards, which are recognized nationally and internationally.

"I am deeply honoured to celebrate the remarkable success of the 684 dedicated candidates from B.C. who have brilliantly navigated the complexities of the 2023 September CFE. Their exceptional results demonstrate their robust technical expertise and highlight the cultivation of vital professional competencies essential for their future endeavours," stated Yuen Ip, MBA, PMP, a CPA, CMA, in Alberta and CEO of the CPA Western School of Business. "On behalf of our team at the School, I am delighted to offer my sincere congratulations and best wishes to these exceptional individuals as they progress in their professional journeys. Your perseverance and accomplishments stand as a powerful demonstration of your steadfast dedication. We look forward with great anticipation to your future contributions and successes in the field.

CPAWSB delivers the nationally-developed CPA professional education program in Canadas western region. Throughout the program, CPA candidates develop the competencies expected of professional accountants, developing technical skills and enabling competencies as they grow in professionalism and leadership.

About CPA British ColumbiaThe Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is the training, governing, and regulatory body for over 39,000 CPA members and 6,000 CPA candidates and students. CPABC carries out its primary mission to protect the public by enforcing the highest professional and ethical standards and contributing to the advancement of public policy.

Media Contact: Vince Kanasoot, Communications Specialist 236.668.2175 [email protected]

Source: Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia
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.
Montrouge, 1st December 2023

Capital: notification of the level of Pillar 2 additional requirement

The European Central Bank (ECB) has notified Credit Agricole Group and Credit Agricole S.A. of their capital requirements in respect of Pillar 2 (P2R) applicable as of 1st January 2024, i.e. 1.75% for Credit Agricole Group and 1.65% for Credit Agricole S.A.

Credit Agricole Group must comply with a CET1 ratio of at least 9.7% as from January 2024, including Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 capital requirements as well as the applicable combined buffer requirement (conservation buffer of 2.5%, buffer for global systemically important institutions (G-SIB) of 1% and countercyclical buffer estimated at 0.75%1 as of 2 January 2024). Credit Agricole S.A. must comply as from January 2024 with a CET1 ratio of at least 8.5%, including Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 capital requirements as well as the applicable combined buffer requirement (conservation buffer of 2.5% and countercyclical buffer estimated at 0.62%1 as of 2 January 2024).

The CET1 phased-in ratio of Credit Agricole Group was 17.5% at end-September 2023. Thus, the Group has the best level of solvency among European systemic banks.

As the central body of Credit Agricole Group, Credit Agricole S.A. fully benefits from the legal solidarity mechanism as well as the internal flexibility of capital circulation within the Credit Agricole Group. Its phased-in CET1 ratio was 11.8% at end-September 2023.

CREDIT AGRICOLE S.A. PRESS CONTACT

Alexandre Barat : 01 57 72 12 19  [email protected]

Olivier Tassain : 01 43 23 25 41  [email protected]



Find our press release on : www.credit-agricole.com - www.creditagricole.info





1 Based on the information available to date, and in particular taking into account the rise in French countercyclical buffer rate to 1% as of 2 January 2024, CA Group and CASAs countercyclical buffer would amount respectively to 0.75% and 0.62% on 2 January 2024.

Attachment
COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine and ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wreaths Across America (WAA) is pleased to announce title sponsors FASTPORT and Tenstreet will once again support the annual Appreciation Dinner on Friday, December 15, the eve of National Wreaths Across America Day 2023. The event will take place at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, Va., and be available to watch live on the nonprofits official Facebook Page or listen to live on Wreaths Across America Radio. This yearly event celebrates the efforts of millions of volunteers and supporters across the country.

Presented by JPMorgan Chase, the evenings keynote speaker will be medically retired Army Staff Sgt., and artist, Zeke Crozier. Crozier was serving with the Army Reserve Bravo Company 7-158th Aviation Regiment when a Chinook helicopter he was in crashed. He suffered a traumatic brain injury while deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Through his challenges, he has found calm and purpose in artistic expression by becoming a maker of bottle cap art.

The evenings program will include highlights of WAAs 2023 initiatives that have helped expand its mission to hundreds of new participating locations and thousands of new volunteers around the country. For the fifth year, professional truck drivers delivering veterans wreaths for placement at Arlington National Cemetery will be sponsored by Pilot Flying J. These special volunteers will receive a token of recognition from the company and Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) during the event.

The mission of Wreaths Across America has long been a part of my life and is something I am proud to support all year round, said Brad Bentley, President, FASTPORT. Both FASTPORT and our partners at Tenstreet are honored to be able to support this important mission, and hopefully, we will introduce new people to it so they too can learn first-hand how special it is.

More than 4,200 local communities will honor service members laid to rest this year by placing sponsored veterans wreaths as part of National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, December 16, 2023.

To find a participating location near you to support or volunteer at this December, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

If you are interested and available to haul a load of wreaths as part of the Wreaths Across America Honor Fleet, lanes are still available. Please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/trucking to secure a load today.

# # #

About Wreaths Across AmericaWreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organizations yearlong mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as thousands of veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

For more information or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

About FASTPORTFASTPORT is a technology company that helps veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful civilian employment. FASTPORT is also the U.S. Department of Labor's Industry Intermediary for the Transportation sector and a part of the DOL's Centers of Excellence to support apprenticeship development and sustainability.

Learn more at www.fastport.com or www.nationalapprenticeship.org.

About TenstreetTenstreets platform connects carriers and drivers, making it easier to fill trucks while staying compliant. They help thousands of motor carriers and private fleets to market, recruit, onboard, manage, and retain drivers. Since 2006, millions of drivers have used Tenstreets platform to apply for their next job quickly and securely.

Learn more at www.tenstreet.com.

Amber Caron Wreaths Across America 2075136457 [email protected]

Source: Wreaths Across America
WABASH, Ind., Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FFW Corporation (OTC PINK: FFWC) (11/30/23 Close: $32.00), parent corporation of Crossroads Bank, has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.29 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable December 29, 2023, to shareholders of record on December 15, 2023.

The book value of FFW Corporation stock was $37.37 per share as of October 31, 2023. The last reported trade of stock at the close of business on November 30, 2023, was $32.30 per share and the number of outstanding shares was 1,126,007 as of the same date. On October 31, 2023, the corporation had assets of $541.0 million and shareholders' equity of $42.1 million. The Board of FFW Corporation and Crossroads Bank will continue to evaluate the payment of a dividend on a quarterly basis.

Crossroads Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of FFW Corporation, providing an extensive array of banking services and a wide range of investments and securities products through its main office in Wabash and six Indiana banking centers located in Columbia City, North Manchester, Peru, South Whitley, Syracuse, and Warsaw. The Bank also provides leasing services at each of its banking centers. Insurance products are offered through an affiliated company, Insurance 1 Services, Inc. The Corporations stock is traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol FFWC. Our website address is www.crossroadsbanking.com. Crossroads Bank, Member FDIC.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Kirsten PendarvisTreasurer(260) 563-3185

SOURCE: FFW Corporation

Source: FFW Corporation
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HIIs (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division today hosted a shipyard update briefing for state and local elected officials and community leaders.

The breakfast and briefing, held in Newport News, brought together public officials from the Virginia Governors office, Virginia General Assembly and local municipalities that surround the shipyard, as well as community leaders and Navy representatives, to build connections and identify new opportunities to collaborate to support important national security work underway at Virginias largest industrial employer.

Attendees received briefings on shipbuilding programs at NNS and workforce development efforts in the region that have resulted from strong partnerships with the U.S. Navy and their Submarine Industrial Base office, commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Labor, Hampton Roads Workforce Council and individual training providers. One example that was highlighted was the establishment of the Hampton Roads Regional Workforce Training System that is coordinating and integrating workforce training within a 100-mile radius of Hampton Roads to meet the needs of NNS, its suppliers and the broader maritime industry.

Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-newport-news-shipbuilding-elected-community-leaders-breakfast-2023.

Today our industry benefits from numerous trades training and career awareness programs that originated from partnerships with organizations represented in this room, NNS President Jennifer Boykin said. We need to collaborate more to create the systems that will allow us to train our next generation of shipbuilders. To build great ships and invest in the facilities and capabilities needed to sustain our nearly 138-year-old company for another century, it will take all of us working together. Our mission to support our United States Navy with the worlds best nuclear-powered ships directly impacts all of us: our community, our commonwealth and our national defense.

NNS is on track to hire approximately 3,000 skilled trade positions by the end of this year to meet the Navys shipbuilding needs and anticipates hiring nearly 19,000 people within the next decade as it continues its support of the Navys mission.

To meet our hiring demand, we must leverage partnerships at all levels of the community and government, said Xavier Beale, NNS vice president of human resources. Todays breakfast was an opportunity to do that  capitalizing on existing partnerships and establishing new ones  bringing partners together to highlight our needs, how they can help, and why it is critical for national security. Only by working together can we meet our commitments to the Navy and to our country.

With more than 25,000 employees, NNS is the nations sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy.

To learn more about career opportunities at HII, visit https://hii.com/careers/.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact: Todd Corillo[email protected](757) 688-3220

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8615e42e-cb6d-4d71-af40-149b61c96600

2023 NNS Congressional Breakfast NNS President Jennifer Boykin offers remarks during a shipyard update briefing and breakfast for state and local elected officials, and community leaders, in Newport News on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII)

Source: HII
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IBN, a comprehensive communications organization with a diverse portfolio of 60+ brands, is pleased to announce its fourth consecutive year of collaboration with Dynamic Global Events (DGE) as an official media partner for the upcoming events in 2024. Additionally, BioMedWire (BMW), a digital hub within IBN committed to highlighting emerging opportunities in the life sciences industry, will join as an official media partner to further enhancing the media coverage of DGEs events throughout the year.

DGE is a leader in B2B conferences that serve the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. DGE Events foster education, networking, business development and partnership opportunities via its live events. Established in 2017, DGEs events are presented in multiple formats, including live, virtual and hybrid, catering to a highly specialized audiences. Its annual portfolio includes: Risk-Based Quality Management, Real World Evidence and Market Access, DEI for Pharma and Healthcare, Advancing Womens Leadership in Pharma and Healthcare, Digital Strategy and Innovation for Medical Affairs, and Decentralized and Hybrid Clinical Trials.

IBN and BMW will collaborate with DGE on the following upcoming events in 2024:

Incorporate Patient Voice Across the Patient Life Cycle (January 25  26, 2024)

4th Risk-Based Quality Management Summit (January 25-26, 2024)

3rd Rx-to-OTC Switch Summit (February 26-27, 2024)

3rd Real World Evidence and Market Access Summit (February 26-27, 2024)

4th DEI for Pharma and Healthcare (March 25-26, 2024)

12th Advancing Womens Leadership in Pharma and Healthcare (March 25-27, 2024)

ESG for Life Sciences (April 17-18, 2024)

8th Digital Strategy & Innovation for Medical Affairs Summit (April 22  23, 2024)

4th KOL, Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Forum (April 22-23, 2024)

3rd Diversity in Clinical Trials (May 15-16, 2024)

8th Decentralized and Hybrid Clinical Trials (May 15-16, 2024)

4th PRC Performance Optimization (May 30-31, 2024)

Artificial Intelligence for Life Sciences Compliance (June 5-6, 2024)

3rd Transparency and Aggregate Spend Summit (June 5-6, 2024)

4th Chief Patient Officer Summit (July 16-17, 2024)

5th Human Factors Engineering & Usability Studies Congress (October 9-10, 2024)

3rd Chief Commercial Officer Summit (October 9-10, 2024)

Additional events will be announced in the coming weeks.

For each event, IBN and BioMedWire will provide dedicated virtual coverage, including syndicated content on each event with full dissemination to IBNs extensive network of 5000+ strategic downstream partners. The comprehensive coverage will also extend to social media, leveraging IBNs accounts with a collective following of over 2 million likes and followers across various platforms, along with featured placements on its event page.

We are delighted to once again collaborate with IBN and BioMedWire, said Elizabeth Stanislaw, MBA, Marketing Manager of Dynamic Global Events. They provide exemplary service with deep expertise in social media management tools, a wide-reaching and active syndication network and a multi-brand strategy that seamlessly delivers extended visibility of our events.

Our team is always pleased to find new opportunities to work with Dynamic Global Events, said Jonathan Keim, Director of Communications at IBN. Their strategically designed series of events have positioned the organization as a leader in the life sciences industry. We look forward to our continued collaboration in the year ahead.

About IBN

IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 17+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP), IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) total news coverage solutions.

For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

Media Contact:IBN Los Angeles, Californiawww.InvestorBrandNetwork.com310.299.1717 Office[email protected]

Source: InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
WESTCHESTER, Ill., Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food and beverage industry, today announced its receipt of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), designating it as a top scorer. The Company joins the ranks of 545 major U.S. businesses that earned top marks this year.

"We are proud and honored to be named an Equality 100 Award recipient and included on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for 2023-2024," said Nancy Wolfe, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Ingredion. "At Ingredion, we are guided by our values, which at the core involve cultivating an inclusive and diverse work environment that celebrates and respects each employee. This acknowledgment reaffirms our dedication to upholding the principles of dignity and respect for all our employees."

"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 senior 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 2023-2024 CEI results showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The 2023-2024 CEI consists of 1,384 participants up from 319 in 2002, the index's first year. 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. 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 companies.

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 COMPANYIngredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With 2022 annual net sales of nearly $8 billion, the Company turns grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, brewing and industrial markets. With Ingredion Idea Labs innovation centers around the world and approximately 12,000 employees, the Company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature, and technology together to make life better. Visit ingredion.com for more information and the latest company news.

ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATIONThe 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.

CONTACTS: Investors: Noah Weiss, 773-896-5242 Media: Becca Hary, 708-551-2602

Source: Ingredion Incorporated
TORONTO, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: MON) (Montero or the Company) provides an update on Monteros arbitration proceedings against the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania) over the expropriation of the Wigu Hill rare earth element project (Wigu Hill) before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

On November 28, 2023, the arbitral Tribunal informed both parties that the hearing scheduled to be held at the ICSID premises in Washington DC., USA, from 4 - 7 December 2023, must be postponed as one of the three arbitrators is unable to travel to the United States at that time. The Tribunal prefer to keep the hearing in person in Washington, D.C., rather than apart in hybrid format, and therefore has decided to move the hearing dates to early 2024. The Tribunal, in consultation with the parties, will advise of new hearing dates when determined.

Dr Tony Harwood, President and CEO of Montero commented: While it is unfortunate that the arbitration hearing has been delayed, we are happy to report that the preparation work by our legal counsel, expert, and fact witnesses has been thoroughly completed. Montero is well prepared to present its case against Tanzania in early 2024 seeking in excess of CAD$ 90 million for the expropriation of the Wigu Hill rare earth project. We note that Indiana Resources judgement for US$113 million and Winshear Golds settlement of US$30 million earlier in the year were both led by Monteros lead attorney Timothy Foden.

Montero is represented by Timothy Foden of Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP and Martin Tavaut of Jeantet AARPI. Timothy Foden is leading the ICSID arbitration for Montero. Montero has retained Dr. Neal Rigby of SRK Consulting (USA) Inc. as quantum expert with full dispute funding secured from Omni Bridgeway, a leading global dispute funder.

Montero is seeking compensation in excess of CAD$ 90,000,000 for damages and interest for the unlawful expropriation of its Wigu Hill rare earth element project in Tanzania. Montero is also seeking reimbursement of its arbitration costs and fees by Tanzania. The damages claimed are for Tanzanias breaches of the Bilateral Investment Treaty between Canada and Tanzania.

For further information, please see Monteros press releases dated November 14th, 2023, September 21st, 2023, July 19th, 2023, April 25th, 2023, July 28th, 2022, April 12th, 2022, November 29th, 2021, and January 8th, 2021, and the ICSID website. (https://icsid.worldbank.org/services/arbitration/convention/process/overview).

The ICSID Convention has been ratified by 158 States, including Tanzania. An award issued by an ICSID tribunal is enforceable in any one of those 158 member States as if it were a judgment of one of their own courts. Partly because of this, States often comply voluntarily with the payment terms of such awards.

Qualified Persons StatementThis press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Mike Evans, M.Sc. Pr.Sci.Nat., a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. It has also been reviewed by Mr. Martin Tavaut, avocat a la cour (Paris, France) and Mr. Timothy Foden of Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP.

DisclaimerWhile the facts and the grounds of the Indiana case are similar to those of Monteros, the cases are heard by different tribunals, which does not guarantee the same outcome for Monteros case.

About MonteroMontero is a junior exploration company focused on finding, exploring, and advancing globally significant gold, silver, and base metal deposits in Chile. Monteros board of directors and management have an impressive track record of successfully discovering and advancing precious metal and copper projects. Montero trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MON and has 38,647,485 shares outstanding.

For more information, contact:Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. Dr. Tony Harwood, President, and Chief Executive OfficerE-mail: [email protected]Tel: +1 416 840 9197 | Fax: +1 866 688 4671www.monteromining.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.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements, projections and estimates with respect to the Share Consolidation. 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. Such information is based on information currently available to Montero and Montero provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Montero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Actual results relating to, among other things, completion of the agreement, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Monteros mineral properties, and financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to complete the agreement on the terms as announced or at all; 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 Monteros 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 Monteros forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Montero does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Source: Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 247 (UFCW 247) is once again hosting the annual National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Shoe Memorial in Vancouver on Wednesday, December 6 at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia Street side), with a memorial ceremony commencing at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

The Shoe Memorial honours the memory of victims of domestic violence, femicide, partner abuse and commemorates the 14 women students who were murdered on December 6, 1989 at Montreals Ecole Polytechnique as victims of gender-based violence, as well as the thousands of women in the metro-Vancouver area who fell victim to domestic and gender-based violence since then.

The shoe memorial will be displayed as a one-day art installation with the names of mothers, daughters, sisters, or friends who have lost their lives from violence, and no longer walk among us.

UFCW 247 is collecting shoes to build the memorial on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. All shoes and boots collected will be donated to womens and emergency shelters in the Vancouver-area.

The shoe memorial will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a ceremony beginning at noon.

Date: December 6, 2022Time: 8:00 a.m.  3:00 p.m. (PST) with ceremony at 12:00 p.m.Location: Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson St. side)750 Hornby St.,Vancouver, B.C.V6Z 2H7

Media ContactTima DickersonUFCW Local 247604-535-8329[email protected]

A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/219880f3-b33a-4888-b145-372e2c7475e2

Source: UFCW Canada
Elyria, Ohio, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethan Moores drone is a head-turner. Literally.

People driving by will slow down and then turn around and come back, Moore says. They all ask, Is that what I think it is?

Yes, its an impressively large drone. The DJI Agras T40 is equipped with a 40-liter tank, eight propellers, and two spray nozzles. It was designed specifically for agricultural applications. And Moore has built his business around this specialized equipment.

In 2022, Moore launched Lake Erie Drone, LLC, a company offering a new type of pesticide and fungicide application for local farms. His target customers are the smaller farms, less than 100 acres, commonly found in Lorain County. Most often these farms sit near residential homes, raising issues with crop duster application.

Whats really cool about the drone is that it pushes the chemical into the canopy of the crop, Moore says. So, its not drifting off into the environment or toward peoples homes.

He adds that the low-altitude application and downdraft produced by the propellers helps the spray hit the lower rungs of the crops, where its needed most. And, compared to ground rig application, theres no compressing the soil or crushing crop.

Im really proud that this business and this service provides local farms with a very high-quality product thats being applied in the most effective and efficient way, he says.

First things first

The idea for Lake Erie Drone was seeded back in Moores high school days. While attending Wellington High School, Moore, now 22, built a small drone for an audio/visual class.

The whole project was really interesting and so cool, Moore says. That stuck in the back of my head.

At the forefront of Moores mind, however, was finishing high school with as many college credits as he could. He enrolled in Lorain County Community Colleges College Credit Plus program and, with the LCCC Wellington Center nearby, maxing out on credits was really convenient.

I started dabbling with College Credit Plus in my sophomore year, but as that year went on, I could see that earning a degree while in high school was viable, Moore says.

With the exception of band class, Moore took exclusively LCCC classes during his junior and senior years. And when he graduated from Wellington High School in 2019, he earned his associate of science degree from LCCC, too.

CCP got me started on an adult path when I was younger, he says. Moore says he knew exactly where that adult path would lead. Even before graduation, he had enrolled in LCCCs nursing program. He was just 17 years old and the first CCP student to do so.

Nursing is a great profession where you get to help lots of people, Moore says. And it runs in my family. My moms a nurse, my grandmothers a nurse, I have uncles and aunts who are nurses.

After earning his associate degree in nursing, Moore began working as a clinical nurse in the intensive care unit at Mercy Health  Lorain Hospital. He also moved right into LCCCs University Partnership with Ohio University and earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing by fall 2022. And in fall 2023 he started working toward his Master of Science in Nursing  Nursing Leadership at Case Western Reserve University.

A leap of faith

Most weeks, Moore works three 12-hour shifts in the ICU. His days off belong to Lake Erie Drones. And he had to jump through several regulatory hurdles, involving both the Federal Aviation Association and the Ohio Department of Agriculture, to get to this point.

It was a pretty big leap of faith, he says. It was a big upfront investment, and I needed to appeal for all these different certifications.

This fall was Moores first with an operational business. And hes been busy.

Ive found steady business in Lorain County, and were providing a service that our farmers are very happy with, Moore says. And Ive met with a lot of the landowners, too.

Moore says some of those generational farmers and landowners have become more than customers. Theyre now mentors. And theyre excited to see someone as young as Moore taking an interest in agriculture.

There are a lot of people moving out of farming, for one reason or another, and todays farmers are acutely aware of that, Moore says. So many have brought me under their wing and provided me with resources.

Theyve also provided Moore referrals within their close-knit network. And he hopes their discussions continue to include positive remarks about his business, because as the spraying season winds down, Moore is gearing up for the next phase. Seeding cover crops.

Cover crops align with sustainable farming, Moore says. It helps with soil conservation, erosion reduction, and water quality.

Equipped with a seed spreader and having conducted preliminary tests, Moore views this as a natural extension of Lake Erie Drones agricultural solutions.

This is just the beginning, he says.

More about Lorain County Community College: www.lorainccc.edu

Attachment

Kim Carrasquillo Lorain County Community College [email protected]

Source: Lorain County Community College
TORONTO, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Platinex Inc. (CSE: PTX) (OTCQB: PANXF, Frankfurt: 9PX) (Platinex or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has increased its previously announced flow through financing (see press release dated Nov 27, 2023) to $1,500,000 (the FT Offering). The flow through common shares are priced at C$0.04 per share (FT common share). Each FT common share consists of one common share of the Company. The closing of this final tranche of the FT Offering is underway and is expected to be completed shortly.

The Company will use the gross proceeds of the FT Offering to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that are flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures and will qualify as flow-through mining expenditure as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) related to advancing the W2 Copper-Nickel-PGE Project, on or before Dec. 31, 2024. All qualifying expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers effective Dec. 31, 2023.

All securities issued in connection with the FT Offering are subject to a four month plus one day hold period from the Closing date in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The closing of the FT Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. The Company may pay finder's fees to eligible finders in connection with the FT Offering.

Platinex Completes Geological Compilation and 3D Modelling Program on W2 Copper-Nickel-PGE Project

Platinex is also pleased to announce results from the geological compilation and 3D modelling program completed by BAW Mining Inc. (BAW) on its 100% owned W2 Copper-Nickel-PGE project located in a region of world-class geological targets near Northern Ontarios Ring of Fire.

In total, 71 holes totalling 12,157 metres drilled by historical operators (Aurora Platinum, Canadian Nickel/INCO, and KWG Resources) were compiled into digital format. BAW completed one geological model, one moderate-grade mineralization model (calculated as copper equivalent (CuEq)1 grades over 0.3%) and one high-grade mineralization model with CuEq over 0.8% based on the compiled data.

Key findings of the modelling program include:

Moderate-grade mineralization is extensive (over 6 km strike length) in the central area of the W2 project with mineralized zones open to depth and in all directions.

Multiple zones of high-grade mineralization with over 0.8% CuEq were identified.

High grade zones occur in the gabbroic unit and seem closely spatially associated with the lithological contacts between mafic volcanics/metasedimentary rocks and mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks.

Historical drillholes intersected wide intersections of mineralization in the central area of the property; for example, LH01-06 intersected 220.6m of 0.54% CuEq and LH01-05 intersected 151.6m of 0.56% CuEq.

Strong correlation is observed between Cu-Ni mineralization and electromagnetic (EM) anomalies in the central area of the project. In addition, numerous EM anomalies, which have not been explored, are located across the project. Greenfield targets remain to be tested in the north, west and east of the property.

Titanium vanadium targets in the northwest area near hole LH01-10 remain to be further explored.

Drill target areas have been designed and were categorized into three categories (confirmation, expansion, greenfield). Further exploration programs, such as gravity, EM, and induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys as well as more data compilation on the W2 project are being planned to refine certain drilling targets on top of the 3D modelling.

Please visit the W2 project page on Platinexs website at https://platinex.com/projects/w2-copper-nickel-pge/ for a presentation on W2 including modelling results and other project information.

Qualified Person

The technical information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Shuda Zhou, P. Geo. (W2 Copper-Nickel-PGE Project) who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the W2 Project.

About the W2 Project:

W2 is a district scale land package comprised of 1,122 cell units covering 22,094 ha (220 km2) in an area of world-class geological targets located in the Oxford Stull Dome Complex near Ontarios Ring of Fire. W2 controls the mineral-rich and under-explored, layered mafic-ultramafic Lansdowne House Igneous Complex (LHIC), which is highly prospective for copper-nickel (Cu-Ni), platinum group element (PGE), gold and chromite deposits. The common thread of strong Cu-Ni-PGE, Cr and Ti-V mineralization in the mafic- ultramafic intrusions ringing the Oxford Stull Dome is suggestive of a common source, a very large magmatic system, and therefore a potential significant abundance of metals in each intrusion.

Historical work, including approximately 20,000 metres of drilling in the W2 area by operators such as INCO and Aurora Platinum, has been delineated at least seven significant mineralized zones within a 7.5 km long folded corridor near the centre of the land package. Additionally, VTEM and AeroTEM II airborne geophysical surveys have identified multiple high-priority conductors in the eastern section of the property which have yet to be drill tested.

About Platinex Inc.

Platinex Inc. creates shareholder value through the opportunistic acquisition and advancement of high-quality projects in prolific Canadian mining camps. Current assets include a 100% ownership interest in the W2 Copper-Nickel-PGE Project near the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario and a 75% interest in the South Timmins Mining joint venture with Fancamp Exploration, which is focused on gold exploration along the Ridout-Tyrell Deformation Zone near IAMGOLDs Cote Gold operation in the southwest Abitibi. Platinex also holds majority ownership in Green Canada Corporation, which holds uranium assets in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec, as well as an option to earn as a 100% ownership interest in the Muskrat Dam Critical Minerals Project in northwestern Ontario. In addition to its mineral exploration assets, Platinex holds a portfolio of net smelter return (NSR) royalties on gold, PGE, and base metal properties in Ontario. Having put together a strong and diversified project portfolio and an expert technical team, the Company is focused on comprehensively exploring and evaluating each project to maximize shareholder value. Platinex is based in Toronto, Canada, with a primary listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol PTX. The company is also listed in Frankfurt under the symbol 9PX and on the OTCQB in the United States as PANXF.

For additional information on Platinex and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at https://platinex.com/.

For further information, please contact:

Greg Ferron, President, and Chief Executive Officer Platinex Inc.Phone: 416-270-5042Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and includes those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

______________________1 *CuEq (copper equivalent) has been used to express the combined value of copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and gold as a percentage of copper, and is provided for illustrative purposes only and to provide ease of comparison. No allowances have been made for recovery losses that may occur should mining eventually result. Calculations use metal prices as of October 2023 of US$3.5/lb for copper, $8.3/lb for nickel, US$63.7/g for gold, US$36/g for palladium, US$29/g for platinum, and US$15.1/lb for cobalt, using the formula CuEq % = Cu % + Ni %x2.371 + Pd g/t x 0.467 + Pt g/t x 0.376 + Au g/t x 0.825 + Co % x 4.314.

Source: Platinex Inc.
Iran's navy seized an oil tanker on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman that once was at the centre of a major crisis between Tehran and Washington, officials said, a seizure that further escalates tensions in the Mideast waterways.
TORONTO and NEW YORK, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuantGate Systems Inc. (OTCQB: QGSI) (the "QuantGate" or "Company"), a leading innovator in Artificial Intelligence ("AI"), Machine Learning ("ML") and SaaS-based Fintech solutions, today provides an important update on its financing announced on October 24, 2023, and the progress made amidst a turbulent market landscape.

Since the announcement of its recent financing, QuantGate Systems Inc. has made significant strides in its operations and strategic initiatives. Despite the challenging environment characterized by problematic market conditions, including difficulties in listings, financing, and IPOs, the company has maintained its commitment to growth and innovation.

Allan Bezanson, CEO of QuantGate Systems Inc., states: "Despite the headwinds in the market, we are steadfast in our pursuit of excellence and delivering value to our stakeholders. We are committed to the current financing but might have to adjust certain terms and pricing of the offering dictated by market conditions. There are no certainties that the financing will be completed. However, we are in advanced discussions with numerous individuals and entities. As such, we are providing guidance based on disclosures in our most recent financial statements."

The current market scenario presents unique challenges, with many companies grappling with the complexities of listings and financing.

Additionally, QuantGate Systems Inc. announces that Pramen Prasad has tendered his resignation from the company, effective immediately. The Board of Directors expresses its sincere gratitude to Mr. Prasad for his support and professionalism during his tenure.

About QuantGate Systems Inc.:

QuantGate Systems Inc. (OTCQB: QGSI) is a publicly-traded fintech company that harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and proprietary big-data processing AI engines to deliver advanced SaaS solutions and seamless API integration. With its range of products, including Pilot Trading, QuantGate empowers traders globally with a comprehensive suite of real-time insights with cutting-edge SaaS solutions, enabling them to navigate the market with unparalleled confidence. For additional information, visit QuantGate Systems and Pilot Trading or follow them on Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn, Discord and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer and Reader Advisory: All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. QuantGate Systems Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements and cautions investors to consider all other risks and uncertainties, including those disclosed in QuantGate filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact Information: QuantGate Systems Inc. Allan Bezanson, CEO 150 Bloor Street West, M103 Toronto, ON, M5S 1M4 E: [email protected] T: +1 416-479-0880 Bennett Milner Williams Consulting Ltd. Victoria Bennett, Principal [email protected] T: +1 403 879-9272 | +44 07941 06 95 30

Source: QuantGate Systems Inc.
Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York signed into law a measure that eases the process through which financial institutions can work with legal marijuana businesses. The bill was sponsored by Assembly member Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Senator Jeremy Cooney.

It permits the Office of Cannabis Management to offer information about legal cannabis business applicants or licensees to

Read More>>

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern  our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

To receive SMS alerts from CNW, text CANNABIS to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information, please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com/Disclaimer

CannabisNewsWire

Denver, CO

www.CannabisNewsWire.com

303.498.7722 Office

[email protected]

CannabisNewsWire is powered by IBN
Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) has developed a superior commercial-ready technology, RapidSX(TM), for separating and purifying critical metals. Ucore intends to deploy its technology to pursue a critical metals supply chain independent of China and Western companies for use by the many industries dependent upon REE-based components RapidSX combines the time-proven chemistry of conventional solvent extraction (SX) with a new column-based platform that significantly reduces the time to completion and plant footprint. SX is the industry standard used today and is used by all REE producers worldwide for bulk separation of both heavy and light REEs, reads a recent article. Earlier this year, Ucore began the commission of its RapidSX Demonstration Plant in Kingston, Ontario. The plant was designed to demonstrate the commercial capabilities of the companys RapidSX technology platform. The demonstration plant is located within Ucores 5,000-square-foot RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility and is run by the companys laboratory partner, Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc.

To view the full article, visit https://ibn.fm/Ec98n

About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth and scalability. Ucores vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry. Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the Peoples Republic of Chinas control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the U.S. state of Louisiana, subsequent Strategic Metal Complexes in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucores 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA. For more information, visit the companys website at www.Ucore.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF

About MiningNewsWire

MiningNewsWire (MNW) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on developments and opportunities in the Global Mining and Resources sectors. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, MNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, MNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness.

MNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.

To receive SMS alerts from MiningNewsWire, text BigHole to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information, please visit https://www.MiningNewsWire.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the MiningNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by MNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.MiningNewsWire.com/Disclaimer

MiningNewsWire

Los Angeles, CA

www.MiningNewsWire.com

310.299.1717 Office

[email protected]

MiningNewsWire is powered by IBN
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - 1844 RESOURCES Inc. (TSXV: EFF) (the "Company" or "1844") is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's news releases dated March 6, 2023 and September 23, 2023, the Company has entered into an amended and restated option agreement (the "Amended and Restated Option Agreement") with Nickel North Exploration Corp. ("NNX") with respect to the option agreement between the parties dated March 6, 2023, as amended (the "Option Agreement"), relating to the Company's option to acquire the Hawk Ridge Project. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, the parties have agreed to amend the payment terms and conditions of the Option Agreement as follows:

Upon entering into the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, the Company paid NNX $15,000 in cash as a non-refundable deposit and, upon receiving TSX Venture approval of the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, the Company will pay NNX $335,000 in cash and issue to the Optionor 5,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company.



The Company is now entitled to acquire a 20% undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project on the first anniversary of the date that is two business days following the approval of the Amended and Restated Option Agreement by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Effective Date") by paying $350,000 and issuing 4,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX and incurring $500,000 of exploration expenditures before the first anniversary of the Effective Date (the "First Option").

If the Company exercises the First Option, it can now acquire an additional 10% (for an aggregate 30%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $350,000 and issuing 4,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX on the second anniversary date of the Effective Date, and incurring $500,000 of exploration expenditures before the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Second Option").

If the Company exercises the Second Option, it can now acquire an additional 20% (for an aggregate 50%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $750,000 and issuing 3,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX on the third anniversary date of the Effective Date, and incurring $1,000,000 of exploration expenditures before the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Third Option").

If the Company exercises the Third Option, it can now acquire an additional 30% (for an aggregate 80%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $1,000,000 and issuing 3,000,000 common shares of the Company to NNX on the fourth anniversary date of the Effective Date, and incurring $2,000,000 of exploration expenditures before the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Fourth Option").

If the Company exercises the Fourth Option, it can now acquire an additional 20% (for an aggregate 100%) undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project by paying $2,000,000 to NNX on the fifth anniversary date of the Effective Date (the "Fifth Option").

Additionally, under the Option Agreement, if the Company did not satisfy the previous payment terms and conditions of the Second Option, the Company's option to acquire the Hawk Ridge Project would terminate and the Company was return to NNX the undivided interest in the Hawk Ridge Project that the Company would have acquired upon the exercise of the First Option for nil consideration, resulting in the Company holding no interest in the Hawk Ridge Project. Now, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Option Agreement, if the Company does not satisfy the payment terms of the Third Option, the Company's option to acquire the Hawk Ridge Project will terminate and the Company will return to NNX the undivided interests in the Hawk Ridge Project to be acquired upon the exercise of the First Option and the Second Option for nil consideration, resulting in the Company holding no interest in the Hawk Ridge Project.

The remaining terms of the Option Agreement are restated in the Amended and Restated Option Agreement.

Mr. Sylvain Laberge, President and CEO of the Company commented: "The option to acquire a 100% interest in the Hawk Ridge Project is transformational for 1844. Hawk Ridge is expected to become one of the flagship properties of the Company and is expected to add to our existing portfolio of copper and other critical mineral projects in coastal Quebec."

For more details regarding the Option Agreement and Hawk Ridge Property, see the Company's news releases dated March 6 and 7, 2023. Copies of the Company's news releases are available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

About 1844 Resources Inc.: 1844 is an exploration company with a focus in strategic and energetic metals and underexplored regions "Gasp, Nunavik Quebec". With a dedicated management team, the Company's goal is to create shareholder value through the discovery of new deposits.

1844 RESOURCES INC.

(signed) "Sylvain Laberge"

Sylvain Laberge

President and CEO

514.702.9841

Slaberge@1844 resources.com

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's option on the Hawk Ridge Project, the First Option, the Second Option, the Third Option, the Fourth Option, the Fifth Option, approval by the TSX Venture and the payment and issuance of common shares upon such approval. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; and Exchange approval.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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 Company's expectations include exploration or other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

Neither the 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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189480
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS) (OTCQB: GSPRF) (FSE: L5Y) ("Golden Spike" or the "Company") will proceed to a private placement financing of 3,950,000 Units at $0.08 per Unit for gross proceeds of $316,000. Each Unit consists of one common share and one-half of one warrant. Each whole warrant ( a "Warrant") is exercisable at $0.10 per common share for 2 years from closing (the "Private Placement"). Closing of the Private Placement is scheduled for December 5th, 2023.

The Company will pay finder's fees consisting of 8% cash and 8% warrants, (with the same terms as the subscribers' Warrants except that the finder's warrants will be non-transferable) on a portion of the Private Placement in accordance with the policies of the CSE. Proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for exploration and development of the Company's projects in Newfoundland, and for general working capital. The Private Placement is subject to the acceptance of the CSE.

About Golden Spike

Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS)(OTCQB: GSPRF) (FSE: L5Y) is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying, acquiring and unlocking value in mineral opportunities in Canada and other low-risk jurisdictions. The Company currently holds 100% interest in the 3,425-hectare Gregory River Property in Newfoundland, strategically centered over an approximate 11-kilometer-long stretch of the Gregory River VMS-belt, a north-northeast trending corridor of very prospective ground with potential to host Cyprus-type polymetallic VMS deposits. In addition, the Property hosts a cluster of historically explored, high-grade, copper gold vein structures.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Keith Anderson, President and CEO

Golden Spike Resources Corp.

830 - 1100 Melville St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 4A6

+1 (604) 786-7774

[email protected];www.goldenspikeresources.com

"Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This 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" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" occur.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189427
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - James Bay Resources Limited(CSE: JBR) ("James Bay" or the "Company") announced a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of unsecured convertible debentures in the aggregate principal amount of up to CDN$500,000 (the "Debentures") The Offering is expected to close over a series of tranches, with the final tranche to close on or before January 31, 2024. Net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund the Company's working capital needs, including in particular its ongoing litigation in California relating to secured loans made by the Company to CB Holdings in 2018 and 2019, and related litigation in Nevada (the "Litigation").

Each Debenture shall bear interest at a rate of 15%, payable semi-annually, and have a maturity date that is three years following the date the Debenture is issued (the "Maturity Date"). However, if the Litigation is settled or is subject to a final decision with funds received by the Company prior to the Maturity Date, the purchasers of Debentures (the "Holders") will have a right to demand payment in full of all amounts owing. In the event that the Company would be left with less than $250,000 dollars in free cash upon such a demand occurring, the amount payable to each Holder shall be reduced pro-rata to ensure that the Company retains $250,000 in free cash.

The Debentures shall be convertible, in whole or in part, at the option of the Holders, into common shares of the Company (each a "Common Share") at a conversion price of C$0.05 per Common Share (the "Conversion Rate"). Interest may also be converted into Common Shares at the market price at the date of any such conversion, at the option of the Holders. Any conversion of Debentures and interest accrued on the Debentures into Common Shares of the Company will be subject to receipt of all required approvals by the Company. The Debentures may be prepaid by the Company at any time, without penalty, on at least 15 days' notice to the Holders.

The Company will also concurrently sell and assign, pursuant to separate agreements with each Holder, a pro rata (based on all the Holders) entitlement for up to an aggregate of 30% of the net proceeds of the Litigation, if any (whether as a result of final judgement by a court of competent jurisdiction or settlement for which no appeal or further proceeding may be taken (the "Final Award")), after deduction of all related costs and taxes incurred by the Company in the Litigation (the "Net Final Amount"), for the initial $1 Million of Net Final Amount and 20% of any Net Final Amount above $1,000,000, payable to the Purchasers within 60 days from the receipt of the Final Award, if any. In the event the Company prepays the Debentures in full prior to that date which is one year from the date of issue and prior to date of the Final Award, then the amount payable to the Holders under the agreement will be adjusted to reflect an aggregate entitlement of 15%.

Mr. Stephen Shefsky, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Company, expects to purchase CDN$50,000 of Debentures in the first tranche of the Offering. Mr. Shefsky will also enter into a separate agreement of purchase and sale entitling him to a pro rata share of the Net Final Amount of any Litigation, as described above. The Offering was considered and approved by the board of directors of the Company, with Mr. Shefsky declaring a conflict and recusing himself from voting on the Offering. There was no materially contrary view or abstention by any director approving the Offering. Mr. Shefsky currently owns or controls, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 19,303,400 Common Shares. Assuming the conversion into Common Shares of the full principal amount of the Debentures will be purchased by Mr. Shefsky in the Offering, Mr. Shefsky will beneficially own or control, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 20,303,400 Common Shares, or 25% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis.

Pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), the issuance of Debentures to Mr. Shefsky will be a "related party transaction". The Company will be exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation or minority shareholder approval in connection with the Offering in reliance on sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(b), respectively, of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a stock exchange specified in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and the fair market value of the Debentures that may be purchased by Mr. Shefsky, nor the proceeds of the Offering to be received by the Company in respect of Mr. Shefsky's participation in the Offering, exceeds CDN$2.5 million. The material change report in respect of the Offering is being filed less than 21 days before the closing of the Offering as the Company requires the net proceeds from the Offering immediately in order to fund its working capital needs, including the Litigation.

The securities offered will not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About James Bay Resources Limited

James Bay is a Canadian resource company with 81,076,241 shares outstanding and trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "JBR". Please visit the James Bay website at www.jamesbayresources.com.

Disclaimer

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Corporation's operations, exploration and development plans, expansion plans, estimates, expectations, forecasts, objectives, predictions and projections of the future. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or "variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of James Bay Resources Limited to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the Company's proposed Offering and the change of business and the oil and gas industry in Nigeria generally, risks related to operations, construction delays and cost overruns, the actual results of exploration, development and construction activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future copper prices, as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors of our business filed in James Bay Resources Limited's required securities filings on SEDAR. Although James Bay Resources Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove 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. James Bay Resources Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

For further information please contact:

Stephen Shefsky

President and CEO

Tel: 416-366-4200

[email protected]

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189534
Deliver millions of LPG cooking solutions, transforming the country's energy landscape

Clean cooking essential for improving health and cutting carbon emissions

Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - A ground-breaking initiative to bring clean cooking to millions of people in Pakistan has been launched today by Global Carbon Investments (GCI) in a strategic partnership with Bboxx.

GCI, a UAE based pioneering investment vehicle dedicated to scaling climate finance for transformative impact and a fully owned subsidiary of the Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmouk Al Maktoum, is announcing a strategic partnership with Bboxx, a super platform which transforms lives and unlocks potential by connecting consumers and deploying innovative products, especially in Africa.

Together, they are set to launch one of the world's largest clean cooking initiatives, leveraging innovative smart LPG (liquid petroleum gas) technology to provide efficient and affordable cooking solutions.

Bboxx, with its expertise in technology and innovative products, is collaborating with GCI to address the critical issue of energy poverty in Pakistan where access to clean energy and cooking solutions is limited. Pakistan faces seasonal gas shortages, exacerbated by the depletion of natural gas fields at a rate of about 9% each year.

The initiative aims to deliver millions of LPG cooking solutions, marking a significant step towards transforming the country's energy landscape. The LPG gas tanks feature a revolutionary Pay As You Cook technology, ensuring affordable access to efficient cooking practices.

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmouk Al Maktoum said: "The partnership between GCI and Bboxx marks a significant milestone in the global effort to combat energy poverty and access to essential services. Together, we are pioneering scalable solutions that address both social and environmental challenges, setting a new standard for clean cooking initiatives worldwide."

Mansoor Hamayun, Co-founder and CEO of Bboxx, said: "This partnership with GCI is game-changing for millions of people Pakistan - improving health while cutting emissions - which is a win-win. As I was born in Pakistan this is also personal as through technology and partnerships like this we are able to improve people's lives for the better."

Bboxx has deployed its smart solutions in over 11 countries throughout Africa, benefiting more than 3.6 million people. This includes the provision of clean cooking solutions in Rwanda and DRC. Through its network of over 2,000 committed agents, the Bboxx data-driven super platform facilitates approximately 56 million digital payments annually.With its cutting-edge and efficient technologies, Bboxx has established strategic partnerships with global entities such as Mitsubishi, Shell Foundation, United Nations Foundation and Trafigura.

To make these smart cooking valves more affordable to consumers, Blue Carbon, a UAE based subsidiary of GCI, is actively exploring the potential of linking this enhanced cooking efficiency solution to carbon finance through carbon credits under Article 6 compliant methodologies. As Article 6 negotiations gain clarity at COP28, this potential will be further explored.

About GCI

Based in the UAE, Global Carbon Investments is a dedicated investment vehicle and aggregator of high value carbon credits. GCI seeks to unlock the economic potential of natural resources by prefinancing the development of future carbon credits and sustainable projects. The company's aim is to catalyse global efforts for decarbonization through crucial climate finance investments.

About Bboxx

Bboxx is a data-driven super platform, transforming lives and unlocking potential and accelerating the transition to the digital economy by connecting consumers and deploying innovative products across Africa. The company has built Bboxx Pulse, a fully integrated operating system and combined it with an extensive on-the-ground network to connect customers with clean energy, clean cooking, smartphones, e-mobility and selected financial products - many for the first time.

Following the successful acquisition of solar energy frontrunner PEG Africa in 2022, Bboxx is now positively impacting the lives of more than 3.5 million people in 10 operating markets, directly contributing to 11 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Bboxx and its group of companies is one of the largest networks in Africa, with over 4,000 staff across Africa and offices in the UK and Asia.

GCI:

Lesia Buinoza

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189270
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2023) - Renegade Gold Inc. (TSXV: RAGE) (OTCQX: TGLDF) (FSE: 070) ("Renegade" or the "Company") announces it intends to issue common shares to Benton Resources Inc. ("Benton") in satisfaction of its obligation to make a cash payment of C$300,000 pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement (as defined below) whereby the Company has the right to acquire the remaining 30% interest (for a total interest of 100%) in the Panama Lake Property (see the Company's news releases dated July 13, 2022 and November 4, 2022).

Renegade intends to issue Benton a total of 769,230 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a deemed price of $0.39 per Common Share in lieu of paying C$300,000, as payment for the Third Option as defined in an option agreement dated October 22, 2019 (the "Option Agreement") in respect of the Panama Lake Property. The issuance of Common Shares is subject to the receipt of all required approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Common Shares are subject to a statutory four month hold period.

The Panama Lake Gold Project is located approximately 80 km from, and on the same structural trend as Kinross Gold's Great Bear deposit and expands Renegade's dominant contiguous foothold along the Confederation belt by a further 9,900 hectares.

The Panama Lake property acquisition brings Renegade's consolidated land package along the Confederation Belt to 58,600 hectares, underlain by the Red Lake and LP Fault structures, positioning it as one of the most prospective exploration projects in the heart of the Red Lake Mining District.

About Renegade Gold Inc.

Renegade Gold Inc. is a growth focused company engaged in the business of acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in the Red Lake Mining District of Northern Ontario. As part of its regional-scale consolidation strategy, the Company has assembled one of the largest prospective land packages in and around the Red Lake mining district in proximity to major mines and deposits, as well as along the Confederation Lake and Birch-Uchi greenstone belts. The recent completion of the acquisition of Pacton Gold Inc. extends the Company's ownership in Red Lake to over 89,600 hectares of prospective and diversified exploration properties with significant potential for gold and critical minerals on trend with the major structures hosting known gold occurrences in the Red Lake mining district today. A portfolio of prospective projects in Western Australia has also been acquired.

For further information, please contact:

Renegade Gold Inc.

Nav Dhaliwal

President, CEO and Director

[email protected]

Tel: 604-678-5308

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the issuance of the Common Shares. The words "anticipate," "significant," "expect," "may," "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; that all requisite approvals will be received and all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, risks related to unforeseen delays; general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes; timeliness of regulatory approvals, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this Forward-Looking Information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this Forward-Looking Information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189415
The power of Tao Calligraphy and Tao Song comes to life in this two day event starting on December 2nd.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Led by Tao Grandmaster, Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha, the Sha Tao Concert: A Transformative Weekend through Tao Calligraphy & Tao Song takes place December 2nd and 3rd in a special livestream from the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. & Master Sha will lead the audience through an interactive experience of healing and transformation through soulful art, music, and dance, which will also feature a diverse cast of local and internationally-renowned performers.

Speaking about the event, Dr. & Master Sha expressed the potential power of Tao Calligraphy, Tao Song, Tao Dance, and Tao Music. "Heal and transform the soul first, then healing and transformation of every aspect of life will follow," he says.

Dr. & Master Sha will infuse ancient Tao wisdom and frequencies into his voice to perform a 3-minute Tao Source Tao Song blessing that is believed to promote emotional balance through the accelerated healing capacity of sound.

At last year's Sha Tao Concert, in July 2022, Dr. & Master Sha led a capacity live audience, with thousands more joining online, through an evening full of interactive song and dance.

Those attending this year's concert seek to:

Increase their power to have long-lasting change in their lives.

Experience a deeper sense of freedom.

Rejuvenate their self-transformative practices.

Empower their authentic self-expression.

Upgrade their physical, emotional, and mental frequency.

People interested in hearing Dr. & Master Sha's Tao Concert can access the livestream (and for 48 hours afterward, a recording). They will also receive Tao light treasures, permanent spiritual transmissions of Tao Source greatest light and greatest unconditional love: qualities at the core of removing obstacles in various aspects of life.

In-person attendance is available, but limited. Access to the online livestream can be reserved here.

About Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha

Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha is a Tao Grandmaster, world-renowned healer, and international spiritual teacher who has authored 11 New York Times bestsellers. He is also the creator of Tao Calligraphy, Tao Song, and Tao Dance, which expand and accelerate the healing capacity of art, sound, and movement.

An MD in China and a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine in both his home country of China and his adopted home of Canada, Dr. & Master Sha created Soul Mind Body Medicine, which combines the essences of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, infused with ancient energy and spiritual secrets.

Media Contact

Name: Irit Furman

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 905 707 0883 ext: 104

Website: https://drsha.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189418
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Thermal Energy International Inc. (TSXV:TMG)(OTCQB:TMGEF) ("Thermal Energy" or the "Company"), a global provider of energy efficiency and emissions reduction solutions, has announced that it has granted 1,760,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company to officers and directors of the Company as part of an overall remuneration and incentive program.

The stock options were granted pursuant to the terms of the Company's stock option plan, have a 5-year term and are exercisable at $0.20. One third of the options will vest with the optionee on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. Stock option grants are subject to necessary regulatory approvals.

To receive all our news directly to your inbox please sign up here.

ENDS

For media enquiries contact:

Thermal Energy International Inc.

Canada: 613-723-6776

UK: +44 (0)117 917 2179

[email protected]

For investor enquiries:

Thermal Energy International Inc.

613-723-6776

[email protected]

Notes to editors

About Thermal Energy International Inc.

Thermal Energy International Inc. provides energy efficiency and emissions reduction solutions to Fortune 500 and other large multinational companies. We save our customers money by reducing their fuel use and cutting their carbon emissions. Thermal Energy's proprietary and proven solutions can recover up to 80% of energy lost in typical boiler plant and steam system operations while delivering a high return on investment with a short, compelling payback.

Thermal Energy is a fully accredited professional engineering firm with engineering offices in Ottawa, Canada, Pittsburgh, USA, as well as Bristol, UK, with sales offices in Canada, UK, USA, Germany, Poland, and Italy. By providing a unique mix of proprietary products together with process, energy, and environmental engineering expertise, Thermal Energy can deliver unique, site-specific turnkey and custom engineered solutions with significant financial and environmental benefits for our customers.

Thermal Energy's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol TMG and on the OTCQB under the symbol TMGEF. For more information, visit our investor website at https://investors-thermalenergy.com or company website at www.thermalenergy.com and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GoThermalEnergy.

# # #

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, and amongst other things, based on management's expectations, estimates and projections, the anticipated effectiveness of the Company's products and services, the timing of revenues to be received by the Company, the anticipated effects of COVID-19 on the business, backlog and revenue, the expectation that orders in backlog will become revenue, the anticipated benefits of the Company's current efforts at training and business improvement efforts, opportunities for growth, the Company's belief that it can capitalize on opportunities, the size of markets and opportunities open to the Company and expectations that order intake will bounce back. Information as to the amount of heat recovered, energy savings and payback period associated with Thermal Energy International's products are based on the Company's own testing and average customer results to date. Statements relating to the expected installation and revenue recognition for projects, statements about the anticipated effectiveness and lifespan of the Company's products, statements about the expected environmental effects and cost savings associated with the Company's products and statements about the Company's ability to cross-sell its products and sell to more sites are forward looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, some of which are outside of the Company's control, could cause events and results to differ materially from those stated. Fulfilment of orders, installation of product and activation of product could all be delayed for a number of reasons, some of which are outside of the Company's control, which would result in anticipated revenues from such projects being delayed or in the most serious cases eliminated. Actions taken by the Company's customers and factors inherent in the customer's facilities but not anticipated by the Company can have a negative impact on the expected effectiveness and lifespan of the Company's products and on the expected environmental effects and cost savings expected from the Company's products. Any customer's willingness to purchase additional products from the Company and whether orders in the Company's backlog as described above will turn into revenue is dependent on many factors, some of which are outside of the Company's control, including but not limited to the customer's perceived needs and the continuing financial viability of the customer. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements except as required by law. Readers are referred to the risk factors associated with the Company's business as described in the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis available at www.sedarplus.ca.

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/189428
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.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at CS Wind, the largest wind tower manufacturer in the world, in Pueblo, Colorado, U.S., November 29, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases.

"We should immediately restrict travel between the United States and (China) until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness," said the letter signed by Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, along with Senators J.D. Vance, Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville and Mike Braun.

The rise in cases became a global issue last week when the World Health Organization asked China for more information, citing a report on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases.

A Biden administration official said the United States was closely monitoring the uptick in respiratory illnesses in China, but added, "We are seeing seasonal trends. Nothing is appearing out of the ordinary. ... At this time, there is no indication that there is a link between the people who are seeking care in U.S. emergency departments and the outbreak of respiratory illness in China."

The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said in response to the Rubio letter, "The relevant claims are purely ill-intentioned fabrications. China firmly opposes them."

Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO's department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said earlier this week the increase appeared to be driven by a rise in the number of children contracting pathogens that they had avoided during two years of COVID-19 restrictions.

In recent months, the United States and China have been steadily increasing flights between the countries, though they remain far below 2019 levels. The number approved rose on Nov. 9 to 35 per week for each country, up from 12 per week in August.

In January 2020, then-President Donald Trump barred most non-U.S. citizens who had recently been in China from entering the United States over COVID concerns, but did not restrict flights between the two countries.

The United States lifted the unprecedented travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting in November 2021, including from China. The U.S. rescinded a separate requirement that air travelers test negative before arriving in June 2022.

The United States in January had started requiring air passengers to get negative COVID tests after Beijing's decision to lift its stringent zero-COVID policies, but lifted the requirements in March.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Leslie Adler)
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Analysis by Catapult research shows that Avila Energy may be poised for growth following increased oil and natural gas production, along with the launch of their low emission energy generation systems - a unique dynamic leveraging traditional energy profits to invest in green tech.



Avila Energy looks to pioneer a greener future in the energy sector - and that spells good news for the company and the industry, announces Catapult Research.

The established Canadian energy producer is projecting a financial surge with heavy profits coming from their oil and natural gas business this year and an anticipated $10 million in recurring revenue from its revolutionary Integrated Energy Solution by 2024/2025.

With its portfolio of wholly owned wells, facilities and pipelines in Alberta, Avila Energy has built a strong foundation for growth. The company is on track to achieve cash flow positivity by year-end 2023 and forecasts approximately $4.2 million in free operational cash flow in 2024 from its oil and gas business, according to Catapult Research. They recently announced an additional $1.1 million expected from 3rd party processing of natural gas.

While the company showed a book value of $21 million in Q2, the breakup of an anticipated SPAC deal brought the share price down considerably. Avilas stock (OTC:PTRVF) (TSXV:VIK) is now trading around an $8 million valuation. The book value translates to a roughly 13 cent share value, while the company has been trading in the 5-6 cent US range.

Avila's largest potential growth driver is the Integrated Energy Solution, or IES, explains Catapult. The patented systems are modular high-efficiency power generators for homes and commercial sites. These cogeneration systems combine a boiler with a small power plant to produce power and heat with a unique microturbine design. The system is plug and play and can be run off green gas, propane, natural gas and even part hydrogen. The patented technology has been installed in commercial and residential locations across Europe, where it is CE certified. The biggest risk facing Avila Energy at this point appears to be the pending applications for Underwriters Laboratory and Canadian Standards Association approval, though pre-sales are underway, according to the Catapult analysis.

The disruptive clean technology will be leased directly to consumers and the company estimates that domestic units will save about 20 tons of CO2 emissions for a family of four annually.

IES provides a low-disruption green energy solution, enabling anyone to be off-grid or in control of their own energy production. Avila intends to license these systems and anticipates gross profit margins of around 40%.

"IES can generate power equivalent to 130 square meters of solar panels annually using clean fuels like green gas," said CEO Leonard Van Betuw. "It's a future-proof technology aligned with our sustainability mission."

Initial IES sales were pushed to 2024 due to regulatory delays. But Avila still projects $10 million in high margin recurring revenue by 2024/2025. This cash flow surge comes alongside the company's financial upswing in its oil and gas operations.

With technology like IES and increasing cash generation, Avila Energy is on the cusp of a transformative era, concludes Catapult Research. This looks to be one of the first examples of traditional oil and gas producers integrating clean energy technologies and vying for market share in the burgeoning industry.

2024 should prove decisive as Avila Energy rolls out IES and unlocks the potential in its assets. Investors seeking exposure to renewable technology and clean energy should watch to see if Avila hits their oil and gas production projections and if they receive approval for their IES system in North America, recommends Catapult Research.

For more information visit https://www.stockspeak.com/avilaenergy/

More information on the Catapult Research study can be found at https://catapultresearch.org/disclosures

Contact Info:

Name: Liz Stowell

Email: Send Email

Organization: Catapult Research

Address: 1621 Central Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001, United States

Website: https://catapultresearch.org



Release ID: 89114410

Should any problems, inaccuracies, or doubts arise from the content contained within this press release, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our dedicated team will promptly address your concerns within 8 hours, taking necessary steps to rectify identified issues or assist with the removal process. Providing accurate and dependable information is at the core of our commitment to our readers.
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.



Shao Bank, part of the Global Future Enterprise Group Corporation, announced a $100 million investment in advanced bitcoin mining chips. The move is part of Shao Globak Future Ltd.'s strategy to become the world's leading cryptocurrency bank, given the company's monthly turnover growth and Shao Bank's capitalization of over $3 billion dollars.

The company's CEO and founder, Yang Shao, confirmed in an interview, "We plan to invest about $100 million over the next few months, channeling it towards creating innovative chips that can improve the efficiency of the mining process."

Bitcoin mining, an energy-intensive process, involves the use of specialized computers to verify transactions in the bitcoin block chain. Shao Bank aims to optimize this process by investing in the development of next-generation chips.

November 12 of this year was a record high for daily bitcoin miner revenue, reaching the $44 million mark. Due to the recalculation of the complexity of mining on the bitcoin network, it increased by 5%, reaching a maximum level of 67.96 T. The average hash rate was 486 EH/s and the range between blocks was just over 9.5 minutes.

Shao Bank is looking to raise funds through a corporate bond issue for Global Future Technology and Culture, a technology company that is part of Global Future Enterprise Group Corporation, a Class A enterprise.

"We aim to become part of the ecosystem," Yang Shao noted. "Our approach to expanding and manufacturing new chips is very serious."

Global Future Technology and Culture, successfully cooperating with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering and Tsinghua University Science and Technology Park, has realized major projects, including solving traffic congestion problems in China's major cities.

Today, Shao Bank emerges as one of the most promising fintech companies in the world, asserting its position in the cryptocurrency industry.

Contact Info:

Name: Wai Lui

Email: Send Email

Organization: Shao Bank

Website: https://www.facebook.com/shaobank/



Release ID: 89114676

If there are any problems, discrepancies, or queries related to the content presented in this press release, we kindly ask that you notify us immediately at [email protected]. Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or support you with press release takedowns. Ensuring accurate and trustworthy information is our unwavering commitment.
NEW YORK , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders (the "Group") of the Republic of Sri Lanka (" Sri Lanka ") notes the statements released by the Official Creditor Committee ("OCC") and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance on November 29, 2023 on the agreement-in-principle ("AiP") reached between Sri Lanka and the OCC. The Group welcomes progress on the restructuring of official claims, as uncertainty around the treatment of these claims has hindered Sri Lanka's recovery.

At this point, the terms of the AiP reached between the Sri Lankan authorities and the OCC on the one hand, and China Exim Bank, an official sector creditor, on the other hand on October 11, 2023 , have not been shared. The Group finds it regrettable that there remains such a significant lack of transparency on the part of official sector creditors despite the Group's efforts so far to act as a constructive counterparty.

Transparency between creditors is critical for the private sector to reach an agreement compliant with the parameters of Sri Lanka's IMF programme's first review, and one that provides fair and equitable debt treatment.

The Group has expressed support for Sri Lanka's efforts since February 2023 , has been forthcoming and transparent with official stakeholders at every stage of the process, and has repeatedly made efforts to engage with the Sri Lankan authorities and its advisors in good faith. Unfortunately, no substantive engagement has taken place between Sri Lanka and its private creditors to date.

The Group remains committed to reaching an agreement with the Sri Lankan authorities as quickly as possible to find a sustainable solution to Sri Lanka's debt challenges as they relate to the international bond debt.

The Group is advised by Rothschild & Co and White & Case LLP as financial and legal advisors, respectively.

Media inquiries should be directed to Greenbrook at the addresses below:

Email / Telephone: [email protected] / +44 (0) 20 7952 2000

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ad-hoc-group-of-bondholders-statement-on-progress-in-sri-lankas-debt-restructuring-302003264.html

SOURCE White & Case LLP
CHICAGO , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association is saddened by the death of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor . A trailblazer and transparent leader throughout her life, Justice O'Connor bravely shared her diagnosis of "dementia, probably Alzheimer's disease," in a letter to the American people in 2018.

At the time of her diagnosis, Justice O'Connor was not new to Alzheimer's. Her husband, John O'Connor , lived with Alzheimer's disease for nearly 20 years. In 2005, as Mr. O'Connor was in decline from the disease, Justice O'Connor stepped down from the Supreme Court to spend more time with him.

"The Alzheimer's Association mourns the loss of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor . Former Justice O'Connor played an important role in making Alzheimer's the national priority it is today," said Joanne Pike , DrPH, president and CEO, Alzheimer's Association. "Driven by her experience of caring for her husband as he battled Alzheimer's, she served as a member of the Alzheimer's Study Group in 2009, ensuring caregivers and those living with dementia were represented. Ms. O'Connor leaves behind a legacy as a transparent leader using her voice to inspire action and change for all those impacted by Alzheimer's and all other dementia."

According to the Alzheimer's Association 2023 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report , more than 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease, with more than 11 million friends and family providing unpaid care. These numbers will skyrocket in the coming years and by 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease is projected to double.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia  by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alzheimers-association-mourns-death-of-former-supreme-court-justice-sandra-day-oconnor-302003479.html

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
VANCOUVER, BC , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - BBTV Holdings Inc. (TSX: BBTV) ("BBTV" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that at its special meeting of shareholders (the "Continuance Meeting") and its special meeting of securityholders (the "Arrangement Meeting"), both held November 30, 2023 , all matters presented at the meetings were approved as referred to in the notices of meetings and information circular dated October 30, 2023 .

Holders of both Multiple Voting Shares and Subordinate Voting Shares (together, the "Shareholders") were entitled to vote at the Continuance Meeting, with holders of Multiple Voting Shares entitled to ten votes per share and holders of Subordinate Voting Shares entitled to one vote per share. Shareholders approved the continuance of BBTV (the "Continuance") from the jurisdiction of British Columbia under the Business Corporations Act ( British Columbia ) (the "BCBCA") into the jurisdiction of Canada pursuant to Section 187 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "CBCA"). Shareholders approved adoption of By-law No. 1 of the Company in accordance with section 103(2) of the CBCA. At the Continuance Meeting, the Company received votes in respect of the Continuance as follows:

Resolution Votes For Votes Against

# % # % Continuance (special) 68,392,576 99.68 221,356 0.32 By-law No.1

(ordinary) 68,323,927 99.66 232,505 0.34

Following the Continuance Meeting, the Company continued from the BCBCA to the CBCA.

At the Arrangement Meeting, and as a CBCA company, holders of debentures of the Company, holders of incentive securities of the Company and Shareholders (collectively, the "Securityholders"), approved a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under Section 192 of the CBCA involving BBTV and 15384150 Canada Inc. as purchaser. The Company received votes in respect to the Arrangement as follows:

Resolution Votes For Votes Against

# % # % All Shares and Incentive Securities

Single Class Resolution (special) 71,206,880 97.64 1,718,715 2.36 Minority Shareholders Only

Resolution (ordinary) 4,093,073 70.43 1,718,715 29.57 All Debentures Resolution

(principal amount of Debentures) (extraordinary) 27,592,000 92.30 2,301,000 7.70 Minority Debentureholders Only

Resolution

(principal amount of Debentures)

(ordinary) 27,542,000 92.29 2,301,000 7.71

Additional details on the voting results for matters considered at the Continuance Meeting and Arrangement Meeting are reported in the Report of Voting Results as filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) filed on November 30, 2023 .

About BBTV

BBTV is a global media and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada . The Company's mission is to help content creators become more successful. With creators ranging from individuals to global media brands, BBTV provides comprehensive, end-to-end Solutions to increase viewership and drive revenue powered by its innovative technology, while allowing creators to focus on their core competency  content creation. In December 2022 , BBTV had the fourth most unique monthly viewers among digital platforms with more than 600 million globally, who consumed more than 35 billion minutes of video content [1]. (www.bbtv.com)

[1] Calculations and classifications made by BBTV based on data from Comscore's "Top 12 Countries = December 2022 comScore Video Metrix Media Trend  Multi-Platform  Top 100 Video Properties Report"; Top 12 countries represent ~50% of world's digital population.

Links to SEDAR filings, conference call recordings and press releases are available on the investor website at: https://investors.bbtv.com/

For further information please contact:

Media Relations: [email protected]

Investor Relations: [email protected]

BBTV-C

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bbtv-holdings-announces-results-of-shareholder-special-meeting-and-securityholder-special-meeting-302002754.html

SOURCE BBTV Holdings Inc.
HAMILTON, Bermuda , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (the "Company") (NYSE: BORR) and (OSE: BORR) advises that the Company will hold a Special General Meeting on December 22, 2023 to approve a reduction of the Company's Share Premium account (referred to as additional paid-in capital in the financial statements of the Company) and to credit the same amount resulting from this reduction to the Company's Contributed Surplus account, which will enable dividend payments to shareholders.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on November 27, 2023 as the record date for determination of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the Special General Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

A copy of the Notice of Special General Meeting and Form of Proxy (the "Notice") and associated information can be found on the Company's website at http://www.borrdrilling.com and is attached to this press release. The Notice and associated information will also be distributed to shareholders by normal distribution methods.

Hamilton, Bermuda

1 December, 2023

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

CONTACT:

Questions should be directed to: Magnus Vaaler , CFO, +44 1224 289208

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/16983/3886866/ad9bbb38ea620505.pdf 20231222 BDL SGM Notice reduction of share premium

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/borr-drilling-limited--notice-of-special-general-meeting-of-shareholders-302003451.html

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
$300,000 in scholarships will be distributed over three years

DENVER , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CoBank is partnering with the American Indian College Fund (College Fund) to provide American Indian and Alaska Native students with scholarships. CoBank has granted $300,000 over the next three years, providing $100,000 per year for 20 student scholarships in the amount of $4,500 . All Native students are eligible to apply for consideration, however preference will be given to those studying banking, finance, and agriculture. Scholarship recipients who continue to meet program requirements can reapply for funding each year.

"CoBank is honored to partner with the College Fund to provide scholarships to deserving students. Higher education plays a vital role in securing a prosperous future for individuals, families, and communities throughout the country  especially in rural America. We are excited about this new relationship and the opportunity to support underserved Native American students," said Tom Halverson , CoBank's president and CEO.

College Fund President and CEO, Cheryl Crazy Bull said, "On behalf of the College Fund, I want to thank CoBank for this wonderful partnership that will help students obtain degrees that are so important to the financial well-being of our communities and the important relationship that we have with the land and its resources."

About CoBank CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water, and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers, and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure, and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado , CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore .

About the American Indian College Fund  The American Indian College Fund has been the nation's largest charity supporting Native higher education for 34 years. The College Fund believes "Education is the answer" and provided $17.4 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2022-23. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $319 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation's 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators and is one of the nation's top 100 charities named to the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org .

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cobank-partners-with-the-american-indian-college-fund-to-support-native-college-students-302002693.html

SOURCE American Indian College Fund
TEL AVIV, Israel and NEW YORK , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyviation, the first cybersecurity company focusing on aircraft security by providing multiple layers of cyber resilience ranging from fleet assessment and aircrew training to aviation security SIEM and real-time airborne detection, today announced an agreement with Deloitte Canada to offer a combined solution utilizing the firm's extensive cyber security consulting and professional services and Cyviation's advanced aircraft cybersecurity solutions.

The combined solution will initially comprise of three platform offerings that aim to reduce cybersecurity risk exposure, enhance awareness, help manage cyber events and support commercial airlines in developing cyber resilience and prepare for upcoming cyber regulation compliance. The offerings include cyber training and education, fleet cyber risk assessment, and cyber incident management.

"At Cyviation, the trust bestowed by Deloitte fuels our joint market endeavors, amplifying our mutual impact in our go to market effort," said Cyviation's CEO, Avi Tenenbaum. "Our combined offering adds value to the market and is a vital compass for operators and airlines navigating complex cybersecurity challenges and current and upcoming regulations especially around the aircraft and fleet. Together, we're crafting tailored cybersecurity solutions for diverse aviation stakeholders, enabling them to confidently provide safety and security to an industry that faces significant threats."

Following the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) adoption of new rules for cybersecurity risk management, strategy, governance, and incident disclosure by public companies, 64.8% of public company executives say their organizations will strengthen their cybersecurity programs, according to a Deloitte poll. Over half of executives surveyed will also push their third parties to strengthen cyber programs (54.1%) in response to the new SEC rules.

"Deloitte's 2023 Global Future of Cyber survey found that cyber is more than just technology-focusedit is foundational to an organization's growth strategy," said Gregory Lemaire , Partner, Risk Advisory and Cyber Risk at Deloitte Canada. "Cyviation and Deloitte's collaborative efforts not only foster trust but also leverage mutual strengths in the market. Our joint offerings hold immense value for a tailored solution for multiple aviation industry players. Together, we're customizing solutions to cater to a broad spectrum of the aviation industry and meeting the immense demand."

Cyviation focuses on aircraft security including aircraft cyber event management and a patented technology to detect intrusion into the avionics for commercial aircraft and private jets. Aviation cybersecurity ensures safe, secure, and proactive defensive measures and supports airlines and operators' compliance with upcoming regulations.

Chairman Arik Arad of Cyviation expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting its potential impact on the industry. "As cyber threats continue to increase, our steadfast mission persists in empowering the aviation sector with robust defenses and proactive strategies. There have been over 50 recent reports of cyberattacks that have altered planes' in-flight GPS. Amidst unprecedented global risks and escalating cyber threats, equipping the aviation industry with unparalleled safeguards has never been more urgent, and we continue to remain unwavering in our vision."

About Cyviation

Launched in 2021, Cyviation dedicates its resources to shielding commercial airlines and private jets from cyber adversaries. Headquartered in Israel with a presence in New York . The firm's vision encompasses a vast global footprint in its ambitious expansion roadmap. Learn more at cyviation.aero.

Contact:

Brigit Hennaman

Rubenstein Public Relations

bhennaman@rubensteinpr.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyviation-the-first-company-focusing-on-aircraft-cybersecurity-announces-collaboration-on-aviation-cybersecurity-intelligence-and-monitoring-solutions-302003448.html

SOURCE Cyviation
Super Premium Butter Brand Introduces European-Style Spreadable Butters Infused with Extra Virgin Oils and European-Style Butter Specialty Salt Sticks

DUBLIN, Calif. , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Danish Creamery , a California -based butter company, today announced the expansion of its product portfolio with two "firsts" for the category: European Style Spreadable Butters with Extra Virgin Oils and European Style Butter Specialty Salt Sticks. These new additions to the premium butter brand's portfolio have rolled out just in time for the holiday season. The newest additions to the esteemed butter brand's portfolio are rolling out in sync with the holiday season's arrival. Crafted with meticulous detail, these premium butters make holiday dishes and occasions extra flavorful and extra special.

Danish Creamery European Style Spreadable Butters are made with Danish Creamery's highest-quality butter, cold-extracted extra virgin oils and a touch of sea salt, offering consumers an elevated eating experience in a softer, more spreadable form. The butter is available in two varieties:

Extra Virgin Avocado Oil lends a buttery, avocado flavor and a rich color. Danish Creamery European Style Spreadable Butter with Extra Virgin Avocado Oil levels up avocado toast, gourmet grilled cheeses, vegetables and more.

lends a buttery, avocado flavor and a rich color. Danish Creamery European Style Spreadable Butter with Extra levels up avocado toast, gourmet grilled cheeses, vegetables and more. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is fruit-forward followed by a peppery flavor representative of the antioxidants preserved in the pressing process. Danish Creamery European Style Spreadable Butter with Extra Virgin Olive Oil is perfect for spreading on crostinis, tossing in pasta and sauteing protein, among other applications.

Danish Creamery European Style Butter Specialty Salt Sticks combine its rich, European-style butter, boasting 82% butterfat, with premium salts and ingredients. Perfect for elevating every eating occasion, these new luxuriously flavored artisanal butter sticks are available as a single unit for purchase in three varieties:

Garlic Salt : The addition of garlic salt to Danish Creamery's premium European Style Butter lends a flavor perfect for enhancing pasta, protein, vegetables and of course garlic bread.

: The addition of garlic salt to premium European Style Butter lends a flavor perfect for enhancing pasta, protein, vegetables and of course garlic bread. Pink Himalayan Salt: Churned with flaky pink Himalayan salt you can see and taste, this specialty butter is just as luscious on popcorn as it is on roasted vegetables.

Churned with flaky pink Himalayan salt you can see and taste, this specialty butter is just as luscious on popcorn as it is on roasted vegetables. Rosemary Salt : Aromatic and flavorful, this rosemary salted butter is perfect for basting a steak, adding herbaceous flavor to pasta or slathered on a crusty baguette.

Whether used as an ingredient or on a butter board, these flavorful butters will be the star of your holiday entertaining.

Danish Creamery European Style Spreadable Butter is now available in 6.5oz tubs for an SRP of $4.49 . Danish Creamery European Style Butter Specialty Salt Sticks are rolling out on shelves in individual sticks for an SRP of $2.99 at select retail locations. To learn more or find a store near you, visit www.danishcreamery.com .

ABOUT DANISH CREAMERY

Danish Creamery is a 127-year-old, California -based, farmer-owned cooperative founded in 1895 by a group of Danish farmers who came together to create a creamery modeled after those they left behind in Denmark . Danish Creamery produces its butter the same way its heritage demands, in small batches and slow churned for a luxurious texture and delicious flavor. Danish Creamery is a subsidiary of California Dairies, Inc. For more information, visit www.danishcreamery.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jennifer Parnell

[email protected]

720-515-3651

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/danish-creamery-debuts-two-new-category-firsts-for-the-dairy-case-perfect-for-holiday-entertaining-302003277.html

SOURCE Danish Creamery
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".

Search Keywords:

Short link:


TORONTO , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Franco-Nevada Corporation ("Franco-Nevada" or the "Company") (TSX: FNV) (NYSE: FNV) notes that its partner, First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum"), has provided a further update in respect of recent comments made by the President of Panama , Laurentino Cortizo , regarding a transition process for the closure of the Cobre Panama mine.

For more detailed information, please refer to First Quantum's news release dated December 1, 2023 .

Franco-Nevada also reports that, on November 23, 2023 , the Company notified the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama of its intent to initiate arbitration to enforce its rights under international law pursuant to the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement. Similar to the notice filed by First Quantum on November 14, 2023 , the Company's notice facilitates consultations between the Government of Panama and the Company under the Free Trade Agreement in order to avoid the need to file any such arbitration.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, respectively, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the transition process for the closure of the Cobre Panama mine and potential international arbitration under the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement. The outcome of these matters, the failure to restart production from the mine, the inability to achieve agreement on appropriate mining concession arrangements, and further steps in respect thereof by the Panamanian government and courts could have a material adverse impact on the revenue Franco-Nevada derives from its streaming arrangements relating to Cobre Panama and on Franco-Nevada's results of operations and financial condition. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to Franco-Nevada's business and assets, please refer to Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on www.sedarplus.com and Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Report filed on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and Franco-Nevada 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.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/developments-in-panama-302003192.html

SOURCE Franco-Nevada Corporation
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment is excited to launch its 15th annual DigiWish Giveaway on Dec. 1, 2023 . As the holiday season approaches, DigiKey is selecting 24 lucky winners to start the celebrations early, as part of the company's continued mission to help engineers, designers and makers accelerate progress.

Participants can enter to win DigiKey products of their choice during the DigiWish social media giveaway Dec. 1-24, 2023 . To enter, participants must select one in-stock DigiKey product valued up to $100 USD and comment or post their "wish" on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #DigiWish. One name will be drawn from the list of eligible candidates each day of the contest, with a total of 24 lucky winners. All participants will also be entered in the grand prize drawing for a $500 DigiKey shopping spree.

"We are thrilled to ring in this holiday season with our 15th Annual DigiWish Giveaway," said Brooks Vigen , senior director of strategic marketing for DigiKey. "Programs like DigiWish are just one way DigiKey supports engineers, designers and makers year-round as they accelerate progress in the industry."

There is no purchase necessary for the DigiWish Giveaway and the promotion is void where restricted and prohibited by law. Entrants are reminded that DigiKey cannot grant wishes for products that are export restricted in their respective countries. Entrants' DigiWish social media posts must be public for entries to be collected.

Visit the DigiKey website for the complete rules and terms and conditions of the 2023 DigiWish Giveaway.

About DigiKey

DigiKey, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minn. , USA, is recognized as the global leader and continuous innovator in the cutting-edge commerce distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. We get technical by providing more than 17.2 million components from over 2,800 quality name-brand manufacturers with an industry-leading breadth and depth of product in stock and available for immediate shipment. DigiKey also supports engineers, designers, builders and procurement professionals with a wealth of digital solutions, frictionless interactions and tools to make their jobs more efficient. Additional information can be found at digikey.com and on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Editorial Contact

Megan Derkey

Bellmont Partners

+1 612-255-1115

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digikeys-15th-annual-digiwish-giveaway-kicks-off-on-dec-1-2023-302003361.html

SOURCE DigiKey
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dutchess County is playing a pivotal role in New York's emergence as one of the leading states in semiconductor production, thanks to a series of major investments from industry giants. The County's commitment to fostering technological innovation and workforce development recently prompted site selection publication Business Facilities to name the region the 'heart' of the burgeoning semiconductor industry.

Earlier this year, global semiconductor solutions provider onsemi announced plans to invest $1.3 billion into its East Fishkill site, making it the company's largest and most advanced facility. Additionally, the intersection of strategic initiatives and national recognition, including the CHIPS Act, a historic $20 billion investment by IBM and notable visits by President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden , is further propelling Dutchess County to the forefront of semiconductor research and manufacturing.

During his visit to IBM's Poughkeepsie facility, President Biden praised the company's commitment to taking American manufacturing into the future. He highlighted the substantial investment, emphasizing its role in strengthening semiconductor chip manufacturing and driving advancements in mainframe technology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing over the next decade.

To ensure that companies like IBM and onsemi have the skilled talent they need to accompany these historic investments, Dutchess County has made on-the-job training and accessible workforce development a top priority. Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona's visit to the new, state-of-the-art Mechatronics Lab at Dutchess Community College reinforced the federal government's support for educational initiatives that align with the needs of a rapidly evolving technology landscape. A $3 million investment, this lab is the first of its kind in the mid- Hudson region and a vital component in Dutchess County's trajectory as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technology.

"The Mechatronics Lab is a result of the collaborative spirit that drives Dutchess County's business community and our dedication to developing a skilled workforce," said Sarah Lee , CEO of Think Dutchess Alliance for Business. "As global industry leaders like onsemi, IBM and AMD continue to grow their businesses here, we're building a deep talent bench that will drive innovation and economic growth in the region."

As Dutchess County continues to build on its momentum in the semiconductor industry, the collaborative efforts of public and private stakeholders are driving economic growth and positioning the region as a leader in advanced manufacturing and technology.

For more information on the growth of Dutchess County's semiconductor industry, visit thinkdutchess.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dutchess-county-ny-dubbed-heart-of-semiconductor-industry-on-heels-of-onsemis-1-3-billion-investment-302003505.html

SOURCE Think Dutchess Alliance For Business
Company Committed to Support U.S. Health Care Needs

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safety Communication on evaluation of certain plastic syringes:

Eric Borin , president of BD Medication Delivery Solutions said, "The FDA safety notice does not apply to any BD syringes. Essentially all plastic syringes BD provides to the U.S. health care system are manufactured in the United States in Nebraska and Connecticut . BD remains committed to supporting the U.S. health care system and is ready to increase production to help supply those providers who currently purchase syringes impacted by the FDA communication.

"Ensuring the safety and quality of our products is the top priority at BD. We have been supporting health care needs with needles and syringes since the inception of our company in 1897 and have provided these products to the U.S. health care system through two world wars, the Polio vaccination trials and multiple pandemics  most recently manufacturing 2 billion additional syringes for COVID-19 vaccinations. BD stands ready to deploy our capacity to support the U.S. health care system and patients."

About BD

BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of health care by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for health care providers. BD and its more than 70,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand access to health care. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/bd1/ and Twitter @BDandCo.

Contacts:





Media : Investors : Troy Kirkpatrick Adam Reiffe VP, Public Relations Sr. Director, Investor Relations 858.617.2361 201.847.6927 [email protected] [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-safety-communication-does-not-impact-bd-syringes-302002670.html

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
Foundation calls for donors to support global agriculture research network CGIAR's 2025-2027 investment need to reach 500 million farmers by 2030 and reduce emissions from the sector by 1 gigaton per year

DUBAI, UAE , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today joined the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) to accelerate the development of innovations that will help smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia build resilience and adapt to climate change. Together, they made new commitments totalling US $200 million in response to immediate and long-term threats to food security and nutrition caused by climate change.

The announcement was delivered at the World Climate Action Summit by foundation Co-Chair Bill Gates , who was joined by H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, minister of climate change and environment of the UAE . Gates also called on global leaders to elevate agriculture as a focus of global climate finance initiatives and support the global agriculture research network, CGIAR.

Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 60% of the population depends on agriculture for food and income, accounts for only 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, a surge of extreme climate events, such as devastating droughts in East Africa and catastrophic flooding in West Africa , has contributed to reduced economic growth and increased income inequality with wealthy countriesprimarily by eroding crop and livestock production. While numerous innovations exist to help smallholder farmers in the region, less than 2% of global climate finance is devoted to meeting their needs.

"We need to make big bets on innovation to ensure smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have the tools they need to adapt their practices, feed their people, and build resilience in the face of climate change," said Gates. "The needs of farmers are an integral part of the global climate agenda."

CGIAR , the world's largest publicly funded agriculture research network, plays a critical role in supporting resilient, sustainable food production in a climate-stressed world. Earlier this week, it launched a three-year investment case to secure US $4 billion by 2027, helping CGIAR to reach 500 million farmers by 2030 with climate adaptation innovations, and to reduce emissions from the agriculture sector by 1 gigaton per yearthe equivalent of eliminating emissions from more than 200 million cars.

"We are ready to quickly scale up proven innovations that already are helping farmers in vulnerable regions like Africa and South Asia adapt to more challenging climate conditions," said Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, chair, CGIAR System Board. "That includes increasing access to improved varieties of naturally stress tolerant crops like cassava and millets, employing new tools and strategies farmers are using to support healthy ecosystems by reviving degraded lands, and providing long-range climate forecasts that help farmers anticipate and navigate weather extremes and shifting rainfall patterns."

The foundation's US $100 million investment announced today, which matches the UAE's commitment of US $100 million , will support organizations, like the CGIAR, that are on the forefront of developing agricultural innovations. Additional foundation funding will support the work of AIM4Scale, a new climate adaptation initiative to be launched by the UAE . The foundation will also join partner countries, philanthropies, and financial institutions to help accelerate access to high-impact agricultural innovations for small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by reducing policy and funding-related barriers.

CGIAR a "best buy" in adaptation

For over 50 years, CGIAR's work has helped save millions of lives and trillions of dollars globally. Its focus on smallholder farmers has delivered humanitarian benefits that rival the lifesaving power of vaccines. It consistently delivers high-impact innovations at a very low cost, with every dollar invested in its work returning US $10 in benefits for local farming communities.

With the foundation's commitment announced today, it has exceeded its current pledge to CGIAR of US $315 million and joins a growing global movement for action on climate adaptation. This includes new funding from donor countries to CGIAR totaling over US $800 million for the 2023-2024 funding cycle.

The foundation's support for agriculture adaptation at COP28 builds on previous commitments dating back to 2017 to help smallholder farmers cope with climate change. To learn more about the foundation's work to create a pipeline of climate-smart agricultural solutions, new applications of digital technologies, low-emission approaches to small-scale livestock farming, and innovations that address the neglected needs of women farmers, please visit: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/climate-adaptation.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States , it seeks to ensure that all peopleespecially those with the fewest resourceshave access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington , the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman , under the direction of Co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.

Media Contact: [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gates-foundation-announces-partnership-with-united-arab-emirates-to-accelerate-action-on-climate-and-strengthen-food-systems-through-investment-in-agricultural-innovation-302002906.html

SOURCE Gates Foundation
VANCOUVER, BC and HOUSTON , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE: IBAT), is pleased to announce that it plans to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 1,649,243 units (each, a "Unit") for a price of CAD$0 .70 per Unit, for total proceeds of up to USD $850,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will permit the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $0.82 for a period of 24 months from closing of the Private Placement. The Private Placement is expected to close on December 8, 2023 , but may close in more than one tranche.

The proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to fund the Company's ongoing operations and other general corporate expenditures. The Company expects that officers and directors of the Company, namely Garry Flowers , Daniel Christie and John Burba , will purchase Units under the Private Placement.

The Units are being offered pursuant to available prospectus exemptions, including sales to accredited investors. Completion of the Private Placement is subject to regulatory approval including, but not limited to, the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance under Canadian Securities laws and will also be restricted securities under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Board Changes

The Company also announces that Foy Wyman Morgan and Maria Echaveste have resigned from the Company's board of directors and have been appointed to the Company's Advisory Committee. The Company is grateful to Mr. Morgan and Ms. Echaveste for their contributions during their tenure as directors and is pleased that it will continue to benefit from their experience and expertise as advisors of the Company.

The Company is also in discussions with respect to a proposed appointment of a senior officer of the Company, and it is anticipated that this individual will participate in the Private Placement.

TSX Venture Exchange Listing Application

The Company is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval (the "Conditional Approval") to list on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Conditional Approval remains subject to certain conditions that the Company intends to satisfy in due course. Accordingly, a date for the listing of the common shares of the Company on the TSXV, and concurrent de-listing from the Canadian Securities Exchange, has not been set. The Company expects to trade under the ticker symbol "DLE". Management of the Company believes that a listing on the TSXV, one of the world's largest global public venture markets, will benefit the Company by giving it exposure to a larger audience of institutional investors.

Related Party Transaction

Each of Messrs. Flowers, Christie, Burba and any other senior officer or director of the Company that participates in the Private Placement is a "related party" of the Company, as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Accordingly, the Placement is a related party transaction pursuant to MI 61-101. Under Section 5.4 and 5.6, the Company is required to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval for the Placement, respectively, unless exemptions are available.

The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation requirement and the minority shareholder approval requirement under Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), as at the time the transaction was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the Private Placement, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeds 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization.

As the specific participation of each related party that the company expects will participate in the Private Placement has not been confirmed as of the date hereof, additional information required under MI 61-101 will be provided in the Company's material change report with respect to the Private Placement, including a description of the interest of all related parties in the Private Placement and effect on the percentage of the securities of the Company held by each related party who participated.

About International Battery Metals Ltd.

The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within 10 days of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer from which it is extracted. The Company's unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

" Garry Flowers "

Garry Flowers , CEO

Neither 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 may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Forward  looking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of the plans and objectives of the Company, including statements with respect to the Private Placement including the overall size of the Private Placement, the anticipated closing date of the Private Placement, and the use of proceeds from the Private Placement; statements related to the anticipated appointment of senior officer of the Company, as well as statements with respect to completion of the TSXV listing and the benefits the Company anticipates to realize from it. The use of any of the words "will", "expected", "view", "believes" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including the risk that the Private Placement is not completed, regulatory risks, including the risk that the Canadian Securities Exchange objects to the Placement or any of aspect of it, and the risk that the Company is unable to satisfy the conditions of the TSXV's Conditional Acceptance. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties of the Company's business are contained in the Company's public filings which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statement made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

IR Contact:

Ken Dennard

Dennard Lascar Investor Relations

[email protected]

International Battery Metals Ltd.

Royal Centre, Suite 1750 1050 West Georgia St. ,

Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3P3

[email protected]

https://www.ibatterymetals.com/

CSE: IBAT

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-battery-metals-ltd-announces-private-placement-tsxv-listing-application-and-board-changes-302003319.html

SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor , who died today, was a long-time friend and supporter of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).

She was delighted to recognize those who shared her passion for civics education and played an active role in choosing the recipients of NCSC's Sandra Day O'Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education.

As an Arizona state senator, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge, an Arizona Court of Appeals judge and a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice, Justice O'Connor was always known for her remarkable intellect and insatiable curiosity.

" Justice O'Connor's legacy as a jurist and civics education advocate will live on for generations to come," said NCSC Board Chair and Conference of Chief Justices President Anna Blackburne-Rigsby , Chief Judge of the DC Court of Appeals.

NCSC President Mary McQueen spoke with Justice O'Connor several times over the years about state courts.

"At our first meeting, the White opinion (Republican Party of Minn. v. White) and the political challenges facing an elected state judiciary were at the forefront of her concerns about the state courts," McQueen said. "As a former state senator in Arizona , Justice O'Connor had worked diligently to adopt and implement a system of judicial merit selection in her home state. Her major concerns were the impact that campaign financing and partisan politics in rough-and-tumble judicial elections might have on judicial independence."

Justice O'Connor made that clear in her concurring opinion in White: "I join the opinion of the Court but write separately to express my concerns about judicial elections generally  Minnesota has chosen to select its judges through contested popular elections instead of through an appointment system or a combined appointment and retention election system. In doing so, the State has voluntarily taken on the risks to judicial bias. As a result, the State's claim that it needs to significantly restrict judges' speech in order to protect judicial impartiality is particularly troubling. If the State has a problem with judicial impartiality, it is largely one the State brought upon itself by continuing the practice of popularly electing judges."

And while her career took her to the Supreme Court of the United States, Justice O'Connor always took pride that she began her judicial career at the state court level.

In 1974, she was appointed to Maricopa County Superior Court, serving from 1975 to 1979, when she was elevated to the Arizona Court of Appeals. She spent two years on the appellate court until 1981, when President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Rev. Jerry Falwell and other conservatives opposed her nomination because of her support of the Equal Rights Amendment and her refusal to take a public position on abortion, but she won U.S. Senate approval 99-0. ( U.S. Sen. Max Baucus , D- Montana , who was absent from the Senate that day, sent her an apology note and a copy of the novel A River Runs Through It.)

She will forever be known as the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court, and that destined her for inclusion on lists of the most powerful women in the world. She was also considered by many to be the most powerful Supreme Court associate justice  male or female -- during much of her tenure because she often cast the swing vote. Never did her swing vote get more attention and scrutiny than for Bush v. Gore, in which the Supreme Court halted vote counting in Florida after the 2000 presidential election, ensuring a victory for President George W. Bush .

Among published appreciations of Justice O'Connor is one from Linda Greenhouse , a journalist who covered the U.S. Supreme Court for three decades. "What interests me is less where she stood on the court's political spectrum than how she got there. The answer, of particular relevance today, is twofold. One, she cared about the impact of the court's decisions  not only on the law, but on the country itself. And two, she was willing to learn," she wrote.

Justice O'Connor retired to Arizona in 2006 to care for her husband, John, who died in 2009, three months after President Barack Obama awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In October 2018 , she announced her retirement from public life. A year later, following the death of Justice John Paul Stevens , she became the last living justice to have served on the Burger Court. Which we, at NCSC, find very fitting. Former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger helped found our institution, and Justice O'Connor will be forever tied to it.

The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va. , is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger , NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation's state courts.

Contact:

Molly Justice

Director of Communications & Marketing

[email protected]

(757) 259-1564

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/justice-sandra-day-oconnor-judicial-trailblazer-and-friend-of-ncsc-leaves-a-legacy-of-public-service-302003509.html

SOURCE National Center for State Courts
Former Plexus Groupe executive joins KAP to fuel company growth

HARRISBURG, Pa. , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Keystone Agency Partners (KAP), one of the nation's fastest growing insurance brokers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Morgan as the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) to its Executive Leadership Team. Brian brings over two decades of leadership experience with a proven track record in driving sales success, notably demonstrated during his role at Plexus Groupe, contributing to the company's growth.

Keystone Agency Partners Appoints Brian Morgan as Chief Revenue Officer

This expansion follows KAP's recognition as the 46th Top Broker by Business Insurance, showcasing the most substantial rank improvement among all reported US brokers. Morgan will apply his previous experience to boost agency revenue through strategic organic growth opportunities, building upon KAP's recent achievements.

Patrick Kinney , President of Keystone Agency Partners, expressed his enthusiasm about Brian's appointment, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Brian Morgan to KAP as our Chief Revenue Officer. Brian's extensive experience and proven success in driving sales growth align perfectly with our strategic objectives. His leadership will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our organization's continued success."

Brian's attention will extend to industry vertical expertise, aligning data, and ensuring agency leadership has the resources and strategy essential for growth. Furthermore, he will elevate and refine the sales strategies within KAP and across all agency platforms, aiming for increased effectiveness and impactful results.

"I am honored to join Keystone Agency Partners as Chief Revenue Officer and look forward to contributing to the organization's growth journey. KAP's commitment to innovation and excellence aligns with my own values, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead," said Brian Morgan .

About Keystone Agency Partners

Keystone Agency Partners is a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform that acquires and partners with independent insurance agencies throughout the United States . KAP provides best-in-class services and capital investment that unlocks potential and delivers outsized and profitable growth within its Platform agencies. Keystone Agency Partners was founded in 2020 in partnership with Keystone Insurers Group, Inc. and affiliates of Bain Capital, LP. For more information, please visit: www.keystoneagencypartners.com.

Media Inquiries

Stuart Kail , Director of Brand & Communications

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keystone-agency-partners-appoints-brian-morgan-as-chief-revenue-officer-302003370.html

SOURCE Keystone Agency Partners
Simplified Approach Offers Freedom and Flexibility to both Contractors and Homeowners

SOLON, Ohio , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kichler Lighting LLC, a leader in innovative lighting and ceiling fans, expands its successful smart product family with the launch of its latest offering  the Smart Control Transformer 300W. Providing ease of installation and application, the Smart Control Transformer 300W can be used alone or paired with Kichler's Smart Control Timer and is compatible with other low-voltage landscape lighting. It gives customers the freedom to schedule and control lighting right from their smart device with the Kichler Connects app.

"Our Smart Control Transformer will let the customer's voice do the work, illuminating their home from absolutely anywhere, whether they are using Amazon, Alexa, or Google Home," says Kichler's Director of Landscape, Scott Pesta . "We give contractors and homeowners alike the freedom to monitor and program their landscape lighting right from the palm of their hand."

The Smart Control Transformer provides the flexibility to design and schedule up to three separate lighting zones where customers can customize and control the landscape areas they want to illuminate. Users can also connect to multiple smart transformers and/or smart timers for more zoning options. For easy troubleshooting, installers can monitor electrical load by zone and automatic fault detection through the Kichler Connects app.

"We are dedicated to providing practical, innovative and user-friendly landscape product solutions to our customers," noted Pesta. "Whether it's for convenience, security or aesthetics, with the Smart Control Transformer, we're making it easier for homeowners to light their exterior spaces based on their needs."

The Smart Control Transformer uses Wi-Fi connectivity and astronomical timing functionality. Additional features include angled terminal blocks for easier wire connections, manual mode for easy contractor set-up, and heavy-duty, stainless-steel construction that is wet rated for outdoor use.

KICHLER LIGHTING LLC

Kichler Lighting LLC strives to transform the home and workspace by developing fixtures that perform efficiently, install intuitively, and deliver an overall effect that combines style with purpose. With an extensive portfolio of more than 3,000 on-trend products  including lighting, landscape and ceiling fans  and a commitment to providing services and project solutions, Kichler is the brand homeowners and professionals know and trust since 1938. Everything Kichler does, every single day, is with the intention of creating an environment that illuminates what matters most. As the first-ever and exclusive national sponsor of interior and exterior lighting and ceiling fans for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway, Kichler is committed to providing fixtures for more than 40 homes across the U.S. annually. Kichler Lighting products are available at independent showrooms, Lowe's, Home Depot, electrical and landscape distributors, and online. For more information, visit www.kichler.com.

Connect with Kichler Lighting socially on:

Twitter is a registered trademark of Twitter, Inc.

Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.

Pinterest is a registered trademark of Pinterest, Inc.

Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz, Inc.

Instagram is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.

MASCO CORPORATION

Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan , Masco Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. Our portfolio of industry-leading brands includes Behr paint; Delta and Hansgrohe faucets, bath and shower fixtures; Kichler decorative and outdoor lighting; LIBERTY branded decorative and functional hardware and HotSpring spas. We leverage our powerful brands across product categories, sales channels and geographies to create value for our customers and shareholders. For more information about Masco Corporation, visit www.masco.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kichler-lighting-unveils-innovative-smart-control-transformer-automating-landscape-lighting-from-the-palm-of-your-hand-302003493.html

SOURCE Kichler Lighting LLC
NEW YORK , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mage Data has been named as the Best Global Data Privacy Software Solutions Provider in the 2023 Cyber Security Awards by Wealth & Finance International. This award acknowledges Mage Data's relentless dedication to safeguarding sensitive information and upholding data privacy in an increasingly complex data landscape.

The Cyber Security Awards highlights a wide array of top performers and innovators from various sub-sectors who excel within the Cyber Security space. Using a merit-driven awards methodology to assess and determine winners, the awards recognize those who prove themselves to be front-runners and pioneers within the industry.

"We are honored to be acknowledged as the Best Global Data Privacy Software Solutions Provider at this year's Cyber Security Awards" said Padma Vemuri , Senior VP of Product & Design at Mage Data. "This achievement reaffirms our steadfast commitment to the data privacy needs of our customers and motivates us to continually innovate and elevate the standards of our privacy-centric technology solutions."

The comprehensive suite of data security and privacy solutions offered by Mage Data are tailored to empower organizations to secure their data effectively while maintaining compliance with global privacy regulations.

"This award is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence in delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses to protect their most valuable asset  data" said Dinesh Kumar , Director of Marketing & Analytics at Mage Data. "We will continue to focus our efforts on staying at the forefront of innovation and help our customers protect the confidentiality and integrity of their sensitive data."

About Mage Data:

Mage Data is the leading solutions provider of data security and data privacy software for global enterprises. Built upon a patented and award-winning solution, the Mage platform enables organizations to stay on top of privacy regulations while ensuring security and privacy of data. Top Swiss Banks, Fortune 10 organizations, Ivy League Universities, and Industry Leaders in the financial and healthcare businesses protect their sensitive data with the Mage platform for Data Privacy and Security. Deploying state-of-the-art privacy enhancing technologies for securing data, Mage Data delivers robust data security while ensuring privacy of individuals.

Visit www.magedata.ai to explore the brand's new website and check out the company's solutions.

About Wealth & Financial International:

Wealth & Finance International is dedicated to providing fund managers and institutional and private investors around the world with the latest industry news across both traditional and alternative investment sectors.

Distributed by AI Global Media each quarter to more than 65,000 high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, fund managers, institutional investors and professional services firms, Wealth & Finance International has rapidly become the go-to resource for those looking to make the right decisions when it comes to securing and growing their wealth. Visit www.wealthandfinance-news.com/ to read more.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mage-data-named-as-the-best-global-data-privacy-software-solutions-provider-2023-302002843.html

SOURCE Mage Data
WENZHOU, China , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The vast sea is boundless, but for hundreds of years, countless people's exploration across the ocean has presented a more complete and fuller world to the public, and has further promoted global economic, trade and cultural exchanges.

During the maritime exchanges between the East and the West, the Maritime Silk Road was born, which not only amazed the West with the spices, silk and porcelain from the East, but also witnessed the mutual learning of civilizations facilitated by the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci and other westerners who crossed the sea to explore the East.

On Oct. 3, 2013 , China proposed to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road . Together with the Silk Road Economic Belt proposed on Sept. 7 of the same year, they constituted the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has renewed the splendid history of economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the BRI, the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence was held from Nov. 24 to Nov. 25 in southeast China's coastal city Wenzhou, another high-level international gathering to promote communication and cooperation of BRI countries after the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Nearly 400 guests, including municipal officials, experts and scholars from 15 countries of Asia , Europe , Africa and America, gathered in Wenzhou, an important Maritime Silk Road hub, according to the Executive Committee. They held roundtable discussions on building a harmonious and symbiotic business system and promoting the culture heritage of the Maritime Silk Road in a bid to tap the opportunities for cooperation and development of the trade route.

The Maritime Silk Road is born of openness and prospers from exchanges. The cities along the trade route have a distinctive pioneering spirit, of which Wenzhou is a typical representative. Since ancient times, the wealthy coastal city has played an important role on boosting trade and cultural ties with its global reach, commercial vitality, cultural legacy and active exchanges.

In Jiangxin Islet in the middle reaches of Oujiang River in the north of Wenzhou, two ancient pagodas built in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty respectively stand in the islet's east and west. For more than 1,000 years, they have been known as the oldest lighthouses on the Maritime Silk Road.

Across the river, Song Dynasty docks, sunken ships and tons of porcelain fragments and the ruins of Shuomen Ou Ancient City were unearthed from the site of Shuomen Ancient Port in Wenzhou, demonstrating the prosperity and continuity of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

In the 13th century, Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan, a Wenzhou local, visited Cambodia during the Angkor period. He not only brought Chinese culture to Cambodia , but also wrote A record of Cambodia , which was a vivid account of the friendly exchanges between the Chinese and Cambodian people at that time. It's the only historical material in the world that reflects the prosperity of the Angkor Dynasty.

"I believe that Mr. Zhou Daguan's spirit can inspire all of us - whether artists, historians, or friends from all walks of life - to explore the unknown, to carry on our cultural legacies, and to forge closer international friendships," said Cambodian Prince Sisowath Tesso .

Through the ages, Wenzhou remains an influential hub along the Maritime Silk Road, contributing a unique role in facilitating peer city communication and cooperation.

In recent years, Wenzhou Port's foreign trade container business has developed rapidly, with an expanding foreign trade route network and growing route service capacity. The port's near-ocean routes can reach Russia , South Korea , the Philippines and other countries, and has 15 foreign trade routes in total.

In 2018, Wenzhou set up a high-level official team to promote economic and trade exchanges between Wenzhou and the BRI countries and regions. So far, the city's trade volume with the BRI countries has exceeded 640 billion yuan . In the past decade, Wenzhou's trade with the BRI countries surged from 53.33 billion yuan to 147.05 billion yuan .

Nurtured by the pioneering spirit of the Maritime Silk Road, open-minded Wenzhou people have been seizing the opportunities of promoting the high-quality development of the BRI and higher-level opening-up.

Now Wenzhou has 36 sister cities and friendly exchange cities worldwide, and 380,000 Wenzhou people are living and working in nearly 60 BRI countries. Multinational private Wenzhou firms like Tsingshan Holding Group have ventured overseas to expand foothold in BRI countries, which have set up the largest number of state-level overseas economic and trade parks for a prefecture-level city.

In addition to establishing an exchange platform, the two-day event also unveiled a report on the influence of China's Maritime Silk Road cities and the top 10 most influential Chinese Maritime Silk Road cities. A cooperation initiative on the innovative development of Maritime Silk Road cities was jointly launched, opening a new chapter for peer city communication and cooperation.

The conference's host city Wenzhou, with its people playing important roles in facilitating cross-border economic and cultural exchanges as well as the excavation of the Maritime Silk Road landmark heritage Shuomen ancient port, posts high rankings in several indices and made into the shortlist.

The joint development of the BRI pursues development, advocates win-win results, and delivers hope. Wenzhou will seek maximized integration into this road of peace, prosperity, openness, innovation, and civilization, said Wenzhou mayor Zhang Zhenfeng .

"We sincerely hope to take this conference as an opportunity to cooperate pragmatically and work together for win-win results by means of city and people exchanges to inject new impetus into promoting the high-quality development of the BRI," Zhang added.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maritime-silk-road-hub-wenzhou-taps-bri-opportunities-with-global-peers-302002753.html

SOURCE Wenzhou Executive Committee of the 2023 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence
The highly anticipated opening will make MedStar Georgetown home to the Washington, D.C. , region's most advanced healthcare facility.

WASHINGTON , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital has officially unveiled the brand new Verstandig Pavilion , which is set to open December 10, 2023 . A ribbon cutting ceremony featuring MedStar Health senior leaders, Philanthropist Grant Verstandig , community stakeholders, hospital associates, and CBS Evening News Anchor Norah O'Donnell  the event's emcee  celebrated the hospital's new 477-thousand sq. ft. addition which is set to become the D.C. region's most advanced healthcare facility.

"As we built the Pavilion, we had one foot in todaybuilding a facility that reflects the full capabilities of medicine today, and one foot in tomorrowbuilding a facility with comprehensive flexibilities, so that as medicine continues to evolve we will be able to meet the healthcare needs of our region for decades to come," said Kenneth A. Samet , president and chief executive officer of MedStar Health. "This is truly a transformational project, creating a world-class facility to match the world-class care provided by our physicians, nurses and associates. It is a testament to our unwavering dedication to the health and wellbeing of all those we serve and a significant step in our constant efforts to realize our vision of being the trusted leader in caring for people and advancing health."

"We know that healthcare evolves and changes with technology and this facility has a very flexible design which allows us to adapt to whatever those changes may be," said Lisa Boyle , MD, president, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and senior vice president, MedStar Health. " The Verstandig Pavilion will help MedStar Georgetown usher in a new era of healthcare in the region as we continue to serve the health care needs for decades to come."

The opening would not have been possible without a generous donation of $50 million by Grant Verstandig , co-founder, chairman, and CEO, Red Cell Partners; co-founder and chairman, Verstandig Family Foundation. The transformational gift represents one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever made to health care in the Washington, D.C. , region. Two years ago, in recognition of Verstandig's unprecedented generosity, MedStar Health announced the new pavilion would be named in his honor.

"The pavilion will be a haven for healing, a place where compassionate care meets cutting edge technology, where the heroes of our community will teach and train the next generation of providers, and where miracles really do happen. It is truly a beacon of hope for patients, for their loved ones, and for our region," Verstandig said.

Representing the new standard in patient care and the practice of medicine, the Verstandig Pavilion will feature:

A new Emergency Department that has almost doubled in size with 32 private patient rooms.

that has almost doubled in size with 32 private patient rooms. A movable Intraoperative MRI System (IMRIS), the only one in the region, allowing neurosurgeons to precisely remove microscopic tumors. reducing the need for post-op imaging and additional surgeries.

allowing neurosurgeons to precisely remove microscopic tumors. reducing the need for post-op imaging and additional surgeries. 156 new and expanded private inpatient patient rooms with natural, healing light supporting the most advanced care.

with natural, healing light supporting the most advanced care. 31 state-of-the-art operating room surgical suites providing surgeons with 4K visualization for robotic and minimally invasive surgery; spectral imaging technology to identify critical anatomy, blood flow, and detect cancer margins not visible to the naked eye; and large interactive touchscreen dashboards to connect with experts worldwide in real time.

providing surgeons with 4K visualization for robotic and minimally invasive surgery; spectral imaging technology to identify critical anatomy, blood flow, and detect cancer margins not visible to the naked eye; and large interactive touchscreen dashboards to connect with experts worldwide in real time. A new rooftop helipad with direct access to the new Emergency Department and operating rooms, saving crucial minutes for patients suffering life-threatening conditions.

with direct access to the new and operating rooms, saving crucial minutes for patients suffering life-threatening conditions. Six acres of beautiful, expansive green space creating a relaxing, reflective environment for our patients, their loved ones and our associates.

For more information on the Verstandig Pavilion , visit https://www.medstarhealth.org/locations/medstar-georgetown-university-hospital

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/newly-unveiled-verstandig-pavilion-at-medstar-georgetown-university-hospital-promises-continued-world-class-care-in-a-world-class-facility-302002683.html

SOURCE MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
MINEOLA, N.Y. , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a national search, NYU Langone Health is pleased to announce that Mario E. Lacouture , MD, has been named the new Chief of the Dermatology Division, Department of Medicine, Long Island . Dr. Lacouture will receive an academic appointment as Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and will serve as the Medical Director of the Symptom Management Program at the Perlmutter Cancer Center on Long Island .

"We are pleased to have Dr. Lacouture joining us as a foremost expert in oncodermatology, a subspecialty that focuses on the dermatological side effects of cancers and how to manage these symptoms in patients," said Joseph J. Greco , MD, Senior VP and Chief of Hospital Operations at NYU Langone HospitalLong Island.

"The opportunity to lead NYU Langone Dermatology on Long Island aligns with my commitment to high-quality, accessible care and my fondness for the people of the Island," said Dr. Lacouture . "In addition, at the Perlmutter Cancer Center, I will build on our experience improving cancer patients' quality of life by preventing and treating skin issues during treatment, so that now more people can access our compassionate, specialized care for side effects, with a focus on the whole patient."

Before joining NYU Langone Health, Dr. Lacouture was an Attending Physician and Program Director of Oncodermatology and Research in the Dermatology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in Manhattan . He was also a Professor in the Department of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York .

After receiving his MD degree from Javeriana University in his native country of Colombia , Dr. Lacouture completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in Immunology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston . He then trained as an intern in General Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, followed by a residency in Dermatology at the University of Chicago. At Northwestern University in Chicago , Dr. Lacouture created the first clinical and research program in oncodermatology, establishing a distinct subspecialty within dermatology and oncology, dedicated to the science and care of skin, hair, and nail conditions in cancer patients and survivors. This oncodermatology model has been adopted by nearly 70% of National Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The author of more than 300 medical publications, Dr. Lacouture is also the editor of the textbook Dermatologic Principles and Practice in Oncology and a patient resource called Dr. Lacouture's Skin Care Guide for People Living with Cancer. He oversees the most extensive portfolio of clinical trials in oncodermatology and was the principal investigator for the STEPP trial, a practice-changing study in the prevention of skin side effects to antibodies targeting EGFR in cancer; the CHANCE study, which defined skin, hair, and nail aftereffects from treatments in breast cancer survivors; and he is the co-principal investigator of an NCI/NIAMS UO1 investigating therapeutic targets to treat side effects from immunotherapies.

Dr. Lacouture is a past member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Oncodermatology Study Group for the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and is currently on the Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In 2021, Dr. Lacouture founded the Oncodermatology Society and now serves as its inaugural president. Since 2014, he has been named a Top Doctor by New York Magazine.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nyu-langone-hospitallong-island-appoints-mario-e-lacouture-md-as-the-new-chief-of-dermatology-302003046.html

SOURCE NYU Langone Health
TORONTO , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pineapple Financial Inc. (NYSE American: PAPL), a tech-focused mortgage brokerage with an integrated network of partner brokerages and agents across Canada , today announced that it has established an office in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia to accommodate the Company's expansion into Western Canada .

The new location, on Glen Drive in Coquitlam, British Columbia , serves as the central hub for the Company's operations and strategic initiatives in Western Canada and follows Pineapple's recent expansion into Manitoba , Saskatchewan , Alberta , and British Columbia .

According to Pineapple, the new office is expected to generate $300 million CAD in new mortgage origination, which equates to a projected 10% increase in gross revenue in the next twelve months.

"This expansion solidifies our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional mortgage solutions to Canadians, contributing to the economic landscape by creating job opportunities and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships," said Christa Mitchell , Pineapple's Chief Strategy Officer.

Shubha Dasgupta , Pineapple CEO, added that he believed this latest expansion represents a pivotal move in the Company's expansion strategy. "Not only does this new office reinforce our commitment to nationwide growth, innovation, and unparalleled service excellence, but it also will play a crucial role in introducing our cutting-edge AI-driven technology solutions to local brokerages and clients and drive significant revenue growth in British Columbia ."

Mr. Dasgupta said that, with the new office in British Columbia , Pineapple has now added 50 new mortgage professionals to the Company's Western Canada network. These include:

Franchise brokerage partner, Pineapple Canada Lending House Corporation , operating across British Columbia with offices in Delta, Kelowna, Vancouver , and Victoria

, operating across with offices in Delta, Kelowna, , and The Meaghan Golden Team, operating in Delta and North Vancouver, British Columbia

and The Ajay Menezes Team, operating in St. Albert and Edmonton, Alberta

and The Brad Gavin Team , operating in Lethbridge and Calgary, Alberta

, operating in and The Cherie Birch Team , operating in Calgary, Alberta

, operating in The Jan Reyes Team , operating in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the surrounding area

, operating in and the surrounding area The Marilyn Magtoto Team, operating in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Since its establishment in 2016, Pineapple Financial has expanded its reach across Canada , fostering a network of over 650 agents and achieving a three-year growth rate of 1,452 percent, awarding the Company recognition as number 27 on the Globe and Mail's Report on Business Top Growing Companies list for 2023 .

The Company had its Initial Public Offering on the NYSE American on November 3, 2023 .

About Pineapple Financial:

Pineapple is an award-winning fintech and leading Canadian mortgage brokerage network, focusing on both the long-term success of agents and brokerages, as well as the overall experience of homeowners. With approximately 650 brokers within the network, Pineapple creates cutting-edge cloud-based tools and AI-driven systems to enable its brokers to help Canadians realize their dream of owning a home. Pineapple is active within the community and is proud to sponsor charities across Canada to improve the lives of fellow Canadians.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @pineapplemortgage @empoweredbypineapple

Facebook: Pineapple Mortgage

LinkedIn: Pineapple Mortgage

SOURCE: Pineapple Financial Inc. (NYSE American: PAPL)

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

Related Links:

https://gopineapple.com

http://empoweredbypineapple.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pineapple-financial-expands-into-western-canada-with-new-corporate-office-in-metro-vancouver-british-columbia-302002532.html

SOURCE Pineapple Financial Inc.
Media Credentialing Now Open

ARLINGTON, Texas , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Named to TIME's 100 Next list, Sarah Jakes Roberts' sixth annual Woman Evolve will return to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas , September 26  28, 2024. As a follow up to 2023's sold-out conference, more than 15,000 women have already registered to attend Woman Evolve 2024a conference that aims to empower women to progress towards the lives they desire to live.

Members of the media may apply for media credentials by filling out this form. Pre-registration is required.

Woman Evolve 2023 was the fastest-selling women's conference in Globe Life Field history as more than 40,000 women attended. Jakes Roberts' conference had an overall economic impact of $30 million in the City of Arlington alone. The attendance and economic impact were on par with previous national touring events including concerts by Lady Gaga , Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elton John , Morgan Wallen and The Stadium Tour ( Joan Jett , Poison, Motley Crue and Def Leppard ).

Earlier this year, renowned artists and leaders, such as Brene Brown, Naomi Raine and Yvonne Orji , took the stage to deliver on the promise of an impactful weekend for the women attending the sold-out conference. The lineup for Woman Evolve 2024 has not been announced, but Jakes Roberts has big plans for Woman Evolve to continue to create a space for women to learn and grow together.

"Woman Evolve is beyond excited to return to Globe Life Field for next year's conference" said Jakes Roberts. "This year's gathering was a testament to the power of connection and how women can go further together, rather than fast and alone, and we pray next year will be just as powerful."

Jakes Roberts is redefining what it means to be a modern woman of faith. As a wife, mother, author and businesswoman dedicated to honoring her father's ( T.D. Jakes ) mission of empowering underrepresented communitiesincluding the disappearing middle classher messages have spread throughout the world defying cultural, religious, gender and socio-economic boundaries. She has a unique way of reaching people who are seeking to make peace with their past, maximize their present and deepen their relationship with God.

Registration is now open for Woman Evolve 2024.

Media Credentials:

All members of the mediareporters, photographers, videographers, and creware required to have and display credentials to cover events within the conference. Press may request media credentials for Woman Evolve by filling out this form. Applicants will be notified via email whether they are approved or declined for credentials. Information regarding where to pick up credentials, parking, facility access, interviews and other details will be sent once credentials have been approved.

About Woman Evolve

Founded by Sarah Jakes Roberts New York Times best-selling author, businesswoman, assistant Pastor of The Potter's House of Dallas and co-senior pastor of The Potter's House at ONE Woman Evolve equips women through spiritual and practical development with the tools necessary to evolve into the highest version of themselves. The organization helps women dream, grow and change the world. Woman Evolve is committed to creating community that empowers, supports and lifts one another up as they climb toward collective evolution. The progression of one, is progression for all.

Media Contacts:

Jordan Hora , 214.608.2006

Christine Cape , 404.545.0085

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sarah-jakes-roberts-celebrated-woman-evolve-returns-to-globe-life-field-for-annual-womens-conference-302003542.html

SOURCE Woman Evolve
BEIJING , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected a government-subsidized rental housing community and learned about the city's efforts in constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects in Shanghai on Nov. 29 .

It is reported that the rental housing community provides affordable rental accommodation for new urban residents and young people.

The rental pricing takes into account both market prices and the income levels of the targeted group. Each apartment in the community is equipped with independent cabinets, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Public spaces such as shared kitchens, laundry rooms, recreational areas, and book corners are also provided.

Shanghai is a megacity. It attracts frontline workers and managers across the country engaging in its urban construction and function. They are important contributors to the city's development and orderly operation.

In recent years, Shanghai has actively explored the provision of more rental housing with good location, high quality and low rent for frontline laborers, thus better satisfying their actual demands. It has implemented precise supply to ensure their life and work in Shanghai with more safety, comfort and dignity, which have been welcomed by the targeted group.

Adhering to the principle that "cities are built by the people and for the people," Shanghai has been working to promote high-quality development, improving people's living quality, and pursuing high-efficiency governance, to make urban management more science-based, refined and intelligent, and to make people's life more convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable.

In the construction of the city, Shanghai always puts the people's needs in the first place. It has expedited efforts to revitalize and transform old buildings and urban villages.

This year, the city has renovated 85,200 square meters of lower-grade, scattered, old housing and refurbished 247,700 square meters of aging residential properties. Ten urban village renovation projects have been launched.

Shanghai is actively exploring sustainable development models for urban renewal, while establishing and improving relevant policy systems and mechanisms.

Remarkable progress has been made in key urban renewal projects, such as the Fangua Long in Jing'an District, the ancient Panlong Town in Qingpu District , and Wukang Building in Xuhui District . Meanwhile, an additional 68,000 affordable rental apartments have been constructed.

With an aim to build an urban space that is not only livable but also enjoyable and engaging, Shanghai has worked to ensure coordinated development, management, and quality enhancement of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek .

The Suhe Bay Green Space, a maritime park in the North Bund, and the Dongjiadu Road Skywalk have become popular destinations for citizens and visitors. Furthermore, eight kilometers of riverside paths in Pudong and Minhang have been connected and opened to the public.

Shanghai is accelerating the construction of sponge city demonstration areas and pilot zones for green and low-carbon development, to enhance the overall quality of the city. This year, it has built 75 "beautiful blocks."

To build a green, smart, and resilient metropolis, Shanghai has reinforced the management of green building projects, and advanced the development of green urban spaces.

This year, approximately 2.6 million square meters of ultra-low energy-consuming buildings are underway, complemented by energy-saving renovations in 5.3 million square meters of existing public structures.

Shanghai has been solidifying the digital infrastructure of urban governance, pursuing digital transformation in all areas of urban construction and management. Particular attention has been focused on gas supply safety, while the control and emergency response to major risk sources are fortified, to forge a robust security line for this megacity.

These explorations and practices of Shanghai are the epitome of China's commitment to sustainable development and the promotion of new urbanization.

In recent years, China has been continuously advancing a people-centered approach to new urbanization, strengthening the construction of major projects to ensure people's livelihood, and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

It has accelerated the renovation and upgrading of urban pipelines, increased the availability of inclusive elderly care and medical services, improved urban ecology through the construction of "pocket parks," and continuously enhanced public fitness facilities.

In the first seven months of this year, investment in the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water in China increased by 25.4 percent. During the same period, renovation was launched for a total of 46,600 old urban residential communities nationwide, benefiting 7.95 million households.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shanghai-prioritizes-efforts-to-improve-peoples-livelihood-302003678.html

SOURCE People's Daily
16 consecutive months of continued yearly month-over-month growth

Year-to-date sales up 14.9 percent

Best-ever November for Crosstrek

Forester top seller for fifth consecutive month  up 64 percent

CAMDEN, N.J. , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) today reported 16 consecutive months of increased sales with 53,327 vehicles sold for November 2023 , a 6.4 percent increase compared with November 2022 (50,138). SOA also reported year-to-date sales of 574,322, a 14.9 percent increase compared with the same period in 2022.

"We are geared up to end the year on a high note, achieving sixteen consecutive months of sales increases and continuing to offer the safety, reliability, and adventure that customers are looking for," said Jeff Walters , President and Chief Operating Officer, Subaru of America, Inc. "And now through Tuesday, January 2, 2024 , there are even more reasons to choose Subaru thanks to our Subaru Share the Love Event. With the help of our retailers, we're proud to be donating $300 to car buyers' choice of charity, helping them give back to deserving organizations across the country*."

Last month, Crosstrek achieved its best November ever with sales of 14,994. Forester remained the top performer by volume for the fifth month in a row with 15,089 vehicle sales and an increase of 64 percent over the same month in 2022. Outback sales also remained strong with 12,233 vehicles sold in November.

"Enthusiasm for Subaru vehicles remains high and has helped us put another month of consecutive sales growth under our belts," said Troy Poston , Senior Vice President of Sales. "Car buyers have a lot to look forward to, including the 2025 Forester which we recently debuted at the LA Auto Show. We're excited for the spring availability of that sixth-generation SUV offering the most advanced features, modern design, and improved ride comfort in its history."

Carline Nov-23 Nov-22 % Chg Nov-23 Nov-22 % Chg

MTD MTD MTD YTD YTD YTD Ascent 4,292 5,673 -24.3 % 55,547 56,724 -2.1 % BRZ 263 312 -15.7 % 3,915 3,020 29.6 % Crosstrek 14,994 12,672 18.3 % 143,394 141,651 1.2 % Forester 15,089 9,211 63.8 % 136,913 100,570 36.1 % Impreza 2,370 2,861 -17.2 % 32,196 28,351 13.6 % Legacy 1,838 2,166 -15.1 % 23,632 20,480 15.4 % Outback 12,233 15,069 -18.8 % 147,510 132,465 11.4 % Solterra 943 94 903.2 % 7,916 94 8321.3 % WRX 1,305 2,080 -37.3 % 23,299 16,466 41.5 % TOTAL 53,327 50,138 6.4 % 574,322 499,821 14.9 %

As year-end approaches, the Subaru Share the Love Event has returned for its 16th consecutive year. The philanthropic event runs from November 16, 2023 , through January 2, 2024 , at more than 630 retailers nationwide. For every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at any participating Subaru retailer, Subaru will donate $250 to the purchaser's choice of returning national charity beneficiaries; The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America, or the National Park Foundation, as well as more than 800 local charities.* Retailers can select up to two hometown charities in their local communities to receive at least an additional $50 for each vehicle sold or leased. By the end of this year's event, Subaru and its retailers are aiming to donate more than $285 million to national and hometown charities since the Subaru Share the Love Event started in 2008.

*Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased from November 16, 2023 , through January 2, 2024 , to four national charities designated by the purchaser or lessee. Pre-approved Hometown Charities may be selected for donation depending on retailer participation. For every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased during the campaign period, participating retailers will donate a minimum of $50 in total to their registered Hometown Charities. Subaru will donate a total of $5 to their registered Hometown Charities for every Subaru vehicle routine service visit during the campaign period. A routine visit includes customer payment of $5 or greater, or any service that includes a genuine Subaru oil filter. Purchasers/lessees must make their charity designations by January 12, 2024 . The four national charities will receive a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 each. See your local Subaru retailer for details or visit subaru.com/share. All donations made by Subaru of America, Inc.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan . Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J. , the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States . All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Dominick Infante

Director, Corporate Communications

(856) 488-8615

[email protected]

Diane Anton

Corporate Communications Manager

(856) 488-5093

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subaru-of-america-reports-november-2023-sales-up-6-4-percent-302003488.html

SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.
HANGZHOU, China , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- West Lake International Documentary Festival (IDF), hosted by China Academy of Art, is a high standard platform for the arts and the humanities that promotes documentaries through competition, forums, screenings, pitching and workshops, which is held by the side of West Lake , Hangzhou, China during every golden autumn. IDF stands for "I-Documentary-Fact" and aims to explore the relationship between documentary creation subjects, objects, and methods. Embracing core values of innovation, pioneering spirit, academic rigor, and non-fiction cinema, IDF aims to unlock boundless possibilities as new technologies revolutionize documentary filmmaking.

The 6th West Lake International Documentary Festival (IDF2023) was held from 24th to 26th November, 2023 in Hangzhou, China , with three sections including IDF Competition, IDF Forum and Glory of Documentary Screening Section. IDF2023 invited documentary filmmakers, production companies, distributors, scholars, press at home and abroad to visit Hangzhou to share the glory of documentary. Five academic seminars and lectures took place during the IDF Forum, which saw an attendance of nearly 4,000, while 38 documentaries were screened 43 times to over 7,000 audiences at the Glory of Documentary Screening Section.

IDF2023 received 641 entries from 96 countries and regions spanning six continents. Fifteen documentaries were eventually selected after the preliminary and subsequent rounds of assessment, and shortlisted for the IDF Competition. It took the jury three days to decide on the winner of "IDF Best Short Documentary", "IDF Best Chinese Documentary", "IDF Special Mention", and "IDF Best Documentary".

Dutch director Douwe Dijkstra's production, Neighbour Abdi, won "IDF Best Short Documentary"; Chinese director Zheng Yifei's Trashy Boy won "IDF Best Chinese Documentary"; Polish director's The Balcony Movie garnered "IDF Special Mention"; and Canadian director Jacquelyn Mills' Geographies of Solitude received "IDF Best Documentary".

The films screened at the festival included 3 world premieres, 7 Asian premieres, 12 Chinese premieres, and 6 Chinese mainland premieres. Director Ann Hui's production Elegies also had its premiere at IDF2023. Notably, Kind Hearts, winner of the Grand Prix of the International Jury Generation 14plus for the Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival, Haulout, winning entry of Berlinale Shorts 2022, Geographies of Solitude, Mariner of the Mountains, Innocence, and other major documentaries that have been shortlisted for influential international film festivals like the Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and Berlin International Film Festival were also screened at the festival.

A special VR section was available all day throughout the festival. "IDF Special Outdoor Screening" was held for the first time for the audience to enjoy the unique charms of film viewing outdoors amidst nature.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-6th-west-lake-international-documentary-festival-idf-held-in-hangzhou-302003175.html

SOURCE China Academy of Art
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy energy industry press releases from PR Newswire, including updates in nuclear energy and the energy transition.

NEW YORK , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the energy and natural resources industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Read more of the latest energy-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenergy on Twitter.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-week-in-energy-news-9-stories-you-need-to-see-302002727.html

SOURCE PR Newswire
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy environment industry press releases from PR Newswire, including several headlines related to COP28 , the UN Climate Change Conference.

NEW YORK , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the environment industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Read more of the latest environment-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenv on Twitter.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.

Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.

Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.

Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

For questions, contact the team at [email protected].

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-week-in-environment-news-10-stories-you-need-to-see-302002722.html

SOURCE PR Newswire
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.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


PHOENIX , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the "Company"), a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, is scheduled to present at the Sidoti Small Cap Conference, which is being held virtually from December 6-7, 2023 .

The Company's CFO, Troy Anderson , and VP of Corporate Finance, Matt Kempton , will present on Wednesday, December 6 th at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time , with one-on-one investor meetings held throughout the conference. The presentation will be webcast live and available for replay here, as well as through the Events section of the Company's website here.

To receive additional information, request an invitation or schedule a one-on-one meeting with UTI management, please contact your Sidoti representative or the Company's investor relations team at [email protected].

The Company's most recent investor presentation can be found here.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, whose mission is to serve students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers across a number of highly-skilled fields. The Company is comprised of two divisions: Universal Technical Institute ("UTI") and Concorde Career Colleges ("Concorde"). UTI operates 16 campuses located in 9 states and offers a wide range of transportation and skilled trades technical training programs under brands such as UTI, MIAT College of Technology, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute. Concorde operates across 17 campuses in 8 states, offering programs in the Allied Health, Dental, Nursing, Patient Care and Diagnostic fields. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu, or visit us on LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges or on Twitter @news_UTI or @ConcordeCareer.

Company Contact:

Troy R. Anderson

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Susan Aspey

Corporate Affairs

Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Glover and Jackie Keshner

Gateway Group, Inc.

(949) 574-3860

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-technical-institute-to-present-at-the-sidoti-small-cap-conference-302002663.html

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
TORONTO , Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Vale Base Metals Limited (VBM) today announces that Deshnee Naidoo has elected to leave the company and will step down from her position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VBM effective March 31, 2024 .

The Board has initiated the process to identify and appoint a new CEO, who will be based in Toronto , to succeed Deshnee in leading VBM through its ongoing transformation into a world-class metals business.

Mark Cutifani , Chairman of VBM, said: "We thank Deshnee for the tremendous commitment and dedication she has shown as CEO of Vale Base Metals. She was instrumental in guiding the company through the carve out of the business earlier this year, which has positioned the company for value-creating growth in the coming years. For our producing operations and development projects, business improvement continues to be the focus. I look forward to working with Deshnee until the end of March as we guide the business to the next stage of our journey."

VBM CEO, Deshnee Naidoo, added: "It has been a privilege to serve Vale since 2021 as CFO and most recently as CEO. Having led the successful carve out of VBM from Vale SA, now is the right time for me to hand over to a successor who will take the business on to the next phase of growth. I am proud of what we have achieved and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with incredible people across the business and around the world. I look forward to continuing my role until the end of March and supporting the Board with the succession process."

Eduardo Bartolomeo , CEO of Vale SA said: "Deshnee has been a valued member of the Vale executive team and I thank her for her leadership and friendship, working together to progress our journey to position VBM for the next phase of growth. Under Deshnee's leadership, VBM has made notable improvements in safety performance, culture, operational reliability, key project approvals and project execution."

Over the next decade, VBM maintains its plans to invest US$25-30bn in strategic mineral projects in Brazil , Canada and Indonesia , with the aim to nearly triple copper output to 900,000 tonnes a year and to almost double nickel production at the same time to 300,000 tonnes per year from 160,000 to 175,000 tonnes.

The Board will make an announcement regarding a successor as the process completes.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vale-base-metals-chief-executive-deshnee-naidoo-to-step-down-302003209.html

SOURCE Vale Base Metals
By Charlotte Greenfield

(Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban administration has appointed a former spokesperson as ambassador to China, the foreign affairs ministry said on Friday, its first officially accredited envoy to any country since taking over in 2021.

Former administration spokesman Bilal Karimi arrived in China late in November to take up the role, the Taliban-run foreign ministry said in a statement.

"He is the official accredited ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to the People's Republic of China," ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi told Reuters, adding that he was the first such envoy since the 2021 takeover.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of office hours. The Chinese government has not said whether it regards the move as a step towards official recognition.

The previous Taliban official sent to run the Afghan embassy in Beijing was a charge d'affaires, a post that does not require presentation of ambassadorial credentials to the host, a step that depends on formal recognition of the envoy's government.

No country, including China, has officially recognised the Taliban's government since their takeover as U.S. forces withdrew.

In September, China became the first country to formally name a new ambassador to Afghanistan since the takeover.

Several other nations have charges d'affaires or ambassadors who presented their credentials under the previous NATO-backed government.

The Taliban administration have said they plan to join President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road infrastructure project.

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Additional reporting by Eduardo Baptista in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
CAIRO (Reuters) - The entry of aid and fuel trucks for the Gaza Strip at Egypt's Rafah crossing halted on Friday, Egyptian security and aid sources said, as Israel resumed its military campaign following a week-long truce.

The quantity of aid delivered through the Rafah crossing had increased during the truce, though aid officials said it was still far less than what was needed.

Rafah has been the only entry point for humanitarian relief destined for Gaza, with deliveries beginning on Oct. 21, two weeks after the start of the war.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Gareth Jones)
An undated handout image shows an artistic rendering of the mass comparison of the star LHS 3154 and its planet LHS 3154b, and our own Earth and Sun. Penn State University/Handout via REUTERS

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Our Milky Way galaxy's most common type of star is called a red dwarf - much smaller and less luminous than our sun. These stars - or so it was thought - simply are not big enough to host planets much larger than Earth.

But the discovery of a planet at least 13 times Earth's mass orbiting very close to a red dwarf only 11% of the sun's mass has astronomers going back to the drawing board on planetary formation theory involving this prevalent type of star. The mass ratio of this planet with its star is more than 100 times greater than that of Earth and the sun.

"We discovered a planet that is too massive for its star," said Penn State astronomer Suvrath Mahadevan, one of the leaders of the study published this week in the journal Science.

The star, called LHS 3154, is relatively close to us, about 50 light years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

The sun is about a thousand times more luminous than this star.

"It is barely a star," said Princeton University astronomer Gumundur Stefansson, the study's lead author. "It has a mass just above the cutoff of supporting hydrogen fusion to be considered a star."

The planet, called LHS 3154 b, orbits at about 2.3% of Earth's orbital distance from the sun, circling its star every 3.7 days. It is much closer even than our solar system's innermost planet Mercury is to the sun.

The planet may be similar in size and composition to Neptune, the smallest of our solar system's four gas planets. Neptune's diameter is about four times that of Earth. The method employed to study the planet did not enable the researchers to measure its diameter, but they suspect it is about three to four times that of Earth.

Neptune, which lacks a solid surface, possesses a dynamic atmosphere mainly of hydrogen and helium, atop a mantle mostly of slushy ammonia and water and a solid core. Based on its probable Neptune-like composition and closeness to its star, it is unlikely to support life, Stefansson said.

Stars form when dense clumps of interstellar gas and dust collapse under their own gravitational pull. Once a star is born at the center of such a cloud, leftover material forms a swirling disk around it that feeds stellar growth and often gives rise to planets.

So why should a red dwarf not be able to host a planet the size of the newly described one?

"The planet-forming disk around stars is only a small fraction of the stellar mass, and is expected to scale with that mass. So a very low mass star should have a disk that is also low mass. Such a disk should not be heavy enough to birth the planet we discovered," Mahadevan said.

"This planet raises questions of how planets form around the lowest mass stars, because such stars were previously thought to primarily only be able to form small terrestrial planets similar in mass to Earth," Stefansson said.

The researchers discovered LHS 3154 b by detecting a subtle wobble in the host star caused by the planet's gravitational effects during its orbit. They used an instrument called the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF), built by a team led by Mahadevan, on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at the University of Texas' McDonald Observatory.

It was designed to find planets that orbit relatively cool stars and have the potential for liquid water on their surfaces, a key factor for life.

"As we build new instruments, and as our measurement precision increases, we see the universe in new, unexpected ways," Mahadevan said. "We built HPF to detect terrestrial planets around these cool stars. This discovery is another in the constant stream of surprises showing how much we still have to learn about planets and planet formation."

(Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. dollars are counted out by a banker counting currency at a bank in Westminster, Colorado November 3, 2009. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - November was the best month in over three decades for a classic stock and bond portfolio, as both markets posted their best returns in years, according to a Bank of America Global Research report on Friday.

A typical 60/40 portfolio - one that holds 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds - would have returned 9.6% in November, the most since December 1991, which saw the dissolution of the USSR, BofA said.

They cautioned though: "pull backs follow monster months" and such a portfolio lost 3.2% in the first quarter of 1992.

MSCI's all country world stock index rose 9% in November, its biggest monthly gain since November 2020.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 52 basis points in the month, its most since 2011. A bond's yield moves inversely to its price.

In the week to Wednesday, investors poured $75.6 billion into cash, $3.7 billion into bonds and $2.6 billion into stocks, the report also said, and high yield bonds saw their biggest four-week inflow since June 2020.

(Reporting by Alun John, editing by Amanda Cooper and Sharon Singleton)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting with the Israeli President (not pictured), in Tel Aviv, Israel on November 30, 2023, following the announcement of an extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas just before it was due to expire

By Humeyra Pamuk

DUBAI (Reuters) -U.S. top diplomat Antony Blinken on Friday sought to begin discussions with Israel's Arab neighbors on the future of Gaza, even as Israel resumed its assault on the Palestinian enclave aimed at annihilating Hamas.

Discussions with Arab foreign ministers covered the current state of the Israeli-Hamas war and the work being done to deliver more humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Blinken told reporters before boarding a flight back to Washington.

He said they also talked about "what happens the day after in Gaza and how we can get on the path to a just, lasting and secure peace for Israelis and Palestinians, in fact for everyone in the region."

Arab states had previously pushed back on U.S. attempts to discuss a post-Hamas future for Gaza, arguing for an immediate ceasefire instead, but U.S. officials hoped this week's pause in fighting may have paved the way for talks, a senior State Department official said before the meeting.

That pause broke down on Friday, however, and Blinken did not provide details on how the discussion went.

Concluding his third trip to the region since the conflict erupted with Hamas' attacks on Israel in October, Blinken met the foreign ministers of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, alongside representatives of the Palestinian Authority on the sidelines of the COP28 UN climate conference in Dubai, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken has been conducting shuttle diplomacy between Israel and Arab states since the Oct. 7 attacks, which Israel says killed 1,200 people and about 240 taken hostage. Israel responded with aerial bombing and a ground invasion that have killed 15,000 people and left thousands more buried under the rubble, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The senior State Department official said earlier that Washington wanted to begin talks on how the Gaza strip will be administered if Israel succeeds in its goal of eradicating Hamas.

Blinken last month said Washington wants Palestinians to govern Gaza and does not want to see the territory reoccupied by Israel, blockaded or reduced in size.

No clear proposal has yet emerged for Gaza's future security and governance, but Washington wants to get discussions started and wants countries in the region to participate, said the official, who briefed reporters ahead of the meeting on condition of anonymity.

Last month, Blinken rebuffed Arab foreign ministers' appeals for Washington to press Israel to agree to a lasting ceasefire, arguing that would only allow Hamas to regroup and launch further attacks.

On Thursday, Blinken met Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and said he discussed the need for reforms of the Palestinian Authority, amid concerns over the organization's ability to play a role in Gaza, currently administered by Hamas, bitter rivals of Abbas.

Blinken on Friday blamed Hamas for the end of the truce that had seen the release of about 100 hostages and allowed more aid to flow into Gaza, saying the group launched rocket attacks and reneged on commitments it had made on the release of hostages.

"We remain intensely focused on getting everyone home, getting hostages back," Blinken said. "Were still at this."

In meetings with Israeli officials, Blinken pressed for Israel to "put in place clear protections for civilians and for sustaining humanitarian assistance going forward" and credited Israel for advising Gazans on safe evacuation areas, he said.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; writing by Simon Lewis; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Grant McCool)
FILE PHOTO: Britain's King Charles and Britain's Queen Camilla attend the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords Chamber, in London, Britain, November 7, 2023. Richard Pohle/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles said on Friday the world was "dreadfully far off track" on addressing climate change and that the global economy would be in peril unless the environment was rapidly repaired.

In an opening address to the COP28 U.N. climate summit, King Charles told world leaders the dangers of climate change were no longer a distant risk, and urged them to take more action.

"I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action," he said, in reference to the 2015 summit held in France.

"We are seeing alarming tipping points being reached."

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.

The summit, which runs until Dec. 12, clinched an early victory on Thursday, with delegates adopting a new fund to help poor nations cope with costly climate disasters.

The king, whose role is ceremonial but is attending the summit on behalf of the British government and after an invite from host nation the United Arab Emirates, did not single out any group in his speech, his first major climate address as Britain's monarch.

He instead spoke about how to involve multilateral organisations and the private sector, the role of the insurance sector and speeding up innovation in renewable energy.

Charles cited the impact of climate change globally, including floods in India and Pakistan and severe wildfires in the United States, Canada and Greece.

"Unless we rapidly repair and restore nature's unique economy, based on harmony and balance, which is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and survivability will be imperilled," he said.

For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

(This story has been corrected to change the year to '2015' from '2021' in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Josie Kao and Miral Fahmy)
FILE PHOTO: A Vietnamese pupil holds Vietnamese and Chinese flags before the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Hoang Dinh Nam/Pool/File Photo

By Francesco Guarascio and Khanh Vu

HANOI (Reuters) -China and Vietnam are working on a possible significant upgrade of their underdeveloped rail links to boost a line that crosses Vietnam's rare earths heartland and reaches the country's top port in the north, senior officials and diplomats said.

The talks are part of preparations for a possible visit to Hanoi in coming weeks by Chinese President Xi Jinping, officials and diplomats said, which would further confirm Vietnam's increasingly strategic role in global supply chains as major powers including the United States vie to gain influence there.

The two countries agreed to boost trade ties and promote railways connections, according to a readout published on the Vietnamese government portal on Friday after China's top diplomat Wang Yi met Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had previously called for the upgrade of the railway linking Kunming in southern China to Vietnam's port city of Haiphong in a statement released last month, after China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao made a rare visit to Vietnam.

Chinese officials have stressed the importance of boosting infrastructure connectivity with their southern neighbour.

Vietnam already has rail connections to China, but the system is old with limited capacity on the Vietnam side. The two systems are also not interoperable at the moment, meaning trains have to stop at the border where passengers and goods are transferred to domestic services.

The upgraded railway would pass through the region where Vietnam has its largest deposits of rare earths, of which China is by far the world's biggest refiner.

Vietnam is trying to build its own industry in what is seen as a possible challenge to China's dominance, but what appear as internal fights have cast a shadow over these efforts.

Chinese and Vietnamese rare earths industry experts discussed last week stronger cooperation on processing the minerals, according to Vietnamese state media.

BELT AND ROAD TRACK?

It is unclear how much China would contribute to the upgraded railway track in Vietnam and whether Hanoi would accept sizeable financing from Beijing on this.

The line could be seen as part of China's flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is supporting infrastructure investment across the world, but is not clear whether it would be labelled as a BRI project, one diplomat said.

On Friday, the Vietnamese government said the two countries had completed negotiations to promote connections between infrastructure projects in Vietnam and the BRI.

A strengthened railway link could also boost Vietnam's exports to China, mostly of agriculture products, boost Chinese tourism to northern Vietnam and further integrate the two countries' manufacturing industries, which experts already consider as symbiotic, with factories in Vietnam largely assembling components produced in China.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and so far this year is also the main investor, taking into account investment from Hong Kong, as many Chinese companies move south some of their operations amid trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Despite the booming economic links, the two communist nations are embroiled in a years-long maritime dispute in the South China Sea and fought a brief war in the late 70s.

(Reporting Francesco Guarascio and Khanh Vu; additional reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Stephen Coates and Toby Chopra)
FILE PHOTO: China's President Xi Jinping attends the Leaders Retreat at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping has said the country's coast guard must enforce maritime law and crack down on "criminal activities" to defend China's territorial sovereignty, state media reported on Friday.

Xi made the comments as he inspected the China Coast Guard's command office for the East China Sea area and the performance of the coast guard's ships by video, Xinhua news agency reported.

"It is necessary to establish and improve the coordination and cooperation mechanism of maritime law enforcement, severely crack down on illegal and criminal activities at sea," Xi said.

The president also said it is necessary to "pragmatically carry out exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries in maritime law enforcement, and actively participate in international and regional maritime governance."

The Chinese coast guard has had several confrontations with vessels from the Philippines in disputed territorial waters in the South China Sea.

China's top leader also said it was important to maintain the healthy development of China's marine economy.

(Reporting by Ella Cao and Bernard Orr, editing by Christina Fincher and Barbara Lewis)
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.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele speaks during the inauguration of the Vijosa pharmaceutical plant in Santa Tecla, El Salvador November 20, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas/ File Photo

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -El Salvador's Congress late on Thursday granted President Nayib Bukele permission to leave his post so that he can campaign ahead of the country's presidential election next year.

The Central American country's Congress chose Claudia Rodriguez, the current head of the National Directorate of Municipal Works, as his substitute.

Rodriguez has worked in Bukele family companies and during Nayib Bukele's administrations when he was mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlan and San Salvador, the capital.

Earlier this week, Bukele said he would formally request the leave of absence "to dedicate myself to the campaign."

Despite constitutional prohibitions, Bukele and his current Vice President Felix Ulloa are seeking a second consecutive term in the February 4 election.

The winner of February's election is set to take office on June 1.

While critics question Bukele's ability to seek a second consecutive term, citing a constitutional prohibition, the country's top court ruled he could run in 2021.

Bukele, the former mayor of San Salvador, enjoys massive popularity going into the election stemming largely from a sweeping crackdown on the Central American country's violent gangs, with over 75,000 suspected gang members arrested to date.

The strategy has drawn allegations of human rights violations.

(Reporting by Nelson Renteria; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)
FILE PHOTO: View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File Photo

(Reuters) - The CEO of First Quantum Tristan Pascall has arrived in Panama, a company spokesperson said on Thursday after the Central American nation ordered the Canadian miner to shut down its key copper project.

This is the first visit of the CEO since public protests erupted over the signing of a new contract on Oct. 20. The spokesperson did not give details of Pascall's agenda in the country.

(Reporting by Divya Rajagopal and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)
By Max Hunder

CHASIV YAR, Ukraine (Reuters) - Yevhen Tkachov, a volunteer aid worker and devout Pentecostal from Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, spent much of his life travelling to the world's war zones helping civilians in need.

Nearly 10 years ago, his own homeland erupted into conflict, and the war never went away.

"Right now I think it makes the most sense to help my own people," said the 54-year-old, who is also a qualified veterinarian, after making his daily dash to deliver aid to the residents of Chasiv Yar, a once-sleepy, tree-lined town of 12,000 where he grew up.

It is now close to the front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces, and many of its buildings are damaged or destroyed. The air is frequently pierced by the crash of incoming artillery and boom of Ukrainian cannons nearby.

Like most people from Chasiv Yar, Tkachov has moved further from the fighting though some remain.

All of them have lived through nearly a decade of war, a reminder that for millions in eastern Ukraine the conflict has rumbled on since 2014, long before Russia's full-scale invasion in February last year grabbed the world's attention.

Tkachov returns to the town each day delivering water and animal feed to mostly elderly residents who have stayed on despite persistent encouragement to flee.

On a recent trip, Reuters accompanied Tkachov on a visit to an 84-year-old, bedbound woman who had changed her mind and agreed to be taken to safety.

Tkachov lifted and carried her to his pickup truck as the crackle of gunfire broke out nearby - Ukrainian troops firing into the sky at a Russian drone.

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning," he grinned, quoting from the film "Apocalypse Now" and opening a fizzy drink can as the shooting grew louder.

BUILD-UP

Ukraine and its Western allies say Russia infiltrated eastern Ukraine with fighters and intelligence operatives to stage a coup in Donbas in 2014 which Moscow subsequently supported with regular troops.

Russia denied those allegations at the time, describing the events as a local rebellion against a government it accused of hostility to Russian speakers, which most Donbas residents were.

President Vladimir Putin subsequently acknowledged Russian personnel had carried out "certain tasks" in Ukraine, and Reuters reporters found evidence that Russian soldiers had been sent into Ukraine.

The region, comprising the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, was home to over 6 million people when war broke out, many working in vast coal mines and steel mills.

It suffered devastating economic collapse after the fall of the Soviet Union, but by the early 2010s its fortunes were recovering. Nobody thought war was on the horizon.

"People were renovating (homes), there were queues for workmen to put in new windows or heating," Tkachov recalled. "Nobody thought something like this would happen."

A popular uprising in early 2014 against pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych forced him to flee to Russia by helicopter. He was from Donetsk province and popular in the area. Many locals were suspicious of the government that replaced him.

Although Tkachov is pro-Ukrainian, he said many others in the region did not share that view in 2014. Few before the war were openly pushing to join Russia, he said, but some people did not feel fully Ukrainian.

CRIMEA AND DONBAS

After its ally Yanukovych was ousted from Kyiv, Russia annexed Crimea, the southernmost part of Ukraine which was also home to Moscow's Black Sea fleet.

Armed militants also began seizing government buildings and declared "people's republics" in Donetsk and Luhansk, and, after an initial period of shock, Kyiv sent in an army hollowed out by decades of neglect.

"People saw all these rustbuckets breaking down on our roads, and so few people bet on Ukraine," recalled Tkachov, referring to old military vehicles deployed at the time. He began to deliver clothes, food and medicine to Ukrainian soldiers.

He said that, while delivering aid and helping evacuate people from the then-separatist controlled city of Sloviansk in July 2014, he and his friend were arrested, detained and accused of helping target Ukrainian artillery and being foreign spies.

"We laughed at them, really," he added.

A verdict at his trial never came. The Ukrainian army, by now bolstered by volunteers and donations, was on the attack and their captors locked the men in cells and rushed off, vowing to return.

Reuters was unable to verify the events independently, but Tkachov said he eventually discovered the separatists had fled.

"An old man with a torch opened the cell door and said: guys, come out, there's nobody here," he said.

FULL-SCALE WAR

The U.N. human rights office estimated that more than 14,000 military personnel and civilians were killed in eastern Ukraine from early April 2014 to the end of 2021.

Unlike some of his neighbours, Tkachov took warnings that Russia could launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 seriously, and prepared the old people's home he ran in Chasiv Yar for a lengthy blockade.

When Russia did attack on Feb. 24, 2022, one thing stunned him: the response of other locals was one of defiance and resistance, a marked contrast to 2014.

"I was so surprised by the patriotism," he said. "I didn't think that thousands of people would join territorial defence units!"

Tkachov put the change down to a generational shift: teachers who learnt Ukrainian history after independence and the fading influence of those who pined for a return to Soviet ways.

Still, the war is not over. Tens of thousands of Russian troops are trying to smash through Ukrainian lines across Donetsk and Luhansk.

"I am currently pessimistic, although a year ago I was optimistic," Tkachov said, when asked about the region's future.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Timothy Heritage)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor speaks during an interview with Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler at the 92nd Street Y in New York March 15, 2012. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Retired Justice Sandra Day OConnor, the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, whose centrist views and shrewd negotiating skills allowed her to steer the nations law for much of her quarter-century tenure, died on Friday at the age of 93, the court said.

The court said in a statement that O'Connor died in Phoenix of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.

Chief Justice John Roberts recalled O'Connor as having "blazed an historic trail as our nations first female justice."

"She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor," Roberts said. "We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education."

O'Connor, who retired from the nation's highest court in 2006, had in her latter years been diagnosed with dementia and announced in October 2018 that she was withdrawing from public life.

When Republican former President George W. Bush replaced the pragmatic westerner with the more ideologically rigid conservative Justice Samuel Alito, the already-conservative court moved further to the right.

"I remember the day Justice OConnor was nominated to the court as though it just happened," said Justice Elena Kagan, who was appointed to the court in 2010, after O'Connor's retirement. "As a young woman looking forward to law school, I thought the event momentous and inspirational. But I couldnt have known then how momentous and inspirational that new nominees tenure on the court would turn out to be."

O'Connor, who grew up on an Arizona ranch, navigated the male-dominated world of politics in her home state and then of law in the nations capital. Her 1981 appointment by Republican President Ronald Reagan made her the Supreme Court's first woman justice nearly two centuries after the Supreme Court was established in 1789 but her place in history went beyond breaking men-only barriers.

Although she was conservative by nature, she became the court's ideological center. With pragmatism and a knack for building consensus, she controlled decisions on the most contentious issues of her era, including helping preserve a womans right to abortion and upholding affirmative action on college campuses.

O'Connor described her tenure as similar to walking on wet cement because every opinion you offer, youve left a footprint.

With her ranch-bred work ethic and plain-spoken way, OConnors mantra was "be constructive."

Unlike any of the justices who served during her time, O'Connor had run for elective office and knew how to work a backroom and count votes. The former Republican state senator often strategized with individual justices to try to force the hands of others and reach the crucial five votes among the nine for a majority decision.

O'Connor avoided sweeping pronouncements and voted for incremental change, becoming a pivotal vote on the court in the process. Her views became more liberal with time. After expressing some ambivalence about Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that made abortion legal nationwide, she created a critical alliance in 1992 to affirm Roes central holding.

"Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles or morality but that cannot control (the courts) decision," she wrote.

The Supreme Court, which has had a 6-3 conservative majority since 2020, overturned the landmark Roe ruling in 2022.

While O'Connor was generally suspicious of racial remedies, she was a crucial vote in 2003 to uphold campus affirmative action favoring racial minorities in admissions.

O'Connor wrote in the ruling that colleges must strive for diversity "if the dream of one nation, indivisible, is to be realized."

The Supreme Court's conservative majority in June struck down race-conscious admissions programs in higher education, effectively prohibiting affirmative action policies long used to increase the number of underrepresented minority students in American colleges.

OConnors views on gay rights evolved, too. In 1986 she voted to uphold a Georgia law prohibiting sexual relations between homosexuals but voted in 2003 to strike down a similar law in Texas.

O'Connor was with the majority when the court ruled 5-4 on ideological lines to stop the Florida presidential vote recount, ensuring that Republican George W. Bush candidate won the presidency over Democrat Al Gore in 2000.

She later expressed regret about the ruling, telling the Chicago Tribune in 2013 that the court did not need to get involved.

LAW SCHOOL AT 19

OConnor was born on March 26, 1930, the eldest of three children of Harry and Ada Mae Day and growing up on the familys Lazy B ranch was a hard, lonely life. For school, she was sent to El Paso, Texas, where she lived with her maternal grandparents.

She graduated from high school at age 16, went to Stanford University and was only 19 when she started law school as one of just five women in the class. Former chief justice William Rehnquist was a classmate and they briefly dated.

O'Connor graduated near the top of her class but was rejected for most law firm jobs. A Los Angeles-based firm offered a job as a legal secretary but she declined and eventually found work in the San Mateo County, California, county attorneys office.

She and her husband, John, whom she met in law school, later settled in Phoenix. She was raising three sons when she became active in state politics. She was appointed to fill the unexpired term of a state senator in 1969 and then ran successfully to hold the seat.

O'Connor became Arizona Senate majority leader in 1973, the first woman in the country to lead a state senate. She was elected as a state trial judge in 1974 and in 1979 was named to a state appeals court.

O'Connor met Warren Burger, then chief justice of the United States, in 1979 through mutual friends. He was impressed and soon made sure OConnor was invited to national legal conferences.

In 1980, Reagan vowed to appoint a woman to the high court as he was challenging Democratic incumbent Jimmy Carter. Soon after Reagan took office, Justice Potter Stewart announced his retirement and Reagan's short list of women included OConnor.

Reagan was captivated when he met her. They talked little about law and largely about horses and life in the West. The Senate confirmed OConnor by a 99-0 vote and she was sworn in Sept. 25, 1981.

I think the important fact about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases, she told the Ladies Home Journal after her confirmation.

She raised awareness of breast cancer, which she survived in 1988 after a mastectomy, and the importance of research into Alzheimers disease, which afflicted her husband. She retired in January 2006 to take care of him until his death in 2009.

After leaving the bench, OConnor dedicated herself to improving civics education, starting a group called iCivics that provided free online resources for middle and high school students. In 2009, Democratic former President Barack Obama presented her at the White House with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor a president can give.

(Reporting by Reuters Washington bureau; Editing by Bill Trott and Daniel Wallis)
FILE PHOTO: Technology leaders attend a generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) meeting in San Francisco as the city is trying to position itself as the AI capital of the world, in California, U.S., June 29, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

By Supantha Mukherjee, Foo Yun Chee and Martin Coulter

STOCKHOLM/BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) -EU lawmakers cannot agree on how to regulate systems like ChatGPT, in a threat to landmark legislation aimed at keeping artificial intelligence (AI) in check, six sources told Reuters.

As negotiators meet on Friday for crucial discussions ahead of final talks scheduled for Dec. 6, 'foundation models', or generative AI, have become the main hurdle in talks over the European Union's proposed AI Act, said the sources, who declined to be identified because the discussions are confidential.

Foundation models like the one built by Microsoft-backed OpenAI are AI systems trained on large sets of data, with the ability to learn from new data to perform various tasks.

After two years of negotiations, the bill was approved by the European parliament in June. The draft AI rules now need to be agreed through meetings between representatives of the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission.

Experts from EU countries will meet on Friday to thrash out their position on foundation models, access to source codes, fines and other topics while lawmakers from the European Parliament are also gathering to finalise their stance.

If they cannot agree, the act risks being shelved due to lack of time before European parliamentary elections next year.

While some experts and lawmakers have proposed a tiered approach for regulating foundation models, defined as those with more than 45 million users, others have said smaller models could be equally risky.

But the biggest challenge to getting an agreement has come from France, Germany and Italy, who favour letting makers of generativeAI models self-regulate instead of having hard rules.

In a meeting of the countries' economy ministers on Oct. 30 in Rome, France persuaded Italy and Germany to support a proposal, sources told Reuters.

Until then, negotiations had gone smoothly, with lawmakers making compromises across several other conflict areas such as regulating high-risk AI, sources said.

SELF-REGULATION?

European parliamentarians, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and scores of AI researchers have criticised self-regulation.

In an open letter this week, researchers such as Geoffrey Hinton warned self-regulation is "likely to dramatically fall short of the standards required for foundation model safety".

France-based AI company Mistral and Germany's Aleph Alpha have criticised the tiered approach to regulating foundation models, winning support from their respective countries.

A source close to Mistral said the company favours hard rules for products, not the technology on which it is built.

"Though the concerned stakeholders are working their best to keep negotiations on track, the growing legal uncertainty is unhelpful to European industries, said Kirsten Rulf, a Partner and Associate Director at Boston Consulting Group.

European businesses would like to plan for next year, and many want to see some kind of certainty around the EU AI Act going into 2024, she added.

Other pending issues in the talks include definition of AI, fundamental rights impact assessment, law enforcement exceptions and national security exceptions, sources told Reuters.

Lawmakers have also been divided over the use of AI systems by law enforcement agencies for biometric identification of individuals in publicly accessible spaces and could not agree on several of these topics in a meeting on Nov. 29, sources said.

Spain, which holds the EU presidency until the end of the year, has proposed compromises in a bid to speed up the process.

If a deal does not happen in December, the next presidency Belgium will have a couple of months to one before it is likely shelved ahead of European elections.

"Had you asked me six or seven weeks ago, I would have said we are seeing compromises emerging on all the key issues," said Mark Brakel, director of policy at the Future of Life Institute, a nonprofit aimed at reducing risks from advanced AI.

"This has now become a lot harder," he said.

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm;Editing by Josephine Mason and Alexander Smith, Kirsten Donova)
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner speaks during a plenum session of the lower house of parliament Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

By Christian Kraemer and Maria Martinez

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Christian Lindner defended on Friday his supplementary budget for 2023 which suspends Germany's cap on borrowing this year after a top court ruling tore up the government's spending plans.

Lindner, leader of the fiscally conservative Free Democrats, has been a staunch defender of the constitutionally-enshrined debt break in the past and is reluctant to agree another suspension in 2024 as Germany tries to find a way out of its budget crisis.

"We are now creating legal certainty," Lindner told lawmakers at Germany's parliament.

Germany's constitutional court ruled on Nov. 15 the coalition government's decision to re-allocate 60 billion euros of unused debt from the pandemic era to its climate and transformation fund was unconstitutional.

The ruling also affects other off-budget funds that Germany has used over the years to finance government policy in order to comply with its self-imposed debt brake restricting the public deficit to 0.35% of GDP.

Germany can suspend the debt brake if it is hit by a natural disaster or "exceptional emergencies" that are beyond the control of the state and significantly affect its finances.

Its suspension for a fourth year in a row will allow the government to borrow roughly an extra 45 billion euros ($49 billion) as part of the regular 2023 budget.

This sum was previously mainly financed through the country's 200 billion euro Economic Stabilisation Fund which the government is planning to discontinue by year-end.

Lindner said that the national debt-to-GDP ratio would fall to 64% in 2024 from 69% in 2021.

"The direction is right," Lindner said. "We want to continue in this direction."

If the court's ruling is implemented in full, Germany's economy could shrink by up to half a percentage point in the coming year, the federation of German industries (BDI) said on Friday.

The BDI added, however, a reliable economic forecast for the German economy in 2024 is currently not possible due to the uncertainties surrounding the 2024 budget, the climate and transformation fund and other special funds.

"Supporting the economic recovery requires planning certainty for companies and therefore a quick decision on which of the necessary funds will be made available," BDI's managing director Tanja Goenner said.

The budget hammerblow from the court has heightened tensions in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's already fractious three-way coalition, which has seen its support slump since taking office nearly two years ago.

Lindner spoke of intensive talks among the coalition partners over the 2024 budget which, according to Lindner, faces a 17 billion euro gap.

"It won't always be easy," he said of the negotiations.

($1 = 0.9181 euros)

(Reporting by Christian Kraemer. Writing by Maria Martinez; Editing by Toby Chopra)
By Alberto Dabo and Samba Balde

BISSAU (Reuters) -Two people died and several were injured overnight in Guinea Bissau in clashes between two army factions that broke out in the capital after national guard soldiers freed an opposition minister, the army said on national radio on Friday.

Fighting began overnight and continued into Friday morning after soldiers from the national guard stormed a police station where Finance Minister Suleimane Seidi and the secretary of state for the treasury, Antonio Monteiro, were detained after their arrest on Thursday night.

The army said order was restored on Friday afternoon in the tiny West African country where coups and unrest have been commonplace since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974.

Seidi is a member of the former ruling PAIGC party, which leads the coalition that won a majority in legislative elections in June.

That result halted President Umaro Sissoco Embalo's plans to push through a constitutional change that would have allowed him to consolidate power by removing the country's semi-presidential system. The PAIGC is opposed to this.

The national guard reports to parliament, while the military reports to the president.

The move to free the men took place on Thursday night under the auspices of the head of the national guard, Victor Tchongo, the army said in a statement.

Gunshots were heard throughout the night in various parts of Bissau and residents woke to military road blocks. Most of that deployment was cleared by midday and street life went back to normal.

"Republican forces have restored constitutional order," the army said, calling on businesses to open and citizens to resume their daily activities.

Embalo is in Dubai attending the COP28 climate summit. His communications team said the presidency had "nothing to do with it".

Tchongo, who was arrested earlier on Friday, has been freed, while Seidi and Monteiro are back in custody, a police source said.

They are under arrest over 6 billion CFA francs ($9.95 million) allegedly disbursed from public coffers without permission.

Neither have made any public comments in the chaotic hours after they were arrested, freed and then detained again. During that time, the home of the leader of PAIGC also came under fire from unidentified attackers, according to police sources.

Guinea Bissau, with a population of 2 million, has since independence seen at least 10 coups or attempted coups. Only one democratically elected president has completed a full term in almost four decades.

At least six people were killed during a failed attempt to overthrow Embalo in February 2022.

The events in Bissau follow a spate of coups in a region that had been making strides toward shedding its reputation for military-led takeovers. Overall there have been eight coups in West and Central Africa in the last three years.

Sierra Leone's government foiled an attempt to overthrow it over the weekend. More than 20 people were killed as gunmen in the capital Freetown attacked military barracks, a prison and other locations on Sunday, freeing about 2,200 inmates.

($1 = 603.0000 CFA francs)

(Reporting by Alberto Dabo and Samba Balde; Additional reporting and writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Christina Fincher, Alison Williams and Daniel Wallis)
FILE PHOTO: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin addresses his sentencing hearing and the judge as he awaits his sentence after being convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. June 25, 2021 in a still imag

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An inmate was charged on Friday with attempted murder and other offenses following the stabbing of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the death of George Floyd, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.

The complaint charges John Turscak, 52, with stabbing Chauvin about 22 times "with an improvised knife" on Nov. 24 while incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Tucson, prosecutors said.

Turscak was charged with attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, according to prosecutors.

Turscak is serving a 30-year sentence over crimes that were committed when he was a member of the Mexican Mafia gang.

The investigation in the case was conducted by the FBI.

"Turscak stated that his attack of D.C. (Derek Chauvin) on Black Friday was symbolic with the Black Lives Matter movement and the Mexican Mafia criminal organization," the complaint said.

Turscak also told investigators he had been thinking of assaulting the former police officer for about a month due to his high-profile status, according to prosecutors.

An attorney for Turscak was not listed in court records.

Attempted murder and assault with intent to commit murder violations each carry maximum penalties of 20 years incarceration, while assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury each carry maximum penalties of 10 years.

Chauvin was expected to survive, the Minnesota Attorney General's office said after the stabbing.

Chauvin is serving a 21-year sentence for violating Floyd's civil rights and a concurrent 22-1/2 years for murder on his conviction in Minnesota state court.

Floyd's death in 2020 unleashed protests worldwide against police brutality and racism after Chauvin, who is white, knelt on the neck of the handcuffed Black man for more than eight minutes in a murder caught on cellphone video.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Grant McCool)
FILE PHOTO: An Israeli soldier walks on an Israeli tank near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in southern Israel, November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photo

By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI (Reuters) - Israel could secure the freedom of hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip through talks or by "other means", an Israeli official told Reuters on Friday.

Speaking in Dubai after fighting resumed in Gaza following the end of a week-long temporary ceasefire, Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General Oded Joseph said Israel remained intent on securing the release of all hostages and destroying Hamas.

During the pause in fighting, dozens of hostages were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid was brought into the Gaza Strip.

"Naturally, we would reach a point where again we would want to find a way to make sure all our kidnapped are released," Joseph said.

"Part of it might of be out of, sort of, discussions, but part of it could be by other means," he said, without providing further details.

Israel accused Hamas of violating the temporary ceasefire agreement. Hamas said Israel bore responsibility for the end of the truce.

Mediators had sought to extend the truce by finding a way for hostage releases to continue, possibly to include Israeli men now that fewer women and children remained in captivity.

Joseph said destroying Hamas would mean the Palestinian militant group was "no longer a military threat" to Israel or the region and that it would have no "political clout" in Gaza.

Gazan officials say Israel's bombardment - retaliation for Hamas' deadly rampage in Israel on Oct. 7 - has killed more than 15,000 people in the enclave run by the Palestinian militants.

Washington has urged Israel to narrow its combat zone and avoid repeating the huge loss of civilian life and displacement of Palestinians seen during its offensive.

Describing the war as a "complicated mission", Joseph said Israel was abiding by international law and seeking to minimise collateral damage "as much as possible".

"We are fighting Hamas. We're not fighting the Palestinian people. It's also our objective to see minimum loss of life of civilians, either Israelis or Palestinians," he said.

Joseph is in the United Arab Emirates for the COP28 U.N. climate summit. Israeli President Isaac Herzog met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan there on Thursday and asked for his help freeing the hostages.

The UAE, one of few Arab states that have official diplomatic ties with Israel, has condemned Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack, in which Israel says about 1,200 people were killed and some 240 were taken hostage.

The Gulf power has called for the hostages' release. It has also condemned Israel's bombardment and invasion of Gaza.

"There is no daylight between the way we see extreme organisations in the region," Joseph said.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows damage caused following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023. REUTERS/ Ilan Rosenberg/File Photo

By Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie and Phil Stewart

(Reuters) - Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has a poster hanging on a wall of his office in Tel Aviv, in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. It shows mugshots of hundreds of the Palestinian militant group's commanders arranged in a pyramid.

At the bottom are Hamas' junior field commanders. At the top is its high command, including Mohammed Deif, the shadowy mastermind of last month's assault.

The poster has been re-printed many times after Israel invaded Gaza in retaliation for Oct. 7: the faces of dead commanders marked with a cross.

But the three men topping Israel's hit-list remain at large: Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades; his second in command, Marwan Issa; and Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.

Hostilities resumed in Gaza on Friday after a seven-day truce brokered by Qatar collapsed. Reuters spoke to four sources in the region, familiar with Israeli thinking, who said that Israel's offensive in Gaza was unlikely to stop until those three top Hamas commanders are dead or captured.

The seven-week-old military campaign has killed more than 15,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, stirring international outcry.

The 61-year-old Sinwar, as well as Deif and Issa, both 58, form a secretive three-man military council atop Hamas that planned and executed the Oct. 7 attack. Some 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage in that assault, the bloodiest in Israel's 75-year history.

The three leaders are directing Hamas' military operations and led negotiations for a prisoner-hostage swaps, possibly from bunkers beneath Gaza, three Hamas sources say.

Killing or capturing the three men will likely be a long and arduous task but might signal that Israel was close to shifting from all-out war to less intense counter insurgency operations, according to three of the senior regional sources. That does not mean that Israel's fight against Hamas would stop.

Officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have said Israel's objectives are the destruction of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities, bringing the hostages back, and ensuring that the area around Gaza will never be threatened by a repeat of the Oct. 7 attack. To achieve those goals, eliminating the leadership of Hamas will be essential.

"They are living on borrowed time," Gallant told a news conference last week, indicating that Israeli intelligence agency Mossad would hunt down the militant group's leadership anywhere in the world. The Israeli government did not respond to a request for comment.

Two military experts said that killing Sinwar, Deif and Issa would allow Israel to claim an important symbolic victory. But achieving even that goal would be long and costly, with no guarantee of success.

Backed by drones and aircraft, Israeli troops have swept through less populated northern and western parts of Gaza but the hardest, and most destructive, phase of the fighting may lie ahead, military experts said.

Israeli troops have not pushed deep into Gaza City, stormed the maze of tunnels where Hamas' command is believed to be located, or invaded the enclave's densely populated south, they added. Some of those tunnels are believed to be around 80 meters deep, making them difficult to destroy from the air.

Michael Eisenstadt, director of the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said it was probably unclear to all sides, including Hamas, exactly how many of its fighters had been killed.

"If (Israel) could say we've killed Sinwar, we've killed Marwan Issa, we've killed Mohammed Deif, that's a very clear, symbolic and substantive achievement," Eisenstadt said, adding that Israel faced a dilemma.

"What if they can't get the guys? Do they keep fighting until they get them? And what if what if they just prove elusive?"

A MORE ATTAINABLE GOAL

The Israeli military says it has destroyed around 400 tunnel shafts in northern Gaza, but that is only a small part of the network Hamas has built up over the years. At least 70 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Gaza operation, and some 392 in total, including the Oct. 7 attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said.

A military officer, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, estimated roughly around 5,000 Hamas fighters had been killed  equivalent to roughly one fifth of its overall strength. Six battalions  numbering around 1,000 men each - had been significantly degraded, the officer said.

Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas leader, said the casualty figures were false and "Israeli propaganda" to cover its lack of military success.

One Hamas insider in Gaza, reached by phone, said that destroying the group as a military force would mean house to house combat and fighting in the warren of tunnels beneath the enclave, which would take a long time.

"If we talk about a year, we will be optimistic," he said, adding that the Israeli death toll would rise.

President Joe Biden's administration sees eliminating Hamas' leadership as a far more attainable goal for Israel than the country's stated objective of eliminating Hamas entirely, three U.S. officials told Reuters.

While staunchly supportive of Israel, its closest ally in the Middle East, U.S. officials worry that an open-ended conflict driven by Israel's hope of destroying Hamas entirely would cause a heavy civilian death toll in Gaza and prolong the risk of a regional war.

The United States learned that lesson over years of battling al Qaeda, Islamic State and other groups during a two-decade-long global war on terrorism.

Iran-backed militants, who blame the United States for Israel's bombings in Gaza, are already targeting U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria in wave after wave of attacks. One of the attacks last week injured eight U.S. troops.

EXISTENTIAL THREAT

The shock and fear in Israel engendered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack may make it difficult to de-escalate the conflict.

Kobi Michael, a former head of the Palestinian desk at Israel's Ministry for Strategic Affairs, which counters negative narratives about Israel overseas, said there is strong popular support for the war to continue as Hamas is perceived as part of a broad Iran-backed axis that poses a direct threat to the nation's survival.

Capturing Sinwar would be an important victory but not necessarily the ultimate one, Michael said.

"Israeli society perceives itself under an existential threat and the options it sees before it are two only: To be or not to be," he said.

The objective of the war remains to dismantle Hamas' military and government capabilities, Michael said, which could involve a turbulent period in Gaza after the war. And the greater long-term challenge was to remove the popular appeal to Palestinians of Hamas' fierce opposition to Israel using education and outreach, he said.

Israel regularly announces the deaths of senior Hamas battalion commanders. An Israeli military officer, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the IDF viewed the elimination of such combat-level commanders as essential to dismantling Hamas' military capabilities.

FAILED ASSASINATIONS

The three Hamas leaders have all escaped numerous Israeli operations to kill them. Deif in particular lives in the shadows after escaping seven assasination attempts before 2021, which cost him an eye and left him with a serious leg injury.

An Israeli air strike in 2014 killed his wife, his three-year-old daughter and seven-month-old son.

Speculation by Israeli and Palestinian sources is that the three men are hiding in the tunnels under the enclave but five sources close to their thinking say they could be anywhere within Gaza.

Sinwar, who unlike the elusive Deif and Issa has often appeared in the past at public rallies, is no longer using any electronic devices for fear the Israelis could track the signal, Hamas sources said.

Issa, known as the 'Shadow Man', is perhaps the least well known of the three but has been involved in many of Hamas' major decisions of recent years, and would replace either of the two other men if they are killed or captured, Hamas sources said.

All three men were born into refugee families that had fled or been expelled in 1948 from areas in the newly created Israeli state.

And all three men have spent years in Israeli prisons. Sinwar served 22 years after being jailed in 1988 for the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and the murder of four Palestinian collaborators.

He was the most senior of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners that Israel freed in 2011 in exchange for one of its soldiers, Gilad Shalit, captured by Hamas in a cross-border raid five years earlier.

Like Deif, Issa's facial features were unknown to the public until 2011 when he appeared in a group photo taken during the Shalit prisoner's exchange, which he helped to organize.

Gerhard Conrad, a German Intelligence Agency mediator (BND) from 2009 to 2011, was among the few to have met Issa while negotiating Shalit's prisoner swap.

"He was very meticulous and careful analyst: that's my impression of him. He knew the files by heart," Conrad told Al Jazeera television.

Israel has killed Hamas' leaders in the past, including the group's founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and its former leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantisi, assassinated in a 2004 air strike. New commanders rose to fill their ranks.

"Israel has killed Sheikh Yassin, Rantissi and others but Hamas is not over," said Hamdan, the Lebanon-based member of the group's politburo. "Anything might happen in this battle."

(Additional reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
The United Nations children's agency UNICEF condemned the resumption of fighting, saying: "Today, those in power have decided that the killing of children would recommence."

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is so perilous that anything other than sustained peace and at-scale emergency aid will mean catastrophe for the children of Gaza," UNICEF spokesman James Elder told reporters in Geneva via video link from the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Elder said the "dire" state of health, nutrition, water, and sanitation there threatened to trigger "a disaster of unparalleled magnitude for the children of Gaza".

"Inaction, at its core, is an approval of the killing of children," he said, calling it "reckless to think more attacks on the people of Gaza will lead to anything other than carnage."

"It's deeply unsettling to hear how some have been able to overlook the tragic deaths of these children; and now, today, are seemingly comfortable with the horrors -- the attacks -- starting again," he said.

"To accept the sacrifice of the children in Gaza is humanity giving up.

"This is our last chance before we delve into yet again explaining why another entirely avoidable tragedy was not stopped."

Elder said that he visited children in the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip as hostilities resumed on Friday.

He said that during the truce, "slowly, slowly, glimpses of childhood started to come back" to traumatized and wounded children.

However, as the explosions began, "in an instant... you saw fear return and childhood retreat", he said.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


FILE PHOTO: Paul Mackenzie, 50, a Kenyan cult leader accused of ordering his followers of the members of the Good News International Church to starve themselves to death in Shakahola forest, appears at Malindi Law Courts, in Malindi, Kenya, May 2, 2023. R

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The leader of a Kenyan doomsday cult, in which authorities believe more than 400 members may have died, was jailed on Friday for 12 months for producing and distributing films without a licence.

Authorities accuse Paul Mackenzie, head of the Good News International Church, of ordering his followers to starve themselves and their children to death so they could go to heaven before the end of the world.

Police have exhumed hundreds of bodies from mass graves in Shakahola forest in the country's southeast.

Mackenzie handed himself in to police in April and has repeatedly been denied bail while investigations continue into the mass deaths. He has not yet been charged for his alleged role in the deaths or entered a plea.

On Friday Magistrate Olga Onalo found the self-styled pastor guilty of operating a film studio, producing films and showing them to members of the public without a valid licence.

Mackenzie's lawyer James Mouko said he would appeal against the ruling. Local media reported Mackenzie was convicted and fined for a similar offence in 2017.

(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Hereward Holland, Editing by William Maclean)
FILE PHOTO: The headquarters of Wirecard AG, an independent provider of outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payment transactions is seen in Aschheim near Munich, Germany, September 22, 2020. REUTERS/Michael Dalder/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court has called upon the lawyer of former Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek, who has been on the run since the implosion of the German payments company, to testify next Wednesday in Germany's biggest post-war fraud trial.

Wirecard became the first-ever DAX member to file for insolvency in 2020, owing creditors almost $4 billion, after disclosing a 1.9 billion euro ($2.13 billion) hole in its accounts.

The firm's auditor, EY, said the hole was the result of sophisticated global fraud in a case that sent shockwaves through the country's political and financial establishment. The trial of former Wirecard executives kicked off last December.

Marsalek, Wirecard's former chief operating officer, is considered a key figure in the Wirecard scandal and an international fugitive on Europe's most-wanted list.

In July he had contacted the Munich court through his lawyer - although neither the lawyer nor authorities disclosed the content of this written communication. A court spokesperson said on Friday that lawyer would now be questioned as a witness in the case.

(Reporting by Joern Poltz; Writing by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: Bunyarin Srijan, the mother of a Thai hostage released as part of a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, holds her phone showing an image of her daughter, Natthawaree Mulkan, during an interview at her home in Khon Kaen, Thai

By Napat Wesshasartar, Thomas Suen and Arton Pookasook

KHON KAEN, Thailand (Reuters) -After he was released by Hamas from captivity in Gaza, Thai farm worker Natthaporn Onkaew, 26, described the experience as dying and being "reborn".

"I missed home so much ... it's something you'd never expect would happen to you," he said, wearing a flag with the Thai and Israeli flags.

At an airport in northeastern Thailand, relatives swarmed Natthaporn with hugs, flowers and garlands, welcoming him home.

Later, outside their home, family and friends gathered for a reunion, with some tying holy threads on his wrist in a traditional Thai homecoming ritual.

Natthaporn was among the 23 Thai labourers to return home after being freed by Hamas during the first truce of the war in Gaza. Nine remain in captivity.

He said he was given food and water but didn't get to shower.

"We only got to brush our teeth," he said.

Before the war, about 30,000 Thai labourers, mostly from the country's rural northeast, worked in Israel's agriculture sector, making them one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country.

Many come to Israel seeking higher pay to send money back home to their families where some are sole providers.

So far, 9,000 Thais have been repatriated.

In the nearby Khon Kaen province, also in the Thai northeast, another reunion was taking place.

Family and relatives sat on the floor having sticky rice and papaya salad as Boonthom Phankhong, 45, recounted his experience.

"We kept encouraging each other. We had to survive ... all we could do was sit and wait," he said.

He recalled that one of his friends even dreamt they were being released.

"He was missing home. He told me ... 'we would get to go home in three days' - all we could do was hope and pray."

But for some, the experience would not stop them from returning.

"If given the chance, I would go back," said Natthawaree Mulkan, 35, referring to her hopes for once the conflict was over. "There were many good things that left a lasting impression in our hearts," she said.

(Additionaly reporting by Artorn Pookasook; Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng, Edited by Raju Gopalakrishnan, William Maclean)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A total of 121 people, mostly Malaysians suspected of being victims of job scams, were evacuated from Myanmar on Friday after being stranded by fighting between the military and rebel groups in the country's north, Malaysia's foreign ministry said.

The group, which included an Indonesian national, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 3:24 a.m. local time (1924 GMT) through a specially arranged flight from Kunming, China, the ministry said in a statement.

The evacuation mission was carried out through the Myanmar-China border starting Thursday morning with the cooperation and approval of the countries involved, the ministry said.

The mission came amid continuous fighting in northern Myanmar after an alliance of armed ethnic groups launched an offensive in late October. The groups have seized control of several towns and military outposts near the country's border with China, disrupting trade.

Malaysia's deputy foreign minister Mohamad Alamin said the rescued group were among 128 people stranded in Laukkaing, a town in Myanmar's northern Shan state, state news agency Bernama reported on Friday.

Malaysia's government will monitor developments and is ready to evacuate the remaining seven people who were unable to be rescued, Bernama quoted Mohamad as saying.

Hundreds of Malaysians have been rescued from cybercrime and job scam networks across Southeast Asia in recent years. Victims of the rackets say they are lured by promises of high-paying jobs and accommodation benefits, but are often instead forced to live in compounds and defraud online users.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
FILE PHOTO: A billboard for the Netflix film "Thar" is seen on a street in Mumbai, India, May 19, 2022. Picture taken May 19, 2022. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo

By Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Netflix, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Viacom18 and other streaming companies plan to collectively lobby the Indian government to delay or revamp a broadcast bill they fear will be onerous for the sector, sources familiar with the matter said.

India last month introduced the new draft law to regulate the broadcasting sector that will also apply to streaming giants. It proposes the formation of individual content evaluation committees with members from various social groups who will review and sign off on shows before they are released.

Though all films in Indian cinemas are reviewed and certified by a government-appointed board, streamed content is not.

In a closed-door meeting this week, top executives of several streaming companies including Netflix and Viacom18 which runs the JioCinema platform, discussed a plan to approach the government to delay and consider overhauling the bill, said the sources, who declined to be named as the talks were private.

The bill is open for public consultation until Dec. 10

Netflix and others raised concern the content committees would lead to excessive pre-screening checks, raising implementation problems as a high number of content that goes online will need to be reviewed first, said one of the sources.

Netflix and Viacom18, as well as India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which has proposed the law, did not respond to a request for comment.

The first source said streaming executives during this week's meeting flagged risks the law could impact the industry's growth.

Platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Disney and JioCinema have become hugely popular in India, which is set to grow into a $7 billion market for the sector by 2027, according to Media Partners Asia.

India's government says the new law and formation of content committees will help in "robust self-regulation". The government can define the committee's size and quorum and only "duly certified" shows shall be broadcast, the bill says.

"There are worries about extensive government oversight on streaming platforms," a second source said.

Top Bollywood stars feature in Indian streaming shows, some of which have faced criticism from lawmakers and the public for scenes deemed vulgar or offensive.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra, additional reporting by Munsif Vengattil; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
FILE PHOTO: Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) logo is seen through broken glass in this picture illustration taken March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's $1.5 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, said on Friday it has been appointed by a U.S. court to co-lead an ongoing U.S. securities class action relating to the now-bankrupt Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).

SVB's collapse in March was the trigger for the worst banking shock since the 2008 global financial crisis, sending bank stocks globally on a wild ride.

The Norwegian fund said the SVB case raised significant concerns regarding the integrity of the public markets, the governance of large financial institutions and the interests of the investor community more broadly.

"We manage money on behalf of all Norwegians. I see it as our duty to take legal action to both maximise our recoveries after the SVB collapse and to signal that this is not acceptable market behaviour," the fund's Chief Executive Nicolai Tangen said in a statement.

The fund, which invests Norway's surplus oil and gas revenue abroad, is the world's biggest single stock market investor, owning some 1.5% of all globally listed shares with stakes in more than 9,200 companies.

It held a 1% stake in SVB at the end of 2022, valued at $137.9 million, according to data on the fund's website.

The other co-lead plaintiff in the class action is Swedish pension fund Sjunde AP-fonden (AP7), the Norwegian fund said.

(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis. Editing by Jane Merriman, Kirsten Donovan)
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

By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) -Ex-President Alberto Fujimori and his family were dealt consecutive blows on Friday, after courts blocked the imprisoned former leader's pardon while mandating that his daughter and political heir, Keiko Fujimori, face trial for alleged money laundering.

Friday's decision marked the third such time the controversial former leader's pardon from prison has been blocked.

Fujimori, 85, is serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses and corruption. Earlier this week, Peru's top constitutional court had ruled to restore his pardon, spurring an international court to urge Peru's government to overrule it.

The former president, who was in power through the 1990s, received a presidential pardon in 2017. However, pressure from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has repeatedly snarled his attempts to regain freedom.

Fujimori's lawyer, Elio Riera, said in a radio interview that his legal team was considering all avenues to have the pardon restored.

Fujimori was convicted of ordering the massacre of 25 people in 1991 and 1992 while his government was fighting against the Shining Path guerrillas.

Fujimori dissolved Congress in 1992 and stayed in power for nearly a decade.

His eldest daughter, Keiko, built a powerful force in Congress but failed three times to clinch the presidency, losing most recently in 2021 to Pedro Castillo, who was removed from office a year ago for attempting to dissolve Congress.

She will now be put on trial for allegedly receiving illegal campaign contributions from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and a Peruvian bank after a judge on Friday gave the green light.

Her father and Castillo are now jailed at the same prison, along with former President Alejandro Toledo, who is also accused of receiving millions in bribes from Odebrecht.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino and Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland and Sandra Maler)
MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has built a new coast guard station on the contested island of Thitu in the South China Sea, boosting its ability to monitor movements of Chinese vessels and aircraft in the busy disputed waterway.

As tension mounts over territorial claims in the area, the Philippine coast guard had early this year spotted a Chinese navy ship and dozens of militia vessels around the island, one of nine features Manila occupies in the Spratly archipelago.

Inaugurated on Friday, the new three-storey facility is equipped with state-of-the art technology such as radar, automatic identification, satellite communication, and coastal cameras, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement.

"The behaviour of the Chinese coast guard, People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Chinese militias are sometimes unpredictable," Eduardo Ano, the Philippine national security adviser, said during a visit to the island.

"They do not adhere to the international order, to the rule of law," he told reporters on Friday.

"What they're describing as gray-zone tactics ... are pure bullying and it's purely illegal. It's not acceptable in the international order."

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Manila's outpost of Thitu is its biggest and most strategically important in the South China Sea, largely claimed by Beijing, despite conflicting territorial claims by several regional nations.

Known locally as Pag-asa, Thitu lies about 300 miles (480 km) west of the Philippine province of Palawan. Home to about 200 people, it is used by Manila to maintain its territorial claim.

Besides the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, a conduit for goods in excess of $3 trillion every year.

(Reporting by Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Police bullets were found lodged in the bodies of some of the 46 inmates killed in a Honduras women's prison riot in June, raising questions about potential police collusion with organized crime, a senior security official said.

Barrio 18 gang members are suspected of firing 15 police bullets discovered inside bodies of rival MS-13 gang members shot and burned to death during the prison attack on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduran Deputy Security Minister Julissa Villanueva said.

"Scientific evidence is telling us that 96% of the rounds found... belong to the police," Villanueva said in a TV interview shared Thursday on her Facebook page.

She added findings pointed to likely police collusion in the riot, one of the worst security breaches in recent Honduran history.

A spokesperson for the national police declined to comment on the official's accusations.

Villanueva did not say how many bodies contained bullets, or how many individual guns were found, police-linked or otherwise.

"What does that mean? That there must have been a conspiracy at one point. With whom? With those who were there at the time, guarding those police posts. And that they gave weapons to some and not to others," Villanueva said.

However, in a statement by the Security Ministry on Wednesday said only one of the 19 guns found had previously been part of police property.

It added that various "police" weapons, ammunition and even vehicles ordered by the previous administration had never been added to the official inventory.

(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia, Writing by Isabel Woodford; editing by Diane Craft)
Palestinians flee their houses due to Israeli strikes, after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, in the eastern part of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

By Mohammad Salem and Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA/CAIRO (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said too many innocent Palestinians had been killed in Gaza as Israeli war planes and artillery bombarded the enclave on Saturday following the collapse of a truce with Hamas militants.

Residents feared the barrages presaged an Israeli ground operation in the south of the Palestinian territory that would pen them into a shrinking area and possibly try to push them across into Egypt.

The Gaza health ministry said at least 193 Palestinians had been killed since the truce ended on Friday, adding to the more than 15,000 Palestinian dead since the start of the war. Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas following its Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel in which it says 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage.

Speaking in Dubai, Harris said Israel had a right to defend itself, but international and humanitarian law must be respected and "too many innocent Palestinians have been killed."

"Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering, and the images and videos coming from Gaza, are devastating," Harris told reporters.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also weighed in on the need for Israel to protect Gaza civilians as a "moral responsibility" even as he said the U.S. would remain its closest friend. "The center of gravity is the civilian population," he said. "And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was continuing to work in coordination with the U.S. and international organisations to define "safe areas" for Gaza civilians.

"This is important because we have no desire to harm the population," Netanyahu told a news conference in Tel Aviv. "We have a very strong desire to hurt Hamas."

Harris also sketched out a U.S. vision for post-conflict Gaza, saying the international community must support recovery and Palestinian security forces must be strengthened.

"We want to see a unified Gaza and West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, and Palestinian voices and aspirations must be at the center of this work," she said, adding that Hamas must no longer run Gaza.

The Western-backed Palestinian Authority governs parts of the occupied West Bank. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' mainstream Fatah party and has ruled the enclave ever since.

Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas once and for all. The Iranian-backed Islamist group is sworn to Israels destruction. One of its officials has said Hamas would repeat the Oct. 7 attacks if possible.

The Israeli military said it had killed Wessam Farhat, commander of a Hamas battalion who sent fighters to hit two kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7. It also described him as one of the planners of the raid.

ISRAEL SEEKS 'SECURITY ENVELOPE'

Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, said Israel did not want to see Gaza's civilians caught in the crossfire.

"Israel is targeting Hamas, a brutal terrorist organization that has committed the most horrific violence against innocent civilians. Israel is making a maximum effort to safeguard Gaza's civilians," Regev said.

He said that when the war was over, Israel would seek a "security envelope" with special zones and arrangements to prevent Hamas from being positioned on its border.

Throughout Saturday morning, a steady stream of wounded people were carried into the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Gaza health officials said 650 had been wounded since the truce collapsed.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross said the renewed fighting was intense.

"It's a new layer of destruction coming on top of massive, unparalleled destruction," Robert Mardini told Reuters in Dubai.

With conditions inside Gaza reaching "breaking point," in Mardini's words, the first aid trucks since the end of the truce entered from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, Egyptian security and Red Crescent sources said. Some 100 trucks passed through, carrying food, water and medical supplies, the sources said.

A senior official said Israel would facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilians.

The warring sides blamed each other for the collapse of the seven-day truce, during which Hamas had released hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Israel said it had recalled a team from Qatar, host of indirect negotiations with Hamas, accusing the Palestinian faction of reneging on a deal to free all the women and children it was holding.

French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile said he was heading to Qatar to work on a new truce.

The deputy head of Hamas, however, said no prisoners would be exchanged with Israel unless there is a ceasefire and all Palestinian detainees in Israel are released.

Saleh Al-Arouri told Al Jazeera TV that Israeli hostages held by Hamas are soldiers and civilian men who previously served in the army.

But Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas breached its commitment to free 17 women and children still held in Gaza and insisted that the militant group must keep its word.

SOUTH TARGETED

The southern part of Gaza including Khan Younis and Rafah was pounded on Saturday. Residents said houses and a school had been hit and three mosques destroyed in Khan Younis. Columns of smoke rose into the sky.

Hamas said it targeted Tel Aviv with a rocket barrage. There were no reports of damage but paramedics said one man was treated for a shrapnel injury in central Israel.

Displaced Gazans have been sheltering in Khan Younis and Rafah because of fighting in the north, but residents said they feared Israeli troops were preparing to move south.

Palestinian witnesses said Israeli tanks had taken up positions near the road between Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah.

Yamen, who gave only his first name, fled to Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza from the north after Israel destroyed several districts there.

"Where to after Deir Al-Balah, after Khan Younis? I don't know where I would take my wife and six children."

On Saturday morning, Israeli air strikes hit areas close to the Nasser Hospital six times, medics and witnesses said.

The hospital is filled with thousands of displaced and hundreds of wounded, including many of those who had been evacuated from north Gaza hospitals.

"A night of horror," said Samira, a mother of four. "It was one of the worst nights we spent in Khan Younis in the past six weeks since we arrived here ... We are so afraid they will enter Khan Younis."

(Reporting by Suhaib Salem in Gaza, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; additional reporting by Mohammed Salem and Roleen Tafakji in Gaza, Ari Rabinovich and Emily Rose in Jerusalem, Andrew Mills in Doha, Nandita Bose and Steve Holland in Dubai; Writing by Angus MacSwan, Giles Elgood and Matt SpetalnickEditing by Alison Williams and Matthew Lewis)
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Frances President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need for a comprehensive political process towards a just, two-state resolution to the Palestinian issue.

This came during the two leaders meeting on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai on Friday, read a statement by the Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.

During the meeting, El-Sisi and Macron exchanged views on recent developments in Gaza.

El-Sisi emphasized Egypt's support for a ceasefire and the expansion of humanitarian relief for the strip, as per the statement.

The two presidents agreed on the vital importance of resolving the ongoing crisis soon and ensuring the flow of humanitarian assistance.

El-Sisi also highlighted Egypts efforts to receive wounded Palestinians and evacuate foreign nationals.

Egypt has received 575 injured Palestinians from Gaza for medical treatment, the majority of whom are children while the rest are women.

Additionally, Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population launched an initiative to treat 1,000 children wounded in Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of foreign passport holders from Gaza out of around 7,000 foreigners in the strip have been received by Egypt since the beginning of November.

El-Sisi arrived Thursday in Dubai to participate in the 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), hosted by the UAE from 30 November to 12 December.

In Dubai, El-Sisi will review Egypts efforts at COP27 to address the challenges of developing and African countries, according to Fahmy.

El-Sisi is also scheduled to hold talks with a host of heads of state and government in Dubai to discuss various international issues, the spokesman noted.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


FILE PHOTO: Russian servicemen line up during a rehearsal for the Victory Day parade, which marks the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 7, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the maximum number of servicemen in the Russian armed forces by 170,000 people, the Kremlin and the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

According to the document, the regular strength of the armed forces is now set at 1,320,000 servicemen.

"The increase in the full-time strength of the armed forces is due to the growing threats to our country associated with the special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO," the Russian defence ministry said.

The ministry also said that the increase in the number of servicemen is due to the recruitment of contract personnel, and the military has no plans to significantly increase conscription or carry out a new wave of mobilisation.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on Friday that more than 452,000 people were recruited to the Russian military under contract from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1 2023.

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: Signify logo is pictured at the headquarters in Eindhoven, Netherlands August 30, 2018. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo

By Diana Mandia

(Reuters) - Signify is to cut jobs as part of a restructuring that is targeting annual savings of 200 million euros ($218 million), sending shares in the world's biggest light maker up as much as 6.6%.

Signify, spun off from Dutch technology group Philips in 2016, has already been cutting costs, including through layoffs, in response to a sluggish recovery in key market China and lower sales volumes.

"We will further adjust the size of our central organisation and reduce our costs to support the company's performance," CEO Eric Rondolat said in a statement.

A company spokesperson told Reuters the plan would involve "some job losses", without providing further details.

As part of the restructuring there will be four vertical businesses which will aim to enhance speed of execution and focus on customers, the group said.

The maker of LED lighting systems and electrical components said three of the new units would focus on customers, while the fourth would be dedicated to conventional lighting technologies.

Signify's shares rose 5.6% to 28.16 euros at 1110 GMT on Friday, among top performers on Europe's benchmark STOXX 600 index.

Signify did not disclose how many people would be affected by the revamp, but reiterated its aim to keep non-manufacturing costs within 25%-29% of sales.

In the third quarter, its adjusted indirect costs as a percentage of sales increased by 160 basis points to 30.2%.

Rondolat had said in October that the group was doing whatever it could to return the costs to a targeted range.

J.P. Morgan said the magnitude of the cost saving plan was higher and came in earlier than the brokerage had expected.

"The new segment structure will also improve the disclosure and bring Signify closer to the customers, " it added.

The changes will be implemented through 2024, with most of them set to be completed by the second quarter.

Signify's nominal sales fell by 13.8% in the third quarter hit by slow demand across its geographies, it said in October.

($1 = 0.9179 euros)

(Reporting by Diana Mandia in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi and Jane Merriman)
By Jan Lopatka

(Reuters) -Slovak road hauliers started blocking the country's main border crossing point with Ukraine on Friday, joining Polish protests in demanding that the European Union reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian competitors.

Polish drivers have been blocking several crossings to Ukraine since Nov. 6. That blockade has redirected some traffic through Slovakia, causing hundreds of trucks to pile up for kilometres on the approach to the border.

Truckers from Poland and Slovakia both complain that their Ukrainian peers offer cheaper prices for their services and also transport goods within the EU, rather than just between the bloc and Ukraine.

They demand the EU reinstate a system of granting a limited number of permits to Ukrainian companies to operate in the bloc and for European truckers to enter Ukraine. The permits were abolished after Russia's invasion.

"We will block the border and let four trucks through every hour," Slovak trucking union UNAS chief Stanislav Skala told Reuters by telephone while driving toward the Vysne Nemecke/Uzhhorod crossing earlier on Friday.

The truckers' blockade at the sole border point for trucks entering Ukraine started at 3 p.m. (1400 GMT) as planned, Slovak news agency TASR reported, citing several UNAS members.

Despite the blockade, military supplies, humanitarian shipments, and perishable goods and animal deliveries will be able to pass, Skala said.

He said the blockade would be done in coordination with police, and truckers will have a team of several people guarding the blockade in shifts.

Ukraine's state border service said it was informed that passenger cars and buses would not be restricted.

The Slovak blockade is set to continue open-ended, although a decision on any further steps should come after Monday's EU transport ministers meeting in Brussels, where Polish, Slovak and Hungarian delegations were expected to raise the topic.

"The only demand is reinstating the permits," Skala said.

"We are not interested in politics, we just have to protect our market."

Operators also wanted enforcement of rules allowing Ukrainian companies to ship to and from the EU but not local carriage within the EU.

The Slovak Transport Ministry said after meeting the hauliers on Wednesday it would relay their demands in Brussels.

Kyiv has said it will not compromise on the question of permits for Ukrainian drivers.

Mykhailo Bno-Airiian, a trade reprensentative for Ukraine's Federation of Employers, said the blockage of Slovakia's crossing will leave only Hungary or Romania as options, greatly reducing trucking routes in what he called a "disaster".

"We are afraid of (spreading protests) because it's a risk for us," he said.

European transport commissioner Adina Valean said on Nov. 29 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.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet in Prague, Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk, and Karol Badohal in Warsaw, Editing by William Maclean)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police said on Friday they detained a Spaniard wanted by the United States for allegedly conspiring with a convicted American cryptocurrency researcher to help North Korea evade U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. Department of Justice accused last year Alejandro Cao de Benos, who founded a pro-Pyongyang affinity organisation, of recruiting researcher Virgil Griffith to illegally provide cryptocurrency and blockchain technology services to North Korea.

Griffith was sentenced by a U.S. court to five years and three months in prison in 2022 for conspiring to help North Korea evade U.S. sanctions using cryptocurrency.

In a post on Friday afternoon on social media platform X, Cao de Benos described the U.S. allegations against him as "false".

Spanish national police said in a statement they found out Cao de Benos was in Barcelona under a false identity and planned to catch a train to Madrid.

He was arrested on Thursday at the capital's Atocha train station when he arrived.

On Friday, he appeared before a High Court judge who released him without conditions pending the extradition process, a judicial source said.

The source added that the United States has to formalise the request and submit documentation.

"There is no extradition. The US accusation, besides being false, does not exist in Spain," Caos de Benos wrote on X.

Lawyers for Cao de Benos, who could face 20 years in prison if convicted, could not immediately be identified.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivers a national statement at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Thaier Al Sudani

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Friday to try to defuse tension between the two countries after comments by Sanchez angered Israel for a second time in a week.

Israel recalled its ambassador to Spain for consultations in Jerusalem on Thursday after Sanchez said he doubted Israel respected international humanitarian law and repeated that military action in the Gaza Strip was not acceptable.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Sanchez' remarks were "outrageous".

"Israel is acting, and will continue to act, according to international law," Cohen said on Thursday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Last week, similar comments by Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander de Croo at the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing prompted Cohen to summon the ambassadors of both countries over the remarks that he said repeated "false claims" and "gave terrorism a boost".

On Friday, Sanchez said he told Gantz - a former Defence Minister who joined Netanyahu in an emergency unity government last month - by phone that Israel is "a partner and friend of Spain".

"Israel has the right to defend itself against this terrorist attack, but I reaffirmed that Spain finds the death of civilians in Gaza unbearable and that Israel must comply with international humanitarian law," Sanchez wrote in a post in X.

Gantz also said on X he had emphasised to Sanchez "that for the sake of Israel's security, Israeli civilians' sense of security, and restoring regional stability - terrorist Hamas must be dismantled in Gaza."

"I added to the Prime Minister that the State of Israel places great importance on avoiding civilian casualties as much as possible. Hamas on the other hand, continues to perpetrate horrific crimes against humanity like using children and women as human shields for its terror activities," he also wrote in X.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo in Madrid and Henriette Chacar in Tel Aviv; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli shelling killed three people in south Lebanon on Friday, Lebanon's state news agency reported, as the collapse of a truce between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas prompted a resumption of hostilities at the frontier.

The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, later said two of those killed were its fighters. It also said it had carried out several attacks on Israeli military positions at the border in support Palestinians in Gaza, where a week-long pause in the fighting ended early on Friday.

The Israeli army said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon and air defences had intercepted two launches. The army also said it struck a "terrorist cell". Sirens warning of possible incoming rockets sounded in several towns in northern Israel, sending residents running for shelter.

Lebanon's state news agency reported that two people were killed by Israeli shelling in the Lebanese border town of Houla, and one person was killed in the village of Jebbayn.

Israeli shelling killed a woman and her 35-year-old son in Houla, Shakeeb Koteich, the head of the town's municipal council, told Reuters, saying both were civilians. Hezbollah later said a "martyr" was killed in Houla.

"A shell landed near the house, and then a second one hit the house," Koteich said by telephone.

Following the eruption of the Hamas-Israel war on Oct. 7, Hezbollah mounted near-daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions at the frontier while Israel waged air and artillery strikes in south Lebanon.

It has been the worst fighting since a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, part of an Iran-backed alliance that also includes Hamas. Just over 100 people in Lebanon have been killed during the hostilities, 82 of them Hezbollah fighters. Tens of thousands of people have fled both sides of the border.

Hezbollah released statements claiming five attacks on Israeli military positions at the border, describing these as "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people ... and its valiant and honourable resistance".

A spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) told Reuters that there had been shelling close to its headquarters near the coastal town of Naqoura, and in Aita al-Shaab also in south Lebanon, in the late afternoon.

Lebanon-based militants from Hamas and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad have also mounted attacks from Lebanese territory.

"Hezbollah has linked what happens at the border with what happens in Gaza," said Nabil Boumonsef, deputy editor-in-chief of Lebanon's Annahar newspaper.

"All the while the war in Gaza continues Lebanon will remain threatened by the danger of a major escalation."

Senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah earlier said the group was vigilant and ready after the Hamas-Israel truce ended.

"In Lebanon, we are concerned in facing this challenge, being vigilant, and always ready to confront any possibility and any danger that may arise in our country," he said.

"No one thinks that Lebanon has been spared from this Zionist targeting or that what is happening in Gaza cannot affect the situation in Lebanon," he said.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Tom Perry, Maggie Fick and Laila Bassam in Beirut and Ari Rabinovitch and Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Gareth Jones, William Maclean and Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine and Russian flags are seen through broken glass in this illustration taken March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Tom Balmforth

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's domestic spy agency has detonated explosives on a Russian railway line deep in Siberia, the second attack this week on military supply routes in the area, a Ukrainian source told Reuters on Friday.

The incidents appear to show Kyiv's readiness and ability to conduct sabotage attacks deep inside Russia and disrupt Russian logistics far from the front lines of Moscow's 21-month-old war in Ukraine.

The source, who declined to be identified, said the explosives were detonated as a freight train crossed the Chertov Bridge in Siberia's Buryatia region, which borders Mongolia and is thousands of kilometres from Ukraine.

The train had been using a backup railway line after an attack on a nearby tunnel a day earlier caused trains to be diverted, the source said.

Baza, a Russian media outlet with security sources, said diesel fuel tanks had ignited on a train using the backup route and that six goods wagons had caught fire. It reported no casualties and said the cause of the explosions was unknown.

The Ukrainian source, who said both operations were conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), gave a similar assessment of the damage, citing Russian Telegram channels.

Reuters could not independently verify the accounts or assess whether the route is used for military supplies. Russian Railways declined to comment on the latest incident. The regional branch of Russia's Investigative Committee did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

The Ukrainian source said on Thursday the SBU had detonated explosives in the earlier attack as a cargo train moved through the Severomuysky tunnel in Buryatia.

Russian investigators have concluded that train was blown up in a "terrorist act" by unidentified individuals, the Moscow-based Kommersant newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying.

Russian Railways, the state company that operates the vast rail network, said traffic had been diverted along a new route after the first attack, slightly increasing journey times but not interrupting transport.

The Ukrainian source said the second attack had anticipated the diversion of rail traffic and targeted the backup route at Chertov Bridge, which is on Russia's Baikal-Amur Mainline traversing Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East.

Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway is widely seen as more important for Russian freight transport than the Baikal-Amur Mainline.

A Russian industry source who declined to be identified said the backup route was functioning and being used by trains carrying freight on Friday afternoon.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth in Kyiv and by Gleb Stolyarov; editing by Timothy Heritage)
KYIV (Reuters) - Russia launched 25 drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, killing one person and damaging a warehouse and farm equipment, the Ukrainian military said on Friday, adding that it had downed 18 of the drones, all but two of them in southern Ukraine.

One civilian was killed and another injured in attacks on the southern Kherson region, where a culture centre was damaged, Ukraine's Southern Military Command said on the Telegram messenger app.

In the neighbouring region of Mykolaiv, a warehouse, a hangar and agricultural machinery were damaged, it said.

The Ukrainian Air Force said the drones had been launched from southwestern Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea, as well as two missiles from the occupied part of Kherson region. It added that one of those missiles had been destroyed.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Tom Hogue and Gareth Jones)
FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian former President Petro Poroshenko, who is suspected of high treason by financing pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine while in office in 2014-2015, addresses his supporters outside a court building before a hearing in Kyiv, Ukr

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's ex-President Petro Poroshenko said he had been stopped from leaving the country on Friday morning in what he described as a politically motivated bid to disrupt his work.

Poroshenko, who led Ukraine from 2014 to 2019 and is now an opposition lawmaker, posted a video of himself at a border crossing with Poland, saying he had been turned away and holding up papers that he said showed he had official permission to cross.

Under martial law, Ukrainian officials have to get special approval to travel abroad.

The Ukrainian parliament's deputy speaker, Oleksandr Korniyenko, later confirmed he had cancelled Poroshenko's permission to leave the country.

Korniyenko said that while lawmakers were allowed to travel for party political events, he had received a letter, which he could not comment on, that led him to cancel the permission for Poroshenko's trip.

The dispute comes amid slowly growing tensions between government and opposition - mostly over internal matters such as budgets and appointments - as the war against invading Russian troops grinds on, in contrast to the near-total unity at the start of the conflict.

Poroshenko said he had planned to travel to Poland to help negotiate an end to a truckers' blockade and then to the United States to build support for Ukraine's war effort.

Alongside his video post, he wrote a message accusing President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's administration of cancelling the permission and playing politics ahead of elections.

"This is an anti-Ukrainian diversion," Poroshenko wrote. "It is not just the hampering of my entire team's diplomatic work, but unfortunately a blow to Ukraine's defence capabilities."

Zelenskiy's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Poroshenko, who leads the European Solidarity opposition party, is a prominent critic of Zelenskiy's administration.

The two men fought a bitter, often deeply personal, battle in the 2019 presidential election when Zelenskiy defeated the incumbent Poroshenko in a landslide.

Zelenskiy told Ukrainians last month that it was "not the time" to hold a presidential election, which under normal circumstances would be scheduled for March 2024 but is prohibited under martial law.

(Reportig by Dan Peleschuk, Max Hunder and Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Smoke rises over northern Gaza following Israeli air strikes, after a temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas expired, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations deplored the resumption of conflict in Gaza on Friday, describing the hostilities as "catastrophic" and urging parties to bring about a lasting ceasefire.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the United Nations humanitarian office in Geneva, said the resumption of hostilities meant "hell on Earth has returned to Gaza".

Israeli warplanes resumed bombing Gaza, sending Palestinian civilians fleeing for shelter, after a week-old truce ran out with no deal to extend it.

"The resumption of hostilities in Gaza is catastrophic," said Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"I urge all parties and states with influence over them to redouble efforts, immediately, to ensure a ceasefire  on humanitarian and human rights grounds."

In a post on X social media platform, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he regretted the resumption of hostilities and hoped a new pause could be established.

"The return to hostilities only shows how important it is to have a true humanitarian ceasefire," he said.

Laerke said that the week-long truce had seen significantly larger humanitarian convoys entering densely populated Gaza, even reaching north of Wadi Gaza, which prior to the pause had received almost no supplies.

"With the resumption of war, we fear that the continuation of this (aid) is now in doubt," he said.

"The Rafah crossing is closed as of now. We need a resumption of a humanitarian pause, not a return to war."

Appealing for a lasting ceasefire, UNICEF called inaction on Gaza "an approval of the killing of children".

"A lasting ceasefire must be implemented," James Elder, spokesperon for UNICEF, told reporters via video link from Gaza.

"Inaction at its core is an approval of the killing of children.... It is reckless to think more attacks on the people of Gaza will lead to anything other than carnage."

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile MantovaniEditing by Matthias Williams and Gareth Jones)
In a speech at the 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called for global cooperation to achieve climate action goals.

We call on the international community to take more ambitious steps at the Dubai conference, expanding the scope of communal participation, while avoiding unilateral actions that only consider narrow interests, El-Sisi said.

The president also noted the gravity of current political and international challenges, coinciding with the pressing consequences of climate change.

Our responsibility as leaders today is to affirm a clear message: we are committed and ambitious in our actions and implementation, aligning with the agreements reached in Paris, El-Sisi stated.

This includes adherence to scientific recommendations and commitments, considering each country's capacities and historical and current responsibilities regarding ongoing climate challenges, he explained.

Moreover, El-Sisi drew on Egypt's experience as the previous host of the 27th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh and emphasized the direct impacts of climate change on his country.

He stressed the imperative of collective and urgent action to preserve the Earth for future generations, and environmentally-friendly development.

Recalling initiatives launched in Sharm El-Sheikh, including the Fund for Financing Developing Countries and the Fair Transition Action Plan, El-Sisi stated that these initiatives  paved the way for achieving a global goal to adapt to climate change.

He also noted the importance of funding arrangements, highlighting the need for agreed-upon arrangements between financing institutions, public policy, and the private sector.

Concluding his speech, El-Sisi appealed for full and sincere support to the United Arab Emirates.

This is to ensure that the Dubai conference produces historic results, confirming to all the peoples of the world that we are determined and, with the help of God, capable of saving and protecting the planet, the home of our lives, and the future of our children and grandchildren, generation after generation, he said.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


FILE PHOTO: People fleeing the violence in West Darfur, cross the border into Adre, Chad, August 4, 2023. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A United Nations political mission in war-torn Sudan will end on Sunday after the U.N. Security Council voted on Friday to shut it down following a request from the country's acting foreign minister last month.

A war erupted on April 15 between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces after weeks of rising tension between the two sides over a plan to integrate forces as part of a transition from military rule to civilian democracy.

The British-drafted resolution terminates the mandate of the U.N. mission, known as UNITAMS, on Dec. 3 and requires it to wind down over the next three months. UNITAMS was established by the 15-member council in June 2020 to provide support to Sudan during its political transition to democratic rule.

"We reiterate that the Sudanese authorities remain responsible for the safety and security of UNITAMS staff and assets during this transition and call for their full cooperation in allowing an orderly withdrawal," deputy British U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki told the council.

Violence against civilians in Sudan is "verging on pure evil," a senior United Nations official warned last month, as a humanitarian crisis in the country worsens and ethnic violence escalates in the western region of Darfur.

A U.N. country team providing humanitarian and development aid will remain in the country, where the U.N. says nearly 25 million people - half the population - need help.

"We affirm the government's readiness to continue constructive engagement with the U.N. by strengthening cooperation with a country team," Dafallah Alhaj, an envoy to Sudan's army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, told the council.

He said the delivery of humanitarian aid was a top priority.

The U.N. special envoy to Sudan announced in September that he was stepping down, more than three months after Sudan declared him unwelcome.

Last week U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed veteran Algerian diplomat Ramtane Lamamra as his personal envoy for Sudan. The Security Council resolution encourages all parties to cooperate with the envoy.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: Lynn Hastings, the Head of the humanitarian operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, visits Gaza City May 22, 2021. REUTERS/Nidal al-Mughrabi/File Photo

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Israel has told the United Nations it will not renew a visa for the top U.N. humanitarian aid official for the Palestinian Gaza Strip and West Bank, a U.N. spokesperson said on Friday.

Canadian-born Lynn Hastings, a veteran U.N. official, has served as the deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process and U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory for nearly three years.

"We've been informed by the Israeli authorities that they would not renew the visa of Ms Hastings past the due date at some point later this month," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

He said U.N. staff do not overstay their visas in any country, but stressed that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has full confidence in Hastings. Dujarric did not say whether Hastings would be replaced.

A spokesperson for Israel's Foreign Ministry accused the United Nations of being biased and described as "disgraceful" the U.N. response to an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that Israel says killed 1,200 people.

"That's why Israel decided to check on - one by one - the visas that are issued to representatives of the U.N.," the spokesperson said.

At the end of October, Israel's Foreign Ministry accused Hastings - in a social media post - of failing to be impartial and objective, which the United Nations rejected.

"You've seen some very public attacks on Twitter against her which were utterly unacceptable," Dujarric said. "Personal direct attacks on U.N. personnel anywhere around the world is unacceptable and puts people's lives at risks."

Guterres on Wednesday warned the U.N. Security Council that the Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas, was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe."

Since the Oct. 7 attack, Israel has focused its retaliation against Hamas in Gaza, bombarding it from the air, imposing a siege and launching a ground assault.

More than 15,000 people are confirmed killed, some 40% of them under the age of 18, according to Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations. Many others are feared buried under the ruins.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols, Editing by William Maclean, Kirsten Donovan)
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a 2024 presidential election campaign event in Summerville, South Carolina, U.S. September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Sam Wolfe/File Photo

By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday ruled that Donald Trump must face civil lawsuits over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by his supporters, rejecting the former president's claim that he is immune.

A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that Trump was acting "in his personal capacity as a presidential candidate" when he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol on the day of the riot. U.S. presidents are immune from civil lawsuits only for official actions.

The ruling clears the way for Trump to face lawsuits from U.S. Capitol police officers and Democratic lawmakers seeking to hold Trump responsible for the violence by his supporters during the riot, which was an attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

The case is one of several civil and criminal challenges facing the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2024 election.

The unanimous decision focused only on whether Trump could be sued, and said nothing about the merits of the cases themselves.

Trump argued that his speech exhorting his followers to "fight like hell" against the certification of the election was related to a "matter of public concern" and fell within his official responsibilities.

A Trump spokesperson on Friday called the ruling "limited, narrow and procedural" and said Trump was "acting on behalf of the American people" on the day of the attack.

Trump has made a similar immunity argument in the federal criminal case accusing him of illegally conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Late on Friday, a judge rejected Trumps immunity claim in that case.

While the ruling on Friday explicitly stated it was not weighing in on Trump's possible criminal immunity, both cases involve Trump's conduct before and during the Capitol riot.

In their lawsuit, Capitol Police officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby accused Trump of being responsible for physical and emotional injuries they suffered as a result of the Capitol attack.

Todays ruling makes clear that those who endanger our democracy and the lives of those sworn to defend it will be held to account, Patrick Malone, a lawyer for the officers, said in a statement.

Two lawsuits were filed by House Democrats, one by 10 lawmakers including Representatives Jerry Nadler and Maxine Waters and the other by Representative Eric Swalwell.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)
(Reuters) -The Biden administration has forced a Saudi Aramco-backed venture capital firm to sell its shares in a Silicon Valley AI chip startup backed by OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Altman-backed Rain Neuromorphics, a startup designing chips that mimic the way the brain works and aims to serve companies using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, raised $25 million in 2022.

Aramco's Prosperity7, a lead investor in the $25 million round for Rain AI, sold its shares in the startup after a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, people familiar with the matter said, according to the Bloomberg report.

The agency, a U.S. watchdog for deals with national security implications, told the Saudi fund to unwind that deal sometime over the past year, the report said.

Altman did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The U.S. Treasury, which oversees the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) process, said: "CFIUS is committed to taking all necessary actions within its authority to safeguard U.S. national security. Consistent with law and practice, CFIUS does not publicly comment on transactions that it may or may not be reviewing."

CFIUS is an inter-agency committee which reviews foreign investments in U.S. businesses and real estate that implicate national security concerns.

The US has taken action that could slow AI development in the Middle East. In August, the U.S. expanded the restriction of exports of sophisticated Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices artificial-intelligence chips to include some countries in the Middle East.

(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese; additional reporting by Chris Sanders; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Deepa Babington)
By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House said on Friday it was prepared to "pause" sanctions relief for OPEC member Venezuela in coming days unless there is further progress on the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans.

Speaking after a deadline for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to meet certain commitments, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. welcomed an announcement on Thursday that opposition presidential candidates barred from public office would be able to appeal to Venezuelas highest court.

But he said the Venezuelan government needed to do more or else Venezuela would risk a U.S. freeze on some relaxed sanctions unveiled in mid-October in response to a deal between Maduro and the countrys opposition on holding a 2024 presidential election.

Any snapback of partially lifted U.S. sanctions would mark a major shift from President Joe Biden's new approach toward Venezuela.

In the most significant lifting of tough Trump-era sanctions, Washington issued a six-month general license authorizing U.S. transactions with Venezuelas vital oil and gas sector and a second license authorizing operations of state gold mining company Minerven. It also removed a U.S. prohibition on secondary-market trading of Venezuelan sovereign bonds.

Washington had vowed to reverse that sanctions relief unless the Venezuela's Socialist government took steps by the end of November to release political prisoners and three Americans it considers unlawfully jailed, and also lift public-office bans on opposition candidates.

U.S. DEMANDS

Thursdays announcement by the Venezuelan government and opposition, which opened a path that could enable opposition politicians to run, appeared to satisfy one of Washingtons chief demands.

It's welcome news, Kirby said. We are, however, deeply concerned about the lack of progress on the release of wrongfully detained U.S. citizens and Venezuelan political prisoners.

So we're going to continue to be actively engaged here in diplomatic efforts on those particular issues, and we're prepared to take action in the coming days to pause certain sanctions relief, unless further progress is made, he added.

Kirby did not specify which of the sanctions-easing measures could be put on hold if Maduro fails to comply.

Reflecting skepticism in some quarters about the likely extent of any new U.S. action, two sources in Washington said earlier this week that the administration may respond initially by just reinstating sanctions on state-run Minerven.

The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If the U.S. deems Maduro's actions insufficient, it faces a decision on whether to reignite tensions with Venezuela when Washington is grappling with major foreign policy crises, principally the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and Russia's war in Ukraine.

Under the appeals process announced late on Thursday, candidates can file petitions to the court between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

The winner of the opposition's presidential primary, Maria Corina Machado, is among those barred from office.

The Venezuelan government released five political prisoners in October but there have been no releases since.

It also holds at least three Americans who the U.S. government says are wrongfully detained.

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland; additional reporting by Mayela Armas in Caracas; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
FILE PHOTO: General Motors assembly workers connect a battery pack underneath a partially assembled 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicle on the assembly line at Orion Assembly in Lake Orion, Michigan, U.S., March 19, 2018. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo/File

By David Shepardson and David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Friday issued-long awaited guidance that will limit Chinese content in batteries eligible for electric vehicle tax credits starting next year.

In a win for automakers, the U.S. Treasury will temporarily exempt some trace critical minerals from new strict rules barring materials from China and other countries deemed a "Foreign Entity of Concern." (FEOC)

The new rules, required under an August 2022 law, are designed to wean the U.S. electric vehicle battery chain away from China and are being closely watched by automakers as they make investment decisions on producing batteries for their transition to electric vehicles.

The FEOC rules come into effect in 2024 for completed batteries and 2025 for critical minerals used to produce them.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a group representing nearly all major automakers, said the decision to exempt trace materials for two years "was significant and well-advised" and without it could have made nearly all vehicles ineligible.

Treasury said the few materials being exempted each account for less than 2% of the value of battery critical minerals.

General Motors said on Friday it believes it is "well positioned to maintain the consumer purchase incentive for many of our EVs in 2024 and beyond."

Ford Motor said in October it was awaiting the guidance to determine if its licensing agreement with Chinese battery maker CATL, as part of the automaker's planned Michigan battery plant, would run afoul of the rules. Biden administration officials would not comment on whether that arrangement is permissible under the rules. Ford declined to comment.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio said the guidance appears to allow the Ford CATL agreement to qualify. He criticized the decision, arguing the administration was putting "EV special interest groups ahead of America's interests."

The Energy Department said a company would be deemed a FEOC if owned or controlled by a named foreign government. Companies will also be ineligible if an entity of concern holds 25% of that entitys board seats, voting rights, or equity.

Those countries include North Korea, China, Russia and Iran.

The automaker group said "it appears that companies operating in China are considered FEOC. Chinese entities with specific ownership or governance structures might be permitted in certain circumstances."

The rules are expected to further reduce the number of electric vehicles eligible for EV tax credits. The law immediately made any vehicle ineligible if not assembled in North America. Earlier this year, new battery and mineral sourcing requirements took effect with price and buyer income eligibility caps from Jan. 1.

Senator Energy Committee chair Joe Manchin blasted Treasury for allowing some trace critical minerals from China to qualify and vowed to take every opportunity "to reverse this unlawful, shameful proposed rule and protect our energy security."

Treasury said to allow compliant vehicles to qualify until the rules are finalized, it will have an expedited compliance method for automakers with clean supply chains.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and David Lawder in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Kirsten Donovan)
A house destroyed in an Israeli strike lies in ruins after a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel expired, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Fadi Shana

By Humeyra Pamuk

(Reuters) -The U.S. insisted to Israel this week that it come up with clear plans to minimize civilian harm in any military operation in southern Gaza, a senior U.S. official said on Friday, as the Israeli military resumed bombardment of the enclave after a week-long truce collapsed.

Friday's bombing was most intense in the southern areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, however, medics and witnesses said. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been sheltering there because of fighting in the north. Houses in central and northern areas were also hit.

By the evening, Gaza health officials said Israeli air strikes had killed 184 people, wounded at least 589 others and hit more than 20 houses.

The bombings in the south occurred only hours after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Jerusalem that Israel's operations in the area not repeat the massive loss of civilian life and displacement seen during its northern offensive.

Israel's government agreed that any operation in the south should not look like it did in the north and its military will designate areas where civilians will not be harmed, the senior U.S. official said as Blinken wrapped up a trip to the region.

However, Netanyahu and his government did not give clear assurances on avoiding civilian harm, and the official said the issue will continue to be discussed.

The official added that the U.S. expects there will be no full-scale assault on Khan Younis and Rafah as there was on Gaza City.

Washington has urged Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety in southern Gaza, officials have said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity on Friday, said during the current offensive entire neighborhoods in southern Gaza should be designated as zones that are safe for civilians, though some may still have to leave their homes if they are in areas where Hamas fighters are deeply embedded.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, has ruled Gaza since 2007.

In addition to those who planned the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel was looking to eliminate Hamas' battalion-level leadership, said the official.

Israel's assault has laid waste to much of Gaza. Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed and thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble.

Asked at Dubai airport before leaving the region about the collapse of the truce and Israel's conduct on Friday, Blinken signaled Washington would continue dialogue with Israel.

"I saw the plans that Israel has, in a multiplicity of ways, to do everything possible to protect civilians, including making sure that they have the information they need and there are ways to accommodate them. And this is going to be very important going forward. Its something were going to be looking at very closely," Blinken said.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Daphne Psaledakis and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis and Grant McCool)
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty on Friday to firebombing a conservative anti-abortion group's office in May 2022, just days after a leaked draft of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling overturning the nationwide right to abortion became public.

Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, 29, faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 20 years behind bars after pleading guilty in federal court in Madison to maliciously attempting to damage Wisconsin Family Action's office.

He was arrested in March at an airport in Boston after authorities said DNA from a thrown-away bag containing a partially eaten burrito had helped them identify who caused the May 8 fire. He is slated to be sentenced on Feb. 14.

Roychowdhury's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Wisconsin Family Action did not respond to a request for comment.

The fire at its office occurred just days after Politico on May 2 published a draft of the U.S. Supreme Court's blockbuster ruling overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized abortion nationwide.

The draft opinion, authored by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, set off a political firestorm, with abortion-rights supporters staging protests nationwide. It was only marginally different than the final decision issued on June 24.

The fire occurred in the early morning on May 8. Prosecutors said that components of a Molotov cocktail were recovered. Outside the building, someone had spray painted "if abortions aren't safe then you aren't either."

According to prosecutors, investigators recovered DNA from that Molotov cocktail, a building window and a lighter that matched Roychowdhury's DNA.

Law enforcement identified Roychowdhury as a suspect after investigating a separate graffiti incident at the Wisconsin State Capitol and tracing a truck used by the suspects to a house in which Roychowdhury resides.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of payments company Worldline is seen at the company headquarters in the financial and business district of La Defense, near Paris, France, October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - Shares in Worldline surged almost 12% on Friday after a media report said Credit Agricole was considering acquiring a stake in the French payment processing company.

The French lender is exploring building a stake in Worldline in an effort to help stabilise its struggling payments partner, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Other French financial institutions could also look at playing a role in Worldline's future, Bloomberg added, citing some of the people.

Credit Agricole and Worldline declined to comment.

Earlier this year, the companies signed a binding agreement to set up a joint venture to provide payment services to businesses and their customers. They expect to receive the necessary approvals by the end of this year before launching in early 2024.

Shares in Worldline pared some of their initial gains to stand 5% higher at 1220 GMT.

The stock lost more than half its value in late October, sending ripples through the sector, after Worldline shocked investors with a cut to its full year financial targets due to the economic slowdown, particularly in Germany.

It also severed ties with some of its merchants to reduce risks citing an increase in cybercrime.

Italian payments company Nexi last month confirmed its guidance while the Netherlands' Adyen reassured the market with its "more realistic" medium-term guidance.

Worldline shares have fallen more than 58% this year.

(Reporting by Piotr Lipinski; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Kirsten Donovan)
FILE PHOTO: A government supporter holds a sign that reads: The Essequibo is ours, vote YES 5 times while participating in an event to collect signatures in support of a referendum over Venezuela's rights to the potentially oil-rich region of Esequi

By Stephanie van den Berg and Vivian Sequera

THE HAGUE/CARACAS (Reuters) - Judges at the World Court on Friday ordered Venezuela to refrain from taking any action that would alter the situation on the ground in a potentially oil-rich territory that is the subject of a border dispute with Guyana, which controls the area.

The court did not expressly forbid Venezuela from going ahead with a referendum on Sunday over its rights to the region around the Esequibo river, as Guyana has requested.

But judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - as the World Court is formally known - ruled that any move to alter the status quo should be stopped.

"The court observes that the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute is that Guyana administers and exercises control over that area," presiding judge Joan Donoghue said.

"Venezuela must refrain from taking any action which would modify that situation," she added.

Guyana's President Irfaan Ali hailed the court's ruling, while Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez said it was a victory for her country.

"As the court has made clear, Venezuela is prohibited from annexing or trespassing upon Guyanese territory or taking any other actions  regardless of the outcome of its referendum on December 3  that would alter the status quo in which Guyana administers and controls the Esequibo region," Ali said in a statement.

The five-question referendum will go ahead, Rodriguez said on state television, adding that Venezuela wants a negotiated solution to the dispute.

The vote "will ratify that our rights over the Guayana Esequiba are irrevocable and unquestionable," Rodriguez said.

The vote about the 160,000 square km (61,776 square mile) territory, which is largely thick jungle, has caused anxiety in Guyana, with the government urging citizens to keep calm.

Venezuela reactivated its claim on the area in recent years after the discovery of offshore oil and gas. The maritime border between the two countries is also in dispute.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has vociferously encouraged voters to approve the referendum, in what political analysts say is a test of government support before planned 2024 presidential elections.

Venezuela's dispute with Guyana may have an impact on the elections, said security analyst Rocio San Miguel of the Citizen Watchdog on Security, Defense and the Armed Forces.

"If the elections represent a threat to Maduro's power, he'll suspend them through this route," she said, calling the dispute "a perfect distraction tactic."

She said that while Venezuela has significantly more military power than Guyana, it would not be able to stand up to Guyana's allies, which include the United States.

The referendum, which is "consultative" and can be approved by simple majority, asks Venezuelans, among other things, if they agree to incorporate the region and create a state called Guayana Esequiba.

Political analysts expect voters to approve the proposal, given the lack of any 'no' campaign and the likelihood that voters who are opposed will stay home.

Friday's ruling is the latest development in the larger border dispute. The ICJ said in April it had jurisdiction over the case, but a final ruling could be years away.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Bart Meijer; additional reporting by Kiana Wilburg in Georgetown and Vivian Sequera in Caracas; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Alex Richardson and Grant McCool)
A total of 106 polling stations opened worldwide on Friday, the first day of voting for Egyptian expats in the 2024 Presidential Elections, according to the Executive Director of the National Elections Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bendari.





Hundreds of Egyptians living abroad have already arrived at their respective embassies to cast their ballots for the 2024 Presidential Elections, including the Embassies of Egypt in Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Italy, China, Singapore, Tunisia, Morocco, Qatar, Bahrain and many more.

According to the NEA, 137 embassies and consulates across 121 countries will receive voters from 9am to 9pm on 1-3 December.

Meanwhile, voting within Egypt will take place from 10-12 December.

The final result will be announced on 18 December if no run-off is required.

On Thursday evening, the National Elections Authority (NEA) announced that its central operation room had begun monitoring the voting of Egyptians abroad in the 2024 Presidential Elections, starting from 10pm. This coincided with the start of the voting process in New Zealand, the first country to begin the elections.

Bendari pointed out that this monitoring will happen around the clock, in coordination with embassy and consulate staff.

Egypts Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs also launched an operation room to monitor the voting of Egyptians abroad in the 2024 Presidential Elections.

Emigration minister Soha Gendi affirmed that the operation room is available to respond to all election inquiries from Egyptians at all times.

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 are available in Riyadh and 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. It increased slightly in 2014 to over 318,000 before it declined in the 2018 elections to just over 157,000 votes.

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.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


EQ Advisors TrustSM

SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 1, 2023, TO THE PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED MAY 1, 2023, AS SUPPLEMENTED

SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 1, 2023, TO THE PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED NOVEMBER 13, 2023

This Supplement updates certain information contained in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (SAI) dated May 1, 2023, as supplemented, and the Prospectus and SAI dated November 13, 2023, of EQ Advisors Trust (Trust). You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Prospectus and SAI and retain it for future reference. You may obtain these documents, free of charge, at the Trusts website at www.equitable-funds.com.

The purpose of this supplement is to notify you of a change of address for the Trust, Equitable Investment Management Group, LLC (the Investment Adviser to each series of the Trust), Equitable Investment Management, LLC (the Trusts Administrator), and Equitable Distributors, LLC (the Trusts Distributor).

Effective December 13, 2023, all references to 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104 are deleted and replaced with 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105.

Effective immediately, the back cover of the Prospectus is amended by deleting the fifth paragraph in its entirety and replacing it with the following information:
WASATCH FUNDS TRUST

Supplement dated to the

Prospectus dated , as supplemented

Investor Class Institutional Class Wasatch Core Growth Fund  WGROX WIGRX Wasatch Emerging India Fund  WAINX WIINX Wasatch Emerging Markets Select Fund  WAESX WIESX Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund  WAEMX WIEMX Wasatch Frontier Emerging Small Countries Fund  WAFMX WIFMX Wasatch Global Opportunities Fund  WAGOX WIGOX Wasatch Global Select Fund  WAGSX WGGSX Wasatch Global Value Fund  FMIEX WILCX Wasatch Greater China Fund  WAGCX WGGCX Wasatch International Growth Fund  WAIGX WIIGX Wasatch International Opportunities Fund  WAIOX WIIOX Wasatch International Select Fund  WAISX WGISX Wasatch Long/Short Alpha Fund TM WALSX WGLSX Wasatch Micro Cap Fund  WMICX WGICX Wasatch Micro Cap Value Fund  WAMVX WGMVX Wasatch Small Cap Growth Fund  WAAEX WIAEX Wasatch Small Cap Value Fund  WMCVX WICVX Wasatch Ultra Growth Fund  WAMCX WGMCX Wasatch U.S. Select Fund TM WAUSX WGUSX Wasatch-Hoisington U.S. Treasury Fund  WHOSX -

(collectively, the Funds)

This Supplement updates certain information contained in the Wasatch Funds Prospectus (the Prospectus) for Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, dated January 31, 2023, as supplemented. You should retain this Supplement and the Prospectus for future reference. Additional copies of the Prospectus may be obtained free of charge by visiting our web site at wasatchglobal.com or calling us at 800.551.1700.

Effective immediately, Additional Market Disruption Risk in the section entitled Principal Risks in the Summary section for each Fund is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Additional Market Disruption Risk. In February 2022, Russia commenced a military attack on Ukraine. In response, various countries, including the U.S., issued broad-ranging sanctions on Russia and certain Russian companies and individuals. Although the hostilities between the two countries may escalate and any existing or future sanctions could have a severe adverse effect on Russias economy, currency, companies and region, these events may negatively impact other regional and global economic markets of the World (including Europe and the United States), companies in such countries and various sectors, industries and markets for securities and commodities globally, such as oil and natural gas. Accordingly, the hostilities and sanctions may have a negative effect on the Funds investments and performance beyond any direct or indirect exposure the Fund may have to Russian issuers or those of adjoining geographic regions. The sanctions and compliance with these sanctions may impair the ability of the Fund to buy, sell, hold or deliver Russian securities and/or other assets, including those listed on U.S. or other exchanges. Russia may also take retaliatory actions or countermeasures, such as cyberattacks and espionage, which may negatively impact the countries and companies in which the Fund may invest. Accordingly, there may be a heightened risk of cyberattacks by Russia in response to the sanctions. The extent and duration of the military action or future escalation of such hostilities; the extent and impact of existing and any future sanctions, market disruptions and volatility; and the result of any diplomatic negotiations cannot be predicted.

In October 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, which touched off a strong military response from Israel that closed borders and airspace, damaged infrastructure and resulted in significant civilian and military casualties in Israel and the Gaza Strip. The conflict has reignited regional tensions that threaten to involve other countries and factions. The continuing conflict and its escalation could have a severe adverse effect on the regional economy, currency, and companies. These events may negatively impact other regional and global economic markets of the World (including Europe and the United States), companies in such countries and various sectors, industries and markets for securities and commodities globally, such as oil and natural gas. Accordingly, the hostilities may have a negative effect on any Funds investments in issuers of Israeli securities or in Israeli

1

markets and performance, and may extend beyond any direct or indirect exposure the Fund may have to Israeli issuers or those of adjoining geographic regions. These and any related events could have a significant negative impact on the Funds investments as well as the Funds performance.

Effective immediately, Additional Market Disruption Risk in the section entitled Additional Information about the Funds-Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Risks beginning on page 183 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Additional Market Disruption Risk. Additional market disruption risk may be considered a principal risk of the Funds. In late February 2022, Russia launched a large scale military attack on Ukraine. The invasion significantly amplified already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO and the West, including the U.S. In response to the military action by Russia, various countries, including the U.S., the United Kingdom, and European Union issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. Such sanctions included, among other things, a prohibition on doing business with certain Russian companies, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs; a commitment by certain countries and the European Union to remove selected Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), the electronic banking network that connects banks globally; and restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. Additional sanctions may be imposed in the future. Such sanctions (and any future sanctions) and other actions against Russia may adversely impact, among other things, the Russian economy and various sectors of the economy, including but not limited to, financials, energy, metals and mining, engineering and defense and defense-related materials sectors; result in a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian securities; result in boycotts, tariffs, and purchasing and financing restrictions on Russias government, companies and certain individuals; weaken the value of the ruble; downgrade the countrys credit rating; freeze Russian securities and/or funds invested in prohibited assets and impair the ability to trade in Russian securities and/or other assets; and have other adverse consequences on the Russian government, economy, companies and region. Further, several large corporations and U.S. states have divested interests or otherwise curtailed business dealings with certain Russian businesses. Countermeasures or retaliatory actions by Russia may further impair the value and liquidity of Russian securities.

The ramifications of the hostilities and sanctions, however, may not be limited to Russia and Russian companies but may spill over to and negatively impact other regional and global economic markets of the World (including Europe and the United States), companies in other countries (particularly those that have done business with Russia) and on various sectors, industries and markets for securities and commodities globally, such as oil and natural gas. Accordingly, the actions discussed above and the potential for a wider conflict could increase financial market volatility, cause severe negative effects on regional and global economic markets, industries, and companies and have a negative effect on a Funds investments and performance beyond any direct or indirect exposure a Fund may have to Russian issuers or those of adjoining geographic regions. In addition, Russia may take retaliatory actions and other countermeasures, including cyberattacks and espionage against other countries and companies in the World, which may negatively impact such countries and the companies in which the Fund invests. Accordingly, there may be heightened risk of cyberattacks which may result in, among other things, disruptions in the functioning and operations of industries or companies around the World, including in the United States and Europe. The extent and duration of the military action or future escalation of such hostilities, the extent and impact of existing and any future sanctions, market disruptions and volatility, and the result of any diplomatic negotiations cannot be predicted. These and any related events could have a significant negative impact on Fund performance and the value and liquidity of an investment in the Fund, particularly with respect to Russian exposure.

In October 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, which touched off a strong military response from Israel that closed borders and airspace, damaged infrastructure and resulted in significant civilian and military casualties in Israel and the Gaza Strip. The conflict has reignited regional tensions that threaten to involve other countries and factions. The continuing conflict and its escalation could have a severe adverse effect on the regional economy, currency, and companies. These events may negatively impact other regional and global economic markets of the World (including Europe and the United States), companies in such countries and various sectors, industries and markets for securities and commodities globally, such as oil and natural gas. Accordingly, the hostilities may have a negative effect on the Funds investments in issuers of Israeli securities or in Israeli markets and performance, and may extend beyond any direct or indirect exposure the Fund may have to Israeli issuers or those of adjoining geographic regions. These and any related events could have a significant negative impact on the Funds investments as well as the Funds performance.

2
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of December, 2023

Commission File Number 1-15106

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.  PETROBRAS

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Brazilian Petroleum Corporation  PETROBRAS

(Translation of Registrant's name into English)

Avenida Henrique Valadares, 28  19th floor

20231-030  Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Federative Republic of Brazil

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes _______ No___X____

Petrobras starts contracts with CEG and CEG RIO



Rio de Janeiro, December 1, 2023  Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras informs that it has signed new natural gas contracts with Companhia Distribuidora de Gas do Rio de Janeiro (CEG) and CEG RIO S.A. (CEG RIO) and that their effectiveness will begin on 12/01/2023, as a result of compliance with the conditions agreed between the parties, following the signing of an agreement for the closure of disputes.

The purpose of the new contracts is to supply natural gas to CEG and CEG RIO, in order to regulate the supply of natural gas to the Rio de Janeiro market, with the participation and consent of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

The new contracts are valid until December 2034, with a total estimated value of R$ 51.6 billion, for this entire period.

Material facts will be disclosed to the market in due course.

www.petrobras.com.br/ir

For more information:

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.  PETROBRAS | Investors Relations

email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Av. Henrique Valadares, 28  19 th floor  20231-030  Rio de Janeiro, RJ.

Tel.: 55 (21) 3224-1510/9947 | 0800-282-1540

This document may contain forecasts within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Trading Act of 1934, as amended (Trading Act) that reflect the expectations of the Company's officers. The terms: "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "predicts", "intends", "plans", "projects", "aims", "should," and similar terms, aim to identify such forecasts, which evidently involve risks or uncertainties, predicted or not by the Company. Therefore, future results of the Company's operations may differ from current expectations, and the reader should not rely solely on the information included herein.

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, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 1, 2023

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.APETROBRAS



By: /s/ Sergio Caetano Leite

______________________________

Sergio Caetano Leite

Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 AVANTAX, INC. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (Title of Class of Securities) 095229100 (CUSIP Number) November 21, 2023 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: o Rule 13d-1(b) y Rule 13d-1(c) o Rule 13d-1(d) (Page 1 of 8 Pages)

______________________________

The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Glazer Capital, LLC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a)  (b)  3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION State of Delaware NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 0 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 0 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES  11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.00% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA, OO

1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Paul J. Glazer 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a)  (b)  3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 0 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 0 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES  11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.00% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN

Item 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER: The name of the issuer is AVANTAX, INC. (the " Company "). Item 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES: The Company's principal executive offices are located at 3200 Olympus Blvd, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75019.

Item 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING: This statement is filed by: (i) Glazer Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (" Glazer Capital "), with respect to the shares of Common Stock (as defined in Item 2(d)) held by certain funds and managed accounts to which Glazer Capital serves as investment manager (collectively, the " Glazer Funds "); and (ii) Mr. Paul J. Glazer (" Mr. Glazer "), who serves as the Managing Member of Glazer Capital, with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by the Glazer Funds. The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the " Reporting Persons ." The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that any of the Reporting Persons is, for the purposes of Section 13 of the Act, the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock (as defined in Item 2(d)) reported herein.

Item 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE: The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 250 West 55th Street, Suite 30A, New York, New York 10019.

Item 2(c). CITIZENSHIP: Glazer Capital is a Delaware limited liability company. Mr. Glazer is a United States citizen.

Item 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share Item 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER: 095229100

Item 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b) OR 13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: (a)  Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (b)  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);

(c)  Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (d)  Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); (e)  Investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f)  Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g)  Parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h)  Savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i)  Church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j)  Non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k)  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:

Item 4. OWNERSHIP The information required by Items 4(a)  (c) is set forth in Rows (5)  (11) of the cover page for each Reporting Person hereto and is incorporated herein by reference for each such Reporting Person. Item 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS. As of the date hereof, the Reporting Persons have ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities.

Item 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. The Reporting Persons may have been deemed to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares on the date of event that required the filing of the Schedule 13G.

Item 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY. Not applicable.

Item 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

Not applicable.

Item 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP. Not applicable.

Item 10. CERTIFICATION.

Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification: By signing below each Reporting Person certifies that, to the best of its or his knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its or his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

DATE: December 1, 2023

GLAZER CAPITAL, LLC By: /s/ Paul J. Glazer Name: Paul J. Glazer Title: Managing Member /s/ Paul J. Glazer PAUL J. GLAZER

EXHIBIT I

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint filing agreements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.

DATED as of December 1, 2023
Lasers pointed at aircraft can create a major safety hazard for pilots, 31st Fighter Wing officials at Aviano Air Base in Italy said recently, in response to a rise in such incidents. (Federal Aviation Administration)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy  The 31st Fighter Wing has seen a surge of incidents this year involving laser pointers directed at aircraft while flying, actions that can disorient and endanger crew members.

The 13 incidents show unusually high numbers, said Maj. Ben Weigold, the wings chief of safety at this base in northeastern Italy. Four such instances occurred last year, Air Force officials said.

The number may actually be low due to unreported incidents. F-16 pilots may not notice being targeted by lasers due to their speed, unlike helicopters and other aircraft, Weigold said.

Most of the targeting is taking place during training missions that call for low-flying aircraft.

Pilots are directed to change their flight path after being targeted with a laser, which causes training plans to get disrupted, said Master Sgt. Miguel Gibson, a base flight safety manager.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Miguel Gibson, 31st Fighter Wing flight safety manager, demonstrates how pointing a laser at an HH-60 Pave Hawk can illuminate the cockpit at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 12, 2023. (Hannah Stubblefield/U.S. Air Force) U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb points a laser at an HH-60 Pave Hawk during a demonstration at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 12, 2023. Laser strikes on aircraft are extremely dangerous to pilots and crew members, and are illegal in most countries. (Hannah Stubblefield/U.S. Air Force)

The effect of a laser beam shining in a pilots eyes is similar to a camera flash going off in a pitch-black car at night, according to an Air Force Office of Special Investigations statement.

The sudden disorientation can prevent the pilot from maintaining control of the aircraft.

To spread awareness of the dangers, police helicopter pilots with the VIII Flight Department of Florence have been visiting schools to talk to students, the Aviano OSI office said.

Reports of aircraft targeted by laser pointers are also up in the United States, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures. They received 9,000 such reports in 2022, a 41% rise over the previous year.

Shining a laser may be classified as an illegal attack on transport safety, according to Italys state police website. A conviction under that classification carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, or up to 10 years if the act results in a disaster.

Figures on how many laser incidents occurred throughout the Air Force this year werent immediately available Thursday. But OSI cited an overall increase in an October statement.

Meanwhile, the services Life Cycle Management Center is upgrading protective eyewear for crew members in order to mitigate the problem.

The consequences of getting lasered without having proper protection could not only prevent the pilot from flying and landing an aircraft safely, but it could also cost them their career, Capt. Pete Coats, the programs lead manager, said in a November statement.

The first-of-its-kind eyewear provides both laser and ballistic protection and is expected to be fielded by 2027, the statement said.
Army Spc. Spencer Gasaway builds a custom hub cap mount at Marne Innovation Center on Fort Stewart, Ga., Apr. 20, 2023. (Jameson Harris/U.S. Army)

FORT STEWART (Tribune News Service)  Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Lopez enlisted in the U.S. Army as a wide-eyed 17-year-old straight out of high school. An infantryman for nearly half his life now, hes comfortable with a top-down command structure where officers tell him what to do and how to do it.

Even so, Lopez acknowledges the flaws in the Army way. Soldiers are issued equipment and told to go use it, and thats what you do, even if said equipment doesnt always work, Lopez said.

The Marne Innovation Center, a problem-solving hub located on this sprawling U.S. Army installation near Savannah, is empowering 3rd Infantry Division soldiers to address faulty equipment and other issues they encounter from the barracks to the battlefield.

Lopez is assigned to this military makerspace outfitted with powerful design computers, 3-D printers and fabrication equipment. The center has produced dozens of innovations in its short history: a mold-detection device useful in the bases sleeping quarters; a plastic clip that makes an ammo pouch for belt-loaded machine guns more easily accessible; and a plastic-and-silicone reproduction of a human arm used to train soldiers to apply tourniquets and treat major wounds.

The early returns reflect the success in building what the centers ranking officer, Capt. Christopher Flournoy, calls a culture of innovation at Fort Stewart. And why Army brass from the garrison to the Pentagon see the potential to replicate the Marne Innovation Center model elsewhere.

Looks can be deceiving

Aesthetically, the Marne Innovation Center is the antithesis of a creative epicenter.

The facility is housed in what was once an after-school child care center, where the staffs first remodeling decision was to tear out the soiled and smelly carpet. Spartan office furniture, a bevy of tool chests, white boards and racks of 3-D printers litter the large, open space.

The center is more tinkerers garage than geeks playground.

The seven soldiers who staff the center offer expertise that ranges from project management to mechanical engineering to electronics wizardry. Yet the staff is a support resource, not a team of fixers. Soldiers come in with problems, and Flournoy and his colleagues offer advice as well as instruction in how to use the computer software and fabrication equipment.

The servicemen take the lead on producing simple improvements and solutions that can quickly and easily be replicated.

Were making stop-gap fixes here, Flournoy said. If its a big enough issue, the Army can still take it to an industry provider. But we want to help soldiers help themselves right now.

Fresh perspectives to save lives

The center doesnt rely solely on military expertise. Georgia Tech researchers and students have partnered on a handful of projects, with weekend workshops in Atlanta and 10-week internships at Fort Stewart.

The silicone arm model came out of the first X-Force Fellowship Program internships this summer. Georgia Tech biomedical engineering majors Joseph Ashley and Cole Malenich built a molded plastic arm for use in combat first-aid training. The device solved an issue voiced by medical officers: that soldiers struggled with properly applying tourniquets on the battlefield, specifically with tightening the cuff enough to fully restrict blood flow.

The Georgia Tech students made the arm with a 3-D printer and included a silicone insert where the tourniquet should be applied. They added a water tube and squeeze pump to simulate blood flow so trainees would know when the cuff was tight enough.

Now, many infantry officers at Fort Stewart carry the arms in their vehicles during training exercises and have their soldiers practice tourniquets and wound care during downtime.

The second we had something, they wanted to use it, said Ashley, who graduated from Georgia Tech in May. It was a great feeling knowing that its a great product and that it would be used in training that potentially saves lives.

The training aid was so well received that Ashley and Malenich, a junior at Tech, have launched a startup business to develop other tools for the military and first responders.

The Fort Stewart facility is one of only three Army innovation centers in the country, but that number is likely to grow. Flournoy and other staffers frequently meet with other Army leaders curious about their work and the new take on the Army way.

Were eager to share and share best practices, said Flournoy, who travels twice a month on average to tout the project. For the Army, this is unique, with commanders on the ground, not the Army as an institution, saying they want to do this.

2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Visit at ajc.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Bad Hersfeld, Germany, Dec. 1, 2006: The child of one of the vendors at the Bad Hersfeld Christmas market is full of holiday cheer as shoppers pass by the stand.

Check out Stars and Stripes list of German holiday markets here.
Krampus folk figures are set to make their way through the streets of Munich on Dec. 10. (iStock)

While it might seem that an ever-increasing number of Christmas markets are opening up for their seasonal runs earlier than ever before, the first weekend of the Advent season usually serves as the start signal for most of them to begin welcoming their eager visitors. In 2023, the first Advent Sunday falls on Dec. 3, meaning the chances of finding holiday joy amongst the pine-bough-bedecked wooden huts this weekend is pretty good indeed.

While theres no bad time to visit a German Christmas market, there are some dates that are particularly fortuitous. Heres a look at some events that can make a market visit all the more unique and special:

Nuremberg: In a tradition dating back to the time of Martin Luther some 500 years ago, its not St. Nikolaus who delivers the presents but a figure known as the Christkind. She also helps to make the annual opening of the Nuremberg Christmas Market a festive event. At 5:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to the first Advent Sunday (Dec. 1 in 2023), the lights in and around Nurembergs Hauptmarkt square will be dimmed and the gathered masses will cast their eyes toward a perch set high upon the stunning 14th-century Frauenkirche. Following a short speech in which the blond-locked young woman welcomes visitors to this years edition of the market, choirs sing and brass musicians play. The Christkind then descends back to ground level, where she moves amongst the market visitors, handing out small gifts to the children she meets. Online: christkindlesmarkt.de/en/christkind

Frankfurt: It gets pretty loud in the city of skycrapers when the Frankfurter Stadtgelaut, or Grand Bell Ringing of Frankfurt, plays out. The clanging and chiming of 50 bells from 10 churches can be experienced in all its auditory glory from 4:30 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 2 and once again from 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. Saint Nikolaus will make an appearance live on stage at the Romerberg at 5:10 p.m. Dec. 6. On the weekend of Dec. 16-17, visitors can enjoy a trip on an old-timey steam train chugging alongside the Main River. The journey begins and ends at the Eiserner Steg. Tickets can be purchased upon boarding. Online: tinyurl.com/3ezrt3ms

Stuttgart: On the first Advent weekend, the part of the city known as Mohringen hosts a market with a difference: the 37 or so stands set up here are all manned by charitable organizations. Shoppers can find not only unique, handmade items here, but also spend freely in the knowledge that the profits made from their purchases will help support worthy causes within the local community. The market runs 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 2. Online: tinyurl.com/3pewjdtr

Bernkastel-Kues: On Dec. 2, the Mosel River becomes the focal point as guests atop the bridge and on the riverbanks await the arrival of a group of brave swimmers bearing lit torches, whose honor it is to accompany St. Nikolaus as he arrives in town by boat. Upon arrival, St. Nick will hand out chocolate to the kids in the crowd. At 6 p.m. on Dec. 16, its all eyes to the skies as fireworks are set off to music. The Middle-Ages facades of the houses will be lit up by lasers starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 22 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23. Online: tinyurl.com/mvvjhp9p (pdf).

Wiesbaden: From Dec. 8-10, shoppers after quality handicrafts can find leather goods, silk scarves, handmade jewelry and the like at the Weihnachtsverkaufsausstellung Kunsthandwerk, a handicrafts sale and exhibition. The event takes place in the foyer of the Town Hall from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. On Dec. 10, visitors can enjoy an American Christmas from 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. on the stage next to the Town Hall. Online: tinyurl.com/522c9x2v

Dresden: The citys annual Christmas market, known as the Striezelmarkt, will take place for the 589th time in 2023, making it Germanys oldest event of its kind. On the second weekend of Advent each year, visitors are in for some sweet treats. Following a 500-person parade made up of members of Dresdens Bakers Guild and other traditional clubs, the festive cutting of a massive Stollen will take place at 12:15 p.m. Dec. 9. The half-kilo cuts of this fruit bread made of nuts, spices and dried or candied fruit and covered in a mantle of sugar are then sold for 10 euros per piece. Proceeds from the sale of the Stollen benefit local charities. On Dec. 10, spicy gingerbread cookies enjoy their time in the spotlight. Online: tinyurl.com/mvkavt2f

Munich: They might look a real fright, but the hairy, scary wooden-masked Krampus wont do anybody any harm. From 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 10, around 300 or these gnarly Alpine folk figures will make their usual run from Sendlinger Strasse to the Marienplatz, rattling chains and cracking whips as they go. Online: tinyurl.com/ypyyhvka

Annaberg-Buchholz: In the state of Saxonys Ore Mountains, mining traditions run deep. Parades and processions made up of costumed miners, which originally served to honor the lords of the land on special occasions, make up an important part of the states Christmas traditions. The largest parade of its kind takes place on the last Advent weekend. At 1:30 p.m. Dec. 23, about 1,000 marchers clad in the festive dress of their particular regions will join forces in a grand parade. The parade is followed by a closing concert in front of the towns St. Annenkirche. Online: tinyurl.com/4ct6kh47
An Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22B Osprey parks at Yokota Air Base, Japan in 2018. (Stars and Stripes)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  Ospreys will continue to fly in Japan, the Pentagon said, as search-and-rescue efforts entered a third day for an Air Force tiltrotor that crashed near an island in Kagoshima prefecture.

The CV-22B, assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota, was on a routine training mission when it went down off Yakushima on Wednesday afternoon, according to Air Force Special Operations Command.

One of the Ospreys eight crewmembers  recovered unconscious soon after the crash alongside an empty 20-person life raft and aircraft wreckage  has been confirmed dead, a Kyushu-based spokesman for Japans Ministry of Defense said Thursday. The body was returned to the U.S. military that afternoon, according to Japans 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters Thursday. Tokyo has asked the U.S. military to confirm that all its tiltrotors are safe before flying them in Japan, he said.

U.S. Ospreys are still operating in Japan, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters at a news briefing Thursday in Washington.

Right now, our focus on what just happened earlier this week remains on search-and-rescue efforts, she said. Its currently under investigation to see exactly what happened.

Asked if the Defense Department has concerns about the Ospreys, Singh said she would not get ahead of the investigation.

If the investigation concludes that there needs to be additional steps taken, well certainly do that, but at this time the investigation is underway on what happened, she said.

Singh couldnt provide a significant update on the multiday search, which so far has included vessels and aircraft from the U.S. military, Japan Self-Defense Forces and Japanese coast guard.

The search and recovery efforts are ongoing, she said. I hope we will have more information to share soon, but at this moment I just dont.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said he met with the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, Thursday afternoon at the ministrys Tokyo headquarters.

Given that Ospreys continued flights at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, I once again requested him to provide specific information on the measure that U.S. forces are currently taking and plan to take in order to ensure flight safety, Kihara said at a news conference after their meeting.

Kihara said he told Rupp that saving lives is Japans highest priority and they will continue to put strong effort into the search-and-rescue operation.

USFJ did not immediately respond Friday to emails and phone calls requesting comment about the meeting.

Matsuno, speaking at a news conference Friday, said Tokyo will continue to urge the U.S. to take measure to ensure safety.

We have concerns that they are conducting flights when sufficient explanation on flight safety confirmation has not been given to the Japanese government, although we have been making similar requests, he said.

Japans coast guard confirmed in a news release Friday morning that those efforts are moving forward with vessels, aircraft and teams from multiple agencies, though not much progress has been made so far.

Searches using side-scan sonar have captured unusual echo images of the seafloor, the coast guard said both Thursday and Friday, but dives made on both those days offered no clues about the missing crewmembers.

Yokota, which has hosted CV-22 Ospreys since 2018, has established an emergency family assistance center to support anyone affected by the crash. People can go to the Military and Family Readiness Center to receive 24-7 counseling, assistance and available information from representatives from the base chapel, mental health, public affairs and other support agencies, the 374th Airlift Wing announced Thursday evening on Facebook.

Stars and Stripes reporter Matthew Adams contributed to this report.
World leaders take center stage at UN climate talks in Dubai on Friday, under pressure to step up efforts to limit global warming as the Israeli war on Gaza casts a shadow over the summit.

The COP28 conference kicked off on Thursday with an early victory as nations agreed to launch a "loss and damage" fund for vulnerable countries devastated by natural disasters.

But delegates face two weeks of tough negotiations on an array of issues that have long bedevilled climate talks, starting with the future of fossil fuels.

The sense of urgency was heightened by a UN warning that 2023 is on track to become the hottest year on record, raising fears the world will not meet the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

"Now the real work only begins," the oil-rich UAE's COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber said on Thursday.

"I will be rolling up my sleeves myself, engaging and helping address this challenge and delivering real, actionable results," Jaber said, though he claimed there was "positivity" and an "optimistic" vibe following the loss and damage announcement.

Jaber, who heads the UAE's national oil firm ADNOC, said the "role of fossil fuels" must be included at the UN's climate talks.

Activists, countries hardest hit by climate impacts and UN chief Antonio Guterres have called for a phase out of fossil fuels, which are responsible for three quarters of greenhouse gas emissions.

Gaza war



The spotlight now turns to more than 140 kings, presidents and prime ministers who will address delegates at the sprawling Expo City Dubai complex on Friday and Saturday.

Britain's King Charles III will kick off those addresses, followed by leaders from nations including the likes of Brazil, Kenya, Tonga and Ukraine.

But the climate crisis will share the agenda with the conflict in Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday and will be among the leaders addressing the COP28 conference on Friday.

Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas had also been scheduled to speak but his office told AFP that he was no longer going and his foreign minister would go to Dubai instead.

The conference began on Thursday with a moment of silence -- at the request of the Egyptian head of last year's COP -- for the civilians who have died in the conflict.

US Vice President Kamala Harris, who will represent the United States at COP28, will meet with regional officials on the Israeli war on Gaza, according to the White House.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said that a temporary truce in the conflict was "producing results" and should continue.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


A child looks out at aircraft, including MV-22B Ospreys, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, April 19, 2019. (Stars and Stripes)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  Protesters seeking to expel a controversial tiltrotor aircraft from Okinawa plan to rally outside Japanese government offices less than a week after an Air Force Osprey crashed in southwestern Japan.

Led by the anti-base movement All Okinawa, demonstrators will gather at 11 a.m. Monday outside the Okinawa Defense Bureau in Kadena town, group director Yuji Fukumoto said by phone Friday. The bureau represents Japans Defense Ministry on the island.

Organizers expect up to 300 protesters from various groups to turn out, Fukumoto said. They want the U.S. military to ground the helicopter-plane hybrid until the accidents cause is identified.

If the U.S. side refused to suspend Osprey flights, the Japanese government, as a sovereign nation, must request the withdrawal of the Ospreys from the standpoint of ensuring the safety and security of the Japanese people, he said.

A CV-22B  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.

One of the Ospreys eight crewmembers, Staff Sgt. Jacob Jake Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Mass., was found unconscious soon after the crash and later declared dead; the search for the remaining crew is ongoing.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys, and Tokyo has asked the U.S. military to confirm that all its tiltrotors are safe before flying them in Japan.

U.S. Ospreys are still operating in Japan, Pentagon spokesman Sabrina Singh told reporters at a news briefing Thursday in Washington.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said he met with the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, Thursday afternoon at the ministrys Tokyo headquarters.

Given that Ospreys continued flights at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, I once again requested him to provide specific information on the measure that U.S. forces are currently taking and plan to take in order to ensure flight safety, Kihara said at a news conference after their meeting.

USFJ did not immediately respond Friday to emails and phone calls requesting comment about the meeting.

The Osprey has been a point of contention in Japan since it first arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, near Hiroshima, in July 2012. The aircrafts development history, coupled with several high-profile crashes, has made it the target of Okinawas protest movement.

Three Marines died in Australia on Aug. 27 when their Osprey crashed during the multinational Talisman Sabre exercise.

Another five died in a June 2022 crash in the Southern California desert, an incident tied to an ongoing mechanical problem  a hard clutch engagement  in the gearbox, according to a Marine Corps accident investigation.

In the hours after Wednesdays crash, Okinawa prefecture reached out to the Okinawa Defense Bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request that Ospreys be grounded until an investigation is completed, a spokeswoman from the prefectures Military Base Affairs Division said by phone Thursday.

Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

Ospreys are confirmed to be flying in Okinawa even today and it is highly regrettable, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki wrote Thursday in a post on X, formerly Twitter. I have serious doubts about using Ospreys when the accidents cause is unclear.

Tamaki sent another request to a Foreign Affairs liaison and the defense bureau on Friday, the military affairs spokeswoman said.

Stars and Stripes reporters Hana Kusumoto and Alex Wilson contributed to this report.
Marines and soldiers test out the new Mason Live Fire Range Complex at Camp Blaz, Guam on Nov. 30. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP BLAZ, Guam  Bullets are already blasting down a still-under-construction gun-range complex for troops stationed at the newest base in the Marine Corps.

The Mason Live Fire Range Complex is part of the 4,000-acre Camp Blaz, which officially opened in January. The state-of-the art complex is being validated by the Defense Department and will have its own official grand-opening early next year, range director Robert Ledyard said Thursday.

Well be able to have up to 300 Marines qualify on the range in any given week, he said while pointing out pop-up targets shaped like soldiers.

The targets can also move across the range on tracks, Ledyard said. Theyre equipped with acoustic sensors that record where shots hit and send the information back to tablet computers that give shooters instant feedback.

The complex is named after Leonard Mason, a member of the 3rd Marine Division who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry on Guam during World War II.

The facility includes rifle and pistol ranges bordering Andersen Air Force Base, where troops can shoot at targets up to 500 yards away. Work is still underway on a nearby machine gun range.

Blaz Marines and soldiers from the 368th Military Police Battalion, an Army Reserve unit, were shooting at the complex on Thursday.

Pfc. Angie Rosales Aguilar, of Santa Ana, Calif., said her adrenalin was pumping as she pulled the trigger on an M-4 rifle.

Ive only been here three months and its my first duty station and my first time shooting here, she said during a break in the action.

A pop-up target at the new Mason Live Fire Range Complex, which is part of the 4,000-acre Camp Blaz that officially opened in January 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)

Rubber matting  akin to what youd find on a modern childrens playground  covers the ground at the firing positions. Its soft and comfortable, Aguilar said.

The new ranges are aligned along Guams north coast and have rock berms to catch stray rounds. To protect water traffic, radars monitor a buffer zone that extends 4,600 yards offshore during rifle practice and 6,300 yards offshore during machine gun training.

The buffer zone is off-limits to boats, but range controllers monitor the radars and shut down training if vessels stray into the area, Ledyard said.

The former active-duty Marine range control officer said the facility is an improvement over the 300-yard range at Naval Base Guam and is better than the ranges on Okinawa. Thousands of Okinawa-based Marine billets are expected to move to Guam over the next several years.

Construction is also ongoing south of Andersen at what will become the Skaggs Urban Training Complex, Ledyard said.

That facility, due to open late next year, is named for Luther Skaggs, another 3rd Marine Division member, who received the Medal of Honor after heroic actions that severely wounded him while fighting on Guam in World War II.

The Skaggs complex will include a live-fire shoot house, grenade range and a tactical vehicle obstacle course, Ledyard said. It will also feature 11 new buildings for urban training, including a mock embassy, and 122 abandoned military homes.

Skaggs will be fitted with cameras to record training for after-action review, Ledyard said.
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in 2018. (Wikimedia Commons)

Prospects for a criminal trial for Syrian leaders accused of using sarin and other deadly chemicals against civilians appeared to gain momentum Thursday as governments and human-rights groups separately advanced measures seeking justice for victims of poison gas attacks.

At a meeting of the 193-nation Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, governments overwhelmingly adopted a proposal calling for new restrictions against Syria as well as technical and legal support for prosecuting chemical-weapons offenses anywhere in the world.

The proposal, backed by 69 countries with 45 abstentions, overcame heavy opposition by Russia, which has sought to shield Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from punishment over his governments repeated use of chemical weapons during the 12-year-old Syrian civil war. Only nine countries joined Russia in opposing the measure. Earlier in the week, OPCW member states voted to block Moscow from taking its customary seat on the watchdog groups executive council.

As the meeting was underway, a coalition led in part by survivors of Syrian violence unveiled a blueprint for the first international court dedicated entirely to prosecutions of chemical attacks. The plan for an Exceptional Chemical Weapons Tribunal is sponsored by 16 human-rights organizations and survivors groups and has drawn the interest of dozens of governments, from Europe and North America and to Asia.

The two-year effort to create a new international tribunal reflects growing frustration over the limited ability of the United Nations and the International Criminal Court to prosecute alleged war crimes, including the use of outlawed chemical weapons. Russia has consistently used its international influence - including its veto power at the U.N. Security Council - to block such cases from moving forward.

Under the proposal, governments could use the new tribunal to prosecute alleged chemical-weapons offenses where there is no recourse to existing judicial criminal fora, as in Syria, according to a statement describing the plan. Backers said the blueprint was the product of months of consultations with government officials and legal experts over how to put an end to impunity, according to Ibrahim Olabi, a lawyer and founder of the Syrian Legal Development Program, a British nonprofit.

The proposal comes amid efforts by three European nations - France, Germany and Sweden - to unilaterally prosecute Syrian officials over chemical-weapons attacks. French prosecutors earlier this month issued arrest warrants for Assad and other Syrian leaders in connection to one such case.

Syria has been accused of using highly lethal nerve agents and other chemical weapons more than 200 times since 2012, including the 2013 sarin attack in the Damascus suburb of al-Ghouta that killed more than 1,000 people, many of them women and children, according to U.S. estimates. Syria acknowledged possessing hundreds of tons of chemical weapons but has consistently denied involvement in any of the attacks.

The measure adopted by the OPCW on Thursday accuses Syria of failing to account for all of its chemical weapons, which it agreed to destroy in 2013 under an accord brokered by the United States and Russia. It also called for unprecedented restrictions on Syrias future acquisition of precursor chemicals and equipment that could help the country reconstitute its chemical weapons program.

To deter future CW use, we must hold those responsible for past use to account, Mallory Stewart, the State Departments assistant secretary for arms control, deterrence and stability, told the OPCW gathering. If we do not do so, other states and non-state actors may turn to using these.

Thursdays actions were partly symbolic - supporters say they do not expect Syrian officials to travel outside the country to face charges anytime soon - yet they show the world that the victims of the attacks have not been forgotten, said Gregory Koblentz, director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government.

Together they demonstrate that, 10 years after the Syrian attack on Ghouta, the international community takes the Syrian chemical threat seriously, Koblentz said.
A man inspect empty shelves in a closed supermarket in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 30. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post)

JERUSALEM  Days into a humanitarian pause that has allowed more aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, the population remains at risk of famine and starvation, the World Food Program warned this week, an alarming assessment by the U.N. agency of conditions in the besieged enclave thats grown increasingly reliant on food aid nearly two months into whats expected to be a protracted war.

Since Friday, when the brief halt in Israels military campaign quieted the skies over Gaza for the first time since Oct. 7, trucks packed with flour, date bars and canned beans have trickled in through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Vegetables, freshly harvested or retrieved from storage, reappeared on shelves.

But the stomachs of Gazans of all classes are still rumbling, they and others told The Washington Post. Parents go hungry to feed children who still need more. Food prices have soared. Fights have broken out in long aid lines. Begging is a new norm.

What is entering Gaza currently is not enough to meet peoples needs and avert the risk of starvation, Alia Zaki, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program in Jerusalem, said Wednesday. Without continued, scaled-up and sustainable safe access, and without fuel and connectivity, all humanitarian operations remain at risk.

In the north, where Israeli troops are deployed and delivering aid is most difficult, Gazans have foraged amid the wreckage of war for anything they can eat: vegetables and fruits, canned meats and beans left behind.

Israeli strikes and ground operations have destroyed much of Gazas agricultural land as the winter season begins, compounding shortages and leaving the population of 2.3 million people with little prospect of being able to feed itself in the months to come.

On many days of this war, we all survive on just one meal, often consisting of a few small pieces of bread or a small amount of rice, if someone donates to us, said Saed Abu Dan, a father of 5-year-old twins, sheltering in the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in central Gaza.

Hes boiled bath water over burning plastic bags to cook macaroni, he said. He understood the dangers, but my children ate it because there was no escape from hunger.

When Hamas and other gunmen attacked Israeli towns on Oct. 7, farmer Yasser Hnaideq, 32, was growing peaches, apples, oranges and grapes in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. In Israels subsequent military campaign to eradicate the militant group, his fields have been destroyed. When he tried to return to them, he said, Israeli forces shot at him.

In this war, whoever did not die from shells and missiles will die from hunger, he said.

A man hefts a 25-kilogram bag of flour at a relief station where UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian affairs, distributes supplies. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post)

Even before the war, more than two-thirds of Palestinians in Gaza were struggling daily to find food, according to the World Food Program, and about three-fourths of the population relied on food aid distributed by UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian affairs.

Shortages were driven by a blockade led by Israel and Egypt after Hamas took power in 2007. Israel controls all but one crossing into the enclave. It restricted food imports and largely banned exports.

As Gaza deteriorated, Palestinians accused Hamas leaders of living large.

Environmental, health and political crises worsened conditions. War has damaged croplands. Most of Gazas water is undrinkable. Without consistent electricity, sewage goes untreated and seeps into soils and wells. The scale of de-development, the United Nations has warned, made Gaza unlivable.

But the enclave has effectively collapsed since Israel imposed a complete siege on Oct. 9, shutting borders and cutting off electricity.

Two days earlier, Hamas raided Israeli towns near Gaza, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 240 more as hostages. Israels military campaign has caused more than 13,300 deaths in the enclave, the Gaza Health Ministry said last week. It has said it can no longer feasibly maintain the count.

The pause, in which Israel has agreed to stop attacking Gaza and release some Palestinian prisoners to get its hostages back, guarantees about 200 aid trucks enter Gaza daily. Thats the most since the war began, though less than half the prewar daily average of 500.

Those trucks have carried in 2,000 metric tons of World Food Program aid, including flour, fortified biscuits and a nutrient paste for pregnant women, Zaki said. The agency has prioritized calorie-dense foods that dont need to be cooked. Before the pause, it mainly distributed wheat flour and canned tuna from existing local stocks. Since Friday, the World Food Program has delivered food to more than 120,000 people, covering about 10% of prewar needs, according to Zaki.

Ongoing fuel shortages are hindering distribution. Bakeries in Gaza have closed for want of fuel and flour, according to Abdul Nasser al-Ajrami, chairman of the Gaza Bakeries Association. UNRWA has prioritized giving bags of flour directly to families, UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara al-Rifai said. Of the 29 bakeries in Gaza with which the World Food Program works, only one is working, and then only occasionally.

You cannot make 2.2 million people entirely dependent on humanitarian aid and food assistance, al-Rifai said. There has to be other options.

Most Palestinians in Gaza, however, were already reliant on UNRWA before the war. About two-thirds are refugees, descended from the Palestinians expelled in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Before the latest conflict with Hamas, registered refugees received packages of staples such as tahina, powdered milk and tuna. During previous wars, Gazans sought shelter in U.N.-run schools and facilities, sites that were relatively safer from strikes and where basic food and water were available.

This war, theres been little to go around but hunger.

UNRWA is sheltering nearly 1 million people in 99 facilities in southern Gaza. But frustration with the agency is growing.

Ahmed, a father of three, fled to a U.N. storage facility in Rafah expecting to find the necessities. Theres not even bread, he told The Post by phone, just canned tuna and highly processed cheese.

Before the war, his wife cooked hearty Gazan specialties such as sayadieh, a turnover fish and rice dish, and daqqa, a spicy tomato salad.

As desperation rises, fights have broken out in bread lines. In late October, thousands of people raided a U.N. facility in Deir al-Balah for flour and other supplies.

Other Gazans are trying to help.

Hani Abu Musa, 37, volunteers daily in central Gaza, cooking several thousand meals of rice, meat, legumes and beans for people displaced by the fighting. During the weeks of bombardments, his crew snuck to border areas at night to retrieve livestock from abandoned farms.

The influx of food aid during the pause has helped, he said, but its not enough for the huge numbers of people, in addition to the scarcity of raw materials. Food prices have doubled. Gazans use firewood instead of cooking gas. The water is often unclean, putting people at risk.

Israels targeting of agricultural lands along the border strip of the Gaza Strip, from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah in the south, also affected our ability to obtain the vegetables needed to help prepare meals, he said.

Some of these vegetables have started to reappear in markets, along with nonperishable items that traders could retrieve from storage once the strikes stopped.

Akram Abu Khousa never used to go hungry.

The farmer has acres in the northern Gaza community of Beit Lahiya. Life wasnt easy: Past conflicts damaged his fields, his sector suffered under the blockade and many farmers fell into debt. But he was proud to produce food for Gaza.

I never worked with the Tanzim, he said, referring to Hamas fighters. My work is a farmer. But today everyone is targeted.

After nearly two months of war, Abu Khousa is rationing flour and canned foods among 200 family members crammed into the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Tomatoes, cucumbers are available, he said. But the prices are so expensive.

Abu Khousa fled to southern Gaza after Israel warned Gazans to leave the north. In late October, his sons snuck back. They found their family house and fields wrecked. He estimated it would take three months to start farming  if the land can even bloom again.

Harb reported from London.
Ciara Taylor, center right with microphone, of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice, speaks as state lawmakers and other advocates stage a hunger strike in front of the White House to demand a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza war. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

It was day four of not eating, and Sumaya Awad was exhausted. Her eyes were sunken. Shed been repeating herself. In the middle of the night, she kept waking up with severe headaches.

Still, Awad wanted to keep depriving her body of food. She told herself that she had a choice. But the Palestinians in Gaza who have lost access to shelter, food and water in the war, she said, do not.

Awad had decided to join more than 20 others outside the White House throughout this week in a five-day hunger strike to force the Biden administration to demand a permanent cease-fire at a time when Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in fighting to allow more aid to enter Gaza and more hostages to be released.

That is the only way for the violence to stop, said Awad, 29, of New York City. Its just so astonishing that we have to be out here starving in the cold to relay the message that Palestinians deserve to live. And that Palestinians deserve to be grieved, just like any other person.

President Biden swiftly supported Israel after the Oct. 7 attack on the country by Hamas, when gunmen from the militant group that controls Gaza broke through Israels border, killing at least 1,200 and taking others into Gaza as hostages, including some American citizens. During this temporary pause, more than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been released.

While Awad and seven others were dedicated to fasting for all five days, many others joined for shorter periods of time, including actress Cynthia Nixon. They were joined by fellow Palestinian Americans, congressional representatives such as Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.)., state lawmakers, advocates, and passersby who did not participate, but stopped by to support them. They joined in prayers and songs, held vigils and conversations about the conflict, gave speeches, and painted red teardrops on a banner.

Awad, who is Palestinian, said her grandfathers family was driven from their home in West Jerusalem into Lebanon in 1948. That year, Israel declared independence and a coalition of Arab states, allied with Palestinian factions, attacked Israeli forces in what became the first of several Arab-Israeli wars. In the end, Israel gained control of an even larger portion of territory, and an estimated 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their land in what Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or catastrophe in Arabic.

Awad said she was compelled to sacrifice her own well-being because of the brutality of the recent Israeli military campaign that has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians, including children, and created a humanitarian disaster in the pursuit of ending Hamass rule in Gaza. Awad said she thinks of the babies inside hospitals in Gaza and how her own daughter, now 1 1/2 years old, had to spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit after birth.

The hunger strike is a way of escalating the importance and the dire and urgent situation and applying shame to this administration, that this is what its come to, she said.

Those enduring this hunger strike criticize the Biden administrations ongoing support of Israels military campaign that has killed more than 13,300 people in Gaza and displaced hundreds of thousands of others.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Nov. 16 shows how views of the war have shifted since its outbreak last month. Forty-six percent of registered voters in the United States approve of Israels response to the Oct. 7 attack, while 40 percent disapprove. That is a change from Quinnipiacs Nov. 2 poll showing 50 percent approved and 35 percent disapproved.

These views still vary sharply by partisanship, race and age, with the lowest approval seen among Democrats (27 percent), voters ages 18 to 34 (20 percent) and Black voters (26 percent).

What is so troubling is that we have a president who ran on a message of restoring Americas moral standing in the world, who has spoken so eloquently about grief and how consuming it can be, New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani said while fasting on day four of the hunger strike. And he is blind to this grief. Not only blind, but he is helping to create it.

Mamdani and others wanted to starve themselves to represent the Palestinians starving in Gaza, in hopes of bringing their message to the U.S. presidents home.

On Thursday morning, more than a dozen people gathered in a circle to share their names and what was keeping their spirit alive in a time of so much death, devastation and fear.

When it was one womans turn, she told the group she was Palestinian. And then she started to cry. She grew up in Jerusalem and the West Bank and still has relatives in Israel and childhood and family friends who live in Gaza. Ever since war erupted back home, she has not been able to think of anything else.

The woman, who did not want to be identified for fear of harassment, took a leave from work and has demonstrated in favor of a cease-fire almost every day. She said her parents send daily texts to loved ones asking, are you alive? The communication blackouts in Gaza have left her desperately waiting to hear from her friends and imagining the worst.

So when she looked around the circle and saw so many different people - people who had never been to the region she grew up in - care so deeply about her people, she felt more hopeful than she had in a long time.

Through her tears she said, Thank you.
The EPAs recent data reveals that 44 million Americans have toxic PFAS, or forever chemicals, in their drinking water. (Environmental Working Group/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  Water tests show nearly 3,000 private wells located near 63 active and former U.S. military bases are contaminated with forever chemicals at levels higher than what federal regulators consider safe for drinking.

According to the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that analyzed Department of Defense testing data, 2,805 wells spread across 29 states were contaminated with at least one of two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, above 4 parts per trillion, a limit proposed earlier this year by the Environmental Protection Agency. That new drinking water standard is expected to take effect by the end of the year.

But contamination in those wells was lower than the 70 parts per trillion threshold the Pentagon uses to trigger remediation.

EWG researchers said they did not know how many people rely on the wells for drinking, cooking, and bathing, but the 76 tested locations represent just a fraction of the private wells near 714 current or former military sites spread across the U.S. According to EWG, Texas had nearly a third of the contaminated wells, with 909. Researchers recorded clusters of tainted wells in both urban and rural areas, from Riverside County and Sacramento in California to Rapid City, South Dakota, and Helena, Montana.

They are going to have to test more bases, said Jared Hayes, a senior policy analyst with EWG, in an interview with KFF Health News. Those 2,805 are going to be a small number when they start testing drinking water wells near every single base.

Defense Department officials are investigating hundreds of current and former domestic U.S. military installations and communities that surround them to determine whether their soil, groundwater, or drinking water is contaminated with PFAS chemicals.

The Defense Department is a major contributor of PFAS pollution nationwide  the result of spills, dumping, or use of industrial solvents, firefighting foam, and other substances that contain what have been dubbed forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body.

Exposure to PFAS has been associated with health problems such as decreased response to vaccines, some types of cancer, low birth weight, and high blood pressure during pregnancy, according to a report published last year by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

A study published this year linked testicular cancer in military personnel to exposure to PFOS, the main type of PFAS chemical used in firefighting foam.

In July, a U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that at least 45% of U.S. tap water contains at least one type of PFAS chemical.

USGS researchers tested 716 locations nationwide and found the forever chemicals more frequently in samples that were collected near urban areas and potential sources of PFAS like military installations, airports, industrial sites, and wastewater treatment plants, according to Kelly Smalling, a USGS research chemist and lead author of the study.

We knew we would find PFAS in tap water, she told KFF Health News in July. But what was really interesting was the similarities between the private wells and the public supply.

Drinking water sources near military installations that test above 70 parts per trillion draw immediate action from the Defense Department. Those responses include providing alternate drinking water sources, treatment, or water filtration systems.

Below that threshold, federal officials leave it up to homeowners to weigh and mitigate the health risks of contamination, Hayes said.

Its unclear what, if anything, these private individuals are being advised, Hayes said. If DoD is saying that 70 parts per trillion is the level they are going to provide clean water ... the understanding would be if its below that, it must be fine.

The Pentagon bases its 70 parts per trillion standard for PFOS and PFOA chemicals on a 2016 health advisory issued by the EPA. Officials have said theyre waiting for the new federal standard to go into effect before changing Defense Department parameters.

The Department of Defense did not respond by publication deadline to questions about EWGs findings, or how it will address the new EPA limits.

While EWGs examination found that thousands of wells contained PFAS at levels above the new EPA standard, but below the militarys 70 ppt threshold for action, it also learned that the Defense Department had found 1,800 private wells that registered higher than 70 ppt and had provided mitigation services to the owners of those wells.

Hayes said the combined levels of PFOS and PFOA in some wells were as high as 10,000 ppt.

Hayes said its unclear how long people near those military sites have been drinking contaminated water. Chances are its been years, decades, he said.

Federal law requires public water systems to be monitored regularly for pollutants, but private wells have no similar requirements. Hayes recommended that people who live near any current or former military installations and use a well for their drinking water have their water tested and use a filter designed specifically to remove PFAS.

According to the Defense Departments PFAS remediation website, as part of its ongoing investigation and remediation effort, it has closed contaminated wells, installed new water sources, and treated drinking water on military bases. According to the Pentagon, it is working to ensure no one on-base is exposed to PFOS or PFOA in drinking water above 70ppt.

Addressing DoDs PFAS releases is at the core of the Departments commitment to protect the health and safety of its Service members, their families, the DoD civilian workforce, and the communities in which DoD serves, Pentagon officials said on the site.

KFF Health News Hannah Norman contributed to this report.

KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.

2023 KFF Health News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Sen. Angus King, I-Maine (Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  About one month after Maines deadliest mass shooting, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, is proposing a limit on the number of bullets a gun can hold as part of new legislation to regulate how firearms are manufactured and sold in the United States.

The bill being introduced Thursday, called the GOSAFE Act, is different than whats commonly known as an assault weapons ban because it regulates how guns are made rather than banning specific models. Rifles and shotguns would be barred from having magazines that carry more than 10 rounds, while handguns could carry up to 15 rounds. Some high-capacity magazines used in mass shootings have carried 25 to 50 rounds or more. GOSAFE stands for Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion.

In an interview this week with the Portland Press Herald, King said the GOSAFE Act is a more effective approach because gun manufacturers can get around bans on specific weapons by slightly altering guns and building new models. King said the approach taken by the GOSAFE Act took years of work collaborating with Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, the bills other primary sponsor, to close loopholes to ensure that gun manufacturers would have to comply.

King said it was a coincidence that he and Heinrich were finishing the details of the bill when the Lewiston mass shootings occurred on Oct. 25.

Lewiston simply strengthened my resolve, King said. It redoubled my commitment to dealing with this issue.

Gunman Robert Card killed 18 people and injured 13 more at two locations in Lewiston, and in at least one location used an AR-10 assault-style rifle. He was found in a trailer in Lisbon two days later, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

King said if the proposed bill becomes law, the weapon used in the shootings would be illegal to purchase.

The tragedy  one of hundreds of mass shootings in the United States over the past 25 years  has spurred more support for gun reform, including by Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District. Golden, who lives in Lewiston, publicly declared that he had reversed his position and now supports an assault weapons ban. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, had been the only member of Maines congressional delegation to consistently support an assault weapons ban and other gun safety reforms.

Maine lawmakers also are preparing to debate new gun safety laws at the state level, perhaps including an assault weapons ban, when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

The legislation being unveiled in Congress on Thursday is the first major foray into gun reform legislation spearheaded by King.

COLLINS REVIEWING BILL

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is reviewing Kings bill, but has not yet taken a position. She has said she would support a ban on high-capacity magazines and argued, like King, that restrictions should focus more on the functionality of assault-style weapons than on individual models.

Senator Collins recognizes the time and effort that went into developing this proposal from Senators Heinrich and King, and she will carefully consider it, Annie Clark, a Collins spokeswoman, said in an email response to questions.

King has previously supported some gun control measures, but opposed the pending bill to ban more than 200 specific models of military-style assault weapons.

He said Maine has a long history of responsible gun ownership and hunting traditions that should be honored.

Nothing in this bill affects the traditional gun culture we have in Maine, King said, pointing out that state hunting laws mandate no more than five rounds in a hunting rifle, and hunters can carry one spare round.

Heinrich, who took part in the Press Herald interview with King, said that the bill balances Second Amendment gun rights with finding a way to minimize mass shootings.How do we draw the line between what is unusually dangerous and contributes to large-scale shootings, and differentiate that from the tools everyday Americans use for self-defense, hunting and shooting? Heinrich said. He said the bill accomplishes that complex task.

King said that they worked on the bill for years  starting in 2019 and with major work on the granular details since 2021  in order for the bill to hold up in court and make sure there werent any loopholes for gun manufacturers.

BILL DETAILS

According to a summary of the bill provided by Kings office, magazines must be permanently fixed, meaning the firearm cannot accept a detachable, high-capacity magazine that would increase the number of rounds that can be fired before reloading and make reloading easier.

Bump stocks, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at a faster rate, also would be banned.

While guns that dont meet the regulations could no longer be sold, resold or manufactured under the bill, those who already own such guns could keep them or pass them on to family members. There also would be a federal gun buyback program so that people could turn in guns that dont meet the regulations, and get money back for doing so. The buyback is intended to prevent stockpiling of these lethal firearms and large capacity magazines, according to the bills summary.

Mark Collins, the federal policy director for Brady United Against Gun Violence, which advocates for gun safety regulations, said the group supports the GOSAFE Act, as well as the pending assault weapons ban.

He said Kings bill is an elegant solution to reform gun laws.

This focuses on the functionality on the firearm itself, Collins said. Its a different way of doing it (compared to an assault weapons ban), but its a very effective way of doing it.

Collins said the bill took a long time to write because there are lots of different types of firearms, and different types of ways that they work.

The proposal is certain to face strong resistance from gun rights advocates, however.

Dave Workman, spokesman for the Second Amendment Foundation, a Bellevue, Washington, group that advocates for gun rights, said proposals to limit magazines to 10 rounds are feel good bills that dont accomplish anything. He said it doesnt stop gun owners from reloading.

The 10-round magazine limit really is an arbitrary number for which there has never been a reasonable explanation, Workman said. The idea that forcing somebody to have just a 10-round magazine because you think it will require him to reload is really nonsense.

COULD IT PASS?

Gun control bills are typically difficult to shepherd through Congress, with Republicans often unified in opposition. However, with numerous mass shootings in recent years  including in Lewiston; Las Vegas; Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas, among other cities  polling shows strong public support for reforms, including restrictions on assault weapons.

The only building where gun reform is remotely controversial is the U.S. Capitol, Collins said.

He said the GOSAFE Act, because its not an outright ban on assault weapons, has a chance to be bipartisan and attract Republican support.

However, so far there are no Republican co-sponsors, although the bill is just now being introduced.

King and Heinrich said they are working on lobbying fellow senators, including Republicans, to support the bill.

Sen. Collins supported the initial assault weapons ban, which passed in 1994 before she was elected to her first term in 1996. That law was allowed to sunset in 2004 and she voted against another ban that was proposed in 2013, saying it was overly broad and focused on the cosmetics of guns rather than their functionality.

Brian Duff, a political science professor at the University of New England, said the bill faces a huge uphill battle but that its a credit to King for trying something new.

It is great to have a new and practical and thoughtful proposal, Duff said. For Angus King, this can turn a general liability (being against an assault weapons ban) into a strength.

Duff said the prospects of passing this now are very slim, but one shift in the House in the next election and things could change. Kings proposal being tailored to gun functionality rather than a ban on specific models could attract support from some moderate Republicans, such as Collins, although its difficult to say how much support it would garner, he said.

Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the House, while Democrats control the Senate. President Biden has voiced support for gun reforms, including an assault weapons ban.

Collins also is working on other measures to address gun violence, said Clark, her spokeswoman.

Senator Collins believes that there is a crime and violence problem in this country and that Congress should join with the states and law enforcement in trying to address it. She will continue to focus on measures that could help save lives, including legislation that could help keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, and also people who are suffering from mental illness that could cause them to be a danger to themselves and others. She is currently drafting legislation that would direct the military to fully utilize state crisis intervention laws, Clark said, also noting that Collins is the lead Republican sponsor on a bill that would ban bump stocks.

King believes that politics will eventually catch up with public opinion and meaningful gun reform will pass.

You can work on something for years, and it doesnt happen and doesnt happen, and then suddenly the stars align and the bill passes, King said.

(c)2023 the Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine)

Visit the Portland Press Herald

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Texas National Guard soldiers block a large group of migrants from entering the U.S. from Mexico between legal ports of entry near the west Texas city of Eagle Pass. (Texas Military Department)

AUSTIN, Texas  Federal agents can resume a practice of cutting wire barrier placed near the U.S. border with Mexico by Texas National Guard troops after a judge on Wednesday ruled against a request from the state of Texas to stop them from doing so.

A temporary hold on cutting the barriers had been in place since October as part of an ongoing lawsuit that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed against the Department of Homeland Security that alleges cutting the barriers is damaging the states property. The temporary hold only protected barriers installed in the west Texas city of Eagle Pass, which has seen a steep increase in border crossings this year.

The fight between state and federal authorities at the border comes as record levels of migrants cross into the United States. Customs and Border Protection said it detained nearly 2.5 million people at the southwest border during fiscal 2023, which ended Sept. 30.

Guard troops placed the coiled barbed wire near the states border with Mexico as part of Operation Lone Star, a two-year-old, state-sponsored mission to deter migrants from crossing into the United States between legal ports of entry.

The Texas Military Department said troops working on Operation Lone Star have installed nearly 106 miles of coiled barbed wire to curb the flow of migrants crossing between legal ports of entry all along the border with Mexico. The wire is typically placed within the boundary of the U.S., and on property owned by the state, local governments or private citizens who have granted permission for the Guard to access private property.

Border Patrol agents cut the wire to take into custody migrants who have already reached U.S. soil. In one instance that Paxton documented in court documents, Border Patrol used a forklift to raise the wire and allow for roughly 300 migrants to pass underneath.

Texas National Guard soldiers build a coiled wire barrier near the U.S. border with Mexico as part of Operation Lone Star, a state-sponsored mission to deter migrants from crossing into the U.S. between legal ports of entry. (Texas Military Department)

Generally speaking, Border Patrol agents have a responsibility under federal law to take those who have crossed onto U.S. soil without authorization into custody for processing, as well as to act when there are conditions that put our workforce or migrants at risk, according to a statement Homeland Security provided when the lawsuit was filed in October.

Paxton has filed an appeal against the decision of Judge Alia Moses who serves in the Del Rio Division of the Western District of Texas.

Texas wanted the judge to prevent federal agents from cutting the barriers until a civil trial can occur.

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 in a statement. [President Joe] Bidens doctrine of open borders at any cost threatens the safety of our citizens, and we will continue to fight it every step of the way.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the judges ruling.

Documents that Homeland Security officials presented to the court showed the wire barrier inhibits Border Patrols ability to patrol the border and inspect, apprehend, and process migrants, according to the judges 34-page order.

The documents further stated while Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety had worked together over barriers, the relationship has deteriorated, driven at least in part by at least one instance in which Texas DPS personnel threatened to criminally charge Border Patrol for cutting the wire and DPS efforts to impede Border Patrol access to certain areas.

The case now moves to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Texas has brought on the Texas Public Policy Foundation as co-counsel, Paxton said.
Israeli fighter jets pounded the Gaza Strip on Friday shortly after a week-long truce expired with no agreement to extend it. The number of Palestinians killed and injured is rising by the tens every hour. Israel and Hezbollah resume trading attacks

19:45 Egypt deeply regrets the breach of the temporary humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the head of Service Information System Diaa Rashwan said on Friday.

Rashwan added that Egypt is exerting maximum efforts currently with its partners to swiftly return to the ceasefire and extend it further to address the critical humanitarian conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza that reached catastrophic levels.

18:00 Doctors Without Borders (MSF) called on Israel to rescind its evacuation orders to Palestinian civilians immediately, saying there is no place in Gaza that is safe because of the ongoing indiscriminate bombing of the strip.

On Friday afternoon, the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for residents in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip to move to central areas in the strip.

This came as Israeli jetfighters pummeled various areas across the north of the strip.

The Israeli army ordered the residents of Jabaliya, Al-Shujaiya, Al-Zeitun, and Al-Tufa7 to evacuate their homes and head south of the Valley of Gaza in the center of the strip.

Earlier today, the Israeli army dropped leaflets in Arabic ordering civilians in the villages around Khan Younis to Rafah in the southmost of the Gaza Strip.

Many in Khan Younis who were ordered to evacuate on Friday were people who fled previous bombings in the north before the truce.

17:50 Qassam Brigades announced targetting Tel Aviv with a barrage of rockets on Friday evening.

Earlier today, Palestinian factions launched rockets at various Israeli settlements in the Envelope of Gaza as well as at Ashdoud and Ashkelon north of the Gaza Strip.

17:30 The Israeli army issued evacuation orders for residents in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip to move to central areas in the strip amid its vicious bombing campaign.

The Israeli army ordered the residents of Jabaliya, Al-Shujaiya, Al-Zeitun, and Al-Tufa7 to evacuate their homes and head south of the Valley of Gaza. in the central parts of the strip.

Earlier today, the Israeli army dropped leaflets in Arabic ordering civilians in the villages around Khan Younis to Rafah.

Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) called on Israel to rescind the evacuation orders immediately, saying there is no place in Gaza that is safe because of the ongoing indiscriminate bombing of the strip.

16:50 Hours after the resumption of the Israeli bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip, Israel and Hezbollah resumed hostilities on the northern front.

Israeli artillery targeted the vicinity of the Naqoura in south Lebanon while Hezbollah said it targeted several Israeli soldiers along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

16:35 "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is so perilous that anything other than sustained peace and at-scale emergency aid will mean catastrophe for the children of Gaza," UNICEF spokesman James Elder told reporters in Geneva via video link from the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Elder said the "dire" state of health, nutrition, water, and sanitation there threatened to trigger "a disaster of unparalleled magnitude for the children of Gaza".

"Inaction, at its core, is an approval of the killing of children," he said, calling it "reckless to think more attacks on the people of Gaza will lead to anything other than carnage."

"It's deeply unsettling to hear how some have been able to overlook the tragic deaths of these children; and now, today, are seemingly comfortable with the horrors -- the attacks -- starting again," he said.

"To accept the sacrifice of the children in Gaza is humanity giving up."

"This is our last chance before we delve into yet again explaining why another entirely avoidable tragedy was not stopped."

Elder said that he visited children in the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip as hostilities resumed on Friday.

He said that during the truce, "slowly, slowly, glimpses of childhood started to come back" to traumatized and wounded children.

However, as the explosions began, "in an instant... you saw fear return and childhood retreat," he said.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a ceasefire in Gaza that would lead to peace.

The WHO said that before Israeli bombardment resumed in Gaza on Friday after a week-long truce the health system in the strip was on its knees, with hospitals resembling a "horror movie".

16:20 Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that his group is open to swapping more Israeli captives for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, but rebuffed a demand to free female Israeli soldiers.

Hamdan, who is based in Beirut, told the Associated Press that several ideas for captive releases were put forward by mediators and that Hamas accepted three of them.

He said the Israeli side said no, no, no every time.

Hamdan added that Israeli officials put forward a list of 10 names of women they wanted to be released but that Hamas rejected them, saying they were female soldiers.

The Hamas official said Israels military would not be able to release any of the hostages by force, adding that the only way to win their freedom is through negotiations.

Israel said Friday that 137 captives remain held in Gaza, including 115 men, 20 women and two children. Of this group, 126 are Israeli and 11 are foreign nationals.

15:45 Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says: "Israel will continue working to achieve its goals of returning its kidnapped citizens, destroying Hamas, and making sure that Gaza will not threaten Israel, according to Al Arabiya.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army continued dropping ethnic-cleansing leaflets in Arabic on villages around the under-heavy-bombardment city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza ordering civilians to immediately evacuate to Rafah in the deep south of the strip or face the consequences.

"We have warned and therefore we have been absolved," the Israeli army warned.

15:30 The death toll among Palestinian civilians from half a day in the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip on Friday has climbed over 109 and hundreds more injured - with most of the victims women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry.



"Those who were not moved by the blood in Gaza will drown in their blood soon". Palestinians raise placards during a rally in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah in support of the Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023. AFP

Meanwhile, the White House said Friday that the United States will continue to press for extending a truce in Gaza.

"We continue to work with Israel, Egypt, and Qatar on efforts to extend the humanitarian pause in Gaza," a National Security Council spokesperson said, according to AFP.

A week-long truce between Israel and Hamas ended on Friday morning as Israel resumed its bombing campaign on Gaza.

In 48 days of bombing before the truce, Israel killed more than 15,000 and injured more than 50,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli airstrikes destroyed or damaged more than 50 percent of homes in Gaza, leaving 1.8 million out of the 2.4 million population internally displaced.



Palestinian child wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is brought to al Aqsa Hospital on Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. AP

14:45 Israel is planning a campaign against Hamas in Gaza that will stretch for a year or more -with the most intensive phase of the ground offensive continuing into early 2024, according to the Financial Times, citing several people familiar with the preparations.

A person familiar with Israels war plans said the military still considers operations in northern Gaza to be incomplete.

Gaza City isnt finished yet, nor fully conquered. Its probably 40 percent done, the person said.

For the north as a whole, it will probably require another two weeks to a month.

An Israeli ground offensive into south Gaza, which up until now has been hit only by sporadic air strikes, is expected to begin in parallel, according to FT sources.

14:30 Palestinian factions relaunched rockets at various targets in the Envelope of Gaza and other cities in the south of Israel including Ashdoud Israel.

This came after Israel resumed indiscriminate bombing across the Gaza Strip on Friday morning after it ended a 7-day truce with Hamas.

Meanwhile, Saraya Al-Quds, the military wing of Hihad, announced the downing of an Israeli drone in central Gaza.

Meanwhile, five Israeli soldiers were injured in a mortar attack near Nirim, a kibbutz in the northwestern Negev Desert, according to Al Arabiya.

The Israeli army also announced that it has carried out 200 airstrikes on various targets in Gaza.

It added that nine soldiers were injured in battles in Gaza on Friday.

14:20 The Palestinian health ministry said more than 60 people had been killed on Friday after a truce expired and Israeli strikes resumed.

The ministry has also tallied "dozens of wounded in air strikes on civilians," it said in a statement.

13:45 Khalil Al-Hayeh, a member of the political bureau of Hamas, accuses Israel of premeditation in the resumption of its crimes against women and children in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.

"Israel did not find anyone in the international community to deter it from killing women and children, Al-Hayeh told the Qatari news outlet.

"Israel has refused several offers and proposals to conclude new truces to exchange prisoners because it was determined to restart its crimes."

12:50 The Palestinian Presidency issued a statement saying the Israeli resumption of the bombardment on Gaza is a continuation of the crime of ethnic cleansing and mass extermination of the Palestinian people.

The Jordanian foreign ministry called on the international community to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres said the resumption of hostilities in Gaza underscores the need for a permanent ceasefire.



A Palestinian man carries an injured boy following the resumption of Israeli bombardment in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on December 1, 2023. AFP

12:00 Qatar on Friday urged swift international action to stop violence in the Gaza Strip after renewed Israeli bombardment of the territory at the end of a truce which the Gulf emirate helped mediate.

The Qatari foreign ministry, in a statement, said it stresses that continued bombing at the end of the pause "complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and... calls on the international community to move quickly to stop the violence."

It added "its condemnation of all forms of targeting civilians, the practice of collective punishment, and attempts to forcibly displace and displace citizens of the besieged Gaza Strip, and its demand for an immediate ceasefire."

Qatar has been engaged in intense negotiations, with support from Egypt and the United States, to repeatedly prolong a truce in Gaza that had lasted a total of seven days after two extensions.



A plume of smoke rises during an Israeli strike on the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on December 1, 2023. AFP

11:00 Israel drops leaflets telling Gaza residents to leave parts of southern Gaza, signaling a widening offensive as its fighter jets resumed striking the Strip minutes after a week-long truce expired on Friday.

In the leaflets it dropped in southern Gaza, Israel urged people to leave homes east of the city of Khan Younis. The leaflets also warned that Khan Younis was now a dangerous battle zone.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled northern Gaza earlier in the war, with many taking shelter in Khan Younis and other places in the south.

Only hours into the renewed offensive, the Palestinian Health Ministry said 32 people had been killed and dozens wounded.

One of the first airstrikes Friday destroyed a large building in Khan Younis. Moments later, residents were seen frantically searching the rubble for survivors as medics approached. One wounded person was carried away on a stretcher.

09:00 Airstrikes hit southern Gaza, including the community of Abassan east of the town of Khan Younis, the Interior Ministry in the Hamas-run territory said. Another strike hit a home northwest of Gaza City.

Loud, continuous explosions were heard coming from the Gaza Strip, and black smoke billowed from the territory.

The Palestinian health ministry said 29 people had been killed Friday in the initial hours after the truce expired and hostilities resumed.

Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP the dead included 10 people killed in al-Maghazi in central Gaza, nine in Rafah in the south, and five in Gaza City in the north, following the expiring of the truce at 7:00 am local time (0500 GMT).

In Israel, sirens blared at three communal farms near Gaza warning of incoming rocket fire, suggesting Hamas had also resumed its attacks.

The Israeli military's announcement of the strikes came only 30 minutes after the cease-fire expired at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) Friday.

Earlier Friday, Israel accused Hamas of having violated the terms of the cease-fire, including by firing rockets toward Israel from Gaza.

However, a source briefed on talks told AFP that talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at renewing a Gaza truce by mediators Qatar and Egypt are continuing despite renewed fighting.

"Negotiations are still ongoing with Qatari and Egyptian mediators despite the resumption of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza," the source said asking to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the talks after intense overnight discussions failed to secure an eighth ceasefire day.

During the week-long truce, Hamas and other groups in Gaza released more than 100 captives, most of them Israelis, in return for 240 Palestinians freed from prisons in Israel.

Israel has been under growing pressure from its main ally, the United States, to do more to "protect Palestinian civilians" when it resumes its strikes.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on his third visit to the region since the start of the war two months ago.

While expressing hope at the time that the cease-fire could be extended, Blinken said that if Israel resumed the war and moved 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 must not be repeated in the south.

Most of Gazas population is now crammed into the south with no exit, raising questions over how an Israeli offensive there can avoid heavy civilian casualties.

Israels bombardment and invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry.

More than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million have been uprooted, after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

The toll is likely much higher, as officials have only sporadically updated the count since 11 November.

The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble.

Palestinians in Gaza have called for a permanent end to the war, saying the temporary truces dont resolve the humanitarian catastrophe in the territory.

Over 1.8 million people have fled their homes, with more than 1 million sheltering in UN schools and struggling to find basic items including cooking gas and flour.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Former Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick stands between former President George W. Bush, left, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. in October 2005. (Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post)

A Wisconsin prosecutor has declined to challenge a doctors assessment that disgraced ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick is incompetent to stand trial, making it more likely the only remaining criminal charge against McCarrick will be dismissed.

McCarrick, 93, was charged with sexual assault in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor, for allegedly fondling an 18-year-old family friend at a Wisconsin lake in the 1970s. If convicted, he would have faced up to nine months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

A Massachusetts judge dismissed a criminal child sexual abuse charge against McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, in August, citing the same reasons.

Prosecutors in Massachusetts had hired an expert to assess McCarrick, and she found significant deficits in his memory and said he has dementia. The Wisconsin court brought in that same expert to assess him again.

At a hearing Nov. 22 in Elkhorn, Walworth County District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld told Judge David Reddy that the county would not challenge the incompetency assessment, according to the court file. Reddy scheduled a February hearing to discuss whether McCarrick needs to appear in court - via phone or Zoom - to present the assessment to him.

Wiedenfeld did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of Bishop Accountability, a group that compiles and analyzes cases of clergy abuse, on Thursday called the imminent dismissal of the Wisconsin charges against McCarrick a reminder of the Catholic hierarchys pervasive coverup of sex crimes.

Many of McCarricks fellow cardinals and bishops protected him despite knowing he was a sexual predator. They didnt report him to law enforcement, they didnt go public with the information, and they ignored or discredited his victims, Doyle wrote in an email. If even one of his brother bishops had called the police, McCarrick might have been prosecuted years ago.

McCarrick, once a popular and powerful leader in the U.S. church, still faces multiple lawsuits from men who say he sexually abused them as youth or harassed them as seminarians or young priests. He was the subject of a massive Vatican investigation and was expelled from the priesthood by Pope Francis for sexual sins and abusing his power.

But McCarrick never has been criminally convicted, and some of his alleged victims say thats a meaningful missing piece. The apparently dead Wisconsin case was the last of two criminal cases he faced.

Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston victims lawyer, said Nov. 22 that criminal cases can send a louder and stronger message to abusers and to the Catholic Church than civil cases. Garabedian represents James Grein, a Virginia man who was one of the first to come forward in 2018 and was the alleged victim in the two criminal cases. McCarrick was close friends of the Grein family. Grein, now in his 60s, said he was the first baby McCarrick baptized as a new priest.

Survivors show enormous courage by proceeding with criminal cases against sexual abusers and should be proud of their strength, Garabedian said last month.

John Bellocchio, who alleged in a 2019 suit that then-Newark archbishop McCarrick raped him when Bellocchio was 14, said a path to criminal conviction is still there - in New Jersey, which eliminated criminal statutes of limitations for most sexual offenses in the 1990s.

McCarrick, who rose quickly after being ordained as a New York City priest in 1958, spent 20 years in dioceses in Metuchen and Newark. Bellocchio is pressing for state and county law enforcement officials in New Jersey now to file criminal charges against McCarrick, pointing to the presence of other accusers who came forward in six different civil suits in the state.

Wisconsin is not the last criminal option against McCarrick. Its just being framed that way, said Bellocchio, 41. A former Catholic schoolteacher and principal, he stopped working in the Catholic education system some years ago because of severe panic attacks.

Michael Symons, a spokesman for New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, declined to comment on whether his office is investigating McCarrick. Symons said Platkins office is committed to uncovering the truth about clergy abuse in New Jersey and bringing justice to survivors and noted that, in 2018, it created a statewide Clergy Abuse Task Force that has a hotline and a reporting portal.

Doyle said she hopes Platkin will redouble his efforts to investigate McCarrick in New Jersey, the state where the former cleric has the longest history.

The prospect of the powerful ex-cardinal again being spared a trial is disheartening, she wrote.

The Vatican announced in 2019 that Pope Francis had expelled McCarrick from the priesthood, after the church found him guilty of sexually abusing minors and adult seminarians over decades.

McCarricks fall rocked the U.S. church in part because he was so prominent. He socialized with presidents, professional athletes and famous actors, and was a globe-trotting church diplomat for hotspots like Iran and China. He was also a fundraising juggernaut for church causes across the ideological spectrum.

But equally shocking, and perhaps the most powerful legacy of the McCarrick scandal, was how many high-ranking church leaders knew of some level of McCarricks sexual misbehavior and did nothing.

By the 1990s, there was growing evidence pointing to his misconduct. A handful of seminarians confided in a New Jersey bishop, describing how McCarrick would devise ways to share a bed with them; sometimes, the encounters involved explicit sexual activity, according to the testimony of one victim described in the 449-page report the Vatican published in 2020. Anonymous letters also were sent to various prelates, including Cardinal John OConnor of New York, saying McCarrick had a proclivity for young boys.

Pope John Paul II himself was told in 1999, according to the report, that McCarrick shared a bed with young seminarians over whom he had authority. But McCarrick denied to the then-pope that anything had happened.
An illustration depicting a drone swarm. (DARPA)

The war in Ukraine has shown the value of low-cost drone swarms in modern warfare. Now the Pentagon is planning to build an army of thousands of small, cheap drones in hopes of spurring U.S. drone production and cutting Chinas dominance of that market.

American drone makers are hoping the Pentagons Replicator program will give a shot in the arm to U.S. manufacturing. Defense experts say there is a need for Washington to build a drone supply chain that doesnt run through China, due to the small but real risk of a future war between the two rivals.

We have learned an enormous amount as a department about how to mobilize the industrial base in new ways in order to support the needs that were seeing, for example, in Ukraine, Doug Beck, director of the Pentagons Defense Innovation Unit, said at a news conference Thursday. The rising challenge from China is an impetus for the program, he said.

The Pentagon is aiming to produce thousands of drones through Replicator as early as the end of next year.

Paul Scharre, executive vice president at the Center for a New American Security, who previously worked at the Defense Department developing its autonomous weapons policy, called the timeline challenging, given the lengthy process of wrangling defense budgets.

The goal is a bold and ambitious one, Scharre said. The clock is ticking.

While Replicator most famously refers to the fictional machine from the Star Trek television series that conjures things out of thin air, DIU officials say the name is meant to reflect that they are developing a process they can replicate in other industries. Beck said drones are their first target - Replicator One - but they plan to turn to other technologies.

China overwhelmingly dominates the global consumer drone market, with Shenzhen-based DJI occupying some 70 percent market share with its budget-friendly flying robots. U.S. officials say its prudent to develop alternate sources, with the U.S.-China relationship expected to remain in tense competition for years to come. In a worst-case scenario of a war on the island of Taiwan, a geopolitical flash point off the coast of China, the U.S. military would want to send in drones that arent made in China.

Gregory C. Allen, former director of strategy at the Defense Departments Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, said the U.S. military has long procured small numbers of top-of-the-line drones, such as the $220 million Global Hawk. But the war in Ukraine has shown the utility of also having large numbers of low-cost drones that can be sent on missions they are unlikely to return from, he said.

Its not just a doubling down on drones, but a re-envisioning of what the cost-per-performance paradigm needs to be for drones, said Allen, now a director of an AIcenter at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

Ukrainian soldiers have been sending droves of small, cheap, commercial drones into battle, some for reconnaissance, others rigged with bombs for one-way flights. The drones - many of which are made in China and cost about $2,000 each - have succeeded in inflicting millions of dollars of damage to Russian military equipment. But they also are susceptible to Russian jamming of their communications signals. The U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute has estimated that Ukraine is going through 10,000 drones a month.

Russia has been racing to produce its own army of self-detonating drones based on Iranian technology by summer 2025, The Washington Post has reported.

Drones used to be toys. Now everyones realizing how important they are, said Jeff Thompson, founder of Salt Lake City-based drone maker Red Cat, who recently returned from a trip to Ukraine and said some of his companys drones are in use in the war there.

U.S. military planners are increasingly favoring a strategy of building large fleets of cheap, autonomous drones that can supplement human-flown aircraft. Loyal wingman drones are being developed to fly alongside expensive new jets like the F-35. Loitering munitions - drones that can circle the battlefield and divebomb targets on their own - are being developed by numerous countries, and have already seen combat in Libya, Armenia and Ukraine.

The push is opening up opportunities for smaller tech companies to compete with the giant military contractors that have dominated the industry for years. On Friday, military tech start-up Anduril unveiled a new jet-powered drone called Roadrunner that can be launched to intercept enemy planes, and return to a base if it doesnt end up being used against a target.

This radical shift in thinking allows for large-scale defensive launches at extraordinarily low cost, Anduril said in its announcement.

There is still considerable skepticism about the Replicator program in Washington, partly because it lacks its own budget. Its also unclear if the Pentagon will buy enough drones on an annual basis to sustain an expansion in the U.S. industrial base.

It could be an inflection point, said Loren Thompson, a defense consultant with the nonprofit Lexington Institute. Or it could just be the latest fashionable flourish where we get a little carried away without really understanding what were trying to accomplish.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on cyber, information technologies and innovation, is among those who have raised the concern that without a budget, Replicator might cannibalize other programs. In a statement, Gallagher said the initial announcement of Replicator in August left much to be desired, but a cautious level of optimism has since developed. He said it remained worrisome that the Pentagons drone procurement had been so slow that a new initiative seemed warranted.

We must also address what seems to be a lingering problem within the Department of Defense: that it takes intervention from senior Pentagon leadership to quickly and effectively deploy critical technologies to the battlefield, he said.

The project is being directed by the DIU, a unit of the Defense Department established in 2015 with the mission of helping the military assimilate leading commercial technologies. Allen described it as akin to a diplomatic organization between the Pentagon and Silicon Valley, operating on a shoestring budget, but with the remit to make big deals happen. Its almost like the Department of Defenses embassy in Silicon Valley, he said.

Former DIU director Michael Brown said the unit had begun working with domestic manufacturers to make small drones with stronger cybersecurity and U.S.-made key components during his tenure, 2018 to 2022, but that the companies lacked consistent, large-scale orders.

The part that was missing from that was a large demand signal from the military, he said. He said the Replicator program is how Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, who is the Defense Departments primary proponent of the idea, is trying to create that demand signal.

Just how much momentum the Replicator program gets may depend on funding. The House of Representatives has proposed a new $1 billion fund for DIU as part of defense appropriations for 2024, but the Senate has not agreed to it. If DIU doesnt secure an expanded budget, it will need to rely on reprogramming funds from other parts of the defense budget.

U.S. drone makers have been vying for a spot in the Replicator program, even as many details of the initiative remain unclear.

Its very compelling, Red Cats Thompson said. I hope were in there.

Thompson said his company is in the process of selling its consumer division that manufactures in China, and all of their remaining manufacturing will take place at a new factory in Salt Lake City, which began production in September. He said the factory has a little under 100 workers, with the capacity to produce thousands of drones a month. Their drones start at $14,800 now, a price point that he said could be lowered with larger-scale production.

Industry executives say its unlikely that U.S. drone makers will be able to match the prices of Chinas DJI, which has benefited from investments by Chinas government, as well as lower labor costs. DJIs popular Mavic line of consumer drones starts at $1,599. DJI did not respond to a request for comment.

The Arlington, Va.-based drone maker AeroVironment also says its hoping for a spot in the program. We have not only invested in the maturation of such disruptive technologies, but also in the production capability and capacity to make them in large volumes at the levels of reliability that the U.S. DoD expects, AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi said in a statement.

Mark Valentine, president of global government for California-based drone maker Skydio, said what U.S. drone makers need more than anything is consistent demand, so they can plan their investments and parts orders.

Many of these things are not trivial as far as expenses go, he said. If you run on the high side, you end up spending a lot of money for these long lead items, and theyll sit on the shelf. On the other side, you could be in a position where youve got a lot of demand coming in that you cant meet.

Small drones are also expected to be used more widely across civilian sectors in coming years, though it is uncertain just how big the market will be. Doron Kempel, CEO of New York-based personal security company Bond, said police in Coral Gables, Fla., are using their companys drone for security at events like Fourth of July gatherings.

A bill was introduced in the House last month that would prohibit the federal government from purchasing drones manufactured in China and other countries deemed national security threats. The revelation that the FBI was buying and using DJI drones caused consternation in Washington last year.

The United States saw a spate of drone start-ups pop up a decade ago when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos declared ambitions to deliver packages by drone across the nation (Bezos owns The Post. Interim CEO Patty Stonesifer sits on Amazons board). Many of those start-ups have since died out in the face of stiff price competition from DJI and as widespread drone-based deliveries have not materialized.
Scott Jameson (46) was arrested after returning from a trip to Cambodia.

An Irish citizen has who worked as a kids magician for more than 20 years in the US has pleaded guilty to possessing images of child sex abuse.

Scott Jameson (46) was arrested by FBI agents in 2022 after he arrived in Bostons Logan Airport as he arrived on a flight from Asia.

US officials had stopped Jameson after receiving a tip off by Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), an organization that works to prevent child sexual abuse, that Jameson may be abusing underage children in Cambodia.

Investigators discovered a video of a boy, between 5 and 7 years old, which they believe was made in Cambodia in his possession after his belongings were searched.

More than 100 child abuse images, including one of a boy between 8 and 10 naked from below the waist, were also discovered according to the US Attorneys Office.

After he was arrested, Jameson admitted to making the video and transferring it to a hard drive.

Jameson was charged with one count of illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of transportation of child pornography.

Jameson is a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, and had travelled from Boston to Cambodia in August 2022.

Jameson regularly performed as a magician for libraries and at family events across the US state of New England, working with children from kindergarten age to eighth grade.

He will be sentenced on March 7, 2024.

The charge of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The child pornography charge, meanwhile, carries a prison sentence of five to 20 years, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Michal Luczak is charged with unlawful possession and possessing the drugs for supply at the Abbeyshrule Aerodrome on August 4, 2022

A PILOT charged over a seizure of 8.4m of cocaine allegedly flown into the midlands last year is to learn his trial date in March.

Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) officers, supported by other units, monitored a Cessna single-engine aircraft landing at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Co. Longford, shortly after 6 pm on August 4, 2022.

Later that evening, they intercepted two vehicles in the Lough Owel area in Co. Westmeath, recovering 120 kilogrammes of cocaine from one car.

Gardai arrested Tim Gilchrist, 55, of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Waterford and pilot Michal Luczak, 42, a Polish national formerly with an address at Primrose Avenue, Jigginstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, and now living in Skerries, Dublin.

Tim Gilchrist Jnr leaving Mullingar Courthouse. Photo: Mark Condren

Mr Luczak, who has lived in Ireland for 17 years, is charged with unlawful possession and possessing the drugs for supply at the Abbeyshrule Aerodrome on August 4, 2022.

Mr Luczak is on bail and has already indicated he would plead not guilty.

On November 14, his barrister told Judge Johnson that his client wished to have a trial by jury, which was expected to take two weeks.

Today, at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Keenan Johnson considered ordering his trial to commence in April but noted that several matters were already listed for that session, and there was a shortage of judges.

He agreed to a prosecution request to adjourn the case to March 1 for mention.

The co-defendant, who is in custody on remand, is accused of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Lough Owel, Irishtown, Co. Westmeath, and is due back in court on the same date.

Mr Gilchrist appeared before Judge Johnson on Thursday when his arraignment was adjourned. His barrister told the court the defence needed time to make further progress and said there had been a small but significant blockage.

Counsel said that on the following date, the defence would be able to indicate what would occur in Mr Gilchrists case.
Capper (29) is charged over an incident in which Robert OConnor (34) was ganged up on and beaten by several prisoners

A DUBLIN man has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at Mountjoy Prison during an attack on an inmate who later died in a separate assault in the jail.

Scott Capper (29) is charged over an incident in which Robert OConnor (34) was "ganged up on" and beaten by several prisoners.

Two days later, Mr OConnor was allegedly assaulted by someone else and subsequently died from injuries sustained in that assault.

Mr Capper, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, Dublin is facing trial accused of violent disorder on July 27, 2022.

The DPP had directed the case could only be dealt with at Dublin District Court on a guilty plea.

Robert O'Connor died in Mountjoy Prison

Defence solicitor Brian Tunney said Mr Capper was pleading not guilty.

Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the case for the preparation of a book of evidence. The accused will be sent forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when the book is ready.

Mr Capper was not required to address the brief hearing today and was remanded on continuing bail, to appear in court again in January.

Two other men have already been sentenced after pleading guilty to violent disorder in the same incident.

Earlier this year, William Ward (31), of Grantstown Mews, Waterford, was jailed for five months and Dylan Jones (22) of Beech Drive, Greenfields, Waterford, was sentenced to six months in prison.

At their case, the court was told officers responded to shouting coming from a cell on D Landing at Mountjoy at 7.10pm on July 27 last year.

The door was being held shut by inmates and the prison guards forced entry, seeing Ward and Jones kicking a prisoner who was lying on the ground in a foetal position.

The victim was found to be bleeding from the face and his right eye was not reacting normally to light when he was examined by prison medics.

He refused to go to hospital and did not make a complaint.

The victim was unfortunately subject to a separate assault two days later that did not involve any of those charged over the July 27 violent disorder, Gda Raymond Lee said. Mr O'Connor had died later as a result of injuries sustained in the July 29 assault.

Another man, David Dunne (39) of Boroimhe Birches, Swords, has previously been before the courts charged with Mr O'Connor's murder arising from that alleged assault.
Garvagh Homes has brought proceedings where it says it owns properties including a former carpet showroom and a garage which it wishes to redevelop into apartments and commercial units

A row over the possession and use of several adjoining properties which are allegedly being used for raves, gigs and as a community centre on Dublin's northside has come before the High Court.

Garvagh Homes Limited has brought proceedings where it says it owns properties including a former carpet showroom and a garage at 364-374 North Circular Road, and 168-89 Phibsborough Road Dublin 7 which it wishes to redevelop into apartments and commercial units.

It claims that the properties have been unlawfully taken over by several trespassers, who have no legal right nor entitlement to be there, have occupied the buildings for several months.

The buildings include the former Des Kelly Interiors showroom on the North Circular Road in Phibsborough, which was previously The Silver Skate ice-skating rink, which closed in 2000, and prior to that was the State Cinema.

The company's claims have been denied by some of the residents, who claim that they have an entitlement to reside at the properties.

In High Court proceedings against the occupants, the identities of the majority of whom are unknown to it, Garvagh claims that part of its property is being used as a venue for events including music gigs, raves, Irish language classes, a herbal workshop and fitness classes.

The events it is claimed have been advertised on social media.

Represented by Paul Fogarty BL, Garvagh also claims that alcohol has been sold on the premises, which it has considerable health and safety issues with.

The court heard that parts of overall property which it acquired in 2021, is the subject of a Fire safety notice issued in recent days by Dublin City Council's fire officer.

That notice is due to come into effect on December 8 next.

As a result the company has sought various orders including injunctions requiring those residing at the property to vacate the buildings, cease trespassing, and hand over vacant possession of the properties

The action has been brought against a number of named parties who are alleged to be in occupation of the site, including Shane O'Brien, Jem Cleaver, Emily Martin as well as "persons unknown'.

Mr O'Brien, who is represented by solicitor David Thompson and Ms Cleaver, who represents herself, are opposing the injunction application and reject allegations made by the plaintiffs including that alcohol is being on the site.

They have also rejected various safety claims, and say that steps are being taken to address some of the fire safety concerns raised by the fire officer.

Those defendants claim that they have entered into a valid agreement allowing them to reside at the properties.

Ms Martin has not participated in the proceedings since the case first came before the court in Mid-November.

It is also intended to join a Stephen Kavanagh, who told the court that he also resides at one of the properties in question, but had only recently become aware of the case, to the action.

When the matter was before the High Court this week Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy granted the plaintiff company a temporary limited injunction restraining the named defendants and anyone who has notice of the order from carrying out any activities on the properties.

The judge said that the evidence put before the court to date is to the effect that the plaintiffs are the owners of the properties and are entitled to possession of them.

However the judge said that he was declining to make any orders at this stage of the proceedings requiring those living there to immediately vacate the properties.

The court's order only applies to those already residing in the properties, and does not apply to any others who may attempt to move in, the judge added

The judge said that he was taking the fire safety notice issued by DCC into consideration.

Mr Justice Mulcahy also said that he hopes to hear the plaintiff's full injunction application before the courts adjourn for Christmas.
Judge Miriam Walsh fined Nkosi 500 and imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.

A young woman who gave her bank card to another individual to allow her account to be used for illegal means was unaware of the scam which was being operated, a court has heard.

An email sent by a company was intercepted, and the company then wrongly transferred 1,600 into Blessing Nkosis bank account.

Judge Miriam Walsh fined Nkosi 500 and imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.

The 21-year-old defendant, with an address at Market Green in Balbriggan, admitted transferring, handling or possessing 1,648, which was the proceeds of crime.

The incident took place at AIB, Harry Reynolds Road in Balbriggan, on April 8, 2020.

Garda Paul Cullen told Swords District Court that the victim provided a statement saying an email had been intercepted and they had sent money to the wrong bank account.

Gda Cullen said he obtained a warrant, and the bank account belonged to the defendant.

Nkosis defence lawyer said his client had given her bank card to another individual and she knew it was going to be used for illegal means.

However, she did not know that an email would be intercepted, nor was she aware of the extent of the fraud.

The lawyer said Nkosi went to the bank when her account was frozen, and she was unaware of the amount of money going through her account.

Nkosi was also very scared and she did not want to get anyone into trouble.

This was a very stupid mistake on the defendants part, added the lawyer, asking the judge to be as lenient as possible.
The chief suspect, once a close associate of Ledwidge, walked into a Dublin garda station in recent days and told officers: I hear youre looking for me.

The chief suspect for the murder of gangland victim Brandon Ledwidge has presented himself to gardai for questioning, but will have to wait before he is formally interviewed.

Ledwidge (23) was shot dead after he answered the door of his home in Finglas, Dublin, on November 18.

The chief suspect, once a close associate of Ledwidge, walked into a Dublin garda station in recent days and told officers: I hear youre looking for me.

Ledwidges family have been warned by his former associates to leave their home in Finglas or risk being targeted.

Two crime gangs controlling the drugs trade in the area have made threats against innocent members of Ledwidges family in recent days, telling them: You can have your funeral, but youre out after that.

Shortly before he was shot dead, Ledwidge had assaulted a relative of the chief murder suspect, it is understood.

Ledwidge, who was facing serious drugs charges before the courts, is believed to have fallen foul of his drug- dealing associates after he decided to set up his own independent dealing network.

It is understood the feud grew worse when Ledwidges crew began selling drugs including crack cocaine and heroin to users who were travelling into the area from Ballymun and other parts of Dublin.

A source said: He decided to go out on his own and he was being a real bully, particularly in relation to the chief suspect in the case and a relative of the suspected shooter.

Its a lucrative market that this crew control in this area. Every day there are people arriving in the locality from Ballymun, which is nearby, but also from other areas around the city.

These people are like the walking dead  zombie-like figures, chronic drug addicts  and it was Ledwidges crew who were selling them the hard drugs.

He assaulted that young man [the relative] shortly before the murder occurred. It seems his former associates said after that Enough is enough.

It is understood the chief suspects home was searched after the murder, but he was not there.

The man, a convicted robber in his 30s, presented himself at a garda station, but was told gardai were still collecting forensic evidence, CCTV and other items, so he would have to wait to be interviewed.

Ledwidge was remembered as a party animal at his funeral in St Canices Church in Finglas on Wednesday.

Trouble flared afterwards outside a pub in Cabra, and two men were taken to hospital with slash injuries following a row.

Ledwidges friend, convicted killer Derek Boyd (29), suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

It is understood a wheel brace was produced by his attacker as a number of people left the pub.

Another man from Cabra suffered more serious head injuries.

Boyd and the other man were taken to hospital. No arrests have been made.

A year ago, Boyd was jailed for two years for killing his sister, Sandra Boyd, a mother of five, through the accidental discharge of an illegally held semi-automatic pistol in March last year.
The famous auction house on the Naas Road is more renowned for selling tractors and vans for knock down prices but as of this morning they opened up a rare online Government Luxury Goods auction.

Wilson's is normally used for selling land and vehicles but this weekend you can buy a bar of gold

Gold front: Lot No. 2 will get a lot of attention

Gold rush: The unique and rare lot is being sold by Wilsons Auctions

Forget your antique furniture and second-hand cars...Wilson Auctions in Dublin is currently selling an actual bar of gold.

The famous auction house on the Naas Road is more renowned for selling tractors and vans for knock down prices but as of this morning they opened up a rare online Government Luxury Goods auction selling the proceeds of crime.

Wilson's is normally used for selling land and vehicles but this weekend you can buy a bar of gold

Rolex and Cartier watches, as well as expensive luxury handbags make up most of the lots in the unique sale, but the eagle-eyed buyers will have also noticed that there is this packaged gold bar, which was seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Weighing in at 1 ounce, the current gold market would suggest the seller could make as much as 2k but the novelty of the lot may result in the bidding going higher.

As of 10am this morning 1oz of gold costs 1,894 on the open market.

If gold isnt your thing, then you might be interested to know that there are diamond rings, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags as well as dozens of high-end timepieces.

But all eyes will be on Lot No. 2 next Monday when the Government auction comes to a close.
Loyalist sources say Shankill men John Bunter Graham and Harry Stockman were key figures in the decision to remove eight individuals from their positions in the terror group.

UVF overall commander John Bunter Graham, right, wants to finally transition the terror group into a veterans organisation

Our man Hugh Jordan chats with UVF No2 Harmless Harry Stockman on the Shankill Road

THESE are the two men who made the final decision to stand down the leaders of the East Belfast UVF crime gang.

Loyalist sources say Shankill men John Bunter Graham and Harry Stockman were key figures in the decision to remove eight individuals from their positions in the terror group.

The two loyalist veterans are believed to have formulated the plan which resulted in Stephen Mackers Matthews  alleged leader of the UVF in east Belfast  being ousted from the organisation along with seven of his closest cohorts. Matthews has previously denied all involvement in criminality and paramilitarism.

And the paramilitary coup has even been hailed as a boost for DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons bid to return his party to Stormont.

Yesterday, historian and political analyst Dr Aaron Edwards  who has written extensively on the UVF  said he hoped recent developments in east Belfast would bring positive results.

This is make-your-mind-up time. The people of east Belfast are entitled to know if this organisation has their interests at heart. Well know soon enough, said Dr Edwards, who lectures in history at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.

Veteran loyalists Graham and Stockman have played vital roles in Ulster Volunteer Force thinking for many years.

Both men were disciples of UVF founder Gusty Spence, who died 12 years ago.

In 2009, Stockman delivered the UVF and Red Hand Commando statement claiming the groups main weapons arsenal had been decommissioned.

But we have learned Stockman and Graham were the brains behind a secret blueprint which saw East Belfast UVF routed without a single shot being fired.

On Remembrance Sunday, a seven-man team of UVF men  known to be extremely loyal to Matthews  were told they were no longer members of the paramilitary group.

The move saw the cabal of ceasefire soldiers  who had seized control of the UVFs East Belfast Brigade  sliding off into the sunset without as much as a P45 between them.

Back in their Shankill Road base, loyalist veterans Bunter Graham and Harmless Harry quietly celebrated, delighted at the relative ease with which the East Belfast operation went.

Stockmans uncle was Robert Basher Bates  a member of the Shankill Butchers gang  who was himself murdered by the son of one of his victims.

And Graham first came to prominence during the supergrass trials of the 1980s. There have been repeated assassination attempts on both of them by republican paramilitaries.

UVF overall commander John Bunter Graham, right, wants to finally transition the terror group into a veterans organisation

Twelve years ago, Stockman was lucky to survive a savage knife attack outside a supermarket in west Belfast.

Together, Graham and Stockman have notched up nearly 100 years service to the loyalist cause. And they are both well known for their diplomatic skills when dealing with hot-headed paramilitaries.

But two weeks ago, they gave the green light to an under new management arrangement which resulted in Mackers and his mates being shown the door. And it appears to have worked.

A loyalist source said: The East Belfast Brigade area runs from the lower Newtownards Road to Bangor and north Down. But it had become the Dodge City of Northern Ireland as far as UVF leadership was concerned.

During their time in the UVF, the East Belfast men didnt adhere to a central command structure. They refused to attend meetings on the Shankill.

And for many years they ran their own show. They just did what they liked and were answerable to no one.

But thanks to John Graham and Harry Stockman, theyre now gone and the ordinary people of east Belfast can sleep easier in their beds.

The source added: John and Harry will forever be known as the men who cleaned up Dodge. They should put a plaque up to them.

Ever since the UVF was reconstituted in the mid-1960s in opposition to liberal reforms being introduced by the unionist government, its seat of power has remained firmly in west Belfast.

If the truth is told, control of the UVF is still held in a handful of streets, said a west Belfast loyalist. Thats the way it was, thats the way it is and always will be. The Shankill is the beating heart of the Union.

But following the death of PUP leader David Ervine in 2007, the organisations East Belfast Brigade gradually severed its links with the Shankill.

The gang developed reputations for being unreliable. According to sources, they appeared to have little or no interest in what was going on in other Brigade areas.

And the last thing they wanted to know about was political developments which included parties other than the Progressive Unionist Party.

If the real truth is told, then this mob had no real interest in the PUP either, said an east Belfast loyalist source.

Dr Edwards, whose book UVF  Behind the Mask was a bestseller, says he expects to see change in east Belfast loyalism after the standing down of leadership.

He said: Over the years, Ive asked the question in a number of areas of leadership. Ive repeatedly asked UVF leaders, why do you tolerate East Belfast?.

Every time I asked it, I got the same answer. The UVF leadership didnt want to run the risk of have another Billy Wright or LVF-type split. They would say, we dont want an LVF moment.

What happened on Remembrance Sunday was a huge risk as far as the leadership was concerned but so far, it appears to have worked.

Dr Edwards said the UVF top brass had finally responded to repeated criticism about the organisation in east Belfast, where local people looked upon the UVF as simply a drugs gang.

The UVF leadership turned their backs on the peace process, but I dont think they ever fully turned their back on the political process.

And as a result of what happened last week in east Belfast, the UVF Brigade staff has given Sir Jeffrey Donaldson a leg-up to be able to deal with the politics, because the violent opposition has been neutered.

Dr Edwards added: It seems to me theres a great deal of choreography going on, but that can be a good thing.
Four migrants drown after being thrown into the sea by traffickers Shocking footage captured the moment the traffickers ejected their human cargo of 27 migrants from a semi-rigid boat in strong currents off a Cadiz beach in front of onlookers

Melchor Saiz-Pardo Madrid Friday, 1 December 2023, 09:36 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

Four migrants drowned on Wednesday after being literally thrown overboard from a so-called people smugglers "taxi boat" in front of Camposoto Beach, near Punta del Boqueron, San Fernando, Cadiz. Another 23 migrants who were travelling on the same boat managed to survive the strong currents, although at least three were treated for hypothermia.

The tragedy occurred at around 1.30pm in a dangerous area of eddies and currents, which was also experiencing a storm surge at the time the traffickers ejected their cargo of 27 migrants. Various citizens, members of a windsurf club and the staff of a nearby nautical company rushed to assist in small boats. Survivors have been taken to a temporary care centre for foreigners (CATE). The people smugglers evaded the Guardia Civil.

The incident, captured on video in front of shocked onlookers, comes as another 'landing' of migrants from another taxi boat almost ended in tragedy on the same day on the Cadiz beach of Sancti Petri, in Chiclana de la Frontera. Three north Africans had to be hospitalised in Puerto Real with hypothermia after also being thrown overboard. They were among eight adults who were on the semi-rigid boat.

The use of taxi boats is spreading among the people-smuggling mafias in southern Spain. These types of semi-rigid inflatable boats  favoured by drug traffickers  can reach Europe in around an hour from Morocco. The smugglers usually force their passengers, who pay up to 5,000 euros for the one-way trip, to jump into the sea near beaches so they can return at full speed to Morocco.
Woman conned into handing over jewellery after believing daughter was in prison in Granada The scammers pretended to be police officers and tricked the victim into giving them thousands of euros' worth of diamond rings and Rolex watches as bail so her daughter could avoid prison

A photo of Sabrina and Pepi with the jewellery the crooks stole from her

Juan Cano and Laura Velasco Malaga Friday, 1 December 2023, 17:04 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

A mother has been conned into handing over her beloved jewellery after believing her daughter was in custody for running over a pregnant woman.

Pepi was eating breakfast when the con artists called her home in the Granada town of Sante Fe about 10.45am on Tuesday 28 November. A man, who pretended to be a police officer, said that her daughter Sabrina had been arrested for running a red light and hitting a pregnant woman. The fake victim was fighting for her life in hospital, he added. Pepi believed the man, who spoke perfect Spanish, with a slight Canarian accent.

Pepi asked to speak with her daughter, to which the man replied she had also been injured in the incident and had a broken nose and broken teeth.

"Right now she's talking to her lawyer, I'll put her on right away," he said. Pepi appeared to hear Sabrina's voice on the other end of the phone, who said: "I killed her, I killed her. I killed a woman, I'm going to jail."

As Sabrina is an active social media user, she is convinced the crooks used online videos posted by her to reconstruct her voice, using artificial intelligence.

The alleged police officer explained to Pepi that they were talking to the prosecutor to discuss the possibility of releasing Sabrina on bail.

"Wait, madam, I'll ask the prosecutor the amount," he said. The man then told her that her daughter could avoid prison if Pepi paid 20,000 euros. Pepi didn't hesitate: "I heard my daughter, it was her voice, I was convinced it was her. I would have given them everything they had asked for." She explained to the fake police officer that she had no money, to which she was then asked if she had any jewellery that could be used instead.

Despite being robbed of her jewellery two years ago by crooks who posed as workers from an electricity company, she still had three diamond rings and a Rolex worth 12,000 euros given to her by her late husband.

The caller claimed he knew about the previous theft and told Pepi that he was going to send the secretary of the Public Prosecutor's Office to pick up the envelope with the jewellery. Shortly afterwards, a slim woman with long black hair and "South American features" appeared at her door.

Pepi asked her about her daughter, but the woman was tight-lipped about any details. The woman then left with the envelope.

Pepi then phoned Sabrina and asked her how she was doing: "Fine, fine, what's wrong?" her daughter replied, who was calmly at work in Malaga city.

"I've been robbed again!" Pepi reacted once she realised she had been scammed.

"They have taken away the memories of a lifetime, jewellery that my father gave her when I was a baby," Sabrina said.

Guardia Civil are investigating the incident.
Gibraltar's arts and culture awards highlight achievement, ability and talent This year's Cultural Awards in Gibraltar took place on Thursday 29 November, broadcasted live on GBC

SUR in English Gibraltar Friday, 1 December 2023, 16:05 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

Gibraltar Cultural Services announced the results of this year's Cultural Awards at a Gala event at The Sunborn Hotel which was broadcast live by GBC on 29 November.

The awards aim to celebrate Gibraltar's arts and culture, looking at the achievements and successes of individuals and groups. These awards recognise and highlight potential, ability and talent, whilst at the same time supporting the community's artistic and cultural development.

Award winners were: Louis Emmett-Stern (Special Recognition Award); Nichola Raggio (Youth Award: 21 and under); Luna Lee (Rising Star Award); Shane Dalmedo (Senior Award: 22 and over); GAMPAand the Parasol Foundation for the International Women's Day project (Best Educational Project); Simon Bolland (Cultural Ambassador Award) and Christian Hook (Extraordinary Achievement Award).
A new definitive set of stamps released featuring King Charles III Local artist in Gibraltar designs new set of stamps dedicated to the British monarch

SUR in English Gibraltar Friday, 1 December 2023, 17:40 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

The Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau have announced the launch of a new set of Definitive stamps.

The set of stamps feature a portrait of King Charles III, created by local Gibraltarian artist, Leslie Gaduzo. The design incorporates St Edward's Crown and the same oval border as the 2014 Definitive stamps. The bright colours differentiate between the denominations and will gradually replace the existing stocks.

Minister for Postal Services Nigel Feetham KC MP expressed his enthusiasm for the stamps, "This stamp set not only celebrates our enduring connection to the monarchy but also highlights the exceptional artistic talent thriving within our community."

The sets can be purchased from the Philatelic Shop at 104 Main Street or online: www.gibraltar-stamps.com
Early diagnosis of HIV is a key to fighting the virus Experts call for more diagnostic tests to put an end to this invisible infection and its transmission

Alvaro Soto Madri Friday, 1 December 2023, 16:06 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

A lot has happened since the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the disease it causes, Aids, began ravaging societies around the world in the 1980s. Since then, some 40 million people have died of Aids, but there has also been a success story in this fight against HIV.

Unlike four decades ago, being diagnosed with HIV is no longer a death sentence as antiretroviral drugs have made it possible to live a normal life with HIV. However, this does not mean HIV stops being a problem now. So, in the wake of European Testing Week, which ran until last Monday (27 November), and World Aids Day 1 December, patients, doctors and industry experts reflect on this ongoing pandemic and its current challenges.

In Spain, between 136,000 and 162,000 people are HIV positive, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health. In addition, another 11,000 people live with the virus without even knowing. This figure represents 7.5% of patients, higher than the objectives set out by UNaids, which aims for 95% of those infected to be diagnosed, 95% to receive treatment and 95% to be undetectable cases (i.e. to have a low enough viral load that they are no longer contagious).

Experts are all in agreement that an early diagnosis is very important to curb the virus.

"Taking an HIV test is a very simple process and can be done at any level of the health care system: in primary care, in the hospital A & E, in an outpatient clinic or a generic hospital visit. Furthermore, the test can be done by physicians, but also by patient associations," explained Juan Gonzalez del Castillo, coordinator of Infurg-Semes, the infectious diseases branch of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine.

The organisation, known as Semes, is promoting its Leave Your Mark (Deja tu huella) campaign in 141 hospitals throughout Spain, which seeks to raise awareness about the importance of an early diagnosis of HIV.

"We want to normalise getting tested for HIV, so that it can become something as common as a cholesterol test or going to the dentist. It can be a saliva or blood test, a little prick on the finger, and in 15 minutes you have the results," said Velayos.

"We need to normalise that a sexually active person should get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases at least a couple of times a year," she said.

Pau Arbos, director of the HIV unit at Gilead Spain, also advocates for more awareness about HIV and improving the lives of people with HIV.

"Addressing HIV has been a major milestone in medicine over the last century, and we must maintain the current high standard of treatment while continuing to work on challenges that remain," he said.

Another problem, which is yet to be overcome, is the stigma surrounding HIV/Aids.

"For patients, it is such a huge burden that affects their personal life, their professional life, their mental health. Let's think about something: about one in 300 are affected by HIV. Do we know anyone with HIV? Probability says we should, but we don't. And that happens because people with HIV remain invisible. We have to fight it through campaigns," said Velayos.

Yet, there is still recognition to be had for the positive progress we have made. "With HIV, we have gone from our first equation, which was 'silence equals death', to another, which is 'the patient has a quality of life he did not have before'," concluded Velayos. And the future? "The future depends on what we do today."
Sonia Ingriselli came to live on the Costa del Sol in 2010 and advises companies on SEO and AI.

Anthony Piovesan Friday, 1 December 2023, 17:33 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

When ChatGPT burst onto the online scene exactly one year ago, Sonia Ingriselli was one of millions of curious people around the world who were keen to see what all the fuss was about.

The Canadian self-declared tech-geek, who now calls the Costa del Sol home, immediately asked this artificial intelligence (AI) technology, developed by American company OpenAI, to automatically produce a recipe for a Greek salad.

Impressed by its response, the search-engine optimisation (SEO) expert thought of something else to ask which she believed would be more challenging for the bot to answer.

The 49-year-old, who lives in Estepona with her partner and pet dog Disco, then asked ChatGPT to produce a eulogy about a fictitious woman named Edith.

To her surprise, not only did it produce flawless prose, but it even gave a personal touch at the end by offering its own sympathies: "My condolences for your loss, and I hope the eulogy serves as a fitting tribute to Edith's wonderful life," it wrote.

"I haven't seen anything like this since the start of the internet or Google." Ingriselli

"When ChatGPT came out I thought 'this is the next big thing' and then I tried using it and I just knew there was no going back from this," Ingriselli told SUR in English.

The tool was quickly heralded as the next big thing in artificial intelligence, with potential for it to become just as smart as humans, or even more, after it first emerged in November last year.

Naysayers were silenced as the chatbot churned out anything from essays and poems to computing code on command, and it quickly took over screens, made headlines worldwide and dominated daily conversations.

"I haven't seen anything like this since the start of the internet or Google," Ingriselli said.

She grew up in Sudbury in Ontario and studied journalism, going on to work at country newspapers. She possessed a flair for words and was "obsessed with the internet", but journalism wasn't quite what she was after and she went back to university to study software engineering.

That's when it all clicked, although her first experience in the field wasn't exactly what she expected after starting out with some "shady people", including one man who is currently behind bars. They were so-called website flipping experts and would buy domains of websites making money, improve them by increasing online traffic, then selling them for a profit, she said. On one occasion, they made as much as 45,000 dollars from the sale of just one website.

Ingriselli also worked in the Canadian government's IT department before marrying her now ex-partner and deciding to start a new chapter of her life on the Costa del Sol in 2010.

Here, she used her expertise in search engine optimisation (SEO), web development, Google advertising and marketing to help companies, particularly real estate agencies, build their empires along the Costa. In doing so, Ingriselli has also been able to build a name for herself, where she has now become one of the Costa's most sought-after SEO experts. She now also calls herself an AI consultant and helps small business owners understand AI and how to implement its technologies such as ChatGBT.

"AI has completely changed the dynamics of everything," she said.

"I have ChatGPT do half of my work for me - it cuts my day by half and I can take on more clients. It's here to stay, governments around the world are already implementing it - there's no point fighting it, we have to become early adopters and take advantage of its uses."

Within less than six months of ChatGPT's release, Ingriselli had built up enough knowledge that she decided to write a book to inform people on how to maximise the technology.

She said the book - Automate to Elevate: Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT in Your Business: AI for Absolute Beginners - simplifies complex concepts and guides you step-by-step towards leveraging ChatGPT as your "virtual assistant".

"Because that's what it can be if you let it: it can be your assistant and who on Earth wouldn't want their own assistant?" she added.
Stefan Sagmeister includes Malaga and the Costa del Sol in his tour of talks in which he examines Beautiful Numbers.

Regina Sotorrio Malaga Friday, 1 December 2023, 16:16 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

Stefan Sagmeister is to design what the Rolling Stones and Lou Reed are to rock. It's no surprise that his name was top of these rock stars' list when it came to looking for a designer for their record sleeves. He was nominated for a Grammy five times and won one for his Talking Heads box set. But that's all in the past. A convinced optimist, lover of beauty and innovative creator, Stefan Sagmeister is currently touring the world with inspiring talks based on his new book Now is Better, offering visual and numerical proof that the world is getting better, even though we believe the opposite.

This weekend Sagmeister brings his theory to the closure of Moments Festival. On 2 December he will be giving his talk, Beautiful Numbers, at the Marbella Design Academy in Monda (free - request an invitation from https://sagmeisteratmarbelladesignacademy.cargo.site/), before taking part in the inauguration of Club MOM, on 3 December in the Montes de Malaga (95 euros, including the book and lunch).

If the data says that the world is a better place, as you show in your book, why do we get the impression that the world is a disaster?

There are a number of factors. For one, the amygdala - a small, almond-shaped mass in the central brain - compounds the problem, transporting negative messages much faster than positive ones in order to keep us safe. The brains of our prehistoric ancestors required a shortcut for negative news - it was extremely important to detect that lion quickly, as the alternative was death. The brain never developed a similar timesaver for positive messages. Our lives would be better informed if we were more receptive to positive news. I don't believe the people in the media to be particularly negative; they simply leverage our naturally heightened interest in drama and negative messaging. Most attempts to create a positive news site have failed immediately. We all simply find drama more fascinating. While working on The Happy Film, a documentary about my own happiness, our team went through the considerable trouble of sending the entire film team from New York to Bregenz to interview my siblings. I purposefully did not take part in these interviews, as I wanted my brothers and sisters to have a chance to speak freely about all of the awful things I must have done growing up. When I checked the footage weeks later, they had all talked only about positive events. This was incredibly boring. We wound up using not a single frame.

Where does this optimistic attitude to life come from?

I am an optimist. Optimism indicates rational thinking. If the ultimate outcome of a situation can be either exceptional or terrible - when the chances are exactly 50/50 - then my prospects of succeeding are clearly improved if I approach it from a bright rather than gloomy position. And if things are better now than they were in the past, the central argument of the Beautiful Numbers series, assuming it will continue to get better in the future, constitutes common sense.

Some might think it is a naive view of reality.

Yes! John Stuart Mill already said in the 19th century: "I have observed that not the man who hopes when others despair, but the man who despairs when others hope, is admired by a large class of persons as a sage."

A good design makes us happier, is that true?

Right now over 50% of the world's population live in cities. For this part of the population, everything surrounding them has been designed, from the contact lens, to the cloth, the chair, the room, the house, the street, the park, the city. These designed surroundings play exactly the same role to a city dweller as nature does to an indigenous person living in a rain forest. They can be designed well or badly. They will make a difference. There are of course many products out there that do make our life easier, but we tend to only notice them when they fail badly. I can be in a plane going up and completely ignore what an incredible piece of design that really is. I'll only really notice it when it crashes.

-Let's imagine an apocalyptic future. What could a designer contribute to the common good and the survival of humanity?

Apocalyptic futures have been imagined ad nauseam by designers, filmmakers and authors, to the point where they occupy their own categories and genres. I don't feel the need to contribute to that canon.

Social media

What's your relationship with social media?

I post regularly on Instagram where I give feedback to the work of young designers who send me their pieces. Outside of that I spend as little time as possible on social media.

You consider beauty to be important. But who determines what is beautiful? Surely there's nothing more subjective?

The worst thing that ever happened to beauty is the idea that it is in the eye of the beholder. If that would actually be true, the desire to create something beautiful would make no sense, as everybody would have a different opinion about it. Luckily, there exists significant agreement throughout all cultures about what we find beautiful and what we don't. Blue is the favourite colour from Iceland to South Africa, from Kyoto to Rio de Janeiro. The circle is the favourite basic shape in every culture in the world.

Some say they find ugly attractive... a kind of guilty pleasure.

The opposite of beauty is not ugly, it is carelessness. The vast majority of all ugliness has not been created to be ugly, it exists because someone did not care. Strip malls, highway exits, discount furniture stores are all ugly by happenstance. I actually do enjoy things that have been created to be ugly with intention.

Do you also value perfection?

At times. But the imperfect can be gorgeous.

You've designed covers for iconic bands, from the Rolling Stones to Talking Heads. Which current band would you like to work for?

None. I have no desire to create more album covers. I feel I've done that and want to explore new directions.

Few designers make themselves known among the non-specialised public. You are one of them. How do you manage fame?

A famous designer is like a famous electrician: it's pretty easy to manage.
When wine from Malaga was sold for 200 euros in central Europe The Edgar Neville auditorium filled up with spectators for the premiere of the documentary 'Villa Malaga' in Spanish, which tells the origin story of the mansion's name and its current resurgence

Francisco Grinan Malaga Friday, 1 December 2023, 09:41 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

Today it houses a glamorous bridal dress shop. But it retains the appearance of a bourgeois palace reminiscent of the residences in the Limonar neighbourhood. It hold the history of the Zweifel family, and one member could well be one of those European entrepreneurs who made his fortune and settled in Malaga in the 19th century. Alfred Zweifel came here, but only as a stopover, as he returned home to the Swiss town of Lenzburg with a precious cargo: delicious, fragrant wine from Malaga that was all the rage throughout Europe. So much so that bottles sold for 200 euros at today's exchange rate. The Swiss businessman created a whole import emporium and showed his economic power by building a mansion which he called 'Villa Malaga', which now, a century and a half later, serves as the title for the documentary by Eterio Ortega which premiered last night at the Edgar Neville Auditorium in a special screening which was completely sold out: a full house.

"Zweifel was the businessman who sold the most wine in Malaga and came to have an empire, as in addition to his mansion, he built some wine cellars in an arabesque and modernist style which today are home to the municipal police," explained the director from Burgos. After filming his last documentary 'Las catedrales del vino' (The cathedrals of wine), he discovered this mansion and set out to film 'La venta Axarquia', a name he changed to 'Villa Malaga' when he learned about the exciting history of this manor, situated in the heart of Central Europe but with a southern origin.

Francisco Salado, Eterio Ortega and Stephan Persili, at the premiere. SUR

A wine so highly valued that it overshadowed sherry and port

Stephan Persili, a doctor and wine lover, found himsel at this old residence in the heart of Switzerland. After buying an old bottle of wine from Malaga at an auction, he followed the trail of Alfred Zweifel's labels, which he keeps in a suitcase with padded walls as if they were jewels. Which they are. "I'm not a wine collector, I'm a collector of stories," said the doctor in the documentary that follows the same story as he did: to smell the splendorous and aromatic past of Malaga wine and tell about its current resurgence with all its ancestral heritage.

Detail of the exterior of the Swiss residence, whose name is used as the title of the documentary. SUR

"There are many documentaries about wine that are boring, so I try to talk about wine from the point of view of a person who loves it because behind a bottle of Malaga there is a lot of passion and a personal story," said Eterio Ortega The documentary also featured winemaker Juan Munoz, the third generation of a winemaking family from Moclinejo that continues to produce traditional delicious wines but with a modern twist, and Clara Verheij, a Dutch woman who had only seen wine in a glass before buying some land in Sayalonga with vineyards that have made her one of the great promoters of Malaga's wines.

A long production

Their testimonies join those of numerous experts and enthusiasts to create a "choral portrait that represents the wines of Malaga," explained Eterio Ortega, who was invited by the promoter of the wine brand Dimobe, Juan Munoz, to make this documentary. It has taken him more than a decade to put everything together, and he has only been able to film over the last year thanks to the support of the Junta de Andalucia, Canal Sur, Sabor a Malaga, Patronato de la Costa del Sol and the Swiss co-production partner Monograph.

"These ancient vineyards in Axarquia that look out to sea and with those slopes are unique," said director Eterio Ortega

"The documentary is a story through time about the importance of wine trade and its fame abroad for Malaga, but also about what wine is today with a whole new generation of young people who continue to enjoy wine from the same vineyards," said the director, who is also the author of the trilogy on the ETA Basque seprarist group that began with 'Murder in February', which hit some nerves within the armed gang and the violence in the Basque Country.

The audience filled the Edgar Neville auditorium on Wednesday night to attend the premiere. SUR

In 'Villa Malaga', Ortega has not only found a story to tell, but also a landscape of natural beauty that captivated him from the moment he first drove up the roads of Axarquia, full of vines and sultanas. "Those ancient vineyards overlooking the sea and with those slopes are unique," said the filmmaker, who spoke of a "cultural landscape" and a "natural heritage". A scenery with a fragrant history that deserves a toast. Like that bottle bought at an auction which Perseli and Ortega ended up opening to celebrate the end of filming. On Wednesday they popped another open for its premiere.
Axarquia desalination project bids down to two frontrunners The Trops, Grupo Cobra and University of Malaga group proposal has been dropped from the process, which is being led by the Andalusian regional government

Eugenio Cabezas Friday, 1 December 2023, 17:11 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

As the extreme drought crisis tightens its grip across Malaga province and with its reservoirs at historic lows for this time of year, at just 18 per cent of their capacity, the Andalusian regional government continues to take steps to get the long-awaited Axarquia desalination plant up and running.

Once built it is hoped that the plant will be the answer to the areas water supply problems, which include restrictions in a number of towns and villages as well as the hitherto flourishing subtropical fruit sector.

The Andalusian regional governments official bulletin (BOJA) published on Tuesday 28 November the two projects that have been selected to go through to the final stage of the bidding process for the contract: Acciona Agua S.A. and Mediterraneo Desalacion S.L.

Appeal

The project presented by Acciona Agua S.A. creates desalinated water for irrigation and domestic supply using a reverse osmosis filtration process, with a maximum annual volume of 25 cubic hectometres. according to the announcement published on Tuesday in the BOJA.

The proposal presented by Mediterraneo Desalacion S.L., also uses reverse osmosis for irrigation and supply, but with a planned maximum annual volume of 40 cubic hectometres.

The water abstraction and saline disposal points differ slightly in the two projects, but in both cases they would be located in the vicinity of the mouth of the river Velez, to the west of Torre del Mar. As for the location of the site, there are also different proposals in each case. As such the Junta de Andalucia is yet to agree on the specific site for the plant with Velez-Malaga town hall.

The third project, a collaboration between Velez-Malaga based subtropical fruit giant Trops, Grupo Cobra and the University of Malaga, has been dropped, although the group has one month to appeal the decision, should they choose to do so.

However, Trops manager Enrique Colilles said on Wednesday 29 November that the team is not planning to appeal the decision. Speaking to Cadena Ser radio in the Axarquia, the head of the Velez-Malaga-based company blamed the authorities for withdrawing support for their project, especially the Axarquia Mancomunidad de Municipios, which brings together the town halls in the Axarquia. "We are not here to waste time and money, we are already suffering a lot with the drop in prices and the profitability of farms due to the drought," said Colilles.

Spains central government has designated 100 million euros for the project and it is estimated that once the contract is awarded and work begins, it will take two and a half years to complete.
Axarquia town to create first pet register Nerja town hall is to sign an agreement with Malagas College of Veterinary Surgeons, which will be responsible for processing the data

Eugenio Cabezas Friday, 1 December 2023, 11:27 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

Nerja town hall and Malagas College of Veterinary Surgeons are to sign a collaboration agreement, as agreed at the last town hall meeting, to create the towns first pet register, councillor for public health Javier Rodriguez has said in a press release.

The database will be created and managed by the College of Veterinarians, who will also create a census of potentially dangerous dogs (PPP) and other animals that are also classified as potentially dangerous.

The agreement also states that Malaga's College of Veterinarians will train town hall officials on how to implement the register and provide local police officers with six microchip readers.

Rodriguez has also held a meeting with the Costa Animal Society and Refugio Felino de Leo animal associations, and with private carers who manage the towns cat colonies, to talk about the implementation of Spains new animal welfare law, which came into force on 29 September.

The councillor asked the associations and individuals for an inventory of the number of colonies, their locations, number of animals and their condition, as well as the people responsible for their care, with the aim of regularising the town's cat colonies in accordance with the new animal welfare law.
Glenn Close pays a surprise visit to Malaga The actress toured the Caixabank Soho Theatre and dined at Antonio Banderas's restaurant Dona Ines, although without the company of the actor, who is in New York

Francisco Grinan Malaga Friday, 1 December 2023, 18:50 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

A year ago now, Antonio Banderas received rapturous applause at the Teatro Albeniz in Madrid when he finished a dress rehearsal of the musical Company before its premiere in Madrid. It was a special performance for friends and in one of the seats was Glenn Close. An old acquaintance of the Malaga-born actor since his early days in Hollywood in the 90s, the two posted a photo together and the legendary star of Fatal Attraction and The Good Wife met the entire cast.

Banderas told her about his adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical and, of course, about his stage project in Malaga, where the play had premiered and had been running for months. And he told her that she had to come and meet him. A turn of the calendar later, the actress has taken her friend at his word and has shown up at the Soho Caixabank Theatre. The paradox is that her host was not in Malaga.

Banderas is in New York preparing his new film with Nicole Kidman, Babygirl, an erotic suspense thriller by Dutch director Halina Reijin. There he received a call from his friend Glenn Close, with whom he starred in The House of the Spirits almost three decades ago, telling him that she was returning to Spain and that she would stop by Malaga to see his theatre. And although Banderas could not accompany her, he called his brother Javier, who, with director of the Soho Theatre Aurora Rosales, acted as cicerone last Wednesday afternoon for the Hollywood actress.

Glenn Close sat on the stage when she was asked to have her photo taken. SUR

A producer as well as a performer, Close took a special interest in the management of the company.

"She asked a lot about the staging of our own productions and how to organise a tour of Spain of the projects and musicals we had premiered," explained the Caixabank Soho Theatre.

Glenn Close couldn't resist stepping on stage and, from there, she put the acoustics to the test and was surprised by the excellent sound of the theatre in Malaga's Calle Cordoba. The stage was already set up for Imagine, the circus show that opens next Wednesday 6 December and which displays a highly technological set-up based on 200 square metres of screens on which any kind of backdrop can be projected.

The American actress was fascinated by the sense of reality of these virtual backdrops and recalled that years ago she took part in a Broadway play with a circus touch for which she also had to learn to juggle. And once on stage, she did not hesitate to have her photo taken with the set that brought back such fond memories.

Final show

The eight-time Oscar nominee - although surprisingly, she has never won - also stopped by the large mural by Malaga painter Jose Luis Puche, Todos los Mundos Posibles, which hangs in the foyer on the first floor of the Soho Caixabank Theatre and which caught the actress's eye.

A great tribute to the performing arts, two and a half metres high by almost five metres long, it also includes a blue square on one side showing an audience. But they are not random spectators, they are Antonio Banderas' own family, a detail that delighted Close, who picked out the Malaga-born actor's parents, his brother Javier, his daughter Stella del Carmen and Antonio himself.

Glenn Close also got to know the details of the Soho Theatre's next musical, Gypsy, which will star Marta Ribera and Lidia Fairen, whom the American performer remembered from the cast of Company.

Finally, to complete the guided tour, Antonio Banderas invited his old friend from New York to dinner and reserved a table for her at one of the star restaurants of his group of catering companies, Dona Ines, in Soho itself and just a few metres from the theatre.
Villa Tiberio to host 13th Christmas gala dinner in aid of Cudeca The event, for which Italian restaurateur Sandro Morelli has created a special festive menu, will be held on Sunday 17 December and will present some of the coasts top artists, along with a charity auction and a firework display

Tony Bryant Friday, 1 December 2023, 16:49 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

Restaurateur Sandro Morelli is joining forces with the Cudeca Foundation for the 13th Charity Christmas Gala Dinner at his Villa Tiberio Restaurant on Marbellas golden mile on Sunday 17 December. Guests will enjoy welcome cocktails from 7.30pm, along with a spectacular fire work display, which will be provided by the Italian businessman, who has raised more than 197,000 euros for Cudeca since he began hosting the charity nights in 2011.

The event, for which Morelli has created a special festive menu, will include various live performances by some of the coasts top artists, including Mr Maph, Mama Cath and the Soul Sisters and Stelvis, among others. There will also be a raffle and an auction to help boost the funds.

Last years even raised more than 15,000 euros, and Morelli is hoping to beat that figure this year. Tickets cost 75 euros, 25 euros of which will be donated to Cudeca.

Reservations can be made on 952 771 799, or by email info@villatiberio.com
Three doctors from Malaga named among Spain's best in top rankings list A prestigious international medical directory has revealed the 50 specialists and medical units that are most highly valued in the private medicine sector

SUR Friday, 1 December 2023, 14:50 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

Three doctors from Malaga have been included in a prestigious list which ranks the top 50 private healthcare practitioners in the country.

Surgeon Dr Cesar Ramirez Plaza, dentist Dr Alberto Cuevas Millan and rheumatologist Dr Antonio Ponce Vargas were honoured in the Top Doctors medical directory, which is determined by the ratings of other healthcare practitioners.

In their tenth year, the awards recognise the work of the specialists in the past year through an open survey process, where doctors, some of whom have more than 25 years of experience, have their say on their colleagues' performances. This year, results were considered from more than 5,000 surveys.

Cesar Ramirez

He is "a renowned general surgeon and expert in oncological surgery in Malaga and Marbella with two decades of medical experience", Top Doctors pointed out. He specialises in oncological surgery, endocrine surgery, thyroid cancer surgery, colon cancer surgery, breast cancer surgery and hepatobiliary cancer surgery.

Ramirez started his career with a degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malaga, and obtained the title of specialist in general and digestive system surgery through the MIR at the Carlos Haya University Hospital in Malaga. He underwent specific training at the Hepatobiliary Service of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He is accredited in six EBSQ specialities of the European Union of Medical Specialists: oncological surgery, multi-organ donor surgery, pancreas transplant, liver transplant, liver, biliary tract and pancreas surgery and endocrine Surgery.

Ramirez is currently head of the general and digestive surgery department at the Hospital Quiron salud in Malaga.

Alberto Cuevas

Dr Alberto Cuevas Millan is "a renowned dentist" from Malaga with almost four decades of professional experience. "He is a reference in Andalucia in odontology and stomatology," Top Doctors pointed out. Today, he is the medical director of the Cuevas Queipo Clinic where he specialises in dental implants, sleep apnoea, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathologies, bruxism, digital smile design, dental aesthetics and dental veneers.

With a degree and PhD in Medicine and Surgery and a PhD in Dentistry, he has an extensive training career, with numerous master's degrees from prestigious international universities, such as dental aesthetics (USA), orthodontics (Madrid), and oral surgery and implantology from the International University of Catalonia. He is also a lecturer for master's and postgraduate dental courses at various universities and international institutions.

Cuevas is also the author of numerous scientific articles written about his speciality and has participated in multiple dental conferences. He has received numerous awards for his work as a dentist in Malaga and currently directs the Cuevas Queipo Dental Clinic.

Antonio Ponce Vargas

Antonio Ponce Vargas is "a leading rheumatologist in Malaga", according to Top Doctors. He has more than 25 years' experience in the profession and extensive training in different fields of the speciality. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Malaga and has a special interest in inflammatory rheumatisms (arthritis). He currently runs his own private rheumatology practice in Malaga.

He is also a medical expert in assessing people's capacity to work, as well as a medical advisor to various fibromyalgia patient associations and the National Association of People Affected by Ehlers-Danlos and Hyperlaxity Syndromes (ASEDH). He has been president of the Andalusian Rheumatology League.

The most Top Doctors awards were in Madrid with nine, then Barcelona (8), Valencia (3), and Malaga (3).
Spain has an ally and admiring friend in the terrorist organisation Hamas. That much seemed clear after Pedro Sanchez's visit, with Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo, to Israel, Palestine and Egypt last weekend - his first international trip since returning to power. In a speech at the Raffa Border, the only crossing-point between Gaza and Egypt, Sanchez condemned Israel's 'indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians' and claimed that it was not acting within the limits of humanitarian law.

Sanchez also implied that even if the EU didn't recognise a Palestinian state, Spain would - a surprising statement from the leader of the country that currently holds the rotating six-month presidency of the EU Commission. In a statement, Hamas thanked both Sanchez and De Croo for their 'clear and bold stance'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) shakes hands with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) next to Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. AFP File photo

The Spanish right is justifiably outraged that Sanchez is drawing praise from fundamentalists who prefer decapitation to diplomacy and dialogue. Unlike further-left colleagues from Podemos and Izquierda Unida, though, Sanchez has repeatedly condemned the Hamas attacks of October 7th. There are no contradictions in this stance: condemnation of Israel's pulverization of Gaza is entirely compatible with censure of the psychotic rampage by which it was triggered.

Naturally, Israel doesn't see it that way. Its foreign minister Eli Cohen wrote on X that 'we condemn the false claims of the Prime Ministers of Spain and Belgium which support terrorism'. One wonders which parts of Sanchez's and Woo's statements are supposed to be false, though. According to Palestinian officials, Israel's response to the October 7th attacks has so far resulted in over 13,000 deaths in Gaza. If it is wrong to say Israel's assault on Gaza has been indiscriminate and in violation of international criminal law, then the burden of proof rests with Benjamin Netanyahu, not on his critics.

Nevertheless, Cohen isn't necessarily paranoid in suspecting that there's an undercurrent of hostility within the Spanish government, despite Sanchez's denunciation of Hamas and his assertion of Israel's right to defend itself (provided that it does so within the confines of international law, a restriction which Spain's far left seems much more reluctant to apply to Hamas).

When it was first created in 1948, Israel wanted nothing to do with the Franco regime. As a result, Spain forged alliances with Arab countries in the region, the strength of which depended upon mutual non-recognition of Israel. It proved a hard habit to break: Adolfo Suarez, the centre-right leader of Spain's first post-Franco government, refused to recognise Israel unless it withdrew from the West Bank and allowed a Palestinian state. Sanchez's speech at the Raffa Border last weekend marked a return to a tougher stance on Israel, the unfortunate consequence being that Hamas now thinks Spain is on its side.
If there's one thing life's exceedingly good at, it's smacking a fellow about the chops just as he's become convinced of his own wisdom on any given matter.

Only the other day, I was pootling around Malaga city centre doing nothing of any particular import, while ruminating on the demise of the town in terms of its Spanish identity as the juggernaut that is modern tourism lays waste to the last vestiges of Andalusian community spirit.

My train of thought was, however, interrupted at regular intervals by people waving cheery hellos or stopping to chew the fat for a minute or two. This, of course, was in direct contradiction to my dubious theory. As a fun aside, I decided to start counting my interactions with others as I pottered about. I gave up after six in under five minutes and that didn't count the comical dance I was involved in with a complete stranger as we both kept moving in the same direction as we tried to avoid each other. There can be no doubt about it - Malaga city centre still maintains a sense of community, especially if you avoid the tourist hotspots around calle Larios and calle Granada.

These events tied in nicely with something else that happened earlier in the week. While making small talk with a couple of relative strangers on a short car journey out into the sticks, a strange thing happened. The woman in the passenger seat asked me a straightforward question: 'Do you like travelling, Peter?' It was, in essence, a rhetorical enquiry. She knew I would say 'yes' and so did I. Except I didn't. For some reason, the words 'Yes, it's ok I suppose' spilled from my lips. The ensuing silence was couldn't have been more deafening if I'd insulted her mother. Everyone in the car was quite taken aback, including me.

Reflecting upon all of this later in the day, I came to the conclusion that my answer to the woman's question had been a truthful one  I quite like taking trip now and then but there are lots of other things I'd rather do and nearly all of them involve interacting with the local community. This all started to make sense; for the last eight years in the pub, strangers have regaled me with tales of their travels, often whipping out a mobile phone to show me the evidence, at which point I've invariably remembered a distant table that needs a thorough cleaning.

Malaga City SUR

'We've just got back from Machu Picchu via Easter Island.' I never know quite what to say to these things , so end up murmuring something generic like 'Oh, that sounds great', although, actually, it doesn't really. What does sound great is when people tell me about their local communities. If someone says they work in a tyre factory and they're a member of their local bar billiards club, I genuinely want to know more  I could talk for hours about that stuff. If, on the other hand, someone offers some tale about how a coffee in Venice costs more than the plane ticket out there, it's all I can do not to nod off. And that's just rude.

Malaga city centre, without doubt, still maintains something of a community spirit and we're very proud to form a part of it at The Shakespeare. With regard to travelling, I'm not sure when my next trip will be, but I'm already wondering if they offer tours of tyre factories anywhere.
Heathrow Airport share to be sold by Spanish firm Construction and services giant Ferrovial became the majority shareholder in the British capital's main airport in 2006

Europa Press Friday, 1 December 2023, 17:39 Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

X

LinkedIn

Telegram

A top Spanish firm is selling its remaining stake in London's Heathrow Airport, where it is currently the biggest shareholder.

Construction and services giant Ferrovial became the majority shareholder in the British capital's main airport in 2006 but has reduced its shareholding since then.

The remaining 25 per cent stake in the holding company for the airport is being sold for 2.7bn euros to the Saudi government's PIF fund and investment firm Ardian.

These firms will acquire around 15 per cent and 10 per cent each, according to Ferrovial. The deal is subject to the right of first refusal of other shareholders.
The Swedish Presidency of the EU brought a much-needed focus on the importance of competitiveness. The European initiative Europe Unlocked is now launched at the instigation of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, to act as a call to the next European Commission to ensure that growth and competitiveness are at the top of the EU agenda.

The Swedish Presidency of the EU helped to put competitiveness at the top of the European Union agenda. However, the issue is far from resolved. The EUs competitiveness has been falling for 20 years, and competition from the US and China continues to increase. We need to do more to boost our growth, by investing more in innovation, new technologies and research and development. We need to keep competitiveness in the spotlight. This is why we are launching Europe Unlocked - to use new and broad alliances to highlight the importance of long-term competitiveness and growth based on openness and trade with the outside world says Jacob Wallenberg, Chairman of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

Europe Unlocked is bringing together a number of business organisations in different European countries, all of whom wish to see a clear focus on strengthening the EUs competitiveness. Through this initiative, the coalition is sending out an SOS, one which in this context stands for Strengthen Our Single Market.

We are issuing an SOS to the next European Commission as a call to prioritise our single market. The single market is the home market for many small and large companies; yet - despite the fact that the single market was created over 30 years ago - a number of obstacles still remain, obstacles that make it difficult for companies to invest and grow in Europe. Having a well-functioning European single market is our greatest strength in a challenging environment, so there is much more to do here, says Wallenberg.

The actions that the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and its European partners are calling for include increased trade opportunities outside and inside the EU, competition and market-driven investments and innovation to enable the green transition. The coalition also wants to see a more innovation-friendly approach to new technology and data use, which in turn will create opportunities for companies to grow. In addition, across all policy areas, there should be better EU regulation as well as consultation with the business community. This will allow companies to have the right conditions to contribute with solutions to the societal challenges of our time.

As a first step, the members of Europe Unlocked have written an open letter to former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who has been asked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to write a report on the future of EU competitiveness. In the letter, Europe Unlocked highlights the fact that the EUs economy has fallen behind those of the US and China, meaning that there is therefore a clear and pressing need for action.

We call for a new approach to the common economic and geopolitical challenges we face, one that focuses on opportunities and on Europes strengths, Europe Unlocked said in its letter.

Jacob Wallenberg adds:

As we move towards the European Parliament elections and a new European Commission next year, our message is that long-term growth and competitiveness must remain a priority. It is through an economically strong, open and competitive Europe that we can best meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription.

Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service.
Von Miller has turned himself in to the Glenn Heights Police, according to local news reports.

Rebecca Lopez of WFAA-TV reported that the Buffalo Bills pass rusher turned himself in to the police on Thursday night. According to Lopez, Miller was taken to the DeSoto regional jail where he posted a $5,000 bond and was released. There had been a warrant out for Millers arrest on allegations of domestic abuse by the Dallas Police Department. The charge of assaulting a pregnant person is a third-degree felony under Texas law.

Police responded to a major disturbance call in the 3100 block of North Harwood in Dallas on Wednesday just before 11 a.m., the Dallas police said in a statement Thursday. Miller and his pregnant girlfriend got into an argument and Miller assaulted her, police said. Miller had left by the time police arrived on the scene.

An argument between Miller and the woman began over upcoming travel plans, according to court documents. The police affidavit, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, reported that the woman slammed an office door shortly after the verbal argument started. This led to a visibly angry Miller allegedly walked into the office and telling the woman to get out. The woman tried to gather her belongings and leave, but Miller shoved her while she warned, Stop, Im pregnant.

In addition to pushing the woman, the affidavit said Miller put his hands around the womans neck and applied pressure for three to five seconds. The affidavit also said Miller pulled out a chunk of the womans hair.

The police reported that the woman had scrapes on her left hand and bruises on her abdomen, left bicep, and neck that were consistent with applied pressure.

The Bills released a statement on the matter shortly after the allegations against Miller were reported.

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 MORE

Dallas police say Bills Von Miller grabbed pregnant womans neck during fight (report)

Arrest warrant issued for Buffalo Bills Von Miller on domestic violence allegations
The Syracuse University administration was criticized by professors and students for suppressing pro-Palestinian discussions and creating an unsafe environment on campus during a panel on academic freedom Thursday.

Provost Gretchen Ritter faced opposition to the universitys decision to cancel an educational event on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, condemning statements made by pro-Palestine protesters and suppressing professors academic freedom.
To the Editor:

There are only four kinds of people in the world  those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers, said Rosalynn Carter

As the late First Lady said, caregiving touches everyone. Nationwide, some 50 million people are unpaid family caregivers, taking care of loved ones with chronic illness, disability or a medical emergency. I found myself in that circumstance when my father, who had a stroke in his 40s, began needing 24/7 care in his 70s.

Caregiving for a loved one with a serious medical problem is both emotionally draining and expensive. And when caregivers give up their own savings and careers to provide care, the financial toll is compounded. Without support, a caregivers long-term health and financial well-being suffer.

Ironically, the American health care system relies on this unpaid labor and sacrifice. Family caregivers keep the system afloat.

Now is the time for us to advocate for caregivers. This fall marked the one-year anniversary of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, which grew out of the RAISE Family Caregiving Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act. We must harness the energy of this moment and put words into action. Odds are, each of us will benefit someday from improved supports for caregivers.

I hope Gov. Kathy Hochul, the New York state Legislature and our congressional leaders do their part to invest in this national caregiving strategy.

Rebecca Hyde

Cortland

Related: Rosalynn Carter honored by husband Jimmy and family, friends, first ladies, presidents
On Nov. 12, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police officers (ECOs) stopped a car on a rural road in Malone while investigating a poaching complaint.

A man in the car who was covered in blood told ECOs that there was a three-point buck in the cars trunk. During the interview, the officers witnessed the mans son feverishly trying to fill out a deer tag.

The fathers story about how he got the deer kept changing until he finally admitted to shooting it four times while standing in the road, leaning over the hood of the car.

ECOs ticketed the man for five misdemeanors and one violation, including the illegal take of deer, possessing a loaded firearm in/on a motor vehicle, and discharging from a roadway, among others.

The following reports are excerpted from DEC:

ECO DeVito poses with a bow and empty feed bag confiscated from a Suffolk County hunter who was ticketed for baiting deer.NYSDEC

On Oct. 27, ECOs ticketed a Suffolk County hunter for using a mineral block to bait deer. They also found an empty bag of deer feed at the base of the hunters tree stand. The hunter was ticketed for hunting over a preestablished bait pile. His bow and trail camera were confiscated as evidence.

On Oct. 22, an ECO ticketed a man in Southold for hunting deer with the aid of a preestablished bait pile, hunting with an unlawful crossbow, and hunting deer with a crossbow in Suffolk County. The ECO collected the hunters crossbow, bolts, trail camera, and bait corn as evidence.

On Oct. 3, two Suffolk County hunters trespassed on private land, but denied it when confronted by ECOs. After deploying a K9 to locate where the hunters had been, ECOs found obvious marks from a climbing tree stand, a scent wick, and a bow hanger in a tree on state property. They also found a photo of one of the hunters on a trail camera. The hunters eventually admitted theyd lied and were ticketed for trespassing.

ECO Vencak seized two deer from a poacher in Otsego County on Nov. 7.NYSDEC

On Nov. 7, an Otsego County hunter threatened an ECO for questioning him about taking two bucks during bow season. A state police officer and a forest ranger responded to assist. Officers determined the hunter never purchased archery privileges and charged him with hunting without a big game license and for taking two deer other than as permitted by law.

On Oct. 2, an ECO in Suffolk County discovered a bait pile surrounded by three trees stands. The ECO went back the following weekend and found two hunters who admitted to baiting the area. One of the hunters also confessed to shooting a doe with an arrow earlier that morning. Officers seized the doe as evidence, as well as the hunters bows, and samples of the bait. Both hunters were charged with hunting with the aid of a preestablished bait pile; the hunter who arrowed the doe faced an additional charge of illegally taking a deer.

ECOs release a bear that got caught in a coyote trap on Nov. 4 in the town of Cuba, Allegany County.NYSDEC

A bear got caught in a coyote trap on Nov. 4 in the town of Cuba, Allegany County. Three ECOs approached the bear with a sheet of plywood with a hole cut in it to isolate the bears trapped paw. Two ECOs held the sheet of plywood against the bear while the third ECO freed the bears paw from the trap. The bear immediately took off into a cornfield, then returned to drink from a mud puddle. Click here to see a video of the release.

Images of a vehicle and people involved in a deer poaching incident in Greene County on Nov. 22, taken from a Ring camera.NYSDEC

ECOs are asking for help in identifying the vehicle and people involved in a deer poaching incident in Greene County. On Nov. 22, officers responded to a home in the town of Lexington in search of a deer shot in the front yard of another residence. The incident was captured on a ring camera. Any information related to this complaint should be sent to ECO Palmateer at 518-478-1698, ECO Smith at 518-703-3529, or the New York State ECO 24-hour dispatch at 518-408-5852. All callers may remain anonymous.



Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter

Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox:









READ MORE

Upstate NY hunters charged with illegally spotlighting deer - newyorkupstate.com

Eleven anglers busted for snagging fish at night on Salmon River - newyorkupstate.com

Upstate NY hunter ticketed for baiting bear with macaroni - newyorkupstate.com

Central NY resident illegally kept six-point buck as pet caged inside garage - newyorkupstate.com

Upstate New York deer poacher gets jail time for unpaid fines on multiple violations - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
By Joshua Solomon | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul hinted at a desire to ban employers from using noncompete agreements for workers who make less than $250,000 per year, but leaving the option in place for higher earners.

The governors remarks Thursday were the strongest indication to date that she is interested in accepting the controversial bill as long as there is a carve-out for wealthier New Yorkers, an accommodation that is reportedly desired by the Partnership for New York City, the influential group that lobbies for pro-business measures.

I have to strike the balance to make sure we take care of lower- and middle-income workers, up to say $250,000, and also then know that those at higher levels are very well-equipped to negotiate on their own behalf, Hochul said. And I want to make sure the businesses stay (in New York).

The state Business Councils nonprofit arm recently executed a $1 million campaign that argues the legislation would shatter New Yorks economy by driving businesses out of the state.

At the same time, a group called Fight Corporate Monopolies, a left-leaning entity associated with a liberal economic think tank, began a $20,000 campaign this week in support of the bill.

Neither group has registered as lobbyists or disclosed who is funding its campaigns  although Fight Corporate Monopolies said it intends to register with the states Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government.

A noncompete agreement prohibits an employee from working for a competitor or opening a competing business, typically for a certain period of time after an employee leaves a job, according to the state attorney generals office.

One of my values, one of my priorities is to protect low- and middle-income New Yorkers, Hochul said Thursday in Manhattan. Protect them, give them mobility so they can have a better-paying job and be able to have that flexibility.

But, she said, Im not so worried about the very wealthy, well-taken care of, Wall Street, hedge fund, finance, top-paid lawyers. They can take care of themselves.

The legal field is one of the few sectors in New York in which employers are generally barred from imposing noncompete agreements.

The bills sponsor, state Sen. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, previously told the Times Union that an exemption for high earners is a non-starter for him.

Its a principle: Do you want to improve the economy by eliminating noncompetes or do you want to get stuck in the status quo, which restricts economic growth?  Ryan said a month ago. Theres really no middle here.

On Thursday, following Hochuls remarks, Ryan pushed back against a blanket salary range as a threshold for an exemption. He pointed to differences in high wages based on industry or region.

A salary threshold that restricts only high-end executives in a small upstate town could restrict every worker at a Manhattan tech company, Ryan said in a statement. One of the goals of this legislation is to encourage innovation and new business in New York. If theres a compromise to be made, we need to make sure that it isnt accidentally sweeping up mid-range employees and would-be entrepreneurs.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
Washington  Central New Yorks two members of Congress cast opposing votes Friday on a historic measure to expel Rep. George Santos of Long Island from the House of Representatives.

The House voted 311-114, exceeding the needed two-thirds margin needed to expel Santos, a first-term Republican indicted for duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress. He becomes only the sixth member in history to be kicked out by his colleagues.

Rep. Brandon Williams, a Republican who represents the Syracuse area, was among 105 Republicans who joined a near-unanimous group of Democrats who voted for Santos to be expelled.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-Canandaigua, who represents parts of Central New York, stood out as one of only two New York House members besides Santos who voted against expulsion.

The other no vote in New York came from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, the Republican conference chair.

Tenney had no immediate comment to explain her vote.

Stefanik said in a statement that the House acted prematurely against Santos.

No member of Congress has ever been expelled without a conviction; this is a dangerous precedent, and I am voting no based upon my concerns regarding due process, Stefanik said.

All told, more Republicans (112) voted against expelling Santos, than those who voted to oust him (105). Those who voted against expulsion included House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Williams was among New York Republicans who had called for Santos to resign long before Fridays vote.

The expulsion of George Santos was long overdue, Williams said in statement after the vote. As Ive called for his exit from Congress since January, the time has finally come. Goodbye George.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
After nearly two centuries, Remington Arms, the oldest gunmaker in the nation, has announced that they will close their doors in Upstate New York next year.

The Utica Observer Dispatch reported that a memo addressed to employees said that operations at the Herkimer County facility will cease on or about March 4, 2024. It also read, The Company did not arrive at this decision lightly.

In a notice filed with the state Department of Labor on Nov. 30, RemArms LLC said 309 employees will be laid off starting March 3. The layoffs will be completed on March 17, the company said.

Remington has been producing firearms in Ilion since 1816 and has employed generations of local families. In the past few years however, the facility has been affected by layoffs, temporary closures, bankruptcy and sold in pieces at auction.

In 2012, a Remington Bushmaster AR-15 rifle was used to kill 20 first-graders and six educators in the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut. The company no longer makes the rifle and the families of nine victims in the tragedy were awarded $73 million in a lawsuit against the gunmaker.

When the company went up for auction, Roundhill Group LLC purchased the Remington Arms gun factory Ilion and its handgun barrel factory in Lenoir City, Tennessee for $13 million in 2020. Roundhill operated the Ilion operation under the name of RemArms, LLC.

In 2021, RemArms moved the company headquarters from Upstate NY to Georgia where they planned to invest $100 million into a new plant and research facility.

After this weeks memo about the closure the United Mine Workers Union, who represents the workers in Illion, released a statement opening with Merry Christmas from RemArms. Cecil E. Roberts, the unions international president said the closure was extremely disappointing and the timing before the holidays is a slap in the face.

About a decade ago, the plant employed over 1,000 people.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Rep. George Santos of New York is facing a critical vote to expel him from the House on Friday as lawmakers weigh whether his actions, fabrications and alleged lawbreaking warrant the chambers most severe punishment.

The first-term Republican congressman is at grave risk of becoming just the sixth member of the House to be ousted by colleagues. Expulsion requires support from two-third of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a blistering House Ethics Committee report released on Nov. 16 that accused Santos of breaking federal law may prove decisive.

I will not stand by quietly, Santos declared on the House floor Thursday as lawmakers debated his removal. 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. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court. Santos made his case for remaining in office by appealing directly to lawmakers who worry they are setting a new precedent that could make expulsions more common.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is among those who has voiced concerns about removing Santos, though he has told members to vote their conscience. But some Republicans, including Santos colleagues from New York, said voters will 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, said Republican Rep. Anthony DEsposito, whose district adjoins Santos.

Santos warned lawmakers they would regret removing a member before they have had their day in court.

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.

The expulsion push is just the latest chapter in what has been a spectacular fall from grace for Santos, a first-term lawmaker initially celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year and helped Republicans win control of the House. But, soon after, troubles began. Reports began to emerge that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. His presence in the House quickly became a distraction and an embarrassment to the party.

In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. Then in May, the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of New York indicted Santos, accusing him of duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress. Prosecutors would later add more charges in an updated 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 investigating Santos and interviewing witnesses. When their work was complete, the panel said it had amassed overwhelming evidence of lawbreaking by Santos that it sent to the Justice Department.

Among other things, the Ethics 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.

Arguing against expulsion during debate Thursday, 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.

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. Its an example of how Democrats are looking to tie other Republicans to Santos when possible.

George Santos is a malignant distraction, and hopefully that issue gets resolved, Jeffries said.
Serving the tech enthusiast community for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust . Read our ethics statement

In brief: Zyxel is a Taiwanese manufacturer better known for mobile and broadband network products and some NAS devices for network-based storage access. Two of those NAS products are affected by six dangerous vulnerabilities, for which the company already provided a security update.

Zyxel has recently released a new security advisory for a bunch of security vulnerabilities discovered in the company's NAS devices. The six flaws could be abused to bypass authentication protocols and inject malicious commands in the NAS OS, Zyxel has warned. Users are advised to install the already available security patches for "optimal protection" in their network storage setups.

The newly-discovered vulnerabilities, which include three critical flaws with very high severity scores, are described in the following CVE-tracked bulletins: CVE-2023-35137, CVE-2023-35138, CVE-2023-37927, CVE-2023-37928, CVE-2023-4473, CVE-2023-4474. The first flaw (CVE-2023-35137) has a severity score of 7.5 and pertains to an improper authentication in the Zyxel NAS devices that could allow an unauthenticated attacker to obtain system information with a specifically crafted URL.

The second flaw (CVE-2023-35138) is a critical vulnerability (9.8 severity score) in the "show_zysync_server_contents" function, Zyxel explains, which could provide hackers with a way to execute "some" OS commands by sending a specific HTTP POST request. The third flaw (CVE-2023-37927) is a high-severity bug (8.8) with improper neutralization of special elements in the CGI program, which could allow attackers to execute OS commands by sending a crafted URL.

The fourth flaw (CVE-2023-37928) is a post-authentication command injection vulnerability (8.8) in the WSGI server, which could once again open an OS command execution opportunity through a malicious URL. The fifth flaw (CVE-2023-4473) is a critical bug (9.8) in Zyxel NAS' web server that could be exploited the same way. Finally, the sixth flaw (CVE-2023-4474) is yet another critical issue (9.8) arising from the improper neutralization of special elements in the WSGI server.

Zyxel acknowledged the work done by three researchers (Maxim Suslov, Gabor Seljan, Drew Balfour) in discovering the security flaws. The company conducted a "thorough investigation" to identify the supported devices affected by the flaws, which include the NAS326 and NAS542 network storage models.

The Taiwanese manufacturer didn't provide any possible mitigation measures or workaround to shield the devices against the new flaws. To keep their data safe from cyber-criminals, customers need to install the following firmware updates: V5.21(AAZF.15)C0 for NAS326, V5.21(ABAG.12)C0 for NAS542.
Serving the tech enthusiast community for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust . Read our ethics statement

What just happened? A judge has blocked a bill that would have introduced a state-wide ban on TikTok in Montana on January 1, saying it violates the free-speech rights of users. The first-of-its-kind law was the result of the data privacy issues that have plagued TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, for years.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill 419 in May prohibiting mobile app stores from offering TikTok. Any 'entity,' including TikTok, offering access to the platform or downloading the app after January 1 would have risked fines up to $10,000 per day. Penalties didn't apply to users, so owners didn't have to delete Tiktok, and sideloading the app or using a VPN wouldn't have resulted in a fine.

To protect Montanans' personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana.  Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) May 17, 2023

TikTok sued Montana to block the ban, claiming that Bill 419 violated the First Amendment rights of both users and the company. Some TikTok users also joined the legal battle, filing suit to stop the ban.

Judge Donald Molloy granted TikTok's request for a preliminary injunction yesterday, stating that the ban "violates the Constitution in more ways than one" and "oversteps state power." The Judge said that the people of Montana would have had an important channel of communication restricted by the law, a violation of their First Amendment rights.

Judge Molloy also said that the bill was more about targeting China's role in TikTok than protecting consumers in the state. "SB 419 completely bans TikTok in Montana. It does not limit the application in a targeted way with the purpose of attacking the perceived Chinese problem," he said.

The bill also claimed TikTok failed to remove content deemed dangerous to minors, further justifying its ban. The Judge said another law already shields the protection of children online.

TikTok said it was pleased the judge "rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on TikTok."

A spokesperson for the Montana attorney-general said the ruling is only a preliminary one that applies while the court examines the case. "We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist party obtaining and using their data," said Emilee Cantrell, via the Financial Times.

TikTok's alleged ties with the Chinese government, which it has repeatedly denied, have led to the federal government and more than half of US states banning it from government workers' devices. The EU commission took similar action this year.
Serving the tech enthusiast community for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust . Read our ethics statement

In context: Because Taiwan/China relations are shaky, the Biden administration plans to spend billions of dollars to build chip-making facilities in the US to alleviate foreign dependence. The goal is still far off, but new companies are joining major industry players like Apple to help secure the US chip supply chain.

Apple and Amkor have announced an "expanded partnership" to return another piece of the complex chip manufacturing puzzle to the US. The Arizona-based company will build a new advanced chip packaging facility in Peoria. The plan is to construct the facility near TSMC's plant, making the completion of Apple silicon products more efficient.

Amkor will invest $2 billion to build the new Peoria facility, creating approximately 2,000 new jobs. The company plans to have the chip packaging and testing venture "ready for production" within two to three years, with Apple as its biggest customer.

Amkor has packaged chips extensively for Apple for over a decade. Both companies would like to bring more manufacturing jobs back to the US. The Cupertino tech giant plans to invest $430 billion in the US economy over the next five years.

Amkor's new facility should help alleviate the main issue with TSMC's proposed Arizona manufacturing plant. The Taiwanese foundry plans to spend billions of dollars to manufacture chips in the US, but it won't fund an additional facility to handle packaging. The Arizona factory would then be a "paperweight," as chips made in the US will still need to be shipped to Taiwan for final assembly and testing.

Amkor Technology provides a chip packaging service in different global regions, with approximately 31,000 employees worldwide and $7.1 billion in sales. However, the company will spend minimal funds to build the new Peoria fab, thanks to the recently approved CHIPS Act legislation.

The Federal government authorized up to $200 billion in subsidies for chipmaking facilities built in the US. Amkor and TSMC, along with Intel and other smaller chip companies, have already asked to become part of the CHIPS Act's massive funding program.
The United States is gearing up for a historic lunar mission, marking a significant step in reigniting space exploration. Scheduled for January 25, the Astrobotic's Peregrine Lander is set to etch history with a daring moon landing attempt, poised to be a pioneering feat for a private company (via AP).

Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based space company, leads this historic mission. Spearheaded by CEO John Thornton, the Peregrine Lander bears the weight of NASA instruments intended to unravel the mysteries of the lunar environment.

The mission aligns with NASA's vision under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, aimed at propelling scientific exploration and fostering a lunar economy.

Countdown Begins for US Company Moon Launch

As the countdown to liftoff begins, anticipation and excitement abound. Scheduled to launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on December 24, atop the inaugural flight of ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket, this mission encapsulates a multitude of firsts.

Astrobotic's Mission Control Center (AMCC) will take control of Peregrine once it separates from the ULA rocket. Astrobotic will then attempt a soft landing at the Gruithuisen Domes and support lunar surface payload operations for approximately 10 days.

It is noteworthy that this expedition signifies more than just a scientific feat; it carries the aspirations of a nation and the hopes and dreams of Pittsburgh, as CEO John Thornton shared in an interview with FoxWeather.

Peregrine's objectives are no less than monumental. The lander will serve as a hub for over 20 lunar payloads, encompassing a gamut of scientific missions encompassing NASA endeavors, university research, and diverse government and private projects.

These payloads aim to delve into the lunar exosphere, surface volatiles, and the radiation environment, all crucial components for planning and executing future crewed missions to the moon, as articulated by NASA's Program Scientist Ryan Watkins.

The landing site at the Gruithuisen Domes, a lunar volcanic region, has been meticulously chosen for its scientific significance. However, the journey is fraught with challenges, as history indicates that only about half of the missions to the moon have been successful.

Read Also: SpaceX Takes a Leap in Vertical Integration with Pioneer Aerospace Acquisition

Space Race

NASA's acknowledgment of potential risks and the acceptance that some missions might not succeed underscores the complexity and uncertainty of space exploration, as pointed out by Chris Culbert, the CLPS program manager, SCMP reports.

Amidst the race to reach lunar terrain, other players, such as Intuitive Machines partnering with SpaceX, are also part of NASA's CLPS program, signifying a collaborative push toward lunar exploration.

This endeavor marks the dawn of a new chapter in US space exploration, where private entities assume a pivotal role in advancing mankind's reach beyond Earth.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: [LOOK] NASA Orbiter Sees Otherworldly Views of Mars Horizon

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple, for all we know, eats petitions and lawsuits for breakfast. However, it's not every day that someone as young as 10 years old is asking the Cupertino giant to change the current design for its "nerd glass" emoji.

According to a report by Apple Insider, a kid named Teddy from Peppard, Oxfordshire, has launched a petition urging the company to modify its glasses emoji, which he finds "offensive and insulting."

He believes the current emoji, often colloquially known as the nerd emoji, perpetuates a negative stereotype of glasses wearers.

Campaign for Inclusivity

Teddy, with a desire to reshape the narrative, has taken matters into his own hands. He has redesigned the emoji to showcase thin lenses, thin frames, and a small smile, renaming it the genius emoji.

His campaign, initiated in his school and now gaining online traction, aims to encourage Apple to adopt his inclusive design.

Expressing his sentiments, Teddy said that it's making him feel sad and upset. He says that he's not the only one who thinks about the insulting nerdy emoji since thousands of people globally are still feeling the same with him.

The young advocate emphasizes the importance of accurate representation and aims to challenge the stereotype associated with glasses wearers.

"We want to change this - Apple are making it absolutely horrible for people wearing glasses. They're making people think we're nerds and it's absolutely horrible," Teddy told BBC.

Related Article: Google Maps New Update Adds Emoji Support for Faster Search

Nerd Glass Emoji Campaign Gets Support From Teachers

Teddy's teacher, Lisa, appreciates his initiative, stating, "I love his inquisitive mind and the fact he fights for what he believes in. He's quite vocal about it but in quite a grown-up way, and I think that should be supported, encouraged, and commended as well."

While Teddy's campaign is currently gaining momentum among people, he hopes that Apple will take action about this matter. He also hopes that the company will implement his suggested changes so there will not be division among emoji lovers.

Speaking of emoji, Apple reportedly won a lawsuit accusing it of copying the diverse emoji trademark.

According to Tech Times, the incident which happened in February 2022, highlighted the complainant's statement about Apple which alleged the firm used three patent applications.

However, the federal judge from California dismissed the allegations and said that the claims were all "weak" copyright accusations.

Who would have thought that a simple emoji used in chats could push Apple to the brink of lawsuits? The small and cute symbols of faces, numbers, and other stuff could affect its business in the long runeven if we barely pay attention to them.

For more reports about emojis, just click here to stay updated.

Read Also: Happy World Emoji Day: Here Are Some Amazing Facts About Emojis

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, is on the brink of losing advertisers following the billionaire's fiery outburst at a New York Times DealBook event.



The aftermath of the tech mogul's endorsement of an antisemitic post has led major players to suspend advertising, raising concerns about the platform's financial stability. Earlier this month, both Walt Disney and Warner Bros.

Discovery suspended advertising on X after Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic post falsely claiming members of the Jewish community were inciting hatred against white people. The move triggered widespread criticism and a significant backlash from advertisers, as reported by Reuters.

Elon Musk Blasts Fleeing Advertisers

The controversy escalated as Musk directed explicit language toward advertisers during the DealBook summit. He defiantly declared, "If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or blackmail me with money, go f- yourself." Musk specifically called out Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger, one of the first to boycott X, signaling a clear message to those who withdrew their support, as per a report published by Yahoo! Finance.



Elon Musk acknowledged the potential financial repercussions, admitting that an extended boycott could lead to X's bankruptcy. However, he suggested that blame for such a collapse would fall on the brands rather than on him.



During Musk's controversial tirade, in the audience sat X CEO Linda Yaccarino, the company's resilient figurehead. Amid Musk's disruptive tactics that repel advertisers, Yaccarino, with two decades in advertising, particularly at NBCUniversal (an advertiser that also paused spending on X), is tasked with the challenging role of rekindling advertiser relationships, according to Fortune.

Read Also: New Google Maps Color Scheme Disappoints Many Users-Less Accurate and Less Human?

X's Revenue Suffering from Loose Content Moderation

X, formerly known as Twitter, has faced criticism for lax content moderation, particularly from advertisers concerned about their ads appearing alongside inappropriate content. Analysts, including D.A. Davidson & Co.'s Tom Forte, expressed concern that more companies might follow suit by suspending advertising on X, at least on a short-term basis. This raises the stakes for the platform's subscription efforts, potentially requiring more than half of its revenue to come from subscriptions.



The decline in monthly US ad revenue, which has decreased by at least 55% year over year each month since Musk bought the business in October 2022, has further highlighted X's financial difficulties, according to Reuters' report from last month.

The impact on X's revenue is substantial, with an estimated loss of $75 million this quarter due to the advertiser pullback. Elon Musk's confrontational stance, while showcasing his defiance, raises questions about the platform's ability to retain advertisers and its long-term financial viability.



In response to widespread criticism and advertiser withdrawal, Musk recently embarked on what some have dubbed an "apology tour" to Israel. He met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tentatively agreed to allow his Starlink satellites to be used in the Gaza Strip with Israeli government approval. Elon Musk insisted that his trip was not an apology tour and expressed a willingness to be disliked.



According to a previous TechTimes report, Elon Musk had discussions with Netanyahu and Herzog and was informed about the tragic events in Kfar Aza, where a Hamas strike resulted in numerous casualties. He also met with the families of the victims, further emphasizing his determination to counteract the spread of prejudice.

Related Article: Okta Data Breach Update: Hackers Accessed Info on All Customers, Not Just 1% as Initially Stated

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a poignant announcement, NASA revealed the passing of retired astronaut Mary Cleave on Monday, Nov. 27.

A trailblazer and the first woman to crew a spaceflight after the Challenger explosion in 1986, Cleave's remarkable journey left an indelible mark on space exploration.

Early Years and Education

Born in 1947 in Southampton, New York, Mary Cleave was raised by educators Howard and Barbara Cleave. She embarked on her academic journey at Colorado State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences in 1969.

Cleave further honed her expertise, obtaining a Master of Science in microbial ecology and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering at Utah State University in 1975 and 1979, respectively.

Related Article: NASA, IBM Forge Next-Gen AI Weather Model, Advanced Climate Forecast Technology

NASA Astronaut Selection

Selected as an astronaut in May 1980, Cleave swiftly ascended in the ranks of NASA. Her inaugural mission, STS-61B, took place on Nov. 26, 1985, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. The mission showcased her proficiency in deploying communication satellites, conducting spacewalks, and contributing to vital experiments.

Overcoming Tragedy

Mary Cleave's resilience shone through after the Challenger tragedy in 1986. She became the first woman to fly in space after the devastating incident, undertaking mission STS-30 in 1989.

According to FoxNews, the crew, aboard the shuttle Atlantis, achieved a milestone by successfully deploying the Magellan Venus exploration spacecraft, mapping a significant portion of the planet's surface.

Post-Astronaut Career

Following her space endeavors, Cleave transitioned to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in 1991, focusing on global ocean vegetation monitoring.

In 2000, she assumed the role of deputy associate administrator for advanced planning in the Office of Earth Science at NASA's Headquarters. From 2005 to 2007, Cleave held the prestigious position of associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Awards and Accolades

Cleave's illustrious career garnered numerous accolades, including two NASA Space Flight medals, two NASA Exceptional Service medals, and an American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award. Her impactful contributions were further recognized with a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the title of NASA Engineer of the Year, per CNN.

A Farewell to a Pioneer

In February 2007, Mary Cleave bid farewell to NASA, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking achievements. Her pioneering spirit and dedication continue to inspire generations, marking her as a trailblazer who paved the way for women in space exploration.

Aside from Mary Cleave, another icon in aeronautics is Sally Ride who is regarded to be the first female astronaut from America.

Ride took a ride in space inside Challenger in 1983. At that time, she was only 32. For many Americans, she was the inspiration for young girls who dream of becoming an astronaut someday.

In 2012, Ride died due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.

Read Also: Solar Flares: How Does the Sun's Magnetic Field Affect Earth?

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Spotify Wrapped made its much-anticipated return, unveiling personalized music insights for users globally. As users flocked to the platform to share their top tunes, the unexpected voice of parody maestro Weird Al Yankovic echoed loudly, spotlighting Spotify's royalty payment dynamics.

Weird Al, renowned for his musical satires like "White & Nerdy" and "Eat It," shone a spotlight on Spotify's payment structure, revealing that despite amassing over 80 million streams in 2023, his earnings amounted to a mere $12.

Weird Al Yankovic aimed at Spotify's payment of $0.003 per stream, underscored the broader financial challenges faced by the majority of artists on the platform, according to Gizmodo. Out of approximately three million artists with over 10 songs, only 16,000 artists earn more than $50,000, highlighting the stark income divide.

The artist's unexpected critique raised questions about the curation process for Spotify Wrapped, as Weird Al's critical message found its way into the artist messages section, prompting reflections on the vetting of messages in the annual feature.

The legend Weird Al criticizing what Spotify pays artists in the video he made FOR Spotify.  pic.twitter.com/wASQunepBg  Ray Padgett (@rayfp) November 29, 2023

Upcoming Changes in the Spotify Royalty Model

According to a previous TechTimes report, the Swedish streaming giant aims to direct more funds toward popular artists, record labels, and distributors while addressing issues such as streaming fraud.

The three-fold approach focuses on enhancing platform hygiene, ensuring fair distribution of payments, and combating challenges that, while affecting only a small percentage of total streams, have prompted Spotify to project an additional $1 billion in revenue for artists.

Spotify announced in its blog: "Starting in early 2024, tracks must have reached at least 1,000 streams in the previous 12 months to generate recorded royalties. Spotify will not make additional money under this model. There is no change to the size of the music royalty pool being paid out to rights holders from Spotify; we will simply use the tens of millions of dollars annually to increase the payments to all eligible tracks, rather than spreading it out into $0.03 payments."

Read Also: Elon Musk's X Facing Mass Exodus of Advertisers After Controversial Rant: Experts



Amidst the controversy, Spotify Wrapped 2023 shared noteworthy global statistics, boasting a user base of 574 million worldwide. USA Today reported that Taylor Swift emerged as the most-streamed artist globally, amassing a staggering 26.1 billion streams. Other top-ranking artists included Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Drake, and Peso Pluma, forming the creme de la creme of Spotify's global music preferences.

How Does Spotify Wrapped Work?

Spotify Wrapped, known for its interactive reports, witnessed an expansion in data coverage this year. Unlike previous years, which covered data from January 1 to October 31, the 2023 reports extended beyond October 31, per Forbes. However, Spotify has yet to clarify the exact deadline for data collection, leaving users curious about the timeframe inclusion.

The platform emphasized that music listened to during a "private session" doesn't contribute to users' Spotify Wrapped but factors into overall yearly listening minutes. Offline listening, where songs are downloaded for later use, counts once users reconnect to the internet. Additionally, Spotify highlighted the inclusion of podcast listening, a feature engaged by over 100 million users, contributing to users' total time spent on the platform.

Crucially, a stream is recorded when a user listens to a song for at least 30 seconds, providing a benchmark for user engagement.

Related Article: BTS Fans Rejoice: 'Beyond The Star' Documentary Series Hitting Disney+ This December

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Hamas said that Israel is to blame for the resumption of violence in Gaza , however a senior Hamas leader said Friday that his group is ready for immediate talks on the release of additional civilian captives in return for a renewed truce.

Khalil al-Hayeh, a senior figure in Hamas political branch, spoke hours after a weeklong temporary cease-fire with Israel ended and the Israeli army resumed it's deadly strikes on Gaza..

Al-Hayeh told Qatars Al Jazeera television channel that negotiations over the release of members of the military held by Hamas could only take place in the context of a comprehensive cease-fire, rather than a pause in fighting.

This is a complicated matter and has different conditions, he said about the release of troops.

But when it comes to civilians, we are open to any new truce to close the case of civilian captives.

Al-Hayeh said he does not have a breakdown of the numbers of captives still being held by Hamas. He said some elderly people are among the civilians being held by the group.

Earlier, Hamas said in a statement that Israel was to blame for the violence after it rejected all the offers put forward by Hamas throughout the night to release more captives.

Hamas said it offered to release older people in addition to Yarden Bibas, whose wife and two small children Hamas said were killed previously in Israeli airstrikes so that he can attend their funeral.

It also offered to release two Israeli captives, according to AP report.

The occupation refused to accept all these offers because it had plans to resume the criminal aggression, Hamas said. It blasted the United States and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying the U.S. approved the new plan that has killed dozens on Friday morning alone.

Hamas said its fighters and those of other factions will resume their military activities and will break the will of the defeated occupation army.

An Israeli government spokesman said Friday that the Palestinian group Hamas "will now take the mother of all thumpings" after a truce pausing fighting in the Gaza Strip expired and hostilities resumed.

"Unfortunately, Hamas decided to terminate the pause by failing to release all the kidnapped women," government spokesman Eylon Levy claimed in a briefing.

"Having chosen to hold onto our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings."

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Take a look back at the important space-related events of the previous month, which ranged from innovative rockets to breakthroughs in space station construction.

SpaceX's Starship mega-rocket stole the spotlight on November 18, with the surreal sight of 33 Raptor engines generating over 16 million pounds of thrust leaving an indelible mark on space enthusiasts worldwide.

However, Starship's first successful space launch from Boca Chica, Texas, ended in an explosion above the Gulf of Mexico due to an unknown trigger of its self-destruct function. The rocket booster, which separated minutes earlier, also blew up. According to Nature, the US Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incidents, and future tests will require their approval. NASA's lunar landing plans hinge on Starship's success but with no demonstrated successful flights yet, achieving the goal may require at least 15 Starships.

A more unexpected sighting came from the Virtual Telescope Project 2.0, capturing an image of the ISS crew lock bag adrift in space. Lost during a spacewalk by astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara, the bag now orbits Earth at a breakneck speed of 17,500 mph, visible to the naked eye, as reported by Gizmodo.

Further into the cosmos, NASA's Lucy spacecraft encountered a celestial surprise. Approaching the Dinkinesh asteroid, Lucy revealed not one but two moons orbiting the space rock, marking the first observation of a contact binary moon around an asteroid.

China's Space Station Photos Released

November also unveiled the complete Tiangong space station in all its glory. China's Shenzhou 16 mission recently released the first full images of the Tiangong Space Station using a high-definition camera as they departed for Earth. Before leaving, the crew handed control to the Shenzhou 17 team, arriving on Oct. 26. The Shenzhou 16 astronauts returned on Oct. 30, marking their successful mission.

Amazing photos of the @CNSpaceStation in its entirety!



It's the first time that China has obtained in-orbit images of its space station with Earth visible in the backdrop. They were taken by the Shenzhou XVI crew using a HD camera during a flyby, before their return to Earth. pic.twitter.com/63Yclnx2T8  Chinese Space Station (@CNSpaceStation) November 29, 2023

Read Also: OpenAI's ChatGPT Marks First Anniversary, Emerges as Fastest-Growing Consumer App in History

On Earth's doorstep, Sierra Space unveiled the Dream Chaser spaceplane, named Tenacity. This innovative vehicle, capable of runway landings, represents a leap in commercial orbital spaceplanes. With a NASA contract for ISS resupply missions, Tenacity is set to debut atop the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket in April 2024.

Looking to the future, Thales Alenia Space's artistic rendering teased humanity's first permanent lunar habitat. Dubbed the Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH), this lunar base is a collaborative effort with the Italian Space Agency and NASA, promising a new chapter in lunar exploration.

Rocket and Thruster Development

NASA announced plans to launch ESCAPADE aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn within a year. The $20 million contract, granted in February, is on track despite rocket readiness concerns, as per Space News. Ariane Cornell, an official with Blue Origin, revealed at the Satellite 2023 conference in March that while the exact launch window for ESCAPADE is unknown, Blue Origin guarantees it will be an early mission.

In August, Max Evans, a spaceflight photographer, captured a rare glimpse of the first-stage section of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.

Back on home turf, NASA's Glenn Research Center tested the Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) in a vacuum chamber. This 12-kilowatt Hall thruster, glowing with a distinctive blue hue, is a linchpin for future Moon and deep-space missions, supporting the Artemis program and laying the groundwork for human exploration of Mars.

Related Article: NASA Astronaut Mary Cleave Passes Away: Remembering Her Trailblazing Journey

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A massive milestone was reached by Google Messages and its RCS feature, with the company claiming that it already sees 1 billion users globally using the service and its technology. In celebration of this new feat, the company brought new features available for users to access on the renowned app, offering more communication features to enjoy when using Google Messages.

For a long time, Google has advocated and campaigned for RCS and its wide adoption in the tech landscape, allowing more to seamlessly communicate to and from Google Messages.

Google's RCS Celebrates 1 Billion Users for Messages

(Photo : Google Blog)

The latest press release from Google claims that its revolutionary RCS feature found on the Google Messages app saw it reach the 1 billion users mark, seeing the massive adoption of the app and its service across the world. Google also claimed that their years of hard work in pushing the mobile industry into adopting RCS is now reaping its bounties, with this significant milestone.

In the post, Google showed off the new features on Google Messages and claimed that it is celebrating the 1 billion user achievement by the company.

The Mountain View giant also commends Apple for their announcement two weeks ago regarding their adoption of the RCS, towards a brighter future.

Read Also: RCS vs. iMessage: Google Shades Apple in New Video About iPager that Sticks to SMS/MMS

What are the New Features on Google Messages?

Google showed off seven new features to enjoy with the Google Messages update, in celebration of its 1 billion mark.

This includes the arrival of Photomoji which will transform images into reactions, through Google's AI. There is also the Voice Moods where recordings may be sent with an applicable emotion.

Screen Effects also bring massive animations to the chat conversation, auto-generated from specific keywords. Moreover, Google also debuts Custom Bubbles, Reaction Effects, Animated Emoji, and Profiles to the Google Messages app.

Google Messages and the RCS Push

For a long time, Google has wanted Apple to adopt RCS for its iMessage service, and this would effectively allow a different experience on the mobile, especially for text and chats. Apple's iMessage is still based on SMS and MMS, and Google called this an "outdated tech" already, with many companies joining Mountain View's campaign towards its adoption.

For a long time, Google Messages has delivered exceptional experiences for users who have it on their Android phones, and it essentially allows a chat-like messaging service right on the mobile. Earlier this year, Google added an emergency satellite texting feature for Google Messages, and it aims to offer the same feature iPhone 14 Pro devices and later had previously offered.

With Apple already onboard the RCS adoption which will come in the future, there are many possibilities present for Google and what it has to offer. That being said, its new milestone is not an easy feat, taking the company years to achieve this breakthrough of 1 billion users for the service, and at the same time, wants to celebrate it with the world via the latest features.

Related Article: Apple Gets Google Support for RCS Adoption, But Cupertino Wants GSM Association Collab

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a bid to prevent the reopening of a significant $5 billion privacy settlement from 2020, Meta has taken legal action against FTC. This marks Meta's second attempt to block the impending sanctions through the legal system.

(Photo : SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken in Mulhouse, eastern France on October 19, 2023, shows a figurine next to the Meta logo.

Legally Challenging FTC

Meta has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), aiming to halt the reopening of a significant $5 billion privacy settlement from 2020. The tech giant is seeking to retain the ability to monetize children's data across various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Engadget reported that the move follows a federal judge's recent decision permitting the FTC to expand the scope of the 2020 privacy settlement, opening avenues for proposing stringent new regulations governing Meta's operations post the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The lawsuit filed today urgently calls for a cessation of the FTC's ongoing proceedings, labeling it an obvious power grab and deeming it an unconstitutional adjudication by fiat."

A Meta spokesperson went further to criticize the FTC, likening it to playing the roles of "prosecutor, judge, and jury in the same case." Notably, this legal action marks Meta's second attempt to thwart the impending sanctions through the judicial system.

FTC's Demands

On its part, FTC claims that Meta has consistently violated the terms established in the 2020 privacy settlement, with a particular focus on user privacy. According to the regulatory body, Meta has also breached the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by exploiting the data of underage users.

As posted on its press release, FTC has gained judicial approval to restrict the monetization of such data, a decision that Meta intends to challenge.

Beyond this, FTC is advocating for additional measures, including limitations on Meta's use of facial recognition technology and a comprehensive freeze on the introduction of new products and services. These proposed actions are contingent on the completion of a third-party audit to evaluate Meta's adherence to its privacy commitments.

Amid ongoing controversies, Meta has clashed with the FTC, facing legal actions from various states and the EU over alleged child data monetization.

Led by Samuel Levine, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC accuses Meta of recurrent privacy breaches, emphasizing the risks posed to young users.

Also Read: FTC Withdraws Antitrust Complaint Against Meta for Within Unlimited Acquisition

Bloomberg reported that the conflict between Meta and the FTC has persisted, initially triggered by the agency's attempt to block Meta's acquisition of VR software developer Within.

Citing concerns about hindering innovation and competition, the FTC dropped its opposition after encountering legal setbacks. Simultaneously, the agency opened an inquiry into Meta's VR arm, alleging anti-competitive practices.

Reflecting a broader trend, businesses are increasingly challenging the FTC, portraying it as emblematic of government overreach. Illumina, a major biotech player, exemplifies this resistance, suing the FTC to contest a decision obstructing its $7 billion acquisition of the cancer detection startup Grail.

Related Article: Meta Resists FTC Order

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The popularity of generative AI has paved the way for companies to adopt AI chatbots into their services. These chatbots can mimic human conversation through machine learning and natural language processing to interpret human language and understand the intent behind the user's intent.

AI chatbots are trained on large data sets to recognize patterns and learn from previous conversations to improve their responses. Even if they are still prone to error, they have gradually improved in handling complex requests to generate more accurate results.

The presence of chatbots is not entirely new. Brands have leveraged traditional rule-based chatbots to answer specific queries. Even if they are not programmed to respond to various language changes, they can still assist users as long as certain keywords or specific phrases enable their canned responses.

What are the benefits of AI chatbots?

AI chatbots have been used across industries to provide better user experience and improve customer service. They are available round-the-clock to provide support, regardless of staff availability. They can handle multiple conversations simultaneously, ensuring fast response times to improve overall efficiency or drive customer satisfaction.

This intelligent automation can also collect valuable customer data, which companies can use to make informed business decisions that yield better outcomes. Since AI chatbots are not limited to established rules, they can assist customers through every stage of the buyer journey, boosting the conversation rates to turn leads into prospects.

Outlined below are the top 5 AI chatbots in 2023:

1 SAAS First Milly

Overview

SAAS First is a comprehensive platform made for customer support teams and SaaS companies. It features a conversational AI-powered chatbot called Milly, an invaluable tool that can yield more natural and engaging interactions with customers for better communication and more satisfied clients.

It is the first company to successfully develop an AI-powered chatbot for customer support, proving its credibility and expertise in the field. It has also successfully reduced the number of hallucinations in the answers of AI chatbots to 0.5%, making its accuracy outstandingly high. Milly also responds extremely fast, based on recent feedback.

It utilizes the latest and most powerful language models available with its integration with OpenAI. Milly is equipped with the best AI-driven language understanding and generation capabilities, resulting in higher-quality responses and personalized customer support.

SAAS First understands the quality of customer support depends on the accuracy and relevance customer support teams can provide. Hence, it has carefully engineered prompts to ensure Milly can answer customer queries. It can deliver more accurate and helpful information, ensuring high customer satisfaction and an efficient support process.

SAAS First continuously updates and improves its platform to remain at the forefront of customer support technology. The company is committed to constant growth and development, adapting to the market's changing needs so businesses can leverage its AI chatbot, Milly, to get ahead of the competition.

Features

Accurate and Relevant Answers

Milly can directly learn from Help Center articles and website content. The AI chatbot of SAAS First automatically learns and understands by crawling all the pages on the site to provide accurate and relevant answers, ensuring every response aligns with the product or service descriptions of the provider.

Train Milly

This intelligent automation can also learn from custom snippets to deliver the best-personalized customer support experience. By editing the snippets, businesses can ensure Milly consistently provides the up to date information to customers. They can test its responses and fine-tune its knowledge base so the AI chatbot remains a reliable resource for the customer and customer support team.

Reply in Real Time

It can understand the query and reply to the user in real time. When activated, the AI chatbot handles all incoming chat messages simultaneously. If it fails to provide a satisfactory answer, Milly automatically transfers the conversation to the customer support team. This ensures a smooth transition to maintain the high quality of the service and prevent customer churn.

Lightning Fast Messaging and Email Response

Milly is designed to help customer support teams as they handle the deluge of multiple incoming messages and emails. It can respond lightning fast, crafting personalized and prompt responses within 10 seconds, reducing the delay that may cause customers to turn away. It can masterfully reword product or service information while maintaining tone and text, streamlining customer support for business efficiency and customer retention.

SAAS First also contains inbox and live chat modules that can further improve customer support and sales processes. The Inbox module centralizes all emails for customer support and sales teams in one place, offering a comprehensive view of open, resolved, and AI-handled conversations so admins can track the status of each engagement, even the ones dealt with by Milly.

It can also provide additional customer information with the help of Live Chat, such as browsing history and location based on the transaction history, enabling teams to tailor their support and sales responses to the needs and preferences of the customer.

SAAS First offers fair pricing so all businesses can leverage its customer support technology without breaking the bank. At the price of $9, companies have the intelligent assistance of Milly, an omnichannel inbox for multichannel marketing, and a live chat system that can boost engagement rates and improve customer satisfaction, resulting in business growth and success.

2 ChatGPT

Overview

ChatGPT is trained to follow an instruction or provide an answer based on a prompt given by the user. It is the AI chatbot of OpenAI that went viral in late 2022 and popularized the use of generative AI across many industries.

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company that leverages artificial general intelligence to benefit humanity. It trained the initial model of ChatGPT using the Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback method.

It combined the new dialogue dataset generated from the method with the InstructGPT dataset and transformed it into a dialogue format, leading to the creation of the AI chatbot. While ChatGPT can tailor its responses, it can sometimes write inaccurate or incomplete answers.

It is sensitive to tweaks, requiring the user to carefully curate its prompt to get a response from the AI chatbot. All prompts get passed to the AI model, running them through its systems and returning the results to ChatGPT, where they are displayed in a conversational style.

ChatGPT is now trained on a much larger dataset when compared to its previous version. It can generate more accurate answers for users. It has many use cases. It can explain code, plan an itinerary, create a draft, and even translate recipes into different languages. It remains at the forefront of the industry despite its occasional hallucinations (or factual errors).

Features

Context

ChatGPT generates answers in the context of the conversation. It remembers every prompt to increase the relevance and accuracy of its response. The AI chatbot can modify its response based on the initial prompt from the user to provide a better that matches the query or instruction, like reducing a block of text into two sentences or altering the tone from formal to casual. It can also regenerate a new response if it fails to meet the user's standards or preferences.

Feedback

ChatGPT cannot determine whether its responses are good or bad. It relies on users to provide the data to learn the differences and provide better answers. Users can like, dislike, or provide additional feedback to lessen the errors and inconsistencies of the AI chatbot and improve its responses.

Custom Instructions

Users can tailor the responses of ChatGPT through custom instructions where their personalized requests get taken into account. Every time the AI chatbot answers, it answers based on customized instructions, like preparing a table instead of a text-based response.

ChatGPT also features voice and image capabilities for Plus and Enterprisers users. It can respond in a natural voice to answer any prompt. Even if the chatbot cannot be paused, the answer gets converted into a text version when it is interrupted.

3 Bard

Overview

Bard is the conversational AI tool developed by Google that can help users brainstorm ideas, spark creativity, and drive productivity. It is an AI experiment by the search engine giant that can generate text, translate language, write content, and more.

Like other AI chatbots, it gathers information from other sources or uses its data to generate a response. It learns by processing trillions of words to identify patterns that make up human language so it can reply in common language patterns humans can understand.

Since it is an experiment, it is bound to make mistakes, yet it constantly learns from prompts, responses, and feedback. Users can mark responses as good or bad or report a legal issue when appropriate.

Features

Cite Sources

Bard is intended to generate original content. Google has designed the systems to limit the chances of content replication. If it quotes extensively from a webpage, it cites the sources where the content is taken from.

In some cases, it also provides a link so users can navigate directly to the main source. If the response is based on content from an extension, it can also provide the links that it used, like emails from Google Mail.

Fact Check

Users can directly fact-check the responses of Bard by clicking the Google icon below the result to get related Google search queries.

Modify Responses

Bard can reduce blocks of text into shorter sentences or turn complex sentences into simpler ones through its modifications. It can modify its responses to make them simpler, shorter, longer, more casual, or more professional, depending on the preference of the user. Different versions of the response are also available for review.

Users can like or dislike to inform the AI chatbot which answers they deem best.

Bard can also show images along with its answers. It pulls images from Google Search to provide visual context for certain prompts like landscaping inspiration or examples of artwork in different trends throughout history. While one cannot fully rely on the AI tool, it can aid in generating ideas to lessen the workload of business teams.

4 Afforai

Overview

Afforai is an AI chatbot that ensures research-level accuracy with detailed citations for every answer. It can search, summarize, and translate information from multiple sources to provide a relevant and accurate answer, saving many people from the stress of tedious research.

It supports more than 100 languages, making it accessible to more users worldwide. It can filter out irrelevant information, ensuring high-quality responses for every prompt. In the meantime, it can only support the uploading of local documents and websites. It is bound to include integrations with other cloud solutions soon to streamline the workflow of business and personal users.

Features

Afforai features three modes users can leverage to obtain answers: fast mode, powerful mode, and Google mode. Each serves different purposes, yet all base their answers on the documents uploaded, ensuring the accuracy of information.

Users can choose fast mode for applications that only require a small part of a document to be scanned or powerful mode for a more substantial answer. Good mode, however, provides the top 3 results from the Google search to support the information gathered from a document.

Afforaia cites the source where the information has been extracted from and highlights it, saving users time in validating information. It can extract data from various formats such as DOCX, PPTX, XLSL, PDF, and other texts, even links from websites.

It contains a built-in document viewer so users can easily search a file or use it as a reference for additional data citations. It also features unbreakable security, using Azure Server and Azure OpenAI API, for data protection and privacy. It is recommended to keep the prompt length to a thousand characters to ensure the answers the AI chatbot generates are well-structured, informative, and high quality.

5 Perplexity

Overview

Perplexity is an AI-powered metaphorical Swiss army knife for information and discovery. It can handle different tasks, from simple factual queries to complex conceptual inquiries. It can understand and respond to different types of questions, taking into account the context of the conversation to provide a personalized and accurate answer.

Features

Perplexity answers questions by scanning personal documents or searching the web. Users get a complete project view in one space. They can create code, summarize articles, or create a recipe based on specific ingredients.

It features a copilot that allows users to explore topics in-depth and learn new information. It is a conversational search guide that fine-tunes its answers based on the user's needs. It asks for details from preferences or budgets to provide a tailored result.

It can summarize the most relevant findings even when it pulls from a diverse range of sources to get a complete view of information, making it useful for planning trips, academic research, news briefings, and more.

Users can adjust the settings of the AI chatbot, like its language, output format, and tone to suit their needs, so the answers can match their responses in real life. All conversations are contained in a thread where users can edit the original queries or ask additional questions for clarification. Overall, it has a wide range of use cases that extend beyond content creation or customer support.

Conclusion

Lessen the workload of customer support or marketing teams by leveraging AI to drive productivity and achieve efficiency. These tools can streamline time-consuming tasks like drafting content or answering endless customer queries. While they differ in levels of accuracy, all of them can ensure fast response times. Choose from the top 5 AI chatbots of 2023 to provide a better user experience and make almost anything accessible with a prompt.

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. * This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of TechTimes.
In a united bipartisan effort, two senators have unveiled the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. This proposed bill specifically targets TSA, seeking to curtail and prevent the expansion of its facial recognition technology program.

(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Airline passengers, some not wearing face masks following the end of Covid-19 public transportation rules, wait at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint to clear security before boarding to flights in the airport terminal in Denver, Colorado on April 19, 2022.

Terminating Involuntary Facial Recognition at Airports

Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have collaboratively presented a bipartisan bill, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Engadget reported that this aims to terminate involuntary facial recognition screening procedures at airports.

The proposed legislation seeks to restrict the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from perpetuating or expanding its facial recognition technology program.

It also mandates that the TSA must obtain explicit congressional approval for any renewal and dispose of all biometric data within a three-month timeframe.

Senator Merkley has expressed concern, characterizing the TSA's biometric practices as a potential precursor to a national surveillance state, emphasizing the importance of preserving privacy and freedom.

Garnering Support from Senators, Advocacy Groups

The Traveler Privacy Protection Act has garnered support from advocacy groups such as the ACLU, Electronic Privacy Information Center, and Public Citizen. Supporting senators include Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Jeramie Scott, Senior Counsel and Director of EPIC's Project on Surveillance Oversight, emphasized the genuine privacy risks and discriminatory impact associated with facial recognition technology.

In a statement included in Markley's press release, Scott highlighted the government's use of facial data as IDs, labeling it a serious threat to democracy. He asserted that the TSA should not unilaterally subject millions of travelers to this potentially dangerous technology.

Senator Kennedy expressed concern over the daily scanning of thousands of Americans' faces by the TSA without their explicit permission, as posted on his own press release.

He emphasized the lack of clarity regarding the option to opt out of this invasive screening and affirmed that the Traveler Privacy Protection Act aims to safeguard every American from intrusive surveillance by terminating the facial recognition program.

Also Read: Apple Wallet for Driver's License, State ID Coming in 2022; TSA to Accept it on Domestic Flights Too

In 2018, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) initiated trials of facial recognition technology at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Fast Company reported that the TSA presented this to travelers as an innovative and advanced feature, touting a biometrically-enabled curb-to-gate passenger experience.

During the summer, the TSA expressed intentions to extend this program to more than 430 airports across the United States in the coming years.

Lacking Transparency

While the program theoretically permits travelers to opt-out, the practical implementation of this process lacks transparency. Merkley shared a video on X in September, illustrating instances where agents directed travelers to the facial scanner without clarifying its optional nature.

There were no signs in the vicinity of the booths indicating the optional nature of the process or explicitly stating the collection of facial data. Furthermore, the booth arrangement made it challenging for flyers to present their required driver's license or ID without stepping in front of the facial scanner.

Related Article: TSA Tests Facial Recognition Tech at US Airports! Will It Cause Privacy Concerns?

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The official launch of the Tesla Cybertruck was live streamed earlier today, and it provides a deep insight into the electric vehicle from none other than its CEO, Elon Musk, who headlined its presentation. The event talked about the things people already know about the Cybertruck, but it also had Musk offering new insights into the electric pickup which was only made known now.

Now that the Cybertruck is here, the official starting price of the EV was also unveiled, alongside other revelations made, and its first deliveries.

Tesla Cybertruck is Here: Elon Musk's Presentation

(Photo : Elon Musk via X)

Tesla broadcasted their live stream via X earlier today, and it saw significant moments that detail what the Cybertruck will bring to the world, offering more insights via Musk's presentation. Its broadcast showed various shots of the Cybertruck's development, internals, and facade, especially as Musk came in half an hour late.

More details were added by Elon Musk during the presentation, talking about the cargo capabilities of the Cybertruck, claiming a payload capacity of up to a ton, as well as its massive 11,000 lbs towing capability.

On the other hand, Musk also cited that owners may fit 8x4 plywood sheets, but Ars claims that it counteracts the truck bed which only measures 6x4 feet. Moreover, Musk talked about its four-corner air suspension, 48 V ancillary systems, and torque vectoring.

Read Also: Tesla Giga Texas Mayhem: Explosions, Robot-Related Injuries, and MORE Claims Workers

First Cybertruck deliveries in 2 hours! https://t.co/IY2bzUKbUI  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 30, 2023

How Much is the Cybertruck Starting At?

Musk also claimed that the first deliveries of the Cybertruck already rolled out today, with ten units already sent to those who preordered the EV.

The Tesla Cybertruck will start at $60,990 for its base model and may reach up to $100,000 without the EV tax credits yet. With rebates and tax credits, aspiring owners may expect up to $11,000 discounts on the electric pickup.

Tesla's Cybertruck

In mid-October, as Tesla was detailing their third quarter performance, it talked about the much-awaited arrival and launch of the Cybertruck, with the electric pickup finally debuting after massive delays. Since 2019, the world has been in awe when seeing this futuristic-looking electric vehicle, with Musk talking about the truck's capabilities to take on any terrain, including Mars.

A series of tests, leaks, and more surrounded the Cybertruck's development through the years, and this was because those that have already preordered it years ago were not given any actual release dates until earlier this year.

Supposedly, the electric vehicle was set for 2021 amidst the rise of electric pickup developments from rival companies, but Tesla lagged.

From having a bulletproof body and shatterproof glass, down to its aerodynamics that were tested in a wind tunnel, the Cybertruck is now ready to take on the world. The first ten deliveries of the Cybertruck were already distributed to its rightful owners amidst Elon Musk and Tesla's presentation, signaling the start of its electric pickup era to be part of its mainline production to deliver more come next year.

Related Article: Elon Musk's Cybertruck Now Shatterproof, Bulletproof

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Reuters reports that Montana's state-wide ban on TikTok has been blocked by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy after stating it "infringes on the constitutional rights of users." The preliminary injunction comes roughly a month before the TikTok ban was set to take effect on January 1 of next year.

The New York Times reports that Molloy added reasons for his decision, stating that Montana might take the lead in safeguarding its citizens from damage but that it must "act within the constitutional legal context" and that the restriction "limits constitutionally protected First Amendment speech."

(Photo : NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images)

The logo of the social media platform TikTok is displayed on a mobile phone in Hanoi on October 6, 2023.

TikTok reportedly lauded at the decision, as per its spokesman, Alex Haurek, describing the pending regulation as indeed unconstitutional. Haurek added that with the ordered block on the ban, it would continue to allow hundreds of thousands of Montanans to use TikTok as a platform for self-expression, employment, and community building.

Montana's Department of Justice is reportedly looking forward as its spokeswoman Emilee Cantrell, stated that the analysis may alter as the case develops. The spokeswoman says that it looks ahead in presenting the full legal defense of the statute that shields Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party's acquisition and use of their personal information.

According to Reuters, Molloy, a Democrat nominated to the court by President Bill Clinton, has long thought TikTok's arguments against a first-ever state-wide ban has had a lot of merits.

In an October hearing, Molloy reportedly questioned why Montana was the only state to outlaw TikTok and questioned if the state was being "paternalistic" by claiming the ban was required to safeguard users' personal information.

Read Also: TikTok in Hot Water: Nepal to Ban Chinese App Due to Mounting Cybercrime Cases

TikTok's Efforts to Safeguard Data

In a court document, TikTok has reportedly stated that it has taken significant steps to safeguard the security and privacy of its users and has not shared or will share user data from Americans with the Chinese authorities.

NPR reports that with the assistance of Texas-based software behemoth Oracle, TikTok installed a new firewall that has prevented its workers stationed in China from accessing customer data in the United States.

All American data is stored on a server owned and operated by Oracle as part of the Project Texas, which is scheduled to be completed. Independent auditors also provide further control.

USA vs. China causes TikTok Scrutiny

The same report stated that according to national security analysts, the pending legislation and growing scrutiny on TikTok is attributed to the growing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. Washington is described to becoming increasingly concerned about China's advancements in technology, particularly semiconductors, and its investments in artificial intelligence.

Additionally, supporters of limiting or outlawing TikTok in the United States cite Chinese national security rules that require private corporations to pass over information to Beijing authorities.



NPR states that these supporters are also pointing to a previous incident where the corporate owner of TikTok, ByteDance, acknowledged that it had let go of four workers, two of whom were based in China, after the former employees inappropriately obtained information about two journalists in an effort to track down an employee who had released a negative internal report.

Related Article: TikTok Privacy Issues Unresolved, US Treasury Secretary Discusses Concerns

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Booking.com users are falling victim to a scam orchestrated by hackers who sell stolen account details on the dark web, according to cyber security company SecureWorks.

These cybercriminals offer Booking.com credentials on dark web forums for up to $2,000 after exploiting those staying in hotels.

Vidar Infostealer Steals Booking.com Credentials

While Booking.com, a popular website for travelers, has not been directly compromised, cyber security experts reveal that the criminals are infiltrating individual hotel administration portals linked with the service.

In a recent report from Secureworks, an October 2023 attack was investigated, revealing the deployment of the Vidar infostealer to steal a hotel's Booking.com credentials.

This breach provided the threat actor access to the Booking.com management portal, allowing them to view upcoming bookings and communicate directly with guests. Secureworks suggests that this incident is part of a larger campaign, indicating a growing demand for these credentials on underground forums.

The attack involved a deceptive email sent by the threat actor to a hotel's operations staff, posing as a former guest who had lost an identification document. The email, seemingly harmless with no attachments or malicious links, aimed to establish trust with the recipient.

The threat actor later sent another email, claiming to have lost a passport at the hotel and providing a Google Drive link with alleged photos of the lost document and check-in details. Upon clicking the link, a ZIP archive file containing the Vidar infostealer was downloaded.

Vidar, not commonly used in targeted attacks, focuses on stealing passwords. The stolen credentials allowed the threat actor to access the hotel's Booking.com account without multi-factor authentication, enabling them to send messages to guests and initiate fraudulent activities.

The compromised credentials were likely part of a broader fraud campaign targeting Booking.com customers and properties, according to Secureworks.

Read Also: Amazon, Expedia, Glassdoor, Others Form Coalition for Trusted Reviews to Combat Fake Reviews

Malicious URLs

Several properties reported instances of customers being defrauded through Booking.com's official messaging mechanism. Threat actors directed victims to malicious URLs to input payment details, which were then used to withdraw money from the victims' accounts.

While the attack initially suggested a compromise in Booking.com's systems, Secureworks found that threat actors stole credentials directly from the admin.booking.com property management portal from properties.

The use of Vidar in a targeted campaign is considered unusual, as it is typically deployed indiscriminately to harvest credentials from web browsers. However, the flexibility of Vidar as a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) operation allows any threat actor to rent it for their purposes, according to Secureworks.

Cybersecurity experts recommend that organizations in the hospitality sector raise awareness among employees about this campaign and remain vigilant against social engineering attacks.

Enforcing multi-factor authentication on Booking.com accounts is suggested to prevent unauthorized access to property management portals. Additionally, individual customers are advised to exercise caution regarding emails or app messages requesting payment details, as they may be part of fraudulent schemes.

Related Article: Phishing Scams Target Eurovision Fans' Hotel Bookings

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Eleven kilometers into the depths: China says it wants to drill into the Earth's mantle with a special ship

According to the study, crocodiles are romantic lovers  and speak a "language of love"

Five New Restaurants and Travelers Who Are Going to Be Very Familiar This Year

Mantequeria Bermejo, the centennial trade that has gone viral for a few horns

Google will probably fail with lawsuit against billions in fine from the European Union

Why is South Africa's complaint against Israel before the Court of Justice the most important of all?

Osaka-Kansai Expo: Bringing food into the venue is prohibited in principle, and final adjustments are made

Aida Artiles, yogi and model: "Reading and running on the beach gives me life"

The shadow of Paco de Lucia is infinite: the genius that no one has ever met

'The President should shut his face': Anouk Grinberg angry with Emmanuel Macron after his comments on Depardieu

(m+) Artificial intelligence: How Vokswagen, Mercedes and BMW want to score points with AI in their cars

Umea Basket in financial crisis: "Happy if we survive the rest of the season"

Sweden is out of the World Junior Championships: "Has more in it"

Hilda Andersson on the cruciate ligament injury: "Remember that it will be difficult"

Flight to the Africa Cup of Nations: Gambia national football team has to make an emergency landing

In the fight against wind and frost: Derbusheva and Bektuganov became champions of Russia in biathlon in the super sprint

Despite the fiasco  Bjorn Ferry believes in Sweden's chance of a medal in the World Championships

Flight to the Africa Cup of Nations: Gambia national football team has to make an emergency landing

The national football team will compete in the Asian Cup again after 5 years, will it work this time?

Sergio Herrera: "If the opponent's crowd hesitates me, I bite them, I laugh... Someone has told me 'you're the dumbest guy in the league.'"

The mystery of asthmatic champions: Why do 20% of athletes have respiratory problems?

"We checked who ate how much herring under a fur coat and Olivier": Stepanova and Bolshunov confidently won the time trial in Kazan

A second chance for Simeone and Guerrero, united by their sons at Alaves

The Ministry of Finance of Russia will sell currency and gold for 69,1 billion rubles

The government now justifies the pact with Junts on the exit of companies "to avoid fiscal engineering" from which they left

Planas rules out lowering taxes on more foods and encourages the 'super' to lower the price of oil from now on

Cottbus: Olaf Scholz is greeted by farmers' protests at the opening of the railway plant

Bitcoin: Is it possible and recommended to invest via funds?

The "dragon content" of the e-commerce platform has surged, and the atmosphere has not yet been full

Train tickets for the first day of the Spring Festival are open today, and the rules have changed!

Grifols is not convincing: there are no concrete explanations for analysts and the stock is once again plummeting

While Israel's aggression on Gaza continues. What are the highlights of the world today?

How do I know if I'm pregnant No. 1? What are the top 10 questions that Arabs searched for in Google in 2023?

Chinese authorities announce the dismantling of the encryption of the "Airdrop" service from "Apple"

US Treasury: new anti-Russian sanctions imposed on two companies and three aircraft

A resident of the Rostov region was convicted in the case of attempted treason

The first train has rolled into the food giant's large warehouse in Kjula  to supply the whole country with goods

Shocking news: Parts of the hospital in Kiruna must be evacuated into modules

In Tver, the organizer of the financial pyramid will appear in court

Israel is angry and so it will respond tomorrow. Relief and optimism after South Africa's pleading before international justice

The Campo de Gibraltar applies a "drastic drop" in water pressure that leads to cuts during the night

After the withdrawal of the occupation. Al-Duwairi reveals the contours of the next phase of the Gaza war

Qatar Charity launches two projects in the name of the martyrs Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya

Israeli writer: Our borders will extend and we will take Mecca, Medina and Mount Sinai

Hamas: We will not allow the occupation and its supporters to interfere in the future of the Gaza Strip

Russia has told Ecuador that the transfer of its equipment to the United States would be an unfriendly step

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Eleven kilometers into the depths: China says it wants to drill into the Earth's mantle with a special ship

According to the study, crocodiles are romantic lovers  and speak a "language of love"

Five New Restaurants and Travelers Who Are Going to Be Very Familiar This Year

Mantequeria Bermejo, the centennial trade that has gone viral for a few horns

Google will probably fail with lawsuit against billions in fine from the European Union

Why is South Africa's complaint against Israel before the Court of Justice the most important of all?

Osaka-Kansai Expo: Bringing food into the venue is prohibited in principle, and final adjustments are made

Aida Artiles, yogi and model: "Reading and running on the beach gives me life"

The shadow of Paco de Lucia is infinite: the genius that no one has ever met

'The President should shut his face': Anouk Grinberg angry with Emmanuel Macron after his comments on Depardieu

(m+) Artificial intelligence: How Vokswagen, Mercedes and BMW want to score points with AI in their cars

Umea Basket in financial crisis: "Happy if we survive the rest of the season"

Sweden is out of the World Junior Championships: "Has more in it"

Hilda Andersson on the cruciate ligament injury: "Remember that it will be difficult"

Flight to the Africa Cup of Nations: Gambia national football team has to make an emergency landing

In the fight against wind and frost: Derbusheva and Bektuganov became champions of Russia in biathlon in the super sprint

Despite the fiasco  Bjorn Ferry believes in Sweden's chance of a medal in the World Championships

Flight to the Africa Cup of Nations: Gambia national football team has to make an emergency landing

The national football team will compete in the Asian Cup again after 5 years, will it work this time?

Sergio Herrera: "If the opponent's crowd hesitates me, I bite them, I laugh... Someone has told me 'you're the dumbest guy in the league.'"

The mystery of asthmatic champions: Why do 20% of athletes have respiratory problems?

"We checked who ate how much herring under a fur coat and Olivier": Stepanova and Bolshunov confidently won the time trial in Kazan

A second chance for Simeone and Guerrero, united by their sons at Alaves

The Ministry of Finance of Russia will sell currency and gold for 69,1 billion rubles

The government now justifies the pact with Junts on the exit of companies "to avoid fiscal engineering" from which they left

Planas rules out lowering taxes on more foods and encourages the 'super' to lower the price of oil from now on

Cottbus: Olaf Scholz is greeted by farmers' protests at the opening of the railway plant

Bitcoin: Is it possible and recommended to invest via funds?

The "dragon content" of the e-commerce platform has surged, and the atmosphere has not yet been full

Train tickets for the first day of the Spring Festival are open today, and the rules have changed!

Grifols is not convincing: there are no concrete explanations for analysts and the stock is once again plummeting

While Israel's aggression on Gaza continues. What are the highlights of the world today?

How do I know if I'm pregnant No. 1? What are the top 10 questions that Arabs searched for in Google in 2023?

Chinese authorities announce the dismantling of the encryption of the "Airdrop" service from "Apple"

US Treasury: new anti-Russian sanctions imposed on two companies and three aircraft

A resident of the Rostov region was convicted in the case of attempted treason

The first train has rolled into the food giant's large warehouse in Kjula  to supply the whole country with goods

Shocking news: Parts of the hospital in Kiruna must be evacuated into modules

In Tver, the organizer of the financial pyramid will appear in court

Israel is angry and so it will respond tomorrow. Relief and optimism after South Africa's pleading before international justice

The Campo de Gibraltar applies a "drastic drop" in water pressure that leads to cuts during the night

After the withdrawal of the occupation. Al-Duwairi reveals the contours of the next phase of the Gaza war

Qatar Charity launches two projects in the name of the martyrs Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya

Israeli writer: Our borders will extend and we will take Mecca, Medina and Mount Sinai

How do I know if I'm pregnant No. 1? What are the top 10 questions that Arabs searched for in Google in 2023?

Russia has told Ecuador that the transfer of its equipment to the United States would be an unfriendly step

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
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."
Aris said he sent her a letter and a care package about two months ago when he heard of her ill health. "I have had no confirmation that she has received it," he said.

She was recently denied urgent medical attention for severe dental and gum problems that make it difficult for her to eat.

Suu Kyi, 78, was arrested on Feb. 1, 2021, after the military overturned the results of an election that her party had won. The coup was met with protests across the country and outrage around the globe. She received a 27-year sentence on what are widely seen as baseless corruption charges.

Suu Kyi's son Kim Aris told VOA via phone that the Myanmar junta has not allowed him to communicate with his mother "at all," despite concerns about her health.

Myanmar's military junta has blocked communication between detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her family and her lawyers, according to her younger son.

According to her son, Suu Kyi has not been allowed access to her legal counsel since at least January. "She is not allowed to mingle with the other prisoners. She is essentially in solitary confinement," he said.

VOA has been trying to reach the junta's spokesperson since last Friday to follow up on Suu Kyi's case but has yet to receive a response. At the end of October, junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told VOA via phone that they would consider allowing Suu Kyi to see her family if they formally requested it.

Aris, however, said in the interview with VOA last Friday that the junta did not officially notify him through the relevant communication channels. "The military issued some statement via the press that I could put in an official request," he said, "but they haven't actually approached me... As far as I'm concerned, I don't trust what they're saying.

"They're not even allowing me to write to her. I don't see how I can put in a request to see her when that is the case," Aris added.

 Communication Blockade

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Aris said he has used all official channels in his home country to try to reach his mother. "I have been putting in requests via the British Foreign Office, the Burmese Embassy here and the International Red Cross for at least some communication with my mother since the beginning of the coup, and received absolutely no response," he told VOA.

"According to the law [in Myanmar], there is a right [for prisoners] to have contact with family. Not allowing them to have contact with the outside world is a real violation of human rights," said Bo Kyi, a former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, a Myanmar human rights monitoring group.

"The coup itself was a crime," Kyi told VOA, "therefore, the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi was illegal." He added that since the coup, "the military has been violating the constitution they themselves drafted. They are, in fact, committing treason."

The Myanmar Constitution, drafted in 2008 by a previous military junta, has come under fire from activists around the country, as well as the shadow National Unity Government (NUG).

The NUG has called for the "abolishment of the 2008 constitution," and a "national referendum to validate and enact the Federal Democracy Constitution developed by the Constitutional Convention," as outlined in their 2021 post-coup charter.
A group of current and former members of Ukrainian Parliament visited the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to talk about their country's war with Russia. Pictured from left to right: Ukrainian Parliament member Davyd Arakhamia, Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, Ukrainian Parliament member and Chair of the Budget Committee Roksolana Pidlasa and former Ukrainian Parliament member Pavlo Unguryan.
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, pauses during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP) ORG XMIT: JMA103 ORG XMIT: BAT2310181211341171
Tapgol Park and surroundings in downtown Seoul appeals to young and old alike, but at different times of the day.

The park itself is a favorite hangout for elderly people with little money, who play janggi or baduk on its benches and chat over cheap soju or tea.

But while elderly locals have the area to themselves in the afternoon, by night it is taken over by young people drawn to its retro atmosphere in the old part of the city and affordable prices of the restaurants.

Based on data from telecom provider KT, the area is mostly populated by elderly people between noon and 6 p.m., while people in their 20s and 30s converge between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
As employers try to entice their staff back to the office, one of the more common stumbling blocks they face is that people dont want to leave their pampered pooches at home alone.

For some pet owners, coming home to a destroyed couch and a barking cavoodle can be so stressful that they feel just as housebound as they were during the enforced pandemic lockdowns.

Rebecca Gardner from Amazon with her dog Marley at the office in Sydney.

Many companies have tried, with varying degrees of success, to accommodate pets in the office as a carrot to get the owners back to the office, but that can be just as fraught as leaving the fur babies alone at home.

Some members of staff welcome a small and well-behaved dog sitting under the desk, others reach for the antihistamine tablets. Some are so allergic to the hair that they are forced to work from home.
On a warm May afternoon in the far south-western suburbs, Heath Davis is directing a low-key Christmas scene in a rundown house that has been donated for the shoot.

The resourceful DIY filmmaker, best known for the rugby league drama Broke and the wry high school comedy Book Week, has Steve Le Marquand playing a famous actor, Chris Flint, who gets a job just out of rehab as a shopping centre Santa in the comic drama Christmess.

Heath Davis directs Steve Le Marquand, who plays a famous actor fresh out of rehab who gets a job as a shopping centre Santa in Christmess. Credit: Brook Mitchell

Flint tries on his red suit for his two amused halfway housemates: his cheerful sobriety sponsor (Darren Gilshenan) and a free-spirited musician (Hannah Joy). This is going to be the best character youve ever played, the sponsor says.

Everything about the production  the tough-times setting, the shooting location in Campbelltown on Sydneys outskirts, the gritty look and even the title  indicates Christmess is not a traditional Christmas film. While it has a warm heart, it lacks the sentimentality and the cheerful most wonderful time of the year trappings of a hugely popular genre.
Great TV drama uses individual stories to ask questions of the system. The American classic The Wire introduced a legion of unforgettable characters but its subject was failing institutions, from education to politics. The British dramatist Jimmy McGoverns drama Time does the same with the penal system.

Season one of Time, starring Stephen Graham and Sean Bean, followed three men who, for various reasons, got swallowed up and spat out by that system. It was a damning indictment but in many ways season two, which goes into a womens prison, is even more shocking.

Tamara Lawrance, Bella Ramsey and Jodie Whittaker in the second series of Time. Credit: BBC

A woman going in to prison is a very different thing, statistically, than a man being sent down, says former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker, who plays Orla, one of this seasons inmates.

Time is not necessarily commenting on who these people are or what they have or havent done, its just showing the journeys that get people in to this situation, particularly in womens prisons, and then also what happens externally to life, once youre in that system.
Australia has spent a decade as one of the worlds most notorious climate outsiders thanks to a particularly meagre climate policy, even within a lacklustre global line-up. The United Nations annual climate summit, COP28, presents the nation with a chance to rebuild its global reputation.

However, we will probably face international pressure to set even more ambitious targets and address efforts to transition from fossil fuels as world leaders gather in Dubai for the annual stocktake of climate commitments since the 2015 Paris Agreement set a goal of limiting global warming to a cap of 1.5 degrees.

Despite the summits history over the years of lofty goals, and huge efforts to transition from fossil fuels by some nations, it is now estimated that 2023, already marred by international conflict, economic pressures and devastating fire seasons, is all but certain to be the hottest year on record.

The UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference runs in Dubai until December 12. Credit: Getty

Australia is pushing to be welcomed back into the fold and spruiking its improved climate change credentials to be considered worthy of hosting a future summit, COP31, in partnership with Pacific nations.
Advertisement

Eating outJust open Rumis Middle Eastern classics  plus some fresh flavours  hitch a ride to its new home Relax, Rumi fans. The restaurant is still dishing up the cult faves at its new Brunswick East digs, along with some new dishes and an expanded wine list. Tomas Telegramma December 1, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

When you go to a 17-year-old restaurant, you dont want to find it flipped on its head, says Rumi owner-chef Joseph Abboud. Hes just relocated the enduring Middle Eastern restaurant he runs with his wife, Nat, from Lygon Street to nearby housing development East Brunswick Village. Almond taratour with dukkah (rear) and labne with muhammara, served with flatbreads. Simon Schluter There are dishes that, if I took them off the menu, people would find where I live and do bad things, he adds. Im kidding  sort of. Among the non-negotiables at the new Rumi: sigara boregi (three-cheese-filled cigars); fried cauliflower studded with currants and pine nuts; and a saffron-marinated, charcoal-fired quail kebab that the late, great Anthony Bourdain waxed lyrical about when he visited the OG Rumi in 2009. But despite a rollcall of regulars who Joseph is grateful will come wherever we go, hes not resting on his laurels as he ushers Rumi into a new era. Barbecued chicken with rose harissa and warrigal greens, one of Rumis new dishes. Simon Schluter

Advertisement

My all-time favourite snack is labne and flatbread, he says. But weve pimped our dips, so you can add muhammara [red capsicum and walnut dip] or almond tarator by the spoonful. And hes excited about a new brisket dish that riffs on bastourma, the Turkish air-cured beef, but which is instead slow-cooked and served hot with a bean salad. For the first time, hes also recruited a dedicated drinks expert. Steven Kimonides (Kanenas Wines, ex-Burn City Smokers) has taken the wine list from 20- to 100-odd, splitting it into four sections that cater to the clienteles varied vino preferences. Most interesting  and in tune with Rumis food philosophy  are those under The Old, Old World header, from the wine regions of Lebanon, Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. Rumi co-owner and chef Joseph Abboud at the new digs. Simon Schluter The 80-seat restaurants fitout is reminiscent of the old Rumi, with a green terrazzo floor and green-tiled bar, and bronze and brass accents throughout. But a new 20-seat private dining room and an 80-seat events space will allow the Abbouds to diversify into functions. The relaunch precedes the release of Josephs debut cookbook, Rumi: Food of Middle Eastern Appearance, and the Abbouds new all-day bar, Rocket Society, which opens alongside Rumi this month.

Advertisement

Joseph Abbouds forthcoming cookbook, Rumi: Food of Middle Eastern Appearance. Jennifer Soo East Brunswick Village is also home to Bridge Road Brewers and will soon welcome a Blackhearts & Sparrows wine shop and a new food-focused cinema called Fomo from some of the Cinema Nova team  the clincher in Josephs decision to move in. Already it feels like a community, he says. Were all excited to collaborate with each other. Open daily 5.30pm-9.30pm. 2 Village Avenue, Brunswick East, rumirestaurant.com.au

Advertisement

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up
Against a backdrop of a medical crackdown on rogue Botox providers, legitimate clinics are reporting one demographic who are not only undeterred but skyrocketing: men.

In 2015, Brisbanes Injex Clinics saw just one male Botox client a week. Today, staff see at least one every day, estimating a 900 per cent increase in male clients.

More men than ever are getting anti-ageing treatments, like Botox. Credit: iStock

BLC Aesthetics in Melbourne has seen its male client base grow over the past two years, now making up 20 per cent of all anti-wrinkle injection customers. Founder Bianca Lorena says that her male customer base is varied, from tradies to men who come to appointments with their partners.

And its not only Australian men investing in injectables. In the United States, more than 265,000 men received Botox injections in 2020  182 per cent more than received the procedure two decades ago, according to figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Among our lasting stories and images are heroic oarsmen defying terrifying waves, steering lifeboats to desperate souls on sinking ships. But something entirely different took hold of the Australian heart when the Petriana was wrecked. The captain, his wife, six officers and a cabin boy were all British. SS Petriana struck a reef near Point Nepean, Victoria, outside of Port Phillip Bay on November 28, 1903. The 27 crew members were 16 Chinese and 11 Malays. When the ship hit the reef east of Point Nepean, it was robbed of power when the engine room was flooded.

Attempts to refloat the vessel failed. Meanwhile, all aboard were transferred to the Melbourne tug James Patterson and taken to Queenscliff. But if this was a rescue, it proved to be a travesty. Only the captain, William Kerr, and his wife were taken ashore and given a soft bed and warm bath at Queenscliff. The officers, cabin boy and the 27 Asian crew members were told to stay aboard the tug as they might be required for further salvage operations. It was a ruse. Behind the scenes, the closed heart of white Australia was at work.

When the Petriana was officially declared abandoned on November 30, immigration officials in concert with the department of external affairs and, pretty clearly, prime minister Alfred Deakin, revealed their true intentions. Loading The Immigration Act 1901 was slapped upon those who had left the ship and were still aboard the tug. The Immigration Restriction Act was the White Australia policy in all its inglorious regalia. Essentially, it gave officialdom all the powers required to keep Australia British, or at least white. The Act was very largely the work of Australias first attorney-general, Alfred Deakin, who became the nations second prime minister.

Indeed, as the Petriana affair unfolded, Deakin had been prime minister for just two months, and was preparing to face an election on December 16, 1903, just 18 days after the ship went aground. The tug sailed to Hobsons Bay and anchored off Williamstown, where the British officers and cabin boy were permitted to land. No such fortune was afforded the shipwrecked Chinese and Malay crew members. Without having stepped a foot on Australian soil, they were transferred from the tug to a Japanese mail steamer, the Kasuga Maru, bound for Hong Kong. If this treatment of my crew is a fair specimen of your humanity it is about equal to the worst barbarity of other nations. Captain William Kerr Captain William Kerr was outraged. He issued a statement to the Australian press, damning Australias authorities. I have sailed in many seas the world over, but have never before seen or heard of a country where the shipwrecked mariner was not allowed to set his foot on dry land, he thundered. If this treatment of my crew is a fair specimen of your humanity it is about equal to the worst barbarity of other nations, and if it is forced on you by your laws, I regret to say they are a disgrace to the British Empire.

The Australian news media took sides. The Argus, Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald accused the government of harming Australias international reputation. The Age and The Bulletin agreed the government had chosen the right course. Loading Alfred Deakin, clearly happy to make white Australia an election issue, pushed his own barrow, as usual, writing anonymously as a special correspondent to the London Post. The special correspondent shrugged off attacks on what he elegantly called the governments disposal of the Petrianas coloured aliens. The protests were simply the work of political opponents who wanted to overturn Deakins immigration act, he opined. The hope evidently is that by this or some other means the Act may be altered, if not repealed, and to this end the Petriana wreck is still being made the subject of angry comment, he wrote in the lead-up to the election.
Fifteen months later, not only had the Mirvac proposal been defeated, but the entire Sydenham to Bankstown strategy was dumped. Planner Ben Hendriks, who consulted on the project and lives in Marrickville himself, said it became a lightning rod for community dissatisfaction. There was politics at play at the time, he says. At the local fair day they had Lego sets, and you could build your own towers. Whats plausible? While the flight paths from Sydney Airport limit density in and around Sydenham, they are not complete obstacles. A 2018 Sydney Metro document detailing plans for Sydenham station and precinct stipulates the Obstacle Limitation Surface, or OLS, is 36 metres - nine or so storeys.

The arrival of Sydney Metro in 2026 will stimulate the regeneration of Sydenham, it predicts. Profound changes, especially in the northern precinct, are likely to take place. Most of the Marrickville side is zoned E4 General Industrial, which allows for warehouses, depots and breweries but not residential (there are a handful of single-storey homes dotted around the industrial area, however). John Stavropoulos outside his Agnes cafe in Meeks Road, Marrickville. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos The St Peters-Sydenham-Tempe side is mostly zoned R2 Low Density Residential, and at the last census, there were just 8278 people living in that strip between the station and Princes Highway. That is lower than the geographically tinier suburb of Wolli Creek just to the south. Reforms announced by the state government this week mean terraces, townhouses and low-rise apartment buildings must be allowed in those R2 zones. But so close to a major train station, the government would hope for more significant upzoning.

About three months ago, cafe owner John Stavropoulos opened Agnes, about 600 metres from the station in the industrial precinct. Business is going great, he says, with customers including not only industrial workers but creatives and residents from Marrickville. Stavropoulos and his wife have lived nearby for 20 years, and share some of their neighbours concerns about very dense development like the defunct Mirvac proposal for Carrington Road. However, they acknowledge the area needs to change, and that it would benefit their business. If theres a way to increase housing density while avoiding those Canterbury Road-style ugly apartment blocks and keeping the flavour of present-day Marrickville, Stavropoulos is keen. The warehouses arent pretty or anything, but there is a beauty to what has happened to it, he says. Small business people like ourselves have opened up eateries or bakeries or distilleries or breweries. Its really vibrant and exciting. Industrial, creative, gritty: A mural in Marrickville, near the Sydenham train station. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Having said that, we have got to solve the housing issue, which I think is more important. In a perfect world, youd have multi-storey housing above whats happening here. Chasing your tail Esther Cheong, director of Atlas Economics, has studied Sydneys severe shortage of industrial land  which she says is the hidden crisis nobody is talking about  and says she would be very surprised if the government considered rezoning precious remnants of it for homes. The residential side of the railway station is difficult, too, because it is mostly terraces and small lots, so a developer would need to amalgamate quite a few sites to build apartments. To make it worthwhile, they would need to build quite high  not possible due to the flight paths. Youre sort of chasing your tail there, Cheong says. If we were a little bit earlier in the piece and the Metro wasnt just about to be completed, you could look at building over the stabling yards.

Loading Its one of the most well-connected places in Sydney, but freight doesnt catch the train. Its a bit unfortunate, the existing lot patterns and existing uses. Hendriks is also sceptical about Sydenham. Flooding is a major issue to the west of the train line, he says, while to the east, even if you did upzone it, its fragmented. But at the same time, he acknowledges: Its not a bad spot accessibility-wise, and you can design buildings so they can deal with aircraft noise. But with the economics of industrial land so strong, theres little incentive to change. I speak to a lot of these landowners, he says. Most of them are sitting there going, Industrial is a better use at the moment, were just going to sit on it. Cheong says the government would get greater value focusing on forthcoming Metro stations down the line, such as Marrickville and Dulwich Hill, which are absolute no-brainers for greater density.
Children should be explicitly taught how to conduct themselves in a classroom in line with a national behaviour curriculum, a federal Senate report examining the issue of increasing disruption in Australian schools has urged.

The interim report released on Friday also recommended rolling out an annual student and teacher survey of the disciplinary climate in their school, which could be completed when students sit NAPLAN, to better gauge the frequency and impact of classroom disruption.

The inquiry was established a year ago to investigate why Australia is among the worst countries in the world on the OECDs disciplinary climate index, ranking 69th out of 76 member countries.

Inadequate teacher training, bullying and the structure of classroom settings are some of the drivers of increasing disruption, the committee said, while teachers are increasingly subject to verbal and physical abuse from students and parents.
"In recent days, there has been a growing understanding that this is an organized activity, not a genuine emergency... We don't accept any attempt to undermine our national security."

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said his country would not accept Russian interference. "Instrumentalized migration from Russia has continued. I would like to stress that it is not just the number of arrivals that is at issue, but the phenomenon itself," Orpo said at a news conference Thursday.

The Finnish government responded by closing all but one of the official border crossings in mid-November. On Thursday, Finland closed the last remaining crossing, at Raja-Jooseppi, inside the Arctic Circle, sealing off the entire frontier for at least the next two weeks.

The Finnish Border Guard said more than 900 asylum-seekers from countries including Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen entered Finland from Russia in the month of November. Previously, the rate was less than one per day.

Finland has closed its entire 1,340 kilometer-long border with Russia after accusing Moscow of "instrumentalizing" asylum-seekers by sending them across the frontier in a hybrid attack, in retaliation for Finland's joining of NATO. Russia denied the accusation and warned that the deployment of any military units at the border would be seen as a threat by Moscow.

Russia is clearly trying to weaponize migration, said analyst Charly Salonius-Pasternak of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

"There are interviews [with migrants] saying that some of these people have been given an option: Either go to the front in Ukraine, or then jump in a bus or military truck, be driven up to the Arctic Circle or further north, and then be forced to buy a bicycle and try to get across," he told VOA. "So, it's very structured how the Russian authorities have done this."

Russia's actions are seen as retaliation for Finland's joining of NATO in April following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its membership of the alliance ended decades of nonalignment.

"Finland is considered by Russia to be a hostile state," Salonius-Pasternak said. "And as we're seeing through this weaponization of people and flows, it is actively trying to destabilize Finland and maybe cause other kinds of havoc. It hasn't succeeded yet, but clearly there's some intent here."

The head of the Polish National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, wrote on the social media site X on Tuesday that his country would send military advisers to Finland in response to "an official request for allied support in the face of a hybrid attack on the Finnish border." Finland said it had no knowledge of the offer.

Poland accused Belarus of sending tens of thousands of asylum-seekers to their shared border in 2021, creating a humanitarian crisis. Belarus is a close ally of Moscow.

Russia denies accusations that it is driving the migrant flows to the Finnish border. "There is no threat there, in reality there is no tension," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Reuters Thursday. "Tension may actually arise during the concentration of additional units on our border, because the Finns must be clearly aware that this will pose a threat to us."

There are concerns in Finland that some migrants may try to cross the border illegally, risking their lives. Dozens of migrants died on the Belarus-Poland border in 2021, prompting accusations that Europe was turning a blind eye to human rights abuses.

"It's been down to minus-25 [degrees Celsius]. It will go there again. It's supremely inhospitable to anyone seeking to cross the border," said analyst Salonius-Pasternak. "So there is this fear -- will we start seeing video or pictures of people just having frozen in the wilderness?"

Estonia said Thursday it was also ready to close its border with Russia if there is a big influx of migrants. The government warned its citizens against traveling to Russia in case they are unable to return.
Her Purana crew boss, Stuart Bateson, became detective Steve Owen, played by Rodger Corser. Shayne joined because he saw a greater future in policing than the army. Michelle, from Newcastle, was set on being a police officer, but because there was a temporary recruitment freeze in NSW joined the Victoria Police in 1986, the only woman to graduate from her squad. The early days were hectic for the couple. Shayne was getting smashed by SOG selection and training while Michelle was doing the demanding 12-week Detective Training School course. She had study notes taped all over the house, on the fridge, in the shower and in the toilet. I think I could have passed the course, I read the notes that often, says Shayne. They had two children, Tyson and Bronte (and became guardians for a third, Bethany), and Michelle decided that when the kids were young, having both parents on call wouldnt work. At a time when there was no job sharing or part-time options, she resigned in 1997, rejoining four years later.

Back in The Job they both stayed in the fast lanes, Shayne in the SOG for more than 10 years, while Michelle was picked for what was the hottest job in policing. On October 17, 2003, then a senior detective, she was selected for the Purana taskforce with one instruction: stop the underworld war. Michelle Kerley of Victoria Polices Purana taskforce with Steve Le Marquand, who played Sergeant Tom Wickham in Underbelly. Batesons crew were assigned the June 2000 murder of Mark Moran, the June 2003 murders of Jason Moran and Pasquale Barbaro, gunned down at an Essendon North Auskick session, and the killing of Michael Marshall (just a week after Kerley joined Purana). According to Shayne it was the murder of Marshall in front of his five-year-old son that drove her on. Bateson says she often spoke of the child, standing there watching the shooting, frozen to the spot because he knew it was wrong to cross the road without holding his fathers hand. The crew had a plan. Build overwhelming cases against the shooters, so they would do deals to give up the organisers  particularly drug boss Carl Williams.

Bateson says it was one thing to get statements from the killers, but another to manage them until they gave truthful evidence in court. Loading Thats where Michelle was at her best, he says. Using humour, a warm personality, the knack to deal with people and a dogged persistence, she kept three ruthless killers onside. It was the tipping point. Shayne came home to find a bag of an unknown mans washing in the laundry. It was the clothes of a multiple killer who was at a secret location making statements against Williams and others. Michelle volunteered to do the chore. Anything to help the investigation.

Not that Michelle was always assigned the good cop role. When seven-time killer Andrew Veniamin was on the verge of losing his cool, it was Kerley who marched up to restrain him. Even though she was pivotal in charging Carl Williams with murder, he would send her chatty notes from prison, and the hitman called The Runner sent her artwork he painted behind bars. Artwork sent from prison by killer turned witness The Runner to Victoria Polices Purana Taskforces Michelle Kerley. Bateson says Michelles sense of irreverence helped Purana in the dark days, remembering a morale-boosting dinner attended by then assistant commissioner Simon Overland. Michelle said to the assistant commissioner,You are a good-looking man, but you are going bald, and its time you shaved it off. According to Bateson, Two days later I was not surprised to see he had done just that.

When the murder toll kept mounting and the pressure ramped up, it would be a wisecrack from Michelle that would keep them grounded. When the killers became witnesses, Williams was charged with multiple murders. Bateson and Kerley sat together in court when the jury returned the Marshall murder case. When the jury said guilty, Michelle grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. It was perhaps my favourite moment. Head of Purana Gavan Ryan talks to the media after Carl Williams pleaded guilty to three murders. To the right are Michelle Kerley and Stuart Bateson. In an online tribute Ryan said of Kerley: Her legacy is one of displaying incredible courage under relentless pressure to stop the shootings. A kind soul who loved her family, loved her team members, and provided stability in a difficult time. Credit: Paul Rovere It is a lovely story. The tragedy is that Bateson told it as part of his eulogy at Michelles funeral held at the Police Academy. She died on June 18 this year aged 55. At the funeral were loads of friends and family, rows of police brass and Underbelly actor Caroline Craig.

As is the way at a police funeral, the service record is read. She received multiple awards including a chief commissioners certificate for her Purana work that highlighted exemplary service, outstanding commitment to duty, dedication, teamwork, patience, perseverance, and investigative skills. Her Purana reputation should have set her up for a successful career as a police leader. She was a great investigator, fun, hard-working with a sincere interest in the welfare of fellow workers. A note from Carl Williams from inside prison to Michelle Kerley. But it didnt happen. One boss outrageously blocked her from a key job because she was married with children that could make her unreliable. She became a much-loved law instructor at the police academy, teaching students the law but also inspiring them with Purana war stories. Many cops went on to become detectives because of Michelle.

The only way she could get the promotion to senior sergeant that she deserved was to take a country posting to Swan Hill. (She and Shayne had separated by then.) Michelle and Shayne with Tyson (L) Bethany and Bronte. At the station she was seen as a people person looking after the welfare of others, but behind the scenes, she was struggling, managing PTSD. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and troubled by a back injury, she was found unconscious and airlifted to Melbourne in a serious condition. She wanted help but didnt want to be declared unfit for duty. Her medical support team wrote a letter saying it was urgent she was transferred to Melbourne. This is where it gets messy. The police transfer system works by applying for a vacant job and choosing the preferred candidate. Under a welfare application the police officer is shoe-horned into a position ahead of others who may be equally qualified, but that requires the good will of the bosses in that area. If you take on someone with mental or physical health issues, and they require extensive sick leave, that area is left shorthanded. Police have a term for someone in that position  a broken biscuit.

There is no doubt some colleagues who knew Michelle and her outstanding work should have stepped up sooner. Life is not always about the future but respecting the past. Her children drove to Swan Hill, packed her, along with the cats and dogs, to bring her back to Melbourne while her supporters tried to find Michelle a position as part of the road back. Eventually, a compassionate transfer was approved. Too late. Michelle was found slumped on a kitchen bench of a friends house in Geelong. She was dead. We sit with Shayne at the Broadmeadows Police Station. Downstairs uniformed cops deal with dozens of queries from citizens at the watchhouse counter looking for help. In the acting inspectors office is a deconstructed bomb, his Valour Award certificate and mementoes from a glittering career. On the desk are jars of lolly snakes and M&Ms as rewards for cops doing the job. He smiles when he talks of the early days with Michelle and his eyes glisten when he talks of the latter years reflecting on the police force they served with distinction. If we do anything well, it is a funeral.
The whole self philosophy is fraught. In my experience, the only reason work relationships remain intact is because we dont blurt out whats on our mind. If I told Sharon from finance that Donald Trump had a better personality than her, I might soon be out of a job. Dont bring your whole self to work. Credit: Illustration: Oslo Davis, from Stoic at Work The whole self mindset also depends on where you are on the ladder of success. By the time you reach C-suite, you can definitely let your freak-flag fly, and bring your family along for the ride because you no longer need to prove yourself. Youve already made it to the top. As for the rest of us mugs on the lower rungs, we just need to show were good at our job. As a Stoic, bringing your whole self to work would be no trouble because there is no chance youll blurt out how boring Gary from IT is because you will have impeccable self-control.

But sagely behaviour is more something to aspire to than ever realistically attain, given our behavioural limitations. Making progress towards this ideal is all that matters. Rule 13  Suck up, but dont suck up Whether to suck up or not is a hotly debated subject in many workplaces. Most people roll their eyes at suck-ups, yet stroke the vanities of executives themselves at some point in their careers. The suck-up hovers near the boss and other important people, delivering well-timed compliments. They mirror the boss in meetings with infuriating comments like, Thats an excellent point, and Ive been thinking the same thing and I couldnt agree more that [insert what the boss just said]. There is a continuum. At one end is paying a simple compliment to a senior leader, motivated by normal human decency and with no hidden agenda.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is full-scale, vomit-inducing brown-nosing in order to get ahead; clearly, this is fuelled by ambition and ego. Try to limit just how much you suck up to the boss. Your colleagues see you. Credit: Illustrations by Oslo Davis from Stoic at Work Though its excruciating to watch, the workplace rewards suck-ups. If you take a strong, principled no suck-up stance, do not be surprised if your boot-licking colleagues leave footprints on your head as they climb up the greasy pole. More annoying than witnessing a suck-up is the realisation that it is effective. Your job is to listen to a leader talk about their success, ask a couple of follow-up questions and then slink back into obscurity. Unless, of course, you are a suck-up. Then your job is to bathe the leader in compliments, segue into how brilliant you are, and plant the seed in their mind that you should be next in line for a promotion and a pay rise. Those of us incapable of slurping up to executives sit there, wooden and tense, smiling and nodding, taking discreet bites of our sandwich and hoping the salad does not lodge between our teeth.

However, we can learn a lot from these work suck-ups. The ability to say the right things to the right person at the right time is a good skill to have when a project goes pear-shaped or the wheels of promotion need a little greasing. But it requires sharp political skills to come across as sincere and not self-serving or manipulative. You need to be genuinely interested in other people, and pay attention to their responses. Marcus Aurelius was attuned to the false compliments from sycophants eager to please a man in his powerful position. He knew, too, that the truth can be harder to determine when youre in a position of great power. Marcus knew that flattery was meaningless  and that believing the hype and allowing power and adulation to go to your head was dangerous. And here you must guard against flattery, as well as anger, for these are both unsocial qualities, and do a great deal of mischief. That is easier said than done. It is hard to dismiss the warm inner glow of being praised for a job well done, regardless of how authentic it is. Or to disregard someone elses delight at a compliment you have given them. Rule 27  Dont get (too) drunk at work events It is hard to know where to start with this rule. On one level it is obvious: getting sloshed at work events is a recipe for disaster. But theres also nothing better than getting sozzled with work colleagues and downloading on all that is wrong with capitalism, society and everyone you work with.

The trouble is that alcohol incinerates your inhibitions and can lead to conversations with senior leaders that can be somewhat career-ending. Some decades ago, colleagues and I were invited to drinks at Parliament House. The couches were comfortable, the conversation interesting and the company engaging. My friend Caroline and I were both three days into our new jobs as political journalists, so we were keen to make a good impression. Stoic at Work by Annie Lawson, illustrations by Oslo Davis; Murdoch Books. But as the champagne flowed, it became obvious that we were not exercising any moderation. We found out that some MPs were holding a celebration out the back, which we merrily crashed. The couches were less comfortable, the conversation looser and the company a bit rowdier  largely thanks to us. Things rapidly went downhill when Caroline accidentally knocked a politician off a verandah. He lost his footing and rolled down a few stairs to the grass, where he lay motionless. Caroline then cornered another minister and outlined her own vision for the country. But her conversation was so garbled that he just copped a load of spittle in his face. She then shoved her empty glass in his face and said More wiiiiine! He mouthed the word help to his chief of staff.

The next day, our heads delicate and our reputations in an even more precarious state, we turned up to a media conference, where it became apparent that news of our misadventure had spread throughout the press gallery. Journalists and political staffers slow-clapped as we walked in. It will be no surprise that, just a few months later, both Caroline and I found ourselves in a regional court covering a case about a man who had married his goat, with our political aspirations lasting about as long as the mans marriage to his hoofed bride. There is no evidence that the ancient Stoics did not have a drink or two. But it was all about moderation. Back then, too, it was considered barbaric if you did not water down your wine. They encouraged conviviality. Having a drink feels like it washes away our troubles, heals wounds and frees our mind from caring too much. But there is a difference between a couple with friends and eight shots at a work function. A little is fine  but not too much. Rule 22  Dont get caught slagging people off Once you have slagged off an employee, a manager, a staff member or a customer, and they hear about it, there really is no coming back. Whenever you feel the urge to slag someone off  dont. Because it always gets back to them. And of all the people not to slag off, the executive assistant to the CEO is top of the list. Do not under any circumstances fall out with the CEOs EA. They wield disproportionate power and can make or break your career if you upset them. Since the dawn of time, people have behaved badly. Marcus Aurelius frowned upon those who slagged off others. But what if their behaviour is so egregious that you are compelled to knife them in the back? And what if youre the one being slagged off?

According to the Stoics, there is no need to respond by showing fear, anger or despair. Stoicism advises that it is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it. Suck it up, and dont bad mouth your colleagues or customers. Credit: Illustration by Oslo Davis from Stoic at Work If there is justification in the criticism of us, we should learn from it. If the criticism is malicious, it reflects poorly on the proponent. If they spread untruths, then the information needs to be corrected. This toxic behaviour is about the bully, not the victim. Stoicism reminds us that we have agency even if we are subjected to slander or unfair behaviour. We have control over our thoughts, feelings and actions, and we derive strength from our positive relationships with our family, friends and colleagues.

Rule 45  Be likeable, but not too likeable Most people would prefer to be liked, but it is liberating when you can accept that you wont get on with everyone. A mission to be liked is doomed to failure  there is always someone who will snipe about something you have done or failed to do. Defaulting to people-pleasing mode can backfire if you end up resenting the unfair advantage you have given someone else in a bid to get them to like you. Remembering names, being positive, showing an interest in others and being reliable will encourage others to warm to you. But going overboard can be damaging, as Sally Field discovered when she accepted the Oscar for Best Actress in 1985. I cant deny the fact that you like me, she said. Right now, you like me! After that speech, many did not. Marcus believed it was a waste of time to worry about other peoples opinions. And yet, it is difficult not to be conscious of what others think. Everyone wants to be liked, but can someones opinion of us determine how likeable we are? Mastering the art of separating fact from opinion helps bring perspective to concerns about what others think. Attaching self-worth to the opinions of others fuels worry. Letting their opinions wash over you, having discarded the need to be liked, frees you from the shackles.
The Victorian governments signature infrastructure project, the $125 billion Suburban Rail Loop, is a key focus of a highly anticipated ombudsmans report into the politicisation of the states public service.

Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass report will be tabled on Wednesday, revealing the findings of a two-year probe, prompted by reports in this masthead about the influx of political operatives into senior public service ranks and the centralisation of decision-making within then-premier Daniel Andrews private office.

Suburban Rail Loop construction in Clayton last year. Credit: Jason South

The report is not expected to examine the merits of the proposed rail loop but the unorthodox and clandestine way it was developed by a team of private consultants working without the knowledge of senior transport and planning bureaucrats  and much of the cabinet  in the lead up to the 2018 state election.

This masthead has confirmed with four sources familiar with the ombudsman investigation, all speaking anonymously to detail confidential information, that the report closely examines the rail loop. The reflections and conclusions of the outgoing ombudsman, who has been a frequent critic of the Labor government, will be revealed when the full report is released.
The extension was to be Baldings third, and would mean he had served for a record 14 years by the time his term expired. Harris argued an extension was vital for the corporate stability of the sporting body, but it also cemented the influence of chief executive Peter Vlandys. Loading As the Greens MP Abigail Boyd said in parliament, the decision was, in her view, about the minister being unwilling to stand up to the powerful racing lobby and a hopelessly captured government more concerned with how it is reported about in The Daily Telegraph than with the strength of our democratic processes. The Coalition had attempted to move amendments in the lower house earlier in the week which would have added a significant layer of parliamentary scrutiny over Racing NSW, forcing it to open its books to the auditor-general and requiring Vlandys to appear at parliamentary oversight committees. The amendments were scuttled after they were ruled out of order, and the Coalition supported the bill with amendments moved by the independent MP Alex Greenwich.

The Coalition twisted itself into knots over the reappointment. After vowing to move the changes again in the upper house, its shadow racing minister, Kevin Anderson, brought Vlandys into the parliament on Thursday to lobby his own MPs against the changes. As Latham put it during the debate, shadow ministers have been lobbying against the decisions of the shadow cabinet, which does not happen all that often. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Friday defended Vlandys lobbying effort. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos Vlandys, he said, had two police officers with him when he saw him in parliament. The debate is getting rough when Peter Vlandys needs a police escort in the foyer of Parliament House. I think that he was meeting with a few of the Liberal Party heavies, so he needed a bit of back-up, he quipped.

Boyd put it higher. Vlandys and Baldings presence in parliament was a shocking display of what happens when we allow unelected individuals to become so entrenched in what is supposed to be a government-selected board that they feel empowered to directly interfere in our democratic processes. Loading In any case, their efforts were in vain. At about 11pm the Coalition  with the support of crossbench parties including the Greens and Latham  managed to roll the government and pass its oversight amendments 20 votes to 17. It sparked a calamitous final few hours of the 2023 sitting year. Shortly before midnight, as the bill was voted on for a final time, confusion reigned. Members of the government, it appeared, voted yes to the amended bill on the voices before then switching to vote no during the division. Later, shadow attorney-general Alister Henskens accused them of receiving directive  from a faceless operative in the Labor Party.

So like crabs on a rock, they scurried across to the other side, he said. The Coalition objected to the change, arguing that it was a breach of parliament rules to switch positions. At one point, opposition whip Chris Rath raised a point of order before adding I am not sure why I have a sheet of paper covering my head. (FYI, Rath, its a long-held Westminster tradition during divisions.) Loading The governments leader in the upper house, Penny Sharpe, stepped in to push for the vote to be redone because of confusion in relation to a motion. Nationals MP Wes Fang insisted, gamely, that there was no confusion. Boyd suggested the vote be retaken unless we have some sort of video referee to identify which members said what with their voices. In the end, government MPs were forced to vote for their own bill. A walk of shame back across the chamber, as Henskens described it. By 1.30am, the bill had returned to the lower house where the minister, Harris, revealed the government would drop the legislation, effectively ending Baldings term. As the chamber erupted  the Speaker remarked that the events had disturbed the repose of former Premier Dominic Perrottet, who was laughing loudly  Harris said, seriously, we all want to go home.

Both the government and the opposition insist the Balding affair makes the other look worse. Harris accused the Coalition of interfering with the future commercial viability of Thoroughbred Racing and said opposition MPs were in revolt. But the chaos surrounding Baldings failed reappointment has also overshadowed a packed final sitting week in which the government passed major legislation including industrial relations reform, a net zero emissions bill and beefed up laws prohibiting hate speech. On Friday, Premier Chris Minns accused the Coalition of seeking to add a poison pill to the bill in an effort to kill it without going on the record against the extension. He argued the changes made by the Coalitions amendments would have meant the minister would have taken on a much larger responsibility for Racing NSW operations, including, he claimed, steward reviews. Minns also defended Vlandys lobbying effort, saying it was normal for stakeholders to be engaged in the legislation process. He gets invited in to explain what the changes are, and he gets criticised for it. I presume if he didnt turn up then everyone would have been into him as well for not fronting up and explaining to MPs, he said. You cant have it both ways. If hes engaged and explaining what the legislation will mean directly to MPs surely that should be encouraged.
Looking back over Noumea and Moselle Bay. Credit: iStock Not only are the 360-degree views of Noumea and the Pacific superb, especially at dusk, from the 132-metre Ouen Toro Hill, just up from Le Meridien Noumea Resort & Spa (see below), theres also an Australian historical connection. In 1941, the Australian Army installed a pair of 1.55-metre-long cannons designed to repel a Japanese invasion which, unlike other islands in the Pacific, never eventuated. The architectural marvel The Jean Marie Djibaou Kanak cultural centre, designed by architect Renzo Piano. Credit: Alamy Renzo Pianos masterly Tjibaou Cultural Centre, named in honour of the indigenous Kanak independence leader, Jean-Marie Tjibaou, is a must-visit. Built within a gorgeous bayside and forested setting, only a short drive from the centre of town, the centre consists mostly of 10 towering ribbed steel and timber structures inspired by traditional Kanak huts. See centretjibaou.nc

The cafe Any Australian coffee connoisseur who has been to Paris is aware that this is not one of the strengths of the French, something also generally evident in far-flung Noumea. But this rule absolutely does not apply at Lemon Bay Cafe, named after its enviable Baie des Citrons beachside location. It feels so authentically antipodean, in the best possible way, that its no surprise to discover that its the product of a couple, he from Australia and she from New Caledonia. See facebook.com/LemonbayCafe/ The island day-hop There are an estimated 8.7 million sea kraits in the world and most of these land-going marine snakes seem to view Amedee Island, Noumeas popular paradiscal day-trip destination, as home. But fear not (well, maybe a little) because, while venomous, bites from these ubiquitous fetchingly banded creatures are exceedingly rare. Amedees crowning man-made glory is its nearly 60-metre, Insta-friendly white lighthouse, erected here in 1865 and Frances first such structure to be built from metal. See amedeeisland.com The accommodation

New Caledonia, with an economy enriched by untold nickel reserves, can seem ambivalent about tourism, something reflected in the nature of places to stay (Fiji it isnt but the food, as evidenced in this guide, is better). However, youll be perfectly comfortable and well-located at Noumeas two best resorts, Le Meridien Resort and Spa and Chateau Royal Beach Resort & Spa. See marriott.com; hotelchateauroyal.nc The sweets One final, deliciously persuasive reason for a visit to Noumea is the fact that it boasts some of the best patisseries and chocolatiers this side of the Arc de Triomphe. The locals are absolutely devoted to Au Peche Mignon on Rue Jules Garnier for cakes, while for handmade soft and hard centres everyone swears by Chocolats Morand in the Latin Quarter with its astounding range. See aupechemignon.nc One more thing Following shark attacks, including a fatal incident involving an Australian tourist, earlier this year, beaches in Noumea were closed to swimmers. However, they have since reopened, including the popular beach at Baie des Citrons, where a 750-metres wide shark barrier has been erected. Lifeguards are on duty between 8.45 am and 5 pm (4 pm in the cooler season) with swimming outside those times at the risk of swimmers.
Summer has arrived, and with it a slew of festive events to see us through to the new year. Whether its beach days, river fireworks or family feasting youre looking forward to most, why not level-up the occasion by checking into one of the Melbournes best hotels or hitting the road for a regional getaway?

Christmas lunch: W Melbourne

Festive bites at Lollo, W Melbourne.

Did someone say dessert station? W Melbourne is putting on a four-course Christmas Day lunch at Lollo restaurant with the types of indulgent flourishes youd hope for on such an occasion  that includes a festive-inspired dessert station and, for the adults, a glass of NV Adrew Clouet Grande Reserve Brut. Turn things up a dial with a beverage package from $78 a person.

Get a room: From $361 a night. See marriott.com
Lynsey Addario has seen things that would turn up not in our wildest dreams but our worst nightmares.

Bloody, brutal conflict in some of the most unforgiving places in the world. Human beings suffering under the bootheel of oppression. Pitifully substandard medical facilities that contain patients dying for want of basic treatment.

Addario has taken all of this in during a career as a photojournalist that has spanned close to 30 years. A 50-year-old native of Connecticut, Addarios career has taken her from Argentina and Afghanistan to Chad and Cuba and many other points in between. The author of two books and a winner of a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting, Addario discussed her work and some of the people she has encountered in her career on Nov. 7 at Upper St. Clair High School as Town Hall South kicked off its 2023-24 lecture series.

Joking that being the youngest of four sisters is probably the best training ever to become a war photographer, Addario took the audience on a much more somber journey to such strife-ridden hot spots as Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Libya.

With a particular interest in womens rights, Addarios photos illustrated the repression of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban, and horrific rates of maternal mortality in Sierra Leone. During the Iraq War, she photographed wounded U.S. soldiers.

During the uprising in Libya that deposed the dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Addario was captured. She was held by the forces loyal to Gaddafi for a week. During those seven days, Addario explained, she was threatened with death and repeatedly groped.

At the checkpoint where she and her colleagues were seized, she remembered a wall of bullets flying around them.

Addarios photos have appeared in some of the United States premier publications, including The New York Times, Time, Life, National Geographic and Newsweek. Life declined to publish photographs she took of wounded U.S. troops in Iraq in 2004, with the explanation that the images were too much for the public to handle.

Addario responded by asking, Why did you send me to war if you dont think the public can handle it?

Some assignments have taken Addario off the worlds battlefields, such as a photo essay for The New York Times Magazine about Marike Vervoort. The Belgian paralympian ended her own life in 2019 due to advancing sympathetic dystrophy, a degenerative disease that attacks the spine and muscles and left Vervoort in debilitating pain. Addario recalled seeing Vervoort having difficulty breathing, and the photographer decided to help her sit up. Doing this, she crossed something of a line in journalism, which is not involving yourself in a story.

There are a lot of lines youre not supposed to cross in journalism, but Ive crossed a lot of them, she said.

In addition to her work appearing in newspapers and magazines, Addario has also written two books: Its What I Do: A Photographers Life of Love and War from 2015; and Of Love and War, in 2018.

The Town Hall South lecture series continues Tuesday, Dec. 5, with an appearance by chef and food writer Ruth Reichl. Additional information is available at townhallsouth.org.

[gallery_header ids=92548]
OLDE HOLIDAY

On Nov. 19 from 4 to 5 p.m. Old St. Lukes Church will hold a Thanksgiving prayer service and from 6 to 9 p.m. Woodville will feature the Twelve Days of Christmas. Patrons will learn how different the holidays were from modern traditions. The prayer service is free but the program at Woodville, located at 1375 Washington Pike, costs $10 for adults and $5 for children.

FLEA MARKET

A fall flea market will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at Bower Hill Community Church located on Moffett Street in Mt. Lebanon. There will be five rooms and more than 60 tables featuring merchandise. A half-price sale will be offered from 2 to 3 p.m. There will also be a snack bar featuring homemade soup, hot dogs and baked goods.

TOYS FOR TOTS

Peters Township is participating in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys For Tots campaign. Collection boxes are located at the recreation center and library. New, unwrapped gifts for children from infancy to age 14 will be collected through Dec. 9. Call 724-942-5000 for more details.

SCRABBLE

Scrabble will be played from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 and Dec. 21 at the Peters Township Recreation Center. While the event for senior citizens is free, registration is required. Call 724-942-5000.

PT LIBRARY

The Peters Township Library offers the following topics:

n The Underground Railroad in Washington County from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20. Dr. Thomas Mainwaring from Washington & Jefferson College traces the origins of the Liberty Line from the late 18th century, when slavery still existed, through the rise of abolitionism to the Civil War.

n Open Makerspace Lab from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Nov. 21 on the second floor. Participants explore creative technology and traditional crafting equipment.

n School Days In Peters Township from 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 16. Local historian Margaret Deitzer and PR coordinator Carrie Weaver will offer a program about the history of schools in the district, from the one-room facility to the completion of the high school in 1969.

n eResource Exploration from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Nov. 16. Librarian Sarah Quinn will instruct on how to access consumer reports online and navigate the resource. This hybrid event can be attended in person or via Zoom.

n Scam Alert from 1 to 1:45 p.m. or 7 to 7:45 p.m. Nov. 13. The program helps identify potential scams and how to avoid being a victim. This hybrid event can be attended in person or via Zoom.

Visit ptlibrary.org or call 724-941-9430 to register or for more details.

HOLIDAY MUSIC

The Jubilee Ringers from the Trinity United Methodist Church will perform holiday music from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Peters Township Library, located at 616 East McMurray Rd. All ages can attend. No registration is required.

CHRISTMAS DRIVE

The Chartiers Centers White Christmas Drive runs through Dec. 22.

Donations of anything white, such as t-shirts, socks, linens for twin beds, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, shower curtains and liners will be collected for individuals with mental health challenges, including substance abuse, homelessness and intellectual disabilities.

Items can be dropped off at the Brentwood Bank locations in Bethel Park, South Park Shops and South Fayette as well as the Chartiers Center, located at 437 Railroad St. in Bridgeville,

BP LIBRARY

The Bethel Park Library will offer the following events this month:

n Gingerbread house decorating from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 25. The library provides cartons and crackers while decorators bring a can of icing or bag of candy, cereal, marshmallows or pretzels to share. The event is for all ages.

n Yoga at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16 for children in grades 2-4. Participants should bring a mat or towel as they explore creative movements and mindfulness and play games.

n Learn how to use public data to answer questions about your community, also at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16. Rich Lord and Jourdan Hicks of PublicSource will lead the event that will discuss how to access everything from court records to campaign finance data to professional licenses, and what government records are publicly available.

Registration for all programs is open and required. Visit www.bethelparklibrary.org or call 412-835-2207 for more details.

SHWC MEET

The South Hills Womens Club will meet at 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Vanadium Woods Lobby, located on Vanadium Road in Bridgeville. Ruth Siedle Gentile will speak about the pipe organ. She is the daughter of Bill Siedle, builder of pipe organs in the South Hills and founder of Siedle Organ Co. Call 412-953-3209 for more details, membership information or to attend.

PT FUN

The Peters Township Parks and Recreation Department is offering the following one-day programs in November:

n Gnome Wreaths. Do-it-yourselfers, ages 18 and over, will create decorations with wintery greens from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Sign-up deadline is Nov. 10. Fee is $10 ($15 nonmembers).

n Tween Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 17. Ages 9 to 12 will socialize, play games, create crafts, eat snacks and listen to music. Sign-up deadline is Nov. 15. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers).

n Holiday ornaments will be created by ages 6 to 10 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Nov. 27. Fee is $5 ($8 nonmembers). Sign-up deadline is Nov. 25.

n Mad Science Winter Wonderlab from 10 to 11 a.m. Dec. 16. Ages 5 to 12 will experiment with popping corks, shivering quarters and a cloud of fog to create the mysterious North Pole rock recognized as a lump of coal. Fee is $42 ($63 nonmembers). Sign-up deadline is Dec. 7.

Visit www.peterstownship. com or call 724-5000 to register or for more details.

SPRN MEET

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Registered Nurses Club will meet at 9:30 am on Nov. 21 at Hamilton Presbyterian Church on Hamilton Road in Bethel Park. Andrew Fee, regional executive director, Three Rivers Region, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, will speak on Special Olympics and sports.

CRAFTERS NEEDED

The Venetia Heritage Society is looking for crafters and vendors for its Christmas holiday craft show to be held Dec. 1 at the Venetia Community Center in Peters Township. Set-up begins at 4:45 p.m., and the show will be open from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The show coincides with the Village of Venetias annual Lite Up Nite. Email mrsmithcma@gmail.com if interested.

ELKS EVENT

The Elks Lodge 2213, located on South Park Road in Bethel Park, is collecting items for its Christmas Stocking Project. Items being collected for deployed troops include candy canes, granola bars, mints, gum, lollipops, candy, Rice Krispie Treats, trail mix, fruit snacks, individual bags of nuts, power bars, single-serve powdered Gatorade and energy drinks, Slim Jims and individual bags of snacks, cookies, crackers and pretzels. Stocking items will be collected on site between Nov. 1-12. For more details email elkslodge2213@gmail.com or call 412-831-0616.

LEBO LIGHTS

The Beverly Road business district in Mt. Lebanon will hold Brite Nite from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7. In addition to extended shopping hours, there will be ice carvers, holiday cheer, a tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus.

Washington Roads holiday festival is set for Dec. 9., The Winter Market and Holiday Celebration runs from noon to 5 p.m. In addition to music, shopping, a cookie tour, an elf scavenger hunt, visit from Santa and an antique toy trains display, a Christmas tree will be lit at 5 p.m. in the Clearview Common pavilion.

AARP

AARP chapter 3016 meets the second Thursday of the month year-round at Unity Presbyterian Church, 1148 Greentree Rd. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with light refreshments served. Anyone over 55 can attend.

WEIGHT LOSS

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) chapter 475, Carnegie, meets every Thursday at Chartiers Lifespan, 300 Lincoln Ave. in Carnegie. Weigh-in is at 2 p.m. Class follows from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Contests, programs and exercises are offered at a reasonable price. Call 412-818-7489 for more details.
All these politicians who blame the human race for climate change are fake and are only looking to raise money to finance socialist bums who write fourth-rate newspapers. The ultra-right Javier Milei made his views on the climate crisis clear before becoming Argentinas president-elect in November. Milei will take office on December 10, two days before COP28, the global conference about climate change, ends, after kicking off on Thursday. The arrival of a president who denies scientific evidence of the crisis opens up doubts around the future of the countrys environmental agenda, which has been driven by governments of varying political orientations in recent years and pushed forward by a grassroots protest movement.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, began on Thursday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The participating countries  nearly 200 of them  will come together to make progress on the debates and negotiations necessary for dealing with the climate crisis. Argentina has sent a delegation of 11 people, representatives of the outgoing government of the Peronist Alberto Fernandez. Among the delegations objectives is to take stock of the countrys compliance with the commitments its made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Paris Agreement and discuss global financing to achieve those goals.

When they return home, they will have a new president, a leader who contradicts the international science community and denies that human activity is warming the atmosphere, ocean and land at an unprecedented rate. Milei, who is the head of the Freedom Advances party, and who won the second round of elections with 55.6% of votes in November, believes that climate change is another socialist lie and rejects the Paris Agreement, which Argentina signed in 2015, because he doesnt believe in what he calls cultural Marxism.

Expo City in Dubai, where COP28 will take place, this November 29. ALI HAIDER (EFE)

The presidents positions are echoed by other members of his party. Vice President-elect Victoria Villarruel slammed the creation of national parks on the campaign trail and legislator-elect Bertie Benegas Lynch holds that the environmental problem can be solved with property rights. Why dont chickens and cows become extinct? Because they have an owner, because they are of economic use, was his reasoning. These beliefs mirror those of Republican Donald Trump, who was elected president of the United States in 2016 saying that global warming is a lie, and pulled his country out of the Paris Agreement; or those of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, whose environmental policy was marked by the dismantling of governmental watchdogs in the Amazon.

The scientific community, however, has warned that climate change is a threat to human well-being and the planets health and that the window of opportunity humankind has to secure a livable and sustainable future for all is rapidly closing, according to the latest report of the U.N.s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Greenhouse emissions are not being reduced as rapidly and dramatically as would be necessary to keep temperatures from rising less than 2 C during this century.

In 2016, during the conservative administration of Mauricio Macri, Argentina ratified a commitment to reduce its emissions by 15% between 2020 and 2030. Four years later, with Alberto Fernandez as president, it changed its bets and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26% less than its initial proposal. The country has defined the fight against climate change as a state policy.

Confronted with such efforts by the government, citizen protests have placed a spotlight on the social discontent caused by the impacts of mining, oil and agro-industrial projects on local communities. In Anelo, the municipality at the epicenter of the hydrocarbon exploitation in Neuquens Vaca Muerta basin, neighbors have denounced the lack of water. In the coastal city Mar del Plata, injunctions have been filed to prevent offshore oil exploration and exploitation. In Rio Negro, environmentalists and neighbors took to the streets to reject an oil port in the San Matias Gulf. In practice, the country continues to bet on agro-industry, oil and mining to attract dollars and heal an economy in crisis.

Although the allocation for ecology and environmental issues was 93 billion pesos ($257 million) in 2023, a budget analysis by the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN) concludes that there is no genuine plan for energy transition in the country. The organization highlights one fact: for every peso invested in renewable energies and efficiency, 184 are allocated to generation with dirty energies. For example, in recent years, the exploitation of hydrocarbons in Vaca Muerta has grown and hurdles removed for offshore exploitation in the Atlantic Ocean.

If only we could not depend on these resources and leave them in the ground. We are in the transition towards this, says the Secretary of Climate Change, Cecilia Nicolini, who heads up the Argentine COP28 delegation in Dubai. Nicolini defends the search for a balance between the countrys growth and the development of cleaner and renewable sources, but clarifies: Not attending to the climate agenda means exposing ourselves to greater risks, more vulnerabilities and more economic losses. The consequences are plain to see: the country is still suffering the effects of a historic drought that caused losses of more than 20 billion dollars, according to the government.

Its anyones guess what kind of continuity the next government will give to the work thats been done over the last decade. Nicolini expresses her desire to make the transfer so that policies have continuity, but she has not yet been in contact with the Freedom Advances team. Contacted by EL PAIS, the presidents party has not confirmed its presence at the COP28 nor have they responded to whether there will be a transition process with the team who returns from the summit December 12.

Its possible that this responsibility will fall to the lawyer Rodriguez Chirillo, who was confirmed this week as the head of the Energy portfolio by the entering government. This is a possibility because the position of Minister of the Environment will disappear, according to promises made by Milei during his campaign. This is one of the few proposals that has been made by the president-elect regarding the matter. Indeed, it was citizens who suggested that there be a section added to the second presidential debate to address Human Development, Housing and Environmental Protection. On that occasion, Milei was adamant that he does not deny the existence of climate change, but rejected that global warming is caused by human activity. He said: All these politicians who blame the human race for climate change are fake and are only looking to raise money to finance socialist bums who write fourth-rate newspapers.

Concern among environmentalists

We hope that it is only an ideological position, a declarative campaign position, and we hope that Argentina does not go down that road, because it will be isolated from the world, says Andres Napoli, lawyer and director of FARN. Napoli expresses a clear concern regarding the focus of the environmental agenda over the next four years, but he is cautious: We will have to see, beginning the moment he takes office, where all this will lead. Today we must be guided by his campaigns comments. This uncertainty is valid because the ultra-right politician has modified his positions in recent weeks and the partys announcements have been erratic after its December 19 triumph.

Napoli says that Argentina has a global challenge, which is to consider energy transition processes, and an opportunity to develop renewable energies. But to face the challenge and take advantage of the opportunity, he says, it must necessarily have an institutional body with the will to articulate policies. Otherwise, he believes, it is quite probable that Argentina will miss opportunities: Financing opportunities, opportunities to establish leadership in energy and socio-environmental transition, opportunities to form alliances with other countries.

Flavia Broffoni, a political scientist and climate activists, is not as concerned about Mileis denial of the impact of human activity on climate change. I do worry about the issue of institutional repression, she says. For Broffoni, Mileis government, which has advocated for violent control of the streets, is going to put communities in resistance at more risk. Communities such as the northern provinces of Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca, which, together with parts of Bolivia and Chile, form the so-called lithium triangle, site of the worlds largest reserves of the mineral, for which demand is growing in countries such as the United States and Canada.

We are going to tear our hair out over whether Milei leaves the Paris Agreement, just as we did with Trump, but in empirical terms it would not imply anything different from what has already been happening, says the political scientist. For her, the summit is a placebo because it creates the idea that something is being done which, in her opinion, is not the case. The political scientist calls for an honest conversation: To talk about the environment is to talk about the axes of production in our country, agro-industry, the mining and petroleum industry, which are the source of the most profound environmental degradation in our territories. But in a context in which the only source of dollars to pay foreign debt are these three sectors, its impossible to speak of a productive transition towards other energy sources, she says.

The political scientist thinks, at any rate, that the challenge for the next president lies in a more simple question. How are we going to guarantee our population food and clean water in the context of ecological collapse? That is much more basic than the complex issue of renewable energies. In a context of rising global temperatures, how are we going to prevent fires from eating up wetlands and forests, and how are we going to produce food in times of flooding and extreme drought? The answers will have to come from the next president.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Argentine President-elect Javier Milei reacts after the session of the legislative assembly at the National Congress, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 29, 2023.

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 Thursday.

We will not join the BRICS, Diana Mondino, who Milei picked as foreign minister once he is sworn into office on Dec. 10, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

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 office.

Milei, a libertarian, harshly criticized 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.

Although he has toned down that rhetoric since winning the Nov. 19 election, Mile has also criticized the leftist government of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

During the campaign, Milei, an admirer of former President Donald Trump, repeatedly said that if he were to win my allies would be the United States and Israel. Mondino had previously downplayed the importance of BRICS.

BRICS is more related to a political alignment than to advantages that could exist for trade between countries, she said in an interview two weeks ago. We already have diplomatic and trade relations with most of them.

Argentina was among six countries invited in August to join the bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to make an 11-nation bloc. Argentina was set to join Jan. 1, 2024.

At the time, President Alberto Fernandez celebrated the invitation, saying it would help Argentina reach new markets.

The bloc was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009 and added South Africa in 2010.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Family and friends of Adam Al Ghul at his grave in the expansion of the new cemetery in the West Bank city of Jenin, on November 30.

Ibtisam Al Yanun parks her car in front of her house in Jenin, near the handful of bricks and sand that conceals the place where the Israeli army killed Adam Al Ghul, 8, and Basil Abu Al Wafa, 15, on Thursday. She has not repaired the holes from the bullets or cleaned up the remains of dried blood. My husband doesnt want to. He says the blood of a martyr is a blessing, she says. It is the same white Hyundai into which Bahaa drags the body of his brother Adam  leaving a trail of blood  after a gunshot leaves him limp on the ground. And the one seen in the background as Basil, apparently already dead, continues to be shot. The images were captured in two videos taken by security cameras, which have gone around the world because they show  in an unusually unequivocal way  the deaths of two unarmed Palestinian minors. On Thursday, in the street where the shooting took place, friends and relatives replay the images over and over on their cell phones, as if their anger was stronger than the pain it causes them, especially in this West Bank city where the improvised expansion of the cemetery last July, following an Israeli incursion, now holds 24 more graves.

The security camera footage shows the shots, but not who fired them. Bahaa and his cousin Ashraf, both 13, were there. They live on the same street and recount how they had gone up to the intersection with Haifa Street to watch Israeli troops withdraw from their 16-hour raid on the citys refugee camp, in which they had killed two militiamen. We always do, but they dont stop, Ashraf says. This time one jeep passed, then another, and a third stopped. A soldier got out and fired.

One of the shots hit Adam. It came naturally to me to grab my brother. I dont know how I did it, but it was like a nightmare. I could see in his open eyes how his soul was leaving his body. I still cant quite believe what happened, says Bahaa as a friend puts his hand on his shoulder. In the video, he is seen gesturing from the back of the car: first in the direction of the soldiers, then towards the back. I was shouting, mommy, mommy! he explains.

Bricks and sand at the site where Adam Al Ghul died, in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Thursday. Antonio Pita

Ashraf says that Adam used to taunt the soldiers, making the victory sign with his fingers. However, he claims they were doing nothing at the time, which here usually means throwing rocks or fireworks at military vehicles. That does not appear in the images. Something that happens after the death of Basil, whom Hamas has claimed as a member, does: with the corpse lying alone on the ground after everyone else had run away, an Israeli military vehicle approaches. A soldier gets out of the drivers seat, photographs the body with his cell phone, climbs back in and drives off.

Bahaa and other boys his age sit around the spot where Adam died, where someone has placed a flower. The blood, visible in the morning, has been covered by sand since noon. They are filled with resignation and sadness.

A few hundred meters away is the home of the Al Ghul family. Dozens of relatives and neighbors (men, on one side; women, on the other) come to pay their condolences and, above all, to accompany the mourning in silence. Young people serve coffee with cardamom and hand out bottles of water. An eight-year-old boy has died, so there is no room for triumphalist rhetoric, photos, and flags; nor the distribution of dates that accompanies the mourning for militiamen who perish in combat.

I knew they were there, but I wasnt worried. They are children, they are not armed. Its not the first time theyve gone out to where the soldiers are, Adams father, Samer Al Ghul, 49, says with a blank stare. This is a quiet area, its far away [from the refugee camp]. It seems that life is reserved for others. We Palestinians have been like this all our lives, he says wearily.

A relative kisses the body of Basil Abu Al Wafa, on Wednesday in Jenin. Majdi Mohammed (AP)

They took him to the hospital, but I knew it wouldnt do any good

Their faces are grief-stricken, but few men dare to express it. A martyr (i.e., one killed in the context of the conflict with Israel, whether participating in it or not) involves a mixture of anger and pride, a toll of what it means to be Palestinian and Muslim, especially in the northern West Bank, the historic fiefdom of armed groups. I am sad, but... alhamdulila, alhamdulila... (praise be to God), says Suleiman Abu Wafa referring to the death of his son, Basil, in Silat Al Hariziya, a town of 15,000 inhabitants, six miles from the city of Jenin, to which hundreds of people have come to pray for his soul and for the souls of those killed in Gaza. They do so in a diwan, a meeting place provided for them by another family because it is in the upper part of the locality, where it is difficult for Israeli military vehicles to pass through the narrow streets. A previous mourning in a large hall in the lower part of the town ended with the Israeli army firing tear gas. Basil was buried there Wednesday, because that is where the family is from.

Suleiman recounts that he heard gunfire from his home. When the sound came closer, something in my heart told me something had happened to him. I called him up to six times and he didnt pick up. I went outside and saw Adam dead, but I didnt understand that my son was dead too. I am a doctor. When I saw him, I knew he was dead. They took him to the hospital, but I knew it wouldnt do any good, he recalls.

Adams body rests in the new cemetery at the refugee camp, in a makeshift mound of earth surrounded by bricks and topped by two floors. He was buried quickly because, says his father, there was no point in spending more pain and sadness looking at the corpse.

Around the grave, family and friends read the Koran in silence. A woman breaks it to express aloud an idea that many have been whispering in the West Bank since Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped more than 200 in its October 7 attack on Israel: only the Islamist militia stands up to Israel and can bring the prisoners home. Only force can liberate Palestine. Another woman hands out almond sweets: going to paradise is a cause for celebration, whether wielding weapons or, like Adam and Basil, defenseless.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
After a week of truce, the war in Gaza has resumed. Despite the last-minute efforts of mediators, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expired Friday at 7 a.m. local time in the absence of any announcement of a further extension. Shortly before the truce ended, anti-aircraft alarms were sounded near Gaza after a rocket was launched and intercepted by Israels Iron Dome air defense system, according to the Israeli army. The Israeli Air Force resumed its bombardment of the Strip, causing more than 20 deaths in two hours, both in the north and south of Gaza, where the great majority of its 2.3 million inhabitants are crowded together after their forced displacement from the north, the focus of the Israeli offensive. Anti-aircraft sirens have sounded a dozen times in southern Israel due to the launching of projectiles from the Strip.

The first columns of smoke in Gaza were visible early Friday from the Israeli city of Sderot, just a kilometer (0.6 miles) from the Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have renewed attacks from the air and with tanks. In addition to F-16s and helicopter gunships, drones are flying overhead. At the same time, missiles from the Iron Dome system are flying over Sderot to intercept rockets fired from the Strip.

Shortly after the expiration of the extended truce, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement accusing the Hamas-ISIS terrorist organization of breaching the agreement. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens, he said before stressing his commitment to the three objectives of the war: To free our hostages, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will never pose a threat to the residents of Israel.

Hamas, too, issued a defiant message. What Israel did not achieve during the fifty days before the truce, it will not achieve by continuing its aggression after the truce, a member of Hamas political wing, Ezzat Al Rashq, stated on the groups website.

U.S. warning

On Thursday night, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a reprimand-tinged warning to Israel ally that talks to extend the truce could break down. While the other two mediators, Qatar and Egypt, were attempting to secure an agreement for a further two days of ceasefire, Blinken said Washington considered it " imperative that Israel act in accordance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war " and stressed that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement of the scale we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south. The northern part of the Strip has been reduced to rubble and most of its 1.1 million inhabitants have fled to the south of Gaza, following Israeli orders to evacuate and in the face of the intensity of the bombardment and subsequent invasion.

Blinken left Israel on Friday, ending his fourth visit since the war began. On this occasion he held talks in Jerusalem with Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. He also met the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

137 hostages still remain in Gaza

Israel managed to bring back eight hostages on Thursday in the seventh of the agreed exchanges, while it released 30 Palestinian prisoners: 22 minors and eight women. This leaves around 137 hostages in the Strip, although in the last few hours the death of five of the captives was announced, including, according to Hamas, Shiri Bibas, 32, mother of Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 10 months old. Hamas had stated Wednesday that the three had been killed by shelling. Yarden, Shiris husband and father of the children, remains alive in Hamas hands. He has appeared in a video asking his country to accept the three bodies that the fundamentalist movement wants to hand over for burial in Israel. Israeli authorities are trying to verify whether they are dead or not.

The Bedouin community, traditionally neglected by Israeli governments, welcomed the release of two of its six hostages among those eight. They are siblings Aisha and Bilal Zyadna, aged 16 and 18, whose father, Yousef, and another brother, Hamza, 22, are still being held in Gaza.

The 24-hour extension to the truce reached in extremis in the early hours of Thursday morning not only served for a new hostages-for-prisoners swap to take place and to give the people of Gaza a little more time to stock up on supplies in view of the possibility of renewed bombardments. It was also a way for the negotiating teams, almost always working behind the scenes, to push Israel and Hamas toward a further extension, this time for two days, so as not to have to negotiate against the clock on Friday, a holiday for Muslims and the beginning, at sunset, of the Jewish Sabbath.

Shortly after it was announced Thursday morning that the truce had been extended for another day, two armed Hamas members attacked a group of Israelis waiting at a bus stop in Jerusalem, killing three of them before being shot dead. The attack did not disrupt the ceasefire, but it did prompt Netanyahu to assert that it is the same Hamas that perpetrated the terrible massacre on October 7th and the same Hamas that is trying to murder us everywhere.

Despite the relief of a week without Israeli attacks in Gaza, the United Nations warned that the 2.3 million inhabitants of the Strip need much more health care than before the war, which has reduced the hospital capacity of the Palestinian enclave to a third of what it was previously, according to the director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Jordans King Abdullah urged the UN and international humanitarian organizations to increase pressure on Israel to allow more aid into the Strip, a source confirmed who was present at a meeting with the monarch confirmed to Reuters.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Bats are well known for their peculiarities. Between flight and echolocation, the scientific community has been busy unraveling the nature of these behaviors. However, other aspects of their private lives, such as mating, have been less researched. Now, a study published in Current Biology has shed light on another unique feature for a mammal: the bats very long and wide penis, the function of which is not penetration.

Nicolas Fasel is an honorary professor at the University of Lausannes School of Biology and Medicine in Switzerland. By chance, he observed that male serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus) had an erect penis seven times longer and wider than the females vaginas. Since then, he had been wondering how it was possible for male bats to reproduce with females. Penetration did not seem feasible, but he could not be sure.

One day, he received an email from a Dutch bat enthusiast named Jan Jeuker, who had recorded these animals having sex inside an old church. Between his videos and others taken at a bat rehabilitation center in Ukraine, researchers collected and analyzed 97 sexual encounters.

The erect penis of the serotine bat ('Eptesicus serotinus') in Figures A and B, with a 1-centimeter scale, as shown in the study Fasel et al.

Indeed, the researchers found that penetration did not occur. The male grasps the female in a dorsoventral position, biting her on the nape of the neck. Between the hind legs and tail, females have a membrane, called the uropatagium, with which they could prevent copulation, but the male uses his long penis as an arm to push this membrane aside and make contact with the vulva.

Once the male bats manage to move the uropatagium out of the way, they must locate the vulva. There are hairs at the tip of the penis that, according to the authors of the study, could serve as a sensor that helps the bat find it. In turn, they have a hollow structure on the dorsal side of the erect penis that could act as a suction cup to maintain contact for a long time. These are not fleeting encounters; half of the recorded copulations lasted for less than 53 minutes, but the longest lasted for over 12 hours.

After mating, the female shows wet abdominal fur, suggesting that ejaculation has occurred. However, the authors acknowledge that they have not yet been able to demonstrate that sperm transfer occurs or how it happens. This could be a future avenue of research.

As Susanne Holtze, a co-author of the study and the senior scientist at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany, explains to CNN, How their semen actually gets into the female reproductive tract is an open question. It may be that there is some kind of suction involved. We cant fully answer what this mechanism consists of.

The serotine bats form of copulation is reminiscent of that of birds and is known as cloacal kissing, in which both sexes press their cloacae together to transfer the sperm. Among mammals, this type of copulation is rare: this is the first documented case of mammals mating without penetration. The studys authors suspect that this must occur in only a few other bat species.

Holtze, who specializes in assisted animal reproduction, believes this discovery may help to successfully inseminate bats. There are over 1,000 species of bats and many of them are also endangered, she explains. So far, an adequate strategy for assisted reproduction has not been established.

These male serotine bats are not the only chiroptera with peculiar genitals. We have known since 1859 that the females of many bat species can store sperm. This is because the cervix, which connects the uterus to the vagina, is particularly long. In temperate climates, bat copulation usually occurs in August and September, but females do not ovulate until after hibernation, in April and May. Thus, they are able to store sperm for seven months.

Bats also engage in fellatio

This isnt the first time that we have been surprised by the sexual habits of bats. In 2009, the journal PLoS One published a study documenting for the first time that fruit bats (Cynopterus sphinx) practice oral sex. Until then, there had been hardly any recorded cases of non-human animals performing fellatio. Sexual play between juvenile bonobos (Pan paniscus) was the only exception.

The authors of this study observed that females were not passive during copulation but instead regularly licked their partners penis. As the researchers explain, this behavior could have adaptive benefits: For every second that females licked the males penis, copulation was prolonged by approximately six seconds. It is possible that this is because fellatio lubricates the penis and increases stimulation, the researchers speculate. They add: In turn, prolonged copulation could facilitate the transport of sperm from the vagina to the oviduct, or stimulate secretions from the females pituitary gland, thereby increasing the likelihood of fertilization. It could also be that the females saliva has bactericidal properties and thus helps in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

It is likely that we will learn more peculiarities about bats sex lives in the coming years, since it is an underexplored field that is beginning to generate more interest. Fasels team is already investigating penis morphology and copulation in other bat species. We are trying to develop a porn booth for bats, which will be like an aquarium with cameras everywhere, the professor joked to the Spanish scientific media outlet, SINC.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Matter of concern India on US accusing Indian in foiled plot to kill Pannun





NEW DELHI :

INDIA on Thursday described as a matter of concern the US 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. India has constituted a probe team to investigate allegations relating to the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh 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. 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, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. We have said and let me reiterate that this is also contrary to government policy, he said at a media briefing. Bagchi 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. 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, he said, in identical remarks that he made on Wednesday.

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. 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.
Whats status of projects announced in last two years?





Business Reporter

Pradeep Maheshwari, Strategist Natural Resources, and Madhusudan Rungta, President of MIDC Industries Association, Chandrapur, on Thursday asked the concerned authorities to declare the current status of various industrial projects in the region that were announced in the last two years. Addressing a press conference here, Maheshwari also urged the Government to fast track the projects which were believed to change the face of Vidarbha. In last two years, we have witnessed many memorandum of understandings (MoUs) between the investors and the Government. While announcing these projects, it was highlighted that the projects would create huge job opportunities and bring in economic prosperity to the not-so-developed Vidarbha region. But today we are unable to see the progress. Thus we want the Government to come out with a detailed report on the status of these projects. We also urged the concerned authorities to speed up the process of setting up the announced projects, he said. Maheshwari pointed out that the Government has signed up many MoUs involving huge investment spread across the region. There was a proposal to set up a coal gasification project with an investment of Rs 6000 crore.

Similarly, an industrial ecosystem is proposed in Gadchiroli to attract rs 20,000 crore investment. Further, The State Government had recently signed an MoU with Renew Power on investment of Rs 18,000 crore in a metallurgical grade silicon, polysilicon and ingot-wafer manufacturing plant in Nagpur. Apart from this, there were many other projects announced during the last two years. Ferro Alloys cluster was announced by Deputy Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. It must be expedited by land acquisition through MIDC. There is also a need for large clusters for different types of machinery. It must be announced in Butibori. These projects are very crucial for the region which promises all basic facilities. It has enough coal, power, land and manpower and thus the projects are very much feasible here in this part of the country, he said. Maheshwari and Rungta further stressed on rapid industrialisation of Vidarbha for creation of 10 lakh jobs in the region.

Maheshwari said coal and electricity are Vidarbhas strengths which must be given to industry at lower prices. The industrial units in the region should get power and coal at a subsidised rates. And, refinery and petrochemical complex must be set up in Vidarbha. We want a fair comparison on all possible parameters between Ratnagiri and Nagpur for the refinery and petrochemical complex, he said. Maheshwari also took the opportunity to raise the farmers issue and said that the Government must take steps to increase income of the farmers.
Centres nod must MPs on private visits abroad





NEW DELHI :

MPs to follow the norms including the Code of Ethics, which mandates them not to take gifts that may interfere with honest and impartial discharge of their official duties

MEMBERS of Parliament should observe strict guidelines while accepting foreign hospitality during private visits abroad and obtain prior permission of the Central Government, according to fresh orders issued on Thursday. The series of notifications were issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. One of them requires MPs to follow the norms including the Code of Ethics, which mandates them not to take gifts that may interfere with honest and impartial discharge of their official duties. These guidelines come at a time when the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha has recommended expulsion of TMC member Mohua Moitra in the bribe-for-query row. Moitra has been accused of accepting illegal gratifications from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament. The norms said all invitations from any foreign source, namely, Government of any country or any foreign entity are expected to be routed through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In case such an invitation is received directly, MPs are required to bring it to the notice of the MEA and necessary political clearance of that Ministry should also be obtained for the purpose. Members of Parliament are required to obtain prior permission of the Central Government for accepting any foreign hospitality during their private visits abroad or visits abroad in their personal capacity, a new notification under Section 6 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, another notification said. MPs are also advised that their applications for acceptance of foreign hospitality must reach the Ministry of Home Affairs at least two weeks before the proposed date of onward journey, it said. Before accepting the hospitality, the Members should satisfy themselves about the credentials of the organisation/institution extending the hospitality, the communication said. Another notification said MPs are requested to send information of their visit abroad, stating the purpose, to the Secretary-General at least 3 weeks in advance so that the MEA and the Indian mission/post concerned could be informed of the same. Members are also requested to e-mail their itineraries, as soon as they are finalised, to Joint Secretary, in-charge of Conference & Protocol Section. Another fresh notification reiterated the Code of Ethics that Parliamentarians must follow which says MPs must not do anything that brings disrepute to the Parliament and affects their credibility.

They must also utilise their position as MP to advance general well-being of the people, the Code reiterated. The Members of Rajya Sabha should acknowledge their responsibility to maintain the public trust reposed in them and should work diligently to discharge their mandate for the common good of the people. They must hold in high esteem the Constitution, the Law, Parliamentary Institutions and above all the general public. Members should not take a gift which may interfere with honest and impartial discharge of their official duties. They may, however, accept incidental gifts or inexpensive mementoes and customary hospitality, the Code of Ethics said. In their dealings, if Members find that there is a conflict between their personal interests and the public trust which they hold, they should resolve such a conflict in a manner that their private interests are subordinated to the duty of their public office, it also said.

The Code also said that MPs should always see that their private financial interests and those of the members of their immediate family do not come in conflict with the public interest and if any such conflict ever arises, they should try to resolve such a conflict in a manner that the public interest is not jeopardised. Invitations to MPs should also be sent to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division (FCRA), for accepting any foreign hospitality being offered during visits abroad. On receipt of political clearance from the MEA and FCRA permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs, an MP shall keep the Rajya Sabha Chairman informed, inter-alia, of the purpose of the visit and the hospitality proposed to be received. Before accepting the hospitality, the Members should satisfy themselves about the credentials of the organisation/ institution extending the hospitality, the notification said. The Code of Ethics also states that MPs should never expect or accept any fee, remuneration or benefit for a vote given or not given by them on the floor of the House, for introducing a Bill, for moving a resolution or desisting from moving a resolution, putting a question or abstaining from asking a question or participating in the deliberations of the House or a Parliamentary Committee.

If members are in possession of a confidential information owing to their being MPs or Members of Parliamentary Committees, they should not disclose such information for advancing their personal interests, it stressed. Members should not misuse the facilities and amenities made available to them. Members should not be disrespectful to any religion and work for the promotion of secular values. Members are expected to maintain high standards of morality, dignity, decency and values in public life, the code also said. In another notification, as per the Members of Rajya Sabha (Declaration of Assets and Liabilities) Rules, 2004, all elected MPs of Rajya Sabha are required to furnish information to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha regarding their assets and liabilities within ninety days from the date on which they make and subscribe an oath or affirmation for taking their seat in the Council. Members should furnish information about assets and liabilities within India and abroad.

Another notification said that while MPs and their spouses are entiled to get diplomatic passport, they can use them for private visit (tourism or to visit friends/relatives), but they are not meant to be used when travelling abroad for private business. In yet another notification, the Secretariat said the decorum and the seriousness of the proceedings of the House require that there should be no 'Thanks', 'Thank You', 'Jai Hind', 'Vande Mataram' or any other slogans raised in the House. Rulings given by the Chair should not be criticised directly or indirectly inside or outside the House. Questions pertaining to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat/ Lok Sabha Secretariat and the functions of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha/Speaker, Lok Sabha are not answered on the floor of the House. Reference to Officers of either House in debates is improper, it said. The order said production of exhibits on the floor of the House is not in order as per Parliamentary Etiquette which is required to be observed by them.
EC seizes over Rs 2,000 crore from poll-bound States





NEW DELHI,

THE Election Commission cracked its whip on several occasions to ensure a level playing field for all parties in the five States where Assembly polls were held even as authorities seized freebies, drugs, cash and liquor worth over Rs 2,000 crore aimed at alluring voters. Elections were held in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana between November 7-November 30 and the counting of votes would take place on December 3. Acting on complaints and inputs by the local poll machinery, the EC issued show cause notices and advisories to top politicians to adhere to the provisions of the model code.

It withdrew permission given to the Telangana Government for disbursements of financial aid to farmers for rabi crops under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme after a State Minister violated the provisions of the model code by making a public announcement about it. The poll panel had given its nod to the State Government to disburse the rabi installment during the model code of conduct period on certain grounds.

It had also asked the Government not to carry out the proposed Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, its mega outreach programme on schemes and initiatives, in these five States till December 5. The Government had made it clear that the yatra will not cover poll-going States till the model code of conduct was in force. Recently, the Election Commission also sought an explanation from the Congress Government in Karnataka over advertisements publicising its achievements in newspapers in Telangana.
GMCH Platinum Jubilee celebration President Droupadi Murmu to honour four exemplaries





Staff Reporter

The land on which Government Medical College and Hospital, 2nd biggest hospital in Asia (volume-wise) is situated on was donated to the college by Sir Colonel Dr Krishnaji Vishnu Kukday. President of India Droupadi Murmu, who will be gracing the function of platinum jubilee of GMCH on Friday, will be honouring four persons and Kukday is one of them. Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has completed 75 years of its existence and to mark the same, it has organised Platinum Jubilee function on December 1, 2023. The programme will be contribution to the college and society is unforgettable. Dr Subhedar is among the first students of first batch of 1947. He later joined GMCH and worked as Head of the Department of Medicine. The fourth person to be felicitated by President is Dr Pramod Giri, a well-known neurosurgeon. Dr Giri is an alumnus of GMCH of 1991 batch. Among the youngsters, he is probably the one who is still rendering services to Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), a part of GMCH, his almamater. He has also donated a handsome sum for the platinum jubilee celebrations.

Dr Kukday went to London for higher education. He cracked Indian Medical Service examination and joined Indian Army. His exemplary work and devotion to duty was recognised by the Government and he was awarded the Knighthood. He was the first Indian Surgeon General to the Government of Bombay, Civil Surgeon at Thane, In-charge of Mental Hospital and rendered exemplary service. He was also the Founder of Nagpur branch of Pune Seva Sadan Society, associated with Blind Relief School. After serving for the Army he got retired in the year 1928. He passed away in May 1958. Adv Dinkar Kukday, the grandson of Colonel Dr Kukday will receive the honour. Adv Kukday, who is practicing at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court, has worked as Assistant Government Pleader and Assistant Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court from 1993.

In second honour, Gokhale family started Dr Shakuntala Gokhale Charitable Trust in memory of Daughter of Akola Dr Shakuntala Gokhale. Late Dr Shakuntala Gokhale, MBBS MS FRCS was daughter of Nagesh Keshav Gokhale from Akola. She was a spinster and a successful eye surgeon and rendered her services in India and UK. She always wanted to give back to society and she had donated to schools and several other charitable causes. The Trust in her name had earlier donated ophthalmology equipment to Akola GMC and recently a cardiac ambulance. As an alumnus of GMCH, Nagpur 1961 batch, she wanted to do something for her almamater. Ravi Limaye, the close relative of Dr Shakuntala Gokhale will receive an honour on her behalf. He served Indian Air Force and later in private sector worked for IT projects, education sector groups at Bhopal. He is Member Secretary of Dr Shakuntala Gokhale Charitable Trust.
When writer and journalist Juan Jose Millas had a conversation with ChatGPT in September, he pretended to have a psychoanalysis session with the tool. He wanted to use the Turing test to find out if the chatbot could talk to him like a real person  specifically, like a psychoanalyst  and not a computer. The journalist told the artificial intelligence about his dreams and fears, waiting for the AI to guide him in therapy, but, among other things, it always told him that it was an imaginary situation and explained that it was a language model. Millas called his virtual psychoanalyst narrow-minded and forgetful; ultimately, that told him that the AI had failed the test.

In conversations like Millas, a persons prior beliefs about an artificial intelligence (AI) agent, such as ChatGPT, have an effect on the conversation and on perceptions of the tools reliability, empathy and effectiveness, according to researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Arizona State University, who recently published a study in the Nature Machine Intelligence journal. We have found that artificial intelligence is the viewers intelligence. When we describe to users what an AI agent is, it doesnt just change their mental model; it also changes their behavior. And since the tool responds to the user, when people change their behavior, that also changes the tools behavior, says Pat Pataranutaporn, a graduate student in the Fluid Interfaces group at the MIT Media Lab and a co-author of the study.

Many people think AI is just an engineering problem, but its success is also a human-factor problem, says Pattie Maes, the author of the study and MIT professor. How we talk about it can have a huge impact on the effectiveness of these systems. We attribute human forms and qualities to AI, making it seem more human or personal than it really is, adds Ruby Liu.

The study included 310 participants, whom researchers put into three randomly selected groups. They then gave each group different background information about AI. The participants had to discuss their mental health with an AI agent for approximately 30 minutes, determine whether they would recommend it to a friend, and rate it. The first group was told that the agent had no intentions in the conversation, the second was told that the AI had benevolent intentions and cared about their well-being, and the third was told that it had malicious intentions and would try to trick them.

Half of the participants in each group spoke to an artificial intelligence agent based on the GPT-3 generative language model, a deep learning model that can generate human-like text. The other half talked with an implementation of the ELIZA chatbot, a less sophisticated, rule-based natural language processing program developed at MIT in the 1960s.

The studys results revealed that user predisposition toward the tool was decisive: 88% of people who received positive information and 79% of those who received neutral information believed that the AI was empathetic or neutral, respectively. Angel Delgado, an AI engineer at Paradigma Digital, believes that the positive majority is also the result of using GPT-3, which is the first to pass the Turing test: It consists of letting a person interact with the AI [tool] without telling them whether it is AI or not, to see if they can guess. GPT-3 is the first language model that has had such good results that it seems like a human.

People who were told that the tool was caring tended to talk to it in a more positive way, which made the agents responses more positive as well. Ramon Lopez de Mantaras, the director of the Spanish National Research Councils Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, explains that the more you talk to the tool, the more it learns: The interlocutor teaches artificial intelligence. You can correct, confirm and qualify its responses, he adds.

From a fear of the Terminator to a lack of criticism

Negative priming statements (i.e., unfavorable information given to someone just before interacting with the AI agent) had the opposite effect: only 44% of participants who received unflattering information about the tool trusted it. With the negative statements, instead of priming them to believe something, we were priming them to form their own opinion. If you tell someone to be suspicious of something, theyre likely to be even more suspicious in general, says Ruby Liu.

The influence of science fiction is a key factor in negative thinking about AI, Patti Maes explains. Movies like The Terminator and The Matrix depict scenarios in which AI becomes self-aware and brings about the downfall of humanity. These fictional accounts contribute to the fear that AI could take over and overtake human intelligence, which would pose a threat to our existence.

According to the studys findings, previous thoughts about language models can have such a strong impact that they could be used to make the agent seem more capable than it is and cause people to trust it too much or follow incorrect advice. Lopez de Mantaras puts it bluntly: The tool you are interacting with is not an intelligent person. People believe that the machine is intelligent and listen to what it says without any critical thinkingWe are becoming less and less capable of critical thinking.

Experts agree that we must be aware of how artificial intelligence works and comprehend that it is programmed. We should prepare people more to be more careful and understand that AI agents can hallucinate and are biased. How we talk about AI systems will have a major effect on how people respond to them, says Maes.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
HC nod to Futala Lake fountain; PIL disposed of





Staff Reporter

High Court on Thursday cleared the cloud of doubts over the Futala Lake as it dismissed a challenge mounted on the ambitious project by environmental activists. While disposing off the petition, the division bench of Justice A S Chandurkar and Justice Vrushali Joshi directed Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to ensure that there is no construction of permanent nature in the lake. HC observed that Futala Lake per se is not covered by definition of term wet land and upheld official contention that it is man-made water body. At the same time however, the learned Judges directed the respondent, MMRCL, Nagpur Improvement Trust, Nagpur Metropolitan Development Authority (NMRDA), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krushi Vidyapeeth to ensure that lake should be kept clean and ensure that no harm comes to aqua life by any of the activities.

In the order, the HC further mentioned that the agencies tasked with erection of fountain and construction of viewers gallery, should not violate the Rules of 2017 and refrain for construction of permanent nature within Futala Lake. The interim direction in this regard would continue so as to protect and preserve Futala Lake in its pristine form. The contention of petitioner, Swaccha Association, was that Futala Lake was wetland and hence any construction herein is bound to violate the rules. They prayed for interim stay to stop installation of fountain in the lake and demolition of viewers gallery. That prayers however was not granted by the HC, it continued with hearing the case so as to decide the status and whether it is a wetland or otherwise. Adv S A Rajeshirke arguing for the petitioner, said though Futala Lake was not declared as a wetland in terms of Rule 2(1)(g) of the Rules of 2017, still it was an identified wetland and referred to National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA). The said inventory was taken in the year 2006-07 and Futala Lake having been identified as a wetland, the provisions of the Rules of 2017 ought to be applied with full rigor. Therefore in such water body no permission can be granted for any type of construction and referred to Rule 4(2) of the Rules of 2017, it was urged that the activities undertaken by the respondents were prohibited for being so undertaken at a wetland. Such activities amounted to committing an encroachment on a water body.

He also referred to environmental status report of NEERI that contended that quality of lake water would deteriorate with use of lake for such activities. However the senior counsels for respondents stated on record that Futala Lake is not identified as wetland and submitted relevant documents. HC also took on record affidavit of MMRCL that they are not going for permanent construction of any nature at the lake. HC also directed respondents to ensure that the water body where the floating banquet hall, floating restaurant as well as Artificial Banyan Tree are proposed is kept clean and is properly maintained by taking all necessary precautions. Further, HC observed that though Futala Lake is not declared wetland, the duties and responsibilities imposed by the aforesaid provisions would have to be adhered to in true letter and spirit. S K Mishra, Senior Advocate, assisted by A S Fulzele, Additional Government Pleader, J B Kasat, Adv Anand Parchure, Adv S M Puranik, A R Patil, represented various respondents, including State Government. Deputy Solicitor General of India N S Deshpande represented the Centre.
India has walked the talk





NEW DELHI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for supporting developing countries with adequate climate financing and technology transfer to enable them to deal with climate change. As he heads to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit, Modi said India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action while highlighting the importance India attached to the issue during its G20 presidency. 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. Modi will attend the World Climate Action Summit on Friday during the United Nations Conference of the Parties on climate, known as COP28. Several world leaders are set to 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. The Prime Minister 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, the Prime Minister 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 Prime Minister said he was looking forward to joining special events including on climate finance and green credit initiative. In keeping with our civilisational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development, Modi said.
LAsting legacy





The life story of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw deserves to be told, says actor Fatima Sana Shaikh, who hopes her upcoming film Sam Bahadur, on the decorated war hero, will inspire the new generation. Sam Bahadur is directed by Meghna Gulzar and stars Vicky Kaushal in the title role. Fatima, who plays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film, said working on the film was a learning experience for her. "Sam Bahadur will reach a lot of people. It will move and inspire a lot of people. A whole generation doesn't know about him, I didn't know about him. It is okay. Through movies, you discover real-life heroes.

"Sometimes you need somebody else to believe that this is the story that needs to be told, and it is a brave thing to do. It is a larger-than-life character, it is a responsibility that you are taking, it is a huge risk and we all are looking forward to this film," the actor told PTI in an interview here. Regarding her portrayal of Gandhi in the film, Fatima said she wasn't sure if she could pull off the iconic character. "I feel lucky to play this role. But to be honest, it took me a while to believe I could do it. She (Meghna) was already convinced but I wasn't. We have seen in the past that so many of them have played this role before, but what's interesting in this film is I'm playing a younger Indira Gandhi," she said. It was critical to capture Gandhi's essence and that's why they chose to steer clear of prosthetics, she added. "We are not using prosthetics. It is slightly easier if you use prosthetics.

Now, without prosthetics, I'm seeing a bit of me as well. So, I had to find the spirit of the character. "If I've got the spirit right, then I'm in a safe place. She (Meghna) really helped me to find the spirit. I feel lucky I got to play this role." Meghna said they often had to ask Fatima to relax on the film set. "We have done the ageing make-up (on her). When she makes those faces and has animated conversations, we would feel it might all (make-up) come out. We are like, 'Calm down, sit still'." Fatima said the audience's reaction to her work is what matters the most to her. "Nothing is more satisfying than somebody coming up to you and saying, 'Your performance moved me'. So, when you play a character that moves people, it feels really good. It has happened to me with Dangal. My endeavour has always been to give my best every time," she said. Sam Bahadur, produced by RSVP Movies, also features Sanya Malhotra. The film is slated to be released on December 1. n
OPEC+ Difficulties





By K Raveendran

OIL MARKETS are eagerly awaiting the outcome at the forthcoming OPEC+ meeting this week, after internal troubles forced a postponement of the meeting originally scheduled for November 26. The meeting assumes great significance both for producing as well as importing countries, especially amidst assessments that a new agreement to cut production is going to be challenging. While OPEC meetings have been postponed previously as well, it is the first time that the postponement has lasted days. The postponement itself forced a drop of more than 4 per cent in the crude oil prices. Crude prices started the week by trading around $74.70 per barrel, with Brent crude dropping to around $80 per barrel. After having registered a slight increase, the first such spike in weeks, prices declined mid-week after OPEC+ postponed the ministerial meeting to November 30 to reconcile production targets in African countries. The postponement indicates difficulties within the OPEC+ group to reach an agreement to cut production. Every member country acknowledges the need to reduce output to support prices into 2024, but the question is how to share the burden of the supply cut. It is assumed that without further cuts, prices will stay around $80 per barrel for 2024. The 2024 production quotas decided in June 2023 included a lower production target for nine of the 23 member countries, which are Russia, Nigeria, Angola, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Brunei and Sudan. Experts feel it would be difficult for these countries to accept even lower production quotas.

Despite the challenges, however, oil market specialist Rystad Energy expects OPEC+ to reach an agreement to reduce production in the upcoming meeting. This could involve further voluntary cuts from members such as the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq. At the same time, Rystad is not ready to rule out the possibility of a deadlock. There is a great deal of anticipation over what kingpin Saudi Arabia decides over its voluntary crude oil production cuts of 1 million barrels per day (bpd). Regardless of the path they take, Saudi Arabias decision on the production cuts will ultimately shape the short-term future of global oil prices. The kingdom is balancing the desire to keep prices high by limiting supply with the knowledge that doing so will lead to a further drop in overall market share. The recent price declines could be an indicator of what may be expected at the OPEC meeting, as the Saudis have repeatedly demonstrated that their price floor is above $80 per barrel. Saudi Arabia announced its voluntary cuts on the sidelines of that meeting, initially committing to a 1 million-bpd output cut for July. This was then extended on a monthly basis into August and September, while in early September, Riyadh announced the extension until the end of this year. Oil markets will be looking to see if Saudi Arabia extends these cuts into 2024 or if it chooses to gradually unwind them or simply let them expire at the end of this year. Whichever way it goes, Saudi Arabias decision will have significant implications for oil markets and, in particular, for the oil price next year.

Rystad Energy assumes the Saudi voluntary cuts will not be extended into 2024, as supply has surprised on the upside, signifying a balanced market for next years first quarter. More importantly, a looming market surplus of over 600,000 bpd is in sight for the second quarter. Going forward, the second half of next year is expected to show a deficit of around 450,000 bpd. This overall, Rystad expects the oil market in 2024 to be fairly balanced compared to the significant deficit of around 1.2 million this year. The downside pressure on oil price has mounted in recent weeks, with prices falling below $80 per barrel in a severe sell-off driven by oversupply concerns. This is significantly below oil price levels right after the outbreak of the IsraelHamas conflict that began in early October, when prices reached almost $95 per barrel. To add more fuel to the bearish sentiment, recent data shows that US commercial crude inventories have increased in the last four weeks and now stand at 440 million barrels, up from 420 million barrels a month ago. Rystad analysis shows that, in the scenario where Saudi Arabia does not extend the voluntary cuts, market bearishness will extend with oil price will average slightly above $80 per barrel next year. On the other extreme, if Saudi Arabia extends voluntary cuts until April 2024 and then gradually unwinds them, the price would average $96 per barrel in 2024. The latest estimate from the IMF suggests a break-even price of $86 per barrel for the Saudi oil. This would mean that the Saudis will need to keep giving away market share, at least until June 2024, to achieve that price level.
Outgoing CS Bains accorded warm farewell





Staff Reporter

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that everyone lives for themselves, to live for our country, State and society is to live in reality. Chief Secretary Bains served the State as an administrative officer for 38 years and was dedicated to the welfare of the people. What is called living for the country, state and society, he did this. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the farewell ceremony of Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains in the Mantralaya. CM Chouhan was welcomed by Additional Chief Secretary General Administration Vinod Kumar by presenting him a bouquet. Kumar also welcomed Chief Secretary Bains and new in-charge Chief Secretary Veera Rana by presenting them a bouquet. On this occasion, Chouhan also presented a memento to Bains. All the Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and other officers were present in the farewell ceremony. Chouhan said that Bains is a person who remains equal in every situation and looks at everyone with equanimity. He met every criterion and faced the biggest challenge of COVID-19 with determination and wisdom. During the COVID period, transport facilities were provided in Madhya Pradesh to workers going from other states to their home states.

This humanitarian work could be implemented effectively due to his sensitivity. Bains was positive towards every idea of public welfare. He implemented every suggestion and idea given for public welfare within the time limit in an administratively effective manner. He said that Bains discharged his responsibilities without coming under stress, pressure and influence. He expressed his views with logic. Roadmap of self-reliant Madhya Pradesh, CM Rise School, Anand Vibhag, implementation of Citizen Charter were his major achievements. He said that it is hoped that he will maintain his activism and continue to contribute his experience in the interest of the state. We wish that the latter part of his life should be useful, meaningful and successful. He wished Bains a happy and healthy life. Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains said that my administrative journey was pleasant and productive. As a result of the trust placed in me by Chief Minister Chouhan, I was able to successfully carry out big responsibilities. There was no lack of devotion towards duty on my part. My colleagues also provided full support in my journey. I am definitely retiring but I am still among you all, because you all are my family and families never leave, there is no farewell to them.
Rubbing salt in wounds Paltry sum of Rs 8.38 crore for Sept 23 flood-affected citizens





Staff Reporter

Revenue and Forest Department of State Government, on Thursday, released a paltry sum of Rs 8.38 crore for construction of bridges and roads as well as damage to households caused by the Ambazari floods of September 2023. Whats more interesting is that the word Ambazari is missing in the Government Resolution (GR). There is mention of aid for damage to property and basic infrastructure caused due to excessive rainfall and flood in Nagpur city in September 2023. The Hitavada had run a series of reports highlighting the woes of Nagpurians affected due to Ambazari floods, and all the affected persons had dubbed the promised aid of Rs 10,000/- as inadequate. The Hitavada had also raised the issue of the norms of State Disaster Response Fund that had provision for a small amount, and had urged the State Government to intervene and provide additional and adequate aid to the affected persons.

Now, though the Government has released the aid of Rs 8.38 crore for the affected areas in the city of Nagpur, the actual aid that has been allocated as financial aid for damaged households is only Rs 85.44 lakh! The aid has been released as per the State Disaster Response Fund norms. Since the session is being held in Nagpur, the Opposition parties are likely to raise the issue of paltry aid of Rs 10,000/- being offered to the households affected due to floods in Ambazari lake in September 2023. The release of funds in this regard appears to be an attempt of the Mahayuti Government to dilute the Opposition attack. There is no explanation whether this amount would be distributed in accordance with Rs 10,000/- norm in only 854.4 cases. There is a cryptic mention of 136 under the head of scope of work. If one takes this number to be the number of households affected due to Ambazari floods, it may leave many others peeved. Going by 136, if the aid of Rs 85.44 lakh is divided equally, it comes to Rs 62,823.53/-.

Of the total amount of Rs 8,38,54,000/- released, the maximum Rs 6 crore is allocated for reconstruction of damaged bridge. Interestingly, the order does not mention name of this only damaged bridge. But, it left the scope for speculation if that bridge was the one across Nag river diagonally opposite Panchsheel Cinema. For repairs of stone masonry work of nullahs where the embankment collapsed during the floods, an amount of Rs 90 lakh has been allocated. Sand-bags and stones are to be used for reconstruction of the damaged nullah walls. For the repairs of road length of 61.3 km damaged during the Ambazari floods, an amount of Rs 61.38 lakh has been earmarked. A simple calculation brings out that an amount of around Rs 1 lakh has been earmarked for repair of a kilometre of road stretch on an average. The total amount released to provide relief to Nagpur, also comprises a small sum of Rs 1.72 lakh allocated for clearing debris from drainage system and lifting garbage/waste that got deposited in public places during the flood.
THE PLOT





THE US Department of Justice announcing charges in connection with foiled alleged plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen in New York City, has stirred the hornets nest. Canada also has joined the bandwagon, reviving its old allegation of Indian involvement in assassination of another Khalistani terrorist Hardip Singh Nijjar. While the Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Justin Trudeau had made the allegation in his Parliament speech, the US Department of Justice has come up with allegation through an official statement followed by selective leaks in the US media. What arouses curiosity and suspicion of a wider plot against India is its timing. Before moving on to the matter of timing of the allegations, it must be understood that the US Department of Justices indictment is merely an allegation. In fact, if one takes the pains to read the statement, one comes across the line, All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This makes it pretty clear that the image of India is being sullied deliberately only on the basis of allegations. Besides, Canada joining the bandwagon makes the ordinary Indians suspicious whether there is something brewing up at the international level as far as targetting India on the issue of Khalistani terrorism is concerned.

It is not so easy for the countries involved to make allegations against a particular country over the same issue. Unless there is some kind of a shared consideration between the US and Canada on a point that is not yet out in the public domain. As far as the timing is concerned, it makes one curious. For, the US and Canada leaderships have been visibly trying to nurture own domestic vote-banks keeping an eye on electoral gains. In sharp contrast, India has emerged as a thriving democracy poised to go to elections in next few months. Given the rising stature of India on the world stage, on the basis of robust economic growth and strong multilateral ties, leadership of both these countries cannot afford to look weaker in front of a developing country like India. It has been clear umpteen number of times that Canadas Mr. Trudeau has been bowing to domestic vote-bank pressure exerted by a powerful pro-Khalistani extremism lobby. In case of the US also, given the kid-glove condemnation to the vandalism of the Indian consulate in San Francisco earlier this year, one suspects if the current leadership wishes to get cosier with the Khalistani secessionists for reasons best known to it.

Interestingly, the US has earned notoriety as a power that has been engaging actively and indirectly to topple the Governments in various countries of the world for own selfish gains. In the instant case also, from the details available in public domain, the US Department of Justice has mentioned Khalistanis as advocates of secession of the Indian State of Punjab and that the source and the hitman allegedly contacted by the Indian individual to murder Pannun both turned out to be working undercover with the US law enforcement. This raises a pertinent question as to why the US law enforcement needs to have those working for it, operate undercover as hitman and source who can offer assistance in contracting a hitman? Obviously, this question makes ordinary people wonder if the US law enforcement has been deliberately operating in such a manner. This reminds one of the infamous declassified document CIA Family Jewels, which offers shocking details about how the US agency -- CIA -- attempted to use its assets to assassinate Fidel Castro. The document also offers some more details on some of the operations when the US agencys stand was in conflict with the law. Of course, the US will have to do a lot of answering when details of its own missions are documented.

As far as India is concerned, she has never been a country that was known for aggressive posturing or toppling any other Governments. Rather, she has built a legacy of co-operation and collaboration for global good. The successive Prime Ministers including the current one Mr. Narendra Modi have made this amply clear time and again. But, it is also history that whenever India got a firm leadership, the Western powers resorted to espionage and image-sullying tactics against her. Even now, respecting the good ties with the US, India has instituted a high-level enquiry to probe allegations, reflecting her transparency in relations. India has made her stand clear on various international forums, against organised crime, trafficking, gun-running, extremism, terrorism, drugs trade. India has also been giving repeated calls for joint efforts of the global community to root out these evils. However, it has always been the anti-reforms powers of the world that kept the wounds festering to serve their selfish gains from time to time. At this juncture, when India is being looked at by the Global South as the firm voice, India has to be alert to international machinations to create a turmoil within as well as hurting her image in the world. If required, India must question the same countries about their meek action against Pakistan and China too. Given her character, India will tread in a rational manner. The US and Canada have been making attempts to provoke India to do something irrational, by way of hurling mere allegations. They may have their intentions. But, India needs to keep treading the path of Indian interest, without hesitation and without buckling to any pressure. India must counter the plot, if any, against her interest.
(L-R) Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, US entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott pose on stage prior to the GOP Republican Presidential Debate in Miami, Florida, USA, 08 November 2023.

As his Republican primary rivals return to the debate stage next week, former President Donald Trump will be headlining a closed-door fundraiser in Florida.

Trumps campaign has been advertising a chance to win tickets to the end-of-year reception in Hallandale Beach, Florida, near Miami on Dec. 6.

The former president has chosen to skip his partys three previous primary debates, citing his commanding lead in early state and national polls. But his decision not to schedule a public counterprogramming event to upstage the debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, marks a change in strategy.

Trump held a rally in Hialeah, a Miami suburb, during the last debate, which felt, in many ways, like the main event. He traveled to Michigan in lieu of the second debate to rail against President Joe Biden at an auto-parts manufacturing plant during an autoworkers strike. And he sat for a pretaped interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that was released on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, to coincide with the first GOP gathering.

A senior Trump aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity to address the decision, cited waning interest in the debates given Trumps dominant front-runner status.

Next Wednesdays debate comes as former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has seen a surge in support that has threatened Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis status as the distant runner-up to Trump.

The two are expected to continue to clash on a stage that will feature just a handful of candidates, as the Republican National Committee ups the threshold for participation. To make the stage, candidates must garner at least 6% in two approved national polls, or 6% in polls from two separate early-voting states. They will also need to have raised money from at least 80,000 unique donors.

Several high-profile candidates, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Vice President Mike Pence, have already dropped out of the race.

Trump and his campaign have called on the RNC to cancel the remainder of the debates and instead focus on backing him against Biden.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
George Santos has gone down in U.S. congressional history through the door of scandals. The Republican lawmaker who lied non-stop during his election campaign, inventing a resume and a parallel life for himself, has been expelled by the House of Representatives in a vote in which a two-thirds majority was required. A large majority of Republicans and Democrats agreed that the situation was unsustainable for Santos, who is facing a 23-count federal indictment on charges that include various types of fraud and even identity theft.

Santos thus becomes the sixth member of the House to be expelled by his colleagues. The Constitution expressly grants each chamber of Congress the power to punish its members for disorderly conduct and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, something that until now had been put into practice with 15 senators and 5 representatives, most of them for supporting secession and the Confederacy. The House had expelled two members since the days of the Civil War due to high-profile cases of corruption, but only after a sentence was handed down by a court.

On Thursday, Santos appealed to lawmakers concerned that a new precedent is being set. This will haunt them in the future, where mere allegations are enough for members to be removed from their positions when they have been duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts, he said in a news conference. Later, during the debate in the House, he seemed resigned: The only thing I want to make clear is if tomorrow, when this vote is on the floor, it is in the conscience of all of my colleagues that they believe that this is the correct thing to do, so be it, he said.

The New York congressman did not want to resign. If I leave, they win. If I leave, the bullies take place. This is bullying, he said at the news conference. Santos had previously survived two other expulsion votes, but the Ethics Committee report issued two weeks ago concluded that his conduct deserved public condemnation, that the congressman is below the dignity of the office, and that he has seriously discredited the House.

The report found substantial evidence that the lawmaker, who represents a district in Long Island and Queens, knowingly committed a series of ethical violations and possible crimes. Santos used campaign funds for personal purposes, such as purchases at luxury stores and adult content websites like OnlyFans, and then had the campaign team submit false or incomplete expense justifications, according to the report. Two members of his team had previously pleaded guilty.

Santos had announced that he would not run for re-election in November of next year, but refused to resign and still had a little more than a year left in his term. But he saw the end coming. I know Im going to get expelled when this expulsion resolution goes to the floor, he said Friday night during a conversation on X Spaces. Ive done the math over and over, and it doesnt look really good, he added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had real reservations about the expulsion of Santos because of the precedent it would set. He declared himself in favor of his partys representatives voting their conscience. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a news conference with a huge photo of Santos and Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trumps faithful supporter, sitting together and laughing in the House of Representatives. George Santos is a malignant distraction, and hopefully that issue gets resolved, Jeffries said Thursday.

Special election

His vacancy will now have to be filled in a special election in a district balanced between Republicans and Democrats, in which the now expelled representative won in November 2022 by an eight-point margin, but where Biden won the elections in 2020. Well known among the most radical circles of the Republican Party, Santos election was decisive in giving control of the House to the Republicans. It was also a wake-up call for the Democrats in New York, a traditional blue state.

In addition to making up a good part of his academic and professional resume, Santos filled his biography with striking details. One in particular, which the true victims do not forgive him for, was boasting of a false Jewish heritage and ties to the Holocaust, and of a mother who narrowly escaped from 9/11, when that day his mother wasnt even in New York, but in Brazil. It so happens that many voters in his district are descendants of Holocaust victims, which led journalist Andrew Silverstein to investigate the veracity of his claims.

Silverstein exposed the fraud before it was picked up at the end of December by The New York Times, and the falsehoods immediately became a political fireball. Santos, who is openly gay, also angered the LGTBQ+ community by hiding the fact that he had had a marriage of convenience with a woman until 2019.

Under the mountain of lies, other behavior also began to emerge, such as stealing the money raised in a social media campaign for the dying dog of an Iraq war veteran; or having stolen a dog from an Amish dairy. It was not glamorous for someone who allegedly had degrees from New York University and Baruch College, as well as professional experience in the Wall Street firms Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. The fabrications match the image of someone with delusions of grandeur, according to a roommates description of him. The satisfaction of having been elected congressman was short-lived for Santos despite his lack of political experience. In January, he was sworn in at the Capitol as a representative for the prosperous district of Long Island.

The initial May indictment by a New York court included a dozen counts (wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to the House) which limited his movements to New York and Washington, with the obligation to request permission to travel. In October the counts were raised to 23.
easyJet (LON:EZJ  Get Free Report)s stock had its buy rating restated by stock analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a GBX 585 ($7.39) target price on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts target price would suggest a potential upside of 29.05% from the stocks current price.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of easyJet from GBX 570 ($7.20) to GBX 540 ($6.82) and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 530 ($6.69).

Get easyJet alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on easyJet

easyJet Stock Performance

Insider Transactions at easyJet

Shares of EZJ stock opened at GBX 453.30 ($5.73) on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 103.48, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.00. The company has a market capitalization of 3.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,052.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 2.52. The companys 50 day moving average price is GBX 405.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 444.79. easyJet has a 52 week low of GBX 320.50 ($4.05) and a 52 week high of GBX 582.71 ($7.36).

In other easyJet news, insider Sue Clark acquired 17,281 shares of easyJet stock in a transaction on Monday, September 4th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 435 ($5.49) per share, for a total transaction of 75,172.35 ($94,950.55). Insiders have bought 17,389 shares of company stock valued at $7,562,438 over the last ninety days. 16.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About easyJet

(Get Free Report)

easyJet plc operates as a low-cost airline carrier in Europe. It also engages in the sale of holiday packages; aircraft trading and leasing; development of building projects; financing and insurance business; and tour operator activities. As of September 30, 2022, it operated 320 aircrafts, 988 routes, and 153 airports.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for easyJet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for easyJet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Air Lease Co. (NYSE:AL  Free Report)  Zacks Research decreased their FY2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Air Lease in a report released on Monday, November 27th. Zacks Research analyst S. Goswami now anticipates that the transportation company will post earnings per share of $4.35 for the year, down from their previous forecast of $4.38. The consensus estimate for Air Leases current full-year earnings is $4.34 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Air Leases Q4 2023 earnings at $1.09 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $0.95 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $5.14 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.66 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $1.67 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.56 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $6.22 EPS.

Get Air Lease alerts:

Air Lease (NYSE:AL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 6th. The transportation company reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.02. Air Lease had a return on equity of 7.92% and a net margin of 20.97%. The firm had revenue of $659.36 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $659.17 million.

Several other research analysts have also commented on AL. Bank of America cut their price objective on Air Lease from $65.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Air Lease from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Barclays assumed coverage on Air Lease in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. They issued an overweight rating and a $46.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Air Lease from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Air Lease presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.60.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Air Lease

Air Lease Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE AL opened at $38.79 on Wednesday. Air Lease has a 12 month low of $33.33 and a 12 month high of $46.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.55, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.74. The business has a 50-day moving average of $37.01 and a 200-day moving average of $39.56.

Air Lease Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. This is an increase from Air Leases previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. Air Leases payout ratio is presently 17.90%.

Institutional Trading of Air Lease

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Belpointe Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Air Lease in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. CWM LLC lifted its position in Air Lease by 296.1% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 911 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 681 shares during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in Air Lease in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in Air Lease in the third quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in Air Lease by 421.9% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,409 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.16% of the companys stock.

Air Lease Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft leasing company, engages in the purchase and leasing of commercial jet aircraft to airlines worldwide. It also sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors. In addition, the company provides fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Air Lease Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Air Lease and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC reduced its position in L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX  Free Report) by 67.3% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,175 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,589 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLCs holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $817,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of LHX. American International Group Inc. lifted its stake in L3Harris Technologies by 0.4% during the second quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 50,168 shares of the companys stock worth $9,821,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. increased its holdings in L3Harris Technologies by 284.0% during the 2nd quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. now owns 38,400 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,518,000 after purchasing an additional 28,400 shares during the period. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board increased its holdings in L3Harris Technologies by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 9,280 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,817,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia increased its holdings in L3Harris Technologies by 876.7% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 195,659 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,304,000 after purchasing an additional 175,627 shares during the period. Finally, LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in L3Harris Technologies by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 155,223 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,388,000 after purchasing an additional 10,287 shares during the period. 81.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get L3Harris Technologies alerts:

L3Harris Technologies Stock Up 1.1 %

LHX stock opened at $190.69 on Friday. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $160.25 and a twelve month high of $230.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The firm has a market cap of $36.14 billion, a PE ratio of 24.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.21 and a beta of 0.67. The business has a 50 day moving average of $179.21 and a 200 day moving average of $183.60.

L3Harris Technologies Dividend Announcement

L3Harris Technologies ( NYSE:LHX Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $3.19 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.06 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $4.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.95 billion. L3Harris Technologies had a return on equity of 12.66% and a net margin of 7.96%. The companys revenue was up 15.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.26 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that L3Harris Technologies, Inc. will post 12.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th will be paid a $1.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $4.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. L3Harris Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.61%.

Insider Transactions at L3Harris Technologies

In related news, insider Edward J. Zoiss sold 4,742 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction on Friday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total transaction of $900,980.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 27,183 shares in the company, valued at $5,164,770. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, President Edward J. Zoiss sold 30,000 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.84, for a total value of $2,725,200.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 31,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,899,885.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Edward J. Zoiss sold 4,742 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $190.00, for a total value of $900,980.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 27,183 shares in the company, valued at $5,164,770. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.82% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on LHX shares. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded L3Harris Technologies from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price target for the company from $239.00 to $210.00 in a report on Monday, August 28th. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and set a $224.00 price target on shares of L3Harris Technologies in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com upgraded L3Harris Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Robert W. Baird upgraded L3Harris Technologies from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their target price for the stock from $198.00 to $216.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on L3Harris Technologies in a report on Monday, September 11th. They set a buy rating and a $193.00 target price on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, L3Harris Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $223.88.

Get Our Latest Report on L3Harris Technologies

About L3Harris Technologies

(Free Report)

L3Harris Technologies, Inc, an aerospace and defense technology company, provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company's Integrated Mission Systems segment provides multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems; and communication systems, as well as fleet management support, sensor development, modification, and periodic depot maintenance services for ISR and airborne missions.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LHX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for L3Harris Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for L3Harris Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Penserra Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR  Free Report) by 59.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,995 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,756 shares during the quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLCs holdings in Equinor ASA were worth $175,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Glassman Wealth Services raised its holdings in shares of Equinor ASA by 89.5% during the 2nd quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 1,114 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 526 shares during the period. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Equinor ASA during the 1st quarter valued at about $50,000. BOKF NA acquired a new stake in Equinor ASA during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Equinor ASA by 1,138.1% during the 2nd quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,659 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,525 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Equinor ASA during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $66,000. 5.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Equinor ASA alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EQNR has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered Equinor ASA from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley upgraded Equinor ASA from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, September 1st. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Equinor ASA from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Equinor ASA from a hold rating to an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Equinor ASA from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Equinor ASA currently has a consensus rating of Hold.

Equinor ASA Price Performance

Shares of EQNR opened at $31.88 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $99.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.75, a PEG ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $32.89 and a 200-day moving average of $30.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Equinor ASA has a 52 week low of $25.23 and a 52 week high of $38.83.

Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.97 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $26.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $54.12 billion. Equinor ASA had a return on equity of 27.26% and a net margin of 15.28%. As a group, analysts forecast that Equinor ASA will post 4.05 EPS for the current year.

Equinor ASA Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a  dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 15th were issued a $0.90 dividend. This is an increase from Equinor ASAs previous  dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.6%. Equinor ASAs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.41%.

Equinor ASA Profile

(Free Report)

Equinor ASA, an energy company, engages in the exploration, production, transportation, refining, and marketing of petroleum and other forms of energy in Norway and internationally. It operates through Exploration & Production Norway; Exploration & Production International; Exploration & Production USA; Marketing, Midstream & Processing; Renewables; and Other segments.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Equinor ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equinor ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
An unprecedented debate in U.S. politics pitted Floridas Republican Governor Ron DeSantis against Californias Democrat Gavin Newsom Thursday. The idea had never been considered before, perhaps because never before had two personalities with such disparate agendas been at the helm of two of the three most populous states in the country. Both are, more or less, rising political stars, and both represent the two extremes of an unprecedentedly polarized United States.

The face-to-face, held without an audience, took place in Alpharetta, near Atlanta, Georgia - a swing state par excellence. It was broadcast during prime time by Fox News, and dubbed by veteran anchor Sean Hannity as the Red vs. Blue State Debate.

Hannity, in a dark suit and red tie, promised he would play a neutral role, despite having one of the most right-wing pedigrees in the cable TV ecosystem and while he was charming most of the time and kept the blunt anti-left views he shares daily on his show to himself, there were several occasions when he came to the aid of the Florida governor, whom he interrupted less frequently than his California counterpart, particularly when the debate touched on the issue of abortion.

DeSantis and Newsom also discussed taxes, the economy, immigration, crime, guns, the housing crisis, education, parental rights, and gas prices. On none of these fronts did agreement emerge in a debate characterized by its liveliness.

Hannity introduced the issues by showing data that usually showed California in a bad light. Then, Newsom would go on the attack, offering figures that proved otherwise, such as when he talked about crime and argued that Florida lost out if the homicide figures in the major cities were taken separately. He also accused his opponent of ignoring the pleas of the survivors of the Parkland massacre, who asked him to tighten access to firearms. DeSantis, who repeatedly called his opponent a liar, accused Newsom of legalizing shoplifting and being soft on crime.

The two went at each other relentlessly. DeSantis appeared tense, but less so than during the three Republican debates held to date in pursuit of the partys nomination for next years presidential elections (the fourth is scheduled for next week). He gave the impression that the absence of an audience suited his aversion to social grandstanding. Newsom, for his part, appeared calm, as if he did not have too much to lose or gain, probably because that was true: he was playing in enemy territory, his seat is assured until 2027, and he is not planning to run in any elections for the time being, unlike DeSantis.

In defense of Joe Biden

Paradoxically, DeSantis, with all the cards of his national aspirations face up, was better adjusted to the script of the debate between two models of state, while Newsom attacked him and insisted that he was there with only one objective: to defend the agenda of the Biden-Harris Administration. He did so right from his opening remarks, in which he accused the GOP of wanting to roll back hard-earned national rights on voting rights, on civil rights, and LGBTQ rights, on womens rights, not just access to abortion, but also access to contraception, he said, before letting loose the first broadside of the night: One thing that we have in common is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024.

It was Newsom, who once defined the Florida governor as a pathetic little man, that challenged DeSantis to a debate in September 2022. Those were different times: then, fortune was smiling on the Florida governor, who was on the verge of sweeping his re-election to the governorship with little seeming to stand between him and his bid for the White House in 2024.

Today, with six weeks remaining before the Iowa caucuses begin the primary process, his campaign for the Republican nomination has stalled. DeSantis is well behind the frontrunner, Donald Trump, who has a huge lead over the rest of the contenders. Nikki Haley is gaining ground as the last hope of defeating the former president and has been nipping at DeSantis heels of late, buoyed by the support of influential conservative donors. At one point in the debate, Newsom invited his rival to accept his failure: Youre down 41 points in your own home state, and to endorse Haleys efforts in order to turn the page on Trump. DeSantis, for his part, has accused Newsom of running a shadow campaign for the White House.

Many of the issues DeSantis has built his national image on by selling himself as a culture warrior on issues like LGBTQ rights or immigration came up. Newsom accused him of being a bully. And while DeSantis refrained from using one of his favorite words, woke, as much as he usually does, he turned to his own graphic evidence: a page from a comic book called Gender Queer, the most-banned book in America. This is a book thats in some of the schools in California  in Florida, its not consistent with our standards  some of its blacked out. You probably would not be able to put this on air, he said.

DeSantis presented California as a place infested with homelessness and ravaged by fentanyl; a state that is ceding its status as the spearhead of America to Florida. That would explain the census figures Hannity presented at the outset, according to which California has lost 750,000 residents compared to a 454,000 gain in Florida. " You almost have to try to mess California up. That is what Gavin Newsom has done since he has been governor, DeSantis said, pointing out that Californias population has decreased for the first time under Newsoms leadership. The demographic drain, DeSantis added, includes Newsoms own father-in-law, who has apparently traded California for Florida.

In one of his final questions, Hannity asked both governors to pick something they appreciated about the rival state. DeSantis stammered out a response that highlighted Californias excellent military installations and its natural resources. Newsom, for his part, used a tactic he employed several times during the debate: not answering the question. Instead, he offered a compliment to the Florida governors passion for America and for his family, before rejecting the red versus blue rhetoric that served as the premise for the evening. His placed his faith for the future, he said, on three colors: Red, white, and blue.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Special Policy Advisor Jerome Fitzgerald during the launch of the Bahamas Sustainable Investment Programme yesterday at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Cannabis bill to be tabled in Parliament next year, AG says
Sandra Day OConnor, the first woman on the United States Supreme Court, has died at the age of 93, the Supreme Court announced. OConnor was appointed to the highest court in the land by Republican President Ronald Reagan and served from 1981 to 2006. Although of conservative ideology, she earned a reputation as a moderate jurist. She voted in favor of abortion rights and gay rights, but above all, she broke the glass ceiling that had kept women out of the main judicial body of the United States.

Her arrival at the Supreme Court was a milestone in the struggle of women to gain a foothold in positions of power in their quest for equality. As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and well all be better off for it, Sandra Day OConnor said in November 1990.

Although she graduated at the top of her class at Stanford in 1952, no California law firm wanted to hire her as an attorney because she was a woman, which happened to many female lawyers of her generation. The only job offer she received was as a legal secretary at a Los Angeles firm. However, OConnor persisted in her job search and ended up contacting the County Attorney for San Mateo County, California. He told her that his office didnt have the funds to hire another deputy. I wrote him a long letter, recounted OConnor, explaining all the reasons why I thought I could do things that would be useful to him in the office. She offered to work for nothing if that was necessary. As a result of her letter, she was offered a position as a deputy county attorney.

While her husband was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany in 1954 with the Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps, she worked as a civilian attorney with the United States Army Quartermaster Corps. The OConnors returned to the United States in 1957 and settled in Phoenix, Arizona, where she became a licensed attorney and opened a law firm with a colleague in a shopping mall. The OConnors three sons  Scott, Brian, and Jay  were all born within the next six years. With the birth of her second son, she left the law practice to concentrate on her family, although she became very involved in local politics and community service.

In 1965, OConnor returned to work full-time as an assistant state attorney general, while continuing to play an active role in Republican Party politics. When a seat in the Arizona State Senate became vacant in 1969, she was appointed to fill it. She was reelected twice, and in 1972, she became the first woman in the country to serve as majority leader in a state legislature. As a legislator, OConnor worked towards changing various Arizona laws that discriminated against women, including a 1913 law that prohibited women from working more than eight hours a day, which had been used to prevent women from seeking and retaining employment. In addition, OConnor pushed for laws that gave women equal responsibility for the management of community property with their spouses.

In 1975, she successfully ran for trial judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court, a position she held until 1979, when Governor Bruce Babbitt appointed her to the Arizona Court of Appeals. Her nomination to the Supreme Court followed shortly thereafter.

Although the position of Supreme Court justice is for life, Justice OConnor announced her retirement from the Supreme Court in July 2005. Initially, President George W. Bush nominated John Roberts to replace her. However, upon the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist in September 2005, Bush decided to nominate Roberts to fill the vacancy, and he has presided over the Court ever since. Then, in October, Bush initially nominated attorney Harriet Miers to replace OConnor, but she decided to withdraw her candidacy. Finally, in November, Bush nominated conservative Justice Samuel Alito to fill OConnors vacancy, whose resignation became effective when Alito was confirmed.

Following her retirement from the court on January 31, 2006, Justice OConnor remained active as a tireless advocate for judicial independence and the rule of law throughout the world. In recognition of her lifetime accomplishments, President Barack Obama awarded her the Nations highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on August 12, 2009.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
The Catholic Bishop Diocese of Abakaliki, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Chukwu has called on the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria(CBCN) to speed up process for the creation of a new Diocese in the state.

Chukwu said the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki has produced many parishes since its creation in 1973 and was due for a new Diocese.

He stated this at St.. Theresa Cathedral, Abakaliki the state capital during the golden jubilee celebration of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki.

Some Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, Governor Francis Nwifuru, former Governor Martin Elechi and many other personalities attended the event.

Chukwu lamented that it was only Ebonyi State in the whole of South East that is having only one Diocese and urged the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria(CBCN) to create a new Diocese in the state to bring the church closer to the people.

He said we have had so many parishes created, when are we going to have a new Diocese created out of Abakaliki Diocese?

Abakaliki Diocese is the only one state Diocese in the whole of South East. Anambra has five Dioceses; Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Aguleri.

Enugu has three Dioceses;Enugu, Nsukka and Awgu. Imo State has four Dioceses; Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe and Ahiara. Abia State has two Dioceses; Umuahia and Aba. Only Ebonyi has one Diocese.

So, I challenge you the Catholics in Ebonyi to pray about this today and I want to say it before the President of The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria(CBCN) at this Mass, that we need help, we need a new Diocese here.

If I want to go to Pastoral visit at Ishiagu. I will drive for 1 and half hours, thats a long a long distance. But if we have an additional Diocese, it will bring the church closer to the people.

I want to thank the CBCN for all the efforts they have already made towards the materialization of this intension but we like them to put more firewood to the fire. So, thats an intension and I want you to pray about it it toady.

Something happened yesterday at the Ochudo Centenary City. The Governor and his Cabinet and a cross section of our priests gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of a big church building. The ground we prepared by my predecessor and the regimes of Chief Martin Elechi and David Umahi but it is under the current government in the state that the dream is going to become a reality.

It is going to be a 6,000 capacity church. Archbishop Ugorji calls it a Basilica, its not just a big church. So, we just want to put down a prayer that the good Lord may provide all the help needed for the speedy completion and realization of that project.

Governor Francis Nwifuru in his remarks expressed happiness on the growth the Diocese.

He urged Priests of the Diocese to represent the image of the Diocese at all times the way the Bishop of the Diocese and his Predecessor are doing. ENDS
KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2023 - 22:13 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told Israeli President Isaac Herzog Friday that he hopes tensions in Gaza would ease as soon as possible, the Japanese government said.

During their talks on the sidelines of a U.N. conference on climate change in the United Arab Emirates, Kishida was also quoted as telling Herzog that increased deliveries of supplies to Gaza are essential to improve the humanitarian situation there.

Kishida held his first in-person meeting with an Israeli political leader since the Oct. 7 attack on the Middle Eastern country by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Friday's meeting coincided with Israel and Hamas resuming fighting after a weeklong truce that began on Nov. 24.

Resource-poor Japan has traditionally pursued a "balanced diplomacy" between Israel and Muslim nations in the Middle East as it is highly dependent on crude oil from the region.

At the outset of the talks, Kishida condemned Hamas for executing a "terror attack," offering his condolences to the families of the victims and conveying his sympathies to the injured, the government said.

Herzog told Kishida that he appreciated Japan's clear condemnation of terrorism, while explaining Israel's position, including its military actions in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave of Gaza, it added.

Israel and Hamas had agreed to a pause in the fighting in exchange for hostages and extended the deal twice, with Qatar having played a mediation role.

Kishida praised the Muslim country's diplomatic efforts when he held separate talks with its emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

The Israeli military, however, said Friday that it has resumed attacks against Hamas, accusing the militant group of firing rockets.

Kishida called the resumption of fighting "regrettable," adding that it is "important to return to an agreement and calm the situation as soon as possible" during the meeting with Qatar's emir.

It is unlikely Kishida will visit Israel during his trip to the Middle East, where he is participating in the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP28, in Dubai.

Related coverage:

Japan PM to meet Israeli president possibly on Dec. 1 amid Gaza war

Foreign minister vows Japan to "take lead" in addressing Gaza crisis

Israel to allow daily 4-hour combat pauses to evacuate Gaza civilians
B1.6bn to be spent on Pa Khlok road expansion

PHUKET: More than B1.6 billion will be spent on expanding the road through Pa Khlok to help alleviate traffic congestion on the island, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has confirmed.

transporttourismconstruction

By The Phuket News

Friday 1 December 2023 12:00 PM

Governor Sophon confirmed the budget figures at a press conference held at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town yesterday (Nov 30).

The press conference was held as a public relations project to release important policies to promote the image of Phuket tourism, said an official report of the conference.

The Phuket Highways Office has drawn up the plan to expand the road through Pa Khlok (Route 4027), Governor Sophon explained.

Present yesterday to represent the Phuket Highways Office was engineer Sorasak Tasakarn. Phuket Highways Office Director Yutthana Pitak was not present for the publicity event.

The Pa Khlok road expansion was part of the Phuket HIghways Office highway development plan to hasten to solve the problem of traffic congestion and expand traffic channels to develop the infrastructure system of Phuket Province, the report said.

Mr Sorasak explained that in avoiding the major traffic jams on Thepkrasattri Rd by travelling from Phuket Town to the airport via Patong and Kamala, a distance 47.9km, currently takes about one hour and 19 minutes.

Travelling from Patong to the airport along the same route, a distance of 37.9km, currently takes about one hour and seven minutes.

To that end, the expansion of the main road through Pa Khlok (Route 4027) was a viable option.

Governor Sophon explained the Pa Khlok expansion in two parts.

The project to expand the road to four lanes from Baan Para to Baan Muang Mai to connect tourist attractions safely and conveniently and support the economic and social development of the four-lane expansion area, from km. 14+300 - km. 18+850, covers a distance of 4.55km, he said.

Construction cost is limited to B510 million, he said.

The current status of the project was that the detailed design stage was completed in 2020. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was approved by the Supervisory Committee for Protected Areas in Phuket Province on Aug 16, 2021.

The budget is to be applied for during the current fiscal year (2024), and the project is expected to open for service in 2026, Governor Sophon said.

The second section of Route 4027 to be expanded was from Muang Mai to the Phuket Airport Intersection on Thepkrasattri Rd.

The project requires the construction of a new four-lane road from km.18 850 to km.20+800, and one interchange.

The project covers a distance of 1.95km and construction cost is limited B1.104bn, giving an average cost of B566,153 per metre.

The current status of the project was that the detailed design stage was completed in 2020. The EIA report was approved by the Supervisory Committee for the Protected Areas of Phuket Province also on Aug 16, 2021.

Currently, the project is in the process of having a proposal prepared to request a waiver of the use of mangrove forest areas from the Cabinet, Governor Sophon explained.

If approved, it will propose to issue an Expropriation Act to organise land ownership and construction according to the next steps. It is expected that a budget will be proposed for fiscal year 2026 and the project will be open for service in 2028, he said.

Governor Sophon also gave a status update on the prject to install an underpass at the Heroines Monument.

In short, the project has stalled.

The detailed design stage of the project  budgeted to cost B2.38bn  was completed in 2022, Governor Sophon said.

The Division of Environmental Impact Assessment Development, under the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning reviewed the EIA report for the first time on Aug 11, 2023  and resolved not to approve the current report, Governor Sohon explained.

Regardless, the budget request is expected to be submitted during fiscal year 2024, with the project opening for service in 2027, Governor Sophon said.

Of note, according to the official report of the press conference, Governor Sophon made no mention of the Patong Tunnel and Muang Mai - Koh Kaew - Kathu Expressway projects, both of which have also stalled.

He also made no mention of any efforts to alleviate the heavy traffic congestion in the Bang Tao, Cherng Talay area, which continues to suffer intense traffic tailbacks, often taking nearly an hour to travel just a few kilometres.
CAAT clarifies routine return of Chinese airlines flight slots

BANGKOK: The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has insisted that the return of flight slots by Chinese airlines is a routine practice and should not be interpreted as flight cancellations.

tourismtransporteconomicsChinese

By Bangkok Post

Friday 1 December 2023 09:06 AM

Immigration officers welcome tourists and offer them a candle krathong at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Nov 24, ahead of the annual Loy Krathong festival. Photo: Somchai Poomlard / Bangkok Post

CAAT Director-General Sutthipong Kongpool said on Tuesday (Dec 28) that the return of slots allocated to airlines was in line with CAAT regulations, and it is customary for airlines to give back extra flight slots, reports the Bangkok Post.

Mr Sutthipong clarified that it is not only Chinese airlines but also carriers from other countries that return excess slots allocated to them.

His comments were aimed at dispelling reports that suggested Chinese airlines had returned more than 40% of flight slots.

He explained that during the finalisation of the winter flight schedule, each airline is required to submit their flight slots in accordance with the regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The regulations stipulate that cancellations must be made at least seven days before flights are confirmed. If flight slots are not finalised, it indicates the airlines intention to fly. Failure to fly would result in disqualification, according to the CAAT chief.

The issue is simply the relinquishment of flight slots, he added.

The CAAT had earlier allocated 21,923 flights slots from December this year to January next year. Of them, 13,278 flights were scheduled to operate.

In December, 10,939 flights were planned at six airports operated by the Airports of Thailand (AOT). However, due to returned slots, the number of flights has been reduced to 5,858, he said.

In January, a total of 10,984 flight slots were allocated, but 7,420 flights would operate due to the return of slots.

I assure that flight cancellations and the return of flight slots are different. The return of slots by airlines is normal, said Mr Sutthipong.

Airlines initially request slots to secure their rights, but various factors, such as the slower-than-expected growth of Chinese tourism, economic challenges in China and global competition for aircraft repair services during the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to the return of slots.

In addition, a shortage of aviation personnel, coupled with market growth falling short of expectations, led to airlines returning their flight slots, and this is a normal occurrence and has no negative implications, he insisted.

As a result of returned slots, airlines from other countries, particularly in Europe and Scandinavia, have shown interest in acquiring additional flight slots for direct flights to Thailand. New markets, such as those from Kazakhstan and Russia, have also emerged, he added.

According to Mr Sutthipong, Chinese tourist arrivals at the AoTs six airports in fiscal year 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) were the highest at 5.33 million, surpassing arrivals from other countries. Passengers from India claimed the second spot with 3.26mn, trailed by those from South Korea (3.07mn), Malaysia (2.21mn), and Russia (2.2mn).

AoT President Kerati Kijmanawat said on Tuesday that despite Chinese airlines returning over 8,000 flight slots, the upward trend in Chinese tourist numbers persisted. In fiscal year 2023, Chinese tourists accounted for 12.9% of international tourist arrivals, and it is anticipated that in fiscal year 2024, this figure will increase to 15-16%.

Mr Kerati assured that the return of flight slots by Chinese airlines would not affect the number of passenger arrivals during this winter season.

He defended the AoTs move to increase passenger service charges at the countrys six international airports by B30, saying the fees have not been adjusted for over 17 years.

The six airport are Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang, Phuket and Hat Yai.

The AoT will raise the charge from B700 to B730 per person for international departures and from B100 baht to B130 for domestic departures starting April 1 next year.

He admitted the passenger service charge adjustment would increase the AoTs revenue by B3 billion.

The organisation has invested in increasing facilities to provide services to passengers at the six airports and required continuous investment of about B16bn over the next 20 years, he said.
Hamas open to truce extension as US urges Gaza safe zones

TEL AVIV: Hamas is willing to further extend a truce for hostage and prisoner exchanges, a source close to the militant group said yesterday (Nov 30), as the United States urged Israel to set up safe zones for Gaza civilians as a pause in their deadly war neared expiry.

violencelandpolitics

By AFP

Friday 1 December 2023 08:41 AM

Israeli police and security forces secure the site of a shooting in Jerusalem yesterday (Nov 30). Photo: AFP

International pressure has risen for a lasting halt to the war, sparked by deadly Hamas attacks on Israel that prompted it to mount a devastating assault on the Gaza Strip.

As the latest group of Israeli hostages was released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a source close to the Islamist militant group said it was willing to extend the truce that has paused weeks of deadly fighting and enabled aid to reach Gaza civilians. Israel had yet to respond.

With the current truce nearing expiry early this morning following a seven-day pause, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged an extension after meeting with leaders in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Clearly, we want to see this process continue to move forward, he told reporters in Tel Aviv. We want an eighth day and beyond.

Israel must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimise further casualties of innocent Palestinians, he said, including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza, where they can be safe and out of the line of fire.

A source close to Hamas, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media, told AFP the Islamist movement was willing to extend the truce.

The mediators are currently making strong, intense and continuous efforts for an additional day in the truce and then working to extend it again for other days, the source said.

Protect Gaza civilians

International bodies have called for more time to allow medical supplies, food and fuel into Gaza after fierce combat and bombardments sparked by Hamass bloody Oct 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 earlier 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.

He later told Netanyahu it was imperative to protect civilians in southern Gaza before any military operations there.

Before the truce, Israeli ground and air forces had pounded Gaza, forcing an estimated 1.7 million people - around 80% of the Hamas-run territorys population - to leave their homes and limiting the entry of food, water, medicine and fuel, according to the UN.

The initial four-day truce has been extended for three days following work by international mediators, led by Qatar.

Israel has however vowed to continue with its offensive to destroy Hamas once the truce process has run its course.

We swore... to eliminate Hamas, and nothing will stop us, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, after meeting with Blinken.

Hostages coming home

Hamas freed two Israeli women hostages in the latest round of exchanges under the existing truce, followed by six more hostages later in the evening, according to Israeli authorities.

Qatari officials mediating in the conflict said those eight people included nationals of Mexico, Russia and Uruguay.

Two others, Russian-Israeli dual citizens, were released on Wednesday night, as part of the group of 10 scheduled for yesterday.

In exchange, 30 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails, prison authorities said, including 23 minors and seven women.

Since the truce began on Nov 24, 80 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners have been released.

More than 20 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the scope of the agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office named the first two hostages released yesterday as French-Israeli dual national Mia Shem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40.

Shem tearfully hugged her mother Keren and her brother as she arrived at an Israeli air base following her release, video distributed by the Israel governments press office showed.

Keren Shem had called on world leaders to help free her baby in a press conference on Oct 17, days after the Hamas attacks.

Afraid bombings start again

Fighting began on Oct 7 when Hamas militants broke through Gazas militarised border into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and unleashed an air and ground military campaign that the Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians.

We are afraid that the truce will end, so the problems and the bombings will start again, Gaza City resident Mohamad Naasan told AFPTV yesterday.

I hope that the truce resumes... so peace prevails, and we all go back home.

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 Oct 7, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry.

Only hours after the latest truce extension, Islamist militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for a shooting in Jerusalem yesterday that killed three people and called for an escalation of the resistance.

The two gunmen, who police said were from annexed east Jerusalem, were shot dead at the scene, a bus stop in the western part of the city.

Separately, two Israeli soldiers were slightly injured in a ramming attack on a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank yesterday, the army said, adding the assailant had also been shot and neutralised.
New deal struck for taxis at Ratsada Pier

PHUKET: The green plate taxi drivers stationed at Ratsada Pier will get 70% of all passengers, namely tourists, looking to use a taxi at the key tourist portal under a new deal announced yesterday (Nov 30).

tourismtransport

By The Phuket News

Friday 1 December 2023 03:59 PM

Pornrat Tanpaiboon, Managing Director of Seatran Travel Co Ltd, explains the new deal at Ratsada Pier yesterday (Nov 30). Photo: PR Phuket

The new deal was just one of several new measures announced by Seatran Travel Co Ltd Managing Director Pornrat Tanpaiboon at a meeting at Ratsada Pier.

The new measures come into effect today (Dec 1), Ms Pornrat said.

Present at the meeting were Pracha Asawatheera, Manager of the Upper Southern Region office of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA, along with representatives of the Tourist Police, the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), Phuket City Police, Phuket Immigration Office, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) and Ratsada Municipality  and the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), which serves as the political arm of the Thai military, noted an official report of the meeting.

Those involved join in listening, said the report.

Of note, despite the PLTO, currently under direction by PLTO Chief Adcha Buachan, being the government agency for regulating all public transport on the island, Ms Pornrat yesterday was left to explain the new deal for using taxis at Ratsada Pier to the public.

The explanation given by the official report was that Seatran has operated the pier under a concession from the PPAO since 2020.

In the hope of disguising the new measures for regulating taxis at the pier, Ms Pornrat was tasked with explaining the the new measures were part of Seatran using technology in helping to solve problems and organise the entry and exit of the pier to be convenient.

The rollout of new technology was deemed fit as part of the Smart Pier project, Ms Pornrat said.

Ratsada Pier, also known by its signed name Rassada Harbour, is a very busy port, Ms Pornrat said.

During the low season there are 2,000 passengers per day, and during the high season there are 3,000-4,000 passengers per day, she noted.

Among the new technology coming into effect today to help streamline operations with passengers at the pier are automated turnstiles, card payment systems and face-detection CCTV to help law enforcement identify suspects, Ms Pornrat explained.

Digital technology will also now be used to help streamline taxi operations at the pier, Ms Pornrat added.

It will be used to verify the correctness of registration as a public vehicle for hire, the sequencing for picking up and dropping off passengers by public hire vehicles and setting appropriate fare rates [sic], she said.

Ratsada Pier understands the local taxi business. Therefore, taxi queue arrangements are being made to allow local taxi operators [green plate taxi drivers from the local co-operative] to receive queues to serve customers accounting for 70% of the total taxi queue, Ms Pornrat said.

Of note, as plainly exposed during previous taxi driver incidents at the pier, local taxi drivers is the term used to politely refer to the green plate taxi drivers working as a co-operative under a concession with Seatran for the drivers to provide taxi services to passengers at Ratsada Pier.

The co-operative has previously been called mafia by members of the public, a label that the local taxi drivers deny.

Police tend to view any such problems with local taxi drivers as the result of a misunderstanding.

However, nearly in recognition of that fact, Ms Pornrat yesterday said, Creating this system will solve various problems, including the huge price differences between taxi app drivers with taxi queue drivers, conflicts caused by taxi app drivers being blocked, and delays and disorderly entry and exit.

A fee will be levied on all taxis picking up passengers, mainly tourists, from the pier, Ms Pornat added.

Levying a fee on all taxi drivers will force taxi app drivers to charge fares more in line with those charged by the local taxi co-op drivers, she explained.

How that was possible unless local taxi co-op drivers were not charged the fee was not explained.

A system will be used to manage entry and exit from the pier. This will reduce payment time to make it quicker and more convenient by using a card, and a system for customers to queue up to call a taxi by themselves will also be rolled out, Ms Pornrat said.

Initially, there are approximately 200 taxis registered to use the system, which are currently being checked for qualifications to see if they are the correct vehicles as required by law, she added.

Another measure being introduced, this one related to safety, was that road barriers will be installed to prevent customers from dragging their bags out to the passenger side of the vehicle, Ms Pornrat noted.
Phuket airport holds firefighting exercise

PHUKET: People witnessing dark smoke billowing from near Phuket International Airport yesterday (Nov 30) have no reason for concern as the airports Fire and Rescue Department conducted its regular fire drill, Phuket Airport General Manager Monchai Tanode has explained

tourismtransportSafety

By The Phuket News

Friday 1 December 2023 09:35 AM

The Fire and Rescue Department along with medical department officials at Phuket airport held their first fire-extinguishing exercise for the fiscal year 2024 to provide firefighting personnel with skills and experience. and ready to work when an actual event occurs, Mr Monchai said.

The exercise was held at a designated fire exercise area near the start of the runway, he said.

Moreover, it also complies with the requirements of The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand [CAAT], which has designated that the airport must conduct firefighting drills with real fire, he added.

The firefighting exercise is held every three months, Mr Monchai noted.

The exercise increases skills for safety and to enhance readiness in various areas, and builds confidence among service users, he said.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2023 - 22:25 | All, Japan

Police sent prosecutors investigative papers Friday on eight current and one retired police officer in central Japan in connection with alleged inappropriate treatment that led to the death of a detained man suffering from chronic diseases late last year.

The allegations they face include professional negligence resulting in the death of the 43-year-old man who was being held in a cell at the Okazaki police station in Aichi Prefecture. The man was battling schizophrenia and diabetes and died of kidney failure but is suspected of not receiving adequate medical care.

The Aichi prefectural police apologized at a press conference for causing the "grave consequence" and offered condolences to the man's family. A total of 27 people were punished over the case.

Okazaki police station chief Hiroshi Shimazaki escaped criminal liability but resigned Friday. The prefectural police penalized the 60-year-old with a three-month pay cut for not making rounds to the holding cells the entire time the man was detained.

The man was arrested on Nov. 25 last year for allegedly obstructing official duties and died on Dec. 4. He was also showing symptoms of dehydration.

According to police investigations, the man had been placed in solitary confinement as a result of violent behavior. Restraining devices, such as handcuffs and ropes, were used on him for a total of 144 hours.

He was not given access to medicine for his chronic illnesses nor provided medical assistance even though he was refusing meals.

Security camera footage also showed the man apparently being kicked, and the case was referred to prosecutors for assault by police officials.

The prefectural police believe the assault is unlikely to have any causal connection to the man's death.

The 72-year-old father of the man has expressed intense anger against the police, saying that his son was not treated like a human being.

The father said his son remained in detention even after he explained to police about his schizophrenia and that he needed to be hospitalized. The father also questioned the decision by police to use restraining devices when it was clear that his son's violent behavior was linked to his illness.

In the wake of the incident, the National Police Agency decided to impose stricter rules on the use of instruments of restraint on detainees at local police stations, including getting permission from prefectural police headquarters and limiting the time one can be restrained by handcuffs and ropes to no more than 3 hours.

Related coverage:

Aichi police accused of denying sick man treatment, leading to death

Charges dropped again over death of detained Sri Lankan woman

Dead Sri Lankan detainee's family calls for officials to be indicted
Sustainable development cooperation can serve as a catalyst for fostering enhanced relations between India and China

|

Dr Huang Dekai and Dr Yengkhom Ronica Devi

Since assuming the presidency of G20, India has successfully organized over 200 meetings and events aimed at fostering cooperation in sustainable develop- ment sectors such as agriculture, climate change, environment, and health. Concurrently, India has made commendable efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

During the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in New York on September 22-23, the Reliance Foundation hosted a seminar titled "India's Journey to Achieve the SDGs" and launched an initiative called "Ideas, Innovation, Implementation: India's Journey Towards the SDGs". This initiative effectively showcases India's comprehensive developmental endeavors across all 17 SDGs. Similarly committed to poverty reduction, quality development promotion, and enhancing people's well-being aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals is neighboring China.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was formulated in 2015, envisioning a collective road map for the future of all individuals and the planet. However, at present, with only seven years remaining until the deadline for achieving this agenda, we have already deviated from the correct path of development. Now more than ever, it is imperative that all Nations rise to the occasion and enhance global solidarity and international coope- ration for development if we are to reinvigorate efforts towards attaining the SDGs.

Sustainable development is not only a shared responsibility for China and India, but also an integral component of global governance. On 18 September, the United Nations General Assembly convened the High- Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The political declaration of the HLPF was adopted, pledging to expedite efforts towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering economic prosperity and societal well-being while safeguarding the environment. Guterres emphasized that "The SDGs transcend mere objectives; they embody the aspirations, rights, dreams, and hopes of individuals worldwide."

China-India relations are intricate and multifaceted, with bilateral economic and trade ties strengthening on one hand, while both sides continue to compete in various domains. As significant global players, China-India relations exert a profound impact on the international community. It is imperative for both Nations to enhance constructive cooperation in pivotal areas and jointly tackle global challenges.

Collaborative efforts between India and China in sustainable development can provide fresh impetus to improving their bilateral relations while also addressing shared global challenges. Here are some specific areas and approaches through which China and India can collaborate on sustainable development

Renewable energy: China and India are one of the largest new energy markets in the world. The two countries can co-operate to develop renewable energy projects such as solar, wind and hydro energy, and work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Environmental protection: China and India both face environmental issues such as air pollution and water resource management. Co-operation in the area of environmental protection can improve air and water quality and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Sustainable urban development: Both countries have experienced rapid urbanization. China and India can share best practices and jointly explore options for sustainable urban development, including in the areas of traffic management, waste disposal, and green infrastructure.

Agriculture and food security: Agricultural co-operation can help improve the production and quality of agricultural products and reduce food waste, while ensuring farmers' livelihoods and food security. This is critical for the large rural populations in both countries.

Ecological conservation and biodiversity: China and India are both rich in biodiversity, and co-operation to conserve wildlife and ecosystems can help maintain ecological balance and sustainable resource management.

Combating climate change : China and India can co-operate in international climate negotiations and jointly contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change and move towards sustainable energy policies.

Technology transfer: China and India can share advanced sustainable technologies and innovations to improve productivity and resource efficiency.

In these times of international challenges, global economic development, the fight against climate change and technological innovation have become the focus of the world. Global issues pose a threat to all countries and continue to wreak havoc around the world, and we must take swift measures to mitigate their catastrophic effects. At the same time, the continuing push for technological change is transforming industries, work forces and communities, creating both opportunities and challenges.

Overall, the China-India relationship is complex and multifaceted. China-India co-operation is beneficial to both sides and the world at large. The way the two interact has significant implications for the international community because of their importance on the international stage. China and India play a key role in addressing global and regional socioeconomic issues and are natural partners in adapting to and mitigating global problems.

(To be contd)


What is the way forward ? Looking beyond the clash

|

What is the way forward ? This question should be read and understood beyond the ongoing clash between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zos and look back at the past to understand why the idea of Manipur as a distinct geo-political reality seems to have meaning only to the Meiteis. A deep, serious and sincere inward look is what is needed and being the major community in Manipur, the first step towards this should fall on the Meiteis. That the spirit and understanding of Ching-Tam Amattani should be more than mere sloganeering is a must and if there is a lesson to be learnt from the ongoing clash, then it is to recognise and respect why there is something called indigenous and why the question of indigeneity should mean so much to the indigenes of the land. This can and should be the starting block to start selling the idea of the place as the home of the indigenes, people who are umbilically tied to the soil of the land and hence respect its soil, its forests, its rivers, its water and the very air which they breathe. There are reputable scholars, people who have earned a name for themselves in the public sphere who can and should take the lead in taking the ties that bind the people of the land to a higher level and it is time for them to come out and start walking the talk. The Government should also move with the need of the hour and acknowledge the fact that the failure to respect the land and her people is one prime cause for the ongoing clash, which has already claimed close to 200 human lives, made many disappear and rendered thousands refugees in their own ancestral land. Land for which the forefathers laid down their lives. The double standard and hypocrisy should go, for it is this which has driven the dividing nail between the indigenes of the land. The Government, the different CSOs from either side, the very people themselves can perhaps study and see what steps may be taken up to promote more people to people contact, encourage more socialisation and promote trade between the different communities. Manipur has bled enough arising from the misunderstanding between the sons of the soil and the ongoing clash should open the eyes of everyone to the growing need to promote more understanding. Common objectives may be studied and pursued together. The past should be more than enough lesson for the indigenes of the land to realise that infighting amongst them can only benefit others and Manipur has more than enough evidence to underline this point. The question at the moment is whether any meaningful move has been initiated to reach out to the Nagas who have understandably struck a neutral stand so far. Already Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga is reported to have announced that he would try and reach out to the Nagas to help resolve the crisis and one wonders whether the Government at Imphal has realised the importance of such an announcement.

Reaching out, this is a point which The Sangai Express has already touched upon briefly in an earlier commentary here, and the need still stands and will stand in the days to come. No doubt there may be differences over the understanding of Manipur, but no differences can be too tough to resolve over some meaningful talks. This is where the Government, the CSOs from either side, the social leaders who have a say in the affairs of the people and the common people need to think out ways on how a meeting point may be worked out. Think out of the box may perhaps be the call of the hour and the present situation demands that all must work with a vision, a vision that concerns the future of the people and the land which they hold dear. There is no indication that the ongoing clash will be resolved anytime soon and no one seems to know what steps to take to put the State on the path of normalcy. Friends and allies, this is what Manipur needs and apart from reaching out to the indigenes of the land, Manipur should know who its allies and foes are. Delhi has on more than one occasion pointed at the foreign hands and it is up to Imphal to take up from this and adopt different strategies to help safeguard the interests of Manipur and her people. The longer the clash continues the more it will adversely affect the indigenes of the land and Manipur and this is where one should understand who stands to gain from prolonging the state of unrest and clashes in different parts of the State.
Administrative officials here have started preparing arrangements for chief minister Mamata Banerjees visit to north Bengal. Siliguri Police Commissioner C Sudhakar, Darjeeling DM, Dr Pritee Goyal and Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb and other officials today visited Kanchenjunga Stadium to finalise a suitable venue for Chief Ministers programme in Siliguri on 12 December.

Officials have visited two other places in Siliguri. Chief Ministers Office will finalise one of them shortly, official sources said. Officials associated with Uttarkanya, a branch secretariat, have also started preparing arrangements properly, where she will stay and hold meetings with the officials. Official sources said that the CM Ms Banerjee will be arriving here on 6 December and will leave for Kurseong to attend a private programme.

C M will stay in North Bengal till 12 December and attend her last official programme in Siliguri and leave for Kolkata. Sources said CM Ms Banerjee will attend a marriage ceremony of her relative in Kurseong. A section of Hill people have been delighted after they have come to know that Chief Ministers family member will marry a Nepali speaking girl, who is a doctor by profession. Family members and relatives of the girl have also started preparing to enjoy the marriage ceremony with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Advertisement

According to an administrative officer, after attending the marriage ceremony, CM will attend three official programme in Alipurduar, at Banarhat in Jalpaiguri and in Siliguri. According to sources, apart from her private programme, CM may hold meetings in the Hills officially and politically for the preparation of Lok Sabha Elections
This is for the first time a German tourist has visited Jhargram on his motorcycle. Johannes Haucke (32), an architect by profession and a resident of Cologne, Germany, started his global tour on his motorcycle from Kolkata. He spent 29-30 November at Jhargram. It may be mentioned that a team of 11 German tourists visited Jhargram a few days ago. Mr Haucke ferried his motorcycle Honda CRF 250L from Germany and received it at the Shyama Prasad Mookherjee port.

He drove down to Jhargram and stayed at Kankrajhor Jhinuk Camp at Amlasole, Belpahari. Sajal Sana, owner of Kankrajhor Jhinuk camp and Sumit Dutta, founder of Jhargram Tourism and member of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) explained to him about the history and life of the residents. He told the duo that he had read about Jhargram and wanted to visit the area. I love its nature and the smooth roads. I enjoy riding my bike. It is a nice, serene place.

The silence is very enjoyable, he told the hosts. Mr Haucke visited Lakaisini Hill, Laljal Cave, Khandarani Lake, tribal houses and enjoyed the simple lifestyle of the village people. He was amazed to see the stone craft products of Khandarani. He talked to the villagers and the language bar did not come in the way. The hosts play the role of interpreter. Mr Dutta said, Jhargram has entered the international tourist map.

Advertisement

Those who want an offbeat stay, Jhargram is an ideal destination for them. The natural beauty and the serene environment attract the tourists. He said that he has come to know about the area by conducting a search. The homestay, farm stay and resorts that are situated in the middle of nature provide great attractions to the visitors.

The Bengal government has given tourism industry status and businessmen feel that this would fetch investments and will lead to the improvement of infrastructure in the rural areas. Mr Haucke will visit Varanasi and other places before leaving for Japan. He will return to Germany in the middle of 2024.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2023 - 14:24 | All, Japan

The biggest faction of Japan's ruling party is alleged to have pooled secret funds worth around 100 million yen ($676,000) to reimburse members who exceeded their quotas in selling fundraising party tickets, sources close to the matter said Friday.

Prosecutors are investigating the Liberal Democratic Party faction, formerly led by slain Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on the grounds that it omitted reporting the extra income as a political fund for at least the past five years, the sources said.

The LDP factions have traditionally set quotas for party tickets, usually priced at 20,000 yen, for their member lawmakers, the sources said, adding if they surpass their targets, they have the opportunity to receive the extra income as a kickback.

The revelation comes as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who currently heads the LDP, has been criticized amid allegations that his and four other major intraparty groups have underreported their party revenue by around 40 million yen between 2018 and 2021.

It may also deal a blow to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, a key government member, as he is a senior official of the largest faction within the LDP, called Seiwaken or the Seiwa policy study group, political pundits said.

Japan's law obliges political groups to list the names of organizations and individuals who purchase party tickets worth more than 200,000 yen in their funds reports.

While the factions and their members are supposed to report such financial transactions, they have not abided by the political funds control law, and they have been lambasted for apparently attempting to accumulate a large amount of secret money.

Matsuno, the top government spokesman, remained tight-lipped over the allegation on Friday, saying, "I refrain from commenting on it from my position in the administration."

Related coverage:

Japan PM grilled over alleged gifts to IOC for Tokyo's Olympic bid

Japan PM Kishida grilled over party revenue underreporting claims
In a bid to foster national unity and cultural exchange, the National Social Service (NSS) organized a week-long National Integration Camp at Kalyani University, bringing together selected students from fifteen states, across India. The event was officially inaugurated on Wednesday at Kalyani University. It was inaugurated by Kalyani University vice-chancellor professor Amlendu Bhuiyan. Vinay Kumar, regional director of the Regional Directorate of NSS, Kolkata was the chief guest.

The week-long camp, set to conclude on 5 December, has brought together 200 students from 14 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Twenty teachers have also accompanied the students. The camp features a diverse range of programmes, including cultural events, discussion cycles, yoga sessions, debates, and educational tours for NSS volunteers.

Organized by the ministry of youth affairs and sports, the camp is a joint effort by Kalyani University and the Regional Directorate of NSS, Kolkata, in collaboration with Kanchrapara College. The primary objective of the camp is to strengthen national unity through cultural exchange among students from different states, as reflected in the camps slogan, Young India, Developed India, and Strong India. Professor Amlendu Bhuiyan emphasized the vital role students play in promoting national integration, stating,

Advertisement

National integration is a very important issue for our country. In this, students take the leading role. Vinay Kumar, director of the NSS, highlighted the significance of cultural exchange in promoting the idea of national unity. He stated, NSS volunteers from fifteen states will get to know each others culture through mutual cultural exchange. Through this camp, the idea of national unity of our country will spread among the students of different languages
As per the assurance given by Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the pending payments of 100 days work have been initiated in the Arambagh block and sub-division. Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who is also MP from Diamond Harbour, had spearheaded agitation in New Delhi against the nonpayment of long-pending dues to job card holders from Bengal from 100 days work.

He had said then, Those job card holders, who actively joined the dharna manch in New Delhi will be handed over their pending dues if the central government does not respond to our demand. A resident of Goghat Kamarpukur, Sheikh Nur Alam was handed over an amount of Rs 4,700 in an envelope, along with a letter of appreciation for becoming part of agitation and protest in New Delhi. Sheikh Nur Alam said, The train was not available for us to travel to New Delhi, hence we reached New Delhi by bus.

I would have been happier if we received our pending dues from the central government. Sunil Roy of Goghat-1 block of Bethbani village was also handed over the amount sent by Abhishek Banerjee.

Advertisement

In the Arambagh block, a resident of Kesabpur Nupur Haati, Maidul Sarkar of Harinkhola was also handed over his dues. Most of the job card holders, who actively took part in the agitation were happy to receive their due amounts sent by Mr Banerjee, handed over to them by Arambagh TMC leadership, but at the same time expressed anger over the indifferent attitude of the concerned central government minister for not hearing their woes.

Swapan Nandy, Arambagh TMC organization chairman, TMC block president Arun Kewara, local gram panchayat Pradhan Rajdeep Dey were present during the handing over ceremony. Mr Nandy said the agitation and protest will be further intensified against the central government under the leadership of our party chairperson Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.
When violence broke out in Manipur in May this year between the Meitei and Kuki communities, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had sent a delegation of her MPs, MLAs and Ministers to visit the affected areas in order to try to gauge the magnitude of peoples distress and to offer assistance. Her message condemning the violence on women regardless of which community they belonged to especially had evidently had a powerful impact on the Manipuri women.

Because even six months later, the Manipuri women are talking about just how much Didis support meant to them. In Manipur, cutting across community divides, we women love Mamata Banerjee, Ninglun Hangal tells The Statesman in an interview. Her courage inspires us and she is a role model.

Hangal is a Kuki and she was in Churachandpur, 64 kilometers from capital city Imphal, attending her sisters wedding when reports of the bloody ethnic clashes reached them. She and her family fled to Guwahati taking clandestine routes. Her husband was in Imphal and for days they were separated by the violence which resulted in blocked roads and travel restrictions.

Advertisement

Though eventually they met up in Assam, they have not yet been able to return to their home in Manipur. The hatred is still simmering, says Hangal, who herself however, refuses to see the Meiteis as enemies. There are certain individuals who incite the violence but most of us do not hate each other. On the contrary we like to live harmoniously together and in peace. Hangal says that she noticed how Mamata did not differentiate between the communities when she expressed concern and she says she really appreciates this. I think this is the sign of a leader and I think she is the only one who is can provide the alternative leadership.

Since being displaced, Hangal has been in transit a number of times and currently she is in Kolkata. We know that the government of West Bengal was very concerned about the Manipur issue and we are grateful for that, says Hangal. Indeed, there were meetings and public protests and voices were raised in Parliament demanding that the issue be addressed adequately. Rajya Sabha members Derek OBrien and Dola Sen were especially vocal. Clearly the people of Manipur have not forgotten. No they have not, smiles Hangal. Especially the women.
Out of a total of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation, 97.26 per cent have been returned to the Reserve Bank of India at the close of business on November 30, 2023, declining to Rs 9,760 crore, the Central bank said on Friday.

Notably, from October 9, RBI Issue Offices, in addition to exchanging Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes across the counters, are also accepting Rs 2,000 banknotes from individuals/entities for deposit to their bank accounts.

The RBI had announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation on May 19, 2023 as part of its clean note policy.

Advertisement

The total value of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation amounted to Rs 3.56 lakh crore as at the close of business on May 19.

The facility for deposit and exchange was available at all bank branches in the country initially upto September, which was later extended upto October 7.

The RBI had introduced Rs 2,000 banknotes in November 2016 with the announcement of withdrawal of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 banknotes by the Narendra Modi Government.

Demonetisation was subsequently described as a policy boost to promoting digital payments. The original policy had very different stated targets. The biggest promise of demonetisation was that it would purge unaccounted cash in the system, with those hoarding forced to deposit it in the banks.

While announcing the decision, PM Modi said, Which honest citizen would not be pained by reports of crores worth of currency notes stashed under the beds of government officers? Or by reports of cash found in gunny bags.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday signed an agreement with the Bank of England on information exchange regarding bond settlement house Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL).

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a framework for the Bank of England to place reliance on the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) regulatory and supervisory activities while safeguarding UKs financial stability, the RBI said in a statement.

It also demonstrates the importance of cross-border cooperation to facilitate international clearing activities and the BoEs commitment to deference to other regulators regimes.

Advertisement

The RBI in its statement said the MoU confirms the interests of both the authorities in enhancing cooperation in line with their respective laws and regulations. It will also enable the BoE to assess the application of CCIL for recognition as a third country Central Counterparty (CCP) which is a pre-requisite for UK based banks to clear transactions through CCIL.

Reports suggested that in September, RBI was in advanced talks with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) over the dispute surrounding oversight of the CCIL.

In October 2022, six Indian clearing houses, including the CCIL, which contains the platform for trading in government bonds and overnight indexed swaps (OIS), were de-recognized by the ESMA.

The RBIs refusal to grant foreign authorities the power to inspect and audit the CCIL led to the decision, which was followed by a similar one by the Bank of England.

In June, the UK Treasury granted equivalence to central counterparties authorised by the RBI, a crucial step towards ending the impasse.

Last year, RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das, urged international organisations to respect the robustness of Indian legislation.

The RBI and the Financial Services Agency (FSA), Japan, exchanged letters of cooperation in the area of central counterparties (CCPs) in November 2022.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has started the Mai Bhi Kejriwal signature campaign in Delhi starting with a door-to-door campaign in Laxmi Nagar area by AAP Delhi State Convenor and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai on Friday.

During the campaign, the minister told the people that the BJP was allegedly plotting to arrest Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for fear of losing Delhi seats to the AAP in the Lok Sabha elections.

During the campaign, we asked people in case of his arrest, should CM Arvind Kejriwal resign or run the government from jail. The people said he should not resign and run the government from jail. They were of the view that all the arrests are being made under an agenda. In this situation, Kejriwal should not resign, he said.

Advertisement

The AAPs Delhi convenor shared that from December 1-20, they would conduct a door-to-door campaign at all 2600 polling stations, and from December 21-24, hold public meetings in all 250 wards. In the end, whatever opinion the public give they would hand over to CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Rai said under the signature campaign initiated today AAP workers would visit all 2,600 polling stations in Delhi.

The way the leaders of the AAP, first Satyendar Jain, then Manish Sisodia, and now Sanjay Singh, are being falsely implicated points to a conspiracy to arrest CM Arvind Kejriwal. In this situation, we are going door-to-door asking people if Arvind Kejriwal is arrested, should he resign or run the government from jail, Rai said.

The AAP Delhi state convenor shared, So far, the people talked to said that Kejriwal has done a lot of work for the public. The chief minister has provided free electricity, water, healthcare, education, facilitated bus travel for women and pilgrimage trips for the elderly, so he should not resign but run the government from jail. People also firmly opined that these arrests are happening under an agenda. In this situation, he should not resign.

The BJP is making these arrests for fear of losing the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi. Our job is to awaken the public. The people have the opportunity to answer this in the Lok Sabha elections, he said.
Dogs continually showcase their remarkable bond with humans, and a recent incident in Mumbai underlines their invaluable role. In a heartwarming turn of events, a Mumbai Police sniffer dog, Leo, part of the Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad, demonstrated his exceptional abilities by locating a kidnapped six-year-old boy in just 90 minutes.

The incident unfolded in the Ashok Nagar slum, nestled in the suburban Andheri (East) area of Mumbai. The child had gone missing on November 23 while playing with friends near his residence.

Concern grew among family members as the boy did not return home as expected. Despite their efforts to search for him, their attempts proved futile, prompting them to seek assistance from the police.

Advertisement

Narrating the situation to the authorities, the family revealed that the child had changed clothes before heading out to play.

Utilising Leos exceptional olfactory capabilities, the police provided the Doberman with the boys T-shirt to sniff. With this scent trail, Leo embarked on his mission and astoundingly traced the missing boy to a nearby building, a mere 500 meters away from his home.

While Leos remarkable feat brought the child back to safety, the investigation into the kidnapping continues. Law enforcement authorities are diligently working to apprehend the unidentified kidnappers responsible for the incident. This heartening rescue is yet another testament to the indispensable role dogs play in aiding law enforcement and their unwavering loyalty and dedication to humanity.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday celebrated the 59th Raising Day of the Border Security Force (BSF). On the occasion he emphasised the critical role of border security in the nations development and said, A country can never be developed and prosperous if its borders are not secure.

Further, Shah attributed Indias advancements in various fields, including the successful organisation of the G20 summit and the Chandrayaan-3 mission, to the secure borders maintained by the sacrifices of the BSF. Shah asserted that under Prime Minister Modis leadership, the country has made significant progress, with the BSF being the cornerstone of this development.

A country can never be developed and prosperous if its borders are not secure. Under PM Modis leadership, the country has progressed in every field. Whether it is the successful organisation of the G 20 or the Chandrayaan-3, all of this is only possible because the borders of the country are safe due to your sacrifice and penance. BSF is the root of the development of this country, Amit Shah said.

Advertisement

The Union Home Minister aslo expressed his heartfelt wishes to all BSF soldiers and their families, stating that the entire country takes immense pride in their service. He conveyed these sentiments while attending the commemorative ceremony.

I extend my best wishes to all the soldiers of the BSF and their families on the 59th Raising Day of the BSF The entire country is proud of our soldiers, Amit Shah said.

Shah further expressed his deep trust and pride in the Border Security Force (BSF) and highlighted the peace of mind he experiences knowing the BSF is safeguarding the borders against Pakistan and Bangladesh. Shah commended the BSFs commitment, stating that their presence at the frontlines ensures the nations security, allowing its citizens to live without fear.

On the BSFs 59th Raising Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, Whether it is the Pakistan border or the Bangladesh border that comes under the BSF, whenever the enemy makes a move, it is a tense situation but when the BSF says that their soldiers are present, I am able to sleep peacefully without any tension. Once the protectors of the borders take the front, nobody needs to worry about the borders. I, as a Home Minister, am very proud of you.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion of the 59th Foundation Day Ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF), Director General Nitin Agarwal highlighted the forces significant achievements over the past year. He proudly recounted how the BSF effectively countered cross-border firing incidents, neutralised weaponized infiltrators, and intercepted numerous illicit activities.

In recent incidents of cross-border firing, the BSF gave a befitting reply to the enemy. The BSF also took down weaponized infiltrators. In last one year, the BSF took down 90 drones coming from Pakistan and seized 1000 kg of heroin. At the India-Bangladesh border, more than 20 kg of banned contraband were seized in last one year. More than 150 kg of gold was also recovered BDF DG Nitin Agarwal said.

The BSF celebrated its 59th Foundation Day in Jharkhands Hazaribagh district on Thursday. The Union Home Minister is attending the event as the chief guest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at the COP28 meeting in Dubai in which certain sensitive issues, including Green Credit Initiatives, will be discussed.

But, how India is getting prepared to address the climate issue, especially when the country continues to enjoy fossil fuel at the highest degree ever? What policies the country has adopted to negotiate with the issue will gain importance, especially in the wake of the countrys commitments in the 2015 Paris Agreement and 2021s COP26 summit in Glasgow.

Indias current energy mix continues with more than 80 per cent fossil-based fuel in use and it stands as the second largest consumer of coal. In his note to Niyi Ayog, Bhabani Prasad Pati, joint secretary, ministry of coal stated, Coal will continue to play a critical role in meeting Indias energy requirements for the next few decades. However, as India has taken strides towards clean energy transition and Net Zero by 2070, we envisage significant structural change in production and consumption of fossil fuel by the economy in the long run.

Advertisement

Given the complexity and long duration of the transition, a well-defined policy framework, is required to develop a transition policy along the lines suggested in certain sections of the Mines Act, 1952, a top official said.

The coal ministry has already started working in collaboration with the World Bank on closure of mines based on just transition principles. In a meeting of sustainable growth pillars on 12 July, 2021, under India-US strategic partnership, it was decided to enhance cooperation in the fields of energy data management, low carbon technologies, carbon market & just transition in the coal sector and form four committees involving Indian and US counterparts in respective fields. Whether India can embrace a faster phase out of coal-fired power plants and both India and the US can quit coal mining, are the critical questions, especially in the wake of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the Cop26 summit.

But, how much has been Indias progress on the front? IIT Kanpur, since mid 2021 has been working on the just transition perspectives and prospects in the Raniganj Coalfields in its mission titled JTRC-IIT, Kanpur. Deputy project manager, JTRC, Kanpur, Supriya Basu said, To ensure social transition for expediting just transition, we need to plant renewable energy plants surrounding the Raniganj coalfields, but most of our such plants are being installed in the western India, which is if no help for social justice to the Raniganj coalfields. He added: After expected closure of mines, we need to estimate the loss of actual man-days from all spheres depending upon the coal economy.

Coal India, meanwhile, has scaled up for installing proposed 3,000 MW renewable energy units by 2030, of which 500 MW is on the pipeline.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday said that more than 1,000 women Agniveers have been incorporated into the force and asserted that India is the resident power in the Indian Ocean region, notwithstanding the growing Chinese presence in the area.

At a press conference here, he lauded the Agnipath scheme and said its implementation has been a much-needed, transformational change.

Our first batch of Agniveers graduated from the premier-winning establishment, INS Chilka, in March this year. And importantly, this batch of Agnivirs includes 272 female Agniveer trainees as well, Admiral Kumar said.

Advertisement

And going further, the second batch of Agniveers had a total of 454 women and I want to say that with the third batch, which has just been inducted, we have now crossed over 1000 women affiliates in the navy, he added.

Admiral Kumar asserted that these statistics stand testament to the Indian Navys philosophy of all roles and all ranks with regard to the deployment of women in the service, both for officers and for personnel below the rank of officer.

We also appointed the first woman commanding officer of an Indian naval ship. It has been our effort to constantly challenge the status quo to ensure that the navy remains on an aspirational and dynamic trajectory into the future, said Admiral Kumar.

On the increasing grip of China on the Indian Ocean region, he said Beijing may have legitimate reasons to be in the region but India is the resident power in it.

The oceans are considered to be a common heritage; they can be used for the legitimate economic aspirations of any nation. So in that regard, if you look at China, it may have a legitimate reason to be present in the Indian Ocean region for economic activities. But we, as the resident naval power in the Indian Ocean, keep an eye on what all is happening there, the Naval chief said.

We try to keep the extra regional forces that are present in the region under surveillance and keep a watch on their activitieswhat are they engaged in, what are their intentions and so on. So, that is why we deploy our surveillance assetsships, submarines, aircraft, UAVs and others. So theyre deployed regularly to keep our area of interest and observation.

The Chief of Naval Staff, speaking on how friendly operations and exercises with friendly foreign countries help the Indian Navy, said that the task of the Indian Navy is to protect, preserve, promote, and pursue Bharats national interest in the maritime domain, wherever they lie.

Our interests are there in the Indian Ocean region and beyond when you look at the Indo-Pacific. So our ships, submarines, and aircraft are deployed accordingly. We try to keep our area of interest under surveillance, he said.

Admiral Kumar also talked about the naval air surveillance part and said that, looking at the surveillance aspect, each of the platforms comes with a particular type of capability.

When you talk of the P-8I, while it has a secondary role for surveillance, it is essentially a submarine warfare aircraft. It is basically an asset that is meant to detect localised and targeted submarines. But when it is not engaged in the task, it can also be used for surveillance.

He also mentioned numerous other primary assets for surveillance but he stated that when an entire ocean area is looked upon, assets with different capabilities will be required. So we have to divide the area that we want to keep under surveillance with different types of assets.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2023 - 08:43 | World, All

An award-winning reporter from Hong Kong has gone missing following a business trip to China in late October, people close to the matter told Kyodo News on Thursday.

Minnie Chan, the South China Morning Post reporter, became unreachable after visiting Beijing to cover Xiangshan Forum, a three-day international security forum that ended Oct. 31, said the people, mainly her friends, expressing their worries that Chan may be under investigation by mainland authorities.

The Hong Kong newspaper answered Kyodo News' questions about Chan in an email and said she is currently "on personal leave" but did not disclose further details, citing privacy concerns.

A social media account of hers included a post made in early November. But she has not responded to any comments on the post, said the people who suspect it was not made by Chan herself.

According to the newspaper's website, Chan has worked for the newspaper since 2005, specializing in the coverage of matters related to defense and diplomacy in China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome upon his arrival in the UAE, from the members of the Indian diaspora outside a hotel in Dubai, followed by a cultural dance performance.

A member of the Indian diaspora expressed joy at meeting PM Modi in UAE and said, Ive been living in UAE for 20 years, but today, it felt as if one of my own has come to this country, stressing, Jitti prashansa karu utni kam hai. PM Modi was seen shaking hands with diaspora members outside the hotel. The members further greeted him by presenting a cultural dance.

Further sharing on his social media X, PM Modi expressed pleasure to meet the Indian community in Dubai and said that their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds.

Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds, he stated.

Advertisement

Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Dubai. Their support and enthusiasm is a testament to our vibrant culture and strong bonds. pic.twitter.com/xQC64gcvDJ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2023

The excitement is palpable among the 3.3 million strong Indian diaspora in the UAE as they eagerly await the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dubai.

PM Modi arrived in Dubai on Thursday night to participate in the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) Summit.

He will participate in the World Climate Action Summit of the COP28, scheduled on Friday.

Following his arrival, PM Modi took to his social media X and said that he is looking forward to the proceedings of the Summit, aimed at creating a better planet.

PM 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.
The power-starved Jammu and Kashmir will get electricity from West Bengal, Bihar and Bhutan as the Centre on Thursday increased power allocation to J&K by about 293 MW to meet the winter crisis.

According to the spokesperson for the Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD), in todays digital era, modern tools and software enable power transfer and management in an automated manner without requiring any human intervention, depending upon the demand, availability, and of course the network feasibility.

Regarding new power allocations made today by Government Of India to J&K, the spokesman said that Jammu & Kashmir, being primarily dependent on hydroelectric power, faces significant fall in generation during winters due to low water level in rivers and therefore, around 85 per cent of power supply during winters is sourced from thermal plants to compensate for the deficit during winters.

Advertisement

The spokesman reiterated that the UT is making every effort to ensure sustainable and firm power availability throughout the year. In this direction, during the current financial year, the UT has entered into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 1600 MW of Solar power , 900 MW from Hydro, and an additional 500 MW from thermal plants, currently in progress following the decision of the UT Administrative Council under the Shakti policy.

This will not only lead towards resource adequacy for the region, but will also provide an optimal mix of Hydro, Thermal, Solar generation, while the efforts are underway to harness wind power as well so that the strength behind renewable energy is utilized to the maximum.

Regarding the hours of power supply to consumers, the spokesperson said that smart metering is under implementation in mission mode and focus is on ensuring uninterrupted and regular power supply in areas saturated with smart meters, while also curbing losses.

In areas without smart metering, the department is sustaining the same number of power supply hours as maintained during the previous year. Moreover, there is a curtailment schedule in effect which is diligently being published to prevent any inconvenience to the public.

Recognizing the urgency, the spokesman emphasized on discontinuing the use of obsolete and environmentally unfriendly electric heating systems. The spokesman also mentioned that numerous crude heaters which have been banned by the department were recovered by the enforcement squads of KPDCL in the recently conducted inspection drives in Kashmir.

In addition to maintaining reliable power supply amidst extreme weather conditions, the Power Development Department (PDD) is proactively engaged in eradicating instances of illegal hooking. In the last seven days itself, inspection teams of KPDCL have conducted 7585 number of inspections in different districts of Kashmir region and imposed a fine of Rs.68 Lakhs on the defaulters.
The Supreme Court verdict setting aside the reappointment of Kannur University Vice Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran has come as a major setback and loss of face for the LDF government in Kerala.

The government, buoyed by a favourable verdict from the High Court, had been claiming that everything was done as per the rules and regulations of the university. However, it suffered a double blow when the Supreme Court, while quashing the reappointment, also pointed out unwarranted interference on the governments part.

Gopinath Ravindrans reappointment as the VC in 2021 had caused an uproar with the opposition parties terming it a quid pro quo for appointing Priya Varghese, the wife of K K Ragesh, the private secretary of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as an Associate Professor in the Malayalam Department of the university.

Advertisement

While the opposition targeted Higher Education Minister R Bindu over the reappointment issue of Gopinath Ravindran, the Governor targeted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday said that state Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed as the Chief Minister used her for seeking the re-appointment of Gopinath Ravindran.

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. The Governor further said that he is not demanding the resignation of any individual in the wake of the Supreme Court order.

KPCC president K Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan demanded for Bindus resignation. Citing the gross violation and clear-cut intervention by Bindu, Sudhakaran demanded that she step down with immediate effect. Sudhakaran also cast aspersions on Chief Minister Vijayan claiming he lacked the moral right to continue in office.

The Apex Court verdict is a huge blow to DYFI leaders and their families who politicised the appointments. Pinarayi stooped too low to ensure his private secretarys wife got an unauthorised job. For favours received, Pinarayi recommended Mani Kumar as chairman of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission. This is only the tip of the iceberg, alleged Sudhakaran.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan demanded the resignation of the Minister of Higher Education Dr R Bindu. 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 said

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said that the Supreme Court verdict quashing the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran was a blow to the Governor.

The Supreme Court has criticised the Governor as the Chancellor of the university for his flawed decision. He is trying to pass the buck on to the government, said Pinarayi Vijayan.

The CM said that his government had done nothing to impede or thwart the decision-making powers of the Governor as the Chancellor of Kannur University. He got a setback from the Supreme Court because he presented the facts in a flawed manner. He is trying to portray himself as being under extraneous pressures, said the CM.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Friday that the fight against the left wing-extremism (LWE) is shrinking with each passing day as the security forces are ready for the final attack against the left-wing extremists, and were determined to free the country from this problem.

Addressing the 59th raising day celebrations of the Border Security Force (BSF) held in Jharkhands Hazaribagh, the home minister said the resources of the extremists have decreased, and they were shrinking due to the increased patrolling while the final fight remained in some areas of Jharkhand, which he assured would be won soon.

Since 2019, 199 new camps have been opened, and overall patrolling of the forces stepped up in which has resulted in making places like Budhha Pahad and Chhakarbandha free from extremism problem, while the last battle was on in some areas of Jharkhand, Shah added.

Advertisement

Shah further said it was on Thursday he reviewed the problem of LWE and the ongoing fight against the same in the country, and he expressed that he was happy to announce that the fight was on its verge, as the day is not far when the country will be completely free from the LWE problem.

Lauding the BSFs role, the home minister said the country was proud of the force and that the borders of the country are impenetrable with its bravery and valour. The BSF has not only secured the countrys borders but has also achieved success in disaster management and environmental protection, he added.

The home minister saluted the brave martyrs of the border guarding force and said the country would always remain indebted to the sacrifices made by them for their motherland.

Shah received the guard of honour on the occasion at the BSF Meru training Centre in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General BSF Nitin Agarwal informed that the force gave a befitting reply to the enemy in the recent incidents of cross-border firing and brought down armed infiltrations.

He further said that the BSF in the past year took down 90 drones that entered into Indian territory from Pakistan and seized around 1,000 kg of heroin being smuggled into the country.

The BSF chief informed about foiling of several cross-border crimes and seized more than 20,000 kilograms of banned contraband from the India- Bangladesh border along with more than 150 kg of smuggled gold.

Meanwhile, a total of 32 medals and gallantry awards were given to the personnel on the forces raising day.
Days after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia claimed to have proof of an act of moral turpitude by an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Friday that because of the Majithia clan the Sikhs were labelled horse thieves.

Addressing a gathering during a function to distribute appointment letters to 251 newly-recruited youth at Municipal Bhawan in Sector 35, the CM said when Jawaharlal Nehru was prime minister in 1957, a delegation, led by him, toured Arab countries.

Mann said the delegation included then Union deputy defence minister Surjit Singh Majithia, a forefather of Bikram Singh Majithia. Presenting souvenirs to the Indian Army, the king of an Arab country gifted them magnificent Arabian horses which were supposed to be sent to the training at the Army training center in Meerut.

Advertisement

He said two months later, the Arab king, upon inquiring about the horses, discovered that they were not in Meerut. The king conveyed his displeasure to Nehru over the matter, leading to immediate sacking of Surjit Singh Majithia.

The CM said this incident tarnished the image of the Sikhs, who were known across the globe for their nationalism, valour and heroism. He lamented that it is disheartening to note that even today, when a turbaned Sikh visits the training center in Meerut, he is seen as a horse thief.

Mann said everyone knows that Majithia family was a stooge of British and was conferred the title of Sir by them for hobnobbing against the patriots who fought for the country.

The CM alleged the family had feted General Dyer, the perpetrator of Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13 April, 1919, by hosting a dinner for him after this heinous incident. This act had exposed their anti-national and anti-Punjab mindset and character.

Mann said not only the Majithia family ensured that General Dyer was also bestowed siropa and forgiveness at Golden Temple. It is even more shocking that Jathedar Arood Singh, the one who had granted the siropa, was the maternal grandfather of Lok Sabha MP Simarjit Singh Mann.

History cannot be wiped out, the dubious characters of Majithias ancestors are etched on the pages of history, he said, adding hands of the Majithia family are drenched with the blood of the patriots and the role of these traitors in backstabbing the nationalists can never be forgotten.

Pointing to the dire state of affairs within the Akali Dal, the CM said the party is a sinking ship and people dont trust them anymore. The Akali Dal is today a divided house and a situation has even reached where Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bikram Singh Majithia and Harsimrat Badal no longer share the same view.
Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a significant meeting with Israel President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai.

The two leaders exchanged views on the conflict with the Indian leader expressing condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks in Israel. He also welcomed the release of hostages.

The PM reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population. He underlined Indias support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

Advertisement

President Herzog congratulated Mr Modi on the success of Indias G20 Presidency and welcomed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Mr Modi also held brief meetings with several other world leaders, including United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

An excellent interaction with UK PM Rishi Sunak during the COP28 Dubai Summit. Strong India-UK friendship helps create a better future for the coming generations, the PM wrote on X later.
Days after a policeman was killed after a dispute between two factions of Nihang Sikhs over the possession of the gurdwara turned violent, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday requested Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the sacrilegious armed attack on the Sikh shrine in Sultanpur Lodhi.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Governor, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the armed attack on the peaceful sangat at 4 am when it was reciting gurbani has reminded Sikhs of a similar attack on Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar in 1984. Sikhs worldwide are outraged and they are now seeking justice for this heinous act.

Badal claimed as per sources, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had ordered the Kapurthala Police to remove one faction of Nihang Singhs from Gurdwara Akal Bunga Sahib to facilitate a takeover to favour his close friend and head of a rival faction of Nihang Singhs.

Advertisement

It is even more despicable that the CM gave this order reportedly in an inebriated condition at night due to which the Kapurthala Police entered the Gurdwara premises in the early morning in full combat uniform with assault rifles and indulged in wanton firing, he added.

The SAD chief said Mann had compounded his crime by forming a SIT to probe the incident which was headed by the same police officer who had carried out the orders of the CM.

He said in such circumstances only a CBI probe could lay bare the entire conspiracy and culminate in registration of a murder case as well as that for hurting religious sentiments against the chief minister as well as the police officers responsible for this ghastly incident.

Asserting that the entire act was aimed at helping a particular Nihang faction, the SAD president said this is why the attack was perpetrated despite the fact that there was no breakdown in the law and order situation at Sultanpur Lodhi. It is even more galling that this attack was perpetrated when Sikhs were in the process of commemorating the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji in the historical town associated with him.

On 23 November, a group of Nihangs allegedly opened fire at cops at about 4 a. m. when they went there to clear the premises following an alleged attempt to take control of the Gurdwara Akal Bunga at Sultanpur Lodhi. Nihang Sikhs are armed with traditional weapons and dressed in loose blue robes.
Directing the Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi to invite State Chief Secretary MK Stalin and resolve the stand-off on the fate of the Bills sent to him for his assent, the Supreme court on Friday said that the Governor Ravi, under Article 200 of the Constitution, has three options to deal with the Bills passed by the State legislature and presented to him for assent and cannot kill, stall and stultify them by keeping them on hold.

We will appreciate, if the Governor resolves the issue. Let the Governor invite the Chief Minister, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud heading a bench also comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said that once the Governor has withheld the Bills sent to him for his assent, then they cannot be reserved and referred for the consideration of the consideration.

The bench posted the matter for hearing on next Friday  December 11, 2023.

Advertisement

As apprehensions were expressed that the Governor may go ahead with further steps on reference of Bills to the President, Chief justice Chandrachud said: They know we are here.

The top court in the earlier hearing has stated that if the Governor chooses to withhold the assent, then he extinguishes the option of reserving the Bills and refers them for the consideration of the President.

Mr. Attorney General, we will like the Governor to resolve the impasse, Chief Justice Chandrachud told the Attorney General R Venkataramani who appeared for the Central government.

As the Attorney General R. Venkataramani appearing for the Centre said that beyond the three-options available to the Governor under Article 200  to give assent, withhold assent and send it back to the legislature with message or reserve it for consideration by the President  the Governor can continue withholding the Bill, Chief Justice Chandrachud asked if the Governor has independent power (beyond the Article 200) to withhold the Bill (passed by the legislature) and kill it.

Referring to the Article 200 of the constitution, the bench said that after a Bill has been re-endorsed (repassed) by the legislature, the only course available to him to give his assent.

The strong observations from the bench came when it was told that after the Tamil Nadu assembly had reiterated the bills that were withheld by the Governor Ravi, the latter has now sent them to the President of India for consideration.

The bench in an unequivocal term said that the referring Bills repassed by the State assembly to the President of India was not available to the Governor.

Noting that the President is an elected office and the Governor is a nominee of the Central government, the bench said, There is an ambivalence on the part of the Governor and when he withheld the assent where is the option of sending it to the President for consideration.

He (Governor) could have sent to the President (in the first instance), there is an ambivalence on the part of the Governor, Chief Justice Chandrachud said as Attorney General Venkataramani sought to carve out an option Governor after withholding the assent will keep the Bill to himself without exercising any of the three options under the Article 200 of the constitution.

Describing Governor Ravis acts as constitutional obstinacy, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, referred to earlier judgments of the top court where the issue before the court on the powers of the Governor on the Bills sent to him for assent are long settled.

In the last hearing of the matter on November 20, the Supreme Court had said that Governor Ravi acted on the bills that were long pending with him only after it issued notice on the State government plea seeking its intervention, and had stated that that under Article 200 of the constitution Governor has to act as soon as possible in exercising three options  give assent, withhold the assent and return the bill for reconsideration or reserve it for consideration by the President.

When the Attorney General Venkataramani in the last hearing had told the bench that the present incumbent Ravi became the Governor on September 18, 2021, suggesting that the bill presented to the Governor in 2020, he was not there, the Chief Justice Chandrachud had said, We are talking about the office of Governor  Issue is not whether any particular Governor delayed but whether in general there has been a delay in exercising the constitutional functions.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met the Uttar Pradesh workers, who were rescue from the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand, along with their families, after their return to the state.

During the meeting at his official residence, the chief minister inquired about their well-being and their experience during the trying time when they were trapped in the tunnel.

He said, I am happy that all the labourers from Uttar Pradesh trapped in the tunnel have safely returned and are now going back to their homes. The state government is standing with its people in every difficult time and will continue to do so.

Advertisement

During the interaction, Yogi praised the courage and patience of all the labourers. He honoured them with shawls on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government and also provided them with sweets and gifts.

Notably, a total of eight labourers from the state were trapped inside the tunnel in Uttarkashi. They were rescued after spending 16 days trapped inside the tunnel. Among them, six were from Shravasti (Ankit, Ram Milan, Satyadev, Santosh, Jayprakash, and Ram Sundar), and one each from Lakhimpur Kheri (Manjeet) and Mirzapur (Akhilesh Kumar).

During their ordeal, a nodal officer was appointed by the state government on the CMs directives to access the real-time information about these labourers and keep their families updated about the situation on day-to-day basis. The chief minister himself closely monitored the situation throughout.

During the meeting, one of the labourers recounted that at one point they realised that there was some damage to the oxygen pipe. As they proceeded further, they saw debris coming from the front which shattered their courage.

The labourer explained said the place they were trapped had a tunnel length of 2.5 kilometers and a width of 14 meters. There was enough oxygen inside the tunnel for their survival for only two to three days. But the rest the company and the government ensured steady supply of the oxygen for the rest of the days.

He further said that if the supply of food, water, and oxygen from outside had stopped, their lives would have been in danger. The labourer highlighted that both the company and the government ensured that there was no power outage inside the tunnel.

When an officer from the state government contacted them, they realised that not only the Indian and the Uttarakhand government but also the government of their home state (Uttar Pradesh) was determined to rescue them, he added.

During the conversation, the labourers expressed their gratitude for the efforts made by the UP government for their rescue.

Chief Minister Yogi inquired about the duration of their work in the tunnel in Uttarakhand. He also engaged their families in discussions for an insight into their current situation.

Jay Prakash from Shravasti described the meeting with CM Yogi as a great experience. The way he boosted their morale was profoundly motivating.

He shared that the initial days inside the tunnel after the incident was incredibly challenging, but as they became aware of the collective efforts outside to rescue them, their hope was strengthened.

Manjeet from Lakhimpur Kheri called the meeting very pleasant and a huge honour. He never were thought he would have the opportunity to meet CM Yogi one day. Akhilesh Kumar from Mirzapur expressed his happiness with the efforts made by the Yogi Government for their safe return.
Relentless bombing of Gaza by Israel has wrought havoc. According to Palestinian health officials more than several thousand civilians have been killed due to indiscriminate Israeli bombing and many of them are women and children. Hospitals are also being bombed on the ground that the Hamas terrorists have taken shelter and set up their underground operation centres there.

As a result, the patients, including those critically injured, are going without treatment. The Director General of WHO has described the situation as dire and perilous and said that because of shortage of fuel, very soon the humanitarian operations will come to a grinding halt. The most difficult phase of Israeli operations against the Hamas has now commenced. The Israeli Army has encircled Gaza city and divided the enclave into two parts. Finishing off the Hamas will be a bloody and tough job. Hamas has built up 300 miles of tunnels, where it stores its military possessions and these tunnels cannot be destroyed by aerial bombardment. Like the Vietcong guerrillas of Vietnam in the 1960s, Hamas has built a wide network of tunnels that are fully self-contained.

The Israeli army will be very hesitant to send its soldiers inside the tunnels because of fear of heavy casualties and will keep their operations over ground, as much as possible. Night vision devices and communication tools which rely on satellites will not work underground. The Israeli army will try to destroy the tunnels by bulldozing their entries or exits or filling them with sea water. But the possibility of hostages being kept in tunnels will slow down the Israeli response. There are intelligence reports that hostages are actually being kept in tunnels. There will be street to street fighting.

Advertisement

Hamas has almost 40,000 tough street fighters, who will resort to ambushes and hitand-run tactics. Hamas says that claims made by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) are illusionary and already several hundred Israeli soldiers and officers have been killed in ambushes. According to the Wall Street Journal, the arsenal of Hamas has improved over the years and includes drones, rockets, grenades and Iranian made surfaceto-air missiles. According to a Hamas spokesman, the group has already set up factories producing these arms. There is a difference of opinion among experts if IDF is capable of destroying the military capabilities of Hamas. Some feel that IDF can do so.

But there is now growing international pressure on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza and desist from collective punishment of the civilians there. The civil society across the world has staged protests against Israel. Many Jews in America have also joined the peace campaigns. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already acted on his statement that Israel is open to tactical little pauses in Gaza fighting to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid or allow the exit of hostages held by Hamas. But there will be no general ceasefire. Netanyahu is facing strong domestic criticism for failure to get the hostages released.

Thus, the two main goals of Israel ~ to completely neutralise Hamas militarily and ideologically and get the hostages released early ~ are colliding with each other. Israel may be constrained to cut a deal with the Hamas for release of the hostages. It is also very unlikely that harsh collective punishment of the Palestinians will decimate the Hamas leadership. Some of its leaders have already taken shelter in Oman and some others have escaped to Iran or Lebanon. Iran and the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon support Hamas. Hamas has already announced that some of the hostages have been killed due to Israeli bombing.

Netanyahu was for some time working under the expectation that Israel could normalise its ties with the Arab world without addressing the Palestinian question, which he believed could be wished away. Now, the Palestinian question has again come to the forefront and can no longer be ignored. Saudi Arabia, which was on the verge of normalising relations with Israel, will demand more concessions for the Palestinians before moving forward lest it incurs the ire of its population and the wider Arab world. Netanyahu has said that Israel will remain in charge of the security of Gaza for an indefinite period.

Neither Washington nor Israel is yet very clear about Gazas future. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said to CBS Television that Hamas has to be dismantled but Israel cannot reoccupy Gaza and put the clock back. But without a ready replacement of Hamas, Israel will have little choice but to assume direct control over Gaza. This step, however, will exacerbate Palestinian militancy, deepen the divisions within Israeli society and tie up its military-economic resources in open-ended counter insurgency campaigns.

The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution calling for urgent and expanded humanitarian pauses and unconditional release of the hostages. The USA did not block the resolution, but Israel criticised it for being disconnected from reality. President Joe Biden has said that the end point of the Israel Hamas conflict will be a Palestinian state that is real, and exists alongside Israel.

There are Israeli leaders who support the view that Palestinian authorities who cooperate with Israel in the administration of the Israeli-occupied West Bank should take charge of Gaza. There is however, the danger that if the Palestinian Authority returns on the back of an Israeli invasion, it will be viewed by the Palestinians as the enemy. Now a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas brokered by Qatar is on.

Hostages have been released by Hamas, and Israel in turn has freed Palestinian prisoners. With the truce deal come increased shipments of fuel and aid supplies to Gaza. Netanyahu says that he will continue vigorously with the war once the ceasefire comes to an end. Abu Ubalda, spokesperson of the Hamas armed wing, has also called it a temporary truce. It is hoped that international pressure will prevail and the truce will not be a short lived one.

(The writer is fellow Institute of social science former director general of human right commission and former director of national Police Academy)
KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2023 - 14:18 | All, World

The United States on Thursday imposed additional sanctions on North Korea in the wake of its launch of a spy satellite last week, in coordination with Australia, Japan and South Korea.

The U.S. Treasury Department said eight individuals who facilitate sanctions evasion to assist North Korea's weapons development and one hacking group that gathers intelligence for Pyongyang will be targeted.

It is the first-ever coordinated imposition of sanctions against North Korea by the four countries, according to the U.S. State Department.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the launch "used ballistic missile technology in contravention of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and directly undermined regional and global security."

The eight have been working in countries such as China and Russia as agents for North Korea, helping it to secure money and technology necessary for its development of ballistic missiles and other weapons, the department said.

The cyber espionage group is Kimsuky, affiliated with North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau, which the U.S. department said is in charge of stealing sensitive information from people employed by government agencies, think tanks and media outlets in countries such as Japan, South Korea and the United States.

North Korea has claimed the Nov. 21 launch allowed it to place its first reconnaissance satellite into orbit.

North Korea's use of "overseas laborers, money launderers, cyber espionage and illicit funding continue to threaten international security and our allies in the region," Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement.

"We will remain focused on targeting these key nodes in (Pyongyang's) illicit revenue generation and weapons proliferation," he said.

The targeted individuals are associated with North Korea's state-backed weapons exporters, financial institutions and front companies, according to the Treasury Department.

They include Green Pine Associated Corp., which is controlled by the North Korean spy bureau and is already sanctioned by the United States and the United Nations.

The United States says the company is responsible for about half of North Korea's exports of arms and related materials.

Japan said it has blacklisted five individuals and four groups, including Kimsuky, as additional targets of North Korea-related sanctions in Tokyo's coordinated action with the three partners.

South Korea, meanwhile, said its unilateral sanctions were imposed on 11 North Korean individuals involved in Pyongyang's satellite and ballistic missile development.

The country's Foreign Ministry said that Australia's participation for the first time in this kind of collaboration with Seoul, Tokyo and Washington shows that the international community is strengthening its commitment to "not sit idly by and ignore North Korea's repeated provocations."

Related coverage:

U.S. imposes sanctions on virtual currency mixer over North Korea links

U.N. Security Council split over North Korea spy satellite launch

North Korea's Kim inspects satellite photos of "major target regions"
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%.


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
Devon Ombres is the senior director for Courts and Legal Policy at the Center for American Progress. He wrote this for InsideSources.com .
SYDNEY, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Australian police destroyed more than 11 million Australian dollars (7.28 million U.S. dollars) worth of cannabis after aerial raids on regional properties this week, the Australian ABC News broadcaster reported on Friday.

Authorities destroyed more than 1.4 tonnes of the illicit drug, burning all the plants on site after special operations police launched a series of aerial raids on remote properties in the state of Victoria, the report said.

Police searched two large rural properties in Dunluce and Kamarooka, as well as homes in Maryborough and Melbourne suburb Deer Park on Monday and Wednesday this week.

The arrests and drug seizures were an "enormous win" for the regional communities, Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan said.

"These properties are incredibly remote and there were a number of sophisticated measures in place in an attempt to remain undetected by authorities," he said.

Five Vietnamese nationals, all charged with cultivating large commercial quantities of cannabis, have been remanded to appear at Bendigo Magistrates' Court in March, according to the ABC News report.

Three more Vietnamese nationals have been interviewed by police and released pending further inquiries. 
BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and China-EU cooperation should be a positive cycle that enables mutual success, not a knock-out match which results in only one winner, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a recent report by France's Jacques Delors Institute. The report said that for the EU, leveraging China to realize its own development is a necessary choice. It called on the EU to always be rational on "de-risking", uphold a more rational and pragmatic China policy, and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in energy, the green sector and technology.

"The report reflects that people with insights in Europe are positive about the prospect of growing China-EU relations and that the relationship enjoys solid foundation in the people," said Wang.

Certain individuals selectively emphasize on competing aspects between China and the EU, deliberately overlook partnerships and hype up "de-risking" with China and reducing dependence on China, Wang said, adding that such misconception on China not only will reinforce misunderstanding and erode mutual trust, but also goes against the EU's long-held position of upholding free trade and WTO rules and disrupts the growth of China-EU relations, which does not serve anyone's interests.

Wang said that China believes that the risk that we need to get rid of the most is confrontation and rivalry caused by politicizing all issues and the dependence that needs to be reduced the most is the act of resorting to protectionism. China and the EU are important parts of the global industrial and supply chains and staunch force in building an open world economy.

Wang expressed the hope that the EU side can listen to rational voices, steer clear of politicizing all issues or overstretching the concept of security, and work with China to maintain two-way opening up instead of erecting walls and barriers, promote trade and investment liberalization instead of trade protectionism, create a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for companies of both sides, advance sound and steady growth of China-EU relationship and inject more stability and certainty for a volatile and turbulent world. 
Electric vehicle sales in India have been growing at a fairly fast clip over the past 12-18 months. But, the overall industry is still at a nascent stage, with sales accounting for less than 5 per cent of the total vehicle sales in the country. The entry of strong business groups like JSW in this space could give it a shot in the arm.

Chinese automobile giant SAIC Motor and the Sajjan Jindal-led JSW have entered into a strategic joint venture aiming to "accelerate the transformation and growth" of MG Motor in India. Under the agreement, the JSW Group will hold a 35 per cent stake in the Indian JV operations. SAIC will continue supporting the JV with advanced technology and products.



"The joint venture paves the way for bringing world-class technology-enabled futuristics suite of automobile products including the new generation of intelligent connected NEVs and ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles," said Parth Jindal of the JSW Group.



JSW is among the largest steel manufacturers in India and also has interests in areas like cement, paints, energy and infrastructure.



British brand MG, which is owned by China's SAIC, entered India in 2017, with sales and manufacturing beginning two years later.



In the backdrop of the border and diplomatic tensions between India and China, MG has found the going tough to scale up. SAIC's FDI proposal has been reportedly stuck for a few years now. So, the company turned its attention to finding a local investor to drive around the bottlenecks. JSW, which has harbored interests in the electric vehicle space for a few years now, seems to be a great fit.



"The JV's focus on broader localisation initiatives will yield financially accretive synergies through economies of scale, while providing the highest level of customer service to the Indian consumer," said Parth Jindal.



Since starting manufacturing and selling the Hector SUV back in 2019, MG Motor has sold close to 2 lakh units in the country. In addtion to the Hector, the company also sells the Astor and Gloster ICE SUVs and the ZS and Comet EVs. It has thus far invested Rs 7,000 crore in the Indian operations.



Jindal said that one of the key focus areas of the joint venture will be to pursue the development of the EV ecosystem and to take a leadership position in this space.



More than one million electric vehicles have been sold in India in the first ten months of 2023. However, electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers account for around 94-95 per cent of them. Further, within passenger electric vehicles, Tata Motors is the dominant player with over 70 per cent market share.



"In the growing Indian automotive market, both partners shall work closely to bring in the best of innovation, in creating greener and smarter mobility products and services for our consumers, seizing market opportunities, continuously expanding the brand influence and market share of our products, and achieving greater success for MG in India," said Wang Xiaoqiu, the president of SAIC Motor.



The JV will look to leverage JSW's large presence across sectors here to augment local sourcing and establishing a robust supply chain.



Jindal said he looks forward to building one of India's largest automobile companies together with SAIC and MG.



To succeed, Jindal will have to battle well established domestic giants like Tata Motors and Mahindra Group, both of which will be launching slew of new EVs in the next 2-3 years. Passenger vehicle market leader Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota and Volkswagen Group among others are also eyeing bigger chunk of the growing pie.



On Friday morning, shares of JSW Group companies were trading in the green, with JSW Holdings surging over 4.5 per cent. Separately, JSW Infra was up 1.8 per cent, JSW Energy rose 1.7 per cent and JSW Steel gained 0.3 per cent.


BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Li Dong, former deputy general manager of the CHN Energy Investment Group (CHN Energy), has been indicted on charges of taking bribes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Friday.

Li's case has been filed by the People's Procuratorate of Yichun, Jiangxi Province, with the city's intermediate people's court.

Prosecutors accused Li of taking advantage of his various posts to seek benefits for others and accepting a particularly huge amount of money and valuables in exchange.

The prosecutors had informed the defendant of his litigation rights, interrogated him and listened to the defense counsel's opinions. 
Actor Ranveer Singh received career honour for his contribution to cinema at the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival and thanked "master of transformation", Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, in his acceptance speech.



The Indian actor was one of the three recipients of this year's Honorary Yusr Awards at the Jeddah-based film gala, which opened on Thursday. Hollywood actor Diane Kruger and Saudi actor-writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan were the other two personalities to be honoured with the award.

Hollywood star Sharon Stone presented Singh with the honour. In his speech, Singh expressed his admiration for Depp, who was also present at the opening ceremony.

"I'm going off-script for a moment here. Wow, one of my screen idols is in the house. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Johnny Depp. My good sir, I have followed your work since 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'.

"What an honour to be receiving this award in your presence. Thank you for everything you have unknowingly taught me about the craft, sir. Master of Transformation, versatility, is something that I am inspired by you," the Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani star said.

The official X handle of the film extravaganza shared Singh and Depp's picture.

"Live from the opening ceremony of the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival; honoree Ranveer Singh poses alongside Hollywood star Johnny Depp. #RedSeaIFF23 #YourStoryYourFestival," the post read.

Other Indian cinema personalities who will attend the festival include filmmaker Karan Johar and actors Katrina Kaif, Frieda Pinto.

According to the festival's website, Yusr Awards recognise both emerging and established voices across the formats of fiction, documentary, and animation.

The Red Sea International Film Festival will conclude on December 9.
As the world gathers for COP28 in Dubai, India has an opportunity to build on the momentum gained during its G20 presidency in September that marked significant milestones to mitigate climate change. Reiterating India's G20 theme  One Earth, One Family, One Future  for a sustainable future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his opening address at the World Climate Action Summit on Friday, India is on track to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and reached its non-fossil fuel targets nine years before the deadline.



Modi said the country's population is 17 per cent of the global population, but its global carbon emissions is less than 4 per cent. We have set our targets to bring the emissions down by 45 per cent by 2030 and shall continue to move ahead to achieve net-zero target by 2070." He said a consensus was built on Green Development Pact for a sustainable future during India's G20 presidency and historic milestones like Global Biofuels Alliance, push for Green Hydrogen and tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 were agreed upon.



Referring to Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) introduced during COP 26 in Glasgow, the prime minister said as per the study of International Energy Agency, such an approach can reduce carbon emissions by two billion tonne every year.



Today from this platform I suggest a pro-planet and pro-active Green Credit Initiative that goes beyond carbon credit and is a people's movement to create carbon sinks, he said. The introduction of 'Green Credit Program' and the 'Ecomark scheme' by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in October 2023 precedes this announcement. The initiative seeks to encourage environmentally friendly practices rooted in tradition and conservation reflecting the ideas of the 'LiFE' concept. "We do not have much time to correct the mistakes of the last century," Modi said and asked every nation to work sincerely to meet their NDC targets.



We have to strike a fine balance between adaptation, mitigation, climate finance, Loss and Damage, he said, while proposing COP33 in 2028 to be held in India. He also called for climate justice and equity, urging substantial financial and technological support from the Global North. Around 200 countries are participating in the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) being held in Dubai under the presidency of United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 30 to December 12.



COP28 started on an optimistic note on Thursday with 196 parties adopting the decision to operationlise the Loss and Damage Fund, which was agreed upon in the previous COP in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Although the development is being viewed as a win for developing countries, the initial corpus of the fund would be $400 million, much less than the estimated $400 billion every year. The developed countries have already kept the promise of providing $100 billion a year unmet since 2009. In the backdrop of the reluctance of the developed countries to financially handhold the developing world in climate action, the decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund with initial corpus of $400 million is seen as positive but not fulfilling.



Some of the other pivotal issues that COP 29 is expected to deliberate upon are Global Stocktake, a key part of the Paris Agreement, which assesses the collective progress in achieving agreed climate goals and ensuring 1.5 degree Celsius target of the Paris Agreement.



But there are challenges ahead. Fossil fuel text will continue to be contentious, with the US and European Union supporting the phasing out unabated fossil fuels.The podium that was offered to prime minister is testimony to India's changing geopolitical clout but also its long-standing economic partnership with the UAE. On climate issues, the prime minister established all the good work on clean energy which is underway in India. He also reiterated Indias leadership and representation as the voice of the Global South, championing the need for equity in carbon budget, said Aarti Khosla, director, Climate Trends.



At these meetings the missing element so far has been how to tackle fossil fuel transition. The PM spoke about the need for that to be orderly, just and equitable. The green credits scheme sounds positive in theory but more is to be seen."



She said India's offer to host the UNFCCC COP33 in five years is a good diplomatic masterstroke given the mood of the climate discussions in Dubai. While India is trying to make all the right noises in promoting sustainable living and eco-friendly practices, pushing for alignment with global sustainability goals and reiterating commitment to environment conservation, the attitude and actions of the developed countries, most notably the US and China, will play a pivotal role in shaping the global climate politics. For now, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to skip COP28.
India has geolocated more than 184 criminals hiding in various countries wanted by law enforcement agencies, and formal proceedings for their return have been initiated in close coordination with Interpol channels. The numbers gain significance at a time when the Centre is taking a firm stand against transnational crime and terror syndicates in the midst of a huge diplomatic row with US and Canada, over threats to the lives of some of these criminals allegedly from Indian agents, a charge denied by New Delhi.

On top of the list are pro Khalistani operatives like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has triggered a diplomatic stand off between Indian agencies, American and Canadian counterparts. But he remains out of the Interpol list despite issuing open threats to Air India passengers and top government functionaries since the G20 meet in New Delhi.

The concern, however, isnt limited to any one individual or any particular outfit. The list of wanted fugitives is long and Indian law enforcement agencies are once again stressing that their presence in any country is a menace to law and order, and in some cases national security for the host countries as well.

A five member delegation of CBI director Praveen Sood and NIA DG Dinkar Gupta was in Vienna on Friday for the annual Interpol General Assembly where they held closed door discussions with law enforcement agencies from multiple countries, including US, UK, UAE stressing upon the need to deny safe havens for crime, criminals and proceeds of crimes. The Indian sleuths stressed the need for increasing cooperation to combat transnational crimes that have national security implications.

Indian agencies said they have brought back 24 criminals and fugitives to the country this year, the highest so far, after they were sent back from foreign shores to face the law. These wanted fugitives had been operating criminal, terror or money laundering syndicates back home.

The cooperation with UAE yielded good results, but countries like Canada have been stonewalling attempts to send back wanted criminals citing their laws, said an official, explaining that this is where global police organisations like the Interpol can play a role.

The pro Khalistani operatives, whose presence has been established on foreign shores, have spread the canvas to US shores where some of the organised crime syndicates are learnt to have spread. The fact that the western counterparts have expertise to penetrate and bust organised crime syndicates should be able to further assist the efforts of Indian agencies in tracking their links here as well, said an official.

A case in point is the information with NIA and other state agencies of criminal-drug and terror syndicates being run from jails within the country that have transnational links, sources said. The law enforcement response of any country should be to bust these networks through cooperation and sharing of information, they added.

India is focusing on Vision 2030 and creation of an Interpol Future Council where concerted action to combat organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, online radicalisation, cyber enabled financial crimes and preventing crimes on a real time basis can become a reality.

In Vienna, the Indian delegation held detailed discussions with high level delegations of Austria, UAE, USA, UK, Nepal, Brazil, Australia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Singapore and Zambia. The team also held talks with senior officials of Interpol, Europol, Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Organisation and US Air Force Office of Special Investigations on strengthening arrangements for cooperation.
With the worlds biggest navy operating in threateningly close proximity, the Indian Navy is trying its best to ramp up not just its indigenous warship production capabilities but also in good time vessels equipped with the latest technology.

Giving an idea of the numbers planned Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday said, We are looking at 170-175 ships by 2035. Currently, 67 ships are under construction, of which 65 are in Indian shipyards. He was speaking with the media during a customary interaction to mark the Navy Day celebrations.

A case in point of the speed at which Indian indigenous warship production is being ramped up is the latest addition to the Indian naval fleet -- INS Imphal. It is the third among the four Project 15B guided missile stealth destroyers.

From its keel-laying on May 19, 2017, to its launch on April 20, 2019, in less than two years, the INS Imphal was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20, 2023, less than six months after the commencement of sea trials on April 28, 2023. Its crest was unveiled by defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday.

But even that effort would look puny compared to the speed at which China is churning out warships.

The Peoples Republic Army-Navy (PLAN) operates over 370 ships and submarines, including more than 140 major surface combatants. According to the Pentagons China Military Power Report for 2023, the PLAN is expected to grow to 395 ships by 2025 and 435 ships by 2030.

Implying an expeditionary role, Chinas 2019 white paper on defence described the PLAN as speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas...

On the aircraft carrier front, the Indian Navy is keen to pitch for a third aircraft carrierthe IAC-2after the INS Vikramaditya and the INS Vikrant, which will augment the Navys capability substantially.

Speaking on the advantages of having already home-built an aircraft carrier, Admiral Kumar said with the accumulated experience, the time taken for a subsequent carrier will be much less.

IAC-1 (INS Vikrant) took about 11-12 years to build. There were particular challenges of IAC-1 because we were doing it for the first time but that is not the case now it will probably take about 8-9 years. It is good time to make an aircraft carrier. So we are very confident that if the government approves it will come out in good time, the chief added.
India hosted the G20 Summit of 2023 in a manner that has lifted the status of G20 to a truly inclusive global grouping. 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which translates as 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' which was the summits theme, encapsulated everything that the G20 Summit of 2023 focused on.



Even till a very late stage during the summit, it was believed that in the backdrop of the position taken by the US and EU on Russia and the heightened geopolitical tensions among the major powers, a consensus would not be possible. Despite all this, the summit succeeded in getting various parties to tone down their differences and achieved a rare consensus in coming out with the New Delhi declaration.



The Delhi summit subtly shifted the G20s focus on to the Global South and brought the African Union with 55 African nations into the G20 fold. This has transformed the orientation of G20 from an Elite GDP Club into to an all-inclusive and dynamic global body. In the backdrop of the geopolitical rivalries that have caused significant erosion of trust and faith in the global multi-lateral bodies, India manoeuvred successfully and salvaged the summit from becoming a flop and succeeded in enhancing G20s relevance manifold and giving the forum a much-needed holistic global orientation.



With Global South assuming centrality, important issues such as the need for more inclusive growth, the need for accelerated actions to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals and the assistance that the developing countries require for climate action and green development initiatives have gathered greater attention. Multilateral financing, debt vulnerabilities, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), and international taxation were some of the other important issues that engaged the attention of the participating countries during the summit.



The announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor and global bio-fuel alliance were significant steps. Indias willingness to share its success in digital public infrastructure for the larger good and inclusive growth was well received by the global community.



With Brazil hosting the next summit, to be followed by South Africa, the new momentum, inclusivity and increasing relevance of the G20 holds out great potential.



In the Indian context, the government of India actually transformed the 2023 G20 summit in India from being just another multinational meet that the country hosted, into a national festival of sorts, creating a level of public awareness, hither-to-fore unknown for such events, touching every corner of the country, eliciting participation by large sections of population and making citizens stakeholders. India took full advantage of the opportunity to showcase itself to the world. Successful landing near Moons South pole by Chandrayaan - 3 provided the perfect backdrop for Indias G20 story.



Going beyond the achievements and feel-good factor of the 2023 summit, the G20 faces immense challenges in its journey towards becoming an outcome-oriented, effective and relevant multilateral grouping; becoming equitable in addition to being more inclusive. It is important that these challenges be identified and analysed.



The changing dynamics of West Asia have the potential to cause severe fissures in the global community including the Global South. It could also cast its shadow on the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. Although the Ukraine war has receded from primacy, it is becoming an increasing economic and geopolitical burden for the US and its Western allies. The war also poses significant economic and diplomatic challenges to the Global South. The big power rivalry and the ongoing geopolitical turmoil may also result in diversion and dilution of the developed worlds commitment towards climate action and other economic assistance to the developing world. This factor assumes greater criticality in the backdrop of G20s ambitious target to triple global renewable energy by 2030, its commitment to climate justice and equity and G20s acknowledgement that the developing countries require a whopping $5.9 trillion to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030. These targets and goals are not mere desirable developmental aspirations, but critical, non-negotiable measures required for our sheer survival and to prevent the destruction of our planet. The entire climate action exercise will remain a non-starter without generous financial and technical support from the Global North and the world acting in unison.



The China factor will continue to manifest in every facet of geopolitics and cannot be wished away. China and the rest of the world need to find ways and means for collaborative development. In the short term, Chinas policies to wean away developing countries facing economic distress and its efforts to expand BRICS need careful monitoring. Constructive engagement with China may be a better option for the G20 and the world at large, rather than pursuing a selective outcast approach towards it.



In an era where voice of the developing world and millions of global citizens still living in abject poverty are lost in the din of the great power rivalry and wars and the world staring helplessly at an irreversible climate crisis which is already upon us, the G20 - 2023 holds out a rare ray of hope for the global community.



(The author is a former deputy chief of army staff.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.)
Over 10 schools in Bengaluru received bomb threats via email on Friday morning. Police and bomb squads have rushed to the spot and are conducting enquiries. Children have been evacuated from school premises.



Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara told ANI, "At present, we have received information about 15 schools where threatening e-mails have been received, last year also such threats were received. We cannot take any risk, we are inspecting the schools and are taking all precautionary measures in schools. We will take strict action against those who are making threatening calls. We are looking into all aspects."

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also visited a school premises and conducted enquiries. "I was watching TV, the school opposite to my house also got a threat mail. I came here to check. Till now it seems like a threat call. But we have to be very cautious about it," PTI quoted Shivakumar as saying.

#WATCH | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar visits a school in Bengaluru after several schools received threatening e-mails. pic.twitter.com/7y3ReGOtAt  ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

The emails reportedly claimed that explosives have been planted in respective school premises. Bomb detection and disposal squads were rushed to respective schools and conducted searches on the school premises. The Indian Express quoting police reported that the emails were sent from various addresses by masking the IP address of origin. Over 5,000 children studying in 15 schools were evacuated from classes as part of emergency action, the publication reported.

In a similar pattern last year, hoax threats were received by over 10 schools in Bengaluru. On investigation, police traced the emails to a minor in Tamil Nadu.
Kerala police on Friday nabbed four persons, reportedly including a woman, in connection with the kidnap of a six-year-old girl in Kollam recently.



According to reports, a special team of Kerala Police nabbed the suspects from Thenkasi in Tamil Nadu. Police have also seized two vehicles. A six-year-old girl, who was abducted in a white Maruti Swift car by a group of four from Kerala, was found 20 hours later, on Tuesday around 1.30pm from the Ashramam Maidanam in Kollam.

The girl was abducted from Oyur in Kollam district on Monday at 4.30pm when she was heading to her tuition class with her eight-year-old brother. When the boy tried to stop the abductors, they pushed him aside and whisked away the girl in the car. The child's mother got a phone call demanding a ransom of Rs 5 lakh which was later increased to Rs 10 lakh.
Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Friday and reiterated India's support and batted for an early and durable resolution to end the conflict.

Modi met Herzog during the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in the UAE.

Modi expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on X.

PM @narendramodi met President @Isaac_Herzog of Israel on the sidelines of #COP28 WCAS in Dubai.



The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. PM expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 07 terror attacks and welcomed pic.twitter.com/Cmfvmb5uBt  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) December 1, 2023

Modi and Herzog exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. Modi also emphasised India's support for a two-state solution.

PM Modi also reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population, Bagchi said.

Meanwhile, Herzog said he spoke with world leaders on how Hamas violates ceasefire agreements and continues to attack their nation. "At the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world. I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international community's agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself," Herzog added.

During the summit, PM Modi met with King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, British PM Rishi Sunak, UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other world leaders.

He proposed to host COP summit in India in 2028. Modi also launched the Green Credit Initiative focused on creating carbon sinks through people's participation.

Modi also urged rich countries to transfer technology to help developing nations comat climate change.
A day after exit polls predict a Congress surge in Telangana, state Congress chief Revanth Reddy expressed confidence that the party would get more than 80 seats in the 119-member Assembly.

"Congress is going to get landslide victory this time and the same thing is reflected in the exit polls. We are going to get over 80 seats," Reddy told ANI.



He added that the four crore people in Telangana were against the BRS. "This election was not Congress vs BRS. Four crore people were against BRS. This is the victory of the people of Telangana," said Reddy, while promising to implement the six guarantees of the Congress in the first Cabinet meeting itself.



The magic figure for any party to form a government in Telangana is 60, and multiple exit poll surveys predict Congress to cross that mark. Some 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.



#WATCH | On the exit polls, Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy says, "Congress is going to get landslide victory this time and the same thing is reflected in the exit polls. We are going to get over 80 seats...There is a screening committee, a selection committee and then pic.twitter.com/7zku5BYcFp  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

On whether he is in the race for the top post, Reddy said he will obey every order from the party's high command. "There is a screening committee, a selection committee and then the CWC has to take a call (for CM). In Congress, there is a process for everything. Being the PCC president, I will have to obey every order from the high command," Reddy added.



The BRS has dismissed the exit poll results, as "nonsense". The party working president K.T. Rama Rao questioned 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.



A voter turnout of 70.60 per cent was recorded in elections to the 119-member Telangana Legislative Assembly on Thursday which passed off peacefully, barring a few minor incidents. The polling in all the 119 assembly segments began at 7 AM amid tight security arrangements. It concluded at 4 pm in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected constituencies, while in the rest 106 others, people could vote till 5 pm.


The idea is to wake up a better person every day, he says
BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The China-Europe Railway Express has grown into a bustling network, contributing to keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and injecting new impetus into the world economic development over the past decade, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing When asked to comment on the role played by the China-Europe Railway Express in promoting the economic development of countries along the routes. November 28 marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Europe Railway Express (Xi'an), which has seen over 20,000 trips, accounting for a quarter of all trips made under the Railway Express.

The China-Europe Railway Express has become a flagship project and a signature brand of Belt and Road cooperation, said Wang.

Noting that the Railway Express has built a new land transportation corridor, promoting win-win cooperation in Eurasia, and it runs through more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries and regions and reaches more than 200 cities in 25 European countries, Wang said the cargo transportation time between China and Europe can be shortened by more than 20 days from shipping by sea, which means quality products from China and Europe can reach each other's markets more quickly.

Over the past decade, with strong demand for cross-border transport, a total of 81,000 trips were made under the Railway Express, covering over 700 million kilometers. It has shipped more than 7.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods worth over 340 billion U.S. dollars, giving a strong boost to international economic and trade cooperation, promoting economic development and livelihood improvement in countries and regions along the routes, and contributing to the unfettered operation of global industrial and supply chains, he added.

Wang said the China-Europe Railway Express is a vivid example of the steady progress in Belt and Road cooperation. With expanding sources of goods and more high-tech products, the Railway Express is transforming from featuring a simple corridor economy to a value-added one. It is benefiting countries and regions along the routes with high-quality development.

The China-Europe Railway Express originates from China, connects Asia and Europe, and benefits the whole world, Wang said, adding that China will continue to work with partners in Asia and Europe to usher in another decade of a two-way journey full of opportunities and to embrace a bright future of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. 
Israeli spy agencies are reportedly planning to hunt down Hamas leaders around the world when its fighting in Gaza winds down, said a Wall Street Journal report.

Spy agencies have been ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to draw up plans to assassinate Hamas leaders who live outside Gaza, including in Turkey, Qatar and elsewhere, the WSJ report quotes unnamed Israeli officials.



Though there was an immediate call within Israel to assassinate Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and others following the October 7 attack, the plan was pushed off as doing so on Qatari or Turkish soil could have sabotaged the diplomatic efforts to free hostages.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier warned that all Hamas members were "dead men walking  above and below ground, inside and outside Gaza."



Netanyahu's statement was not very well received by some in Israel as they referred to keeping the future campaign under wraps. Israel could also look to expel lower-level Hamas fighters from Gaza to shorten the war, the WSJ report added.



Meanwhile, an earlier report by the Telegraph mentioned how Israeli Intelligence has formed a unit to hunt down the perpetrators of the October 7 attack. The report added that the unit will be jointly led by Shin Bet and Mossad and echoes the years-long campaign to assassinate Palestinian terrorists involved in the Munich Olympics massacre.



The unit is reportedly named after the First World War-era Jewish underground organisation 'Nili', an acronym for a Hebrew phrase which translates as 'the Eternal One of Israel will not lie.'



It is said to be targeting Hamas's 2,500-strong Nukhba commando division which led the October 7 massacre. "It is significant [that] the Mossad is involved," Dr Ahron Bregman, a senior teaching fellow at Kings College London and author of several books on Israeli intelligence told the Telegraph.



"It means they are also going after people who are outside the occupied territories and Israel".



The 1970 campaign, called Operation Wrath of God was authorised by the then Prime Minister Golda Meir to assassinate those involved in the Munich Olympics massacre. Over 12 Black September and Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) operatives were killed in the operations across Europe and the Middle East. Some 20-35 individuals were placed on the initial kill list and the operation ran for more than 20 years.


COP28 achieved a major milestone on its day 1 itself as the countries reached a landmark deal to help the worlds poorest and most vulnerable countries pay for the irreversible impacts of climate disaster. The Loss and Damage Fund was first agreed upon during COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. It became operational on November 30 following the agreement reached by parties during five transitional committee meetings. Germany and COP28 host UAE led contributions to get the fund for climate victims up and running.

This fund will support billions of people, lives and livelihoods that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, said COP28 president Dr Sultan Al Jaber. I want to thank my team for all their hard work to make this possible on day one of COP28. It proves the world can unite, can act, and can deliver. Over the next two weeks, this presidency will work with parties to now deliver the highest-ambition response to the GST.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said that the news on the fund gives COP28 a running start. Governments must use this momentum to deliver a truly ambitious outcome in Dubai, he said.

Both the UAE and Germany announced $100million for the fund. Other major contributors are the UK, which committed 40million and 20million for other arrangements, and Japan, which contributed $10million. Though the US world's largest economycommitted $17.5million, it was criticised as a meagre contribution by multiple parties.

A recent United Nations report approximates an annual requirement of up to $387 billion for developing countries to adapt to climate-driven changes.

The argument that the developed world has to take historical responsibility has often been raised, but the numerous specifics regarding the "loss and damage funds" including the fund's size and administrationremain undecided so far.

The fund is now operational, and is designed to receive contributions from a wide variety of sources, including grants and cheap loans from the public and private sectors, and innovative sources. The World Bank is set to initially host the fund for four years, though many developed countries are not happy with it. All developing countries particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change will be eligible to benefit from the mechanism. Nevertheless, this definition of vulnerability is not detailed in the text as of now.

Representatives from 24 countries will work together over the next year to decide which countries should contribute and how the money should be distributed.

During the press conference, questions were raised not just about the paltry contributions from the US, but also about the absence of India and China in the contributors list. In reply, Stiell said the pledging will continue over the next two days, with the Leaders' Summit. I believe some countries would prefer to make those statements on the grander stage of the Leaders' Summit, he said.
The family of French-Israeli woman Mia Schem, who was released by Hamas on Thursday, claimed that a veterinarian had performed surgery on Mia. Mia, 21, was taken as a hostage by Hamas on October 7 while she was attending a music festival.

While talking to the reporters, Schem's family said that Schem was treated by a Palestinian veterinarian.

She underwent trauma. Shes thin, shes weak, said Vivian Hadar after her niece was released on Thursday, reported The Times of Israel.

A veterinarian operated on her arm. She did physical therapy for herself, she added. She also said that they are happy she is with them. It's really tough to see her like this, added Hadar.

While Mia was held by Hamas, a video was released by the militant group showing her appeal for her quick release. After her video was released, Mias mother Keren had came to the forefront appealing the world powers to make efforts to release her daughter.

Her mother had said that she was taken hostage from Reim kibbutz, where she was attending the Supernova festival.

In the video, Mia was seen with her arm wrapped with bandages and asking to be returned to her family. During the attacks, she got shot on the arm and had to underwent surgery. In the hostage video, Mia was seen being treated by an unidentified medical worker.

French President Emmanual Macron also expressed joy as soon as Mia was released. "Mia Schem is free. It is great joy that I share with this family and all French people," he said.
A day after India announced forming a a high-level inquiry committee into the alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the White House has said that it was glad to see Indian announcing their own efforts to investigate this.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference on Thursday that the indictment charging an Indian national for the alleged attempt to murder Pannun will not impact the India-US relationship.



"The US unearthed this plot after the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US," Kirby said.



"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," Kirby said.



"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.



Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken too welcomed India setting up a probe into the alleged plot.



"The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results, Blinken told reporters travelling with him in Tel Aviv, Israel.



He added that the US have raised the matter with India. "This is an ongoing legal matter. So you'll understand I can't comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks," Blinken said.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Dubai on Friday to attend the COP28 climate summit, which opened on Thursday. The Prime Minister's schedule for the day includes attending the World Climate Action Summit which will see world leaders discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively combat climate change.

Ahead of leaving for Dubai, the Prime Minister called for supporting developing countries with adequate climate financing and technology transfer to enable them to deal with climate change. "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.



Modi, who will also attend three other high-level side events, said he hoped the summit 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.



Modi said he was looking forward to joining special events, including on climate finance and green credit initiatives.



On Friday, the conference will see Britain's King Charles III, who has spent decades working on environmental issues, addressing the conference. Other leaders who will attend the summit include Kenyan President William Ruto, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.



There could also be new pledges from governments, companies and non-profits toward various climate efforts, from adaptation to boosting the energy transition.



Climate disaster fund



The COP28, taking place from November 30 to December 12 under the presidency of the UAE, began on a high note on Thursday with the delegates adopting a new fund to help poor nations tackle climate disasters. "We have delivered history today  the first time a decision has been adopted on day 1 of any COP," COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said.



The damage fund saw a series of small pledges on the opening day which they believe would build throughout the conference to a substantial sum. While host UAE pledged $100 million, Britain pledged $51 million and Japan offered $10 million. Later, the European Union pledged $245.39 million, which included $100 million pledged by Germany.


New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) Union Power Minister R K Singh on Thursday said the dialogue at COP28 should be about reducing emissions, and it is for the developed countries to first cut down emissions.

"Developed countries are emitting at a faster pace than other countries... 80 per cent of total legacy carbon dioxide load is contributed by developed countries, whose population is one-third of global population," Singh said, while addressing the Indo-Japan Conclave 2023, organised by The India Today Group in New Delhi.

On the other hand, India's contribution to the carbon dioxide load is only 3 per cent, though our population is 17 per cent of the world, he said.

He said the country's per capita emissions are 2.19 tonnes per year or one-third of global average, while the global per capita average is 6.8 tonnes per year.

So, it is for developed countries -- whose per capita emissions are 2-3 times the global average -- to cut down emissions first, he said, adding that is what the discussion should be about at COP28.

This is the voice of the Global South, Singh said.

The minister said the focus should be on reducing carbon emissions, and not on the choice of fuel.

"The whole battle the world is waging is on reducing emissions. It is high time the world unitedly attacked this central problem -- from where the emissions come. Whether emissions come from petroleum, gas, or coal is irrelevant; the question is how much one is emitting, that is what is causing the global rise in temperatures," he said.

He said discussion on coal is a dangerous diversion adopted by some developed countries to shift focus away from their emissions.

"India's attempt always has been on bringing back focus on where it should be -- emissions reduction. And those who are emitting at the highest rate should reduce emissions first," he said.

Overall situation is that if we want to limit global rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees, the available carbon space left is just about 250 gigatons; the world is emitting at the rate of 53 gigatons every year, which gives us just 5 years, he pointed out.

"If we need to remain below this limit, the global citizen should not be emitting more than 6 tons per year," he opined.

"While we in India are emitting only 2.19, there are countries where the per capita emissions are 12-20 tonnes per year," he said.

"There cannot be any pressure on India to cut down emissions, India's rate of energy transition is the fastest in the world," he said.

"We achieved our commitment for reduction of emissions intensity in 2019, eleven years in advance, and we shall achieve the updated target set for 2030 as well. We had pledged that we will have 40 per cent of our capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, while we reached that target in 2021 itself."

"Further, we have launched programmes such as Perform Achieve Trade, in which we set targets for industry in making energy efficiency improvements," he said.

The minister pointed out that we have 733 million people in Africa who do not have access to electricity, and the world is not thinking about them and is instead talking about energy transition.

"We cannot have transition without access and we cannot have access without funds," he said.

Singh said storage capacity needs to be augmented and should become viable, to ensure round-the-clock renewable energy.

"Developed countries who have been talking about energy transition have not invested in storage manufacturing capacity, which is only about 24 GW in the world. We need storage for round-the-clock renewable energy."

"We cannot phase out fossil fuels unless we have nuclear or until storage becomes viable. We cannot have energy transition until storage is viable," he said.

Singh said India is going to add to the volumes so that price of storage comes down.

"We had a PLI for storage, we are setting up storage manufacturing capacities and also floating bids for acquiring capacities. We believe that as we and the world add volumes, prices will come down," he stated.

The minister expressed confidence that India will also be able to export solar modules.

"We have already started exporting efficient solar modules to the US. We are going to have 150 GW solar cells and modules manufacturing capacity, of which only about 40-50 GW will be required by us, the remaining can be exported," he said.

Singh further invited the Japanese industry to invest in India and source their requirements from India.

"Japan is a close and valued partner. Our strategic interests are absolutely common. We have the same worldview... for us, Japan is a valued friend and brother. We both face the same challenges."

"...they have always invested in India, their investments will increase and as far as sourcing is considered, I expect that Japan sources its requirements from us rather than from other countries. Other countries may be closer geographically, but we are closer as far as interests are concerned," he said.

India's power demand is growing fast and there will be no compromise in meeting the demand, he said.
Kolkata, Dec 1 (PTI) The Directorate of Commercial Taxes (State GST) of West Bengal has unearthed massive fake GST invoice rackets involving a turnover of Rs 4716 crore and arrested four key operators, officials said on Friday.

This is the first time in the history of the directorate since 1941 that arrests have been made directly under its Bureau of Investigation. Earlier, help from the police was taken for arrests, they said.

"The tax evasion involved in the two rackets was a staggering Rs 801 crore", Directorate of Commercial Taxes Commissioner Khalid Anwar told PTI.

The total turnover involved in these two rackets amounts to Rs 4,716 crore, Additional Commissioner Sudeshna Mukhopadhyay said.

"A calibrated investigation since February has revealed that four operators created a network of 178 fake concerns in West Bengal, issuing fraudulent invoices to evade Rs 801 crore in government tax revenue," Mukhopadhyay said.

She said two Deputy Commissioners Somasree Kar and Madhumita Kundu are the investigating officers who unearthed these rackets with the help of a team of about 25 officers of the Bureau of Investigation, South Bengal.

"They worked day and night to find out the entire trail. The investigation is still on," Mukhopadhyay said.

The operators used to lure unsuspecting individuals with petty cash or promises of employment and fraudulently obtained their PAN, Aadhaar, and other identification documents. Using them, they incorporated several fake firms and obtained GST registrations.

"To further their fraudulent activities, the operators forged rent agreements, electricity bills, property tax certificates, and even signatures of premises owners and notaries. The entire racket was fueled by money laundering through both banking channels and cash transactions," Mukhopadhyay said.

One of the arrested individuals is in judicial custody, while the other three have been granted bail with a directive to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

"We are currently preparing a prosecution complaint (charge sheet) to be filed before the court. Further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in this massive tax evasion scheme," Anwar said.

The arrests and the ongoing investigation will serve as a deterrent to those involved in tax evasion and demonstrate the Directorate's commitment to safeguard the government's revenue, he said.
New Delhi, Dec 1 (PTI) Deepfake videos are not in the interest of YouTube as none of the stakeholders want to associate themselves with platforms that allow fake news or misinformation, a senior company official has said.

YouTube, India Director, Ishan John Chatterjee on Thursday said the firm complies with all local laws and continues to engage with the government on all emerging issues.

"I want to reiterate that misinformation, in general, and deepfakes in AI is actually not in our interest at all. As a platform, if you look at the different stakeholders that we serve, and let us take the three broad ones i.e. users or viewers, creators and advertisers, none of them want to be associated with a platform that allows fake news (or) misinformation," Chatterjee said.

YouTube's intentions are very aligned with the government and key stakeholders that it has to address, he added.

"We comply with all local laws and continue to engage with the government and industry stakeholders on emerging issues."

He was responding to a query related to Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar's comment that social media platforms have not aligned their terms of use as per new IT rules that were notified in October 2022.

Union Cabinet Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar have directed social media platforms to strictly act against deepfakes.

Vaishnaw had said that the government would come out with new guidelines to fight deepfakes.

Chandrasekhar had asked social media firms to update their user's policy as per the IT rules notified in October 2022.

The government swung into action after several celebrities reported about their deepfake images and videos in circulation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also flagged issues around deepfakes.

YouTube Director Global Head of Responsibility Timothy Katz said the company removes content that is not compliant with policy and tries to recommend videos from credible sources in cases where the content impacts somebody's finances, election etc.

The company, in its compliance report for the second quarter of 2023, mentioned having removed over 78,000 videos globally for violating misinformation, including videos that violated its manipulated content policy policies.

The video platform also removed 9,63,000 videos for violating its spam, deceptive practices and scams policy.

Katz said YouTube has developed tools to recommend content from authoritative and credible sources when it comes to news and other information related to sensitive content.

"Our systems are trained to elevate authoritative sources higher in search results. Whether you are searching for something evergreen or a current event, we aim to surface videos from sources like public health authorities, research institutions, and news outlets within at least the top 10 search results," he said.

YouTube uses classifiers to identify whether a video is "authoritative", and these classifications rely on human evaluators, who assess the quality of information in each channel or video, Katz noted.

"To determine authoritativeness, evaluators answer a few key questions, which our systems then extrapolate at scale. Their answers and more determine how authoritative a video is. The higher the score, the more the video is promoted when it comes to news and information content," he said.

To tighten norms against deepfakes, Google on Wednesday said that content creators on YouTube will need to disclose any altered or synthetic content that they post on the platform.

"We require content creators to disclose that it is synthetic media. We want to make sure that this can be made available to our users. We want to label content that looks realistic and could potentially be deceiving to users.

"We want to make sure that we are labelling that content for users. And then the third is that we want to make sure that people have access to privacy so that we will enable proper removal of AI-generated or other synthetic or altered content for folks to be able to make sure they're not being manipulated," Katz said.

Google said that it will enable the removal of AI-generated or other synthetic or altered content on YouTube that simulates an identifiable individual, including their face or voice, using our privacy request process.
Dubai, Dec 1 (PTI) India and Sweden on Friday launched LeadIT 2.0, an initiative aimed at co-developing and transferring low-carbon technology along with offering financial support for industry transition in developing nations.

During the LeadIT session at the ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the necessity of a partnership between governments and industry for countries to achieve net-zero goals.

"The LeadIT (Leadership for Industry Transition) initiative is a prime example of this," he said.

Net zero means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out.

LeadIT focuses on developing a transition roadmap and sharing knowledge within the iron, steel, cement, and transport sectors.

Currently, 18 countries and 20 companies are part of the LeadIT group, he said.

LeadIT 2.0 will focus on an inclusive and equitable industry transition, co-development and transfer of low-carbon technology, along with financial support for industry transition in developing nations.

India and Sweden inaugurated an "industry transition platform" designed to link governments, technology providers, researchers, and think tanks.

Launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, LeadIT specifically focuses on the low-carbon transition of hard-to-abate industrial sectors.

It serves as a platform for public-private collaboration, fostering sector-specific and cross-sectoral learning, especially concerning innovation opportunities and new technologies.
Lucknow, Dec 1 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a supplementary budget of Rs 28,760.67 crore for the financial year 2023-24 on Friday, the last day of the winter session.

Both houses of the Legislature, the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, were also adjourned indefinitely.

The Uttar Pradesh appropriation (Supplementary Budget for 2023-2024) Bill, 2023 was passed in the assembly and legislative Council on Friday.

Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana announced that the supplementary budget has been passed with a majority in the House.

Before this, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna presented before the House a proposal to pass the supplementary budget for the financial year 2023-24.

Khanna presented the supplementary budget on Wednesday, the second day of the winter session in the Assembly, with a total size of Rs 28,760.67 crore.

In the Legislative Council, Chairman Kunwar Manvendra Singh announced the passing of the Uttar Pradesh Supplementary Budget for 2023-2024 Bill, 2023 with the majority of members favouring it. On Friday evening, the Chairman of the Legislative Council announced the postponement of the Legislative Council meeting indefinitely on the proposal of the Leader of the House and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Principal Secretary of the Assembly Pradeep Kumar Dubey in a statement on Friday said that the third session of the year 2023 of the 18th Assembly of Uttar Pradesh, which started on November 28 and continued till December 1, 2023, has been adjourned indefinitely.
People make fire to keep warm amid ruins of dwellings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis Nov. 29, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/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. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

A worker is seen at a workshop of a new energy cell material company in Qinzhou port area of the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Nov. 29, 2023. The city of Qinzhou has advanced the construction of a port industrial cluster, with petrochemical industry, new energy cell materials industry, equipment manufacturing, and grain, oil and food processing being the four pillar industries. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

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)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows a boat sailing on the Yangtze River in Wushan County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

People hold a candle and a red ribbon during an event to raise awareness of AIDS at University of South China in Hengyang, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 29, 2023. The World AIDS Day falls on Dec. 1. (Photo by Cao Zhengping/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber receives a gavel from COP27 President Sameh Shoukry during the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. This year's climate conference has garnered notable 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.

The conference, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, will welcome more than 70,000 delegates from around the globe in a bid to work out a worldwide solution to the pressing climate issues facing the planet and all mankind. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

People visit the booth of Syngenta Group at the exhibition area on green agriculture chain during the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 30, 2023. The green agriculture chain exhibition area focused on core links, key technologies and products of the agricultural industrial chain, seed research and development, smart agricultural applications, intelligent agricultural machinery and equipment, regionally distinctive agricultural processed products, and agriculture-related financial and logistics services. (Xinhua/Li He)

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 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)
London, Dec 1 (PTI) A 23-Indian student who went missing in the UK last month has been found dead in the river Thames here.

Mitkumar Patel arrived in the UK for higher studies in September and was reported missing on November 17.

The Metropolitan Police discovered his body in the river Thames near the Canary Wharf area of east London on November 21 and was declared dead by paramedics.

The death is not believed to be suspicious, the Met Police said.

Parth Patel, a relative, has since launched a Go Fund Me online fundraiser and raised over GBP 4,500 since last week.

Mitkumar Patel was a 23-year (old) boy who came to the UK for higher studies on 19th September 2023, reads the fundraising appeal.

He belonged to a farmer family and used to live in a village as well. He was missing from November 17, 2023. Now on November 21 police found his dead body from Canary Wharf in the water. It was sad for all of us. So, we decided to do fund raising for helping out his family and to send his body to India as well, it adds.

The appeal reiterates that the funds will be safely transmitted to Mitkumars family in India.

According to the Evening Standard newspaper, the student was due to move to Sheffield on November 20 to start a degree at Sheffield Hallam University and a part-time job at Amazon.

After he failed to return from a daily walk to the home where he was staying in London, his relatives grew worried and reported him missing. They later found that he had left his set of keys behind.
Lahore, Dec 1 (PTI) A man allegedly hammered to death his wife and three daughters and then committed suicide for failing to make both ends meet in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said on Friday.

The incident took place in Faisalabad district, some 130 km from Lahore on Thursday night.

The man identified as Tahir Parvez first drugged his wife and their three daughters aged between 10 and 16 years and then hammered them to death. After killing them he took sleeping pills to commit suicide.

A suicide note was found in which Parvez wrote that he killed his family as he could no longer provide them food. He also said he failed to return the loans taken from his friends. "We should not continue living in this cruel world," police quoted the suicide note as having stated.
Peshawar, Dec 1 (PTI) A policeman was killed when some unknown militants opened fire on a police party guarding a polio team in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwest Pakistan on Friday, police said.

A terrorist was also killed in the retaliation fire in the Nallah Khwar region of the Khyber tribal district bordering Peshawar.

The police said a heavy contingent rushed to the site and encircled the area.

The police party launched a massive hunt operation in the area to arrest the culprits who escaped after firing on the police team following their duty with polio vaccinators.

The anti-polio drive is underway in Khyber tribal district to eliminate the crippling disease from the region.

Polio teams are often targeted by militants in Pakistan due to opposition to the vaccine.
Thitu Island (South China Sea), Dec 1 (AP) The Philippine coast guard inaugurated a new monitoring base Friday on a remote island occupied by Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea as Manila ramps up efforts to counter China's increasingly aggressive actions in the strategic waterway.

Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified this year in the contested waters, resulting in minor but alarming collisions near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal occupied by a Filipino marine contingent in October.

The high-seas faceoffs have fuelled fears of a larger conflict that could involve the United States, which has repeatedly warned that it's obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

China has accused the US of meddling in an Asian dispute and sowing discord in the region.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and other Philippine officials flew to Thitu Island on an air force plane Friday and led a ceremony to open the newly constructed, two-story centre that will have radar, ship-tracking and other monitoring equipment  either already installed or added early next year  to monitor China's actions in the hotly disputed waters and other problems, including sea accidents.

It's no longer gray zone. It's pure bullying, Ano told reporters after the ceremony, describing the actions of Chinese ships as flouting international law.

Later peering through a mounted telescope on the island, Ano said he spotted at least 18 suspected Chinese militia ships scattered off Thitu, including a Chinese navy vessel.

Villagers say they have gotten used to the sight of Chinese ships lurking at a distance from Thitu, but a few say they're still haunted at times by the fear of Chinese forces intruding one day into the island.

I can't avoid thinking sometimes that they would suddenly barge into our territory, said Daisy Cojamco, a 51-year-old mother of three whose husband works as a town government employee.

Surrounded by white beaches, the tadpole-shaped Thitu Island is called Pag-asa  Tagalog for hope  by about 250 Filipino villagers. It's one of nine islands, islets and atolls that have been occupied by Philippine forces since the 1970s in the South China Sea's Spratlys archipelago.

The Philippines claims the region as its most remote offshore township, under its western island province of Palawan. It has encouraged fishing families to move there with incentives such as free rice, to underscore its control over an area also claimed by China and Vietnam.

The 37-hectare (91-acre) island now boasts internet and cellphone connections, a more stable power and water supply, a newly cemented runway, a wharf, grade school, gymnasium and even an evacuation centre in times of typhoons.

However, Thitu remains a meagre frontier settlement compared to the Chinese-built Subi island, more than 22 km (14 miles) away.

Subi is one of seven mostly submerged reefs that China transformed starting about a decade ago into a missile-protected cluster of island bases, three of them with military-grade runways, sparking alarm among other claimant states in the South China Sea.

Philippine aircraft and ships, including those visiting Thitu island, have routinely been warned by the Chinese coast guard via radio calls to stay away from what China claims as its territory or face unspecified repercussions. The Filipinos have countered with their own radio messages, ordering the Chinese to leave their territory and stop dangerous and provocative maneuvers.

It was not immediately clear if Chinese radio warnings were sent to the Philippine air force and coast guard planes that brought Ano and other officials to Thitu on Friday along with three Associated Press journalists and several other invited members of the media.

Dwarfed by China's military might, the Philippines has decided this year to allow an expansion of US military presence in its local camps under a 2014 defense pact. It also recently launched joint sea and air patrols with the United States and Australia in a new deterrent strategy that puts the two allied powers on a collision course with Beijing.

China has warned that such joint naval patrols must not hurt its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office last year, the Philippines has been deepening its security ties with Washington and US allies like Japan and Australia in a major shift from his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who had nurtured cozy relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin while criticising Western security policies.

Duterte had mostly kept the territorial disputes with Beijing on a backburner during his six-year term.

Early this year, the Marcos administration launched a strategy of exposing China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including the Chinese coast guard's use of a military-grade laser and water cannons and the blocking of Philippine patrol ships and supply boats near disputed shoals, to draw international attention to such aggression, according to Philippine officials.

Speaking in Honolulu, where he met US military leaders about two weeks ago, Marcos said the situation in the South China Sea has become more dire with China showing interest in atolls and shoals that are closer and closer to the Philippine coast.

But he stressed that the Philippines wouldn't yield.

The Philippines will not give a single square inch of our territory to any foreign power, Marcos warned. (AP) SCY

SCY
Washington, Dec 1 (PTI) The US has welcomed as "good and appropriate" India's decision to announce a high-level probe into its allegations that an Indian official was involved in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil and said it is looking forward to seeing the results.

US federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist who is an American and Canadian citizen.

An unnamed Indian official appeared in an indictment filed by US federal prosecutors in a Manhattan court on Wednesday along with the Indian national, who the Department of Justice alleges hired someone in the US to assassinate Pannun.

India on Thursday described as a "matter of concern" the US charging the Indian national with conspiring to kill the Sikh separatist, and asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case.

"The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and thats good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters travelling with him in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday.

Blinken did not give any details about the case, calling it an ongoing legal matter.

"So youll understand I cant comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks," Blinken said.

Separately, the White House on Thursday also praised New Delhi for setting up its own investigations into the matter and said this will not have an impact on the India-US relationship.

"These allegations in this investigation, (we) take it very seriously. And we're glad to see that the Indians are too 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 the India-US relationship, he said, observing that the US unearthed this plot after the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in June.

"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. PTI LKJ TIR NSA AKJ NSA

NSA

NSA

NSA
Washington, Dec 1 (PTI) Indias Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has met Congressman Mike Rogers, the Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, during which they discussed the India-US bilateral strategic partnership including in defence and science and technology domains.

Sandhus meeting with Rogers on Thursday comes after the 2+2 Ministerial dialogue in New Delhi last month. This year the India-US defence cooperation saw advances with deals on ship repair, jet engine manufacturing, defence industrial roadmap and positive language in the National Defense Authorisation Bill.

Wonderful to meet again with Chairman House Armed Services Committee Representatives Mike Rogers, and take forward discussions on strengthening India US strategic partnership, including in Defence, S&T (science and technology), iCET (initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, and knowledge domains, Sandhu said in a post on X after the meeting at the US Capitol.

An 11-term Republican lawmaker from Alabama, Rogers is considered to be a China hawk and has consistently taken a tough stance on China.

In 2021, Sandhu had good interaction with the representative when he was a ranking member.

In October the Ambassador met Congressman Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee as part of his bipartisan outreach.
Baghdad, Dec 1 (AP) A group armed with explosives and guns killed 11 people in eastern Iraq, security officials said Friday.

The attack took place Thursday night in the area of Muqdadiyah in Diyala province. A roadside bomb exploded and gunmen then opened fire on rescuers and bystanders at the scene, two security officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The victims were all civilians, the officials said.

The gunmen fled and no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Diyala province has seen periodic attacks by Islamic State cells and sporadic violence due to sectarian tensions between Shiites and Sunnis, as well as fighting between rival militias and their tribal and political allies struggling over influence and lucrative racketeering networks.

The province, which borders both Iran and Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, is a prime conduit for smuggling.

The Iraqi military's joint operations command said in a statement that it would form a committee to investigate the attack. Lt Gen Qais al-Muhammadawi, deputy commander of the joint operations, travelled to Diyala on Friday to attend a funeral for the victims and and determine the circumstances of the incident, the statement said.

The provincial governor of Diyala, Muthanna al-Tamimi, vowed in a statement to pursue the perpetrators of the terrorist attack.

Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdish region to the north, said the attack proves the fact that terrorism still poses a real threat and challenge, and that we must confront them with all our force and ability.

He called for greater cooperation between the Iraqi army, Kurdish peshmerga forces and other security forces, as well as with the US-led international coalition against IS. (AP) SCY

SCY
Dubai, Dec 1 (AP) NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he has told Turkiye's president that the time has come to let Sweden become a member of the military alliance.

Turkiye and Hungary are the only NATO countries that have not yet formally approved Sweden's accession bid.

Stoltenberg told The Associated Press that he urged Turkiye to finalise the process as he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

I met with President Erdogan this morning and I reiterated my message that the time has come to finalise the accession process for Sweden, he said.

Turkiye has delayed ratification for more than a year, accusing Sweden of not taking Turkiye's security concerns seriously enough, including its fight against Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers to be security threats.

An apparent breakthrough happened at a NATO summit in July when Erdogan said he would submit accession documents to Parliament, but a debate on the matter in the foreign affairs committee was adjourned last month without a decision.

Stoltenberg couldn't say when he expected the ratification process to be completed.

I'm not able to give an exact date, but I welcome the fact that just a few weeks ago President Erdogan submitted the papers for ratification to the Turkish Parliament, the NATO leader said.

My message in the meeting today was, of course, that now the time has come to ensure that the Parliament finalises its deliberations and concludes the ratification of Sweden as a formal NATO member.

Sweden and neighbouring Finland decided to drop their long-standing policy of non-alignment and apply for NATO membership following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Finland joined NATO in April. New members must be approved by all existing members of the alliance. (AP) PY

PY
Dubai, Nov 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday called for supporting developing countries with adequate climate financing and technology transfer to enable them to deal with climate change as he arrived here to attend the World Climate Action Summit.

"Landed in Dubai to take part in the COP-28 Summit. Looking forward to the proceedings of the Summit, which are aimed at creating a better planet," Modi posted on X on his arrival here.

Before leaving Delhi, the prime minister 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.

Modi will attend the World Climate Action Summit on Friday during the United Nations 'Conference of the Parties' on climate, known as COP28.

Several world leaders are set to 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.

The prime minister 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, the prime minister 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.

Modi said he was looking forward to joining special events including on climate finance and green credit initiative.

During his stay here, Prime Minister 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.
Islamabad, Dec 1 (PTI) The Islamabad High Court on Friday fixed for hearing former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif's appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference on December 7.

The same court last week acquitted 73-year-old Sharif in the Avenfield corruption case, removing one of the last remaining thorns on his bid to become Pakistan's prime minister for the fourth time.

Pakistan is scheduled to hold general elections on February 8.

The National Accountability Bureaus (NAB) appeal to increase Sharif's sentence has also been scheduled for hearing.

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb will conduct the hearing, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

The court had admitted applications for revival of Sharif's appeals against his conviction in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia corruption cases last month.

Sharif was convicted in the Avenfield case in July 2018 and the Al-Azizia case in December of the same year. He later filed appeals against his convictions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

However, on June 24, 2021, an IHC bench led by Justice Farooq rejected the appeals due to Sharifs failure to appear in court for several hearings.

Sharif, who was serving a seven-year jail term after his conviction in the Al-Azizia case, was granted rare permission to seek medical treatment abroad in October 2019.

The PML-N supreme leader chose not to return from London despite repeated court summonses, leading to both the IHC and an accountability court declaring him a proclaimed offender.

Sharif returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile in October to contest general elections in the economic crisis-hit country in February 2024.

Meanwhile, a concise written order regarding Sharif's acquittal in the Avenfield reference was also released on Friday.

Sharif in 2018 was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Avenfield corruption case.

According to the order, the NAB prosecutor during the hearing referenced the decision in the case of Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar.

The order stated that in the acquittal of Maryam and Safdar, the court observed that NAB lacked documentary evidence to substantiate the case against Nawaz Sharif, adding that the acquittal of the PML-N chief's daughter and her husband has not been contested.

The order further noted that the court approved the appeal against Sharif's sentence, ordering his acquittal.

A detailed decision outlining the reasons for the acquittal will be issued at a later date.

The Avenfield corruption case was about having properties in London with ill-gotten money and he was on bail in the case while his appeal against conviction was being heard by the IHC.

Sharif, the only Pakistani politician who became the prime minister of the coup-prone country for a record three times, returned to the country about four years later last month to lead his party in general elections scheduled for February 2024.
ANTANANARIVO, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Madagascar's High Constitutional Court (HCC) on Friday confirmed President Andry Rajoelina's victory in the Nov. 16 presidential election.

According to the final results proclaimed by the HCC, Rajoelina secured 58.96 percent of the votes cast, surpassing the required 50 percent threshold for a first-round victory.

"I will be the president of all the Malagasy people," Rajoelina told reporters on Friday. He highlighted initial priorities for his new mandate, particularly focusing on "assisting the most disadvantaged and revitalizing industrialization."

He also called on "all those willing to contribute to the country's development" to offer their support.

Several diplomatic representations in Antananarivo, including the United States and the European Union, issued a joint statement acknowledging the final results published by the HCC.

Madagascar conducted its first round of the presidential election on Nov. 16, involving 13 candidates vying for the national leadership for the next five years.

Several candidates, including two former presidents, Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, had called for the election's postponement and urged their supporters to refrain from voting as they argued that Rajoelina should be disqualified from the election because he had obtained French citizenship. Nevertheless, the country's highest court ruled Rajoelina eligible last month. 
Islamabad, Dec 1 (AP) Pakistan's top court opened a hearing on Friday on a petition by human rights activists seeking to halt the forceful deportation of Afghans who were born in Pakistan and those who would be at risk if they were returned to Afghanistan.

The deportations are part of a nationwide crackdown by the government in Islamabad that started last month on Afghans who are in Pakistan without papers or proper documentation.

Pakistan claims the campaign does not target Afghans specifically, though they make up most of the foreigners in the country.

Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. In addition, more than half a million people fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power in August 2021, in the final weeks of US and NATO pullout.

Since Islamabad launched the crackdown in October, giving Afghans until the end of the month to go back or face arrest, hundreds of thousands have returned home, many in Pakistan-organised deportations that followed arrest raids.

Human rights activists, UN officials and others have denounced Pakistan's policy and urged Islamabad to reconsider.

The petition came a day after an official in the country's southwestern Baluchistan province announced that it's setting a target of 10,000 Afghans who are in the country illegally for police to arrest and deport every day.

Farhatullah Babar, a top human rights defender, told The Associated Press on Friday that he filed the petition because Afghans' basic rights were being violated.

How can you send those Afghans back to their country when their lives would be at risk there, he said.

Senior lawyer Umar Gilani, representing the petitioners, argued before the Supreme Court that the current interim government in place in Pakistan does not have the authority to introduce such major policy shifts. The government is in place until February elections, and under Pakistani law, it only handles day-to-day matters of state.

The court later Friday asked the government for a response and adjourned the hearing until next week.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have also denounced the deportations. Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, a spokesperson for the refugees and repatriation ministry in Kabul, said on Thursday that 410,000 Afghan citizens have returned from Pakistan in the past two months.

Conditions at the border remain dire for Afghans once they leave Pakistan, especially in Torkham in eastern Afghanistan. Aid groups and the UN are providing health care and nutrition, with the Taliban acting as facilitators for humanitarian work rather than taking the lead in providing essential services.

A spokesperson for the Islamic Relief aid agency, Dahir Abdullahi, said returnees are staying in tents for up to a week. There is no running water, sanitation or electricity. The lack of privacy or space for women and children is a concern.

There is little funding coming in. There is donor fatigue and limited resources, Abdullahi said.

Alexander Matheou, the regional director for Asia-Pacific at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said it wasn't normal for hundreds of thousands of people to cross a border in such a short period of time. There are parallels with extreme situations, he said.

Pakistan says its crackdown will not affect the estimated 1.4 million Afghans registered as refugees and living in various parts of Pakistan. Many of them have over the years left refugee camps for life in rural or urban areas.

But the petition is unlikely to have any impact on the crackdown, said Mahmood Shah, a security analyst in Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.

Let us see how the government side convinces the Supreme Court about this matter," he said. (AP) PY
Agartala, Nov 30 (PTI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday claimed that the BJP under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and form the government at the Centre for the third consecutive term.

Saha was also optimistic about the party's performance in assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram where counting of votes will be held on Sunday.

"The prime minister has done enormous work for the overall development of the country and its people since 2014. No one is seen near the PM in the electoral race. Modi ji will once again guide the BJP to form the government in Delhi for the third consecutive term," Saha told reporters at a programme.

Later in the day, Saha joined a programme of 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' at Khayerpur in West Tripura district.

"The Narendra Modi government at the Centre has been working to provide Ujjala Yojana to Jal Jeevan Mission to PM Kisan to the last man in the queue. On the same path, the state is also working to ensure government benefits reach every household," he added.
Thane, Dec 1 (PTI) The Navi Mumbai police in Maharashtra have registered a case of cruelty against a doctor and his mother on the complaint of his wife, who is also a doctor, an official said on Friday.



The NRI Sagari police, which registered the case on Thursday, identified the accused as Dr Vivek Yadav (49) and his mother Mahadevi Jaipalsingh Yadav (70), both from Bhopal.



According to the complainant, who is from Navi Mumbai, she was subjected to "cruel treatment" by the accused duo in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh between 2009 and August 2022.



The woman doctor told the police that her mother-in-law abused her when she delivered a girl child and even insulted her parents, the official said.



The FIR does not mention why the woman approached the police late.



The case has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections, including 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace).



No arrests have been made so far, the official added.
Mumbai, Dec 1 (PTI) NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Friday said that when Sharad Pawar announced his resignation as party chief in May, some leaders were asked to organise protests demanding that he rescind the decision.



Speaking at the partys Vichar Manthan meeting at Karjat in Raigad district, Ajit Pawar termed the resignation episode as a nautanki (farce).

Jitendra Awhad and Anand Paranjpe (NCP leaders) were called (by Sharad Pawar) and told to organise demonstrations asking for his resignation to be taken back," he said.

Paranjpe later came to me and I asked him why you are doing this nautanki. My view was that this was not needed. I hadn't asked for his (Sharad Pawar) resignation, Ajit Pawar said.

Soon after announcing at an event in Mumbai on May 2 that he will quit as NCP president, Sharad Pawar had rescinded the decision, stating that he respected the strong sentiments his decision had evoked among the party cadre and leaders across the country.

Ajit Pawar, who joined Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra on July 2, said that the Sharad Pawar-led faction had been reaching out for a patch-up. Such a meeting was organised on August 12 at businessman Atul Chordia's Pune home, he added.

If you didnt like our decision (of joining the Shinde-led state government), then why did you call us for a meeting, Ajit Pawar said.

Ajit Pawar also declared that his faction will contest the Baramati Lok Sabha seat.

Sharad Pawars daughter Supriya Sule, who represents Baramati constituency in Lok Sabha, welcomed her cousins announcement, saying, I have always been of the opinion that somebody should contest against me.

On former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukhs claim that he has been given 'supari' (contract) by the BJP to end the political career of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar said Deshmukh remained with the group led by Sharad Pawar as he would have been sans a ministerial berth had he switched sides.

Ajit Pawar also said it was an appropriate time for holding a detailed discussion on the Uniform Civil Code and population control.

Pointing out that the Opposition INDIA bloc has not even been able to finalise its leader, Ajit Pawar sought to know how they can run the government when India has a leader like PM Modi who has given stability to the country.

There are misconceptions about the Uniform Civil Code among backward classes, tribals, Dalits that it will affect reservation. No, it wont happen. I think that it is time to have a detailed discussion on the Uniform Civil Code, he said.

It is also time to have a law on birth control as only two children should be allowed for a couple. If we do not do this now, our natural resources are not going to be enough for us. If Narendra Modi ji wants to bring in a law, he should, Ajit Pawar said.
Nagpur, Dec 1 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday claimed that the ruling alliance of the Shiv Sena led by him, Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and Bharatiya Janata Party will win at least 45 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the next year's elections.

He was speaking to reporters at the airport here.

Asked about deputy CM Ajit Pawar's statement at an NCP conclave that his party will contest Lok Sabha elections from Baramati and certain other constituencies in Pune district (when seat-sharing talks between the three parties are yet to place), Shinde said Pawar too was saying that the three parties will contest the polls together.

"The Mahayuti (grand alliance) will contest Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections together and we will win more than 45 seats for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections," Shinde said.

Compensation will be given to the farmers who lost crops due to the unseasonal rains earlier this week once `panchnamas' or spot inspection reports are ready, the CM said to another question.

Meanwhile, speaking elsewhere, Hingoli MP Hemant Patil, who belongs to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, said the 13 Sena MPs who support the chief minister (following a split in the Shiv Sena last year) will all get tickets again in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"Eknath Shinde has assured us about it," Patil told reporters.
Imphal, Dec 1 (PTI) Armed dacoits with faces covered by masks looted Rs 18.80 crore in cash from a branch of a public sector bank in Manipurs Ukhrul district, officials said on Friday.

This Punjab National Bank branch is the currency chest - a place where the Reserve Bank of India stocks cash meant for banks and ATMs - for Ukhrul district.

The robbers carrying sophisticated weapons reached the bank in Ukhrul town, around 80 km from the state capital Imphal, overpowered the security personnel and looted the amount from the vault after threatening the staff on Thursday evening.

The miscreants, some of whom were in camouflage uniform, locked up the employees and the security personnel inside the washroom of the bank, officials said.

One of the senior staff was made to open the vault at gunpoint, following which the robbers looted the money.

A complaint has been lodged at Ukhrul police station. The police started examining CCTV footage to identify the culprits.
Kolkata, Dec 1 (PTI) Police complaints were lodged against 11 BJP MLAs of West Bengal charging them with disrespecting the national anthem during a sit-in on the assembly premises earlier this week.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhondeb Chatterjee said the complaints were lodged on behalf of the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party.

The TMC legislators led by party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were singing the national anthem on November 29 at the base of BR Ambedkar's statue before calling off a demonstration against the Centre's discriminatory attitude towards West Bengal.

The states ruling party accused the BJP legislators of shouting anti-state government slogans and ringing bells while the anthem was sung barely 50 metres away.

The saffron party, however, asserted that even if the anthem was sung by TMC MLAs, it was being done in a very low volume, inaudible from their protest spot and alleged that efforts were on to frame them in fabricated charges.

"The BJP has shown scant respect to the national anthem and appropriate action is being initiated, senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said.

Assembly Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay also said that appropriate steps would be taken.

An assembly secretariat source said the Hare Street police station has registered FIRs against 11 BJP MLAs in this connection.

Video footage of the alleged incident has been submitted to the police, the source said.

Asked to comment, senior BJP leader and Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh told PTI that they did not realise that the national anthem was being sung.

"Our protest against the TMC's dictatorship and corruption was continuing and we were just a little distance away from the Ambedkar statue. Even if it was sung, it was being done in a very low volume. Why? Did they forget the lyrics of the national anthem? We do not need to learn patriotism from the TMC," he said.

Ghosh, one of the BJP MLAs against whom FIRs were lodged, alleged that the TMC was trying to frame them in fabricated charges to divert the attention of the people.

The BJP's Darjeeling MLA, Neeraj Zimba, said, "We could not hear any song. Our protests were on at that time but it seems the charges were deliberately made."
Churachandpur, Dec 1 (PTI) Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Srinivas BV along with his few party colleagues distributed relief materials among people affected by the ethnic clashes in Manipur's Churchandpur district on Friday.

Among the materials distributed were medicines, blankets and diapers, Congress leaders said, adding that these were reached to people living in nine relief centres, including the Lamka College Dorcas Veng Community Hall, SYO Hall at Simveng and Ngoiphai.

"As winter sets in, these displaced people need to keep themselves warm. They left their homes without having the time to take anything. Also, they need medicines and they don't get proper supplies here. So, in order to provide them some amount of relief, the materials were provided," Srinivas said.

He was accompanied by IYC general secretary Purnachand Padhi, and its Manipur in-charge Sarifa Rahman, among others.

More than 180 people have been killed after ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3 when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for ST status.
Gangtok, Nov 30 (PTI) The popular north Sikkim tourist destination, Lachung, which was affected by flash floods in early October, has been made accessible after the restoration of road, an official said on Thursday.

The tourist spot will be open for visitors from Friday, he said.

"Lachung is now accessible after successful completion of road restoration efforts. The scenic destination can be reached through an alternative route via Dzongu-Shipgyer and will be open for tourists from December 1," Tourism and Civil Aviation Department Secretary Prakash Chettri said.

Extending a warm welcome to all tourists intending to visit Lachung-Yumthang in the northern part of Sikkim, he said that the alternative route, via Dzongu-Shipgyer, will have an additional 16-17 km to reach Lachung.

He, however, said the Lachen-Gurudongmar point would remain closed until further notice as restoration work in the region was underway in the aftermath of the flash floods.

The decision to allow tourists to visit Lachung comes nearly two months after the massive flood had destroyed road infrastructure and connectivity in North Sikkim towns like Lachen, Lachung and Chungthang in early October.

The flash flood left 46 people dead and a trail of destruction.
Kolkata, Dec 1 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Eastern Region at 5 pm.



CAL 14 MZ-COUNTING-PROTEST

Mizoram NGOs stage protest seeking rescheduling of vote counting date

Aizawl: Members of the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) staged protests across the state on Friday seeking a change in the date of counting of votes for the state assembly polls scheduled on December 3.



CAL 12 OD-TUNNEL WORKERS

Four of five Odisha workers trapped in Ukhand tunnel return to home state

Bhubaneswar: Four out of five workers from Odisha, who were rescued from the Uttarakhand tunnel, returned to Bhubaneswar on Friday and were given a rousing welcome by the state government.



CAL 11 BH-HC-QUOTAS

Patna HC seeks counter affidavit on petitions challenging hike in quotas in Bihar

Patna: The Patna High Court on Friday asked the Bihar government to file its reply on a bunch of petitions challenging the recent hike in reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes.



CAL 10 NL-STATEHOOD-DAY-RIO

Nagaland celebrates statehood day; CM Rio calls for early solution of Naga political issue

Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday greeted the people on 61st Statehood Day and reiterated his government's strong commitment to facilitate for a peaceful resolution of the long pending Naga political issue.



CAL 9 AS-APSC-SCAM-SUSPEND

Assam govt suspends 15 ACS, APS officers in APSC 'cash for job' scam

Guwahati: The Assam government has suspended 15 state civil service and police service officers for their alleged involvement in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) 'cash for job' scam, official sources said on Friday.



CAL 8 WB-GST FRAUD

Bengal commercial taxes directorate unearths Rs 4,716cr fake GST invoice rackets

Kolkata: The Directorate of Commercial Taxes (State GST) of West Bengal has unearthed massive fake GST invoice rackets involving a turnover of Rs 4716 crore and arrested four key operators, officials said on Friday.



CAL 7 OD-LD ACCIDENT

Odisha: On first day of Zero Fatality Week, 8 killed as vehicle hits stationary truck

Keonjhar/Bhubaneswar: At least eight people including three women and a child were killed and eight others injured when their vehicle rammed into a stationary truck in Odishas Keonjhar district early Friday, police said.



CAL 6 WB-ANTHEM-BJP

Bengal BJP MLAs face charge of disrespecting national anthem, police complaints lodged

Kolkata: Police complaints were lodged against 11 BJP MLAs of West Bengal charging them with disrespecting the national anthem during a sit-in on the assembly premises earlier this week.
GAZA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- New Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 32 people and injured dozens, medical sources in the Gaza Strip told Xinhua on Friday.

The sources said at least 32 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Gaza Strip.

The government media office in Gaza said in a statement that Israeli aircraft bombed a number of inhabited homes and crowded areas in several cities of the Gaza Strip.

The statement held the international community responsible for "the continued war on children and women."

Sirens were sounding in Israeli towns near their border with Gaza Friday morning for the first time since Israel and Hamas reached a humanitarian truce on Nov. 24, according to Israeli media.

The Israeli army confirmed that it intercepted a missile fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. In the wake of the attack, the Israeli Home Front Command tightened guidelines for civilians in some areas of the country.

The temporary humanitarian truce reached between Israel and Hamas ended at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) Friday. 
Srinagar, Dec 1 (PTI) Anjuman Auqaf, the management body of the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta here, alleged that the Jammu and Kashmir administration did not allow Friday prayers for the eighth consecutive week.

Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid today reiterated its concern and resentment against disallowing Friday prayers at the largest place of worship in Kashmir for the eighth consecutive Friday, and also against the house detention of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq who was not allowed to carry out his religious duties, a statement from the management body of the grand mosque said.

It said the administration must remove undue restrictions on the mosque and the Mirwaiz.

It said the centuries-old pulpit and Mihrab of the grand mosque have been silent for the eighth consecutive Friday.

Such hostile acts by the administration are not only tantamount to interference in religious affairs but also seriously hurt the feelings and sentiments of the people, it added.

People have a deep religious and emotional attachment to the Jamia Masjid, Srinagar and the Mirwaiz, it said.

Placing restrictions on Mirwaiz amounts to denying him his religious freedom, it added.
Kannauj (UP), Dec 1 (PTI) A leader of the Azad Samaj Party, the political outfit of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, was shot dead by his uncle over a property dispute in Talgram area here, police said on Friday.

Satyendra Singh Katheria, a district unit general secretary of the Azad Samaj Party, was taken to a hospital following the incident on Thursday evening but was declared brought dead by the doctors, they said.

His brothers Sachin and Ankit, who sustained injuries during the firing, are undergoing treatment at a hospital, police said.

Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Anand said the deceased's father Satyapal Katheria had a dispute with his brother Suraj Pal over a property in Jaisinghpur village.

At around 7 pm on Thursday, Suraj Pal along with his associates, reached his brother's house and an argument ensued following which he shot Satyendra Singh Katheria with a licensed gun.

District unit president of the Azad Samaj Party Prabhat Gautam said the deceased's father lodged an FIR against seven people, including Suraj Pal, who is absconding.

As tension prevailed, heavy police force has been deployed in the village, officials said.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Palakkad (Ker), Dec 1 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday rejected Governor Arif Mohammed Khans claims that the government interfered with the re-appointment of Kannur University's Vice Chancellor.





On Thursday, the Supreme Court criticised Khan's order reappointing Gopinath Ravindran, stating that the Governor had previously "abdicated or surrendered" his statutory powers for reappointing the VC.



The court, while quashing the reappointment, also criticised the Left government for its "unwarranted intervention" in the matter.







Talking to media in Shoranur in this north Kerala district, Vijayan dismissed news reports suggesting that the Supreme Court's verdict was a setback for the Kerala government, and termed them baseless.





He clarified that the apex court had affirmed that due process was followed in the reappointment. Despite this, the governor continued to claim in the media that there was external pressure, Vijayan added.







"The letter written by the ex-officio pro-chancellor -- the higher education minister -- was considered as unwarranted intervention of the state government. How can a correspondence between two authorities under the same law be considered external pressure," Vijayan asked, rejecting the governor's claim.







He said the apex court dealt with three legal issues, the first being whether re-appointment is permissible in a "tenure post", to which the court said yes.





"It held that the outer age limit of 60 years, provided for under the 1996 Act of the University, will not apply in case of the reappointment of a VC. The apex court also said it was not necessary to follow the procedure of appointment as laid down in Section 10 of the 1996 Act for the purpose of reappointment," Vijayan said.





The Chief Minister claimed that the legal advice from the Advocate General was received by the higher education minister's office and handed over to Raj Bhavan.





"The chancellor sought clarification, and the CM's office gave it to the governor. He considers it external interference," Vijayan said.





He reiterated that the state government has not interfered in the authority of the Governor as Chancellor in any way.





Soon after the verdict was pronounced on Thursday, Khan had blamed Chief Minister Vijayan for having pressured him to reappoint the VC.





Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Khan also said that Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed, as the CM had used her to seek the reappointment of Ravindran.





The apex court had also said it is the Chancellor who is conferred with competence under law to appoint or reappoint VCs. "No other person, even the pro-chancellor or any superior authority can interfere with the functioning of the statutory authority," it had held.



Following the verdict, Khan said that a person claiming to be the personal law advisor of the CM had visited him along with Vijayan's OSD (Officer on Special Duty) and urged him not to follow the normal process of appointing the VC of Kannur University at the time.





He had further claimed that the two had later come with a letter from Higher Education Minister Bindu and a legal opinion of the Advocate General of Kerala for "scuttling" the regular appointment process and reappointing Ravindran as VC.





A division bench of the Kerala High Court had on February 23 last year dismissed an appeal against a single-judge order upholding the reappointment of Ravindran, saying it was done in accordance with the law and that he was not "a usurper of the post".





The top court set aside the impugned judgment and the order passed by the high court dated February 23, 2022 and, as a consequence, the notification dated November 23, 2021 reappointing Ravindran as vice chancellor of Kannur University was also set aside.
New Delhi, Dec 1 (PTI) The Delhi Police has launched an investigation after a CCTV footage surfaced purportedly showing three persons stabbing a man and hitting him with a brick in the Adarsh Nagar area of northwest Delhi, officials said on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Jitendra Meena said they have not received any formal complaint yet.

"We have launched an investigation into the matter. We are in the process of identifying the victim," Meena said.

In the CCTV footage, a man wearing a black shirt and denims can be seen chased by three persons, one of them holding a knife.

The man fell on ground after running for several metres and the trio who were chasing him started thrashing him, one of them tried to stab him and another was seen throwing a brick on him.

A large number of men can be seen gathered at the spot. The footage showed a woman came out of her house and objected to it, following which the attackers fled leaving the injured man behind.




In a surprising twist to the post-election discourse, Bloomberg has issued a correction regarding an article that erroneously suggested Argentinas President-elect, Javier Milei, is converting to Judaism. The correction clarified that Milei merely intends to become Jewish at some point in the future.

Milei, an influential right-leaning libertarian firebrand who clinched a resounding victory in the presidential runoff election held on November 19, 2023, has expressed his desire to explore Judaism, as clarified in the revised article published on Tuesday.

The article relies on indirect quotations from an unnamed spokesperson close to Milei who confirmed that he is indeed interested in converting.

A seasoned economist who transitioned to television punditry, Milei is renowned for his provocative statements and impassioned rhetoric. Notably, he has left no room for ambiguity regarding his affinity for Israel and Judaism. In a speech delivered back in 2021, Milei told reporters, I am thinking about converting to Judaism and I aspire to become the first Jewish president in Argentine history.

To reiterate, while Milei maintains a close circle of Jewish advisors, contacts, and mentors, there is no official confirmation of him currently being in the midst of a formal conversion process.

However, his symbolic gesture upon arriving in New York this week added weight to his intentions; His first stop in the city was at the ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




A Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting Thursday morning quickly devolved into a partisan shootout as Republicans on the upper chambers legal affairs panel kicked off a revolt against Democrats hoping to authorize subpoenas related to their Supreme Court ethics probe.

After weeks of delays, the Judiciary Committee was finally set Thursday to debate and vote on legal summonses for conservative billionaire Harlan Crow and legal activist Leonard Leo  who lawmakers say had improper financial relationships with Supreme Court justices.

Although the Judiciary Committee had already debated the nominees up for a vote, Republicans were incensed by the move. The panel quickly devolved into a cage match, with lawmakers shouting over the committee clerk who was attempting to push through a roll call vote.

As Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) tried to move to a vote on a pair of judicial appointments the panel had already debated, senators, who said they hadnt yet had the opportunity to speak on the nominees, protested.

Are we going to have any opportunity to speak on the nominees? Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked, to which Durbin responded: Weve already done that at great length.

Several other Republican members of the committee protested as Durbin continued, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the top Republican on the panel, exclaiming, Come on, man!

Republican senators shouted objections throughout the roll call votes.

Youre going to have a lot of consequences if you go down this road, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton yelled across the chamber at his Democratic colleagues. Im cautioning you all.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) asked: So youre telling us to shut up? You want us to shut up? Thats what youre saying.

Youre just going to sit there and ignore us? Cotton asked Durbin. I guess Sen. Durbin is not going to let women speak either. I thought that was sacrosanct in your party.

You just destroyed one of the most important committees in the United States Senate, seethed Texas Republican John Cornyn. You understand, what goes around comes around.

Ranking Member Graham joined his colleagues in criticizing Durbins administration of the panel. This is so unnecessary, he said. To ruin this committee over a political exercise is going nowhere.

The shouting match, which lasted several minutes and ground proceedings to a halt, was surely a preview of things to come as the Judiciary Committee is set to move forward with debate on Democrats proposed subpoenas.




Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, was choking on food during a luncheon Thursday when fellow Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky performed the Heimlich maneuver on her.

The incident occurred during a closed-door Republican lunch in the Capitol. Shortly after, Ernst posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to thank Paul.

Ernst joked that she was choking on woke policies.

She was seen walking in the Capitol after the incident, and senators said they were grateful Paul was ready to help her. The Kentucky senator formerly worked as an eye doctor.

Its a good thing he did, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. God bless Rand Paul.

(AP0




Ukraines spy agency staged two successive explosions on a railroad line in Siberia that serves as a key conduit for trade between Russia and China, Ukrainian media reported Friday. The attacks underscored Moscows vulnerability amid the war in Ukraine

Ukrainska Pravda and other news outlets claimed the Security Service of Ukraine conducted a special operation to blow up trains loaded with fuel on the Baikal-Amur Mainline, which runs from southeastern Siberia to the Pacific Ocean in the Russian Far East.

The media cited unidentified sources in Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, a regular practice in claims of previous attacks in Russia. The security service, which is known in Ukrainian as SBU for short, has not confirmed the reports.

The first explosion hit a tanker train in the Severonomuisky tunnel in Buryatia early Thursday, causing a fire that took hours to extinguish, Russian news outlets said. The 15.3-kilometer (9.5-mile) tunnel in southern Siberia is the longest in Russia.

A second explosion hours later hit another train carrying fuel as it crossed a 35-meter (115-foot) high bridge across a deep gorge while traveling on a bypass route, according to the Ukrainian news reports.

Russian railways confirmed the tunnel explosion but didnt say what caused it.

Russian daily business newspaper Kommersant cited investigators saying an explosive device was planted under one of the trains carriages.

There was no comment from Russian authorities on the second explosion.

Ukrainian authorities have emphasized that the countrys military and security agencies can strike targets anywhere in Russia to fight Moscows aggression.

Officials in Kyiv have claimed responsibility for some previous attacks on infrastructure facilities deep inside Russia.

Russias top counterintelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, or FSB, said Friday that it detained a man accused of attacking a military airbase in western Russia with exploding drones in July and staging an explosion that derailed a cargo train in western Russia last month.

The FSB identified the suspect as a dual Russian-Italian citizen and alleged he was recruited by the Ukrainian military intelligence in Istanbul and underwent training in Latvia before returning to Russia.

There was no immediate comment on the claim from Ukrainian authorities.

As the war continued into its 22nd month, Ukraines forces shot down 18 of 25 Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones and one of two air-launched missiles that Russia launched early Friday, the Ukrainian air force said.

The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least four civilians and wounded 16 others between Thursday and Friday mornings.

Three of them died when Russian warplanes struck the village of Sadove in southern Ukraines Kherson region; the fourth was killed in Russian shelling of the town of Toretsk in the eastern Donetsk region, the presidential office said.

(AP)




by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Chanukah occurred during the time of the Second Beis HaMikdash approximately in the year 3596/165 BCE. That is 2188 years ago as of 2023. The Seleucid Greeks (or Syrian Greeks) ruled and enacted decrees against Klal Yisrael, outlawing the Jewish religion. The Greeks forbade Torah study and the observance of mitzvos. Ironically, they knew what many Jews do not know: what makes Klal Yisrael unique is Torah and mitzvos. These things are now being realized by many in light of the terrible tragedy that has recently occurred  both in Eretz Yisroel and in Chutz LaAretz. Without these, our spiritual existence would gradually disappear and we would no longer be the Am Hashem.

The Greeks took our money and violated our bnos Yisrael. They entered the Mikdash and desecrated it. They polluted that which was pure and caused Klal Yisrael much anguish. The Greeks placed such stress on Klal Yisrael that Hashem finally had compassion upon us and rescued us. The Chashmonaim, the family of the Kohain Gadol and those who joined them, were victorious in battle against the Greeks and saved Klal Yisrael from their hands.

The Chashmonaim installed a king from among the Kohanim, thereby restoring the monarchy to Klal Yisrael for more than 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash (3829/70 C.E.) by the Romans.

The underlying nature of the miracle of Chanukah in and of itself involves a renewal. The Nesivos Sholom explains (Maamarei Chanukah p. 35) that the Gemorah discusses the underlying principle of how we light the Chanukah lamps itself, according to Beis Hillel. On the first night we light one. On the second night we light two. On the third  three. It is called Mosif vholech  adding more and more as we go along.

This special power of Chanukah began with the Beis HaMikdash  where more and more holiness was added. It spread to the people.

Rav Dessler writes that every Yom Tov is actually the very same day that comes back to us year after year. Each Chanukah is the very same Chanukah that the Maccabbees experienced. This light of Chanukah that increases as each day progresses is with us constantly.

The Nesivos Shalom further asks why the verse tells us Mechadesh kol yom btuvo. Why must Hashem re-create every day?

He answers that it was to give man hope as well. So that man can renew himself and say, Today is a new day and I am newly created. By the same token the nation of Israel is compared to the moon. Just as the moon renews itself, so too can we renoew ourselves and reach our fullest. Perhaps it was because of this notion as well that Chanukah was made to also include a Rosh Chodesh  to remind us of our power of renewal.

PRE CHANUKAH PREPARATIONS

Generally speaking regarding the other Yomim Tovim throughout the year, we should study them and give lectures in them for 30 days before the holiday (See Megillah 29b). This is not the case, however, regarding Purim and Chanukah (See Tosfos Megilah 4a BMai).

The Raavads son known as the Ri, however, writes that one should prepare the Menorah as well as the oil two days before the holiday (cited in Sukkas Chaim quoting Kovetz Moadim). The work entitled Orchos Rabbeinu about the Steipler Gaon zatzal writes that the Steipler would either prepare on the 18th of Kislev or the 22nd.

THE MIRACLE OF THE OIL

The date on which Klal Yisrael was victorious over the Greeks and destroyed them was the 25th of Kislev. That day, they entered the Heichal and only found one flask of pure oil in the Beis HaMikdash with the seal of the Kohen Gadol.

That flask contained enough oil to burn only one day. They used it to light the lamps of the Menorah and it lasted for eight days  long enough for them to crush olives and extract pure oil.

Because of this neis (miracle), the next year, the Chachamim of that generation decreed that these eight days, beginning with the 25th of Kislev, should be days of simchah and Hallel.

These days are called Chanukah because chanu  they rested from their enemies  on kah  the 25th. Kah in gematria is 25.

The neis that we celebrate is about the oil  and not about the military victories. The reason for this is that the Chachamim of the time were concerned that people would think the victory was because of the military tactics of the Chashmonaim and not because of Hashems Divine intervention. The Chashmonaim ultimately ended up assuming too much power. Because of this error, some of their descendants did not follow in the ways of Torah, and the country was divided by civil war. This is another reason why it is the oil that is commemorated.

Also, the miracle of the flask of oil hints to the continued existence of the Jewish people throughout the darkness of the Galus, a miracle in and of itself. No other nation in the world ever existed in exile for so long and eventually returned to its land.

This miracle is attested to in the first Rashi of sefer Bereishis, in which Rashi states that Hashem started the Torah with Bereishis bara so that in the future, when the gentiles accuse us of stealing their land, we can say that Hashem created the world and gave the land to us. This Rashi was written over 900 years ago. The continued existence of Klal Yisrael  particularly in the land of Eretz Yisrael, where the gentiles are now accusing us of stealing their land  is truly remarkable. This Rashi is an inspiring neis.

The Beis Yosef, Rabbi Yosef Karo, asks a famous question about Chanukah: Why do we celebrate Chanukah for eight days instead of seven? The miraculous extra burning was only for seven days! This question is known throughout the Torah world as The Beis Yosefs Question. There is a book that has over 500 answers to this question!

One answer is that even though technically the miracle of the oil lasted for only seven days (since the flask contained enough oil for one day), we still celebrate Chanukah for eight days because the victory itself is deserving of its own special day, just like Purim has a day. It was also the day that they found the oil  so Chazal decreed that the Menorah be lit on that first day too.

Another interesting question that is often asked about Chanukah is: Why did the Chashmonaim wait until they got pure oil? There is a halachic concept called tumah hutrah btzibbur  if needed for the tzibbur, impure oil may also be used! They could have used the impure oil as well. Why didnt they?

One answer that is often given is that the Chashmonaim were setting things up for the first time after a long period of disuse. In such circumstances, everyone is looking and observing. The Chashmonaim taught us not to settle for things that are impure, but to do mitzvos in the best possible manner. This is a lesson in chinuch, too, to teach that one should always strive for the highest level.

In tractate Shabbos (21b), the Pnei Yehoshua at first suggests that lighting the menorah perhaps may not be considered part of the Kohains avodah  but he dismisses this. The Pnei Yehoshua ultimately answers that this miracle just happened that year and it showed the world, publicly that now there is an ais ratzon, a period of Divine grace. It was a public declaration that the Shechina rests on Klal Yisrael  a renewal of a loving relationship between Hashem and his children.

The Pri Chadash says that there is a type of Tumah associated with promiscuity  that is not permitted and that is the tumah that the Greeks were known for. Although others disagree with this Pri Chadash, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank finds a Jerusalem Talmud (Perek kaitzad tzolin 7) that agrees with it.

Rav Eliahu Mizrachi in his comments on the Smag on Hilchos Chanuka says that the oil is only a hechsher mitzvah for the lighting and are not actually the cheftzah  the item of the Mitzvah. It is thus likened to a Bris Milah on Shabbos where only for the cutting itself is one permitted to violate Shabbos, but not for other violations.

NO MENTION IN THE MISHNA

It is also quite curious why there is no mention of the obligation to light the Chanukah Menorah anywhere in the Mishnah. Indeed, the only mention of Chanukah in Chazal is in Megillas Taanis, which predates the Mishnah, and in the Gemara in Shabbos 21a. The Chasam Sofer explains that since Rabi Yehudah HaNasi, the compiler of the Mishnah (about 1800 years ago), was a descendant of David HaMelech, he left out the miracle involving the Chashmonaim since they should not have taken the malchus for themselves but should have left it for the descendants of David HaMelech. Indeed, the Ramban writes that Hashem punished the Chashmonaim for this act. We had a civil war amongst ourselves and eventually the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed.

TIME OF HAPPINESS

There is a very ancient book in Torah shebal peh that was written even before the Mishnayos were written down. It is called Megillas Taanis and was written when the Beis HaMikdash was still in existence. This book listed many lesser holidays, both joyous days and sad days that we Jews celebrated. After the Second Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, we stopped observing all of these other days because, Chazal teach, there was no more joy. The Talmud Yerushalmi (2:12) tells us that all the special holidays were set aside except two holidays: Chanukah and Purim.

On these days we may not give a hesped (eulogy at a funeral). Eulogies make people sadder and we may not do that on Chanukah. An exception is made for eulogizing a talmid chacham if the aron of the deceased is present at the funeral.

It is also the custom during these times to greet each other with the expression a lichtigen Chanukah  a light-filled Chanukah or a freilichen Chanukah  a happy Chanukah. It is interesting to note that in the expression Chanukah Sameach  a happy Chanukah, Sameach is the Notrikun (abbreviation) of Shabbos, Milah and Chodesh. These are the three areas in which the Seleucid Greeks limited Jewish religious practice. This was pointed out by the Gerrer Rebbe.

FASTING ON CHANUKAH

We are also not permitted to fast on these days. Fasting makes one sadder, too, and this is not permitted on Chanukah. We may not fast, even if it is for the yahrtzeit of a parent. However, we are permitted to work and perform melachah.

FASTING BEFORE CHANUKAH

What about fasting before Chanukah? In the Megilas Taanis it states that even on the day before a Yom Tov or after it, one is forbidden from fasting. The answer to this question is that it is permitted, even though it is a debate among the Rishonim.

Tosfos (Taanis 18a Rav) writes that one may fast beforehand as these halachos were, in fact, negated even though Chanukah and Purim were not. This is the Rambams opinion as well, and that of the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch.

The Rif (Megillah 4a ), Ran, and the RaZah (cited by the Bach in OC 686), however, are stringent. The Pri Chadash is also stringent, disagreeing with the Shulchan Aruch.

The Mogain Avrohom (686:1) does mention the custom of some who fast on Erev Chanukah instead of on Erev Rosh Chodesh. They should not change their custom, but he writes that it is not ideal.

THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE CANDLE-LIGHTING

There is a prohibition to perform work within thirty minutes of candle-lighting time (See 672:10). What type of work or activity is forbidden?

It is forbidden to perform the type of work that is liable to continue, such as a haircut or bath, or doing business. Specifically, one may not wash dishes, iron clothing, among other things.

Rav Elyashiv explained (Kuntrus Hilchos Chanukah page 6) that even cooking or baking during this time is forbidden for someone who has an actual obligation to light. The reason why this is more stringent than Chol HaLoed is because the reason for this prohibition is on account of Pirsumei Nissa  publicizing the miracle.

According to this, Rav Elyashiv has ruled that a store-owner must literally go home and light when the time for Chanukah candle lighting has arrived. If, however, his living is dependent upon his store being open during those hours, he should leave someone that is not obligated in lighting in the store. If this is not possible, then he may delay going home until 50 minutes after sunset. If this is not possible, then he should appoint a Shliach to light on his behalf.

Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky ztl writes that if the wife is working, however, the father should not light before she comes home from work on account of Shalom Bayis (Emes LYaakov page 254). The rationale is that if one does not have enough money for both Chanukah candles and Shabbos candles, the Chanukah candles are set aside for Shalom Bayis. Rav Yakov zatzal held that there would be a Shalom Bayis element here as well.

Many Yeshivos in the United States do not dismiss the married Kollel Yungerleit until well after candle lighting. The rationale for this may be based upon the Meiri (Shabbos 21b) who mentions this Minhag for the Yeshiva students in France during his time.

Many of the Yeshivos that have secular studies during this time, however, do dismiss early in order to fulfill this Mitzvah in a timely fashion.

WORKING WHILE THE MENORAH IS LIT

Women have the special custom not to do work while the menorah is still lit. Although some write that this is for the entire time that the candles remain burning, the Mishna Brurah rules that this is only until 30 minutes after nightfall  Tzeis HaKochavim. The reason why women have this custom is because a woman  Yehudis, the daughter of Yochanan the Kohen Gadol  brought about a miracle.

Yehudis was very attractive and told the persecuting king that she would be intimate with him. She fed him dairy products so that he would be thirsty. He drank wine and got sleepy. She was able to kill him and cut off his head. This caused the army general and his soldiers to all run away.

CHANUKAH FOODS, GAMES, AND GELT

Since the miracle of Yehudis victory occurred by means of dairy foods, we have the minhag to eat dairy foods on Chanukah. When eating dairy, we should have in mind the miracles that Hashem did for us.

There is a minhag to eat latkes on Chanukah. This is because they are fried in oil in order to commemorate the miracle that happened with oil. This custom is mentioned by the Rambams father. In Eretz Yisrael, doughnuts are eaten for the same reason.

There is also a minhag to play with a dreidel on Chanukah. This commemorates the mesirus nefesh of the children for Torah study. The Greeks forbade the study of Torah. When they checked up on the young students who continued to study Torah despite the decree, the children pretended to be playing games. The dreidel also signifies that during the time of Chanukah, help came from Hashem Above; therefore, the spinner is on top. On Purim, the move toward teshuvah came from Klal Yisrael down below, which is why we use the grogger, whose handle is on bottom.

It is customary to distribute Chanukah gelt (money; today, coin-shaped chocolates are also used) to family members and children. This is to create the joy that will enhance the appreciation of the nissim Hashem did for us.

Many poskim (including the Vilna Gaon) are of the opinion that there is a slight mitzvah to increase feasting on Chanukah because on these days the work for the Mishkan in the midbar was also completed. If we add zemiros to these meals they would be considered a seudas mitzvah. If there are no zemiros, they are not considered a seudas mitzvah.

The Ramban in Bamidbar (8:2) quotes a Midrash on the passuk When you kindle the lamps: The Torah here is hinting to the events of Chanukah. When the Leviim saw that the Nesiim of each tribe were bringing dedication offerings and the shevet of Levi did not [and were sad), Hashem said, There will be another Chanukah [dedication] where there will be a lighting of lamps when I will perform miracles.. for Israel.. The sacrifices are brought only as long as the Beis HaMikdash will exist..but the lamps [Chanukah] give light forever..

Chanukah is a time in which we give greater tzedakah (Magen Avraham) because it is a time of geulah  redemption.

GENERAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTING

On the eight days of Chanukah, during the evening, we light Chanukah menorahs to publicize the miracle of the oil.

These lamps may be lit in the doorway to our homes, but nowadays most people light by the window because there is more pirsumei nissa, publicizing of the mitzvah, when the flames are visible in the window rather than at the doorway. All this points to the idea that a small measure of light can push away much darkness.

One must be very careful in regard to lighting the Chanukah menorah. If one is careful, the reward is children who are talmidei chachamim. According to the Shulchan Aruch, even a poor person supported through charity should collect money or even sell his clothing in order to light. This is the only Rabbinic mitzvah that has such a requirement. Indeed, even many Torah mitzvos do not have such a requirement!

Why is this so necessary? Because the Chanukah menorah does two things:

It publicizes the great miracle that occurred. It serves to increase praise and gratitude to Hashem for the miracles He has done for us.

With the lighting of the menorah we reinforce the concept that all of Creation, and the life force of every living thing, exists because of Hashems Will. We state that Hashem will, at times, intervene with His laws of nature. We acknowledge that Hashem is the true source of salvation and we express our sincere gratitude for the miracles He performed on our behalf in the time of the Chashmonaim.

Since the Chanukah menorah acts in such a capacity, it is important to focus on increasing our praise and gratitude toward Hashem. The gratitude extends to our own lives as well, not just during the time of the Chashmonaim.

FULFILL A TORAH MITZVAH

One can fulfill a Torah obligation when lighting the Chanukah menorah. The Torah mitzvah one fulfills is Vnishmartem meod lnafshoseichem (Devarim 4:15) which stipulates that one must take safety precautions and protect oneself and others.

Fire is extremely dangerous and many people have been injured or killed, Rl, when proper safety measures were not taken regarding Chanukah flames. The other mitzvos of Chanukah are dRabbanan.

The obligation to light is called chovas habayis; the obligation is upon the house, not the individual. Homeless people not staying in a house are technically exempt. Even though the obligation to light is on the house, the main obligation falls upon the baal habayis.

A person should attempt to be home during the time of the lighting and to light the candles himself. This is because of the concept of mitzvah bo yoser mibshlucho  it is better to perform a mitzvah oneself than through a messenger.

If the wife knows that the husband will be coming home, she should not light for him until midnight, because he is the main householder and the mitzvah is greater for him than for her. Once midnight has arrived, however, she should light the candles.

If someone must undergo surgery, however, there is no obligation to avoid doing so immediately before Chanukah in order that he be home to light the candles (ruling of Rav Elyashiv, Chashukei Chemed Brachos 101). He should, however, appoint a messenger to light on his behalf at home. If no one else will be at home then there is no obligation for him to light since he may not do so in a hospital setting. He is also not obligated to rent a private hospital room for him to light.

GATHERING ENTIRE FAMILY

It is also appropriate to gather the entire family around to light the menorah, even if in waiting for them there will be somewhat of a delay in lighting (See MB 672:10). If most family members are home, then one or two children who arrive later should light on their own and not delay the rest of the family.

It is interesting to note that the Steipler Gaon (Orchos Chaim p. 17) would even gather his married daughter who would fulfill her Mitzvh later on in her own apartment. Such is the importance of the Pirsumei Nisah of Chanukah.

PROHIBITION OF DERIVING BENEFIT

It is forbidden to derive any benefit (hanaah) from the Chanukah lamps or candles. One cannot read next to them or use the light for any other purpose. There are two reasons for this prohibition of hanaah.

Rashi explains that everyone must see that these lights are only for one purpose  to publicize the miracle.

The Ran explains that since these lights commemorate the Menorah that was in the Beis HaMikdash, the same halachos which pertain to the items of the Beis HaMikdash still apply: no benefit may be derived from these items.

It is for this reason that we make sure to also light a shamash in addition to the candles or oil lamps. If one did inadvertently use the menorahs light for any other purpose, we assume halachically that the light came from the shamash. The shamash should be placed in a different area than the regular Chanukah lights so that it is not confused with the Chanukah lights themselves.

The candles or the oil placed in the lamps must be enough to last  hour. If someone lit a menorah that did not have enough oil in it, he or she should relight the menorah, but without a new blessing. Most authorities hold that there is no extra hiddurbeautifica- of the mitzvah  in putting a lot of oil in the lamp. However, some say that nowadays, since people are out until very late at night, there is an extra beuatification in having more oil in the lamp.

There is a debate in the Gemara as to whether the placing of the menorah does the mitzvah (hanachah osah mitzvah) or the lighting does the mitzvah (hadlakah osah mitzvah). We rule that hadlakah does the mitzvah. Therefore, if one lit the menorah in a place that one would not have fulfilled the mitzvah (such as above twenty amos) and then moved the menorah later, the mitzvah has not been fulfilled and he must relight.

THE PROCEDURE OF LIGHTING

The basic obligation of Chanukah is just to light one lamp for the entire household each night of Chanukah. The mehadrin  those that go above the basic obligation  have everyone in the household light one lamp each night of Chanukah. The mehadrin min hamehadrin  those that go above and beyond  have everyone in the household light two lamps on the second night, three on the third night, four on the fourth, etc. The custom all over is to light like the mehadrin min hamehadrin.

How do we actually light? The Chanukah menorah is set up in the place that provides maximum pirsumei nissa, publicizing of the miracle, but is still safe. The entire family gathers around for the lighting so that there is more pirsumei nissa. The candles or lamps are arranged from right to left on each night, but they are lit from left to right.

There is a debate between Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel as to how we light. According to Beis Hillel we light one candle on the first night, two candles on the second night, three on the third, etc.

According to Beis Shammai, we light eight candles on the first night, seven on the second night, six on the third night, etc. Even though we conduct ourselves like Beis Hillel, when Mashiach comes the halachah will be in accordance with Beis Shammai and we will light eight on the first night.

WICK OR OIL FIRST?

The Mishnas Yaakov (Vol. II 673) writes that since the lighting of the Chanukah lamps is to commemorate the lighting in the Beis HaMikdash, the same pattern should be followed in regard to Chanukah as in the Beis HaMikdash. T

The Gemorah (Yuma 24b) indicates that in the Beis HaMikdash the wick was placed first, followed by the oil. Rashi on Shmos (25:37) seems to indicate that the order is reversed (i.e. oil first and then the wick) as does Tosfos in Sanhedrin (82b). However, the Maharsha on Sanhedrin writes that Tosfos was not being exacting in his wording.

The Rambam (Tmidim uMusaffim 3:12) writes clearly that the wick was placed first. When the author of Sukkas Chaim posed the question to Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, he responded that the order did not matter in the Beis HaMikdash. However, it would seem from both the Maharshaand the Mishnas Yaakov that it would matter, at least lechatchila. It is also interesting to note that no other authority cites this requirement other than the Mishnas Yaakov.

WHEN WE LIGHT THE CANDLES

The Gemara tells us that we light the candles from the time the sun sets. There is a debate as to whether this means the beginning of what we call sundown or whether it means when three medium stars appear. Practically speaking, Rav Moshe Feinstein, ztl, held that we light 1318 minutes after sunset. Rav Aharon Kotler held that we light 2530 minutes after sundown.

When one will be unable to light later, one may light as early as plag Minchah which is 1  halachic hours before sunset. Generally, in New York City, this is sometime between 3:30 PM and 3:37 PM.

WHERE WE LIGHT THE CANDLES

In the time of Chazal, the minhag was to light the menorah outside by the entranceway facing the street. However, when Jews started living among the gentiles, the minhag changed to light in the house on account of danger. Now the main pirsumei nissa is for the family members. The question arises as to why we do not go back to the original custom in situations where, baruch Hashem, there is no longer danger. The Aruch HaShulchan answers that the wind or rain would extinguish the menorah and Chazal did not go so far as to demand that we enclose the menorah in glass. In Eretz Yisrael today many people do light outside in a glass-enclosed case.

One may not light the menorah above twenty amos (28 feet 4 inches according to Rav Feinstein, ztl). If a person lives on the first, second or third floor of an apartment building, it is ideal to place the menorah by the window because there is still pirsumei nissa for passersby on the street.

If one lives on the fourth floor or above, it is preferable to place the menorah next to the entrance of the apartment.

Remember, for people who live below the fourth floor, including in a house, it is preferable to place the menorah next to the window, rather than next to the entrance. When we do place the menorah next to the entrance, we place it on the side opposite the mezuzah so that we are surrounded by mitzvos. It is placed next to the doorway so that people will realize that the owner purposefully placed it there.

Ideally, the menorah should be at least three tefachim (handbreadths) above the ground and below ten handbreadths. The reason it should be above three tefachim is because some people place things on the floor and it may not be recognizable that it was done for pirsumei nissa.

The reason it should be below ten handbreadths is that lights used for seeing purposes are usually placed above three feet high.

Three handbreadths amount to 10.62 inches and ten handbreadths are 35.4 inches. The ten tefachim requirement is measured from the flame, not the menorah. The three handbreadth requirement is from the base, not the flame.

If there are any safety issues involved in placing it below or above these recommended heights, safety precautions should be followed first. If there are little children (including grandchildren!) in the house, access to the menorahs should be blocked. Couches and or other things that are easily flammable should be placed at a far distance from the menorah.

WHO IS OBLIGATED?

Everyone is obligated in lighting: men, women, and children who have reached the age of instruction. Women are obligated because they, too, were involved in the miracle. Unless they have a minhag otherwise, however, married women and single girls should preferably fulfill their mitzvah with the lighting of the baal habayis.

The Chasam Sofer explains that in previous times everyone lit outside. Back then it would have been a breach in tznius for women to go outside and light. Even though nowadays we light indoors, most women still maintain the original practice and rely upon the lighting of the baal habayis.

If, for some reason, the man cannot light, a woman may light for him and be motzi him thus be his agent in fulfilling the Mitzvah.

The Chida writes that women have a special Mitzvah of preparing the Chanukah Menorah that the husband will be lighting (Moed LKol Chai 27:25). He derives this from the fact that Chazal tell us that a person who is careful in Ner Chanukah will merit children who are Torah scholars.

Since this segulah is specifically mentioned by Chazal in regard to women, this Segulah is also applicable in regard to them. Furthermore, the very miracle of Chanukah in regard to the war happened through a woman. In Sefer Ohr Yisroel (cited in Sukkas Chaim) it mentions that Rebbitzen Kanievsky would prepare the mMenorah for her husband, Rav Chaim Shlita.

CHILDREN

What is considered the age of instruction? The Pri Megadim writes in his preface that for most mitzvos other than Krias Shema and tefillah, the age of instruction is 5 or 6, depending upon the sharpness of the child. If the child understands things earlier, then he should be given a menorah to light.

The Mishnah Berurah notes that one does not have to give a child more than one candle to light on any given night. Common custom nowadays is to let the child light the full amount of candles.

WITH WHAT TO LIGHT

The ideal method of lighting is with olive oil  even though one may light with any type of oil or candles.

Olive oil is ideal because the miracle actually happened with olive oil. If at first someone did not have olive oil and set up the menorah with wax candles, and then the olive oil arrived, one should use the wax candles and not the olive oil.

One may reuse the wicks used during the previous night. This is not a bizayon to the mitzvah at all; it actually makes it easier to light the menorah.

It is important to beautify our mitzvos because of the passuk Zeh Keili vAnveihu  This is my L-rd and I shall glorify him. This applies to Rabbinic mitzvos as well. One should therefore try to purchase a nice menorah. Many people use a silver menorah for this reason.

It is proper to make sure that the flames of each of the Chanukah candles are the same height.

A metal or glass menorah is preferable to other types of menorah because of hiddur mitzvah  beautifying the mitzvah. Many poskim write that metal is preferable to glass. A candelabra, although technically permitted for Chanukah menorah use, is not considered a hiddur mitzvah for Chanukah.

An electric menorah has neither a wick nor oil and may not be used as a Chanukah menorah. If a person is a patient in a hospital and cannot light any other way, some poskim hold that the patient should not light with an electric menorah. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef writes that in such circumstances one should use an electric menorah but should not recite a blessing.

IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO LIGHTING

The Kaf HaChaim (675:15) writes that before we light we should look at each lamp of the Menorah to ensure that there is a sufficient amountof oil in it so that his blessing will not be considered a Bracha lvatala. He writes that he should not rely upon others for this.

THE BERACHOS WE RECITE

On the first night of Chanukah, three blessings are recited immediately prior to the lighting:

Lhadlik ner shel Chanukah Sheasah nissim lAvoseinu The third berachah is not recited on the other nights. However, if one forgot to recite Shehecheyanu on the first night, s/he should recite it on the next night that it is remembered.

There are three versions of the blessing of Lhadlik. Some say, Lhadlik ner Chanukah. Others say, Lhadlik ner shel Chanukah. The third option, which is the one recommended by the Mishnah Berurah, is that shelchanukah is one word. After the lighting the Minhag is to recite haneiros hallalu and then to sing maoz tzur.

EREV SHABBOS & MOTZAEI SHABBOS

On Erev Shabbos we light the Chanukah candles before the Shabbos candles. Enough oil must be placed in the menorah to ensure that the lights last  hour into the night. Regular Chanukah candles will not work unless they are frozen for at least 4 hours beforehand.

It is preferable to daven Minchah before lighting the Chanukah candles but a man should not miss minyan on this account.

The candles cannot be lit before plag Minchah which, at its earliest, is 3:30 PM in New York and may go until 3:37 PM.

On Motzaei Shabbos, the general minhag in our homes is to say Havdalah first and then light the Chanukah candles. The reason is that Havdalah is more tadir  common  than Chanukah candles. In shul, however, the Chanukah candles are lit first and then Havdalah is recited. The person who lights in shul does not fulfill his obligation to light at home, neither on Motzaei Shabbos nor during the week.

WHEN NOT AT HOME

Sometimes, the halachos of where one lights can get very complex and a Rav should be consulted when a person is not at home. The issue revolves around ones kvius. The rule of thumb is that if one will return home that evening, one lights when one gets home. If one had spent the night before at that place, then one may light there even if one will return home later. Lighting at a bar mitzvah or wedding is not acceptable and is considered a berachah lvatalah.

PUTTING OUT AFTER 30 MINUTES

Is one permitted to extinguish the Chanukah candles after they have been lit for thirty minutes? The Shulchan Aruch (672:2) rules that it is permissible to do so. The Mogain Avrohom writes that one should avoid doing so. This is also the view of some other authorities as well (Bach, Chayei Odom).

However, it is cited in the name of both the Chofetz Chaim (Meir Einei Yisroel Vol. I p. 62) as well as the Chazon Ish (Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. III Chanukah #45) that they did put out the Chanukah candles after 30 minutes.

Certainly, if one must leave, then one should extinguish it on account of the danger involved in leaving burning candles as well as the Torah Mitzvah of taking safety precautions.

Another situation where, according to all opinions, one may extinguish the Chanukah lights after thirty minutes is when there is only one Chanukah lamp available and another person needs to light. The Sefer Mekadesh Yisroel (Siman 125) writes that this permitted according to all opinions.

TEFILLOS ON CHANUKAH

We add the special tefillah of Al HaNissim to every Shemoneh Esreh of Chanukah. We also add it to our bentching throughout Chanukah. If it was left out, however, it is not repeated; neither in Shemoneh Esreh nor in bentching.

We recite the complete Hallel each day of Chanukah because a miracle occurred each and every day of Chanukah.

Since the Mishkan was completed on the 25th of Kislev, we read the parashah of the gifts of the Nesiim each day of Chanukah from the Torah during Shacharis. This also alludes to the promise that Hashem made to Aharon and the Leviim about the Chanukah lights lasting forever.

Chanukah comes out on the following days in these years:

2023: December 7-15

2024: December 25- January 2

2025: December 14-22

EATING BEFORE LIGHTING

By the time most people usually get home from work, the time to kindle the Chanukah lights has already arrived. And by the time the whole family gets together to actually light, another ten to fifteen minutes may have elapsed. Whats the story with sneaking in a quick taste of those latkes before dinner?

The source of the prohibition of eating before the performance of certain Mitzvos is a Gemorah in Sukkah (38a). From there we derive that the prohibition exists not only for Biblical Mitzvos but also for Rabbinic Mitzvos. The Poskim extend the various prohibitions from the discussion found there. Our interest now, of course, is Chanukah.

THE THREE CATEGORIES

Before we get to Chanukah lights, lets create some categories. There are some Mitzvos where it is both forbidden to eat and even to taste before we perform them. We will call these Category One No Pre-Food  Mitzvos. (We dont want to call them Category One Mitzvos because the issue of eating before them is not synonymous with the type or level of the Mitzvah per se).

There are also Mitzvos where, it is forbidden to sit down to a meal before you do them, and ideally, one shouldnt taste anything, but there is room to be lenient if one is feeling weak or one is sick. We will call these Mitzvos Category Two No Pre-Food  Mitzvos.

Finally, there are some Mitzvos where the halacha is not to sit down and eat before we perform them, but we are allowed to taste something before we perform them, and there is, in fact, no problem in tasting. We will call these Category Three No Pre-Food Mitzvos.

And as in many issues of halacha, where exactly each Mitzvah fits in is often either a Machlokes or has not been clearly defined. Another aspect that leads to much of the confusion is what are the general guidelines for how we are to categorize these Mitzvos? Why are some of the Mitzvos okay to taste something beforehand, but it is not okay to eat beforehand?

EXAMPLES OF CATEGORY THREE

What are some Category Three  No Pre-food Mitzvos?

One example is the Mitzvah of davening Mincha (SA OC 232:4) where it is forbidden to eat a meal but it is permitted to taste. Another example is the Krias Shma of Maariv (SA OC 235:1) or of Mussaf (SA OC 286). These are all Category Three.

Before Sfiras HaOmer one can taste as well according to the (Kaf HaChaim 689:46). Many shuls allow it before Tkiyas Shofar too, thus categorizing it as a Category Three. It is somewhat strange that the Mishna Brurah makes no mention of the issue in regard to Hilchos Shofar. He does mention it in passing in Hilchos Megillah of all places (692:15). There, he equates Megillah to both shofar and lulav.

Eating before Lulav is technically forbidden (SA OC 652:2) as a category three. The Mishna Brurah in his Shaar haTziyun writes that this is only for eating[1]  tasting is permitted according to the strict halacha. He explains, however, that one should only be lenient, for a great need (citing the Bikureei Yaakov and the Chayei Odom). This would put it possibly in a Category Two.

There are some Poskim who are Machmir on some of the earlier ones and would put them in a Category Two as well. But most dont.

EXAMPLES OF CATEGORY TWO

What are some of the more full-blown Category Two No Pre-Food Mitzvos? Reading the Megillah is one, according to the Mishna Brurah (692:14).

So what are some of the guidelines? The Trumas HaDeshen (#109) explains that if a Mitzvah has an extended period of time in which it can be performed there is a concern that we might push it off further and perhaps forget about it completely.

EXAMPLES OF CATEGORY ONE

What are some examples of Category One No Pre-Food Mitzvos? Kiddush on either Friday night or Shabbos morning are the classical examples (See SA OC 271). This is also true of Havdallah. What is interesting to note is that the Rav Shulchan Aruch, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, gives us an explanation as to why Kiddush is a Category One and not a Category Two or Three (RSA 271:9).

In this explanation we may find tremendous insight into Chanukah. He writes that in regard to these Mitzvos their main Mitzvah is at the very beginning of the time period. Although the Mitzvvah of Kiddush continues throughout Shabbos  its main Mitzvah is at the beginning. This is also true with Havdallah. The Mogain Avrohom writes this distinction as well (OC 235).

CHANUKAH LIGHTS  WHICH CATEGORY?

So lets get back to Chanukah candles. From the aforementioned Mogain Avrohom and Rav Shulchan Aruch we might have thought that the main Mitzvah of Chanukah candles is at the very beginning  so the criterion of Kiddush and Havdallah may apply too. However, the Mishna Brurah himself distinguishes between Biblical main start and Rabbinic main starts in regard to Bdikas Chometz 271:11). Perhaps one can make an argument that the Pirsumei Nissah aspect of Chanukah makes it like a deoraisah (the Turei Even says such a thing in regard to reading the Megillah), but the Poskim do not mention this.

Nonetheless, the Mishna Brurah does treat Chanukah like a Category One in some way.

According to the Mishna Brurahs Shaar HaTziyun 672:15, once the actual time for lighting has arrived  then we should not be tasting food. Why? Because there are some Poskim that hold that the time to light the Chanukah lights only lasts for the first 30 minutes. Since we are concerned for this opinion ideally, once that time has arrived we should not mess around and do it right away. Hence  no tasting.

What about before that time? One half hour before the time to light actually starts? Well, the idea of curtailing activity a half hour before is a Rabbinic Mitzvah, and according to the parameters of the Mogain Avrohom (regarding hilchos Minchah) we are not so stringent in regard to this.

Our conclusion?

There might be three separate time periods in regard to the laws of tasting before Chanukah licht.

Within one half hour before the time to light candles one may taste.

Once the time of candle lighting has arrived  one should not be tasting anything ideally, but if very necessary one can. This period lasts until 30 minutes after candle-lighting time.

After this period is over, then one may taste again.

[1] Indeed, even in eating one doesnt have to wait more than the half day mark and the Chsam Sofer writes that if one is expecting that the lulav is going to be brought to him, he does not have to wait.

RULINGS OF RAV CHAIM KANIEVSKY ZTL ON CHANUKAH

Recently, a new Sefer entitled Siach Chaim by Rav Yitzchok OhevTzion was published containing letters back and forth between the author and Rav Chaim Kanivsky Shlita. What distinguishes this work from that of many others of the same genre is that this two volume work contains an approbation from Rav Kanievsky. Many of the halachos found in the work that pertain to Hilchos Chanukah are discussed below.

Q: The Mishna Brurah in 671:9 writes that a woman does not light Chanukah candles because Ishto kGufo  a mans wife is like his own self. Yet in 675:9 he cites the Olas Shmuel that if she desires to light  she recites a bracha!

A: She is like his own self  if she so desires to be.

Q: I once heard in the name of a certain Gadol that a Kollel member who is learning Torah in the Beis HaMidrash  it is preferable that he not stop his learning [See my own article on this subject matter in this publication on page. ], and his wife should light at home in his stead. Should one conduct himself in such a manner?

A: One should NOT conduct himself such.

Q: On Shabbos Chanukah  when it is already 30 minutes after Tzeis HaKochavim is it permitted to utilize and benefit from the Chanukah lights? Or do we say that since it was Muktzah during Bein haSHmashos one cannot benefit?

A: One may not benefit.

Q: What was the custom of the Chazon Ishs house on Motzei Shabbos Chanukah? Did Havdallah come first or did he light first?

A: He did Havdallah first and then he lit.

Q: According to the custom of those who light first then do Havdallah, should the wife also recite Boruch HaMavdil before her husbands lighting?

A: It is worthwhile that she do so.

Q; May one light the Chanukah lights with oil that is Shviis?

A: It is forbidden.

Q: Is there any inyan to light the Chanukah candles with edible oil?

A: Some say that there is.

Q: It has been publicized in the name of Rav Chaim that if a person is in the hospital during Chanukah Rachmana litzlan, and he wishes to light Chanukah candles where he is, but the hospital policy is to forbid it, that he light with a battery operated flashlight. Is this statement accurate that one can do so with a battery-operated electric flashlight?

A: This is what they say in the name of the Chazon Ish zatzal.

Q: The new floating wicks that exist in our times that the wick is covered with wax  does this lower the quality of the lighting with olive oil, since when the wicks are lit  it is fueled by the wax , and only afterward is it fueled by the olive oil and the essence is during the time of the lighting? Or is there no concern here.

A: It does not lower the lighting quality

Q: Why is the Mitzvah of Chanukah different than other Mitzvos  where there are different levels of observance  such as Mehadrin min haMehadrin  something we do not find regarding the other Mitzvod?

A: It is because the entire miracle happened because of a hidur  a higher level of observance  since Tumah is permitted for a public use. (In other words, the Maccabbees could technically have used the flask of impure oil, they just wanted to go the extra yard, since they were setting things up for the first time after a long period of disuse. In such circumstances everyone is looking and observing. The Chashmonayim taught us not to settle for things that are impure  but to do it in the best possible manner. This is a lesson in Chinuch too, to teach that one should always strive for the highest level. So, explains Rav Chaim, the Mitzvos of Chanukah were established in that manner as well  YH).

Q: The Gemorah tells us in Shabbos 23b: Rav Huna says that a person who is ragil bner will get children who are Torah scholars. Yet we see many good and proper people who are careful in every aspect of the laws of Chanukah and even do mehadrin min hamehadrin, and yet they do not merit sons who are Talmidei Chachomim!

A: The person should have exerted more oversight on his childs Chinuch than he did. He is himself [a bit] at fault.

Q: In the matter of giving Chanukah gelt, it is said that the Steipler zatzal (Rav Chaim Kanievskys father) only gave it on a certain day of Chanukah. Is this true? What day was it and why did he do so?

A: He gave it on the fifth day of Chanukah. The reason is that it never falls on Shabbos.

Q: Is there an inyan to study for himself and to teach his children on the days of Chanukah, the miracles and marvelous events that happened to our forefathers in the times of the Maccabbees that re cited in the book of Yossifun etc. or should he continue in his normal method of learning.

A: We learn the halachos of Chanukah.

Q: In the Chassidish Sforim the custom is discussed of playing with dreidel during these times. Is it proper to do so with ones children or should one refrain from doing so?

A: Whoever does so, does so.

THE CHASHMONAYIM

The Chashmonayim lasted for 5 generations.

Matisyahu Ben Yochanan KOHEN GADOL was the first who repeated the statement of Moshe Rabbeinu, Mi Lashem Ailie. His five sons took over for him.

Yehuda Maccabbee, Elazar Maccabbee, Shimon KOHEN GADOL, Yochanan Maccabbee, Yonasan KOHEN GADOL

Shimons son was Yochanan KOHEN GADOL also known as John Hyrkanus. He was the nephew of Yehudah Maccabbee. There was a coin was minted during the 31 year reign of Yochanan Hyrkanus

His son was Shetach, his son was Shimon and daughter ShlomTzion. Shlomtzion married Alexander Yannai whose sons were Aristobulus and Hyrcanus II. They fought and it resulted in a Jewish civil war which lost Klal Yisroel our independence. Rome took control. So lets not fight among ourselves.

The author can be reached at [email protected]
THE HAGUE, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands' far-right populist Party for Freedom (PVV) won the parliamentary elections by a landslide, the Dutch Electoral Council announced at a press conference here Friday.

The PVV got 37 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, or the lower house of parliament, becoming the biggest party in the country for the first time in history.

The elections were held on Nov. 22 with a 77.7 percent turnout, down from 78.7 percent in 2021 and 81.9 percent in 2017.

The GreenLeft-Labor alliance, GroenLinks-PvdA, ranked second with 25 seats, while the rightist People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) took the third place with 24 seats and the new centrist party New Social Contract (NSC) fourth with 20 seats.

The official result was the same as predicted in the provisional forecast by ANP news agency last Thursday. The Democrats 66 (D66) secured nine seats, the Farmer-Citizen Movement BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) seven seats, the Socialist Party (SP) and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) each five seats, and the remaining seats were divided among seven smaller parties.

As the winner of the elections, the PVV is in a position to try to form a new majority coalition government. Former PvdA politician Ronald Plasterk took up the job of talking to the leaders of all parties.

PVV leader Geert Wilders already indicated he prefers a center-right coalition with the VVD, NSC and BBB, which has a large majority of 88 seats. However, Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, successor of four-time Prime Minister Mark Rutte as VVD leader, said that her party would support a center-right government, but does not want to join it.

In addition, NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt explained that his party is not ready yet to negotiate on a possible government. Omtzigt has reservations about working with Wilders, who is known for his anti-Islam stance.

The formation of a new government could take some time. After the previous elections, it took a record of 271 days to create a new Dutch government. 




By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Every once in a while a Rabbi, a leader of a community, comes along and not only fills the role of a community Rav, but he entirely redefines the role.

Such was Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer ztl, a remarkable Talmid Chochom, Rav who cared about people, and Baal Chessed extraordinaire. And an ever so slight glimpse of this remarkable Neshama can be seen in a new biography by Dr. Stuart Apfel and Rabbi Hanoch Teller.

The biography is filled with vignettes about what he had accomplished, his life of Chessed, and some of the Divrei Torah that he graced people with. What is not so well-known was that he authored a remarkable sefer on Kesuvos and fielded shailos from all over the world. Rav Kelemer, the son of a Chazan, displayed remarkable skills as a child prodigy. This author was in school with Rav Kelemers brother when they were living in Los Angeles. Rav Kelemer learned in Yeshiva Ner Yisroel as well as the Telze Yeshiva. Previously, he had had a day school education. Afterward, he had studied under the most illustrious Roshei Yeshiva in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim.

The biography is filled with Bikkur Cholim, Shalom Bayis stories, and just helping the underdog. His humility was legendary, notwithstanding his tremendous erudition. The fact is that everyone who knew him had his or her own incredible interaction with Rabbi Kelemer.

Rav Kelemer had a fabulous sense of humor as well. Once, Rav Kelemer came to kasher the home of a new family that moved into the community. The young three year old son thought that he was the dishwasher repairman. Years later, under the young mans Chuppah, Rav Kelemer gently joked with him about the incident.

Although Rav Kelemers erudition was so deep and thorough, he treated every other Rabbi and Rav with remarkable deference. He made them feel so very special. The greatest of Rabbonim would speak to him in learning and even ask him halachic Shailos.

Once, another shul had a Bar Mitzvah. The shul had a new Rav and Rabbi Kelemer knew that if he entered, it might cause a commotion and could possibly take away from the New Ravs Kavod. He wished a Mazel Tov to the Bar Mitzvah bachur from outside.

Just a quick story that exemplifies Rav Kelemers devotion and care to others (see p. 151): A family that just moved into the neighborhood had a problem with their old oil burner. It caught on fire. The firemen came and wanted to get access with axes and such. Rav Kelemer succeeded to convince them to go through an open window in the basement. What is even more remarkable is that he never told them. Another shul member informed the homeowner of what had transpired.

In the meantime, members of his own community that he grew, have made their mark on the Torah world. There are yungeleit in Kollelim all over the world. There are Kiruv professionals who have been mekarev thousands of people. And there are Rabbonim as well.

Rav Kelemer ztl was a role model for other Rabbonim as to how to inspire others toward remarkable growth in Avodas Hashem. The world is a different place without him.

The reviewer can be reached at [email protected]




JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME:

YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status.

YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group.

MAKE SURE TO CHECK THIS PAGE FREQUENTLY AS UPDATES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LIVE TIME  THERE IS NO NEED TO REFRESH THIS PAGE AS UPDATES WILL APPEAR AUTOMATICALLY





(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




A report from the Washington Post, citing an anonymous high-ranking Israeli official, revealed that Pope Francis and President Isaac Herzog of Israel had a strained telephone conversation last month. During the call, the Pope seemingly labeled Israels military actions against Hamas in Gaza as terrorism.

Pope Francis emphasized to Herzog that it is forbidden to respond to terror with terror. This characterization was met with protest from Herzog, according to the report.

In the conversation, Francis reiterated the principle that terror should not be met with terror. Herzog, in response, defended Israels actions in Gaza as self-defense. The Pope acknowledged that those behind the October 7 attacks should be held accountable but stressed that civilians should not bear the consequences.

Israeli authorities chose not to disclose details of this challenging conversation, as per the Washington Posts report, due to the Popes stance on their operations in Gaza being equated to acts of terrorism.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




The surviving community members of Nir Oz was informed on Thursday that one of their neighbors, Aviv Atzili, was killed on October 7th and is not being held hostage in Gaza, as had been previously thought.

It appears that Israeli officials kept his passing quiet until they could inform his wife, Liat. However, that wasnt possible for weeks because she was being held captive by Hamas. She was released on Wednesday and presumably informed of the tragic news.

Kibbutz Nir Oz released a statement expressing their profound grief: It is with great sorrow that Kibbutz Nir Oz announces the falling of Aviv Atzili on October 7th. He was 49, a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Aviv left behind his wife, Liat, and children: Ofri, Neta, and Aya.

Remembered fondly by his community, Aviv Atzili was a central figure in Nir Oz. He managed the agricultural tool workshop in the Kibbutz and was known for his talents as a painter and motorcyclist.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to discuss the coming offensive in south Gaza, where Hamas leadership is now holed up.

Blinken told the Israelis that they must not operate in the south as they did in the north, and indicated that the U.S. would only support a campaign of several weeks, rather than months, for the IDF to destroy Hamas.

You cant operate in southern Gaza in the way you did in the north. There are two million Palestinians there, Blinken said in leaked remarks to the Israelis. You need to evacuate fewer people from their homes, be more accurate in the attacks, not hit UN facilities, and ensure that there are enough protected areas [for civilians]. And if not? Then not to attack where there is a civilian population. What is your system of operation?

Halevi responded, saying, We follow a number of principles  proportionality, distinction, and the laws of war. There were instances where we attacked on the basis of those principles, and instances where we decided not to attack, because we waited for a better opportunity.

Gallant added: The entire Israeli society is united behind the goal of dismantling Hamas, even if it takes months.

I dont think you have the credit for that, Blinken reportedly shot back.

Addressing a post-Hamas Gaza Strip, Blinken said, You dont want the Palestinian Authority on the day after. We understand that. The best way to kill an idea is to bring a better idea. The other states in the region need to know what you are planning.

Bibi responded to that, saying, As long as Im sitting in this chair, the Palestinian Authority, which supports, educates and finances terror, will not rule Gaza on the day after Hamas.

Following the meeting, Blinken said at a joint press conference that he acknowledges the challenges Israel faces, particularly Hamass tactic of using human shields, but he insisted that Israel still bears the responsibility to minimize civilian harm. The way Israel defends itself matters, Blinken stated.

At the outset of the press conference, Blinken expressed the Biden administrations commitment to extending the pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas, to facilitate the safe exit of hostages from Gaza and ensure the flow of aid into the Strip. We will not stop working until we get every hostage back home with their families and loved ones, he said.

Blinken reiterated the USs support for Israels goal of dismantling Hamass control in Gaza. He condemned Hamas for the October 7th attack, highlighting the groups claim of responsibility and celebration of the perpetrators as heroic.

I made clear that before Israel resumes major military operations, it must put in place humanitarian, civilian protection plans that minimize further casualties of innocent Palestinians, Blinken said. That means taking more effective steps to protect the lives of civilians, including by clearly and precisely designating areas and places in southern and central Gaza where they can be safe and out of the line of fire.

Additionally, Israel must work to avoid damage to life-critical infrastructure like hospitals, like power stations, like water facilities. And it means giving civilians whove been displaced to southern Gaza the choice to return to the north as soon as conditions permit. There must be no enduring internal displacement.

Hamas intentionally embeds within civilians  within and below, schools, apartment buildings, refugee camps, Blinken said, but insisted that the IDF 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.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




The IDF has confirmed that six Israeli hostages have returned to Israel.

This latest development follows an earlier release of two Israeli hostages by Hamas, totaling eight releases for the day. As per the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is obligated to release a minimum of ten hostages daily.

A Spokesman for the Qatar Foreign Ministry says: In accordance with the terms of the 7th day of the humanitarian pause agreement, 30 Palestinians, will be released today in exchange for the release of 10 hostages in Gaza. The 2 Russian citizens released yesterday were counted on this list.

Names of the hostages released tonight:

Aisha Alziadne, 17

Bilal Alziadne, 18

Nili Margalit, 40

Shani Goren, 19

Ilana Grichevsky, 30

Sapir Cohen, 29

The Israeli hostages who were released include 2 minors & 6 women of dual nationality:

A Mexican

A Russian

An Uruguayan

They Were handed o

In a separate event yesterday, Hamas released two additional civilians with dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, a move seen as a gesture towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, and not as a part of the agreement with Israel.

Hamas may have retrospectively included these two Russian-Israeli individuals in todays tally of released hostages.




A man who shot and killed at least one terrorist Thursday morning in the midst of the terror attack on Thursday at a Jerusalem bus stop, killing 3, was tragically shot and killed by police who mistook him for a terrorist, bringing the terror attacks death toll to 4.

The latest victim was identified as Yuval Doron Castelman, 38, of Mevaseret Tzion, was on the other side of the road when the terrorists began shooting. He put his car into park, pulled out his gun and charged at the terrorists, taking out at least one of them.

In the chaos, security forces shot Yuval as well, thinking he was one of the terrorists. He was critically injured, and was rushed to Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center, where he sadly passed away.

Yuval was always a hero and the first to leap to save lives, and he did so this time as well his heartbroken family said in a statement.

The other victims include HaDayan HaRav Elimelech Wasserman HYD, 73, from Rechov Sorotzkin in Jerusalem; Mrs. Chana Ifirgan HYD, 67, a school principal from Beit Shemesh; and Mrs. Liba Dikman HYD, 24, from Har Nof.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Israel has reported that 137 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, while 110 have been successfully returned home.

Among those still in captivity after the truce that ended on Friday, there are 115 men, 20 women, and two children, according to government spokesperson Eylon Levy. Notably, ten of the hostages are 75 years or older. Out of these hostages, 126 are Israeli citizens, while 11 are foreign nationals, including eight individuals from Thailand.

Levy also mentioned that among the hostages are 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel, and their mother Shiri. There are ongoing investigations regarding a claim by Hamas that the boys and their mother were killed during the conflict. Additionally, seven people are still missing from the initial attack.




In a strategic move aimed at mitigating civilian casualties, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released a comprehensive map dividing the Gaza Strip into hundreds of small zones. This initiative is designed to provide Palestinian civilians with precise information about active combat areas, allowing them to steer clear of danger.

The IDF is urging Palestinians to take note of their specific area number and stay alert for future updates from the military. This detailed zoning is part of an effort to enhance civilian safety during military operations.

The map is expected to play a crucial role as the IDFs ground offensive extends into the southern regions of the Gaza Strip. Unlike the mass evacuations previously enforced in northern Gaza, the IDF plans to use the map for more controlled and specific evacuations, aiming to minimize the impact on the civilian population.

In a message directed at Gazans, the IDF emphasized its commitment to distinguishing between civilians and terrorists. The IDF is operating strongly against terror organizations, while making great efforts to differentiate between civilians and terrorists, the statement read.

The people of Gaza are not our enemies. For this reason, as of this morning, the IDF is leading controlled and specific evacuations of Gaza residents in order to remove them as much as possible from areas of combat.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Israel aims to kill the top three leaders of Hamas and will continue the war in Gaza into early 2024 at least to accomplish that goal, according to a report.

While Israels air and ground offensive has mostly targeted the northern Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 terror attack, the county is preparing for a long campaign to eradicate Hamas that will send Israeli forces into the south Gaza Strip, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

The militarys goal is to kill Hamas top three commanders  Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa  and secure a decisive military victory that would eliminate Hamas 24 battalions, destroy its underground tunnel network and end the terror groups governing capability in Gaza, the report said.

This will be a very long war . . . Were currently not near halfway to achieving our objectives, a source familiar told the Financial Times.
This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the office of Home of Red Ribbon in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- "Liu Xicheng (pseudonym) became a father. It's a healthy baby girl," exclaimed Han Jing, secretary-general of Beijing-based Home of Red Ribbon. Clutching her phone, she hurried into the office, eager to share this delightful news with everyone.

Liu is a young man from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China, who contracted HIV/AIDS in Beijing four years ago. After his diagnosis, Liu was consumed by remorse, unsure how to broach the subject with his fiancee back in his hometown.

"Would she accept me like this? Would her family agree with our marriage?" Anxious and restless, Liu sought help from Home of Red Ribbon, hoping to disclose his condition to his fiancee at its office.

Home of Red Ribbon is devoted to providing comprehensive care for people living with HIV/AIDS. A dedicated room has been designed in its office premises to accommodate individuals affected by the disease.

Inside the room, a snack shelf labeled "Energy Supply Station" stands to the left, brown leather sofas are placed on three sides of the room, while pictures on the walls silently convey the stories that unfolded here.

This comforting haven has witnessed many HIV-infected individuals informing their families of their infection in the company of the staff.

To ensure a smooth experience, Han and her team simulated various possible scenarios for Liu, providing him with a sense of preparedness.

On the day the news was expected to be revealed, Liu had braced himself for the worst. However, to his surprise, his fiancee, who outwardly seemed fragile, appeared remarkably composed after being well-informed by Han and her colleagues. "AIDS can be managed," she said calmly.

Encouraged by his fiancee, Liu started to receive treatment, and the viral load in his body could be reduced to a level that was undetectable. After getting married and with the help of doctors, the couple welcomed a healthy baby early this year. Upon the arrival of their newborn, Liu hurried to share the joyous news with Han.

Nowadays, most of the HIV-infected maintain stable conditions under proper treatment, yet some individuals still grapple with significant mental blows, said Shi Junjie, an AIDS case manager of Beijing Ditan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University.

"These patients need the support of their families and those around them to face life with confidence," Shi said.

Home of Red Ribbon epitomizes the humanitarian care provided by Chinese social organizations to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Throughout China, similar organizations or initiatives are available in nearly every city, offering care services to the country's 1.223 million HIV-infected individuals.

For many individuals receiving services at Home of Red Ribbon, the warm counseling room is their "second home." Every day, visitors drop by to connect with the staff or volunteers, who have become not just service-providers but also friends, engaging in conversations.

"There are things that people with HIV/AIDS prefer not to discuss with their families but may want to share with us. Having someone to talk to always makes them feel better," said Mu Mu, a volunteer at Home of Red Ribbon for 13 years.

Mu Mu once brought an AIDS patient to the hospital. It was two in the morning then and the patient had been suffering a prolonged high fever. In the middle of the night, when no one was around, Mu Mu was the first person that the patient wanted to call for help.

Among the individuals Mu Mu has assisted, the majority have returned to their regular lives. Some have even become volunteers at Home of Red Ribbon.

This non-governmental organization now has trained over 20,000 volunteers and more than 50 among them provide long-term services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

According to the national administration of disease prevention and control, currently, over 90 percent of people diagnosed with HIV in China are on antiretroviral therapy and over 95 percent of those on treatment have reached viral load suppression, enabling the overall national HIV/AIDS incidence rate to remain at a low level.

However, although HIV/AIDS is preventable and controllable nowadays, many people still shudder at the mere mention of it outside the confines of the red ribbon home.

China's laws explicitly forbid any discrimination against HIV carriers, AIDS patients, or their families. These groups of people are entitled by law to the right to marriage, employment, medical treatment, education, and more, just like everyone else.

"The society is like a big tree. If each one of us extends our branches and leaves even just a little, we may be able to shelter others from the storm," said Xiong Hao, associate professor at Fudan University Law School.

Xiong urges everyone in the society to treat the HIV-positive community in a calm, scientific and inclusive manner and combat the epidemic with solidarity.

"We should strive to create an equal and friendly social environment for people with HIV/AIDS through concrete action and help them lead a normal life beyond the red ribbon home," Han said. 




The Military Police announces that they will launch an investigation into the death of Yuval Castleman, an armed civilian who was shot by a soldier during Thursdays terror attack in Jerusalem.

Castleman was confronting two Palestinian terrorists, but soldiers mistakenly identified him as another assailant.

Video evidence revealed that even after Castleman had placed his firearm on the ground and raised his hands in surrender, he was shot by an off-duty soldier.




The IDF has reported that since 7 a.m., they have conducted airstrikes against approximately 200 targets throughout the Gaza Strip in response to Hamass breach of the ceasefire. These airstrikes included operations in southern Gazas Khan Younis and Rafah areas.

Additionally, ground troops were engaged in activities to demolish structures rigged with explosives, tunnel entrances, rocket launch sites, and other infrastructure linked to Hamas.
Sponsored Content





Did your Zeidy also teach you  Dont let your dreams stay dreams? There are times when you can easily make your dreams come to life.

Owning a home in Israel is one of those dreams you dont push off! Especially when the most idyllic private homes are now being built in the picturesque hills of Tzfat!

Built on a private piece of land in the Nof Kinneret neighborhood, 14 luxurious villas face the most stunning sea and mountain views of Northern Israel.

Nof Kinneret is on the outskirts of Tzfat with this plot boasting unspoiled and breathtaking landscapes facing both the Golan Heights and the Kinneret. The villas are designed for a dreamy living experience with unending and spectacular, panoramic views.

North Hills villas are inspired by Greeces premier destination, Costa Navarino. Construction of the homes is meticulously planned to preserve the areas rich ecosystem, integrating with its natural beauty and the local flora and fauna as well as embracing the regions remarkable cultural heritage.





Its high location of 500m above sea level affords you sweeping 360 views. Atop the mountain, surrounded by awe-inspiring nature, youll naturally connect to the spiritual legacy your soul feels pulsing in the atmosphere. The very air carries mystic notes inspiring you and adding a holistic dimension to North Hills  a home in Israel like no other.

Every detail complements the dreamy experience starting right from the exclusive North Hills designed front door welcoming you in. Starting with a glam and modern kitchen completely furnished with the latest in appliances, bathed in natural sunlight streaming in through floor to ceiling windows. Its evident in the little things like the installed wine fridge, recessed lighting and stylishly paneled walls. Radiant floor heating and the latest air-conditioning systems, electronic shutters and a smart home system assure year round comfort.





You can choose to stay put and chill, looking out at some of Israels most spectacular scenic views. Theres even a Nof Kinneret shul, just to the side of the North Hills homes. Or you can

choose to take advantage of everything the North of Israel offers  visiting Tzfats old cemetery or browsing the art gallery, davening in Meron or taking a guided Jeep tour. Its your way of experiencing Israel, with all the possibilities open before you.

Because for those who dream, your second home in the perfect setting is waiting!

Only 14 luxury duplexes are available in this private collection. click >>
This came after Dyson advocated for Britain's exit of the European Union

Dyson sued the newspaper for criticising him for moving HQ to Singapore

Billionaire inventor Sir James Dyson has lost a libel case against a newspaper publisher over a column that accused him of having 'screwed' Britain.

The 76-year-old entrepreneur sued Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, at the Royal Courts Of Justice.

Dyson sued the newspaper for articles that lambasted him for moving the global head office of his company from Wilshire to Singapore after championing Brexit.

Judge Robert Jay dismissed Dyson's lawsuit in a written ruling on Friday.

Sir James Dyson arriving at the Royal Courts Of Justice in central London, for his libel trial against Mirror Group Newspapers

Dyson argued that the move - which happened in 2019 - had nothing to do with Brexit and was instead for commercial reasons.

He gave evidence earlier this month that insisting the 2022 column by Brian Reade in the Daily Mirror was 'not only wrong but incredibly harmful' to his reputation.

He said, as someone who had invested heavily in Britain and its young people, the criticism was 'particularly damaging and distressing'.

But the Royal Courts Of Justice ruled that MGN had successfully argued its defence of honest opinion and that Dyson had not proved he had suffered 'serious harm' as a result of the column.

The judge said: 'The claimant having failed on the issue of 'serious harm' and the defendant having succeeded on its honest opinion defence, this claim must be dismissed.'

Dyson, who invented the revolutionary bagless vacuum cleaner, and his family were ranked as the fifth richest in the UK in this year's Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of 23 billion.

An MGN spokesperson said in a statement: 'We welcome today's judgment which upholds the rights of our columnists to share honestly held opinions, even about powerful or wealthy individuals.'

Earlier this month, Dyson donated 35million to his former school, after it allowed him to keep studying for free following the death of his father.

He attended Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk, but tragedy struck when his father, Alec Dyson who was also a Classics teacher at the school died of cancer at the age of 43 in 1956.

Dyson said the then-headmaster, Logie Bruce-Lockhart, allowed him and his brother to continue their education at the school with a bursary.

His donation will fund a prep school with a new building incorporating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) facilities for pupils aged seven to 13.
KIGALI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Rwandan government said it will call for more ambitious climate action and a doubling of funding for adaptation during this year's UN climate change conference, known as COP28.

The COP28, which opened in Dubai on Thursday, will run until Dec. 12.

"We want a COP of transformational actions. COP28 will be a success if we see the loss and damage fund operational, and if the global stocktake leads to faster emissions cuts by the major polluters. That's the only way to keep the 1.5 degree goal alive," Rwandan Minister of Environment Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya said in a statement Thursday.

"Rwanda's priority is to showcase the solutions we have committed to scale up green growth and play our role to enhance resilience of Rwanda," the statement added.

This year's COP28 offers an opportunity to inspire a stronger commitment to ambitious climate action while showcasing diverse green investment opportunities in Rwanda, it said.

Rwanda's delegation to COP includes representatives from government institutions, development banks, the private sector and civil society.

The statement said Rwanda will use the conference to launch a number of new climate action initiatives such as the Rwanda Carbon Markets Framework and share its 10 years of impact by the Rwanda Green Fund.

Rwanda has set a target of reducing emissions by 38 percent by 2030, equating to a significant reduction of 4.6 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Rwanda's green growth and climate resilience strategy highlights a long-term strategy for low-emissions development while fostering a development pathway for Rwanda that is climate resilient, carbon-neutral and promotes green economic innovation. 
People inspect a building destroyed during Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Dec. 1, 2023.

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 65 people since truce expired and fighting resumed on Friday morning, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

Local medical sources told Xinhua that dozens of others were injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Palestinian enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 65 people since truce expired and fighting resumed on Friday morning, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

Local medical sources told Xinhua that dozens of others were injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Palestinian enclave.

The government media office in Gaza said in a statement that Israeli aircraft bombed a number of inhabited homes and crowded areas in several cities of the Gaza Strip.

Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) which controls Gaza, said on Friday it has resumed its attacks on Israeli cities upon the end of the week-long humanitarian ceasefire.

Al-Qassam Brigades said in a press statement that they "targeted the cities of Ashkelon, Sderot, and Beersheba with rocket barrages" in response to the Israeli strikes on Gaza.

In Gaza, al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, said its fighters attacked an Israeli army unit gathered south of Gaza City using several mortar shells.

Field clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces took place inside and north of Gaza City, according to Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses.

Meanwhile, sirens were sounding in Israeli towns near their border with the Gaza Strip on Friday morning for the first time since Israel and Hamas reached a humanitarian truce on Nov. 24, according to Israeli media.

The Israeli army confirmed that it intercepted a missile fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. In the wake of the attack, the Israeli Home Front Command tightened guidelines for civilians in some areas of the country.

The temporary humanitarian truce reached between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 24 and ended at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) Friday.

During the ceasefire days, 240 Palestinians, 86 Israelis, and 24 foreign citizens were released. 

People rescue the injured after Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Dec. 1, 2023.

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 65 people since truce expired and fighting resumed on Friday morning, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

Local medical sources told Xinhua that dozens of others were injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Palestinian enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect a building destroyed during Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Dec. 1, 2023.

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 65 people since truce expired and fighting resumed on Friday morning, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

Local medical sources told Xinhua that dozens of others were injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Palestinian enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect a building destroyed during Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Dec. 1, 2023.

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 65 people since truce expired and fighting resumed on Friday morning, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

Local medical sources told Xinhua that dozens of others were injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Palestinian enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People inspect a building destroyed during Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Dec. 1, 2023.

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 65 people since truce expired and fighting resumed on Friday morning, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

Local medical sources told Xinhua that dozens of others were injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Palestinian enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Nov. 24, 2023 shows the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in east China's Shanghai.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

People visit the booth of Starbucks at the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A staff member works at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 24, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

A staff member arranges coffee bean products on shelves at the Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 18, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Wenhui)

A staff member shows samples of raw and roasted coffee beans at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 24, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

Staff members perform cup testing on raw coffee beans at a Starbucks Farmer Support Center in Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 28, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Customers look at a production line for packing coffee beans at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 24, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

A visitor learns about coffee products at the booth of Starbucks in the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Customers chat at a Starbucks store featuring local intangible cultural heritage elements in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 27, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

A barista brews coffee at the Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 19, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 19, 2023 shows the Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

A barista brews coffee at the Starbucks Beijing Xitieying Wanda signing store in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 23, 2023.

At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products.

Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China.

In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community.

In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific.

This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Mengqi)
Students practice the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, in a dance classroom at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Students practice the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, in a dance classroom at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Students prepare to practice the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, in a dance classroom at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

A student practices the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, in a dance classroom at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Folk artist Li Yong (2nd R) explains the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Folk artist Li Yong (1st R) teaches the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Folk artist Li Yong demonstrate gestures of the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Folk artist Li Yong explains the decorations used in the traditional "bian lian" performance, or face-changing, at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Folk artist Li Yong teaches a student the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Students practice the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, in a dance classroom at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Students practice the traditional "bian lian", or face-changing skills, in a dance classroom at Wu'an primary school in Dianjiang County, southwest China's Chongqing, Nov. 28, 2023. With more than 600 students, Wu'an primary school in recent years cooperated with folk artist Li Yong and added face-changing as a special part to its curriculum. The face-changing technique is one of the most famous parts of Sichuan Opera, whereby actors rapidly alter their face makeup in stunning and dramatic effect. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
December 01, 2023





In today's fast-paced academic and professional environments, efficiency is not just a buzzword; it's a necessity. For students and professionals juggling multiple tasks, time management is crucial. While balancing coursework, part-time jobs, and personal commitments, creating high-quality PowerPoint presentations can often fall by the wayside. This is where the concept of outsourcing comes into play, offering a solution that marries quality with efficiency.







Outsourcing tasks like PowerPoint presentation creation is not new, but it has gained significant traction in recent years. With the rise of digital services, accessing professional help has become easier. Students, especially, can benefit from this trend as they navigate the demanding world of academia. High-quality presentations are paramount, as they are often a critical component of coursework and assessments.

One such example that has caught the attention of many is in Studyfy's PowerPoint presentation writing services. Known for its professional touch and attention to detail, Studyfy provides a service that is not only time-saving but also ensures that the final product is informative, dynamic, and tailored to capture the audience's attention. This service, specifically designed for students, aligns perfectly with their needs and time constraints. Lets find out how.

Point 1: Time-Saving Benefits

In the life of a busy student, time is a resource as precious as gold. Balancing lectures, assignments, extracurricular activities, and often part-time work, students find themselves constantly racing against the clock. Outsourcing PowerPoint presentation tasks to services like Studyfy can save precious hours, allowing students to focus on other important aspects of their academic and personal lives.

Firstly, the process of creating a PowerPoint presentation is time-consuming. It involves the design aspect and the need for thorough research and content organization. By delegating this task to professionals, students can ensure that they are submitting a well-researched and professionally designed presentation without spending countless hours on it.

Furthermore, the time saved can be invested in studying for exams, working on other assignments, or engaging in activities that contribute to personal growth and well-being. This effective time management can lead to a more balanced and less stressful academic life. Additionally, the assurance of knowing that an essential part of their coursework is being handled professionally brings peace of mind.

Point 2: Quality and Professionalism

The quality of a PowerPoint presentation can significantly impact a student's grade. A well-constructed presentation is not just about aesthetically pleasing slides; it's about conveying information clearly, concisely, and engagingly. This is where professional services like Studyfy's come into play.

Professional PowerPoint creators bring expertise and creativity that may be challenging for students to match, especially under time constraints. They are adept at using design principles to create presentations that are not only visually appealing but also enhance the understanding of the content.

Moreover, these professionals ensure that the presentations are current, dynamic, and informative, as highlighted by Studyfy's approach. Their ability to present data and information engagingly can make a significant difference in how the content is received and comprehended by the audience. This professionalism can reflect positively on the student's effort and understanding of the subject matter.

Point 3: Customization and Personalization

An effective PowerPoint presentation must resonate with its audience, which, in the case of students, is often their professors or peers. Customization and personalization are key to achieving this. Outsourcing to services like Studyfy allows students to receive presentations tailored to their specific requirements and audience.

Customization extends beyond mere aesthetics; it involves aligning the content and design with the presentation's objectives. Whether it's a scientific presentation requiring detailed graphs and data representation or a literary analysis with thematic visuals, professional services can adapt to these varied needs.

Furthermore, personalization adds a unique touch to the presentations, making them stand out. Professionals can incorporate specific requests, styles, or themes that reflect the student's approach or the course's unique requirements. This level of personalization ensures that the presentation is not just another generic slideshow but a reflection of the student's individuality and understanding.

Point 4: Access to Expertise and Resources

Another significant advantage of outsourcing PowerPoint presentations is access to a wide range of expertise and resources that might not be readily available to students. Professional services like Studyfy have teams with diverse skills, from research analysts to graphic designers, ensuring an expert handles each aspect of the presentation.

These professionals have access to a wide array of resources, including high-quality images, templates, and data visualization tools, which might be beyond the reach of the average student. Their expertise in utilizing these resources effectively can transform a simple presentation into a more impactful and memorable one.

Point 5: Adaptability to Various Disciplines

Students across various disciplines can benefit from outsourced PowerPoint presentations. Whether it's a science student needing to present complex data, a business student discussing a case study, or an art student showcasing a project, professional services can adapt to the specific needs of these diverse fields.

This adaptability is crucial in ensuring the presentation meets the subject matter and audience expectations. Professional services like Studyfy are equipped to handle presentations across a spectrum of disciplines, ensuring that each presentation is visually appealing and contextually relevant.

Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, outsourcing PowerPoint presentation writing services, particularly for students, represents more than a time-saving measure. It's an investment in quality, learning, and personal growth. By entrusting this task to professionals like those at Studyfy, students ensure that their presentations are engaging and effective and free up valuable time to focus on other critical aspects of their academic journey.

This approach also allows students to observe and learn from expertly crafted presentations, enhancing their skills in communication and presentation. The ability to adapt to various academic disciplines further underscores the versatility and value of these services.

Ultimately, in an academic landscape that is increasingly competitive and demanding, smart choices like outsourcing PowerPoint presentations can provide students with a much-needed edge. It's about optimizing resources  time, effort, and expertise  to achieve the best possible outcomes in their educational endeavors.
[November 30, 2023] Electronic Shelf Label Market size to grow USD 1.20 billion from 2022 to 2027, Driven by the development of the IoT ecosystem - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "electronic shelf label market by technology (radio frequency, infrared, and others), product (LCD ESL, full graphic E-paper ESL, and segmented E-paper ESL), end-user (supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, mass merchants, and drug stores and others), and geography (Europe, APAC, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America) - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027" report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the electronic shelf label market between 2022 and 2027 is USD 1.20 billion. The development of the IoT ecosystem is a key factor driving market growth. The IoT is a system involving connected appliances and devices that are part of an electronic system, sensors, software, online platforms, or networks. Increased uptake of the IoT is leading to increasing use of ESLs, as well as developments in network compatibility and related technologies. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here Market Challenge The growth in the e-commerce industry is a significant challenge restricting market growth. E-commerce is an online trade platform where commercial transactions can be carried out by electronic means. By means of their websites, online retailers sell goods and services over the Internet. At present, due to developments in telecommunications network infrastructure, and increased exposure to smartphones, e-commerce has grown at an accelerated rate. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read Sample PDF Report Now The electronic shelf label market has been segmented by technology (radio frequency, infrared, and others), product (LCD ESL, full graphic E-paper ESL, and segmented E-paper ESL), end-user (supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, mass merchants, and drug stores and others), and geography (Europe, APAC, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share growth by the radio frequency segment will be significant during the forecast period. A significant factor in its widespread adoption has been the fact that radio frequencies are free from a requirement of sight, which will eventually reduce infrastructure costs and make it possible for ESL to deliver information without interruption. Europe is estimated to contribute 38% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View the Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the electronic shelf label market: Danavation Technologies Corp, Diebold Nixdorf Inc., Displaydata Ltd., E Ink Holdings Inc., LANCOM Systems GmbH, M2COMM, New Zealand Electronic Shelf Labelling, Opticon Sensors Europe BV, Panasonic Holdings Corp., Pricer AB, Rational Innovation, RSJ Software GmbH, S and K Solutions GmbH and Co. KG, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., SES-imagotag, Shenzhen Minew Technologies Co. Ltd., SOLUM Europe Gmbh, Teraoka Seiko Co. Ltd., troniTAG GmbH, and Zhejiang Hanshow Technology Co. Ltd. Related Reports: The Factory Automation Platform as a Service (FA PaaS) Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 21.51% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 6,649.1 million. The print label market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.58% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 11.29 billion.







Electronic Shelf Label Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.53% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1.20 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 12.31 Regional analysis Europe, APAC, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 38% Key countries US, China, Japan, France, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Companies, Market Positioning of Companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Danavation Technologies Corp, Diebold Nixdorf Inc., Displaydata Ltd., E Ink Holdings Inc., LANCOM Systems GmbH, M2COMM, New Zealand Electronic Shelf Labelling, Opticon Sensors Europe BV, Panasonic Holdings Corp., Pricer AB, Rational Innovation, RSJ Software GmbH, S and K Solutions GmbH and Co. KG, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., SES-imagotag, Shenzhen Minew Technologies Co. Ltd., SOLUM Europe Gmbh, Teraoka Seiko Co. Ltd., troniTAG GmbH, and Zhejiang Hanshow 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 Technology Market Segmentation by End-User Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electronic-shelf-label-market-size-to-grow-usd-1-20-billion-from-2022-to-2027--driven-by-the-development-of-the-iot-ecosystem---technavio-302001704.html SOURCE Technavio

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[November 30, 2023] Healthcare IT Market size to grow by USD 168.86 billion from 2022 to 2027, North America to account for 46% of market growth - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The healthcare IT market is expected to grow by USD 168.86 billion from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the market's momentum will progress at a CAGR of 10.89% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The market has been segmented by end-user (healthcare providers and healthcare payers), component (services, software, and hardware), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). North America is estimated to contribute 46% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. There are several key factors contributing to this growth, namely a growing integration of data with government initiatives, an aging population, and increased use of mobile health applications. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read a PDF Sample Report Company Profile 3M Co., Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc., Athenahealth Inc., Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Dassault Systemes SE, Datavant, Dell Technologies Inc., Epic Systems Corp., General Electric Co., International Business Machines Corp., Koninklijke Philips NV, McKesson Corp., Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp., SAS Institute Inc., Siemens AG, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Tenet Healthcare Corp., UnitedHealth Group Inc., and Wipro Ltd. Oracle Corp. - The company offers healthcare IT such as Oracle cloud infrastructure. To access more company profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Healthcare IT Market: Segmentation Analysis Based on the end-user segment, healthcare providers hold the largest market share. Hospitals, clinics, laboratories,pharmacies, or ambulatory institutions are treated as healthcare providers.



Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a PDF Sample Report "Besides analyzing the current market scenario, our report examines historic data from 2017 to 2021"- Technavio

Healthcare IT Market: Market Dynamics Rising need for automation across departments

Increasing focus on improving the quality of services and efficiency

Growing integration of big data with healthcare IT Key Driver The rising need for automation across departments is a key factor driving market growth. Cost, time, and effort are reduced by automation of the healthcare procedures while improving treatment quality and efficiency. Providers are increasing their investments in such solutions, given the benefits of automation for improved efficiency and reduced time and effort for healthcare stakeholders. Major Trend Healthcare providers and government agencies leveraging social media analytics is a major trend in the market. Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download a sample report to gain access to this information. Related Reports: The smart wearable healthcare devices market size is estimated to grow by USD 24.22 billion at a CAGR of 15.51% between 2023 and 2028. The microfluidic market for healthcare application size is estimated to grow by USD 59.76 billion at a CAGR of 20.16% between 2022 and 2027. What are the key data covered in this healthcare IT market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the healthcare IT market between 2022 and 2027.

Precise estimation of the healthcare IT market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the healthcare IT market across North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW

A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about companies

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of healthcare IT market companies. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by End-User Market Segmentation by Component 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 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthcare-it-market-size-to-grow-by-usd-168-86-billion-from-2022-to-2027--north-america-to-account-for-46-of-market-growth---technavio-302001700.html SOURCE Technavio

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[November 30, 2023] China, U.S. to take major country responsibility for benefit of world Tweet

BEIJING, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: The San Francisco meeting between the Chinese and U.S. Presidents is significant for enhancing trust, removing suspicion, managing differences and expanding cooperation between China and the United States. It is also significant for injecting certainty and stability into a world of turbulence and transformation. As two major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and the United States shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations. Chinese President Xi Jinping said during the San Francisco meeting that the two countries should jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries, stressing that the problems facing human society cannot be solved without cooperation between major countries. China and the United States should lead by example, step up coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues, and provide more public goods for the world. The two sides should keep their initiatives open to each other, or coordinate and connect them for synergy, to the benefit of the world. To shoulder responsibilities of a major country requires having a grand vision of a major country. Xi pointed out that China and the United States are faced with two options in the era of global transformations unseen in a century: One is to enhance solidarity and cooperation and join hands to meet global challenges and promote global security and prosperity; and the other is to cling to the zero-sum mentality, provoke rivalry and confrontation, and drive the world toward turmoil and division. The two choices point to two different directions that will decide the future of humanity and Planet Earth. Speaking from his vantage point, Xi said at a welcome dinner by friendly organizations in the United States that China is ready to be a partner and friend of the United States, and the fundamental principles that China follows in handling China-U.S. relations are mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The role and responsibility of a major country lie in its actions to uphold world peace and security, and promote global development and prosperity. Over the past more than half a century, the resumption and development of China-U.S. relations benefited the two peoples and promoted world peace, stability and prosperity. At present, as the world sees increasing instabilities and uncertainties, it is an apiration shared by the two peoples and people of the world that China and the United States enhance coordination and cooperation, each run their domestic affairs well and, at the same time, work together to advance the noble cause of world peace and development.



During the San Francisco meeting, the two presidents offered views guiding the most pronounced issues confronting China-U.S. relations, including adopting a correct perception of each other, properly managing differences, and advancing dialogue and cooperation. They had all-round discussions on addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Ukraine crisis, climate change, artificial intelligence and other global challenges. They further discussed the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other and further identified the joint responsibilities of China and the United States as major countries. It is believed by the international community that the meeting was constructive and has injected stability and certainty into the changing world.

It's a due responsibility of major countries to strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues. China and the United States are the world's largest two economies. Their economic aggregates account for over 1/3 of the world's total, and their bilateral trade about 1/5. The relations between the two countries decide the economic climate of the world. The Asia-Pacific is a region where Chinese and American interests are most tightly entwined and interact most frequently. The two countries should strengthen cooperation and work toward the goal of building an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040. Providing more public goods to the world is a crucial manifestation of shouldering the responsibilities of a major country. Xi said at the welcome dinner by friendly organizations in the United States that the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China are open to all countries at all times including the United States. China is also ready to participate in U.S.-proposed multilateral cooperation initiatives. China has put forward a series of important initiatives to address global challenges, which have received widespread support and participation from the international community. China and the United States should jointly provide more public goods for the world, and the two sides should keep their initiatives open to each other, thus enhancing coordination and synergy. This will better promote the well-being of people in all countries. Issues related to climate change have attracted increasing global attention. China and the United States enjoy great potential for cooperation in the fields of promoting green development and addressing climate change. There is every reason for the two sides to strengthen cooperation in this aspect and make it a new highlight in the development of China-U.S. ties. During the San Francisco meeting, both Xi and Biden underscored the importance of working together to accelerate efforts to tackle the climate crisis in this critical decade. They welcomed recent positive discussions between their respective special envoys for climate, including on national actions to reduce emissions in the 2020s and on common approaches toward a successful 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and on operationalizing the Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s to accelerate concrete climate actions. As the COP28 is approaching, the consensus reached between the Chinese and the U.S. presidents has undoubtedly boosted global confidence in tackling climate change. We are in an era of challenges and changes. It is also an era of hope. The world needs China and the United States to work together for a better future. For the shared interests and the future of humanity, China and the United States should jointly shoulder the responsibilities as major countries, work together to address global challenges, strive to enhance the well-being of their peoples, and promote the progress of the human society. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/china-us-to-take-major-country-responsibility-for-benefit-of-world-302002669.html SOURCE People's Daily

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[November 30, 2023] Nubia Brand International Corp. Announces Postponement of Special Meeting of Shareholders to Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. EDT Tweet

Dallas, Texas, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On November 8, 2023, Nubia Brand International Corp. (the Company or Nubia) filed a definitive proxy statement (as amended by the first supplement thereto, dated November 21, 2023, the definitive proxy statement) for the solicitation of proxies in connection with a special meeting (the Special Meeting) of the Companys stockholders to be held on December 5, 2023, to vote upon, among other things, a proposal to adopt and approve that certain Merger Agreement by and among Nubia, Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (Honeycomb), and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, and the business combination contemplated thereby (the Business Combination). On November 30, 2023, the Company determined to postpone the Special Meeting until December 12, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Because Nubia intends to postpone the meeting to December 12, 2023, the deadline for the submission of public shares of Nubia Class A common stock for redemption will be extended to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 8, 2023. The purpose of the postponement of the Special Meeting is to allow Nubia and Honeycomb additional time to satisfy certain of the conditions to the closing of the Business Combination. Nubia and Honeycomb will continue to work on closing the Business Combination as soon as possible following its approval by the stockholders of each of Nubia and Honeycomb and the satisfaction or waiver of any applicable closing conditions. About Nubia Brand International Corp. Nubia is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. About Honeycomb Honeycomb formerly the energy solutions division of Global Graphene Group, Inc., is a Dayton, Ohio, USA-based advanced battery technology company focused on the development and commercialization of battery materials, components, cells, and selected module/pack technologies. Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It This press release relates to a proposed transaction between Honeycomb and Nubia. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the transaction described herein, Nubia intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a proxy statement (that includes a preliminary proxy statement, and when available, a definitive proxy statement). Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, Nubia will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Special Meeting relating to the transaction. Nubia urges its investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read, when available, the proxy statement as well as other documents filed with the SEC because these documents will contain important information about Nubia, Honeycomb and the business combination. Once available, stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC without charge, by directing a request to: Nubia Brand International Corp., Attn: Jaymes Winters, 13355 Noel Rd, Suite 1100, Dallas, TX. The preliminary and definitive proxy statement, once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the SECs website (www.sec.gov).



Participants in the Solicitation



Nubia and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Nubia stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction. Information about Nubias directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Nubia will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction and be available at the SECs website (www.sec.gov). Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction when available. Honeycomb and its directors and executive officers also may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Nubia in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the Companys directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction.

No Offer or Solicitation This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, exchange, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between Nubia and Honeycomb. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words believe, project, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, think, strategy, future, opportunity, potential, plan, seeks, may, should, will, would, will be, will continue, will likely result, and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed transaction, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction or that the approval of the shareholders of Nubia or Honeycomb is not obtained; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Honeycomb or Nubia following announcement of the proposed transaction; (iv) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; (v) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Honeycomb; (vi) risks related to the performance of Honeycombs batteries; (vii) the extent to which original equipment manufacturers may elect to pursue other battery cell technologies; (viii) risks related to the safety of Honeycombs high-capacity anode and high-energy solid-state battery technology, for which only preliminary safety testing has occurred and for which additional and extensive safety testing will need to occur prior to being installed in electric vehicles; (ix) risks related to any substantial increases in the prices for Honeycombs raw materials and components, some of which are obtained from a limited number of sources where demand may exceed supply; (x) consumers willingness to adopt electric vehicles; (xi) risks related to Honeycomb being an early-stage company with a history of financial losses that expects to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; (xii) the possibility that Honeycomb may require additional capital to support business growth, and that this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all; (xiii) Honeycombs heavy reliance on owned intellectual property, which includes patent rights, trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, and know-how, and its ability to protect and maintain access to these intellectual property rights; (xiv) risks related to the intentional disruption, security breaches and other security incidents, or alleged violations of laws, regulations, or other obligations relating to data handling of Honeycombs technology and its website, systems, and data it maintains; (xv) the amount of redemption requests made by Nubias public stockholders; (xvi) the ability of Nubia or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed transactions or in the future; (xvii) the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; (xviii) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Honeycomb, Nubia, the combined companys projected results of operations, financial performance or other financial metrics, or on any of the foregoing risks; and (xix) those factors discussed in Nubias filings with the SEC and that will be contained in the proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction.

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the Risk Factors section of the preliminary proxy statement and the amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement, and other documents to be filed by Nubia from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and while Nubia and Honeycomb may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither of Nubia or Honeycomb gives any assurance that Nubia or Honeycomb, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Nubias or Honeycombs assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Contact Information: Jaymes Winters

Chief Executive Officer

Nubia Brand International Corp.

[email protected]



[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[November 30, 2023] Lithium-Ion Battery Management Systems For Vehicles Market to grow by USD 3.86 billion from 2022 to 2027, market is fragmented due to the presence of prominent companies like Analog Devices Inc., AVL List GmbH and BMS Powersafe, many more Tweet

NEW YORK , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The lithium-ion battery management systems for vehicles market is estimated to grow by USD 3.86 billion from 2022 to 2027, growing at a CAGR of 22.23%. The lithium-ion battery management systems for vehicles market is fragmented owing to the presence of many global and regional companies. A few prominent companies that offer lithium-ion battery management systems for the vehicles market are Analog Devices Inc., AVL List GmbH, BMS Powersafe, Dana Inc., Dober, Elithion Inc., Gentherm Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, Johnson Matthey Plc, Lithium Balance AS, Panasonic Holdings Corp., Renesas Electronics Corp., Texas Instruments Inc., and Toshiba Corp. The report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Download a Sample before buying Company Offering: Analog Devices Inc. - The company offers lithium Ion battery management systems for vehicles such as battery management.

The company offers lithium Ion battery management systems for vehicles such as battery management. AVL List GmbH - The company offers lithium Ion battery management systems for vehicles such as the Mercedes CoupE 800, Jaguar I Pace, and Audi e-tron.

The company offers lithium Ion battery management systems for vehicles such as the Mercedes CoupE 800, Jaguar I Pace, and Audi e-tron. BMS Powersafe - The company offers lithium Ion battery management systems for vehicles such as 4S BMS PowerSafe, 6-10S BMS PowerSafe, and 10S CAN BMS PowerSafe.

The company offers lithium Ion battery management systems for vehicles such as 4S BMS PowerSafe, 6-10S BMS PowerSafe, and 10S CAN BMS PowerSafe. For details on companies and their offerings  Buy a report! By Geography, the market is classified as APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa. APAC will have the largest share of the market. By geography, APAC is estimated to contribute 50% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The higher cost of Li-ion batteries than other battery types and the higher price sensitivity of the people in APAC drive the regional market growth. Download a sample report to get more insights on the market share of various regions and the contribution of the segments. Impactful driver- Declining prices of Li-ion batteries

Declining prices of Li-ion batteries Key Trend - Increasing demand for Li-ion batteries in locomotives

- Increasing demand for Li-ion batteries in locomotives Major Challenges - Lack of supporting electric vehicle charging infrastructure Market Segmentation By Application, the automobile segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. This segment is expected to grow with slight fluctuations in growth rate. Furthermore, the Chinese government's policy changes related to electric vehicles is one of the main factor contributing to the fluctuations in the growth rate. Technavio Research experts have provided more insights on the market share of segments - View a Sample Report Related Reports:

The E-bike battery market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.46% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 2,115.96 million. The e-bike market in Benelux is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.65% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by 1,214.05 thousand units.







Lithium-Ion Battery Management Systems For Vehicles Market Scope Report Coverage Details Historic period 2017-2021 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 22.23% YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 21.65 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key countries US, China, Japan, Norway, and Germany

TOC: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation by Application 7 Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type 8 Customer Landscape 9 Geographic Landscape 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 11 Vendor Landscape 12 Vendor Analysis 13 Appendix About US 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. Contact US: Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lithium-ion-battery-management-systems-for-vehicles-market-to-grow-by-usd-3-86-billion-from-2022-to-2027--market-is-fragmented-due-to-the-presence-of-prominent-companies-like-analog-devices-inc-avl-list-gmbh-and-bms-powersafe---302001705.html SOURCE Technavio

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[November 30, 2023] Lost Money in Fisker Inc.? Gibbs Law Group Investigates Potential Securities Law Violations Tweet

Gibbs Law Group announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Fisker, Inc. (NYSE: FSR) investors who purchased shares between August 4, 2023 and November 20, 2023. Previously, shares of Fisker Inc. dropped 21% in intraday trading on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, after the company disclosed it was cutting its 2023 production guidance and delaying its quarterly 10-Q filing due to "material weaknesses" in its internal control over financial reporting. To join this action, click here or call (888) 410-2925. On November 8, 2023, electric vehicle company Fisker Inc. revealed that it was delaying the release of its 2023 Q3 financial statements and related disclosures, due to the departure of its Chief Accounting Officer on October 27, 2023. Then, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Fisker Inc. disclosed in a regulatory filing that it had "determined that it has material weaknesses" in its "internal control over financial reporting," which led to a delayed 10-Q filing. In its November 14, 2023 earnings call, Fisker's CEO announced the company was slashing is production guidance to a range of 13,000-17,000 units so that it "doesn't sit on inventory." Per Reuters, this range is down from prior outlooks of 20,000-23,000 units. Fisker is supposedly addressing the inventory issue by overhauling its distribution strategy-which it announced on November 16, 2023-but as the Motley Fool alleges, "[t]he overhauled system requires more employees and more complexity, which is likely to add to costs for a company that just reported a significantly larger quarterly loss than analysts had expected."



Following this news, Fisker Inc. stock declined sharply, causing significant harm to investors. What Should FSR Investors Do?

If you invested in Fisker Inc., visit our website, or contact our securities team directly at (888) 410-2925 to discuss how you may be able to recover your losses. Our investigation concerns whether Fisker Inc. has violated federal securities laws by providing false or misleading statements to investors. About Gibbs Law Group Gibbs Law Group represents investors throughout the country in securities litigation to correct abusive corporate governance practices, breaches of fiduciary duty, and proxy violations. The firm has recovered over a billion dollars for its clients against some of the world's largest corporations, and our attorneys have received numerous honors for their work, including "Best Lawyers in America," "Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California," "California Lawyer Attorney of the Year," "Class Action Practice Group of the Year," "Consumer Protection MVP," and "Top Women Lawyers in California." This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130139301/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[November 30, 2023] Maritime Surveillance Market to grow by USD 1.47 billion from 2022 to 2027 | North America is estimated to account for 33% of the global market growth - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The maritime surveillance market is estimated to grow by USD 1.47 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 3.65% during the forecast period. North America is estimated to account for 33% of the global market growth during the forecast period. The US is a major market for marine surveillance in the region. This growth can be attributed to the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Additionally, the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Hence, the growing demands for maritime security in the United States are expected to boost the demand for marine surveillance during the forecast period. For Comprehensive details on the market size of the historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) - View Sample report Maritime Surveillance Market - Vendor Landscape

The maritime surveillance market is fragmented; the vendors are competing with competitors and are trying to get a greater market share. The market is growing, and the chances of new entrants cannot be overlooked. The major vendors have well-established economies of scale and market presence and generally rely on positioning technological advances, and the price of the products -The report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Dynamics Major Drivers & Challenges- Key Drivers boosting the market growth The growing marine threats are the major factor that drives the global maritime surveillance market growth.

In national security, territorial integrity, global trade, immigration, and migration, maritime borders play an important role. Patrolling territorial water areas with state-of-the-art flying platforms is of increasing importance, for many countries with long coastlines.

For example, the oil rigs in the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy.

in western are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy. Hence, such factors drive the market growth during the forecast period. Major Challenges hindering the market growth The issues related to privacy can challenge the growth of the maritime surveillance market growth.

In order to prevent and detect crime, but its use can lead to privacy concerns, ocean surveillance is used. Public survillance systems may cover private areas such as homes and offices without the owner's consent, which leads to an invasion of privacy.

People's privacy is a fundamental right and the use of surveillance systems can violate it, which results in the line between legitimate surveillance and intrusion blurs.

Hence, such challenges impede market growth during the forecast period.



Key Trends- The expansion of the Chinese naval fleet in critical regions is an emerging trend fueling the global maritime surveillance market growth.

As the Chinese president announced in 2012 that China would become a maritime power, China has focused on expanding its naval fleet.

would become a maritime power, has focused on expanding its naval fleet. Furthermore, the expansion of China's naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Hence, such trends influence the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period. Technavio has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View Sample Report

Company Profiles The maritime surveillance market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., Furuno Electric Co. Ltd., HENSOLDT AG, Honeywell International Inc., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., MIND TECHNOLOGY INC., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp., Saab AB, Safran SA, Sonardyne International Ltd., SRT Marine Systems Plc, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Terma AS, Thales Group, and The Boeing Co. Competitive Analysis The report includes competitive analysis, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others. Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Segmentation This maritime surveillance market report extensively covers market segmentation by component (sensors, radar, AIS receiver, and software and others), end-user (defense, customs, fisheries, intelligence, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share growth by the sensors segment is significant during the forecast period. Sensors are used in a wide range of maritime applications including hydraulic cylinder position measurement, marine machinery condition monitoring, crane and deck hoist load measurement, and tank pressure measurement. Some major benefits of sensors include near-lossless transmission, increased sensitivity during data collection, and continuous real-time analysis. Hence, such factors are expected to have a positive impact on the sensors segment of the maritime surveillance market during the forecast period. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The video surveillance as a service market size is expected to increase by USD 7.45 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 17.56%. The trade surveillance systems market size is expected to increase to USD 878.49 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 16.7%. Table of Contents Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Component Market Segmentation by End-user market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses 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 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. Contact Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maritime-surveillance-market-to-grow-by-usd-1-47-billion-from-2022-to-2027--north-america-is-estimated-to-account-for-33-of-the-global-market-growth---technavio-302002406.html SOURCE Technavio

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023]

Nokia Corporation Financial Calendar for 2024

Nokia Corporation

Stock Exchange Release

1 December 2023 at 8:00 EET

Nokia Corporation Financial Calendar for 2024



Espoo, Finland  In this stock exchange release, Nokia provides its financial calendar for 2024, which includes the planned publication dates of its financial reports.

Planned publication dates for Nokia's financial reports in 2024:

report for Q4 2023 and full year 2023: 25 January 2024

report for Q1 2024: 18 April 2024

report for Q2 2024 and half-year 2024: 18 July 2024

report for Q3 2024 and JanuarySeptember 2024: 17 October 2024

Publication of "Nokia in 2023"

Nokia plans to publish its "Nokia in 2023" annual report, which includes the review by the Board of Directors and the audited annual acconts, during the week starting on 26 February 2024.







Nokia's Annual General Meeting

Nokia's Annual General Meeting 2024 is planned to be held on 3 April 2024.

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today  and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Inquiries:

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: [email protected]

Kaisa Antikainen, Communications Manager

Nokia

Investor Relations

Phone: +358 40 803 4080

Email: [email protected]
[December 01, 2023] 'It's Not Over' - AHF Marks World AIDS Day with Janet Jackson Concert, Commemorative Events in 40 Countries Tweet

On this World AIDS Day, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and more than 40 AHF country teams will hold commemorative events to honor all who have lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses, support those who carry on the fight, and unite people globally in battling one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. In the U.S., AHF will continue its longstanding tradition of hosting a high-profile World AIDS Day concert and awareness event. Global icon Janet Jackson will perform a full-length show at NRG Arena in Houston, TX, and AHF will honor American actor Blair Underwood with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts as powerful voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and abroad for more than three decades. AHF mobilizers also will host 26 events in 21 cities across the country, promoting testing, education, and open conversation around HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. "The global HIV/AIDS response has fallen short over recent years due to COVID-19 and other competing global crises," said Michael Weinstein, AHF President and Cofounder. "AHF calls on all nations and global public health institutions to ensure that adequate resources and political will are available to fight HIV/AIDS. On World AIDS Day, the world must remember - it's not over." "World AIDS Day is a time to remind everyone that countries worldwide, particularly lower-income countries, must keep HIV/AIDS high on their public health agendas - which means prioritizing prevention, testing, and treatment efforts," aded AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy Terri Ford.



AHF also urges governments to ensure the availability of free or affordable condoms and promote their use as they remain the most cost-effective method of preventing HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and unplanned pregnancies. Past performers at AHF's World AIDS Day concerts in the U.S. include Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and Mariah Carey. The global HIV/AIDS organization has presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to a diverse array of advocates including Harry Belafonte, Debbie Allen, and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and posthumously to Princess Diana.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world's 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/20231130184486/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Chicago-based Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is set to expand its education cooperation with China, IIT president said.
[December 01, 2023] Mumtalakat Launches Carbon Offsetting Platform "Safa" Tweet

MANAMA, Bahrain, Dec. 1, 2023 /CNW/ -- Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced today the launch of its voluntary carbon offsetting platform, Safa, helping businesses and individuals better understand and manage their carbon footprint by contributing to exemplary climate initiatives. This coincides with the Kingdom of Bahrain's participation at COP28, currently being held in the United Arab Emirates. Commenting on the occasion, His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat, said, "Emphasising our commitment to sustainability across various fields, we firmly believe that true transformation occurs when we all come together to create a collective impact. With Safa, individuals and businesses have the ability to decrease their carbon footprint and actively participate in creating a more environmentally friendly future, supporting the Kingdom of Bahrain's goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2060." Safa's offsetting service is not an alternative to decarbonization efforts; rather, by building awreness, educating communities, and empowering action at the individual and corporate levels, Safa aims to complement critical decarbonization initiatives by providing a user-friendly offsetting function for hard-to-abate emissions from activities like travel, accommodation, and logistics. It also aims to bring this service to users' fingertips by integrating directly into their favorite everyday apps.



The newly introduced user-friendly platform is a testament to the Kingdom's utilisation of technology and innovation as key enablers of a faster, more affordable and more effective transition to net zero by 2060. The platform is accessible to all individuals and businesses to facilitate the transaction of high-quality and globally certified carbon credits, allowing them to calculate and offset their carbon emissions. These credits are allocated to international environmental projects aimed at the reduction or elimination of greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of expanding to include local and regional projects in the near future. To facilitate climate action for all, Safa has formed a partnership with CHOOOSE?, a climate tech company, that delivers the leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, enabling its partners to offer carbon emissions information and seamless access to trusted climate solutions.

About Mumtalakat:

Mumtalakat is the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. With a mandate to grow the wealth of Bahrain through long-term investments based on sound financial, strategic and governance principles, Mumtalakat holds stakes in over 50 commercial enterprises with a portfolio spanning a variety of sectors, including industrial manufacturing, financial services, telecommunications, real estate, logistics, consumer products, healthcare and education. Further details on Mumtalakat can be found at www.mumtalakat.bh View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mumtalakat-launches-carbon-offsetting-platform-safa-302003165.html SOURCE Mumtalakat

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Avoro Ventures Adds Mark Chin as a Partner

Avoro Ventures, a global venture capital firm investing in life sciences, announced today that Mark Chin has joined the firm as a Partner, focused on its venture capital investment efforts.

Mark has 15 years of healthcare experience across venture capital, strategy consulting, business and corporate development. Prior to joining Avoro Ventures, Mark was a Managing Director at Arix Bioscience focused on private and public biotech investments. During his time at Arix, he sourced and led 10 private biotech investments resulting in 4 IPOs, 2 reverse mergers, and 2 acquisitions. Prior to Arix, Mark as a Principal at Longitude Capital, where he focused on investments in biotechnology and medical technology companies. Prior to Longitude, he was a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group and worked in corporate development at Gilead Sciences and market planning at Genentech.







Mark will be joining Uya Chuluunbaatar, PhD, as an Investment Partner working with Behzad Aghazadeh, PhD, Managing Partner of Avoro Ventures, and Garheng Kong, MD/PhD, Avoro Ventures Advisory Partner.

About Avoro Ventures

Avoro Ventures is an affiliated company of Avoro Capital Advisors, an SEC-registered investment manager based in New York City, with over $4.5 billion in capital primarily focused on life sciences and biotechnology.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201505292/en/
[December 01, 2023] Integrating Global Wisdom with a Blueprint for Scientific Innovation Incubation 2023 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum invites you for a journey together. Tweet

SHANGHAI, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From December 5th to 6th, 2023 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum will be held in Lingang, Shanghai. With the theme of "Innovation Incubates the Future", the forum will gather more than 100 representatives from international top-tier incubators, and investment institutions, as well as industry experts, leading experts in science and technology projects, and innovative leading talents to jointly discuss the upgrading and development strategies of global incubators, explore the cutting-edge trends of science and technology, inspire the power of innovation, and join hands to create a new pattern of innovation incubation in the future. Professional: Diversification and integration to promote high-quality technology to drive the future World Top-Performing Incubator Forum will focus on the goal of developing Shanghai into an international science and technology innovation center and building Lingang New Area into a growth highland for scientific innovation enterprises, take the construction of high-quality incubators as the guide, connect the world's top scientific innovation resources, cultivate strong technology-based enterprises and develop future industries. The forum covers five activities: visit, thematic forum, roundtable discussion, matchmaking for cooperation, and interactive exhibition. The "1+1+1+1+3" series of activities cover the whole link of services available to incubate technological innovation enterprises, including the opening ceremony of the "2023 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum", Seminar on Innovation Model for Global Incubators, Exhibition for International Incubator Innovation Models, and the group visit to high-quality incubators as well as three sub-forums on "New Model for Advanced Incubation", "Capital Empowers Incubation for Life Science Industry" and "Innovation Incubation and Investment by Large Enterprises", meanwhile, we will promote all-round, multi-level, and comprehensive synergy for international innovation and organize a grand meeting to discuss cutting-edge scientific and technological development, international cooperation mode, and super incubation platform. This forum will bring together the world's top intelectual resources for scientific innovation and incubation. Xu Tian, Vice President and Professor of Genetics from Westlake University, Mohamad Sawan, Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering, Chair Professor of Westlake University, IEEE Fellow, Hanson Gifford, Managing Partner of The Foundry, Frederico Lourenco, Vice President of Portfolio Strategy and Operation from Flagship Pioneering, and other industry pioneers will deliver keynote speeches to talk about the forefront of technological innovation at home and abroad, high-quality scientific innovation ecosystem, training of incubation talents and integration of resource factors, acceleration of the application of cutting-edge achievements, cultivation of future industries, and help Shanghai build a science and technology innovation center with global influence.



Global: Open up frontiers of collaborative innovation chains for new convergence The 2023 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum will be held to share Shanghai's experience and achievements in the rapid development of incubators as China's science and technology innovation center. At the same time, many international incubators entering China for the first time will bring more international experience to Shanghai. Start-Up Chile, known for its innovative incubation projects and multinational vision, has successfully nurtured an internationally competitive entrepreneurial team by providing financial support, customized mentorship, and industry resources. The Foundry, the UK's top incubator, has accumulated a large number of successful cases in the commercial transformation of technology research findingsSeveral international incubators will share their insights in Shanghai for the first time. The experience of ITU ARI Teknokent and Bilgiyi Ticarilestirme Merkezi, the Turkish incubators, in scientific and technological innovation, industrial connection, and internationalization is worth learning from. More representatives of international incubators from the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia will also share their in-depth experience in innovation models, development of innovation vehicles, technological applications, and industry frontiers, bringing about the brainstorming of incubation ideas at all levels in various industries.

Lingang, a port by the sea for sailing afar. As one of the hosts of this forum, Lingang New Area is playing the leading role in scientific and technological innovation and industrial development. Its establishment and vigorous development demonstrate China's comprehensively expanded in-depth and successful reform and opening-up practices, as well as China's determination and achievements in opening up to the world. Globally, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and other industries, high-quality incubation in cutting-edge science and technology fields has become increasingly important. Incubators begin to attach more importance to innovation in frontier technologies. Through the 2023 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum, Shanghai will continue to connect global innovation incubation resources in the future and broaden more prospects for international scientific and technological innovation collaboration. We look forward to joining hands with you for a splendid and ambitious dream and witnessing a new milestone for the transformation of global technology incubation. Link for official forum website and registration: 2023wtiforum.linker2.com/#/index View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/integrating-global-wisdom-with-a-blueprint-for-scientific-innovation-incubation-2023-world-top-performing-incubator-forum-invites-you-for-a-journey-together-302002978.html SOURCE 2023 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Strategic Evolution: The Strategic Implementer Announces Spinoff of Hiring Division into RIA Recruiting for Specialized Talent Solutions Tweet

BATON ROUGE, La., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a strategic move to enhance service delivery and align with the dynamic needs of the financial advisory landscape, The Strategic Implementer proudly announces the spinoff of its hiring division into a standalone entity, RIA Recruiting. This evolution, effective December 1, 2023, marks a pivotal step toward specialized service excellence and focused growth. After thorough analysis and strategic planning, Ginny Hudgens, Founder of The Strategic Implementer, and Brian Luper, a trusted partner and esteemed colleague, have jointly decided that separating the hiring division under Brian's leadership is the optimal path forward. Brian Luper will assume full ownership of RIA Recruiting, positioning the venture as a dedicated resource for talent recruitment, specializing in placing top-tier professionals within small and mid-sized advisory firms. Ginny Hudgens expresses confidence in this strategic decision, stating, "We have always aimed to deliver unparalleled service to our clients. This move allows us to focus on our core strengths, bringing targeted, effective solutions to our clients. By empowering Brian to lead RIA Rcruiting, we believe both entities can flourish independently in their respective arenas."



Brian Luper, now at the helm of RIA Recruiting, shares his excitement about the venture: "The journey with The Strategic Implementer has been one of immense growth and success. This new venture is not just a step forward for me but a leap towards realizing a vision tailored to recruitment excellence within the advisory sector. I am thrilled to embark on this adventure, maintaining established relationships and forging new ones at RIA Recruiting." The decision to specialize reflects the belief that focused expertise is paramount in today's market. The Strategic Implementer will continue to provide strategic business consulting services, reinforcing its commitment to client success. The hands-on strategic development and implementation approach will persist, ensuring ongoing support for business growth and success.

Ginny Hudgens assures clients, "Our partnership with you is valued, and we look forward to continuing to support your business. We understand that changes like these come with questions, and we invite you to reach out to us for clarifications or to learn more about how our refined services can benefit your firm." As The Strategic Implementer and RIA Recruiting embark on their distinct paths, this evolution underscores a commitment to excellence, innovation, and client success. The leadership transition and specialized focus are poised to bring about new heights of achievement for both entities. For media inquiries or additional information, please contact: Ginny Hudgens

Chairman, The Strategic Implementer

[email protected]

225-751-8009

https://thestrategicimplementer.com/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/strategic-evolution-the-strategic-implementer-announces-spinoff-of-hiring-division-into-ria-recruiting-for-specialized-talent-solutions-302002351.html SOURCE The Strategic Implementer

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Banks Cold Storage Breaks Ground on Revolutionary 210,620 sq. ft. Cold Storage Facility with Ti Cold's Cutting-Edge Design Tweet

COMMERCE, Ga., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Banks Cold Storage has broken ground on construction of a 210,620 square foot cold storage facility expertly designed by Ti Cold of Melbourne, Florida. Located near Athens and about 70 miles east of Atlanta, and owned and operated by Banks Cold Storage, the cutting-edge design will feature the latest refrigeration and freezing technology available in the cold storage industry. Completion is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025. Unique to the U.S., the temperature-controlled warehouse will tie together 65-foot building heights, VNA (Very Narrow Aisles) and 2 deep push-back racking for cube maximization. This cutting-edge facility design is new to North America, and one of the first of its kind in the U.S. "Ti Cold is committed to advancing the cold storage industry by providing innovative solutions that give our customers a distinct competitive advantage," said Sam Tippmann, CEO and President of Ti Cold, "Banks features a rarely seen combination of state-of-the-art elements like 2 deep push-back racking, VNA and 65-foot-tall building height. We are excited to deliver a rock-solid facility to Banks." The advanced cold storage complex will feature a flexible, convertible design that is able to maintain temperatures ranging from 40F to -20F. The facility will use low-charge ammonia systems that use natural, environmentally friendly refrigerant in low volumes. Structural steel pallet racks will accommodate over 29,520 pallet positions. This includes QFM In-Rack Freezing System positions, which combines blast freezing technology and pallet racking. QFM, freezes pallets up to four times faster than traditional blast freezers with the ability to reduce energy consumption by as much as 50%. The fcility room sizing is as follows: Freezer - 112,175 sq. ft., QFM Freezer - 15,850 sq. ft., First Floor Office - 5,985 sq. ft., Second Floor Office - 5,985 sq. ft., totaling a building area of 210,620 sq. ft.



With this new facility Banks Cold Storage will be able to offer their clients third party refrigerated logistics (3PL). As a 3PL the company can store the inventory of its clients with the ability to pick, pack and ship the client's products directly from the facility. By providing warehousing, order processing, shipping, and receiving, a 3PL gives clients an option to fulfill orders quickly and efficiently, without the expense of owning a facility themselves. "We've dedicated the best of our time and attention to assuring Banks Cold Storage is a quality asset that will serve the area for decades to come. Everything from the location of the facility to the building features, to job creation and retention, Banks Cold Storage is committed to quality," said Phillip Turner of Banks Cold Storage.

Banks will be poised to have the capacity to support food wholesalers, retailers, and food manufacturing customers in central Georgia and the Georgia Ports Authority, while bringing nearly 70 new jobs to Banks County. Many government officials and dignitaries attended the groundbreaking ceremony, including Kristen Miller, Senior Regional Project Manager of Georgia Department of Economic Development and Commissioner Tyler Harper of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. ABOUT Banks Cold Storage: A subsidiary of a Northeast Georgia company founded in 1954, Banks Cold Storage has a solid pedigree of helping growers get their products to market at the highest quality available through the best technology. ABOUT Ti Cold: Known as an award-winning, specialty industrial cold storage builder with decades of experience in designing and building state-of-the-art facilities across the United States, Ti Cold utilizes time-honed expertise and advanced technology solutions to create efficient buildings that scale with a business and that are designed to maximize profitability through fully integrating operations and supply chain. That's not just standard innovation. That's Tippmann Innovation. Ti Cold provides a full suite of cold storage construction services, including master site planning, and operations guidance. Ti's consulting services help companies navigate the unique challenges associated with a rapidly changing industry. Ti Cold has offices in Florida and Indiana. ticold.com Media Contact:

Rob Adams

260-424-2222

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/banks-cold-storage-breaks-ground-on-revolutionary-210-620-sq-ft-cold-storage-facility-with-ti-colds-cutting-edge-design-302003065.html SOURCE Ti Cold

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Thermo Fisher Scientific and Project HOPE Partner to Advance Health Equity Among HIV Positive Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa Tweet

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, and Project HOPE, a leading global health and humanitarian organization, today announced a new partnership to improve the wellbeing and treatment outcomes of adolescents and young persons living with HIV in Nigeria, the country with the second largest HIV epidemic worldwide. Nigeria currently accounts for nearly two million individuals living with HIV, contributing to approximately two-thirds of new HIV infections in West and Central Africa. The partnership greatly advances Project HOPE's efforts in Northwestern Nigeria by expanding access to critical community HIV testing services. Project HOPE, supported by local community partners, will identify and help connect more HIV positive adolescents and young persons with appropriate treatment and essential social and economic support services, ultimately improving their wellbeing and quality of life. Additionally, Thermo Fisher will engage its employees in volunteer opportunities to augment the services delivered by Project HOPE. "The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "let communities lead," reminding us to focus on the individuals who are living with this disease and to enable the community partners on the frontline of driving local progress," said Meron Mathias, vice president, corporate social responsibility, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "This partnership with Project HOPE builds on our meaningful work in the region and allows us to support and learn from a new cohort of essential partners, so they can give more young people living with HIV a greater chance to explore and fulfill their life ambitions." Thermo Fisher's previous support for Project HOPE's initiatives in countries like Ukraine laid the foundation for the new collaboration to address infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS. This partnership builds on Thermo Fisher's collaborations with customers, governments and nonprofit organizations to create a more equitable global healthcare environment. For instance, in 2022, the company launched an HIV drug resistance genotyping kit with global heath equity pricing, an offering that's been adopted by over 30 low- and middle-income countries across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia; and which has helped drive health policy changes in Kenya. For over a decade, Project HOPE has been collaborating with public, private, and government partners to improve health in Nigeria. Wih a focus on HIV/AIDS, Project HOPE strives to support government, local partners, and communities to prevent new infections and enhance health outcomes for the most vulnerable populations in line with the UNAIDS targets toward achieving epidemic control.



"Project HOPE is delighted to collaborate with Thermo Fisher Scientific on this transformative journey to improve the lives of adolescents and young persons in Northwestern Nigeria," said Dr. Uche RalphOpara, deputy chief health officer, Project HOPE. "Through improved case finding, linkage to care and treatment, and economic strengthening interventions, we aim to empower these young individuals to realize their full potential and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives." Thermo Fisher's commitment to improve health outcomes with customers, patients and communities extends beyond HIV/AIDS. This year, the company launched a pair of breakthrough, FDA-approved blood tests to diagnose preeclampsia-a potentially life-threatening condition that disproportionately impacts pregnant Black women-that were named to TIME's best inventions of 2023. The company also partnered with Pfizer to expand local access to next-generation-sequencing-based testing for cancer patients in low- and middle-income markets across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

To learn more about Thermo Fisher's global commitment to health equity, explore the company's Corporate Social Responsibility Report. About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com. About Project HOPE Founded in 1958, Project HOPE is a leading global health and humanitarian organization operating in more than 25 countries around the world. We work side-by-side with local health systems to save lives and improve health. Our mission is at the epicenter of today's greatest health challenges, including infectious and chronic diseases, disasters and health crises, maternal, neonatal and child health and the policies that impact how health care is delivered. For more information on Project HOPE and its work around the world, visit www.ProjectHOPE.org and follow us on socials @ProjectHOPEorg. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201017026/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Neurona Therapeutics Presents New Clinical Data from First Cohort in Ongoing Phase I/II Open-Label Trial of NRTX-1001 Cell Therapy for Drug-resistant Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE) Tweet

NRTX-1001 investigational treatment has been well tolerated in all initial subjects

Positive decision from data safety monitoring board (DSMB) on review of first cohort safety data greenlights dosing of five additional subjects in the second, highest dose, cohort First two subjects continue to report a >95% reduction in overall average monthly seizure counts one year after treatment Early clinical data will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neurona Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company advancing regenerative cell therapy candidates for the treatment of neurological disorders, announced presentation of positive preliminary clinical data from the first cohort of five subjects in its ongoing open-label, single-arm Phase I/II clinical trial of NRTX-1001, an investigational allogeneic cell therapy candidate that is being developed for treatment of drug-resistant MTLE. The data will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, which is being held December 1-5, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. Separately, the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) overseeing the Phase I/II trial cleared continuing enrollment for another five patients who will receive a one-time administration of the higher dose level of NRTX-1001. The DSMBs decision to allow the enrollment of five more subjects in our ongoing open-label Phase I/II clinical trial is a testament to NRTX-1001 being well-tolerated in the first cohort, said Cory R. Nicholas, Ph.D., Neuronas chief executive officer. The early data from the first cohort in the trial have been very encouraging, with substantial, durable seizure reduction in the first subjects with drug-resistant MTLE. We look forward to advancing the development of NRTX-1001 cell therapy with our top-dose cohort of five subjects now enrolling into early 2024. The five subjects in the first cohort received a one-time administration of NRTX-1001 as well as immunosuppression administered over the first year, which is intended to promote the long-term persistence of NRTX-1001. All subjects who received NRTX-1001 in the ongoing clinical trial entered the study with a history of significant monthly seizure activity that was not controlled by anti-seizure medications. The first two subjects continue to report a >95% reduction from baseline in overall seizure counts more than one year after NRTX-1001 administration. The first subject had a baseline seizure frequency of 32 seizures per month, is now 17 months into the study, and has reported no focal impaired awareness seizures since the first month post-treatment. The second subject had a baseline seizure frequency of 14 seizures per month, is now at the 12-month mark, and has not had a focal impaired awareness seizure in the past six months. The first subject in the clinical trial underwent a tapered discontinuation of the immunosuppression regimen at one-year post-treatment and continues to show >95% stable seizure reduction 17 months from cell administration. The second subject in the clinical trial is tapering off the immunosuppression. No antibodies to the NRTX-1001 cells have been detected in either of the first two subjects. Per protocol, modality-specific cognitive tests administered at six months post-treatment, and subsequently at three-month intervals thereafter, revealed improvements in some measures, and no deterioration, in the first and second subjects. Early data will also be presented frm the next three subjects who were treated with NRTX-1001 in July-August 2023. Two of the three subjects have demonstrated reduction in their average total seizure activity since treatment. The third subject had 26 seizures per month at baseline, is three months into the study, has had a 64% reduction of focal aware events, and has not reported any focal impaired awareness events or seizures with objective manifestation since treatment. The fifth subject had 30 seizures per month at baseline, is also three months into the study, and has reported a 75% reduction in both focal aware and focal impaired awareness seizures to date. The fourth subject, who entered the trial with baseline seizure activity of two seizures per month, continues to experience a variability in seizure count that is consistent with their disease history. Of note, in preclinical in vivo studies in a model of MTLE, maximum efficacy of NRTX-1001 required up to five to seven months from administration to become apparent, reflecting the time taken for the transplanted cells to functionally integrate and mature.



NRTX-1001 has been well-tolerated in all subjects to date. Adverse events have been mild to moderate and typical of those associated with the immunosuppression regimen. No severe adverse events from the cell therapy, delivery procedure, or immunosuppression regimen have been reported thus far in the ongoing clinical trial. One subject in the first cohort had a serious adverse event of a focal to bilateral tonic-clonic cluster of seizures (status epilepticus) that was deemed not related to cell treatment, delivery procedure, or immunosuppression. This subject has a prior history of similar episodes and is in stable condition. Neuronas regenerative cell therapy approach has the potential to provide a single-administration, non-destructive alternative for the treatment of drug-resistant MTLE, said David Blum, M.D., Neuronas chief medical officer. Currently, people with MTLE who are not responsive to anti-seizure medications have limited options, such as an invasive surgery that removes or destroys the affected brain tissue. FDA approval of novel tissue- and memory-sparing approaches could be transformative for such patients.

About Neuronas Clinical Trial of NRTX-1001 for Drug-Resistant Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE)

The clinical study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single administration of NRTX-1001 for drug-resistant MTLE. The first stage of the trial is an open-label dose-escalation study in up to 10 people with drug-resistant MTLE, with five subjects in the first cohort treated at a starting dose and five subjects in the second cohort to be treated at a higher dose. Subjects treated with a single infusion of NRTX-1001 cells will be monitored for safety and effects on their epilepsy disease symptoms. Subject recruitment is underway at epilepsy centers across the United States. For more information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05135091). The first part of the clinical trial is supported by an $8.0 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM; CLIN2-13355). With $5.5 billion in funding and more than 150 active stem cell programs in its portfolio, CIRM is one of the worlds largest institutions dedicated to helping people by bringing the future of cellular medicine closer to reality. About NRTX-1001

NRTX-1001 is a regenerative neural cell therapy candidate derived from human pluripotent stem cells. The fully-differentiated neural cells, called interneurons, secrete the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Delivered as a one-time dose, the human interneurons are intended to integrate and innervate on-target neural circuits and are designed to durably silence seizure activity in the epileptic region of the brain. NRTX-1001 is manufactured in Neuronas in-house GMP facility using proprietary methods. About Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy, and 25 to 35 percent live with ongoing seizures despite treatment with approved drugs, illustrating a substantial unmet medical need in this community. MTLE is a common type of focal epilepsy in adults and primarily affects the internal structures of the temporal lobe, where seizures often begin in a structure called the hippocampus. For people with seizures resistant to anti-seizure drugs, epilepsy surgery - where the damaged temporal lobe is surgically removed or ablated by laser - can be an option. However, the current surgical options are not available or effective for all subjects, are tissue-destructive, and can have significant adverse effects. About Neurona Therapeutics

Neurona is focused on developing regenerative cell therapy candidates with single-dose curative potential. Neuronas investigational allogeneic neural cell therapy candidates are designed to provide long-term repair of dysfunctional neural networks for multiple neurological disorders. For more information about Neurona, visit www.neuronatherapeutics.com. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical development of therapeutic candidates, risks that early data collected from a small number of subjects may not be predictive of data when NRTX-1001 is tested in larger clinical trials, the possibility that timelines may change, and difficulties associated with obtaining sufficient data to demonstrate safety and efficacy to support regulatory approval. NRTX-1001 is an investigational candidate and is being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials. NRTX-1001 has not been approved by any regulatory authority for commercial use or deemed to be safe or effective for any indication. Investor and Media Contacts: Sylvia Wheeler

Wheelhouse LSA

[email protected]



Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D.

Wheelhouse LSA

[email protected]







[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Zefiro Methane Corp. Appoints Talal Debs as CEO, Luke Plants as Senior Vice President of Business Development Tweet

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. (the Company, Zefiro, or ZEFI), which works to reduce methane emissions by plugging orphaned oil and gas wells across the country, today announced that Talal Debs has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Debs is Zefiros Founder and has served as the Companys Chairman since the entitys inception in 2022. As Zefiro continues to commit significant resources toward bolstering its operational capacity, the new role will allow Mr. Debs to help maximize efficiency throughout the Companys entire organizational structure.

In addition to appointing Mr. Debs as Chief Executive Officer, Zefiro also announced today that it has named Luke Plants as its Senior Vice President of Business Development. Mr. Plants is also the Chief Executive Officer of Plants & Goodwin, Inc. (P&G), a leading Pennsylvania-based orphaned well-plugging organization and a subsidiary of Zefiro. With nearly a decade of executive-level experience in the oil and gas sector, Mr. Plants in his new role with Zefiro will help advance various corporate initiatives aimed at fortifying the Companys position as the marketplaces premier comprehensive well-plugging service provider. Zefiro Senior Vice President of Business Development Luke Plants (Left) and Zefiro Chief Executive Officer Talal Debs (Right) are pictured at a well site visit in New York State in October 2023. 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 our organization continues to aggressively expand, it is critical that the senior leadership structure promotes teamwide cohesion, said Talal Debs, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Zefiro Methane Corp. The Companys continued investment in the resources and personnel needed to properly service an expanding portfolio of active job sies exemplifies the efficacy of our unique business model, and I am honored that the Board of Directors has entrusted me with leading Zefiro into this exciting new era.



Since joining the Zefiro family, my top priority has been best positioning our on-the-ground crews for sustained success, said Luke Plants, Chief Executive Officer, Plants & Goodwin/Senior Vice President of Business Development, Zefiro Methane Corp. This increased level of fusion among Zefiros and P&Gs executive committees will enhance our collective ability to finalize valuable commercial transactions that bolster our field operations, and I am grateful to Talal and the entire senior management team for this exciting opportunity. 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/6349e22c-09b9-4e90-ad08-80e0edc10126



[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] HIF USA and Idemitsu Kosan sign LOI for eMethanol sale and purchase from Texas eFuels facility Tweet

HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility expected to produce 1.4 million tonnes per year of eMethanol, representing approximately 80-90% reduction in CO 2 emissions for ~400,000 cars, ~40 container vessels, or ~12 billion air passenger miles TOKYO, SYDNEY and HOUSTON, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HIF USA, affiliate of HIF Global, the worlds leading eFuels company, and the Japanese energy company Idemitsu Kosan, signed a letter of intent to negotiate a sale and purchase agreement for eMethanol from the HIF Matagorda eFuels facility currently in development in Texas, and to study the joint development of the eMethanol business. Cesar Norton, President & CEO of HIF Global said, "carbon neutral eFuels are an immediate replacement for fossil fuels that can be used in today's cars, ships, and planes. We are already producing eFuels at the HIF Haru Oni facility in southern Chile and developing large-scale eFuels facilities around the globe. Ahead of COP28, we are moving forward with a real solution to decarbonize our planet. Idemitsu Kosan has embraced the challenge and is committed to accelerating the production of eFuels to lead Japan in the energy transition." The HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility is currently performing engineering with Bechtel, Siemens Energy, and Topsoe and is designed to produce approximately 300,000 metric tons per annum ("mtpa") of green hydrogen and approximately 1.4 mtpa of eMethanol. The HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility expects to purchase approximately 2 million mtpa of recycled carbon dioxide ("CO2") for conversion to eMethanol and 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy. HIF Global previously announced the following achievements at the HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility: receipt of its environmental permits to begin construction and operations

reservation of its hydrogen production electrolyzers from Siemens Energy

selection of Topsoe for the eFuels conversion production technology

engagement of Bechtel to perform front end engineering design ("FEED")

selection of ~,000 acres in Matagorda County, Texas and investment in the project by Matagorda County and the state of Texas in the form of a 10-year property tax abatement



Renato Pereira , CEO of HIF USA , said, "The development team at the HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility has been steadily achieving the milestones required to begin construction in Texas and make decarbonization of the transportation sector a reality. Idemitsu Kosan's refining and fuels distribution capabilities are material contributions toward full commercialization of the first world scale eFuels facility. We are delighted to work with Idemitsu Kosan to pioneer a new, carbon-neutral fuels industry, accelerate the production of eFuels and decarbonize the equivalent of approximately 400,000 cars, 40 standard methanol fueled container vessels, or 24 billion air passenger miles." Idemitsu said that they were very pleased to be working with HIF to negotiate a sale and purchase agreement for eMethanol and to study the joint development of the eMethanol business. Earlier this year, HIF Global and Idemitsu Kosan signed an MoU to accelerate the production of eFuels.

eMethanol is a carbon-neutral fuel made by combining green hydrogen and recycled CO 2 . It is chemically equivalent to today's methanol and can therefore be used in existing infrastructure, or can be converted into other eFuels, such as synthetic gasoline or synthetic jet fuel. About HIF Global HIF Global is the world's leading eFuels company, developing projects to convert hydrogen using low cost renewable power into carbon neutral liquid eFuels that can be transported and utilized in existing infrastructure. The name HIF represents the mission of the company: to provide Highly Innovative Fuels to make decarbonization of the planet possible. HIF Latam, HIF USA, HIF Asia Pacific, and HIF EMEA are wholly owned subsidiaries of HIF Global. HIF Global is already producing eFuels in its Haru Oni eFuels Facility in Magallanes, Chile and intends to begin construction of the commercial scale HIF Matagorda eFuels Facility in Texas in 2024. HIF Global's first Australian development, in Tasmania, was announced in July 2022. For more information, visit www.hifglobal.com. About Idemitsu Kosan Idemitsu is working to implement diverse and environmentally friendly low-carbon energy, resource-saving, and circulation solutions in society while fulfilling its responsibility to provide a stable supply of energy, mainly fossil fuels including petroleum, under its 2030 Vision "Your Reliable Partner for a Brighter Future" and 2050 Vision "Shape the Change". As part of this plan, Idemitsu plans to establish a green supply chain for biomass-derived fuels and chemicals, such as SAF, biodiesel, and bio-chemicals, also for ammonia and eFuel by 2030. Liquid fuels such as SAF and eFuels are one of the businesses that Idemitsu Kosan should focus on because they can contribute to decarbonization by utilizing existing infrastructure. For more information visit www.idemitsu.com CAUTIONARY INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Information in this press release includes various statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as "can," "expect," potential," "to be," "will," and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements and convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things, our expectations of our plans, strategies, and objectives, including with respect to the timing and other aspects of the HIF eFuels facilities. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include (without limitation): our ability to timely obtain or maintain necessary permits to construct and develop the HIF eFuels facilities; our ability to execute operational objectives on a timely and successful basis; legislative, policy, fiscal and regulatory developments; the outcome of commercial negotiations; our ability to raise financing; consumer preferences or demand; and various economic, business, and competitive factors affecting our business. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this paragraph. HIF Global urges you to carefully review and consider the cautionary statements made in this press release and cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. HIF Global undertakes no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hif-usa-and-idemitsu-kosan-sign-loi-for-emethanol-sale-and-purchase-from-texas-efuels-facility-302003253.html SOURCE HIF Global

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Market to Reach $98.02 Billion, Globally, by 2032 at 7.5% CAGR: Allied Market Research Tweet

Rise in traffic jams due to growing urbanization in developing countries, increase in investment in railway infrastructure, and increased inclination of governments toward CO2 emission reduction from the transportation industry drive the growth of the global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market. WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Market by Component (Hardware, Software, and Services), Application (Traffic Management, Freight Management, Advanced Traveler Information System, Advanced Public Transportation System, Security and Surveillance, Ticketing and Tolling System, and Others), and End User (Roadways, Railways, Waterways, and Airways): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global intelligent transportation system industry size generated $48.36 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $98.02 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 7.5% from 2023 to 2032. Prime determinants of growth Rise in traffic jams globally, increased investment in railways, and increased inclination of governments towards CO2 emission reduction from the transportation industry drive the growth of the global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market. However, factors such as the high cost of technology restrict the market growth. However, the growth of connected and autonomous driving car and the improvement of high-speed internet and communications technologies presents new opportunities in the coming years. (We are providing ITS market report as per your research requirement, including the Latest Industry Insight's Evolution, Potential and Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis) 139 - Tables

87 - Charts

473 - Pages Download Sample Pages - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/209 Report Coverage and Details:







Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $48.36 billion ITS Market Size in 2032 $98.02 billion CAGR 7.5 % No. of Pages in Report 473 Segments covered Component, Application, End-User, and Region. Drivers Rise in traffic jams globally Increased investment in railways Increased inclination of governments toward CO2 emission reduction from the transportation industry Opportunities Growth of connected and autonomous driving car Improvement of high-speed internet and communications technologies Restraints High Cost of Technology

The hardware segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on component, the hardware segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for half of the global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.8% from 2023 to 2032, owing to growth in investment in CCTV and other communication equipment for security and surveillance around the globe. The other segment is expected to maintain its leadership throughout the forecast period. Based on application, the other segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for one-fourth of the global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market and is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 9.1% from 2023 to 2032 owing to the need for customized solutions for efficient, intelligent transportation systems. Interested to Procure the Research Report? Inquire Before Buying - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/209 The roadways segment to maintain its leadership during the forecast period Based on end-user, the roadways segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to nearly one-third of the global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market revenue and is projected to portray a CAGR of 8.3% from 2023 to 2032. The increase in government investment in the development of road networks across the globe is expected to foster market growth. Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2031 By region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for one-third of the global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market revenue and is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 8.5% from 2023 to 2032. The strong economic growth in the region resulted in increased demand for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to effectively manage the growing transportation sector. Key Developments in the Intelligent Transportation Industry: Leading companies are employing various strategies, including acquisition, agreement, expansion, partnership, contracts, and product launches, to fortify their market positions.

In October 2023 , Alstom SA collaborated with FLXO Robotics to develop technology aimed at reducing wildlife collision accidents. Utilizing advanced image analytics and AI algorithms, the technology identifies animals in proximity and emits a tailored repellent noise to deter them, thereby lowering the risk of collisions.

, Alstom SA collaborated with FLXO Robotics to develop technology aimed at reducing wildlife collision accidents. Utilizing advanced image analytics and AI algorithms, the technology identifies animals in proximity and emits a tailored repellent noise to deter them, thereby lowering the risk of collisions. In November 2023 , Siemens AG acquired HMH, s.r.o, the manufacturer of the MIREL train protection system for Slovakia , Czech Republic , Hungary , and Poland . This acquisition enables Siemens Mobility to offer a complete train protection portfolio covering Eastern European rail corridors, reinforcing its position as a leading rail infrastructure provider in Europe .

, Siemens AG acquired HMH, s.r.o, the manufacturer of the MIREL train protection system for , , , and . This acquisition enables Siemens Mobility to offer a complete train protection portfolio covering Eastern European rail corridors, reinforcing its position as a leading rail infrastructure provider in . In August 2023 , NEC Corporation secured a contract from India's Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) for the Vehicle Location Tracking-Passenger Information System (VLT-PSIS) project under the Nirbhaya fund of the Government of India . This initiative utilizes state-of-the-art technologies to address safety concerns in buses and enhance passengers' overall travel experiences by providing live bus tracking through an Integrated Command Control Centre.

, NEC Corporation secured a contract from Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) for the Vehicle Location Tracking-Passenger Information System (VLT-PSIS) project under the Nirbhaya fund of the Government of . This initiative utilizes state-of-the-art technologies to address safety concerns in buses and enhance passengers' overall travel experiences by providing live bus tracking through an Integrated Command Control Centre. In August 2021 , Thales Group announced an agreement with Hitachi Rail for the sale of Thales Group's "Ground Transportation System" segment, offering rail signaling and train control systems, telecommunications and supervision systems, and fare collection solutions. This strategic move enhances Hitachi's mobility-as-a-service offerings and strengthens its presence in rail signaling product offerings. Key Highlights of the Report: The market analysis of intelligent transportation systems encompasses 14 countries, conducting regional and segment analysis for each country in terms of value ($million) over the projected period of 2023-2032.

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. Procure Complete Research Report (PDF with Qualitative and Quotative Data, Insights, Statistics, Tables, Charts, Figures) - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/intelligent-transportation-system-market/purchase-options Leading Market Players: - Siemens AG

Garmin Ltd

Denso Corporation

Thales Group

Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.

Kapsch TrafficCom AG

Teledyne FLIR LLC

NEC Corporation

Navico Group

Alstom SA The report provides a detailed analysis of the key players in the global intelligent transportation system (ITS) market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Similar Reports We Have on Transportation Industry: Smart Transportation Market Research Report 2023-2032 Multimodal Transportation Market Research Report 2023-2032 Artificial Intelligence in Transportation Market Research Report 2023-2032 On-demand Transportation Market Research Report 2023-2032 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

USA/Canada (Toll Free):

+1-800-792-5285

UK: +44-845-528-1300

Hong Kong: +852-301-84916

India (Pune): +91-20-66346060

Fax: +1-800-792-5285

[email protected] Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/intelligent-transportation-system-its-market-to-reach-98-02-billion-globally-by-2032-at-7-5-cagr-allied-market-research-302003306.html

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Yangtze River Delta, one of the most vibrant, open and innovative city clusters in China, has reaped major benefits and matured into a pacesetter of high-quality development from its integrated development -- which was elevated as a national strategy by Chinese President Xi Jinping five years ago.

Originating on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yangtze River is China's longest waterway, running more than 6,300 km through 11 provincial-level regions before flowing into the East China Sea.

A number of the country's economic powerhouses, megacities and major rice-producing areas are located along the river basin, making the Yangtze River Delta region, encompassing the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui and Shanghai Municipality, a dynamic growth engine for the world's second-largest economy.

With insight into the great potential of the region's coordinated development, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, announced the decision to make the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region a national strategy in November 2018.

"We will make it a national strategy and implement our new development philosophy in real earnest. We will build a modern economic system, and adopt higher standards for reform and opening-up," Xi said while addressing the opening ceremony of the First China International Import Expo in Shanghai five years ago. He added that the region will develop in tandem with the Belt and Road Initiative, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development area, the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and will help improve the overall layout of China's reform and opening-up.

The Yangtze River Delta region, taking up only 4 percent of China's land area, contributes about 25 percent of China's total GDP.

Over the past five years, Xi has visited the Yangtze River Delta many times, presided over a series of relevant meetings, and given key guidance at the critical junctures in the region's integration path.

While chairing a symposium on advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta in Shanghai on Thursday, Xi stressed efforts to achieve major breakthroughs in the region's integrated development and enhance the region's leading and exemplary role in pursuing Chinese modernization.

The overall strength and comprehensive competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta continue to rank among the top in the country, Xi said.

DEVELOPMENT SYNERGY

As a major automobile production base in China, the Yangtze River Delta has taken the lead in the establishment of a modern industrial system and in the industrial transformation and upgrading.

Now every 10 seconds, a new energy vehicle (NEV) rolls off the production lines in the region.

With the chip and software sourced from Shanghai, batteries from Jiangsu, die-casting machines from Zhejiang, an NEV factory in the delta region can acquire all auto parts within a 4-hour drive.

Integration can be easily observed in almost every sector. From microchips to large aircraft, and from cloud computing to the Internet of Things, the four places are teaming up to promote further integration of industrial chains, under the coordinated, complementary development philosophy.

Eying high-quality, sustainable and long-term development, Xi has, on multiple occasions, highlighted innovation in the region's development blueprint.

At a symposium on advancing integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta in 2020, Xi noted that the region should rise to assume the role of a trailblazer in China's technological and industrial innovations.

He said that Shanghai and the entire delta region should not only provide quality products but also serve as a source of high-level technologies to support China's high-quality development.

At Thursday's symposium, Xi, again, stressed the need to strengthen cross-region collaboration in sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation.

The region is urged to become a source of sci-tech innovation by integrating sci-tech innovation forces and advantageous resources across regions and departments, and participate in international sci-tech cooperation to create a globally competitive ecosystem for innovation.

The deepening integration and rising innovation strength are enhancing the region's attractiveness to investors worldwide.

In May, Siemens launched its Yangtze River Delta AI lab in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Zhu Xiaoxun, head of Siemens Corporate Technology China, said the Yangtze River Delta region has unique advantages in resource sharing, talent cultivation and aggregated innovation, and is becoming an important engine for the high-quality development of China's economy.

Boosted by the strong growth momentum, the industrial scale of the integrated circuit industry in the region now accounts for 60 percent of the national total, while the scale of biomedicine and artificial intelligence industries respectively takes up one-third of the country's total.

"Against the backdrop of sluggish global economic recovery, China's high-quality development will not only serve the country's internal need but also benefit the world," said Quan Heng, a researcher with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Scientific innovation requires international collaboration and regional coordination and what President Xi has underlined has also injected more confidence into foreign enterprises, who are set to gain more dividends from the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, Quan added.

STRONGER CONNECTIONS

From infrastructure to public services and from industrial clusters to innovation synergy, the Yangtze River Delta has never been as close-knit as it is today, focusing on the keywords of integration and high quality outlined by Xi.

To facilitate the region's high-quality integration, meetings are convened annually where key officials of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui meet to review achievements, draft plans and seek solutions to existing bottlenecks.

Coordinated efforts in the region's green development are a vivid example of such a mechanism and have borne fruitful and tangible results.

Over the past years, China has taken a series of measures to protect the Yangtze River, including removing the chemical enterprises situated along the river, restoring the river shoreline, upgrading sewage treatment, and imposing a 10-year fishing ban along the river's main streams and major tributaries.

The number of the rare Yangtze finless porpoises, a barometer of water quality in the Yangtze River basin, had increased to 1,249 in 2022 from 1,012 in 2017.

On Thursday, Xi reiterated that more efforts should be made to strengthen joint protection and governance of the region's ecological environment.

Improved connectivity within the region, like high-speed railways, expressways and metro systems, has significantly facilitated the flow of capital, talent and resources.

In June, a new metro line in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, was officially put into operation. Its direct transferring service with Shanghai's Line 11 allows travelers to enjoy a convenient trip between the two cities.

In September, the second intercity high-speed railway between Jiangsu's capital city of Nanjing and Shanghai also began operations, and it is expected to unleash the growth potential of more county-level areas in the region.

On Thursday, Xi urged enhancing the alignment of the standards of transportation networks within the region to further improve infrastructure connectivity.

Highlighting the major progress that has been achieved since the strategy of the region's integrated development was put forward, Xi has also charted the course for future development of the region.

Advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta is a major undertaking, and making steady progress and continuing the hard work are necessary to write new chapters of the region's integrated development, he said. 
Power Home Remodeling Earns Spot on Great Place to Work's 2023 Best Workplaces for Parents List

Power Home Remodeling ("Power"), the nation's leading exterior home remodeler, and the Fortune #13 Best Company to Work For today announced that it has earned a spot on Great Place To Work's 2023 Best Workplaces for Parents List, coming in at #65. This marks Power's fourth time on the list, establishing the organization as one of the best places to work for parents in the country, year after year.

"Having a career and a family should not be mutually exclusive. Power supports all of our employees through every stage of their life, so they shouldn't have to choose between the two," said Power's Chief People Officer, Hollie Delaney. "We're proud of the progress we've made in creating an environment where our Power parents feel supported, yet remain steadfast in building an even more inclusive environment in the years to come."

Parental leave, adoption and surrogacy support, and infertility coverage are all a part of the company's family-friendly benefit offerings, but Power announced earlier this year a major addition to better support employees through their parenthood journey - subsidized child care.

"It's hard to give your all for a company when you struggle to care for your family," says Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work. "These companies know that caring for the needs of workers leads to increased productivity, performance, and innovation velocity - must-haves for businesses today."

Power adds their Best Workplaces for Parents recognition to a robust list of awards earned in 2023 including, the #13 placement on the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, #49 on the PEOPLE Companies That Care List, and many more.

For those looking for a fulfilling career at one of the country's top workplaces, can explore open opportunities at apply.workatpower.com/job in Power's 19 locations nationwide.







YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X

About Power Home Remodeling

Power Home Remodeling is a dream realization company - believing its purpose is to create positive change in everything the company touches - from customers' homes to employees' lives to the communities they live and work in. Power realizes this purpose by being people-first. Its employees and customers come before profit and their well-being factors into every business decision. Established in 1992, Power is the nation's largest, full-service, exterior home remodeler with more than 3,000 employees, over one million lifetime customers, and $1 billion in annual revenue. Headquartered in the Philadelphia region, Power's primary product line includes windows, siding, roofing, doors, solar roofing panels, and attic insulation, providing energy-saving solutions to residents across its operating territories, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

About the Best Workplaces for Parents List

Great Place To Work selected the 2023 Best Workplaces for Parents by analyzing the survey responses of over 612,000 employees with parenting responsibilities at Great Place To Work Certified companies that also met the criteria for this list. To be eligible, a company must submit at least 50 responses from U.S. employees with parenting responsibilities. Company rankings are derived from 60 employee experience questions within the Great Place To Work Trust Index Survey as well as data around parental leave, adoption, flexible schedules, childcare, and dependent health care benefits. Great Place To Work determines its lists using its proprietary For All Methodology to evaluate and certify thousands of organizations in America's largest ongoing annual workforce study, based on over 1.3 million survey responses and data from companies representing more than 7.5 million employees this year alone. Read the full methodology.

About Great Place To Work

As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Its proprietary platform and For All Model help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces List.

Follow Great Place To Work on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram or visit greatplacetowork.com and sign up for the newsletter to learn more.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201245290/en/
[December 01, 2023] Serent-Backed ParentSquare Acquires Remind to Increase Student Success Through Expanded Communications Platform Tweet

Serent-backed ParentSquare, an award-winning school-home engagement platform for K12 education, has announced its acquisition of Remind, a widely-used communications platform that focuses on connecting educators with students and families. The combined company will provide a comprehensive suite of communication tools to help schools and districts better engage with their communities. ParentSquare is used in 49 states and by millions of educators and families. The unified, mulipurpose platform includes mass notifications, classroom communications, school websites, and other communication-based services, all supported by visual dashboards. Remind is used in over 80% of public schools and by 60% of teachers in the U.S. Serent invested in ParentSquare in 2021, marking their 10th platform investment in the education market. Following the investment from Serent, ParentSquare acquired Gabbart Communications, a company specializing in website and content management. "Since partnering with Serent, their strategic guidance has helped accelerate our growth," said Sohit Wadhwa, ParentSquare co-founder and CEO. "They've played a pivotal role in identifying new avenues for expansion through not only organic growth initiatives but also through their support in identifying and executing two highly strategic acquisitions." "This is a transformational next step for ParentSquare that reinforces the shared mission of both companies to foster student success. Incorporating Remind's Chat and Hub products enhances ParentSquare's position as a market-leading unified communications platform and allows us to enhance the learning experience for millions of students across America," said Lance Fenton, Partner at Serent Capital. He added, "It's an hnor to partner with these remarkable teams, and we are excited about this next growth stage where our focus remains on elevating student success."



Serent's prior education technology investments include ArbiterSports, C2 Education, DiamondMind, DigArc, Education Advanced, KEV Group, LinkIt!, Modern Campus, Progress Learning, and Zollege. To learn more about how Serent partners with education companies, visit https://serentcapital.com/k12-edtech/. About ParentSquare

ParentSquare is a leading provider of modern family and community engagement solutions for K12 schools. Millions of educators and families in 49 states rely on the multipurpose unified platform that includes mass notifications, classroom communications, school websites, and other communication-based services, all supported by visual dashboards. ParentSquare's technology platform features comprehensive integrations with school administrative systems, translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for equitable communication. Founded in 2011, the company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. Learn more at https://www.parentsquare.com. About Serent Capital Serent Capital is a growth-focused private equity firm investing in capital-efficient, B2B SaaS and technology companies. From its founding, Serent set out to build a distinctly different firm that prioritizes founders and their companies and provides true hands-on resources through its 20+ person Growth Team. Serent's in-house Growth Team is equipped with a wide range of resources to help companies accelerate growth, including strategic and operational support to drive revenue generation, assistance in building a top-tier executive team, guidance for transformative M&A, and a community of 400+ founders and operating executives. With $5 billion of assets under management, the firm has partnered with over 60 founder-led, industry-changing companies and offers unparalleled hands-on operational support. Discover how Serent Capital is fueling the growth of innovative companies across a range of industries at www.serentcapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201458293/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Global Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition Market Trends & Forecast to 2026 - Increasing Penetration of AI Applications, Growing Global Demand For Photovoltaic Cells and Growing Popularity of Micro-LEDs Tweet

DUBLIN, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) Market (by Application, Category, & Region): Insights & Forecast (2022-2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Today's world depends heavily on semiconductors and the related low-dimensional nanostructures. Lasers, light-emitting diodes, quantum-dot photodetectors, and ultraviolet optoelectronics are a few examples that have undergone extensive research and are employed in both business and military applications. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend the dynamics of how metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) produces semiconductor nanostructures. Chemical vapor deposition techniques such as MOCVD are often employed in industry to epitaxially produce compound semiconductors. The demand for MOCVD process has grown significantly in the recent years as a result of the rising demand for semiconductors owing to the increasing demand for consumer electronics and microelectronics. Additionally, it is anticipated that the rise of end-use applications for autonomous technology, such as the autonomous automobile, would result in rapid growth of MOCVD throughout the projected period. The global metal organic chemical vapor deposition market is expected to be valued at US$1.38 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 10.46% during the forecast period. Segments Covered By Application: The market report has segmented the global metal organic chemical vapor deposition market into six different segments on the basis of application: microelectronics, data storage, solar products, cutting tools, medical equipment, and others. The microelectronic MOCVD segment held the highest share in metal organic chemical vapor deposition market, owing to increasing adoption of microelectronics devices such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and others in various industries across the globe.

The market report has segmented the global metal organic chemical vapor deposition market into six different segments on the basis of application: microelectronics, data storage, solar products, cutting tools, medical equipment, and others. The microelectronic MOCVD segment held the highest share in metal organic chemical vapor deposition market, owing to increasing adoption of microelectronics devices such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and others in various industries across the globe. By Category: The report splits the global metal organic chemical vapor deposition market into three segments in terms of category: MOCVD Equipment, MOCVD Materials, and MOCVD Services. MOCVD services is the fastest growing segment expanding at a highest CAGR during the forecast period, due to the growing demand for advancement in technology in coming years. Geographic Coverage Asia Pacific enjoyed the major share o the total of the global market, primarily owing to the increasing production and sales of passenger vehicles, and the high demand for automobiles and increasing income levels which have resulted in the rising growth of mid-sized premium and luxury car segments in the region. Therefore, augmenting the MOCVD market growth. China MOCVD market is booming at a rapid pace, thanks to the favorable Government intervention and high production of LED.



Top Impacting Factors



Growth Drivers

Increased Demand for Consumer Electronic Devices

Rise in Automotive Industry

Rapid installation of MOCVD base

Rising Use of MCOVD in the Manufacturing of Multilayer Semiconductor Structure

Escalating Use of Advanced Medical Equipment Challenges High Cost Associated with MOCVD Manufacturing

Health Concerns Associated with MOCVD Manufacturing Trends Increasing Penetration of AI applications

Growing Global Demand For Photovoltaic Cells

Growing Popularity of Micro-LEDs Driver: Increased Demand for Consumer Electronic Devices Rising demand for smartphones, artificial intelligence, and voice recognition technologies, as well as the replacement cycles and falling prices of various electronics devices, are some of the primary drivers of future consumer electronics growth. The surge in demand for consumer electronics is directly impacting the growth in MOCVD market, especially due to growth in demand for semiconductor market, which is a major end-user of MOCVD market. Most of the consumer electronics devices use semiconductor devices such as memory chips, microprocessors, commodity integrated circuit, etc., these semiconductors are grown using MOCVD as their raw material. Therefore, demand for consumer electronic goods have a positive effect on the growth of MOCVD market in recent years. Challenge: Health Concerns Associated with MOCVD Manufacturing MOCVD precursors are very hazardous. Carbon contamination and unintentional hydrogen incorporation are a major problem in MOCVD. This results in unintentional p-type doping. So for proper doping, the proper V/III ratio is chosen and the suitable amount of carbon gas is injected to remove out CH3 or C2H5 groups for removing contamination. Also, as the human body absorbs organic compounds very easily, the metal organics are very easily absorbed by humans. Once in the body, the weak metal organic bond is easily broken, thus, poisoning the body with heavy metals that often cannot be easily removed by normal bodily functions. Therefore, one drawback of MOCVD is the toxic and explosive nature of the precursor gases, which makes them difficult to use. Trend: Increasing Penetration of AI applications AI has grown in popularity as a result of greater data quantities, improved algorithms, and advancements in processing power and storage. Robotic process automation will shorten the time required to accomplish repeated operations, making the strategy less burdensome and more successful. AI-powered smartphone applications and other mediums will aid in determining what people desire. Data-driven insights result in more tailored solutions and better engagement. The benefits of AI would be driving the demand for AI devices which would require installation of components such as microelectronics, laser, LED lighting & chips, and even transistors, which would increase the demand for MOCVD used in manufacturing such components in coming future. Company Profiles Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment

Agnitron Technology

AIXTRON

Alliance MOCVD

CVD Equipment

JUSUNG Engineering

Nichia Corporation

Nippon Sanso Holding

Qingdao Jason Electric

Samco

Toshiba

Veeco Instruments For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/467n53 About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-metal-organic-chemical-vapor-deposition-market-trends--forecast-to-2026---increasing-penetration-of-ai-applications-growing-global-demand-for-photovoltaic-cells-and-growing-popularity-of-micro-leds-302003088.html SOURCE Research and Markets

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Communications Services, Inc. Joins MCA Tweet

MCA Expands Presence in Tennessee SPARTANBURG, S.C., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile Communications America, Inc. ("MCA"), the leading provider of wireless communication solutions that enhance the safety, security, and operating efficiency of workplaces today, announces the acquisition of Communications Services, Inc. ("CSI"), an established Motorola Service Shop in Lawrenceburg TN, founded in 1993. CSI's owner since 2014, Pete Bottoms, was delighted to announce the next step for the company. He stated, "I am excited for the next chapter, being able to partner with a company with the same customer-first philosophy and one that holds the same family values. Given MCA's access to more products and services, we look forward to expanding our offerings and providing the best solution possible for our current and future customers' needs. We are excited for the future." Vince Foody, CEO of MCA, added, "We are very happy to welcome the CSI team to the MCA family. Thir expertise in wireless communications, combined with their service-first values, is an excellent strategic fit with MCA."



The addition of CSI strengthens MCA's footprint in Tennessee. About MCA: Mobile Communications America, Inc. (MCA) provides wireless communication, data and security solutions that enhance the safety, security, and efficiency of workplaces across the nation. ?Customers trust us to provide a portfolio of turn-key systems, products, and services  including two-way radio communications, vehicle uplift, security video and access control systems, BDA/DAS, remote monitoring, GPS tracking, SCADA, dispatch, mass notification, and point-to-point wireless networks. Our more than 65,000 customers span industries such as public safety, commercial, manufacturing, education, healthcare, utilities, and government. In addition to being the largest Motorola partner in the U.S., MCA has strategic partnerships with over 1,000 major manufacturers to offer an extensive portfolio of products and technologies. www.callmc.com

Media Contact:

Lauren Santilli

864-504-7869

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/communications-services-inc-joins-mca-302003481.html SOURCE MCA

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Statement of Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb Regarding Appellate Court's Affirmance of Convictions and Sentence of Jussie Smollett Tweet

Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb and Winston & Strawn LLP are pleased that the appellate court has affirmed Jussie Smollett's felony convictions and sentence, including his term of incarceration and the full restitution owed to the City of Chicago of over $130,000 for overtime costs in investigating the staged fake hate crime. Special Prosecutor Dan. K. Webb stated as follows: "As the appellate court noted, Mr. Smollett 'challenge[d] virtually every aspect of' the prosecution, and the appellate court correctly rejected each and every one of those challenges. Today's decision is a validation of Winston & Strawn's tireless work on this matter and a resounding victory for justice. We are proud to have prevailed in a case that, we believe, can help restore the public's confidence in the Cook County justice system." "When Judge Michael B. Toomin appointed me as Special Prosecutor in the Smollett case, the firm debated internally and determined that taking the case-and doing so pro bono with no compensation to the firm-was simply the right thing to do. It was a unique opportunity for a major law firm to give back to a community whose faithin the local justice system had been shaken by how poorly the Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) had first handled the Smollett matter. Winston & Strawn has always had a deep dedication to pro bono service, and this appointment was one more way we could serve our community and restore the public's faith in the state's criminal justice system."



"Our lawyers devoted over 4 years and more than 15,000 hours examining the original Smollett investigation and bringing renewed charges against him. After that worthwhile effort yielded a conviction on five counts of felony disorderly conduct at the trial level, we could not be more gratified that justice has been served once again." "The appellate court's decision affirms that the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate Mr. Smollett's staged fake hate crime was justified. As the court also concluded, the record clearly established that Mr. Smollett did not enter into a non-prosecution agreement with the CCSAO that barred another prosecution for the same offense. In fact, the appellate court held that there was 'no ambiguity' as to what occurred between Mr. Smollett and the CCSAO, which 'only agreed to nol-pros the charges against Smollett.' Given the absence of a non-prosecution agreement, the appellate court correctly found that 'reprosecuting Smollett was not fundamentally unfair.' We respectfully disagree with the dissenting justice's opinion and its conclusions, which the appellate court noted were unsupported by the trial court record and Illinois law."

"I want to provide a special thanks to Deputy Special Prosecutors Sean G. Wieber, Samuel Mendenhall, and the entire team at Winston & Strawn who assisted in this matter, for all of their dedication and efforts over the years that has led to this result. We hope this decision will reassure the community that our legal system is fair, just, and impartial." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201277164/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Insigneo has successfully completed the acquisition of PNC's Latin American Brokerage and Advisory Business Tweet

Insigneo, a prominent global wealth management firm, has successfully completed the acquisition of the Latin American consumer brokerage and advisory accounts of PNC Investments, PNC Managed Account Solutions, and PNC Bank. This strategic move, initially announced on August 22, 2023, represents an important milestone for Insigneo, as it expands its Mexican client base as well as its geographic footprint by establishing new offices in Texas. This transaction underscores Insigneo's commitment to international wealth management. Insigneo has been gaining significant ground by emphasizing client service, leveraging state-of-the-art technology, and focusing on continuous innovation. Clients who were part of PNC's Latin America brokerage and advisory business will now enjoy all the benefits of Insigneo's focused global wealth management approach and international capabilities. Raul Henriquez, Chairman, and CEO of Insigneo Financial Group, expressed his enthusiasm about the successful completion of the transaction, stating, "The acquisition of PNC's Latin American brokerage and advisory business underscores Insigneo's cmmitment to global wealth management. We recognize the importance and relevance of the Mexican market and see this as a strategic move to immediately establish a relevant presence in that market, while positioning Insigneo to harness new opportunities in the region."



The closing of this transaction solidifies Insigneo's leadership in the global wealth management industry. The company remains focused on its alternative business model while driving growth through successful strategic M&A activities, a commitment further underscored by the recent appointment of Carlos Mejia as Head of Mergers and Acquisitions. Javier Rivero, President, and COO of Insigneo Securities and Insigneo International Financial Services, added, "Both parties worked diligently and efficiently during this time focused on a smooth transition. Insigneo welcomes all incoming employees, investment professionals, and their clients to our growing firm."

About Insigneo: Insigneo is a leading international wealth management firm providing services and technologies that empower investment professionals to successfully serve their clients globally. Insigneo leverages its customized solutions, client-first service, and custodial relationship with BNY Mellon's Pershing to provide a fully integrated, best-in-class wealth management platform. With over $21B in supported customer assets, Insigneo empowers more than 440 investment professionals serving over 30,000 clients. For more information, visit www.insigneo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201651113/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Two Seasoned Women Advisors Seeking a Client-Centric and Servant Leader Culture that Champions Women in Leadership join SAGE Private Wealth Group Tweet

SAGE Private Wealth Group, a registered investment advisory firm, is delighted to announce the addition of accomplished women leaders to its growing team. Kristi Wano and Christina Castrejon join SAGE PWG as Senior Vice Presidents -Senior Wealth Advisors. Wano and Castrejon serve as role models, actively contributing to initiatives that empower women in an industry known for lacking diversity. Kristi Wano is a veteran advisor having previously served as a VP Senior Wealth Advisor with Calamos and as Director and Private Wealth Advisor at BMO Private Bank, where she managed client relationships exceeding $400 million. Wano is renowned for her commitment to advising clients in solving complex problems and achieving long-term wealth objectives. She also dedicates her time as a board member of the local chapter of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), as well as the Waubonsee Community College Foundation. "I chose SAGE PWG after months of due diligence to identify an organization with a culture that is both client-centric and provides opportunities for women advisors to continue growing and pioneering in their careers," said Wano about her decision. Christina Castrejon CFP, also a former VP Senior Wealth Advisor at Calamos, was recognized in InvestmentNews' 2017 40 Under 40. Castrejon' accomplishments stem from her leadership, contributions to the financial advisory industry and a commitment to empowerment. She co-led a "Women & Wealth" initiative, advocating for women's financial education. Castrejon was also a contributing writer for Chicago Woman magazine, actively promoting financial literacy. Her dedication extends to the Chicago Chapter of Step Up, empowering girls in under-resourced communities, and as a mentor for the CFP Board's WIN-to-WIN program. "We believe deeply that our clients always deserve our absolute best. Therefore, we need the tools and resources to keep up with our clients' evolving needs - SAGE PWG provides those resources while also providing a pathway for our professional growth," said Castrejon.



"We are thrilled to welcome Kristi and Christina to our team. Their extensive experience, leadership and commitment to client success align perfectly with our core values & culture. We have always been committed to championing women in our industry recognizing and valuing their unique strengths and insights," said Khaled A. Taha, Managing Partner of SAGE PWG. About SAGE Private Wealth Group:

Working with clients nationwide to grow and preserve their investment legacy, SAGE is committed to making an amplified impact in the lives of their team, clients, and the community. They embody the ethos of "Doing well while doing good" through their SAGE PWG Foundation, supporting women and children through education and access to capital. Learn more at www.SAGEprivatewealth.com and www.SAGEpwgfoundation.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201437420/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Whistleblowers Reveal Disturbing Details of Houston-Area Massage Envy Sexual Assaults as More Women Come Forward Tweet

Three more women have filed a lawsuit saying they were sexually assaulted by a massage therapist at a Massage Envy franchise in Conroe. That follows last month's $1 million settlement of two other sexual assault cases tied to the same massage therapist at the same Massage Envy location. In the latest legal case, former employees have come forward with proof of a cover-up by Massage Envy that allowed a number of additional women to become victims. Click here to view the new lawsuit. Defendants in the case are the Massage Envy franchise in Conroe, Massage Envy's corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and former massage therapist Jose "Joe" Barajas Franco. Authorities in Montgomery County charged Mr. Franco with felony sexual assault based on the two earlier cases. He is free o bond while awaiting trial.



The latest victims, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Does 1-3, say the attacker failed to keep them properly covered during their massage sessions and touched them inappropriately. All three women contacted police. In addition, the lawsuit reveals that multiple former employees reported receiving dozens of similar complaints about Mr. Franco prior to his termination. Although staff members documented the complaints, they say their notes were subsequently deleted from the Massage Envy computer system.

"It is clear to me that franchise owner Mack Miller enabled a predator by ignoring a cascade of complaints about this therapist," said trial lawyer Anna Greenberg of Blizzard Greenberg PLLC. "What the whistleblowers show is that there was an extensive cover-up to protect the brand and ensure that other unsuspecting women would not become aware of the danger. Already, we know of at least five women who were assaulted. The question is whether there are more cases, since sexual assaults often go unreported." In one instance, a former employee says she consoled a distressed woman who said Mr. Franco had just sexually assaulted her during a massage. According to the lawsuit, the employee notified management, who never documented the complaint in Mr. Franco's personnel file, nor conducted an investigation. The case is Jane Doe 1 et al. v FBE Ventures, Inc. et al., cause number 2023-83026 in Harris County District Court. About Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC Blizzard Greenberg, PLLC, is an award-winning national trial firm with more than 40 years of experience handling complex legal issues involving pharmaceutical and personal injury cases. For more information, visit www.blizzardlaw.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201812028/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] Dutchess County, NY dubbed 'heart' of semiconductor industry on heels of onsemi's $1.3 billion investment Tweet

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dutchess County is playing a pivotal role in New York's emergence as one of the leading states in semiconductor production, thanks to a series of major investments from industry giants. The County's commitment to fostering technological innovation and workforce development recently prompted site selection publication Business Facilities to name the region the 'heart' of the burgeoning semiconductor industry. Earlier this year, global semiconductor solutions provider onsemi announced plans to invest $1.3 billion into its East Fishkill site, making it the company's largest and most advanced facility. Additionally, the intersection of strategic initiatives and national recognition, including the CHIPS Act, a historic $20 billion investment by IBM and notable visits by President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, is further propelling Dutchess County to the forefront of semiconductor research and manufacturing.



During his visit to IBM's Poughkeepsie facility, President Biden praised the company's commitment to taking American manufacturing into the future. He highlighted the substantial investment, emphasizing its role in strengthening semiconductor chip manufacturing and driving advancements in mainframe technology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing over the next decade. To ensure that companies like IBM and onsemi have the skilled talent they need to accompany these historic investments, Dutchess County has made on-the-job training and accessible workforce development a top priority. Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona's visit to the new, state-of-the-art Mechatronics Lab at Dutchess Community College reinforced the federal government's support for educational initiatives that align with the needs of a rapidly evolving technology landscape. A $3 million investment, this lab is the first of its kind in the mid-Hudson region and a vital component in Dutchess County's trajectory as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technology.

"The Mechatronics Lab is a result of the collaborative spirit that drives Dutchess County's business community and our dedication to developing a skilled workforce," said Sarah Lee, CEO of Think Dutchess Alliance for Business. "As global industry leaders like onsemi, IBM and AMD continue to grow their businesses here, we're building a deep talent bench that will drive innovation and economic growth in the region." As Dutchess County continues to build on its momentum in the semiconductor industry, the collaborative efforts of public and private stakeholders are driving economic growth and positioning the region as a leader in advanced manufacturing and technology. For more information on the growth of Dutchess County's semiconductor industry, visit thinkdutchess.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dutchess-county-ny-dubbed-heart-of-semiconductor-industry-on-heels-of-onsemis-1-3-billion-investment-302003505.html SOURCE Think Dutchess Alliance For Business

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[December 01, 2023] OPSENS' SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE ARRANGEMENT WITH HAEMONETICS Tweet

All amounts in this press release are in Canadian dollars. QUEBEC CITY, Dec. 1, 2023 /CNW/ - OpSens Inc. ("OpSens" or the "Corporation") (TSX: OPS) (OTCQX: OPSSF), a medical device cardiology-focused company delivering innovative solutions based on its proprietary optical technology, is pleased to announce that its shareholders (the "Shareholders") have approved the previously announced acquisition by Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE) of all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of OpSens (the "Shares") for $2.90 in cash per Share, pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (Quebec). At the special meeting of Shareholders held earlier today (the "Meeting"), the Arrangement was approved by approximately 97.96 % of the votes cast by Shareholders present virtually or represented by proxy at the Meeting. The report of voting results is available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Subject to receiving the final order of the Superior Court of Quebec and satisfaction of customary closing conditions, it is currently expected that the Arrangement will be completed by mid-December 2023. The terms of the Arrangement and the arrangement agreement between the Corporation, Haemonetics Corporation and 9500-7704 Quebec Inc. dated October 10, 2023 (the "Arrangement Agreement") are further described in the Management Information Circular and related materials for the Meeting, all of which are available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . Cautionary Note and Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") which are based upon the Corporation's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Words such as "expect," "believe," "plan," "project," "assume," "likely," "may," "will," "should," "intend," "anticipate," "potential," "proposed," "estimate," and other similar words or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and conditional, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include such words. No assurance can be given that the expectations in any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct and, as such, the forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. Forward-looking statements include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements and comments with respect to the terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement, the anticipated timing and the various steps to be completed in connection with the Arrangement, including receipt of court approval and the anticipated timing of closing of the Arrangement. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based uponcertain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, as well as, without limitation: that the Arrangement will be completed on the terms currently contemplated, and in accordance with the timing currently expected; and that all conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, including court approval of the Arrangement, will be satisfied or waived and the Arrangement Agreement will not be terminated prior to the completion of the Arrangement.



Forward-looking statements, by their nature, require the Corporation to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Moreover, the proposed Arrangement could be modified or the Arrangement Agreement terminated in accordance with its terms. Actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained herein due to, without limitation: (a) the failure of the parties to obtain the required court approval or to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, and failure of the parties to obtain such approval or satisfy such conditions in a timely manner; (b) significant Arrangement costs or unknown liabilities; (c) litigation relating to the Arrangement may be commenced which may prevent or delay completion of the Arrangement, or give rise to significant costs or liabilities; (d) the Arrangement Agreement may be terminated prior to its consummation; (e) the Corporation may be required to pay a termination fee to Haemonetics Corporation and 9500-7704 Quebec Inc. in certain circumstances if the Arrangement is not completed; (f) the focus of management's time and attention on the Arrangement may detract from other aspects of the Corporation's business; (g) general economic conditions; (h) the market price of the Shares may be materially adversely affected if the Arrangement is not completed or its completion is materially delayed; and (i) failure to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. The Corporation considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on all currently available information but cautions the reader that these assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond its control, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect the Corporation and its business.

Failure to obtain the necessary court approval, or such approval being obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated, or failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. If the Arrangement is not completed, and the Corporation continues as a publicly-traded entity, there are risks that the announcement of the Arrangement and the dedication of substantial resources of the Corporation to the completion of the Arrangement could have an impact on its business and strategic relationships (including with future and prospective employees, customers, suppliers and partners), operating results and activities in general, and could have a material adverse effect on its current and future operations, financial condition and prospects. Furthermore, pursuant to the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, the Corporation may, in certain circumstances, be required to pay a fee to Haemonetics Corporation and 9500-7704 Quebec Inc., the result of which could have an adverse effect on its financial position. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information about the risk factors to which the Corporation is exposed are provided in the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated November 21, 2023, which is available on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ). Although the Corporation 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 forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements set forth herein reflect the Corporation's expectations as of the date hereof, and are subject to change after this date. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. About OpSens Inc. ( www.OpSens.com or www.OpSensmedical.com ) OpSens focuses mainly on cardiology. The Corporation offers an advanced optical-based pressure guidewire that aims at improving the clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease. Its flagship product, the OptoWire, is a second-generation fiber optic pressure guidewire designed to provide the lowest drift in the industry and excellent lesions access. The OptoWire has been used in the diagnosis and treatment of more than 250,000 patients in more than 30 countries. It is approved for sale in the U.S., the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. OpSens has received FDA clearance and Health Canada approval to commercialize the SavvyWire for transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures (TAVR). This unique guidewire is a 3-in-1 solution for stable aortic valve delivery and positioning, continuous accurate hemodynamic measurement during the procedure, and reliable left ventricular pacing without the need for adjunct devices or venous access. OpSens' SavvyWire is on trend with a minimalist approach to TAVR and advances the procedure, allowing patients to leave the hospital earlier, sometimes the same day. The TAVR procedure is growing rapidly globally, driven by the aging population and recent studies that demonstrate its benefits for a broader array of patients. The global TAVR market is expected to reach over 400,000 in 2025 and over 600,000 in 2030. OpSens is also involved in industrial activities in developing, manufacturing, and installing innovative fiber optic sensing solutions for critical applications. SOURCE OpSens Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent inspection tour in Shanghai sent a clear message that China will continue to promote finance to better serve the real economy, strengthen scientific and technological innovation and adhere to the people-centered approach in urban development.

During his tour from Tuesday to Wednesday, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community.

This marks Xi's sixth visit since 2012 to Shanghai, a vanguard of reform and opening-up and pioneer of innovative development.

SERVE REAL ECONOMY

The president's visit to the Shanghai Futures Exchange came less than a month after the central financial work conference held in Beijing called for promoting the high-quality development of China's financial industry and building up the country's financial strength.

Located in the Pudong New Area, the exchange is an important part of Shanghai's efforts to become an international financial center, and has played a crucial role in serving the real economy and safeguarding national economic and financial security.

Since the exchange's establishment in 1999, the types of futures and options traded on it have expanded from three to 32.

Xi once inspected the exchange in 2007 when he worked as Shanghai's Party secretary. Regarded as a novelty at the time, the exchange now has enjoyed a pivotal position in Asian and even global futures market.

The "Shanghai prices", such as "Shanghai crude", "Shanghai copper", and "Shanghai gold", have become more recognized in the global commodity markets.

Xi stressed that the primary goal of financial industry development is to serve the real economy.

China should increase its influence in bulk commodity pricing to better serve and lead the development of the real economy, Xi said when delivering a speech at a gathering celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pudong's development and opening-up in 2020.

SCI-TECH INNOVATION UNDER SPOTLIGHT

During the inspection tour, Xi also visited an exhibition in Zhangjiang Science City in Pudong, to learn about the municipality's sci-tech innovations and achievements in the past 10 years and its efforts to develop into an international sci-tech innovation center with global impact.

China's first homegrown large jetliner C919, first domestically-built large cruise ship -- the "Adora Magic City," and China's space station lab module Mengtian, are among examples of Shanghai's achievements in sci-tech innovation.

By 2025, Shanghai's expenditure on research and development is expected to account for around 4.5 percent of the city's gross domestic product, according to a city plan.

It also aims to host more than 26,000 high-tech enterprises and about 560 foreign-funded research and development centers by 2025.

Apart from boosting its own tech prowess, Shanghai's robust sci-tech progress is also conducive to strengthening the integrated industrial and technological innovation in the whole Yangtze River Delta region that also covers the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui.

The economic aggregate of the Yangtze River Delta was 29 trillion yuan (about 4.08 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the country's total.

While chairing a symposium on advancing the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta on Thursday, Xi said the region should become a source of sci-tech innovation by integrating sci-tech innovation forces and advantageous resources across regions and departments, and participate in international sci-tech cooperation to create a globally competitive ecosystem for innovation.

PEOPLE-CENTERED URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Another highlight of Xi's inspection tour was his visit to a residential community in Minhang District, dedicated to providing affordable rental housing for new urban dwellers and young people.

Housing affordability is taken into full consideration in Shanghai's affordable rental housing system, with a variety of rental types available ranging from a bed in a dorm room, a private room to an apartment.

To create a more livable environment for tenants, the residential communities are also outfitted with various service facilities such as shared kitchens, cafes, gyms and convenience stores.

Xi has more than once emphasized the need to prioritize livability in urban development and leave the best resources to the people.

During the Thursday symposium, Xi stressed the need to enhance the modern governance capacity of cities and accelerate the building of resilient cities.

Back in 2019 when he visited Yangpu District of Shanghai, he said be it new town construction or old town renovation, a people-centered approach must be upheld and the public's needs must be focused on. "The cities are built by the people and are for the people." 
[December 01, 2023] Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation Invests $300,000 in Housing Works' Digital Food Market Expansion Tweet

On World AIDS Day, Housing Works, the nation's largest community-based AIDS Service Organization, announced a substantial $300,000 investment from Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation over three years. This collaboration aims to extend the reach of Housing Works' "digital food market," powered by Tangelo, enhancing access to nutritious meals for food-insecure New Yorkers, especially those with chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS. Digital food market clients receive two free food boxes monthly for a year, with the option to use SNAP benefits thereafter. Clients are given personalized food options, empowering them to make choices tailored to their health conditions, cultural preferences, and kitchen access. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201566831/en/ Housing Works, a founding member of EngageWell IPA, utilizes the Care Your Way initiative, a multifaceted healthcare transformation pilot project led by Housing Works together with EngageWell, a NYC-based network of 20 nonprofit organizations. The digital food bank is part of this initiative, addressing food insecurity and food-sensitive illnesses among low-income New Yorkers, particularly in communities of color within EngageWell's network. Naomi Harris Tolson, Vice President of Healthcare Innovation at Housing Works, Inc. said that "Access to healthy food is a human right and food is medicine! Care Your Way has modernized the food safety-net, providing streamlined access to healthy food for clients who need it most. The digital food platform empowers clients to choose healthy food with dignity, delivered right to their door." With over 89% of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS facing food insecurity, the Care Your Way program is pivotal in bridging this gap amid a 14% increase in HIV diagnoses in NYC from 2020 to 2021. According to Christopher Joseph, EngageWell's Executive Director, "ending the HIV epidemic and breaking the link between poverty, structural racism, and poor health, which is the mission of our growing network, can only be achieved by prioritizing evidence-based interventions that reach New York City's most vulnerable communities and that can be scaled easily." "As part of our mission to improve the health of New Yorkers and eliminate health inequities, Empire is committed to expanding access to nutritious food options across our local communities," said Dr. Mark Levy, President and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus. "Our collaboration with EngageWell and Housing Works reflects our shared commitment to innovative programming that treats food as medicine particularly for individuals managing chronic conditions."



The Care Your Way initiative addresses socioeconomic barriers like food insecurity and medication adherence through an integrated care model that prioritizes patient choice in care and treatment methods. This hybrid approach aims to increase patient satisfaction, improve engagement in preventive care, and reduce avoidable healthcare spending. EngageWell ensures comprehensive wraparound patient support through various partnerships, and looking ahead, the initiative may scale its work through the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Program. Johanne Morne, Acting Executive Deputy Commissioner at the New York State Department of Health, emphasized in her 2022 Call to Action Letter the importance of addressing larger social issues, aligning with the holistic approach of Care Your Way, contributing to the broader goals of the Ending the Epidemic (EtE) initiative.

Elevance Health, the parent company of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, will invest up to $30 million over three years through the Elevance Health Foundation to address food insecurity and promote optimal health through good nutrition. As of September 2023, over $27 million in food as medicine grants has been awarded nationwide. Empire BlueCross BlueShield will be known as Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, effective January 1, 2024. About Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation The Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation, the trade name of the Elevance Health Foundation, serves residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State. The Foundation works to address health equity by focusing on improving the health of the socially vulnerable through strategic partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal child health; mental health; and food as medicine. Additionally, the Foundation also responds to disasters when our communities need us the most. The Foundation coordinates the company's year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates' donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. To learn more about the Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation and the Elevance Health Foundation, please visit www.elevancehealth.foundation and its blog at www.medium.com/elevancehealthfoundation. About EngageWell IPA EngageWell IPA is a leading healthcare organization created in 2017 by New York City not-for-profit organizations working together to offer coordinated, integrated treatment options that include addressing social determinants of health-housing, nutrition, economic security. Through innovative clinical care models and strategic partnerships, EngageWell strives to create a more equitable healthcare system that addresses health disparities and improves the health and wellbeing of historically disenfranchised communities. About Housing Works, Inc. Housing Works is a founding member of EngageWell and will receive and administer Empire BlueCross BlueShield 'food as medicine' funding on behalf of the IPA. For over 25 years, Housing Works has strived to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts. Our 12 Thrift Shops and signature events directly benefit our trailblazing work in grassroots activism, healthcare, and housing. Housing Works led the way during the height of the AIDS crisis in New York City and continues to lead resistance efforts across the country in this current political climate. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201566831/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
A quick point of reference . . .

We feel like social media and public education are letting down the urban NextGen.

As a community resource . . . We want to offer this quick fact check:

ROBBING U.S. POSTAL WORKERS IS DUMB BECAUSE IT IMMEDIATELY SPARKS FEDERAL INVESTIGAITON!!!



Brighter minds figured this out long ago but it seems this common knowledge is no longer part of the discourse on social media apps.

Here's the thing . . . Mansplained using a deeper than necessary tone of voice . . .



Post Office workers are putting their life on the line every day by walking dangerous streets and delivering the mail. Love it or hate it . . . The mail is one of the many ways that the government establishes a "society" that's worthy of maintaining.

And so . . .

The penalties for screwing with the mail NEVER justify any reward . . . Another cruel reality, most USPS items are junk, bills and/or offers to sell homes at cut rate prices.

The bright side . . . Somebody might make a pretty penny for turning in these not-so-bright local crooks:



The suspects, described as two black males, were dressed in black and wearing masks and gloves.

One of the suspects, armed with a handgun, hit the postal carrier and stole postal keys.



If you have any information about this case, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455, mention Law Enforcement, and reference Case No. 4196090.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Again . . . Maybe the public education system in Kansas City is REALLY responsible for this crisis in the making given that so many locals don't know how basic economics worse.

Here's our best effort to explain . . .

Municipal over-regulation like rent control along with sanctions & moratoriums on legit evictions only serve to drive affordable housing providers out of the market. The end result: Mainly properties at the ultra high-end or government subsidized housing projects.

It's as simple as that . . . This kind of nightmarish situation isn't theoretical in places like Manhattan, NYC or San Francisco . . . Progressives have tinkered with housing so much that many neighborhoods can only sustain millionaires and homeless people.



And so . . . As we slouch toward an election year . . . Mayor Q is pushing bad policy that threatens to worsen the housing crisis in Kansas City . . . Here's the proof and a passage from today's news . . .



"Now KC Tenants is trying again, hoping that the new council elected last summer will pass an ordinance introduced Thursday that not only prohibits landlords from taking into consideration a potential renters source of income, but also from screening out tenants based solely on measures of their financial stability or past history as a renter.



"The ordinance would impose a $1,000 penalty for each violation. Repeat offenders would be required to take and pay for courses on how to comply with the ordinance, among other requirements.



"Among the six co-sponsors is Lucas, who was instrumental in getting the Tenants Bill of Rights passed in December 2019 by removing that provision from the legislation during the contentious, two-month process to get the rest of it passed."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Under proposed law, Kansas City would require landlords to accept rental vouchers Mayor Quinton Lucas cosponsored a Kansas City law that would ban landlords from refusing to rent to tenants based on source of income, record.

New Historic KC Housing Law Would Ban "Source of Income Discrimination" In a historic move, KC Tenants and Mayor Quinton Lucas have introduced an ordinance in Kansas City to ban 'Source of Income Discrimination' in housing, marking a pivotal moment for housing justice and community inclusivity.

Developing . . .
Context . . .

A local activist demanded a name change on this street and hoped to change it to "Truth Avenue" which sounds like corny setting from a bad detective novel.

Turns out a survey revealed that residents along this corridor opposed the name-change.

Tonight . . .

Gunfire pushes this town closer to ANOTHER record-breaking total and past last year's 2nd highest count for KCMO homicides.



Here's the first report . . .



Homicide 11700 Block of Troost



On 11/30/2023 just after 3 pm, officers were dispatched to 11700 block of Troost Ave on a reported EMS event. While enroute the call was updated to a possible shooting.



Upon arrival, officers were directed inside the residence and located an adult male inside the residence suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. EMS arrived on scene and subsequently pronounced the victim deceased.



The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown. There is subject of interest in custody and we have no reason to believe there is an immediate risk to the public.



Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel have responded to the scene. They will be processing the scene to recover any evidence and speaking to any potential witnesses.



Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 816-234-5043. Or if you wish to remain anonymous you can do so by calling the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.



There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information provided to TIPS which leads to an arrest in the case.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

#################



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City police investigating homicide on Troost Avenue The homicide total is two more than than the total at this point in 2020, which was the deadliest year on record for Kansas City.

KCPD investigates fatal shooting Thursday afternoon in south KCMO Police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in south Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday afternoon, according to a spokesperson with KCPD.

Police responding to homicide in south Kansas City Officers stated the crime scene is in the 11700 block of Troost Avenue.

One man killed, another in custody in south Kansas City shooting: police One man is dead and another is in custody Thursday afternoon after a shooting near E. 117th Street and Troost Avenue in south Kansas City.

Developing . . .
Lots of info here for close readers of the blog as we check local crime reporting, alleged misdeeds and court case outcomes.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Man charged with murder following November shooting in KCMO A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder following a shooting on Nov. 18.

Woman who assisted career criminal convicted of robbing teen A 47-year-old Platte County woman was convicted by a jury Thursday of helping a five-time felon steal a teen's ATM card at knifepoint.

Suspect charged with fatal shooting of man found behind home in east Kansas City Officers say they were called to the homicide scene around 11 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the area of 24th Street. and Lawn Avenue

California man sentenced to 8 years in prison for drug trafficking On Thursday, a California man was sentenced to eight years in prison for traveling with more than two and a half pounds of cocaine while passing through Kansas City, Mo by bus.

Man allegedly connected to Topeka homicide found by Kansas City police TOPEKA (KSNT) - Police have located a man in Kansas City, Kansas who is believed to be connected to a homicide investigation in Topeka. City of Topeka spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker said in a pr...

Attorney refuses to turn over Gideon Cody's texts/emails: 'He and his personal cellphone have left the state' Jennifer Hill, attorney for the city of Marion and Gideon Cody refuses to turn over Cody's texts and emails. Hill said Cody "and his cellphone have left the state."

Multidisciplinary Task Force aims to reduce crime on the Avenue Michael Bushnell Reporter Representatives from over a dozen city departments were joined by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and City [...]

Developing . . .
We read this one twice and we can't help but think she's a bit biased in favor of student protesters.

Here's the most objective passage we could find from the progressive lady newsie who, thankfully, garnered an opportunity to cover something other than Latino issues . . .



Some charge that whats happening to the Palestinians is genocide. Others use the phrase ethnic cleansing. Similarly, some call Hamas terrorists, others avoid the label.



More than 14,000 Palestinians have died in the recent Israeli attacks, the majority women and children, according to reporting by the New York Times.



The firebombing in the Gaza Strip by Israeli Defense Forces began after the killing of 1,200 Israelis in the attacks by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Tonight's life lesson in social justice activism following an alleged felony assault . . . Check-it:



About 200 people gathered outside Shawnee Mission Schools, expressing their outrage and demanding action from school administrators.



School district spokesperson David A. Smith emphasized the need for a "safe and welcoming environment" for all students and staff.



"We have to make sure that our students and our staff feel like this is a safe environment where everyone feels welcome and supported," Smith said.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Shawnee Mission School District students rally against racism following attack at Shawnee Mission East Students at the Shawnee Mission School District demonstrated for the third time this week after a racial slur and fight at Shawnee Mission East High School.

'Have our backs', Shawnee Mission students rally for accountability following racist attack The racist attack on Bre'yanna Brown, a Black sophomore at Shawnee Mission East, prompted students to organize several rallies on Thursday to get the school district's attention.

Teen, family speak out after racial slurs led to fight at Shawnee Mission East The white male Shawnee Mission East student who fought with Brey'anna Brown faces a felony aggravated battery charge.

Also, the story made NBC Nightly News . . .
Racially charged social media sparked this local student solidarity movement . . . Here's the backstory:



Student organizers said as many as 1,000 students took part in the Erase the Hate initiative at Shawnee Mission South High School.



The peaceful demonstration is in response to video of a fight at Shawnee Mission East High School.



The video shows a white, 15-year-old student yelling an expletive at a Black classmate. The confrontation happened in a school hallway. The boy then shouted the N-word and pushed the girl. The two teenagers fought before other students appear to break up the fight.



The Johnson County District Attorneys Office charged the 15-year-old male student with unlawfully, feloniously and knowingly causing great bodily harm to another person or disfigurement of another person.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Hundreds of Shawnee Mission South students walk out in show of support Shawnee Mission South High School students walk out of class to show support for Shawnee Mission East after video shows a racially-charged fight between two classmates.

Students call for Shawnee Mission East to expel student A 15-year-old white male student at Shawnee Mission East High School called a female black student the N-word, before charging her on Nov. 15.

Developing . . .
A bit of posturing here . . . KCMO is already working on this "demand" and this story just kind of reminds us that 12th & Oak leaders continue to employ political shock troops to push their agenda.

Check-it . . .



"There are a lot of tenants and residents in Kansas City whose first language isn't English and it's extremely difficult for them to access basic services like the health department," explained Wilson Vance with KC Tenants. "We believe that language access is a human right."



More than 57,000 people over the age of 5 in Kansas City speak a language other than English at home, according to the American Community Survey.



Over the summer, city council created a resolution tasking the city manager to come up with a plan to create a language access program for city residents.



KC Tenants says its role is to help the government gain crucial feedback from people closely impacted by the lack of language services, so they can tailor a program that meets their needs.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
QUITO, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who took office last week, swore in new chiefs of the armed forces on Thursday and called on them to work closely with the government in the "war" against rampant crime.

"I appeal to you ... to fight for Ecuador, to work together with this government for a country that is seriously wounded and submerged in violence, where inequalities have become a totally negative constant," Noboa said during the swearing-in ceremony at the Carondelet Palace in Quito.

The president renewed the military leadership this week by decree, appointing a new head of the Armed Forces Joint Command, as well as new commanders of the army, air force and navy.

He expressed his full confidence in the capacity of the new military authorities, as well as in Defense Minister Giancarlo Loffredo, a security and martial arts expert with extensive anti-terrorist training.

Loffredo welcomed the new appointments, saying "every society sooner or later needs to reinvent itself" and the government must focus its efforts "on a single enemy: crime."

The South American country is experiencing an escalation of violence, which the government has blamed on criminal organizations involved in extortion, murder, robbery and other crimes. 
Greece is without a doubt one of the most popular countries in the world in terms of tourist destinations. There is much to see and love in this European country, including its food, culture, and tourist attractions.

This Mediterranean nation has much to offer any kind of traveler, even those who are more after outdoor activities and being around nature. One such destination in Greece that outdoor lovers shouldn't miss out on is the Nestos River.

A river shared by both Greece and Bulgaria, those in Greece can head to the area of Xanthi to see this majestic river where multiple outdoor activities can be enjoyed.

Nestos River as a Hiking Destination

For avid hikers out there, there is a hiking trail that stretches from from Toxotes to Stavroupoli and crosses the Nestos River. You don't have to worry about rough roads initially as the first section of the trail is actually stone-built.

Expect the hike to last for around seven to eight hours. It may be long, but it is a fairly easy hike. You can likewise expect to pass some local villages, such as Kromniko and Livera.

If you're the type to enjoy taking photos of nature, you will also find willow, plane and cedar trees, wildflowers, orchids, and even lilacs along the way. Bird watching is another activity you can enjoy along the way as herons, eagles, and even vultures can be spotted as you go.

Read Also: World's Best Beaches for Family Outdoor Activities, Backpackers, and Adventure

Water Activities to Enjoy

If you enjoy being in the water more than doing activities on land, you can opt for tours that allow you to go kayaking or rafting. There are two courses that you can take. One is the Platanovrysi-Xagnanto-Stavroupoli course, and the other is the Stavroupoli-Livera-Galani course.

Tour operators will provide the safety gear, so be sure to follow their instructions in order to have an accident-free experience.

Related Article: Lemnos Island: Greece's Mythological Island of Haphaestus
This Southeast Asian country is known for its stunning scenery, offering a variety of island hopping adventures that are both exciting and unforgettable. As you travel from one island to another, each reveals its own character and charm, showing why this experience is a top choice for travelers.

The appeal of these island-hopping adventures lies in their variety. Sail from the lively coastlines of Phi Phi Islands to the peaceful ambiance of Koh Lipe, each destination offering a new world to explore. You will find everything from local markets to unspoiled beaches, all reachable through a simple boat trip.

Top 5 Island Hopping Adventures in Thailand

Thailand's tropical paradise is home to various island-hopping adventures, each distinct in its charm and appeal. Here are the top five destinations known for their breathtaking beauty and exciting experiences.

1. Phi Phi Islands

When you think of island hopping in Thailand, Phi Phi Islands often come to mind first. Situated between Phuket and the Straits of Malacca coast of Thailand, these islands are a global favorite. Known for its clear waters and dramatic cliffs, Phi Phi Islands offer a mix of peace and adventure. Tourism Thailand shared that you can explore the vibrant underwater world or kayak around the stunning bays. The island's nightlife is equally captivating, with beach parties that last until dawn.

2. Similan Islands

The Similan Islands, about 84 kilometers northwest of Phuket, are known for some of the best diving spots in the world. The underwater scenery here is spectacular, with coral reefs full of colorful marine life. If diving is not your cup of tea, you can enjoy snorkeling or simply relax on the unspoiled beaches. The islands are also a national park, which means they boast rich biodiversity both on land and in the sea.

Read Also: Tips to Keep in Mind When Visiting the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania

3. Koh Lanta

For a more relaxed experience, head to Koh Lanta. This island, located in the Krabi Province, is known for its long beaches and clear waters. It is less crowded than some of the more popular destinations, making it ideal for those who seek a quiet escape. You can explore the local mangrove forests, visit traditional villages, or enjoy fresh seafood at a beachside restaurant. The sunset views here are truly memorable.

4. Koh Tao

Koh Tao, in the Gulf of Thailand, is perfect for snorkelers. The island is surrounded by lively coral reefs and is home to a wide variety of marine life, including turtles. Besides snorkeling, you can also try scuba diving, rock climbing, or hiking to some of the island's viewpoints. Despite its small size, Koh Tao has a lively atmosphere, with many bars and eateries to explore in the evenings.

5. Koh Phangan

Lastly, Koh Phangan is a must-visit. This island is famous for its Full Moon Parties, attracting travelers from around the globe. But there is more to Koh Phangan than parties. The island offers beautiful beaches, jungle treks, and waterfalls. It is also a great spot for watersports like windsurfing and kiteboarding. For a more relaxing experience, you can visit one of the island's temples or take a yoga class.

Each of these islands offers a different experience of paradise. Whether you are looking for adventure, relaxation, or a combination of both, Thailand's islands provide an unforgettable experience. As you travel from one island to another, you will discover the diverse beauty and rich culture that make Thailand a top destination for travelers.

Related Article: Here are the 5 European Gothic Churches That Will Leave You in Awe
As 2023 draws to a close, global tourism is expected to recover almost completely from the COVID-19 crisis, reaching 90% of its pre-pandemic levels. This resurgence signifies a robust rebound for the sector, which has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.

Resurgence of Global Tourism

International tourism is making a strong comeback. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), around 975 million tourists traveled internationally between January and September 2023. This is a 38% increase from the same period in 2022.

The Secretary-General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, stated, "Our latest data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts. This is critical for destinations, businesses, and communities where the sector is a major lifeline," as quoted by ZAWYA. 

The Middle East is leading this recovery, with tourist arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels. This growth is attributed to factors like visa facilitation, the development of new destinations, and investments in tourism-related projects. Europe, the world's largest tourist destination, also saw a significant recovery, welcoming 550 million international tourists, which is 94% of its pre-pandemic levels.

Read Also: Paris Prepares for 2024 Olympics with Car Traffic Reduction

Global tourism's rebound is further supported by strong demand from large source markets like Germany and the United States. Both countries reported an increase in outbound travel spending compared to 2019. The sustained recovery is reflected in the performance of industry indicators, such as air passenger numbers and tourist accommodation occupancy levels.

As per the source, these trends indicate a robust and sustained recovery for global tourism, setting it on a path to regaining pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Despite economic challenges and geopolitical tensions, the sector's resilience is evident, offering hope for a complete recovery in the near future.

Global Tourism and the Challenge of Over-Tourism

As global tourism is set to recover nearly 90% of its pre-pandemic levels by 2030, concerns about over-tourism and its impact on the environment and local communities are growing. The upcoming COP28 United Nations-led climate talks will focus on this issue, highlighting the need for sustainable travel.

In Asia, over-tourism is a significant problem. For instance, Phuket in Thailand has a ratio of 118 tourists to every local resident. This imbalance leads to environmental strain and affects local life. To tackle this, Asian countries are taking steps like closing popular beaches and using technology to control tourist numbers, as shared by Channel News Asia.

Japan's Kyoto city is using real-time data from live cameras to manage crowds at tourist spots. This helps in reducing congestion and maintaining a pleasant experience for visitors and residents alike.

Experts emphasize that the tourism sector is a major contributor to global emissions, with long-range air travel being particularly harmful to the planet. It's estimated that around 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions are due to tourism, mainly from travel to and from destinations.

In the post-pandemic world, there has been a surge in international travel. However, the trend of expensive "revenge travel" is now slowing down. Instead, domestic travel is becoming more popular as a sustainable alternative. A large number of internet users are planning domestic trips for 2024.

Related Article: Travel Tuesday Offers Exciting Deals but Beware of Potential Scams
Brisbane Airport is anticipating a significant surge in passenger traffic this holiday season. With school holidays beginning, the airport expects up to 55,000 passengers daily, setting the stage for its busiest season in years. A total of 3.7 million travelers are projected to pass through its domestic and international terminals, marking a 20% increase from last year and nearing pre-pandemic levels.

Brisbane Airport Readies for Busy Holiday Travel

Brisbane Airport is preparing for what could be its busiest holiday period in several years.

MSN reported that the airport is expecting a 20% increase in passenger numbers from last year. This surge brings the total close to the 4 million travelers seen before COVID-19 hit in 2019. For the first time since the pandemic, over 20,000 passengers are anticipated to use the international terminal in a single year.

Brisbane Airport Corporation's Peter Doherty shared insights on the destinations people are choosing this year. He highlighted that New Zealand continues to be the preferred destination for many, especially during the festive season. Additionally, there has been a rise in flights to Vietnam, Japan, and the United States, offering travelers more options.

As the holiday season unfolds, the news report also mentioned that Brisbane Airport is witnessing a return of tourists from China and a remarkable increase in visitors from India. Doherty commented on this trend, noting the rapid growth of arrivals from India and the re-emergence of China as a top contributor to international tourism.

Read Also: Global Tourism Set to Reach 90% of Pre-COVID Levels Amid Over-Tourism Challenges

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff emphasized the importance of being prepared for this influx. He remarked on the growth in arrivals, stressing the need for the hospitality industry to be ready for these significant markets, as per Infra Structure.

Travelers are advised to arrive well in advance for their flights - 90 minutes before domestic departures and three hours for international ones. Brisbane Airport also advises passengers to leave gifts unwrapped and avoid bringing Christmas bonbons, as these might be subject to security checks.

Cathay Pacific Boosts Flights at Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport is experiencing a significant increase in air traffic, particularly with Cathay Pacific expanding its services. The airline has just raised the number of flights from Brisbane to Hong Kong, moving from four to six weekly flights. This change, driven by higher demands in tourism, cargo, and international students, marks a substantial growth in activity at Brisbane Airport.

Cathay Pacific has announced an expansion of its Brisbane-Hong Kong service, increasing from four to six flights per week. This decision is driven by rising demands in tourism, cargo, and international student travel.

According to Karryon, the new flight, CX156, will depart from Brisbane at 00:40 and reach Hong Kong at 07:30, running from Friday to Wednesday. The return flight, CX157, will leave Hong Kong at 12:30 and arrive in Brisbane at 23:15 from Thursday to Tuesday. Cathay Pacific will use a mix of A350 and B777 aircraft, offering up to 294 seats.

"We're proud to be increasing our services to Brisbane to six flights per week as we continue to meet the increasing demand within Queensland's tourism and export sectors," said Frosti Lau, Cathay Pacific Regional General Manager of Southwest Pacific, as quoted in the report.

Additionally, United Airlines has inaugurated its Brisbane-Los Angeles service, enhancing the connection between Brisbane and the United States. The arrival of UA283 at Brisbane Airport is a milestone, with two United Dreamliners stationed at the airport for the first time. United Airlines operates a daily non-stop service from Brisbane to San Francisco and is the only US carrier flying to Queensland.

Related Article: AirAsia Malaysia Expands with New Direct Flights to Perth, Almaty
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the command office for the East China Sea area of the China Coast Guard under the People's Armed Police Force, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi on Wednesday inspected the command office for the East China Sea area of the China Coast Guard under the People's Armed Police Force. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

SHANGHAI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday inspected the command office for the East China Sea area of the China Coast Guard under the People's Armed Police Force.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed improving the capability of protecting maritime rights and carrying out maritime law enforcement.

He heard a briefing about the work of the command office and watched coast guard vessels carrying out their missions via video link.

Xi stressed effective maritime law enforcement and resolute protection of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Efforts should be made to improve the mechanism of coordination in maritime law enforcement, crack down on offshore crimes, safeguard the sound development of the marine economy, engage in international exchanges and cooperation in maritime law enforcement, and actively take part in international and regional ocean governance, he said.

Xi also urged solid efforts to raise the level of command office building and stressed the need to comprehensively strengthen Party building to ensure political integrity.

Senior military official He Weidong took part in the inspection. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets and poses for a group photo with representatives of the command office for the East China Sea area of the China Coast Guard under the People's Armed Police Force at the command office, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi on Wednesday inspected the command office for the East China Sea area of the China Coast Guard under the People's Armed Police Force. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
On Friday the Caribbean Football Union will stage the 2024 Next Gen Referees Course for Regi
SHANGHAI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over a symposium on promoting the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta on Nov. 30 in Shanghai, and delivered an important speech. He noted the need to advance the integrated development of the delta, further improve the region's innovation capability, industrial competitiveness and development levels, and develop a new pattern of higher-level reform and opening up. He said that these are of great significance for China to forge a new development paradigm, promote high-quality development, and build itself into a strong country and realize national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. He emphasized the importance to faithfully implement the new development philosophy on all fronts, focus on the two keywords of integration and high quality, have a global vision and strategic thinking, steadfastly deepen reform, and expand high-level opening up. It is essential to coordinate technological innovation with that in industries, strike a balance between promoting the leadership role of larger enterprises and magnifying the unique strengths of smaller companies, and bolster infrastructure connectivity while improving mechanism coordination. Ecological environment must be protected while economic growth should be promoted. Xi called on the delta to take the lead in promoting common prosperity, make active explorations in the development of modern Chinese civilization, and strive for major breakthroughs in the integrated development of the delta. The delta should be a frontrunner along the Chinese path to modernization, and play its role as a pioneer, role model, and leader for other regions.

Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and premier of the State Council, and Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the CPC Central Committee general office, attended the symposium.

Xi convened this meeting during his inspection tour in Shanghai. Those who made speeches at the symposium include Zheng Shanjie, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, Chen Jining, secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Xin Changxing, secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Yi Lianhong, secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and Han Jun, secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee. They talked about how the integrated development of the delta fared and put forward suggestions.

After listening to their speeches, Xi delivered an important speech. He pointed out that in the past five years since the Yangtze River Delta integrated development strategy was proposed and implemented, the system for making plans and policies has been formed and continuously improved, the functions of strong and active growth poles have been continuously consolidated and improved, the development of a modern industrial system has been accelerated, major breakthroughs have been made in coordinated regional development, new headway has been made in reform and opening up, and so has solid progress in concerted endeavors in the protection of ecological environment. As a result, the overall strength and competitiveness of the delta region continue to rank among the forefront of the country. The delta's role as an important window showcasing the superiority of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics has become increasingly prominent and so has its role as an important platform for the country's participation in international competition and cooperation. All these have won our country the strategic initiative for building a new development paradigm and promoting high-level opening up. However, there are many deep-seated problems in the integrated development of the delta that need to be solved. The quality and efficiency of its development and its exemplary role of radiation are to be advanced, and so is the integration of key areas and key regions. The division of labor and cooperation in industrial and supply chains needs to be improved, and greater play is yet to be given to the delta's leading role of building a unified national market. Reform and opening up need to be further expanded, and there are still many shortfalls as far as the governance and development of megacities are concerned. Promoting the integrated development of the delta is a significant task that requires steadfast progress and uninterrupted efforts so that we can keep writing new chapters in this regard.

Xi stressed the need for the delta to strengthen cross-regional collaboration in scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation. It is necessary to vigorously promote scientific and technological innovation, strengthen the deep integration of innovation in technology and industries, so as to foster new industries, modes and models, expand room for development, cultivate new growth drivers, and better connect with the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and give impetus to the development of the country. Efforts should be made to integrate cross-regional and cross-department resources for scientific and technological innovation in order to achieve combined strengths and build a hub for scientific and technological innovation. It is also important to participate in international cooperation in science and technology with a more open mindset and measures to create an innovation environment with more global competitiveness.

Xi pointed out that it is essential to accelerate the improvement of the institutions and mechanisms for the integrated development in the delta region. It is a must to break down regional divisions and administrative barriers in terms of institutional mechanisms to institutionally secure integrated development. The awareness about integration must be strengthened to keep in mind overall planning and intensify efforts in the innovation in institutions and mechanisms, so as to achieve greater breakthroughs in key areas and regions, strengthen the systematic integration and coordination of reform measures and extend deeper integration to a wide range of areas. Efforts should be made to promote the systematic dovetailing, policy coordination and convergence of standards in basic public services in a step-by-step manner, and facilitate the sharing of public services in various fields. It is necessary to strengthen the cross-regional standardization of various transportation networks so as to improve the level of infrastructure interconnectivity. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of demonstration zones for green and integrated ecological development of the delta, improve the territorial and spatial planning system of demonstration zones, strengthen cross-regional coordination and integration of planning, land and project construction, and expedite the institutional innovation from regional project coordination to regional integration. It is important to promote cross-regional joint development and sharing, orderly advance cross-regional industrial transfer and rational allocation of production factors, so that the delta can truly become a regional community of shared development.

Xi stressed that the delta should vigorously promote high-level coordinated opening up, and emphasis should be placed on institutional opening up. He stressed the need for the delta to strengthen mutual learning, replication and promotion of reform experience, and strive to become a powerful engine for unimpeded flows in the economy and a strategic hub connecting domestic and international markets. It is imperative to accelerate the development of Shanghai as a financial, trade, innovation, globalization and consumers' center, expedite the pilot comprehensive reform in Pudong New Area, further boost the radiating capacity of the Hongqiao International Open Hub, vigorously implement the strategy of upgrading the pilot free trade zone, and promote the opening up of the Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone at a higher level. It is necessary to promote the integration between the integrated development of the delta and high-quality development under the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote the delta's competitive production capacity, high-quality equipment, applicable technologies and standards to go global. The delta should take the lead in implementing policies and measures to encourage, support and guide the healthy development of the private economy, further optimize the development environment for private enterprises, and promote the healthy and high-quality development of the private economy.

Xi noted that the delta's concerted efforts in the protection and governance of the ecological environment should be strengthened. He said the red lines for ecological protection should be interconnected seamlessly among the three provinces and one municipality in the delta, joint protection of major ecological shields and corridors should be advanced, prevention and control of air, water and soil pollution should be strengthened, and coordinated efforts should be further made to protect and restore the water bodies across different regions. Different regions should collaborate on formulating policies on energy conservation as well as emission and carbon reduction to build a regional green manufacturing sector. Efforts should also be made to promote clean production in all respects, make energy conservation and carbon emission reduction in key areas and sectors more effective, and strengthen and optimize the green and low-carbon industries, so as to foster a green industrial system and speed up the development of sustainable ways of production and life. It is also imperative to establish a mechanism for transferring pollutant discharge rights among different regions, and work actively and prudently toward the goals of reaching carbon emissions peaking and carbon neutrality. A system for new energy resources should be planned and developed, and the mutual support on electric power among different provinces and cities should be advanced in a coordinated manner. Xi also called for continuous efforts to enforce the ten-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River and strengthen joint law enforcement. Mechanisms to realize the market value of ecological goods and services should be refined, and new paths should be explored to turn the ecological advantages into impetus for economic growth.

Xi stressed that the delta should focus on improving its capacity for maintaining safe development. It is imperative to pursue a holistic approach to national security, continue to get prepared for worst-case scenarios, and ensure both development and security. The delta must keep an eye on sectors such as science, industries and finance as well as major infrastructure that bear on national and regional security, and strengthen the system and capacity for prevention and control of risks to reinforce the foundation for safe development. The strengths of a complete industrial system with strong capabilities of coordination in the delta should be given full play, and steps should be taken to strengthen and mend chains in key areas and crucial links essential to national development and the people's well-being, and industrial cooperation with the central and western regions should be strengthened, so as to improve the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains.

Institutional opening up in the financial sector should be steadily expanded to upgrade the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, and at the same time whole-process risk prevention and control should be strengthened to better safeguard national financial security. High regard should be given to security in conducting foreign cooperation and guiding the rational and orderly cross-border deployment of industrial chains. By engaging local residents in building their own cities, modern urban governance should be improved to accelerate the development of resilient cities, optimize urban security system, strengthen urban operating system, and boost capacity in disaster prevention, reduction, and relief.

Xi noted that the Party's overall leadership must be upheld in promoting the integrated development of the delta region. Full play must be given to the functions of the Central Leading Group for Coordinated Regional Development, and to the strategic guiding role of the planned outlines. The region's three provinces and one municipality must faithfully implement the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee, strengthen organizational leadership and efforts in investigation and research, boost coordination through consultation and supervision, so as to facilitate the resolution of major issues, ensure the implementation of major reforms, and promote the fulfillment of key tasks. It is imperative to build high-quality, professional officials who are committed, clean, and have strong sense of responsibility, and to encourage officials to boldly explore and take responsibility as well as excel in their work. It is imperative to carry out the second round of theoretical study program, further exercise full and rigorous Party self-governance, and take coordinated steps to see that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt. It is essential to strengthen the political and organizational functions of Party organizations at all levels, to make sure that work in all aspects will be done to the best of their endeavors with strict discipline, practical style, and ethical integrity.

Li Qiang emphasized the need to conscientiously study and implement the gist of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech. He said that the delta's integrated development should be considered in the context of national development, and be planned in accordance with the delta's exemplary role for the country's high-quality development. He stressed that the delta should play an important role as an economic growth pole, an engine of development, and an experimental field for reform, in order to better support and serve Chinese modernization. Li called for smoother flow in the economy, rational flow and efficient allocation of resources and production factors, and the development of a unified national market to guide the rational layout of industries and the economy. He also emphasized the need to actively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, expand institutional opening up, create a high-level gateway for opening up, and boost domestic market's appeal to international goods and resources as well as production factors. Li urged the delta to leverage its strengths, highlight its characteristics, deepen regional cooperation, and empower each other between different areas, so as to transform local strengths into regional ones and improve the overall efficiency of regional development.

Li Ganjie, He Lifeng, Wu Zhenglong, Mu Hong, and Jiang Xinzhi attended the symposium. Also present at the meeting were leading officials of the relevant central Party and government departments, and leading officials of relevant local governments and some enterprises. 
At the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, North Macedonia, 45 participating states emphasized the need to thoroughly investigate Russias alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and hold those responsible to account.

The relevant Joint Statement on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was delivered at the closing session of the OSCE Ministerial Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, enabled by the Lukashenka regime in Belarus, serves as the starkest example and reminds us all that human rights and fundamental freedoms are among the primary targets of an aggressor and that ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a prerequisite for lasting security and peace among and within states, the statement reads.

The participating states mentioned that they were appalled by the independent reports, inter alia under the OSCEs Moscow Mechanism, which had found serious violations of human rights and clear patterns of violations of international humanitarian law by Russian forces in Ukraine, including targeted killings of civilians, unlawful detentions, abductions, forcible transfers and large scale deportations as well as the use of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence.

We strongly condemn these horrific violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law. All alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, war crimes and crimes against humanity must be duly and thoroughly investigated. Those responsible must be held to account, the participants stressed.

The Joint Statement was signed by 45 countries, namely Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain/EU, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and my own country Denmark.

A reminder that, at the closing session of the OSCE Ministerial Council, 43 countries issued a joint statement on the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-1933.
Switzerland has frozen an estimated 7.7 billion Swiss francs ($8.81 billion) in financial assets belonging to Russians, under sanctions designed to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

The Swiss government said this on Friday, Ukrinform reports, citing Reuters.

According to the news story, the figure, a provisional estimate, represented a slight increase from the 7.5 billion francs the Swiss government said it had blocked last year after the neutral country adopted European Union sanctions.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the agency overseeing sanctions, said the 7.7 billion francs figure was only its latest estimate and was subject to change.

Read also: Ukraine adds Belgian gas company Fluxys to list of war sponsors

A more accurate figure is expected by the end of the second quarter 2024 when the Swiss banks report to the government.

It was difficult to give a precise figure due to new people being added or removed from the sanctions list, as well as legal cases to freeze or unlock further assets.

In 2022, the Swiss authorities blocked about 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.03 billion) in Russian assets, in connection with the EU sanctions imposed over Russia's war in Ukraine.
"I prefer to return to my home because it is the only shelter for me and my children." A Gaza resident returned to his destroyed house and tried to build a life on the ruins during the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
GAZA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- New Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 32 people and injured dozens, medical sources in the Gaza Strip told Xinhua on Friday.

The sources said at least 32 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in varying degrees as a result of Israeli raids that targeted several areas of the Gaza Strip.

The government media office in Gaza said in a statement that Israeli aircraft bombed a number of inhabited homes and crowded areas in several cities of the Gaza Strip.

The statement held the international community responsible for "the continued war on children and women."

Sirens were sounding in Israeli towns near their border with Gaza Friday morning for the first time since Israel and Hamas reached a humanitarian truce on Nov. 24, according to Israeli media. 
In a transformative endeavor that bridges the past with the present, Rice University is currently in the midst of a comprehensive redesign of its Houston campus. At the heart of this ambitious initiative is the relocation of the remains of the university's founder, William "Willy" Rice, symbolizing a nuanced reckoning with the institution's historical ties to slavery.

Founder's Remains Moved to Glenwood Cemetery

The Founder's Memorial statue, once a prominent figure nestled in the heart of the campus, now stands void of its historical underpinning. The remains of William Rice, previously interred beneath this statue, have found a new resting place in Glenwood Cemetery.This poignant move marks a departure from traditional narratives and exemplifies the university's commitment to actively engage with its complex history.

The physical relocation of the Founder's Memorial statue is a visual representation of the university's commitment to acknowledge and reassess its historical connections. Once perched atop its pedestal, the statue is now slated for a new location within the Academic Quadrangle. This shift signifies not only a change in physical placement but a deliberate move towards recontextualizing the founder's legacy within the evolving narrative of Rice University.

READ ALSO: Jewish Students Need Empathy And Care As They Face Hardships On US Campuses

A Family Plot for William Rice

In a collaborative effort between the university and the descendants of William Rice, his remains have been transferred to a family plot. Here, he will be interred alongside his brother and nephews - all university trustees and benefactors. This decision reflects a careful balance of preserving familial ties while acknowledging the need for a broader dialogue on the university's historical roots.

Rice University's spokesperson, Jeff Falk, underscores that the relocation of William Rice's remains is an integral part of a broader quad redesign project announced in January 2022. The comprehensive redesign seeks to create visually transformed spaces while preserving historical context, acknowledging the university's past in a manner that fosters understanding and growth.

Task Force Initiatives and Unearthed Documents

The impetus for this redesign emerged in 2019 when Rice University launched a task force dedicated to exploring the institution's historical connections to slavery, segregation, and racial injustice. Unearthed documents from this investigation revealed William Rice's specific intention to serve white Texans with the university. These revelations cast a new light on the university's origins, prompting a necessary reckoning with its past.

While other Texas campuses grapple with legislative changes and rollbacks of diversity initiatives, Rice University's response stands out. Accepting the task force's recommendation, the Rice Board of Trustees opted for a redesigned courtyard, acknowledging the imperative for change while preserving historical elements. This response exemplifies a commitment to confronting the complexities of history head-on.

To bring this vision to life, Rice University enlisted the expertise of landscape architecture firm Nelson Byrd Woltz. The redesign aims not only to reshape physical spaces but to create gathering areas within the quad. Tables, chairs, and shaded spaces are envisioned to foster a sense of community and reflection. This transformative project, scheduled for completion in late April, signifies a monumental shift for the university.

As Rice University undergoes this multifaceted redesign, it emerges as a beacon of change within the higher education landscape. The relocation of William Rice's remains and the redesign of the campus serve as powerful symbols of an ongoing dialogue within educational institutions about historical legacies and the narratives they wish to embody. This collaborative vision not only acknowledges the complexities of the past but actively shapes a future that aligns with contemporary values, demonstrating that institutions can evolve while honoring their heritage.



RELATED ARTICLE: New Zealand Universities Must Choose Between Protecting Free Speech Or Paying Penalties
In a heartfelt response to the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, survivors and victims' families find solace in education. The University of Maine system announces a compassionate initiative granting free tuition to affected individuals, aiming to alleviate their burdens and foster healing.

A Community in Mourning Seeks Educational Redemption

Lewiston, a close-knit community, bore witness to a devastating mass shooting on October 25th, orchestrated by a U.S. army reservist. The aftermath left 18 lives lost and 31 individuals injured, sending shockwaves through the community. As a pivotal step towards healing, the University of Maine system, comprising seven degree-granting institutions, extends a compassionate gesture to survivors and affected family members, offering an avenue for educational advancement.

The University of Maine system estimates that around 80 individuals, including survivors and family members, will be eligible to have their undergraduate tuition and fees waived. This initiative not only provides financial relief but also serves as a beacon of hope, offering a pathway for those impacted to pursue higher education amidst the aftermath of the tragic event.

READ ALSO: US College Campuses Have The Solution To Antisemitism

Beyond Tuition Assistance

Understanding that the repercussions of such a traumatic event extend far beyond academic expenses, system officials actively seek donations to establish a fund. This fund aims to cover various costs associated with attending college, addressing necessities such as housing and textbooks. By acknowledging the multifaceted challenges survivors and affected individuals may face in their educational journey, the initiative strives to provide comprehensive support.

University of Southern Maine (USM) President Jacqueline Edmondson affirms the institution's commitment to aiding those affected. In a statement, she expressed, "The tragic shooting in Lewiston impacted the University of Southern Maine community: students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. We welcome this opportunity to provide assistance to those impacted by these heartbreaking events."

The university's initiative goes beyond financial assistance; it aims to create a supportive environment that recognizes the emotional toll of the tragedy. By extending a helping hand to survivors and family members, the University of Maine system seeks to foster a sense of compassion and care within its educational community, acknowledging the significance of emotional healing alongside academic progression.

Community Support: A Call for Contributions

As the University of Maine system takes this crucial step towards healing and recovery, it urges the broader community to contribute to the newly established fund. Donations play a pivotal role in ensuring that survivors and family members have the resources needed not only for tuition but also for various expenses associated with pursuing higher education.

In the face of tragedy, education emerges as a beacon of resilience and empowerment. The University of Maine system's commitment to providing educational opportunities demonstrates the transformative power of academia in overcoming adversity. By offering survivors and family members a chance to pursue their academic goals, the initiative serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the unwavering support that can be found within the realm of education.

As the community rallies together to support those affected by the Lewiston shooting, the University of Maine system becomes a symbol of compassion, understanding, and a commitment to rebuilding lives through the transformative power of education. In the face of darkness, this initiative shines a light on the potential for healing and growth, showcasing the resilience of individuals and communities in the pursuit of a brighter future.





RELATED ARTICLE: Burlington Chief Says Shooting Of 3 Palestinian Students Likely A Hate-Crime
In an unprecedented display of endurance, part-time faculty members at Columbia College Chicago have entered their fifth week of striking, marking what the Columbia College Faculty Union deems history's longest adjunct strike. The contentious labor dispute highlights broader issues surrounding job security, educational quality, and the strained relationship between full- and part-time faculty.

Unprecedented Duration Raises Eyebrows

Since October 30, part-time faculty members at Columbia College Chicago have been engaged in an extraordinary and perhaps unprecedented strike. The Columbia College Faculty Union, representing these part-time instructors, characterizes it as the longest adjunct strike in history, surpassing the reported record set by part-timers at the New School in New York City just a year ago.

William A. Herbert, executive director of the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions at Hunter College, highlights the exceptional nature of this strike, citing data indicating it as the lengthiest among contingent faculty over the past decade.

READ ALSO: American Universities Have Been Complicit, Resulting In Today's Antisemitism

The Academic Landscape Amidst the Strike

As the strike reaches the one-month mark, administrators at Columbia College Chicago are actively taking measures to ensure the continuity of the academic semester despite the ongoing labor dispute. The precise number of adjuncts participating in the strike remains unclear, as neither the union nor the college has provided specific figures.

The union alleges that the college has taken drastic actions, including locking strikers out of their online learning management system accounts and replacing them with new instructors. Unfair labor practice charges have been filed, accusing the college of illegally appropriating strikers' intellectual property by utilizing their course materials.

In response, a college spokesperson mentioned "alternative instructional arrangements," revealing that classes are now being taught by part-time faculty not participating in the strike, full-time faculty, chairs, qualified staff, and other substitute instructors. Approximately 60 percent of classes were meeting before Thanksgiving, and the college anticipates nearly all courses resuming by the end of the week.

A Community in Turmoil

The strike has plunged the academic community into a state of turmoil, with both full-time and part-time faculty grappling with conflicting emotions. Madhurima Chakraborty, president of the Faculty Senate, representing only the full-time faculty, acknowledges the high-stress and anxiety-ridden atmosphere. Faculty members find themselves torn between wanting to support students and avoiding actions that could undermine the part-timers' strike.

Chakraborty reflects the prevailing sentiment among full-time faculty as "powerless" in navigating this divisive situation. The striking part-timers, on the other hand, face an uncertain future as the college contends with annual deficits, leading to increased class sizes and the elimination of sections, putting jobs at risk.

Diana Vallera, president of the part-time faculty union, CFAC, emphasizes the complexity of the situation. The union cannot provide exact numbers of canceled classes or those being held, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the strike's impact. Some full-time faculty members have stepped in to fill the void, taking on multiple sections and altering the course format.

One junior student, Callie LaVanway, reflects the internal struggle faced by students caught in the crossfire. While supportive of unions, she grapples with attending classes taught by replacement instructors, raising questions about the treatment of educators in the broader context.

Battleground Over Job Security and Education Quality

The striking part-time faculty contends that the college's financial challenges should not come at the expense of job security and educational quality. Facing threats to their positions due to increased class sizes and section cuts, the union argues that the proposed measures would compromise the education students receive.

Andrea J. Dymond, a union bargaining team member, highlights the unwillingness of union members to accept terms that would potentially dismantle the union. The administration, on the other hand, accuses the union of demanding "quasi-tenure" and asserts that the union's demands jeopardize the college's long-term sustainability.

As the strike persists, the strains between full- and part-time faculty members deepen, painting a bleak institutional picture. The legacy of this divisiveness, according to Chakraborty, raises concerns about the lasting impact on the academic community at Columbia College Chicago. The ongoing deadlock underscores the challenges faced by higher education institutions in balancing financial sustainability with the welfare of their faculty and the quality of education provided to students.





RELATED ARTICLE: Failed Contract Negotiations At CSU Push Faculty To Strike
Youth People promote UNODCs Drug Use Prevention standards through the modeling of Commission of Narcotic Drugs

On 10-11 November 2023, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Turkmenistan (UN RCO), the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central Asia (OHCHR) and US Agency of International Development (USAID) Safe Migration in Central Asia program with the support of the Government of Turkmenistan organized the 1st Turkmenistan Ashgabat Model United Nations (TAMUN) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The conference brought together 100 students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The TAMUN aimed to provide young people with opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding in subject areas such as human rights, peace and security, as well as the prevention of drug abuse and violent extremism, crime prevention, and criminal justice.

Youth organizations and leaders from Central Asian countries contributed significantly to the conferences preparation. Young experts from the Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT SU) were invited to co-organize the conference. They introduced the participants to the Model United Nations (MUN) world, including the MUN rules and procedures.

The leaders of the Regional Network of Youth Organizations and Youth Champions of Change in Central Asia for drug free, healthy, safe and secure societies also made significant contribution to the event and facilitated the simulation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) session on drug use prevention.

During the CND, 25 participants engaged in discussions on the topic of "Drug Use Prevention among Youth in Central Asia" and collaboratively devised youth-driven solutions aimed at fostering a future free from drugs. The main reference documents for these discussions were UNODC/WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention and the UNODCs Handbook on Youth Participation in Drug Prevention Work.

The discussions were grounded in scientific evidence, exploring programs designed for families, schools, and communities to promote growth and well-being. The CND simulation served as a platform for these discussions among students, drawing conclusions that underscored the critical importance of youth-driven drug use prevention.

Consequently, a youth-driven Resolution was presented to both UNODC and government organizations, delineating key priority areas Such as the implementation of evidence-based drug use prevention programs and advocacy for International Standards on Drug Use Prevention with policymakers. The Resolution also emphasized the establishment of "youth-cells" in local communities, educational institutions, and government organizations, as well as empowerment of leaders and members of the Regional Network of Youth Organizations and Youth Champions of Change in Central Asia for drug free, healthy, safe and secure societies through enhanced knowledge and skills via cascade training and workshops.

The Youth Resolution serves as the voice of the youth and will inform the discussions of the CND Youth Forum taking place in March 2024. Leaders of the Regional Youth Network took the opportunity to present an overview of the Regional Network of Youth Organizations and Youth Champions of Change in Central Asia for drug free, healthy, safe and secure societies, outlining its objectives, anticipated outputs, and expected results during interviews with national Turkmen TV channels. They actively encouraged youth to become members of the Regional Network, emphasizing the role of active leadership in their societies for drug use prevention.
UNODC's Specialized Training Initiative Targets Drug Trafficking in Southern Kyrgyzstan

Osh, the Kyrgyz Republic  The UNODC Programme Office in Kyrgyzstan, in collaboration with national partners from the Southern region of Kyrgyzstan, including Batken, Osh, and Jalal-Abad, hosted a pivotal training event on 23-25 November 2023 in Osh city. This initiative was part of the UNODC Project on Strengthening capacity of Mobile Operational Teams (MOTs) of the Counter Narcotics Service (CNS) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The training brought together key national partners, including the Counter Narcotics Service, regional departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), to enhance their skills and knowledge in combating drug trafficking. The event featured an international trainer and national trainers from PGO and the State Financial Intelligence Service, who provided in-depth insights and practical strategies.

The focus of the training was on addressing the complex financial structures underpinning drug trafficking operations. With the advent of electronic money and virtual assets, drug traffickers have evolved their methods, utilizing modern payment instruments that allow for the remote management of funds and their movement across borders. This training aimed to equip participants with the necessary tools and understanding to disrupt these financial networks and effectively combat the transnational drug system.

"The use of electronic money and virtual assets in drug trafficking presents a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies," said Mr. Andrey Seleznev, the Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Kyrgyzstan. "Through this training, we aimed to strengthen the capabilities of our national partners in the South region to tackle these sophisticated criminal networks."

The training underscored the commitment of the UNODC and its partners to address the evolving landscape of drug trafficking and its financial mechanisms. The collaborative effort between the UNODC, national partners, and the generous support of the Russian Federation highlighted a unified approach to combating drug-related crimes in the Kyrgyz Republic and beyond.

***

For more information contact Vasilina Brazhko

Communications and PR Specialist at

UNODC criminal justice programme for Central Asia

at +996775987817 WhatsApp

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org
BERLIN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The German government must set up immediate programs to make up for missed climate targets in the transport and building sectors, the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court ruled on Thursday.

The government failed to comply with the current climate protection law, which obliges ministries that exceed their annual emissions targets to take short-term measures, the court found.

"Climate protection is a legal obligation, not a political 'nice-to-have.' The court made this very clear today," said Remo Klinger, a lawyer for Environmental Action Germany (DUH), one of the plaintiffs.

While Germany was able to meet its emissions targets with an overall reduction last year, the transport and building sectors exceeded their targets by 9 million tons and around 5 million tons of CO2 equivalents, respectively, according to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).

Possible measures under discussion include the end of tax breaks for diesel and kerosene, the introduction of a speed limit on freeways and the energy modernization of buildings. "We need specific immediate programs that effectively contribute to the climate targets," said Antje von Broock of Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND).

For the German government, it is the second setback caused by a court ruling this month after the Federal Constitutional Court tore a 60 billion euro (65.4 billion U.S. dollars) hole in the planned budget for the next year, by ruling against the reallocation of COVID-19 emergency funds for climate measures.

Due to the suspension of significant expenditure from Germany's Climate and Transformation Fund, many important green transformation projects are now on hold. 
(@Abdulla99267510)

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his address appreciates the landmark operationalization of loss and damage fund.

DUBAI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Dec 1st, 2023) The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) has opened in Dubai.

Addressing the summit, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was appreciative of the landmark operationalization of loss and damage fund.

He urged the developed countries to lead efforts for drastic emissions cut. For 1.5 degree world, he said we need to demonstrate leadership, cooperation and political will. The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels.

He urged governments to help industry make the right choice by regulating, legislating, putting a fair price on carbon, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and adopting a windfall tax on profits.

The UN Secretary General stressed for bringing to use renewable energy saying it is good for our planet and economies.

Alluding to the disastrous impacts of climate change on developing countries, he said climate justice is long overdue. He said the global stock take must commit to surging finance including for adaptation and loss and damage. It must support reforms of multilateral banks to leverage far more private finance at reasonable costs for developing countries.

Addressing the COP28 Summit, Britain's King Charles said the global economy would be in peril unless the environment is rapidly repaired.

He said the dangers of climate change are no longer a distant risk, and urged the world leaders to take more action.

King Charles cited the impact of climate change globally, including unprecedented floods in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan and severe wildfires in the United States, Canada and Greece. He said unless we rapidly repair and restore nature's unique economy, based on harmony and balance, our own economy and survivability will be imperiled.

He said change will come by working together and making it easier to embrace decisions that will sustain our world.

The UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed announced the establishment of a thirty billion Dollars fund for global climate solutions. This fund, he said, has specifically designed to bridge the climate finance gap, ensuring availability and accessibility as well as affordability.

He said its objective is to stimulate an investment of 250 billion dollars by 2030.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on one of the development projects of HEC, Green Youth Movement (GYM)-Prime Ministers Youth Programme"

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2023) The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the National Dialogue Forum (NDF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on one of the development projects of HEC, Green Youth Movement (GYM)-Prime Ministers Youth Programme.

According to the terms outlined in the MoU held here the other day, the NDF will actively engage with university students, offering both technical guidance and financial support for capacity-building training and social action projects.

These initiatives are designed to address environmental challenges and instigate positive transformations within local communities.

The collaborative efforts underscore a shared commitment to fostering environmental awareness, education, and tangible solutions for a more sustainable future.

Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum and Executive Director NDF officially sealed the partnership by signing the MoU.

Advisor (Planning and Development) HEC Dr. Mazhar, Project Director GYM Irfan Ullah and the Project Management Unit attended the ceremony.

On this occasion, Dr. Zia Ul Qayyum said that climate change was an imminent threat that demands a collective attention and action.

"The collaboration through the GYM project holds the promise of mobilizing Green Youth Movement Clubs to actively combat climate challenges, he said.

Dr. Zia emphasized the importance of engaging the youth in environmental initiatives and stated, "The future belongs to our youth and their involvement is crucial in finding sustainable solutions. The GYM club, fostered by this MoU, will play a pivotal role in empowering students to combat climate change through education, awareness, and hands-on projects."
(@Abdulla99267510)

The Foreign Office spokesperson says Pakistan desires to have peaceful and friendly relations with Afghanistan.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Dec 1st, 2023) Pakistan has once again asked Afghan authorities to take immediate and effective steps against terrorist entities operating from their soil.

At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch voiced concerns over the presence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan. She said these terrorists continue to attack Pakistan and cause loss of life.

The spokesperson said Pakistan desires to have peaceful and friendly relations with Afghanistan. We have great sympathies with our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan who have suffered a great deal because of difficult humanitarian and security situation. She said Pakistan has advocated internationally that humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan must continue.

Responding to a question, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan is strongly committed to protection of workers and projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). She said we will defeat designs of any terrorist entity against CPEC or any other investment project in Pakistan.

Expressing concerns over the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson urged India to repeal its draconian laws and stop using the bogey of terrorism to suppress dissent in the occupied territory.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan's call for a durable and sustained ceasefire in Gaza to enable supply of extensive and robust humanitarian assistance, urgently needed medical aid to the injured and shelter to those displaced by the indiscriminate and in-humane bombing by Israeli occupation forces.

She said we are also deeply concerned at the escalating Israeli aggression in the West Bank. She said the international community should take immediate and decisive steps to bring an end to Israeli campaign of terrorism against Palestinians. She said Pakistan supports the call for a comprehensive investigation into attacks against medical facilities, schools, mosques, churches, residential buildings and water facilities and urges full accountability for the war crimes being perpetrated in occupied Palestine.
Dubai, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2023) Britain's King Charles III is praying that the UN's COP28 climate talks will be a "critical turning point" in the fight against global warming, he told world leaders in Dubai on Friday.

"I pray with all my heart that COP28 will be another critical turning point towards genuine transformational action," he told the World Climate Action Summit, held in parallel with COP28.

"It worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track," the king added, after the UN's first official progress report in September found that the world remained dangerously off course.

The talks in Dubai come at a pivotal moment for the planet, with emissions still rising and the UN on Thursday declaring 2023 on track to become the hottest year in human history.

"In your hands is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive," said the British monarch, wearing a light suit with pink shirt and blue tie.

The lifelong environmentalist spoke at COP26 in Scotland in 2021 but did not attend the last conference in Egypt, reportedly because of objections by the UK prime minister at the time, Liz Truss.
Bissau, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2023) Guinea-Bissau National Guard soldiers freed two members of the government who were being questioned by the police on Thursday night, before exchanging gunfire with special forces, according to military and intelligence sources.

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Souleiman Seidi, and the Secretary of State for the Treasury, Antonio Monteiro, had been summoned by the judiciary on Thursday morning and then taken into custody.

The judicial police questioned the two senior officials for several hours about a withdrawal of ten million Dollars from state coffers, according to the same sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Mr Seidi had been questioned by MPs about the withdrawal during a session of the National Assembly on Monday. He claimed that the withdrawal was legal and intended to support the national private sector.

According to the same sources, at around 10.00 pm on Thursday (the same time GMT), members of the National Guard, an army unit, exfiltrated the minister and the secretary of state from the premises of the judicial police, took them to an unknown destination and then retreated to a barracks in the Santa Luzia district, the same sources said.

Heavy gunfire was then heard on Friday morning in this neighbourhood in the south of the capital Bissau, according to an AFP correspondent.

Military and intelligence sources said that the special forces intervened against the National Guard after several unsuccessful attempts at mediation. An exchange of fire ensued before calm was restored, they added.

Elements of the Guinea-Bissau Stabilisation Support Force, deployed in the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), were seen patrolling the streets of Bissau on Friday morning, an AFP journalist observed.

These events come as President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, elected in December 2019 for a five-year term, is in Dubai to attend the 28th United Nations Climate Conference (COP28).

A small, poor country in West Africa, Guinea-Bissau suffers from chronic political instability and has been the victim of a string of coups de force since its independence from Portugal in 1974, the most recent in February 2022.

In September, President Embalo appointed two generals, Tomas Djassi and Horta Inta, as Head of Presidential Security and Chief of Staff respectively. These two posts, provided for in the official organisation chart, had not been filled for several decades.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The South African government said Friday it would inject $2.5 billion into beleaguered state logistics firm Transnet as it battles a huge backlog at ports

Johannesburg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2023) The South African government said Friday it would inject $2.5 billion into beleaguered state logistics firm Transnet as it battles a huge backlog at ports.

Tens of thousands of containers are stuck at sea off Durban port because of equipment breakdowns and many ships are now going to other countries, officials said.

The National Treasury said the 47-billion-rand ($2.5 billion) guarantee facility will help the company -- which it said plays "a central role" in the economy -- to meet looming debt obligations.

"The entity has suffered significant operational, financial and governance challenges in recent times and is struggling to fulfil this strategic role," the Treasury said.

Transnet, which operates the rail freight network and all ports in Africa's biggest economy, will get immediate access to 22.8 billion rand to deal with debt and other pressing needs, the treasury said.

"Strict guarantee conditions" will need to be met to access the rest of the funds, it added.
(UroToday.com) The 2023 SUO annual meeting included a state of the art lecture by Dr. Ariana Smith discussing gynecologic considerations for the urologic oncologist and optimizing care for women. Dr. Smith noted that the main learning objectives for her talk are to emphasize assessment of the cervix, assessment of the uterus, and management of the adnexa.



One common myth is that the gynecologic organs have no benefit to women after menopause, however, the truth is that these organs are associated with ongoing hormone production, there is benefit in ovarian sparing, and there may be a detrimental psychosocial impact if these organs are removed. As such, the optimization of surgical care for women is multifactorial, including gynecologic history, loss of femininity, hormonal effects, sexual dysfunction, and risk of cancer:

Specific to the gynecologic organs, the goals of surgery are (i) oncologic/anatomic success, (ii) avoidance of subsequent surgery, (iii) urinary function/continence, and (iv) bowel and sexual function. Dr. Smith notes that several important gynecologic evaluations should be undertaken prior to urologic surgery, including screening for cervical pathology (PAP and HPV testing), assessing for occult uterine malignancies, considerations for managing the adnexa (+/- oophorectomy and salpingectomy), and assessing degree of pelvic support to minimize risk of pelvic organ prolapse post-surgery:



Although the incidence of occult gynecologic malignancy is low (uterine cancer  0.7%; cervical cancer  0%; ovarian cancer 0%), these screening considerations should be on the evaluation checklist for all urologic oncologists. Ultimately, there are three important questions to answer:

Do I need to remove the uterus and cervix? What is my patients risk of occult uterine malignancy? How should I manage the adnexa?

A female cystectomy standard of care is removal of the bladder, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes:

Why is this standard of care? It avoids a need for reoperation and simpler, but Dr. Smith emphasizes again that the risk of gynecologic malignancy is low. Perhaps it is time to challenge the standard of care. Dr. Smiths group assessed 123 women with a median age of 71 years who underwent radical cystectomy with removal of reproductive organs for primary bladder cancer. Of note, 19 women (15%) had reproductive organ involvement by bladder cancer, and 5 of them (4%) were specifically found to have ovarian involvement. No women in this cohort had a primary ovarian malignancy detected at the time of radical cystectomy.

With regards to cervical screening, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2016 guidelines in women > 30 years of age should preferably have HPV and cytology every five years, although acceptable is cytology every 3 years. There is no recommendation for screening after the age of 65. High risk HPV is considered HPV16, HPV18, and HPV31. The cytologic classification of squamous cell abnormalities is as follows:



Additionally, the cytologic classification of glandular cell abnormalities is as follows:

If the cervical screening necessitates a cervical biopsy, if it is positive, it will be either (i) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 2 or 3, (ii) adenocarcinoma in situ, or (iii) invasive malignancy. In these situations, surgical options include total hysterectomy, uterine sparing, or treatment of the dysplasia. For women with abnormal screening and a negative cervical biopsy, the risk of high grade CIN is still 5.5% - 24%, whereas after a negative PAP/HPV the risk of high grade CIN is <3%. Among women previously treated for cervical dysplasia, the 5-year risk of high grade CIN or worse is 5% - 16%, however in women with two negative PAPs + HPV testing following treatment, the risk of high grade dysplasia is only 1.5%.

For patients who are post-cystectomy and requiring cervical screening, there are two categories of patients:

Those that underwent uterine sparing: screening until they are older than 65 years of age and beyond 65 years of age if there is a history of cervical dysplasia Those that underwent a total hysterectomy: no need for uterine screening, unless there is a history of cervical dysplasia, then they should have ongoing vaginal PAP screening

Dr. Smith then discussed occult uterine cancer, for which there is a 1-2.7% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer or sarcoma:

When patients have vaginal bleeding, the first consideration for endometrial cancer screening is whether they are pre-menopausal or post-menopausal. For women with post-menopausal bleeding, in the Nordic trial (n = 518), there were 0 cases of endometrial cancer with an endometrial thickness of <= 4 mm:



For pre-menopausal women that have vaginal bleeding, abnormal bleed is (i) if there is heavy bleeding (> 80 mL), (ii) bleeding between menstrual cycles, or (iii) bleeding for more than 21 days. Screening for endometrial cancer in asymptomatic women has been proven to not be cost-effective with a risk of ~0.7% - 3.2%.

With regards to uterine sarcoma, the incidence is <2 cases per 1,000 women, with the incidence decreasing: from 0.22% from 1983  2010 to 0.09% from 2000  2014. One risk factor for sarcoma, leading to an FDA warning in 2014 is power morcellation during a laparoscopic hysterectomy:



The warning was that 1 in 458 (0.22%) cases led to sarcoma, however, among the experts, the feeling is that this is more in line with 0.02-0.09% of cases.

Finally, Dr. Smith highlighted how we should be managing the adnexa. The benefit of oophorectomy is that it (i) decreases the risk of ovarian cancer to a lifetime risk of only 1.4%, (ii) leads to a 96% decrease in risk of mortality from ovarian cancer, and (iii) decreases the possibility of requiring adnexal surgery. However, the risks of oophorectomy include a 13% increased risk of mortality, which is highest in women < 50 years of age and lowest in women > 65 years of age. Thus, there is an important risk benefit consideration when deciding between a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at the time of urologic surgery:

Dr. Smith notes that certain patients should have a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at the time of urologic surgery, include those with hereditary syndromes such as BRCA, Lynch syndrome, or a strong family history. Considerations for a salpingectomy are such that this is thought to be the origin of ovarian cancer, with precursor lesions in the tubes, thus a salpingectomy decreases the risk of ovarian cancer. Large studies suggested that a salpingectomy does not increase complications, leads to a 35% decreased risk of ovarian cancer, and does not decrease ovarian function. The risk benefit analysis for consideration of salpingectomy at the time of urologic surgery is as follows:

In 2018, Sussman et al. performed a survey of the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) members to assess the knowledge base and practice patterns of urologic oncologists with regard to management of the gynecological organs at the time of radical cystectomy.2 Response rate was 24% (159/660) among SUO members, of whom 110 (69%) were academic urologists and 58 (36%) involved in training urologic oncology fellows. Among participants, 75% had performed an ovarian-sparing radical cystectomy and only 14% were aware that salpingectomy alone reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. 95% were aware that bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy increases the risk of osteoporosis, 66% were aware that it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and 26% were aware that it increases the risk of all-cause mortality. Reasons for bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at the time of radical cystectomy included concern for urothelial carcinoma metastasis (54%), development of future gynecologic pathology (50%), and facilitation of pelvic lymph node dissection (36%).

To summarize adnexal management, Dr. Smith re-emphasized:

Oophorectomy: decreases risk of ovarian cancer, but increases risk of mortality

Salpingectomy: decreases risk of ovarian cancer

Urologists should counsel patients considering the risks and benefits

Dr. Smith concluded her presentation discussing gynecologic considerations for the urologic oncologist and optimizing care for women by again highlighting the key factors associated with optimized care:

Gynecologic history

Loss of femininity

Risk of cancer

Hormonal effects

Sexual dysfunction

Presented by: Ariana L. Smith, MD, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

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. Jean Hoffman-Censits discussing choosing among neoadjuvant or adjuvant approaches for systemic therapy. Dr. Hoffman-Censits started by summarizing the two prospective neoadjuvant cisplatin trials.



Published in 2020, Margulis et al. performed a phase II trial of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy followed by extirpative surgery in patients with high grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma (ECOG-ACRIN 8141).1 There were 30 patients enrolled in the accelerated methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (MVAC) arm from 2015 to 2017, as well as six patients enrolled in the gemcitabine and carboplatin arm, which closed due to poor accrual. Among 29 eligible patients in the MVAC arm, 80% completed all planned treatments, 3 (10.3%) achieved ypT0N0 and 1 achieved ypT0Nx for a pathological complete response in 13.8% (90% CI 4.9-28.8) of patients. The ECOG-ACRIN 8141 trial demonstrated feasibility of a prospective multicenter trial of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Published earlier in 2023, Coleman et al. assessed neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 57 patients, with a 63% pathologic response, 19% complete response rate, as well as improved progression free (5-year 72%) and overall survival (5-year 79%):2

An important consideration is that renal function in platinum eligible patients remains stable during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and declines after radical nephroureterectomy. In the EA8141 study, following nephroureterectomy, 69% of patients had a creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min and a median decrease of 40.8% from baseline. In the MD Anderson Cancer Center retrospective assessment, following nephroureterectomy, the mean decrease in GFR baseline to 1-3 months post radical nephroureterectomy was 19.0 mL/min/1.73 m2, with a mean GFR of 40.8 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Both the AUA guidelines and EAU guidelines have language providing guidance in the neoadjuvant setting. From the AUA guidelines, Clinicians should offer cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy to patients undergoing radical nephroureterectomy or ureterectomy with high risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma, particularly in those patients whose post-operative eGFR is expected to be <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or those with other medical comorbidities that would preclude platinum-based chemotherapy in the post-operative setting (Strong Recommendation; Evidence Level: Grade B). The EAU guidelines state that the primary advantage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the ability to give cisplatin based regimens when patients still have maximal renal function. A meta-analysis (n = 800) revealed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a pathological partial response rate of 43% and a downstaging rate of 33%, and overall survival and cancer specific survival benefits in comparison to radical nephroureterectomy alone. However, it is important to note that the available evidence is not conclusive, given the significant bias and heterogeneity.

Dr. Hoffman-Censits then discussed the POUT trial, first presented at GU ASCO in 2018 and subsequently published in The Lancet in 2020, followed by an updated analysis presented at GU ASCO 2021.3 This was a phase III, parallel group, open-label, randomized controlled trial done at 71 NHS hospitals in the UK. Eligible patients who had received a radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC were postoperatively staged with either muscle-invasive (pT2pT4, pN any ) or lymph node-positive (pT any , pN13) M0 disease with predominantly transitional cell carcinoma histology, and were fit to receive adjuvant chemotherapy within 90 days of surgery. Patients also had to have a GFR of 30 mL/min. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either surveillance or adjuvant chemotherapy: four 21-day cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin 70 mg/m2) within 14 days of randomization; gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) given on days 1 and 8 of each cycle. Patients with impaired renal function (GFR 30 mL/min and <50 mL/min) received carboplatin rather than cisplatin. The primary endpoint of this trial was disease free survival, and secondary endpoints included metastasis-free survival, overall survival, treatment compliance, acute toxicity, late toxicity, and patient-reported quality of life.

There were 261 patients included in the trial, including 129 patients randomized to surveillance and 132 to chemotherapy; 260 patients were included in the intention to treat analysis. There were 60 (47%) disease free survival events in the surveillance cohort and 35 (27%) in the chemotherapy cohort; as such, the unadjusted HR was 0.45 (95%CI 0.30-0.68) in favor of chemotherapy (log-rank p = 0.0001):



The three year disease free survival rate was 46% for surveillance (95% CI 36-56) and 71% for chemotherapy (95% CI 61-78). Metastasis free survival also favored chemotherapy, with an HR of 0.48 (95%CI 0.31-0.74, log-rank p = 0.0007), and the three-year event-free rates were 53% (95% CI 42-63) for those on surveillance and 71% (95% CI 60-79) for those receiving chemotherapy. At the time of the 2021 GU ASCO 2021 update, there were 64/129 disease free survival events in the surveillance arm compared to 45/131 in the chemotherapy arm (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.36-0.79). For metastasis free survival, there were 66/129 events in the surveillance arm and 45/131 in the chemotherapy arm (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37-0.82), thus both endpoints showing continued benefit for chemotherapy. With regards to overall survival, the trial was not powered for this endpoint and since POUT met its primary endpoint of disease free survival, the trial was closed early. However, GU ASCO 2021 was the first presentation of mature overall survival data, with 52/129 events in the surveillance arm compared to 41/131 in the chemotherapy arm (HR 0.77, 0.50-1.17):

Dr. Hoffman-Censits states that chemotherapy tolerance in prospective upper tract urothelial carcinoma trials is better in the neoadjuvant setting with the following cross-study comparison:

Switching to the adjuvant setting, Dr. Hoffman-Censits notes that there are three complete adjuvant phase III checkpoint inhibitor studies in high risk urothelial carcinoma: AMBASSADOR, IMvigor010,4 and CheckMate 274.5 There are several key points to highlight. First, CheckMate 274 was a positive trial, IMvigor010 was negative, and AMBASSADOR has pending results, but based on a press release it met 1 of 2 primary endpoints (disease free survival, overall survival). Second, CheckMate 274 had a 20% cap for patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma, IMvigor010 a 10% cap, however, AMBASSADOR has no cap for upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients:

The CheckMate 274 trial is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of adjuvant nivolumab versus placebo in patients with high-risk muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma.5 The trial design for CheckMate 274 is as follows:

This was a positive trial, with a disease free survival benefit in both the intention to treat analysis and the PD-L1 > 1% analysis:

Of note, overall survival currently has insufficient events and thus no data for survival has been presented to date. CheckMate 274 also included patients with ureteral and renal pelvis tumors, however by subgroup analysis, there was no benefit to nivolumab:

The IMvigor010 trial randomized patients with muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma to adjuvant atezolizumab versus observation, with the following trial design:4

Unfortunately, this was a negative trial, with no DFS benefit in the intention to treat population (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.74-1.08). However, the IMvigor010 trial showed us that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is prognostic and predictive after adjuvant atezolizumab.6 Among 581 patients, ctDNA testing at the start of therapy (cycle 1 day 1) identified 214 (37%) patients who were positive for ctDNA and who had poor prognosis (observation arm HR 6.3, 95% CI 4.45-8.92). Notably, patients who were positive for ctDNA had improved disease-free survival and overall survival in the atezolizumab arm versus the observation arm (disease-free survival HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.43-0.79, OS HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.86):

Dr. Hoffman-Censits emphasized that the ctDNA platform is now Medicare approved for bladder cancer in the adjuvant setting and for any patients on checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Much like in the neoadjuvant setting, the guidelines have language to guide considerations for treatment of upper tract urothelial carcinoma in the adjuvant setting. The AUA guideline states that Clinicians should offer platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy to patients with advanced pathological stage (pT2-T4 pN0-N3 M0 or pTanyN1-3 M0) upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy or ureterectomy who have not received neoadjuvant platinum-based therapy (Strong Recommendation, Evidence Level: Grade A). The EAU guidelines state A phase 3 multicenter prospective randomized clinical trial (n = 261) evaluating the benefit of four cycles of adjuvant gemcitabine-platinum combination chemotherapy initiated within 90 days after radical nephroureterectomy versus surveillance reported a significant improvement in disease-free survival in patients with pT2-4, Nany or lymph node positive (pTany, N1-3) M0 upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Dr. Hoffman-Censits concluded her presentation discussing choosing among neoadjuvant or adjuvant approaches for systemic therapy with the following take-home points:

Systemic perioperative therapy in high grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma is standard of care

High grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma should be considered for neoadjuvant cisplatin chemotherapy Associated with lower final pathologic stage and survival outcomes There are risks of over treatment, but it tends to not impact eGFR/surgical outcomes Provides biologic data on treatment responses An opportunity for adjuvant nivolumab for non-responding tumors

Adjuvant platinum chemotherapy should be given for selected poor risk patients: Improves disease free survival and overall survival (but not significant) There is risk of under treatment, thus selection of patients with the highest cancer risk for treatment setting where chemotherapy is least likely to be completed

Adjuvant nivolumab should be for selected poorest risk and those that are chemotherapy ineligible: Improves disease free survival and overall survival is pending The decision to treat with nivolumab is currently not ctDNA driven It may impact activity of future lines of therapy These results are based on intention to treat, but it is unclear in the subgroups and is underpowered due to the cap on the upper tract urothelial carcinoma subgroup



Presented by: Jean Hoffman-Censits, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD

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:
AMMAN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan on Thursday held international talks on means of strengthening the humanitarian aid coordination in the Gaza Strip.

The discussion was held on the sidelines of the international meeting on "Coordinating Gaza Emergency Relief" that Jordan hosted, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court.

The talks gathered UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy H. McCain, International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Tanaka Akihiko.

The discussions covered the challenges that international agencies face in delivering aid to people in Gaza, and the means to overcome them, as well as the need to allow the uninterrupted delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip, and increase the volume of relief aid. 
Scholarship applications are now available for the Northern Arapaho Endowment for the 2024-25 academic year at the University of Wyoming.

Applications may be submitted through the online WyoScholarships system, with detailed instructions below. The application deadline is April 15, 2024.

To apply, log into WyoScholarships at www.uwyo.edu/wyoscholarships. Then:

-- Click the Sign In button in the top right corner.

-- Sign in with your UW username and password. For first-time users, complete the general application questions when prompted and click Finish and Submit when complete.

-- Search for the Northern Arapaho Endowment, and click the Apply button.

To be eligible for the Northern Arapaho Endowment award, an applicant/recipient must be in good standing at UW and must be able to provide proof of enrollment in the Northern Arapaho Tribe. The order of preference for making scholarship awards is as follows: in-state juniors or seniors; in-state masters degree students; in-state doctoral students; in-state freshmen or sophomores; out-of-state juniors or seniors; out-of-state freshmen or sophomores; out-of-state masters degree students; out-of-state doctoral students; and part-time students.

Awards for undergraduate students receiving this scholarship will be limited to the first baccalaureate degree and no more than 12 total semesters at UW. Awards for masters students will be limited to the first masters degree and seven total semesters at UW. Awards for doctoral students will be limited to the first doctoral degree and seven semesters at UW. Previous recipients are required to reapply for continued support.

Applicants are asked to describe their involvement in American Indian activities and to explain how they plan to use their education to benefit the Northern Arapaho people.

Scholarships will be awarded based on scholastic ability, potential and achievement; involvement in school, community and tribal activities; potential to contribute to the Northern Arapaho people upon graduation; and financial circumstances. Scholarship awards may cover the cost of attendance -- which may include tuition and fees, room and board, books and personal and travel expenses -- minus any other financial aid, grants, gift aid or scholarships that are received by the applicant/recipient. The minimum scholarship award amount is tuition and fees.

Applicants are expected to have been admitted to UW and to apply for federal financial aid by submitting a 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/. There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024-25 FAFSA form. As a result, the new form will be available later this month.

For more information about the scholarship application process, call Allison Murray, associate director of scholarships in UWs Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, at (307) 766-3016 or email amurra16@uwyo.edu.
A University of Wyoming associate professor contributed impactful information as the lead author of the Northern Great Plains chapter in the Fifth National Climate Assessment that was released last week.

Corrine Knapp, an associate professor of environment and society in UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, provided the Northern Great Plains chapter information that appears in the Fifth National Climate Assessment, the most up-to-date and comprehensive U.S. report to evaluate climate change risks, impacts and responses. The assessment demonstrates that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit climate change impacts are underway in every U.S. region, including the Northern Great Plains.

The regional information finds that climate change in the Northern Great Plains -- which is made up of Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming -- worsens inequities and threatens rural communities, human and ecological health, and livelihoods while increasing the complexities of decision-making. The assessment concludes that adaptation actions are happening in agricultural and tribal communities and on federal lands, but more work is needed.

This region has long been an exporter of natural resources, which means that climate change doesnt just impact us directly through flooding and wildfire, but through responses to markets and policies, Knapp says.

She explains that this is not all doom and gloom, however.

While there will be negative impacts to our region, there also are opportunities, including the potential for renewable energy development and regional trade-offs in agricultural productivity, Knapp adds.

The Northern Great Plains chapter has 19 authors and 11 technical contributors and is backed by nearly 300 citations from published literature.

The chapters key takeaways for the region include:

-- Climate change is compounding the impacts of extreme events: Increasing temperatures, altered rainfall, increased hail events, flooding, drought and wildfire increase risks to regional communities.

-- Human and ecological health face rising threats from climate-related hazards: Climate change affects both mental and physical health of people in the region, while shifts in water quality and invasive species lead to biodiversity loss.

-- Resource and land-based livelihoods are at risk: Primary economic drivers in the region, including energy, tourism and recreation, and agriculture all face trade-offs on multiple scales from climate change.

-- Climate response involves navigating complex trade-offs and tensions: Communities across the Northern Great Plains region experience complex tensions and trade-offs between land use, water availability, ecosystem services and other factors -- all exacerbated by the impacts of climate change.

-- Communities are building the capacity to adapt and transform: Examples of adaptation include agricultural practices to build soil health; tribal efforts to restore bison; and federal land management use of scenario planning to consider the future.

New since the Fourth National Climate Assessment, published in 2018, the latest regional chapter includes an increased understanding of how hazards affect residents in the region; increased evidence of mental health impacts to rural and Indigenous communities; better understanding of trade-offs in rangeland productivity; and increased adoption of soil health practices and evidence of their benefits.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program will host a webinar Tuesday, Feb. 27, for those interested in learning more about the latest assessment. Information on this and other webinars is available at www.globalchange.gov/events.

About the Fifth National Climate Assessment

Mandated in the Global Change Research Act of 1990, the National Climate Assessment provides authoritative scientific information about climate change risks, impacts and responses in the U.S. The assessment reflects the scientific consensus and is widely used for decision-making but does not include policy recommendations or advocate for any specific policy.

The national report includes 32 chapters on physical science, national-level sectors -- such as water, energy, agriculture, ecosystems, transportation, health and infrastructure -- regional impacts in the U.S. and responses.

A diverse team of more than 500 federal and nonfederal authors and more than 250 technical contributors from every state wrote the assessment. The report has undergone multiple rounds of review, including three opportunities for public comment, extensive agency review and an external review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

The full National Climate Assessment is published as an interactive website at https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/, and Chapter 25: Northern Great Plains can be found at https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/25/.

For more information, email Knapp at corrie.knapp@uwyo.edu.
University of Wyoming faculty members are backing UW Libraries in ongoing discussions with significant academic publishers regarding licensing agreements. These agreements will dictate access to academic journals, specifying terms, conditions and costs for the institution.

The UW Faculty Senate unanimously approved Resolution 447 Nov. 27, endorsing the UW Libraries licensing priorities. The resolution acknowledges UW Libraries dedication to delivering top-quality information and expertise while advocating for responsible stewardship through equitable information production, discovery and access.

Equitable pricing is not only of paramount concern for university budgets, but it also is an ethical requirement considering that academic researchers, with no or minimal compensation, provide the bulk of content made available by academic publishers, says Bob Sprague, UW Faculty Senate chair and a professor in the Department of Management and Marketing. Scholarly sharing also is critically important, since it is a core tenet of scholarly discourse.

The Faculty Senates support coincides with UW Libraries ongoing negotiations for the renewal of licenses with major academic publishers. This includes negotiations with Elsevier through the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries. The Elsevier journal package currently constitutes the most substantial expenditure in the UW Libraries collection budget.

At UW Libraries, we are committed to ensuring access to high-quality resources and scholarly articles for our students, faculty and researchers, says Cass Kvenild, interim dean of UW Libraries. We also are responsible for transparent stewardship of state funding as well as upholding the public trust.

As part of the ongoing negotiations, UW Libraries has outlined licensing priorities, as detailed in the resolution approved by the UW Faculty Senate. These priorities are:

-- Accessibility: Provide equitable access to information for all library users.

-- Affordability: Negotiate fair and sustainable prices for resources and services based on transparent and cost-based pricing models.

-- Preservation: Ensure long-term digital preservation and accessibility of content with trusted digital archives.

-- Privacy and Security: Preserve users rights to privacy, ensure data security and prevent unauthorized use of user data.

-- Scholarly Sharing: Allow the ability to borrow and lend between libraries.

-- Transparency: Eliminate license terms or practices, such as nondisclosure or confidentiality clauses, that are counter to the obligations as a state institution.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
JOHANNESBURG. Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's National Treasury said Friday that it has concurred with the Ministry of Public Enterprises to give the country's transport utility Transnet a 47-billion-rand (about 2.47 billion U.S. dollars) guarantee facility to assist in its debt obligations and recovery.

The bailout move came as Transnet failed to discharge its duties with South African ports, battling congestion and delays due to equipment and infrastructure failures.

The treasury said Transnet plays a central role in South Africa's economy but has suffered operational, financial and governance challenges.

"The financial support package provided for the entity is a 47 billion rand guarantee facility against which Transnet will draw down an initial amount of 22.8 billion rand to deal with immediate liquidity matters such as settling maturity debt," the National treasury said in a statement.

The government has not considered an equity injection, given that the budget for 2023/24 is closed, said the national treasury. 
Afghanistans Taliban government announced Friday that China had formally accepted its ambassador to Beijing, hailing the move as an important chapter in growing ties between the two neighboring countries.

The announcement, yet to be confirmed by China, would make it the first nation to host a Taliban ambassador since the Islamist group regained power from an American-backed government in Kabul two years ago.

Neither China nor any other country has formally given recognition to the de facto Afghan administration.

An official Taliban foreign ministry statement said that Hong Lei, the director-general of the protocol department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, accepted the copy of credentials from the newly appointed ambassador, Asadullah Bilal Karimi.

Hong called Karimis arrival an important step in further strengthening and expanding the positive relations between Beijing and Kabul.

China respects the national sovereignty and the decisions of the people of Afghanistan. It does not interfere in the internal Afghan affairs, nor has it done so in the past, Hong said in Fridays meeting, according to the Taliban.

Karimi assured the Chinese side that there is no threat to anyone from the territory of Afghanistan, and regional stability and security is in the interest of all.

The new ambassador, in his early 30s, served as the deputy spokesman at the Taliban-led information ministry until recently.

Beijing has sought to sustain its close engagement with the Taliban to help prevent the conflict-torn South Asian nation from plunging into chaos again, which could encourage anti-China militants to use Afghan soil to threaten Chinese security.

The Chinese government invited Taliban delegates to its global Belt and Road Forum in October this year, marking the first high-profile multilateral gathering de facto Afghan rulers have attended since returning to power.

Last September, China became the first nation to appoint an ambassador to Kabul under Taliban rule. Other countries either retained their previous ambassadors or appointed the heads of their embassies in a charge d'affaires capacity, which does not require presenting credentials to the host government.

State and private Chinese companies have shown interest in investing in Afghanistan, with some signing contracts with the Taliban in recent months. However, international banking sector sanctions have deterred foreign investors from undertaking major initiatives.

Around 20 neighboring and regional countries have kept their embassies operational or reopened diplomatic missions since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, when all U.S.-led Western troops withdrew from the country and ended their two-decade-long involvement in the Afghan war.

Washington and other Western countries have since moved their Afghan diplomatic missions to Qatar to ensure they can sustain humanitarian aid for millions of Afghans.

Meanwhile, Afghanistans neighbors and regional countries, including Russia, India and Turkey, have allowed the Taliban to take control of Afghan diplomatic missions on their respective soils, which are being run at charge daffairs level.

The Talibans global isolation mainly stems from their sweeping curbs on Afghan womens rights. They have forbidden teenage girls from receiving an education beyond the sixth grade and barred most women from public and private workplaces across the impoverished country, where half of the population needs humanitarian aid.

The de facto authorities are under sustained international pressure to remove restrictions on women, govern the country through an inclusive political setup, and prevent terrorists from operating out of Afghan soil.

The male-only Taliban government has rejected criticism of its policies, saying they are aligned with local culture and Islamic law. They also have claimed no terrorist groups operate in the country.

The United Nations has ruled out granting Afghanistans seat to the Taliban until they address international concerns and end their harsh treatment of women.
Argentine President-elect Javier Mileis foreign minister-designee has announced that Argentina will not be joining BRICS, an international grouping of countries increasingly seen as being led by Beijing in its bid to challenge initiatives led by Western, democratic nations.

The announcement Thursday by Diana Mondino marks a reversal of a key decision made by the outgoing government that was seen as pulling Buenos Aries ever closer to Chinas orbit. It also comes despite a personal letter Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping wrote and had hand-delivered to Milei last week.

The incoming Milei governments position on BRICS has been closely watched. On the campaign trail, Milei was a harsh critic of Chinas political system. By contrast, his opponent, Sergio Massa, a minister in charge of economic affairs in the outgoing government, welcomed Chinas increasing footprint in their country with open arms, even joking about a new republic under the name of Argenchina, Bloomberg and other media have reported.

BRICS  an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa  is increasingly seen as a geopolitical group led by Beijing that seeks to expand its influence and reshape the international order.

Last year, Argentinas ambassador to China disclosed that Xi had personally extended an invitation for Argentina to join the group. The invitation was made official at the most recent BRICS summit, held in August in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it was announced that the memberships of Argentina, along with Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, would take effect on January 1, 2024.

Christopher Ecclestone, a London-based strategist and specialist on Argentina, told VOA that from Beijings perspective, the invitation to join BRICS amounted to the equivalent of youre now one of us.

A letter hand-delivered

The outgoing Argentine government, led by President Alberto Fernandez, whose term ends in a little over a week, openly embraced the invitation and is seen as publicly pro-Beijing. Milei, who won a landslide victory against the left-leaning Massa, is known to have compared the Chinese regime as killers or assassins who go after those who wish to live freely. Milei also repeatedly said his government would distance itself from such regimes.

Last week, though, a message Milei posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, thanking Chinas Xi, had some wondering where he stood, now elected, concerning foreign policy toward China.

I thank President Xi Jinping for the congratulations and good wishes he sent me through his letter. I send you my most sincere wishes for the well-being of the people of China, Milei wrote on November 22, above a full-page letter translated into Spanish addressed to him from Xi, from Beijing, dated November 21.

Beneath the full-page translation can be seen what presumably was the original letter written in Chinese, with Chinese wording Chairman Xi Jinping at the top of the stationery. Xi is only addressed by his communist party title, general secretary, and/or his national title, chairman, inside China.

That same day, Mondino retweeted a photo showing her and Chinas top diplomat posted to Buenos Aires, Wang Wei, and another man who might have been a translator. Everyone was shown with broad smiles in that photo. Mondino did not explain what the meeting was about or when it took place.

Argentine media later reported that Wang had met with Mondino on November 21 to hand deliver the letter from Xi, less than 48 hours after Milei had won the election.

Ecclestone was struck by the pacifist tone of the letter.

Interestingly, in the first sentence he uses the polite form of you when referring to your election, Ecclestone told VOA, while going over the Spanish translation. The overall tone of the letter is very formal, very welcoming, very nonthreatening, with a very capitalist element thrown in the mix, Ecclestone said.

The phrase ganancia compartida appeared twice in the letter, Ecclestone pointed out. It literally means shared profit, and can be read as a not-very-subtle hint at the opportunities presented to Milei if he and Argentina were to be willing to work with China, the analyst said.

Its got no threats in it, its all love and kisses; its China and Argentina in love, Ecclestone said.

Its an olive branch  and its an olive branch with flowers, he said, describing the letter.

The olive branch stands in sharp contrast to the warning Beijing issued against Argentina and its newly elected leaders the same day Xis personal letter to Milei was delivered in Buenos Aires.

It would be a grave mistake if Argentina were to cut off ties with great powers such as China or Brazil. China is Argentinas important trade partner, Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, stated at a news briefing held in Beijing on November 21.

Mao acknowledged that Xi had conveyed his congratulations to Milei at the November 23 news briefing but did not say that the message had been hand-delivered by Chinas ambassador. The wording in Chinese, zhidian, made it appear as if Xi had telephoned Milei, or sent him a telegram, instead.

Blow to Beijing

Since he was elected, Milei has reiterated his three-pronged thinking on trade and foreign policy in an interview with Argentine media. In it, he called himself first and foremost an ally of the United States, Israel and the West. Another pillar of his thinking, he said, is I will not push or promote relationships with dictatorships, communists, those who have no regard for peace or dont hold democratic values.

Thirdly, he said, businesspeople are free to trade with whomever they want.

David Day, who heads the Honolulu-based Global Risk Mitigation Foundation, told VOA that Argentinas decision is a blow to Beijing.

Among other objectives, Beijing has been attempting to push the BRICS into an alternative trading bloc with an overt intent to get those countries off of the U.S. dollar, he said.

In a sign that BRICS is aiming to be much more than a trade and economics-oriented grouping, China organized a BRICS leaders online conference on November 21 to coordinate positions and take actions regarding the Hamas-Israel conflict, as Xi noted in a keynote speech.

The potential for Argentina leaving the Chinese tent is very troubling to Beijing geopolitically, as it cuts against the trend of Chinas takeover and growing influence in the Americas over the last several years, Day said.

Beijings worry is that Argentina and Milei could begin a reversal [of those gains], he continued, hence we are going to see both hard and soft approaches coming out of Beijing in an attempt to keep Argentina in line.

June Teufel Dreyer, a political scientist and China specialist at the University of Miami, told VOA that the path of relations between Buenos Aires and Beijing will become clearer over time.

Lets see whether the flower on the olive branch withers or continues to live on, she said.

Closer ties with Washington

Meanwhile, there are signs that Buenos Aires ties with Washington are being strengthened. Earlier this week, Milei embarked on a personal trip to the United States before he is due to take office on December 10.

On Tuesday, Milei and some of his closest advisers met with Jake Sullivan, President Joe Bidens national security adviser, at the White House. Milei later described the meeting as extraordinary. Economic issues and standing up for democracies around the world were among the topics discussed in their meeting, according to a statement released by the White House.

The Associated Press reported that Mileis office said after the meeting that Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the administration, conveyed the willingness of the United States to cooperate in the transition of the incoming Argentine government, given the challenging political, economic and social circumstances that the country is facing.

Milei also discussed with U.S. officials his commitment to values of freedom, his office said.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Melbourne who forced an Israeli delegation of relatives of Israelis killed or abducted by Hamas to seek shelter in a police station are facing condemnation in Australia. The demonstrators stormed the lobby of the delegations hotel Wednesday waving banners and placing two bloodied dolls on the ground.

A group of Israelis whose relatives were kidnapped by Hamas during the militant groups Oct. 7 attacks were followed to their hotel from a Wednesday meeting with members of the public and local politicians at a local college by about 20 pro-Palestinian protesters. Social media images and video show the protesters shouting pro-Palestinian slogans and holding banners, including one that read, "Stop arming Israel. Free Palestine." The police were eventually called and moved the protesters from the hotel.

The Israelis are in Australia to meet with politicians and others as part of a global campaign to publicize the plight of Hamas hostages in Gaza.

The Israelis were reportedly ushered to a police station by private security guards. The Israeli Embassy in Canberra later said in a statement that the delegation was "made to feel unsafe" by the protest.

Jacinta Allan, the Victoria state premier, told local media that the behavior of the protesters was appalling.

"People who are suffering grief and loss as a consequence of the awful conflict that is going on in the Middle East deserve our respect and care and support," she said.

In Canberra, the conservative opposition leader, Peter Dutton, told Parliament the pro-Palestinian protest was "an act of depravity."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told lawmakers Thursday that the demonstrators actions were "beyond contempt."

"This does nothing to advance the cause of the Palestinian people," he said. It does nothing to advance justice for Palestinians or peace in the region."

Earlier this week, relatives and friends of some of Hamas hostages held a news conference at Parliament House in Canberra to call for their immediate release.

Australia has repeatedly affirmed its belief in Israels right to defend itself and respond to the Hamas attacks, when about 1,200 people were killed and 240 others were kidnapped.

The government has also urged Israel to follow the rules of war and prevent civilian deaths.

There have been dozens of protests by pro-Palestinian supporters across Australia in recent weeks, as well as pro-Israel rallies.

Officials have expressed concern over a rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia in Australia since the conflict erupted.

In October, two government ministers said Gaza civilians were being subjected to collective punishment "for Hamas' barbarism" by Israel.

The two ministers, Industry Minister Ed Husic and Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly, are the only Muslims in Australias federal Cabinet.
U.S. President Joe Biden hosted the president of oil-rich Angola for the first time Thursday, with the leaders focusing on a $1 billion, U.S.-funded rail development that aims to connect the oil-rich nations ports to the continents resource-rich interior, and in doing so, perhaps loosen Chinas hold on the continent.

The leaders also agreed to hold a dialogue next year "focused on the secure and stable supply of energy and deeper commercial ties while advancing our shared climate goals." The U.S. has held similar talks with African oil giant Nigeria.

Biden cast this rare Oval Office visit by an African leader as an exemplar of his retooled Africa strategy.

Seated next to President Joao Loureno and in front of a roaring fireplace, Biden said, "As youve heard me say before, America is all in on Africa."

He added that the continent "has 1 billion people. Critically important, how it functions to the whole world."

In 2023, Africas population totaled about 1.4 billion, according to the CIA's World Factbook.

Details aside, the continent, and Angola in particular, should be seen as a big deal, said Jean-Michel Mabeko-Tali, a Howard University history professor.

"In my opinion it's an essential partner," he told VOA. "Of course, it depends on how America wants to look at another African country such as Angola. If it looks at Angola as just another country with which you can only deal on light issues, well, that does not benefit Angola.

"If we remember that it's a country with a long history of conflict resolution, nationally and regionally, it would be positive and not just as another country with natural resources that America is interested in," Mabeko-Tali said.

The two leaders hourlong meeting Thursday mainly focused on a U.S.-funded rail corridor that would run from Angolas oil-rich coast deep into the African interior, where China and the U.S. are competing for access to resources. The route cuts through volatile southern Congo, which is rich in rare earth minerals, and dips into copper-rich Zambia.

"The U.S. engagement in the Lobito Corridor in telecommunications and energy, mainly green energy, is an evidence of that support, because infrastructures like those will help the development not only of Angola, but the whole African continent," Lourenco said.

VOA asked the White House how this corridor, to which Biden has committed $1 billion, can work without peace in Congo, which is part of Lourencos work as the African Unions top peace envoy.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby didnt say what steps the administration is taking to support Lourencos efforts in the troubled region, where matters are complicated by a few long-serving leaders with large personalities, well-documented violations of human rights, civil liberties and democratic practices, and a history of interfering in each others affairs.

Instead, Kirby pointed to the administrations efforts through Bidens Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, widely seen as the U.S. counter to Chinas much larger Belt and Road Initiative.

"The president's very excited about this," Kirby said. "This is a real landmark effort as part of PGII, helping lower-middle income countries find sustainable investments in their infrastructure that can not only create jobs, but also open up economic opportunities in this case, all across that southern part of sub-Saharan Africa. So it's very exciting. And we're going to, we're going to keep pushing."

Analysts say the corridors success depends on lasting peace in Congo, which votes next month in a contest between the incumbent and the leader of the southern state that will host the corridor. But also, China may have a role to play.

"There's going to be a need to cooperate while also compete with China in order to make the Lobito corridor a success, and I think that's sort of what's happening behind the scenes with China," Michael Walsh, a senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told VOA. "The Lobito corridor is both competition, and to some extent, is going to probably be cooperation."

VOA also asked what Biden wanted to communicate to Lourenco about criticism of his human rights record.

"We never shy away from talking about human rights," Kirby said. "The president routinely brings that up."

Lourenco stopped for less than a minute with the gathered press before he left the White House. The meeting, he said, was "better than I expected."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the Middle East, holding talks Thursday with Israeli and Palestinian officials and coming out with an unusually blunt message to Israel about the next phase of its war against Hamas. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports.
A BBC Channel 4 documentary, "Secrets and Power: China in the UK," claims the Chinese government is interfering with academic freedom and spying on Hong Kong activists in the United Kingdom.

The 49-minute film released Wednesday alleges that the University of Nottingham used a Beijing-approved curriculum in classes taught on a satellite campus in Ningbo and closed its School of Contemporary Chinese Studies under pressure from Beijing.

The program also claims a professor at the Imperial College London collaborated with researchers at a Chinese university on the use of artificial intelligence weaponry that could be used to benefit the Chinese military. Both institutions deny the allegations.

The film also alleges that Chinese government agents pretending to be journalists used fake profiles and avatars to target Hong Kong activists now living in the U.K.

VOA Mandarin sent an email to the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom seeking comments on the claims in the documentary but has not received a response.

Nations track China's influence

The documentary comes as other nations, including the U.S., are monitoring China's influence on campuses and its so-called "overseas police centers," purportedly intended to help Chinese diaspora and tourists with everyday problems.

VOA has previously quoted human rights groups saying the outposts are in fact part of a complex global surveillance and control web that gives Beijing reach far beyond China's borders.

The University of Nottingham was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education to open a campus in Ningbo, China, in 2004. On the China campus, all courses are taught in English and students are awarded the same degrees as on the U.K. campus.

Professor Stephen Morgan, the former vice provost for planning at the Ningbo campus, said in the documentary that books and articles on campus are censored by local Communist Party officials.

According to Morgan, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also encouraged students to spy on their teachers. He said he was forced to resign from his management position after writing a blog criticizing constitutional changes that enabled President Xi Jinping to serve a third term. The CCP secretary at the Ningbo campus deemed the blog "totally unacceptable," he said.

Steve Tsang is director of the China Institute at SOAS London and a former director of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham, which closed in 2016.

Tsang, an outspoken critic of the CCP, said in the documentary that University of Nottingham administrators told him not to speak with media when Xi visited the U.K. in 2015. Tsang also said the university did not allow him to host a senior Taiwanese politician who planned to deliver a speech in 2014.

School denies taking political action

The University of Nottingham has denied that the closure of its Institute of Contemporary China was for political reasons and denied Channel 4's allegations about Nottingham's Ningbo campus.

"We do not recognize the description of the University of Nottingham's Ningbo campus. Any U.K. organization operating overseas  must comply with the laws and customs of the host country."

The documentary alleges that Imperial College London's collaboration with researchers from Shanghai University included the publication of several papers on the military applications of artificial intelligence. The work was overseen by Guo Yike, director of Imperial College's Institute of Data Science.

According to a report in the English newspaper The Telegraph, Imperial College said staff have a "clear code of research" and insisted that due diligence and regular reviews of partners have been done.

The Chinese Embassy in London also denied to The Telegraph in the same article that it had interfered in the running of British universities, saying the allegation was "aimed at discrediting and smearing China."

Film alleges China targets activists

A study prepared by the British think tank Civitas and released this month in parliament found that a number of British universities have received significant funding from organizations linked to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) over the past five years.

The documentary alleges Hong Kong activists who have taken refuge in Britain appear to be the targets of sophisticated Chinese government espionage.

It follows the case of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Finn Lau, who said he had been repeatedly approached by fake journalists and feared being followed. In July, Hong Kong offered a bounty equal to $128,000 for Lau's arrest. Seven others were also targeted.

According to the documentary, an American man who taught English in Shanghai pretended to be a journalist working for a Canadian media outlet and used a false avatar and profile to ask Lau for information about pro-democracy activities. When the American was asked by a Channel 4 reporter for his real name and those of his superiors, he hung up the video call.
Chad's opposition and civil society groups are asking France to immediately withdraw troops who arrived in Chad after being ordered to depart neighboring Niger by that countrys military junta.

Ordjei Abderahim Chaha, president of the opposition party Rally for Justice and Equality, said Thursday that military ruler Mahamat Idriss Deby has failed to heed calls to ask French troops to leave.

Speaking at a news conference in the capital, NDjamena, Chaha said he believes Deby wants French troops to keep Chad's military junta in power by intimidating or cracking down on civilians who are ready to protest should Deby fail to hand power to civilian rule by November 2024 as agreed.

Opposition and civil society groups have asked Deby to ensure some 1,000 French troops already stationed in Chad  plus those who have arrived from Niger  leave the central African state no later than December 28, Chaha said.

All colonial-era agreements and newly negotiated deals between France and Chad should be canceled, he said, adding that citizens are fed up with France's overbearing influence in many African nations.

Deby, a general in Chad's army, was proclaimed head of an 18-month transitional council on April 21 to replace his late father, Idriss Deby Itno, who had run Chad as a dictator for 30 years.

Opposition and civil society groups say Deby cannot be trusted because he failed to hand power to a civilian government in October 2022 as agreed and instead extended the transition period by two years.

Deby insists he will hand power to civilian rule.

The Chadian government says there have been at least six protests against French military presence in Chad this year. In February, there were widespread protests against French troops after civilians accused the foreign military of brutality against civilians.

In early September, a French military medic opened fire and killed a Chadian soldier who reportedly attacked him with a scalpel as he received care in a military base. Anti-French protests then erupted in Faya-Largeau, a northern town, and Chad's military used live ammunition and injured several people as it struggled to disperse protesters, according to civil society groups.

Koursami Albert, an international affairs lecturer in Chads University of N'Djamena, told VOA via a messaging app that civilians are unhappy because French troops restrict or arrest people who come close to their bases  an indication, he said, that the French do not want anyone to know their activities.

He said even Chadian troops are restricted from going near French military bases.

France has always claimed that its troops are in Africa to ensure peace and stability in friendly countries, especially where it was the former colonial power, but people struggle to see what services their troops render, Koursami said.

French troops have not intervened in the communal violence and armed conflicts Chad faces, observers say.

On October 19, Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere, spokesperson for the French military, announced that the first convoy of French troops that left Niger by land had arrived in N'Djamena.

France did not disclose the final destination of their forces leaving Niger. Chad said the troops were to leave for Paris via N'Djamena International airport, while their equipment was to transit through the Douala Seaport in neighboring Cameroon.

French President Emmanuel Macron in September promised to pull all 1,500 French troops from Niger and end military cooperation with the landlocked western African country.

Nigerien military leader General Abdourahamane Omar Tchiani and junta supporters accused France of failing to resolve the security crisis that has killed thousands and displaced millions across Niger.
Israel has made its first public comment on Irans apparent coercion of its Jewish minority into staging unprecedented anti-Israel rallies a month ago, telling VOA that it believes the Iranian Jews who participated in them had "no choice."

"We understand perfectly [their] circumstances," said Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry Deputy Director General for Public Diplomacy Emmanuel Nahshon in a Nov. 14 VOA Persian TV interview in Jerusalem.

"We understand that when you live in a dictatorship, sometimes you have no choice. This is part of what they [Jews in Iran] have been living through since 1979. So we understand the difficulties that they are facing," Nahshon said.

Radical Shiite clerics opposed to Israel's existence have ruled Iran since seizing power in its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian Jews held rallies in five cities on Oct. 30 to denounce Israel for waging war against Hamas, which triggered the conflict with its Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.

Hundreds of Jews participated in the rallies in the capital, Tehran, and in the cities of Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd and Kermanshah, according to videos and photos published by five Iranian state news agencies and reviewed by VOA. They were the largest anti-Israel Jewish gatherings observed in Iran since 1979.

Nahshon said Israel harbors no ill feeling toward Iranian Jews. "They are our brothers and sisters, and we love them very much," he said.

An excerpt of Nahshons English-language interview, which was dubbed into Persian, was first published in its original English in this weeks edition of VOAs Flashpoint Iran podcast.

In a Nov. 3 statement sent to, and first reported by, VOA, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said the Biden administration is aware of reports Iranian authorities "coerced Iranian Jewish leaders and their communities" to engage in the protests.

"It is reprehensible that the Iranian regime continues to pressure religious groups to advance their propaganda," the spokesperson said. In reference to the Israel-Hamas war, the spokesperson added, "Irans apparent exploitation of this conflict to advance its repression and propaganda against its Jewish community is abhorrent."

Irans U.N. mission in New York responded to the U.S. criticism by sending VOA a statement noting an Oct. 18 anti-Israel protest held by far-left American Jews in Washington and asking if they also had been "subject to pressure" to denounce Israel.

The Iranian statement also said, "Iranian Jews, akin to other Jews worldwide ... are indeed fed up with the egregious crimes committed by the occupying regime [Israel] against innocent Palestinian women and children."

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a global Jewish human rights organization, has said world Jewry, rather than expressing anger toward Israel, is facing an "unprecedented rise" in antisemitism related to the Israel-Hamas war.

American Rabbi Abraham Cooper, who chairs the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, gave his first public reaction to Irans statement about its Jewish minority in a Thursday phone interview with VOA. Cooper also serves as the Wiesenthal Centers director of global social action.

"Irans Jews, like its other minorities, are essentially hostages of the regime who can pray as long as they say the right words and follow the regimes rules," Cooper said. "The Jewish community members know that if the regime tells you what to do, you dont mess with it. Thats not religious freedom."

The State Departments latest annual report on international religious freedom, published in May, cited the Tehran Jewish Committee as saying Iran is home to approximately 9,000 Jews. It also cited an unnamed member of the community as giving a higher population estimate of 20,000 during a 2021 visit to the United States.

VOA Persian correspondent Siamak Dehghanpour reported from Jerusalem and Michael Lipin of VOAs News Center reported from Washington.
MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia will hold the "Ocean-2024" strategic command and staff exercise next year, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday during a meeting of the defense ministry board.

"About 20 of those exercises will involve units of foreign states," he said, adding that four exercises would be carried out within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The drills will conclude with the large-scale "Ocean-2024" strategic command and staff exercise that will involve all branches of the country's armed forces, said the defense minister.

Shoigu noted that the implementation of combat training plans "would ensure the fulfillment of tasks aimed at protecting national interests and a timely response to changes in the military and political situation." 
On November 29, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on an interview aired on Ukrainian television with David Arakhamia, the parliamentary leader of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys Servant of the People party.

Zakharova claimed that Arakhamia said in the interview that Boris Johnson, during a visit to Kyiv in April 2022 while he was still British prime minister, forced Ukraine not to sign a peace treaty with Russia. That, Zakharova added, convincingly shows that Ukraine staged the March 2022 massacre of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha to disrupt the Russia-Ukraine talks then taking place in Turkey:

We noticed what was said on November 25 this year in an interview with the 1+1 TV channel by the head of the faction of the pro-presidential party Servant of the People in the Verkhovna Rada, D. G. Arakhamia, that it was former British Prime Minister B. Johnson who forbade Kyiv from signing a peace agreement with Russia following negotiations in Istanbul at the end of March 2022 and demanded the continuation of hostilities against Russia. ... These revelations by D.G. Arakhamia convincingly indicate that the staging in Bucha was organized by Kyiv as a pretext to disrupt the negotiation process.

Zakharovas characterization of Arakhamias comments and the Bucha massacre are misleading.

Western independent media outlets and Ukrainian authorities exhaustively investigated the March 2022 massacre in the town of Bucha outside the capital Kyiv and concluded that it was carried out by Russian troops.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine began a few days later, and were held first in Belarus, then in Istanbul, and have been suspended since May 2022.

In his TV interview, Arakhamia, who led the Ukrainian delegation at the peace talks with Russia in Belarus and Turkey in 2022, revealed that in the spring of 2022, Russia proposed a deal under which it would end its war against Ukraine if Ukraine dropped its plans to join NATO and declared neutrality:

They were prepared to end the war if we agreed to  as Finland once did  neutrality, and committed that we would not join NATO, Arakhamia said in the interview.

However, he noted that Ukraines NATO aspirations are written in its Constitution, which would have to be amended if its NATO bid were abandoned. He also said that Ukraine did not trust Russia to stick to such an agreement:

There is no, and there was no, trust in the Russians that they would do it. This could only be done if there were security guarantees.

Arakhamia did say that Johnson, during his trip to Kyiv in early April 2022, told Ukraines leadership it should not sign anything with them at all, and let's just fight. However, he indicated that Johnsons advice was just that, not an order, and that Ukraines negotiations with Russa were not managed in any way by the U.S. or other Western governments:

[W]e consulted, of course - we understood that we cannot win the war by ourselves, so we definitely need to consult with them on this issue. And they actually advised us not to go for any ephemeral security guarantees, which at that time were impossible to give at all.

Zakharovas claim that the Bucha massacre was organized by Kyiv is not the first time Russian officials have pushed that conspiracy theory.

Ukrainian and international prosecutors and investigators have documented how Russian troops summarily executed Bucha residents, many of whose bodies were found with hands bound and signs of torture. Investigators also identified and named dozens of Russian servicemen involved in the killings.

Russian troops controlled Bucha over March 5-31. After Ukrainian troops retook the town on April 1, international news agencies began to publish photo and video evidence of the killings of civilians there.

More than 30 bodies of people in civilian clothes were found on the streets of the town and in the courtyards of houses.

Another 67 bodies were exhumed from a mass grave near the towns Church of St. Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints.

A Ukrainian police forensic medical examination found that 40 of those 67 victims were civilians and that several dozen of the victims had gunshot wounds to the head and body.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New York-based nongovernmental organization, confirmed the allegations against the Russian army:

[HRW] researchers who worked in Bucha from April 4 to 10, days after Russian forces withdrew from the area, found extensive evidence of summary executions, other unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, all of which would constitute war crimes and potential crimes against humanity.

Reuters journalists spent 21 days in Bucha, interviewing more than 90 residents, reviewing photographic and video evidence these locals shared and examining documents left behind by the Russians. The news agency identified individual Russian soldiers and military units present during the bloody occupation.

An April 2022 investigation by Amnesty International found that Bucha was the site of a host of apparent war crimes during the period of Russian control.

In November and December 2022, The Associated Press and The New York Times published the results of their separate monthslong investigations into the Bucha massacre, based on an analysis of hundreds of hours of surveillance footage, intercepted Russian telephone conversations and interviews with eyewitnesses.
Fighting between Hamas and Israel has resumed in Gaza after a seven-day cessation that facilitated the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and the flow of humanitarian aid in the devastated enclave.

Gazas Hamas-run health ministry says 109 people died in the first hours of Fridays attack.

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday the resumption of fighting follows Hamas violation of a temporary truce and the militant groups launching of a rocket attack on Israel.

The renewed violence comes amid a New York Times report that Israel had advance knowledge of a detailed Hamas plan to attack Israel, but that the plan was dismissed as aspirational.

The approximately 40-page translated document, codenamed Jerico Wall and reviewed by the Times, detailed how U.S.-designated terror group Hamas would execute a multi-pronged assault on Israeli defense positions and take over cities. It did not set a date for the attack.

The Times said Israeli military and intelligence officials had knowledge of the plan more than a year before the October 7 attack. It was not clear if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also had knowledge.

There was no immediate reaction by the Israeli government to the Times report.

Even as the sounds and smells of war return to Gaza, international mediators are continuing to negotiate to bring an end to the fighting.

The IDF said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had "successfully intercepted" the rocket launch from Gaza.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from Hamas for the rocket attack.

Leaflets dropped by Israel in Khan Younis in southern Gaza are advising people there to travel farther south for their safety.

A New York Times report said Israel had advance knowledge that Hamas intended to carry out an attack on Israel, but Israel dismissed the plan as aspirational.

James Elder, a UNICEF spokesperson, said in a video posted on X, from Gazas "biggest, still functioning" hospital that "This hospital simply cannot take more children with the wounds of war." He said a bomb had fallen "literally 50 meters from here."

Elder said, "Inaction by those with influence is allowing the killing of children. This is a war on children."

The return to fighting comes after a seven-day truce that allowed for the exchange of Israeli hostages from the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel for Palestinian prisoners.

On Thursday, two Palestinian gunmen attacked a Jerusalem bus stop, killing at least four people and injuring several others.

Leaflets dropped by Israel in Khan Younis in southern Gaza are advising people there to travel further south for their safety.

James Elder, a UNICEF spokesperson, said in a video posted on X, from Gazas biggest, still functioning hospital that This hospital simply cannot take more children with the wounds of war. He said a bomb had fallen literally 50 meters from here.

Elder said, Inaction by those with influence is allowing the killing of children. This is a war on children.

The return to fighting comes after a seven-day truce that allowed for the exchange of Israeli hostages from the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel for Palestinian prisoners.

Two women were released in the afternoon and six more were released shortly before midnight. It was the seventh group of hostages released under the temporary truce deal between Hamas and Israel.

Israel initially required the militant group to release at least 10 hostages daily for the truce to continue, but a Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said that no additional hostages would be released Thursday. Qatar helped broker the truce.

The Qatari spokesperson said Israel accepted the eight hostages because Hamas on Wednesday released an extra two hostages, who were Israeli-Russian women.

Hamas had indicated that it could free two more Israeli-Russian citizens, but the militant group ultimately did not do so. Hamas had also previously said it would release the bodies of three Israeli hostages Thursday, but it is unclear whether that occurred.

In turn, Israel released 30 Palestinians from prisons in Israel.

To date, Hamas has released 105 hostages and Israel has released 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Britain, the European Union and others.

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 believed the truce was 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."

Blinken is to end his Middle East trip with a Friday visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to discuss Gaza with Arab world leaders attending the U.N. Climate Conference in Dubai.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The first gay couple in Nepal to have their same-sex marriage officially recognized vowed Friday to campaign for changes in the law to help others like them to get married.

Surendra Pandey and Maya Gurung were able to legally register their marriage at a village council office this week in the mountains west of the capital, Kathmandu.

Pandey is a man and Gurung is a transgender woman. Nepal does not allow its citizens to change the sex assigned at birth on their official documents.

"We will continue our campaign for same-sex marriage and fight to bring equality to sexual monitories in country so that generations of people will not have to suffer like we all did," Gurung told reporters Friday in Kathmandu.

Other provisions in the law like inheritance, property rights and the right to adopt children have still to be updated in line with the recognition of same-sex-marriages.

The couple along with gay rights groups have been struggling for years to get the government to legally register same-sex marriages. Nepal is one of the first countries in Asia to recognize same-sex unions.

Earlier this year, Nepal's supreme court issued an interim order enabling the registration of same-sex marriages for the first time.

Even after the court rulings, officials had initially refused to register the marriage. Along with Sunil Babu Pant, an openly gay former parliamentarian and leading LGBTQ+ rights activist, the couple filed cases with the Kathmandu District Court and High Court, but their pleas were rejected.

Earlier this week, the Home Ministry made changes to enable all local administration offices to register same-sex marriages.

The couple travelled back to Gurung's village and got their marriage registered on Wednesday.

"Finally we have gotten legal recognition. Not just us, but all the sexual minority people who had been waiting anxiously for so long for this day are happy," Pandey said.

Now the Himalayan nation has become the only second country in Asia and first in South Asia to allow it.

Gay rights activists have clarified that the new provisions in Nepal would now allow anyone to marry anyone with their sexual preference in the country.

Since 2011, Nepalis who do not identify as female or male are able to choose "third gender" on their passports and other government documents. The constitution adopted in 2015 also explicitly states there can be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

"It is just not same sex marriage, but it is very inclusive" said Pant. "Now man can marry woman, which was already there. Now man can marry man, woman can marry woman, as we have three genders  male, female and others. Others can marry others also and others can marry man."

"It is a whole lot of inclusive so I like to call it a rainbow marriage is possible in Nepal," he said.

The couple married six years ago at a temple following Hindu tradition, with a priest conducting the rituals among friends and family. But they had no certificate showing their marriage was legal.
Hamas released eight Israeli hostages Thursday in Gaza under an extension of a truce, and a short time later Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners as negotiators tried to again extend the pause in fighting.

Two women were released in the afternoon and six more were released shortly before midnight. It was the seventh group of hostages released under the temporary truce between Hamas and Israel.

Israel initially required the militant group to release at least 10 hostages daily for the truce to continue, but a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that no additional hostages would be released on Thursday. Qatar helped broker the truce.

The Qatari spokesperson said Israel accepted the eight hostages because Hamas on Wednesday released an extra two hostages, who were Israeli Russian women.

Hamas had indicated that it could free two more Israeli Russian citizens, but the militant group ultimately did not do so. Hamas had also previously said it would release the bodies of three Israeli hostages on Thursday, but it was unclear whether that occurred.

In turn, Israel released 30 Palestinians from prisons in Israel.

To date, Hamas has released 105 hostages and Israel has released 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., U.K, European Union and others.

Qatar and Egypt have played key roles in negotiating the truces, with Egypt saying the two Arab countries would now try to prolong the cease-fire another two days beyond Thursday. But 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.

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 believed the truce was 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 an attack by two Palestinian gunmen Thursday morning in Jerusalem, which killed at least four 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."

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." A fourth person has since died.

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.

Israels aerial bombardment of Gaza and subsequent ground offensive has leveled hundreds of buildings, and according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, the actions have killed more than 15,000 people, with another 6,500 missing, possibly buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli armys chief of staff, had 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 had 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 report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The South China Morning Post has responded to concerns raised over the whereabouts of one of its reporters, saying the journalist is "taking personal leave."

Friends of Minnie Chan raised concerns to the Japanese news outlet Kyodo News about her well being, saying the journalist has become unreachable after traveling to Beijing to report on the Xiangshan Forum.

The three-day international security forum concluded on October 31.

But in an email Friday to VOA, the South China Morning Post told VOA that Chan's "family has informed us that she is in Beijing but needs time to handle a private matter." The statement said the journalist's family has confirmed she is safe but requests that her privacy be respected.

"We will continue to communicate with Minnie's family and provide all the necessary support they need," the statement said. The South China Morning Post also told VOA the safety of its journalists is "of the utmost importance."

Chan is an award-winning reporter from the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's largest English-language newspaper. She covers defense and diplomacy in China.

Her last story, about China's response to the Israel-Hamas war, was published on November 1.

Chan's friends had told Kyodo News that they were concerned the journalist might be under investigation by authorities. Chan's colleagues at the South China Morning Post have also asked their editors about Chan's whereabouts, according to The Guardian.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington told VOA it has "no information on this specific case."

A reporter at the South China Morning Post for nearly two decades, Chan previously reported for Hong Kong's now shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, according to Chan's 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.

International press freedom watchdogs on Friday expressed concern about Chan's case. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement said that reports about Chan's apparent disappearance "are extremely concerning" and added, "Chinese authorities must immediately disclose her location and guarantee her safety."
At least 118 cross-border porters were killed or injured in November, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported this week, adding that more than 93% of them resulted from shootings by the armed forces of Iran.

Hengaw said Thursday that eight porters were killed, one of them a child, and 110 were injured, 14 of them children.

The porters, called kolbars, carry everyday goods by donkey or other means across the mountainous border from Iraq to Iran. Iran considers some of the goods to be contraband.

Analysis of the statistics from preceding months showed a significant surge in casualties, with November seeing a 293% increase compared with October 2023, when 30 kolbars were killed or injured.

Kurdistan province accounted for the majority of the increase, 93 cases, followed by Kermanshah province with 22 cases and West Azerbaijan province with three instances.

Reports indicated an escalation in direct shootings targeting kolbars over the past year, a trend substantiated by the rising casualty statistics.

Human rights activists argue that contrary to the claims of Iranian authorities, most kolbars do not transport prohibited items.

"There is no specific reason for them to shoot. For instance, my father never transported alcohol or similar items, so they cannot claim they shot him because he was smuggling such goods," a daughter of a kolbar killed by the Iranian military told VOA.

Leila Morovati, a political analyst and collaborator with Mokrian News Agency, previously told VOA that she believed there was no intention of addressing the cross-border trade and those involved in it.

Kolbari, the term for the practice of transporting goods across the border in exchange for money, "reflects political, social and economic inequalities present in Kurdish regions and throughout the entire country," she said.

The prevalence of kolbari among children, adolescents and young people, as well as women and girls in Kurdish areas, can be attributed to the "unequal distribution of wealth and opportunities," particularly "after the revolution," she said.
Top officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, who are dealing with a dire financial crisis at home, are attending this week's United Nations climate change summit in the United Arab Emirates hoping to gain enough international support to fight climate change in their region, hit by "extreme droughts."



On Thursday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani traveled to Dubai to participate in the U.N. Conference of the Parties, or COP28.



Speaking to VOA, Haval Ahmad, head of the Climate Change Department of the Kurdistan Regional Environmental Board, said his government wished to discuss their plans to fight climate change, saying that "climate adaptation is highly significant for the Kurdistan Region."



"We need help on the key areas of agriculture, water and the ecosystem," said Ahmad, who will be speaking on a panel about Kurdistan and Iraq's climate change problem.



The U.N. and Iraqi officials in the past have warned about the effects of climate change on Iraq. In November of 2022, the U.N. resident coordinator for Iraq, Ghulam M. Isaczai, called climate change "the biggest threat Iraq has ever faced."



And early last month, scientists at the World Weather Attribution group warned that in Iraq, along with Iran and Syria, a three-year drought was made more "extreme" by climate change and was intensifying naturally dry conditions into a humanitarian crisis.

They found in their study that was released November 8 that severe droughts will be more common in the future because of global warming.



"This is already touching the limits of what some people are able to adapt to," said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist with the Grantham Institute at the Imperial College in London and one of the authors of the study.

For officials in northern Iraq's Kurdistan, adapting to the changes will require resources that the region is not ready to pay for.



The Kurdish government has not been able to pay salaries of its employees for three months because of its ongoing financial and energy disputes with the Iraqi central government.

But Kurdish officials seem to recognize how quickly their region is being affected by rising temperatures and decreasing rainfalls and have turned to citizens to help save the ecosystem.



"Today, Kurdishness means protecting the environment, water and soil of our country," Kurdish Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani told citizens last year, equating the strong sense of Kurdish nationalism and decades of national struggle with the challenge of climate change.



In June, Talabani held a meeting with 16 consular and diplomatic envoys in the Kurdistan Region to plead for their help "before it is too late."



Local environmental organizations say that rising temperatures and changes in rainfall have parched water supplies and increased deadly flooding  an issue challenging the Kurdish government's plan to turn its focus from energy to agriculture.



Maroof Majid, president of Aynda (Future) Organization for Environmental Protection in the Kurdistan Region, said the threats of climate change on the region's environment "are serious and must be taken seriously."



Majid told VOA during a phone call Thursday, "Kurdistan Region has a population of about 6 million people, but there are more than 2,150,000 private vehicles, and the public transportation is very poor. And according to our data, out of 2.5 million acres of forest land, [1 million hectares] 50% of it has been destroyed in the past few years."



The decrease in water resources is most alarming, Majid said, pointing to the region's capital, Irbil, as an example.



"In most parts of Irbil, people don't find water anymore, even after digging 700 meters underground. And equally concerning is the decrease of water levels at Little Zab, Great Zab, and Sirwan River due to drought or its retention by the neighboring countries," he said.



Iraqi officials blame the dwindling water flows from its north to several dams built by Turkey and Iran. Iraq's two major water resources, the Tigris and Euphrates, both flow from Turkey, placing water at the center of Turkish relations with Iraq.
Israel has told the United Nations that it will not renew the visa of its resident and humanitarian coordinator in the Palestinian territories, effectively kicking her out. It comes amid strained relations between Israel and the world body over the war in Gaza.

In a letter dated November 12 and seen by VOA, Amir Weissbrod, the deputy director general of Israel's foreign ministry office that deals with the United Nations and international organizations, expressed his government's displeasure with the U.N. official, Lynn Hastings.

"We regret to inform you that Ms. Hastings has lost the trust and confidence of Israeli authorities and is no longer in a position to fulfill her responsibilities effectively with the relevant Israeli officials," he wrote. He said Israel would not renew her visa when it expires on December 20.

Weissbrod cited what he called her "ongoing silence" regarding Hamas' responsibility for the October 7 terror attacks on Israel.

"This silence has been all the more stunning, and profoundly offensive, given Ms. Hastings's willingness to regularly and irresponsibly direct criticism at Israel," he said.

Three days after the attack, Hastings put out a statement that said, "Palestinian armed groups infiltrated Israel on 7 October, killing and capturing hundreds of Israeli civilians and members of the Israeli forces while indiscriminately firing thousands of rockets into Israel."

The statement added: "Captured civilians must be released immediately and unconditionally" and "treated humanely and with dignity."

Called for more aid to Gaza

Hastings has been vocal in repeatedly calling for scaled-up aid to Gaza. From October 7 to 21, Israel would not allow any humanitarian assistance into the Hamas-controlled territory. Once it did start, it was limited and inadequate to meet growing needs. She also urged Israel to reverse its evacuation order that sent more than 1 million people from northern Gaza fleeing south.

Hastings has called on both parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

"I can only  and I've said this before  reiterate the secretary-general's full confidence in Ms. Hastings, the way she has conducted herself and the way she has done her work," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Friday in response to reporters' questions and confirming Israel's decision.

He noted that Hastings has faced public attacks, including on social media.

"Personal, direct attacks on U.N. personnel anywhere around the world is unacceptable and puts people's lives at risk," Dujarric said.

Israel's decision comes amid strained relations between Tel Aviv and the United Nations. Israeli officials have for years accused the organization of bias against Israel, and last month, Ambassador Gilad Erdan called for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resign when he said Hamas' attack "did not happen in a vacuum."

Palestinians "have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation," Guterres added.

Erdan said that day that Israel would also have to reassess its relations with the United Nations.

Allegation against UNRWA teacher

Separately, the U.N. agency that assists Palestinians, UNRWA, said Friday that it has asked an Israeli journalist for more information on what it said is a "very serious allegation" that an UNRWA teacher held one of the Israelis abducted on October 7 in his attic for 50 days.

Israel television channel 13 reporter Almog Boker wrote on social media platform X Thursday that the alleged kidnapper had barely provided the hostage with food or medical attention.

"UNRWA requests the journalist to provide an immediate clarification of the claims and whoever may be able to assist us in determining the facts, to come forward," the agency said in a statement. "In the absence of credible information to support this claim, UNRWA requests the journalist to immediately delete the post."

Boker's post was picked up by several media outlets and had more than 2,000 repostings on X.

"Making serious allegations in the public domain, unsupported by any evidence or verifiable facts in support may thereof amount to misinformation," UNRWA said.
Japan's top government spokesperson expressed concern on Friday that the U.S. military is continuing to fly Osprey aircraft in the country without providing adequate information about a fatal crash this week in southwestern Japan despite repeated requests that it do so.

One crew member was killed and seven others are missing, along with the aircraft. The cause of Wednesday's crash, which occurred during a training mission, is still under investigation. Search operations widened Friday with additional U.S. military personnel joining the effort, while Japanese coast guard and military ships focused on an undersea search using sonar.

The Pentagon said Thursday that U.S. Ospreys continue to operate in Japan, and Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said she was not aware of an official request from Japan to ground them.

"We are concerned about the continuing Osprey flights despite our repeated requests and the absence of a sufficient explanation about their safety" from the U.S. military, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Friday.

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.

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 rekindled safety concerns.

Japanese officials say they asked the U.S. military to halt Osprey flights in Japan except for those involved in the search operations.

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said he met with the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, on Thursday afternoon and repeated his request that flights be allowed only after the aircraft's safety is confirmed. He acknowledged that he did not specifically use the words "grounding" or "suspension."

Kihara said he asked Rupp to explain what measures are being taken for Osprey flights in Japan in response to the crash.

On Thursday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and asked the United States "to promptly provide information to the Japanese side."

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey that crashed was one of six deployed at Yokota Air Base, home to U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force, and was 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.

A total of 44 Ospreys have been deployed at U.S. and Japanese military bases in Japan. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops in Japan are based, Gov. Denny Tamaki called on Japan's defense and foreign ministries to request the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan, including in search operations.

"It is extremely regrettable that Ospreys are still flying in Okinawa," Tamaki said in a statement Thursday. "I have serious doubts about Osprey safety even for their search and rescue operations."
A reporter was briefly arrested on Thursday while covering a pro-Palestinian protest in the southwestern U.S. city of Tucson, Arizona.

Video and photos posted online show Alisa Reznick, a reporter with the National Public Radio affiliate KJZZ, being handcuffed and detained by a Pima County sheriffs deputy. Reznick was wearing a visible press pass and identified herself as a journalist.

"Im a reporter," Reznick said. "And youre under arrest," a deputy replied.

Reznick was among 25 other people who were arrested at the protest. Although the reporter was released later that same morning, press freedom groups condemned the arrest.

"We are deeply concerned that the Pima County Sheriffs Department handcuffed and detained NPR-affiliated journalist Alisa Reznick as she was doing her job covering a protest, and clearly identified herself as a journalist," Katherine Jacobsen, U.S. and Canada program coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement.

"Police should conduct an internal investigation as to why they detained a reporter and obstructed her from newsgathering," Jacobsen said.

Reznick was reporting on a protest outside UA Tech Park. The University of Arizona satellite campus is home to Raytheon, a defense contractor that has sent weapons to Israel.

"It is essential that journalists be able to remain on the scene of protest activity to cover both the demonstration and law enforcements response to it," Gabe Rottman, director of the Technology and Press Freedom Project at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said in a statement.

"Detaining, arresting or otherwise removing journalists who are doing their jobs deprives the public of on-the-ground reporting that is vital to bringing people the information they need, and there is a danger that laws like trespass can be used as a pretext to shut down public interest newsgathering," Rottman added.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Arizona Public Media that he stood by the arrest.

"If you find that our deputies did something that you think was inappropriate, unprofessional, illegal, please, I want to be the first to know about that," Nanos said. "But from what I've seen, and what I've heard from talking to all the other media outlets, they don't believe our deputies were in violation or any of that, that they did their best to keep things calm."

Nanos said Reznick was asked multiple times to leave the area but refused to do so.

"I am hearing that she was given that opportunity, as several other people, multiple times when she was requested, as were several others, to leave the area," Nanos said. "Her, as well as now I understand this number has gone up to 26 people, chose not to do that."

According to the Daily Beast website, a senior KJZZ editor said in a statement that the station was "continuing to seek clarity from the sheriffs department on the circumstances of this incident where a clearly identified journalist was in the course of reporting the news."
A villager pours tea for customers at a tea factory of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

NANNING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Having savored tea for over 2,000 years, Chinese tea enthusiasts are now welcoming innovations in this age-old beverage, with trends ranging from fruit tea and bubble tea to blended drinks like chai latte, sparking a thriving market.

Peng Yonghua, a veteran engineer at the research and development center of an esteemed tea company in China's Jiangxi Province, is one of the pioneers sensing the industry pulse and embracing this trend.

"Previously, enduring product sales were the goal, but in the new market, staying competitive requires constant innovation," Peng said. "Currently, the R&D cycle is around one week, and it's expected to get even faster."

Wuyuan County Jufangyong Tea Industry Ltd. Company, where Peng works, entered the innovative tea beverage market in 2014. Established in 2005, the company is involved in various aspects, including tea cultivation, primary and deep processing, research and development, and sales.

Orders from new-style tea beverage companies are entirely customized, requiring the formulation to be developed within a short time, Peng added.

"Tea enterprises have paired traditionally incompatible ingredients, presenting customers with novel and exciting flavors, particularly catering to the adventurous tastes of the younger demographic," said Wu Dongdong, secretary-general of the culinary catering industry association of South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

A set meal for tea tasting is served at Heming tea house in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Sought-after tea drink chains such as Hey Tea and Nayuki, for example, incorporate niche ingredients like emblic and shaddock peel into their products. These two fruits, cultivated in southern China, are renowned for their health benefits, including cleansing, promoting digestion, and relieving heat.

Their online advertisement, strategically highlighting unique flavors and nutritional value, has sparked a social media frenzy, drawing a flood of customers.

Upgrading raw materials for new-style tea beverages demands a shift towards greater nutrition and cost-effectiveness, putting the supply chain and R&D capabilities of brands to test, said Cheng Danying, founder of the Guangxi-based Tea Expert.

Cheng's brand has also collaborated with many local brands to boost popularity. Effective cross-industry collaborations not only generate buzz for both brands but also leverage strengths in customer bases, membership systems, and supply chains, creating synergies greater than the sum of their parts, Cheng said.

Data released by iiMedia Research shows that in 2022, the market size of the new-style tea beverage industry exceeded 290 billion yuan (about 40.93 billion U.S. dollars), with a year-on-year growth of 5.1 percent, and the market size is expected to reach 374.93 billion yuan by 2025. 
Myanmar's military junta has blocked communication between detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her family and her lawyers, according to her younger son.

Suu Kyi's son Kim Aris told VOA via phone that the Myanmar junta has not allowed him to communicate with his mother "at all," despite concerns about her health.

Suu Kyi, 78, was arrested on February 1, 2021, after the military overturned the results of an election that her party had won. The coup was met with protests across the country and outrage around the globe. She received a 27-year sentence on what are widely seen as baseless corruption charges.

She was recently denied urgent medical attention for severe dental and gum problems that make it difficult for her to eat.

Aris said he sent her a letter and a care package about two months ago when he heard of her ill health.

"I have had no confirmation that she has received it," he said.

According to her son, Suu Kyi has not been allowed access to her legal counsel since at least January.

"She is not allowed to mingle with the other prisoners. She is essentially in solitary confinement," he said.

VOA has been trying to reach the junta's spokesperson since last Friday to follow up on Suu Kyi's case but has yet to receive a response.

At the end of October, junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told VOA via phone that they would consider allowing Suu Kyi to see her family if they formally requested it.

Aris, however, said in the interview with VOA last Friday that the junta did not officially notify him through the relevant communication channels.

"The military issued some statement via the press that I could put in an official request," he said, "but they haven't actually approached me.  As far as I'm concerned, I don't trust what they're saying.

"They're not even allowing me to write to her. I don't see how I can put in a request to see her when that is the case," Aris added.

Communication blockade

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Aris said he has used all official channels in his home country to try to reach his mother.

"I have been putting in requests via the British Foreign Office, the Burmese Embassy here and the International Red Cross for at least some communication with my mother since the beginning of the coup, and received absolutely no response," he told VOA.

"According to the law [in Myanmar], there is a right [for prisoners] to have contact with family. Not allowing them to have contact with the outside world is a real violation of human rights," said Bo Kyi, a former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, a Myanmar human rights monitoring group.

"The coup itself was a crime," Kyi told VOA, "therefore, the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi was illegal."

He added that since the coup, "the military has been violating the constitution they themselves drafted. They are, in fact, committing treason."

The Myanmar Constitution, drafted in 2008 by a previous military junta, has come under fire from activists around the country, as well as the shadow National Unity Government (NUG).

The NUG has called for the "abolishment of the 2008 constitution," and a "national referendum to validate and enact the Federal Democracy Constitution developed by the Constitutional Convention," as outlined in their 2021 post-coup charter.
Pakistans Supreme Court asked the government Friday to respond to questions raised over its policy of expelling Afghans residing illegally in the country, observing that Islamabad must abide by United Nations resolutions protecting refugees.

Holding the first hearing on a plea challenging the ongoing eviction of Afghans, a three-member bench of the top court sought responses from the federal government, the apex committee headed by the prime minister and army chief that decided to expel Afghan nationals, as well as the foreign office.

The petition filed jointly by more than a dozen politicians, lawyers and community activists last month calls the eviction a massive violation of fundamental rights of around 4.4 million persons of Afghan origin [present] for the time being in Pakistan.

Reeling from a wave of deadly terror attacks, Pakistan in October ordered all people residing there illegally to leave by November 1 or face deportation.

The order primarily affected 1.7 million Afghans living without proper documents. Nearly 700,000 Afghans have arrived since the Afghan Taliban took control of their country in August 2021.

So far, close to 400,000 have left Pakistan from border crossings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan provinces.

The haphazard manner in which all Afghans are being shunted out of the country, this is absolutely wrong. It is in violation of their human rights. It is in violation of the international covenants, Senator Farhatullah Babar, one of the petitioners, told VOA.

Criticizing the governments strategy, Babar said the order was affecting those with legitimate asylum claims, while many with proper documents also were being pushed out.

Rejecting the allegation, Pakistani foreign ministrys spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch said at a weekly media briefing that the policy [of expulsion] pertains to those individuals who are in Pakistan in violation of immigration law. Baloch, however, refused to address the courts order seeking details, saying the matter was sub-judice, or in court.

Aid agencies, as well as local and international rights watchdogs, have criticized Pakistans plan, concerned that many Afghan returnees might face extreme poverty or retribution from the Taliban, while girls and women would be deprived of education and work opportunities.

Despite hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world, Pakistan is not a signatory to the U.N.s convention protecting refugee rights.

Rida Hosain, a Lahore-based lawyer, told VOA the courts still may apply principles of international law that support or do not contradict domestic laws. The South Asian country is party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, though, as well as the U.N. Convention Against Torture.

This obligation extends to all residents of Pakistan, not just citizens, Hosain said about the protections recognized in the U.N.s resolutions that Pakistan signed.

Among those forced to leave because of a lack of documents are Afghans born in Pakistan to refugee parents. Many now have Pakistani-born children of their own who have little, if any, ties to their grandparents homeland.

By all reckoning they should be treated as Pakistani nationals, Babar said.

Although Pakistani law recognizes the right to citizenship for children born on its soil, this provision is not extended to Afghan families.

In 2018, then-Prime Minister Imran Khan announced his government would give citizenship to Afghans born in Pakistan. The hugely surprising statement was never turned into law.

Babar, a veteran politician, hinted that Pakistans powerful military manages the countrys foreign policy.

The Afghan policy is not made by the civilian government, he said. It has never been discussed and debated in the parliament. The foreign office has little say in the formulation of the Afghan policy.

The current caretaker government that made the decision to expel undocumented Afghans enjoys the militarys support. Petitioners argue, though, that it simply does not have the authority to formulate this policy of mass eviction. Hosain agrees.

They are not elected, they dont represent the people of Pakistan. So, the court would need to decide whether a caretaker government with such a restrictive mandate can take such a major policy decision, and in my view, this is beyond the power of the caretaker government, she said.

So far, the caretaker government has claimed it is only applying the law of the land.

The concept of the nation state is that illegal practices, illegal means, are not promoted in any country. We wont allow that either, Sarfaraz Bugti, the Pakistani interior minister, told VOA in October after announcing the policy.

Pakistan claims Afghan nationals were involved in several deadly terror attacks on civilians and security personnel this year. Islamabad also accuses the Afghan Taliban of taking insufficient action to curb cross-bordekakr terrorism. The de facto government in Kabul denies the charge.

Speaking to VOA last month, the Pakistani caretaker prime minister said the policy, which the Afghan Taliban rejected as inhumane, was meant to formalize movement between the two neighbors.

We want to have a regulated movement interaction with Afghanistan as a state. This is the prime target, Anwar ul Haq Kakar said.

A group of Pakistani academics has also petitioned the court against the expulsion of Afghans.

The hearing will resume next week in the Supreme Court.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday met with Israel's Arab neighbors to discuss the future of Gaza, as Israel resumed bombardments on the Palestinian enclave after the collapse of the Israel-Hamas seven-day truce.

At least 178 Palestinians were killed and 589 injured in in the day's bombing, the Gaza health ministry said.

Blinken met with his counterparts from Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, along with representatives of the Palestinian Authority, on the sidelines of the U.N. COP28 climate conference in Dubai, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Blinken was on his third trip in the Middle East since Israel declared war against Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Hamas had launched attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting an estimated 240, about 100 of whom were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during the just-ended truce.

The talks with Arab foreign ministers centered on the state of the Israel-Hamas war and how to deliver more humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Blinken told reporters before boarding a flight back to Washington.

He said they also talked about "what happens the day after in Gaza and how we can get on the path to a just, lasting and secure peace for Israelis and Palestinians - in fact, for everyone in the region."

Israel's airstrikes and ground invasion in Gaza, aimed at eradicating Hamas, have left more than 15,000 people dead and thousands more injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel's military said its ground, air and naval forces had struck more than 200 of what it called terror targets in the enclave since the end of the truce.

Khan Younis in southern Gaza was heavily bombarded Friday, sending residents fleeing for shelter farther west, according to Reuters journalists there.

The U.N. said the fighting would exacerbate an acute humanitarian emergency. "Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office in Geneva.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder excoriated the impact of Israel's renewed attacks on Gaza civilians, especially on children. "Today those in power decided that the killing of children would recommence in Gaza," he said via video link from Rafah, Gaza.

Elder stressed the "dire" lack of nutrition, water and sanitation in Gaza and pleaded for a lasting cease-fire. He said the alternative was unthinkable for people already living in a nightmare. "Inaction, at its core, is an approval of the killing of children," he said.

Israel wants Gaza DMZ

Meanwhile, Israel has presented some of its neighboring states with plans to carve out a buffer zone on the Palestinian side of Gaza's border with Israel to avert attacks after the war ends, Egyptian and regional sources said, according to Reuters.

Israel has communicated its postwar plans to Egypt and Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey as part of its future security goals for Gaza, sources told the news agency.

Ophir Falk, foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Reuters the Israeli government has a three-tiered plan: destroying Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza and deradicalizing the enclave.

"A buffer zone may be part of the demilitarization process," Falk said, although he did not say whether these plans had been shared with international partners, including Arab states.

Arab states have dismissed as impossible Israel's goal of wiping out Hamas, saying it was more than simply a militant force that could be defeated.

Blinken said last month that Washington wanted Palestinians to govern Gaza and did not want to see the territory reoccupied by Israel, blockaded or reduced in size.

World reaction

Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for the breakdown of the negotiations, although the White House singled out Hamas, noting it had failed to produce a new list of hostages to release as required for an extension of the truce.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai that the resumption of Israeli attacks on Gaza was "very negative," Erdogan's office said Friday.

Turkey said in a statement that it was working to achieve a lasting cease-fire, but that the Muslim world needed to act in unison.

"While discussing the climate crisis, we cannot ignore the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Palestinian territories right beside us," Erdogan told leaders during his formal speech to the COP28 conference.

"The current situation in Gaza constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity; those responsible must be held accountable under international law," he said.

Erdogan's comments were echoed by South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.

"Continuous bombardment of Gaza complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates humanitarian catastrophe," the Qatari minister said.

Egypt also is exerting the utmost effort with its partners to reinstate the truce in Gaza as soon as possible, according to a statement from Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service.

However, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas understands only force "and therefore we will continue to act until we achieve the goals of the war." He spoke while riding in one of Israel's warplanes to observe the assault. "The results are impressive," he said.

At a pro-Israel conference in the U.S. city of Denver, Colorado, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, said Israel was in a fight for its survival.

"We are in a fight against pure evil, sheer evil, evil that whether it calls itself Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS or al-Qaida shares the same hegemonic goal of spreading its radical ideology and defeating Western civilization through barbaric terror and violence," he said.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis also spoke at the conference.

"There's a lot of pain. It's made worse by the fact that we are seeing the rise of antisemitism and hate in America, across the world, the antisemitic demons of old that we all hoped had been vanquished, now fueled by social media being used to amplify dangerous rhetoric and misinformation," he said.

In Washington, pro-Palestinian demonstrators held a prayer vigil and rally outside the Israeli Embassy.

In Atlanta, a protester with a Palestinian flag self-immolated Friday outside the Israeli Consulate, injuring a security guard who tried to intervene and put out the fire, authorities said.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Ukraine's domestic spy agency has detonated explosives on a Russian railway line deep in Siberia, the second attack this week on military supply routes in the area, a Ukrainian source told Reuters on Friday.

The incidents appear to show Kyiv's readiness and ability to conduct sabotage attacks deep inside Russia and disrupt Russian logistics far from the front lines of Moscow's 21-month-old war in Ukraine.

The source, who declined to be identified, said the explosives were detonated as a freight train crossed the Chertov Bridge in Siberia's Buryatia region, which borders Mongolia and is thousands of kilometers from Ukraine.

The train had been using a backup railway line after an attack on a nearby tunnel a day earlier caused trains to be diverted, the source said.

Baza, a Russian media outlet with security sources, said diesel fuel tanks had ignited on a train using the backup route and that six goods wagons had caught fire. It reported no casualties and said the cause of the explosions was unknown.

The Ukrainian source, who said both operations were conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, gave a similar assessment of the damage, citing Russian Telegram channels.

Reuters could not independently verify the accounts or assess whether the route is used for military supplies. Russian Railways declined to comment on the latest incident. The regional branch of Russia's Investigative Committee did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

The Ukrainian source said Thursday the SBU had detonated explosives in the earlier attack as a cargo train moved through the Severomuysky tunnel in Buryatia.

Russian investigators have concluded that train was blown up in a "terrorist act" by unidentified individuals, the Moscow-based Kommersant newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying.

Russian Railways, the state company that operates the vast rail network, said traffic had been diverted along a new route after the first attack, slightly increasing journey times but not interrupting transport.

The Ukrainian source said the second attack had anticipated the diversion of rail traffic and targeted the backup route at Chertov Bridge, which is on Russia's Baikal-Amur Mainline traversing Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East.

Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway is widely seen as more important for Russian freight transport than the Baikal-Amur Mainline.

A Russian industry source who declined to be identified said the backup route was functioning and being used by trains carrying freight on Friday afternoon.
Spanish police said Friday that they had arrested a Spaniard wanted by U.S. officials for working with an American to provide cryptocurrency and blockchain technology services to North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions against the rogue state.

In a statement, Spanish police said they had arrested Alejandro Cao de Benos, 48, in Madrid on Thursday as he got off a train from Barcelona. He appeared before a judge Friday and was then released, pending the formal extradition process.

The U.S. Justice Department, in April of last year, indicted Cao de Benos along with British citizen Christopher Emms, then 30, accusing them of conspiring with a third man, U.S. cryptocurrency expert Virgil Griffith, to provide North Korea with training in the technology  in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Griffith was arrested and pleaded guilty to the charges. He was sentenced to 63 months in prison in April 2022. Emms remains at large.

According to a Justice Department statement following the indictments, Emms allegedly told North Korean officials the cryptocurrency technology they were offering to advise them on would have made it possible to transfer money across any country in the world, regardless of what sanctions or any penalties'  might be in place. In effect, they could evade U.S. sanctions.

If tried and convicted, Cao de Benos could face 20 years in prison. The extradition process, which the Justice Department must initiate and Spanish courts and officials must approve, could take months to complete.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
No media source currently available

The URL has been copied to your clipboard

The code has been copied to your clipboard.

The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case over narrow medical exceptions in the states near-total ban on abortion. Deana Mitchell reports from the Texas capital, Austin.
Israel has resumed military operations in Gaza as the weeklong truce expired Friday. Wrapping up intense diplomacy in the region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken blamed Hamas for the end of the pause but is urging another one. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report.
In his closing arguments for remaining a member of the House, a defiant Representative 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 November 16 has convinced more members that his actions merit the House's most severe punishment.

"I will not stand by quietly," Santos said during Thursday afternoon's debate on the House floor. "The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you're going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote."

'This will haunt them,' says Santos

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 chamber's harshest punishment.

"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.

Santos was a bright spot for the Republican Party 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. attorney's 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 wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers.

Santos has pleaded not guilty.

Panel says it has evidence of lawbreaking

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."

Members of the Republican delegation from New York led the arguments for expelling Santos. Representative Anthony D'Esposito 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.

Arguing against expulsion, Louisiana Republican Representative Clay Higgins 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.

While the Ethics Committee does have a Republican chairman, its membership is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.
The URL has been copied to your clipboard

The code has been copied to your clipboard.

US lawmakers warned Thursday that the Chinese Communist Partys efforts to spread disinformation will only increase ahead of the 2024 elections in the United States. As VOAs Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports, social media giant TikTok is lawmakers top concern. Camera: Saqib Ui Islam
The United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate with South Korea in the fight against false propaganda and disinformation.

It is the first such agreement that Washington signs with its Asian ally, and it comes as U.S. officials and lawmakers accuse the Peoples Republic of China of conducting "deceptive online campaigns" targeting the United States and other countries. Chinese officials have rejected the accusation.

Liz Allen, the U.S. undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, is traveling to Asia this week. Allen met with her South Korean counterpart Friday and sealed the agreement with South Korea on countering disinformation.

The State Department said Allen, while in Tokyo, will hold bilateral discussions with Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials that include a focus on countering malign foreign influence.

South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday that both countries shared concerns over "dissemination of false information and overseas information manipulation" that pose a transnational threat, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to strengthen the cooperation in these areas.

The signing of this MOU is an unmistakable expression of our shared recognition that foreign information manipulation is a national security threat, a State Department spokesperson told VOA on Friday.

U.S. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have agreed to find ways to coordinate joint efforts to counter disinformation after the three leaders held talks during the first trilateral summit at Camp David in August.

"President Yoon mentioned the threat from false propaganda and disinformation in his address to the Joint Session of U.S. Congress in April. In this regard, we are now discussing the possible follow-up measures with the U.S.," an official from the South Korean Embassy told Voice of America on Thursday.

In a statement on Thursday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul condemned the "increasingly deceptive online campaigns targeting the U.S. and other countries" by the Chinese Communist Party.

"The CCP has made clear it will use every tactic to spread its malign intent," the Republican congressman said.

The South Korean government has identified 38 suspected fake Korean-language news websites that it believes are operated by Chinese companies. For example, in November, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said two Chinese public relations companies, Haimai and Haixun, were allegedly creating such websites, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency.

In a report issued in September, the State Department's Global Engagement Center accused the Chinese government of using a combination of tactics in a bid to create a world in which Beijing, either explicitly or implicitly, controls the flow of critical information. The U.S. has warned that China is pouring billions of dollars into efforts to reshape the global information environment and, eventually, bend the will of multiple nations to Beijing's advantage.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pushed back, calling the Global Engagement Center the command center of "perception warfare."

James Rubin, special envoy for the State Department's Global Engagement Center, has said that Washington is working with allies to detect and counter misinformation and disinformation around the world.

In May, the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Understanding with North Macedonia, and in September, another with Bulgaria, both aimed at enhancing cooperation in countering foreign information manipulation.

This story has been updated to correct the names of the countries signing the Memorandum of Understanding on fighting disinformation.
This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2023 shows a view of the play "One Day" at a theater in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.(Xinhua)

YINCHUAN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Li Siyao, a 31-year-old drama director, has just organized a successful performance by inviting people from all walks of life and of all ages to participate in it.

The play, entitled "One Day," was put on show last week at a theater in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, during the debut of the Yinchuan Mass Drama Festival. The two-month event, focused on city life, is organized by local government.

"I invited people to join the play, because they are the truest players in real life scenarios and know how to tell the stories of our city. Moreover, by participating in dramas, people will be able to get closer with each other," said Li, a chief advisor to the festival.

Li has been engaged in drama writing and directing since graduating from the Arts School of Ningxia University several years ago. He believes in casting away restrictive rules of dramas, and encourages the audience to go onto the stage.

"We tried to let people say and express what they really want to say and express in their monologues and interactions," he said.

Running a small theater in a modern business compound full of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops, Li and his team belong to a community of young artists in Yinchuan working to add more colors to life in the city.

Liu Yuanyuan, a 38-year-old art designer, joined Li's drama performance, which she said lets people willingly share their feelings and experiences.

"Actually there is no script for 'One Day.' It is the brain child of chatting among all performers. Each is required to tell briefly one encounter, one activity or even one accident which happened to them one day," she explained.

The performers are all amateurs including high school students, goods deliverers, office clerks, factory workers, doctors and nurses, and retired local residents.

Qian Licao, 72, is a retired worker and a big fan of theater dramas and operas since she was a child. She joined the play and won numerous fans with her presentation of the thoughts of her generation.

"I hope primary school kids will join us in performing the mini dramas in the future, so that they can cherish today's happy life by interacting with senior citizens like me," she said.

The drama festival in Yinchuan aims to use drama as a bridge and let more people feel the charm of drama and the vitality of the city through public participation, according to the city's federation of literary and art circles. 
Congress should act swiftly to provide aid to Ukraine before the end of the month, after which it will become exceedingly difficult to provide Kyiv with the assistance it needs, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Friday.

"We need that assistance immediately so we can provide them assistance in an uninterrupted way," Kirby said during a news briefing.

He said the U.S expected Russia to try to destroy Ukraines critical energy infrastructure this winter like it did last year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he met with his military command Friday to discuss ways to produce "concrete results" next year in Ukraines war against Russia.

In his nightly video address, he spoke about improvements in mobilization methods.

"This is not simply a question of numbers, of who can be mobilized," he said. "It's a question of a time frame for each person who is now in the military, for demobilization and for those who will join the military. And it's about conditions."

He said these issues had to be examined by commanders and the defense ministry.

"There were several proposals today, and I am awaiting comprehensive solutions," he said.

Russian troops

Zelenskyys comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the number of service members in the Russian armed forces by 170,000 people, to a total of 1,320,000, the Kremlin and the defense ministry said Friday.

"The increase in the full-time strength of the armed forces is due to the growing threats to our country associated with the special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO," the Russian defense ministry said.

The ministry also said that it had no plans to significantly increase conscription or carry out a new wave of mobilization and that the increase in the number of service members would happen gradually by recruiting more volunteers.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said Friday that more than 452,000 people were recruited to the Russian military under contract from January 1 to December 1, 2023.

The wives of deployed Russian soldiers are not happy with their spouses indefinite mobilization and have expressed their dismay in public protests and online. The British Defense Ministry said Saturday in its daily report on Ukraine that Russian authorities are attempting to quash public dissent by paying the women off and discrediting them online.

Russian officials are likely particularly sensitive, the report said, to any protests about troops who have been mobilized since September 2022 and on the front line for more than a year.

Euronews reported Friday that a challenge Russian soldiers are currently facing in combat could also easily become a challenge for Ukrainian troops too.

Tyler Kustra, a University of Nottingham assistant professor of politics and international relations, told Euronews that the recent posting on social media of photographs of rats the size of a Kalashnikov assault rifle on the front line of Russian fighting in eastern Ukraine could also become a problem for the Ukrainian soldiers, as temperatures plunge.

Russias soldiers are dealing with a severe rodent infestation as mice and rats seek warmth and food by going into [the soldiers] trenches, Kustra said.

It is a short walk for the rodents to also seek warmth and food among the Ukrainian soldiers who are just a short distance away, Kustra warned. I worry that Putin isnt the only vermin that Ukrainian soldiers will have to deal with, he said.

Western aid

Ukraine is dealing with headwinds over the support it needs from the West in its fight against Russia. Zelenskyy said he was concerned the Israel-Hamas war would overshadow his country's battle.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, he said the Hamas-Israel war could draw away not only attention but also resources from Ukraine as it fights to beat back the Russian invasion.

Attention equals help. No attention will mean no help, the president said. We fight for every bit of attention.

A recent AP poll indicated that almost half of Americans thought Ukraine was already receiving too much U.S. money.

The Ukrainian president said he realized Americans were facing a tough choice on Ukraine, but he told AP the consequences of Americans not supporting Ukraine could be harsh and could lead to U.S. forces being deployed to Europe. Without U.S. support, Zelenskyy said, Russia will most likely invade NATO countries, and then the American children will fight.

European Union leaders may not reach a consensus on a proposal to grant Ukraine 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in aid through 2027. It is going to be "very difficult" to agree at a December 14-15 summit of European Union leaders, a senior official with the bloc said Friday.

The senior official, who is involved in preparing the summit and spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the EU was still committed to supporting Ukraine, suggesting some assistance could be expected even if the 50 billion-euro plan fell through.

Trucker protests

Protests by Polish truckers over what they see as unfair trade competition from their Ukrainian peers continued at four border crossings. Slovak truckers have joined in the protests blocking the main crossing of Ukrainian goods from Ukraine to Slovakia.

Ukraines finance ministry put out data that showed the country's customs service had missed its planned revenues for November by 78%, or $255 million, an apparent consequence of the protests.

Ukraines economy minister posted data on the X platform that showed the tonnage of cargoes exported from Ukraine through Poland in November was down 39.3% from October.

A Ukrainian senior official said Thursday that the protests would reduce the country's overall imports by about a fifth in November and could cost 1 percentage point of GDP growth if they dragged on.

Polish and Slovak truckers are demanding that the EU reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian competitors.

Train explosions

Ukraines domestic spy agency has carried out two successive train explosions on a Russian railway line deep in Siberia, the second attack this week on military supply routes in the area, a Ukrainian source told Reuters on Friday.

The incidents appeared to show Kyiv's readiness and ability to conduct sabotage attacks deep inside Russia and disrupt Russian logistics far from the front lines of Moscow's 21-month-old war in Ukraine.

The source, who declined to be identified, said the explosives were detonated as a freight train crossed the Chertov Bridge in Siberia's Buryatia region, which borders Mongolia and is thousands of kilometers from Ukraine.

The train had been using a backup railway line after an attack on a nearby tunnel a day earlier caused trains to be diverted, the source said.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Fighting between Hamas and Israel has resumed in Gaza after a seven-day cessation that facilitated the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and the flow of humanitarian aid in the devastated enclave.

Gazas Hamas-run health ministry says 109 people died in the first hours of Fridays attack.

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday the resumption of fighting follows Hamas violation of a temporary truce and the militant groups launching of a rocket attack on Israel.

The renewed violence comes amid a New York Times report that Israel had advance knowledge of a detailed Hamas plan to attack Israel, but that the plan was dismissed as aspirational.

The approximately 40-page translated document, codenamed Jerico Wall and reviewed by the Times, detailed how U.S.-designated terror group Hamas would execute a multi-pronged assault on Israeli defense positions and take over cities. It did not set a date for the attack.

The Times said Israeli military and intelligence officials had knowledge of the plan more than a year before the October 7 attack. It was not clear if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also had knowledge.

There was no immediate reaction by the Israeli government to the Times report.

Even as the sounds and smells of war return to Gaza, international mediators are continuing to negotiate to bring an end to the fighting.

The IDF said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had "successfully intercepted" the rocket launch from Gaza.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from Hamas for the rocket attack.

Leaflets dropped by Israel in Khan Younis in southern Gaza are advising people there to travel farther south for their safety.

A New York Times report said Israel had advance knowledge that Hamas intended to carry out an attack on Israel, but Israel dismissed the plan as aspirational.

James Elder, a UNICEF spokesperson, said in a video posted on X, from Gazas "biggest, still functioning" hospital that "This hospital simply cannot take more children with the wounds of war." He said a bomb had fallen "literally 50 meters from here."

Elder said, "Inaction by those with influence is allowing the killing of children. This is a war on children."

The return to fighting comes after a seven-day truce that allowed for the exchange of Israeli hostages from the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel for Palestinian prisoners.

On Thursday, two Palestinian gunmen attacked a Jerusalem bus stop, killing at least four people and injuring several others.

Leaflets dropped by Israel in Khan Younis in southern Gaza are advising people there to travel further south for their safety.

James Elder, a UNICEF spokesperson, said in a video posted on X, from Gazas biggest, still functioning hospital that This hospital simply cannot take more children with the wounds of war. He said a bomb had fallen literally 50 meters from here.

Elder said, Inaction by those with influence is allowing the killing of children. This is a war on children.

The return to fighting comes after a seven-day truce that allowed for the exchange of Israeli hostages from the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel for Palestinian prisoners.

Two women were released in the afternoon and six more were released shortly before midnight. It was the seventh group of hostages released under the temporary truce deal between Hamas and Israel.

Israel initially required the militant group to release at least 10 hostages daily for the truce to continue, but a Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said that no additional hostages would be released Thursday. Qatar helped broker the truce.

The Qatari spokesperson said Israel accepted the eight hostages because Hamas on Wednesday released an extra two hostages, who were Israeli-Russian women.

Hamas had indicated that it could free two more Israeli-Russian citizens, but the militant group ultimately did not do so. Hamas had also previously said it would release the bodies of three Israeli hostages Thursday, but it is unclear whether that occurred.

To date, Hamas has released 105 hostages and Israel has released 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Britain, the European Union and others.

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 believed the truce was 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."

Blinken is to end his Middle East trip with a Friday visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to discuss Gaza with Arab world leaders attending the U.N. Climate Conference in Dubai.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
US lawmakers voted Friday to expel George Santos, the scandal-plagued politician who lied his way into Congress and has been indicted on charges of bankrolling his lavish lifestyle with stolen donor cash.

Earning a rebuke previously reserved for traitors and convicted criminals, the New York Republican is only the third person to join Washington's rogues gallery of ejected lawmakers since the Civil War.

He swept into the House in 2022, helping the Republicans grab a tiny majority, but it quickly emerged that almost his entire backstory was a fabrication, from his education and religion to his personal history and professional experience.

Santos, 35, has been indicted on dozens of federal charges of stealing from campaign donors, credit card fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

But he was ultimately doomed by a congressional ethics investigation that found "overwhelming evidence" of misconduct and accused him of seeking to "fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy."

"You sir, are a crook," said Ohio's Max Miller, one of several members of Santos's own party to stand up on the House floor to denounce him in a debate on the expulsion on Thursday.

"My future former colleague is divorced from reality. He has manufactured his entire life," said Marc Molinaro, a fellow New York Republican, while another member from the state's delegation Anthony D'Esposito called Santos a "liar."

Santos, who has denied his criminal charges, allegedly used donor money for Botox treatments and the OnlyFans porn website, as well as luxury Italian goods and vacations to the Hamptons and Las Vegas, according to the committee.

A two-thirds majority of the House was needed to expel him, and while two previous attempts failed, the ethics report was enough to sway many of his defenders, and he was ousted in an overwhelming vote supported by more than 100 of his fellow Republicans.

- 'Huge win for decency' -

Aside from the criminal allegations, Santos has become notorious for a series of bizarre fabrications, including claiming to have worked for Goldman Sachs, being Jewish and having been a college volleyball star.

Beyond accusing the ethics committee of a "smear campaign," he has not publicly addressed the accusations in any detail.

He is the sixth House member to be expelled since Congress began deliberating in 1789 and the first since 2002, when Ohio Democrat James Traficant was ousted over a bribery conviction.

Republicans hold only a four-seat edge in the House and giving away one of those -- with Democrats likely to recapture it in a special election -- will be a considerable headache for a party that has struggled to pass legislation.

There was doubt ahead of the vote over whether it would get the required "super-majority," with the Republican leadership coming out unanimously in favor of rescuing Santos.

Dozens of Republicans said they were reluctant to condemn a man who first deserves due process, although he is unlikely to have his day in court until next September -- close to what would have been the end of his two-year term.

"Since the beginning of Congress, there's only two ways you get expelled: You get convicted of a crime, or you participated in the Civil War. Neither apply to George Santos," Florida's Matt Gaetz said in a floor speech Thursday.

But Jay Jacobs, chairman of the New York Democratic Party, welcomed the closure of "a sorry chapter in the history of our county and our country," calling Santos's removal "a huge win for decency, honesty and the rule of law."

ft/bfm
Lily Gladstone and Franz Rogowski. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty

The New York Film Critics Circle has honored the person who plays the most chaotic bisexual in film this year. And it wasnt Saltburns Barry Keoghan, even if his bathtub guzzling act moved his proud co-star. Franz Rogowski won this years Best Actor award for his impressive performance as the seductive and self-serving Tomas in Ira Sachss drama, Passages. Its a refreshing decision to name Rogowski for the honor considering just how stacked competition is this year. He triumphed over the likes of Cillian Murphy and Ryan Gosling for Barbenheimer, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, and Leonardo DiCaprio for Killers of the Flower Moon, just to drop a few of the biggest names.

Elsewhere on the winners list there are more obvious picks. Martin Scorseses Flower Moon took home the trophy for Best Film, together with star Lily Gladstone, whose Best Actress win is likely the beginning of a fruitful award season. While there was nothing for the first half of Barbenheimer, the second half of the summertime cinematic phenomenon snagged a win, with Christopher Nolan snatching Best Director. Below, find the full list of the 2023 New York Film Critics Circle winners.

Best Film: Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Director: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer

Best Screenplay: Samy Burch, May December

Best Actress: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Actor: Franz Rogowski, Passages

Best Supporting Actress: DaVine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

Best Supporting Actor: Charles Melton, May December

Best Foreign Language Film: Anatomy of a Fall

Best Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema, Oppenheimer

Best Nonfiction Film: Menus-Plaisirs  Les Troisgros

Best First Film: Past Lives

Best Animated Film: The Boy and the Heron

Special Awards: Karen Cooper for her five decades of creative leadership as director of Film Forum

Student Scholarships: Undergraduate, Mick Gaw (NYU) and Graduate, Katherine Prior (Brooklyn College)
When two friends with opposite vibes hang out. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS

And so, the two nations reached harmony, neither more important than the other, both working toward a common goal: pop domination. Which is to say, following Beyonces attendance at the premiere of Taylor Swifts Eras Tour film on October 12, Swift did the same for the Renaissance film on November 30. Unity. The people who really looked thrilled at pulling off this mutually beneficial coup were the two pop stars respective publicists. Swifts Tree Paine and Beys Yvette Noel-Schure beamed looking at the results of their combined power.

Taylor Swift and Beyonce's publicists, Tree Paine and Yvette Noel-Schure, at the Renaissance film premiere in London. pic.twitter.com/dP1UrJ1nVZ  Pop Base (@PopBase) November 30, 2023

It wasnt a surprise that Swift showed up, exactly. For one, it would be rude for her not to go after Beyonce attended her premiere, and Taylor Swift does not do public displays of bitchiness following the the Big One (and its fallout) occurring in 2016. But also, TMZ had already reported that Swift left her current hidey-hole, Kansas City, to fly to former hidey-hole London Town earlier today. Worth it to solidify peace between two massive international leaders. Inter-stan relations have never been smoother.
Photo: Matthew Murphy

Jen Silverman is worried about art. Their savvy, ill-at-ease new play, Spain, finds them perched precariously at the center of an intellectual seesaw, tossing theoretical stones into theoretical buckets at either end. On the one end, as one of Spains characters says, Art is a luxury. Or worse, to quote another character, Art is dead. On the other side of the seesaw: power. Perhaps artor, at least, the practice of crafting fictionsis not dead at all but vividly potent. Its like neurosurgery. Isnt it? says a third character. You get inside somebodys brain and you rifle around and you change the connections  and then you change them. And maybe? You save their life. Or, to flip that coin to its much more insidious side, People think they have their own ideas  But what if I said, the thoughts you have are being formed, shaped, designed to meet a set of specifications, and then served to you. You arent having a thought, youre receiving the thought that someone else crafted for you.

For Silverman, there isnt so much a fine line between arts life-saving radical brain surgery and disinformations brainwashing as there is a vast, foggy no-mans-land, pocked with unexploded mines. That dangerous gray zone is where Spain takes place, its characters groping their way through the murk with broken moral compasses, trying to stay in possession of all their limbs. The play draws from real events: In 1936, the Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens (here played with urbane golden-boy energy by Andrew Burnap) made a documentary about the Spanish Civil War, which was currently blazing. The novelists John Dos Passos and Ernest Hemingway helped put it together. Marc Blitzstein wrote the music; Orson Welles recorded the original narration; the Roosevelts hosted a screening of the movie at the White House before its 1937 premiere. And the whole thing was anti-Fascist propaganda funded by the Soviet government, which had a major foothold in Spains revolutionary regime.

Thats all true  and its just one pebble in the bucket. Stalins Kremlin, through the global influence of the Comintern, funded a boatload of American culture. (Because whats still true now was true then, too: America favors Bucket Number OneArt is a luxury and only matters insofar as we can sell itwhereas Russia goes for Bucket Number Two: Art is immensely powerful and therefore, like any weapon, must be meticulously controlled and ruthlessly deployed.) Crucially, the Comintern sponsored the Popular Front, a large and diverse coalition of progressive American artists, from John Steinbeck and Dorothea Lange to Lillian Hellman, Yip Harburg (who wrote the lyrics to both Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? and Somewhere Over the Rainbow), and Hemingway. This complex, possibly horribly compromised mixture of real idealssocial and artisticwith complicity in a larger, conscienceless system of authoritarianism is what interests Silverman. And it is interesting! So why does Spain, which handles such explosive material, often feel like its risking so little?

In part, its a textural thing. Both Silvermans script and Tyne Rafaelis direction are slick and knowing. Rafaeli riffs on all our noir-ish aesthetic expectations  faces are shadowed under broad fedoras; hidden panels open in the looming black walls of Dane Laffreys set to reveal a red telephone or an overcoated figure silhouetted in haze; the original music by Daniel Kluger is smoky and menacing; and, doing the most work of all, Jen Schreivers lights slice through the gloom at hard angles, cutting the stage into acute triangles and isolated pools a la Fritz Lang. Meanwhile, Silvermans characters tend to speak in a breezy, relatable banter  the going trend for contemporary plays set in the past: Everyone wears fun clothes, be they petticoats or high-waisted pants, but sounds like Netflix. Heres John Dos Passos, or Dos (a sympathetic, bespectacled Eric Lochtefeld), describing his best friend, whos the liberal black sheep of an aristocratic Spanish family:

Im like: Pepe, you own fifty million acres and like a hacienda, basically or your family does, whatever, what are you doing scrounging for tenure at Johns Hopkins?? But hes this total idealist hes like: My Family Is Conservative, Ill Never Accept Their Blood Money and Im like Okay, Pepe!

While this vernacular of likes and whatevers can be fun, theres also a postmodern glibness to it, which, along with the productions clean, genre-canny design, allows us to relax at an ironic distance. We get the language in the same way that we get the aesthetic. At this remove we can chuckle, and we can go, Hmm or Huh, but we cant really be hurt or astonished. The play wants to ask big, wrenching questions about the ends to which art and artists are employed, but it also cant quite give up its own veneer of low-key cool  and so it never becomes, in the words of Joriss Russian-secret-police handler, Karl (the looming bass-baritone Zachary James), as he describes the type of film Joris should be making: Very Moving, Visceral and Moving.

Even when Silverman goes for sincerity, it feels like theyre holding something back. They get more somber, more verbose, but not more exposed. They write around the cliff rather than leaping from it. Its a shame, because at the heart of the show is an actor whos always ready to take the plunge. Marin Ireland plays Helen, Joriss collaborator, producer, and assigned girlfriend. (Shes loosely based on Ivenss real-life editor, Helen van Dongen, though plenty has been zhuzhed for dramatic purposes.) Like Joris, Helen is working directly for the Soviets, but unlike him, shes been cut off from the purpose and passion of her life. Shes also a filmmakertoo experimental Joris calls her workbut now Joris makes movies and [she shows] up to parties on his arm. Helens journey from hard-edged, purportedly apolitical, do-the-work-you-can-get-and-get-paid cynicism to devastating ethical crisis is the throughline of Spain. Her torment over what shes complicit in, in order to keep on being an artist, should be enough to leave her, and us, shattered. But somehow, despite Irelands great gift for raw intensity, we all stay pretty much intact. She pushes, and the play pushes back.

As a gruff, somewhat goofy but internally tortured Ernest Hemingway, Danny Wolohan is likewise searching for cracks in Spains facade. (We know hes tortured because he tells us he is.) The play alternates between duets or ensemble scenes of increasing tensionas Joris, Helen, Dos, and Ernest all fight to bring their film to life while dealing with the increasingly unignorable presence of the Russian elephant in the roomand fourth-wall-crossing soliloquies. In their own ways, everyone gets one of these solos, even KGB-Karl, and its in them that Silverman performs a kind of sincerity strip tease. They get more poetic, ostensibly more profound  it feels like somethings about to be revealed, but the garment never fully slips.

Speaking into an old mic, his voice close and scratchy in our ears, Wolohans Hemingway tells us a story: He met a Spanish woman in a bar, and she stared into his eyes and sang a strange, ancient song, and, while she was singing it, she slipped inside his head. I could feel her, he insists, all the cultivated machismo gone, She was looking out from my eyes  and I was her, and also myself, still, but also  her. And then she looked at me  I looked at my face with our shared eyes and I saw things that shook me, shook me to my core  I saw differently and sofor a brief interludeI became different.

We dont actually need Ernest to follow all this up with the explicit conclusion that art is radical brain surgery  but Silverman leans toward making the poles of their own struggle fairly blunt, which means that Spain is often clever without quite being elegant. (Theres a late-breaking twist in the action that especially feels like the overstated punchline to a joke we already understood.) And yet late at night, every night, says Helen, I find myself asking: Can a false story be so good that it does something true? Or are we just telling lies? The reason the characters arias of vacillating conviction and doubt dont ultimately break through our sternumsdespite the actors emotional chopsis that theres no real vulnerability on display in the writing. Its craft without guts. Besides, the binary that torments Silvermans characters is a false one: Is art utterly meaningless, useless, frivolous, impotent? (And, by extension, am I all these things?) Or is it the most powerfulthe only thing that matters, the only thing that lastsand possibly for all the wrong reasons?

The answer isnt satisfyingly dramatic. Its neither. Its both. Its something else entirely. Its not only about power. And its never actually about you. The writing of The Grapes of Wrath was partly funded by a government that was digging mass graves and disappearing people by the thousands. Theaters that are dedicated to the most progressive ideals order 90 percent of their materials from Amazon, throw $100,000 sets straight in the dumpster after closing, and still cant figure out how to pay people a living wage. No one is going to the Good Place. As James Baldwin put it, Once one has begun to suspect this much about the worldonce one has begun to suspect, that is, that one is not, and never will be, innocent, for the reason that no one issome of the self-protective veils between oneself and reality begin to fall away. For an artist, self-reproach and self-aggrandizement can be two faces of the same mirror. Both are ultimately forms of self-protection.

Spain is at Second Stages Tony Kiser Theater through December 17.
BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will attend upon invitation the opening ceremony of the 2023 Imperial Springs International Forum to be held in Guangzhou on Dec. 4, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced Friday. 
Felicity Huffman. Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images

When Felicity Huffman was arrested alongside 33 other parents involved in a college-admissions scandal in 2019, she couldnt believe it. No, not because a former Desperate Housewives star buying fake SAT scores for her daughter sounds outlandish. I know hindsight is 20/20, but it felt like I would be a bad mother if I didnt do it, she opened up about the scandal, which landed her in prison for 11 days in 2019, for the first time in an interview with Los Angeles local ABC7. They woke my daughters up at gunpoint, she recalled. Again, nothing new to the Black and brown community. Then they put my hands behind my back and handcuffed me and I asked if I could get dressed. I thought it was a hoax. I literally turned to one of the FBI people, in a flak jacket and a gun, and I went, Is this a joke? Is this a joke?
Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

Sorry, sweeties (Suite-es?), but it was never that serious. Paris Hilton has addressed the parts of the internet that have been excitedly pointing out that her newborn daughter shares a first name with everyones favorite Suite Life of Zack & Cody heiress. Yes, Ive seen all of the memes, all the viral TikToks, Hilton told E! News. Everyones like Oh my God, she named her daughter London Tipton. This is so iconic. But is there actually a connection there? I love London Tipton  I was so flattered when I heard that her character was based on me, Hilton said, but I didnt name my daughter after her. Instead, Hilton explained that she just likes the city of London, and has wanted to have a daughter with that name for as long as she can remember. Incidentally, Hiltons son is named Phoenix. She told E! News that she plans to keep the geographical pattern going  in fact, shes already considering Sydney, Rio, and Vegas as options for her next babys name. Might we also suggest the Spotify sound towns of Burlington, Berkeley, and Cambridge? It turns out there are a lot of people who are sliving for those places.
Photo: Beyonce via YouTube

You cant turn the stage into a pussy portal if youre not going to serve cunt. By the time we see a straight-on shot of Beyonces legs spread open in a VCR interlude  heeled feet stretched to each side of the gargantuan screen, bisected by a chrome orifice  shes already mesmerized the audience to the point of tears. I watched the very first show through a microwave-quality, 360p Instagram livestream after scamming my way into free Wi-Fi during a cross-country flight. Even the shaky handheld camera work and the screechy vocal stylings of that generous copyright infringer couldnt obscure the glittery brilliance of the house mothers inaugural ball. Stockholm hosted the debut extravaganza last May, 285 days after the album ushered in her Black dance-music rebirth. Between innovative production design, ballroom-inspired choreography, and rotating couture quick-changes, Beyonce came to slay, bitch.

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce tries to break the trance she put us in this summer, if only slightly. Written, directed and produced by the star, the 168-minute concert documentary pulls us into a state of near bliss as we watch her spill confidence and Black queer history and vocal prowess all over the stage, only to cut away from the performance to highlight the process. So what if her triumphant renditions of Dangerously in Love and Flaws and All had you catching your breath? Its time to hear about the craftspeople and queer legends and dancers and Uncle Johnny, who made all this possible. I wanted to embrace the bones and the veins of the machinery, Beyonce says in voiceover. Its more than a concert. Its a culture. Its a release. Its a fantasy come true. Heres everything we learned.

She reveals the tour was years in the making.

While Renaissance certainly feels like a joyous, post-COVID album, the tour has been cooking since before the pandemic, Beyonce reveals. It took four years to create this show, she says. Meaning, the tour was likely gestating just after she did Beychella. I think the true beauty is in the process. Flipping through a fat binder filled with laminated stage designs, we see just how many iterations the show went through during pre-production. I wanted to showcase the crew, so I put them in reflective crew suits because I think its really beautiful to see the choreography of what they do, she adds. Every piece of the puzzle was so meticulously built, if one element is off, it affects the whole show.

It doesnt just look maximalist. It is a truly grand production.

To get each show up and running, it took three stages and 160 vehicles working in concert across Europe and North America. As one is getting set up, the other two stages are traveling to the next city and getting built.

Though Beyonce is an experienced artist, she still faced difficulties during production. Communicating as a Black woman, she says, everything is a fight. Theres meetings with lighting designers and camerapeople over little details. At one point, even Blue Ivy says shes being too meticulous for worrying about the fingers on an inflatable. Swarm on these hands, Beyonce tells a crowd while performing America Has a Problem. She didnt come to play.

Kevin JZ Prodigy holds down the house.

Ballroom MC Kevin JZ Prodigy narrates the tour with his swaggering vocals, and the film gives him a proper section to celebrate his artistry. A cameraman catches a sweet moment between him and Beyonce where they express their gratitude for working together and share a hug. Oh my gosh, shes so little, Prodigy gushes. We also watch him take his perch on the DJ booth for the show, guiding the audience through each set change with his signature cheeky remarks prepared in consort with Bey.

She addresses her choreography decisions.

In contrast to her previous shows, Beyonce exhibited less breakneck choreography for this round. My voice is my instrument, she explains, power comes from restraint. It didnt help that she underwent a knee surgery just a month before rehearsals began. Instead, she trains the focus on the dancers. Longtime dance captain Amari Marshall and the team flank Beyonce in compelling formations or delicate tableaus. Choreographers took inspiration from the ballroom scene to incorporate dance styles like vogue and whacking, a nod to the cultures that informed Renaissances musical style. Dancers like Honey Balenciaga, Carlos Irizarry, Darius Hickman, and Jonte Moaning have roots in the scene and take the spotlight throughout the film.

And says she had to sing through bronchitis and sinus infections.

Due to the rigors of touring and the smoke effects on stage, Beyonce suffered near-constant sinus infections and was once treated for bronchitis. She believes a vocal injury she overcame at 12 years old helped prepare her for adversity, citing the moment she was on vocal rest and couldnt even scream on a roller coaster. We see a montage of the powerhouse getting IVs and checkups. I dont think Ive had a day off in 44 days, she says.

The gowns are characters in themselves.

Ateliers across the globe rejoiced at the Renaissance tidings more than anyone else. Throughout the run, Beyonce wore 148 costumes designed by couture fashion houses and indie upstarts, leaving audiences and high fashion Twitter more gagged by the day. Beyonce knew the cuts between different outfits would have a kaleidoscopic, Everything Everywhere All at Once effect (see the 18-second spot she released on YouTube last year, the only visual we have gotten for the album). Why else would camera movements and choreography be so tightly choreographed if not to seamlessly edit five different outfits for just one song? Audiences are blessed with that gloriously draped lime green Gaurav Gupta dress, the silver Marine Serre motherboard jumpsuit with the red gown overlay, a David Koma iridescent leotard with the matching sarong. Thats not even mentioning her revolving door of shimmering Loewe catsuits, the Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini cone bra, or the colorful Emilio Pucci checkered number.

Forgetting to do her pre-show ritual could curse the night.

She has to have a sandwich and a ginger shot ahead of any performance. The one time she didnt have a sandwich, the audio cut out. The same thing happened when she didnt take her shot. Her lunchmeat of choice might be turkey, if the sandwich she ate on her private jet is anything to go by.

Theres a tribute to Uncle Johnny.

Beyonces family friend, the late Uncle Johnny Rittenhouse, gets a shout-out in the track Heated for designing Destinys Child early stage costumes, together with her mother, Tina Knowles. In the film, Beyonce wears the dress that he made her. House is the music that he played for them as kids, Knowles remembers.

Club Renaissance is the hottest spot in town.

Famous faces make cameo appearances at various points in the film. Beyonce fans Lizzo, Teyana Taylor, and Lil Nas X are filmed with the same reverence as their BeyHive counterparts. We watch as they sing along to the queen Club Renaissance, the floor section. When Beyonce looks around during the mute challenge, we see a hilarious video selfie of Cardi B in the crowd, who looks at the camera, knowing she understood the assignment.

A brief Destinys Child reunion is healing.

Beyonce brings the old gang back together in a brief behind-the-scenes sequence. Original members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, who were allegedly pushed out of the group, join Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a reunion at the Houston tour stop. It was like a new birth for us, and a lot of healing, Beyonce says over the seconds-long footage. We dont hear dialogue from the meeting.

We can thank Blue Ivy for Diva being on the set list.

Beyonces manager wouldnt let the tour suffer from a glaring omission. During the ecstatic run from Cuff It and Break My Soul to Formation and Diva, we cut to a contentious meeting. Apparently, there was some talk that Diva, a performance that gave us the delicious She aint no diva meme, would not make it on the final set list. You cant take away that song! Blue Ivy pushed back. Her mom scolded her for cutting people off. Whatever, Blue won in the end  and we got our meme.

Elsewhere, we learn the 11-year-olds performance on stage was supposed to be a one-off. She told me she was ready to perform, and I told her no, Beyonce says in the film. Her mom relented when Blue showed dedication and work ethic, but that one show became most of the tour. After reading hater comments, Blue wanted to prove herself. The more I did it, the better I became, Blue realizes. For Beyonce, she saw her daughters determination as a telling moment, Thats my bloodline, she says, ready for war, lets go.

Thats a Knowles, Blues grandpa, Mathew Knowles, proudly remarks.

The end credits feature her new song, My House.

Her final gift to the BeyHive arrives just when the movie is over. Co-produced by Beyonce and The-Dream, it sounds like a Houston rap joint, only for it to dive back into Renaissance-era electronic bumps and a Jersey Club-reminiscent sound.

Beyonce must be on TikTok.

Because this one makes it in the movie.
Clockwise from top: Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, Eileen, Godzilla Minus One, Slow Horses. Photo-Illustration: Vulture

Leave it to Beyonce to make Godzilla the second-biggest pop-culture icon stomping into theaters this weekend. The years trend of blockbuster concerts-turned-blockbuster films continues with Renaissance, and theres some other major releases and a sprinkling of holiday cheer as well. Theres the latest Japanese Godzilla movie, of course, the Netflix debut of a major awards contender, the return of a quietly great espionage series, and the finale of the Golden Bachelor. Which of this weekends new movies or shows will you give your rose to? James Grebey

Sign up for Streamliner A weekly newsletter with the latest TV and movie recommendations, curated by Vulture writers. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

Featured Presentations

.

Visuals, be damned! But at least were getting a whole film by Beyonce on not just the tour of all tours, but even some behind-the-scenes on the making of Queen Beys exquisite show  including Blue Ivys dancing summer school. Its time to dust off your silver outfits and get ready for round two (or one, or five if youre Jonathan Groff). Savannah Salazar

In theaters now

 I know this isnt very #GirlBoss of me, but lets be honest: Godzilla would destroy Beyonce in a fight. Come on.

.

America has been making good use of Godzilla in movies like Godzilla vs. Kong and the currently airing Apple TV+ series, but the King of the Monsters is back with a new movie from his native Japan. Minus One takes place even earlier than the original, 1954 Godzilla, as rather than having a the kaiju attack a Japan thats recovered from World War II, the big guy is stomping through a Tokyo thats basically still in ruins and a Japan that has no means to defend itself. Potentially thorny stuff, but gripping city-smashing action that makes for one of the best Godzilla movies of the past several decades. J.G.

In theaters now

 Its been weirdly under-advertised, but Hayao Miyazakis The Boy and the Heron is playing, a lot, in select cities ahead of wide release next week.

.

Charles Meltons awards season starts now  or maybe it started when he won a Gotham earlier this week. Either way, he is devastatingly fantastic as Joe Yoo, the incredibly young husband of Julianne Moores Gracie Atherton-Yoo. Years after the her scandalous beginning of relationship with Joe (he was 13), the couple is visited by an actress (Natalie Portman) looking to portray their story in a movie. What ensues is a perfectly off-putting, hilarious, and quietly heart-wrenching drama from director Todd Haynes. Its worth watching in theaters, if you can, and on repeat when it hits Netflix this weekend. S.S.

Streaming on Netflix

 Eileen, a psychological thriller about the (spoiler alert: not healthy!) relationship between rookie juvenile detention guard played by Thomasin McKenzie and a glamorous counselor played by Anne Hathaway is in limited release before going wide next week.

.

Espionage as a genre recognizes that there are fundamentally two types of spies: spies who run around all the time, and spies who mostly sit on couches and say Hmm. Slow Horses, which returns for its third season, once again proves to be one of the rare spy shows that provides a balanced offering of both runners and sitter. Kathryn VanArendonk

Streaming on Apple TV+

.

Writer-filmmaker Nelson George directs this doc about the making of one of the best-selling pop albums of all time, Michael Jacksons Thriller, and its massive impact on pop culture. Jen Chaney

Streaming on Paramount+ (w/Showtime)

Happy Holidays

Silent Night

John Woo is back with a wordless vigilante thriller about a man (Joel Kinnaman) on a rampage after gangsters kill his child. The action is not exhilarating but profoundly unsettling. B.E.

In theaters now

Candy Cane Lane

Eddie Murphy stars in this Prime Video Christmas flick about a man who is determined to win his neighborhoods very competitive holiday house-decorating contest. So he makes a deal with an elf, as one does, to get the magical edge he needs in order to assure his victory. Unfortunately the elf is evil. Oops! J.G.

Streaming on Prime Video

Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays

Selena Gomez + Chef: Home for The Holidays! pic.twitter.com/TFaIhajslV  Selena Gomez News (@OfficialSGnews) November 17, 2023

Chefs Eric Adjepong, Claudette Zepeda, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Michael Symon join Selena to bake some favorite holiday treats. Its pretty explanatory, and were pretty sure well be hungry afterward. S.S.

Streaming on Max

Grand Finales

The Golden Bachelor

Its down to the wire for ol Gerry as he has to finally choose between Theresa and Leslie. Track records arent usually great for The Bachelor, but its nice to believe theyll be happily in love for a second, right? S.S.

Streaming on Hulu

 Did you know about Gerrys not-so-golden past? THR is on it.

The Great British Baking Show

Fourteen seasons in, I have to agree with my colleague Roxana Hadadi that this show absolutely needs villains (and that not all villains need be irredeemable or fully evil). Nonetheless I still find it to be a warm and fuzzy, if a bit repetitive, comfort watch every year. The latest run of episodes ends this week. Eric Vilas-Boas

Streaming on Netflix

 This finale aired before this list was published so, uhhhh, hopefully you avoided spoilers. Vulture innocent!!

Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of November 22.
You know whats difficult? Communicating clearly. Unless we are constantly interrogating ourselves or making a habit of metacognition, we often dont fully understand our own motives and priorities, which can enhance the difficulty of conveying them clearly to others. Even when we do communicate in a way that we think is clear to others, they arent privy to all of our little mental and emotional nuances. And this is assuming that everyone is communicating in good faith! People who are being deliberately manipulative or deceptive are in a different category entirely. Negotiators, too  everyone in that situation is holding something (or many somethings) back for strategic reasons. House Divided approaches the (un)knowability of others minds through the lenses of a bunch of tricky conversations, including global and interplanetary politics, workplace safety and workers rights, and conversations literally being held in two different languages.

The action starts with an argument that becomes as close to a fistfight as were likely to see between two people wearing space suits. Svetlana and a new-to-us worker named Vasily are squabbling over the successful Soviet coup by newly installed president Karzhenko; hes thrilled, shes not. Things escalate from a testy disagreement to a shoving match when Vasily wont drop the subject and calls Svetlana a traitor and a whore. In the brief melee, Vasily falls down and rips a hole in his suit, resulting in a terrifying experience that hes lucky to survive at all. As we all should know by now, physical altercations in space are a very bad idea. Svetlana and Vasily dont seem to recall what happened when their forebears fired space guns and incinerated a cosmonaut in his suit.

The ripple effects from this incident threaten to delay the new asteroid capture program, destabilize the entire M7 Alliance, and set off the tinderbox of dissatisfaction that underpaid Helios workers are stewing in. Poor Dani has her hands full enough without Ed sticking his single-minded, biased beak in and attempting to undermine her decision-making authority. Once again, why is Ed here? Last weeks sweet scene in the greenhouse between him and Svetlana is not nearly enough to outweigh how annoying he is in every scene this episode. Dani could easily be having similarly tense (but possibly a tiny bit fruitful) conversations with some other significant character at Happy Valley. This is yet another reason to lament the loss of Kuznetsov; Dani is absolutely right in saying he would not have stood for any of whats going on, but I think she underestimates Irina Morozovas skillful political maneuvering at Roscosmos. There was no way that Danis choice of consequences for Svetlana  removal from flight status and a 60-sol suspension without pay  was going to be acceptable to the new regime, who are exercising their option to recall Svetlana to Moscow to face trial for crimes against a patriot. So, a shoving match is treason now? What a cool situation!

Back on Earth, Eli is suffering under an even more optimistic delusion, eagerly anticipating a fruitful conversation with Irina on the grounds that if I can hash out a good deal with the UAW, I guarantee I can with her! This sweet summer child. He seems not to have absorbed some key facts he just learned about Irina, such as her 35-year tenure in Roscosmoss intelligence apparatus and steady purging of disloyal staff since becoming its chief administrator. Unsurprisingly, their conversation is a two-minute exercise in Irina twisting Elis talking points to serve her own purposes, as she cites chapter and verse of the M7 treaty and the distinction between enforcing policy vs. the rule of law. If NASAs position is that some aspects of the M7 treaty are no longer valid because it was negotiated under Gorbachevs premiership, the USSR will consider withdrawing from the agreement altogether and recalling all of their personnel home.

Eli fell victim to one of the classic blunders, believing that hed be speaking with Irina administrator-to-administrator in a brisk beginning of an eventually solid working relationship. Not only does Irina outmaneuver him with her high-ranking political and espionage functionary-ese, but she also has different priorities. Eli wants to arrive at a mutually acceptable deal that will enable Happy Valley to recommence their asteroid capture-and-mining program as soon as possible, while Irina is content to delay science and commerce if she can capitalize on the opportunity to settle a political score and send a message to all of Karzhenkos would-be critics on Mars and Earth. Eli needs to learn that his breezily stated belief that history is not made by talking only with the people who agree with you is true and is the type of thing that can only be said by people who think they have the upper hand when they talk with people who dont agree with them.

Some practical repercussions from this conversation manifest immediately on Mars. The base-wide operating system for computers is now unnavigable to NASA staff because Roscosmos has ordered that it be reverted to its original Cyrillic. This one is particularly tough to swallow, as it comes with the additional indignity of Dani learning from one of the cosmonauts that Roscosmos no longer acknowledges her as Happy Valleys commander, rather than from an official communique. In response, the plan to send Svetlana back to Earth on a shuttle departing Mars the next sol is on hold, and Dani agrees with Eds suggestion to post a security officer outside her quarters so that the Soviets dont try to grab her.

Back at Roscosmos, Margo is experiencing some new pangs of culture shock. Shes invited to sit in on staff meetings, but theres literally no room at the table for her. Nobody but Irina speaks to her, but Irina also uses her presence to punish another person for daring to suggest that Svetlana be permitted to stay on Mars for the benefit of the asteroid program, giving Margo that poor unfortunate souls copy of the Kronos incident report. At least the report gives Margo something substantial to work on; I couldnt get Shazam to identify the music that plays over the scene of her carefully reviewing the report and double-checking all of the calculations, but its a classic jazzy Margo piece featuring a trio of piano, upright bass, and drums. Its comfortingly reminiscent of all of the scenes from earlier seasons where Margo worked into the small hours, strolling the quiet hallways to clear her thoughts and hit the vending machines for a sugary little pick-me-up. In the canteen, Margo has what must be her first normal conversation with a coworker in years, as a young engineer named Tatyana shows her how to use a washer from the dining chairs as a coin at the coffee machine. Margo returns the kindness by offering Tatyana some helpful advice on the model shes working on for the new asteroid capture protocols. These two have an easy chemistry, in spite of Tatyana and her colleagues having been told to maintain a certain distance from Margo.

I just hope she wont think that Irina is going to be her work bestie. She rescued Margo from likely execution, but that was a self-serving act. Irina makes no bones about scything her way through dissent and anything that could have so much as a whiff of embarrassment for the Motherland, and Margo gets to witness a prime example of Irinas methods. Her late-night re-calculations reveal that a flawed measurement unit conversion by Roscosmos engineers resulted in inadequate asteroid anchor bolts, leading directly to the Kronos disaster. The head engineer, Semenov, takes responsibility for the flaw and is swiftly shown the door, while Irina bestows a framed photo of the 1969 team at Roscosmos (including Sergei, aw!) upon Margo, along with a recitation of an excerpt of a love poem by Alexander Pushkin, and an assurance that Irina will respect and appreciate all the work Margo is capable of. The contrast between Margos relief and little flush of pride in this scene and her shaken horror when she learns that the KGB arrested Semenov in front of his entire department is chilling. I fear its already too late for this advice, but dont let this manipulative bureaucrat seduce you into an imaginary friendship with compliments and baubles, Margo!

Up on Mars, Massey and Dani should be so lucky as to get to know each other well enough to be in any danger of being chummy. Theyd work really well together if they learned how not to talk past one another. Dani made a point of inviting dissenting opinions in her first big department heads meeting, but she doesnt receive Masseys concerns in her usual sympathetic, big picture-seeing way. She perceives the power imbalance between Svetlana and Vasily differently than the Helios workers on the lower levels do. To her, Vasily (who has yet to regain consciousness) is a beneficiary of the new regime thanks to his familys place in it, and Svetlana is in danger of being swallowed up by some gulag. It seems not to have occurred to Dani that the lower-level workers see Svetlana as getting away with near-murder because of her elite status as a cosmonaut, while Vasilys injuries will have terrible lasting repercussions. Massey stops short of telling Dani that she believes command thinks of the Helios workers as disposable, but I wish she hadnt because Danis wholly unsatisfactory response dismissing Masseys inferior understanding of the situations complexity is missing the point. Theyre both right, and they both need to recalibrate their understanding of events and the mood throughout Happy Valley.

Massey doesnt have much time to lick her wounds, though, because it seems like Miles may have gotten himself into a spot of bother during his little excursion to collect more of the Mars rocks like those he sent home to Lily. They dont just look cool; theyre a very rare obsidian that Earthside jewelers cant get enough of. Ilya shut the door firmly on Miless attempts to expand their business into gemology, so hes taken a DIY approach and landed at the bottom of a small crevasse. Hes nearly out of oxygen when Massey finds and rescues him, but at least he wont need to convalesce in a bariatric chamber. A win is a win.

Eli and Irina arrive at a win-win arrangement to get Svetlana back to Earth: M7 member India will take custody of her and will carry out an investigation and trial there instead. The U.S. can feel okay about the chances of Svetlana getting a fair trial, while the USSR can still be seen as prosecuting a patriot-assaulter. Both sides save face, and the asteroid capture program can resume. Naturally, Ed hates this plan and really lays into Dani, accusing her of being a too-eager careerist bent on pleasing her higher-ups. Dani came out of retirement for this gig, though, and furthermore, Ed is yet again trying to make an exception for a colleague he loves, a decades-long pattern thats repeatedly yielded tragic results. Ed should never have sent Gordo back to the moon after his mental health crisis at Jamestown (notwithstanding his and Tracys later heroic self-sacrifice, it was a bad idea); he also should never have hired the alcohol-dependent Danny Stevens for the original Mars mission. Its clear from Danis voice trailing off and Eds cruel taunting that Danny isnt just gone; hes capital-G Gone, but neither goes into further detail about it just yet.

Houston, We Have Some Bullet Points

 The fatal measurement-unit conversion error is just another example of why the U.S. should switch over to the metric system; imperial units of measure are generously described as whimsical, and now we know that they can be (fictionally) deadly!

 There are a few things to admire about Roscosmos HQ: The mosaic in the entryway is incredible and is very much in keeping with the Soviet space pride aesthetic on these 1964 commemorative stamps. The samovars in the canteen are a nice touch, too.
early and often

DeSantis and Haley Blast Each Other and Go Easy on Trump in Iowa Debate

DeSantis and Haley Blast Each Other Rather Than Trump
In his latest action thriller, the director foregrounds grief and pain over the balletic mayhem of his previous work. Photo: Carlos Latapi/Lionsgate

This review was originally published on December 1. We are recirculating it now timed to Silent Nights digital release.

John Woos latest, Silent Night, is being billed as his first Hollywood film in more than 15 years, and at first glance, it looks like it could even represent a return to the poetically charged, operatic gunplay of his Hong Kong golden age. It opens with a feverishly stylized chase through a back alley as a desperate man in an ill-fitting Christmas sweater (Joel Kinnaman) does single-handed combat against cars filled with men armed to the teeth who are themselves in the middle of a gang war. The cars split open and spin in slow motion in the air. Windshields explode. Bullets fly everywhere. A red balloon drifts, quietly, above and away from the mayhem. Then, our supposed hero gets shot in the throat and all is blackness.

But Silent Night turns out to be something very different from anything Woo has done before. Its central gimmick is that Kinnamans Brian Godlock, the wounded protagonist, has been deprived of his voice, so the film has no spoken dialogue in it. (There are, however, snatches of text messages that appear onscreen as well as the occasional angry scrawl or radio broadcast, so its not entirely word-free.) This sets up Woo to tell his story visually, but it also establishes the emotional conceit of the movie. Brians young son was killed by a stray bullet from that aforementioned gang war; in his rage, Brian ran after the cars, and now, with his injury, hes been deprived of any ability to express himself. Kinnaman, an actor who once seemed set for big things but never quite found his way into a genuine hit, makes this mans voicelessness palpable. Watching him stand in front of a mirror, trying to scream, we connect with his impotence.

The lack of dialogue does seem to have rejuvenated Woo. Although the central gimmick derives from the fact that Brian has lost his voice, the picture doesnt pretend to depict a world where people dont talk. (Unlike, say, Luc Bessons 1984 film Le Dernier Combat, which worked a similar idea.) Instead, whenever it looks like someone might speak, Woo inserts formal devices such as freeze-frames to stitch things over. This also places us deeper into Brians psyche. We are watching not so much a world where people dont talk, but rather a world where people dont want to hear each other talk.

Brian rejects attempts by his wife (the wonderfully expressive Catalina Sandino Moreno) to communicate, plunging further into his vengeful gloom, working out incessantly and teaching himself how to fight via YouTube tutorials. Weve seen countless training montages in movies over the years, though Im not sure theyve ever been this grim and relentless. Woo keeps these scenes going to an almost pathological degree. Its more Taxi Driver than Rocky. The point is not that the bad guys are about to get theirs. The point is that our hero has lost his mind.

Though Silent Night is awash in style, this is not the heroic bloodshed of Woos golden years, nor is it the gonzo, over-the-top action melodrama of his American period. In most of those films, there was an iconic, almost aspirational quality to the mayhem. Woo reminded us of how fun movie violence could be when done with flair. And he knew how to make an actor look great. He turned Chow Yun-fat into cinemas coolest action figure. He turned Nicolas Cages psycho antics in Face/Off into a walking manifesto of magnificent weirdness. (He so overdid it with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible 2 that it actually kind of backfired; Cruise looked too good.) For all the butchery on display, we wanted to be these people. It was a lesson the director had learned from the American cinema of his youth, and American cinema borrowed the influence back from him in the 1990s.

But Woo isnt having fun in Silent Night. Theres nothing to aspire to, among either the good guys or the bad guys. Though Silent Night will surely come under fire (justifiable, to some extent) for being yet another white-guy-revenge fantasy, theres no actual fantasy here. The film doesnt have the simmering, anticipatory comeuppance of a Death Wish or one of its many vigilante imitators. Brians grief never deserts him the way it might had it been a mere plot device. Instead, it colors everything he does. Woo constantly cuts back, either to the death of the child or to happy memories and projections, which are also little stabs of unimaginable pain in the characters mind. The more Brian fights and kills, the less hes able to move on.

Understandably, then, the films action sequences, while certainly intense and elaborately choreographed, are never ecstatic in the way Woos sequences have been in the past. Indeed, if Silent Night reads as an actual comment on anything, its that of what happens when an ordinary family finds itself in the middle of a John Woo movie. The armed men of the films inciting incident are precisely the cartoonish, multi-gun-wielding foot soldiers that populated earlier efforts. The director has always been an earnest, emotional guy, and while hes never been apologetic about his earlier work (why should he?), he has expressed some regret over the years that his films have occasionally bred copycat crimes. Silent Night at times feels like a dark dream he might have had over the consequences of all that violence. Its all garish, nightmarish spectacle  beautiful, terrifying, and poisonous.
Whats a curse? Ive looked at a bunch of definitions, and the gist is this: some wish, expressed aloud or perhaps in writing, that harm will be visited upon another person. You can wish, for example, that the chicken goes missing from a strangers spaghetti. Or, as happened on an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? that has caused me to fear German Shepherds to this day, you can use a cursed object  like an old birds claw  to twist a persons dreams into nightmares. (A kid wishes to beat a rival in a track race, and the rival ends up mauled by a stray dog.)

But what is the point of a curse? I would argue its simply to punish a person. Torment them. The specifics of the curse are a means to an end: To cause your enemy to deteriorate. And if Im right, it doesnt matter if the curse Nala uttered was real when she made it. Its real now. Asher is being completely undone by it. Hes testing the foodsafe lids on his ready-meals for evidence a small child has tampered with them; hes inventing reasons to gain entry to Abshirs house and interrogate his daughter on the various shapes of pasta. The curse may not have been anything more than a TikTok trend on that day in the Family Dollar parking lot, but by the end of this episode, its biblical.

Then again, some people dont need to be cursed to self-destruct. In Under the Big Tree, Asher, Whitney, and Dougie learn that HGTV has ordered a full ten-episode season of Flipanthropy for their streaming platform. They love what the team has made, and with some modest tweaks to make it more digestible  Asher needs to get a personality, the show needs to drop all mentions of economic displacement  theyre ready to make the Siegels into cable stars. Its not how quickly Whitney relinquishes her ideals that surprises me; its how efficient she is at convincing herself that shes letting go of her ideals for the sake of her ideals. If she doesnt have to bother with the nasty reality of gentrification, for example, it leaves more time to push the environmental aspect of the series. And dont we all benefit from a greener planet?

But just because the network is scrapping the politics of remaking Espanola doesnt mean Whitney and Asher can avoid reality. Whit tasks her assistant with telling Fernando he cant bring his gun to work as her security officer because it makes her uncomfortable  a not entirely unreasonable request thats dripping with foreboding. And Victor, the guy who moved into the couples first passive home for their TV pilot? He isnt exactly hosting neighborhood potlucks. After having several packages stolen from his doorway, he circulated a flier suggesting a local did it. You can take the man out of Silicon Valley, but you cant take the NIMBY out of the man. Whats more  and worse, in Whitneys opinion  is Victors after-market mods to the eco-palace she built for him.

Vic has replaced the homes induction stove with a gas oven, thereby negating the propertys passive home certification. On the one hand, its his house. On the other hand, isnt this exactly what reno TV scandals are made of? Who could forget the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition couple accused of kicking out their adopted children  the ones that the makeover was supposedly for? Or the family of a young cancer patient who couldnt pay the taxes on their new McMansion? Honestly, I was pretty shocked to learn the Fixer Upper clients dont keep the furniture. Imagine if I, a loyal HGTV viewer, learned that the so-called passive homes being built were actually as environmentally destructive as my own? On second thought, Id probably ignore it and keep watching, just like I did after learning the couples on House Hunters: International have all signed rental agreements before filming even begins.

Whitney gently and unsuccessfully confronts Vic about his unneighborly comportment, but, as always, its Asher who is bound to get them in real trouble. He stakes out Victors home and has an employee attempt to steal the $7,000 range back from the mans garbage heap, presumably so he can install it in another home down the line. When the appliance is irreparably damaged in the heist, he screams at Freckle to leave the upturned oven on the side of the alley in a loud and clumsy incident thats as sure to end up on Vics security footage as the theft of his Alienware computer, which really should have been signed for on delivery, if you ask me.

But Victors not the only client that Ashers content to terrorize this week. He visits Abshir with unwanted groceries culled from his own pantry  the man works at a grocery store, for goodness sake!  and a completely plausible, probably true cover story: he needs to test for mold. Whilst on site, Uncle Asher (kill me) cuts a hole in the ceiling that oozes brown goo, so Im feeling confident that Ashers good deed of furnishing free rental accommodation will eventually end up in the building being condemned and Abshirs family being evicted.

The scenes that revolve around Asher are definitely the series weakest. Nathan Fielders brand of I-dare-you-to-press-pause comedy has clearly inspired The Curses tone, but compared to Whitney and Dougie, his character feels too unspecific. Whitneys cringiness is an extension of her socio-cultural eco-warrior ambitions and her wildly unchecked need to please. Dougies cringiness is rooted in his sadness and desperation. But Ashers? Rather than his cringiness arising from some recognizable trait or foible, it seems to be his actual personality. I couldnt begin to tell you what Asher wants out of life, what he likes about his wife, or what his wife likes about him.

That said, the scene where Abshir pulls Asher aside to teach him about how hard it is to be a single dad to pre-teen girls is probably the episodes most evocative. Abshir has spent weeks trying to get his daughters to stop talking about curses, and now this stranger keeps bringing the subject up. Where Im from, we dont play with that, Abshir warns his landlord, who asks the obligatory question: Well, where are you from? Any non-white person with the slightest hint of accent will recognize this scene from their own lives, as well as the white mans dumbfounded expression when he gets an answer to the question he asked  Minnesota  instead of the question he was trying to ask. But, when it comes to curses, Abshir is here to father Asher as much as Nala and Hani. Curses are junk, he says. But if you put an idea in your head, it can become very real.

Then theres Dougie, who has his own way of seeing curses. Yes, a curse can be a means for destroying a persons life. Or it can be the framework by which a person comes to understand how his life came to be destroyed. Dougie got into a car accident, which never happens. It happened on a night he was drunk-driving, which never happens. The collision wasnt even his fault, which means he couldnt have stopped Melanie from getting killed. It was an act of God, and theres only one way for him to make sense of such a smiting: He must be cursed.

A curse that hes seemingly trying to turn into a source of good for the world. Dougie starts Under the Big Tree asleep at the wheel of his Mustang, parked on the banks of the Rio Grande with two other unoccupied cars nearby and the words under the big tree written in marker on his hand. After his phone dies, he starts looking for his keys in a hungover stupor that, thanks to Oneohtrix Point Nevers unrelenting synths, starts to resemble a sun-drenched vision quest. At the base of the first tree he tries, he finds a dusty shard of Native American pottery, which he pockets and later pets like a talisman. At the second, he tangos with a scorpion. But he finally finds what hes looking for at the base of the puniest tree in the clearing. Ah, yes. Its not the size that makes the big tree, but the enormity of what you bury at its base.

Perplexingly, what Dougies buried is a bag of car keys, along with the names and addresses of the people to whom the other cars belong. Its not until Dougie visits the first house  that of Kalvin with a K  that he finally remembers what happened. He agreed to buy booze for a bunch of teenagers at the liquor store in exchange for holding onto their keys and preventing drunk-driving. Eventually, Kal and his mom are persuaded to thank a belligerent Dougie for the heroic services of providing alcohol to underage kids and for his supervision. The scene is preposterous, but given Whitney is forcing a local man to walk the beat without protection and Uncle Asher is scaring local girls with his attempts to grow a sense of humor, its at least possible that Dougie is the member of the trio currently doing the most for the larger Espanola community.

Like in the previous episode, nothing much important happens in Under the Big Tree. The episode mostly serves to develop the character of Dougie, which it does in a series of perfectly pitched details: the doorway pull-up bar he seemingly totes from hotel to hotel, the $1,700 coat he throws over his lightly bedazzled, post-grunge wardrobe. Theres the way he apologizes for bullying Asher, then relents when he realizes that Ashers been telling himself a different story about the rough-housing of his youth.

But mostly, its that final moment in the car at the episodes end. The sun beating down, Dougie flips the pottery shard he found over in his hands. And over and over and over, examining it for any discernible sense of meaning.
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and Japan on Friday signed a bilateral currency swap deal worth 10 billion U.S. dollars for three years, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

Under the agreement, both sides will be allowed to swap their domestic currencies in exchange for the U.S. dollars of up to 10 billion dollars from each other in times of need for three years.

It was a follow-up measure after a meeting in June between finance ministers of the two countries.

The BOK said in a statement that the currency swap deal, which aims to strengthen and complement other financial safety nets, will further deepen financial cooperation between the two countries and contribute to regional and global financial stability. 
Recipes

What do you want to cook today?
Tolentino confident on Maritime Zones Act passage in January 2024

MANILA -- Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino said on Thursday that he is confident that the Maritime Zones Act will be passed by new year, in January.

"Sa tantiya ko ay baka first month of next year, ma-approve na ito," the bill's sponsor said during his NET 25 show.

Tolentino stressed that the measure has ample support from his fellow legislators in both chambers.

"Palagay ko naman ay makakapasa sa dami po ng nag-co-sponsor. Suportado po ito maging ng Senate President. At pasado na po ito sa House," Sen. Tol added.

The Chairman of Senate Maritime and Admiralty Zones further emphasized that the bill, when enacted into law, will allow the Philippines to fully enforce maritime laws and enjoy its rights over its territory.

"Kapag ito ay naipasa, effectively maipapakita natin na ito talaga ang mapa natin, boundary natin, na di maliwanag ngayon dahil wala tayong batas," said Tolentino.

He added: "Kapag ito ay naging batas, kikilalanin ito ng mga karatig-bansa natin. Baka may mga ibang bansa diyan na di ito kikilalanin pero dagdag-sandata ito sa pakikipag-usap sa iba't-ibang bansa na 'ito ang aming boundary. Ito ang aming soberanya. Ito ang aming nasasakupan'."

The lawmaker further concluded that when passed into law, the Maritime Zones Act will be sent to the United Nations, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Secretariat, and the International Maritime Organization.
People flee from their homes after Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 1, 2023. Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that the online map divides the Gaza Strip into numbered areas, aiming to help civilians understand from which areas they are required to evacuate ahead of Israeli strikes.

The official mentioned that the "evacuation map" serves as a means to help people protect themselves during "the next stage of the war," in which Israel plans to carry out attacks also in the southern Gaza Strip, an area previously labeled by the army as a "safe zone."

Simultaneously, Israeli fighter jets dropped leaflets in southern Gaza, urging residents to leave their homes in the city of Khan Younis and move eastward. The leaflets warned that Khan Younis is now a "dangerous battle zone."

Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza earlier Friday, accusing Hamas of violating the seven-day truce deal to free all women held hostage in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that Hamas "has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens."

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 32 people were killed by the Israeli strikes on Friday. 

People flee from their homes after Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 1, 2023. Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People flee from their homes after Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 1, 2023. Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People flee from their homes after Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 1, 2023. Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People flee from their homes after Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 1, 2023. Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People flee from their homes after Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 1, 2023. Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People flee from their homes after Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 1, 2023. Israel's army published a map Friday, splitting the Gaza Strip into "evacuation zones" in full-force strikes on the Palestinian enclave following a seven-day truce. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
I had always been hugely ambitious, but I knew there was a ceiling here. I loved all those British magazines like The Face and Vogue and so I went with John to London at the end of the 80s. After waitressing at first to pay the bills, she then got plenty of work on Fleet Street. I used to love photographing politicians because I was quite interested in power and how it affects people, she says, reeling off a list of her impressions of those shes shot. From former British prime ministers Tony Blair  he did that wonderful thing when Princess Diana died, and coined the phrase the peoples princess then he led us into the Iraq war  and Gordon Brown, way more charismatic in real life than in the media. She went to Trump Tower in the early 2000s for The Times to photograph then businessman Donald Trump  he was charming because he wanted a good photo, so he knew how to manipulate the situation  and to Italy to photograph Silvio Berlusconi for Newsweek: He didnt come across as being a very nice person. Over our mains of ravioli of Jerusalem artichoke for me, and casarecce with braised lamb for Borland, its clear shed rather talk politics - anything from climate change, the legacy of Australias offshore detention to her disappointment around the Voice to Parliament referendum - than about herself. But I press her to regale with more tell-it-all tales of life behind the lens.

Im fascinated by people, and up close you just have to be patient and nice to them and reassure them, but it is huge pressure to make someone look good, and youve got to please the paper or magazine you work for; I was stressed all the time. Ragazzis casarecce with braised lamb and ravioli of Jerusalem artichoke. Credit: Louise Kennerley Her breakthrough from press work into the art world happened in 2000 with Polly Borland: Australians, an exhibition of 54 portraits of significant Australians who had made a contribution to British life at Londons National Portrait Gallery. Kylie Minogue, Barry Humphries, Cate Blanchett and Nick Cave all featured. With Nick, its now a 40-year friendship. But for the first 10 to 15 years, he didnt trust me because he hated being photographed. Even though he has an incredibly striking look, hes not really comfortable in front of the camera. Hes weirdly not photogenic. Hes striking but to get the good-lookingness in the photo was quite a challenge. We lived around the corner from Nick and Susie [Cave] in Brighton at the same time as Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton moved there. We saw each other a lot and used to drive down to the seafront screaming, we love Brighton.

Several of her portraits are in Canberras National Portrait Gallery including a naked shot of Germaine Greer. It was her idea to take her clothes off, says Borland, which resulted in a dispute with the feminist icon when The Sun newspaper offered to run it on page three - which they did without permission from either of them. She can be quite contrarian. Borland went into Michael Hutchences British home in 1997 when he lived with Paula Yates for a photo that is in the Canberra collection. That wasnt long before he died. It was quite a strange and sad situation. And of course, the moment with the Queen haunts her still. I only got five minutes with her. The problem was, I had an argument with the minder about how many rolls of film I could use ... hed also given me the instruction to tell her what I was going to do but because I was so nervous, I couldnt speak and then when I eventually did speak to her, it was like verbal diarrhoea. She was late, shed been held up by her lunch with the Japanese prime minister. She just wanted to get the photo done. So she just wasnt really listening to me and walked straight in front of the camera. He started timing, and Im still talking. And then all of a sudden, the two minutes are up, and Ive only got three minutes left. Luckily, I got two really good photos in two rolls of film. But it was so nerve-racking ... I didnt think I would have that reaction to her because I thought, shes just another famous person. By this stage, Id photographed so many famous people. The Queen photo did me in. It was the finish of my portrait career.

It wasnt just that she felt burnt out by the profession, she also had a new baby boy who was in the press office being looked after when she did the 2002 royal shoot. She decided to stay closer to home in Brighton, collaborating on a series of artistic photos with statuesque local actor Gwendolyn Christie for three years before she became famous in Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth. Borland focused more on artistic photographic work, notably her Morph and Nudies series, and a book on Adult Babies which shocked many, but prompted a friendship with writer Susan Sontag, whom she also photographed. Borland moved to Hollywood in 2011 for her husband Hillcoats film career, where he is represented by the prestigious talent agency CAA. Hes directed the 2005 film written by Nick Cave, The Proposition, starring Guy Pearce and Emily Watson, and in 2009 directed Cormac McCarthys The Road starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron. Sculptures by Polly Borland, in her show Blob Out at Sullivan + Strumpf gallery. Credit: Aaron Anderson They now live on Mulholland Drive in a home where the portrait of the Queen hangs in her bathroom. Borland does occasionally accept portrait work as she did earlier this year with Harpers Bazaar to shoot White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge in a Los Angeles studio.

The bill for lunch at Ragazzi, with Polly Borland. Jennifers very funny, down to earth and been around the block ... Because success has come to her later in life, it hasnt gone to her head, Borland says, happy to take on a project with a woman of a similar age and outlook. Since lockdown, where she and her family were stranded in Byron Bay awaiting some paperwork for their green cards to be processed, her focus has been on sculpture. They stayed for 18 months, lived in six different places while her son completed his last year of American high school online and Hillcoat got work on film projects in Sydney. She became friendly with Lismore Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens, who introduced her to some Brisbane foundry owners at a talk in Byron by artist Lindy Lee. Ever since, shes been hooked creating cast-aluminium sculptures which she finishes with automotive paint. This year, she has had sculpture exhibitions in galleries in Melbourne, New York, Los Angeles and Sydney, and in May took part in Marfa Invitational, an art fair in Texas, which annually hosts a sort of South by Southwest style showcase for sculpture.

Photography was always meant to be a means to an end. I wanted to do my own work and exhibiting but I got so involved in photography I didnt have time for artistic work, says Borland, who cites photographer Diane Arbus as an important influence. Although he died in 2000, she says she now better understands her father who designed Melbournes Harold Holt Memorial Pool, and along with his Melbourne University architect friends won the competition to design Melbournes 1956 Olympic swimming pool, and his humanitarian approach to life. It makes sense that I would be making sculpture because I was making sculpture and then photographing it in the past. And also my father being an architect, he was a 3D thinker. I always found photography a bit creatively limiting in the end. Whereas sculpture is infinite. Sculpture is very much in the moment. Like jazz, it is a freestyle art form where you make it up as you go along. Its a bit like taking a photo because it is in the moment. But its a 3D moment, she says. Polly Borlands Blob Out is at Zetlands Sullivan + Strumpf gallery until December 16.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ben Latimer has barely had time to get his feet under the desk, but the ABCs head of audio has already started tackling the challenges the broadcaster faces across the dial. I hit the ground running, says Latimer, who joined the ABC at the end of July after six years at Nova, where he was joint head of programming. I love a challenge, I really do. I just find it more interesting. The hit list for Latimer is long and varied, with big challenges in local radio, Triple J and Radio National. But at core, it comes down to a simple proposition. Were serious about getting ABC local radio back to where it needs to be, he says, referring to the audience share for the main station in each capital city. Pre-COVID is where we believe we should be, and we can be. In the most recent radio survey results delivered two weeks ago, ABC Radio held a 7 per cent share of the market in Sydney, 8 in Melbourne, 5.9 in Brisbane, 7.4 in Adelaide, and 7.2 in Perth. In the same survey period in 2019, the numbers were 8.1 in Sydney, 9.2 in Melbourne, 6.6 in Brisbane, 10 in Adelaide and 7.2 in Perth. Craig Reucassel has been drafted in to host Breakfast in Sydney from next January. Credit: James Brickwood Clearly, there is work to do  and Latimer has already started. This week, major line-up changes were announced for Sydney, with The Chasers Craig Reucassel coming into Breakfast, James Valentine moving from that shift back to the Afternoons chair he occupied for more than 20 years, and Renee Krosch replacing Indira Naidoo, whose show she has been producing, in Evenings.

Advertisement

In September, a similar shake-up of the Melbourne line-up was announced, with Raf Epstein moving to Mornings and Ali Moore to Drive until the end of the year (more announcements are imminent, Latimer hints). At the same time, ABC Melbournes rival in the talk radio space, 3AW, underwent its own shake-up, as Neil Mitchell  who presented his last show on Friday  announced he was stepping down after 35 years on air. Raf Epstein moved from Drive to Mornings as part of the Melbourne shake-up announced in September. It all sets the scene for a rare moment in radio, which is perhaps the most loyal of mediums, in which listeners might be willing to dip their toes (or ears) in unfamiliar waters for a brief period. The change coming is significant for the ABC and significant for local radio, so wed expect to see some audience sampling across the new year, says Latimer. To capitalise, the ABC plans a big campaign on TV and in print  the most investment in marketing our local radio network has had in years, he says. But theres been plenty of work behind the scenes, too, to ensure the moment isnt squandered. The really big part was focusing the presenters and the producers on understanding their audience, which is 50-plus, Latimer says. Weve reimagined our music, designed a playlist that is really catering for that 50-plus audience. Im looking at the on-air imaging, the ideas you hear on air, they need a freshen-up.

Advertisement

I dont think its correct to say we went young, he clarifies, but I think youve got to narrow it down to that target ideal listener and make it really clear who we are talking to. While the main stations are the jewels in the crown, Latimer knows there are also big challenges facing Radio National and, especially, the ABCs youth network. I think Triple J is an incredibly important brand for us, he says. But the 18-24s are a very difficult demographic to capture. Latimer comes to the position at the ABC after a career in the commercial media, including ARN and Foxtel. Credit: James Brickwood The challenge with Triple J is that weve got this exceptionally engaged audience on the digital offering, but a declining audience on linear [traditional broadcast radio]. We are more than a radio station, we tell people this all the time, its a multi-platform youth network. But we must have a strong linear broadcast reach and right now, the current five capital city share is 4.2 per cent, so clearly weve got to do some work around that. Latimer and his team have two key focuses as they try to turn Triple Js fortunes around: working more closely with our talent-led shows, particularly Breakfast and Drive, on content, strategy and execution, and taking a better look at music preferences for younger audiences. Hes also keen to develop the next iconic brand to bolster a stable still dominated by the Hottest 100 and Like A Version. Radio National, meanwhile, sometimes struggles to attract a share of audience greater than the margin of error in the ratings surveys. We have to be engaging with a share above the current 1.4 per cent on linear radio, we just have to be, he says.

Advertisement
A tax on gambling is pouring an extra $70 million a year into Racing NSWs already-bulging coffers, prompting a fresh push for the thoroughbred regulator to face the same scrutiny as other quasi-government organisations.

Racing NSWs income has skyrocketed over the past 10 years, with one of the most lucrative new funding streams involving the Point of Consumption Tax (POC), introduced by the Coalition government in early 2019.

Figures given to parliament by NSW Racing Minister David Harris show Racing NSWs share of the tax was $29.3 million in the 2019-20 financial year, swelling to $39.4 million and then $44.9 million. With changes introduced in 2022-23, it hit $70 million.

The funding is likely to continue to grow with the underlying trends in the wagering market, namely the increasing market share of corporate operators and online wagering, the Treasury review said.
The now 50-year-old brought his XXV Australian Tour to Nikola Estate Winery in Middle Swan and despite the calamitous traffic in and out of the venue , Robbie more than made up for the wait.

More than three decades later, Robbie Williams may now be playing smaller venues (in 2003 he played to 375,000 people at Knebworth in the UK) but his stage presence is just as big.

He was 16 years old when he joined Take That and brought screaming girls everywhere to their knees.

The born entertainer took the audience on a pop music tour of the 90s, belting out his biggest hits such as Let Me Entertain You, Come Undone and Angels, but it was his renditions of some of Take Thats biggest songs and a cover of Oasis Dont Look Back in Anger that really got the crowd going.

His visit to Perth comes weeks after a four-part documentary aired on Netflix, giving viewers a rare glimpse into his life in LA, his marriage and his four children. It was also used as an opportunity for Williams to look back at his controversial past and give candid insight into what it was like being one of the most famous people on the planet.

Mellen Events presents Robbie Williams at Nikola Estate, November, 2023. Credit: Duncan Barnes

He was also searingly honest in speaking about his feelings for Take That and its frontman Gary Barlow after their falling out, his struggles with drugs and alcohol and his mental health battles. It was moving to watch him at times, and by the end left audience members feeling as though they knew him.

The flip side of this darkness, however, is Williams ability to tell a brilliant joke. The entire crowd was left virtually crying with laughter at his stories  about fans touching his private parts, about his scallywag boy-band days, and how  now much older  he was finding performing exhausting.
Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has laid bare details of the conversation he had with former premier Mark McGowan about keeping the doors to the womens safe night space open, but the state government says his recollection is wrong.

The prominent media personality doubled down on Friday morning on claims he asked the state government to take over the funding of the facility at East Perths Rod Evans Centre more than a year ago, telling 6PRs Gary Adshead that Premier Roger Cooks assertion the conversation didnt happen was wrong.

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas. Credit: Peter de Kruijff

Zempilas said he asked McGowan if the state would consider funding the facility, which the City of Perth had been bankrolling to the tune of $2 million per year as part of a two-year trial.

The conversation, which Zempilas said took place during a City of Perth committee meeting last November, ended, he claimed, when McGowan said it was not going to happen.
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.
NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kinnan Abdalhamid, one of the three 20-year-old Palestinian-American students shot Saturday night in Burlington, the U.S. State of Vermont, recalled seeing a gunman open fire without saying a word, in a U.S. television interview Wednesday.

"On the way back, we see this man on his porch essentially looking away from us. He turns around, looks at us, and without saying a word -- it was almost surreal -- he went down the steps, pulled out a pistol and shot my friend," Abdalhamid told CNN on Wednesday night.

Abdalhamid said when attacked they were speaking a mixture of English and Arabic and two were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves.

The 48-year-old suspected shooter was arrested Sunday night and pleaded not guilty to attempted second-degree murder charges in a Burlington court.

The authorities said at a news conference they're still working to determine a motive for the shooting.

On Monday afternoon, U.S. President Joe Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, issued a statement from the White House condemning the shooting, saying "There is no place for violence or hate in America."

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said on X: "We have reason to believe that the shooting was motivated by the three (victims) being Arab."

The families of the three victims put out a joint statement calling on the law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, "including treating this as a hate crime."

Since the beginning of the latest round of the Palestine-Israel conflict on Oct. 7, hate crimes against both Jewish communities and people perceived to be Arab or Muslim in the United States have surged.

In a month between Oct. 7 and Nov. 7, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent American Jewish advocacy group, documented a staggering 832 incidents of antisemitic assault, vandalism, and harassment. This alarming figure, averaging nearly 28 incidents per day, reflects a substantial 315 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. The incidents cataloged by the ADL encompassed over 600 instances of harassment, 170 cases of vandalism, and 30 assaults.

Simultaneously, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a U.S. Muslim civil rights group, has reported an "unprecedented surge in bigotry" with 1,283 requests for assistance and complaints related to anti-Muslim or anti-Arab bias between Oct.7 and Nov.4. That marked a notable 216 percent rise compared to the average for 29 days in the preceding year. CAIR highlighted that more than 15 percent of the complaints directed to its national office pertained to alleged hate crimes.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Oct. 19 that the Justice Department is monitoring an increase in reported threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities in the United States tied to the Palestine-Israel conflict in the Gaza Strip.

U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray warned that antisemitism in the United States has reached "historic levels" in the wake of the conflict, in a testimony to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee on Oct. 31.

At the beginning of November, Garland held meetings with Jewish leaders, and Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian, Hindu community leaders, respectively.

Despite these efforts, advocates say many American Muslims and Arabs don't trust the FBI and do not report when they are the target of hate crimes because of the bureau's aggressive tactics targeting Muslim and Arab communities after the 9/11 terror attacks.

On Nov. 1 the White House revealed the National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia. It was criticized as "a bait and switch from an administration that fears for its political future" by local media. The op-ed said it might further erode civil liberties under the guise of national security, without addressing the driving force of the latest round of Islamophobic hatred. 
The ninth iteration of WCO Operation DEMETER, which targets illicit wastes, ozone depleting substances (ODS) and potent greenhouse gases, took place from 1 October 2023 to 31 October 2023. It saw the participation of a record number of 106 Customs administrations and led to the detection of a record number of 338 infringement cases.

Operation DEMETER dates back to 2009 and is perhaps the most well-known of the efforts deployed by the Customs community to implement the provisions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and since 2019, to implement the provisions of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, including the Kigali Amendment.[1]

Such Operation enables participants to gauge targeting capacities and share intelligence to identify high-risk consignments shipped on all routes and via all modalities. Participants rely on CENcomm, the WCOs secure and encrypted communication tool, to exchange information, such as on concealment methods. Cooperation is not only to take place at the international level, but also nationally with agencies in charge of implementing regulations on the movement of the targeted products.

Representatives from participating administrations and WCO partners[2] held a debriefing meeting on 1 December 2023, where they assessed the latest Operation DEMETER.

According to preliminary results, 338 infringement cases were reported, representing a total of:

over 17,486 tonnes of waste and an additional 144,313 pieces of waste (unweighed)

almost 70 tonnes of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol and 6,046 pieces of pre-charged equipment ( unweighed )

almost 31 tonnes and 74,797 pieces (unweighted) of other commodities, including restricted or prohibited commodities such as hazardous chemicals.

The number of reported cases increased by more than 140% compared to the previous edition of the Operation. This is due to a larger number of Customs administrations actively participating, conducting controls and effectively reporting control results. European and African Customs administrations, which reported 186 and 87 cases respectively, drove this surge.

Collaboration between Customs administrations and environmental agencies also stands out as a highlight of this year's Operation, with joint inspections and control efforts reported by many participants.

Waste

The main illicit waste streams identified involved textiles, metal, plastic, end-of-life vehicles and machinery, paper, and electronic and electrical waste (e-waste).

Most of the seizures originated from Europe and were destined for Europe, Asia and Africa.

Some of the seized shipments lacked the required documentation to confirm the eligible transboundary movement of waste, or were misdeclared.

ODS and HFCs

There was a significant increase in illegal trade cases involving Montreal Protocol substances and related equipment evidenced by:

- A surge of over 250% in the number of seizures compared to the previous edition, which reported 13 seizures.

- An increase exceeding 180% in the quantity of seizures compared to the previous edition, which accounted for 25 tonnes of substances.

Most of the seizures were made in Gambia and Bulgaria. The biggest seizure was reported by Italy. Most of the seizures originated from Europe and were destined for Europe and Africa.

Some shipments lacked the required licences, while others contained prohibited commodities, such as non-refillable cylinders containing controlled substances.

Capacity building

The WCO Secretariat provided guidance to participants ahead of the Operation, in line with the Guidelines on the implementation of WCO operations at national level. Additionally, they all received instructions and advice on developing risk profiles for targeted commodities.

Some Customs administrations benefited from two capacity building workshops, during which analysts carried out in-depth and practical exercises related to illegal trade in waste, ODS and HFCs. Discussions encompassed global trade trends and threats related to environmentally sensitive commodities, the analysis of data and risk management techniques, and physical examinations, as well as practices and mechanisms to enhance cooperation.

Gaps identified and recommendations for Customs

The DEMETER Operations aim at stimulating law enforcement efforts and at ensuring that a steadfast commitment to combating environmental crime is among Customs top priorities. They also enable the WCO Secretariat and its partners to identify capacity building needs and to shape forthcoming support activities.

This years edition notably highlighted the need for implementing:

Effective cooperation mechanisms: involving environmental authorities, other law enforcement agencies, the private sector and the public.

Training focused on risk analysis and intelligence sharing: empowering law enforcement officers to work more efficiently.

Sound reporting mechanisms: increased submission of high-quality data to the WCO CEN database would allow for a better grasp of the latest global trends in illicit trade.

Appreciation

Operation DEMETER IX was financially backed by China Customs and received extensive technical support from the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia/Pacific (RILO A/P). Additionally, a range of international partners, such as the Basel Convention Secretariat; the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction; the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF); the UNODC Unwaste Project; INTERPOL; the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL); alongside the WCO RILO network, played pivotal roles in bolstering capacity building activities and facilitating information sharing within their respective networks.





[1] This amendment commits countries to phasing down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which contribute to global warming and climate change.

[2] Partners include the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the United Nations Environment Programme OzonAction, the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), the UNODC Unwaste Project, INTERPOL, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the United Nations Environment Programme Ozone Secretariat, and the Green Customs Initiative Secretariat.
From 20-28 November 2023, the Tanzanian Revenue Authority (TRA) and WCO experts met with various stakeholder groups across the country to discuss the next steps in working together to fight corruption and promote integrity. Meetings were held in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza. The initiative contributed to Tanzanias specific priority as defined in its project plan as a partner administration of the WCO Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme. This priority, Mutual trust and cooperation between the private sector and customs increased, is aligned with the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration key factor, Relationship with Private Sector.

Following initial training for Customs officials on stakeholder engagement, TRA officials were able to put new knowledge into practice during meetings conducted with Customs brokers, importers and exporters in those three regions of the country. During these meetings, the most important issues currently facing stakeholders were discussed. TRA and the stakeholders analyzed the results of the Customs Integrity Perception Survey (CIPS) that was carried out in Tanzania in 2020 with the support of the WCO A-CIP Programme. Agreements were reached on the priority issues with a commitment to working together on them.

Once again, the importance of working together and effective communication was evident. Continuing along these lines is one of the main commitments acquired in these sessions.

The WCO A-CIP Programme supports more than 20 WCO Member administrations, with funding from Norad and Canada. For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
KIGALI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Domestic resource mobilization will be critical in the coming years for Rwanda and other countries to ensure sufficient and sustainable funding to sustain the gains toward ending AIDS by 2030, a UN official has said.

Hind Hassan, UNAIDS country representative for Rwanda, was speaking during an event Thursday in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to mark this year's World AIDS Day, which falls on Friday.

Rwanda has been recognized among the countries that have made remarkable progress toward ending AIDS by 2030, after it met the 95-95-95 HIV target, according to a UNAIDS report published in July.

The 95-95-95 HIV target means ensuring that 95 percent of individuals living with the virus in a country know their status, 95 percent of those aware of their HIV-positive status are receiving antiretroviral drugs, and 95 percent of people on treatment have achieved viral suppression.

Hassan said Rwanda, having achieved so much, should be looking at the very last mile of achieving the goals of 2030, which she described as the most difficult and the most expensive.

"One big area we really need to look at is the area of financing the HIV response, because we are seeing that donors are reducing funding globally, decreasing their development assistance in general, reprioritizing their funding to different countries," she said. "So we have to look at that."

"Also... we need to look at domestic financing and mobilization by looking at who is not on the discussion table right now, for example, how can we engage the private sector to generate resources for the response," Hassan added.

She called for more community engagement to reach out to those difficult to reach populations, by going deeper into the communities and getting them to access HIV services.

Hassan also mentioned the need to engage non-health actors, ensuring they are empowered to be part of the HIV programs.

In Rwanda, HIV prevalence in the population has been at 3 percent over the past 15 plus years among people aged 15 years and above.

Corneille Ntihabose, the head of clinical and public health services at the Rwandan Ministry of Health, said: "We must sustain the milestones achieved. We have achieved 95-95-95, but we must achieve zero strategy, where we must register zero death related to HIV/AIDS and zero new infections."

"To achieve this, we need to be innovative because the virus is adapting, with new mutations. So we need more right testing and treatment tools," he said.

According to UNAIDS, the most significant progress in HIV response has been observed in countries and regions that have made substantial financial investments, such as eastern and southern Africa, where new HIV infections have decreased by 57 percent since 2010.

In 2022, an estimated 39 million people worldwide were living with HIV, with 29.8 million accessing antiretroviral therapy, it said. 
China's pavilion at COP28 was officially inaugurated Thursday morning in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. On the occasion, Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, reiterated China's strategic determination of climate action. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Tracey Hannon is the Regional Manager in the Connacht Ulster Region for Clann Credo, an organisation that provides loan finance for the community and voluntary sector. Chatting to Tracey provides a fascinating insight into the community and voluntary sector and what can be achieved when the financial aids that they need are readily available.

Tracey has watched various groups and organisations flourish over her two decades with Clann Credo and really understands the benefit that they provide to their areas across the west of Ireland. A native of London, she moved to the west of Ireland at an early age and from early in her work life, immersed herself in helping communities and businesses grow and develop.

Her love for community and the voluntary sector seeps into every aspect of her life. She is a board member of Castlebar Social Services Centre and a leader with Foroige.

She doesnt deny that the work can be challenging and the hours long, but she is adamant that her future lies in working in this area.

We sat in the beautiful surroundings of the Museum of Country Life in Turlough, close to where Tracey lives, to have a chat about what keeps her driven and why she loves this work so much.

Angelina: Tracey, thanks for chatting to me. Tell me a little about your background.

Tracey: I was born in Ealing, London and spent my early years there. My family moved to Ballymurray, Roscommon when I was 11 years old and I did one year of primary school and all of secondary school in the Convent of Mercy, Roscommon. From there I went to college where I did a degree in Business Studies and Marketing.

"I met my husband Bryan Scanlon, who is from Geesala, in college. We have two daughters, Eva (17) and Lucy (13), and we live near Turlough. Since college, I have worked in the business and community development sectors. I worked with WestBIC in Roscommon after college where I was involved in preparing funding applications and preparing business plans. From there I moved to Offaly Local Enterprise Office (LEO) where I was a Business Advisor for four years. In 2000, an opportunity arose with Clann Credo (provider of loan finance for the community and voluntary sector) for someone to manage their activities in the west of Ireland. At this stage, Bryan and I had decided we wanted to base ourselves permanently in Mayo so the timing was really good.

Angelina: You seemed to gravitate towards working with businesses or groups who needed support.

Tracey: Yes, when I worked in WestBIC and then Offaly LEO I loved supporting new businesses to bring their ideas to fruition. I came in contact with so many talented people with skills in engineering, food production, product design, crafts and tourism who needed some financial assistance in the form of grants or loans and often non-financial support in terms of training or mentoring. I really enjoyed supporting the business to get off the ground, working through a grant or loan application and getting the right support package in place for them.

When I joined Clann Credo, my focus moved to community and social enterprises and delivering loan finance to the groups. Clann Credo provides loan finance to community and social enterprises where a social benefit is evident and there is repayment capacity. The more time I spent with community organisations, the more I have come to realise the level of capacity and commitment that exists within communities to address their own needs.

"As Regional Manager, my role is to support the organisations to achieve their aim through the provision of finance. I work with communities and voluntary organisations throughout Connacht, Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan providing loan finance to enable them to complete projects which will improve their communities.

"I work with community companies, clubs and committees who are developing facilities for their communities. These facilities could be sports, childcare, eldercare support, social housing, community infrastructure or anything else identified as needed. Clann Credo provides term loans and bridging loans which allow the organisation to draw down the approved grant. It can be difficult for community organisations to access suitable loan finance particularly if they are reliant on fundraising as part of their income, so I believe that Clann Credo fills that gap by providing community-appropriate loan funding.

"I have worked with so many community and social enterprises over the years and it is particularly gratifying to see a small group commence their development journey with a relatively simple project for their community. The expertise and confidence gained usually result in more ambitious projects undertaken as time goes on. I can think of one community that started with a Tidy Towns committee and progressed to develop a social housing and daycare facility over the course of several years. These projects are always volunteer-initiated and often volunteer-managed. The amount of time and commitment provided by people who receive no personal benefit but often many sleepless nights is incredible. I am very lucky to work with people like this and I feel I can contribute by working through the funding process with them.

Angelina: Seeing the big difference the financial support can make to these communities must be amazing.

Tracey: Yes, financial support is critical for communities. Organisations in receipt of grant aid are usually required to submit receipts rather than invoices to draw down funding. In addition, grant funding will not cover all the costs so there will be a funding gap. If the funding gap is relatively low, it may be possible to raise the funds locally but for larger sums, it makes sense from a financial planning perspective to spread the cost of the funds over a longer period of time and include a loan repayment as part of overhead costs.

The benefit of financial support for a community is huge; for example, the renovation of a community centre that has fallen into disrepair will provide a home for many groups such as sports, education and training, Active Age, parent and toddler groups, Foroige, etc. The investment made in the development of these facilities not only provides space for social and educational purposes for all members of the community but has the potential to address bigger issues such as social inclusion and integration, rural isolation, safe space for young people, good health and well-being, mental health. This is the positive impact of social investment in communities.

Angelina: What keeps you driven Tracey?

Tracey: I very much believe that the best people to address many issues within their communities, particularly in rural Ireland, are communities themselves if they are given adequate support. I have seen communities provide space for remote workers, supports that enable older people to live at home for longer, and facilities for young people and children. I have worked with hundreds of organisations that have a vision for their community and implement that vision. I love being part of that process.

"I believe in the importance of community involvement and participation as a volunteer with the Vincent de Paul for several years and currently a leader with Turlough Foroige and recently joined the board of the Castlebar Social Services Centre. I see the benefits of community participation and volunteerism at a personal and professional level. I really am lucky to work in this sector. No two days are ever the same for me with the variety of initiatives the community and social enterprises are involved in. However, the common theme among the organisations is a desire to improve their community.

Angelina: Do you see yourself doing this for a while more Tracey?

Tracey: I will certainly stay in this sector. What my role will be in the next few years I dont know. For now, though, I believe I have a contribution to make to the community and voluntary sector in Connacht and Ulster with Clann Credo.
Congratulations to Dolores Byrne, from Gurteen, who won the top prize of 1,000 in the recent draw organised by Ballyhaunis Community Council to raise funds for the Community Hall renovation project.

Among the other winners were Pat and Maura Murphy who won a 150 Aldi voucher while Joe Raftery and Maria Fitzimmons each won a 100 voucher for the local SuperValu. A full list of the 25 prize winners has been published on the Facebook page of Ballyhaunis Community Council which noted: This fundraising effort has been a great boost to the hall and puts us in a great position to stay on top of our debt repayments.

The Community Council has borrowings of approximately 150,00 to repay on the recently completed refurbishment of the hall.

Friary requires structural care

Cracks in the wall and floor of the historic Friary church in Ballyhaunis were surveyed recently by the executive architect of Mayo County Council Orla Kennelly who has engaged the Councils structural engineering staff to look at the building in detail.

Upkeep of the church is the focus of a fundraising effort by a working group made up of local members of the Abbey Trust, the body which has held the property in trust for the community since the departure of the Augustinian friars in 2002.

One of the cracks risks endangering the gable windows in the church which were made by internationally renowned stained glass artist Harry Clarke a century ago," explained JT Smyth, a member of the Trust which is organising a concert on December 2nd featuring the Three Tenors, a trio with a large national following.

We are trying to raise money locally to have a fund in place which will allow us apply for grants so that preservation works can be completed, explained Smyth.

Chairperson of the Abbey Partnership (the management arm of the Trust), Deirdre Finnerty, has meanwhile asked the chief fire officer Tony Shelvin to carry out a pre-fire plan on the Church. The building was recently surveyed by Ballyhaunis Fire Station staff who viewed the building so they are familiar with it in case of an emergency.

Tickets for the Three Tenors concert, priced at 30, are available in the Gem Costcutter, online at Eventbrite, or by calling 087-6434206.

Annagh 2023 launching on December 1

The Annagh Magazine will be on sale from Friday, December 1, in all the usual outlets.

This years magazine is the 46th annual issue and retails at 12, noted the publishers who describe the publication, at over 200 pages, as one of the biggest issues in recent years and promises to feature the usual mix of articles, reports and photographs that has made Annagh so popular with Ballyhaunis people at home and abroad since 1978".

The Annagh Magazine Society would like to thank all contributors of written submissions and photographs and our generous patrons - all of whom helped to bring Annagh 2023 to fruition.

Chris Lynskey, Catherine Osgood, Ann Connolly, and Mohammed Rizwan Ali fine-tuning brakes during a bicycle repair clinic, a popular monthly programme run by Ballyhaunis Community Council.

Gaeilge classes

Beginners and improvers who want to master the native language are invited to a fun class every Tuesday evening at the Community Hall. Conducted in a light-hearted manner, the 7pm class costs 5 per head, which includes tea and coffee. The classes are co-organised by Ballyhaunis Community Council and Ballyhaunis Language Cafe.

20,000 bill for Christmas lights

A note to local businesses from Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce has put the cost of installing Christmas lights in the town at 20,000 and invites a donation of 200 per business to cover the cost.

Your commitment to supporting the Christmas Lights is crucial to the continued success of Our Town at Christmas. This is one of the few town projects that seek your financial help, and we appeal to you to be generous in your contribution. An annual fee of 200 per business would be greatly appreciated, and we look forward to your support in lighting up Ballyhaunis this Christmas.

The Christmas lights will be switched on at 4.30pm on Sunday, December 3, with carol singing and the blessing of the crib by Fr Stephen Farragher. A Christmas Market will also take place on December 16 in the town square.

Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns gets circular economy grant

The increasingly energetic Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns committee has scored another big win with the granting of 2,500 from the Community Foundation of Ireland to allow the oragnisation to research and draft a plan to reduce waste in the town. A Community Circular Economy Action Plan will examine where single-use items contributing to local littering and dumping can be reduced.

Single-use coffee cups and convenience food packaging from local vendors, for instance, have become a major source of waste on local roads, streets and laneways.

Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns was recently the recipient of a special award at the national Tidy Towns Awards for its Citizen Science programme which enables locals to measure and monitor the quality of water in local rivers.

Kate and Alan Burrows harvest willows on their land in Cloonlough near Ballyhaunis. The couple make coffins and household items from the willows.

Connolly wants electricity levies shifted to fossil fuels

Higher electricity prices are causing a huge problem slowing the transition to sustainable home heating solutions like heat pumps, according to Ballyhaunis native David Connolly, a nationally prominent figure in the renewable energy sector.

David is chief technology officer with Astatine, a multinational firm that advises industries on how to switch to clean sources of heat. The company is hiring a consultant to research how electricity bills are computed in order to advise the Government on how to shift levies from consumers to polluting energy sources.

High electricity prices for households are an unintended consequence of government policies over a period of time, which added levies to consumer bills to pay for inclusion of clean energy on the grid, said David Connolly. Originally from Lecarrow outside Ballyhaunis, David was previously head of the Irish Wind Energy Association.

Historically, its been easier to put increased cost onto electricity because everyone is billed and are metred and theres a small number of electricity suppliers But it makes more sense for the levies to go on a fossil fuel bill rather than on electricity bills.

Its very difficult to figure out what makes an electricity bill so expensive. There are complex layers... the price of generating electricity and the price paid to the grid operator. If we understand a lot of ingredients in the price, we can see what can be taken off electricity and put on fossil fuels.

Heat pumps are very efficient money-wise provided electricity costs are kept to reasonable levels, explained David.

If I buy 20 cents a kilowatt hour I get three units of heat for one unit of electricity on a heat pump.

However, the national plan to decarbonise energy and heating to electricity will only work, said David, if the gap between the cost of electricity and the cost of fossil fuels has to be sufficient to encourage the take-up of heat pumps.

We have to make sure that electricity isnt more than two times more expensive than two times the rate of fossil fuels or people will continue to burn fossil fuels.

David said there is huge appetite in the corporate sector for clean energy, due in part to the spike in prices of imported fossil fuels prompted by the Ukraine War.

Likewise, the transition to clean energy is really starting to bite in the public sector which has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, he remarked. That means there are only six years really left.

Chronic understaffing at An Bord Pleanala however, has slowed down the building of wind farms, a key source of clean energy in Ireland. Theres only been one license approved in the past year, noted David.

Solar energy projects, meanwhile, have been surging ahead largely because they dont have the planning issues faced by wind power but solar isnt able to generate the kind of volume of clean energy that wind can, he added.

New data on deprivation, lone parents in Ballyhaunis area

A detailed analysis of socio-economic indicators in the Ballyhaunis area shows that areas outside the town have pulled away from the downtown area.

The Pobal HP Deprivation Index, compiled by the government agency Pobal, shows the better-off parts of the town are the northern perimeter villages like Annagh, Clagnagh and Devlis. This cluster of hinterlands (which also includes Carrowreagh, Coolloughra and Skeaghard) represents the only district marginally above average in terms of economic indicators  on data based on census sampling. Some 41.1% of the 101 people surveyed in that cluster have third-level education while male unemployment is at 3.5% and female unemployment at zero.

Data for the downtown area  a sampling of 331 people living in the centre of the town - shows far greater levels of economic disadvantage, with male unemployment levels at 37.5% and female unemployment at 41%. Some 26% of those surveyed said they had third-level education. The town centre area is classed as disadvantaged in the Pobal report.

The Bekan area  of 212 people  is also classed as disadvantaged in the Pobal index, with higher unemployment (8.7% male, 14.2% female) and lower levels of third-level education (24%) as well as higher dependency levels: 43.4% compared to 39.6% in the aforementioned cluster of hinterlands around Ballyhaunis.

One of the more interesting data samples is that for lone parents. Some 51.7% of those surveyed in the town proper classed themselves as lone parents compared to 12.5% in the townlands (Annagh, Carrowreagh, Devlis etc) referred to above. Only 4.7% of those surveyed in Bekan reported themselves as lone parents.

Ballyhaunis is home to one of the fastest growing populations in Mayo, thanks to high levels of migration of staff taking unskilled food processing jobs in particular. The town is also home to approximately 400 asylum seekers.
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.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said 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.




READING, Pa. - The Berks County Sheriff's Office helped make another arrest in the Reading area drug ring investigation known as "Operation Knockout.

"We're going to make people responsible for those that are spreading this poison in our community," said Berks County District Attorney John Adams. "Moises Franco was one of two individuals who were still wanted."

Adams said investigators arrested the 34-year-old Thursday morning and that leaves only one man on the loose, 44-year-old Jeffrey Kanelos.

"We believe he's in the Reading area or the Fleetwood area, and we are still looking for him," said Adams.

Investigators said the case started in September when State Police made a traffic stop on I-78 in Berks County. That's when troopers found nine kilograms of cocaine and a loaded gun that they traced back to an operation with ties to a Mexican cartel.

Adams said one of the 29 people involved had connections to the cartel and supplied the operation.

"All the others are in custody, or they have been released on bail, pending their preliminary hearings, and some of which have already been held," said Adams.

Local and national law enforcement agencies had them on their radar.

"So if one of these individuals were pulled over in another state, they would be listed as 'wanted' and then arrested," Adams said. "Many times, they try to escape to other jurisdictions, including Puerto Rico."

Other popular places are Mexico, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.

"We have connections with the authorities in all those places," Adams said.

The DA said Franco faces a number of charges, including conspiracy and drug offenses.

Adams said this latest arrest sends a message.

"If you deal drugs here, you're going to jail and you're going to jail for a lengthy period of time," said Adams. "Your life will not be the same."

The DA said Franco will be arraigned shortly.

If you know Jeffrey Kanelos' whereabouts, you're asked to reach out to police.
READING, Pa. - Authorities in Berks County will discuss the solving of a more than two-decade old Reading homicide case Friday morning.

The county district attorney's office and the Reading Police Department will hold a joint news conference Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Authorities solved the case of the death of Cynthia Baver, which happened on April 7, 2001, in Reading, according to a news release from the DA's office.

More details of the solving of the cold case will be laid out at Friday's news conference.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Karen Smith of the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley is coordinating their Holiday Hope Chests campaign.

"We're always looking for more donations, we have empty boxes, as you can see behind me," she said inside their 1650 Center Valley Parkway location in Bethlehem.

9,000 shoe boxes filled with children's gift donations will be sent to 47 area nonprofits.

Northeast Community Center is one of those. It supports low-economic neighborhoods like Bethlehem's Pembroke.

"Without this small token of joy, like you said, they might not get anything for Christmas," said Marketing and Development Director Chrisdee Lawyer.

She adds the center requested 100 Holiday Hope Chests, which is double the number from two years ago.

"It's just such an incredible moment to watch them open up and know that that thing is for them. They don't have to share that with anyone else, you know, that is just something for them that they get to play with or draw or use in some sort of way," she said.

Head to the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley's website. You can choose either a gift or monetary donation.

"We really look to fill boxes with items that are fun, and also practical," Smith said, adding gift cards for those 13 and up are the biggest need this year.

Donations can be made through Dec. 15. Drop off's are at 1650 Valley Center Parkway in Bethlehem just off Schoenersville Road.
ALLENTOWN, Pa.  Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley has announced his campaign for Pennsylvania Auditor General.

In a press release Friday, Pinsley billed himself as "the only candidate who can flip the office back to the Democratic Party." Republican Tim DeFoor has held the office since January 2021.

"Its imperative our nominee be best suited to be able to take on DeFoor," Pinsley said in the release. "Im a veteran, small business owner, and incumbent controller in PAs 10th largest county with a real record of results. Only I can stand on that stage and make the case against DeFoor."

Pinsley said that conducting a "socio-economic audit" of school funding, as well as county election offices and departments, would be among his top priorities if elected.

With his announcement, Pinsley joins a growing primary field consisting of state Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) and Mark Rozzi (D-Berks)  the latter of whom announced his candidacy for Auditor General in Reading back in October.

The winner of this Democratic primary will face DeFoor in general election on Nov. 5, 2024.
WILSON BOROUGH, Pa. - A man is not guilty of first-degree murder in a 2020 shooting in Northampton County that killed a teenager and injured a second man, according to court paperwork.

Court documents say Ca'Mel J. Douglas is guilty of two counts of aggravated assault.

He had been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Nikal Jones in a Spruce Street apartment on Sept. 25 and the shooting that injured Shadee Johnson.

The Northampton County District Attorneys Office had also announced charges against Aquasay Harris for his role in the shooting. At the time, Douglas was in custody in New Jersey on a probation violation and considered a person of interest.

Elijah Ford had also been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Wilson Borough police responded to Johnsons Spruce Street apartment just before 12:30 a.m. Sept. 25, 2020 for a report of a shooting. Officers arrived to find Jones in the kitchen dead, shot several times in the chest. Shortly after police arrived, they were alerted to another gunshot victim, who was taken to St. Lukes University Hospital for surgery.

A search of the apartment turned up several 9mm and .45 caliber shell casings.

Investigators interviewed Johnson a few days after the shooting, and he reported that hed been hanging out that night with Jones, Ford, Harris and Douglas, when Douglas allegedly asked who they were going to drill that night, according to the criminal complaint.

A witness told police that Douglas, Harris and Ford had been discussing a robbery.

Johnson told authorities that Harris reportedly asked Douglas for a gun at which point Douglas retrieved a bag. Harris then allegedly pointed a .45 caliber High Point handgun at Johnson, who reported that Ford and Douglas also had handguns, according to court records.

The trio told Johnson they were leaving and started walked toward the living room. Thats when Johnson reported hearing gunshots and seeing Harris running down the hallway. Harris allegedly shot Johnson in the groin, and the two men began fighting.

Johnson told police he heard gunfire before reportedly knocking Harris unconscious. He then saw that Jones, who was gasping for air, had been shot several times.

The witness interviewed by police days after the shooting reported seeing Douglas walk into the hallway holding a gun and hearing him call for Harris. Thats when the witness reported hearing gunshots and seeing Harris fighting Johnson after allegedly shooting him.

The witness said he fell into a small room near the kitchen and saw someone reach into the room and fire a shot. He said the shot missed him after he slipped on the floor. The witness told police that the shooter was wearing the same bubble-style black jacket that Douglas was wearing that night, according to court papers.

When the victim emerged from the room, he saw that Jones had been shot.

A detective with Easton police spoke to a credible confidential informant who knew Douglas for about two years, according to court paperwork. The informant said that shortly after the death of Jones, Douglas told him that he was "tying up loose ends" from an incident in New Jersey where Jones was supposed to shoot somebody but did not, court papers said.

Douglas told the informant that he shot and killed Jones, according to court records.
The United States Postal Service is announcing major proposed changes to how mail is delivered in the Lehigh Valley.

Under a new plan that could be implemented next year, all outgoing mail would be routed to Harrisburg instead of the facility in the Lehigh Valley. It's part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's "Delivering for America" plan to increase efficiency and cut costs at the United States Postal Service.

"I think it's going to be improved service, efficient service, reliable service so that customers will get their mail when they expect to get it," said USPS Spokesman Paul Smith, at a public meeting Thursday hosted at the Trexlertown Movie Tavern.

Smith said the plan is also expected to save the postal service between $5.3 and $7 million, but union members in the Lehigh Valley think it could lead to problems.

"You're looking at probably a five-day delay in mail being delivered based on this plan. So whether they're saving money or not is not the issue in my opinion," said Chad Beer, the Craft Clerk Director at American Postal Workers Union Local 0268.

Beer said shipping all the Lehigh Valley's outgoing mail to Harrisburg, and then further to Lancaster if there's an overflow, could overburden those facilities.

"It's only at some point, when that overflow is done, Harrisburg's not going to have anywhere to put it," said Beer.

The President of the Harrisburg APWU chapter, Kim Miller, even spoke at the meeting expressing the same concerns.

"I don't know if my facility is going to be able to handle more mail," said Miller.

But Smith said he's convinced there will not be delays, and no employees will be laid off, but 31 employees in the Lehigh Valley will likely need to be reassigned.

"Our career employees will not lose their jobs, and again, they could look at other positions or locations. There will be different positions in different areas," said Smith.

Smith said the public still has time to comment online before the plan is put into action.

"I envision no decision being made, probably for a few months, early spring," said Smith.

There is an online form you can fill out by to give the postal service your opinion about the new plan for the next 15 days.
CAPE TOWN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- A species of mole with an iridescent coat sheen that "swims" in sand has been rediscovered in South Africa after it hadn't been seen for 87 years and was thought to be extinct, researchers announced.

Researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), a South African nonprofit organization, and the University of Pretoria found traces of the De Winton's golden mole, which "has been lost to science since 1936," on a beach in Port Nolloth on the west coast of the country, said a statement issued by the EWT on Tuesday.

"It was a very exciting project with many challenges," EWT senior field officer Esther Matthew said in the statement. "Luckily we had a fantastic team full of enthusiasm and innovative ideas."

The researchers covered up to 11.2 miles of dune habitat a day as they spent months hunting for signs, Matthew said.

According to the statement, the rediscovered De Winton's golden mole -- which is from South Africa -- is the 11th of the world's most wanted lost species to be rediscovered since the Search for Lost Species was launched in 2017.

In addition to living in largely inaccessible burrows, golden moles have extremely sensitive hearing and can detect vibrations from movement above ground, which helps them avoid being seen from the surface.

The EWT and University of Pretoria researchers used a sniffer dog to find traces of the moles' tunnels, but because there are 21 species of golden moles, they needed more to determine that the traces were left by a De Winton.

"The EWT-led team used a burgeoning technique never used before to detect golden moles: environmental DNA (eDNA), which is the DNA that animals shed as they move through the environment, typically in the form of skin cells, hair and bodily excretions," the statement said.

More than 100 samples were collected in June 2021 from beaches and dunes on the northwest coast of South Africa -- including Port Nolloth beach, the only place where De Winton's golden mole had ever been found -- and a complex and comprehensive genetic analysis of each sample were conducted.

When the team compared their eDNA sequences from Port Nolloth beach to a new reference sequence made available in 2022 by a South African museum in Cape Town, "it was a clear match to De Winton's golden mole," said the statement.

The team's research and findings were peer-reviewed and published on Nov. 24. 
HONG KONG, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Members of a visiting delegation of China's manned space program, who have met with hundreds of university teachers and students in Hong Kong, encouraged young people to pursue their dreams persistently.

The delegation, in separate groups, visited the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Thursday and briefed on the latest developments in China's aerospace technology.

Both universities have contributed wisdom to the country's exploration of the mysteries of the universe. Hong Kong has also gained greater opportunities in the development of the country's space industry.

A PolyU student asked Shenzhou-12 astronaut Liu Boming "how not to give up" the pursuit of dreams as the astronaut selection process is highly competitive.

"When you have a clear goal, all the rest to do is persistence," Liu said.

At the HKUST, Shenzhou-15 astronaut Zhang Lu talked about one thing that all the Chinese astronauts have done in space -- looking for the motherland and their respective hometowns through the porthole.

"Why do we love our nation and our hometown?" Zhang believes that a strong nation enables its people to better realize their dreams, and hometown is often the birthplace marking the start of one's life.

"All of us astronauts are working hard to renew China's height and climb to the peak of science and technology," he said.

"In the past, it was out of reach when Hong Kong children said they wanted to become astronauts, but today, it is a dream that can be realized," Christine Choi, secretary for education of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said, encouraging young people in Hong Kong to further develop their potential and actively participate in national scientific research and aerospace development.

Xu Weifan, a PhD student from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of HKUST, said the interaction with Chinese astronauts inspired him to make further contributions to the national space development while realizing his own dream in the efforts.

PolyU PhD student Chen Long expressed the hope that he will have the opportunity to become a payload expert and do research at the space station in the future.

Shenzhou-13 astronaut Wang Yaping, Shenzhou-14 astronaut Chen Dong, and other members of the delegation also participated in the activities.

The delegation is on a six-day visit to the Hong Kong and Macao SARs from Tuesday to Sunday at the invitation of the SAR governments. 
Open letter on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill

CALS and our partners at MACUA and WAMUA write to the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy on the public hearings for the Amendment Bill

Dear Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy,

RE: PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE ELECTRICITY REGULATION AMENDMENT BILL

We are writing to address a matter of utmost importance regarding the short time frame given to communities and the public at large to adequately comment on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill. This issue has come to our attention, and it is our duty as the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) and Mining Affected Communities United in Action and Women Affected by Mining United in Action (MACUA and WAMUA) to ensure that all interested persons are given an opportunity to meaningfully participate in the legislative process. CALS is a law clinic registered with the Legal Practice Council and based at the University of Witwatersrands School of Law. CALS was established in 1978 and has been one of the leading human rights research, advocacy, and strategic impact litigation organisations in South Africa. It operates through five (5) programmes, namely, Business and Human Rights, Environmental Justice, Gender Justice, Home, Land and Rural Democracy, and Civil and Political Justice Programme. MACUA and WAMUA's core mission is to create a transformative platform that fosters unity and solidarity among community members, artisanal miners, and mine workers. Their objective is to establish a grassroots democracy that prioritises people's needs over profit-driven interests. Building on a legacy of resistance against colonialism and apartheid, MACUA and WAMUA champions the fundamental principle that no authority is greater than the will of the people. They adamantly insist that any decisions or actions that affect their communities must involve the direct and meaningful participation of the affected individuals. MACUA and WAMUA, a vital stakeholder in the ongoing legislative discussions surrounding the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill (Bill) has, attempted to participate in the process and in so doing has witnessed a process designed to exclude not only MACUA and WAMUA. This exclusion is not only a significant breach of democratic principles but also a flagrant abuse of the public participation process enshrined in our Constitution. MACUA and WAMUA wrote a letter to Parliament on 21 September 2023, addressing some of their concerns in relation to the public participation process. We attach the letter hereto, marked CR1. Public participation in the legislative process is the bedrock of a functioning democracy. It ensures that the voices of all stakeholders, especially those directly affected by proposed legislation, are heard and considered. MACUA and WAMUA represents the interests and concerns of mining-affected communities who often bear the brunt of energy and mining-related policies. Denying them a fair and equitable platform to engage in the legislative process is not only unjust but also detrimental to the overall quality of the legislation in question. Moreover, we are concerned that Parliament has been failing in its duty to provide a conducive and consistent environment for public participation. Announcements regarding venues have been announced at short notice and frequently altered at the last minute, causing confusion and, in some cases, leaving community members stranded at empty halls. To date the schedule of hearings for October and November, which was approved at a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on 21st of September 2023, has not yet been released to the public, making it difficult for the public to plan their attendance or participation. This lack of logistical organisation not only discourages public participation but also undermines the credibility of the legislative process. As you may be aware, the Constitutional Court recently handed down a judgment in Mogale and Others v the Speaker of the National Assembly and Others (CCT 73/22) [2023] ZACC 14 (Mogale), which held that the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, together with the provincial legislatures, failed to fulfil their constitutional mandate to reasonably facilitate public participation in the passing of the Traditional Khoi-San Leadership Act 3 of 2019. This ruling was grounded in the fact that there were deficiencies that prevented adequate preparation for the hearings, including the fact that the hearings were not accessible to all and certain hearings were held far from where the communities resided, with certain provinces only holding one hearing. It was determined that it is clear from the evidence that Parliament failed to fulfil its constitutional obligation to reasonably facilitate public involvement in the legislative process leading to the enactment of the Bill  which rendered the legislation invalid. The judgment also highlighted the key features of reasonable public participation process as codified by Parliament in the Framework and Practical Guide, which include: pre-hearing workshops, translation of summaries, transportation to hearings, advance notice, attendance by delegates and detailed public comments. A number of these important features were neglected in facilitating the public participation process of the Bill. In light of these concerns, we strongly urge Parliament to revaluate its treatment of communities and take immediate steps to rectify this situation. We strongly believe that MACUA and WAMUA and all communities must be afforded the opportunity to engage meaningfully in the legislative process of the Bill. To this end, we invite Parliament to engage in open and constructive dialogue with MACUA and WAMUA to rectify the past injustices and ensure their participation moving forward. We wish to emphasise that while we are committed to seeking an amicable resolution to this matter through dialogue and cooperation, we also reserve our right to seek legal recourse should the practice of an exclusionary public participation process persist. The Constitutional Court's ruling in Mogale has set a clear precedent regarding the importance of meaningful public participation during the law-making process, and we are prepared to assert the rights of all affected communities and individuals in a court of law to ensure their full protection under the law. Our intention is not to resort to litigation but rather to ensure that the principles of democracy and public participation, which are foundational to our Constitution, are upheld. We believe that it is essential to rectify these issues promptly and to provide a fair, transparent, and inclusive legislative process that benefits all stakeholders, including mining-affected communities. Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical issue. We look forward to a swift resolution in the best interest of justice and the protection of constitutional rights. We also look forward to a response from you by no later than (Insert date).

Yours faithfully,

Mr Meshack Mbangula (National Coordinator: MACUA on behalf of MACUA and WAMUA)

Ms Mazi Choshane (Attorney: Centre for Applied Legal Studies)

Endorsed by:
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (R) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Dec. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

HANOI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam share the same aspiration and destiny, which is the most distinctive feature of bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

During his meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Wang said under the strong leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by Trong, Vietnam has achieved political and social harmony and stability, vigorous economic development and continuous improvement of its international status, expressing confidence in Vietnam to achieve its set strategic goals.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the top leaders of the two parties have established solid political mutual trust and profound comradeship, steering the course of bilateral relations and providing important strategic guidance.

"In order to implement the strategic consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and I co-chaired the 15th Meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation this morning and reached a series of consensus on promoting cooperation in various fields in the next stage," the foreign minister said.

China appreciates that Vietnam has always taken relations with China as its strategic choice and top priority in its diplomacy, and China also takes relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, Wang said.

On the basis of 15 years of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, it came about naturally that the two sides reached a consensus on upgrading bilateral relations, Wang said.

This is in line with the common aspirations and interests of the two countries, conducive to regional and world peace and development, and will open up brighter prospects for bilateral relations, he said.

Noting that Vietnam and China are linked by mountains and rivers, Trong said the "comradely and brotherly" friendship between the two countries is particularly unique in the world.

The general secretary of the CPV Central Committee said he traveled to the Youyi Pass, or Friendship Pass, on the China-Vietnam border recently to plant a friendship tree. The border port, which is the only one named after friendship among neighbors, highlighted the traditional friendship cherished by Vietnam, he added.

The further development of Vietnam-China relations accords with the aspiration of the Vietnamese people, Trong said, believing that the "comradely and brotherly" friendship between the two countries will be cemented through joint efforts.

Calling Trong's deep feelings toward China very touching, Wang said he is confident the China-Vietnam friendship will surely flourish and be fruitful.

Also on Friday, Wang met with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, respectively. 
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, addresses the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ding attended the summit from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 in Dubai. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

DUBAI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- As a major responsible developing country, China stands ready to work with all parties to build a clean and beautiful world, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said on Friday.

Ding, Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ding conveyed Xi's good wishes for the UAE to host the summit. He said that eight years ago, Xi worked with leaders of other countries to reach the Paris Agreement with the utmost political determination and wisdom, and embarked on a new journey of global cooperation to address climate change.

China has always kept its promise and made important contributions to global climate governance, said Ding, adding that China has vigorously promoted international cooperation on green development, energy revolution and climate change, and supported developing countries in enhancing their capacity to cope with climate change.

Ding stressed that mankind shares a common destiny in the face of the challenges of climate change, and all parties should strengthen their determination and capacity to jointly address it.

He put forward a three-point proposal: The first is to practice multilateralism, adhere to the goals and principles set out in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, enhance solidarity and cooperation, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

The second is to accelerate green transformation, actively increase the proportion of renewable energy, promote the clean, low-carbon and efficient use of traditional energy, and accelerate the formation of green and low-carbon production methods and lifestyles.

The third is to strengthen action implementation and fully honor the existing commitments. In particular, developed countries should effectively increase financial, technological and capacity building support to developing countries to turn vision into reality. 
HANGZHOU, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- More than 40 young sinologists from 30 countries and regions gathered Friday in east China's Zhejiang Province to foster exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations.

Sinologists from countries including Kazakhstan, Italy, Austria, Nigeria, and Germany and experts from China attended a sub-forum of Liangzhu Forum for young sinologists at the ruins of Liangzhu ancient city in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province.

The Liangzhu ruins have gained the world's recognition as a testimony to the existence of Chinese civilization at least 5,000 years ago. They have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The dialogues and discussions focused on exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, the role of the cultural Silk Road in promoting people-to-people exchanges, and the global significance of Chinese modernization.

Albert Tadeusz Kozik from the University of Warsaw in Poland said the opportunity to see the great cultural heritage of Liangzhu helped him further understand ancient Chinese culture. "I believe that if I can understand China's past, I can also have a deeper understanding of China's present and future."

"One of the most interesting points for me is that modernized China has a perfect blend of modernity and tradition," said Dimitrios Methenitis from Greece. "Nowadays, under the Belt and Road Initiative, the two countries have carried out a series of rich and colorful people-to-people exchanges, which further promote exchanges and mutual learning between different cultures and civilizations."

The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Zhejiang provincial government, and the China International Culture Association. 
Weather Alert

...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. &&
Tolentino joins 'Suroy Suroy Sugbo' to promote Cebu tourism

CEBU -- Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino joined the Suroy Suroy Sugbo (Wander Around Cebu), a Southern Heritage Trail initiated by Cebu Province under the leadership of Gov. Gwen Garcia to bolster foreign visits and tourism economy in the host municipalities.

Joining the second day of the three-day trail on Friday, Tolentino embarked on a tour of eight Cebu towns: Oslob, Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, and Moalboal.

Sen. Tol lauded the diverse attractions of Cebu Province such as the white beaches, diving spots, whale sharks, mountains, waterfalls, heritage churches and houses, food, and the hospitality of the local people.

The Senator likewise underscored the cultural importance of several towns in Cebu like Ginatilan, where the second Filipino Saint, Pedro Calungsod, hailed from.

"This is what Suroy Suroy sa Sugbo is all about-- you tour the place, we live in the present times, and look forward and envision a future on how Cebu should be," Sen. Tol remarked.

Tolentino also said: "I hope this will be emulated in other parts of the country."

Completing the entire Day Two of the leg, the Senator considered Suroy Suroy Sugbo as "tourism in action being shown here in the province of Cebu."
BISSAU, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Guinea-Bissau National Guard commander, Colonel Vitor Tchongo, and several others from this unit were reportedly arrested on Friday morning in the capital Bissau by military police, military sources said.

According to the sources, these individuals were apprehended following armed clashes between members of the National Guard and the Presidential Palace Battalion.

A press release from the General Staff of the Armed Forces said that at 8 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Thursday, a group of soldiers, led by their commander Colonel Vitor Tchongo, released individuals who were being questioned at the judicial police building.

Residents in Bissau said they heard gunfire from automatic weapons and the shooting originated from the vicinity of the barracks in the Luanda district and other National Guard installations. The gunfire ceased around 9:00 a.m. on Friday in the capital.

These incidents occurred during the absence of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Chief of General Staff of the armed forces Biague Na Ntan, who are currently out of the country. 
CAIRO, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which is located few kilometers away from the well-known Giza pyramids, opened for trial visit on Friday.

The staircase, which accommodates at least 60 artifacts, including ancient Egyptian statues, sphinxes, columns, and sarcophagi, is one of the GEM's most iconic venues and key pathways, connecting the Hanging Obelisk, the Glass Hall, and the Atrium, which houses the colossal 3,200-year-old, 83-ton statue of King Ramses II.

The Grand Staircase trial visit is part of the GEM's Trial Visits Program that also features the exhibition of famous child King Tutankhamun that opened on Nov. 21. Until the museum's official opening, which is anticipated to take place sometime in 2024, all other halls housing exhibitions and collections are closed.

The staircase, spanning more than 6,500 square meters, consists of four sections, each of which has a theme and houses different artifacts.

The four sections from bottom to top are the Royal Image, which features statues of ancient kings and queens, the Divine Houses, which exhibits temple columns and an obelisk, the Gods and Kings, where statues of kings with gods were shown, and the Journey to Eternity, which displays rectangular and human-shaped sarcophagi and relevant items.

A seated statue of King Amenhotep III, a massive statue of Queen Hatshepsut, another of King Senwosert III, a head statue of King Akhenaten, a granite doorway of King Amenemhat I, a statue of God Ptah with King Ramses II and Goddess Sekhmet, and a sarcophagus of Princess Nitocris are some of the important pieces on the Grand Staircase.

Visitors can get a distant view of the Giza pyramids by climbing to the top of the staircase.

The Egyptian government has not yet declared the date of the GEM's official opening, despite the structure having been under construction for more than 20 years. The GEM's official website estimates that it will occur in late spring of 2024.

Upon completion, the GEM is expected to host about 100,000 ancient artifacts, more than 4,500 of which are from the tomb of Tutankhamun, and to receive around 15,000 visitors a day. 
International award-winning Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage recently spoke with the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) about Israels ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Prasanna Vithanage

Vithanage, a socially conscious artist, has directed several important films exploring the consequences of the three-decade long anti-Tamil communal war in Sri Lanka that was brought to a bloody end in May 2009 with the military defeat of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The most powerful of these are Purahanda Kaluwara (Death on a Full Moon Day [1997]), Ira Mediyama (August Sun [2003]) and Oba Nethuwa Oba Ekka (With You, Without You [2012]), a trilogy that deals with the human cost of the Sri Lankan governments war against the LTTE.

Vithanage is a regular reader of the WSWS and is fully aware and supportive of its Marxist analyses of critical international events, including its coverage of the Gaza genocide.

We publish below his statement opposing the Gaza genocide:

There are reports about the staggering loss of Palestinian lives, including women and children, so we already know the statistics. Ground reports show, however, that the human catastrophe in Gaza could be far worse than these figures indicate. But even with the limited reporting we are able to grasp the situation. It is heartbreaking, powerful and testing of our humanity. It is a litmus test of our humanity.

Today this war has exposed the whole camp, including the Democratic Party and US President Joe Biden who claim to be advocating for freedom and democracy.

At the same time, it has exposed those who claimed to be leftists and progressive. It has revealed their impotence and their blindness to reality. These leftists totally ignore the origins of the Palestinian issue and see the problem merely through the October 7 incident.

Comrade David North in his brilliant lecture at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on October 24 provides a farsighted Marxist and historical analysis of this issue. Anyone who seriously wants to know the history of this issue should carefully study this lecture.

The US, UK and other imperialist powers cynically rejected granting asylum to the Jews fleeing from the Holocaust during the Second World War. Exploiting this situation, the British imperialists then paved the way for the establishment of Israel in 1948 through the forcible expulsion of Palestines existing Arab population. Zionism is thus a chauvinist ideology.

I wonder about those people making a big noise about the October 7 event while keeping their lips sealed to the fact that over half a million Arabs were forcibly evicted when the Israeli state was formed in 1948. Those evicted were reduced to refugees inside Palestine, on the one hand, and in Lebanon and elsewhere on the other.

Let me give one example of the cruel nature and intention of the fascistic leaders who founded Israel from a documentary that I saw. In the documentary David Ben-Gurion, leader of the Zionist movement, explains how to resolve the Palestine question. He declares: Old Palestinians are quickly dying, and young people forget it. In that way, the problem can be resolved.

Israel was formed illegally and in an inhumane way. It was a colonial settlement, which poured as many Jews as possible into that state to change its demographic patterns. Likewise, here in Sri Lanka, Colombo governments have settled majority Sinhalese people in the North and the East, where minority Tamils used to be dominant, to provoke ethnic friction.

The US, along with the other imperialist powers and the UN, collaborated in the Zionists ethnic-cleansing project which reduced the Arabic people to refugees. The aim of Zionism is a Palestine without Arabic people. And what has happened since 1948 has been the reduction in Palestinian-owned land, with war after war pushing the Palestinians into smaller and smaller strips of land. The whole project and basis of Zionism was ethnic cleansing. We must unconditionally denounce Zionism.

I think a so-called two-state solution [an independent Israel and independent Palestine], which is preached by the imperialist powers, is a fraud. Anyone with some knowledge of the history of this issue knows it was the US that strongly opposed this solution, using its veto power in the UN.

I strongly believe Israel must withdraw from the occupied West Bank and that granting the Palestinians the rights to their lands must be an integrated part of a genuine solution. Without accepting these fundamental rights, nobody can even talk about democracy or human rights. I also strongly believe that the International Committee of the Fourth International is providing the only genuine viable solution to this crisis: A United Socialist Republic of Arab and Israeli workers with the support of the international working class.

It is true that the Israeli state holds elections, but these elections are only for the Israelis. While the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank are denied their right to life, democracy in Israel is a hoax.

Those people supporting Israels genocidal war base themselves on the blatant lies being promoted by the pro-Zionist media and publications owned by Rupert Murdoch.

The corporate media never tell the people that there is ethnic cleansing in Gaza, instead there are endless lies invented to justify Israels bombing of hospitals, schools and even refugee camps. One of those lies was that Hamas used Al-Shifa hospital as a shield for its underground military infrastructure. Despite this being proved to be a blatant lie, it was heavily promoted by all the media to justify Israels attacks.

This war has also exposed the fraudulent nature of the Indian governments posturing as the worlds biggest democracy. It has totally lined up behind the Israeli state. The Sri Lankan government took a similar position, blaming Hamas terrorism for the conflict. In the end, they both stand behind the interests of imperialism while trying to exploit the war for their national and ethnic purposes: in Sri Lanka against the Tamils and Muslims, and in India against the Muslims.

I strongly denounce the state-sponsored witch hunting and persecutions in many countries against all those artists and activists who have come forward to oppose Israels genocide. I note that Susan Sarandon was dropped by UTA, her talent agency, because of her remarks about the war. This is ridiculous.

As an artist I am deeply shocked about the killing of innocent people in their thousands but if people do not know the history and motivations behind this war, their humanity alone will not stop this war.

Artists and millions of people around the world who have come forward to protest the Gaza genocide must have a clear political program and a perspective. There is a significant basis to build a powerful anti-war movement as millions come forward against this war. I remember the pseudo-left and post-modernists telling us that there is no working class, but this is the only social force that can effectively stop the war.
In an effort to defame young people opposed to Israels genocide in Gaza, New York Citys political establishment and corporate media have roundly condemned a student protest that took place last week at Hillcrest High School in Jamaica, Queens, falsely characterizing it as an outburst of violent antisemitism.

On Monday, November 20 at around 11 a.m., hundreds of students at Hillcrest left their classrooms and occupied the school buildings halls. The protest had been planned via social media after students discovered a photo of one of their teachers holding a sign saying, I stand with Israel, taken at a pro-Israel rally on October 9 in Queens and posted on Facebook.

After students discovered the photo, a Hillcrest student posted on social media, This marks, to many who are Muslims and in support of Palestine a sign that our own community has failed us. It must be stressed that nearly a third of the 2,500 students at Hillcrest are Muslim.

The students post added, Amid the international war crimes Israel is committing, [our teacher] had the audacity to show her support for tyrannical rule and the blatant ethnic cleansing of a people.  This is not only a sign of oppression, but a sign that we are unsafe in our own educational walls.

On Saturday, the New York Post published an article that characterized the protest in sensationalist terms like mob, mayhem and ran amok, and called it one of the most frightening incidents of antisemitism in New York schools and colleges since the Hamas massacre in Israel Oct. 7 sparked the Jewish states war with Gaza.

Palestinian supporters march with flags and signs as they chant in protest in New York. [AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews]

The Hamas massacre on October 7 was in fact a popular uprising of Gazans against Israeli oppression, and the Jewish states war with Gaza is not so much a war as it is a war crimea full-scale genocide against the Palestinian people that has killed 20,000 people, including 8,000 children, comparable only to the crimes of the Nazis.

The Post claimed that many students tried to barge into the teachers classroom, implying that students had barricaded the Jewish teacher into her classroom and aimed to assault her.

But school administrators and police officers had in fact moved the teacher to a locked office on a different floor of the building when the protest began, and she was never in any danger.

New Yorks Citys right-wing Democratic Mayor Eric Adams reposted the Posts article on Twitter/X with the statement, The vile show of antisemitism at Hillcrest High School was motivated by ignorance-fueled hatred, plain and simple, and it will not be tolerated in any of our schools, let alone anywhere else in our city.

On Sunday, Republican city councilwoman Vicki Paladino, in an extended post on Twitter/X, wrote, Hillcrest High School must be shut down pending a full and thorough investigation, and the administration must be held accountable.

Dredging up an incident five days before the protest in which a handful of students assaulted a school safety officer, Paladino made a fascistic appeal for order and discipline, writing that the administration of Hillcrest is totally compromised.

Prior to giving his warmongering speech promising further crackdowns on anti-war protests under the guise of combating antisemitism, on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat-New York) wrote in a guest essay for the New York Times: What happened last week at the Queens high school is an example of crossing that threshold from legitimate criticism of Israeli policies to something darker.

Walking out of school to march in support of Palestinians is completely legitimate, Schumer wrote. But forcing a Jewish teacher to hide because she had attended a rally in support of Israel is antisemitism, pure and simple. In his speech from the Senate floor, given hours after his Times column was published, Schumer doubled down on his denunciations of the Hillcrest students, accusing them of running rampant in the hallways.

On Tuesday, the federal Department of Education revealed that the New York City Department of Education and Harvard University were the latest additions to a growing list of universities and school districts that are being investigated over alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia since October 7. Presumably this is motivated by the protest at Hillcrest.

Since the October 7 uprising, imperialist governments and media pundits have transformed antisemitism into a swear word to be thrown at any opponent of Israels genocide in Gaza. But the slandering of high school students taking a stand against genocide is a new low that signifies the ruling classs growing desperation to quell social unrest.

Certain establishment figures have made a half-hearted effort to quell the sensationalism of the press. To speak of every child in this school as antisemitic is simply wrong, Queens borough president Donovan Richards said. Because the Department of Education had not yet addressed the genocide, he said, you had this powder keg waiting to explode.

In a meeting held at Hillcrest on Monday, New York City schools chancellor David Banks said that the notion that these kids are radicalized is irresponsible, but he still condemned the protest for targeting a teacher for expressing her Jewish identity. Banks also pledged to ensure the pro-Israel teachers safe return to teaching at Hillcrest.

What no one is asking is: Why were hundreds of students at Hillcrest High School moved to take action against the Gaza genocide, and why did the protest take the form that it did? What conditions and experiences have shaped their view of the world?

This is the experience of a high school senior at every four-year high school in the United States:

Freshman year . Throughout 2020 and continuing thereafter, governments around the world have allowed COVID-19 to kill and disable millions of people.

Sophomore year . In 2021, former president of the United States Donald Trump launched a coup to establish a presidential dictatorship that just barely failed to accomplish its objectives.

Junior year . In 2022, the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine broke out, risking nuclear war between the United States and Russia.

Senior year. In 2023, the imperialist powers openly back Israels genocide in Gaza. A World War III between nuclear-armed powers draws into view.

Under these conditions, is it any surprise that young people are disgusted with the present social order? And, furthermore, is it any surprise that, as they are only just becoming conscious of that disgust, that they first associate it with their school environment and the authority figures closest to them?

School buildings are dilapidated and Mayor Adams announced nearly a half billion dollars in cuts to the Department of Education earlier this month. The number of homeless students in New York City public schools is now at an all-time high of 104,000. Schools are major vectors of COVID-19 transmission, but children are forced to attend in-person learning, regardless of ongoing risks to their health, so that their parents can go to work and profits can keep flowing to the rich.

Everything that working class young people experience in the schools has its own way of saying: The people in power dont care about you. Young people hear that message loud and clear, and they are beginning to respond. This is the real significance of high school students widespread identification with and defense of the people of Gaza.

The global wave of high school student protests against the genocide in Gaza has produced immense nervousness in the ruling class. In advance of planned high school student walkouts on November 9, Chancellor Banks warned educators to keep their political beliefs out of the classroom in an email to school staff. Even out-of-school political activity, he wrote, can violate city rules if it disrupts  the school environment.

New York City educators defied Bankss instructions and held a protest on November 20 to demand that the United Federation of Teachers, the organization that claims to represent their interests, pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Students and young people have a tremendous opportunity to transform the situation, but they need a perspective and program to do so. Students and youth should turn to the international working class, which has the power to disrupt the governments backing of Israels genocide through a general strike. For high school students, this includes in particular, their educators, many of whom are outraged at the slaughter in Gaza but prevented from speaking out by censorship in school districts.

To become leaders in this struggle, students and youth should study the history of Trotskyism and take up the fight for socialism by joining the International Youth and Students for Social Equality.
The Albanese Labor government issued an extraordinary ultimatum to the Australian parliament this week. It declared that both houses must keep sitting, beyond next weeks scheduled holiday shutdown, until they pass as yet unseen preventative detention legislation.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil [Photo: Clare ONeil MP]

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil declared, via Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio: We are not leaving here until a preventative detention regime is in place. ONeil demanded, and obtained, the support of the Liberal-National Coalition for that pronouncement.

Without providing any details whatsoever, ONeil vowed in parliament that the preventative detention regime would be tough.

This has vast political implications, including for basic democratic rights. Holding parliament in session until it rubberstamps such a repressive law is a lurch toward authoritarianism. It has a far-reaching legal and political logic.

In the first place, the governments blatant aim is to flout a November 8 High Court order by re-imprisoning some, if not all, of the 141 immigration detainees the government was forced to release after the court ruled that their indefinite detention was unconstitutional.

Despite being demonised by the government, the Coalition and the corporate media as murderers and sex offenders who represent a threat to the community, only a handful of the detainees have ever been convicted of serious offences, and all have served their prison terms.

Among those released, according to court documents, three had murder convictions and several had sex offence convictions. If they had been citizens, they would be released after completing their sentences.

Many of the detainees are refugees or immigrants denied visas by governments on arbitrary grounds, such as lacking good character or because they were regarded as security threats by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the domestic political spy agency.

Under the character test, the immigration minister can cancel a visa and thrust a person into detention on such vague grounds as past and present general conduct or a risk that they might become disruptive to the community in the future.

The inflammatory witch-hunt cannot be explained as just about the fate of several offenders. At least 21 of the detainees had been previously released into the community.

More broadly, the governments edict again shatters the facade of parliament as a democratic institution. Working in tandem with the Coalition, the Labor Party is insisting that draconian laws must be imposed, without even time for the pretence of proper debate or consultation.

This is the second such event in two weeks. On November 16, the government teamed up with the Coalition to ram through both houses of parliament, in just 12 hours, a bill that inflicted a new form of indefinite detention. It imposed electronic monitoring ankle bracelets, curfews and other draconian restrictions on all the released detainees, potentially for the rest of their lives.

Now the political establishment is going even further. The proposed legislation would rip aside an essential democratic rightnot to be imprisoned without trialoverriding even the extremely limited protections of basic legal rights in Australias colonial-era 1901 Constitution.

That constitution contains no bill of rights at all, but sets out a formal separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary. In recent decades, judges have ruled that this mostly forbids imprisonment and other forms of punishment without a judicial process, except in wartime.

Blanket indefinite detention, even in the name of locking up previously convicted murderers and sex offenders, would cross that line, as numbers of constitutional lawyers have warned publicly.

Moreover, the very concept of preventative detention involves a thought crimethat is, being imprisoned for what a person might do in the future, according to the governments police and intelligence agencies, not for any crime they have actually committed.

These events point to a reactionary political atmosphere being whipped up by the ruling parties and the media, full of incendiary allegations about threats to community safety. This is under conditions in which all the politicians involved are also vehemently supporting Israels US-backed genocidal assault on the people of Gaza in blatant defiance of international law.

Significantly, while the avidly right-wing Coalition, led by Peter Dutton, has played a vicious part in this, the Labor government has opposed it from the right and sought to outdo it. ONeil has repeatedly reiterated Labors opposition to the release of any of the detainees, whom she has vilified as disgusting.

For now, the police-state measures being rushed through parliament are targeting one of the most vulnerable sections of the working classasylum seekers and immigrantsbut they set precedents that can be used more widely as opposition deepens to the bipartisan agenda of US-led wars and domestic austerity.

Similar laws could be introduced for use against anyone accused of conduct or views deemed an unacceptable threat to community safety or national security. Governments internationally are moving already to ban protests against the Gaza genocide, falsely accusing participants of antisemitism or hate speech.

It is not even clear yet what precise form the governments proposed preventative detention regime will take. Currently, because of the partial constitutional ban on executive-ordered punishment, federal Preventative Detention Orders are limited to 48 hours, supposedly to prevent an imminent terrorist act.

These orders have never been used. They were introduced in 2005 amid the war on terrorism scare campaign that was mounted to justify US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, accompanied by unprecedented vague counter-terrorism laws and police powers.

Labor and the Coalition, Australias two main ruling parties, are intent on vastly expanding the nature and scope of such provisions. They are doing so even though two High Court challenges have been launched already against the manacling and curfew laws they rushed through on November 16. One challenge is by a Chinese refugee and the other by an Afghan refugee.

The speed with which these two challenges have been filed in the High Court points to the strong legal opinion that the laws are unconstitutional. But the political establishment is seeking to overturn or evade even the limited constitutional protections against arbitrary imprisonment.

The High Court judges themselves appear to have scrambled to emphasise the narrow character of their November 8 ruling for the release of immigration detainees who were being incarcerated indefinitely because they were unable to be deported to any other country.

This Tuesday, in an unusually short time, the court delivered its reasons for its ruling. In effect, it gave the government guidance as to how it could re-detain the prisoners.

First, the seven judges stated unanimously that the underlying regime of mandatory detention of asylum seekers remained intact, as it has been since it was first introduced by the Keating Labor government in 1992.

Under this regime, nearly 1,000 people are still in indefinite immigration detention. Tens of thousands of refugees, including thousands of children, have been subjected to its cruelty and trauma since 1992. Both Labor and Coalition governments have defied domestic protests and repeated condemnations by UN human rights and arbitrary detention bodies to retain this barbaric regime.

Second, the judges said their ruling did not prevent the re-detention of people if it became practicable in the reasonably foreseeable future to remove them from Australia. That highlights the technicality of the test applied by the court. It still permits detention, or re-detention, if deportation is reasonably foreseeable.

Third, the court advised that detention could be reimposed on some other applicable statutory basis, such as a preventive detention law. That paved the way for Labors plans.

Over the past month, the Labor government has taken other steps to eviscerate the constitutional protections against arbitrary detention. It has dispatched two groups of refugees, one from Sri Lanka and the other from Indonesia, to a reopened detention camp on the desolate tiny former colonised island of Nauru. Such offshore incarceration is excluded from domestic law, creating a legal back hole.

Backed by the Coalition, the government also introduced legislation this week to give it new powers, via the courts, to revoke the Australian citizenships of dual citizens convicted of political offences such as terrorism, treason, espionage and foreign interference. This is another bipartisan move to evade a similar High Court ruling that such a power amounted to punishment and was therefore invalid unless a judicial order was involved.

All these citizenship-stripping offences are defined in sweeping terms that can extend to many expressions of political opposition, including to US-led militarism. Once deprived of citizenship, people can be detained or deported. They also lose such core democratic rights as voting and access to employment and health, welfare and education services.

Fundamental legal and political rights, the results of centuries of struggle against despotic forms of rule, are under direct attack. This is a sharp warning of the repressive mechanisms being put in place to preserve capitalist rule against the growing development of mass opposition to war, widening social inequality and deteriorating living conditions.
This week it was reported that Peter Slezak, a well-known Australian academic who is Jewish, was allegedly assaulted on the streets of Sydney in late October in a politically-motivated attack. Slezak has been an outspoken opponent of Israels genocidal bombardment of Gaza and its broader crimes spanning decades. That is clearly why he was attacked.

Peter Slezak [Photo: 3CR]

The incident, though it occurred over a month ago, is highly revealing. Since the Hamas military operation of October 7, and Israels carpet bombing of Gaza began, the Australian political and media establishment has been in a frenzy over an alleged crisis of rampant antisemitism.

These assertions, for which virtually no evidence has been provided, have, in fact, been based on equating any opposition to the Israeli government and its crimes with hostility to the Jewish people. The clear aim has been to delegitimise and suppress the mass anger that exists over the unfolding genocide.

Despite the hysterical campaign, which has, as one of its aims, the incitement of communal conflicts and the whipping-up of a hothouse atmosphere, very few violent incidents have been reported or substantiated.

The assault on Slezak, however, is fairly clear-cut. A report in the Australian included his account of what occurred.

Slezak was walking down a street in the eastern Sydney suburb of Double Bay on the morning of October 26. He was pushed forcefully in the back by a man he did not know. The alleged assailant then launched a verbal tirade, describing Slezak as a self-hating f**king Jew.

The man continued to abuse Slezak verbally, and to reference the conflict in the Middle East, even as the professor threatened to call the police. The attacker walked into a shop and shouted, Do you know who this guy is? about Slezak, as though the professor were a notorious figure.

Slezak, though very active, is 76-years-old. The alleged cowardly attack on him, from behind, could have had catastrophic consequences. In a statement, NSW Police confirmed that a complaint had been issued and they had commenced an investigation.

In comments to the Australian, Slezak stated: He was clearly upset because I have a fairly high-visible public profile. I speak at rallies. Im involved in Palestinian advocacy. I dont know how many people are crazy enough (to assault me), but I get rude remarks from people all the time. People Ive known for my whole life. Its been a permanent feature.

Slezak elaborated on an atmosphere in which Jewish people who oppose the crimes of Israel are increasingly marginalised and under pressure. He explained: I spend a lot of time trying to engage with the Jewish community. Its very hard Especially now when the feelings are so heightened. Its impossible to have a rational conversation.

The incident doesnt make me want to stop. Its depressing and worrying because it reflects this huge polarisation where there is so little common ground and understanding. When people abuse me in the street, I say do you want to be rude or do you want to talk to me.

The comments and the incident as a whole point to realities that are suppressed and buried in the phony official campaign over antisemitism. Politicians, together with the media, have constructed a racialised and false narrative that all Jewish people uncritically support the state of Israel and all of its actions. But growing numbers, such as Slezak, do not, and are publicly opposing the onslaught against Gaza. There have also been very significant vigils and protests in Sydney and Melbourne led by young anti-Zionist Jewish activists.

Another component of the official narrative is the depiction of the most virulent Zionists and supporters of Israel as victims. Prominent Zionists have repeatedly been featured in the press, speaking of fears for their safety, without identifying any tangible threat, and making ludicrous comparisons between modern Australia and Germany in the 1930s. But again, the attack on Slezak and his comments point to the existence of a layer of Zionists who are aggressive and assertive in their backing of Israel, including through the forceful marginalisation of Jews who do not toe the line.

The report in the Australian was notable for its restrained and factual character. The Murdoch-owned outlet has been at the forefront of the official hysteria over antisemitism, publishing highly inflammatory accounts ultimately sourced to a small layer of Zionist organisations along with the major political parties that are backing the genocide. That is not unique to the Murdoch-stable, but has extended across the press, including to the state-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

No other publication has even reported the assault against Slezak. Instead, they have presented as antisemitic incidents that clearly were not. Two recent examples exemplify the coverage:

* The media has been in an uproar since three actors at the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) donned keffiyehs, Arabic scarves, during a curtain call on Saturday evening. The actors did not say anything but later posted on social media that their action was in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The STC is in a complete meltdown, cancelling plays, issuing at least three public apologies in a week and suffering the resignation of two board members. The media has presented the wearing of the scarves as something approaching a hate crime. Of course, this line is itself deeply racist, essentially demanding the public erasure of all things potentially associated with the Palestinians as they are facing an ethnic cleansing.

* Last Thursday and Friday, schoolchildren in several cities walked out of class to demand an end to the mass murder of civilians in Gaza. The school strikes proceeded in the face of a barrage of condemnation from politicians, the media and Zionist leaders.

The press uncritically cited one Zionist leader, who adopted military terminology, declaring that activists were using the children as human shields. Another compared the strikers to the Hitler Youth. Those comments, which amounted to the vilification of children, were given a free pass by government authorities and the entire official media.

None of the Zionist organisations involved in the campaign against the STC or the school strike have commented about the assault on Slezak, including those that claim to monitor and compile incidents of antisemitism.

A final point should be made. Slezak was allegedly assaulted on October 26. Less than a fortnight earlier, he had spoken at a Sydney protest in defence of the Palestinians on October 15. Slezak had condemned the bombing, called for an end to the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and rejected the equation of anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

That October 15 protest went ahead in defiance of threats from the NSW Labor government to ban it. Labor Premier Chris Minns gave police the green light to use extraordinary powers, including stopping and searching everyone in attendance. While those measures were not deployed, the entire atmosphere created was that the protest was illegitimate, its participants potential perpetrators of hate crimes and the like.

It was under conditions of that atmosphere, whipped up by the state and federal Labor governments and the media, that a 76-year-old Jewish professor was violently attacked for criticizing Israel.
Eleven anti-genocide, pro-Palestinian protesters in Toronto, Ontario, face charges of hate-motivated mischief in relation to a protest in early November against Indigo Books and Music founder Heather Reisman over her financial support for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) amid Israels genocidal onslaught in Gaza.

Protest on Friday, November 30 against the prosecution and persecution of 11 protesters charged for postering an Indigo store [Photo: SURJ Toronto ]

Reisman and her husband, billionaire investment fund founder Gerry Schwartz, who are both Jewish, established the HESEG Foundation in 2005 to provide financial support and free tuition for lone soldiers in the IDFthose who serve without being Israeli citizens or having family in Israelwho want to remain in the country after their service. The foundation provided approximately $12 million in financial support between 2021 and 2022.

Due to Reismans support for the IDF through HESEG, Indigo has been a target of protest for more than 15 years by supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to pressure the Israeli government through boycotts and other protests to end its decades-long repression and dispossession of the Palestinian people. The posters which were placed on the Indigo bookstore included Reismans headshot and text which accused her of funding genocide.

Reismans funding of the IDF has gained renewed attention amid the genocidal onslaught by the Netanyahu government in the Gaza strip, which has seen nearly 15,000 civilians killed, including 6,000 children. More than 1.7 million people have been displaced out of a total population in Gaza of 2.3 million, and most homes have been damaged or destroyed.

While fully backed by the US, Canada and the other imperialist powers, the attack has sparked mass global outrage, with millions protesting around the globe. In Canada, more than 50,000 people participated in a protest outside parliament in Ottawa last Saturday, demanding the New Democratic Party-backed Liberal Trudeau government support a permanent ceasefire, something which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has steadfastly refused.

According to the Toronto Police Service (TPS) Hate Crime Unit, the protest in the early hours of November 10 involved the placing of posters on the windows and doors of an Indigo bookstore in downtown Toronto and the pouring of washable red paint on the store and sidewalk.

One person was arrested on November 14 in connection with the protest, while the remaining 10 were arrested in early morning police raids on seven homes across the city on November 22. According to The Breach, police broke down front doors, ransacked the protesters homes and handcuffed everyone present. The police also seized phones and computers.

All 11 face charges of mischief over $5,500, while 10 face an additional charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. If convicted, the protesters face up to 10 years in prison. While a police press release declared the protest was treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence, no official hate crimes charges have been brought.

Among those charged and arrested are three York University employees, including associate professor Lesley Wood, post-doctoral researcher Nisha Toomey and staff member Sharmeen Khan. All three have been suspended by the university administration.

Wood, a sociologist whose work has focused on police repression of protests and social movements, told the Globe and Mail the charges targeted those who work for a peaceful, freer and more just future for both the Palestinians and the Israelis. She accused the Toronto police of dragging our names through the mud, adding that hate crime charges used to stop those speaking out against hate are grotesque and Orwellian.

A walkout by several dozen York students, faculty and staff on Tuesday called for the reinstatement of Wood, Toomey and Khan.

Many faculty members are outraged that the administration has suspended these individuals rather than defending them publicly, York University associate professor Anna Zalik told the Canadian Press. We feel that the administration should be standing up for rights to free expression and should be ensuring that there is proper due process followed in all cases.

The right-wing gutter press, including the Toronto Sun, has seized on the charges and police raids to vilify the protesters as antisemitic vandals. Around the world, governments and police forces are equating opposition to the genocide in Gaza and the Zionist foundations of the state of Israel to antisemitism, banning demonstrations and arresting peaceful protesters, including in the UK and Germany. This slander has been extended to Jewish groups and individuals protesting the attack on Gaza and demanding an end to the occupation.

The Jewish Faculty Network, a group representing Jewish faculty from universities and colleges across Canada, released a letter Monday denouncing the effort to smear the Indigo protesters as hate motivated or antisemitic.

They wrote: The TPS labeling of the offences as hate motivated and the brutality with which they carried out the arrests are an attempt to suppress and criminalize dissent. These actions serve a political agenda: to maintain public support for a genocidal war. It also dangerously narrows the possibilities for civic engagement and freedom of expression, which restricts the rights of all Canadians.

We insist that real antisemitism must be confronted. But to label the protests against Indigo hateful or antisemitic is to misunderstand the politics of peaceful civil disobedience and right to dissent. It distracts and confuses efforts to challenge genuine antisemitic actions, which overwhelmingly arise from far-right movements in Canada and internationally.

The World Socialist Web Site defends the right of all to freely protest the imperialist-backed genocide in Gaza and rejects the slander that those who oppose the Zionist regime in Israel and support a ceasefire are antisemitic. All charges must be dropped against the Indigo 11 and the three York University employees among them reinstated immediately.
LUSAKA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Zambia has selected International Resources Holding Limited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a strategic partner for Mopani Copper Mines, a senior government official said Friday.

The company, an affiliate of Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate International Holding Company, has been chosen as a strategic partner, said Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Paul Kabuswe, adding that it will inject funds to stabilize the Zambian mining firm in the short term.

This strategic partnership would also oversee the completion of mine development and unlock its long-term potential, Kabuswe said in a statement during a press briefing.

He said that this collaboration would lead to the restructuring of the mine's balance sheet. "We will provide further details on the planned restructuring once all the documentation has been finalized."

Kabuswe highlighted that the capital investment and industry expertise of both partners would enable Mopani to realize its long-term potential, aiming to increase copper production to at least 200,000 tons per year.

He stressed the government's commitment to ensuring that Mopani achieves its optimal production levels, becoming a leading copper producer in the country, and contributing to the national target of reaching 3 million tons of copper production annually by 2031.

Since assuming control of Mopani Copper Mines from Glencore in 2021, Zambia has been on the lookout for a new investor for the assets, following an agreement to pay the Swiss commodities company 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in a debt-funded deal. 
JUBA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has called for an immediate end to the fighting in and around Kai Gai area, Leer County of the country's Unity State.

"The Mission takes note of reported attacks early on Nov. 28 by pro-government forces and armed youth against a base operated by the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLM-IO). UNMISS can confirm that thousands of civilians have fled from the affected areas and are currently seeking refuge in Leer town," the UNMISS said in a statement in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Thursday.

Nicholas Haysom, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UNMISS, expressed concern, saying the fighting might derail the implementation of the peace agreement and worsen the already humanitarian crisis in the country.

"I am very concerned by the reports of youth being mobilized, and of defections by some armed personnel which go against the very spirit of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. This can destroy the trust and gains between parties to the peace process and worsen the humanitarian situation in Unity State and in the country," Haysom said in the statement.

The mission called on all parties to take immediate measures to de-escalate hostilities and use peaceful means to resolve any disputes.

It lauded the efforts of the state authorities who responded promptly to reduce tensions in the area.

The UNMISS said the peacekeepers have stepped up patrols in the affected areas to defuse tensions and support local authorities to restore security and calm, adding that they are engaging with officials in the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) and SPLM-IO political and military authorities across the State to ensure restraint and order.

South Sudan descended into a civil war shortly after independence following a political disagreement between President Salva Kiir and his then-deputy Riek Machar that killed about 400,000 people, according to the UN.

Kiir, Machar, and other political leaders signed a peace agreement in 2018 that ended the war. At the end of the transitional period, the country is expected to conduct a general election in December 2024. 
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export rose for the second consecutive month due to a rebound in demand for locally-made semiconductors and other key export items, government data showed Friday.

Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, gained 7.8 percent from a year earlier to 55.80 billion U.S. dollars in November, after growing 5.1 percent in the previous month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The turnaround came after decreasing for the past 12 months. In terms of volume, the outbound shipment climbed 4.6 percent last month.

Import declined 11.6 percent to 52.00 billion dollars in November compared to the same month of last year.

Affected by the export rebound, the trade balance recorded a surplus of 3.80 billion dollars, staying in black for the sixth successive month.

The continued export growth was attributed to the recovery in global demand for semiconductors and other major export items such as general machinery and automobiles.

Chip export advanced 12.9 percent from a year earlier to 9.52 billion dollars in November, marking the first rebound in 16 months amid higher memory chip prices.

Shipment for petrochemicals expanded 5.9 percent to 3.78 billion dollars, but oil products export shrank 4.4 percent to 4.60 billion dollars on cheaper crude oil.

Automotive export surged 21.5 percent to 6.53 billion dollars in November, continuing to grow for the 17th straight month on strong demand for eco-friendly vehicles.

General machinery shipment increased 14.1 percent to 4.93 billion dollars, keeping an upward trend for the eighth successive month on higher facility investment in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asian countries.

Steel products export retreated 11.1 percent to 2.65 billion dollars, but display panel shipment went up 5.9 percent to 1.90 billion dollars on higher demand for OLED panels.

Auto parts shipment added 3.9 percent to 1.93 billion dollars, and mobile phone export gained 8.4 percent to 1.76 billion dollars last month.

Home appliances export jumped 14.1 percent to 670 million dollars, keeping an upward trend for the sixth month.

Computer shipment plunged 29.4 percent to 610 million dollars, but secondary battery export soared 23.4 percent to 900 million dollars.

By region, export to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) went up 8.7 percent over the year to 9.83 billion dollars in November, continuing to increase for two months in a row.

Shipment to the United States soared 24.7 percent to 10.95 billion dollars, while export to the European Union (EU) was up 3.7 percent to 5.47 billion dollars.

Export to Japan climbed 11.5 percent to 2.57 billion dollars, and those to Latin America and India advanced to 1.95 billion dollars and 1.53 billion dollars each.

Meanwhile, the import fall was mainly caused by lower energy import costs.

Import for crude oil, natural gas and coal went down 2.7 percent, 45.0 percent and 40.0 percent each in November compared to the same month of last year.

Excluding the energy, the import of other goods declined 7.9 percent on soft demand for clothing, cars and other consumer goods. 
CHEYENNE, Wyo.  Alec Baldwin didn't have to pay anything to resolve a $25 million lawsuit filed by family members of a Marine killed in Afghanistan after the actor chastised them on social media over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Baldwin's attorney said.

U.S. Southern District of New York Judge Edgardo Ramos in August dismissed the lawsuit sought by the wife and sisters of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, of Jackson, Wyoming, When the McCollum family didnt file an amended lawsuit as Ramos invited to do before a September deadline, the judge closed the case in October.

Baldwin paid nothing to resolve the case, his attorney Luke Nikas said Wednesday in an email to The Associated Press.

The case has seen no activity since, according to court documents. Lawyers for both sides, including McCollum family attorney Dennis Postiglione, did not comment further on the case when contacted by email Thursday. Reached by email Wednesday, Postiglione declined to comment and said the McCollum family would not comment.

Rylee McCollum and 12 other Marines were killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport in the last days of the U.S. war in Afghanistan in 2021. Baldwin sent the family a $5,000 check to help in the aftermath.

Alec Baldwin didn't have to pay anything to resolve a $25 million lawsuit filed by family members of a Marine killed in Afghanistan after the actor chastised them on social media over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Baldwin's attorney said.

The lawsuit, filed initially in Wyoming and then New York, alleged Baldwin exposed the family to a flood of social media hatred in 2022 by claiming on Instagram that Roice McCollum was an "insurrectionist" for attending former President Donald Trump's Jan. 6, 2021, rally in Washington, D.C., that preceded the insurrection that day.

Roice McCollum protested peacefully and legally, was not among those who stormed the U.S. Capitol, and never was arrested or charged after being interviewed by the FBI, according to the lawsuit.

Even so, she was a "limited public figure" under the law by talking about her brother's death in the news media and by engaging with Baldwin, a well-known celebrity, on social media, Ramos ruled in dismissing the lawsuit.

To prove her case as a limited public figure, McCollum needed to show that Baldwin acted with malice toward her. She did not, so Baldwin's comments were protected under his free-speech rights, Ramos ruled.

The lawsuit was filed as Baldwin faced legal peril for the death of a cinematographer on a New Mexico movie set in 2021. Baldwin was pointing a gun when it went off, killing Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Special prosecutors initially dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin but now seek to recharge the actor after presenting new information to a grand jury.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Baldwin lawsuit filed by Marine family dismissed, actor won't pay
The last bastion has fallen. The BBC on Friday morning finally joined the rest of the world in naming King Charles and Kate Middleton as the alleged royal racists after they were named in a Dutch version of a new book on the royals by Omid Scobie. On Friday morning, the BBC said on its flagship breakfast news show it would not be naming the individuals, but within an hour, Jonny Dymond, the BBCs royal correspondent, said: Dutch editions of the book named the king and the Princess of Wales as the two members of the royal family who allegedly raised the issue of the skin color of Meghans first child. The circumstances and context of the discussion and the context in which the questions were raised is not clear. Shortly afterward, another presenter said: To be clear, I told listeners about an hour ago, the BBC was not naming them, we are now naming the king and the Princess of Wales as being at the center of those allegations.

Read it at Deadline

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Full Metal Jacket is helmed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick, and is a compelling exploration of the peoples psyche and the circumstances during the Vietnam War. The immersive storyline takes a different approach and depicts the harsh realities of military life, and the toll it takes on a soldier. So is Full Metal Jacket based on a true story? Are the harsh realities of the Marine Corps and war-torn Vietnam inspired by real events and facts?

Is Full Metal Jacket based on a true story?

No, Full Metal Jacket is not based on a true story and doesnt claim to be a non-fictional cinematic piece. However, it is inspired by Gustav Hasfords semi-autobiographical novel titled The Short-Timers. The author is a former marine and he used his own experience from Vietnam to write about the gruesome realities of military training and the psychological damage of warfare. The film doesnt include specific real events, but it perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere and the challenges that the soldiers faced.

Full Metal Jackets real events and facts explained

One of the most significant real-life events portrayed in the movie is the surprise attack that the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese army launched in 1968. They targeted the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the United States Armed Forces, and other allies. They planned the attack on a Vietnamese festival because the majority of the personnel were on leave, and they could take advantage of this situation.

There are some differences between the movie and the novel as well, but both of them accurately depict how the soldiers were trained for the battle. It focused more on the experiences of American soldiers, capturing the chaos and misfortunes of an urban warfare scenario.

The real people behind Full Metal Jackets characters

Each character in the film contributes to the profound exploration of how conflict impacts humans. The characters are fictional, but they draw inspiration from archetypes and the overall experiences of militants. Most of them represent the multifaceted nature of soldiers and the uncanny challenges they come across in the theater of war.

Is Gunnery Sergeant Hartman a real person?

Gunnery Sergeant, although fictional, is a character that is inspired by Lee Ermeys firsthand experiences of a Marine drill instructor which adds a layer of authenticity to the characterization. He is a formidable and no-nonsense individual, who is responsible for mercilessly shaping the recruits at Parris Island.

Is Private Joker a real person?

Private Joker is a central figure in the narrative, and he evolves from enduring the extreme challenges that he goes through in the boot camp, which ultimately prepares him for war. He wears an iconic helmet, with the slogan, born to kill and a peace symbol. Joker is a fictional character who serves as a lens through which the viewer experiences the metamorphosis of a soldier.

Is Private Pyle a real person?

Like most characters, Private Pyle, who is initially a struggling and mentally fragile recruit, is also fictional. The training and environment dramatically change him, and he is pushed to the brink of sanity by his peers and superiors. Ultimately, he descends into a darker mental state as he undergoes a tragic arc.

Warner Bros. Pictures has revealed the first official trailer for George Millers Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The trailer pits

Movies Noah Dominguez 7 hours ago

During that famous run of films from the late 70s to late 80s, John Carpenter made so many stone-cold classics,

Movies Neil Bolt 8 hours ago

Jury Duty breakout star Ronald Gladden has signed a two-year overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios, according to a report

TV Anthony Nash 8 hours ago

BBC has released a new set of Doctor Who photos from the upcoming Christmas special titled The Church on Ruby

TV Maggie Dela Paz 9 hours ago

The post Is Full Metal Jacket Based on a True Story? Real Events, Facts & People appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
UPDATED: Sean Hannity was about the wrap up the debate after just over 90 minutes, as scheduled, but when he noted that he had more questions to ask, Gavin Newsom suggested they just go longer.

At first, they appeared to be going longer, but after a commercial break, Hannity announced that by mutual agreement, both candidates realized they had other commitments and they couldnt stay longer. I appreciate them all being here tonight.

More from Deadline

So the debate is, in fact, over.

PREVIOUSLY: The Ron DeSantis-Gavin Newsom debate seems to have gotten only more heated as it nears its end point, as the focus turned to the homelessness issue.

It was a chance, again, for moderator Sean Hannity to contrast Florida more favorably than California.

DeSantis blamed Californias homeless problem on failed progressive policies, but Newsom made a point of bringing up the Floridas battle with the Mouse House.

RELATED: Gavin Newsom Was The Unexpected Star Of The GOP Debate Spin Room

Ask the folks at Disney about freedom and free enterprise, Newsom said. The company is suing DeSantis, claiming he retaliated against Disney after it came out in opposition to a parental rights bill, dubbed at the dont say gay law.

The Disney mention was fleeting, and Newsom didnt bring up the fact that Disney also canceled plans to move thousands of jobs from California to Florida.

Earlier in the debate, DeSantis had actually tried to boast about assisting Disney during Covid, as he opened earlier in the pandemic and we made them a fortune. We saved a lot of jobs. You had Disney closed inexplicably for a year.

RELATED: 2024 Presidential Election Debate Schedule: Dates, Times, Wholl Be There And Who Wont

Another moment: DeSantis holding up a map that shows where human feces can be found on the streets of San Francisco. You see that almost the whole thing is covered, because that it what has happened in one of the greatest cities this country has ever had, he said.

PREVIOUSLY: Sean Hannity posed another question in line with the topics on his nightly show: Joe Bidens alleged cognitive decline.

That naturally led to a question about Newsoms presidential aspirations, as DeSantis accused him of running a shadow campaign.

But Newsom did not take the bait. Joe Biden will be the nominee in a matter of weeks, he said.

He also defended Biden, saying, Ill take Joe Biden at a 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week, in at any age. He then said, The economy is booming. 5.2% GDP growth in the last quarter. Those are facts you dont hear on Fox News.

PREVIOUSLY: Sean Hannity has tried to stick to issues, even if they have been crafted to put California Governor Gavin Newsom on defense. But Newsom and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis waste little time in interrupting each other, to the point where Hannity has had to warn them, Nobody can hear you.

Hannity posed a Florida-specific question to DeSantis about the parental rights bill  dubbed the dont say gay bill by detractors  that he signed last year. The Fox News host keyed up the question for DeSantis: Shouldnt schools be focusing on reading, writing, science and math, and maybe leaving values to the parent and religious institutions?

What we said in Florida is that it is inappropriate to tell a Kindergartner that their gender is a choice. It is inappropriate to tell a second grader that they may have been born in the wrong body, DeSantis said, Parents have a fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of their kids.

Newsom compared the parental rights bill to the Briggs Initiative, the 1978 ballot measure that would have banned gays from teaching in public schools. Ronald Reagan, Newsom noted, opposed the initiative.

Newsom chided DeSantis for being on a banning binge. I dont like the way that you demean and humiliate people you disagree with, Ron. I really find this fundamentally offensive and this is a core value that distinguishes the value of my state, and frankly the vast majority of Americans against the weaponization of education, he said.

PREVIOUSLY: Sean Hannitys questions at the Ron DeSantis-Gavin Newsom debate quickly turned to one of the Fox News hosts favorite topics: The Biden administrations border policy.

California is a sanctuary state. They thumb their nose at federal immgaration law, and this has real consequences, DeSantis said, accusing Democrats of wanting an open borders.

DeSantis also has taken credit for sending migrants to California from Texas.

Newsom noted that Biden has put forward a $14 billion border package for thousands of border agents and new technology. You hear nothing from Ron DeSantis, he said. Im the only guy here thats a border state governor. Youre trolling folks and trying to find migrants to play political games to get some news and attention. Youre trying to out-Trump Trump. And by the way, how is that going for you? You are down 41 points in your own home state.

Just about all of Hannitys questions have been crafted to put Newsom on defense when it comes to California, whether it has to do with the crime rate, unemployment or migration. But hes had to warn both governors that he doesnt want to be a hall monitor as the two governors talk over each other at points.

PREVIOUSLY: The much promoted Fox News debate between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom opened with both trading sharp insults, before launching into comparisons of the quality of life in their respective states.

After moderator Sean Hannity opened with a question about the net migration out of California and into Florida, DeSantis focused on Newsoms own record in the Golden State.

You would almost have to try to mess California up, DeSantis said, before he took a swipe at Newsom for his visit to the French Laundry restaurant in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

You and President Trump are trying to light democracy on fire, said Newsom, as he positioned the debate as a chance to promote the Biden-Harris reelection bid. He accused DeSantis of being on a banning binge and a cultural purge.

Then, in a dig to DeSantis, seeking the presidency as an alternative to front runner Donald Trump, Newsom said, One thing we have in common is that neither of us will be the nominee in 2024. That was likely an early effort to show that he does not have his own ambitions for the presidency next year as an alternative to Biden or a candidate waiting in the wings.

Very quickly, DeSantis and Newsom talked over each other, to the point that Hannity tried to take a pause and, in his words, let things breathe.

The debate is taking place in Alpharetta, GA, sans a studio audience. Hannity organized the debate following Newsoms appearance on his show in June and, after some negotiation between both governors teams, it was finally scheduled last month.

The novel idea to feature the governors of two of the largest states in the country may ultimately prove to be more interesting than the next GOP debate. That gathering next week and hosted by NewsNation will be the fourth Republican primary event, but it is also unlikely to feature front runner Donald Trump, who has shunned the debates so far. It also may help boost DeSantis prospects, giving him his own platform as he has been battling with Nikki Haley for the No. 2 slot.

And while Fox News extensive promotion for the Newsom-DeSantis event has focused on the Red State vs. Blue State divide, including what is a better state to live in, the debate may ultimately come down to personality vs. policy, as the two governors have traded extensive insults in recent months.

Theres a hunger in the country to an alternative to Trump and Biden, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum said in the minutes before the debate start. Newsom, of course, is not in the race, and Jesse Watters noted, He cant be too good, or else there is going to be civil war.

The event may prove to be a ratings getter for Fox News and Hannity, who nevertheless noted at the outset, I will be moderating this debate, I will not be part of this debate. But his initial questions focused on the positives of the Sunshine State: Net positive migration and a better unemployment rate than in the Golden State.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Golden Bachelor is not just engaged; hes getting married.

After nine TV weeks of flirting with 22 contestants, Indiana widower Gerry Turner, 72, finally  and blissfully  finds his professed love, dropping down to one knee for his proposal to Theresa, 70, during Thursday's "After the Final Rose special that followed the season finale.

In Costa Rica with the final two contestants  Theresa, the financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, and Leslie, 64, the Minneapolis fitness instructor, Gerry's final choice is pure Hollywood romance on a flower-filled outdoor stage.

I love you 1,000%, and Im never going to stop believing, Gerry tells Theresa, working in callback lines to the couple's romantic high points. Every day I choose you.

Gerry goes on bended knee to propose to Theresa in the season finale of ABC's "The Golden Bachelor."

'Golden Bachelor' Fantasy Suites recap: What happenned in the last episode?

As the wind blows through his sun-kissed hair, Gerry flips open the ultimate Bachelor offering, the Neil Lane ring box, to reveal the platinum engagement ring with a princess-cut diamond.

Will you marry me? Gerry asks.

Of course, with the sequin-gowned Theresa, the answer is not just yes, but giddy cries of Yes! Yes!

"The Golden Bachelor two-hour wedding special is set for Jan. 4 (8 EST/PST), live on ABC, of course. And were all invited. Followed by a honeymoon in Italy, courtesy of ABC. Heres how we got there:

What happened to Leslie in 'The Golden Bachelor'?

How did it go wrong for Leslie? She captivated Gerry from their first moments and claimed she was the inspiration for the song Sexy Dancer penned by one-time beau, Prince.

She and Gerry share the same sense of humor and made out passionately on Minneapolis streets during hometown visits week. Gerry even told her she was the one during Fantasy Suites week in Costa Rica, which seems like a lifetime ago.

Yet in an abrupt shift, Gerry is noticeably more distant from the finale's start. Leslie doesn't help by confessing her commitment fears during a first meeting with Gerrys highly inquisitive daughters.

It scared me a little bit, Leslie tells them of Gerrys til death do us part scenario.

The choice might have been a foregone conclusion. Gerry is already so withdrawn that he noticeably pulls back from I-love-yous with Leslie.

I love you very, very much, Leslie tells him.

Thats such a special sentiment, Gerry replies. And then: "I can't." That's not what you want to hear.

How did the Leslie breakup go on 'Golden Bachelor' finale?

After exiting, and some solo tears on the concrete steps outside Leslie's hotel suite, Gerry seems like he'll have a come-clean moment, reappearing at Leslies door. After confirming that Theresa is his final choice, the talk does not go well. She's devastated.

So everything you told me the other night was a lie, Leslie says tearfully.

At that time, that was the truth. Things have changed; things have evolved," Gerry replies.

There are more tears and balled-up Kleenex cries. It's a painful, sad farewell.

During the "After the Final Rose" meeting between the two, Leslie reveals her devastation about Gerry changing his feelings so quickly. "Your words just meant so much to me, thats why I was blindsided," says Leslie. "Because I wasnt sure how it changed or what happened."

After his words during the Fantasy Suites weekend, Leslie was sure she was "the one" as Gerry said.

"I picked out a dress, blue like your eyes. I wrote our vows. It was the happiest day of my life, except for the day I thought was coming," Leslie says. "Right now I'm heartbroken."

At the Costa Rican hotel, Gerry exits and cries into the supportive arms of host Jesse Palmer. He finally delivers the line that we have all repeatedly seen in countless promos, which actors might perform in future movie auditions: I think the only time I've ever felt worse in my whole life was when my wife passed away, Gerry laments through tears. And this was a goddamn close second.

Who received the final 'Golden Bachelor' rose?

And yet, as always, Gerry bounces back. Engagement ready for Theresa, the native Iowan and current Hoosier asks the Costa Rican volcano, and his late wife Toni, if he should marry the New Jersey woman.

Gerry knows it. His kids know it. Theresa has her detractors, but she stays in the fight until she has the ring. And they have a real connection.

Gerry plays coy before the proposal, twisting his Golden Bachelor mantra. I came to the realization that youre not the right person to live with, Gerry says to a quavering Theresa. (Dramatic pause.) Youre the person I cannot live without.

Theresa, of course, loves it. After the ring, Gerry offers her the final, golden rose, gladly accepted.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golden Bachelor finale: Who does Gerry pick, Leslie or Theresa?
Gerry Turner will not be a Golden Bachelor for much longer, as he is set to get married in a wedding ceremony televised live on ABC.

During Thursdays live finale of The Golden Bachelor, which featured series lead Turner getting engaged to Theresa Nist in Costa Rica, the couple announced that they will tie the knot Jan. 4, 2024. The Golden Wedding special will air at 8 p.m. and mark the first televised nuptials for the franchise since The Bachelor favorites Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici exchanged vows in 2014.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

After host Jesse Palmer told Turner, 72, and Nist, 70, that the show will be sending the couple on a trip to Italy, the Golden Bachelor replied, We can use that as our honeymoon trip because we are going to get married. Were going to do it as quickly as we can because, at our age, we dont have a lot of time to waste. As quickly as we can put together a wedding plan, were getting married.

Runner-up Leslie Fhima tearfully parted ways with Turner in Costa Rica after she sensed his lack of investment in their relationship, which led him to share that his feelings were stronger for Nist. I was devastated, Fhima told Palmer during the After the Final Rose portion of the finale. I broke down my walls, and I fell in love with him so much. I havent fallen in love with someone in a really long time, so it was hard.

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist after getting engaged on The Golden Bachelor.

When reunited during the live footage in the finale, Fhima told Turner that she felt blindsided by their breakup and asked him where things went wrong. He replied, It didnt really go wrong, Leslie. It was better with someone else. It was the right person in the wrong direction.

Turner startled Nist in Costa Rica when she arrived for a potential proposal, and he told her, I came to the realization that youre not the right person for me to live with. He took a pause before adding, Youre the person that I cant live without. Nist then laughed and assured him, That was so good, before he got down on one knee to propose.

Palmer asked Turner during the After the Final Rose if his feelings for Nist evolved in the overnight date. There were moments in conversation that were subtle realizations, Turner said of his connection with Nist, a financial services professional from New Jersey. More and more with every passing moment, she showed her enthusiasm, her adventurous side, all of that. Each one was a plus.

Although Turner demurred when asked about their physical connection in the fantasy suite, Nist blurted out, I knocked his boots off, invoking a phrase that was used memorably during the season. After the crowd laughed, she quipped, No, with my kisses.

Fhima was left devastated during the finale when Turner ended their relationship shortly after introducing her to his two daughters and two granddaughters. Fhima made it clear she was particularly hurt that Turner professed his love to her in the fantasy-suite date and made comments that led her to start planning their future together.

Im heartbroken once again, Fhima told Turner in Costa Rica. But now I have to do it in front of the whole world to see once again how broken I am, how no one chooses me. You didnt choose me  once again. And the other night, you made it sound like you chose me. You said things to me that made me think that this was going to be it. You led me down a path, and then you took a turn and left me there, and thats how I feel.

Nist and Turner bonded over their shared grief of losing their spouses. Turner, described by ABC as a retired restaurateur from Indiana, lost Toni, his high school sweetheart and wife of 43 years, when she died in 2017 following a bacterial infection. Meanwhile, Billy, Nists husband of 42 years, died from kidney failure.

In a piece published by The Hollywood Reporter that questioned the shows narrative of Turner not having dated since before he was married, a woman identified herself as Turners ex-girlfriend and said they started dating a month after his wife died, leading to a relationship lasting more than two years. The woman, who requested anonymity, said that she moved from Iowa to live with Turner in his Indiana home before he ended the relationship in early 2020.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
FRAMINGHAM  Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, which opened in Marlborough to great fanfare earlier this year, is now seeking to add a second MetroWest restaurant in Framingham.

The popular fast food chicken chain, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is targeting construction of a new restaurant at the site of the former Aegean Restaurant at 257 Cochituate Road (Route 30), according to planning documents filed with the city. That would put Raising Cane's in head-to-head competition with Dave's Hot Chicken, which opened in July at the Route 30 Mall at 341 Cochituate Road.

A KFC (149 Cochituate Road) and a Chick-fil-A (359 Cochituate Road) are also nearby, and Wings Over Framingham recently reopened at 680 Worcester Road (Route 9). Other fast food chains, such as McDonald's and Burger King, also sell chicken.

Raising Canes is seeking to open its second MetroWest location at the site of the former Aegean Restaurant on Cochituate Road in Framingham

Raising Cane's is known for its chicken tenders  the only entree on its menu. The tenders can be ordered in several ways, and come with sides such as crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and coleslaw. The signature dipping sauce is the chain's "Cane Sauce" which is known for its sweet and tangy flavor.

Site has been vacant since 2020

The Framingham Aegean Restaurant closed in 2020, when it filed for bankruptcy. The site was purchased during an auction by Brookline developer Paul Linder, who later sold it to Bob Foley, who has since been searching for a tenant.

According to publicly available documents before the city, Raising Cane's is seeking to develop a new restaurant on the 0.79-acre plot. Raising Cane's plans to construct a brand-new building, complete with a double drive-thru feature, similar to Chick-fil-A's down the street.

The grand opening of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers on Boston Post Road West in Marlborough drew a crowd back in May.

'We've been counting it down': Excitement in Marlborough, as Raising Cane's holds grand opening

In a statement to the Daily News, a Raising Cane's spokesperson said the chain is excited to come to Framingham, is currently working out details but expects to begin construction next year.

"Raising Canes is excited to bring its one love  quality chicken fingers  to Framingham," the spokesperson said. "We are working through the final details and plan to begin construction late next year. As we get closer to an opening date, we will share more information. We are looking forward to serving Caniacs in the area."

After opening its first New England location in Boston back in 2009, it didn't open a second Massachusetts location until 2022, also in Boston. And in May, it finally came to the suburbs when the long-awaited Marlborough location opened.

Some say fast food tastes are shifting from burgers to chicken

Marcus Carter, a Raising Cane's regional manager, told the Daily News during the Marlborough grand opening that the restaurant was scouting other Massachusetts locations, but had not made any new locations official. The chain has since opened its fourth Bay State restaurant in Methuen.

Nashville-style chicken: Chain adds spice to Framingham restaurant scene

"Today's chicken is yesterday's burgers," Bob Quinlan, who owns the Dave's Hot Chicken in Framingham, said during his restaurant's grand opening in July. "People aren't looking for burgers maybe the way they were used to, and chicken is becoming very popular."

While Raising Cane's has submitted some documents to the city, no current proposals are before either the Framingham Planning Board or Board of License Commissioners.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Raising Cane's plans Framingham restaurant at former Aegean property
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 3.3 million people in Cambodia had participated in the kingdom's plastic-free campaign within three months, the Ministry of Environment said in a news release on Friday.

From its launch on Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, the campaign under the slogan "Today, I Don't Use Plastics" had reached 7,129 schools, 173 factories, 69 communities and 28 pagodas, involving 3,294,459 individuals, the news release said, adding that the campaign is still going on.

Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth said the campaign aimed to combat the use of plastic bags, encouraging people to refuse to use plastic bags.

"The campaign will contribute to international endeavors to address the root cause of plastic pollution," he told Xinhua.

The Southeast Asian country produces around 56 million plastic bags per day, which equals 279 tons of plastic waste, according to the Ministry of Environment. 
Meryam Joobeurs Motherhood, Mo Harawes The Village Next to Paradise and Mia Bendrimias The Magma claimed a trio of post-production prizes at this years Atlas Workshops, which ran from Nov. 27  30 as part of the Marrakech Film Festival.

Winner of the top award, Motherhood walked away with a 30,000 ($32,621) post-production grant. Produced by Sarra Ben Hassan, the film builds on themes director Joobeur explored in her Oscar-nominated 2018 short Brotherhood, once again tracking family tensions when a young ISIS combatant returns to his Tunisian home. With her feature debut, Joobeur will now explore the story through a lens of maternal guilt, incorporating touches of magical realism and psychological horror for good measure.

More from Variety

Set for delivery early next year, the film is touted for a splashy festival launch.

In fact, Joobeur had already left Marrakech and was already headed back into the rush of post-production by the time the prizes were announced; she accepted her prize with a note.

The end of the filmmaking process feels like a birth, she wrote. It brings a lot of fear and vulnerability as you prepare to release a part of your soul into the world. However, I also have a lot of hope. Ive always deeply believed that storytelling can be a powerful antidote to that illusion that humanity is separated into clans. I hope my film can show that the human condition is universal, complex and cant be tamed into a single narrative.

Director Mo Harawes Somali-European co-production The Village Next to Paradise had already emerged as a major buzz title well before the project scored a 20,000 ($21,700) grant. Industry attendees were taken by the family dramas evocation of the Somali desert  a pocket of the world all too rarely depicted on screen  and showered particular praise on the films photography, supplied by DP Mostafa El Kashef. Sabine Moser and Oliver Neumann (Great Freedom) produce.

Rounding the post-production winners, director Mia Bendrimias personal doc The Magma weaves together family secrets and national trauma, following the France-born director back to her familys ancestral home in Algeria, where she is forced to confront personal apprehensions and unearth buried truths. Produced by Kira Simon-Kennedy, the film received $10,800 in post-production funds.

On the development side, top honors went to Dima Hamdans Amniesia, which explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the guise of an espionage thriller, rife with moral questions. A veteran journalist and self-taught filmmaker, Hamdan spent a decade with the BBC Arabic and BBC World Service and has teamed with producer Toni Copti for this debut feature. Receiving $32,621 in development support, the project follows an Israeli undercover agent, beset with amnesia in Palestinian territory.

Other development winners include The Camel Driving School from director Halima Ouardiri and producer Margaux Juvenal, The Passion of Aline from director Rokhaya Marieme Balde and producer Chantal Scheiner, and Hold Time for Me, from director Fradique and producer Laura Kloeckner. Rounding out the prizes, filmmaker Sammy Balojis Pasolini-inspired Il Padre Salvaggio snagged the Artekino International prize to the tune of $6,500.

Halima Ouardiri and Mo Harawe

Capping an edition marked with a bulked-up co-production market and marred by heartbreak for the ongoing situation in then Middle East, many of this years winners voiced solidarity with the Palestinian people when collecting the nights awards, with The Magma director Mia Bendrimia and producer Kira Simon-Kennedy even promising to share some of their prize money with Palestinian filmmakers.

In fact, Amnesia director Dima Hamdan never even made it to Marrakech, as the Palestinian filmmaker opted not to attend in person given the difficult circumstances. Hamdans absence lent her acceptance speech, delivered in absentia, an even greater charge.

The joy and happiness we feel today are eclipsed by the sorrow and anger we feel when we think of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, she wrote. The relentless violence of the Israeli occupation casts a dark shadow over our celebration today.

To counter that dark shadow  and the ongoing and tragic fallout of the Oct. 7 attacks, which continues to result in a massive loss of life  this years Atlas Workshops juries focused only on the projects at hand, focusing on art and creative expression as a balm for troubled times.

This award is a reminder that we are not powerless, and that we can (and we will) tell our peoples story to the world, Hamdan continued. This award does not only support us as a team, its impact will resonate beyond these walls.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Duchess of Edinburgh is on a visit to Colombia and highlighting the plight of women and girls caught up in wars

Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh, at the Center for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation in Bogata, Colombia, views soil from conflicts around the region

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is taking her mission to help women who have been victims of gender-based violence during conflict to Colombia.

The royal mom-of-two is on a three-day tour to the Central American country and spent much of Wednesday highlighting the plight of women who have been victims of abuse during wars and conflict. She has also met with survivors of the decades-long conflict which ended in 2016 with a peace agreement.

Sophie, 59, held a meeting with peacebuilders and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) to hear their testimonies, experiences and roles in peace processes. It comes ahead of the country chairing the International Alliance on PSVI in 2024. The 52-year conflict in Colombia, which ended after four years of talks, has had a disproportionate effect on women and girls, with many of them survivors of CRSV.

It follows Sophie's trip to Ethiopia in October, where she also highlighted the plight of women caught up in conflict.

Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh joined by women impacted by the armed conflict, including survivors of conflict related sexual violence in Bogata, Colombia

The Duchess of Edinburgh began the day hearing about what the palace calls the "progress and challenges" of the peace agreement that ended the conflict between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) combatants and the government.

Visiting the Tropicos Fruits of Hope Coffee Farm (Tropicos Frutos de Esperanza), Sophie was shown how the farm helps more than 130 ex-combatants re-enter the mainstream economy. She was also told about the role of women as builders of peace.

She saw the farms seed and also visited the Centre for Research on Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Seed Bank. She is the Honorary President of LEAF, which supports sustainable food production.

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!

Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh comforts a woman in Bogata, Colombia

Sophie was also shown how the center works to promote food security through climate adaptation and champions the crucial role women play in science. She also visited Humboldt Institute's molecular analysis laboratory, to see how U.K. DNA sequencing technology is being used to help track products shipped in the illegal wildlife trade.

On her first day, in the capital of Bogota, Sophie met the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Marquez, who is the first Afro-Colombian Vice President, as well as Minister of Equality and Equity and a celebrated environmental activist.

She then headed to the Center for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation (Centro de Memoria, Paz y Reconciliacion), where she joined some women who had been caught up in the armed conflict with some being survivors of CRSV. It was set up in 2008 and was visited by her brother-in-law King Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, in 2014. There, she saw an exhibition of artwork, Spinning with patience to weave hopes for peace.

Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh taking part in the discussion about the impacts of the conflict, on Tuesday

Related: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Sparkles in Aquamarine Tiara at Palace Banquet

Sophie also took part in a discussion hosted by the U.K. and Canadian Embassies with women from the Colombian Armed Forces, who play an integral part in the ongoing peace process too.

In Cali, she was shown the culture and traditions, meeting womens organizations and entrepreneurs of the local Pacific region, and how it has been impacted by the armed conflict. She also visited La Licorera, the citys center for dance and choreography. There, she attended a workshop with those involved in the British Councils new Creative Bootcamp: Dance and Peace program, which provides opportunities for young people in the Pacific region by supporting the entrepreneurship initiatives of dance groups. Sophie, who is a patron of the Central School of Ballet, met local dancers from Incolballet, the Colombian Ballet Institute, and heard about the positive role the arts have to play in healing communities and building peace.

In Ethiopia last month, Sophie worked alongside a team from UNICEF to see the far-reaching impact of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and gender-based violence. "The Duchess has championed the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), and survivors of CRSV, for a number of years, and has travelled widely to bear witness to their testimonies," Buckingham Palace said in a press release.

The Duchess of Edinburgh's visit to Colombia comes one year after the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict International Conference in London.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Meghan Markles camp has denied she told author Omid Scobie that it was King Charles and Kate Middleton who were the alleged royal racists who questioned Prince Harry about what color his childrens skin would be. The Daily Telegraph, one of the few British outlets the Sussexes deal with, cited sources close to the Duchess of Sussex as saying she never intended them to be publicly identified and that although she had named the pair in a letter she wrote to Charles, the letter was not leaked to Scobie by anyone in her camp. The Sun has previously reported that palace insiders believe Meghan did share the contents of the letter, citing sources as saying: That letter is under lock and key and no one from within the kings circle wouldve briefed anyone about its contents. In all likelihood, it must have been the Sussex camp which leaked the names. Its a nasty and deliberate attack.

Read it at The Telegraph

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Has any major writer taken a bigger hit over the decades than Ernest Hemingway?

He is the buffoon in Jen Silvermans play Spain, which had its world premiere Thursday at Second Stages Tony Kiser Theatre. Although The Spanish Earth, which Hemingway wrote with John Dos Passos, is never mentioned during the course of Silvermans 90-minute one-act play, that 1937 anti-fascist film is the elephant  or is it a bull?  in the room of an apartment shared by the films director, Joris Ivens, with his partner, Helen, in the West Village, 1936.

Even before Spain begins, that setting of the West Village, 1936 in the Playbill credits may be a bit head-shaking. Back then, wasnt it called Greenwich Village? Just asking.

Downright head-scratching is why Hemingway (Danny Wolohan), Ivens (Andrew Burnap) and Dos Passos (Erik Lochtefeld) are all named and Ivenss common-law wife, Germaine Krull, gets stuck only with a first name, Helen (Marin Ireland). Is that because Krull was a photographer and Helen is a movie director (although not a very active one) and more resembles Ivenss other wife, Marceline Loridan-Ivens, whom he married (legally) in 1963?

Spain begs all sorts of such questions regarding The Spanish Earth, not the least of which is why the films famous narrator (Orson Welles), composer (Marc Blitzstein) and music arranger (Virgil Thomson) are not included in this occasionally diverting, occasionally obscure party of notables. Considering Silvermans treatment of Hemingway, those dead artists who are not mentioned here can only be thankful that their reputations remain unscathed. Woody Allen does a similar macho send-up of Hemingway in Midnight in Paris, but there the characters appearances are stylish, brief and delivered with a bit of modicum, by actor Corey Stoll. Silverman has written and Wolohan presents a far more blunt (and unfunny) interpretation of a blaggard sexist.

Burnap and Ireland are given more nuanced material, and they are engaging (and her character is often delightfully drunk) as they negotiate the moral land mine of taking directives from a Soviet apparatchik named Karl (Zachary James, being visually and vocally sinister), because they are making a movie that is basically Soviet propaganda. (Not mentioned by Silverman: When The Spanish Earth was shown at the White House in 1938, Eleanor Roosevelt congratulated the filmmakers but told them the film wasnt propagandistic enough.)

While Spain is a play about artists who are dupes and why the art they make doesnt really change anything  everything is explained in a final scene that is set several decades into the future  theres nothing questionable about Tyne Rafaelis cinematic direction of Silvermans play. While the dialogue sometimes goes static, Rafaeli always dazzles and keeps the visuals moving on Dane Laffreys sliding-door set that never stops finding new ways to introduce James Karl, always bathed in Jen Schrievers atmospheric lighting, who steals the show.

Very forbidding members of the Communist Party, who also sing opera, have a way of doing that.

The post Spain Off Broadway Review: A Movie Classic Gets a Makeover appeared first on TheWrap.
A brand new Suicide Squad Isekai trailer for the highly-anticipated DC anime series has been released, which hails from the animation studio behind popular anime shows such as Attack on Titan Seasons 1-3 and Spy x Family.

The video features Harley Quinn and the rest of the fan-favorite anti-hero/ villain team as they find themselves transported from Gotham to another fantastic world for a dangerous mission. It highlights the crews action-packed adventure, which involves facing different kinds of otherworldly creatures. The anime is slated to premiere in 2024.

Check out the Suicide Squad Isekai trailer below (watch more trailers):

Whos part of Suicide Squad Isekai

Suicide Squad Isekai is directed by Eri Osada from a screenplay written by Tappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara. The anime features DC villains, including Harley Quin, Joker, Peacemaker, Deadshot, Clayface, and King Shark, who will be voiced by Anna Nagase, Yuichiro Umehara, Takehito Koyasu, Reigo Yamaguchi, Jun Fukuyaman, and Subaru Kimura, respectively.

DCs Harley Quinn, the Joker, and The Suicide Squad rampage onto the stage of Isekai in the new original anime series from Warner Bros. Japan and Wit Studio, Suicide Squad Isekai, reads the series logline. The most maddening worlds collide in an epic and violent fantasy with the strongest line-up of anime creators!

The series music is by Kenichiro Suehiro, with character design by Naoto Hosoda. The animation is handled by Wit Studio with Warner Bros. Japan producing.

The post Suicide Squad Isekai Trailer Shows Harley Quinn & Crew in Another World appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Williams son Gill admits to PEOPLE that it's strange to live in a world now where his father is "actually gone"

Lars Niki/Getty Treat Williams in New York City in September 2019.

As Treat Williams would have turned 72 on Friday, the actor's family is remembering how he lived his life to the fullest before it was tragically cut short on June 12.

Williams wife Pam Van Sant and two children, Gill and Ellie Williams, admit that they're still processing the loss nearly six months later.

"I think because of the suddenness of it  there was absolutely no preparation  so I find that I'm still grappling with the fact that it happened and that he's really, really gone," Van Sant tells PEOPLE.

Related: Treat Williams' Life in Photos

treat williams/instagram Treat Williams and Pam Van Sant in May 2023.

Williams and Van Sant, who married in 1988, welcomed their son Gill in 1992 and daughter Ellie in 1998. The couple lived a quiet life in Vermont, an adopted home state for which the actor had "an enormous love," he told Vermont Magazine in 2021, describing the people there as "incredibly honest, real and good-humored."

Gill admits its strange to live in a world now where his father is actually gone.

But at the same time, hes left behind this beautiful legacy, he explains. I think that's something that you're very lucky if your parent is an artist  especially when [the artist] is as prolific as him, because you do get to, in many ways, still be with them through that art.

Related: A Look Back on Some of Treat Williams' Most Iconic Roles

Lars Niki/Getty Images Treat Williams, Pam Van Sant and Gill Williams in New York City in 2019.

With more than 120 credits to his name, Williams made his film debut alongside James Earl Jones as a police officer in the 1975 crime thriller Deadly Hero. He took on more film roles from there, including the 1976 films The Ritz and The Eagle Has Landed.

The actors career reached one of several high points in 1979 when he starred as the free-spirited hippie Berger in the film Hair, a role that earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. His second nod came two years later for 1981's Prince of the City.

From 2002 to 2006 he starred as Dr. Andrew "Andy" Brown on The WB's Everwood, landing a SAG Award nomination for outstanding performance by a male actor in 2003. He also appeared in films including Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy 1941 and appeared on the small screen in Blue Bloods, The Late Shift and Hallmark's The Christmas House, Beyond the Blackboard and Safe Harbor.

Related: Looking Back on Treat Williams and Pam Van Sant's Love Story of More Than 3 Decades

Instagram/elliecwills Treat Williams with daughter Ellie Williams.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

But as dedicated an actor as Williams was, the role that mattered most to him was that of husband and father.



His family was the thing that he always said [he'd be remembered for], Ellie recalls.

You guys are obviously his legacy, Van Sant says, referring to Gill and Ellie. He was just so proud of both of them.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Tucker Carlson on Thursday said the prospect of being Donald Trumps running mate is, well, out of this world. (Watch the video below.)

When asked by rightwing comedian Roseanne Barr on her podcast about teaming with the former president on the potential GOP ticket for 2024, Carlson replied: I put that in the category of an asteroid striking the Earth. Good or bad, its so far outside of my control.

The ousted Fox News personality, who now hosts a show on X (nee Twitter), said he was flattered but noted hed never been in politics.

Barr then asked if Carlson would accept Trumps request. I guess Id have to think about that, Carlson said.

Trump, the Republican front-runner, said in early November that he would consider Carlson because hes got great common sense. There was some validity to Carlson being a vice presidential contender on Trumps ticket, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman said later.

The development was considered somewhat surprising given that Carlson was revealed to have expressed his hate for Trump in a text.

But on Barrs podcast, he said he always agreed with Trumps policies and declared, I certainly support Trump.

However, Carlson, whose episodes on Fox News were rife with racism, conspiracy theories and white nationalist talking points, explained that becoming a politician himself was hard to wrap his head around.

I have spent my whole life looking at politicians and commenting on them and passing judgment on them, and Ive never run for, you know, room mother, he said. And the idea of that is so far from anything Ive ever done, its kind of hard even to imagine.

Fast-forward to:40 for Carlsons take on possibly being Trumps running mate.

Related...
Safina Namukwaya also welcomed a baby girl in 2020

Womens Hospital International and Fertility Center-Kampala, media team Safina Namukwaya

A woman in Uganda is crediting "strength and resilience" after going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and welcoming twins at 70 years old.

Safina Namukwaya welcomed twins  a boy and a girl  on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Women's Hospital International and Fertility Centre in Uganda, the hospital announced in a statement on their Facebook page.

"Mother and babies are all well," it reads, in part. Each of the twins weighed 3 lbs., 7 oz., per local outlet NTV Uganda.

The hospital congratulated her, saying it is more than a "medical success; it's about the strength and resilience of the human spirit," per the BBC.

Namukwaya admitted that pregnancy at her age was no easy feat, sharing, "There was a time I felt very sick because of the pregnancy. I spent nearly all my savings. Then I went to a hospital and talked to the doctor about my condition."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



Related: Celebrities Who've Opened Up About Their Emotional IVF Journeys

That doctor helped organize funding for Namukwaya to be transported to another area for better care. She has been grateful for his generosity and notes that her partner chose not to participate after learning she was expecting twins.

"Men don't like to hear that you are going to have more than one child," Namukwaya said in her interview, as translated to English. "Even after I was admitted, my man never showed up."

When asked if she's ready to raise her babies and what comes next, she admitted, "I really don't know."

"God is in charge. You see, you can have one child and feel overwhelmed. But here I am with twins at a time I am weak ... I don't know, but they say every child comes with their blessings."

The twins are her second birth in three years, having welcomed a daughter in 2020, per the BBC.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
The Weeknd is directing $2.5 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund to help the United Nations World Food Programme's emergency humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

The Dawn FM artist, who is a WFP Goodwill Ambassador, will help provide 4 million emergency meals to Palestinians amid Israel's aerial and ground assault on the Gaza Strip, where at least 15,000 have been killed per the Palestinian Information Center. Abel's donation will feed over 173,000 Palestinians for two weeks and will constitute 820 metric tons of food parcels.

The Weeknd's contribution to the WFP response efforts comes as the UN program aims to feed over 1 million Gaza civilians facing starvation. Since the most recent conflict between Hamas and Israel started on Oct. 7, the WFP has provided assistance to over 764,000 Palestinians. Products included in the emergency food packages have included fortified date bars, canned food, tomato paste, oil, wheat flour, pasta, and fresh bread.

United Nations World Food Programme

This conflict has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning. WFP is working round the clock to provide aid in Gaza but a major scale up is needed to address the desperate level of hunger we are seeing. Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access, and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can, said WFPs Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer. We thank Abel for this valuable contribution towards the people of Palestine. We hope others will follow Abels example and support our efforts.

More on this

United Nations World Food Programme

The Weeknd was named a Goodwill Ambassador in October 2021 and established the XO Humanitarian Fund in partnership with World Food Program USA. The fund has raised $5 million since it launched and previously sent $2.5 million to support emergency food assistance to women and children in Ethiopia. He committed to pledge $1 per ticket sold from his After Hours Til Dawn stadium tour to the fund.

United Nations World Food Programme
GettyImages-1268230811

John Woo couldnt miss.

The godfather of gun fu, who helmed a number of balletic, bullet-riddled Chinese actions hits  A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled among them  before taking his talents to the States, was coming off four consecutive Hollywood smashes. First came the Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle Hard Target, a play on The Most Dangerous Game; then, John Travolta-starrer Broken Arrow, about a rogue terrorist armed with a nuclear bomb; the face-swapping flick Face/Off, pairing a very game Travolta with an even more game Nicolas Cage; and Tom Cruises Mission: Impossible 2, which grossed $550 million and remains his highest-grossing film.

More from Rolling Stone

Then, at the height of his powers, and with the juice to make any movie he wanted, Woo chose to direct Windtalkers, a $100 million epic about Navajo code talkers who helped U.S. forces win a series of crucial battles against Japan during World War II. The studio (and censors) made Woo trim 20 minutes from the film, and it bombed. Next came Paycheck, a Philip K. Dick adaptation starring Ben Affleck, that bombed even harder. After that, the scripts stopped coming. And John Woo, one of the finest directors of his generation, became persona non grata in Hollywood. So, he returned to his native China, where he directed the acclaimed two-part war epic Red Cliff, about the fall of the Han dynasty, and some hit-or-miss action films.

After a 20-year absence, Woo has finally returned to America with Silent Night. And hes in fine form. The film centers on Brian Godluck (Joel Kinnaman), a father whose son is killed by a stray bullet during a gangland shooting on Christmas Eve. When his initial stab at revenge backfires, and Godluck finds himself in the hospital with a bullet wound to the throat, he spends the next year rehabbing and training, and on Christmas Eve, sets out to kill all the L.A. gangsters responsible for his sons death. Its a thrilling action spectacle that keeps you on the edge of your seat without a single word of dialogue. To quote John Wick, Yeah, Im thinking hes back!

In a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone, Woo opened up about his 20-year gap between Hollywood movies, working with Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage, and rising from the slums of China to become a filmmaking legend.

What made you want to return to America after two decades away?

After Paycheck, I couldnt get any good scripts anymore, so I went to China to make a couple of movies. Some worked. Some didnt work well. But I was still looking for a new script to direct. When I came back to America about four years ago, I got the script for Silent Night. I was so excited. In Hollywood, I had been established as a big movie director, and there are so many good smaller-scale scripts that never came to me. My partner would always say, John, youre a big director! These are too small for you! But I like trying things that are smaller and more personal. And not just action. I really enjoy making a human story, but Id never get it. I wanted to tackle Silent Night as my first film here because I was excited by how it had no dialogue. It would allow me to use my visual technique and sound to tell a story. And I love challenges, so I didnt care about the budget or anything like that.

Joel Kinnaman as Godlock in Silent Night.

It struck me as similar to Sean Archers arc in Face/Off in terms of the trauma of losing a child. Theres even a scene where Joels character grabs a child and thinks its his dead one.

I didnt notice it, but I think youre absolutely right! I related to the story: An innocent kid got killed by a gangster, and it was so sad. I thought it could happen to any family.

Especially in America.

Especially in America. I tried to change my style a little bit. My style is usually fancy and, for the action and the characters, a bit over-the-top. For this one, I wanted to make it more realistic. In this film, our character, Joel Kinnaman, is not a superhero. Hes just a man from your neighborhood.

Hes a man from your neighborhood if you live next to the gym.

[Laughs] I think Joel Kinnaman did a great job in the movie. He went deep inside the character and worked very hard. I had only have seen one of his movies: Child 44. But I truly admired his professionalism. And he did all the action by himself.

You cast Kid Cudi  or Scott Mescudi  as a detective in the film. Do you listen to his music at all?

Sometimes! When we tried to cast his role, he surprisingly said yes when our producer got in touch with him because he loved my movies. All he wanted was to hold two guns, so I gave him two guns! Young people love me! Hes such a humble guy, very nice, and very collaborative. No attitude.

Im from a mixed family and in Silent Night and several of your other films, from Mission: Impossible 2 to The Replacement Killers to The Big Hit, there have been interracial couples at the center. Its still not a very common thing to see in studio movies and certainly wasnt back then. Was that intentional on your part?

Oh, yeah. Thats what I intended to do. I try to work with all different kinds of people, and some people dont have enough chances to work. My next project is a non-action drama about the earliest Chinese immigrant who came over to the United States as a hard laborer  a slave  working for the railroads and was from a mixed family. This is a special true story. He was a Chinese guy, and after he had worked for his master for over ten years, he went to Columbia University in New York to form a Chinese cultural learning center. Since Ive had the opportunity to work in America, I see myself as a bridge from the east to the west. It will be my most ambitious project.

China Chow and Mark Wahlberg in The Big Hit, produced by John Woo.

When we talk about inclusion in your films, Im also reminded of Windtalkers. That was a movie where, when it came out in the early 2000s, nobody was really doing studio movies that cast Native Americans in prominent roles, and certainly werent doing movies that highlighted Native Americans heroic contributions to this country and its history. And this was at a time when you couldve probably done any movie you wanted.

I was so excited about the project. For human beings, no matter what kind, they all have something very special about them, and have made great contributions to the country. And especially this story about the Navajo people. [The U.S. Army] was using their language as a code during World War II, and because of the code, they saved a lot of human lives  and a lot of American soldiers. I wanted to work with real Native American people and not like in the usual Hollywood movies where they have a white man playing a Native American. Thats no good. We needed the real Navajo people who spoke the real language. Some of the Navajo actors were not trained actors, but they did a great job.

To go back to you not getting scripts after Paycheck: Youd made so many hits for Hollywood and it took only two underperforming movies for Hollywood to turn its back on you. Do you feel you were treated unfairly?

I think it was a lack of understanding. People only see me as an action director, and I got fed up with it. I got fed up with big-budget movies. The big-budget movies always have bigger problems. The numbers look great, but when you walk on the set, you have to make all these things work. And also, there are too many people involved. Everyone is giving you notes. And when I wanted to have a smaller-scale script and a more human story, they would never send it to me. So, actually, I felt a little upset and disappointed, and thats why I stopped doing Hollywood movies for a while and went over to China.

When you talk about too many people involved in studio movies, Im reminded of Mission: Impossible 2. I heard that Tom Cruise tried to lock you out of the edit. Is that true?

Actually, he couldnt do that. But after the movie finished, he went to Australia for vacation and then he wanted to put a camera in the cutting room to see our work because he wanted to know what we were doing, and we didnt allow him to do that. He changed his mind. I said I needed to cut my film without any interference, and he understood.

I wanted to ask you about the MTV Movie Awards parody Ben Stiller did with you and Tom Cruise around Mission: Impossible 2. Ben Stiller appears as Cruises longtime stunt double and theres a scene where Stiller is standing in for Cruise on MI:2 getting punched repeatedly in the face and the camera cuts to you and you say, Harder.

[Laughs] Its so funny! It was all Ben Stiller. He wanted me to do it. Im not a good actor. I was so shy. But he insisted that I do it and gave me a couple of lines. It was very fun. Tom was happy and everybody was so happy with it.

Face/Off is a favorite. Were there standout scenes for you where Nicolas Cage went off the page and really took a left turn improvising? I read that he improvised the early scene where hes in disguise as a priest headbanging and acting nuts.

Let me put it this way: I had a great time working with Nicolas Cage. In the scene where he tries to convince his wife [played by Joan Allen] that hes her husband, it was so painful because she was not believing him. And then he talked about this joke they shared about when they were young and her going to see the dentist and they took out the wrong tooth. He didnt like what the script had written, so he suggested: How about when I talk about the joke, I do it with tears and with pain. Can I do that? And I said, Of course you can do that. Youre an actor. You need to have freedom. You can do whatever you want. So, he tried another take where he told the joke with tears, and I let him make a choice, and he picked the one with tears. He said, Thats great! Usually, a studio will ever let an actor make changes like that. There are so many rules for the actor. I said, Not in my movie! You can do whatever you want. Feel free. And when we shot the opening scene where hes disguised as a priest and did the crazy thing, I thought, Thats the devil. That was what I liked and what he liked. Actors in my movies feel free to do what they want, and I always encourage them to try. In Mission: Impossible 2, Tom thought his hair would look beautiful if it was long and moving around in slow-motion.

Where did the idea of the face waterfall in Face/Off come from? Do you do that to your kids or something?

That was my idea. There are two actors who are switching identities, so sometimes its Sean Archer and sometimes its Castor Troy, and they change a lot. I was afraid the audience would struggle to tell who is who. So, I created the hand gesture for the family of Sean Archer  the hand touching the face to symbolize happiness and comforting each other. The audience loved it!

John Woo directs Nicolas Cage in Face/Off.

The first film I saw of yours was Hard Target. Im curious what it was like to work with Jean-Claude Van Damme, who is notoriously tough to work with. I heard he demanded that you have a separate camera on him during the entire filming of that movie that just shot his muscles in close-up. Is that true?

[Laughs] Yeah. That is true. He cared so much about his looks. He always wanted to look better and look cool onscreen. And whenever he fought or kicked, it looked so beautiful. He didnt cause too much trouble for us. He just wanted to look handsome!

Theres a scene in Hard Target where Jean-Claude Van Damme is holding a snake with one hand and then punches it in the head with the other and knocks it out. Whose idea was that?

That was my idea, and it was a fake snake  not a real one. I always like putting some humor in my films. Growing up in Hong Kong, Ive seen so many English movies. I love to watch them. And many of them had a good sense of humor and made me laugh, and its in every kind of movie  war movies, melodramas, artistic movies  they all can have a good sense of humor. Hong Kong movies got influenced from all the English movies, and so Hong Kong movies have everything: action, drama, romance, a sense of humor. And Hong Kong audiences love to laugh.

Im reminded of The Killer, which has great moments of humor that break up the bloody action scenes. The first time I saw The Killer as a kid, however, they did such a bad job dubbing it in America that it made the movie tonally confusing. The characters were calling each other Dumbo and Mickey Mouse and I was like, What the hell is going on?

Oh yeah. I was so sad about that. Hong Kong movies didnt have much of a market in terms of worldwide release, and no one really cared about the [dubbing], and so wed just get some random people to do the job who didnt really care. So, when my movies A Better Tomorrow and The Killer drew so much attention to the Western world, we were so surprised because it had never happened before. And we tried to fix the dubbing, but it was too late.

Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee in The Killer.

Have you seen David Finchers The Killer yet? And did he ask you if he could name his film the same thing as yours?

I didnt. I heard his movie was adapted from a comic book, you know? And it has the same name. It must be a coincidence.

Are you still planning on doing an American remake of your The Killer?

Oh yes. Im working on it now. Well go back to Paris in January to finish the rest. The reason I wanted to do the job is because the writer came to me with an idea of making the Killer a woman. Its Nathalie Emmanuel. Shes wonderful. So direct and so into the character. Thats what excited me. And the story has a little change: It wont be a tragic ending, but a happy ending. Things are different from the old days. In the old days, you could have a tragic ending. But now, people want happy endings.

Are you a fan of the John Wick movies? Theyve certainly borrowed from your work.

To be honest, I like to watch them and like the style  particularly their use of color. The cinematography is very stylish. There are long fight scenes that look like a comic book, and I feel excited about it.

How did you become a filmmaker? Growing up in a housing project in China, it must not have seemed very feasible to eventually make movies in Hollywood.

When I was young, I made quite a few experimental films. My dream was to be an art director or a cinematographer. That would have been enough for me. I never dreamed of being a director! In 1973, a friend of mine got financing from a rich guy to make a movie, but my friend didnt know how to direct, so he asked me for help. At the time, I was an assistant director for Chang Cheh. I actually wasnt ready yet. I was too young  only 26 years old  but I wasnt afraid to try. So, I tried to make a kung fu movie that was very low-budget [The Young Dragons]. Jackie Chan was one of the stunt coordinators. Unfortunately, after we finished the movie, it was banned because it was too violent. But the bosses [at Golden Harvest Studio] loved it. So, they hired me and gave me a three-year directing contract. I was so happy!

Because I was raised in a slum, Id get beaten up by the gangsters. And whenever I got beaten up, Id go to the church and felt safe there.

I see the Jean-Pierre Melville movie poster behind you. I read that it was Melvilles Le Samourai that drew you to the gangster genre?

Yes. It was my favorite movie in the world. I tried to make a similar kind of movie for 10, 15 years, but the studio wouldnt let me do it. The market at the time was kung fu and sex. Thats all you could do  nothing else! But Im greatly influenced by Jean-Pierre Melville. It wasnt until 1985, after my good friend Tsui Hark produced A Better Tomorrow and it became a huge success, that my next movie, The Killer, finally allowed me to do an homage to Le Samourai.

Early on in life you wanted to be a minister. What role do you feel religion, or Christianity, plays in your films?

Im a Christian and a very sincere one. But when Im working and directing a movie, I forget Im a Christian. Im just the director of the movie. Ive never had any conflict in my mind or in my heart. I just make the movie. The other thing is, when I was a kid, I really loved the church. Because I was raised in a slum, Id get beaten up by the gangsters. And whenever I got beaten up, Id go to the church and felt safe there. All those ministers helped a lot of poor people. They gave them comfort and love. I was so moved by their behavior and I wanted to do the same thing in the future. I wanted to try to help people. When I was in high school, I was in a Christian school and went to missionary class. There was a big library there with a lot of art books and movies. So, I did try to be a minister when I was 17. But my schoolmates, especially those studying in the missionary class, they told me, John, youre too artistic. You need to go study art. Because I was crazy about movies. Its all I would talk about: the French New Wave, old Hollywood movies, German, Italian, and Swedish movies. I was so obsessed with movies.

I know we discussed The Killer remake and your film about one of the earliest Chinese immigrants to the U.S., but are there any other unrealized projects youre dying to make?

A big Western. An epic Western. And Ive already gotten a script. Its a wonderful script. Its not a spaghetti Western. Its a pure Western, kind of like Sam Peckinpah. Its a much more human story.

Best of Rolling Stone
CANBERRA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has welcomed the repatriation of Indigenous remains from the U.S. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

In a joint statement released on Friday, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said the remains of 14 Indigenous ancestors have been returned to Australia from the Washington DC-based museum.

Of the ancestors, seven will be returned to their respective traditional custodians in the states of Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia and five will be returned to their home states under the stewardship of the government. Two others will be returned to a community in Victoria.

Since 1990, the remains of 1,700 Indigenous Australians have been repatriated from institutions and collections around the world, according to the Australian government.

Friday's repatriation marks the fourth return of Indigenous remains to Australia from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History since 2008.

The Australian government established the Advisory Committee for Indigenous Repatriation in 2012 to oversee the return of ancestral remains and cultural heritage material from around the world. 
Countries across Latin America and the Caribbean all have their own versions of it. Home cooks likely have their own interpretations, too. We're talking about picadillo, a full-flavored stew of ground meat and tomato. Ingredients vary by place, but the preparation is generally the same across borders: Saute your aromatics, brown your meat, add your tomatoes, and let the dish simmer until fragrant. It's customizable: Use beef or pork, add spices, or sub capers for olives without veering too far from the soul of the dish. Though there are murmurs of versions unique to Peru, St. Lucia, and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, here we're highlighting the most distinct variations we've found on a dish whose passport has likely been stamped more times than your own.

While no one truly knows where picadillo originated, it's clear the dish has traveled alongside the Spanish language for several hundred years  its name comes from the Spanish verb "picar" (to mince), which references the method used to prep the meat before it's simmered in a base of aromatic vegetables. From there, it's any cook's game: Raisins may make an appearance, and the same can be said for eggs. While serving a starch alongside  say, plantains, rice, or beans  transforms the dish into a full meal, it's also considered more broadly to be a preparation style for ground meat, and its use as an ingredient in stuffed pastries and casserole dishes points to picadillo's foundational role in Latin American and Caribbean cookery.

Read more: Tips You Need When Cooking With Ground Beef

Mexican

picadillo served in clay bowl - Facebook / Whole 30 Recipes

This is arguably the most well-known version of picadillo. (Mexican picadillo pulls in about 3.3 million search results compared to Cuban's 2.43 million). While ingredients may vary by region, it's largely beef-and-tomato-based. Tracking down the original recipe would be nearly impossible, but according to The Washington Post, early accounts note a version of the dish served to Mexican emperor Augustine de Iturbidein in the early 18th century stuffed into a poblano pepper, likely sparking nationwide affinity for the dish.

Modern adaptations are consistent with Agustin I of Mexico's penchant for spice and heartiness, adding chile peppers (both red and green, depending on where you're enjoying your picadillo) for heat and starchy vegetables like potatoes and carrots for the body. A distinction between Mexican picadillo and other Latin American versions is how it is served, with fresh or fried tortillas (as is the case with tostadas de picadillo). While you'll see Central and South American countries using picadillo as a filling for empanadas, here it's perfectly content wrapped in tender masa for tamales de picadillo.

Cuban

cooked picadillo in dutch oven - Facebook / Lemon Blossoms Blog

For some, picadillo conjures up images of a pre-revolutionary Cuba, a time when celebrities and socialites flocked to the country to sip on rum, eat hearty bowls of spiced stew, and forget their problems stateside. (In fact, Hemingway used to serve a version of picadillo to his guests at his home in Fibca, Vigia, Cuba.) For others, it's simply traditional comfort food at its best. According to The New York Times, recipes may have made their way to the United States via Cuban-American TV host and writer Nitza Villapol. Perhaps one of the reasons for picadillo's broad appeal is its versatility. Serve it as a main course for dinner topped with fried potato or diced yucca; warm it up as a filling for picadillo-stuffed poblano peppers the following lunch, then use any leftovers as a filling for empanadas. Just don't confuse it with arroz a la cubana  a simpler dish of white rice smothered in tomato sauce that's often meatless.

When you think of Cuba's version of the minced meat dish, think "tang." Depending on what the home cook likes to keep stocked, red or white wine or wine vinegar rounds out the acidity of a tomato base, while bay leaves, cumin, and cinnamon bring the dish back down to earth. Whereas Mexican interpretations commonly omit raisins, Cuban versions call for sweetness. If you're Ms. Hemingway, this sweetness comes from minced mango or peaches in addition to raisins, as documented in "The Hemingway Cookbook" by Craig Boreth.

Puerto Rican

cut puerto rican alcapurria - Nerman Riuso/Shutterstock

Puerto Rico's version of the meat-based stew combines elements of both Mexican and Cuban cooking with one distinction: its aromatic vegetable base. We start our storied dish with recaito, a heady puree of green pepper, garlic, and onion, plus leaves of herby culantro ('recao' in Spanish). While Culantro is similar to tender-stemmed cilantro with an 'i' in application, it boasts a stronger flavor and grows abundantly in the Caribbean. The herb is also popular in Asian cooking. You'll find it by the bunch at Asian grocers like H Mart going by the name ngo gai. Cilantro can easily be substituted in most recipes that call for culantro.

Instead of Mexico's tortillas, you're more likely to find Puerto Rican picadillo served alongside rice and beans. Fried potatoes may be used as a garnish for texture. Similar to Cuba's version, Puerto Rican picadillo is used as a filling for empanadas, and also for the popular Puerto Rican appetizer called alcapurria, a type of fritter made from pounded green plantains and malanga, a tuber similar to cassava. The pounded malanga starch is dyed with annatto (the same seed used to color orange cheddar cheese) and wrapped around the picadillo. A Puerto Rican plantain casserole called pastelon also utilizes picadillo as a filling, layering the meat mixture between slices of green plantains like you would bolognese sauce in a lasagna.

Dominican

picadillo with gold fork and rice - Facebook / The Noshery

You're unlikely to find a dish called "picadillo" on menus across the Dominican Republic. Instead, the dish is referred to as carne molida  molida meaning "ground" in Spanish, and is served similarly to other versions of picadillo as both a dish and as a filling for dough-based recipes. Carne molida also relies on a base of recaito, as well as the usual suspects: peppers, onions, tomato, even carrot. Tinned tomatoes are used, or if it's tomato season, fresh, blanched, and skinned ones that are chopped before being added to the cooked meat.

In the Dominican Republic, picadillo is used as a filling for cabbage rolls, called "ninos envueltos" or swaddled children in Spanish  a nod to the dish's comforting nature and the shape the cabbage rolls take on once stuffed. It can also be stuffed into a pastry called piononos, a sweet and savory muffin-shaped appetizer where thin strips of caramelized plantain envelop a filling of picadillo and egg.

Costa Rican

chayote picadillo with sides - Facebook / Costa Rica Homemade Food

With a national motto of 'pura vida' and a fervent dedication towards environmental sustainability (more than 98% of the country's energy is renewable), it makes sense that Costa Rica has crowned a vegetarian version of the Latin American mainstay dish. While Costa Rican picadillo can still be found made with meat (typically ground beef), you're just as likely to find a version prepared with Chayote, an uncommon squash in North America, but one that's popular in Latin American and Asian cuisines. Called the vegetable pear by some, the mild-flavored chayote squash acts as a neutral base for soaking up the spicy-sweet notes characteristic of picadillo. Chayote squash is an important crop for Costa Ricans: The majority of the chayote consumed in the U.S. comes from Costa Rica and Mexico, respectively.

Picadillo de chayote is prepared differently than meat-based picadillo. A recipe native to San Ramon in the Central Valley of Costa Rica includes cream to marry the flavors. The chayote is steamed first until tender, then the lid of the pan is removed to let the squash's residual moisture evaporate, and to let the flavors concentrate. To up the umami quality of the vegetable-based dish, Picadillo de chayote occasionally utilizes a sauce called Salsa Lizano, which was introduced to the Costa Rican market in 1920 and is similar to English Worcestershire sauce. It's sweet, acidic, and slightly spicy without being cloying, adding depth to an otherwise mild vegetable.

Filipino

pork picadillo with hardboiled egg - Loybuckz/Shutterstock

The Phillipines was considered a Spanish colony for nearly 300 hundred years, from the mid 16th century to the late 1800's. (Manila was founded as a Spanish city). As such, the country has retained some of its colonial influence which may explain why Filipino cuisine (and culture) is distinct from the bordering Southeast Asian countries of Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Giniling, a word which translates from Tagalog to English as "ground meat" is a Filipino dish strikingly similar to picadillo but seasoned more judiciously than its Latin American counterparts (and much of the cuisines of Southeast Asia.)

Despite toning down the spice, giniling leverages other high-impact ingredients like soy sauce  a nod to the dish's distinctly Asian identity. The base for ginilinig is similar to versions of picadillo, though raisins would seem foreign here, as would olives. Green peas make an appearance: for color, for texture, for that "pop" to contrast chewy bites of beef. Eggs are a consistent presence in giniling. Depending on what ingredients are available, quail eggs (commonly found in Filipino markets) are hardboiled and stirred into the dish. To circumvent the laborious task of peeling, home cooks will purchase them jarred and already peeled.

Spanish

picadillo with olives and raisins - Facebook / Good Food

We'd be remiss not to mention picadillo's alleged forebear, Andalusia: a region south of the Iberian peninsula in Spain. Chef Gourmet surmises that Andalusia was the birthplace of Picadillo, which makes sense given the fact that the countries listed above are all former Spanish colonies. Though technically not its own country, Spain considers Andalusia to be a historical nationality, meaning that even over time, its people have retained a distinct, historically-defined identity  and thus cuisine. Since the Andalusians were one of the largest groups to settle in Latin America, it would make sense that they also brought with them a dish common to their kitchens.

Picadillo may have been inspired by Andalusia's interpretation of tapas, called "entremeses," whereby blanched meat, chopped veggies, and spices were combined to form a single, cohesive bite. One of the first documented recipes from Andalusia for a dish akin to picadillo consisted of a stew of chopped raw meat with bacon, vegetables, and garlic. The stew was then cooked and seasoned with spices and, for body, mounted with whisked egg. Olives are a distinctly Andalusian ingredient, as 25% of the land used for olive production worldwide still resides in Andalusia. Note how olives are featured across many versions of picadillo  further evidence of the dish's Spanish origins. Andalusia also has Arabic roots (this region of Spain was formerly called Al-Andalus), which may be how raisins, common to Middle Eastern cooking, found their way into the dish.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on Friday a $9 million grant award to Stanford University in collaboration with Native BioData Consortium (NativeBio) for an Indigenous Data Repository. The project will be led by Native scientists to help improve health in tribal communities.

The project, called Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tribal Data Repository (TDR): Data for Indigenous Implementations, Interventions, and Innovations (D4I), is a secure NIH data hub for the use of anonymized Indigenous data in health research.

The goal is to more immediately serve tribal populations following the disproportional impact of COVID-19 in Indigenous communities.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

NativeBio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization biodata repository and research institution located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

NativeBios Executive Director Joseph Yracheta, M.S. (Purepecha) say the award is a landmark decision to the support of Indigenous peoples.

In recognition that science development projects are increasingly done as public-private partnerships, we recommend that formal and informal standards include and adhere to 21st-century precepts of equity, restorative justice, and benefit sharing, acknowledging the 532 years of injustice done to Native Americans and their inability to correct the problem on their own, Yracheta said.

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau also praised the award.

This is a huge step forward for Indian Country," LeBeau said. "We are finally acknowledged for what we have known all along. Tribal Nations have the ability and capacity to administer health, education, and economic programs for ourselves."

The RADx Tribal Data Repository comes in response an NIH initiative called Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP), launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to speed innovation in the development, commercialization, and implementation of technologies for COVID-19 testing.

RADx-UP enabled a concerted public health response to COVID-19 and helped to identify and address disparities in COVID-19 diagnostic testing and effectiveness among underserved and vulnerable populations. American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) communities acutely felt the devastating consequences of COVID-19, partly due to the increased prevalence of underlying chronic conditions caused by systemic neglect and underfunding of tribal health services.

Though apparent, the true extent of COVID-19 disparities among Indigenous people is likely underestimated, Yracheta said. This is mostly because of underreporting in the absence of a unified, Indigenous-led data resource to facilitate data collection, interagency cooperation, guide COVID-19 research, and subsequent implementations.

RADx TDR will establish a data repository consistent with Tribal sovereignty for researchers and their collaborators interested in working with RADx data provided by American Indian and Alaska Native research participants to better understand and address the impact of COVID-19 and other health disparities.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
Good value or hidden costs? Our Travel team has ranked the four main low-cost airlines - Bradley Caslin/iStock Editorial

Theyre the airlines we love to hate, whisking passengers across Europe for low fares with incredible regularity  in theory, at least. But the reality of budget airlines, as all-too many of us know, can be fraught with hidden fees, confusing baggage allowances and copious delays.

However, not all budget airlines are created equal. In a bid to find the best carrier, weve compared Wizz Air, Jet2, easyJet and Ryanair on all of the key credentials. There is a clear winner  and loser  but do you agree? Have your say in the poll and comments below.

Best for routes and connections

Low-cost carriers can still get you to more far-flung destinations such as Jordan - CreativeDream/iStockphoto

By passenger numbers, Ryanair is Europes largest budget operator: it flew more than 17 million people in October alone. Its last recorded fleet size is 565 (as of summer 2023), by far the biggest of our survey, serving more than 240 airports across 40 countries.

Ryanair is also the best-connected of the bunch. It flies from 21 UK airports, including lesser-served areas such as Newquay and Teesside, so were rating it top for UK range. Its routes include rarer low-cost destinations too, such as Jordan, Montenegro and Casablanca.

Currently operating from 18 UK airports, easyJet serves 155 airports across 36 countries. It is Europes second largest airline by passenger numbers (pipped by Ryanair), with a large fleet of 336 planes.

In March 2024, easyJet will open a new three-aircraft base in Birmingham, adding 16 new routes to its current tally of 1,024. For connectivity, it comes second place to Ryanair.

In third place is Wizz Air, which serves 73 destinations directly from the UK, plus more than 100 others via connections  including cities in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

There are 179 aircraft in the Wizz Air fleet, and it has hubs at London Luton and Gatwick. It flies from a further six UK airports: Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Leeds and Liverpool, so has a fair regional coverage.

For routes and connectivity, Jet2 ranks fourth. It flies to over 65 European destinations from 11 UK airports, with a new base at Liverpool opening in March. Other hubs include Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Stansted.

It operates 119 aircraft, and is the UKs third largest scheduled airline; notable destinations include Norway, Morocco, Cyprus and Iceland.

The winner: Ryanair

The loser: Wizz Air has a higher number of destinations than Jet2  but the latter scoops Wizz on its choice of UK airports. Its a tie

Best prices for Easter 2024

Fancy an Easter trip to Malaga? Here's what it might cost - Darren Robb/The Image Bank RF

Lets say you want to fly from London to Malaga next Easter, 30 March to 12 April  hand luggage only. Which airline has the cheapest fares?

The price per adult offered by Ryanair currently starts from 262.86 (Stansted); easyJet 207.98 (Gatwick); Wizz Air 219.98 (Gatwick); and Jet2 382.90 (Stansted). Prices were sourced directly from the airlines on Dec 1, 2023, and are inclusive of booking fees.

The winner: easyJet, for a decent 207.98 per adult fare

The loser: Jet2

Best for seat comfort

When it comes to seat width, our four airlines are pretty much equal. On Wizzs Airbus A320 and easyJets Airbus A321neo, the seats are 18in wide. Opt for Jet2s Boeing 737-300 or Ryanairs Boeing 737-800, and youll miss out on 10mm: their seat width is 17in.

But when it comes to seat pitch, theres a clear winner. This is the distance between any point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front  so is a good measure of not only leg room, but headspace and perception of roominess in the cabin. According to Seat Guru, and verified by the airlines, Wizzs seat pitch is 28in, easyJets 29in, Ryanairs 30in, and Jet2s 31in.

The winner: Jet2

The loser: Wizz Air

Best for punctuality

If you boarded a flight anywhere this summer, chances are it was delayed or cancelled. Airport strikes, wildfires, air traffic meltdowns: which airline fared best against the odds?

The aviation analysts at OAG provided Telegraph Travel with data across more than half a million flights from June 1 to Sept 3, covering airlines departing from 48 UK airports.

Ryanair operated 91,897 flights, of which 31.8 per cent arrived or departed on time. For easyJet, 44.7 per cent of its 111,551 flights were on schedule, while 57.7 per cent of Jet2s 38,986 services ran as planned.

The data from OAG suggested that Wizz Air managed to depart or arrive on time on just 7.8 per cent of its services. The airline contested the figure, insisting that almost half of departures and almost 40 per cent of arrivals were on time. It added: The majority of delays were due to issues outside of Wizz Airs control, such as the recent air traffic control fault, meaning these statistics are not an accurate representation of our overall performance.

The winner: Jet2

The loser: A tie between Ryanair and Wizz Air

Best for hand baggage allowance

Size restrictions for carry-on baggage varies quite considerably - ermingut/iStock

We compared the size and weight limits for free hand baggage, on a standard ticket.

Jet2: 56 x 45 x 25cm (total volume 63,000cm3); maximum 10kg

easyJet: 45 x 36 x 20cm (total volume 32,400cm3), which needs to fit in our baggage gauge and under the seat in front of you. Maximum 15kg

Wizz Air: 40 x 30 x 20cm (total volume 24,000cm3), and must be placed at the feet of the passenger under the seat in front of them. Maximum 10kg

Ryanair: 40 x 20 x 25cm (total volume 20,000cm3); no weight limit is listed

The winner: easyJets 15kg limit is the most generous weight  but for size, Jet2 is the best. Its volume allowance is more than three times the size offered by Ryanair

The loser: Ryanair

Best for checked-in luggage

Taking a long trip? The cost of checked-in suitcases can add up - Peter Cade/Stone RF

When you pay to bring a suitcase, theres a sliding scale of fees. For ease of comparison, the following covers luggage weighing 20kg or more, booked at the same time as your flight.

With Ryanair, a 20kg bag costs 18.99 to 59.99, according to your route and travel dates  the lowest weight allowance of our four airlines. Excess baggage ranges from 9 to 11 per kilo, the cheapest fee in this comparison.

Jet2s baggage add-on covers bags up to 22kg: costs vary, and it doesnt quote a ballpark fee online if you dont have a booking. According to mybaggage.com, the average cost is 21 each way. Excess weight is 12 per kilo.

Wizz charges between 8.25 and 87.11 for a 20kg bag, in peak season, with an excess fee of 12 per kilo. On easyJet, 23kg of hold luggage costs from 9.49 per item; excess weight is 12 per kilo.

The winner: The varying prices make it hard to compare fees, but easyJets baggage allowance is the most generous, at 23kg

The loser: Its a tie: Ryanair and Wizz Air offer 20kg each. The latters upper threshold is the most costly, though Jet2 isnt transparent about its fees unless you have a booking with them

Best for fines and fees

Late change of plans? Flight changes can be costly - George Clerk/iStock

To change a name on a booking, Ryanair charges 115 per flight. To change your flights costs 45, plus any additional fare. To check in at the airport rather than on the app, Ryanair charges 30 or 55 if flying from Spain. Boarding pass reissue is 20.

Name changes with Jet2 cost 35; flight changes are 35, plus any additional fare. No charge for airport check-in or boarding pass print-out.

With easyJet, name changes cost 55; flight changes are 25 if more than 60 days before travel, or 49 if within 60 days, plus any additional fare. There is no charge for airport check-in or boarding pass print-out.

Name changes with Wizz cost 55; flight changes cost 36.50 to 46, plus any additional fare. If you want to check in at the airport, you can pre-book online for 11.50 per flight; airport check-in without pre-booking costs 35.50.

Be warned: in many instances, the above fees are higher if arranged via a customer services agent, rather than online.

The winner: Jet2

The loser: Ryanair

Best for priority boarding

Getting aboard first is about more than speed - Drew Stewart / Alamy Stock Photo

Jet2 is the only airline not to offer speedy boarding as an optional add-on. But if you want to board first (or at least be in the queue to board first), Ryanairs priority access costs from 6 to 36, and includes two cabin bags.

Wizzs package costs up to 58.80 (50.62) when booked in advance, and includes priority boarding and check-in, plus a carry-on wheelie. To get Speedy Boarding on easyJet, youll need an easyJet Plus card (215 annually), pay for a Standard Plus or Flexi fare, or add a large cabin bag to your booking  priced from 5.99.

The winner: There really isnt much between easyJet and Ryanair

The loser: Jet2, for not offering the option

Best rated on Trustpilot

On customer review website Trustpilot, Jet2 is by far the best-rated of the airlines  scoring an overall 4.5 (Excellent) out of a possible five. It has five-star reviews from 72 per cent of reviewers; four stars from 14 per cent; and one star from 7 per cent.

Pleasant and attentive cabin crew, reads one verified Jet2 customer review. Friendly and informative captain. Took off an hour late but we made up 25 minutes. Excellent.

Its a different story for the rest of the pack. Ryanair and easyJet both score 1.4 stars overall, and Wizz Air 1.3 stars (out of five). A total of 89 per cent of Wizz customers awarded it just one star.

Robbery, states a reviewer of one of the airlines. I dont understand why people still buy ticket[s] from that airline [it] should not be allowed to operate in our society.

The winner: Jet2

The loser: Wizz

Best rated by The Telegraph

In this years Telegraph Travel Awards, Jet2 was voted best short-haul airline  scooping the top spot for the second consecutive time. Almost 30,000 readers voted in the awards, widely praising Jet2 for its clear contact with passengers, and giving refunds without fuss.

Further down the table, easyJet took 10th place, Ryanair 22nd and Wizz Air came 23rd  the very last place. Wizz faced criticism from Telegraph readers for its slow refunds, last-minute cancellations and poor customer service.

The winner: Jet2

The loser: Wizz

The verdict: which is the best?

Overall, one carrier stands head and shoulders above the rest - Markus Mainka / Alamy Stock Photo

Bravo to Jet2, which is rated consistently high for customer satisfaction, baggage allowance and comfort  while offering the lowest fees and fines among its peers. Our study suggests it doesnt come cheap, though: in our fare comparison, it was the most expensive by 174.92.

At the other end of the spectrum, the wooden spoon goes to Wizz. It tallies three individual loser titles and three shared ones, and no wins to its name  thanks to hefty delays, terrible reviews, reportedly poor service and costly (yet measly) bag allowance.

A Wizz Air spokesman said: This year, we have invested more than 90 million to improve our operations, including our customer service. Our customer data shows Wizz Airs brand consideration ratio to be higher than our main UK competitor. We also perform better in customer service, refunds, ease of booking and information provided to customers.

While there will always be situations outside our control such as weather and air traffic control problems, we still completed 99.16 per cent of our flights this summer which is a significant improvement from last year and in line with industry standards. More than 90 per cent of refunds and claims were also processed within five days.

Regarding costs, ticket prices and costs for optional extras are clearly outlined on our website and app. We are an ultra-low-cost carrier and to keep our fares low, we offer optional add-ons at an additional charge, such as checked luggage or preferential seating. Unbundling products means that customers only need to pay for what they need and we can offer the most affordable and exciting travel opportunities.

Optional add-ons are not required in order to fly, and we believe that customers should be offered the choice and flexibility to choose the right products for them.

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.
Police rescued six dogs after responding to an early morning report of a woman strangling a dog in a parking lot in Winters, a rural town west of Sacramento, California. The woman, who was found to be living in her car with the dogs, now faces animal cruelty charges, as per CBS Sacramento. She is also facing charges for resisting and obstructing an officer.

Police arrest woman who strangled dog

On Monday, Nov. 27, Winters Police Department officers responded to a distressing report. Witnesses reported seeing a woman beating and strangling a dog. It was later determined that the woman had been residing in her black SUV with five other canines.

Ultimately, police apprehended the woman for choking one of the dogs in a parking lot near a Starbucks. However, upon arrival, the woman  later identified as 25-year-old Anastasia Mischenkho  threatened the officer. Mischenkho also suggested she was armed with a weapon. When the officer attempted to make an arrest, it prompted the woman to barricade herself in the vehicle with the dogs.

As per reporting by Fox 40 News, the officer called for backup from the Yolo County Sheriffs Office. Law enforcement engaged in a negotiation with the woman for over half an hour, aiming to persuade Mischenkho to leave her vehicle. Although she eventually complied and exited the SUV, she actively resisted arrest.

Subsequently, Mischenkho who taken into custody. She was booked at the Yolo County Jail on charges of resisting/obstructing an officer and misdemeanor animal cruelty. Officials also stated that she will undergo evaluation by the jails mental health team.

Dogs receive medical attention

After police rescued the six dogs found in the vehicle, they transferred them to Yolo County Animal Services for veterinary care. Staff there will assess the health of the dogs and provide any necessary medical treatment.

If you see instances of animal cruelty, always report it immediately to authorities. You can also help protect animals by learning how to spot signs of neglect and abuse.

The post California Woman Strangles Dog in Parking Lot appeared first on DogTime.
When Brock Maksymiw of Yorkton, Saskatchewan saw a photo on his phone of what looked like a mature buck with the head of a dead buck firmly affixed its antlers, he thought his remote trail-camera was glitching. "It looked like maybe the deer shook its head, and the camera picked up that motion or something," Maksymiw tells Field & Stream. "I wasn't sure what was going on."

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDripfishcoffee%2Fposts%2F898094265221166&show_text=true&width=500

Later that dayNovember 22a few more snapshots of the same deer showed that the camera was functioning just fine. The whitetail buck in Maksymiw's photos was walking around with the dead head of a much larger deer permanently attached to its 4X4 rack. Roughly 48 hours later, Maksymiw went out and tagged the extremely rare trophy. Here's the story of his hunt.

Maksymiw's cellular trail-cam captured a photo of the buck for the first time on November 22.

Two For One

"I showed the initial photo to some buddies later on when we got to the end-of-the-day meetup at work," Maksymiw recalls. "We looked at it and looked at it. It took about 25 minutes before we realized what we were looking at." He couldn't get the bizarre photos off his mind while at work, he says, so he arranged for a day off when he'd head out to hunt the buck.

Maksymiw isn't sure how the 8-point whitetail that he's now calling the "two-headed buck" got tangled up with a much larger 7X8 dead head, but he has a theory. "Some buddies and I got to talking while the deer was hanging, and we think the bigger buck probably died from other causes before the smaller buck came in and got locked up with its rack," he says. "It seems too unlikely that the 4x4 could have killed the 7X8 in a fight. And if he did, he would have had to contend with coyotesbut there wasn't a single bite mark on him."

The 7X8 deadhead was considerably larger than the live deer that Maksymiw shot.

Saskatchewan, where Maksymiw lives and hunts, is known for bruiser whitetails. During his last two seasons, Maksymiw tagged a giant dark-racked 9-point and a beautiful main-frame 10 with a brow-tine kicker. One of the biggest and most symmetrical whitetail racks of all-time the standing B&C record for more than three decadescame out of Biggar, Saskatchewan. It was shot by a grain and cattle farmer named Milo Hanson. Maksymiw killed his deer about four hours east of the area where Hanson shot his world-famous whitetail back in 1992.

A Borrowed Gun and a Stroke of Bad Luck

Maksymiw hunted the "two-headed buck" for the first time on Friday, November 24, two days after it showed up on his cellular trail-cam, and he killed it that same day, shortly before noon. "That morning it was -15 degrees celsius," he says. "I used a gun I borrowed from my friend. My .300 Win Mag wasnt really doing what I wanted it to do, so my friend loaned me his sons 6.5 PRC."

He got to the farm where his camera was set up around 6 a.m. and sat a field edge next to a bait station until the deer appeared just after legal shooting lightaround 8:00 a.m. "I'm not going to lie. I was shaking like a leaf when he walked out," he says. "And I just flat-out missed the shot."

Maksymiw's 2021 and 2022 bucks.

Devastated with the miss, Maksymiw knew he had to be back in town soon for his youngest son's doctor's appointment. He left the property at 8:30 a.m. thinking his opportunity to tag the two-headed buck had slipped through his fingers. Luckily, he managed to head back out a little later in the day, while the deer was still in the area.

A Shot at Redemption

"I got back out to my Dad's farm around 11:30 a.m., and I made it about 30 yards down a deer trail before I saw a tine through the brush," he says. "I put the scope on it, and he turned and looked at me. That's when I saw the two heads. I pulled the trigger and heard a thwack. It felt like a perfect shot, but he got up and ran."

Maksymiw says a lifelong family friend and taxidermist will do a shoulder mount with the deadhead still attached.

Maksymiw quickly found blood. He followed the trail for less than 100 yards and found the deer dead in a clearing. "I called my fiance and said you gotta come take pictures. I got him. This is awesome!" he says. "As I was getting back to the truck, the neighbor drove up and asked if I got anything. I said, 'Yeah, Ron. I got the buck thats got two heads on it!' He was in awe."

Related: T he 12 Best Deer Hunting States To Bag a Monster Whitetail

Before tagging the buck, Maksymiw says he phoned the Saskatchewan conservation authorities to let them know about the extra set of antlers. "They asked a bunch of questions and had me send in some pictures to apply for a permit to obtain the head," he says. "By the time we had the deer hung up, my permit was approved. We left the meat to cure, and I cut off the head and cape for my taxidermist. I'm still on cloud nine."
A highly contagious and lethal COVID strain  previously responsible for the death of 8,000 cats in Cyprus  has now arrived in the United Kingdom. The variant was identified in a cat who was transported from the Mediterranean island to the U.K., as per The Independent. The animal showed symptoms and was consequently both tested and treated by their owner.

Scientists have labeled the variant as F-CoV-23  a new hybrid derived from the current feline and canine coronaviruses. There are no links between the virus and Covid-19.

The coronavirus symptoms include mild lethargy and diarrhea. However, most cats do not exhibit any symptoms, making the diagnosis and treatment process difficult. Nevertheless, a dangerous mutation of the virus  known as the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)  develops in 10% of the cases, usually resulting in anemia, jaundice, and appetite loss, which can often prove fatal.

Reports suggest the new virus was responsible for an outbreak in Cyprus, potentially leading to over 300,000 cat deaths. In an attempt to contain the spread, Cypriot officials approved the use of human Covid treatments on cats in August.

Scientists identify genetic fingerprint linking British and Cypriot cat outbreaks

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, the Royal Veterinary College, and the Cypriot government identified that the virus found in the U.K. has the same genetic fingerprint as the 91 instances in Cyprus. The study  published prior to peer review  warns of a significant risk of further spread of the virus.

This is exemplified by the recent confirmation of a first UK-imported case with further investigations into other cases ongoing, they said. Furthermore, the study also discovered that the mix of canine and feline coronaviruses  with the cat virus incorporating the dog pathogens spike protein  has increased its infectivity.

Cats with FIP induced by coronavirus often exhibit signs of lethargy, fever, abdominal swelling, and inflammation. If untreated, FIP almost always proves fatal, but administering the veterinary medication GS-441524 in the early stages can successfully help combat it. However, this treatment comes at a high cost.

While human COVID drugs like remdesivir and molnupiravir could potentially be effective, current U.K. laws prohibit vets from using these treatments on FIP-affected cats.

Experts state that there is no evidence of the virus spreading in dogs or humans. Moreover, they claim that cat owners currently have no reason to keep their pets indoors or away from other animals.

Lecturers at the Royal Veterinary College  Dr. Alexandros Chardas and Dr. Sarah Tayler  told The Independent that a cat faces minimal infection risk unless the animal has been to Cyprus or has had contact with other cats from Cyprus.

They also stated that the possibility of F-CoV-23 spreading is low, due to the scarce population of stray cats in the U.K. Nonetheless, places such as catteries, pet shelters, pet hotels, and vet practices should stay alert and aware of this emerging virus.

The post Deadly COVID Strain Killing Cats in Cyprus and the UK appeared first on CatTime.
If you're experiencing hair loss, it can feel frustrating and even devastating, but you're not alone. According to Harvard Health Publishing, around one-third of all women experience hair loss at some point, with two-thirds suffering from thinning or bald spots. For some, hair loss is temporary, and while time and professional treatments can promote regrowth, there are other instances where hair follicles are permanently damaged, preventing hair from growing back.

So, what is hair loss? According to board-certified dermatologist Sophia Reid, MD, hair loss is a "broad term" encompassing "hair falling out at the root, mid-shaft breakage, or hair follicles shrinking, which ultimately causes long-term thinning." She emphasizes that hair loss is "multifactorial," meaning many different factors contribute to it. For instance, some women experience hair loss under extreme stress. Illness and hormonal shifts, like childbirth and postpartum, trigger it in others. Since there are so many factors, figuring out how to treat it can take a lot of trial and error.

Related: How to Grow Out Your Hair, According to the Experts

According to Noreen Galaria, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder and CEO of Inner Glow supplements, hair quietly goes through the anagen (growth phase), catagen (transition phase), telogen (rest phase), and exogen (shedding phase) over and over again, with new hair replacing the strands that were shed. Hair loss occurs when something "interrupts the regular rhythm of this cycle," Dr. Galaria explains.

Types of Hair Loss

There are many forms of hair loss, and they all are triggered by different factors.

One of the most common is female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Toyin Falola, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and senior director of product strategy for Ro Derm, says FPHL is typically characterized by hair thinning at the scalp, "especially around the temple." Dr. Falola says FPHL is commonly found in women in their '40s.

Telogen effluvium (TE) is another common form of hair loss. Dr. Falola estimates that anywhere from 30% to 50% of postpartum women experience shedding earlier than expected during the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. This form of hair loss often sets in due to psychological or physiological stress, like childbirth. A chronic form of TE can occur in women between 30 and 60.

Other medical conditions, including anemia and thyroid disease, can also contribute to hair loss with shedding from the root, brittleness, and breakage of the hair shaft. If you've been under pressure and noticed more shedding than usual, "it could be due to stress or illness," Dr. Reid explains. Shedding or hair falling out from the root can stem from several things, including nutritional deficiencies and scalp inflammation, she adds.

When the scalp becomes more visible as hair thins, Reid attributes that hair loss to hormonal changes and genetics. If hair falls out during daily combing and brushing, she says styling practices like chemical processing, heat styling, and using alcohol-based products could be the culprits for the breakage.



Treatments for Hair Loss

Getty Images

Once a professional confirms that you're experiencing hair loss, you should get started on treatment options ASAP. Determining the cause of your hair loss is critical when seeking treatment. If medical issues like thyroid disease or iron deficiency contribute to hair loss, Dr. Reid says that treating them can actually correct the loss you've experienced.

Related: Our 7 Picks For Where To Get The Best Hair Loss Treatments

For hormonal types of hair loss, she recommends over-the-counter supplements like Ashwagandha (to help with stress) and Rogaine, which is applied topically and FDA-approved to help regrow hair. Dr. Reid also recommends platelet-rich plasma injections and microneedling to encourage hair growth, along with stem cell-derived treatment options.

Dr. Falola recommends Hair Solution RX, a topical prescription treatment containing minoxidil, melatonin, and tretinoin to slow hair loss and promote hair growth. Some providers even prescribe oral medicines like Minoxidil and newly FDA-approved Litfulo to treat more severe cases of alopecia.

However, hair loss treatment options don't begin and end with prescription meds and in-office injections. Shelly Aguirre, a hairstylist and extension specialist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, suggests incorporating protein-balanced shampoos like Kerastase Resistane Bain Force Architecte Shampoo to help strengthen fragile strands. For clients who experience dryness, she recommends Kerastase Genesis Bain Nutri-Fortifiant Shampoo to hydrate brittle, damaged tresses. She also suggests using Oribe's Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo to cleanse and improve hair elasticity.



Hair oils have picked up steam on social media as a foolproof method to encourage hair growth. Jamaican black castor oil and argan oil have also gone viral for their alleged benefits. According to Dr. Reid, no scientific studies have shown that castor oil grows hair. "However, it can strengthen and protect the hair, which could help prevent the hair you already have from shedding." Similarly, rosemary oil improves blood flow to the scalp, helping nutrients get into the base of the hair follicle. "Rosemary oil is just as effective as 2.5% topical Rogaine to grow hair," Dr. Reid says.



Related: Everything You Need to Know About Hair Oil

When to See a Professional

Achieving Rapunzel-length tresses overnight would be a dream, but hair grows about half an inch per month, so it will take some time. If your hair loss is related to physiological or psychological stress, Dr. Falola says, "it is likely that this hair loss is temporary and will reverse on its own." When using medically prescribed treatments, Dr. Falola claims it can take patients between six to 12 months to see full results when used regularly.



Since hair loss is a natural occurrence and one of the phases of the hair cycle, it can be challenging to determine whether what you're experiencing is a problem. According to Dr. Galaria, normal shedding is less than 100 hairs per day. Experts recommend getting evaluated by a dermatologist if you lose more than that daily. The earlier you seek treatment for hair loss, the faster you can correct it. According to Dr. Reid, early treatment can help minimize the amount of hair lost over time. "If you're in the early stages, then correcting it will make a huge impact," Dr. Galaria adds.

For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on InStyle.
Like most of the Henderson riverfront, the site of Rockhouse on the River was once occupied by tobacco warehouses. The Rockhouse site, however, was cleared by fire and explosion.

Unintentionally.

The southern half of the property originally was known as Woodruff Hall and was built by William B. Woodruff. It was destroyed by fire, according to The Gleaner of Sept. 8, 1940.

The building on the northern half of the lot exploded after H. Emerson Githens attempted to light a gas stove, according to The Gleaner of Dec. 5, 1948.

Githens, 48, had recently installed a new gas stove in his upper floor apartment at 216 N. Water St., but apparently had not made the connections tight enough. He got up about 5 o'clock to go to work at the Austin Williams Planing Mill and struck a match to light the stove.

That was about the last thing he ever did. The kitchen had filled with gas during the night. The resulting explosion blew out the wall of the brick building and threw Githens into an alley about 50 feet away. He suffered burns over two-thirds of his body and died 20 hours later at Methodist Hospital.

The explosion "felt like an earthquake," according to the desk clerk at the Soaper Hotel, which was a block and a half away. An International Harvester dealership downstairs in the building sustained about $45,000 damage to its machinery, and bricks from the wall fell on adjoining machinery in an outside lot, causing about another $10,000 damage.

And the bricks didn't just slide to the ground  they were hurled. "One large chunk of bricks and mortar was found about 85 feet from the explosion site," The Gleaner reported.

The building, which The Gleaner said was erected sometime before 1850, was a total loss, according to owner Jesse Craig. It reportedly had been used as a military hospital during the Civil War.

Githens, a native of Sugar Grove in Butler County, was not the only person in the building at the time of the explosion, but he was the only casualty. The other occupants were all in bed and were unhurt. They included the widow, Emily Githens, Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Snody, and Isaac T. and Pearl Hollowell, the parents of then-city commissioner T.C. Hollowell.

The building was two stories along Water Street, although it was only one story in the rear, according to Sanborn fire insurance maps. The 1885 map shows the ground floor space was occupied by two saloons and a billiard hall. The rear was a vacant ice house.

There were apartments upstairs by the 1892 map, and the saloons had been replaced by a patent fence maker. By 1897 the entire building was used for marketing and storing hides, tallows, and furs. Those uses remained through the 1901 map.

The 1906 map shows hides and junk were in the corner next to the alleyway that still exists, although a button factory was located in one of the storefront sites. Hides were kept in the basement and the main floor held bags and paper.

An undated photo depicting the Henderson riverfront back when the town was a major processor and exporter of dark tobacco. The two buildings at far right preceded the building that now houses Rockhouse on the River. One burned in 1940 and the other exploded in 1948.

The 1913 map shows storage and sale of hides, junk and bags continued to be the buildings use. By 1923, however, it appears the entire building was being used as a rag and paper warehouse, which continued through 1931. By 1948, as I mentioned earlier, there was a farm implement store on the ground floor and apartments upstairs.

The destroyed building joined the heap of rubble that had been sitting next door since the Sept. 7, 1940, fire. The riverfront had a sort of gap-toothed appearance until the state decided to erect new offices there in 1953-54.The history of Woodruff Hall was a little more illustrious. William B. Woodruff and John Funk built it sometime between mid-1860, when the final piece of land was bought, and early 1862, when Woodruff sold his share to Funk and the deed indicated a large store had been erected.

It was three stories tall, although from Water Street it appeared to be two separate buildings. That was an illusion. There was a dividing wall on the first floor but there were large open rooms on the second and third floors.

Notices in the Henderson Reporter showed the building was used for dances, lectures, and dancing lessons in the early 1860s. The Reporter of Nov. 12, 1863, however, had this to say: Woodruff Hall will be fitted up the ensuing week for the reception of tobacco, the proceeds from shows, theatres, and sich like not being sufficient to justify the proprietor in allowing it to stand without being put to use.

Graffiti scratched into its interior walls by Confederate prisoners indicate it was a military prison during part of the Civil War, apparently about 1864.

The 1885 Sanborn fire insurance map shows the second floor was used as some type of meeting hall, while the rest was used as warehouse space and offices. By 1892 the building was a tenement and used for junk storage.

The Jarvis Tobacco Co. occupied it, according to the 1897, 1901 and 1906 Sanborn maps, while by 1913 it was a hardware concern. The Gleaner of Nov. 26, 1922, announced it was going to house the Roby Cigar factory.

The cigar factory opened for business Jan. 8, 1923, and the plan for the Barnesville, Ohio, company was it was going to use the Henderson factory to spearhead a push into the Southern market. The Gleaner of April 1, 1923, carried an advertisement showing that the company marketed its cigars under the Sunset Trail and Smo-Ko brands, which were available at 64 locations throughout the county.

The companys stockholders met March 1, 1924, and ousted the company president and general manager; they replaced them with Henderson men. Charles Argue became president and W.W. Winstead became general manager.

Their plans to rejuvenate the company failed, however, and the riverfront building was vacant, according to the 1931 Sanborn map. Sometime during the 1930s the building housed the state highway department garage.

The buildings next occupant was the McKee Button Co., according to The Gleaner of Sept. 26, 1936. The firm made blanks out of Ohio River mussel shells that were turned into buttons elsewhere. But that business also wasnt particularly successful because the building was vacant when it was consumed by a spectacular fire, according to The Gleaner of Sept. 8, 1940.

At the height of the blaze, a column of thick, oily smoke rose probably a mile high, then spread out above the business district to obscure the sun.

The building was a roaring inferno by the time firefighters arrived. Hundreds of spectators scurried to safety as the thick walls collapsed, spilling bricks into Water Street and badly damaging a small building formerly used as offices by the Dixie Bee Ferry Co.

The state obtained an option to buy the site, according to The Gleaner of Dec. 5, 1952, and moved in at the end of June 1954. That building went into private hands at the beginning of 2018 and was converted into Rockhouse on the River later that year.

100 YEARS AGO

The newly elected city Board of Education met after the old board took its last actions and immediately changed the name of the high school for Blacks, according to The Gleaner of Dec. 4, 1923.

Several weeks earlier the old board had changed the name of Douglass High School, namesake of noted Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass, to honor the Rev. Paul H. Kennedy, a leader of Hendersons Black community who had died April 9, 1921.

The new board changed the name back to Douglass High School.

50 YEARS AGO

Local officials decided to band together to convince the state Highway Department to widen 2.1 miles of outer Second Street from Carlisle Street to a point just east of Adams Lane, according to The Gleaner of Dec. 4, 1973.

County Judge John S. Hoffman told Henderson Fiscal Court the project had ground to a half because of the controversy over the overpass. The Highway Department had held a public hearing here in 1971 and unveiled plans for a 30-foot dirt fill overpass of the L&N Railroad tracks and four lanes, which would displace at least 16 homes and businesses. That displeased business owners in the vicinity.

Hoffman said the only way to get the project back on track was for fiscal court to join forces with the county school board and the city of Henderson.

The Second Street overpass didnt open to traffic until Dec. 18, 1981.

25 YEARS AGO

The Hugh Edward Sandefur Training Center had almost entirely transferred its workforce to new quarters in Henderson Corporate Park, and expected to complete the process within a week, according to The Gleaner of Dec. 2, 1998.

The center had been in an old tobacco warehouse for two decades before moving. However, The Gleaner of March 5, 2015, announced it was selling the building to the city of Henderson to get out from under high overhead costs.

The city currently uses the building as its public works building.

Readers of The Gleaner can reach Frank Boyett at YesNews42@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Henderson history: Riverfront once lined with tobacco warehouses
Think a one-piece is boring? Think again. With her historic SI Swimsuit Issue cover in 2021, Leyna Bloom reinvented the essential form of swimwear. After the Chicago native traveled to Tampa, Fla., for her rookie photoshoot with Yu Tsai, she earned the cover and became the publications first transgender model in history.

Bloom, who is also an actress, dancer and activist, has returned to the fold each year since. Her work with the brand has since taken her to Belize and Dominica, where she posed for Yu Tsai (again) and Amanda Pratt, respectively.

While posing for the magazine along Floridas Gulf Coast, Bloom rocked a number of incredible looks, from one-pieces with bold-cut outs to colorful swimsuits with plunging necklines. And two years later, were still just as obsessed with each and every one of them.

Honestly, its everything that I imagined it to be, Bloom told SI Swimsuit of her cover girl moment. I think Im just kind of taking it all in because I dont want my life to change in some senses. I still want to have balance and normality in my life! But at the same time, this was something that I wanted to do. And I did it. Its a huge opportunity and Im so grateful for it. But you know, I have so many more boundaries to break. So I have to just constantly put my sweatpants on and say, I am grateful and proud of what I did today. Now, what am I going to do tomorrow?

Below are just a few of our favorite photos from her stunning cover photoshoot.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
Wisconsinites have experienced quite a few unique wildlife sightings in 2023. Flamingos, a roseate spoonbill and a cougar have all been seen in the Badger State this year. Now, we bring you the love-seeking elk.

Since mid-September, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has received tips through a wildlife observation database about this wandering member of the Black River State Forest elk herd, also known as bull elk No. 357. That was his first time outside the central elk zone, and he's charted quite the fall vacation.

He started east through the woods to Marathon County, hung out in Wausau for a bit, took a quick detour north into Taylor County, headed south again to Wisconsin Rapids and Columbia County and most recently has been hanging out around the Madison area. All in all, it amounts to hundreds of miles traveled.

It is uncommon to see elk outside of the two Wisconsin herds in Black River State Forest and up near Hayward and Clam Lake. But at this time of year, according to DNR wildlife biologist Cristina Kizewski, some bull elks will venture outside the herd in search of what we all seek: love  or at least a mate.

A bull elk was captured on a trail camera Oct. 16 near Wisconsin Dells in Sauk County. The animal has since been observed in Adams County, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

"Elk are species of harem breeders where one dominant bull does a majority of the breeding within that group or subgroup. These less dominant bulls will venture out and try to look for breeding opportunities elsewhere," Kizewski told the Journal Sentinel.

Unfortunately, bull elk No. 357 won't have much luck as he's hundreds of miles away from the next nearest elk.

"We're not aware of any wild cows residing in the areas that he's been hanging out or traversing, so chances are slim for him," Kizewski said.

Chances are slim, but we do applaud his effort and journey. When you think about it, his combination of traveling for love, taking in the local grazing delicacies and avoiding fall hunters who might mistake him for a white-tailed deer, bull elk No. 357 at least got his own version of an eat, prey, love adventure out of it.

Kizewski did add that hunters should be aware not to mistake white-tailed deer for an elk. Elk tags are given out each year, but only four or five tags are given and the hunt is limited to a a very short window and only allowed in Wisconsin's northern zone.

More: Paul Smith: Wisconsin's wild elk population reaches record high in 2023

While similar in that both deer species have similar body types and antlers, there are significant differences between the animals. For example, cows, or female elk, weigh 400 to 600 pounds and bulls, males, weigh 500 to 800 pounds, which means they are much larger than deer.

The coloration is also different: Elk have a browner mane, darker legs and a pronounced white rump patch.

Additionally, an elk's antlers differ from a deer's. Elk antlers are much larger and sweep backward, whereas deer antlers might come perpendicular off their bodies and then shift up.

Elk have been reintroduced in Wisconsin since 1995

Elk, a species native to Wisconsin, were reintroduced in Wisconsin in 1995. Sourced from Michigan, 25 elk were brought into the state in 1995. They settled around Clam Lake, where the population has grown through conservation efforts and the introduction of 150 more elk between 2015 and 2019 to increase the herd size and its genetic diversity.

Some of those 150, from Kentucky, were reintroduced to the Black River State Forest to start a second herd in central Wisconsin in 2015, with 23 coming to the area in 2015 and 50 more in 2016.

"The Black River herd has since increased in population estimate each year and we have about a 15 to 17 percent increase in our population for the central zone each year," Kizewski said. "So a pretty thriving population with good cast survival."

The statewide elk population currently sits around 550 between cows, bulls and calves between the two herds.

This year's milestone of more than 500 animals is likely the first time in at least 150 years the state has had this many wild elk.

The state's northern elk herd occupies a range of about 400 square miles, according to the DNR. The primary habitat used by the elk consists of aspen and pine forests interspersed with forest openings, as well as lowland conifers in the winter.

Paul A. Smith contributed to this report.

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bull elk seen near Madison has wandered all over Wisconsin for mate
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Following a two-month decline in militant activities, Pakistan experienced a notable resurgence with a 34 percent increase in anti-state violence last month, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said Friday.

Data unveiled by the PICSS reveals a total of 63 militant attacks in November, resulting in 83 fatalities, including 37 security forces personnel and 33 civilians, PICSS said in a report.

It added that 89 individuals sustained injuries, including 53 civilians and 36 security forces personnel.

"Pakistani security forces responded with precision, eliminating at least 59 militants, while 18 suspected militants were apprehended," said the report.

A comparative analysis with October 2023 data underscores a 34 percent surge in militant attacks, a 63 percent rise in fatalities, and an 89 percent increase in the number of wounded during November 2023, it added.

The PICSS's database noted that the cumulative toll for the first eleven months of 2023 reflects 599 militant attacks, resulting in 897 fatalities and 1,241 injuries.

"This signifies an 81 percent escalation in militant attacks, an 86 percent surge in resultant deaths, and a 64 percent rise in the number of injured compared to the corresponding period in 2022," according to the report. 
If you're looking to splurge on your holiday meal this season, Costco is running just the sale for you: Its most expensive cut of steak, the Japanese Wagyu Boneless Ribeye Roast, A5 Grade, weighing 12 lbs, is on sale for $849.99. The usual price for this high-value meat is $1,099, so you'll save $250 if you purchase the steak. Wagyu is so pricy because of the strict guidelines that qualify a cut of beef as Wagyu. The meat must come from Japan and be from specific cattle breeds native to Japan. Most Wagyu beef has a certificate detailing the lineage of the cattle and offering information on the background of the beef. This protects the quality of the meat and keeps the product valuable.

The online-only sale has been running since November 16, 2023, and will continue through December 17, 2023, while supplies last. This limited-time opportunity, which includes free shipping, allows customers to experience authentic Wagyu beef at around $70 per pound. The typical price per pound for A5 Wagyu can run upwards of $120 per pound, so you'd be hard-pressed to find a greater deal than this if you've wanted the chance to cook and enjoy Wagyu at home. Costco's Wagyu is imported from the Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan, and each purchase includes a certificate of authenticity for your meat.

Read more: Your Guide To The Different Cuts Of Steak

How To Enjoy Wagyu At Home

medium rare wagyu steak - Grandriver/Getty Images

When you're eating Wagyu, you want the focus of your meal to be on the flavor of the meat. The marbled fat in Wagyu makes the beef incredibly tender, and rich in flavor. If you're planning on cooking Wagyu at home and have never taken on the task before, it's recommended to do some preparation and research before cooking so you can best enjoy this premium meat. Costco's cooking instructions recommend thawing the meat overnight before cooking with it. Keep your seasoning simple on your steaks; you don't need much more than salt and pepper.

When you go to cook your steaks, it's encouraged to use a cast iron pan and a meat thermometer so you don't risk overcooking them. Start by heating your cast iron before searing any portion of the meat. When you start cooking your steaks, begin by rendering out the fat trims. Once the fat has greased the pan, you can start to cook your steak. Wagyu cooks incredibly fast; it only needs around a minute on each side and should rest for five minutes before it's cut. Costco recommends enjoying the steak at medium-rare, which requires an internal temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
A new report by a major medical journal says that the Earths rising temperatures may lead to a 370% increase in heat-related deaths every year, prompting one program director to suggest that health professionals should be more involved in climate discussions.

What happened?

As reported by Grist, the Lancet released a study on Nov. 14 warning that our planets changing temperatures are threatening the very foundations of human health.

Notably, annual heat-related deaths jumped 85% between 2013 and 2022 when comparing them to the statistics from 1991 to 2000, reported Grist.

The heat, combined with a significant increase in drought-affected lands, reportedly put 127 million people at risk of moderate or severe food insecurity, per Grist.

The study cautioned that another roughly 525 million people could be vulnerable to moderate-to-severe food insecurity due to heat waves if temperatures rise 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit on average above pre-industrial levels, while the transmission potential of mosquito-spread virus dengue could see a 37% uptick.

Why is this concerning?

Lancet found the overheating of our planet has primarily been driven by the use of dirty energy sources, such as oil, coal, and gas, per Grist.

Since last year, fossil fuel investments grew, and oil and gas giants further expanded their activities. Since the Paris Agreement was signed [in 2015], private banks increased their lending to fossil fuel companies, the Lancet posted in a summary of its report.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earths temperatures have been rising at an accelerated rate since 1981, and all of the 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 2010.

Whats being done about the threat to public health?

A number of countries, local governments, and companies are already taking steps to reduce their use of gas-powered vehicles or transition to clean energy, like solar and wind.

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, taking place in Dubai from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, decided to hold its first Day of Health on Dec. 3 to examine the intersection between climate and health.

Ramon Lorenzo Luis Guinto  director of the planetary and global health program at St. Lukes Medical Center College of Medicine in the Philippines  believes this recognition is a positive sign and hopes that future iterations of the conference will include health professionals in policy negotiations, per Grist.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
Despite bearing a geographically unambiguous title, the actual locale in which French toast was initially conceived is a matter of historical record, and it may surprise you. As early as the fifth century, Roman chefs were frying up batches of Pan Dulcis, bread thoroughly soaked in a rich egg and milk mixture. Historians also believe that the dish originated as a means of preserving one's bread, as the milky mixture could revitalize even an entirely stale slice. The nationalistic nickname for the dish didn't come about until the 1870s when a recipe for French toast was first published in the "Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink."

But attributing the breakfast bread entirely to France would be fallacious. In fact, there is an unbelievable variety of ways that you can enjoy French toast around the world. As previously established, the dish is Roman by birth, but the recipe was only recorded in the United States hundreds of years later. However, in order to bring your French toast to the next level, you need to get another nation involved  Ireland. Adding a splash of Irish whiskey to the custard you prepared for your bread's soak will fundamentally transform the flavor of your French toast.

Read more: French Cooking Tricks You Need In Your Life

Irish Whiskey In Your French Toast

Bourbon caramel French toast - Athena345t/Getty Images

The precise pour of Irish whiskey that you should use in your French toast recipe ultimately comes up to taste. Of course, whiskey has a rather pungent flavor, so it would behoove a home cook to infuse booze into their breakfast cautiously.

Every piece of French toast begins its journey by being briefly submerged in a mixture of eggs, milk, and other flavorful ingredients. Here, you can find any number of delicious ingredients in French toast. Additionally, there are countless toppings that you can choose between to put the finishing touches on your breakfast. It is at the earliest stages of custard creation where you should add in the Irish whiskey so that it will thoroughly soak into your pre-cooked bread.

In general, a recipe may call for you to add the same amount of Irish whiskey into the French toast dip as the recipe calls for vanilla extract because the two flavors are complementary to one another. It's worth noting that there is another tried-and-true method for adding a boozy elevation to your French toast. Infusing booze, particularly a splash of Irish whiskey, into your homemade whipped cream to top your French toast is a great way to achieve a comparable flavor profile to the infused custard method.

Will A Boozy French Toast Brunch Get You Tipsy?

French toast with berries - Arx0nt/Getty Images

Before you delve into the world of alcoholic breakfast dishes like whiskey-infused French toast, it's worth noting that the intoxicating effects of Irish whiskey will be next to negligible in an alcoholic dessert bake. By the time your dessert has been divided up, the individual servings will probably not have enough alcohol to have any effect on those who are eating the dish, though you should be aware that your breakfast bread will still pack an alcoholic punch.

According to Food Network, a study carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture tells us that the relatively short in-pan time required in your boozy French toast recipe wouldn't be enough to fully cook off the alcohol content of the Irish whiskey. For example, a recipe like Bailey's French toast, which would utilize a heavy, cream-based alcoholic product that has an ABV of 16%, would be considerably less boozy than a similar soaking sauce made from, for example, Jameson Irish whiskey, which more than doubles the booziness of a Bailey's batch by packing a 40% ABV punch. However, the relatively small portions of alcohol that boozy French toast recipes generally call for shouldn't incite intoxication.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.
The giant Singapore-based e-tailer Shein still hasnt confirmed the filing of an initial public offering here in the United States, but the mystery IPO has prompted a member of congress to demand officials step up their use of isotopic testing to snag offenders of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

Rep. Jennifer Wexton, Democrat from Virginia, penned a sternly written letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas asking him to account for the $1.3 million paid for the testing of just 86 samples of apparel and footwear, of which 15 percent were positive for cotton from Xingjiang, the region known for labor abuses.

More from Sourcing Journal

Citing significant resources allocated to the DHS for testing, Rep. Wexton demanded to know why the sample was so small, why the tab was so excessive, how the provider was chosen and if the rates the government paid were competitive.

A third demand in the letter, which was a follow-up to a post she made Tuesday on X, got specific about manpower, as in, is there enough? How many Homeland Security Investigations agents and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) specialists have been trained specifically on isotopic testing? she wrote. Please include the number of trainings, dates, and the number of personnel trained out of total personnel in these categories.

She asked for answers within 30 days. In addition, she demanded unredacted copies of all documents related to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made by the Reuters News Agency that revealed the numbers. She noted that 15 percent of the 86 samples tested positive for Xinjiang cotton, on par with what CBPs contract testing company, the New Zealand-based Oritain, self-reported from tests conducted on 1,000 randomly selected cotton items the previous year.

A spokesperson for the DHS said the agency will respond to Wextons letter through official channels, and will continue to respond appropriately to Congressional oversight.

Shein has been maneuvering for a valuation of nearly $100 billion, Bloomberg reported last month. But in May, the company was valued at closer to $60 billion, about half the $124 billion market capitalization of Zara parent Inditex, according to InFront Analytics. Shein also has gone on record saying it no longer sources any cotton from China.

When the possibility of a Shein IPO was first made public in reports last year Rep. Mike Gallagher, Republican of Wisconsin, and chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, threw in his two cents. He debunked the companys claims that they take supply chain visibility seriously, saying on X that it is not supported by the materials produced to the committee in its bipartisan investigation.

We are continuing to carefully examine Sheins regulatory and compliance programs, and I would encourage investors and banks underwriting this reported IPO to do the same, he wrote at the time.

Kim Glas, president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) took a longer view. In a statement Thursday she demanded a stop to slave labor products still bleeding into the U.S. market, a fact which underscores the weaknesses of our governments efforts to enforce the law.

CBP enforcement efforts in the textiles sector have been on the decline, she said, and if that continues, critical items like personal protective equipment and military products will be in short supply as China continues to exploit the governments ineffective enforcement efforts and reap the rewards of its predatory trade practices.

Shein, known for its rapid turnover and ultralow prices like $10 dresses and $12 shoes, claims unequivocally that they have zero tolerance for forced labor, and do not use Xinjiang cotton. In a statement to Sourcing Journal, the company said it was complying with U.S. law in requiring its contract manufacturers to only source cotton from approved regions. It claimed that last month only 1.7 percent of its cotton tested positive for cotton from unapproved regions, compared to an industry average of 14 percent, according to Oritain.

In infrequent cases when cotton from unapproved regions is detected, the statement said. we take immediate action such as suspending production, halting shipments to the U.S. and removing U.S. product listings.

Oritain, meanwhile, confirmed its extensive testing work for Shein, noting the presence of about 9 percent prohibited origin cotton in the general US/EU market, even among many well-known American brands. Sheins findings of prohibited origin cotton across thousands of tests are significantly less than that, it said in a statement. It would not give details of its contract with the U.S. government. Oritain is considered by many as one of the premier testing firms the traceability space.

Goods produced partially or entirely in Xinjiang are banned in the U.S., and Shein will have to step up its oversight of the supply chain if it expects to withstand the rather harsh scrutiny and proceed with a U.S. IPO. According to reports, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley are serving as lead underwriters.

Republican attorneys general from more than a dozen states have urged the SEC to require a third party audit of its supply chain before any IPO can be issued. To not use due diligence with Shein, which now has partnerships with Forever 21, Misguided, Alice McCall and Christian Siriano as well as Paul Smith and Skechers, would be formalizing the companys huge success and our societys inability to control it, Elizabeth L. Cline, author and professor of fashion policy at Columbia University previously told Sourcing Journal. The sad fact is that as long as fast fashion is making people a lot of moneynow including investors and American banksits going to remain dominant.
Almost five years ago, it was reported that, according to some metrics, the United States of America had been at peace for only 17 years since 1776. It had thus, at that point, been at war for 93.5 per cent of its existence. What constitutes war  whether there must be nation-states on opposing sides; whether it includes covert or non-military operations  has long been a source of debate, but perpetual war is today the reality. One sobering indicator is the fact that, for several years now, a child born on September 11 2001 has been eligible to enlist in the war on terror that ensued. The latter is one of many ill-defined and catastrophic wars being waged in perpetuity around the world.

The human and financial cost of these wars, which are not limited to armed conflicts, is the subject of a new book by Ruben Andersson, a professor of social anthropology at Oxford, and David Keen, a professor of conflict studies at the London School of Economics. Wreckonomics is a deeply-researched and wide-ranging account of how, despite manifest failings, the wars on terror, drugs and migration are entrenched in Western policy as a kind of perma-crisis for which its principal architects are never held responsible.

The invasion of Afghanistan by the United States, where the war on terror and the war on drugs have converged, was a failure on a remarkable scale. The authors steadfastly demonstrate how the war on terror has done nothing but foment what it ostensibly sought to combat: the number of global terrorist attacks ballooned from a reported total of 3,300 so far in 2000 to almost 30,000 by 2015  despite the spending of nearly $8 trillion dollars between 2001 and 2021.

Central to Wreckonomics is the question of identifying exactly who benefits from these wars going poorly. Beyond arms manufacturers wanting orders and bellicose senators wanting publicity, this includes aid groups and local authorities, whose under-scrutinised flow of funding depends on conflict and instability. To stay with Afghanistan, Andersson and Keen point, in relation to the war on drugs, to the example of poppy-growing areas under the protection of local warlords, in which the job of police chief could be sold for $100,000 despite paying $60 a month. If you then consider a recent UN report stating that since the Taliban declared a drug ban in April 2022, opium cultivation in Afghanistan has declined by 95 per cent, youre left with two equally damning conclusions: either the US-led intervention into the drug trade was ineffectual, or it was never a true priority.

Afghan police destroy poppy fields in Kunar province this April - AP

Time and again, this pattern repeats around the world, wherever local governments are disincentivised from bringing conflict to an end. In Mali and Sudan, foreign aid is tied to fighting Islamic insurgents, who are in fact working in concert with the military to prolong the discord and keep the money flowing. Through the example of the civil war in Sri Lanka, the authors show that even when a conflict ends, the spending may not: rather than demobilising, the army recruited 50,000 more soldiers, in large part to protect a system of kickbacks from arms contracts.

The Covid-19 pandemic  another battle the world had to win  provides a telling counterpoint. As early as May 2020, the IMF estimated that $9 trillion worldwide had been allocated to the fight. But as we enter the northern winter of 2023, governments have long since lost their appetite for spending in this area. One of the conditions of perpetual war, suggest Andersson and Keen, is that its active theatres, the locales where the death and turmoil are most keenly felt, must be at a remove from the nation waging them. Think of Turkey and Mauritania as chosen bulwarks against migration to Europe. By contrast, it was impossible to outsource the suffering of Covid-19  which created a real desire to bring that crisis to an end.

Then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman at the fortified Greek border with Turkey this autumn - PA

Wreckonomicss desire to present its subject as systematic and somewhat cyclical does, at times, hit a limit. For instance, the recent series of coups in west African nations would have benefited from a more nuanced, regional-specific approach. While its true, per the authors, that in some of those nations, there has been a change in leadership rather than a change in regime, in the likes of Burkina Faso, led by 35-year-old firebrand Ibrahim Traore, something more radical may be afoot.

Andersson and Keen close a little quixotically, suggesting some steps towards ending the state of affairs they bemoan. They point to the need for strong dissenting voices, dialogue, and the insistence on proper cost and benefit analyses before actors engage in new wars; they call for coalitions against the kind of complicity that makes war profitable, and stress the need to unfix the issues that originate them: overly simplistic (and often false) understandings of conflict that become the fixed terms of debate. Its hard to disagree with any of these proposals  though itll remain much harder, you feel, to have such a dialogue over the roar of exploding bombs.

Wreckonomics is published by OUP at 22. To order your copy for 18.99, call 0844 871 1514 or visit Telegraph Books

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.
Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) role in contesting the 2020 presidential election often brings viral claims concerning his alleged inability to run for, or hold, office. One claim that has gone viral holds that Johnson's participation in activities related to Jan. 6, 2021, could disqualify him from running for Congress in 2024 under a provision of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution:

Stating as fact that Johnson is "disqualified from running for Congress in 2024 due to a violation of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment" would be false. That does not mean, however, there isn't at least a theoretical argument to be made for applying this part of the Constitution, known as the Disqualification Clause, to Johnson, based on his association with the events of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Section Three of the 14th Amendment stipulates:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

There are, then, two basic requirements for disqualification. The first is that the person has "previously taken an oath" at any state or federal level "to support the Constitution of the United States." Johnson unambiguously meets the first requirement, having taken his oath of office many times following his first swearing in as a freshman U.S. Representative in January 2017.

The second requirement is that the person had "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against" the Constitution or had "given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." These are not precise legal terms, but U.S. Supreme Court precedent indicates that a person subject to disqualification need not have committed a crime, and that participation in an insurrection can occur without committing a crime, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

Johnson played a central role in developing legal arguments behind the discredited theory that representatives could object to the certification of electoral votes. On Jan. 6, 2021, he was one of the 146 Republican representatives to object to the certification of Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Notably, as reported by The Associated Press, Johnson "organized more than 100 House Republicans to sign onto an amicus brief filed in support of a lawsuit from Texas Republican Attorney General, Ken Paxton, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate Bidens wins in four states that gave him his winning margin in the Electoral College  Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin."

Does Jan. 6 constitute an insurrection? There is precedent to suggest that the answer is yes. Of the only eight people who have been disqualified from office under the 14th Amendment since it was written in 1868, one of them was disqualified in 2022 for participation in the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

That person, Cowboys For Trump founder Couy Griffin, swore an oath to the Constitution in 2019 when he took office as the county commissioner for District 2 of Otero County, New Mexico. He was later convicted of trespassing when he entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6.

Three residents filed a civil case against Griffin, arguing he was disqualified from holding that office after that conviction. A New Mexico district court agreed, and the Supreme Court of New Mexico upheld that decision on appeal.

Do Johnson's actions before and during Jan. 6 constitute participation in an insurrection? Such a claim would likely need to be adjudicated in federal courts following a civil lawsuit challenging Johnson's qualification for holding office. A move by Congress to deny Johnson a seat following a theoretical 2024 reelection win would, in theory, be adjudicated by the Supreme Court.

While there are, in fact, Constitutional mechanisms to prevent politicians from serving in office after participating in an insurrection, no efforts, at the time of this reporting, have yet been made to apply them to Johnson's theoretical fifth term in office.

Sources:

Bronstein, Hannah Rabinowitz, Holmes Lybrand,Scott. New Mexico County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump Founder Removed from Elected Office for Role in US Capitol Riot | CNN Politics. CNN, 6 Sept. 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/06/politics/couy-griffin-new-mexico-january-6/index.html.

Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection and Other Rights. Congress.Gov, https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/section-3/#.

New Members Sworn In | House.Gov. https://www.house.gov/feature-stories/2016-11-29-new-members-sworn-in. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

New Mexico Supreme Court Maintains Couy Griffin Office Removal. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, 19 Feb. 2023, https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/new-mexico-supreme-court-maintains-couy-griffin-office-removal/.

New US House Speaker Tried to Help Overturn the 2020 Election, Raising Concerns about the next One. AP News, 26 Oct. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/congress-house-speaker-2024-election-certification-8cd7c5a9e6ae69635bbb4624cc78e5c5.

The Precedent for 14th Amendment Disqualification. CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/past-14th-amendment-disqualifications/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.
In Haiti, where the battle against the virus that causes AIDS has been hard fought, Dr. Marie-Marcelle H. Deschamps knows that women are key: give a woman a job, she once said, and watch her not only take charge of her life but also cut HIV transmission.

That philosophy, which Deschamps shared with First Lady Laura Bush in 2008 as she visited patients and workers at the Haitian Study Group on Kaposis Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections, which is known by its French acronym GHESKIO, is once again informing the treatment of the disease.

Nowadays, the battle at the world renown Caribbean research clinic, founded in 1982 by Dr. Jean William Bill Pape, isnt just against AIDS. Its also against the scourge of armed violence that is once more placing women and girls at the epicenter of another Haitian crisis.

That reality has led Deschamps, a vibrant physician who begins her morning with exercise and prayer, to introduce a global health model focused on providing essential services to female heads of family and rape victims in a troubled Haiti where children are increasingly malnourished and access to health services limited. She is GHESKIOs second in command after Pape.

She is both my right and my left hand, said Pape, an expert in infectious diseases and also a distinguished doctor.

With almost half of the population facing deep hunger, Deschamps, 70, has developed, among other programs, a simple but yet lifesaving and life-changing intervention to provide electronic transfers of cash and food kits to 20,000 beneficiaries.

For her work, she is now among four finalists being considered for the 2023 Women Building Peace Award from the U.S. Institute of Peace, a U.S. government-created institution tasked with promoting conflict resolution and prevention around the globe.

In its recognition of Deschamps, the institution describes her as a strong advocate for education who arms women with marketable skills.

The other three finalists are Abir Haj Ibrahim of Syria, Petronille Vaweka of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Hamisa Zaja of Kenya.

They are among dozens of nominees whose names were sent in from 42 countries. Their selection was made by a 15-member group of experts and leaders in the field of gender issues and peace-building for their commitment and leadership toward peace, and their key roles in ending and preventing violent conflict.

For Deschamps, the nomination itself is an honor, she says, because it serves as a reminder to the world about Haitis ongoing plight and that of its healthcare workers who face the same security challenges as the patients they serve: Doctors are being kidnapped and held for ransom, and some have been killed. Others are being forced into unemployment as gangs take over their neighborhoods and facilities.

The situation in Haiti is similar to so many other countries, Deschamps said, noting that GHESKIO, considered the leading HIV/AIDS research center in the Caribbean, has faced one struggle after another with the ongoing gang-ridden crisis that has increased needs while curtailing access.

Some 15 years after Bushs visit to see the work that GHESKIO was doing, Deschamps said the work she and her colleagues are carrying out in Haiti speaks to the determination and vision of the GHESKIO team.

We have not changed our vision, she said. It remains the same and in fact, it has been reinforced.

Deschamps believes that one way in which GHESKIO has continued to succeed despite the limitations is through its approach, which involves keeping its focus on women.

I take the time to listen to the women and I think thats whats missing now in the society, she said. By listening to my patients, to the women mainly, I realize that the health, the economic situation, they are all connected and you cannot say youre going to solve one without addressing the other.

The woman, Deschamps added, is the epicenter of her family, even when the men are there, or not there; everything depends on the women in Haiti. Ive focused on that and said, This is the person I have to work with if I want to have an impact.

It is not easy to provide healthcare in Haiti. Between kidnappings, gang violence and a humanitarian parole program that allows Haitians with financial sponsors to legally migrate to the United States, the country is hemorrhaging doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

At GHESKIO itself, the challenges have been equally daunting. The clinics main center in Port-au-Prince is located across from one of the largest gang-controlled slums. When kidnappings began to spike, the clinic found itself in danger like everyone else, as staff members began to be abducted.

Deschamps said the clinic has had more than a dozen staffers kidnapped and held for ransom. She recalled recently sitting in her office and thinking, We cannot be coming here everyday and they are kidnapping us. We do not have money to pay.

All of out staff are brave women who come here to work, to help you because you have HIV, you have tuberculosis, you have cholera, you have COVID, you have malaria, she said. And youre kidnapping us?

Thats when the decision came to temporarily close the clinic, which also houses a school where neighborhood children receive daily hot meals.

Then the unexpected happen. The clinic and its staff found an ally against the gang members in the very women they serve.

The women put uniforms on their children and they went to [the gang members] some of them were their partners, some of them were their husbands and they asked, What are you doing to your children?  Deschamps said. We stayed closed for three to four daysand you know what, they sent a message, Tell the staff we are not touching them. 

Still, it doesnt mean they are not at risk. Staffers continue to become victims as loved ones get kidnapped and held for ransom.

I know the risks are there, but we all have to take a risk and know that we are on a mission, and you choose your battle, said the cancer survivor, who says she prays every day for God to keep her healthy to continue the fight. We each have a battle and mine is staying here.
The national Black Lives Matter organization on Thursday dismissed as an imposter an activist who identified himself as a leader of the movement in Rhode Island and declared he was backing Donald Trump for president.

This is a publicity stunt, Black Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC said in a joint statement to CNN. The right-wing continues to use and amplify fringe Black voices to create an idea of broad support for their corrupt candidates.

Trump, in a social media post Wednesday, praised the activist, Mark Fisher, as a great guy and said he was very honored to have his and BLMs support. Fisher said he is the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, which is separate from the Rhode Island group that condemned his Trump endorsement. Trump said he spoke to Fisher after Fisher had criticized the Democratic Party in an appearance on Fox News and said hed be voting for the former president.

Trumps remarks represent a sharp departure after years of disparaging Black Lives Matter and blaming it for violence across the country. He has referred to the group as a Marxist organization that is discriminatory and accused it of being a symbol of hate. His comments also come as the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination looks to make inroads with minority voters, with polling showing Black support for President Joe Biden softening, particularly among young Black men.

Black Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC were quick to clarify that Fisher was not affiliated with their groups and that Trump does not have their support.

Anyone can start an organization and add the words Black Lives Matter to it in an attempt to muddy the waters of our movement, as Mark Fisher tried to do, the joint statement read. The groups also went on to say that Trump was no friend to Black people seeking to live in a just society.

Fisher said Tuesday in the Fox News segment, 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.

Black Lives Matter was founded and became a global movement after George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder after fatally shooting Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Black boy who had been walking in his fathers Florida neighborhood. The group says on its website that its mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Veterinary experts are puzzled about the pathogen that has caused respiratory illness in hundreds of dogs across the U.S., but there's one matter they tend to agree on. They believe the disease is not likely a risk to human health.

In the meantime, experts said, it's wise to wash your hands after you've spent time with dogs.

More than a dozen states, stretching from Oregon to Florida, have reported cases of dogs sick with prolonged pneumonia and inflamed trachea who aren't responding to medicine. Its unclear whats triggering the strange illness, which has resulted in serious illness and, in rare cases, death.

We really need to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff, said Dr. Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, at Oregon State Universitys Carlson College of Medicine, which is working with the state Department of Agriculture to help study more than 200 cases of the illness since September.

See the maps, signs: What is the mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs across the US? Graphics explain

Williams told USA TODAY there is no evidence humans are contracting the illness, nor is there evidence that other pets are. Dr. David Needle, a senior veterinary pathologist at the University of New Hampshires Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, said the pathogen is host adapted, meaning its more likely to stick with the organism it has already infected, rather than jump to another species.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Dr. Colin Basler, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's One Health Office, which is tasked with preventing the spread of disease from animals to humans, said there is no evidence that the dog illness can infect people.

"There is no known risk to human health linked to the respiratory illness in dogs," he said. "The cause of illness is still being investigated by veterinary medical and animal health partners."

Map of illness: Mysterious and fatal dog respiratory illness now reported in 14 states: See the map.

Mysterious respiratory illness is spreading amongst dogs

The American Veterinary Medical Association has made similar findings, but Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the association, stopped short of calling it impossible that people could catch the disease.

In general, the risk of people getting sick from dogs with canine infectious respiratory disease is extremely low, Carlson said in a statement on Wednesday. However, because we dont know yet exactly what agent or agents ... are causing the current outbreak, its a good idea to thoroughly wash your hands after handling your or other dogs.

This early in the outbreak, far more is unknown than known. Scientists disagree about what kind of pathogen is causing the disease among dogs. The disease might be new or it may have been around for years.

Researchers at Colorado State University said clinical findings indicate the disease could be caused by a virus. Needle, of the University of New Hampshire, said it's a bacterium. Even if veterinarians identify bacteria or virus in a sick dog, it doesnt mean the pathogen they found is what is causing the disease, said Dr. Jason Stull, an assistant professor of veterinary preventive medicine at the Ohio State University, in an email.

Treating both ends of the leash:' How a new Pittsburgh clinic treats humans, pets

In Oregon, Williams said he's being cautious about pinpointing a cause while he continues to rule out pathogens. Studies from biopsies of dogs lung tissue can provide a better understanding of possible causes of the disease, he said.

While so many questions remain unanswered, he urged pet owners to remain patient and consult their veterinarians if they have concerns.

These pathogens are wily little beasts, he said. And theyre trying to survive like the rest of us.

If your pet is sick, Carlson, from the veterinary association, said, you should watch for signs of worsening coughing accompanied by eye or nasal discharge and sneezing, especially if your dog stops eating, has trouble breathing, is coughing continually or is very lethargic. She also noted owners should make sure dos stay updated on their vaccines.

Saman Shafiq contributed to this report.

Eduardo Cuevas covers health and breaking news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at EMCuevas1@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dog respiratory illness: Can humans catch it? Here's what we know.
NEW DELHI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of schools in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru Friday received bomb threats, prompting school administrations to evacuate students and call police, officials said.

The threat received over emails claimed that explosives had been planted on school premises.

Police have dispatched multiple bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs to the schools to conduct searches.

However, nothing suspicious has been found so far and according to police, the threat seems to be a hoax. A local television news channel said around 60 schools received the threatening email.

Reports said over 5,000 children have been forced to take emergency action in the wake of the threats, including going back home. Even schools that did not receive the threat allowed parents to take their wards back home.

The local government said it was verifying the source of the email and urged parents not to panic. 
Emilio Fernandez, founder of Elevar Design Group, migrated from Spain to Cuba and then to the United States before launching the his architecture firm in Cincinnati in 1967. He died recently at age 93.

Emilio Fernandez, founder of the Elevar Design Group architecture firm in Queensgate, could have starred in his own movie according to his son, Elevar CEO Tom Fernandez.

The elder Fernandez, who died recently at age 93, escaped two war-torn countries and migrated to the United States speaking no English with just $5 in his pocket, his son said.

He became a celebrated architect, helping to design or renovate a number of iconic buildings in the Cincinnati area, including:

Riverview East Academy known for its waterfront location in the East End.

The Kenton County Administration Building in Covington, which was the old Bavarian Brewery and former Jillian's.

And the Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park.

Elevar Design Group completed the transformation of the old Bavarian Brewery into the new Kenton County Administration Building in 2019

Emilio Fernandez launched his firm in 1967 as Stallsmith Fernandez Architects after working for the now defunct Sullivan Isaac Sullivan Architects firm for several years.

The elder Fernandez, who was born in Spain, began his journey to Cincinnati in the late 1930s when at age 5 he and his mother escaped to Cuba after his father was killed by troops loyal to General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

He studied architecture in Cuba and started his own firm after graduating from the University of Havana.

In 1959, he became head of the Department of Public Building Projects working for the Cuban government under Fidel Castro, the revolutionary who led the communist country from 1959 to 2008.

During his time in Cuba, he designed several key healthcare buildings, multi-family housing projects and other infrastructure projects.

He fled Cuba in 1961, joining his wife and baby daughter in Miami after they left the country a year earlier.

He worked as an architect for about a year in Miami before moving to Cincinnati to be closer to relatives.

In 1964, he passed a grueling five-day test to become a licensed architect in Ohio.

"He was told no one passes (the architecture exam) on the first try. Well, he did,'' the younger Fernandez said, noting his father had a lifelong passion for learning and insisted his children get good educations.

"He would always tell us they can take your possessions and freedoms away...the only thing they can't take away is your education,'' the son said.

Alfonso Cornejo, president of the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA, said one of the traits he admired most about one of the chamber's most illustrious members was his work ethic.

"At 91, he was working more than anybody else in the company; coming in early and leaving late,'' Cornejo said. "People don't realize the effort he put in.''

A private funeral service for Emilio Fernandez was held Monday. A 'celebration of life'' is planned at an undetermined date at Elevar's headquarters.

In addition to his son, Emilio Fernandez is survived by his wife, Otilia Fernandez; two daughters, Dr. Otilia Fernandez and Dr. Adelaida Fernandez; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elevar founder maintained robust work routine into his 90s
The old Top Gear trio of Jeremy Clarkson , Richard Hammond, and James May will be hitting your screen as the hosts of The Grand Tour for the final time in 2024. The two final episodes have now been filmed, taking place in Mauritania and Zimbabwe, where the trio we've grown to love will close a chapter that's been three decades in the making.

Were done. I have reviewed cars on TV since 1989. Thats 34 years. And after next year, I wont be doing that any more," Clarkson told The Times .

Since The Grand Tour launched in 2016, after Clarkson was fired from Top Gear for punching a producer, it's gone through several changes. First, it was essentially a Top Gear recreation, with celebrity interviews and an in-studio live show. Then they tightened it up by ditching the celebrity stuff. Eventually, they ditched the live show altogether and just made feature-length specials. And while none of The Grand Tour's iterations managed to capture the magic of Top Gear at its best , it was still one of the most watched shows on Amazon Prime. Millions of people tuned in to watch the automotive equivalent of the Three Stooges (and I mean that as a grand compliment).

Getty

All three hosts have their own projects to pursue outside of The Grand Tour anyway. Clarkson has his farm show and May has a travel show, both of which are also on Amazon Prime, while Hammond still does a lot of work for DriveTribe, while also presenting other TV programs. So they'll still be around, even though The Grand Tour won't be.

This news also comes just a couple of weeks after the BBC decided to indefinitely shut down Top Gear . After host Freddie Flintoff's accident during filming and the subsequent settlement, the BBC decided against renewing the show. Clarkson doesn't blame the most recent trio of Top Gear hosts for not wanting to return, either, specifically Flintoff.

"Richard Hammond was always keen to get back to work [following a crash], whereas Freddie isnt," Clarkson told The Sun . "I dont blame him. I know what happened on that awful day and it was horrific."

Getty

Clarkson even said that anyone who wants to take over in Flintoff's spot would come across as "heartless."

In a matter of weeks, the world learned that the two most entertaining car shows on TV are shutting down. We all knew this day was coming soon, as the original Top Gear gang are all either in their sixties or getting quite close, but it's still a little sad to see them go. Sure, their most recent work pales in comparison to the shows from their prime but, like most millennial car nerds, Clarkson, Hammond, and May made an indelible impression on me and the way I look at cars, and I'm sure I'm not alone on that one. Thanks for the memories, chaps.

Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com
The Colorado Supreme Court will debate whether former President Donald Trump is eligible to appear on Colorado's 2024 ballot.

Colorado voters filed a lawsuit insisting Trump be disqualified from Colorado ballots. A Denver District Court ruled Trump was eligible to be on the state's presidential primary ballot in March, and that decision is what's being appealed to the state Supreme Court, which will host oral arguments Wednesday, Dec. 6.

The originating lawsuit was filed by six Colorado voters who argued Trump should be disqualified from office under a post-Civil War-era clause of the 14th Amendment barring anyone who engaged in insurrection from holding higher office again after taking an oath to uphold the Constitution.

Sean Grimsley, the attorney representing the Colorado voters who filed the original lawsuit, stated at the mid-November Denver District Court hearing that the evidence was clear.

"We are here because, for the first time in our nation's history, the president of the United States engaged in an insurrection and now he wants to be president again," Grimsley said.

"The Constitution does not allow that."

An amicus brief co-led by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey asked the Colorado Supreme Court to keep former President Donald Trump on the ballot for the state's Presidential Primary and General Elections.

An amicus brief is a legal document that contains information related to a case and is delivered to a court of law by a person our group not directly involved in the respective case.

We need to protect the integrity of our elections, and actions like this undermine the right of the citizens to choose who they want to represent them in every level of government, Morrisey said in a Wednesday press release.

Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming joined the West Virginia-led brief.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado Supreme Court to determine Trump's eligibility for ballot
Frances Kline, a volunteer at Summit County Animal Control, gets ready to take Halo out of the adoption kennel on Tuesday for some exercise. The kennel in Akron has not reported any cases of a mystery dog disease that is spreading nationwide.

A potentially serious respiratory disease of dogs may not have made it to Greater Akron, but it has been reported in multiple states and officials are advising pet owners to keep up with their animals' immunizations.

Because the infectious disease spreads from animal to animal, the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership decided to cancel this year's Jingle Dog Parade, which traditionally features dog- and family-friendly activities, including pictures with Santa.

"We had no way of seeing this coming and we feel this is the right thing to do for the safety of your dog(s)," the partnership has announced. "...We decided that the risk isn't worth the potential harm as your pups are family."

What is the mystery dog disease that's going around?

The illness is being called atypical canine infectious respiratory disease, with cases reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Oregon, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Cases in New Hampshire were reported in the summer of 2022, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture has recorded more than 200 cases in the Portland Metro and Willamette Valley areas since before August.

Oregon officials advise pet owners not to be overly concerned, noting the number of sick animals are a small percentage of the total population. Periodic outbreaks of canine infectious respiratory disease complex can occur, caused by at least nine different known bacteria and viruses transmitted by respiratory droplets.

Frances Kline, a volunteer at Summit County Animal Control, takes Halo out from the adoption kennel Tuesday for some exercise. The kennel in Akron so far has been spared from a mystery dog disease that is spreading nationwide.

Are there any cases of the new dog illness in Ohio?

In Ohio, one veterinary practice has seen two or three otherwise healthy dogs with non-stop coughing that did not survive the rapid-onset symptoms.

Chalan Lowry, executive director of the Portage Animal Protective League, said there has not been any local cases but the shelter is prepared for this and other canine diseases.

"Because the nature of our work involves caring for ill animals, we have protocols already in place to prevent spread of diseases that may enter our shelter," Lowry said. " We continue to be diligent about sanitation of the shelter and keep a close eye on the health of our animals as we always do. There are so many contagions that affect animals so while the illness might be new, the threat is not.

"I hope that the illness will be identified soon so those who are dealing with it will have a treatment plan."

Portage County Deputy Dog Warden Joshua Plona said he had not heard of the disease.

"That's the first I heard about it, to be honest with you," he told the Record-Courier this week when asked if there are any cases.

The Summit County Animal Control Facility has not seen any cases of the new disease.

More: Summit County Animal Control is at capacity. 9 ideas from activists, officials could help

"We have always had kennel cough, I think every facility does when you have 90-plus dogs," said Christine Fatheree, Summit County Animal Control manager. "We treat for kennel cough and we haven't had any issues or any deaths related to respiratory disease here. They respond to the antibiotics that we give them."

Likewise, the Summit County Humane Society, with about 150 dogs, has only the occasional case of kennel cough.

"We have no confirmation of any incidents," said Humane Society President Diane Johnson-Owens. "We are definitely monitoring the population for any concerns."

New disease or media spotlight?

Scott Weese, director of the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses at the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada, said he has looked into the reports from the United States and isn't quite sure whether there is a new disease, or just a case of heightened awareness of typical cases, fueled by unusual mass media attention.

"I think were definitely seeing more disease in some areas, something that happens regularly," Weese said. "Whether its more overall or more hype, I dont know. Looking at a few different dataset, it supports the notion that there is more disease in some areas at some time, but not necessarily a big overall issue.

"Time will tell, to some degree, but its still most likely this is a increase in normal disease driven by dog factors (e.g. changes in vaccination, reduced immunity from previous exposures ) than a new pathogen."

A day with Akron's volunteer dog catcher : A wolf dog, pit bulls, a 'quicker than snot' dog

Initial disease symptoms similar to 'kennel cough'

In the United States, the cause of the disease has not been identified, though Oregon officials have described its symptoms:

Chronic mild to moderate inflammation of the trachea lasting six to eight weeks or longer, which is minimally or not responsive to antimicrobials.

Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antimicrobials.

Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24 to 36 hours.

Experts advise pet owners to report suspected cases to a veterinarian, and take precautions, including making sure dogs have updated vaccines and avoid "nose-to-nose" contact with other dogs when boarding or at dog parks.

Most dog-gathering venues such as dog shows, training centers and boarding facilities already require that dogs have certain vaccines.

Other tips

Dogs can be contagious and still look perfectly healthy.

Keep your dog away from toys, food and water bowls used by dogs outside your household.

Ask your veterinarian or check news or internet sources about where respiratory infections like canine influenza have been reported.

Delay or avoid travel with your dog to places where outbreaks are occurring.

Diane Smith and Jeff Saunders of the Record-Courier and Dean Narciso of the Columbus Dispatch contributed to this story. Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mystery dog illness hasn't hit region's biggest shelters
Jeff Gill

What I want to do this December is go back to a few particular years and look at our local roots, which have a wide reach, for how Christmas came to be in Licking County, what we can easily think of as how its always been: 1800, 1844, 1865 and 1944. There are other points of interest along the way, but Id like to visit, each in turn, a Christmas memory out of each of those four years.

1800 marks what is effectively the first Christmas observed as such in our area. We have some historical records of people passing through in other months during earlier years, 1751 and 1773 in particular, but not during December.

What we call pioneers were the first European American visitors to leave records; there were Native Americans here for thousands of years, and as I wrote previously, there were African Americans here through the winter of 1773, with a community presided over by a Shawnee woman who was chief of a mixed Delaware and Shawnee settlement, but we know nothing more about their story or if they marked Dec. 25 in any way.

Faith Works: Advent is a necessary season of preparation before Christmas  and it's cool

The first pioneer settlers out of Pennsylvania and Maryland for whom we have confirmation arrived in spring 1800, most of them men without family at first but not all. The initial work to clear land, plant crops, then build cabins came first, and for most, word would be sent back through the nearest post office at Zanesville to come on west.

Isaac Stadden and his brother, Col. John Stadden were among that earliest group of arrivals; Isaac is buried just east of the giant basket, in the Bowling Green Cemetery, which holds so many of our early settlers. They worked to prepare a place, planting often in openings left by earlier Native American clearing and burning efforts for their crops, speeding the pioneer process.

Benjamin Green and his son-in-law Richard Pitzer tried out some land for a year near Marietta, then came up in spring 1800 to land about where OBannon Avenue is today, but Benjamin and Catherine had 11 children, some full-grown, so their whole family was involved from the start (they would have three more children after relocating to the Hog Run/White Chapel area south of Newark a few years hence).

Isaac Stadden left his brother in charge once the crops were in and the cabin built and went back in person to escort his wife, also a Catherine, and their two children to what would become in 1808 Licking County.

Faith Works: In trying times for schools, military, churches, thankfulness remains vital

By the time they arrived, fall was in the air, and so was something else. John was a widower, and Benjamin Green had a daughter Elizabeth, better known as Betsey. She and John were about the same age and having determined to share their challenges together in marriage, set a date of Dec. 10, 1800, to be married. By all accounts everyone was happy for them, including brother Isaac. As he had business with the territorial magistrate, Judge Henry Smith back in Zanesville, he offered to call on his services to marry the happy couple.

But the judge explained to Isaac that the law required notice be posted at three prominent places for a minimum of 15 days before a marriage could be solemnized. As a good brother, Isaac took it upon himself to ride about, post the notices and then on Christmas Day, escorted to the bride and groom their officiant.

Our earliest history of Christmas is practical, functional, but not without a small note of romance. Thats very much what Christmas was in the earliest days of settlement in Newark and Licking County.

Jeff Gill is a writer, storyteller, and preacher in central Ohio; he knows he could have picked other years, but believes youll learn from the ones on offer. Tell him about your customs of Christmas at knapsack77@gmail.com, or follow @Knapsack77 on Threads.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Faith Works: Looking back at the first Licking County Christmas
We have options in most parts of life  from the grocery stores where we shop, to the car we drive, to the cell phone provider we chose.

However, when it comes to education, most Tennessee families have little to no choice because they don't have the financial means.

Take me, Im the product of public schools through eighth grade and that of a private high school. My parents made a significant financial sacrifice because they believed it was what was best for my education.

All Tennessee families could have the same opportunity if education dollars for their children were allowed to follow the student.

Many other states, including Arizona, Iowa, Utah, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, Indiana, Nebraska and Montana, have enacted school choice  including some that opted for universal school choice.

Counterpoint: Gov. Bill Lee welcomes a 'conservative education revolution.' Will public schools survive?

Critics decry lack of funding, but Tennessee has poured money into public schools

Ive volunteered in a local public charter school and seen first-hand how school choice can provide hope and opportunity to students who had been stuck in generationally failing zoned government-run schools and now receive a high-quality education.

Gov. Bill Lee proposes a new statewide school choice program, Education Freedom Scholarship Act, at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.

So, while Ive worked on a variety of public issues throughout my career including school choice, Im writing this piece as a private citizen who is passionate about the issue.

Whats most galling is that many opponents of universal school choice have exercised school choice for themselves and their families, but not for Tennessee children in failing public schools and for families without the resources to access better options.

Ive been around the block long enough to know that those who shill for the unions will always oppose school choice in any form. The only reform they ever support is more funding  and this is after the state has poured a record breaking $9 billion into schools including an additional $1 billion for historic pay increases for our deserving teachers and a revamped funding formula.

But take one step away from blind fealty to the education bureaucracy, and they come after you. Ive experienced it. Ive been threatened, bullied and intimidated for supporting school choice and even been called a racist by a college administrator for volunteering in a reading comprehension breakout at a local charter school.

With even limited levels of school choice showing increasingly impressive results in districts like Nashville, all opponents have left is to try scare tactics and to bully people into submission.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Families who want to keep their children in public schools can choose to do so

A report from the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) shows that charter schools in Tennessee serve a higher percentage of minority and economically disadvantaged students than their district counterparts and a national study from Stanford shows that charter school students make more progress in math and English than traditional public school counterparts.

In fact, families who are happy with their public school can remain there and the school continues to receive funding for that student. Why should anyone object to empowering unhappy public school parents with the funds to find a better school for their children?

Arieale Munson and her son Steven Cole Jr., 12, from Shelby County are one of the receipts from the Education Savings Accounts program at Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.

Opponents of school choice claim that offering families an option will destroy public education. Of course, high performing public schools have nothing to be afraid of, and other schools will be incentivized to increase their performance as competition enters the system.

This creates a virtuous funding cycle  money follows the child to support the school of their choice  to you know, educate the child. And I, for one, trust parents over bureaucrats to make the best choices for their own children.

Another view: Expand Tennessee's Education Savings Account program statewide and spread the innovation

Don't trap low-income children in ineffective schools

The biggest victims of efforts to prevent students from escaping the government-run monopoly are our poorest students, predominantly children of color. Its morally indefensible to trap low-income children in ineffective schools, especially when many legislators own children have access to high performing schools. This truly is the civil rights issue of our time.

Locking kids into ineffective government schools dooms the future of countless thousands of Tennessee young people. I believe rank-and-file Tennesseans know this and are too smart to fall for the oppositions false talking points when for them its really all about maintaining money, control and power  both the unions and their political supporters.

Chris Burger

The greatest local control is that of the family. Tennessee should put kids first and empower families with universal school choice.

Chris Burger lives in Nashville and is the founder & CEO of Rotunda Public Affairs. He served as a senior campaign official in Bill Lee's 2018 gubernatorial campaign and previously worked in Governor Lees administration.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee education: School choice expansion will empower families
Rising housing costs burden half of all homeowners and renters in Miami-Dade County. And the situation is getting worse.

Half of all of the countys 936,351 households spent more than 30% of their income on paying for their mortgage or rent between 2019 and 2021, based on the new 2023 Housing Needs Assessment report by the University of Florida and Miami Homes for All. Real estate experts recommend that renters and homeowners spend 30% or below on their housing.

The biggest burden falls on renters. Over half of renters in the county earn below $50,000 a year, compared to just one-third of owners. As a result, renters are more likely to be cost-burdened.

While the percentage of cost-burdened households have held steady the past year, experts expect the numbers to rise as housing and other costs increase and salaries dont.

The reports authors Anne Ray, manager of the Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse at the University of Floridas Shimberg Center for Housing Studies, and Annie Lord, executive director of the nonprofit Miami Homes for All, based their research and findings on data from the Census American Community Survey. Lord presented the findings from her report on Wednesday at a Miami-Dade Housing and Health Summit.

When families are spending too much on housing they dont have enough left over for basic needs, Ray said. Housing costs have to be paid in full every month  that means those other needs suffer.

Over the next few months, Lord and Ray plan to share their findings with local policymakers and state leaders in Tallahassee. Most financial assistance programs, Lord said, should be steered to helping households earning below $75,000 because they are hit hardest by the rising cost of housing.

Its only getting worse

The findings are nothing new to housing expert Ned Murray, associate director of the Jorge M. Perez Metropolitan Center at Florida International University.

Miami-Dade has a shortage of housing priced within reach for South Florida workers. Even before the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, people were priced out of paradise by foreign buyers and investors. Would-be buyers would lose to cash offers or bids well above the listing price, and renters faced steep competition.

Thousands quit looking or moved elsewhere. Data from U.S. Census Bureau reported Miami-Dade had a population loss of 28,000 residents from 2020 to 2022, the biggest decline for any county in the state.

How its affecting people who live in Miami-Dade

More people like Charles Curry  a retiree, renter and member leader of nonprofit Miami Workers Center  think about leaving.

Seven years ago, the 71-year-old Curry retired from a career as an electrician on construction sites. He could keep himself afloat with his work, but now struggles on a fixed income. He said he tolerates a one-bedroom, roach and rat-infested apartment in Liberty City because thats all he can afford.

At least its a roof over my head, but its tough to live in conditions like this, Curry said. I cant count the number of times I have moved. I am always trying to move and find something better.

Although he prefers to stay, Curry said hes thought about moving out of state to somewhere cheaper, perhaps in North Carolina or Texas.

Its only a matter of time before more people like Curry face the tough decision to stay or go, Murray said. Youre saying 50% of all households are cost burdened. Its much much higher than that. Its only getting worse.

Some natives and long-time residents say the decision to stay or go is unthinkable. Miami-Dade is home.

Thats the case for 61-year-old Maria Sanchez who moved years ago from Cuba. Still, Sanchez, a food plater at Sky Chefs at Miami International Airport, struggles financially since her wages fail to keep up with the rising cost of living and housing.

Sanchez said she and her colleagues feel the pressure of keeping up with rent, and fight for higher wages as part of the Unite Here union. Her 74-year-old retired husband, Sanchez, and their 11-year-old grandson live in a two-bedroom apartment near West Flagler Street and pay $2,700 a month in rent, up from $1,800 a month last year. His $960 a month retirement and her $16 an hour pay can barely keep up, she said.

This has me feeling sick, Sanchez said. We always wanted to buy a small house or apartment when my husband retired, something for us. That money, despite all of the work it took to save, weve had to use to pay rent.

It was a nest egg the couple had built over the past decade.

I have a lot of anxiety, a lot of problems. Now, in two months, we wont have any money left, Sanchez said. Believe me weve looked to move, to change and we couldnt find anything because wherever you look rents are at $2,500, $2,400, all the same.

What are the solutions?

The rising cost of housing and living has kept some executives away, too, said Rod Miller, president and CEO of Miami-Dades economic development organization the Beacon Council.

His team promotes and encourages executives outside of South Florida to expand their companies into the region. In recent months, Miller said some employers decided against opening a new office, bringing employees and expanding their teams with local talent because they fear their workers would struggle.

Developers and policymakers can improve conditions in two ways, said Ray, co-author of the housing report: construction of more affordable housing and preservation of housing with rent caps.

The only problem? Construction can take years.

In the meantime, Miller said, other remedies can ease financial tensions. Social services like childcare, down-payment assistance and interest reduction on mortgages can help reduce financial strains.

While the studys findings concern Miller, he feels encouraged by leaders from across the private and public sectors rallying together to work on solutions.

Most places start addressing this problem when they are 10 years in, 15 years in. The level of coming together  the level of commitment to addressing this is unparalleled, Miller said. The challenges are real, but the commitment ... solutions is strong.
Human remains were discovered buried in a neighbors property more than five months after a 17-year-old girl went missing, Indiana cops say.

Rush County Sheriff Allen Rice announced Wednesday, Nov. 29, that authorities searched the property Tuesday related to the disappearance of Valerie Tindall.

Regretfully, during our search yesterday we discovered human remains buried on a property in Arlington, Rice said in the briefing streamed by WISH. This property belonged to Patrick Scott. He was identified earlier in the case as a person of interest.

The remains have not been positively identified, but the sheriff offered his condolences to the Tindall family. Identification and a cause of death will be determined by the coroner, Rice said.

The 59-year-old Scott, who WXIN reported is a neighbor of the Tindalls, was arrested on a preliminary murder charge, the sheriff said.

Dozens of law enforcement officers, including FBI agents, swarmed the property Tuesday and collected items from Scotts home, WISH reported.

This is not the outcome we had all hoped for. But I want to stress to the public, that this case is far from over, Rice said. There is still much work to be done. And our focus will now shift to successful prosecution to anyone who may be involved.

Rice did not say what evidence brought them back to the neighbors property. There is no indication there are additional victims.

Valerie went missing June 7 after leaving her home in her Honda Accord, authorities said. Eight days after she was last seen, deputies said she was believed to be in extreme danger.

We believe it is possible that Valerie has been receiving aid from individual(s) whose goal is to keep her hidden, the sheriff said in August.

Valerie would have turned 18 in August. Her mother, Shena Sandefur, said in a Facebook comment her heart was shredded upon learning Tuesdays news.

Sandefur said Valerie loved and trusted Scott, who she worked for in his lawn care business, according to WXIN.

She was such a sweet girl as long as you didnt do her wrong. I cant understand why, Sandefur said.

Precious Miniard, Valeries aunt, commented on Facebook about how special her niece was.

You literally lit the place up, you were so upbeat & happy & full of life & energy, Miniard said. You were goofy & could joke around with all of us. You always knew how to make us all laugh. If I could do anything right now, Id bring you back, hug you one more time & tell you how much I love you.

Rush County is about 50 miles southeast of Indianapolis.

Childs body found in concrete in Georgia woods in 1988, cops say. Mom now charged

Man beat 18-year-old with hammer, then dumped her body in ravine, Texas cops say

Vehicle crash reveals bloody clue to slaying of 16-year-old and her mom, PA cops say
Jemima Goldsmith has pleaded for Britons to unite, having personally felt the fallout from the Israel-Gaza conflict with rape and death threats sent to her and her family.

The film producer and former wife of Imran Khan, the ex-prime minister of Pakistan, is joining a vigil outside Downing Street this weekend aimed at bringing different religious communities together.

Race attacks have flared in the UK since the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October and the retaliatory Israeli bombardment and invasion of Gaza.

Writing in The Independent, Ms Goldsmith describes how her Jewish background and Muslim marriage has led to her family being targeted by both antisemitism and Islamophobia.

My Jewishness was used as a baton to beat my politician ex-husband Imran Khan, in Pakistan, where Zionist conspiracy theories about me were fabricated and fervour was whipped up by opposition politicians & by a partisan media.

Imran and Jemima Khan join a demonstration outside Downing Street (AP)

This led to decades of death threats and threats of rape and violence towards me and my children, which continue to this day.

After the attack, the would-be assassin declared in his confessional video that the motive for the shooting was (Imrans) acceptance of Israel.

She went on: Equally, Muslim hatred is also on the rise and it affects many people I love, including my children.

Sundays vigil is being organised by Together for Humanity, a charity co-founded by the widower of Jo Cox, the MP who was murdered in 2016 by a far-right extremist. The organistaion aims to stand against rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate amidst the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine.

The meeting has been organised against the backdrop of dozens of pro-Palestine marches and demonstrations against the rise of antisemitism.

Calling for understanding on both sides, Ms Goldsmith said: You can be horrified by Hamas massacre of Israelis AND condemn Israels ongoing killing of thousands of innocent Palestinians.

This conflict has rendered each side deaf and impervious to the others suffering and fear... Its not a competition. And if you only see one or the other, you are part of the problem.

On Sunday we invite people to step outside their tribes, to put down their flags, and to come together at our vigil, led by Israelis and Palestinians who have lost loved ones in this conflict.

Imran Khan and Jemima Goldsmith became engaged in 1995. Goldmsmith says her Jewishness led to death threats (Rex Features)

Since 7 October, the two movements are yet to march together, though both claim to stand against all racism. Jewish and Muslim protesters have been present at both forms of demonstration.

Over the last eight weeks there has been a marked rise in antisemitism and Islamophobic offences, according to the Metropolitan Police.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said that between 7 October and 25 November 2023, we received: 909 reports of antisemitic offences and 1079 reports of antisemitic incidents. This compares with 75 offences and 82 incidents in the same period in 2022.

We received reports relating to 420 Islamophobic offences and 433 Islamophobic incidents. This compares with 117 offences and 108 incidents in the same period in 2022.

And this trend is evident in other areas of the country.

Greater Manchester Police said last week they had seen a significant increase in reports of antisemitism and Islamophobia hate since the start of the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Community Security Trust, a charity focusing on private security for British Jews at risk of antisemitism, said they welcomed the march on Sunday.

Police have expressed concern about rising incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia (PA)

Spokesperson Mark Gardner told The Independent: The increases in anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hatred in Britain over the past two months have shown how important it is for everyone to actively push back against the extremist narratives that divide communities and fuel prejudice.

This initiative is a vital and welcome effort to promote our shared values and resist the messages of hate that seek to push us further apart.

The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) said they support the initiative but that it is important that calls for peace, humanity and harmony are not used to whitewash the suffering of Palestinians who are living under an illegal occupation and a brutal system of apartheid.

A spokesperson for MAB told The Independent: We must stand together for justice for all, and we must be united against all forms of hate.

The spokesperson added: Today [Friday] Israel has resumed its indiscriminate bombing of the Gaza Strip after a pause that was, for many Palestinians, a temporary stay of execution.

Any interfaith event must be unequivocal in calling out Israeli war crimes, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine. Neutrality in the face of injustice cannot be an option.
HERAT, Afghanistan, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- A terrorist attack claimed six lives in west Afghanistan's Herat province on Friday, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said.

"Unfortunately, a terrorist attack on innocent people in Enjil district of Herat province killed six persons and injured two others today," the ministry said in a statement.

In the statement, the ministry condemned the attack in its strongest terms and promised that the security forces would spare no efforts to bring the culprits to justice. 
Though support for capital punishment appears to be on the decline, Missouri ramped up its use of the death penalty this year, executing four people.

Missouri was one of five states that carried out executions in 2023, according to a report published Friday by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama also executed prisoners this year. A total of 24 people nationally died by lethal injection, including a man Thursday morning in Oklahoma in the last scheduled execution of 2023.

Forty states have abolished the death penalty, paused executions or have not executed anyone in the past 10 years.

No new capital sentences were handed down this year in the state.

According to a Gallup poll released in November, a majority of people now believe the death penalty is applied unfairly. Fifty-three percent said they still support the death penalty, down from 60% a decade ago.

This year, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson denied clemency to:

Amber McLaughlin, a 49-year-old transgender woman convicted of murdering her ex-girlfriend in 2003 in St. Louis County. The jury could not reach a decision on sentencing and a judge handed down McLaughlins death sentence. Missouri and Indiana are the only two states that allow a judge to impose capital punishment when a jury cannot make a decision. She was executed in January.

Leonard Raheem Taylor, 58, who claimed he was in another state when his girlfriend and her three children were murdered in 2004 in St. Louis County. The Missouri Supreme Court denied an evidentiary hearing and the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay. As his February execution date neared, Taylor asked for a spiritual advisor to be with him in the execution chamber, a right that was granted after a Supreme Court ruling in 2022. The Missouri Department of Corrections rejected the request, saying it had been made too late.

Michael Tisius was given a stay by a federal appeals court after the 42 year olds attorneys argued that a juror in his double murder trial was not qualified to serve because he could not read or write, a skill required by state law. The decision was appealed by the Missouri Attorney Generals Office and the stay was overturned. Five jurors also said they had changed their minds about the death sentence. Tisius was executed in June.

Johnny Johnson, 45, was convicted of murdering a six-year-old girl in 2002 in St. Louis County. He was granted a stay after his attorneys argued that he was mentally ill and believed Satan was using the state of Missouri to kill him and end the world. The victims father said he did not support capital punishment. The stay was reversed by a federal appeals court and he was executed in August.

Twelve people remain on death row in Missouri, including a man who says DNA evidence proves he was wrongfully convicted.

Marcellus Khaliifah Williams, 54, was sentenced to death in 2001 in the stabbing death of a woman in suburban St. Louis.

Forensic testing conducted in 2016 and using technology that was not available at the time of the homicide shows Williams is not a match for the DNA found on the murder weapon. His Aug. 22, 2017, execution was halted by former Gov. Eric Greitens, who initiated a board of inquiry. Parson dissolved the board and lifted the stay in June.

This Board was established nearly six years ago, and it is time to move forward, the governor said in a statement at the time. We could stall and delay for another six years, deferring justice, leaving a victims family in limbo, and solving nothing. This administration wont do that.

Williams filed a lawsuit in August contending that going forward with his execution would violate his constitutional rights to due process.

Since 1973, 195 people on death row have been exonerated across the country, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

The Missouri Attorney Generals Office has requested execution dates for Williams and another man, Brian Dorsey.

Barbed wire fences encircles the Potosi Correctional Center on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Mineral Point, Mo. The facility houses Missouris death row prisoners.

Elyse Max, co-director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, said Missouri continues to be an outlier state when it comes to its use of the death penalty.

The folks that we executed would likely not be sentenced to death today because of evolving standards of decency and just the fact that jurors and lawyers are understanding more about things like late adolescent brain development and severe mental health issues, she said.

Its just like reinforcing that executions are a political act done by a very few players at the top for political and not public safety reasons.

Max said she expects several bills on the death penalty to be introduced during Missouris 2024 legislative session. Those will include a full repeal as well as what she called abolition by attrition type bills, which may include measures to protect people with several mental health problems and prevent a judge from sentencing someone to death when a jury deadlocks.

Max said support appears to be growing, especially with Republicans from the anti-abortion community.

During the legislative session this year, three bills to end the death penalty were introduced. They were sponsored by Rep. Sarah Unsicker, a Democrat running for attorney general, Rep. Patty Lewis, a Kansas City Democrat and Rep. Tony Lovasco, a Republican from St. Charles County.

Lewis and Lovasco said they plan on re-filing their bills in 2024.

Allowing the State to hold so much power that its authorized to kill someone with premeditation is certainly not a small government position, Lovasco said in a statement to The Star. Moreover, the deliberate ending of a human life in such a manner is clearly not a pro-life action by any reasonable definition. In my view, opposition to the death penalty is the proper and consistent stance for any Republican to take.
In short, Indianas Department of Education provides vouchers to parents/guardians that choose not to send their children to publicly supported schools, but instead send their children to private schools or private charter schools. Since this is supported and endorsed by Indianas state legislature, then I propose that individuals or trucking companies that choose not to use Indianas publicly supported highways but instead pay to use the privately operated Toll Road should in turn get vouchers from Indianas Department of Transportation.

Is this ridiculous? Yes. Just as ridiculous as taking money from the DOE intended to support public schools and diverting those funds to private schools and private charter schools.

Anthony Byrd

South Bend

Reduce the stigma

I am writing to advocate for Senate Bill 1884, Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2023. Our students need to have access to mental health services in primary and secondary school to be able to succeed in society. This bill will give schools funding to have training for the staff so that the staff are adequately trained in strategies to support the students with mental health diagnoses.

This bill will also help the school get an education for the families of the students with the diagnosis, this way the students are supported in school and at home. The schools will have the funding to have classes for the families to attend for training. There will also be community outreach, so that if the students need mental health professionals the parents/guardians of the students can be referred by the school's social worker.

Having community support will help the student thrive in getting treatment and reduce the stigma. This will greatly increase the amount of people who can get help to become more independent, empowered, and functional members of society.

Toni Norton

South Bend

A wonderful legacy

The celebration of the life of Rosalynn Carter reminds us of all the work she and Jimmy have done to work for peace and the efforts to help humanity both here in the USA and internationally. This was done not only when Jimmy Carter was in office, but for many years afterwards. They helped make this a much better world, reflected their morality and enhanced the reputation of our country. They have left a wonderful legacy.

Its coincidental that Rosalynn passed away while the legacy of our former president continues to evolve. Will this be similar or radically different? We are watching this progress daily. We can address this question when we vote in 2024.

Tom Nowak

South Bend

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Reader letters on school vouchers, mental health, Rosalynn Carter
[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

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 31-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges in connection to a deadly shooting Tuesday in east Kansas City, Missouri.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Tamon Daniel with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action.

According to court documents, Kansas City police officers responded to a shooting just after 4 p.m. near E. 49th Terrace and Heritage Avenue, not far from U.S. 40 Highway and Noland Road.

When officers arrived on scene they found Daniels at the intersection. He waved the officers down and put his hands up in a surrendering motion. He then laid down, put his arms behind his back and officers placed him in handcuffs, court documents say.

Woman runs to help after Belton hit-and-run involving cyclist

Daniel told officers he shot someone. Officers then found an AR-15 style pistol, a gray jacket and a cell phone on the ground next to him.

Neighbors directed officers down the street where they found a black Dodge Journey wrecked out in the woods. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Jayden James, was located lying in a vacant lot in a cul-de-sac, dead, from multiple gunshot wounds.

The incident was ruled a homicide.

Proposed Kansas City ordinance aims to stop landlords from discrimination

A witness stated a man armed with a rifle fired at him and the deceased victim through the windshield of the car they were sitting in. Police found no firearms in or around the witness vehicle or the deceased victim.

During questioning, Daniel stated he responded to the apartment complex to protect his sister. He stated two individuals he believed to be involved in the kidnapping of his sister were in a vehicle at the apartment complex and had guns. The men pointed their guns at him and he pointed his rifle at them, according to court records.

Kansas City, Missouri 2023 homicide tracker

Daniel stated he did not fire shots at the men while they were at or near their vehicle. The men ran on foot and he chased them in his vehicle in an attempt to run them over. He believes he was able to run over one of the men. He subsequently crashed his vehicle, got out, and shot the

man he hit approximately 4-8 times with his assault rifle. He then walked up the hill, notified police and surrendered to them, court documents say.

No firearms were located in or around the victims vehicle, according to court documents.

Daniel is scheduled to appear in court Friday at 1 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Benjamin Netanyahu says the war in Gaza will continue until Israel frees all its hostages

If you take Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, at his word, there can be little doubt what will happen next in Gaza: just as Jews around the world prepare to light the first candle of Hanukkah next week, he will launch a new blitz on Gaza in a bid to finish off Hamas.

I have sworn to destroy Hamas. Nothing will stop us, he told the visiting US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, in Jerusalem on Thursday.

The war in Gaza will continue until Israel frees all its hostages, vanquishes the Palestinian terror group and guarantees that no similar threat to its Oct 7 massacre will ever be posed again, Mr Netanyahu added.

If you are a believer in the read-my-lips school of politics, you would have to conclude that Mr Netanyahus mind is made up. More than that, the logic of his approach dictates that once Hamas is eradicated in Gaza, a new front will be opened against Hezbollah, Irans much more powerful proxy in Lebanon.

After all, why go to the trouble of obliterating Hamas, a junior party in Irans so-called axis of resistance, if you are going to leave its big brother ready to launch a devastating attack of exactly the same nature in the north?

Antony Blinken meets with Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday - GPO/AMOS BEN-GERSHOM HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

As an Israeli general explained recently, the mistake in Gaza was to assess the threat posed by Hamas in terms of both its military capability (which was broadly known) and its intention. It was the groups intention which Israel got wrong, so all future threats would be judged by reference to an enemys capacity only, said the general. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.

Yet reading Mr Netanyahus lips may not be the best way forward. He is a populist renowned for pivoting on a dime.

He is also a realist, who knows that the great bulk of Hamass fighters in Gaza have vanished into the general population there and that hunting them down would come at huge human cost; either to Israeli troops if they try to fight surgically, as the US is insisting, or to the civilian population if they repeat the devastating air campaign waged in the first phase of the war.

Already the estimate of 15,000 dead from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza is draining support for Israel across the world. On Thursday, Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, said he had genuine doubts about whether Israel was complying with international humanitarian law, sparking fury in Israel.

At the same time, the hostage releases  cynically and cruelly curated by Hamas  have softened hearts. By Thursday evening more than 100 hostages had been freed, bringing scenes of jubilation and the hope that the remaining 143 captives who remain will also return safely.

If we dont get them back; all of them back, then Israel wont recover, Orit Meir, whose son Almog, 21, is still held captive, told The Telegraph on Wednesday. Its a test of the institutions of the state. The first duty in the contract between a country and its citizens is security.

So how to square the circle? Its a long shot but Mr Blinken, who is on his third visit to the region since Hamass attack, is a clever man and there were suggestions in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that a plan is being hatched that may suit both Israel and Hamas.

It borrows from the US-brokered deal that saw Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his fighters flee Beirut during Israels 1982 siege of the Lebanese capital, and envisages Hamass leaders and its soldiers leaving Gaza for a third country in order that it becomes  as Mr Netanyahu has promised  a Hamas-free zone.

Israeli and US officials are discussing the idea of expelling thousands of lower-level militants from the Palestinian enclave as a way to shorten the war, the newspaper reported.

A separate proposal that envisions the creation of a Gaza Restoration Authority, backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, that would be charged with rebuilding a Hamas-free Gaza Strip, was also being discussed, it added.

Hunting down Hamas fighters in Gaza will come at a huge cost to Israeli troops

Could such a deal really be pulled off? Its a long shot but it may just be possible if sweetened with a comprehensive release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

For Mr Netanyahu, however, there would almost certainly be one more hoop to jump through.

Israel would likely have to agree to engage in talks aimed at brokering a long-term peace, via a two-state solution, as the price of winning support from the Palestinian Authority and surrounding Arab states.

Mr Blinken reiterated that the US remained committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state, according to a readout of his meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, on Thursday.

Mr Abbas, for his part, reiterated his willingness to take on responsibility for post-war Gaza, subject to talks on the creation of an independent State of Palestine.

There is of course one last hurdle in the equation  Hamas itself. While its political wing may be up for a deal, say experts, the military wing in Gaza is another question altogether. For them, martyrdom may remain the preferred objective.

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.
State corrections officials relied on faulty drug test results to wrongly discipline more than 2,000 incarcerated people in New York, state inspectors found.

The flawed drug testing program inside state prisons resulted in inmates being locked in solitary confinement and having family visitation suspended. Other bogus discipline linked to the false positive drug tests led to delays in parole eligibility.

Shown is one of the pouches used in the drug test manufactured by Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories called NARK II. State prison officials in New York relied on flawed test results from these kits to wrongly discipline more than 2,000 inmates, state inspectors found.

As a result of the investigation, state officials expunged charges and modified guilty records for thousands of inmates, according to state Inspector General Lucy Lang. The state prison system also overhauled its drug testing program due to the probe that spanned unjust discipline cases from 2016 to 2020.

Lack of integrity in the systems administered to New Yorkers behind bars implicates all of us, Lang said in a statement.

This investigation and the subsequent policy changes and record expungements represent one step closer to ensuring the level of integrity we should all expect and demand from the State.

How NY wrongly disciplined inmates

Sing Sing Prison in Ossining as seen from the Hudson River Aug. 13, 2023.

As the opioid epidemic surged nationally and in New Yorks prisons, state corrections officials used a drug test manufactured by Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories called NARK II from 2016 to 2020.

State officials picked the test due to its unique ability to identify hard-to-detect drugs, inspectors noted. But in August 2020, state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision officials notified the inspector general that the NARK II test had inconsistent instructions, potentially causing false-positive test results.

Prisons: Guard who punched inmate and lied gets three months in federal prison

Strikingly, the NARK II test was designed to serve as a presumptive test, producing preliminary results that require a laboratory confirmation, inspectors found. But while most other states using the kits took the added step of confirming test results with a lab, New York and one other unidentified state failed to follow that key recommendation.

State prison workers in New York also improperly used the drug tests, inspectors noted. They found:

The test manufacturer provided inconsistent, contradictory and/or incorrect instructions for use of its tests. And it failed to identify this issue or advise New York prisons about revised or updated instructional documentation.

Prison workers failed to abide by proper protocols to prevent misidentifying contraband or cross-contamination of samples.

The prison systems internal controls failed to ensure that testers administering the NARK II test used the appropriate instructions and charts to determine results.

Five days after learning of the test problems in 2020, state prisons in New York stopped disciplining inmates for the faulty drug test results at the advice of the inspector general. The subsequent investigation of the program revealed the massive scope of failures coming to light now.

What NY prisons are doing to fix faulty drug tests

The inspector general noted state prison officials promptly pursued fixes for the faulty drug test program once the investigation began in 2020.

By October 2021, the prison system contracted with an outside laboratory, NMS Labs, to provide the confirmatory testing. Since then, all presumptive positive results provided by NARK II tests have been lab-confirmed prior to disciplining inmates, inspectors noted.

Drugs: Sing Sing corrections officer one of two men accused in scheme to smuggle contraband

As for the prior bogus cases against inmates:

Of the 3,112 disciplinary records that contained a drug charge, officials reversed and expunged 704 disciplinary charges. That included 232 people who had been released.

The prisons also modified guilty charges in 2,068 disciplinary records.

Further, the state Board of Parole conducted new reviews for 271 incarcerated people using updated records that omitted drug violations associated with the faulty results.

What drug test company says about NY prisons

The drug test maker, Sirchie, conceded inspectors in New York uncovered some test kit instructions that were sometimes in error, could potentially cause false results, and required amending, the report noted.

Clean Slate: Hochul signs bill to seal criminal records over time. What happens now?

Sirchie also did not dispute the existence of other test instruction discrepancies, but it asserted that these instruction discrepancies would not affect the accuracy of the results, the report added.

In October 2021, an incarcerated person and parolee in Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Sirchie and Premier Biotech, claiming the NARK II tests are faulty and violated their constitutional rights, inspectors noted. The matter is still pending in federal court.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: How faulty drug tests in NY led to inmates being wrongly disciplined
The New Mexico State Canvass Board ordered the recount of votes in two local elections Nov. 28.

The at-large seats on the Cloudcroft School Board District and Tularosa School Board District had too thin of a margin to call Nov. 7. State election law requires an automatic recount if the margin between the top two candidates is less than 1%.

More: Cloudcroft parks to get new playground equipment

In Cloudcroft, Daniel Hughes and Danny Ward received 24% of the votes. The three other candidates, Jeffrey Eigenmann, Cassandra Saffle and Meredith Shepherd, received 20%, 20% and 12% respectively.

In Tularosa, four school board candidates  Gilbert Gaston, Francisco Jose Gomez, Megan Cairns and Erica Walters  receive 17% of the vote. That race drew nine candidates.

Otero County Clerk Robyn Holmes said she has scheduled the audit and recount for Monday, Dec. 5.

"This process is a way of verifying that the tabulators used in the election are working properly. We have done this for numerous elections in the past and there has never been a change in the outcome," Holmes said.

Of the 1,219,760 eligible voters in New Mexico, 250,582 participated in local elections statewide, according to a news release from New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

Every New Mexican should have the highest level of confidence in these official election results and in the conduct of the recently completed statewide Regular Local Election. Hearty thanks to all the election administrators and poll workers across New Mexico who conducted this election with the efficiency and integrity for which theyre known, and I want to thank all the voters who turned out to make their voices heard," said Toulouse Oliver.

Voters interested in viewing certified results can do so at the Secretary of State website.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Tularosa, Cloudcroft school board election recount ordered
A combine harvests corn to be used for ethanol as a tractor hauls a grain cart on a section of farmland in Michigan on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

MARION  If South Dakotas ethanol industry does not reduce the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide it emits into the atmosphere, the industrys future is grim.

Thats according to two top executives of the remaining carbon-capture pipeline company hoping to capture, liquefy and bury carbon dioxide from South Dakota ethanol plants. They said markets around the globe are demanding lower carbon emissions.

Electric vehicles are continuing to grow, said Summit Carbon Solutions CEO Lee Blank. They are, and maybe not here, but in cities. Our gas consumption is going down. So how do we open up other markets so ethanol consumption goes up?

One of those other markets, according to Summit, could be sustainable aviation fuel from a plant proposed in Lake Preston by a company called Gevo.

Summits pipeline would cross land owned by state Rep. Karla Lems, R-Canton. She said a carbon-capture pipeline isnt the only way to lower emissions from corn-based ethanol.

What would it mean if ethanol plants only purchased corn from farmers doing sustainable practices, Lems asked, like no-till and cover crops, which pull carbon into the ground?

In September, state regulators denied permits for Summit and another company seeking to build carbon pipelines in the state.

The other company, Navigator C02, has since withdrawn its plan. Iowa-based Summit plans to resubmit an application after modifying its route.

The company aims to capture carbon dioxide emitted from 32 Midwest ethanol plants and transport it in liquefied form for underground storage in North Dakota, thereby making the project eligible for federal tax credits that incentivize the removal of greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.

Summits multi-billion-dollar project is led by Blank and Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Powell. Blank is an experienced agriculture industry executive, while Powells background is in energy, pipelines and oil.

On Wednesday, the two sat down with South Dakota Searchlight at NuGen in Marion, which is one of Summits partner ethanol plants.

The following are excerpts  edited for length  from that interview.

A map of Summit Carbon Solutions proposed $5.5 billion, 1,971-mile CO2 pipeline. Summit plans to resubmit an application after modifying its route.

Why is your pipeline project important to ethanol plants?

Blank: The reason its important to the ethanol industry is it lowers the carbon intensity on their products. And there are markets today nationally and globally that want a lower carbon-intensity fuel, and theyll pay a premium for that.

And so by lowering that carbon intensity on the ethanol that theyre producing, they can sell that ethanol into premium markets and deliver a premium back to the ethanol plant.

Powell: To sell in these markets, and to sell to the sustainable aviation markets, which are evolving, you have to have a carbon intensity score of less than 50.

This plant [NuGen in Marion] is one of the newer plants, and its in that ballpark. A lot of the plants that we partner with have a score in the 60s and 70s.

If they power this entire plant with a solar farm or wind turbines, its going to give them a three- or five-point reduction. Meanwhile, by pulling the CO2 stream out of their process, it cuts it 25 to 30 points.

So they cant get the same bang for their buck doing anything but pulling the CO2 out.

Right now, its about a 50-cent margin in those low-carbon fuel markets. So, if its 15 cents to transport to those markets, they net 35 cents a gallon.

Landowners hold signs during a press conference by opponents of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 in Fort Dodge.

What is Summit Carbon Solutions business model?

Blank: We partner with the plants. So its a shared revenue model with the plants.

Were putting up all the capital for all the capture equipment, all the infrastructure, all the sequestration. We dont ask the plant to put up anything. And then, through the premiums  what we call uplift, which is what Jimmy was just talking about, that 35 cents a gallon uplift  we share the operating costs and return on our capital back out of that, and then everything else is shared with the plant.

So the plants dont make any investment. But after we get a return on investment, everything from there is a shared model going forward.

So thats how we earn revenues off of this particular model through a shared partnership with the ethanol industry.

Who will receive the federal tax credits?

Blank: The tax credit is just one of the revenue streams that gets split in the revenue model as it comes in.

Once we put that ton of carbon in the ground, that generates the tax credit for that ton thats been sequestered.

And then, that tax credit comes back to the business and its shared. After we take the operating expenses out of the company, just like everything else, that revenue from that tax credit is a shared model.

Sustainable aviation fuel is one of the future markets discussed that could make up for the loss in ethanol demand as electric vehicles grow in popularity. How does Summit fit into that?

Blank: The U.S. ethanol industry is supplying about 15 billion gallons into U.S. gasoline markets.

There are 100 billion gallons, globally, of aviation fuel. They all have sustainable goals that they want to try to meet by 2030, 2040, 2050.

Theyre saying that without low carbon-intensity ethanol, there is no way the airline industry will meet its sustainability goals. And thats because, basically, without the carbon pipeline, you cant get the carbon intensity score low enough on the ethanol to qualify for the sustainable aviation fuel markets.

And so, its important that we get it done, because it opens up the ethanol industry to another market. Its not 100 billion gallons, because its a blend, but its an additional 50 billion gallons.

Think about that: The gasoline markets are only supplying 15 billion gallons today.

We can open this up for agriculture to another 50 billion gallons of ethanol. Imagine what that can do for the U.S. corn farmer and what it means to the value of his farming operation going forward.

Are you saying sustainable aviation fuel would be 50% ethanol?

Blank: No, its a ratio.

So, remember, the first thing that has to happen is we have to lower the carbon intensity score of the ethanol. Then it has to go through a process through a sustainable aviation fuel plant that has to work to get it to a position where its what they call a drop-in fuel.

And Im not an engineer, so Im not going to tell you exactly how that works, but that drop-in fuel then becomes a fuel that will fly.

As a matter of fact, yesterday, Virgin flew their first 100% sustainable Aviation fuel flight across the Atlantic Ocean with all drop-in sustainable aviation fuel.

Now, they can blend it, and they probably will blend it going forward. But its a big blend. So you open up the ethanol markets to a massive market.

Powell: The goal of the major airlines, like Delta, United and Southwest, their goal is 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030. Theyre targets, but they are pushing for that today.

In this country today, there are less than 100 million gallons produced. So, plants have to be built and they have to be operational.

Im sure you know about Gevo in this state being one. And if we dont have this project, if its not successful in South Dakota, Gevo will not construct here.

So, the 15 or so ethanol plants in this state will be disadvantaged from that aspect. They wont be able to access that.

To be clear, what percentage of sustainable aviation fuel would be ethanol?

Powell: Well, think about it like this: Its like the gasoline at Caseys. You can get 10% ethanol all the way to E85.

And so, it depends on what the airlines require. Is it 15% blend, 50% blend?

But globally, the way I think about it, the way its been presented to us is that the mass demand in the market is about 50% of the total demand.

So, if theres 100 billion gallons of aviation fuel demand in the market, half of that would be available to sustainable aviation fuel.

Your projects ability to access land from unwilling landowners via eminent domain stems from its status as a common carrier pipeline  a type of pipeline required by law to offer its services to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Who else do you anticipate will be asking you to carry their carbon dioxide?

Blank: There are lots of opportunities for that. There are fertilizer plants looking for transport and storage, and others.

But with the failure of Navigator, you know, theres now another piece of the ethanol industry that would like to think about coming on our pipe now that Navigators no longer happening. Those are common carrier-type discussions. When the 45Q tax credit went from $50 a ton to $85 a ton, everything really became available.

And many people dont want the partnership like we have with this plant. Many just want us to ship it and sequester it for them, and thats more of the common carrier-type model, and thats all coming at us now.

Powell: One way to think about it is were designing the system for 18 million tons. We dont have 18 million tons in our contracts.

So well do an open season, like any other pipeline would. And so if you can get your product to the pipeline, and get your product off the pipeline, and it meets our quality spec, well transport it.

Does that mean youre unable to say no to a customer looking to use liquid carbon for oil-well extraction, by injecting it underground to make the oil flow better?

Powell: We can [say no], because we cant get it off the pipeline. Were sequestering it 80 or 90 miles southeast of the oil and gas production areas in North Dakota. So we dont have a way to get it there.

Now, if a company wanted to build a pipeline and take it from us, and move it up there, thats something we would have to entertain.

But right now were partnered with ethanol. They want to sequester it because it benefits them to do that. And thats our business model.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Summit Carbon Solutions execs say ethanols future hangs in the balance
Rome Health broke ground ceremonially on Wednesday on a 30,000 square-foot, three-story addition to house new operating rooms and an intensive care unit.

The groundbreaking ceremony doubled as a kickoff for the public phase of the hospitals capital campaign to pay for the Kaplan Center for Surgical Services.

The $45.7 million capital project, Rome Health President/CEO AnneMarie Czyz said, will enhance the experience for patients and their families while supporting the care team in delivering the best care out there here.

Rome Health welcomed donors and community members to its groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The project involves constructing a 30,000 square-foot, three-floor addition on the north side of the hospital which will replace the building's aging operating rooms and intensive care units.

Addition

The addition to the north side of the hospital will include four operating rooms (as well as the renovation of the hospitals four existing, 57-year-old operating rooms), including robotic surgical systems.

The new, 9-bed ICU will include rooms large enough for all the technology used in a modern ICU; specialty beds to reduce the risk of pressure wounds; extra seating and a sleeper sofa for families; accessible private restrooms in each patient room; specialty rooms for larger patients and for patients with behavioral health disorders; an advanced ventilation system for better infection control; more daylight; and bedside pods for charting.

Rome Health is building an addition to its hospital to be known as the Kaplan Center for Surgical Services, seen here in an artist's rendering. It is expected to be completed in between 24 and 30 months.

Construction will be completed in phases over the next two to two-and-a-half years, officials said.

Funding

The project has already received most of the needed funding: $26 million from a New York State Transformation grant; $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funding from the City of Rome; and $14.5 million in donations. The campaign still needs to raise $2 million.

Nearly 200 donors contributed to that $14.5 million, including $5 million from the Kaplan family leading to the surgical centers name in honor of Charles and Florence Kaplan, Rome Health Foundation Executive Director Chester DiBari III said.

This artist's rendering shows what an intensive care unit room will look like in the Kaplan Center for Surgical Services, an addition being built onto Rome Health Hospital.

Their $5 million gift is the largest donation Rome Health has ever received and continues to inspire others to pledge their support, he said.

Charles Kaplan said that he wants to help Rome Health grow and evolve just as the Mohawk Valley is doing.

Rome Health has served an important role in our community for over 100 years, he said. I know first-hand how convenient it is for us to have quality care located in our own backyard.

More: Nurses charge Mohawk Valley Health System with unfair labor practice

More: Why did Tom Nitti leave 'The Voice?' New Hartford native bows out of competition

To encourage more donors, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has pledged $250,000 once 100 new donors contribute to the campaign.

The public funding and the diversity of the donors illustrate how much support there is for this project from new donors and long-time friends of the hospital, DiBari said. The cause has appealed to individual donors, corporations and foundations.

Rome Health welcomed donors and community members to its groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The project involves constructing a 30,000 square-foot, three-floor addition on the north side of the hospital which will replace the building's aging operating rooms and intensive care units.

Were proud to have even received gifts from former Romans who have contributed in honor of their roots to give back to the community.

Information on the campaign can be found at here.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Rome Health building new ORs, ICU with capital campaign
A second suspect in the Oct. 15 Topeka shooting death of Jackson E. "Jack" Danner has been arrested elsewhere in Kansas, said Gretchen Spiker, communications director for Topeka's city government.

Tremale M. Serrano, 29, was located Wednesday in the jurisdiction of the Kansas City (Kansas) Police Department and should be transported in coming days to the Shawnee County Jail, Spiker said Thursday.

Topeka police had asked Nov. 15 for the public's help in finding Serrano, whom they said was being sought in connection with the fatal shooting of Danner in central Topeka.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced Nov. 15 he had charged Aaron Antonio Serrano, 32, with second-degree murder in the same case. Authorities aren't saying whether the Serranos are related.

A second suspect was arrested this week in the Oct. 15 gunshot slaying of Jackson E. "Jack" Danner in the 1600 block of S.W. 21st, shown here.

What happened to Jackson Danner?

Danner was pronounced deceased after being found shortly after 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15 lying in a front yard in the 1600 block of S.W. 21st, said Rosie Nichols, public safety communications specialist for Topeka's city government. The site is just south of Washburn University.

A police investigation revealed Danner was the "sole tenant and owner" of the house where he was found, Kagay said.

"A search of the residence revealed evidence of drug and alcohol use, and indicated a gathering had possibly taken place," he said. "The investigation revealed that Danner had been pushed from the residence into the yard where he was subsequently shot and killed."

Aaron Serrano was identified as a suspect in Danner's death, then arrested Nov. 3 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task in Clay County, Missouri, on an outstanding warrant charging in an unrelated felony case with crimes that included domestic battery, Kagay said.

Aaron Serrano was being held Thursday in the Shawnee County Jail on a $1 million bond on a charge of second-degree murder and on a $5,000 bond in a separate case in which he faces Shawnee County charges of aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery, theft and criminal damage to property, jail records said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Tremale Serrano arrested in Topeka killing of Jackson E. 'Jack' Danner
Press Release

December 1, 2023 Villanueva: New Law to provide more protection for Pinoy Caregivers Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva hailed the enactment of the law putting in place policies for the protection of rights and welfare of caregivers, including Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Republic Act No. 11965 or the Caregivers' Welfare Act was signed by President Bongbong Marcos on November 28, 2023 after years of deliberation in Congress. "As we recognize the important role of our caregivers in national development, we must ensure they are protected against abuse, harassment and economic exploitation," Villanueva, one of the co-authors of the law, said. Before the signing of the law's final version, Villanueva pitched several amendments that were incorporated to further strengthen the measure. One key proposal stresses that the caregiver must be "at least 18 years of age" to see to it that children are protected from all forms of abuse and exploitation. These include the prevention of child labor as well as debt bondage, like caregiving services in exchange for tuition or living arrangements. Villanueva said this aligns as well with the current requirements of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for prospective trainees of Caregiving Courses to at least have a high school diploma. The Majority Leader also clarified the definition of caregiver which shall include those certified by TESDA or licensed health care professionals who listed themselves voluntarily as caregivers with DOLE's (Department of Labor and Employment) Philjobnet and Public Employment Services Office (PESO). To ensure that caregivers are attuned to the demands of the industry, Villanueva, former TESDA Director General, also proposed adequate provisions for the upskilling and reskilling of caregivers under the new law. The law mandates TESDA, the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to support the "development and maintenance of pathways and equivalencies that enable access to qualifications and to assist caregivers to move easily and readily between the different education and training sectors in accordance with RA 10647 or the Ladderized Education Act." Villanueva, principal sponsor and author of the Department of Migrant Workers Act, also championed the cause of OFW caregivers by mandating the agency to issue guidelines for the recruitment and deployment of Filipino caregivers. "This recognizes the vulnerability of OFWs, particularly caregivers. Thus, a nuanced approach is needed to ensure the safety and protection of Filipino caregivers in all stages of overseas employment, as well as their reintegration once they return home," Villanueva said. Bagong batas magbibigay ng dagdag proteksyon sa Pinoy caregivers - Villanueva Pinuri ni Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva ang paglagda ni Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. sa Republic Act No. 11965 o Caregivers' Welfare Act na nagbibigay ng proteksyon sa karapatan at kapakanan ng mga caregiver, kabilang ang Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Nilagdaan ni Pangulong Marcos ang Caregivers' Welfare Act noong Nobyembre 28, 2023 matapos ang ilang taong deliberasyon sa Kongreso. "As we recognize the important role of our caregivers in national development, we must ensure they are protected against abuse, harassment and economic exploitation," pahayag ni Villanueva, co-author ng batas sa Senado. Bago nilagdaan ang pinal na bersyon ng batas, isinulong ni Villanueva ang ilang susog o amendment para pagtibayin ang panukalang batas. Isang mahalagang panukala rito ay dapat 18 taong gulang ang caregiver at dapat tiyaking ang mga bata ay protektado sa lahat ng uri ng pang-aabuso at pagsasamantala. Kabilang dito ang paghadlang sa child labor gayundin ang debt bondage, tulad ng caregiving services kapalit ng matrikula o living arrangement. Ayon kay Villanueva, ito ay nakahanay sa kasalukuyang requirement ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) para sa prospective trainees ng Caregiving Course na makatapos muna ng high school. Nilinaw din ng Majority Leader ang kahulugan ng caregiver kung saan isasama ang mga sinertipikahan ng TESDA o licensed health professionals na boluntaryong nagpalista bilang caregivers sa Philjobnet at Public Employment Services Office (PESO) ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Para matiyak na ang mga caregiver ay umaayon sa demand o pangangailangan ng industriya, isinulong din ni Villanueva, dating TESDA Director General, ang probisyon para sa upskilling at reskilling ng mga caregiver sa ilalim ng bagong batas. Sa ilalim ng batas, inaatasan ang TESDA, Department of Education at ang Commission on Higher Education na suportahan ang "development and maintenance of pathways and equivalencies that enable access to qualifications and to assist caregivers to move easily and readily between the different education and training sectors in accordance with RA 10647 or the Ladderized Education Act." Isinulong din ni Villanueva, principal sponsor at author ng Department of Migrant Workers Act, ang kapakanan ng mga OFW caregiver sa pamamagitan ng pag-atas sa ahensya na mag-isyu ng guidelines o alituntunin para sa recruitment at employment ng mga Filipino caregiver. "This recognizes the vulnerability of OFWs, particularly caregivers. Thus, a nuanced approach is needed to ensure the safety and protection of Filipino caregivers in all stages of overseas employment, as well as their reintegration once they return home," saad pa ni Villanueva.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Montana judge ruled on Thursday to block the state's ban on TikTok from going into effect, marking a win for the popular video streaming app.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, who heard lawsuits filed by TikTok and five Montana content creators against the state's ban last month, said in a preliminary injunction that the move "is necessary" because the ban likely violates "their First Amendment, Supremacy Clause, and Commerce Clause claims." 
The shooting of three Palestinian-American men this week in Vermont is being investigated to determine whether it was a hate crime, while hate incidents across the country continue to spike. Meanwhile, far-right extremist agitator Ammon Bundy and his family have reportedly disappeared from their home in Idaho. And a new study shows that extremists continue to rake in cash across various social media platforms.

Its the week in extremism.

Vermont shooting raises wartime tensions

This undated handout photo provided by the Institute for Middle East Understanding shows Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ali and Kenan Abdulhamid, who were shot on their way to a family dinner. The three university students of Palestinian descent were wounded on Nov. 25, 2023, in a shooting in Burlington, Vermont, in what police said appeared to be a "hate-motivated crime."

Hisham Awartani and two friends were taking a walk around the neighborhood on Sunday after a childs birthday party when a man silently approached, then shot all three men. Police arrested 48-year-old Jason Eaton, and are investigating whether the shooting was motivated by bias. Two of the three victims were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian neck scarves, and the men were speaking Arabic when they were attacked.

The three victims all survived, but one has been left with a bullet lodged in his spine.

Eaton was arrested at his home on Sunday and was arraigned on Monday. He has pleaded not guilty.

As USA TODAY has reported, hate-fueled incidents, hate crimes and hate speech have been soaring across the nation since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Report: Ammon Bundy has disappeared

Right-wing extremist, conspiracy theorist and firebrand Ammon Bundy appears to have abandoned his Idaho home in the wake of a $50 million civil judgment against him, The Atlantic reported this week.

Bundy gained national attention after he organized the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, leading to a standoff with federal agents.

In July, he lost a defamation lawsuit brought by St. Lukes Regional Health, a healthcare provider in Idaho.

The Atlantics in-depth story examines Bundys two decades of activism on behalf of extremist conspiracy theorists and far-right-wing militia groups.

Bundy has apparently abandoned his home and 5 acres of land and may be living in Southern Idaho, The Atlantic reports. His father and brother claim not to know where the former Idaho gubernatorial candidate is hiding out.

Report: Extremists fundraising on social media (still)

Extremists, including white supremacists and anti-semites, continue to rake in fundraising using mainstream social media platforms, according to a report released this week by the Anti-defamation League and the Tech Transparency Project.

The report concludes dozens of groups that explicitly violate platforms terms of service are making money by selling merchandise and soliciting donations.

Much of this activity is taking place in plain sight. In some instances, the companies own products are helping hate groups achieve greater fundraising reach, the report states.

Meta and YouTube both took down the content featured in the report once it was shared with them, the researchers wrote. X, formerly known as Twitter, did not respond to the reports authors.

Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks Sept. 27 during Meta Connect event at Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

Statistic of the week: 9501.5%

Thats the increase in posting about the Pizzagate conspiracy theory on X after owner Elon Musk tweeted about the conspiracy theory last week, according to a newly released study by researchers at Montclair University.

Researchers found a total of 375,140 posts referencing PizzaGate in November, with most appearing after Musks post. (The completely discredited idea stems from a false  and rather absurd  claim about Democratic leaders and sex abuse at a pizza parlor, hence the name.)

The reaction to Musks post indicates that receding conspiracies are potentially better understood as dormant with a prominent event allowing them to be reawakened, the study states.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where did Ammon Bundy go? Is Vermont Palestinian shooting hate crime?
A white rocket blasts off above a plume of fire. the ocean can be seen just behind the rocket.

SpaceX launched Ireland's first satellite and a South Korean reconnaissance satellite today.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 1:19 p.m. EST (1819 GMT or 10:10 a.m. PST) from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the California coast. The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket landed at Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg around 8 minutes after lift off in what was the company's 250th successful recovery of an orbital class rocket.

SpaceX stopped their livestream after stage separation at the request of today's customers; no views of the rocket's second stage were offered.

On board was a total of 25 satellites . One is the Educational Irish Research Satellite-1 (EIRSAT-1) built by students from University College Dublin following a 2017 proposal. Also on board was the first South Korean spy satellite in a set of five that SpaceX has been contracted to complete launching by 2025.

Related: North Korea rocket explodes during spy satellite launch, and meteor hunters caught it on camera: report

a white rocket blasts off above a plume of fire. the ocean can be seen just behind the rocket

The South Korean satellite, called 425 Project EO/IR, the initial satellite will be 1,700 pounds (800 kg) in mass and include abilities in infrared (heat-seeking wavelengths) as well as electro-optical capabilities, SpaceNews reported in 2022. The South Korean satellite is set to launch into space just days after North Korea claimed to have deployed its own spy satellite in space from a Nov. 24 launch.

EIRSAT-1's payloads were supported by the European Space Agency Academy's Fly Your Satellite program. Its payloads include a gamma ray detector, an evaluation of protective coatings, and a rare kind of attitude control system that orients itself with the Earth's magnetic field, according to satellite's website.

a rocket on a landing pad with four legs extended

Related Stories:

 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches for record-breaking 16th time, lands on ship at sea

 8 ways that SpaceX has transformed spaceflight

 SpaceX Starlink satellites had to make 25,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in just 6 months  and it will only get worse

Also onboard were a variety of commercial satellites including Space BD's ISL48, SITAEL's microHETSat, D-Orbit's ION SCV Daring Diego, York Space Systems' Bane, and PlanetIQ's GNOMES-4.

The mission will be the 88th launch for SpaceX in 2023 and the 84th launch this year with the Falcon 9. (The others used the company's much larger Falcon Heavy or Starship rockets.)
Spain, Romania, Cyprus: These are the best and worst countries in Europe for digital nomads

Looking to move abroad and give remote working a try? There are dozens of destinations now offering visas to digital nomads.

These programmes ensure you have the legal right to live and work in the country for a certain period of time.

However, the visas can vary in terms of taxes, length and minimum income requirements.

VisaGuide, a travel guide website all about visas, has put together a ranking of the best options for digital nomads and countries for remote working.

Here are the best and worst digital nomad destinations in Europe.

Which European country has the best digital nomad visa?

VisaGuides Digital Nomad Index considers various factors critical for remote workers who travel and live abroad.

To rank countries digital nomad programmes, the site looked at taxation policies - including the length of tax-free periods - visa duration and minimum income requirements.

It also considered internet speed, cost of living, global health score and tourism popularity in order to establish the overall best and worst destinations for digital nomads.

Spain claimed first place globally and in Europe. Its digital nomad visa offers a period of six months tax-free, after which workers must pay 15 per cent, and it has a low minimum income requirement of 2,140 per month.

In terms of lifestyle, Spain has one of the highest internet speeds in the rankings and the highest health score.

Living costs were 673 a month, putting the country in the European average.

Work in these European countries tax-free

Several digital nomad schemes allow for tax-free working for the entire length of the visa including Romania, Croatia and Malta.

Romania came in second place in Europe thanks to the highest internet speed out of all the countries surveyed and the lowest monthly cost of living at 539.

The visa does come with a high minimum income requirement, however, at 3,300.

In 5th place globally and 3rd in Europe is Croatia, which doesnt do well in terms of internet speed but has a monthly income requirement of 2,539.31 and a monthly living cost of 686.

Malta, another country with a tax-free programme, asks for a minimum income of 2,700. The cost of living is a little higher here at 781 a month.

Iceland has the highest minimum income requirement

If you fancy relocating to Iceland, be prepared to find a job with a minimum income of 7,000 a month.

This requirement, along with a high cost of living at 1,181 a month, puts the country in 36th place globally and second to last place in Europe.

Although youll need to earn a lot, you can enjoy zero tax for the whole length of your visa.

Cyprus is the worst country in Europe for digital nomads

Coming in second-last globally and last in Europe is Cyprus. The countrys digital nomad programme requires workers to pay 20 to 35 per cent tax after a six-month tax-free period.

It also has a high minimum income requirement of 3,500. Be prepared to struggle with getting online, as the country has one of the lowest internet speeds in Europe.
A Monroe County man was sentenced Nov. 29 to seven years in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, for drug trafficking by United States Judge Malachy E. Mannion.

According to the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 28-year-old Jonathyn White of Tobyhanna pled guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute between 40 and 160 grams of fentanyl in Monroe County. His sentence was enhanced because he maintained a premise to store and distribute the Schedule II substance between 2019 and July 2021.

White was indicted with two other individuals, 36-year-old Tyrell Donta Ravenell of Wind Gap, and 27-year-old Amber Paige Moeck of Bethlehem, in June 2022 for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances within the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which includes Monroe County. White and Ravenell were also indicted on three additional charges of distribution of a controlled substance for distributing fentanyl and tramadol, a Schedule IV substance, all of which were dismissed, according to plea agreements.

Ravenell was sentenced on Nov. 28 to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Moeck was sentenced on Oct. 4 to four years and three months in prison and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Scranton and the Pennsylvania State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski.

Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Monroe man sentenced for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
US and allies target North Korea with new sanctions over spy satellite launch

The US and its allies have launched a new wave of sanctions against North Korea over its launch of a controversial spy satellite, which Kim Jong-un claims to be using to spy on the White House and sensitive US military sites.

The fresh bout of sanctions comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsular over last weeks satellite launch, which contravened UN Security Council resolutions due to its use of ballistic missile technology.

Since the launch, North Korea has withdrawn from a historic 2018 defence pact aimed at reducing the risk of a military clash at its border with the South.

North Korea successfully launched its first spy satellite at the third attempt after Mr Kim met with Vladimir Putin at a Russian cosmodrome in Siberia. Western militaries are yet to confirm whether the satellite will provide any meaningful intelligence to Pyongyang, only verifying that it has indeed entered a stable orbit.

The US Treasury Department on Thursday said it has applied new sanctions to cyber espionage group Kimsuky, accusing it of gathering intelligence to support the North's strategic and nuclear ambitions.

Thursday's actions were taken in coordination with Australia, Japan and the South, the Biden administration said in a statement, adding that the sanctions "reflect our collective commitment to contesting Pyongyang's illicit and destabilising activities".

"We will remain focused on targeting these key nodes in the DPRK's (North Koreas) illicit revenue generation and weapons proliferation," said Brian Newlson, the Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

Thursday's action freezes any US assets of those targeted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.

Washington said Kimsuky primarily uses spear-phishing to target people employed by the government, research centres, academic institutions and others, including in Europe, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the US.

South Korea separately blacklisted 11 North Koreans for involvement in the country's satellite and ballistic missile development, banning them from any financial transactions, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

Senior officials from the Norths National Aerospace Technology Administration, which oversaw the satellite launch, and the munitions industry department, were included in the list, it added.

Earlier on Wednesday the sanctioned a crypto mixer, which it said was serving as a money laundering tool used by hackers affiliated with North Korea.

Washington said its action against Sinbad.io comes as the mixer "processed millions of dollars worth of virtual currency" from heists conducted by a sanctioned hacking group.

North Korean state media claims Mr Kim has reviewed photos taken by the new spy satellite of the White House, the Pentagon and US aircraft carriers at a naval base in Norfolk. The report claimed the satellite also successfully photographed cities and military bases in South Korea, Guam, and Italy.

These claims have been met with scepticism by experts, who say that based on an earlier version of the satellite recovered by South Koreas military it is unlikely the pictures are of high enough resolution to be useful.

Nonetheless, a functional spy satellite would be an important addition to North Koreas arsenal  a crucial tool allowing for the more effective targeting of long range nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Mr Kim has called for his military to be ready to respond to any "provocation" amid the heightened state of tensions, state news agency KCNA reported on Friday.

The North Korean leader rolled out guidelines to improve the military's combat posture and increase "its capabilities to fight a war to the full" during his visit to the nation's air force command on Thursday, the kind of statement that is routine in state media reports when the dictator tours military facilities.

"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 showed Mr Kim and his daughter, both dressed in long leather jackets, watching the show. Mr Kim praised the air force for being "fully prepared to perfectly carry out their air combat missions under any unfavourable situation", KCNA said.
A 19-year-old woman who claims to be the ex-girlfriend of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooter was indicted on 13 federal counts after she allegedly made repeated threats against the community, the Justice Department said Thursday.

Federal prosecutors say Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales, who lives in Puerto Rico, used social media sites and email to threaten schools, law enforcement, hospitals and victims of the May 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Puerto Rico said in a news release.

Rodriguez-Morales referenced Uvalde shooter Salvador Ramos  who was fatally wounded by law enforcement officers after he gunned down 19 students and two teachers  in her threats and said they planned the shooting together.

"Me and Salvador wanted to do this together but he dont wait for me to come," she allegedly wrote in Instagram messages in June, according to a criminal complaint. "Anyways more kids will die and teens so dont cry about this one cause theres worse coming."

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow condemned the threats.

"The U.S. Attorneys Office has no tolerance for illegal threats, especially threats that target people who are the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas," he said in a statement.

Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales. (U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Puerto Rico)

A grand jury indicted her Wednesday on charges of making 13 interstate threats, the U.S. attorney's office said. The charges relate to threats made between May and October 2023.

"We hope that this arrest brings a sense of peace to those who were targeted by the defendant," Muldrow said.

Authorities said that Rodriguez-Morales began making threats years before the school shooting. The criminal complaint stated that she was previously investigated in 2018 for making threats toward Uvalde citizens, officials and facilities. She faced juvenile delinquency proceedings in Texas, where she and her family lived, and was placed in the custody of a juvenile center.

Following her release in May 2020, she and her family relocated to Puerto Rico where the threats continued, the complaint stated.

In one alleged threat four months after her release, Rodriguez-Morales repeatedly called and sent threatening emails to Uvalde police, Uvalde High School and law enforcement, according to the complaint.

Many of the alleged threats after the shooting named Ramos and referenced her plans for further violence.

In a May 21 post on social media, she allegedly wrote: "I will haunt everyone from class 2022 to 2023 Each and every single one of yall will die in the name of Salvador." In that same post, she allegedly said the Robb Elementary victims "deserved those bullets."

Another post that same day threatened a Texas hospital, the complaint stated.

"Your childrens hospital may blow in pieces If yall dont do as i say," she wrote, according to the criminal complaint.

On June 5, she allegedly wrote that she and Ramos had planned the shooting and called the victims "little loser souls."

In an Oct. 25 email, authorities said she referenced Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose daughter was killed.

"If Mata Rubio wins the elections I will kill her," Rodriguez-Morales allegedly wrote. At the time, Mata-Rubio was running for mayor of Uvalde.

Joseph Gonzalez, special agent in charge for the FBI's San Juan Field Office, said Rodriguez-Morales tried to terrorize the community even though she was hundreds of miles away.

"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," he said in a statement.

Each of the 13 counts carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. It's not clear if Rodriguez-Morales has obtained an attorney.

In August, the 17-year-old cousin of Ramos was arrested after he threatened to "do the same thing" at a local school, police said. The teen's mother called San Antonio police and said her son was threatening to commit a school shooting, according to authorities.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Victorville man, who previously worked as an Orange County tax preparer, was convicted of federal criminal charges for leading a multi-year tax fraud conspiracy.

A Victorville man who previously worked as an Orange County tax preparer was convicted of federal criminal charges for leading a multi-year tax fraud conspiracy.

Authorities reported that illegal activity by 66-year-old Stephen Jake McGonigle spanned three continents and claimed more than $10 million from the IRS and dozens of state tax authorities, the Department of Justice reported Tuesday.

McGonigle was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

A federal jury returned the guilty verdicts on McGonigle after an eight-day trial.

According to evidence presented during the trial, McGonigle recruited others, including two co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty, to help convince the IRS and dozens of state governments to issue millions of dollars in fraudulent tax refunds.

Thailand connection

To perpetrate the massive fraud scheme that began in 2013, McGonigle sent one co-defendant to Thailand to obtain fake identification documents that used stolen victim identities, and then he directed co-conspirators to use those fake identifications to get prepaid debit cards, as well as numerous commercial mailboxes across Orange County and elsewhere, according to the DOJ.

After sending the prepaid debit cards to these untraceable mailboxes, McGonigle and his co-conspirators filed fraudulent tax returns using the identity theft victims Social Security numbers.

Those fraudulent tax returns sought millions of dollars in tax refunds to be deposited into these prepaid debit cards or other bank accounts that they controlled.

Costa Rica connection

With more than a decade of tax preparation experience in Southern California, the DOJ reported that McGonigle used his knowledge to lead the fraud scheme.

The IP addresses used to file the fraudulent returns were traced back to various office spaces leased by McGonigle and to Costa Rica, where law enforcement surveillance and travel records showed that McGonigle and his co-conspirators opened an office and hired employees to help file additional fraudulent returns.

Scheduled sentencing

U.S. District Judge James V. Selna scheduled a March 4, 2024 hearing, when McGonigle will face a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison.

Prosecutors have secured guilty pleas from two co-defendants, who are also scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months.

IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this matter. The Missouri Department of Revenue and the U.S. Secret Service provided substantial assistance during the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sue Bai of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Colin Scott of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville man found guilty of massive tax fraud scheme
FILE - Young plaintiffs in a climate lawsuit challenging Montana's government for not doing enough to combat climate change are seen outside the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse, June 12, 2023, in Helena, Mont. The youth, who won their lawsuit saying the state was not doing enough to prevent climate change, are supporting environmental groups in their effort to block a natural gas-fired power plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River in south-central Montana. The youth filed an amicus brief in the case before the Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday, Nov. 28. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP, File)

HELENA, Mont.  Fresh off a legal victory earlier this year in a landmark climate change case, a group of young environmental activists is trying to persuade the Montana Supreme Court to stop a natural gas power plant that's being built on the banks of the Yellowstone River.

The 16 activists said in a court brief filed Tuesday that the air quality permit for the plant near Laurel in south-central Montana should be declared invalid or at least suspended until the state's appeal of their climate change case is decided. The brief was in support of two environmental groups that are challenging the permit.

The activists prevailed in August in their yearslong lawsuit against the state for not doing enough to protect them from climate change. They claimed severe wildfires, flooding, drought and other problems spurred by warming temperatures violated their rights under the state constitution to a clean and healthful environment.

A state policy, which the judge in the case declared unconstitutional, did not require officials to consider the effect of greenhouse gas emissions when approving fossil fuel projects.

The ruling in the first-of-its- kind trial in the U.S. added to a small number of legal decisions around the world that have established a government duty to protect citizens from climate change.

In the brief, their attorneys said the young activists have a unique and significant interest" in making sure new fossil fuel projects like the power plant don't proceed "given the significant harms resulting from additional (greenhouse gas) pollution in Montana.

The state has filed a notice of appeal of the August climate ruling to the Montana Supreme Court but has not submitted its arguments in the case.

The young plaintiffs said the justices should not wait for their case to be resolved before taking action on the power plant permit. Their attorney also asked that any constitutional climate and environmental issues should be addressed through the climate lawsuit, which was heard at trial, and not the power plant permit case.

The plant is being built to provide energy during times of high demand when prices are high on the open market, NorthWestern Energy said. The company did not oppose the activists' attorneys filing a brief in the case.

We respect the views of other parties, however, NorthWestern Energys obligation is to provide reliable energy service at the most affordable rates possible for our Montana customers, spokesperson Jo Dee Black said in a statement. Reliable energy service, especially during the winter, is critical for our customers lives.

District Court Judge Michael Moses in Billings ruled in April that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality illegally granted the permit for the Yellowstone County Generating Station in 2021 because it did not consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the state Legislature updated its Montana Environmental Policy Act to say the agency did not have to consider greenhouse gas emissions unless the federal government began regulating those emissions.

In June, Moses vacated his order that invalidated the air quality permit, partly in response to the new legislation. Construction on the $250 million power plant resumed.

Roger Sullivan, one of the attorneys for the young plaintiffs, said the court's August decision was binding on the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies when considering fossil fuel-related permits.

We are hopeful that the Court will find our amicus brief helpful," Sullivan said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Young activists who won Montana climate case want to stop power plant on Yellowstone River
FILE - Ron Brown with the Yakima Cattlemen's Association stacks boxes of canned oranges and green beans during a drive-through beef giveaway put on by the Washington Beef Commission and the Beef Counts program in partnership with Second Harvest Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Wash. Volunteers from Agri Beef, Rosauers, Yakima County Cattlemen's Association handed out 2 1/2-pound beef roasts and produce to 300 families.
CHICAGO, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ford Motor Company said Thursday that its full-year earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) may reach between 10 billion dollars and 10.5 billion dollars this year, with 1.7 billion dollars lost due to the United Auto Workers' (UAW) 41-day strike.

The U.S. automaker has expected an adjusted operating income of 11 billion dollars to 12 billion dollars this year, but withdrew it in late October during UAW's strike against its certain factories in the United States.

Ford's full-year 2023 adjusted free cash flow is expected to be between 5.0 billion dollars and 5.5 billion dollars, down from its estimation of 6.5 billion dollars and 7 billion dollars. 
If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules:

Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy.

The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party.

We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste.

Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters.

Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
Bodyguards flank Geert Wilders, Dutch right-wing politician and leader of the Party for Freedom, or PVV, as he speaks to the media after casting his vote in the Dutch general election on Nov. 22 in The Hague, Netherlands.
Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows New York Republican George Santos speaking outside the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel George Santos from Congress over the lies, scandals and alleged campaign finance crimes. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel New York Republican George Santos from Congress over the lies, scandals and alleged campaign finance crimes.

The lower chamber voted 311-114 to expel Santos, with 105 Republicans and 206 Democrats voting for expulsion. All Republican leaders voted against expulsion.

The latest action, which required a two-thirds majority, makes Santos, a first-term lawmaker, the sixth member of the House to be expelled in the body's history. Such move hasn't happened in more than 20 years.

Santos invented ties to the Holocaust and made false claims that his mother was at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. His detractors also mentioned several times his use of campaign funds for personal expenses.

The removal of the scandal-ridden 35-year-old Congressman came two weeks after a scathing House Ethics Committee report revealed details about his use of campaign funds for personal benefit. Santos, however, repeatedly debunked the report as political smear.

Santos faces 23 federal felony counts. A 23-count indictment was filed in October in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging him with conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud.

"George Santos is a liar -- in fact, he has admitted to many of them -- who has used his position of public trust to personally benefit himself from Day 1," said Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, a Republican of New York.

Santos survived two previous expulsion efforts due to the influence of the current House speaker, Mike Johnson, and his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who both didn't want to lose his seat to a Democrat in a special election.

Under New York state law, the governor has 10 days to declare the date of a special election.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Friday that she was prepared to fill the vacancy. "I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York's 3rd District. The people of Long Island deserve nothing less," she said on social media platform X. 

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows New York Republican George Santos (L, Front) speaking outside the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel George Santos from Congress over the lies, scandals and alleged campaign finance crimes. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows New York Republican George Santos speaking outside the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel George Santos from Congress over the lies, scandals and alleged campaign finance crimes. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows New York Republican George Santos (L, Front) speaking outside the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel George Santos from Congress over the lies, scandals and alleged campaign finance crimes. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows New York Republican George Santos speaking outside the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel George Santos from Congress over the lies, scandals and alleged campaign finance crimes. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows New York Republican George Santos speaking outside the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel George Santos from Congress over the lies, scandals and alleged campaign finance crimes. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)
Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
DAMASCUS, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Rocket shells resumed targeting U.S. military base in northeastern Syria on Friday as part of the "revenge campaign for Gaza," a war monitor reported.

The rocket shells struck the vicinity of a U.S. base near al-Shaddadi city in northeastern Syria on Friday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The observatory said that the shells were believed to have been launched by the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq from the Iraqi side of the Syrian-Iraqi border.

Also on Friday, the U.S. forces sent backup troops to another military base in the Kharab al-Jir town, and a significant influx of military reinforcements was delivered to the base by U.S. cargo planes, the observatory added.

The Kharab al-Jir base is used as a station for gathering vehicles entering and exiting Syrian territories, due to its proximity to the Syrian-Iraqi border.

The UK-based watchdog group said the Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Syria have resumed their attacks on U.S. bases within Syrian territory, as part of the "revenge campaign for Gaza."

Since October 19, the war monitor said it had documented 46 attacks on U.S. bases in Syria, among which nine targeted the al-Shaddadi base.

The U.S. forces have established bases in several areas in northeastern Syria, especially in oil and gas fields. The Syrian government repeatedly charged that the U.S. is aiming to steal and smuggle oil and gas production abroad using convoys of tanks and trucks, in coordination with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. 
Fenomenul El Nino va continua timp de mai multe luni

El Nino va continua timp de mai multe luni, existand 73 sanse ca acesta sa se retraga intre aprilie si iunie, a anuntat joi Centrul de Prognoza Climatica CPC al Serviciului National de Meteorologie NWS din Statele Unite, transmite Reuters, potrivit Agerpres.El Nino este un tipar climatic asociat [citeste mai departe]
CUPSENI  Probleme din cauza unei alunecari de teren

Probleme la Cupseni din cauza unei alunecari de teren care a afectat un drum circulat pe o portiune de 200 de metri. Este vorba despre drumul din Poieni (pe Sesuri, Ungureni), care duce spre Lapusul Romanesc. Aici, spune primarul Lucia Chermezan, a avut loc o alunecare de teren care a afectat [citeste mai departe]
Opposition Momentum will support the re-nomination of Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony for the post in the 2024 municipal elections, the partys leader said on Thursday.

The mayor is running Budapest against a massive counteroffensive by the government which wants to destroy the city, Ferenc Gelencser told an online press conference.



But Budapest is still standing, it is functioning and prospering, he said. It does not matter how the state party [Fidesz], or its actual proxy organisation  this time Mi Hazank  seeks to change the election law. Budapest is a free city and will remain so.



Gelencser, who is Momentums group leader in the national assembly, said his party was ready for a compromise, adding that it was also ready to back the nomination of candidates on a joint list in constituencies where the opposition stood a good chance to win.



Momentum MEP Anna Donath said her party and the mayor shared two fundamental values, namely liberalism and green thinking.



Our support behind Gergely Karacsony is a natural continuation of a values-based cooperation, not the result of back-door deals, she said.



Thanking Momentum for its backing, the mayor said it was about a mutual support, adding that he could always count on the partys councillors in fights over the past four years.



Karacsony called Momentum an important partner in the Budapest assemblys coalition, adding that in most strategic issues the party was a bit closer to his will than any other parties.



MTI Photo
The leaders of Szekesfehervar, in western Hungary, and Egypts Luxor signed a twinning agreement in the latter city.

Szekesfehervar mayor Andras Cser-Palkovics said at the ceremony that the agreement had been preceded by talks on cooperation opportunities in the areas of higher education, tourism, and farming.



He called it a shared challenge that while we are proud of our history, we want to build modern cities.



The agreement was signed in the presence of President Katalin Novak, who is on an official visit to Egypt.



We want to honour the support of the presidents of Egypt and Hungary through a prosperous partnership built on mutual respect, Cser-Palkovics said.
Honda Motorcycles & Scooter has a strong hold on the Indian two-wheeler market. The company witnessed an uptick in its sales during the festive season and registered a growth of 20 percent compared to the same period last year. The total sales for the month stood at 4,47,849 units. This includes domestic sales of 4,20,677 units and 27,172 units in exports. The brand has launched a couple of new products in India this year, including the likes of the Honda SP125 and Honda XL750 Transalp, while the latest one being the Honda CB350 motorcycle.

Honda CB350

Talking of the Honda CB350 it is priced at Rs 1.99 lakh, ex-showroom. HMSI is offering the CB350 in five attractive colours with a choice of metallic and matte shades. They are Precious Red Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, Matte Crust Metallic, Matte Marshal Green Metallic and Matte Dune Brown. At the heart of the All-New CB350 lies a big and powerful 348.36cc, air-cooled, 4-stroke, single-cylinder BSVI OBD2-B compliant PGM-FI engine. This motor churns out 15.5 kW power at 5,500 RPM and 29.4 Nm of torque at 3,000 RPM, paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

Also Read - Kia Sonet Facelift Launch Date Confirmed; Teaser Video Reveals Crisp Details - WATCH

Honda XL750 Transalp

The XL750 Transalp adventure touring motorcycle is launched at an introductory price of Rs 10,99,990 (ex-showroom). The Honda XL750 Transalp is designed to be at home anywhere - from the rush hour commute to an extended touring trip, from dusty trails to the mighty Himalayas. It will make its way to India through the CBU (completely built-up) route from Japan and will be exclusively sold via the premium BigWing Top Line dealerships. It features a 755cc liquid-cooled 270 crank in-line two-cylinder engine, capable of churning out 67.5 kW power & peak torque of 75 Nm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
Tata Motors, one of Indias largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, commences deliveries of Tata Prima VX tipper trucks with top-of-the-line safety features. The tipper is designed for higher productivity, with best-in-class conveniences and features for enhanced driver and vehicle safety. The Prima range of vehicles is now available in LX and VX trims, catering to the customers preferences and requirements. Loaded with state-of-the-art features, the Prima VX tipper boasts a driver monitoring system, automatic traction control, hill-start assist, multimode FE (Fuel Efficiency) switch, camera-based park assist system, in-built touchscreen infotainment system, fuel monitoring system, pneumatically suspended driver seat, HVAC unit, engine brake and THU axle.

Additionally, the truck comes standard with 4G-enabled connectivity and firmware over the air (FOTA) capability; Fleet Edge  Tata Motors next-gen digital solution for optimal fleet management which enables operators to further increase the uptime and reduce the total cost of ownership. This platform is crafted to enhance business operations through comprehensive trip management, expense monitoring and maintenance scheduling. Developed with insights from drivers, fleet owners and customers, the Tata Prima platform globally proves its worth in optimising trip time, fuel efficiency and durability in challenging conditions.

Tata Motors proudly handed over the keys to the first Tata Prima 2830.TK VX to Mr. Nithin Chakaravarathi Sajja of Arayahi Infra.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Rajesh Kaul, Vice President & Business Head  Trucks, Tata Motors, said, "We are thrilled to launch the Prima VX variant that sets new paradigms in the industry for safety, productivity and driver comfort. Basis our deep understanding of the customer requirements, the Prima VX offers first-in-the-industry features that delivers peace of mind to our valued customers. Our continuous efforts have yielded highly-advanced vehicles for diverse trucking needs. We are confident that our customers will experience safer operation, increased productivity and improved performance. I sincerely thank Arayahi Infra for leading the way with Indias first Prima VX, making trucking safer and smarter.

Tata Motors offers the widest portfolio, catering to every requirement in the trucking industry. The company has gone beyond mere BS6 Phase 2 compliance and has upgraded its vehicles bumper to bumper with more features, efficient powertrains and richer value-adds. Beyond buying the best-in-class vehicle, fleet owners enjoy better fuel efficiency, lower operating costs, high vehicle uptime, real-time vehicle tracking and analytics for running the fleet efficiently.

Tata Motors is offering the best-in-class vehicle lifecycle management services like fleet management solutions, annual maintenance contract and roadside assistance through its unique Sampoorna Seva 2.0 initiative. Underlining Tata Motors' commitment to quality and service, the extensive service network of over 2500+ touchpoints, staffed by trained specialists and supported by Tata Genuine Parts, stands as a testament.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) registered sales of 17,818 units in November 2023 reporting a growth of 51%, compared to the same month of 2022, where it had sold 11,765 units. While the company sold 16,924 units in the domestic market, 894 units of The Urban Cruiser Hyryder were exported. TKM also undertook a weeklong maintenance shutdown from November 11-19, 2023 for the upkeeping of machinery and equipment to sustain operational efficiencies, and maintain quality and safety.

The overall growth chart of TKM continues to gain momentum with cumulative sales for the Calendar Year (CY) 2023 reaching 2,10,497 units, thus reflecting a remarkable 40% increase over the same period in 2022, where the sales were 1,49,995 units.

Commenting on the sales momentum, Mr. Atul Sood, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Marketing at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said In November23 we registered a wholesale growth of 51% as compared to the same period last year. This is despite a weeklong scheduled halt as a part of maintenance to enhance future efficiencies and ensure quality of the highest standard. As a customer-centric company, we ensured minimum impact on delivery by using contingent inventory to serve the pending and immediate requirements of our customers.

We recorded a strong festive season with healthy bookings, and we are extremely thrilled to see the market responding very positively to our entire product range. Popular models, like the Hilux, Innova Hycross, Urban Cruiser Hyryder and the New Innova Crysta continue to steer our growth. The ever-loved Fortuner and Legender continue mark their strong presence by upholding segment leadership. In addition, the Vellfire, Rumion, Camry Hybrid and Glanza are positively contributing to our booking numbers thus encouraging us to look forward to closing the year on a record high.

Also Read - Kia Sonet Facelift Launch Date Confirmed; Teaser Video Reveals Crisp Details - WATCH

Month of November marked 25 years of TKMs India journey in India, as we continue to be driven by our customer-centric approach that focuses on the highest quality standards to offer customers a delightful ownership experience. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to over 2.3 million Toyota owners in India. Its the trust & confidence of our customers that is not only generating overwhelming response for our entire product portfolio but also encouraging us to undertake more customer centric initiatives to grow the Toyota family.

In a remarkable, corporate milestone which coincided with the company 25 years of operations in India, TKM signed an MOU with the government of Karnataka for the next round of investments of around INR. 3,300 crores involving setting-up of a new plant thus adding to capacity thereby resulting in a substantial boost to the local manufacturing eco-system, along with ushering new technologies to create mobility for all.
Vistara, Indias finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, announced the addition of Doha (Qatar), its 50th destination, to its growing network. The airline will be operating direct, 4x weekly flights between Mumbai and Doha, starting from 15 December 2023 using its A321neo aircraft.Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistaras website, mobile app, and through travel agents.

Mr. Vinod Kannan,Chief Executive Officer, Vistara said,"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. We hope that our customers will appreciate having the option of flying with Indias best airline on this route.

We are ecstatic to announce the launch of our 50th destination, Doha!

Now fly to Doha, 4x weekly from Mumbai, with return fares starting at INR 30599 all-in.

Flights operating from 15-Dec-2023. Book now.

Click here: https://t.co/uwFDw40dcD#DohaOnVistara pic.twitter.com/qXMMNlQ8nl  Vistara (@airvistara) November 30, 2023

Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies.Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings.

Also, Manta Air, the Maldives' leading airline, has announced that it is starting direct flights from India to Maldives. It will commence international flights to India starting from 2024, unveiling direct Bengaluru to Dhaalu Airport routes from 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."

The airline will operate direct flights from Bengaluru's 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.
NEW DELHI: Inspite of 'Dunki' releasing worldwide in theatres, Shah Rukh Khan fans from across the world will make the journey to watch Dunki in India this December. Drawn by the film's captivating visuals and emotions that evoke memories of their loved ones back home, the fans yearn for the unique joy of experiencing an Shah Rukh Khan film with their families and friends during this festive season. Hailing from diverse corners of the world, these fans are set to create a global celebration for their favourite star.

Shah Rukh Khan's fan clubs, renowned for their innovative ways of connecting with the star and promoting his films, are once again stepping up their game for Dunki. In a unique twist, mirroring the film's theme where SRK's character crosses borders for his loved ones, albeit through the Dunki routean illegal immigration path in the film, the fans will choose the legal way to travel. The sentiment of making a journey for loved ones resonates strongly with the fans, creating a beautiful parallel with the film's narrative.

A source reveals, "Dunki will be available in the countries where these fans reside. However the visuals from 'Dunki' reminded them of their families and friends back home in India, and they want to savour the joy of an SRK film with their loved ones this holiday season. Fans are making the journey from Nepal, Canada, the United States of America, the UAE, and more to catch this film in India, their homeland, While the exact count of traveling fans is unknown, it's expected to exceed to be around 500+."

With 'Dunki' slated for release on December 21st, the excitement among fans is reaching new heights. The recently unveiled 'Dunki Drop 1' (video unit) and the soul-stirring 'Dunki Drop 2: Lutt Putt Gaya' song have already immersed fans in a world of love, friendship, and family.

'Dunki' features an ensemble cast, with colorful characters portrayed by exceptionally talented actors Boman Irani, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Vikram Kochhar, and Anil Grover, along with Shah Rukh Khan. The film is produced by Rajkumar Hirani and Gauri Khan. It is written by Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani, and Kanika Dhillon, and is slated to release on December 21, 2023.
CU Result 2023 Declared: Calcutta College Rewa has recently announced the first results for various undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses such as B.A, B.Sc, and B.Com. The Calcutta College Result 2023 is now available online on the official website wbresults.nic.in. Students who appeared in these examinations can easily access and download their results PDF using the direct link provided below. To check the wbresults.nic.in result 2023, students need to enter their roll number.

Calcutta College CU Results 2023

In the latest development, Calcutta College has released the results for the second semester of various UG programs. Students can view their Calcutta College Results 2023 on the official examination portal of the College.

CU Results 2023: Steps to download here

As the eagerly awaited Calcutta College results for 2023 are now available, candidates are encouraged to swiftly access their UG semester results for courses such as B.A, B.Sc, B.Com, and various other examinations. The process is seamless and can be effortlessly completed through the official university website. Follow the outlined steps below to successfully download the CU result PDF for 2023.

Step 1: Navigate to the official results portal at results-wbresults.nic.in

Step 2: Select your respective course from the options provided

Step 3: Input your roll number and complete the manual captcha verification, then click on 'Show result'

Step 4: Carefully review the displayed results and proceed to download your result for future reference.
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conclude the January session registration process for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2024 today, December 1, 2023. Individuals interested in applying for the CTET who have not yet done so can visit the official website at ctet.nic.in to register. The CTET January 2024 examination is scheduled to take place on January 21, 2023.

CTET 2024 January session Registration: Steps To Apply

As the CTET 2024 application process kicks off, prospective candidates can follow these step-by-step instructions to ensure a smooth and successful submission:

1. Visit the Official CTET 2024 Website: Begin by navigating to the official CTET website at ctet.nic.in.

2. Access the Application Link: On the homepage, locate and click on the link that reads "Apply for CTET Jan 2024."

3. Registration: Upon clicking, a registration window will appear. Complete the registration by providing the necessary details. Afterward, log in using the credentials generated during the registration process.

4. Fill in Application Details: Within the application form, input required personal, professional, and educational details accurately.

5. Document Upload: Upload the necessary documents as per the specified guidelines provided in the application form.

6. Payment of Application Fee: Complete the application process by paying the required fee through the online mode.

7. Submit Application: Once all details and documents are entered and the payment is made, submit the application form.

8. Download Confirmation Page: After successful submission, download the confirmation page for your records.

By following these steps diligently, candidates can navigate the CTET 2024 application process seamlessly. It is crucial to adhere to the provided instructions to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the application.

The CTET Certification proves to be enduring, with candidates enjoying unlimited attempts to qualify for it. Eligible individuals can choose to retake the CTET exam to improve their scores without any restrictions.

In preparation for the 2024 CTET, the CBSE will issue admit cards to candidates who have completed the application process, including the required fee payment. Anticipated two days before the examination, the CTET admit card is a crucial document for all participants.
World AIDS day is observed every year on December 1. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about AIDS which is caused due to HIV infection. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV.

It was in 1988 that the World Health Organization (WHO) announced World AIDS Day as an official global health observance. The WHO took the step in response to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic.

World AIDS Day serves as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to combat HIV/AIDS and protect the most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and their babies. By empowering pregnant women with knowledge, access to services, and psychosocial support, all can effectively prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Also read: World AIDS Day: History, Significance, Theme - Difference Between AIDS And HIV

Dr Pooja Rana, Senior Consultant Gynecologist, Rosewalk Hospital explains how to prevent HIV Transmission in pregnant women.

How To Prevent HIV Transmission In Pregnant Women

Pregnancy marks a critical juncture in a woman's life where the risk of HIV transmission to the unborn child exists. However, with advancements in medical science and proactive measures, the risk of mother-to-child transmission can be significantly reduced, if not entirely prevented.

HIV is a disease that can be transmitted from mother to child. Pregnant women living with HIV face a unique challenge. Without proper interventions, they risk transmitting the virus to the unborn babies during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. However, with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other preventive measures, mothers can effectively protect infants from HIV infection.

Dr Rana shares, HIV is a virus that can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. It is important to take steps to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child. Here are some ways to prevent HIV tranmission in pregnant women:

 Antiretroviral therapy (ART):

All pregnant women with HIV should receive ART as early as possible in pregnancy, regardless of CD4 count or viral load. In addition to prophylaxis for the newborn, ART should be continuously provided during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum phases.

 Prenatal screening:

Appropriate prenatal screening can help reduce the risks of both neonatal HIV infection and maternal illness.

 Medication:

HIV medication should be taken during pregnancy as well as during labor and delivery. Medications that bring down viral load or the amount of HIV present in the blood help prevent it from being passed on to the baby.

 Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP):

People who are at risk for HIV can take PrEP to avoid contracting the virus through injectable drug use or intercourse. HIV can be prevented from taking root and proliferating inside the body with PrEP. PrEP may be an option to help protect an HIV-negative woman during conception, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

 Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP):

PEP is a way to prevent HIV infection after a possible recent exposure to the virus. PEP involves taking HIV medications as soon as possible after a potential exposure to the virus (such as unprotected sex or sharing needles).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for a 'pro-planet, proactive, and positive initiative' to combat carbon emission at the 28th Conference of Parties being held in the UAE. PM Modi also urged world leaders to join the initiative and work towards a green future. PM Modi also thanked the world leaders for their continous support to the initiatives started by him including issues like Climate Justice, Climate Finance and Green Credit.

"Today, through this forum, I am inviting another pro-planet, proactive, and positive initiative, which is the Green Credit Initiative. It is a campaign to create carbon sinks beyond the commercial mentality of carbon credits through active participation. I hope that all of you will indeed join this initiative," said PM Modi.

PM Modi said that India today presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world. "Despite India being home to 17% of population of the world, its contribution to Global Carbon Emissions is less than 4%. India is one of those few economies of the world that is on the path to meet NDC targets," he said.

Sharing my remarks at Opening Ceremony of High-level segment at @COP28_UAE Summit. https://t.co/gvrlHFWmlv  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2023

Prime Minister Modi was given a special honour of speaking at the Ceremonial Opening of COP28. Others speaking were COP28 President Sultan Jaber and UNFCC Executive Secretary. At the COP28 high-level segment in Dubai, PM Narendra Modi also proposed to host COP33 in India in 2028. "India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028," said PM Modi.

"India's goal is to bring down emissions intensity by 45% till 2030. We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50%. We will also keep going ahead towards our goal of net zero by 2070," said PM Modi.
New Delhi: The BJP is contemplating fielding a new face from Chandigarh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, replacing current MP Kirron Kher. According to party sources, a list of new names for contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Chandigarh has been prepared and sent to the partys top leaders. This list includes the name of a famous Bollywood actress, which is currently a hot topic within the party. On this matter, Kirron Kher has already stated that the party will decide whether she will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and she will accept whatever decision is made.

Party sources indicate that Kirron Kher has won the election as an MP from Chandigarh twice, but this time the party wants to bring in a new face. According to party sources, the other two major parties, AAP and Congress, are also working hard at the grassroots level to win this election, and the competition will be tough this time.

Therefore, the BJP does not want to lose Chandigarh, which has been its safe seat for many years, and wants to field a strong and famous face. It will be quite interesting to see whether Kirron Kher can convince the party that she will win the election for the third time, or the party will field another strong face according to the circumstances.
The date for the vote counting day for the Mizoram assembly election has been rescheduled to December 4th. The counting of votes for the 40-member assembly was earlier slated for December 3. The political parties in the state have been expressing disappointment against the Election Commission of India for not changing the counting date. They have asked the ECI to change the counting date for Sunday being a special date for the people of Mizoram.

"The Commission has received several representations from various quarters requesting for change in date of counting from 3rd December, 2023 (Sunday) to some other week day, on the ground that 3rd December, 2023 being Sunday a special significance for the people of Mizoram. The Commission, having considered these representations, has decided to revise the date of counting for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram from 3rd December, 2023 (Sunday) to 4th December, 2023 (Monday)," said the ECI in a release.

Not only the political parties but even civil society groups in the Christian majority state have urged the ECI to change the date from Sunday. They had said that Sunday is the day of worship for Christians and thus counting be shifted to any other day than Sunday.

In the single-phase election for 40 assembly seats in Mizoram held on November 7, the voter turnout recorded was 78.40 percent. A total of 174 candidates contested in the state.

The main contest in the state is between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and Zoram Peoples Movement. The Congress and the BJP are other parties in the fray. The exit polls have predicted either a hung assembly in Mizoram or a majority for ZPM. Axis-My India exit poll predicted 28-35 seats for ZPM, 3-7 seats for MNF, 2-4 seats for the Congress party and 0-2 seats for the BJP.

Matrize exit polls predicted MNF as winner with 17 to 22 seats, 7 to 10 seats for Congress, 7 to 12 seats for ZPM and 1 to 2 seats for the BJP. The ETG exit polls predicted 14 to 18 seats for the MNF, 9 to 13 for Congress, 10 to 14 for ZPM and 0-2 for the BJP. The C Voter exit polls gave a majority to the MNF with 15 to 21 seats, 2 to 8 seats to the Congress, and 12 to 18 to ZPM. The Jan Ki Baat exit poll has predicted 10-14 seats for the Mizo National Front and 15-25 seats for the ZPM. The majority mark in the 40-member assembly is 21 and the ZPM appears to have an edge in the exit poll. Congres is likely to get 5-9 seats while the BJP may win 0-2 seats.
Amazons (AMZN) AWS re:Invent developer conference kicked off with a slew of announcements this week. The early takeaway? Amazon is working feverishly to catch up to AI standout, and chief rival, Microsoft.

Re:Invent is Amazons annual showcase for its all-important Amazon Web Services business. This year, the company kicked things off with a massive focus on generative AI, as it seeks to battle back against Microsoft (MSFT) and Googles (GOOG, GOOGL) early market dominance.

The biggest announcements from the show include Amazons new Q chatbot, an upgraded AI chip, and deeper partnership with powerhouse chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA). Each of those should help Amazon, and its AWS business, catch up with the industry leaders.

Our discussions indicate AWS has made solid progress building out its [generative] AI strategy and capabilities, with focus on providing an expansive selection of customizable FMs in a secure environment, JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth wrote in a research note.

He added: We come away confident that AWS is starting to close some of the very early gap in generative AI, with silicon development, breadth of [large language models], and significant customer data already shifted into the AWS cloud all key differentiators over time.

But Amazons moves dont mean its on a par with Microsoft or Google, at least just yet.

Amazons Q is coming

The hottest news out of re:Invent was Amazons Q chatbot. Designed for enterprise customers, rather than the general public, Q is meant to serve as a kind of general assistant to help users do things like draft emails, come up with business ideas, summarize reports, and plan workshops.

Attendees walk through an expo hall at AWS re:Invent 2023, a conference hosted by Amazon Web Services, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Noah Berger/Amazon Web Services via AP Images) (AWS)

Amazon is touting the fact that Q was trained on 17 years of AWS data as a key differentiator for the platform, which is currently available in preview. In one example, Amazon explains how you can use Q to take information from a corporate blog and turn it into a social media post complete with hashtags. In another example, the company explains how you can use Q to create helpful apps for workers.

Story continues

The service is similar to what Microsoft and Google currently offer across their generative AI platforms. Microsofts Copilot and Azure AI studio help workers summarize content and craft emails, as well as create custom AI copilots. Copilots are essentially AI-powered apps.

Googles Duet for Workspaces, meanwhile, acts as an generative AI helper for brainstorming and summarizing content, while its Vertex AI services helps enterprise customers build generative AI apps.

The upshot here is that Amazons Q puts the company on a path to more directly compete with both Microsoft and Google, which rank No. 2 and 3 in the cloud market behind Amazon.

Amazons silicon moves

In addition to Q, Amazon also took the wraps off of its latest AI chip: the Trainium2. Designed to train AI models, Amazon says Trainium2 chips will offer training four times faster than the first-generation Trainium and two times as energy efficient.

Importantly, AI developer Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, says it will develop future foundation models on Amazons Trainium2 chips. In September, Amazon announced that it will invest up to $4 billion in the startup.

Sign up for the Yahoo Finance Tech newsletter. (Yahoo Finance)

Amazon has been developing and using its own AI chips for the past few years, giving it a head start on Microsoft, which only recently announced that its working on custom AI chips. Whats more, despite investing more in its own silicon, Amazon is deepening its relationship with AI chip leader Nvidia.

During re:Invest, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took to the stage to tout Amazons commitment to Nvidias chips, and announce that the company would be getting access to Nvidias latest hardware.

Amazons generative AI push comes as the company continues to contend with slowing AWS revenue growth, which has raised alarms on Wall Street. In Q3, the company reported $23.06 billion in net AWS sales. Analysts were expecting $23.13 billion.

Microsoft and Google made 2023 their year to shine as AI stalwarts, giving their cloud businesses some added oomph. But with Amazons latest moves, the company is going into 2024 ready to do battle.

Daniel Howley is the tech editor at Yahoo Finance. He's been covering the tech industry since 2011. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielHowley.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
On the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday. He expressed anticipation for collaborative endeavors between India and Italy aimed at fostering a sustainable and prosperous future.

"Met PM @GiorgiaMeloni of Italy on the sidelines of the #COP28 Summit. Looking forward to collaborative efforts between India and Italy for a sustainable and prosperous future," PM Modi wrote on 'X'.

Met PM @GiorgiaMeloni of Italy on the sidelines of the #COP28 Summit.



Looking forward to collaborative efforts between India and Italy for a sustainable and prosperous future. pic.twitter.com/IbiYLzqS4t December 1, 2023

Meloni also shared a selfie with PM Modi on her Twitter handle which has now gone viral.

In September, PM Modi conducted a bilateral meeting with Meloni during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Italy's backing of India's G20 Presidency. He also acknowledged Italy's participation in initiatives like the Global Biofuel Alliance and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

The two leaders noted with satisfaction the completion of 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They also took stock of the progress in diverse areas of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership and agreed to bolster cooperation in areas like defence and new and emerging technologies. They noted the need for G7 and G20 to work in consonance with the greater global good.

PM Modi on Friday noted that the countries in the Global South have had an immense impact of climate change on them. The PM said that to fulfil the aspirations of the Global South, climate finance and technology are essential.

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). This is PM Modi's third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the COP28 Leadership Pavilion on Friday, where he was greeted by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The three leaders met at the venue of the 28th climate change conference, which started on Thursday and will continue till December 12. PM Modi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hugged each other and then joined Antonio Guterres. The trio exchanged pleasantries and had a brief conversation. They also posed for a photograph together.

PM Modi has a packed schedule during his 21-hour stay in Dubai. He will hold seven bilateral meetings, deliver four speeches and take part in two special climate events, officials said today.

PM Modi will address the opening session of the World Climate Summit Action, which is the High-Level Segment of the COP28. The World Climate Summit Action is a platform for the UNFCCC parties to showcase their actions and commitments to tackle climate change.

PM Modi will also attend the Presidencys session on Transforming Climate Finance, hosted by the UAE, the COP28 President. He will participate in a high-level event on the Green Credits Programme, co-hosted by India and UAE. The Green Credits Programme is an innovative mechanism to mobilize private sector finance for green projects.

Additionally, PM Modi will join the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Event, co-hosted by India and Sweden. The LeadIT initiative aims to accelerate the transition of the industry sector to low-carbon and circular economy.

This is PM Modis third participation in the World Climate Summit after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021.

PM Modi was welcomed by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan when he arrived at Dubai airport on Thursday night. The Indian diaspora also gave him a warm reception outside his hotel. They sang Saare Jahan Se Achha and chanted Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram.

In a post shared on X, PM Modi said, Landed in Dubai to take part in the COP-28 Summit. Looking forward to the proceedings of the Summit, which are aimed at creating a better planet.

COP28 is being held from November 28-December 12 under the Presidency of the UAE. The COP28 provides a unique opportunity to boost collective action to combat the shared challenge of climate change.

During the COP26, PM Modi announced an ambitious five-part Panchamrit pledge. It included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030, reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Targeting Cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
New Delhi: Instagrams Thread now supports all languages in its latest keyword search update, as it takes on Elon Musk-run X social media platform. According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, keyword search will be supported in all languages.

Were expanding keyword search everywhere Threads is available. This feature is supported in all languages  we hope this makes it easier to find and join conversations youre interested in, he posted on Threads.

More improvements are coming to search soon, let me know in the replies if you have feedback, he added. The feature was initially tested in English-speaking markets including Australia and New Zealand in August before expanding to other countries.

That will make the app, now used by nearly 100 million people per month, more useful to a broader, global audience, reports TechCrunch. Metas social network Threads could launch the platform in the EU next month, according to The Wall Street Journal. To comply with the EUs regulations, Meta might offer a view-only mode of its app to users in the region for consumption.

This means users wont necessarily have to make a profile in order to view posts. But they might have to create one for posting, the report noted. Additionally, the company rolled out a way for users to delete their Threads profile without deleting their Instagram profile.
New Delhi: Chinese smartphone maker Redmi is gearing up for the launch of its latest offering, the Redmi 13C 5G, in India. This model, set to hit the market on December 6, follows the success of its predecessor, the Redmi 12C, which was released in March this year.

The Redmi 13C, which initially made waves in Nigeria earlier this year, is now ready to captivate the Indian audience. Redmi has officially confirmed the upcoming release via a social media post, highlighting that the Redmi 13C will be a 5G-enabled devicea first for the 'C' series. (Also Read: Bank Of India Hikes FD Rates: Check BOI's Latest Fixed Deposit Rates Here)

Redmi 13C 5G: Camera

According to details listed on Amazon, the Redmi 13C 5G is expected to boast a 50 MP primary camera. (Also Read: Top Gaming Smartphones Under Rs 20,000: Check Price, Battery Power, Features, And More)

Redmi 13C 5G: Colour Options

Consumers can choose from two vibrant colors: Stardust Black and Star Shine Green.

Redmi 13C 5G: Expected Features

A report by 91Mobiles has provided information about the expected features of the Redmi 13C:

Redmi 13C 5G: Display

The smartphone may feature a spacious 6.74-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1600  720 pixels. Users can look forward to a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a peak brightness of 450 nits for an immersive viewing experience.

Redmi 13C 5G: Processor

Powering the device could be a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, complemented by a Mali G52 GPU.

Redmi 13C 5G: Storage Options

The Redmi 13C is likely to be available in three storage variants: 4GB RAM/128GB storage, 6GB RAM/128GB storage, and 8GB RAM/256GB storage.

Redmi 13C 5G: Expected Price

Converting the Nigerian pricing to Indian rupees, the base model with 4GB of RAM is expected to start at approximately Rs 10,000, while the 8GB RAM variant is projected to launch at around Rs 11,000.
Reported By Vandana Bhardwaj

A Paraguay official landed in soup after signing an agreement with Indian fugitive Baba Nithyananda who currently owns and rules an Island named 'United States of Kailasa'. The Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of a fugitive Indian guru's fictional country, who has allegedly duped several local officials in the South American country.

The revelation sparked a scandal  and lots of social media mockery  in Paraguay but it's hardly the first time that the self-described representatives of the United States of Kailasa duped international leaders. Earlier this year, they managed to participate in a United Nations committee meeting in Geneva and also signed agreements with local leaders in the United States and Canada.

Arnaldo Chamorro was replaced as chief of staff for Paraguay's Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday shortly after it was revealed that he signed a 'proclamation' with representatives of the United States of Kailasa.

Among other things, the October 16 'proclamation' expressed a 'sincere wish and recommendation for the government of Paraguay to consider, explore and actively seek the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States of Kailasa and support the admission of the United States of Kailasa as a sovereign and independent state in various international organisations, including, among others, the United Nations'.

Representatives of the fictional country met with Chamorro and Agriculture Minister Carlos Gimenez, Chamorro said in a radio interview.

During the interview, Chamorro recognized he didn't know where Kailasa was located and said he signed what he characterized as a 'memorandum of understanding' because they offered to help Paraguay with a variety of issues, including irrigation.

Photos posted on Kailasa's social media accounts also showed representatives of the fictional country signing agreements with local leaders of the Maria Antonia and Karpai municipalities. The social media account celebrated each of these signings.

On Kailasa's website, the fictional country is described as the 'revival of the ancient enlightened Hindu civilizational nation which is being revived by displaced Hindus from around the world'. It is led by a self-styled guru, Nithyananda, who is wanted in India on several charges, including sexual assault. His whereabouts are unknown.
New Delhi: The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza collapsed on Friday morning after Israel reported that it shot down a rocket from Gaza and media outlets linked to Hamas said there were blasts and shots in the north of the Palestinian territory in the hour before the ceasefire was supposed to expire. More rocket alarms went off in Israeli regions near Gaza just before the deadline, according to the Israeli military. Hamas did not immediately respond or claim the launches.

The seven-day break, which started on Nov. 24 and was prolonged twice, enabled the swap of dozens of hostages in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the devastated enclave.

Qatar and Egypt have been working hard to prolong the ceasefire after the latest exchange of eight hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday. Israel had earlier demanded the release of 10 hostages a day as the minimum condition to halt its ground attack and bombing.

Were ready for all possibilities Without that, were going back to the combat, Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told CNN before the ceasefire expired.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which controls Gaza, in retaliation for the Oct. 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. Israel hit back with heavy bombing and a ground invasion. Palestinian health authorities trusted by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been verified killed.

Thursdays releases increased the totals freed during the ceasefire to 105 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners. With fewer Israeli women and children remaining in captivity, extending the ceasefire could require new terms for Hamas to free Israeli men, including soldiers.

The militant group could also demand to have Palestinian male prisoners released. So far, three Palestinian prisoners have been freed for each Israeli hostage.
HONG KONG, December 01, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has assigned the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bb+" (Fair) to Mongolian National Reinsurance JSC (Mongolian Re) (Mongolia). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Mongolian Res balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Incorporated in 2014, Mongolian Re was established under its original name of Agriculture Reinsurance JSC as a wholly owned company of the Ministry of Finance of Mongolia (MoF). Mongolia Re is domiciled in Mongolia, where 13% of the countrys gross domestic product is generated from an agriculture sector that is dominated by livestock, according to the World Bank. The company acts as the sole operator of the index-based livestock insurance (IBLI) pool, supporting social stability by providing nationwide insurance coverage to livestock and safeguarding herder households welfare.

Mongolian Re broadened its business scope in 2018 to include additional reinsurance lines of business such as property, motor, aviation, liability and personal accident. In 2022, Mongolian Res gross written premium (GWP) was MNT 4.0 billion (USD 1.5 million). The company has maintained a leading market position in the livestock and motor reinsurance segments.

Mongolian Res very strong level of balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalization being assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The companys adjusted capital and surplus has been on an upward trend for the past five years, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%.

The company has appropriate retrocession coverage for its catastrophe-exposed lines, ceded to reinsurers with sound credit quality. This protects the companys capital position from material negative impacts from extreme weather events. Notwithstanding, a partially offsetting factor to the companys balance sheet strength assessment is its small capital size.

Story continues

AM Best considers Mongolian Res operating performance as adequate. The company reported a robust compound annual growth rate increase in gross written premium of 25.2% from 2017 to 2022 and delivered an average return-on-equity (ROE) of 7% over the same five-year period, mainly attributed to its robust and stable investment income from time deposits. The five-year average net investment yield was 11.2%. Conversely, Mongolian Res underwriting performance has been unfavourable, attributed to its volatile loss ratio from catastrophe losses and high management expense ratio due to its limited portfolio sizes. The company projects that they would gradually manage down the expense ratio from expanding its premium scale and improve its operating efficiency over the short to intermediate term.

Given Mongolian Res vital role in its domestic insurance market, AM Best views the companys business profile as limited, compared with international non-life reinsurance peers. Other offsetting factors in the business profile assessment include Mongolian Res concentration in its domestic market, as well as in products with high natural catastrophe risks.

The companys ERM is assessed as appropriate. Mongolian Re has a defined risk appetite statement and periodically monitors key risk indicators to govern its key risks. The company performs catastrophe modelling on livestock mortality, and submits its risk report and solvency report to the local insurance regulator, the Financial Regulatory Commission, on a regular basis.

The stable outlooks reflect AM Bests expectation that Mongolian Res balance sheet strength will remain at a very strong level through profit accumulation.

Positive rating actions could occur if the company demonstrates consistent improvement in underwriting performance and sustains a decrease in its expense ratio, while maintaining robustly high investment returns.

Negative rating actions could occur if the companys risk-adjusted capitalization significantly erodes by factors such as escalating underwriting or investment risk, excessive dividends, or sustained operating losses.

Negative rating actions could also occur if the company fails to execute appropriate ERM control, for example, experiencing unexpected changes in business and investment strategies subject to undue influence from its shareholders that lead to a materially negative impact to its credit fundamentals.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201339879/en/

Contacts

Lucie Huang

Senior Financial Analyst

+852 2827 3414

lucie.huang@ambest.com

James Chan

Director, Analytics

+852 2827 3418

james.chan@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com
(Bloomberg) -- When ASML Holding NV Chief Executive Officer Peter Wennink took over a decade ago, he was leading an under-the-radar Dutch technology company where China sales were an afterthought.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The company hes handing off is Europes most valuable technology business. Its been targeted by the White House in its expanding trade war with China as the US seeks to keep ASMLs cutting-edge technology away from its geopolitical adversary.

Incoming CEO Christophe Fouquet, a 15-year veteran who is currently ASMLs chief business officer, will have to navigate the perilous relationship between Washington and Beijing when Wennink retires in April. The strategic nature of ASML, as the worlds most advanced producer of chipmaking machines, ensures that the halls of power in both capitals will keep close tabs on his every decision.

Wennink, who was outspoken in his criticism of policies that limit global trade, had sought to maintain access to the Chinese market as geopolitical tensions intensified.

I had the privilege to be in the team that has set the strategy, the direction of the company, and no need to say that I embrace it entirely, Fouquet said on Thursday. I think there should be no expectation that I will be turning the table.

ASML has been sending a message of caution to the people whove asked our advice on this, Fouquet said. We stay true to that message.

US pressure on the Veldhoven-based company started in 2019, when President Donald Trumps administration pushed the Dutch government to ban sales of ASMLs top-of-the-line extreme ultraviolet, or EUV, lithography machines to China. ASML is the only company that makes such technology, which is used to create semiconductors that power everything from smartphones to sophisticated military gear.

Story continues

Then, pushed by Joe Bidens administration, the Netherlands tightened export controls on China further this year, restricting the sale of less-advanced gear. The Dutch government was largely silent when Washington took a unilateral step in October to further limit the export of ASML machines by controlling the sale of specified foreign-made machinery with any amount of US materials.

The US-initiated export bans on ASML have angered some local lawmakers, who see them as impinging on the Netherlands sovereignty. Other Dutch politicians have said the government should have acted quicker to limit ASMLs high-tech chipmaking machines to China.

Fouquet, a French national, will have to balance the competing demands while attempting to satisfy shareholders accustomed to growth, even as his biggest market is squeezed. During a decade under Wennink, shares rose more than 900%.

Still, the new US and Dutch curbs will affect as much as 15% of the firms sales in China, Wennink said previously. China accounted for 46% of ASMLs sales last quarter  compared with 24% in the previous quarter and 8% in the three months ending in March  as companies there rushed to import its machines before export controls take effect.

Still, Burn J. Lin, a former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. vice president and one of the semiconductor industrys leading figures, has said it is too late to curb Chinas advances in semiconductors.

An ASML machine was already used by Chinas Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to manufacture a processor for the Huawei Technologies Co. smartphone which has capabilities that stunned the world when it went on sale in August.

Fouquet, who previously held executive roles in semiconductor equipment industry at KLA Corp. and Applied Materials Inc., used a call with reporters to call for a detente in the trade war.

ASML has been sending a message of caution to the people whove asked our advice on this, he told reporters. This industry has been extremely collaborative and in order to continue growing this industry we see all players are very important.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
TAIPEI, Taiwan, December 01, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan, currently taking place at Nangang Exhibition Hall 1 from November 30 to December 3, 2023, is poised to redefine the landscape of AI healthcare on a global scale. This year's edition boasts the remarkable participation of 650 companies, occupying 2,300 booths, and has garnered the attention of leading technology firms and hospitals across the Asia-Pacific region.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201062013/en/

Expand businesses into growing markets in the APAC region with Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan. Join medical institutes and companies in the fields of medtech, biotech and healthcare to promote products, build partnerships and seize supply-demand opportunities. (Graphic: RBMP & IBMI)

Taiwan's pivotal role in the AI-related supply chain is underscored by its impressive contribution, manufacturing AI chips, and over 90% of the world's AI servers. This proficiency positions Taiwan as a key player in driving substantial computing power, establishing it as an indispensable global collaborator in the realm of AI healthcare. The Expo is showcasing an extensive array of AI applications and solutions, encompassing AI infrastructure, cloud and high-performance computing servers, AI-enabled medical devices and diagnostics, and generative AI for workflow optimization. Participating medical centers from Taiwan, together with their IT/ICT sector partners and multinational giants such as Intel and Microsoft, aim to address healthcare challenges and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

Anticipating the attendance of over 30,000 professionals from the Asia-Pacific region, Eastern Europe, and the Gulf, the organizer foresees substantial interest from industry associations in the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Czech Republic, as well as rapidly growing economies such as Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Strategic partnerships with Taiwan's healthcare industry are in the spotlight, with more than 500 scheduled B2B meetings designed to facilitate trade discussions and catalyze new business ventures.

Story continues

Distinguishing itself as the only trade fair globally with a focus on hospitals, Healthcare+ Expo has experienced consistent annual growth of 15% in event scale over its seven-year history. It has evolved into one of the most sought-after gatherings in the Asia-Pacific region for healthcare professionals. Concurrently, the Expo is hosting major events, including the MEDTEX Summit Asia and the Cancer Treatment and Precision Medicine in APAC forum.

The Healthcare+ Expo 2024 is scheduled for December 5 to 8, 2024, and will continue to serve as a catalyst for transformative advancements and collaborative breakthroughs in the ever-evolving landscape of AI healthcare.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231201062013/en/

Contacts

Media:

Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry (IBMI); Research Centre for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy (RBMP)

Yu Chen (Katy) Chu, Project Manager

886 2 2655 7888 ext.627

katychu@rbmp.org.tw
FILE PHOTO: Workers pass in front of a tank at a chlorine-soda plant of the petrochemical company Braskem in Maceio

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem is facing a new 1 billion real ($203 million) lawsuit over damages that its salt mines have caused sinking ground in the city of Maceio and forced evacuations, the company said on Thursday.

The lawsuit, which state and federal prosecutors filed against the company and the city, seeks an expanded risk area related to ground subsidence and requiring Braskem to compensate more families.

The announcement comes after Maceio's civil defense office warned on Wednesday that Braskem's salt mine number 18, located near a lake in the Mutange neighborhood, was at imminent risk of collapse.

The city, in the northeastern coastal state of Alagoas, said on Thursday the soil movement in the area "remains with the same intensity" recorded on the previous day, when there were 23 families still occupying properties in the region.

"Since yesterday, more than half of these properties have already been vacated," the city said.

It was not immediately clear what the city's role was according to the lawsuit.

The company's rock salt mining activities in the area, which were halted in 2019, led to soil subsidence that forced the interdiction of several neighborhoods in Maceio.

Braskem has set aside 14.4 billion reais so far to address issues related to the sinking ground in the city, authorities attributed to its decades-long salt mining activities carried in Maceio's underground.

The company has disbursed 9.2 billion reais of the total provisional funds since 2018, when the crisis deepened when cracks in streets and buildings formed in five neighborhoods.

It was not immediately clear if the amount the lawsuit seeks is already included in the company's provisions.

This week, executives said that Braskem expects to finish relocating and compensating the city's residents affected by the sinking in early 2024.

($1 = 4.9182 reais)

(Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr.; Editing by Josie Kao)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, met with his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstrom as part of the OSCE Ministerial framework. The ministers discussed key aspects of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Sweden.Darchiashvili expressed Georgia's view of the Kingdom of Sweden as a friend and reliable partner, underscoring the significance of Sweden's support for Georgia on its path toward European integration.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers also welcomed the European Commission's recommendation to grant candidate status to Georgia and deliberated on the next steps in this regard."The Head of the Foreign Ministry of Georgia thanked Tobias Billstrom for the unwavering support of the country and emphasized Sweden's significant contribution to the EU monitoring mission. During the meeting, the parties also discussed strengthening the political dialogue between Georgia and the Nordic countries. Ilia Darchiashvili invited his colleague to visit Georgia," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia stated.The Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze, met with the newly appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Georgia, Matus Busovsky. According to the press service of the Parliament of Georgia, the parties discussed the existing relations between Georgia and Slovakia and explored ways to strengthen cooperation at the parliamentary level.The conversation covered the possibilities of deepening relations in the fields of trade and economy, tourism, and culture. Discussions during the meeting included topics such as the European integration of Georgia, the issue of granting the status of a candidate country, the steps taken by the authorities, and future plans.Samkharadze briefed the ambassador on the challenging situation in the occupied regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, and the increasing threats emanating from Russia.The parties discussed regional security issues, emphasizing the significant role of Georgia in the peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in ensuring regional stability overall. The ambassador reiterated Slovakia's firm support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, as well as the country's European integration.
Ombre West usually takes the Yellow Line as part of her commute to Oakton Community College in Skokie. But the train line has been shut down since a crash on the tracks sent nearly two dozen people to hospitals, leaving West and other commuters to rely on replacement shuttle buses or alternate ways of getting around.

West, 20, estimated the shuttles have added an hour to her trip from her home in Evanston to school in the neighboring suburb.

More than two weeks after the mid-November crash on the tracks, the three-stop line that runs from Rogers Park to Skokie, also known as the Skokie Swift, remains closed as federal regulators investigate CTA equipment design and outside conditions, and the CTA reviews operations on the line.

The closure has frustrated commutes for riders trying to get to their homes, work and school, who instead must rely on the free shuttle buses the CTA is running to replace train service, or find other transportation. And it has left questions for riders and those who were injured about why the train failed to stop before slamming into a snowplow on the tracks, and whether the crash could have been prevented.

On Nov. 16, a Yellow Line train approaching the Howard station, near the border of Chicago and Evanston, rear-ended a snow-fighter track-plowing train that was on the tracks for scheduled training. Twenty-three people were taken to hospitals after the crash, three of them in serious or critical condition. Four of the people injured were children.

It is the latest challenge for CTA President Dorval Carter, who has been in the hot seat as riders complained in recent years about unreliable service, conditions on trains and buses and concerns about personal safety.

The investigation is continuing, but so far NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy has said a design problem caused the crash, that there was residue on the tracks and that the trains wheels slipped as the operator tried to brake. The train needed a longer braking distance, she said. The system was designed to stop the train within 1,780 feet, but the train needed 2,745 feet to stop, she said.

Story continues

The NTSB said it is investigating signal operating design, the vehicles braking and whether any environmental conditions contributed, an agency spokeswoman said in a statement. They will also focus on any changes needed in terms of the current design of the CTA Yellow Line.

The rail cars involved in the crash were 5000-series models, which have been used by the CTA on several lines since 2009. The CTA has 714 of the 5000-series cars, making it the agencys most common model of railcar.

The CTA is reviewing all aspects of the Yellow Line, the agency said in a statement this week. The review includes signals, tracks and equipment, and the agency is also testing trains on the line. Service will resume once the review is complete, the agency said.

On a recent afternoon, out-of-service trains could be seen running along the tracks. A free shuttle bus whizzed past a Yellow Line stop, leaving riders to wait for the next bus. Several regular riders said it was the first time theyd seen a shuttle miss their stop.

Hannah Jacobson, 23, takes the train roughly three days a week between her home in Rogers Park and work at a biotechnology company in Skokie. Not knowing what time the shuttles will arrive is frustrating, as is a longer commute home, she said.

Its just tiring, frustrating, she said. A little less time to go home and be home.

The first time West, the Oakton student, had to take the shuttle buses to class she was an hour late because she didnt know train service had been suspended, she said. Now she knows she must wake up an hour earlier to make it to class on time. She wonders when the train line will reopen.

Bill OMalley commutes from Uptown to a school he works at in Skokie. After he figured out that the free shuttle buses were available, his morning commute hasnt been too bad because there is rarely road traffic when he is commuting in. But the buses have added a few minutes onto his afternoon commute.

The Yellow Line closure is just one more challenge on top of a year of CTA challenges hes faced, he said. This year, conditions on trains and service have gotten noticeably worse, he said.

This year has been the worst year Ive experienced in probably the last seven or eight, he said.

Since the crash, passengers on the train have filed at least seven lawsuits against the CTA. One is a lawsuit brought by a family of which five members were riding in the first car of the train, including two toddlers.

Stephen and Susan Helmer; their daughter, Skokie resident Margaret Costello; and Costellos twin children, who are almost 2, went to the emergency room after the crash, their attorneys, Richard Pullano and Matt Siporin said.

Siporin said his clients are looking for answers about how the crash occurred.

Theres no question that there had to be multiple layers of failure in order for this piece of equipment to be on the tracks with this commuter train, Pullano said.

The CTA declined to comment on pending litigation.

The Yellow Line crash came nine years after a Blue Line train pulling into the station at OHare International Airport crashed through a barrier at the end of the tracks and landed on top of an escalator after the rookie operator dozed off. The crash injured more than 30 people and caused roughly $11 million in damages, and led to operational changes at the CTA, including lowering the speed limit for trains approaching the OHare platform.

Among the NTSBs recommendations after the Blue Line crash was that the CTA install a more robust type of train control system, that CTA estimates will cost nearly $2.5 billion. The more robust control system is similar in some ways to a variety called Positive Train Control that federal authorities have mandated for Metra and other railroads.

The Federal Transit Administration has not mandated public transit systems adopt the more robust type of train control system. In a 2022 study of the system the agency concluded it can reduce risks for rail transit agencies and further research was needed into the best ways to use the system and potential effects on transit agencies.

While the investigation into the cause of the Yellow Line crash continues, it is unclear whether a new control system would have made a difference.

A system like Positive Train Control might have prevented the Yellow Line crash, but it might not be a cost-effective choice for the CTA, said Joseph Schwieterman, director of DePaul Universitys Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.

Retrofitting an old system can be expensive, difficult and lead to service disruptions, he said. It could come at the expense of replacing bridges, improving bus stops, upgrading stations or other measures to improve rider safety, he said.

Its a challenge for older systems like the CTA to have hundreds of older cars and legacy infrastructure thats in some cases crumbling, he said.

The type of system the CTA currently uses has the ability to automatically detect trains on the same track and restrict trains movement, including capping speeds and automatically stopping a train if an operator violates a signal, CTA spokesman Brian Steele said in a statement.

The more robust system can provide more precise information about where a train is on the tracks, he said. But both systems rely information about how trains act under normal conditions and other unforeseen factors can intervene and affect these protections, he said.

The CTA has laid the groundwork to potentially move toward a more advanced system by upgrading some of its signals and rail cars, he said.

CTA has made significant strides to upgrade and improve its signal systems and railcar capabilities, building the foundation for an even more modern system, he said.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com
(Bloomberg) -- Dell Technologies Inc. reported revenue that declined more than expected, buffeted by continued sluggish corporate demand for personal computers.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Fiscal third-quarter sales fell 10% to $22.3 billion, the company said Thursday in a statement. Analysts, on average, estimated $23 billion. The client solutions group, which includes corporate and consumer PC sales, dropped 11%, far short of analysts expectations.

Revenue will be about $22 billion in the period ending in January, Chief Financial Officer Yvonne McGill said on a conference call after the results were released. Analysts, on average, projected $23.9 billion. The PC unit will see sales decline in the low single-digits sequentially, McGill said, although were seeing pockets of stability in CSG demand that have yet to see a broader recovery in the PC market.

Known for its PC business, Dell has attracted investor interest this year due to a spike in demand for high-powered servers used to run artificial intelligence workloads. The Round Rock, Texas-based company said it recognized $500 million in revenue from the sale of this equipment in the period that ended Nov. 3. Earlier this month, Dell announced a $150 million server deal with AI startup Imbue.

Server revenue was $4.66 billion in the quarter, compared with analysts average estimate of $4.43 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Our servers and networking business was up 9% sequentially, fueled by customer interest in generative AI, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke said in the statement.

That outperformance is in contrast with rival Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., which reported a steeper drop in server sales than expected on Tuesday.

Story continues

Dell shares fell about 3% in extended trading before recovering those losses during the companys conference call. The stock closed at $75.87 in New York after jumping 89% this year amid enthusiasm about the potential for AI to boost demand.

PC makers have been battered the past 18 months as demand cratered in a post-pandemic bust. Computer peer HP Inc. last week reported similarly lukewarm results.

Still, analysts have begun to see signs of life for the industry. In an October report, IDC wrote that while the global economy remained subdued, the PC market had moved past the bottom of the trough.

Dell expects revenue growth in the new fiscal year beginning in February, Clarke said in the statement. Analysts currently project an annual sales increase of 3.5%.

We expect revenue to return to growth next year, above our long-term financial framework, McGill said on the call. The opportunity is a broader IT spending recovery, with large corporate and enterprise customers, particularly in the US.

(Updates with sales forecast in the third paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Energy Transfer LP (NYSE: ET) shares closed higher on Thursday as investors assessed the OPEC+ decision.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies collectively decided to implement an additional supply cut of 1 million barrels a day, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's recent extension of its equivalent voluntary oil reduction.

On Nov. 1, Energy Transfer posted weaker-than-expected earnings for its third quarter.

With the recent buzz around Energy Transfer, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the companys dividends. As of now, Energy Transfer offers an annual dividend yield of 9%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 31.25 cents per share ($1.25 a year).

So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly?

To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $66,672 or around 4,800 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $13,334 or around 960 shares.

Read This: Top 4 Defensive Stocks That You May Want To Dump In November

To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($1.25 in this case). So, $6,000 / $1.25 = 4,800 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $1.25 = 960 shares ($100 per month).

Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.

How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock's current price.

For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40).

Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield.

Story continues

ET Price Action: Shares of Energy Transfer rose 1.5% to close at $13.89 on Thursday.

This Jeff Bezos-backed platform has made real estate investing as easy as ordering stuff on Amazon. Read how you can invest as little as $100 in its offerings

"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!

This article How To Earn $500 A Month From Energy Transfer Stock originally appeared on Benzinga.com

.

 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
In 2011, Elon Musk ridiculed the quality of electric vehicles made by Chinas BYD. Then he admitted this May that their cars are highly competitive these days. Now, the Tesla CEO is amping up his praise of Chinese EV makers.

The Chinese car companies are extremely competitive," Musk said at this weeks New York Times Dealbook conference. "China is super good at manufacturing, and the work ethic is incredible.

He even went so far as to suggest that the top 10 automakers of the future might be mostly Chinese onesalthough he still envisions Tesla sitting atop them all.

There's a lot of people out there who think that the top 10 car companies are going to be Tesla followed by nine Chinese car companies, he said at the conference. I think they might not be wrong.

In the case of BYD, its manufacturing prowess had long impressed Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman Charlie Munger, who passed away this week. While Berkshire generally steers clear of the auto industryit declined to invest in TeslaMunger led an enormously successful investment in BYD. He called the carmakers founder and CEO Wang Chuanfu a natural engineer, adding that the guy at BYD is better at actually making things than Elon is.

'Demolish the old legends'

BYD came within a few thousand vehicles of surpassing Tesla in global EV sales in the third quarter (it already sells more when factoring in other categories including hybrids). Its widely expected to take the lead this quarter or in the near future, even though it hasnt entered the U.S. market amid a global expansion.

But Wang himself thinks many Chinese automakersothers include Nio, Xpeng, and Li Autohave a bright future. I believe the time has come for Chinese brands, he said earlier this year. He called upon other Chinese automakers to go global and demolish the old legends of the industry.

Not everyone agrees with Musk on the auto industry's future, of course. Toyota, for instance, doubled down on hybrids even as Musk called them a phase, and this year theyve proven to be a smoking-hot market, as one executive put it.

Story continues

But it isnt just Musk warily eyeing Chinas formidable EV makers. Ford Motor executive chairman Bill Ford Jr. warned earlier this year that U.S. automakers are not quite ready yet to compete with them on electric vehicles.

They developed very quickly, and theyve developed them in large scale, and now they are exporting, Ford said.

China atop Tesla's EV 'leagues'

Meanwhile China itself remains the worlds largest EV market, with 59% of global sales last year, according to the World Economic Forum.

Ford CEO Jim Farley added at a finance event in May, while discussing the EV future: We see the Chinese as the main competitor, not GM or Toyota. The Chinese are going to be the powerhouse.

One key advantage for China is its dominance in the EV supply chain. BYD, for instance, can keep its vehicle prices low in part because it owns the supply chain of its EV batteries, from the raw materials to the finished battery packs. It also designs its own semiconductors.

BYD launched an EV called the Seagull with a cutthroat price of about $11,000 earlier this year. Its quickly become one of the best-selling EVs in China. The Seagull and similar vehicles from China could prove to be a disruptive force in overseas markets.

If we consider different leagues of competitiveness at Tesla, Musk said, we consider the Chinese league to be the most competitive.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
A Spanish air force Eurofighter Typhoon. US Marine Corps/SSgt. Kenneth K. Trotter Jr.

Defense bonds could help Europe finance its security needs, the European Council chief said.

The financing vehicle would help European weapons makers boost production.

"These EU bonds could emerge as a new asset class, including for retail investors."

The European Union needs to ramp up defense financing as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on, European Council chief Charles Michel said on Thursday.

Issuing defense bonds could help European weapons makers boost production as countries rearm in the face of the Russian threat.

"We should also consider the idea of European defense bonds to strengthen our technological and industrial base," he said in a Thursday speech at the European Defense Agency conference. "These EU bonds could emerge as a new asset class, including for retail investors."

His comments stemmed from concern that the Europe's defense industries are fragmented, while arms and ammunition need to be made faster and more efficiently.

"Increasing the predictability of public orders will help our industry access private financing, and it will send a very clear message: produce and we will buy," he said.

The suggestion of joint borrowing may not find broad EU support, although similar measures were implemented during the COVID pandemic.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said at the conference that it was time for the European Investment Bank to improve financial support for the defense sector, according to Bloomberg.

The lending arm has been hesitant to entangle itself more with the defense industry, given the risks this would pose to its top credit rating and ESG status, Bloomberg said. The bank doesn't currently provide loans on weaponry, and changing this rule would require a go-ahead from EU members.

Apart from defense bonds, Michel also suggested regulatory improvements to make defense spending more efficient, better coordinating investments between members, and funneling money towards under-financed defense sections.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Companies from around the world looking to Central Asian nation for BPO and IT outsourcing

ICT Week Uzbekistan

ICT Week Uzbekistan, a series of independent events highlighting Uzbekistans booming information technology sector, was held in Tashkent last month.

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.

Story continues

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

CONTACT: Janona Akhmedova Head of Communications IT Park Uzbekistan +998909310690 j.akhmedova@it-park.uz




A federal judge blocked a Montana state law banning TikTok, saying it likely violates the First Amendment.

The ban of the Chinese-owned app in the state was passed by Montana lawmakers earlier this year and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte in May. It was due to take effect on Jan. 1.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said in granting a preliminary injunction Thursday that the TikTok ban  the first of its kind in the nation  "oversteps state power and infringes on the constitutional rights of users."

TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, said it was pleased the judge rejected "this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on TikTok."

TikTok and content creators, who filed the lawsuit challenging the Montana law, argued in a hearing last month that it violated the First Amendment.

Montana lawmakers cited concerns that the Chinese government could force TikTok to hand over information on its 150 million U.S. users. Gianforte could not be reached for comment.

In response to the ruling, Emilee Cantrell, a spokesperson for the Montana Attorney General's office, said "this is a preliminary matter at this point."

"The judge indicated several times that the analysis could change as the case proceeds and the State has the opportunity to present a full factual record," Cantrell said in an email statement. "We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data."

Opponents of the law including the American Civil Liberties Union and digital privacy rights groups have said the ban is an example of government overreach. When the ban first passed, the ACLU's Montana chapter said state officials had "trampled on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans."

Story continues

No other state has passed a TikTok ban but a few have sued.

TikTok is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on an US flag as the background.

Federal efforts to ban TikTok which began in 2020 when President Donald Trump tried to cut off the popular app with an executive order have also not been successful.

Warning of potential threats to national security and the spread of pro-China propaganda and misinformation on the platform, the federal government and more than half of the states have banned TikTok from being used on government-owned devices.

Two-thirds of American teens use TikTok every day, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey. Some 16% say they use TikTok almost constantly.

Will TikTok be banned? Maybe it should be for kids, at least.

Montana's measure was introduced in February by the state's GOP-controlled Legislature  just weeks after a Chinese spy balloon flew over the state  and sparked months of national debate before it was easily passed by the House. Security experts say it would be difficult to enforce the ban.

Montana's new law would ban downloads of TikTok across the state and fine any "entity" $10,000 per day for each time a person in the state is able to access the social media platform or download the app. The penalties would not apply to users.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Montana TikTok ban blocked by federal judge
Potential Team17 Group plc (LON:TM17) shareholders may wish to note that insider Frank Sagnier recently bought UK205k worth of stock, paying UK1.90 for each share. Although the purchase is not a big one, by either a percentage standpoint or absolute value, it can be seen as a good sign.

View our latest analysis for Team17 Group

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Team17 Group

In fact, the recent purchase by Frank Sagnier was the biggest purchase of Team17 Group shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK1.65 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. 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. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

Team17 Group insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Insiders own 21% of Team17 Group shares, worth about UK50m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

Story continues

So What Do The Team17 Group Insider Transactions Indicate?

It is good to see recent purchasing. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest Team17 Group insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. 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. Our analysis shows 2 warning signs for Team17 Group (1 is potentially serious!) and we strongly recommend you look at them before investing.

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.
Googles new generative AI experiment lets you create music inspired by over 100 instruments worldwide. Instrument Playground starts by asking for a simple prompt containing a musical instruments name, optionally preceded by an adjective like upbeat, strange or gloomy. It will then spit out a 20-second audio clip as a starting point to compose (often extremely offbeat or abstract) music that may or may not include the sound of the specific instrument you entered.

Simon Doury, an Artist in Residence at Google Arts & Culture Lab, designed the experiment. It taps into Googles MusicLM, a text-to-AI tool it made available to the public in May.

Instrument Playground invites you to choose one of over 100 instruments from around the world youd like to play, suggesting some lesser-known to Americans like the veena from India, dizi from China or mbria from Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, prefixing your instrument prompt with an adjective lets you suggest styles like moody, happy or romantic.

The experiment works less literally than you might expect. For example, angry tuba doesnt generate the aggressive brass solo youd expect. Instead, it sounds more like a synthesized pipe organ with tuba aspirations. Similarly, strange didgeridoo came out like an ominous section of a Hans Zimmer score. The results seem like abstract compositions with layers of sound that (sort of) capture the feeling  more than the specific sound  of the prompt.

It also rejects some adjectives for inexplicable reasons. When I enter quirky or psychedelic, an error pop-up tells me it doesnt allow prompts referencing specific artists.

Once the experiment generates a clip you like for a starting point, you can choose from Ambient, Beat and Pitch to control different aspects of the composition, turning it into something more uniquely yours. If you want to add more instruments (or whatever sounds it makes in response to instrument-based prompts), an advanced mode opens a sequencer to layer and loop up to four tracks for your oddball musical masterpiece. Finally, you can download a .wav file of your track once youre happy with it.

Google included the following holiday-themed example to inspire you to get started. If that looks like something you want to play with, you can visit Instrument Playground and log in with your Google account to begin composing.
Transparency Market Research

The increasing trend towards integrated solutions, such as combined heat and power systems are expected to fuel the market growth, where industrial boilers are used in conjunction with power generation units to maximize overall efficiency.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global industrial boiler market was estimated to have acquired US$ 12.2 billion in 2022. It is anticipated to register a 4.4% CAGR from 2023 to 2031 and by 2031, the market is likely to gain US$ 18.0 billion.

The integration of Industrial Internet of Things for predictive maintenance, real time monitoring, and data analytics to optimize the performance of industrial boilers.

Increased globalization and international trade are leading to higher demand for industrial boilers in various industries, including logistics, transportation, and manufacturing.

Download Sample of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=75333

Global Industrial Boiler Market: Key Players

The following companies are well known participants in the global industrial boiler market:

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc.

Bosch Industriekessel GmbH

Doosan Heavy Industries Vietnam Co.

Harbin Electric corporation co. ltd.

Hurst Boiler & Welding Co, Inc.

IHI Corporation

McKenna Boiler Works Inc.

Mitsubishi heavy industry ltd.

Rakhoh Industries Pvt. Ltd.

Sofinter S.p.a

Thermax

Byworth Boilers

ZHENGZHOU BOILER (GROUP) CO., LTD.

General Electric

Alfa Laval

Key Findings of Market Report

The deployment of microgrids is expected to incorporate industrial boilers as part of a distributed energy system, providing resilience and energy security to specific regions or facilities.

Growing interest in industrial boilers can accommodate a variety of fuels, providing flexibility in fuel selection based on availability and cost, as well as compliance with environmental regulations.

Focus on water treatment technologies and water conservation strategies in industrial boilers is expected to address concerns related to water scarcity and environmental sustainability.

Increasing demand for customizable and modular boiler designs can be easily adapted to specific industrial processes and applications, offering greater flexibility to end users.

Story continues

Trends for Industrial Boiler Market

The increasing focus on renewable energy sources and sustainability is expected to drive the demand for biomass and other renewable energy boilers, offering alternative solutions to traditional fossil fuel based boilers.

Integration of digital and smart technologies for better control, monitoring, and optimization of industrial boiler systems to enhance efficiency and reduce downtime.

The need for replacing aging industrial boiler infrastructure in mature markets, coupled with the adoption of more advanced and efficient technologies, is anticipated to propel the market growth.

Ongoing research and development activities to enhance the efficiency and performance of industrial boilers, as well as the development of innovative materials, are expected to drive market growth.

Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ASK&rep_id=75333





Global Market for Industrial Boiler: Regional Outlook

Various reasons are propelling the growth of the industrial boiler market in different regions. The regions include,

North America

The ongoing industrialization in North America, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, chemicals, and food processing, is expected to drive the demand for industrial boilers.

The implementation of strict environmental regulations and emission standards is anticipated to encourage industries to invest in cleaner and more efficient boiler technologies to comply with these standards.

The growing emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable practices in North American industries, with companies seeking energy efficient solutions to reduce operational costs and minimize their environmental footprint.

Asia Pacific

Supportive government initiatives, policies, and incentives aim at promoting energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and fostering the adoption of clean technologies, including industrial boilers.

The growth of the manufacturing sector in Asia Pacific, particularly in countries like China and India, are leading to increased demand for industrial boilers in processes such as chemical manufacturing, food processing, and textiles.

Recent Development:

In 2020, Thermax Limited unveiled Combloc Optima, which is a next generation boiler, boasting enhanced efficiency and increased equipment uptime. Combloc Optima is a compact, efficient, and robust plug and play packaged boiler tailored to fulfill steam requirements.

Global Industrial Boiler Market Segmentation

Product Type

Fire Tube Boilers HRT Boiler Scotch Boiler Firebox Boiler Water Tube Boilers Stoker Fired Boiler PC Fired Boiler FBC Boiler Electric Boilers



Fuel Type

Oil Coal Biomass Natural gas Others (MSW, TDF etc.)



Capacity

Upto 2,00,000 2,00,000 to 3,00,000 Above 3,00,000



End Use Industry

Food and Beverage Refining Metal Paper and Pulp Cement Textile Energy & Power Others (Pharmaceuticals, Mining, etc.)



Region

North America South America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa



Buy this Premium Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=75333<ype=S

Related Trending Reports:

Kiosk Market - The Kiosk market was valued at 30.6 Bn in 2022; It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2023 to 2031 and reach US$ 52.2 Bn by the end of 2031.

Liquid Cooling Systems Market - The global liquid cooling systems market was valued at US$ 6.9 Bn in 2022; It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2031 and reach US$ 10.9 Bn by the end of 2031

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

Contact:

Nikhil Sawlani

Transparency Market Research Inc.

CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN,

1000 N. West Street,

Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA

Tel: +1-518-618-1030

USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Blog: https://tmrblog.com

Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com




Reuters: Kyodo News has reported that a reporter for South China Morning Post who traveled to Beijing for the Xiangshan Forum from Hong Kong last month has not been reachable for several weeks. Kyodo citing people close to the matter said this reporter may be under investigation by mainland authorities. Is there anything that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to offer regarding this situation?

Wang Wenbin: Im not aware of that.

Global Times: We noted that the OECD Economic Outlook issued recently revised up Chinas growth forecasts for this year and the next, expecting China to grow at 5.2 percent this year. China will remain a main driver for economic growth in the Asia-Pacific and the world. What is your comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: We noted that recently many international organizations and financial institutions have revised up Chinas growth forecast for this year. Aside from the OECD, the IMF has increased the forecast to 5.4 percent, and many financial institutions such as JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, UBS, Deutsche Bank and ANZ have put it at 5 to 5.5 percent. It is widely believed that China is the biggest driver for the world economy and will contribute one third of global growth.

Since early this year, China has seen continued rebound in its economy, with leading growth rate among major economies, and substantive progress in high-quality development. The world has looked to the Chinese market for more opportunities. The sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) held last month saw the signing of tentative deals worth USD 78.41 billion, increasing by 6.7 percent compared with the previous CIIE. The second Global Digital Trade Expo witnessed the signing of projects with a total contract value of RMB 155.85 billion, surging by 316.7 percent from the first expo. The ongoing first China International Supply Chain Expo has attracted over 500 companies and institutions from both home and abroad. We welcome friends from the business communities of all countries to invest in China, explore Chinas market, and share in the new opportunities arising from Chinas high-quality development and high-level opening up.

Reuters: Argentinas incoming Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on Thursday said the country will not join the BRICS grouping of developing nations. Has China reached out to the incoming Milei administration as the President-elect will be in power and have the final say over its BRICS membership?

Wang Wenbin: BRICS is an important platform for stronger solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries to uphold common interest. It is an open platform. We welcome all countries that are interested to become a member of the BRICS family.

Shenzhen TV: According to reports, on November 29, many British visitors braved the bitter cold to bid farewell to giant pandas Yang Guang and Tian Tian in Edinburgh, who will soon return to China. Many British people are reluctant to see the giant pandas go and care about whether China and the UK will continue to cooperate on giant pandas. What is your comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: Since launching the cooperation on giant panda conservation and research in 2011, China and the UK have maintained a sound cooperation relationship and achieved positive outcomes in the conservation and management, scientific research, technological exchange and public education regarding giant pandas. This has played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and British peoples. In accordance with the terms in the cooperation agreement signed between China and the UK, Yang Guang and Tian Tian, the two giant pandas, will return to China after the agreement expire in December. The Chinese side has made good preparations to welcome them home. In the future, China stands ready to continue to strengthen cooperation with the UK and other international partners on the protection of endangered species and biodiversity and enhance the friendship between people in China and other countries in the world.

Peoples Daily: November 28 marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Europe Railway Express (Xian), which has seen over 20,000 trips, accounting for a quarter of all trips made under the Railway Express. How do you see the role played by the China-Europe Railway Express in promoting the economic development of countries along the routes?

Wang Wenbin: Over the past decade, the China-Europe Railway Express has grown into a bustling network, contributing to keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and injecting new impetus into the world economic development. It has become a flagship project and a signature brand of Belt and Road cooperation.

The Railway Express has built a new land transportation corridor, promoting win-win cooperation in Eurasia. It runs through more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries and regions and reaches more than 200 cities in 25 European countries. Thanks to its development, the cargo transportation time between China and Europe can be shortened by more than 20 days from shipping by sea, which means quality products from China and Europe can reach each others markets more quickly. Over the past decade, with strong demand for cross-border transport, a total of 81,000 trips were made under the Railway Express, covering over 700 million kilometers. It has shipped more than 7.6 million TEUs of goods worth over USD 340 billion, giving a strong boost to international economic and trade cooperation, promoting economic development and livelihood improvement in countries and regions along the routes, and contributing to the unfettered operation of global industrial and supply chains.

The China-Europe Railway Express is a vivid example of the steady progress in Belt and Road cooperation. With expanding sources of goods and more high-tech products, the Railway Express is transforming from featuring a simple corridor economy to a value-added one. It is benefiting countries and regions along the routes with high-quality development.

The China-Europe Railway Express originates from China, connects Asia and Europe, and benefits the whole world. President Xi Jinping announced at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will speed up high-quality development of the China-Europe Railway Express. China will continue to work with partners in Asia and Europe to usher in another decade of a two-way journey full of opportunities and to embrace a bright future of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

CCTV: Frances Jacques Delors Institute recently released a report saying that for the EU, leveraging China to realize its own development is a necessary choice. The report called on the EU to always be rational on de-risking, uphold a more rational and pragmatic China policy, and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in energy, the green sector and technology. Whats Chinas comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the report you mentioned which reflects that people with insights in Europe are positive about the prospect of growing China-EU relations and that the relationship enjoys solid foundation in the people.

China and the EU are partners, not rivals. China-EU cooperation should be a positive cycle that enables our mutual success, not a knock-out match which results in only one winner. Certain individuals selectively emphasize on competing aspects between China and the EU, deliberately overlook partnerships and hype up de-risking with China and reducing dependence on China. Such misconception on China not only will reinforce misunderstanding and erode mutual trust, but also goes against the EUs long-held position of upholding free trade and WTO rules and disrupts the growth of China-EU relations, which does not serve any ones interests.

China believes that the risk that we need to get rid of the most is confrontation and rivalry caused by politicizing all issues and the dependence that needs to be reduced the most is the act of resorting to protectionism. China and the EU are important parts of the global industrial and supply chains and staunch force in building an open world economy. We hope that the EU side can listen to rational voices, steer clear of politicizing all issues or overstretching the concept of security, and work with China to maintain two-way opening up instead of erecting walls and barriers, promote trade and investment liberalization instead of trade protectionism, create a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for companies of both sides, advance sound and steady growth of China-EU relationship and inject more stability and certainty for a volatile and turbulent world.
November has a been a good month for the markets, with solid gains on the S&P 500 of 8.5%, bringing the year-to-date haul to ~19%. The question now is, where do we go from here?

Dont go anywhere, rather, stay in the stock market, appears to be the recommendation of JPMorgans global investment strategist Madison Faller, who points to three factors that should be supportive going forward. First, the US economy is cooling a bit, enough to ease the threat of overheating; second, the rate of inflation continues to ease, and price increases are slowing down; and finally, it looks like the Federal Reserve has finished raising rates, and may start cutting early in the coming year. Is it mission accomplished? Asks Faller. No, theres still more progress to be made (core inflation at 4% is still double the Feds target), but its notable that things really seem to be moving along in the right direction.

With those positives driving the narrative, the stock analysts at JPM are running with a bullish thesis. The JPM experts recommend in particular 2 stocks that are showing significant upside potential for the next 12 months. Each has earned a Strong Buy consensus rating from the Wall Street analysts, and each shows potential to gain 60% or more on the one-year time frame. Weve used the TipRanks platform to look up their details  here they are, presented with the JPM commentaries.

Dont miss

Lexeo Therapeutics (LXEO)

The first stock were looking at here, Lexeo Therapeutics, is a biotech researcher at the early clinical stage. The company is working with gene therapy techniques to develop new therapeutic agents in the treatment of genetically defined cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The company uses adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as transfer agents, to move therapeutic genes directly into the patients cells.

Story continues

Lexeos research pipeline currently features seven tracks organized into two broad categories: four tracks under the cardiac programs, and three under the CNS programs. Most of these are at the pre-clinical stage of development, but the company does have two research programs that have advanced to the human trial clinic.

The first of these, LX2006, is a proposed gene therapy candidate designed to deliver FXN, or functional frataxin, a gene useful in the treatment of FA cardiomyopathy. This drug candidate has received both Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the FDA, and is currently under investigation in the SUNRISE-FA trial, an open-label, ascending dose Phase 1/2 clinical study.

The second clinical-phase drug candidate, LX1001, is a potential treatment for Alzheimers disease, based on the APOE4 gene. The drug candidate has a potential patient base some 900,000 strong and is currently being evaluated in its own open-label, ascending dose Phase 1/2 clinical trial, dubbed LEAD. LX1001 has been granted Fast Track status by the FDA.

This stock is new to the public markets, having held its IPO in November of this year. The shares started trading on November 3, priced at $11 per share, and opened at $9.50. After nearly a month of trading, these shares are currently up by 24% from their first days closing price, and the company raised approximately $100 million in gross proceeds from the offering.

For JPMs Tessa Romero, this biotech offers the advantage of a sound research program with achievable targets; she writes, We see Lexeos platform of gene therapy candidates offering a differentiated approach to genetic diseases with limited treatment options and significant unmet need. The companys lead cardiac therapeutic candidate LX2006, an AAV-based gene therapy is being investigated for the treatment of Friedreichs ataxia (FA) cardiomyopathy for which there remains an unmet need for curative therapies that prevent disease progression and address the non-neurological components of the disease. Lexeo is also evaluating additional cardiac candidates, including LX2020  an AAV-based gene therapy being investigated in PKP2-ACM  to enter the clinic next year.

Looking ahead, Romero lays out some clear reasons for investors to buy into this stock: Net-net, with continued de-risking of the candidates/approach expected over the next ~6-12 months, and with its market cap in the ~$250-300M range, we see the potential for upside to LXEOs current valuation.

Taken together, these comments support Romeros initiation of coverage with an Overweight (Buy) rating, while her $20 price target points toward a one-year upside potential of 60%. (To watch Romeros track record, click here.)

Lexeo may be a new stock on the market, but it already has a Strong Buy consensus rating  based on 5 unanimously positive analyst reviews. The shares are trading for $12.50, and the average target price of $20.80 implies a 66% upside on the one-year horizon. (See Lexeos stock forecast.)

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX)

The next stock on our list is BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, another biotech research company  but one that has managed to grab the brass ring. BioCryst has two approved drugs on the market, each with a solid patient base and revenue potential. The company, based in Durham, North Carolina, is currently focused on the treatment of rare diseases, although its first approved drug, rapivab, is an emergency-room influenza treatment.

Currently, the companys chief focus is on the ongoing launch and commercialization activities for orladeyo, a treatment for hereditary angioedema (HAE). This is a potentially dangerous inherited disorder, characterized by accumulations of fluids in the patients body tissues, outside of the circulatory system, with attendant swelling that can become severe or even life-threatening. Orladeyo, which was first approved in late 2020, is a plasma kallikrein inhibitor designed as a preventative treatment for acute attacks of HAE in patients over the age of 12.

The drug is on the market in capsule form, and the company is working to expand its regulatory and commercialization efforts. BioCryst is investigating orladeyo in a late-stage clinical trial for pediatric patients between the ages of 2 and 12, and is pursuing regulatory approvals outside of the US.

Commercialization efforts this year have been successful, and BioCryst expects to bring in approximately $320 million in total product revenue from the drug. Q3 orladeyo product revenues reached $85.7 million, up almost 30% y/y. BioCryst estimates that it can achieve $1 billion in peak revenue from the drug.

A successful launch, especially one with billion-dollar potential, will always attract analyst attention  and in this case, the potential of orladeyo caught the eye of Jessica Fye. In her note on BioCryst for JPM, Fye outlines her expectations for near-term success, with a focus on the ongoing commercialization efforts: Orladeyo, which has had a healthy launch, is on track to meet guidance of no less than $320mm in its third year on the market. We expect Orladeyo will continue to ramp and see net revenue growing >20% YoY to nearly $400mm in 2024. We also see longer term value driven by the companys relatively early but broad pipeline, though we acknowledge it could take time and data for this to come into the stock. Big picture, with what we see as a sustainable financial footing and Orladeyo poised to continue to grow in the coming years, we see a nice entry point in the stock at current levels especially as the interesting, but early, pipeline unveiled during the companys recent R&D event starts to show de-risking data.

Fyes stance fully supports her Overweight (Buy) rating here, and her $10 price target implies an upside, for the next 12 months, of 84%. (To watch Fyes track record, click here.)

That JPM take is bullish  but Wall Street generally is even more so. The 10 recent reviews include 9 Buys to 1 Hold, for a Strong Buy consensus rating, and the stock has an average price target of $14.50  suggesting a robust 167% gain from the current share price of $5.43. (See BioCrysts stock forecast.)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 1, 2023 /CNW/ - Humanity & Inclusion Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Landmine Foundation and Mines Action Canada, invites media representatives to the ceremony of the Monument to the Unknown Civilian. The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Canada's Minister of International Development, and Her Excellency Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, will be speaking.

Humanity & Inclusion Canada Logo (CNW Group/Humanity & Inclusion Canada)

This temporary memorial, inspired by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honors the victims killed and wounded in armed conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere, but also condemns the bombings that increasingly take place in cities. In Canada, the Monument will be unveiled for the first time at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. A similar ceremony took place last year for the Dublin conference, where Canada and 82 other States adopted on November 18 an international agreement aimed at better protecting civilians against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

An official photo op will follow the ceremony at the Museum. Anne Delorme, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion Canada, will be available for media interviews.

Next, the Hon. Melanie Joly, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, will give a speech, followed by a panel discussion on the evolution of Canadian leadership in the protection of Ottawa Treaty civilians. This will be followed by a panel discussion with the Hon. Melanie Joly, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will deliver a speech. The panel will focus on the evolution of Canadian leadership in civilian protection from the Ottawa Treaty to the present day. We are honoured by the participation of : the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Hon. Peter MacKay, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Defence; Professor Jennifer Welsh, Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security at McGill University; and Nujeen Mustafa, advocate for the rights of refugees and people with disabilities.

Story continues

Event: Protecting Civilians in Conflicts: Canada's Global Role

Date: Monday, December 4, 2023

Time: 5 pm (Eastern Time) - Ceremony of the Monument to the Unknown Civilian

5:45 p.m. (Eastern Time) - Panel on the evolution of Canadian leadership in civilian protection from the Ottawa Treaty to the present day

Location: The Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8

Media representatives wishing to attend the event should confirm their presence by noon on Monday December 4: f.thiam@hi.org

SOURCE Humanity & Inclusion Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2023/01/c3314.html
PH2 Carney, Peter J. - Wikimedia Commons

U.S. Navy destroyer Mason (DDG-87) was wrapping up a mission rescuing a tanker from pirates in the Gulf of Aden when the situation sharply escalated. The ships radar detected at least oneor possibly twomissiles moving toward its position at supersonic speeds, each loaded with well over a half-ton of explosives.



The day before, Liberian-flagged tanker M/V Central Parkstuffed full of phosphoric acidhad issued a distress call after reportedly being boarded by unknown armed assailants 35 miles south of Yemens coast and 50 miles east of Djibouti. Central Parks crew of 22 took shelter in the vessels citadel, an armored panic room.

Following a surveillance run by a Japansese P-3C maritime patrol plane, Mason and Japanese destroyer Akebano (a smaller Murasame-class general purpose destroyer) intercepted the hijacked tanker and demanded that the invaders decamp.



Five pirates with Kalashnikov rifles and a motor boat had little chance against Masona Flight IIA Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyer bristling with 96 missile-launching cells, two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, and rapid-firing cannons large and small. So, they fled Central Park on their boat headed for Yemen, only to be chased down by one of Masons helicopters and compelled to surrender.

Wikimedia Commons

But a potentially more serious threat was brewing dozens of miles of away, ashore in Yemen. At around 1:41 AM, one or two truck launchers (situated in territory controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels) erected their weapons into firing position and launched a missile arcing high on a ballistic trajectory towards the general position of Mason, Akebano, and Central Park.

Since the outbreak of conflict between Hamas and Israel in October, the Houthis have launched dozens of missiles and kamikaze drones at Israeli and U.S. targets in a show of support for Palestine. A combination of U.S. Navy ships, Saudi fighters, and Israeli air defenses prevented any from reaching their target. The Houthis then explicitly threatened to sink Israeli-associated shipping near Yemens coast on November 14, and proceeded to hijack cargo ship M/S Galaxy Leader using an Mi-17 helicopter on November 19.

Story continues

Central Park seemed likely to have been targeted as an asset of Zodiac Maritime, linked to Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Offer. And indeed, it was reportedly running with its AIS safety transponder off to be less easily targeted. However, the Pentagon later assessed that the attackers it detained were Somali pirates, not politically-motivated Yemeni militants.

The Houthis had already repeatedly and unsuccessfully sniped at Mason seven years earlier using anti-ship cruise missiles, which approach their targets at lower altitude and (usually) lower speed. Two missiles on October 9, two more on October 12, and five missiles on October 15 all failed to hit the markeither lured away by a mix of radar and infrared and advanced Nulka decoys or shot down by SM-2 and Evolved Sea Sparrow air defense missiles.

But the weapon(s) fired toward Mason that morning were ballistic missilesand potentially anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), a type of weapon never before used in combat.

Alireza Bahari/Tasnim News Agency - Wikimedia Commons

If so, its likely that the Houthis employed Iranian-built Khalij Fars (Persian Gulf) ASBM, or a domestic spinoff. The nearly 9-meter-long Khalij Fars attains a peak speed of 40 to 50 miles per minute (Mach 3 or 4) and a maximum range of 186 miles. Back in 2022, the Houthis paraded an ostensibly indigenous 10-meter-long Aasef (or Aasif) missile that closely resembled Khalij Fars, with a supposed range of 250 miles, a diameter of 700-millimeters, and a 1,212-lb. warhead.

Additionally, the same 2022 parade included the smaller, 6-meter-long Falaq-1 ASBM. The Falaq-1 ASBM also closely resembled Khalij Fars, but with the range reduced to 140 miles, and the warhead reduced to 231-pounds.

"Al-Falaq 1", anti ship ballistic missile, at the Houthi parade in Yemen. It is another member of the Iranian missile family, a scaled down Fatah-110, and we saw it in Iran as "Fajr 4CL", with EO seeker. pic.twitter.com/cdlzYy3UP0  Tal Inbar (@inbarspace) September 3, 2022

Thus, the Mason and Akebano had, at most, a few minutes to prepare a response after being informed of the missiles approach by U.S. military radars.

Akebano, with its smaller air defense armament, reportedly veered sharply southward, accelerating to its maximum speed of 34 miles per hour to evade. Its unclear if Masons skipperCommander Matthew Erdnerdid likewise, or if he employed any of the ships numerous air defense weapons or countermeasures to defeat the incoming missiles.

Either way, its been confirmed that one missile splashed harmlessly into the Arabian Sea11.5 miles away from the Mason, 11 miles from Akebano, and 5.75 miles away from Central Park.

Another reportedly blew up in midairthough, on Tuesday, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder would only confirm that at least one missile had been fired. He also stated that at this point we assess that the vessels, the Mason and the Central Park, were not the intended targets.

Perhaps the Houthi attack was not really intended to hit, so much as to serve as a symbolic shot-across-the-bow. It could have even involved regular ballistic missiles assigned to a fixed coordinate at sea, rather than guided anti-ship missiles.

Alternately, the Houthis may have attempted an actual ASBM attack on another vessel that they believed to be in the area, or even the Akebano (which was left unmentioned in the Pentagon statement). Or, the attack could have involved regular ballistic missile(s)ones that were flying southbound and overshot a target on Yemens southern coastline (controlled by the rival Southern Transitional Council faction), thus landing in the Gulf of Aden.

The Pentagon may also have escalation-management reasons for downplaying what otherwise looked like a failed attack. Its worth recalling that, following a skirmish between U.S. warship and Vietnamese boats in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964, radar returns seemingly report a new attack by Vietnamese boats that was used to justify escalating U.S. intervention in the Vietnam War. These returns were later assessed to have been technical errors.



Why anti-ship ballistic missiles are so tricky to employ

For now, it remains unclear what was targeted in Mondays attack, and which kind of ballistic missile was used. But if the volley involved an anti-ship ballistic missile, it would mark the first tentative shots of a new era in naval warfareone in which ships at sea must not only guard against torpedoes and surface-skimming missiles, but also ballistic missiles launched from distant shores and plummeting down from beyond the Earths atmosphere.

Cruise missiles, the reigning mainstay of modern anti-ship warfare, are essentially a kind of expendable drone airplane. A ballistic missile, in contrast, behaves more like a rocket ship and has much less ability to maneuver. However, the most powerful ballistic missiles can exit the atmosphere and travel tremendous distances at ridiculous speeds, making them very difficult to intercept without specialized defenses.

Pool - Getty Images

Ballistic missiles are usually launched from land-based silos, trucks or submarines (and much more rarely, ships or high-flying aircraft). And since their first combat use by Nazi Germany in World War II, their operational use has been reserved for striking land targets.

Despite their potential to inflict devastating damage, ballistic missiles have always faced a major problem against ships at sea: ships are relatively small targets compared to a city or sprawling military base. And they movetypical U.S. destroyers are able to attain flank speeds exceeding 35 miles per hour (30 knots).

By the late 20th century, new ballistic missiles began approaching the within-a-few-meters level of precision needed to reliably hit ship-sized targets. But the moving problem was still very much in existence. Ships still need to be found amidst the vastness of the sea, and there are significant technical and organizational challenges to forming a kill chainone which connects the reconnaissance assets that detect and pinpoint enemy ships to the missile-carrying platforms capable of actually shooting at those targets.

Had the Houthis intended to target Mason or Central Parkcontrary to the Pentagons assessmentthey would have had more time to establish the kill-chain as Mason lingered near a possibly immobilized Central Park to assist in her recovery.

But even with a kill-chain established, how can the attacker ensure that the targeted ship will remain within the predicted kill zone for the missiles seeker to lock on to? What if, instead, the ship changes speed or swerves sharply in a different direction (an especially likely development once the ships radar detects the approach of an ASBM)? Thats exactly the kind of evasive maneuver Akebano performed as the missile approached.

VCG - Getty Images

Solutions for these challenges include developing a seeker with a large kill zone thats harder for a ship to exit. One might also ensure that a spotter (typically an airplane, drone, submarine, etc...) can monitor the movement of the targeted ship and transmit midflight course corrections to the missile by datalink, making certain that the ship remains in the kill zone by the time the missile begins its terminal plunge.

Khalij Fars is described as relying only on internal inertial navigations systems for the midflight phase, which could mean that it lacks the ability to receive course corrections. And given the fact that it and other Houthi spinoffs are likely on the cruder end of existing ASBM technology, the kill zone of their electro-optical seekers may not be especially large.

Perhaps the Houthi kill-chain wasnt fast or precise enough, and anti-ship missiles were targeted at a third vessel which was no longer there. They may also (hypothetically) have been aimed at Masons or Central Parks position, but without the necessary timeliness or precision for their seekers to pick up on the ships by the time the missiles arrived. Additionally, in the event of a genuine attack, Mason could have artfully dodged (as the Akebano did) by seeking to exit the seekers kill zone at maximum speed after detecting the missiles approach.

Other defensive measures could include optical decoys, or electronic warfare capabilities used to transmit false midcourse guidance instructions to the missile and send it off targetthough that would depend on Khalij Fars having a capability to receive and execute midcourse corrections in the first place.

And, of course, there remains the possibility that the missiles werent launched with the intent to hit ships at all.

But what if the Houthi missiles had locked onto Mason or Central Park? Then, the Masons crew would have faced an unprecedented threatbut not one they werent prepared for. Chinas development of the DF-21D missile garnered much attentionit was even noted in an episode of the The Officeand in the 2010s, the Navy began deploying a spectrum of new air defenses with anti-ballistic missile capability.

HUM Images - Getty Images

These include the very powerful SM-3 (capable of defending large areas), the speedy SM-6 multi-role missile, and the SM-2ER Block IV. Even the Navys short-range missile defensesRIM-67 Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-range missiles (which can be quad-packed into a destroyers missile cells) and RIM-116 SeaRAM launchers bolted onto non-destroyer platformscan provide a degree of protection.

Mason carried a mix of the above multi-layer weapons, while Akebano had only short-range Evolved Sea Sparrows and guns for close protection.

Given the challenges of successfully employing anti-ship ballistic missiles in generaland the challenges of attacking a U.S. Navy destroyer in particulara failed attack wouldnt be surprising. This is particularly true in the case of the Khalij Fars, for which performance claims fall well below the DF-21D, which may have over three times the estimated maximum speed (estimated Mach 10) and range (930 miles).

With the ambiguity surrounding the midair destruction of one of the Houthi missiles, its unclear whether these multi-layered systems have seen their first test in real-life combat or not.

Iranian and Houthi Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles

Fars News via AFP - Getty Images

Khalij Fars is an outgrowth of Irans successful family of Fateh-110 solid-fuel short-range ballistic missiles, which has evolved over the years to achieve greater range and respectable degrees of precision. Its been extensively used by Tehran for punishment strikes on targets across the Middle East, including a notorious January 2020 attack on U.S. bases in Iraq.

The Khalij Fars anti-ship variant entered service in 2011, and in 2013, allegedly successfully hit a moving 8-meter-wide maritime target in an exercise, improving on its initial average 30-meter average error.

The Houthi Aasef missile (seen in video below at the 1 hour 32 minute mark) appears to be a stretched Khalij Fars with modestly greater range. Meanwhile, the Falaq-1 looks like a baby version of the same (see video here.)





But the Houthis have paraded several other supposedly indigenous ASBMs around. These include the Red Sea ASBM (based on the Saeer ballistic missile), which is reportedly compatible with a radar as well as thermal seeker, and an anti-ship variant of the Tankeel ballistic missile (based on the Iranian Raad-500) with a range of 310 miles and max speed Mach 8 (on video here).

The group has also converted some of Yemens inventory of old Soviet V750 missiles, used by S-75 air defense systems, into a two-stage ASBM dubbed the Moheet that is distinguished by the distinctive bubble nose that housing the thermal seeker used for navigation and terminal guidance. This article has screenshots of both Moheet and the Red Sea missile.

Mehr News Agency (CCA4) - Wikimedia Commons

Iran, meanwhile, has also developed newer ASBMs that it could have transferred (in part or in whole) to the Houthis. That includes the Hormuz-2 anti-ship anti-radiation missiles designed to home in on the powerful active radar emissions of a warship. The home-in-on-radars guidance method could prove more effective than optical targeting in many scenarios, but in turn, it can be affected by electronic warfare countermeasures or by turning off the ships radar (admittedly, a risky tactic). Hormuz-2 closely resembles, and is believed to have similar range and speed to, the Khalij Fars.



Irans longer-reaching Zolfaghar and Emad missiles have also allegedly been fitted with a seeker for anti-ship attacks. The latters Zolfaghar-e-Basir model, unveiled in September of 2020, has an optical seeker and supposed maximum range of 435 miles.

The Emad has a range of around 1,100 miles, and features a maneuverable re-entry vehicle that could aid in the course corrections needed to hit a ship. Its alleged to have a hit a naval target in the Indian Ocean in January 2021s Great Prophet 15 military exercise.

NurPhoto - Getty Images

One should bear in mind that the theoretical range of Houthi and Iranian ASBMs do not necessarily equate to their practical effectiveness in a real-world operationsagain, rapidly forming sensor-to-shooter kill chains in unplanned circumstances is hard, even for very well equipped navies. And the missed attack on Mason may foster speculation, merited or not, that the seekers on Iranian ASBMs may be too limited to successfully engage non-cooperative targets performing evasive maneuvers and protected by air defenses.

Yet, the Houthi attack also serves as a warning that the era of ballistic missile warfare against ships at sea has begun (or could begin soon), and theres no guarantee that future attacks will fall so wide of the mark. While some technological innovations do prove impractical once combat tested, others (like tanks and aircraft carriers) had awkward beginnings before evolving into dominant war-fighting machines.

You Might Also Like
Prairie Farms Dairy operates a large cheese-making facility near Luana.

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.

Story continues

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.

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: Luana, Iowa cheese producer fined for wastewater violations
Analysts at China International Capital Corp. are not allowed to write anything negative about China's stock market or economic situation, a company memo said. Reuters

One of China's biggest banks banned negative research on the economy and markets, Bloomberg reported.

CICC also told employees to avoid wearing luxury brands or disclosing their pay to people outside the bank.

That adds to concerns over China's transparency as its economy battles a host of problems.

China International Capital Corp. banned its analysts from saying anything negative about the nation's economy or markets, sources told Bloomberg.

The report cited an internal memo sent to the bank's research department this month, and it applies to both private and public conversations.

The memo also told employees to avoid wearing luxury items or telling others of their compensation.

CICC did not immediately respond to Business Insider's requests for comment and didn't respond to Bloomberg.

The report also said at least two other Chinese investment banks have given their employees similar warnings about negative commentary and displays of wealth.

The instructions for workers come amid China's push for "common prosperity." Government officials have criticized bankers in particular, with one watchdog asking them to correct their "hedonistic" lifestyles earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the ban on bearish commentary is another sign transparency is deteriorating in China's financial sector as the nation gets battered by economic hardship.

For example, China no longer makes its youth unemployment rate available to the public, though unofficial estimates peg youth unemployment to fall somewhere close to 50%.

At the same time, Beijing is trying to prop up China's stock market. The Beijing Stock Exchange is rejecting filings to sell shares among investors with more than a 5% stake in a company, sources told Reuters on Monday.

China's economy has been troubled since dialing back its zero-COVID policies, with lower-than-expected demand plunging the nation into deflation this summer. It's also trying to tackle a huge pile of souring debt in its property sector and long-running demographic problems.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Sydney Morning Herald - Getty Images

Nearly two years after an Australian research team made the claim that a Rhode Island shipwreck was Captain Cooks HMS Endeavour, the team says they have more evidence to back up their assertion.

A Rhode Island-based research group originally said it was too premature to call the shipwreck Cooks vessel.

New findings regarding the pump well and bow further point to this ship in fact being HMS Endeavour.

Residents of New England and those with British ties are once again in a scuffle. This time, the debate continues over whether a shipwreck found off the coast of Rhode Island is really the HMS Endeavouror Lord Sandwhich, as it was eventually renameda retrofitted coal ship made famous by Captain James Cook during his 1760s explorations.

The ship in question had been known as RI 2394 since it was discovered, and is one of five shipwrecks found just north of Goat Island in Newport Harbor that were deliberately sunk by the British during the American War of Independence. Archaeologists have studied the ship for decades, and in February of 2022, the Australian National Maritime Museum declared RI 2394 to be the HMS Endeavour. That announcement didnt go over well with the Rhode Island Maritime Archeology Project, who quickly questioned the announcement.

Now, nearly two years later, the Australian group is back in the public eye and claiming that further evidence from the ships pump well and bow offers additional reasons to believe that RI 2394 is indeed Cooks HMS Endeavour.

Archaeology is an interesting process, Kieran Hosty, Australian archeologist, said on the groups website, we call on the preponderance of evidence where weve got a whole series of things that tie into Endeavour. And so far, weve found lots of things that tick the boxes for it to be the Endeavour and nothing on the list which says its not.

Work has been ongoing at the site since the late 90s. The team says that samples taken from the ship show that the timbers are British, the size is within millimeters of the Endeavours, and the length of the keel (from the end of the bow to the bilge pump) is within inches of survey measurements taken of Cooks vessel taken by the British Royal Navy.

Story continues

The two new pieces of evidence tie to that survey, which shows the position of the pump-shaft stump and pump-well partitions and lays out how they aligned perfectly with the shipwreck, according to The Guardian. And the scarph joint in the keel timber was also a match to the historical survey.

The stem scarph is identical to what we know from the plans of Endeavour, Australian marine archeologist James Hunter said on the groups website. Its also a very unique feature. Weve gone through a whole bunch of ships plans, lots of 18th century plans, and we cant find anything else like it.

Another anecdotal reason that experts continue to believe that this shipwreck is in fact the Endeavour is that the archaeological team found coal in the bottom inside of the hull, likely left over from when it was a cargo ship. I think its just rattled down from when it was a collier and got stuck in the bilge, Hunter told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Hunter and Hosty say that they will continue to put together a paper on the study and have it peer-reviewed before publishing, but for now, theres a lot of confidence that Endeavour has been finally found.

While the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project hasnt commented on the recent Australian announcement, the groups executive director put out a scathing statement in 2022 that called the announcement a breach of contract between the two parties, which had been working together.

Even though the shipwreck site is consistent with what might be expected of the Endeavour, there has been no indisputable data found to prove the site is that iconic vessel, and there are many unanswered questions that could overturn such an identification.

Daryl Karp, the Australian National Maritime Museum chief executive, told the Sydney Morning Herald that along with the new findings, theres been no evidence against the idea that this is the Endeavour.

Cook is famous for charting lands previously unknown to the British, including New Zealand, Australia, Newfoundland, and Hawaii. His was the first European ship to reach the eastern coast of Australia and sailed around all New Zealand. His coal ship was then used in the War of Independence, one of five British vessels scuttled in 1778 by the cutting of holes in their hulls, which is why it makes sense that the craft would have ended up in Rhode Island.

We will never find anything on this site that screams Endeavour, Hosty said on the website. We will never find a sign saying, Cook was here. We will never see a ships bell with Endeavour crossed out and Lord Sandwich inscribed on it.

You Might Also Like
(Bloomberg) -- Montanas ban of TikTok was blocked by a federal judge in a closely watched challenge to the first statewide measure prohibiting the general public from using the wildly popular app.

Most Read from Bloomberg

TikTok argued that the ban, which aimed to bar residents from downloading the app beginning next year, would trample free-speech rights based on a misguided view that Chinese ownership of the platform poses a national security threat.

With a law enacted in May, Montana became the first state to completely bar TikToks operations after targeted bans focusing on government devices and networks cascaded across the country last year. The European Union, the UK, Canada and a handful of other nations have imposed similar restrictions.

The bans pit concerns about privacy and national security against personal freedoms. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that two-thirds of American teens were using TikTok every day, with 16% saying they were on the platform almost constantly.

Thursdays ruling halts the Montana measure  known as SB 419  from taking effect Jan. 1 while the legal challenge plays out.

Despite the states attempt to defend SB 419 as a consumer protection bill, the current record leaves little doubt that Montanas legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting Chinas ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers, US District Judge Donald Molloy wrote.

A TikTok spokesperson hailed the ruling.

We are pleased the judge rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on TikTok, the spokesperson said in an email.

Story continues

TikTok Ban in Montana Seen by Judge as Out of Step With US

A lawyer arguing for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said during an October hearing that the state had provided ample evidence of the need to ban TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance Ltd.

Knudsens office argued it was illogical for TikTok to claim that Montana lacks evidence of its link to China, and to assert that the states ban is pre-empted because the company has been negotiating with the federal government over China-related national security concerns.

We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data, said Knudsen spokeswoman Emilee Cantrell in a statement.

The companys legal challenge to the ban followed a suit filed by a group of TikTok content creators who said the Montana law violates the Constitutions First Amendment and will disrupt their livelihoods. Ambika Kumar, a lawyer for the creators, celebrated Thursdays decision and reiterated that they view the law as unwarranted and unconstitutional.

Molloy agreed that the First Amendment claims raised in the lawsuit are likely to succeed, because the ban burdens substantially more speech than is necessary to fulfill even its purported interests.

The Legislature used an axe to solve its professed concerns when it should have used a constitutional scalpel, he wrote.

Social Media Laws Backed by GOP Draw US Supreme Court Scrutiny

The ruling isnt Molloys final word on the case, but reflects his judgment that TikTok will probably prevail on the merits of its case.

Molloy acknowledged that his order comes as courts across the country grapple with government regulation of large social media companies.

He pointed to two cases before the US Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of laws passed in Florida and Texas that would restrict how social media companies control content posted on their websites.

The case is TikTok Inc. v. Knudsen, 23-cv-00056, US District Court, District of Montana (Missoula).

(Updates with statement from Knudsen spokeswoman)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Chew and other top executives met recently with 40 influential leaders, including many from the tech industry, who were pushing for more moderation of antisemitic content and questioning why pro-Palestine videos were so popular on the short-video app.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The meeting four weeks ago included TikTok executives Adam Presser, head of operations, and Michael Beckerman, head of public policy, according to Anthony Goldbloom, an investment partner at AIX Ventures, who was among the tech industry attendees. Goldblooms group was armed with data analysis of TikTok content and a letter signed by 90 professionals, including former Meta Platforms Inc. Chief Revenue Officer David Fischer, Tinder co-founder Sean Rad and Bonobos Inc. co-founder Andy Dunn.

The effort was made to push TikTok to uphold its commitment to prevent harm, Goldbloom said. Many of the letter signatories felt the app was in violation of its own community principles as claims of harassment on the site have ballooned since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. TikToks principles also call on it to enable free expression.

The Israel-Hamas war has unleashed a wave of hate crimes targeting Jews, Muslims and Arabs across the world. The conflict has been magnified through social media platforms including TikTok, owned by Chinas ByteDance Ltd, and Elon Musks X. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the US and EU. TikTok has banned content supportive of violent and hateful organizations, according to its community guidelines.

Once known mostly as a place for lipsync videos and comedic skits, TikTok and the videos on its platform are now frequently caught up in global politics. The app has become wildly popular, especially among young people, and counts more than 1 billion users. Its ubiquity, and Chinese ownership have made it a frequent target for politicians who have recently renewed calls to ban the app due to the amount of anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian content.

Story continues

TikTok has met with other high-profile critics amid public pressure to reign in antisemitic harassment. Earlier this month, more than a dozen Jewish TikTok creators and celebrities, including actors Sacha Baron Cohen, Debra Messing and Amy Schumer, spoke with Presser and others, according to the New York Times.

In the video meeting with Chew earlier this month, the tech industry group walked TikToks team through data compiled from publicly available hashtag information from the app. Based on their analysis, the group found 54 views on pro-Palestine hashtags for every view for #standwithIsrael. That compares with data from an October Harvard Caps Harris poll among 18-24 year olds that showed support for Israel and Palestine as near equal, according to the group.

The tech group showed TikTok executives analysis that more than half of some pro-Palestine videos are coming from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan, and asked how prevalent cross-border videos are in the US. TikTok said during the meeting that there arent a lot.

TikTok has said counting the number of videos associated with a hashtag doesnt provide sufficient context on the leanings of the videos. The hashtag #standwithIsrael may appear on fewer videos than #freePalestine, but it has 68% more views per video in the US, which means more people are seeing the content, the company said earlier this month. TikTok has said 90% of videos posted in the US that were tagged with #standwithIsrael were posted in the prior 30 days.

The company has also said, based on polling data, that attitudes among young people skewed toward Palestine long before TikTok existed.

This is an extremely difficult time for millions of people around the world and in our TikTok community, a TikTok spokesperson said in response to request for comment on the video call. We feel its important to meet with and listen to creators, human rights experts, civil society and other stakeholders to help guide our ongoing work to keep our global community safe.

After the meeting, TikTok released a statement saying analysis of the platform using hashtags is flawed, Goldbloom said. TikTok had previously used hashtag comparisons itself, in response to questions about related hashtags on the app.

TikTok has said that it has removed more than 1.1 million videos in the conflict region for breaking its content rules from Oct. 7 to Nov. 17. During the same period globally, TikTok removed 1.6 million videos including hate speech and hateful behavior videos, which includes antisemitism.

(Updates beginning with video removals in fourth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration has forced a Saudi Aramco venture capital firm to sell its shares in a Silicon Valley AI chip startup backed by OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, an exit that could have broader implications for the Middle Eastern countrys growing investments in US technology.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Prosperity7, a lead investor in a funding round that raised $25 million for Rain AI in 2022, sold its shares in the startup after a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, people familiar with the matter said. The agency, the primary US watchdog for deals with national security implications, instructed the Saudi fund to unwind that deal sometime over the past year, the people said, asking to remain unidentified because the information is private.

The US is heightening scrutiny over the activity of Middle Eastern wealth funds, part of a growing resistance toward entities regarded as having close ties with China. CFIUS is reviewing several multibillion-dollar deals this year on concerns they could pose national security risks, Bloomberg News has reported.

Rain AI, partly financed by Altman, is a startup that designs AI chips inspired by the way the brain works. Prosperity7 sold its stake in the firm to Silicon Valley investment firm Grep VC, according to data firm PitchBook. Altman, Rain, Prosperity7 and Grep VC did not reply to requests for comment. CFIUS said in an emailed statement it couldnt comment on transactions its reviewing but that its committed to taking all necessary actions within its authority to safeguard U.S. national security.

Read More: Mideast Wealth Funds Draw Greater US Scrutiny Over China Ties

Story continues

Beijing has sought to strengthen ties with the Middle East while tensions escalated with the US and Europe. In November, China and Saudi Arabia signed a local-currency swap agreement worth around $7 billion. Saudi Aramco, which controls Prosperity7, has invested billions of dollars in Chinas energy sector even as the kingdom tries to attract Chinese tech companies.

The selloff by Prosperity7  a $1 billion venture capital fund owned by Aramco Ventures  is notable because of the White Houses campaign to contain Chinas technological ascendancy. That endeavor is focused in particular on the semiconductors that will drive future innovations including artificial intelligence.

Still, Altman is working to raise billions of dollars for a new AI chip venture to compete with Nvidia Corp. and had traveled to the Middle East to fundraise for a project codenamed Tigris, Bloomberg News reported this month. It wasnt clear whether Rain AI is connected to that effort and its technology is still at an early stage of development.

While the market for AI chips is dominated by Nvidia, Rain AI and Altman join dozens of startups from Asia to Europe looking to design chips that could prove cheaper and more energy efficient. The US has banned the sales to China of the highest-performance chips required to develop the next generation of AI services, hamstringing Chinas ambitions to compete in the burgeoning sphere.

With the advent of OpenAIs ChatGPT, there has been concern about how data centers creating large AI models are overly power hungry. Rain AI and other so-called in-memory chip startups aim to reconfigure how data is processed so as to reduce the need for transfers and cut power consumption.

While Altman is an early investor in Rain AI, its not clear whether he remains active in the company or how he views the technology today.

Read More: China and Saudi Arabia Sign Currency Swap Worth $7 Billion

--With assistance from Rachel Metz, Ben Bartenstein and Mackenzie Hawkins.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Transparency Market Research

Another factor boosting market growth is the expansion of vaccination and immunization campaigns run by governments and public health groups.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Dec. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global vaccines market was estimated at a value of US$ 119.1 billion in 2022. It is anticipated to register a 4.2% CAGR from 2022 to 2031 and by 2031, the market is likely to attain US$ 99.3 billion by 2031.

To prevent serious health effects, infectious illnesses including TB, dengue, influenza, HIV, and malaria must be properly treated in their early stages. The global population's increased susceptibility to various illnesses is supporting market growth.

Vaccine producers are concentrating on boosting their manufacturing capacity in order to satisfy the growing demand from consumers. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that up until the beginning of November 2023, there were around 4.5 million dengue cases registered worldwide, with 4000 confirmed deaths.

Grab Sample PDF of this Research Report@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=21

Global Vaccines Market: Key Players

Companies are using a number of important strategies to boost revenue growth in the global vaccines market. In order to combat emerging illnesses, offer new vaccines, and increase vaccination coverage, they are substantially spending in research and development. Enhancing distribution networks and accessibility is made possible by partnerships and collaborations with governments, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders.

Scalability and cost-effectiveness are guaranteed by ongoing attempts to optimize the production process. In order to penetrate a market, marketing and awareness efforts are essential. Businesses use technological developments for vaccine development and production, which supports steady revenue growth in the dynamic global vaccines market. The following companies are well-known participants in the global Vaccines market:

Story continues

AstraZeneca

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

Sanofi Pasteur SA

Pfizer, Inc.

Panacea Biotec

Merck & Co., Inc.

Janssen Pharmaceutical Company

Serum Institute of India Ltd

Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

CSL

Bavarian Nordic

IBSS BIOMED S.A.

Novavax AB

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Key Findings of the Market Report

A quick, easy, and safe method of preventing dangerous infections is vaccination.

It strengthens the immune system and builds resistance to particular pathogens using the body's inherent defenses.

A variety of vaccinations are available, including subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, conjugate, toxoid, messenger RNA (mRNA), live-attenuated, inactivated, and viral vector vaccines.

Vaccines comprise synthetically produced, attenuated, or dead strains of the pathogen or its antigens, which are specific elements of the germ.

The elderly and young people are more vulnerable to infectious illnesses.

To increase their market share for vaccinations, manufacturers are implementing technological innovations like genetic engineering and lab automation more often.

Market Trends for Vaccines

Therapeutic vaccinations are used to treat a wide range of conditions, including cancer, physical ailments, allergies, and infectious infections. In the upcoming years, it is expected that the market for vaccinations would grow due to an increase in immunology developments.

The creation of therapeutic vaccines for conditions including dyslipidemia, inflammatory disorders, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and hypertension is the main focus of businesses in the vaccines industry. For example, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE started a clinical study in January 2022 to determine the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of the adult Omicron-based vaccine.

Increased funding for research and development initiatives is also anticipated to increase vaccination accessibility worldwide. To raise the immunization rate worldwide, healthcare groups are implementing mass vaccination campaigns.

Customize this report according to your needs@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=21

Global Market for Vaccines: Regional Outlook

Various reasons are propelling the growth of the vaccines market throughout the region. These are:

In 2022, North America accounted for the majority share. The U.S. healthcare industry is developing quickly, which is adding to the region's market data.

The rate of product development in North America is rising as a result of manufacturers' ongoing medical research efforts. Another important element that is anticipated to drive up the size of the vaccines sector in the area in the future years is the increase in funding for vaccine research and development from both government and non-government organizations.

The growing patient population in Asia Pacific is expected to lead to considerable market increase in the near future. The industry in the area is being driven by an increase in government funding for vaccine initiatives like the Universal vaccine Program.

Global Vaccines Market: Key Players

Companies are using a number of important strategies to boost revenue growth in the global vaccines market. In order to combat emerging illnesses, offer new vaccines, and increase vaccination coverage, they are substantially spending in research and development. Enhancing distribution networks and accessibility is made possible by partnerships and collaborations with governments, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders.

Scalability and cost-effectiveness are guaranteed by ongoing attempts to optimize the production process. In order to penetrate a market, marketing and awareness efforts are essential. Businesses use technological developments for vaccine development and production, which supports steady revenue growth in the dynamic global vaccines market. The following companies are well-known participants in the global Vaccines market:

AstraZeneca

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

Sanofi Pasteur SA

Pfizer, Inc.

Panacea Biotec

Merck & Co., Inc.

Janssen Pharmaceutical Company

Serum Institute of India Ltd

Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

CSL

Bavarian Nordic

IBSS BIOMED S.A.

Novavax AB

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Key developments by the players in this market are:

Company name Key Developments Pfizer Inc. Pfizer Inc. got clearance for PENBRAYA from the United States Food and Drug Administration on October 20, 2023. The first and only vaccination protects against the most prevalent serogroups that cause meningococcal illness in young adults and adolescents (1025 years old). GSK plc GSK plc and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced on October 31, 2023, that they had reached a deal with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to provide GSK the sole right to develop and market JNJ-3989 going forward. In 2018, Janssen obtained a first in-license from Arrowhead for JNJ-3989.

Global Vaccines Market Segmentation

Vaccine Inactivated Live Attenuated Toxoid Conjugate Others

Valance Monovalent Multivalent

Route of Administration Oral Injectable Intramuscular Subcutaneous Others

Indication Influenza Hepatitis Polio Meningococcal Disease Pneumococcal Disease DTP Rotavirus MMR Human Papilloma Virus Others

Distribution Channel Institutional Sales Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies

Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America



Enquire Before Buying@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=21<ype=S

Browse More Reports by TMR:

Cardiotonic Agents Market - The global cardiotonic agents market was worth USD 732 Million in 2022 and the global market is anticipated to reach USD 4.5 Billion by 2031. The global market will grow at a CAGR of 21.3% between 2023 and 2031.

T-cell Therapy Market - The global T-cell therapy market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 27.9% by the end of 2033, according to the research report by TMR.

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

Contact:

Nikhil Sawlani

Transparency Market Research Inc.

CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN,

1000 N. West Street,

Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA

Tel: +1-518-618-1030

USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Blog: https://tmrblog.com

Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com




For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  December 1, 2023  Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM, Oracle Corp. ORCL, Cisco Systems, Inc. CSCO, Altria Group, Inc. MO and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. CRWD.

Here are highlights from Thursdays Analyst Blog:

Top Analyst Reports for Exxon Mobil, Oracle and Cisco Systems

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 Corp., Oracle Corp. and Cisco Systems, Inc. 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 the 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 are 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 are 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. and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.

Story continues

Why Havent You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?

Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +6.2 average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +46.4%, +49.5% and +55.2% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.

See Stocks Free >>

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

support@zacks.com

https://www.zacks.com

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Altria Group, Inc. (MO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

CrowdStrike (CRWD) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research
Spotsylvania County is proposing a different way of planning for some areas and is seeking resident input on a proposal that targets specific, small areas ripe for growth and change.

The proposal is called Small Area Plans, and county staff is proposing plans for five areas: Thornburg; Four Mile Fork; Sylvania-Bowman Center; Crossroads Virginia Railway Express Station; and Lake Anna.

The county opened an online survey in September seeking resident input, and the survey will remain open through December, according to Jacob L. Pastwik, long-range planning manager in the Spotsylvania County Planning & Zoning department.

He said the survey aims to get thoughts, ideas, identification of problems and possible solutions from residents on the five areas.

Pastwik said the survey takes a few minutes and added that the feedback does have the potential to help shape the future character of these small area zones.

The survey can be found on the countys website.

Once county staff has collected the community input, it will be compiled into common themes for each of the areas being considered, he said. Then the small area plans will be considered by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, which could result in the small area plans being included in the countys comprehensive plan.

Pastwik noted that any comprehensive plan or code updates require public hearings before any decisions are made.

He added that the small area plans offer additional insight on the intended uses, character and aesthetics, density, bulk regulations, and transportation connectivity (including transportation alternatives) in the defined area. Often these plans may be supplemented with more detailed maps and design graphics.

The following details for each of the small area plans were laid out in a December 2022 presentation to the Planning Commission.

Thornburg Area and Jackson Gateway

This small area plan covers a large area in the Battlefield and Berkeley districts in the countys primary development boundary. It also has existing and projected future transportation challenges and a recent significant uptick in development interest, according to the presentation.

There already is one major project in the Thornburg area, the Kalahari water park, along with proposed residential development in the pipeline.

The future water park is being built in an area  around the Interstate 95 exit, Mudd Tavern Road and U.S. 1  identified in the countys comprehensive plan as having the most intensive land uses.

Four Mile Fork

This area includes the busy U.S. 1, Courthouse Road and Lafayette Boulevard intersection, and encompasses the Battlefield, Courtland and Lee Hill districts. The area also includes an I-95 interchange.

Major changes already are underway in this area with the Veterans Affairs Clinic. That project also includes numerous road projects aimed at handling the projected increase in traffic.

Pastwik said some of the surveys completed by residents have raised concerns about traffic impacts related to the clinic.

Sylvania-Bowman Center

This area is in the Lee Hill District and includes land near the Fredericksburg city line.

The areas key landmarks include the Bowman Center, Rappahannock River, Sylvania Heights neighborhood, Shannon Airport and Deep Run Creek Industrial area.

The Bowman Center is being redeveloped from industrial buildings into a mixed use of apartments and commercial space.

The Planning Commission presentation noted that the area includes a wide array of existing commercial, residential and industrial uses. The area contains historical structures and sites. Also, the county has notable land holdings fronting the Rappahannock River that includes the historically significant Franklins Crossing site, riverfront views, and upland areas associated with a County Utilities treatment plant to be decommissioned.

There are plans to add pedestrian and bicycle paths as well as trails in the area.

Crossroads VRE station

This area, in the Berkeley and Lee Hill districts, includes the U.S. 17 area and the VRE commuter rail station, where residential development has sprung up with more expected.

The area around the VRE station is the focal point of this small area plan, according to the Planning Commission presentation.

This area is unique due to its passenger and freight rail potential, the staff report noted.

Lake Anna

This area is in the Livingston District and is around the countys portion of the 13,000-acre manmade Lake Anna, which cools the Dominion Energy North Anna nuclear power plant and is a popular summer spot.

The area is outside the countys primary development boundary, but according to the Planning Commission presentation there has been a long established vision to create a development node at Lake Anna along the (Route) 208 Corridor, something the small area plan could help move forward.

The small area plan will explore an option in which the Board might consider proactively rezoning properties in the area and under what conditions they may do so. This would help make the development process easier, staff said in the presentation.

If the small area plans are approved, dont expect immediate impacts. Still, the small area plans could help lay the groundwork for the future of the five areas.

These things take time to implement, Pastwik said, but formalizing a vision in planning documents or more aggressively enabling opportunities through code helps prime the process to achieve the overall vision.
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 Hylers 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 issue, 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 Hylers 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, Hylers 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 Hylers 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 hed 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
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.
Friday marked six years since Park County high school senior Maggie Long was discovered brutally murdered in her family home in Bailey, Colorado. Years later, local law enforcement and the surrounding mountain community continue their steadfast search for answers.

Our quest for justice for Maggie remains steadfast, said Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw. The dedicated members of the Maggie Long Task Force have never stopped the search for those responsible for Maggies death and will continue to follow every lead until we find resolution in this case.

On December 1, 2017, the body of 17-year-old Maggie Long was discovered in her home in Bailey, Colorado following reports of a fire at the residence.

According to law enforcement, Long was burned alive after allegedly walking in on a group of at least three assailants who were in the process of robbing the home.

Previous reports by the Gazette state the FBI has said there was a physical altercation between Long and her killers just before her death. The killers stole a Beretta handgun, an AK-47-style rifle, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, a green safe, and jade figurines from the home.

Sketches of the potential suspects have been released. At the time of the incident, authorities said the suspects might have been injured in the fire and might have since changed their appearances, sold their vehicles and/or moved away.

The case was considered a crime of opportunity considering the robbery at hand until 2021, when it was reclassified as a hate crime by the Park County Sheriff's Office.

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

The FBI defines hate crimes as criminal offenses motivated by bias against the victim's race, religion, disability, ethnicity/national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity.

The Maggie Long Task Force consists of law enforcement with the Park County Sheriff's Office, and the 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office, alongside additional federal and local partners.

On behalf of the PCSO, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Denver Division, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and Maggie Long's family, a $75,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in this case.

As weve stated previously, someone has that key piece of information that will lead to the arrest of those responsible for Maggies murder, Sheriff McGraw said, It will take one person with one piece of information that will help our investigative team bring resolution to this case for Maggie, her family and the Bailey community.

Anyone with pertinent information to the investigation is being asked to call the Maggie Long Task Force tip line at 303-239-4243, or email maggie.long.tips@state.co.us.

"Those providing tips can remain anonymous," CBI officials said.
As hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators stood outside, Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday night unequivocally called on Coloradans  and, by extension, Americans  to stand behind Israel, which is at war with Hamas following the latters attack that killed 1,200 Israelis.

Our greatest strength is our ability to stand together to support the people of Israel in their time of need to be an example of hope and light that others can follow and to stand against hate, the governor said.

Polis spoke at the Jewish National Fund-USA conference in Denver, which attracted thousands of attendees, and which, on its first night, also drew hundreds of demonstrators, who banged on the windows and chanted, Shut it down! and Free Palestine!

The nonprofit Jewish National Fund contributes heavily to Israel.

Colorado, he said, is known for standing shoulder to shoulder against hate, a theme he stuck to in his speech.

We must fight all forms of hatred with relentless courage and steadfast determination so that one day our children and their children can make a world without this pain and suffering, Polis said.

Polis, who is Colorados first Jewish governor, also lauded the work of the Jewish National Fund-USA and its donors.

The role of kindhearted donors like yourself across the world can help secure a prosperous and safe Israel, he said.

Polis did not mention those outside protesting.

The four-day global Jewish National Fund-USA conference is occurring nearly two months after Hamas crossed into southern Israel and killed 1,200 people, the vast majority of them civilians. Israel retaliated with air strikes and a ground invasion. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza said more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.

Hamas, which the U.S. government lists as a terrorist organization, also kidnapped about 240 people in the Oct. 7 attack that ignited the war. Both Hamas and Israel have, in the last few days, agreed to a cease-fire, allowing for a swap of hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and for aid to flow into Gaza.

Israel says it remains committed to ending Hamas 16-year rule over Gaza.

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

The Jewish National Fund, which began in 1901, donates resources to Israel, notably funding for planting trees and building houses and parks. The group also offers people the opportunity to tour Israel.

Some 2,400 people are expected to attend the groups annual global conference, which offers networking opportunities, presentations and activities to learn more about Israel. It also features a large Shabbat dinner. Denver last hosted the groups conference in 2013.

More than 100 activists had showed up to the Denver City Council meeting on Monday, demanding that officials denounce the conference. The protest forced the council, which has no control over such events, to adjourn its meeting.

Denver police tightened security surrounding the convention center and decided to close off a section of 14th Street between Stout Street and Welton Street from 6 a.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Sunday. Police and SWAT team members guarded all doors of the convention center on Thursday night.

Pro-Palestinian activists from the Colorado Palestine Coalition and DSA Denver plan to protest throughout the weekend. The Jewish Voice for Peace also intends to join the protests in calling for a permanent ceasefire.

Outside the convention center, the protesters carried signs, one of which said, End the siege on Gaza now.

In a speech, Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell Robinson urged attendees to not give the protesters outside any attention.

Gilad Erdan, Israels ambassador to the United Nations who also spoke at the event, called Hamas a cancer that must be removed.

The meaning of a cease-fire allows Hamas to gain control of Gaza, he said. We will not stop until we destroy Hamas.

Jewish National Fund-USA President Sol Lizerbram earlier told The Denver Gazette that free speech is an important tenet of our American system of values. However, hate has no place in our community,

Our conference is about bringing people together who want to build a brighter, more positive future for Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world, Lizerbram said.
Members of the District 49 School Board are considering displays of the national motto "In God We Trust" on campuses and an encouragement for teachers to create displays in classrooms.

The concept outlined in this week's agenda was to utilize any donated posters or plaques on campuses. Board members discussed how to include the motto in displays of historical documents.

The agenda item for the resolution presented by Board Treasurer Jamilynn D'Avola (District 1) reads, "District 49 believes that it is in the public interest to uphold, affirm, and celebrate the national heritage and the traditions and values which have been the foundation and the sustenance of our nation, as well as elements vital to its future preservation (wording taken from Colorado Department of Education Resolution to Encourage the Public Display of the National Motto In God We Trust adopted July 6, 2000)."

The resolution before the board mirrors that document from 23 years ago which references the origins of the phrase "In God We Trust" from a poem by Francis Scott Key that became the Star Spangled Banner, an 1864 law that called for the motto to be placed on all 2 cent coins, an 1873 law that changed that to all coins, and further on the 1956 law making it the National Motto of the United States to be placed on all currency.

During the discussion, Board Secretary Lori Thompson (District 4) referenced court rulings following challenges to displays in schools which determined the use of the motto is "ceremonial and patriotic, not a state endorsement of religion."

Thompson leans toward recommending the display of the motto alongside historical documents. She supports reviewing displays already in place at Sand Creek and Falcon high schools to determine a path forward. She wants to hear more from the community and consideration of a broader range of documents for displays to be used in an educational format.

Read more at koaa.com.

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Board Vice President Rick Van Wieren (District 2) agrees he would like to see the national motto alongside historical documents such as the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the preamble to the Constitution, or the Gettysburg Address.

He's not in favor of using "In God We Trust" as a standalone statement. "For some people, they would not look at it as simply ceremonial but rather they would look at that as little more than of the religion. That is something we want to avoid. We want to make our schools where everybody can feel welcome," Van Wieren said.

Outgoing Board President John Graham (District 3) understands the desire to display historical documents, but commented "students don't look at that stuff."

D'Avola reminded the board that this discussion on "'In God We Trust' is a starting point that we can jump off of. I think it is important to mention our inalienable rights. The Founding Fathers knew very clearly that those rights came from God, they do not come from man. Governments were instituted to protect those rights. If there is nothing higher than God then government can take away those rights. It's important for us to understand that as a nation that our nation was founded on the idea that God is above government because he gave us those rights."

Superintendent Peter Hilts offered to take leadership on the concept to develop a proposal for moving forward. He wants to consider the proposal by fostering relationships with educators, students and community organizations to develop displays and update existing historical displays to help bring American history to students in "plain text, readable versions of documents to show where our values come from."

D'Avola replied, "With those displays, I would like to make sure that we do include the 'In God We Trust' motto." Graham replied, "And with the history of why it is what it is."

Board members Thompson and D'Avola will work with Superintendent Hilts on the task. A revised resolution will be presented to a new board when they convene in January.

The incoming school board will have three new members when they meet next year. Here's the makeup of that group: Jamilynn D'Avola (District 1), Debra Schmidt (District 2), Marie LeVere-Wright (District 3), Lori Thompson (District 4) and Mike Heil (District 5).
More than 50 firefighters battled an apartment complex fire that left dozens displaced, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

According to CSFD spokesperson Ashley Franco, crews received reports of the blaze at the Quail Cove Apartments near the Broadmoor World Arena at 1:17 a.m. Friday morning. The first engine arrived on the scene at 1:23 a.m.

Our officer on Engine 4 did a fantastic job. He saw a glow in the header from pretty far away and immediately called a working fire and a second alarm, Franco said,

"As soon as we arrived we had heavy fire from the front area, and it spread to the whole building."

According to Franco, a total of 10 units were impacted by the blaze, leaving at least 30 residents and 11 of their pets displaced. A total of 55 fire personnel assisted with efforts to extinguish the fire.

With temperatures dropping below freezing early Friday morning, Franco said the cold created rough conditions for firefighters working the incident.

"It was cold. Temperatures this morning were super frigid. We're pouring out hundreds of gallons of water, and it made the entire area just a sheet of ice and that's a pretty big risk to our firefighters," Franco said,

"Warming trucks arrived last night to allow for firefighters to get warm. Theyre in all this gear, but it's not water proof. They are soaked and its 15 degrees. Theyre frozen, and to keep them healthy we need to get them into those warming shelters."

Additionally, Franco said the apartment complex's eventual collapse early into the blaze posed dangerous conditions for crews.

"The collapse happened pretty early on. It happened pretty quickly. It was very heavy smoke."

According to fire officials, the fire was out just after 4 a.m.

Fire officials and investigative crews littered the scene in front of the impacted building well into Friday morning, combing the charred structure for remaining hotspots, and utilizing drone technology to canvas the area.

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

"Were (fire crews) looking for any belongings we can get to residents, any phones, purses. Then theyre going to go in and look for any hot spots that were missed because obviously those embers can be buried," Franco said,

The drones have a ton of different jobs that they can do, and it gives our battalion chief a different perspective of where crews will be best used."

Red Cross arrived on the scene early Friday morning alongside fire officials to assist displaced families following the blaze.

"We have a program called After the Fire," Franco said, "Basically, our medical attendants gather all of the information on the scene on the families, and relay any unique qualities, like the number of young children, or pets, to Red Cross to ensure families receive the proper accommodations."

Quail Cove resident Zharia Greenard told the Gazette she arrived back at the complex Friday to the building adjacent to her unit engulfed in flames.

"I was just concerned for the familys safety rather than the materialistic stuff because you can get that back, but as far as their safety, that's what I was mainly worried about," Greenard said.

On her way out of the complex to pick up supplies to clean her apartment of the smoke smell, Greenard added the fire has had lingering impacts.

"Theyve been here all night. I had to call off work because I didnt get enough rest. My apartment still smells like smoke and everything," Greenard said. "I'm heading to the store now to get some cleaning supplies and try to get the smell out."

According to Franco, the investigation is expected to last through the weekend, with department crews expected to remain on the scene for the majority of Friday.

The cause of the remains under investigation and will be determined following the weekend, Franco said.
By Asim Aliyev, AZERNEWS

Speaking at the Inmerge Innovation Summit, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, co-founder of the American Tesla Corporation, stressed that Azerbaijan is one of the countries occupying an important position in the global oil industry, Azernews reports.

Straubel emphasised that oil-rich countries must take steps to reduce carbon emissions.

''For me, that's the main point, and reducing carbon emissions is possible through technology. We regularly see news about the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions around the world. However, if you look at the statistics, In 2018, we will see an increase in global carbon dioxide emissions, reaching record levels. I hope we will be able to take serious steps in this direction.''

Further, the co-founder has touched on challenges in reducing industrialization in our world.

"Decarbonising and rethinking industrial society requires divesting from fossil fuels, which is one of the most significant challenges of this generation," Straubel said.

"Often, we are reassured that CO2 emissions are under control or being reduced very quickly. We often see lots of commitments; everyone talks about reaching net zero soon, etc. But the reality is that every year we set records for CO2 emissions. Despite all the work done and all the promises and commitments, emissions are still increasing," he added.

The Tesla co-founder emphasised that it is not the emissions of one country or company that are increasing, but the total amount of emissions, which has an impact on everyone on Earth. Straubel also said that this year is likely to set another record for CO2 emissions.

Recall that Baku is hosting the second day of the InMerge Innovation Summit organised by PASHA Holding.

The second day of the summit will feature keynotes from co-founder and CTO of Tesla Inc., J.B. Strobel, and founder and creator of Shazam, Chris Barton. Azercell President Zarina Zeynalova, acting chairwoman of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Development of Azerbaijan, Inara Valiyeva, and others will also take the floor at the event.

Shahmar Movsumov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department for Economic Affairs and Innovative Development Policy of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Erdem Inan, General Director of Trendyol Group of Companies, Christina Dorosh, Vice President and Regional Manager of Visa in Central Asia and Azerbaijan, spoke on stage on the first day of the event.
Local organizations with ideas for programs combating opioid use in El Paso and Teller counties are invited to submit more information to the Region 16 Opioid Abatement Council.

The council announced Friday it has issued a formal request for information and expression of interest from area entities to fund youth prevention; community prevention education and awareness; medication-assisted treatment or medications for opioid use disorder; recovery supports and transitions; and family advocates programs.

Funding for the projects is available through a $26 billion national settlement with prescription opioid manufacturers and major pharmaceutical distributors.

The Pikes Peak region will receive about $66 million in opioid settlement funding, distributed in phases over the next 17 years. The money will address local gaps and opportunities in prevention, treatment and recovery services for people with opioid use disorder, other co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illnesses.

"These funds represent a significant opportunity to support innovative ideas to combat the opioid epidemic at the local level," Michael Allen, district attorney for the 4th Judicial District covering El Paso and Teller counties, said in a news release Friday. He also chairs the Region 16 Opioid Abatement Council.

Allen encouraged all eligible entities to apply.

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

During the first phase of funding distribution, the 14-member regional council, along with input from non-voting members, will distribute nearly $4.5 million to certain types of opioid abatement programs, the release states.

Youth prevention programs will receive $1,730,250; community prevention education and awareness programs, $692,100; medication-assisted treatment or medications for opioid use disorder programs, $354,701; recovery supports and transitions programs, $1,384,200; and family advocates programs will receive $337,398, the release said.

In 2022, 133 people died from opioid overdose in El Paso and Teller counties, officials said in the release, almost doubling the number of fatalities in vehicle accidents in the same timeframe.

"This statistic underscores the need to involve community organizations in developing targeted initiatives that address the multifaceted aspects of the opioid epidemic," the release said.

Organizations can submit applications through government bid website Bidnet Direct by Jan. 31.

Applicants should direct questions about the solicitation to El Paso County Contracts and Procurement Manager Traci Gorman at tracigorman@elpasoco.com.
A bridge closure on South Academy Boulevard near Interstate 25 is causing detours and delays for travelers in the south part of Colorado Springs.

Civil engineers with El Paso County Department of Public Works closed the bridge Tuesday evening to investigate bridge scour.

Brett Hartzell, the project manager for the South Academy widening project, explained that scouring occurs when the force of water gradually erodes the earth beneath a bridge support.

The closed bridge crosses Fountain Creek between the exit to U.S. 85/87 and Interstate 25. All westbound traffic on South Academy is detoured onto U.S. 85/87.

Drivers on U.S. 85/87 needing to access South Academy west of the interstate will need to use Colorado 16 or Mesa Ridge Parkway to get onto I-25 and then exit at the South Academy exit.

Click or tap here for traffic updates on The Gazette's live interactive map.

Read more at KOAA.com.
And in came the first wave of snow, sort of.

The first snow-storm wave of two pushed into Colorado Thursday night/Friday morning, but did not lay down as much snow as models suggested. Snow accumulations for Friday ranged from 1-5 inches, but still deep enough to help build bases and make soft turns.

Snow develops again Friday and is forecast to fall on southwestern, western and northwestern resorts for most of the day and into Saturday morning.

The European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) forecast on Friday morning has snow showers moving further north of Interstate 70 in the morning hours of Saturday. By sunrise, the forecast shows numerous showers in the Flattops, Park, Elks, and Gore ranges, with lighter snow showers in the Front, Ten Mile and Sawatch ranges. Another 2-12 inches is expected to stack up by Sunday at midnight, mostly north of I-70 into Routt, Grand, Summit, Eagle and Jackson counties (Steamboat and Howelsen Hill appear top winners of snow for Sunday).

Snow will taper off Saturday afternoon before ramping back up Saturday night into Sunday evening.

Today's 24 hour snow total from Colorado resorts:

Arapahoe Basin - 1"

Aspen Mountain - 5"

Aspen Highlands - 4", Opens Dec. 9

Beaver Creek - 0"

Breckenridge - 4"

Buttermilk - 2", Opens Dec. 9

Cooper - 1", Opens Dec 6.

Copper Mountain - 3"

Crested Butte - 2"

Echo Mountain - 0"

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Eldora Mountain - 0"

Granby Ranch - 0", Opens Dec. 8

Hesperus - 1", Opens early Dec.

Howelsen Hill - 1"

Kendall Mountain - 2", Opens Dec. 15

Keystone - 0"

Loveland - 0"

Monarch - 0", As early as possible

Powderhorn - 3"

Purgatory - 2"

Silverton - 4"

Snowmass - 5"

Steamboat - 3"

Sunlight - 2", Opens Dec. 8

Telluride - 6", Opens Dec. 2

Vail - 5"

Winter Park - 2"

Wolf Creek - 0"
Used wedding dresses transformed into infant burial, baptismal gowns in southern Colorado

Recycled outfits provide special memory for grieving families

As soon as she said, I do, Monument resident Julie Dickinson dreamed of having children.

After surgeries and years of patience and praying, it never happened for us, she said. So, I was always feeling like there was a piece of my life, my marriage, my married life that was missing.

But Dickinson turned her sorrowful, nagging thoughts of loss into tranquility when she donated her beloved wedding dress to a cause that transcends this world.

In giving new life to her matrimonial dress that an aunt had embellished with personal touches of beads and sequins, Dickinson was able to let go of her unrequited dream.

I feel so at peace now, knowing that my special dress that my aunt had customize in a labor of love and that made so many people happy continues to do that for grieving families, Dickinson said. My dress just needed to keep bringing peace and happiness to people.

What is likely the most sentimental outfit in a womans life  her wedding gown  becomes special in a heart-wrenching but significant way through the Resting Gowns program.

The project of Colorado Springs nonprofit Newborn Hope, which assists families of preterm babies in southern Colorado, helps memorialize infants, who despite heroic medical efforts dont survive their precarious entrance into life.

So many of the parents are taken by surprise they are having their babies so early, and if they dont go home with them, they dont have anything they can put the babies in, said Newborn Hope volunteer J.J. Kaelin, an executive adviser and past president of the board of the directors.

It starts with women saying, I am willing to give up something so special as my wedding gown, which may be something their daughters or sons wouldnt be using for their own wedding, Kaelin said. Theyre allowing it to live on with a different purpose and another family to have something so meaningful.

In marking its 50th anniversary, the organization will hold its first used wedding gown drive beginning Friday. Drop-off boxes are set up at UMB Banks in Colorado Springs, downtown at 101 N. Cascade Ave., The Citadel location at 730 Citadel Drive East, and The Broadmoor site at 290 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.

Donations are being accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Newborn Hope volunteer Tarah King, vice president of finance and a financial manager at UMB Bank in Colorado Springs, orchestrated the drop-off sites.

Its a really beautiful program that allows families to be able to have a lasting memory with their baby, she said. Its a sad topic  its usually for families when theyve lost their child  but these resting gowns provide a way for them to capture a memory and grieve in their own way.

At the Monument home of professional seamstress Irene Sutherland, contributions are tenderly dismantled and refashioned into tiny burial gowns, bonnets, baptismal outfits and demise pouches for babies who arrive too soon, are stillborn or end their journey in miscarriage.

Parents or guardians of infants at St. Francis Medical Center and UCHealth Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Childrens Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs can receive a free gown for baptism or burial, compliments of Newborn Hope.

Dickinson donated the first wedding dress to Sutherland six years ago, after getting tired of moving the box with her cleaned dress in it every time she and her military husband relocated.

While researching new uses for old wedding dresses online, Dickinson came across a program in Denver that provided small dresses for stillborn children. But she didnt find anything in southern Colorado.

She asked Sutherland, whom she knows from St. Peter Catholic Church in Monument, if she would repurpose her wedding dress into such gowns for local families.

After praying about Dickinsons request, Sutherland said she knew it was something she needed to try.

Its a calling, a passion to do this because its very emotional, Sutherland said. Its not a mechanical or automated thing; its a design-as-you-go process.

Creativity is required to turn a satin, silk, tulle, chiffon or other material of a wedding dress, train, sleeves or veil into a miniature dress. A lacy sleeve can become the bodice of a resting gown, for example.

One poufy wedding dress with a long train produced 17 resting gowns, Sutherland said, though five to six is the norm.

The dresses range from simple to elaborate and are made in three sizes: preemie (the most common), tiny and micro, for the smallest babies. Pouches or buntings also are available for fetal demise remains.

In July 2021, Kaelin, who also attends St. Peter, connected Sutherland to Newborn Hope, which gave birth to the official Resting Gowns program.

Since then, Sutherland has churned out some 200 gowns, which Kaelin hand packages in white boxes and includes an embroidered angel ornament as a keepsake, a poignant poem, Teardrops, by Ron Tranmer, and a handwritten note from Newborn Hope to the family.

Due to medical privacy laws, families who receive the gift of a gown are unknown to the providers.

Once we give them to the hospitals, we dont hear from the recipients, Kaelin said. But we hear from the nurses and doctors that it means so much to these parents to be able to wrap their little angel in something so beautiful as these resting gowns. It gives them dignity.

Many families like to have a photo taken of their babies in the gowns, she said, and families with any or no faith background find the gowns beneficial in their grieving.

We dont know where the gowns go, but youre doing this in good faith, and I pray for the families, Sutherland said. Im sure their hearts ache.

Dickinson sometimes wonders who ended up with the gowns Sutherland sewed from her wedding dress.

There are different emotions around it, but ultimately the main emotion is peace in knowing the gowns went somewhere they needed to go, she said.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656.
Joe Barrera, Ph.D., is the former director of the Ethnic Studies Program at UCCS. He teaches Mexico/U.S. Border Studies and U.S. Military History. He publishes The Almagre Review, a literary journal. He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War.
Abbas Ganbay

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have discussed the development of cooperation in the space sphere. Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, wrote about it on the X social network, Azernews reports.

"We met with Sherzod Shermatov, Minister for Development of Information Technologies and Communications of Uzbekistan, who is on a visit to our country. During the meeting, we discussed the development of cooperation between the two countries in the field of digital development, cyber security and the space sphere," the minister wrote.
As hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators stood outside, Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday night unequivocally called on Coloradans  and, by extension, Americans  to stand behind Israel, which is at war with Hamas following the latter's attack that killed 1,200 Israelis.
A Pitkin County judge improperly allowed evidence stemming from an unlawful arrest to be used at trial, and did not correctly instruct the jury about how to use a different set of evidence, the state's Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday.
Even though the major parties' national conventions don't gavel in for almost eight months, it isn't too early for Colorado's most avid Democrats and Republicans to start thinking about traveling across the country to nominate their 2024 presidential tickets.
An item on the next Corvallis City Council meeting agenda proposes to oust one of its own and has left residents with questions about the process and the interpretation of the city charter, last amended in the 2021 local election.

In a meeting packet sent ahead of the Monday, Dec. 4, council meeting, a resolution will come before the council declaring the Ward 5 councilor seat vacant and directing the city manager to solicit nominations to fill that position.

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.

According to the single-page resolution, Ward 5 Councilor Charlyn Ellis has forfeited her position by virtue of violating the Corvallis charter. It does not detail why.

In general terms, the resolution says Ellis has interfered in "administration and elections." It says:

Neither the mayor nor any member of the council shall in any manner, directly or indirectly, by suggestion or otherwise, attempt to influence or coerce the manager in the making of any appointment or removal of any officer or employee or in the purchase of supplies; or attempt to exact any promise relative to any appointment from any candidate for manager, or discuss, directly or indirectly, with the manager the matter of specific appointments to any city office or employment.

No one's name is attached to the resolution. It says: "A resolution submitted by Councilor ____________________," presumably to be filled in by whichever councilor makes the motion Monday.

Ellis has not resigned her position, she said by phone Thursday, Nov. 30, "because that would mean that I had health reasons or something like that."

Charter violation?

Ellis said she knows from where the allegation stems. She was called to a meeting on Monday, Nov. 27, set up the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, with the City Attorney Jim Brewer, council President Tracey Yee and Mayor Charles Maughan, during which she was informed that she had violated the city charter when she asked the council to direct the city manager to fill an open position.

At the Sept. 18 council meeting, Ellis brought up staffing issues faced by the Climate Action Advisory Board, on which she serves a council liaison and the chair, during the councilors report segment of the meeting.

In her motion, she said the board was requesting the council direct the city manager to post a full-time job opening for a climate program specialist within two weeks of the meeting and update the council on the hiring process until the position was filled.

The community side of implementing the Climate Action Plan, adopted in 2016, was in jeopardy without staff to keep meetings going, Ellis said at the meeting. The person who had occupied that position left the city earlier in the year.

Besides assisting with basic meeting operations to adhere to public meeting laws, Ellis said the program specialist was needed for other responsibilities, such as keeping track of state and federal government funding for climate-related initiatives and working on applications to clinch those funds, such as the $300,000 Carbon Reduction Program funding the city received for an electric sweeper.

"My fear is without a dedicated climate program specialist, the climate action board will not meet," Ellis said at the Sept. 18 council meeting, stressing that "we are in a climate emergency."

Several councilors raised objections to the motion at the Sept. 18 meeting, stating that it was in violation of the Corvallis charter as it was not the responsibility of the council to direct the city manager to fill open positions.

"By adding a level of specificity that you want the city manager to appoint a particular officer or employee, I think thats exactly what the charter says you cant do," Brewer said at the meeting.

The motion did not pass, although a substitute motion simply calling for the advisory board to continue meeting monthly did.

Ellis said on Thursday that at the time the Nov. 27 meeting, she hadnt read that section of the charter, and if she was considered to be in violation, it was a mistake. The sense she got from the meeting, she said, was that she had done something egregious by moving that motion.

"Now, I have questions," Ellis said. The situation has her "just stunned."

Confusing agenda item

She's not the only one with questions.

"My first reaction to it is confusion," Ward 5 resident Marjorie Stevens said, citing how the one-page resolution seems insufficient given the ask.

"I feel like I have lost my elected representative, and as far as democracy goes, theres something wrong here," Stevens said.

Ellis was first elected in November 2016, running unopposed. She was reelected two years later, this time facing a challenger. In the next two races, she ran unopposed.

"My elected representative under threat of being removed through some sort of bureaucratic paperwork, without having any kind of explanation or review or public input, it just feels almost like a coup d'etat in a way. Its alarming to me, she said.

In email threads among constituents since the packet was made public, Stevens said Ellis has been receiving praise for being an attentive and effective representative, going as far as to express support for a reelection if one is on the table.

Stevens is also concerned about the gap of her ward's representation at the City Council a dismissal might create and what will happen in that time period without Ellis' voice there.

"Its never a good time to be without representation in city government," said Wendy Byrne, a member of the Climate Action Advisory Board.

In conversations with other community members, Byrne said residents are raising questions about the elapsed time between the supposed charter violation and the resolution, as well as the levity of Ellis's September motion compared to what reads like an automatic dismissal.

"What Im hearing from my friends in the community is just, theres a lot of frustration that there does not seem to be any due process. It does not seem like theres any explanation, and people are confused as to what this means, Byrne said.

According to Byrne, the advisory board was concerned about stalled meetings as a result of inconsistent staff support, hence the push for Ellis to make the Sept. 18 motion.

"We still have those same concerns. We have one person who does support us now, who's sort of filing in after work, and that seems like a lot to ask of her," Byrne said.

A first?

City Council positions have opened up before the expiration of a tenure for various reasons in the past, mostly because of health or departures from town. Longtime council watchers can't recall a similar circumstance.

"We had a city councilor who was arrested and charged with a crime who still maintained their office," Stevens said.

"I have seen a few different things over the years, but this is the first time I've seen something like invoking the city charter to declare a position vacant," she said.

Former Ward 5 councilor Mike Beilstein, who served just before Ellis, said it was not unusual to have councilor liaisons bring back requests to the council, especially since the recent citywide consolidation of advisory boards.

"I don't see that Charlyn Ellis has done anything unusual for a councilor, especially in her role as liaison to the advisory board," Beilstein said.

But council President Yee said by email that because Ellis also serves as chair, her situation is different. The Climate Action Advisory Board is the only advisory committee where a council liaison also chairs the board. According to Yee, the responsibilities and accountability of a chair is different than just a liaison.

Beilstein argued that because there are no supporting documents in the packet, he would suggest the councilors remove the item from the agenda. He also said it appears as if someone has a "vendetta" against Ellis, calling the controversy an "embarrassment."

Yee said the deliberations procedure will be pretty standard: A councilor will move the motion to pass the resolution and it will be seconded before members can consider it.

Ward 4 resident Dave Eckert said the resolution's wording raises confusions about the meaning of the term "forfeiture."

"The question really centers on 'did Charlyn resign?' And did she do that verbally or in writing as an official resignation? Or did somebody decide that she violated the charter and that automatically forfeits her seat? And if someone decided that, on what authority?" Eckert said.

The resolution presents the matter as an already forgone conclusion, he said, and this was a concern he's heard from several community members.

"According to people that I've talked with or who have contacted me, nobody remembers anything like this ever happening before," Eckert said. The closest was in '94 when the then city manager asked the council to resolve a situation where it was believed a line had been crossed with the city charter.

Eckert said his feeling as well as that of several others he's been in conversation with is that "the process seems so wrong."

After reviewing video of the meeting and reading the agenda resolution, Eckert said the motion moved by Ellis was to fill an opening; it was not a request to fill it with a specific person.

While everyone he has talked to agrees that this may not be a violation of the letter of the charter, Eckert acknowledged that a lawyer or judge might interpret it differently. Still, that does not change the impression that the dismissal seems to be pushing through quickly and without due process, he said.

"Another question is, who made that decision? And what is their authority to have done that?" Eckert said.

"I've never experienced forfeiture of a council on account of the charter," former city councilor Tony Howell said by phone.

As the board's liaison, Howell said Ellis was in the right to advocate for a vacant position to be filled. The charter language, he said, was aimed at preventing councilors from directing the hiring (or firing) of a specific candidate.

"Making a motion in front of council puts it on the council, so it's not even directly to the city manager," Howell said.

Even if the budgetary allocation for the role were unavailable or the job responsibilities were changing, as some councilors raised during the Sept. 18 meeting, asking for its filling to be expedited was still an appropriate council issue, Howell said.

"It's a very big step we've never taken before in terms of modifying the votes of a ward, and it should be taken seriously," Howell said.

The fact that the resolution in the packet did not even present the charges, provide a report or supporting documents, or how the charter is being interpreted should be concerning, Howell added.

A hearing or a hammer?

Ellis is unclear how the conversation will go at the Monday meeting. She said she planned to meet with the city attorney before then to better understand.

At the time of her meeting with the mayor, city attorney and council president, she said she was too astonished to raise all the questions that she now has about the charter and her Sept. 18 motion.

"As I read it,  it looks to me like it is trying to prevent cronyism," Ellis said of the charter language.

"But this is my interpretation; Im an English teacher. Im familiar with words, Im not a lawyer," she said. "It looks to me like you cannot say, You need to hire my brother-in-law to resurface the street.' Thats what it reads like to me."

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today.

Whether this is a personal attack is a question Ellis is not interested in discussing, as it takes the focus away from the question of whether she violated the charter, she said.

"And that is the question for me, if I actually deliberately violated the charter. I do not believe I did. I might have inadvertently, but I do not believe I did it deliberately," Ellis said.

Attempts to reach other ward councilors, the city manager and city attorney to understand the scope of the council meeting on Monday, Dec. 4 and if constituents have a say in the outright dismissal of their elected official have been unsuccessful.

Related stories:
The opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit organized on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28 has been held in the city of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event.

President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the President of Azerbaijan.

First, a family photo was taken.


















SAC CITY, Iowa  Thursday evening, a group helping search for missing Wall Lake, Iowa truck driver David Schultz announced it had covered close to 50,000 acres.

Since Saturday, November 25, the United Cajun Navy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit organization that performs search and rescue operations, has helped look throughout Sac County for the 53-year-old Schultz who was reportedly last heard from on the morning of Tuesday, November 21. Sarah Schultz, David Schultz's wife, said Tuesday afternoon, his truck was found northeast of Sac City, parked on northbound U.S. Highway 71, about five miles north of the old U.S. Highway 20 intersection. The truck was reportedly turned off but wasn't pulled over and the trailer was still loaded with young pigs.

"We have another 58,000 acres to cover before we can eliminate the areas along Highway 20 and 71," Jake Rowley, the Midwest team leader for the United Cajun Navy, posted to the group's Facebook page.

Friday, the group resumed search operations at 10:30 a.m. from its meeting location at the Sac City Motel on Ash Avenue in Sac City.

Rowley also said in the post the group has seen volunteer numbers diminish before acknowledging "we did keep a solid crew together that has covered a ton of ground."

For the weekend, Rowley said the group is hoping for a big push to "finish our search area all the way to Highway 4."

Since the married father of 10-year-old twin boys disappeared, volunteers have search for Schultz in Calhoun, Sac, Webster and Wright counties. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations is involved in the case as well as the Sac County Sheriff's Office and the Lake View Police Department.

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
CHATHAM  The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors honored the bravery and heroism of first responders this week for their actions in a devastating fire Nov. 12 at Northpointe Apartments.

The inferno in the early morning hours leveled a building with 12 apartments and damaged about six others.

After Blairs Fire & Rescue arrived on scene, a county-wide call for help was initiated. In all, more than 100 firefighters from Pittsylvania County responded and some remained on scene for about 12 hours.

We want to honor all of these people for all of their hard work and effort, Robert Tucker, a supervisor who represents the Banister District, said Tuesday evening. Not just on the Northpointe fire, but on any given day at any given moment, 24/7, they respond to the call of duty.

With the entire building engulfed in flames, volunteers saved a dozen residents. Many were trying to escape through balconies and windows.

They just cooperated and made a number of rescues for folks on the third floor crying for help, Pittsylvania County Administrator Stuart Turille told the Register & Bee earlier this month.

They were able to rescue everyone, Turille said. Some were literally hanging out of the window.

One or two jumped.

Its an amazing miracle that nobody died, Turille said. Not just from the flames, but smoke inhalation, since the fire happened when everyone was asleep.

A resolution adopted Tuesday cited swift action and bravery by the county volunteers in containing the fire, which undoubtedly prevented further damage and ensured the safety of the residents and surrounding community.

The resolution also noted the outpouring of support from the community. In the days after the blaze, many groups banded together to take up donations for the families left with nothing.

It certainly worked out as well as it could based on the circumstances, Bob Warren, who represents the Chatham-Blairs District, said.

Warren pointed out that Dean Fowler, the chief of the Blairs agency, also works for the Danville Fire Department. That made for a smooth operation when calling the city for help.

I dont want to single just him out, because everybody did a great job, but he runs a great organization out in Blairs, Warren said. I just want to tell him that the eight years that I served, Ive enjoyed serving with you, and youve done a great job and I appreciate you.

Citing the catastrophic damage, the Pittsylvania County Fire Marshals Office  with help from the Danville Fire Marshals Office and Virginia State Police  ruled the cause as undetermined. However, authorities do not suspect criminal acts were involved.
The state office that oversees emergency medical services in Virginia is tangled in a financial crisis, preventing rescue squads from buying new ambulances and threatening the jobs of EMS support personnel.

In the spring, state government leaders discovered the Office of Emergency Medical Services had for years misspent millions of dollars. So far, no one has said exactly how much money is missing, how long it was misspent, where it went or why it was mishandled.

State and federal investigators are now asking questions.

The impact is far-reaching. EMS crews throughout the state can't apply for grants to buy ambulances, stretchers or automated external defibrillators, leaving them to deal with sometimes outdated equipment. A volunteer rescue squad in Winchester has to make do with a 14-year-old ambulance that often breaks down or raise more than $400,000 to buy a new one.

And the nonprofit regional councils that coordinate and train EMS providers throughout the state are going unfunded. For now, they are surviving on reserve funds and other revenue, but some could be forced to cease operation at the end of the month, said Tracy McLaurin, who leads the Lord Fairfax EMS Council in the Winchester area.

It's going to have far-reaching and long-lasting implications, unfortunately," McLaurin said in an interview. "We dont know what the futures going to hold.

Office spent money it didn't have

In the spring, the Virginia Department of Health conducted regular budget reviews of each of its 20 offices. During a routine review in May, leadership discovered "financial irregularities," at the Office of EMS, said R. Christopher Lindsay, the department's chief operating officer of the, according to prepared remarks from a November meeting. A significant portion of the money the Office of EMS was supposed to deliver to the general fund had disappeared.

This led department leadership to open an audit, which is ongoing, and contact the Office of the State Inspector General, the Virginia State Police and federal prosecutors.

"I cannot comment further on the specifics of these investigations," Lindsay said at the November meeting.

What Lindsay would divulge is that for years, the Office of EMS created budgets that were not in line with available funding. The office spent significantly more money than it had, and overspent on contracts.

"There have been years of moving of funds from one sources to another to cover shortfalls with little agency oversight or controls which has left a multi-million-dollar deficit within the Office of EMS that will take time and effort to correct," Lindsay said.

It's unclear if the money was lost to negligence or if it was stolen. It's also unclear why there weren't systems in place to discover the problem earlier.

The office's long-time director, Gary Brown, who was in charge there for 27 years, announced in October he would retire, WTVR reported. The health department named Cam Crittenden the office's acting director.

There are roughly 38,000 EMS providers in the state  both volunteer and paid and not including firefighters  working at about 550 agencies.

In Richmond, the Richmond Ambulance Authority is the city's primary EMS provider. In Henrico, volunteer rescue squads, including Tuckahoe and Lakeside, work alongside the county's fire department.

The salaries of paid employees are generally funded at the local level and are not in danger of disappearing. But much of their equipment is paid for by the state or local fundraising.

When a Virginia resident registers a vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the resident pays a tax between $30 and $35. From that total, about $6 goes toward the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, which pays for the department's $56 million budget for fiscal 2024. The funding program is referred to as "4 for Life," because previously, $4 was allocated from vehicle registrations for emergency medical services.

The budget is used to pay the office's nearly 50-person staff and the regional councils that train and coordinate EMS agencies. Other money is disbursed to localities, volunteer rescue squads, the Virginia State Police's emergency helicopter transport, trauma centers such as Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and the state's general fund. Much of the funding is required by state law.

One of the largest pieces of the pie, almost $10 million, is designated for the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund, in which rescue squads can apply for grant money to buy new ambulances or other equipment.

But the state won't fund any grant applications in the next cycle.

Replacing a 14-year-old ambulance

In the city of Winchester, the Shawnee Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department owns two ambulances. One of them is 14 years old, frequently out of service and in dire need of replacement, said Jon Henschel, Winchester's Fire Chief, in an interview.

The department has asked the state three times for the money to buy a new one, which costs more than $400,000. The first two times, the request was denied. Henschel thought the third time was the charm.

In a normal period, the Office of EMS would award its next cycle of grant money around Jan. 1. Without that money, Shawnee likely will have to pay for the ambulance on its own.

The department already fundraises  it holds bingo nights twice a week  but that money also goes toward fire engines and the fire station's building upkeep. And fundraising has become harder in recent years as the cost of ambulances has soared.

Agencies can borrow ambulances from one another, but that causes a domino effect, inconveniencing more and more units.

When the state will resume funding, Henschel doesn't know.

"Were not getting a lot of answers," he said. "This is going to have a detrimental outcome statewide if they don't rectify this soon."

While rescue squads themselves aren't in danger of shutting down, the bodies that coordinate EMS are.

The Lord Fairfax EMS Council in Winchester is one of 11 throughout the state and are paid as contractors. They decide which trauma centers will receive ambulances from different localities and where ambulances will go if the first option is overwhelmed. The councils provide training for EMS providers, operate a program that allows them to carry blood for transfusions and distributed personal protective equipment to ambulances during the pandemic.

The Lord Fairfax Council hasn't received payment from the state since March, McLaurin said. At the end of December, the state will owe the council about $175,000 for nine month's work.

McLaurin has been able to pay her four other employees by collecting revenue from CPR training, the sale of defibrillators, certification testing and tapping into the nonprofit's rainy-day fund. But that money will only go so far, she said. If the council isn't paid by early next year, it might have to cease operations.

Other councils depend more on the state for revenue and might be forced to shut down at the end of the month, she said.

"It's putting everybody in a really difficult position right now," McLaurin said.

Dr. Karen Shelton, the state health commissioner, said the health department is working to free up funds to pay the councils. To meet payroll, the health department will restructure the office and delay payments back to localities.

During the pandemic, the health department lost much of its financial management workforce, Shelton said at the November meeting. Now it's working to rebuild.

Kevin Dillard, chair of the state EMS advisory board, has been tasked with assembling a workgroup to begin fixing the office. The work will take time and effort, Dillard said in an interview.

"They're taking drastic measures to stop the bleeding and get this under control," he added.
Subject of the meeting: "New legislative framework: Law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together. Promoting intercultural living together at local level - Strengthening societal cohesion".

MFSVA Max Hahn, ministre de la Famille, des Solidarites, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil MFSVA Max Hahn, ministre de la Famille, des Solidarites, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil MFSVA Groupe d'echange et de soutien en matiere d'integration au niveau local

Political leaders, municipal representatives as well as members of the Municipal advisory committees on integration (future Municipal committee on intercultural living together) met face-to-face to discuss the topic "New legislative framework: law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together. Promoting intercultural living together at local level. Strengthening societal cohesion".

The 11th edition exceeded all the expectations of the organisers, with a record number of 200 participants, representing some 60 municipalities and 25 associations working to promote integration and intercultural living together, gathering in Strassen to attend the event. They were joined by the integration advisors (the future advisors on intercultural living together) and representatives from various ministries.

The meeting was opened by Nico Pundel, Mayor of the municipality of Strassen, who hosted the event at the Cultural Centre Paul Barble in Strassen. Minister Max Hahn of the Ministere de la Famille, des Solidarites, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil, and Louis Oberhag, Vice-Chairman of Syvicol, welcomed the GRESIL participants. Conny Heuertz from the Division du vivre-ensemble moderated the event.

After the initial welcome, Conny Heuertz and Anne Daems (Division du vivre-ensemble) presented the new law on intercultural living together, and Anna Kirsch (Division du vivre-ensemble) unveiled the new website for municipalities www.gemengen.zesummeliewen.lu. Finally, Lena Hartz from the Intercultural Agency of the Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigres (ASTI) spoke about the paradigm shift from an integration approach to a broader and more open approach to intercultural living together.

During the second part of the GRESIL, the participants in Strassen had the opportunity to take part in practical workshops on the implementation of the new law on intercultural living together. They could choose between the following workshops: "Le pacte communal du vivre-ensemble interculturel", "le pacte citoyen et le programme du vivre-ensemble interculturel" and "les commissions communales du vivre-ensemble interculturel".

ASTI, Syvicol, CEFIS, the municipality of Strassen and the Division du vivre-ensemble of the Ministere de la Famille, des Solidarites, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil, co-organisers of this event, would like to thank all those present for their active participation in this platform for exchange among local actors.

Born in 2018 out of the strong interest and need of Luxembourg municipalities to network on issues relating to integration and living together, the GRESIL, of which there have been eleven editions to date, offers municipalities a platform for gathering, exchanging, creating synergies, providing information, training and support on issues of integration and intercultural living together at local level. The next GRESIL meeting is scheduled for spring 2024.

The documentation of GRESIL 11 will be available shortly at www.gemengen.zesummeliewen.lu.

Press release by: le ministere de la Famille, des Solidarites, du Vivre ensemble et de l'Accueil / Division du vivre-ensemble / commune de Strassen / Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigres (ASTI) / Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (Syvicol) / Centre d'etude et de formation interculturelles et sociales (CEFIS)
New trail celebration,

awards ceremony

A celebration of the Sandy Creek Bridge groundbreaking is set for 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at 5960 U.S. 64 in Ramseur.

The Franklinville (2.5 mile) and Ramseur (.75 mile) Rail Trail sections of the Deep River State Trail finally will be connected to create 3.25 miles of continuous trail.

Also, the A3 Healthy Communities' 13th Annual Mayor's Fitness Challenge awards ceremony is set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Randolph County Office Building at 725 McDowell Road in Asheboro.

Awards will be given to the following: Mayor's cup - top Asheboro City Schools team, superintendent's cup - top county school team, A3 plaque - top team with the most steps, top three males with the most steps, top three females with the most steps and top three teams with the highest average steps per person.

A drawing for Year of the Trail backpacks is planned as well.

For information, contact Mary Joan Pugh at 336-963-2715 or maryjoan.pugh@randolphcountync.gov.

Holiday celebration

Join the Holiday Kick-off Celebration from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Greensboro History Museum, 130 Summit Ave. There are hands-on activities for all ages to coincide with the Downtown Greensboro Holiday Parade.

There will be fun for everyone inside the building and around the museum's Mary Lynn Richardson Historic Park. Visitors can learn about holiday traditions in Greensboro, discover the science and art of snowflakes and enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and cookies. There will be special visits from Mrs. Claus at 2 p.m. and Santa Claus from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

The Annual Mousetastical Mouse Hunt debuts featuring felt mice hiding all around the museum galleries. Throughout December, visitors receive a special treat when they search for these cute critters. All activities are free and fun for the whole family.

Water-quality program begins

Beginning on Sunday, Archdale, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Randleman, Reidsville and the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority water utilities will conduct a routine water quality preventative maintenance program involving temporarily using chlorine instead of chloramines to disinfect our drinking water.

This switch is important to maintain the safety of drinking water and to optimize the water quality in distribution systems. The switch to chlorine is scheduled to start on the week of Dec. 3 and will end the week of May 5, 2024.

During this time, some users may notice temporary taste or odor differences. This is a normal part of the transition, and the water quality will not be impacted. Both chlorinated and chloraminated water are safe for drinking, cooking and other general uses. Specialized industries such as medical facilities offering kidney dialysis, fish tank and pond owners and some businesses that use water in their production process should take precautions and make the required adjustments to their current filtration and treatment systems.

For information, call 336-883-3111 or 800-426-4791. Also, visit www.highpointnc.gov/waterqualitymaintenance.

Caregiver tea, support groups

WellSpring Solutions will offer a holiday tea for family caregivers from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at The Memory Care Center, 2701 Henry St. in Greensboro.

Holiday preparations and holding on to traditions can be overwhelming for family caregivers. Connecting and sharing experiences with others may help.

Participants will enjoy treats and discuss tips on staying connected with those they love while remaining connected to peace within themselves during the holiday season.

Register at www.well-springsolutions.org/services/caregiver-support-services/, email jkolada@well-spring.org or call 336-545-4245.

Caregiver support groups are available as well: 12:30-2 p.m. Dec. 6, St. Marys Episcopal Church, Music Academy Building, Community Room 2, 205 W. Farriss Ave., High Point; and 12:30-2 p.m. Dec. 11, Temple Emanuel Board Room, 1129 Jefferson Road, Greensboro.

There will be no evening support group meetings in December.

Email jkolada@well-spring.org or call 336-545-4245 a few days in advance if respite care is needed during these times.

Book launch

Celebrate the national book launch of "Iwo, 26 Charlie" by author P.T. Deutermann at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch, 1420 Price Park Road in Greensboro. Deutermann is a Navy Veteran and award-winning author who lives in Rockingham County.

Considered a contemporary master of World War II military fiction, Duetermanns newest book is an authentic novel that follows a young Navy gunnery officer stationed on the battleship Nevada during the Battle of Iwo Jima. This event is free and there will be a reception followed by a discussion with the author.

For information, call 336-373-2923 or email beth.sheffield@greensboro-nc.gov.

Discussion about health disparities

United Way of Greater Greensboro has planned Conversations with Community Leaders featuring a panel discussion on health disparities and the impact on the community from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Guilford College's Dana Auditorium.

Registration is required, RSVP by Dec. 5 a UnittedWayGSO.org/Calendar.

This free event is being hosted by UWGGs African American Leadership.

Featured speakers include:

Dr. Olu Jegede, vice president of the Center for Health Equity, Cone Health

Dr. John Jenkins, executive medical director school based healthcare, Cone Health

Deb Harris Richardson, president and CEO, YWCA Greensboro

Hugh Holston, CEO, Greensboro Housing Coalition

Doors open at 10:45 a.m. and the program begins promptly at 11 a.m. A complimentary boxed lunch will be served to guests immediately following the program.

Racial equity scorecard presentation

High Point constituents and community members are invited from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Dec. 6 to Greater New Hope Baptist Church, 906 Meredith St. in High Point, for the release of the 2023 High Point Racial Equity Scorecard. Stephen Sills conducted the research and will present the state of racial disparities.

YWCA of High Point will host.

Topics include: Income and wealth, education, public safety, health, civic engagement and digital equity and transportation and food access.

For information, call 336-882-4126.

Children's book donations

Sadie Leder Elder, a nationally recognized educator working as an associate professor of psychology at High Point University, recently wrote a childrens book, "The Adventures of Boopers the Bad Cat." The book is about her real-life cat, Boopers, who was with her for nearly 20 years.

Boopers really was the best bad cat, says Elder. As a long-hair, tortoiseshell cat, she was beautiful. People wanted to touch her. However, she was absolutely terrible, biting or scratching anyone who dared. There was something about that fierceness that I appreciated and adored.

Elder plans to use her book for good by creating book donation campaigns that will make copies of "The Adventures of Boopers the Bad Cat" available broadly across the county and state. Elders first donation goal was to put one copy of this fun book into each of the 50 Title 1 elementary schools in Guilford County. Within three weeks of the book being published, this donation goal was accomplished, with books scheduled for delivery to the schools over the holiday break. Elder is now working on her second goal, which is to donate a copy of her book to each of the 410 public libraries in the state of North Carolina.

This book is the first in what Elder hopes will be a long-running and beloved series about Boopers. She, along with the books illustrator, local artist Kathryn Cushwa Gerace of Ethel B Designs, anticipate that the second in the Boopers the Bad Cat series will be published in early 2024.

Elder and Cushwa Gerace invite community members to join them for one of their upcoming book events. There is a Meet the Author and Illustrator Event from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at The Cottage High Point, 1107 N. Main St., #101, High Point as well as a childrens book reading from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 20 at Wynnies Boutique, 1210 N. Main St., High Point.

For information, visit www.BoopersTheBadCat.com.

NAACP leader to speak

Kay Brown, president of the Greensboro branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is the featured speaker at the Dec. 13 meeting of the citys Human Rights Boards and Commissions. The program starts at 6 p.m. at the Barber Park Event Center, 1502 Barber Park Drive in Greensboro.

Residents may join commissioners from the Ad hoc Committee on African American Disparities, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Human Rights Commission, the International Advisory Committee and the Transgender Task Force for a meet-and-greet opportunity. The representatives will provide information about upcoming programs and how to volunteer. Following the meet-and-greet, Brown will discuss advocacy and organizational campaigning in the groups second Advocacy Development Training session.

The operations director for Peoples Action in Greensboro, Brown was an active member of the citys NAACP branch for six years before assuming its presidency in January 2023. The community organizer and advocate also serves on the boards of the Interactive Resource Center and Jallohs Upright Services.

For information, call 336-373-2038.
HOW TO SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT

The deadline for submitting information about announcements is noon Mondays. Send news releases to News & Record, Religion Notes, 3001 S. Elm-Eugene St., Greensboro, N.C. 27406; or by email to people@greensboro.com. This is a free service. Click on Faith and Values under Lifestyles at greensboro.com for articles and the calendar of events.

For information on the Featured Place of Worship or the Triad Worship Guide, call 336-373-7150.
Abbas Ganbay

This was stated by Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova during the meeting with Chairman of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany Barbel Bas, Azernews reports.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, who provided the Chairman of the Bundestag with extensive information on the current situation in the region and the consequences of the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, said that after liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation Azerbaijan started large-scale reconstruction and restoration works.

The Chairman of Milli Majlis underlined that the biggest obstacle in the works done is more than 1 million mines laid by Armenia during and after the years of occupation and noted that more than 340 Azerbaijanis became victims of mine explosions in the last 3 years. Taking into account that Azerbaijan is one of the countries most contaminated with mines, the importance of international support to the demining efforts of our country was noted.

According to Sahiba Gafarova, who noted that Azerbaijan took the initiative to achieve long-term peace in the region and presented five main principles for signing a peace agreement with Armenia, it is based on mutual recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Armenia's political and military provocations undertaken over the past 3 years, failure to fulfill its obligations, and constant support for the illegal separatist regime established in Azerbaijani territories made anti-terrorist measures inevitable in the Garabagh region.

These measures were in full compliance with international law, and there were no civilian casualties. As a result of these measures, the separatist regime was abolished, and Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty. The Speaker stressed that no country can accept the existence of a separatist organisation on its territory.

Speaker noted that today there are no obstacles to signing a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijan is ready to continue negotiations on signing the peace agreement. This is clear evidence that the Azerbaijani people support peace and want peace, and that our people have been waiting for 30 years for the solution of the problem through peaceful negotiations.

Sahiba Gafarova once again noted that Azerbaijan is ready for peace based on the recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries.
I spent my early 20s around campfires, dreaming up utopias with my friends. We read theory, debated politics and tried on philosophies for size. Those were important days, vital times, and I wouldnt trade them for a thing.

But by my mid-20s, I was a single mom hustling jobs, balancing bills and falling asleep every time I even attempted to open a book. The dreaming didnt stop, but ideological stands quickly took a backseat to the practical needs of everyday life.

That is where most of us live  deeply immersed in a day-to-day so carefully balanced between work, family, children and community that we dont have much bandwidth to spare. We are navigating high rents and corporate landlords; child care costs that eat up half our wages; prescriptions that are more than we can possibly afford. We have real needs that demand solutions to today, not tomorrow.

That is why working-class North Carolinians waged a long, determined crusade to expand Medicaid in our state  and that is also why they won. Being tied down in a daily grind doesnt mean we become apathetic: We become determined and resolved. Today, Medicaid expansion will go into effect, allowing more than 600,000 of our neighbors to finally access health care. It turns out that needing something practical like health care can cause people to wage a hell of a fight.

The need was so big, the idea so plainly sensible, North Carolinians across the state suspended their ideologies and transcended party politics to support Medicaid expansion. Earlier this year, a poll found that 78% of North Carolina voters supported it. This included 96% of Democrats, 71% of unaffiliated voters and 64% of Republicans.

Why, with this overwhelming public mandate, did it take more than 10 years to pass Medicaid expansion here? Because some politicians in Raleigh were unable to suspend their ideologies to do the thing we needed. They preached against big government and the nanny state while the rest of us just wanted to go to the doctor. They spent their time performing perfectly principled politics while North Carolinians suffered and even died.

There were, of course, some elected officials who suspended their ideologies and read the room: Forsyth County Republican Donny Lambeth, a former hospital administrator, kept the conversation about Medicaid expansion alive for years against his partys wishes and, often, against all odds. Republican Ralph Hise did as well because he was keeping his ear to the ground in rural communities and saw the need firsthand. Democrats across the board were far more supportive of Medicaid expansion, but it was those with lived experience and close community connections, like Diamond Staton-Williams, who is a nurse, and Royce Cooper, who led the charge.

Eventually, the overwhelming need for and practicality of Medicaid expansion superseded political purism, and even the most stalwart Republican holdouts gave in. In the end, there was no philosophy or political theory that could continue to rationalize letting so many North Carolinians languish in the coverage gap organizers and working-class advocates made sure this much was clear. Last spring, Medicaid expansion passed and Gov. Cooper was finally able to sign it into law.

Still, there were holdouts. The most notable objector was Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Even as his own party began to see the necessity of expansion, Robinson said, I hope that it fails (Business North Carolina, 2022) and, to this day, he opposes health care coverage for those families.

Robinson is running to replace Cooper as governor and often talks about his working-class credentials. How is it that he so quickly has forgotten the day-to-day practical world that most of us live in to favor such rigid political purism? So, denying his neighbors health care is a strange thing on which to hang his ideological hat.

Thankfully, Robinsons party ignored his objections and moved into step with North Carolina. In a year where the legislature has seemed more keen on pushing abstract culture war politics than passing real, working-class policy, Medicaid expansion was, remarkably, achieved. Today, those 600,000 people can apply for Medicaid  and tomorrow they can make a long-overdue appointment.

I am still a dreamer and, especially on Friday night over a few beers, a bit of an ideologue  I suspect we all are. But most of us can and will gravitate towards actionable solutions over principled party politics. We dont elect people to orate and grandstand; we elect them to pass policy to make our lives better. Thats what North Carolinians asked for when we asked for Medicaid expansion: It wasnt glamorous; it wasnt pie-in-the sky; it wasnt utopian or filled with buzzwords; it wasnt good fodder for shock jocks  it was just heartbreakingly necessary and real.

Hopefully, next time we have a need, we wont have to fight our principled leaders for 10 years.
Tomorrow begins today.

At long last, Medicaid expansion becomes a reality in this state, so youll likely hear some facts and figures that have become familiar over the years:

600,000: The estimated number of North Carolinians who will become eligible for health insurance.

14,000: The approximate share of those people who are military veterans.

78.2: The percentage of North Carolinians who support Medicaid expansion.

69: The percentage of Republicans who support Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.

$1.6 billion: The amount of the federal bonus North Carolina will receive as result of expansion.

Not one penny: The amount of funding Medicaid expansion will require from the state.

There are more good reasons to expand Medicaid where these came from  a veritable mountain of them from virtually day one.

But the most compelling argument is the tremendous good it will do, one person at a time.

And for what that looks, and feels, like, well revisit an open letter from someone who ought to know: a longtime family physician from a Triad community who was anguished by the unnecessary pain and suffering he saw. Heres some of what he had to say:There is good reason that nearly every industrialized country in the world provides a basic level of health care for all. For more than 30 years I have watched my patients with no insurance pay a terrible price.

Ive seen women die of invasive breast cancer and cervical cancer when they couldnt afford mammograms and preventive checkups.

Ive hospitalized patients who stopped their medicines so they could pay other bills.

Ive spoken to the next of kin in funeral homes about symptoms regretfully ignored by those afraid of the cost of evaluation.

You name just about any cancer or serious disease, and I can tell you about uninsured patients who delayed coming to see me, often with disastrous results.

The physician who wrote these words, Stephen Luking, addressed them to then-Gov. Pat McCrory and state Senate leader Phil Berger (who, like Luking, is from Rockingham County)  in 2016.

Added Luking, who has since retired: Like any family doctor who has practiced for 30 years, I know what its like to make a decision that leads to the death of a patient. The appropriate intervention gone badly, the symptom after consideration mistakenly reassured. ... I can tell you, it cuts like a knife. You face the family and fight back the tears. You wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and wish you had that moment back.

And sometimes one night leads to a dozen. My wife will tell you, its a load to carry.

Gov. McCrory and Sen. Berger, you now carry that same weight, whether you will admit it or not. Welcome to this our unfortunate fraternity: those who carry the blood of others on our hands. Like it or not, we are all three members.

Some in Rockingham County will surely die  if some havent already  because of your partisan decision to reject Medicaid expansion.

Please embrace our shared humanity. The two of you have the power to get this done.

Thankfully, it did get done, even if took nearly eight more years.

Now more than half a million low-income North Carolinians, most of them working poor, will be eligible for health coverage.What that means for the Triad is thousands of changed lives and saved lives.

According to state DHHS estimates, some 35,000 Guilford County residents are expected to be enrolled over the next two years, 25,000 in Forsyth. Among other Triad communities DHHS projects 6,000 enrollees in Rockingham County and as many as 3,000 apiece in Stokes, Yadkin and Davie counties.

It means not having to choose between paying the rent and paying for health care.

It means scheduled doctors visits instead of panicked trips to an emergency department.

It means more access to treatment for opioid addiction and behavioral illnesses.

And it means critical revenue for hospitals, especially rural ones.

This is why today matters so much, even if did take much too long to get here.

Maybe we should celebrate this date every year, Dec. 1, when North Carolina lawmakers finally proved that they have both the brains and the hearts to heed the data, listen to their constituents and do what is right and compassionate.

Even if they did take their time.
Abbas Ganbay

The draft law "On the State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2024" was recommended to the plenary session of Milli Majlis (the Azerbaijani Parliament) in the third reading, Azernews reports.

The draft law was discussed today at the meeting of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship of Milli Majlis.

After discussions, the document was put to vote, adopted, and recommended to the plenary session.

It should be noted that the income of the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2024 is AZN 34,173,000.0 K and expenditures are AZN 36,763,000.0 K (including centralised income AZN 33,399,895.0 K, local income AZN 773,105.0 K, and centralised expenditures AZN 35,980,547.0 K). AZN 782,453.0 K, local expenditures AZN 782,453.0 K).
Western Montana electric cooperatives are watching nervously as the federal government brokers an agreement to breach hydroelectric dams on the Snake River to honor treaty-protected fishing rights of Pacific Northwest Indian tribes.

Co-ops stretching from Libby to West Yellowstone draw energy from the Bonneville Power Administration, which operates four dams on the Lower Snake River. More than 100,000 Montanans will be affected by whatever settlement the federal government and tribes agree on.

At issue in the settlement talks are the struggling fisheries of the Columbia River Basin, where once burgeoning populations of salmon and other species are dwindling to extinction. Dams are a contributing cause.

Historically, sixteen different stocks of salmon and steelhead spawned above Bonneville Dam, as well as broadly distributed populations of bull trout, lamprey, sturgeon, and other aquatic species. Of the 16 historic salmon and steelhead stocks, four are now extinct, and seven are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, according to a Biden administration document leaked Wednesday.

Four tribes have sued the federal government to remove the dams to restore the fishery. Yakama Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs are all party to the lawsuit. Each tribe has a treaty right to harvest salmon from the basin as a means of preserving their way of life. The parties have until Dec. 15 to submit an agreement to a federal judge. The Biden administration document appears to be the agreement, or at least a part of one.

The document leaked by Republican members of Congress provided a first look at how the dam removal might play out over several years with new sources of renewable energy generation built to offset the loss of BPAs four dams. The plan acknowledges a years-long staircase of the procedural steps to scale before the dams could be removed including having replacement power in place ahead of time. Congress would have to sign off.

The dams are a baseload generation source for the cooperatives, particularly in the winter, which is important, said Mark Lambrecht, director of government relations the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association.

The creation of the cooperatives, buying hydropower from BPA has been the norm. The leaked settlement details suggest that once the dams are gone a new power organization comprised of tribal members and other settlement participants would replace BPA as a regional power merchant.

Lambrecht said the cooperatives are concerned about losing BPA as a primary provider of electricity the cooperatives were legally entitled to.

There arent many tribally owned power generators, but there are a few including the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of northwest Montana, which does sell electricity to a Montana cooperative, namely Beartooth Electric via Energy Keepers, the CSKT company that operates Selis Ksanka Qlispe Project, a 208-megawatt dam that controls the level of Flathead Lake.

The leaked document calls for an early assessment of the regions electricity needs, to be published in February, followed by years of planning for new generation and transmission. The process would be modeled after a 2022 collaboration between the Department of Energy and the Navajo Nation, which has identified 30 projects to transition the tribe from coal power to renewable energy production.

The members of Congress who released the documents were Reps. Cliff Bentz, of Oregon; Russ Fulcher, of Idaho; and Washington Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Dan Newhouse.
THUMBS UP! To a unique relationship. The Salvation Army recruits clients of Macon Resources Inc. to ring bells for the organization's red kettles funding drive. The MRI clients are paid to fill in on weekdays when volunteers arent available to ring bells at retail locations. The Salvation Army benefits from funds raised by the workers, and the workers get work experience, a salary and life lessons.

THUMBS DOWN! To another food insecurity issue. Extreme weather has depleted sugar crops around the globe, and importers are facing both increased prices and shortages. The world now has less than 68 days of sugar in stockpiles to meet its needs, compared with 106 days when they began declining in 2020, according to data from the USDA.

THUMBS UP! To those running for elected positions. Most of the candidates filing for positions have done so because of a desire to serve. Theyre not running to benefit themselves. Their reward too often is that theyre targets of derision. We generally see them the same way we see officials at sporting events -- when they do things right, we ignore them, but their mistakes provide an open season of targeting.

THUMBS UP! To local Santas. Do you know someone whose generosity and kindness could inspire others this holiday season? To make a suggestion, visit bit.ly/insearchofsanta to fill out our online form. Please leave your name, a phone number where you can be reached, the name of the person you want to mention, a way to contact him or her and why you think he or she is a special Santa. We know these stories are out there. Please help us tell them.
A new trail in Northeast Tennessee showcases nine locations across the region to enjoy the night sky.

The Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association recently created the Tennessee Night Sky Trail.

The trail includes Viking Mountain near Greeneville, Crockett Springs Park and Arboretum in Rogersville, Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium near Kingsport, South Holston Dam Spillway Trail near Bristol, Osborne Farm by the Appalachian Trail in Shady Valley and Mountain City, Roan Mountain on the Appalachian Trail, Chestoa Recreation Area in Erwin, Winged Deer Park in Johnson City and the Tri-Cities Airport Observation Deck near Blountville.

For approximately a year, our organization and staff have been exploring the concept of developing a night sky program, said NETTA Executive Director Alicia Phelps.

The organization is committed to highlighting the regions distinctive experiences for both visitors and locals.

Stargazing has gained significant traction, particularly following the 2017 total solar eclipse, Phelps said.

Phelps said observing the celestial expanse is an activity that anyone, regardless of budget, can enjoy.

For astronomy enthusiasts, we aim to provide access to lesser-known celestial attractions, Phelps said.

The regions diverse terrain, which includes urban centers and outdoor landscapes, presented NETTA a unique opportunity to create a comprehensive Night Sky Trail program.

Phelps said they collaborated with tourism offices in each of the regions cities to identify ideal locations for undisturbed stargazing experiences open to the public.

The organization also sought expert guidance from Bays Mountain Planetarium staff and the Eastman hiking and canoeing club to ensure the trails alignment with astronomical principles and accessibility for individuals with varying preferences.

Phelps said the goal was to create a trail that caters to a broad spectrum of stargazing enthusiasts, from those who prefer the convenience of observing from their vehicles to those seeking solitude.

Eight of the nine trail locations are wheelchair accessible, she said.

Visitors wont currently find physical signage for the initial trail, but Phelps said NETTA is committed to exploring additional funding opportunities.

Those interested in the trail can visit tnnightsky.com, which provides comprehensive information for each location in collaboration with Wander Maps. The interactive map allows visitors to filter locations based on their preferences and interests, ensuring an enjoyable and personalized stargazing experience, Phelps said.

Phelps said the initial nine locations of the Tennessee Night Sky Trail have been met with overwhelming enthusiasm and NETTA is committed to building upon the success and responding to growing demand. The organizations vision is to add new locations and participating cities.

We also have plans in 2024 for more programs tailored to activities and locations that highlight the history and culture of Northeast Tennessee, Phelps said.
A former Young, Morphis, Bach & Taylor paralegal pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $2 million from clients of the law firm.

Jennifer Elaine Roarke, 54, of Hickory, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Charlotte on Friday, U.S. Attorney Dena King said in a news release. Roarke is also known as Jennifer Claveria.

According to court documents, from 2007 to 2021 Roarke was employed as an assistant and a paralegal for a Hickory law firm, King said. In July, Young, Morphis, Bach & Taylor confirmed Roarke was working for their firm at the time of the embezzlement.

The firm handled, among other things, the administration and management of trusts for clients. As part of her duties, Roarke was responsible for opening mail, depositing checks into trust bank accounts and processing invoices, King said.

Roarke admitted that from 2015 to September 2021 she executed an embezzlement scheme by making at least 190 fraudulent and unauthorized bank wires from the trust bank accounts of clients to bank accounts controlled by Roarke.

Roarke used the embezzled funds to pay for personal items, to fund an extravagant lifestyle and to make mortgage, car, and credit card payments, King said.

The amount stolen totaled more than $2 million, King said.

The indictment filed in July against Roarke listed 92 transactions made from 2015 to 2021. The transactions listed in the indictment add up to $703,800.

According to the indictment, 15 transactions totaling around $356,800 were made in 2015. In 2017, 19 transactions were listed for a total of $108,500. In 2019, $157,000 was transferred over the course of 40 transactions, and 18 transactions made in 2021 totaled to $81,500.

Roarke was released on bond following the plea hearing. A sentencing date has not been set, King said.

Roarke could face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine, King said in a news release from July.
" " As an enslaved woman, Biddy Mason trekked 1,600 miles on foot across the U.S. while herding livestock and nursing a baby. Junkyardsparkle/Wikimedia /HowStuffWorks

On Aug. 15, 1818, a baby girl named Bridget was born into slavery in Georgia. She was sold as an infant to new masters who called her Biddy. When Biddy turned 18, she was presented as a wedding gift to Robert Marion Smith and his wife Rebecca in Mississippi. This was the life of an enslaved Black woman in the Deep South. She was property to be bought, sold, punished and even violated if the master so pleased.

But Biddy's story is different. It's the story of a strong and humble woman who endured terrific hardships before bravely fighting for her family's freedom and winning. Biddy's story takes us from the muggy cotton fields of Mississippi to the frontier boomtown of Los Angeles, where Biddy becomes one of the city's most sought-after midwives and parlays her earnings into a small real-estate empire.

Advertisement

But before we arrive at that happy ending, there are decades of degradation to endure and thousands of miles of country to cross. In Mississippi, Biddy lived the typical life of an enslaved woman. She was expected to labor in the cotton fields, but also assist in the home, primarily as a midwife during the births of Rebecca Smith's six children. Biddy likely learned the duties of a midwife  which included the use of medicinal herbs and basic nursing skills  from fellow enslaved people steeped in traditional knowledge.

Robert Smith was an early convert to the fledgling Mormon faith and in 1847 decided to relocate his family, as well as his enslaved people, to the Utah Territory. By this time, Biddy had three daughters of her own. While the Smith family traveled in wagons and on horseback, Biddy walked behind, tending the livestock. For seven months, she trekked 1,600 miles (2,754 kilometers) from Mississippi to Utah with her 10-year-old daughter, 4-year-old daughter and an infant on her breast.

The Smiths stayed only a few short years in Salt Lake City before setting out for San Bernardino, California, in 1851 where the Mormon church was building a missionary outpost. California was the newest state in the Union, admitted in 1850 as a free state. The California Constitution was rare in its powerful denunciation of slavery, promising, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crimes shall ever be tolerated in this state." During her time there, Biddy befriended other free Blacks who told her about this law, although she seems to have been unsure as to whether it applied to her as she continued to serve the Smith family.
The College of Arts + Architecture had nine students compete in the recent Musical Theatre Student Auditions for the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Signing (NATS), which took place Nov. 10-11 at Meredith College in Raleigh.

Founded in 1944, the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world, with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and more than 35 other countries.

The university announced that the following students competed against 330 students from across the state and obtained high ranking scores to qualify for advancement to the MidAtlantic regional level of the NATS competition, which will take place in March 2025 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina:

Reem Nour, first place, (Second year Treble Voice)  Music major, Musical Theatre Certificate

Julio Hernandez, second place (First year Tenor/Baritone/Bass Voice)  Theatre major, Musical Theatre Certificate

Aryana Figueroa, third place (Second year Treble Voice)  Music/Communications double major, Musical Theatre Certificate

Students Braden Kneeshaw, Keilah Jones, Izzy Oyler, Abigail Roscoe, Jylian Taylor, and Abigail Williams also qualified for advancement to the MidAtlantic competition.

The College of Arts + Architecture said it was pleased to announce that it will serve as the hosting site for the NATS Student Auditions for the North Carolina Chapter Spring Conference: Classical Categories in February 2024.
As part of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, Brazilian telecom and mobile operators Claro, TIM, and Vivo have announced the launch of three network application programmable interfaces (API) services focused on improving digital securitynumber verify, SIM swap, and device location.

The announcement was made in an event hosted by non-profit industry organisation GSMA in Sao Paulo.

The APIs introduced today by Brazilian operators are focused on combating digital fraud, for mobile commerce and financial institutions. The project is 100% privacy by design. The GSMA lists the details below:

Number verify: It offers verification of a users mobile number by providing the next generation of strong authentication and user experience. It is a simple evolution path for any business that uses mobile numbers and SMS one-time-passwords.

Instead of relying on SMS, number verify can be automatically activated to verify a user's identity. This not only enhances the user experience but also eliminates potential issues, such as users not receiving an SMS or facing difficulties due to limited familiarity with technology.

SIM swap: It is used to check whether a given phone number has recently changed SIM cards. This helps prevent account takeover attacks, in which fraudsters take control of the account owners SIM card using social engineering techniques and stolen personal data.

For example, at the time of a financial transaction, a financial institution can check whether the relationship between the customer's phone number and SIM card has been recently changed, helping them decide whether to approve the transaction or not.

Device location: It allows organisations to confirm whether a certain device is in a certain location, which can help spot and prevent fake transactions. This can help to protect customers against fraudsters using GPS manipulation, known as fake GPS.

The API ensures instant validation of the location area provided by the mobile device owner to a service and the approximate location area of the device on the operator's network, to prevent manipulation. For example, delivery app companies can deploy this technology to ensure drivers and riders are delivering to the correct customer.

Launched earlier this year at MWC Barcelona, the GSMA Open Gateway initiative represents a paradigm shift in the way the global telecoms industry designs and brings to market new mobile apps, immersive and digital services.

GSMA Open Gateway is a common and open framework between operators to make it easier for developers and cloud providers to build safer apps and services that communicate with each other and work for all devices and customers.

This is done through single access points to mobile networks known as APIs. From Brazil to China, Norway to New Zealand, nearly 40 mobile operator groups worldwide, representing 228 mobile networks and 64% of global connections are already part of the initiative.

For these first set of APIs, local operators collaborated with strategic partners Infobip as technical integrator and Microsoft Azure as services platform provider.
COMPANY NEWS: ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho, today unveiled the industry's first dual-layered threat detection system in its security information and event management (SIEM) solution, Log360.

The new feature, available in Log360's threat detection, investigation and response (TDIR) component, Vigil IQ, empowers security operations centre (SOC) teams in organisations 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 optimisation 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 recognise the imperative adoption of AI & ML for contextual event enrichment and rewiring threat detection logic," said ManageEngine vice president Manikandan Thangaraj.

"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 behaviour to cover more threat instances accurately. It will spot threats that get overlooked due to manual threshold settings, thereby improving the detection system's 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.

About Log360

Log360 is a unified SIEM solution with integrated DLP and CASB capabilities that detects, prioritises, investigates, and responds to security threats. Vigil IQ, the solution's TDIR module, combines threat intelligence, ML-based anomaly detection and rule-based attack detection techniques to detect sophisticated attacks, and offers an incident management console for effectively remediating detected threats. Log360 provides holistic security visibility across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid networks with its intuitive and advanced security analytics and monitoring capabilities. For more information about Log360, visit manageengine.com/log-management/ and follow the LinkedIn page for regular updates.

About ManageEngine

ManageEngine is the enterprise IT management division of Zoho, catering to a wide range of enterprises, MSPs and MSSPs. Established and emerging enterprisesincluding 9 of every 10 Fortune 100 organisationsrely on ManageEngine's real-time IT management tools to ensure optimal performance of their IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, applications, endpoints and more. ManageEngine has offices worldwide, including in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, India, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Japan, China, Australia, and the United Kingdom as well as 200+ global partners to help organisations tightly align their business and IT. For more information, please visit the company site, follow the company blog and get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi is calling on the worlds leaders to resume dialogue with Iran on the countrys nuclear program, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

According to the paper, the IAEA chief "has urged world powers to relaunch talks with Iran and not lose sight of the risks posed by its stockpiling of enriched uranium."

"There needs to be some recreation of a system of dialogue with Iran," Grossi said, as cited by the newspaper. He added that the situation surrounding Irans nuclear program was "very uncertain" and urged nations to "sit down and re-engage".

According to him, "trying to put [a nuclear deal] back into the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Irans nuclear program - TASS) box wouldnt work." "You can still call it a JCPOA but it should be a JCPOA 2.0 or something because you have to adapt," Grossi added.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here.

For the first time in a millennium, Europe no longer plays a critical role in promoting Western civilization nor in world history at large.

Ostensibly it should. Some 750 million people live on the European subcontinent.

Europe still remains the most popular tourist spot on earth. Its hallowed architecture, art, infrastructure, and natural beauty still remind millions of visitors of the world's once most dynamic and grandiose civilization.

Even now, European nations, in and out of the Europe Union, still produce a combined gross domestic product of $24 trillion, second only to the United States.

Europe's exports are among the world's most coveted cars, sophisticated technology, and valued industrial goods.

Yet since World War II, Europe has played an increasingly reduced role in world affairs, despite its membership in the NATO alliance and the growth of the European Union.

Why?

The 20th-century traumas of World War I and II  in which some 70 million Europeans were killed  saw Europe commit near collective suicide. The ensuing Cold War hinged on protecting a relatively unarmed Europe from an aggressive nuclear Soviet empire on Europe's borders.

But as World War II and the Cold War faded into memory, Europe did not snap back and assume its centuries-old role as a world leader and beacon of Western Civilization.

Instead, a weary Europe outsourced its security to the United States. It redefined itself as a postmodern, pacifist, socialist utopian project  most recently predicated on redistributionist entitlements, open borders, and radical green policies that have all inevitably ensured European decline.

Europeans grew louder and whinier the less relevant they became.

Although Europe has large sources of untapped hydroelectrical, nuclear, coal, and natural gas power, its green religion has all but shut down new nuclear and fossil fuel generation and closed existing plants. The result is that the cost of European energy is prohibitive for both the public and industry.

Recent economic growth was essentially zero throughout the Eurozone. The European cradle-to-grave social net, and its hyper government regulations and restrictions on economic activity increasingly are unsustainable.

Few European nations spend even a mere two-percent of their GDP on defense. And the result is that both Europe at large and its NATO members cannot defend their continent without the assistance of the United States.

Nor can Europe project power beyond its shores to preempt dangerous threats on its own horizon or to its allies.

Europe is also shrinking and aging. Its collective fertility rate of 1.5 is far below the rate of replacement. Most young people in Europe  the ancient home of Christendom  express neither belief in God nor any faith in organized religions.

In many European countries, foreign-born emigrants comprise 20 percent of the population. Most of them have arrived poor, without education, in mass, illegally, with little desire to fully integrate, from inimical countries, and holding political and religious views hostile to Europe.

The other half of the West is in little better condition.

The United States is reeling under $33 trillion in national debt.

After embracing various bankrupt academic critical legal theories, major American cities are unsafe, unhealthy, and unsightly. The American southern border is wide open. Eight million illegal aliens have poured in just since January 2021, many of them hostile to the United States.

America is increasingly politically, racially, and tribally divided. It has mysteriously determined not to fully utilize its vast natural resources, especially gas, oil, and rare earth metals.

In this vacuum, the enemies of the West see only opportunity.

Russia invaded European Ukraine. Its ongoing aggression still terrifies frontline NATO nations.

China threatens periodically to storm Taiwan, as it bullies its neighbors, buzzes U.S. ships and planes, and manipulates currency, markets, and trade.

Iran has armed to the teeth anti-Western terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas.

Iran's Shiite Crescent from Tehran to Damascus to Beirut to Palestine threatens both pro-Western Arab regimes and Israel.

Iran brags that its surrogates can destroy Israel and will soon be nuclear with a global reach to both the United States and Europe.

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, presumably on the assumption that current generations of Westerners in Israel, the U.S., and Europe would not react too strongly to its precivilizational barbarity if it entailed a subsequent messy war.

In sum, the world is safe only when a strong America, alongside its European partner, secure their borders, protect the world's sea and air spaces, support constitutional and pro-Western nations, and deter thuggish belligerents.

Perhaps as war clouds gather and enemies multiply, Europe will rediscover its heritage and reawaken to its historical role.

Increasingly, a lonely U.S.  and the world at large  need the return of a sane and powerful European co-partner, one that emerges from its self-induced slumber, and resumes its ancient role in preserving civilization from its multiplying enemies.

( Hanson's latest book is "The Dying Citizen" from Basic Books. Buy it in hardcover at a 36% discount! by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 40% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR.)

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, a professor of classics emeritus at California State University at Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services.
Adam didn't realize he did anything wrong, because he is intellectually disabled. He didn't understand what it meant when, after a trial (whatever that is), he was placed on the sex offender registry. He just knew that for some reason, he lost the job he'd loved, wiping tables. And he could no longer participate in the Special Olympics. And he couldn't scuba dive  his very favorite activity  because the club practiced in a high school pool, and now he was not allowed in.

Just recently, back in court again, he didn't understand why his mom was smiling brighter than the sun: He'd just received a full pardon from the Illinois governor, J.B. Pritzker. And his record will be expunged.

"My husband and I were elated," Carol Nesteikis, Adam's mom, told me in a phone call. But to her son, it was just another day.

Which is one reason it was so crazy to put him on the registry at all.

Adam and his parents live outside Chicago. He grew up happy and social, with serious developmental limitations. He stopped wetting his bed at 16. He always had to be reminded to brush his teeth and, later, to shave. And he was friends with a neighbor just a little younger than him, who, it turned out, had been molesting him.

It was that young man who told Adam to expose himself.

In 2013 he (and that neighbor) was placed on the registry and Adam's life changed.

Because registrants are not allowed in any forest preserve or public park, he stopped walking the dog on the trail and started walking around the apartment, following the Roomba.

And because registrants cannot be around anyone under age 18, Adam stopped going out to dinner or the movies with other special needs young adults, and stayed home, talking to Alexa.

Losing his table-cleaning job meant he stopped having co-workers, a schedule and responsibility. Losing the scuba club meant he was no longer good at anything. In his isolation, Adam started acting younger.

Now, says his mom, "He can have meltdowns like a toddler. He gets frustrated enough that you can hear him in his room, banging on things and just saying things over and over." She worries he might never come back to the level of function  and happiness  he had before the conviction.

In 2021, Adam's mom petitioned Gov. Pritzker for his pardon. Their presentation to the Illinois Prison Review Board went like a dream. Carol was ecstatic.

And then she waited.

Six months.

A year.

A year and a half. But recently, two full years after the review, the pardon came through and Carol sounded giddy as a teenager.

But she isn't done. The organization she co-founded  D3: Decriminalize the Developmentally Disabled (formerly Legal Reform for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled)  is working on national legislation now. They hope to get laws passed that mirror the ones recently passed in Virginia, including SB133.

This law lets the courts "defer and dismiss" criminal cases where the defendant's autism or intellectual disability caused or substantially contributed to their crime.

How humane  and sane. Especially, as Carol points out, because the registry itself has been proven both draconian and ineffective.

In Adam's life, being a "registered sex offender" did not decrease the chances of a young person being molested. It decreased the life and future of a young man who was once a social and happy neighbor, with a job and hobbies, and friends other than Alexa and the Roomba.
MATTOON  A Decatur man arrested for allegedly headbutting a police officer was subsequently released from custody under a provision of the new Illinois SAFE-T Act.

A Mattoon Police Department press release reported that this 26-year-old man was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting/obstructing an officer and aggravated battery of an officer at 12:44 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of Marion Avenue.

According to the release the man failed to provide his personal information during a criminal trespass complaint. When officers attempted to place him into handcuffs, officer say he resisted.

After the man was handcuffed, officers began searching his person. The release said the man then head-butted an officer in the head, causing minor injuries to this officer.

The man remained combative and refused to provide his personal information, the release states. He was then taken to the Coles County jail.

According to the release, it was subsequently determined that these particular charges are non-detainable offenses under SAFE-T Act provisions that went into effect in mid-September. He was released with a notice to appear court date.

Coles County State's Attorney Jesse Danley said the SAFE-T Act holds that aggravated battery of an officer is not a detainable offense unless there are other factors involved, such as the officer sustaining great bodily harm.

"If not for the SAFE-T Act, he would be in custody right now," Danley said.

The police department reported the Decatur man is on probation in Macon County for a felony charge of non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images. He entered a plea of guilty on July 27.

In Coles County, Danley said he will review the arrest file in preparation for this man's first court appearance and he anticipates filing charges.

Who are they? IL children reported missing as of November 18 These are recent reports of missing children made to local law enforcement. If you think you have seen a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
The driver who died Nov. 23 in a traffic crash following a chase with Forsyth County sheriffs deputies has been identified.

Naomi Yvonne Green, 18, of Winston-Salem died in the incident, said Senior Trooper Ned Moultrie, a spokesman for the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Green is the fifth person whose death this year was related to a vehicle chase with Forsyth County sheriffs deputies.

Green was driving a Jeep Wrangler, which was stolen Nov. 21 in Chesapeake, Va., the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office said.

Green then led a Forsyth County sheriffs deputy on a high-speed chase on Lewisville-Vienna Road, the sheriffs office said.

The chase ended when Green lost control of the Jeep Wrangler in a curve in the 600 block of Lewisville-Vienna Road, striking a tree and coming to a stop in the front yard of a home on Lewisville-Vienna Road, the sheriffs office said.

Green died at the scene.

Forsyth Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. said Friday that deputies followed the sheriffs offices policies and procedures in their actions.

Kimbrough didnt provide details about the policy regarding deputies being involved in high-speed chases.

We always regret the loss of life, however the FCSO is a law enforcement agency sworn to uphold the law, and the citizens of this county expect us to do just that, Kimbrough said. We believe where there is no law there is no order, and we must enforce the law.

Joseph Brandon Smith, 29, of Walnut Cove, died in a May 8 incident. A deputy was chasing Smith who was driving a stolen vehicle, the sheriffs office said.

Smith drove a stolen Grand Marquis from the Baux Mountain Road ramp onto the Northern Beltways westbound lanes. Smith then made a U-turn and drove east in the highways westbound lanes.

Smiths vehicle collided with a vehicle occupied by Jayce Haverkos, 19, and his girlfriend, Madison Grotschel, 18. Smith, Haverkos and Grotschel died in the crash, the sheriffs office said.

In a March 6 incident, Alexander Parks Holland, 23, of Charleston, S.C. fired a gun at Forsyth County deputies who had chased Holland on U.S. 421 near Peace Haven Road. Deputies then fatally shot Holland.

The chase began when a deputy tried to stop a Toyota Tacoma on Lewisville-Clemmons Road as Holland, the driver, pulled onto U.S. 421 South toward Winston-Salem.

At that time, the sheriffs office said that the deputy tried to stop Hollands vehicle for a motor-vehicle violation.

During the short chase, Holland fired at the deputies from his vehicle. The chase ended when Hollands vehicle crashed and rolled over on Peace Haven Road.

Deputies used a pursuit intervention technique that caused Hollands vehicle to crash. Afterward, Holland got out of his vehicle, holding a rifle.

Holland fired again at the deputies, who returned fire, the sheriffs office said. Holland died at the scene.
Try as you might, Pat Egan will never be replicated, his family says.

The man sold everything. Insurance and imports. Christmas trees and newspapers. Seeds and stilts. He also promoted concerts at Pershing Auditorium.

But he's best known for the Crazy Cracker fireworks he began selling as a boy that would become his legacy.

"He was a born entrepreneur," said Betsy Egan, his wife of the last 35 years. "We'd go to trade shows and he got along with everyone. That was the beauty of him.

"He was like Switzerland."

Pat Egan, 81, died Nov. 22 in Lincoln, where he and Betsy spent half the year. The other half was spent at their home in Key Colony Beach, Florida.

In Lincoln, where he grew up, Egan's entrepreneurial spirit kicked in from the start. His mother, Julia, had him selling seeds door to door at the age of 6.

It wasn't long after that that his grandmother Clara, who lived on F Street, would gather the tomatoes she grew and have the young boy bring them down to the local grocery store.

"She'd tell him to make a deal with that grocer," said Erin Egan, Pat's daughter. "She'd tell him to try to get the best meats or soup bones he could get. I think she taught him a little bit about how to barter trade."

In the summer of 1957, attending high school at the now-closed University High School, Egan delivered groceries for Leon's Gourmet Grocer, 2200 Winthrop Road. He was approached by a customer named Duffy Helmsdorfer, who asked him how much he made an hour.

At the time, Pat Egan made about 35 cents an hour. Helmsdorfer told him he could make $100 a week by just sitting on a corner.

A 2014 Journal Star story about Egan illustrated how Helmsdorfer, the states fireworks kingpin, gave the teenager fireworks on consignment and some red, white and blue bunting for the card table he set up at 26th and Holdrege streets.

It was that summer that one of Nebraskas longest-lived fireworks businesses  Crazy Cracker  was borne.

Neighborhood kids came with pennies and dimes and left with pockets full of firecrackers and bottle rockets, the story said.

Five decades later, Egan was still selling fireworks  this time by the semitrailer load. The tents that were up around Lincoln and Omaha  including one run by Erin  were not nearly as prevalent as they were in their heyday of the 1980s, but longtime residents still looked for his product each Fourth of July.

"He enjoyed meeting different people," Erin Egan said. "He treated everyone with respect. It didn't matter if you were poor, rich or whatever. To him, everybody was the same. Everybody had something to offer. ... He liked everybody."

The fireworks business never waned even when he entered into the insurance industry. In fact, during his 45-year career of operating an independent insurance business, he always closed the office in July to sell his fireworks.

Meanwhile, he took trips to China to find goods he could sell in Lincoln  from baskets to furniture  and then began selling Christmas trees at East Park Plaza.

His daughter remembers the year that he boosted business by bringing a herd of reindeer to the parking lot and having his brother dress as Santa Claus at the Christmas tree lot.

"I thought it was awesome," said Erin Egan, who was attending Pius X High School at the time.

It was quintessential Pat Egan, his wife said.

"That was Pat," Betsy Egan said. "He made everything fun. He didn't have hobbies. He didn't need any because he had so much fun at work."

And somehow, he also found time to dabble in promoting events and concerts, too. For years, he put on the Boat, Sport & Travel Show at the Lancaster Event Center.

He also helped bring musical acts to Pershing Auditorium, his daughter said.

"I think he really loved doing that," she said. "He loved putting on concerts."

New Years Eve fireworks displays from around the world New Years Eve fireworks displays from around the world Sydney, Australia Mumbai, India Bangkok Moscow Reykjavik, Iceland Athens, Greece Berlin Rome Prague Paris Dubai, UAE London, England Edinburgh, Scotland Rio de Janeiro New York, New York
Facing a Dec. 19 deadline to file a post-conviction challenge to his death-row sentence for the killing and dismemberment of Sydney Loofe, Aubrey Trail's new attorney asked a judge Thursday for permission to hire a mitigation expert to help her flesh out potential claims.

Attorney Megan Kielty said the request is not necessarily an unusual one and in line with American Bar Association guidelines and established Supreme Court law, particularly in capital cases.

"This is not a run-of-the-mill post-conviction case," she said.

In 2021, Trail was sentenced to death for Loofes murder.

The Lincoln store clerks disappearance the night of Nov. 15, 2017, led to a multistate manhunt for Trail and his girlfriend, Bailey Boswell, who in Facebook videos claimed to know nothing about it. Their cellphone records, though, led police, deputies and the FBI to fields and ditches in Clay County, where they made the grisly discovery of Loofes remains left scattered in trash bags.

At trial in June 2019, jurors found Trail guilty. Two years later, he was sentenced to death and Boswell later got a life sentence.

In court Thursday, Kielty said she has identified some potential claims already but needs a mitigation expert in order to fully investigate them and collect any evidence in anticipation of a potential evidentiary hearing.

"It is my role to ensure that the state court record is fully developed, and I simply am not able to meet that requirement unless I have the assistance of someone who is a specialist in this matter," she told the judge.

Assistant Attorney General Mike Guinan objected, saying that at the trial and sentencing phase Trail had a mitigation expert who was paid tens of thousands of dollars.

"We've been down that road already," he said. "Right now, we are at that point in this proceeding where we're trying to make a determination if Mr. Trail even gets a hearing."

Guinan said that involves a review of the record as it stands.

And Trail's attorney would have to make a showing that there had been a denial or violation of the federal or state constitution.

"First of all, Ms. Kielty has not even filed a post-conviction motion, so we don't even have in front of us something to review," he said, suggesting she was subcontracting out the work she was appointed to do.

Saline County District Judge David Bargen asked Kielty if they had the cart before the horse.

"It's almost like asking for discovery before a case has been filed," he said.

Kielty said it's not enough to review what Trail's previous attorneys did, she also has to follow up on anything they may not have done. If Trail had the financial means, he wouldn't even have to ask for permission.

Against her advice, Trail, who appeared by video from the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, asked to make a statement.

"I know I have a reputation for saying crazy stuff, but this is my life. I'm not trying to grandstand. I actually have something to say," he said.

Trail said he's made several filings this year to try to get the state to carry out his sentence.

In August, a Lancaster County judge shot down the latest  a petition where he sought to force the state to set an execution date  calling it frivolous because Trail "does not have the right to dictate when the state will execute him."

On Thursday, Trail said: "Since they've chosen not to carry out the sentence they gave me, I feel that I should be given every opportunity that's available to show any error in the court proceedings that sentenced me to death."

Bargen asked the attorneys to brief the matter before he decides.

Trail, 57, previously had said he didn't wish to file anything that would stay his execution, and he told the Journal Star on Thursday he sent a letter to Gov. Jim Pillen saying that if Pillen showed effort he was going to try to fix the death penalty next legislative session, then Trail would wait.

"Although I'm guilty as hell, I will sit here till I die of old age manipulating the system and denying the family justice," he said, blaming the state for not finding a way.

In 2015, state lawmakers abolished capital punishment, but voters reversed the decision through the referendum process in 2016. In 2018, the state executed Carey Dean Moore by lethal injection but hasn't since been able to secure the drugs necessary to carry out another execution.

The inmates on Nebraskas death row and their crimes Raymond Mata Jr. Jose Sandoval Jorge Galindo Erick F. Vela Jeffrey Hessler John L. Lotter Roy L. Ellis Marco E. Torres Jr. Anthony Garcia Nikko Jenkins Aubrey Trail
A south Lincoln house fire early Thursday morning left two dogs dead and one man in serious condition, but the incident could have been worse had it not been for the swift action of two Nebraska State Patrol officers.

Steve Creps, a Nebraska State Patrol capitol security officer, was on patrol at the Nebraska Department of Transportation campus near 14th Street and Nebraska Parkway at about 3:40 a.m. when he noticed heavy smoke coming from a house nearby. He said he attempted to contact anybody who might be in the home but didn't get a response.

State Trooper Ben Nguyen was also patrolling nearby, and the two managed to break down the door to get inside before Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel arrived.

When I got there, the smoke was pouring out of the house everywhere it possibly could, Nguyen said. We couldnt breathe, we could hardly see anything.

Creps said inside there was only a couple of feet of visibility in the thick smoke as he and Nguyen crawled on their hands and knees throughout the house. They found a man unconscious and a dog by the kitchen stove and were able to pull both out of the house.

I would think it was definitely mans best friend doing what he could," Creps said of the dog. "He knew he was in trouble.

LFR arrived and provided medical treatment to the man, who was taken to a local hospital with burns to his lower body and smoke inhalation. He was considered to be in critical condition as of Thursday evening, LFR spokesperson MJ Lierman said.

Fire investigators said it appeared as though the fire started because of unattended cooking and the man was able to put out the fire before falling unconscious. The heavy smoke caused about $175,000 in damages to the house, according to LFR.

Firefighters found two dogs that died from smoke inhalation inside the home, and the dog that was rescued is expected to make a full recovery. There were no working smoke detectors in the home, Lierman said.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Creps said he was still trying to process the event.

I think it was just instinct on what shouldve been done, on what was right, said Creps, who has been on the State Patrol security division for nearly two years.

Nguyen, who has been a state trooper for about five years, said he hopes others would do the same thing in their situation.

I wouldnt say its heroic, Nguyen said. We do wear a uniform and a gun and a badge, but that doesnt make us heroes any different than anyone else.

Creps and Nguyen work the night shift and were eager to return to work Thursday evening. They both agreed that had Creps noticed the smoke just a few minutes later, the man's injuries could have been much worse.

Top Journal Star photos for November 2023
BURLINGTON  In an event 18 months in the making, Berkots Super Foods is officially celebrating the grand opening of its new grocery store in Racine County.

The company that purchased Gooseberries Fresh Food Market cut a ribbon and treated customers Thursday during festivities that drew crowds of shoppers.

Berkots enticed a long line of customers by offering free bags of groceries to the first 100 people through the door.

Lucas Kotara, president of Illinois-based Berkots, said the company waited for a grand opening event until after completing renovations and other improvements inside the 35,000-square-foot store.

It took time, Kotara said.

The company announced in May 2022 that it was acquiring Gooseberries, which ceased operations after 16 years at 690 W. State St. on the western edge of Burlington.

The store became the 17th outlet for Berkots, a chain located entirely in Illinois except for the Burlington store and another in the Kenosha County village of Twin Lakes.

M.T. Boyle, executive director of the Experience Burlington chamber of commerce, joined with other local civic leaders Thursday in celebrating the grand opening.

Berkots already has become an active member of the business community, Boyle said, and consumers are welcoming the company as a worthy successor to Gooseberries.

The more people start using them, the more people are going to start appreciating them, she said.

Although the store has remained open throughout the transition, a line of shoppers Thursday extended across the parking lot hoping for a free bag of groceries or wanting to experience the grand opening event.

Tracy Powell of Burlington said she likes Berkots more than Gooseberries, and she plans to be a regular customer.

Its a nice convenient store to pop in and pop out, Powell said.

Another shopper, Jim Stardy of the Town of Lyons, said he noticed improvements inside the store. The location also is convenient for shoppers from Lyons and nearby, Stardy said.

I think its really good for this area, he said.

Kotara said the company has spent the past 18 months installing new refrigeration equipment, expanding the meat and produce departments, and adding a greater variety of products.

Shoppers who remember Gooseberries, Kotara said, should not find any of their favorites missing.

Everythings still here. We just kind of condensed it a little bit, he said. Now were just going to serve the customers. Thats our job.

Grocery tracker: Cost of food and beverages in Midwest and the U.S.
Two companies from Uzbekistan intend to build a large textile factory in the Jalal-Abad region, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

The plenipotentiary representative of the President of Kyrgyzstan in the Jalal-Abad region, Absattar Syrgabaev, signed a trilateral investment agreement with Art Soft Holding and Sassa Group.

Construction of the factory on an area of 20 hectares will begin in December this year and will be completed by the end of 2024.

The project is estimated to cost $31 million and will create more than 1,000 jobs.

The company plans to produce cotton fabrics, as well as finished products.




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
Patria Investments, a leader in alternative asset management strategies in Latin America, said it has partnered with Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund) in a consortium to secure a 30-year concession for the capacity extension and operation of a major new brownfield toll road project in the Brazilian state of Parana.

PIF was awarded the toll road project with Patria as part of a $1.2 billion capital expenditure investment through an official auction held by the Brazilian Government.

The new road represents 473km in the existing toll highway system in Parana, one of the largest and most prosperous states in Brazil, with all associated operations overseen by Patria and PIF until 2053 as per the agreement.

Running from Curitiba to Guarapuava and connecting Ponta Grossa with Sao Jose dos Pinhais, the toll road capacity extension is set to be a relevant capacity boost to Paranas current transport infrastructure and highway links that serve the southern Brazilian state.

Home to more than 11.5 million people, Parana is ranked as one of the top-five performing states nationally with a yearly GDP of $130 billion.

The announcement of the new Parana toll road project between Patria and PIF reinforces Patrias already well-established footprint in this growing segment of investment. Its funds currently operate over 4,000km of toll roads through which about 230 million vehicle pass every year.

The Saudi wealth fund's strategic investment in the consortium comes as part of its ongoing strategy of diversification with focus on opportunities in Latin America as a driver of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 goals.

As the first major infrastructure management auction launched under the administration of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the project reflects growing economic ties between Latin America and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries including KSA, particularly in terms of direct investment and strategic long-term partnerships.

Patrias successful partnering with PIF taps into a growing appetite from GCC nations and sovereign funds to enter Latin America.

Patrias knowledge and capabilities in managing a diverse network of assets means GCC-based partners are now able to explore varied investments in a broad range of sectors that would otherwise sit outside of their usual scope of interest and expertise.

The toll road project also builds on the recent invitation extended to Saudi Arabia to join BRICS, the intergovernmental organisation consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Andre Sales, Managing Partner & CEO of Patrias infrastructure vertical, expressed delight at the PIF partnership in this investment, which has now become a strong conduit between Saudi Arabia and Latin America.

"We are confident about the outstanding quality of this toll road asset and excited with the large pipeline of new toll road concessions expected for the coming years in Brazil and other countries in the region," he stated.

Renan Filho, Brazilian Minister of Transportation (TBC), said: "Investing in transportation infrastructure is a key topic for the Brazilian government agenda, as it generates significant impact in terms of jobs and efficiency, and also positive social and environmental impact for the country. PIF and Patrias participation in this toll road auction is a clear sign of the quality of the Brazilian transportation assets and the Federal Governments concessions program."

As a popular and resilient asset with a clear and mature growth trajectory in terms of daily traffic use, Brazils toll road system is an attractive option for foreign direct investment (FDI) platforms looking for opportunities in Latin Americas largest country and most dynamic economy, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A Madison man charged with firebombing the North Side office of an anti-abortion group pleaded guilty Friday to attempted arson.

Hridindu Roychowdhury, 29, now faces at least five years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 14 by U.S. District Judge William Conley. The maximum sentence he faces is 20 years, but he is unlikely to receive anything approaching that under advisory federal sentencing guidelines.

Roychowdhury, who received a doctorate in biochemistry from UW-Madison, was charged on March 27 with the May 8, 2022, incident at Wisconsin Family Action, 2801 International Lane, near the Dane County Regional Airport.

He was arrested after he bought a one-way ticket from Boston to Guatemala City set to depart on March 28. He was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport.

During a short hearing in U.S. District Court, Roychowdhury, clad in an orange Columbia County Jail uniform, kept his answers to questions from Conley short and to the point and did not embellish them beyond what he was asked by Conley. He admitted that he traveled to what was called in court Organization A, broke a window, scrawled some graffiti and tried to ignite a fire.

On further questioning by Conley, Roychowdhury admitted he threw a Molotov cocktail into the office and that he poured the contents of another Molotov cocktail into the office and tried to ignite it.

I plead guilty, he said when asked by Conley for his plea.

Conley urged Roychowdhury to participate fully in a pre-sentence investigation to be carried out by a federal probation agent, which Conley said would help determine what sort of sentence Roychowdhury would receive.

Roychowdhury agreed to plead guilty to the attempted arson charge last month, signing a written plea agreement. The agreement does not state any particular sentence that prosecutors will seek for Roychowdhury, only that their request would take into account his acceptance of responsibility.

The incident at Wisconsin Family Action happened six days after a news report on May 2, 2022, about a leaked copy of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, which created a constitutional right to abortion.

If abortions arent safe then you arent either, was spray-painted on a wall outside the office, along with a circled A for anarchy and 1312, a numerical rendition of an anti-police slogan.

A factual basis for the plea  essentially a summary of what prosecutors would have been able to prove at a trial  included in the plea agreement states that Roychowdhurys DNA was found on a window at Wisconsin Family Action, a disposable lighter and the jar and other parts of a Molotov cocktail found at the scene. It also states two Molotov cocktails similar to those used in the attack were found in Roychowdhurys garage.

The DNA of two other people was also found on a red handkerchief that apparently was used to remove broken glass from the window, along with parts of a Molotov cocktail, the factual basis states.

Nobody else has been charged with taking part in the incident.

Roychowdhury was identified by other means that were detailed in an investigators affidavit filed with a criminal complaint in March. Investigators tied similar-appearing graffiti outside the Capitol to a vehicle that was then tied to Roychowdhury. Police later saw Roychowdhury at a park-and-ride lot on Madisons Southeast Side and saw him throw a brown bag, which contained a half-eaten burrito, into a trash can.

Police retrieved the bag and found Roychowdhurys DNA on the burrito, the affidavit states.
On 30 November Venezuelas government announced that opposition candidates who are banned from competing in next years presidential election will be able to lodge appeals with the supreme court (TSJ), in a move aimed at preventing US sanctions being reimposed.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 571 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
On 30 November El Salvadors 84-member unicameral legislature granted Presidentpermission to step down to run in the countrys 4 February 2024 presidential election.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 393 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to formulate the supportive policies needed to enable aviations decarbonisation, as agreed at the Third Conference on Aviation Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) hosted by The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Dubai.

CAAF/3 delivered critical agreement on:

A global framework to promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production in all geographies around the world. The aim is that aviation fuel in 2030 is 5% less carbon intensive than fossil fuel used today by the industry.

Acknowledging that certain states have the capacity to progress as a faster pace, and that others do not.

Capacity building, a Finvest Hub, and voluntary technology transfer, are all among the measures put forward to ensure that all countries can partake in a global SAF market.

The need for a solution that can foster a global SAF market while enabling airlines to claim the environmental attributes of their SAF purchases against their decarbonisation obligations, based on a global and robust SAF accounting framework.

Governments have understood the critical role of SAF to achieve net-zero emissions for aviation by 2050. The CAAF/3 results add a vision on the shorter, 2030, time horizon that is ambitious. To that end, the CAAF/3 agreement signals to the world in no uncertain terms the need for policies that enable real progress. There is no time to lose. IATA now expects governments to urgently put the strongest possible policies in place to unlock the full potential of a global SAF market with an exponential increase in production, said Willie Walsh, IATAs Director General.

Demand Signal and Policies to Support SAF Production

This is necessary because airlines demand for SAF, in line with their commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, vastly exceeds the availability of SAF today, which is limited to 0.2% of airlines jet fuel consumption in 2023. Airlines have sent major demand signals to the SAF production market:

All SAF produced in 2022 was bought, at an additional cost to the industry of around USD 500 million, as SAF is priced at a significant premium over the price of jet fuel.

There are increasing examples of airlines vertically integrating into the supply chain, with some committing equity and risk capital into SAF projects.

Airlines have entered into forward purchase agreements for SAF worth around a total of USD 45 billion, well in excess of todays SAF availability.

We need to see governments acting on the CAAF/3 declaration with policies that expand SAF production in all its shapes and forms. Despite unequivocal demand signals, the SAF production market is not developing fast enough. We need SAF everywhere in the world, and to that end, the right supportive policies  policies that can stimulate production, promote competition, foster innovation, and attract financing - must be put in place today, said Walsh.

IATA calls on governments to adopt policies to maximise SAF production globally by:

Enabling producers to take fullest advantage of local feedstock availability

Enacting positive  not punitive  policies

Balancing existing and future potential policy support across different energy sources and preferably strive to favour renewable energies and ensure SAFs fair share of the latter

Recognise that the road to success in to transform aviation and achieve reaching net-zero carbon emissions is a collective responsibility

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATAs Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said: The goal is maximising SAF production everywhere with positive, not punitive, policy measures. Airlines are ready with open arms to catch the resulting SAF production. While airlines are at the sharp end of decarbonisation, they cannot bear the burden alone.

CAAF/3 has again made it clear that aviations decarbonisation will require the wholehearted and united efforts of the entire value chain and governments as we all focus on net-zero by 2050. To be perfectly clear, where government money leads, private money will follow. It is absolutely essential that governments play their part, and we will certainly play ours.  TradeArabia News Service
A city in the southwest of China has become a popular place for people who are looking for a freer way of life.

They have left big cities and have moved to Dali, in Yunnan province, to find more space, lower prices and a place to openly discuss and exchange ideas.

For example, a group of young adults recently talked about politics, media, and conflicts around the world in one shared workspace in Dali. In a nearby cafe, young adults discussed issues from art to sexual harassment to the apathy in China's youth.

Reuters news agency recently spoke with 13 Chinese migrants to Dali. They described a place on the edge of mainstream society in China. However, many of them would not give their names.

Dalis easy-going lifestyle is shown in a popular Chinese television show this year called Meet Yourself. It is about digital nomads who travel to Dali for a better life. Digital nomads are people who travel freely while carrying out remote work using the internet.

'Ideal kingdom'

Dali's Old Town area has attracted cultural workers since the late 1990s, said Ling Minhua. She is an expert on Chinese migration at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Ling said that the normalization of remote work and Dali's less restrictive policies during China's zero-COVID campaign also increased the popularity of the city of about 650,000.

"When younger generations are materially sufficient but spiritually lost, of course they will seek personal growth and freedom," said Bai Yunxi. Bai is 33 years old. She is now an online astrologer, someone who tries to predict peoples futures based on the position of stars and planets.

Bai moved to Dali in September after quitting her government job to give online astrology readings. She shares a three-story house with her partner, a friend, and three cats. She said, "My living situation provides enough space to develop my career and personal life without interference from others.

She also said Dali's nickname, "Ideal Kingdom," represents part of its appeal. The Chinese characters that make up the word Dali can mean ideal kingdom and relate to its partial self-rule more than 1000 years ago.

Thirty-seven-year-old Chen Zhengyun founded an employment staffing company. He said living in Dali freed him from the social pressure to get married early. He said that the government is calling for marriage and family to deal with China's population crisis.

"There are some personal topics that you can't bring up elsewhere that you can talk about here," said Chen.

As Chinas economy slows and youth unemployment rises, Dali has become a place for those seeking to escape the pressure and high costs of city living. They also come for the good climate, natural beauty, and a history of tolerance.

But six of the 13 people Reuters spoke with said they were concerned about police watching their activities. They said some big events have been canceled and there have been police raids.

Dali city's propaganda bureau did not respond to a request for comment on the crackdowns and Dali's efforts to attract young skilled workers.

Youth unemployment reached record levels this summer. At the same time, the rural population is dropping because of low fertility rates and urban migration. So, the central government in Beijing has tried to urge young people to move to rural areas for what it calls "rural revitalization."

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged graduates to "return to their hometowns" and "actively seek hardships." That is similar to ideas from the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 70s. But this message does not seem to be connecting with urban youths. They grew up with expectations of wealth but now find success hard to reach.

Digital nomads

The local government in Dali has sought to attract young technology workers. Two community organizers told Reuters that in September the local government asked digital nomads for advice about policies.

However, a large conference for digital nomads with art and technology-related talks was suddenly cancelled on November 2, a week before its planned start. The organizer, a shared workspace called NCC, said on social media that several issues caused the cancellation. NCC refused to say more publicly.

Three people with knowledge about event organizers in Dali said another conference on decentralized internet technologies planned last year was cancelled. The cancellation took place after the government suddenly withdrew support.

Many digital nomads who use shared workspaces are involved with technologies like Blockchain, organizers said. Local officials ask questions about the technology linked to digital money, or currency.

China banned cryptocurrency mining and trading in 2021. It was part of a crackdown on the technology industry.

Two other shared workspaces were shut down unexpectedly for months. Local police visited one earlier this year, three people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

"We are more low-key and don't emphasize digital nomads in our marketing anymore," one person involved in shared workspaces told Reuters. The person added that conservative local governments in rural towns like Dali are "cautious about new technologies.

Such problems do not surprise Ling Minhua, the migration expert. Unlike university students, digital nomads "are not subject to structured discipline, [so], she said "they are harder to manage."

Im Anna Matteo. And Im Andrew Smith.

Laurie Chen reported this story for Reuters News Agency. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

________________________________________________

Words in This Story

harassment n. the repeated bothering of a person by another

apathy n. the state of not caring about anything

sufficient adj. as much as is needed; equal to what is specified or required; enough

tolerance n. the willingness to permit behavior or beliefs that are different than your own to exist without agreeing with them or accepting them

crackdown n. a campaign against something

revitalization n. an effort to bring new life to a place or idea

emphasize v. to place importance and bring attention to something

discipline n. to control of peoples behavior under certain rules

manage v. to supervise or direct in a business or organized effort

We want to hear from you. Our comment policy is here.
LEXINGTON A significant leadership transition at Lexington Regional Health Center was announced at Tuesdays hospital board meeting.

After 19 years of service at LRHC, Nicole Thorell, chief nursing officer and risk management officer, will no longer be a full-time employee as she embarks on a new venture with a national partner. Despite this change, there is potential for Thorell to continue contributing to LRHC as a consultant and provider. Upon the announcement of Thorells transition, the board and attendees expressed their gratitude for her contributions and years of service, applauding her commitment to health care excellence.

Officials also announced that the hospital has received the American Heart Associations Get With the Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease Rural Recognition Bronze Award. This accolade reflects LRHCs commitment to addressing the unique health care needs of rural communities, emphasizing timely evidence-based care for patients within the facility. The achievement was earned through a rigorous review of chart data related to coronary artery disease, stroke and congestive heart failure.

Additional meeting notes:

Chief Human Resource Officer Jill Denker shared the successful outcomes of the Give BIG Lexington 2023 initiative. LRHC raised $1,354.88 for a community fitness initiative and $14,253.10 for its charitable fund, aided by promotional funds from the foundation.

Chief Communications Officer Brenna Bartruff highlighted LRHCs community engagement through the recent Turkey Trot 5K in Lexington. Collaborating with the Lexington YMCA, 22 LRHC employees participated in the 5K, contributing to a total of 90 individuals who joined the event. The hospitals volunteers played crucial roles at water stations and check-in areas. Bartruff highlighted other events such as LRHCs partnering with Heartland Chevy to help collect donations of food, clothing and pet food for those in need. Ladies Auxiliary will be hosting a holiday open house and bake sale at 8 a.m. Dec. 21.

Chief Financial Officer Wade Eschenbrenner shared encouraging news regarding LRHCs financial performance. Outpatient activities continue to exhibit growth, comprising 85 to 90% of overall volume.

While inpatient revenue has remained stable, the last quarter surpassed expectations, with August and September exceeding budget projections and October aligning perfectly with the financial plan, he said. After going over the rest of his financial report, the board approved Eschenbrenners financial report as presented.

Chief Executive Officer Leslie Marsh provided insights into a recent Leadership Development Institute event, emphasizing strategic planning as a central theme. Discussions revolved around creating multifunctional teams, highlighting LRHCs commitment to staying at the forefront of health care leadership.

The meeting was the boards last for the year. Its next meeting will be Jan. 30.
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
Facilitating payments by six non-local QR payment platforms, Ant Group is confident that payments made by visitors to Macau will become easier.

Ant Group is the parent company and service facilitator of Chinese QR payment platform AliPay. AliPay+, a sideline product, helps facilitate cross-border transactions.

The six external payment platforms are AliPay in mainland China, AliPay HK, KakaoPay from South Korea, Gcash from the Philippines, Touch N Go from Malaysia and True Money from Thailand.

Users of these platforms, when in Macau, can make seamless payments (charged in their home currency and without applicable surcharges), provided that the relevant merchants use the MPay machine equipped with AliPay+ payment functions.

Yesterday, on the sidelines of a business event, an Ant Group spokesperson refrained from making comment on how many of these transactions in Macau had been logged.

The spokesperson attributed the lack of data to the fact that the service was only launched during the Hangzhou Asian Games back in September and October, implying that this period was too short to gather such data.

Despite the lack of data, the spokesperson reiterated that AliPay is one of the most popular QR payment methods in Macau among visitors from mainland China. The payment platform, in terms of popularity in mainland China, is the same as that of WeChat Pay. Another platform, which is far less popular, is operated by Chinese payment card brand UnionPay.

While recapping that there are 4 million active AliPay HK users, the spokesperson emphasized that visitors from Hong Kong are the second most frequent users of the platform in Macau.

The current Macau government has reiterated the importance of foreign visitors and made attracting these visitors a key policy in the coming year. When asked how AliPay will promote the availability of payment options using the aforementioned external payment platforms, the spokesperson explained that she was not in a position to comment.

The spokesperson added that foreign visitors can add their credit cards to the AliPay mainland China platform to make payments during their visits to the country. However, similar options are not available in the Hong Kong and Macau versions of the payment platform.

Meanwhile, Venetia Lee, the groups general manager of international business in Greater China, said during her speech that users of the six external payment platforms can enjoy the convenience of making payments in Macau using their home currency without any surcharge.
Commissioner Chan Tsz King of the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in the area of anti-corruption during his meeting with a delegation from Hong Kong.

The official met with the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong, Yang Mei Kei, who visited Macau yesterday, at the headquarters of the CCAC.

During the meeting, the two parties exchanged views on the way their respective legal regimes manage the investigation and prosecution of corruption. Chan welcomed the delegation led by Yang Mei Kei and stressed the importance of their cooperation in combatting crimes of corruption.

As part of the meeting, the CCAC personnel explained the history and functions of the CCAC, the different types of corruption that are defined within Macaus criminal system, and case investigation procedures and measures, among others.

For his part, Yang explained the duties of the Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong and its close relationship with the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong.

Both sides also discussed mutual assistance in progressing criminal cases, particularly cooperation in obtaining evidence, and exchanged views on how to combat money laundering.

A new, proposed structural bill concerning the CCAC was announced last week. The bill grants the CCAC authority to investigate cases of money laundering.

There were other participants in the meeting, including CCAC Deputy Commissioner cum Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Ao Ieong Seong and Deputy Principal Government Counsel of Hong Kong, Li Shuk Kwan.
Senior Col. Wu Qian, the defense ministrys top spokesperson, holds up souvenir pins to mark the Chinese Air Force anniversary during a press conference in Beijing yesterday

Chinas defense ministry said Thursday that the U.S. should stop interfering in both Taiwan and the South China Sea, saying U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are making the situation more dangerous.

Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party is turning Taiwan into a weapons depot and a powder keg, said Senior Col. Wu Qian, the defense ministrys top spokesperson.

He spoke less than two months ahead of an election in which Taiwan voters will choose between the ruling party, which favors a stronger defense and close ties to the U.S., and opposition parties that advocate improving ties with China as the best way to reduce tensions.

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-wide Taiwan Strait runs between Taiwan and mainlands east coast.

The self-governing island is an integral part of China and Beijing says it must come under its control. The U.S. government does not support formal independence for Taiwan but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

We request that the U.S. side acts in accordance with its words and takes concrete steps to honor its commitment not to support Taiwan 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. defense 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 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. MDT/AP
China yesterday [Macau time] 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.

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. MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN, UNITED NATIONS, MDT/AP
Cross-border vehicular traffic in October increased by 60.1% year-on-year to 682,073 trips. Light automobile trips (639,141) contributed to this increase by surging 62.8%. Meanwhile, the gross weight of containerized cargo by land in October rose by 18.7% year-on-year to 4,223 tons; cargo passing through the checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (4,066 tons) made up 96.3% of the total. In the first ten months of 2023, cross-border vehicular traffic (5,912,510 trips) leapt by 93.5% year-on-year, while gross weight of containerized cargo by land (31,099 tons) slid by 26.7%. The number of traffic accidents in October climbed by 9.7% year-on-year to 1,185, with 351 persons injured.

Related
The Identification Services Bureau (DSI) has announced it will extend the online overseas assistance service to support residents who have lost their Macau travel documents while traveling overseas.

Starting today (December 1, 2023), the online overseas assistance service will be implemented at over 200 Chinese overseas embassies or consulates.

Local residents aged 18 or over who have lost their Macau passport in another country can use the Overseas Assistance  Lost Travel Documents in Journey service through the Macao One Account mobile application.

Applicants can also request assistance for accompanying family members (including a spouse, children at least 5 years old as at the issuing date of their latest resident identity card, parents, or a spouses parent).

The system will use facial recognition to verify the identity of those who are seeking assistance. After entering the required information into the system, applicants will be issued both an application number (valid for 24 hours) and a verification code by SMS.

The applicant must then attend their chosen Chinese overseas embassy or consulate and present the valid application number and verification code. The embassy or consulate can confirm their identity without needing further information from DSI.

According to DSI, through this system, it will be possible to expedite the issuance of one-time travel documents to those in need so they can return to Macau.

The DSI also noted that this new facility has the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in Macau.

Residents traveling abroad can also call 24-hour emergency hotlines for overseas assistance.

Details can be found on the DSI website (www.dsi.gov.mo/hotline_e.html ).
As the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) got under way in Dubai (November 30-December 12), 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 mobilisation 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, said 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 added.

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, said 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 added.

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 centre 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 concluded.

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 the Middle East and Africa, including:

African Development Funds 1.2 billion ($) social bond issuance

Debut $3 billion multi-tranche green offering by Public Investment Fund

Inaugural $1 billion sustainable bond offering by Government of the Emirate of Sharjah

$2.5 billion equivalent sustainability-linked offering by Teva Pharmaceuticals

$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.  TradeArabia News Service
Despite government attempts to bolster regional yacht tours, it has so far not been very popular, Director of Marine and Water Susana Wong has told parliament.

On Wednesday, Wong sat in a parliamentary plenary with her superintendent, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosario, for policy questions.

When asked by lawmaker Ip Sio Kai about regional yacht tours, Wong admitted that the project has not been very successful so far, although communications continue with mainland authorities about the the project.

The official sees problems in two areas. The first is that yachts from Macau to mainland China are subject to a deposit scheme that is similar to a tariff. The second problem is that privately-owned mainland yachts from localities such as Zhongshan or Shenzhen can easily visit Macau with prior application.

As far as she was aware, expenditure and costs are major discouraging factors. She pointed out that there are a series of fees required for customs and other services.

Wong emphasized that the city is prepared for regional yachting tours, with ample facilities such as 229 berthing spots. These factors and facilities mean the city can accommodate tourists arriving on their own yachts.

To further promote this type of travel, she said that efforts must be made in all areas of the community to attract more owners to Macau using their own yachts.

To further support her comments, she pointed out that there are almost no hurdles for Hong Kong yacht owners to travel to Macau on their own vessels. However, whether they are interested in sailing to Macau is a different and more complicated matter. Berth operators may consider organizing more events to incentivize this mode of travel. Local resort operators may also consider the same, the marine official added.
The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un yesterday dismissed U.S. calls for a return to diplomacy and lambasted its condemnations of the Norths recent spy satellite launch, vowing more launches in violation of U.N. bans.

During a U.N. Security Council meeting earlier this week, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called the Norths satellite launch a reckless, unlawful action that threatens its neighbors. But she reiterated the U.S. offer for dialogue without any preconditions, saying North Korea can choose the timing and topic.

Kims sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, rejected the U.S. overture and threatened more satellite and other weapons launches.

The sovereignty of an independent state can never be an agenda item for negotiations, and therefore, (North Korea) will never sit face to face with the U.S. for that purpose, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media.

(North Korea) 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 U.N., in a dignified manner without being restricted in the future, too, she said.

Multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from performing any launches using ballistic technology, such as satellite liftoffs and missile tests. But the North has argued it has sovereign rights to launch spy satellites and test-flight ballistic missiles to cope with what it calls U.S.-led military threats. It views major U.S.-South Korean military drills as invasion rehearsal and often reacts with its own weapons tests.

Kim Yo Jong said the U.N. Security Council meeting last Monday was convened at the gangster-like demand of the U.S. and its followers. She said Thomas-Greenfield must first explain why U.S. strategic assets have frequently appeared at South Korean ports, rather than branding the Norths satellite launch as illegal.

She apparently referred to the increasing temporary deployments of powerful U.S. military assets like aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines in line with an earlier U.S.-South Korean agreement to boost their defense against North Koreas evolving nuclear threats.

HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL,MDT/AP
A recent study has raised alarms over the imminent danger posed to Macau by rising sea levels, Lusa News Agency reported yesterday.

According to the research, led by Shi Huabin of the University of Macau, a one-meter rise in sea levels, as projected for this century, could plunge most of the territory into severe flooding. This risk echoes the devastation witnessed during 2017s Typhoon Hato, which resulted in 10 fatalities and 240 injuries.

Shis study, to be published shortly and supported by the Fund for the Development of Science and Technology, focuses on quantifying flood risks from storm tides, using Typhoon Hato as a case study.

The research categorizes risks into five levels, primarily based on flood duration, highlighting that even one or two days of flooding could have disastrous consequences.

Under the scenario of a one-meter sea level rise, Shi predicts dire outcomes.

Most of the Macau peninsula could face maximum risk, with significant flooding expected at key locations like the airport and the Cotai area.

This situation is particularly concerning given that the Pearl River Delta, encompassing Macau, Hong Kong, and parts of Guangdong province, experiences sea level rises significantly above the global average, the study concludes as cited by Lusa.

Forecasts by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and City University of Hong Kong suggest a potential increase of up to 118 centimeters in Macaus sea levels by centurys end, surpassing the global average by 20%. Such a rise poses a critical threat to Macau, considering its low elevation, small size, and ongoing land reclamation projects.

Faith Chan, a professor at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo adds to the concern, pointing out that reclaimed lands, though relatively safer, are not immune to the combined dangers of sea level rise, storm tides, and extreme weather events like Typhoon Hato.

The scholar underscores the escalating threat as the temperature of the western Pacific, a breeding ground for tropical storms, continues to rise, leading to a probable increase in typhoon frequency.

Macaus ten-year disaster prevention and reduction plan, extending to 2028, acknowledges the potential for an uptick in extreme weather-related incidents. Initially, proposed measures included the construction of a tidal retention gate and 1.5-meter-high walls around the Inner Harbor to mitigate flood risks.

However, these plans faced review in February 2023, with the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario, expressing doubts about their feasibility.

The governments reluctance stems from a desire to maintain the coastal appeal for tourists and residents, despite the evident risks. Chan highlights the communitys growing awareness and concern about climate change and the increasing interest in projects aimed at risk reduction.

Nevertheless, Shi Huabin cautions against expecting a single, perfect engineering solution to this global challenge, emphasizing the need for community preparedness and individual actions in managing regular flood events.

This dire situation in Macau mirrors the global urgency to address climate change, as echoed in the latest UN report, Lusa recalls. Staff reporter
Israel and Hamas agreed yesterday to extend their cease-fire by another day, just minutes before it was set to expire. Any further renewal of the truce in Gaza appeared increasingly difficult as most women and children held by the militants have already been released in swaps for Palestinian prisoners.

As word of the extension came, 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 police.

The two attackers, brothers from a Palestinian neighborhood in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed. Hamas said they were members of its armed wing and celebrated the assault, but called it a natural response to Israels actions in Gaza and elsewhere. It was unclear if the attack had been ordered by Hamas leaders or if it would have an impact on the truce.

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 more than 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, announced that the truce was being extended. 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 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, but gave no details.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children kidnapped 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 military operations aimed at eliminating the group. The Biden administration has told Israel that it must operate with far greater precision if it expands the ground offensive to the south, where many Palestinians have sought refuge.

INCREASINGLY TENSE HOSTAGE TALKS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 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 bolt his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

The initial truce  which began 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 in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.

Its 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. Thus far, Hamas has released some men  mostly Thai laborers.

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.

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 decadeslong 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 cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in GazaYesterday, 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 Oct. 7. MELANIE LIDMAN, JERUSALEM, MDT/AP
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County has a new chief executive officer.

Hilary Parker, who originally grew up in Oxford, Ohio, and now lives in Madison with her family, said that she has thus far been holding meetings with Habitat staff and volunteers as shes settled into her new role.

What Ive found is a group of hardworking and heart-centered people who are just doing a fantastic job, Parker, 48, said. I already feel very comfortable here. Im so grateful. Its amazing.

Her hiring comes after former CEO Valerie Renk announced her retirement from the nonprofit that, through donations and sales from its retail centers, builds homes for families in need throughout Dane County.

Parker said nonprofit work that has a focus on social justice and equity is where her heart is.

And so her ultimate vision for Habitat over the next few years includes growing Habitats staff, recruiting volunteers from younger generations and eventually shifting the nonprofits focus away from building single-family homes to more multifamily homes and condominiums as demand for housing in the region continues to skyrocket.

Climate horizon

The upper Midwest is going to be a climate refuge, Parker said. We are not currently positioned to handle the needs of those refugees, and I would like to be able to do that. Housing is something that everybody is struggling with. Thats the new normal. Lets rally around some new ideas and lets make the best use of the space and resources that we have.

Parker comes to Habitat for Humanity with experience in a wide variety of industries, from journalism to work with a nonprofit promoting solar energy.

She was hired for that and for her vision for the nonprofit to tackle the regions housing crisis, as well as her skills as a team builder and effective communicator, said Josh Reiter, a member of the nonprofits board of directors and hiring committee for Parker.

She wants to take us to the next level, Reiter said.

Early lesson

When Parker was but 13, she lost her mother to cancer. By that time, her family was living in Bloomington, Indiana.

That happened quickly, she said. That really taught me about how much we need to value every single moment, how irreplaceable the people are in our lives.

Parker went on to attend college at Miami University in her hometown, studying creative writing and philosophy. She graduated in 1997.

The new Habitat CEO most recently worked at solar power system designer and installer OnSite Energy in Bozeman, Montana, as its chief operating officer.

Prior to that, Parker was the executive director for Verge Theater, a performing arts center also in Bozeman.

Parker has a Madison connection, as her first job out of college was as a managing editor for a Madison publication called Cheese Market News. She also worked from 2002 to 2003 as a communications manager for the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

It was my vibe, Parker said of living in Madison. I loved how community-oriented everything was.
Parking illegally and barging into his ex-wifes house Wednesday led a man to be charged with drug trafficking, records say.

Israel Chavez Barragan, 30, showed up at the Twin Falls womans house that night and, without permission, entered the house and went into the bathroom and then into a daughters bedroom, prompting the woman to call police, records say.

When police arrived and took him into custody, they found he had driven to the house and had parked illegally, with the vehicle facing the wrong way, and the car didnt have a mounted license plate. It also appeared the vehicle was not insured, police said.

Police towed the vehicle, and when taking inventory of its contents found a large bag of methamphetamine in the center console, along with multiple small clear baggies, records say. The meth weighed 407.9 grams, the equivalent of more than 14 ounces.

Because the quantity of methamphetamine was more than 400 grams, Idaho law requires an extra harsh penalty if Barragan were to be found guilty. Statutes require a mandatory minimum fixed term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of not less than $25,000.

Barragan was also carrying more than $240 in various denominations of currency, something common with drug traffickers, police said.

Barragans preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 8.
Jeromes Wiesenmeyer earns IAFE recognition

Andrea Wiesenmeyer, CFE for the Jerome County Fair & Rodeo, was recognized as certified in facilities management at the 2023 International Association of Fairs and Expositions Convention and Trade Show in Salt Lake City.

Ten individuals throughout the United States and Canada worked together for more than a year to become certified in facilities management. They spent countless hours, served their communities, and learned from each other, Lori Hart, CFE, director of education and member services, said in a news release. These 10 individuals are the first in the fair industry to receive this certification.

The IAFE, based in Missouri, is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation serving state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions.

Chobani to host annual holiday giveaway

Chobani will host its ninth annual holiday giveaway for Magic Valley residents on Saturday at the College of Southern Idaho Fine Arts parking lot, 315 Falls Ave.

Employee volunteers from Chobani will distribute approximately 5,000 cases of free products, while supplies last, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the drive-through-only event.

Headquartered in Twin Falls, Chobani has grown into Americas No. 1 yogurt brand since its founding in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S.

Also:

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. For more information, call the librarys Youth Services Department at 208-733-2964, ext. 301.

Times-News
Twin Falls City Manager Travis Rothweiler will go to the city council next week with a request to reappoint Craig Kingsbury as police chief.

Kingsbury, the citys top law enforcement officer since January 2016, announced his retirement during a Sept. 25 council meeting and left the force Oct. 19 but was only intending to test retirement, per Idaho Senate Bill 1054, which permits a 30-day break without the guarantee of future employment, Rothweiler told the Times-News last month.

Kingsburys departure was not publicized by the city, which also never posted a job advertisement for the position. Kingsburys name, title and contact information have remained listed online in the Twin Falls police directory, and his LinkedIn profile hasnt been changed to reflect retirement, showing present employment of eight years with the city of Twin Falls as of Friday.

The only police job listed on the citys employment website has been open recruitment for a patrol officer, posted Oct. 20  the day after Kingsburys retirement.

Kingsbury, meanwhile, has appeared to be vacationing and spending time with family. His Facebook page includes pictures of an early-November fishing trip on the Clearwater River in north-central Idaho and a Thanksgiving trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Under the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho, Craig was first eligible to retire in July 2019 but elected to continue his career, Rothweiler wrote in an agenda item to the council, which he provided in the spirit of transparency on Friday to the Times-News. However, effective July 1, 2023, a new PERSI public safety law, Idaho Code 59-1356 permits public safety PERSI retirees, who retire in accordance with I.C. 59-1302(14), to return to work full-time and continue to collect retirement benefits.

Recently, Rothweiler told the council that Kingsbury initiated a conversation in which he acknowledged that there was more that he wanted to offer to the department, the organization, and the community of Twin Falls.

The city council meets on Monday at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 203 Main Ave. E.

Kingsburys departure had gone unreported locally and was largely unknown in the city until the Times-News reached out to law enforcement while reporting on a pair of shootings in mid-November that left one man dead and another injured.

Responding to the Times-News inquiry last month about the lack of public knowledge of the chiefs departure, Rothweiler referred to Kingsburys announcement at an open meeting and said Kingsbury didnt want any fanfare.

Matt Hicks, whose position was updated to Acting Police Chief on the citys online police directory, has been leading the department.

My request to appoint Craig Kingsbury should not be viewed as my lack of support or confidence in Matt Hicks, Rothweiler wrote in an email to the Times-News on Friday. Matt is a gifted and talented leader and has been brilliant during this brief period. I hope to be able to, again, appoint Matt to the role of Chief of Police for the City of Twin Falls in the future.

A similar scenario played out this summer in Nampa, where Police Chief Joe Huff announced his retirement at a July 3 meeting, telling the city council he was going to take 30-45 days off, kind of see what this retirement gig is all about, the Idaho Press reported at the time.

Huff retired effective July 17 but was reinstated by the council on Aug. 22 after expressing the desire to return to the job.

Ironically, Kingsbury came to Twin Falls from Nampa, where he served for 24 years, eventually rising through the ranks to become chief. The Twin Falls council approved his appointment by a 6-0 vote in November 2015, and Kingsbury began on the job on Jan. 1, 2016.

He succeeded Brian Pike, who had been promoted to deputy city manager for public safety during a reorganization of the citys administrative structure, the Times-News reported at the time. Capt. Bryan Krear, who was already planning to retire at the end of 2015, served as interim chief before Kingsburys arrival in the Magic Valley.

Kingsbury marked his 30th year in law enforcement in December 2021.
Maya Angelou famously said, When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

Similarly, when politicians vow to take away your freedoms, take them at their word. Among many extreme positions in the Idaho Republican Party platform is the criminalization of any abortion, even to save a patients life. We should therefore be unsurprised that Republican lawmakers are doubling down on their extreme, anti-abortion agenda.

Recently, Republican AG Raul Labrador and Idahos Republican legislative leaders teamed up with out-of-state activists to file a frightening legal appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Their goal is to reverse a small court-ordered reprieve for abortion care in medical emergencies.

Idahos abortion ban has no allowance for patients facing health risks from carrying a pregnancy. Risk of permanent disability or fertility loss and even conditions that eventually cause death are not valid exceptions. This means physicians may have to prove in court, under threat of a lengthy prison sentence and loss of their medical license, that they performed an abortion to avert imminent death. Simply preserving the patients health is not acceptable.

The U.S. Department of Justice successfully argued in court that this ban violates federal law enacted by President Ronald Reagan. The law requires hospitals with emergency departments to provide stabilizing treatment to anyone who seeks care. An Idaho judge agreed, ruling that pregnant women and those experiencing pregnancy loss deserve access to the full rights and protections of emergency medical care.

How did Republican legislative leaders respond to this lifeline for patients and doctors? They immediately appealed the ruling. Now, they are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the prosecution and imprisonment of doctors and nurses who perform emergency abortions while the appeal works through the legal system.

I know most Idahoans want to make their intimate medical decisions with their families and doctors  not have them dictated politicians. But the new Idaho Republican Party continues to prove it is light years away from what voters believe.

This assault on your freedoms isnt coming from a few far-right fringe legislators. The ban was deliberately written without health exceptions and approved by nearly every Republican legislator. In fact, a few Republicans voted in opposition because they didnt think the bill went far enough.

We should not be surprised that this new brand of Idaho Republican politician is sticking to the script. But we should be very alarmed by their extreme ideology and the lengths to which they will go. This is not the representation that Idahoans want. Patients lives and our ability to keep doctors in Idaho make it urgent that we vote them out.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking at massive coconut planting and replanting to boost production of a sector that accounts for more than a third of the countrys agricultural exports and livelihood source for millions of Filipinos.

The Philippines needs to embark on increasing productivity through the cultivation of quality planting materials like [coconut] hybrids and varieties with superior traits, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. told the inaugural International Scientific Conference on Research and Development held Monday at the University of the Philippines campus in Los Banos, Laguna.

The Philippines is the worlds second-largest coconut producer, next only to Indonesia, but is the worlds top exporter, shipping around 70 percent of its output overseas. Top coconut exports include crude and refined coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra meal, and coconut water. Nearly 3.5 million Filipino farmers nurture coconut plantations that cover about 3.6 million hectares across the country.

Despite stable export growth, the coconut industry continues to suffer from declining farm yield that started in 2010 due to infestation and major typhoons, low investments, limited research and development, and poor infrastructureall keeping many coconut farmers poor.

Of the Philippines 82 provinces, 68 are coconut producers, with Davao Oriental as the biggest producer. The Philippine Coconut Authority said the coconut industry increased its export value in 2022 to $3.2 billion.

The novel initiative of [conference] organizers linking science and business to Genetic Resources Conservation, Germplasm Exchange, and Use can only be achieved by harmonizing the minds and efforts of researchers, policymakers, and the private sector, Laurel said.

Laurel said the DA will support unified, responsive, and market-driven initiatives to bolster coconut production and consequently improve the lives of millions of coconut farmers.
A Piper PA-32-300 aircraft with two persons on board went missing in Isabela after departing from Cauayan Airport on Thursday.

The aircraft, with registry number RP-C1234, left Cauayan around 9:39 a.m. on Nov. 30 and was supposed to arrive at Palanan Airport at 10:23 a.m.

An incident command system (ICS) has been activated by Search and Rescue (SAR) units for the missing plane owned by Fliteline Airways and operated by Cyclone Airways,

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio said police officers and personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Office, and Bureau of Fire Protection will join the emergency activation of the ICS for the SAR operations.

Apolonio said a team of 32 police personnel is currently investigating in Barangay Casala, San Mariano, Isabela, and is on the way to locate the plane. The last communication with Cauayan Tower was around 9:50 am Thursday morning, said Apolonio, as reports showed that the planes last known position was the last blip captured by Flight Radar 24.
The Philippines Rural Improvement Club (RIC) marked its 86th RIC National Convention, which brought together 340 members to honor the organizations vital role in empowering and inspiring rural women toward socioeconomic advancement last Nov. 20-22 at Hotel Supreme Baguio City.



This years event with the theme, RIC WONDER: Womens Empowerment, Optimal Nutrition, and Sustainable Development through Enhanced Resilience, provides a platform for members to network and learn more about cutting-edge, relevant, and contemporary agricultural topics like nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

The First Lady of Cagayan, lawyer Mabel Villarica-Mamba, the president of RIC Cagayan and RIC Region 2 Federation, stated her goal was to give Cagayan Valleys women more influence.

Cagayan First Lady Mabel Villarica-Mamba

Giving the women in the area pride, capability, and authority is what we aim to do here, she said.

The lawyer hopes to create RIC chapters in every barangay and incorporate all local government units (LGUs) to empower women in the Cagayan Valley.

She said delegates of RIC Region 02 won awards during the Ginang RIC competition: RIC Tuguegarao Citys Margarita Macatuggal Micua stood out as Miss Photogenic and the fourth runner-up, while RIC Tuao and RIC Lal-lo were named the Most Energetic.

Each leader of the RIC Regional Chapter gave a speech during the oath-taking event, which was attended by RIC National Federation officers.

Important discussions about the different opportunities provided by different government agencies and the commercial sector were also highlighted.

There are 68 RIC Cagayan Valley visiting delegates, of which 55 are from Cagayan province, Mamba added.
Program under RA 11524, the trust fund managing coconut levy

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is implementing an P850-million livestock dispersal program for coconut farmers in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

Under the Coconut Farmers Industry and Trust Fund Act (CFI-TFA) under Republic Act 11524, DA will start dispersing chicken, native pigs, and goats perhaps toward the end of the year.

This is in support of coconut farmers, the coconut industry in general, who are the intended beneficiaries of the coconut levy fund that is now under the management of the Coconut Farmers Industry Trust Fun).

Dr. Rene C. Santiago of the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry said during the Animal Health Congress that the budget for the livestock program stands at P166 million or thereabouts per year for five years. It totals around P850 million over five years.

It is now under process with the procurement. There is already a supplier for chicken, native pigs, and goats, said Santiago.

The five-year program will make a significant difference in the lives of coconut farmers who own or tend not more than five hectares of coconut farms as per the CFI-TFA.

We in DAs Livestock Group and with the leadership of Secretary (Francisco) Tiu Laurel all follow the same mission to help raise the income of farmers among whom coconut farmers are the poorest. Teaching them how to raise animals will make so much difference in their ability to earn income for their families, said DA Undersecretary Deogracias Victor B. Savellano.

Beneficiaries who are now being identified by PCA also include leaseholders or tenants who till coconut on not more than five hectares.

Farm laborers, whether occasional or itinerant, who are harvesting coconuts or working in copra processing as a major means of livelihood are also beneficiaries.

Santiago said that since the program will be implemented by DA-BAI, the potential for successful adoption of animal-raising technology even among coconut farmers is high.

We are already integrating training of coconut farmers on how to raise animals. Farmers need to sign a form, and they need to declare that they have undergone training and seminars to start an animal-raising business, Santiago said.

Local government veterinarians forming the Provincial, City, and Municipal Veterinarians League of the Philippines (PCM-VLP) have observed that many livestock dispersal programs of the government have failed.

This is apparently due to the absence of support systems to help crop farmers run livestock and poultry businesses.

They should involve us provincial veterinarians from the very beginning so we may hold trainings and seminars even before farmers start raising animals. What has been happening is we are called when there is already a problem (animals get sick). This is so that we wont waste our resources when animals die before we come in, said Dr. Mary Grace Bustamante during the Animal Health Congress.

The livestock program is set now for just five years in line with the DAs mandate to raise livestock production during the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. However, the trust fund itself extends to 50 years.

As such, the trust fund could help sustain a long-term livelihood enhancement program for farmers who continue to integrate livestock raising into their coconut farming.
The Philippines said Friday it was establishing a coast guard station on the largest island it holds in the disputed South China Sea to improve monitoring of Chinese vessels asserting Beijings claims in the waters.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano made the announcement during avisit to Pag-asa Island, which is part of the hotly contested Spratly Islands.

The coast guard station would be equipped with advanced systems, including radar, satellite communication, coastal cameras and vessel traffic management, Ano said.

The station has been built and is expected to be operational early next year.

These systems will greatly enhance the Philippine Coast Guards ability to monitor the movements of the Chinese maritime forces, other countries that might be coming here, and also as well as our own public vessels and aircraft, he said.

The collection of real-time data would have an impact on the behavior of rival claimants, especially the Chinese, Ano said, hailing it as a game changer.

Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, including waters and islands close to the shores of its neighbours, and has ignored an international tribunal decision that its assertion has no legal basis.

It deploys vessels to patrol the waters, and has built artificial islands and military installations to reinforce its stance.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have also stakedclaims to various islands and reefs in the sea that is believed to have rich petroleum reserves deep beneath its waters.

Relations between Manila and Beijing have frayed in recent months over a series of incidents in the waters, including two collisions between Philippine and Chinese boats, with the countries trading blame.

Ano accused Chinese coast guard and other vessels of engaging in illegal and aggressive behavior towards Filipino fishermen and patrol boats. Rio Araja and Vince Lopez

Its pure bullying, Ano said. We shall not waver, we will stand our ground. We will not be deterred by any power that tries to oppress and outmuscle us.

He also accused China of creating divisions among Filipinos amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Chinas multifaceted approach includes information operations that are specifically designed to create divisions within our nation, as we strive to unite the Filipino people in our stance on the West Philippine Sea issue, he said.

It is critical for us to convey a powerful and united message that counters their falsehoods and eventually unites our fellow Filipinos in this important issue.

For his part, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Friday appealed to President Marcos to certify a bill defining the countrys maritime zones as urgent.

Presidential certification of the measure will expedite its approval by the Senate and its final passage by the two chambers of Congress, he said.

The House of Representatives passed the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act in May, while the Senate is still tackling its version of the bill.

The urgency of enacting a law that defines our maritime areas, including our 200-mile exclusive economic zone cannot be overemphasized in view of the aggressive activities of China in the West Philippine Sea and its continued encroachment on and intrusion into our EEZ, he said.
Canadian firm First Quantum Minerals on Thursday asked the Panamanian government to suspend the contracts of some 7,000 workers at Central Americas biggest copper mine, due to be closed under a court ruling.

The company said it had been forced to suspend production after road blockades which cut off essential supplies and has also affected our ability to maintain work activities on site.

It has therefore asked the labor ministry to suspend the contracts of some 7,000 employees, First Quantum said in a statement. This would allow it to stop paying wages.

On Tuesday, Panamas Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a contract awarded to First Quantum.

Panama faced nationwide protests and roadblocks since Congress approved a law in October allowing First Quantum Minerals to operate the copper mine for another 20 years, with an option to extend for another two decades.

Protesters were concerned over the potential environmental impacts of Central Americas largest open-pit copper mine, as well as other terms of the deal.

The protests against the mine deal were the largest since the fall of dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega in 1989. Roadblocks, including of the Pan-American Highway, led to more than $1.7 billion in losses, according to business associations.

The Supreme Court had declared the original mining contract unconstitutional in 2017, but the government argued that a new deal set out a minimum annual contribution from the mining company to the state of $375 million  10 times more than initially agreed.

In addition, the company and the government said the mine generated 8,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs, and would contribute four percent to Panamas gross domestic product.

Since February 2019, the open-pit mine has been producing about 300,000 tons of copper concentrate per year.

Critics say the mine has wrought destruction on forest areas in a key biological corridor linking Central America and Mexico.

After the contract was invalidated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the government said it would close the mine.

The road blockades were subsequently lifted.

First Quantum Minerals, which has invested more than $10 billion dollars in Panama, has notified the government of its intention to present arbitration claims.
a Philippine-based PR and creative solutions agency, has announced the appointment of Zot Brillo as its managing partner.

In his new role, Brillo brings extensive experience of having worked with local and international brands across diverse sectors, including technology, lifestyle, beauty, fashion, motoring, FMCG, F&B, and properties. He has championed building relationships over the years, enabling him to establish a robust network of media and influencers all over the Philippines.

Known as a modern PR and creative solutions agency, BrandComm Asia integrates innovative and traditional communication approaches to help transform and position brands as industry leaders. The agency has helped clients from different industries foster meaningful stakeholders connections and create offline and online content.

As BrandComm Asia Managing Partner, Brillo will spearhead the agency, oversee day-to-day operations, and lead a dedicated team of PR professionals to help provide world-class service to clients. Brillos expertise in crafting modern communications strategies and familiarity with traditional PR will be integrated into the creative strengths of the agency, such as in media and influencers management, strategic comms, events management, digital marketing, and creatives.

I am excited to join BrandComm Asia. Having had the privilege of working with local and global brands from different industries, I am committed to bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective to BrandComm. Our aim is to be a trailblazer, engaging clients in diverse sectors. We aspire to craft a modern identity that resonates, ensuring continued success in delivering impactful PR and communications solutions for brands, shared Brillo.

Todays communication landscape demands the synergy of the traditional and the modern. For Brillo, pushing for the integration of modern PR approaches and traditional communication strategies will help brands succeed in their businesses. He believes that the hybrid approach not only ensures that brands and companies resonate with their audiences but also positions themselves at the forefront of the ever-evolving industry.

BrandComm Asia remains steadfast in its mission to transform brands through tailored and innovative communication strategies. With Brillos experience and expertise, the agency is poised to set new benchmarks, synergizing traditional PR strategies with modern approaches.

Engage with BrandComm by visiting their website www.brandcommasia.com. You may also connect with Brillo at zot.brilo@brandcommasia.com.ph.
When you go to a grocery or department store and start adding items in your cart, you are most likely committed to buying all the items and taking them home.

However, in the virtual space of e-commerce, consumer behavior is different.

Due to various reasons, consumers may treat the cart like a wish list, putting a variety of items in it without really committing to purchasing these items. Often, these potential customers simply close their browsers without following through with payment.

Studies about cart abandonment have varying results, pegging the average rate from as low as 55% to as high as 80%. In a study by Barilliance, the cart abandonment rate in 2016 was pegged at 77.24% or 3 out of 4 shoppers abandoning their cart.

Cart abandonment happens for many reasons, which this article intends to shed some light on. In addition, well provide solutions and strategies to combat this problem and help e-commerce entrepreneurs unlock their online businesses full potential.

Common Causes of Cart Abandonment

1. Shipping Surprises

In the Philippines, high shipping costs can be a deal-breaker for a lot of shoppers. With many islands in the archipelago lacking logistics and transport infrastructure, shipping can sometimes cost a lot of money. So, if a customer in a far-flung area were to add to their cart without thinking about the cost of shipping, they may be surprised at the final price that includes the sizable shipping fee.

Online customers, just like in other retail environments, appreciate clarity in pricing. Unexpected shipping fees can quickly send them packing. Hence, be upfront about shipping costs. Better yet, offer free shipping whenever possible, or at least clearly state the charges early in the shopping process. After all, transparent pricing builds trust.

2. Complex Checkout Process

In general, shoppers value quick and efficient service. A convoluted checkout process with too many steps can lead to frustration. Thats why it makes sense to streamline your payment process, provide guest checkout options, and minimize distractions.

If you have an e-commerce store in the Philippines, you can check out the leading payment solutions providers like Maya Business. This fintech or financial technology company offers a payment gateway product that can simplify your checkout process. With their Maya Checkout solution, your e-commerce store can reduce the cart abandonment rate caused by a cumbersome payment procedure.

Aside from employing a payment gateway, you may simply display a payment QR code on your website that customers can scan to enable payment. With this QR code payment solution, customers can take advantage of an efficient QR Ph-compliant payment method. Whats more, you can post your businesss QR code on your website or social media accounts for a convenient scan-to-pay scheme that customers can use even without going to your e-commerce site. By enabling QR code payment, Philippines businesses can streamline transactions and enhance customer convenience

3. Security Concerns

Trust is of paramount importance to Filipino consumers. This explains why security concerns regarding personal and financial information can lead to cart abandonment. To resolve this issue, ensure your website exudes trustworthiness by getting a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certification, making your privacy policy as clear as possible, and securing trust seals from better business bodies.

Its also important to reassure customers about the security of their payment. For this reason, you should use only trusted payment gateways, such as Maya Checkout.

4. Limited Payment Options

The Philippines preference for cashless transactions is increasing. According to a study by Visa, 60 percent of Filipinos are carrying less cash, while 84 percent have tried going cashless in 2021. Thats why when it comes to online purchases, consumers expect that they can use their preferred method of cashless payment.

With the Maya Checkout payment gateway, your e-commerce website can accommodate a variety of cashless paymentsfrom credit and debit cards to QR codes and digital wallets. Your customer will appreciate the payment flexibility your site provides.

5. Website Performance Issues

Slow-loading pages or website crashes can be exceptionally frustrating for shoppers. As such, make sure to invest in reliable hosting and optimized pages to ensure faster loading times. Furthermore, regularly monitor and fix any technical glitches to keep the shopping process smooth and seamless.

6. Comparison Shopping

Filipino shoppers are known for their budget-conscious habits. Before making their final decisions, they often compare prices across different websites.

To make sure that they give you repeat business, offer price-match guarantees and loyalty programs. Highlight the benefits or value propositions that distinguish your products from those offered by your competitors. All these can incentivize customers to purchase through your store instead of shopping elsewhere.

Proven Cart Recovery Strategies

1. Send Abandoned Cart Emails

Craft personalized and friendly abandoned cart emails that remind customers about their incomplete purchases. To sweeten the deal, offer discounts or free shipping as incentives, but keep the tone confident and professional.

2. Consider Retargeting Ads

Consider using retargeting ads on platforms like Facebook, which is popular in the Philippines. In the ad, showcase relevant products and promotions to entice the buyer to complete their purchase. In addition, include a friendly call-to-action about returning to their abandoned cart.

3. Provide Live Chat Support

Deploy friendly and professional live chat support to assist customers as they browse your website. With real-time assistance, customers can directly ask about a product and receive a prompt reply. With all of their questions answered about the products theyre looking to buy, theyll be more likely to commit to purchasing.

4. Offer Free Returns or Guarantees

Provide assurances of satisfaction, such as free returns or guarantees. Shoppers always appreciate businesses that stand by their products, so make your return policies clear, and offer product warranties, whenever possible.

5. Abandoned Cart Analytics

Analyze cart abandonment data that are specific to your market for a more accurate picture of why cart abandonment is happening. Armed with this information, make data-driven decisions with confidence and clarity.

Final Words

Cart abandonment is a reality faced by e-commerce businesses around the world. However, businesses can overcome this particular challenge by understanding its common causes and implementing proven recovery strategies tailored to the local market.

Its time to address cart abandonment and recover those precious lost sales. Start implementing these strategies today, and watch your e-commerce business thrive.
BAYAD, the biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform in the Philippines, showcased its commitment to advancing financial technology and expanding its global presence at the 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival.

The highlight of Bayads participation was the thought-provoking presentation by President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer, where he shared valuable insights on the pivotal role of bill payments in catalyzing digital economic growth.

In his presentation titled Fueling Progress: Bill Payments as the Catalyst for Digital Economic Growth, Ferrer emphasized the importance of bill payments in the Philippines and its significant contribution to the countrys economy.

The Move Toward Digital

Currently, the Philippines ranks as the largest recipient of money remittances in Southeast Asia, 3rd in Asia, and 4th globally, with the World Bank predicting continued growth in remittances.

Payment behavior in the Philippines is shifting towards digital transactions, with a projected increase to at least 50% in 2023, aligning with the Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The digital economy clearly continues to grow, as Every day, more and more people are choosing to make digital transactions, as seen in the 9.4% share of the digital economy to the GDP of the Philippines in 2022. With the growing Philippine market globally and the increasing preference for digital payment platforms, we want to answer to the demand of Filipinos for a secure and convenient way of managing their bills, wherever they may be, by creating solutions anchored in their bill payment needs, said Ferrer.

Bayads Role in the Bill Payment Industry

Given this, Bayad, formerly known as Bayad Center, has continued to be a trusted brand in the industry for 26 years, initially serving MERALCO customers with alternative bill payment outlets.

Now with a massive ecosystem, Bayad has evolved into the premier bill payments aggregator, serving over 3,000 biller brands from both public and private sectors, covering a wide range of services, including electric and water utilities, telecommunications, government contributions, airline booking payments, loans, e-loading, e-wallet top-ups, toll RFID loading, insurance, memorial and more.

And of course, with our dedication to providing Filipinos more payment channels to access our biller partners, we continue to strengthen our omnichannel presence. We currently have over 400,000 physical touchpoints and we are connected to over 80 million subscribers of leading digital and mobile platforms, spread across domestic and international borders, pointed out Ferrer.

In fact, 9/10 of all banks and fintechs are connected through our bill payment trail. We stand as a single point of transaction for billing institutions and payment channels who want a faster time-to-market approach, he emphasized.

Bayad Overseas  Expanding Opportunities for Global Filipinos

With the launch of Bayad Overseas, Filipinos around the world now have a convenient way to pay their bills in the Philippines, enhancing their financial experiences globally.

Bayad Overseas aims to support and uplift the global market of Overseas Filipino Workers by providing a secure, convenient, and reliable payment solution for their bill payment needs.

Capture the global OFW market by partnering with the biller aggregator of choice and the most trusted brand by Filipinos for their payment needs. With Bayads physical and digital payment touchpoints, Filipinos are assured of a safe, convenient, and reliable payment transaction whatever their payment style may be, Ferrer said as he invited the audience.

Partnership for the Future

Ferrer concluded his presentation by welcoming potential partners to collaborate with Bayad, emphasizing the companys commitment to integrity, reliability, and trust.

Bayad is with you in shaping a better world of fintech. Become a Bayad partner today and together, lets fuel the expansion of the global digital economy, he said.

Bayad also participated in a booth exhibition, alongside more than 500 fintech companies from around the world, showcasing its massive biller ecosystem.

As a single point of transaction for billing institutions and payment channels, Bayad offers a faster time-to-market approach, making us the biller aggregator of choice, said Ferrer.

Bayads participation in the 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival marks a significant step toward its mission of empowering individuals and businesses with seamless and convenient bill payment solutions, both domestically and internationally.

To be part of Bayads extensive international channel network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad.com.
During its monthly meeting, the McDowell County Democratic Party highlighted candidates for statewide office and urged for action on climate change.

The McDowell Democratic Party held its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 26 at the Marion Community Building with a focus on local candidates running for seats on the North Carolina Council of State in 2024. The meeting also featured a compelling presentation on the urgent need to address climate change, according to a news release.

The meeting was graced by the presence of two candidates, David Wheeler and Luis Toledo, who shared their visions for a better North Carolina. David Wheeler, a Mitchell County native, is running for N.C. Commissioner of Insurance, while Luis Toledo, a proud McDowell High School graduate, was originally planning to run for the office of N.C. Auditor.

During his address, candidate Wheeler emphasized the Democratic Partys commitment to financial responsibility. He highlighted the troubling financial histories of certain Republican figures, including the former president with six bankruptcies and the leading gubernatorial candidate with four. Wheeler also pointed out that the incumbent commissioner of Insurance has faced two bankruptcies.

He pledged to bring change to the office and fight for lower insurance rates for North Carolinians, stating, No one in Raleigh is fighting to keep the rates down, and the current commissioner is dependent upon insurance industry campaign cash. I will change that on my first day in office.

Luis Toledo, a McDowell High graduate, a U.S. Air Force veteran and certified auditor, spoke passionately at that meeting about his career and his desire to serve as the state auditor. Drawing on his extensive experience at the federal and state levels, Toledo emphasized the need for impartial audit findings and the importance of addressing high-risk government programs. Luis led the groundbreaking audit of the most expensive contract and largest IT project in North Carolinas history: the $484 million states Medicaid billing system. He expressed his commitment to providing value to all North Carolinians through comprehensive audits that prioritize the well-being of the states residents, according to the news release.

However after this meeting was held, Toledo announced he is withdrawing his candidacy for state auditor.

In addition to the inspiring speeches by the candidates, Cheryl Swofford delivered a captivating PowerPoint presentation on the global devastation caused by climate change. Her presentation shed light on the current and potential future impacts of climate change, urging attendees to take action to mitigate its effects. Swofford emphasized the importance of reversing the damage caused by climate change and highlighted potential solutions to address this pressing issue.

The McDowell Democratic Party monthly meeting served as a platform for local candidates to share their visions for a better North Carolina and for community members to engage in important discussions about the challenges facing our state. The meeting showcased the partys commitment to financial responsibility, transparency, and addressing critical issues such as climate change, according to the news release.

For more information, contact the McDowell Democratic Party at mcdowelldems@gmail.com.
As of Thursday evening, the U.S. Forest Service is beginning burnout operations as the Locust Cove Fire No. 2 now has grown to approximately 130 acres and with 0% containment.

Firefighters have continued working throughout the day to contain the Locust Cove No. 2 fire, currently estimated at 130 acres with 0% containment. The U.S. Forest Service began burnout operations Thursday to reduce fuels and protect private lands and homes adjacent to the wildfire. The increased acreage is primarily due to burnout operations, according to a news release.

More than 60 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and the N.C. Forest Service are working under a unified command to clear fire lines that were established in the Locust Cove fire from March of this year. A helicopter crew completed several water-drops to slow progression of the head of the fire. Crews are also responding to a second fire, the Clear Creek Fire, burning near Locust Cove. Updates on the Clear Creek Fire will be available soon.

Travelers in the N.C. 80 corridor (locally known as Buck Creek Road), should proceed with caution. Smoke from both fires is drifting through the area and may settle overnight impacting roadways and communities in Marion and McDowell County this evening and tomorrow morning.

The Locust Cove No. 2 fire was reported to the North Carolina Forest Service at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation. Initial reports estimated the fire at 10 acres. Fire intensity remained low throughout the day. Rain and increased humidity are predicted for Friday and are expected to keep fire activity low, according to the news release.
A 70-year-old Ugandan woman has given birth to twins, an extraordinary feat, according to Edward Tamale Sali, the doctor who supervised her pregnancy and delivery.

The mother, Safina Namukwaya, described the birth of the twins, a boy and a girl, on Wednesday November 29 as a miracle.

Both mother and babies are in good health and are still under observation at a facility in the capital Kampala, continued Edward Tamale Sali. Safina Namukwaya usually lives in rural Masaka, some 120 kilometers west of the capital.

Only three years ago, the septuagenarian gave birth to a daughter, after being described as a cursed woman for having failed to have children before.

With her first husband, who died in 1992, she had no children. Ms. Namukwayas current partner, whom she met in 1996, however, did not come to attend the birth, much to her dismay. Maybe hes not happy that I gave birth to twins for fear of the responsibilities that come with it, she said.
The Mozambican Government plans to authorize the hiring of 1,294 health professionals in 2024, but only 25 are doctors, according to the budget proposal that the Assembly of the Republic will discuss and vote on next week.

According to the documents supporting the proposal for the Economic and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE) for 2024, the Government guarantees that it will ensure the strengthening of the effective and efficient response to health policies that guarantee the provision of health care and provision of quality services to all citizens.

Hiring 1,294 health professionals, of which 25 national doctors, 325 mid-level technicians, 764 health technicians, 140 orderlies and 40 ambulance drivers, to reinforce the service capacity in public hospitals, are among the priorities to 2024, in order to reduce in-hospital maternal, neonatal and infant mortality.

On August 24, the Medical Association of Mozambique (AMM) interrupted a strike that had been ongoing since July 10, affecting the countrys entire health system, contesting salary cuts and the lack of resources in hospitals, a strike that led the Government to announce the hiring, later this year, of more doctors.

The budget proposal for 2024 is discussed and voted on in parliament on December 6th and 7th, with favorable votes expected from the majority of deputies, from the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo).

In 2024, the government proposal in the health area envisages maintaining coverage of institutional births at 91%, but increasing coverage of fully vaccinated children under five years of age by 96%, corresponding to one million vaccinated children.

Increase notification of all forms of tuberculosis, from 110,674 in 2022, to 118,463 in 2024, intensify screening for cervical cancer, covering 1,574,355 women over the age of 25 and intensify cancer screening breast cancer screening by 30%, in women over 25 years of age, and prostate cancer screening by 1%, in men over 45 years of age, corresponding to 19,324 men, are other priorities.
King Mohammed VI has called on the international community to grant specific and more sustained attention to middle-income countries and to Africa which are leading the battle for socio-economic development as well as for sustainable development, warning that if solidarity and suitability are principles of international climate action, the international community must guard against punishing success.

For these countries  including my own, the Kingdom of Morocco  I call for specific, more sustained attention on the part of the international community. This would only be fair, said King Mohammed VI in a Speech to the World Climate Action Summit, held as part of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and where the Sovereign is represented by his youngest sister Lalla Hasna.

Indeed, it would only be fair that middle-income countries are not penalized for the progress they make. We should not ask them to do more and at the same time restrict their access to the resources required for development. Quite the opposite, I think there can be no better climate success stories to champion and reward than those of middle-income countries, he pointed out.

In a global system that remains inequitable, Africa received $30 billion in annual climate financing flows in 2020, representing less than 12% of its needs, the Sovereign recalled, noting that Africa, penalized and disadvantaged, has, nonetheless, all the assets needed to become the solution to the global climate issue  the answer to the major challenges of the 21st century. The lack of active solidarity is considerably slowing down the momentum of Africas climate action, he warned.

The IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings held in Marrakesh concluded that there was a pressing need to reform multilateralism and development financing, two levers humanity came up with to meet the challenges of the 20th century  two levers in which we believe. It is that conviction which is motivating my country as President of the United Nations Environment Assembly, the King pointed out .

True to its commitment to Africa, Morocco is tirelessly pressing ahead with its efforts to implement the decisions of the First Africa Action Summit, held on the sidelines of COP 22, especially the operationalization of the three African Climate Commissions for the Congo Basin, the Sahel, and African Island States, he reaffirmed, recalling that the Kingdoms effective involvement in innovative, rallying regional initiatives aimed at better adaptation of African agriculture, strengthening sustainability, stability and security on the Continent, and encouraging the climate leadership of young Africans, reflect Moroccos multidimensional and unwavering support for the tireless efforts African sister countries are making.

If solidarity and suitability are principles of international climate action, we must guard against punishing success, King Mohammed VI insisted.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Unknowns, dangers and surprises persist about dengue viral infection and now an assumption once accepted as conventional wisdom about immunity to the mosquito-borne disease may be incorrect.

New research involving epidemiological models and data from more than 4,400 people in Nicaragua suggests that it's time immunologists developed a new framework to understand population immunity to dengue. For decades, it was believed that once you were infected with dengue virus, the immunity lasted for life. The dogma persisted in the face of observational data, which found that people who were previously infected were more susceptible to severe dengue if infected again.

But an international collaborative group of researchers has now conclusively shown that immunity not only wanes, it tends to wax and wanea discovery that reveals dengue infection to be far more complex than previously thought.

"Infection with multiple dengue virus serotypes is thought to induce enduring protection against dengue disease," writes Rosemary A. Aogo, lead author of a new research paper published in Science Translational Medicine. "However, long-term antibody waning has been observed after repeated dengue infection," Aogo added, referring to her team's new findings.

The waning of antibodies inevitably was followed by a boosting of antibodies when the next epidemic came along, Aogo and colleagues found. Her team's discovery allowed the construction of a new model that best describes population vulnerability to dengue infection, especially amid the known periodicitythe cyclic natureof dengue outbreaks.

When it comes to dengue, people are not permanently immune but susceptible to infection, then immune and ultimately susceptible again. Hence, Aogo and her team's newly proposed model: "susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible."

Dengue is a devastating viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquitoesflying hypodermic needles that descend prolifically during significant outbreaks. Many dengue epidemics tend to occur in urban settings, scientists say.

Once known as break-bone fever, dengue viral infection can cause a severe headache, high fever, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rash. Still, and perhaps most surprisingly, many people who are infected have no symptoms at all. In rare cases, however, dengue disease can be fatal.

The new research by Aogo and her collaborators examined blood samples from 4,478 children and adults in Nicaragua, a country in the heart of the world's dengue belt, which stretches from Central America and ranges throughout most of South America, then jumps across oceans and time zones to include most of sub-Saharan Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

The world's worst dengue outbreak in 2023 was in a key dengue belt region, affecting tens of thousands of people in Bangladesh. There, the mosquito-transmitted virus killed nearly 1,500 people as of November 12, with more than 291,000 infected.

Aogo, a viral epidemiologist in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, noted that she and her team unearthed additional stunning findings from their Nicaraguan data.

The researchers say they can now confidently predict that infection with the closely related Zika virus can bestow protection against dengue and even delay dengue outbreaks on broader scales. Indeed, the most recent Zika outbreak may have delayed the next dengue epidemic but later led to a dengue virus resurgence, which mostly impacted susceptible individuals, the study found.

Both dengue and Zika viruses belong to the flavivirus family, which are not only close cousins, they circulate in the same regions and have caused large epidemics in the last decade. The fact that one can provide immunity against the other is a discovery that has broad implications for developing antivirals and vaccines.

In their study, Aogo and colleagues analyzed the influence of the devastating 20162017 Zika epidemic, which showed that the Zika virus was sufficient enough to boost immunity against dengue. With this knowledge now in hand, the team, which included virologists from Nicaragua's Sustainable Sciences Institute in Managua, scientists now have a mother lode of new data as they face flavivirus epidemics in the future.

Aogo's research arrives as surges in dengue infections have been reported outside the usual tropical and subtropical regions where dengue is endemic. This past summer, dengue outbreaks occurred in parts of Italy and France. Scientists suspect global climate change has allowed dengue-carrying mosquitoes to broaden their range into new but now warmer regions of the globe.

Additionally, the World Health Organization has recently predicted that dengue will become a major threat in the southern United States, southern Europe, and new parts of Africa within this decade as Aedes aegypti mosquitoes continue to expand their range and take dengue virus along with them.

Dengue is the most common virus spread by mosquitoes, infecting as many as 390 million people annually worldwide. Most of the countries that are commonly affected tend to have outbreaks in cycles, which is vital public health planning information as countries devise improved mosquito control efforts and campaigns to help individuals stay safe. "This work provides insight into factors shaping periodicity in dengue incidence and may inform vaccine efforts to maintain population immunity," Aogo and her team concluded.

More information: Rosemary A. Aogo et al, Effects of boosting and waning in highly exposed populations on dengue epidemic dynamics, Science Translational Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi1734 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine

 2023 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Estzer Miller on Pixabay

Breakthrough research has revealed new ways to remove immune cells that cause skin autoimmune diseases without affecting protective cells that fight infection and cancer.

Researchers, led by University of Melbourne's Professor Laura Mackay, a Laboratory Head and Immunology Theme Leader at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), discovered distinct mechanisms controlling different types of immune cells, and found that, by precisely targeting these mechanisms, they could selectively eliminate 'problematic cells' and reshape the skin's immune landscape.

Our skin is packed with specialized immune cells that protect against infections and cancer and promote healing. These cells, called tissue-resident T cells or TRM cells, stay in place to fight infections and cancerous cells in the skin. However, when not controlled properly, some of these skin TRM cells can contribute to autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and vitiligo.

University of Melbourne's Dr. Simone Park, an Honorary Research Fellow and former Postdoctoral Fellow in the Mackay Lab at the Doherty Institute, and lead first author of the study, said that this research is the first to describe the unique elements that control various types of skin TRM cells in animal models, offering precise targets for potential treatment strategies.

"Specialized immune cells in our skin are diverse: many are critical to prevent infection and cancer, but others play a big role in mediating autoimmunity," said Dr. Park.

"We discovered key differences in how distinct types of skin T cells are regulated, allowing us to precisely edit the skin's immune landscape in a targeted way."

University of Melbourne's Dr. Susan Christo, Senior Research Officer in the Mackay Lab at the Doherty Institute and co-first author of the study, explained how these discoveries could advance efforts to treat skin disease.

"Most autoimmune therapies treat the symptoms of the disease rather than addressing the cause. Conventional treatments for skin disorders often impact all immune cells indiscriminately, meaning that we could also be wiping out our protective T cells," said Dr. Christo.

"Until now, we didn't know how to pick apart 'bad' T cells in the skin from the 'good' protective ones. Through this research, we discovered new molecules that allow us to selectively remove disease-causing T cells in the skin."

In this study published in Science, the research team harnessed this new knowledge to eliminate 'problematic' cells that can drive autoimmune disorders, while preserving the 'good' ones that are essential to maintain protective immunity.

University of Melbourne's Professor Laura Mackay, senior author of the study, explained that these findings could pave the way for more precise and long-lasting therapies for skin disease.

"Skin conditions like psoriasis and vitiligo are difficult to treat long-term. The T cells driving disease are hard to remove, so patients often need life-long treatment. Our approach has the potential to revolutionize the way we treat these skin disorders, significantly improving outcomes for people dealing with challenging skin conditions," said Professor Mackay.

With the study demonstrating successful removal of specific skin T cells in animal models, further research is necessary to validate the efficacy of these strategies in human subjects. Dr. Park hopes the study will inspire the development of new treatments for skin disease.

"These discoveries bring us one step closer to developing new drugs that durably prevent autoimmune skin disorders without compromising immune protection," said Dr. Park.

More information: Simone L. Park et al, Divergent molecular networks program functionally distinct CD8 + skin-resident memory T cells, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi8885 Journal information: Science
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

a, Schematic of the imaging system. Light from a laser is delivered to the blood vessel region via a fibre bundle. Photoacoustic waves are generated and then detected by the ultrasonic probe. Photoacoustic signals are streamed to the computer through the DAQ module. b, Effect of blood heterogeneity on the visibility of the signals arising from the lumen region of the blood vessel. For uniform blood, the simulated photoacoustic signals from the lumen region are suppressed relative to the signals at the boundaries, resulting in little visibility in the lumen region of the image, whereas in non-uniform blood, the simulated photoacoustic signals from the lumen region show an increased amplitude, resulting in heightened visibility in the lumen region relative to the uniform case. Credit: Nature Biomedical Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01148-5

A great number of health problems, and consequently the medical treatments for them, involve how blood flows through the body. Heart attacks are caused by restricted blood flow to the heart muscle. Many symptoms of diabetes are the result of damaged blood vessels. Tumors, meanwhile, often promote the growth of new vessels that deliver blood specifically to them. And blood flow is a crucial physiological parameter for measuring brain function.

Because of this, medical professionals want to be able to examine blood vessels and assess their condition, but with many of those vessels buried quite deeply in the body, such an examination can be difficult without exploratory surgery.

New research conducted in the laboratory of Caltech's Lihong Wang, Bren Professor of Medical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, is now making it possible to image deep blood vessels in humans, and even the blood flowing through them, in a non-invasive way.

In an article published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, Wang and his colleagues describe this technology, which they call photoacoustic vector tomography, or PAVT. This technology is similar in many ways to Wang's other photoacoustic imaging technologies, which make use of laser light that is well absorbed by hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule found in red blood cells.

The energy that the hemoglobin molecules absorb from the laser causes them to vibrate ultrasonically. Those vibrations travel throughout the tissue until they arrive at the skin's surface, where they are detected by sensors connected to a computer. The computer then creates an image of the features of the tissue, in this case, the blood vessels.

This is not the first time Wang's lab has shown the ability to image blood vessels using photoacoustic technology, but the new method can image blood flow deeper in the human body than previously possible and shows for the first time not just the presence of blood vessels and their oxygenation status but how the blood is flowing through the vessels.

"Before, we could only show the sizes of blood vessels, concentrations of blood, and oxygen saturations," says Wang, also the Andrew and Peggy Cherng Medical Engineering Leadership Chair. "Now, we can measure the vector flow, which indicates both flow rate and direction.

"Our field has been working on photoacoustic technology for more than 20 years, but nobody predicted anything like this. We surprised ourselves because our field didn't think this was possible."

"When I first saw our images of blood flow, I was absolutely amazed," says Yang Zhang, the lead author and a postdoctoral scholar research associate in medical engineering. "The most exciting part of this work is that we synergized engineering and physiology to overcome a hurdle previously thought to be insurmountable by the field."

The team is able to see the direction and flow rate because PAVT has such fine resolution that it can make out signals arising from the distribution of red blood cells deep in the body. An algorithm integrated into the system tracks the motion of these distributions and deduces the speed and direction of the flow. It's kind of like how Google determines how heavy traffic is on a freeway by looking at the speed at which mobile phones are moving in that area.

The researchers hypothesize that their images and videos of human blood flow are facilitated by the heterogenous distribution of red blood cells, which arises, in part, from the way blood vessels are structured throughout the body.

Wang likens the situation in veins to what happens when two rivers with different water qualities, one clear and one muddy, for example, join into one larger stream. At such a confluence, it is not uncommon to see the streams remain unmixed for a long distance even while flowing through the same channel.

A similar phenomenon is seen when two veins carrying blood with differing blood contents (oxygenated and unoxygenated) join together. Even though the blood from those two vessels has joined as a single stream, it will remain unmixed for a while. The PAVT system can distinguish these unmixed patches and track their motion.

At the confluence of the Amazon River and the Rio Negro in Brazil, the waters from each river can be seen running parallel and remaining unmixed for some time after the rivers join. Similar phenomena can be seen in blood vessels. Credit: Portal da Copa/Wikimedia Commons

And since red blood cells absorb laser light from the PAVT system differently depending on whether they are oxygenated or not, PAVT can also determine how much oxygen the blood in a particular vessel is carrying. "This allows us to quantify oxygen consumption, which is an important measure of metabolism," Wang adds.

The paper describing the research, titled "Photoacoustic vector tomography for deep hemodynamic imaging," appears in the November 30 issue of Nature Biomedical Engineering.
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

The positive health impact of green space isn't just about where you live, but how easily you can access nature, according to new research.

Previous studies have suggested that simply living in neighborhoods filled with trees, grass and plants can reduce heart disease risk. For the new study, researchers explored the relationship between green space and cardiovascular risk factors and diseases by using two metrics: NatureScore, a composite measure of the amount and quality of nature, and walk score, which gauges how easy or hard it is to walk around a neighborhood.

Researchers looked at a medical database of more than 1 million adults in the Houston metro area who were 52 years old on average. Based on where they lived, each person was categorized by a NatureScore of nature-deficient, nature-adequate, nature-rich or nature-utopia, as well as a walk score of car-dependent for all errands, car-dependent for most errands, somewhat walkable or very walkable/walker's paradise.

When researchers looked simply at green space, they found cardiovascular diseases and risk factors were actually more common in people living in neighborhoods with a high NatureScore, compared with those living in less green neighborhoodsa surprising finding, said lead researcher Dr. Omar Mohamed Makram, an internal medicine resident at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and a former postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Health and Nature at Houston Methodist Hospital.

But when walkability scores were factored in, people living in the highest NatureScore areas had 9% lower odds of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes than those living in the lowest NatureScore areas. They also had 4% lower odds of cardiovascular diseases, which included coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease and stroke.

Researchers then zeroed in on walk scores and found that those living in both high nature and highly walkable areas had lower odds of risk factors that those living in high nature but less walkable areas.

"The results highlight the importance of both exposure and access to nature: To maximize the benefits of green space, people have to interact with nature," Makram said.

The findings, presented this month at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions conference in Philadelphia, are considered preliminary until full results are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"Our findings suggest policymakers should support initiatives that bring more accessible green spaces to areas where they are lacking, especially in underserved communities," said Makram, who added that creating more green spaces near mixed-use developments and transit hubs could improve a neighborhood's walkability as well as its access to nature.

"The results show that it's important for physicians to be aware of social determinants of health, including where patients live, in order to give personalized advice about walking or other physical activities," he said.

The research was limited because it didn't prove cause and effect or delve into which activities in nature are most beneficial, Makram said. He called for future research to pinpoint the best possible length to spend in nature for maximum health benefits. "Is it a five-minute walk? A 15-minute walk? Or a whole day or week immersed in nature?" he asked.

Dr. Ray Yeager, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, said the study adds important information to a topic in dire need of more data.

"There's a general notion that green space is good for health, but there's really not a lot of evidence to understand the many complexities involved between vastly different forms of green spaces, communities and built environments," he said.

Yeager, who has studied the topic but was not involved in the new research, said urban green space could flourish in the future as policymakers try to battle climate change. He noted that in September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service awarded more than $1 billion in grants to plant and maintain trees in cities and suburbs in all 50 states. "For the affected communities, that could really be a major advance for cardiovascular health and public health in general," he said.

But, Yeager added, many questions remain about the relationship between green space and health.

"The beneficial effects of nature aren't homogenous across communities," he said. "There's still a need for more research to find out how specific communities and which socioeconomic groups can benefit the most."

More information: Omar Mohamed Elsayed et al, Nature Exposure and Cardiovascular Outcomes in a Large Metropolitan Area: The Role of Access to Nature. www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/?_  71/presentation/8977
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

New research from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health suggests that those who live with ongoing poverty and poor housing conditions are more likely to develop new mobility issues following a COVID-19 infection.

This study, published in Preventive Medicine, is the first to examine the relationship between social vulnerability and persistent COVID-19 symptoms. In it, researchers analyzed data about socially vulnerable Michigan residents who experienced new difficulty in walking or climbing stairs after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The study is available online for free until Dec. 28.

"Learning more about persistent COVID-19 symptoms is important for the individuals involved but also for the overall health care system because those affected could also find that their other health conditions worsen," said Dr. Kristi L. Allgood, an assistant professor of epidemiology in the Texas A&M School of Public Health who led the study and who worked in Michigan when the research was conducted. "An increase in mobility issues after a COVID-19 infection likely would also increase demand for health services and other resources."

In addition, Allgood said the combined stresses from COVID-19 and from living in socially vulnerable circumstances can be cumulative, further worsening health outcomes for those affected.

For the study, conducted in 2022, the team used the county-level Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ultimately identify 5,528 adults with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections who lived in Michigan, including Detroit, at the time of diagnosis. The team then asked the respondents if they had serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

After accounting for the complex structure of the survey, a statistical analysis found that respondents living in highly socially vulnerable counties in Michigan had 38% higher odds of reporting a new mobility disability after a COVID-19 diagnosis compared to adults living in low-to-moderately socially vulnerable counties.

Specifically, 9.6% of respondents who lived in a highly socially vulnerable county reported a mobility disability, compared to 6.1% of those in other locations. In addition, those who were older than 65, Hispanic, Black or another race or ethnicity reported more new mobility disabilities than non-Hispanic White adults.

In addition, living in counties that had more households in poverty or that included households with children, older adults or disabled residents was associated with higher odds of mobility disability. In contrast, this study also found that residing in communities with a high proportion of racial and ethnic minority residents and/or non-native English speakers was associated with lower odds of mobility disability.

"This aligns with previous findings that people who are poor, have disabilities and reside in resource-poor communities are more vulnerable to the effects of any disaster," Allgood said.

"In addition, it is also consistent with findings that those living among others of the same ethnicity can protect against some health outcomes. Overall, our findings strengthen the case that sharing resources equitably during disasters such as pandemics could result in less harm to the most vulnerable populations."

More information: Kristi L. Allgood et al, Social vulnerability and new mobility disability among adults with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2: Michigan COVID-19 Recovery Surveillance Study, Preventive Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107719 Journal information: Preventive Medicine
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Asia Pacific Oncology Alliance

A new report released today by the Asia Pacific Oncology Alliance (APOA), a network of stakeholders from across the cancer continuum who are committed to improving cancer care in Asia Pacific, highlights the importance of the patient voice in improving cancer experiences and outcomes across the region.

The report, titled "Pathways for transforming the cancer ecosystem: A patient-centered framework" was compiled from more than 100 interviews with key stakeholders including patients, patient support organizations and other community groups, clinicians, researchers, multiple industries, and health care decision-makers.

APOA is an initiative by the Pinnacle Program, established by Rare Cancers Australia in 2017. APOA's stakeholders have launched this report outlining how we can all do more to improve cancer survivorship in the region. Cancer is a disease that has severely impacted all countries in the region and the Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than half of global cancer deaths.

"There are major economic and social benefits to treating cancer but each market in the region will need to have a strategy to sustainably provide better prevention and care services for their community. Health systems are grappling with growing health care expenditures, aging populations, chronic diseases and the relatively high costs for new technologies." said Richard Vines, chief executive officer of Rare Cancers Australia (RCA), which established the APOA.

"Listening to and respecting patients will help us make better decisions. Patients experience the health system from the inside out, they bring a unique perspective that can help administrators find the most efficient way forward. If you want to understand our traffic systems, it is valuable to speak to taxi drivers because they spend every day navigating our roads and motorways. The same is true of patients, they bring a unique perspective on how the health system works and how it can be made better."

"The world is waking up to the value patient representatives provide to the community, how patient voices can help improve systems, and that patient engagement leads to better health care and outcomes. In every interview we carried out, we kept hearing this message time and again," he added.

Carmen Auste, CEO Cancer Warriors Foundation Philippines, Vice President, Cancer Coalition Philippines and civil society representative of the Philippine National Integrated Cancer Control Council, described the report as a landmark multi-stakeholder, collaborative initiative "demonstrating the value of sharing stories; capturing lived patient experiences, good practice models and innovations."

"By sharing our stories and insights learned from our experiences, we inspire others, spark their imagination and fuel their passion. Our stories, our experiences, our shared concerns and dreams, connect us all and become the driving force for transformational change," she said.

Jenny Zhang, from Chinese patient organization House086, says the perception of cancer has changed in her country over the past decade.

"People used to associate cancer with fear and wanting to run away because of the harsh reality of limited treatment options, no money for treatment and no confidence," explained Zhang.

"Now we can face cancer and more people hope to live with cancer. We have more access to medicine, the means to afford treatment, and the confidence to fight. For most people, a lot has changed," she added.

The APOA report highlights and celebrates examples of successful regional projects ranging from education, diagnosis, support and treatment initiatives. For many of these, the patient voice was critical in establishing a project that was effective, as well as accommodating local cultural considerations.

The 36 case studies highlight ways cancer care, support and outcomes can be improved, taking some of the fear out of a cancer diagnosis. Some examples detailed in the report highlight:

How patients can be directly involved in assessing the value of new treatments, services, or policies to save lives in different countries across the region.

The ways patients' needs can be considered more holistically. For example, a needs assessment tool for Breast Cancer in Malaysia is helping to identify patient needs related to emotional support, social and intimate relationships, hospital appointments, personal care and health, and information and services.

How local doctors are important leaders to fight misinformation, advocate and share the best evidence around cancer and treatment in the region. For example, in Vietnam a network of doctors, medical students and volunteers are working to improve cancer-related literacy at the community level.

That local community leaders and volunteers can make a huge difference, with one collaborative in India helping to mobilize the community and set a standard for palliative care to become more readily available for the patients who need it.

Improving access to treatment options using innovative approaches and shared investments, for example the Access to Oncology Medicines work to sustainably increase the availability, affordability, and appropriate use of cancer medicines in lower income countries.

The needs of patients beyond medical treatment:

The Hope Foundation, a patient organization in Taiwan, created a dedicated website to recognize the unique needs of younger people diagnosed with cancer, specifically in relation to fertility, after 40% of patients reported inadequate access to information.



The development of resources and support specialists for workplaces and patients in Japan to increase the ability for people to return to work or to balance treatment and work commitments.



Although the report highlights different countries have varying needs, cultural considerations and capacity to invest in cancer care initiatives, it clearly demonstrates having an inspiring vision, working together and listening to patients, supported with powerful information, can create positive change.

Provided by Asia Pacific Oncology Alliance
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A human T cell (blue) under attack by HIV (yellow). Credit: Seth Pincus, Elizabeth Fischer and Austin Athman, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH

A new study has shown that the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in Sweden has changed a lot since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. This is largely due to the migration of already infected people to Sweden. The study focused on people who migrated from Ukraine, so that the care can be adapted to their needs. The results provide important information for future analysis and treatment.

The authors of the study, published in Eurosurveillance include Anders Sonnerborg, and Maarten Van De Klundert from the Infectious Diseases and Dermatology Unit at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), as well as Dr. Anna Weibull-Warnberg at the Infectious diseases clinic, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset.

What did you want to address in this study and why?

We wanted to monitor changes in HIV-1 diversity in Sweden. It is important to follow the spread of variants, such as the subtype HIV-1A6. This subtype is common in eastern part of the World Health Organization European Region and should be monitored because it may easily become resistant to innovative long-acting injectable HIV medication. We focused on people who had migrated from Ukraine so the care for them can be adjusted to their needs.

What have we learned from this study?

The distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in Sweden has changed a lot since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and has become very diverse, mostly due to migration of already infected people to Sweden. Currently, HIV-1A6 is the sixth most common subtype. People from Ukraine are not always aware that they are infected, and the majority of Ukrainian people living with HIV are infected with HIV-1A6.

What are the implications of your findings for public health?

It is important to perform HIV sequence analysis to observe the spread of new subtypes. People originating from Ukraine should be encouraged to be tested for HIV. Standard care using Swedish protocols proved to be effective for the treatment of Ukrainian people living with HIV. The high percentage of individuals infected with subtype HIV-1A6 should be taken in account when considering therapy with long-acting injectable HIV medication.

More information: Anna Weibull Warnberg et al, The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Sweden 1996 to 2022, and the influence of migration from Ukraine, Eurosurveillance (2023). DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.48.2300224
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

Following an 18-month meditation program can improve the well-being of older adults, finds a new randomized controlled trial by an international team co-led by University College London (UCL).

The findings, published in PLOS ONE, show that meditation can improve people's awareness, connection to others, and insight.

While the meditation training did not confer significant benefits on two commonly used measures of psychological well-being and quality of life, the researchers say their findings may reveal limitations in existing methods of tracking well-being.

Lead author Marco Schlosser (UCL Psychiatry and University of Geneva) said, "As the global population ages, it is increasingly crucial to understand how we can support older adults in maintaining and deepening their psychological well-being. In our study, we tested whether long-term meditation training can enhance important dimensions of well-being. Our findings suggest that meditation is a promising non-pharmacological approach to support human flourishing in late life."

The study is the longest randomized meditation training trial conducted to date, and explored the impact of an 18-month meditation program on the psychological well-being of more than 130 healthy French-speaking people aged 65 to 84.

The study, led by Principal Investigator Professor Gael Chetelat, took place in Caen, France. It was conducted by the edit-Aging (Silver Sante Study) research group which involves UCL, Inserm, University of Geneva, Universite de Caen Normandy, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, University of Liege, Technische Universitat Dresden, and Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

The researchers compared a meditation program, which included a nine-month mindfulness module followed by a nine-month loving kindness and compassion module, delivered by weekly group sessions (two hours long), daily home practice (at least 20 minutes), and one retreat day, with a group that did English language training (as a comparison group) and a no-intervention control group.

The team found that meditation training significantly impacted a global score that measures the well-being dimensions of awareness, connection, and insight. Awareness describes an undistracted and intimate attentiveness to one's thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, which can support a sense of calm and deep satisfaction.

Connection captures feelings such as respect, gratitude, and kinship that can support more positive relationships with others. Insight refers to a self-knowledge and understanding of how thoughts and feelings participate in shaping our perceptionand how to transform unhelpful patterns of thought relating to ourselves and the world.

The benefits of meditation training to an established measure of psychological quality of life were not superior to English language training, while neither intervention significantly impacted another widely used measure of psychological well-being.

The researchers suggest this may be because these two established measures do not cover the qualities and depth of human flourishing that can potentially be cultivated by longer-term meditation training, so benefits to awareness, connection and insight are missed.

The program did not benefit everyone equally, as participants who reported lower levels of psychological well-being at the start of the trial showed greater improvements compared to those who already had higher levels of well-being.

Co-author Dr. Natalie Marchant (UCL Psychiatry) said, "We hope that further research will clarify which people are most likely to benefit from meditation training, as it may confer stronger benefits on some specific groups. Now that we have evidence that meditation training can help older adults, we hope that further refinements in partnership with colleagues from other research disciplines could make meditation programs even more beneficial."

Senior author Dr. Antoine Lutz (Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Inserm, France) said, "By showing the potential of meditation programs, our findings pave the way for more targeted and effective programs that can help older adults flourish, as we seek to go beyond simply preventing disease or ill-health, and instead take a holistic approach to helping people across the full spectrum of human well-being."

More information: Marco Schlosser et al, An 18-month meditation training selectively improves psychological well-being in older adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomised Controlled Trial, PLoS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294753 Journal information: PLoS ONE
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A Polish NGO on Friday hit out at the government for restricting sex education as the devoutly Catholic country grapples with a spike in HIV cases.

This year, Poland's Institute of Public Health (NIZP) had recorded nearly 2,600 new cases by mid-November.

That marks a considerable uptick from the 2010s, when the number of new cases each year ranged from around 1,000 to 1,600.

"We've had markedly less sex education over the past eight years. The government was pro-Catholic and pushed education in that direction," Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak, who runs the Foundation for Social Education NGO, told AFP on Friday, which coincided with World Aids Day.

Sex education is not a compulsory part of school curricula in Poland and tends to be covered only briefly.

The subject has long been neglected and even slammed by the governing conservatives who came to power in 2015.

"NGOs offering youth sex education have been progressively driven out of schools," Ankiersztejn-Bartczak told AFP earlier this week.

She stressed how important sex education is in combating HIV, which is mainly transmitted through sexual contact.

Though "we've known about the means of transmission for 40 years, we're seeing a rise in new cases in Poland while there's a drop in Western Europe," she said.

The actual figures could be much higher, as many cases go unnoticed and unreported.

The National AIDS Centre estimates that only 10 percent of Polish adults have been tested and that at least 30 percent of those that are HIV-positive are unaware of their infection.

"Eighty-seven percent of Poles believe the virus doesn't concern them," said Ankiersztejn-Bartczak.

She estimated that more than half of the country's cases are diagnosed late, notably because of failures in prevention.

The National AIDS Centre says, however, that the increase in new cases is partly a result of playing catch-up after the pandemic.

"Many cases from 2021-2022 were only recorded this year because health centers were overwhelmed during COVID," the Centre's Maryla Rogalewicz said recently.

She also said the statistics were impacted by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Ukrainewhere HIV is a huge problemfollowing Russia's invasion last year.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Optimistic thinking has long been immortalized in self-help books as the key to happiness, good health and longevity but it can also lead to poor decision-making, with particularly serious implications for people's financial well-being.

Research, published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, from the University of Bath shows that excessive optimism is actually associated with lower cognitive skills such as verbal fluency, fluid reasoning, numerical reasoning, and memory. Whereas those high on cognitive ability tend to be both more realistic and pessimistic in their expectations about the future.

"Forecasting the future with accuracy is difficult and for that reason we might expect those with low cognitive ability to make more errors in judgments, both pessimistic and optimistic. But the results are clear: low cognitive ability leads to more self-flattering biasespeople essentially deluding themselves to a degree," said Dr. Chris Dawson of the University's School of Management.

"This points to the idea that while humans may be primed by evolution to expect the best, those high on cognitive ability are more able to override this automatic response when it comes to important decisions. Plans based on overly optimistic beliefs make for poor decisions and are bound to deliver worse outcomes than would realistic beliefs," Dr. Dawson added.

Decisions on major financial issues such as employment, investments or savings, and any choice involving risk and uncertainty, were particularly prone to this effect and posed serious implications for individuals.

"Unrealistically optimistic financial expectations can lead to excessive levels of consumption and debt, as well as insufficient savings. It can also lead to excessive business entries and subsequent failures. The chances of starting a successful business are tiny, but optimists always think they have a shot and will start businesses destined to fail," Dr. Dawson said.

The study, "Looking on the (B)right Side of Life: Cognitive Ability and Miscalibrated Financial Expectations," took data from a UK survey of over 36,000 households and looked at people's expectations of their financial well-being and compared them with their actual financial outcomes. The research found that those highest on cognitive ability experienced a 22% increase in the probability of "realism" and a 35% decrease in the probability of "extreme optimism."

"The problem with our being programmed to think positively is that it can adversely affect our quality of decision-making, particularly when we have to make serious decisions. We need to be able to over-ride that and this research shows that people with high cognitive ability manage this better than those with low cognitive ability," he said.

"Unrealistic optimism is one of the most pervasive human traits and research has shown people consistently underestimate the negative and accentuate the positive. The concept of 'positive thinking' is almost unquestioningly embedded in our cultureand it would be healthy to revisit that belief," Dr. Dawson added

More information: Chris Dawson, Looking on the (B)right Side of Life: Cognitive Ability and Miscalibrated Financial Expectations, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2023). DOI: 10.1177/01461672231209400 Journal information: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
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

New research has found that a student's perception of their school building conditions is related to their anxiety. The researchers found that students who had a negative perception of their school's physical environment reported higher levels of anxiety.

The research was carried out by researchers from Queen's University Belfast, University of Johannesburg, University of Jyvaskyla, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the University of Eastern Finland, and has been published in the British Journal of Social Psychology

The research was carried out on Finnish lower secondary school students in 2017 and 2019. A total of 71,392 students from 678 schools took part in the study in 2017, and 85,989 students from 704 schools contributed in 2019.

Dr. Ian Shuttleworth, senior lecturer in human geography from the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen's said, "In light of the RAAC concrete issue in the UK earlier this year, our research is timely as it has found that a pleasant and well-maintained school building supports schoolchildren's mental well-being.

"The data suggests that a poor school physical environment was related to pupil anxiety most for those students who perceived the school environment worse than the average perception of all pupils, and also in those schools where school group identity or ethos was weakest. This suggests that poor school building quality in the UK will have unequal individual outcomes, leading to greater anxiety for students who are sensitive to their physical environment and who study in schools with weaker collective social identities."

Professor Eerika Finell, professor in social psychology in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland said, "Although schoolchildren's anxiety symptoms were already relatively common before 2020, significantly more schoolchildren presented symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research is pertinent as not only are we seeing increased anxiety symptoms among schoolchildren, COVID-19 has also highlighted the importance of good quality indoor environments for our children and adolescents.

"In our study, we found that the student's perception of their school building conditions was associated with their self-reported anxiety, and this is in line with previous research showing that good quality school buildings are important for educational attainment and student comfort.

"However, school conditions are often unsatisfactory- toilets, furniture or whole school buildings can be in bad repair; classrooms can be too noisy; and temperatures can be too hot or too cold. This is a true problem, and more attention should be paid on school building conditions."

More information: Eerika Finell et al, The identification environment matters: Students' social identification, perceived physical school environment, and anxietyA crosslevel interaction model, British Journal of Social Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12686 Journal information: British Journal of Social Psychology
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Mortality at Day 180Europe vs. India. Abbreviations: EU: Europe, IN: India. Credit: The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100293

There may be important regional differences in the response to higher doses of steroids (dexamethasone) for patients with severe COVID-19, according to a recent sub-study of the COVID-STEROID 2 trial.

The original COVID-STEROID 2 trial and the current sub-study are a collaboration between The George Institute for Global Health, India and Danish investigators based at CRIC. This study was conducted in Europe and India to examine the effects of giving patients injectable 12 mg versus 6 mg of dexamethasone every day for a maximum of 10 days.

In a secondary analysis of the COVID-STEROID 2 trial published in The Lancet Regional HealthSoutheast Asia, the study led by Dr. Bharath Kumar Tirupakuzhi Vijayaraghavan from The George Institute for Global Health India and Apollo Hospital, Chennai highlights the possibility that a patient's geographic location may affect how well this treatment for severe COVID-19 patients works.

Conducting such collaborative research that explores how patients in India and Europe respond differently to higher doses of dexamethasone not only emphasizes the value of international collaboration in large-scale clinical trials related to COVID but also provides a useful way to generate data demonstrating variations in COVID research across various global populations. It is crucial to emphasize the role that these studies play in promoting sustainable global collaborative research projects.

Detailed findings

Baseline Characteristics: Descriptive baseline data broken down by treatment allocation and geographic region for the 982 patients in the ITT sample. It's interesting to note that baseline variables were largely comparable among treatment arms across areas. There were some significant variations between the two areas, though, such as India's lower weight and its higher use of antivirals and other therapies; also the higher proportion of patients with Diabetes in India. Mortality Rates: Patients in Europe and India had differing death rates at various time points, according to the study. On day 28, the higher-dose group's risk of death was 8.3% lower for patients in Europe, whereas there was essentially no difference (0.1%) in India. Comparable patterns were noted on days 90 and 180. Serious Adverse Reactions: Regarding serious adverse reactions (SARS), an interesting finding was made. While a larger percentage (-1.0%) of patients in Europe experienced SARS, fewer patients in India suffered SARS at the higher dose (-5.3%). Days Alive Without Life Support: The study also revealed variations in the number of days patients survived at day 90 without requiring life support between Europe and India. Patients in India experienced 1.7 more days without life support, compared to 6.1 more days for those in Europe. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL): Longer-term HRQoL outcomes were mixed. The adjusted mean difference in EQ5D-5L index values was slightly different between the two regions, with a 0.08 difference in Europe and a 0.02 difference in India. For EQ VAS, the adjusted mean difference was 4.4 in Europe compared to 2.6 in India.

Variations in patient characteristics, health care infrastructure, resource availability, and comorbidity profiles may be the cause of the regional disparities in treatment effects. The observed discrepancies could be explained by variables including different levels of health care-associated infections, a higher incidence of diabetes, and the use of other anti-inflammatory medications such IL-6 inhibitors.

The COVID-STEROID 2 clinical trial examined the effects of two doses of dexamethasone in patients with severe COVID-19 and was carried out in Denmark, India, Sweden, and Switzerland.

More information: Bharath Kumar Tirupakuzhi Vijayaraghavan et al, Heterogeneity of treatment effect of higher dose dexamethasone by geographic region (Europe vs. India) in patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxemiaa post hoc evaluation of the COVID STEROID 2 trial, The Lancet Regional HealthSoutheast Asia (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100293
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A cluster of cases of ocular syphilis has been reported in Michigan, US. The five women infected all contracted the disease from the same sexual partner.

While ocular syphilis is not that common overall, accounting for 1% of all syphilis cases this probably represents an underestimate of its prevalence.

Why is this important? Ocular syphilis has been described as the great imitator. It can manifest in a multitude of ways and as such the diagnosis can be missed. This is important because it can easily be treated and cured.

Untreated, it can progress over many years causing more damage to multiple organ systems. It is a tragedy if missed. It can affect virtually every tissue in the eye. This includes the cornea, the iris, the orbit, the eyelids, the retina, the optic nerve and the sclera. It usually presents as an inflammation, but sometimes the presentation is more subtle.

If syphilis is missed, other important treatable infections may also be missed. For example, HIV infection is also common in patients with syphilis. HIV infection can accelerate the progression of ocular syphilis. Missing an ocular syphilis diagnosis might mean missing an HIV diagnosis too and, again, not treating a treatable disease.

The five women described in Michigan, all infected by the same man, illustrate this point as they had different signs and symptoms, ranging from inflammation in the eye through to paralysis of cranial nerves. In these acute cases, thankfully, a correct diagnosis was promptly made and treatment started.

But sometimes ocular syphilis is not diagnosed and a slow grumbling infection can occur in the retina. This may resemble an inherited eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa.

So a patient may be told there is nothing that can be done as they are thought to have a genetic eye disease and their sight can be left to deteriorate. They may develop further syphilitic complications, such as syphilis affecting the brain.

Still very prevalent today

In my own practice, I have "cured" several incurable cases of retinitis pigmentosa because I tested for syphilis and found that the patient actually had ocular syphilis. So it is important to be aware that sexually transmitted infections are increasing.

Syphilis is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. It is thought of as an old diseasepossibly introduced to Europe by Christopher Columbus in 1493but it is still very prevalent today. Syphilis infections in the UK increased to 8,692 in 2022, up 15% compared with 2021 (7,543). This is the largest number of confirmed infections since 1948.

Doctors must not be shy in testing for it and explaining to patients why it is necessary to do so. In my experience, patients are happy to be tested as it offers the potential to cure their eye condition.

The message from these Michigan cases is that syphilis is increasing as a sexually transmitted disease. It can affect multiple organs including the eye. It can be missed and doctors should always think of the "great imitator" and not be shy in testing for it. If detected, it can be swiftly treated with antibiotics, which is not the case with many other eye diseases.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Local musician Patrick Christianson said Missoula police have told him to stop playing music on city sidewalks multiple times. He and Missoula City Councilor Daniel Carlino from Ward 3 believe these instances go against the citys commitment to keep Missoula weird.

I think you should be able to be free in your speech and your art, said Christianson. If you dont like it, it should still be allowed.

In that spirit, Carlino this week brought forward a proposal to eliminate city rules that require a permit to produce sound along city streets.

Missoula is such a unique and special community to all of us, said Carlino. And I think as a local government, a couple things we can do to help keep Missoula weird is to help ensure everybody can still afford to live here in the future and to help ensure all Missoulians are able to express themselves as they wish.

Carlinos effort met with some friction from his fellow city councilors, who ultimately opted to keep working on his proposal in committee rather than sending it to a public hearing. Carlinos wardmate Councilor Gwen Jones led the charge to keep the discussion going instead of moving it to public review.

I think we want to encourage busking  thats great, said Jones. But also when its so loud it infringes on everybody else, if theres a complaint-driven process to address it, then its appropriate.

City Attorney Ryan Sudbury suggested simply amending some of the current language to make it clearer that it doesnt pertain to buskers or other people on city sidewalks. He believes the existing rules apply to people driving around blaring music or political messages from vehicles. Most on council seemed to appreciate Sudburys take on the issue.

Yes, music is an important component of Missoula and the culture we have here, said Ward 5s Stacie Anderson. I think that this is going a little bit too far.

In addition to Christianson, two public commenters also spoke regarding Carlinos proposed changes: one in favor and one opposed. Carlino was frustrated he couldnt bump the discussion to a Monday night public hearing, because he hoped to garner more public comment on the issue.
Three people accused of trafficking fentanyl in the Missoula and Helena areas admitted to charges Thursday after more than 1,000 pills were confiscated by law enforcement in several seizures, officials said.

Nikolas Loren Pellant, 34, and Lynsi Noel Barnes, 32, both of Missoula, and Beau James Breneman, 44, of Helena, each pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in a news release.

They face a mandatory minimum of five to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least three years of supervised release, officials said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto set sentencing in Missoula for Barnes and Breneman for March 28, while sentencing for Pellant was set for March 29, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. All the defendants were detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in October 2022, federal agents intercepted a package that contained more than 300 fentanyl pills and was addressed to Pellant, the U.S. Attorneys office said.

Officers arrested Pellant when he accepted the package in a controlled delivery. Authorities found that Pellant and his girlfriend, Barnes, had been selling fentanyl in the Missoula area for several months and that they acquired the drug through the mail and by making weekly trips to Spokane, Washington.

The government further alleged that in January 2023, the Montana Highway Patrol stopped Barnes as she was returning from one such trip and seized more than 450 fentanyl pills and other evidence of drug distribution from her vehicle.

The government also claimed that in January 2022, law enforcement received reports of a rash of fentanyl overdoses in Lewis and Clark County.

An investigation determined that co-defendant Breneman was distributing heroin laced with fentanyl and that he had warned at least one customer to use small and diluted quantities of the drug because it was dangerous.

Breneman admitted to distributing heroin laced with fentanyl. On May 31, 2023, Breneman and Barnes were passengers in a vehicle that was stopped in Shoshone County, Idaho. Law enforcement searched the car and found more than 300 fentanyl pills. Officers also found a plastic bag containing more fentanyl pills concealed on Brenemans person, according to court documents.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter is prosecuting the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Service, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Missoula County Sheriffs Office and Shoshone County (Idaho) Sheriffs Office conducted the investigation.
An open house will be held Dec. 10 for a new community cultural and refugee resource center focused on helping immigrants to the Helena area acclimate and navigate life in a new country.

The center will be run by the Helena Afghan Refugee Resettlement Team (HARRT), a division of the nonprofit Hands On Global that serves needy and displaced people. The facility is described as a place to celebrate cultures, integrate the community and serve as a resource center.

The public is invited to the open house of the HARRT Community Cultural and Refugee Resource Center, which will be 1-4 p.m. Dec. 10 at 2712 Billings Ave., in the Eastside Plaza business center behind Walmart.

Valerie Hellermann, executive director of Hands On Global, said it was decided to find a permanent location after HARRT members had been meeting in church basements and in members homes and wanted a place that is neutral and fosters independence.

She said the new office is partially funded by a grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation.

Were going to pay case managers and hope to have volunteers also, she said.

HARRT has helped bring in 26 refugees from Afghanistan, the Ukraine and Ethiopia to Helena. HAART will be receiving Syrian refugees in January 2024 and Congolese in the next year as well. She said the group plans to accept two families every six months. Hellermann said the Syrian refugees will be arriving after going through 10 years of "brutal" civil war.

"They are in desperate need," she said.

Hellermann, who has made several trips overseas and delivered medical aid to people in the Ukraine, said the new immigrants have adjusted well, but things always come up and need they need some resources such as issues with Medicaid, dealing with health care or changing a job.

It is really difficult to know where to find the benefits available to people, she said.

Hellermann said the new center will also work with other immigrants coming into the community needing assistance with figuring out life in the United States.

She said there will also be an open house in January 2024.

I think it will be really beneficial for the community to meet refugees and understand their situation, Hellermann said. I think its an important project.

Call 406-442-1199 for more information.
DREXEL  Making and running moonshine has long been a thing of lore in North Carolina.

NASCAR even grew from the moonshiners souping up their cars to outrun the law.

Now, however, moonshine has become mainstream and can be made and sold in North Carolina like other alcohol as long as the maker and seller have a permit. In 2017, Burke County voters also overwhelmingly approved county-wide ABC stores, beer and wine and liquor by the drink sales.

Burke County already has South Mountain Distilling Company, located in Rutherford College.

And plans are in the works for another distilling company in Drexel.

On Wednesday, Ashkenazic Investments LLC filed the Limited Liability Company Appalachian Distilling Company with the North Carolina Secretary of State, with Edward Mintz listed as the registered agent of both LLCs. The address for Appalachian Distilling Company LLC lists a street address of 3055 Cleet York Road, Valdese. On Nov. 21, county commissioners approved a request from Ashkenazic Investments to rezone 6.84 acres located off Interstate 40 Exit 107 from Residential Three to General Business, The News Herald previously reported.

Its on that property that Mintz and other family members  Ashkenazic Investments is made up of five family members  plan to open a craft distillery and a restaurant, with around 1.4 acres on the backside of the property planned for storage units, Mintz said.

Moonshine has a heritage in North Carolina but it also is part of Mintzs family heritage. His great-grandfather, Dime Hightower, made moonshine in the 1930s through the mid-1970s in Haywood County and sold it in the state, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina, Mintz said. His great-grandfather had three to four different large liquor stills set up throughout Haywood and Jackson counties, Mintz said.

Its going to be a heritage-based liquor made real similar to what my grandpa Hightower made, Mintz said. He said they dont plan to compete with South Mountain Distilling Co. or Sugarland Distilleries.

Mintz said they likely will have around five labels of what he calls straight Appalachian liquor. He said they dont plan to do many flavors but will do something like apple pie and corn liquor.

Mintz has spent 10 years trying to perfect the recipe. Hes going to try to get his 93-year-old uncle, Dewey, who made liquor with Mintzs great-grandfather, down to Burke County to check out the recipe, he said. His uncle still lives in Haywood County.

Mintz said three people can make liquor from the same mash and each will turn out different.

Theres definitely an art to it, he said.

He said there is a spring on the property and they plan to use water filtered from it to help make the liquor. He plans to use locally grown corn and barley in the product as well.

In addition to getting a distillery license, a brewery license and a winery license, Mintz said they want to make three or four different kinds of beers and make several brandies like apple, blackberry and strawberry.

As for the restaurant, which might have to be separate from the distillery but across from it, Mintz said they hope to lease it to someone to operate a restaurant. He thinks a barbecue restaurant would be comparable and complementary to the distillery.

The whole plan is to make it a good environment for people in that culture (distilleries), Mintz said. And thats a big culture.

Mintz said he wants to get the site plans started soon and to be in operation by this time next year.
A woman accused of stealing more than $2,500 while employed at Sally Beauty Supply in Butte pleaded not guilty to felony theft Thursday.

In a separate case Wednesday, a judge told a woman she must travel from Texas to Montana in January to be sentenced for embezzling more than $80,000 from Fine Fabric Care in Butte.

Amy Amelia Francis Smith, 39, was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Kurt Krueger on charges she stole a total of $2,581 in deposits from Sally Beauty Supply in late 2022.

A loss prevention officer said there were numerous missing deposits from November and December that year, including ones for $504.56, $748.98 and $619.72. He said Smith left the store with another $70 from the till on Dec. 24, 2022, and never returned.

The loan officer said he talked to Smith by phone and she agreed to meet him on Feb. 16, 2023, to discuss the missing money, but she never showed up.

The felony theft by common scheme charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and fine up to $1,500. Sentences for such convictions also typically require restitution in the amounts stolen.

The Wednesday case involves 52-year-old Diana Michelle Cryer, who pleaded guilty in September to felony theft by common scheme. She admitted she embezzled $80,184 from Fine Fabric Care, where she was employed from September 2020 to September 2021 before moving to Weatherford, Texas.

Cryers attorney, public defender Kaylee Hafer, said in a court motion that Cryer is a single grandmother raising her grandson in Texas and could not afford to fly or drive to Montana for a Wednesday sentencing hearing.

Hafer wanted District Judge Robert Whelan to postpone the hearing and allow Cryer to appear from Texas via Zoom when it does occur.

Her motion said Cryer not only lacked money for travel, she could not provide child care for her grandson during her absence, and it might take six months for Montana to arrange a probation supervision pact with Texas.

Under a proposed plea agreement, prosecutors are recommending Cryer receive a five-year suspended sentence and an order to pay $80,184 in restitution.

Prosecutor Kaitlyn Lamb opposed a sentencing delay and a Zoom appearance when it did occur.

If the State were to allow the Defendant to appear from Texas, she remains in Texas without any supervision from Probation and Parole for up to six months, Lamb said a motion. The Defendant seeks to evade responsibility while the victims continue to seek justice.

Whelan agreed Wednesday to move sentencing to Jan. 17 but told Cryer, who was appearing by Zoom, that she needed to make travel arrangements and be in his courtroom that day.

If you fail to appear, I will issue a bench warrant from Montana. You understand that? Whelan told her.

Yes your honor, she said.
If you are an employee with Butte School District No. 1, theres a chance your name, Social Security number and personal banking information are all now potentially up for grabs.

Thats because approximately 20 district computers were hacked sometime during the Nov. 4-5 weekend.

When the breach was discovered, IT personnel turned off the districts entire computer system which included about 3,500 end-user devices  in other words, all desktop and laptop computers, tablets, etc.

We immediately took action so it wouldnt spread, said Butte School Superintendent Judy Jonart. Thankfully, most of the computers were already shut down.

Jonart said experts with Surefire Cyber, a nationwide company based in New Jersey, along with the districts IT personnel, have been working to get the system back up and running. Even though four weeks have passed, the system is not completely operational.

Jonart said she is not worried because the specialists are making sure everything is 100 percent secure. Preventive measures also need to be completed to make sure this doesnt happen again, she said.

It is a slow process, but we want to make sure all the services are clear, ready for complete functionality, said Jonart.

This is not the first time the district has been the victim of a cyberattack.

In May 2022, district personnel received an email requesting a direct deposit payment rather than a check for services rendered by one of the main contractors renovating East Middle School.

Personnel thought they were making a $1.1 million payment to Langlas and Associates Inc., for construction work and had the money electronically deposited. The district would soon learn that the request came from a cyber thief, not Langlas, and the FBI, along with officials from the Department of Homeland Security, quickly got involved.

Jonart said the two cyberattacks are not connected: One has nothing to do with the other. She added the $1.1 million stolen last year has not been retrieved.

We have not heard anything recently, she said, but it is still an ongoing investigation."

Cyberattacks continue to rise in the United States and worldwide.

According to the FBI, last year its internet crime division received nearly 801,000 complaints. The department estimated those complaints equaled to more than $10.3 billion in losses.

Schools have become a popular target.

EducationWeek, an online newsletter, reported that since 2016, more than 1,600 U.S. schools have been victims of ransomware attacks.

As for the Butte districts most recent breach, an explanatory letter from Jonart was sent out this week to all district employees to further address the current issue.

We want to assure you that the privacy and security of information in our care is one of our top priorities, Jonart wrote.

She said employees would soon be provided free access to one year of identity theft and fraud protection through Experian, a business services company, and one of the nations three primary credit bureaus. The contract with Experian also includes credit monitoring, assistance with identity restoration, extended care once a membership has expired and identity theft insurance.

Jonart said the cost for the services are covered by the districts insurance policy.

Jonart said she is confident the districts computer system will be back in working order soon.

Every day, we get something new up and running, she said. Thats good news.

Meanwhile, its business as usual within the district, with only a few glitches along the way. In the coming days, teachers computers will all be back on, with students laptops to follow. Online educational software will also again be accessible.
Commissioners in Butte-Silver Bow were banking on a favorable outcome in a contentious legal dispute when they cut property taxes levied locally on behalf of the state.

All but seven of Montanas 56 counties did the same, but a unanimous Montana Supreme Court ruled against them last week.

Unless Gov. Greg Gianfortes administration reverses course in the dispute, or the Legislature steps in, Butte-Silver Bow will have to send out supplemental notices that essentially take back the reductions.

They will go to more than 19,000 taxpayers here and collectively bill them for more than $2 million in additional taxes.

Individual tax obligations will vary, but someone with a $100,000 house who had saved $23.36 in the previous reductions will now have to pay that amount. Someone with a $250,000 house will owe $58.39 more in taxes.

Tax bills with the lower amounts were mailed out in October with the first of two installments due Nov. 30. Barring big changes at the state level, Butte-Silver Bow and 48 other counties will have to send out adjusted bills based on the higher amounts.

Butte-Silver Bow officials arent sure when they will do that and when the adjusted payments will be due, but given the Montana Supreme Court ruling, they say it has to be done.

Property taxes soared in most parts of Montana this year because of rising home prices and corresponding increases in assessments during the state reappraisal cycle. Assessments rose by a median value of 45% statewide and by 35% in Butte-Silver Bow.

The increases sent counties and state officials into a blame-game over property taxes.

In a revolt of sorts, Butte-Silver Bow and 48 other counties levied 78 state school equalization mills instead of the 95 sought by the Montana Department of Revenue. The mills are collected by each county and redistributed by the state to level out funding for school districts in richer and poorer counties.

The Gianforte administration opposed the reductions and sued, and many educators objected as swell, saying the cuts would jeopardize school funding. Counties argued they had the authority to levy the lower amount.

The Montana Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 22 that counties had no authority to set the mill rate, a power held exclusively by the state revenue department. That means counties must now collect the full 95 mills.

The Montana Association of Counties sent Gianforte a letter on Wednesday.

While that opinion was directly in contrast to the position of many counties, and the Montana Association of Counties in our defense of our membership, we recognize the Supreme Courts determination and appreciate the clarity, the letter said.

But it said the administration could still levy the lower amount and urged that it do so.

State officials said they would poll lawmakers this week on a question of convening a special session to address property taxes, a proposal thats failed twice already this year.

The Montana Freedom Caucus, a hardline Republican group of about 20 lawmakers, last week called for a special session in January to address, among other things, the 95 mills at issue in the Supreme Court case. The group proposed four pieces of legislation, including another rebate and a legislative referendum that would create a default system to issue rebates for tax revenue surpluses.

With entirely different proposals in hand, the Montana Democrats called for a special session in July and Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, called for another a month later. Neither prevailed.

Meanwhile, officials in Butte-Silver Bow are still trying to get November tax bills to everyone. They said last week that hundreds of residents in rural parts of Butte-Silver Bow County did not receive tax bills mailed out in late October and they dont know why.

We have tried mailing replacement tax bills and they were not making it to their destination either, county Treasurer Lori Baker-Patrick said Thursday.

We have been emailing bills for folks that have emails, some folks have been getting them on iTax.tylertech.com and for the folks that dont have computers we have had to reprint them as they have come up to pay their taxes, she said.
Two publications featured articles earlier this year alleging misconduct by EPA employees responding to Butte-focused health research the employees did not like. The articles also referenced regulatory capture.

The phrase regulatory capture alleged EPA was working less for the public interest in recent years than for the industries the agency was supposed to be regulating in Butte.

The articles described efforts by EPA employees in Butte and Denver to discredit, suppress or intimidate researchers whose work appeared to link serious health concerns in Butte to pollution from the citys history of mining and smelting or from ongoing active mining by Montana Resources.

In response to the news coverage describing this conduct, EPA regional leadership in Denver said in June that the allegations were being taken seriously and had been referred for review to the EPAs Office of Inspector General, described as being independent from the environmental regulatory agency.

This week, EPA announced that the Office of Inspector Generals Office of Investigations had evaluated the allegations and determined it had no recommendations for the EPAs response.

On Wednesday, one of the researchers whose work was targeted, environmental epidemiologist Suzanne McDermott, Ph.D., offered a succinct reaction to the reported findings of the Office of Investigations.

Not surprised

I am saddened but not surprised, said McDermott, a professor at the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.

Katie Hailer, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry at Montana Technological University, was another researcher affected by efforts to suppress or discredit apparently unpalatable science.

Im not surprised that the Office of Inspector General cleared EPA, Hailer said. I expected them to do as much.

Yet it seems other entities within the Office of Inspector General are still weighing whether actions allegedly taken by EPA employees might require additional scrutiny.

The Office of Inspector General, or OIG, released this statement Wednesday afternoon: In June 2023, EPA Region 8 sent a referral to EPA OIG Office of Investigations that included an allegation that EPA Region 8 employees attempted to have a Montana state employee terminated. We investigated and found that the State of Montana did not take any adverse action, to include termination, against the state employee, and shared this finding with EPA Region 8.

The referral contained other matters that are still under consideration within the Office of Inspector General, the statement added.

The word consideration is not synonymous with investigation, the office said.

The Office of Investigations focuses in large part on employee misconduct and whether criminal acts have been committed. Other offices within the Office of Inspector General tackle other types of alleged malfeasance.

For example, the EPAs Office of Special Review and Evaluation, among a host of other activities, conducts administrative investigations of allegations of misconduct by senior agency employees  a category that would exclude EPA employees directly involved in remediation work in Butte.

Stacie Barry Peterson, Ph.D., was another researcher whose work  as well as her status as a doctoral student  was reportedly targeted by Sara Sparks, a former EPA remedial project manager in Butte. Peterson declined to comment Wednesday about the findings of the Office of Investigations.

Peterson did say she was not contacted by anyone from the Office of Inspector General. McDermott said she was. Hailer said she was, too.

The High Country News article, published in February, suggested the EPA colluded with Montana Resources and the Atlantic Richfield Co. to try to discredit researchers. The latter is deemed responsible for remediating pollution from historic mining and smelting because it purchased Anaconda Co., the original polluter.

Thousands of pages of documents detail how the EPA coordinated with the very companies theyre supposed to be regulating to attack researchers like McDermott and smear peer-reviewed science that has raised alarms over current mining practices, reported InvestigateWest in High Country News.

Later, in June, David McCumber, former editor of The Montana Standard, reported and wrote an article of more than 4,700 words about efforts to discredit scientists such as McDermott, Peterson and Hailer.

Pointless meeting

On Wednesday, Hailer described her experience with investigators from the Office of Inspector General.

I was contacted and met with two lawyers  via Zoom  involved with the case. It was a pointless meeting in which they had zero questions for me, Hailer said.

They wanted to meet with me in case I wanted to vent my frustrations, she said. I didnt see the point in speaking with them if all they were interested in was hearing me complain  although I will admit I probably did express some of my frustrations for several minutes.

Hailer said she asked a few questions about the investigation and whether some key EPA employees referenced in the articles were still working for the agency.

They told me they were not at liberty to answer any of my questions, so I ended the meeting, Hailer said. As I said, pointless and a joke all around.

Petersons research had provided evidence that mortality in a wide range of disease categories throughout the study period was markedly elevated in Butte compared to the rest of Montana and compared to the nation as a whole. The list included cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurological diseases, cancer and other diseases of the internal organs.

Peterson has said that Sparks threatened to interfere with her dissertation and future employment. Sparks denied such activity when interviewed for McCumbers article in The Standard and said she did not remember the study in question.

Peterson was not named in the piece published in High Country News. EPAs Taylor Gillespie said this week that the High County News story was the focus of the inquiry by the Office of Inspector Generals Office of Investigations.

McDermott has acknowledged there were flaws in a Butte study that found significantly higher levels of metals in newborns meconium, the childs first excrement, than a control group in another state. But McDermott has said the research could have been the impetus for a pilot study for additional inquiry. Instead, it generated a lot of heat for researchers from sources that included the EPAs Sparks, a reality documented in email correspondence and interviews.

Coordinated pushback

Internal EPA emails show that the initial response to the study was not a discussion of whether a larger, more comprehensive study should be performed but rather how to push back against the study  to question its credibility and validity.

Within days, this approach would be coordinated and expanded with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlantic Richfield, Atlantic Richfields environmental engineering consultants, EPAs environmental consultants, Montana Resources and their consultants, and local officials.

Although some of the multipronged pushback was public, much of it played out behind the scenes. Almost all of it mirrored the attacks on Peterson.

EPA toxicologist Charlie Partridge, based in Denver, targeted Hailer and tried to raise questions about her research with her bosses at Montana Tech, according to interviews by McCumber with people involved.

The Standard asked Gillespie whether revelations in the High Country News article that initially stirred the investigation by the Office of the Inspector Generals Office of Investigations had resulted in any policy changes in the regional EPA.

EPA has proactively taken several steps to ensure that there is more management oversight and staffing support in Butte, Gillespie said. We have doubled the number of staff working in Butte at all levels, including both project managers and community involvement support. We have instituted weekly staff and management calls and quadrupled the number of senior management visits to Butte.

Gillespie cited other examples of EPAs receptiveness to questions and concerns in Butte.

EPA is committed to being responsive and engaged throughout the Butte community, she said.
The goals are bigger than ever for the 35th annual Thompson Family Food Drive.

According to organizer Scott Thompson, son of Jim and Margie Thompson, the bar has been set at $85,000 in monetary donations and 100,000 pounds of food.

For perspective, the 2022 drive brought in over $56,000 and around 80,000 pounds of food  and that was the biggest drive to date.

I mean, its a lofty goal, Thompson said. We know that. But with this year being the 35th year, we figured that its a good time to try and push it.

Logistically, the drive will function the same as previous years but with a couple additions that will hopefully help boost donations.

Sysco Montana, a food distributor and restaurant supplier, is a new sponsor. Itll provide an additional semitrailer that will be parked at Star Lanes, serving as an additional drop-off location.

Also, in partnership with Bridger Brewing Co., Sysco will be hosting a kickoff party from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Homestake Pub in Butte.

Thompson said he has been told Sysco is also soliciting donations from some of its business partners in the region.

Other than that, the drive  which the Thompsons have down to a science  will be the same as always.

The morning begins at the Race Track Volunteer Fire Department and other departments around town, depending on where volunteers have been assigned to report. This is when the 15-90 Search and Rescue volunteers use their skill set to get the ball rolling.

The Thompson family can tell you that this would not be possible without the 15-90 Search and Rescue, Thompson said in a previous interview.

Adapting similar strategic principles used while searching for and rescuing someone, the 15-90 volunteers are able to help transform pandemonium into what Thompson calls organized chaos, by mapping out and delegating where everyone needs to go.

Donations are collected and brought back to either the Race Track, Safeway on Front Street or Three Bears Alaska. Everything is loaded onto distribution trucks and taken to the Butte Emergency Food Bank. Those distribution trucks are provided by Harrington Bottling Co., which stepped in to help with the drive after the Thompsons sold their distribution company (thereby losing a fleet of trucks) in 2017.

Of course, all of these efforts would be fruitless if not for the donations. People who wish to donate Saturday morning can leave a box or bag of non-perishable food at their mailbox or on their front porch. Volunteers disperse from the Race Track around 10 a.m., so plan accordingly.

Additional items such as cooking oil, baking items, chunky soups or stews, spices, coffee, stuffing, condiments, and basic hygiene products such as shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant are also needed.

Donations by cash or check are also strongly encouraged. Because the money is going to be used by a food bank when purchasing food, it can be stretched much further than by a regular person visiting the grocery store.

Checks made out to the Butte Emergency Food Bank are easiest to deal with for people who wish to go this route to donate. Slide the check (or cash) into an envelope labeled Butte Emergency Food Bank and leave it in a secure location near your mailbox, porch or front door.

The food banks buying power is about four times what yours or mine would be right with that same dollar, Thompson said.
TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which has suffered accusations of surveilling American users and improperly using their data, sparking national security concerns about insight Beijing officials may have into U.S. users. The social media giant has maintained that it does not share data from users in the U.S. with the Chinese government.

The hearing on the preliminary injunction took place in mid-October, where the state argued that the legislation is meant to protect Montana consumers and is not solely about the Chinese Communist Party.
Fresh off a legal victory earlier this year in a landmark climate change case, a group of young environmental activists is trying to persuade the Montana Supreme Court to stop a natural gas power plant that's being built on the banks of the Yellowstone River.

The 16 activists said in a court brief filed Tuesday that the air quality permit for the plant near Laurel in south-central Montana should be declared invalid or at least suspended until the state's appeal of their climate change case is decided. The brief was in support of two environmental groups that are challenging the permit.

The activists prevailed in August in their yearslong lawsuit against the state for not doing enough to protect them from climate change. They claimed severe wildfires, flooding, drought and other problems spurred by warming temperatures violated their rights under the state constitution to a clean and healthful environment.

A state policy, which the judge in the case declared unconstitutional, did not require officials to consider the effect of greenhouse gas emissions when approving fossil fuel projects.

The ruling in the first-of-its- kind trial in the U.S. added to a small number of legal decisions around the world that have established a government duty to protect citizens from climate change.

In the brief, their attorneys said the young activists have "a unique and significant interest" in making sure new fossil fuel projects like the power plant don't proceed "given the significant harms resulting from additional (greenhouse gas) pollution in Montana."

The state has filed a notice of appeal of the August climate ruling to the Montana Supreme Court but has not submitted its arguments in the case.

The young plaintiffs said the justices should not wait for their case to be resolved before taking action on the power plant permit. Their attorney also asked that any constitutional climate and environmental issues should be addressed through the climate lawsuit, which was heard at trial, and not the power plant permit case.

The plant is being built to provide energy during times of high demand when prices are high on the open market, NorthWestern Energy said. The company did not oppose the activists' attorneys filing a brief in the case.

"We respect the views of other parties, however, NorthWestern Energy's obligation is to provide reliable energy service at the most affordable rates possible for our Montana customers," spokesperson Jo Dee Black said in a statement. "Reliable energy service, especially during the winter, is critical for our customers' lives."

District Court Judge Michael Moses in Billings ruled in April that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality illegally granted the permit for the Yellowstone County Generating Station in 2021 because it did not consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the state Legislature updated its Montana Environmental Policy Act to say the agency did not have to consider greenhouse gas emissions unless the federal government began regulating those emissions.

In June, Moses vacated his order that invalidated the air quality permit, partly in response to the new legislation. Construction on the $250 million power plant resumed.

Roger Sullivan, one of the attorneys for the young plaintiffs, said the court's August decision was binding on the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies when considering fossil fuel-related permits.

"We are hopeful that the Court will find our amicus brief helpful," Sullivan said.
Israel recalls ambassador from Spain following diplomatic crisis



ARCHIVED ARTICLE

The Spanish PM has managed to offend the Israelis with his calls for them to stop killing innocent children

A diplomatic row between Spain and Israel has escalated to the point that the Israeli ambassador to Spain has been recalled after President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, said he had genuine doubts about whether Israel was complying with international humanitarian law.

The bombardment of Gaza by Israel has been going on for almost two months since Hamas attacked Israeli targets on October 7 and took hundreds of hostages.

Spains Pedro Sanchez has been heavily involved in the peacekeeping mission but, unlike many other western politicians, has been very vocally critical of Israels tactics.

Last week, he insisted that Israel stop killing innocent civilians, including thousands of children.

Weve said from the very beginning that what Hamas did in Israel is absolutely atrocious and abominable, he said in a TVE interview on Thursday morning, November 30, but added, We have to tell Israel, with the same conviction, that its actions must be based on international humanitarian law.

He continued, With the images were seeing and the growing number of people  especially children  who are being killed, I have genuine doubts that theyre complying with international humanitarian law.

While Spain is a fully paid-up member of the European Union and rarely steps outside the official EU line, Sanchez, who was recently invested as President for a second time under controversial circumstances , has hinted that the country could unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state even if other EU members fail to do so.

In response to the perceived slight, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a shameful statement and instructed his foreign minister, Eli Cohen, to reprimand the Spanish ambassador to Israel.

Cohen said Sanchezs words were outrageous and that Israel acts and will continue to act according to international law and we will continue the war until the release of all the abductees and the elimination of Hamas in Gaza.

The Israeli foreign ministry has also slammed Spain for giving support to terrorism, while Spains Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, called the Israeli governments comments false, misplaced and unacceptable.

What with the sensitive nature of the issue and the hefty history behind this conflict, there is little room in the public discourse for nuanced analysis that can condemn terrorist violence whilst calling for a measured and humane response to it.

Between Israel and Spain, the back-and-forth continues to escalate.

This is not the first time ambassadors have been recalled from Spain due to international crises. Morrocco recalled its ambassador in Madrid in 2021 after Spain allowed for Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to be treated in a Spanish hospital; Algeria recalled its ambassador in 2022 following a dispute over Spains position on the Sahara region, and only just sent a new ambassador this month; and Nicaragua also recalled its ambassador from Spain after Foreign Minister Albares demanded the country comply with human rights law.

Image: @IsraeliPM/Twitter
West Liberty Foods was able to almost double its average food donation amount this year to various organizations, local charities and events.

In late November, West Liberty Foods announced that it had donated approximately 99,500 pounds of frozen, fully cooked turkey breast lobes to its partner organizations. This included five organizations in Iowa, two food banks in Illinois and the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Its average donation is around 50,000 pounds.

West Liberty Foods President & CEO Brandon Achen said in a public statement it had been an easy decision for the company to make, with the goal of offering a ready-to-heat protein that could make for a filling and delicious holiday meal.

This year, we selected several area food bank organizations that we know service the communities in which we operate, Achen said. "It is our hope that we can have a positive impact on those struggling with hunger this holiday season.

Utah Food Bank received nearly 36,000 pounds of the 99,500 pound donation.

This nutritious protein is something that is rarely donated, and much appreciated by Utah residents who are facing hunger, said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank President and CEO. This donation comes at a crucial time of year as the holidays approach, and we look forward to being able to distribute it to our clients to help make their holiday celebrations special.

Michelle Book, CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa, shared similar sentiments when it came to the nearly 8,000 fully cooked turkey breasts that her organization received.

This lean, delicious protein could not have come at a better time for Iowa families facing food insecurity this holiday season, Book said. West Liberty Foods continues to be a steadfast retail partner of Food Bank of Iowa, and in this month of gratitude we are especially grateful for their generous support.
A certified nursing assistant who claims she was fired from a nursing home for helping an injured resident call 911 is now suing her former employer.

Kandus Jellison is suing Care Initiatives of West Des Moines, one of Iowas largest nursing home chains, in Polk County District Court. Jellison had worked at one of the chains nursing homes, Oakwood Specialty Care in Albia, since February 2021 and was fired in June 2022.

According to her lawsuit, on the morning of June 22, 2022, a blue call light sounded at Oakwood, signaling an emergency and that all available nurses were needed. Jellison and a coworker assisted a resident they were with and then responded to the emergency in the room of a resident identified in court records as V.K. Olivia Oshel, the director of nursing at Oakwood, was in the room along with three other workers.

The resident, who suffers from a bone density disorder, had fallen from his wheelchair and told Jellison that he had felt several pops in his shoulder which led him to believe he had broken something. The man allegedly told everyone present he wanted to go to the hospital. One of the workers told V. K. that she would get to work on that immediately, but Oshel allegedly stopped her and said that theyd treat the resident in-house first and would call for a mobile X-ray unit.

Jellison allegedly advised Oshel that if V. K. was asking to go to the hospital, he had the right to go, but Oshel balked. About two hours later, at 11:45 a.m., Jellison overheard V. K. in his room crying and calling out to her. He allegedly told Jellison he didnt want to keep waiting for the mobile X-ray unit and wanted to be taken to the hospital immediately as he was in excruciating pain.

At that point in time, the lawsuit claims, Oakwood had yet to hear back from Biotech, the operators of the mobile X-ray unit, and there was no indication as to how much longer V.K. would have to wait. Jellison told him he had a right to go to the hospital and then helped him to the nurses station to call for an ambulance. A nurse there allegedly told Jellison that Oshel should be consulted before the call was made.

Jellison took V. K. to Oshels office and, while there, she updated Administrator Nicole Behrens on the situation. According to the lawsuit, Behrens and Oshel then consulted privately inside Oshels office, after which Oshel emerged and informed Jellison and V.K. that a mobile X-ray would have to be done before an ambulance was summoned.

Jellison allegedly protested, insisted that V. K. be taken to the hospital as he was in severe pain, and then asked Oshel and Behrens whether V. K. had a legal right to go to the hospital. Oshel allegedly told Jellison to go do her job, and to let her do her own job. Jellison then turned to V. K. and asked whether he understood what was going on. V. K. nodded in the affirmative, at which point Jellison advised him to go to his room, dial 911, and ask for an ambulance.

The lawsuit alleges that Oshel then screamed at Jellison, saying, Get the f out of my building until you can do your fing job right. Jellison protested, at which point Behrens allegedly motioned to her, indicating she was going to escort Jellison out of the building. Jellison then grabbed her keys and phone from her locker and left the building.

State substantiated Jellisons complaint

Later, Jellison phoned the business office manager to ask for the number of the Iowa Department of Inspection, Appeals Licensing, which regulates Iowa care facilities, and the corporate office of Care Initiatives. At the request of the business office manager, Jellison returned to the facility where Behrens allegedly told her, You were told to leave, so now you need to go. Jellison and Behrens allegedly went into an office to talk, at which point Behrens and Oshel called the police.

By that time, V. K. had summoned an ambulance, which was dispatched to the facility. The police arrived and an officer explained to Jellison that she was fired and, if she ever returned, shed be arrested for trespassing.

Later, a company representative allegedly called Jellison and explained she was not fired but was suspended pending an investigation. Jellison then reported the matter to DIAL, where officials promised an investigation of their own. State records indicate the agency eventually substantiated Jellisons complaint against Oakwood.

One week after the incident, Jellison was notified by Care Initiatives that she had been fired for failing to follow a supervisors direct orders. Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for wrongful termination in violation of public policy, the infliction of emotional distress, and the willful violation of Iowa laws that prohibit employers from disciplining a person for either reporting dependent-adult abuse or assisting with a state investigation into alleged abuse.

The lawsuit claims that through their actions, Care Initiatives and Oakwood denied a resident the opportunity to participate in their health care decisions and treatment, denied interventions necessary to maintain a residents well-being, and denied a resident from communicating with other people of their own choosing  all of which are rights codified in the Iowa Administrative Code.

Care Initiatives and Oakwood have yet to file a response to the lawsuit. Co-defendant Oshel has denied the allegations, and co-defendant Behrens has not yet filed a response.

Feds fined Oakwood; Jellison denied benefits

The state inspectors who investigated the incident at Oakwood reported that after V.K. insisted on going to the hospital, Oshel had yelled at the staff from her office, saying, We are not sending him to the hospital.

One employee told inspectors Oshel had cursed at Jellison or other workers, adding that Oshel was angry with us (and) we were just trying to get him help. A licensed practical nurse told allegedly inspectors Oshel was yelling at everyone right in front of the residents, and wouldnt let any of the staff call 911.

The state agency cited Oakwood for failing to provide adequate nursing supervision and 13 other regulatory violations. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services imposed a $95,761 penalty against the home, which was in addition to a $115,016 penalty imposed earlier in the year for other violations.

Currently, Oakwood has a one-star rating from CMS for its overall performance  the federal agencys lowest possible score.

After her firing last year, Jellison applied for unemployment benefits. Care Initiatives contested the application, which led to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Sean Nelson.

According to Oakwood officials who testified at the unemployment hearing, after the conflict over V.K.s treatment, Jellison yelled, We dont provide care, and this is a sy facility, and then used an expletive to describe her superiors.

Nelson ruled that Jellison lacked the same level of medical expertise as the charge nurse and the director of nursing, but was so confident in her assessment of the resident that she contradicted her superiors and used profanity to describe them. Such behavior is not reasonable and constitutes misconduct, Nelson ruled in denying Jellison benefits.

After the ruling, Jellison told Iowa Capital Dispatch she didnt use profanity to describe her superiors and wasnt second-guessing anyones medical judgment and was instead trying to inform the resident of his legal right to seek treatment at a hospital.

I said (to the resident), You have a cell phone in your room. I want you to go to your room and I want you to dial 911, and I want you to tell them to dispatch an ambulance here to get you, Jellison told Capital Dispatch. And thats exactly what he did. Its not like I gave him a phone, or that I dialed 911 for him. He did it himself.

Created in 1989, Care Initiatives claims to be the largest single operator of nursing homes in Iowa. The company says it serves nearly 2,800 residents in 43 skilled-nursing facilities, eight assisted living centers, three senior housing apartment complexes and six hospice locations.

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
Iowas Republican U.S. representatives voted to expel New York Republican George Santos from Congress on Friday, joining the bipartisan vote to oust the representative who has faced a string of scandals and criminal allegations since taking office.

The extraordinary move makes Santos just the sixth member of the House  and first Republican  to be voted out by his peers. He is also the first since the Civil War to be expelled without first being convicted of a crime.

The vote, which required a two-thirds majority, passed 311-114. The yes votes included 105 Republicans and 206 Democrats, while the no votes included 112 Republicans and two Democrats.

Shortly after his election to Congress in 2022, Santos first caught attention when large portions of his biography were revealed to be fabricated, including his purported education, work history and family background.

A recent House ethics investigation found evidence he had committed a litany of campaign finance crimes, including stealing from his campaign, soliciting fraudulent donations and reporting fictitious loans to his campaign.

He also faces a 23-count federal indictment for election crimes, identity theft and wire fraud related to his campaign.

Iowa Republicans vote to expel Santos, condemn his actions

While a slim majority of Republicans voted against the measure, Iowas Republican representatives  Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn  joined the bipartisan vote to expel Santos.

In a statement, Nunn, who represents Iowas 3rd Congressional District, called Santos a con man and condemned his actions.

Those who serve in elected office should be held to the highest possible ethical standard, Nunn said. George Santos probably couldnt even find the word ethics in a dictionary. He has repeatedly proven to be a con man, and theres no doubt in my mind that he should be in prison, not the House of Representatives.

The American people are sick & tired of D.C. backroom deals that protect crooks & liars. To serve the American people, both Republicans & Democrats must put the best interests of our country ahead of politics. That's why I just voted to expel Santos from the U.S. House. pic.twitter.com/pFgEaMa8Li  Congressman Zach Nunn (@ZachNunn) December 1, 2023

Nunn also said the Senate should follow the Houses lead and expel U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who has been indicted on allegations of accepting bribes from Egyptian officials to influence U.S. policy.

Shortly before the vote, Hinson, who represents Iowas 2nd Congressional District, reaffirmed on social media her plans to support the congressmans ouster.

His conduct is beneath public office and he is unfit to serve in Congress, she said. We should focus on solving the challenges facing the American people & he should deal with his legal challenges as a private citizen.

As I said, if George Santos didnt resign, I would vote to expel him.



His conduct is beneath public office and he is unfit to serve in Congress. We should focus on solving the challenges facing the American people & he should deal with his legal challenges as a private citizen. pic.twitter.com/WR3UsvD7tB  Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) December 1, 2023

In a November statement on social media, Feenstra, who represents Iowas 4th Congressional District, called Santos actions unethical and illegal.

We expect our elected officials to operate truthfully, ethically, and responsibly on behalf of their constituents, he said. ...Rep. George Santos has proven that his ethics do not align with what we expect from our leaders.

In Iowa, we value integrity and dignity within our families, our communities, and public life. We expect our elected officials to operate truthfully, ethically, and responsibly on behalf of their constituents.  Rep. Randy Feenstra (@RepFeenstra) November 17, 2023
The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has pledged to oversee the consolidation of the three entities responsible for collecting royalties on behalf of Kenyan artistes, aiming for increased efficiency and improved sector management.

KECOBO Chairman Joshua Kutuny emphasized that the amalgamation of the three Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) would enhance efficiency and streamline the sector for the collective benefit of all artists.

He highlighted that the operational costs of the three CMOs, namely the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP), the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), and the Performers Right Society of Kenya (PRISCK), are excessively high, resulting in a significant depletion of artistes earnings.

There is a need to work from one front to be able to reduce the operation costs of CMOs, thus increasing returns to the artists and musicians, said Kutuny when he met artists and musicians in Muranga during a sensitisation forum.

Kutuny mentioned that a few years ago, royalty collection amounted to Sh650 million in 2019, but it dwindled to approximately Sh150 million last year.

He noted that effective management of the music industry is essential to ensure that royalties are collected from all music consumers and that the funds are directly allocated to the artistes.

We are exploring various ways to see that the music industry is well managed, as there is also a proposal that the three bodies be collapsed into one organ so as to handle collections on behalf of the artists to help them celebrate their work, said Kutuny.

He also explained that the inadequate coordination and management of CMOs have allowed individuals playing or consuming music in different areas to evade paying royalties.

KECOBO seeks to partner with various entities, including county governments through the Council of Governors and the NTSA, among other bodies which issue licenses to businesses that consume music.

This will ensure business people, especially those who operate restaurants, eateries, and public service vehicles, get KECOBO permits before they are issued with operating licenses. This will increase earnings for music to more than Sh 1 billion annually, said the chairman.

Kutuny stated that the funds generated would be distributed among musicians and artists according to their performances.

The chairman also highlighted that KECOBO aims to establish a system where artistes receive payment directly from companies to prevent exploitation through intermediaries.

He described the current plight where certain musicians, despite the widespread playing and listening to their music, find themselves in poverty.

We are also working towards developing automated systems that ensure artists can know how many subscribers and views they have and how much money they have made. I know of some artistes who have viral songs, but they dont have anything to show for it. This is because some people are getting their money instead of them, he said.

Kutuny additionally mentioned that in the past, CMOs faced accusations of employing forceful tactics, including involving the police, in the collection of royalties. He stated that they plan to change these methods to ensure effective royalty payments without resorting to force.

Addressing queries from the press, he explained that the increased income for artistes would enable them to invest in quality equipment and attire, contributing to production of high-quality music that can yield favorable returns.

KECOBO Executive Director Edward Sigei, on his part, urged artists to explore legal avenues to safeguard their work from potential abuse.

When you sign a contract, make sure you read and understand the contents of the contract and have a copy with you. When in doubt, visit the Kenya Copyright Board offices and get free legal advice. Dont give away rights to your work unknowingly, Sigei insisted.

The director urged all artists to register as members of the Kenya Copyright Board, emphasizing that non-members would not receive assistance from the organization.
President William Ruto has disclosed the methodology for raising loan limits for dedicated Kenyans engaged in the Hustler Fund initiative. The adjustments will be based on the frequency of borrowing by individuals since its launch in 2022.

The Head of State said Kenyans who have borrowed from the fund on ten occasions can expect a 100% increase in their loan limits.

Those with more than five borrowings will see a 50% boost in their loan limits, while clients who have borrowed more than twice should expect a 40% increase in their loan limits.

We are increasing the Hustler Fund borrowing limit and this will apply to 1.2 million regular borrowers today, he said on Thursday during Hustler Funds first-anniversary ceremony in Nairobi.

Additionally, Kenyans will have the option to withdraw 30% of their savings, accessible each 31st day of December. The remaining 70% will be allocated to a long-term savings plan.

Meanwhile, Hustler Loan borrowers opting not to withdraw their savings will see their credit limits doubled within a month.

If you borrow and have savings, the government will match it. You must have borrowed at least five times to demonstrate your commitment to the Hustler Fund, Ruto said.

Kenyans who have accumulated savings of Sh6,000 or more will receive Sh3,000, while those with lower savings will receive a matching ratio of 2:1.

The government says the Hustler Fund has disbursed at least Sh.39.5 billion, benefiting 21.7 million Hustlers. Repayments amounting to Sh.28.7 billion have been made, with Sh.2 billion contributed to savings. The fund boasts over 7.5 million repeat customers.

The seven million Kenyans who were condemned under the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) have been absolved. They are now accessing credit from the Hustler Fund, where theres no condemnation if they dont pay on time. One day, we are going to write a book about it, Ruto prophesied.

Hustlers will be notified of their enhanced loan limits through online channels.
Nuru Okanga has finally disclosed his results from the recently published Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

Having previously kept his KCPE scores under wraps, the vocal supporter of ODM leader Raila Odinga disclosed to his lawyer, Emmanuel Kibet, at the Milimani Law Courts that he achieved a score of 320 marks out of a possible 500 in the final Class 8 examinations.

During recent media interviews, the 32-year-old aspiring politician refrained from disclosing the marks he obtained in the KCPE results, which were released by CS Education Ezekiel Machogu on November 23, 2023.

However, when he appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Thursday, Okanga was forced to let the cat out of the bag.

While standing in the dock, the magistrate delved into Okangas educational history.

Onyina inquired, Which school did you attend? to which Okanga responded, Mumias Muslim Primary School in Kakamega County.

The magistrate continued, Which secondary school have you been admitted to? Okanga replied, I am yet to receive my Form One admission letter.

Following this question-and-answer session, Nuru Okanga was escorted away from the dock before his lawyer Kibet approached him to inquire about the marks he had attained in the KCPE.

What was your score in the KCPE? inquired Kibet.

Okanga responded, 320 marks.

Okanga is facing accusations of posting disparaging remarks about President William Ruto on his social media platform.
More information has emerged for two proposed traffic control features on Highway 29 in the heart of Napa Valley wine country  an Oakville Cross Road roundabout and a Rutherford Road traffic signal.

The two projects have a combined estimated construction cost of $6 million. Work could begin in summer 2024 and take about 16 months to complete.

Several hundred pages of studies are available for public comment. They include a 109-page environmental study, a 67-page cultural resources study and even a seven-page construction vibrations study.

The conclusion, after looking at potential California red-legged frog habitat and stormwater runoff and numerous other factors, is that the two projects, with mitigations, would have no major environmental impacts.

For example, Opus One winery at Oakville Cross Road would lose less than an acre of vineyard land to make room for the roundabout. But thats only .002% of Napa Countys prime farmland, the environmental study said.

A major goal of the two projects is to improve safety. Drivers seeking to make left turns from Oakville Cross and Rutherford roads onto Highway 29 presently must wait for breaks in the highway traffic in each direction.

Both intersections have higher-than-average crash rates compared to similar intersections, the studies said. From 2018 to 2020, the Oakville Cross Road intersection had 26 collisions. The Rutherford Road intersection had 22 collisions. None resulted in fatalities.

A properly designed Oakville Cross Road roundabout should slow down traffic and reduce the chances of the most severe intersection crashes and injuries, the environmental study said, citing federal studies on roundabouts.

Originally, a roundabout and not a traffic signal had been targeted for the Rutherford Road intersection. But a roundabout is infeasible without substantial right-of-way impacts, the study said.

Written comments on the studies are being accepted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission through Jan. 2. Go to https://mtc.ca.gov/operations/programs-projects/forward-commute-initiatives/napa-valley-forward to see the documents.

The projects are part of the Napa Valley Forward program created in 2020 by the MTC in cooperation with the Napa Valley Transportation Authority.

People have had the chance to comment on the proposals at past meetings. The transportation authority's executive director Kate Miller said her agency's board could discuss the projects early next year. A MTC meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 8.

PHOTOS: Napa's tree lighting ceremony
Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis took parallel paths from opposite ends of America's political spectrum to the front lines of the high-stakes battle between progressives and conservatives over the future of the nation.

But when they finally meet on stage Thursday in Georgia, the stakes are low for both politicians in a debate about their vastly different visions for the country.

"For both of them there is a significant amount of upside opportunity here," said Lanhee Chen, a former Republican candidate for state controller and a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. "It's kind of a brilliant move on both Newsom and DeSantis' part."

The long-awaited showdown on Fox News gives DeSantis, the governor of Florida, an opportunity to lift his fading presidential campaign. Once considered the heir apparent of Donald Trump, DeSantis' "anti-woke," right-wing campaign has languished in the shadow of the former president and failed to build a strong base of support in the crowded GOP president primary.

For Newsom, the debate helps burnish his image as a liberal firebrand leading Democrats into battle with Republicans for the soul of the country. The contest elevates the California governor's standing as a top surrogate for President Biden and cements Newsom's place on a list of potential future presidential nominees.

"In a worst case scenario, Democrats think he won and Republicans think he lost, so I don't think there's much risk," said Celinda Lake, a Democratic strategist based in Washington, D.C. "It's a bold step and you know, some people may say it's political, but even if people think it's political they will love it when he's giving Ron DeSantis, who Democrats despise, a hard time."

Newsom's political team isn't worried that the debate could help DeSantis' campaign. Recent polls show DeSantis is vying against Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, for a distant second to Trump in the 2024 Republican primary.

"Let's call it like it is: The Republican race for president is essentially over," said Sean Clegg, one of Newsom's senior political advisors. "We're more concerned about the attack on democracy and the particular brand of anti-democratic, anti-freedom legislation coming out of the state of Florida, and I think we're going to have a robust discussion about that."

Newsom has been itching for the one-on-one debate with DeSantis for more than a year.

The California governor ran ads in Florida on the Fourth of July last year attacking DeSantis and his push to restrict civil rights and abortion and LGBTQ+ protections, accusing the Republican-led state of undercutting basic American freedoms.

In August of that year, Newsom donated $100,000 to DeSantis' Democratic opponent in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial election. He challenged DeSantis to the debate the next month after the Florida governor sent a group of new migrants in Texas to Martha's Vineyard.

"Hey [DeSantis], clearly you're struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with people's lives," Newsom posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Since you have only one overriding need  attention  let's take this up & debate. I'll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day."

In interviews, Newsom accused DeSantis of being a "bully," taking particular offense with the Florida governor's effort to prevent the Special Olympics from requiring vaccine mandates for its at-risk athletes. Newsom said his own late mother worked with the Special Olympics.

After DeSantis went to battle against Disney when the company publicly opposed his Florida law banning instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, Newsom posted a video of himself at Disneyland in Anaheim at the first LGBTQ+ Pride Night.

The governor, his advisors and Democratic strategists were surprised when DeSantis agreed to the debate more than a year after Newsom first challenged him. DeSantis accepted the invitation in August when asked by Fox News host Sean Hannity.

"We never thought Ron DeSantis was going to take the bait to agree to this debate. We never did," Clegg said. "It wasn't an empty gesture. The governor is doing the debate and Ron DeSantis only agreed to it a year later because his campaign hit the skids."

Though DeSantis has faced criticism for taking the time to spar with a political rival who isn't even in the presidential contest, Chen said the debate gives DeSantis an effective foil to elevate his campaign in a way that other candidates in the GOP primary should envy.

"There's no downside and only upside for DeSantis," Chen said. "They're each going to make points that will talk past each other. But it's really about the exposure and the chance for him to speak to issues that he feels he's strong on."

Unlike in the GOP primary debates, DeSantis won't have to fight to talk over a half-dozen other candidates on Thursday to connect with a national audience. Similar to how the debate gives Newsom an opportunity to build his brand, it also sets DeSantis up to position himself as a national leader into the future, Chen said.

"If this does not go the way he hopes in 2024, then he'll be around for several more cycles to come and positioned as a national leader," Chen said.

The seeds of the rivalry were planted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the governors took diametrically different approaches to the public health crisis.

Concerned about the potential that seriously ill patients could overrun California hospitals, Newsom used his executive powers to institute a stay-at-home order and restricted the ability of businesses to open to the public in order to reduce transmissions. For more than a year, the Democratic governor imposed an evolving series of restrictions on public gatherings and enacted mask mandates, before eventually announcing that the state was "turning the page" on the pandemic in June 2021.

After an initial, short-lived shutdown, DeSantis took the opposite route, choosing to forgo sweeping rules and to allow Floridians to live largely without restrictions for much of the pandemic. He went a step further and banned local governments, educational institutions and private companies from imposing vaccine mandates on Florida residents.

Newsom and California became a model of science-based governing and collective efforts to protect the most vulnerable. DeSantis and Florida served as a model for individual freedom.

Their radically different approaches drew comparisons across the country. DeSantis catapulted to conservative fame as a hero for the right and villain of the left. Newsom became a regular target on Fox News and found himself facing a GOP-led recall in 2021.

After soundly defeating the attempt to remove him from office and easily winning reelection the following year, Newsom focused on resuscitating what he considered to be a listless national Democratic Party. He criticized national Democrats for failing to fight back against the GOP and launched his own campaign earlier this year to raise money for Democrats in the 2024 election and push back on GOP governors like DeSantis.

The debate allows Newsom to continue to set himself apart from other future presidential candidates, said Bill Burton, a Democratic political strategist and former aide to President Obama.

"Newsom engaging in a low-stakes conversation with one of the leading Republicans in the country is probably helpful to the progressive movement overall because it helps to humanize the choice that voters actually have before them in 2024," Burton said. "The other upside is showing himself as a good team player as a surrogate for Biden."

The prime-time spot gives Newsom a chance to sell his California vision to the rest of the country and build up his list of small donors and national volunteers if he decides to run for president in 2028, said Lake. Though Newsom is not running for president next year, a recent poll conducted by YouGov found voters would be pretty evenly split between him and DeSantis if they were running against one another now.

The political dichotomy will also make for an interesting back-and-forth.

"It's just going to be such a juicy contrast to have the Disney governors, two governors that are on the opposite coasts with sea levels rising, the two governors with huge economies," Lake said. "I think a lot of Democrats, who feel browbeaten all the time, are going to have watch parties with really good flavored popcorn and wine and say, you know, 'Give him hell.'"

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
When it comes to education, the divide between the governors of California and Florida turns on different visions of freedom in their state's schools.

For Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis it's about giving parents the freedom to control what their children will learn and where. They also are free to leave public schools entirely  using state funding for a private school.

For California Gov. Gavin Newsom freedom to learn is about protecting the civil rights of students, expanding opportunities within public schools through new investments  such as schooling for four-year-olds  and also allowing instruction about diverse views related to race and gender.

In Thursday's debate between the two governors, the topic of public education is likely to expose deep philosophical contrasts as well as two starkly different educational terrains.

The nation's culture wars are front and center  especially for DeSantis, who opposes instruction about LGBTQ+ issues and favors new restrictions on books, curriculum and the teaching of American history.

DeSantis' stances tap into widespread concerns among parents, said Frederick M. Hess, director of education policy studies at the conservative, Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute.

"Families are sending their children to school to be cared for and for moral formation as well as technical skills," Hess said. "Parents are concerned about how the country's history is being taught, about how children are being taught to think about belonging and identity and race, and about how and when fundamental questions of gender and sexuality are being addressed. For a lot of parents, these are more immediately relevant than what curriculum the school is using to teach Algebra 1."

But the head of the nation's second-largest school district, Los Angeles Supt. Alberto Carvalho, lauds Newsom's approach of "fully embracing all children, regardless of whether they are immigrant English language learners, or LGBTQ+."

"Anyone who thinks that you're going to achieve higher academic performance by suppressing anyone's rights is morally and professionally wrong," said Carvalho, who formerly led the Miami-Dade County school system, including after the election of DeSantis. "You don't need to ban books. You don't need to put people back in dark corners, to insult or humiliate anyone to achieve academic gains. In fact, that's usually a detriment."

There's also disagreement between the two governors over how to hold students, teachers and schools accountable for academic performance. Managing the effect of the pandemic on schooling marked another point of departure.

Culture w ars: LGBTQ+

Backers see DeSantis as a champion of "parental rights," which for many supporters means opposing LGBTQ+ education.

"If there's a central theme to the DeSantis regime it's 'parent empowerment,'" said Bruce Baker, professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami.

Last year, Florida's governor signed a parent "Bill of Rights" legislation that included alerting parents of information "related to a student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being," and was intended to include changes to a student's gender identity.

Under DeSantis, the state also has prohibited class discussions about gender identity  first targeting grade three and under and later expanding the ban through high school. Another new law requires teachers to provide parents information about what they are teaching, including all reading materials.

Parents also have won the right to initiate a book removal process  which is supposed to apply to books they or state officials view as pornographic or seen as portraying racism incorrectly.

For DeSantis, a presidential candidate, the issue has helped define his political identity as he struggles to court the political base of Donald Trump.

"As the culture war began to shift towards parent empowerment, DeSantis made that a priority," said Jonathan Butcher, senior research fellow in education policy for the Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based conservative think-tank. Newsom, he added, "has defended what California already had in place" from an entirely different perspective.

Even before Newsom entered office, California law required students to study "the role and contributions" of groups including LGBTQ+ individuals "to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society."

What's more, policy guidance from the state education department advised school districts not to "out" students to their parents  over concerns about student privacy and welfare.

Some schools systems in more conservative regions have fought back, adopting parental-notification policies. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, a Newsom ally, has sued the Chino Valley school system over its notification rules.

The governor also signed a law that allows for fining local school districts when their leaders bar state-approved curriculum because they object to LGBTQ+ content.

History and racism

DeSantis' education department has banned instruction it defines as "critical race theory," objecting to curriculum or books that suggest racism has harmful effects into the current day. State officials also have cited materials as inappropriate when they contain critiques of capitalism. Banned courses include College Board's Advanced Placement African-American Studies.

Such policies do not fit neatly under parent rights  except perhaps in relation to parents who believe that left-wing teachers are indoctrinating their children.

However, letting these parents dominate the conversation creates a new problem, said Julian Vasquez Heilig, professor of educational leadership, research and technology at Western Michigan University

"Those parents are taking the freedom to learn away from the children of other parents," he said.

Vasquez Heilig defends California's emphasis on representing a wide-range of cultures and beliefs  even when the learning takes on controversial topics.

Other related laws signed by Newsom and DeSantis are all but opposites.

In higher education, DeSantis signed a bill in May banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs, calling them discriminatory and a distraction from a college's core mission. Also banned were "programs based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political and economic inequities."

In contrast, Newsom signed a bill making ethnic studies  which challenges traditional historical narratives about Asian, Black, Latino and Indigenous Americans  an undergraduate California State University requirement.

He also signed a separate bill making ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement. He said the law teaches students about the diverse communities that make up California and boosts student engagement and academic achievement.

"America is shaped by our shared history, much of it painful and etched with woeful injustice," Newsom said in his signing statement on the high school bill.

Rewards and punishments

The accountability systems in each state are strikingly different; they also existed prior to the election of DeSantis and Newsom.

Critics call Florida's approach punitive and simplistic, while supporters consider it to be clear and meaningful. Every school gets a letter grade  just like on a student report card  based on annual state scores. Schools get good marks based on high performance or notable improvement or both.

Moreover, part of a teacher's evaluation is based on student standardized test scores, something not required in California.

Florida students can be held back in elementary and middle school if they don't meet certain learning requirements. In California it is more typical to keep students with their age group and try to catch them up.

California's philosophy is to give extra money and services to schools "in need"  with need determined by test scores as well as by whether students live in poverty or are learning English or are in the foster-care system. The state then tracks progress in test scores, attendance and suspensions. Schools and districts are not singled out publicly for failing to raise academic achievement.

Newsom's push for transitional kindergarten was made possible by a relatively healthy state economy. Florida has offered transitional kindergarten for nearly 20 years.

Under Newsom, expanded education funding also has gone toward higher teacher salaries, improving and subsidizing teacher training and developing "community schools"  which provide services to meet the wide-ranging needs of families, such as mental health and financial counseling, health services and housing support.

Other Newsom-backed initiatives have included expanded before- and after-school programs and no-cost meals at school for all students. School funding in California has hit historic highs  with much of that spending mandated under long-existing state law.

Funding private schools

DeSantis-backed legislation has, for the first time this fall, allowed all families to use state education funds to subsidize a private-school education. The value of this funding is about $7,800 per student for most, but rises to nearly $10,000 for some students with disabilities. Formerly, only a portion of students with disabilities were eligible.

For DeSantis, such a program is another expanded opportunity for parents to exert choice.

This type of funding  variously called vouchers, scholarships or education savings accounts  have been political anathema in California, partly because of strong opposition from teacher unions.

The labor climate marks another difference. Florida has taken repeated steps to weaken teacher unions, including under DeSantis. In California, Newsom draws major support from influential teachers unions.

Pandemic contrasts

These unions strongly supported Newsom's decision to close campuses in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also pushed for school staff to have early access to vaccines  often as a prerequisite to reopening campuses.

Both DeSantis and Newsom pursued policies they said were to support student learning in difficult times.

For DeSantis this meant forcing campuses to reopen quickly  on the premise that in-person education is innately superior to online learning, especially given the hastily fashioned remote classrooms of the pandemic.

Newsom, in turn, kept campuses closed longer with the goal of preventing illness and death. He attempted to compensate for inferior learning conditions by supporting online learning, enhancing state funding for local school systems and speeding vaccine production.

The results

There's no clear answer about which governor's choices have yielded better academic results.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress tests a sample of students in fourth and eighth grades. Florida's scores are higher, but they also were higher long before DeSantis took office.

"Florida metes out student discipline more firmly  expulsion rate looks about twice as high in Florida compared with California  one ill-spirited way of raising test scores," said UC Berkeley education Professor Bruce Fuller. "Our research shows that California districts are bringing back more electives for kids, especially given dips in pupil attendance in the wake of COVID. This may strengthen student engagement ... Florida retains a narrower curriculum, tracks student progress and keeps educators' feet closer to the fire."

Both states saw test scores decline in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In politics, you often hear the phrase October surprise, meaning some big news  or scandal  drops in late October to boost, or sink, a candidate in the upcoming elections.

You dont often hear about a November surprise, given how far away the month is from the March 2024 primary or the general  and presidential  one a bit less than a year from now. But this week we had a big one: Supervisor Ryan Gregory, who was running for his third term representing the Second District, has dropped out of the race. The move means that Napa Councilmember Liz Alessio is currently the only one in the race to represent the southwest corner of the county.

As a bit of policy-dancing-on-the-head-of-a-pin, its a bit unclear to me about whether the filing deadline for that particular race would be extended. Normally, if the incumbent declines to file for reelection, the deadline is extended for a week  in this case from Dec. 8 to Dec. 13. But, since Gregory, the incumbent, filed and then dropped out, is the deadline extended?

Fortunately, county Registrar of Voters John Tuetur has the answer. Since Gregory started the paperwork, but did not finish it, he said, the deadline has been extended to Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. So, there you go. Alessio will have an additional week of anxiously checking the filings to see if anyone decides to throw in at the last moment.

But I want to take a moment to compare and contrast the communitys reactions to Gregorys announcement to that of his colleague on the board, Alfredo Pedroza, when the latter bowed out of the State Senate race in May.

Gregory  who had already locked up a number of important endorsements  announced his decision to drop out for family reasons on Wednesday. Specifically, his mother has cancer, and he said the time he would need to be knocking on doors and campaigning would take valuable, and limited, time away from his loved ones during this tough time.

Pedroza also cited family reasons as to why he left the race. In this case, he said it was because he felt he needed to be around his three young children during their impressionable and vital pre-teen years. Being in Sacramento all of the time, he said, would take valuable, and limited, time away from them.

Though the announcement from Gregory only came a few days ago, I have not heard a single person  on or off the record or on social media  express anything but sympathy for him or his family.

Pedrozas announcement, by contrast, came with a loud chorus of criticism, second-guessing and speculation about his true motives.

Now, there are distinct differences here. Pedroza faced down a recall campaign  though it never really got off the ground  due to his vote on the Walt Ranch matter and an FPPC investigation  remarkably, still yet to be concluded  on the same issue.

But another difference is that Pedroza is Latino and Gregory is White.

Mind you, Im not contending that a majority  or even a significant percentage  of people in Napa County hold overtly racist beliefs or feelings. I am contending that race colors our reactions to things, and acknowledging it brings us closer to countering any subconscious tendencies.

So, what to make of this? First, you can never know whats in another persons heart, so without evidence to the contrary, its important to take a person at their word.

And second, when something happens involving a group of people that dont think, look or act like you do, its vital that we consciously examine our reactions and opinions. Would you feel the same if the individual or group involved did look, act, or think like you? If not, then its time for a critical look as to why that might be.

I say all of this as a plea to all candidates and their supporters to focus their campaigns on the issues that matter most to Napa County. Criticism, even harsh criticism, of their opponents positions is valid. Frankly, it is often warranted, as showcases where one person might go as opposed to another.

But danger and pointless division await as soon as we start to focus on the personalities, as those are the products of upbringing, opportunity, and choices. The last item in that series is strongly influenced by the first two, and upbringing and opportunity are often colored by racial, gender and socioeconomic factors.

As we enter election season  sometimes known as "silly season" in the newsroom for the antics that come into play  let's all take a beat before expressing our thoughts and opinions. It'll be better for everyone.
It is a great honor and great happiness to be in Armenia, where he is for the first time. 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 came to Armenia on a plane that arrived from Beirut, there were many Armenians on the plane, the Armenian community in Lebanon is quite large, and he believes that he had contact with Armenians in his past life.

Nassim Taleb noted that recently, he was reading a study related to genetics, where it was mentioned that the first population of Lebanon also consisted of Armenians, it is a double joy for him that he is in Armenia at the Science and Business Days, he considers himself a businessman; and as a businessman, he took the path of science, and that path was a non-standard path.

To a reporter's question as to how he evaluates the development of science in Armenia, Taleb stated that he can only give a general answer to that question, as he does not have detailed information.

Nassim Taleb said that he is a person by profession who deals with the ideas of uncertainty and implements this in the real world, which is full of chaos. He added that when we talk about possibilities and probabilities, we have to consider that uncertainty is really very important.

Taleb noted that he would like to talk about a very important phenomenon, which is technical knowledge. According to him, sometimes science is viewed as an abstract phenomenon that is cut off from reality, but it is not because we live in a physical world, and therefore we should focus on knowledge that we can put into practice rather than knowledge that is textbook and theoretical in natureand various developing countries often make this mistake.

The fact that, for example, they open one university instead of schools and colleges, Nassim Taleb said, adding that he talked about it with the prime minister of India; and exactly one year after that, he said in his speech that it is better to open 1,000 schools rather than one university; and this made Taleb very happy, as, in his view, it is necessary to focus on technical knowledge, which will be important for Armenia.
Armenia ruling power lawmaker: Today there is no basis for war with Azerbaijan

Armenia ruling force MP: Without guarantors, peace treaty with Azerbaijan is meaningless document

Saudi Arabia issues $12 billion in bonds

Maersk: Red Sea shipping disruption will hit global economy

Ex-Deputy FM Vahe Gevorgyan replaces Sergey Manassarian as Armenia Ambassador to China

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Everything said by Azerbaijan president should be taken seriously, Armenia ruling force legislator states

Armenia ruling power MP on signing peace treaty with Azerbaijan without mediators: Very tempting proposal

Armenia will no longer be at war in any period of time, ruling force lawmaker says

Nikol Pashinyan to new PM of France: I will be happy to host you in Armenia on official visit

Iran envoy: What would be violation of Armenias territorial integrity is not acceptable to us

Czech Rep. supplies first batch of mobile diesel generator sets to Armenia nuclear plant

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria sign memorandum on clearing floating mines in Black Sea

Deputy defense minister on Armenia soldiers non-combat deaths: Such incidents have occurred, still exist today

Ombudsperson on non-combat deaths in Armenia army: State should have proper prevention structures

Armenia Security Council head to attend 4th meeting on Ukraine peace formula

Ecuador security forces arrest 329 people, kill 5 criminals, says head of army Joint Command

Armenia government to help those forcibly displaced from Karabakh to get training, jobs

Moving Yeraskh village steel plant project to Ararat city costs Armenia government 3.5 billion drams

Davit Khudatyan is appointed governor of Armenias Armavir Province

Cigarette smuggling prevented at Georgia borders with Turkey, Armenia, Russia

Newspaper: Ruling force MP speaks on EU's termination of European Peace Facility for Armenia

Open-air exhibition on Karabakh being held in Paris (PHOTOS)

Why most people cradle babies in left arm?

Deputy PM Grigoryan chairs meeting of commission coordinating measures to ensure Armenia-EU CEPA implementation

Greece FM statement after Armenia visit: Important to help our ally country on all international platforms

Armenia ruling force legislator: Army is the sector where the more closed and secret, the better

Central Bank governor: I can't say banks in Armenia make super profits

Armenia Security Council chief, Greece FM discuss regional, extra-regional security

Central Bank official: Banking services very accessible for Armenia citizens, businesses

Dollar down, euro up in Armenia

Suren Papikyan, Rory Domm discuss Armenia-EU cooperation prospects (PHOTOS)

Gerapetritis to Pashinyan: Greece government ready to support Armenia in all possible directions

FM: Greece clearly supports preservation of Christian sites in Karabakh

George Gerapetritis: Armenia's prosperity is possible only with Europe

Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia should be able to make use of Azerbaijan railway

Greece official on South Caucasus situation: We rule out use of force, aggression

Sargis Khandanyan: Not aware of any arrangements for Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting in January

Armenia lawmaker: Peace treaty can be signed when Azerbaijan accepts our principles

About $70M allocated to programs for persons forcibly displaced from Karabakh to Armenia, minister says

Armenia FM on relations with EU: There is long way to go

Armenia ruling force MP: Azerbaijan statements about bilateral negotiations are just statements

TASS: Germany offers Armenia financial assistance for anti-Russian steps, source says

Gunmen take TV journalists hostage live on air in Ecuador, police manage to free them

ARARATBANK attracts USD 5 million from EFSE to support MSMEs in Armenia

Researchers discover ancient temple ruins thanks to Emperor Constantine's letter to group of Romans

Armenia ex-ruling party: Court once again proved it is submissive tool of current authorities

Armenia, Greece FMs' private conversation kicks off

Volkswagen to equip Golf, Tiguan with artificial intelligence

MFA: Armenia established diplomatic relations with 3 more countries in 2023 (VIDEO)

Newspaper: Attacks on judges gaining new momentum in Armenia

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin treated for prostate cancer

China recreational area breaks world record as largest temporary ice, snow theme park

Copernicus: World dangerously close to global warming limit

Greece FM arrives in Armenia on official visit

Armenia army officer found dead with gunshot wound

Crime gang leader escapes from Ecuador prison, state of emergency declared in country

Indonesia police rescue 226 dogs sent to slaughter

Lemkin Institute condemns recent attack on Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem

Armenia economy minister, businessmen discuss major investment programs planned for 2024

Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia

Greece FM to arrive in Armenia Wednesday on official visit

MFA: In 2023 Armenia was elected to all international organizations where it nominated its candidacy

Azerbaijan ambassador to France confirms arrest of Frenchman Martin Ryan, suspected of espionage

Armenia records 2% inflation in 2023

US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations visiting Yerevan, discusses efforts to bring peace, stability to region

World of Buzz: Son didn't know for 20 years that his father was actually a millionaire

Yerevan to host European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Meeting, Business Forum in May

Russia media report details about Armenian mans murder in Noginsk city

ARARAT Museum Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov with "Uninterrupted Flight" Exhibition

Ruben Rubinyan, Louis Bono discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Criminal investigation launched, Armenia serviceman detained in case into killing of fellow soldier at combat position

Sergei Parajanov statue unveiled in Yerevan

Protest being stage outside Armenia education ministry

Bloomberg: Researchers find out waters nanoplastics content dangerous for humans

MFA: Matter of Armenia driver's licenses recognition in Russia is on bilateral discussions agenda

Armenia soldier found dead, with gunshot wound, in combat position

Bitcoin exceeds $47,000 for first time since March 2022

China researchers develop electronic skin

PM: Armenia foreign policys highest goal is to ensure country's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity

Newspaper: Yerevan mayor unaware that Karabakh has been de-Armenianized?

US embassy in Baku: Louis Bono holds regular talks to support Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Armenia economy minister to go on business trip to India

Armenia Security Council chief: We have no expectations from CSTO any longer

Armenia Security Council head: Contractual obligations with Russia regarding weapons not fulfilled

Armen Grigoryan. There is agreement that Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation commissions will meet in late January

Ararat Mirzoyan and Louis Bono discussed regional security issues

Tourism Committee chair: 50% of tourists arriving in Armenia are from Russia

Quake hits Turkey

One of French spies arrested in Azerbaijan identified

Armenia unemployment rate dropped sharply over last 3 years, economy minister says

Economy minister: US is for first time on list of Armenia's largest trade partners

Pope Francis expresses concern about Armenia-Azerbaijan disagreements

Kanaani: Iran has clear positions regarding situation in South Caucasus

Armenian National Committee member: Heavy equipment removed from Jerusalem Armenian Quarter Cows Garden

Zangezur is crucial route for north-south and east-west directions, Thomas de Waal says

Stratfor: Armenia will probably accept Azerbaijan's demands

de Waal strongly doubts EU, NATO will invest in Armenia army

Armenia Security Council chief meets with OSCE Minsk Group US co-chair

Thomas de Waal: Karabakh de-Armenianization is price of Armenian politicians maximalism, wrong actions as well
Armenia and international mediators are to blame for Azerbaijan's September terrorism against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov made a statement to this effect at the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, Azerbaijani media report.

He accused Armenia of "indifference" and "trying to gain time for revenge," and the mediatorsof "biased approach."

Moreover, according to Bayramov, the time has come to take advantage of the opportunity to establish peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Let's remind that on September 19, the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire along the entire line of contactand using all types of weapons. As a result of this military aggression of Azerbaijan, hundreds of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians were killed, including civilians. And after this large-scale military aggression of Azerbaijan, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakhmore than 100 thousand Armenianshad to leave Nagorno-Karabakh, not wanting to stay there, considering the threats from Azerbaijan.
Armenia ruling power lawmaker: Today there is no basis for war with Azerbaijan

Armenia ruling force MP: Without guarantors, peace treaty with Azerbaijan is meaningless document

Saudi Arabia issues $12 billion in bonds

Maersk: Red Sea shipping disruption will hit global economy

Ex-Deputy FM Vahe Gevorgyan replaces Sergey Manassarian as Armenia Ambassador to China

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Everything said by Azerbaijan president should be taken seriously, Armenia ruling force legislator states

Armenia ruling power MP on signing peace treaty with Azerbaijan without mediators: Very tempting proposal

Armenia will no longer be at war in any period of time, ruling force lawmaker says

Nikol Pashinyan to new PM of France: I will be happy to host you in Armenia on official visit

Iran envoy: What would be violation of Armenias territorial integrity is not acceptable to us

Czech Rep. supplies first batch of mobile diesel generator sets to Armenia nuclear plant

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria sign memorandum on clearing floating mines in Black Sea

Deputy defense minister on Armenia soldiers non-combat deaths: Such incidents have occurred, still exist today

Ombudsperson on non-combat deaths in Armenia army: State should have proper prevention structures

Armenia Security Council head to attend 4th meeting on Ukraine peace formula

Ecuador security forces arrest 329 people, kill 5 criminals, says head of army Joint Command

Armenia government to help those forcibly displaced from Karabakh to get training, jobs

Moving Yeraskh village steel plant project to Ararat city costs Armenia government 3.5 billion drams

Davit Khudatyan is appointed governor of Armenias Armavir Province

Cigarette smuggling prevented at Georgia borders with Turkey, Armenia, Russia

Newspaper: Ruling force MP speaks on EU's termination of European Peace Facility for Armenia

Open-air exhibition on Karabakh being held in Paris (PHOTOS)

Why most people cradle babies in left arm?

Deputy PM Grigoryan chairs meeting of commission coordinating measures to ensure Armenia-EU CEPA implementation

Greece FM statement after Armenia visit: Important to help our ally country on all international platforms

Armenia ruling force legislator: Army is the sector where the more closed and secret, the better

Central Bank governor: I can't say banks in Armenia make super profits

Armenia Security Council chief, Greece FM discuss regional, extra-regional security

Central Bank official: Banking services very accessible for Armenia citizens, businesses

Dollar down, euro up in Armenia

Suren Papikyan, Rory Domm discuss Armenia-EU cooperation prospects (PHOTOS)

Gerapetritis to Pashinyan: Greece government ready to support Armenia in all possible directions

FM: Greece clearly supports preservation of Christian sites in Karabakh

George Gerapetritis: Armenia's prosperity is possible only with Europe

Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia should be able to make use of Azerbaijan railway

Greece official on South Caucasus situation: We rule out use of force, aggression

Sargis Khandanyan: Not aware of any arrangements for Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting in January

Armenia lawmaker: Peace treaty can be signed when Azerbaijan accepts our principles

About $70M allocated to programs for persons forcibly displaced from Karabakh to Armenia, minister says

Armenia FM on relations with EU: There is long way to go

Armenia ruling force MP: Azerbaijan statements about bilateral negotiations are just statements

TASS: Germany offers Armenia financial assistance for anti-Russian steps, source says

Gunmen take TV journalists hostage live on air in Ecuador, police manage to free them

ARARATBANK attracts USD 5 million from EFSE to support MSMEs in Armenia

Researchers discover ancient temple ruins thanks to Emperor Constantine's letter to group of Romans

Armenia ex-ruling party: Court once again proved it is submissive tool of current authorities

Armenia, Greece FMs' private conversation kicks off

Volkswagen to equip Golf, Tiguan with artificial intelligence

MFA: Armenia established diplomatic relations with 3 more countries in 2023 (VIDEO)

Newspaper: Attacks on judges gaining new momentum in Armenia

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin treated for prostate cancer

China recreational area breaks world record as largest temporary ice, snow theme park

Copernicus: World dangerously close to global warming limit

Greece FM arrives in Armenia on official visit

Armenia army officer found dead with gunshot wound

Crime gang leader escapes from Ecuador prison, state of emergency declared in country

Indonesia police rescue 226 dogs sent to slaughter

Lemkin Institute condemns recent attack on Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem

Armenia economy minister, businessmen discuss major investment programs planned for 2024

Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia

Greece FM to arrive in Armenia Wednesday on official visit

MFA: In 2023 Armenia was elected to all international organizations where it nominated its candidacy

Azerbaijan ambassador to France confirms arrest of Frenchman Martin Ryan, suspected of espionage

Armenia records 2% inflation in 2023

US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations visiting Yerevan, discusses efforts to bring peace, stability to region

World of Buzz: Son didn't know for 20 years that his father was actually a millionaire

Yerevan to host European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Meeting, Business Forum in May

Russia media report details about Armenian mans murder in Noginsk city

ARARAT Museum Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov with "Uninterrupted Flight" Exhibition

Ruben Rubinyan, Louis Bono discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Criminal investigation launched, Armenia serviceman detained in case into killing of fellow soldier at combat position

Sergei Parajanov statue unveiled in Yerevan

Protest being stage outside Armenia education ministry

Bloomberg: Researchers find out waters nanoplastics content dangerous for humans

MFA: Matter of Armenia driver's licenses recognition in Russia is on bilateral discussions agenda

Armenia soldier found dead, with gunshot wound, in combat position

Bitcoin exceeds $47,000 for first time since March 2022

China researchers develop electronic skin

PM: Armenia foreign policys highest goal is to ensure country's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity
Azerbaijani foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov made a number of appalling statements during his meeting with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.

Bayramov placed the accountability for the emigration of the entire Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh on the authorities of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani media report.

"Armenia and the [Nagorno-Karabakh] separatist regime under its control bear responsibility for the departure of Armenian residents from Azerbaijan," said the latters FM. But it is not mentioned how the Armenian side bears responsibility.

Also, the Azerbaijani M noted that "the opposite side [i.e. Armenia] was informed about the antiterrorist measures implemented by our country within 24 hours in September of this year amid the failure of Armenia to withdraw its armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, contrary to the commitments undertaken by Armenia."

Bayramov, making a reference to the "representatives of international organizations," assured that "no violence was used against civilians in this process."

Probably, according to his logic, "the Armenian side is responsible also for the murders and disappearances of Armenian civilians, including women and children.

To note, six Russian peacekeepers were killed in the aforesaid Azerbaijani military aggression in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Baku had accepted its guilt on the day of their murder and tried to compensate. They prefer not to remember this terrible chapter in Azerbaijan's "antiterrorist measures" until they succeed in blaming the Armenian side.
Armenian opposition MP Garnik Danielyan informs that he contacted Vahan Hakobyan, customs attache of Armenia at the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border, and Hakobyan had said that according to the latest information, 70 Armenian trucks were returning to Armenia from Upper Lars, and hundreds of others were waiting for an answer.

"The returning trucks are loaded with fish, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, flowers.

I found out that the Russian side has repeatedly petitioned to the Armenian side with writings, recording that there are a number of shortcomings, inconsistencies, and that it is necessary to eliminate them urgently. Violations were found especially during the delivery of vegetable products. In 2023, Rosselkhoznadzor [the phytosanitary inspection agency of Russia] discovered 72 cases of detection of quarantine pests in flowers and fruits and vegetables exported from Armenia.

According to their interpretation, the Armenian side was not consistent in eliminating the deficiencies, as a result of which phytosanitary inspection was strengthened and such a situation was created.

Negotiations [in this regard] between the FSIB [(Food Safety Inspection Body)], the Ministry of Economy [of Armenia], and Rosselkhoznadzor ended a little while ago. I contacted the head of the FSIB, trying to find out what was decided as a result of the negotiations.

To put it briefly, the discussions did not produce their results, and sadly, we cannot talk about positive changes. The Russian side continues to insist that the violations are not being eliminated [by Armenia], while the Armenian side insinuates that the problem is in another domain.

Even if the problem is not only in the violations recorded as a result of phytosanitary inspection, but there is a biased approach, even in this case the Armenian side should solve the problem by using all the tools.

The businessmen [of Armenia] should not suffer losses of thousands of dollars as a result of the inaction of the relevant [Armenian state] bodies,.

I repeat, even if the problem is political, this does not mean that nothing should be done.

More substantive discussions on the issue will begin next week.

Also, let me note that I asked the head of the FSIB for information on how many [respective] businesses the Armenian side provided phytosanitary compliance papers," Danielyan added on Facebook.
Ardshinbank has been distinguished as the Bank of the Year in the country for 2023 by The Banker, a renowned international financial publication under the Financial Times Group. In a comprehensive evaluation, financial organizations were rigorously assessed across various performance criteria, including growth, profitability, operational efficiency, asset quality, liquidity, and reliability, among others.

Joy Macknight, editor of The Banker, extends her heartfelt congratulations to Ardshinbank for clinching the esteemed "Bank of the Year" award in Armenia: Congratulations to Ardshinbank for winning the Bank of the Year accolade in Armenia. Ardshinbanks commitment to driving digitisation and efficiencies throughout its organisation made it stand out among its peers. For example, the bank introduced an artificial intelligence-based scoring system for credit risk assessment to improve the efficiency of its lending process.

Artak Ananyan, Chairman of the Board of Ardshinbank, expressed his gratitude and reflected on the accomplishment: For the fourth time, The Banker magazine acknowledges Ardshinbank's leadership in the Armenian financial market. I attribute our consistent success to a robust business model, emphasizing effective capital and risk management, meticulous cost control, financial performance, and a proactive approach to digitalization. Our responsiveness to ever-changing customer needs reflects our commitment. We strive to provide innovative financial solutions and build trusted relationships with our valued customers."

Notably, this esteemed award marks Ardshinbanks sixth recognition in the current year.

In 2023, the bank received accolades such as "Best Bank of the Year", "Best Corporate Bank" and "Best ESG Bank (for Social, Environmental Responsibility and Corporate Governance)" from the prestigious Euromoney magazine. Furthermore, Ardshinbank's Private Banking was acknowledged as the best in Armenia by Global Banking & Finance Review magazine and Asian Banking & Finance magazine recognized Ardshinbank as "Best Retail Bank in Armenia".

The activities of Ardshinbank are regulated by the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia.
The political solution to the Ukrainian crisis requires the efforts of both sides, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, RIA Novosti reports.

At the press conference following the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, the Russian FM responded to the question about the possibility of settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. Lavrov noted that Russia has so far not seen any signals from Kyiv and "its masters on readiness to enter the political process.

"Two are needed to start a political process, just like in tango. But the 'boys' on the other side are not dancing 'tango,' but 'breakdancing;' you have to be a soloist there," the Russian FM said sarcastically.
The embassy of Armenia in Switzerland, which is also Armenias permanent mission at the UN office at Geneva, published the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights on the state of cultural and religious significant places in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The embassy of Armenia in Switzerland, which is also Armenias permanent mission at the UN office at Geneva, published the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights on the state of cultural and religious significant places in Nagorno-Karabakh, informed First Channel News of Armenia.

In the communication addressed to Azerbaijan, the UN Special Rapporteur on cultural rights expressed concern on ongoing pattern of destruction and appropriation of Armenian historically, culturally and religiously significant sites and objects, of organised reinterpretation of history of Nagorno-Karabakh to erase traces of the presence of Armenians and of discriminatory narrative against and harassment of Armenians in the region, in violation of international human rights standards and of international humanitarian law.

I am particularly concerned about the allegations that the combined attacks to people, monuments and symbols, the falsification of the historical narrative and erasure of place names and the negative discourses about Armenians may amount to cultural cleansing.

The UN Special Rapporteur underlined that the International Court of Justice, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe have all expressed concerns about a developing narrative in Azerbaijan promoting a Caucasian Albanian heritage to replace Armenian cultural heritage and the revisionist tendency negating Armenian cultural heritage and presence. The vast majority of experts in the regions art, architecture, and archaeology have all rejected the revisionist claims as false.

She emphasized that since 12 December 2022, the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh, to Armenia has been blocked, in violation of the obligations assumed by Azerbaijan through trilateral ceasefire statement of 9 November 2020 (point 6). As a direct result of the road blocking, reportedly 120.000 people have been isolated and deprived of various goods and services, which has created a humanitarian crisis and has had devastating consequences on multiple human rights.

The crisis would therefore be direct manifestation of discriminatory approach of Azerbaijan towards Armenians. Once region is cleansed of ethnic Armenians, it is alleged that Azerbaijan has planned to further remove all physical indications of presence of Armenians concluded the UN Special Rapporteur.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Friday met with the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Pia Kauma, within the framework of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council, in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje.

The interlocutors touched upon the OSCE activities, taking into account the discussions of the autumn meeting of the OSCE PA, which was successfully held in Yerevan last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In the context of gross violations of the fundamental principles of the OSCE and the practice of using force in the OSCE area, the Armenian FM noted that the international community is facing the reality where the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forcibly displaced from their homeland after more than nine months of inhumane blockade and the large-scale military attack of September 19 by Azerbaijan.

In the context of the measures aimed at ensuring stability in the South Caucasus, Mirzoyan presented to Pia Kauma the latest developments in the process of normalization of Armenias relations with Azerbaijan and the main principles of the package of proposals by Armenia regarding the draft peace treaty.

Ararat Mirzoyan said it is known that Azerbaijan refused to participate in the recent high-level meetings, which would have enabled recording some progress as a result of the discussions.

The FM stressed Armenia's interest in unblocking regional communications, presented details about the "Crossroads of Peace" project developed by the Armenian government, and emphasized that all interested parties should realize the importance of using the available opportunities.
ATLANTA  The numbers are stark. Women in Georgia are nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy than the national rate, and Black women in the state are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. This issue was the basis of conversation at an event held at the Emory Conference Center Hotel on Wednesday.

The inaugural Symposium to Address the Maternal Health Crisis in Georgia  hosted by Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, and Research!America  brought together stakeholders from across health care, state and federal governments, community partners, and advocacy groups to collaboratively identify opportunities to improve maternal and newborn health in Georgia.

We understand that with this crisis, we are not dealing with statistics. We are dealing with mothers, daughters, sisters, and the very core of what makes Georgians, Georgians  families, who are affected by this crisis, says Ravi I. Thadhani, MD, MPH, executive vice president for health affairs at Emory University, who served as they symposiums emcee.

There is work already being done by superb investigators, institutions and programs across the state and were sadly still not making a major dent on this problem at the population level, Thadhani adds. Therefore, we need to start doing something different. And what can we be doing different? We can tackle this problem together and in much more creative and innovative ways.

More than 250 people attended the symposium, which featured a keynote address by Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey, MD; a presentation on case studies in preeclampsia by Holger Stepan, MD, chair of the Department of Obstetrics at the University of Leipzig in Germany; and a panel discussion on pathways toward possible solutions to the maternal health crisis in Georgia.

We need to proactively identify how we can deal with social determinants in a respectful and comprehensive way so we can have an impact on all health outcomes, not just pregnancies, Toomey says. Lets look at this with a new set of eyes. Lets look collectively to harness this energy, because in this room are the ideas, the energy, the intellect, the science, as well as the commitment to the community that can make this happen.

This is the tipping point. Help us push this tipping point into success for every woman and child in Georgia, at all levels of life.

Natalie Hernandez-Green, PhD, executive director of Morehouse School of Medicines Center for Maternal Health Equity, led a fireside chat with featured guest speaker Heather Dobbs, a doula and perinatal patient navigator at Morehouse School of Medicine, who shared the story of her own pregnancy-related complications.

We live in a country that is full of resources and no woman should have to die from a pregnancy-related complication in a country that has one of the best health systems in the world. It should be a moment of joy and not a moment of dread, says Hernandez-Green, who also serves as an associate professor in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. There are so many things that we can do, and this symposium is an opportunity to put all of our minds together and deliver actionable steps to move forward and address this issue.

The results of a first-of-its-kind statewide survey  commissioned by Research!America in partnership with the Woodruff Health Sciences Center at Emory University  were also released during the symposium and highlighted themes of public opinion around health equity, mental health, access to care and eagerness for state and federal support for research and action.

Georgias problem with maternal death and illness have been known for a long time and people are passionate about working to address it, but we still havent been able to change those terrible statistics. One of the reasons why is because weve been working in silos not sufficiently talking and listening to each other, and not addressing some of the root causes together, says Daniele Fallin, PhD, dean of Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health. There are not going to be easy solutions to the things that were trying to accomplish.  So, it is really exciting to have this kind of convening and to have so many people from so many different sectors working on the issue of maternal morbidity and mortality together.
Xi invited to visit Malaysia as bilateral ties deepen

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Penang in August. The two countries will mark the 50th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic relations next year. File photo: AFP/Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia

Malaysia has invited President Xi Jingping to visit, its ambassador to Beijing said on Friday, as the Southeast Asian country also seeks to boost the number of Chinese tourists to five million a year to fuel economic growth.



China and Malaysia will mark the 50th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic relations next year, and Malaysia recently announced tourists from China would be able to travel visa free for 30 days, a move mirroring Thailand.



Government data showed Malaysia welcomed 498,540 Chinese tourists in the six months to June this year, a figure almost a third of pre-pandemic levels.



In comparison, Thailand said it expected 3.4-3.5 million visitors from China this year.



"We see that we have a big capacity to receive tourists," Ambassador Norman Muhamad said at an event at the Malaysian embassy in Beijing, adding that the goal is not "far-fetched" even if it may take more than a couple of years to achieve.



"Since we are seeking more investment from China, this visa-free travel to Malaysia will also help Chinese investors to come to Malaysia to find opportunities," he added.



Malaysia's economic growth is expected to meet the government's target of 4 percent this year, driven in part by stronger tourism.



Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has also invited President Xi Jinping to visit the country, Norman said. "We are hoping that President Xi will consent to visiting Malaysia," he added. (Reuters)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], December 1: Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility Ltd., a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles under the 'Joy e-bike' brand in India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Triton EV, a distinguished U.S.-based electric vehicle manufacturer. This strategic collaboration spans five years and aims to revolutionize the electric vehicle landscape in both India and the UAE. The MoU signing, a monumental event, took place at the Wardwizard Head Office in Vadodara. Himanshu Patel, Founder of Triton EV, and Yatin Sanjay Gupte, Chairman and Managing Director of Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility Limited, inked this transformative agreement. Under this strategic alliance, Triton EV has selected WIML as its manufacturing partner for Battery Operated trucks in India and UAE. Furthermore, WIML will expand its manufacturing capabilities to produce Two-wheelers and Three-wheelers for Triton EV. The collaboration emphasizes a shared commitment to fostering the growth of the electric vehicle industry and aligning with the government's vision of enhancing green mobility. Triton EV's commitment includes the Transfer of Technology for hydrogen battery packs used in two and three-wheelers, coupled with vital technology assistance for setting up production lines and expansion in India. A unique aspect of this collaboration is the agreement to share respective vendors and suppliers, ensuring a seamless and efficient business operation. Additionally, WIML will play a pivotal role in vendor development for both parties, ensuring a robust and interconnected supply chain. WIML, in line with its dedication to environmental sustainability, plans to commence the manufacturing of hydrogen battery-operated Trucks, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers in India in coming days in partnership with Triton EV. This ambitious endeavour aligns with the shared vision of both companies to drive innovation and environmental responsibility in the electric vehicle space. Himanshu Patel, Founder, Triton EV stated, "This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks a significant milestone in our expansion plan as we enter new markets. India is leading from the front in EVolution, and we are delighted to partner with Wardwizard, which comes with a skilled workforce and one of the best manufacturing capabilities. This association will not only help strengthen our presence across the Indian and UAE markets but will also support the EV industry's growth with advanced products and cutting-edge technology." Yatin Sanjay Gupte, Chairman & Managing Director, Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility Ltd., expressed, "In line with our commitment to grow sustainable mobility and encourage the use of electric vehicles, we are delighted to partner with Triton EV (TEV), one of the leading EV manufacturers in the United States of America. Under the partnership, we are poised to combine our manufacturing expertise with Triton's cutting-edge technology, redefining the electric vehicle landscape in the market. Wardwizard shall support TEV in manufacturing electric trucks, two & three-wheelers for the India and UAE market from its state-of-the-art facility in Vadodara. We are confident that this association will boost the 'Make-in-India' initiative and pave the way for advanced products." The signing of this MoU signifies a substantial leap toward realizing the potential of green mobility solutions in India and the UAE. WIML and Triton EV are poised to contribute significantly to the transformative shift towards electric vehicles, further bolstering the nation's commitment to sustainable transportation. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Exit polls on Thursday predicted that Congress is poised to form government in Telangana and that the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) would fall short of the majority after its 10-year rule in India's youngest state. The polling for the 119-member Telangana concluded on Thursday and it was the last among five states that went to the polls this month. The outcome of exit polls was released after polling concluded in Telangana. The Times Now-ETG exit poll gave 38 per cent vote share to BRS, 43 per cent to Congress and 13 per cent to others. It said the ruling party in the state is poised to win 37-45 seats, Congress 60-70 seats, BJP 6-8 and others 5-7 seats. Republic TV exit poll gave Congress 58-69 seats and the BRS 46-56 seats. It said BJP could win 4 to 9 seats and others 5 to 8 seats. The poll predicted a 41.60 per cent vote share for BRS, 43.30 per cent for Congress, 10.80 per cent for BJP and 4.30 for others. The India TV-CNX exit poll predicted 63-79 seats for the Congress, 31-47 for the BRS, 0-2 for the BJP and 5-7 for others. According to Jan ki Baat poll, Congress is poised to win 48 to 64 seats in Telangana. It said BRS could win 40 to 55 seats and BJP 7 to 13 seats. Telangana recorded a voter turnout of 70.28 per cent. A total of 2,290 contestants were in the fray. In 2018, BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) won 88 of the 119 seats and had a 47.4 per cent vote share. The Congress came a distant second with 19 seats. The counting of the votes will take place on December 3 along with four other states. The high-stakes battle in Telangana witnessed a largely triangular contest involving the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao sought a record third term in office in the polls as the Congress campaign gained momentum in the past few months with the BJP also talking of the "misrule and corruption" of the ruling Bharatiya Rasthra Samithi government. The Congress chief in the state Anumula Revanth Reddy, 54, was seen as a leader who took on KCR as the party tried to gain from the perceived anti-incumbency against ruling party MLAs. (ANI)
In a collaborative effort to bolster community well-being, a mega blood donation camp was held in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar district on Thursday. The blood donation camp was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), along with the Health Department and the South Asia Centre for Peace and Peoples Empowerment (SACPPE). Held at a central location, the camp aimed to encourage voluntary blood donation, emphasizing its critical role in saving lives. Speaking to ANI about the initiative, Imtiyaz Ahmad, a blood donor, said, "The blood donation camp is a great initiative on the part of the organizers. If we can save someone's life through a small part, such as donating blood, then I don't think there's anything better than that." "The doctors at the camp were very supportive. They gave all the donors clear instructions and guidelines. The camp was a success overall," he added. According to an official release, the tripartite collaboration brought together the expertise of the MVD, the Health Department's commitment to public health, and the SACPPE's dedication to fostering communal harmony. Amid the scenic backdrop of J-K, the camp served as a practical expression of solidarity and contributed to raising awareness about the perpetual need for blood donations. The organisers recognised the significance of individual contributions in sustaining the blood supply for medical treatments, emergencies, and other essential healthcare procedures. The MVD's involvement adds a unique dimension to the initiative, showcasing a government department's active engagement in community welfare beyond its conventional role. This underscores the holistic approach to public service, where departments collaborate to address diverse facets of well-being, the release said. Talking to ANI about the mega blood donation camp, Dr Javid Iqbal Khan, in-charge of blood bank, Health Department, said, "The blood camp organised here at the Srinagar district has been a great initiative. Donating blood has a lot of health benefits and it also helps people in distress. The NGOs are very good at bringing these types of camps amidst people now and then. We had a good response overall." The Health Department's participation ensured that the blood donation process adhered to the highest safety and hygiene standards. Educational materials and expert guidance were provided, fostering a sense of awareness about the health benefits of voluntary blood donation and dispelling myths that may deter potential donors. Under the banner of SACPPE, the camp transcended its immediate medical impact by promoting peace and empowerment. By uniting people for a common cause, the event embodies the spirit of community-driven initiatives, nurturing a sense of responsibility and compassion among the participants. In a world often characterized by challenges, this collaborative Blood Donation Camp emerged as a beacon of hope and shared humanity, exemplifying how concerted efforts can create a positive ripple effect in society. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with scientists and experts from India and abroad at the 6th World Disaster Management Conference in the state capital on Thursday. CM Dhami inaugurated the 6th World Disaster Management Conference at Graphic Era University in Dehradun on November 28. On the third day of the conference, the Chief Minister met with senior scientists and experts from India and abroad and brainstormed on measures to reduce the loss of life and property in almost all types of disasters. The conference, scheduled to host experts and scientists from various countries, was scheduled to run from November 28 to December 1, 2023, with over 60 technical sessions planned. During the event, the Chief Minister also unveiled the book "Resilient India: How Prime Minister Narendra Modi Changed India's Disaster Management Model," based on Prime Minister Modi's experiences. Chairing the first session of the third day of the conference today, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho (ICIMOD, Nepal) said that the mountains are accessible and they also tell us about the marginality and fragility of growing the country's social economy and the future. The first session held great significance in the four-day world-class conference as it held discussions about resilience in the Himalayas. Scientists and experts also expressed their views on sustainable development. At the same time, in the second session, deep concern was expressed about various states of the country that were usually prone to disasters. Experts also expressed their special views on capacity building at the global level. Technical sessions were held at the international conference, in which capacity building was described as part of the global strategy. Experts said that research is as important for us as its implementation. Scientists and experts also suggested answers to important questions like how to protect oneself from adverse situations and the importance of development in the Himalayan region. The technical sessions included panel discussions on net zero, community health, resilience and preparedness for legacy and climate, as well as lessons from Miyamoto's experience in disaster areas in Turkey, Syria, Morocco, Afghanistan, Nepal and Haiti. It also discussed heat action planning, humanitarian issues, the role of the Indian Armed Forces in assistance and disaster relief, climate-resilient technologies for sustainable natural resource management in mountain ecosystems, and early warning systems to reduce the impact of climate change-induced disasters. The 6th WDMC-2023 is being organised jointly by the Government of Uttarakhand, Disaster Management Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS), Hyderabad, Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), Dehradun. (ANI)
The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved the formulation of the Arunachal Pradesh Logistics Policy in alignment with the PM Gati Shakti Framework. The decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting held in Itanagar under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. "The policy has aimed to augment an integrated, multi-modal logistics ecosystem for a developed Arunachal Pradesh in 2047," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement. It also stated that logistics has been a focus sector for the country for some time. In 2021, the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan was launched to provide multimodal connectivity infrastructure to economic zones. In 2022, the National Logistics Policy was launched with a focus on bringing in efficiency and reducing costs. In the 2022 annual report on Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS), Arunachal ranks in the 'Aspirer' category, behind the 'Fast Mover' and 'Achiever' categories, stating a clear need to have a policy intervention for improvements in the logistics sector. The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pema Khandu also took cognizance of the recent improvements in connectivity infrastructure and the growth opportunities it presents. "The policy aims to bring all connectivity projects under one umbrella. Some of the key projects mentioned in the policy for implementation in a time-bound manner are the Arunachal Frontier Highway from Nafra to Vijoynagar, the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Balinong, the establishment of nine new industrial areas, the upgradation of Lekhi / Naharlagun Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), the warehouse facility for the Itanagar Capital Complex at Chimpu and the logistics hub at Namsai, which are already proposed for financing under the PM Gati Shakti scheme," the statement stated. The cabinet also reviewed the progress of the twelve flagship schemes of the Government of India, which are aimed at being saturated by March 2024. The schemes reviewed by the state Cabinet were Soil Health Card, Kisan Credit Card, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Gramme Sadak Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atan Pension Yojana, Svamitva, Ayushman Bharat, SvaNidhi, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban. (ANI)
On the occasion of the 59th Raising Day of the Border Security Force (BSF), Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday emphasised the crucial role of border security in the nation's development and said, "A country can never be developed and prosperous if its borders are not secure." Further, Shah attributed India's advancements in various fields, including the successful organisation of the G20 summit and the Chandrayaan-3 mission, to the secure borders maintained by the sacrifices of the BSF. Shah asserted that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the country has made significant progress, with the BSF being the cornerstone of this development. "A country can never be developed and prosperous if its borders are not secure. Under PM Modi's leadership, the country has progressed in every field. Whether it is the successful organisation of the G 20 or the Chandrayaan-3, all of this is only possible because the borders of the country are safe due to your sacrifice and penance. BSF is the root of the development of this country," Amit Shah said. The Union Home Minister aslo expressed his heartfelt wishes to all BSF soldiers and their families, stating that the entire country takes immense pride in their service. He conveyed these sentiments while attending the commemorative ceremony. "I extend my best wishes to all the soldiers of the BSF and their families on the 59th Raising Day of the BSF... The entire country is proud of our soldiers," Amit Shah said. Shah further expressed his deep trust and pride in the Border Security Force (BSF) and highlighted the peace of mind he experiences knowing the BSF is safeguarding the borders against Pakistan and Bangladesh. Shah commended the BSF's commitment, stating that their presence at the frontlines ensures the nation's security, allowing its citizens to live without fear. On the BSF's 59th Raising Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Whether it is the Pakistan border or the Bangladesh border that comes under the BSF, whenever the enemy makes a move, it is a tense situation but when the BSF says that their soldiers are present, I am able to sleep peacefully without any tension. Once the protectors of the borders take the front, nobody needs to worry about the borders. I, as a Home Minister, am very proud of you." Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion of the 59th Foundation Day Ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF), Director General Nitin Agarwal highlighted the force's significant achievements over the past year. He proudly recounted how the BSF effectively countered cross-border firing incidents, neutralised weaponized infiltrators, and intercepted numerous illicit activities. "In recent incidents of cross-border firing, the BSF gave a befitting reply to the enemy. The BSF also took down weaponized infiltrators. In last one year, the BSF took down 90 drones coming from Pakistan and seized 1000 kg of heroin. At the India-Bangladesh border, more than 20 kg of banned contraband were seized in last one year. More than 150 kg of gold was also recovered..." BDF DG Nitin Agarwal said. The BSF celebrated its 59th Foundation Day in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district on Thursday. The Union Home Minister is attending the event as the chief guest. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra reacted to the state exit poll results released on Thursday evening saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win over 150 seats in the state assembly polls. "I had said in the beginning that we would win around 150 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done work where the poor people have benefitted be it Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Ujjwala Yojana or Ayushman Bharat scheme. Similarly, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as soon as he came into power, introduced many schemes beneficial to the poor. We are confident that we will win more than 150 seats," the home minister said while speaking to ANI in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district on Friday. Meanwhile, coming down on CM Kamal Nath's remark that the country runs by vision not by television, Mishra said that their vision was a vision of lies. "Everyone knows how Kamal Nath had ruled in the state. He had not waived off the farm loans of any farmer and did not give unemployment allowance of Rs 4000 to any youth. Their vision is the vision of lies," he added. Soon after the exit poll results were announced on Thursday evening, Nath said that the public was set to put a stamp on the Congress government in MP and appealed to the party workers not to be affected by most exit polls predicting a BJP win. In a post on X, Congress leader Kamal Nath said, "I want to remind all Congress workers of their strength. You people are the power of Congress and it is because of your hard work and dedication that the public has voted overwhelmingly in support of the Congress Party. When the counting of votes begins on December 3, the public will put a stamp on the Congress government." Stating that a country is run by vision, not by television, Kamal Nath said, "Many exit polls have shown Congress party forming the government while some exit polls are saying otherwise. Don't let all this distract you." Besides, reacting to veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's remark, the home minister said that Singh himself says that the Congress loses everywhere he (Singh) goes. "Digvijaya Singh himself says that the Congress loses everywhere he (Singh) goes. He visited some more places this time so the BJP would win more seats in the state," the BJP leader added. Singh on Thursday said that people were fed up with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Congress is set to gain more than 130 seats in a 230-member Assembly. "Exit poll results are very diverse. We cannot say anything about it. I can assure you that the Congress will get more than 130 seats in Madhya Pradesh. People want transformation. People are fed up with CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan," Digvijaya Singh said. Most exit polls predict the BJP retaining power in Madhya Pradesh. Voting for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly took place on November 17 with a 77.15 percent voter turnout. The counting of votes is scheduled for December 3. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak is confident that the BJP would win the mandate in all states even if the Exit Polls predicted differently. "TV channels are showing BJP on top. BJP is winning in all the states and we are performing better in the southern states as well. Just wait for December 3 and the results will be out," said Pathak. Most exit polls predicted BJP having a clear advantage in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, a clear edge to Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana and that the ruling MNF ahead in power sweepstakes in Mizoram. Five states went to the polls this month, with counting slated for December 3. As Pathak was further asked about the opposition's remarks regarding the caste-based census during the ongoing UP assembly winter session, he said, "The opposition is talking this way to mislead the people while we are focusing on the development of the state." During the winter session, there was a heated argument between the members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party on the question of caste census in the Legislative Council. On Wednesday, after the walkout by Samajwadi Party members in the Legislative Council on the issue of the caste census, Leader of the House Keshav Prasad Maurya said that senior BJP leaders and he himself are in support of the caste census and only the Central Government can get it done. "We are also in favour of caste-wise census and our senior leaders are also in favour of it but it is a matter for the central government to conduct the caste-wise census," said Keshav Prasad Maurya. "Bharatiya Janata Party is always in favour of the caste census. Whatever the SP, BSP or Congress says about the caste census, they never did justice to the previous castes while in power, nor did they work to give them their rights," he added. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav targeted the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over issues of farmers, reservations and an alleged poor condition of education in the state. "The government does not want to face opposition. We are demanding a discussion on various issues. But they neither want to hear anything nor want to give any answer," the former Chief Minister said. Friday is the last day of the four-day session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature which was convened by the state cabinet from November 28. (ANI)
In the case registered on his controversial remarks after the Kalamassery blast, action has been banned for two weeks.

The action of a single bench headed by Justice CS Dias was on a petition challenging two FIRs registered on charges of making hate speech.

Mahesh Jethmalani, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, who appeared for Rajeev Chandrasekhar, argued that the charges imposed by the police agains the Union Minister were baseless and politically motivated.

Two cases have been registered against Rajeev Chandrasekhar for his comments on social media on Kalamassery blasts.

The High Court will hear the petition again on December 14.

The court extended the remand custody of Dominic Martin, the prime accused in the case, till December 26.

Martin was arrested in connection with the blasts in Kalamasserry in which six people including a 12-year-old girl were killed. The accused was produced back in court before 11 am on Wednesday.

To the court's surprise, Dominic Martin refused any legal help on being produced in the court. Earlier, The court told the accused that he could seek legal aid at any point if he wished.

Kochi Police had arrested Martin after the blasts based on a self-made confession video posted on Facebook claimed responsibility for the blasts at the Zamra International Convention Centre in Kalamassery where over 2,000 followers of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian sect, had gathered for a prayer meeting earlier in the month. (ANI)
In line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision to introduce state-of-the-art technology across departments, the Uttar Pradesh Development Systems Corporation Limited (UPDESCO) is set to upgrade its web portal with new features, including the issuance of training certificates and management facilities. UPDESCO has initiated the annual maintenance process for its web portal and is undergoing preparations for streamlining training certificate issuance and management facilities. To complete this annual maintenance process, UPDESCO will hire an agency for one year and allocate the prescribed work. UPDESCO will choose a service provider agency from enabled software companies under the A, B, C, and startup categories. The maintenance and equipping of the UPDESCO web portal with the above-mentioned features will be carried out by the service provider agency. Upon completion of the maintenance process, the web portal will operate as a role-based access system in the form of a single login panel for users. This will enable the functioning of the web portal in a paperless manner, facilitating the registration and certificate distribution process for trainees associated with UPDESCO-affiliated institutions. Additionally, it will also help in managing the data on the web portal. Once the maintenance process is completed, it will become easier to ensure the online data availability of the web portal and manage the functioning process. As per the work description, the web portal will be equipped with new features that will help in bringing it to a real-time update format with end-to-end management. Furthermore, the development of the UPDESCO web portal will also include cloud-based features, ensuring that the portal is equipped with a dashboard. The service provider agency chosen by UPDESCO for these tasks will need to be qualified not only for completing these tasks but also for deploying the appropriate workforce. The process of a security audit for the UPMSME portal, managed by UPDESCO for the Industry Directorate (Labour Department) in Kanpur, has been proposed, and preparations have been initiated. In this sequence, UPDESCO will select a service provider agency from enabled software companies under the A, B, C, and startup categories. The service provider agency will be tasked with completing this project within 60 days after the issuance of the work order. This project will involve a comprehensive technical and non-technical audit covering all aspects of the KYC infrastructure, based on the Requesting Entity Compliance Checklist Version 3.0. (ANI)
Stephanie Shonekan vividly remembers the moment she unwittingly violated an unspoken social norm of the art form she loved.

It was 1996, and Shonekan, who grew up in Nigeria, had just attended her first classical music concert at Indiana University, where she was a graduate student.

The first piece was so amazing that I stood up and started clapping, Shonekan told an audience last month at the University of Marylands Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, where she is dean of the College of Arts & Humanities.

But it didnt take long for Shonekan to realize that she was the only patron on her feet, or to become mortified by icy glares from other audience members. It wasnt until later that she learned that its considered a faux pas in the U.S. and Europe to applaud between the movements of classical pieces (which function like chapters in a book) instead of waiting for the entire symphony to end.

People were appalled, Shonekan said, and then repeated it for emphasis: They were appalled.

I think we in classical music need to figure out how to close the distance a little between the audience and the stage. There are a lot of kids outside the Clarice who would come in, but they dont know how to receive the music.

Shonekan made those comments as part of an experimental program featuring the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and music director Jonathon Heyward that was all about building bridges.

It was a program that combined music with a conversation about that music. It melded together a masterpiece of the Western canon  Ludwig van Beethovens Symphony No. 4 in B flat major  with a tribute created in 2020 by a South Korean composer. Unsuk Chins subito con forza takes its name from Beethovens musical instruction to play the next passage immediately, with force.

And the program celebrated the beginning of a new partnership between two powerhouse state institutions: the University of Maryland and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Jonathon Heyward, music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Stephanie Shonekan, dean of the College of Arts & Humanities speak during BSOs performance.

The BSO performed the debut concert when the new center opened in 2001. But in the past two decades, the orchestra has returned only rarely, though the concert halls are located just 30 miles apart.

This is a landmark moment, the universitys president, Darryll Pines, told the crowd. It marks the beginning of a new era for the arts at the University of Maryland.

The partnership involves a series of performances at the Clarice, master classes for students and side-by-side rehearsals with BSO musicians, and a community-building program in Prince Georges County.

The BSOs long absence and Shonekans anecdote go a long way toward explaining why arts groups nationwide occasionally battle to prove their relevance to todays world.

As audiences for U.S. cultural groups have steadily declined since their peak at the turn of the 21st century, theaters, museums and symphonies have been scrambling to undo the mistakes of the past.

For too long, experts say, cornerstone cultural institutions clung to their elitist origins, holding themselves aloof from the rapidly changing world and the public that inhabits it.

The music director and the dean are trying to change that.

For me, music equals a sense of unity, Heyward said. I think of any place we play  these buildings, these performance spaces  as community centers.

The beauty of classical music, particularly when youre talking about symphony orchestras, is that you are forced to think and to be collaborators. Together, we are stronger than each of us is apart.

Shonekan was born with a deep love for music, so she persevered. Now, she is an ethnomusicologist, equally at home in musical genres as varied as classical music, hip-hop, country and soul.

But not everyone is as tolerant of hidebound cultural attitudes as she has been.

In the musicology field weve been talking for the past five to seven years about what to do with the canon, she said.

Young people would like us to blow it up. I dont agree. Ive been thinking we should be expanding the canon, because there are geniuses in other parts of the world who werent born in Vienna.

BSO kicks off partnership with University of Maryland.

As if to emphasize Shonekans point, the evening began with the musical mashup. Chin wrote her five-minute subito in honor of the 250th anniversary of Beethovens birth. The piece contains not only quotations from Beethovens Symphony Nos. 4 and 5, but also explores the Romantic composers trademark shifts in volume and mood.

By pairing Chins piece with the beginning of Beethovens 4th Symphony, Heyward was attempting to draw a line not only between the 19th century German composer and the 21st century South Korean, but also to the 18th century Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, with whom the young Beethoven studied.

It was not a match made in heaven, Heyward said. Haydn and Beethoven didnt hit it off very well.

But I still think Beethoven took quite a number of interesting tidbits from Haydn. The humor, the sense of lightness, the jokes in the 4th Symphony  it all reminds me of late Haydn.

That dialogue across the centuries fascinates Heyward, who thinks its important for audiences to realize that the conversation is continuing today and will likely extend into the future. Every new iteration deepens and enriches everything that came before it.

Theres a through line, Heyward said. There is an influence. You can connect the dots.

Equally important, he said, is providing a platform for contemporary voices and modern musical ideas. As he put it: I never want people to attend a program Ive put together and say, Oh, we have to get through that new music before we get to the good piece.

I want them to listen to the new music and think, Oh, that made sense. I see why he chose that. It enhances the canon.

As the music director of a big-city orchestra, Heyward feels responsible  not just to the musicians and audiences, but also to a society full of people who may never step inside the Clarice or any other traditional concert hall.

It all comes back to the idea that we can all be from different backgrounds, religions, races, creeds, and have this one unified experience, Heyward said.

As a music leader, one has the power to create a unified presence within a community through a symphony orchestra.

Now, more than ever, we need to find common ground.
The Delhi High Court has recently granted anticipatory bail to the victim of the Unnao gang-rape case and her mother in a forgery case. This case was transferred to Delhi on the order of the Supreme Court. This case pertains to an alleged forgery of the date of birth. An FIR was registered under sections IPC 419/420/467/468/471 at Makhi police station, Uttar Pradesh, based on the complaint made by Haripal Singh. He is the husband of a woman accused who was acquitted in a gang rape case. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had granted protection and directed not to take any coercive action against the victim. The expelled BJP MLA, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, was convicted under the POCSO Act for the rape of a minor victim. He is serving a life sentence and his appeal is pending before the Delhi High Court. Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain granted anticipatory bail to both the victim and her mother after recording the submissions by the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) that the charge sheet has been filed and petitioners shall not be arrested until the court order for the same.The Additional Public Prosecutor for the State stated that the charge sheet has already been filed after the conclusion of the investigation without the arrest of the petitioners and the petitioners shall not be arrested in the present case by the investigating agency unless and until it is directed by the trial court in Saket, New Delhi. Given the submissions made by the APP, the High Court disposed of the petitions"In case of arrest either by the trial court or by an investigating agency, the petitioners shall be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond for Rs 20,000 with one local surety of the like amount, " Justice Jain directed on November 17. Advocates RHA Sikander and Jatin Bhatt appeared and argued for the accused persons.Earlier, in December 2022, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued notice to the state and granted him six weeks to file a status report. "In the meantime, subject to the petitioner appearing before the learned trial court as and when required, no precipitate action affecting the petitioner's liberty shall be taken by the trial court till the next date of hearing," Justice Bhambhani had said. The petitioner moved a plea through advocates Mehmood Pracha and Jatin Bhatt, seeking anticipatory bail. The trial in the matter has been transferred to the Court of the Sessions Judge, South-East District, District Courts Complex, Saket, New Delhi, by the Supreme Court through an order of September 2, 2022, passed in Transfer Petition. It was submitted that the petitioner is the victim in the FIR registered on June 20, 2017 (Unnao gang rape case) at Police Station Makhi, UP. This present FIR alleges that the petitioner and her mother forged the date on the petitioner's birth certificate in related proceedings so that they could allege offences under the POCSO Act. (ANI)
The Rouse Avenue court on Friday extended the judicial custody for 14 days of three persons arrested in a case related to alleged irregularities in money laundering case related to the Delhi Waqf Board recruitments, which also involves AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan. Special judge Vikas Dhull extended the judicial custody of the three accused, namely Javed Imam Siddiqui, Jishan Haider and Dawood Nasir, till December 15, 2023. The three accused were produced in court after the expiry of their judicial custody. However, the Enforcement Directorate moved an application seeking an extension of judicial custody. Advocating for the accused, Jishan Haider, Advocate Nitesh Rana submitted that "the remand application is totally mechanical and has no material to extend the custody. Accused ought to be released forthwith". Counsel for the ED opposed the submissions and submitted that an investigation is going on. As per ED, the money laundering case pertains to sell purchase of a land for Rs. 13.40 crores. It is alleged that the transaction involves proceeds of crime. The agency has alleged that they have been arrested in a case sale- purchasing of property by ill-gotten money from Amanat Ullah Khan. While seeking the custody of the accused, ED had argued that in the transaction ill-gotten money was used and Rs. 4 crores were paid in cash. The amount of transacted money which paid in cash was ill-gotten by Amanat Ullah. Counsel for ED said there is a diary of Qausar Imam Siddiqui in which there was an entry of Rs. 8 crores. ED argued that Siddiqui was a middle man. The agency's counsel further submitted that the remand of 14 days is required for two major reasons. One is confrontation of accused persons with each other and the data culled out is also required to be confronted. It was alleged that Javed Imam got this property through a sale deed. He sold the property for Rs. 13.40 crore. Jishan paid money in cash to Javed Imam. Advocate Rana argued that there is an Agreement to Sell (ATS). Rupees 9 crores have been paid through banking channel. Rs. 4 crore is to be paid. He had further argued that Jishan Haider joined investigation four time. The only allegation is that another ATS was recovered from him. "The ED is registering a case after seven years and then investigating. The alleged proceed of crime was generated seven years back", argued Rana. The LOC against Javed Imam Siddiqui was quashed on November 8 by the concerned court. Three days before the arrest, Rana argued. Defence counsel also submitted that Jishan Haider is 64 and has undergone an open heart surgery, he has been advised for angiography, and that he is a diabetic. He further argued that requirement of Section 19 of PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) is not satisfied as there is no sufficient and cogent evidence to conclude that the suspect are guilty of money laundering. A charge sheet was filed by the CBI without arresting Amanat Ullah Khan who is the main accused, counsel argued.It was that, thereafter an FIR was registered by the Anti Corruption Bureau. A charge sheet was filed by the CBI without arresting Amanat Ullah Khan who is the main accused, counsel argued. Advocate further argued that thereafter, an FIR was registered by the ACB. My client Dawood Nasir has no connection with Amanat Ullah Khan. ED found nothing from his premises during the search, the counsel argued. Advocate Arjun Kakkar appeared for Javed Imam Siddiqui. Advocate Kakkar submitted that the LOC against him was quashed on November 8. They summoned him on November 9. On November 10 at 11 AM they made him sit till 11 AM the next day. Javed Imam has been an NRI Dubai for the last 15 years. He came to India for heart treatment. Advocate Kakkar representing Javed Imam Siddiqui argued that the ED interrogated Javed more than 15 times. He submitted that the Agreement to Sell (ATS) was in 2021. CBI's FIR is from 2017. They arrested Javed just because the LOC against him was quashed. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday accused the Samajwadi Party of using caste as a political tool while doing nothing for the weaker sections of society when it was in power in the state. He criticised Leader of Opposition Akhilesh Yadav, stating that he had forgotten PDA-Picchra (Backward), Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and Alpsankhyak (Minorities)- during his time in government. He stated that the misdeeds of these people, who create anarchy and familyism in the state in the name of caste, are not hidden from anyone. "Atal Ji had said that a person is neither high nor low, big nor small - everyone is equal." CM Yogi suggested that if this understanding had been present, the opposition might not find itself in its current position. Referring to Raju Pal and Akhilesh Nishad, CM Yogi questioned whether they were not part of PDA. He stated that there was talk of demolishing monuments built in honour of social justice pioneers during the SP government. The names of institutions named after Kanshi Ram and Baba Saheb were changed during the SP government. Attacking the opposition, CM Yogi questioned the absence of PDA concerns when the rights of the poor were being violated and farmers and unemployed individuals were resorting to suicide. He said, "Hum 2022 mein apne karyon ko lekar janta ke beech gaye, 2024 mein jaa rahe hain aur 2027 ki taiyari bhi kar rahe hain." CM Yogi highlighted the challenging state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh before 2017, during the tenure of the SP government, characterized by a lack of direction, chaos, and anarchy. The negative perception that people held about the state during that period, according to him, reflected a lack of effective governance. Post-2017, under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, the state is making significant strides, moving towards the ambitious goal of reaching a one trillion-dollar economy. "Presently, UP stands as the second-largest economy in the country, and the government is determined to elevate it to the top position in the near future. This transformation has been accompanied by a notable shift in the perception of Uttar Pradesh." Emphasising a positive and forward-thinking approach, CM Yogi stated that the government is not driven by negativity but is actively pursuing goals that align with the aspirations of the state's 25 crore residents. The overarching priority is to fulfil the aspirations of the poor, farmers, women, and youth, reflecting a commitment to the holistic development and well-being of the people. (ANI)
Congress is poised to form its first government in Telangana, according to India Today-Axis My India exit poll which released its outcome for the state on Friday, a day after the southern state went to the polls. The exit polls by other pollsters who released their prediction on Thursday had also said that Congress is expected to form the government and the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) would fall short of the majority after its 10-year rule in India's youngest state. The polling for the 119-member Telangana concluded on Thursday and it was the last among five states that went to the polls this month. According to India Today-Axis My India exit poll, Congress is expected to win 63-73 seats in Congress and BRS 34-44 seats. It said the BJP is likely to get 4 to 8 seats and others 5 to 8 seats. The poll predicted Congress vote share rising to 42 per cent, that of BRS sliding to 36 per cent and BJP getting 14 per cent vote share. It predicted that AIMIM will get 3 per cent votes and others 5 per cent. In terms of region-wise distribution of seats, the poll predicted that in the northern region, BRS would get 13 seats, Congress 15 and BJP 5 seats. The exit poll said the Congress is expected to sweep the central and southern regions. It predicted BRS getting nine seats and Congres 22 seats in the central region. It said in the southern region of the state, BRS is poised to get 6 seats, Congress 27 and BJP one seat. The exit poll said that in the Hyderabad region, AIMIM is poised to get 6 seats, Congress three seats, BJP one seat and BRS 11 seats. Exit polls released on Thursday had given an advantage to Congress and predicted that the party will form the government. The Times Now-ETG exit poll gave 38 per cent vote share to BRS, 43 per cent to Congress and 13 per cent to others. It said the ruling party in the state is poised to win 37-45 seats, Congress 60-70 seats, BJP 6-8 and others 5-7 seats. Republic TV exit poll gave Congress 58-69 seats and the BRS 46-56 seats. It said BJP could win 4 to 9 seats and others 5 to 8 seats. The poll predicted a 41.60 per cent vote share for BRS, 43.30 per cent for Congress, 10.80 per cent for BJP and 4.30 for others. The India TV-CNX exit poll predicted 63-79 seats for the Congress, 31-47 for the BRS, 0-2 for the BJP and 5-7 for others. According to Jan ki Baat poll, Congress is poised to win 48 to 64 seats in Telangana. It said BRS could win 40 to 55 seats and BJP 7 to 13 seats. Telangana recorded a voter turnout of 71.34 per cent. In 2018, BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) won 88 of the 119 seats and had a 47.4 per cent vote share. The Congress came a distant second with 19 seats. The counting of votes in Telangana along with three other states will take place on December 3. Counting will be held in Mizoram on December 4. (ANI)
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) raided eight locations in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar and arrested two people in a money laundering case, an official statement said on Friday. The two accused have been identified as Mohammad Shafi Dar (the then Chairman of JKSTCB) and Hilal Ahmad Mir (Chairman of River Jehlum Co-operative House Building Society). "ED has conducted search and survey operations at 8 locations in Srinagar, J-K and has arrested two persons, namely Mohammad Shafi Dar (the then Chairman of JKSTCB) and Hilal Ahmad Mir (Chairman of River Jehlum Co-operative House Building Society), in a PMLA case related to the fraudulent sanctioning of loan to the tune of Rs. 250 Crore in 2019 to a fake cooperative society named River Jehlum Co-operative House Building Society, Shivpora, Srinagar by J-K State Co-operative Bank," an official statement released by ED said. ED said that during search operations, various incriminating documents and property documents, including digital devices, have been recovered and seized. Earlier, ED initiated an investigation based on the FIR and consequent chargesheets filed by LEA, Srinagar, invoking various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act (JK PC Act) Samvat 2006 (Corresponding to IPC and PCA) against 5 accused persons, viz. Hilal Ahmad Mir (Chairman of River Jehlum Co-operative House Building Society), Abdul Hamid Hajam (Secretary of River Jehlum Co-operative House Building Society), Mohammad Mujeeb Ur Rehman Ghassi (the then Registrar of Cooperative Societies, J-K), Syed Ashiq Hussain (the then Dy. Registrar of Co-operative Societies, J-K) and Mohammad Shafi Dar (the then Chairman of JKSTCB). ED investigation revealed that the aforementioned persons had managed to fraudulently get the sanction of a loan of Rs 250 crore from JKSTCB in the name of a fake society, River Jhelum Co-operative House Building Society. "The same was siphoned off as payments made towards the purchase of land parcels, without any collateral security and overlooking all regulatory procedures, and in pursuance of the criminal conspiracy relating to offence of money laundering under PMLA, 2002," the central agency said.During search operations, several incriminating documents, and property documents, including digital devices, have been recovered and seized. Both the arrestees were produced on Friday before the Special PMLA Court, Srinagar, which has ordered the accused to be in ED Custody till December 2, 2023, and directed for further hearing in the matter. (ANI)
Congress on Friday alleged that the Swachh Bharat Mission of the Modi government was repackaging of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, which was launched by the UPA government in September 2011, and that usage of toilets has been declining in India since 2018, "with the decline is most concentrated among SC and ST communities". Party leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on 'X' that staff for sanitation has been reduced and payments have been delayed. He alleged that far from tall claims about making India free from open defecation, over 25 per cent of rural households still do not regularly use a toilet. Jairam Ramesh referred to a report 'World Bank papers show 'most concerning' decline in toilet usage. Withdrawn 'under pressure' later', published by The Print and said there is a need for an open and transparent audit of toilet usage and sanitation in India. "The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan launched in September 2011 got repackaged and rebranded as Swachh Bharat Mission. The Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan had launched massive programmes to make every gram panchayat Open Defecation Free. It had started popularising the use of biotoilets in trains. Swachhata Doots like Vidya Balan were mobilised," he said. "Innovative slogans were popularized and concurrent evaluation by independent agencies was encouraged. Now, a report from the World Bank shows that the repackaged Swachh Bharat Mission, launched after so much hype, has not been sustained. Usage of toilets has been declining in India since 2018, with the decline is most concentrated among SC and ST communities," he added. Jairam Ramesh alleged that after the initial fanfare, "the Prime Minister has moved onto other schemes, headlines and events". "Staff for sanitation has been reduced and payments have been delayed. Indeed, far from tall claims about making India free from open defecation, over 25 per cent of rural households still do not regularly use a toilet," he said. "Expectedly, the Print reports that the World Bank faced 'a lot of heat' from the Modi government, and had to withdraw these papers. Instead of suppressing data and declaring victory over open defecation, what is needed is an open and transparent audit of toilet usage and sanitation in India, along with reversing budget cuts. This is even more important at a time when India has been backsliding on many important health indicators since 2014 with sharp increases especially in anaemia and child malnutrition," he alleged. (ANI)
How can one establish robust, yet fast-releasing bonds between living and non-living tissues? Bioengineers who want to develop materials that fuse together for sophisticated biological applications are still perplexed by this subject. The McGill-led study focused on the marine mussel byssus, a fibrous holdfast that these bivalve mollusks employ to anchor themselves in seaside settings, drawing inspiration from nature. The byssus stem root is securely attached inside the soft living tissue of the mussel, while the other end of the byssus clings to rocky surfaces via an underwater adhesive. Professor Matthew Harrington of Chemistry at McGill University conducted a study on this biointerface--the area of interaction between living tissue and the non-living byssus stem root. "Up to this point, it was baffling how the byssus stem root biointerface could be strong enough to resist constant crashing waves but also be suddenly released by the mussel upon demand," said Harrington. "It seemed as if the mussel could somehow control its strength." Following a cross-disciplinary investigation, the team found that the stem root separates into approximately 40-50 sheets known as lamellae that interlock with the living tissue, creating an incredibly strong interface much like interleaving two phone books together. "The biggest surprise is how this strength can be lowered through the beating movements of billions of tiny hair-like cilia on the surface of the living tissue. Cilia movement is under the control of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, enabling the quick release of the whole stem root on demand." says Harrington who holds the Canada Research Chair in Green Chemistry This finding is particularly relevant for biomedical engineers and materials scientists as they look towards the future of bio-implants, wearable sensors, brain-computer interface design, and more. "The stem root biointerface is unlike anything seen in human-made materials and could offer important inspiration for the next generation of biointerfaces," said Harrington. "Since further medical advances will depend on novel biointe. (ANI)
Following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent call for India's cooperation in the investigation of the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, former diplomat TP Sreenivasan said that India is not involved in such activities. "So it's a complex issue, but, I certainly know that India is not involved. So there could be some misunderstanding on again, because India is not in this kind of business," Sreenivasan told ANI. On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on the Indian government to cooperate with Canada in the investigation of the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, CBC News reported. Sreenivasan emphasised that there might be some misunderstanding, saying, "So it's a complex issue, but I certainly know that India is not involved. There could be some misunderstanding because India is not in this kind of business." He further explained that the lack of proof or evidence raises doubts about the accuracy of the allegations. Addressing the unexpected nature of the news, Sreenivasan mentioned a similar story carried by the Financial Times a few days earlier, expressing surprise at the lack of concrete evidence. He acknowledged the complexity of the issue but reiterated that India does not engage in such activities. "Well, this is a news which has come out of the court, but a few days ago, the Financial Times carried the same story. And, that time, everybody was quite surprised as to how this happened. Because there is no proof or evidence or anything like that," said Sreenivasan. The former diplomat acknowledged the relations between India and the United States but clarified, "There is no deliberate attempt on the part of the United States to accuse India." He pointed out that once an issue goes to court in the US system, it is up to the court to decide whether to reveal details. Sreenivasan highlighted the significance of the situation in the context of Canada and the close cooperation between the US and Canada. He suggested that when the Canadian prime minister made the charge, it appeared that the US was supporting them. "But this process will come and particularly in the context of Canada. This has assumed certain importance. And, US and Canada, as you know, are joined together in their activities of this kind. That is why maybe when the Canadian prime minister made the charge, US also appeared to be supporting them," he added. Regarding the allegations made by Canada, Sreenivasan stated, "We are taking the allegations seriously. We have said that you give us the evidence. We will take action." However, he noted that no evidence has been made available yet. In conclusion, Sreenivasan emphasised that the Indian government is not involved, indicating that the matter is less serious than other situations where the prime minister directly addresses the court. He expressed hope for a swift resolution through investigations on both sides to prevent any further strain on the diplomatic relationships between India and Canada. "Here, the government is not involved. So it's only the court. So this is not as serious as the other one where the prime minister himself goes into the court and says this. So in any case, this is not very healthy for our relationships, and I hope soon this will be settled by some kind of investigation on both sides," Sreenivasan also said. Trudeau's statement came 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. 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 carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities. The US Justice Department filed 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 outrightly rejected the allegation, terming it "absurd and politically motivated." The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that Canada has consistently given space to anti-India extremists. During a special press briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UAE, the MEA spokesperson, while responding to a query, said that India expects the Canadian government to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. He said that India has seen interference from Canadian diplomats in India's internal affairs and called it "unacceptable." "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," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], November 30 (ANI/WAM): Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has successfully hosted the 2023 annual meeting of the chamber's Board of Directors and Advisory Council members. Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, stated, "The UAE government strategy is aimed at ensuring a promising future for the digital economy and enhancing confidence among the business community by providing comprehensive support and creating opportunities. The chamber remains committed to launching initiatives and programmes that will achieve the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to consolidate the emirate's position as the global capital of the digital economy and support the growth and development of companies in the digital industries." Al Gergawi added, "We seek to strengthen communication and partnerships to define the digital economy growth agenda for 2024 and share ideas transparently. This will help us to overcome any challenges and benefit from opportunities to further enhance Dubai's digital economy and contribute to the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33)." The annual meeting reviewed the chamber's key milestones and initiatives in 2023, including the launch of the 'Business in Dubai' platform, the Emirati Training Academy and App Olympics under the 'Create Apps in Dubai' initiative, and several informative digital economy publications. In addition, the chamber successfully participated in a number of international roadshows and hosted the 'Expand North Star' exhibition, which attracted 1,800 startups from 100 countries across the globe. Participants also discussed the chamber's efforts to attract and support emerging technology companies, in addition to hosting digital economy workshops and government workshops to enhance the emirate's favourable business environment. Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is committed to driving the success of Dubai's digital ecosystem and accelerating the emirate's transformation into one of the world's leading digital economies in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). (ANI/WAM)
Dubai [UAE], November 30 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Free Zones (DFZ) Council, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Dubai Free Zones Council and the Economic Security Centre of Dubai. The MoU was signed by Mohammed Al Zarooni, Secretary-General of DFZ Council, and Faisal Yousef bin Sulaitin, Executive Director of the Economic Security Centre of Dubai. Mohammed Al Zarooni said, "The signing of the MoU is in line with the shared commitment of both parties' role in aligning with the strategic direction of Dubai and the wider UAE, especially in the areas relevant to both parties, such as security and economy. It also reflects their shared goal in providing a conducive business environment in Dubai, based on security and the investment environment. Both parties are keen to further advance this strategic partnership, with the aim of unifying efforts in spreading institutional awareness and sustainability in achieving excellence, as well as exchanging information." For his part, Faisal bin Sulaitin added, "This memorandum of understanding is a strategic partnership that boosts ease of doing business, contributes to knowledge and information exchange, and streamlines efforts to increase growth and development." (ANI/WAM)
Associated Press Tries to Paint Church as Racist



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Dec. 1, 2023



NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Bill Donohue, President, Catholic League: As I pointed out in my book, The Truth about Clergy Sexual Abuse: Clarifying the Facts and the Causes, the scandal in the Catholic Church mostly occurred between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s. But don't tell that to the Associated Press (AP). They have a vested ideological reason for continuing the myth that nothing has changed. Worse, they are now suggesting the Church is racist.



"In the US, Black Survivors Are Nearly Invisible in the Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis." This story, published November 29, is factually wrong. There is no "crisis" going on today. So the best the AP can do is to write a story on the situation in Maryland: some alleged victims from decades ago are coming forward seeking cash now that the statute of limitations has been lifted.



The latest data on the clergy sexual abuse found that between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, there were 16 allegations made by minors during that time, seven of which were substantiated. That means that of the 52,387 members of the clergy, .013 percent of them had a substantiated allegation made against him. There is no institution in the nation where adults intermingle with minors on a regular basis which can match this outcome.



AP reported none of this. It could not. If it did it wouldn't have a story. But since they can't get the Church on this issue today, they've decided to play the racist card.



When I read this story, I wondered how the AP managed to come up with data showing a racist element in the abuse scandal. They didn't. There aren't any.



The AP admits that "The U.S. Catholic Church generally does not publicly track the race or ethnicity of clergy sexual abuse victims." AP also struck out looking for data from the government. Referring to the report by the Maryland Attorney General's office, it said it "leaves out any context about race."



So if there are no data to support the AP claim that there is a "crisis" in the Church today, and there are no data to prove the Church is racist, what's left to discuss? Anecdote. That's it.



We learn about the plight of the Webster family where a young girl was abused by a priest. This is horrendous, but what does it have to do with the thrust of the AP story? The offense took place in 1993 and the priest was convicted and thrown out of the priesthood. Moreover, the Baltimore archdiocese wrote them a check for $2.7 million.



There is more to this story than contemporary anecdotes. The reporter alleges there was racism in the Church in Baltimore in 1829! What a shocker. That really proves the Catholic Church, unlike every other institution in American society, had a racial problem decades before the Civil War.



If the AP did a story on black victims of sexual abuse in the public schools in Baltimore today, it would have enough information to fill a local public library, but they wouldn't go near it. Nor will they do a story on all the black families in Baltimore who favor school choice and would like to send their children to a Catholic school.



We've been tracking and writing about bias in AP stories for decades. What is so ironic is that we have data on them that they don't have on the Catholic Church. But the nation's largest wire service, which is funded by dozens of left-wing foundations, is rarely held accountable for its unprofessionalism.



Contact: Daisy Veerasingham, AP CEO: dveerasingham@ap.org SOURCE Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights



CONTACT: 212-371-3191, pr@catholicleague.org



Share Tweet
I am a homeowner who spends every Saturday doing some type of yard work. I cut my grass in the spring and summer using my John Deere riding mower and trim my grass using my gas-powered trimmer. In the fall, I use my commercial backpack gas blower blowing the leaves that fall from the numerous trees I have on my property. I have an office job during the week and I enjoy spending my time doing yard work on Saturdays. I take pride in the work I do and the gas-powered lawn equipment I have invested in and care for is essential for the work I need to do.

Although I have always just ignored The Baltimore Suns misguided editorials and gone on with my day, the recent editorial, Time to prune gas-powered leaf blowers in Maryland (Nov. 27), bothered me to the point where I must respond.

You have not fully considered how an immediate ban would affect a homeowner like me. First, with an immediate all-out ban there would suddenly be thousands of lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers, chain saws and snowblowers that are still useful and operable but can no longer be used or if used would subject the user to fines. The banned equipment would either sit in the homeowners garage or shed or be taken to a local trash collection facility. Does each county have the capacity to suddenly accept thousands of pieces of banned lawn equipment?

Second, my yard work still needs to be done but I would be forced to pay the cost of replacing all my gas-powered lawn equipment with battery operated equipment. I estimate it would cost me $8,000 to $10,000 to replace all my gas-powered lawn equipment with battery-operated equipment. Most of the battery powered equipment available on the market is not comparable to my gas-powered equipment. For example, there is not a battery powered leaf blower I could find on the market that has the power and capacity of my gas-powered blower so I can quickly clear the many leaves that fall or blow onto my property. The time for me to clear my leaves would increase substantially.

Carefully consider a more gradual, reasonable and practical approach.

 F. Lee Elrick, Phoenix

Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the COP28 Summit, members of the Dawoodi Bohra community, part of the Indian diaspora in the UAE, eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome him. Expressing enthusiasm, they emphasized the significance of the Indian identity being acknowledged when the leader of India visits, considering it a first-time honour for many. They said that they look forward to the positive impact on the UAE and extended best wishes for the growth of both India and Dubai. "The Indian identity is acknowledged when the leader of India visits us here and I think this will have a very good effect on the UAE overall," the community members said on Thursday. Shabbir Abbas, another member of the Bohra community, expressed excitement and extended best wishes for India-Dubai's growth. "We are very happy that PM Modi is coming here. We are all very honoured to get a chance to meet him...The members of the Indian diaspora have gathered here to welcome PM Modi and all of us extend our best wishes for the growth of India and Dubai...," he said. Mustafir Tahir, representing the Bohra community in the UAE, said that PM Modi treats them like members of his family. "It is an honour and privilege to be over here when Prime Minister Modi arrives here. He treated us like a member of the family when he was there for the inauguration of an institution in Mumbai. The comments he made during the opening session have enlightened everybody," Tahir said. The excitement is palpable among the 3.3 million strong Indian diaspora in the UAE as they eagerly await the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dubai. PM Modi on Thursday evening emplaned for Dubai to take part in the World Climate Action Summit in the United Arab Emirates. PM 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. Earlier, members of the Indian diaspora also expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude for the upcoming visit. "The 3.3 million strong diaspora in the UAE is excited to welcome, meet, and greet our PM Narendra Modi. Since his last visit in July, the overwhelming positivity and respect for the Indian diaspora have been truly remarkable," one of the members said. We are grateful to have a Prime Minister like Narendra Modi, he added. (ANI)
As Israel announced a one-day extension in the Israel-Hamas truce deal, the Hamas terror group released six more Israeli hostages to Egypt via the Rafah crossing on Thursday night, as reported by The Times of Israel. The hostages will be brought to a meeting point where Israeli forces will verify their identities, before escorting them into Israel via a side gate at the Kerem Shalom crossing. According to the IDF, "The families of the hostages are being updated by IDF representatives with the latest available information." The six hostages were identified as Bilal and Aisha Ziyadne, Ilana Gritzewsky, Nili Margalit, Shani Goren and Sapir Cohen, following the release of Amit Soussana and Mia Schem earlier today, reported The Times of Israel. Just moments before the scheduled expiration of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas at 7 am local time on Thursday, the Israeli military officially announced a one-day extension, CNN reported. This extension comes as negotiations for additional hostage releases continue. Both Hamas and Qatar have confirmed the prolongation of the truce. Earlier on Thursday, Hamas released two Israeli hostages, bringing today's total to eight, according to The Times of Israel. According to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas must release at least 10 hostages per day. Yesterday, the IDF confirmed the release of 14 hostages, including 10 Israelis and four Thai nationals from Hamas captivity. Earlier, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said "Yesterday there were 12 Israeli citizens, who were on our list, and the sum in the agreement is for 10, and we insist on getting the maximum possible. That's how it was every day and that's how it will be today." Moreover, he said that the military is ready to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip if the ceasefire agreement with Hamas is not renewed for another day. "At this hour, we are progressing and awaiting the release of additional hostages who are due to return as part of the agreed-upon deal," Hagari said. He said that overnight, the IDF "insisted" on carrying out the current deal with Hamas, in which the terror group is set to release the women and children it is holding hostage, The Times of Israel reported. "We will do so tomorrow as well. The mediators, Qatar and Egypt, are also obligated to carry out the deal so that the ceasefire can continue," he said. "The IDF is ready to resume the fighting. We are prepared to attack at any hour, tonight as well," he added. (ANI)
The Australian and Indian High Commissions to the United Kingdom (UK) co-hosted the inaugural Indo-Pacific Conference in London on Thursday (November 30) to explore practical ideas to strengthen Indo-Pacific resilience. The unique collaboration brought together leading experts from Australia, India, and the United Kingdom to address threats to regional security and enhance strategic stability. Australian High Commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith, said, "The Indo-Pacific has never been in greater focus, whether in Australia, India, or here in the UK. This conference is an important opportunity to explore how the regional security and economic dynamics are continuing to shape the strategic environment both in and beyond the Indo-Pacific." Acknowledging China's growing influence on the Indo-Pacific region, Stephen Smith added, "Our focus has been with the Pacific, but we're also very strategically conscious of the Indian Ocean. Through IORA, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, we've been working very hard to grow our relationships with Indian Ocean Island states. Whether it's Australia and India meeting in the United Nations General Assembly or meeting in the Commonwealth, there are shared interests which are applicable whichever ocean you're in." The three "physical neighbours in London" - India House, Australia House, and King's College co-hosted the conference along with the Council on Geostrategy (UK) to further develop the vital conversation on 'deepening cooperation for a more secure, resilient, and prosperous Indo-Pacific'. Vikram Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to the UK stressed that the abiding commitment of India and Australia to promote a vision of a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific is reflected in the strength of our bilateral partnership. "Our views are increasingly reflected by other key partners, with whom we work bilaterally and in plurilateral formats, such as the US, Japan, ASEAN, and Korea. We welcome in this regard increased interest in the UK, as part of its Global Britain policy, to work with countries such as India and Australia, in support of this objective," he said. Replying to ANI on a possible Australian and Indian strategy to get the small islands in the Indo-Pacific out of China's influence, Doraiswami emphasized that the focus is to create opportunities for everybody to partner in an Indo-Pacific approach. "That addresses each country's sense of what they want to see in a larger and more diverse security space. That isn't just hard security, but it's economic security, environmental security, life and livelihood security, particularly for fishing nations. That's the point that this conference is seeking to bring out, that there are multiple things we can do in this area that is critical to global prosperity and progress," he added. Jenny Bates, Director General, Indo-Pacific, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK), emphasised the importance of the tri-lateral collaboration saying, "The kind of world that the UK wants to have, we cannot do that without partnering more in the Indo-Pacific. This is strategic long-term stuff for us and we are really focussed on where the UK can add value. She further stressed that it is self-evident that we are not a part of the Indo-Pacific, but we do bring particular assets- capabilities and insights into that region. "We are very focussed on where that value-added must come and we are interested in perspectives and ideas on that." According to Prof Alessio Patalano, Professor of War and Strategy in East Asia, King's College London, as ties between Australia and India grow strategically stronger, this initiative represents a most timely opportunity to create synergies and enhance the shared capacity to support the development of the international order in three critical domains: maritime, cyber, and technology. Patalano said, "King's College London has a longstanding intellectual and academic connection with Australia and India, and this event is both a reflection of the depth of these links and an opportunity to chart the direction of our ambition to add an academic layer to the UK Indo-Pacific engagement." Three sessions encompassing issues of Indo-Pacific connectivity and enhancing regional resilience, strategic stability, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, and forging closer cooperation on critical and advanced technologies in the Indo-Pacific, featured an impressive list of high-quality speakers from Australia, India, and the UK from across the academia, civil society, business, government, and the diplomatic community. James Rogers, Director of Research, Council on Geostrategy, said, "Since our official launch in March 2021, the Council on Geostrategy has argued that the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific are collapsing into a single geopolitical space- the 'Atlantic-Pacific'." Rogers also observed, that in an international environment increasingly defined by geopolitical competition, working together, with the allies and partners to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific has never been more important. Technology and its influence on modern-day geopolitics took centre stage at the conference. Citing examples from the Russia-Ukraine war and the recent Middle East crisis, the panelists discussed the role of technology in modern-day geopolitics and vice versa. From high-tech warfare to using deep-fake as a weapon, the panels shed light on a wider technological spectrum on which Australia, India, and the UK can collaborate. Moreover, the speakers at the inaugural Indo-Pacific conference included, Sir Simon Gass, Centre for Grand Strategy at King's College London; Ashok Malik, Partner, The Asia Group; The Hon Lisa Singh, Chief Executive Officer, the Australia India Institute; Professor Harsh V Pant, King's India Institute; Reuben Abraham, CEO, Artha Global; John Lee, Director, East West Futures; Sophia Gaston, Head of Foreign Policy and UK Resilience, Policy Exchange. (ANI)
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepal's Ministry of Finance held the Projects Portfolio Performance Review Meeting on Thursday. During the meeting, discussions were held on ongoing projects in various sectors under the India-Nepal development cooperation framework both under grant assistance and under various lines of credit. The two sides also deliberated on potential sectors of collaboration between India and Nepal in the future, according to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu press release. The Indian side was led by India's Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava. For the meeting, Nepal's Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat led Nepal's side. Representatives of concerned ministries, departments and agencies of the Nepal government involved in the implementation of projects, as well as concerned officers and officials of the Indian Embassy in Nepal, participated in the meeting. During the meeting, Naveen Srivastava highlighted India's robust development cooperation with Nepal. He reiterated Government of India's (GoI) commitment and support towards working with Nepal government in the future towards development cooperation with Nepal as per the priorities set by the Nepal government. Prakash Sharan Mahat appreciated the Indian government's development support and highlighted its significance in advancing Nepal's developmental efforts. He expressed Nepal government's commitment to further enhance the cooperation between two nations in other potential sectors as well, according to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu press release. Taking to X, Indian Embassy in Kathmandu stated, "Ambassador @IndiaInNepal & Hon'ble Minister @mofnepal @DrPSMahat held Projects Portfolio Performance Review Meeting today. Both sides held in-depth discussions on overall #Development #Cooperation with emphasis on ongoing projects & potential areas of future cooperation." India is the largest and most prominent development partner of Nepal. India-Nepal development partnership which began in 1951 has continued and expanded over the last seven decades, according to the press release. The projects under Development partnership have been diverse in size and sector with geographical spread throughout Nepal. On November 27, a school building built under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' was inaugurated in Nepal's Rupandehi district. Nepal's Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav inaugurated the school building of Shree Pokharvindi Secondary School, Rohini Rural Municipality-2, Bhatpurwa, Rupandehi district. According to a release from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the school building has been built with the government of India's financial assistance of NRs 12.50 million. During the inaugural session Prasanna Shirivastava, Charge d'affaires, Embassy of India, Kathmandu, political representatives, government officials, social workers, representatives of the school management, teachers, parents, and students were also present. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], December 1 (ANI/TPS): As Israel prepares for the strong possibility of a resumption of war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense Forces is also currently in a heightened state of alert and preparedness along the border with Lebanon, responding to the continuous threats posed by Hezbollah. Since October 7, the IDF has deployed significant military resources, including artillery, tanks and engineering corps, along the Lebanese border, striking Hezbollah anti-tank missile squads and other terrorists whenever they are detected, either after an attack or preparing for one. This low-intensity conflict when compared to Gaza has resulted in some 90 casualties for Hezbollah and nine Israeli casualties--six military personnel and three civilians. Several Israeli homes and military bases have sustained heavy damage from Hezbollah strikes since Oct. 7, and tens of thousands of Israeli residents from areas near the border with Lebanon remain evacuated, displaced from their homes by the threat of the Hezbollah's elite Radwan terrorist unit. In response, the IDF has employed a defensive-responsive posture aimed at protecting Israeli territory from Hezbollah's aggression but not escalating the situation into a full-scale war front at this time. Its approach is characterized by a reactive rather than proactive stance. Operations are tailored to respond to specific threats and attacks from Hezbollah, avoiding initiating aggression. This goal remains to protect civilian lives and property, as well as to make sure that Hezbollah cannot surprise the north as Hamas did the south. But, the decision of any expanded war efforts in Lebanon remains up to the war cabinet. Hezbollah's tactics, meanwhile, involve embedding its operations within Lebanese civilian areas; using southern Shi'ite villages as bases of attack; firing anti-tank missiles at Israeli northern homes and military positions; and continuing to pose a serious and persistent threat. The question of whether the 8,000-man Radwan unit, which has murder and kidnap squads much like Hamas's Nukhba unit, could breach the Israeli border and conduct attacks has no clear answer at this time, although the IDF is present at the border in large numbers and has proven effective at detecting Radwan unit movements in real-time. Hezbollah's terror tactics not only endanger Lebanese civilians but are designed to complicate the IDF's response--a familiar use of human shielding that Hamas employs as well in Gaza. In this explosive situation, the IDF currently exercises restraint in its counterstrikes, relying on precise intelligence to target terrorist threats while minimizing civilian casualties and collateral damage. Ineffective UNIFIL: The role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in challenging Hezbollah's flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which bans Hezbollah from operating in Southern Lebanon, is nonexistent. Worse yet, Hezbollah has been actively using UNIFIL as human shields, launching attacks on Israel in some cases from tens of meters from UNIFIL positions. UNIFIL's ineffectiveness in curbing Hezbollah's activities is self-evident, highlighting the limitations of international peacekeeping forces in such scenarios. Despite this, the IDF continues to remain in contact with UNIFIL and has been transmitting its concern over Hezbollah's destabilizing activities with no tangible results. So far, Israel's policy on the Lebanon border is a delicate balance between essential defense and cautious restraint. But it remains unclear how long this can continue since northern residents will not return to a persistent Hezbollah threat to their lives in the new, post-October 7 reality, and the IDF cannot remain fully deployed in the north indefinitely. The result is a paradox that appears to suggest difficult decisions in the future by the Israeli war cabinet if the north is to be sustainable and its residents granted a new sense of security. (ANI/TPS)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently in prison has written to the country's Chief Justice (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa urging him to protect the fundamental rights of his party the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan-based Dawn reported. In a seven-page letter, Khan requested the Supreme Court to protect his party's "right to liberty, to associate, assemble and speak", as per the Constitution, according to Dawn report. His letter to the apex court's top judge comes as PTI has alleged that it is being stopped from conducting political activities ahead of the general election and several of its leaders are currently in prison after the protests that took place in Pakistan on May 9. PTI chairman in the letter wrote, "This denial of fundamental rights does not assume the colour of lawful due process only because the power to arrest and prosecute available to the state is the chosen weapon of assault," Dawn reported. Imran Khan stressed that the power to prosecute and arrest was being used in a blatant attempt to "engineer and skew the political landscape of the country." He said anyone related to PTI was being targeted through multiple criminal cases to keep them in prison and added that new cases were being registered against PTI leaders after the court granted them bail. "Often several first information reports (FIRs) are registered against persons affiliated with the PTI in respect to the same event," the letter stated. Imran Khan in the letter wrote, "The same persons are also implicated in successive FIRs [...] across the country." Imran Khan claimed that undisclosed FIR and police reports were kept "in reserve" to re-arrest bailed out people associated with his party. He emphasised that judges could not turn a blind eye to the reality "even though justice may be blind," Dawn reported. PTI chairman in the letter wrote, "This is a situation that demands judicial notice [...]." The letter reads, "It would however be abdication of judicial responsibility to deny the facts and to assume that we are living through normal times." He said that apex court could not be unaware regarding the disappearances of individuals associated with PTI or its 2018 government. Imran Khan underscored that there was "no possibility" of fair and general elections on February 8 if the apex court did not intervene to stop the arrests and abductions of PTI leaders and workers. Imran Khan in the letter wrote, "The fact the political landscape is being set up through coercion [...] to favour one set of political actors that have the blessings of the powers that be against the PTI [...] is breeding disgust in a large number of Pakistanis, not restricted to the supporters of PTI," the report said. He said print and electronic media were being pressurised to share "tutored content and opinions." He emphasised that the targets and the beneficiaries of this coercion have changed from time to time. However, he added that "the ability of the powers to be coerce and overwhelm the constitutional process has remained a menacing constant." PTI chairman urged the apex court to issue orders for halting the "practice of successive arrests of persons granted bail in known cases" and called for establishing a commission to probe the disappearances of journalists and political workers. He requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to order the federal government, the provincial governments, and the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure that the PTI was permitted to conduct political meetings and gatherings without any discrimination. He also called on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to allow coverage for PTI leaders without any discrimination. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other world leaders on Friday on the sidelines of the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC (COP28) Summit. PM Modi praised the UAE Vice President for his "visionary leadership" on various issues. Taking to X, PM Modi stated, "It was a privilege to meet His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His visionary leadership on a wide range of issues is truly commendable." He also met Uzbekistan''s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajikistan''s President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai. In a post shared on X, PM Modi stated, "Meaningful conversations with @president_uz Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of Tajikistan, Mr. Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of COP-28 in Dubai." The Prime Minister also met Jordan King Abdullah II on the sidelines of the Summit. During the meeting, the two sides held "enriching and reflective" discussions of deep-rooted friendship between India and Jordan. Taking to X, PM Modi stated, "Delighted to meet His Majesty @KingAbdullahII of Jordan at COP-28. Our discussions were enriching and reflective of our nations'' deep-rooted friendship. Looking forward to strengthening our ties further." PM Modi also met with Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte. The two leaders warmly met each other and held talks. In a post shared on X, PM Modi stated, "It''s always refreshing to exchange ideas with my friend Mark Rutte of Netherlands." PM Modi, along with other world leaders have gathered in Dubai for the COP28 World Climate Action summit. Earlier in the day, world leaders were seen posing for the customary ''family photograph'' as the Summit began on Friday. Earlier today, PM Modi was received by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the venue of the 28th edition of the climate change conference. He interacted with various World leaders including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen. This morning PM Modi took to social media platform X to thank Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Antonio Guterres for their warm welcome. "Glad to join the COP-28 Summit, a pivotal platform for global climate action. Looking forward to engaging in meaningful dialogues and collaborations for a sustainable future. I thank my brother HH @MohamedBinZayed and @UN Secretary General Mr. @antonioguterres for the warm welcome," PM Modi posted on X. He warmly interacted with both leaders and they posed for a picture together. During his stay in Dubai, PM Modi will participate in two special initiatives on climate events. PM Modi is scheduled to address the opening session of the World Climate Summit Action Summit, which is a High-Level Segment of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He will attend the Presidency''s session on Transforming Climate Finance, which is to be hosted by the Presidency of the COP28 - UAE. PM Modi will also attend a high-level event on the Green Credits Programme, which is being co-hosted by India and UAE. Later he will also participate in the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Event co-hosted by India and Sweden. This is PM Modi''s third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021. On his arrival at Dubai airport on Thursday night, PM Modi was welcomed by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Members of the Indian diaspora, waiting outside a hotel, sang ''Saare Jahan Se Achha'' and chanted slogans of ''Bharat Mata Ki Jai'', as well as ''Vande Mataram''. Upon his arrival in UAE, PM Modi in a post on X stated, "Landed in Dubai to take part in the COP-28 Summit. Looking forward to the proceedings of the Summit, which are aimed at creating a better planet." COP28 is being held from November 28-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. (ANI)
Noting that the countries in the Global South have had an immense impact of climate change on them, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that to fulfil the aspirations of the Global South, climate finance and technology are essential. The prime minister underlined that countries in the Global South, including India, have a smaller role to play in climate change but the impact of climate change on them is immense. "We all know that countries in the Global South, including India, have had less of a role to play in climate change. But the impact of climate change on them is immense. Despite a lack of resources, these countries are committed to climate action," the Prime Minister said at the COP28 Presidency's session on Transforming Climate Finance today. "In order to fulfil the aspirations of the Global South, climate finance and technology are essential," he said. "It is the expectation of countries in the Global South that to combat climate change, the developed countries help them as much as possible. This is natural and justified," PM Modi added. In his address, PM Modi also emphasised that India, during its G20 Presidency, also gave utmost priority to sustainable development and climate change. "India has given utmost priority to sustainable development and climate change. We made 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' the foundation of our G20 presidency and we were successful in getting consent on several issues with collective efforts," Prime Minister Modi said. PM Modi said that India welcomes the decision to operationalize the loss and damage fund that was adopted at the opening plenary of the COP28 Summit in Dubai yesterday. The Loss and Damage Fund is a package where rich nations pay a damage cost to developing nations, which are more vulnerable to climate change. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday that India strongly supports the decision to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund. A decision to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund was adopted in the opening plenary of COP28. "A positive signal of momentum from COP28 in UAE on the first day itself," the Union Environment Minister said. Earlier today, at the opening ceremony of the High-level segment at the Conference of Parties (COP28) Summit, PM Modi said that India is among the few countries which is on course to meet Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as part of efforts to combat climate change and proposed that the country will host COP33 in 2028. "India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028," the Prime Minister said in his remarks. He said India has presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world. "Despite India being home to 17 per cent of population of the world, its contribution to Global Carbon Emissions is less than 4 per cent. India is one of those few economies of the world that is on the path to meet NDC targets," he said. COP28 is being held from November 28-December 12 under the Presidency of the UAE in Dubai. 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). This is PM Modi's third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Dubai on Friday and discussed climate action and climate financing, among others. The meeting that took place between the two leaders on the sidelines of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai also witnessed wide-ranging discussions on areas of sports, energy, and defence. "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, on December 1, 2023, on the sidelines of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai. The two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of areas, including climate action, climate financing, sports, energy, defence and civil nuclear cooperation," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official release. PM Modi also met the President of the Maldives on the sidelines of COP-28 Summit in the UAE. He also congratulated President Muizzu on his assumption of office. The two leaders reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relations between the two countries, including people-to-people linkages, development cooperation, and economic ties. "Both leaders reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relations between the two countries, including people-to-people linkages, development cooperation, economic relations, climate change and sports," the Ministry of External Affairs release said. "The two leaders also discussed ways to further deepen their partnership. In this regard, they agreed to set up a core group," the MEA said. PM Modi also held "productive talks" with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Dubai. "PM @narendramodi held productive talks with @president_uz Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Dubai," the Prime Minister's Office posted on X (formerly Twitter). They discussed strengthening bilateral relations in sectors including traditional medicine, education and health. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the COP-28 Summit in UAE. The PM congratulated the UAE President for successfully hosting the COP-28 Summit. He also thanked the President for co-hosting the high-level event on the Green Climate Programme (GCP) at COP-28. Both leaders reviewed their wide-ranging and vibrant bilateral ties. They also exchanged views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, as per a release issued by the Prime Minister's office. PM Modi also invited the UAE President to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, to be held in India next month. PM Modi also met Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson on the sidelines of COP-28 on Friday. The two discussed various facets of bilateral ties, including defence, R&D, trade and investment, and climate cooperation. Furthermore, PM Modi also met Swiss President Alain Berset. The PM, in his meeting with Swiss President Alain Berset, discussed ways to further deepen the India-Switzerland partnership, including in areas of trade and investment, technology, health, education, IT, tourism and people-to-people ties. "PM @narendramodi met President @alain_berset of Switzerland on the sidelines of #COP28 WCAS in Dubai. The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen - partnership including in areas of trade & investment, technology, health, education, IT, tourism and people to people ties. They also discussed regional and global issues," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said. Earlier on Friday, PM Modi met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Dubai. "Happy to have met President @RTErdogan on the sidelines of the #COP28 Summit in Dubai," PM Modi wrote. PM Modi on Thursday night arrived in Dubai to attend the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP-28) Summit. PM Modi on Friday noted that the countries in the Global South have had an immense impact of climate change on them. The PM said that to fulfil the aspirations of the Global South, climate finance and technology are essential. COP28 is being held from November 28-December 12 under the Presidency of the UAE in Dubai. The World Climate Action Summit is the high-level segment of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP-28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The prime minister underlined that countries in the Global South, including India, have a smaller role to play in climate change but the impact of climate change on them is immense. "We all know that countries in the Global South, including India, have had less of a role to play in climate change. But the impact of climate change on them is immense. Despite a lack of resources, these countries are committed to climate action," the Prime Minister said at the COP28 Presidency's session on Transforming Climate Finance today. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], December 1 (ANI/WAM): President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met individually today with Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany; Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Republic of Serbia; and Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the COP-28 climate summit taking place at Expo City Dubai. During the meetings, they discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and their respective countries, along with a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest. The leaders of Germany, Serbia and Albania commended the earlier announcement by His Highness the President to establish a USD 30 billion fund for global climate solutions, emphasising the importance of the initiative in enhancing climate action for the benefit of humanity. The meetings also discussed COP-28 and the importance of cooperation between the participating nations to deliver tangible results aimed at ensuring a more sustainable future for all. (ANI/WAM)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday wrapped up his day-long visit to the UAE after successfully attending the World Climate Action Summit of the Conference of Parties-28. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the PM's visit was defined by fruitful engagements with global leaders and path-breaking initiatives for accelerating global climate action. During his UAE visit, PM Modi noted that climate change has had an immense impact on the countries in the Global South. The PM said that to fulfil the aspirations of the Global South, climate finance and technology are essential. The prime minister underlined that countries in the Global South, including India, have a smaller role to play in climate change but the impact of climate change on them is immense. "We all know that countries in the Global South, including India, have had less of a role to play in climate change. But the impact of climate change on them is immense. Despite a lack of resources, these countries are committed to climate action," the Prime Minister said at the COP28 Presidency's session on Transforming Climate Finance today. "In order to fulfil the aspirations of the Global South, climate finance and technology are essential," he said. COP28 is being held from November 28-December 12 under the Presidency of the UAE in Dubai. The World Climate Action Summit is the high-level segment of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP-28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This is PM Modi's third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021. During the PM's UAE visit, India and Sweden announced the launch of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition 2.0 (LeadIT 2.0) in Dubai. The PM said the initiative will have three focuses. "First, inclusive and just industrial transition. Second, co-development and transfer of low-carbon technology; and third support for emerging technology. To make all this possible, we are also launching the India-Sweden industrial transformation platform. I have full belief that we will write a new green growth story for the generation to come," PM Modi said. PM Modi, along with Sweden's PM Ulf Kristersson, President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and European Council president Charles Michel, launched the web portal of the Green Credits Programme at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai. "The manner in which we give importance to our Health Card in life, we have to similarly start thinking in the context of environment. We will have to see what is to be done to add positive points to Earth's Health Card. I think this is what Green Credit is," PM Modi said. Meanwhile, in a special gesture by the UAE, PM Modi was given the honour of speaking at the Ceremonial Opening of COP28. Others speaking were COP28 President Sultan Jaber and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary. PM Modi said that India is among the few countries which are on course to meet Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as part of efforts to combat climate change and proposed that the country will host COP33 in 2028. "India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028," PM Modi said in his remarks at the opening ceremony of High-level segment of COP28 being hosted by UAE. He said India has presented an excellent example of the balance between ecology and economy before the world. "Despite India being home to 17 per cent of population of the world, its contribution to Global Carbon Emissions is less than 4 per cent. India is one of those few economies of the world that is on the path to meet NDC targets," he said. PM Modi on Friday met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the COP-28 Summit. The PM congratulated the UAE President for successfully hosting the COP-28 Summit. He also thanked the President for co-hosting the high-level event on the Green Climate Programme (GCP) at COP-28. Both leaders reviewed their wide-ranging and vibrant bilateral ties. They also exchanged views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, as per a release issued by the Prime Minister's office. PM Modi also invited the UAE President to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, to be held in India next month. "PM @narendramodi met UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of #COP28 WCAS in Dubai," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi wrote on 'X'. "The leaders reviewed bilateral ties and exchanged views on Israel-Hamas conflict. PM congratulated His Highness for successfully hosting #COP28 and thanked him for co-hosting the high-level event on Green Climate Programme at #COP28. PM also invited him for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be held next month in India," Bagchi said. PM Modi on Friday also met Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson on the sidelines of COP-28, the two discussed various facets of bilateral ties including defence, R&D, trade and investment and climate cooperation. The PM in his meeting with Swiss President Alain Berset, discussed ways to further deepen India-Switzerland partnership including in areas of trade and investment, technology, health, education, IT, tourism and people-to-people ties. Earlier on Friday, PM Modi met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Dubai. The PM also met his Barbados counterpart Mia Amor Mottley. "Happy to have met Barbados PM @miaamormottley during the COP28 Summit. Island nations face unique vulnerabilities to climate change, highlighting the urgent need for global cooperation to address these challenges and build resilience together," he said. (ANI)
Germany has announced humanitarian aid of 60 million euros for Afghanistan. The monetary assistance will help Afghans who have returned from Pakistan and the victims of the earthquake in Herat province, Khaama Press reported. The German embassy announced on Thursday on its social media platform, X, that the money will help Afghans who have returned from Pakistan. Germany will provide this aid via the World Food Programme, which it has entrusted to this organisation. This aid was given to the people of Herat impacted by the earthquake by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It said that the funds would help UN agencies carrying out humanitarian work in Afghanistan as well as groups like Caritas, Save the Children, World Vision, and others, Khaama Press reported. Germany's assistance to Afghanistan is indicative of its commitment to tackling the humanitarian issues in the area. The suffering of impacted and vulnerable people in Afghanistan will be lessened, and their basic needs will be satisfied, thanks to this financial support, reported Khaama Press. It has been over two years since the Taliban banned girls from attending schools after sixth grade in Afghanistan and has not taken any action to reopen educational institutions for girls. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they have issued several decrees that impose restrictions on women. Afghanistan's women have faced numerous challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Girls and women in the war-torn country have no access to education, employment or public spaces. Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the country's economic situation has deteriorated. The Afghans have repeatedly complained of lack of basic amenities under the interim government and the country is now heavily dependent on humanitarian aid. (ANI)
Noting India's success in the Chandrayaan-3 mission, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said on Friday that India has done something that no other country has done, and it deserve every bit of praise for the accomplishment. "My congratulations to India. You have landed first around the south pole of the moon. We will have a commercial lander that will land next year, but India was the first. Others have tried, and others have failed. But India was successful. You deserve every bit of praise for this accomplishment. It's very significant," he said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai. Nelson also mentioned the NISAR mission, stating that with the accomplishment of the four major observatories, a complete 3D composite model will be set up to find out what is happening to the Earth. "This is a major observatory that we are putting up with the Indian government. There are four major observatories. Once we get all four up, along with the 25 spacecraft already in orbit, we will have a complete 3D composite model of what is exactly happening to the Earth. We want to preserve our home." He added, "The first of these great observatories is NISAR. It will observe all the surfaces of the Earth. It will see any changes in the water, the land, and the ice. That will be another set of data that will help us understand what is happening to the Earth... That mission is coming in the first part of the next year. The rocket is provided by the Indian Space Agency, and then we have built the spacecraft together... It is being prepared in Bangalore at ISRO." NISAR, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and ISRO, will help researchers explore how changes in Earth's forest and wetland ecosystems are affecting the global carbon cycle and influencing climate change. NISAR is also a joint mission by NASA and ISRO, and when in orbit, its sophisticated radar systems will scan nearly all of Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. The data it collects will help researchers understand two key functions of both ecosystem types: the capture and the release of carbon. The NISAR satellite, equipped with advanced radar systems, will scan nearly all of Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. The data collected will help researchers understand the capture and release of carbon in these ecosystems. The NASA administrator stated that they are again going to the moon, and this time they will be accompanied by their international partners and will have an international crew on the first mission with the astronauts to the moon. "Well, there is a tremendous opportunity in the future for expanded commercial investment from India. Now at NASA, we have commercial partners, so, for example, we are going back to the moon, but this time we go back with our commercial partners. And we go with our international partners. In the first mission with the astronauts to the moon, which will be a year from now, it will have an international crew. So commercial efforts are a big part of our space program, and that will be the same here in India as well," he added. On Thursday, Nelson visited the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru, where the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is undergoing testing before its scheduled launch in 2024. The NASA chief is on a visit to India and also had an interaction with students of Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum (VITM) in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (ANI)
"Good friends at COP28. #Melodi," Italian PM Meloni wrote in a post on Instagram.

PM Modi also referred to his with Italian counterpart, and talked about efforts by the two countries for a sustainable and prosperous future.

"Met PM @GiorgiaMeloni of Italy on the sidelines of the #COP28 Summit. Looking forward to collaborative efforts between India and Italy for a sustainable and prosperous future," PM Modi said in a post wrote on X.

PM Modi also met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Barbados counterpart Mia Amor Mottley, French President Emmanuel Macron, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UK PM Rishi Sunak among other leaders.

COP28 Summit is being held from November 28-December 12 under the Presidency of the UAE.

PM Modi participated in the World Climate Action Summit, the high-level segment of the COP28 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Friday.

This is PM Modi's third appearance at the World Climate Action Summit after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021.

During his UAE visit, PM Modi noted that climate change has had an immense impact on the countries in the Global South.

PM said that to fulfil the aspirations of the Global South, climate finance and technology are essential.

He also underlined that countries in the Global South, including India, have a smaller role to play in climate change but the impact of climate change on them is immense. (ANI)
The Texas Senate quickly advanced measures Friday to fund school safety initiatives, shorten the timeline for court challenges to election results and give final approval to a $1.54 billion allocation for border barrier construction.

In two impromptu committee hearings, senators advanced Senate Bill 5, an $800 million proposal for school hardening projects and safety grants, and Senate Bill 6, a response to lawsuits challenging the results of the November election, which could delay property tax cuts and retired teacher benefits approved widely by voters.

A new proposal mentioned for the first time on Friday, SB 6 would shorten the time for setting a court date for an election contest from 180 days to 50 days and place parameters for when a final ruling must be made and when further appeals must be filed.

Senate Bill 6, authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, is an attempt to counteract six lawsuits filed after the Nov. 7 election that claim voting systems and machines used in the election didn't meet state and federal standards.

Authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, the legislation is an attempt to counteract six lawsuits filed after the Nov. 7 election that claim voting systems and machines used during the election did not meet state and federal standards.

"Nothing in Senate Bill 6 affects the rights of the people that file the election contest," Hughes said on the floor, shortly after the bill advanced from the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence. "We're not changing the rules for what they have to prove or anything else; what we are doing is saying to the courts, we have to hear this case quickly."

Senators express concern for election lawsuit bill's possible impact on funding for retired teachers

The concern, Hughes and Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, argued before the bill advanced from the Senate, is the potential for statewide property tax cuts and a cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers to be delayed for months by a lengthy judicial process.

A previous ongoing election challenge initiated in 2021 prompted the fear that the broader measures held in constitutional amendments passed by voters in 2023 could be held over by the courts, causing a ripple effect for both Texans expecting the tax relief and the state and local agencies preparing to comply with the new laws.

"Because this is so time sensitive, because those constitutional amendments affect so many people all across the state, it is our intent to speed up the process," Hughes said.

Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, shown speaking in October with Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, questioned Friday whether SB 6 might have unintended consequences.

While agreeing that a handful of largely unfounded election complaints should not get in the way of the constitutional amendments passed by voters, Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, felt the bill that landed on her desk only an hour before its final vote in the Senate might hold unintended consequences after the expedited process.

"I think that we should have trust in our judiciary that they would recognize the weight and consequence of dragging this out and act expeditiously," Eckhardt said.

After a series of questions from Eckhardt to Hughes on the origins of the bill, the need for changing the timelines and the relationship between the legislative and judicial branches, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick instigated a testy moment, largely rebuffing the Austin Democrat's concerns.

"We needed to act today," Patrick said in his return to the dais after a viral pneumonia diagnosis in November, telling Eckhardt to "have a merry Christmas."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, right, rebuffed concerns Friday about whether SB 6 was being passed too hastily.

Patrick went on to say the bill is not currently on Abbott's special session call, but if passed by both the House and Senate, it would be the governor's prerogative to sign it.

"We are acting quickly because the session ends the middle of next week," Patrick said of the year's fourth called session scheduled to end Wednesday.

Abbott's office did not respond to an American-Statesman request for comment about his stance on the proposed legislation.

Half of school safety funding to help put armed security officers in Texas schools

Passed in unanimous fashion from the Senate on Friday, SB 5 would allocate $800 million, half of which is earmarked for school safety allotment funding with the other half to be spent on grants to place armed personnel in schools throughout Texas.

"Senate Bill 5 builds upon our historic investments to enhance school safety and security," said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, referring to $1.4 billion in school safety funding approved during the regular session earlier this year.

"Senate Bill 5 builds upon our historic investments to enhance school safety and security," said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston.

Huffman, the bill's author, said the funding legislation is expected to be an ongoing expense meant to help schools have flexibility in addressing their security concerns before the bill passed from the Senate floor after an expedited Senate Finance Committee meeting.

Huffman said her intent is to see the funding be a step toward complying with school hardening legislation and grants meant to place armed security officers in Texas schools, which passed the chamber earlier this year.

"We want to see armed personnel in some way, shape or form on our school campuses," Huffman said. "Eventually, the goal is to reach all."

More: Did the Texas House kill school choice? How Gov. Greg Abbott says he'll keep fighting.

Previously, the House had passed a school safety funding bill to the Senate for consideration. However, Huffman said the legislation could affect other investments through the use of the state's "rainy day" fund and could be contingent on voter approval in the spring, further delaying the disbursement of resources.

Plan for Texas to build 50 miles of border wall on US-Mexico border

However, both chambers came to a final agreement Friday on border barrier construction funding, as the Senate concurred with House amendments to the $1.54 billion proposal.

Through sending Senate Bill 3 for Abbott's final approval, lawmakers are giving the green light to build an additional 50 miles of noncontiguous border wall over the next few years, which joins 50 miles already under construction.

A late infusion to the bill added an additional $40 million for overtime pay costs for Texas Department of Public Safety officers working in Colony Ridge, an East Texas housing development that Abbott and leading Republicans have accused of being a crime-ridden safe haven for people with undocumented immigration status.

Lawmakers, outside of the additional law enforcement funding, have largely stayed away from legislating on Colony Ridge after committee hearings in both the House and Senate that turned up little evidence of excess criminal activity.

The Senate is recessed until 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. The House is also expected to meet Tuesday with a time not yet specified.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate OKs funds for school safety and border wall construction
HUGHES, Ark.  One man has been charged and another person is wanted after police cars were set on fire in the Hughes, Arkansas, City Hall parking lot.

According to Hughes Police Chief Cortez Bowers, Ardell Smith, Jr., has been charged with three counts of arson and one count of reckless burning.

Hughes Police Department cars set on fire at City Hall

Bowers says a warrant has been issued for another suspect, identified as Elvonta Harden. Harden is also facing three counts of arson and one count of reckless burning.

Three Hughes Police cars were set on fire on the morning of September 12. At the time of the arson, Bowers said that only three working patrol cars remained.

Were going to try to continue to provide the City of Hughes with a quality of service from the Hughes Police Department, Bowers said.

Smith was already being held at the St. Francis County jail on previous drug charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A student was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a vehicle rear-ended a school bus and fled the scene, authorities said Friday.

The incident occurred at the corner of South Tryon Street and Remount Road Friday morning, Dec. 1, 2023, near South End.

 Track issues along your commute with the QCN Traffic Interactive Map

Medic confirms the student sustained minor injuries in the crash and was transported to CMC for treatment. Charlotte-Mecklenburg School officials said the school bus had been rear-ended and that the vehicle that struck the bus left the scene.

Its not known how many students were on the school bus at the time of the incident, but CMS said the bus was en route to Myers Park High School. Queen City News has reached out to CMPD for further information.

This case remains open and ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Authorities are investigating a shooting outside of a South Fulton restaurant.

South Fulton police told Channel 2 Action News on Thursday night officers received reports of a person shot outside of the Friend Rice King restaurant on Old National Highway.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to the investigation, two individuals were fighting outside of the restaurant when one of them was shot.

Authorities did not specify if the suspect was involved in the fight.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where their condition is unknown.

TRENDING STORIES:

The identity of the victim has not been released.

Authorities have not said if anyone has been taken into custody.

The shooting remains under investigation.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
One year after the abduction and death of 7-year-old Athena Strand in North Texas, her accused killer is still awaiting trial.

Athena disappeared from her fathers home near the Wise County town of Paradise on Nov. 30, 2022. Her body was found two days later at a site along the Trinity River, less than 10 miles from the house.

Law enforcement officers arrested Tanner Horner, a FedEx contract driver who delivered a Christmas gift of Barbies for Athena to her fathers home right before the 7-year-old went missing.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Horner confessed to authorities that he backed into Athena with his FedEx truck. She wasnt seriously hurt, but he kidnapped her, strangled her and killed her so she couldnt tell her father about the accident, he said.

A Wise County grand jury indicted Horner on Feb. 16 on charges of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a child. The next day prosecutors with the Wise County District Attorneys Office filed notice with the 271st District Court that they intend to seek the death penalty for Horner if hes convicted of capital murder at trial.

On March 6, Horner pleaded not guilty at his arraignment hearing in Wise County.

Today's top stories:

 New details in investigation of head-on crash that killed Fort Worth CEO, 2 kids

 North Texas resident shoots elderly man who crashed into home in medical episode

 Man pleads guilty in bizarre murder after forcing victim to get neck tattoo

Get free alerts when news breaks.

Technicalities have since slowed the case, which was temporarily paused for a time over the question of who should represent Horner at his trial, according to the Wise County Messenger.

In July, a district judge in Wise County ruled to remove Horners court-appointed attorneys, Bill Ray and Steven Gordon, and replace them with lawyers from the Regional Public Defenders Office, according to court documents. The ruling resulted from the judge learning that RPDO has a contract with Wise County to represent capital murder defendants.

The following month, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to rule on what he believed could be a reversible error by the judge. Stainton had previously told the Messenger he didnt want to risk Horner appealing for a new trial if convicted based on the decision to change attorneys.

Horner appeared in the 271st District Court in Decatur on Oct. 16 to clarify his attorney preference, the Wise County Messenger reported. It was his first time to speak on the record about his case.

I would like RPDO to continue representing me on my capital murder case, Horner said.

Horner also said he didnt want Ray and Gordon representing him on the aggravated kidnapping charge and asked the judge to assign him another attorney.

A date has not been set for Horners trial, which may be held in 2024 at the earliest.

Athenas parents, Jacob Strand and Maitlyn Gandy, have filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Horner, FedEx and Big Topspin Inc., which is the Dallas-based contractor that employed Horner.

Strand and Gandy are asking for a jury trial and damages of more than $1 million, with the amount to be determined by jurors.

This lawsuit is about Athena Strand  a vibrant young girl who deserves to have her memory live on for the good she brought to the world, the lawsuit says. It is about a life that was taken senselessly  a child who could have been any of ours. It is about a loss that could have and should have been prevented.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed the Athena Alert bill into law in July. The Athena Alert is intended to bridge the gap between the time a child goes missing and the time a state-wide Amber Alert is issued. Under the new law, local authorities can quickly activate a regional alert without verification of an abduction.
2 Black-Owned Businesses, A Real Estate Investment Group And Construction Enterprise, Come Together To Create Wellness Hub For Illinois Community | Photo: damircudic via Getty Images

The Aux, an inclusive commercial real estate investment group, has hired Ujamaa Construction, Chicagos largest Black-owned construction enterprise.

The new Evanston-based wellness hub is dedicated to healing, wellness, and racial equity  a space co-created and owned by the community.

To push its mission forward, the organizations collective acquired a former potato processing plant that will undergo renovations to create a community business center, Evanston Roundtable reported. The company is excited to begin the development of its new 16,000-square-foot building after working the past few years to raise 60% of the funding needed for the $10 million financial plan with the help of donations.

We are still raising money, but we are raising this building and today is the acknowledgment and a cause to celebrate that moment so that we can really kick it into the next gear and open these doors this time next year, The Aux co-founder Tiffini Holmes said.

To continue their support of Black-owned businesses, The Aux partnered with Jimmy Akintondes management firm, Ujamaa Construction. The collaboration seems to be the perfect fit since the entrepreneur created his business with the vision of rebuilding our community one block at a time, according to its site.

Les Bates, VP of Ujamaa Construction, shared with the Evanston Roundtable why a working relationship with The Aux tied into the companys core values ahead of his toast at an event commemorating the alliance.

We feel like were much more than a construction company, he said. A lot of people like to build buildings, but we like to provide long-lasting impacts that go beyond the bricks and mortar.

Through this project, over 10 small minority-owned businesses focused on health improvement will now have a home, and 30-plus local jobs will be available to the residents of Evanston. Some of the health and wellness businesses consumers can expect to see are Chef Qs Kitchen, Embrace Your Crown, The Laundry Cafe, Sunshine Enterprises, TBF Diagnostic, The Growing Season, The Fitness Representatives Gym, Cielo Agave, Smooth Rx and Sokana Collective.

Carlos Callahan, the co-owner of the organic and non-GMO juice clinic Smoothie Rx, shared the goal franchises goal is to provide more nutritious food options.

The Black community is plagued with all types of unhealthy options, he told the Evanston Roundtable. Most of us dont know what sugar does to the body. Most of us eat an [unhealthy] amount of sugar  so we just want to be conscious of that here and also deliver that message to the people so they can be conscious of it, too.

The Aux is expected to be open for business next summer. To stay informed about the work theyre doing or donate, check out the video below and the website.

This embedded content is not available in your region.
Two Nevada State Police Troopers died after they were run over in a hit-and-run Thursday while checking on a motorist who appeared to be sleeping in the driver's seat on a Las Vegas freeway, officials said.

The two troopers stopped at about 3:23 a.m. to check on someone who had pulled over to the side of the road on Interstate 15, according to a news release by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Officials said a white Chevrolet station wagon collided with the troopers moments later.

One trooper died of his injuries at the scene. The other trooper was transported to the UMC Trauma Center, where he later died, officials said.

Thursday evening, Nevada officials released the names of the troopers. Sergeant Michael Abbate joined the department in December 2013 and was promoted this month. Trooper Alberto Felix joined the department in 2019 and had previously served in the U.S. Air Force.

Both dedicated their careers to serving the State of Nevada with exceptional commitment and pride, state police said in a statement.

Police extended condolences to friends and family of the troopers. Officials said more information will become available as they investigate.

A 'disturbing trend': More police are dying from gun violence today than a decade ago

Suspect identified; community 'profoundly saddened'

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo released a statement Thursday saying he was profoundly saddened about the troopers deaths.

This is a devastating loss for Nevada law enforcement, the city of Las Vegas, and our entire state, he said. As we mourn these troopers, we will never forget their bravery, courage and sacrifice.

Police said the suspect, identified as Jemarcus Williams, 46, fled the scene in an unknown direction. Responding officials performed a grid search for the white vehicle and located it unoccupied by an apartment complex at about 8 a.m.

Williams was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He was charged with two counts of reckless driving resulting in death, two counts of driving under the influence resulting in death, and two counts of not staying at the scene of an accident.

Las Vegas police said the investigation is being led by the departments homicide section.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521 or anonymously at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Officials identify Nevada State Troopers killed in freeway hit-and-run
PROVO, Utah (ABC4)  Two officers suffered injuries and a suspect was taken into custody after an overnight pursuit in Provo early Friday morning, Dec. 1.

The pursuit started around 2:30 a.m. near 300 South and 500 West when officers attempted to stop a car allegedly not displaying a license plate. According to Provo Police Department spokesperson Janna-Lee Holland, the car did not stop and began to drive recklessly in an attempt to flee. Holland said the attempt to pull the car over was quickly stopped for safety reasons.

Southern Utah rattled by midnight earthquake

The driver of the car, later identified as Tareq Basem Hamdan, 23, allegedly continued to drive away. While allegedly attempting to flee, Holland said Hamdan swerved to strike an officers patrol car he spotted in the area.

The officer braked and narrowly avoided being hit, Holland explained in a press release. This action necessitated re-engaging in a pursuit.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

ABC4 Breaking News Alerts

Police pursued the suspect car to the north end of the city, only ending the vehicle pursuit when Hamdan reportedly crashed into a parked car. Hamdan allegedly fled on foot, starting a lengthy foot chase which police say ended with Hamdan being taken into custody near 1800 North and Carterville Road.

Holland said two officers suffered injuries as part of the pursuit but did not disclose the extent of the injuries. One of the officers was treated at a local hospital and later released. Holland confirmed Hamdan was also taken to the hospital for medical treatment after jumping off a high wall. He was treated and later released before being booked into the Utah County Jail.

Holland says Hamdan faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including aggravated assault, fleeing, failure to stop at the command of a police officer, hit and run, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and DUI.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Two men were sentenced to prison Thursday for robbing a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier at gunpoint last summer in Salt Lake City.

The U.S. Attorneys Office District of Utah said 20-year-old Nathan Suaste, of West Valley City, and 20-year-old Lorenzo Saavedra, of Saratoga Springs were sentenced to five years and seven years in prison, respectively.

Three Utah teenagers accused of robbing USPS letter carrier by gunpoint

Both men had pleaded guilty to charges of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, prosecutors said.

A third man, Exodus Matua, is slated to be sentenced in connection to the case in March.

According to court documents, the three men targeted a mail carrier to get his arrow key to open mail receptacles. This would allow them to take packages and letters and use the contents to steal money.

Suaste was the mastermind behind the robbery, prosecutors said, as he recruited the other two men to participate.

Saavedra, with a gun given to him by Suaste, confronted the driver in the parking lot of a church in Salt Lake City and pulled the mailman out of his truck.

Matua, who also had a gun, punched the mailman in the face, and pointed his gun at him, prosecutors said.

The three men were all teenagers at the time of the robbery.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Theres never a better time to celebrate romance than this time of year. No matter how it starts  whether its after a crazy bachelor vacation or from a few slices of cake, the on-screen chemistry, comedic wingmen/women and tough to please in-laws are the recipes to the perfect romantic flick. If youre looking to cheer on the hopeless romantic or throw your box of chocolates at the screen, Amazon Prime has something for everyone.

Here are 20 romance movies we think youll love.

"A Guy Thing" (2003)

With just one week away from his wedding, Pauls (Jason Lee) goal is to maintain his clean slate even during his wild bachelor party. When he wakes up with the bartender (Julia Stiles) and cant remember the night before, he starts telling lies to cover his tracks and keep his fiance (Selma Blair) from finding out what may have happened.

"Blended" (2014)

Drew Barrymore stars as Lauren, a divorced mom of two boys who agrees to be set up on a blind date with a widowed dad of three girls, Jim (Adam Sandler). Their date goes terribly wrong (Hooters is partially to blame) and the two vow to never see each other again. That is until an unlikely trip to a South African resort forces them to vacation together and they realize how much they needed each other all along.

"Crazy Rich Asians" (2018)

Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is a frugal NYU professor excited to visit Asia for the first time as her boyfriends (Henry Golding) wedding date. To her surprise, she learns that not only is his family crazy rich (get it?) his mom (Michelle Yeoh) isnt as excited to meet her as she hoped. In the fight to win over his family, she learns who really pays the price when choosing love over family.

"Crazy, Stupid, Love" (2011)

Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) thought his life was nothing short of perfect  until his wife (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce after admitting she had an affair. Single, friendless and underdressed, Cal realizes theres more to the dating pool than just showing up to a bar. Cue Ryan Goslings character, Jacob, who notices Cal and takes him under his wing to teach him how to win over the ladies and in turn make his ex-wife jealous. "Crazy, Stupid, Love" is filled with twists and knock out turns that proves its never too late to find love.

"Failure to Launch" (2006)

Sue and Al (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw) are ready to be empty nesters. The only problem is, their 35-year-old son Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) has no reason to leave  he can invite girls over, his mom does his laundry and hes free to play video games with his friends (who also live at home) whenever he wants. After hiring professional motivator Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to push their son out of their house, she soon finds that shes met her match.

"Fools Rush In" (1997)

"Fools Rush In" is the tale of when what happens in Vegas doesnt stay in Vegas. Following a one-night stand, bachelor Alex (Matthew Perry) gets unexpected news that Isabel (Salma Hayek), a woman he barely knows, is pregnant. Despite his record with women, Alex decides to marry Isabel but is soon torn with his shotgun decision when their worlds begin to clash.

"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (2003)

Looking for deeper stories, advice columnist Andie (Kate Hudson) pitches that she can lose a man in 10 days using the dating tactics of her girlfriends. Meanwhile, ad exec Ben (Matthew McConaughey) bets that he can make a woman fall in love with him within the same timeframe. When the two meet, their plans take an unexpected turn.

"Its Complicated" (2009)

For many, divorce can be complicated especially with kids involved. But as Jane (Meryl Streep) comes to grips with single life, she takes interest in her interior designer, Adam (Steve Martin), which only makes her newly married ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin) want her back. After one drink leads to another, Jane and Jake wound up in what lead them to divorce in the first place: an affair. Optimistic for some fun in her life, Jane decides to pursue both Adam and Jake making things  complicated.

"Love Accidentally" (2022)

The only thing competing coworkers Alexa (Brenda Song) and Jason (Aaron OConnell) have in common is that theyve both been dumped. Brokenhearted, Alexa sends accidentally sends a vulnerable text to an unknown number and she surprisingly strikes a relationship with the stranger on the other line. Totally unaware that the charming man shes texting is Jason, the two open their hearts hoping to one day meet in person.

"Mamma Mia!" (2008)

Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is on her way to walk down her Grecian aisle when she realizes one thing is missing: her father. "Mamma Mia!" is the musical-turned-movie (based on the music of ABBA) following the bride-to-be as she secretly invites three men from her mothers (Meryl Streep) past in hopes of finding out who her biological father is before her big day.

"Notting Hill" (1999)

Life was pretty boring for bookkeeper William Thacker (Hugh Grant) until Hollywoods "It Girl" Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) walked into his Notting Hill store. The two quickly fall for one another and go at great lengths to keep their relationship under the radar and live a normal life, even if paparazzi outside Williams house every morning.

"Penelope" (2006)

Born with a pigs snout, heiress Penelope (Christina Ricci) must find true love with someone that will accept her the way she is in order to break the curse. Through her journey to find love, she meets several suitors all who make it clear theyre in it for the money and run at the sight of her looks. Ready to give up, she meets Annie (Reese Witherspoon) and Johnny (James McAvoy) who both show her the world she was always sheltered from and as she finds love with those around her, she learns to love herself.

"Shotgun Wedding" (2023)

"Shotgun Wedding" gives a new meaning to death do us part. Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) are in bliss as they prepare for their destination wedding  until gunmen take over their ceremony holding their guests hostage. The two team up to save their families but will they make it to their big day in one piece?

"Sitting in Bars with Cake" (2023)

They say the key to a mans heart is through his stomach. So if thats true, does cake count? Corrine (Odessa Azion) convinces her best friend and baker Jane (Yara Shahidi) to commit to a year of bringing her baked goods to bars across town in hopes of meeting the one. "Sitting in Bars with Cake" is Audrey Shulmans book turned movie that will leave you teary eyed and wishing you had a piece of their friendship.

"Somebody I Used to Know" (2023)

Everyone has that someone that they think about when they go back home and for work obsessed Ally (Alison Brie), its her ex-boyfriend Sean (Jay Ellis). Their reconnection is soon halted once its revealed that her ex is headed down the aisle to Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons), a woman who reminds Ally of the carefree person she used to be.

Fun fact: Bries husband Dave Franco directed the film.

"Something From Tiffanys" (2022)

"Something From Tiffany's" is Melissa Hills book turned movie which leaves two couples to question if theyre really ready for commitment after two blue boxes changes the course of their lives. When Rachel (Zoey Deutch) receives an engagement ring instead of the earrings her boyfriend purchased, she crosses paths with Ethan (Kendrick Smith Sampson) who planned to pop the question to his picture-perfect girlfriend (Shay Mitchell). Through a series of surprises, the two discover who theyre truly meant to be with.

"Sylvies Love" (2020)

Its a New York Summer in 1957 when Sylvie (Tessa Thompson) sparks romance with Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a saxophonist working part time at her dads record store. The two are inseparable all summer until Robert gets the opportunity of a lifetime forcing him to leave New York. Heartbroken, they decide to move on with their lives  Sylvie as a TV Producer and Robert a famous musician. Years later when the pair reconnect, they realize that even though their lives have changed, their feelings stayed the same.

"The Bodyguard" (1992)

The Bodyguard is the 1992 classic that will have you belting "I Will Always Love You" like youre an R&B star. When pop-diva Rachel Marrons (Whitney Houston) stalker sends life-threatening messages, her team hires former secret service agent Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner) as her bodyguard. While at first the two clash, they grow closer as they spend time together.

"The Proposal" (2009)

Known by her coworkers for being Type A (and a little scary), Margaret (Sandra Bullock) suddenly learns she will be deported back to Canada and lose her job. With her back against the wall, she forces her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her and in return offers to advance his career. The two head to Alaska to prove to her immigration officer (and themselves) that their marriage isnt a total sham and as she gets to know her new fiances family, she realizes her feelings might be real.

"Think Like a Man" (2012)

"Think Like a Man" is Steve Harveys book-turned-movie centered around helping women do exactly what the title says: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.

All going through different chapters in their lives and in the book, four ladies (Regina Hall, Taraji P. Henson, Meagan Good, and Gabrielle Union) use Harveys advice to get they want out of their relationships. When their men (Terrance J., Michael Ealy, Romany Malco, and Jerry Ferrara) realize whats going on, they conspire to study the book and flip the tables with the help of their newly divorced friend (Kevin Hart).

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
SAN DIEGO  Over $20,000 worth of jewelry stolen in San Diego County was found in a vehicle in Lake Elsinore, and the driver was arrested, authorities said.

Riverside County Sheriffs Office deputies discovered the valuables around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday when they were inspecting a car that was stopped in traffic lanes, the agency said in a news release. Deputies found the driver asleep behind the wheel near Grape Street and Railroad Canyon Road.

During their search, deputies also found $8,000 in cash, more than 80 grams of methamphetamine and other items related to drug sales, the release said.

Mikey Williams pleads guilty to single count of making criminal threats

The jewelry was later connected to a burglary in San Diego County with a victim being identified, the release stated.

Deputies booked George Moore, a 59-year-old Wildomar man, into Cois Byrd Detention Center. He was facing charges of drug sales and possession of stolen property.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
A 23-year-old was found dead months after he vanished  and now, a man who dated his sister is charged with murder, North Carolina officials told news outlets.

Tyrone Taylor was known as a beloved youth pastor with a passion for helping people. But the Dunn Police Department grew concerned after he went missing from an apartment complex in early September, according to WRAL and WNCN.

Hes not the type of person thats not reachable, Amy Ross, Taylors mother, told WNCN.

Days after Taylor was last seen, police in a Facebook post said his burned vehicle was discovered in Cumberland County. The case took another turn in November, when deputies in neighboring Harnett County reported workers found skeletal remains in a wooded area, according to WRAL.

The remains, which news outlets report were too decomposed to be identified at first, eventually were determined to belong to Taylor.

Now, almost three months after Taylor disappeared, a man jailed in an unrelated case is charged with murder and concealing a body. Harnett County deputies in a Nov. 29 news release didnt list attorney information for the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Daquan Seandre Thomas.

The suspect had dated Taylors sister, though officials couldnt share whether there was a confrontation between Taylor and Thomas, according to The Daily Records video from a Nov. 29 press conference.

At the time, officials were still working to determine how Taylor was killed.

He was loved by everybody. He loved everybody, Tashia Taylor, Tyrone Taylors cousin, told WNCN during his disappearance. He wouldnt hurt a fly, so Im not understanding why anyone would hurt him.

Dunn is roughly 40 miles south of Raleigh.

Hunters find human remains in NC national forest, feds say. FBI is now investigating

Man vanished years ago while going to the movies, NC cops say. Now remains identified
The holidays are officially here. But how are you spending them? If your New Years Eve plans are dinner and a night in, then you might have to have a movie ready.

Its only a matter of which movie you want to ring in the new year with. Chances are, youre over Christmas movies and are ready for something different.

People seeking a family-friendly option might go for Disneys contemplative Soul or the comedy Are We There Yet. For a more timely movie, find one set on New Years Eve, like Nora Ephron's famous flick "When Harry Met Sally."

Whether you want to match up a movie for when the clock strikes midnight, or just need some inspiration to head into the new year, here are 30 of the best movies to watch on New Years Eve on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Beyond.

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)

While the Charlie Brown Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving specials are more well known, Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! is an underrated film to watch with the whole family.

Are We There Yet? (2005)

Nick (Ice Cube) wants to get closer with Suzanne (Nia Long), so he takes her two kids on a trip from Portland to Vancouver on New Years Eve to go see her. But the trip becomes much more difficult than Nick thought, and the kids are mostly to blame.

Snowpiercer (2013)

Lets hope 2024 doesnt look anything like Snowpiercer, but it can still be a great watch for anybody looking to end off the year with an action-packed thriller from the mind of Bong Joon-ho. When the world falls into an apocalyptic ice age, the last remaining humans live on a forever moving train separated by class. As Curtis (Chris Evans) starts an uprising, New Years becomes a central aspect to the film.

Mermaids (1990)

Mrs. Flax (Cher) and her two daughters, Charlotte (Winona Ryder) and Kate (Christina Ricci), are constantly on the move. But the kids have enough when they move to a small town in Massachusetts, especially after Charlotte meets Joe (Michael Schoeffling). Family drama ensues at a New Years Eve party.

Now You See Me 2 (2016)

Illusionists, heists and a stacked cast  Now You See Me 2 is a follow-up to an ensemble heist movie with card tricks instead of fast cars. The sequel ends on New Years Eve in a finale thats worth staying up past midnight for.

Into The Dark: New Year, New You (2018)

Four friends reunite at a New Years Eve party for a game of Never Have I Ever. But as old secrets are revealed, the night quickly goes from nostalgic to violent. For those looking to end the year on a more frightening note, Into The Dark: New Year, New You scratches that itch and offers a good excuse as to why you dont actually want to go to New Years Eve parties.

It's nearly impossible not to love this rom com classic, thanks to its eminently quotable writing Nora Ephron and performances from Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Their lovably idiosyncratic characters, Harry and Sally, go on a 12-year journey, transforming from strangers, enemies to unexpected friends, slowly realizing they might be perfect for each other along the way. The movie includes an iconic New Years scene and for the sake of not giving away any spoilers, well just say itll make you wonder where your own Harry or Sally is.

'The Age of Adaline' (2015)

Blake Livelys character Adaline in "The Age of Adaline" challenges the phrase "you only live once" by instead living ... forever. The immortal character attends fabulous New Years Eve parties throughout different eras (how else do you mark the fact that you're not growing older as the rest of the world is?). During one such occasion, she meets a dashing Ellis Jones played by Michiel Huisman, who she soon falls in love with. Adaline must face the challenges this new love poses as time ticks on for everyone but her.

'High School Musical' (2006)

Say "High School Musical," and a group of teenagers who have songs and dance moves for every life situation will probably come to mind. If you grew up with a franchise, you may still get butterflies from the moment Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens' characters Troy and Gabriella hit it off for the first time at a New Years Eve party. This scene alone will either make you or your teen at home break out into dance moves as you sing along to "Start of Something New."

'New Years Eve' (2011)

Follow the intertwining story of different New Yorkers as they navigate love, happiness, second chances and new beginnings on New Years Eve. The star packed film, which includes Leah Michelle, Zac Efron and Ashton Kutcher, is certain to have a storyline for whatever mood you are chasing in 2023.

'The Godfather II' (1974)

If there is someone you dont want to kiss on New Years, its Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), also known as the Godfather. However, if you are looking for a night packed with crime, suspense and a celebratory atmosphere, the Corleone family is who you will want to spend it with. The crime drama features a New Years Eve party in Havana, Cuba, where Corleone comes to heartbreaking realizations concerning members of his most trusted circle.

'The Great Gatsby' (2013)

Who better to celebrate another year of the roaring twenties than with Gatsby himself? The extravaganza of Jay Gatsbys (Leonardo DiCaprio) parties in "The Great Gatsby," along with his love story with Daisy (Carey Mulligan), will set the mood for a night surrounded by your own old sports and glasses of champagne.

'While You Were Sleeping' (1995)

"While You Were Sleeping" has an unusual meet-cute. It all starts at a Chicago train station when Lucy (Sandra Bullock) saves the life of Peter (Peter Gallagher), a passenger she's long harbored a crush on. He ends up in a coma and  due to an error at the hospital  Lucy is identified as his fiancee. At the news of this, Peter's family, including his brother (Bill Pullman), welcomes her into their circle. The film takes place during the holiday season, including a New Years Eve scene.

'The Pursuit of Happyness' (2006)

Whether its closing chapters or starting new ones, New Years is the perfect time to reflect back at the past and look toward the future. "The Pursuit of Happyness" does just that, as Will Smith acts out the life of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman in pursuit of a life-changing career for him and his son (played by Smith's actual son Jaden Smith). The biographical drama will inspire you to chase happiness this new year and fill you with determination to face all the challenges that come with dreaming big.

'About Time' (2013)

If you could relive an era in your life, which would it be and what would you change? Domhnall Gleesons character Tim knows his answer in "About Time," as he travels back to a New Years party and kisses the girl of his dreams, played by Rachel McAdams, soon after discovering he has inherited his familys ability to time travel. The film will make you root for love and its never-ending awkwardness.

'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)

How would you define the feeling that sets in your stomach seconds before the New Years ball is about to drop? Maybe its like feeling everything everywhere all at once. "Everything Everywhere All At Once" is not a New Year's movie, but it touches on the feeling of infinite possibilities that the holiday often is associated with. Travel through alternate universes with Michelle Yeoh as her character is swept up in an adventure where she alone can save the world while exploring all the lives she could have led. The film will make you get deep about parenthood, empathy, and untrodden paths ... and make wonder who you would really like to "just do laundry and taxes with."

'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)

Whether youre a Philadelphia Eagles fan or Jennifer Lawrence fan, "Silver Linings Playbook" is another film set to help you welcome the new year. Co-starring Bradley Cooper, the movie touches on themes like new beginnings and navigating romantic relationships when you're not quite done healing.

'Forrest Gump' (1994)

Run to the new year with Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, a character who manages to intersect with history, over and over again, simply through lucky timing and sheer openness. The movie might have you thinking about courage, character and taking life for what it is (oh, and chocolate). The movie also includes a New Years party with Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise), which, like most New Years Eve parties, takes an unexpected direction.

'Bridget Joness Diary' (2001)

Glamour and champagne make for a good New Years Eve on screen, but if you are looking for a more realistic version of the night, :Bridget Joness Diary" is the film youll want to watch. The film opens on New Years Day, with a single Bridget (Renee Zellweger) spending the day with her family, watching reruns of "Frasier" and listening to "All By Myself." Jones decides to start the year with resolutions that include losing weight, finding a nice boyfriend and doing the weeks laundry of course.

'Groundhog Day' (1993)

Perhaps a lesson learned as the year wraps up is that "tomorrow is another day"  except if youre Bill Murrays character on "Groundhog Day." Phil, a cynical weatherman, finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day. His predicament drives him to turn the situation into his advantage and soon after desperation, as he falls in love with his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell). This next year doesn't have to be a "Groundhog Day" of the one that came before it.

'Royal New Years Eve' (2017)

Have a grand time on New Years Eve by watching Hallmarks "Royal New Years Eve." The story follows Caitlyn, an aspiring fashion designer who falls in love with her socialite clients perspective fiance, Prince Jeffrey, who is expected to propose at the New Years Ball. All Hallmark movies are now streaming on Peacock.

'Bucket List' (2007)

Check off this comedy drama from your own bucket list on New Years Eve. The story follows Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), two terminally ill strangers with a mission in common: They want to check off a few last musts before they die. The movie will have you reaching for your own pen and paper on New Years Eve and perhaps throughout the year.

'Carol' (2015)

An adaptation of Patricia Highsmiths novel "The Price of Salt," "Carol" follows the unexpected love affair between Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a young department store worker, and elegant housewife Carol (Cate Blanchett) in the 1950s, with their first kiss happening on New Years.

'Oceans 11' (1960)

New Years is the perfect time for resolutions, new beginnings and according to Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra), casino heists. Follow Ocean and his 11 pals through an elaborate New Years Eve heist as they bet their future in Las Vegas. Even if you're already familiar with the 2001 version starring George Clooney, the holiday-set classic starring the much of the Rat Pack is worth a watch.

'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993)

We, too, would go to the top of the Empire State building and look for Tom Hanks, just like Meg Ryans character does in "Sleepless in Seattle." Annie surprises herself by falling in love with Sam, a widowed father whose son tries to find him a partner by calling a radio-talk show. The movie will set the mood for New Years by also including a reference to the holiday.

'Inside Out' (2015)

This family-friendly film will help you embrace any blue emotions you might be feeling as you say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023. Taking place in the mind of a middle schooler, "Inside Out" shows how our emotions can often take the reins. They say it's for kids  but "Inside Out" is bound to make the adults in the room cry more.

'Phantom Thread' (2017)

Love, elegant dresses and a New Years Eve party is what you can expect from this Oscar-winning film starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps. Dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock is living in the British fashion world in the 1950s  dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites and debutantes. His carefully tailored bachelor existence soon gets disrupted by Alma, a strong-willed woman who becomes his muse and lover.

'Ferris Buellers Day Off' (1986)

Ferris Buellers (Matthew Broderick) skipping school. His big day off consists of stolen Ferraris and Chicago filled adventures as he realizes his high school days are coming to an end. The film will make you want to make every moment count this new year, even the sick days.

'Ghostbusters II' (1989)

Who are you calling on New Years? If youre spending the night with a group of all ages, we recommend you call on the Ghostbusters. The sequel features an action packed slimy New Years Eve celebration that will make you slip your way into 2023.

'Soul' (2020)

No New Year's resolutions? The animated film "Soul" teaches people this is perfectly fine. After landing the gig of a lifetime, New York jazz pianist Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx), suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange land between Earth and the afterlife. Joe soon learns there is something freeing about walking out of the door and enjoying life without needing to prove anything.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
[Source]

Three men have been arrested in connection with a violent robbery outside an Asian supermarket in South Sacramento earlier this year.

What happened: The incident, which was caught on surveillance video, occurred in the parking lot of S.F. Asian Supermarket near Stockton Boulevard and 65th Street at around 4:13 p.m. on March 28, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. The victim had just finished shopping and was returning to her car when two suspects emerged from a vehicle, physically assaulted her, stole her purse and fled the scene.

The aftermath: The victim suffered major injuries to her spinal cord. She was hospitalized following the incident.

Trending on NextShark: Check out Yanjin, the world's narrowest city

Arrests: After months of investigation, three Sacramento men  identified as Michael Lambert, Kyle McBride and Nigel Patterson  were apprehended in connection with the robbery on Wednesday. Lambert, however, has bonded out as of Thursday, but McBride and Patterson remain in custody.

Detective Sou Saephan, who cracked the case, told KCRA 3 that the victim was definitely in shock and traumatized after the incident.

If they victimize people out here in the Sacramento community, we will come for you, he said. We will find you. Justice will be served.

Trending on NextShark: Studio Ghiblis The Boy and the Heron makes box office history

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two children and a woman were reportedly killed Thursday night in a house fire in McNairy County.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the fire happened in the 5300 block of Leapwood Enville Lane in Adamsville.

Three people died in the fire, but police have yet to release their identities as they await the medical examiners report.

Tennessee state law discriminates against people with HIV: DOJ

People close to the family say a man, his girlfriend, and two young sons lived at the home. They say only the man survived, though he was badly burned after trying to go back into the house to save his family.

The man was taken to a Memphis hospital.

It always is [hard] when its a small community like this. You always know it could be family or friends, so it is always hard. Especially with the firefighters knowing the people, said McNairy County Fire Chief Steve Stoll.

Their next-door neighbor, Scott Butcher, woke up and saw the massive flames around 11 p.m. Thursday.

He says he saw the children living at this house every day.

It hurts. They didnt really bother anybody. They tried hard in everything they did, said Butcher. He would give you anything he could.

 Download the WREG App today and stay up to date with breaking news and weather.

 Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

Butcher says that the family put a cross on the tree next to their home a few weeks before the fire, now a symbol of what he says will get them through this tragedy.

The Lord is the only one who can step in and make sense of this. Help them out. Help us help them make sense of it all, said Butcher.

The cause of the fire has not yet been released.

We will provide updates as they become available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A wolf hybrid kept as a family pet fatally attacked a 3-month-old in Alabama, officials said.

The animal lived with the infants family in Chelsea, according to a news release from the Shelby County Sheriffs Office.

The animal attacked the child shortly before 1 p.m. on Nov. 30, deputies said. Deputies, firefighters and animal control responded to the call of an animal attack at a residence.

First responders rushed the child to a hospital, where he died of injuries sustained in the suspected attack. Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans told McClatchy News in an email the victim was a 3-month-old boy.

A veterinarian euthanized the animal, deputies said.

We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate and tragic event, Chelsea mayor Tony Picklesimer said in a Dec. 1 statement. We lift up the family and all those affected with our deepest prayers and thoughts.

Some states ban keeping wolf hybrids as pets or place restrictions on their ownership.

Alabama is one of four states that allows ownership of exotic animals as pets without specific restrictions, Picklesimer told McClatchy News in an email.

The ownership of wolf-dog hybrids in the U.S. is contentious, according to the International Wolf Center.

People who own hybrids often find that their pets behavior makes it a challenge to care for, the center says.

Though dogs evolved from wolves, they were domesticated over thousands of years, making their behavior different from that of wild wolves.

Every year, thousands of pet wolves or hybrids are abandoned, rescued, or euthanized because people purchase an animal they were not prepared to care for, according to the center.

The Shelby County Sheriffs Office is investigating.

Chelsea is about 30 miles southeast of Birmingham.

Would you adopt a wolf-dog hybrid? People line up to take one home in Rhode Island

Woman walking dogs spots what she thinks are sled dogs  until they start howling

Dog attacks owner then is found shot dead in backyard hours later, Ohio cops say

Rare mountain lion shot and killed by archery deer hunter in Wisconsin, officials say

Missing man found dead in woods was killed by dogs a month ago, Louisiana sheriff says
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  All fourth and fifth-grade students in El Paso County are encouraged to join and register for the Harmony Public Schools 4th annual math competition.

Registration is free and open until 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4; The competition will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 at Harmony School of Innovation Middle/High located at 10405 Dyer St.

The competition is designed to promote a competitive academic environment with respect to mathematics. Students who participate in this competition will test their mathematical capabilities and be better prepared for middle school, according to a press release sent by Harmony Public Schools.

According to the press release, the competition will consist of 40 multiple-choice questions from various math topics aligned to TEKS with 5 tiebreaker questions.

Additionally, the top three winners will receive prizes including ASUS TUF F17 Laptop, an Apple Watch Series 8 and a Meta Quest 2.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
There are actions you can take today that will lower your risk of HIV.

There are actions you can take today that will lower your risk of HIV.

Of the estimated 1.2 million people with HIV in the United States, 13% are unaware they have it. This is despite ongoing scientific advancements enabling people with HIV to live long, healthy lives, and a vast increase in frank and candid conversations from people in the public eye, like Billy Porter and Jonathan Van Ness, to dispel the stigma surrounding the virus.

What gives?

I still think there is a lot of stigma surrounding HIV and prevention, and I also think theres still a distrust from certain communities of the medical establishment, lack of education and comfort with providers, said Dr. Antonio E. Urbina, medical director at the Mount Sinai Institute for Advanced Medicine and a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

We have made strides in terms of decreasing the number of new infections, but we still need to demystify the tools we have to prevent it by universally adopting a more sex-positive attitude, Urbina told HuffPost

Feeling comfortable with and empowered by your medical provider to speak openly about your status, ask questions and seek treatment are crucial tools in the fight to eradicate HIV and treat those living with it. But there are plenty of other things infectious disease doctors recommend that people do in order to keep themselves safe.

Know your status.

The most obvious-sounding one is also one of the most important. Its not only for the benefit of your sexual partners and for the betterment of your health but also to ensure youre getting the correct and most effective treatment possible.

When a person is aware of their status, they can engage in informed conversations with health care providers to explore personalized prevention strategies, Dr. Taimur Khan, associate medical research director of the Fenway Institute in Boston, told HuffPost.

Regular testing facilitates early detection, which can lead to early treatment, reducing the risk of HIV transmission and contributing to better health outcomes. It also opens the door to other preventive measures, like PrEP, which can be tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

Inquire about new treatment options.

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is already a widely known method of protection and prevention. When taken in pill form as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99%.

It also helps to maintain the U=U, or undetectable equals untransmittable, status. When your viral load is undetectable, its also untransmittable. When someone has HIV and is taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) to maintain their undetectable status, they cannot spread the virus. Since PrEP assists in preventing someone from contracting HIV even if they are exposed to it, it also helps to protect the wider community.

But not everyone feels like taking a pill every day. For those people, it might be worth inquiring about other options.

We already have approved a long-acting bimonthly injectable called Apretude, Khan said. That might be able to option the window for capturing the most vulnerable populations or most impacted. Its widely available and FDA-approved, most insurances will cover it. It just hasnt really scaled up significantly because its still new, and I also think it takes a bit of infrastructure at a site or clinic to have a flow and process for getting it approved and actually doing the injections.

Practice safe sex and injection.

Every doctor we spoke to stressed the effectiveness of consistently wearing condoms when engaging in anal, vaginal or oral sex, and for those who inject drugs, participating in needle exchanges or ensuring clean needles are used. For more information about syringe services programs, click here.

Prioritize being in a safe space.

Its just as important to feel empowered to discuss your sexual health with a partner as it is with your health care provider.

There should be no shame or judgment surrounding sex. This is one of the reasons transmission continues to occur, said Robin Hardwicke, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UTHealth Houston who specializes in infectious diseases. Sex is a natural part of human life; an expectation. Be free to have sex, but be responsible enough to protect yourself and your partner.

Find a provider or clinic where you feel comfortable talking about these issues, Urbina added. If you start to talk about this and you get shut down or theyre not responsive to your needs, you should go somewhere else until you really feel comfortable. If you feel you have to hide or not disclose something so important, its not a fit.

Treat HIV as part of your overall health.

Finally, its important for both medical professionals and their patients to remember that they would be better served looking at HIV through the lens of overall health and not just sexual health, Khan told HuffPost.

The stigma that has long been associated with HIV is being challenged by emphasizing a shift from discussing risky behavior to promoting sexual practices that are safe, consensual and enjoyable, he said. By addressing HIV as one aspect of a broader sexual health conversation that includes other [sexually transmitted infections], vaccinations, mental health and substance use, the focus is placed on comprehensive care and well-being. This inclusive approach helps to dismantle the blame and shame often associated with HIV and repositions it as a manageable health condition.
A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling Friday ordering Texas to remove a series of buoys installed in the waters of the Rio Grande, finding the state violated laws governing navigable waterways by placing the barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In affirming an earlier ruling, the 2-1 decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the lower court properly considered the threat to navigation and federal government operations on the Rio Grande as well as the potential threat to human life the floating barrier created.

The floating buoys cover 1,000 feet in the Rio Grande with anchors in the riverbed. They are arranged in a chain stretching up- and down-river, each separated by a rounded blade with serrated edges similar to a circular saw.

The buoys were put in place around July 10, installed just days after four migrants, including an infant, drowned trying to cross the river. In August, authorities found a body floating near the buoys.

The decision, written by Judge Dana Douglas, a President Biden appointee, noted that the risk the buoys pose to migrants is supported by Texass own statements noting the treachery of venturing across the Rio Grande.

The lower court ruling was deeply critical of Texass arguments to defend the installation, in particular the idea that the state is allowed any means to respond to any act it considers an invasion.

The buoys were first installed under Operation Lone Star, something Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said was necessary to counter inaction at the border on the federal level.

Governor Abbott announced that he was not asking for permission for Operation Lone Star, the anti-immigration program under which Texas constructed the floating barrier, District Judge David Alan Ezra wrote.

Unfortunately for Texas, permission is exactly what federal law requires before installing obstructions in the nations navigable waters.

Ezras command to remove the buoys, however, was administratively stayed by the 5th Circuit, pending further arguments.

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Don Willett, an appointee of former President Trump, said history of activity along the Rio Grande was not extensive enough for the waters to be considered navigable.

Without sufficient evidence of past use or susceptibility to use in commerce along this 1,000-foot Rio Grande segment, there can be no finding of historical navigability, he wrote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) says that some I-64 ramps in both Hampton and Norfolk are scheduled to close overnight next week, as part of construction for the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) Hampton Segment.

HAMPTON

The estimated schedule for the closures can be found below:

I-64 west off-ramp to Armistead Ave./LaSalle Ave. (exit 265B)  Dec. 4-7, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

I-64 east off-ramp to Settlers Landing Road/Woodland Road (exit 267)  Dec. 6, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

On-ramp from Settlers Landing Road/Woodland Road to I-64 east  Dec. 7, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

VDOT says that there will be signed detour routes to direct motorists during this time.

The schedule is subject to change based on weather conditions.

Ramp closure  I64 east to Settlers Landing Rd/Woodland Rd

Ramp closure  I-64 west to Armistead Ave/LaSalle Ave

Ramp closure  Settlers Landing Rd/Woodland Rd to I-64 east

According to VDOT, the I-64 west traffic shift at the Hampton River Bridge is estimated to remain in place through as early as summer 2024, while the single-lane closures between Settlers Landing Road/Woodland Road (exit 267) and west of Lassalle Ave. (exit 265) are estimated to be in place into 2026.

Crews encourage motorists to use I-664 as an alternate route to avoid the work area when possible, and to use extreme caution when traveling near work zones.

The HREL Hampton Segment is planned to become a part of the overall HREL network, a continuous 45-mile network of Express Lanes in each traffic direction on I-64, from east of Denbigh Blvd. in Newport News, to the I-64/I-264/I-664 Bowers Hill Interchange in Chesapeake.

The HREL network is designed to transport more motorists through the region while helping to alleviate congestion and providing motorists more travel options.

To find more information about construction updates and traffic impacts, visit the I-64 Express Lanes website here.

NORFOLK

Starting as early as Wednesday, Dec. 6, VDOT contractor crews are scheduled to conduct overnight ramp closures along I-64 as part of construction for the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) Norfolk Segment.

The estimated schedule for this work includes the following closures:

I-64 west off-ramp to Granby Street (exit 276A) Dec. 6, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

I-564 east on-ramp to I-64 west , Dec. 6, from 7 p.m. to Dec. 7, 2 p.m.

I-64 west off-ramp to Tidewater Drive south (exit 277A) Dec. 7, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Signed detour routes will be in place to direct motorists.

This construction work is weather- and schedule-dependent.

Visit the project site to learn more about construction updates, traffic impacts and to sign-up to receive project updates: https://64expresslanes.org/under_construction/norfolk.asp.

Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Seven U.S. troops remained missing Friday amid a massive search-and-rescue effort to recover airmen whose CV-22 Osprey aircraft went down off the coast of Japan on Wednesday.

The remains of one airman from the eight-person crew has been recovered, the Air Force confirmed in a news release early Friday morning. The military has declared the remaining airmen in DUSTWUN status, or duty status  whereabouts unknown.

Several military and civilian search-and-rescue units are scouring the water and coastline around the island of Yakushima, Japan, where the tiltrotor Osprey crashed during a training mission, the Air Force said. The cause of the mishap remains unknown.

What is the Osprey, the aircraft at the center of multiple tragedies?

The downed crew was assigned to the U.S. Air Forces 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo. The wings 21st Special Operations Squadron flies the Osprey, a long-range transport and supply aircraft, on emergency airlift and disaster-response missions around the Pacific.

The squadron has stopped flight operations, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed in a statement Friday.

Members of the 353rd Special Operations Wing are aiding in the search for their fellow wingmen alongside other Pacific-based units from across the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, plus the Japanese military, coast guard and civilian volunteers that include local fishermen.

While photos from the site show that debris believed to be from the Osprey has surfaced, a sunken wreck remains missing. Japans coast guard on Thursday began using sonar to search underwater for the broken aircraft, which may have fallen about 100 feet down to the sea floor.

Our sincere gratitude to all the units and Japanese partners involved in helping us locate our airmen, Air Force Special Operations Command said Friday.

Yokota Air Base has opened an emergency assistance center to support families of airmen who were on the Osprey and others at the installation affected by the crash.

Japanese coast guard members pick up a floating object as they conduct search and rescue operation in the waters off Yakushima Island, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Nov. 30. (Kyodo News via AP)

The mishap is the latest fatal incident involving a U.S.-owned Osprey aircraft, 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. It may become the services deadliest accident since 2018, when nine Puerto Rico Air National Guard troops died in a WC-130 weather reconnaissance plane crash.

The crash also marks the second deadly U.S. special operations mission in November, after five soldiers died Nov. 10 in a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Japans top government spokesperson expressed concern on Friday that the U.S. military is continuing to fly Ospreys in the country without providing adequate information about the fatal crash, despite repeated requests that it do so.

We are concerned about the continuing Osprey flights despite our repeated requests and the absence of a sufficient explanation about their safety from the U.S. military, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Friday.

Japanese officials say they asked the U.S. military to halt Osprey flights in Japan except for those involved in the search operations.

The Pentagon said Thursday that U.S. Ospreys continue to operate in Japan, and Singh said she was not aware of an official request from Japan to ground them.

CV-22 Ospreys fly along the Lake Michigan coast of Wisconsin, Oct. 14, 2016. (Airman 1st Class Joseph Pick/Air Force)

All V-22 Ospreys in Japan operate only after undergoing thorough maintenance and safety checks, she said in the statement Friday. We have already started sharing information about the accident with our Japanese partners, and have pledged to continue to do so in a timely and transparent manner.

The Marine Corps does not plan to ground MV-22s anywhere, service spokeswoman Capt. Alyssa Myers told Military Times Thursday.

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said he met with the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, on Thursday afternoon and repeated his request that flights be allowed only after the aircrafts safety is confirmed. He acknowledged that he did not specifically use the words grounding or suspension.

Kihara said he asked Rupp to explain what measures are being taken for Osprey flights in Japan in response to the crash.

On Thursday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and asked the United States to promptly provide information to the Japanese side.

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey that crashed was one of six deployed at Yokota Air Base, home to U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force, the services organization focused on joint operations with Japan.

The hybrid aircraft take off and land like a helicopter, but can rotate their propellers forward and cruise much faster, like an airplane, during flight.

The aircraft had departed from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, in Yamaguchi prefecture and crashed on its way to Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa, Japanese officials said.

The aircraft had 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. One Yakushima resident told NHK 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.

A total of 44 Ospreys have been deployed at U.S. and Japanese military bases in Japan. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops in Japan are based, Gov. Denny Tamaki called on Japans defense and foreign ministries to request the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan, including in search operations.

It is extremely regrettable that Ospreys are still flying in Okinawa, Tamaki said in a statement Thursday. I have serious doubts about Osprey safety even for their search and rescue operations.

In 2022, 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.

Dual hard clutch engagement led to engine failure, according to the investigation of that crash.

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.
A man has been arrested on a charge of murder in connection with the stabbing death of his mother inside a home in New Hampshire earlier this week, officials announced Friday.

Thomas Humphrey, 47, is slated to be arraigned Monday in Hillsborough County Superior Court on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of 70-year-old Linda Tufts in Goffstown on Tuesday, Attorney General John M. Formella, State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall, and Goffstown Police Chief Eric Sereno said in a joint news release.

Officers responding to a single-family home in Goffstown around 2:20 p.m. found Tufts body, as well as a fire burning inside, according to officials. Humphrey was found alive but injured and was hospitalized for treatment for apparent self-inflicted knife wounds.

An autopsy later determined that Tufts cause of death was multiple stab and incised wounds, and the manner of her death was homicide.

An investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office announced settlements with two nonprofits that are leaders in providing interpretation services in the commonwealth after complaints they facilitated ineffective communication at Pennsylvania hospitals.

According to the attorney generals office, the settlements include enforceable assurances from Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc. (DHCC) and Center for Hearing and Deaf Services, Inc. (HDS) that recommit the companies to assigning only qualified interpreters who can facilitate effective communication.

The services provided by these two organizations are vital to enable people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to communicate effectively and lead lives of equal opportunity, Attorney General Michelle Henry said. This is particularly important when making health care decisions, and we commend DHCC and HDS for committing to improve going forward.

The settlements follow complaints from two people who said the American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services at hospitals in Philadelphia and Erie were subpar. The hospitals contracted with DHCC and HDS.

Interpreters assigned to the hospitals by DHCC and HDS were not registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industrys Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, as required by Act 57, Pennsylvanias Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act. Under the settlements, both DHCC and HDS agreed to prioritize registered interpreters when making assignments, the attorney generals office said.

The settlement with DHCC also says the organization will make a $5,000 donation to the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

Pirates change start time For evening home games in 2024 Iowa lottery announced wrong numbers for Powerball drawing Pittsburgh Zoo announces new experience that will let you help lead penguins through parade route VIDEO: Operation Santa organization needs hundreds of volunteers to sponsor military kids for the holidays DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Ukrainian forces downed 18 of the 25 Shahed attack drones and one of the two Kh-59 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported on Dec. 1.

The drones were reportedly launched from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea and from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia's Krasnodar Krai. The missiles were fired from planes flying over occupied Kherson Oblast, according to the report.

The main direction of the attack was Ukraine's south and east, the Air Force said. Air defense was reportedly active in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts.

Russian forces launched a drone attack of a similar scale on Nov. 29, attacking Ukraine with 21 drones, all of which were shot down.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is likely to intensify its air strikes against civilian targets as the winter is setting in.

Read also: Despite Republican hesitance on Ukraine aid, red states reap economic benefits

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
An air-raid warning has been issued in all oblasts of Ukraine due to the take-off of a Russian MG-31K interceptor.

Source: map of air-raid warnings; Ukraines Air Force on Telegram

Quote: "Attention! Danger of missile attacks throughout Ukraine! A MiG-31K has taken off."

Details: Ukraines Air Force urged citizens not to ignore the air-raid warning.

The Air Force reported at 12:23 that a MiG-31K fighter jet had landed. The air-raid warning across Ukraine lasted for over an hour.

Support UP or become our patron!
In 2017, business traveler Tom Stuker was hailed as the worlds most frequent flyer, logging 18,000,000 miles of air travel on United Airlines over 14 years.

Thats a lot of time up in the air. If Stukers traveling behaviors are typical of other business flyers, he may have eaten 6,500 inflight meals, drunk 5,250 alcoholic beverages, watched thousands of inflight movies and made around 10,000 visits to airplane toilets.

He would also have accumulated a radiation dose equivalent to about 1,000 chest x-rays. But what kind of health risk does all that radiation actually pose?

Cosmic rays coming at you

You might guess that a frequent flyers radiation dose is coming from the airport security checkpoints, with their whole-body scanners and baggage x-ray machines, but youd be wrong. The radiation doses to passengers from these security procedures are trivial.

The major source of radiation exposure from air travel comes from the flight itself. This is because at high altitude the air gets thinner. The farther you go from the Earths surface, the fewer molecules of gas there are per volume of space. Thinner air thus means fewer molecules to deflect incoming cosmic rays  radiation from outer space. With less atmospheric shielding, there is more exposure to radiation.

The most extreme situation is for astronauts who travel entirely outside of the Earths atmosphere and enjoy none of its protective shielding. Consequently, they receive high radiation doses. In fact, it is the accumulation of radiation dose that is the limiting factor for the maximum length of manned space flights. Too long in space and astronauts risk cataracts, cancer and potential heart ailments when they get back home.

Indeed, its the radiation dose problem that is a major spoiler for Elon Musks goal of inhabiting Mars. An extended stay on Mars, with its extremely thin atmosphere, would be lethal due to the high radiation doses, notwithstanding Matt Damons successful Mars colonization in the movie The Martian.

Air travel means exposure to some radiation but how much are we talking about? John Jones, CC BY-ND

Radiation risks of ultra frequent flying

What would be Stukers cumulative radiation dose and what are his health risks?

It depends entirely on how much time he has spent in the air. Assuming an average flight speed (550 mph), Stukers 18,000,000 miles would translate into 32,727 hours (3.7 years) of flight time. The radiation dose rate at typical commercial airline flight altitude (35,000 feet) is about 0.003 millisieverts per hour. (As I explain in my book Strange Glow: The Story of Radiation, a millisievert or mSv is a unit of radiation dose that can be used to estimate cancer risk.) By multiplying the dose rate by the hours of flight time, we can see that Stuker has earned himself about 100 mSv of radiation dose, in addition to a lot of free airline tickets. But what does that mean for his health?

The primary health threat at this dose level is an increased risk of some type of cancer later in life. Studies of atomic bomb victims, nuclear workers and medical radiation patients have allowed scientists to estimate the cancer risk for any particular radiation dose.

All else being equal and assuming that low doses have risk levels proportionate to high doses, then an overall cancer risk rate of 0.005 percent per mSv is a reasonable and commonly used estimate. Thus, Stukers 100-mSv dose would increase his lifetime risk of contracting a potentially fatal cancer by about 0.5 percent.

Contextualizing the risk

The question then becomes whether thats a high level of risk. Your own feeling might depend on how you see your background cancer risk.

Most people underestimate their personal risk of dying from cancer. Although the exact number is debatable, its fair to say that about 25 percent of men ultimately contract a potentially fatal cancer. Stukers 0.5 percent cancer risk from radiation should be added to his baseline risk  so it would go from 25 percent to 25.5 percent. A cancer risk increase of that size is too small to actually measure in any scientific way, so it must remain a theoretical increase in risk.

A 0.5 percent increase in risk is the same as one chance in 200 of getting cancer. In other words, if 200 male travelers logged 18,000,000 miles of air travel, like Stuker did, we might expect just one of them to contract a cancer thanks to his flight time. The other 199 travelers would suffer no health effects. So the chances that Stuker is the specific 18-million-mile traveler who would be so unlucky is quite small.

Stuker was logging more air hours per year (greater than 2,000) than most pilots typically log (under 1,000). So these airline workers would have risk levels proportionately lower than Stukers. But what about you?

If you want to know your personal cancer risk from flying, estimate all of your commercial airline miles over the years. Assuming that the values and parameters for speed, radiation dose and risk stated above for Stuker are also true for you, dividing your total miles by 3,700,000,000 will give your approximate odds of getting cancer from your flying time.

For example, lets pretend that you have a mathematically convenient 370,000 total flying miles. That would mean 370,000 miles divided by 3,700,000,000, which comes out to be 1/10,000 odds of contracting cancer (or a 0.01 percent increase in risk). Most people do not fly 370,000 miles (equal to 150 flights from Los Angeles to New York) within their lifetimes. So for the average flyer, the increased risk is far less than 0.01 percent.

To make your exercise complete, make a list of all the benefits that youve derived from your air travel over your lifetime (job opportunities, vacation travel, family visits and so on) and go back and look at your increased cancer risk again. If you think your benefits have been meager compared to your elevated cancer risk, maybe its time to rethink flying. But for many people today, flying is a necessity of life, and the small elevated cancer risk is worth the price.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters.

It was written by: Timothy J. Jorgensen, Georgetown University.

Read more:



Timothy J. Jorgensen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Line 5 pipeline runs for approximately 4 miles across the lake bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, pictured here. (photo: Canva)

Today, the Bay Mills Indian Community released a statement condemning a decision by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approving a permit for the Canadian oil giant Enbridge to replace the disastrous Line 5 dual oil pipelines under the Great Lakes.

Line 5 is a 645-mile pipeline that transports up to 23 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily from western to eastern Canada, cutting across the treaty-reserved territory of tribal nations in Wisconsin and Michigan. The section that runs through the Straits of Mackinac, a waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, diverges into two 20-inch diameter steel pipes, posing a risk to the public. The Michigans Attorney General is currently suing Enbridge to shut it down.

The Bay Mills Indian Community, a Tribal Nation in Michigans Upper Peninsula that has relied on the Straits since time immemorial has fought to prevent this outcome in a contested case before the MPCS. Safety experts warn that the project could lead to a massive explosion and an oil spill in the Great Lakes, which holds 84 percent of North Americas surface freshwater.

"Instead of complying with a Governor's public safety order to decommission Line 5 in Michigan, individuals working at a state agency granted Enbridge a permit for a project for which they hold no property rights and no safety track record in good standing, Bay Mills President Whitney Grvelle said in a statement. Todays decision is another notch in a long history of ignoring the rights of Tribal Nations. We must act now to protect the peoples of the Great Lakes from an oil spill, to lead our communities out of the fossil fuel era, and to preserve the shared lands and waters in Michigan for all of us."

The Bay Mills Indian Community is also currently challenging a separate permit for the project. In addition, Bay Mills is advocating with the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is expected to release a draft federal review of the projects environmental impacts in the spring of 2025.

"Protecting the Great Lakes from the threat of Line 5 has been our priority for a number of years," said attorney Rebecca Liebing, in-house counsel for Bay Mills Indian Community, in a statement. "We are more resolved than ever to retire this outdated and dangerous oil pipeline."

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
CHICAGO  An Illinois appeals court on Friday ruled that the sentence and conviction against Jussie Smollett should stand, turning another page in the years-old, infamous case.

Seeking to overturn a sentence and conviction for falsely reporting a hate crime to Chicago police in January 2019, attorneys for the former Empire actor alleged a lengthy laundry list of violations in the case handled by special prosecutor Dan Webb after the Cook County States Attorneys Office controversially dropped all charges.

In a 2-1 decision, appeals court judges largely rejected the arguments, finding that, among other issues, Cook County prosecutors decision to drop charges did not constitute a non-prosecution agreement with Smollett. Justice Freddrenna Lyle, though, dissented, arguing that Smollett gave up something of value, community service and bond forfeiture, in exchange for a nolle of the whole indictment.

It was not immediately clear on Friday whether Smollett would continue to appeal the case, or if the ruling would compel Smollett to return to Cook County to serve his 150-day jail sentence. Requests for comment from Smolletts attorney were not immediately returned.

Webb released a statement following the opinions release, saying he hopes the decision will reassure the community that our legal system is fair, just and impartial.

Smollett appeared in court in person in September as a panel of appellate judges fired questions at lawyers about about the 2019 hearing during which Cook County prosecutors dropped all charges against him, spurring at the time a firestorm of controversy as well as the eventual appointment of Webb as the special prosecutor.

The substance of that hearing, and whether it constituted an agreement with Smollett, was central to the actors appeal of his convictions and sentence for fabricating a hate crime in January 2019. The actor reported to Chicago police officers that two men attacked him in the Loop in the early hours of Jan. 29, hitting him, yelling homophobic slurs and placing a noose around his neck.

But in a twist that drew frenzied international attention, prosecutors charged Smollett the following month with disorderly conduct for concocting the hoax with brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who testified that he paid them to perpetrate the attack.

About a month after prosecutors charged Smollett, they dropped all counts against him noting that he forfeited his $10,000 bond and had done community service. Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx previously handed the case to deputies, saying she had recused herself.

Former Cook County Judge Michael Toomin appointed Webb, a former U.S. attorney, as special prosecutor amid scrutiny around the decision. Webb refiled charges, and a jury convicted Smollett of five of six counts of disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probation and $130,160 in restitution.

Smolletts attorneys had argued that the dropped charges amounted to an agreement between prosecutors and the actor, and that double jeopardy had attached when Smollett forfeited the bail money.

Among other violations alleged in the appeal by Smollett: That the office of the special prosecutor withheld evidence when it did not turn over notes from an interview with the Osundairo brothers, though prosecutors contended it was work product exempt from disclosure, that the trial judge impeded public access to the courtroom by implementing COVID-19 restrictions and that prosecutors improperly excluded jurors on the basis of race and sexual orientation.

Attorneys for the state, though, among other arguments, contended that prosecutors who drop charges are not precluded from refiling charges in the same case.

In the majority opinion delivered by Justice David Navarro and concurred by Justice Mary Ellen Coghlan, the justices wrote that Smollett challenges virtually every aspect of the second prosecution that resulted in his convictions and sentence.

The record does not establish that Smollett entered into a nonprosecution agreement with the (Cook County States Attorneys Office), in which the (office) agreed to forgo further prosecution of him in exchange for his performance of community service and the forfeiture of his bond, the opinion reads.

When dropping the charges, the decision said, Cook County prosecutors did not describe an agreement with Smollet, but rather simply said they had reviewed Smolletts community service and agreement to forfeit the bond. Smollett did not enter into a cooperation agreement, according to the decision.

No jury had been impaneled, no witness had been sworn in, no evidence had been introduced, and Smollett had not pled guilty, the decision said. Because none of these actions occurred, jeopardy did not attach to Smolletts first criminal prosecution.

The opinion additionally did not find merit to other issues raised by Smollett.

In the dissenting opinion, Lyle argued that a bilateral agreement took place, which bound the State, nonetheless. Lyle cited a report from the special prosecutor that said prosecutors had internally described the dismissal as similar to a deferred prosecution agreement, when prosecutors dismiss charges, generally in low-level cases, if certain requirements are met.

Lyle further argued that the notion that Smollett would forgo the bond amount without an understanding that there wouldnt be further prosecution defies logic or suggests that the State engaged in a level of gamesmanship and bad faith that should be condemned.

While the State could have exercised greater semantical precision on the record by stating that the case was terminated with no intention of refiling, from the record it is apparent that was its intent, the dissent said.

In his statement, Webb addressed the dissent, writing: We respectfully disagree with the dissenting justices opinion and its conclusions, which the appellate court noted were unsupported by the trial court record and Illinois law.

_________
Former President Trump is not immune from civil lawsuits blaming him for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, an appeals court ruled Friday.

The appellate court was asked to decide whether Trumps false claims of election fraud and rallying cry for supporters to gather at the Capitol and fight like hell was outside his presidential responsibilities, meaning he could be held liable for it under U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

A three-judge panel affirmed unanimously that Trumps post-election efforts to subvert the 2020 election results were done in his capacity as a presidential candidate  not a president.

When a first-term President opts to seek a second term, his campaign to win re-election is not an official presidential act, Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia wrote in an opinion.

The appeals panel noted that Trump himself recognized his campaign to win re-election was in his personal capacity, citing a motion Trump filed in his personal capacity as candidate for reelection to the office of President with the Supreme Court when challenging election administration in several battleground states.

Presidents can carry out their official duties without exposure to civil liabilities, but when they are not acting in that capacity, the protection doesnt carry over, the panel ruled.

The Presidentdoes not spend every minute of every day exercising official responsibilities, Srinivasan wrote. And when he acts outside the functions of his office, he does not continue to enjoy immunity from damages liability just because he happens to be the President.

Trump was sued in 2021 by two U.S. Capitol police officers and several Democratic lawmakers under a century-old law barring the use of force, threats or intimidation to prevent government officials from carrying out their duties. The law, designed to beat back Ku Klux Klan violence after the Civil War, allows those injured by such actions to sue for damages.

The plaintiffs say Trump violated the statute by urging his supporters to defend his presidency and conspiring with far-right leaders to stop the certification of the 2020 election results.

The extremist groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, several members of which were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Capitol attack, were sued alongside Trump and longtime Trump ally Rudy Giuliani.

The appeals court heard arguments from the plaintiffs and Trumps counsel nearly a year ago, in December 2022. Trumps counsel argued that he was acting as president when issuing fiery remarks to his supporters from the bully pulpit.

The Justice Department in March declined to back Trumps position that he should be immune from civil suits seeking to hold him responsible for his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021.

The ruling means that the lawsuits seeking damages for emotional distress and physical injury tied to the riot can move forward.

In a statement to The Hill, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said Fridays decision is limited, narrow and procedural.

The facts fully show that on January 6 President Trump was acting on behalf of the American people, carrying out his duties as President of the United States, Cheung said. Moreover, his admonition that his supporters peacefully and patriotically make [their] voices heard, along with a myriad other statements completely prove that these Democrat Hoaxes are completely meritless.

Joe Sellers, co-counsel for the plaintiffs and a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, called the decision momentous for his clients and all Americans.

Todays victory brings us a crucial step closer to holding the former president accountable for the harm brought on members of Congress and on our democracy itself, Sellers said. We look forward to continuing our pursuit of justice through the Courts.

 Updated at 3:12 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This story has been updated to more accurately reflect that the Appleton Area School District has 14 charter schools and one magnet school.

APPLETON  Next fall, the Appleton Area School District is getting a new charter school: The Omolade Academy. The school will incorporate African and Black history and culture into its everyday instruction, the first school of its kind in the area.

The Omolade Academy will be run by African Heritage Inc., an Appleton-based nonprofit that works to advance the well-being of African Americans and people of color. The school's name translates to "Child of the Crown" in the Yoruba language, which is primarily spoken in southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo.

New charter school wants to close achievement gaps and teach students to think 'glocally'

The school will serve grades kindergarten through three and be open to all children. Its goal is to celebrate the cultural heritage of African descendants through science, technology, reading, engineering, entrepreneurship, arts and math, according to Bola Delano. She is a co-founder of African Heritage Inc. and a professor of education at St. Norbert College.

"It's important for our own regional area because it provides a more inclusive and comprehensive, culturally relevant education for all our students," she said.

By infusing Black history and culture into daily instruction, it won't just be taught during Black History Month in February.

"When you think about Black history, it's American history. It's also part of our multicultural history," Delano said.

Whether it's who they read about, the art projects they do or the type of music they play in band and orchestra, students will be exposed to a lot more African culture, according to Appleton Area School District Superintendent Greg Hartjes.

More: Last year, no Appleton public school failed to meet educational expectations. This year, two did.

Delano, who has a doctorate in education theory and development, wants students to have both a global and local perspective in what she refers to as thinking "glocally."

"Students will gain a broader understanding of communities but also gain a broader understanding of a diverse and global world," she said.

Another key focus of The Omolade Academy is to close achievement gaps in test scores between different student groups.

"We believe every child that walks through our doors is gifted and talented," Delano said. "We're going to use that curriculum to help to cultivate the talent and the gifts that they have."

The Omolade Academy will be Appleton's 14th charter school

The Appleton Area School District is no stranger to charter schools with 13 already operating in the district. It has the second highest number of charter schools in the state, behind only Milwaukee Public Schools.

The Omolade Academy will be the district's first new charter school in a decade, Hartjes said.

"We feel we have great neighborhood elementary schools, but we also have a lot of really successful charter schools in our district, and this has one more option for our families," he said.

Charter schools are public schools created through a businesslike contract, or charter, between a public school board and the operator of the school. Charter schools have more flexibility and autonomy in their instructional methods and school structure.

More: Here's what charter schools are and how they work in Wisconsin

Many decisions will need to be made in the next nine months

African Heritage Inc. has been planning to open the school for over a year and finalized the partnership with the Appleton Area School District on Nov. 27. There are about nine months before the school will open, meaning a quick timeline for securing a location, hiring staff and enrolling students.

Hartjes said the district typically has 16 months to get a charter school up and running, so The Omolade Academy is on "a very tight timeline."

The school will be funded through a $1.7 million five-year federal grant from the Department of Education. The school district will work alongside African Heritage Inc. to pick a location for the school and provide staffing.

The school will have to get furniture, train staff and finish writing the curriculum, all before September 2024.

How to enroll in The Omolade Academy

Enrollment opens Dec. 1 for The Omolade Academy; families can apply on the Appleton Area School District website at www.aasd.k12.wi.us/our_schools.

Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Appleton charter school focused on African culture and history opens next fall
(Bloomberg) -- Argentina wont join the China-led BRICS bloc during Javier Mileis presidency, his incoming top diplomat said, underscoring the significant foreign policy shift his administration plans once in office.

Most Read from Bloomberg

We wont go into the BRICS, Diana Mondino, Mileis pick for foreign affairs minister, wrote Thursday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Speaking to journalists at an event earlier in Buenos Aires, Mondino cast doubt on the value of the group, which includes China and Brazil, Argentinas top two commercial partners. If the BRICS are already our primary trading partners, whats the difference? she said.

Milei has signaled he plans to align Argentinas interests with the US when he takes office on Dec. 10. While his team has walked back some of the aggressive rhetoric about China and Brazil that he used while campaigning, spurning BRICS would move Argentina away from a drive led by Beijing and others to champion emerging markets.

Read: How BRICS Became a Club Thats Inviting New Members: QuickTake

Argentinas current government led by President Alberto Fernandez lobbied hard to join the bloc that also includes Russia, India and South Africa. BRICS has also been seeking to add multiple members next year, including Argentina.

China has been a major proponent of the bloc that was officially formed in 2009-2010, largely to counter what it calls US hegemony. BRICS has even discussed a common currency, though little progress has been made on that idea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin avoided directly answering a question about Mondinos remarks when asked about them at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Instead, he said BRICS is an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and defend shared interests.

Also: China Congratulates Argentinas Milei Despite Assassin Insult

--With assistance from Dan Murtaugh.

(Updates with comment from Chinas Foreign Ministry.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
A voter arrives on March 14, 2023, at the Devonshire Senior Center polling place for a runoff election to decide two Phoenix City Council seats. The Devonshire Senior Center polling place is located at 2802 E. Devonshire Ave., Phoenix.

Arizona has become a key piece of the electoral map for the 2024 presidential election.

Ours is a battleground state likely to draw intense focus from national campaigns and news coverage.

Thats exciting and meaningful for the people of Arizona.

But a kink has developed in the calendar for the August primary and November general elections that could turn the final count of Arizona votes into a train wreck.

New laws on election procedures have made the states old election calendar obsolete and ill-prepared to accommodate all the tasks election officials must perform.

The problem was anticipated, but until recently, its seriousness was not entirely clear.

Arizona's vote could, conceivably, not count

Without a solution, Arizona could conceivably leave itself too little time to add its presidential electors to the national count.

Such a scenario, while remote, would be a disaster that disenfranchises Arizona voters, stirs national controversy and casts a harsh light on our state and its political leadership.

Arizona leaders from both major parties need to take this problem seriously and begin now  with little time remaining  to solve it before key election dates hit.

Because election law and procedures gain their legitimacy from the confidence of all voters  left and right  well need a bipartisan solution to this problem.

That means our Democratic governor and our Republican legislative leadership need to pull together major stakeholders and work toward a solution that focuses exclusively on the procedural problem and eschews partisanship.

That requires a strong and principled hand to make sure problem-solving does not devolve into a war for political advantage. Both parties are going to need to sacrifice to produce a solution.

Arizona has an election calendar crunch

The first step to solving a problem is understanding it.

The problem is largely a calendar crunch, created by two laws that are in full effect for the 2024 election cycle and beyond.

One is a state law passed in 2022 that broadens the threshold for an automatic recount, from a margin of victory of one-tenth of 1% to one-half of 1%.

The other is a federal law that sets in stone a previously flexible deadline by which state presidential electors must be certified.

Whys that a problem?

Because a recount cannot simply start right away following an election.

Law requires time to conduct recounts

The secretary of state must first:

review and ensure all valid votes are counted;

obtain a court order to recount the ballots; and

visit each of the states 15 counties to perform a statutorily required logic and accuracy test on the countys voting and ballot-counting equipment.

Only then could county election officials begin a recount.

Should recounts happen in the August primary election, county election officials fear they wont have sufficient days to simultaneously conduct a recount, prepare ballots for the November general election and meet timelines set by statute to quality-check ballots and mail them to military and overseas voters.

If those fears are realized, Arizona could run afoul of the federal government and be forced to get preclearance from the Department of Justice to carry out any new election law.

Even worse, if recounts happen in the November general election  which not only includes state and federal races but Arizonas choices for president  officials believe they wont have sufficient days to conduct a recount and certify the results by Dec. 11, when Arizonas presidential electors must be certified by the governor.

If that happens, Arizona may be ineligible to cast its electoral votes or have them count.

Counties have offered possible solutions

Recounts would pose a similar time crunch in elections after 2024 as well.

If the 2022 elections are an indication, recounts will be more the norm rather than the exception.

Three state and local races in Maricopa County in that years primary election had narrow winning margins that would have triggered a recount and put a strain on the election calendar.

In the general election, which took place after the new recount threshold went into effect, three races, including the attorney general and schools superintendent contests, resulted in recounts.

This is what happens: When suckers ignore election law

Arizona is not without solutions.

The Arizona Association of Counties, in collaboration with county election officials across the state, has offered up a matrix of steps to head off the election-calendar problem.

Its representatives have met with legislative leaders and the Governors Office to outline the issue and the potential ways to shorten processes that the Legislature can enact when the new session convenes in January.

They include:

Reducing the number of days to quality check the ballot.

Reducing the days for voters to correct their ballot for mistakes such as a missing signature.

Shorten the period counties have to canvass, or certify, the results.

Move up the primary election by a week, or by two weeks.

Only compromise can solve this problem

The moment marks both an opportunity and a challenge for state lawmakers and Gov. Katie Hobbs.

Battle lines already are being drawn.

Republican leadership reportedly wants additional restrictions on early ballots, for example, which Democrats have previously rejected, saying that would unnecessarily burden minority groups.

Whatever combination of fixes the Legislature adopts, its clear that it must be brokered and supported by both parties and Gov. Hobbs.

Arizona Association of Counties Jen Marson views the best solution as one that condenses the existing election calendar instead of passing new policies and practices.

So its an administrative burden on the people who administer elections, she said, and as little as possible of a burden on the people who vote in elections.

Shes spot on.

That should serve as a guidepost for whatever compromise Republican and Democratic lawmakers strike.

Arizona is on the clock.

This is a moment where we either fall down or prove that we have the political will and talent to solve one of our most urgent problems.

This is an opinion of The Arizona Republic's editorial board.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona votes may not count in 2024, if we don't fix this problem fast
The Baltimore Planning Commission began the process Thursday of reviewing sweeping land use changes for the Inner Harbor that would allow a mixed-use development, including two tall towers of housing, to replace the aging Harborplace pavilions.

The staff of the Baltimore City Planning Department recommended the commission adopt  with some changes  the zoning and other revisions that would pave the way for MCB Real Estates project during the commissions first public hearing on the proposal.

Department staff called for the city to put into place a new overlay zone, similar to those used in other city waterfront neighborhoods, that would govern features such as building height and uses along the Inner Harbor promenade.

No recently enacted plans for the harbor contemplated residential or mixed-use of the Inner Harbor, said Caitlin Audette, a design planner in the department. However, recent history has shown the need to diversify the harbors economy and add population density that could support the areas commercial tenants.

The Planning Commission put off a vote on the high-profile project, which has drawn scrutiny for its proposed density and design, until more people could testify at a hearing likely to be held Dec. 21.

The commission will be making a recommendation to the City Council on a set of companion bills that would allow the residential development and other new uses, remove height restrictions and expand both private and public space along the Inner Harbor arc from the Baltimore Visitor Center to the World Trade Center. The bills include rezoning requests, amendments to the citys urban renewal plan governing the Inner Harbor, and an amendment to the City Charter.

The charter amendment, which would require voter approval on a ballot next year, would expand the area of the citys ground lease with the developer to 4.5 acres from the current 3.2 acres.

Baltimore-based MCB has proposed demolishing the 43-year-old waterfront shopping and dining pavilions that for decades have symbolized the Inner Harbor attraction and replacing them with four taller, mixed-use buildings, including a conjoined tower with around 900 apartments, one smaller structure in a large new park, a two-tier promenade and realigned roadways.

The developer said the proposal involves about $500 million of private investment and would need an estimated $400 million in public funds  about $300 million for parks and public spaces and $100 million for the roadwork.

MCB began the city review process two weeks ago when it presented its master plan to the citys Urban Design & Architecture Advisory Panel, a group of experts in urban design, architecture and landscape design. Panel members criticized the proposal, saying it lacked both an analysis of alternative options and a clear vision and design framework.

MCB has said it produced its plan after months of community meetings, during which residents prioritized safety, waterfront access and inclusion of small- and minority-owned businesses as tenants.

The developer wants to build two 200,000-square-foot commercial buildings on Pratt Street plus two apartment towers  32 stories and 25 stories  on Light Street that connect and also have shops.

One commercial building on Pratt Street, dubbed The Sail, would house food and beverage tenants and feature a tiered, amphitheater-like 50,000-square-foot, public rooftop park. The second would feature publicly available conference space on the ground floor.

Audette told commissioners that replacing the current zoning with an overlay zone to provide that nuance necessary for this unique area  would be in keeping with what weve done in other waterfront areas, such as Canton, Fells Point, the Key Highway area and Middle Branch.

P. David Bramble, MCBs managing partner and a Baltimore native, struck a deal to acquire the mostly vacant pavilions out of receivership in April 2022. The pavilions have lost tenants and fallen into disrepair over the last decade, with many blaming the previous, New York-based owners mismanagement.

Bramble argues that only a densely populated project that mixes park space with commercial uses and housing is economically viable and will spark further growth downtown. He has said he hopes to start work as soon as possible, starting with seeking approvals.

Bramble told commissioners Thursday that his firm does not have to take on the project, but its a project that we want to do, because its important for the future of the city and a place I proudly call home.

He argued that the Inner Harbor Renewal Plan was established almost half a century ago and waterfront development has evolved.

The Harborplace that we all remember hasnt been around for many years, Bramble said.

Though dozens of people crowded into a planning department hearing room, several opted to hold off testifying until the next hearing.

City Councilman Eric Costello, the councils representative on the commission, asked for a delay on a vote after a live stream of the session failed, leaving people unable to watch or offer comments. The meeting had been advertised as hybrid, meaning people could attend in-person or online.

Planning Commission Chairman Sean Davis said the commission had received 15 letters in opposition to the proposed project and one in support. Many of those opposed to it objected to design issues, said Davis, noting that the planning commission has no control over design.

Those who did testify strongly opposed the project.

David Tufaro, a Baltimore resident and developer in the city for 45 years, said he opposed the proposals on both procedural and substantive grounds.

In my view, its a disastrous proposal in both the way this proposals being crammed down the throats of the citizens of Baltimore and in its total lack of respect for this sacred public space, which is the Inner Harbor, Tufaro said.

He disputed the notion that residents of 900 proposed apartments would generate pedestrian traffic and said such activation would come instead from public open space and and an appropriate amount of retail and eating establishments.

He said MCBs presentation at the end of October, surrounded by state and local officials, came out of left field, and was an arrogant, orchestrated display of power intended to communicate to the public that this plan is going forward regardless of how the citizens of Baltimore feel.
This is a photo of students on computers in a library.

This article was originally published in Arkansas Advocate.

More than 11,000 Pulaski County students are unable to access online educational materials through their local public library as a legal precaution, according to school district administrators, in light of the statewide debate over what content children should be able to access in libraries.

The Pulaski County Special School District, which covers the rest of the county outside Little Rock and North Little Rock, had been participating in the Central Arkansas Library Systems tech card program since 2018.

The tech card program provides students with recommended resources divided by grade level for research, homework help, and more, according to the CALS website, regardless of whether students have public library cards. Both public and private schools in Pulaski County have been enrolled in the program.

Support The 74's year-end campaign. Make a tax-exempt donation now.

CALS Executive Director Nate Coulter said he found out Wednesday, during a conversation with administrators at the Sherwood library branch, that parents of PCSSD students told library staff their childrens tech cards no longer worked.

The school districts legal counsel initially advised the district to keep using tech cards in accordance with the Arkansas LEARNS Act, PCSSD executive director of communications Jessica Duff said in an email. The wide-ranging education legislation requires public school districts to expand digital learning opportunities for students in partnership with businesses, education leaders and other local entities.

However, the attorney later advised PCSSD to withdraw from the tech card program because CALS online student portal does not have a way to filter search results and access to particular material, Duff said.

Related

Book Ban or No? Critics Say Pennsylvanias Explicit Content Law Is Censorship

At this point in time, were not participating in this CALS tech card program until we have more clarity as to whats acceptable and whats not, she said.

Background

What is considered acceptable content for minors in schools and in public libraries has been a subject of heated debate this year in Republican-led states, including Arkansas. Act 372 of 2023 would alter Arkansas libraries processes for reconsidering material and create criminal liability for librarians who distribute content that some consider obscene or harmful to minors.

Supporters of Act 372, both in public and in the Arkansas Legislature, have said the policy is necessary to keep pornographic content out of childrens reach. Opponents of the law have said its purpose is to reduce access to content that reflects the general public, such as the LGBTQ+ community.

Coulter, CALS and 16 other plaintiffs sued the state in federal court over Act 372 in June. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks temporarily blocked the two challenged portions of the law on July 29, three days before its effective date.

One blocked section of Act 372 would have put librarians at risk of being charged with a Class D felony for knowingly distributing obscene material or informing others of how to obtain it. In his ruling, Brooks agreed with the plaintiffs that the law was too vague and could lead to overly broad interpretations of the appropriateness of materials and whether they are made available simply by being on library shelves.

The other blocked section would have given city and county elected officials the final say over whether a book challenged on the basis of appropriateness can remain on library shelves or should be relocated to a place minors cannot access. Brooks noted in his ruling that this section provides no criteria to guide the governmental bodys evaluation.

Elected officials would only handle book challenges if a committee of library staff decides not to relocate a book and the complainant appealed the decision.

Act 372 would create a similar process for book challenges in school libraries, with school board members in charge of appeals. The lawsuit against Act 372 did not challenge this portion, and it went into effect Aug. 1.

Regulations on digital content

The blocked portion of Act 372 regarding furnishing a harmful item to a minor contains an exemption for the transmission or sending of items over the internet. This includes posting material on an internet website, bulletin board, or newsgroup and sending material via a mailing list, listserv, or other method of internet communication.

Coulter, who worked as an attorney for several years, said he reads this exemption to be very, very narrow and not applicable to CALS online learning materials or e-book distribution system.

He added that the tech card system has undeniable benefits to kids and is not worth sacrificing to appease those who believe children should not have access to certain parts of CALS collection.

Related

Ed Dept. Hires Book Ban Czar to Monitor Escalating Challenges Over Content

It makes it so profoundly clear that theyre willing to trade educational benefits for their ideological end, Coulter said.

Mississippi enacted a law earlier this year requiring internet service providers to implement safety policies and technology protection measures preventing minors, particularly K-12 students, from accessing sexually oriented or obscene materials. The law mentions libraries only once, but Mississippi librarians have said it limits childrens access to library materials.

The federal Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA) of 2000 requires school and public libraries to use internet filters that block pornographic content in order to receive subsidies that make internet connectivity more affordable.

Coulter said CALS has this filter in place. The sale or use of any internet software that filters for the content facing conservative backlash  primarily any materials by and about LGBTQ+ people  would face a First Amendment lawsuit, he said.

No serious vendor is going to venture there if they get legal counsel, because thats clearly viewpoint discrimination that the Constitution prohibits, Coulter said.

The plaintiffs challenging Act 372 have argued that the vagueness of the law will lead to viewpoint discrimination if it is implemented as written.

Crawford County is a defendant in the lawsuit in addition to the state. The county library system moved childrens books with LGBTQ+ topics to a segregated social section, accessible only to adults, at all five branches in December 2022. The library director at the time called the move a compromise after county residents objected to their availability at multiple quorum court meetings.

Three Crawford County parents sued the county and the local library board in May, calling the social sections a First Amendment violation. County officials cited Act 372 as a reason to keep the books segregated. U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes denied the parents request for an injunction in September.

Arkansas Advocate is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sonny Albarado for questions: info@arkansasadvocate.com. Follow Arkansas Advocate on Facebook and Twitter.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas delegation was split on the expulsion of Rep. George Santos from the U.S. House on Friday morning.

The vote was ultimately to expel the Republican New York congressman, with 311 to expel and 114 against, with two members voting present and eight not voting.

House expels New York Rep. George Santos. Its just the sixth expulsion in the chambers history

The Arkansas delegation had two yea votes to expel, from representatives Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack, with Rep. French Hill voting nay and Rep. Rick Crawford one of the eight not voting.

Hill issued a statement shortly after the historic vote, expressing concern about the precedent the expulsion sets as the reasoning behind his nay vote.

I have called on Rep. George Santos to resign since his fraudulent and discrediting conduct and inappropriate actions became public, Hill stated. Prior to today, the House had voted to expel only five Members of Congress, including only two since 1980  both of whom were convicted of their crimes before expulsion. I believe that expelling a Member of Congress before conviction sets a dangerous precedent, which is why today I voted not to expel Rep. Santos.

Womack cited the recent House Ethics Committee report on Santos, which found significant evidence of Santos breaking federal law while running for office.

I believe members of Congress should be held to a very high standard of conduct, Womack stated. Mr. Santos has fallen woefully short of that standard. The recent House Ethics Committee report only confirmed what we already knew: Mr. Santos does not belong in Congress. He spewed lies to hoodwink voters to get elected, admitted to several fraudulent activities, and has made a mockery of the institution. The Constitution guarantees Santos will have due process on his criminal charges. However, Congress has the authority to punish its membersand we did that today.

Lawmakers can vote their conscience on expelling Santos, House speaker says, but he has concerns

Westerman compared his expulsion vote to a business decision.

The U.S. Constitution provides full and broad authority for the U.S. House to expel a member, he said. An expulsion is not otherwise required to be based on any actions by the courts or legal system. The House has established ethical standards for members and has a bipartisan committee to deal with ethics issues much the same way a business or organization has an HR department and employee standards. If an employee had been found to violate ethical standards like George Santos did, there would be no question about immediately firing him regardless of the actions the legal system had taken or might take in the future. The Ethics Committee did a very thorough investigation and determined that he utterly failed to meet the ethical standards of the House. Therefore, I voted yes on the resolution to expel him.

Arkansas lawmakers respond to passage of government funding resolution

Crawford clarified that his not voting was due to extenuating circumstances and he was in favor of Santoss expulsion.



I had a personal family issue at home that I had to attend to, which prevented me from casting my vote to expel George Santos from the House, he stated. Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution reserves to Congress the right to expel members for misconduct. After a thorough investigation, the House Ethics Committee produced an extensively documented, bipartisan report, demonstrating serious misconduct unacceptable for a member of Congress. After carefully reviewing the committees report, it is clear to me that expulsion is warranted in this case. The expulsion of a member of Congress will continue to be a rare occurrence, requiring as it does a two-thirds vote of the body. But when egregious conduct is demonstrated, there will be occasions, as here, when the House must exercise its Constitutional powers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
An Amber Alert was issued for a 10-month-old boy in Idaho who is believed to have been kidnapped by his father after his mother was found dead, deputies said.

The 48-year-old dad is considered armed and dangerous, deputies said.

Authorities responded to a 911 call at 11:39 p.m. Nov. 30 from a home in Victor, the Teton County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Kali Jean Randall, 38, was found dead in the home, deputies said. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Now, authorities are searching for her husband, Jeremy Albert Best, and their son, Zeke Gregory Best, deputies said.

Deputies said Jeremy Best is a homicide and kidnapping suspect who was last seen in Victor.

Its believed he kidnapped their son and left the area in a black 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe with Idaho license plates 1T39349, deputies said.

Jeremy Best is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, about 245 pounds, with brown and gray hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts, the vehicle or the infant, is being asked to call 208-354-2323 or 911.

Please do not approach or attempt to confront the suspect, deputies said.

Victor is in southeastern Idaho, near the Wyoming border.

Toddler left alone in warming SUV for a moment is kidnapped by stranger, OR cops say

Foster mom starved and beat children for years as punishment in South Dakota, feds say

Son accused of killing his mom turns himself in with blood on hands, Washington cops say
GM Defense, a subsidiary of General Motors, has been awarded a contract by the Department of State (DoS) to commence full-rate production of heavy-duty up-armored Chevy Suburbans. Once in service, the armored SUVs will be used by the departments Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) for the transportation of officials and dignitaries in challenging and potentially dangerous locations abroad, as well as for sensitive movements within the United States. You can read our earlier profile on the DSSs future armored SUVs here .

The company announced on November 30 that it has been awarded a 10-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) full-rate production contract by the DoS to produce the up-armored Suburbans. The contract, according to GM Defense, has a ceiling value of $300 million, but that figure could grow if there ends up being greater demand for what are officially referred to simply as Heavy-Duty Sport Utility Vehicles.

GM Defense Heavy-Duty Sport Utility Vehicle. GM Defense

Previously, the company had intended to start full production of the new armored SUVs in June 2024. It remains unclear if the new IDIQ contract award has accelerated this timeline. Weve reached out to GM Defense for clarification. As many as 200 vehicles a year could be supplied to the DSS and other federal agencies over the next decade of production. It's unclear how many up-armored SUVs the Department of State has now, by itself. As of 2016, it had 4,546 active armored vehicles of all types worldwide, according to a report from the department's Office of the Inspector General.

The IDIQ contract award comes shortly after GM Defense delivered the first of 10 prototypes of its Suburban heavy-duty protected SUV to DSS on June 30 in Springfield, Virginia. Prior to this, DSS officials met with GM Defense representatives on June 29 for briefings and demonstrations of the prototypes performance at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia.

The first prototype of the Heavy-Duty SUV, which was delivered to DSS on June 30. Department of State

"This is a very important program for GM Defense as it showcases our ability to leverage the proven commercial platforms and world-class engineering and manufacturing processes of GM to provide a first-of-its-kind vehicle for the Department of State," Steve duMont, president of GM Defense, said recently.

"Everyone on our team has committed to partnering with the State Department to ensure we deliver the best vehicles to support their mission. We look forward to continuing this partnership and bringing this exciting new platform to other U.S. government and allied defense and security customers around the world."

A view of the first prototype of the Heavy-Duty SUV from the front. Department of State

While the new armored vehicle may look like a conventional Chevy Suburban, and it in fact shares some of the same parts as its commercial counterpart, it has been designed from the ground up by GM Defense for its role with the DSS.

As we noted in our earlier piece on the SUV, it is set to feature GM Defenses new 'eBOF' and suspension. Standing for 'electric body on frame,' eBOF is a new chassis architecture that is designed to "support heavy payloads and can accommodate battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems, an armoring solution that meets protection and survivability requirements, and greater payload capacity for additional equipment to meet mission needs."

The Heavy-Duty SUV chassis design. GM Defense

Fielding bespoke, standardized production, armored SUVs is significant for the DSS, which has had to resort to third-party up-armoring for its protected SUVs in the past. This involves completely dismantling vehicles for welding in armored panels and installing ballistic glass, alongside other critical survivability upgrades, then adapting stock components around these alterations, as well as adding one-off fabricated ones. However, once these modifications are complete, its hand-modified armored SUVs often prove difficult to maintain and they have struggled to perform as desired, especially due to their increased gross weight and lack of supportability. You can read all about these issues in this past report of ours .

As GM Defense noted in relation to the IDIQ contract award, the in-house design and construction of the new armored suburbans will provide "superior vehicle performance while improving efficiencies in build and lead-time, resulting in faster vehicle delivery to the end user." Moreover, GM Defense also provides "additional benefits through a robust manufacturers warranty and extended vehicle lifespan that delivers value as compared to the current multi-stage aftermarket armoring process," per the company. Given that the DSS has struggled with fielding standardized armored SUVs in the past, progress made toward acquiring the new transports is no doubt welcome.

GM Defense

Of course, there will still remain a need for aftermarket armored SUVs in DSS service, and across the U.S. government and DoD more broadly, following the introduction of GM Defenses production armored suburban. In 2021, the DoS issued a separate contract for the design of the next-generation Large Support Utility Commercial Vehicles (LSUVs) to Battelle , in collaboration with the Ford Motor Company, to up-armor the Ford Expedition.

However, a standardized, purpose-built model straight from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) could be an attractive option for units that already operate armored Suburbans, as well as other protected SUVs, in similar roles. This includes the U.S. Secret Service and Special Operations Command. So the market will likely end up being much larger than the DSS, and there is also a very real possibility foreign customers could be interested in some variant of this unique SUV.

We will be keeping our eyes peeled for the first sighting of heavy-duty Chevy Suburbans in the wild as they begin their task of transporting high-profile VVIPs at home and abroad.

Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com
Police arrested someone in a Fort Mill bank robbery case.

On Sept. 29, just before 4:30 p.m., police were called to the First Citizens Bank on Highway 160 West.

Employees said a man handed them a note demanding money. After receiving an unspecified amount, the man walked away from the bank.

PREVIOUS: Police searching for bank robbery suspect in Fort Mill

Fort Mill police said on Thursday, they arrested 23-year-old Anthony Nathaniel Drayton in the town of Simpsonville.

Drayton was taken to the York County jail. Hes charged with use of intimidation to steal money from a bank.

No further information was released.

(WATCH BELOW: Officer shoots armed bank robbery suspect at busy Rock Hill shopping center)
Editors Note  The above video first aired in September 2023, shortly after the students murder.

NORFOLK, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said Thursday that they arrested three men who were responsible for the murder of a 20-year-old college student from Prince Georges County who attended Norfolk State University (NSU).

The Norfolk Police Department (NPD) said the men killed Jahari George of Accokeek, Md. on Sept. 2, 2023. Officers received a report that someone had been shot in the 2700 block of Gate House Rd., near Colchester Crescent. When they arrived, they found George. He died at the hospital.

The people arrested for his murder are:

Marquas L. Gregg, 21

Camari L. Warren, 18

Cameron C. Brown, 18

Each man faces charges of second-degree murder, conspiracy, and use of a firearm. As of Dec. 1, all of them were being held without bond.

NPD said members of the Richmond Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Gregg in Richmond, Va. Members of the task force and the Norfolk Police Department took Warren and Brown into custody in Portsmouth, Va.

According to Georges LinkedIn profile, he graduated from Suitland High School in 2021 and was studying at NSU to be an electrical engineer.

An online account set up for Georges parents shortly after his death said: Jahari was a wonderful young man with an amazing light. He was extremely compassionate, loving and caring. All those that knew him, loved him. He was a true bright star.

NSU shared a statement on its Facebook page Thursday which said, in part:

The campus community is still mourning the loss of Mr. George, and we hope his family and the NSU community can find solace in knowing the individuals responsible will be brought to justice. The university family is urged to continue to maintain our culture of care as we collectively work through this difficult time. Plans are under way to provide a fitting tribute to Jahari and to memorialize his time here at Norfolk State. Norfolk State University

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A Rock Hill assisted living facility that lost heat during recent near-record low temperatures has received eight complaints this year.

Reporter Tina Terry pressed state health officials for more information about those complaints. She learned the most recent complaint wasnt just about the heat not working. The tipster also complained about unsanitary conditions in the facility, including insects.

State officials said the complaint about Divine Manor not having heat came in to them on Monday.

In the complaint, the tipster also said the ...laundry room is not up to par. The mop water is black and the top of the oven needs cleaning. The ice maker hasnt worked in three months and there are roaches in the facility. They added that the ...lights are always off, staff give medication in the dark.

PREVIOUS: Heat restored after outage at Rock Hill assisted living facility

State health officials responded by visiting the facility to investigate. They said they found multiple violations, including the non-working heat. Several light fixtures were either not working or missing bulbs. They also said no one could produce proof that the building had been professionally treated for bugs.

Health officials said the heat was repaired by Thursday, but the facility has to submit a plan of correction within five days for the other problems.

During this investigation, some people complained that there arent enough assisted living facilities that accept Medicaid in York County, making it hard to find good care for their loved ones.

Terry reached out to the states Medicaid agency. It said a program called Optional State Supplementation, or OSS, helps ensure access to care facilities for South Carolinians.

Basically, OSS helps pay for room and board expenses that are not covered by Medicaid. It said there are currently 17 licensed facilities in York County that are enrolled in the OSS program.

(WATCH BELOW: 600K-plus expected to qualify for Medicaid in NC with Friday expansion)
This illustration depicts asteroid Phaethon being heated by the Sun. The asteroids surface gets so hot that sodium inside Phaethons rock likely vaporizes and vents into space, causing it to brighten like a comet and form a tail.

For quite a while, an asteroid named Phaethon has presented astronomers with something of a conundrum.

When it passes closest to the sun during its orbit, a long tail of material can be seen leaving the three-mile-wide (five-kilometer-wide) rock. However, if Phaethon's tail is the stuff of usual comets  ice and carbon dioxide  then it should be visible when the comet is as far away as Jupiter , too. But it's not.

Scientists have therefore had some theories about what Phaethon might be composed of, which could explain what trails behind when the asteroid passes by the Sun. And in new research , astronomers have compared the infrared emissions of Phaethon analyzed by NASA's Spitzer space telescope to emissions of meteorites in laboratories, ultimately finding that Phaethon likely belongs to a rare class of meteorite , of which only six specimens are known.

Related: The strange mystery of asteroid Phaethon's comet-like tail

Namely, Phaethon's emission spectrum corresponds to a type of meteorite called the "CY carbonaceous chondrite." Conversely, other well known asteroids such as Ryugu and Bennu , targets of the recent JAXA and NASA sample-return missions, are CI and CM meteorites respectively.

All three classes of meteorites are believed to have originated during the birth of the solar system , as they all show signs of the chemical process in which water combines with other molecules to form phyllosilicate and carbonate materials. However, only the CY group seemed to show signs of drying and decomposition due to heating; it also exhibits a high iron sulfide content, which suggests a unique origin.

Analyses of Phaethon's emission spectrum revealed olivine, carbonates, iron sulfides and oxide minerals  all of which supported the space rock's connection to the CY class of asteroid. Carbonates in the asteroid indicate changes in water content (the drying), for instance, and the olivine is consistent with thermal decomposition of phyllosilicates at high temperatures.

Researchers were able to show with thermal modeling how temperatures, such as those encountered when passing by the sun, might affect minerals in the asteroid that release gases. As the asteroid gets nearer the searing ball of plasma at our solar system's center, its surface temperatures can rise to 800C, which the team says is easily hot enough for the object's carbonates to produce carbon dioxide, phyllosilicates to release water vapor and sulfides sulfur gas.

Related Stories:

 Hubble Space Telescope sees unexpected twin 'tails' from NASA asteroid impact

 City-size 'devil comet' headed for Earth loses its iconic horns and turns green after latest volcanic eruption

 Comet Nishimura photobombs NASA spacecraft after its close encounter with the sun (photos)

Data from other studies on asteroids, combined with the new thermal models of Phaethon, led the researchers to believe that pressure from the gas released by the asteroid heating up could cause the rock to break down, producing small dust particles that are lifted from its surface  a likely explanation for Phaethon's tail as it passes by the sun.

"It was great to see how each one of the discovered minerals seemed to fall into place and also explain the behavior of the asteroid," said co-author Mikael Granvik from the University of Helsinki, in a press release.

The research was published in November in the journal Nature Astronomy.
An Atlanta business owner and his companys co-director have both pled guilty to a count of filing false tax returns, U.S. Justice Department officials announced.

According to officials, Ronald S. Zieve, owner of Hair Restoration Specialists, Inc., and Marshall Boyd, the co-director, were accused of failing to report $3.2 million, and $790,000 in income, respectively, since 2018.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia provided recent examples, saying Zieve had earned more than $1 million in 2020 but reported his other income as just over $100,000.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Officials said Zieve and Boyd had not filed accurate tax records since as far back as 2016.

A search warrant executed at the HRS office reviewed business, bank and tax records, according to USDOJ, showing that Zieve had deliberately concealed his actual income from the IRS in a variety of ways.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said Zieve did not properly report earnings from HRS for tax years 2017 through 2021.

Additionally, Buchanan said in a statement that Zieve filed an IRS-1040 form for tax year 2020 that falsely reported his other income as $107,070 when, in fact, Zieve knew he had earned more than $1 million in other income in March 2021.

These defendants behaved as if our tax laws did not apply to them, Buchanan said. People who cheat on their taxes, file false returns, or fail to pay taxes owed are subject to investigation and prosecution.

TRENDING STORIES:

STORY 1

STORY 2

STORY 3

While investigating the tax discrepancies, investigators learned Zieve had paid Boyd hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash commissions, which Boyd never reported to the Internal Revenue Service, according to USDOJ.

In February 2021, for example, Boyd filed an IRS-1040 form for the tax year 2020 that falsely reported other income of $0 when, in fact, Boyd knew that he had earned approximately $191,000 in other income, officials said. As a result of Boyd failing to report approximately $790,000 in income, he caused a tax loss to the United States of approximately $266,000.

Zieve and Boyd each entered guilty pleas to one count of filing fraudulent tax returns, with sentencing scheduled for March 2024.

Filing false tax return documents to hide income is stealing from the U.S. government, Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, said. On behalf of the honest, law-abiding taxpayers, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Department of Justice and other law enforcement agencies will continue investigating and holding individuals accountable who willfully shirk their tax responsibilities to honestly report their income.

The case is still under investigation by the IRS.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:




A federal watchdog will investigate how the Biden administration chose a site for a new FBI headquarters following a contentious competition marked by allegations of conflict of interest.

The Inspector General for the General Services Administration is probing the decision to locate the facility in Greenbelt, Maryland, over a site in Virginia., according to a letter released Thursday by Virginia lawmakers. The new building would replace the FBIs crumbling headquarters in nearby Washington, D.C.

Virginias senators and representatives said in a joint statement that there was overwhelming evidence suggesting the process was influenced by politics and called on the GSA to pause anything related to the relocation until the review is complete.

The acting inspector general said that his office would immediately begin evaluating the GSAs process and procedures for selecting the site and share a copy of any report that results, according to a letter sent to Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.

We applaud the inspector general for moving quickly and encourage him to move forward to complete a careful and thorough review, Virginias delegation said in a joint statement.

The agency said it welcomes the review and pointed out that it had already released decision-making materials and a legal review of concerns raised by the director of the FBI.

We carefully followed the requirements and process, and stand behind GSAs final site selection decision, an agency spokesperson said in a statement.

The review comes after FBI Director Christopher Wray told staff in an internal message earlier this month that he was concerned about a potential conflict of interest in a GSA executive choosing a site owned by a previous employer.

Wray said his objections were about the process rather than the site itself.

GSA, which manages the governments real estate portfolio, denied any conflict. The agency said the site about 13 miles (20 kilometers) northeast of Washington was the cheapest one with the best access to public transit.

Maryland and Virginia have long been vying to land the FBI.

Marylands leaders applauded the Greenbelt choice, saying was never about politics and the new facility would meet a dire, longstanding need.